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Parsha Balak
For as long as one can recall back to the days of Avraham and the four vs. the five kings all threats to the nation were visible. Even last week, the lack of water, death of Miriam and Aaron, Sihon and Og all threats were visible. This week we are dealing with a threat that is invisible an external and dangerous threat of a curse brought on in secret by Balak and Balaam. Even during the part with the Angel intervening on Yisrael’s behalf, the Angel is invisible to Balaam. (Note the pronunciation is Bilaam but I am not in the mood to change the whole Parsha so I too use Balaam).
22:2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many; and Moab was overcome with dread because of the children of Israel.
There are two ways of dealing with a threat like Am Yisrael. Fight them or try to join them. Like Sihon and Og, Balak decided upon the first choice. He missed out on making an alliance as he did not know that Yisrael was just passing through. The Nitanim (Giveon or Gibeon) residents in the days of Yehoshua were wise and made an alliance and preferred to be gathers of wood and water for the nation than dead.
4 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian: 'Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.'--And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.--
Externally his 20/20 vision was correct as physically that is what he saw which were end results but he did not see the whole process of requesting to pass through. The Medrash says “Son of Zippor” or of the bird. He had a statue of a bird without a tongue. If he placed the tongue of a bird inside, it would talk – chirp out a msg. that Barak should be wary of Am Yisrael and not dare try to physically attack them.
5 And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying: 'Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt; behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me. 6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me; peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.' 7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spoke unto him the words of Balak. 8 And he said unto them: 'Lodge here this night, and I will bring you back word, as the LORD may speak unto me'; and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 9 And God came unto Balaam, and said: 'What men are these with thee?' 10 And Balaam said unto God: 'Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me [saying]: 11 Behold the people that is come out of Egypt, it covers the face of the earth; now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.' 12 And God said unto Balaam: 'Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.'
Had the prophet Bilaam repeated these words, he would have saved himself, Balak, the women from Midian and Zimri and 24,000 Bnei Shimon along with others that died.
13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak: 'Get you into your land; for the LORD refuses to give me leave to go with you.'
Instead of saying that the people are blessed and rethink your relationship with Am Yisrael either as a non-aggression pact or a business of water and other supplies.
14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said: 'Balaam refuses to come with us.'
No reason given. Maybe because they were small in stature like assistant secretary of foreign affairs, or some minor diplomat.
15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they. 16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him: 'Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor: Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me; 17 for I will promote thee unto very great honour, and whatsoever thou sayest unto me I will do; come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.' 18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak: 'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do anything, small or great.
Since I refuse to tell the truth that the people are blessed, I will only tell half that I cannot go on without HAS
19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will speak unto me more.'
I want to succeed therefore I will try again but I will not tell you that it is against the original prophecy.
20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him: 'If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.'
You will do as you are told and cannot go to the left or the right of what I tell you.
21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. 22 And God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of the LORD placed himself in the way for an adversary against him.--Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.-- 23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field; and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
When the donkey talks to Bilaam, he mentions there 3 Regelim or a hint at the Yomim Tovim of Am Yisrael what a hint. This time the donkey moves not to injure her master.
24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a hollow way between the vineyards, a fence being on this side, and a fence on that side.
The fence here is the border of Gal Aid or the place where Lavan swore to Yacov not to go past to hurt him etc.
25 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD, and she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he smote her again.
He scraped his foot and was furious.
26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD, and she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff.
Part of the conversation was from the Medrash and due to modesty was hinted at.
28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam: 'What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?'
Shlosha Regelim (3 times or 3 festivals).
29 And Balaam said unto the ass: 'Because thou hast mocked me; I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.'
If I had a sword and I hand I would kill you. Silly foolish Princes this a man whom you hire to curse Am Yisrael and cannot even curse a donkey but needs a sword to kill it.
And the ass said unto Balaam: 'Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day?
You have physically ridden on me for all these years and I acted as wife to you all these years Medrash.
was I ever wont to do so unto thee?'
In all these years we had a special relationship and I never ever did something like this to you.
And he said: 'Nay.'
He is a man who wants to curse a nation and cannot stand up to the rebuke of a jackass.
31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face. 32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him: 'Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is contrary unto me; 33 and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times; unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive.'
I would have taken you and kept the poor beast alive.
34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD: 'I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stood in the way against me; now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back.'
He has a split second to do real Teshuva and return the physical distance and say the truth to the delegation with him.
35 And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam: 'Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak.' So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
You will say blessings against your own will and be putty in my hands so you may go.
36 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto Ir-moab, which is on the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border. 37 And Balak said unto Balaam: 'Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore came thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor?' 38 And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Lo, I am come unto thee; have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.'
I arrived here despite my donkey dying under me and had to walk a good deal of the way. BUT KNOW WHATEVER G-D PUTS IN MY MOUTH I WILL PROPHECIZE.
39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kiriath-huzoth. 40 And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. 41 And it came to pass in the morning that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into Bamoth-baal, and he saw from thence the utmost part of the people. 23:1 And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.' 2 And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 3 And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Stand by thy burnt-offering, and I will go; peradventure the LORD will come to meet me; and whatsoever He shows me I will tell thee.' And he went to a bare height.
Perhaps G-D will meet me. More than perhaps, he is met by G-D.
4 And God met Balaam; and he said unto Him: 'I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar.' 5 And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said: 'Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.' 6 And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt-offering, he, and all the princes of Moab.
Bilaam speaks only prophecy.
7 And he took up his parable, and said: From Aram Balak brings me, the king of Moab from the mountains of the East: 'Come, curse me Jacob, and come, execrate Israel.' 8 How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? And how shall I execrate, whom the LORD hath not execrated?
How can I curse whom G-D has not cursed but rather blessed?
9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, it is a people that shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. 10 Who has counted the dust of Jacob, or numbered the stock of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let mine end be like his!
A moment of Teshuva – let me die a death of a Tzaddik by a kiss and rise up to HASHEM pure like Aaron. But he will die by the sword because of his advice on Peor.
11 And Balak said unto Balaam: 'What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.' 12 And he answered and said: 'Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD puts in my mouth?' 13 And Balak said unto him: 'Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou may see them; thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all; and curse me them from thence.'
Maybe today was a merit day like a Yahrzeit of Tzaddik that protects them but not every day HASHEM might have just remembered today for merit but not every day is there going to be a day of blessing and not of curse.
14 And he took him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar. 15 And he said unto Balak: 'Stand here by thy burnt-offering, while I go toward a meeting yonder.' 16 And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said: 'Return unto Balak, and thus shalt thou speak.' 17 And he came to him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt-offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him: 'What hath the LORD spoken?' 18 And he took up his parable, and said: Arise, Balak, and hear; give ear unto me, thou son of Zippor: 19 God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: when He hath said, will He not do it? or when He hath spoken, will He not make it good?
Do you think that the Creator of this vast Universe from nothing is capable of taking bribes? Who created the silver, gold, diamonds and other stones?
20 Behold, I am bidden to bless; and when He hath blessed, I cannot call it back.
G-D has put a blessing in my mouth even though but you and I wanted to curse them.
21 None hath beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath one seen perverseness in Israel; the LORD his God is with him, and the shouting for the King is among them. 22 God who brought them forth out of Egypt is for them like the lofty horns of the wild-ox. 23 For there is no enchantment with Jacob, neither is there any divination with Israel; now is it said of Jacob and of Israel: 'What hath God wrought!'
This people of Yacov have become an angelic people Am Yisrael. There is no Gay Pride Parades and other public displays of angering G-D against the purpose of creation but rather this is his crème de la crème of mankind a shepherd who worked only for G-D and family and in his spare time reviewed the learning of Shem and Ever.
24 Behold a people that rises up as a lioness, and as a lion doth he lift himself up; he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.
A lioness rises up for an attack and leads the pride. The lion himself, only comes to participate in the feast.
25 And Balak said unto Balaam: 'Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.' 26 But Balaam answered and said unto Balak: 'Told not I thee, saying: All that the LORD speaks, that I must do?' 27 And Balak said unto Balaam: 'Come now, I will take thee unto another lace; peradventure it will please God that thou may curse me them from thence.'
Change the place and change your Mazel so try here.
28 And Balak took Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looked down upon the desert. 29 And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.' 30 And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar. 24:1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; and the spirit of God came upon him. 3 And he took up his parable, and said: The saying of Balaam the son of Beor, and the saying of the man whose eye is opened;
The L-RD has opened my eyes and I can see the modesty of a people who have tents that do not face one another. What is in your kitchen etc. is not my business.
4 The saying of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, fallen down, yet with opened eyes: 5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, thy dwellings, O Israel!
Balak must turn over in his grave every time Am Yisrael says this Pasuk each morning.
6 As valleys stretched out, as gardens by the river-side; as aloes planted of the LORD, as cedars beside the waters; 7 Water shall flow from his branches, and his seed shall be in many waters; and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. 8 God who brought him forth out of Egypt is for him like the lofty horns of the wild-ox; he shall eat up the nations that are his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them through with his arrows. 9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be every one that blesses thee, and cursed be every one that curses thee.
Balak did not quit after the first two failures and this one was a bigger blessing and a bigger fiasco. He wrung his hands together.
10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said unto Balaam: 'I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. 11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place; I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honor.' 12 And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Spoke I not also to thy messengers that thou didst send unto me, saying: 13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what the LORD speaks, that will I speak? 14 And now, behold, I go unto my people; come, and I will announce to thee what this people shall do to thy people in the end of days.' …17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh; there shall step forth a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite through the corners of Moab, and break down all the sons of Seth. 18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also, even his enemies, shall be a possession; while Israel doeth valiantly. 19 And out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city. 20 And he looked on Amalek, and took up his parable, and said: Amalek was the first of the nations; but his end shall come to destruction. ... 25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
But he told Balak that G-D hated lust and idolatry and gave the advice about Baal Peor.
25:1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit harlotry with the daughters of Moab.
The women made themselves readily available.
2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods; and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
The Bnei Yisrael brought up in modesty were not used to loose women no worship by relieving themselves.
3 And Israel joined himself unto the Baal of Peor; and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. 4 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them up unto the LORD in face of the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.'
Bilaam and Balak could not curse Israel but they used these allies to get the men to lust and commit even inadvertently idol worship.
5 And Moses said unto the judges of Israel: 'Slay ye every one his men that have joined themselves unto the Baal of Peor.' 6 And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midian woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, while they were weeping at the door of the tent of meeting.
What did Zimri say to Moshe – you are married to a female from Midian why can’t I be? At that moment Moshe was weakened.
7 And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand. 8 And he went after the man of Israel into the chamber, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
He impaled them together in the middle of intercourse and brought the two out on his spear from adrenalin. Then they died as he kept Tahor for Kahuna.
9 And those that died by the plague were twenty and four thousand.
This I wrote about Zimri reincarnating as Rabbi Akiva and Cozbi as Rachel for the Tikkun and the 24,000 students would die on a Kiddush HASHEM.
YOUNG ISRAEL OF HOLLYWOOD-FT.LAUDERDALE JUNE-JULY 2021PAGE 16
THE LAWS OF THE THREE WEEKS (thanks to Jeff Resnick of Hollywood, FL)
All times given are for southeast FL and applicable there only. In places in Canada and Alaska the fast could last until late at night local time and on the south pole finish very early.
The Book of Eicha, which we read on Tisha B’Av evening, it says (1:3) כָּל־רֹֽ דְפֶ֥יהָּ הִשִיג֖וּהָּ בֶ֥ין הַמְצָּרִֹֽ ים“all her pursuers overtook her between the boundaries.” Midrash Eicha Rabbah comments that the phrase “between the boundaries” is a reference to the three week period or mourning between the fast of the 17th of Tammuz and fast of the 9th of Av, known in Hebrew as Bein Hametzarim. The mourning intensifies with the start of the month of Av. This is based on the Talmudic statement (Taanit 26b) מִ ש נִכְ נָּס אָּ ב מְ מַ עֲטִ ין בְ שִ מְ חָּ ה, “When Av begins we decrease our joy.”
Today we commemorate this time period through mourning practices and restrictions on joyful activities. Rav Soloveitchik explained that the purpose of these restrictions is to focus our attention and to avoid activities that may distract us from this focus. Please note that there are some differences between Ashkenazic and Sephardic practices related to the restrictions of the Three Weeks, especially as it relates to the onset of various mourning practices. The laws in this guide are arranged according to Ashkenazic practice.
During this annual period of national mourning we are supposed to consider what we are lacking due to our current state of exile and the absence of our Temple in Jerusalem. Since none of us ever lived during a time when the Temple stood, this is a challenging exercise for many of us. Jewish law helps us by encouraging behaviors that will put us in a mindset and a mood conducive for these thoughts. Since we are commemorating tragic events from a long time ago, Halacha mandated that the restrictions become increasingly strict, thereby allowing us time to ease into this frame of mind.
According to Chasidic tradition, even as we mourn during the Three Weeks we must never completely forgo a sense of joy that is appropriate at all times. Even as we diminish our joy- we should do so B’Simcha, maintaining a basic generalized joy for life- a Simchat hachayim. The Prophet Zechariah (8:19) tells us that these days of mourning will be transformed in the future into days of rejoicing. The Talmud (Taanit 30b) teaches that those who appropriately mourn for Jerusalem, ie appreciate what was lost and work to fix that which is broken, will merit to rejoice in the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
The three week period of mourning begins with the 17th of Tammuz and culminates with the 9th of Av. This year it is observed from June 27 through July 19.
Five tragedies occurred on the 17th of Tammuz: 1. The first tablets containing the Ten Commandments were broken.2. The , the two daily sacrifices, were suspended during the time of the first Temple.3. The enemy penetrated the walls of Jerusalem prior to the destruction of the second Temple.4. The wicked Apostumos burned the Torah.5. An idol was erected in the Temple.
The 9th of Av also marks five tragedies:1. After the sin of the spies, it was decreed the nation would remain in the desert and not enter Eretz Yisrael.2. The first Temple was destroyed 3. The second Temple was destroyed.4. The city of Betar was captured and tens of thousands of Jews were murdered. 5. The wicked Turnus Rufus plowed the site of the Templeand its surroundings.
LAWS OF THE THREE WEEKS
Although the fast day of the 17th of Tammuz begins in the morning of June 27, the mourning restrictions of the three weeks begin June 26 after Shabbat.2. Prohibited during the Three Weeks are:a) Haircutting and shavingb) Listening to music.c) Weddings.d) Reciting a shehechiyanu (e.g. over new clothes, fruit, et al).3. Permitted during the Three Weeks are:a) Swimming.b) Attending a program or sports event where musical entertainment is incidental to the main event.c) Reciting shehechiyanu on Shabbat.d) Singing Shabbat zmirot on Shabbat.e) Getting engaged to be married.
FAST OF 17TH OF TAMMUZ
The fasting begins at 5:11 a.m. on Sunday, June 27and ends at 8:56 p.m.2. a) One who intends to eat in the morning of the fast day prior to 5:11 a.m. but after sleeping during the night, must declare the intent to do so before going to bed.b) The same law applies to drinking unless one usually has something to drink upon arising in the morning.3. One may brush his teeth or rinse his mouth with mouthwash during the fast day if he is careful not to swallow. This is prohibited on Tisha B'Av and Yom Kippur.4. If one eats by mistake on a fast day, s/he should continue to fast after realizing the error.5. Swallowing capsules, bitter medicine tablets or bitter liquid medicine without water may be permitted if medically necessary. Consult with the Rabbi.
LAWS FOR THE NINE DAYS
1, The Nine Days begin with sunset of Rosh Chodesh Av, Thursday evening, July 9th, 8:16 p.m. 2. One should not eat meat or poultry or drink wine or grape juice during the Nine Days, excluding Shabbat. (If one begins Shabbat early, one may consume wine and meat). Pareve food cooked in a meat vessel may be eaten during the Nine Days.3. Beers and whiskeys et al (not containing wine) may be consumed during this period.4. At Havdallah on July 9th, a child under bar mitzvah age should drink the wine. If no child is available, the person making Havdallah may drink the wine.5. Swimming is prohibited. If one swims for medical reasons (e.g. exercising or for removing dirt and sweat in a short dip), it is permitted.6. Children under bar mitzvah age may go swimming. 7. Bathing during the Nine Days for pleasure is prohibited. Bathing for hygiene is permitted but should be done quicker and in cooler water than usual.8. If possible, one should not clean clothes during the Nine Days.9. One should not mend clothes or make home improvements (e.g. painting, plastering, laying carpet, etc.), but one is permitted to plant trees or plants.10. Elective surgery should be delayed until after Tisha B'Av.
WHEN TISHA B’AV BEGINS MOTZEI SHABBAT
1. Seudah Shlishit will not be served at shul on Erev Tisha B’Av/ Shabbat Chazon, July 17th. 2. There will be two early Mincha minyanim, at 2:30 p.m.and 6:00 p.m., to accommodate those who wish to eat Seudah Shlishit at home after Mincha. 3. Those who daven at the regularly scheduled 7:50 p.m. Mincha must eat Seudah Shlishit at home before coming to shul.4. One must finish eating by sunset (8:14 p.m.) 5. The laws of the final meal (Seudah HaMafseket) do not apply this year and one may even eat meat or drink wine at Seudah Shlishit. 6. Birkat HaMazon may be recited B’Zimun. 7. Rabbi Weinstock will give a class on a relevant topic after 7:50 p.m. Mincha (no pre-Mincha class)8. Shabbat ends 8:53 p.m.9. Maariv will begin at 9:00 p.m.10. People davening Maariv in shul on Saturday night should wait until after Barchu to remove their shoes, or recite Baruch HaMavdil Bain Kodesh L’Chol, change from shoes to sneakers and then daven Maariv commencing with Barchu. NOTE: If they are not usually worn on Shabbat, non-leather shoes should not be brought to shul on Shabbat for the purpose of wearing them after Shabbat. Bring them to shul before Shabbat.9. For Havdallah:a) The blessing over the fire is said on Saturday night.b) The blessing over wine and HaMavdil are said on Sunday night.c) No blessing over the spices is said at all.Minchah will be at 7:50 p.m. followed by a relevant lecture by Rabbi Weinstock.11. We will read Megillat Eicha in shul, starting 9:15 p.m.
LAWS OF TISHA B'AV
1.The fast begins at sunset (8:14 p.m.) on July 17, and ends at 8:52 p.m. on July 18.2. Prohibited are:a) Eating and drinking. b) Washing one's body.c) Marital relations.d) Wearing leather shoes, even if only partially made of leather.e) Anointing with oil.3. Using deodorant is permitted.4. Using mouthwash or brushing one's teeth is not permitted. 5. Learning Torah is prohibited. Learning about the destruction of the Temple is permitted (e.g. Job, Jeremiah, Eicha,Talmud Gittin 56b). 6. Our custom is to abstain from work until midday (1:27 p.m.) 7. One does not greet a friend on Tisha B'Av with Shalom Aleichem.8. Tallit and Tefillin are not worn in the morning. We put them on for Minchah.
FOLLOWING THE FAST
1.Havdalah is recited Sunday night, consisting of the blessings for wine and Hamavdil. It is preferable to give the wine/grape juice to a child, but if none are available then the adult making Havdalah should drink. .2. Since most of the Temple burned on the 10th of Av, some mourning practices continue into Sunday night/ Monday3. The following activities remain restricted until Monday July 19 at midday (1:27 p.m.): eating meat, drinking wine, listening to music, reciting Shehecheyanu, haircuts and bathing for pleasure.
I have been told but have not seen it that in extremely bad cases of bad-breath that one may chew gum according to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef but I don’t know if this Heter applied also to Yom Kippur and Tisha B’Av. Consult an expert Rabbi if you need this or hope that a last minute mouth wash before sunset on Shabbos will do the trick.
Tisha B’ Av and all the more so 17th of Tammuz are not fasts from the Torah. Healthy Pregnant woman may fast as long as there is no danger to them or the unborn. People on antibiotics should not fast on the 17th of Tammuz and should consult with a physician regarding if they should try to eat or drink with a Shuir if they want to participate in the mourning for the Temple on Tisha B’ Av. Diabetics, Cancer, Certain Heart Patients and people with low hemoglobin don’t even think about fasting. For Yom Kippur consult your doctor(s) and/or Local Orthodox Rabbi if you need a Shuir or you eat and drink as usual. My general Psak Dinim apply to all expect people under the influence of my Local Orthodox Rabbi(s) FL and Israel as they are the Teachers of the Halacha and I have no reason to undermine their authority.
Last week’s Parsha between some ideas that popped into my head and the various medical preparations, tests and effects of the anesthesia produced sort of a Symphony on the Parsha. I lay on the hospital gurney with nothing but a blanket covering me. I began to view the symphony of life.
First came the wind instruments flutes and clarinets about the merits of Miriam and the water for the Nation. Then came here and there some brass about Tuma of a Meis. The strings chimed in with the death of Aaron and the drums with Amalek from Arad and the wars of Sihon and Og. Somehow, the symphony played. It also reflects things on our own lives. We one day look out at the world and see the sun and hear the birds and we have the wind instruments. Suddenly it gets cloudy and breezy and we hear the strings. A thunderstorm follows and we hear drums. The light re-emerges and we herald in the peace with the brass.
Play symphony play while you can and make the best of each moment for the moments will not return again.
Walking, Running, Waiting to see the King by R’ Y. Tilles
http://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1228-40
Whenever Reb
Menachem-Mendel of Liska [1]- the father of Reb Naftali of Ropshitz -
signed a letter he always added the words Ohev Yisrael ("one
who loves his fellow Jew").
Once, when he was about to append these two words, the pen fell from his hand. He picked it up and tried again. But when once more some such mishap occurred, he gathered that it was not heaven's will that he should now sign this, and he wept sorely: "One good trait I had of which I could be proud -ahavas Yisrael, loving one's fellow Jew- and now that too has been taken from me."
He scrutinized his actions carefully lest he had offended someone, but found nothing. He called his family and asked them to do likewise. It transpired that the same morning there had been a caller - some coarse and unspiritual fellow who wore the kind of hat that was favored by the vulgar yokels of those provinces. He had asked to be admitted to the tzadik, but the family had not allowed him this.
Reb Menachem Mendel at once instructed his attendants to find the man and to bring him to his study. They hunted about in vain from one corner of the town to the next, from one inn to the next tavern. Finally, someone gave them a lead: he had seen such a man, but he had been seen entering a place of unsavory reputation.
They headed straight there and found him, and told him that the tzadik wanted to see him and talk to him, but he refused. So they took hold of him and brought him bodily to their rebbe, mentioning meanwhile where they had found him.
The tzadik took no notice of their comment. Instead, he received the stranger with a smiling countenance and requested his forgiveness for the incident that had taken place that morning. He honored him in every possible way, seeing to it that the members of his family who had not admitted him in the morning should now serve him vodka and cake.
As for the stranger, when he saw with what affection and respect the tzadik related to him, he found room in his heart for some second thoughts about his lifestyle, and with time became a penitent in all his ways.
When he had left, and the tzadik observed how his family and his chasidim were amazed that he should give this kind of treatment to a hardened sinner, he said:
"Think for a moment on a prophecy of Yeshayahu [Isaiah] that speaks of the days of Moshiach. It is written: 'They shall bring your brethren from among all the nations as an offering to G-d, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon camels, to My holy mountain in Jerusalem. [2]' So the question arises: Who are those Jews who will wait until the Moshiach brings them?
"As far as
chasidim are concerned, as soon as they hear that the Moshiach is here they
will run of their own accord to greet him. Those who are not chasidim, - well,
if they won't run, at least they will walk; and without any doubt even they
will not wait until the goyim bring them to greet the King
Moshiach. So to whom must our verse be referring?
"It must
be the sinners who are sunk deep in iniquity. Concerning them the verse tells
us, that when the goyim hear that the Moshiach has arrived,
they will go and bring them to Jerusalem 'as an offering to G-d'.
"Now today
we insulted an 'offering' such as this. Shall I then not be grieved over it?
And now that this offering has returned to my hands, shall I not love
him?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles from "A Treasury of Chassidic Tales on the Festivals" by Rabbi S.Y. Zevin, as translated by R. Uri Kaploun.
Biographical note: Rabbi Menachem-Mendel Rubin of Liska (1740-1803) was the father of well-known and highly popular chasidic Rebbe, R. Nafatali of Ropshitz. A posthumous collection of his writings is called Likkutei Maharam.
Connection-Weekly Reading: Bilaam's final prophecy contains much about Moshiach.
Footnotes:
[1]or Linsk - then Hungry, now Poland and called Lesko.
[2]Isaiah 66:20 -- this passage is also part of the Haftorah that is read when
Rosh Hodesh ('New Moon Day") falls on Shabbat, as will happen at the end
of this week, on Shabbat Rosh Hodesh Menachem-Av.
Become a master of the laws of Shabbos Kodesh: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308599
Milestone Justice Tzvi Tal,94. https://www.timesofisrael.com/tzvi-tal-ex-supreme-court-justice-who-headed-haredi-idf-draft-panel-dies-at-94/
Milestone John McAfee, 75. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/23/john-mcafee-found-dead-after-spanish-court-oks-extradition-for-tax-crimes-.html
Harrison Ford injury delays Indian Jones 5. https://www.aol.com/entertainment/harrison-ford-injured-while-filming-143912471.html
Inyanay Diyoma
COS goes to the US for more Iron Dome and other Military Supplies. Among other talks, there will be a discussion of pushing off the expiry day of the next Iran Deal.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308372 https://www.debka.com/israels-top-soldier-must-overcome-bidens-downgrade-of-the-iranian-peril-for-fast-action-against-a-nuclear-armed-iran/
Islamic Jihad warns Israel. https://www.timesofisrael.com/islamic-jihad-official-warns-of-similar-action-if-idf-continues-gaza-strikes/
Rabbi warns that one right-wing party will pay dearly. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308382
India Variant D found in Modiin and Benyamina. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308377
PA cancels Pfizer Deal for vaccines immediately. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308347
Biden to ask for a $billion to replenish and upgrade Iron Dome. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308346
Arabs riot on Har HaBeis. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308333
Danny Danon how to win Diaspora Jewry. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308327
Almost a month late Netanyahu will leave PM residence. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308369
3 Arabs killed in car crash. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308368
IDF prepares solo Iranian strike. https://www.timesofisrael.com/tv-israeli-officials-warn-no-choice-but-to-ready-attack-plans-after-raisi-win/
Was there an assassination attempt on DWS or accident. https://www.aol.com/news/driver-hits-2-start-pride-000253036-035652849.html
180 Professors at Columbia back research with Israel. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/06/18/over-180-columbia-university-faculty-back-research-ties-with-israel-after-call-for-boycott/
Ku Klux Klan alive and well in VA. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/06/18/ku-klux-klan-fanatics-distribute-antisemitic-homophobic-flyers-targeting-school-board-in-virginia/
Central Park West attack with eggs on Jews dressed for Shabbos. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/06/18/new-york-jewish-woman-says-group-pelted-with-eggs-while-walking-after-shabbat/
Antisemitism down under. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/06/18/parents-kids-shocked-by-free-palestine-slogan-daubed-on-driveway-of-jewish-school-in-australia/
Wedding in Arab Sector with shooting into the air ends in gun battle with police. https://www.timesofisrael.com/11-arrested-in-overnight-raids-after-police-residents-clash-in-arab-town/
World should now wake up to fanatic Iran. https://www.timesofisrael.com/bennett-hardliner-raisis-election-a-sign-for-world-powers-to-wake-up-on-iran/
Gang that murdered Jew from Lod caught. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308398
Vaccinated too must isolate. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308394
One dead in Elevator Collapse. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308410
Supreme Court rejects request by soldiers for beards. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/544347
Chinese Defector reveals origin of Covid. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308364
State Inquiry into Meron disaster. https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-1st-cabinet-meeting-new-government-okays-state-inquiry-into-meron-disaster/
Iran’s envoy we are closer to making a deal. https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-june-20-2021/
Netanyahu did not appoint 36 ambassadors so Lapid and the new government did. https://www.timesofisrael.com/government-appoints-36-diplomats-a-move-held-up-by-netanyahu-for-over-6-months/
Iranian Nuke temporarily shuts down. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308426
Lapid to visit UAE. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308430
Time for Palestinians to help their people. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308434
Former Health Minister blasts Netanyahu. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308419
For violating Covid restrictions there will be fines. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308424
Ganz to the Goldin Family, we are doing what we can. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308429
Portland OR after policeman indicted, the riot squad resigns. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308381
Investigating PMO shredding of documents. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HJCP63ni00
Bennett warns Hamas. https://www.timesofisrael.com/bennett-warns-hamas-our-patience-has-run-out/
3 Countries want Covid Vax that will expire soon in PLO does not want.
Bullet was fired on Shabbos at BKLYN Schul. https://www.timesofisrael.com/bullet-fired-at-brooklyn-synagogue-no-injuries/
Philly cancels food festival after they divest from Israeli type of food. https://www.timesofisrael.com/philadelphia-food-festival-canceled-after-uproar-over-disinviting-israeli-vendor/
Without MIA’s no recovery for Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308468
Netanyahu is purposely harming Israel’s Diplomacy. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308491
Diane Bederman the madness of antisemitism. https://dianebederman.com/has-jew-hatred-morphed-into-insanity-mass-hysteria/
Stupid daredevils die with stunts. Ex: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308488
PM reaches a deal with Arabs to extend unification law. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308515
20 Arabs and 1 Jew injured in new clash. https://www.timesofisrael.com/fresh-clashes-at-east-jerusalem-flashpoint-20-palestinians-1-israeli-wounded/
Fear of more Covid. https://www.timesofisrael.com/back-in-covid-mode-binyamina-residents-fear-new-wave-starting-under-their-noses/
DC – IDF Chief warns against Iranian deal. https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-washington-idf-chief-warns-us-against-rejoining-iran-nuclear-deal/
Ex-Top Cop advised protestors. https://www.timesofisrael.com/report-ex-top-cop-who-oversaw-netanyahu-probe-advised-anti-netanyahu-protesters/
Elkin accuses Netanyahu of paying thugs to harass. https://www.timesofisrael.com/elkin-accuses-ex-ally-netanyahu-of-paying-thugs-to-protest-outside-his-home/
Unhappy marriages may be fatal for me. https://www.timesofisrael.com/unhappy-marriages-can-be-fatal-increasing-male-death-rate-by-19-israeli-study/
48% of those hit were terrorists. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308537
Shredding what was Netanyahu hiding? https://www.timesofisrael.com/daily-briefing-june-22-did-netanyahu-shred-documents-what-could-he-be-hiding/
Two Kosher Restaurants back LGBTQ nonsense one blames marketing company. https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-new-york-city-kosher-restaurants-sent-pride-emails-then-appologized/
New Govt. new threats - Glick. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308440
What happens with settlement will tell us whom Bennett is. Netanyahu was set to destroy it. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308534
The geniuses in the Palestinian Authority did not want 1.2 million Covid Vaccines will lose out to children in Israel between 12 and 15 or 2.0 million doses the first groups within three weeks and then before the end of July the second dose. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/By7BHIkhO
PM following Covid Cases. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/r1foG91n00
Gaza wants relief aid. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/Byy2o31n00
Netanyahu block weakens in poll. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/Byy2o31n00
Iran condemns US interference. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308569
https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-says-government-news-sites-seized-by-us/
Two hurt in bleach attack. https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-hurt-as-bleach-thrown-at-right-wing-protesters-outside-bennetts-home/
PM advices don’t travel abroad. https://www.timesofisrael.com/bennett-urges-israelis-not-to-travel-abroad-amid-rise-in-covid-infections/
Israel under pressure votes to condemn China. https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-rare-move-israel-said-to-accede-to-us-pressure-to-condemn-china-abuses/
Aluminum for Centrifuges Plant attacked. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308637
Voluntary return of Face Masks especially Modiin, Benyamina and Hertzelia. https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/ByP00XTxhd
Milestone John McAfee, 75. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/23/john-mcafee-found-dead-after-spanish-court-oks-extradition-for-tax-crimes-.html
US Navy scrabbles defense fleet. https://www.debka.com/large-scale-russian-pacific-exercise-draws-rapid-us-navy-air-response/
The government will last 4 years. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308627
Netanyahu has poisoned the Likud into 24/7 attacks on people. It is a hate organization. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308629
Elkin’s offer to Abbas. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308620
New Outbreak not contained. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308614
Re-enforcing Yehuda and Shomron. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308609
New Masks Mandate individual tourists delayed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308595
Pittsburgh Jews on edge after multi-attacks. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308621
Ex-Cop Eric Adams leads NY Dem. Primaries. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308616
Sudden Stoppage Shabbos Elevator draws lawsuits. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308613
In AZ Jewish Leaders form coalition against antisemitism.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308615
Without Netanyahu more diplomacy possible. https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahus-ouster-creates-diplomatic-openings-for-israel-if-government-holds/
Chicago execution for fender bender. https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/new-details-about-murder-of-man-shooting-of-wife-in-chicago-after-puerto-rican-day-parade
Lapid to meet Blinken in Rome. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SJq1Oxb3O
Gilad Shalit ties the knot. https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/HycMK11bnu
Can Charedim afford to stay in opposition? https://www.timesofisrael.com/can-the-haredi-parties-afford-a-long-stay-in-the-opposition/
Iran failed to launch satellite. https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-failed-to-launch-satellite-earlier-this-month-is-trying-again-report/
WHO goes WOKE after censorship. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308593
Charedi Wedding and lies. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308594
America first or last? https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308589
Former IDF to guard LA. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308608
Iran was violating sanctions. Israel found the way. https://www.debka.com/quadcopter-drone-strike-near-faraj-new-chapter-in-covert-campaign-versus-nuclear-iran/
Biden walks back Golan recognition. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308657
Democrats are vengeful on Rudy. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308686
Abu Abbas critic arrested and died suddenly. https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-joins-calls-for-probe-into-death-of-prominent-abbas-critic-arrested-by-pa/
Fossils of previous unknown humanoid pre-Neanderthal found in Israel. https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/FAXR59PCX
The only reason that she is visiting the border is because of me. El Paso is not their main entry point either. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308657
US Border Patrol head loses job. https://www.aol.com/news/border-patrol-chief-supported-wall-205206249-143413405.html
Judge blocks billions only to minority farmers. https://www.aol.com/finance/u-judge-blocks-4-billion-075726985-091241354.html
Honduras recognizes Yerushalayim. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308697
Half an hour ago indoor masks imposed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308714
We haven’t found more survivors in Miami. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308715
Hopefully missing are snow-birds. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308682
Half of new Delta Plus cases vaccinated. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308653
Govt. not telling all of on Cardiotoxicity. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308718
LAST CHANCE FOR HAIRCUTS BEFORE THE THREE WEEKS.
Have a good and peaceful Shabbos keep healthy,
Rachamim Pauli
