Please
remove Moshe ben Briendel and add Zev ben Rachel, Menachem Mendel
Shlomo ben Chaya Rochel
One thing is caution and another thing
is panic and fear. Missiles, rockets, Iran, Viruses etc. Mishlei 9:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge! Fear the L-RD be careful with snakes,
lions and viruses but stay calm. Stay within the range of sanity. When Israel
went into voluntary quarantine, I had to quarantine my household. Twice this
week, Menashe went down to the mud close to Nahal (a winter ‘river’ or large
stream as opposed to Nahar HaYaden with flows all the time.) Modiin. Nahal
Modiin is running in force but unfortunately it is the over-flow of septic
waste from Ramallah and who knows what diseases are there. The Health Ministry
issued the warning for children not to visit their grandparents. I am raising a
15year old but already a great grandfather with overlying health issues.
Double Parsha Vayakhel-Pekeudi
The last three Parshiyos were the
theoretical dealing with the building of the Mishkan. This double Parsha deals
with the work of Betzalel and Oholiav begin their work and at the end of the
second Parsha, the Mishkan is finished and ready for dedication.
35:1 And Moses assembled
all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said unto them: 'These are
the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them. 2 Six days
shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you a holy day, a
Sabbath of solemn rest to the LORD; whosoever doeth any work therein shall be
put to death.
Why is it that THE HOLY ONE BLESSED BE HE calls upon the Bnei
Yisrael time after time to observe Shabbos? The answer is that each one of us
has a Yetzer to violate it. The non-religious has a small Yetzer HaRa as it
does not take much for him to violate Shabbos. In fact, when I became religious
some 53 to 52 years ago that is how it was. Now I used to do a lot of sailing
on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in my youth. At work there was a sailing club
and they had a boat. I was thinking about this but Shabbos is more relaxing and
wonderful sailing through the Torah.
3 Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the Sabbath
day.'
This is the only example of Melacha on Shabbos, that of fire.
However, the principle is clear and the work of the Mishkan of writing,
erasing, the whole sewing process from the shearing of wool or skinning a
giraffe is there. Sewing and removing threads, all the agricultural process
involved in making paste from wheat, carrying from private domain to public
domain, construction or taking down is all there in the Mishkan.
4 And Moses spoke unto all the congregation of the children of
Israel, saying: 'This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying: 5 Take ye
from among you an offering unto the LORD, whosoever is of a willing heart, let
him bring it, the LORD'S offering: gold, and silver, and brass; 6 and blue, and
purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair; 7 and rams' skins dyed
red, and sealskins, and acacia-wood; 8 and oil for the light, and spices for
the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense; 9 and onyx stones, and stones to
be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate. 10 And let every wise-hearted
man among you come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded:
All that we read in the past was before
donations now it was time to donate.
… 22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were
willing-hearted, and brought nose-rings, and ear-rings, and signet-rings, and
girdles, all jewels of gold; even every man that brought an offering of gold
unto the LORD. 23 And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and
scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and rams' skins dyed red, and giraffe skins, brought them. 24 Every one
that did set apart an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD'S offering;
and every man, with whom was found acacia-wood for any work of the service,
brought it.
The men and women who had jewelry broke
off the jewelry and did so willingly. It was rarer to find red ram’s skins or
giraffe skins. Now the Acadia wood that they had would have had to be small
amounts. There it appears that a number of men went and chopped down trees and
brought them. Normal slaves escaping Mitzrayim are not going to take wood 10
Amos long with the width and thickness described that appears obvious to me.
25 And all the women that were wise-hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, the blue, and the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen.
Women have the patience to weave and
spin the fine linen.
26 And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun
the goats' hair.
This art was especially hard as it to
the end of each hair that was quite short and spun together with other hairs to
make a long string and twisted together. It takes the patience of a saint and
men are not usually built for such a thing. It was hard and one needed agile
hands, concentration and patience. To make a tread of an Amah’s length and then
twist together the threads and make wider and long is something above and
beyond my imagination as I have an “A” type personality.
27 And the rulers brought the onyx stones, and the stones to be
set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate; 28 and the spice, and the oil, for
the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.
The Princes withheld their donations
and only donated money or precious stones as they figured the donations would
fall short. It was as if Gates, Bezos, Buffett, Bloomberg, Monger and others
were waiting to make up for the left overs. In the end, Parsha Naso, they were
given to donate something else. The spices were expensive and the extra virgin
olive oil had been used and needed to be imported from Eretz Yisrael. Like the
Acadia Wood these items too had be imported into the Bidbar.
29 The children of Israel brought a freewill-offering unto the
LORD; every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all the
work, which the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses to be made.
It was a donation from the heart. Moshe
directed the work with his hand and more likely asked for a donation. Aaron and
his sons did the accounting and Betzalel and Oholiav knew when the donations
were sufficient that they did not ask for more. It seems to me that some
material would be extra from the cloth for repairs. This we called in Mikdash
times ‘Bedek HaBeis’ or checking-maintaining the house.
30 And Moses said unto the children of Israel: 'See, the LORD hath
called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
31 And He hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding,
and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship. 32 And to devise skillful
works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 33 and in cutting of
stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of skillful
workmanship.
In modern times a craftsman is more a
specialist. He can be a metal worker or precious metal worker names like
Goldschmidt, Silver, and more signify the profession. Stein, Diamond, Pearlman
etc. signify working or trading in precious stones. Betzalel was that and a
Carpenter.
34 And He hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Oholiav,
the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35 Them hath He filled with wisdom
of heart, to work all manner of workmanship, of the craftsman, and of the
skillful workman, and of the weaver in colors, in blue, and in purple, in
scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any
workmanship, and of those that devise skillful works.
It was more than just weaving cloth; it
was precision dying with the same uniform color. The chemical composition had
to be consistent. The Cohain Gadol neared a few spares of the blue garment for
dirt or Tuma.
36: 1 And Bezalel and Oholiav shall work, and every
wise-hearted man, in whom the LORD hath put wisdom and understanding to know
how to work all the work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all
that the LORD hath commanded.' 2 And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiav, and
every wise-hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one
whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it.
The work of the Mishkan was more than one
man could handle and he had to be the head of the project.
3 And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children
of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, wherewith
to make it. And they brought yet unto him freewill-offerings every morning.
Each day like in the modern Synagogues
there was a collection and people gave from their hearts.
4 And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the
sanctuary, came every man from his work which they wrought.
They were artisans with special skills.
Perhaps one of the reasons that the army was up to the age of sixty was because
people slow down and their hands become more shaky.
5 And they spoke unto Moses, saying: 'The people bring much more
than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.' 6
And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the
camp, saying: 'Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of
the sanctuary.' So the people were restrained from bringing.
The average Yisrael and his/her peers
gave so much that the collection had to be stopped.
7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make
it, and too much. 8 And every wise-hearted man among them that wrought the work
made the tabernacle with ten curtains: of fine twined linen, and blue, and
purple, and scarlet, with cherubim the work of the skillful workman made he
them. 9 The length of each curtain was eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth
of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains had one measure. 10 And he
coupled five curtains one to another; and the other five curtains he coupled
one to another. 11 And he made loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain
that was outmost in the first set; likewise he made in the edge of the curtain
that was outmost in the second set. 12 Fifty loops made he in the one curtain,
and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain that was in the second set;
the loops were opposite one to another. 13 And he made fifty clasps of gold,
and coupled the curtains one to another with the clasps; so the tabernacle was
one.
These were precise, beautiful and
smooth tailoring work.
14 And he made curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the
tabernacle; eleven curtains he made them.
The women spun these goat hairs end to
end by hand and it was a patient and tremendous job each length and breathe.
15 The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits
the breadth of each curtain; the eleven curtains had one measure.
It is immeasurable to me how many goat
hairs were used in the spinning as the hairs could not have been that long end
to end and the curtains were 45 feet long, six feet wide and at least 4 inches
thick.
16 And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by
themselves. 17 And he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was
outmost in the first set, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain
which was outmost in the second set. 18 And he made fifty clasps of brass to
couple the tent together, that it might be one. 19 And he made a covering for
the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of giraffe skins above.
I can only imagine the patience and
skill going into all the man hours to produce these curtains. The ram’s skin
and giraffe skins I assume were in the possession of those who left Mitzrayim.
20 And he made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia-wood,
standing up. 21 Ten cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half
the breadth of each board. 22 Each board had two tenons, joined one to another.
Thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle. …34 And he overlaid the
boards with gold, and made their rings of gold for holders for the bars, and
overlaid the bars with gold. 35 And he made the veil of blue, and purple, and
scarlet, and fine twined linen; with the cherubim the work of the skillful
workman made he it. 36 And he made thereunto four pillars of acacia, and
overlaid them with gold, their hooks being of gold; and he cast for them four
sockets of silver.
Some of the word described in this
section is pure carpentry that most artisans could do it if required. However,
the casting could only be done by a master for otherwise the cast part could
have air pockets, defects and weaknesses proper temperature, casting speed and
vents for air removal in the casting process.
37 And he made a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and
purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the weaver in colors;
The blue, purple and scarlet had to be
uniform in color over the time the process took place.
38 and the five pillars of it with their hooks; and he overlaid
their capitals and their fillets with gold; and their five sockets were of
brass.
Ever pillar, hook and socket had to be
precisely identical with the others.0
37:1 And Bezalel made the ark of acacia-wood: two cubits and a
half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a
cubit and a half the height of it. 2 And he overlaid it with pure gold within
and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about. 3 And he cast for it
four rings of gold, in the four feet thereof: even two rings on the one side of
it, and two rings on the other side of it. 4 And he made staves of acacia-wood,
and overlaid them with gold. 5 And he put the staves into the rings on the
sides of the ark, to bear the ark. 6 And he made an ark-cover of pure gold: two
cubits and a half was the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth
thereof. 7 And he made two cherubim of gold: of beaten work made he them, at
the two ends of the ark-cover: 8 one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at
the other end; of one piece with the ark-cover made he the cherubim at the two
ends thereof. 9 And the cherubim spread out their wings on high, screening the
ark-cover with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the
ark-cover were the faces of the cherubim.
Artistic precise and equal. One could
not have a Cheruvim on one side longer, higher or thicker than the other. The
save for the rings, crown, cover, staves, etc. It was built the stages of a
rocket or spacecraft meeting with the space station there was no tolerance for
error.
10 And he made the table of acacia-wood: two cubits was the length
thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height
thereof. 11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereto a crown of gold
round about. 12 And he made unto it a border of a hand-breadth round about, and
made a golden crown to the border thereof round about. 13 And he cast for it
four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that were on the four
feet thereof. …16 And he made the vessels which were upon the table, the dishes
thereof, and the pans thereof, and the bowls thereof, and the jars thereof,
wherewith to pour out, of pure gold. 17 And he made the candlestick of pure
gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick, even its base, and its shaft; its
cups, its knops, and its flowers, were of one piece with it. 18 And there were
six branches going out of the sides thereof: three branches of the candlestick
out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the
other side thereof; 19 three cups made like almond-blossoms in one branch, a
knop and a flower; and three cups made like almond-blossoms in the other
branch, a knop and a flower. So for the six branches going out of the
candlestick. …25 And he made the altar of incense of acacia-wood: a cubit was
the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, four-square; and two
cubits was the height thereof; the horns thereof were of one piece with it. 26
And he overlaid it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round
about, and the horns of it; and he made unto it a crown of gold round about. …38:1 And he made the altar of
burnt-offering of acacia-wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five
cubits the breadth thereof, four-square, and three cubits the height thereof. 2 And he made the horns thereof upon the four corners
of it; the horns thereof were of one piece with it; and he overlaid it with
brass. 3 And he made all the vessels of
the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the basins, the flesh-hooks, and the
fire-pans; all the vessels thereof made he of brass. …8 And he made the laver of brass, and the base thereof
of brass, of the mirrors of the serving women that did service at the door of
the tent of meeting.
These were the works of Betzalel and
their precision that had to match up the cloth of Oholiav in length and breath.
16 All the hangings of the court
roundabout were of fine twined linen. 17
And the sockets for the pillars were of brass; the hooks of the pillars and
their fillets of silver; and the overlaying of their capitals of silver; and
all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver. 18 And the screen for the gate of the court was the work
of the weaver in colors, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined
linen; and twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five
cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court. …24 All the gold that was used for the work in all the
work of the sanctuary, even the gold of the offering, was twenty and nine
talents, and seven hundred and thirty shekels, after the shekel of the
sanctuary.
Moshe like Avraham did not take as much
as a shoe string for himself but gave a full accounting to the people as the
presidents of Synagogues should do for their congregation.
25 And the silver of them that were
numbered of the congregation was a hundred talents, and a thousand seven
hundred and three-score and fifteen shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
26 a beka a head, that is, half a shekel,
after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that passed over to them that
are numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and
three thousand and five hundred and fifty men. 27 And the hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the
sanctuary, and the sockets of the veil: a hundred sockets for the hundred
talents, a talent for a socket. 28 And of
the thousand seven hundred seventy and five shekels he made hooks for the
pillars, and overlaid their capitals, and made fillets for them.
The exact same accounting was for the
silver and brass as women had given their mirrors, jewelry and men too.
29 And the brass of the offering
was seventy talents and two thousand and four hundred shekels. 30 And therewith he made the sockets to the door of the
tent of meeting, and the brazen altar, and the brazen grating for it, and all
the vessels of the altar, 31 and the
sockets of the court round about, and the sockets of the gate of the court, and
all the pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins of the court round about. 38:1 And he made the altar of burnt-offering of acacia-wood: five cubits was
the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof, four-square, and three
cubits the height thereof. 2 And he made
the horns thereof upon the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of one
piece with it; and he overlaid it with brass. …21 These are the accounts of the tabernacle, even the
tabernacle of the testimony, as they were rendered according to the commandment
of Moses, through the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, the son
of Aaron the priest.-- 22 And Bezalel the
son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD
commanded Moses. 23 And with him was
Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, a craftsman, and a skillful
workman, and a weaver in colors, in blue, and in purple, and in scarlet, and
fine linen.
And the grand total is:
39:1 And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made plaited
garments, for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for
Aaron, as the LORD commanded Moses. …8 And he made the breastplate, the work of the
skillful workman, like the work of the ephod: of gold, of blue, and purple, and
scarlet, and fine twined linen. 9 It was four-square; they made the breastplate
double; a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being
double. 10 And they set in it four rows of stones: a row of carnelian, topaz,
and smaragd was the first row. 11 And the second row, a carbuncle, a sapphire,
and an emerald. 12 And the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst. 13
And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper; they were enclosed in
fittings of gold in their settings. 14 And the stones were according to the
names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the
engravings of a signet, every one according to his name, for the twelve tribes.
15 And they made upon the breastplate plaited chains, of wreathen work of pure
gold. 16 And they made two settings of gold, and two gold rings; and put the
two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. 17 And they put the two wreathen
chains of gold on the two rings at the ends of the breastplate. …30 And they
made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing,
like the engravings of a signet: HOLY TO THE LORD. 31 And they tied unto it a
thread of blue, to fasten it upon the mitre above; as the LORD commanded Moses.
All this was finished quite quickly but
waited until Rosh Chodesh Nissan for assemble. Why? Because of the command of
G-D and Moshe had to teach the nation and the Cohanim their Avoda in the
Mishkan. To serve HASHEM properly and with honor, one had to learn what to do.
33 And they brought the
tabernacle unto Moses, the Tent, and all its furniture, its clasps, its boards,
its bars, and its pillars, and its sockets; 34 and the covering of rams' skins
dyed red, …37 the pure candlestick, the lamps thereof, even the lamps to be set
in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for the light; 38 and the
golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the screen for
the door of the Tent; …41 the plaited garments for ministering in the holy
place; the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to
minister in the priest's office. 42 According to all that the LORD commanded
Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work. 43 And Moses saw all the
work, and, behold, they had done it; as the LORD had commanded, even so had
they done it. And Moses blessed them.
After all the donations and hard work
everybody involved deserved a blessing especially the project heads.
40: 1 And the
LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 'On the first day of the first month shalt
thou rear up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. 3 And thou shalt put
therein the ark of the testimony, and thou shalt screen the ark with the veil.
4 And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the bread that is upon
it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. …16 Thus did
Moses; according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he. 17 And it came
to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month,
that the tabernacle was reared up. 18 And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and
laid its sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof,
and reared up its pillars. 19 And he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and
put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses. …upon it the
burnt-offering and the meal-offering; as the LORD commanded Moses. 30 And he
set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water therein,
wherewith to wash; 31 that Moses and Aaron and his sons might wash their hands
and their feet thereat; 32 when they went into the tent of meeting, and when
they came near unto the altar, they should wash; as the LORD commanded Moses. 33
And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up
the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.
Moshe is given the credit even though
the younger Leviim raised the Mishkan and others crafted it for it was all at
his direction and his management.
34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting,
and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to
enter into the tent of meeting, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory
of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
This was similar to the 364 days
outside of Yom Kippur when the Cohain Gadol was forbidden to enter the Ohel
Moed or in the Mikdash Kodesh Kedoshim.
36 And whenever the cloud was taken up from over
the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their
journeys. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they journeyed not till
the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the
tabernacle by day, and there was fire therein by night, in the sight of all the
house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
And so it was for the years in the Midbar until
the entrance into Eretz Yisrael. Sometimes the resting would be for a long time
and sometimes very short according to the will of HASHEM.
Chazak – Chazak v’ nit
Chazak
Parsha HaChodesh
We covered this a few weeks ago in Part
2 of Parsha Bo. http://rabbipauli.blogspot.com/2020/02/parsha-bo-part-2-parsha-beshalach-tu.html
12:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying: 2 'This month shall be unto you the beginning of
months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying:
In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb,
according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household; 4 and if the household be too little for a lamb, then
shall he and his neighbour next unto his house take one according to the number
of the souls; according to every man's eating ye shall make your count for the
lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without
blemish, a male of the first year; ye shall take it from the sheep, or from the
goats; 6 and ye shall keep it unto the
fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of
Israel shall kill it at dusk. 7 And they
shall take of the blood, and put it on the two side-posts and on the lintel,
upon the houses wherein they shall eat it. 8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and
unleavened bread; with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but
roast with fire; its head with its legs and with the inwards thereof. 10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the
morning; but that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with
fire. 11 And thus shall ye eat it: with
your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye
shall eat it in haste--it is the LORD'S passover. 12 For I will go through the land of Egypt in that
night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and
beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the
LORD. 13 And the blood shall be to you
for a token upon the houses where ye are; and when I see the blood, I will pass
over you, and there shall no plague be upon you to destroy you, when I smite
the land of Egypt. 14 And this day shall
be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD;
throughout your generations ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever. 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. 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. 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 for ever. 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. 19 Seven days shall
there be no leaven found in your houses; for whosoever eateth 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. 20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your
habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.'
Pesach Ideas
Over the years, this Blogspot has
covered Halachos, the Heter of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein on all kosher oil from
other than the five grains to be used for cooking – the exception is families
with a specific tradition that goes against using certain oils.
This year I set an example for others
to follow. Since my children were small, I have kept leaven in the
kitchen-dining-living room area. With the possible exception if somebody was
ill and needed to be bed ridden as in heaven forbid a Corona Quarantine. This
leaves me certain areas with medicines where it is sold and space ‘rented’ for
Pesach so that they are according to Halacha not mine on Pesach.
Motzei Shabbos, I started cleaning out
cabinet space for Pesach Storage of wines and food. Sunday, I went to two
stores to start purchasing stock for Pesach. It is a bit early and Matzos,
Matzah Meal, spices and other things were not in the stores. However, a lot of
things were ready. I finished up the two shelves already and still have to
clean out more Shelves.
Motzei Shabbos there was a run on the
stores and olive oil and other items such as the rolls of paper that absorb
fats disappeared and in some stores because of Corona toilet paper and tissues.
The store brought out a truck load of toilet paper and tissues today. The
problem is paper towels but I think I have enough as of now.
Due to the rush on the supermarkets, my
son bought all his kosher le Pesach meat this week and Schuls are closing all
over in Israel and the States. Telshe Stone is under quarantine in Israel and
time to stock up on goods.
The normal early Pesach cleaning that I
advise to start with the bedrooms etc. takes on new priorities as we have no
restaurants, sports, theaters, etc. as more people stay home. There is and will
be plenty to do plenty to clean and paint etc.
Children are home from school go to
YouTube hear the Passover/Pesach story, songs. Just check that the source of
the video is kosher.
As cases of Corona were found in
Modiin, travel case in Chashmonayim, and Modiin Illit, we decided to shop with
a surgical mask and gloves as the virus can stay on metal for 4 hours, plastic
longer and cartons for days. We had no choice but to buy 95% of our Pesach
Needs even before Rosh Chodesh. There are different schools of thought if the
masks protect you or protect those near you.
Medications in Israel – Hebrew. (could
not get the English PDF) https://www.clalit.co.il/he/medical/pharmacy/Documents/kosher_medicines_2020.pdf
Koshering Utensils. https://oukosher.org/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/03/PG20KasheringPrimer.pdf
USA Halachic Times Pesach. https://oukosher.org/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/03/PG20HalachicTimes.pdf
Use of cleaning alcohol, wipes and
alcohol gel on Pesach: Assuming you are at home or have to use a cart in the
supermarket how should we hold as the Alcohol may have come from corn or
Chametz Grain? Is it Pekeuach Nefesh, Sofek Pekeuach Nefesh and saving a life
over-rides Chametz. We learned in the Talmud Pesachim in the middle about a
stool made from left-over Chametz that since it is not considered food we can
use it. There is a problem with Alcohol as our hands touch the cart or the gel.
We then go to cook and wash and our hands touch food. Therefore, after coming
in contact with the Alcohol or gel since like the stool they are not used for
eating we should wash thoroughly our hands so that there are no traces. This is
the Din (Halacha) for drinking from the Kinneret on Pesach via the aqueduct
after the non-Jewish Fishermen cast their bread upon the waters on Pesach. But
the particles of bread are either eaten by fish or null. Usually on Pesach, we
cannot nullify Chametz but that is only in parts per thousand but not parts per
billions or trillions. The same goes for eating living organism. We have no
desire to eat or swallow in our water an amebae or microscopic animal but they
cannot be seen by the naked eye.
When
Mr. Duwek stopped fishing. By Rabbi Rachamim Pauli
Mr.
Duwek was an aircraft worker at Israel Aircraft Industries. He was part of the maintenance
crews for Check C or Check D of aircraft. Most of the ordinary workers had been
in the IAF where they learned to take care of the DC-3 better known as the
Dakota Aircraft. Eventually the moved up to Boeing 707, 727, DC-8 and DC-10 and
more. These men would repair and sometimes rebuilt the interior from the
windows, wiring, plastics, seats and their upholstery, floor rugs, toilets,
kitchens, cockpit, etc. in fact the works of sometimes very complicated
aircraft.
Mr.
Duwek would work 5, 6,7 days a week. When he could take off, he loved to go to
the ocean and fish. When there was no overtime or urgent project, one would
find in there. To him, besides the pleasure of catching a free meal or two, he
could relax the tension of work in a calm atmosphere. Most Shabbosos one would
find him and his friends with their rods, hooks, bait and perhaps a net trying
their luck.
Slightly
before the Lavi Project ended, Rabbi Yerachmiel Boyer was brought to Israel Aircraft
and started giving a Shiur in Talmud each week. Among the members of the Shiur
was Mr. Duwek. Over the course of a year or two, he started observing Shabbos.
More than that, he convinced a number of his fishermen friends to start
learning and observing Shabbos.
He
would come to hotels with the members of the IAI Shiur Attendees. The Union
arranged that the Rabbi would come for free and the food would be Glatt (high
standard) Kosher.
He
attended seminars of the Arechim Organization. I came along too, even though I
was strong, it strengthened my wife and refreshed me.
If I
recall as it was 30 years ago, Mr. Duwek smoked but not on Shabbos. One day,
unfortunately, he developed cancer. A short time later, he passed away. On that
day one of the members from the religious service unit of our company who arranged
buses for his funeral gave the Chesped. Some people take a life time to get
their portion in the world to come. Others managed in a very short time to move
things that they gain the world to come.
Holy Slop Bucket by Rabbi Yerachmiel
Tilles
The two saintly
brothers, Rebbe Zusha and Rebbe Elimelech, who lived in 18th century Poland,
wandered for years disguised as beggars, seeking to refine their characters and
encourage their deprived brethren.
In one city, the two
brothers, who later became mentors to many thousands of Jews, earned the wrath
of a "real" beggar who informed the local police and had them cast
into prison for the night.
As they awoke in their
prison cell, Rabbi Zusha noticed his brother weeping silently. "Why do you
cry?" asked Rabbi Zusha.
R. Elimelech pointed
to the pail situated in the corner of the room which the inmates used for a
toilet. "Jewish law forbids one to pray in a room inundated with such a
repulsive odor," he told his brother. "This will be the first day in
my life in which I will not have the opportunity to pray."
"And why are you
upset about this?" asked R. Zusha.
"What do you
mean?" responded his brother. "How can I begin my day without
connecting to G-d?"
"But you are
connecting to G-d," insisted R. Zusha. "The same G-d who commanded
you to pray each morning, also commanded you to abstain from prayer under such
circumstances. In a location such as this, you connect to G-d by the absence of
prayer."
His brother's
viewpoint, allowing him to view his problem as part and parcel of his
relationship with G-d, elated R. Elimelech's heart. The awareness that the
waste-filled pail in the corner of the room allowed him the opportunity to
enjoy an intimate -- though different -- type of relationship with G-d inspired
him so deeply that he began to dance. The two brothers were now holding hands
and dancing in celebration of their newly discovered relationship with their
Father in heaven
The non-Jewish inmates
imprisoned in the same cell were so moved by the sight, that they soon joined
the dancing. It did not take long before the entire room was swept away by an
electrifying energy of joy, as dozens of prisoners were dancing and jumping
around ecstatically.
When the prison warden
heard the commotion coming from the cell, he burst open the gate, only to be
stunned by the inmates enjoying such a lively dance. In his fury, he attempted
to stop the dancing, but to no avail: The prisoners were by now totally
consumed by an awesome happiness, stemming from a very deep place within their
souls.
Finally, the warden
pulled aside one of the inmates, demanding from him an explanation for what was
going on.
The frightened
prisoner related that the outburst was not his fault, nor was it the fault of
the other inmates. It was rather the two Jews dancing in the center of the
circle who triggered the trouble
"And what
inspired the two Jews to go into such a dance?" thundered the warden.
The prisoner pointed
to the pail in the corner of the room. "It is the pail, they claim, that
brought about the joy in their heart; they discovered some new type of relationship
through the pail."
"If that's the
case, I will teach them a lesson that they will remember for a very long
time," shouted the furious warden. He took the pail and threw it out of
the cell.
Rebbe Zusha turned to
his brother and said: "And now, my brother, you can begin your
prayers."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from the rendition of Rabbi Yossie Jacobson: YYJacobson@aol.com
Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from the rendition of Rabbi Yossie Jacobson: YYJacobson@aol.com
Biographical notes:
Rabbi Elimelech of Lyzhinsk (1717 - 21 Adar 1787), was a major disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch, successor to the Baal Shem Tov, and the leading Rebbe of the subsequent generation in Poland-Galitzia. Most of the great Chassidic dynasties stem from his disciples. His book, Noam Elimelech, is one of the most popular of all Chassidic works.
Rabbi Elimelech of Lyzhinsk (1717 - 21 Adar 1787), was a major disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch, successor to the Baal Shem Tov, and the leading Rebbe of the subsequent generation in Poland-Galitzia. Most of the great Chassidic dynasties stem from his disciples. His book, Noam Elimelech, is one of the most popular of all Chassidic works.
Rabbi Zusha of Anapoli
(?- 2 Shvat 1800), was a major disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch,
successor to the Baal Shem Tov. The seemingly unsophisticated but
clearly inspired "R. Zusha" is one of the best known and most beloved
Chassidic personalities. He and his famous brother, Rabbi Elimelech of
Lyzhinsk, spent many years wandering in exile, for esoteric reasons.
Below is a letter that was drafted today and signed by a cross section of South Florida synagogue Rabbis.
Shabbat Shalom
~ Rabbi Weinstock and Rabbi Freiberg
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As of now, our Shuls continue to remain open for minimum activity,
including minyan and, in some cases, small classes. We continue to
monitor the situation carefully and are in constant consultation with medical
experts to guide us. In the meantime, there are many steps that can be taken towards
social distancing:
- We urge those who meet the criteria for vulnerability, including age and health, to stay home. Don’t come to shul and don’t go to public or crowded places. You are not only exempt from davening with a minyan, you are forbidden from doing so.
- Those who meet the criteria to continue to attend are also not obligated to. If you are nervous, anxious or concerned, please don’t come to Shul.
- Those who do attend Shul are asked to sit as spread out as much as possible.
- Some of the schools in the community have announced they will be closed. Doing so is only meaningful if those children are not using their time off from school to go to the mall, the movies, playdates, etc.
- Adults should, to whatever extent possible, avoid public and crowded places including restaurants, coffee shops, and unnecessary shopping. (Please consider purchasing takeout in an effort to support our establishments that are likely being hit hard).
- We urge adults to work from home and not in a crowded office wherever possible.
We anticipate the situation to continue to evolve and we will
continue to re-evaluate and send out further communications as necessary. In
the meantime, we remain available to answer questions or to arrange help in any
way that we can. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
May Hashem watch over us and all of our communities and protect us
from this and all illness.
Rabbi Josh Broide, Boca Raton Synagogue
Rabbi Rael Blumenthal, Boca Raton Synagogue West
Rabbi Donald Bixon, Beth Israel Congregation
Rabbi Moshe Denburg, Chabad of Central Boca
Rabbi Adam Frieberg, Young Israel of Hollywood
Rabbi Yaakov Gibber, Boca Jewish Center
Rabbi Efrem Goldberg, Boca Raton Synagogue
Rabbi Meir Moshe Haber, Young Israel of Sunny Isles Beach
Rabbi Noach Light, East Boca Kehilla
Rabbi Philip Moskowitz, Boca Raton Synagogue
Rabbi Tzvi Nightingale, Aish of South Florida
Rabbi Moishe Scheiner, Palm Beach Synagogue
Rabbi David Shabtai, MD, Boca Raton Synagogue
Rabbi Yosef Weinstock, Young Israel of Hollywood
Rabbi Eliezer Wolf, Beit David Highland Lakes Shul
DC Dead Sea Scrolls
are fakes. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277250
Netanyahu’s criminal trail delayed until May 24. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SJSP0SiBI
Former Union head backs unity gov. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277279
Netanyahu proposes a six month gov. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277284
Inyanay Diyoma
Shin Bet electronic type tracking to be used on the
population to enforce quarantine.
https://www.debka.com/israel-will-use-digital-means-for-emergency-surveillance-of-coronavirus-cases/
Supermarkets to stay open 24/6 as panic sets in.
US run on sanitizers and toilet paper. https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/toilet-paper-vanishing-supermarkets-coronavirus
Brazil’s President tests positive for Corona. https://www.foxnews.com/world/brazil-bolsonaro-tests-positive-coronavirus
Trump has taken the Corona Test. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/president-trump-reveals-he-took-coronavirus-test
As tourism goes down crazy things happen. https://themindunleashed.com/2020/03/massive-monkey-gangs-are-fighting-for-food-on-streets-as-tourist-food-disappears.html
PM we are at war with the virus. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277263
Technologies will save lives. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277266
IDF postpones reserve drills. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277259
Brazilian Jewish Schools close. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277260
The closure of all stores except supermarkets, gas
stations, etc. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/NHEGXP5F5
PA urges Arabs to pray at home. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SJSJEs9SU
Fragile Iran in lieu of the virus. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SkR7002vS8#autoplay
200 now infected in Israel. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/H1v36UoSI
Netanyahu’s criminal trail delayed until May 24. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SJSP0SiBI
Former Union head backs unity gov. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277279
Netanyahu proposes a six month gov. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277284
Tension continues US-Shiites in Iraq. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277277
Stop panicking. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-virologist-urges-world-leaders-to-calm-public-slams-unnecessary-panic/
Rabbi Kanievsky Shlita views the danger as not
learning Torah and not from the virus. https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-bid-to-convince-rabbi-to-close-yeshivas-as-his-sect-defies-virus-rules/
Urging Amazon to drop “Hunters”. https://www.timesofisrael.com/drop-hunters-head-of-steven-spielbergs-holocaust-foundation-tells-amazon/
Rivlin to tap Ganz for PM. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/Hk0YeAoS8
Chief Physician in testing lab gets Corona. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HktyUZhB8
1600 Charedim in isolation. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277324
This morning I had to go Kiriat Sefer for a Minyan
as Schuls shut down in my area.
Man injured in stone attack. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277316
Vaccine testing starts in Seattle. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277322
Signs of Corona: 87.9% of coronavirus patients develop a fever, 67.7% have a dry cough,
38.1% will experience fatigue, 33.4% will have mucus, 14.8% will have joint
pains and 13% will have a sore throat or a headache. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277331
Murdering Kim & Dafna for a second time. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277330
Trump you don’t have
to buy so much. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277319
Dan
Hotels turning into virus hospitals for Corona Patients with mild cases. https://www.debka.com/israel-expands-lockdown-amid-forecast-of-10000-coronavirus-victims-idle-hotels-turn-into-quarantine-hospitals/
Israel Corona patients rise. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277400
Tracking information of Corona Patients for short
time period. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277399
US follows Israel in less people gathering. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277389
Egypt has two more Corona deaths. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277395
Finally,
Amazon bans Mein Kampt. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277394
Cemetery vandalized in Hungary. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277391
Syria says no Corona but plenty died. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277377
Mossad secures 100,000 test kits. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277501
Iran reports only 147 new cases. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277496
Dutch Health Minister collapses. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277498
Israel non-enforced shut down. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277412
Public transportation to be limited. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277415
First Corona Patients hotels open. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277416
Reservists
called up for Corona. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277417
Emergency Provisions Committee starts. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277420
Despite
the voluntary quarantine of the country about 150 Chassidim packed in close
quarters for a wedding of two Chassidic Dynasty’s grandchildren. 3 Arrested so
far. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/491860
The world shuts down. Tel Aviv almost like Yom
Kippur intercity traffic near zero. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8126057/Pictures-public-spaces-emptied-countries-battle-contain-COVID-19.html
Arabs ban themselves from Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277450
Employers have to provide food and shelter for
60,000 workers in conjunction with the defense ministry.
Arab MK wants to divest of Israel but not be under
the “Palestinian Authority” so make up your mind dolt. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277453
Israel lockdown continues. Thursday Yeshivas
closing a week earlier. https://www.debka.com/health-ministry-deepens-lockdown-issues-strict-new-rules-nationwide/
El Al sends three planes to Peru to evacuate hitch
hikers no charge. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SyEbUERrL
China says Japanese Drug works others say Malaria, https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SJJG2tgL8
Nation-wide lockdown inevitable. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkTp82y88
Yemeni fighting Corona not on Democracy’s account. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/BJJYi63BL
Syrian Gov. and Hezballah sniper responsibility. https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-hezbollah-syrian-army-behind-attempted-sniper-attack-on-border/
China reports no new cases. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277499
Italian elder makes a full recovery via drug. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277502
IDF on
war footing over crises. https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-going-on-war-footing-to-fight-virus-expects-crisis-could-last-up-to-a-year/
High court to discuss phone tracking. https://www.timesofisrael.com/high-court-to-discuss-petition-against-tracking-virus-carriers-phones/
Flash
Wedding. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277404
Former
Education Minister tells Lapid sit in Gov. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277424
Locusts
hit Africa-M.E. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277427
UK
Chief Rabbi closes his Schul. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277433
No Eurovision Song
Contest, Soccer. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277444
More Beis Lechem cases. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277446
3 more rockets near Embassy in Iraq. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277448
Gaza to build Corona Isolation Facilities. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277449
Israel goes under lock-down. My daughter
distributed via parent’s committee Chagadah with drawings the children made for
Pesach and lesson plan via e-mail for parents. My granddaughter took accounting
books to her home for doing taxes for clients. Only doctor’s visits, blood
donations, shopping, a ten man Minyan spaced out, gas stations and ATM’s are
open. 677 cases 17 cured and 6 serious and 1 aged 89 in critical condition. https://www.debka.com/with-sharp-spike-in-coronvirus-figure-israelis-are-confined-to-home-by-emergency-regulations/
This Organization brings food to Survivors. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277568
Mixed messages of Orthodox Rabbis. I told my grandson to go shopping only with a mask and gloves.
The same goes for prayers unless one is about 6 to 7 feet or 2meters distance
from his fellows. Over 60 the best advice is “Shmor Meod” (guard carefully)
your life. You are advised to pray alone but if you want to go to a Minyan with
a mask and gloves. The same problem exists shopping and with check-out lines.
Psalms can be said after an e-mail at a specific time or by teleconference or
Skype. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HJh9BMWUI Chief Sephardi Rabbi rules. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277530
400,000 new unemployed in Israel. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SklrYW11II
Tunisia’s Chief Rabbi and son quarantined. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277530
What drives people to hoard toilet paper? https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277557
IDF ready for the war on Corona. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277536
NYC especially in certain Orthodox areas see a rise
in Corona. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277552
Ganz agrees for the sake of the nation to stop the
stalemate and let Netanyahu be Prime Minister first in this national crises. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277535
Italy’s death toll larger than official Chinese
claims if they are true. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277559
Court issues an injunction against surveillance. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277561
Special drive through wedding in BKLYN. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277570
Verily Guard your health, stay well and
have a peaceful relaxing Shabbos.
Rachamim Pauli
