Friday, June 29, 2018

Parsha Balak, Halachos of the three weeks, story


Reuven Shmuel Avraham ben Yosilfina needs prayers. Devorah bas Sara has had a relapse and needs prayers again.

Motzei Shabbos the three weeks of mourning begin. Halachos are written below.


Parsha Balak


Last week, we read a Parsha that covers between 38 to 39 years. The Halacha of the Para Aduma which most likely was given in the second year when the Mishkan was built and the two sons of Aaron passed away. The Parsha ends with the death of Miriam and Aaron 40 years after the Exodus. Moshe now is about ready to turn over the reigns to Yehoshua as he will not enter Eretz Yisrael. The eastern side of and perhaps all of the Kinneret has been conquered and the plains of the Golan Heights up to and most likely including Har Hermon. The Bnei Yisrael are parked in an area not far from Moav and Midian north of the Dead Sea and opposite Yericho some place most likely near the Adam Bridge of today.

However, instead of receiving final instructions from Moshe before conquest of the land, trouble is brewing behind their backs.

22:2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

Balak was a great spiritual consultant perhaps with more Avoda Zara power than Bilaam with his Zippor aka bird that he used – the Medrash. However, Bilaam, the wicked, had made a name for himself. The Jewish comparison is more like. The humble Lubavitcher Rebbe had great publicity and the very modest Rabbi Moshe Feinstein had none but the Rebbe had great deference to the Torah Giant Rav Moshe and said, “He is greater than I”. The Rebbe had certain spiritual powers that perhaps Rav Moshe did not need. That comparison stops as the wicked Bilaam only told half-truths to the men that visited him while the Rabbis had the Torah Emmes at their side day and night.

3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many; and Moab was overcome with dread because of the children of Israel.

Balak was afraid as the Bnei Yisrael had spiritual providence besides their relatively vast numbers.

4 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian: 'Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.' And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.

He was physically afraid as the Amorites had been defeated who had powerful kings Og and Sichon. He was foolish in one way. He should have tried to form an alliance rather than pick a spiritual fight. Moav was from Terach via Lot and Midian was from Ketura the wife of Avraham as we see in Sefer Beresheis. Although cousins going back 5 or 6 generations, still there was perhaps a negotiating tool that could have been used. Neither Moav or Midian knew that the whole encampment was a spring-board to Yericho and they would have been left alone.

5 And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying: 'Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt; behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me.

With so many people coming would it have not been logical to do with Shimon HaTzaddik did with Alexander The Great?

6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me; peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blesses is blessed, and he whom thou curses is cursed.'

This is not the smartest thing to do but maybe to an idol worshipper and eating all sorts of Tumay food, his logic is polluted with the stench of Tuma. As we say in Hebrew Tumay Mit-Tum-Tom or eating Tumay makes one stupid.

7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spoke unto him the words of Balak.

He was not a prophet of the nations like Yisro who never requested compensation. First bring the rewards then the jubilation.

8 And he said unto them: 'Lodge here this night, and I will bring you back word, as the LORD may speak unto me'; and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 9 And God came unto Balaam, and said: 'What men are these with thee?'

Certain things are obvious to G-D but the conversation is opened up this way. The best example is HASHEM asking Adam “Where are you?”. HE decided to open up this way to get the information that man knew that he was naked. Here too is a starting Pasuk.

10 And Balaam said unto God: 'Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me [saying]: 11 Behold the people that is come out of Egypt, it covers the face of the earth; now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.'

This is my mission and it seems like a good idea to fight this people whom I know not if they are righteous or wicked.

12 And God said unto Balaam: 'Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.'

In truth, he wanted to go but was stopped. Now comes his mistake. Had he reported back to the people that he did not take leave. He refused to acknowledge that HASHEM said that the nation you will be blessed.

13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak: 'Get you into your land; for the LORD refuses to give me leave to go with you.'

Nothing to do about the Nation being Blessed by HASHEM. Bilaam thinks that HASHEM  can be bribed with sacrifices.

14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said: 'Balaam refuses to come with us.'

To add sin on time of crime, they say that “Bilaam refuses” while he said “HASHEM refuses”.

15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they. 16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him: 'Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me; 17 for I will promote thee unto very great honor, and whatsoever thou say unto me I will do; come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.'

Wow, even a greater salary will now become him and more honors.

18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak: 'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do any thing, small or great. 19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will speak unto me more.'

Be honest tell them HASHEM said that they are blessed but no he has to try again with his wicked desire for wealth and fame.

20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him: 'If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.'

There is a very important lesson here. The first time HASHEM warns Bilaam that the people are blessed. However, Bilaam wants to sin. This time, HASHEM lets him sin and then when he realizes it, he has gone in his sin beyond the point of return. Had he been honest with himself and the messengers of Balak in the beginning, he would not have fallen into his own doom.


21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. 22 And God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of the LORD placed himself in the way for an adversary against him.--Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. 23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field; and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

With his mouth he wants to smite a people but here he uses physical violence to smite the donkey.

24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a hollow way between the vineyards, a fence being on this side, and a fence on that side. 25 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD, and she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he smote her again.

This was not an ordinary wall but made with the stones from Lavan and Yacov as a memorial. These stones were a witness oBf no attack in anyway from either party. Now Bilaam had broken the pact and the stones reminded him.

26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD, and she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff.

What donkey troubles Bilaam has! But then the donkey speaks back and he shuts up. Yes, the man with the mouth that curses has a mouth full of water!

28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam: 'What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?'

Three Regelim hints at Pessach, Shavuos and Sukkos.

29 And Balaam said unto the ass: 'Because thou hast mocked me; I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.'

The one who curses people to death needs a sword for his own donkey!

30 And the ass said unto Balaam: 'Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee?' And he said: 'Nay.'

The Rabbis made a Drasha that he did with the donkey what is known that some Arabs do with theirs instead of a woman.

31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face. 32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him: 'Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is contrary unto me; 33 and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times; unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive.'

You can thank the donkey that you are alive. As for now, the donkey is not meant to talks and has completed her task in this world. With that the donkey dies on the spot.

34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD: 'I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stood in the way against me; now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back.' 35 And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam: 'Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak.' So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

He is now like putty before HASHEM his Yetzer pulled him one way and HASHEM forced him, against his will, to bless Am Yisrael not once but three times. Bilaam knew the exact second in the dawn when HASHEM would be angry and he would use that to curse. During these days, HASHEM’s compassion was enforce and both Bilaam and Barak lost out. Bilaam would perish after his advice regarding immodesty paid off and 24,000 died and he came to collect his reward. Midian, the ally of Balak, would be destroyed for following the advice.

36 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto Ir-moab, which is on the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border. 37 And Balak said unto Balaam: 'Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore came thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor?' 38 And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Lo, I am come unto thee; have I now any power at all to speak any thing? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.' 39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kiriath-huzoth. 40 And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. 41 And it came to pass in the morning that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into Bamoth-baal, and he saw from thence the utmost part of the people.

23:1 And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.' 2 And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 3 And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Stand by thy burnt-offering, and I will go; peradventure the LORD will come to meet me; and whatsoever He shows me I will tell thee.' And he went to a bare height. 4 And God met Balaam; and he said unto Him: 'I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar.' 5 And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said: 'Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.' 6 And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt-offering, he, and all the princes of Moab. 7 And he took up his parable, and said: From Aram Balak bringeth me, the king of Moab from the mountains of the East: 'Come, curse me Jacob, and come, execrate Israel.' 8 How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? And how shall I execrate, whom the LORD hath not execrated?

This is the essence in fact that it is the desire of HASHEM that Am Yisrael will succeed.


 9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, it is a people that shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.

There is no nation liken to Am Yisrael and the people will be separate for good or bad.

10 Who hath counted the dust of Jacob, or numbered the stock of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let mine end be like his!

Let me die the death of the righteous with no Gehennom. The best chance is following the Torah and Mitzvos of Am Yisrael.

11 And Balak said unto Balaam: 'What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.' 12 And he answered and said: 'Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD puts in my mouth?'

We are merely tools before G-D it is not my fault. It is HIS WILL. My will and your will are alike, but what can we do against ALLMIGHTY G-D?

… 24: 1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; and the spirit of God came upon him. 3 And he took up his parable, and said: The saying of Balaam the son of Beor, and the saying of the man whose eye is opened; 4 The saying of him who heareth the words of God, who seeth the vision of the Almighty, fallen down, yet with opened eyes: 5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, thy dwellings, O Israel!

The tents were good so that unlike many modern buildings, they did not face one another and nobody could peer into the next what was doing in the neighbor’s tent.

… 13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what the LORD speaks, that will I speak? 14 And now, behold, I go unto my people; come, and I will announce to thee what this people shall do to thy people in the end of days.'

We no longer have prophecy today. However, we are fortunate to see before our eyes what judgement is happening. I feel sorry for the righteous among the nations during these times but they will survive to honor us. The German ‘super-nation’ of WWII is going to be raved by barbarian extremists right in their midst and the same with France who burned Jews in the Synagogue of Blois and the Talmud in Paris. Those Frenchmen who moved to Canada will not be spared unless they are righteous for they have let in wildmen who have their hands on everything. (Prophecy of Yishmael).

… 17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh; there shall step forth a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite through the corners of Moab, and break down all the sons of Seth. 18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also, even his enemies, shall be a possession; while Israel doeth valiantly. 19 And out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city. 20 And he looked on Amalek, and took up his parable, and said: Amalek was the first of the nations; but his end shall come to destruction. 21 And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his parable, and aid: Though firm be thy dwelling-place, and though thy nest be set in the rock;

Yael shall secure salvation for the Kenite People.

22 Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted; How long? Asshur shall carry thee away captive. 23 And he took up his parable, and said: Alas, who shall live after God hath appointed him? 24 But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, and they shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall come to destruction. 25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.

As I wrote we see that he will be killed by returning to get his reward for the death of many from the tribe of Shimon. All this happened behind the backs of Am Yisrael and if HASHEM had not dictated the Torah to Moshe, we would never have known this.

The next 9 Pasukim are best stated for story telling next week as an introduction to Pasha Pinchas.

The following is thanks to Jeff Resnick, the Gabi of my Condo’s Minyan and                              The Young Israel of Hollywood FL
THE LAWS OF THE THREE WEEKS
https://images.shulcloud.com/406/uploads/bulletin/Bulletin-2018/YIH-Bulletin-June-2018.pdf


The Prophet Zechariah tells us that the fast days of 17 Tammuz and 9 Av, 3 Tishrei and 10 Tevet, will eventually be days of rejoicing for the Jewish people. Yet after the
Babylonian Exile had ceased and Jews were returning to Eretz Yisrael, they would keep these national fast days until the prophet would instruct them otherwise. The prophet's
words taught the people a fundamental thought about these fast days: If a nation knows how to commemorate its tragic days of destruction and establishes them as days
of fasting and prayer, this nation would be strong enough to merit a return to glorified days of old.Once the second Holy Temple was built, the fast days remembering the loss of the first Temple were abolished.

After the second Temple was destroyed, the fast days were reinstituted. Today, when we see the beginning of redemption with an independent State of Israel, we do not
experience the full redemption of our people. Hence, we must keep these fast days, hoping for their abolishment soon with the coming of Mashiach and the building of the
third Temple.

These national fast days arouse us to introspection and feelings of penitence. We remember the events that befell our nation and the sins that caused them, and we note that the sins of our ancestors have not left us. Hence we feel the need to reflect and repent.

The three week period of mourning begins with the 17th of Tammuz and culminates with the 9th of Av. This year it is observed from June 30 through July 22
.
Historically on the 17th of Tammuz, five tragedies occurred:
1. The first tablets containing the Ten Commandments were broken.
2. The two daily sacrifices, were suspended during the time of the first Holy Temple.
3. The enemy penetrated the walls of Jerusalem prior to the destruction of the second Holy Temple.
4. The wicked Apostumos burned the Torah.
5. An idol was erected in the Holy Temple.

The 9th of Av also marks five tragedies that befell our nation:
1. It was decreed that our forefathers will remain in the desert and not enter Eretz Yisrael.
2. The first Holy Temple was destroyed.
3. The second Holy Temple was destroyed.
4. The city of Betar was captured and tens of thousands of Jews were killed.
5. The wicked Turnus Rufus plowed the site of the Temple and its surroundings.

Our custom is to observe some conduct of mourning during the entire three weeks, but we see that there are various degrees of intensity of mourning as we get closer to Tisha B'Av.

LAWS OF THE THREE WEEKS

1. Although the fast day of the 17th of Tammuz begins in the morning of July 1, the mourning restrictions of the three weeks begins June 30 th after Shabbat.
2. Prohibited during the Three Weeks are:
a) Haircutting and shaving (for men, women and children; women are allowed to shave their legs).
b) Listening to music.
c) Weddings.
d) Reciting a shehechiyanu (e.g. over new clothes, fruit, et al). (who has reached this season)
3. Permitted during the Three Weeks are:
a) Swimming.
b) Attending a program or sports event where musical entertainment is incidental to the main event.
c) Reciting shehechiyanu on Shabbat. (who has reached this season)
d) Singing Shabbat zmirot on Shabbat. (songs)
e) Getting engaged to be married.

FAST OF 17TH OF TAMMUZ

1. The fasting begins at the first light of dawn on Sunday, July 1 and ends at approximately 18 to 20 minutes after sundown.
2. a) One who intends to eat in the morning of the fast day prior to the first light but after sleeping during the night, must declare the intent to do so before going to bed.
    b) The same law applies to drinking unless one usually has something to drink upon arising in the morning.
3. One may brush his teeth or rinse his mouth with mouthwash during the fast day if he is careful not to swallow. This is prohibited on Tisha B'Av and Yom Kippur.
4. If one eats by mistake on a fast day, he should
continue to fast after realizing his error.
5. Swallowing capsules, bitter medicine tablets or bitter liquid medicine without water may be permitted if medically necessary. Consult with the Rabbi.

LAWS FOR THE NINE DAYS

1. The Nine Days begin with sunset of Rosh Chodesh Av, Thurs day evening, July 12 sundown.
2. One should not eat meat or poultry or drink wine or grape juice during the Nine Days, excluding Shabbat. (If one begins Shabbat early, one may consume wine and meat). Pareve food cooked in a meat vessel may be eaten during the Nine Days. Note this year it also applies to Sephardim but not Yemenite Jews.
3. Beers and whiskeys et al (not containing wine) may be consumed during this period.
4. At Havdallah on July 14, a child under bar mitzvah age should drink the wine. If no child is available, the person making Havdallah may drink the wine. I make it on tea.
5. Swimming is prohibited. If one swims for medical reasons (e.g. exercising or for removing dirt and sweat in a short dip), it is permitted. Also for the heart, nerves, back, legs, arms, etc. if a specialist has recommended this and it done all year around.
6. Children under bar mitzvah age may go swimming.
7. Bathing during the Nine Days for pleasure is prohibited. Bathing for hygiene is permitted but should be done quicker and in cooler water than usual.
8. If possible, one should not clean clothes during the Nine Days.
9. One should not mend clothes or make home improvements (e.g. painting, plastering, laying carpet, etc.), but one is permitted to plant trees or plants.
10. Elective surgery should be delayed until after Tisha B'Av.

WHEN TISHA B’AV COINCIDES WITH SHABBAT

1. This year the 9 th of Av occurs on Shabbat. Although the fast day is observed on Sunday, July 22 this has an effect on the Shabbat.
2. One may not have marital relations on this Shabbat unless the wife is going to the mikveh that night.
3. One should not take pleasurable walks.
4. One may review the Parsha that day but after midday one should limit learning to those matters appropriate to the actual observance of the fast.
5. The laws of the final meal (Seudah HaMafseket) do not apply and one may even eat meat or drink wine.
6. One may eat only until sunset.
7. Birkat HaMazon may be recited B’Zimun (three or more men).
8. People davening Maariv in shul on Saturday night should wait until after Barchu
to remove their shoes, or recite Baruch HaMavdil Bain Kodesh L’Chol , change from
shoes to sneakers and then daven Maariv commencing with Barchu.

NOTE:
Sneakers or other non-leather shoes should not be brought to shul on Shabbat for the purpose of wearing them after Shabbat. Bring them to shul before Shabbat on Friday. Sneakers should not be worn to shul on Shabbat as they are not Bichvod Shabbat.
9. Regular Havdallah is not said.
a) The blessing over the fire is said on Saturday night.
b) The blessing over wine and HaMavdil are said on Sunday night.
c) No blessing over the spices is said at all.
10. Maariv will be followed by reading of Megillat Eichah.

LAWS OF TISHA B'AV

1. The fast begins at sunset on July 21, and ends about 18 to 20 minutes after sundown on July 22.
2. Prohibited are:
a) Eating and drinking.
b) Washing one's body.
c) Marital relations.
d) Wearing leather shoes, even if only partially made
of leather.
e) Anointing with oil.
3. Using deodorant is permitted.
4. Using mouthwash or brushing one's teeth is not permitted.
5. Learning Torah is prohibited. Learning about the destruction of the Temple is permitted (e.g. Job, Jeremiah, Talmud Gittin 56b).
6. Our custom is to abstain from work until midday
7. One does not greet a friend on Tisha B'Av with Shalom Aleichem.
8. Tallit and Tephilin are not worn in the morning. We put them on for Minchah.

FOLLOWING THE FAST

1. Many prohibitions of the Nine Days normally continue into the next day, the 10 th of Av. This year, though, the fast is observed on the 10th of Av.
2. Eating meat, drinking wine and grape juice is prohibited on Sunday night.
3. All other restrictions (haircuts, washing, etc.) are lifted immediately after the fast.

I have seen in the house of a mourner people using wine or grape juice if that is your custom consult your local Orthodox Rabbi as this is national mourning and tea or pure non-grape juice is preferred. Pure juice is not the sugary drinks that are often sold in stores as “juice” but equivalent to freshly squeezed juice. 


Kiddush HASHEM in the IDF by Rabbi Rachamim Pauli Part 3

(like the last part, this does not flow as a story as many little instances occurred close 40 years ago so I hope you read each paragraph as a short and true story)


Most of my time in the IDF was not spent patrolling the border. After my basic training, I had requested through the army social worker an arrangement closer to home as my wife was having problems managing three young children from a one year old to a four year old. I was also the only income earning but by the time the ability to work came through it was two weeks before my release.

I was living in Ashdod at the time and assigned to a base at Kiriat Malachi. The Sargent Major of the Artillery Station had to send somebody to the kitchen patrol. He thought it would be better for me to be on kitchen duty that is a week in the kitchen and every night home and then a week off. It worked out fine.

While in the kitchen of the main reserve call-up point for the armor’s southern command, there was an army Mashgiach, civilian Mashgiach and civilian cook. The civilian Mashgiach was stricter than the Halacha and the religious cook got into a fight with him over cold blood or perhaps meat juice that had dripped on the plastic outer wrapping of cheese. He threw out cheese.

The army Mashgiach was lazy and did not give a hoot about anything. He was responsible for washing the officer’s dishes. I caught him with 9% soft cheese on the bread trays. He refused to wash it off and the meat meal was coming. I washed it myself. I wonder how much meat and cheese this guy let through before and after my time.

Then there was the 6 foot plus former paratrooper who because of bad behavior and jail was assigned to the kitchen. I almost got into fist cuffs with him over kashrus but he saw that I did not budget my 5 foot 10 inch frame and he backed down even if most of the time I was more of a Nerd type.

Another fellow assigned to the kitchen was a fellow who was in and out of the army jail. The army was supposed to help him. I guess only HASHEM could help him. He used to take the dishes to clean and throw them into the sink “Benzie” or Hebrew similar to a Kamikaze pilot. Many dishes were broken this way. I ended up cleaning them. I was getting the minimum welfare money for my family and was happy to get the meat left overs that I brought home. I think my kids ate the best then.


After I left the regular army, in the reserves they review my education. I was fit to be a paramedic. For six weeks we underwent training. There were at least 10 religious in our course and we had a Minyan. Rabbi Yitzchak Lerner was with us. When we incurred a problem we had to make a Beis Din. It seemed that our afternoon meal came late and we ate at 3 PM. At 5 PM we would get a milk meal. The Sephardim who viewed six hours as a Halacha between meals could for Pekuach Nefesh of army service violate the Halacha. However, the Ashkenazim with various Minchagim had to have a special annulment of vows ceremony. For that we formed a Beis Din and switched off people.

Since we were a mixed bunch of religious and non-religious, it was decided that the last day we would make a party with some of the religious buying the food. The non-religious brought in some girls from a neighboring base to the party. I could not care less. They then played a joke on me. As the fellows were dancing a fast hora and one had to look forward, the grabbed a girl into the circle to hold my hand. I was dancing and as far as I knew holding the hand of the next fellow or a fellow who joined the circle. I did not look back so as not to trip. Ha-ha the joke was on me they replace the fellow with a girl. After that no more dancing for me.

During my son’s regular army service two things he did. He brought his special kosher Matzos from home to Lebanon and when he was in charge of a base on the Jordanian border, he cooked for his men snitzel and chips. He did not argue with his men, who were in his Rabbinical College, but as commander set an example.
One time there was a base drill during the three weeks at Sharm El Sheik. We had a good contingent of religious fellows who were paramedics as well as regular air force soldiers. I learned a whole Meseches of Mishnah daily except Tisha B’Av so that we could eat the army meat being served with the Seeum. Erev Tisha B’Av we got sardines.

On Ramat HaGolan, I made Kiddush and a Drasha for different people in the armor corp. besides border patrol. I did not press the Kibbutznikim on their life style. I explained to them Shmita. The next year, I asked as Shmita was ending to serve one month later. Instead of jumping on the next ambulance, the doctor sent me home.

There were other things here and then where I gave fellows some Chizuk. All in all, my mixing a religious fellow with non-religious one could make a Kiddush HASHEM although when people were weak they got weaker.

One funny incident in the army occurred 38 or 39 years ago. I was sent to serve on Border Patrol with Armor Chativa 7 Force 188. I had finished a week or so of border patrol 24/7 and was sent to Patrol 7 using me mainly as a medic in the rescue squad of the force. One day, the soldiers were given physical training and the instructor told them to run up a small mountain on the Golan and back. Being 32 or 33, I decided to give it a College try. But out of range of the instructor, I became out of breath after about one or two football fields up the mountains and the young 18 to 20 year olds were already 100 or more yards ahead of me. I decided to return down the mountain. As I approached the base, I was way ahead of the fellows running back behind me. The commander and PE Instructor had their mouths wide open. But, I told them the truth.


Coming soon a story of the lack of proper review and training for paramedics. This is based on my experience and that of a front line paramedic in last week’s Yediot Paper.


Rabbi Yitzchak Botton reincarnation: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/247895





Get refusers will not be allowed in. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248024

Chicago Dykes ban Israeli flag but display PLO flag. Funny but Jews do not kill homosexuals on the other hand Arabs. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248012

Holocaust survivor’s descendants saved by great-grandmother of William meet him. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5297928,00.html


Inyanay Diyoma


Car Ramming terrorist turns self-in. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/247892






Soldier critically wounded in accident. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5296621,00.html

Terrorist infiltrate and steal weapons? http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248017


Syrian offensive – does Trump want the summit with Putin more than humanitarian decision? https://www.debka.com/russian-air-strikes-back-syrian-southern-offensive-us-to-southern-front-rebels-youre-on-your-own/


Left wants stop to pre-marriage class. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/247955

Ed-Op Charles Krauthammer Zal – How Israel’s dreams of peace let to their biggest mistake. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/22355



Dr. Kedar explains: Why Gazans spends their Money on Destruction vs. Construction. Why do they want a barren land? http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/22366


Looking for a port for Gaza that can be supervised by Israelis. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5297170,00.html

Syrian attacks Jew in Berlin gets a nothing sentence. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5296939,00.html



During the Yom Kippur War, the Egyptian Radio in Hebrew would say “The Zionist are liars”. But what happens when your government lies to you. There were not 12 rockets yesterday but I heard and read 25 even though the official number was 12. Debka claims 35. It shows that despite all the rhetoric Netanyahu is afraid to do anything. He is more concerned about saving his skin in government and the scandals at home do not help him or his wife. Olmert was a snake in the swamp. Netanyahu is in the cesspool and the pool is about to overflow. https://www.debka.com/up-to-35-hamas-rockets-fired-from-gaza-not-12-as-the-idf-claimed-balloons-set-25-fires/ HEB: https://www.debka.co.il בעוד צה"ל מדווח על שיגור 12 טילים ישראל שוגרו כ-35 טילים על מטרות בדרום. ממוצע של 25 שריפות ביום לעבר
You have to google the link.



Ed-Op Dr. Martin Sherman English: http://www.israelhayom.com/opinions/the-folly-of-the-gaza-port-plan/ Hebrew: http://www.israelhayom.co.il/opinion/567207 The folly of the Gaza Peace Plan.



Putin lulls Netanyahu to Moscow while Iranian and Hezballah advance towards the Israeli border. https://www.debka.com/iranian-hizballah-forces-join-syrias-south-offensive-contrary-to-russian-pledges/ https://www.debka.co.il בניגוד להבטחת וערבויות של הרוסים והסורים, כוחות של משמרות המהפכה האיראניים וחיזבאללה משתתפים במתקפה בדרום סוריה

D. Bederman Ed-Ops and reports: ISIS war criminal walking the streets of Canada. https://dianebederman.com/identified-isis-war-criminal-walking-the-streets-of-canada/
 H


Yossi Yehoshua Ed-Op Israel has lost their deterrence. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5298520,00.html


Hamas improves their navy and use of quadcopters. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5298748,00.html



Who let this terrorist in on a tour and why was he not reported when he disappeared? Poor girl returned to hospital. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248146

Have a wonderful Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli

Posted by Rabbi Rachamim Pauli at 1:37 PM
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