Parsha Vayigash Part 2
We stopped last week
right before Yosef sends wagons to bring Yacov and the young ones to Egypt.
From here until the end of Beresheis we are dealing with the last 17years of
Yacov and his family. Now he finally has the rest he is looking for and the
peace to see his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren growing up. He
was alone when he met Lavan and went down with 70 family members and has now
been fruitful and multiplying.
23 And to his father he sent in like manner ten asses
laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses laden with corn and
bread and victual for his father by the way. 24 So he sent his
brethren away, and they departed; and he said unto them: 'See that ye fall not
out by the way.' 25 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the
land of Canaan unto Jacob their father. 26 And they told him, saying:
'Joseph is yet alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.' And his
heart fainted, for he believed them not. 27 And they told him all the
words of Joseph, which he had said unto them; and when he saw the wagons which
Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.
The Pshat is that he did not believe them but when he saw the wagons
with the seal of Pharaoh on them knowing that the sons could not afford to buy
gold plated chariots and wagons, the answer is that he revived. The Drasha is
that Yosef and Yacov were learning Egel Arufa or the calf that is killed if a
murdered person is found on the way. It was obvious to him that Wagon Agala was
similar to Egel in sound and it revived him.
28 And Israel said: 'It is enough; Joseph my son is yet
alive; I will go and see him before I die.'
If I can see that I have all 12 sons and a place
in the world to come, I will be able to die happy. For Yacov thought that since
Esav had 12 sons alive and he only had 11 he was not complete and would not merit
to have a place in the next world. This is from a long prophecy he had described
in the Midrash.
46:1 And Israel took his journey
with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the
God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke unto Israel in the visions
of the night, and said: 'Jacob, Jacob.' And he said: 'Here am
I.' 3 And He said: 'I am God, the God of thy father; fear not to go
down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation. 4 I
will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again;
and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.'
Where was HASHEM all these years? Why was prophecy hidden from
him? It is simple that because of him being depressed for the loss of Yosef a
depressed person cannot get prophecy only a joyful one.
5 And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba; and the sons of Israel
carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the
wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 And they took their cattle, and
their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt,
Jacob, and all his seed with him; 7 his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his
daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into
Egypt.
I have skipped the accounting on who went down to Egypt not
because it is unimportant but because it is only Pshat. When Yacov sees Yosef
he reacts as follows:
I will die this time:
Its simple meaning is as the Targum renders. [If I should die this time, I
would be consoled.] Its midrashic interpretation is, however: I thought that I
would die two deaths, in this world and in the next world, because the Shechinah
had left me, and I thought that the Holy One, blessed be He, would hold me
responsible for your death. Now that you are still alive, I will die but once.
[From Tanchuma Vayigash 9]
47:1 Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and Now said: 'My
father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they
have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of
Goshen.' 2 And from among his brethren he took five men, and presented them
unto Pharaoh. 3 And Pharaoh said unto his brethren: 'What is your occupation?'
And they said unto Pharaoh: 'Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and our
fathers.' 4 And they said unto Pharaoh: 'To sojourn in the land are we come;
for there is no pasture for thy servants' flocks; for the famine is sore in the
land of Canaan. Now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land
of Goshen.' 5 And Pharaoh spoke unto Joseph, saying: 'Thy father and thy
brethren are come unto thee; 6 the land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of
the land make thy father and thy brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let
them dwell. And if thou know any able men among them, then make them rulers
over my cattle.' 7 And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before
Pharaoh. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh said unto Jacob: 'How many
are the days of the years of thy life?' 9 And Jacob said unto Pharaoh: 'The
days of the years of my sojournings are a hundred and thirty years; few and
evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained
unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their
sojournings.' 10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of
Pharaoh. 11 And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a
possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of
Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 And Joseph sustained his father, and his
brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to the want of
their little ones.
Yosef wanted to be a diplomat but Emmes is Yacov’s trademark and
he told the truth. He blesses Pharaoh but it is strange to me when asked his
age that he tells the Jewish custom of aches and pains.
13 And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very
sore, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of
the famine. 14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land
of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought; and Joseph
brought the money into Pharaoh's house. 15 And when the money was all spent in
the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto
Joseph, and said: 'Give us bread; for why should we die in thy presence? for
our money failed.' 16 And Joseph said: 'Give your cattle, and I will give you
[bread] for your cattle, if money fail.' 17 And they brought their cattle unto
Joseph. And Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the
flocks, and for the herds, and for the asses; and he fed them with bread in
exchange for all their cattle for that year. 18 And when that year was ended,
they came unto him the second year, and said unto him: 'We will not hide from
my lord, how that our money is all spent; and the herds of cattle are my
lord's; there is nought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our
lands. 19 Wherefore should we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy
us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be bondmen unto Pharaoh;
and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, and that the land be not
desolate.' 20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the
Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine was sore upon them; and
the land became Pharaoh's
With all that money and slaves the pharaohs could start building
Pyramids to glorify themselves.
. … 27 And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the land of
Goshen; and they got them possessions therein, and were fruitful, and
multiplied exceedingly.
This is good for making
a nation but in Shemos will lead to accusations. It also means with a larger
population, heads of families begin to lose control leading to an Erev Rav.
Parsha Vayehi
We have the expression
that ‘All good things must come to an end’ so it was with the 17 good years of
Yacov Avinu. Good in Hebrew, Tov, in Gematria is 17. Even though Yacov was
built for the next world, because he had suffered so much between Lavan and the
suspected death of Yosef, HASHEM gave him 17 good years.
47:28 And
Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so, the days of Jacob, the
years of his life, were a hundred forty and seven years.
When we see the word Vayehi it is usually associated with
something bad happening. Examples: It came to pass in the days that Judges
Judged and there was a famine in the land (Ruth 1). or It was in the days of
Mordechai … Haman (Esther 1).
29 And the time drew near that Israel must die; and he
called his son Joseph, and said unto him: 'If now I have found favor in thy
sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly
with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt.
Like Avraham, the swearing by the Bris Kodesh.
30 But when I sleep with my fathers, thou shalt carry me
out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying-place.' And he said: 'I will do as
thou hast said.' 31 And he said: 'Swear unto me.' And he swore unto
him. And Israel bowed down upon the bed's head.
He made the solemn oath to bury Yacov with his forefathers.
The generation of Yosef was already weaker and was buried in Eretz Yisrael but
not necessarily in the Cave of the Machpelah. Yehuda in Yahud, Dan near the
Shimshon Junction, Yosef in Schem etc.
48:1 And it came to pass after these things, that one said to
Joseph: 'Behold, thy father is sick.' And he took with him his two sons,
Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And one
told Jacob, and said: 'Behold, thy son Joseph comes unto thee.' And Israel
strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
Yacov was weak but strengthened himself on the bed to speak
to Yosef and for the blessing of the lads.
3 And Jacob said unto Joseph: 'God Almighty appeared
unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, 4 and said unto me: Behold, I will make thee fruitful,
and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a company of peoples; and will give
this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. 5 And now thy two sons, who were born unto thee in the
land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and
Manasseh, even as Reuben and Simeon, shall be mine. 6 And thy issue, that thou beget00 after them, shall be
thine; they shall be called after the name of their brethren in their
inheritance. 7 And as for me, when I
came from Paddan, Rachel died unto me in the land of Canaan in the way, when
there was still some way to come unto Ephrath; and I buried her there in the
way to Ephrath--the same is Bethlehem.' 8 And
Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said: 'Who are these?' 9 And Joseph said unto his father: 'They are my sons,
whom God hath given me here.' And he said: 'Bring them, I pray thee, unto me,
and I will bless them.' 10 Now the
eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them
near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. 11 And Israel said unto Joseph: 'I had not thought to
see thy face; and, lo, God hath let me see thy seed also.' 12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees;
and he fell down on his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand
toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right
hand, and brought them near unto him. 14 And
Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was
the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands
wittingly; for Manasseh was the first-born. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said: 'The God before whom
my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God who hath been my shepherd all my
life long unto this day, 16 the
angel who hath redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be
named in them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow
into a multitude in the midst of the earth.' 17 And when Joseph saw that his father was laying his
right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he held up his
father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said unto his father: 'Not so, my father,
for this is the first-born; put thy right hand upon his head.' 19 And his father refused, and said: 'I know it, my son,
I know it; he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; howbeit
his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a
multitude of nations.' 20 And he
blessed them that day, saying: 'By thee shall Israel bless, saying: God make
thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh.' And he set Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 And Israel said unto Joseph: 'Behold, I die; but God
will be with you, and bring you back unto the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy
brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my
bow.' 49:1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said: 'Gather
yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the end
of days. 2 Assemble yourselves, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and
hearken unto Israel your father.
At this point he still had the Shechina on himself and wanted to
reveal the last possible date for Moshiach. There are those that say the Keitz
(End of Days) is given hidden in Gematria in the blessing of Yehuda and those
who know understand. Yacov passed away in the year 2315 and to tell the
children that the days of Moshiach would be closer to be at least 3461 hence
might bring to the abandonment of hope so it remained hidden to most of us.
3 Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the first-fruits of my
strength; the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power.
And
the first of my might: That is, his first drop [of semen], for he had never
experienced a nocturnal emission. — [from Yeb. 76a] My might: Heb. אוֹנִי, my strength, similar to: “I have found
power (אוֹן) for myself” (Hos. 12:9);“because of His
great might (אוֹנִים)” (Isa. 40:26);“and
to him who has no strength (אוֹנִים)” (ibid. 29). - [from
Targum Onkelos] Superior in rank: Heb. שְׂאֵת יֶתֶר.
You were fit to be superior over your brothers with the priesthood, an
expression of raising up the hands (נְשִׂיאוּת כַּפַיִם)
[to recite the priestly blessing]. — [from Gen. Rabbah 99:6] And superior in
power: Heb. וְיֶתֶר עָז, [i.e. superior] with
kingship, like “And He will grant strength (עֹז)
to His king” (I Sam. 2:10). - [from Gen. Rabbah 99:6]
4 Unstable as water, have not thou the excellency; because thou went up to
thy father's bed; then defiled thou it--he went up to my couch.
[You
have] the restlessness of water: The restlessness and the haste with which you
hastened to display your anger, similar to water which hastens on its course.
Therefore you shall not have superiority: You shall no longer receive all these
superior positions that were fit for you. Now what was the restlessness that
you exhibited? The restlessness: that Name that ascended my couch. That is
the Shechinah, which was accustomed to going up on my bed. — [from Shab. 55b]
For you ascended upon your father’s couch; then you profaned: Heb. פַּחַז. This is a noun; therefore, it is accented
on the first syllable, and the entire word is vowelized with the “pattach.” [I.e.,
each syllable is vowelized with a “pattach.”] If it were a [verb in] past
tense, [meaning: he was restless,] it would be vowelized פָּחַז, half with a “kamatz” and half with a “pattach,” and it would
be accented on the latter syllable (פָּחַז).
My bed: Heb. יְצוּעִי, a term denoting a
bed, because it is spread (מַצִּיעִים)
with mattresses and sheets. There are many similar occurrences:“ I shall not go
up on the bed that was spread for me (יְצוּעָי)”
(Ps. 132:3);“when I remember You on my couch (יְצוּעָי)”
(ibid. 63:7). - [from Targum Onkelos]
Reuven did get a blessing but it was done with Mussar so one has
to read through it well. His restlessness can be turned into positive energy
but he has to work on it. We see that his tribe is so restless that they want
to settle NOW on the Golan Heights before even entering the land as we see in
Devarim. The blessing of water which hastens downwards is certainly on the
Golan Heights.
5 Simeon and Levi are brethren; weapons of violence their kinship.
Simeon
and Levi are brothers: [They were] of one [accord in their] plot against
Shechem and against Joseph: “So they said one to the other, ‘…So now, let us
kill him…’ ” (Gen. 37:19f). Who were “they”? If you say [that it was] Reuben or
Judah, [that cannot be because] they did not agree to kill him. If you say
[that it was] the sons of the maidservants, [that cannot be because] their
hatred [toward him] was not [so] unmitigated [that they would want to kill
him], for it is stated: “and he was a lad [and was] with the sons of Bilhah”
(Gen. 37:2). [It could not have been] Issachar and Zebulun [because they] would
not have spoken before their older brothers. [Thus,] by necessity [we must say
that] they were Simeon and Levi, whom their father called “brothers.” - [from Gen.
Rabbah, Shitah Chadashah] Stolen instruments: This craft of murder is in their
hands wrongfully, [for] it is [part] of Esau’s blessing. It is his craft, and
you (Simeon and Levi) have stolen it from him. — [from Tanchuma Vayechi 9]
Their weapons: Heb. מְכֵרֹתֵיהֶם,
a term denoting weapons. In Greek, the word for sword is“machir” (Tanchuma
Vayechi 9). Another explanation: מְכֵרֹתֵיהֶם means:
In the land of their dwelling (מְגוּרָתָם)
they conducted themselves with implements of violence, like “Your dwelling
place (מְכֹרֹתַי) and your birthplace
(וּמוֹלְדֹתַי)” (Ezek. 16:3). This is Onkelos’s
translation. — [from Tanchuma Vayechi 9]
6
Let my soul not come into their council; unto their assembly let my glory not
be united; for in their anger they slew men, and in their self-will they
houghed oxen.
Let
my soul not enter their counsel: This is the [future] incident of Zimri [that
Jacob is referring to], when the tribe of Simeon gathered to bring the
Midianitess before Moses, and they said to him, “Is this one forbidden or
permitted? If you say she is forbidden, who permitted you to marry Jethro’s
daughter?” Let my name not be mentioned in connection with that affair.
[Therefore, the Torah depicts Zimri as] “Zimri the son of Salu, the prince of a
father’s house of the Simeonites” (Num. 25:14), but [Scripture] did not write,
“the son of Jacob.” - [from Sanh. 82a, Gen. Rabbah 99:6]
In
my opinion the part of marrying the daughter of Yisro seems a bit off from the
Pshat for the brothers in the days of Yacov married women from the area whether
good or bad and did not go like Yitzchak and Yacov before them to marry into
the family. This was healthier for the Gene Pool too. In the future from Levi
will come Moshe who will harness his energy to fight even all of Egypt and
Pinchas who will slay the Yetzer of Shimon but not united.
7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their wrath, for it was
cruel; I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
The tribe of Levi did not get an inheritance and they were even in
the Mishkan separated into Cohanim and the three sub-divisions each on a
different side of the Mishkan. Now they are scattered throughout all of Am
Yisrael.
8 Judah, thee shall thy brethren praise; thy hand shall be on the neck of
thine enemies; thy father's sons shall bow down before thee.
Judah,
[as for] you, your brothers will acknowledge you: Since he reproved the first
ones (Reuben, Simeon, and Levi) with reproach, Judah began retreating backwards
[so that he (Jacob) would not reprove him for the deed involving Tamar (Gen. 38:16
ff). So Jacob called him with words of appeasement, “Judah, you are not like
them.” - [From Shitah Chadashah]
Reuven lacked leadership quality and Shimon and Levi rebelled
against the contract that Yacov made with Chamor and Schem. Yehuda owed up to
his responsibility in saying “She is more righteous than I!”
9
Judah is a lion's whelp; from the prey, my son, thou art gone up. He stooped
down, he couched as a lion, and as a lioness; who shall rouse him up?
Melech David was short and appeared crouched next to Goliard and
yet he rose up to slay him. He may crouch from humility and David was short vs.
Shaul who towered over most men.
10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from
between his feet, as long as men come to Shiloh; and unto him shall the
obedience of the peoples be.
The
scepter shall not depart from Judah: from David and thereafter. These (who bear
the scepter after the termination of the kingdom) are the exilarchs (princes)
in Babylon, who ruled over the people with a scepter, [and] who were appointed
by royal mandate. — [From Sanh. 5a]
You
have sired the seed for the Moshiach who will at the end of days redeem Yisrael.
11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine;
he washes his garments in wine, and his vesture in the blood of grapes; 12 His
eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
This
refers to Chevron and the Judean Hills which is great wine country.
13 Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea, and he shall be a shore for
ships, and his flank shall be upon Zidon.
This is in Lebanon up the coast kilometers north of Nahariya and
the northern tip of Yisrael today. In the future the borders will be up to
Turkey and even the port of Tripoli in the far north shall be ours. He will
finance the Torah study of Yissachar and become rich for this.
14 Issachar is a large-boned ass, couching down between the sheep-folds. 15
For he saw a resting-place that it was good, and the land that it was pleasant;
and he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant under task-work.
Issachar
is a bony donkey: Heb. חִמֹר גָרֶם,
a bony donkey. He bears the yoke of the Torah, like a strong donkey which is
laden with a heavy burden. — [From Gen. Rabbah 99: 9]
Further
on Rashi states that he will have plenty of fruit to eat and commerce and trade
to support his Torah he will not work hard but rest and learn Torah.
16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan
will avenge his people: Heb. יָדִין,
will avenge his people from the Philistines, like “When the Lord avenges (יָדִין) His people” (Deut. 32:36). - [From Targum
Onkelos]
In
the future there will be a judge who will sit on the Sanhedrin who will judge
the nations of the world for what they have done to Israel. A video type vision
from heaven will show the films of the Shoah, Inquisition, Pogroms, etc. They
will shrink in fear on “That Day” (Zechariah 14)
17 Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a horned snake in the path, that bites
the horse's heels, so that his rider falls backward. 18 I wait for Thy
salvation, O LORD.
19 Gad, a troop shall troop upon him; but he shall troop upon their heel.
[As for] Gad, a troop will troop forth from him: Heb. גָּד גְּדוּד יְגוּדֶנוּ.
All [these words] are expressions of a troop (גְּדוּד)
as Menachem (Machbereth Menachem p. 52) classified it. If you ask [why] there
is no [expression of] גְּדוּד without
two“daleths,” we answer that [indeed] the noun גְּדוּד requires
two“daleths,” for that is the rule of a word with a root of two letters [in
this case גד], to double the final
letter, but its root [remains] only two letters. Similarly, [Scripture]
says:“Like a wandering (לָנוּד) sparrow” (Prov.
26:2), which is a derivative of [the same root as]“And I was sated with
restlessness (נְדוּדִים)” (Job 7:4);“there he fell down dead (שָׁדוּד)”
[lit., robbed] (Jud. 5:27), which is a derivative of [the same root as]“that
ravages (יָשׁוּד) at noon” (Ps. 91:6).
Also, יָגֻד, יְגוּדֶנּוּ, and גְּדוּד are from the same root. When the root is
used in the יִפְעַל form (the future
tense of the קַל conjugation), it (the
final letter) is not doubled, like יָגוּד, יָנוּד,
יָרוּם, יָשׁוּד, יָשׁוּב, but when it is reflexive (מִתְפַּעֵל) or causative (מַפְעִיל),
it is doubled, like יִתְגוֹדֵד, יִתְרוֹמֵם, יִתְבּוֹלֵל, יִתְעוֹדֵד, or causative (מַפְעִיל) , [like]“He strengthens (יְעוֹדֵד) the orphan and the widow” (ibid. 146:9);“to bring Jacob back (לְשׁוֹבֵב) to Him” (Isa. 49:5);“restorer (מְשׁוֹבֵב) of the paths” (ibid. 58:12). Also, יְגוּדֶּנוּ stated here is not an expression
meaning that others will cause him to do, [because then the“daleth” would be
doubled,] but it is like יָגוּד הֵימֶנּוּ,
will troop forth from him, similar to“my children have left me (יְצָאוּנִי),” (Jer. 10:20), [which is equivalent
to] יָצְאוּ מִמֶנִי, they went forth from
me. [Hence, this form is not the causative, but the simple conjugation, which
does not require the doubling of the final letter.] גָּד
גְּדוּד יְגוּדֶנוּ [means]: troops will troop forth from
him-they will cross the Jordan with their brothers to war, every armed man,
until the land is conquered. And it
will troop back in its tracks: All
his troops will return in their tracks to the territory that they took on the
other side of the Jordan, and no one will be missing from them. — [From Targum
Yerushalmi] In its tracks: Heb. עָקֵב.
In their way and in their paths upon which they went they will return,
equivalent to “and your steps (וְעִקְבוֹתֶי) were not known” (Ps. 77:20), and
similarly, “in the footsteps of (בְּעִקְבֵי)
the flocks” (Song of Songs 1:8);
in French, traces , [meaning] tracks or footsteps.
This
is a great play on words.
20
As for Asher, his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.
From Asher will come rich food: The food from Asher’s territory will be rich,
for there will be many olive trees in his territory, so that oil will flow like
a fountain. And thus did Moses bless him, “and dip his foot in oil” (Deut. 33:24), as we learned in Menachoth (85b): The people of Laodicea once needed oil. [So they
appointed themselves a Gentile messenger (according to Rashi, or a Gentile
official, according to Rashi ms. and Rabbenu Gershom, ad loc.). They said to
him, “Go and bring us oil worth a million (coins).” The messenger went to
Jerusalem, where they told him, “Go to Tyre.” So the messenger went to Tyre,
where they told him, “Go to Giscala (a town in the territory of Asher).” The
messenger went to Giscala, where they told him, “Go to so-and-so, to that
field.” He went to the field and he found a man breaking up the earth around
his olive trees. The messenger asked him, “Do you have a million (coins) worth
of oil?” The man replied, “Yes, but wait for me until I finish my work.” The
messenger waited. After the man finished working, he cast his tools over his
shoulder and went on his way, removing the stones from the path as he walked.
The messenger thought to himself, “Has this man really a million (coins) worth
of oil? I think the Jews have played a trick on me.” As soon as the man arrived
at his town, his maidservant brought him a kettle of hot water, and the man
washed his hands and feet with it. She then brought him a golden cup full of
oil, and he dipped his hands and feet in it, to fulfill what is stated: “and
dip his foot in oil.” After they had dined, the man measured out for the
messenger oil (worth) a million (coins). He asked the messenger, “Don’t you
need more?” “Yes,” the messenger replied, “but I have no money.” The man said,
“If you want to buy, buy, and I will come with you and collect the money for
it.” The man then measured out additional oil for one hundred eighty thousand
(coins). It was said that the messenger hired all the horses, mules, camels,
and donkeys that he could find in the land of Israel. As soon as the messenger
arrived in his home town, the townspeople came out to praise him. He said to
them, “Don’t praise me! Praise this man who measured out for me oil for a million
(coins), and I still owe him a hundred eighty thousand (coins).” This
illustrates the verse: “There is one who feigns riches but has nothing; one who
feigns poverty but has great wealth” (Prov.
13:7).]
21 Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.
In the future he will make breakthroughs in communications and
transport that will give more time for enhanced Torah learning and Shuirim.
22
Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine by a fountain; its branches run over
the wall. 23 The archers have dealt bitterly with him, and shot at him, and
hated him; 24 But his bow abode firm, and the arms of his hands were made
supple, by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, from thence, from the
Shepherd, the Stone of Israel,
A
reference to his brothers and the bow and being steady is a reference to
withstanding the wife of Potiphar. For even though he was young and his bow was
drawn, he held steadfast like a stone. Therefore he is the stone who confronts
the wolf, Esav, in the end of days.
25
Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee, and by the Almighty, who
shall bless thee, with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that
couches beneath, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb. 26 The blessings of
thy father are mighty beyond the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost
bound of the everlasting hills; they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the
crown of the head of the prince among his brethren.
The
crouching and springing up is the Moshiach ben Yosef. Yosef will in the end be
with Yehuda just as they were in Vayigash but this time Yehuda will rule but
Yosef will carry it out. This will be a reverse role from what was in Egypt
where Yosef ruled and Yehuda carried it out.
27
Benjamin is a wolf that ravens; in the morning he devours the prey, and at even
he divides the spoil.'
Where
is the spoil divided? In the Beis HaMikdash which fell in the portion of
Benyamin. It is here where the spiritual spoils [Korbanos] are the prey and
divided between the Cohanim and Am Yisrael.
28
All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is it that their father
spoke unto them and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he
blessed them. 29 And he charged them, and said unto them: 'I am to be gathered
unto my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of
Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is
before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from
Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying-place. 31 There they buried
Abraham and Sarah his W; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and
there I buried Leah. 32 The field and the cave that is therein, which was
purchased from the children of Heth.' 33 And when Jacob made an end of charging
his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and expired, and was gathered
unto his people.
With
a sound mind, he blessed them but HASHEM withheld the Keitz for a nation
longing for three thousand years plus might give up hope but a nation waiting
daily would fight on with their last ounce of strength through Inquisition and
Shoah willing being burned or tortured rather than become Catholic or singing
“I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Moshiach and even though he
tarries, I will wait for him daily” as they marched into the gas chambers.
50:1
And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon
him, and kissed him.
HASHEM had promised Yacov that Yosef would close his eyes.
2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to
embalm his father. And the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are
fulfilled the days of embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him threescore and
ten days. 4 And when the days of
weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke unto the house of Pharaoh, saying: 'If
now I have found favour in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of
Pharaoh, saying: 5 My father made me
swear, saying: Lo, I die; in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of
Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and
bury my father, and I will come back.' 6 And
Pharaoh said: 'Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee
swear.' 7 And Joseph went up to bury
his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his
house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 and all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and
his father's house; only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds,
they left in the land of Goshen. 9 And
there went up with him both chariots and horsemen; and it was a very great
company.
I am not certain that this whole entourage was all for Yacov.
It appears to me a guarantee by Pharaoh that Yosef and his brothers would be
certain to return to Egypt both because of their wives and young ones but also
the troops would be a secure guarantee.
10 And they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, which
is beyond the Jordan, and there they wailed with a very great and sore wailing;
and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites,
saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said: 'This is a grievous mourning
to the Egyptians.' Wherefore the name of it was called Abel-mizraim, which is
beyond the Jordan.
Abel Mitzrayim the mourning from/of Egypt for the assemblage was a large
Egyptian presence for Pharaoh essentially owned the land in that area and they
paid tax from the time of the famine. Once they had left the land of idols and
magic they could now properly mourn and pray for Yacov. So they made a Chespid
here. Abel from Availous or mourning in Hebrew.
12 And his sons did unto him according as he commanded
them. 13 For his sons carried him
into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah,
which Abraham bought with the field, for a possession of a burying-place, of
Ephron the Hittite, in front of Mamre. 14 And
Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him
to bury his father, after he had buried his father.
Pharaoh was happy that he did not lose his advisor and felt good
that he had done a great favor and honor to Yosef.
15 And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead,
they said: 'It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully requite us all
the evil which we did unto him.'
They were afraid that Yosef did not avenge himself on them during
Yacov’s life time or before burial as the soul hovers above the coffin but now
that Yacov was secure in the next world they might get what they deserve in
this world.
16 And they sent a message unto Joseph, saying: 'Thy father did
command before he died, saying: 17 So shall ye say unto Joseph: Forgive, I pray
thee now, the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin, for that they did
unto thee evil. And now, we pray thee, forgive the transgression of the
servants of the God of thy father.'
They suspected that Yosef might want vengeance like Shimon and
Levi did to Schem. They were scared.
And Joseph wept when they spoke unto him.
He wept because they suspected him. In Yoma we see the same scene
with the Cohain Gadol on Yom Kippur night.
18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and
they said: 'Behold, we are thy bondmen.' 19 And Joseph said unto them: 'Fear
not; for am I in the place of God? 20 And as for you, ye meant evil against me;
but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much
people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not; I will sustain you, and your little
ones.' And he comforted them, and spoke kindly unto them.
He hugged and kissed each one and calmed them down for he truly
loved them and attributed everything to G-D.
22 And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house; and
Joseph lived a hundred and ten years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of
the third generation; the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were born
upon Joseph's knees. 24 And Joseph said unto his brethren: 'I die; but God will
surely remember you, and bring you up out of this land unto the land which He
swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.' 25 And Joseph took an oath of the
children of Israel, saying: 'God will surely remember you, and ye shall carry
up my bones from hence.' 26 So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old.
And they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
He did not live to the age of the fathers and knew that he would
be buried in Mitzrayim but also requested that his bones be brought up to Eretz
Yisrael. Some if not all of the brothers outlived him and this will be our link
to the next Sefer of Chumash as we conclude in strength Sefer Beresheis.
Chazak – Chazak v’ nit Chazak
Oct. 7th battle for Nir
Yitzchak. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382322
The miracles and wonders of Sgt. First Class Mordechai
Shenwald.
Taken from a TV interview with Nesli.
Mordechai and Alon
prior to Simchas Torah played music together. Alon was a guitarist and
Mordechai on violin. In the battles on Oct.7th, Alon perished and
his organs were donated.
Mordechai was with the
77th Tank Brigade. A terrorist hit the tank with an RPG and a different
terrorist put an explosive devise on the side. He was pulled out with blood and
air in his lungs. An IDF Doctor preformed an emergency operation and saved him.
He had other problems lost consciousness.
After two weeks of
being in an induced sleep, he woke up to speak with the Arab Doctor who saved
his life. It turns out that the Arab doctor had received an organ from Alon
which saved his life. Mordechai gave him a big hug as if he hugged Alon.
Later, one of his
visitors came with the guitar of Alon and they played together. Too many
coincidences. This story was about 10 minutes long and I do it injustice. RP
Staff Sgt. Yonatan Chaim Dean the Ger Tzedek HY”D
https://www.rochesterfirst.com/video/hilton-man-killed-fighting-in-israeli-military/9245652/
Yonatan as a boy
organized charity for the homeless in his town of Rochester, NY. When he was in
College, he met Jewish Students. He had always been interested in G-D and the
Bible. In the course of time he converted and came to Israel.
He felt it was his
duty to be in the IDF and died on a Kiddush HASHEM. He was given three
ceremonies. One in Israel and IDF soldiers brought him to Rochester for a large
funeral at the end of the Jewish Ceremony bagpipes played amazing grace for his
family. In the end, there was a non-Jewish Ceremony in a Church again with
bagpipes and amazing grace.
On the wall of the parking
lot of the Holmes Place Gym where I work out there is Graffiti on the wall
before going up to pass over the street to the gym: Bring Hersh Home. An
American brought alive into Gaza on Oct. 7th. https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/6154864/jewish/The-World-of-the-Mother-of-a-Hamas-Hostage.htm
The Sharabi Brothers hop a tank and save dozens. By
Rachamim Pauli
The mother of the
Sharabi Brothers contacted Arutz 12 to ask that their story be told.
Like others at the
large party on Simchas Torah, the Sharabi boys were there. One was a soldier on
leave so he had his old-fashioned M16 rifle with him but no special sight. The
other had served in the army as a paramedic. Neither knew anything about tanks.
As they fled the
party, they saw an empty tank completely abandoned by the people who had fought
in it. They hopped inside and made phone calls to friends until one was able to
assess and handle the battle for them. It was Yossi or Yoni who stayed on the
phone with them for six hours while he tried to round up help.
All the time there was
a question where was the IAF? A little bit of air cover could have saved
perhaps hundreds or thousands of lives. There were thoughts that tanks and
helicopters were becoming obsolete with the RPG’s and Stinger-type missiles.
There were a bunch of
civilians huddled around 3 policemen. Each police officer had three to seven
bullets in a pistol with no other weapons or flack jackets. They placed the
tank between the few dozen almost hapless police and civilians in a bit better
than bathing suit attire.
They fired rounds for
a machine gun and perhaps a few shells in the direction of the terrorist and
kept them at bey. They knew that their ammo was running out so they limited
their shots to one every minute unless a terrorist got too close.
At the beginning of
the battle they did not have the fuggiest idea what to do with a tank, now they
have a blurry-fuzzy idea but they saved the day for many.
Video Heb.-Eng.
Cleared for Publication. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x4C7oI62eo&t=27s
A small kindness for
a big one. By Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1358-15
America had finally entered
World War I. Troops poured into Europe to put an end to the war. The war was in
its final stages. American troops were dispatched throughout Germany. The year
was 1917.
A lone Jewish soldier from
Duluth, Minnesota, Alex Lurye, found himself in a small German town called
Seldes. It was Friday night. Being far away from home was lonely. Having some
time on his hands and feeling out of place, the young Jewish soldier decided to
see what the local Jewish population was like.
His entering the local
village synagogue must have created a stir. An American soldier in uniform! The
Americans had fought the Germans in bitter combat. The lone soldier felt
apprehensive. Almost immediately, however, he was greeted by a kind German Jew
by the name of Herr Rosenau, who made him feel at home in the synagogue.
What's more, after the
services, Herr Rosenau invited the serviceman to his house for kiddush and
the traditional Friday night meal.
Seeing the beauty of a
traditional Shabbat together with the warmth and kindness of this German-Jewish
family made a deep impression on this young soldier. He was a stranger, a
foreigner, even an enemy; yet because he was Jewish he was invited to another
Jew's home, given a delicious warm kosher home cooked meal, complete with wine
and accompanied by the traditional Shabbat songs. Herr Rosenau's family,
together with his teenage daughter, gave the soldier the feeling that he was
not alone, certainly not an enemy, even in such a far and distant land.
The soldier was never able
to come back to see this kind family again. However, the warm impression that
he had received, the experience of the Shabbat in a warm and caring Jewish home
did not leave him. It meant so much to this young soldier that when he finally
returned to Duluth, Minnesota, his home town, he took time out to sit down and
write a letter to the German Jew who had touched his life with such kindness.
This was in 1917. For some
unknown reason, although Herr Rosenau received the letter it was never
answered. It was placed in a desk drawer and there it rested for twenty-one
years.
Time moves on. Ruth, the
teenage daughter of the German Jew, had grown up and was married to a German
Jew by the name of Eugene Wienberg. They had three small children.
In the year 1938 their
oldest was a boy of eleven. It was a terrible difficult time for the German Jews.
The dreaded Adolf Hitler had taken hold upon Germany and anti-Jewish
proclamations were being contrived and enforced on a continually regular basis.
One day, Herr Rosenau was
hosting the family. While ruminating about the dark and dismal future for
himself and his fellow Jews in Germany, he wasn't paying much attention to his
eleven-year-old grandson, Sigbert, who was rummaging through his desk looking
for something of interest. Suddenly a foreign postage stamp caught his eye. He
pulled out the envelope with the stamp from America. "Grandfather, can I
have this?"
Twenty-one years had passed
since he received the letter. "Yes, take it," the grandfather
replies. The old forgotten envelope makes his grandson happy. He takes it home
to his mother. "Look, look what grandfather has given me!"
The mother and her husband,
Herr Wienberg, eye the envelope with curiosity. They remove the letter inside
and read it. It was the thankyou letter from the American service man, from
twenty-one years ago.
The mother remembered the
young man. "Let's write to him! Maybe he will remember us and sponsor us,
enabling us to immigrate to America." (In those years, the U.S.A. did not
let refugees come to its shores freely. However, if an American resident
citizen would sponsor you, there was a chance.) "We have no future in
Germany, we must get out before this mad man, Hitler, begins to do worse things
to the Jews."
Looking on the envelope,
they saw that there was no return address--only the name, Alex Lurye, and the
city and state, Duluth, Minnesota. So they wrote a letter addressed only as
follows:
ALEX LURYE
DULUTH, MINNESOTA
Can you send a letter to a
person in a large city without a street address and expect it to be delivered?
Of course not. You would have to be foolish to think that it would get to its
destination. But sometimes it works out. In this case, Alex Luyre had become a
wealthy businessman who was well known in Duluth, even though it was a city of
more than a hundred thousand people.
The postmaster delivered
the letter.
When Alex received it, he
quickly sent a return letter acknowledging his receipt of their letter and
pledging to help bring the Wienberg family to Duluth. Indeed, the entire
Wienberg family arrived that same year, in May of 1938. Shortly thereafter, the
Rosenau family were also able to reach America.
In Duluth, the Wienberg
family began working hard to make life bearable through the depression era.
Sometimes both the father and mother had to work two jobs in order to make it
through the week. Yet in Duluth as in Seldes, Germany, the family made sure
that the Shabbat would be joyously honored.
The rest of the family were
fortunately brought over to the States before the horrors of World War II
swiftly came. Most of German Jewry was destroyed.
The kindness that Herr
Rosenau had given to a stranger twenty-one years earlier had come full circle.
Because of their kindness, without any thought of personal gain, Herr Rosenau
and his family were spared from the horrible fate of their fellow German Jews.
The chessed that they had so warmly given to others without desiring a payment
in return had come back to them with dividends. The entire clan was saved.
And they sprouted and grew—a
family blessed with many children and grandchildren and great-grand-children
(as of the first writing of this report in 1997). All of whom took upon
themselves always to honor the Shabbat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author’s conclusion: “Doing chessed (an act of loving kindness done without any
expectation of remuneration) is the Jewish way. Helping another Jew, without
trying to receive a thing in return. Pure and unadulterated kindness. It’s for
you and for me.”
Source: Edited by
Yerachmiel Tilles from an article by Yisrael Nathan (as
told to JewishMag.com staff and posted in Nov. 1997.). Submitted
by Micha Roos of Tzefat, Israel.
Connection: this Friday is the “Fast of the Tenth of 10 Tevet.” It commemorates the onset of the siege outside the walls of Jerusalem that led to the destruction of the Holy Temple on the Ninth of Av. In addition, in our times it has become the date to say Kaddish for those martyrs of the Holocaust (and all the others through the centuries) whose date of death is unknown.
The 12th Century Rabbi who traveled the
world. by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1359-16
Rabbi Avraham Ibn-Ezra, the famous
12 century biblical commentator, led an extremely difficult life. In the
introduction to his commentary on Koheles, he writes that he could not find
success in any manner of making a living that he tried. His bad fortune was
such, he wrote in one of his poems, "if he were to sell candles, the sun
would never set; if he should deal in shrouds, no one would ever die."
Still, despite his challenging
experiences, the Ibn Ezra recognized that each difficulty was a blessing in
disguise, a stepping stone on which to draw closer to The Creator and His
infinite kindness.
The Ibn Ezra had vast knowledge in
Torah, science, mathematics, philosophy, poetry and Hebrew grammar. He spent
the latter third of his life traveling to different parts of the world to acquire
knowledge from the experts in different fields. One of the great men whom the
Ibn Ezra wanted to obtain knowledge from was the Rambam, Rabbi Moshe
ben Maimon. He traveled to Egypt to spend time in the company of the Rambam and
gain from his wisdom.
When he arrived, the Rambam ordered
his servants to set up the Ibn Ezra in a room with a pile of onions. He was to
peel onions for the next three days.
The Ibn Ezra was not very pleased
with this arrangement. He had wanted to learn from the Rambam, and instead he
was put to task peeling onions like a kitchen maid. However, since he was a
guest in the Rambam's home and thus depended on his host for food, he had no
choice but to obey.
He stood over a mountain of onions,
peeling one after the other, the pungent scent causing his eyes to water
terribly. Tears streamed down his cheek as he worked his way removing the brown
skin on onion after onion.
Soon, servants arrived, and upon
instruction from the Rambam, held buckets to his cheeks to collect his tears. For
three torturous days, he sat with burning eyes and wet cheeks, peeling and
chopping onions as his tears dripped into containers. He could not understand
why he was subject to such cruelty.
On the fourth day, he was brought
before the Rambam who embraced him warmly and greeted him with tremendous
respect. "Shalom Aleichem, Rabbaynu Avraham ben Ezra!"
Confused, the Ibn Ezra responded,
"I've heard so much about you, and I want to learn from your knowledge…
but why did you treat me so sadistically for three days?"
Instead of responding, the Rambam
asked a servant to bring the bucket containing the Ibn Ezra's tears. "Look
carefully into the container," he told his guest.
The Ibn Ezra peered inside.
Crawling, creeping, swimming inside the puddle of tears were tiny bugs.
"As soon as I saw you, I knew
it was urgent for you to cry profusely for three days, to rid your eyes of
these poisonous bugs," The Rambam said quietly.
The Ibn Ezra was astounded at the
brilliance of the Rambam, of his incredible diagnostic skills and medical
know-how.
The Rambam and the Ibn Ezra spent a
lot of time together, sharing each other's wisdom. The days passed, and it was
time for the Ibn Ezra to move. He left by ship to travel to another part of the
world to acquire a different kind of knowledge.
In the midst of the journey, the
ship was captured by pirates. They killed the captain, plundered the cargo of
all valuable items, and shackled the passengers to be sold on the slave market.
On a low platform, his hands and feet tightly bound, the Ibn Ezra was put up
for sale.
A wealthy priest arrived at the
market to shop for some new slaves. He scrutinized the row of captives
carefully before stopping in front of the Ibn Ezra. "Are you smart?"
He demanded.
The Ibn Ezra hesitated and then
responded carefully, "I am good at math."
"I, too, am excellent in
mathematics," The priest told him. He cited a complicated calculation for
the Ibn Ezra to compute. In a heartbeat, the Ibn Ezra fired back the correct
answer.
"My turn," the Ibn Ezra
said with a soft smile and proceeded to ask the priest a complex mathematical
equation of his own. The priest was silent, his mind churning, but he could not
keep track of all parts of the equation in his head and was forced to admit
defeat. Upon hearing the answer, he was deeply impressed.
"I'll take this one!" the
priest called to the slave dealer, gesturing at the Ibn Ezra and counting out
coins to pay for his new slave. The chains were removed, and the Ibn Ezra
became the property of the priest.
When they reached the priest's
home, the Ibn Ezra was brought to his master's study and shown his business
ledger. The priest recognized his slave's unsurpassed brilliance and wished to
take full advantage of it.
"You will be my finances
coach," he said to the Ibn Ezra. "I want you to give me advice on
various business issues. For example, I am unsure if selling my sheep now would
be a sound business decision. What do you say?"
"How many sheep do you
have?" The Ibn Ezra asked, carefully noting the answer. "How much
does it cost to feed them? How many slaves do you have caring for these sheep?
How much does it cost to feed those slaves?"
Using the information that the
priest provided, the Ibn Ezra skillfully sketched a profit and loss calculation
for either side of the decision, allowing his master to easily compare and
reach the most profitable conclusion.
Impressed and satisfied by the Ibn
Ezra's work, the priest offered him a meal. He took it very well when he heard
his new slave's strange dietary requirements and made special arrangements for
him. Overall, the Ibn Ezra was treated decently.
* * *
A few days later, a royal messenger
arrived to summon the priest for a sudden audience with the king. Anxious about
the unexpected summons, the priest quickly dressed in his clerical robes and
hurried to the palace. He was brought before the king and bowed deeply.
"My dear advisor," the
king said to him. "I have a large pool of consultants and counselors, and
I want to downsize to a select group of only the most intelligent men. I am
therefore subjecting all my advisors to a small test to weed out the less
bright from among them. I now will also ask you three questions, which you must
answer within the next three days in order to retain your position on my advisory
council."
The priest bowed respectfully even
as his stomach turned. He was versed enough in the manners of the court to
detect the hidden threat in the king's words. If he could not answer the king's
questions, he knew, his fate would be far worse than just a demotion from the
king's council. His very life hung on providing the king with satisfactory
answers.
The king began. "My first
question is: Which direction is G-d facing?"
The priest nodded, keeping his
features even. Inside, though, he was in turmoil. He hadn't the faintest idea
of what to answer!
"Question two," the king
continued. "What can travel around the world in a single day?"
The priest's knees turned to jelly
and he struggled to retain his composure. What would be? The king was asking impossible
questions!
"And now my third
question," the king said slowly. "How much am I worth?"
This was the most difficult
question of all. There was no answer the priest could give that would satisfy
the king. If he said too little, he would almost certainly insult the king, and
if he said too much, he would be accused of flattery. It was a lose-lose.
The priest left the palace, his
mood low. He could not eat or sleep. He watched his new slave work brilliantly
through financial calculations, but decided against asking him for assistance
in answering the king. In his depressed state, his pride would not allow him to
humble himself and ask for help. He was just as smart as the Jew!
A day passed. Two.
The priest grew depressed. He was
staring a noose in the eye, and he saw no way out.
"Something seems to be
troubling you," the Ibn Ezra probed, seeing his worried expression.
The priest took a deep breath. As
much as he loathed consulting his slave, he recognized that he really did not
have much of a choice. Curtly, he explained the situation. Then he broke even
further and actually begged his slave for help. "Please, tell me the
answers," he pleaded. "If you can provide satisfactory answers, I
will set you free."
"I have a better idea,"
the Ibn Ezra responded after a moment. He did not trust his master's word that
he would be granted emancipation.
"Instead of me giving you
answers that may or may not be accepted," he began, I'll dress in your
clothing and present myself to the king in your stead. If he is satisfied with
my answers and I return back to you, you will set me free then. If he is
disappointed with my responses, then he'll kill me in your stead, and you will
be able to escape."
The priest liked this idea, which
removed the danger from his head entirely. He gave his slave his robes to wear
to his audience with the king.
The Ibn Ezra asked his master for
some coins to purchase supplies to use as part of his presentation to the king.
Then he put on the priest's clerical robes and set out to the palace.
On his way, he stopped at a
religious goods store and purchased a small statue for eight francs. He entered
another shop and purchased a single candle. Then he continued on his way to the
royal residence.
He was led into the king's chamber,
and he bowed, his eyes peeking out from beneath the large hood of the robe he
was wearing. A row of dignitaries stood in a semi-circle beside the king,
waiting to witness the priest's brilliance. If he would be able to answer the
questions, he would be promoted as the king's foremost advisor. If not, he
would become a head shorter.
"Tell me," the king
called out in a thunderous voice. "In which direction is G-d facing?"
"Your Majesty," the Ibn
Ezra responded, impersonating the priest's voice with surprising accuracy as he
reached into one of his cavernous pockets and removing a small wax cylinder.
"Do I have your permission to light this candle?"
The king gave a curt nod.
"Proceed."
The Ibn Ezra ignited the wick at
the head of the candle and placed it in the center of the room. The soft
candlelight glowed equally in all directions surrounding it. "Your noble
Majesty," the 'priest' continued, stepping away from the candle. "G-d
is facing the same direction as the candle is facing."
The king smiled, accepting this
answer. He moved on to his next question. "Can you tell me what travels
around the world in a single day?"
"The sun," the 'priest'
responded.
"Very well," the king
said, impressed. "As for my last and most difficult question: How much am
I worth?"
The Ibn Ezra did not miss a beat.
"Your value is six francs, Your Majesty."
The dignitaries gasped. The king
stood up, his face flaming. Each word he uttered was like a firebomb. "Six
francs! That's all you think I'm worth?"
The 'priest' removed the small idol
from within his deep pockets and held it up for all to see. "Your god is
worth eight francs in the marketplace," he said carefully. "It would
therefore be logical that His Majesty, our great ruler, is worth just two
francs less."
The king was amazed by this clever
rejoinder. "I'd like to ask you one more question," he said slowly.
"Tell me, what am I thinking now?"
"You are thinking, 'who is
talking to me, a priest or a rabbi?'" the Ibn Ezra said quietly.
"That is exactly what I am
thinking!" the king exclaimed.
The Ibn Ezra threw back the hood of
his robe and bowed. "Your Majesty, my true name is Avraham, and I am a Jew
from a faraway land. I was captured by pirates and sold as a slave to the
priest. I've given you the answers you sought, and I'm happy to assist you
further with anything you may need."
The king grew furious at the priest
for cowardly sending his slave to respond to the king's questions in his stead.
He ordered his soldiers to arrest the priest and kill him. He then instructed
his servants to transfer the priest's property and possessions to the Ibn Ezra
as a reward for his brilliance.
The Ibn Ezra remained with the king
for a few days to give him wise advice and assist him with some government
affairs. Then, he returned all the money and possessions the king had given him
and begged to be allowed to go back to his family instead.
The king arranged for a ship to
bring the Ibn Ezra home, and before long, he was at last reunited with his
beloved family.
In later years the Ibn Ezra would
say that although he wasn't privy to the reason why he had to go through such
an exile and ordeal - being captured by pirates, being sold into slavery, and
being separated from his family for so long. However, he was confident that
since then, the king was treating his Jewish subjects with a fair hand. Through
his suffering, the Jewish community in that country would receive the gift of
benevolent rule, and for that alone, it was worthwhile.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Excerpted, adapted and supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles from
TorasRebKalman.org, tape # A438, plus a few factoids from chabad.org/2617022.
Compiler's
note:
A. It seems likely that all versions of the visit of the Ibn Ezra to the Rambam
the experienced doctor are apocryphal, as the dates are difficult: the Rambam
was born in 1135, the Ibn Ezra passed in 1167. (That there was correspondence
between the two [as is said] in Ibn Ezra's latter years is quite feasible).
B. I also find difficult that 'the robe and the hood over his eyes' would
prevent the king and the dignitaries from penetrating the substitution. For
that matter, would not standing before a medieval king with a hood over one's
eyes be grounds for immediate decapitation?
Biographic
profiles:
Rabbi Abraham ben Meir Ibn-Ezra (1089 - 1 Adar B, 1167) spent the first
half of his life in the various cities of the Arabic part of Spain, always in
financial difficulties and dire need. The second half of his life he spent
travelling from country to country, studying peoples and countries, languages and
cultures. He visited Africa, Egypt, Babylon Persia, and the Holy Land, where he
learned Kabbalah from the sages in Safed and Tiberias. Finally, he returned to
Italy, where he wrote most of his great commentaries to the Bible.
Subsequently, he also lived in Southern France and London (!) before returning
the area of his birth where he passed in 1135 at age 75. His influence upon
learning and writing in Italy, Southern France and England was greater than
that of any other Jewish figure.
Rabbi
Moshe ben Maimon; [of blessed memory: (1135 - 20 Tevet 1204) known as the
Rambam- the Hebrew acronym of his name, or as Maimonides. was one of the
most important Torah scholars in the last 1000 years. Born in Cordoba, Spain,
he fled with his parents and family from persecution to North Africa, passing
through Morocco and Israel, and eventually settling in Egypt, where he became
the Sultan's personal physician. His numerous books, including Mishna
Torah and Guide to the Perplexed, were --and still
are -- influential in the three fields of Jewish law, philosophy and medicine.
Connection: The yahrzeit of the Rambam is on
the 20th of Tevet (2024: Jan. 1:). There is a major annual pilgrimage to his
burial site in neighboring Tiverya (Tiberias).
Milestone: Isaac Arazi, 80, head of
Lebanon’s Jewish Community. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382666
Milestone: Adi Amit, mayor of
Dortmund Germany. https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-779834
Inyanay Diyoma
Dec. 23
As week 12 starts and 78 ends,
Yisrael is closer to our goals. The IDF is working on the Philadelphia Route to
seal up the tunnels into Egypt with a 50 meter or deeper barrier and that will
end the escape routes and smuggling routes of ISIS and Hamas. Intensive
fighting both in the north and south of Gaza today trying to get ASAP to their
leaders.
In the north as we go deeper into
attacking Hezballah, they are sending rockets deeper. They might be on the way
to make a mistake.
Since Oct. 7th, 450
previously exempt Charedim join the IDF. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-779271
Khamenei calls for boycott of
Israel. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-779281
Hezballah videos and story from
Lebanon. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1ytsx4wt#autoplay
Freighter attacked in the middle of
the Indian Ocean. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyzbpvedp
Hamas arms trade leader died Friday.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyzbpvedp
Hamas rejects UN Ceasefire. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382403
Updates last 36hrs only: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382078
Backhoe Driver rescued from flooded
river. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382406
A Border Police female officer was injured in a
suspected terrorist ramming attack in the town of Barta'a on the border between
Samaria and pre-1967 Israel, near Harish. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382383
Terrorists film themselves with
IEDs. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382390
Another soldier fell in Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382396
5 soldiers fall on Shabbos. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382412
200 of the 700 apprehended terrorists
last week. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382404
Commandos in action. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382373
Feiglin leaves the inept leadership
of Netanyahu and the Likud. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382361
Netanyahu “surrender or die” good
talker. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382343
Danon resist international pressure
and keep fighting until victory. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382326
Counterterrorism (Lotar) Unit identified a
terrorist emerging from a tunnel shaft while firing bursts of shots at the
forces, seemingly to draw them toward explosives planted near the forces. The
soldiers opened fire, threw grenades and neutralized the threat from a
distance. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382341
Following the incident, the soldiers destroyed
the tunnel shaft. Now control over Sujaiyya. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382340
Toxic
liquids flow yet again from phosphate mining company in Negev | The Times of
Israel
Dec. 24
Woe unto us. The law for payment of
reserve soldiers only covers them for a maximum of 60 days. The Knesset after
79 days has to make a new law for payment of soldiers.
After the five soldiers mentioned
Saturday evening by Sunday morning another. 8 soldiers fell. Some say it is
from the pressure by Biden to end the main war by the end of Jan. because of
the US elections. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382434 But this may fail because of
Hezballah in Lebanon.
Why more soldiers die: The IDF is working with lower power in Khan Younis over the
last two weeks than it invested in attacking Gaza City, due to pressure from
America and Europe to shorten the war in Gaza, separate Palestinian civilians
from war zones, and increase humanitarian aid to millions of Palestinians. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382446
YOU ARE ONLY ALLOWED 5,000 PEOPLE AT
A GATHERING BUT THE POLICE DO NOT ENFORCE TENS OF THOUSANDS FOR HOSTAGES
DESPITE THE AIR RAID LAST WEEK.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382432
Shooting in FL mall. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382430
2nd incident in NYC
Kosher Restaurant. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382438
47 days buried in the wrong grave. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382448
Updates to noon Dec. 23. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382447
Op-Ed Glick: Two
underlying assumptions guided Israel’s security establishment for the past
generation. The first asserted that with the end of the Cold War, the era of
conventional wars had ended. In the present age, brains, rather than brawn,
would rule the roost. The primary author of the “small and smart IDF” doctrine
was Ehud Barak, who served as Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense
Forces when the Berlin Wall crumbled. In later years, the slogan was finessed.
A generation of IDF Chiefs of General Staff organized around the vision of a
“small, technological and lethal army.” https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382413
Suicide belts for children. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382444
Dec. 25th
Yesterday, with 16 soldiers falling,
I was reminded of Shalom HaGalil. I start today with another soldier that fell
over the week followed by two more from shafts and finally two more names from
Sunday. The IDF is losing too many to Biden’s rules of engagement and now
returning to be humanitarian but our souls come first.
Name of 9th soldier
announced on Sunday. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382451
Soldiers were killed by terrorists
from shafts. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382450
Maj. Reserves killed in battle. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382467
The Soldiers who fell on Sunday. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382491
IDF reveals the tunnel network where
5 bodies were found. https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-reveals-massive-hamas-tunnel-network-in-gazas-jabaliya-where-it-found-hostages-bodies/
Chief Rabbi of Israel David Lau addressed a
letter today (Sunday) to Pope Francis in which he called on the Pontiff to
retract comments made during a conversation with President Isaac Herzog last
month in which he appeared to accuse both Israel and Hamas of “terrorism” in
the ongoing war that started with the Hamas massacre of over 1,200 people in
southern Israel on October 7. During the conversation, Pope Francis said that
it is “forbidden to respond to terror with terror." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382452
Tunnel found under 770 Eastern Pkwy.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382458
Chocolate Chips that saved granny
from Hamas. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382455
Killed by friendly fire parents only
want to hug soldiers. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382456
The IDF's General Staff
representative in the Cabinet, General Eliezer Toledano, presented the
government with a briefing on the war during the Cabinet meeting today.
"This war will continue for several long months. We will need to manage an
economy of ammunition, but the goal is the eventual destruction of Hamas,"
he stated. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382457
Houthi skit for comedy gets a police
call. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382201
Obama lobbied for Gay. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382441
IDF Spokesman English on the loss of
the soldiers and the war. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X7yebRyYZE
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said on Sunday he
would not support funding for a future Palestinian state that would be run in
part by either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382489
Hamas arrests “collaborators”. According to the
report, one of the "collaborators" admitted to being assigned by the
Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) to monitor the homes of Hamas leaders across
the Strip. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382486
Protestors in Morocco. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382493
China = Tik Tok company refused to allow the Hostages and Missing Persons
Forum to publish ads calling for the return of their loved ones who are being
held hostage in Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382488
Barkat chose to ignore Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu's response to his comments and focused his response on the chairman
of the National Unity Party, saying, "Unfortunately, Benny Ganz is still
captive to the wrong concept that he is one of its forefathers." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382483
Iran’s navy on Sunday added domestically produced
sophisticated cruise missiles to its arsenal, The Associated Press reported,
citing Iranian state TV. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382490
Israel is discussing the possibility of exiling
the Hamas leadership as part of a solution to ending the war in Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382479
Golani Platoon Commander relieved of
duty for visiting bereaved families. According to a report by Asaf Pozailov on Kan News,
the platoon commander, who decided to visit the families with several soldiers
anyway when they left Gaza on leave, was dismissed by the Company Commander. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382461
Egypt is joining the "Land Bridge"
bypassing the Red Sea, based on the “Trucknet” platform through Israel, as part
of a global effort to deal with the Houthi threat over shipping lanes in the
Red Sea. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382460
Iranian terror unit. An intelligence source recently
revealed part of a detailed report on Unit 400, which consolidates Iran's
extensive overseas terrorist activity and is part of the Quds Force, which is
directly controlled by the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382465
Israelis
attacked in London while putting up posters of hostages held by Hamas | The
Times of Israel
Dec. 26th
Attack on Iranians in Syria: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382528
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382539
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Monday
night it had conducted strikes against Kataib Hezbollah terrorist group targets
in Iraq. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382551
Hezballah threatens: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382520
Dermer to Washington the day after. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382549
Op-Ed why Biden is so close to
Israel. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bkt29k4pt
Power outage in parts of Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382546
Security Forces destroy Jewish
outpost. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382503
Terror cell caught in the act =
Shachidim. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382561
Two soldiers fall Elisha leaves a
widow and a 10month old. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382554
Netanyahu visits Gaza. War will
continue to victory. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382531
Sara lost her husband, son and
grandson in war. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382527
NETANYAHU CAVES IN ON HEZBALLAH. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382557
Netanyahu asks Chinese help: "I had met her mother Liora on a number of occasions.
She is native to China and arrived with her husband Yaakov to the meetings. I
told the ambassador: "I would like you to tell Xi Jinping that, beyond the
protocols and rules, there is a girl here with a Chinese mother, and I
personally ask that you personally involve yourself in her case, because her
mother is not only pleading for Noa's life, but also for her own. She has
advanced cancer, she tells me, and she only wants to see Noa one more time in
the time she has remaining. The ambassador assured me that the message would
reach Xi Jinping." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382534
IDF Soldier removed from UK showing
of Oct. 7th for calling Hamas Nazis. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382530
Unit 360 to revise the way we search
for bodies. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382529
Explosives found in UNWRA bags. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382526
In a message sent to Hamas leaders outside Gaza,
Sinwar clarified that Izz ad-Din al-Qassam, Hamas' military arm, will not cave
to the "conditions of the occupation." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382518
No longer Turkish Coffee new name. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382516
Druze Restaurant becomes Kosher. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382515
Working Orthodox to be treated as
Torah Learners. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382512
Synagogue damaged in Negev. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382588
Church in Galil attacked soldiers
coming to rescue injured. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjsiukodt#autoplay
Iran threatens Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382547
Explosion in India against Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382586
Explosive lab destroyed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382576
Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant said today
(Tuesday) at a hearing in the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee that the
bogus phrase “settler violence” must be forbidden to be used. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382585
Dies of wounds from Lebanon attack. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382573
Lamp but no Genie. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382559
Dec 27
After a private business owner broke down in the
Knesset that he had an empty refrigerator while fighting for his country, the
Defense and Finance Ministers met to plug the holes and find 40 Billion NIS to help
these people.
Ethnic Chinese mother appeals to Biden for
release of daughter before she dies. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382605
Three more soldiers fall in Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382613
A senior military source claimed that the IDF is
preparing for a change in the fighting strategy in Gaza. The source notes that
it would take at least a year of fighting until Hamas is eliminated. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382581
Dermer and Sullivan talks in DC. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382611
One soldier died of fungal infections in his
wound. Gaza diseases. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382606
People of the book. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382602
Hostages: US President Joe Biden spoke on Tuesday with Emir Sheikh
Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382608
Gospel
according to Berkley. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382610
Before he died in battle HY”D he sang in song
contest and dropped out to fight for his country. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382596
Houthi Drones on the attack again. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382604
Film of the Hezballah attack on
church. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382601
Dec. 28th
The IDF found 6 tunnels in the
Shomron. They have learned from Gaza and another one was being drilled and
recorded under someone’s house. Rockets from the Christian and UN town of
Nikura in Lebanon. Dec. 27th ended with over 30 Hezballah rockets
launched at Israel. At 13:30 on the 28th Hezballah began a deeper
strike. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382702
Dec.27th a soldier with PTSD shot at
the wall of an IDF vacation spot. Some soldiers were injured and he was taken
for evaluation. 6,000 injured soldiers. Mounting
tally of over 6,000 injured troops presents tough challenge for health system |
The Times of Israel
Netanyahu had the plans of Oct. 7th
plans for a year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJz_VHc1OrI
Op-Ed Diane Weber Bederman. https://dianebederman.com/dear-jews-its-never-too-late-until-it-is-too-late/
Paratroopers destroy Nukhba Command
Center in Khan Unis. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382705
"First of all, if there is a question of
whether we won - apparently, we didn't win. We lost on October 7, we will not
lose any longer. So, we must understand the concept we held has collapsed and
brought us to this situation, and why it is repeating itself now." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382682
Two arrested for stealing donations
to the IDF. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382688
Many donated Mezuzos not kosher. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382658
Three more soldiers fell in Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382675
CO GOP appeals Trump ban. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382671
Erdogan compares Netanyahu to
Hitler. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382641
Ret. Col. loses his son a captain
and puts on uniform to salute him. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382646
CNN presenter cried when reading
story of mother who is dying of cancer has only child captured. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382640
Supreme Court to strike down
‘reasonableness’ basic law. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382664
After 30years a picture of aged
Mohammed Deif. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382659
Shin Bet received note about planned
attack after Yom Kippur but it remained buried in backlog. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382662
For years there has been a "crusade of
defamation and division against the religious Zionists, for instance, against
the Eli pre-military academy. 'It's poison; it must be closed down,' they said;
14 of the fallen soldiers are alumni. 45% of the fallen soldiers are from the religious
Zionist sector. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382665
Pro-Palestine protests shut down three major
airports. https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1740067987522982019
Lauder Business School Germany
severs ties with Harvard over Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382674
Iranian Drone from Iraq attacks the
Golan. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382667
Toddler, 2, murdered by Jewish man
who heard voices. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382690
Fighter plane knocks down RPG
shooting central. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382679
Judy was killed Oct. 7th
body in captivity. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382714
Rosh Yeshiva Lev Tel Aviv in Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382712
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's
candidate for acting Israel Prisons Service commissioner is Deputy Commissioner
Kobi Yaakobi, who currently serves as the security secretary in the National
Security Ministry. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382711
Dec. 29th
The next wind that comes down from
the north will bring sounds of war. Yesterday, Hezballah attacked Israel 50
times. We attacked the suburbs of Beirut. South Lebanon had wide-spread
attacks. South Syria near Damascus was visited last night by the IAF.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382730
After knowing that Judith was murdered
and body brought to Gaza. Nikki Haley comments on finishing them off. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382737
US
shoots down drone, missile in Red Sea fired by Houthis, in 22nd such attack |
The Times of Israel
Two
moderately wounded in stabbing attack at checkpoint near Jerusalem | The Times
of Israel
This last article shows that Mafia
killings passed 200 dead this year.
Op-Ed Diane Sori: www.thepatriotfactor.blogspot.com/2023/12/op-ed-and-yet-they-still-march-by-diane.html
We are at war and this brings on the
Satan to make claims against us.
High
Court rules same-sex adoption must be allowed, in landmark decision | The Times
of Israel
“My squad raped and murdered women”.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382728
Netanyahu cancels “after the war”
discussion. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382729
Four Countries condemn Iran on Uranium.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382734
If you can’t win don’t let Trump
run. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382731
Hamas Delegation to visit Cairo. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382733
Footage of single guard against
terrorists. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382718
Bennett: We took out Iran’s drone
commander. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382740
Hamas Leader’s son killed. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-779884
Since Oct. 7th, the Military Rabbinate has pronounced 15
soldiers dead, despite their bodies being missing or held by Hamas. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-779893
Terror finance millions in cash. https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-779834
Armenians-Muslims clash in
Yerushalayim. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-779881
IAI gets an A- credit rating. https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/banking-and-finance/article-779931
Poll: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-779966
Have a healthy, peaceful and restful Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli
