Parsha Nitzavim Vayelech
This is the last of the three Drashos of Moshe in this Sefer. Moshe is now 120years old he is about to descend the mountain, enter a cave and die. He is about to reunite with Aaron, Miriam and his forefathers. This last bit of Mussar does not contain many commandments in fact only 7. He will remind the people who they are and about the taking of the reigns by Yehoshua and the elders.
29:9 Ye are standing this day all of you before the LORD your God: your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, even all the men of Israel, 10 your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in the midst of thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water;
The lowest paid and perhaps hardest workers were hewers of wood and drawers of water. The business men were probably the wealthiest and then gold and silver smiths, carpenters, etc. teachers were always poorly paid.
11 that thou should enter into the covenant of the LORD thy God--and into His oath--which the LORD thy God makes with thee this day; 12 that He may establish thee this day unto Himself for a people, and that He may be unto thee a God, as He spoke unto thee, and as He swore unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
So from high to low you are here to receive the same covenant that was given to the fathers of Yisrael.
13 Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; 14 but with him that stands here with us this day before the LORD our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day—
From your fathers who left Egypt to those of future generations that will inherit the land and those who will live and die in Gallus.
15 for ye know how we dwelt in the land of Egypt; and how we came through the midst of the nations through which ye passed; 16 and ye have seen their detestable things, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were with them-- 17 lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turns away this day from the LORD our God, to go to serve the gods of those nations; lest there should be among you a root that bears gall and wormwood;
STORY: There was a Seminary to strengthen people in Torah. A Russian Engineer was working for the Israel Electric Company for 22 years. He was required to violate the Shabbos and work each week. He told the Rav that he would do everything but lose his job. The Rabbi told him that he had to give up working on Shabbos. He discussed the situation with his wife. The job was his silver and gold idol. His wife told him that employment comes from G-D so he should do what G-D wants. He went to tell his boss that he could not work Shabbos anymore. He was immediately fired losing some of his rights that he had stored up for over 22 years.
A short time later, he met an old friend from Russia who happened to know that his company was looking for an engineer. He submitted his resume of 22 years of experience. He ended up making twice the salary and all the compensation that he lost was regained in months. He then told the Rav the story. – Received this story in Heb. This week thanks to Ben David.
18 and it come to pass, when he hear the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying: 'I shall have peace, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart--that the watered be swept away with the dry'; 19 the LORD will not be willing to pardon him, but then the anger of the LORD and His jealousy shall be kindled against that man, and all the curse that is written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven;
He may foolish be at peace with himself but not with HASHEM.
20 and the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that is written in this book of the law.
The weeding out of the evil shall occur it is a matter of time to whom and when.
21 And the generation to come, your children that shall rise up after you, and the foreigner that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses wherewith the LORD hath made it sick; 22 and that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and a burning, that it is not sown, nor bears, nor any grass grows therein, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His anger, and in His wrath; 23 even all the nations shall say 'Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what means the heat of this great anger?'
The description of Napoleon and Mark Twain about Eretz Yisrael show a picture of a different sight that we see today. However, go across the “green line” to parts of Yehuda and the Shomron and you will see bare and barren mountains vs. the lush forests around Haifa and on the main road to Yerushalayim. If you drive up road 443 you can see the land not yet occupied by Jews just barren except for Beit Horon the only Jewish Yeshuv between Modiin and Yerushalayim.
24 then men shall say: 'Because they forsook the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them forth out of the land of Egypt; 25 and went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods that they knew not, and that He had not allotted unto them; 26 therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curse that is written in this book; 27 and the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day'.
So one can see this along most of the routes. On Route 5 the Arabs wanting to claim lands are planting olive trees. So essentially the return of the Jews have caused the land to bloom. WHO gave permission for the Jews to return to the land?
28 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God; but the things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
There are certain things that G-D has revealed to mankind and certain things that HE keeps secret. Sometimes, HE allows secrets to be revealed to those that fear him.
30:1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt bethink thyself among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, 2 and shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and hearken to His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul;
There will be a time about 1800 years after the destruction of the Temple that people will start trickling back to Eretz Yisrael. The trickle will become a small flow until it grows to a stream of people and soon the majority of the Jews in the world.
3 that then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the peoples, whither the LORD thy God has scattered thee. 4 If any of thine that are dispersed be in the uttermost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will He fetch thee. 5 And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and He will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.
There are Jews in 7 continents and they shall return home.
6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, that thou may live.
As one cuts off the physical foreskin in circumcision and discards it into the dust of the earth, so too must one cut the evil inclination out of his heart.
7 And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, that persecuted thee.
A story of “Saba Yisrael” who was guarded by Nazis from the Gestapo and supposedly brought the bones of Rebbe Nachman from Uman to the cave of Rabbi Yochanan the Sandler Maker. Once some antisemites were throwing stones at his disciples (among them Dov L. in the Ukraine) as they bathed in the river using it as a Mikvah. Saba told them there was nothing to worry about and that the stone attacks would end. The next day or week, as the first youth threw the stone, he lost his footing split open his skull and died, his friends stopped throwing rocks too. The curses went upon them.
8 And thou shalt return and hearken to the voice of the LORD, and do all His commandments which I command thee this day. 9 And the LORD thy God will make thee over-abundant in all the work of thy hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good; for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as He rejoiced over thy fathers; 10 if thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law; if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul.
Repent – do complete Teshuva!
11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not too hard for thee, neither is it far off.
The Torah is close by.
12 It is not in heaven, that thou should say: 'Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it?'
Since it is not heaven one does not have to pray to find it or it be handed down.
13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou should say: 'Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it?'
One does not have to go to the ends of the world to find the Torah.
14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou may do it.
The Torah is in your mind and your heart to do it.
15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil,
You are free willed to go either way.
16 in that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances; then thou shalt live and multiply, and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou go in to possess it.
This is what happens when you are observing what G-D tells you.
17 But if thy heart turn away, and thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; 18 I declare unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish; ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou pass over the Jordan to go in to possess it.
The path of disobeying the commands leads to death, and worms eating the remnants of your flesh and organs.
19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore. choose life, that thou may live, thou and thy seed;
Heaven and Earth as witnesses. It is not surprising for a spiritual person to call upon inanimate object to be witnesses. Each item has its own atomic vibration and cries. So this is not surprising and I brought down the story of the pit and weasel from Tractate Niddah as written by my great-grandfather Zev Pascheles a number of years ago where an inanimate object and an animal claimed the lives of his children because he broke his vow to a woman.
20 to love the LORD thy God, to hearken to His voice, and to cleave unto Him; for that is thy life, and the length of thy days; that thou may dwell in the land which the LORD swore unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Cleave unto the L-RD and Mitzvos and you will inherit the land.
31:1 And Moses went and spoke these words unto all Israel. 2 And he said unto them: 'I am a hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in; and the LORD hath said unto me: Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.
When you and I say “You shall live and be well until 120 years”, we may wish it for somebody but when HASHEM says it, HE means until 120 years precisely. Moshe cannot go in or out anymore or go over the Yarden. He is allowed to go up and see the promised land in his life time.
3 The LORD thy God, He will go over before thee; He will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt dispossess them; and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath spoken.
Yoshua will take you into the land and lead the conquests for you.
4 And the LORD will do unto them as He did to Sihon and to Og, the kings of the Amorites, and unto their land; whom He destroyed. 5 And the LORD will deliver them up before you, and ye shall do unto them according unto all the commandment which I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be affrighted at them; for the LORD thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.'
You will face the most fortified double-walled cities like Yericho and very tall gigantic men. HASHEM will fight your battles to be your salvation and will not let you down. Do not fear Yisrael for you are a lion’s whelp so be strong and of good courage.
7 And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel: 'Be strong and of good courage; for thou shalt go with this people into the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. 8 And the LORD, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee; fear not, neither be dismayed.'
The task is great controlling this stiff necked people with twelve tribes and everyman thinking that he is the King of the Tribe. Yet you can and will lead them and fight the enemies.
9 And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, that bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel.
Moshe handed Sefer Devarim to the Cohanim and the Leviim as he finished writing.
10 And Moses commanded them, saying: 'At the end of every seven years, in the set time of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, 11 when all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which He shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law; 13 and that their children, who have not known, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over the Jordan to possess it.'
Just as all of you are assembled now, every Motzei Shmita shall you gather before the Mishkan and later the Mikdash to hear the reading of this Sefer that you shall follow the Torah. [B”H we have today the Torah Reading weekly in our Synagogues and the whole nation can learn it each year. That was perhaps the best Mincha issued by our forefathers that has kept the Torah close to our minds and lips.]
14 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Behold, thy days approach that thou must die; call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may give him a charge.' And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tent of meeting. 15 And the LORD appeared in the Tent in a pillar of cloud; and the pillar of cloud stood over the door of the Tent. 16 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Behold, thou art about to sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go astray after the foreign gods of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake Me, and break My covenant which I have made with them. 17 Then My anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall come upon them; so that they will say in that day: Are not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us? 18 And I will surely hide My face in that day for all the evil which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods. 19 Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach thou it the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel.
G-D warns Moshe and Yoshua that there will be in the future people who will violate the Shabbos, others will become thieves, others adulterers, some murderers and the Mitzvos will be cheapened in their eyes. Still others will follow a Guru or a story about a Jew whom the Romans would nail to a cross or Mohammed. So maybe some of the people will learn and remember this song and words penetrate their heart and minds.
20 For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swore unto their fathers, flowing with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten their fill, and waxen fat; and turned unto other gods, and served them, and despised Me, and broken My covenant;
A true story of excess wealth that lead to the death of the rich man. A number of years ago two rich brothers from Canada found a Kollel in a far out area in a medium sized city where they had a business. They even bought up land to build a Charedi Community in Eretz Yisrael. Their son lived in Bnei Brak and was married to an owner of a large electronics company. However, he was perhaps too spoiled and too rich. He took heroin and died in the hands of a prostitute. This is the true meaning about growing fat and wealthy and turning away from the Torah. YOU CANNOT SAY THAT YOU WERE NOT WARNED IN THE TORAH.
21 then it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are come upon them, that this song shall testify before them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed; for I know their imagination how they do even now, before I have brought them into the land which I swore.' 22 So Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.
So Moshe recording in the Sefer, the song called Hazinu. Next week’s Parsha is this song. The original tune if it was different from the modern Trop has been lost. So young boys and maybe girls should learn the song by heart to inspire them.
23 And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said: 'Be strong and of good courage; for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I swore unto them; and I will be with thee.'
Yoshua is no youngest and yet he is fearful. He fears all the rebellions that he saw against Moshe and the battles that he must fight and lead a nation of mixed cowards and heroes together.
24 And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, 25 that Moses commanded the Levites, that bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying: 26 'Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
The living words of Torah shall bear witness against you. Two or three Mitzvos that you will violate and you will have hell to pay. That is why perhaps that the RAMBAM in the laws of Teshuva writes about only the third sin being the one that brings down people.
27 For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck; behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?
If I were to remove the veil from my face, you would fear me and calm down. But what about Yehoshua that does not have a face that shines like the sun but reflects like the moon. You will surely rebel against him if I do not teach you and the elders this song.
28 Assemble unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to witness against them. 29 For I know that after my death ye will in any wise deal corruptly, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the end of days; because ye will do that which is evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him through the work of your hands.'
Don’t even think about it. But unfortunately, in the days that the Kings will rule Eretz Yisrael you will split the kingdom into two and rebel against HASHEM.
30 And Moses spoke in the ears of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song, until they were finished:
Therefore, pay good attention to Hazinu.
Rosh Hashanah Guide to Tefillah at home and Halachic Times Hollywood, FL
This comes from the Young Israel of Hollywood, FL the Halachos are basically sound but some places in Eretz Yisrael hold by 22 minutes before sundown or half an hour and in Yerushalayim 40 minutes before sundown is candle lighting time so check. Sundown in Israel for Friday Sept. 18 Erev Rosh Hashanah Modiin is 18:42 and candle lighting Modiin ILLIT is 18:12 and the rest of Chashmonayim-Modiin is 18:20. Shabbos is over at 19:16 PM for the first night and the candles are kindled at that time with a Baruch HaMavdil Ben Kodesh Le Kodesh. Holiday ends in Modiin 19:25 PM. Fast ends 18:56 PM. Google your own city for accurate times.
Friday, September 18th; Erev Rosh Hashanah
● Candle lighting should take place 18 minutes before sundown, at 7:02pm. The Bracha should conclude להדליק נר של שבת ושל יום טוב. We also say the Bracha of Shehecheyanu.
● Weekday Mincha should be completed before sundown: 7:20pm.
First Day of Rosh Hashanah
Friday Night
● An abridged קבלת שבת is recited that begins with מזמור שיר ליום השבת. במה מדליקין should also be omitted.
● Both ושמרו and תקעו בחדש שופר are recited before the Amidah.
● Maariv Amidah for Rosh Hashanah with proper insertions for Shabbat. Please include the insertions into the Amidah that are recited throughout Aseret Yemei Teshuva, as can be seen in any Rosh Hashanah Machzor (ie “Zochreinu, Mi Kamocha, HaMelech HaKodesh, etc).
● Vayechulu is recited after the Amidah (omitting the Bracha “Magen Avot”) followed by לדוד מזמור and then Aleinu.
● Kiddush for Rosh Hashanah with proper Shabbat insertions. Kiddush begins with יום הששי. Shehecheyanu is recited.
● The traditional symbolic foods (Simanim) are eaten on the first night together with their respective יהי רצון.
● Birkat HaMazon should include R’tzeh for Shabbat and Yaaleh V’Yavo for Rosh Hashanah.
● If Maariv was recited before nightfall (7:54pm), Keriat Shma should be repeated after nightfall.
Saturday
● On Rosh Hashanah, the שיר של יום and לדוד ה' אורי are recited at the beginning of davening. Shir HaYichud and Shir HaKavod are omitted when davening without a minyan.
● Shir HaMa’alot (Psalm 130) is recited after Yishtabach.
● Birchot Keriat Sh’ma for Shabbat (הכל יודוך). We omit all piyutim in Birchot Keriat Shema
● Shacharit Amidah for Rosh Hashanah with the proper insertions for Shabbat.
● The Torah reading for the first day is Bereishit 21:1-34, the maftir is Bamidbar 29:1-6 and the haftarah is from Shmuel I 1:1-2:10.
● The shofar is not blown on Shabbat.
● Mussaf Amidah for Rosh Hashanah with proper insertions for Shabbat.
● Those who are davening without a minyan are encouraged to study and recite the piyutim that are added to Chazarat HaShatz, particularly ונתנה תוקף.
● Mincha Amidah for Rosh Hashanah with
insertions for Shabbat. Earliest Mincha is 1:45 pm
Mincha should be recited before shekiyah (sunset) which is at 7:19 pm.
● Seudah Shlishit should ideally be eaten before the tenth hour (4:16 pm) and preferably after reciting Mincha. If one did not do so, one may eat Seudah Shlishit until sunset.
● Preparations for the second day may not begin until nightfall (7:59 pm).
Second Day of Rosh Hashanah
Saturday Night
● Candle
lighting must be performed after nightfall, ie after 7:59 pm.
The bracha over candle lighting is להדליק נר של יום טוב. We also
say Shehecheyanu.
● Ma’ariv should be recited after nightfall.
● Ma’ariv for Rosh Hashanah includes ותודיענו.
● Kiddush for Rosh Hashanah includes Meorei Ha’Eish, Havdalah and Shehechiyanu (יקנה"ז). The new fruit should be placed on the table before Kiddush and is eaten after Kiddush. If one does not have a new fruit or new clothing, one still recites Shehechiyanu.
Sunday
● On Rosh Hashanah, the שיר של יום and לדוד ה' אורי are recited at the beginning of davening. Shir HaYichud and Shir HaKavod are omitted when davening without a minyan.
● Shir HaMa’alot (Psalm 130) is recited after Yishtabach.
● Birchot Keriat Sh’ma for weekday (המאיר לארץ). We omit all piyutim during Birchot Keriat Shema
● Shacharit Amidah for Rosh Hashanah.
● The Torah reading for the second day is Bereishit 22:1-22:24, the maftir is Bamidbar 29:1-6 and the haftarah is from Yirmiyahu 31:1- 31:19.
● If someone davening at home can blow shofar on his own, he should blow the first thirty sounds before Mussaf. The second thirty sounds should not be blown during the silent Amidah. One may blow 70 additional sounds after the Amidah, but there is no requirement to do so.
● If someone else is blowing on behalf of others:
○ If the ba’al toke’a (shofar blower) already fulfilled his mitzvah, the berachot (לשמוע קול שופר and שהחיינו) should ideally be recited by one of the listeners. If the listeners are all women, the ba’al toke’a may not recite the berachot; they must be recited by one of the women.
○ If the listeners are spread out across a large area, each person can recite his/her own beracha.
○ Only 30 sounds are blown.
○ If one is going to hear the shofar before the seventh halachic hour of the day (2:14pm), one should wait to recite Mussaf until after hearing the shofar.
● Mussaf Amidah for Rosh Hashanah.
● Those who are davening without a minyan are encouraged to study and recite the piyutim that are added to Chazarat HaShatz, particularly ונתנה תוקף.
● Mincha
Amidah for Rosh Hashanah. Earliest Mincha is 1:44 pm.
Mincha should be recited before shekiyah (sunset) which is at 7:18pm.
● Traditionally Tashlich is recited on Rosh Hashanah afternoon (not on Shabbat) next to a body of water. If this cannot be performed with proper social distancing measures, one can recite it any time until Yom Kippur. If it was not done before Yom Kippur, there is still some benefit in reciting it until Hoshana Rabba.
Motzaei Yom Tov/Tzom Gedaliah
● Maariv: Weekday Amidah should be recited including Atah Chonantanu and the special insertions for Aseret Yemei Teshuva, as noted in your siddur.
● Havdalah consists of two berachot: HaGafen and HaMavdil (no besamim nor eish).
● The fast begins at 6:00am on Monday morning, September 21st and ends at 7:52 pm
My thanks to Jeff Resnick for forwarding this information to me for Sharing. The Equinox is supposed to be 12hour day but I notice for Yerushalayim it does not occur on official Equinox date but on Sept. 26th this year. 5781 was pointed out by Rabbi Haskel Lookstein Shlita in the name of Rabbi Shea Lindner Shlita to be special in that Hanucha starts on a Thursday night and finishes Erev Shabbos. Fast of the 10th of Teves is Erev Shabbos and Erev Pesach falls on Shabbos making for three meals early with bread crumbs for Ashkenazim (more about this closer to Pesach). After that I did my own research further on. Next Rosh Hashanah falls so early that 5782 becomes a leap year with Pesach falling on Shabbos and Shavuos Motzei Shabbos.
Rosh Hashanah Ed-Op on Hope the Gift for the Jews by Diane Weber Bederman
https://dianebederman.com/hope-the-gift-of-the-jews/
And let us say “Amen”! by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles
http://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1187-50
Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, known as "the Levush" after his famous ten-volume work, was one of the foremost rabbis and Jewish leaders in Central Europe some four hundred years ago. In 1605, at age 75, he was offered the position of chief rabbi in the important Jewish community of Posen, which he accepted on a single condition. Before starting his post he would travel to Italy and study the Torah laws of ibur chodesh, i.e. the knowledge of the lunar cycles necessary for understanding the Jewish calendar of new months and leap years, under the great Sephardic sage Rabbi Yitzchak Abuhav, in Venice.
He spent three months there until he mastered the subject. [1] Towards the end of his stay, he happened to be in the house of his teacher when a child made a blessing on a fruit. Everyone answered "Amen," with the exception of the Levush, who unintentionally neglected to respond. The Abuhav rebuked him strongly for this omission and declared a nidoi, a personal excommunication, against Rabbi Yaffe.
For thirty days the Levush remained isolated from the rest of the community, while the ban remained in force. At the end of the period, he went to the Rabbi Yitzchak Abuhav to ask him to remove the ban. He also requested to know why his oversight had merited such a harsh punishment, as this was difficult for him to understand.
The Abuhav said that at the moment that he had not answered amen to the child's blessing, a heavenly death sentence was issued against him. The thirty-day ban had weakened the decree, and it could be completely overturned if the Levush and his descendants would undertake to teach the importance of responding amen to all blessings. "You Ashkenazim tend to be too negligent in this matter," he added wryly.
He instructed the Levush that when speaking about amen he should relate the following incident, which highlights the life-or-death power of the amen response:
There was a king who despised the Jews and was always looking for an excuse to banish them from his dominion. There was only one thing that prevented him from doing so: in his kingdom was one pious Jew whom he liked and respected. This man was always successful in persuading the king to refrain from carrying out his wishes.
On one occasion the king was especially angry at the Jews, but once again the pious Jew subdued his wrath. A priest was present in the court at that time, and he proceeded to give the king a lengthy blessing in Latin. When he finished everyone answered "amen," with the exception of the Jew, who was in the middle of reciting Mincha and did not understand what had been said.
The priest was furious and said that because the Jew had not answered amen, the blessing would not come to fruition. The king's love of the Jew suddenly turned to hate, and he sentenced him to death on the spot.
Sometime after his brutal execution, the pious Jew visited a surviving acquaintance in a dream and explained what he had done to merit such a terrible end. Once a child had made a blessing on bread in his presence, but he had not answered "amen." As a result, a heavenly decree of death had been decreed upon him, but had been held off until the incident with the king.
After the Abuhav annulled the ban against him, Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe undertook to teach the importance of saying amen for the rest of his life. Once a month he would fully recount the above incident, and he would often speak about the critical importance of responding to a blessing with amen. [2]
Indeed, until this day, the descendants of the Levush continue to bear the responsibility to tell this story.[3]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted by
Yerachmiel Tilles from an article by Rabbi Daniel Travis at
//Torah.org/learning/Tefillah-life or death, and supplemented from the
out-of-print book, "Let Us Say Amen," and the book, Just One word:
Halachos of Amen.
Connection: Seasonal - Selichot / asking and receiving forgiveness.
Biographical notes:
Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe (1530 - 3 Adar B 1612) was one of the foremost
rabbis and Jewish leaders in Central Europe in his generation. An expert in
Talmud, Lewish Law and Kabbalah, and also in mathematics, astronomy and other
sciences, he headed the Yeshiva in Prague, where he was born, until 1561 when
the Jews were expelled from Bohemia. He was known as "the
Levush" because he wrote ten books which he called by the general
name of Levushim ("garments"), and each had the word Levush in its
title. (from Chabad.org)
Rabbi Yitzchak Abuhav III (b. 1520) of Venice was a noted authority on Jewish Law and author of commentaries on the Torah (not to be confused with 15th century Rabbi Yitzchak Abuhav II, after whom the famous synagogue in Safed is named and who is his grandfather, nor with the latter's great-great-grandfather, the 13th century Rabbi Yitzchak Abuhav I, author of Menorat HaMaor).
Footnotes:
[1]Indeed, one of his ten volumes is about the laws of Rosh Chodesh, which he
titled "Levush Adar Yakar."
[2]As cited in Kaf HaChaim 124,30
[3]Which I heard one of them do at a Melaveh Malka in Los Angeles.
Fake interpretation of what the Rav said. https://israelb.org/2020/09/media-distorts-rchaim-kanievsky-covid-test-statement/
YU no Gay Pride Club. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286648
Mid-week Poll. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286787
BDE Rabbi Nebenzahl 57 to Covid. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286886
If 15,000 can demonstrate why not 30 pray? https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286808
Israeli Mask that kills fungus and viruses. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ByhF9e00ED
Inyanay Diyoma
Iran has ten times amount of enriched Uranium that is permitted. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286620
Corona deaths more than 1000 26,283 active cases. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286627
Kosovo and Serbia to make peace and recognized Israel. https://www.debka.com/trump-uses-economic-oil-to-resolve-long-kosovo-serbia-dispute/
Ed-Op Fishman 2 months quiet from Hamas. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryo00tepQD
45% of Blacks approve of Trump. https://www.wnd.com/2020/09/4851080/
Rush calls out threats from Washington Post on USA. https://www.wnd.com/2020/09/rush-limbaugh-calls-washington-post-column-threatening-america/
MN could flip to Red State. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/minnesota-trump-biden-election-jason-lewis-senate-state-vote
Defund Police not in TX. AG may have State take over the Police. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/austin-texas-police-defund-ken-paxton-attorney-general
Trump ends anti-American critical race theory. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-ends-critical-race-theory-training-federal-employees
Cyberstalker’s DNA linked to murder. https://www.foxnews.com/us/dna-links-accused-cyberstalker-to-texas-womans-cold-case-murder-17-years-ago
Two far right-wingers arrested for helping Hamas. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ByP8VTl4w
Too much medications from Israel polluting seas. https://www.ynetnews.com/environment/article/ryA4J5YfD
Algeria sentences rape and robbery perpetrator. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286627
Night Curfew and school closure in 40 cities. https://www.timesofisrael.com/under-heavy-haredi-pressure-netanyahu-proposes-curfews-instead-of-lockdowns/
Heath Officials against lockdown. https://www.timesofisrael.com/health-experts-er-heads-join-chorus-against-new-lockdown/
Lockdown tried and failed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286692
Law enforcement conflict of interests in case 2000 against Netanyahu. https://www.timesofisrael.com/law-enforcement-said-to-have-covered-up-conflicts-of-interest-in-netanyahu-probe/
Survey 36% of Charedim and 20% of all Israelis would reject Covid Vaccine.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SJcON9G4D
Bennett praises Charedi behavior. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286682
It is time to defy the leftist activist court. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286695
Qatar cooling off payments with Hamas. https://www.debka.com/qatar-payouts-for-hamas-no-longer-guaranteed-report/
Two Jews injured in Benyamin. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286797
PLO threatens to cut ties with countries who put their embassies in Yerushalayim. Those countries will lose out on technology, agriculture, disease research, etc. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286721
22 States Corona cases rise. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286720
Ed-Op Glick Rat in Public Life. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286658
Gideon Saar calls strengthen settlements. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286710
PM slams Lieberman’s disregard for rules. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SkwzmeEVP
Trump fires back on anti-vaccination. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286813
Police and Prosecutor corruption. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/BJ5wBrrED
Sarah N. wants conviction thrown out. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286876
Covid cases keep rising. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/708P56NFL
Ed-Op Kadmon Emperor has no clothes. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/S13UjtXEP
PM is weak on health care Ed-Op Yemeni. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rJ1tydXEv
Vaccine trial delayed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286895
Iraq and Afghanistan troop reduction. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286903
Lebanon-Israel negotiate Sea Borders. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286882
Poll Trump forges ahead in FL. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286879
BDE Rabbi Nebenzahl 57 to Covid. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286886
Incredible antisemitic family. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286911
Rochester’s black Chief - Command resign. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286888
60 Hamas terrorists arrested. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286890
If 15,000 can demonstrate why not 30 pray? https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286808
EU threatens Serbia. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286804
Extreme environmentalist terror. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286768
Austria allows for Jewish dual citizen. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286795
Iran starts navy drill in Hormuz. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286984
Poisoning of Russian Opposition. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286979
Are nightly lockdowns effective? https://www.ynetnews.com/article/BJ3RwO8ND
Lockdown for Israel soon. https://www.debka.com/israel-faces-lockdown-of-up-to-a-month-from-next-week/
Small businesses and self-employed threaten anarchy if lockdown. Read The Bible Code by M. Drosnin. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1I2hvLVD
Paris potential convert from Islam assaulted by Muslims. https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/09/08/french-court-convicts-man-for-antisemitic-assault-on-young-muslim-in-process-of-converting-to-judaism/
German Jewish Students raise money for Kebab place targeted by Nazi. https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/09/08/german-jewish-students-raise-money-for-halle-kebab-restaurant-owner-targeted-by-neo-nazi-during-yom-kippur-killing-spree/
Beck – Dems helping release murderers. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/BJ3RwO8ND
Ed-Op Israel is a sinking ship. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HyB3AaN4v
Sri Lanka Tea brews Tempest in Lebanon. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SJ00nc00IND
Norway finally arrests murderers. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SyazV5U4v
Massive fire at Beirut Port. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/287001
Full lockdown next week. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/UN4R6EX62
Drastic number of Covid Cases. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/S1VpBrDEP
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/IEXN93CMQ
Human trials start in Israeli Vaccine. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SJ2Ua8PEv
San Francisco like a nuclear winter. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/weather/a-nuclear-winter-over-bay-area-as-wildfires-blot-out-the-sun/
TWA 840 hijacker to speak at SFU. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286986
Planes attack N. Syrian depot. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/287036
Explosion in Jordanian weapons depot. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/287037
Israeli drone falls in Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/287040
Corona - Ways lays off staff. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/287042
Lockdown to take effect by Rosh Hashanah. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/UXW3GT9KH
Cost 20 Billion. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HJBWgAvVP
Ukraine deports Chassidic rioters. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/Hk3Gm1uVD#autoplay
Have a peaceful and wonderful Shabbos stay healthy,
Rachamim Pauli
