Parsha Chayei Sarah
Last week, we ended up
on the last test of Avraham the Akedah of Yitzchak. Our Sages tie this in with
the death of Sarah. She receives a report that Yitzchak and Avraham have gone
up the mountain to make a sacrifice without an animal. She puts two and two
together and dies from heartbreak. Our Parsha concludes the lives of Avraham
and Sarah and the Sidduch of Yitzchak.
23:1 And the life of Sarah was a hundred and seven
and twenty years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And
Sarah died in Kiriatharba--the same is Hebron--in the land of Canaan; and
Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
The ‘TH’ in the old
English translation is the way the Yemenite Jews pronounce the Hebrew letter
that becomes a ‘T’ to the Sephardim in Eretz Yisrael and an ‘S’ to the modern
Ashkenazim. The name Kiriat Arba comes from the four people buried there: Adam
and Chava then Avraham and Sarah. Afterwards the fathers buried there are not
added to the name.
3 And
Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spoke unto the children of Heth,
saying: 4 'I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a
possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my
sight.' 5 And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto
him: 6 'Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us; in the
choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his
sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.'
Avraham had a reputation
as the victor over the four kings and that of a holy man.
7 And
Abraham rose up, and bowed down to the people of the land, even to the children
of Heth. 8 And he spoke with them, saying: 'If it be your mind that I
should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the
son of Zohar, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he
hath, which is in the end of his field; for the full price let him give it to
me in the midst of you for a possession of a burying-place.' 10 Now
Ephron was sitting in the midst of the children of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite
answered Abraham in the hearing of the children of Heth, even of all that went
in at the gate of his city, saying: 11 'Nay, my lord, hear me: the
field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the
presence of the sons of my people give I it thee; bury thy dead.'
Please take for free the
cave. Why was it called the cave of wonders “Pelah”? For those who entered the
cave either saw heaven or what we call “hell”. If you listened to Rabbi Manis
Friedman’s lecture last week you will find out it is the same place. A Tzaddik
who is busy listening to Torah all the time will find that heavenly. A vain man
who does not know Torah and is interested in pleasures of the world will find
that hell.
12 And
Abraham bowed down before the people of the land.
Perkei Avos: Who is honored? One who honors everybody! That is why
Avraham was honored as he gave honor and respect to all.
13 And
he spoke unto Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying: 'But if
thou wilt, I pray thee, hear me: I will give the price of the field; take it of
me, and I will bury my dead there.' 14 And Ephron answered Abraham,
saying unto him: 15 'My lord, hearken unto me: a piece of land worth
four hundred shekels of silver, what is that betwixt me and thee? bury
therefore thy dead.'
This was the equivalent
to $20,000,000 in today’s terms based on the value then. He wanted to show the
value of the land and surprisingly he sold it.
16 And
Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which
he had named in the hearing of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of
silver, current money with the merchant.
It was to him like
buying 100 shares of a stock which happens to ordinary people.
17 So
the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field,
and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that
were in all the border thereof round about, were made sure 18 unto
Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all
that went in at the gate of his city. 19 And after this, Abraham
buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre--the
same is Hebron--in the land of Canaan. 20 And the field, and the cave
that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a
burying-place by the children of Het.
Three places in the
Tanach were purchased and all three are a place of contention today. Har
HaBeis, the Machpelah and Schem.
24:1 And
Abraham was old, well stricken in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all
things.
All means also a
daughter.
2 And
Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that
he had: 'Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh. 3 And I will make
thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that thou
shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom
I dwell. 4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and
take a wife for my son, even for Isaac.'
The swearing on the holy
Bris. I heard many years ago that it was to say that any issue that comes out
of my lions will avenge any violation. It was told to me by heart and I do not
know the source.
5 And
the servant said unto him: 'Peradventure the woman will not be willing to
follow me unto this land; must I needs bring thy son back unto the land from
whence thou came?' 6 And Abraham said unto him: 'Beware thou that
thou bring not my son back thither.
Yitzchak, the perfect
Korban, shall not leave the holy Aretz.
7 The
LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house, and from the land
of my nativity, and who spoke unto me, and who swore unto me, saying: Unto thy
seed will I give this land; He will send His angel before thee, and thou shalt
take a wife for my son from thence.
A blessing from the
Gadol HaDor (greatest person in his generation) that a Angel will go before.
8 And
if the woman be not willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this
my oath; only thou shalt not bring my son back thither.'
I believe that you will
find and succeed but if you fail, you shall be free of any obligation.
9 And
the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to
him concerning this matter. 10 And the servant took ten camels, of
the camels of his master, and departed; having all goodly things of his
master's in his hand; and he arose, and went to Aram-naharaim, unto the city of
Nahor.
It was close to evening
and people will be gathering water.
11 And
he made the camels to kneel down without the city by the well of water at the
time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water. 12 And he
said: 'O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, send me, I pray Thee, good speed
this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham.
He knows that HASHEM
will do things for Avraham and the way to get things done is through prayer as
physical movement there has been done.
13 Behold,
I stand by the fountain of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come
out to draw water. 14 So let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom
I shall say: Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall
say: Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also; let the same be she that
Thou hast appointed for Thy servant, even for Isaac; and thereby shall I know
that Thou hast shown kindness unto my master.'
According to the Sages
he did not pray correctly that she should be whole physically and spiritually.
They ask, “What if she was blind, lame, deaf, crazy, married, a loose woman
etc. and she came met his conditions?”
15 And
it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out,
who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's
brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. 16 And the damsel was
very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her; and she went
down to the fountain, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
Surprisingly she was
wholesome and pure. Rashi explains, “neither had any man know her.”
17 And
the servant ran to meet her, and said: 'Give me to drink, I pray thee, a little
water of thy pitcher.' 18 And she said: 'Drink, my lord'; and she
hastened, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him
drink. 19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said: 'I will
draw for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.'
Perhaps giving a drink
to a human is ethics in Haran but for the camels is Chesed and that is
Avraham’s trait.
20 And
she hastened, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well
to draw, and drew for all his camels. 21 And the man looked
stedfastly on her; holding his peace, to know whether the LORD had made his
journey prosperous or not.
So far she seems to meet
all the requirements of his prayer but maybe she is betrothed or not from a
good family.
22 And
it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden
ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels
weight of gold; 23 and said: 'Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray
thee. Is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?' 24 And
she said unto him: 'I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she
bore unto Nahor.'
Wow Avraham’s relative
and what a good family. Lavan is not a player yet and not known to be wicked to
Avraham and the servant.
25 She
said moreover unto him: 'We have both straw and provender enough, and room to
lodge in.'
It seems that the man
has hit the jackpot.
26 And
the man bowed his head, and prostrated himself before the LORD. 27 And
he said: 'Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who hath not
forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master; as for me, the LORD hath led
me in the way to the house of my master's brethren.'
So he thanks HASHEM
immediately as he sees at least partial success and definitely see Hashgacha.
28 And
the damsel ran, and told her mother's house according to these
words. 29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban; and
Laban ran out unto the man, unto the fountain.
She tells her mother who
tells her father what has happened.
30 And
it came to pass, when he saw the ring, and the bracelets upon his sister's
hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying: 'Thus spoke
the man unto me,' that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the
camels at the fountain. 31 And he said: 'Come in, thou blessed of the
LORD; wherefore stand thou without? for I have cleared the house, and made room
for the camels.'
We might think that
Lavan did all this on orders from his father like Avraham hosted. But it seems
to be because he spotted the ring. In his mind he is thinking about robbery and
ring-a-ding-dong for money.
32 And
the man came into the house, and he ungirded the camels; and he gave straw and
provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men
that were with him. 33 And there was set food before him to eat; but
he said: 'I will not eat, until I have told mine errand.'
I am on an important
mission from Avraham and I must not eat until I settle the matter for which he
sent me.
And
he said: 'Speak on.' 34 And he said: 'I am Abraham's servant. 35 And
the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great; and He hath
given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and men-servants and
maid-servants, and camels and asses. 36 And Sarah my master's wife
bore a son to my master when she was old; and unto him hath he given all that
he hath.
Avraham already had given
something to Yishmael but now all he has will go to Yitzchak, his son. So
whomever he marries will be an extremely wealthy woman.
37 And
my master made me swear, saying: Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the
daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell. 38 But thou shalt
go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son.
Only a woman of
excellent stock shall my son marry and preferably from my family.
39 And
I said unto my master: Peradventure the woman will not follow me. 40 And he said unto me: The LORD, before whom I walk, will
send His angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for
my son of my kindred, and of my father's house; 41 then
shalt thou be clear from my oath, when thou come to my kindred; and if they
give her not to thee, thou shalt be clear from my oath.
If I do not succeed in
taking a wife from Haran and she does not want to go with me then I shall be free
of my oath. Until then, I must try my utmost.
42 And
I came this day unto the fountain, and said: O LORD, the God of my master
Abraham, if now Thou do prosper my way which I go: 43 behold,
I stand by the fountain of water; and let it come to pass, that the maiden that
cometh forth to draw, to whom I shall say: Give me, I pray thee, a little water
from thy pitcher to drink; 44 and she shall say to me:
Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels; let the same be the woman
whom the LORD hath appointed for my master's son. 45 And
before I had done speaking to my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her
pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the fountain, and drew. And I
said unto her: Let me drink, I pray thee. 46 And she
made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said: Drink, and I
will give thy camels drink also. So I drank, and she made the camels drink
also.
She met the requirements
of my prayer.
47 And
I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou? And she said: The daughter of
Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore unto him. And I put the ring upon her
nose, and the bracelets upon her hands. 48 And I bowed
my head, and prostrated myself before the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the God
of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master's
brother's daughter for his son.
Thus Avraham’s guiding
angle brought me straight to your daughter.
49 And
now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell
me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.' 50 Then
Laban and Bethuel answered and said: 'The thing proceeds from the LORD; we
cannot speak unto thee bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah
is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as
the LORD hath spoken.'
Let her go to be
Yitzchak’s wife.
52 And
it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed
himself down to the earth unto the LORD. 53 And the
servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and
gave them to Rebekah; he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious
things.
After he gave presents
to Rivka, he gave to her brother and mother. Where was her father? According to
the Midrash, they sat down to eat and Lavan poisoned the servant’s food to steal
everything. But Bethuel switched the portion that looked too small for
hosting an honored guest. So he died and Lavan and his mother took over. A more
favorable explanation is that Bethuel was old similar to the King of Saudi
Arabia today where the crown price most of the time runs the kingdom and the
King is almost on pension.
54 And
they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all
night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said: 'Send me away unto my
master.'
With his mission
accomplished, it was time for the Servant and crew to return to Avraham.
55 And
her brother and her mother said: 'Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at
the least ten; after that she shall go.' 56 And he
said unto them: 'Delay me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me
away that I may go to my master.'
Miracles have happened,
I am a Shaliach Mitzvah it is time to send me away.
57 And
they said: 'We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.' 58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her: 'Wilt thou go
with this man?' And she said: 'I will go.'
Rivka was happy to go to
become a bride and was willing to travel.
59 And
they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and
his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto
her: 'Our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy
seed possess the gate of those that hate them.'
They gave her a powerful
blessing that she be mother of a great nation. Her nation will over power their
enemies.
61 And
Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the
man. And the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 62 And
Isaac came from the way of Beer-lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the land of the
South. 63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field
at the eventide; and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were
camels coming.
Rivka and her nurse
Devorah were in the camel train.
64 And
Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the
camel. 65 And she said unto the servant: 'What man is
this that walks in the field to meet us?' And the servant said: 'It is my
master.' And she took her veil, and covered herself.
She was a married woman
and therefore according to the strict custom covered her face and hair as women
from that are of the world do unto this day.
66 And
the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 And
Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she
became his wife; and he loved her. And Isaac was comforted for his mother.
They were married for
over a hundred years as for romance and infatuation what do we see. He married
her as the contract was made that she was his wife already he consummated the
marriage and over time love developed and she comforted him as the woman of the
house in place of his mother. The truth of the matter is that when I first got
met my wife around the seventh date, I said to my future wife: “I can’t live
without you.” That was the infatuation stage but marriage over the course of
decades becomes a full partnership with nobody more equal than the other and
plenty of compromises by both sides.
25:1
And Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah.
Commentators say this is
Hagar that he cut her off and returned her but 55 years have passed. A year
before Yishmael was born then 14 years and Yitzchak was married three years
after Sarah died so that makes 55 years since Yishmael was born. I assume that
she passed menopause and it seems to me that she is a different woman.
2 And
she bore him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and
Shuah. 3 And Jokshan begot Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan
were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. 4 And the sons of Midian:
Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the
children of Keturah.
Except for the tribes of
Midian, the Bnei Yisrael do not meet the others.
5 And
Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. 6 But unto the sons of the
concubines, that Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts; and he sent them away from
Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.
These are the Brahmans
from A-Braham.
7 And
these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, a hundred
threescore and fifteen years. 8 And Abraham expired, and died in a
good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his
people. 9 And Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of
Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before
Mamre;
Avraham got eternal rest
next to Sarah in the cave.
10 the
field which Abraham purchased of the children of Heth; there was Abraham
buried, and Sarah his wife. 11 And it came to pass after the death of
Abraham, that God blessed Isaac his son; and Isaac dwelt by
Beer-lahai-roi.
After the funeral,
Yitzchak returned to live in the Negev with his flocks and herds.
12 Now
these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian,
Sarah's handmaid, bore unto Abraham. 13 And these are the names of
the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the
first-born of Ishmael, Nebaioth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and
Mibsam, 14 and Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa; 15 Hadad, and
Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedem; 16 these are the sons of Ishmael,
and these are their names, by their villages, and by their encampments; twelve
princes according to their nations.
Note Yishmael produced twelve princes, Esav twelve and there were
twelve tribes in Yisrael.
17 And
these are the years of the life of Ishmael, a hundred and thirty and seven
years; and he expired and died; and was gathered unto his
people. 18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur that is before Egypt,
as thou go toward Asshur: over against all his brethren he did settle.
A Yishmael passed away
in the land of the gold in Africa.
The high personal cost of war.
I believe that I have
mentioned that businesses failed or suffered. In the North and South people
were displaced and homes destroyed. But the real high cost of the war are upon
the wounded and their families. A spouse can leave her job to take care of a
wounded person as long as he is in the hospital but when he comes home, she is
expected to go back to work. This is so even if he cannot walk or deal with all
his injuries by himself. I thought that Israel was better than the States on
wounded warriors but only in part.
Feeling Exceptional Happiness
by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/Stories/Stories/5785/1406-08.html
Mr. David Dana,
currently[1] a resident of Be'er Sheva and a professional tour guide, grew
up in a France in a family that wasn't religiously observant. He began getting
closer to Judaism through a program intended to acquaint young French Jews with
Judaism, organized by Rabbi Yaakov Mazuz, today the Rabbi of the Chabad
synagogue for French immigrants in Netanya.
In those years in
France before he moved to Israel, Rabbi Mazuz, as part of his programs,
organized trips for young people to visit the Lubavitcher Rebbe in
New York. David registered with a group of around one hundred youth travelling
to the Rebbe in the beginning of 5750 (fall 1989). Throughout their stay they
merited to receive special attention from the Rebbe. The Rebbe would signal to
them to say l'chaim during the farbrengens (Chasidic
gatherings). He also would make strong hand motions to encourage them to
intensify their singing and joy.
The moments that
made the deepest impression on David's soul was during the famous 'distribution
of dollars.[2]' Every Sunday for six years, the Rebbe would stand for many
hours at the entrance of his room, while thousands of people would file past
each week to receive a dollar bill (sometimes more than one) from his hand to
donate to charity. At the same time the Rebbe would give each person his
blessing.
The first time that
David received a dollar and blessing from the Rebbe, it made such a strong
positive impression on him that he made sure to go again at every opportunity.
Each time he felt exceptional happiness at having in his hand something
tangible from the Rebbe, the dollar, in addition to the blessing and the warm
welcoming expression on the Rebbe's face.
The visit by the
Rebbe affected him and his friends deeply and caused a genuine turnaround in
their daily lives. Most of the members of the group started or became more
careful in observing the mitzvot (commandments), also David
started keeping the mitzvot and learning Torah. In the
following two years he often went back to be in the Rebbe's presence, never
missing the opportunity to pass before him on Sunday for dollars, to receive a
dollar from his holy hand and a blessing.
On Gimmel
Tammuz (June 12)1994, the day the Rebbe passed away, David felt a
personal loss and grief. The thought that he would not be able to stand in
front of the Rebbe, see his luminous face, receive a dollar from his hand and a
blessing of "Bracha v'hatzlacha" ('blessing and
success.'
He was consoled by
what he heard from Chabad rabbis and mashpi'im (scholarly Chasidic
influencers), that a leader and faithful shepherd doesn't abandon his flock. As
is written in the Zohar, tzadikim (righteous
people) continue to act and influence in this world also after they pass on,
and even more that when they were alive.
Several months
later, towards Chanukah 1994, David flew to New York. Friday, Erev Shabbat,
he went to the burial site of the Rebbe in Montefiore Cemetery in the Queens
borough of New York City (east of Brooklyn). With a broken heart he prayed and
read the psalms one says at a burial place, after which he made personal
requests.
At that time, David
was at a crossroads. He was considering making Aliyah (emigrating
to Israel) but he was hesitating, uncertain if it was the right thing to do.
Now, while standing by the Rebbe's tziyun (tombstone), his
main request was to receive a clear sign and direction if he should make Aliyah to
the Holy Land. As well as a request for a blessing to find his destined soul
mate if the near future.
After finishing his
prayers he left the Ohel (the large enclosed area surrounding
the Rebbe's tombstone[3] ) with a twinge in his heart. With deep felt
longing he remembered the times when he would leave the presence of the Rebbe
full of happiness and satisfaction, in his hand a dollar of the Rebbe, feeling
the closeness and the love the Rebbe radiated to each and every one, and the
actual dollar in his hand as a souvenir of the visit.
Now, he thought, all
that is over. No more distribution of dollars, no more specific blessings. Who
knows, he suddenly thought, if all our prayers at the tziyun are
heard.
The same thoughts
occupied him during the Shabbat, even when he tried to immerse himself in the
prayers, the Torah lessons and the farbrengens in the Beit
midrash (house of study).
On Sunday he had a
feeling of emptiness. How different the situation now is than it was then, he
thought On all his previous visits this was the set time for the distribution
of dollars. He would prepare himself for the personal meeting with the Rebbe and
never missed an opportunity. And now, there was nothing.
Since Sunday was
free, he decided to go shopping in Manhattan. In the afternoon he went to a
kosher dairy restaurant in town.
After finishing his
meal, he gave the cashier a ten dollar bill. The cashier gave him change in
some coins and a one dollar bill. David was about to put the change into his
pocket when he noticed something written on the dollar bill. A wave of emotion
washed through him. He also used to write on the dollar bill he received from
the Rebbe the date and the words of the blessing.
Indeed, on the
dollar were written the words "I received from the Rebbe Shlita ('may
he live many long good days') [in] 5751 -- and he said 'for the Aliyah to
the Holy Land.'"
David was completely
overwhelmed. Divine Providence had sent him a dollar from the Rebbe on a
Sunday, just as he previously had merited to receive dollar from his holy hand!
But the even more incredible thing was the writing, the words "for
the Aliyah to the Holy Land". There could not be a
clearer message than that! He felt he had received an answer to his main
request.
He studied the
writing on the dollar again and a new wave of emotion filled him. The person
who had received the dollar has written the year 5751, in Hebrew taf-shin-nun-aleph,
but changing the order of the letters to , taf nun shin aleph,
an acronym for "you shall get married."
Less than a month
and a half later, David was already a permanent resident of Israel. That same
year he met his future wife and merited to establish a true Jewish home. He
experienced in a tangible way that personal requests are received and answered
because the faithful shepherd doesn't abandon his flock.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted and
supplemented by R. Yerachmiel Tilles from the translation by Mrs. C.R. Benami,
long-time editorial assistant for AscentOfSafed.com, from LChaim Weekly, issue
#1329.
Why this week?
The weekly reading, Chaye Sarah, begins with Father Avraham buying a plot of
land in Hebron and continues with his efforts to find a suitable wife for his
son and future successor, Yitzchak.
Biographical note:
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe (11 Nissan 1902 -
3 Tammuz 1994), became the seventh Rebbe of the Chabad dynasty after his
father-in-law, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, passed away in
Brooklyn on 10 Shvat 1950. He is widely acknowledged as the greatest Jewish
leader of the second half of the 20th century. Although a dominant scholar in
both the revealed and hidden aspects of Torah and fluent in many languages and
scientific subjects, the Rebbe is best known for his extraordinary love and
concern for every Jew on the planet. His emissaries around the globe dedicated
to strengthening Judaism number in the thousands. Many hundreds of volumes of
his teachings have been printed, and hundreds of English renditions too.
Footnotes:
As of the writing of this article in 5772/2012.
From 1986 until his stroke in early 1992.
And that of his father-in-law and predecessor, the sixth Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef
Yitzchak Schneersohn. (Directly across the lane is the burial place of
Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, the Rebbe's wife, daughter of Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak.)
Milestone: Shel Talmy. 87, https://www.timesofisrael.com/legendary-rock-producer-shel-talmy-who-worked-with-the-who-the-kinks-dies-at-87/
Milestone: Arthur Frommer, 95, Cheap
travel guide book in 1957 Europe on $5 a day. https://www.timesofisrael.com/arthur-frommer-guidebook-trailblazer-who-opened-world-to-travelers-dies-at-95/
Inyanay Diyoma
I did not publish on Friday the news due to publication of the Blogspot and the Torah Portion. So am repeating here.
Nov. 15th
Day 406 end of week 58.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-taps-rfk-jr-lead-department-health-human-services
Nov. 16th
Day 407 start of week 59
Israel struck a top secret Nuclear
area. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399254
Troops
of the Commando Brigade including soldiers of the Egoz, Maglan, and Duvdevan
Units, have been conducting limited, localized, targeted ground raids based on
precise intelligence on several new enemy targets in southern Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399201
AMB. Friedman and Huckabee duet
“Sweet home Alabama.” https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399114
Wed. night, the Israeli navy knocks out drone. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399154
The
IDF on Thursday confirmed that it struck terrorist infrastructure sites and
command centers belonging to the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization in Syria.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399204
Coalition backs Netanyahu after opposition calls unfit.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399212
They wanted Pollard to betray
Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399247
Nov. 17th
Day 408
Another Golani soldier dies in Lebanon.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399271
Candies and a card for Shabbos
arrives to his wife after his death. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399285 Accompanying the gifts was a handwritten letter
from Ivri. In it, he wrote:
My beloved
wife,
I am writing to
you from the far north - hopefully for the last time. I am here, happy, and
doing something significant for my nation. I ask that you smile and keep your
head high. I am fine - don't worry about me. I love you the most in the world,
pamper yourself with the chocolate and enjoy the beauty of the bouquet.
Yours always,
Ivri."
Mother picking up her child from pre-school
attacked. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399265
On Friday evening, at
the start of Shabbat (Sabbath), the Sanzer Rebbe fainted in the central study
hall in Kiriat Sanz, Netanya. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399276
Iran chooses the next supreme
leader. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399277
Judicial Reform again! https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399287
Protestors shoot flares at
Netanyahu’s residence. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399280
Metula
Council head David Azoulay announced that due to IDF activities in the
northeast of Metula, within Lebanese territory, the town has been declared a
closed military zone. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399278
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-muslims-who-backed-trump-upset-by-his-pro-israel-nominees/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-arrested-over-theft-of-ambulance-from-jerusalem-hospital/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-democrat-josh-gottheimer-declares-bid-for-new-jersey-governor/
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-awkwardly-stands-apec-photo-chinas-xi-jinping-front-center
https://www.timesofisrael.com/kushner-said-expected-to-play-key-role-in-trumps-mideast-policy/
Nov. 18th
Day 409
Two more soldiers died. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399325
https://www.timesofisrael.com/flares-fired-at-netanyahus-home-in-caesarea-a-dangerous-escalation/
Drone shot down that went to central
Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399306
Civilians may return soon to the
North. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399303
Dean of the Slabodka Yeshiva Rabbi Moshe Hillel
Hirsch, a leader in the Lithuanian (non-Hasidic) community, told his yeshiva
students who received draft orders, that it is a mitzvah to defect from the
IDF. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399335
6 years later: The Beer Sheva District Court has convicted
Yuval Kahan and Aviv Bar-David, heads of the Bnei Zion Premilitary Academy, of
negligent manslaughter in ten cases and causing injury through negligence to
two additional students due to their responsibility for the Tzafit River
disaster in which ten students of the academy perished. https://matzav.com/6-years-later-heads-of-premilitary-academy-convicted-of-negligent-manslaughter/
During
the operation, the troops raided several terror targets embedded within
villages in southern Lebanon. The soldiers identified a shaft leading to an
underground infrastructure, and nearby, a weapons storage facility containing
weapons, ammunition, and a motorcycle. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399312
Hezballah centers struck in Beirut. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399310
Shabbos social media accounts
disabled. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399309
Canadian vigil for Sinwar cancelled.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399305
Rabbi Kalish of Five Towns passes
away. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399302
Israel knocks out 8story terror
stronghold. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399307
Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested on Friday that Russia's war in Ukraine
could conclude "faster" once Donald Trump assumes office as US
President. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399295
Einav
Zangauker, whose son Matan Zangauker is among the hostages, spoke during a
protest in Tel Aviv and issued a direct appeal to US President-elect Donald
Trump, urging him to press Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the
conflict in Gaza and secure the hostages' release. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399292
Linsey Graham conveyed
the following to the Prime Minister: “Do what you have to do to prevent the
Iranian ayatollah from acquiring nuclear weapons capability.”
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399293
City officials in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday
condemned a neo-Nazi march in the Short North Arts District of the city, NBC4 reported.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399291
Nov. 19th
Day 410
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-warns-turkey-against-harboring-hamas-leaders-who-left-qatar/
Sergeant
First Class (Res.) Omer Moshe Gaeldor, aged 30, from Jerusalem, a soldier from
the 5111st Battalion, Golani Brigade, was killed during combat in southern
Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399442
Arab or Druze woman dies in the North and hit
in Ramat Gan. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-829828
"We
are deeply disturbed by Pope Francis’s assertion that the Israel Defense
Forces’ actions in Gaza 'should be carefully investigated to determine whether
it fits into the technical definition of genocide as formulated by jurists and
international bodies,'" the Conference of European Rabbis’ Standing
Committee wrote in a statement. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399447
Israeli Deep State by Caroline Glick
(thanks to Thomas B.) 52 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxDxT8QXzqQ
Missing person some evidence found. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399436
US
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Tx) accused the Biden Administration of seeking to
"undermine" the incoming Trump Administration and Republican Congress
and Senate through a United Nations Security Council draft resolution calling
for the IDF to completely withdraw from Gaza and for a ceasefire without also
calling on Hamas and other terrorists in Gaza to release the 101 Israeli and
foreign hostages they continue to hold. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399443
Hezballah medium range rocket commander dies. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399437
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399444
New US Transport Minister. "Sean will use his experience and the relationships he has
built over many years in Congress to maintain and rebuild our Nation’s
Infrastructure, and fulfill our Mission of ushering in The Golden Age of
Travel, focusing on Safety, Efficiency, and Innovation. Importantly, he will
greatly elevate the Travel Experience for all Americans!". https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399401
Border
Police officers at the Shuafat checkpoint in northern Jerusalem on Tuesday
noticed a suspicious individual hiding a bag near the checkpoint. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399433
The head of the Gaza department in the elite SIGINT force Unit 8200
is vying for a promotion to the rank of colonel despite his part in the IDF's
failure to prevent the October 7th massacre.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399439
Long Range Missiles from the Ukraine
and implications for Israel. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-829832
No judicial reform. The
heads of the Knesset's Ashkenazic-haredi parties, Degel Hatorah and Agudat
Yisrael, expressed opposition to Justice Minister Yariv Levin's call to push
forward the judicial reform. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399421
Water prices to rise in Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399429
Hezballah weapons in school. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399427
3 Shachidim in Jenin. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399416
Nov. 20th and Nov. 21st
Day 411 Day 412
I have been quite busy in the last few days so
it is no surprise that I missed putting out Day 411 on time and run into late
or early Israel hours for Day 412.
Commander
of the Nachshon Battalion (90) of the Kfir Brigade, Lt. Col. Yoel Glickman, was
seriously wounded on Tuesday in a battle in Jabaliya, according to a report
released on Wednesday morning. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399486
I believe he is the 800th soldier
killed. https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-reservist-killed-senior-officer-wounded-in-clash-with-gunmen-in-northern-gaza/
East Yerushalayim six Arabs
arrested. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399482
Op-Ed Diane Bederman: https://dianebederman.com/fake-news-in-the-21st-century-the-egregious-unethical-sin-of-omission/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-taps-jewish-financier-howard-lutnick-as-commerce-secretary/
IPS Nukhba Prisoners a danger. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399504
Shabbos Times. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/shabat
Iraq warned about their Shiite Drone
attacks on Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399498
Two Hezballah rocket Shachidim. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399493
Labor Min. approves daycare for Charedim. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399494
Jordan gives 10years in jail for gun
running. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399495
Arkia
and Israir have received approval to operate flights to the United States. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399472
https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/11/19/iran-offers-cap-sensitive-uranium-stock-avoid-iaea-resolution/
Civilian Archeologist and Golani
Soldier ambushed in Lebanon. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkw9qtizkl
Day 412 Part 2
Man hit dies as 10 rockets fired
towards Nahariya. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399552
Sergeant
Gur Kehati, age 20 from Nir Banim, fell in battle in Lebanon, the IDF announced
Thursday morning. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399534
Bernard Sanders, Martin
Heinrich, George Helmy, Mazie Hirono, Tim Kaine, Angus King, Ben Ray Lujan, Ed
Markey, Jeff Merkley, Chris Murphy, Brian Schatz, Tina Smith, Chris Van Hollen,
Raphael Warnock, Elizabeth Warren and Peter Welch.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/longtime-jewish-public-servant-appointed-as-new-nypd-commissioner/
Time
to starve the Gazans. "A very big mistake was made here, in my opinion, in
the very fact that we allowed the hostages to remain in the tunnels of Gaza for
even one day," Gavriel said. "We needed to finish with this issue,
and all of us would eat bread and hummus, and not allow them to remain there
for another day." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399540
9 Terrorists eliminated in Jenin. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399542
Protests harden Hamas. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399541
Happy
Birthday Tzila Cohen who was born in 1914 in Kraśnik, Poland, and immigrated to
Israel alone in 1936. She is well-known in Netanya as one of the generation of
the city's founders, and participated in a cornerstone-laying ceremony for the
city's Kiriat Sanz neighborhood in 1958. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399544
Military
analyst Yossi Yehoshua on Thursday morning slammed the proposed agreement
between Israel and Lebanon, saying that it is "filled with holes" and
leaves out important military achievements. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399548
US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday nominated
cardiothoracic surgeon and television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz to
serve as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Administrator. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399468
Stefanik calls out UN antisemitism. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399530
Hamas gives up one demand. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399530
https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/11/20/yale-university-hold-student-referendum-divestment-israel/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/11/20/largest-shabbat-gathering-us-draws-2000-jewish-students/
ad
Nov. 22nd
Day 413 end of week 58
With 82 terrorist killed a clear
message to Assad. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h1urlztmkx
Soldier fell in Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399575
Have a wonderful, healthy,
safe and peaceful Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli
