Friday, March 31, 2017

Parsha Vayikra, Pessach links, story


Prayers for­ Men: Yoel HaCohain ben Henya, Avraham HaCohain ben Yocheved, Avraham ben Devorah, Shalom Charles ben Gracia, Yoel ben Esther, Zvi ben Chava, Daniel ben Rivka, Nehemiah Arieh Liab Peretz ben Esther Rachel, Eliyah ben Chana, Chaim David ben Chana Golda, Eliyahu ben Aviva, Zvi Yechezkel Ben Leah, Menashe Ben Golda, Pinchas Alta Ben Sima.


Women: Karen Neshama bas Esther Ruth, Chaya Melecha Rachel bas Baila Alta, Rachel bas Chana, Hodaya Nirit bas Mazel Yaish, Rivka bas Idit, Tsvia Simcha bas Devorah Yachad, Miriam bas Irene Taita Malka,  Golde Chaya bas Esther, Shulamis bas Etta, Chana Friedel bas Sara, Drorah Rivka bas Chana, Devorah bas Sarah, Penina Bas Zeesa Priyah


The following person is recovering from long term non-threatening injuries and need Psalms. Binum Benyamin Tuvia ben Chana Friedel,


Notice I have removed the following names from the prayer list because I received them on Facebook. ANYBODY WHO HAVE GIVEN ME NAMES SHOULD ADVISE ME IF THEY CAN BE REMOVED AS I DON’T LIKE TO PRAY FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT NEED IT OR HAVE PASSED ON. THESE ARE THE NAMES THAT I DON’T REMEMBER WHO SENT ME: Melech David ben Sulah Pearla, Aharon Zvi ben Chaya Perel, DovBeer Meyer Ben Glicka,



Parsha Vayikra


There is no late and no early in the Torah. What we have in the last Sefer was the time from the death of the brothers who founded the tribes to the erecting of the Mishkan on the first of Nissan 2449. Sefer Shemos ended with the time when the Mishkan was dedication and we start a little before that. This whole Sefer is what was learned between the coming down Har Sinai of Moshe starting Yud Aleph Tishrei 2448 though Pessach 2449 (or Pessach Sheni as working on Pessach painting-cleaning does not give me time to check). If you think I err I will be happy for comments but remember that the Korbanos are first taught, then the dedication of the Mishkan, the Death of the sons of Aaron and the establishment of Pessach Sheni (second Pessach). This is all in a little over six months and of course the laws of Jewish “Slaves” or servants, selling of homes or land and Shmita-Yovel. Also proper modesty and whom it is forbidden to have relations with. In Parsha Emor we are told who is eligible to marry a Cohain or Cohain Gadol and who is not. We also deal there with the counting of the Omer.




Our Sefer will end and Bamidbar then goes into other details that occurred upon the erection of the Mishkan and the arrangements of the holy camp and holy army. It is only after Parsha Naso that the historical side of Torah begins to move forward.


Our Sefer is called also Toras Cohanim for the work of what the Cohanim are required to do in the Mishkan-Mikdash and what they must refrain from doing.

We start out with varying sacrifices aka Korbanos which I shall deal with. Korban Chatas or a sin offering is done for somebody who accidently committed a sin which was due to either a lack of knowledge that it was a sin or forbidden that this action is a sin. An example that comes to mind is the violation of Shabbos by accident. Such as one forgot that he or she had something in their pocket and went out from a private domain to a public domain and then realized it. So the carrying in or out would be the problem.

Korban Asham or guilt offering is for other sins. There are two types one that is required for we know he or she sinned and one depending for we have some evidence to the effect.

The next Korban is a Shlamim or peace offering. It is sometimes required like the three times a year that one goes before HASHEM and the Korban Pessach. It can also be the thanksgiving sacrifice for crossing the desert, ocean, ending up in danger, etc. Today we say HaGomel Prayer.

There is the Korban Bechor which is for the first born but it is also a Shlamim. Finally, there is a bird sacrificed of a woman who gave birth.

Some Korbanos the richer person brings a bull, the one of moderate means brings a goat   or a lamb and poor man brings some flour for a Korban Mincha. A woman who gives birth brings either a male or female dove. All Korbanos had oil and flour. All Korbanos had flour in the form of Matzos except a Korban Todah which had Chametz aka Leaven Bread and was not sacrificed the day before Pessach and during the 7 days of Pessach.

3:6 And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto the LORD be of the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.

Many of the Korbanos are male but a Shlamim can be either male or female. Not we want the best of the best. Therefore, a strong animal and unblemished from the flock is sacrificed. Hevel gave the first fruits and the best of them and his Korban was accepted. Kayn gave from the weaker or blemished animal(s) and his Korban was not accepted.

7 If he brings a lamb for his offering, then shall he present it before the LORD. 8 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and ritually slaughter it before the tent of meeting; and Aaron's sons shall dash the blood thereof against the altar round about.

9 And he shall present of the sacrifice of peace-offerings an offering made by fire unto the LORD: the fat thereof, the fat tail entire, which he shall take away hard by the rump-bone; and the fat that covers the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 10 and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the loins, and the lobe above the liver, which he shall take away by the kidneys. 11 And the priest shall make it smoke upon the altar; it is the food of the offering made by fire unto the LORD.

I saw something on Facebook that did disturb me. I am not happy with a lot of the things about Islam and the terrible things that Mohammed and friends did to the Jews or Mecca and Medina. However, I saw some posts on Facebook that disturbed me just as much as extreme Islam. One post was that Mosques should not be built in America and it was applauded by others. Another was a news story of an attack on a Mosque which to me is like attacking a Synagogue. Today they will want to stop Mosques, tomorrow Buddhist, Hindus and Synagogues.


Preparing for Pessach


Most Rabbis don’t have dogs or feed stray cats but Rabbi E. Schatz and I do. I got non-leavened dog food yesterday in the cheaper 20 kilo bag which keeps the pooch fed for quite a while. Today I am going to purchase the pre-ground Gefilte Fish and a little more chicken and I am done will all the holiday needs minus vegetables. The good news is that I am at my daughter's for the Seder and my Nephew is having a Bar Mitzvah during Chol HaMoed Shabbos so my wife has less work. BUT if you think that the Rebbetzin did not clean every kitchen cabinet and the utility closet on the side already you are mistaken. The only things Chametz in the kitchen are the micro-wave, stove-range and half of the refrigerator.


Not all spices are Kosher for Ashkenazim for Pessach. Check the Heckshir. We always get new sugar and salt. OU has a link for searching from foods and Medications: https://oukosher.org/passover/ UK medications including homeopathic http://www.kosher.org.uk/sites/default/files/2015%20Medicines.pdf Star K Passover Guide and application: http://www.star-k.org/passover?gclid=CPDvubqugNMCFZIy0wodOxwNfw Israeli Medications as of 2014: http://www.clalit.co.il/he/medical/pharmacy/Documents/koosher2014.pdf
I got for myself pro-biotics which contain milk derivatives to take on Pessach. I avoid my usual vitamins except the iron pills and vitamin D-drops that I know are Kosher for Pessach elsewhere consult your local Orthodox Rabbi and MD.


There is a lot of work to do before Pessach and shop early to avoid the crowds. The trick for Pessach is planning ahead. As we say in Hebrew “The end result (deed) is from the beginning thought” SOF MAASEH B’ MACHSHAVA TEHILLA.


Remember to purchase, walnuts, almonds, hazel nuts, apples, vinegar, sweet wine, apples, cinnamon and ginger for the Charoses paste mix for the Pessach Seder. Review the relevant sections of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch or Mishna Berura.


Rabbi with an extra-large Salary by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles

Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heschel served as a Rav (qualified authority in Jewish law) as well as chasidic Rebbe, and in 5560 [1800], he accepted the position of Rav in the city of Apta, one of the oldest and most important Jewish communities in Poland. In honor of their new Rav, the venerable shul in the city changed its nusach [order and slight textual distinctions of prayer] from Ashkenaz to Sfard. It was in Apta that thousands of people began to flock to him for blessings, and he soon became famous as a miracle worker, in addition to being a posek [Halachic decisor].
For nine years, he served as Rav in Apta, and then to the astonishment and consternation of its townspeople, he accepted the position of Rav in the distant town of Yassy, Romania. The people of Apta had formed a close and strong bond with their Rav, and he too had a special affection for them. He promised the residents that he would always be referred to as the ''Apta Rav'' and for the rest of his life, when he signed his name, he added, "of Apta." To this day, the Jews of Apta have the eternal merit that the name of this great tzadik is forever linked with their town.
Why did he leave? According to the Munkatcher Rebbe, author of Darkei Teshuva, when the Apta Rav agreed to take the position in Apta, he insisted on a large salary. When he left, he told them the following story:

"My father, Reb Shmuel, was a poor melamed [teacher-tutor] in a small town. His older brother, a very wealthy man, lived in Apta. Due to various calamities, my father and his brother had been separated from each other when they were eight and ten years old, and had no knowledge of each other's whereabouts. My uncle died childless, and left his young widow with very little information about his brother. Being childless, she was required to get chalitza [ceremony demonstrating the brother-in-law's refusal to marry the widow] from this unknown brother - but how was she to find him?

"The Rav of Apta at that time suggested that she send the letters to all the major rabbis in all the neighboring countries, telling them that there was a widow in Apta searching for so-and-so to give her chalitza. She should also announce that when the brother comes and fulfills his obligation, she would give him half of what she inherited from her husband.

"She followed his suggestion, and one such letter arrived at the town where my father lived. The Rav called him in and said, 'I know you don't have money to make the trip to Apt, but seeing that you stand to return home a very wealthy man, I will lend you the money for the trip. Pay me back when you return.'

"My father went home, and told my mother the story. She said, 'A great mitzvah has come your way. This is one mitzvah that most people never get a chance to fulfill, and indeed, no one wishes for such an opportunity. Now that you have the chance to do this singular mitzvah, you should do it for its own sake, and not for the sake of the money involved. In fact, you should not accept any money for it.'

"My father agreed, but my mother wasn't satisfied. 'The desire for money is very powerful. You may agree with me now, but when you are faced with that huge sum of money, who knows if you will be able to overcome this desire? Therefore, lift up my Korban Mincha prayer-book, and promise that you will not take even a single penny.'

"He then returned to the Rav and told him that he did not want to borrow the money from him. 'Who says I'm the real person?' he explained. 'Perhaps I only seem to match the description, so how will I be able to repay you? I will go there by foot and see what happens.'

"My father took his bag and walking stick and set out for Apta. He came to the Rav of Apta, and it turned out that he was the person they had sought. When the chalitza was completed, the woman insisted that my father take half of his brother's inheritance, but my father insisted on keeping the promise he had made to my mother and steadfastly refused to take any money.

"The widow insisted that she had no wish to keep this money, and if he would not accept it, it should remain in the community's possession.

"My parents actions caused a great tumult in Heaven. It was decided to reward them; and so, although my parents were very old, they were blessed with a son. I am that son," concluded the Rebbe. "Now you know why I consented to come here and be the Rav, but only for a large salary. I was only taking back the money that had been due my father, but was left in the hands of the community. Now that I have received the full amount, I can leave here and go to Yassy." *
For four years, the Apta Rav served as Rav and Rebbe in Yassy. Then, on 18 Kislev 5572 [1811], the Rebbe Reb Baruch of Medzibuzh passed away. The Jews of Medzibuzh had become accustomed to having a venerable tzadik in their midst. Only half a century earlier, the Baal Shem Tov had resided there. For the past twelve years, it had been his grandson, the Rebbe Reb Baruch, and for the twelve years before that his older brother, Rebbe Moshe-Chaim-Efraim of Sudylkov, the author of Degel Machaneh Efraim, had served as their Rebbe.
The community decided to invite the Apta Rav to relocate to Medzibuzh, and in 5573, he left Romania and became Rebbe in the city of the Baal Shem Tov.
Two years later his close friends, the other three main "inheritors" of the Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhinsk: the Chozeh of Lublin, the Kozhnitzer Maggid and Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Riminov, all passed away within months of each other [see story #303** in this series]. The Apta Rav was then considered the oldest chasidic rebbe of the generation. All major decisions were sent to him for arbitration, and his word was accepted throughout Eastern Europe and even as far away as Eretz Yisrael.

Like the two previous tzadikim who lived in Medzibuzh, the Rebbe Reb Baruch and the Degel Machaneh Ephraim, the Apta Rav lived and served there for twelve years and then passed away. Shortly before his final days, he bade farewell to the table at which he had studied, the bookcase full of holy books, and to the mezuza on the doorpost. He returned to his bed and began to say [the first line of a hymn recited in the Shabbat morning prayers], "Ha'aderes vha'emuna, l'Chai Olamim" - Strength and faithfulness are His, who lives Eternally," and it was with these words that he departed this world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Original author's note:
A different Chasidic rebbe gave a second explanation. According to Rebbe Yissachar Dov of Belz, the Apta Rav heard a voice from Heaven proclaiming that Rabbi Meir ben Shmuel, the author of Ohr LaShamayim, was to become the Rav of Apta. Rebbe Avraham Yehoshua Heshel realized that since the town could only have one Rav, it meant that either he would move to another town, or pass away from this world. It was then that he decided to move to Yassy. Shortly thereafter, Rabbi Meir became the Rav in Apta.

** Editor's note:
Subsequently revised and expanded significantly and published in my Festivals of the Full Moon (Koren Publ.).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from //heichalhanegina.blogspot.co.il, as excerpted and adapted there by "Dorfy" from an article written by Shia Ellen in a March 2007 edition of the English HaModia magazine.

Biographical note:
Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heschel [of blessed memory: 5515 - 5 Nissan 5585 (1755 -March 1825 C.E.)], the Apta Rebbe, was a main disciple of the Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhinsk. He is also often referred to as "the Ohev Yisrael," both after the title of the famous book of his teachings, and also because its meaning ("Lover of Jews") fits him so aptly. The Kapishnitzer Chasidic dynasty descends from him.

Connection: Seasonal-the 192nd yahrzeit of the Apta Rebbe, this Shabbat.



Satmar Rebbe blasts Charedim blocking traffic as an anti-draft protest: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/227399





Isn’t it “nice” of them a big favor. With friends like that … http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4941940,00.html


The fellow brings back lost Bnei Israel: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/227545


Important Medical Research underway hopefully something can be done before they build up by my wife and I. http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/research-projects/clearing-amyloid-brains-blood-vessels/


The ability of Netanyahu or the powers that be to control who will be a news broadcaster on the new TV and Radio Network is being disgusting within the legal frame work. Fortunately, there is the army radio, Arutz 7 and two independent TV stations. I know that many of the press people are fake news but still legitimate criticizing is healthy.



Inyanay Diyoma


52 year old father of three does not comply with the average terrorist profile but the same craziness is there: http://debka.com/article/25976/UK-Parliament-terror-tied-to-Antwerp-attack




Analysis: This week a major call-up drill took place. The Chief of Staff wants to be ready for a war on Pessach. (They may try a Yom Kippur Surprise again). Iran is pressing Syria, Hezballah and perhaps Hamas. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/20308




Israeli Youth with some mental disability may have made threats for money. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4939980,00.html










This latest Public Opinion Poll may calm down the Prime Minister regarding elections: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/227328


Hamas Political Leader in the Shomron arrested: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4940974,00.html




Near Schem, terrorist subdued, nobody including the terrorist was hurt: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/227338


London does not know how to by-pass What’s App. Israel can see what is being typed in but not the messages as far as I know but that could be also a false premise. http://debka.com/article/25983/WhatsApp-Scapegoat-for-London%E2%80%99s-security-lapses


Ryan should be fired for mismanagement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7nPBhSP-g0


US UN Ambassador there is a new Sherriff in town no more Israel bashing: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=41401


  

Canada is going to the Islamist and Ed-Op by Diane Weber Bederman: http://dianebederman.com/pm-trudeau-i-am-a-jewishislamophobe/


Pakistani spies on Jewish Institutions: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/227436




Large scale Yehuda and Shomron exercise of Central Command: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4942514,00.html



Ed-Op an $830,000,000 bunker mentality that might lead to the next war. Ed-Op Yossi Yehoshua: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4940997,00.html


Trump is serious about peace but reasonably fair in his approach even for us. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/227551


First settlement in 20 years approved: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/227545




Good Shabbos all next week I will review some points on Pessach. I suggest reviewing the relevant sections of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch and/or Mishnah Berura. Relax on Shabbos and get you soul revised as from now until Pessach you may be under pressure.

Rachamim Pauli 

Friday, March 24, 2017

Parshiyos Vayekhel, Pekudei, Chodesh and stories



Pessach is coming April 10th to 18th was a notification on my Chabad Parsha and Rashi this week. When we start reading Parsha HaChodesh this week, it is basically two weeks to Pessach. This entails shopping, cleaning and everything. If you have not started cleaning. With the exception of sticky fingers of children, dirty window glass is not Chametz (leaven) so skip it and return when the Chametz is cleaned. We must clean only where Chametz can be found. A clean house and to some a painted house is wonderful but I am concerned with Kashrus. In shopping one must be careful for some Ashkenazim eat peanuts like Chabad and Rav Moshe Feinstein ZTZAL did and Satmar and others do not. American Maize (Corn)       by most Ashkenazim is considered Kitniyos (that can be made into flour and mistaken with the 5 species of grain that leaven). However, this is a mistaken concept as it was unknown before America was discovered. It is also the main staple of the USA as rice is to China, India, Iraq and Iran. Rav Moshe permitted all the oils from the Kitniyos even if the item was customary not to eat the item such as cotton seed oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, etc.


I was discussing with a guest at my afternoon Shabbos Table how a person trying to force their custom on others turns off people to Orthodoxy. When I was a new Baal Teshuva, I got mixed up with the no wetting of Matzos and my own family custom of making Matzo ball soup. It was unclear to me where the Halacha began and the Minchag began. The whole Glatt Kosher business started in the late 5720’s aka 1960’s and up until then the Rabbi giving the Heckshir was good enough except for some Hungarian Satmar types and certain Tzaddikim. The Gaon from Vilna did not eat Glatt Kosher. I have been told by Rabbi Yona Gewirtz that there is not enough real Glatt to go around and some people who dress holier than Rabbi Gewirtz and I are passing off Stam Kosher, but kosher as Glatt. Unfortunately, the Yetzer Ha Business and Good Gelt (money in Yiddish) take precedent over the Truth. Just try to follow the reliable Rabbis and Hechsherim and you should be OK.


The following names from my prayer list I have no idea who sent me them or if they still need prayers. The names will be removed if I do not get a further request: Melech David ben Sulah Pearla, Aharon Zvi ben Chaya Perel, Dov Ber Meyer ben Glicka.


Parshiyos Yayakhel-Pekudei

35:1 And Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said unto them: 'These are the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them.

Moses called… to assemble: Heb. וַיַּקְהֵל. [He assembled them] on the day after Yom Kippur, when he came down from the mountain. This [word] is a hiph’il [causative] expression [i.e., causing someone to do something], because one does not assemble people with [one’s] hands [i.e., directly], but they are assembled through one’s speech. Its Aramaic translation is וְאַכְנֵשׁ.

Question what is the starting point and the most important on the list from HASHEM of things to do and observe?

2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you a holy day, a Sabbath of solemn rest to the LORD; whosoever doeth any work therein shall be put to death.

The answer to the question that I posed in the last Pasuk is Yom Shabbos Kodesh. For it is the conclusion of the creation of the universe. Mankind is the last physical creation and the creation of Shabbos ends the whole purpose of creation and a gift to mankind.

3 Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the Sabbath day.'

Of the 39 Av Melachos (categories of Shabbos type of work done in the Mishkan aka Tabernacle) this is the only one mentioned specifically. As I wrote in the past, electricity is a question if it is of fire from a spark going from the conductor to the receptor or if it is from building as a completion of a circuit. In the hospitals today in Israel, a solid state device is attached to a power supply and wheeled from patient to patient and can access records via the wifi technology and is permitted. Cyber-threats and defense in the military are as needed maybe even more so than my old border patrol in a half-track which is outdated by an APC with anti-tank missile defense. Things are changing at a tremendous speed in the technology world and Rabbis have to be up to date.

[An aside note: I have seen a Beit Din rule wrongly based on an auto-mechanic instead of an engineer regarding a man who burned out the hand-brakes while the regular brakes failed on the car. This was done as the mechanic and they did not know the engineering aspect of the brake system. – All the more so when a Korban Chatas (sin offering) is involved on Shabbos violation by Shogeg (accident) and Kores (cutting off from the nation in the next world and possibly dying early or without children in this world) or the death penalty by Mayzid (with intent and witnesses)].

These three Pasukim sum up the importance of Shabbos observance unto the L-RD G-D our creator. I BEG THOSE WHO LIVED ALL THEIR LIVES WITHOUT OBSERVANCE FOR THE SAKE OF BOTH AM YISRAEL AND OUR REDEMPTION AND THEIR HOLY SOUL TO GRADUALLY START OBSERVING SHABBOS. Going “COLD TURKEY” on Melachos does not work and I have seen too many failures based on this. Stage one no writing and erasing on Shabbos and reading a good book on Torah or what you like instead of the internet. The world will not be destroyed if you wait 25 hours from Shabbos to a full Motzei Shabbos to see a text, application or message. Shutting down the cell-phone and land phone is done also over time. If one is addicted to a TV program one can DVR it but should avoid a different series as he or she observes Shabbos. Not driving or traveling is next. Until we work on carrying from a private domain to a public domain (some cities have the Eruv which allows carrying and using baby strollers {prams in the UK} in a certain area.) I cannot advise people on a general basis and the same goes for Kashrus to take things slow like avoiding all non-kosher animals and fish and then moving over to animals that are slaughtered kosher. It took me in a non-religious household with little to no guidance or a community two years so if one is part of a community and with guidance and reinforcement it might take only six months to a year. The main thing is giving it a good try. AND IF ONE FAULTERS DO NOT GIVE UP BUT KEEP TRYING AS WITH PATIENCE AND PRACTICE IT WILL COME!

4 And Moses spoke unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: 'This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying: 5 Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD, whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, the LORD'S offering: gold, and silver, and brass; 6 and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair; 7 and rams' skins dyed red, and giraffe-skins, and acacia-wood; 8 and oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense; 9 and onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate.

This is a financial sacrifice and given from the heart is similar to any Korban but this sacrifice is also psychological for a man to give of his gold, silver, money, cloth is on a high level. Still it is not the same as giving oneself as in Kashrus and Shabbos Kodesh.

…22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought nose-rings, and ear-rings, and signet-rings, and girdles, all jewels of gold; even every man that brought an offering of gold unto the LORD. 23 And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and rams' skins dyed red, and giraffe-skins, brought them. 24 Every one that did set apart an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD'S offering; and every man, with whom was found acacia-wood for any work of the service, brought it.

This shows the love of Am Yisrael for HASHEM. Also as we see people volunteered their knowledge and skill in a labor of love to build the Mishkan.

…25 And all the women that were wise-hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, the blue, and the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen. 26 And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats' hair. 27 And the rulers brought the onyx stones, and the stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate; 28 and the spice, and the oil, for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. 29 The children of Israel brought a freewill-offering unto the LORD; every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all the work, which the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses to be made.

The rest of work was done or supervised by the two master craftsmen mentioned below.

30 And Moses said unto the children of Israel: 'See, the LORD hath called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31 And He hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship. 32 And to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 33 and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of skilful workmanship. 34 And He hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35 Them hath He filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of workmanship, of the craftsman, and of the skillful workman, and of the weaver in colors, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any workmanship, and of those that devise skillful works.

Moshe gave the commands after coming down from the mountain on Yom Kippur and the commands were given on the 11th of Tishrei. It took quite a while for the work to be done and then the preparations for the Mishkan. Finally, on the first of Nissan, the dedication of the Mishkan took place.

39:43 And Moses saw all the work, and, behold, they had done it; as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it. And Moses blessed them.

For the Mishkan was completed in or by Adar and then we see the following.

40:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 'On the first day of the first month shalt thou rear up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.  …33 And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.

Once the Mishkan was complete the Shechina rested upon it.

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of meeting, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 36 And whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.

Am Yisrael had a special relationship with the L-RD that there was a cloud during the day and fire or a light that came forth by night for 40 years.

38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and there was fire therein by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.


Chazak – Chazak v’ nit Chazak



Parsha HaChodesh


12:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying: 2 'This month shall be unto you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.


This Parsha is read either before or on Rosh Chodesh Nissan to remind us of the Pessach (Korban in the Temple times). Today we have no Mikdash, but we do have the Pessach Seder which as not departed out of our people for the 3329 years since the original Yetzias Mitzrayim when the first born children of Egypt died.


There is a fifth son not at the Pessach Seder and that is what I was some 60 years ago. The boy that is so far assimilated and his parents too that no Pessach is observed in the house. It was my fourth generation Reform Jew that my mother’s father who insisted that I make a Reform Bar Mitzvah (which I didn’t) but it was 60 years ago that I reintroduced the Seder into our house with a Reform Haggada. I had no sense of Halacha but my mother bought for the occasion Gefilte Fish, Horse Radish, Parsley and lamb. It was a Pessach of a returning Jew from the desolation of nothingness. There are still a few thousands of lost brethren that do not even know what Pessach is.




From Rav Moshe Steinerman Shlita: When the Gerrer Rebbe, R' Yitzchak Meir, was a little boy, his mother took him to see the Maggid of Kozhnitz. There, someone said to him, "Yitzchak Meir, I'll give you a gulden (like a dollar) if you tell me where God lives!" He replied: "And I'll give you two gulden if you tell me where He doesn't!" (Excerpt from my next book)


I saw this advertisement about wasting money and trees instead of making your own coffee. I saw from a fellow I shall call Steve even though he writes his name differently about a man who smokes a pack a day talking to a woman with a luxury car. She asks him how much do you smoke a day. He says a pack. For how long? He answers so and so many years. She says you see that $250,000 car below? He replies affirmatively and she says that is what you burnt up with cigarettes. http://finance.yahoo.com/video/biggest-waste-money-coffee-edition-151631553.html


Many years ago, Rav Yona Sheba who was married over 55 years advised me on Shalom Beis. He told me that if his wife wants something, he does not argue with her. He explains to her the budget and gives her a blank signed check (we have a joint account so this does not apply). He told if you think it is important to you buy it. Well this week was our wedding anniversary. Yesterday, she bought a skirt. Today she wanted to buy a black piece to match the skirt and a black and white sort of blouse to have sleeves on it making it fancy. My wife called me for a Psak Halacha what second piece of black and white she should buy. I said this one says "It is all mine and this one says it is all mine" The Halacha is like Shlomo HaMelech divide the time between the two and buy both. Somehow my wife was happy with my Psak. In the end my wife decided like Rebbetzin Sheba and bought only one.


Personal disgust at this news item. I worked 27 years in IAI and many of my friends 40 plus years. To get an advancement on time was next to impossible for the average worker. But protection was rampant for families of big shots. The son of Chaim Katz who was the head of the Union and now a Minister was arrested this week. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/227103






Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s moving plea for her husband to find love after her death.

Amy Krouse Rosenthal died last week. A short time before her death she wrote a profoundly moving essay, “You May Want to Marry My Husband” in the New York Times’ Modern Love column that created an unprecedented whirlwind of reaction.
The author, a prolific writer of children’s books who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, chose an entirely different theme for what she called her Valentine’s Day message to her husband. After 26 years of what she acknowledges as an idyllic marriage, she wanted more than anything else to leave this world with the assurance that the husband she loved so dearly would find another partner worthy of his qualities.
So she wrote a love letter to extol her husband’s unique assets and abilities. She tells us how easy a man he is to fall in love with – because she did it just one day. She praises his gifts as a father; his kindness and compassion; his fantastic skill in the kitchen; his artistic talent; his romantic nature - and with that all his incredible good looks. She shares with us how much she would have loved the next 26 years with him. But since she knows her days are numbered she concludes: “I am wrapping this up on Valentine’s Day, and the most genuine, non-vase-oriented gift I can hope for is that the right person reads this, finds Jason, and another love story begins.”
It was heart wrenching to read. Even more so, to know that Amy’s death shortly followed. But what I think is the takeaway message from this remarkable story is something that I as a Rabbi have often tried to communicate – a message often difficult to absorb but deeply important in the lives of people forced to cope with the aftermath of tragedy.
Losing a loved one is an experience beyond compare. The Talmud recognized that “a husband chiefly dies only for his wife, a wife only for her husband.” Those who try to offer comfort by claiming they understand the mourner’s pain are untruthful as well as insensitive. The agony of loss for a beloved partner in life simply has no parallel.
And yet Jewish law has a remarkable demand upon the conclusion of the seven-day shiva period. With the close of the intense time of mourning, those who rise from their grief are to step outside and walk around the block – symbolically expressing the idea that life must go on and it is their duty to rejoin the living.
The Torah tells us that when Abraham lost his beloved wife Sarah he eulogized her and he wept over her. He recalled her beauty – both external and internal. He remembered that she was always at his side, when he invited guests to his tent and when he taught the truth of monotheism to nonbelievers. He paid an exorbitant sum to have her buried in the most special place on earth, according to tradition the cave of the final resting place for Adam and Eve.
And then the Torah tells us an amazing follow-up to the story. Abraham remarried. He had more children. Somehow Abraham knew that his life was not meant to be over as long as God gave him more years to live.
It is important to note that Abraham did not consider his subsequent remarriage in any sense a diminution of his previous relationship with the matriarch of our people. Sarah remains forevermore the esteemed and noble figure of our ancestry. But Abraham demonstrated by taking a wife after the loss of the love of his youth that he understood God’s decree from the time of creation that “it is not good for man to remain alone” – that human beings need companionship and that joy can only come about when the world is shared by four eyes rather than two.
I can think of nothing more noble than Amy Rosenthal’s public declaration of her desire for her husband’s happiness, to whatever extent possible, after her demise. Those who were critical of her essay and those who feel that true love ought to exclude the possibility for meaningful existence after its passing should find meaning from the life of Abraham - and keep faith, as Amy Rosenthal did, in life offering different, new and fulfilling blessings.
Death of a loved one should not move survivors to choose personal death as well. Indeed, the greatest gift we owe to those who truly loved us is to find the happiness they would surely have wanted for us.
This article can also be read at: http://www.aish.com/ci/s/Marry-My-Husband.html



Inyanay Diyoma


Did the UJA ban pro-right Israel Feminist? http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/226862


Another Rocket from Gaza # 11 this month with a response: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4936971,00.html


Revised: The latest Public Opinion Poll shows Netanyahu will beat Lapid and elections will delay the police investigation against him. So it could be in his interest to force elections now. He does everything to stay in power and beat down opposition even in his own party. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4937027,00.html
After the above post, Netanyahu realized that an alternative government could be formed and a compromise was worked out – the current workers will move mostly to the new agency and the heads of the new agency will be replaced. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4937852,00.html






Will an alternative government be formed instead of elections? Has Netanyahu over-played his hand on controlling State Radio and TV. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/226882


The late Akiva Schein of blessed memory used to complain to me that my reporting on the border situation was like doom and gloom. I just report how things are and not how HASHEM will help us. Surprise reserve call-up drill in the south. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4937494,00.html


As Lieberman escalates rhetoric, the Syrians also escalate: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4937538,00.html
 

Alex Fishman analyses and finds the winds of war are blowing: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4937438,00.html









Second Skylark Drone to fall in a few weeks first in Gaza now on the Golan: http://debka.com/article/25974/Israeli-drone-crashes-Russia-fails-to-de-escalate


Senator Marco Rubio makes his third visit to Israel. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/227056


Woman who joined ISIS gets only 4 years in jail: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4938492,00.html


From May - Combined Defense System tested in real time last Shabbos with the Syrian Missile: https://www.idfblog.com/2017/03/20/davids-sling-protects-israel/


“Humanitarian Aid” Worker arrested for trying to get satellite maps of Israel. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/227062




After the US computer on board travel ban from 13 countries the UK follows with 6 as terrorism gets more sophisticated. I don’t know why not Somalia? http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4938762,00.html


Obama hold over ruining Israeli-US relations another started investigating Tom Price and was fired. https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/03/21/israeli-officials-accuse-obama-holdover-of-straining-the-atmosphere-of-trump-envoys-recent-israel-visit/


Tunnels are threat but not strategic: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4938975,00.html


After Orly Airport in Londonstan attack by lone car rammer-stabber one women pulled alive from the Thames. Policeman stabbed to death and two others. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/03/22/shots-fired-outside-uk-parliament-reports-say.html





Time to use an economic stick to fight dark forces at the UN – Ed-Op Ben Dror Yemini: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4938377,00.html


Ed-Op Y. Hendel the PM wants elections to save himself from his promises and investigation: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4939003,00.html


Trump wants building halted outside of blocks: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/227152




Tillerson removing ISIS leaders is a matter of time. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/227156


Good Shabbos and clean early and well for Pessach and shop early too. Stay healthy,
Rachamim Pauli