Friday, December 20, 2024

Parsha Vayishlach Part 2, Parsha Vayshev Part 1, the unarmed man captures two armed terrorist, two soldiers back from the dead and Swords of Iron News

 

Parsha Vayishlach Part 2

 

 

Last week after having miraculously escaped Lavan, Yacov sent a message to Esav more a less that he wants to return home in peace. Esav gathers 400 men to have a final solution on Yacov. Yacov goes back to pick up some things he as forgotten and ends up wrestling with Esav’s Angel. Even though Yacov prevails, the Angel manages to hurt him in such a way that he limps.

 

33:1  And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. 2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. 3 And he himself passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 

 

Yacov is showing servitude to his brother. As he comes towards Esav, he is no longer the 63 year old Esav knew. He is a 97 year old limping and bowing before his brother. I can tell you from my own life, I was at 62 bench pressing 100 lbs. aka 45 kg. A few months later I developed a number of medical problems and by 63 years of age I was bench pressing 25kg. and it only went down from there. So it finally dawned on Esav that the old threat was no longer there.

 

4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him; and they wept. 

 

The Rabbis came out with two different Midrashim. The first that Esav really had compassion upon Yacov. The second that he embraced him and tried to bite his neck and his teeth broke and he cried from dental pain. I choose to believe the first following the rest of the narrative.

 

5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said: ‘Who are these with thee?’ And he said: ‘The children whom God hath graciously given thy servant.’ 6 Then the handmaids came near, they and their children, and they bowed down. 7 And Leah also and her children came near, and bowed down; and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed down. 8 And he said: ‘What meanest thou by all this camp which I met?’ And he said: ‘To find favor in the sight of my lord.’ 

 

Remember that Esav got married at 40 and chances are that after 57years, he has grandchildren and even great grandchildren so this measly bunch of 11 boys under Bar Mitzvah age does not pose military or physical threat to Esav. 

 

9 And Esau said: ‘I have enough; my brother, let that which thou hast be thine.’ 10 And Jacob said: ‘Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found favor in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand; forasmuch as I have seen thy face, as one sees the face of God, and thou were pleased with me. 

 

Often we talk something from current events and Yacov is no different having looked eye to eye with the Angel of Esav.

 

11 Take, I pray thee, my gift that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.’ And he urged him, and he took it. 12 And he said: ‘Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.’ 13 And he said unto him: ‘My lord knows that the children are tender, and that the flocks and herds giving suck are a care to me; and if they overdrive them one day, all the flocks will die. 

 

He presses Esav to take the gifts and makes up the excuse of not over-driving the animals.

 

14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant; and I will journey on gently, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.’ 15 And Esau said: ‘Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me.’ And he said: ‘What needs it? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.’ 

 

I promise to come to Seir or perhaps judge Seir with the advent of Moshiach. But for now the best thing is that you go on your way and wait for me.

 

16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. 17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him a house, and made booths for his cattle. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. 

 

This appears to be some grazing land between modern Rosh Pina and Schem.

 

18 And Jacob came in peace to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram; and encamped before the city. 19 And he bought the parcel of ground, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of money. 20 And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel.

 

All places that Israel conquered there was no dispute in the land. Where Avraham, Yacov or Dovid bought became a place for contention. Chevron, Schem and Har HaBeis.

 

34:1 And Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. 2 And Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her; and he took her, and lay with her, and humbled her. 

 

It appears at first that Dina was between eight to nine years of age. In modern Gaza this is marriage age. I assume that a first he tried to charm her and took her hand and talked marriage. Then his hormones took over and he did what he did.

 

3 And his soul did cleave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spoke comfortingly unto the damsel. 4 And Shechem spoke unto his father Hamor, saying: ‘Get me this damsel to wife.’ 

 

Unlike Amnon and Tamar, Schem loved Dina and desired her and spoke nicely to her to calm her down. He also went to his father to arrange for a marriage perhaps with her so that she would feel better.

 

5 Now Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter; and his sons were with his cattle in the field; and Jacob held his peace until they came. 6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to speak with him. 7 And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought a vile deed in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter; which thing ought not to be done. 8 And Hamor spoke with them, saying ‘The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. I pray you give her unto him to wife. 9 And make ye marriages with us; give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you. 10 And ye shall dwell with us; and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.’ 

 

Hamor is a shrewd negotiator. The family has good flocks and herds and will bring good trade and prosperity to the city.

 

11 And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren: ‘Let me find favor in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give. 12 Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me; but give me the damsel to wife.’ 

 

I shall listen unto to request for a marriage contract.

 

13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father with guile, and spoke, because he had defiled Dinah their sister, 14 and said unto them: ‘We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us. 15 Only on this condition will we consent unto you: if ye will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised; 16 then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. 17 But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.’ 18 And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor’s son. 19 And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob’s daughter. And he was honored above all the house of his father. 20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and spoke with the men of their city, saying: 

 

We shall go and make a Bris.

 

21 ‘These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for, behold, the land is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. 

 

We shall assimilate with Yacov and become one people.

 

22 Only on this condition will the men consent unto us to dwell with us, to become one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised. 23 Shall not their cattle and their substance and all their beasts be ours? Only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.’ 24 And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. 

 

Who would not mind to have his daughter married to one of the heirs to millions or billions.

 

25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city unawares, and slew all the males. 26 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went forth. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister. 

 

I assume they slaughtered all the males and took the females and booty. This is the source for the idols mentioned when Yacov reaches Bethel.

 

28 They took their flocks and their herds and their asses, and that which was in the city and that which was in the field; 29 and all their wealth, and all their little ones and their wives, took they captive and spoiled, even all that was in the house. 30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi: ‘Ye have troubled me, to make me odious unto the inhabitants of the land, even unto the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and, I being few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and smite me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.’ 31 And they said: ‘Should one deal with our sister as with a harlot?’ 

 

What happened and the wars the pursued are all written in Sefer Yashar. There are hints in the Midrash.

 

35:1 And God said unto Jacob: ‘Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there; and make there an altar unto God, who appeared unto thee when thou didst flee from the face of Esau thy brother.’ 2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him: ‘Put away the strange gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments; 

 

Where did these gods come from? From the captives of the people of Schem.

 

3 and let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.’ 4 And they gave unto Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hand, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth which was by Shechem. 5 And they journeyed; and a terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan—the same is Beth-el—he and all the people that were with him. 7 And he built there an altar, and called the place El-beth-el, because there God was revealed unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother. 8 And Deborah Rebekah’s nurse died, and she was buried below Beth-el under the oak; and the name of it was called Allon-bacuth. 

 

This is interesting as she basically was like a surrogate mother to Yacov all these 34 to 36 years. Now Rivka was between 23 to 34 years old when Yacov was born according to either Rashi or Ibn Ezra. Yacov is now 99years old so Devorah as Rivka’s Nurse must have been some years older!

 

9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. 10 And God said unto him: ‘Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name’; and He called his name Israel. 11 And God said unto him: ‘I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; 12 and the land which I gave unto Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.’ 13 And God went up from him in the place where He spoke with him. 14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He spoke with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a drink-offering thereon, and poured oil thereon. 15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Beth-el. 

 

G-D has returned Yacov safely to Bethel and he is promise that he is the spiritual and physical inheritor of the Land.

 

16 And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was still some way to come to Ephrath; and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor. 17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the mid-wife said unto her: ‘Fear not; for this also is a son for thee.’ 18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing—for she died—that she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 

 

The name of my poor-son (orphan) becomes “my right hand son”, Benyamin.

 

19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath—the same is Beth-lehem. 20 And Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave; the same is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day. 

 

The distance between Bethlehem and Chevron is not that great to bring the coffin there. So why the burial there? The answer is that when the children of Yisrael went into the first exile, they prayed by Rachel’s Gave and it is holy site for prayer unto this day.

 

21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond Migdal-eder. 22 And it came to pass, while Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine; and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: 23 the sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob’s first-born, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun; 24 the sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin; 25 and the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid: Dan and Naphtali; 26 and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid: Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, that were born to him in Paddan-aram. 27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father to Mamre, to Kiriat Arba—the same is Hebron—where Abraham and Isaac sojourned. 28 And the days of Isaac were a hundred and fourscore years. 29 And Isaac expired, and died, and was gathered unto his people, old and full of days; and Esau and Jacob his sons buried him.

 

Yacov lived next to his aged father and obtained more wisdom for the next 21 years until his passing. There was now peace between Yacov and Esav and they buried Yitzchak. One can assume that a fast camel could take one from Beer Sheva to Har Seir and back within less than a day. [The drive by car is about 2.5 hours with a stop or two on the way.]

 

36:1 Now these are the generations of Esau—the same is Edom. 2 Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite, 3 and Basemath Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebaioth. 4 And Adah bore to Esau Eliphaz; and Basemath bore Reuel; 5 and Oholibamah bore Jeush, and Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau, that were born unto him in the land of Canaan. 6 And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the souls of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his possessions, which he had gathered in the land of Canaan; and went into a land away from his brother Jacob. 7 For their substance was too great for them to dwell together; and the land of their sojournings could not bear them because of their cattle. 8 And Esau dwelt in the mountain-land of Seir—Esau is Edom. 9 And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the mountain-land of Seir. 10 These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau. 11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bore to Eliphaz Amalek. These are the sons of Adah Esau’s wife. 13 And these are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath Esau’s wife. 14 And these were the sons of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife; and she bore to Esau Jeush, and Jalam, and Korah. 15 These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the first-born of Esau: the chief of Teman, the chief of Omar, the chief of Zepho, the chief of Kenaz, 16 the chief of Korah, the chief of Gatam, the chief of Amalek. These are the chiefs that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. These are the sons of Adah. 17 And these are the sons of Reuel Esau’s son: the chief of Nahath, the chief of Zerah, the chief of Shammah, the chief of Mizzah. These are the chiefs that came of Reuel in the land of Edom. These are the sons of Basemath Esau’s wife. 18 And these are the sons of Oholibamah Esau’s wife: the chief of Jeush, the chief of Jalam, the chief of Korah. These are the chiefs that came of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife. 19 These are the sons of Esau, and these are their chiefs; the same is Edom. 

 

As I mentioned these chiefs existed before the sons of Yacov could grow up.

 

20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan and Shobal and Zibeon and Anah, 21 and Dishon and Ezer and Dishan. These are the chiefs that came of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom. 22 And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan’s sister was Timna. 23 And these are the children of Shobal: Alvan and Manahath and Ebal, Shepho and Onam. 24 And these are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah—this is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father. 25 And these are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah. 26 And these are the children of Dishon: Hemdan and Eshban and Ithran and Cheran. 27 These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan and Zaavan and Akan. 28 These are the children of Dishan: Uz and Aran. 29 These are the chiefs that came of the Horites: the chief of Lotan, the chief of Shobal, the chief of Zibeon, the chief of Anah, 30 the chief of Dishon, the chief of Ezer, the chief of Dishan. These are the chiefs that came of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir. 31 And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel. 32 And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom; and the name of his city was Dinhabah. 33 And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead. 34 And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his stead. 35 And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead; and the name of his city was Avith. 36 And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead. 37 And Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the River reigned in his stead. 38 And Shaul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead. 39 And Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead; and the name of the city was Pau; and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-zahab. 40 And these are the names of the chiefs that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names: the chief of Timna, the chief of Alvah, the chief of Jetheth; 41 the chief of Oholibamah, the chief of Elah, the chief of Pinon; 42 the chief of Kenaz, the chief of Teman, the chief of Mibzar; 43 the chief of Magdiel, the chief of Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession. This is Esau the father of the Edomites.

 

 

Parsha Vayeshev Part 1

 

 

I usually mention in the name of Rabbi Simcha HaCohain Kuk Ztzal that this Parsha is one where HASHEM is not mentioned. Angels yes so where was HASHEM? Making the Moshiach ben Dovid and the Moshiach Ben Yosef.

 

 

 

37:1 And Jacob dwelt in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, being still a lad even with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought evil report of them unto their father. 

 

Sometimes you can be right but also dead right. Yosef saw the mistake of his brothers. He should have rebuked them outright or via Reuven if they claimed seniority but going to their father and being a tattle-tale he brought hatred upon himself and finally groundless hatred.

 

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colors. 

 

Learn from this and never show favoritism to any of your children.

 

4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. 5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren; and they hated him yet the more. 6 And he said unto them: 'Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 7 for, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves came round about, and bowed down to my sheaf.' 

 

It does not matter if the dream was going to come true someday. In the here and now, it was enough to make his brothers jealous.

 

8 And his brethren said to him: 'Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us?' And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brethren, and said: 'Behold, I have dreamed yet a dream: and, behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me.' 

 

There is a rule with dreams that some nonsense appears in them. Even this premonition, the moon (Rachel) was buried near Bethlehem.

 

10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren; and his father rebuked him, and said unto him: 'What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down to thee to the earth?' 

 

He had to appear angry for he saw what was happening with his other sons outside of Benyamin.

 

11 And his brethren envied him; but his father kept the saying in mind. 

 

Yacov kept this in the back of his mind, but after 22years it would be buried too deep in his memory.

 

12 And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. 13 And Israel said unto Joseph: 'Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them.' And he said to him: 'Here am I.' 

 

Unlike many of the 17year old children today, Yosef was obedient to his father. Honoring a parent was on a high level up until a generation or two ago when the communist-socialists put the State above the parent in education.

 

14 And he said to him: 'Go now, see whether it is well with thy brethren, and well with the flock; and bring me back word.' So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying: 'What seek thou?' 

 

Rashi identifies the man as the Angel Gavriel who is called “a man”.

 

16 And he said: 'I seek my brethren. Tell me, I pray thee, where they are feeding the flock.' 

 

To Yosef they are brothers but the reverse is not necessarily so.

 

17 And the man said: 'They are departed hence; for I heard them say: Let us go to Dothan.' And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan. 18 And they saw him afar off, and before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. 

 

Shimon and Levi, the hot heads and the sons of the concubines that he brought a bad report about, were really through with him.

 

19 And they said one to another: 'Behold, this dreamer cometh. 20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say: An evil beast hath devoured him; and we shall see what will become of his dreams.' 

 

They literally wanted to kill him. Shimon and Levi had already killed so the sin of murder had become lessened in their eyes.

 

21 And Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand; and said: 'Let us not take his life.' 22 And Reuben said unto them: 'Shed no blood; cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him'--that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father. 

 

Don’t murder. Being the elder brother, he had authority and respect in their eyes.

 

23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colors that was on him; 24 and they took him, and cast him into the pit--and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. 

 

But it was a place for snakes and scorpions – Rashi.

 

25 And they sat down to eat bread; and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with their camels bearing spicery and balm and ladanum, going to carry it down to Egypt. 26 And Judah said unto his brethren: 'What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? 

 

Yehuda wants to save Yosef but in a cockeyed way not like Reuven’s idea.

 

27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother, our flesh.' And his brethren hearkened unto him. 28 And there passed by Midianites, merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they brought Joseph into Egypt. 

 

2 Shekels for each brother as Benyamin, the child, was still at home.

 

29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. 30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said: 'The child is not; and as for me, whither shall I go?' 

 

Reuven’s plan to save Yosef failed and now he is besides himself.

 

31 And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a he-goat, and dipped the coat in the blood; 32 and they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father; and said: 'This have we found. Know now whether it is thy son's coat or not.' 

 

Yacov deceived his father with a goat and now Mida Knegged Mida (measure for measure) he was being deceived by his children through a goat.

 

33 And he knew it, and said: 'It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.' 34 And Jacob rent his garments, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. 

 

You deceived your father with a skin of a goat now measure for measure it comes back that your children will deceive you.

 

35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said: 'Nay, but I will go down to the grave to my son mourning.' And his father wept for him. 

 

Usually over a year, the dead is forgotten to some extent and life goes on. However, Yosef was alive and therefore not forgotten.

 

36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard.

 

So the pathway was laid for the children of Avraham to go down to Egypt.

To be continued next week.

 

 

Elyon sent me a video clip of Itamar of Netivot’s Hashgacha

 

 

The clip shows Itamar on Oct. 7th ‘23, unarmed, walking towards two people he sees. He thinks that they are Thailand Workers that fled the Nova or Farms into Netivot. He calls to them. As he approaches them, he sees that they are armed terrorists. He puts one hand behind his back as if he has a gun.

 

He wanted to run away but he knew that if he did so, they would be in his apartment complex with his family and neighbors within a matter of minutes.

 

He calls on them to surrender. In the meantime, armed men arrive. He orders the terrorist to take of their shirts and pull off their pants. He then collects their phones as the armed people take them away.

 

Oh yes, Itamar looks like a Charedi or very religious Sephardic Jews. All I can tell you is that guard the Shabbos and the Shabbos will guard you. A real miracle on film.

 

 

Maybe I brought down Lt. Yinon Granot’s story previously

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400996

 

 

Armored Officer thought that he would die. He felt sorry for his friends and family.

 

He was wounded in Jabaliya and his journey to recovery and determination to get back to lead his men.

 

Lieutenant Yinon Granot, a tank officer critically injured in Jabalia and currently undergoing rehabilitation at Sheba Medical Center, spoke to Arutz Sheva - Israel National News in honor of the IDF Casualties Appreciation Day. He recounted the moment of his injury and expressed his desire to return to active duty after recovery.

 

At the beginning of the interview, he describes the injury in Gaza: "I raised my head from the tank to direct where to attack. An explosive device placed in the window was triggered. I was hit in the neck, my carotid artery was cut, I was injured in the face and chest, and I took a shrapnel that pierced my lung and is now lodged in the diaphragm, requiring surgery."

 

"I remember everything," he adds. "I was conscious for about two minutes after the event. I stopped the bleeding from my main artery but felt difficulty breathing. I evacuated myself to the back door, asked the team to evacuate me backward, and just in the last words before I lost consciousness, I told them to throw all their bandages into the corridor, and I started bandaging myself with another soldier until I lost consciousness."

 

He describes his thoughts in those critical moments. "I thought to myself that I was about to die and just felt bad because I thought about my parents and my girlfriend. I mainly thought about them. When I woke up, the first thing I asked was 'Am I alive?' They told me I would survive, and then I asked if the team was okay and was relieved when the answer was positive."

 

Before he was injured, Granot spent a whole year deeply involved in the war. "It was a very intense year. The war became a way of life, and nothing really calmed down there. Every entry is no less stressful than the previous one, and you feel like it's your first day in Gaza. There is no complacency there; it's the most booby-trapped place I've seen, and I’ve been to every side of Gaza. There are still many terrorists, and that's the message that needs to be conveyed to those who think we're done there."

 

He describes the rehabilitation process as particularly empowering. "The rehabilitation here is amazing. Just being here with all the guys is truly the best mental treatment. When everyone talks, everyone has similar issues, experiencing similar hardships, it's amazing, and there's huge support from citizens who volunteer and donate. It's encouraging. There's no doubt that if I were in a difficult place, I'd be in a different state. This warm embrace lifts me up."

 

In the meantime, he's counting the days until he returns to fight. "After all the surgeries and rehabilitation, I will return to service."

 

 

Rumors of Master Sgt. Yoav Tivoni’s death are exaggerated.

 

 

Oct. 7th ’23 Yoav Tivoni was not celebrating Simchas Torah. No, he was enjoying himself along the Sinai Red Sea Coast. When the news broke, he and his friends rushed back into Israel. He went home to get his Reserve Duty kit. It is similar to a pregnant woman’s 9th month pack for a hospital visit.

 

He arrived at his base and underwent military and paramedic retraining. His unit enter Gaza on Oct. 28th. After about two months in Gaza he was outside of a house with his first Sgt. as a rescue unit. Suddenly, both were hit with an antitank missile. His first Sgt. fought for his life for a month but died from his wounds.

 

Yoav has a tourniquet put on him. His jaw is broken and an ‘airway’ is placed in his mouth. His lungs are compressing due to air or blood from the shrapnel. He begins drifting in or out of consciousness. A minor operation is preformed to relieve the pressure. It takes a while and he is in a helicopter on his way to Tel HaShomer hospital but the doctor tells the pilot bring him to Ashkelon as he could die on the extra 5minutes to Tel HaShomer.

 

 He undergoes over time 30 operations. He is now recovering enough to get into the TV studio.

 

 

Family of Le’av Lemo was told say good bye to their dying soldier but he heard it.

 

 

His family are Ethiopian Immigrants. Le’av has a noise pin and a few pins in one ear. So he is an assimilated Israeli. Yet he is a paratrooper with a good heart and unites his unit with his jovial attitude. But now he is in a light coma and cannot speak. Shrapnel in his lungs, arms and legs and barely breathing.

 

The doctors pull off a medical miracle and stabilize him. He undergoes many operations and needs at least one more so that he can walk. He is undergoing physical therapy and with crutches or braces his toes or feet can touch the ground but will need another operation minimum to be able to walk.

 

 

NEXT WEEK: War is hell the story of two soldiers

 

Captain Itai Schwartz tank commander’s story of injury and recovery.

 

Yitzchak Bar - Givati story.

 

Shalom Shitrit you can be a criminal or a hero – your choice.

 

 

Milestone: Isak Andic, 71, the founder of Spanish fashion brand Mango, has died after suffering an accident, the company said on Saturday. https://www.timesofisrael.com/isak-andic-founder-of-spanish-fashion-brand-mango-dies-in-hiking-accident-aged-71/

 

Milestone: Jill Jacobson, 70, Star Trek the next Generation, Soap Operas, https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/jill-jacobson-prolific-actress-known-032059428.html

 

Milestone: Rabbi Asher Deutsch, 79, https://www.timesofisrael.com/rabbi-asher-deutsch-leader-of-hardline-jerusalem-faction-dies-at-79/

 

Milestone: Lou Conter, 102, https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/04/02/last-uss-arizona-sailor-who-survived-pearl-harbor-attack-passes-away-at-102/

 

Milestone: Eliezer Botzer, 43, Popular Singer. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/401032

 

 

Inyanay Diyoma

 

 

Dec. 14

 

Day 345 start of week 62

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-israeli-strikes-said-to-target-syrian-military-sites-underground-missile-bunkers/

 

https://www.aol.com/news/russian-scientist-designed-cruise-missiles-170354822.html

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/top-biden-aide-hamas-has-refused-to-provide-names-of-hostages-its-holding/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/pa-security-forces-kill-islamic-jihad-commander-sparking-clashes-in-jenin/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-rockets-fired-at-south-friday-were-launched-from-aid-warehouse-area/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/can-syrias-dwindling-christian-community-survive-under-jihadi-rebel-rule/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/report-netanyahus-attorney-representing-2-suspects-in-classified-document-leak-case/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/south-koreas-parliament-votes-to-impeach-president-over-his-martial-law-order/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/uk-japan-and-china-ease-travel-warnings-to-israel-as-ceasefire-with-hezbollah-holds/

 

The Lebanese Al-Akhbar newspaper has reported that Israel is holding negotiations with Syrian and international bodies, in an attempt to locate the body of legendary Israeli spy Eli Cohen. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400711

 

The IAF, with the precise intelligence of the ISA and the Intelligence Directorate, struck the terrorist Imad Jaro, an operative in Hamas' military wing. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400712

 

The IDF is revealing the identities of two Hamas operatives seen in the footage brutally beating a prisoner and throwing him down a staircase: Mohammed-Mohammed Shaaban Shubaki and Mahmoud Saber Mahmoud Abd Al-Al. Both terrorists work under Hamas’ Internal Security apparatus, which is responsible for the detention and imprisonment of Gaza residents. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400710

 

Suicide or very professional to make it look like??? https://www.foxnews.com/us/openai-whistleblower-found-dead-san-francisco-apartment-from-apparent-suicide-attempt

 

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/newt-gingrich-surprise-move-some-democrats-could-have-huge-consequences-trump

 

A sixty-year-old man was severely injured Friday morning when a fire broke out on the third floor of a Pardes Hanna apartment building.

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400696

 

Syrian Druze want to be with Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400688

 

Greece is in advanced negotiations to purchase 36 PULS rocket artillery systems from Israel, part of its ongoing efforts to modernize its military, Reuters reported on Friday, citing two officials. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400705

 

Dec. 15th

 

Day 436

 

Behind the news: With the fall of Syria now a slight danger to Egypt but a tremendous danger to the Jordanian Kingdom. The end of the Shin Bet went to Jordan a day or two ago to update their security forces and the king. The radical ‘Palestinians’ Arabs are part of the majority in the country. He, like Assad, comes from a minority. Their border with Syria is open. They are a target for Iran for smuggling. Israel’s longest border is with Yarden and has too many openings. Right now, Israel is working to strengthen the old and put in a new fence.

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/levin-threatens-to-revive-divisive-judicial-overhaul-high-court-left-us-no-choice/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/syrian-rebel-leader-israel-has-no-more-excuses-to-strike-we-dont-seek-conflict/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/georgia-lawmakers-elect-hardline-critic-of-west-as-new-president/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/activist-arrested-over-free-palestine-sticker-on-memorial-for-soldier-killed-oct-7/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-arrests-female-singer-who-performed-on-youtube-without-hijab/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/hezbollah-chief-says-supply-route-through-syria-severed-following-assads-fall/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/irans-atomic-organization-claims-it-wont-impede-iaea-access-to-nuclear-sites/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-firing-by-sky-news-australia-pro-israel-tv-host-says-shes-not-done/

 

https://www.aol.com/news/former-house-speaker-nancy-pelosi-172512366.html

 

https://www.aol.com/news/mystery-drones-maryland-jersey-draw-010357965.html

 

Former Chief Sephardic Rabbi against military service contrary to Ashkenazi Standard Ruling. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-833476

 

A fire broke out in a Bnei Brak synagogue, but quick action prevented damage and danger to lives. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400734

 

Tik-Tok must sell or close down. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400736

 

COS we are here to stop terrorist elements not run Syria. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400721

 

A nightmare for Netanyahu. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400737

 

Gazan civilian death toll manipulated. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400739

 

ABC loses to Trump in court. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400738

 

US-Syrian Rebels in contact. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400744

 

Swiss to ban Nazi Symbols. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400740

 

84 haredi soldiers completed their combat training under the Home Front Command earlier this week. They will be stationed in towns throughout Judea and Samaria to reinforce local security squads. For some of them, this will mean being stationed in their hometown. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400728

 

Syrian Druze want Israel. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-833318

 

Dec. 16th

 

Day 437

 

Yesterday, I wrote how the Jordanian Regime was threatened by what happened in Syria. I am sure Egypt too. In the news yesterday, there was an article how Abu Mazan is going about rescuing Jenin and soon Tulkarm.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/pm-discusses-hostages-with-trump-as-israeli-officials-say-deal-could-be-clinched-in-days/

 

Navy Vice Admiral (res.) Eliezer Marom announced his resignation Sunday from his position overseeing the rehabilitation of the communities of northern Israel that have been damaged in the constant attacks carried out by the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the year following the October 7 massacre. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400763

 

Over the past three months, the 98th Division, including the combat teams of the 7th, Commando, and Paratroopers brigades, conducted several division-level operations in different areas in southern Lebanon, including Kfarkela, Al-Aadaissah, Rab El Thalathine, Markaba, Taybeh, and Khiam. Now preparing for next missions. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400765

 

The most advanced surveillance aircraft in the world, the Oron, arrived on Sunday at the Nevatim air base. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400770

 

Embassy in Ireland closed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400768

 

A rabbi in Melbourne, Australia said that his baby was nearly killed when an explosive device was thrown at him as he was pushing a stroller carrying his child, the Herald Sun reported. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400766

 

The Ministry of Labor has added budgetary support for parents using daycare centers, increasing the maximum income threshold while leaving the minimum as it was. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400753

 

An Israeli Navy missile boat intercepted a UAV that was launched from Yemen on Monday morning over the Mediterranean Sea. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400800

 

Yesterday during evening rush hour a terrorist was caught on a road 1 road block. This morning a grenade was found on road 2 by the side. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/byiaurpnkl#autoplay

 

Moldova Chief Rabbi congratulates Gideon Saar. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400788

 

A plane that flew over Israel on Monday morning "drew" a ribbon in solidarity with the hostages in Gaza. The ribbon-shaped trail was seen in several locations in Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400803

 

Michael Freilich, a haredi member of the Belgian parliament and a member of the Antwerp City Council, has been appointed as the diplomatic envoy of the European Jewish Association (EJA) for issues of antisemitism and Holocaust remembrance. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400791

 

The Lebanese army began deploying to the south of the country, nearly three weeks after the cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect. IDF troops were still operating in the areas close to the border and planned to remain there until their scheduled withdrawal four weeks away. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hjdj115241e#autoplay

 

A Columbia University professor who called the October 7 massacre "astounding," "awesome," and "incredible" will be teaching a Spring course on Zionism. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-833590

I can place a bet with anybody that today’s history students don’t know who was in charge of the Nina, Pina and Santa Maria. What were they? Where did they start out from? What country, king & queen did they represent? What year was it? It could be that people who grew up in Europe or went through the Holocaust did not learn this?

 

Now if you ask an Orthodox Jewish Child to guess what happened on Tisha B’Av 5242 which happens to be the date involved with the Nina etc. There is a good chance he will say the Spanish Inquisition.

 

This brings us back to Pasha Vayeitze where Esav (Spain and the Roman Catholic Church) vs. Yacov (Spanish Jewry).

 

Bonus Question: The left in the last election came after Trump as Donald Duck. What Drake stopped the most powerful Navy in the world at that time? Answer below the other answers from the first part you have to google.

 

Israeli air strikes in Tartus, Aleppo and Hama in Syria overnight, caused an earthquake, the Russian Sputnik news agency said early on Monday. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s11frva4jg#autoplay

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-shot-to-death-in-haifa-in-suspected-gangland-killing/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/mystery-drone-sightings-over-new-jersey-show-gaps-in-us-security-says-trump-adviser/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/russian-tanker-splits-in-storm-and-partly-sinks-spilling-oil-into-kerch-strait/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/jerusalem-officials-divided-over-ambitious-begin-rooftop-plan/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-refugees-return-to-uncertain-future-in-yarmouk-under-new-syrian-regime/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/appealing-icc-arrest-warrants-israel-says-court-violated-its-own-charter-and-rulings/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/ben-gvir-to-ex-hostage-even-if-captives-being-raped-deal-will-cause-10000-future-rapes/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/settler-leaders-call-for-moving-palestinian-population-in-west-bank-to-combat-terrorism/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-al-jazeera-cameraman-killed-in-gaza-strike-was-member-of-islamic-jihad/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-allies-look-to-marshal-support-for-ousting-ag-and-reviving-judicial-overhaul/

 

Drive by shooting. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400784

 

On Sunday, with the direction of IDF and ISA intelligence, the IAF conducted a precise strike on Hamas terrorists who were operating inside a command and control center embedded within a compound that previously served as the UNRWA "Sheikh Jamil School" also known as the "Ahmed Abdul Aziz School" in the humanitarian area in Khan Yunis. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400801

 

In NY for a limited time: The Tel Dan Stele, a stone fragment long held exclusively by the Israel Museum, is on view at the Jewish Museum on the Upper East Side until Jan. 5. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400799

 

IDF Spokesman on Israel-Syrian Border: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400774

 

The American private equity fund Euro-Equity will acquire the offensive cyber company Paragon, co-founded by former Prime Minister Ehud Barak and former Unit 8200 commander Brigadier General (res.) Ehud Schneerson, Globes reported on Sunday. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400786

 

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Sunday that the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group had entered its area of responsibility in the Middle East. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400792

 

Top Priority Politics the People come Last: Navy Vice Admiral (res.) Eliezer Marom announced his resignation Sunday from his position overseeing the rehabilitation of the communities of northern Israel that have been damaged in the constant attacks carried out by the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the year following the October 7 massacre. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400763

 

The IDF announced on Sunday that with the direction of IDF and ISA intelligence, the IAF conducted a precise strike on Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists who were operating in a command and control center embedded in the offices of the “Civil Defense” organization in Nuseirat. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400783

 

A man of about 40 was killed Monday morning when a truck collided with a private vehicle in central Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400798

 

Answer: Sir Francis Drake defeated the Spanish Amada.

 

Dec. 17th

 

Day 438

 

Last night, the Israeli TV showed the local Syrian Rebels on the Golan [you know, the ones we gave medical treatment too during their war against Assad] bring truck load after truck load of chemical weapons. Grenades with various chemicals, things that looked like giant fire crackers-dynamite filled with chemicals. They know that we will destroy these weapons and not use it against them. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-833743

 

The above may be linked with the search for the bodies of Eli Cohen, Katz, Feldman and Ron Arad.   

 

Two soldiers fell in Gaza: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400871

 

Monday millions ran to shelter from Houthi Missile that was shot down far from Israel. www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400823

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-says-airstrike-hit-houthi-command-and-control-facility-in-yemen/

 

Turkey has been recently building up troops on its border with Syria, causing US officials to fear that Ankara is planning a major invasion into territories controlled by the US-backed Kurds. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400865

 

The Israeli Supreme Court granted a petition by Arabs and the leftist organization 'Yesh Din' and ruled that the 'Ein Anar' complex in western Binyamin must be demolished. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400874

 

Daniel Hagari, currently the IDF spokesman in English and Hebrew, is contending for two other roles within the General Staff. In the coming months, the IDF Chief of Staff is expected to make a decision on his future. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400872

 

Criminal was willing to be an Iranian Spy and was arrested before he even started. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400875

 

Wounded IDF Veterans: 13,500 were wounded in the Swords of Iron War, and 1,500 of them were wounded twice. 51% of them are between the ages of 18 and 30, and 66% are reservists. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400870

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/otzma-yehudit-votes-against-budget-as-coalition-splits-over-bid-to-fire-ag/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-fears-trump-will-allow-israel-to-resume-gaza-war-after-1st-phase-of-hostage-deal/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/katz-envisions-half-of-haredi-men-eventually-enlisting-while-rest-stay-in-torah-world/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/syrian-islamist-leader-says-rebel-groups-to-be-disbanded-minority-rights-protected/

 

Routine route: https://www.timesofisrael.com/iaf-planes-paint-ribbons-in-skies-in-apparent-nod-to-hostages/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/australian-state-proposes-ban-on-protests-at-places-of-worship-amid-antisemitism-spike/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/fm-saar-defends-dublin-embassy-closure-brands-irish-premier-an-antisemite/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/german-chancellor-scholz-loses-no-confidence-vote-setting-up-early-elections/

 

LA antisemitism rise: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-833836

 

The Givati Brigade Combat Team continues to operate in the Jabaliya area as part of the 162nd Division’s operation against terrorist infrastructure and operatives in the area. The Givati Brigade located an underground tunnel shaft where a terrorist cell had barricaded itself inside and the terrorists were eliminated.

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400878

 

Shabbos for Hostages: Zvi Zussman, father of Ben who fell in battle in the Gaza Strip during this war, speaks to Israel National News about his son, and about the project he has initiated to support a deal for the return of the hostages from Gaza. https://prayforthem.co.il/hashavat/  https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400831

 

https://www.foxnews.com/us/madison-wisconsin-police-say-multiple-people-injured-shooting-abundant-life-christian-school

 

https://www.foxnews.com/world/chief-russias-nuclear-defense-forces-killed-explosive-device-moscow

 

Oct. 7th Victim gets his wish: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400883

 

Fake News: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office denied a report by Reuters that he is heading to Cairo today (Tuesday) in what would have been a dramatic development in talks on a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400881

 

Disgraced conservative commentator Candace Owens has been named the 2024 "Antisemite of the Year," an ignominious title awarded by StopAntisemitism, a leading non-partisan U.S.-based organization dedicated to combating antisemitism. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sy9xjq04ye

 

Dec. 18th

 

Day 439

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/cia-head-to-visit-qatar-as-israeli-reports-downplay-claims-that-hostage-deal-imminent/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/atop-syrian-hermon-netanyahu-says-israel-to-stay-until-another-arrangement-found/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/edelstein-questions-need-for-coalition-bill-allowing-soldiers-to-leak-info-to-pm/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/pope-francis-was-target-of-attempted-suicide-attack-on-2021-trip-to-iraq-he-says/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-researchers-decode-mechanism-of-rare-neurological-disease/

 

Fire opened on bus carrying Chassidim to Yosef’s Tomb w/o army permission. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400917

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/teva-soars-on-positive-trial-results-for-inflammatory-bowel-disease-treatment/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/12/16/trump-again-warns-hamas-release-hostages-soon-not-going-be-pleasant/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/12/16/uva-settles-antisemitism-lawsuit-confidential-agreement/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/12/17/metoos-silence-on-hamas-sexual-violence-exposed-metoo-unless-youre-a-jew/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/12/17/at-least-100000-bodies-syrian-mass-grave-us-advocacy-group-head-says/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/12/17/jewish-civil-rights-group-seeks-overturn-dismissal-mit-antisemitism-lawsuit/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/12/16/times-square-billboard-displays-images-oct-7-hamas-terrorist-attack-israel/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/12/17/israel-maintain-security-control-gaza-after-war-full-freedom-action-defense-chief-says/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/12/17/jewish-american-health-care-professionals-report-widespread-antisemitism-new-study-finds/

 

I had bad vibes about him from the get-go. He was too smug and snobbish. https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/12/17/tucker-carlson-providing-leading-platform-jew-hatred-says-israels-minister-combating-antisemitism/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/amulet-found-in-germany-said-to-be-oldest-christian-testimony-north-of-the-alps/

 

Not the brightest partner to have hunting. https://www.aol.com/news/grandfather-dead-bear-shot-tree-205109591.html

 

From Thomas: California Teacher’s Union sponsoring anti-Israel narrative for children: https://www.facebook.com/FreedomFoundationUSA/videos/519647524340884/

 

The military leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group controlling parts of Syria, announced on Tuesday that they would be "the first" to disband their armed wing and merge with the Syrian national forces. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400916

 

Following the passing two days ago of the leader of the Bnei Torah Jerusalem Faction (Peleg Yerushalmi), Rabbi Asher Deutsch, 88-year-old Rabbi Azriel Auerbach has been appointed in his place. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400920

 

Breakthrough with the Saudis? https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400898

 

Eight Republican senators are expressing reservations about supporting former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for the role of America's top spy, casting doubt on her Senate confirmation, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing a source from the Trump transition team and another with knowledge of the situation. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400908

 

https://www.foxnews.com/us/mass-shooting-near-maryland-funeral-home-leaves-dead-others-injured

 

The IDF dismissed Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Dr. Tuly Flint, the former commander of the Alexandroni Brigade and mental health officer of Division 98, from reserve duty, after he signed a letter supporting refusal to serve. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400899

 

Dec. 19th

 

Day 440

 

The Houthis sent a rocket towards Yisrael. It was hit but the warhead remained in tact and destroyed a school at 2:50 AM if it had been during school hours that would have been something else. Unbeknown to the Houthis there were 14 planes on their way to bomb two small power plants and not the large turbines yet. More damage to their port and oil depots. Of course there are refueling planes, intelligence planes and rescue planes that took part. https://www.timesofisrael.com/lucky-there-were-no-children-school-near-tel-aviv-ravaged-by-houthi-missile-attack/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-pounds-yemen-believes-it-paralyzed-all-3-houthi-ports-missile-fired-at-israel/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-intel-wrongly-envisioned-catastrophic-outcomes-if-idf-escalated-against-hezbollah/

 

Troops from the IDF Combat Engineering Brigade in southern Lebanon located a tunnel route a few dozen meters in length leading to a Hezbollah headquarters from which terror activities and launches on Israeli communities were directed over the past year. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400945

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-said-set-to-huddle-with-top-brass-thursday-to-discuss-gaza-deal-latest/

 

Hostage Deal could be week’s away. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-834025

 

At least two issues remain outstanding: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400986

 

Every time we made a treaty we failed. "So long as the Maccabees fought the Greeks - Judah the Maccabee fought seven wars - in all of them he came out victorious, until the eighth war," he began. "Before the eighth war, he made a treaty with the Romans. With the Romans, you make a treaty?! He made a treaty, what can you do? And after that, in the next war, Judah the Maccabee himself fell." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400921

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-admits-settler-group-crossed-northern-border-into-lebanon-this-month/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-probing-repeated-misconduct-allegations-against-paratroopers-brigade-chief/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/russia-suspect-in-generals-killing-was-recruited-by-ukrainian-special-forces/

 

Minister Zohar wants to revoke the budget of the Batsheva Dance Company, which is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Sports. The request comes after a number of complaints he received about the final segment in the company's new dance show, in which the dancers raised Palestinian flags in a blatant act of protest and insulted the audience at the show, https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400933

 

Minister Bezalel Smotrich: "Hamas is at its lowest point since the start of the war," Smotrich told Kol Barama Radio. "This is not the time to throw it a lifeline, this is the time to continue to crush it and pressure it so that they will give back the hostages - but with a deal that shows its surrender and not ours."

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400938

 

B'nai Brit Canada stated that it is "outraged and seeking accountability" after Congregation Beth Tikvah in Montreal was attacked for the second time early this morning (Wednesday). https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400943

 

Representatives of Syria's transitional government visited the town of Sweida in the south of the country and met with local leaders including the area's Druze spiritual leader Hikmat al-Hijri, Al Hadath reported on Wednesday. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400942

 

According to the sources, "the prisoners with heavier [sentences] will be exiled to Turkey and Iran, while the rest will be released to Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400934

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured Debra Tice, the mother of American journalist Austin Tice, who has been imprisoned in Syria since 2012, that Israel's airstrikes in Syria are not being conducted in areas where Tice might be held, Axios correspondent Barak Ravid reported. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400941

 

Fake News of no water for Gaza. We just put in a 3 or 4 foot water main.

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400987

 

Illegal Arabs that infiltrated. A total of 27 Arabs were arrested, 22 of them in Bnei Brak. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400994

 

Israeli Hacker ransomware my face US jail. https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/bksplo11skg

 

The Pentagon has identified significant challenges with the F-35 stealth strike fighter jets, critical to Israel’s Air Force operations, according to a classified 382-page report. The F-35, known as "Adir" in Israel, faces issues with stealth reliability, maintenance systems and operational efficiency, raising questions about the world’s most expensive weapons system, which has cost $1.8 trillion to develop. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hj00h33z7ye

Op-Ed Ron Ben Yishai: Israel's strike on Houthi targets in Yemen early on Thursday exacted a heavy economic price on the rebel forces but also impacted their ability to lead. The attack was a humiliating blow after critical electrical power infrastructure was hit in Sanaa, Yemen's capital and the Iran-Proxy's stronghold. Unfortunately, this would not deter the Houthis from continuing their missile and drone strikes on Israel or on maritime routes that has caused financial damage to world trade. … https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1lg6dzsyl#autoplay

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-wont-sanction-smotrich-and-ben-gvir-before-end-of-bidens-term-officials/

 

AND HAMLET SAID THERE WAS SOMETHING ROTTEN IN DENMARK BUT: https://www.timesofisrael.com/gallants-daughter-was-first-to-notify-him-of-unfolding-oct-7-assault-wife-says/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/judges-express-skepticism-over-dozens-of-incidents-cited-in-netanyahu-indictment/ - Like the guys who asked directions in the big black Chevrolet, they were the gang from brinks and I helped them make their get-away it was just a teeny weeny honest mistake.

 

https://themedialine.org/mideast-daily-news/idf-soldier-seeks-presidential-pardon-in-security-documents-case/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/nearly-2-million-israelis-below-poverty-line-in-2023-1-in-4-children-are-poor/

2025 with the higher value added tax and National Insurance will probably make for a 25% of the population under poverty level.

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/survey-finds-arab-israelis-show-growing-sense-of-shared-destiny-since-outbreak-of-war/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/polish-textbooks-continue-to-teach-antisemitic-tropes-in-schools-report-finds/

 

Diaspora Minister on X: "Kurdistan must be granted independence, while Erdogan should be expelled from NATO and left to crown himself as the caliph of an Islamic state, ruling alongside his friends in ISIS and Al-Qaeda," Chikli wrote on X. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400953

 

Musk helped lead a revolt Wednesday to try to stop a bipartisan funding bill in a direct challenge to the authority of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and others in Republican leadership who helped craft the measure. https://www.aol.com/news/elon-musk-leads-charge-kill-011212220.html

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/12/18/egypt-purging-antisemitic-content-school-textbooks-new-report-says/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/lucky-there-were-no-children-school-near-tel-aviv-ravaged-by-houthi-missile-attack/

 

Dec. 20th

 

Day 441 end of week 62

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-diplomat-says-hostage-talks-progressing-but-deal-likely-still-weeks-away/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/fbi-arrests-man-for-plotting-mass-casualty-attack-against-israeli-consulate-in-nyc/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/defense-minister-halts-promotions-at-top-of-idf-until-all-oct-7-probes-handed-over/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/blinken-acknowledges-israel-saudi-normalization-unlikely-before-biden-leaves-office/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/high-court-scraps-with-ben-gvir-as-state-ordered-to-answer-prisoner-starvation-claim/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/putin-revives-antisemitic-trope-says-jews-are-tearing-apart-russian-orthodox-church/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-israeli-investor-sounds-alarm-over-lack-of-foreign-capital-for-local-startups/

 

An active-duty IDF soldier was forced to leave Sri Lanka quickly after being identified in its capital city by a pro-Palestinian Arab organization. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/401028

 

Suspected terror attack on 74year old woman stabbed 20times.

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/401007

 

Blinken replied, “Hamas knows that the Calvary’s not coming to the rescue. For months and months and months, it hoped it would get a wider war with Hezbollah, with Iran, with Iranian-aligned groups coming in and creating more problems for Israel on more fronts and helping Hamas endure. We now know that’s not happening, they know it’s not happening because of the very important work that was done with us and with others dealing with the unprecedented Iranian attacks on Israel, dealing with Hezbollah. So I think that’s concentrated minds among Hamas on the need to complete this deal.” https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/401032

 

The United States has quietly more than doubled its troop presence in Syria to combat the Islamic State (ISIS) group, with the Pentagon revealing Thursday that approximately 2,000 US forces are now stationed there—up from the long-reported figure of 900, The Associated Press reports.  https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/401040

 

AZ man indicted for antisemitic threats. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/401038

 

https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/trump-issues-new-spending-bill-demands-with-government-shutdown-looming

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/12/19/eu-lawmaker-dual-nationals-must-be-able-join-palestinian-armed-resistance-allowed-serve-idf/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/12/19/we-need-accountability-us-house-report-condemns-universities-response-rising-antisemitism/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/12/19/iran-covertly-ramping-up-nuclear-weaponization-work-dissident-group-reveals/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/12/19/rutgers-faculty-call-boycott-divestment-sanctions-against-israel/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/12/19/arms-embargo-israel-could-lead-more-destruction-gaza-says-west-point-urban-warfare-expert/

 

Shabbos times. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/shabat

 

 

A healthy, restful and peaceful Shabbos,

Rachamim Pauli