Parsha Toldos
A renewed religion and
world outlook was established by Avraham. Why renewed? He live his first years
in the generation before Migdal Bavel. Noach was alive in his day as were his
forefathers Shem, Ever and others. Idol Worship and trying to outfox HASHEM was
in the effort of the people who built the Migdal. Even his father Terach saw
good business in manufacturing idols. It is Avraham who renews the true
religion of Adam, Seth … Metushalah, Noach, etc. As he is about to depart the
stage of history, Yitzchak has two sons that will continue on. There is one
problem though. Just as Avraham had Yishmael and the Bnei Keturah, Yitzchak
will have Esav. It will take Rivka who can see through evil, having grown up
with Lavan, who can save the day for the religion.
5775
introduction: As for the rule that there is
no early or late in the Torah. We ended Chayei Sara with the passing of
Avraham. Now we return back to Avraham being 140 and well alive and Yitzchak
and Rivka settling down. But we see that 20 years pass until Rivka conceives.
This is not completely uncommon a neighbor of mine not far from my age after years
of marriage in her 40’s managed to become a mother of 4 and both Yitzchak Isaac
S. and my son Chaim and their spouses waited around 14 years before they had
children. However, the worst thing is those who are blessed with children that
abuse them. (I am not talking about a strapping, paddling or washing ones mouth
with soap that many in my generation experienced and in the generations before
but psychological and physical abuse and neglect.)
So finally at the age of 60,
Yitzchak is about to become a father and although Avraham is a grandfather from
Yishmael, his spiritual inheritance will go Yitzchak. So at the age of 160, he
sees his spiritual potential is going to continue further.
I have written about the
horrible deeds Esav did on the day that Avraham passed away. For Avraham should
have lived five more years like Yitzchak to the age of 180, but due to the sins
of Esav, so as not to pain Avraham more in this world, HASHEM gathered him in
early.
25:19
And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begot Isaac. 20 And Isaac was forty years old when
he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean, of Paddan-aram, the
sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21 And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was
barren; and the LORD let Himself be entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife
conceived.
Sara was barren, Rivka was barren and
Rachel was barren. What did HASHEM want? HE wanted the prayers of the righteous
that is why Yitzchak entreated him. But so did Sara, Rivka and Rachel but since
women are not bound by Tephilla, the obligation said with Kavannah is more
powerful. {In 1967 aka 5728 when I got my first Orthodox Siddur (English and
Hebrew) I prayed with such Kavannah in English. When I started going to Hebrew,
I gradually lost all Kavannah and was out in the 9-hour work day society plus
over-time. The clock and the boss had not the mercy of HASHEM and I had to fulfill
the obligation of prayer. It does not take a genius to figure out where the
Kavannah went. We are not a society that wakes up and tends sheep. Working on
engineering projects, offering solutions against enemy threats or making
solutions for the comfort of soldiers in the field were also important. I ended
up with a few days of Kavannah a year mostly Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with
a day or two here and there. I made it my business to pray for a barren couple
and people who are ill that make my list or a onetime prayer. What I lost from
51 years ago I have been unable to regain as my mind is not as sharp, alert and
strong. Young people be wary, guard your prays and I should have prayed longer
in English until my Hebrew had caught up please learn from the mistaken advice
of my Rabbis and my own mistakes}
22
And the children struggled together within her; and she said: 'If it be so,
wherefore do I live?' And she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 And the LORD said unto her: Two
nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shall be separated from thy bowels;
and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall
serve the younger.
Esav hated Yacov even in the womb. He was
for Olam Hazeh (this world) as Dr. Phil says, “The past is gone, the future did
not happen, I have to live now.” Yacov and the Jews perhaps save money for a
rainy day, store knowledge for the future and try to learn from mistakes for
Olam Haba (the next world or world to come). Sad but true, the Christians
quoting Yeshu record is prayer as a Rabbinical Student or young Rabbi, “YOUR
Kingdom Come, YOUR will be done” which is a Jew thinking not of this world but of
the next. So after thousands of years of Esav’s rule, Yacov will reign and Esav
will donate and let Yacov pray and learn Torah for the prosperity of mankind.
That is the meaning of the older will serve the younger but it shall only be in
a future world when the Bnei Esav realize that prosperity in this world comes
from the Torah and Mitzvos of the Bnei Yacov.
24
And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in
her womb. 25 And the first came
forth ruddy, all over like a hairy mantle; and they called his name Esau. 26 And after that came forth his
brother, and his hand had hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob.
And Isaac was threescore years old when she bore them.
Yacov was born smooth or pure. What you
see is what you got. The hairs of Esav hid is wickedness and with Yitzchak’s
cataract or weak vision, Esav was literally able to pull the wool over his
eyes. Yacov would do that too but only at the command of Rivka who saw through
the older brother as she grew up with the wicked Lavan.
27
And the boys grew; and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob
was a quiet man, dwelling in tents.
Esav was cunning and we see he could raise
a militia of 400 men to come after Yacov. Yacov was learning in tents his Torah
from Parsha Beresheis through Parsha Chaya Sara with more insight then we have
today as learned from Shem and Ever who learned from Noach who learned from
Metushalah who learned from Adam. The Gemara Sanhedrin states that Esav was
able to create a mermaid or merman that was half man and half fish. Secrets of
creation that we do not know of today.
28
Now Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison; and Rebekah loved
Jacob.
Yitzchak loved Esav for physical reasons
and pleasure but Rivka saw through him and love Yacov for the sake of Heaven
(Le Shaym Shemayim).
29
And Jacob sod pottage; and Esau came in from the field, and he was faint. 30 And Esau said to Jacob: 'Let me
swallow, I pray thee, some of this red, red pottage; for I am faint.' Therefore,
was his name called Edom. 31 And
Jacob said: 'Sell me first thy birthright.' 32 And Esau said: 'Behold, I am at the point to die; and what
profit shall the birthright do to me?' 33
And Jacob said: 'Swear to me first'; and he swore unto him; and he sold his
birthright unto Jacob. 34 And
Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose
up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.
We shall see this birthright sale was not
known to Yitzchak until Esav blotted it out when Yacov took his blessing.
26:1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the
first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech
king of the Philistines unto Gerar. 2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said: 'Go not
down unto Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of.'
Yitzchak the perfect Korban could not leave
Eretz Yisrael. While Yacov being more worldly could.
… 34 And when Esau was forty years old, he took to
wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of
Elon the Hittite. 35
And they were a bitterness of spirit unto Isaac and to Rebekah.
This was the age when Yitzchak married Rivka
but he did not look for a woman from Haran. Rather he married somebody from
Canaan.
The “stealing” of the blessing of Avraham by Yacov was not so for he did what his mother foresaw and the deceived Yitzchak could not see. Yacov deserved the blessing of Avraham by merit.
… 40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt break loose, that thou shalt shake his yoke from off thy neck. 41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau said in his heart: 'Let the days of mourning for my father be at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.' 42 And the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah; and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him: 'Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. 43 Now therefore, my son, hearken to my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; 44 and tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away;
Stay away from him as out of sight is out of mind and his wrath will calm down in a few days.
45 until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him; then I will send, and fetch thee from thence; why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?'
Rivka sends Yacov away for his own protection but makes an excuse to tell Yitzchak.
46 And Rebekah said to Isaac: 'I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?'
Avraham sent Eliezer with prayers for me and what do I have to show for my life now in my old age as Esav married this Canaanites.
28: 1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and
charged him, and said unto him: 'Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of
Canaan. 2
Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take
thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother. 3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee
fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou may be a congregation of peoples;
This time Yitzchak is well aware that he is
blessing Yacov and a very strong one at that. Esav realizes that his parents
did not like his Shidduch but rather than looking for Leah, he goes on to marry
a daughter of Yishmael.
4 and give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee,
and to thy seed with thee; that thou may inherit the land of thy sojourning’s,
which God gave unto Abraham.' 5
And Isaac sent away Jacob; and he went to Paddan-aram unto Laban, son of
Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. 6 Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and
sent him away to Paddan-aram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he
blessed him he gave him a charge, saying: 'Thou shalt not take a wife of the
daughters of Canaan'; 7
and that Jacob hearkened to his father and his mother, and was gone to
Paddan-aram; 8
and Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; 9 so Esau went unto Ishmael, and took unto the
wives that he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of
Nebaioth, to be his wife.
Unexpected
Gift by Rabbi Y. Tilles
The yeshiva katana (mesifta) in Netanya
originally was located in Hadera. The structure there was one of the worst
you've ever seen or even heard of--the boys were actually making traps to catch
mice and rats! Finally, the municipality closed the yeshiva
due to faulty kitchen etc., condemned the entire building, and issued a
demolition order.
Then the yeshiva moved to Netanya, into the
building of another Hassidic group. There, too, the conditions were not good.
Rabbi Moshe Orenstein, the Rosh Yeshiva, wanted
to purchase a new building, but had no money. A fund-raising campaign was
initiated.
A number of years went by, Rabbi Orenstein saved every penny he could,
and eventually a new building was constructed on a tight budget. In the
beginning of 2016 they entered the new building, even though it was not
finished.
This year, Rabbi Orenstein approached three professional tradesmen and
asked for quotes for the construction of an institutional kitchen. One proposal
was significantly cheaper than the others and of course that was the one he
chose.
The contractor's builder arrived. A young man covered with tattoos. For
three days he worked non-stop. When he finished, he said to Rabbi Orenstein,
"I see that there are many unfinished things in the structure."
Ornstein said to him, "True, but we don't have the money to deal
with it yet. When we raise the funds we will finish everything that needs to be
done."
"Let me do it now. You saw that I was significantly cheaper than
the others. It'll be worth it," offered the builder.
Orenstein agreed.
The builder worked for a few more days. When he finished he presented to
Rabbi Orenstein his bill: NIS 200,000.
Rabbi Orenstein paled. He asked about the terms of payment - "How
long can I take to pay it out? How many payments?"
The man stared at the rabbi for half a minute or so in silence. Then he
took out his pen and wrote on the invoice: "PAID IN FULL."
Rabbi Orenstein was amazed and happy, but also confused. "Why are
you doing this?"
The man replied simply, "I am repaying an old debt." He
explained:
"Many years ago I lived in India. I was using drugs and also
dealing them. In fact, I was quite a successful trader. But one day they caught
me. I was condemned to a prison sentence of many years.
"One night when I was sitting in despair in my cell, the warden
suddenly appeared and unlocked the door. He whispered to me, 'You have two minutes
to escape.'
"I stared at him in amazement. 'What? How?'
He pointed to a young bearded man at the end of the corridor and said,
'Stop talking and go!'
I ran to the man, who was clearly a rabbi. He gave me a plane ticket to
Israel, and told me to run outside and get in the taxi waiting near the gate.
'Your flight will soon take off. Just stay out of trouble and make sure to
never come back to India.'
"'How can I ever repay you?' I stammered.
"'You do not owe me anything. One day you will do something for
Chabad.'"
The man concluded his story by saying, "So now I am repaying the
debt through the Chabad Yeshiva here in Netanya!"
Then he added, "Subsequently I found out that my rescuer was Gabi Holtzberg."*
Then he added, "Subsequently I found out that my rescuer was Gabi Holtzberg."*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Editor's note:
Rabbi Gabriel Noah (Gabi") Holtzberg was the Chabad representative in Mumbai who was cruelly murdered in his Chabad House during a terrorist attack along with his wife Rivka and 4 other people, Bentzion Kruman, Rabbi Leibish Teitelbaum, Mrs. Yoheved Orpaz and Norma Shvarzblat Rabinovich, on 28 Cheshvan 5769- Nov.26, 2008.
Editor's note:
Rabbi Gabriel Noah (Gabi") Holtzberg was the Chabad representative in Mumbai who was cruelly murdered in his Chabad House during a terrorist attack along with his wife Rivka and 4 other people, Bentzion Kruman, Rabbi Leibish Teitelbaum, Mrs. Yoheved Orpaz and Norma Shvarzblat Rabinovich, on 28 Cheshvan 5769- Nov.26, 2008.
Source:
Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from two English versions of the story that I
received in two different WhatsApp groups. The Hebrew original was submitted by
Chani Dunin, sister of Rivki Holtzberg, to I don't know what publication.
Connection:
The murders occurred during the week leading up to Parshat Todot, this week's
parsha
From
Bernard S. article by Fatah, an Arab, on the Pittsburgh slaughter. https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/fatah-pittsburgh-synagogue-slaughter-not-easily-explained
Story
“Jew by Choice” https://www.jew-ishbychoice.com/whyiwanttobejewish.html?fbclid=IwAR2iLEnSAx1_sotSCwtBqcsefetyIB3TvRMiZAyNnszLE5YQAmRnuVWi7T0
My
revenge on Hitler. https://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media_cdo/aid/4186869/jewish/I-Escaped-Hitler-and-This-Is-My-Revenge.htm
Shoshana
Tanya sent me this about Buchenwald. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxEj3QWu9bs
Medical
cannabis from Israel. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3749111,00.html
Bribery
and Fraud case goes to Attorney General. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254446
Inyanay Diyoma
IAF
Drill w/US: https://www.debka.com/israel-takes-part-in-us-led-exercise-in-ukraine-against-s-300s-hooks-up-with-us-kiev-ties/
Turns
down $1,000,000 a year. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3748955,00.html
Iran
was cyber attacked. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5387389,00.html
Copts
slaughtered in Egypt. https://www.wnd.com/2018/11/terrorists-slaughter-coptic-christians-in-egypt/?cat_orig=world
If
Iran attacks the US interests, US prepared. https://www.debka.com/iran-on-the-mark-for-military-reprisals-to-us-sanctions-israel-conducts-air-special-ops-drills/
First
4 words of the Kaddish printed in Pittsburgh Paper. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254232
From
Norma on community standards. https://www.westernjournal.com/facebook-removes-rabbis-post-harassed-farrakhan-supporters-calls-mistake/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=conservativetribune&utm_content=2018-11-03&utm_campaign=manualpost&fbclid=IwAR1Q6wQ__yI_vQ4l-jR2oX77NkzYKWT9A6F0CZIgJgQ8k6w39Pa7MDSQC_Y
Netanyahu
gave into Hamas. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254207
Single
sex parents a deviance from the norm. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254228
GOP
enthusiasm in Israel is higher than in 2016. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254240
Iranians
chant death to Israel death to USA. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254235
After
kidnapping of US Citizen, PLO offices searched. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254238
After
measles outbreak in Europe and Israel with one infant dead in a Charedi
Community, NYC braces for an outbreak among Charedim as it hit Monsey NY
already. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254231
2
weeks 17 dead on highway 90 single lane no divider. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254214
Mafia
Wars Israeli style. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254249
Republicans
keep Senate but lose house. 2 Arabs in house. https://www.timesofisrael.com/democrats-gain-in-quest-for-house-control-as-republicans-retain-senate/
New
Gov. of FL very pro-Israel record. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254392
Iran
prepares for military reprisals. https://www.debka.com/iran-on-the-mark-for-military-reprisals-to-us-sanctions-israel-conducts-air-special-ops-drills/
N.
Korea and US http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254316
Ed-Op
before elections if Trump loses the house. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5389655,00.html
From
Stephen limited offer of free hand guns for Rabbis. https://sputniknews.com/us/201811061069567804-guns-dealer-offers-rabbis-firearms/?fbclid=IwAR0CbMIiESvfkpplVdP0Q_hen8vG20z5BpDmG3Fv7jMeGn39hSDO3jAh2JM
Terrorist
shot. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254268
Snowden
warns Israelis of private and government surveillance. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254388
If
the S-300 is used against commercial or IAF planes, we attack. https://www.debka.com/israeli-minister-elkin-syrian-s-300s-will-be-attacked-if-israeli-military-or-commercial-planes-hit/
US
urges Russia not to interfere with Israeli air strikes. https://www.debka.com/us-urges-russia-to-allow-resumed-israeli-air-strikes-in-syria/vvv
Female
knife wielding terrorist shot. https://www.debka.com/mivzak/a-female-palestinian-terrorist-shot-and-injured-after-pulling-a-knife/
Traffic
toll again on the highway this time Chevron Arabs. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254432
US
and Europe warn Lebanon of pending attack. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254507
Vote
tampering in FL. Suddenly absentee ballots turn up in Palm Beach and Broward FL
and that is my area. Allen West lost because one polling place had 164% of the
voters and another 120% of the voters. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-senate-candidate-rick-scott-sues-florida-election-supervisor-brenda-snipes-as-rubio-sounds-alarm-about-dems-stealing-race
Measles
outbreak in Europe spread to Israel and then to Monsey, NY as Charedim did not
inoculate their children. Rabbis call up people not to murder children. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254450
5th
Column Farrakhan and Iran. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254479
Terror
stabbing in Australia. https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2018-11-09/australian-police-say-stabbing-attack-linked-to-terrorism
New
Ambassadors to Israel. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254492
Have
a good Shabbos and a good month of Kislev,
Rachamim
Pauli
