After I published the blogspot, I was updated so somepeople will not see this prayer request. Devorah Rosa (row sa) bas Freyda Leah
Parsha Vayeshev
Yacov Avinu finally
thought that he had reached his retirement and let his sons run the business.
The oldest were in their 20's and even a younger one like Yosef was 17 and a
very capable young man.
Yosef is 17years old. I
am raising a forester child who is 16.5years old. It is the nature of a teen to
be full of oneself, audacious and knowing it all or at least better than almost
anybody else. Yosef is no different.
37:1 And
Jacob dwelt in the land of his father's sojourning’s, in the land of
Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen
years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, being still a lad even with
the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph
brought evil report of them unto their father.
Nobody loves a
tattle-tail. Now this was before Matan Torah and there were no laws of Lashon
HaRa written down, but still it did not get approval.
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because
he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colors.
Because he is an orphan from
Rachel and a first born, he has gotten preferential treatment by his father. So
he has this coat of many colors that separates him from his brothers.
4 And
when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren,
they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. 5 And Joseph
dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren; and they hated him yet the
more. 6 And he said unto them: 'Hear, I pray you, this dream which I
have dreamed: 7 for, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field,
and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves came
round about, and bowed down to my sheaf.' 8 And his brethren said to
him: 'Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over
us?' And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his
words. 9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his
brethren, and said: 'Behold, I have dreamed yet a dream: and, behold, the sun
and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me.' 10 And he told it to
his father, and to his brethren; and his father rebuked him, and said unto him:
'What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy
brethren indeed come to bow down to thee to the earth?'
His mother
had died in childbirth because of the Terrapin of Lavan. This shows that even
in a prophetic dream there is some nonsense with it.
11 And
his brethren envied him; but his father kept the saying in mind.
Yosef now has a series of dreams.
He does not make a mistake by telling his father.
However, telling the dreams of the specific numbers of sheaves or stars bowing
down to his sheaf or star does not impress his brothers favorably. Shimon and
Levi have hot tempers towards this Chutzpadik teen.
12 And
his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. 13 And
Israel said unto Joseph: 'Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come,
and I will send thee unto them.' And he said to him: 'Here am
I.' 14 And he said to him: 'Go now, see whether it is well with thy
brethren, and well with the flock; and bring me back word.' So he sent him out
of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 And a certain man
found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field. And the man asked him,
saying: 'What do you seek?' 16 And he said: 'I seek my brethren. Tell
me, I pray thee, where they are feeding the flock.' 17 And the man
said: 'They are departed hence; for I heard them say: Let us go to Dothan.' And
Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.
He was
looking for his brethren but would not really have brotherhood until Yehuda was
willing to take Benyamin's place.
18 And
they saw him afar off, and before he came near unto them, they conspired
against him to slay him. 19 And they said one to another: 'Behold,
this dreamer comes. 20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and
cast him into one of the pits, and we will say: An evil beast hath devoured
him; and we shall see what will become of his dreams.' 21 And Reuben
heard it, and delivered him out of their hand; and said: 'Let us not take his
life.' 22 And Reuben said unto them: 'Shed no blood; cast him into
this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him'--that he might
deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.
Lack of leadership vs.
leadership: Reuven is not a leader. He thinks with his heart that might be in
the right place but not with his head. His gut tells him what Shimon and Levi
want to do is wrong. So he puts business above his brother but advises them to
put him in an empty well that does not have water but there are scorpions and
snakes inside that might injure Yosef. Reuven has the right intention of return
Yosef to his father but he has no real plan how. Being the eldest, Shimon and
Levi will listen to him. Yehuda does not have a plan but he sees the intention
of Shimon and Levi as being perhaps worse than that of Esav. For Esav had his
Bracha stolen from him by Yacov and except for dreaming, Yosef did nothing to
harm Shimon or Levi who are both older and in a hierarchy higher among the
brothers.
23 And
it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph
of his coat, the coat of many colors that was on him; 24 and they
took him, and cast him into the pit--and the pit was empty, there was no water
in it. 25 And they sat down to eat bread; and they lifted up their
eyes and looked, and, behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with
their camels bearing spicery and balm and ladanum, going to carry it down to
Egypt. 26 And Judah said unto his brethren: 'What profit is it if we
slay our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, and let us sell him
to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother,
our flesh.' And his brethren hearkened unto him.
Yehuda wanted to save
Yosef for he knew that Shimon was in the wrong. However, he was unlike Reuven,
he was a born leader but what could be his plan. Leaders are not perfect and
they make mistakes. He comes up with a plan when he see the merchants. He is
young and does not think out the full consequences of his actions towards
either HASHEM or his father in
fact for his own future in the next world. He only thinks of saving Yosef for
good or for bad. They also might have harkened to him had he brought up the
subject of how would Aba (dad) feel if Yosef did not come back but he was still
under 21 and ruled by emotions like a teen.
28 And
there passed by Midianites, merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out
of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver.
And they brought Joseph into Egypt.
Yosef still being under
20 did not fetch much money but the main thing was to get rid of him.
29 And
Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he
rent his clothes. 30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said:
'The child is not; and as for me, whither shall I go?'
Reuven should have had
Yosef as his top priority not the but instead he put some other business above
his breather.
31 And
they took Joseph's coat, and killed a he-goat, and dipped the coat in the
blood; 32 and they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it
to their father; and said: 'This have we found. Know now whether it is thy
son's coat or not.'
Measure for measure.
Since Yacov used a coat and goat to deceive Yitzchak so the brothers used a
coat and a goat to deceive Yacov.
33 And
he knew it, and said: 'It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him;
Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.' 34 And Jacob rent his
garments, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many
days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort
him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said: 'Nay, but I will go down to
the grave to my son mourning.' And his father wept for him. 36 And
the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the
captain of the guard.
Potiphar was a Eunuch for he was
part of Pharaoh's guard and had to serve if necessary as a guard in the Harem.
He is also mentioned as a Priest and the head of the cooks and food tasters for
Pharaoh. He was on a level that he did not have to take a bite of food.
38:1 And
it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and
turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 And Judah
saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua; and he took
her, and went in unto her. 3 And she conceived, and bore a son; and
he called his name Er. 4 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and
she called his name Onan. 5 And she yet again bore a son, and called
his name Shelah; and he was at Chezib, when she bore him. 6 And Judah
took a wife for Er his first-born, and her name was Tamar. 7 And Er,
Judah's first-born, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew
him.
Tamar was exceedingly
beautiful and he did not want to spoil her beauty so he spilled his seed.
8 And
Judah said unto Onan: 'Go in unto thy brother's wife, and perform the duty of a
husband's brother unto her, and raise up seed to thy brother.' 9 And
Onan knew that the seed would not be his; and it came to pass when he went in
unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest he should give
seed to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did was evil in the
sight of the LORD; and He slew him also.
Since the seed would be
in his brother's name, he too spilled his seed.
11 Then
said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law: 'Remain a widow in thy father's house,
till Shelah my son be grown up'; for he said: 'Lest he also die, like his
brethren.' And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house. 12 And in
process of time Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and Judah was
comforted, and went up unto his sheep-shearers to Timnah, he and his friend
Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And it was told Tamar, saying: 'Behold, thy
father-in-law goes up to Timnah to shear his sheep.' 14 And she put
off from her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil,
and wrapped herself, and sat in the entrance of Enaim, which is by the way to
Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she was not given unto him to
wife.
Yehuda was afraid that
this woman was a killer-wife as he did not know of the sins that the Torah
tells us about.
15 When
Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she had covered her
face. 16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said: 'Come, I pray
thee, let me come in unto thee'; for he knew not that she was his
daughter-in-law. And she said: 'What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come
in unto me?' 17 And he said: 'I will send thee a kid of the goats
from the flock.' And she said: 'Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send
it?' 18 And he said: 'What pledge shall I give thee?' And she said:
'Thy signet and thy cord, and thy staff that is in thy hand.' And he gave them
to her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
The ring and signet that
would carry the way to Moshiach from her as Yehuda would eventually establish
the kingdom .
19 And
she arose, and went away, and put off her veil from her, and put on the
garments of her widowhood. 20 And Judah sent the kid of the goats by
the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman's
hand; but he found her not. 21 Then he asked the men of her place,
saying: 'Where is the harlot, that was at Enaim by the wayside?' And they said:
'There hath been no harlot here.' 22 And he returned to Judah, and
said: 'I have not found her; and also the men of the place said: There hath
been no harlot here.' 23 And Judah said: 'Let her take it, lest we be
put to shame; behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.'
He truly wanted to pay
but there was nobody to pay. Also strangely the woman had no claim on him.
24 And
it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying:
'Tamar thy daughter-in-law hath played the harlot; and moreover, behold, she is
with child by harlotry.' And Judah said: 'Bring her forth, and let her be
burnt.'
She was a bas Cohain and
the punishment of a bas Cohain who commits adultery is burning.
25 When
she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying: 'By the man,
whose these are, am I with child'; and she said: 'Discern, I pray thee, whose
are these, the signet, and the cords, and the staff.' 26 And Judah
acknowledged them, and said: 'She is more righteous than I; forasmuch as I gave
her not to Shelah my son.' And he knew her again no more.
There are two answers
the Rabbis give, the Pshat that she bore him children and they kept their
distance. The other commentary is basically and they lived happily ever after.
27 And
it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her
womb. 28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, that one put out a
hand; and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying:
'This came out first.' 29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his
hand, that, behold his brother came out; and she said: 'Wherefore hast thou
made a breach for thyself?' Therefore his name was called
Perez. 30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet
thread upon his hand; and his name was called Zerah.
Unlike Esav and Yacov we
do not read about rivalry between the twins but harmony
39:1 And
Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the
captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hand of the Ishmaelites,
that had brought him down thither. 2 And the LORD was with Joseph,
and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the
Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that
the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4 And Joseph
found favor in his sight, and he ministered unto him. And he appointed him
overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Like Grandpa Yitzchak
before him, HASHEM prospered his ways.
5 And
it came to pass from the time that he appointed him overseer in his house, and
over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's
sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had, in the house and
in the field.
He was trust worthy and
did not look after the Egyptian Women.
6 And
he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and, having him, he knew not aught
save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was of beautiful form, and fair to
look upon.
Yosef was very handsome
and young.
7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's
wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said: 'Lie with me.' 8 But he
refused, and said unto his master's wife: 'Behold, my master, having me, knows
not what is in the house, and he hath put all that he hath into my
hand; 9 he is not greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept
back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife. How then can I do
this great wickedness, and sin against God?'
From Rabbi Salid Shlita: In this week's Parsha, Yosef invokes a fundamental point of
Judaism. When tempted by his master's wife, Yosef offers many reasons not to
engage with her. His final reason is: "How can I do this great evil and
sin against G-d?" Ultimately, the only reason not to sin is because it
violates G-d's will.
There is a famous Gemara
which tells us that G-d offered the Torah to the other nations before offering
it to the Jews. Each nation had an excuse for rejecting it. The sons of Eisav
couldn't accept the prohibition of murder. The sons of Yishmael couldn't accept
the prohibition of theft. The sons of Amon and Moav couldn't accept the
prohibition of adultery.
The obvious question is
that these nations already had these laws. We know from Hamarabi's code and
other sources that there was a system of justice among the nations. Why, then,
did they reject the commandments?
The answer is that they
wanted law to be man-made so that they could be adjusted at man's whim and
wish. If it is up to man to define murder, he can decide whom to kill and
simply not call it murder. The same is true of the other prohibitions. They did
not want a Torah from heaven whose parameters are defined only by G-d.
Yosef was telling Potiphar's
wife a similar idea. There can be many reasons not to commit adultery, but
ultimately, the only reason that counts is that G-d decreed it to be evil.
10 And
it came to pass, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto
her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 11 And it came to pass on a
certain day, when he went into the house to do his work, and there was none of
the men of the house there within,
I think that she caused
the other servants not to be around.
12 that
she caught him by his garment, saying: 'Lie with me.' And he left his garment
in her hand, and fled, and got him out. 13 And it came to pass, when
she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled
forth, 14 that she called unto the men of her house, and spoke unto
them, saying: 'See, he hath brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in
unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.
If nobody was home, how
could she cry out in a loud voice? I think things like this made Potiphar
suspicious that Yosef was innocent for otherwise what was it for him to kill a
slave.
15 And
it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he
left his garment by me, and fled, and got him out.' 16 And she laid
up his garment by her, until his master came home. 17 And she spoke
unto him according to these words, saying: 'The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast
brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me. 18 And it came to pass,
as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled
out.' 19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his
wife, which she spoke unto him, saying: 'After this manner did thy servant to
me'; that his wrath was kindled. 20 And Joseph's master took him, and
put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were bound; and
he was there in the prison.
I believe others
reported to the Eunuch his wife's past behavior but for Shalom Beis, he put
Yosef in prison as he was the captain of the guard.
21 But
the LORD was with Joseph, and showed kindness unto him, and gave him favor in
the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the
prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison;
and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 23 The keeper
of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand, because the LORD
was with him; and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
40:1 And it
came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his
baker offended their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was wroth
against his two officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the
chief of the bakers. 3 And he put them in ward in the house of the
captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was
bound. 4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph to be with them,
and he ministered unto them; and they continued a season in ward.
These were high ranking officials
purged by Pharaoh the cup bearer and the official baker.
5 And
they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream, in one night, each man
according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the
king of Egypt, who were bound in the prison. 6 And Joseph came in
unto them in the morning, and saw them, and, behold, they were
sad. 7 And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward
of his master's house, saying: 'Wherefore look ye so sad
to-day?' 8 And they said unto him: 'We have dreamed a dream, and
there is none that can interpret it.' And Joseph said unto them: 'Do not
interpretations belong to God? tell it me, I pray you.'
Both dreams and their
interpretations come from HASHEM.
9 And
the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him: 'In my dream,
behold, a vine was before me; 10 and in the vine were three branches;
and as it was budding, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters thereof
brought forth ripe grapes, 11 and Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; and I
took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into
Pharaoh's hand.' 12 And Joseph said unto him: 'This is the
interpretation of it: the three branches are three days; 13 within
yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head, and restore thee unto thine
office; and thou shalt give Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former
manner when thou were his butler. 14 But have me in thy remembrance
when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and
make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this
house. 15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the
Hebrews; and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the
dungeon.'
It is stated in the
Midrash that had Yosef trusted only in HASHEM, he would have been released with
the Chamberlain but he was to have two more years in jail for trusting in man.
16 When
the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph: 'I
also saw in my dream, and, behold, three baskets of white bread were on my
head; 17 and in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of baked
food for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my
head.' 18 And Joseph answered and said: 'This is the interpretation
thereof: the three baskets are three days; 19 within yet three days
shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree;
and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.' 20 And it came to
pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all
his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and the head of the
chief baker among his servants. 21 And he restored the chief butler
back unto his butlership; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's
hand. 22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet
did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him.
It is the nature of a
person to forget Hakaras HaTov and the butler did so.
Thanksgiving blues. In
2001 I drove from FL to MD to be with my family. I did not want to fly for the
hassle but the drive was horrible. I got to my family they did not celebrate
Thanksgiving. Ever since I go cold turkey an and cranberry sauce by myself in
Israel. I remember the good ole days with my grandfather and I eating a
drumstick each and mom's stuffing etc. There are somethings that Israelis don't
know. It is like the Song of Shabbos that a fool does not understand Shabbos. All I can
tell you is that a few months ago I was almost in the next world so I have a
lot to be thankful for and losing weight and returning to the gym are part of
them. OH GIVE THANKS UNTO TO THE LRD FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER!
Recipe for Hanucha. https://www.chabad.org/recipes/recipe_cdo/aid/5303116/jewish/Sweet-Potato-Curry-Latkes.htm#utm_medium=email&utm_source=1_chabad.org_magazine_en&utm_campaign=en&utm_content=content
The 'Falcon of
Malta' who died for Israel.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317589
'Top Guns': The little-known story of the decorate Canadian WWII Pilot
who died mysterious in 1948 after joining the Israeli Air Force.
One of the most successful and
decorated Canadian World War II "Top Guns," George Frederic' Buzz'
Beurling, was born in Montreal one hundred years ago on December 6, 1921. After
the war, he joined the nascent Israeli Air Force to fight in the War of
Independence and was killed mysteriously in 1948: It was a lamentable end to a
dazzling dream.
This is his story.
'Buzz' was, without a shadow of a doubt, among the most accomplished
fighter pilots in military aviation. He was considered a "lone wolf"
who spent more time mathematically calculating optimal shots from various
angles and distances to maximize Spitfire ammunition than having a pint with
his mates. For example, Beurling found that by shooting cannon on the
approximated flight path of an enemy plane, one could attack the aircraft
without straightening one's tail, utilizing a side angle. Pilots who flew with
Beurling said that he would notice approaching planes before anyone else and
count them. As others were unable to see what he was talking about, they
thought that he was nervous or tense, but in the end, he was always accurate.
Known as "The Falcon of Malta," he and other ‘Top Guns’
played a significant role in preventing Hitler and Mussolini from occupying the
island and turning the western Mediterranean into an Axis lake, thus securing
the vital lines of communication for their North African campaigns. Accordingly,
the dictators blockaded the strategically located island, intercepted supplies
to the besieged British forces, and bombed the small island incessantly. The
Germans and Italians flew over 3000 bombing raids, dropping 6,700 tons of bombs
on the Grand Harbor area alone: the archipelago was largely reduced to rubble.
In May 1941, Erwin Rommel warned that "Without Malta, the Axis will end by
losing control of North Africa." In Churchill
and Malta's War, 1939-1945, Douglas Austin argues that the
Prime Minister understood that without Malta's ability to attack ships
resupplying German forces in North Africa, victory in Europe would be delayed
by up to a year. Victory on the shores of the burning island enabled the Allies
to use it as an unsinkable carries in the subsequent invasion of Italy leading
to the collapse of the Berlin-Rome Axis.
With little or no food, shortage of spare parts and fuel, Buzz and
his fellow pilots fought bravely against all odds. They launched sorties after
sorties, with little rest, as waves of enemy warplanes tried to force Malta
into submission. Each Nazi assault was confronted and repulsed with the defiant
roar of Spitfires resulting in the decimation of the Luftwaffe and the Regia
Aeronautica Italiana. Those who fought the Axis were often reminded by Admiral
of the Fleet, Andrew Browne Cunningham of the Great Siege of Malta in 1565 when
the Ottoman Empire was defeated by the Knights Hospitaller who fought valiantly
against Suleiman the Magnificent’s superior forces. 'Buzz' shot 27 Axis
warplanes in two weeks in 1942 and earned another sobriquet: "Knight of
the Sky.”
Churchill's commendation issued after the Battle of Britain in 1940
"Never in the field of human
conflict was so much owed by so many to so few" found new
resonance as the Pact of Steel's Maltese dreams were shattered on the shores of
a blood-drenched island thanks mainly to Beurling and his band of brothers.
After the war, as Israel's War of Independence was about to start,
'Buzz' deeply felt that Arab threats to destroy the fledgling Jewish State
would amount to granting Hitler a posthumous victory. Without hesitation,
Beurling decided to take to the skies yet again and help Israel survive. The
fledgling Israel Air Force was forged in battle, but most pilots and aircrew
were overseas volunteers. The reason for this disastrous situation was that
Britain, in charge of the Palestine Mandate before May 15, 1948, had refused to
accept Palestinian Jews who wanted serve in the RAF until 1943 - almost four
years into the war. When the 1948 War broke out, there were only 25 Jewish
pilots: the rest came from abroad, including my boss at Israel Aerospace
Industries, the late Al Shwimmer, an American, who organized the smuggling of
jets into Israel.
'Buzz's' decision to join the fray did not come as a surprise to
George's brother Rick who told Itay Itamar, writing for the Israel Air Force Journal that the family had been
brought up on Holy Scriptures and that both he and 'Buzz' shared a
Judeo-Christian world view.
"We very
much identified with the history of the people of Israel. Our father always
said that one day Israel would become an independent state, and we always
waited for it to happen," remembered Rick. "I think that after
George's experience in World War II, together with the fact that Israel was
about to become a nation, he ran to help. Even though he wasn't Jewish, he had
a Jewish heart “said Rick Beurling.
‘Buzz’ contacted Sydney Solomon, a Montreal Jewish community leader
who was deeply involved in Jewish and Israeli affairs. It was not easy: Solomon
was suspicious and questioned Buerling's motives. "Sydney sat with us in
the kitchen and told us that it was challenging for them to believe my brother
because he thought that it was a trick or a type of bait," recalled Rick
during Itamar’s interview. But, 'Buzz' convinced him as he answered each
question with a quote from the Bible. He wanted to be part of the epic struggle
about to unfold and burned with the desire to defend the Jewish State.
Beurling, a religious man versed in the Holy Books, could not imagine that a
few years after the liberation of concentration camps, another holocaust might
be inflicted on the Jewish people.
According to Itamar, as soon as Beurling received the green light at
the outbreak of the War of Independence, he joined Leonard Yehuda Cohen, a
British ace who had also fought in Malta. Both pilots volunteered in the
nascent Israeli air force. 'Buzz's' first operation was to bring a Norseman
plane from Italy to Israel on May 20, 1948. But, the aircraft exploded and
crashed in mysterious circumstances in Rome as many believe that the plane was
sabotaged before it took off. He was twenty-seven years old when he died.
His charred
remains were unclaimed and kept in a warehouse in the Verano Monumental
Cemetery for five months. Eventually, Beurling, the romantic war hero, was
interred in Rome's Protestant Memorial Garden, appropriately enough, between
the graves of Percy Bysshe Shelly and John Keats.
Although we don't have access to all the relevant documents, the
suspicious circumstances concerning the crash have been discussed in many
books, including Brian Nolan's The
Buzz Beurling Story. Suffice to note that the World War II ace had
many powerful foes: Pro- Arab western secret services were fiercely opposed to
his activities; Rome was full of Nazis signing up to fight with the Arabs;
remnants of the SS were sworn to settle scores with the "Maltese
Falcon"; and Arab intelligence services were determined to prevent
incipient Israel from attaining air superiority, especially as Beurling was
about to fly the P-51 Mustang. But the possibility of an accident, however,
cannot be discounted.
At the suggestion
of the State of Israel and with the approval of the Beurling family, on
November 9, 1950, George's remains were brought from Italy to Israel. He was
laid to eternal rest with full military honors in the Christian cemetery in
Haifa.
On the 60th
Anniversary of his internment, it was decided, based on the family's request,
to grant George a full Jewish commemorative service in Haifa. The memorial
service was attended by the crew of the "Flying Camel" squadron, the
commander of the squadron, and the head of the Department of Fallen Soldiers,
Lt. Col. Danny Shneidman, who accompanied the Beurling family during their
first visit to Israel. The Canadian Ambassador to Israel, Jon Allen, and the
Canadian Defense Attaché to Israel Col. Geordie Elms, too, were present.
Chasidic Megillah by R' Yerachmiel Tilles
http://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1250-12
Rabbi Nachum son of Rabbi
Dov Ber and the grandson of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, was an
eye-witness of the events of the Yud-Tes Kislev epic. He took upon himself to
describe it in all its details, year after year. He would start as follows.
"For ten years my grandfather was a disciple of Rabbi Dov-Ber, the
Maggid of Mezritch,[1] and for five years the leader of the 'holy
brotherhood' - until he became renowned as the preacher of Liozna. For twenty
years he toiled in a number of tasks.
"The first of these was the establishment and consolidation of the three
celebrated chadarim. In the first of these three study halls, which
he founded in1778, he taught his disciples for five consecutive years. The
entrance requirements included a thorough familiarity with the Talmud, Midrash, Sefer
HaIkkarim and Kuzari, and a knowledge of Zohar.
"The second cheder was established in 1780, and the third
in 1782; the usual period of study in each of these more advanced stages was
three years.
"My grandfather's other tasks in this period included the guidance of his
chassidim, and his endeavors at spreading and explaining the doctrines of his
teachers, the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezritch. When the various
regions were allocated to the disciples of the Maggid for this purpose, my
grandfather undertook the most difficult, for this area was nearest to
Lithuania.
"When Tanya first appeared - and by that time there were
already (thank G-d) tens of thousands of chasidim, including scholars and
halachic authorities who followed his legal decisions (as in the construction
of the mikveh, the insistence on honed slaughtering knives for
shechitah, and so on) - that was when the libelous accusation took place."
(Actually, the title used by Reb Nachum for Tanya was "Kuntresim".
Before Tanya was first published as a book in 1796, its subject matter was
disseminated among the chasidim in the form of single handwritten chapters and
even half-chapters, which were called kuntresim -'leaflets'. For this reason,
the older chassidim who remembered those days continued to use this name for
the work even after it was printed as a book with a title.)
At this point Reb Nachum would proceed to describe in detail the libelous
accusation which the misnagdim (opponents) brought to the
Czarist authorities and the exultation in their camp when the Rebbe was taken
to St. Petersburg. For example, when on Sunday, the twenty-seventh of Tishrei
1798, word reached their main cities of Vilna, Minsk and Shklov that he had
been taken off to St. Petersburg in the black wagon, guarded by gendarmes with
swords drawn, it was announced publicly that on the next day, Monday, all the
synagogues should introduce the Psalms of the Hallel into the
morning service and the townsmen should conduct a festive meal to mark the
occasion.
Fortunately, this announcement encountered opposition from some of the older
sages in the misnagdish camp, for in each of these three towns
there were scholars who had the opportunity of getting to know Reb Shneur
Zalman, and they exerted whatever influence they could have to restrain these
expression of vindictiveness. Thus it was that in the majority of synagogues in
these three towns the announcements encouraging merrymaking were ignored.
From this Reb Nachum would move on to the Alter Rebbe's stay in prison, the
liberation, the way in which the glad tidings spread, and the itinerary from
St. Petersburg to Liozna.
All this was recounted clearly and succinctly. When he recalled the arrest his
voice would drop unawares, as if he were weeping; when he reached liberation,
his voice would rise with the joy of a remembered triumph.
In addition, he adopted the rule in force for the reading of the Megillah on
Purim - once at night and a full repetition by day. Moreover, if one of the
dignified old chassidim would join the gathering after it had begun, he would
go back to the very beginning and start all over again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
[1]The
Maggid passed away on Yud-Tes Kislev, a quarter century before R. Shneur Zalman
was liberated on the same date. His last words to his precious disciple were:
"Yud-Tes Kislev, a day of celebration for me and you!"
Source: Adapted and 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 Nachum Shneuri was the eldest son of the
second Chabad rebbe, Rabbi Dov-Ber. Upon his father's passing at age 54, many
turned to Rabbi Nachum to assume the role of successor, but he deferred to his
brother-in-law, Rabbi Menachem-Mendel Schneersohn, the eventual third rebbe,
known as the Tzemek Tzedek.
Milestone Avraham Schumer, 98,
father of Senate Majority Leader. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317606
Milestone Sylvia Weinstock, 91,
queen of cakes. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317523
Milestone: Justus Rosenberg, 100,
French Resistance and YIVO. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317372
Inyanay Diyoma
Terrorist Murder in Yerushalayim. https://www.debka.com/eliyahu-david-kay-was-murdered-by-a-muslim-cleric-serving-hamas-terrorists/ NO SHACHID: two female Border Guards officers shot the terrorist
dead. Buried a beloved volunteer for the Paratroopers, Guarding a Kibbutz
and a guide to the Kotel Tunnels. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317353
Hundreds march in support of terrorist. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sk00ebqodt#autoplay
Police, IDF and Shin Bet breakup 50 Hamas Terrorists. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317365
Yafo Stabbing. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317361
MIRACLE ALERT saved by Tephillin sheh Yad. Rabbi Zev Katzenelbogen was
saved when the terrorist bullet centimeters from
his heart wedged into his Tephillin and stopped in his arm. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317344
Straight from the Rav's mouth: https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/11/21/survivor-of-old-city-terror-attack-speaks-i-received-my-life-as-a-gift/
US warns Israel attacks on Iran don’t help. Israel diplomatically
replies “Go Brandon”. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317332
Latest Poll. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317328
SUV did not honk horn or stop at WI Parade. https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/wisconsin-waukesha-suv-plows-crowd-christmas-parade
Bennett builds a terror State Glick. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317327
Former Mossad Head skeptical on Iran. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317337
Dershowitz – K. Rittenhouse needs a defamation Lawyer. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317343
Nahariya Hospital Guards keeps 55 relatives of Arab Woman out. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317333
Ex-Netanyahu aid State Witness. https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-comes-face-to-face-in-court-with-ex-aide-turned-graft-trial-state-witness/
Babies emit smells make moms protective, dad’s mellow. https://www.timesofisrael.com/babies-emit-smell-to-get-aggressively-loyal-moms-and-mellow-dads-israeli-study-says/
School Principal shot. https://www.timesofisrael.com/school-principal-shot-in-moderate-condition-in-northern-city-of-arraba/
Israel should not fall into Hamas’s trap. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sy4hcetuy
Thousands of higher educated Israelis rush to vaccinate their children. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/bkiz3ruoy
War on crime in Arab areas not over. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkil11sz00t
Vaccine Mandates lead to riots. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ry3qlydut
Hamas Political or Military two
sides same coin. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bkpd0ao00f
Term limits of PM set in first of
three votes. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rk4ucdfdf
Petrol for Cash in Gaza. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1n6bvkdy
Transport Minister wants public
transit on Shabbos. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1zk1wt00k
Meron Stampede committee starts
recommendations. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sj9nb7fdk
30year murder case. https://www.timesofisrael.com/haredi-mayor-remanded-amid-suspicion-he-was-present-at-1990-murder/
NASA to smash satellite into
Asteroid in test. https://www.timesofisrael.com/nasa-to-smash-a-satellite-into-an-asteroid-in-test-of-plan-to-save-the-planet/
Asked for a moment of silence for
slain and thrown out. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317358
Motive? Kill whites in WI. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317383
Columbian Pres. Apologizes. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/11/21/colombia-apologizes-for-police-cadets-in-nazi-uniforms/
Giant Pharma to invest in Israel. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/11/21/us-pharma-giant-west-to-invest-in-israeli-incubator-medx-xelerator/
Half of the Germans never met a Jew.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/11/22/survey-showing-that-nearly-half-of-german-citizens-have-never-had-contact-with-jews-causes-worry-among-jewish-leaders/
Another Black antisemite. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/11/22/nypd-search-for-assailant-who-ripped-kippah-from-jewish-mans-head-in-manhattan-street/
Another Woman General. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/11/22/israeli-army-promotes-third-woman-to-major-general-rank-heading-military-court-of-appeals/
Biden plans run for a second term. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317395
We may be on the verge of a 5th
wave. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317400
And the Emmy goes to Israel.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317401
Minister cries upon hearing victim's
grandfather. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317391
Ex-Aid testifies against Netanyahu. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317346
CUNY discriminated against Jewish
Prof. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317370
Vehicular Jihad? I just
saw this have no other proof. https://loomered.com/2021/11/22/exclusive-darrell-brooks-belongs-to-black-supremacist-sect-of-islam-called-the-five-percent-nation-he-committed-vehicular-jihad/ Not my usual source grain of salt needed.
Attack on Iranian-Hezballah in
Syria. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyrrvijof
By 2050, 25%of Israel will be
ultra-Orthodox. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/byjxjkody
Israel-Morocco Defense Deal. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkycnkidk
Antisemitic Graffiti again as Austin
HS. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317442
Amazon removes 'gas the Jews' wine glasses. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317458
Australia blocks Hezballah. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317468
Remains of 7Covid victims from
Morocco to be buried in Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317474
The next war will be the first Iran
War. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317467
Covid affects the brains of children
go vaccinate. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317445
11year-old finds 2000-year-old rare
coin. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317415
Israel reveals Iranian anti-ship
drone bases. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/11/23/israel-reveals-iranian-drone-bases-used-to-launch-maritime-attacks-warns-of-action-as-nuclear-talks-resume/
Polish priest who spoke out against
antisemitism facing abuse. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/11/23/im-being-treated-like-a-criminal-says-polish-catholic-priest-facing-disciplinary-proceedings-after-speaking-out-against-antisemitism/
A dozen Attorney Generals warn
Unilever of Ben & Jerry Boycott. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/11/23/a-dozen-us-attorneys-general-to-unilever-stop-ben-jerrys-boycott-of-israel-dont-deflect-accountability/
NYT third apology. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/11/23/new-york-times-issues-a-triple-correction-to-article-on-deadly-jerusalem-attack/
Media Propaganda. Today
is international women's abuse day. Forget about Thanksgiving the six dead and
many in critical condition on WI. The Israel Media does not care about the
Iranian Bomb threat, rockets and missiles from Hezballah another two murdered
Arabs by the Mafia. Perhaps the abuse of girl soldiers to be near terrorist to
have their insults and one to actually put-out for the head terrorist. The rest
of the news is abuse of women. Forget about some wives that hen peck their
husbands or women who abuse their children. I am no way in favor of abuse of
women and came across the case of a masochist that wanted to blame her husband
for abuse. It should not become a one day propaganda piece in collusion with
all the radio and TV networks.
It will take time but their will be
a solution to Hamas Rockets. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317548
The top US commander in the Middle East said on Wednesday that
Iran is “very close” to a nuclear bomb and his forces stand ready with a
potential military option should talks with the Islamic Republic fail. - General
Kenneth McKenzie. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317537
Saudis pressured UAE to cancel
Yarden-Yisrael Energy for Water Deal. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317546
OH antisemite subject to Jail and
Fine. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/11/24/ohio-man-who-threatened-jewish-neighbors-receives-jail-term-50k-fine-in-federal-court/
From NBA Phoenix Suns, NY Knicks to
Orthodox Jew. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/11/24/retired-nba-star-amare-stoudemire-shares-his-journey-to-judaism-on-hbo-series/
US will not sit idly by if Iran
drags its feet. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317545
Cyber attack on Iranian water works.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317502
Murder 112 Haifa 113 Yerushalayim. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317539
Belgistan labels Yehuda and Shomron
products. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317535
Media goes soft on WI murderer. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317550
Ahmaud Arbery trial defendants
guilty. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317524
Pilot error almost lost an F-15 and
crew. https://www.timesofisrael.com/air-force-suspends-training-after-jet-almost-crashes-during-exercise/
Record set for female PM in Sweden
and short lived government. https://www.timesofisrael.com/swedens-first-ever-female-prime-minister-steps-down-within-hours/
Female soldiers routinely harassed
by terrorists. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryt00x7h00f
New Yerushalayim neighborhood
instead of abandoned airport. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkv64j2ot
Statue of the writer of Declaration
of Ind. Removed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317517
1200 more police to patrol the
Negev. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317519
Israel restricts travel to and from
7 African Countries. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/sk84avpof
Arab woman shot dead. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1ws4npdy
Why vaccinate your kids. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkbwjmcoy
Algeria claims that the Zionist
Entity targeted them. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317622
52 Coal Miners dead in Russia. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317609
Rav Chaim says "Vaccinate your
children". https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317568
Thursday it was reported on building
up Atarot Airport cancelled by US Pressure. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-backs-off-controversial-east-jerusalem-housing-project-amid-us-pressure/
Axe thrown into cemetery chapel in Belgrade. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/11/25/axe-stones-thrown-through-window-of-belgrade-jewish-cemetery-chapel/
Syrian Officer helped Hezballah. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/11/25/syrian-officer-in-the-golan-heights-assisted-hezbollah/
Have a healthy and
peaceful Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli
