Dovid ben Zahava has been declared free of
illness please remove from the prayer list.
Memory Lane 2011: A little miracle a film of Moshe Feiglin’s son who
was in a Coma for two months and still has rehabilitation to go through: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvBlG8qSVZU
Another Miracle, was a man named David Amoyal phoned in regarding
the suspicious object in Yerushalayim. He was a short distance from the blast
he was moderately wounded after bearing the brunt of the sideway explosion he
told the people to run away as he was on the phone with the police. The foreign
tourist did not understand him and unfortunately died. Not one of the nails
from the bomb touched Moshe. He intends to return to work at the kiosk next to
the bus stop as soon as he recovers.
From Valerie it was more than a double miracle for the
baby was swept by the Tsunami out of the hands of the mother and the rescuers
barely heard the infant: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1366155/Japan-earthquake-survivor-reunited-baby-daughter--tsunami-warning-sounds.html
As told to me by my wife: The terrorist entered first
an empty house on Itamar. The owners were supposed to have lent the house in
their absence to a couple visiting a Bar Mitzvah. However, the woman 7 months
pregnant had a problem breathing and had to go to the hospital and thus they
survived. – all this in Mar. 2011
Note: For the next few months, I
will be recovering data lost from 2011 when my computer fell and data was lost.
Since it is in my blogspot, I am recovering the Parsha, Stories and Miracles. I
WILL BE REVIEWING AND ADDING ON TO THE PARSHA FROM A MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE RABBI
PAULI.
Parsha Tazria
Back in 2011, I did not have the
introduction to the Parsha. If you recall, last week after the two sons of
Aharon HaCohain were taken by HASHEM, I mentioned that after such a tragedy,
the Torah is taking a Halachic Break. Our minds are turned to the laws of
Kashrus, Childbirth and Tzoras. Tzoras, as I wrote, is more like Psoriasis and
mistranslated Leprosy. The quarantine from the main population is similar but
at a certain point it is “cured” or clean. Tzoras is not only on people but
also on clothing and the walls of houses in the form of mold.
2011 Question: The Torah is talking about the initiation of 7 days of
the Mishkan and the Divine Fire coming down on the 8th day only to be
spoiled by the death of the two sons of Aaron. Why does HASHEM break off from
telling the narrative and go into the laws of childbirth and Tzoras (Leprosy or
a Lashon HaRa caused disease)?
Answer: There are two ways of understanding Torah. One of logic and
belief such as I can see logically that for 7 days Aaron and his sons need
preparation for being Cohanim and logical reasons and perhaps psychological
reasons for Korbanos for sin, guilt, thanksgiving etc. That is on the level of
intelligence and belief. This is why when things are above logic one cannot
fully comprehend them. (My wife asked me about Parah Aduma – the Tumay becomes
Tahor and the Tahor becomes Tumay – it is not logical. I replied that it is a
Chok or legal axiom of the Torah – perhaps I should have gone further into what
is Tumay and what is Tahor and that they are also based on axioms.)
The second level of understanding is to completely nullify ones being
before G-D as our soul and life come from him. (Ayn ode Bilado – there is
nothing besides HIM) In this context the ingredients of the Torah elevate to a
level higher than time, place, before, after, sequence, etc. Everything becomes
part and parcel of G-D. The thinking of the greatest minds and philosophers are
blurred by the Bitul (making into nothing) of oneself. This is the level of
true faith. For if faith is limited by logic, order, rhyme or rhythm it is not
true faith. Since the Torah is the recipe for our existence in the physical
universe one must go with the flow of the order in which it was given.
Sometimes it makes sense to the average human brain and sometimes it is above
human knowledge and logic. For our bodies only catch a small spectrum of light,
sound, smell, taste, and even touch.
Certain animals see and hear more than we do. A dog can out smell
sensitive robots in detecting explosives. I am sure this extends to taste and
some microbes can exist in a nuclear environment and not die and also extreme
heat and cold. So man fails at all the five senses. 2025 Fox News runs a story of a dog that
acted strangely to the owner and it turned out the earliest stage of cancer was
within her. https://www.foxnews.com/video/6371843791112
An alternative thought on the subject: On a simple level it is human
nature to block out tragedy like the death of the two sons of Aaron and go on
to a more pleasant subject like a woman who gives birth. Therefore the Chumash
moves on to the subject of birth this week.
Here is one connection between this coming section and our last Parsha.
The last Parsha started off on Yom Ha Shemini and Pasuk 3 deals with another
but different Yom Ha Shemini. The natural world revolves upon things up to 7
for on the 7th day G-D rested. So the number 8 is above the Teva [nature].
Having a Bris on Yom Ha Shemini elevates the child into the covenant of
Avraham. (Note the reason why it is so difficult to overcome our Yishmael
enemies is that they too are part of the covenant and monotheistic. – HASHEM
has given them wealth in this world for their one Mitzvah all the more so for
our 605 more Mitzvos than them in the next.)
Story of the relationship between
Shemini and Tazria that happened to me around the year when we made the Bracha
on the new Solar Cycle. I decided to make a Seeyum for my father’s Yahrzeit at
a Kollel that I had donated 20 “Standers”. I brought a cake that my wife made.
I had wine, drinks and perhaps something else for the little party.
At the party were plenty of
Kollelniks. Some, I had known for perhaps nine years. But when it came to food (Shemini
ends with Kashrus) they were very pedantic about what goes into their mouths.
So they grilled me like I was being interrogated by the Viet Cong as a prisoner
what flour my wife used, do we check the eggs for blood spots, etc. After that,
they were satisfied and they did not eat anyway. (Lashon HaRa and embarrassing
somebody in public – Tzoras) Today, I simply would say, “My wife has the
highest standard of Kashrus and Pareve on cakes. If you want to eat, then eat
and if you don’t want to eat then don’t.” In my Kollel, since I am the Rosh
Kollel and CFO they don’t question me and neither does our neighboring Kollel.
From here onwards 98% of the
comments are new and fresh:
12:1
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 Speak unto the children of
Israel, saying: If a woman be delivered, and bear a man-child, then she shall
be unclean seven days; as in the days of the impurity of her sickness shall she
be unclean.
Our Sages knew that if a woman will
get to seed first (the meaning of Tazria) then she will give birth a son. If
the man gets to seed first then it is a daughter. So this is the formula to
have a son or a daughter.
3 And
in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be
circumcised. 4 And she shall continue in the blood of purification
three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the
sanctuary, until the days of her purification be fulfilled.
The Torah allows her blood to be
clean on the 7th day so that she can come to the Bris. This
continues to the 40th day when she is purified in the Mikvah. She
shall then bring a Korban.
5 But
if she bear a maid-child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her
impurity; and she shall continue in the blood of purification threescore and
six days.
A father of only girls tends to
turn away from his wife and the Torah therefore requires a longer separation so
that his desire will return unto him. (My theory but I think it not far from
the truth.)
6 And
when the days of her purification are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter,
she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt-offering, and a young
pigeon, or a turtle-dove, for a sin-offering, unto the door of the tent of
meeting, unto the priest. 7 And he shall offer it before the LORD,
and make atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the fountain of her
blood. This is the law for her that bears, whether a male or a female.
The purification offering is the
same for a boy or girl in value. Humans need both male and female offspring.
The creation is dependent on the fact that as a couple one helps the other. She
is a help mate for him. He is stronger more aggressive and she is more patient
to raise children that are more often ungrateful than appreciative for what the
parents do for them.
8 And
if her means suffice not for a lamb, then she shall take two turtle-doves, or
two young pigeons: the one for a burnt-offering, and the other for a
sin-offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be
clean.
As with all Korbanos, if
the person is average or rich they bring some more prestigic animal and if
poor, less or in some cases only flour.
13:1
And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying: 2 When a man
shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, or a scab, or a bright spot, and
it becomes in the skin of his flesh the plague of leprosy, then he shall be
brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests.
At this point we are finished with
the uncleanliness of having afterbirth. Essentially, the afterbirth does not
live and as a result Tuma is caused. Another cause of Tuma is the raw skin and
the discoloration (we will see greenish mold on the walls of the house or
clothing which is path of this plague). The cause of the plague is Lashon HaRa
either in this present incarnation or possibly a Karma kickback from a past
incarnation when the person with the disease was a gadabout or gossip.
3 And
the priest shall look upon the plague in the skin of the flesh; and if the hair
in the plague be turned white, and the appearance of the plague be deeper than
the skin of his flesh, it is the plague of leprosy; and the priest shall look
on him, and pronounce him unclean. 4 And if the bright spot be white
in the skin of his flesh, and the appearance thereof be not deeper than the
skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white, then the priest shall shut up
him that hath the plague seven days.
It is a possible pigment eating bacteria
or infection that only has an affect on sun tan. Some people develop this at
the end of the summer. The cause is possible Lashon HaRa besides the bacteria.
7days not speaking gossip might just be the cure.
5 And
the priest shall look on him the seventh day; and, behold, if the plague stay
in its appearance, and the plague be not spread in the skin, then the priest
shall shut him up seven days more. 6 And the priest shall look on him
again the seventh day; and, behold, if the plague be dim, and the plague be not
spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is a scab; and
he shall wash his clothes, and be clean. 7 But if the scab spread
abroad in the skin, after that he hath shown himself to the priest for his
cleansing, he shall show himself to the priest again. 8 And the
priest shall look, and, behold, if the scab be spread in the skin, then the
priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is leprosy.
This is the test, if the disease
has stopped spreading, he is clean/Tahor and if not, Tumay.
9 When
the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest. 10 And
the priest shall look, and, behold, if there be a white rising in the skin, and
it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the
rising, 11 it is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the
priest shall pronounce him unclean; he shall not shut him up; for he is
unclean.
This has hair turning white and raw
flesh, it is not a bacteria eating pigment. It is Tzoras.
12 And
if the leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin
of him that hath the plague from his head even to his feet, as far as appears
to the priest; 13 then the priest shall look; and, behold, if the
leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the
plague; it is all turned white: he is clean.
When his whole body has become
white then he is clean for the disease has nowhere to spread.
14 But
whensoever raw flesh appears in him, he shall be unclean. 15 And the
priest shall look on the raw flesh, and pronounce him unclean; the raw flesh is
unclean: it is leprosy. 16 But if the raw flesh again be turned into
white, then he shall come unto the priest; 17 and the priest shall
look on him; and, behold, if the plague be turned into white, then the priest
shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he is clean.
When the raw flesh is no longer raw
but white, the plague is now Tahor.
18 And
when the flesh hath in the skin thereof a boil, and it is
healed, 19 and in the place of the boil there is a white rising, or a
bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be shown to the
priest. 20 And the priest shall look; and, behold, if the appearance
thereof be lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white, then the
priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy, it hath broken
out in the boil.
While there are four types of Nega
Tzoras on man
21 But
if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and it
be not lower than the skin, but be dim, then the priest shall shut him up seven
days. 22 And if it spread abroad in the skin, then the priest shall
pronounce him unclean: it is a plague. 23 But if the bright spot stay
in its place, and be not spread, it is the scar of the boil; and the priest
shall pronounce him clean.
Not every bright spot on the skin
is Tzoras. Sometimes it is something else entirely. It must not be deeper than
the skin, dim and have no white hairs.
24 Or
when the flesh hath in the skin thereof a burning by fire, and the quick flesh
of the burning become a bright spot, reddish-white, or white; 25 then
the priest shall look upon it; and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be
turned white, and the appearance thereof be deeper than the skin, it is
leprosy, it hath broken out in the burning; and the priest shall pronounce him
unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.
Now in this case with
reddish-white, a bright spot, deeper than the skin with white hair, he is Tumay
and has the Nega.
26 But
if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hair in the bright
spot, and it be no lower than the skin, but be dim; then the priest shall shut
him up seven days. 27 And the priest shall look upon him the seventh
day; if it spread abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him
unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.
Here he is being examined and
measured if the spot is stable or spreading.
28 And
if the bright spot stay in its place, and be not spread in the skin, but be
dim, it is the rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean;
for it is the scar of the burning.
There Tahor no change no Tuma and
the Tahor status remains.
29 And
when a man or woman hath a plague upon the head or upon the
beard, 30 then the priest shall look on the plague; and, behold, if
the appearance thereof be deeper than the skin, and there be in it yellow thin
hair, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a scall, it is leprosy
of the head or of the beard. 31 And if the priest look on the plague
of the scall, and, behold, the appearance thereof be not deeper than the skin,
and there be no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut up him that hath
the plague of the scall seven days.
Up until this point, we have been
dealing with Tzoras on skin that has little or no hair. Now we are examining
the area where hair grows. This time the hair is not necessarily white with the
plague but can be yellow and thinner hair.
32 And
in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague; and, behold, if the
scall be not spread, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the appearance of
the scall be not deeper than the skin, 33 then he shall be shaven,
but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall shut up him that hath
the scall seven days more. 34 And in the seventh day the priest shall
look on the scall; and, behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, and the
appearance thereof be not deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce
him clean; and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
The Cohain has shaved the area around the scall. If
that area becomes discolored and deeper than the skin, Tumay otherwise not
deeper and not spread Tahor.
35 But
if the scall spread abroad in the skin after his cleansing, 36 then
the priest shall look on him; and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin,
the priest shall not seek for the yellow hair: he is unclean. 37 But
if the scall stay in its appearance, and black hair be grown up therein; the
scall is healed, he is clean; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
The question is if the scall
spreads or is stable.
38 And
if a man or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white
bright spots; 39 then the priest shall look; and, behold, if the
bright spots in the skin of their flesh be of a dull white, it is a tetter, it
hath broken out in the skin: he is clean.
Tetter: a skin disease in humans or animals
causing itchy or pustular patches, such as eczema or ringworm. This is not the
Nega but caused by something else.
40 And
if a man's hair be fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he
clean. 41 And if his hair be fallen off from the front part of his
head, he is forehead-bald; yet is he clean. 42 But if there be in the
bald head, or the bald forehead, a reddish-white plague, it is leprosy breaking
out in his bald head, or his bald forehead. 43 Then the priest shall
look upon him; and, behold, if the rising of the plague be reddish-white in his
bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the appearance of leprosy in the skin of
the flesh, 44 he is a leprous man, he is unclean; the priest shall
surely pronounce him unclean: his plague is in his head. 45 And the
leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and the hair of his
head shall go loose, and he shall cover his upper lip, and shall cry: 'Unclean,
unclean.' 46 All the days wherein the plague is in him he shall be
unclean; he is unclean; he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his
dwelling be.
The plague has caused his baldness.
Since the Tzoras has caused his baldness, he is Tumay.
47 And
when the plague of leprosy is in a garment, whether it be a woolen garment, or
a linen garment; 48 or in the warp, or in the woof,
whether they be of linen, or of wool; or in a skin, or in any thing made of
skin. 49 If the plague be greenish or reddish in the
garment, or in the skin, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of
skin, it is the plague of leprosy, and shall be shown unto the priest. 50 And the priest shall look upon the plague, and shut up that
which hath the plague seven days. 51 And he shall look
on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, or in
the warp, or in the woof, or in the skin, whatever service skin is used for,
the plague is a malignant leprosy: it is unclean.
I have seen such a mold due to lack
of aeration it starts off green then turns orange to almost brown as it thickens
and ages. (I can imagine this comes from talking about somebody’s dress, suit,
lack of taste or something similar.)
52 And
he shall burn the garment, or the warp, or the woof, whether it be of wool or
of linen, or anything of skin, wherein the plague is; for it is a malignant
leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.
The mold is a health danger.
53 And
if the priest shall look, and, behold, the plague be not spread in the garment,
or in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; 54 then
the priest shall command that they wash the thing wherein the plague is, and he
shall shut it up seven days more.
The area is quarantined.
55 And
the priest shall look, after that the plague is washed; and, behold, if the
plague have not changed its color, and the plague be not spread, it is unclean;
thou shalt burn it in the fire; it is a fret, whether the bareness be within or
without. 56 And if the priest look, and, behold, the
plague be dim after the washing thereof, then he shall rend it out of the
garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof. 57 And if it appear still in the garment, or in the warp, or
in the woof, or in any thing of skin, it is breaking out, thou shalt burn that
wherein the plague is with fire. 58 And the garment,
or the warp, or the woof, or whatsoever thing of skin it be, which thou shalt
wash, if the plague be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second
time, and shall be clean.
The plague area is washed and
cleaned. If it is what I think the cause is, it needs aeration. Which would
probably apply to house too. That is why next week we shall see the breaking
down of the walls of the house.
59 This
is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of wool or linen, or in the
warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin, to pronounce it clean, or to
pronounce it unclean.
When the Torah ends a Sedra with the words ritually
impure it is a most strong warning unto us. Those who understand will
understand and in short regarding the Satan’s hook, “Even a fish would not get
into trouble if he kept his big mouth shut.” Thus Lashon HaRa brings on Tzoras.
Next week, two other types of Tzoras.
Trying to avoid the
death march.
He said Shema Yisrael
and then a Miracle Happened.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407348
Menachem Haberman Personal
Victory: Menachem said ‘Shema Yisrael’ then the miracle happened. By H. Baruch
Holocaust survivor Menachem Haberman
shares his harrowing story: the death march, escaping through sewers, surviving
in crowded train car, and his message to Israel – 'be united, protect your
land.'
Holocaust survivor Menachem Haberman was interviewed by Arutz
Sheva-Israel National News on Holocaust Memorial Day and shared his harrowing story
from the Munkács ghetto, through the Auschwitz and Birkenau death camps, to
Buchenwald – where he survived the death march and managed to escape. During
the interview, he conveyed a message of unity and hope to the people of Israel.
"This Holocaust Remembrance Day marks eighty years since my
victory over the Germans," Haberman opened the conversation. "I was
in the Munkács ghetto, and I was in Auschwitz and Birkenau. My job was to
remove ashes from the crematorium. I was a wagon driver, I transported things
to the camps. Every day I carried milk to the train and brought the milk jugs
to Mengele's bloc, where he conducted his experiments."
He went on to describe the long road to the Buchenwald camp.
"We walked for five days wearing flip-flops, an undershirt, pants and a
jacket. When we left, we got half a kilo (one pound) of bread. We walked in the
cold of minus 20 degrees and we had to be careful not to step on the corpses on
the way."
After journeying by foot, they reached a train station, where 160
people were crammed into one train car. "On the third day, towards noon,
we hear the noise of planes. Several US planes descended and dropped bombs.
Suddenly the guys said to me, 'Menachem, you're bleeding on your back'.”
Twenty-two people got off his car at Buchenwald and survived,
out of the 160 who were there at the beginning of the journey. "I could
barely get down, I had no strength. They dragged me. I was in children's block
no. 66 until the beginning of April, when the Americans were coming close.
That’s when the Germans started the death march. On the second day, they came
to my block. There were about 800 children under 18. They selected about two
hundred for the death march.
"Two friends who Haberman met in the bloc told him about a
sewage tunnel they had found in the area and offered him to escape from there
with them, to avoid being sent to the death march. "There were guards
standing about 300 meters from this pit so we sat there until it was dark and
then we went out. We spent five days in this bloc, we didn't eat or drink. The
next day we got up in the morning. We had no more energy. We couldn't
walk."
On April 10, the Germans arrived and sent him to the death
march. "When we were already outside the camp, there was an alarm from the
American planes, so they immediately locked the doors and as I turned around by
the fence I saw that the wires were not all the way down. I lay on my stomach.
The guy above me pushed me and I ran to the bloc."
The next day, the camp went quiet. "Towards 10 o'clock, the
camp commander called over the loudspeaker ordering all the guards around us to
take their weapons and go to the headquarters. They approached us with machine
guns. We said they must be coming for us. We said 'Shema Yisrael,' [the Jewish
prayer one says also at a time when death is imminent] and a second later they
were gone. That afternoon we heard a voice on the loudspeaker speaking in
Yiddish. It was the Rabbi of the American army, who said, 'Children come out of
the holes, you are free.' He came and took us. Out of the 800, we were only
about 100."
Menachem wants to convey a message: "First of all, us Jews
must be united. We must not be separated. How can that be? We must. We need to
be united and be good, and raise children who will walk on the right path, help
each other and protect our country. We haven’t got another place."
Haberman expressed objection to the comparisons made between the
Hamas massacre and the Holocaust: "I hear people say that the hostages are
like Holocaust survivors. I totally disagree with that. They are not Holocaust
survivors – they are the survivors of the October 7th massacre."
Heroism of the Six Day War
During the battle of Tel Fachah a 20year old infantry soldier lay down on
barbed wire separating the Banias from the way up to Har Hermon. His friends
walked over his back despite any cuts and pains that he might have had. He got
up and continued fighting. He was charging the enemy when a bullet took him
down. Had he lived, he would be 78years old now. Some people live long and work
hard to have a place in the world to come and other die on a Kiddush HASHEM and
earn it at an early age.
Over the Chin is also
sufficient by R’ Yerachmiel Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1429-31
The "maskilim" were Jews who disdained Mitzvah
observance, and openly promoted and championed for the obligation of Jews to
study secular subjects. They challenged the traditional education that Jewish
children were receiving, and presented themselves before the Czar and his
ministers as "enlightened" ['maskilim'] Jews. [1]
The cooperation between the Russian government and the maskilim
- including their battle against the Rabbinical reign and religious Jewry in
general - began during the leadership of the Mitteler ['Middle'][2] Rebbe and
intensified during the thirty-eight years of the leadership of his son-in-law
and successor, the third Lubavitcher Rebbe, known as the Tzemach Tzedek.
In 1858, when the latter was asked to participate in yet a third
conference with government officials and representatives of the maskilim, he
declined a second time, and instead sent his seventh son, the Maharash, to
represent him. After eventually becoming his father's successor, the Rebbe
Maharash remained at the forefront of the battle against the maskilim, openly
opposing their agenda.
During that time, in the city of Zhitomer lived a passionate
maskil by the name of Mr. Bergman. He wanted to propose to the government that
a decree should be enforced making it mandatory for all Rabbis to be fluent in
the Russian language and possess some basic knowledge in secular studies. [3]
After much planning and deliberation with his fellow maskilim,
he wrote all of his proposal on paper in detail, specifying the various stages
of the decree's implementation. They then succeeded in arranging an audience
with the Minister of Education for a formal presentation.
To demonstrate that Bergman had tremendous support, three of the
wealthiest Jews in Russia accompanied him to the meeting. They were the
magnates Mr. Varshabsky and Mr. Vavelberg, who had committed to finance the
entire program so it wouldn't cost the government anything, and Baron Ginsburg,
who agreed to also subsidize additional efforts of the maskilim.
After the magnates were cordially greeted by the minister, they
presented the proposal's author to him, who in turn invited Bergman to present
his anti-Torah decree. But as soon as Bergman opened his mouth to speak, a
frightening event took place. His tongue extended itself, as if it were falling
out of his mouth, and remained hanging over his chin! Bergman was unable to
utter a single word, yet nor was he able to withdraw his tongue back into his
mouth.
Everyone in attendance was startled and shaken at this
unbelievable occurrence. The meeting was duly canceled to enable the
unfortunate Mr. Bergman to visit a doctor. Soon, different expert doctors
attempted to help Bergman regain movement of his tongue and his speech,
ultimately resorting in desperation to performing an operation. However, their
efforts accomplished nothing, and he died shortly afterwards.
Meanwhile, at the same time this meeting was taking place, the
Rebbe Maharash was davening (praying) at the Ohel (lit. 'tent' -- a structure
over the burial site) of his father, the Tzemach Tzedek. When he returned home
he was in unusually good spirits. Smiling, he said to his son-in-law, Reb
Moshe-Leib Ginsburg: [4]
"The [ten] spies were punished [for speaking evil about
Eretz Yisrael] by having their tongues extend until their stomachs.[5] But is
it really necessary [for the tongue] to reach that far? I think that if it
stretches out] over the chin it is also sufficient!" It was only later
that the Rebbe's cryptic words were understood to refer to Bergman. [6]
At that time, Baron Ginsburg sided with the maskilim who desired
to destroy traditional Chinuch ([pure Jewish] education). Their pretext was
that Jews should be well versed in the Russian language and other secular
studies so they could get along better with Russian citizenry, and they denied
the fact that their real intent was to erode traditional Judaism. To that goal,
he had pledged to provide the money needed to cover the expenses of bringing a group
of maskilim from Berlin to Russia.
To prevent this from materializing, the Rebbe sent for Reb
Nochum Hermant, a wealthy businessman and an askan (advocate on behalf of the
Jewish community) who lived not far from Petersburg [7], instructing him to come
to Lubavitch. He then directed him to visit Baron Ginsburg and convey to him
the following warning:
"If you continue to support the maskilim in this new
endeavor of theirs, I [the Rebbe] will turn you into a pauper. To demonstrate
that I have this ability, I am informing you that every stock you will purchase
until the tenth day of this upcoming month will cause you a loss." [see
footnote #6]
Hearing these words, Baron Ginsburg trembled and immediately
instructed Reb Nochum to inform the Rebbe that he was withdrawing his pledge of
support to them. He then said: "I would like the Rebbe to instruct me what
to do with the money I pledged. For what purpose should it be used?"
"Use it to build a shul," the Rebbe replied. Obeying
the Rebbe's instructions, the Baron built the Kupetcheskye Synagogue in
Petersburg. Since it was built at the Rebbe's behest, it was decided that the
official Nusach (prayer text) of the shul be [the Chabad] "Nusach
Ari."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted and supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles
from the redaction and translation by Rabbi Sholom-DovBer Avtzon of an excerpt
from the 7th Lubavicher Rebbe's personal journal, Reshimas Hayoman, pp.
274-275.
Biographical note:
Rabbi Shmuel Schneersohn [2 Iyar 5594 - 13 Tishrei 5643 (1834-Sept. 1882)], the
fourth Lubavitch Rebbe, known as the Rebbe Maharash, was the youngest of the
seven surviving sons of his predecessor, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, the
Tsemach Tsedek, and the only one of the seven Lubvitcher Rebbes to be referred
to as a "Baal Shem Tov style [revealed miracle making] Rebbe.
Why This Week? This
Tuesday, the 2nd of the Jewish month of Iyar, is the anniversary of the birth
of the Rebbe Maharash.
Footnotes:
1 An early version of "Reformed" Jewry.
2 i.e. 'in-between' the first (Rabbi Shneur-Zalman) and third Rebbes.
3 In fact, since there were certain official functions the Rabbi of a community
was required to do for the government, such as recording births, marriages, and
so on, in most major cities and towns the government appointed their own
"rabbis" who were knowledgeable in the above
"requirements." Now Bergman was proposing that all rabbis be forced
to learn the Russian language and secular subjects, even those who were not
government rabbis and so did not have these responsibilities. [Rabbi Avtzon]
4 Not to be confused with Baron Ginsburg.
5 Num. 14:37 with Rashi's explanation.
6 The Rebbe Maharash was the only one of the seven Lubvitcher rebbes to be
referred to as a "Baal Shem Tov style [revealed miracle making]
Rebbe." We see here how the Rebbe Maharash resorted to a Baal Shem Tov
type conduct to see what was happening far away and publicly counteract it.
[Rabbi Avtzon]
7 At that time, it was forbidden for a Jew to live in the capital unless he was
a merchant or the like.
Recently, the Maldives have banned Israelis
from coming to their Island. I don’t know if it was the behavior of the
Israelis or just plain Islamic antisemitism. I figure the later. I am not
endorsing this promotion and it is not at all inexpensive to put it mildly but
if offers alternative ideas. https://www.totallyjewishtravel.com/blog/luxury-travel-destinations-besides-maldives?cmid=5ac96d3e-83ef-4537-83e5-3003eeed3e85
Milestone: David Horowitz,
86, a former 1960s radical turned right-wing firebrand who decried what he
called the “the efforts of the radical left and its Islamist allies to destroy
American values,” died Tuesday after a lengthy battle with cancer. https://www.timesofisrael.com/david-horowitz-radical-american-leftist-turned-right-wing-firebrand-dies-at-86/
Inyanay Diyoma
Apr. 26 and Apr. 27
Day 568 and Day 569 start of week 82
Arab Mafia: https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-suspects-killed-police-officer-seriously-wounded-in-shootout-in-north/
Again early warning fails but in the wee hours
of the morning it was better for my wife and I. https://www.timesofisrael.com/houthi-ballistic-missile-triggers-sirens-near-dead-sea-is-intercepted-idf/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-windsurfer-tamar-steinberg-wins-gold-at-world-championship/
Aharon
Karov, the most critically-injured soldier in Operation Cast Lead some 16 years
ago, has re-enlisted in the IDF - this time, as part of a team creating the
Disabled Soldiers Department. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407428
Fire that burned 20,000 Dunam was purposely
set. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407469
Troops
located humanitarian aid bags from UNRWA approximately 80 meters from a
building that previously served as a school and about 100 meters from a
building that was used as a hospital in Rafah. Inside the bags, a weapons cache
belonging to Hamas was hidden. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407472
Qatar says scandal political and nonexistent. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407466
IDF Central Command
chief Avi Bluth rejected a request submitted by a minor who was expelled by an
administrative order from Judea and Samaria to study and prepare for
matriculation exams in the yeshiva he attended. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407463
At
the National Center for Casualties of Israel's Defense Forces in Camp Shura,
hundreds of body bags have remained since the October 7th massacre. The bags
contain both human parts and remains that require burial, such as blood. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407460
Op-Ed Merrill Eisenhower: https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/ike-my-great-grandfather-documented-nazi-death-camps-so-world-would-never-forget-im-continuing-his-mission
In parallel, antisemitic incidents in the United States have
reached record highs. According to the Anti-Defamation League, in 2023, there
were 8,873 documented antisemitic incidents – the highest number since the
ADL began tracking such incidents in 1979.
Apr. 28th
Day 570
PM Lawyer claims to have evidence to
shred Bar’s claim. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407514
Rabbi
Elchanan Danino, the father of Master sergeant Ori Danino, who was murdered by
terrorists in Hamas captivity and whose body was returned to Israel in August
2024, spoke on Monday to Galei Tzahal, together with bereaved father Rafi
Ben-Shitrit and revealed new details about the strong faith that kept his son
going in captivity. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407517
Israel's State Comptroller, Matanyahu Englman, said on Monday that
his office is at the advanced stages of auditing the failures that led to the
October 7th Massacre. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407515
Unknown
individuals have reportedly exhumed the remains of former Syrian President
Hafez al-Assad from his grave in Qardaha, northwestern Syria. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407512
Lebanese
authorities are working to secure the arrest of several individuals suspected
of violating the ceasefire by launching rockets at northern
Israel from north of the Litani River in March. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407511
Working with the Rabbis they
could have had 6-10,000 soldiers. Instead they though stepping on the toes of
the Rabbis and Charedi Population was better. Utter Failure! https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407510
Can’t blame the Jews for this yet but Islam
will find a way:
Muslim
Migrants Set Church in Wales Ablaze - Geller Report
Apr. 29th
Day 571
I am taking off tomorrow and expect Day 572 and
573 together and probably late. Certain things I can do some of the time but
sometimes have to understand my own limitations.
In case anybody thought that the bureaucratic
nonsense in the US was bad, my wife spend a few hours’ time on the phone
between the electrical company, the bank and Solar Edge Company to fill out
forms to set things up so that our investment in electrical production would
start paying us back.
Murder she wrote: https://www.foxnews.com/world/best-selling-german-author-mom-3-found-murdered-her-houseboat
I promised my mother never to own Pfizer Stock
as they wrote ‘JEW’ on my stepfather’s Job application. A number of years ago I
saw NIKE stock was undervalued but did not buy for their WOKE policy and now
JEW again. https://www.timesofisrael.com/nike-apologizes-after-causing-uproar-with-never-again-until-next-year-marathon-ad/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-found-dead-near-car-destroyed-in-blast-in-beersheba-parking-lot/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/jews-work-here-swastika-scrawled-on-ohio-applebees/
From the non and perhaps anti-Orthodox Clergy. https://www.timesofisrael.com/over-550-rabbis-cantors-sign-letter-accusing-trump-of-abusing-antisemitism-issue/
The
IDF and ISA (Shin Bet) confirmed on Tuesday that last Thursday, in Gaza City,
the IDF and ISA eliminated Ali Naddal Husni Sarfiti, a terrorist in the
Palestinian Popular Front terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407566
A confrontation ensued Monday evening at the US Capitol during an
official visit by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407557
North
District police located a monkey that was kept inside a restroom stall in a
house in the village of Tuba-Zangariyye. The monkey was transferred to the
custody of the Nature and Parks Authority and taken for further testing and
treatment at a monkey shelter. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407560
ZOA Pres. Commenting on the negotiations between the US
and Iran, Morton Klein expressed concern that Iran would violate any deal it
may sign. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407554
Trump’s big mouth makes for reverse effect: Canadians appear
poised to grant Prime Minister Mark Carney and the
Liberal Party a fourth consecutive mandate, multiple outlets projected on
Monday night, including CityNews, The Canadian Press and The
Toronto Star. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407552
Mia Cohen, 49, has been named as the woman found buried Monday
morning in her yard on Operation Uvda Street in Hadera. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407532
Apr. 30th May 1st
Day 572 and Day 573 Memorial Day and
Independence Day
Again near Beit Shemesh a fire in the woods
causing havoc. Our lovely “Israeli Arabs” can’t stand the beauty of a forest
and that is why the land was barren for years. But like with my Torah
Commentary on Tzoras above there is a spiritual cause. The following is my
opinion which one can accept or reject. But like with Newtonian Physics in the
spiritual world every negative spiritual action produces a negative spiritual
reaction and if positive, the same. It is the anti-religious forces trying to
destroy Yeshivas with the military draft. The army planned for 4000 plus
Charedim this year and the community would have provided them between the
Sephardim and Ashkenazim, but no they wanted all. So instead of peace among
Jews and peace in the land, the opposite happens. The groundless hatred of
Charedim is most likely the main cause why 24 living out of 59 hostages are
being held in Gaza.
Memorial Day was marred as a solemn day. It had
pro and anti-Netanyahu demonstrations. Politics is dirty. I feel the pain of
the families that have loved ones dead or alive in Gaza and also the pain of
those who lost loved ones by giving into terrorist demands. It is not so black
and white.
Fire Fighters from Ukraine, Romania and other
countries mentioned in article are fighting the blaze. 18 Arrested! https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/2025-05-01/live-updates-852223
Iran’s Imperial Ambitions. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-852245
Israel is prepared for a decisive blow against Hamas.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-852253 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407691
Another Drone from Yemen. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407606
Memorial
Day, the Israel Dog Unit, a nonprofit specializing in working dogs, rushed to
save Mariana Koliev, a 70 year old woman from Petah Tikvah. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407689
The
State Prosecutor's Office submitted an indictment to the Jerusalem District
Court on Wednesday against Jerusalem residents Hasam A'jalin (34) and his
brother-in-law Malik Abdullah (20) after they made contact with members of the
Islamic State and worked to join the terror organization. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407637
https://www.timesofisrael.com/switzerland-announces-its-ban-on-hamas-will-come-into-force-on-may-15/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/7-month-old-baby-in-critical-condition-family-blame-police-search/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/hegseth-warns-iran-will-pay-consequence-for-backing-yemens-houthis/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-world-court-hearing-us-backs-israels-right-to-ban-unrwa-from-gaza/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/shabat
Have a healthy, peaceful and
wonderful Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli
