Great grandson named - Nathaniel and I turned 75 on the secular Calendar.
Parsha Shelach Lecha in brief.
Shelach
Lecha for the Diaspora
Actually, this came from Rabbi Yissocher Frand
Shlita at the Torah Forum. It is from Behaalosecha but is applicable to the
complaint of the spies and even to the revolution of Korach. One theme is in
hand. Lust for either forbidden women, keeping power, having power that perhaps
is missed out on.
The Pasuk says: “We remember the fish that we
ate in Egypt free of charge, the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic”
(Bamidbar 11:5). The people were ostensibly crying over the food that they
missed while they were in the Wilderness. Rashi quotes the teaching of Chazal
that they were not really crying over the fish, cucumbers, garlic and onions,
but rather they were crying over “family matters.” They were bemoaning the fact
that they recently became forbidden in the Arayos prohibitions.
Rav
Yaakov Kamenetsky shares a very basic idea over here (as he does in two other
places in his Chumash commentary). He asks, how do Chazal know this? The simple
reading of the Pasuk is that they were crying over food
deprivation. Chazal say that rather than crying over food, they were really
crying over the newly given Arayos prohibitions. There is no
indication of such in the pasuk, so how do Chazal put words into
the mouths of the Jews in the Wilderness that appear nowhere in the p’shuto
shel Mikra?
Rav
Yaakov answers that there is a concept in Torah interpretation called “PaRDeS“. PaRDeS is
an acronym which represents the Torah being understood on several different
levels—the level of Pshat (simple interpretation), Remez (hidden
allusion), Drash (homiletic exposition), and Sod (mystical
interpretation). So too, he says, human beings need to be understood on
different levels. When a person says something, it needs to be analyzed at the
level of Pshat, at the level of Remez, at the level
of Drush, and at the level of Sod. Many times, people
don’t really understand their own words on the subconscious level.
Sometimes
something much deeper is really going on than the face value of someone’s
words. People don’t really cry about fish and cucumbers—especially when they
have Mann falling from Heaven on a daily basis. The Mann was
the best food in the world. According to Chazal, it could taste
like whatever the person consuming it desired. So obviously, no one’s taste
buds were being deprived by a lack of garlic or onions. Either through Ruach
HaKodesh or some other means, Chazal realized that
something much deeper than onions was motivating them over here. This is what
Rav Yaakov calls “Klayos v’ Lev” (literally kidneys and heart), which is
a Rabbinic idiom for what we call the subconscious. In other words, they were
not even aware themselves of what was really bothering them.
The 10 spies that rebelled were
leaders in the desert. The tribe was close together. Now in Eretz Yisrael Dan
is going to be in two areas one north Tel Aviv area and at the foot of the Golan
Heights. Or Menashe on two side of the Yarden, Yehuda from below Dan to
slightly below Beer Sheva and the Yarden – Dead Sea. But Calev prayed in
Chevron and was saved from the temptation of the power like the spies.
The laws of some Korbanos, Challah,
and upon entering Eretz Yisrael are given.
The Parsha ends with the Tzitzis
Mitzvah that is built like 613 parts to make up the Commandments that one does
not go astray as we see: 39 And
it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all
the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye go not about after your
own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go astray; 40 that
ye may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy unto your God. 41 I
am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God:
I am the LORD your God.'
I have a glad-sad true story of two
fellows that entered College. In June we were invited to take a series of
tests. One for our knowledge of English, another for psychological data,
another an IQ test.
R. Pauli the Jew that grew up in an
Irish Catholic Neighborhood, moved to an Italian Neighborhood and Torah-wise a
boor and Am HaAretz about Judaism, Customs, Halacha, Holidays. Only that he was
so Goyish in Nature that he heard what no Goldstein, Levy or Cohen ever hears -
what the antisemitic Goy says about Jews behind their backs. Sitting next to
him taking the same test was Henry P. (Not my son’s Chaim’s English Name but
his name sake) a Lubavitcher.
The two talked. Henry did not try
to put Tefillin on somebody who did not know what Tefillin was. And both went
their merry ways. At the end of our Freshman year, I recognized the
extraordinary miracle within nature that had occurred to me and I wrote about
it. I was very slowly coming to believe in G-D and even slower starting to move
towards Judaism.
Henry between is Sophomore and
Junior Year went to Scandinavia. Somewhere between Sweden and Norway he met a
beautiful non-Jew and gave into his Yetzer. As he took off his Tzitzis, the
young woman asked him what they were. Essentially the string should have held
him back from sinning. But not Henry. He was not the Yid in Menachos Daf 44:
The Talmud relates the story of a young student who,
upon learning of a famous prostitute in a faraway city, is overcome with desire
and travels to meet her. Predictably, at the last moment he is spared from sin
due to his stringent adherence to the mitzva of tzitzit. He heard that there was a prostitute in a faraway
city who charged four hundred gold talents for her services. He sent her the
exorbitant fee and set an appointed time to meet her. When he arrived at the
appointed time … she prepared for him seven beds, one atop the other — six of
silver and the highest one was made of gold. Six silver ladders led to the
six silver beds, and a golden ladder led to the uppermost one. The prostitute
unclothed herself and sat on the uppermost bed, and he, too, joined her. As he
was disrobing, the four fringes of his tzitzit slapped him in his face. He
immediately slid off the bed onto the floor, where he was quickly joined by the
woman.
“I swear by the Roman Caesar,” the harlot exclaimed,
“I will not leave you until you reveal to me what flaw you have found in me!”
“I swear,” the man replied, “that I have never seen a
woman as beautiful as you. However, there is one mitzvah which we were
commanded by our G‑d, and tzitzit is its name… Now the four tzitzit appeared to
me as four witnesses, testifying to this truth.”
“I still will not leave you,” the prostitute said,
“until you provide me with your name, the names of your city, rabbi and the
school in which you study Torah.” He wrote down all the information and handed
it to her.
The woman sold all of her possessions. A third of the
money she gave to the government, a third she handed out to the poor, and the
remaining third she took with her — along with the silver and gold beds — and
she proceeded to the school which the man had named, the study hall of Rabbi
Chiya.
“Rabbi,” she said to Rabbi Chiya, “I would like to
convert.”
“Perhaps,” Rabbi Chiya responded, “You desire to
convert because you have taken a liking to a student here?” The woman pulled
out the piece of paper with the information and related to the rabbi the
miracle which transpired with the tzitzit. “You may go and claim that which is
rightfully yours,” the rabbi proclaimed.
She ended up marrying the man. Those very beds which
she originally prepared for him illicitly, she now prepared for him lawfully. Thanks to: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/2012/05/22/jp-morgan-a-prostitute-and-the-talmud/
But Henry did not do that. Instead
he stopped wearing his Tzitzis and Yarmulke. So, in the end we traded places
religiously. I passed my test and he failed his. It was a Test in life from
HASHEM. So when it comes to the next world, I might have to pay for some sins
but there is a place for me. Poor Henry, I can only pray that somehow is youth
with the Rebbe and old friends will facilitate his return. Amen v’ Amen!
P.S. there is more to learn with
the numbers of beds and ladders in our story but not in this limited
presentation.
Parsha Korach
Some complaints in the desert were
not personal like that of Miriam in her love for Tzipporah and she too was
punished for seven days. However, the lust for meat, spies’ lust for power and
Korach’s lust for power and Priestship were their undoing. For the next 38
years things are relatively quiet until Zimri’s behavior causes more deaths.
16:1 Now Korah, the son
of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons
of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men;
Woe to the wicked and woe to his
neighbor. The three members of Reuven and the 246 others lived close to Korach.
They were located in the south. The plan was that Korach was close to Levi than
Moshe according to the births of their fathers. Reuven was Yacov’s first born
and originally the Bechorim were to be the Priests. So he provoked them.
2 and they rose up in face of Moses, with
certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty men; they were princes
of the congregation, the elect men of the assembly, men of renown;
They based their claims on order of
birth and the whole congregation being holy.
3 and they assembled themselves together
against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them: 'Ye take too much upon
you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is
among them; wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the assembly of the
LORD?'
Why have you asserted that you
deserve this by order of birth but not by merit. The L-RD has appointed me.
4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his
face.
They prayed Tachnun and for Am Yisrael
as a plague could start.
5 And he spoke unto Korah and unto all his
company, saying: 'In the morning the LORD will show who are His, and who is
holy, and will cause him to come near unto Him; even him whom He may choose
will He cause to come near unto Him.
You think you are a great and holy
man! Then go ahead but be careful you might be over doing it.
6 This do: take you censors, Korah, and all
his company; 7 and put fire therein, and put incense upon them before
the LORD to-morrow; and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he
shall be holy; ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.' 8 And
Moses said unto Korah: 'Hear now, ye sons of Levi: 9 is it but a
small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the
congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the
tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto
them; 10 and that He hath brought thee near, and all thy brethren the
sons of Levi with thee? and will ye seek the priesthood also?
The L-RD have given you and your
families the job of carrying the Aron, Menorah, Shulchan, etc.
11 Therefore thou and all thy company that
are gathered together against the LORD--; and as to Aaron, what is he that ye
murmur against him?'
I did not take the Priesthood for
myself but was told that Aaron will get it. I have only done what HASHEM told
me to do and nothing more.
12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram,
the sons of Eliab; and they said: 'We will not come up;
For them it was personal against Moshe. He must
be using nepotism for his brother, himself and the Leviim. It did not occur to
them that he only followed what HASHEM Yisborach told him.
13 is it a small thing that thou hast
brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the
wilderness, but thou must needs make thyself also a prince over
us? 14 Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land flowing with
milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards; wilt thou put
out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.'
You did not keep your promise to
bring us into a land flowing with milk and honey. You are a failed leader and
should be ousted. It never occurred to them that Shammua the son of Zaccur had led them astray. He was
the politician and not Moshe.
15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto
the LORD: 'Respect not Thou their offering; I have not taken one ass from them,
neither have I hurt one of them.'
Neither Avraham nor Moshe took
anything from anybody for personal gains.
16 And Moses said unto Korah: 'Be thou and
all thy congregation before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron,
to-morrow; 17 and take ye every man his fire-pan, and put incense
upon them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his fire-pan, two hundred and
fifty fire-pans; thou also, and Aaron, each his fire-pan.'
We shall see who is correct and who
is in error.
18 And they took every man his fire-pan, and
put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood at the door of the tent
of meeting with Moses and Aaron. 19 And Korah assembled all the
congregation against them unto the door of the tent of meeting; and the glory
of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.
Now G-D was about to show everybody
who was right.
20 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto
Aaron, saying: 21 'Separate yourselves from among this congregation,
that I may consume them in a moment.' 22 And they fell upon their
faces, and said: 'O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man
sin, and wilt Thou be wroth with all the congregation?' 23 And the
LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 24 'Speak unto the congregation,
saying: Get you up from about the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and
Abiram.' 25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and
the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spoke unto the
congregation, saying: 'Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men,
and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be swept away in all their
sins.' 27 So they got them up from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and
Abiram, on every side; and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of
their tents, with their wives, and their sons, and their little ones. 28 And
Moses said: 'Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these
works, and that I have not done them of mine own mind. 29 If these
men die the common death of all men, and be visited after the visitation of all
men, then the LORD hath not sent Me.
You will now see if I have taken
power for my brother and I or have been the messenger and servant of the L-RD.
If their sacrifice is accepted then you too can be holy like me and anybody can
be a Priest. Otherwise guard your distance.
30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the
ground open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them,
and they go down alive into the pit, then ye shall understand that these men
have despised the LORD.' 31 And it came to pass, as he made an end of
speaking all these words, that the ground did cleave asunder that was under
them. 32 And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and
their households, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their
goods. 33 So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive
into the pit; and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the
assembly.
As they went down alive into the
pit, people could hear them yelling Moshe Emmes and his Torah is Emmes.
34 And all Israel that were round about them
fled at the cry of them; for they said: 'Lest the earth swallow us up.' 35 And
fire came forth from the LORD, and devoured the two hundred and fifty men that
offered the incense.
At first the people feared.
17:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses,
saying: 2 'Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he
take up the fire-pans out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for
they are become holy; 3 even the fire-pans of these men who have
sinned at the cost of their lives, and let them be made beaten plates for a
covering of the altar--for they are become holy, because they were offered
before the LORD--that they may be a sign unto the children of Israel.'
For the Angel of Death had told
Moshe that the incense would ward the plague off.
4 And Eleazar the priest took the brazen fire-pans,
which they that were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering
of the altar, 5 to be a memorial unto the children of Israel, to the
end that no common man, that is not of the seed of Aaron, draw near to burn
incense before the LORD; that he fare not as Korah, and as his company; as the
LORD spoke unto him by the hand of Moses.
Since the pans and their contents were for the
L-RD, they had become holy.
6 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of
Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying: 'Ye have killed the
people of the LORD.' 7 And it came to pass, when the congregation was
assembled against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tent of
meeting; and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD
appeared. 8 And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of
meeting. {S} 9 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 10 'Get
you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.' And
they fell upon their faces. 11 And Moses said unto Aaron: 'Take thy
fire-pan, and put fire therein from off the altar, and lay incense thereon, and
carry it quickly unto the congregation, and make atonement for them; for there
is wrath gone out from the LORD: the plague is begun.' 12 And Aaron
took as Moses spoke, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and, behold, the
plague was begun among the people; and he put on the incense, and made
atonement for the people. 13 And he stood between the dead and the
living; and the plague was stayed.
There were 14,000 who felt like Korach and were ready to join the
rebellion but waited on the side lines. So they died immediately.
14 Now they that died by the plague were fourteen thousand
and seven hundred, besides them that died about the matter of Korah. 15 And
Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tent of meeting, and the plague
was stayed.
The people needed to see miracles to calm down.
16 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 17 'Speak
unto the children of Israel, and take of them rods, one for each fathers'
house, of all their princes according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods;
thou shalt write every man's name upon his rod. 18 And thou shalt
write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi, for there shall be one rod for the
head of their fathers' houses. 19 And thou shalt lay them up in the
tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you. 20 And
it shall come to pass, that the man whom I shall choose, his rod shall bud; and
I will make to cease from Me the murmurings of the children of Israel, which
they murmur against you.'
G-D has said that enough is enough and we shall see who will be
choice.
21 And Moses spoke unto the children of Israel; and all their
princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses,
even twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. 22 And
Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tent of the testimony. 23 And
it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses went into the tent of the testimony;
and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth
buds, and bloomed blossoms, and bore ripe almonds. 24 And Moses
brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel;
and they looked, and took every man his rod.
A miracle occurred and the rod that had be a dried piece of wood
was now fresh flexible wood with almond blossoms budding.
25 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Put back the rod of Aaron
before the testimony, to be kept there, for a token against the rebellious
children; that there may be made an end of their murmurings against Me, that
they die not.' 26 Thus did Moses; as the LORD commanded him, so did
he.
This will stop the murmuring once and for all and remain a testimony
for all generations.
27 And the children of Israel spoke unto Moses, saying:
'Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone. 28 Every one
that comes near, that comes near unto the tabernacle of the LORD, is to die;
shall we wholly perish?'
After all this, it finally sunk into their thick
neck and thick sculls that HASHEM had appointed Moshe their leader.
18:1 And the LORD said unto Aaron: 'Thou and thy sons and
thy fathers' house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and thou
and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your
priesthood. 2 And thy brethren also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of
thy father, bring thou near with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and
minister unto thee, thou and thy sons with thee being before the tent of the
testimony.
The Leviim shall have their holiness. Even though
it is logical to fit in here with our story, it appears that this occurred
prior to the setting up of the Mishkan and the moving of the Aron and only
brought down here.
3 And they shall keep thy charge, and the
charge of all the Tent; only they shall not come nigh unto the holy furniture
and unto the altar, that they die not, neither they, nor ye. 4 And
they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tent of meeting,
whatsoever the service of the Tent may be; but a common man shall not draw nigh
unto you. 5 And ye shall keep the charge of the holy things, and the
charge of the altar, that there be wrath no more upon the children of
Israel. 6 And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from
among the children of Israel; for you they are given as a gift unto the LORD,
to do the service of the tent of meeting. 7 And thou and thy sons
with thee shall keep your priesthood in everything that pertains to the altar,
and to that within the veil; and ye shall serve; I give you the priesthood as a
service of gift; and the common man that draws nigh shall be put to
death.' …
No common man shall try to take the
place of a Cohain lest he be struck down.
… 10 In a most holy place
shalt thou eat thereof; every male may eat thereof; it shall be holy unto
thee. 11 And this is thine: the heave-offering of their gift, even
all the wave-offerings of the children of Israel; I have given them unto thee,
and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, as a due for ever; every one
that is clean in thy house may eat thereof. 12 All the best of the
oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the corn, the first part of them
which they give unto the LORD, to thee have I given them. 13 The
first-ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring unto the LORD,
shall be thine; every one that is clean in thy house may eat thereof. 14 Everything
devoted in Israel shall be thine. 15 Everything that opens the womb,
of all flesh which they offer unto the LORD, both of man and beast, shall be
thine; howbeit the first-born of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the
firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.
These are gifts for the Cohanim for
all generations.
16 And their
redemption-money--from a month old shalt thou redeem them--shall be, according
to thy valuation, five shekels of silver, after the shekel of the
sanctuary--the same is twenty gerahs. 17 But the firstling of an ox,
or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem;
they are holy: thou shalt dash their blood against the altar, and shalt make
their fat smoke for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savor unto the
LORD. 18 And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave-breast and
as the right thigh, it shall be thine. 19 All the heave-offerings of
the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given
thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, as a due for ever; it is an
everlasting covenant of salt before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with
thee.' 20 And the LORD said unto Aaron: 'Thou shalt have no
inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any portion among them; I am
thy portion and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.
Cohanim shall have to land inheritance.
Eventually, there were 24 families that had turns with operating for a week in
the Mikdash twice a year and on weeks with holidays.
21 And unto the children of
Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in
return for their service which they serve, even the service of the tent of
meeting. 22 And henceforth the children of Israel shall not come nigh
the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin, and die. 23 But the Levites
alone shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their
iniquity; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, and among
the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance. 24 For the
tithe of the children of Israel, which they set apart as a gift unto the LORD,
I have given to the Levites for an inheritance; therefore, I have said unto
them: Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.'
They eventually received cities and
surrounding land for planting but basically lived off of the tithes and they
taught Torah.
25 And the LORD spoke unto
Moses, saying: 26 'Moreover thou shalt speak unto the Levites, and
say unto them: When ye take of the children of Israel the tithe which I have
given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall set apart of it a gift
for the LORD, even a tithe of the tithe. 27 And the gift which ye set
apart shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the
threshing-floor, and as the fulness of the wine-press. 28 Thus ye
also shall set apart a gift unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive
of the children of Israel; and thereof ye shall give the gift which is set
apart unto the LORD to Aaron the priest. 29 Out of all that is given
you ye shall set apart all of that which is due unto the LORD, of all the best
thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.
You shall live off of the Maaser.
30 Therefore thou shalt say
unto them: When ye set apart the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted
unto the Levites as the increase of the threshing-floor, and as the increase of
the wine-press.
These are the gifts for the tribe
of Levi.
31 And
ye may eat it in every place, ye and your households; for it is your reward in
return for your service in the tent of meeting. 32 And ye shall bear
no sin by reason of it, seeing that ye have set apart from it the best thereof;
and ye shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, that ye die
not.
But just be extra careful with the
holiest of items.
The Stockdale Paradox by Rabbi Efrem Goldberg
https://aish.com/the-stockdale-paradox/
In
1965, Vice Admiral James Stockdale’s plane was shot down over North Vietnam and
he was taken as a prisoner of war. Five years after Stockdale was captured, his
teenage son, Jim, sought out a counselor's advice. It seemed so unlikely his
father would ever come home so he was told, "You may be better off just
considering your father dead and gone."
Jim
Collins tells the story in his book Good to Great where he
coined the phenomenon “The Stockdale paradox.” Tortured over twenty times
during his eight-year imprisonment from 1965 to 1973, Stockdale lived through
the war without any prisoner’s rights, no set release date, and no certainty as
to whether he would even survive to see his family again.
At
one point, he beat himself with a stool and cut himself with a razor,
deliberately disfiguring himself, so that he could not be put on videotape as
an example of a “well-treated prisoner.” He exchanged secret intelligence
information with his wife through their letters, knowing that discovery would
mean more torture and perhaps death.
How
did he deal with it when he was there and did not know what would be the end of
his story? Collins writes:
“I
never lost faith in the end of the story,” [Stockdale] said, when I asked him.
“I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail
in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which in
retrospect, I would not trade.”
Finally,
I asked, “Who didn’t make it out?” “Oh, that’s easy,” he said. “The optimists.”
“The optimists? I don’t understand,” I said, now completely confused given what
he’d said earlier.
“The
optimists. Oh, they were the ones who said, ‘We’re going to be out by
Christmas.’ And Christmas would come, and Christmas would go. Then they’d say,
‘We’re going to be out by Easter.’ And Easter would come, and Easter would go.
And then Thanksgiving, and then it would be Christmas again. And they died of a
broken heart. This is a very important lesson. You must never confuse faith
that you will prevail in the end–which you can never afford to lose–-with the
discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever
they might be.”
That
is the Stockdale Paradox – surviving what life throws our way requires
maintaining the sometimes-contradictory attitudes of patience, hope and optimism
on the one hand and realism and pragmatism on the other.
Miriam,
the sister of Moses, embodied the Stockdale Paradox.
While
enslaved in Egypt, she confronted her father Amram, one of the great leaders of
the generation, who separated from his wife Yocheved in a fatalistic surrender.
When he heard Pharaoh’s decree to kill all Jewish male children, he gave up
hope in the future and felt it would be unfair to bring another child into the
cruel and harsh world. Others heard and followed suit.
Miriam
protested, telling him that his decree was more severe than Pharaoh’s, who had
only decreed on the males. Amram was persuaded and remarried Yocheved who
conceived and gave birth to Moses. Again, everyone else followed their example.
When Moses was born, the house was filled with light and with promise. Amram
praised Miriam and told her that her prophecy had been fulfilled.
Milestone: Jozef Walaszczyk, 102, oldest
rescuer of Jews in Poland - he was responsible for saving at least 50 Jews. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355322
Milestone: Lennie Rosenbluth, 89, NC Basketball
Star in 1957. https://www.timesofisrael.com/lennie-rosenbluth-jewish-sports-hall-of-fame-basketball-star-dies-aged-89/
Inyanay Diyoma
Chief Rabbi calls Ben Gvir a fool for his
actions on Temple Mt. https://www.timesofisrael.com/chief-rabbi-slams-fool-ben-gvir-for-visiting-temple-mount/
Three terrorists killed in operation. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355058
Jihad replies. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355114
West trying to press Kyiv to succeed land. https://www.debka.com/western-voices-press-quietly-for-ending-ukraine-war-ceding-territory-to-moscow-unavoidable/
Attacks on Israelis foiled. Turkey
are already known to have been foiled by the Mossad and Turkish security
forces, but fears of further attacks perpetrated by Iranians remain.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355148
Gov’t helping EU and Arabs but not the Shomron.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355158
The public is called to pray for the recovery of Rabbi Chaim Meir
Ben Milka." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355154
Missing boy jumped on a bus. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355150
Lifeguards did not know first aid. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355162
Companies that are not American anymore. https://www.novelodge.com/worldwide/compan-cp-ob
8 terrorists arrested overnight. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355138
6months after concrete pillar fell on him, he
died. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355137
1800 terrorists were caught on US Border. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355161
N. Korea both Covid and Stomach flu. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355152
Electronic scooter crashes into crowd. https://www.timesofisrael.com/2-injured-as-electric-scooter-plows-into-tel-aviv-55-years-of-occupation-protest/
Revlon files for Chapter 11. https://www.timesofisrael.com/cosmetics-giant-revlon-files-for-bankruptcy-amid-struggles-in-crowded-market/
Columbian Elections. https://www.timesofisrael.com/colombians-face-tough-choice-between-populist-and-former-guerrilla-for-president/
Bill Dissolving the Knesset heading for vote
Wednesday. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355200
“Pilot” of plane seized in Argentina an Iranian
General. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355205
Tent city returns to Tel Aviv. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355189
Terrorists apprehended at US Border skyrockets.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355161
Investors come to Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355184
An Arab terrorist, a resident of Nablus, was killed while
attempting to sabotage the security fence near Qalqilya. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355169
Interior Min. visit Morocco. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355196
No evidence that boosters help kids. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355174
West wants compromise on Ukraine. https://www.debka.com/western-voices-press-quietly-for-ending-ukraine-war-ceding-territory-to-moscow-unavoidable/
Status of the Sanctity of Life. https://dianebederman.com/what-is-the-status-of-the-sanctity-of-life-in-the-west-in-2022/ It
is more than sanctity of fetuses but living Justices and families.
Israeli Sirens hacked? https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skvqdtaf5
PTSD hero who almost died by self-immolation
appears in public. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjg0rl6y5
Lapid to visit Turkey. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1zrbktk5
Shavit Ed-Op Tragedy of Bennett. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryoesuny9
Macron loses Parliament Majority. https://www.timesofisrael.com/far-right-tsunami-in-france-sees-macron-lose-parliament-majority/
German Art Show with antisemitic exhibits. https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/06/19/leading-contemporary-art-show-opens-in-germany-amid-political-storm-over-antisemitic-exhibits/
Trans athletes banned from swimming events.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/world-swimming-bans-transgender-athletes-from-womens-events/
Police dealing more forces to deal with Arab
Mafia. https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-vow-extra-forces-to-tackle-spike-in-murders-crime-in-arab-community/
Flood Prevention 88,000,000 NIS to clean
streams. https://www.timesofisrael.com/nis-88-million-to-go-to-rehabilitation-of-streams-with-an-eye-to-flood-prevention/
Israeli Gymnasts win 5 medals in Europe. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-rhythmic-gymnasts-win-5-medals-on-second-day-of-european-championships/
Iranian Danger in more countries. https://www.timesofisrael.com/officials-said-concerned-over-israeli-travel-to-uae-bahrain-jordan-egypt/
Corona Cases top 10,000 in one day. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/ryzbt26t5
Lapid to Blinken re: Biden Visit. https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/06/21/biden-visit-will-have-significant-implications-for-region-iran-front-lapid-tells-blinken/
Who used Strava Fitness App to track IDF
soldiers and one individual on Israel Nuke Program. https://www.timesofisrael.com/report-unknown-agents-use-fitness-app-loophole-to-track-israeli-troops-on-bases/
77years after WWII Jewish Population 1.4million
short and there were many millions aborted in Israel. It was 3 million about 30
years ago. https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/06/22/how-many-jews-are-too-many/
Putin replaces some Russian Generals. https://www.debka.com/putin-purges-ukraine-army-command-moves-air-missile-forces-chief-gen-surovkin-into-top-post/
Even if Putin dies, Russia still a threat to
Ukraine. https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/06/22/russia-still-a-threat-even-if-putin-dies-says-renowned-holocaust-investigator-now-probing-war-crimes-in-ukraine/
Victoria AU bans swastika. https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/06/21/victoria-becomes-first-australian-territory-to-ban-display-of-nazi-swastika/
As Covid resurges I decided to return to masks
in doors. https://www.timesofisrael.com/covid-czar-israel-in-midst-of-pandemics-sixth-wave-but-no-restrictions-pending/
Lighter side or other denominations.
Conservative female to marry male Reform. https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-rabbis-from-two-different-denominations-get-a-second-chance-at-love/
More killings. https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-people-murdered-in-separate-incidents-as-spate-of-killings-continues/
SAVE THE DEAD SEA. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-has-a-chance-to-slow-the-dead-seas-demise-will-big-business-get-in-the-way/
TX GOP
against Palestinian State. https://www.timesofisrael.com/texas-gop-adopts-controversial-platform-prohibiting-palestinian-state/
15 months
in jail for assailant of Arab Taxi Driver. https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-sentenced-to-15-months-in-prison-for-2021-mob-attack-on-arab-driver/
Nov. 1st
most likely election date. https://www.timesofisrael.com/november-1-said-emerging-as-likely-date-for-upcoming-knesset-elections/
Jew arrested in Shomron or stabbing to death
Arab. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355364
45km or 28mi cement fence for N. Shomron. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355337
I told my co-workers that I would be called up;
they laughed. But one night at 11PM I was conscripted 40years ago. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355368
IRGC Intel Head sacked. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355379
More Arab Nations to make gestures to Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355387
Shel Lo Asani Bobov Chassid. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355396
By mistake the Israeli Gov’t. put in a Dr. of
Education as Minister. She backs teachers vs. Min. of Treasury (usual political
hack). https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355390
Firefighting help offered to Cyprus. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355397
Hoping to overcome the Trafe Kashrus Reforms. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355395
Made too many lies and broken promises nobody
willing to accept Netanyahu Compromise. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355394
Pally Newspaper. https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/06/22/poem-in-palestinian-newspaper-to-israelis-you-will-become-dust/
Federal Court upholds antiboycott law. https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/06/22/us-federal-appeals-court-upholds-arkansas-law-against-israel-boycotts/
Some large companies firing tech workers. https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/06/21/why-israeli-unicorns-with-plenty-of-cash-are-making-significant-cuts/
AG and Ganz at odds over new COS. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1xq3hg59
Afghanistan quake already over 1000 dead. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s10bzkgcc
Mini Gaza town for IDF training. https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/rjbui8xc5
What prompted Bennett to quit? https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sye1sertc
Dreaded deadlock expected in elections. https://www.timesofisrael.com/polls-point-to-return-of-dreaded-deadlock-in-newest-round-of-elections/
After every word reaches NYT from US Leakers.
Israel keeps US out of loop on Iran. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-keeping-us-out-of-loop-on-alleged-covert-attacks-in-iran-report/
Antisemitic banner removed from German Art
Show. https://www.timesofisrael.com/banner-being-removed-at-german-art-show-after-charges-of-antisemitism/
Police failed un Uvalde TX. https://www.timesofisrael.com/texas-police-leader-testifies-that-response-to-uvalde-shooting-was-abject-failure/
SCOTUS More funding for Religious Schools. https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-supreme-court-justice-ruling-may-lead-to-more-public-funds-for-religious-schools/
Columbia’s new president compared Israel to
Nazis. https://www.timesofisrael.com/colombias-elected-president-once-compared-israel-to-nazis/
UNWRA inciting antisemitism. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/syh2zgmc5
Classrooms reopen under the table unsigned
agreement. https://www.timesofisrael.com/classrooms-to-reopen-friday-as-teachers-pause-strike-after-two-days/
Turks nab three more Iranian cells alert may be
rescinded. https://www.timesofisrael.com/members-of-iranian-cell-planning-attacks-on-israelis-arrested-turkish-media/
Lapid thanked the Turks on previous operation. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355431
Ed-Op Bederman: When will we ever learn? https://dianebederman.com/when-will-we-ever-learn-when-will-we-ever-learn/
Ed-Op L. Livnat time for moderate right and
left. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hye9v8xcc
Russian losses on island. https://www.aol.com/news/no-concerns-western-alliance-fracture-070106096.html
A Florida tattoo parlor staffer said the Mormon ex-wife
of slain Microsoft executive Jared
Bridegan asked if he knew anyone who could "shut him up" in 2015. https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-ex-wife-slain-microsoft-executive-shut-him-up
Andrew Gillum former candidate for FL Gov.
indicted. https://www.aol.com/news/andrew-gillum-desantis-2018-opponent-143157901.html
No one in the Likud is waiting for Shaked. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355455
Son of abusive Rabbi put on house arrest after
complaint. https://www.timesofisrael.com/son-of-alleged-predator-rabbi-accused-of-raping-one-of-fathers-complainants/
Long lines at airport. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-710240
Suriname backs off on Jerusalem Embassy. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-710290
Three generations of fighter pilots. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-710220
Thanks to INN, trans-“man” removed from male
barracks. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355288
9firebombers and rioters apprehended. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355402
Previously, stone thrower shot. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355274
Previously, weapon smuggling foiled. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355209
Not mainstream. US vessels buzzed by Iran. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355264
Police have apprehended a man who snatched a gun from a security
guard. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355424
Baltimore: 3rd teen charged with the
murder of Ephraim Gordon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355456
Another worker in PM office resigns. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355292
Syria: 13 killed by ISIS. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355260
Rabbi Druckman out of hospital. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355251
Hate crime in Monsey. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355241
Caroline Glick. Generals adventure in Doha. Last
Monday, former commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan Gen. John Allen resigned
his position as president of the Brookings Institute. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355293
MK worries about Interior Ministry lines: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355341
Ganz refuses Netanyahu’s offer. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355325
DeSantis accuses WH of lying. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355315
Will Iran push for Nuclear Breakout to force
Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355336
National Guard to be launched. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355304
Houses shot at in Kiriat Arba. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355301
2nd American dies in Ukraine. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355343
Ed-Op Jay Shapiro – US Betrayal of Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355097
Betray Israel Daily Evidently Nazi.
First Yahrzeit: Dr
Schussheim saved close to 80,000 babies during his tenure at Efrat. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/308678
Good Shabbos, stay healthy, as
Covid BA surges try masking indoors,
Rachamim Pauli
