Friday, December 6, 2019

Parsha Vayeitze, Story and more


Parsha Vayeitze



Last week ended with Esav vowing to murder Yacov and Rivka over hearing him. She convinces Yitzchak to send Yacov away to the Padam Aram district specifically the town of Haran for a Shidduch.



28:10 And Jacob went out from Beersheva, and went toward Haran. 11 And he lighted upon the place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep.



Supposedly he surrounded himself by 12 stones to prevent an attack by wild beasts. He took a flat type of stone to place under his head for a pillow with a cloth of his.



12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.



The dream has various interpretations. Rabbi Simcha HaCohain Kuk Shlita: He saw the future years with the various Angels of Lavan, Mitzrayim (Egypt), Ashur (Assyria), Bavel (Babylon), Yavan (Greece) and Esav (Rome and the Western World) rising upwards and Michael staying stationary until the time that will come. For when Esav is up, Yacov is down. The majority of interpretations is that he saw the Angels of Eretz Yisrael coming down to earth and the angels of outside of Israel coming to protect Yacov on his journey. (See the end of the Chapter where he meets the Angels). Rabbi Kochavi Shlita said in the name of the Lubavitcher Rebbe that Yacov lived as such a Tzaddik Chutz La Aretz (outside of the land) that he made his residence holy. In this way angels could come from the border of Eretz Yisrael and extend the land further out. In the future, Eretz Yisrael will be larger to the Euphrates and the Nile and Yerushalayim will extend as far north as Damascus! The world in the days of the Moshiach will become as holy as Eretz Yisrael is today.



13 And, behold, the LORD stood beside him, and said: 'I am the LORD, the God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac. The land whereon thou lie, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed.



As I have been with your father and grandfather, I will be with you. You will inherit this land and your children shall fill it.



14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. And in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.



Your seed will be upon this land and unto the various continents on earth.



15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee whithersoever thou go, and will bring thee back into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.'



I am with you and shall not leave you even if you do not see me. I shall be there in the background of the day to day physical world.



16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said: 'Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.'



We know that the L-RD is present in every atom but in this place the center of the Throne of G-D and the Shechina was resting.



17 And he was afraid, and said: 'How full of awe is this place! this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.'



This place has connected heaven to earth and it is awesome. Many commentators believe that Yacov slept on the Temple Mount but I tend to believe that this was Beth-el where the Mishkan would rest someday. The distance is 12 Roman Miles or about 19.2 kilometers.



18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.



Rashi quotes the Medrash saying the stones fused together. It is a nice Drasha but the singular case is also used in Megillah Esther 9:11 On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the castle was brought before the king. 12 And the king said unto Esther the queen: 'The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the castle, … It is not written in the plural but 500 Ish and Ish is a man while Anoshim are men. This means that we can say that the ‘stone’ was also plural and stones from the place.



19 And he called the name of that place Beth-el, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.



Beth-el, the house of G-D will be the name. Luz in the times of the Mishnah was so holy that nobody told a lie in it and the Angel of Death had no power over the people until they left it when they felt ready to die. This was until Rebbe Meir the miracle worker came and told what we call a white lie – Gemara.



20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying: 'If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,



Note Yacov did not ask for a large for camels, donkeys, cattle, sheep, wealth, many wives and children. The Tzaddik in this world needed a garment to protect him from the elements and the minimum amount of food to survive. He did not even ask for a piece of fruit or a vegetable to go with his bread. He  



21 so that I come back to my father's house in peace, then shall the LORD be my God,



Having been visited by G-D he wants to make a pledge upon his safe return that was promised above.



22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house; and of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee.'



I shall build an altar here as a gesture of appreciation and thanks. (For Yacov well knew that one cannot really give anything to his creator outside of observing the commands and boundless love but this would be a physical and visible for of thanks for a future Kiddush HASHEM.)



29:1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east. 2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. And the stone upon the well's mouth was great. 3 And thither were all the flocks gathered; and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back upon the well's mouth in its place.  4 And Jacob said unto them: 'My brethren, whence are ye?' And they said: 'Of Haran are we.'



There were from times of old trade routes and people navigated by the shadows of the sun in various seasons. There may have been rudimentary maps where oases were and poisonous water was as in the Sahara. Obviously, the best check of where one was on the trail and how to travel further was to ask a local citizen for the place and directions. Yacov was uncertain if he had arrived in Haran or had more distance to travel.  



5 And he said unto them: 'Know ye Laban the son of Nahor?' And they said: 'We know him.' 6 And he said unto them: 'Is it well with him?' And they said: 'It is well; and, behold, Rachel his daughter comes with the sheep.' 7 And he said: 'Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together; water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.' 8 And they said: 'We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.'



This was a tremendous stone that covered the well.



9 While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she tended them. 10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.



He wanted to do a chivalrous gesture for Rachel and using rudimentary physics and engineering techniques, he was able with his staff and small rocks to move the boulder covering the well.  



11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.



You can imagine a modest Beis Rivka type girl being greeting by a total stranger who may look a little via family resemblance like her father coming over and giving her a hug and a kiss even of the cheek?



12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son; and she ran and told her father.



At this point he explains to her who he is and she understands that this is for a kosher Shidduch and not hanky-panky.



13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.



Rashi says based on the Medrash that he patted him down for jewels and even French kissed him for Jews in his mouth.



14 And Laban said to him: 'Surely thou art my bone and my flesh.' And he abode with him the space of a month. 15 And Laban said unto Jacob: 'Because thou art my brother, should thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?'



Without being told, after the initial welcome meal, Yacov volunteered to work.



16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 And Leah's eyes were weak; but Rachel was of beautiful form and fair to look upon.



Weak eyes from crying and praying that she would not be treated like chattel and given over to marry Esav. She wanted a Tzaddik for a husband. From these prayers she merited to be mother of half the tribes, the priesthood and kingship.



18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said: 'I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.'



Unlike Avraham who grew up knowing that he would marry Sara and vice versa or Yitzchak who grew in love with time, Yacov was charmed and infatuated with love at first sight. That is a high price to pay for Rachel and a long period of time for somebody who the Medrash counts as 63 when he left Yitzchak and then learned with Shem and Ever for 14 years before coming to Lavan.



19 And Laban said: 'It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.' 20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 21 And Jacob said unto Laban: 'Give me my wife, for my days are filled, that I may go in unto her.'

The Pshat is that Yacov is now based on the Medrash 84 years and Lavan past 100 years. Lavan is now going to throw the wedding.



22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.



With Lavan being a ruthless character, neither daughter would reveal the plan to Yacov out of fear.



24 And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid. 25 And it came to pass in the morning that, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban: 'What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?'



You have cheated me. I did not serve you for Leah.



26 And Laban said: 'It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the first-born. 27 Fulfil the week of this one, and we will give thee the other also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.'



This is before Matan Torah and it was permissible to marry two sisters and have a few wives. This time it was one week for Sheva Berachos and not seven years. The work would come after the marriage.



28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife. 29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid. 30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. 31 And the LORD saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said: 'Because the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.'



See I have given you a son please show me more love. It took years as it was not an infatuation love that grew. But the mature love won out as we see Yacov commands Yosef not to bury him in Beis Lechem but in Chevron and requested to be buried next to her in his eternal resting place.



33 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said: 'Because the LORD hath heard that I am hated, He hath therefore given me this son also.' And she called his name Simeon.



Shimon from Shema for G-D has heard me.



34 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said: 'Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons.' Therefore, was his name called Levi.



Lev is heart and she again tries to send a message to Yacov with the name.



35 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she said: 'This time will I praise the LORD.' Therefore, she called his name Judah; and she left off bearing.



Yehuda to bring togetherness.



30:1 And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and she said unto Jacob: 'Give me children, or else I die.' 2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel; and he said: 'Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?'



I can have children as Leah as given me. I can pray for you but I not in the place of G-D to grant your request.



3 And she said: 'Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; that she may bear upon my knees, and I also may be built up through her.' 4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife; and Jacob went in unto her. 5 And Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son. 6 And Rachel said: 'God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son.' Therefore, called she his name Dan.



Dan from the root Din or judge(ment).



7 And Bilhah Rachel's handmaid conceived again, and bore Jacob a second son. 8 And Rachel said: 'With mighty wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed.' And she called his name Naphtali.



Also means struggling with her sister.



9 When Leah saw that she had left off bearing, she took Zilpah her handmaid, and gave her to Jacob to wife. 10 And Zilpah Leah's handmaid bore Jacob a son. 11 And Leah said: 'Fortune is come!' And she called his name Gad.



Gad is luck just as Mazel is and sometimes used for goat and perhaps the root in ancient times was that having a goat was lucky.



12 And Zilpah Leah's handmaid bore Jacob a second son. 13 And Leah said: 'Happy am I! for the daughters will call me happy.' And she called his name Asher.



Asher is the same as the Spanish name Felix and is happy.



14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah: 'Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.' 15 And she said unto her: 'Is it a small matter that thou hast taken away my husband? and would thou take away my son's mandrakes also?' And Rachel said: 'Therefore he shall lie with thee to-night for thy son's mandrakes.' 16 And Jacob came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said: 'Thou must come in unto me; for I have surely hired thee with my son's mandrakes.' And he lay with her that night. 17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bore Jacob a fifth son. 18 And Leah said: 'God hath given me my hire, because I gave my handmaid to my husband. And she called his name Issachar.



From the root payment. Sachar in modern Hebrew can be used for salary or rent being that it is payment.



19 And Leah conceived again, and bore a sixth son to Jacob. 20 And Leah said: 'God hath endowed me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons.' And she called his name Zebulun.



The root comes from to dwell and it also means gift a modern equivalent of Zebulun would be Matan or gift from G-D.



21 And afterwards she bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah.



Like the name Dan, she received, a Din, or Judgement that this would be a girl so that Rachel and the handmaidens would have half the tribes.



22 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. 23 And she conceived, and bore a son, and said: 'God hath taken away my reproach.' 24 And she called his name Joseph, saying: 'The LORD add to me another son.'



He will add (another son).



25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban: 'Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served thee, and let me go; for thou know my service wherewith I have served thee.' …



Lavan tries to change Yacov’s wages with more tricks for work. So he has speckled, spotted and stripped sheep and in the end HASHEM makes Yacov wealthy.



43 And the man increased exceedingly, and had large flocks, and maid-servants and men-servants, and camels and asses.



Lavan was no pauper and he also was exceedingly wealthy. However, Lavan was a cheapskate and a very stingy person.
31:1 And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying: 'Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this wealth.'

Lavan had no sons before Yacov came. Yacov brought him luck and his wife bore him sons. For prior to this only the two girls would have inherited from Lavan. For the meeting by the well starts out with Rachel tending the sheep and now it was Yacov who tended the sheep


2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as beforetime. 3 And the LORD said unto Jacob: 'Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.' 4 And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,

He consulted with his wives and explained to them the vision from HASHEM.

5 and said unto them: 'I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as beforetime; but the God of my father hath been with me. 6 And ye know that with all my power I have served your father. 7 And your father hath mocked me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

G-D promised to be with Yacov and perhaps defended him from sickness and wild beasts or other things. Now we finally have a solid example of HIS being with Yacov.

… 24 And God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night, and said unto him: 'Take heed to thyself that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.' 25 And Laban came up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain; and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mountain of Gilead. 26 And Laban said to Jacob: 'What hast thou done, that thou hast outwitted me, and carried away my daughters as though captives of the sword? 27 Wherefore didst thou flee secretly, and outwit me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth and with songs, with tabret and with harp; 28 and didst not suffer me to kiss my sons and my daughters? now hast thou done foolishly.

This is a ruse as we see the real intent in the next sentence.

29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt; but the God of your father spoke unto me yesternight, saying: Take heed to thyself that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

Without the help of your G-D, I would have had the power to hurt you (which was my intent as Saddam Hussein had his two sons-in-law murdered).

… 36 And Jacob was worth, and strove with Laban. And Jacob answered and said to Laban: 'What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast hotly pursued after me? 37 Whereas thou hast felt about all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? Set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us two. 38 These twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she-goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flocks have I not eaten. 39 That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bore the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40 Thus I was: in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from mine eyes. 41 These twenty years have I been in thy house: I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy flock; and thou hast changed my wages ten times. 42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac, had been on my side, surely now had thou sent me away empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labor of my hands, and gave judgment yesternight.'

After keeping his peace for twenty years and realizing that HASHEM is with him, he finally spoke his mind.

43 And Laban answered and said unto Jacob: 'The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, and all that thou see is mine; and what can I do this day for these my daughters, or for their children whom they have borne?

Perhaps Lavan woke up to the fact that even though he is past 120 years at the time, he will eventually pass away and his legacy will be with these children and grandchildren. For if not for last week’s and this week’s Parsha he would have become another name in the Tanach like Gomer, Put, Ham, etc. and lost in the many names not really to be remembered. He would be a passing reference like the Shepherds at the start of our Parsha. Unfortunately for him, great-great-great…grandfather or not of ours his reputation is not remembered for good.

44 And now come, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.' 45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. 46 And Jacob said unto his brethren: 'Gather stones'; and they took stones, and made a heap. And they did eat there by the heap. 47 And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha; but Jacob called it Gilead.

Aid in Hebrew is witness so the heap of stones was set as a witness. An inanimate object being a witness but would become a wall against which the donkey pressed Balaam’s leg. hH


48 And Laban said: 'This heap is witness between me and thee this day.' Therefore, was the name of it called Gilead; 49 and Mizpah, for he said: 'The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.

A look out or watch tower is Mizpeh.

50 If thou shalt afflict my daughters, and if thou shalt take wives beside my daughters, no man being with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.' 51 And Laban said to Jacob: 'Behold this heap, and behold the pillar, which I have set up betwixt me and thee. 52 This heap be witness, and the pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm. 53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us.' And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac. 54 And Jacob offered a sacrifice in the mountain, and called his brethren to eat bread; and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mountain.

32:1 And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them. And Laban departed, and returned unto his place.



Thank the good L-RD Yacov was finally free of this father-in-law.



2 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.



I explained above about the changing of the guard of the Angels. This time they met him in Syria at that time, but one day will be part of the Messianic Kingdom.



3 And Jacob said when he saw them: 'This is God's camp.' And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.





The Broken Engagement By Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles



There was once a chasid who travelled to his rebbe, R. Yisrael of Koznitz, every month to take in the atmosphere of holiness which filled the very air of the Rebbe's court. Although in general he was happy with his lot in life, he knew he would only be completely content if he had a child.

Several times his wife had encouraged him to ask the Rebbe for a blessing to cure their childlessness, but to no avail. Yet, his wife wouldn't desist from her pleas. "This time," she insisted, "you must not leave the holy Rebbe until he answers our request."

The next time when the chasid came to Koznitz and was admitted into the Rebbe's chambers, he told the Rebbe of their longing for a child. The Rebbe listened and offered him the solution his spiritual vision afforded him: "If you are willing to become a pauper you will be granted the blessing you seek." The man agreed to discuss the condition with his wife and return with her answer.

The woman didn't think for a moment. "Of course. It's worth everything to me." The man returned to Koznitz and accepted the harsh prescription. But poverty was not the end of the Koznitzer's advice; the man was sent on a long arduous journey to visit the famous tzadik, the Chozeh (Seer) of Lublin.

The Chozeh was known for his power to discern the state and provenance of a person's soul, and when he met the chasid he studied his visitor long and hard before he spoke.

"I will tell you the source of your childlessness and what you must do to correct the problem. Once, when you were very young, you promised to wed a certain woman, also quite young. When you matured, she didn't interest you any longer and you broke your promise. Because you hurt her feelings, you have not been able to have children since. You must find her and beg her forgiveness. Go to the city of Balta (which was very distant); there you'll find the woman."
* * *

The chasid wasted no time in embarking on the journey. But when he arrived in Balta no one knew anything about the woman. He rented a room and waited to see how the words of the tzadik would materialize.

One day, he was walking down the street when he was caught in a sudden downpour. He ran to a nearby shop to escape from the rain and found himself standing near two women who were also seeking shelter. Suddenly, he was shocked to hear one say to the other, "Do you see that man? He was once betrothed to me in my youth and deserted me!"

He turned to see a woman dressed in the richest fabrics and wearing beautiful jewels. He approached her, whereupon she said, "Don't you remember me? I am the one you were engaged to so many years ago. Did you marry? Have you any children?"

He immediately poured out the entire story, telling her that he had come only to find her and beseech her to forgive him. He begged her to ask of him anything to atone for the terrible pain he had caused her.

"I lack nothing, for G-d has provided me with everything, but I have a brother who is in desperate need. Go to him and give him 200 gold coins with which he can marry off his daughter, and I will forgive you. In the merit of marrying off a poor bride you will be blessed with children, as the tzadik told you."

"Amen!" responded the chasid heartily. "But please, won't you give your brother this money yourself?". I have travelled many months and I'm very anxious to return home."

"No," the woman adamantly refused. "I am not able to travel now, and it is not feasible to send by post such a sum of money. No, you must go yourself." With that, she turned, left the store and proceeded down the street.
* * *

The chasid ventured on yet another journey to a distant city where he was able to locate the woman's brother. He introduced himself, but before he could explain why he had come, the brother, who was in a terrible state of agitation, spoke first: "My daughter is betrothed to a wealthy young man, but I have suddenly become penniless and unless I can find the dowry money, the marriage is off."

The chasid listened to the heart-rending tale and then said: "I will give you two hundred gold coins which will be more than enough for all your expenses."

The man couldn't believe his ears. "What, you don't even know me -- why would you do such a thing for a total stranger?"

"I have been sent by your sister whom I met a few weeks ago in Balta. Many years ago I was once betrothed to her but I broke off the engagement. I recently sought her out; the help I'm offering to you is my promise to her and my tikun (soul-rectification)."

"What are you saying?" the man turned pale. "What kind of crazy tale are you spinning, and why? My sister has been dead for fifteen years. I should know -- I buried her myself!"

Now it was time for the chasid to be shocked. He pondered the miracles G-d had wrought on his behalf so that he would be able to make amends to his former fiancée and merit to have a child of his own. He handed the man the golden coins and the man blessed him to be granted many sons and daughters and a long and happy life of joy from each and every one of his children and grandchildren to-be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from the version on //Lchaimweekly.org (#990), with permission.

Connection: Weekly Reading of Vayeitze - a broken betrothal (Yaakov tricked to marry Leah instead of Rachel)

Biographical notes:
Rabbi Yisroel Haupstein [5497 - 14 Tishrei 5575 (1737 - Sept. 1814 C.E.)], the "Maggid" (preacher) of Koznitz was a major disciple of the Rebbe Reb Elimelech of Lyzhensk and the author of the chassidic-kabbalistic work, 'Avodas Yisrael' and other books. His miraculous birth to an elderly couple is the subject of a famous Baal Shem Tov story.

Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Horowitz [of blessed memory: 5505 - 9 Av 5575 (1745 - Aug. 1815 C.E.)], known as 'the Chozeh (Seer) of Lublin', was the main successor to the Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk and leader of the spread of chassidism in Poland. Many of his insights were published posthumously in Divrei Emmes, Zichron Zos, and Zos Zichron.





Depression when the soul lacks something. https://www.facebook.com/myJLI/videos/10158397338914411/



Road dangers sometimes are a death a day sometimes more. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/272509

Decommissioned 767 causes UK alert. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/272525

Jewish area of Chevron getting rebuilt. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HJOLZK11ar

The true story of Lily Marlene Song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VixYaWGYReo

Yerushalayim train runs over woman. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/272668

Israel prepares for third election. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rJkw00yH6r

What the Likud Members will not say publically. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HkIbt3GTH

Latest Public Opinion Poll after third election there will be very little change. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/272777



Inyanay Diyoma




Why did Judge give EZ sentence-release? https://www.foxnews.com/world/london-bridge-narwhal-tusk-chef ISIS praises Khan’s murder of two people.

In Holland a stabbing too motive? https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50609528




Morocco Israeli dies in “accident”. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/272486


Gaza teen injured v. close to border. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/272472

Ed-Op Bennett’s U-Turn wants Hamas deal. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/272461

Ed-Op Iron Dome hides war cost. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/H1EKAg7hH


Rockets over Ashkelon on Shabbos. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/BJyFZGyar

Treason of I. Omar Christian source. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrZtmJsELZ0

Khan release patrol board played no part it came automatically. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/H1wUR0eaH

Dr. Martin Sherman Merited Mistrust. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/24806 Prof. Alan Dershowitz, who has written several critical op-eds and an open letter to Mandelblit, calling on him to drop the indictments, warned that “we’re seeing the weaponization of criminal justice for political purposes.” … It was Dershowitz who astutely remarked: “If somebody were to introduce legislation saying that it is a crime for a politician to seek good coverage and it came for a vote, it wouldn’t get a single vote in the Knesset. And that’s the best proof that it shouldn’t be prosecuted as a crime under today’s law…If you couldn’t get the Knesset to pass as law criminalizing this, you shouldn’t be punishing it.”

Ganz and Netanyahu bound by Gaza. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/S1TCoTC3S









Decommissioned 767 causes UK alert. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/272525

Jewish area of Chevron getting rebuilt. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HJOLZK11ar



Gaza demonstrations to be renewed. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ByvzkyBpr



IDF inflates Charedi Soldier Numbers. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HJ3YckraH

Sanctions are working. On Wednesday, the US seized a boat carrying warheads and other missile parts in the Arabian Sea. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rJnIOOHpr

IDF attacks Iranian depot in Syria. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/272719



Lathe and automatic weapons seized. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/272738

Criminals plant illegal drugs in Israeli woman’s suitcase. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/272659

Egypt trying to broker a 5year Gaza truce. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/M9GBVNZJ9


Israel tests advanced ballistic missile. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HyGVDOw6B

Hezballah undeterred by setbacks. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryOJf1v6S


Israel pushing Trump to send in troops? http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/272787


Germany pays some Auschwitz maintenance. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/272775

Photos of teens who attacked Rabbi released. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/272761


Have a wonderful and restful Shabbos in good health,

Rachamim Pauli
Posted by Rabbi Rachamim Pauli at 2:49 PM