Parsha
Chayei Sarah Part 2 The Shidduch
The Shidduch of Yitzchak to Rivka was
probably based on tradition of how Avram married Sarai and perhaps going back
from before the flood although this is an educated guess. This takes Aliyah 3
-5 and in the Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer also a small number of Simanim.
12 And he said: 'O LORD, the God
of my master Abraham, send me, I pray Thee, good speed this day, and show
kindness unto my master Abraham.
Avraham has asked for a good family
background and education (like he and Sara received not the new-fangled
equivalent of WOKE culture taught to women in Canaan.)
13 Behold, I stand by the
fountain of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw
water. 14 So let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall
say: Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say:
Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also; let the same be she that Thou
hast appointed for Thy servant, even for Isaac; and thereby shall I know that
Thou hast shown kindness unto my master.'
Eliezer prayers how will he know the
maiden and that she should have the Mida of hospitality and Chesed like
Avraham.
15 And it came to pass, before he
had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the
son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her
shoulder. 16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin,
neither had any man known her; and she went down to the fountain, and filled
her pitcher, and came up.
Eliezer prayed for character but his
prayer was lacking. She could have been married or a Temple of Beor Prostitute
like Yehuda thought Tamar was a Kedaysha. She could have been pock-marked,
lame, half blind, a deaf-mute, hunched backed, etc. But in truth one looking
for a Shidduch needs a partner and I am talking male or female depending that
one can be attracted to. My son-in-law was tall and handsome and my daughter
talkative and cute at first reaction.
17 And the servant ran to meet
her, and said: 'Give me to drink, I pray thee, a little water of thy
pitcher.' 18 And she said: 'Drink, my lord'; and she hastened, and
let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
Even though he was a slave in charge
of others in the camel train, she treated him as one treats a noble person or
wealthy businessman.
19 And when she had done giving
him drink, she said: 'I will draw for thy camels also, until they have done
drinking.'
That was part one of the prayer prior to
this but drawing water for 10 camels is real Chesed.
20 And she hastened, and emptied
her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw, and drew for
all his camels.
She hurried as Avraham saw the three
non-believers and asked that Sara hurry to make farina and honey cakes.
21 And the man looked stedfastly
on her; holding his peace, to know whether the LORD had made his journey
prosperous or not. 22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done
drinking, that the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two
bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
That is a lot of money for asking a
question to an unknown stranger.
23 and said: 'Whose daughter art
thou? tell me, I pray thee. Is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge
in?' 24 And she said unto him: 'I am the daughter of Bethuel the son
of Milcah, whom she bore unto Nahor.'
She is Avraham’s grandniece but she
could have been anybody off the street does that merit so much gold?
25 She said moreover unto him:
'We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge
in.' 26 And the man bowed his head, and prostrated himself before the
LORD.
Not only is he precisely on target
finding the family of Avraham but they can provide for him.
27 And he said: 'Blessed be the
LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who hath not forsaken His mercy and His
truth toward my master; as for me, the LORD hath led me in the way to the house
of my master's brethren.'
He thanks HASHEM for the guidance of
getting to the right family, daughter (not 100% yet) and house.
28 And the damsel ran, and told
her mother's house according to these words. 29 And Rebekah had a
brother, and his name was Laban; and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the
fountain. 30 And it came to pass, when he saw the ring, and the
bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his
sister, saying: 'Thus spoke the man unto me,' that he came unto the man; and,
behold, he stood by the camels at the fountain. 31 And he said: 'Come
in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore stand thou without? for I have cleared
the house, and made room for the camels.'
This trickster was planning to murder
and plunder the 10 camels worth of gold, silver, brass and jewels.
32 And the man came into the house,
and he ungirded the camels; and he gave straw and provender for the camels, and
water to wash his feet and the feet of the men that were with him.
This is the same custom of Avraham
Avinu as people wore sandals then for normal travel.
33 And there was set food before
him to eat; but he said: 'I will not eat, until I have told mine errand.' And
he said: 'Speak on.'
Up until now, he found a pretty virgin
who had Chesed from the same family of Avraham.
34 And he said: 'I am Abraham's
servant. 35 And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is
become great; and He hath given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and
men-servants and maid-servants, and camels and asses. 36 And Sarah my
master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and unto him hath he
given all that he hath. 37 And my master made me swear, saying: Thou
shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose
land I dwell. 38 But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my
kindred, and take a wife for my son.
The servant is telling now of the
Yichus of Yitzchak.
39 And I said unto my master:
Peradventure the woman will not follow me. 40 And he
said unto me: The LORD, before whom I walk, will send His angel with thee, and
prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my
father's house;
I have a blessing that I will succeed.
41 then shalt thou be clear from
my oath, when thou come to my kindred; and if they give her not to thee, thou
shalt be clear from my oath.
If the woman or family abject the
proposal then I am clear of my oath but I will try to look around.
42 And I came this day unto the
fountain, and said: O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now Thou do
prosper my way which I go: 43 behold, I stand by the
fountain of water; and let it come to pass, that the maiden that cometh forth
to draw, to whom I shall say: Give me, I pray thee, a little water from thy
pitcher to drink; … 49 And now if ye
will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me; that I
may turn to the right hand, or to the left.'
I will try further on if you are not
interested. Then please tell me a relative that might be interested.
50 Then Laban and Bethuel
answered and said: 'The thing proceeds from the LORD; we cannot speak unto thee
bad or good.
Why does Laban speak before Bethuel?
According to the Midrash he made a portion to give to Eliezer with poison and
the portion looked small and Bethuel eat it and died so therefore Laban
answered. Alternative; it could be like Mohammed ben Salman in the Saudi
Kingdom and this could be similar.
51 Behold, Rebekah is before
thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD
hath spoken.' 52 And it came to pass, that, when
Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth unto
the LORD. 53 And the servant brought forth jewels of
silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah; he gave also
to her brother and to her mother precious things. 54 And
they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all
night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said: 'Send me away unto my
master.'
Strike the iron when it is hot. Do not
delay a mitzvah or a wedding if you have no real reason to do so.
55 And her brother and her mother
said: 'Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that
she shall go.' 56 And he said unto them: 'Delay me
not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my
master.'
Lavan still wanted to steal the money,
metals, precious stones and jewels.
57 And they said: 'We will call
the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.' 58 And they
called Rebekah, and said unto her: 'Wilt thou go with this man?' And she said:
'I will go.'
Up until now she had no word in the
marriage contract. In a delaying tactic they ask her and she knows who Lavan is
and of course goes before he takes her jewels, silver, gold, etc.
59 And they sent away Rebekah
their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
Devorah must have lived a very long
life as she raised Rivka and only dies in Eretz Yisrael 128 years later.
60 And they blessed Rebekah, and
said unto her: 'Our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of ten thousands,
and let thy seed possess the gate of those that hate them.' 61 And
Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the
man. And the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
These must be slave servants above and
beyond Devorah.
62 And Isaac came from the way of
Beer-lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the land of the South. 63 And
Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide; and he lifted up his
eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming.
To daven Mincha and Rivka saw the
Shechina resting upon him.
64 And Rebekah lifted up her
eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the camel.
The Medrash states that she fell of
her camel.
65 And she said unto the servant:
'What man is this that walks in the field to meet us?' And the servant said:
'It is my master.' And she took her veil, and covered herself. 66 And
the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
Since they were married by contract,
she put on her Hijab. (Nothing new under the sun but for modesty and voluntary.)
67 And Isaac brought her into his
mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved
her. And Isaac was comforted for his mother.
This is a marriage that
will last according to Rashi 130 years and Ibn Ezra 119 years. Yet it did not
start like Yacov and Rachel with fairy tale type of love, but first he married
her, she and replaced his mother in the home and afterwards comes love.
Parsha Toldos
With the deaths of Sara
and Avraham, Yitzchak and Rivka took over being the Tzadikim of their
generation. Now we learn of the generations of Yitzchak.
25:19 And these are the generations of
Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begot Isaac. 20 And Isaac was forty
years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean, of
Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife.
This is the continuing link with last
week’s Parsha.
21 And Isaac entreated the LORD
for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD let Himself be entreated of
him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
She was barren and afterwards Rachel
in next week’s Parsha. 3 out of the 4 mothers had trouble conceiving. Perhaps
Leah received compassion from HASHEM as she was the ‘hated’ wife yet to be
buried next to Yacov for eternity (Parsha Vayehi).
22 And the children struggled
together within her; and she said: 'If it be so, wherefore do I live?' And she
went to inquire of the LORD.
When she passed an idolatry site there
was wild kicking in her as if wanting to get out. When she passed the Beis
Medrash of Shem there was also great kicking.
23 And the LORD said unto her:
Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shall be separated from thy
bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people;
One will become mightier than
the other kingdom: They
will not be equal in greatness; when one rises
One, the other will fall, and so [Scripture] states (Ezek. 26:2): “I shall become full from the
destroyed city.” Tyre became full [gained power] only from the destruction of
Jerusalem. — [From Meg. 6a, Pes. 42b]
and the elder shall serve the
younger.
It has never appeared to the best of
my knowledge that the second part ever occurred.
24 And when her days to be
delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her
womb. 25 And the first came forth ruddy, all over like a hairy
mantle; and they called his name Esau. 26 And after that came forth
his brother, and his hand had hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called
Jacob. And Isaac was threescore years old when she bore them.
Rivalry started in the womb.
27 And the boys grew; and Esau
was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling
in tents.
Esav was more into sports, daring
things and blood thirsty hunts. Yacov was into
28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because
he did eat of his venison; and Rebekah loved Jacob.
Mothers watch their children grow more
than the fathers do and can see the personalities. V.
29 And Jacob sod pottage; and
Esau came in from the field, and he was faint. 30 And Esau said to
Jacob: 'Let me swallow, I pray thee, some of this red, red pottage; for I am
faint.' Therefore, was his name called Edom. 31 And Jacob said: 'Sell
me first thy birthright.' 32 And Esau said: 'Behold, I am at the
point to die; and what profit shall the birthright do to me?' 33 And
Jacob said: 'Swear to me first'; and he swore unto him; and he sold his
birthright unto Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils;
and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his
birthright.
Thus, the whole ‘stealing’
section was not so for Yacov had rightfully bought the first born from Esav.
26:1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine
that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the
Philistines unto Gerar. 2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said:
'Go not down unto Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee
of. 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless
thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these lands, and I will
establish the oath which I swore unto Abraham thy father; 4 and I
will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all
these lands; and by thy seed shall all the nations of the earth bless
themselves; 5 because that Abraham hearkened to My voice, and kept My
charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.'
A similar story of Yitzchak and the Avimelech
occurred like with Avraham and then the residents dig up his wells until finally
there is so much water that his well in Rehovot is more than they need so no
more stealing.
… 22 And he removed from thence,
and digged another well; and for that they strove not. And he called the name
of it Rehoboth; and he said: 'For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we
shall be fruitful in the land.' 23 And he went up from thence to Beersheba. 24 And
the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said: 'I am the God of Abraham
thy father. Fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy
seed for My servant Abraham's sake.' 25 And he built an altar there,
and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there; and there
Isaac's servants dug a well. 26 Then Abimelech went to him from
Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his
host. 27 And Isaac said unto them: 'Wherefore are ye come unto me,
seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?'
… 28 And they said: 'We saw
plainly that the LORD was with thee; and we said: Let there now be an oath
betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with
thee; 29 that thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee,
and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in
peace; thou art now the blessed of the LORD.' 30 And he made them a
feast, and they did eat and drink.
Similar to what happened in England
they kicked out the Jews and their fortunes went down so they invited the Jews
back. The same occurred in Prague with queen Theresa as the business community
without the Jews failed but she sucked gold out of the Jews for their return.
… 34 And when Esau was forty
years old, he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and
Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 And they were a
bitterness of spirit unto Isaac and to Rebekah.
What is he doing
marrying this low life person?
27:1
And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes
were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said unto
him: 'My son'; and he said unto him: 'Here am I.' 2 And he said:
'Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death. 3 Now
therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to
the field, and take me venison; 4 and make me savory food, such as I
love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I
die.' 5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau
went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6 And Rebekah
spoke unto Jacob her son, saying: 'Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau
thy brother, saying: 7 Bring me venison, and make me savory food,
that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death. 8 Now
therefore, my son, hearken to my voice according to that which I command
thee. 9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids
of the goats; and I will make them savory food for thy father, such as he
loveth; 10 and thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, so
that he may bless thee before his death.' 11 And Jacob said to
Rebekah his mother: 'Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth
man. 12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him
as a mocker; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a
blessing.' 13 And his mother said unto him: 'Upon me be thy curse, my
son; only hearken to my voice, and go fetch me them.' 14 And he went,
and fetched, and brought them to his mother; and his mother made savory food,
such as his father loved. 15 And Rebekah took the choicest garments
of Esau her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them upon
Jacob her younger son. 16 And she put the skins of the kids of the
goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck. 17 And she
gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of
her son Jacob.
Not only was Yitzchak blind to old age
and he was blinded by the savory venison and flattery of Esav.
18 And he came unto his father,
and said: 'My father'; and he said: 'Here am I; who art thou, my
son?' 19 And Jacob said unto his father: 'I am Esau thy first-born; I
have done according as thou bad me. Arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my
venison, that thy soul may bless me.' 20 And Isaac said unto his son:
'How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son?' And he said: 'Because
the LORD thy God sent me good speed.'
The wicked Esav never mentioned “The
L-RD” so he got suspicious.
21 And Isaac said unto Jacob:
'Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very
son Esau or not.' 22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and
he felt him, and said: 'The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the
hands of Esau.'
Yacov’s power will not be will numbers
or quantity of weapons but in his voice praying. Esav will be with strength and
numbers.
23 And he discerned him not,
because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed
him. 24 And he said: 'Art thou my very son Esau?' And he said: 'I
am.' 25 And he said: 'Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's
venison, that my soul may bless thee.' And he brought it near to him, and he
did eat; and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 And his father
Isaac said unto him: 'Come near now, and kiss me, my son.' 27 And he
came near, and kissed him. And he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed
him, and said: See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the
LORD hath blessed.
So, Yacov gets the better blessing
meant for the first born.
… 30 And it came to pass, as soon
as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out
from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his
hunting. 31 And he also made savory food, and brought it unto his
father; and he said unto his father: 'Let my father arise, and eat of his son's
venison, that thy soul may bless me.' 32 And Isaac his father said
unto him: 'Who art thou?' And he said: 'I am thy son, thy first-born,
Esau.' 33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said: 'Who then is
he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before
thou came, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.'
With Yacov he smelled Gan Eden and
with Esav he felt Gehenna.
… 41 And Esau hated Jacob
because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau said in his
heart: 'Let the days of mourning for my father be at hand; then will I slay my
brother Jacob.' 42 And the words of Esau her elder son were told to
Rebekah; and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him:
'Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to
kill thee. 43 Now therefore, my son, hearken to my voice; and arise,
flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; 44 and tarry with him a few
days, until thy brother's fury turn away; 45 until thy brother's
anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him; then
I will send, and fetch thee from thence; why should I be bereaved of you both
in one day?'
She wants Yacov to flee the wrath of
Esav that she thinks will be a few days but 34 years later, he will raise a
400man mini-army to destroy Yacov.
46 And Rebekah said to Isaac: 'I
am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob take a wife of
the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters of the land, what good
shall my life do me?'
Rivka has brought upon
Yacov the sorrows. However, she does have a solution to the problem.
28:1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and
said unto him: 'Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of
Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy
mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy
mother's brother. 3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee
fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a congregation of
peoples; 4 and give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy
seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land of thy sojournings, which God
gave unto Abraham.'
This blessing to inherit the land of
Avraham and inherit it was given to Yacov and not Esav.
5 And Isaac sent away Jacob; and
he went to Paddan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of
Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. 6 Now Esau saw that Isaac had
blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram, to take him a wife from thence;
and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying: 'Thou shalt not take a
wife of the daughters of Canaan'; 7 and that Jacob hearkened to his
father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan-aram; 8 and Esau saw
that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;
Good Morning Esav at the age of 63 you
finally realize this after seeing the blessing to Yacov.
9 so Esau went unto Ishmael, and
took unto the wives that he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son,
the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.
Although not an ideal wife, at least
somebody descended from Avraham.
Dr. Maurice Hilleman, the man who
saved millions of lives and nobody knew his name: https://aish.com/this-doctor-saved-tens-of-millions-of-lives-yet-few-know-his-name/
Lizzy Savetsky leaves “Real
Housewives” due to antisemitism. https://aish.com/due-to-antisemitism-lizzy-savetsky-leaves-real-housewives-of-new-york/
Chabad sends Rabbi to Zambia: https://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/5707391/jewish/Rich-in-Jewish-Tradition-Zambia-Welcomes-First-Rabbi-in-Over-75-Years.htm#utm_medium=email&utm_source=1_chabad.org_magazine_en&utm_campaign=en&utm_content=content
Against all
odds by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles
http://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1302-09
|
Why did
we do it even when we knew we shouldn't? We did it
because the Lubavitcher Rebbe said to do it, and we were followers
of the Rebbe. And despite all the predictions to the contrary, despite our
own worst expectations, the business succeeded. It succeeded not just
modestly, but hugely - not just in Israeli terms, but in American terms, in
global terms. Thank G d. And the
only explanation that I have why it succeeded, where logically it should have
failed, is that the Land of Israel is especially blessed by G-d (something
which the Rebbe understood better than any businessman), and that - in
addition - this particular venture was directed and blessed by the Rebbe
himself. The story
begins with the passing of my mother in 1951, when I was four years old. My
widowed father, a Bobover Chasid Holocaust survivor, - who was then coping
with three small children while living in the Bushwick section of Williamsburg
- went to get a blessing, at the urging of a friend, from the new Lubavitcher
Rebbe. The Rebbe tried to give him fifty dollars, which he refused because he
was too proud to take the money, but the Rebbe also blessed him and that
blessing has followed our family to this day. I myself
married into a Chabad family. My father-in-law, Mr. Dovid Deitsch, was
especially close to the Rebbe, and he had a plastics business which I joined. After the
devastating Yom Kippur War of 1973, my father-in-law asked the Rebbe what he
should do to help Israel. He was sure that the Rebbe would tell him write a
check to some Chabad organization doing good works in the Holy Land, but the
Rebbe's answer proved starkly different. "Open
up a business in Israel. The new immigrants need jobs. Build a factory there
- you will be very successful and it will benefit many families." My
father-in-law didn't think such a venture made business sense, and he didn't
do anything about it at first. But the Rebbe persisted. Each time we went for
a blessing, the Rebbe would ask, "Reb Dovid, what's happening with the
business in Israel?" Truth be
told, none of us - not my father-in-law, not his children, not his
sons-in-law - were interested in this project. Our advisors told us it would
be a total loss. So, the explanation that my father-in-law gave the Rebbe was
that we were trying - and we did actually try - but that we were having
problems with the Israeli bureaucracy (we still are 1). To start
a business in Israel, we faced one stumbling block after another - we needed
permits from the government, approvals from the ministries, etc. It was a
very hard project, and I had been put in charge of it. I was flying back and
forth, and I was weary of it. So, I tried very hard to persuade my father-in-law
to convince the Rebbe that we should walk away from it. In fact,
I myself discussed these issues with the Rebbe during an audience in the
summer of 1976. But instead of accepting my argument that we should give up,
the Rebbe said, "How do you expect to run a business if you're not there
on the spot?" That was
not - by any means! - the response I was anticipating. But the Rebbe pointed
out that, since it was summer, this was the ideal time to move to Israel for
the year, as the kids could begin school in September. This was
very tough thing for me to accept. I thought of living in Israel as a jail
sentence, but my wife took the news well. So following the Rebbe's
recommendation, we made the move into an apartment in the Nachlat Har Chabad
district in the southern city of Kiriat Malachi. It was a quarter of the size
of our home in Crown Heights. After a
year there, I told the Rebbe that I couldn't take it because of all the
frustrations I constantly faced, and I tried to convince him that we should return
home. In response, the Rebbe said to me, "The hard times are behind you
now; from now on, it will be easier." And it
was. Suddenly,
doors that were shut before started opening up - with the ministry officials,
with the customs officials, with the banks. I was making many new friends. At
one point, I was introduced to Prime Minister Menachem Begin, who amazed me
by saying, "When I last visited the Rebbe, he spoke to me about you. I
hope you won't have any more problems from now on." And
that's how our factory - Flocktex Industries in Nachlat Har Chabad,
later the producers of the famed Impala fabrics - started running in the late
1970s. We were
the first manufacturers in the world making a velvet-type fabric for
curtains, a special dense fabric that would not admit light and did not
require a lining. Not only that, it was a soft fabric, a unique product which
became very much in demand in England and the world over. At first,
England proved to be a hard-sell because they required that upholstery fabrics
be flame-retardant. Applying the flame-retardant chemical made the fabric
stiff, but we figured out a way around it. We conducted tests in our
laboratory, and we were sure our fabric passed all standards, but these
customers were not satisfied. They wanted a certificate from an English
laboratory, which failed us repeatedly. I asked
the Rebbe for his blessing three times before the English laboratory finally
approved our product. When I asked him for the third blessing and saw how
puzzled he was by the request, I realized that the English test was not being
done properly, for whatever reason. So, I sent our head chemist over there to
stand and watch, and then we passed. As the
global demand grew, we built a second and then a third plant, increasing production
all the while. Today, although as a privately-owned enterprise we are not the
largest company in Israel, we are one of the country's most successful
textile producers. Our velvet is considered the best velvet in terms of
quality control, the latest in design, and this has built our reputation the
world over. Would any
of this have happened without the Rebbe's insistence? For sure
not. Our
financial advisors told us this venture would not work. They said, "Go
back to your Rebbe and explain to him that he doesn't understand industry and
he doesn't understand financing. You can't make money in Israel. You can't
have a successful industry in Israel. What he is telling you doesn't make any
sense." I thank G
d that, even though we all thought that we were going to be a failure in
Israel, we followed the Rebbe's advice. Because we did, we are here today
running a business that provides a livelihood for over one-hundred families.
And for this the Rebbe gets all the credit. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Connection (tenuous) --
Weekly reading of Toldos (ch. 26): Starting a business in Israel and
succeeding despite government interference. |
Milestone: Robert Clary, 96, played
French Corporal Louis Debreu in Hogan’s Heroes. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363047
Milestone: Rabbi Henry Rosovsky, 95,
reshaped Harvard Hillel. https://www.timesofisrael.com/henry-rosovsky-refugee-from-the-nazis-who-shaped-harvard-university-dies-at-95/
Milestone: Yacov Aharoni, 101,
attacked Nazi Refinery. A veteran of the
Zionist paramilitary pre-state Irgun organization died on Monday at the age of
101, his family said. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryh8fr9is
Milestone: Michael Shafir, 78, wrote about the
plague of holocaust denial. https://www.timesofisrael.com/michael-shafir-scholar-who-wrote-encyclopedia-of-holocaust-denial-dies-at-78/
Inyanay Diyoma
Syria says military bases in Hama
and Homs hit. https://www.timesofisrael.com/syria-says-four-soldiers-killed-in-israeli-airstrikes-on-military-bases/
The director of the FBI has said the Jewish
community in the United States is “getting hit from all sides” and
“desperately” needs further support from the agency amid an apparent uptick in
antisemitic attacks. https://www.timesofisrael.com/fbi-director-says-us-jews-under-threat-from-all-sides-amid-rise-in-antisemism/
Iran: https://www.timesofisrael.com/senior-irgc-officer-said-stabbed-to-death-during-iran-protests/
Friday I did not have this link: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363051
Drunk Protesters in Chevron injure
Ben Gvir’s bodyguard. https://www.timesofisrael.com/ben-gvirs-bodyguard-injured-in-altercation-with-settlers-in-hebron/
N. Korean Leader has three children who were
born in 2010, 2013 and 2017. Kim Ju Ae must have watched missile launch sort of
a Bas Mitzvah Present. https://www.timesofisrael.com/north-korea-unveils-kims-daughter-at-icbm-missile-test-launch/
Netanyahu wants to give Religious Zionism a package deal. The
package includes three portfolios, the most senior of which could be the
Justice or Education ministry, or any other ministry which is not Finance or
Defense.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363057
Ed-Op Walter Bingham: (Various
Subjects) https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363044
Azerbaijan to open Embassy in
Israel. https://www.timesofisrael.com/azerbaijan-to-open-embassy-in-israel-the-first-muslim-shiite-country-to-do-so/
Bulgaria charges 5 suspects for
aiding PKK bomber. https://www.timesofisrael.com/bulgaria-charges-5-suspects-with-helping-deadly-istanbul-bombing-suspect/
Ed-Op Barry Shaw: I
detest the ongoing sanitization of Palestinian terrorism by top officials of
the Biden Administration.
One
example was the statement made by State Department Spokesman, Ned Price, who,
following a spate of deadly attacks by Palestinian terrorists that killed and
injured dozens of Israelis, said, "The United States is deeply concerned
by the increased violence in the West Bank."
This
was the first stage of his whitewashing rampant and murderous Palestinian
terror prompting the need for Israel to go on the offensive against terror
cells embedded in towns under the control of the PA security services to which
some of the terrorists belong!
But
Price wasn't finished with his equality between incentivized Arab terrorists
and Israeli, mainly Jewish, victims.
"We
convey profound condolences to the families and loved ones of the Israeli and
Palestinian civilians who have been killed in the past 48 hours."
One
assumes Price's reference to "civilians" indicate that Israeli
soldiers and police men and women sent to arrest terrorists or on duty at
checkpoints protecting civilians don't count in Price's prayers.
And,
because Palestinian terrorists don't kill wearing uniforms, they and their
families, who will receive handsome "welfare" bonuses courtesy of
American taxpayers, for their sons' sacrifices, they too are considered
"civilians" by Price.
One
of Price's "civilians" was an 18year-old killer who was employed in
the Israeli office of Intel. Yes, Israeli companies regularly employ
Palestinians as a gesture of cooperation and a genuine desire to see them
peacefully prosper. But that didn't stop this indoctrinated teenager from going
to the entrance of the industrial area in which he worked to start his terror
rampage killing 4 people and stabbing others.
And
we Israelis wonder why this Administration is either antagonistic against
Israel, as in the recent FBI demand to investigate the death of a reporter
representing the most anti-American news media who had planted herself among
terrorists attacking our security forces attempting to arrest their leading
operators to present them as heroes via Al Jazeera.
This
epitomizes the breakdown of trust between Israel and the current
administration.
Hopefully
recent changes in both the Israeli government and the US Congress will rebalance
the relationship to a more even keel following two bad years of the US
Administration.
Barry
Shaw,
International
Public Diplomacy Director,
Israel
Institute for Strategic Studies.
Teacher in Baltimore helped in
filters for kosher phones but did some non-kosher stuff. https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-jewish-school-teacher-charged-for-25-sex-crimes-including-rape-child-pornography/
Essen Germany Rabbi’s home attacked.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/gunman-opens-fire-at-rabbis-home-next-to-synagogue-in-germany-no-injuries/
Kiriat Shemona man charged in death
of Teen. https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-to-be-charged-for-stabbing-teen-yoel-lhanghal-to-death-at-kiryat-shmona-party/
COS and delegation to visit US
Generals Mark Miley, Michael “Erik” Kurila and more to discuss Iran. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363034
Within hours of questionnaire about
allowing Trump to return or not to Twitter, 8,400,000 respond positively. https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/elon-musk-polls-users-whether-donald-trump-should-allowed-twitter-millions-swiftly-respond
8 up and ups John Doe(s) to have
names revealed in Epstein Case. https://www.foxnews.com/world/jeffrey-epstein-documents-unsealed-jugde-orders
A lot of upper raspatory infections
in USA. https://www.foxnews.com/health/american-academy-pediatrics-urges-biden-administration-declare-emergency-unprecedented-rsv-surge#spark_wn=1
Ramon Sosa was stunned to find himself in a shallow
grave with a gunshot wound to his right temple. Except it was all an act to
fool his wife, who plotted to kill the former pro boxer by hiring a hitman.
BREAKING – at 8:05 this morning it
was reported that a terrorist and his parents surrendered after anti-tank
missile was used to hit his Jenin House, a 3story villa, in the refugee of
75years camp. Others busted in a quiet manner. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363151
Smotrich is willing to forgo the Defense Ministry if he receives
the Finance Ministry and extensive responsibilities from the Defense Ministry
related to Judea and Samaria. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363150
Steny Hoyer, 83, friend of Israel,
steps down after Pelosi quits. https://www.timesofisrael.com/steny-hoyer-longtime-pro-israel-democrat-steps-down-from-house-leadership-role/
Iran begins weaponizing drones. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363080
Pressure on Israel about Smotrich
and to support Abu Mazen. https://www.timesofisrael.com/visiting-us-official-urges-israel-to-strengthen-pa-to-prevent-its-collapse/
COL- price of jelly doughnuts is
going to be higher. https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/b1kgsdz8o
Jen would circle back to reporters
but this sheep circle is ridiculous. https://www.jpost.com/omg/article-722849
Man suspected of spying for Israel
arrested in Lebanon. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-722943
Olmert loses part of defamation
speech against Netanyahu and family. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-722948
Iran has more than enough Uranium
for one bomb or more. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363208
On a road that I sometimes use
(after the check point) during heavy traffic on 444 & 443 & 446 before
K. Sefer a woman was injured by shrapnel from a rock on car glass. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363203
A compromise between Smotrich and
Deri. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363179
Army cancels men’s only course –
Hesder Yeshiva says no more armor corps for our boys. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363192
Religious Parties with 32 seats
thinking of uniting vs. Likud’s 32 seats to form a united front blames Likud
negotiators for lack of progress. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363162
United Hatzalah Paramedic with
Epipen saves girl. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363164
Another 73 weapons being smuggled
thwarted. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363158
Rabbi Shimon Baadani in Coma,
coalition talks halted. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1te8dy8i
Woman Captain of men’s chess team
heads competition. https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/rkdvvxt8o
The quake was 5.6 bad building code,
162 plus dead. https://www.timesofisrael.com/indonesian-quake-kills-at-least-162-and-injures-hundreds-overwhelming-hospitals/
Ukraine investigates if gunned down
Russia soldiers killed propaganda or a war crime. https://www.timesofisrael.com/kyiv-says-itll-probe-clip-seemingly-showing-surrendering-russian-troops-gunned-down/
After Turks hit Syrian Kurds, they
attack back. https://www.timesofisrael.com/3-killed-as-syrian-kurdish-militants-fire-rockets-at-turkish-border-town/
previously. https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/11/20/turkish-air-strikes-target-kurdish-militants-in-syria-iraq-after-bomb-attack/
Truck hits parked car trapping and
killing man in vehicle. https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-killed-when-truck-collides-with-his-parked-car-in-northern-israel/
U. of Berkley gets slapped with a
discrimination law suit. https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/11/20/civil-rights-inquiry-filed-against-university-of-california-over-discriminatory-berkeley-ban-on-zionist-speakers/
Another Tel Aviv sinkhole. https://www.timesofisrael.com/sinkhole-once-again-appears-on-busy-tel-aviv-road-clogging-traffic/
US to build air and maritime defense
system(s). https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-building-air-and-maritime-defense-system-in-mideast-to-deter-imminent-threats/
New choice for FM. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363229
UTJ faction
said it will not resume negotiations until it receives “clarification”
regarding the distribution of ministerial positions in the next government,
accusing the Likud’s negotiating team of unfairly allocating portfolios. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363228
Toys imported contained in hollow
weapon parts. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363230
Bismuth puts on Yarmulke blesses
Shehecheyanu. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363209
Ramat Gan Mayor tried to get around
with a tax loophole. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363212
An IDF soldier from the city of Modiin Illit was arrested by the
police on suspicion of assaulting a female Border Police officer in Hebron this
past Shabbat. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363195
Israeli computer designed cancer
antibodies. https://www.timesofisrael.com/cancer-patients-trialing-worlds-first-nano-robot-antibodies-made-in-israel/
Despite the 25year age difference
Michael and Zeta Douglas celebrate 22 years of marriage. https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/bkfzvzuus
Israeli doctors performed a
life-saving surgery on a baby in fetal distress, after the mother arrived from
Cyprus for care in the 28th week of pregnancy. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/s1n00ky008s
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is considered a leading
candidate for the 2024 United States presidential election, defended the right
of Jews to live in their Biblical homeland of Judea and Samaria. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363103
Shaliachim: Some 6,500 rabbis and guests, from all 50 states and
more than 100 countries, gathered at 770 for annual event. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363121
Brandeis Hillel one dead and many
injured in bus accident. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363144
“Democracy is at stake” was a major theme voiced by President Joe
Biden and the Democratic Party as he criticizes parties in Israeli elections. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363145 YOU COME AND PICK A BANANA REPUBLIC.
Qatar is prohibiting Jewish visitors from purchasing cooked kosher
food or organizing prayer groups during their stay in the country for the World
Cup. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363149
Antisemites with weapons were ready
to attack. https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/11/21/the-next-pittsburgh-or-poway-synagogue-massacre-was-averted-would-be-synagogue-attackers-charged-in-new-york/
Israel calls out Russia on Iranian
Arms Import. https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/11/21/israeli-security-official-warns-russia-over-weapons-deliveries-from-iran/
U. of MI Police looking for
antisemitic assaulter. https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/11/21/university-of-michigan-police-looking-for-man-involved-in-alleged-antisemitic-assault/
Iranians at world cup anti-regime. https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/11/21/iranian-soccer-fans-jeer-national-anthem-prior-to-world-cup-clash-with-england-in-qatar/
Lapid – we struck Iran far from our
borders. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363097
"The expansion of Jewish settlements is the appropriate
response to the murderous terrorism that seeks to push us out of the land of
our ancestors," UTJ head. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363093
Shaked – stop scare mongering. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363100
Former US President Donald Trump spoke on Saturday at the
Republican Jewish Coalition event in Las Vegas, saying once again that American
Jewish people “don’t appreciate” his Israel policies. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363075
TERROR ATTACKS in Yerushalayim bus
stops. 1 dead, 14 wounded one gravely. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363273
Iran accuses Israel for the death of
LT. COL. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363281
COS we are at a critical point with
Iran. https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/11/22/kochavi-says-israel-at-critical-point-on-iran-following-white-house-pentagon-meetings/
Body of Druze HS Student in accident
stolen in Jenin by terrorists. Terrorists snatch him on life support thinking
him a soldier. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363281
HearO app detects heart
problems before they occur. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-app-sounds-alarm-before-heart-failure-just-by-analyzing-your-voice/
Bird Flu found in N. Israel. https://www.timesofisrael.com/bird-flu-found-in-northern-israel-same-strain-as-catastrophic-2021-outbreak/
Hundreds Yosef’s Tomb. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363280
Likud retracts all agreements. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363261
The meeting was held after the United Torah Judaism party
announced last night that it was freezing coalition negotiations with the Likud
over the distribution of portfolios. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363243
Likud does not take us seriously. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363263
Trump’s taxes to be released to Congress. https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-supreme-court-clears-way-for-release-of-trumps-tax-returns-to-congress/
Turkish flt to Israel delayed by bomb threat. https://www.timesofisrael.com/flight-to-turkey-delayed-as-threatening-videos-sent-to-passengers-phones/
Iraq $2.5 billion missing in audit. https://www.timesofisrael.com/auditors-in-iraq-uncover-staggering-2-5-billion-tax-fraud-by-officials-businesses/
97year old Nazi Clerk to receive suspended sentence. https://www.timesofisrael.com/german-prosecutors-seek-conviction-of-ex-nazi-camp-secretary-97-as-trial-nears-end/
Digital de-aging will plop Harrison Ford (Indy) into a castle of
Nazis before returning to 1969. https://www.timesofisrael.com/harrison-ford-will-fight-nazis-again-in-forthcoming-indiana-jones-sequel/
Qatar: Rabbi Marc Schneier, from New York,
and Rabbi Mendy Chitrik, the Hasidic Chabad-Lubavitch movement’s emissary to
Istanbul, worked with Qatari officials to create a kosher catering program to
provide for observant Jews who may attend the games. https://www.timesofisrael.com/alcohol-out-bagels-in-rabbis-secure-kosher-food-for-world-cup-after-reported-ban/
15year old boy, Aryeh Shtzupak the victim. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363288
Terror finance most likely from Hamas Turkey. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363287
Multi-deaths in VA Walmart shooting. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363283
Shin Bet halts Gazan with a bus Bomb. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-723238
Ramming attack on soldier in training. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363354
Bombs were packed with penetrating nails. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363300
One victim who received a nail or two in his head. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363341
Body of Druze boy returned after army was prepared to go house by
house. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363348
Road Rage leave hospital nurse stabbed to death. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363319
Iranian hackers hack into Jerusalem security cameras. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkkbkjhio#autoplay
Tinder Swindler loses court battle. https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/syx5e6j8j
NY Finest arrest attacker of Yeshiva Boy. https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/11/23/nypd-arrest-suspect-allegedly-involved-in-attack-on-yeshiva-student/
I AM MORBIDLY OVER-WEIGH but 4 of the health people in charge of
US public health are worse. See Rachamim HaRav Pauli on Facebook.
Ben Gvir the reasonable adult in coalition talks probably followed
by Deri. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363408
Have a wonderful and healthy Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli
