Dovid ben Zahava needs prayers for healing.
Parsha Tazria Part 2
9 When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest. 10 And the priest shall look, and, behold, if there be a white rising in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising, 11 it is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean; he shall not shut him up; for he is unclean.
The white skin and raw flesh get normal people to avoid them. They are unclean and must leave the area of the camp.
12 And if the leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his feet, as far as appears to the priest; 13 then the priest shall look; and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague; it is all turned white: he is clean.
If he turns all white then he is clean.
14 But whensoever raw flesh appears in him, he shall be unclean. 15 And the priest shall look on the raw flesh, and pronounce him unclean; the raw flesh is unclean: it is leprosy.
Raw flesh equals plague.
16 But if the raw flesh again be turned into white, then he shall come unto the priest; 17 and the priest shall look on him; and, behold, if the plague be turned into white, then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he is clean.
Completely white, the plague is no longer contagious within him and he is Tahor.
18 And when the flesh hath in the skin thereof a boil, and it is healed, 19 and in the place of the boil there is a white rising, or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be shown to the priest. 20 And the priest shall look; and, behold, if the appearance thereof be lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy, it hath broken out in the boil.
If the boil and red spot is lower than the skin, it is the plague.
21 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and it be not lower than the skin, but be dim, then the priest shall shut him up seven days. 22 And if it spread abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague. 23 But if the bright spot stay in its place, and be not spread, it is the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
Not lower than the skin is a question of the plague or something else. If it spreads it is the plague but not spreading indicates Tahor.
24 Or when the flesh hath in the skin thereof a burning by fire, and the quick flesh of the burning become a bright spot, reddish-white, or white; 25 then the priest shall look upon it; and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and the appearance thereof be deeper than the skin, it is leprosy, it hath broken out in the burning; and the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.
We are talking about people who were from a farming-husbandry society and therefore what sounds to us like sunburn is not. In the coloring of the person’s hair turns white and the bright spot turns white. This produces the State of Tuma.
26 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hair in the bright spot, and it be no lower than the skin, but be dim; then the priest shall shut him up seven days. 27 And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day; if it spread abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy. 28 And if the bright spot stay in its place, and be not spread in the skin, but be dim, it is the rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean; for it is the scar of the burning.
It either spreads or not so that after a week, the Cohain will declare either Tuma or Taharah.
29 And when a man or woman hath a plague upon the head or upon the beard, 30 then the priest shall look on the plague; and, behold, if the appearance thereof be deeper than the skin, and there be in it yellow thin hair, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a scall, it is leprosy of the head or of the beard. 31 And if the priest look on the plague of the scall, and, behold, the appearance thereof be not deeper than the skin, and there be no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague of the scall seven days. 32 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague; and, behold, if the scall be not spread, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the appearance of the scall be not deeper than the skin, 33 then he shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall shut up him that hath the scall seven days more. 34 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall; and, behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, and the appearance thereof be not deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean. 35 But if the scall spread abroad in the skin after his cleansing, 36 then the priest shall look on him; and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for the yellow hair: he is unclean. 37 But if the scall stay in its appearance, and black hair be grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
The same principles apply to the hair of one’s head. The thing here is that the process of declaring Tumay takes two weeks because of the hair covering.
38 And if a man or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots; 39 then the priest shall look; and, behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be of a dull white, it is a tetter, it hath broken out in the skin: he is clean.
This appears to be a suntan eating fungus that even breaks out today on people. A person has a lovely tan and then comes along this and eats up the dark color.
40 And if a man's hair be fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean. 41 And if his hair be fallen off from the front part of his head, he is forehead-bald; yet is he clean. 42 But if there be in the bald head, or the bald forehead, a reddish-white plague, it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head, or his bald forehead.
So baldness has nothing to do with this plague but the plague can appear in the bald spot.
43 Then the priest shall look upon him; and, behold, if the rising of the plague be reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the flesh, 44 he is a leprous man, he is unclean; the priest shall surely pronounce him unclean: his plague is in his head. 45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and the hair of his head shall go loose, and he shall cover his upper lip, and shall cry: 'Unclean, unclean.' 46 All the days wherein the plague is in him he shall be unclean; he is unclean; he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his dwelling be.
So then a person is declared Tumay and he must keep others way by saying “Tumay”.
47 And when the plague of leprosy is in a garment, whether it be a woolen garment, or a linen garment; 48 or in the warp, or in the woof, whether they be of linen, or of wool; or in a skin, or in any thing made of skin. 49 If the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin, it is the plague of leprosy, and shall be shown unto the priest. 50 And the priest shall look upon the plague, and shut up that which hath the plague seven days. 51 And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in the skin, whatever service skin is used for, the plague is a malignant leprosy: it is unclean! 52 And he shall burn the garment, or the warp, or the woof, whether it be of wool or of linen, or anything of skin, wherein the plague is; for it is a malignant leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.
This is a type of mold and shutting up the garment will only keep it the same way but if it is placed inside the house but the room with a good flow of air and kept relatively dry, the mold will not spread and the wool can be washed or dry cleaned – my opinion and idea. (See below 13:53 – 58)
53 And if the priest shall look, and, behold, the plague be not spread in the garment, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; 54 then the priest shall command that they wash the thing wherein the plague is, and he shall shut it up seven days more. 55 And the priest shall look, after that the plague is washed; and, behold, if the plague have not changed its color, and the plague be not spread, it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire; it is a fret, whether the bareness be within or without. 56 And if the priest look, and, behold, the plague be dim after the washing thereof, then he shall rend it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof. 57 And if it appear still in the garment, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin, it is breaking out, thou shalt burn that wherein the plague is with fire. 58 And the garment, or the warp, or the woof, or whatsoever thing of skin it be, which thou shalt wash, if the plague be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean.
Double cleansing and airing out the garment and the plague-mold or whatever is pure.
59 This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of wool or linen, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.
The Metzora is declared by the Cohain. His pronouncement makes it clean or unclean.
Parsha Metzora
Last week’s Parsha discusses how the disease of Tsaras occurs. Now we deal with the purification of the Tuma individual, house or cloth. Metzora is a strange disease. We know the cause – Lashon HaRa. The way we deal with the disease is quarantine and the purification requires a ceremony and the Korban. It is a disease that requires listening to the Cohain and Tikkun of his ways unlike diseases that are cured by medications. – Paraphrasing Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Ben Porat Shlita.
14:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: he shall be brought unto the priest. 3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper; 4 then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar-wood, and scarlet, and hyssop.
The person shall bring two living kosher birds. He is still Tumay so the Cohain brings the Korban and accessories and I assume is reimbursed after the person has become ritually purified. Rashi explains the others.
A cedar stick: Because lesions of Tzaras) come because of haughtiness [symbolized by the tall cedar]. — [Arachin 16a] a strip of crimson [wool], and hyssop: What is the remedy that he may be healed [of his Tzaras]? He must humble himself from his haughtiness, just as [symbolized by] the תּוֹלַעַת [lit., “a worm,” which infested the berries from which the crimson dye was extracted to color wool], and the [lowly] hyssop. — [Tanchuma 3] A strip of crimson [wool]: Heb. וּשְׁנִי תוֹלַעַת, a tongue-like strip of wool dyed crimson. — [Toras Kohanim 14:13]
5 And the priest shall command to kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water.
Spring Water or Mayim Chaim.
6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar-wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water.
EVERY TIME THE OLD TRANSLATION SAYS ‘KILL’ OR ‘KILLED’ IT MEANS RITUALLY SLAUGHTERED.
7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let go the living bird into the open field.
When one is suffering from Jaundice this process of Melecha or slaughtering the bird with the finger nail is also used. I heard from the late MD and Rabbi Zev Vilna that once twins had Jaundice. One was a modern Yemenite Jew and the other more primitive. Somehow two pigeons were snuck in Tel HaShomer Hospital for the primitive one and he got cured quickly. The other relied upon modern medications and was cured some time later. (If I recall over a week or ten days).
8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water, and he shall be clean; and after that he may come into the camp, but shall dwell outside his tent seven days.
His clothing that is Tumay must be washed. Every external hair must be removed he then has to return to the Mikveh.
9 And it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off; and he shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.
But he shall remain outside his tent [for seven days]: This teaches [us] that [during this period,] he is prohibited to have marital relations. — [Toras Kohanim 14:34; Moed Katan 15b]
10 And on the eighth day he shall take two he-lambs without blemish, and one ewe-lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil.
The atonement is made only with the two rams are brought and one will be a Korban Asham and the other a Korban Oleh.
11 And the priest that cleanses him shall set the man that is to be cleansed, and those things, before the LORD, at the door of the tent of meeting. 12 And the priest shall take one of the he-lambs, and offer him for a guilt-offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave-offering before the LORD. 13 And he shall kill the he-lamb in the place where they kill the sin-offering and the burnt-offering, in the place of the sanctuary; for as the sin-offering is the priest's, so is the guilt-offering; it is most holy. 14 And the priest shall take of the blood of the guilt-offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.
This sprinkling-anointing is done on the right side of the body similar to the dedication of the Cohanim.
15 And the priest shall take of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand. 16 And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD. 17 And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the guilt-offering. 18 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed; and the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD. 19 And the priest shall offer the sin-offering, and make atonement for him that is to be cleansed because of his uncleanness; and afterward he shall kill the burnt-offering. 20 And the priest shall offer the burnt-offering and the meal-offering upon the altar; and the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.
All of the above ceremony is for a person of normal means but a very poor person then:
21 And if he be poor, and his means suffice not, then he shall take one he-lamb for a guilt-offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and one tenth part of an ephah of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering, and a log of oil; 22 and two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, such as his means suffice for; and the one shall be a sin-offering, and the other a burnt-offering. 23 And on the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tent of meeting, before the LORD. 24 And the priest shall take the lamb of the guilt-offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave-offering before the LORD. 25 And he shall kill the lamb of the guilt-offering, and the priest shall take of the blood of the guilt-offering, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.
The poor man must bring a lamb. Meaning a young lamb and only one which is cheaper to bring than two rams. Again using the right toe, finger, etc.
26 And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand. 27 And the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the LORD. 28 And the priest shall put of the oil that is in his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the place of the blood of the guilt-offering. 29 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before the LORD. 30 And he shall offer one of the turtle-doves, or of the young pigeons, such as his means suffice for; 31 even such as his means suffice for, the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, with the meal-offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him that is to be cleansed before the LORD.
A dove instead of a ram becomes the Korban Oleh.
32 This is the law of him in whom is the plague of leprosy, whose means suffice not for that which pertains to his cleansing.
At this point we finish with the Metzora. We now move on to the Zav or flow. A men is called a Zav and a woman a Zava. We learn in Tractate Shabbos that it is forbidden for a Zav to eat with a Zava. The reason is that because they are Tumay they are forbidden to have relations with normal people. So the evil inclination might cause them to say that since you have this Tuma and I have this Tuma lets do some hanky panky together and therefore the closeness of eating is forbidden in order to keep one away from the sin of getting Kares (cut off in the next world).
15:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and to Aaron, saying: 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: When any man hath an issue out of his flesh, his issue is unclean.
The translation of this involuntary flow of seed three times within two days is translated as gonorrhea. For the woman it might also be something else in the womb causing her to bleed.
If [any man] has a discharge: One might think that if he had a discharge from any place [in the body], he becomes unclean. Scripture, therefore, says: “from his flesh,” meaning not all his flesh. Since Scripture made a distinction between flesh and flesh, I am entitled to reason: [Scripture] renders unclean a man who has a discharge, and it renders unclean a woman who has a discharge. Just as with a woman who has a discharge, from the very place [in her body] from which she becomes unclean with a minor degree of uncleanness, namely, נִדָּה, “menstrual uncleanness,” she becomes unclean with a major degree of uncleanness, namely, זִיבָה, a flow outside the menstrual period, likewise, in the case of a man who has a discharge, from the very place [in his body] from which he becomes unclean with a minor degree of uncleanness, namely, קֶרִי, a seminal emission, he becomes unclean with a major degree of uncleanness, namely, זִיבָה, an abnormal discharge. — [Toras Kohanim 15:122] [Menstruation and seminal emission both cause a minor degree of uncleanness, one that does not require seven clean days before purification, as opposed to the uncleanness of a discharge of a zav or zavah (gedolah), which do require this and are thus referred to as a major degree of uncleanness.] His discharge is unclean: [Apart from the discharge rendering the man unclean,] this teaches us that [the discharge itself is also unclean, i.e., that even] one drop defiles [other people, and vessels] (Toras Kohanim 15:123; Niddah 55a). [What is the difference between discharge and semen?] A [male] discharge resembles the moisture [that separates itself from and appears on] barley dough, and is a thin liquid, resembling the white of an unfertilized (מוּזֶרֶת) egg, whereas semen is thick, like the white of an egg which is מוּזֶרֶת [i.e., which has been fertilized by a male.]. — [Niddah 35b]
3 And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness. 4 Every bed whereon he that hath the issue lies shall be unclean; and everything whereon he sits shall be unclean.
His weight on the object causes Tuma.
5 And whosoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
And if a clean person sits down after the Zav, he contacts uncleanliness (Tuma) and he must then bathe himself aka Tovel (dip) in the Mikveh.
6 And he that sits on anything whereon he that hath the issue sat shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
And anyone who sits on an object: Even if he did not touch it, even if there were ten objects one on top of the other [and the man with the discharge had sat on the top one]-they all [even the bottom seat] become defiled because of מוֹשָׁב [the law of uncleanness concerning seats. Thus, just as the man with the discharge defiles the bottom seat of the pile without touching it, so too, a clean man can become defiled by that bottom seat without touching it]. And the same [applies] to מִשְׁכָּב [defilement of beds]. — [Toras Kohanim 15:134]
7 And he that touches the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
It does not matter if he is shaking his hand, patting him on the back or accidently brushing against the Zav, he becomes Tumay and must Tovel (dip) in the Mikvah.
8 And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean, then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
It does not matter if it is accidental spittle coming out of his mouth, a cough or a sneeze; he man becomes Tumay from the Zav.
9 And what saddle soever he that hath the issue rides upon shall be unclean.
A saddle, ferry chair, coach chair, etc.
10 And whosoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until the even; and he that bears those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
It does not matter if he puts a cushion or pillow between him and the object or he lifts the object, the Tuma is conveyed.
11 And whomsoever he that hath the issue touches, without having rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
It is like “tag you’re it”.
[And whomever the man with the discharge touches,] without [the latter] having rinsed his hands: While [the man with the discharge] has not yet immersed himself from his uncleanness. And even if the discharge has ceased, and the man counts seven [days], as long as he has not yet immersed himself [in a mikvah,] he defiles with all [the aspects] of his uncleanness. And the reason Scripture expresses the immersion of a man with a discharge as “rinsing hands,” is to teach you that the hidden parts of the body [e. g., the mouth,] are not required to be immersed, only the uncovered parts of the body, like the hands. — [Toras Kohanim 15:142]
12 And the earthen vessel, which he that hath the issue touches, shall be broken; and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.
There is no Tikkun for an earthen vessel and the only repair from Tuma is breaking.
13 And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue, then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes; and he shall bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean. 14 And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD unto the door of the tent of meeting, and give the m unto the priest. 15 And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD for his issue.
This is his cleansing and atonement
16 And if the flow of seed go out from a man, then he shall bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.
The translation of this involuntary flow of seed three times within two days is translated as gonorrhea. For the woman it might also be something else in the womb causing her to bleed.
17 And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the flow of seed, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.
The garments, upholstery, etc. are unclean.
18 The woman also with whom a man shall lie carnally, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even.
The man with this disease is unclean until the evening but a woman with a flow has to wait seven days as we also have the fear of Niddah which is not feared in a man.
19 And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days; and whosoever touches her shall be unclean until the even.
Even a medical doctor or another woman touching her becomes unclean until the evening.
20 And everything that she lieth upon in her impurity shall be unclean; everything also that she sits upon shall be unclean.
Similar to the man.
21 And whosoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
So if the wife is an early riser and the husband or maid makes her bed, that person is Tumay until the evening.
22 And whosoever touches anything that she sits upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 23 And if he be on the bed, or on anything whereon she sits, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until the even.
And if he is on the bedding: [I.e.,] someone who lies or sits upon her bedding or upon her seat, even if he does not touch it [if he sits on a seat that is on that seat - see Rashi on verse 6], this person is nevertheless also included in the law of uncleanness stated in the previous verse, and he requires immersion of his garments [in a mikvah]. — [Toras Kohanim 15:134] Or on the object: [This comes] to include riding gear. — [Toras Kohanim 15:176] When he touches it, he becomes unclean: [This clause] refers exclusively to riding gear, which is included by [the words] “or object.” When he touches it, he becomes unclean: But he does not require immersion of garments, for touching unclean riding gear does not defile people to defile their garments. — [Keilim 23:3]
24 And if any man lie with her, and her impurity be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed whereon he lies shall be unclean.
Of course there is Kares involved in such relations but this section is dealing only with the Tuma of the Zav and Zava.
25 And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days not in the time of her impurity, or if she have an issue beyond the time of her impurity; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness she shall be as in the days of her impurity: she is unclean. 26 Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her impurity; and everything whereon she sits shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her impurity. 27 And whosoever touches those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
After she is physically Tahor, she brings the Korbanos.
28 But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. 29 And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tent of meeting. 30 And the priest shall offer the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness. 31 Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile My tabernacle that is in the midst of them.
As we end our two plus Parshiyos Hiatus I bring down wise words from Rabbi Yissocher Frand Shlita:
Towards the end of Parshas Metzora, the pasuk says: “You shall separate the Children of Israel from their contamination; and they shall not die as a result of their contamination if they contaminate My Mishkan that is among them.” (Vayikra 15:31). The simple reading of this pasuk is that when Bnei Yisrael are tameh (impure), they should not, in a state of impurity, go into the holy places where they are forbidden to enter, lest they die from that impurity. However, homiletically, the sefer Yismach Yehudah cites the following interesting vort from a drasha of Rav Yosef Nechemia Kornitzer (a great grandson of the Chasam Sofer, who was the Chief Rabbi of Cracow, Poland, in the early part of the 20th century):
Sometimes we talk to our children or to our students or to our congregants until we are blue in the face. We wonder, does it make an impression? Are our words taken seriously? Do people change? Perhaps this is most relevant for professionals who do this for a living. Do all the things that we say, year after year, really help? Do speeches help? Do drashos help? Does mussar (chastisement) help? Does lecturing to our children really help?
Rav Kornitzer suggests that we need to bear in mind that it may not help now, and it may not help six months from now or a year from now. But, at some point, at some time in the future, maybe the lesson will hit home.
I don’t know how Rav Yosef Nechemia Kornitzer explained the mashal that he gave, but today it is easy for us to imagine what this is like. Namely, the “mussar” is in the “cloud.” Where is all this data? It is in the “cloud.” Where is the “cloud?”? There is not a cloud in the sky! But we know this concept that something can be not in front of us, yet when we need to access it, it is somehow there for us to access. It is the same with mussar and with lecturing our children. It is there. It hasn’t penetrated yet, but it can penetrate.
He references the pasuk “And these matters that I command you today shall be upon your heart (al levavecha).” (Devorim 5:6). It does not say b’soch levavecha (within your heart) because sometimes it has not yet penetrated the heart. However, at least it remains al levavecha – upon your heart. One day, maybe, just perhaps, it will penetrate the heart and will be b’soch levavecha.
This is why the pasuk says “…v’lo yamusu m’tumosam” (Vayikra 15:31), which means you talk to people and you tell them what is right. Even though it might not help now or even ten years from now, they will not die from their impurity. How many people do we know that return at the end of their days? They don’t die in their state of impurity because at the end of their days, they in fact realize that what they were told so many years earlier was correct, and they in fact do come back.
Ironically, I was recently speaking with someone in Eretz Yisrael who told me the following interesting incident that happened only a few days ago. (This was April 2016.) I believe this story brings home the point that I am trying to make:
A fellow in Eretz Yisrael has a distant relative who was born and raised in a small town in Pennsylvania in the first half of the twentieth century. The relative’s father was a rav and a shochet, who tried his best to educate his son in the proper Torah path, including sending him to a yeshiva. The boy only lasted in the yeshiva for two weeks. He hated it. He left the yeshiva and eventually left Yiddishkeit. He never got married. He does not have a wife or children. He is a man alone in the world. From what I gather, he must be in his late sixties or early seventies.
For whatever reason, this relative got an inspiration: I want to go to Israel. I want to daven at the Kosel HaMaaravi. He takes his Bar Mitzvah tefillin, which he has not put on in a half century, and has plans to visit the kosel, put on his tefillin, and daven there. He hooks up with some Federation tour and goes with this tour and their tour guide on the Federation tour to Eretz Yisrael.
The person who is relating the story finds out that his long-lost cousin is coming to Israel and he decides that he will get in touch with him, take him around, and give him a real tour of Eretz Yisrael. They meet in a certain place. The Israeli says to his American relative, “Have you been to the Kosel yet?” His cousin responds, “No, I have not been to the Kosel yet.” The Israeli said, “Great. So let’s go now!” The American says “No, not now. Maybe later.”
“What’s the problem?” his Israeli cousin presses him. “This is why you came. You want to put your tefillin on and daven at the kosel.” The cousin is hesitant. Finally he says “I can’t go!”
“Why can’t you go?” The long-lost cousin finally explains “I can’t go to the Kosel with a cross.”
The Israeli cousin is incredulous: “What are you doing with a cross?” The American explains that while he was on the Federation tour they went through the Armenian Quarter of the Old City. “I have a very good Christian friend back home in America. I wanted to buy him a cross from Israel as a present. I asked the rabbi who is leading the Federation tour if it was okay to buy a cross for my Christian friend in America. He told me it was.”
He bought the tselem (cross) and put it in his bag, and is now walking around Jerusalem with a tselem in his bag. He tells his relative “I cannot go to the Kosel with a cross in my bag.”
This Israeli cousin told my friend this story and his friend told it to me. He then commented: This fellow has not had any connection to Yiddishkeit in maybe sixty years. He is putting on tefillin now for probably the first time in more than fifty years, or even more! But he still has a sensitivity, a feeling, that a person does not go to the Kosel HaMaaravi with a tselem in his bag.
This is an example of “…You shall not die in your state of impurity.” The person left Yiddishkeit, he had a bad experience in yeshiva, he did not want to have anything to do with Judaism, and he has not kept who knows what for all these years, but there is something in the Jewish heart that remains “al levavecha” – upon your heart. It was ON the heart. It was “in the cloud.” After all these years, it finally penetrated that you do not go to the Kosel with a tselem in your bag.
This is a lesson to all of us, whether you are a rav, a rabbi, a rebbi, a teacher, or even a parent. If you preach and preach and preach and it does not seem to make a difference, yes, it does! “You shall warn… and they shall not die in their state of impurity.”
Transcribed by David Twersky; Jerusalem Edited by Dovid Hoffman; Baltimore, MD Reprinted with permission from Rav Frand © 2023 by Torah.org.
32 This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him from whom the flow of seed goes out, so that he is unclean thereby; 33 and of her that is sick with her impurity, and of them that have an issue, whether it be a man, or a woman; and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.
Pesach
With the help of my daughter, the kitchen counter is officially kosher for Pesach on Tuesday Afternoon. The stove burners are my job with heating for a few minutes and plyers. If sparks can fly from the heat that is enough.
The Contract for the Chief Rabbinate sale of Chametz will be signed around 11 AM on the 13th of Nisan Apr. 21st. The sale will be effective 11:15 AM on the morning of the 14th of Nisan or Apr. 22nd. Last time to eat Chametz according to our local Synagogue is 10:26 AM in Modiin & Yerushalayim https://www.mako.co.il/spirituality-popular_culture/holidays/Article-e425e623cae1081027.htm Note: Acco aka Acre is 3 minutes earlier. Per Australian-New Zeeland Guide. https://www.ka.org.au/consumer-resources/pesach-guide/times-pesach
In 2024, Passover is expected to begin on the evening of April 22nd and end on the evening of April 30th . However, it is important to note that the exact dates and times may vary slightly based on the sighting of the new moon and other factors that are used to determine the Hebrew calendar.
In 2025, Passover is expected to
begin on the evening of April 12th and end on the evening of April 20th
In 2026, Passover is expected to begin on the evening of April 1st and end on
the evening of April 9th.
Dried Fruits mainly Figs and Raisins in the Charoses
The desire to use fruits of Eretz Yisrael is noteworthy but usually figs come from Turkey and this year no Rabbi in his right mind would travel there to give a Hechsher. Olives, although one of the fruits of Eretz Yisrael, is not good for the Charoses.
Most of the years, I could not find raisins Kosher Le Pesach except imported Sun Kist OUP from the States. I never understood why it is kosher only by the Sephardim. Rabbi Mimran Shlita clued me in. There is a RAMA on the Shulchan Aruch that goes against using Raisins as they were mainly dried with flour making them Chametz. There are opinions that permit Raisins if one knows that they were dried in the sun.
So in the end one can only purchase in Eretz Yisrael Raisins with a Sephardic Hechsher. If the Sephardim know that the produce was dried in the sun and kept Kosher Le Pesach and many Ashkenazim Rabbis state that if one knows that Raisins were dried in the sun then they can be permitted. I see no reason to have more restrictions.
There is also another easing of restrictions for Ashkenazim of families of mixed marriages. This can apply to Glatt Kosher, Shmita, and some things about Pesach. That is the Shalom Beis Clause that give for peace in the family more leeway with customs of various groups of people. I discussed this in the past about an incident in the army where we were given a meat meal late and then the milk meal would be two to less than three hours afterwards with no more food until the morning. The Sephardim who held six hours is Halacha could site Pekuach Nefesh and go and eat without any problem, the Ashkenazim who had customs about eating had to have their vows released.
Getting back to our Raisins no vows have to be removed as some authorities permit from the beginning. It also happens to be my custom to put dates and raisins in the Charoses from the outset. If you are the type of person who has a family tradition on not eating raisins, who likes making mountains out of molehills or you look for the Chumra (extra restriction) of the week then by all means avoid raisins as one would avoid Covid 19.
The following was told to me by Yitzchak F in the name of Rabbi Yitzchak Bernstein. Do you know why we start with Karpas instead of Maggid? Why do we start off the Haggadah with the eating of Karpas instead of Maggid (telling the whole story)? The word Karpas (celery/parsley) hints at the garment with Passim that caused the selling of Yosef into slavery and the lowering of the nation into Gallus Mitzrayim.
Furthermore, it says in Rashi that the sheep for the Korban was swung over his shoulders after the slaughter and blood sprinkling in the Temple like the Yishmaelim (or Arabs) do. Again, Yosef was sold to the Yishmaelim on his way to Mitzrayim.
Furthermore, Yitzchak asked: Do you know why on purpose Mordechai and Esther instituted a fast on Pesach? To show the Angels that there is a decree of no more Jews in the world. Let us show you Pesach without Jews and how it is celebrated hence the fast.
Sgt. Nadav Napthali with a hanging leg makes it over a fence to safety.
Nadav was in a front line unit that entered a house looking for enemy soldiers, stores of weapons or whatever. He and two others went around house after clearing all the floors. There was a large metal door. One fellow would try to open the door or blast it open. As they got close to the door an explosive devise went off. One or two soldiers died outright. He was hit and had shrapnel here and there in his body. Out of a shaft nearby popped up one or two terrorists. They started shooting at him. He was about to be pinned down. He shot back at the source of the fire. It was temporarily quiet but soon bullets were raining down. Nadav could not walk on two legs as one was in shreds. Still he pulled himself up on one leg and managed to reach up and get over a wall with his arms.
Once he as on the other side of the wall, he was no longer under fire and the medics could get him quickly to a helicopter and the hospital. He lost consciousness from loss of blood but he managed to recover get patched up as best the doctors could do and appear on TV to tell his story. Had it been the Yom Kippur War, Shalom HaGalil or even more recent wars many of our soldiers would not have survived.
Elazar Swissa pulled from a burning tank after four rescue attempts but he has no pulse.
Elazar Swissa was in a burning tank that had been hit by an RPG he was flat on his back and catching fire, he could not move. He could only pray the Shema and a little here and there what he knew.
Three other fellows from his tank had tried to drag him out. However, each attempt failed as the heat from the burning tank was making them fell faint and they might die in the rescue attempt.
The Company Commander, would not give up on his soldiers. Oded Elbaz wanted all his soldiers coming home alive and no visits and explanations to grieving families. He grabbed Elazar’s uniform and pulled it where it would not come apart. He managed to drag Elazar out of the tank. But Elazar had no pulse and was not breathing. As soon as he was in a cooler spot (I can’t recall with the help of a paramedic or not) his pulse and breathing returned. He even regained consciousness and before he was helicopter evacuated, received 8 pints of blood.
He has undergone many surgeries skin and burn grafts and removal of shrapnel. Oded had been is assistant company commander during basic training and when Elazar recovered they knew each other and have become buddies.
Isn’t it great to be alive thinking positive and happy.
Miraculously survived the Nova but suicidal and not much psychological help. I told the story of Jack Kaplansky Zal. Jack survived the Shoah. He always told me better people than he both family, Rabbis and friends perished. He question was always “Why me? Why did G-D let me live while better people died?” I tried to tell him that perhaps they needed only to die on a Kiddush HASHEM and enter heaven as their mission from all their past lives was complete. We discussed a lot of other ideas during the years I knew him. He did have a good sense of humor and his vengeance on Hitler were is children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The people from the Nova Festival of Oct. 7th like many Yom Kippur War Soldiers were suffering from PTSD. One minute happy, singing and dancing and the next minute seeing their lovers, husbands, wives, classmates and friends cut down before their very eyes.
These were not people who for months followed the rise of Hitler and the expansion of German aggression. They were in shock and I hope they will continue to survive and live a long life like my friend Jack and not succumb to guilt and PTSD.
I missed out on the second part of the miracle but having experienced the Shoah, Rabbi Lau Shlita picked up on it. I missed out on the second part of the miracle but having experienced the Shoah, Rabbi Lau Shlita picked up on it. In a special interview before Passover, Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, the former Chief Rabbi, Rabbi of Tel Aviv, spoke to Israel National News - Arutz Sheva and emphasized that the interception of the Iranian attack on Israel is not the only miracle, but the fact that the international coalition stood by Israel. "It is by God’s grace that all these countries joined us in responding to the Iranian attack," says Rabbi Lau, "the USA, England, to a certain extent France, and even Jordan, which on the one hand is our enemy and on the other hand fought with us." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388627
Diane Bederman always writes that Sharing is caring. Further to Rabbi Lau, I received from Miriam Shoshana a post from Devorah Channah: HT Dov Bar-Leib of End of Days Blog: Scientific Proof that what happened on the 6th of Nissan was nothing short of a Miracle* Words written by a Physics Professor who worked in Israel’s Defense Industry:
"I wanted to share something that is much more than a feeling. Something that comes from a real calculation: What happened in Israel on last Motzei Shabbat was not less than the scale of the splitting of the Red Sea.
I am a Professor of physics and I worked for several years in the defense industry in Israel, in projects that are still the cutting edge technologies of the defense of the State of Israel. When I look at what happened on Motzei Shabbat, on a scientific level - it simply cannot happen!! Statistically.
The likelihood that everything, but really *Everything* works out, does not exist in complex systems like the defense systems that were used to defend Israel from the massive Iranian attack.
These systems have never, but never, not only in the State of Israel, been tried in real time!!
I took a pencil and dived into the calculations to check the statistical probability that such a result would materialize. The large number of events that had to be handled, when each missile or UAV is handled independently (that is, human error or some deviation of one operation, is not offset by other successful operations), compounds the chance of making a mistake.
With all the high technologies, a breach was expected in the defense of the skies of the State of Israel.
Even if we got 90% protection it would have been a miracle!!
What happened is that everyone, but everyone - the pilots, the systems operators and the technology operators acted as one man, at one moment in total unity. If this is not an act of G-d, then I no longer know what a miracle is.
It is Greater than the victory of the Six Day War or the War of Independence. Those wars can also be explained through natural events.
BUT
The rescue that took place for the people of Israel on Motzei Shabbat is simply impossible naturally. I believe that this miracle saved the lives of many people from Israel.
If the defense system had failed to intercept a number of cruise missiles, the result would have dragged us into a very complex war. I wouldn't bet that next time it will work like this without Divine supervision. The simple proof of what I said is that the managers of the defense industries, who develop and manufacture these systems guarantee no more than 90% success! And we all saw, with our own eyes 99.9% !!!_
Thank You Hashem!!
'From the day you came out of the land of Egypt I Have Showed you Wonders.'"
M. Abitbol
When I analyzed the 10 plagues as natural events back in 1966 the probabilities were not in billions to one but trillions or more to one that one event following another in the space of 10 months became an impossibility or controlled by an All Power Being.
Just out a Holocaust Movie about a woman who saved 12 Jews in the Basement of a Nazi Major. Gut vowed to save a life if she ever could after witnessing a German soldier brutally murder a baby in front of its mother before killing the mother. Gazans would have raped the mother that is the only difference. Irene’s Vow. https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-12-jews-survived-the-holocaust-hidden-by-a-maid-in-a-nazi-officers-basement/
Milestone: Ken Holtzman, 78, MLB pitcher. Holtzman is the winningest Jewish pitcher in Major League history with 174 victories. Koufax won 165 games in his career. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388554
Inyanay Diyoma
Apr. 13th
Day 190 start of week 28.
Right before Shabbos, we heard the news that a 14year old shepherd boy from the Mateh Benyamin Area disappeared. Since 14year old boys are unarmed in an area where Arabs roam freely, I had bad vibes. Sure enough, Motzei Shabbos we heard that his body was found and mobs went haywire against the local Arabs burning cars and trucks and some buildings. One Arab who challenged the mob ended up dead. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388411
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388417
The Home Front Command changed their Iranian Attack assessment. From 11PM tonight (probably because of the demonstrations by the left) until Monday at 11PM no indoor assembly greater than 1000 people and outdoor no more than 100. People are told to look for their nearest shelter and if there is a siren stay there a minimum of 10 minutes. No learning of any kind and no youth trips. After I wrote this more advice came to those who want to sleep in the saferoom. Called up my grandchild with the great-grandchildren on this. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388416
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Saturday night warned that Israel is "closely monitoring" a planned attack by Iran. "We are closely monitoring a planned attack by Iran and its proxies against the State of Israel," he said. "In recent days we have strengthened our defensive and offensive array and we are determined to take any measures required to defend the citizens of the State of Israel." Israel also relying upon allied Satellite and Radar Data. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388415
Prior to Biden cutting his vacation short. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388385
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/aug/17/joe-biden-cuts-vacation-short-returns-white-house/
After a rocket attack from Gaza on Sderot, IDF fighter jets struck and destroyed three launchers containing 20 rockets that were ready to fire toward central Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388412
Despite escalation, water line to Gaza being repaired. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388419
Friday’s Northern Rocket Attack: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388396
Drone attack in the North leaves a reservist seriously injured. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388413
Israel strikes Hezballah. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388414
Vengeance on the Nazis: https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/04/12/the-nazis-did-not-win-100-year-old-auschwitz-survivor-becomes-great-great-grandmother/
Ron Yaakobi collapses, a reservist and a furniture store owner, came back from fighting to find that a class action lawsuit had been filed against him for millions of shekels. The lawsuit was filed by a pair of serial plaintiffs because the store's website did not update its deals even though more than 35 days had passed since the start of the promotion, contrary to consumer protection law. Yaakobi, in contrast, claimed that he was in the reserves and therefore the prices were not updated. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388381
Orthodox man stabbed in NY. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388406
Antisemites try BDS in this company but they sweetly fight back. https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/krispy-kreme-rolls-out-sweet-tax-break-deal-for-customers-tax-day
https://www.aol.com/news/worlds-oldest-conjoined-twins-lori-045506029.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/three-killed-in-shootings-in-northern-towns-toddler-seriously-wounded/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/germany-arrests-4-teens-suspected-of-planning-islamist-terror-attacks/
BREAKING MANY DRONES ON THEIR WAY TO ATTACK ISRAEL FROM IRAN. PERHAPS NOW WE WILL TAKE OUT THEIR FRODO FACILITIES.
Apr. 14th
Day 191
B”H blessed be HIS NAME. 170 Drones, 25 cruise missiles knocked out by IAF the other 5 by antimissiles, most of 150 guided missiles destroyed.
Actually the drones were taken out by a coalition of Arab Countries, Yarden, France, UK, USA and IAF. Damage was done in the areas by the Dead Sea and Arava Desert with one 7year old Bedouin girl hit by left over from out antimissile.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388440
Gallant – we have thwarted drone attack. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388444
NYPD beefs up guarding Jewish Institutions. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388438
Footage from the IDF Headquarters. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388433
A female Border Police officer was moderately wounded in a shooting attack early Sunday morning near the Arab village of Sinjil, north of the town of Ofra in the Binyamin region. Apparently, she was hit by sniper fire emanating from the Arab village. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388432
2 die in fire. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388441
Biden condemns Iranian attack. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388437
Airport shut down slightly after midnight reopens but KLM and Air France on hold. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-796865
Chicago Activists praise Iran. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-796893
Mossad – Hamas rejected deal. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388443
Apr. 15th
Day 192
When I turned on the radio, I heard that a large percentage of Iranian Missiles failed on launch or in the early stages of their flights. The cost of shooting down the missiles and drones were over $1,000,000,000 and they have more. The coalition shot down many drones. As the attack was underway and 40 rockets were fired from Lebanon, Israel blasted with planes and artillery Lebanon. Parts of rockets found all over the Middle East. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyh00ahtx0#autoplay
An embarrassment to the USA. Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton on Sunday blasted President Joe Biden for encouraging Israel not to respond to Iran’s attacks on it. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388492
Israel at the UN. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388488
US destroyed more than 80 drones. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388491
Footage of interceptions: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388469
Trump: “Had I been in office, Iran would not have attacked.” https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388490
Richard Kemp: Saturday night's attack included 170 UAVs, 30 cruise missiles, and 120 ballistic missiles. According to Col. Kemp, these weapons are deadlier than the majority of rockets that have been fired from Lebanon and Gaza by the Hezbollah and Hamas terrorist organizations. … There is no doubt that every projectile that hit its target would have caused immense destruction and potentially significant loss of human life," he noted. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388472
60 tons of warheads. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388480
Israel to postpone Rafah operation: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388493
IDF lifts restrictions: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388487
Soldiers from the 401st battalion battle team erected a bridge across Wadi Gaza which separates the northern and southern Gaza Strip. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388471
During the attack, the Jews in Argentina Prayed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388481
IAI gets orders for radar and antimissiles. https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/bjboojklr
Apr. 16th
Day 193
Political tricks. The inflation rose more than expected in March. Milk is going up in price on May 1st so the inflation report will be on June ,15th when fruits and vegetables go down in price.
Secret Operations that front line soldiers never talk about. I participated in an emergency rescue squad a number times in a half-track near the Lebanese Border or an open jeep near the Syrian Border. In the times that I participated, our boys on the other side of the border went to peace and returned peacefully. Sunday night, three Golani 13 and one fellow from the Engineering Brigade were serious injured by an IED. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388512
Yarden did not help us for love of Mordechai but for hatred for destabilizing Haman. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388500
Iran’s double message to Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388503
Iran plans a response within seconds. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388556
https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/04/15/israel-sets-new-standards-saving-wounded-troops-war/
Jews living in Statin Island protest antisemitism. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388504
Warning from the far left Reform Movement. The results of the next election does not only depend on Michigan. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-797115
Union of Reform Judaism divesting from fossil fuel stocks. My advice is not so fast. It could be that oil prices and stock prices will drop under Trump. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-796456
Concern that Israel will attack Iran’s Nuclear facilities. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388558
House to propose 4 new spending bills: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388562
Jordan allowed us to use their air space. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388555
Hospitals ready if Iran attacks. https://www.timesofisrael.com/on-high-alert-since-october-7-hospitals-were-already-prepared-to-deal-with-iran-attack/
Portugal to Spain not ready to recognize PLO. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388560
https://www.aol.com/news/atlantic-city-mayor-wife-accused-195231915.html
Senior Hezballah leader killed. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-797389
It appears a second one taken out too.
Former NSC chief attack in Syria Iraq. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388569
Beit Hillel 3 injured in attack by drones. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388590
Washington Times: PLO is winning territory. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388577
Demonstration, protestors chanted "Death to America" and burned the American flag. Chants of "from the river to the sea" were also heard. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388596
The Rabbi of Pinsk-Karlin Hassidim will undergo surgery on his head tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388551
Diplomatic offensive against Iran. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388574
Kan Channel 2 reported that Israel sent private messages to the Arab countries in the region that its response to the Iranian attack would not endanger them or their regimes in any way. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388573
After dozens of discussions on the Draft Law, a proposal was put forward to begin drafting approximately 25% of yeshiva students who come of age each year, and later raise the percentage to 50%, which would amount to 6,000 yeshiva students, Israel Hayom reported. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388565
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday met with new recruits to the IDF, who will be drafting into the Golani and Givati brigades. "I spoke with some of you," he said later. "I saw the willingness - physical and emotional. You have a great merit today: You are enlisting in the Israel Defense Forces, in great fighting units, in order to repel a brutal enemy, the monsters who attacked us, and we are striking back at them now, mercilessly, and we will beat them." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388582
The Registrar of Associations in Israel under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice has ruled to remove Igatha 48 as a recognized organization in Israel for suspicions of funding terror. The Registrar of Associations has started with the process of closing down Igatha 48 as a functioning organization in Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388580
Arab stab Christian in UK. https://www.jpost.com/international/islamic-terrorism/article-796803
ADL antisemitic incidents rise in USA. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-797375
Assyrian Bishop stabbed in Sidney. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-797375
Saudis helped Israel. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/saudi-arabia-acknowledges-helping-defend-israel-against-iran-797201
The IDF's Northern Command, the J6 and the Cyber Defense Directorate practiced the deployment of soldiers and the use of technological means in the entire sector, the IDF announced. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388584
COS thanks UK for help. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388587
High Suicide Rate for Nova Survivors. The State Control Committee on Tuesday held a meeting discussing the bureaucratic difficulties faced by the survivors of the Nova music festival massacre on October 7, as they attempt to receive treatment for their trauma. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388579
Chicago: https://www.aol.com/mass-shooting-back-yards-leaves-041300063.html
Apr. 17th
Day 194
Miracle Alert. I missed out on the second part of the miracle but having experienced the Shoah, Rabbi Lau Shlita picked up on it. In a special interview before Passover, Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, the former Chief Rabbi, Rabbi of Tel Aviv, spoke to Israel National News - Arutz Sheva and emphasized that the interception of the Iranian attack on Israel is not the only miracle, but the fact that the international coalition stood by Israel. "It is by God’s grace that all these countries joined us in responding to the Iranian attack," says Rabbi Lau, "the USA, England, to a certain extent France, and even Jordan, which on the one hand is our enemy and on the other hand fought with us." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388627
American and European Pressure on Israel shows weakness while opposite Russia in the Ukraine they are strong.
EU to reimpose sanctions against Iran. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388624
US to restrict movement of Iranian FM. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388615
Iranian Citizens ask for Israel to bomb Revolutionary Guards. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388604
Yesterday one Hezballah equivalent of a Colonel was taken out and later the head of Radwan and a top missile firing expert taken out. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388607
Israeli tanks pushed back into parts of the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday that they had left weeks ago, medics and residents said, while warplanes conducted air strikes on Rafah in the south of the territory, killing and wounding several people. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388622
Terrorists and ready rockets destroyed. The fact is that Hamas still has plenty of tunnels from south to north and murderous rockets to spare. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388630
IDF destroys the homes of the terrorists that murdered a woman in central Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388637
Kings Guards can grow beards. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388629
Rabbis call on all Israelis to Pray this coming Shabbos: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388636
Psalm 136 Tehillim
|
א הוֹדוּ לַיהוָה כִּי-טוֹב: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever. |
|
ב הוֹדוּ, לֵאלֹהֵי הָאֱלֹהִים: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
2 O give thanks unto the God of gods, for His mercy endureth forever. |
|
ג הוֹדוּ, לַאֲדֹנֵי הָאֲדֹנִים: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
3 O give thanks unto the Lord of lords, for His mercy endureth forever. |
|
ד לְעֹשֵׂה נִפְלָאוֹת גְּדֹלוֹת לְבַדּוֹ: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
4 To Him who alone doeth great wonders, for His mercy endureth forever. |
|
ה לְעֹשֵׂה הַשָּׁמַיִם, בִּתְבוּנָה: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
5 To Him that by understanding made the heavens, for His mercy endureth forever. |
|
ו לְרֹקַע הָאָרֶץ, עַל-הַמָּיִם: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
6 To Him that spread forth the earth above the waters, for His mercy endureth forever. |
|
ז לְעֹשֵׂה, אוֹרִים גְּדֹלִים: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
7 To Him that made great lights, for His mercy endureth for ever; |
|
ח אֶת-הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, לְמֶמְשֶׁלֶת בַּיּוֹם: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
8 The sun to rule by day, for His mercy endureth for ever; |
|
ט אֶת-הַיָּרֵחַ וְכוֹכָבִים, לְמֶמְשְׁלוֹת בַּלָּיְלָה: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
9 The moon and stars to rule by night, for His mercy endureth forever. |
|
י לְמַכֵּה מִצְרַיִם, בִּבְכוֹרֵיהֶם: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
10 To Him that smote Egypt in their first-born, for His mercy endureth for ever; |
|
יא וַיּוֹצֵא יִשְׂרָאֵל, מִתּוֹכָם: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
11 And brought out Israel from among them, for His mercy endureth for ever; |
|
יבב בְּיָד חֲזָקָה, וּבִזְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
12 With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, for His mercy endureth forever. |
|
יגן לְגֹזֵר יַם-סוּף, לִגְזָרִים: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
13 To Him who divided the Red Sea in sunder, for His mercy endureth for ever; |
|
יד וְהֶעֱבִיר יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּתוֹכוֹ: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it, for His mercy endureth for ever; |
|
טו וְנִעֵר פַּרְעֹה וְחֵילוֹ בְיַם-סוּף: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for His mercy endureth forever. |
|
ת"ז לְמוֹלִיךְ עַמּוֹ, בַּמִּדְבָּר: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
16 To Him that led His people through the wilderness, for His mercy endureth forever. |
|
יזה לְמַכֵּה, מְלָכִים גְּדֹלִים: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
17 To Him that smote great kings; for His mercy endureth for ever; |
|
יח' וייהרג, מְלָכִים אַדִּירִים: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
18 And slew mighty kings, for His mercy endureth forever. |
|
יטה לסיכון, מֶלֶךְ האמרה: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
19 Siphon king of the Amorites, for His mercy endureth for ever; |
|
כ וּלְעוֹג, מֶלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
20 And Go king of Bashan, for His mercy endureth for ever; |
|
כה וְנָתַן אַרְצָם לְנַחֲלָה: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
21 And gave their land for a heritage, for His mercy endureth for ever; |
|
כב נַחֲלָה, לְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדּוֹ: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
22 Even a heritage unto Israel His servant, for His mercy endureth forever. |
|
כג שֶׁבְּשִׁפְלֵנוּ, זָכַר לָנוּ: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
23 Who remembered us in our low estate, for His mercy endureth for ever; |
|
כד וַיִּפְרְקֵנוּ מִצָּרֵינוּ: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
24 And hath delivered us from our adversaries, for His mercy endureth forever. |
|
כה נֹתֵן לֶחֶם, לְכָל-בָּשָׂר: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
25 Who giveth food to all flesh, for His mercy endureth forever. |
|
כו הוֹדוּ, לְאֵל הַשָּׁמָיִם: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. |
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven, for His mercy endureth forever. |
Another Miracle despite the Obama-Biden philosophy, renewed sanctions upon Iran. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388616
When the camera and observers are around they put on Yarmulkes but real Ethiopian Jews say that they are not Jewish. https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/04/16/amid-dimming-hopes-this-year-in-jerusalem-jews-ethiopia-prepare-worlds-largest-seder/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/04/16/new-faculty-campaign-aims-show-solidarity-jewish-students/
Op-Ed Beres: https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/04/16/israel-has-a-legal-option-to-prevent-iranian-nuclear-weapons-the-use-of-force/
Health Ministry warns of bad cooking oils. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388634
Israel has fuel for many years. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388633
Poland again supports Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388603
https://www.timesofisrael.com/bbc-urges-un-experts-to-condemn-irans-harassment-of-its-journalists/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-least-one-dead-as-heavy-rains-set-off-flash-floods-in-uae/
Draft Law: Shas chief Aryeh Deri has blamed the leader of the National Unity party, MK Benny Ganz, for blocking all possibility of reaching agreements on a Draft Law. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388626
Op-Ed Ruthie Blum. Iran’s attack. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388625
The US House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution condemning the chant “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free” as antisemitic, Fox News reported. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388619
Rabbi Doron Perez, Chairman of World Mizrachi and father of the fallen IDF soldier Captain Daniel Perez, spoke with Arutz Sheva - Israel National News about the ordeal of losing his son. Father of fallen hostage: My son fought with incredible bravery
Qatar unhappy with Hoyer. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388623
Atomic Chief for Iran Business as usual. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388621
Apr. 18
Day 195
18 injured including one in grave condition in drone strike. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388640
US Official Israel will postpone response to Iran until after Pesach. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388675
Qatar role of Mediator to be reviewed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388694
Egyptian sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the US agreed to accept Israel's plan for an operation in Rafah - so long as Israel does not carry out a widescale strike on Iranian soil. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388699
Could have lone actors could carry out terror. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388695
European Parliament interrupted. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388691
Ben Gvir wants war cabinet disbanded. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388687
Shabbos is coming: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/shabat
https://www.timesofisrael.com/cyber-unicorn-buys-israeli-startup-silk-security-for-150-million/
Apr. 19th
Day 196 week 28 ending
At 04:30AM Israel attacked with UAV’s one of the Iranian Airbases that sent attack drones towards us. NOTE: WHEN THE IRANIANS AND THEIR ALLIES ATTACK THEY HIT US WITH ALL THEIR MIGHT A TOTAL OF 500 DRONES AND MISSILES. When we attack them back we send a message that this is the taste of our UAV’s only not our rockets and planes. Our 85th birthday greetings to their supreme leader. They used old
Soviet 1950’s propaganda no damage. Also hit Syria and Iraq. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388768
Israel talked big but kept quiet to keep the USA and Coalition intact. Sanctions were instituted to some effect from the US and Europe fearing WWIII.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned Israel on Thursday against taking any military action against Iran following his country’s drone and missile attack on Israel. "In case the Israeli regime embarks on adventurism again and takes action against the interests of Iran, the next response from us will be immediate and at a maximum level," Amir-Abdollahian told CNN in an interview. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388760
Mother of hostage tells the story of his heroism. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388719
More than 100 people were arrested by New York Police Department officers on a preliminary charge of criminal trespass, as police entered Columbia University on Thursday to disperse a pro-Palestinian Arab protest that began a day earlier, CNN reported. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388758
PLO wants FIFA sanctions against Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388764
Zelinskyy meets with Jewish Students. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388762
S&P lowers Israel’s rating from A+ to AA-. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388756
Future easier Pesach Cleaning. https://www.timesofisrael.com/mobileye-founder-gives-sneak-peek-into-human-like-ai-robot-doing-household-chores/
The area of northern Israel is still under high alert and attacks into the late hours of the night and early morning. One attack from Gaza on Ashkelon. Yes, they are renewing their rockets and maybe still have old supplies as the Rafah entrance is delayed between Bibi and the USA. But progress towards Rafah. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388753
Battalion Commander Rafah soon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388723
Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Jerusalem (April 19, 2024) Out of an abundance of caution following reports that Israel conducted a retaliatory strike inside Iran, U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya, and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem, and Beer Sheva areas until further notice. U.S. government personnel are authorized to transit between these three areas for personal travel.
US and Euro Residents be on the alert during Pesach: https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/04/18/time-vigilance-fbi-director-says-agency-alert-threats-jewish-community-passover/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/04/18/new-haggadah-released-israeli-soldiers-gaza-ahead-passover/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/04/18/us-stops-un-recognizing-palestinian-state-through-membership/
In the area where Nachshon Wachsman was murdered an ISIS operative was caught. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388714
https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-in-his-fifties-dies-in-givat-shmuel-apartment-fire/
ICJ could issue arrest warrants against Israeli Officials. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388757
The Military Police Investigations Unit has begun in recent days to interrogate soldiers from an elite unit in the IDF on suspicion that they were involved in an incident in which two Gaza detainees who were suspected terrorists died en route to be interrogated in a detention center in Israel, Kan News reported. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388741
Supposed locations of captives may be known. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388721
Military Headstone placed on the grave of hostage that we shot. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388737
Raids to continue in Central Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388731
Update on the 19 wounded soldiers. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388771
Special Announcement: Normally, I do not post updates, stories or Torah on Chol HaMoed Pesach. This year, due to the war there hopefully will be an update next Chol HaMoed Erev Shabbos.
I can be found updating a number of groups on Facebook.com if you look for a daily update.
IDF group not the official IDF. https://www.facebook.com/groups/5906563945/
Virtual IDF: https://www.facebook.com/groups/59381197275
Jews, News and Views: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1402849883264529/
I (picture of a heart) my Israel: https://www.facebook.com/groups/779685212063749/
Have a healthy, happy, kosher and wonderful Shabbos and Chag Pesach Samayach,
FOR THOSE IN ISRAEL CONCERNING IRAN. THE NIGHT OF PESACH IS A NIGHT WHERE THE GUARDIAN OF ISRAEL GUARDS US. TEHILLIM 121:4.
Rachamim Pauli
