Ed-Op: Just get fresh air and sunshine.
During the lockdown with no gym walking on my outdoor porch pacing and now
semi-lockdown praying out in the sun my cough from the Pneumonia bouts and my
runny nose from whatever I had this winter is finally close to completely gone.
Doctors are now saying that the best way to fight Corona is to get fresh air
and sunshine. Only you have to figure out how to get it. Be well, Rabbi
Rachamim Pauli
Parshiyos Tazria - Metzora
There was a saying in the past
generations. ‘A death and a birth’ and the population despite the larger number
of children per family did not explode. It was sort of stable with little
growth due to disease, famine and war. Perhaps globally most of the diseases
even if we are in the middle of a Corona Crises and famine have been
eliminated.
Last week’s Parsha had the death of the
two sons of Aaron perhaps the old saying is the connection with Halachos of
women giving birth to a boy or a girl.
12:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: If a woman
be delivered, and bear a man-child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in
the days of the impurity of her sickness shall she be unclean.
Hebrew does not have sickness the 1917
translation took it from the King James Version with sort of Jewish
corrections. Now look at this: Speak to the
children of Israel, saying: If a woman conceives and gives birth to a male, she
shall be unclean for seven days; as [in] the days of her menstrual flow, she
shall be unclean. This is the Chabad translation. Viva La
Difference! Why 7 days for a boy and 14 for a girl. In truth it should be 14
but to enable her to have ‘clean blood’ if she is still hemorrhaging for the
Bris.
3 And in the eighth day the flesh
of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4
And she shall continue in the blood of purification three and thirty days; she
shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of
her purification be fulfilled.
After 33 days, the blood is not considered pure
but Tumay. Then she must reimmerse and be permitted to her husband.
5 But if she bears a maid-child,
then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her impurity; and she shall continue
in the blood of purification threescore and six days.
A woman who gives birth to a boy receives certain
love from her husband. This does not apply to all husbands but a woman who
gives birth to a girl needs more separation from some primitive mentality men
until their desire reawakens.
6 And when the days of her
purification are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a
lamb of the first year for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon, or a
turtle-dove, for a sin-offering, unto the door of the tent of meeting, unto the
priest. 7 And he shall offer it before
the LORD, and make atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the
fountain of her blood. This is the law for her that bears, whether a male or a
female.
The Korban is for a person of average means and
requires a lamb.
8 And if her means suffice not for
a lamb, then she shall take two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons: the one for
a burnt-offering, and the other for a sin-offering; and the priest shall make
atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
This Korban is for the poorest of poor people.
13:1 And the LORD spoke
unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying: 2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh
a rising, or a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes in the skin of his flesh
the plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto
one of his sons the priests.
In the video that I brought on Corona in Hebrew last week of Rabbi
Yossef Ben Porat Shlita, he uses this as an example of quarantine for a
disease. Since he is a Cohain, he had to have this law on the tip of his mind
just in case the Mikdash is rebuilt. Just as a soldier must guard the
cleanliness of his weapon so must a Jew guard the cleanliness of his speech in
the Rabbi’s message. The result of a loose tongue in this case is not ‘loose
lips sink ships’ but rather uncontrolled gossip, tale bearing by the average
Jew results in Divine Punishment. The Torah warns that Lashon HaRa kills. It
kills the spreader it embarrasses to death the subject and it kills at a
minimum partially in the next world’s reward the listener. Worse the Lashon
HaRa can spread like a wildfire in a field of straw with the wind at its back.
3 And the priest shall look upon the plague in the skin of the
flesh; and if the hair in the plague be turned white, and the appearance of the
plague be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is the plague of leprosy; and
the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.
The quarantined person had spoken Lashon HaRa and was quarantined
according to commentaries on the Biblical Disease.
4 And if the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and
the appearance thereof be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not
turned white, then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven
days. 5 And the priest shall look on him the seventh day; and, behold, if the
plague stay in its appearance, and the plague be not spread in the skin, then
the priest shall shut him up seven days more. 6 And the priest shall look on
him again the seventh day; and, behold, if the plague be dim, and the plague be
not spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is a
scab; and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
His disease is no long contagious and he can return to society.
Spiritually, he regretted gossiping and tale bearing and now has does Teshuva.
7 But if the scab spread abroad in the skin, after that he hath
shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall show himself to the
priest again. 8 And the priest shall look, and, behold, if the scab be spread
in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is leprosy. 9 When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought
unto the priest. 10 And the priest shall look, and, behold, if there be a white
rising in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw
flesh in the rising, 11 it is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the
priest shall pronounce him unclean; he shall not shut him up; for he is
unclean.
He appears not to have done Teshuva and the disease is active.
12 And if the leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the
leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to
his feet, as far as appears to the priest; 13 then the priest shall look; and,
behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean
that hath the plague; it is all turned white: he is clean.
He is now clean in that he is become so repulsive that people will
avoid him and not be able to spread Lashon HaRa.
14 But whensoever raw flesh appears in him, he shall be unclean.
15 And the priest shall look on the raw flesh, and pronounce him unclean; the raw
flesh is unclean: it is leprosy. 16 But if the raw flesh again be turned into
white, then he shall come unto the priest; 17 and the priest shall look on him;
and, behold, if the plague be turned into white, then the priest shall
pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he is clean.
Since the flesh is not raw but healed, he is clean.
18 And when the flesh hath in the skin thereof a boil, and it is
healed, 19 and in the place of the boil there is a white rising, or a bright
spot, reddish-white, then it shall be shown to the priest.
This is a different skin disease or variation.
20 And the priest shall look; and, behold, if the appearance
thereof be lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white, then the
priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy, it hath broken
out in the boil. 21 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no
white hairs therein, and it be not lower than the skin, but be dim, then the
priest shall shut him up seven days.
Does the Nega {pronounced nay-gah} (disease) look under or on the
surface of the skin. The Cohain had a tradition. This is a matter of
observation.
22 And if it spread abroad in the skin, then the priest shall
pronounce him unclean: it is a plague. 23 But if the bright spot stay in its
place, and be not spread, it is the scar of the boil; and the priest shall
pronounce him clean.
Either the Cohain had the initial size recorded or had a sign in
the house how large it was originally.
24 Or when the flesh hath in the skin thereof a burning by fire,
and the quick flesh of the burning become a bright spot, reddish-white, or
white; 25 then the priest shall look upon it; and, behold, if the hair in the
bright spot be turned white, and the appearance thereof be deeper than the skin,
it is leprosy, it hath broken out in the burning; and the priest shall
pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.
This is a different skin disease or variation.
… 28 And if the bright spot stay in its place, and be not spread
in the skin, but be dim, it is the rising of the burning, and the priest shall
pronounce him clean; for it is the scar of the burning. 29 And when a man or woman hath a plague upon the head or upon the
beard, 30 then the priest shall look on the plague; and, behold, if the
appearance thereof be deeper than the skin, and there be in it yellow thin
hair, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a scall, it is leprosy
of the head or of the beard. 31 And if the priest look on the plague of the
scall, and, behold, the appearance thereof be not deeper than the skin, and
there be no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut up him that hath the
plague of the scall seven days.
This is a different area where the beard is.
… 34 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall;
and, behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, and the appearance thereof
be not deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; and he
shall wash his clothes, and be clean. …38 And if a man or a woman have in the
skin of their flesh bright sp pots in the skin of their flesh be of a dull
white, it is a tetter, it hath broken out in the skin: he is clean. 40
And if a man's hair be fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean. 41 And if his hair be fallen off from the front part of his head,
he is forehead-bald; yet is he clean…. 44 he is a leprous man,
he is unclean; the priest shall surely pronounce him unclean: his plague is in
his head. 45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent,
and the hair of his head shall go loose, and he shall cover his upper lip, and
shall cry: 'Unclean, unclean.'
With
his Lashon HaRa he embarrassed others calling them names now he is called ‘unclean’
and embarrassed.
46 All the days wherein the plague is in him he shall be unclean;
he is unclean; he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his dwelling be.
This is real quarantine.
47 And when the plague of leprosy is in a garment, whether it be a
woolen garment, or a linen garment; 48 or in the warp, or in the
woof, whether they be of linen, or of wool; or in a skin, or in any thing made
of skin. 49 If the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment,
or in the skin, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin, it is
the plague of leprosy, and shall be shown unto the priest.
This is physically some sort of a mold that breaks out.
… 52 And he shall burn the garment, or the warp, or the woof,
whether it be of wool or of linen, or anything of skin, wherein the plague is;
for it is a malignant leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.
One made fun of this guy’s $50 second or third hand suit or that
guy only had an $800 suit etc. Now his clothing has to be burned.
All the laws of Leprosy come from being jealous or feeling
superior to others and not to bless them if they are rich or poor or try to
help them when they stumble – on condition that they are willing to listen for
sometimes one continues in his foolishness like one blinded to what is obvious.
14:1 And the LORD spoke
unto Moses, saying: 2 This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his
cleansing: he shall be brought unto the priest. 3 And the priest shall go forth
out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of
leprosy be healed in the leper; 4 then shall the priest command to take for him
that is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar-wood, and scarlet, and
hyssop. 5 And the priest shall command to do
the special Melika slaughter procedure to
one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water. 6 As for the living
bird, he shall take it, and the cedar-wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop,
and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed
over the running water. 7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed
from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let go
the living bird into the open field. 8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash
his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water, and he
shall be clean; and after that he may come into the camp, but shall dwell
outside his tent seven days. 9 And it shall be on the seventh day, that he
shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his
hair he shall shave off; and he shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his
flesh in water, and he shall be clean. 10 And on the eighth day he shall take
two he-lambs without blemish, and one ewe-lamb of the first year without
blemish, and three tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour for a meal-offering,
mingled with oil, and one log of oil. 11 And the priest that cleanses him shall
set the man that is to be cleansed, and those things, before the LORD, at the
door of the tent of meeting. 12 And the priest shall take one of the he-lambs,
and offer him for a guilt-offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a
wave-offering before the LORD. 13 And he shall kill the he-lamb in the place
where they kill the sin-offering and the burnt-offering, in the place of the
sanctuary; for as the sin-offering is the priest's, so is the guilt-offering;
it is most holy. 14 And the priest shall take of the blood of the
guilt-offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of
him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the
great toe of his right foot.Right ear, right hand and right toe are in the atonement.
15 And the priest shall take of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand. 16 And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD.
He the Cohain acts with both hands placing the oil in his left but sprinkling with his right.
17 And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the guilt-offering. 18 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed; and the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD.
The Cohain makes the atonement with oil upon his head so that he can re-enter the camp.
19 And the priest shall offer the sin-offering, and make atonement for him that is to be cleansed because of his uncleanness; and afterward he shall kill the burnt-offering. 20 And the priest shall offer the burnt-offering and the meal-offering upon the altar; and the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.
All that is good for a person of modest wealth but a dirt poor person:
21 And if he be poor, and his means suffice not, then he shall take one he-lamb for a guilt-offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and one tenth part of an ephah of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering, and a log of oil; 22 and two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, such as his means suffice for; and the one shall be a sin-offering, and the other a burnt-offering. 23 And on the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tent of meeting, before the LORD. 24 And the priest shall take the lamb of the guilt-offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave-offering before the LORD. 25 And he shall slaughter the lamb of the guilt-offering, and the priest shall take of the blood of the guilt-offering, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. 26 And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand. 27 And the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the LORD. 28 And the priest shall put of the oil that is in his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the place of the blood of the guilt-offering. …33 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying: 34 When ye are come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession; 35 then he that owns the house shall come and tell the priest, saying: 'There seems to me to be as it were a plague in the house.' 36 And the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go in to see the plague, that all that is in the house be not made unclean; and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house. 37 And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow streaks, greenish or reddish, and the appearance thereof be lower than the wall; 38 then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days. …44 then the priest shall come in and look; and, behold, if the plague be spread in the house, it is a malignant leprosy in the house: it is unclean. 45 And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the mortar of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city into an unclean place. 46 Moreover he that goes into the house all the while that it is shut up shall be unclean until the even. 47 And he that lies in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eats in the house shall wash his clothes. 48 And if the priest shall come in, and look, and, behold, the plague hath not spread in the house, after the house was plastered; then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed. 49 And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar-wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. 50 And he shall preform Melika on one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water. 51 And he shall take the cedar-wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times. 52 And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar-wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet. 53 But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open field; so shall he make atonement for the house; and it shall be clean. 54 This is the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and for a scall; 55 and for the leprosy of a garment, and for a house; 56 and for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot; 57 to teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean; this is the law of leprosy.
I wonder if the curse ‘a plague upon your house’ comes from this. What is sure that it is some sort of a mold on the walls.
This is the State of being a Zav and in modern books it is called gonorrhea and whatever he sits on is Tamay and even a woman who has sort of like unstoppable menses is called Zava but the two are forbidden to eat together.
4 Every bed whereon he that hath the issue lies shall be unclean; and everything whereon he sits shall be unclean.
The Tuma of a Zav or Zava is one degree less than that of a dead person. The Rabbis did not specify how he got the disease and it could be something else but if it is gonorrhea we can understand the modesty of the Rabbis. As for the women it might be some damage that she has to have her womb cauterized.
5 And whosoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 6 And he that sits on anything whereon he that hath the issue sat shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. …9 And what saddle soever he that hath the issue rides upon shall be unclean.
We treat this like Covid19 in avoidance and washing.
…13 And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue, then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes; and he shall bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean. 14 And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD unto the door of the tent of meeting, and give them unto the priest. 15 And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD for his issue. …19 And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days; and whosoever touches her shall be unclean until the even. …26 Every bed whereon she lies all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her impurity; and everything whereon she sits shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her impurity. …33 and of her that is bleeding with her impurity, and of them that have an issue, whether it be a man, or a woman; and of him that lies with her that is unclean.
The conclusion of these two Parshiyos is not to speak Lashon HaRa have a jealous eye about the clothing or house or car of another. The person with the disease, garment or house has to be quarantined and in the case of Tuma, one has to bathe and purify himself the Leper in a well-spring of water and those in contact with Zav, Zava or what they sat upon have to bathe themselves in the Mikvah and wash their clothing. Thus Rabbi Yossef Ben Porat received his basic ideas for quarantine and I expanded in my own words on the subject.
Shoah: One of the saddest survivor’s
current life.
This week the Israel Television brought
a story of a Holocaust Survivor in lockdown.
A 94year old from the former Soviet
Georgia lived with his wife until 4 years ago. He must have been surviving on
2,000 NIS (approx. $557) a month from national insurance.
Ed-Op Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau on empty Auschwitz. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/BJnb3E3OL
Remembering the Holocaust. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279014
Anne Frank Series. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278990
French Jewish Spy turns 100. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278998
Survivor’s Last Request by Ellen
Greenberg
That changed in 2016 when I started writing the story of my father, Fred Bachner, who survived several concentration camps including Auschwitz and passed away in 2008. I picked up the photograph that was still in my mother’s living room and saw details I had not noticed before.
I looked at the face of my grandmother, Erna Bachner, who was murdered at Auschwitz, hoping to know her as the Mutti my father adored. I was disheartened and confused why she appeared pensive and sad. This should have been a joyous occasion, but it was October 1938 in Berlin, a few weeks before Kristallnacht, and there were reasons for her to be worried.
My grandfather, Abraham Bachner, survived Auschwitz. In the photo he is standing straight and smiling, looking proud of his son. Looking back on 25 years of memories and images of my grandfather, whether it was a joyous occasion or a Sunday get-together with his two sons and four grandchildren, there was never another time I saw him smiling. As the family posed for the photo, I imagine they had no idea this would be the last family portrait and only remaining picture of all four Bachners.
Growing up, my grandfather remained a mystery. All I knew was that he was a Holocaust survivor, spoke with an accent, wore bifocals, and walked with a limp, an injury sustained when a New York City bus hit him in the 1950s, or so I was led to believe. The only comments I remember him saying to me were, “There’s room for improvement” when I showed him my Hebrew School report card, even though most of my grades were As, and “It could be better” the time I baked Pillsbury Poppin’ Fresh Cinnamon Rolls. His childhood in Poland and his life in Berlin before the war were never discussed and the “H” word was never mentioned.
Abraham Bachner passed away on December 8, 1980 at 85 years old. At the funeral, Rabbi Fabian Schoenfeld of Young Israel of Kew Garden Hills told the mourners Abraham’s final request was to be buried in his Auschwitz uniform. The Rabbi explained that initially he did not understand the request and reminded Abraham as an observant Jew he should be buried in the traditional shroud. Abraham insisted that at his time of judgment, he wanted the Almighty to look at whatever sins he had committed and weigh them against the years of torture and starvation he had endured during the Holocaust. The uniform would be a reminder.
I did not know my grandfather kept his uniform or understand why he wanted to be buried with it, but unlike my aunt and uncle who let it be known they thought the uniform should have been saved for posterity, I knew the uniform belonged with my grandfather.
Since his passing, I continued to wonder the reasons behind my grandfather’s request. It was clearly significant enough that Holocaust scholar and educator Yaffa Eliach included it as a chapter in her book, Hassidic Tales of the Holocaust, and Benjamin Mead, founder of WAGRO told the story at the Yom HaShoah commemoration at Temple Emanuel in Manhattan in 1981. Despite reading the chapter many times, it was not until recently when I gained an understanding of my grandfather and his request.
My trip to Poland in 2018 was a turning point in my relationship with my grandfather. I visited Chrzanow, the city he was born in and where he and his family returned to in 1939 when forced out of Germany. I stood outside the house they lived in and were later dragged out of during the roundups to Auschwitz. I said Kaddish and left a stone at the grave of his father, Shimon Josef, who died in a fire in 1898 when my grandfather was three years old and at the grave of his grandfather, Aron, who died in 1855. I felt my grandfather’s presence.
It was not until I stood outside the gates to Auschwitz that I realized when the war ended my grandfather was 50 years old and had been in labor and concentration camps for five years. Everything shifted for me as I came to understand and love him as the strong and brave person he had to be in order to survive. I also realized my grandfather’s request to be buried along with the uniform was his way of telling us he knew he was not the best version of who he had been before the Holocaust.
I thought my journey was complete, but there was still more. I continued researching my family’s history and recently found a new document. I never imagined it would be a picture of my grandfather in 1945, still wearing the uniform he wore in Auschwitz. He was thin, his eyes sunken, and he had a blank stare. It is hard to believe the picture of him at my father’s Bar Mitzvah was taken only seven years earlier. All the life was sucked out of him and he appears “broken.”
The contrast between the two photographs serves as reminder of the enormity of what he endured. Abraham Bachner survived the Holocaust, but so much of him had not.
Growth
Sports by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles
When he was a young boy, R.
Sholom-Ber Schneersohn, the Rebbe Rashab to-be, often played with his
brother, R. Schneur Zalman Aharon, commonly referred to as the RaZA, who
was two years older than him. Once, during their playful activities, his
brother convinced him to climb into a pit. Thinking that it was part of the
game and fun, he dutifully did so, thinking that momentarily he would be helped
out.
However, to his anguish, his older
brother moved a short distance away from the pit and stood there happily.
Unable to contain his hurt feelings of being stuck in the pit, the Rashab began
to cry. Hearing the cry, the RaZA immediately pulled him up, out of the pit.
However, their father, the
Lubavitcher Rebbe of the generation, R. Shmuel Schneersohn, the Rebbe Maharash,
also heard the cry, exited the house and asked the Rashab why he was crying?
The Rashab tearfully replied that
his older brother Zalman Aharon had placed him in a pit and left him there for
a while.
The Maharash then called over
the RaZA and asked him, why he did this?
The RaZA replied, "This was
appropriate for me and befitting him. I am the older brother, and an older
brother should be taller than his younger brother. By placing him in the pit,
he is no longer taller than me. Now it is the way it should be, the older
brother is more important."
The Rebbe Maharash responded,
"If you truly desire to be higher than your brother, there is a better way
to do it. Instead of putting your brother down by placing him in a low place, you
should have taken a stone or a chair and stood on top of it. By elevating
yourself, you don't have to denigrate or belittle the other, in order to be
bigger than he."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source:
Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from one of Rabbi Sholom Avtzon's excellent biographical/story books, Reb Mendel Futerfas, pp. 219-220)
Source:
Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from one of Rabbi Sholom Avtzon's excellent biographical/story books, Reb Mendel Futerfas, pp. 219-220)
Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran educator
in the United Lubavitch Yeshiva of Ocean Parkway and the author of numerous
books. He is available to teach and interact in your community and can be reached
at avtzonbooks@gmail.com
Biographical
notes (in order of appearance):
Rabbi Sholom Dov-ber Schneersohn (Cheshvan 20, 1860 - Nissan 2, 1920), known as the Rebbe Reshab, was the fifth Rebbe of the Lubavitcher dynasty. He is the author of hundreds of major tracts in the exposition of Chasidic thought. In 1897, he established the Tomchei Temimim yeshivah, the first institution of Jewish learning to combine the study of Talmudic and legal studies with the mystical teachings of Chasidism, from which emerged the army of learned, inspired and devoted chasidim who, in the decades to come, would literally give their lives to keep Judaism alive under Soviet rule.
Rabbi Sholom Dov-ber Schneersohn (Cheshvan 20, 1860 - Nissan 2, 1920), known as the Rebbe Reshab, was the fifth Rebbe of the Lubavitcher dynasty. He is the author of hundreds of major tracts in the exposition of Chasidic thought. In 1897, he established the Tomchei Temimim yeshivah, the first institution of Jewish learning to combine the study of Talmudic and legal studies with the mystical teachings of Chasidism, from which emerged the army of learned, inspired and devoted chasidim who, in the decades to come, would literally give their lives to keep Judaism alive under Soviet rule.
Rabbi Shneur-Zalman Aharon
Schneersohn (19 Tammuz, 1858 - 11 Cheshvan, 1908), known as the Raza, was
the eldest son of the fourth Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Maharash. Although his
brilliance and holiness was well-known to all, after his father's passing he
refused all leadership position, so his younger brother, Rabbi Sholom Dov-Ber,
eventually became the fifth rebbe of the dynasty.
Rabbi Shmuel Schneersohn [of blessed
memory: 2 Iyar 5594 - 13 Tishrei 5643 (1834-Sept. 1882 C.E.)], the fourth
Lubavitch Rebbe, known as the Rebbe Maharash, was the seventh and
youngest surviving son of his predecessor, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn,
the Tsemach Tsedek.
Connection:
Seasonal - Saturday night, the 2nd of the Jewish month of Iyar, Tiferet sh'b'Tiferet, starts the anniversary of the 186th birthday of the Rebbe Maharash.
Seasonal - Saturday night, the 2nd of the Jewish month of Iyar, Tiferet sh'b'Tiferet, starts the anniversary of the 186th birthday of the Rebbe Maharash.
Baruch Dayan Emmes Rabbi Yishayahu
Hever Z”l founder of the “Gift of Life” succumbs to Corona. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279124
Baruch Dayan Emmes Rabbi
E. Menachem Mayerfeld Z”l of Queens NY
Too many Rabbis and Roshei Yeshiva passed away in
NYC there is a generation that just disappeared. There will be those who take
their place from the older and learned Talmidim but the level, knowledge and
experience is equivalent to that experienced in the holocaust and rebuilt.
Fortunately, as in the prophet Ovadia that other cities and Eretz Yisrael were
not effected. But the affect upon Kirias Yoel, Monsey, Lakewood and within New
York City is quite great. I don’t read Yeshiva World on-line and the Charedi
Newspapers since the start of the lockdown in Israel I stopped reading but here
and there on the internet pop up names. A 50year old became a Mays Mitzvah
(dead persons with no relatives whom the city is responsible to bury – in short
the non-Jews know it as the ‘good Samaritan story’) took priority over a Rabbi
who had survived the holocaust but because of the Rabbi’s family, the burial society
had a Minyan. The granddaughter wrote the story on the internet.
I took this from Charlie D. 2017/2018
flu season 61,000 people died of seasonal flu! Should we close down for about
13 weeks every year during flu season? – The difference is that Corona is more
contagious and people are in more danger the older they get.
MD Professor
Las mentioned that statistically less people died of Corona than the flu but I
think it is the way it is contagious and more of a danger to older age groups
and certain health problems. He was rebutted by the head of Shaarei Tzeddek
Hospital who warned of ventilator problems exhausting of staff.
Jazz Saxophonist passes away. https://www.timesofisrael.com/trailblazing-jazz-saxophonist-lee-konitz-dies-at-92/
BDE Rabbi Mirocznik said: “May Justice
Dear serve as a heavenly advocate, a Melitz Yosher, for his family, the Jewish
community and the entire world. May his memory be a blessing.” https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278875
From Sophia: Stone Table that once held Aron
HaKodesh found? https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Ancient-stone-table-at-Beit-Shemesh-may-hold-link-to-Ark-of-the-Covenant-611444
Lady who just gave birth dies of breathing
difficulties unknown if Corona. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278995
Inyanay Diyoma
13,265 cases 164 dead 118 on respirators. Medical
Staff member on respirator she is 33. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278813
At home death in NYC rises to 10 times normal. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278815
Lebanese Border heats up a bit. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278808
106
lived through WWI swine flu the Blitz and now Corona. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278784
Last US trained
Syrian Rebels join forces with Assad. https://www.debka.com/us-trained-rebel-force-quits-american-al-tanf-base-in-e-syria/
Dr. Martin Sherman on the Reform aka Progressive
Judaism real regressiveness (he is not an Orthodox Jew). https://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/25550
Outside Minyanim of up to 19 people allowed after
the left has a permit demonstration of 2000 socially distanced people. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278833
Unity Government close. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278839
Corona cases and death toll slowly rises. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278836
First lifting of restrictions in Israel. https://www.debka.com/israel-takes-controlled-risk-in-initial-exit-from-coronavirus-restrictions/
Windows smashed in Poland. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278811
US death toll rises but POTUS wants to reopen. https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-death-toll-climbs-as-trump-rebuffs-unreasonable-restrictions-blames-china/
Greek Orthodox Easter becomes virtual. https://www.timesofisrael.com/with-jerusalem-locked-down-holy-site-pilgrims-turn-to-virtual-reality/
Stem cell therapy. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-company-hopes-to-treat-coronavirus-patients-with-placenta-cells/
Covid19 effects on the brain. https://www.timesofisrael.com/confusion-seizure-strokes-how-covid-19-may-affect-the-brain/
Amazon ISR. https://www.timesofisrael.com/amazon-said-to-stop-shipping-majority-of-items-to-customers-in-israel/
Ganz-Netanyahu fail to agree: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278895
Solution to distance Charedi Learning to be found. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278893
BDE Rabbi Mirocznik said: “May Justice
Dear serve as a heavenly advocate, a Melitz Yosher, for his family, the Jewish
community and the entire world. May his memory be a blessing.” https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278875
The Corona total rises slower. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278894
After
I found some lies on Snopes I found that it was funded by G. Tsoros.
Lockdown produces Meshuginas as shooting rampage
kills 17. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278873
Antisemitic arsonist’s bail revoked. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278877
CT B.B. gun shoots out glass at Schul. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278869
94year old woman recovers. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278865
Yerushalayim and Bnei Brak return to normal
lockdown. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278870
Ramadan starts Thursday and with that a new
challenge. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278848
Unity government real power sharing. https://www.debka.com/tight-deadlines-hang-over-knesset-dog-unity-government-negotiations/
N. Korea leader Kim medical danger. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278958
Monsey attacker mentally unfit. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278952
Ganz has proven his patriotism and
leadership not by being the head of the army but by giving up his opportunity
to form a minority government to become a leader in a unity government. RP
Syria claims attack in the north. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/H1fDJqoOL
I want you to look on
your bleach bottle and see what it says. At least in Israel it says kills
Corona. This means that the virus existed and was potentially genetically
engineered. The PC narrative is that it transferred from bat to human. The good
news in Israel is that new cases are down to a little over a hundred a day and
4 new dead. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/K94Z6BNB0
Preparing for reboot or failure. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HypBeAtOI
Yom HaShoah PM speech. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/2N6KJWXSZ
Rebuilding a better society. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HkuBEliO8
Ed-Op before Israel reboots economy. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HypBeAtOI
Honored to be supported by BDS J Street. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278907
Trump replies strongly to a question. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278953
After FL Gov. Kemp to reopen GA. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278941
Corona patient escapes Chevron hospital steals car
drives in a Wadi to get into Israel for contamination was caught. Another
terror attempt thwarted too. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278939
IDF intelligence joins the war on Corona. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278913
Shachid runs over and stabs policeman. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279032
Terror Plot to put bombs in Stadium. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279048
2,400,000 Corona tests ordered to see how far the
non-symptom disease was. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HJDZbT3008
Corona victim numbers. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/YXB1EVQ58
TAU Prof. gets patent for Corona Vaccine. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278989
Fund to help the 14 Orphans. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/278965
Ganz – I put my country before myself. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HJYJPh2OI
US cases grow. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279021
Beer Halls/Bars to reopen in Austria May 15. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279019
Cemeteries to be locked down on holiday. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/H1orTj2dI
Iranian Satellite launched. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279079
Only 2 deaths 94 new cases. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/M21X6PHUB
Israel: Tap water turned into disinfectant. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279095
International Effort a Vaccine: https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryDUTFT008
Does Covid19 return or is it blood clots? https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279092
Traffic increases on the roads. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/BJvtLz000I
Finally get a cat and then this: https://www.ynetnews.com/article/H1L2OnA00I
Bee population has declined solution may be: https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/S1kKEXAuI
Economic situation may kill more than Corona. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3809696,00.html
Family of Steven Hawkins donates Ventilator. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279084
Chassid becomes Asst. Sec. Treasury. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279062
United Torah Modest Demands receives everything but
not Yamina personality demands. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279064
Kosher meals in NYC for the poor. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279060
Iranian General threatens the USA. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279136
New Iranian over the horizon radar. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279099
Oil Prices rise after US-Iran tensions. https://www.debka.com/oil-prices-rebound-amid-rising-us-iran-tension/
Corona cases rise by 74 to 14,882 with 193 deaths. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/N6B7VJU4F
Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and terror
victims. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279135
US Official Corona Cases reach 879,430 but tests
show that it is the tip of the iceberg for antibodies in blood. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279129
Problematic city may face lockdown. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SyNYPIJFL
Medical equipment enters Gaza. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/H1Z9kOytL
Ministers to approve almost all stores outside of
those in very confined areas. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/H1O3Uh0u8
Arab Countries hit harder by Corona than admitted. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279117
Ashkelon girl injured by exploding glass. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279109
Good Shabbos and have a health Chodesh
Iyar,
Rachamim Pauli
