THIS ISSUE IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF MY LATE
FATHER FELIX PAULI, he passed away on the 23rd of Shevat 5729. This
is going to be his 50th Yahrzeit. I missed his guidance and love for
a long time. He is gone but not forgotten.
Notice
to the Yahoo groups where I send my post please make sure to go to my blogspot
to read my post as I noticed that the posts come out jumbled together on Yahoo
Groups. The blogspot you can see has spacing and different colors. Otherwise
too compressed despite my spacing.
Correction
from a copy and pasted story: Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Shneersohn [of blessed memory: 12 Tammuz
5640 - 10 Shvat 5710 (June 1880 - Jan. 1950 C.E)
Parsha Yisro
18:1 Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses'
father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel His
people, how that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.
Now…Jethro…heard: What news
did he hear that [made such an impression that] he came? The splitting of the
Red Sea and the war with Amalek. — [from Zev. 116a, and Mechilta, combining the
views of Rabbi Joshua and Rabbi Eliezer]
Jethro: He was called by seven names: Reuel, Jether, Jethro [i.e.,
Yithro], Hobab, Heber, Keni, [and] Putiel (Mechilta). [He was called] Jether
(יֶתֶר) because he [caused] a section to be added (יִתֵּר) to the Torah
[namely]: “But you shall choose” (below verse 21). [He was called] Jethro
(יִתְרוֹ) [to indicate that] when he converted and fulfilled the commandments,
a letter was added to his name. [He was called] Hobab (חוֹבָב) [which means
lover] because he loved (חִבָּב) the Torah. Hobab was indeed Jethro, as it is
said: “of the children of Hobab, Moses’ father-in-law” (Jud. 4:11). Others say
that Reuel was Jethro’s father. [If so,] what [is the meaning of] what it
[Scripture] says [referring to the daughters of Jethro]: “They came to their
father Reuel” (Exod.
2:18)? Because [young] children call
their grandfather “Father.” [This appears] in Sifrei (Beha’alothecha 10:29).
Was Yisro the only person who heard? Of course
not! He was the only one who put the facts together and realized that Now I know that the LORD is greater than all
gods; yea, for that they dealt proudly against them. The rest heard and did
not realize or were so fixed in their ways that they did not change their
beliefs or were willing to spread Torah for Balaam was a contemporary.
2 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took
Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her away,
The last people a man needs around when he is
threatened by Pharaoh or enraged Yisraelim is to have loved ones that might be
the subjects of kidnapping and blackmail. The logical thing was to remove this
possibility by sending them home to the Midian territory.
3 and her two sons; of whom the name of the one
was Gershom; for he said: 'I have been a stranger in a strange land';
One can see Ger as the root of stranger. The
convert comes from a strange culture (which may be the same society in which
the Beis Din resides but is “strange” to Halachic Judaism. This as opposed to
Goy which means nation and Goyim many nations. Yisrael is a Goy Kadosh.)
4 and the name of the other was Eliezer: 'for
the God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.'
This consists of two words Kelly and Ezer (Kay
added so as not to use the Name on my part) and Ezer or help. Eben HaEzer is a
section of the Shulchan Aruch dealing with reproduction and what family and
qualities to find in a partner, marriage, marital contracts, divorce, refusal
of a minor girl and Yebum or Levirate Marriage. Which is the foundation stone
or helping stone as a wife is a helpmate.
5 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with
his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at
the mount of God;
Why was Moshe encamped here? He was encamped
here for a number of reasons. First he was told at the beginning to bring the
people to this place. Secondly, Moshe used to graze his flock(s) at this spot
so it was good for the Bnei Yisrael to encamp at this area where the water
holes, wells and other supplies were accessible.
6 and he said unto Moses: 'I thy father-in-law
Jethro am coming unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.'
There was a rudimentary army defending the camp
after the attack of Amalek. Yisro was challenged by the guards as to his ID and
purpose. He may have been circumcised since Midian was from Avraham but one
thing is certain that the boys were so the guards sent a messenger to Moshe.
7 And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law,
and bowed down and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and
they came into the tent.
When Moshe bowed down to his father-in-law as a
sign of honor and remember Yisro would have to be at this point 100 or much more
for according to the Medrash he was one of the three wise men called before
Pharaoh along with Iyob and Balaam. It was because Iyob did not come to defend
Am Yisrael as Yisro did that all the trials and sorrows befell him in Sefer
Iyob.
8 And Moses told his father-in-law all that the
LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the
travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the
goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, in that He had delivered them out
of the hand of the Egyptians.
Yisro became a stead forth monotheist at this
point and rejoice in the power and awesomeness of the L-RD.
10 And Jethro said: 'Blessed be the LORD, who
hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of
Pharaoh; who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the LORD is greater
than all gods; yea, for that they dealt proudly against them.'
Yisro was extremely righteous and served all
the gods to be on the right side in the next world. When he heard what HASHEM
did to the gods of Mitzrayim in the plague or the first born that they were
toppled or broken into pieces that he became a real Ger Toshav as he did not
take upon himself the 613 Mitzvos.
12 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a
burnt-offering and sacrifices for God; and Aaron came, and all the elders of
Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.
He was an ordained priest and holy man. It was
not his first sacrifice unto HASHEM. Although he may or may not have
slaughtered the offering before HASHEM in a kosher way, the Halachos of Kashrus
had not been given. I assume that this was plain bread with olive oil and
perhaps Hyssop (Aysov or Marjoram).
13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses
sat to judge the people; and the people stood about Moses from the morning unto
the evening. 14 And when Moses'
father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said: 'What is this thing
that you do to the people? why do you sit yourself alone, and all the people
stand about thee from morning unto even?'
It is not good for you to let disputants wait
in line before you for so long that a large populace is standing in line. It is
not good for them or for you. Both the people in line and the Rabbi are being
exhausted.
15 And Moses said unto his father-in-law:
'Because the people come unto me to inquire of God;
They do not know how to behave according to
Halacha and I have judge each case in dispute.
16 when they have a matter, it comes unto me; and
I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of
God, and His laws.'
Only next week in Parsha Mishpatim will Am Yisrael
learn about what to do.
17 And Moses' father-in-law said unto him: 'The
thing that you do is not good. 18
Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee; for
the thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
The wear and tear on Moshe and the long waiting
period for the congregation is not good. The Lubavitcher Rebbe did not have
600,000 male followers in Crown Heights and most people in the 1960’s who
wanted to meet with him were told to write him a letter. He had a lot of
secretaries filter out people. Sometime in the 1970’s he stopped seeing so many
Chassidim and took in very few. He would give out a dollar for charity to
people and bless them. Moshe was older at this point and it would have been too
daunting a task for such a large congregation.
19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee
counsel, and God be with thee: be thou for the people before God, and bring
thou the causes unto God.
Please listen to my advice and establish lesser
Rabbis. In short, the lesser Rabbis were like the FAQ page on Judaica sites
today. Example – how do I wash an infant on Shabbos? How do I heat-take the
chill off of the infant’s water or drink in a third cup on Shabbos?
20 And thou shalt teach them the statutes and the
laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that
they must do.
The job of a Rabbi is to be a teacher. To teach
younger men like Hoshea Bin Nun or Kalev Ben Yefuneh to be future Rabbis and
leaders of the Bnei Yisrael. For after you are 120 years in this world, these
younger men will be ripe to lead and teach the generation after them.
21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the
people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place
such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of
fifties, and rulers of tens.
IN AM YISRAEL IT IS NOT THE PRONESS IN THE
MILITARY OR THE BIGGEST IQ THAT MAKES ONE A RULER. Rather it is THE FEAR OF G-D
and the TRUTH, FIGHT AGAINST INJUSTICE or has he put it hating unjust gain.
They shall be your rulers not the rich, not the politician with the slick
tongue but the honest and hopefully humble G-D fearing person. According to
their level of learning you shall make them rulers of 10, 50, 100 and 1000
people. There is also common horse sense or experience that helps.
22 And let them judge the people at all seasons;
and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every
small matter they shall judge themselves; so shall they make it easier for thee
and bear the burden with thee.
The judges were not permanent judges but from
the nation. We became a nation of learned men this way. Let us see how many
judges there were from the 600,000 men and each reached his level based on
merit, knowledge and experience. 60,000 judges of ten, 20,000 judges of 50,
6,000 judges of 100 and 600 judges of 1000. The top judges were 6 members of
each tribe for the Great Sanhedrin and usually elders with plenty of
experience. Total 86,672 judges under the leadership of Moshe. That is close to
one person in seven was a Rabbinical Judge at some level! There was no politics
involved a person became a judge based on knowledge. Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah
was a Sanhedrin Judge at 18! But he was the exception rather than the rule.
23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command
thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people also shall go
to their place in peace.' 24 So
Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had
said. 25 And Moses chose able
men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of
thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
With such a large number of judges of 10, it
was relatively easy to become one and feel good for himself as he learned, aged
and mellowed.
26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the
hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged
themselves. 27 And Moses let his
father-in-law depart; and he went his way into his own land.
Why did he depart? He departed because although
he was one of the righteous of the nations, he was not a simple member of
Am Yisrael which was destined to receive the
Torah.
19:1
In the third month after the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land
of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 And when they were departed from
Rephidim, and were come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the
wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mount.
Rephidim was a large crazing area not far from
Har Sinai. Now they are about to receive the Torah. Moshe will be going up a
down a number of times to prepare the Nation for receiving the Torah.
3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD
called unto him out of the mountain, saying: 'Thus shalt thou say to the house
of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bore you
on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself. 5 Now therefore, if ye will hearken unto My voice indeed, and keep
My covenant, then ye shall be Mine own treasure from among all peoples; for all
the earth is Mine; 6 and ye
shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words
which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.'
We could have been a nation of priests going
world-wide had we heard directly all Asera Dibros. But we heard only two so we
became an extraordinary nation and a good example for the nations but not
priests for the world!
7 And Moses came and called for the elders of
the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD commanded him. 8 And all the people answered
together, and said: 'All that the LORD hath spoken we will do.' And Moses
reported the words of the people unto the LORD.
This is part of the greatness of Am Yisrael. We
were willing to obey and perform the commandments prior to hearing them.
9 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Lo, I come unto
thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and may
also believe in you forever.' And Moses told the words of the
people unto the LORD. 10 And the
LORD said unto Moses: 'Go unto the people, and sanctify them to-day and
to-morrow, and let them wash their garments, 11 and be ready against the third day; for the third day the LORD
will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
One shall purify himself and refrain from
marital relations so that the women too can purify themselves for the giving of
the Torah.
12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people
round about, saying: Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount,
or touch the border of it; whosoever touches the mount shall be surely put to
death;
Due to the holiness of the mountain it is
dangerous to approach and therefore put a boundary least one touch the mount
and die.
13 no hand shall touch him, but he shall surely
be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live; when
the ram's horn sounded long, they shall come up to the mount.'
To the mount but not on the mount!
14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the
people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their garments. 15 And he said unto the people: 'Be
ready against the third day; come not near a woman.'
So that the women would not be expelling Semen
that might last until the third day inside and die within the womb and come out
oozing out as dead seed.
16 And it came to pass on the third day, when it
was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the
mount, and the voice of a horn exceeding loud; and all the people that were in
the camp trembled. 17 And Moses
brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the
nether part of the mount. 18 Now
mount Sinai was altogether on smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in
fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole
mount quaked greatly. 19 And
when the voice of the horn waxed louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God
answered him by a voice. 20 And
the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, to the top of the mount; and the LORD
called Moses to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
Moshe remained out the foot of the mount with
no shoes on and spoke to the L-RD and was answered. Then he alone was called up
the mount and Aaron and the people remained behind.
21 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Go down, charge
the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them
perish. 22 And let the priests
also, that come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break
forth upon them.'
If they go up the mount and look at MY glory,
their souls will depart.
23 And Moses said unto the LORD: 'The people
cannot come up to mount Sinai; for thou didst charge us, saying: Set bounds
about the mount, and sanctify it.' 24
And the LORD said unto him: 'Go, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou,
and Aaron with thee; but let not the priests and the people break through to
come up unto the LORD, lest He break forth upon them.' 25 So Moses went down unto the people, and told them.
Moshe
and Aaron were allowed to go up the mountain to receive the Asera Dibros.
20:1 And God spoke all these words, saying: 2 I am the LORD thy God, who brought
thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no
other gods before Me. Daf 88A in tractate Shabbos describes this that the sound of the voice of G-D was so powerful and people saw the words written out as the L-RD spoke, that their souls left their bodies from fear and came back. Perhaps they just fainted but it was powerful.
3 Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness, of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 4 thou shalt not bow down unto them, nor serve them; for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; 5 and showing mercy unto the thousandth generation of them that love Me and keep My commandments.
I was close to 10 years old when both the movie “The Ten Commandments” and learning in the Reform Synagogue Sunday School. Near a lake is where I spent my summer vacation and weekends. Next door there was a girl two years younger than I who was Catholic. She was like a sister that I did not have for I only had a brother. We were close as children were far and few in that area. I asked her how it was that there was a large image of Yeshu in her church that people knelt to. She asked me to show her where it was forbidden. I opened up her Bible to these Pasukim and lo and behold, the wording was changed by the church. These Pasukim would haunt the Bnei Yisrael for generations for less than seven weeks after hearing this, a mob ruled and made a golden calf. Why a calf? Because they saw the DIVINE Throne that had a leg like a Calf when they crossed the sea. (See Yechezkel 1)
Still the people were warned not to make likeness and they would with the Egel HaZahav. But worse than just making it, they bowed down to it which added sin over the first crime.
If you are suffering and don’t know why, it could be that you are a member of the third or fourth generation of a sinner. And if you are weak in observance and feel the love of G-D and the mercy chances are that you are from a Tzaddik and have merits with in the fathers. Growing up a 6th generation Reform Jew, I seem to have had a little of the first and then a lot of the second replaced it.
6 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.
I often get into a debate with some less learned Orthodox Jews that think I should write here the NAMES WITH A “HAY” in the blogspot. For even when we right Torah as I do weekly in my blogspot, I use L-RD or LRD or THE NAME = HASHEM and we use KAIL or SHAKKAI where the Dalet is replaced by. When we rejoice we say HallaluKah unless it is from a Psalm. For the songs that use that such as "HallaluKah I'm a bum, I a bum again". When I switched from Reform Judaism to Orthodoxy some 52 to 53 years ago, I had some problems understanding this and practicing it. It is hard to be in the locker room in the Gym and not hear Shalom, Shalom
Aleichem, Shabbat Shalom on Thursdays onwards, even a Baruch HASHEM but I say "Hi" "Boker Tov" (good morning) Good Shabbos or Yiddish Gut Shabbos or Git Shabbos. The rule is where people might be undress or excrement and other excretions from the body one does not read or talk Holy Material. David Melech Yisrael was nude in the Mikveh and was looking if he had a Mitzvah there. Then he remembered that he was circumcised and he felt better that he was not naked from Mitzvos. Actually, he had another one of walking 4 Amos in Eretz Yisrael for anybody who walks about 90 cm in the land of Israel has a Mitzvah.
7 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Each week and each minute of Shabbos we should keep remembering. For if we forget, we might turn on or off a lamp or carry where there is no Eruv.
8 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work;
Work is Avodah in Hebrew. Shabbos work is a Melacha or Melachos Avodah. So if pushing something heavy for work like crates of food to make room for guests and not violate the Shabbos but carrying handkerchief with no Eruv from a private domain to a public domain is one of the 39 Melachos.
9 but the seventh day is a Sabbath unto the LORD thy God, in it thou shalt not do any manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates;
The Shabbos is holy so even the non-Jewish slave-servant that was sent to the Mikveh but not free, cannot work. However, there are times when we hint to a non-Jew if the air conditioning or heater is too cold or too hot. The Halachos of how to hint etc. are involved.
10 for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Why to we honor the Shabbos for I, the L-RD your G-D am Holy, Shabbos is holy and you should be Holy. Parsha Kiddushim Vayikra 19:1.
11 Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God gives thee.
This is one of two Mitzvos that promise us length of days if we honor them. What happens if one dies young? He gets length of days in the next world.
12 Thou shalt not murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal.
The three Mitzvos mentioned here are logical for a functioning society. Notice this Pasuk does not say thou shall not kill as a soldier or policeman might have to in war or keeping the peace, the Pasuk therefore says murder.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Most people appearing in a Rabbinical Court are G-D fearing. A cheater or plotter could take away a man’s possession or even wife by saying that he owes so and so such and such money or his wife did something not pleasant with so and so.
13 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house; thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's.
One must remove these wicked thoughts from his head lest he murder his neighbor or testify falsely against the wife or neighbor in order to possess these things. For as with the case of the son of Rabbi Shimon ben Shetach, the false witnesses enabled the son to be murdered.
14 And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the horn, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off. 15 And they said unto Moses: 'Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.'
Twice they felt their souls leaving them or fainted so they did not want to hear the third commandment directly so they pleaded that only Moshe would hear it and deliver it to them.
16 And Moses said unto the people: 'Fear not; for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before you, that ye sin not.'
Moshe wanted them to listen but they were so petrified that they refused this opportunity.
17 And the people stood afar off; but Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. 18 And the LORD said unto Moses: Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel: Ye yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 19 Ye shall not make with Me--gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you. 20 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto Me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt-offerings, and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be mentioned I will come unto thee and bless thee. 21 And if thou make Me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stones; for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast profaned it. 22 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto Mine altar, that thy nakedness be not uncovered thereon.
The Cohanim wore pants (under garments) and walked up a ramp so that they would never show their nakedness.
The
Emperor, the Elder and the Fig Tree by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles
There is a story about Adriyonus Caesar* who was going to war and marching with his soldiers to fight against a rebel area. He found an old man who was planting fig trees along the way. Adriyonus asked him, "You are an elderly man, so why are you standing and working and tiring yourself for others?"
He answered, "My master the king, I am planting now and if I merit I will eat from the fruits of my planting. But if not, then my children will eat."
Adriyonus was at war for 3 years and he then found the same old man in the same place. What did the old man do? He took a basket and filled it with the beautiful first-to-ripen figs and gave it to Adriyonus, saying, "My master the king, please receive this from your servant. I am the old man whom you found on your way three years ago and you said to me, 'You are an old man, so why bother yourself and exhaust yourself working for others?' However, the Omnipresent One has permitted me to eat from the fruit of my plantings. These that are in the basket are a present from me."
Right away Adriyonus told his servants to take the basket from him, remove the figs and to refill it with gold coins. And so they did.
Thus we see that one should never say that he is too old, how much longer will he live, and why should he get up and get tired for others since he is soon to die. King Solomon said, "He made everything beautiful in its time. He also put the world into their heart." (Eccl. 3:11). The word for "the world," ha'olam, is written without [the usual] Vav, spelling he'elam," meaning "the concealment." Why? For if the Holy One, blessed be He, had not hidden from man's heart the thought of his imminent death, he would never build nor plant, for he would say that tomorrow he would die, so why should he get up and get tired for others. Therefore, the Holy One, blessed be He, hid the death day from the heart of man so that he would build and plant. If he merits he will gain the benefits, and if not, others will get the benefits.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: From Etz Hayyim Hee by Rachmiel Hayyim Drizin - Supplement, page 3-4, as adapted from Midrash Tanhuma (Kedoshim ch. 8).
* Editor's note: Hadrian (also spelled 'Adrian' - full title: Traianus Hadrianus Augustus) was Roman emperor from 117 to 138. His birth-name was Publius Aelius Hadrianus.
Chashgacha by Rabbi Pinchas Winston
Shlita
In a direct letter also in Perceptions
from the Torah.org
Rav Moshe then proceeded to “randomly” open the very THICK and
WELL-WORDED Sefer for the first time and, of course, turned right to the
halachic discussion he was looking for. “That was when,” the student said, “I
knew for sure that Heaven helped Rav Moshe save time by having him always open
the Sefer he was using exactly to the place he needed!”
Well, one good story breeds another. My son, after hearing my
account of Rav Moshe’s hashgochah with Sefer-opening told me that his Rosh
Yeshiva told him one as well. His Rosh Yeshiva had been a student of Rabbi
Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman, zt”l, who just passed away in 2017. He had a
similar account of Rav Shteinman and his miraculous Sefer-opening.
Then my son added a gem of an idea that really excited me. He
had heard it from his Rosh Yeshiva and it was based upon a Gemara I had learned
about 16 times, but never came to the same conclusion.
The Talmud states that if you put your hand into your pocket to
take out three coins, and only two come out, it is called “suffering,” since
you have to make an extra effort to find the missing third coin (Arachin 16b).
His Rosh Yeshiva learned from this that if a person does NOT require such
suffering, then Heaven will make him successful the first time. In the case of
Rav Shteinman, zt”l, and Rav Moshe, zt”l, this meant always turning to the
right page from the beginning. I may add that sometimes a comment of mine has
helped solve a problem of a reader that I knew nothing of. G-D works in
mysterious ways!
Smoking: In
the 1950’s and perhaps early 1960’s there was no proof that smoking was
dangerous at first Rabbi Moshe Feinstein did not ban them. When it became clear
in the mid to late 1960’s that smoking was a health danger he said that
Halachically one should not smoke. The Lubavitcher Rebbe loved and respected
Rabbi Moshe as a bigger Talmud Chacham and Posek, yet his Chassidim looked up
to him for the Pasak Din. Here is how Lubavitch holds: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4265963/jewish/Are-Cigarettes-Kosher.htm#utm_medium=email&utm_source=1_chabad.org_magazine_en&utm_campaign=en&utm_content=content
After
banning use of prostitutes, male or female, Israeli Government making rehab
facilities for these workers. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5448547,00.html
I
once saw about 2 million of these birds together at dusk. Recently, a few
hundred as dawn broke by my house. Make sure that you have an umbrella or
washable coat if they fly overhead! https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5440379,00.html
Trafe
restaurants going away from pork and certain sea food. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5444519,00.html
Disgraced
Rabbi could lose ordination. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257891
After
going against Rav Kanjiefski, Rabbi Cohain is hospitalized. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257892
From
Mike. For Holocaust Memorial day Jan 27: https://www.facebook.com/WorldJewishCong/videos/486549091869970/
Latest
Public Opinion Poll. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257966
Egypt:
Polygamy is a solution to the spinster crises. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257996
Inyanay Diyoma
Russia
threatens Israel. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257826
Hamas
infiltrator arrested. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257823
Information
on Mossad Chief a Hezballah lure. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257798
Dr.
Sherman Generals in Politics a disaster both for the country and for them. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/23320
Women’s
March not about female rights but a con job. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/23319
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has lifted the temporary
travel restrictions on U.S. government employees and their family members
conducting personal travel to northern Israel that were put in place on
December 18, 2018. U.S. government employees and their family members can
resume personal travel to the area north of Route 89 and west of Route 90, as
well as north of Route 99. Travel restrictions of U.S. government employees and
their family members remain in effect within 1.5 miles (2.4 kms) of the
Lebanese border and east of Route 98 in the Golan Heights, including Mount
Hermon. Official travel by U.S. government employees in these areas is
permitted only to conduct essential travel and may require additional security
measures.
Shiites
planning attacks on US in Syria. https://www.debka.com/soleimani-primes-pro-iranian-militias-in-syria-and-iraq-for-terror-attacks-on-exiting-us-forces/
Syria
terror bomb explodes in capitol. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257854
4
years after the death of Argentine prosecutor. https://www.algemeiner.com/2019/01/18/marking-fourth-anniversary-of-alberto-nismans-murder-israel-unveils-memorial-to-argentine-prosecutor-who-sought-justice-for-iran-linked-bombing-of-buenos-aires-jewish-center/?utm_content=news1&utm_medium=daily_email&utm_campaign=email&utm_source=internal/
French
sailor rescued by Israeli Navy. https://www.algemeiner.com/2019/01/18/israeli-navy-rescues-french-sailor-stranded-in-mediterranean-sea/?utm_content=news1&utm_medium=daily_email&utm_campaign=email&utm_source=internal/
Antisemitism
is back again. https://www.algemeiner.com/2019/01/17/french-jewish-intellectual-bernard-henri-levy-warns-antisemitism-is-back/?utm_content=news1&utm_medium=daily_email&utm_campaign=email&utm_source=internal/
Blacks
slaves still exist in Arabia – Bederman. https://dianebederman.com/why-do-self-respecting-black-people-submit-to-islam/
New
book on Jihadism. https://dianebederman.com/twitter-warns-glazov-about-his-book-the-jihadist-psychopath/
Northern
Border heats up. The largest attack on Iranian forces after they
shoot missile towards civilians on vacation. https://www.debka.com/most-extensive-israeli-attack-ever-on-soleimanis-military-resources-in-syria/
Original attack: https://www.debka.com/ron-dome-downs-syrian-missile-fired-at-hermon-during-idf-chiefs-first-northern-visit/
Iron
Dome intercept: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257870
Film
of our reply and other info. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257907
Ed-Op
Ron Ben Yishai: Israel and Iran up the war of words. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5450429,00.html
Ed-Op
Ron Ben Yishai: A different reply to attack. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5450068,00.html
ISIS:
Mali attack because of Israel. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257905
UNWRA
to be kicked out of Yerushalayim. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257906
Two
Israeli sisters missing in Argentina. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257894
Two
Jews in two days attacked in Brooklyn, NY. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257884
Iranian
Missile was used in attack on Hermon. https://www.debka.com/idf-irans-al-qods-aimed-the-fateh-110-missile-at-golan-which-iron-dome-intercepted/
Arab
gun runners arrested but rammed police. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257933
Clandestine
war dangerous: https://www.algemeiner.com/2019/01/21/latest-syria-exchange-marks-start-of-new-battle-in-secret-israel-iran-war-experts-say/?utm_content=news1&utm_medium=daily_email&utm_campaign=email&utm_source=internal/
Although
you would not know from recent black hatred of Jews and blacks becoming
Muslims, American Jews were friendly with Dr. MLK https://www.algemeiner.com/2019/01/21/american-jews-mark-martin-luther-king-jr-day-with-tributes-to-late-civil-rights-leader/?utm_content=news1&utm_medium=daily_email&utm_campaign=email&utm_source=internal/
Bulgarian
Synagogue vandalized. https://www.algemeiner.com/2019/01/21/central-synagogue-in-bulgarian-capital-vandalized-by-rock-throwing-assailant/?utm_content=news1&utm_medium=daily_email&utm_campaign=email&utm_source=internal/
Arrow
3 missile passes test against US missile. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5450882,00.html
After
a sniper bullet to the helmet of an officer and rock to the brigade commander’s
helmet, Israel retaliates immediately with tank fire and also IAF at night. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5451322,00.html
Money
for Gaza withheld after attack. https://www.algemeiner.com/2019/01/22/after-idf-soldier-wounded-by-gaza-sniper-israel-delays-qatari-cash-delivery/?utm_content=news1&utm_medium=daily_email&utm_campaign=email&utm_source=internal/
Last
year, Abbas was saved by Israeli Dr. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5451457,00.html
This
week saw the second surface to surface Iranian Missile. https://www.debka.com/the-fateh-110-intercepted-over-golan-sunday-was-irans-second-surface-missile-attack-on-israel/
12
Revolutionary guards died in Israeli raids. http://www.israelhayom.com/2019/01/22/syria-strike-killed-12-iranian-revolutionary-guard-troops/
Ed-Op
Yossi Yehoshua - new COS knock-out of Iran. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5450946,00.html
Shas
chief, under police investigation, will back indicted Netanyahu. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257973
Israel-Ukraine
trade agreement. http://www.israelhayom.com/2019/01/22/israel-ukraine-sign-bilateral-free-trade-agreement/
Will
Arafat’s property be used to pay victims? http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/258025
EU
still funding boycott of Israel. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/258024
Youth
with knife arrested at Machpelah. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257990
Danes
play down antisemitism. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/258017
Secretary
of State will resume peace effort after the elections in Israel. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/258015
Russia
warns Israel again Gog and Magog gets closer: https://www.debka.com/moscow-israel-must-stop-arbitrary-air-strikes-on-syria-khamenei-takes-charge-of-missile-attacks-on-israel/
Tragic
that 33% of the USA are uneducated about the Shoah! https://www.newsweek.com/one-third-americans-dont-believe-6-million-jews-were-murdered-during-holocaust-883513?fbclid=IwAR1h-gPVoPQzdnlyl482MOSxw7d9KBOJYqoZZero_109f3lhJ7t3oP19YZI
Opposition
leader prefers to talk to May rather than the Tories. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/258070
All
options are on the table if the dictator of Venezuela does not step down as
opposition leader recognized. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/258060
Ed-Op
who are you Benny Gantz? https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5451783,00.html
Canada
has a PM moves the gov. to Political Correctness and stifling the press. https://dianebederman.com/we-must-not-let-government-shut-down-media-outlets/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork&fbclid=IwAR2dBZ4BYXC6yx_dBS1cvbPq6m367eMShFm0t18xTbfv_I2YgDPsAHDAdJI
Kuwaiti
envoy visits Gaza without protection money for calming the situation. https://www.algemeiner.com/2019/01/23/after-gaza-border-flare-up-israels-netanyahu-vows-lethal-response-to-any-further-violence/?utm_content=news1&utm_medium=daily_email&utm_campaign=email&utm_source=internal/
Murders
by ?Right-wing? Extremists rise in 2018. https://www.algemeiner.com/2019/01/23/murders-by-us-right-wing-extremists-in-2018-at-highest-peak-in-over-two-decades-new-adl-report-reveals/?uRtm_content=news1&utm_medium=daily_email&utm_campaign=email&utm_source=internal/ Nazis were socialists.
Egypt
tells Hamas either you are listening to Iran or to us! Hamas refuses non-cash
Quatari money transfer from Israel. Iron Dome deployed as there are threats
from the north and from the south. https://www.debka.com/israel-posts-iron-dome-batteries-in-greater-tel-aviv-and-the-south-for-possible-outbreaks-of-hostilities/
Egypt
closes border to Gaza. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/258132
Protection
Money refusal. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/258104
Tension
by Syrian Border shots exchanged. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/258084
All
what Iran destroyed for Kerry-Obama deal has been replaced. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/258124
Israeli
silent because of the Jews in Venezuela. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5452145,00.html
Good
Shabbos all and stay healthy,
Rachamim
Pauli
