Friday, January 12, 2018

Parsha Va'eira Part I love and marriage



Medical Miracle. Like past stories with Rebbitzen Hedva Silberfarb Zal (Hedva’s Bridge) and Rabbi Adam Levenson Zal often the doctors expect a person to die within a week or even that day and prayers save the person from death for years. In Rabbi Adam’s case both his parents were MD’s and knew how grave the situation was. But prayers at the Kotel pulled him through. Both lived approximately three years more than they were expected to live.


Rabbi Kochavi’s Nephew is a paramedic. He was called to an area in Bnei Barak at night. He took his motorcycle down a narrow path to get there sooner. He did not know that there were stairs on the path. He ended up in critical condition in the ICU and was hanging in between this world and the next. The paramedics of all religious persuasions started saying Tehillim for him daily. After two weeks he started to awaken and squeeze the hand touching him. He woke up and stood up. The doctor entering the ICU with his coffee dropped the cup when he saw him standing. The doctor said, “I did not expect you to pull through!” The fellow with tubes inside of him could not talk but pointed heavenward. Even the doctor had to acknowledge that for only THE HOLY ONE BLESSED BE HE could have saved the paramedic.


THE FOLLOWING IS A CORRECTION TO AN ERROR IN MY MEMORY. FOR I ONLY RECALLED LEVI LIVING 133 YEARS WHEN IN FACT HE LIVED 137. THE SECTION OF VAYISHLACH SHOULD READ AS FOLLOWS AND I HAVE CORRECTED ON THE INTERNET BLOGSPOT. FOR ONE OF THE GREATEST SINS A RABBI CAN DO IS TO MAKE AN ERRONEOUS TEACHING.


ּ27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father to Mamre, to Kiriatharba--the same is Hebron--where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.

Mamre: The name of the plain. Kiriath-arba: The name of the city. [Therefore,] מַמְרֵא קִרְיַת   הָאַרְבָּע means “the plain of Kiriath-arba.” If you say that it should have been written: מַמְרֵא הַקִרְיַת אַרְבָּע [the answer is that] this is biblical style. In every case of a compound name such as this (קִרְיַת הָאַרְבָּע), and such asבֵּית-לֶחֶם, אִבִי עֶזֶר, בֵּית-אֵל, when a “hey” needs to be added, it is prefixed to the second word:“the Bethlehemite (בֵּיתהַלַחְמִי)” (I Sam. 16:1);“in Ophrah of the Abiezrites (אַבִי הָעֶזְרִי)” (Jud. 6:24);“Hiel the Bethelite (בֵּית-הָאֱלִי) built” (I Kings 16:34).

I have always wondered based on Ibn Ezra that Rivka was 14 when she married Yitzchak if Yacov saw her again before she died. We know that Rivka and Levi lived the same number of years so the answer is in Shemos 6:16 And the years of the life of Levi were a hundred thirty and seven years. (Doing the equations, Rivka was either 133 or 134 years and Yitzchak was 159 when Yacov returned.)




Parsha Va’eira Part I



The people are feeling depressed. Their Redeemer did not deliver on his promise to release them from slavery. Their G-D has yet to fulfill HIS promise to bring them into the land. They now have to bring straw for pouring the concrete molds to make the Pyramid Blocks. Moshe had lost all of the little confidence that he had in his ability to be a leader of the people. Just as he was losing hope, HASHEM steps in to give him a boost and tell him that there will be more “setbacks” as Pharaoh will have his heart hardened.


6:2 And God spoke unto Moses, and said unto him: 'I am the LORD; 3 and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name YHWH I made Me not known to them.


There are at least two ways of approaching the allowing the TETRAGRAMATION to be known to all. 1) The faith of Avraham, Yitzchak, Yacov and the twelve brothers was so strong that they did not need the powerful name to work miracles. 2) The nation has now matured into the getting to know the NAME. As for me, I tend to go with the first idea of the two as the generations appeared to be getting weaker and the Bnei Yisrael were down to the 49th level of Tuma in Egypt.

My ideas were based on Pshat but Rashi works with tradition and what was incomplete with HASHEM was his promise therefore the Midas Ha Rachamim (The knowledge of G-D’s Compassion) was not expressed. In the Yud Kay Vav Kay is contained the Rachamim of HASHEM.

But [with] My name YHWH, I did not become known to them: It is not written here לֹא הוֹדַעְתִּי, “but My Name YHWH I did not make known to them,” but לֹא נוֹדַעְתִּי, “I did not become known.” [I.e.,] I was not recognized by them with My attribute of keeping faith, by dint of which My name is called YHWH, [which means that I am] faithful to verify My words, for I made promises to them, but I did not fulfill [them while they were alive].


4 And I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their sojournings, wherein they sojourned.


And also, I established My covenant, etc.: And also, when I appeared to them as the Almighty God, I established and set up a covenant between Myself and them. To give them the land of Canaan: To Abraham in the section dealing with [the commandment of] circumcision (Gen. 17), it is said: “I am the Almighty God… And I will give you and your seed after you the land of your sojournings” (Gen. 17:1, 8). To Isaac [it is stated], “for to you and to your seed I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham” (Gen. 26:3), and that oath which I swore to Abraham was spoken with the [name] “Almighty God.” To Jacob [it is said], “I am the Almighty God; be fruitful and multiply, etc. And the land that, etc.” (Gen. 35:11, 12). So you see that I vowed to them [many vows], but I did not fulfill [My vows yet].


At this point, HASHEM is calming down a very distraught Moshe who is at his wits end. It will continue for the next few lines.


5 And moreover I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered My covenant. 6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel: I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments; 7 and I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning which I lifted up My hand to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for a heritage: I am the LORD.' 9 And Moses spoke so unto the children of Israel; but they hearkened not unto Moses for impatience of spirit, and for cruel bondage.


Moshe might have been in a depressed mood when he heard the calming words from HASHEM. However, the people did not hear them from HASHEM until Har Sinai and they wanted nothing to do with Moshe at this point. Instead of redeeming them, he only made their burdens worse.


10 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 11 'Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.' 12 And Moses spoke before the LORD, saying: 'Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?'


Moshe is not a politician or an eloquent speaker with his speech impairment. He was humble and felt insufficient to manage the task.


13 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. … And the years of the life of Levi were a hundred thirty and seven years.


**This year I based the life of Levi which, I know was equal to the life of Rivka that I had recalled being 133 years based on a slight lapse of memory of this Pasuk. This Pasuk indicates that Rivka did get to see the children of Yacov.


The family tree of Levi is being skipped at this time. I may bring it down for Pasha Korach for he felt passed over in his importance.


26 These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the LORD said: 'Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their hosts.' 27 These are they that spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. These are that Moses and Aaron. 28 And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spoke unto Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 that the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 'I am the LORD; speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I speak unto thee.' 30 And Moses said before the LORD: 'Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me? 7:1 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'See, I have set thee in God's stead to Pharaoh; and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. 2 Thou shalt speak all that I command thee; and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. 3 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.


It might be natural for Pharaoh to resist the first or second plague because of his magicians and their tricks. However, the third plague is called “The finger of G-D” so I will harden his heart.


4 But Pharaoh will not hearken unto you, and I will lay My hand upon Egypt, and bring forth My hosts, My people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt, by great judgments. 5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth My hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.' 6 And Moses and Aaron did so; as the LORD commanded them, so did they. 7 And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spoke unto Pharaoh. {P}
8 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying: 9 'When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying: Show a wonder for you; then thou shalt say unto Aaron: Take thy rod, and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it become a serpent.' 10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so, as the LORD had commanded; and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers; and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did in like manner with their secret arts. 12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents; but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. 13 And Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken.


Since the snake charmers did it, that was easy enough to conduct affairs business as usual.  If the snakes were not returning to sticks but the first half could be duplicated that was enough.


… 19 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Say unto Aaron: Take thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water, that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.' 20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.


This was happened immediately so that Moshe + Aaron = plague in the mind of the Egyptians. That the magicians used a chemical trick to make blood did not help Pharaoh and he blundered.


21 And the fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul, and the Egyptians could not drink water from the river; and the blood was throughout all the land of Egypt.


Ever been to a lake or river and there is a dead fish floating in the water near you the stench of one is horrible and multiply it by thousands.


22 And the magicians of Egypt did in like manner with their secret arts; and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken. 23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he lay even this to heart.


Since this was standard magic 101 to Pharaoh, he did not even think about anything.


24 And all the Egyptians dug round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river. 25 And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.


Pharaoh could drink and even bathe in wine so he had no problems with the lack of water.


26 And the LORD spoke unto Moses: 'Go in unto Pharaoh, and say unto him: Thus says the LORD: Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 27 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs. 28 And the river shall swarm with frogs, which shall go up and come into thy house, and into thy bed-chamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneading-troughs. 29 And the frogs shall come up both upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.


The magicians could more frogs through negative spiritual energy and they built up more.


… 8:3 And the magicians did in like manner with their secret arts, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt. 4 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said: 'Entreat the LORD, that He take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice unto the LORD.'



Frogs all over his bedroom and throne room disgusted Pharaoh that he decided to beg to have the Bnei Yisrael sacrifice but this time, his heart had to be hardened. The Medrash says that every time the servants tried to hit a frog, it split in two. A nice Medrash but with such a quantity of frogs they must have all died in the end from starvation killing off the flies. But just as the tadpoles flourished in the stinky river and the rotting frog corpses, flies would lay their eggs to bring in more disease and lice would not be eaten by frogs.




… 10 And they gathered them together in heaps; and the land stank. 11 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken.


Like too many politicians, he went back on his words. He was god-king for life but also knew how to make “promises”.


12 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Say unto Aaron: Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the earth, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.'


Lice even had the magicians scratching and a lot of people had lice combs in Egypt or they shaved their heads. The lice were all over jumping from head to head from head to bed from bed to head the plague spread like wildfire.


Say to Aaron: It was inappropriate for the dust to be smitten through Moses since it had protected him when he slew the Egyptian and had hidden him in the sand. [Therefore,] it was smitten through Aaron [instead]. — [from Tanchuma, Va’era 14, Exod. Rabbah 10:7]


13 And they did so; and Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and there were lice upon man, and upon beast; all the dust of the earth became gnats throughout all the land of Egypt. 14 And the magicians did so with their secret arts to bring forth lice, but they could not; and there were lice upon man, and upon beast.


To bring out the lice: To create them (another version: to bring them out) from someplace else. But they could not: Because a demon has no power over a creature smaller than a barleycorn. — [from Sanh. 67b, Tanchuma, Va’era 14, Exod. Rabbah 10:7] Meaning that the magicians used enchantments and spices to rule over demons.


15 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh: 'This is the finger of God'; and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken.


It is the finger of God: This plague is not through sorcery; it is from the Omnipresent. — [from Exod. Rabbah 10:7]


To be continued this week, I had to rest due to a bad cold or flu only a virus but am getting B”H better and hope to be up to par next week.


This is followed by an hour lecture on marriage by Rabbi Manis Friedman Shlita.


2) A Shidduch from the 1959 with the Rebbe
A true video about the wedding of Rabbi Meshulam and Ilene Weiss
Forwarded to me by Yacov Taub – Rachamim Pauli


This was told recently by the groom, married over 60 years now, and I sent it out to my What’s App Friends. (Sorry no link) The prospective bride and groom went to the Rebbe for a Bracha before the wedding. They were let into see the Rebbe. The prospective bride in the middle of meeting, asked to speak to the Rebbe in private. This is highly unusual for a female to be alone with the Rebbe and the groom was ushered out. After about 20 minutes the Rebbe called them back and blessed them for a successful marriage with many children.


They left and got married. Sometime, after they were married, the groom asked the bride what she had said to the Rebbe in Yechidus. She told him, that she wanted to call off the wedding because she had a hot temper. The Rebbe told her to volunteer with helping in a local hospital and other places with children it will make her calmer and more patient as she was going to be a mother of many children and would need patience. He then blessed her and the couple as a whole.


Now it was about eight or nine months after the marriage and the couple was in the Miami area. The wife had not become pregnant. So they went to a Obstetrician to see what was wrong. They were told that Ilene had an immature womb and could not have any children. Now Rabbi Meshulam thought something was wrong because the Rebbe said that she would have many children. So they went for a second opinion. They were told the same.


Slightly before they were about to write to the Rebbe for advice, Ilene became pregnant. She then gave birth to a son who was the first of 15 children. When it came time for Menopause, Ilene went for an examination. The doctor said to her, I guess as an Orthodox Woman you are very disappointed that you could never have children because of your immature womb. Ilene told him that she was the mother of 15. She said that the Lubavitcher Rebbe had blessed her. The doctor said that this was the only logical reason that she could give birth because she logically and medically could not have even one child!


Netanyahu could be ousted as PM according to the latest poll. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/240585


Young Netanyahu violates the Shabbos does antisemitic things and opens up mouth about tycoon on a drunk rave in a bar using a government car and guard. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5068118,00.html













Inyanay Diyoma








Shabbos – Charedim deserted an El-Al flight. www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/240301






Ed-Op Netanyahu is making a fool out of us by Hendel. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5065875,00.html


Egypt turns towards an Israeli Yerushalayim. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5067140,00.html


Stopping UNWRA stops the right of return. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/240384


Fake Book, I have obtained from a friend of mine who is left of me on the Israeli Political Spectrum the full 341 page copy of “Fire and Fury” against Trump it is circulating for free. I smell George Soros distributing this.


From what the Military Censor allows tension escalates on the Golan. https://www.timesofisrael.com/security-cabinet-said-holding-significant-meetings-on-threats-from-north/


Two ISIS radicalized women caught in Israel: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/240407










IDF attacks Syrian Hezballah supplies. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/240434




Monday there was another female terrorist foiled attack in Chevron.






Defense Minister wants 1300 new settlement homes. https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-january-9-2018/




Germany tells Iran to stop spying on Jews and Jewish Institutions. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/240475










Children trafficking where are the me-too feminists. http://dianebederman.com/rotherham-where-are-the-metoo-feminists/




Iran sanctions relief for now. www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/240580






Three little maids with knives are we. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5069843,00.html


Have a wonderful, blessed, peaceful and healthy Shabbos,

Rachamim Pauli