Rivka bas Idit no longer needs prayers
please remove from list.
Torah or Pragmatic? Prophet
or Priest? Last week, President Trump finally revealed the “Deal of the
Century”. The Priests are willing to compromise with the dancers around the
golden calf to gain a little more recognition. It is a temporary solution and
the problem remains where it was.
The Torah has a solution and
that is all of Eretz Yisrael belongs to Am Yisrael observing Torah. The Torah
and Neviim did not state that there would be another nation in the land
negotiated from us. There is only room in the Torah for a land and that is
Eretz Yisrael run by Am Yisrael under Toras Yisrael.
Sunday I was at a wedding
and did not try to watch the Superbowl. However, I was treated by the news
programs the next day to a display of two singers thrusting and gyrating their well exposed parts of their bodies. Is this the message I want to send
about modesty to my granddaughters? Must all singers act like sluts? IN JUDAISM
A WOMAN IS PLACED IN THE POSITION OF TRANSMITTING THE RELIGION AND EDUCATING
THE YOUNG CHILDREN. Judaism comes from the child’s Mommy. The Jewish woman is
known for her modesty.
Parsha Bo Part 2
Last week I stopped with the 10th and last plague on the part describing the laws of Pesach in their Chumash form and not the final Halacha.
15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; howbeit the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses; for whosoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
An important part of the tradition of Judaism is the enactment throughout all generations. Pesach we have the eating of unleavened bread and Kares for having or eating Chametz. Shavuos we have a milk meal and Sukkos be build and eat in a Sukkah.
16 And in the first day there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you.
On Yom Tov only cooking or preparing food can be done, but from an already burning flame.
17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt; therefore, shall ye observe this day throughout your generations by an ordinance forever.
If we did not observe and commemorate our Yomim Tovim for 3,300 plus years, our observance and tradition would long have been forgotten.
18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
On the 14th as the evening comes or what we call Ohr Le 15th as the sun sets and turns into the 15th and the beginning of the 21st day.
19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses; for whosoever eas that which is leavened, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a sojourner, or one that is born in the land.
Later on, it will be specified not finding and not seeing Chametz.
20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.'
For Pesach Mitzrayim, it is enough to say this as one is about to go on a journey with the unleavened bread for traveling.
21 Then
Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them: 'Draw out, and
take you lambs according to your families, and kill ritually
slaughter the Passover
lamb. 22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is
in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side-posts with the blood that
is in the basin; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until
the morning.
I have
this plant in my yard and if let uncut grows without fertilizer to close to a
foot and a half. It is thin and a few branches could be joined for sprinkling
or one branch but not much blood would attach. The blood was only for Mitzrayim
and not modern times.
23 For
the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood
upon the lintel, and on the two side-posts, the LORD will pass over the door,
and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. 24
And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons forever.
The
observance is forever and the Mezuzah replaces the blood for all generations
after we have left Mitzrayim.
25 And
it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give
you, according as He hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. 26 And it
shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you: What mean ye by this
service?
What do
you mean by this Service? (Ma Ha Avoda HaZeh?) This is both the question of the
wise son and the wicked son on the night of Pesach. The matter is intonation.
If the son asks in sing-song way of learning that means he is the Chacham that
wants to learn. If he asks in the intonation of speaker Pelosi after she ripped
up the State of the Union this week then he is the Rasha rebelling against the
concept of Pesach, Matzo and Marror.
27 that
ye shall say: It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S Passover, for that He passed
over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when He smote the Egyptians,
and delivered our houses.' And the people bowed the head and worshipped. 28 And
the children of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and
Aaron, so did they.
The
people did as they had been told.
29 And
it came to pass at midnight, that the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land
of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the
first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the first-born of
cattle.
There
was a lot of personal loss and financial loss among the Egyptians.
30 And
Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians;
and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was
not one dead. 31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night and said: 'Rise up,
get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go,
serve the LORD, as ye have said. 32 Take both your flocks and
your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.'
Moshe
did not come to Pharaoh but the Egyptians who were not first born went to Goshen
to kick the Bnei Yisrael out of Egypt.
33 And
the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, to send them out of the land in
haste; for they said: 'We are all dead men.'
The
first born future god-king was killed by the G-D of the Bnei Yisrael they were
afraid.
34 And
the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading-troughs
being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. 35 And the
children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the
Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment. 36
And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they
let them have what they asked. And they despoiled the Egyptians.
Some two
million or more were leaving Egypt.
37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to
Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, beside children. 38
And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very
much cattle.
These
were mixed marriages where one side did not convert.
39 And
they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt,
for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not
tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual. 40
Now the time that the children of Israel dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and
thirty years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of four hundred
and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the host of
the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.
The same
day as the Bris between the Pieces, Birth of Yitzchak and day of entrance of
Yacov into Mitzrayim.
42 It
was a night of watching unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of
Egypt; this same night is a night of watching unto the LORD for all the
children of Israel throughout their generations.
That
night they did not sleep and in the future the night would be long with the
Seder and a family get-together.
43 And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron: 'This is the
ordinance of the Passover: there shall no alien eat thereof;
The
Korban Pesach is only for a Ben Yisrael or a Ger Tzeddek but not a Ger Toshav.
44 but
every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him,
then shall he eat thereof.
The
slave or non-Jewish servant whom you have sent to the Mikvah is dependent on
your table and may eat of the Korban Pesach.
45 A
sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat thereof. 46 In one
house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth aught of the flesh abroad
out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. 47 All
the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
The
Korban shall be eaten with no left-overs and the bones shall not be broken.
48 And
when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the Passover to the
LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it;
and he shall be as one that is born in the land; but no uncircumcised person
shall eat thereof.
This is
the Ger Tzeddek while the Ger Toshav is forbidden from eating the Korban.
49 One
law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourns among
you.' 50 Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD
commanded Moses and Aaron, so did 51 And it came to pass the
selfsame day that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of
Egypt by their hosts.
No time
was wasted in leaving Egypt.
I was lucky to be a first born who had a mother born into the tribe of Levi. Otherwise one who is a first born male must be redeemed.
3 And Moses said unto the people: 'Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place; there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
This is one of the six remembrances of the Torah.
… 6 Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee, in all thy borders.
You should not find leaven or even see Chametz in your borders.
8 And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying: It is because of that which the LORD did for me when I came forth out of Egypt.
The Mitzvah is upon the father or elder of the house to transmit to the next generation(s) the coming out of Mitzrayim. Son in this case also applies to daughters as they were part of the Mitzvos.
9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thy hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in thy mouth; for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.
It shall be written in the Tephillin which is also the redemption of the first born.
10 Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.
This shall be observed every 15th of the month of Spring which is now called Nissan.
11 And
it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, as
He swore unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee, 12 that thou
shalt set apart unto the LORD all that opens the womb; every firstling that is
a male, which thou hast coming of a beast, shall be the LORD'S. 13 And every
firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem
it, then thou shalt break its neck; and all the first-born of man among thy
sons shalt thou redeem.
From the
cattle, sheep and goats, the Cohain gets the Bechor but for a donkey one
redeems with a Sheep.
14 And
it shall be when thy son asks thee in time to come, saying: What is this? that
thou shalt say unto him: By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from
Egypt, from the house of bondage;
This son
is called the Tam or innocent – ignorant one. A very young child perhaps who
can only ask Ma Zeh? You then give the simple child a simple answer.
15 and
it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go that the LORD slew all the
firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born
of beast; therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that opens the womb, being
males; but all the first-born of my sons I redeem. 16 And it shall be for a
sign upon thy hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes; for by strength of
hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.'
This is
why we wear Tephillin as free men to keep the message attached to our arms and
hearts.
Parsha Beshalach
13:17 And it
came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not by the
way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said: 'Lest
peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt.'
Derek Eretz Plishtim – literally the way of the
Plishtim or way of the world. G-D did not want free slaves to immediately enter
into war with a trained army. There is a hidden meaning in Derek Eretz and that
is not the way of the land but with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by
day and the landscape was flattened out before them.
18 But God led the people about, by
the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea; and the children of Israel went up
armed out of the land of Egypt. …21 And
the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way;
and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; that they might go by day
and by night: 22 the pillar of cloud by
day, and the pillar of fire by night, departed not from before the people.
The
Pillar and Cloud lite their way and guided them where to go on their journeys.
We shall see that the taking of them to Baal Tzephon was by design to ‘trap’
them for the Egyptians. The truth is it was to remove the Egyptian Army from
ever pursuing them again.
This shows that they knew of a different way to go but purposely went to Baal Tzephon.
3 And Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel: They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. 4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he shall follow after them; and I will get Me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD.' And they did so.
I have set a trap not for you but for Pharaoh and I shall have my vengeance upon him.
5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people were fled; and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned towards the people, and they said: 'What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
I have no slaves left to build my cities, tombs, etc.
6 And he made ready his chariots, and took his people with him. 7 And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over all of them.
In modern warfare it is like trying to control two million people with 600 tanks.
8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel; for the children of Israel went out with a high hand. 9 And the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.
Now Pharaoh will murder Moshe and Aaron and return the slaves to their work and depress them again.
10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were sore afraid; and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. 11 And they said unto Moses: 'Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to bring us forth out of Egypt?
The argument was coming from the characters like Datan and Amiram.
12 Is not this the word that we spoke unto thee in Egypt, saying: Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.'
It is logical for these people to fear a world power’s army. The Bnei Yisrael had weapons but they were like the Czech rifles that one had to cock each bullet in against the Egyptian tanks during the war of independence. It was not a match for a bunch of civilians in Yad Mordechai or up to the pill-box of Ashdod where miraculously the army stopped on the way to Tel Aviv. Then too, a miracle occurred and the first four planes arrived that evening for the IDF. The next morning the pilots of the IDF and Mahal bombed the Egyptians and they retreated. I guess the Egyptians will never learn WHO fights the battles of the Bnei Yisrael. [We sing the song Le Chai Olamim (the living ONE of worlds) every Simchas Torah with the question “to WHOM?” and Nusach Sephard says it weekly on Shabbos.]
13 And Moses said unto the people: 'Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will work for you to-day; for whereas ye have seen the Egyptians to-day, ye shall see them again no more forever. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.'
We say in the Mishabayach for the IDF aka Tzahal, “The L-RD will fight your battles with your enemies to save you – and say Amen!” This is the reason why Rabbi Goren in his wisdom wrote that Pasuk and it is what Moshe is telling the people.
15 And
the LORD said unto Moses: 'Wherefore cry thou unto Me? speak unto the children
of Israel, that they go forward.
Before
it was Moshe answering the people now the L-RD is telling Moshe that this is no
time for prayers but for a Kiddush HASHEM. Therefore:
16 And
lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the sea, and divide it; and
the children of Israel shall go into the midst of the sea on dry ground.
You will
go through the water on dry land and it will be hard enough for the six wagons
of the Leviim to pass through but not the chariots that will get stuck towards
morning.
17 And
I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in
after them; and I will get Me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon
his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am
the LORD, when I have gotten Me honor upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon
his horsemen.'
I can
only assume that besides the 600 chariots there were foot soldiers running and
keeping pace as 2,000,000 people moving sheep, goats, cattle and some people
are elderly cannot travel that fast so that is why they who fled a week before
were caught up with in four days when the scouts reported to Pharaoh that the
Bnei Yisrael had not turned around. For an army of foot soldiers to see the
chariots wiped out in the waves was enough to get honor on all of Egypt and
their king-god.
19 And
the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind
them; and the pillar of cloud removed from before them, and stood behind them;
They
were dealing with a cloud of darkness and shot bows and arrows into it and they
came back upon the Egyptians – Medrash.
20 and
it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud
and the darkness here, yet gave it light by night there; and the one came not
near the other all the night. 21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea;
and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and
made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the children of
Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground; and the waters were
a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
With a
wind of 40mph or 64kph and a temperature of less than 45 degrees Fahrenheit
around 8 Celsius, it was calculated that the sea could freeze into walls for
them to walk through. (My memory may be off and it could be 40f or about 5C).
In what the Christian Monks call Mt. Sinai today aka Santa Katarina the
temperatures at night can reach freezing at the foot of the mountain. What
makes the miracle through natural methods is not that sea splits but it is that
time and then the return of the sea on the enemy or in Yehoshua that stones
fall from the sky and kill more enemy than in battle. 10:11 And it came to
pass, as they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-Horon,
that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and
they died; they were more who died with the hailstones than they whom the
children of Israel slew with the sword. This is assuming that the Egyptians
were no longer helped back by the cloud as the morning approached.
23 And
the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all
Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And it came to pass in the
morning watch, that the LORD looked forth upon the host of the Egyptians
through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and discomfited the host of the Egyptians.
25 And He took off their chariot wheels, and made them to drive heavily; so
that the Egyptians said: 'Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD
fights for them against the Egyptians.'
Their
chariots were either burning by fire or getting stuck in the sand and mud and
by the time they realized that they were fighting THE L-RD G-D it was too late.
26 And
the LORD said unto Moses: 'Stretch out thy hand over the sea, that the waters
may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their
horsemen.' 27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea
returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against
it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 And the
waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the host
of Pharaoh that went in after them into the sea; there remained not so much as
one of them.
All 600
chariots except for the chariot of Pharaoh were lost.
29 But
the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the
waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 30 Thus
the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw
the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore. 31 And Israel saw the great work which
the LORD did upon the Egyptians, and the people feared the LORD; and they
believed in the LORD, and in His servant Moses.
After
all the plagues and miracles in Egypt, there were still doubters. However, once
they saw the whole Egyptian Chariot Army being wiped out, they finally truly
believe in the L-RD and the Prophet Moshe.
I don’t know if the foot soldiers fled in all directions or they returned as a defeated army and the traders from all over heard the story that the nations feared. How do I know that the nations of the world knew this from the spies who went to Yericho in Sefer Yehoshua! 2:9 and she said unto the men: 'I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan, unto Sihon and to Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we had heard it, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more spirit in any man, because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above, and on earth beneath. Rachav is telling this to the spies 40 years after the event.
20 And
Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all
the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21 And Miriam sang
unto them: Sing ye to the LORD, for He is highly exalted: the horse and his
rider hath He thrown into the sea.
While
things are going well for the Bnei Yisrael the people believe in Moshe but what
will happen if they run out of water?
22 And
Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness
of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23 And
when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they
were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people
murmured against Moses, saying: 'What: shall we drink?' 25 And he cried unto
the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, and he cast it into the waters, and
the waters were made sweet. There He made for them a statute and an ordinance,
and there He proved them;
Moshe
probably said unto them something like: “Why do you complain unto me? Please
pray unto HASHEM for help.
26 and
He said: 'If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and
wilt do that which is right in His eyes, and wilt give ear to His commandments,
and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon thee, which I
have put upon the Egyptians; for I am the LORD that heals thee.'
Corona
Virus or sins? Repent and turn unto HASHEM and he will heal you!
27 And
they came to Elim, where were twelve springs of water, and three score and ten
palm-trees; and they encamped there by the waters.
No
accident one spring for each tribe!
After a month of traveling, their flour ran out and the people did not have enough flour for Matzos or Bread.
4 Then said the LORD unto Moses: 'Behold, I will cause to rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in My law, or not. 5 And it shall come to pass on the sixth day that they shall prepare that which they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.' 6 And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel: 'At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt; 7 and in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that He hath heard your murmurings against the LORD; and what are we, that ye murmur against us?' 8 And Moses said: 'This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD hears your murmurings which ye murmur against Him; and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.' 9 And Moses said unto Aaron: 'Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel: Come near before the LORD; for He hath heard your murmurings.' 10 And it came to pass, as Aaron spoke unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. ... 3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said: 'Wherefore hast thou brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?' 4 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying: 'What shall I do unto this people? they are almost ready to stone me.' 5 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Pass on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thy hand, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink.' And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And the name of the place was called Massah, and Meribah, because of the striving of the children of Israel, and because they tried the LORD, saying: 'Is the LORD among us, or not?'
8 Then
came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
The name
of the place in Hebrew hints at weakening or weakness in faith and observance.
9 And
Moses said unto Joshua: 'Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek;
tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.'
10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses,
Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And it came to pass, when
Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand,
Amalek prevailed.
The
Sages asked does the hands of Moshe or later on in Bamidbar the brazen snake
make war or revive the dead? Rather that when the people turned their eyes up
the mountain towards heaven did they prevail.
12 But
Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he
sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side,
and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down
of the sun. 13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of
the sword.
This was
literally the first battle of Am Yisrael for the first battle by Schem was
Yacov and Family and not as a full nation.
14 And
the LORD said unto Moses: 'Write this for a memorial in the book, and rehearse
it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek
from under heaven.' 15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it
Adonai-nissi. 16 And he said: 'The hand upon the throne of the LORD: the LORD
will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.'
You
might think 3330 plus years after this incident that perhaps Amalek who is a
cowardly murderer and attacks from the rear would have stopped. The car ramming
attack and the attack on Nahum Elimelech Rafael ben Sarah Rivka a few months
ago and still recovering shows that unfortunately the wicked Amalek is alive
and conspiring.
Tu Beshevat
Tu stands for Tet Vav B’ Chodesh Shevat condensed
to the name of the holiday.
On this day we eat fruit of the land. Carobs grow
near me in the public garden and other fruits. The Sephardim go through a whole
ceremony with about 16 Berachos on white and then on red grapes, white and red
wine, the fruits of the land such as pomegranates, dates, figs, esrog, olives,
and even newer fruit, wheat and barley products.
From Aish HaTorah: https://www.aish.com/sp/pg/Tu-BShvat-Three-inspiring-Messages.html?s=hp1
Wandering Jews in
the 9th Arrondissement by Rabbi Y. Tilles
The farbrengen (chasidic gathering) room in "770 Kfar
Chabad" - a near replica of Lubavitch Woirld Headquarters at 770 Eastern
Parkways in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, NY - was more packed than
usual, Old-timers and community members as well as yeshiva students crowded
around the tables, hoping to clearly hear and imbibe wisdom and history from Rabbi
Zalman Sudakevich (1915-2012), one of the founders and builders of the chasidic
village.
For several consecutive hours they listened spellbound, with only a
few brief pauses to toast "l'chayim" and perhaps sing in
unison a stirring chasidic melody, as Rabbi Sudakevich described to them the
enormous difficulties of living a chasidic life in Russia during the decades of
Communist oppression, arrests, torture and executions, which he himself also
suffered personally.
He also related fascinating episodes from the years of struggle for
the Russian Chasidic immigrants to Israel to establish Kfar Chabad (located one
train stop east from Tel Aviv, before Lod and Ramle), at the instigation of the
sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef-Yitzchak Shneersohn (the "Rebbe
HaRayatz"), and after the Rebbe passed awayin 1950, with subsequent
encouragement, instructions, advice and blessings of his son-in-law successor,
Rabbi M.M. Shneerson, who also gave them specific instructions how to interact
with government offices and the public.
At one point Rabbi Sudakevich digressed to tell about an unusual mission
given to him by the Rebbe Harayatz during an interval in his life between the
two long periods in Russia and Israel. It happened after the immigrants arrived
in Paris from Russia, and had to be there for many months (and for some, years)
before becoming able to continue on to Israel (or other countries that would
accept them - yt).
"In 1947, several months after I reached Paris, a most unusual
message was received from the Rebbe Harayatz. [He sent his son-in-law (and
future successor), who was in France at the time to help with his mother's
immigration to America,] to instruct two senior chasidim, Rabbi Yehuda Hain and
Rabbi Chayim Shreiber, should spend time walking through different streets of
the city. I asked to accompany them.
"Why did the Rebbe require this? For what purpose? We had no
idea. But the Rebbe had said that is what we should do, so, we did it."
The three rabbis set out the next morning. Not having the faintest
clue where or what direction to go, they wandered aimlessly through the Paris
metropolis, wherever their feet and impulses took them. [They knew that their
appearance - full beards, prominent peyot ('sidelocks'), black hats and long
black jackets - would attract the glances of everyone who saw them.]
They turned into yet another side street, and before they had gone
more than a few meters, they heard a call that halted them immediately.
I was a woman's voice. "Jewish rabbis! Can you please wait for
me a few moments?"
They looked up, seeking the source of the voice. In a fifth floor
window they spotted a grey-haired older woman, who again called down to them,
begging that they wait for her until she can come down to join them.
"Can this be what the Rebbe intended?" They murmured to
each other.
The woman walked briskly up to them. Although slightly out of
breath, she spoke with strong emotion. She identified herself as a Jewish
woman, and that her grandson was soon to turn thirteen. It was her deepest wish
and concern that he learn the basics of Judaism, that he know what is tefillin
and be trained how to put them on.
Her voice broke. "I want him to celebrate his bar-mitzvah
properly, like a kosher Jew, but I have no idea where in Paris there is someone
who can instruct him for this."
The three rabbis smiled broadly as they stared at each other in
amazement. They felt certain this was why the Rebbe had insisted they wander
around Paris.
They turned back to the woman and one of the older rabbis her
directions to a synagogue not far [from the apartment house of her daughter,
whom she was then visiting]. They knew that the rabbi there could teach the boy
everything he needed, and in a warm manner.
Rabbi Sudakevich lifted his cup, proclaimed "l'chaim!"
and concluded his recollection: "If we hadn't taken our 'stroll' at the
Rebbe's orders, who knows if that boy crossing the threshold to the Jewish age
of responsibility would ever have found out about the mitzvah of
tefillin."
Immediately, one of his listeners sprang to his feet. "Reb
Zalman, do you know the name of the street in Paris where you met that woman,
and which shul you directed her to?"
His tone of voice was one of curiosity, but those sitting near him
saw that he was tense as a coiled spring.
Rabbi Sudakevich stared at his questioner, Rabbi David Lesselbaum,
a devoted chasid who also was a resident of Kfar Chabad, and hesitated to
reply. "Ah, this was many years ago, several decades, but if I remember
correctly, it was in the Fifth District, on Fourth or Fifth Street." He
paused again as scratched his forehead. "And the name of the shul was
Rashi Synagogue."
"Unbelievable!" exploded Rabbi Lesselbaum.
"According to your description, the woman that you three spoke to was my
grandmother of blessed memory [who was visiting my aunt who lived in the Ninth
Arrondissement (district)], and the bar-mitzvah boy…was me!"
All those present stared at Lesselbaum in astonishment. He
continued: "Indeed, 1947 was the year of my bar-mitzvah. I received from
my parents an education totally devoid from Judaism, but somehow my grandmother
managed to convince them that I deserved to be given a taste of authentic
Judaism in preparation for my bar-mitzvah. My private lessons took place in the
Rashi Shul, which I now understand my grandmother knew about only because of
her encounter with you three rabbis!"
Rabbi David Lesselbaum is a well-known figure among the
French-speaking Jews in Israel. Over the years he has helped hundreds of them
to grow in their observance of Torah and the commandments, all due to the
mysterious demand of the Rebbe Harayatz of his three chasidim to wander
aimlessly through the street and alleys of Paris.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Translated by Yerachmiel Tilles from HaGeula #876. The four sentences in square brackets [ ] are from the "JEM: Here's My Story" (#319) interview of Rabbi David Lesselbaum.
Source: Translated by Yerachmiel Tilles from HaGeula #876. The four sentences in square brackets [ ] are from the "JEM: Here's My Story" (#319) interview of Rabbi David Lesselbaum.
Connection: Seasonal - Yud Shvat (this Tuesday night, Wednesday) is
the 70th yahrzeit of Rabbi Yosef-Yitzchak Schneersohn of Lubavitch.
Editor's note: For those who were expecting a story about Nasi Doreinu
for this occasion, be patient; there will be one next week and another two
weeks after that. Meanwhile, for Yud Shvat, let's give honor to the
Rebbe Rayatz and connect to him on his annual day of soul-elevation.
Biographical note:
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn [of blessed memory: 12 Tammuz 5640 - 10 Shvat 5710 (Jan. 1880-June 1950)], known as the Rebbe Rayatz, was the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, from 1920 to 1950. He established a network of Jewish educational institutions and Chassidim that was the single most significant factor for the preservation of Judaism during the dread reign of the communist Soviets. In 1940 he moved to the USA, established Chabad world-wide headquarters in Brooklyn and launched the global campaign to renew and spread Judaism in all languages and in every corner of the world, the campaign continued and expanded so remarkably successfully by his son-in-law and successor, Rabbi Menachem-Mendel Schneerson.
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn [of blessed memory: 12 Tammuz 5640 - 10 Shvat 5710 (Jan. 1880-June 1950)], known as the Rebbe Rayatz, was the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, from 1920 to 1950. He established a network of Jewish educational institutions and Chassidim that was the single most significant factor for the preservation of Judaism during the dread reign of the communist Soviets. In 1940 he moved to the USA, established Chabad world-wide headquarters in Brooklyn and launched the global campaign to renew and spread Judaism in all languages and in every corner of the world, the campaign continued and expanded so remarkably successfully by his son-in-law and successor, Rabbi Menachem-Mendel Schneerson.
At
80.5 Journalist forced to retire emotional last show with other old timers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ya’akov_Ahimeir
Lieberman
helped falsify exemptions for Charedim. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275471
Milestone:
Kirk Douglas during the highlight of his career played Mikey Marcus in “Cast a
Giant Shadow”, “Spartacus”, “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, etc. https://www.timesofisrael.com/kirk-douglas-an-iconic-star-who-reconnected-to-judaism-after-near-fatal-crash/
Was
there an idolatry Temple near the first Temple? https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-temple-era-judah-another-massive-temple-was-in-use-outside-jerusalem/
Inyanay Diyoma
Once
a terrorist always a terrorist. https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/01/30/defying-us-and-israel-palestinian-authority-pays-out-150-million-in-terrorist-salaries-in-2019/
Al
Qaeda Leader arrested in AZ. https://www.foxnews.com/us/man-in-arizona-accused-of-being-al-qaeda-leader-by-iraq-feds
Abbas
has the Arab League make a resolution. https://www.debka.com/arab-league-rejects-trump-mid-east-peace-plan-not-all-members-agree/
US
warns them to wake up. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275410
US
can supply Belarus with all their oil and gas. https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/pompeo-says-us-can-supply-belarus-with-100-of-oil-gas
Trump
Plan Kushner lets the Arabs off the hook. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275457
Kushner
plan wants to stop expansion of settlements. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275441
Dr.
Martin Sherman on Trump Plan. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/25124
IDF
finally hits Hamas War Room. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275427
PLO continues
cooperation on security. https://www.debka.com/palestinian-ties-with-israel-continue-despite-abbas-rhetoric-hamas-to-attack-israel-until-cairo-lets-its-leaders-return-to-gaza/
Terror
in Londonstan. https://metro.co.uk/2020/02/02/man-shot-street-streatham-south-london-12168904/
Miraculously
small injury from Molotov Cocktail. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275542
Navy
thwarts weapons smuggling. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275547
Ramallah
not breaking security ties. https://www.debka.com/palestinian-ties-with-israel-continue-despite-abbas-rhetoric-hamas-to-attack-israel-until-cairo-lets-its-leaders-return-to-gaza/
I am
older with osteoporosis falling is dangerous so I walk running to shelters
cause more injuries each year than Kassams. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275363
Undercover
agent fired too Arab friendly. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275382
Law
suit ‘Jews have odors’ kicked off American Airlines flight. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275361
Bennett
asks for advanced weapons. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275544
Hamas
threatens teargas balloons. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryrFRiLMU#autoplay
Iraq
receives US Military Pressure. https://www.debka.com/pro-hizballah-prime-ministers-appointment-in-iraq-brings-top-us-general-to-baghdad/
Orthodox
Jews left the Democrat Party and have become Republicans. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275603
Israel
8th most expensive country. https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/By5ba11dfL
14
Soldiers injured in ramming attack one serious to critical in ICU one moderate.
Amalek attacks from behind. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275637
https://www.debka.com/hunt-in-jerusalem-bethlehem-for-palestinian-car-rammer-who-injured-14-soldiers/
Syria
12 pro-Iranians Shachidim. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275653
Gaza
yet again. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275638
Pegasus
plane crash 3 dead. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275647
Fishman
- Abbas brings back the intifada. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SkfkQ8NfI
Thursday
night to Friday Jenin ambush. Police cadet one of the shooters. https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-authority-police-officer-shot-by-idf-in-jenin-dies-of-wounds/
Lion’s
Gate terror attack. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275664
Soldier
injured close to Yeshuv where my daughter once taught. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/BkPqUDKGU#autoplay
Escalation
in terror. https://www.debka.com/hunt-in-jerusalem-bethlehem-for-palestinian-car-rammer-who-injured-14-soldiers/
Car
terrorist captured in Gush Etzion area. https://www.debka.com/mivzak/terrorist-car-rammer-who-injured-14-soldiers-is-captured/
Lightblade
System tested real balloons. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275675
US
final evacuation from China flight. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275679
Mayor
Pete slightly up over Bernie. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/275689
Yemen
terrorist is a Shachid. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/white-house-announces-death-of-terror-leader-qassim-al-rimi/ar-BBZJJ17?ocid=spartanntp
Kushner
blames Abbas for violence. https://www.timesofisrael.com/kushner-says-abbas-responsible-spike-in-violence-after-release-of-peace-plan/
Olmert
the Romney of Israel. https://www.timesofisrael.com/kushner-slams-planned-olmert-abbas-meet-as-almost-pathetic/
Was
there an idolatry Temple near the first Temple? https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-temple-era-judah-another-massive-temple-was-in-use-outside-jerusalem/
Stay
healthy and have a peaceful Shabbos,
Rachamim
Pauli
