Chaf Gimmel (23rd) of Shevat this year
will be the 55th anniversary of the passing of my father. It is also close
to 113 years since he was born. I want to dedicate this issue to the memory of
Felix ben Yitzchak.
Parsha Beshalach
This week is a
continuation of the Bnei Yisrael being freed. It is called Parsha Shira or Song
by the sea also Parsha HaMann or the Parsha of the Manna.
13:17 And it came to pass,
when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not by the way of the
land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said: 'Lest
peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to
Egypt.'
Lest they even see enemy dead but the fearsome
shots of battle. The screams would not be the modern Arab of “slaughter the
Jews” but something like “slaughter or eliminate the Israelis”. There would be
at the end of this Parsha the story of Amalek. Amalek is not a normal enemy it
attacks everybody: Men, women, the elderly and children.
18 But
God led the people about, by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea; and the
children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt.
They were armed against animals, thieves and any other
threat. They were not armed yet as a fighting force. It was similar to the
arming of Rav Chaim Kanievsky in the war of independence. He and another person
or more were given sticks to fight the Arabs of Yaffa should they try to attack
and take the hill. The Arabs .did not attack and that ended the one and only
army incident of the Rav as he reviewed Torah in his head.
19 And
Moses took the bones of Joseph with him; for he had straitly sworn the children
of Israel, saying: 'God will surely remember you; and ye shall carry up my
bones away hence with you.'
There were a number of people assigned to bring the bones of
Yosef to Eretz Yisrael. The other brothers who constituted the Tribes are
buried in Aretz.
20 And
they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the
wilderness.
The border of civilized Egypt to the wilderness where gangs
of thieves or wild beasts might be. Out there was a desert with a few oasis and
very little grazing areas for the cattle, sheep, goats and few camels.
21 And
the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way;
and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; that they might go by day
and by night:
Hanhaga directly from HASHEM Yisborach.
22 the
pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, departed not from
before the people.
They had precise
guidance directly from heaven no GPS needed.
14:1 And the LORD spoke unto
Moses, saying: 2 'Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn
back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before
Baal-zephon, over against it shall ye encamp by the sea.
This area appears to be Nueva where chariots were found underwater.
The area has a route to the rear leading back to Mitzrayim and the chariots of
Pharaoh were there. To the west and south mountains by the pass and north was
the mountain Baal-Zephon. The only open space was to the east which was the sea
at a lower level than today.
3 And
Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel: They are entangled in the land, the
wilderness hath shut them in.
I think this is where the saying “Caught between the devil
and the deep blue sea” came from.
4 And
I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he shall follow after them; and I will get
Me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; and the Egyptians shall know
that I am the LORD.' And they did so.
He will send his 600 chariots into the sea with the driver
and archers with coats of mail.
5 And
it was told the king of Egypt that the people were fled; and the heart of
Pharaoh and of his servants was turned towards the people, and they said: 'What
is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
A normal person who received 10 beatings we call plagues, but
a Pharaoh god-king decided with his heart being hardened to chase after the
run-away slaves. Had they gone the way of the Plishtim, perhaps they would have
returned or Pharaoh would have been afraid to make war against the Plishtim.
6 And
he made ready his chariots, and took his people with him. 7 And he
took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains
over all of them.
Besides the 600 chariots, he might have had thousands of
running foot soldiers who were back up as the tanks and infantry integrate today
8 And
the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the
children of Israel; for the children of Israel went out with a high
hand. 9 And the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and
chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them
encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.
There is a limited speed that a group of about 2 to 3,000,000
people with herds and flocks can travel in one day so within seven days of the Egyptians
caught up with the Yisraelim.
10 And
when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and,
behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were sore afraid; and
the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. 11 And they said unto
Moses: 'Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die
in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to bring us forth
out of Egypt?
Moshe has an army (not let put together or drilled) of
600,000 men vs. 600 chariots with some infantry. With a slave mentality they
are scared. As I write this there are perhaps 30,000 or less Hamas fighters vs.
180,000 Israeli soldiers attacking and yet they fight for they don’t have a
slave mentality but have been trained to be Shachid than surrender.
12 Is
not this the word that we spoke unto thee in Egypt, saying: Let us alone, that
we may serve the Egyptians? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians,
than that we should die in the wilderness.'
We did not see this conversation in the past and they argued
with Moshe already and now they repeat their warning is fear.
13 And
Moses said unto the people: 'Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of
the LORD, which He will work for you to-day; for whereas ye have seen the
Egyptians to-day, ye shall see them again no more forever. 14 The
LORD will fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.'
The L-RD will save you. You will never again see the
Egyptians after this day.
15 And
the LORD said unto Moses: 'Wherefore cries thou unto Me? speak unto the
children of Israel, that they go forward.
Tell the tribes ‘forward march’.
16 And
lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the sea, and divide it; and
the children of Israel shall go into the midst of the sea on dry ground.
Now let them see that you stretch out your hand and the sea
will become dry land.
17 And
I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in
after them; and I will get Me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon
his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know
that I am the LORD, when I have gotten Me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his
chariots, and upon his horsemen.'
I, the L-RD, shall take on all the 600 chariots, drivers
& archers, foot soldiers.
19 And
the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind
them; and the pillar of cloud removed from before them, and stood behind
them; 20 and it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of
Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness here, yet gave it light by
night there; and the one came not near the other all the night.
While the Bnei Yisrael were fleeing from their last place of
rest to a place on the other side of the sea, the Egyptians were shooting
arrows at the cloud which reflects them back on the Egyptians perhaps killing
them.
21 And
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go
back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the
waters were divided. 22 And the children of Israel went into the
midst of the sea upon the dry ground; and the waters were a wall unto them on
their right hand, and on their left.
We discussed that at a temperature of 8 degrees Celsius and a
wind of 40 miles an hour or 64KM per hour would blow up the waves and freeze
them with the windchill. The temperature could have been less making the freezing
of the sea possible even quicker.
23 And
the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all
Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And it came to
pass in the morning watch, that the LORD looked forth upon the host of the
Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and discomfited the host of
the Egyptians. 25 And He took off their chariot wheels, and made them to
drive heavily; so that the Egyptians said: 'Let us flee from the face of
Israel; for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.'
They realize that they cannot come and defeat the Bnei
Yisrael for HASHEM is fighting their battles and they start making a U-turn and
retreat.
26 And
the LORD said unto Moses: 'Stretch out thy hand over the sea, that the waters
may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their
horsemen.' 27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and
the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians
fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the
sea.
The east wind slows down with the wind chill and the earth
starts warming up.
28 And
the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the
host of Pharaoh that went in after them into the sea; there remained not so
much as one of them.
None of those who entered the sea survived. They drowned in
their coats of mail. Neshama wise, HASHEM took them from this world to the
next.
29 But
the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the
waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their
left. 30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the
Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore. 31 And
Israel saw the great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians, and the people
feared the LORD; and they believed in the LORD, and in His servant Moses.
The Bnei Yisrael had
obtain complete faith and belief in G-D. A whole nation for the first time in
history. They sang in praise the song by the sea.
15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of
Israel this song unto the LORD, and spoke, saying: I will sing unto the LORD,
for He is highly exalted; the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the
sea.
Every
morning in our prayers we say-sing if we knew and had time to say the Trop the
song. Az Yashir in Hebrew means then Moshe will sing in a future date. In the
days of Moshiach implying either the resurrection of the dead or reincarnation
of the dead. This is the first time since the story of Adam that the Image of
G-D appears to be an eternal spirit from G-D inside of us.
2 The LORD is
my strength and song, and He is become my salvation; this is my God, and I will
glorify Him; my father's God, and I will exalt Him. 3 The LORD is a
man of war, The LORD is His name.
First
praising the L-RD G-D and then recognizing who makes war and guides us for good
or bad. With complete Divine intervention nobody would die in war. However, when
somebody in an IDF uniform screams “You are parasites” at people trying to
daven in a train-car Minyan it does not take two and two to add up to the fact
that 21 soldiers fell in battle that day. It is a matter of unity and
unconditional love that saves Am Yisrael. Remember by the Song by the Sea,
Yisrael loved G-D and each other no matter who they were.
4 Pharaoh's
chariots and his host hath He cast into the sea, and his chosen captains are
sunk in the Red Sea. 5 The deeps cover them--they went down into the
depths like a stone. 6 Thy right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, Thy
right hand, O LORD, dashes in pieces the enemy.
More
than praise it is the HaKaras HaTov or acknowledging the wonders and love of
HASHEM.
… 20 And
Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all
the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21 And
Miriam sang unto them: Sing ye to the LORD, for He is highly exalted: the horse
and his rider hath He thrown into the sea. 22 And Moses led Israel
onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and
they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23 And
when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they
were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the
people murmured against Moses, saying: 'What shall we drink?' 25 And
he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, and he cast it into the
waters, and the waters were made sweet. There He made for them a statute and an
ordinance, and there He proved them;
Leading
a nation is no picnic and there was no human plan of logistics how to obtain
food and water in the desert. They are supposed to be heading towards a land of
milk and honey guided by a cloud and a pillar of fire.
26 and He
said: 'If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and
wilt do that which is right in His eyes, and wilt give ear to His commandments,
and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon thee, which I
have put upon the Egyptians; for I am the LORD that heals thee.'
Only HASHEM
has the power of healing.
27 And they
came to Elim, where were twelve springs of water, and three score and ten
palm-trees; and they encamped there by the waters. 16:1 And they took their
journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto
the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of
the second month after their departing out of the land of
Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel
murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness; 3 and the
children of Israel said unto them: 'Would that we had died by the hand of the
LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh-pots, when we did eat bread
to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this
whole assembly with hunger.'
The burden of slavery was hard but we had what to eat and
drink. We ran out of Matzos so what shall we eat now?
4 Then
said the LORD unto Moses: 'Behold, I will cause to rain bread from heaven for
you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I
may prove them, whether they will walk in My law, or not. 5 And it
shall come to pass on the sixth day that they shall prepare that which they
bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.' 6 And
Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel: 'At even, then ye shall
know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt;
Now you will be taught that all income and food come from G-D
whether by ‘natural’ processes of work and toil by Divine intervention. But you
will also know of Shabbos.
7 and
in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that He hath heard
your murmurings against the LORD; and what are we, that ye murmur against
us?' 8 And Moses said: 'This shall be, when the LORD shall give you
in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the
LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against Him; and what are we? your
murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.' 9 And Moses
said unto Aaron: 'Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel: Come
near before the LORD; for He hath heard your murmurings.' 10 And it
came to pass, as Aaron spoke unto the whole congregation of the children of
Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the
LORD appeared in the cloud. 11 And the LORD spoke unto Moses,
saying: 12 'I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel.
Speak unto them, saying: At dusk ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall
be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.'
13 And
it came to pass at even, that the quails came up, and covered the camp; and in
the morning there was a layer of dew round about the camp. 14 And
when the layer of dew was gone up, behold upon the face of the wilderness a
fine, scale-like thing, fine as the hoar-frost on the ground. 15 And
when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another: 'What is
it?'--for they knew not what it was. And Moses said unto them: 'It is the bread
which the LORD hath given you to eat. 16 This is the thing which the
LORD hath commanded: Gather ye of it every man according to his eating; an omer
a head, according to the number of your persons, shall ye take it, every man
for them that are in his tent.' 17 And the children of Israel did so,
and gathered some more, some less. 18 And when they did mete it with
an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little
had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. 19 And
Moses said unto them: 'Let no man leave of it till the
morning.' 20 Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some
of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and rotted; and Moses
was wroth with them. 21 And they gathered it morning by morning, every
man according to his eating; and as the sun waxed hot, it
melted. 22 And it came to pass that on the sixth day they gathered
twice as much bread, two omers for each one; and all the rulers of the
congregation came and told Moses. 23 And he said unto them: 'This is
that which the LORD hath spoken: To-morrow is a solemn rest, a holy sabbath
unto the LORD. Bake that which ye will bake, and seethe that which ye will
seethe; and all that remains over lay up for you to be kept until the
morning.' 24 And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade; and
it did not rot, neither was there any worm therein. 25 And Moses
said: 'Eat that to-day; for to-day is a sabbath unto the LORD; to-day ye shall
not find it in the field. 26 Six days ye shall gather it; but on the
seventh day is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.' 27 And it
came to pass on the seventh day, that there went out some of the people to
gather, and they found none. 28 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'How
long refuse ye to keep My commandments and My laws? 29 See that the
LORD hath given you the sabbath; therefore He giveth you on the sixth day the
bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his
place on the seventh day.'
A number of points here. Shabbos becomes distinct from the
mundane rest of the week. It is so holy that G-D’s bakery does not work but on
Friday one gets a double portion and one may not leave the camp boundary on
Shabbos. There were certain places one could go for hygienic
30 So
the people rested on the seventh day. 31 And the house of Israel
called the name thereof Manna; and it was like coriander seed, white; and the
taste of it was like wafers made with honey. 32 And
Moses said: 'This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded: Let an overfull
of it be kept throughout your generations; that they may see the bread
wherewith I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land
of Egypt.' 33 And Moses said unto Aaron: 'Take a jar,
and put an overfull of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept
throughout your generations.'
The Mann would be packed in a jar in the Aron HaKodesh for
all generations to see.
34 As
the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be
kept. 35 And the children of Israel did eat the manna
forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat the manna, until
they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.
So for the next 40years until entrance in Eretz Yisrael they
ate the Mann.
36 Now
an omen is the tenth part of an ephah.
This is less than the size
a bit larger than a basketball to that of a beachball per person.
17:1 And all the
congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, by
their stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and encamped in
Rephidim; and there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Wherefore the
people strove with Moses, and said: ‘Give us water that we may drink.’ And
Moses said unto them: ‘Why strive ye with me? Wherefore do ye try the LORD?’ 3 And the people
thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said: ‘Wherefore
hast thou brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our
cattle with thirst?’ 4 And Moses cried
unto the LORD, saying: ‘What shall I do unto this people? They are almost ready
to stone me.’ 5 And the LORD said
unto Moses: ‘Pass on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of
Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smote the river, take in thy hand, and
go. 6 Behold, I will
stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock,
and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink.’ And Moses did
so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And the name of the
place was called Massah, and Meribah, because of the striving of the children
of Israel, and because they tried the LORD, saying: ‘Is the LORD among us, or
not?’ 8 Then came Amalek,
and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said
unto Joshua: ‘Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek; tomorrow I will
stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.’ 10 So Joshua did as
Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went
up to the top of the hill. 11 And it came to
pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down
his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands
were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon;
and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other
on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the
sun. 13 And Joshua
discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14 And the LORD said
unto Moses: ‘Write this for a memorial in the book, and rehearse it in the ears
of Joshua: for I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under
heaven.’ 15 And Moses built
an altar, and called the name of it Adonai-nissi. 16 And he said: ‘The
hand upon the throne of the LORD: the LORD will have war with Amalek from
generation to generation.’
Hamas behaves like Amalek
and perhaps I will expand more next week on this.
How to fool
the secret police by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1362-19
The year 5687 (1927) marked a stormy period in the fight between communism
and Judaism in the USSR. The men of the Yevisekziya (Jewish
division of the NKVD ) were trying desperately to snuff out the flame of Yiddishkeit.
One of the ways they used to catch their fish was through planting undercover
agents everywhere to be informers, bringing terror into the hearts of the
people.
In the city of Kutaisi Georgia, which was then a Soviet republic, there
lived a young man who was among the best students in the recently established ‘Tomchei
T’mimim’ Chabad yeshiva. He worked as a chazan (cantor)
in a Sephardic synagogue and was known as a “Chacham” (‘scholar’). After
the government closed the yeshiva, he taught children in secret, keenly aware
that such behavior would be putting his life in danger.
Indeed, it wasn’t long until he received the dreaded order to appear at
the offices of the NKVD. He was interrogated cruelly but after much useless
questioning the interrogator asked him bluntly, “Who pays you for teaching the
children?”
Without becoming flustered, he responded, “What children? What pay? Who’s
interested in having their children taught?”
“If so,” retorted the interrogator, “why do you visit specific houses
daily – if not to teach children?”
“People call me to remove an Ayin HaRa (evil eye).”
The interrogator burst into laughter. “Are you at least successful in this
work?”
“You can’t know,” replied the Chasid. “Each case in unique. They pay me,
and they ask me to come again. Why should I care if they think it works?”
Having prepared himself for this, he continued playing dumb as well as
being very cautious. The interrogators wouldn’t relent, and continued barraging
him with questions trying to pry out a confession. However, the Chasid soon
proved too resistant for them, and they commanded him to leave the room while
they discuss his case.
Continuing to play dumb, he headed straight for the exit of the building.
The armed guard stepped in and stopped him, asking him where he was going.
“I was told to go,” the Chasid said simply.
The guard, certain that no one could leave an interrogation without
permission, let him go.
Aware that going home was dangerous, as surely a search party would soon
be sent for him, he went to a friend’s house for a few days, and then traveled
to Rostov.
Arriving in Rostov, he found his fellow Chasidim in despair.
“The Rebbe has been arrested and sentenced to three years exile in
Kostroma,” he was told.
Without hesitation, he set out immediately for Kostroma. When he arrived
where the Rebbe Rayatz (the sixth Lubavitcher
Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef -Yitzchak Schneersohn) was staying, he requested
permission to see the Rebbe. The Chasidim were reluctant to allow him in – as
his presence could endanger the Rebbe – but at last he was granted a yechidus (private
audience).
In yechidus, the Rebbe gave him peculiar instructions.
“Travel to Moscow and meet with several Chasidim who have legitimate
permits allowing them to purchase merchandise. Try to obtain for yourself such
documents bearing your name. Once you have them, return to Kutaisi and present
yourself to the NKVD! You should tell them that because during the
interrogation they were not happy with your method of income, you therefore
chose to go into business, and that’s why you left so suddenly – to immediately
buy merchandise.”
The Rebbe than gave him a note that contained specific instructions for
the elder Chasid Reb Boruch-Sholom, who would make the necessary connection
with the businessmen for him. He then warned him to ensure the note be
destroyed immediately after reading it.
So, after Shabbat, he travelled to Moscow. Arriving there he noticed that
the train station was packed with people, many of them secret agents of the
NKVD. Much caution was needed to not raise suspicion. He took the first trolley
in the direction of the city, taking a seat next to a bearded elderly Jew.
After eyeing each other for some time the elder broke the ice.
“From where does this Jew come?” he questioned.
“Kostroma.” The Chasid replied.
The joy on the other man’s face was clear. Realizing that this was his
chance, the Chasid probed. “Perhaps you know Reb Boruch Sholom?”
“Boruch Sholom? – that’s me!” the elderly Jew responded.
When they arrived inside Reb Boruch Sholom’s home, the two hugged and
kissed cheeks (as is customary among Russian Chasidim). The host inquired about
the Rebbe and the reason for the Chasid’s visit. The latter conveyed regards
from the Rebbe and gave Reb Boruch Sholom the note, which, after reading and
rereading, they burned.
The Chasid was overjoyed at finding Reb Boruch Sholom in such a large
city. His joy turned to amazement when hearing from Reb Boruch Sholom that he
usually doesn’t travel in the morning before Shacharit (the Morning Prayer),
but that particular day he awoke with an urge to go to the train station.
“How wonderful are the ways of Hashgacha (Divine Supervision),” cried Reb
Boruch Sholom. “When traveling with the Rebbe’s power, wonders are no wonders.”
On the following day there was a farbrengen (Chasidic
gathering) with the elder Chasidim of Moscow, where the Chasid conveyed regards
from the Rebbe to all of them.
Their happiness was tremendous, as much effort was being put into securing
the release of the Rebbe – which was expected within the next few days. And
after that, Chasidim hoped, he would be granted permission to leave the USSR.
Following the exact directives of the Rebbe, he met with the right people
acquired the necessary papers, and returned to Kutaisi,. When he arrived,
although a wanted man, he informed his family that he had no intention of
fleeing or going into hiding – and, compounding their fears, he told them his
plan to walk directly into the offices of the notorious NKVD voluntarily.
In vain his family pleaded with him to come to his senses, but he remained
adamant about following the Rebbe’s advice and soon left on his way.
The same guard who was on duty when he had left recognized him
immediately. Seeing his chance to make up for his embarrassing mistake, the
guard led him directly to the interrogator’s office, and announced, “You were
upset that I let this guy leave? Well here he is, he returned on his own.”
Almost instantly, the interrogator bombarded him with questions, first and
foremost being why did he run away and disappear?
“I didn’t run away,” he answered calmly. “You told me to go – so I left.
Who can escape you anyway?”
“And where have you been until now?” the interrogator queried.
The Chasid then proceeded to tell them exactly what the Rebbe had told him
to say, and concluded by presenting the paperwork to validate his tale.
After thoroughly inspecting the papers and finding them to be in order the
interrogator told him, “It is a fine choice you made to not be a scholar and
rather switch to the path of business. But, take my advice: even better would
be to drop the business and become a worker!”
The Chasid nodded his agreement and promised to consider his advice.
“It is your good fortune,” continued the interrogator, “that you smartly
turned yourself in. Were we to have searched and found you, you would have been
sentenced to ten years’ exile in Siberia! Now go home, heed my word and become
a worker.”
Each year on Yud Beis-Yud Gimmel [12-13] of the Jewish month
of Tammuz, the same dates as the Rebbe’s release from exile, this Chasid would
celebrate his freedom, due to following the Rebbe’s inspired advice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from A Chassidische
Derher, Tammuz 5772, pp.28-29. Based on Pninei Hakeser Vol.,
I p 85.
Connection: This Shabbat, the tenth of the Jewish month of Shvat, is the 74th
yahrzeit of the Rebbe Rayatz (and the 73nd anniversary of his
son-in-law officially ascending to the Leadership of Chabad).
Biographical note:
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn [of blessed memory: 12 Tammuz 5640 – 10
Shvat 5710 (Jan. 1880-June 1950)], known as the Rebbe Rayatz,
was the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, from 1920 to 1950. He established a network of
Jewish educational institutions and Chassidim that was the single most
significant factor for the preservation of Judaism during the dread reign of
the communist Soviets. In 1940 he moved to the USA, established Chabad
world-wide headquarters in Brooklyn and launched the global campaign to renew
and spread Judaism in all languages and in every corner of the world, the
campaign continued and expanded so remarkably successfully by his son-in-law
and successor, Rabbi Menachem-Mendel Schneerson.
Footnotes:
1) Forerunner to the KGB
2) An independent country at the intersection of Europe and Asia, home to
Caucasus Mountain villages and Black Sea beaches. (Google)
3) Kostroma is a city in western Russia, about 200 miles (320 km) northeast of
Moscow.
4) Named for the eldest son of the Tzemech Tzedek, the third Rebbe of Chabad.
Divinely Arranged Synchronicity By Yerachmiel Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1363-20
A week before Passover in 2022, I [Rabbi
Mayshe Schwartz] got a call from a rabbi in Miami asking me to hurry to
Boston's Children's Hospital to pray for a newborn baby scheduled for high-risk
surgery. The situation was urgent. It was 10 am and the baby's surgery was
scheduled for 11:30 am. They wanted a rabbi and they wanted him now.
Ten minutes later, I was at Children's
Hospital. I headed straight to the NICU. I wasn't sure who I was looking for
and all I could see were tiny babies with wires attached to all parts of their
bodies as machines beeped and lights blinked on and off. Next to every crib was
a mother and father hanging on to their child's precious life with every bit of
hope they could muster. The fear in the room was palpable.
I finally found a nurse who was able to guide
me to the family in question. There was no time for the usual pleasantries, so
I just said, "Hi, my name is Rabbi Mayshe Schwartz. G-d can do anything!
Let's pray for a miracle!"
There we were: The rabbi and the mom-let's
call her Tiffany-praying with intense focus. We recited psalms and prayers for
the success of the impending surgery. Then I left.
The next day, I received a call from Tiffany.
She told me the surgery had gone well. About a week later, the day before
Passover, Tiffany called me again. The doctors wanted to perform an additional
surgical procedure.
"Could you come over right now,
rabbi?" she asked.
"Sure, I'll be right over" was all I
could say, and I went.
When I got to the hospital, Tiffany told me
the procedure had been delayed until that afternoon. We stepped into the family
room and joined her husband. We all said the Shema together.
When we were done, I asked if we could finally
take a moment to get to know each other. Tiffany shared that she was born in
South America but grew up in Chicago in a very Christian home. When Tiffany was
a teenager, her maternal grandmother, on her deathbed, revealed to her that she
was born a Jew.
Tiffany had no idea what to do with that
information, but it settled deep within her. She later enrolled at a large
American university. Curious about her ancestry, she joined the first Jewish
club she found on campus. When a B-team staffer asked her if she was Jewish,
she said no, and the staffer wasn't very welcoming. She left.
She tried her luck with another organization
that seemed very passionate about Jews. It turned out to be a horrible
anti-Semitic group whose only passion was opposing Israel's existence. When she
told them, she wasn't Jewish but her maternal grandmother was, they ridiculed
her, told her that she was Jewish and asked her to leave.
Tiffany continued on her journey, however, and
connected with Chabad on Campus. She went to Israel on a Birthright trip. Then
she went a second time on a more immersive visit, ending up in the city
of Safed in northern Israel.
There, she met a rabbi who had the patience to
answer her many questions. On one of the porches at Ascent Institute
in Safed, she and this rabbi discussed the idea of "synchronicity,"
how bashert ('destiny') works, why God chooses the intricate
path we traverse in life and more. He had a major impact on her decision to
pursue a Jewish life.
But as she continued to share details about
this unique rabbi, I started to lose it.
My father had been the scholar-in-residence at
the Ascent Institute in Safed for 20 summers and the discussions she was
describing were very familiar. They were all on the topics he loved to talk
about most of all.
I couldn't hold myself back any longer. I
interrupted and asked if she remembered the name of the rabbi. She said she
didn't, but everyone called him "Schwartzie."
I started to cry. I told them that Schwartzie
was my father. "He passed away five years prior and is buried in
Safed," I said. We all cried tears at the synchronicity, the bashertness,
of what was unfolding right in front of us. For reasons above my pay grade, I
knew I had merited this connection and the privilege of being there for this
family as my father had been there for Tiffany.
The good news is that the surgery was
successful and we maintained our connection with Tiffany and her family. They
joined us several times for Shabbat meals before they were finally able to take
the baby back home to Florida.
But the story is not over.
Last week, Tiffany asked if I would come to
Miami on Sept. 12, to be the Sandek at her baby's bris mila (circumcision
ceremony). Of course, I said yes.
I have just returned from this special quick
trip to Miami that I will never forget, where I got to hold the miracle baby as
he was circumcised and finally got his Jewish name-"Chaim Mordechai."
[May he live and be well in a strong Jewish home, and give much joy to his
parents and extended family and to all who will know him.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Excerpted and supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles from ColLive.com
(September 20, 2022 - 24 Elul 5782), as is the photo.
From
Rabbi Mayshe's conclusion:
We can't always see G-d's plan amid the mysteries of life. But sometimes, we
are fortunate enough to see those mysteries unfold in a way that makes His plan
as clear as it could possibly be. We must acknowledge those moments and embrace
them. All we need to do is remain open and available to it. So, let's make sure
to open our eyes and see the miracles unfolding right in front of us.
Biographical
notes:
Rabbi Moshe ("Mayshe") ben Shlomo Schwartz is the director of
the Chabad Chai Center in Brookline, Massachusetts; founder of YJP Boston, the
largest organization of Jewish young adults in Boston; and founder of Chai
Hospitality, a volunteer-based group aiding hospital patients.
Rabbi
Shlomo-Yitzchak ben Moshe Schwartz [7 Kislev 5705 -12 Shvat 5777
(Nov. 12,1944-Feb. 7, 2017)]
Connection: The 12th of the Jewish month of Shvat (this year: Monday, Jan.
22) is the 7th yahrzeit of Rabbi Shlomo Schwartz. was a staff rabbi of the very
first campus Chabad House in the world, in Berkeley (California) and then Los
Angeles. In the 1980's the widowed 'Schwartzie' married Olivia, and in the same
decade they opened Chai Center, independent of Chabad, to give full expression
to his creative--and wild--ideas for adult education for "every Jew that
moves." Over the years he had a life-changing effect on thousands of Jews.
For the last two decades of his life, he was Ascent's "Summer
Rabbi-Scholar in Residence"-accompanied and aided by Olivia, of course.
[For more about Rabbi Schwartz's life and escapades, purchase the book 'I
Love when that Happens' by R. Mendel Schwartz (his son). And "May
the Schwartz be with You!"]
Footnotes:
1. A secular term for 'not a coincidence,' what Jews refer to as "Divine
Providence - G-d's involvement in and supervision of His Creation.
2/ The one who holds the infant boy on his lap during the circumcision
procedure. Considered to be one of the greatest of honors.
Milestone: Norman Lewison, 97, film
maker. 'Fiddler on the Roof' director Norman Jewison
dies at 97 | The Times of Israel
Inyanay Diyoma
Jan. 20th
Day 106 week 16. On Friday, I was placed in Facebook Jail so could
not post in groups on line: I posted something from Diane Bederman's post to make people
aware of the Nazi and Hamas Propaganda and I was temporarily banned from
posting.
5th
IRGC officer dies in Damascus strike; Iran blames Israel, vows to respond | The
Times of Israel
Gallant
warns crunch time with Lebanon nearing, as Hezbollah attacks persist | The
Times of Israel
Pakistan,
Iran agree to 'de-escalate' after trading air strikes | The Times of Israel
'They
will return home in coffins': Hostages' families rally at PM's home, demand
deal | The Times of Israel Iran
says it successfully launched satellite in Revolutionary Guards' space program
| The Times of Israel
Tens
of thousands of Germans protest against resurgence of far-right AfD party | The
Times of Israel
The IDF spokesman for foreign media told NBC News on Thursday that the IDF
conducted search and rescue operations, including for the bodies of dead
hostages, in a cemetery in Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383833
Guided by intel long range rocket
launcher found in N. Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383874
Reservists to be released. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383854
Captive murdered after airstrike. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383871
Soldiers of the 7th Brigade Battle Team have been
operating of late in the Khan Yunis region. Directed by IDF intelligence, the
troops have been raiding terror infrastructure, locating and seizing weapons,
and uncovering underground infrastructure. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383862
There is no school or mosque without
weapons. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383873
Biden spoke with Netanyahu did he
promise a PA State? https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383865
Rocket launchers taken out. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383872
Jan. 21st
Day 107. At 1AM tomorrow morning I
fly out to FL leaving my wife and Menashe to hold down the fort. This was my
trip that was supposed to have been on Nov. 9th but delayed due to
the war. I hope to post day 108 with a delay.
I may have known the soldier or at
least his father from Moshav where my in-laws lived as the face is very
familiar. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383903
B’nai Brit Canada has filed a complaint with a
local government body after it failed to reign in protesters who recently
disrupted official business and targeted Jewish officials, the organization
said in a statement on Friday. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383902
The injured became their own
doctors. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383888
Ally endorses Trump. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383901
Havdala inside enemy territory. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383895
US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on
Saturday night that pro-Iranian militias attacked the al-Assad Airbase in Iraq,
which hosts US troops. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383897
A 16-year-old boy was shot dead Saturday evening
on Menachem Begin Street in Tel Aviv. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383885
Additionally, on Saturday morning, two launches
from Lebanon toward Israeli territory were identified. In response, the IDF
struck the source of the fire. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383876
Jan. 22nd
I arrived in FL and ended up instead
of going to a quiet home, Jackhammers and sledgehammers on top of my head
breaking up the old roof to put in a new roof.
Iran: An explosion was heard Monday
morning in an industrial complex in Garmsar, southeast Tehran, IRNA reported.
Authorities are making their way to the scene. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383971
Iranian soldier murders 5
colleagues. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383966
It is not yet known what caused the
explosion. 20 - 30% of Hamas knocked out. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-783036
Norway will hold frozen PA funds
until after the war. The Political Security Cabinet meeting this
morning, held in the IDF Central Headquarters in Tel Aviv, approved the plan
for transferring frozen funds from the Palestinian Authority to Norway. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383925
Dozens of Houthi Shachidim. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383918
Israel getting around Houthis. According to a
report by Itamar Eichner in Yedioth Ahronot, in the past month, ships with
shipments heading to Israel have been anchoring in ports in Bahrain and the
UAE. From there the shipments are loaded onto trucks which make their way
through Saudi Arabia and Jordan before reaching the Israeli border. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383920
Borough Park couple murdered by
disturbed son. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383924
Yehuda Fox best man to be police
commissioner. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383886
Bereaved son calls for all
leadership to be replaced. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383922
The IDF on Sunday evening announced that Staff Sergeant Shay
Levinson, age 19, fell in battle on October 7, the day Hamas' brutally attacked
Israel. Levinson's body is still held in Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383944
The rabbi of Ashdod's Vizhnitz Hasidic
community was violently attacked just minutes before the start of Shabbat late
on Friday afternoon. An eyewitness said, "The attacker saw the rabbi from
up close, began running crazily towards him, knocked off his shtreimel, and
began attacking him." "By great miracle, the attacker slipped in the
middle of his saga of attacks and with that the assault - which could have
ended in murder, since the rabbi is nearing 80 - drew to a close." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383931
Without the family, the dog dies. https://www.ynetnews.com/environment/article/s1tlnz3yt
Londonstan 3 Israelis attacked for
speaking Hebrew. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383970
K-9 visits handler in hospital. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383998
Terrorists caught with bomb making
material. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383987
Updates: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383987
Jan. 23rd
109 days already I hope we get
Sinwar and the release of live hostages until 120 days.
Yesterday jetlag over-came me and I
missed out on the three that died the previous day. Hamas is not stupid and
when they see day after day time after time soldiers going into houses so as to
leave buildings for civilians they see in their minds booby-traps. 21 soldiers
killed in building explosions. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384027
“The forces were operating in the area that
separates between Israeli towns and Gaza, near the town of Kissufim. The forces
removed buildings and infrastructure that served Hamas in an area approximately
600 m from the border, with the intention of allowing residents of the south to
return to their homes. According to our information at the moment, at
approximately 4:00 p.m., an antitank missile was fired at a tank guarding the
force, and simultaneously an explosion collapsed two two-story buildings close
to the force while most of the force was in or near them. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384032
3 from the day before. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384004
Bedouin scout was among the
soldiers. "I am proud to be an Israeli Bedouin. As far
as I am concerned, the people that I live with and work with are my brothers
and sisters, and we all live together and respect one another in our
land." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384040
New
PBS documentary ‘Nazi Town, USA’ looks at 1930s heyday of Hitler's US admirers
| The Times of Israel Smart
energy giant SolarEdge to slash 900 jobs including 550 in Israel | The Times of
Israel
FM discusses plans for Gaza after
the war. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384011
Man interrupts Minyan. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384000
Israel Police on Sunday night arrested a Arab
aged 16 from Ramallah, on suspicion of stealing a car from Jerusalem. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383985
Job cuts for company to survive but
poor workers. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383984
IDF surrounds Hamas Khan Unis
Brigade above ground. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384037
US, UK and others against the
Houthis. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384018
Egypt warns Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384012
Rabbinical Advice on the path to
victory: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384016
My two cents on the
issue. The soldier who interrupted the Minyan caused the Shechina to remove its
presence for just long enough for the buildings to explode on the soldiers.
Jan. 24 – 25th
Working with a Wifi-Hotspot and jet
lag changes the way I work. So am doing day 110 and 111. Lebanon some rockets
shot down others hit the main eyes of the IAF on Har Meron. In the afternoon
the IAF hit targets in Iraq-Syria border and things exploded after hit by bombs
in Lebanon. From Gaza rockets towards the center of the country to show that
they are still in business.
A very long tunnel was discovered in
Khan Unis. Terrorist fought for it but were eliminated. The TV 13 news had a
story about Sedgwick, the Pilipino, who fell in battle. He was born in Israel
while his mother worked here. He came back got involved with bad people and
even though he wanted to join the army was told no and handed an exemption. He
ripped up the exemption and went on to serve that he even earned the Southern
Command distinguished service away.
He had a wife/girl friend and came
back only for her 22nd birthday.
The army noted that the amount of
men in the area of the buildings were too many. There should be less men at a
time dealing with explosives.
Besides Sedgwick, there was a man
who only saw his baby make the first steps on What’s App and a few newly weds
and a father of three who was a Talmud Chacham. Many left behind siblings,
parents, girl friends, life partners and spouses/children.
Very long tunnel used to transport
rockets. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384057
Photos or the mile long tunnel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384120
Marwan Barghouti may be released in deal. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384080
Herzog only through unity. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384095
Anti-Hamas protest in Gaza for
exchange. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384099
Red Cross both sides no prisoner
visits. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384096
Don’t aid the enemy. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384093
Israel-Hamas mulling exchange. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384063
Terrorist eliminated exiting
building. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384102
Need cabinet meeting over any deal. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384091
Driver who refused to drive Yehuda
Glick related to his attempted assassin. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384116
Russia
says plane carrying Ukrainian POWs crashes, killing all aboard | The Times of
Israel
Billionaire
investor Ackman, wife buy 5% stake in Tel Aviv Stock Exchange | The Times of
Israel
Day 111 afternoon update:
IDF Commandos deep in Khan Unis. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384160
IDF attacks terrorist in N. and
Central Gaza. https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-783658
Hamas launched UAV’s at iron dome.
Their air base eliminated. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384159
N. Korea makes strategic cruise
missile: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384131
Charedi Singer injured in car
accident. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384089
US-Israel Defense meeting. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384151
Holocaust and Oct.7 survivor does
not want to be a refugee in his own land. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384139
Woman arrested for attacking Female
Minister. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384132
New Jordanian Restaurant Oct 7. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384141
Israel to reconsider supplying
Yarden Water. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384154
TV Star released from hospital. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384157
IDF building 1 KM buffer zone. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384152
On Wednesday, the IDF said it was investigating a deadly strike on a United
Nations shelter in southern Gaza that reportedly killed nine people and
injured 75, but noted it may have been caused by an errant Hamas rocket. https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-battles-rage-in-khan-younis-first-rocket-alert-from-gaza-in-4-days-sounds-in-israel/
High Court upholds decision to compel Jerusalem public
pool to open on Shabbat | The Times of Israel
Jan. 26th
Hamas drone attacks IAF radar dome. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384209
Israel eliminates Hamas Drone Base. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383913
Another soldier falls in battle. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384212
B”H Hamas rocket supply estimated to be in the
hundreds now. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384199
Have a healthy, peaceful and
restful Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli
