Parsha Chakas Part 2, Parsha Balak, 3 weeks, 3 stories, Swords of Iron and other news.

 

Last week, I could have put the finishing touches on the Drasha when my great grandson, whom I had not seen since Purim came. There is a vast difference in development of the infant between two months and almost six months. Sometimes there are things that can be delayed as Torah is timeless. I want to produce a quality Drasha not quantity. It is called a little bit of pleasure for an elderly couple. The little one we spoiled with many outfits from the States and a giant Teddy Bear that was on sale for mother’s day. The Teddy made his day.

 

 

Parsha Chukas Part 2

 

 

We continue with the Parsha after the passing of Miriam. At this point the nation is marching northwards towards Eretz Yisrael from the east. The people are encamped in the Eilat-Aqaba plains and looking to move northwards. The reddish mountains east of them is the land of Seir where Esav resides. Rabbi Pinchas Winston Shlita mentioned this in what I used as an Ed-Op last week.

 

14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom: 'Thus saith thy brother Israel: Thou know all the travail that hath befallen us; 15 how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers; 16 and when we cried unto the LORD, He heard our voice, and sent an angel, and brought us forth out of Egypt; and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border.

 

Kadesh is an area today on the border between Yisrael and Egypt and close to Gaza. It is south of Sde Boker where Ben Gurion is buried and the Ein Avadat Canyon and Nahal Zin. However, this site indicates that it was what is modern Petra. https://www.bible.ca/archeology/bible-archeology-exodus-kadesh-barnea-southern-border-judah-territory.htm

 

17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy land; we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells; we will go along the king's highway, we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy border.'

 

Whether at the modern Kadesh or Petra, both are north of what we call the red hills of Esav near Aqaba. What appears to me is that the Cloud Pillar took the Bnei Yisrael east and then possibly south before returning on the eastern side northwards. The other possibility is that Edom was from Aqaba to almost Har Hor and from Petra they went north. What we think about today may have been a different location then.

 

18 And Edom said unto him: 'Thou shalt not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against thee.' 19 And the children of Israel said unto him: 'We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of thy water, I and my cattle, then will I give the price thereof; let me only pass through on my feet; there is no hurt.' 20 And he said: 'Thou shalt not pass through.' And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border; wherefore Israel turned away from him.

 

Since they were “brothers”, the  Bnei Yisrael does not make war with them.

 

22 And they journeyed from Kadesh; and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came unto mount Hor. 23 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying: 24 'Aaron shall be gathered unto his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against My word at the waters of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor. 26 And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.'

 

Aharon would return his Neshama to the CREATOR now and he with the help of Moshe and Eleazar began to remove his garments. The Tzitz with Holy unto HASHEM was removed and the Ephod, Avnet and the other garments of the Cohain Gadol.

 

27 And Moses did as the LORD commanded; and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount; and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount. 29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.

 

Moshe and Eleazar when with Aharon up the mountain. He removed his garments and lay down. Suddenly a blinding light went to Aharon’s lips and his Neshama departed with a kiss from HASHEM. Eleazar was now dressed in the garments of the Cohain Gadol and the two walked down the mountain as a small earthquake sealed the entrance to Aharon’s cave. The clouds of glory departed from about the camp of Yisrael.

 

21:1 And the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who dwelt in the South, heard tell that Israel came by the way of Atharim; and he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.

 

What did Melech Arad hear? He heard that the clouds of glory that were above the camp of Am Yisrael had departed. Canaan King? No, he was Amalek but pretended to be from Canaan. He thought the 700 meter above Sea Level decline to close to 400 meter below Sea Level would give him a height advantage over the Bnei Yisrael as he cowardly would try to pick off rear stranglers. But instead, like all bullies, he would meet his fate.

 

2 And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said: 'If Thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.' 3 And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities; and the name of the place was called Hormah.

 

Sometimes the fear of war scares people. They need fortification to stand up to the enemy Chezuk in Hebrew. Vowing the vow was the extra oomph (Chezuk) to over-come their fear of the war and do what they had to do for fighting Arad and the environs. 

 

4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became impatient because of the way.

 

By way of the Sea of Reeds. Since Aaron had died and this war had come upon them, they retreated by way of the Sea of Reeds, this being the way they had turned when the decree resulting from the report of the spies was decreed on them, as it says: “journey into the desert, toward the Sea of Reeds,” and now they traveled back seven stations, as it says: “The Israelites journeyed from the wells of Benei Yaakan to Moserah. There, Aaron died.” Did he then die at Moserah? Did he not die on Mount Hor? Scripture says that he died at Moserah only because upon their return there, they mourned for him and eulogized him as if he had died now in front of them. Go and check the account of their journeys and you will find seven stops from Moserah to Mount Hor. To circle Edom - for he did not allow them to pass through his land. The people became disheartened (lit.) in the journey- i.e., because of the exertion of the journey, which became too severe for them. They said: “We were now close to entering the land, and now we are turning back! Our fathers also turned back and spent 38 years in the desert until today!” Therefore, they became disheartened by the setbacks of the journey; in Old French: “encrut lor” (“it was too much for them”). It is not possible to say that וַתִּקְצַר נֶפֶשׁ הָעָם בַּדָּרֶךְ means: “the people became disheartened while they were on the journey,” without specifying from what they become disheartened, for wherever you find קִצּוּר נֶפֶשׁ “being disheartened” in Scripture, it is explained there from what they were disheartened, such as: וַתִּקְצַר נַפְשִׁי בָּהֶם “I was disheartened with them,” and such as: וַתִּקְצַר נַפְשׁוֹ בַּעֲמַל יִשְׂרָאֵל “He was disheartened by Israel’s trouble.” The term קִצּוּר נֶפֶשׁ (lit., “short of soul”) applies to anything too difficult for a person, like a person upon whom a burden comes and his mind is not broad enough to accept it, and he has no room in his heart for that pain to rest; for a bothersome entity is referred to as “large,” for it is too great and heavy for that person, as in: “their soul also swelled up within Me”– i.e., was too much for Me, and “It is so great that You hunt me as if I were a lion.” To sum up this explanation: anywhere the term קִצּוּר נֶפֶשׁ is used about a matter, it means that one cannot tolerate it, that the mind cannot bear it.

 

5 And the people spoke against God, and against Moses: 'Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loathes this light bread.'

 

They have been eating Mann for over 39 years. Most of the population never tasted bread or Matzo at all. Where does this complaint come from? It must have been from their parents who described fresh baked bread as the shewbread in the Mishkan they probably could not smell and only Cohanim could taste.

 

Against God and against Moses. They mistakenly equated the servant with his Master. Why have you brought us up? - implying that they are both equal. And we are weary. This term also denotes disheartening and disgust. Of this light bread. Because the manna was absorbed into their limbs, they called it “light,” saying, “This manna will eventually explode in our stomachs; can a human being ingest food and not expel any waste?”    

 

 6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7 And the people came to Moses, and said: 'We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that He take away the serpents from us.' And Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole; and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.'

 

People hissed at Moshe with forked tongues so they got snakes.

 

9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it upon the pole; and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked unto the serpent of brass, he lived. 10 And the children of Israel journeyed, and pitched in Oboth. 11 And they journeyed from Oboth, and pitched at Ije-abarim, in the wilderness which is in front of Moab, toward the sun-rising. 12 From thence they journeyed, and pitched in the valley of Zered. 13 From thence they journeyed, and pitched on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness, that cometh out of the border of the Amorites.--For Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites;

 

The Talmud asks “Does a brass serpent kill or cause to live?” Rather: “When the people turned their eyes heavenward and saw heaven above the staff with the serpent, only then could they be cured. But without remembering their FATHER IN HEAVEN they died.

 

14 wherefore it is said in the book of the Wars of the LORD: Vaheb in Suphah, and the valleys of Arnon, 15 And the slope of the valleys that inclines toward the seat of Ar, and leans upon the border of Moab.-- 16 And from thence to Beer; that is the well whereof the LORD said unto Moses: 'Gather the people together, and I will give them water.'

 

The pictures I have seen on the internet of Arnon is a waterfall and a run off or well below.

 

17 Then sang Israel this song: Spring up, O well--sing ye unto it-- 18 The well, which the princes dug, which the nobles of the people delved, with the sceptre, and with their staves. And from the wilderness to Mattanah; 19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel; and from Nahaliel to Bamoth; 20 and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab, by the top of Pisgah, which looks down upon the desert.

 

The song had some of stops in the desert so that the national would remember the journey for teaching even to their children.

 

21 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying: 22 'Let me pass through thy land; we will not turn aside into field, or into vineyard; we will not drink of the water of the wells; we will go by the king's highway, until we have passed thy border.'

 

We want only to use the kings highway to get from here to there.

 

23 And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border; but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz; and he fought against Israel.

 

He did not trust the Bnei Yisrael and he was a powerful nation on the main highway. So he viewed them as an invading force. The Midrash indicates that he had a defense treaty with Canaan that he would hold off an invasion from the east. Therefore, he would stop the Bnei Yisrael from invading Canaan.

 

24 And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon unto the Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon; for the border of the children of Ammon was strong. 25 And Israel took all these cities; and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the towns thereof. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto the Arnon. 27 Wherefore they that speak in parables say: Come ye to Heshbon! let the city of Sihon be built and established! 28 For a fire is gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon; it hath devoured Ar of Moab, the lords of the high places of Arnon. 29 Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh; he hath given his sons as fugitives, and his daughters into captivity, unto Sihon king of the Amorites. 30 We have shot at them--Heshbon is perished--even unto Dibon, and we have laid waste even unto Nophah, which reaches unto Medeba. 31 Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.

 

So the Bnei Yisrael conquered his land and took over his cities and the wealth and animals therein.

 

32 And Moses sent to spy out Jazer, and they took the towns thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there. 33 And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan; and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. 34 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Fear him not; for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.' 35 So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him remaining; and they possessed his land.

 

Og was a giant of a man. His bed size is mentioned in Devarim. I assume from that he might have been between 8 and 9 feet tall with room to stretch. People feared him for his size but with HASHEM was with Moshe and Yisrael and he was slain with his warriors and his cities conquered. They then went down from the Golan Heights and returned to where the camp with the women and children were for the two battles.

 

22:1 And the children of Israel journeyed, and pitched in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.

 

We shall see that during the last year of Moshe’s life and Yisrael’s journey, they ended up encamping in the plains of Moav opposite Yericho.

 

 

Parsha Balak

 

 

Why would HASHEM put a Parsha on the name of a wicked person like Balak Ben Tzipor? Because when he used divination about Am Yisrael with a tongue of a live bird (Tzipor) into a brass or metal idol bird, he released that the nation in his vicinity was a nation guided by HASHEM. Therefore, he turned to the prophet Bilaam, who was able to communicate directly with HASHEM and could curse or bless somebody with the help of the L-RD. His turning to HASHEM, even if he was up to no good, gave him the merit to have a Parsha on his name.

 

22:2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

 

Balak son of Tzipor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. Balak, being aware of the arrangement between the Canaanite kings and Sichon and Og, said to the Moabites: “These two kings, Sichon and Og, upon whom we relied to protect us from invaders, could not stand up to them; all the more is this true for us, should they attack us.” Therefore, upon realizing that their protectors were now gone, “Moab became terrified.”

 

3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many; and Moab was overcome with dread because of the children of Israel.

 

These fierce warriors could not be overcome in a battle. Balak did not know that they were incamping to push westward. He and Midian were afraid of the Bnei Yisrael expanding eastward.

 

4 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian: 'Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.'--And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.-- 5 And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying: 'Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt; behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me.

 

These people are millions and they are against me. Bilaam knows how to talk directly to HASHEM.

 

6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me; peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessed is blessed, and he whom thou cursed is cursed.' 7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spoke unto him the words of Balak.

 

We want you via HASHEM to curse them. Funny thing, the nations of the world have their idols, but when push comes to shove, they know how to turn to HASHEM. Unfortunately, some people from a stiffnecked nation can’t open up their eyes like a lowly idolater. WHY DO YOU THINK HAMAS INVADED? BECAUSE INSTEAD OF SIMCHAS TORAH THE SUPERNOVA FESTIVAL HAD A STATUE OF BUDDHA IN THE MIDDLE!!!

 

8 And he said unto them: 'Lodge here this night, and I will bring you back word, as the LORD may speak unto me'; and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 9 And God came unto Balaam, and said: 'What men are these with thee?'

 

This is to open up the conversation. Just as with Kayn there was a question “Where is your brother?” So, in our case, G-D is putting Bilaam at ease.

 

10 And Balaam said unto God: 'Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me [saying]: 11 Behold the people that is come out of Egypt, it covers the face of the earth; now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.'

 

He is talking straight to G-D as if HE is unaware of the fact. This is unlike Yacov or Dovid who sort of say, “Because of all your Chesed towards me, I am afraid that I have used up my merits and there will be no more Chesed.”

 

12 And God said unto Balaam: 'Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.'

 

You cannot go to curse them for they are blessed!

 

13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak: 'Get you into your land; for the LORD refuses to give me leave to go with you.'

 

His Bnei Yisrael hatred has blinded him and ruined his speech. So instead of say, “G-D said that the people are blessed therefore I cannot go.” He says basically that at this time I cannot go. Perhaps if he spoke the truth, Balak would have made a peace treaty with the Bnei Yisrael. But instead the fear and hatred will continue.

 

14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said: 'Balaam refuses to come with us.' 15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they. 16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him: 'Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor: Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me; 17 for I will promote thee unto very great honor, and whatsoever thou say unto me I will do; come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.'

 

This time, he sends instead of an ambassador a few ministers and greater wealth.

 

18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak: 'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do anything, small or great. 19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will speak unto me more.'

 

Bilaam had the chance to say they are blessed and therefore I cannot go. But his antisemitic hatred is so deeply rooted he continues onwards. (It is like the modern day Candice Owens. She was a nobody, whom Ben Shapiro build up into a name. Once she had a name for herself, she no lower needed Ben Shapiro and her antisemitism that was dormant became dominant.)

 

20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him: 'If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.'

 

G-D at first tries to stop a man from sinning, however, if he has fallen deep under the Yetzer HaRa, G-D will let him fall where his heart leads him. But since we are dealing with Am Yisrael, G-D is going to each Bilaam and Balak a lesson on who put speech into Bnei Adam.

 

21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. 22 And God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of the LORD placed himself in the way for an adversary against him.--Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.-- 23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field; and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

 

The dumb donkey sees the danger but Bilaam is blinded by antisemitism and going to try a curse a people that is blessed. He is doing the most illogical and ridiculous spiritual thing based on his original encounter with HASHEM, but still he goes in folly and makes it look like he has the power to curse.

 

24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a hollow way between the vineyards, a fence being on this side, and a fence on that side. 25 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD, and she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he smote her again.

 

The stones in the fence were left over from Gal-ed from the time of Yacov and Lavan. Since a descendant of Lavan was coming against a descendant of Yacov his leg banged into the stones.

 

26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD, and she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff.

 

He is furious at this behavior of the donkey.

 

28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam: 'What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?'

 

Three Regelim (times) against the three Regelim or going up by foot to Mishkan/Mikdash in Yerushalayim for the Yomim Tovim of Pesach, Shavuos and Sukkos.

 

29 And Balaam said unto the ass: 'Because thou hast mocked me; I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.' 30 And the ass said unto Balaam: 'Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy lifelong unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee?' And he said: 'Nay.'

 

The conversation also implies according to the Midrash that the donkey acted like a wife for Bilaam. He needs a sword against a poor donkey whom he used as a wife. Yet he comes to curse a blessed nation!

 

31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face. 32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him: 'Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is contrary unto me; 33 and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times; unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive.'

 

Since the donkey was not given speech and spoke, she died but had she continued moving in the way of the world, Bilaam would have died.

 

34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD: 'I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stood in the way against me; now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back.' 35 And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam: 'Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak.' So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

 

Now he realized as his donkey dies what a fool he has been. But now the angel tells him to continue but he is now a puppet in the hands of HASHEM.

 

36 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto Ir-Moav, which is on the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border. 37 And Balak said unto Balaam: 'Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore come thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor?' 38 And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Lo, I am come unto thee; have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.'

 

Now he is saying the truth, but it is deceiving to Balak for he thinks that Bilaam will curse and Bilaam knows they are blessed.

 

39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kiriat-huzoth. 40 And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. 41 And it came to pass in the morning that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into Bamoth-baal, and he saw from thence the utmost part of the people. 

 

From this spot, he could see the extent of the people.

 

23:1 And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.'

 

Seven altars with seven bulls and seven rams. Seven days of the week and therefore this is the reason.

 

2 And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 3 And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Stand by thy burnt-offering, and I will go; peradventure the LORD will come to meet me; and whatsoever He shows me I will tell thee.' And he went to a bare height. 4 And God met Balaam; and he said unto Him: 'I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar.'

 

He is speaking to G-D and telling G-D what is obvious.

 

5 And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said: 'Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.' 6 And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt-offering, he, and all the princes of Moab. 7 And he took up his parable, and said: From Aram Balak bringeth me, the king of Moab from the mountains of the East: 'Come, curse me Jacob, and come, execrate Israel.'

 

Curse Jacob for me, and come, invoke [God’s] wrath against Israel. He had told him to curse them referring to both their names, in case one of them is not distinct enough.

 

8 How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? And how shall I execrate, whom the LORD hath not execrated?

 

How can I curse whom God has not cursed - i.e., even when Israel ought to have been cursed, they were not cursed: When their father mentioned Simeon and Levi’s sin – “for in their anger they killed a man” –he cursed only their anger, as it says: “Cursed be their rage.” When their father Jacob came with cunning to his father, he deserved to be cursed, yet what does it say there? “He will indeed be blessed.” In the instructions for blessing them, it says: אֵלֶּה יַעַמְדוּ לְבָרֵךְ אֶת הָעָם “the following tribes will stand for the Levites to bless the people,” yet in the instructions for cursing it does not say: וְאֵלֶּה יַעַמְדוּ לְקַלֵּל אֶת הָעָם “and the following will stand…to curse the people,” but עַל הַקְּלָלָה “for the curse,” for He does not wish to describe the act of cursing as being directed at them. God has not been angered. My power is only that I can precisely determine the moment when the Holy One, blessed be He, is angry, but He has not been angry during all these days since I came to you. And this is the meaning of what it says: “My people, remember now what King Balak of Moab planned and what Balaam answered him…so that you may recognize the righteous deeds of God.”

 

9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, it is a people that shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. 10 Who hath counted the dust of Jacob, or numbered the stock of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let mine end be like his!

 

Who can count the dust of Jacob… “Dust” here means as Onkelos translates it: דַּעְדְקַיָּא דְבֵית יַעֲקֹב וכו׳ “Who can count the infants of the house of Jacob, about whom it is said: ‘They will be as numerous as the dust of the earth’?” His translation of רֹבַע יִשְׂרָאֵל is חֲדָא מֵאַרְבַּע מַשִּׁרְיָתָא – one of the four divisions of the Israelite camp. Another explanation of “the dust of Jacob”: One cannot calculate the commandments that they fulfill with dirt of the earth: “You must not plow with both a work-bull and a donkey,” “you must not sow your field with a mixture of species,” the ashes of the red cow, the dust used in the trial of the suspected adulteress, and other commandments similar to them. And the number (lit.) of a quarter of Israel - means: their copulations (רְבִיעוֹתֵיהֶן), i.e., the offspring produced by their marital relations. May my soul die the death of the upright - among them.

 

So in the end the soul of Bilaam wants to died a righteous death like an ordinary Ben Yisrael. [Ladies this also means Bas Yisrael.]

 

11 And Balak said unto Balaam: 'What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.' 12 And he answered and said: 'Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD puts in my mouth?'

 

I cannot speak for myself I speak for the L-RD of lords, KING of kings and I cannot turn to the left or the right to do anything else.

 

13 And Balak said unto him: 'Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them; thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all; and curse me them from thence.'

 

Maybe today, they have a lucky star or the place is good for them. Let’s look elsewhere for our antisemitism.

 

14 And he took him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar.

 

The names imply viewing spot on the top of the mountain.

 

15 And he said unto Balak: 'Stand here by thy burnt-offering, while I go toward a meeting yonder.' 16 And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said: 'Return unto Balak, and thus shalt thou speak.' 17 And he came to him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt-offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him: 'What hath the LORD spoken?' 18 And he took up his parable, and said: Arise, Balak, and hear; give ear unto me, thou son of Zippor: 19 God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: when He hath said, will He not do it? or when He hath spoken, will He not make it good? 20 Behold, I am bidden to bless; and when He hath blessed, I cannot call it back. 21 None hath beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath one seen perverseness in Israel; the LORD his God is with him, and the shouting for the King is among them.

 

He has not seen any iniquity in Jacob. Its meaning is as Onkelos translates it: “I have looked [and found that] there are no idolaters in Jacob.” Another explanation: According to its contextual meaning, it can be expounded with a fitting Midrash: The Holy One, blessed be He, does not look at any sin that Jacob possesses. When they transgress His words, He is not particular with them by paying attention to their iniquity and their perversity in contravening His law.

 

22 God who brought them forth out of Egypt is for them like the lofty horns of the wild-ox. 23 For there is no enchantment with Jacob, neither is there any divination with Israel; now is it said of Jacob and of Israel: 'What hath God wrought!'

 

Because there are no diviners in Jacob - i.e., they are worthy of blessing because there are no diviners of auspicious omens or soothsayers among them. Just like then, it will be said to Jacob…. i.e., in the future, there will again be a time when God’s affection for them will be manifest to all, just like it is at this time of the Giving of the Torah, for throughout the messianic age they will be seated before Him studying the Torah directly from Him, located closer to Him than His own ministering angels, and the angels will ask them: “What has God wrought?” About this it says: “and your eyes will see your Teacher.” Another explanation: יֵאָמֵר לְיַעֲקֹב is not in the future tense but in the present continuous: They have no need for diviners or soothsayers, for whenever Jacob and Israel must be told what the Holy One, blessed be He, has wrought and what He has decreed on High, they need not consult diviners or soothsayers; rather, what the Omnipresent has decreed is communicated to them directly by their prophets, or the urim and tumim inform them. Onkelos, however, did not translate it like this.

 

24 Behold a people that rises up as a lioness, and as a lion doth he lift himself up; he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain. 25 And Balak said unto Balaam: 'Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.' 26 But Balaam answered and said unto Balak: 'Told not I thee, saying: All that the LORD speak, that I must do?' 27 And Balak said unto Balaam: 'Come now, I will take thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.'

 

Change your place and change your Mazel (luck).

 

28 And Balak took Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looks down upon the desert. 29 And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.' 30 And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar. 24:1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; and the spirit of God came upon him. 3 And he took up his parable, and said: The saying of Balaam the son of Beor, and the saying of the man whose eye is opened;

 

As antisemitic as Bilaam was, he was not stupid. He might not have gotten the message in the dream or on the way with the donkey but after two times with intentions to curse, he now gave up and willing was able to bless.

 

4 The saying of him who heareth the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, fallen down, yet with opened eyes: 5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, thy dwellings, O Israel!

 

How good are your tents. He praised the tents because he saw that their openings did not face one another. “your encampments,” as Onkelos translates it, i.e., your organized division into tribes. Another explanation: מַה טֹּבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ – How good will be “the Tent (Sanctuary) of Shiloh” and the permanent Temple when they are established, for there they offer sacrifices to atone for themselves. They are beneficial even when they are destroyed, because they serve as collateral (מַשְׁכּוֹן) for them, such that their destruction achieves atonement even for capital offenses involving their very souls, as it says: “God used up His rage” – and how did He use it up? “He set fire to Zion.”

 

6 As valleys stretched out, as gardens by the river-side; as aloes planted of the LORD, as cedars beside the waters; 7 Water shall flow from his branches, and his seed shall be in many waters; and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. 8 God who brought him forth out of Egypt is for him like the lofty horns of the wild-ox; he shall eat up the nations that are his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them through with his arrows. 9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be every one that blessed thee, and cursed be every one that cursed thee.

 

Like a wild ox or rising lion you shall be blessed and everyone who curses you shall be cursed.

 

10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said unto Balaam: 'I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. 11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place; I thought to promote thee unto great honor; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honor.'

 

Each time instead of cursing them, you have blessed them.

 

12 And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Spoke I not also to thy messengers that thou didst send unto me, saying: 13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what the LORD speaks, that will I speak? 14 And now, behold, I go unto my people; come, and I will announce to thee what this people shall do to thy people in the end of days.'

 

He told him that if they get the Bnei Yisrael to do things in their fertility cult, the anger of the L-RD will be kindled against them and that in the end the Moshiach will come from a daughter of a Moav King. However, he did not foresee that Ruth would be modest and convert. He only saw a fuzzy picture of the future.

 

15 And he took up his parable, and said: The saying of Balaam the son of Beor, and the saying of the man whose eye is opened; 16 The saying of him who heareth the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, fallen down, yet with opened eyes: 17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh; there shall step forth a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite through the corners of Moab, and break down all the sons of Seth. 18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also, even his enemies, shall be a possession; while Israel doeth valiantly. 19 And out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city. 20 And he looked on Amalek, and took up his parable, and said: Amalek was the first of the nations; but his end shall come to destruction. 21 And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said: Though firm be thy dwelling-place, and though thy nest be set in the rock; 22 Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted; How long? Asshur shall carry thee away captive. 23 And he took up his parable, and said: Alas, who shall live after God hath appointed him? 24 But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, and they shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall come to destruction. 25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.

 

He went back to Aram from whence he came.

 

25:1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit harlotry with the daughters of Moab.

 

Now Moav-Midian let loose their fertility cult. These females were masters of allure. The Yeshiva type bumkin who had not learned of these types was so innocent to fall victim to them.

 

2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods; and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 3 And Israel joined himself unto the Baal of Peor; and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

 

They did not call for sacrifices but the way of worship was to defecate in front of the idol. The only public toilets had a statue of this idol in the place. They fed the men beets, spinach and other things that acted the medicine ex-lax.

 

4 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them up unto the LORD in face of the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.' 5 And Moses said unto the judges of Israel: 'Slay ye everyone his men that have joined themselves unto the Baal of Peor.'

 

These people who went whoring and worshipped idols had to be weeded out.

 

6 And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midian woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, while they were weeping at the door of the tent of meeting.

 

Now Zimri, price of Shimon, came before Moshe. He shouted, “You married a woman from Midian. So shall I.” The difference being that Yisro made a marriage before HASHEM and this was idolatry and lusting before an idol.

 

7 And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand. 8 And he went after the man of Israel into the chamber, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.

 

He went into the tent of Zimri and Cozbi in the middle of their relations. He stabbed them so that people could view what had taken place and the spear was strong enough and G-D gave him the strength to pull them out as they were still alive so as not to have contact with the dead. What a series of miracles and all of Yisrael could witness.

 

9 And those that died by the plague were twenty and four thousand.

 

These 24,000 came from the tribe of Shimon.

 

 

THE THREE WEEKS

 

 

Between the 17^th of Tammuz and the afternoon on the 10^th of Menachem Av there are three weeks of mourning for both the first and second Temples.

 

Haircuts are forbidden and many do not listen to any music during this period. Up to Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av it is permissible to get engaged. However, one should get a haircut prior to this period. It is permissible to pare or cut the nails for Shabbos. (Reminder per Segula [treasured secret] from the Talmud/Kabbalah one cuts the nail of the left ring finger or toe, the index nail, pinky, middle then left thumb followed by the right index, ring, thumb, middle and pinky) This is a spiritual help for one’s memory. The nail parings are gathered and either burnt or flushed down the toilet. Also one does not do the toes and fingers the same day. When it comes to Kabbalistic treasures, one has not more logic than the Parah Aduma and if you are a believer follow the rules. Just as in the army it is a good idea to follow the general’s orders so too it is a good idea to follow the rules given in the oral Torah to our teach Moshe.

 

In the course of the next few weeks some Halachos will be brought down. Including the fact that Erev Tisha B’Av will be Shabbos.

 

 

The Girl Who Refused to Die by Sarah Pachter

https://aish.com/the-girl-who-refused-to-die/

 

 

Judith Kallman fell into darkness—into hiding, into horror, into silence—but every time, she found her way back to life. This is her story of survival and strength.

 

Judith Kallman was born in Piešťany, Czechoslovakia, into a picture-perfect childhood. Her home was filled with the mouthwatering aromas of her mother’s cooking, and she and her siblings were always dressed in elegant, custom-made clothes. Each Friday night, their father would bless them with heartfelt warmth and love.

 

 “As the youngest child of six, my father would place me in his lap to bless me. I’d watch my mother cover her eyes while reciting the blessing over the candles. After, she would hug us and I would gaze into her loving eyes. Decades later, I can still bask in that look—and I wonder how she was able to hide her fear from us,” remembers Judith.

 

Then everything changed overnight.

 

One Friday evening, during a quiet Shabbat meal, a rock was hurled through their window, shattering their tranquility. That was the beginning of the end.

 

By the summer of 1940, the government had announced that all Jews were to be evicted from the country’s economic structures.

 

 “The safety of the world shrank daily…with each restriction set in place, the worries of my parents grew and their options narrowed.”

 

At first, her father used his connections to secure a hiding space for the family in the winter of 1941 in a peasant’s farmhouse.

 

One day, as soldiers came scouring the property for Jews, Judith and her family scurried to their hiding spot. Judith, only four years old, needed to go to the bathroom. Her mother adamantly refused, fearing the soldiers would spot her.

 

Eventually, she allowed Judith to use an outhouse designated for workers. It was a simple wooden shed, with a hole in the floor that hovered over a stream. A wooden plank was nailed across the hole to form the “seat.”

 

I didn’t think I was going to survive. I was trying to grab onto anything to get out of the sewage.

 

While climbing up towards the seat, Judith lost her balance and fell into the hole. Her small body became caught in the stream of sewage. Nearly drowning, she screamed but no one could hear her. The current kept pulling her under and she knew she couldn’t hold out for much longer.

 

 “I didn’t think I was going to survive,” Judith says, “but I had the will to live. I was trying to grab onto anything to get out of the sewage.”

 

Suddenly, Judith saw light seeping through the planks and she spotted a nail poking out. She managed to grab it and then another. Nail by nail she slowly lifted herself up out of the filth. She ran back to her hiding family and had to remain covered in sewage for hours until the soldiers left.

 

A few months later, the family was asked to leave the farm. They ran from place to place, hiding wherever they could. Eventually they landed in Zilina living with false papers as non-Jews, trying to make themselves invisible.

 

 “Mama taught us to light candles in our heart. We disguised who we were but we never denied our faith,” explained Judith.

 

While Judith and her family were hiding as gentiles, Nazis were paying locals to report hidden Jews to be rounded up by the thousands and be deported to Auschwitz.

 

Neighbors suspected Judith’s family was Jewish and reported them. The SS came to check their papers. While the children were at school, the SS arrested her parents for holding false papers.

 

Neighbors suspected Judith’s family was Jewish and reported them.

 

Three of Judith’s siblings were in school when the SS pounded on her parents’ door to check papers. Judith and two of her siblings watched the soldiers snatch the papers and examine them. “We’ll be back!” they barked.

 

While the SS was gone, Judith’s parents quickly brought Judith to her school and returned home. When the SS returned to the house, they arrested her parents and two remaining siblings for holding false papers. The SS knew that four children were missing. Judith and her siblings were now fugitives being hunted down by the SS.

 

After a few weeks, word got out that Judith’s parents would be deported on October 20, 1942. “The event was being publicized as a ‘picnic’ to attract a crowd of onlookers.”

 

Judith and her brother went to the railway station to try to find their parents. Not knowing that the train was headed to a death camp, the children decided they would try to join them. Judith saw her parents being shoved towards the cattle cars and began to scream.

 

Her father looked up, saw his children, and yelled, “‘Go away!”

 

Judith later learned that her father was offered an exemption to get off the train. But he refused to leave his wife and two children and all four were murdered in Auschwitz.

 

“My life stopped when the train pulled away with my parents. That day my childhood abruptly ended. For a while I believed that my parents would come back and get me, even after I learned where they had gone. This was my fantasy, one I held on to well into my teenage years, for I simply could not grasp the concept of never seeing my parents again.”

 

Their paternal aunt arranged for Judith and her remaining three siblings to find safety.

 

Keeping them together made it even more dangerous, so she and her brother were separated from her two siblings and traveled with a peasant guide by foot to her mother’s sister in Hungary. It was a long and arduous journey.

 

They finally arrived, shivering and exhausted, at the doorstep of the house in Budapest. Their aunt answered their knock and was shocked to see the children standing before her.

 

Because an edict stated that no one was allowed to take in fugitives, their aunt denied them entry. “She cried as she sent us away.”

 

Because an edict stated that no one was allowed to take in fugitives, their aunt denied them entry. “She cried as she sent us away.” Today, Judith does not harbor any anger towards her aunt and has fully forgiven her.

 

 “She survived the war, along with her children. I have no idea what my own choices would have been under such circumstances, so I cannot attempt to judge her. We were very real threats to my relatives’ survival.”

 

The peasant who brought them there had no intention of caring for the two children. “She brought us to a park in Budapest and left. It wasn’t her fault that her special delivery was rejected. She did what she thought was right.”

 

The siblings huddled together on the park bench, unsure of what to do next. Eventually, a policeman came over and spoke to them. When he heard them respond in Czech, he took them to the Conti Street Prison. The children were then used as entertainment for the other inmates. They were abused and tortured, unable to defend themselves. Judith described the jail as a “blessing disguised as Hell.”

 

Each day bled into the next and they wondered how they would survive. “What I remembered most was the horrible smell. It was a mix of corrupt odors, disease, filth, sweat, vermin, excrement, and death. The smells filled us with terror. Equally frightening was the way people grabbed at me when we were brought to the courtyard each day for some air and a bit of exercise.”

 

Judith was a beautiful child with blonde hair and big, green eyes. “I was used to being an object of attraction to adults, but not the kind of menacing, perverted, salacious attraction aimed at me in the repulsive hellhole…The men who scared me the most were the ones who seemed no longer human.”

 

Word got out to the Jewish community that orphaned children had been imprisoned. Miraculously, the children were extracted with the help of community leadership. They were adopted by Maurice and Ilonka Stern, a wealthy Jewish couple that were childless and owned a famous kosher restaurant in Budapest.

 

Life became secure once again for Judith and her brother. The Sterns loved them like they were their own.

 

Soon after, Hungary was invaded by the Nazis and the Jews were again being deported to Auschwitz.

 

But this dreamlike existence was short-lived. Soon after, Hungary was invaded by the Nazis and the Jews were again being deported to Auschwitz.

 

Judith was only seven years old when she had to again hide with her new family – this time in a glass factory, under the protection of the Swiss Red Cross. At one point, they were discovered and ordered to line up on the street. Soldiers began shooting people one by one. Judith anxiously held her adopted father’s hand tightly.

 

 “Don’t be scared,” he told her as his own voice quivered. But Judith had a plan. When my turn comes, she thought, I will make believe I am dead and lie on the floor.

 

Moments before the guns were aimed at her, out of nowhere, a Red Cross vehicle came careening around the corner, its occupant waving official papers, yelling at the soldiers to stop shooting.

 

Just like that, Judith’s life was spared again.

 

In May 1945, Budapest was liberated from the Germans. Shortly after the war, Mrs. Stern became sick and passed away. Her husband remarried a woman who did not want children. “She sent clear signals that I was not wanted and the marriage underscored that.”

 

Judith was sent to a Jewish orphanage in Czechoslovakia ran by the Vogel family. The Vogels were kind and generous, but housing the orphans put a strain on them financially. When nuns approached the Vogels and offered to let the children attend their Catholic school for free, they jumped at the opportunity.

 

In exchange for free tuition, the Jewish students were forced to attend Catholic Mass. Judith found herself crossing her heart in the name of the Holy Trinity.

 

In 1947, Rabbi Dr. Solomon Schoenfeld arrived at this Catholic school. He had been given Judith’s information and informed her that she would be joining his final Kindertransport to England.

 

Rabbi Schoenfeld rescued hundreds of children hidden in Christian institutions. He would visit monasteries hiding Jewish children. The nuns would claim that there were no Jewish children left. The Rabbi thanked them and began to leave, but as this Rabbi passed their bed frames he would loudly recite, “Shema Yisrael…” Many children heard his voice and joined in the prayer they remembered from their childhood. This was how he discovered these Jewish children and rescued them.

 

After several years of living in England, Judith discovered that her siblings were living in Israel and she wanted to join them.

 

She moved to a children’s village called Kfar Batya, run by Amit. She was one of the few English-speaking students and was tasked with touring donors and dignitaries, like Eleanor Roosevelt.

 

She transferred to a vocational school in Tel Aviv and continued her education, but she still volunteered for Amit. One day, a young philanthropist named Howard Alter came to visit, and Judith was asked to guide him. He was immediately smitten with her, but the feelings were not mutual. Howard did not give up.

 

On his way back home, Howard stopped over in Paris and sent designer sunglasses and a beautiful letter to Judith. He wrote that meeting her was the best thing that ever happened to him, and he hoped to correspond with her.

 

Over time, feelings developed between them both. They were eventually married in Israel, and Howard brought Judith back to America. Life in America was different but wonderful for Judith.

 

Together Judith and Howard raised three children but, shortly after her oldest son’s bar mitzvah, Howard passed away from skin cancer. Judith was only 36 years old.

 

Eventually, Judith remarried Irwin Kallman, a wonderful man who had two children of his own.

 

Over the past few decades, she had the honor of meeting all types of dignitaries and politicians, such as President Clinton, Golda Meir, President Herzog, among others. Never could she have imagined that God would extract her from such hellish experiences and bring her to heights of luxury and acclaim.

 

 “While I was in the jail cell, I could not see past the moment but, as a teen, I began to dream that my life would be better. I was seeking happiness, and I made up my mind that I would do everything in my power to achieve it.”

 

He, too, has since passed away. “I feel so blessed to have had two men who truly loved me with all their heart.”

 

After so much difficulty and loss, Judith describes her tools for resilience. “You must always have faith, whether you believe in God or not. You must overcome. You must think about tomorrow. Today may be cloudy, but tomorrow the clouds will disappear and the sun comes through. I always felt that whatever bad things were happening to me, God was with me. He was going to save me. I always looked forward and didn’t dwell on the negative in life.”

 

While Judith has tremendous faith, she also has lasting trauma. Whenever a police car pulls her over, she relives the fear.

 

Despite mourning so many in her life, Judith still has the courage to love others, and is cherished by her many children and grandchildren. “The pain can be overcome with love… I was going from country to country. I was going from orphanage to orphanage. I needed love. I was missing it. I realized that even if I didn’t have the security I needed as a child, at least I survived and could provide it to the ones I love. That too is a gift. That too is a victory.”

Click here to order Judith’s autobiography, A Candle in the Heart.

 

 

Solica: The Jewish Martyr of Morocco by Nissan Ratzlav Katz

https://aish.com/solica-the-jewish-martyr-of-morocco/

 

 

In Fez, Morocco, there is a large, beautiful, 200-year-old Jewish cemetery. Among the pristine white graves sits a blue-tinted tomb venerated by both Jews and non-Jews. It is that of a 17-year-old girl known as Solica Hagouel (Hatchuel) or Sol HaTzaddikah (“Sol the Righteous”), who was executed by Muslim authorities in 1834 for refusing to renounce her faith.

 

Solica’s tomb, with three green-topped turrets and a horseshoe arch, includes an epitaph in both French and Hebrew. The French version says:

 

 “Here lies Miss Solica Hatchuel, born in Tangier in 1817. Refusing to convert to the Islamic religion, Arabs killed her in Fez in 1834. She was torn from her family and the whole world misses this saintly girl.”

 

The Hebrew says:

 

 “The gravestone of the righteous Solica Hagouel, a virgin maiden who publicly sanctified the Name of Heaven and was martyred in the glorious city of Fez in the year 5594. Here she is buried. May her merit protect us. Amen, may it be God’s will.”

 

To properly understand Solica’s incredible story, we need to first place her life in its broader historical context.

 

Jewish life in Morocco, like in much of the Diaspora, swung between flourishing and persecution. One of its brighter chapters came under King Mohammed V, who reigned during World War II. Defying the Nazi-aligned Vichy regime, he refused to deport Morocco’s 225,000 Jews, protected their rights, and preserved their synagogues and cemeteries — a legacy honored decades later by Jews in New York.

 

But that legacy stands in contrast to earlier eras. Morocco’s first independent Muslim ruler, Idris I, violently suppressed Jews, while his son Idris II adopted a more tolerant stance, turning Fez into a hub of Jewish life. That stability shattered in 1033 with a massacre of 6,000 Jews under Abu’l Kamal Tamim. Persecution returned under the Almohads in the 12th century, forcing conversions and exiles. The Marinid dynasty that followed offered relative tolerance but confined Jews to walled ghettos, or mellahs.

 

Periodic violence continued — including mass killings in the 1400s — though Jews fleeing the Spanish Inquisition briefly revived Moroccan Jewish communities. Sultan Mawlay al-Yazid (1790–1792) renewed the brutal choice: convert to Islam or die. His successor, Sultan Moulay Abd al-Rahman, ruled from 1822 and enforced the standard discriminatory laws of dhimmi status, without curbing local persecution.

It was into this fraught world that Solica Hagouel was born — and where, at just 17, she would be asked to choose between Islam and death.

 

Solica (“Sol”) was the daughter of Haim and Simcha of Tangier, and little sister to Yissachar. Writing in 1863, the Romanian Jewish explorer Israel Joseph Benjamin said that her Arab neighbors thought it was “a sin that such a pearl should be in the possession of the Jews....” Similarly, the Spanish writer Eugenio María Romero wrote that Solica’s “surpassing charms gained her the homage of crowds of admirers, who thought themselves happy in obtaining even a passing sight of this prodigy of Nature’s work....”

 

Lalla Sol ha’tsaddiqa (Solica), by Prosper Trojman

 

Romero wrote one of the most detailed accounts of Solica’s final days, El Martirio de la Jóven Hachuel, ó, La Heroina Hebrea, after returning from a trip to Morocco. First published in 1837, it is based on interviews with Yissachar, Haim, Simcha, and other eyewitnesses. It is from this source that we will draw most of the story that follows.

 

Haim was a businessman, as was his son, while Simcha kept the family home running smoothly. In that role, she insisted her daughter Solica remain fully engaged in household chores and off the streets, which led to some strain in their relationship. In search of a sympathetic ear, the young 17-year-old found herself periodically visiting the home of a Muslim neighbor named Tahra Mesmudi and sharing what was on her mind and in her heart.

 

As Romero notes, “Amongst the Arabs, the conversion of an infidel (by which name they designate all those who do not conform to their creed) is esteemed an action in the highest degree meritorious. This conquest to their faith, therefore, they make wherever an opportunity is open to them, by the most indiscriminate and unscrupulous means….”

 

So Tahra took full advantage of Solica’s tears to suggest that salvation from her mother’s unfair treatment was to be found in conversion to Islam.

The innocent Solica refused, according to Jewish sources.

 

But that was not the end of Tahra’s efforts. She went to the pasha (governor) of Tangier and claimed that the young Jewish maiden was on the verge of accepting Islam – if only she could be removed from the influence of her family. A soldier was immediately sent to tear the girl away from her parents and bring her before the pasha.

 

In a private audience, the pasha declared, “The great Allah has sent forth a ray from his transcendent light to win you to his religion, and to turn you from the errors of your own. This hour gives birth to your happiness.”

 

When Solica remained silent, the pasha was surprised and confronted her with Tahra’s claims regarding her desire to convert to Islam and gain his protection.

 

With characteristic forthrightness, Solica responded: “You have been deceived, sir. Never did I express such a wish. Never did I yield to the entreaties and proposals of Tahra Mesmudi. I was born a Hebrew and a Hebrew I desire to die.”

 

The pasha would not be appeased. Based solely on the Muslim woman’s testimony, he declared Solica “convicted of a crime that death itself could scarce atone for.” However, he sent her to be confined in his own opulent residence, hoping his family and their wealth would make an impression on the young Jewish woman.

 

For three days, members of the pasha’s household tried to coax Solica with promises of a rich, powerful husband, a thousand slaves, and “all the precious things of Asia and Arabia” if she would but convert to Islam.

 

Still she refused. “Never will I abandon my God.”

 

Hearing of her response, the pasha again ordered Solica to be brought before him. If the carrot would not work, perhaps the stick would.

 

 “I will load you with chains,” he threatened. “You will be torn by wild beasts and see no more the light of day. You will lie, perishing with hunger, and lamenting the rigor of my anger and indignation, for you have provoked the wrath of the Prophet, and slighted his laws.”

 

Solica replied, “I will submit tranquilly to the weight of your chains. I will allow my limbs to be torn asunder by wild beasts. I will renounce forever the light of day. I will die of hunger. And when every torture you can command has been endured, I will scorn your anger and the wrath of the Prophet since they are unable to conquer even a weak woman, and do but show your impotence in the sight of Heaven, whose strength you boast, to gain one proselyte to your creed.”

 

With that, the pasha condemned her to a dungeon on the edge of town. A narrow window in her tiny cell overlooked the street and it was through this that Solica one day heard the desperate voices of her parents. She called out to them and quickly reached through the bars to grasp their hands, weeping bitterly.

 

After some time, Haim and Simcha gently asked if Solica intended to accept Islam.

 

 “Never!” she answered, saying that she regarded her suffering to be atonement for failing to respect her mother.

 

Bribing the Muslim guard to look the other way, Haim, Simcha and Yissachar spent the nights speaking with Solica through the bars.

 

Romero describes the scene poetically:

 

 “Who shall describe these afflicting interviews? Tears, sighs, broken words, every emotion of love and pity succeeded each other in quick succession; but the night vanished as rapidly as the day had wearily withdrawn, and the moment of separation arrived – the Muhammadan prison-keeper admonishing them to depart. They did so, torn with emotions that none but those who have loved, none but those who have suffered, none but those who are parents, can comprehend, and this night, and the day that followed, were spent in grief and agony.”

 

Solica once again refused to convert to Islam, the pasha ordered further torture. Chains bound her hands and feet, an iron collar was placed around her neck, and she was dragged to a dark, dank subterranean cell. Though she was in constant pain, unable to stand, and her only bed was the damp ground, Solica was not broken.

 

In the meantime, the Hagouel family sought the assistance of anyone and everyone who could help get their daughter released. Eventually, they approached the Spanish vice-consul in Tangier, Don José Rico, who was touched by the suffering of the teenage captive. He petitioned the pasha on her behalf, noting ominously that the public was already very agitated over Solica’s fate.

 

The pasha, for his part, said that the matter was out of his hands. The Sultan of Morocco himself, Moulay Abd al-Rahman, had taken an interest in the case and demanded that Solica be brought before him in Fez. The pasha then called in Haim Hagouel, informed him of the situation, and coldly demanded that he pay the costs of transporting (and possibly executing) his imprisoned daughter. Hearing this, the righteous José Rico paid the required sum.

 

Five soldiers were assigned to convey that one young Jewish woman to her fate. But there was another, undercover escort as well. The family had hired a man to travel along with the odd caravan and keep an eye on Solica.

 

As Romero wrote, “About three miles of the journey were completed when there encountered them, as though by accident, a man who joined himself to the travelers.” Saying he was a trader on his way to Fez, he feigned interest in the prisoner’s story and even appealed to her to embrace Islam “as he himself had done.” But the supposed trader revealed to Solica through hand signals and Hebrew expressions the true goal of his presence there, while she asked him to convey her love and concern to her parents.”

 

All who saw the prisoner on the road, and were made acquainted with the particulars of her situation, earnestly exhorted and even implored her to become a proselyte to their faith,” according to Romero. “She heard them with quiet diffidence, and replied modestly to all the arguments directed to her that she would rather sacrifice her life than change her religion. So much courageous perseverance was the admiration of all who conversed with her, and her situation excited the greatest interest and sympathy wherever she passed.”

 

After six days, the entourage arrived in Fez and Solica was taken to the women’s quarters in the royal palace to rest, bathe, and prepare to meet the Sultan. After questioning the prisoner, the Sultan appointed a qadi (a judge in Islamic law) to rule on the obstinate Jew’s case. The qadi, realizing that intimidation by Muslims would not work, summoned a delegation of local rabbis to appeal to the girl. He added a threat of his own against the local Jewish community for good measure. One version of the rabbis’ interaction with Solica says that they indeed suggested she pretend to convert, while another version has it that they encouraged her to remain faithful to Judaism. In any case, she once again refused her captors’ exhortations.

 

Before the qadi announced his ruling, one of the Sultan’s sons was reportedly so taken by Solica’s beauty that he intervened to offer her the option of marrying him and becoming a princess – on the familiar condition that she accept Islam.

 

Yet again, Solica rejected the offer and said she would not betray her God.

 

The execution order was handed down immediately thereafter. Solica was to be publicly beheaded in the center of Fez. Romero described the atmosphere: “The Moors, whose religious fanaticism is indescribable, prepared, with their accustomed joy, to witness the horrid scene. The Jews of the city... were moved with the deepest sorrow, but they could do nothing to avert it.”

 

Before landing the fatal blow, the executioner used his blade to draw a little blood and then offered Solica one last chance to convert.

 

 “Do not make me linger. Behead me at once,” the brave young woman called out, “for dying as I do, innocent of any crime, the God of Abraham will avenge my death!”

 

Solica HaTzaddikah was brutally martyred in 1834, but her legacy lives on in many ways. First and foremost in the many people around the world who carry her name and descend from the Hagouel family of Morocco. They may be called Sol or Solica and bear the family name Hagouel, Hatchuel or even the English-sounding Hatchwell.

 

Arab and Berber Moroccans refer to the Jewish teenager as Lalla Solica (“the holy lady Solica”) and believe that her tomb has the power to bring healing and fertility to the afflicted. For Jews, of course, the tomb is a site of prayer and veneration spanning generations.

 

Over the years, Solica’s story has been captured in various artistic and literary forms. While Romero’s account is a 19th-century documentary, there have also been novelizations, poems, ballads, artwork, and stage performances in a variety of languages commemorating her self-sacrifice.

 

The Jews of Morocco were a frequent subject of the mid-19th-century French artist Alfred Dehodencq, who lived in North Africa for an extended period of time. One of his most well-known paintings is called Exécution d'une juive, au Maroc (“Execution of a Jewess in Morocco”), of which he created multiple versions. Many art historians and scholars believe it was inspired by Solica’s well-known martyrdom, as it was being told and retold among the Jewish and Arab Moroccans he met.

 

 

Mark Goldstein Published this AI Story about power of prayer on a Facebook Group. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXtpxEXPaQU

 

Also on Parsha Balak: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZDZPHvHffM

 

 

The Telegram that saved a Life by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles

https://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1439-41

 

 

On Yud-Beis (12th)Tammuz 5687 (1927), the Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, R. Yosef-Yitzchak ('HaRayatz') Schneersohn, was released from prison in Stalinist Russia. Ever since then, the date has been celebrated as a major holiday among Chabad-Lubavitch chasidim.[1]

 

Rabbi Berel Baumgarten always cherished this occasion. He himself was very close to the Rebbe Rayatz, and in the 1940's completed many missions according to the Rebbe's directives.

 

In 1955 the son-in-law and successor of the Rebbe Rayatz, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, sent R. Baumgarten to be the first Chabad representative in Argentina. During his 23 years there, he often made the long journey to the USA specifically to spend 12-13 Tammuz at 770 [Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, Lubavitch World Headquarters). The highlight always was being part of the packed congregation of thousands, participating in the Rebbe's special farbrengen for Yud-Beis Tammuz. In those years that he was unable to fly, he used the holiday as an opportunity to spread awareness of Chasidism and the Rebbe to his fellow Jews in Argentina.

 

One year, however, he was forced to travel from Argentina to Brazil, and realized that on Yud-Beis Tammuz he would be in the middle of his trip. Disturbed at the prospect of spending this auspicious date far from anyone with whom he could share his feelings, he sent a telegram to the office at 770 before he left home, asking to be remembered by the Rebbe on that date.

 

While in Brazil, in order to reach his destination Rabbi Baumgarten had to cross the Iguacu River by ferry -- a boat with an open deck covered by an awning, with several heavy-duty rafts tied together to carry cars and cargo. Together with several others, the rabbi followed instructions and drove his car onto the raft.

 

As soon as the cars were parked, he and the others left their vehicles and enjoyed the fresh air beneath the awning. He was happy to find that two of his fellow passengers were Jews. But his joy soon turned to consternation when he discovered that the two were totally alienated from their heritage, and had no desire to hear about Jewish practice or ideas. One of them brazenly flaunted a ham sandwich before him, making it clear how little Judaism meant to him.

 

Feeling that further conversation would be futile, and offended by their actions, Rabbi B. returned to his car and opened his books to study.

 

Suddenly, there was a powerful jolt -- a banana boat had slammed into the raft! Huge beams that had been piled in a corner of the raft began tumbling down, pushing cars off the raft and into the Iguacu River. To his shock, his own car also began to move. He slammed his foot on the brake, but was powerless to stop the car's forward motion. It too crashed into the waves and started to sink!

 

R. Berel Baumgarten was a big man, over six feet tall and more than 250 pounds. Yet, as large and strong as he was, he couldn't open the car door; the water pressure was simply too great. suddenly the door opened--how? he never understood--and he found himself out of the car and in the water, slowly rising upward.

 

His troubles, however, were far from over. Yes, he had escaped the sinking vehicle, but R. Baumgarten had never learned to swim! Frantically kicking and flailing his arms for what seemed like hours, he was at the end of his strength when his head suddenly broke through to the surface.

 

Exhausted, he could only bob helplessly up and down; he couldn't figure out what was keeping him afloat, but there he was. Between waves, he could see the raft close by, but was powerless to move towards it.

 

To make matters even worse, he could hear a rumbling thunder in the distance, and realized with horror that the river's powerful current was beginning to pull him away from the raft, and towards a waterfall!

 

As the white water crashed over him and he was unsure if he would survive, he pictured the Rebbe's face before his eyes Then he looked up towards shore and B'H, he saw a man there about to heave a life-preserver in his direction. It splashed into the river just within reach.

 

He grabbed the life-preserver and drew it close. He tried to put it over his upper body, but was unable to. He simply was too broad. Though his strength was giving out, he realized there was no alternative; he would have to hold on by hand.

 

After he had been hauled into the raft and was able to regain his composure, the two Jews whom he had met previously approached him, overcome with remorse. They acknowledged it was because of them that the rabbi had returned to his car. They apologized for their previous conduct. Not only that, the man who had flaunted the sandwich even promised to keep kosher from that time onward!

 

After Rabbi Baumgarten reached the far shore, he began to contemplate his situation. He had no explanation for the life-saving miracles that had occurred.

 

Days later, he was able to gain clarity. Someone who overheard told him that during that year's Yud-Beis Tammuz farbrengen, the Rebbe had turned to Berel's brother, Rabbi Mendel Baumgarten, and asked "Where is Berel?" He also instructed him to toast l'chaim.

 

When Reb Berel heard this, he sped to his brother to ask what time this occurred. Calculating the difference in time-zones, he realized that the Rebbe must have been reading the telegram at precisely the time that his car had been dislodged from the raft and he had been under water!

 

All these calculations, however, came later; at the moment, alive but stranded, he had more immediate concerns. His personal belongings had all been lost with the car, and he was far from any Jewish community. Where would he find a Tallis and tefillin with which to pray?

 

In Brazil [and in all of the southern hemisphere], the Jewish month of Tammuz falls in the winter and the days are short. R. Baumgarten found that there was a small airport nearby, but no flights were scheduled until late afternoon; he would not be able to reach another city before sunset. He did not know what to do, being unable to conceive of letting the day pass without putting on tefillin.

 

He inquired about hiring a private plane. Although the cost was exorbitant, he was able to find a pilot who could fly him to another city before sunset. He sent a telegram to the leaders of the Jewish community there, asking them to meet him at the airport with tefillin.

 

There was a mix-up in communications, however, and no one greeted the desperate rabbi at the airport. With less than an hour left before nightfall, he grabbed a cab and told him to hurry to the nearest synagogue. Unfortunately, night fell before he could get there. Broken-hearted, he stopped the cab, sat down on a nearby park bench and cried.

 

At his next yechidus (private meeting), he asked the Rebbe how he could atone for not putting on tefillin that day. Before answering his question, the Rebbe looked up at him and asked: "Well, did I think about you? Yes or no?"

 

He then instructed Rabbi Baumgarten to study the laws of tefillin in the Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch, and the discourses in chasidic thought that speak about the subjugation of heart and mind, the spiritual message associated with the mitzvah of tefillin.

 

Rabbi Baumgarten lamented that a pocket-sized Siddur and Tanya which he had been given by the Rebbe were now at the bottom of the Iguacu River. "Could the Rebbe please replace them?" he asked.

 

"Why? Is it my fault?" replied the Rebbe with a soft smile.

 

"And am I to blame?" replied Reb Berel.

 

To this the Rebbe smiled broadly, removed from a drawer in his desk a Siddur and a Tanya, and handed them to Rabbi Baumgarten.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from "To Know and to Care" by Rabbi Eliyahu and Malka Touger, vol. 2, ch.13. and expanded with two paragraphs near the end from a feature article in Derher Magazine.

Why this Week? Yud-Beis (12th) Tammuz, the celebration of the release from prison in Stalinist Russia of the Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef-Yitzchak ('HaRayatz') Schneersohn, this year will start this year on Monday July 7, sunset, until Wednesday nightfall, July 9.

Biographic note:
Rabbi Shalom-DovBer "Berel" Baumgarten [25 Menachem-Av 5682 (August 1922) - 16 Adar 5738 (March 1978)], a native New Yorker, was 'drafted' by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1955 to be the first Chabad emissary to Argentina, where he served energetically, faithfully and with great success for 23 years, until he died of a sudden stroke at the young age of 56. He is buried in Montefiore Cemetery in Queens, NY, three rows behind the Rebbe.

Testimonial (extracted and rewritten from "How Chabad Took Root in Argentina: The-Early-Years" on Chabad.org):
Throughout his years in Argentina, Rabbi Baumgarten would serve as a rosh yeshiva, a school teacher, a rabbi, and the chaplain of a Jewish senior home and orphanage. Thus, he had a vast impact on the spiritual and material life of Argentine Jewry. His genuine chasidic joy and warmth, coupled with his breadth of Torah scholarship, made him a magnet for Argentine Jews wherever he went and left a lasting impression.

After Reb Berel's passing in 1978, Argentine native Rabbi Tzvi Grunblatt returned to the country with his wife, Sterna, to take his place as chief Chabad emissary. Under his stewardship, Chabad of Argentina has grown to become a network of 52 synagogues, schools and social-service organizations.

It was as a child that Grunblatt first encountered Chabad in the form of Rabbi Baumgarten, a looming, bearded American chasid who looked out of place on the streets of Buenos Aires. "When the Jews here saw him," attests Grunblatt, "they looked at him as an angel from G D; they had never seen someone like him."

Indeed, nearly all of the Chabad representatives in that first generation grew up and were trained under the tutelage of Rabbi Berel Baumgarten.

Footnote: [1] For more information on this annual chasidic celebration, see stories #555 & 1021, in the ASCENT story archives, or go to Chabad.org.

 

 

Milestone: S. Daniel Abraham, 100, an American billionaire who grew his fortune on his diet company Slim-Fast Foods and spent his life advocating for peace between Israel and its neighbors in the Middle East, died on June 29. https://www.timesofisrael.com/s-daniel-abraham-slim-fast-inventor-who-advocated-for-mideast-peace-dies-at-100/

 

 

Inyanay Diyoma

 

 

July 5^th and 6^th

 

Day 638 and Day 639 start of week 92

 

I was listening to Keith Segal about the hostages. I keep thinking that we have a ceasefire with Lebanon and Iran and from time to time, we deal with things quietly or openly. So why can’t we do the same with Gaza and bring the 20 live people home along with the 30 bodies? We lost 20 young men in June and many wounded for the 20 live hostages and already three men died in July. How much longer must the 20 and the families suffer?

 

The Puma armored personnel carrier is a tank from WWII not designed against RPG’s or terrorists on semi-suicide missions with grenades to be thrown into hatches. There are new APCs but the right hand of the army has to coordinate with the left hand side to replace the old Pumas.

 

Last week, there was a news item of a MD who in cooperation with the Weitzman Institute found a cure for his daughter’s genetic disease. Only 38 individual suffer from the disease so that Big Pharma has no reason to produce a vaccine. He went to “Hovshit Yad” and need 10,000,000 NIS for a cure for the few individuals. Sofar, he raised 5,500,000 Shekels. Today we googled in Hebrew the name and donated too.

 

I am going to the tragedy in TX prior to the news that remained from Friday in Italics. 850 rescued, 27 children from Camp Mystic founded 1926 missing.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/toll-in-texas-floods-rises-to-at-least-51-amid-desperate-search-for-missing-campers/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/1-killed-1-hurt-in-separate-israeli-strikes-in-south-lebanon-officials-say/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/drone-downed-near-iraqi-kurdistan-airport-where-us-led-coalition-troops-are-based/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-sends-team-to-qatar-for-hostage-talks-but-says-hamas-demands-unacceptable/

 

News that I learned of after I wrote the above prior to the publication of the blogspot.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/27/africa/trump-drc-rwanda-peace-deal-intl

 

Sergeant Yair Eliyahu, aged 19, from Ezer, a Combat Engineering soldier in the Northern Brigade, fell during combat in the northern Gaza Strip, it was cleared for publication Friday morning. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411132

 

Just before Sundown on Friday we lost another soldier in Southern Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411148

 

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar informed the Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk, yesterday (Thursday), that he had instructed his ministry to provide Ukraine, through MASHAV (Israel’s national aid agency within the Foreign Ministry), with an aid package that will provide drinking water systems to serve hundreds of thousands of people in areas affected by Russian bombings. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411134

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/security-forces-nab-3-terror-cell-members-they-say-were-planning-imminent-attack/

 

Dead Sea Houthi missile sirens: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-860083

 

https://www.foxnews.com/us/subway-riders-deliver-street-justice-brute-who-grabbed-screaming-woman-platform

 

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/elon-musk-launches-america-party-after-trump-signs-historic-spending-bill-waste-graft

 

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dhs-several-criminal-illegal-aliens-deported-south-sudan-after-delays-from-activist-judges

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-reportedly-cancels-probe-into-pro-qatari-lobbyist-and-qatargate-suspect-footlik/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/asked-about-normalization-with-israel-saudi-fm-says-gaza-ceasefire-takes-priority/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/wildfires-rage-in-syria-for-3rd-day-with-conditions-made-worse-by-unexploded-munitions/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-indicted-for-mothers-murder-suspected-of-killing-patient-at-jerusalem-psych-hospital/

 

Old Syrian Army Posts demolished. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411210

 

The political-security cabinet approved the creation of humanitarian aid zones in Gaza, designed to separate the population from Hamas. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411184

 

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced on Friday that it has withdrawn its inspectors from Iran due to safety concerns. The move comes after Iran suspended cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog earlier this week.

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411144

 

Hamas Naval Commander eliminated: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411214

 

AD: 104F=40C in a tent soldiers. "We just got back from a 12-hour sweep. It's 104°F in this tent. No air, just heat. We're drenched in sweat, trying to rest, but it's like lying in an oven. If someone out there can send us an AC… I don't even know you, but I'll never forget it. We need this. Badly." Been there done that in an adobe type building less air than a tent. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411205

 

An attempt on Friday Night to burn Jews in Prayer: Jewish communities across Australia are experiencing heightened fear and distress following a sharp rise in anti-Semitic incidents in recent months. Community members describe a “relentless” wave of hatred that has targeted children, schools, and places of worship. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411218 https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-charged-with-setting-fire-to-melbourne-synagogue-as-police-probe-terror-motive/

 

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Sunday that a commercial vessel came under attack in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen near the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeida. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411215

 

Spin and deception: Channel 12 Arab affairs correspondent Ohad Hemo expressed strong skepticism on Sunday regarding recent claims that five sheikhs from Hebron proposed establishing a sovereign emirate in the city. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the sheikhs allegedly suggested cutting ties with the Palestinian Authority, aligning with the Abraham Accords, and forming an independent governing body. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411216

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/report-5-idf-bases-were-struck-by-ballistic-missiles-during-israel-iran-war/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/freed-hostage-ofer-calderon-recounts-trauma-of-learning-2-children-also-captive-in-gaza/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/court-said-to-approve-moms-request-to-use-fallen-soldier-sons-sperm-to-have-grandchild/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/britain-reestablishes-full-syria-ties-as-foreign-secretary-visits-damascus/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/gazas-life-saving-generators-face-sputtering-halt-as-fuel-blockade-enters-fifth-month/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-says-he-didnt-know-shylocks-antisemitic-history-when-he-used-term-at-rally/

 

Meuhedet Health Services has launched a new artificial intelligence system designed to revolutionize how members interact with their HMO. The service, Meuhedet AI, enables members to ask questions, receive information, and perform medical-related tasks explained in simple terms, without navigating complex menus or seeking where to look. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-859774

 

Ukraine-Russia: https://www.jpost.com/international/internationalrussia-ukraine-war/article-860145

 

A comprehensive report on the sexual violence committed by Hamas terrorists will be published on Tuesday, 21 months after the October 7 massacre. According to the Sunday Times, the report prepared by the Dinah Project, dedicated to deal with the world's silence about the sexual atrocities that day, found they were "widespread and systematic" and included rape, and gang rape in at least six locations along the Israel-Gaza border. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hjp11f6wsex#autoplay

 

Successor Terrorist could be released. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/syqr9rdsxg

 

Company that shaped hi-tech turns 100. https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/sjfm3twbel

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-us-blame-hamas-for-grenade-attack-on-gaza-humanitarian-foundation-workers/

 

July 7^th

 

Swords of Iron Day 640 already 19 months

 

A few words of faith regarding the Texas Flood in which more than eighty people died. https://www.jpost.com/environment-and-climate-change/article-860191

An Atheist will tell you global warming or freaky Nature. Instead of 1.27 average inches of rain in July there was 13.5 inches in a 48hour period.

 

In Psalms (Tehillim) it says 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it; except the LORD keep the city, the watchman wakes but in vain. It is not our place to question why as the soul is eternal and has certain achievements and tasks to complete in each ‘life’ cycle and when complete is gathered back to the source. Spiritually it is moving from that neighbor to this neighborhood but in the physical world of today it is devastating. For a family who lost a loved one or one of 883 soldiers that died since Oct.7^th or the man who committed suicide this morning from PTSD it is horrendous. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-860189

 

What is Nature or Teva in Hebrew. Teva is in Gematria (Numerology) Tet = 9 Ayin = 70 Bet = 2 and Hey = 5 a total of 86. 86 just happens to be the Gematria of ELOKIM. I use K instead of H in case people print and discard this blog. Yes it is Nature but then again what is Nature? No other than the will of G-D.

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/heading-to-dc-netanyahu-seeks-gaza-deal-on-our-terms-vows-hamas-will-be-destroyed/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-carries-out-strikes-on-houthi-controlled-ports-power-station-across-yemen/

 

The Houthis fire back two missiles. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411239

 

Trump thinks there is a good chance for a deal this week. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411236

 

Hamas's internal security "deterrence" unit announced it carried out a series of "high-quality" operations last week, during which 12 individuals were executed for alleged collaboration with Israel and involvement in criminal activity. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411238

 

Taiwan’s representative in Israel, Abby Ya-Ping Lee, arrived this morning (Sunday) together with MK Ohad Tal of the Religious Zionism party for a tour of the Binyamin Regional Council. She met with Binyamin Regional Council Governor and Chairman of the Yesha Council, Yisrael Ganz. On behalf of her country, she presented a financial donation to the Nanasi Medical Center, currently under construction in Shaar Binyamin. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411231

 

According to Yaari, Hamas currently finds itself “in a vortex of chaos and confusion,” grappling with internal power struggles of a kind not seen since the terror group’s founding in late 1987. Despite the dysfunction, Yaari believes there is still a potential path for the return of hostages. However, he cautioned that the second phase of the process—transitioning from a ceasefire to discussions on dismantling Hamas' armed wing and establishing new governance arrangements in Gaza—could prove to be a significant stumbling block. “These are two issues that could require an enormous amount of time, with no guarantee that agreements can be reached,” he warned. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411208

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/04/new-poll-majority-of-nyc-voters-less-likely-to-support-mamdani-over-his-refusal-to-condemn-globalize-the-intifada/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/04/university-of-california-bans-student-government-boycotts-of-israel-in-blow-to-bds/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/04/american-jews-and-jews-around-the-world-need-to-wake-up/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-badly-hurt-in-herzliya-grenade-blast-police-link-incident-to-organized-crime/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/nvidia-plans-to-boost-presence-in-israel-with-massive-tech-campus-in-north/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/government-panel-backs-bill-stripping-ag-of-authority-over-ministry-legal-advisers/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/haredim-shown-watered-down-conscription-bill-as-idf-set-to-crack-down-on-draft-dodgers/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/just-as-residents-return-gazan-projectile-hits-kibbutz-nirim-causing-no-injuries/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/like-previous-trips-netanyahus-white-house-visit-may-not-be-smooth-sailing/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/cabinet-approves-plan-to-let-more-aid-into-northern-gaza-over-hardliner-protests/

 

July 8^th

 

Swords of Iron Day 641

 

Besides a personal trainer I had other things to do today so delayed a bit.

 

The death toll rises 888 soldiers killed in action as 5 more die a scout and four Charedi Soldiers. When  you hear of a scout killed that means that these fellows were opening up the path. The rescue vehicle with the Medics came under fire and 14more injured in the extraction process. https://www.timesofisrael.com/5-idf-soldiers-killed-14-injured-by-roadside-bomb-in-northern-gaza/

 

I’m wounded but we won’t break. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411307

 

The tragedy in Texas has more rain and the death toll at least 104 with more missing and 30 bodies still unidentified. https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/texas-floods-latest-updates-july-7

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/family-demands-ptsd-sufferer-who-took-his-life-be-recognized-as-fallen-soldier/

 

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/israeli-prime-minister-answers-whether-he-worried-about-being-jailed-nyc-zohran-mamdani

 

https://www.foxnews.com/us/parents-desperate-chase-foils-brooklyn-kidnappers-sinister-plot

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/group-of-europe-based-imams-visits-israel-bearing-message-of-peace/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/07/uk-lawyers-report-roger-waters-to-counterterrorism-police-for-supporting-palestine-action-terrorist-group/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/07/iran-president-accuses-israel-of-assassination-attempt-in-interview-with-tucker-carlson/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/katz-calls-for-confining-all-gazans-in-humanitarian-city-built-over-rafahs-ruins/

 

Israel is at the forefront of treating Alzheimer’s Disease with newly approved drugs that slow the disease’s progression—but only for patients who can afford the steep price tag. The groundbreaking medications, which are not covered by the national health basket, can cost up to NIS 13,000 (roughly $3,500) per month, leaving most patients without access to them. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/syrg6kysgl

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-said-to-expect-us-backing-for-future-strikes-on-iran-if-it-revives-nuclear-program/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-revokes-terror-label-for-syrias-hayat-tahrir-al-sham-which-toppled-assad/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-envoy-unbelievably-satisfied-with-lebanese-response-on-disarming-hezbollah/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-yorks-barnard-college-settles-antisemitism-lawsuit-filed-by-jewish-students/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/ag-says-governments-new-method-for-firing-her-is-fundamentally-illegal/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/yemens-houthi-rebels-claim-cargo-ship-they-attacked-sunday-has-sunk/

 

The IDF struck and eliminated the terrorist Ali Abd al-Hassan Haidar, a commander in Hezbollah's 'Radwan Force', on Monday in the area of Deir Kifa in southern Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411313

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/lufthansa-carrier-group-to-resume-flying-to-israel-starting-august-1/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/coalition-pulls-all-legislation-after-haredi-parties-mutiny-over-conscription-bill/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/australias-victoria-to-launch-anti-hate-task-force-after-melbourne-synagogue-arson/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/tel-aviv-ranked-8th-most-expensive-place-to-buy-home-in-report-on-worlds-key-cities/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-to-put-25-tariffs-on-japan-and-south-korea-new-import-taxes-on-5-other-nations/

 

Hard-right lawmakers are advancing a far-reaching bill to allow police more discretion in probing suspected incitement, while chipping away at state attorneys’ oversight of investigations into such cases. https://www.timesofisrael.com/far-right-mks-push-bill-allowing-police-to-probe-incitement-without-state-attorneys-go-ahead/

 

Israel preparing for more daring Hamas attacks. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411306

 

https://www.foxnews.com/us/ice-agents-targeted-2-ambush-attacks-recent-days

 

AI impersonation of Marco Rubio. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411323

 

Extremist left-wing figure Yisrael Frey caused a public uproar today (Tuesday) after posting a tweet on social media in which he supported the death of five IDF soldiers killed last night in the Gaza Strip. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411329

 

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit reported that this afternoon (Tuesday), the IDF, using Air Force aircraft, targeted a key Hamas terrorist in the Tripoli area of northern Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411330

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has nominated US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411301

 

BREAKING: TRUMP AND NETANYAHU TO MEET REGARDING THE HOSTAGES AT 6PM DST 1AM YISRAEL. 

 

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on Monday vehemently denounced the visit of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington, D.C., for a meeting with US President Donald Trump. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411296

 

A security official from the Hamas terrorist organization claimed that the group’s internal security forces had seized espionage devices planted by Israel at various sites throughout the Gaza Strip, with the help of local collaborators. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411290

 

Iran has reportedly begun receiving Chinese surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries, moving swiftly to reconstruct its air defense capabilities significantly degraded during a recent 12-day conflict with Israel, Middle East Eye reported on Monday.

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411295

 

An Israeli father and his son were killed during a mountain trek in Austria after falling from a significant height in the Tyrol region. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411289

 

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced Monday evening that it has lifted all flight restrictions to Israel and United Air July 21^st. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411297

 

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit announced that yesterday (Sunday), IDF soldiers operated under the direction of the ISA to apprehend a terrorist in Salem in Samaria who was a central arms dealer involved in multiple weapons and drug deals. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411274

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/witkoff-to-join-hostage-talks-in-doha-as-sides-told-trump-wants-deal-by-weeks-end/

 

July 9^th

Swords of Iron Day 642

Of course the war in Gaza and Iran are our main stories in Israel. But Jews know well the Medrash that when the Egyptians were drowning by the Sea, G-D would not let the Angels sing Shira with Miriam, Moshe and Am Yisrael. Why because his creation was drowning all the more so innocent children and adults in their sleep.  Chabad of Texas is out there helping where they can. The death toll in Texas is now 111 but the number of missing persons are 172. https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-jewish-camps-express-grief-condolences-after-flooding-disaster-at-camp-mystic-in-texas/

https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/08/austin-jewish-center-raises-over-180k-for-families-individuals-impacted-by-texas-flooding/

 

Ahead of their first meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented US President Donald Trump with a unique and symbolic gift: a mezuzah shaped like an American B-2 bomber. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411353

 

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, stated on Tuesday that Tehran has not requested any meeting with the United States, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411360

 

The Croatian singer Marko Perkovic, who is known for his far-right sympathies, led nearly half a million concertgoers in a pro-Nazi salute in Zagreb on Saturday night. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411362

In a joint operation by the IDF and ISA, IDF forces operated in the village of Al-Yamun in the Jenin area and arrested a terrorist who planned to establish a regional terror organization. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411363

 

The IDF on Tuesday night struck and eliminated terrorist Hussein Ali Muzhir, head of Firepower of the Zahrani sector in Hezbollah's Badr Unit, in the Al-Babliyah area in southern Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411364

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-lets-netanyahu-have-his-say-on-hamas-even-as-he-pushes-for-a-deal-to-end-the-war/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/rape-as-weapon-of-war-report-lays-groundwork-for-prosecuting-oct-7-sexual-violence/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/prominent-haredi-school-to-operate-separate-program-for-sephardi-girls-report/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-killed-in-red-sea-attack-on-greek-owned-ship-blamed-on-yemens-houthis/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-quietly-leaves-white-house-without-announcement-of-breakthrough-in-gaza-talks/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/08/get-out-adams-urges-cuomo-not-to-play-spoiler-in-nyc-mayoral-race-woos-jewish-voters/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/08/three-charged-in-pro-palestinian-rampage-at-israeli-owned-restaurant-in-melbourne-amid-surge-in-antisemitic-attacks/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/08/following-pushback-john-cusack-deletes-bluesky-posting-linking-jeffrey-epstein-with-jews-and-israel/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/we-didnt-wipe-them-out-why-iran-is-still-dangerous-even-after-key-strikes/

 

July 10^th

 

Swords of Iron Day 643

 

This news broke around 2PM. A 20year old guard was stabbed and his gun stolen and used against him by 2 terrorists. A 20-year-old Israeli man was killed in a combined shooting and stabbing attack at the Gush Etzion junction in the West Bank, Magen David Adom confirmed Thursday. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-860604

 

A crane driver was attacked by terrorists. They tried dragging him alive into a tunnel. The killed him and shortly thereafter, they were killed. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-soldier-killed-during-attempted-hamas-abduction-in-southern-gaza-idf-says/

He was killed 3 months after his wedding. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411412

 

Terror tunnel destroyed: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-860583

 

In Lebanon soldiers found an arms cache. The question is if it was one we missed or a new one for Hezballah revival? https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411380

 

As for me, I was just saying the Modeh Ani Prayer upon awaking and standing on my feet at 05:15 as I sleep half awake for Houthi Alerts when the alert sounded. I had time to wash my hands and grab a drink and my wife and I were down in the shelter. The poor TV girl was in the middle of make-up and her eyes looked terrible By 6AM she looked pretty again. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411426

 

During IDF activity in Kfar Rumana, a terrorist stabbed an IDF soldier and moderately injured him. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411435

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/senior-israeli-official-intel-shows-enriched-uranium-was-at-iran-sites-when-bombed/

 

The city of Rehovot on Thursday morning announced the death of Corporal Liel Shoham, a soldier in the 12th Battalion of the Golani Brigade, who fell while performing his duties. The soldier had been questioned by the Military Police hours before being discovered. The IDF clarified that the soldier had not been investigated for involvement in any incident with Palestinian Authority Arabs, but for other unrelated suspicions. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411437

 

Senator Graham expressed strong backing for Israel’s stance that Hamas must be fully removed from Gaza as a condition for any peace agreement. He also emphasized that Iran must recognize Israel’s right to exist before any negotiations can move forward. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411423

 

Musk shuts down X’s AI after smart-ass Nazis take it over. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411427

 

Traitor arrested we are at war! https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411404

 

Under the command of the 162nd Division, the Givati Brigade combat team has joined the 99th Division forces and begun operations to encircle Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411392

 

After 43 years, French prosecutors are moving to bring six individuals to trial before a special terrorism court in connection with the deadly 1982 attack on the Jo Goldenberg Jewish restaurant in Paris, Reuters reported on Wednesday. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411430

 

Arab affairs commentator Zvi Yehezkeli warns that Israel is conceding too much to Hamas in the ongoing hostage release negotiations - and the murderous terrorist organization is exploiting the situation to its advantage. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411428

 

I managed to report the Temu advertising today as it treats women’s bodies as 50 to 60 kilograms of flesh if they keep popping up by google please do the same.

 

US President Donald Trump has escalated his global trade pressure on Wednesday, threatening Brazil with a "crippling" 50% tariff on its goods beginning August 1. Truth Social, explicitly links the punitive economic measure to ongoing charges against Brazil's former right-wing president, Jair Bolsonaro. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411424

 

Despite the relative progress in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas, according to sources with knowledge of the matter, there are still several sticking points that are difficult to overcome. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411402

 

A delivery that consisted of dozens of Military D9 bulldozers and other equipment for the IDF's Ground Forces were received and unloaded on Wednesday at the Haifa Port as part of a joint operation led by a Ministry Defense procurement delegation in the United States, the IDF's Planning Wing, and the Procurement Directorate's unit for international transport. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411389

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-said-he-told-putin-hed-bomb-the-sht-out-of-moscow-if-he-attacked-ukraine-report/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/moodys-keeps-israel-outlook-negative-citing-defense-costs-fragile-iran-ceasefire/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/09/hardball-trump-administration-reports-harvard-to-accreditor-over-antisemitism-allegations/

 

Hundreds of Russian drones and more than a dozen missiles rained down on the Ukrainian capital early on Thursday, killing two people in a second massive airstrike on Ukraine in two days as Kyiv seeks critical aid from its partners at a meeting in Rome. https://www.jpost.com/international/internationalrussia-ukraine-war/article-860605

 

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expects Iran to exert its influence over Houthi terrorists in Yemen to stop attacking ships in the Red Sea, he said on Thursday. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-860611

 

Rescuers pulled three more crew members and a security guard alive from the Red Sea on Thursday, maritime security sources said, a day after Houthi militants sank the Greek ship Eternity C and said they were holding some of the crew still missing.

https://www.jpost.com/international/islamic-terrorism/article-860586

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/09/us-clamps-sanctions-on-israel-bashing-un-rights-monitor-albanese/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/09/idf-strikes-hezbollah-sites-in-south-lebanon-as-terror-group-pushes-to-rebuild-amid-us-disarmament-talks/

 

Reform Rabbis. When does Judaism and Jewish Identity overcome progressivism? https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/09/progressive-rabbis-support-mamdani-wheres-the-push-back/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/09/iran-is-weakened-will-it-persecute-minorities-as-a-result/

 

Pallywood: https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/09/a-teddy-bear-in-the-rubble-are-gaza-war-images-manipulated-to-harm-israel/

 

Ted Cruz on TX rescue: https://www.foxnews.com/video/6375471320112

 

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/david-marcus-wake-kerrville-flood-locals-ignore-blame-game

 

https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/tale-two-floridas-real-estate-industry-torn-over-desantis-push-eliminate-property-taxes

 

https://www.foxnews.com/us/aoc-red-light-district-ruled-violent-migrant-gang-taken-down-feds

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/microbes-pave-the-way-for-a-living-green-alternative-to-cement-in-buildings/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/eli-sharabis-memoir-about-life-in-hamas-captivity-to-be-released-in-us-this-fall/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-grill-journalist-over-allegation-he-shoved-employee-of-sara-netanyahu/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/friends-of-the-idf-in-crisis-after-internal-report-alleges-financial-abuse-toxic-culture/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/freed-hostage-romi-gonen-released-from-hospital-another-step-toward-my-freedom/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/pm-says-hes-in-sync-with-trump-on-hostage-deal-wont-agree-to-one-at-any-price/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-new-strategy-for-destroying-hamas/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-sanctions-anti-israel-un-rapporteur-albanese-over-warfare-campaigns/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/distracted-nation-as-israel-focuses-on-wars-its-neighbors-are-winning-the-ai-race/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/haredi-party-chiefs-slam-ag-as-enforcement-against-draft-evaders-slated-to-increase/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/shai-davidai-outspoken-israeli-professor-at-columbia-leaves-the-university/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-official-waived-safeguards-to-rush-30-million-to-gaza-humanitarian-foundation/

 

Shabbos Candle Lighting: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/shabat

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-said-to-tell-mediators-it-wont-let-israel-resume-gaza-war-as-optimism-for-deal-swirls/

 

July 11^th

 

Swords of Iron Day 644

 

Next week I am taking a brief vacation so the news might be cut slightly short. Too much action and for the sake of wife who deserves restaurants instead of cooking so much.

 

Yesterday’s murderers were PLO Police. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-860679

 

The victim was 22years old. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411471

 

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit cleared for publication on Friday morning that Captain Reei Biran, aged 21, from Shorashim, a squad commander in the Golani Reconnaissance Unit, Golani Brigade, fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip.

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411495

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/10/top-teachers-union-votes-to-end-alliance-with-adl-over-israel-support/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/10/jewish-dems-in-congress-voice-unease-at-mamdanis-political-rise/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/10/hezbollah-chief-admits-underestimating-israels-surveillance-ahead-of-pager-attack-warns-resistance-has-limits/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/10/israeli-official-says-some-of-irans-highly-enriched-uranium-likely-survived-us-strikes-report/

 

https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/10/she-saved-my-life-jewish-lawyer-describes-wifes-last-few-moments-before-she-was-killed-by-texas-floods/

 

The Rubicon hip hop festival in Bratislava has announced the cancellation of Kanye West's upcoming performance, initially set for July 20, AFP reported on Thursday.

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411492

 

Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate, is seeking $20 million in damages from US President Donald Trump’s administration after over 100 days in immigration detention. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411488

Reminds me of David Servile singing “Wicked-wicked, cruel-cruel world”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H6qbQLTJVA&list=RD4H6qbQLTJVA&start_radio=1

 

https://www.foxnews.com/us/immigration-operation-california-cannabis-farms-leads-clash-federal-agents-protesters

 

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biblical-grounds-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxtons-wife-files-divorce

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-rejects-bill-to-let-all-terror-victims-be-buried-in-jewish-cemeteries/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/bill-to-limit-law-of-return-shot-down-despite-support-from-ultra-orthodox-mks/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/toi-poll-gadi-eisenkot-could-lead-anti-netanyahu-bloc-but-it-lacks-majority/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/google-co-founder-decries-antisemitic-un-for-report-on-tech-aid-to-gaza-genocide/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/freed-hostage-romi-gonen-released-from-hospital-another-step-toward-my-freedom/

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-missed-deadline-high-court-threatens-to-issue-injunction-against-new-method-to-fire-ag/

 

The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Knesset will convene next week for an urgent session following serious allegations from the parents of soldiers in the 605th Battalion regarding ongoing safety failures in the Puma APC used in the Gaza Strip. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411438

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-urging-us-to-resume-strikes-on-yemens-houthis-form-broad-coalition-report/

 

 

A healthy, happy, peaceful and restful Shabbos,

Rachamim Pauli