Revised prayer list: Prayers for Men: Shalom Charles ben Gracia, Daniel ben Rivka, Ephraim ben Mazel, Zev ben Rachel, Yisrael Dovid ben Chaya Yenta, Rachamim ben Charlotte Jacqueline,
Women: Karen Neshama bas Esther Ruth, Chaya Melecha Rachel bas Baila Alta, Rachel Shoshana bas Chana, Tsvia Simcha bas Devorah Yachad, Miriam bas Irene Taita Malka, Shulamis bas Etta, Chana Friedel bas Sara, Drorah Rivka bas Chana, Leah bas Sara,
Please remove Rachel Sarah bat Chava Zal from the list.
The following persons are recovering from long term non-threatening injuries and need Psalms. Binum Benyamin Tuvia ben Chana Friedel, Avraham HaCohain ben Yocheved, Melech David ben Sulah Pearla, Menachem Mendel Shlomo ben Chaya Rochel,
Parsha Devarim
Devarim are ‘things’ or ‘words’ in English. The first section is Mussar on the past the next section is loaded with Mitzvos that might have been oral at the time and the third part is Moshe’s farewell address. All in the space of 37 days.
1:1 These are the words which Moses spoke unto all Israel beyond the Jordan; in the wilderness, in the Arabah, over against Suph, between Paran and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Di-zahab.
These are the words: Since these are words of rebuke and he [Moses] enumerates here all the places where they angered the Omnipresent, therefore it makes no explicit mention of the incidents [in which they transgressed], but rather merely alludes to them, [by mentioning the names of the places] out of respect for Israel (cf. Sifrei) in the plain: in the plain [He rebuked them] regarding the plain, for they had sinned with [the worship of] Baal-Peor at Shittim in the plains of Moab (Num. 25:1-9). [from Sifrei] opposite the Red Sea: [He rebuked] them regarding their rebellion at the Red Sea. When they arrived at the Red Sea, they said, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt [that you have taken us to die in the desert?]” (Exod. 14:11) Likewise, [they sinned] when they traveled from the midst of the sea, as it is said,“and they were rebellious by the sea, by the Red Sea” (Ps. 106:7), as is found in Arachin (15a). Between Paran and Tofel and Lavan: Rabbi Yochanan said: We have reviewed the entire Bible, but we have found no place named Tofel or Lavan! However, [the explanation is that] he rebuked them because of the foolish things they had said (תָּפְלוּ) about the manna, which was white (לָבָן) , saying “And our soul loathes this light bread” (Num. 21:5), and because of what they had done in the desert of Paran through the spies. [from Eileh Hadevarim Rabbah , and Hazeroth: Concerning the insurrection of Korach [which took place in Hazeroth] (Eileh Hadevarim Rabbah , Lieberman). Another explanation: He said to them, “You should have learned from what I did to Miriam at Hazeroth because of slander; [nevertheless,] you spoke against the Omnipresent” (Sifrei). and Di-Zahav: (lit., enough gold). He rebuked them for the calf they had made as a result of their abundance of gold, as it is said: “and I gave her much silver and gold, but they made it for Baal” (Hosea 2:10). (cf. Sifrei ; Ber. 32a, Eileh Hadevarim Rabbah ,
Hazeroth, and Di-zahab. Each place named has some bad behavior hints. Zahav or gold.
2 It is eleven days journey from Horeb unto Kadesh-barnea by the way of mount Seir. 3 And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them;
This would be what we call Rosh Chodesh Sheves. Since Moshe died on the 7th day of the 12th month or Adar by us, he was at this time 37 days prior to his death.
4 after he had smitten Sihon the king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who dwelt in Ashtaroth, at Edrei;
Sihon… who dwelt in Heshbon: “Even if Sihon himself had not been powerful, but had dwelt in Heshbon, he would have [nevertheless] been powerful because the city was a powerful one; and even had it been another city, and Sihon had dwelt in it, it would have [also] been powerful because the king was powerful. How much more so now, since both the king and the city were powerful!” [Sifrei] [And Og…] who dwelt in Ashtaroth: [Here, too,] the king was powerful, and the city was powerful. [Sifrei] Ashtaroth: This is an expression denoting sharp cliffs and strength, just as “Ashteroth-karnaim” (Gen. 14:5) [the hard rocks of Karnaim]. And the Ashtaroth [referred to here] is indeed that same Ashteroth-karnaim where the Rephaim [the giants] were, whom Amraphel smote, as it is said, “And they smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim ” (Gen. 14:5). And Og escaped from them, and that is the meaning of that which is stated, “And the fugitive came” (Gen. 14:13), and Scripture states (further, 3:11)“For only Og, king of the Bashan, remained from the remnant of the Rephaim.” in Edrei: the name of the kingdom. [Sifrei]
As above it is easy to understand some Pshat without Rashi but he gives us such a deep insight this week, I brought him down.
5 beyond the Jordan, in the land of Moab, took Moses upon him to expound this law, saying: 6 The LORD our God spoke unto us in Horev, saying: 'Ye have dwelt long enough in this mountain; 7 turn you, and take your journey, and go to the hill-country of the Amorites and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the Arabah, in the hill-country, and in the Lowland, and in the South, and by the sea-shore; the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.
Yet we see both with Moshe and then with Yoshua, neither got up to the great Euphrates river but Yoshua came close in Northern Syria.
8 Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD swore unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.' 9 And I spoke unto you at that time, saying: 'I am not able to bear you myself alone; 10 the LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.-- 11 The LORD, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as He hath promised you!-- 12 How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife? 13 Get you, from each one of your tribes, wise men, and understanding, and full of knowledge, and I will make them heads over you.' 14 And ye answered me, and said: 'The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do.' 15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men, and full of knowledge, and made them heads over you, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens, and officers, tribe by tribe.
Moshe had to have help within the Tribes to help him judge the people. Thus Yehuda could have more than a great Sanhedrin to Judge the Tribe with their thousands. From the more than 70 Judges there were 6 chosen for the great Sanhedrin in Yerushalayim (Ohel Moed before Moshe).
16 And I charged your judges at that time, saying: 'Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. 17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; ye shall hear the small and the great alike; ye shall not be afraid of the face of any man; for the judgment is God's; and the cause that is too hard for you ye shall bring unto me, and I will hear it.'
For hard cases or Landmark Decisions such as the inheritance of women, Moshe had to solve it with conversation with G-D.
18 And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do. 19 And we journeyed from Horev, and went through all that great and dreadful wilderness which ye saw, by the way to the hill-country of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-Barnea. 20 And I said unto you: 'Ye are come unto the hill-country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God gives unto us. 21 Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee; go up, take possession, as the LORD, the God of thy fathers, hath spoken unto thee; fear not, neither be dismayed.'
This was the politicians of the time. Similar to a leader who kicked the can down the road for 12 years to hang on to power. So they came with an argument against immediate conquest. Some of it was to stay relevant and in power, another part was fear of fortified cities and as former slaves of a battle.
22 And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said: 'Let us send men before us, that they may search the land for us, and bring us back word of the way by which we must go up, and the cities unto which we shall come.' 23 And the thing pleased me well; and I took twelve men of you, one man for every tribe; 24 and they turned and went up into the mountains, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and spied it out. 25 And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and brought us back word, and said: 'Good is the land which the LORD our God gives unto us.'
You saw the beautiful fruit of the land.
26 Yet ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God;
These former slaves were all ‘yellow’ as far as fighting goes and preferred dying in the wilderness rather than going out and conquering the land.
27 and ye murmured in your tents, and said: 'Because the LORD hated us, He hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. 28 Whither are we going up? our brethren have made our heart to melt, saying: The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.' 29 Then I said unto you: 'Dread not, neither be afraid of them. 30 The LORD your God who goes before you, He shall fight for you, according to all that He did for you in Egypt before your eyes; 31 and in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bore thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came unto this place. 32 Yet in this thing ye do not believe the LORD your God, 33 Who went before you in the way, to seek you out a place to pitch your tents in: in fire by night, to show you by what way ye should go, and in the cloud by day.' 34 And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and swore, saying: 35 'Surely there shall not one of these men, even this evil generation, see the good land, which I swore to give unto your fathers, 36 save Caleb the son of Yephunneh, he shall see it; and to him will I give the land that he has trodden upon, and to his children; because he hath wholly followed the LORD.' 37 Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying: Thou also shalt not go in thither; 38 Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before thee, he shall go in thither; encourage thou him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.
So the whole generation had to die in the wilderness and a new generation shall spring up and possess the land.
39 Moreover your little ones, that ye said should be a prey, and your children, that this day have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
Now after close to 40 years since the Exodus, you are that generation and you will inherit the land.
40 But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.' 41 Then ye answered and said unto me: 'We have sinned against the LORD, we will go up and fight, according to all that the LORD our God commanded us.' And ye girded on every man his weapons of war, and deemed it a light thing to go up into the hill-country. 42 And the LORD said unto me: 'Say unto them: Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.' 43 So I spoke unto you, and ye hearkened not; but ye rebelled against the commandment of the LORD, and were presumptuous, and went up into the hill-country. 44 And the Amorites, that dwell in that hill-country, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and beat you down in Seir, even unto Hormah.
And they became dry bones in the wilderness for no one would fetch them or knew where they fell.
45 And ye returned and wept before the LORD; but the LORD hearkened not to your voice, nor gave ear unto you. 46 So ye abode in Kadesh many days, according unto the days that ye abode there.
You wept because of your foolishness and that generation perished in the wilderness.
2:1 Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as the LORD spoke unto me; and we compassed mount Seir many days. 2 And the LORD spoke unto me, saying: 3 'Ye have compassed this mountain long enough; turn you northward. 4 And command thou the people, saying: Ye are to pass through the border of your brethren the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir; and they will be afraid of you; take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore; 5 contend not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession. 6 Ye shall purchase food of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink. 7 For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the work of thy hand; He hath known thy walking through this great wilderness; these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.' 8 So we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah, from Elath and from Ezion-geber.
For Esav honored Yitzchak and received a blessing from Yitzchak, therefore he received for his children protection up until the Judgement of Seir mentioned in the Novi Ovadiah.
And we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab. 9 And the LORD said unto me: 'Be not at enmity with Moab, neither contend with them in battle; for I will not give thee of his land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.
Moav was from Lot, but they did not have much merits like Esav. Nevertheless, Ruth and the Moshiach would eventually come out of Moav.
10 The Emim dwelt therein aforetime, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim; 11 these also are accounted Rephaim, as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim. 12 And in Seir dwelt the Horites aforetime, but the children of Esau succeeded them; and they destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which the LORD gave unto them. 13 Now rise up, and get you over the brook Zered.' And we went over the brook Zered. 14 And the days in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, were thirty and eight years; until all the generation, even the men of war, were consumed from the midst of the camp, as the LORD swore unto them.
They arrived on Tisha B’Av by the brook 38 years to the day after the spies.
15 Moreover the hand of the LORD was against them, to discomfit them from the midst of the camp, until they were consumed. 16 So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people, 17 that the LORD spoke unto me saying: 18 'Thou art this day to pass over the border of Moab, even Ar; 19 and when thou come nigh over against the children of Ammon, harass them not, nor contend with them; for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon for a possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.
For even though Lot was in Sodom, he still had a spark of Kedusha from Avraham and this gave him merit for both Ammon and Moav even if today they were not so righteous.
20 That also is accounted a land of Rephaim: Rephaim dwelt therein aforetime; but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim, 21 a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim; but the LORD destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead; 22 as He did for the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir, when He destroyed the Horites from before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto this day; 23 and the Avvim, that dwelt in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim, that came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead. 24 Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of Arnon; behold, I have given into thy hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land; begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.
Since they had conquered this land from others, you can conquer the land from them.
25 This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the peoples that are under the whole heaven, who, when they hear the report of thee, shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.' 26 And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying: 27 'Let me pass through thy land; I will go along by the highway, I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left. 28 Thou shalt sell me food for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink; only let me pass through on my feet; 29 as the children of Esau that dwell in Seir, and the Moabites that dwell in Ar, did unto me; until I shall pass over the Jordan into the land which the LORD our God giveth us.' 30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him; for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.
Since originally, Sichon’s land was not part of Eretz Yisrael, the tribes did not want to conquer. But when they came to wage war then it was given to us.
31 And the LORD said unto me: 'Behold, I have begun to deliver up Sihon and his land before thee; begin to possess his land.' 32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, unto battle at Jahaz. 33 And the LORD our God delivered him up before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people. 34 And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed every city, the men, and the women, and the little ones; we left none remaining; 35 only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, with the spoil of the cities which we had taken. … 37 Only to the land of the children of Ammon thou came not near; all the side of the river Jabbok, and the cities of the hill-country, and wheresoever the LORD our God forbade us. 3:1 Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan; and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, unto battle at Edrei. 2 And the LORD said unto me: 'Fear him not; for I have delivered him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.'
Og was a giant of a man and struck fear in the hearts of his enemies but Moshe who was not short himself, jumped up and killed Og. The fear of G-D by Moshe and generations later by David saved Am Yisrael from the fear of a gigantic bully. It was even worse with David seeing he was shorter than average.
3 So the LORD our God delivered into our hand Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people; and we smote him until none was left to him remaining. 4 And we took all his cities at that time; there was not a city which we took not from them; threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 5 All these were fortified cities, with high walls, gates, and bars; beside the unwalled towns a great many. 6 And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every city, the men, and the women, and the little ones.
After what happened with Zimri and the idol worship, nobody was going to take a chance on a woman who believed in idols. The iron gates and walls did not help. As written in Tehillim 127:1 A Song of (South Temple) stairs; of Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it; except the LORD keep the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.
7 But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for a prey unto ourselves. 8 And we took the land at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, from the valley of Arnon unto mount Hermon-- 9 which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir-- 10 all the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Salcah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.-- 11 For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbah of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.—
The length of the bed was 4.05 meters or around 12-13 feet and 1.8 meters or 6 feet wide. It was like 2 king size beds wide and given stretching room for hands and feet in length it appears like he was perhaps the same size of Goliad. It is possible also that he was very tall but slept with one or a few wives in the same bed as part of his status. He was the last of the giants but perhaps not as tall and wide for he had to be in the bed.
12 And this land we took in possession at that time; from Aroer, which is by the valley of Arnon, and half the hill-country of Gilead, and the cities thereof, gave I unto the Reubenites and to the Gadites; 13 and the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half-tribe of Manasseh; all the region of Argob--all that Bashan is called the land of Rephaim. 14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called them, even Bashan, after his own name, Havvoth-jair, unto this day.-- 15 And I gave Gilead unto Machir. 16 And unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I gave from Gilead even unto the valley of Arnon, the middle of the valley for a border; even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon; 17 the Arabah also, the Jordan being the border thereof, from Kinneret even unto the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, under the slopes of Pisgah eastward.
You will aid your brothers in conquering the land from the prairies below the Dead Sea up through Lebanon and to northern Syria.
18 And I commanded you at that time, saying: 'The LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it; ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all the men of valor. 19 But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle--I know that ye have much cattle--shall abide in your cities which I have given you; 20 until the LORD give rest unto your brethren, as unto you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your God giveth them beyond the Jordan; then shall ye return every man unto his possession, which I have given you.
Observe the Mitzvos and fight with your brethren and you will return home.
21 And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying: 'Thine eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto these two kings; so shall the LORD do unto all the kingdoms whither thou go over. 22 Ye shall not fear them; for the LORD your God, He it is that fights for you.'
HASHEM will fight with your enemies to save you AND THIS WILL BE SOON TOO.
Genuine Royal Signature by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles
http://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1231-43
A Jewish community far from Safed once found itself in dire danger. It had always suffered under the hands of its despotic, anti-Semitic ruler but now he issued a decree throughout his kingdom demanding that the Jews pay a huge sum of money within three months or suffer banishment.
The Jews were devastated. What were they to do? How could they possibly raise such an astronomical amount? "Even if we were to sell all our possessions we could not gather such a sum!" they said to one another in despair. The ruler was hard-hearted and would not agree to compromise at all. From where could come their help?
Following centuries-old tradition, they all gathered in the synagogues - men, women and children - to pray. They blew shofars, said selichot (Supplication prayers) and wept in the hope that G-d Al-mighty would see their plight and have mercy upon them. They sent a small delegation of dignified messengers to all the Jewish communities world-wide to urge them to pray as well. The messengers traveled day and night without rest, knowing full well the danger that faced them and their people.
Late one Friday afternoon they reached Safed, weary, dusty and travel-worn. Before they made any arrangements for the coming Shabbat, they rushed to the home of the 'holy Ari' and told him of the impending calamity threatening their community. For Rabbi Yitzchak Luria was famed as a holy man and miracle worker, so they knew that he was the person to whom to turn.
When they reached his home, they found him dressed for Shabbat in a flowing white robe. He looked like a heavenly angel. His disciples already gathered about him, prepared to go out to the fields, as usual, to greet the Shabbat Queen. But a glance at the dusty, nervous travelers showed that they were there on pressing matters. The Ari sat them down and gave them his undivided attention.
Weeping and breathless, they gasped out their tale of woe. The Ari reassured them, saying, "Do not fear. G-d's salvation comes in the blink of an eye. You will be my guests this Shabbat. Go now, and prepare yourselves; forget your worries and get ready to great the Shabbat Queen, for it is already late. Do not be sad. Shabbat is not the time for anxious prayer. Relax and put your trust in Him for you will see, when Shabbat is over, your salvation will already be at hand!"
The messengers quickly readied themselves for the holy day. They spent the Shabbat with the Ari and came to realize that all they had heard about this holy man was true. Never in their lives had they experienced such an exalted, wonderful holy day of rest.
After Havdala, the Ari turned to his guests and invited them to come along with him. He also told several of his disciples to take some strong ropes and come as well.
The Ari went first. They way was dimly lit by the flickering stars. No one knew where they were going but they followed confidently behind the master. The group proceeded thus for a long time, not uttering a syllable, until the Ari came to a halt. The Ari pointed to a spot in front of him. By squinting, the men could make out a deep pit.
"Unwind the ropes and lower them into the pit," the Ari commanded. The Talmidim did as he said. When only the ends remained in their hands, the Ari ordered them to pull. They began hauling the ropes back up, but felt, at once, that the ropes had been caught onto something. They heaved and pulled while the Ari stood over them, urging them on. They tugged with all their might.
Slowly, the weight at the end of the rope rose. Finally, the object came into view. They had drawn up a magnificent four-poster canopied mahogany bed. And in it lay a figure, still fast asleep. His clothing and his appearance told them that he was a man accustomed to ruling others.
The Ari approached the bed and began shaking the sleeping figure violently, waking him. The man looked all around him, perturbed.
The Ari addressed him angrily, "Are you still stubbornly determined to banish the Jews of your country?"
The man looked back at him arrogantly and said, "Yes!" The messengers recognized him to be their king.
"Very well," said the Ari, "then you must draw up all the water in this pit with this before morning." And he handed him a pail which lacked a bottom.
The king looked at the pail and shuddered. "How can I do that?" he asked. "Where I to live one thousand years, I would not be able to draw up even a single drop of water with that!"
The Ari ignored him. "Get to work, or else…" The king was terrified and begged for mercy.
"How do you expect me to show pity when you yourself are heartless? The decree you passed against the Jews of your land is just as impossible as this task. They do not have the means to raise such a preposterous sum of money! If you do not agree to abolish your decree, this very pit will be your grave!" the Ari thundered at him.
The king trembled uncontrollably. His teeth chattered with fear; he stammered a promise to nullify the decree against the Jews of his land. The Ari then drew out a document, already written out, and read it aloud: "I hereby affirm by my own hand, that I have received the sum imposed upon the Jews of my country and that said sum has been deposited into the royal treasury. Thus, the decree is hereby null and void."
The king nodded and with a shaking hand, signed his name at the bottom of the document and handed it back to the Ari. The Ari rolled it up and gave it to the messengers who stood there, hardly believing their eyes. The Ari turned to his disciples and told them to lower the bed back down into the pit.
The next morning when the king awoke, he found himself in his own bed, in his own bedchamber in the palace. His head ached and his limbs felt heavy. "What a strange dream I had last night," he murmured. "What curious figures peopled my dream. I must have overexerted myself yesterday for I feel as if I have come a great distance. And, oh, how my head whirls!"
The three months' ultimatum drew to a close, but the king had forgotten about his strange dream. Gleefully, he began making plans for spending the money or, as seemed likely, getting rid of the hated Jews.
He smirked, Anyway, he would gain much wealth whether they paid the fine or not. For upon banishing them, he would confiscate all of their property.
He congratulated himself upon his brilliant plan.
On the designated day, he sat in his palace, impatiently awaiting the arrival of the Jewish representatives. He waited, but, in vain; they did not appear. Vexed, he sent his soldiers to the head of the Jewish community, demanding that they appear before sundown, or he would banish them all from his borders.
The messengers who had been sent to Safed went to the king, bowed before him and said, "Your Majesty, may your kingdom flourish, we have already paid up the sum. Here is the document which you, yourself, signed. We do not owe you anything. There is no reason to talk of banishment."
They unfurled the scroll bearing the king's signature and showed it to him. When the king looked at the document, a veil suddenly lifted from his memory.
He relived the events of that terror-filled night. So! It had not been only a nightmare, after all! Who knows what else that mighty rabbi intended to do to him. If the Jew had been powerful enough to transport him in his bed in the middle of the night, he was completely at his mercy! With trembling lips, the king acknowledged that he had, indeed, received the full sum and that the edict was no longer in effect.
From that time on, he was very wary of the Jews in his kingdom. He even issued a new decree proclaiming that the Jewish people were his protected subjects and whoever harmed them in any way would be severely punished.
It is said that after the king learned the identity of the holy rabbi who had whisked him away in the middle of the night, he always begged the Jews in his land to mention him to the Ari and ask him for a blessing. And in uttering his name, he would shake his head incredulously and murmur, "He cannot be mortal. Surely he is a living angel!"
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[Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from "The Arizal - The
Life and Times of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria" by Nechemiah Piontac
(Mesorah)]
Biographic note:
Rabbi Yitzchak Luria--the Holy Ari [of blessed memory: 5294 - 5 Av 5332 (1534 -
July 1572 C.E.)], the leader of the Tzefat Kabbalists during the last years of
his life, was the most influential Jewish mystic since Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai
1400 years earlier. Much of Chasidic thought is based on the Ari's teachings,
as recorded by his main disciple, Rabbi Chaim Vital. (For a more detailed
biography of the Holy Ari and of Rabbi Vital, go to //ascentofsafed.com or
//KabbalaOnline.org.)
Connection: Tuesday night-Wednesday, 5th of the Jewish month of Menachem-Av (2021: July 14), was the yahrzeit of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria.
Wall from the time of Babylon and the Mikdash exposed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309836
First Orthodox player may be drafted for MLB. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/07/11/major-league-baseball-set-to-draft-first-orthodox-jewish-player/
On Friday, Death Valley National Park in California recorded a staggering high of 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54 Celsius) and could reach the same high on Saturday. If verified, the 130-degree reading would be the hottest high recorded there since July 1913, when the same Furnace Creek desert area hit 134 F (57 C), considered the highest reliably measured temperature on Earth. https://www.aol.com/weather/surging-california-wildfire-prompts-nevada-043953180-205557513.html. In 1913 it was not attributed globally.
Milestone Esther Bejerano, 96 one of the last survivors of Auschwitz Women’s Orchestra dies. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sj9bqbdt00
Milestone, David Mermelstein, 92 Holocaust restitution fighter. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309655
Milestone, Rabbi Yoel Kahn, 91 one close to the Rebbe. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309973
Inyanay Diyoma
Only fire and brimstone await him who will receive no forgiveness. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309561
New Travel guidelines. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309570
Maryland graves defaces. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309560
US makes gestures to Iran removing 3 logistic bases from Qatar to Yarden. https://www.debka.com/us-transfers-3-huge-logistic-bases-from-qatar-to-jordan-gesture-to-iran/
Biden-Bennett-Abdullah plan a stable Jordan. https://www.debka.com/bennetts-trip-to-amman-fits-bidens-plan-for-a-jordan-egypt-israel-axis/
Fishman – Gaza war freed Israel gave Egypt the ball for Gaza. https://www.debka.com/bennetts-trip-to-amman-fits-bidens-plan-for-a-jordan-egypt-israel-axis/
Arms smuggling for terror stopped. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309572
Biden’s success is stabilizing the Afghan for withdrawal. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/07/09/taliban-say-they-control-85-of-afghanistan-humanitarian-concerns-mount/
Fireworks thrown at Yeshiva Students in Upstate NY. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309572
6 terrorist battle with security forces. https://www.timesofisrael.com/undercover-border-police-shoot-6-attackers-in-jenin-gun-battle-overnight/
Millionaire who was in Politics spied for Iran. https://www.timesofisrael.com/bedouin-israeli-millionaire-charged-with-spying-for-iran/
3rd Pfizer shot given to cancer and transplant patients. https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-world-first-covid-boosters-rolled-out-for-some-at-risk-israelis/
Security Services upset over new illegal evidence ban. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1n9tdfpu
The man who rescued 669 Czech Children now a book for Children. https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-who-rescued-669-czech-children-from-nazis-is-now-the-hero-of-a-kids-book/
New Olim numbers soar. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309673
British Court will vote to disconnect life support. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309576
When in doubt blame the Mossad. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/07/11/israels-mossad-behind-recent-iran-cyberattacks-claims-senior-iranian-security-official/
Weak Biden gets a long list of demands from PA. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/07/11/palestinians-compile-long-list-of-preconditions-for-restarting-talks-with-israel/
First Orthodox player may be drafted for MLB. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/07/11/major-league-baseball-set-to-draft-first-orthodox-jewish-player/
Bang-bang boom we are going to the moon. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/07/11/spaceil-raises-70-million-for-israels-next-lunar-mission/
The is Israeli delegation just packed up. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/07/11/linda-sarsour-slanders-israel-as-idf-continued-life-saving-work-after-florida-disaster/
Chinese Companies boycotted over human rights abuse. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/07/09/us-sanctions-34-companies-over-chinese-rights-abuses-ties-to-iran-russia/
Did this object belong to Gideon the Judge? https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309675
Aid withheld from PA over prisoner payment. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309675
Last week I saw most of You Tube Video on the Trump Sarasota Rally. Between writing the Torah Drasha, learning with Rabbi Mimran, I only had some time to listen so I was about a 20 minutes to half hour short. This video has been removed for violating YouTube's Community Guidelines. I don’t know about you but I would feel bad if a Bernie Sanders Rally received this treatment. I care!
I am told RSBN has a phone app. CPAC address https://www.c-span.org/video/?513311-1/president-trump-speaks-conservative-political-action-conference
We will not stop demolishing the homes of terrorists just to placate the USA. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309608
Man who rescued 669 children now hero in kids book. https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-who-rescued-669-czech-children-from-nazis-is-now-the-hero-of-a-kids-book/
Revolutionary Medical work for transplants. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/h1mzcinto
Why Abbas Mansour makes Arabs uneasy. https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/r1wnwnnt00
Israel must help the Charedim to help themselves. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sk300lrvto
Avi Gil new military secretary. https://www.timesofisrael.com/bennett-taps-avi-gil-as-his-military-secretary/
General warns IDF against cuts multi-threat war. https://www.debka.com/general-warns-against-idf-combat-troop-cuts-amid-multi-theater-war-threats/
Turkish-Israel relations with left of center gov. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjb5am5po
Vaccination vs. infection. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309762
Allen West not worried about Trump Endorsement of Greg Abbott. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/west-says-trumps-backing-of-abbott-doesnt-hurt-his-primary-challenge-against-texas-governor
Larry Elder runs for Gov. of CA. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309770
In a matter of months, Biden brought the USA from Prosperity to almost ruin. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309658
High Court is anti-Torah. https://www.timesofisrael.com/high-court-ban-on-surrogacy-for-same-sex-couples-single-men-to-end-in-6-months/
Israel has started a 3rd dose for some and doses for certain children in danger. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bj11jtn00po
Before the boys come home, fishing zone expanded. https://www.timesofisrael.com/amid-calm-on-gaza-border-israel-expands-fishing-zone-imports-and-exports/
IDF fights drug smuggling in south. https://www.timesofisrael.com/turning-to-crime-fighting-idf-steps-up-efforts-against-drug-running-from-sinai/
You pay terrorist we withhold money. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-withhold-nearly-nis-600-million-from-pa-over-terror-payments/
Rabbi of Tzfat’s car attacked. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309658
US Army becoming “The People’s Republic Army”. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309654
Radical Marxism is destroying the USA. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309614
We need a lot more people vaccinated. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309676
Infection numbers and rate rises. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309768
Shas Rabbi visits RCA Conference. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309659
LAX-MIA AA flight ordered hands on head. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309649
US capitol rally against antisemitism. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309661
Former Sec. of State on Russia. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309615
Lost your sense of touch Israeli help. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-study-offers-hope-of-rewiring-nerves-to-restore-lost-sense-of-touch/
Netanyahu wants to keep things in neutral with a dysfunctional Knesset. https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-bid-to-topple-government-netanyahu-seeks-a-dysfunctional-knesset/
Arab economic dispute could hurt Israel. https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-saudis-and-emiratis-take-aim-at-each-other-israel-could-get-hit-by-ricochets/
Arabs attack Jew in Tel Aviv Park. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309754
If elections today, Bennett-Lapid gain 2. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309754
Cubans seeking freedom – protest. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309761
Trump slams rise in crime. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309760
39 Corona Patients die in Iraqi fire. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309746
We have a few surprises for Hezballah. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309882
IDF asks for upgrades for attacking Iran. https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-said-asking-for-major-budget-increase-to-enable-attack-against-iran/
We will try to defeat Covid without lockdowns. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309886
Arabs to oppose Cannabis law on religious grounds.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309881
Charged with burning Sanz Yeshiva in NJ. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309883
Netanyahu focused on PR not nukes. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309866
Bennet on neglect by Netanyahu of key needs to stop Iran. https://www.debka.com/pm-bennett-accuses-netanyahu-implausibly-of-neglecting-the-iranian-nuclear-issue/
Retrial for murder strange footprints. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309892
Turkey – Israel start work for improvement. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309910
Hospital employees outside of doctors and nurses go on strike. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/medical-staff-from-30-israeli-hospitals-on-strike-tuesday-673664
Larry Elder tries to replace CA Gov. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309897
Iran capable of weapons grade level. https://www.timesofisrael.com/rouhani-warns-iran-could-enrich-uranium-to-weapons-grade-levels/
Former Univ. OR professor sues for discrimination. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309861
Antisemitism rises 900% on TikTok. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/07/12/antisemitism-up-over-900-percent-on-social-media-giant-tiktok-finds-university-of-haifa-study/
Hezballah releases footage of body capture. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/07/12/hezbollah-releases-new-footage-of-july-2006-abduction-of-idf-soldiers-that-sparked-second-lebanon-war/
Copywrite infringement. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/07/13/sacha-baron-cohen-cites-orthodox-jewish-observance-in-lawsuit-against-cannabis-company/
Communism failing in Cuba. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/13/americas/cuba-protests-100-detained-missing-intl/index.html
IDF asks for upgrades for attacking Iran. https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-said-asking-for-major-budget-increase-to-enable-attack-against-iran/
F-15 almost hit by Iron Dome Missile stopped in time. https://www.timesofisrael.com/iron-dome-almost-knocked-out-israeli-f-15-during-recent-gaza-fighting/
Dozens of Hamas terrorist arrested. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309899
Iranian Journalist was target of potential kidnapping. https://www.timesofisrael.com/journalist-shocked-by-unbelievable-iranian-plot-to-kidnap-her-from-us/
S. Africa deploys 25,000 troops fuel shortages. Thank you Joe Biden for rising cost of petrol. https://www.timesofisrael.com/south-africa-seeks-to-deploy-25k-troops-to-curb-unrest-over-food-fuel-shortages/
Ex-deputy Min. gets 10 years in jail for bribes. https://www.timesofisrael.com/ex-yisrael-beytenu-mk-kirshenbaum-sentenced-to-10-years-in-bribery-case/
Brazilian Pres. Hospitalized. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309909
Haley-Rubio slam Biden Admin on UN rights check of USA. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309894
Italian Defense Chief finishes visit to Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309888
IDF exposes Hezballah weapons near school. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hygvejn600
Baby named after building victim. The Israeli officer who helped identify the remains of Itty Ainsworth in the building collapse in Surfside, Fla., stood by the Torah scroll on Thursday as her granddaughter was named after her, Chabad.org/News reported. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309878
Those who know that we have given out vaccines to Arabs and advance Ethiopian Jews know this is false. But 25% of US Jews view Israel as an apartheid state. Leftist Propaganda. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309876
Russian Ransomware group disappears. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309868
As Delta Variant spreads across the US millions of kids at risk. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309867
Israeli in serious condition Greek Corona. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309838
Booster shots may increase side effects. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309861
Biden to host Bennett. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkmi0dn6d
As Corona Czar becomes head of Health Dept. New Corona Czar Chosen. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/s1rfj8n6o
Merkel to pay farewell visit to Israel. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyojuwh600
Nigeria, Israeli Family that gave Torah deigns contact with separatists. https://www.timesofisrael.com/families-of-israelis-held-in-nigeria-reject-claim-of-separatist-involvement/
2nd MLB Orthodox Player. https://www.timesofisrael.com/elie-kligman-is-second-orthodox-baseball-player-drafted-into-the-mlb-in-2-days/
Retired Rear Admiral sounds the alarm on China. https://www.foxnews.com/media/navy-admiral-report-combat-readiness-china-battle
8 Lod Arabs arrested for throwing Molotov Cocktails. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309943
Bennett meets with the Goldin Parents. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309945
Lapid all hatred is antisemitism. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309954
Lebanon can’t find a new government. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309948
Limited Green Pass for weddings. https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-july-15-2021/
855 new Covid Cases. https://www.timesofisrael.com/daily-covid-cases-top-850-but-serious-cases-appear-to-plateau/
Ed-Op Yehoshua is the IDF ok 2 fronts? https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjfm00cttu
Ed-Op Fishman how long will Iran be silent? https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1b3kvd6d
More on Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309948
Overcame Nazis and Sexism Ring Theory. https://www.timesofisrael.com/impact-of-mathematician-who-overcame-nazis-sexism-still-felt-100-years-later/
All quiet on the western front. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309966
Canadian Police arrest Swastika Man for 2 assaults. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/07/15/toronto-cops-arrest-same-swastika-man-for-two-separate-antisemitic-assaults/ https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309974
Israeli Drones protect Dubai Expo. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/07/15/israeli-drone-tech-firm-to-help-secure-dubai-during-world-expo/
Ed-Op why Miley should be fired: https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/tucker-carlson-chairman-joint-chiefs-of-staff-should-be-fired
Another roof in Miami Dade collapses. https://www.foxnews.com/us/miami-dade-apartment-roof-partially-collapses-weeks-after-surfside-condo-tragedy
BLM exposed as Marxists. https://www.foxnews.com/media/rep-bryon-donalds-blms-cuba-statement-exposes-group-as-marxist-racket
Iranian hackers used FB on US Military Personal. https://www.foxnews.com/media/rep-bryon-donalds-blms-cuba-statement-exposes-group-as-marxist-racket
IDF taps second female major general. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/07/15/idf-taps-trailblazing-second-female-major-general-in-its-history/
Germany graves of children defaced. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309955
Zuckerberg marries Goya but puts a Kipa on his dog and gets antisemitism. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309941
97 known fatalities in collapse. https://www.timesofisrael.com/90-of-florida-condos-97-confirmed-dead-identified-as-recovery-nears-end/
Biden wants Israel to help collapsing PA. https://www.timesofisrael.com/bidens-mideast-point-man-reportedly-urges-israel-to-assist-collapsing-pa/
Deluge in Germany. https://www.timesofisrael.com/help-sent-to-germany-with-over-50-dead-dozens-missing-in-severe-european-floods/
Likudniks stab photos of new gov. https://www.timesofisrael.com/likud-activists-seen-stabbing-photos-of-lapid-bennett-at-protest-against-govt/
US Court Iran and Syria responsible for death of couple. https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-court-rules-iran-syria-liable-for-deaths-of-israeli-couple-in-2015-attack/
Crime reporter slain in Holland. https://www.timesofisrael.com/renowned-dutch-crime-reporter-dies-after-amsterdam-shooting/
Tisha B’Av and Temple Mourning. Even though I cannot fast in my current state and will receive 2 pints of iron on Tisha B’Av, I can mourn for the Temple. Rabbi Mimran suggested that I eat meat this week for iron but since I am getting infusions mourned with fish and eggs as usual. Don’t forget the Temple and maybe if it is rebuilt soon we will merit to offer a Korban there. Have a good Shabbos and for those fasting try to re-imagine a rebuilt Temple.
Rachamim Pauli
