Prayers for Men: Yoel HaCohain ben Henya, Avraham HaCohain ben
Yocheved, Avraham ben Devorah,Shalom Charles ben Gracia, Yoel ben Esther,
Daniel ben Rivka, Melech David ben Sulah Pearla,
Nehemiah Arieh Liab Peretz ben Esther Rachel, Eliyah ben Chana, Chaim David ben Chana Golda, Eliyahu ben Aviva, Yacov
ben Tova Ethel, Zvi Yechezkel Ben Leah, Menashe Ben Golda, Pinchas Alta
Ben Sima, Mordechai Zvi Tuvia ben Chana Edel,
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, Zahava
bas Sara, Esther bas Alice, Chana Tzipporah bas Elka Breindel, Miriam
Liba bas Devorah, Rachel Sara bas Chava Ethel
NEW NAMES listed above: Yacov ben Tova Ethel,
Rachel Sara bas Chava Ethel
The following person is recovering
from long term non-threatening injuries and need Psalms. Binum Benyamin Tuvia
ben Chana Friedel,
בס"ד
With great sorrow.
We regret to inform you of the Petira (passing) of
"Rabbi AL" Lukacs.
אברהם בן יעקב ע"ה
I have removed Avraham ben Devorah from my prayer list.
I had the craziest “random security check” in
Londonstan Airport by a few security women in Hijabs. Next to me was a
75-year-old before her was a blue-eyed 65-year-old blond. Now how many senior
citizens have committed terror? How many Rabbis that are 70 or more have tried
to blow up planes with frequent flyer tier points almost enough to give a
special lounge car for future flights. “Really alert for terrorists these folks
are” said Yoda.
Where was the Drasha – Blogspot for Parsha Devarim
and Tisha B’Av? Between traveling and having e-mail problems at the same time,
I could not do more than spend my time trying to restore my system and purchase
food for Shabbos. I don’t usually look for excuse but this was really beyond my
control. So this week I have combined two Parshiyos together.
Parsha
Devarim
Last week, we left off
that the Bnei Yisrael were at the Yarden opposite Yericho. Today the bridge is
a bit south of there. The Nevo range is nearby. Har Nevo of Moshe is a series
of mountains. At this point in time 413 Mitzvos of the Torah have been cover so
Sefer Devarim is the most Mitzvah Dense of all the Seforim.
In Devarim Moshe gives
three major Drashos. The first is Mussar starts off at the end of the 40th
year exactly 37 days before Moshe will pass on. It runs from chapters 1 through
5. From 5 onwards until 27:9 are the Halachos and from 27:10 onwards is the
farewell address and blessings.
This is also Yeshiva –
Kollel vacation time and reader vacation time. Despite things, I may shorten
the material that we shall learn. Shoftim and Ki Teitzei may be combined into
one due to a wedding and other things at that time.
The first 10 places
mentioned by Moshe are hints of things that the Bnei Yisrael did to anger
HASHEM “You have tried me these ten times” (Bamidbar 14:22).
1:1 These are the words which Moses
spoke unto all Israel beyond the Jordan; in the wilderness, in the Arabah, over
against Suph, between Paran and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Di-zahab.
Here Moshe starts off
the Mussar by reminding the people of the Egel HaZahav (golden calf).
The modern mountain
called Sinai and Kadesh Barnea which is on the border of Gaza and the current
Egyptian Border and travelling towards Seir (Aquaba area) makes sense that it
is an 11 day journey by people on foot with herds, flocks and small children.
3 And it came to pass in the
fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses
spoke unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given
him in commandment unto them; 4 after he had smitten Sihon the
king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who
dwelt in Ashtaroth, at Edrei; 5 beyond the Jordan, in the land of
Moab, took Moses upon him to expound this law, saying:
How many records are
preserved from 3,289 years ago giving the precise date, events and place? The
Torah is precise, the truth and well preserved.
6 The LORD our God spoke unto us in
Horeb, saying: 'Ye have dwelt long enough in this mountain; 7
turn you, and take your journey, and go to the hill-country of the Amorites and
unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the Arabah, in the hill-country, and in
the Lowland, and in the South, and by the sea-shore; the land of the
Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates. 8 Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land
which the LORD swore unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to
give unto them and to their seed after them.'
This part of the Mussar
is ethics via historical events.
9 And I spoke unto you at that time,
saying: 'I am not able to bear you myself alone; …
15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men, and full of knowledge, and
made them heads over you, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and
captains of fifties, and captains of tens, and officers, tribe by tribe. 16 And I charged your judges at that time, saying: 'Hear the causes
between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and
the stranger that is with him.
This was dividing the
yoke of Torah between lesser people to judge and teach for everybody cannot
bother the Gadol HaDor on simple matters.
17 Ye shall not respect persons in
judgment; ye shall hear the small and the great alike; ye shall not be afraid
of the face of any man; for the judgment is God's; and the cause that is too
hard for you ye shall bring unto me, and I will hear it.' 18 And
I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do.
While HASHEM was guiding
us by a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night, I taught you the
Halachos.
19 And we journeyed from Horeb, and
went through all that great and dreadful wilderness which ye saw, by the way to
the hill-country of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came
to Kadesh-barnea. 20 And I said unto you: 'Ye are come unto the
hill-country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God giveth unto us. 21 Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee; go up,
take possession, as the LORD, the God of thy fathers, hath spoken unto thee;
fear not, neither be dismayed.'
You were about to have
the whole land of Eretz Yisrael and to be independent again.
22 And ye came
near unto me every one of you, and said: 'Let us send men before us, that they
may search the land for us, and bring us back word of the way by which we must
go up, and the cities unto which we shall come.' …
25 And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and
brought it down unto us, and brought us back word, and said: 'Good is the land
which the LORD our God giveth unto us.' 26 Yet ye would not go
up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God; 27
and ye murmured in your tents, and said: 'Because the LORD hated us, He hath
brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the
Amorites, to destroy us. 28 Whither are we going up? our
brethren have made our heart to melt, saying: The people is greater and taller
than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; and moreover we have
seen the sons of the Anakim there.'
You shivered in your
boot about the possibility of war even though you8 are promised success. You
are in complete melt down panic.
29 Then I said unto you: 'Dread not,
neither be afraid of them. 30 The LORD your God who goes before
you, He shall fight for you, according to all that He did for you in Egypt
before your eyes; 31 and in the wilderness, where thou hast seen
how that the LORD thy God bore thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way
that ye went, until ye came unto this place. 32 Yet in this
thing ye do not believe the LORD your God,
It was more than not-believing
it was complete rebellion against G-D.
… 34 And the LORD heard the voice of
your words, and was wroth, and swore, saying: 35 'Surely there
shall not one of these men, even this evil generation, see the good land, which
I swore to give unto your fathers, 36 save Caleb the son of
Jephunneh, he shall see it; and to him will I give the land that he hath
trodden upon, and to his children; because he hath wholly followed the LORD.' 37 Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying: Thou
also shalt not go in thither; 38 Joshua the son of Nun, who
stands before thee, he shall go in thither; encourage thou him, for he shall
cause Israel to inherit it.
HASHEM saw that nothing
pleased the generation so HE decided to educate the next generation.
39 Moreover your little ones, that
ye said should be a prey, and your children, that this day have no knowledge of
good or evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they
shall possess it.
And skipping over our
by-passing our “brother” Esav, we finally came to Moav.
… 2:8 And we turned and passed by
the way of the wilderness of Moab. 9 And the LORD said unto me: 'Be not at
enmity with Moab, neither contend with them in battle; for I will not give thee
of his land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot
for a possession.
Just like Esav Moav was
not to be conquered but that did not stop Balak from his magical war with us.
-- 10 The Emim dwelt therein
aforetime, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim; 11 these also are
accounted Rephaim, as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim. 12 And in
Seir dwelt the Horites aforetime, but the children of Esau succeeded them; and
they destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did
unto the land of his possession, which the LORD gave unto them.
These are the same
Anakim that 38 plus years ago the spies were afraid of. No problem we defeated
them with the war of Og and Sichon. But as this is Mussar it is saying “Why did
you not trust in HASHEM as you defeated them like eating a peace a cake?”
… 17 that the LORD spoke unto me
saying: 18 'Thou art this day to pass over the border of Moab, even Ar; 19 and
when thou come nigh over against the children of Ammon, harass them not, nor
contend with them; for I will not give thee of the land of the children of
Ammon for a possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a
possession.
Just like Esav and Moav we are forbidden to attack
Ammon.
3:1 Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan; and Og the king
of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, unto battle at Edrei. 2
And the LORD said unto me: 'Fear him not; for I have delivered him, and all his
people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst
unto Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.' 3 So the LORD our God
delivered into our hand Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people; and we
smote him until none was left to him remaining.
We see that with relative ease, HASHEM helped us take the land of
these powerful kings.
11
For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim; behold, his
bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbah of the children of Ammon?
nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after
the cubit of a man.
Based on 18 inches or 45 cm, the bed in which Og fits in was. 4.05
meters’ length or 20.25 feet. The width being 1.8 meters or 6 feet. So all the
Aggadah about him being tall is a hidden secret story and message.
… 21
And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying: 'Thine eyes have seen all that the
LORD your God hath done unto these two kings; so shall the LORD do unto all the
kingdoms whither thou go over.
No man is irreplaceable. You are my replacement.
22
Ye shall not fear them; for the LORD your God, He it is that fights for you.'
The Parsha concludes that HE will fight of us.
Parsha
Vaeschanan
3:23 And I besought the LORD at that time, saying: …
26 But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and hearkened not unto me;
and the LORD said unto me: 'Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto Me of this
matter.
Moshe essentially put Am Yisrael’s needs above his own.
For on his normal merits, he could have entered the land. However, he lost his
temper at them for their behavior causing G-D to be wroth with him for not do
what HE commanded so Moshe lost out.
27 Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes
westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold with thine
eyes; for thou shalt not go over this Jordan. 28 But charge Joshua, and
encourage him, and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and
he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.'
Moshe will see the promised land but only Yehoshua
shall enter it leading the people on to conquest.
29 So we abode in the valley over against Beth-peor.
This was the last major sin of the people so we are
still in Mussar.
4:1
And now, O Israel, hearken unto the statutes and unto the ordinances, which I
teach you, to do them; that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which
the LORD, the God of your fathers, giveth you. 2 Ye shall not add unto the word
which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the
commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Nobody can ever add or delete a word from Torah.
3
Your eyes have seen what the LORD did in Baal-peor; for all the men that
followed the Baal of Peor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from the midst
of thee. 4 But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of
you this day.
You see what happened to those who strayed from the path of
HASHEM. So it you want to live you will have to comply to the laws of HASHEM.
As the Mussar ends Moshe reminds the people of the standing at Har Sinai also
known as Horev.
10
the day that thou stood before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said
unto me: 'Assemble Me the people, and I will make them hear My words that they
may learn to fear Me all the days that they live upon the earth, and that they
may teach their children.' 11 And ye came near and stood under
the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the heart of heaven, with
darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. 12 And the LORD spoke unto
you out of the midst of the fire; ye heard the voice of words, but ye saw no
form; only a voice. 13 And He declared unto you His covenant,
which He commanded you to perform, even the ten words (sayings);
and He wrote them upon two tables of stone.
If we read the full Hebrew, it is more than 10 words it is called
Asera Dibros or sayings that is perhaps why I dislike the 1917 translation
(albeit free on the internet) which is based on the KJV of the non-Jews. Now on
the Luchos there might have been only about 10 works but most likely a few
negative ones would have the Hebrew Lamed Aleph or Lo before murder, steal,
adultery and Ayin Lamed or Al before coveting.
14
And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and ordinances,
that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it. 15 Take ye
therefore good heed unto yourselves--for ye saw no manner of form on the day
that the LORD spoke unto you in Horev out of the midst of the fire.
Those who were under 18 - 19 at the time of the revelation were at
Sinai so they would still be part of the military. It was still clear in their
minds some 38 - 39 years later. Those under 40 would be of the generation after
the revelation and all subsequent generations would not know anybody who was
there. [Those who went through the Shoah want to preserve the records on film
for the generation that will be born after the last survivor is gone.]
23
Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which
He made with you, and make you a graven image, even the likeness of any thing
which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee. 24 For the LORD thy God is a
devouring fire, a jealous God.
We look at some of the images and statues that we see in museums
and scratch our heads today. Some people say that they made ‘miracles’ by
manipulation others by negative spiritual entities like those who brought frogs
before Pharaoh. For how can we see these things. YET ON THE CARL BRIDGE IN
PRAGUE A FEW YEARS AGO, I SAW PEOPLE WAITING ON LINE TO HOLD ON TO AND KISS A
STATUE OF A SAINT OR YESHU.
… 26
I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon
utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over the Jordan to possess it;
ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.
When you become corrupt, and worship false gods, you will be
destroyed from the land.
27
And the LORD shall scatter you among the peoples, and ye shall be left few in
number among the nations, whither the LORD shall lead you away. ... 30 In thy
distress, when all these things are come upon thee, in the end of days, thou
wilt return to the LORD thy God, and hearken unto His voice; 31 for the LORD
thy God is a merciful God; He will not fail thee, neither destroy thee, nor
forget the covenant of thy fathers which He swore unto them.
But it is not going to be sweet with the Jihad, Inquisition,
Shoah, Pogroms, Talmud Burnings and assorted rapes, murders and forced
conversions.
… 36
Out of heaven He made thee to hear His voice, that He might instruct thee; and
upon earth He made thee to see His great fire; and thou didst hear His words
out of the midst of the fire. …39 know this day, and lay it to thy heart, that
the LORD, He is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath; there is none
else. 40 And thou shalt keep His statutes, and His commandments, which I
command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children
after thee, and that thou may prolong thy days upon the land, which the LORD
thy God giveth thee, forever.
I brought down the above words to summarize what is the theme of
the Mussar to make the people understand G-D.
41 Then Moses separated three cities beyond the Jordan toward the
sunrising; … 43 Bezer, Ramoth and Golan. … 46 beyond the Jordan, in the valley over against Beth-peor, in
the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, whom Moses and
the children of Israel smote, when they came forth out of Egypt; 47
and they took his land in possession, and the land of Og king of Bashan, the
two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan toward the sunrising; 48 from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of Arnon, even
unto mount Sion--the same is Hermon.
Pray that there will be no accidental manslaughter and that one
should remember that HASHEM has given us the land.
5:1
And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them: Hear, O Israel, the
statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may
learn them, and observe to do them. 2 The LORD our God made a covenant with us
in Horev. 3 The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even
us, who are all of us here alive this day.
Having live witnesses to the events at Sinai reinforced the words
of Moshe.
4
The LORD spoke with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire.
You were there and received the words straight from the L-RD.
5 I
stood between the LORD and you at that time, to declare unto you the word of
the LORD; for ye were afraid because of the fire, and went not up into the
mount--saying: 6 I am the LORD thy God, who brought thee out of the land of
Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. 7
Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, even any manner of likeness, of
anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is
in the water under the earth. 8 Thou shalt not bow down unto them, nor serve
them; for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the
fathers upon the children, and upon the third and upon the fourth generation of
them that hate Me, 9 and showing mercy unto the thousandth generation of them
that love Me and keep My commandments. 10 Thou shalt not take the name of the
LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His
name in vain. 11 Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD thy God
commanded thee.
The first time we are told to remember the Shabbos. It is
important for if one forgets the laws of the 39 Melachos or what is permissible
and what is forbidden one can come to sin. This time Moshe tells us to guard
the Shabbos. For like in his previous warning of exile and remembering the
people one must guard in Gallus the Shabbos despite being among the nations of
the world. There are more fine differences which I discussed last year and one
can check in the archives of the blogspot.
12
Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; 13 but the seventh day is a Sabbath
unto the LORD thy God, in it thou shalt not do any manner of work, thou, nor
thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thine
ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy
gates; that thy man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest as well as thou.
No Melacha can be done on the Shabbos by a Jew even a servant that
Beis Din sold because of thievery.
14
And thou shalt remember that thou was a servant in the land of Egypt, and the
LORD thy God brought thee out thence by a mighty hand and by an outstretched
arm; therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the Sabbath day.
Who ordains that somebody will be a servant or master? HE has
commanded you to observe the Shabbos along with your servants.
15
Honor thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God commanded thee; that thy
days may be long, and that it may go well with thee, upon the land which the
LORD thy God gives thee.
This Mitzvah and the one with sending the mother bird from the
nest are the only two that promise a long life but it does not have to be in
this world but in the next.
16
Thou shalt not murder.
It says murder and not kill. For a soldier and policeman can kill
for the safety of the public and the witnesses can kill the person whom the
Sanhedrin has authorized. However, to become a person who blows up civilians or
murders that the court hasn’t ruled upon
is forbidden.
Neither
shalt thou commit adultery.
Adultery can occur only between a married woman but if the woman
is a square dancer and changes partners every week but is not married there is
no adultery. She and her lovers can be punished by the Beis Din for relations
without a Ketuba but there is no adultery just immodesty. Problems arise with
common-in-law wives and partners but that is not marriage according to the laws
of Moshe and Yisrael.
Neither
shalt thou steal. Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor.
17 Neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor's wife; neither shalt thou desire thy
neighbor's house, his field, or his man-servant, or his maid-servant, his ox,
or his ass, or anything that is thy neighbor's.
Stealing is the lazy person’s way to earn things without work. The
thief has no regard for the neighbor. If one covets too much he can become a
thief or a murderer. Saddam Hussein would covet a wife of a general and if he
did not divorce her, she became a widow and there was no adultery as for murder
that did not bother him. The Tzaddik on the other hand says “Baruch HASHEM that
HE has blessed my neighbor” I should rejoice for him and if I work hard, give
charity and pray maybe I will get to be like him. Or I am rich for I am
satisfied in my lot and don’t need all the luxuries of the world.
18
These words the LORD spoke unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst
of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice, and
it went on no more. And He wrote them upon two tables of stone, and gave them
unto me.
This was the Luchos that were given before the Egel HaZahav and
were broken by Moshe when he saw the flagrant violation of: 7
Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, even any manner of likeness, of
anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is
in the water under the earth. 8 Thou shalt not bow down unto them, nor serve
them; which caused him to lose his temper.
19
And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness,
while the mountain did burn with fire, that ye came near unto me, even all the
heads of your tribes, and your elders; 20 and ye said: 'Behold, the LORD our
God hath shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice out
of the midst of the fire; we have seen this day that God doth speak with man,
and he lives. … 24 And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spoke
unto me; and the LORD said unto me: 'I have heard the voice of the words of
this people, which they have spoken unto thee; they have well said all that
they have spoken. 25 Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear Me,
and keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them, and with their
children forever! 26 Go say to them: Return ye to your tents.
I believe that I read somewhere that had we heard all the ten
commandments we would never have gone into Gallus and the Moshiach would have
come a few thousand years ago.
27
But as for thee, stand thou here by Me, and I will speak unto thee all the
commandment, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which thou shalt teach them,
that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.'
The Mussar ends and the section dealing with the commands starts
at this point. Although this is one Parsha, the real action took place days
later from the first half.
6:1
Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the ordinances, which the LORD
your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye
go over to possess it. 2 that thou might fear the LORD thy God, to keep all His
statutes and His commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy
son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
The Mitzvos are to live by them and to have the dynamic effect
that if you guard them with care and observe them, they will guard you and
preserve your life. They are literally the “length of our days” as we mention
in our prayers.
3
Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee,
and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD, the God of thy fathers, hath
promised unto thee--a land flowing with milk and honey.
In Meseches Berachos Daf 5, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai says that
three gifts the Holy One Blessed be HE gave to Am Yisrael and these are: 1)
Torah 2) Eretz Yisrael and 3) Olam HaBa and they all come through trials and
tribulations (Yissorim). So if at first you come into Israel as a new immigrant
and see a land that “gobbles up its people”, remember you are looking at it as
a spy did. But if you start adjusting and blending into the land and the
Mitzvos, you will see it as a land flowing with milk and honey. If this bag of
Yissorim goes for Jews all the more so for converts.
4
Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
I have written in past Drashos of how one combines THE NAME with
the 70 NAMES (Shin Mem with the Ayin NAMES) and how the Ayin of Shema and the
Dalet of Ehud combines to spell Ayd or witness that this is the truth. How many
Jews have died in the Inquisition, Shoah and other tortures saying this
foundation of truth. Hillel told the Ger who wanted to learn Judaism by
standing on one foot, the Shema and love thy neighbor as yourself (Vayikra
19:18) and the rest is commentary. Go and learn this and the commentaries.
5
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy might.
With all your heart – even in bad times. With all your soul - even
if HE takes your soul in the process. With all your might – your possessions.
6
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart; 7 and
thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when
thou sit in thy house, and when thou walk by the way, and when thou lie down,
and when thou rise up.
These words shall be passed on from generation to generation and
they shall be part of you (I would add even in your sleep) but certain from the
time you say Modeh Ani in the morning until the blessings of the Shema upon
going to bed, they and the L-RD shall be before you always.
8
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for
frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts
of thy house, and upon thy gates.
It is not the alarm system and the police that guard your house
from burglary, fire, a lightning strike but the Mezuzos.
10
And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land which He
swore unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee--great
and goodly cities, which thou didst not build, 11 and houses full of all good
things, which thou didst not fill, and cisterns hewn out, which thou didst not
hew, vineyards and olive-trees, which thou didst not plant, and thou shalt eat
and be satisfied.
Observe properly and eat and be satisfied in your portion.
12
then beware lest thou forget the LORD, who brought thee forth out of the land
of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; and
Him shalt thou serve, and by His name shalt thou swear. 14 Ye shall not go
after other gods, of the gods of the peoples that are round about you; 15 for a
jealous God, even the LORD thy God, is in the midst of thee; lest the anger of
the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and He destroy thee from off the face
of the earth.
Here is the deal you shall love G-D as in the Shema and fear HIM
so as not to go astray. You shall not go after the other so-called Monotheistic
religions by being enticed. For they are strange unto Judaism. The Jihad and
writings of the poetic flow of the Koran is not what G-D wants for a Jew. And
nobody died for your sins or will die for you sins but you which is the
Christian Belief. Neither is the trinity any part of our belief. I have brought
down many times Shemos 4:22 in which Yisrael is called the first born son.
There is no only son in Judaism. These religions are perhaps not the Avoda Zara
that existed once upon a time, but for a Jewish Neshama, they are.
… 20
When thy son asks thee in time to come, saying: 'What mean the testimonies, and
the statutes, and the ordinances, which the LORD our God hath commanded you? 21
then thou shalt say unto thy son: 'We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the
LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 And the LORD showed signs
and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his house,
before our eyes. 23 And He brought us out from thence, that He might bring us
in, to give us the land which He swore unto our fathers. 24 And the LORD
commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good
always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. 25 And it shall
be righteousness unto us, if we observe to do all this commandment before the
LORD our God, as He hath commanded us.'
The Bnei Yisrael rely upon transmission of the Torah to their
children in the future and continuing the chain link by link of generations of
Torah and Mitzvos. Some of us like myself had a few weak chains in the past few
generations but the golden links of the merits of our forefathers bring us
back. Education is the future of Judaism and improper education is the end.
Torah without Avoda can exist for a few Rabbis but not all. Avoda without Torah
will lead to madness and self-destruction. We see people begging all the time
who only learned Torah and we see the Reform movement that is slowly dying out
of Judaism through lack of reproduction. Each are harmful. That is why the
Sages of blessed memory said in Avos be careful lest your children or students
drink from poisoned wells and you die off. Hiding the secular from the
religious children as in Meah Shaarim often leads to complete rebellion. That
is why the Sages say Torah and Derek Eretz makes one forget sin.
7: …
11 Thou shalt therefore keep the commandment, and the statutes, and the
ordinances, which I command thee this day, to do them.
In the last four weeks 6 friends or a spouse of a friend
have passed away. Now I got this about DANIEL BEN RIVKA a close buddy since
1965. He desperately needs a kidney. He has been on my pray list for a few
years. HE NEEDS A KIDNEY DONATION as his first kidney he lost in early 1969
about the time I lost my father. I received this from his sister-in-law.
Dear Rachamim,
Hi. This is Chelle, Bobi’s (nickname for Barbara) (& Del’s) sister.
We are desperately attempting to find a suitable donor
for a kidney. Del is currently on dialysis and is in End Stage Kidney Disease.
A living donor (blood type O) offers him the best chance for an extended life
and more time with his family. Del is loved by so
many.
Bobi and Del recently connected with an organization
called Renewal. This organization helps to find suitable donors for people in
dire need of kidneys. A lot of reaching out is done via emails and social
media. We are asking for your help in reaching the masses.
We have a web site set up where we are also posting many
of the letters that have been written on Del’s behalf. Go to https://kidney4del.wordpress.com/ to see it; scroll down to see
individual posts.
We are asking for 3 things:
#1- Would you please write a few lines (a post) about
what Del means to you, something about your relationship, or something about
Del contributions (it can be any or all so long as it comes from the heart).
Renewal recommends that we humanize and tug at heart-strings. Also any digital
pics of you and Del (or Del in family situations) would also be appreciated.
#2- Would you please forward this site (in entirety or
individual posts) to all of your email contacts, local organizations, houses of
worship, unions, etc.? Also post on Facebook and/or Twitter. This will help get
the word out. To forward an individual post click on the heading of that post
first.
#3- If you, and this is admittedly the hardest request
for me to make, or anyone you know might be a compatible donor, please consider
having yourself tested. For more information about kidney donation, please call
718 431-9831 or email R9196@renewal.org . Renewal’s website is www.renewal.org Please be sure to use Del’s name.
Getting tested is no obligation.
Please consider doing any or all of the above, anything
you can do will help.
If you submit a letter, please write from your heart — I
can fill in the necessary referral info for the post. Please email your words
to me at and put “Del” in the subject line. It can be just a few lines or a
full letter, it all helps. Also please forward this email (or send me their
email) to anyone you know who might want to contribute to this effort.
Thank you so much for your help and prayers,
With love,
Chelle.
“Rabbi” Avraham Lukas a few words.
Rabbi A. L. was not really a Rabbi but more a
Shaliach Tzibur for many ill people and perhaps like a Shamash of the Rav (a
servant of the Congregation). He was a Chassid of Rabbi Herbst Shlita of the
Congregation of Premishlan in Borough Park Brooklyn. He was ill with diabetes
so had to visit the hospital in the area. He began walking around the hospital
and visit Jews that were ill. He earned the name Rabbi for that and would
listen to their stories and add their names to his weekly prayer list. He had
on the list those wanting Shidduchim, undergoing fertility treatments, even
great Rabbis who were ill from Eretz Yisrael some of whom who passed on.
However, he had a secret which perhaps only a few
Rabbis knew. He had lost his mother at a young age and had a father with
advanced diabetes in the legs. He had to take his father to Schul and be his
aide. This left him little time to play or mingle with others growing up.
Somebody should have had the Jewish Family Services help this family. Instead
he did everything by himself. Other youths took advantage of him and abused his
want of attention and good helpful nature.
His father passed away before he reached marriageable
age and without guidance or help in finding a Shidduch, his shy nature kept too
demurred. If I had only known him 20 to 30 years sooner, I might have been able
to give him big brother type guidance and help in marrying. [For some reason my
generation of NY Jews were shy males – my brother only married at the age of 39
and another friend never married with one friend marrying in his 40’s it is no
wonder why the demographics of Jews in the States does not rise.]
The Coachman Disguise
by Rabbi Y. Tilles
In general,
the study hall of Rabbi Boruch was a joyous place. During the Nine Days before
Tisha B'Av, however, the atmosphere was rather somber, as if a dark cloud
hovered above.
The tzadik himself had disappeared; no one knew where he was. Rumor had it that Rabbi Boruch had disguised himself as a beggar and was wandering from town to town, the better to experience the exile of the Divine Presence.
In the village square stood a wagon driver next to his horses. To all outward appearances he looked like any other wagon driver, but it was really Rabbi Boruch in a new disguise. It didn't take long until a Polish nobleman asked to engage his services.
The tzadik made a quick calculation: If everything went well, he would make it back to town on the day before Tisha B'Av. He agreed to take the nobleman to his destination, and the two set off.
Now, the horses that Rabbi Boruch had procured were not exactly in their prime; the poor specimens could barely pull the wagon and stopped every few feet to rest. The most tranquil of passengers would have found it irritating; how much more so did the Polish nobleman, who was in a hurry to reach his destination. The tzadik was subjected to a steady stream of curses and insults. But he remained silent, feeling acutely the pain and affront to the Divine Presence in exile.
The journey would take several days, and each evening the two travelers sought refuge in an inn. The nobleman obtained the finest accommodations, while Rabbi Boruch slept in the barn with his horses. The tzadik made sure to don his tefilin and pray several hours before the nobleman woke up. Only afterwards would he rouse him to resume their travels.
One morning, however, when Rabbi Boruch knocked on the nobleman's door he received no answer. The nobleman, he soon realized, was in a drunken stupor, having spent the night before carousing with some local peasants. With great difficulty the tzadik managed to haul him over to the wagon and dump him in. Throughout it all, the nobleman remained unconscious.
The next stage of the journey took them through a dense forest. The horses plodded along at their usual sluggish pace, keeping time with the nobleman's loud snores. Rabbi Boruch was lost in thought.
Suddenly, a terrible pain ripped through the tzadik's head. When he woke up he found himself tied to a tree, with the Polish nobleman in similar circumstances. The horses and wagon were gone, but Rabbi Boruch noticed that his prayer book, talit and tefilin had been tossed aside. Immediately he thanked G-d for having saved his life.
Moving his arms and legs the tzadik was able to gradually loosen his bonds. The first thing he did was to pick up his prayer book, talit andtefilin and kiss them. Next he turned his attention to the Polish nobleman, who was still unconscious but appeared to be breathing.
Rabbi Boruch found a stream and splashed some water on the man's face. Nonetheless, it took a few hours until his eyelids fluttered. "What happened?" the nobleman stammered. "Why am I lying on the ground?"
The tzadik told him what had happened, but as soon as he heard the word "robbers" he began to scream. "My money! My money!" Rabbi Boruch tried to calm him down and told him that he should be grateful for being alive, but the nobleman remained extremely agitated and kept looking at the tzadik with barely concealed suspicion.
With no other choice the two set out on foot. After wandering for several days they came upon an encampment of hunters, some of whom were the nobleman's friends. Out of earshot of the wagon driver, the nobleman told them that he suspected his companion of having stolen his money. His suspicion was based on the simple fact that the driver was the only person who had known of its existence.
One hunter suggested that they shoot him immediately, but the oldest member of the party demurred. "Let's tie him to a tree," he proposed. "If he's guilty, he will die. If not, then G-d help him." The tzadik was immediately seized and bound.
Night fell, and Rabbi Boruch's tears flowed freely as he prayed the evening service. From the depths of his heart he implored G-d to save him, his voice echoing back in the eerie silence.
The sound of approaching footsteps suddenly cut off his words. It was the old hunter who had returned, the very one who had objected to killing him. "I wanted to see how you were," he said. "I never thought you were guilty in the first place. The real robbers have just been apprehended and have admitted to everything. It seems that when our foolish friend got drunk the other night, he boasted to everyone about all the money he was carrying."
It was the night of Tisha B'Av when Rabbi Boruch arrived back at the study hall, where his disciples were waiting for him expectantly. And everyone noticed that the tzadik's reading of the Book of Lamentations was especially emotional that year.
The tzadik himself had disappeared; no one knew where he was. Rumor had it that Rabbi Boruch had disguised himself as a beggar and was wandering from town to town, the better to experience the exile of the Divine Presence.
In the village square stood a wagon driver next to his horses. To all outward appearances he looked like any other wagon driver, but it was really Rabbi Boruch in a new disguise. It didn't take long until a Polish nobleman asked to engage his services.
The tzadik made a quick calculation: If everything went well, he would make it back to town on the day before Tisha B'Av. He agreed to take the nobleman to his destination, and the two set off.
Now, the horses that Rabbi Boruch had procured were not exactly in their prime; the poor specimens could barely pull the wagon and stopped every few feet to rest. The most tranquil of passengers would have found it irritating; how much more so did the Polish nobleman, who was in a hurry to reach his destination. The tzadik was subjected to a steady stream of curses and insults. But he remained silent, feeling acutely the pain and affront to the Divine Presence in exile.
The journey would take several days, and each evening the two travelers sought refuge in an inn. The nobleman obtained the finest accommodations, while Rabbi Boruch slept in the barn with his horses. The tzadik made sure to don his tefilin and pray several hours before the nobleman woke up. Only afterwards would he rouse him to resume their travels.
One morning, however, when Rabbi Boruch knocked on the nobleman's door he received no answer. The nobleman, he soon realized, was in a drunken stupor, having spent the night before carousing with some local peasants. With great difficulty the tzadik managed to haul him over to the wagon and dump him in. Throughout it all, the nobleman remained unconscious.
The next stage of the journey took them through a dense forest. The horses plodded along at their usual sluggish pace, keeping time with the nobleman's loud snores. Rabbi Boruch was lost in thought.
Suddenly, a terrible pain ripped through the tzadik's head. When he woke up he found himself tied to a tree, with the Polish nobleman in similar circumstances. The horses and wagon were gone, but Rabbi Boruch noticed that his prayer book, talit and tefilin had been tossed aside. Immediately he thanked G-d for having saved his life.
Moving his arms and legs the tzadik was able to gradually loosen his bonds. The first thing he did was to pick up his prayer book, talit andtefilin and kiss them. Next he turned his attention to the Polish nobleman, who was still unconscious but appeared to be breathing.
Rabbi Boruch found a stream and splashed some water on the man's face. Nonetheless, it took a few hours until his eyelids fluttered. "What happened?" the nobleman stammered. "Why am I lying on the ground?"
The tzadik told him what had happened, but as soon as he heard the word "robbers" he began to scream. "My money! My money!" Rabbi Boruch tried to calm him down and told him that he should be grateful for being alive, but the nobleman remained extremely agitated and kept looking at the tzadik with barely concealed suspicion.
With no other choice the two set out on foot. After wandering for several days they came upon an encampment of hunters, some of whom were the nobleman's friends. Out of earshot of the wagon driver, the nobleman told them that he suspected his companion of having stolen his money. His suspicion was based on the simple fact that the driver was the only person who had known of its existence.
One hunter suggested that they shoot him immediately, but the oldest member of the party demurred. "Let's tie him to a tree," he proposed. "If he's guilty, he will die. If not, then G-d help him." The tzadik was immediately seized and bound.
Night fell, and Rabbi Boruch's tears flowed freely as he prayed the evening service. From the depths of his heart he implored G-d to save him, his voice echoing back in the eerie silence.
The sound of approaching footsteps suddenly cut off his words. It was the old hunter who had returned, the very one who had objected to killing him. "I wanted to see how you were," he said. "I never thought you were guilty in the first place. The real robbers have just been apprehended and have admitted to everything. It seems that when our foolish friend got drunk the other night, he boasted to everyone about all the money he was carrying."
It was the night of Tisha B'Av when Rabbi Boruch arrived back at the study hall, where his disciples were waiting for him expectantly. And everyone noticed that the tzadik's reading of the Book of Lamentations was especially emotional that year.
Stupidity of the year. Woman buys Boa Constrictor and
is attacked by her pet. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/233253
Arab tractor thieves thwarted in heightened security alert. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/232807
Bribery and corruption on the highest level in submarine
procurement scandal why an agent with a larger commission was chosen over the
cheaper commission one. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4997199,00.html
Inyanay
Diyoma
Hezballah and Syria to launch a new offensive. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4992421,00.html
ISIS reportedly broken badly: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/07/21/isis-broken-but-leader-slipped-away-due-to-leak-says-key-general.html
3 murdered by terrorist not so far from my home: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4992716,00.html
Debka Link: http://debka.com/article/26153/This-is-a-war-for-sovereign-control-of-Temple-Mt
IDF meets resistance when trying to arrest helpers of terrorist: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4992764,00.html
Turkish Synagogue targeted: http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Istanbul-protesters-kick-synagogues-doors-to-demonstrate-security-measures-at-Temple-Mount-500419
It never was about metal detectors for even cameras are not good it
is about who is in charge of security on the Temple Mount aka Har HaBeis. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4993044,00.html
It is about Jews not metal detectors: https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/07/21/the-argument-is-about-jews-not-metal-detectors/
Chief Rabbi sorry that the terrorist was not killed: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4992954,00.html
From newspaper headlines you would think that it is dangerous in
Yerushalayim. Not the case, my grandson visited the Kotel and I took three 12
year olds up to the presenting of the Tephillin to my forester son. Still riots
in the Arab areas. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/232877
Ed-Op Dr. Martin Sherman Temple Mount aka Har HaBeis. http://www.israelifrontline.com/2017/07/fray-temple-mount-attack-demise-one-state-theory.html
After stabbing attack, Jordan diplomatic crises resolved: http://debka.com/article/26154/Israel-Jordan-crisis-over-diplomats-leave-embassy
Israel called upon to recognize ISIS genocide: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4993737,00.html
Ed-OP Yemeni why Muslims have this inferior complex. (This leads to the Dhimmi Complex of superiority). http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4993554,00.html
77% of Israelis regard removal of metal detectors surrender of
Israel. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/232995
Rabbi starts a fight to stop LGBT take-over of Israel. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/233002
ADL is now the tool of Obama, Soros and the left attacking
non-antisemites from the right. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/233001
Riots by the religion of peace followers on Har HaBeis as they
return to their Jihad. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4995360,00.html
Capitulation by Israel is a big problem. http://debka.com/article/26157/Israel-capitulates-to-Palestinian-escalation
N. Korea is playing with fire. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4995732,00.html and http://debka.com/article/26163/Trump-under-NKorean-and-Iranian-missile-siege
US is against Venezuela the friend of Iran and a dictatorship. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/07/31/state-department-slams-venezuela-sham-elections.html
Members of Congress, Pakistani IT man and bank fraud. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/07/27/lawyer-for-wasserman-schultz-ex-it-aide-fraud-count-might-be-placeholder-for-more-charges.html
Republicans are spineless an Ed-Op video by Hannity: http://video.foxnews.com/v/5527326010001/?#sp=show-clips
US viewed as paper tiger so toughness is on the rise. http://debka.com/article/26164/Trump-Putin-Xi-Talking-fades-to-shows-of-force
Iranian fake profile lures people to provide info. Fake woman works
on high positioned individuals in sensitive companies in the US, India, Saudi
and Israel is exposed and probably not the only catfishing. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4997134,00.html
After fighting off a major Iranian cyber-attack, an Israeli firm
lands a big contract with a US business. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/233257
SWAT team finally arrests Abdul, a convert to the religion of
peace, for his violence. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/233275
From Gary: Security leaks and IT breaches in the Pakistan –
Wasserman Schultz scandal: http://www.thenationalpatriot.com/2017/08/trouble-brewing-in-the-democratic-party/
When you fall in love make sure that it is with a humane person.
Jewish girl friend of Arab murdered in 8th month. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4997685,00.html
No wonder Trump chose him, he has the brains to see that no
solution can be found with a group whose hand is on everything. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4997392,00.html
When will all the groundless hatred end? – Ed-Op on Tisha B’Av http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4997054,00.html
Cutting out prayer and the ten commandments introducing the 5
pillars of Islam in schools. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/233384
Russia, Iran, N. Korea poo-poo US sanctions in public. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4998163,00.html
Deputy Mayor arrested over connection to Mafia hit in Israel. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4998240,00.html
Russia sends 2000 more troops to Syria: http://debka.com/article/26165/Russia-flies-2-000-mercenary-troops-into-Syria
New Commander of the Israeli Seals is religious. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/233383
My Rabbis told me not to go up the Temple Mount. Here is the former
chief Rabbi. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/233340
A blessed and peaceful Shabbos to all,
Rachamim Pauli
