A little word outside of the
introduction. Year in and year out we go over the same ten plagues. It is
always exciting for me. If one get bored by this, one is not looking into the
Parsha. I have been writing on-line the Parsha for many years since I used to
visit Tel Aviv University Computer Center to be on Torah Forum in the late
1990’s and then getting dial-up internet at home.
I have been writing a commentary on
the Parsha for over 20years and each year I find a different interpretation of
a Pasuk or attack an old idea from a different angle. These past two weeks were
no different as will be this week. There are 70 faces of Torah and so many
angles to look at those faces. Rashi’s commentary is always king and according
to tradition.
Parsha Bo
Last week we watched Pharaoh’s
rejection of Moshe and the first seven plagues with many crops devastated by a
fiery hail. This week we continue.
10:1
And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Go in unto Pharaoh; for I have hardened his
heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might show these My signs in the
midst of them;
G-D is everywhere (Isa. 6:3 the
whole earth is full of HIS Glory). So the word “Bo” or come appears. It is not
the first time. However, it may mean in English go to. But in Hebrew it is come
to. Meaning that I am already by Pharaoh and his heart is already hardened and
that of his advisors. After Oct. 7th we can call it ‘his conception’
of what has to be done with the Bnei Yisrael.
2 and
that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what I have
wrought upon Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them; that ye may know
that I am the LORD.'
The whole purpose of your futile
attempt to convince Pharaoh is that for generations to come the story of the
exodus and the signs and wonders will be told over and over.
3 And
Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him: 'Thus saith the LORD,
the God of the Hebrews: How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before Me?
let My people go, that they may serve Me.
This is what Pharaoh should do to
Am Yisrael but won’t. Partially from his own will and largely from HASHEM
hardening his heart.
4 Else,
if thou refuse to let My people go, behold, to-morrow will I bring locusts into
thy border;
Pharaoh is forewarned and can avoid
the disaster that is approaching.
5 and
they shall cover the face of the earth, that one shall not be able to see the
earth; and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remains
unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which grows for you out of the
field; 6 and thy houses shall be filled, and the houses of all thy
servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; as neither thy fathers nor thy
fathers' fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this
day.' And he turned, and went out from Pharaoh.
Moshe warns Pharaoh, basically
knows the negative answer so he just walks out.
7 And
Pharaoh's servants said unto him: 'How long shall this man be a snare unto us?
let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God, know thou not yet that
Egypt is destroyed?'
At this point, even the ‘yes men’
of Pharaoh begin thinking reasonably as Locusts will destroy their agricultural
economy for that year completely.
8 And
Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh; and he said unto them: 'Go,
serve the LORD your God; but who are they that shall go?'
Ok, you want to go; then go but I
want to know who is going?
9 And
Moses said: 'We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with
our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds we will go; for we must hold
a feast unto the LORD.'
We will go with all our families
and our flocks and herds.
10 And
he said unto them: 'So be the LORD with you, as I will let you go, and your
little ones; see ye that evil is before your face.
Evil in Hebrew is Ra. Ra is also
one of the gods of Egypt. Velikovsky in “Worlds in collision” points
this out. He identifies Ra with Mars and may have some astrological
significance. Pharaoh via his astrologers see Ra as a bad omen in the desert
per Velikovsky. The plain meaning of course is that you are up to no good with
taking everybody.
11 Not
so; go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD; for that is what ye desire.'
And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.
What religion invite women and
children into service of a god? Only men do these things and so Moshe and Aaron
are kicked out. Perhaps the idea is revolutionary that women are included in
prayer or sacrificial services along with children but in Am Yisrael the
children are our future.
12 And
the LORD said unto Moses: 'Stretch out thy hand over the land of Egypt for the
locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of
the land, even all that the hail hath left.'
This plague did not need Moshe’s
staff but his hand was sufficient.
13 And
Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an
east wind upon the land all that day, and all the night; and when it was
morning, the east wind brought the locusts.
Still Moshe held his staff up that
enhanced the power of the plague.
14 And
the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the borders
of Egypt; very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as
they, neither after them shall be such.
Per Rashi at that time, there was a
border dispute between Egypt and Africa aka Sudan and the border was suddenly
settled.
15 For
they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and
they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the
hail had left; and there remained not any green thing, either tree or herb of
the field, through all the land of Egypt. 16 Then Pharaoh called for
Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said: 'I have sinned against the LORD your
God, and against you. 17 Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin
only this once, and entreat the LORD your God, that He may take away from me
this death only.'
It was as if Moshe had a drone
following the locust swarm and had warned Pharaoh prior to their coming.
Pharaoh knew that he was fight the L-RD.
18 And
he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the LORD. 19 And the LORD
turned an exceeding strong west wind, which took up the locusts, and drove them
into the Red Sea; there remained not one locust in all the border of
Egypt. 20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let
the children of Israel go.
Once the problem was solved, so was
the reason for Pharaoh to let them go.
21 And
the LORD said unto Moses: 'Stretch out thy hand toward heaven, that there may
be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be
felt.' 22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there
was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days;
The third plague aka 3, 6 and 9
come unannounced and this time this is what happens. The Midrash says the
plague came out from Gehennom (hell). It was think like pollution.
23 they
saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days; but all
the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
From the Pshat it is unclear if the
plague was 3 days only but the Drash says the first three days were bad and
thick but the second 3 days were so bad that people could not move from their
places.
24 And
Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said: 'Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your
flocks and your herds be stayed; let your little ones also go with you.'
Now Pharaoh is willing that all the
people can go but not their financial capital.
25 And
Moses said: 'Thou must also give into our hand sacrifices and burnt-offerings,
that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God. 26 Our cattle also shall
go with us; there shall not a hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to
serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until
we come thither.'
Moshe does not know what G-D wants
of the people for sacrifice and therefore we must bring everything.
27 But
the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them
go. 28 And Pharaoh said unto him: 'Get thee from me, take heed to
thyself, see my face no more; for in the day thou see my face thou shalt
die.' 29 And Moses said: 'Thou hast spoken well; I will see thy face
again no more.'
You will not see my face anymore
but you shall let us go as requested.
11:1
And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Yet one plague more will I bring upon Pharaoh,
and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence; when he shall let you go,
he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether. 2 Speak now in the
ears of the people, and let them ask every man of his neighbor, and every woman
of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.' 3 And the
LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man
Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants,
and in the sight of the people.
And the Bnei Yisrael collected
great wealth from Mitzrayim to parade before HASHEM and later use part in the
Mishkan (Tabernacle).
4 And
Moses said: 'Thus saith the LORD: About midnight will I go out into the midst
of Egypt;
About midnight means actually
precisely at midnight. However, Pharaoh did not have an atomic clock for
accuracy. So the word “about” is used so that in case their hour glass or star
measurement is off, they will begin around this time to notice the plague.
5 and
all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first-born of
Pharaoh that sits upon his throne, even unto the first-born of the maid-servant
that is behind the mill; and all the first-born of cattle.
Pharaoh was considered a god and
his son too. The should have natural immunity so it did not penetrate his
conception of things.
6 And
there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there hath
been none like it, nor shall be like it any more.
With almost every family having a
first born, there would be a huge mourning in Mitzrayim. Some families could
lose a grandfather, father and son.
7 But
against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog whet his tongue, against
man or beast; that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between
the Egyptians and Israel. 8 And all these thy servants shall come
down unto me, and bow down unto me, saying: Get thee out, and all the people
that follow thee; and after that I will go out.' And he went out from Pharaoh
in hot anger.
Not only will you give us
permission but you will literally kick us out of your land.
9 And
the LORD said unto Moses: 'Pharaoh will not hearken unto you; that My wonders
may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.'
Why will not Pharaoh listen to
reason? In order that the Kiddush HASHEM and wonders and miracles will be
greater.
10 And
Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the LORD hardened
Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his
land.
Moshe and Aaron performed the
miracles for both Yisrael and Mitzrayim.
12:1
And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,
saying: 2 'This month shall be unto you the beginning of months; it
shall be the first month of the year to you.
This is the point from the Israeli
Standpoint where the Torah could have started. The creation of the universe and
the flood were good for general history that include the gentiles but for
Israel as a Nation, the Torah starts here on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. G-D is
teaching at this point the lunar calendar to Moshe.
3 Speak
ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying: In the tenth day of this month
they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers' houses, a
lamb for a household;
A household most likely consisted
of a grandfather/mother, children and grandchildren. For in the Mikdash there
was a lot of people on one lamb. Since a lamb was the Egyptian god and being
tied up it must has been scary for both sides.
4 and
if the household be too little for a lamb, then shall he and his neighbor next
unto his house take one according to the number of the souls; according to
every man's eating ye shall make your count for the lamb.
Small families would have to join
together in a Korban.
5 Your
lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year; ye shall take it from
the sheep, or from the goats;
No Korban could have a blemish and
it could not be too young or too old.
6 and
ye shall keep it unto the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole
assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill [ritually
slaughter] it at dusk.
The slaughter was to take place in
the late afternoon for leaving Egypt but later in the Mikdash would be after
the Mincha Korban.
7 And
they shall take of the blood, and put it on the two side-posts and on the
lintel, upon the houses wherein they shall eat it.
This was for Egypt only and not all
generations.
8 And
they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread;
with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
In the Haggadah, Rabban Gamliel
puts it precisely: Pesach, Matzo, Maror. The Korban Pesach aka sacrifice, Matzo
and Maror (bitter herbs).
9 Eat
not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; its head with
its legs and with the inwards thereof.
The Korban Pesach could not be
eaten raw, boiled or fried but it had to be roasted on a spit.
10 And
ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; but that which remains of
it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
It should be eaten up until when
the dawn came up. Later on the Rabbis would rule until midnight.
11 And
thus shall ye eat it: with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your
staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste--it is the LORD'S Passover.
You shall eat it prepared to be
kicked out of Egypt.
12 For
I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will smite all the
first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods
of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.
All the first born of the Egyptians
shall die.
13 And
the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are; and when I
see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be upon you to
destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
The blood on the lintel (Mezuzah)
of the house will ward off death.
14 And
this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to the
LORD; throughout your generations ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance
forever.
The feast that we have tonight
shall continue forever on this night with all our generations.
15 Seven
days shall ye eat unleavened bread; howbeit the first day ye shall put away
leaven out of your houses; for whosoever eats leavened bread from the first day
until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
The first and last day shall be a
Yom Tov.
16 And
in the first day there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh
day a holy convocation; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that
which every man must eat, that only may be done by you.
You can only do Melacha related to
eating.
17 And
ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I
brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt; therefore shall ye observe this
day throughout your generations by an ordinance forever.
These two days shall be observed
forever.
18 In
the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened
bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. 19 Seven
days shall there be no leaven found in your houses; for whosoever eats that
which is leavened, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel,
whether he be a sojourner, or one that is born in the land. 20 Ye
shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened
bread.'
Eating leavening during these seven
days will cut you off from the Bnei Yisrael (Kares).
21 Then
Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them: 'Draw out, and
take you lambs according to your families, and kill [ritually
slaughter] the Passover lamb. 22 And ye shall take a bunch of
hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and
the two side-posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall
go out of the door of his house until the morning.
As stated but in Temple times, the
Mikdash was stopped up so that the blood for hundreds of thousands of lambs
could be collected and then one Cohain sprinkles some of the Mizbayach for all
on that ship. In the second Mikdash there were three shifts to slaughter due
the large population.
23 For
the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood
upon the lintel, and on the two side-posts, the LORD will pass over the door,
and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite
you.
24 And
ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons
forever. 25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land
which the LORD will give you, according as He hath promised, that ye shall keep
this service.
Those who have the blood on the
lintel will be spared.
26 And
it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you: What mean ye by
this service? 27 that ye shall say: It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S
Passover, for that He passed over the houses of the children of Israel in
Egypt, when He smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses.' And the people
bowed the head and worshipped. 28 And the children of Israel went and
did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
What you are living now will be a
Mitzvah to tell your children and their children throughout all generations.
29 And
it came to pass at midnight, that the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land
of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the
first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the first-born of
cattle. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his
servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there
was not a house where there was not one dead.
What was “like” midnight due to
inaccurate clocks became precise midnight.
31 And
he called for Moses and Aaron by night and said: 'Rise up, get you forth from
among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as
ye have said. 32 Take both your flocks and your herds, as ye have
said, and be gone; and bless me also.'
As Pharaoh and his first born were
gods and over powered by this G-D, he was defeated and let the people finally
go to get rid of them.
33 And
the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, to send them out of the land in
haste; for they said: 'We are all dead men.'
Get out of here quick lest we all
die.
34 And
the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading-troughs
being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. 35 And the
children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the
Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment. 36 And
the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let
them have what they asked. And they despoiled the Egyptians.
They had no time to bake bread and
they grabbed the Matzo baked in less than 18minutes and left as soon as
possible.
37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to
Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, beside children.
They left early in the morning and
travelled as far as they could and put up booths for sleeping that night.
38 And
a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much
cattle.
Mixed multitude, Egyptians married
to Bnei Yisrael and perhaps other slaves escaping.
39 And
they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt,
for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not
tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual. 40 Now
the time that the children of Israel dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirty
years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of four
hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the
host of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.
430 years from the Bris between the
pieces, 400 years from the birth of Yitzchak and 210 years of total time in
Egypt.
42 It
was a night of watching unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of
Egypt; this same night is a night of watching unto the LORD for all the
children of Israel throughout their generations.
They were awake the entire night and
the Seder of Pesach would be held each years from generation to generation.
43 And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron: 'This is the
ordinance of the Passover: there shall no alien eat thereof; 44 but
every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him,
then shall he eat thereof.
A non-Israeli slave belonged to the master, but if freed became an
Israeli to observe the Torah.
45 A
sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat thereof. 46 In
one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth aught of the flesh
abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep
the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him
come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land; but no
uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
All gentiles were forbidden to eat
the Korban Pesach. However, a Ger Tzedek or full convert shall be a Yisrael for
everything and shall be included in the Pesach. This is one reason why Conversion
Beis Dins conclude conversions before a Yom Tov.
49 One
law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourns among
you.' 50 Thus did all the children of Israel; as the
LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
Ger Tzedek completely equals Jew in
this respect.
51 And it came to pass the selfsame day that the LORD did
bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.
Pesach was the day when Yitzias
Mitzrayim occurred in the year 2448.
13:1
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 'Sanctify unto Me all the
first-born, whatsoever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man
and of beast, it is Mine.'
Because of the killing of the first
born, all first born of Yisrael belong to HASHEM.
3 And
Moses said unto the people: 'Remember this day, in which ye came out from
Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought
you out from this place; there shall no leavened bread be
eaten. 4 This day ye go forth in the month Abib.
Pesach must be in the spring so in many
thousands of years from now the calendar will have to be adjusted.
5 And
it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, and
the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which He swore
unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou
shalt keep this service in this month. 6 Seven days thou shalt eat
unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the
LORD. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days;
and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be
leaven seen with thee, in all thy borders. 8 And thou shalt tell thy
son in that day, saying: It is because of that which the LORD did for me when I
came forth out of Egypt.
We say this at the Seder and tell
our children.
9 And
it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thy hand, and for a memorial between
thine eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in thy mouth; for with a strong
hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.
Thus is the source for Parshas
Bechor in Tephillin.
10 Thou
shalt therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.
An ordinance forever.
11 And
it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, as
He swore unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it
thee, 12 that thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that opens the
womb; every firstling that is a male, which thou hast coming of a beast, shall
be the LORD'S. 13 And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem
with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck;
and all the first-born of man among thy sons shalt thou redeem.
Either you should make a redemption
of your male children unless you are a Cohain or Levy, or sacrifice your first
born animals as a gift to the Cohanim or redeem the non-kosher jackass with a
sheep.
14 And
it shall be when thy son asks thee in time to come, saying: What is this? that
thou shalt say unto him: By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from
Egypt, from the house of bondage; 15 and it came to pass, when
Pharaoh would hardly let us go that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land
of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beast; therefore I
sacrifice to the LORD all that opens the womb, being males; but all the
first-born of my sons I redeem.
Again educating the children for
all generations on the miracles of Pesach.
16 And
it shall be for a sign upon thy hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes; for
by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.'
Again the binding of Tephillin but
this time the Tephillin of the hand is mentioned.
How Agam Berger got
the nickname “Cottage Cheese”.
There are two types of Heroines.
One like the female Paramedic that went to the battlefield to save soldiers
until she died on a Kiddush HASHEM. The other shows Gevorah by fighting the
Yetzer (evil or good inclination).
Agam was a G-D fearing female but
wanted to serve as a watcher of the border instead of national service. She was
taken captive on Oct. 7th along with other young women from her
unit. The picture showed her bleeding from the lip.
She could have had a religious
exemption or national service but she chose to watch the border.
In captivity, food and water was
scarce. Yet when offered non-kosher meat, she refused to eat but rather ate
cottage cheese or nothing. Hence, her nickname. She would observe Shabbos and
pray. Agam did not eat the measly Pita Bread on Pesach but other things. She
was supposed to be released this coming Shabbos.
Shabbos is the source of the
Bracha. Guard Shabbos and Shabbos will guard you.
HASHEM has ways of releasing
prisoners before their sentence is up. The terrorists broke the agreement with
not releasing Arbel last Shabbos and Israel refused to let the refugees from
Northern Gaza return. Negotiations had it that Agam would be released on
Thursday and so it was without violating the Holy Shabbos.
Agam’s friends that were released
last week, opted to remain in the hospital instead of a hotel or home to be
with her during recovery.
Agam wrote
on a whiteboard: "I chose the path of faith and with the path of faith I
have returned – thank you to all the people of Israel and our heroic IDF
soldiers. There is no one like you in the world!"
Anybody who tells you that one
who observes Shabbos under strenuous conditions will not see help from heaven;
do not believe them. She is a heroine in my book. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403158
A questionable piece of meat by R’ Tilles from Rabbi Sholom Avtzon
https://ascentofsafed.com/Stories/Stories/5785/1415-17.html
When the wealthy Mr. Yehudah Leib Segal and his wife Beila, the future
in-laws of Rabbi Shneur-Zalman--much later in life to become the Alter
Rebbe of Chabad-took him as a chatan for their daughter
Shterna, their endearment towards him was unlimited. Regardless of his young
age [15 when they married], he was considered one of the greatest scholars of
the time.
Their admiration slowly eroded, however, upon observing that his way of serving
the Creator (which was based on the teachings of the Shaloh HaKodesh),
and especially his davening [praying] at length, was foreign
to them. When he returned from Mezeritch and lived publicly as a chasid of the
Maggid of Mezeritch, their feelings for him turned to anger and hostility.
One Erev Yom Tov [1], the mother-in-law had a halachic [Jewish
Law] question on the meat being prepared for their meal. As was customary, she
thought to send one of her helpers to ask the Rav the question, however, he
wasn't available then.
A few moments later she thought, "While I personally don't understand my
son-in-law's ways, everyone says he is a true Torah scholar. Since time is of
the essence, I will ask him the same question, and if he says it is kosher,
surely the Rav would say so as well. This way, I will be able to save some
precious time by preparing it earlier, especially as there is a lot to do this
Erev Yom Tov."
Taking the actual piece of meat in question, she knocked on the door to the
room where he was learning, entered, and asked him the question she had. After
hearing the question and examining the piece of meat he said, "It is one
hundred percent kosher without any doubt."
Delighted with his answer, she told the cook to begin preparing the meal using
the rest of the meat. However, when her helper arrived, without mentioning that
her son-in-law already gave a decision, she sent him to the Rav with the
original piece just to make certain.
Sometime later, when the dish was almost ready, the messenger returned with the
Rav's decision: "It is treif [opposite of kosher]."
She was dumbfounded! Not only were her son-in-law's customs and ways of conduct
strange to them, but he was evidently an ignoramus as well. How he was able to
fool so many people into thinking that he was a scholar of the highest caliber
was beyond her. Here he says there is no question what-so-ever, it is kosher
beyond a doubt; yet the respected Rav declared it not kosher.
Her distress turned to bitterness as she unleashed her anger at her son-in-law:
"Not only can't you do anything in business; you don't know Jewish law
either! Why are we supporting you all these years? So you can sit and dream as
if you know it all?! You just made my whole kitchen treif!"
Hearing her tirade, the messenger quietly slipped out of the house and rushed
back to the Rav, informing him of the storm brewing in the Segals' house. The
Rav once again reviewed the question and came to the same conclusion that the
animal was treif. However, not wanting to cause friction among
others, especially as he held Rabbi Shneur-Zalman in the highest esteem, he
decided to discuss it with another Rav.
After a thorough review, they both concluded that it was unequivocally treif.
When the second Rav asked the first Rav what bothered him so much that he would
spend so much time on such an obvious halacha, the Rav replied,
"Reb Yehudah Segal's illustrious son-in-law ruled that it is kosher, so
now there is a battle brewing in the house of the admired head of our
community!"
"So let him come and explain his reason to us," said the second Rav.
"No!" replied the first Rav. "I heard many scholarly
explanations from him, and I also stood by his open window many nights
listening to his learning. He is definitely greater than I, so it is only right
that I go to him."
The two rabbis walked together to Reb Yehuda’s house. When they arrived at the
door were shocked as they overheard the mother-in-law's emotional tirade that
after all this time was still going on. They knocked on the door and waited
outside until one of the helpers opened the door and went to inform her
mistress of her distinguished guests. Mrs. Segal greeted them respectfully and
asked in bewilderment why the honored rabbis had come. Perhaps they needed
something? They informed her that they had come to discuss her query about the
meat with her knowledgeable son-in-law.
"Wonderful!" she exclaimed. "Maybe when he is informed of his
terrible mistake, he will finally listen to reason and change his ways. I kept
the food in the pots on the side, so my husband will see what our son-in-law
did."
When the Alter Rebbe was told that the rabbis had come and would like to
discuss the question with him, he came out of his room and greeted them warmly.
They asked him, "On what basis did you rule that the animal is kosher, as
the Shach[2] clearly writes that if this is seen on in an animal, it is treif?"
"I beg to differ," responded Rabbi Shneur-Zalman. "It is the
Shach himself who paskens (judges) that it is kosher." He
then began to review the Shach verbatim. As the two rabbis listened, they
immediately recognized their mistake in the meaning of the Shach's words and
admitted to the much younger rabbi in amazement that he was correct.
In order to show that they really meant it and weren't just saying it to make
peace in the house, they requested that Mrs. Segal bring them a small portion
of the dish in question, and they each ate from it before leaving.
________________________________________
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from a weekly email story of Rabbi
Sholom Avtzon <avtzonbooks @ gmail.com>, a veteran educator and the
author of numerous books on the seven Chabad Rebbes and their chasidim.
Rabbi Avtzon adds:
Concerning this story, which I said in my father's name over the years. During
that time period it was unknown, and often when I repeated it, some questioned
its validity. However, a few years later, it was printed in Kerem Chabad, Vol.
IV, part 1, from a manuscript of a grandson of the Rebbe Maharash [The 4th
Lubavitcher Rebbe]. This is testimony to the authenticity of all of the stories
I heard from my father, and therefore I rarely make reference to other
publications where the story is also mentioned, or the differences between
them.
Why this week? Thursday night-Friday, the 24th of the Jewish month
of Tevet [2025: Jan. 24] is the yahrzeit of Rabbi Shneur Zalman.
Biographic note: Rabbi Shneur-Zalman [18 Elul 1745-24
Tevet 1812], one of the main disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch,
is the founder of the Chabad-Chassidic movement. He is the author of Shulchan
Aruch HaRav and Tanya as well as many other major works in both Jewish
law and the mystical teachings.
Footnotes:
[1]It is unclear whether this story took place before he became a chasid or
afterwards.
[2]Rabbi Shabtai HaKohen (1622-1663) authored one of the most important and
influential commentaries on the Shulchan Aruch, the 16th century authoritative
compendium of Jewish Law, by Rabbi Yosef Caro of Tsfat ('Safed').
The
Mysterious Aroma of the Garden of Eden by Rabbi Y. Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/Stories/Stories/5785/1414-16.html
Rebbetzin Shterna-Sarah, wife of the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe,
R. Shalom-DovBer Schneersohn (the Rashab) and the mother of the
sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, R. Yosef-Yitzchak Schneersohn (the Rayatz),
was a very humble and holy person in her own right. One of her pleasures in
life was to see holy Jews (tzadikim). One such tzadik was Rabbi
Tzvi-Hersh Shapira, known as the Munkatcher Rav. Besides
knowing all the books of the Torah and Kabbalah, this man was totally devoted
to G-d every moment of his life.
She was aware that her son knew this Rabbi very well, and she
made it known to her son that, should the opportunity present itself, she would
like at least to see him. Sure enough, that day came. The Holy Munkatcher Rav
was to meet with her son to discuss important matters, and their meeting place
would be the local park, where they would stroll and talk for several hours.
The Rebbe told his mother the exact path they would be taking
and advised her to stand behind one of the trees on the route where she could
get a good view of this great man. The next day, the Rebbe and Munkatcher Rav
began their "walking" discussion in the park as planned, but, in the
middle of the stroll, the Munkatcher Rav suddenly stopped, raised his face
upward and began smelling the air.
"Is something wrong?" the Rebbe asked. "Do you
feel all right?"
"Yes, certainly I feel all right," the Rav replied.
"But do you smell that? I mean, do you smell anything unusual?"
"What do you mean?" the Rebbe asked, "What smell
are you talking about?"
"Why," the Rav replied in disbelief, "I smell the
aroma of Gan Eden (Heaven)"!
"Ach!" replied the Rebbe. "My mother is probably
standing nearby. What you smell is my mother!"
Thus, we see that the Rebbetzin Shterna-Sarah in her own right
'downloaded' the smell of heaven to earth!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Compiled and supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles from reports
by Rabbis Y. Y. Jacobson and Tuvia Bolton.
Why this week: TEVET 15 (2025: Wednesday, Jan. 15) is the birth date of
the Rebbetzin Shterna-Sarah [and of my wife, Shulamit bat Aryeh-Leib HaKohen].
Biographic notes (in order of appearance):
Rebbetzin Shterna-Sarah Schneersohn [15 Tevet 5620 - 13 Shvat 5702 (Dec.
1860 - Jan. 1942)] was the daughter of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Avritch, a son
of the Tzemach Tzedek. At fifteen she became the wife of the fifth Lubavitcher
Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom DovBer Schneerson, and five years later the mother of the
sixth Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, her only child, named after her father.
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn [12 Tammuz 5640 - 10 Shvat
5710 (Jan. 1880-June 1950 C.E.)], known as the Rebbe Rayatz, was
the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, from 1920 to 1950. He established a network of
Jewish educational institutions and Chassidim that was the single most significant
factor for the preservation of Judaism during the dread reign of the communist
Soviets. In 1940 he moved to the USA, established Chabad world-wide
headquarters in Brooklyn and launched the global campaign to renew and spread
Judaism in all languages and in every corner of the world, the campaign
continued and expanded so remarkably successfully by his son-in-law and
successor, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
Rabbi Tzvi-Hersh Shapira [11 Tammuz 5610 (1850)
- 16 Tishrei 5674 (1913)] was a great-grandson of the Bnei Yissachar, and named
for Rav Zvi-Hersh of Ziditchov on whose yahrzeit he was born. In 1893, upon the
death of his father Rabbi Shlomo, he became the second Munkatcher Rav
& Rebbe. He wrote significant works on Jewish Law (Darkei Teshuva) and
Kabbalah (Beer L'chai Roi on the Tikkunei Zohar) which was his primary area of
study. He arranged the opening of a Kollel in Jerusalem and raised funds to
support the kollel and community. After his passing on the second day of
Sukkos, 1913, he was succeeded by his only son, Rabbi Chaim-Elazar Shapira,
"the Minchas Elazar," as Rav and Rebbe of Munkatch.
[based on Jewish Press.com]
Milestone: Marianne
Faithfull, 78, singer with Jewish Maternal Grandmother.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/british-singer-and-pop-icon-marianne-faithfull-dies-at-78/
Inyanay Diyoma
Jan. 25th & 26th
Day 477 and Day 478 start of week 69
Not on the internet but in the back pages of
the news. Israel contacted the US about Egyptian Troop violation in Sinai
forbidden the Camp David accords.
On film the reunions. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402842
IDF: Hamas did not keep the deal. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402844
The
terrorist organization Hamas has not delivered to Israel the list it committed
to providing by Saturday midnight, which contains information about the number
of hostages, both alive and dead, in the Gaza Strip. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402880
An
anti-Israel mob reacted with ecstasy and joy to the news that the home of a
pro-Israel activist was burned to the ground in the Los Angeles
wildfires.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402881
Indonesia
rejects the notion of temporarily hosting Palestinian residents whose homes
were destroyed during the Gaza conflict. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402833
Denmark
has charged two individuals under its law prohibiting the desecration of the
Quran. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402877
Frank
Gaffney, founder of the Center for Security Policy joined Arutz Sheva -
National News. ''The
Qataris are evil incarnate. They are the driving force behind Jihadism
worldwide, and really there's not a place on the planet where you don't see the
hand of the Qataris in their various forms of largess.” https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402820
A
delegation of senior rabbis arrived in Guatemala on Friday to assess the
situation of the children of the Lev Tahor cult, describing the group as a
'terror organization.' "They are more dangerous than any terror organization
in the world," said Rabbi Hecht during the visit. "Families were
separated, and infants were taken from their parents just days after
birth." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402832
Two public opinion polls: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402798
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402815 Other polls show Naphtali Bennett with between 23 and 28 seats.
MK David Bitan hospitalized. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402870
https://www.aol.com/news/trump-suggests-plan-gaza-strip-024044909.html
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402872
https://www.aol.com/news/scammers-now-sending-fake-toll-152837377.html
Related to Ukraine: https://www.aol.com/west-cries-foul-over-belarus-074523750.html
Two
of the terrorists slated for release on Saturday preferred to remain in prison
rather than board a bus back to Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402866
Freed hostage has a bullet in leg. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402892
Lebanese shot approaching IDF. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402889
Greenland: US President
Donald Trump spoke last week with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen a
conversation that was described by senior European officials as a
"horrendous call." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402888
Ali
Abunimah, the executive director of the Electronic Intifada news website, was
arrested in Switzerland on Saturday, his organization reported. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402893
Special Prayers as daughter is released. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402890
Yesterday an airstrike in Jenin. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402835
An
IAF UAV carried out an airstrike in the Balata 'refugee camp' today (Sunday) in
an attempt to disperse a gathering of armed men. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402895
Op-Ed Caroline Glick. The IDF must win this
war. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402825
Hostages in hospital doing well with support. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402846
For
the first time in 68 weeks, Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher, and Romi Gonen - who were freed by Hamas this
past Sunday - on Friday evening held Shabbat dinners together with their
families. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402839
The
IDF on Saturday night clarified that it had responded to terrorists who posed a
threat to soldiers in Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402863
Ed-Op Canadian Politics only. https://dianebederman.com/canadas-pm-justin-traitor-i-mean-trudeau/
Jan. 27th
Day 479 and the 80th Anniversary of
the liberation of Auschwitz.
Today, I tried to make some medical
appointments it took so long that some I gave up on.
President
Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, spoke to Israeli reporters in
New York on Sunday, after an agreement was reached
between Israel and Hamas, which would see the release of three Israeli hostages
on Thursday, and three more on Saturday. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402926
From Barry Shaw: I am beginning to hear, for the
first time, from individual Australian Jews that they are considering leaving
Australia and make Aliyah to Israel.
Despite being aware of the incessant terror attacks
against us and the 15 month, multi-front, war that Israel is engaged in, they
are so outraged with the deterioration in their individual and collective
safety encouraged, in no small measure, by their local and national leadership
that deserted them in favor of the hate mobs.
In Australia, the escalation began on 8/10 with the
obscene migrant mob celebration of the Hamas genocidal slaughter in Israel and
their other barbaric crimes which were greeted in Sydney with vocal expressions
calling for the murder of Jews.
Australian Jews felt even more defenseless when their
Socialist leaders allowed these anti-Semitic expressions of targeted violence
to flourish in the cause of "free speech."
They were further shocked when the cast of an Opera
House play donned keffiyes while taking their bow after their performance,
thereby associating themselves with the Jew-hating Hamas and the chanting mob
outside their culture hall.
Australian Jews feel exposed and isolated.
This was made worse by the affirmative and active
support for Hamas, and the criticism of Israel under attack, by their national
leaders, led by PM Albanese and FM Wong.
If this wasn't bad enough, it got even worse.
The anti-Semites began burning down their synagogues
and Jewish childcare centers.
This has been followed by damage and death-threats
against their Jewish leaders.
All the hallmarks of the collapse of a nation to the
Jew haters with the Government, by their words and deeds, encouraging the
growth of the hate.
I hope, in the coming days, to have a conversation
with David Adler, the Chair of Australia's leading Jewish organization (AJA),
on The View from Israel video show, about the rapid deterioration that is now
making Australian Jews think seriously about making Aliyah to Israel.
You will be shocked to learn that David has been the
target of a death threat.
Keep watching this space.
Barry Shaw, The View from Israel.
Liri says there are two million terrorists in
Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402950
The
ISA and Israel Police over the past month arrested two Israelis suspected of
carrying out security crimes and espionage for Iran. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402948
Suhil
Bahij Gharb, a senior intelligence officer in the Lebanese army's unit for
southern Lebanon, allegedly passed the Hezbollah terror group sensitive
information from the war room shared with the US and France, the British Times
reported Sunday. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402938
You'd
be surprised at the number of Iranian who HATE Palestinians. What happened to
that sympathy? It's gone - it's evaporated.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402943
The Miriam restaurant in Brooklyn NY, where vandals defaced the
property with antisemitic graffiti and red paint. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402930
Op-Ed Yossi Yoshua Time for West Bank
Operation. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/syvprahvkl#autoplay
Israel
has reached an agreement with the United States Space Agency to include the
first Israeli female astronaut in a future space mission, Minister of
Innovation, Science and Technology, Gila Gamliel, announced Monday morning at
the annual Ramon Conference in Tel Aviv. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/syphdandjx
The Irish Antisemite at the UN. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-839370
Take-out in Tulkarm. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-839439
https://www.timesofisrael.com/13-israeli-tourists-injured-some-seriously-in-bus-crash-in-laos/
HIS MIRACLE: https://www.timesofisrael.com/manfred-goldberg-remembers-the-angel-who-was-sent-to-save-me-in-a-nazi-labor-camp/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-confirms-lifting-hold-on-delivery-of-2000-pound-bombs-to-israel/
Jan. 28th
Day 480
Swarms of Gazans head north 200-300,000. https://www.timesofisrael.com/security-contractors-check-for-weaponry-in-cars-returning-to-northern-gaza/
Netanyahu looking to meet Trump. https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-aiming-to-meet-trump-at-white-house-next-week-in-first-visit-by-foreign-leader/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/shamir-medical-center-prepares-for-5-thai-hostages/
The
leader of a significant Christian Lebanese political party blamed the Hezbollah
terrorist organization for the incident in which about
24 people were killed by IDF fire when they attempted to return to their homes
in southern Sunday. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402962
We are only encouraging more abductions – RP – the time was before Gilad Shalit’s release not now. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402960
She
also thanked the IDF observer Liri Albag, who was released over the weekend,
and, according to her, saved her life. "She was tough with him (the
terrorist). Liri is strength, and she did it. I told her: 'You saved my life.' https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403003
Judge
Rivka Friedman-Feldman announced overnight, hours before another hearing was
scheduled for Prime Minister Netanyahu's testimony in the case known as Case
2000 that the session planned for today is postponed due to one of the judges
in the panel being ill. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402997
President
Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that he had spoken to Egypt’s President
Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi about the relocation
plan he
proposed over the weekend, which would see Egypt and Jordan taking in Gazans
who fled the fighting in the Gaza Strip. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402993
Anti-Hamas Gazan censored. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403002
Not destroying Hamas’s governing apparatus was
a mistake. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403000
Hezbollah
leader Naim Qassem announced on Monday that the group would not tolerate any
justification for delaying the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern
Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402995
Monday,
during a joint IDF and ISA counterterrorism activity, an IAF aircraft struck
and eliminated Ihab Abu Atiwi, a terrorist who served as the head of the Hamas
terrorist organization in Tulkarm, and an additional terrorist. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402968
Jenin, if we have to we will go house to house.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402976
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said on Monday evening
that, over the past day, IDF troops precisely operated against suspects who
posed a threat to the troops operating in the Gaza Strip. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402985
Trouble maker kept from Yehuda and Shomron. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402981
Columbia University has
identified two individuals from an “affiliated institution” who took part
in the disruption of a course on the history of
modern Israel taught by an Israeli professor last Tuesday, the Columbia
Daily Spectator reported on Monday, citing a statement released by the
university. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402996
https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/01/27/iran-unveils-gaza-drone-1000-km-range/
Jan. 29th
Day 481
There was a large police raid of 1500 policemen
in Um-el-farm yesterday. Last night, the Arab Mafia elsewhere knocked off two
more leaving 18 dead this month.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/defense-minister-in-syria-buffer-zone-says-idf-to-stay-indefinitely/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-contractor-mistakenly-killed-by-idf-troops-in-gaza-army-says/
B’nai
Brit Canada’s urged the University of Toronto to prevent a convicted terrorist
from appearing virtually at a student event scheduled for Thursday. An event
hosted by the University of Toronto’s Muslim Students’ Association (UTMSA),
which is a recognized student group, the “Watermelon Coalition,” and a group
called U of T Solidarity with Palestine. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403051
Kim
Jong Un urged an expansion of the country's nuclear capabilities during a visit
to a nuclear material production facility and a nuclear weapons institute, Reuters
reported, citing North Korea’s official news agency KCNA. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403052
Shas
Chairman, MK Aryeh Deri, issued an ultimatum on Tuesday evening regarding the
status of yeshiva students. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403034
Jenin: Commando Brigade eliminated terrorists and
carried out special operations to apprehend dozens of terrorists. The soldiers
located and dismantled explosives and numerous weapons. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403030
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit announced that over the
past hour, in order to eliminate the threat, an IAF aircraft struck a Hezbollah
truck and an additional vehicle that transferred weapons in the area of Chaqif
and Nabatieh in southern Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403037
Sydney
police reported that a caravan laden with enough explosives to create a
40-meter blast wave has been found in Sydney’s north-west suburb, with notes
suggesting a Jewish synagogue could be a target, reported the Sydney Morning
Herald. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403063
Secretary
of State Marco Rubio spoke on Tuesday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr
Abdelatty to discuss the latest developments in Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403047
Lebanese
media reported that the army had taken control of a huge tunnel complex, known
by Hezbollah as "Imad 4,” which was exposed by the terrorist organization
last August, as part of Hezbollah's psychological warfare, shortly before the
pager attack against Hezbollah. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403060
Senate
Democrats on Tuesday voted to filibuster a Republican-led bill aimed at
sanctioning officials from the International Criminal Court (ICC), CNN reported. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403042
This is one of the reasons that the army cannot
accommodate Charedi Soldiers: Three haredi from the Chabad movement are expected to be discharged
from the Hashmonaim Brigade three weeks after their induction because of their
insistence on immersing in a nearby spring every morning.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402971
https://www.timesofisrael.com/defense-minister-in-syria-buffer-zone-says-idf-to-stay-indefinitely/
Jan. 30th
Day 482
As I write, Agam Berger has been released. She
of all the faces of the hostages is a bit dearer to me. Her lips and eyes are
similar to my second great-grandson. We celebrated his 4th birthday
this week. My daughter found for me an Aba (Father) of Shabbos puzzle. She
ordered the full kindergarten kit for him but it has to arrive. Aba Shel Shabbat
is special VIP in the kindergarten so for 30 or 35 weeks the children take
turns and give out candies or snacks to the others as they take turns. https://www.timesofisrael.com/hostages-arbel-yehoud-agam-berger-gadi-mozes-to-go-free-thursday-along-with-5-thais/
Over 150 explosive devises found in Tulkarm. 10
terrorists planning attacks on road 6 were eliminated. This would have been
part of a version of 10/7 from Yehuda and Shomron. We are talking about close
to hundreds of Yishuvim, Kfar Saba, Modiin Illit and even Maccabean and Reut in
the green line that are close to Arab towns. https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-least-10-said-killed-by-idf-strike-targeting-terror-cell-in-northern-west-bank/
Defense
Minister Israel Katz visited Jenin refugee camp today (Wednesday) along with
Central Command Commander Major General Avi Bluth, Judea and Samaria Division
Commander Yaki Dolf, and the commander of the Menashe Brigade. We will remain. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403079
President Donald Trump's
administration is offering federal workers the chance to take a "deferred
resignation," which would mean they agree now to resign but get paid
through September. https://www.aol.com/news/trump-administration-offer-2-million-223734234.html
Deadly food recall: https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/walmarts-broccoli-recall-now-classified-232100942.html
Yad
Vashem Way: In “The Wandering Jew,” a 1947 oil-and-canvas painting by Dutch
artist Eliezer Neuberger, a barefoot man wearing torn garments gazes forward
while behind him an elderly mysterious figure who evokes the prophet Elijah
raises his hand in blessing. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403116
Degel HaTorah: "The
government is stable and it has overcome not-so-simple challenges. There are
those who want it to fall, but that won't happen," said Deputy Minister
Uri Maklev at an annual transportation conference. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403104
Department
of Defense Spokesman John Ullyot said in a readout of the call that Hegseth
reaffirmed “the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel.”
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403110
In this world nobody knows but in
the next well really.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-transfers-90-patriot-interceptors-from-israel-to-ukraine-report/
Gad and Arbel are being released now. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403123
Sofar out of approximately 1,000,000 about
700,000 have returned to northern Gaza.
Jan. 31st
Day 483 end of week 69
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-soldier-killed-in-jenin-gunbattle-amid-west-bank-crackdown/
His murderers eliminated. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403191
Conclusion: The wife and babies of Yarden
Murdered: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403201
Shabbos Times: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/shabat
Op-Ed You can’t fix stupid. By
Rabbi Rachamim Pauli.
Rabbi Shach held that if one is
Charedi and working, he should serve in the army. I served along with a lot of
ex-Ponevez, Gerer Chassidim, other Chassidim and other people who left Kollelim
to work. It is the honorable thing to do.
Every country has clerical
exemption from the army. I had a 4D in the USA as I was in Yeshiva.
But this is not good enough for
those who hate Charedim and Torah Scholars. They want to destroy the
institutions. Approximately half of the Charedim would go. At the age of 30plus
both Rav Mimran Shlita and my other Chavruta Yitzchak O. went to the army to
enlist. At the time they were told “Don’t call us, we’ll call you.”
The truth is that the army does not
want Charedim they don’t want religion oozing down to the non-religious. I once
had to explain to my commander about family purity and why I wanted to go home
even though a week before I had been on leave.
So instead of having 50% of the
Charedim go and enlist or be drafted on a voluntary basis and the army would
let the other 50% continue to learn, they are getting nobody. If the Rabbis say
do not go into the army, they won’t jail, fines and sanctions don’t help. So
out of thousands of calls this year, the army got a few hundred. Had they
cooperated with the Charedim, they would have had thousands. This is not what
these wicked people want. What was good for over 70years with many Charedi
Soldiers suddenly came the idea to crush the population. YOU CAN CATCH MORE
FLIES WITH HONEY THAN CHILLI PEPPER AND VINEAGAR.
Funny nobody demands army or public
service from Israeli Arabs and nobody raises a stink.
Iran
says foreign minister in Qatar to meet Hamas leaders | The Times of Israel
Outrageous Arab victory marches. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403174
https://www.timesofisrael.com/church-defrocks-priest-for-mimicking-elon-musks-nazi-like-salute/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/iraqi-man-who-burned-qurans-in-sweden-shot-dead-during-livestream/
Hamas will continue governing Gaza until
alternative is found. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403177
Infuriating release of hostages. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403142
"I
felt nauseous at the sight of the barbaric crowd, full of malice, uneducated,
not understanding anything. As a Muslim woman, I see these images and I am
ashamed. I am ashamed that this is the image of Islam that is being
portrayed, especially after October 7th." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403167
Israel
Defense Forces (IDF) revealed new footage on Thursday evening from the
assassination of Marwan Issa, deputy commander of Hamas' military wing and
number three in the terror organization. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403165
Before the ceasefire, two Nukhba terrorists
died. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403161
Egypt and Jordan will take in Gazans we give
them enough aid. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403173
Naphtali Bennett projected poll winner. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403185
A
female soldier reported that while guarding the Hamas Nukhba terrorists at the
Anatot Detention Facility, she was forced to stand in front of the shower door
and see a naked terrorist. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403190
Israeli
researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was kidnapped in Iraq nearly two years ago,
is expected to be released soon in exchange for the release of eight Hezbollah
terrorists by Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403199
A healthy, happy and peaceful
Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli
