Friday, June 30, 2017

Parsha Chukkas, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, Nasser sings Lecha Dodi


Warren Buffett’s partner, Charlie Munger, was quoted as saying that Al Gore is an Idiot but had a good strategy to make money. Well I am trying to sell Mitzvah Observance especially Shabbos, Kashrus and Family Purity but it is not yet a best seller yet. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/buffett-partner-charlie-munger-says-135509218.html



Parsha Chukkas


The rebellions are now over with. We will see no more massive disregard for Moshe until a prince in Shimon is enticed by idol worshipping Midian Women and puts his Libido before Halacha. We now concentrate on the laws of Tuma of which Chapter 19 has been dissected a lot in my past blogposts that are achieved on line so that I suggest that we move ahead.


19:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying: 2 This is the statute of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying: Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer, faultless, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke. 3 And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, and she shall be brought forth without the camp, and she shall be slain before his face. 4 And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times. 5 And the heifer shall be burnt in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall be burnt. …19 And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day; and on the seventh day he shall purify him; and he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.



This portion will be extremely important at the time when the Mikdash will be rebuilt but until then everything is theoretical.


… 20:1 And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.

We are entering the 40th and final year of Am Yisrael in the Midbar. They shall be getting ready to enter the promised land. Nobody realized but on the merit of Miriam they had water for 40 years. Now she was gone.

2 And there was no water for the congregation; and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3 And the people strove with Moses, and spoke, saying: 'Would that we had perished when our brethren perished before the LORD! 4 And why have ye brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, to die there, we and our cattle? 5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.'

I guess I spoke too soon about the rebellions being over with. But this is a complaint for there is no water! You’re the leader, do something about it! Why didn’t they think of praying to HASHEM? But now that you mentioned a complain where is the land flowing with milk and honey?

6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tent of meeting, and fell upon their faces; and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them. 7 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 8 'Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water; and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock; so thou shalt give the congregation and their cattle drink.' 9 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as He commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said unto them: 'Hear now, ye rebels; are we to bring you forth water out of this rock?' 11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and smote the rock with his rod twice; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle.


Moshe should have spoken to the rock and it would have produced water. But because he smote it twice the super Kiddush HASHEM did not occur and for this he was punished by not being able to enter the land. The standard on which Moshe was judged is not the same as for you and I for our level is minuscule compared to his!


12 And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron: 'Because ye believed not in Me, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.' 13 These are the waters of Meribah, where the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and He was sanctified in them.


But now neither Moshe nor Aaron would enter the land.

14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom: 'Thus says thy brother Israel: … and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border. 17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy land; we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells; we will go along the king's highway, we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy border.' 18 And Edom said unto him: 'Thou shalt not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against thee.' 19 And the children of Israel said unto him: 'We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of thy water, I and my cattle, then will I give the price thereof; let me only pass through on my feet; there is no hurt.'


Contrary to the invitation that Esav gave Yacov in Parsha Vayishlach to live with him. Beresheis 33:12 And he said: 'Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.' 13 And he said unto him: 'My lord knows that the children are tender, and that the flocks and herds giving suck are a care to me; and if they overdrive them one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant; and I will journey on gently, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.' 15 And Esau said: 'Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me.' And he said: 'What needs it? let me find favor in the sight of my lord.' 16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. Here the meaning of family even distant and brotherhood is gone.


20 And he said: 'Thou shalt not pass through.' And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border; wherefore Israel turned away from him.


Even though we could have judged Har Esav as written in Novi Ovadia. We left them alone of the merits of them being from Yitzchak even if they refused to act as brethren. But in the final judgement they will be judged where-ever they are in the world. If repentant and righteous, those few will life but if with the average quality behavior of Esav, they will not survive (how and when we can only see on ‘that day’).


22 And they journeyed from Kadesh; and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came unto mount Hor.


This is a relatively high mountain in Yarden. It is not so far south of Yericho. I have been told by people who have visited and viewed Eretz Yisrael from there. [Har Nevo where Moshe passed on, is actually a small range and it is uncertain which mountain he is buried.]


23 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying:


The land of Esav much have gone from the red mountains of Aquaba of today all the way up to and passed the Dead Sea but slightly inland for the people did move on this route if I am correct. It is also possible that the people travelled from the area of the current border from Eilat until the Tongue of the Dead Sea and then moved to the eastern side of the Tongue on their journey.

24 'Aaron shall be gathered unto his people; he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against My word at the waters of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor. 26 And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.' 27 And Moses did as the LORD commanded; and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount; and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.


How did they know that he died? The clouds of glory left the area. The Medrash tells of his death. Moshe had Aaron strip down and he was told to lie down. The Shechina came and extracted his soul. Then the mouth of the cave where he lay was sealed by Moshe.


29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.


With Miriam’s death the ‘well’ disappeared. With Aaron’s death the clouds of glory disappeared. Hillel said, “You should be like a Tamid of Aaron, love Shalom, pursue Shalom.” Once Aaron died, the peace and tranquility that Am Yisrael had from the battle with Amalek was complete. Now that he had passed on, the 600,000-man army would be tested with their skills in battle.


21:1 And the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who dwelt in the South, heard tell that Israel came by the way of Atharim; and he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.


The Canaanite… heard: He heard that Aaron had died and that the clouds of glory had departed… as is stated in [Tractate] Rosh Hashanah (3a). Amalek was always a chastising whip for Israel, ready at any time to mete out punishment. — [Midrash Tanchuma Chukkath 18, Num. Rabbah 19:20] Who lived in the south: This refers to Amalek, as it says, “The Amalekites dwell in the south land” (13:29). They changed their language to speak in the language of Canaan so that the Israelites would pray to the Holy One, blessed is He, to deliver the Canaanites into their hands, and [since] they were not Canaanites [their prayers would have no effect]. But Israel saw that they were dressed like Amalekites though they spoke in a Canaanite tongue. So they said, “We will pray generally [for success],” as it says, “If You deliver his people into my hand….” - [Midrash Aggadah , Yalkut Shimoni from Midrash Yelammedenu . Note that in these sources, the Amalekites changed their dress as well, and that version is found also in the Reggio edition of Rashi . The Yemenite manuscript, however, conforms with our reading. See Chavel fn. 87, Yosef Hallel , Leket Bahir fn. ד. See also Num. Rabbah 19:20.] The route of the spies: Heb. דֶּרֶךְ הָאֲתָרִים, the southern route, taken by the spies (הַתָּרִים), as it says,“They went up in the south” (13:22). Another interpretation: The route of the great guide [the ark] (הַתַּיָּר) which went ahead of them, as it says, “traveled three days ahead of them to seek for them a place to settle” (10:33). - [Midrash Tanchuma Chukkath 18, Num. Rabbah 19:20] And took from them a captive: It was only a single maidservant. — [Midrash Aggadah , Yalkut Shimoni from Midrash Yelammedenu]


For a single maid servant, they went to war and today Hamas holds two bodies of two soldiers and two live citizens and our “leaders” sit by.


2 And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said: 'If Thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.'

The whole attack made no military or physical sense. When they were before Midbar Paran or Zin which is closer to Beer Sheva or Tel Arad it would have made military sense to attack. To charge down to the other side of the Dead Sea or even the Dead Sea-Arad junction at the ancient site of Zohar makes no sense. Even then I would have checked and prepared ambushes for them going up-hill. But their location at the time of the Death of Aaron at Har Hor is quite far away from Arad. It only makes sense if they are Amalek and their blind fanatical hatred for Yisrael is such to kill or be killed. This is their version of modern ISIS, Hamas and Hezballah philosophy and they end up underestimating the vast army and of course the backing of HASHEM.

3 And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities; and the name of the place was called Hormah.

A total defeat of the enemy in modern Hebrew is odd Hormah! Meaning utterly destroyed or defeated.


4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became impatient because of the way. 5 And the people spoke against God, and against Moses: 'Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loathes this light bread.' 6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

Making a temporary reversal in direction because of Edom riled up the people. Are these the leftovers from 40 years ago? For the younger generation grew up or lived in the desert already. They knew not Egypt. My grandparents lamented how great things were under Kaiser Franz Yosef of Austria. Of course WWI and the aftermath and then Hitler left them bitter. But yearning for Mitzrayim and being slaves at this time makes no sense. That is why I think it is the last of the original generator that murmered.

7 And the people came to Moses, and said: 'We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that He take away the serpents from us.' And Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole; and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.' 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it upon the pole; and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked unto the serpent of brass, he lived.

Thus we got the symbol for medical doctors and the modern Israeli Medical Corp Insignia.

10 And the children of Israel journeyed, and pitched in Oboth. 11 And they journeyed from Oboth, and pitched at Ije-abarim, in the wilderness which is in front of Moab, toward the sun-rising. 12 From thence they journeyed, and pitched in the valley of Zered. 13 From thence they journeyed, and pitched on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness, that comes out of the border of the Amorites. For Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites;


From the Amorite border: Heb. מִגְּבֻל הָאֱמֹרִי, the boundary at the edge of their territory. Similarly,“the border of Moab (גְּבוּל מוֹאָב),” a term denoting an edge and an end. On the other side of the Arnon: They circled the southern and eastern [sides] of the land of Moab, until they came to the other side of the Arnon [river] in the middle of the Amorite territory, to the north of the land of Moab. Eextending from the Amorite border: A strip of Amorite territory protrudes from the Amorite border into Moabite territory [reaching] until Arnon, which is the Moabite border. The Israelites camped there, without entering the border of Moab, (for Arnon was the Moabite border, and they did not allow them to pass through their land. Even though Moses did not state this explicitly, Jephthah did explain it), as Jephthah said, “Also to the king of Moab he sent, but he was unwilling” (Jud. 11:17). Moses, however, alludes to it: “Just as the children of Esau who dwell in Seir, and the Moabites who dwell in Ar, did for me” (Deut. 2:29). [He meant to say:] Just as these [children of Esau] did not permit them to pass through their lands, but they circled around them, so did Moab too.


I did a search for the location and one scholar places this in the middle of the Dead Sea on the modern Jordanian side and one places it further north. It appears to me closer to the first choice for the map was more detailed both geographically and sketch wise. Moab came from Lot who resided much further south so the northern location might be less logical. However, since the Amorites were on the southern Golan that was even further north. Even with the arguments this way and that, we must recall they were going around the Dead Sea further away from Eretz Yisrael and I still place my bets on the more southern location.


14 wherefore it is said in the book of the Wars of the LORD: Vaheb in Suphah, and the valleys of Arnon,


Ibn Ezra laments that the book has been lost to us. The book according to tradition contained details of miracles and wonders that happened in these wars that took place. So we are with this statement of great things that happened and our knowledge of even one miracle is zero even though it was written on scroll.


15 And the slope of the valleys that inclines toward the seat of Ar, and leans upon the border of Moab.


It appears to me to be more than just a territory battle but one for water which flew into the Dead Sea and was potable but they did not want to give the excess to us.


16 And from thence to Beer; that is the well whereof the LORD said unto Moses: 'Gather the people together, and I will give them water.'


After the battle, there was nobody left to oppose Am Yisrael from drinking water.

17 Then sang Israel this song: Spring up, O well--sing ye unto it.  … 20 and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab, by the top of Pisgah, which down upon the desert.


So the people were happy to get water for them and their animals.


21 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying: 22 'Let me pass through thy land; we will not turn aside into field, or into vineyard; we will not drink of the water of the wells; we will go by the king's highway, until we have passed thy border.' 23 And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border; but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz; and he fought against Israel. 24 And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon unto the Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon; for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.


This is the river from Hamat Gadder that flows into the Yarden River. It runs to the border of Syria, Yisrael and Yarden. From here they climbed the Golan Heights which is a very steep winding path.


… 25 And IsraHel took all these cities; and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the towns thereof. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto the Arnon. 27 Wherefore they that speak in parables say: Come ye to Heshbon! … 29 Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh; he hath given his sons as fugitives, and his daughters into captivity, unto Sihon king of the Amorites. … 31 Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. … 33 And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan; and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. 

He was not even asked for passage and water. He was attacked by Og in an Ambush. However, Moshe used the DIVINE NAME and jumped up with his sword and slew him.

34 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Fear him not; for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.' 35 So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him remaining; and they possessed his land.
22:1 And the children of Israel journeyed, and pitched in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.

After three battles, the army of Israel has proven itself as a fighting force for the conquest of the land. The king of Arad from the south and Sihon and Og from the north east have been defeated. It is not clear to move in and conquer the land. Why we did not conquer the complete land through Turkey and the Euphrates during the time of Yehoshua remains a mystery but that will change in the future and the Arabs have seen this for more than 70 years and have resisted. What we see here at the end that there is a good source of water here and the children of Israel are just about ready to enter Eretz Yisrael.


How Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach stopped a suicide at the last moment. Posted by D. Markel


I heard a story today about R. Shlomo Carlebach from R. Levi Sudak, (Chabad Shliach in Edgeware) at a Chassidic gathering in honor of the Rebbe's Hillula.
When he was studying at the Chabad Yeshiva in Morristown NJ, he befriended a student studying at the baal teshuvah yeshivah that occupied the same building.
The student was an interesting fellow who sported a somewhat disheveled look. Although the front of his head received a normal haircut, the back of his head was completely disheveled.
One day, the young Levi Sudak, then around 17, suggested to his friend, a baal teshuva of 30 years old, that he get a haircut to fix his unkempt look.
The man told him that he had scars there and therefore did not wish to cut his hair there, as doing so would make them visible.
When Levi asked the man how he got scars, he explained that he had twice tried to kill himself and had unseemly and embarrassing scars on his neck.
He then went on to explain how he had ended up in Yeshivah:
He had been at a concert of R. Shlomo Carlebach. At the concert, R. Shlomo asked that everyone write down their name and phone number.
Everyone did so, and R. Shlomo stuffed the papers into his pockets. The man was doubtful that from the hundreds of names received R. Shlomo would actually call him, but he wrote his name down as well.
A few months went by, and the man overcome with depression decided to kill himself. He went to the hardware store, purchased a hook and a rope and went home...
He screwed the hook into the ceiling, and was holding the rope, when suddenly the phone rang; it was R. Shlomo on the line.
"How are you brother?" asked R. Shlomo. When the man asked R. Shlomo if he really wanted to know, he proceeded to tell him that he was actually holding the phone in one hand and a rope to kill himself in the other.
R. Shlomo told him, "do me a favor and put the rope on the bed." He continued talking to him until he eventually told him, "pack your bags and go to the yeshiva in Morristown."
R. Levi Sudak concluded that this acquaintance of his ended of receiving semicha, marrying, having a family, and is today a rav of a community.
We never know the power of a bit of sensitivity ... If we know someone that might be feeling down, reach out to them, give them a call, you may save or transform their lives...


Underestimating the Enemy. What really happened to the IDF Navy Seals 20 years ago a long written report detailing our failure. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4977429,00.html


Israeli’s latest weapons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFhvw_vdUOI


From Dr. Martin Sherman: Strategic gas pipeline agreement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf5Gk7Qqwqw




More asking for Olmert’s early release: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4980391,00.html

Soldier hit by friend’s weapon discharge. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4980364,00.html






Milestone Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz of Artscroll who changed the publishing in English of Judaism passes away. https://www.facebook.com/artscroll/photos/a.452867999401.236338.35978764401/10155390916319402/?type=3&theater


The blunder of not counting heads in the army. Aka all present and accounted for! Soldier falls asleep in a fire zone and the exercise stopped in time. Four go to jail. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4980729,00.html


MK Yehuda Glick’s wife has a massive stroke. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231556


Reform are the masters of Fake News. They are also the readers of the NY Times, LA Times and Washington Post. They already have a prayer spot at the Western Wall aka Kotel. They just want more and more to disturb the religious. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231593


Nasser Sings Lecha Dodi thanks to Henia O.


Nasser was a young Arab worker in a hotel somewhere in Israel. He was assigned one Friday to prepare the Synagogue and set up for Kiddush. He was impressed by the service especially the Lecha Dodi song. He asked the manager to do it every week. Gradually he learned the song by heart and even the prayers.


Nasser liked it so much that he wanted to become a Jew and went through a conversion process. Now he was Jewish and he could not visit his community but still his mother he missed so he contacted her and met her in a secure location.

He told his mother that he hoped she still loved him that he had become Jewish. She told me a secret that she was Jewish and a descendent of the famous Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz who wrote the Lecha Dodi. Actually because I was born Jewish, you are Jewish.


Now Nasser knew why he loved the song and the Jews so much! Epilogue, I have often encountered descendants of Jews or full Jews because of their mother or grandmother who want to convert.


Roger F. wrote: A WORD ABOUT THE WESTERN WALL AND INCLUSIVENESS
IF I were throwing a big banquet for the Jewish People, I would make sure it was strictly Kosher.
Why?
Because all Jews can eat Kosher food. Keeping the standards of Kashrut is inclusive of all of the Jewish people regardless of what they do in their private lives.
In fact, even the Reform Movement recognizes the association of Kashrut and Jewishness, though they do not see it as obligatory.
The question of who can pray where at the Western Wall is exactly the same.
All Jews are welcome to come and pray. Today, no one is excluded. Reform Jews, secular Jews, Orthodox Jews can pray together because the traditions are being kept that can include all.
But, just as with the banquet, were the food non-kosher, some would eat, but some could not, and therefore be excluded.
And at the Wall, to change the custom, some could pray, but others would feel they could not, and therefore would be excluded.
In my wife's hometown (Firenze, Italia) there is one community synagogue. The Jewish community is small. The numbers that are Orthodox is even much smaller. Yet the synagogue follows an Orthodox tradition - because that is something that excludes no one and is respected as "Jewish".
Why should we demand less respect for one another at the Wall?




Had the Reform listened to Ben Gurion they would have had influence in Israel. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231640


The scandal grows and more arrests. Work cleaning cesspools but not steal a penny. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231749 These things sicken me and have a very negative effect on HASHEM and our nation. Just read last week’s Parsha. I condemn this behavior and that of sexual abuse in no uncertain terms but only hope that HASHEM will forgive his people for these rotten apples in the barrel.


Symptom of non-religious US Jewry. Steven Mnuchin. He married one non-Jew and just remarried this past Shabbos Kodesh another non-Jew. In short his three children have Jewish Genes but are they Jews no mention about his first wife in the article photos show an Aryan looking blond. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Mnuchin & https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/06/26/inside-the-extravagant-wedding-of-billionaire-treasury-secretary/23002521/


Mike Huckabee interview a few months ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEAw2_cG3bE




Even in my youth the Reformed used only the first two types of Shofar so why change?





Inyanay Diyoma





Half a year after Trump still Netanyahu freezes housing in Yerushalayim: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4979386,00.html












Israel knows out a few Syrian Tanks after shells come across the border. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4980133,00.html


If Kushner thinks that the sides are too far apart, Trump may dump ME talks. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4980093,00.html


4,500 NIS (twice what the disabled are getting today) for every Temple Mount Rioter. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231513


Trump considering a peace summit between 7 Sunni Nations and Qatar: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231512


Ed-Op Dr. Martin Sherman indictment the two State Solution http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/20671


German Socialists may stop Israeli Drone deal. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4980423,00.html




Ed-Op Iran’s failure Alex Fishman: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4978518,00.html


Golan Heights – Hezballah and Iran closer to Yisrael and Yarden. http://debka.com/article/26115/Golan-battles-bring-Hizballah-near-Israeli-border








We give Gaza water and they give us raw sewage: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231572


Hezballah keeps threatening to attack Yeshuvim a partial delaying wall to be built: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231566






After Rocket Attack, Israel replies: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231620








Another ransom ware attack. If you updated your computer, you are probably safe. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4981771,00.html


Ed-Op ben Dror Yemeni – Europe must stop demonizing Israel. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4980476,00.html






Israel to ban Binary and Forex to prevent scams: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231675


Supreme Court to rule on Persian Artifacts if they can be used to compensate Terror Victims. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231678




Assad made a hasty visit to a Russian Air Base to show the Americans. http://debka.com/article/26117/Assad-shown-around-Russian-Latakia-air-base


German coalition partners reject Israeli drones for their Air Forces. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4982462,00.html


Ransom Ware hackers tried to attack Israeli Hospitals but the Cyber Authority Blocked them. Some say that the hackers now have problems. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231764


Opinion has Putin put himself into a lose-lose situation in the Syrian quagmire? http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231683


Trump to visit France July 14th! Agrees with response to chemical attack in Syria: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231679


Grrr… French Gov’t. covers up the torture and murder of a Jewish Woman by a member of the religion of peace. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231748


Don’t terrorize or shoot at us or you might be sorry. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231732


Final bipartisan legislation to help with missile defense development. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231812


UN tells Syrians to leave demilitarized zone. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231809




Israel uses Russian Model to warn Hezballah: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4981988,00.html

Shabbat Shalom all,
Rachamim Pauli



Friday, June 23, 2017

Parsha Korach, story, Israeli Cancer Cure plus

Parsha Korach


Anybody who follows both the Parsha and the Ness sees that time after time people and politicians make the same mistake. It is always as the Israeli saying goes, “The same lady with different make-up.” In our Parsha, we get the sense that this time it is similar to the complaints of “only Mann” and not meat, watermelon, cucumbers, etc. or the “land that eats up its people” now it is “we are all a holy nation”. (As for peace negotiations see historical notes after the Parsha. *)


Not all men are created equal. The Torah does have some elements of socialism such as leaving the corner of the field or the forgotten sheaf for the poor to gleam. However, sometimes the Torah goes on the merits of the fathers. We started out with three sons of Noach. Shem became the spiritual leader. Yacov had twelve sons both Yosef and Yehuda showed signs of ruling while Reuven, the Bechor failed. Levi and sons were teachers in Egypt and spiritual leaders and by this merit they because the spiritual leaders of the future. When the Maccabees tried to rule it ended in dismal failure and they all died out. It does not matter that between 4-500 years ago I had a grandfather who was a Cohain or my grandfather on my mother’s side was a Levi, I am neither! However, being from Yehuda, I can manage or be a politician.


Korach’s mistakes were to rebel against Moshe in the first place. Secondly, he wanted to usurp the priestly role and thirdly involving other tribes such as Reuven and Gad who did not have the merits for this.


16:1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men; 2 and they rose up in face of Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty men; they were princes of the congregation, the elect men of the assembly, men of renown;


Being a prince was not enough for them, they wanted the priesthood too. They talked socialistic like Kahuna for all. But in reality they wanted to be special.



3 and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them: 'Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them; wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?'


They did not come to physically help in an altruistic manner but to usurp.


4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face.


For a Tachanun Prayer against them. For Moshe and Aaron were appointed by HASHEM and now a rebellion.


5 And he spoke unto Korah and unto all his company, saying: 'In the morning the LORD will show who are His, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near unto Him; even him whom He may choose will He cause to come near unto Him. 6 This do: take you censors, Korah, and all his company; 7 and put fire therein, and put incense upon them before the LORD to-morrow; and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy; ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.' 8 And Moses said unto Korah: 'Hear now, ye sons of Levi: 9 is it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them; 10 and that He hath brought thee near, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee? and will ye seek the priesthood also?


As Leviim, you have been chosen by HASHEM why do you need more? But it is also a reminder that they are only Leviim and not Cohanim.


20 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying: 21 'Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.' 22 And they fell upon their faces, and said: 'O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt Thou be wroth with all the congregation?'


HASHEM is wroth with the entire congregation as although the main instigators are 250 people, the rest did nothing to stop them. This was true with the Egel HaZahav where only 3000 people out of millions participated.



At this point HASHEM listens to Aaron and Moshe and asks that the congregation separate themselves from these wicked individuals. The wife of Peleg Ben On ploys him with drink and combs her hair at the entrance of the tent and he does not participate which saves his life in the end. She was a wise woman who saw through their plot. The sons of Korach reasoned that if Moshe was correct why should they die and if their father was correct, then they would win out. With a win-win situation, they stayed out of the dispute.


26 And he spoke unto the congregation, saying: 'Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be swept away in all their sins.' 27 So they got them up from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side; and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, and their sons, and their little ones. 28 And Moses said: 'Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works, and that I have not done them of mine own mind. 29 If these men die the common death of all men, and be visited after the visitation of all men, then the LORD hath not sent Me. 30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the ground open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down alive into the pit, then ye shall understand that these men have despised the LORD.'


He warns them that an earthquake and sink hole will swallow the men alive.


31 And it came to pass, as he made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground did cleave asunder that was under them. 32 And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33 So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit; and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the assembly. 34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them; for they said: 'Lest the earth swallow us up.' 35 And fire came forth from the LORD, and devoured the two hundred and fifty men that offered the incense.


Unlike all rebellions against HASHEM, the punishment went further. This time it went in the midst of their behavior and swifter as this was against HIS faithful servant.


17:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:  … 5 to be a memorial unto the children of Israel, to the end that no common man, that is not of the seed of Aaron, draw near to burn incense before the LORD; that he fare not as Korah, and as his company; as the LORD spoke unto him by the hand of Moses.

Just last week one very righteous person who is in the conversion process posted on Facebook about a family member asking for an incense burner. I noted that it is forbidden except to teach young Cohanim how to make incense all the more so burn. A year had passed since I last read this and I had forgotten completely the reason. I only remembered it was forbidden.


6 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying: 'Ye have killed the people of the LORD.' 7 And it came to pass, when the congregation was assembled against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tent of meeting; and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.


Logic defies me for this rebellion was on emotional issues only. They did not learn from all the miracles and Makkos in Mitzrayim or at the sea! They did not learn from the feeding of them meat for a month! They did not learn from Miriam or the Spies nor did they learn from Korach! This time prayer was not enough to save them for they had just gone too far and the plague had started.


8 And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting. 9 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 10 'Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.' And they fell upon their faces. 11 And Moses said unto Aaron: 'Take thy fire-pan, and put fire therein from off the altar, and lay incense thereon, and carry it quickly unto the congregation, and make atonement for them; for there is wrath gone out from the LORD: the plague is begun.' … 14 Now they that died by the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, besides them that died about the matter of Korah. 15 And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tent of meeting, and the plague was stayed.


This was a gift to Moshe from the Angel of Death that the Cohain with the incense could stop him from carrying out the Gezaira.


16 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 17 'Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of them rods, one for each fathers' house, of all their princes according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods; thou shalt write every man's name upon his rod. 18 And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi, for there shall be one rod for the head of their fathers' houses. 19 And thou shalt lay them up in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you. 20 And it shall come to pass, that the man whom I shall choose, his rod shall bud; and I will make to cease from Me the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you.' … 23 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and bore ripe almonds. 24 And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel; and they looked, and took every man his rod.

Finally an end to the controversy.

18:1 And the LORD said unto Aaron: 'Thou and thy sons and thy fathers' house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. … and ye shall serve; I give you the priesthood as a service of gift; and the common man that draws nigh shall be put to death.'… 11 And this is thine: the heave-offering of their gift, even all the wave-offerings of the children of Israel; I have given them unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, as a due for ever; every one that is clean in thy house may eat thereof. 12 All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the corn, the first part of them which they give unto the LORD, to thee have I given them. 13 The first-ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring unto the LORD, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thy house may eat thereof. 14 Every thing devoted in Israel shall be thine. 15 Everything that opens the womb, of all flesh which they offer unto the LORD, both of man and beast, shall be thine; howbeit the first-born of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.

The gifts and Teruma to the Cohain are stated here to remind the people of the separation of holiness.


*Like in our Parsha – Peace Negotiations are repeating themselves. In 1956 after the Sinai Campaign it was Secretary of State John Forster Dulles who said, “Why can’t the Jews and the Arabs get together like good Christian Gentlemen” (For example the bloodshed which would occur in Northern Ireland.) Around 1970 Secretary of State William Rogers came up with a “Plan”. Then Kissinger allowed us with Golda Meir to be attacked in the Yom Kippur War. Under Reagan or Bush there was the International Peace Conference. Clinton had the Peace Negotiations and Wye Plantation. Barak, Olmert, Obama – Clinton – Kerry pressure. Now at the time of writing this is the Negotiations of Trump. THERE WILL BE NO PEACE UNTIL MOSHIACH WHEN THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD ARE JUDGED!



Some with the hand by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles

I moved from Binghamton to Brooklyn in 1972 in order to work with Meir Abehsera (of blessed memory) on his publications, and also to study some Torah in a more formal context. As I was employed during the day, I could only attend yeshiva classes at night.

I went one evening to visit the Chabad yeshiva for baalei tshuvah (returnees to Judaism without a strong Torah background), called "Hadar HaTorah," located in the Crown Heights district of Brooklyn. The rabbi in charge received me graciously and showed me where the two nightly beginners' classes in English were held. He advised me to sample each one.

The first was a class in Talmud, taught by a young married graduate of the yeshiva; the other was in Jewish Law, taught by an old-looking chasid with a strong Russian accent and lots of Yiddish syntax. Both classes took place during the same hours. After my second evening, the head rabbi asked me at the end of the evening which one I preferred.


I answered honestly: I wanted to learn Talmud, and would much prefer to do so with the old rabbi. To my amazement, by the next night it was already arranged.


The class never had more than five students, and sometimes only two.* I attended for several years, and considered myself blessed from Heaven to be able to do so. Now, forty years later, I am still influenced by those sessions with Rabbi Abba Pliskin, who it turned out was one of the more venerated elder chasidim in all of Lubavitch, although you would never guess so by his modest demeanor and behavior (and his diminutive 150 cm./4' 9-10" height). It is for the sake of introducing him to you that I have gone through this lengthy preamble.


In late summer of 1973 I became engaged, and the wedding was set for Kislev 21 on the Jewish calendar (that year: Dec. 15). Exactly three weeks before our date, on the eve of Rosh Chodesh Kislev, two good friends of ours were set to get married, in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, in front of Lubavitch World Headquarters. My in-laws to-be surprised me by saying they would like to come down from Yonkers (the first city north of NYC, adjoining the Bronx) for the ceremony, in order to expose themselves to what a Chasidic wedding would be like.


Weddings in that location had an unusual feature. The window of the Lubavitcher Rebbe's office faced the street, and a large wooden platform was temporarily erected in front of the window so that the Rebbe could view the ceremony, if he so wished.


The evening of the wedding, after the ceremony was over, I noticed that 'Rav Abba' was still standing in front of the platform. I decided it would be positive -and interesting! -to present to my in-laws to be this old-world Chasid who spent nearly twenty years being pursued by the NKVD (forerunner of the KGB), a consequence of his legendary dedication to Torah-true Jewish education. He managed to escape Russia in 1947, and went on to be one of the founding fathers of the highly successful Chabad community in Melbourne, Australia, before eventually moving to New York and becoming a gabbai (manager) of the 770 shul.


So I did it, and what I was afraid would happen, happened. My mother-in-law-to-be gracefully extended her hand for R. Abba to shake. Then she realized her faux pas - chasidim don't shake with the opposite gender. She was embarrassed. So was her husband. And so was I. And R. Abba...he saved the day. Calmly, he pronounced: "Some shake mit der hands; I shake mit mine heart." Instantly, sadness became joy as big smiles appeared on all faces.


But that's not the end of the story.


I mentioned that I had noticed Rav Abba still at the wedding platform after the ceremony was over. What caught my eye was I happened to see from a distance that the bride's elderly grandmother (great aunt?) was the last one on the platform, and the reason clearly was that she was having difficulty descending on the steep rickety metal step to the ground. I was feeling bad for her. If others saw, they probably felt so too. Not R. Abba. He didn't bother with feelings; he took action instead. He darted over and extended his hand for her to clasp and be helped down!


Now, put together the two episodes of the hands that evening and you have a true glimpse of what is a pious Jew and a Chasid.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Biographical note:
Rabbi Yisrael-Abba (HaKohen?) Pliskin [of blessed memory: 5665 (or 5667) - 27 Sivan 5756 (1905 - June 1996] spent nearly twenty years in hiding from the NKVD (forerunner of the KGB), a consequence of his absolute dedication to helping Torah-true Jewish education survive in Communist Russia. He managed to emigrate in 1947, and after a brief period in Paris went on to be one of the founding fathers of the highly successful Chabad community it Melbourne, Australia, before eventually moving to New York and becoming a gabbai (manager) of the "770" shul and a teacher in the English-language yeshiva for young men without strong Torah backgrounds. (For more details)

Connection: 21st yahrzeit of Rav Abba.

* Editor's note: Old-time Tsfat residents may be amazed to know that one faithful attendee was Shabtai Coben of blessed memory. He even brought Rav Abba to speak to his mother, to calm her about her son's new religiosity.


One thousandth of the world’s population .5 ten thousandths of the land mass and yet almost all the time in the World News often more than China, India, Russia, France and Germany combined. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231173






I am trying to verify this about Missionaries taking over Jewish Homes.


Wolf chases young Israeli Yael (sort of deer or goat). http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231239


Teen collects money for Shoah Survivor to visit Israel. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4978191,00.html


Abuse of the Police Authority in the case of Olmert as there is a Censor in Israel. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4978481,00.html






Pressure on Hospitals - Gay Pride includes homosexual rape, torn anuses, drugs, alcohol, and diseases: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4979535,00.html



Inyanay Diyoma


Story that I missed: For two hours a Jewish Woman was tortured and then thrown out of her window to her death by a member of the Ramadan Religion of Peace and police stood by. Paris refuses to treat this as a hate crime. http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/The-antisemitic-murder-France-is-trying-to-sweep-under-the-table-496803



Dr. Martin Sherman on Gaza’s Crisis: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231140


There is an alternative to Netanyahu! http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231143


Dr. Martin Sherman Ed-Op on academic code. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/20641


Double attack in Yerushalayim: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4976838,00.html Story links here: Border Policewoman stabbed to death in Yerushalayim: Local Terror Cell: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4977012,00.html
Homes raised, weapons confiscated and stolen vehicles returned. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4976962,00.html


Border Patrol Vehicle over-turns killing the sergeant investigation starts: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4977172,00.html






As Ramadan comes to an end, the IDF goes on higher alert: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4977378,00.html


A form of terror against terror and a reaction of crazies against crazies: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/06/19/london-crash-van-slams-into-crowd-leaving-mosque-one-arrested.html


Iranian Missile accurately hits ISIS a danger to us. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231243
At first the Iranian Missile Capability was scary but on second thought it is much less scary than thought. Results dubious. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231274


Hezballah gains in the south worry both Yisrael and Yarden as Russia threatens the US. http://debka.com/article/26106/Russian-warning-US-planes-in-W-Syria-are-targets












Editorial was written before Egypt started shipping fuel for the generators. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4977795,00.html


Protest erupt as street is named after SS Officer: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4978080,00.html


Being right about Gaza Power is not enough Ed-Op Ben Dror Yemeni: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4977319,00.html







Belgistan shoots homicide bomber: Flint MI stabber captured all part of Ramadan tried to get a gun. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-michigan-airport-idUSKBN19D2RQ




ISIS takes students hostage in the Philippines. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231342


New heir is chosen in the Saudi Kingdom: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4978830,00.html




Kushner like is Democrat Brother is pretty left on the PLO and Israel. The worst Yid is a house Yid. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4977477,00.html

Remember the cold war? Well it is back in full force thanks to Obama: http://debka.com/article/26114/First-Russian-base-for-SE-Syria---near-US-garrison




Abbas’s new trick to pay terrorists: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231473




Israel may hit Iranian infrastructure if Hezballah attacks Israeli Civilians: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4979624,00.html


Another Zig-Zag for Netanyahu – Ed-OP http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4978471,00.html


Good Shabbos and Good Chodesh Tammuz,

Rachamim Pauli