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.
1) The Marriage Bracha
from 1950 http://www.chabad.org/therebbe/livingtorah/player_cdo/aid/3861908/jewish/Two-Halves-of-a-Whole.htm#utm_medium=email&utm_source=1_chabad.org_magazine_en&utm_campaign=en&utm_content=content
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
Russian countermeasures stop drone attack on base. https://www.debka.com/russia-foils-massive-attack-syrian-bases-electronically-controlling-6-drones-downing-7-seven/
Train to Yerushalayim soon after years of delays. https://www.timesofisrael.com/transportation-minister-jerusalem-tel-aviv-fast-train-to-launch-by-passover/
More financial advice. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jan/10/bitcoin-and-cryptocurrencies-will-come-to-a-bad-end-says-warren-buffett
King of Zulu’s asks Israel’s help. https://www.algemeiner.com/2018/01/11/south-african-zulu-king-invokes-fight-against-aids-drought-in-plea-to-anc-government-to-retain-close-israel-ties/
Inyanay
Diyoma
Trump re-imposes sanctions on Iran. https://www.debka.com/act-2-trump-clampdown-iran-re-imposing-sanctions-lifted-nuclear-accord/
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
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
President’s critics are confused. https://www.algemeiner.com/2018/01/08/leaping-to-trumps-defense-world-jewish-congress-chief-says-presidents-critics-are-confused/
NYT was silent on gas chambers in WWII now on Iran. https://www.algemeiner.com/2018/01/08/new-york-times-editorial-board-falls-suspiciously-silent-on-iran-protests/
Trump issues crop insurance for farmers. https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/01/08/trump-tells-farmers-he-supports-crop-insurance-signs-executive-order-to-aid-rural-internet-access/23328009/
Monday there was another female terrorist foiled attack in Chevron.
What is going on in Syria? https://www.debka.com/reported-israeli-strikes-syria-coincide-us-cogitation-assads-post-war-future/
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
PLO paid terrorists about $322 million in 2017. http://www.israelhayom.com/2018/01/09/in-2017-palestinian-authority-paid-terrorists-nis-1-23-billion-report-says/
Jordan arrests 17 ISIS members. http://www.israelhayom.com/2018/01/09/jordan-says-17-arrested-in-foiled-islamic-state-attack-plot/
Tunisia fire bombing. https://www.timesofisrael.com/historic-tunisian-synagogue-firebombed-amid-social-unrest/
Diane finds fake news in Canada. http://dianebederman.com/national-news-media-council-in-canada-appears-to-support-fakenews/
Children trafficking where are the me-too feminists. http://dianebederman.com/rotherham-where-are-the-metoo-feminists/
Trump changes mind on Syria. https://www.debka.com/trump-flipflop-us-bases-stay-post-war-syria-blocking-russian-iranian-consolidation/
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
