Last night, a granddaughter of
Rabbi Yosef Zvi Ben Porat married a Kodedsky, the great grandson of Rav Chaim
Kanjievsky. On the side was a small table with sweets arranged by my
granddaughter-in-law celebrating the 30th wedding anniversary of my
daughter and son-in-law as she is also a granddaughter of Rav Yosef Zvi. So I
dedicate this issue to many more healthy and happy years of marriage to my
daughter and her husband.
Prayers are needed against the
two Hamas Snipers in Gaza. They shot another soldier in the back.
Parsha Korach
We finished a lot a problems in the
past two weeks. Complaints over lack of meat and sister Miriam speaking Lashon
HaRa about her brother then the spies with Lashon HaRa on the land. Even with
the spies a there was a challenge to the physical leadership of Moshe. He has
not delivered on his promise to bring the people into the land. This week, the
challenge is far greater as it is the spiritual challenge to Moshe. Is his
position by pot luck or is it a DIVINE appoint?
16:1
Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan
and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took
men; 2 and they rose up in face of Moses, with certain of the children of
Israel, two hundred and fifty men; they were princes of the congregation, the
elect men of the assembly, men of renown;
The portion of Kohath was in the
south. This put them next to Reuven, Shimon and Gad. Dathan and Aviram were
always politically against Moshe, even as his days as prince of Egypt. Korach
like Gates, Bezos, Zuckerberg and Musk was very rich in his day. Wealth brings
about scorn and power craving. It is rare to find a Warrant Buffett or Charlie
Munger not interested in other power.
3
and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and
said unto them: 'Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are
holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them; wherefore then lift ye up
yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?'
They came up with twisted thoughts.
“You should be Holy, for I the L-RD your G-D am Holy.” So they claimed that
Moshe had no monopoly over the holiness.
4
And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face. 5 And he spoke unto Korah and
unto all his company, saying: 'In the morning the LORD will show who are His,
and who is holy, and will cause him to come near unto Him; even him whom He may
choose will He cause to come near unto Him. 6 This do: take you censors, Korah,
and all his company; 7 and put fire therein, and put incense upon them before
the LORD to-morrow; and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he
shall be holy; ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.'
Korach was Moshe’s first cousin. He
tried to convince him that he was a Levi with the task of moving the holiest
items. [Korah was over 50 but like Moshe had sons.]
8
And Moses said unto Korah: 'Hear now, ye sons of Levi: 9 is it but a small
thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation
of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of
the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them; 10 and
that He hath brought thee near, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with
thee? and will ye seek the priesthood also?
HASHEM has given me the task of
being a Levi and I do not seek Priesthood that is only for Aharon and his sons.
11
Therefore thou and all thy company that are gathered together against the
LORD--; and as to Aaron, what is he that ye murmur against him?' 12 And Moses
sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; and they said: 'We will not
come up; 13 is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land
flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, but thou must needs
make thyself also a prince over us?
These people were motivated by
jealousy, hatred and craving for power. They did not even want to talk to Moshe
or listen to reason.
14
Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor
given us inheritance of fields and vineyards; wilt thou put out the eyes of
these men? we will not come up.'
They would not accept collective
blame from the spies but rather attacked Moshe politically. Promises made but
not kept.
15
And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD: 'Respect not Thou their
offering; I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.'
This Chutzpa insult was too much
for Moshe. Although humble, he would not be trampled on like a roach.
16
And Moses said unto Korah: 'Be thou and all thy congregation before the LORD,
thou, and they, and Aaron, to-morrow; 17 and take ye every man his fire-pan,
and put incense upon them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his fire-pan,
two hundred and fifty fire-pans; thou also, and Aaron, each his fire-pan.' 18
And they took every man his fire-pan, and put fire in them, and laid incense
thereon, and stood at the door of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron. 19
And Korah assembled all the congregation against them unto the door of the tent
of meeting; and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.
I did not put Aharon in his place
due to nepotism. I did not look to be the leader but it was from HASHEM.
Tomorrow we shall see whom HASHEM chooses.
20
And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying: 21 'Separate yourselves
from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.' 22 And they
fell upon their faces, and said: 'O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh,
shall one man sin, and wilt Thou be wroth with all the congregation?'
Separate yourselves from this
congregation.
23
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 24 'Speak unto the congregation, saying:
Get you up from about the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.' 25 And Moses
rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.
26 And he spoke unto the congregation, saying: 'Depart, I pray you, from the
tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be swept away
in all their sins.'
Moshe issues a warning to the
general population of the danger of being with this congregation. Korach’s sons
heed the warning and separate themselves from the rebellion. Mrs. On Ben Peled
plies her husband with cheese and wine so that he will sleep through the event
and combs her hair at the entrance to their tent. The so-called holy rebels
don’t want a woman with uncovered beautiful hair in their thoughts for prayers
and leave him alone. She saves his life this way.
27
So they got them up from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every
side; and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents,
with their wives, and their sons, and their little ones. 28 And Moses said:
'Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works, and
that I have not done them of mine own mind. 29 If these men die the common
death of all men, and be visited after the visitation of all men, then the LORD
hath not sent Me. 30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the ground open her
mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down
alive into the pit, then ye shall understand that these men have despised the
LORD.'
If they live and their offerings
are accepted, then I have usurped power, if they die a strange death then they
were wrong.
31
And it came to pass, as he made an end of speaking all these words, that the
ground did cleave asunder that was under them. 32 And the earth opened her
mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men that
appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33 So they, and all that
appertained to them, went down alive into the pit; and the earth closed upon
them, and they perished from among the assembly.
As they stood, the earth opened as
in a normal earthquake but closed upon itself after swallowing them up.
34
And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them; for they
said: 'Lest the earth swallow us up.' 35 And fire came forth from the LORD, and
devoured the two hundred and fifty men that offered the incense.
Was this lava or fire from heaven?
They were dealt with by two of the ancient elements that was fire and earth.
17:1
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 'Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron
the priest, that he take up the fire-pans out of the burning, and scatter thou
the fire yonder; for they are become holy; 3 even the fire-pans of these men
who have sinned at the cost of their lives, and let them be made beaten plates
for a covering of the altar--for they are become holy, because they were
offered before the LORD--that they may be a sign unto the children of Israel.'
4 And Eleazar the priest took the brazen fire-pans, which they that were burnt
had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar, 5 to be a
memorial unto the children of Israel, to the end that no common man, that is
not of the seed of Aaron, draw near to burn incense before the LORD; that he
fare not as Korah, and as his company; as the LORD spoke unto him by the hand
of Moses.
These men had made the fire-pans Holy
so they were to be beaten to a cover for the Mizbayach.
6
But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured
against Moses and against Aaron, saying: 'Ye have killed the people of the
LORD.' 7 And it came to pass, when the congregation was assembled against Moses
and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tent of meeting; and, behold,
the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared. 8 And Moses and Aaron
came to the front of the tent of meeting.
A mob of friends of Dathan, Korach,
etc. complained but the Glory of the L-RD appeared and they began to fear.
9 And
the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 10 'Get you up from among this congregation,
that I may consume them in a moment.' And they fell upon their faces. 11 And
Moses said unto Aaron: 'Take thy fire-pan, and put fire therein from off the
altar, and lay incense thereon, and carry it quickly unto the congregation, and
make atonement for them; for there is wrath gone out from the LORD: the plague
is begun.'
Now G-D was wroth with these people
and a plague began killing them off. The Angel of Death had told Moshe that
Kitores (incense) keeps death away.
12
And Aaron took as Moses spoke, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and,
behold, the plague was begun among the people; and he put on the incense, and
made atonement for the people. 13 And he stood between the dead and the living;
and the plague was stayed. 14 Now they that died by the plague were fourteen
thousand and seven hundred, besides them that died about the matter of Korah.
15 And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tent of meeting, and the
plague was stayed.
Now the Cohanim went through the
Congregation with Kitores so that people would not die.
16
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 17 'Speak unto the children of Israel,
and take of them rods, one for each fathers' house, of all their princes
according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods; thou shalt write every man's
name upon his rod. 18 And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi,
for there shall be one rod for the head of their fathers' houses.
Whenever one sees the Tribe of Levi
it means that Menashe and Ephraim are joined together into the Tribe of Yosef.
19
And thou shalt lay them up in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I
meet with you. 20 And it shall come to pass, that the man whom I shall choose,
his rod shall bud; and I will make to cease from Me the murmurings of the
children of Israel, which they murmur against you.'
I will show you a miracle that you
will know who is chosen comes from ME!
21
And Moses spoke unto the children of Israel; and all their princes gave him
rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve
rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. 22 And Moses laid up the rods
before the LORD in the tent of the testimony. 23 And it came to pass on the
morrow, that Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and, behold, the rod of
Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and bloomed
blossoms, and bore ripe almonds. 24 And Moses brought out all the rods from
before the LORD unto all the children of Israel; and they looked, and took every
man his rod.
Every tribe took his rod, but the
rod of Aharon had flowers, bud and ripe almonds.
25
And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony,
to be kept there, for a token against the rebellious children; that there may
be made an end of their murmurings against Me, that they die not.' 26 Thus did
Moses; as the LORD commanded him, so did he.
This rod shall remain forever,
without water but with fresh blossoms, almonds and buds in the Aron.
27
And the children of Israel spoke unto Moses, saying: 'Behold, we perish, we are
undone, we are all undone. 28 Every one that cometh near, that cometh near unto
the tabernacle of the LORD, is to die; shall we wholly perish?'
Like with an old pay phone one
would hear the coin fall and the conversation could begin, so it was the
Congregation realized that Aharon’s appointment came from the L-RD.
18:1
And the LORD said unto Aaron: 'Thou and thy sons and thy fathers' house with
thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and thou and thy sons with thee
shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. 2 And thy brethren also, the tribe
of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou near with thee, that they may be
joined unto thee, and minister unto thee, thou and thy sons with thee being
before the tent of the testimony. 3 And they shall keep thy charge, and the
charge of all the Tent; only they shall not come nigh unto the holy furniture
and unto the altar, that they die not, neither they, nor ye.
Now the Cohanim and Leviim alone
shall bear the burden of the Sanctuary.
4
And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tent of meeting,
whatsoever the service of the Tent may be; but a common man shall not draw nigh
unto you. 5 And ye shall keep the charge of the holy things, and the charge of
the altar, that there be wrath no more upon the children of Israel. 6 And I,
behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of
Israel; for you they are given as a gift unto the LORD, to do the service of
the tent of meeting. 7 And thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your
priesthood in everything that pertains to the altar, and to that within the
veil; and ye shall serve; I give you the priesthood as a service of gift; and
the common man that draws nigh shall be put to death.'
The Cohanim are born so from only
the seed of Aharon and anybody, even a Levi like Korach deserves to die if he
tries to be a Cohain.
8
And the LORD spoke unto Aaron: 'And I, behold, I have given thee the charge of
My heave-offerings; even of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel
unto thee have I given them for a consecrated portion, and to thy sons, as a
due for ever. 9 This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the
fire: every offering of theirs, even every meal-offering of theirs, and every
sin-offering of theirs, and every guilt-offering of theirs, which they may
render unto Me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.
Only the Cohanim can perform the
offering of the Korbanos.
10
In a most holy place shalt thou eat thereof; every male may eat thereof; it
shall be holy unto thee. 11 And this is thine: the heave-offering of their
gift, even all the wave-offerings of the children of Israel; I have given them
unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, as a due for ever;
every one that is clean in thy house may eat thereof. 12 All the best of the
oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the corn, the first part of them
which they give unto the LORD, to thee have I given them. 13 The first-ripe
fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring unto the LORD, shall be
thine; every one that is clean in thy house may eat thereof.
The offerings must be ritually pure
and holy and the Cohanim and family must eat them in a pure and holy place.
14
Everything devoted in Israel shall be thine. 15 Everything that opens the womb,
of all flesh which they offer unto the LORD, both of man and beast, shall be
thine; howbeit the first-born of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the
firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem. 16 And their
redemption-money--from a month old shalt thou redeem them--shall be, according
to thy valuation, five shekels of silver, after the shekel of the
sanctuary--the same is twenty gerahs.
We then return to the fact that the
first-born can no longer offer sacrifices as before Matan Torah (giving of the
law). Now they have to redeem their birth to the Cohain and the birth of their
first born animals.
17
But the firstling of an ox, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a
goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt dash their blood against
the altar, and shalt make their fat smoke for an offering made by fire, for a sweet
savor unto the LORD. 18 And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the
wave-breast and as the right thigh, it shall be thine. 19 All the
heave-offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the
LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, as a due for
ever; it is an everlasting covenant of salt before the LORD unto thee and to
thy seed with thee.' 20 And the LORD said unto Aaron: 'Thou shalt have no
inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any portion among them; I am
thy portion and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.
The first born kosher animals are
redeemed by 5 Shekels.
21
And unto the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for
an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service
of the tent of meeting. 22 And henceforth the children of Israel shall not come
nigh the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin, and die. 23 But the Levites alone
shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their
iniquity; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, and among
the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance. 24 For the tithe of the
children of Israel, which they set apart as a gift unto the LORD, I have given
to the Levites for an inheritance; therefore I have said unto them: Among the
children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.'
The Leviim had 24 cities with 2000
Amos of land around it to farm. Not much so they depended on the Tithes (Maaser)
from the Maaser they gave a 10th part to the Cohanim. They would
become teachers in Israel of the Torah. {Politically this goes against the modern
slogans of drafting Yeshiva Students – the Torah, itself set aside a class of
people to teach the populations Torah.}
25
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 26 'Moreover thou shalt speak unto the
Levites, and say unto them: When ye take of the children of Israel the tithe
which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall set apart
of it a gift for the LORD, even a tithe of the tithe. 27 And the gift which ye
set apart shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the
threshing-floor, and as the fulness of the wine-press. 28 Thus ye also shall
set apart a gift unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the
children of Israel; and thereof ye shall give the gift which is set apart unto
the LORD to Aaron the priest.
The Leviim shall be supported from
Maaser by the nation.
29
Out of all that is given you ye shall set apart all of that which is due unto
the LORD, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it. 30
Therefore thou shalt say unto them: When ye set apart the best thereof from it,
then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the
threshing-floor, and as the increase of the wine-press. 31 And ye may eat it in
every place, ye and your households; for it is your reward in return for your
service in the tent of meeting. 32 And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, seeing
that ye have set apart from it the best thereof; and ye shall not profane the
holy things of the children of Israel, that ye die not.'
The last 33 Israelis in Iran by Nesli Bader English Rachamim Pauli
The television show was about an hour. The story starts off with
the Jews and the Israelis in Iran enjoying a wonderful life with the modern
Iranian Population. An aircraft company is sharing technology with their
Iranian counterparts. Life is good for the oil export makes things cheap. There
is even an Israeli School in Iran and children are learning there. A woman who
was twelve at the time and the Principal were interviewed in the course of the
show.
It appears that the Carter Administration blundered. (From
Wikipedia: According to Kambiz
Fattahi of the BBC, the document show that Carter's gullible attempts to
understand Khomeini's plans were a "massive blunder" underestimating
Khomeini's mendacious shrewdness, while Khomeini Khomeini was holding the US Charge d'Affaires
and dozens of other Americans hostage in Tehran under the slogan "America
can't do a damn thing," and establishing an anti-American legacy that
lasted for decades. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
denied the report, and described the documents as "fabricated". Other
Iranian politicians including Ebrahim Yazdi,
who was Khomeini's spokesman and adviser at the time of the revolution,
denounced the documents and the BBC's reported.)
During the last days of the Shah there were riots everywhere. What
was once the Israeli Embassy was closing. On Independence day 5738, a few
months earlier, there was a free filming of Entebbe with Yoram Gaon as Yoni
Netanyahu. When he died, the Iranians cried. Now they were attacking the
Israeli School with the children in it. The Shah’s police came and rescued the
children. The next El Al plane out took the staff, mothers and children and
some fathers out. Still construction and military companies kept staff to work
with the Iranians. El Al had 34 people. Clerks, security personal with weapons
and other staff. On what would be the last El Al flight out, one of the
security personal was told to fly home to see his wife and new born and return
the next day.
The flight the next day never came. 33 staff members were in the El
Al building. A mob surrounded the building. The doors were shut with wooden
planks and there was a plank on the roof for an escape route to the next
building. It was cautiously used.
They then went down the next building with the women in hijabs and
escaped the back way out to three hiding places. This lasted for a while and
they had food. There were signs being held up by the protestors and one asked
another who knew Persian what do they say. He said, “You don’t want to know.
They say ‘Leave the Jews alone’ but kill all Israelis.”
So, they went to the three houses. One day, a Persian speaking
staff member went out to purchase vegetables. He did not bargain in the bazaar
and a security man was called over to ask him if he was Persian. He said, “No!”
Then he asked the security man if he spoke Arabic and with his “Palestinian
Arabic” he said that he was the representative of the PLO in Teheran. The
security man then said to the vender give him the vegetables for free.
One day, two revolutionary guards with rifles entered the building
where some of the hostages were hiding. They passed by their floor and brought
down the man from the fourth floor. The landlord knocked on their door with a
pail and bucket to clean up their blood. They had to find another building to
stay.
They hid until Ezer Weitzman and the Americans worked out a deal
for evacuation of citizens. They were to go to a hotel surrender their weapons.
While at the hotel of the 33 four were considered spies and taken for
interrogation. The came the brilliant idea of one to try to present his card as
the new Israeli Council to Iran. It did not help. A short while later walked in
the Ayatollah Vashi, who was the real power behind the revolution. The same
staff member, pulled the same Israeli Council trick and shook the Ayatollah’s
hand. He was told, “I want you and all your Israelis out of here.” The 4 men
were released from interrogation.
Now they had to wait for a bus out with a revolutionary guard bus
in front and in back. They had taken 10 posters of Khomeini and taped them on
the side of the bus. As the buses went through the streets there were no crowds
or riots. They reached the airport and went onto the plane. The whole plane was
with people being kicked out of Iran. When the pilot announced they were in
Turkish Airspace the whole plane clapped and broke out in song.
The “Still Voice” in
Political Activism by R’ Y. Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1437-39
I [Mayer Jacob "Chic" Hecht] was elected as the United
States Senator from Nevada in 1982. A couple of years later, my brother, Martin
Hecht, and nephew, Dr. Chaim Hecht, took me to Brooklyn to meet the Lubavitcher
Rebbe at a farbrengen.
The Rebbe spoke to me and said, "your top priority should
be to get the Jews out of Russia."
I replied that my late mother was an immigrant from Russia who
had to flee with her family to escape death at the hands of the Russian
Cossacks.
"The key," the Rebbe said, is "quiet
diplomacy."
At that time, the Cold War with Russia was still on. In 1985, a
very important vote came before the U.S. Senate. President Reagan needed my
vote to break a tie. The vote was very important to the President.
I had been a top supporter of President Reagan; I felt he was
the best friend Israel ever had in the White House. So, I met personally with
him and told him of my decision to back him with my tiebreaking vote.
I then asked if I might bring up a concern on my mind. President
Reagan graciously agreed. I told him that my late mother was an immigrant from
the Soviet Union, and only by the grace of G-d am I standing before you today
in the United States Senate.
I urged the President to place increased emphasis on the release
of tens of thousands of Soviet Jews before the next summit conference.
"Those who are allowed to leave the Soviet Union, Mr. President, should
not be just elderly, but children, teenagers, doctors and scientists. All
should be allowed the basic human right of freedom."
President Reagan expressed tremendous concern.
I was President Reagan's last appointment before leaving for the
Reykjavik, Iceland Conference which took place in early October 1986. At that
meeting I presented him with a list of names of 1,200 Soviet Jews who had
applied to emigrate from Russia.
I reminded the President that the numbers could reach in the
millions, but this would be a start. I used "quiet diplomacy" as the
Rebbe had recommended; only he, an aide of his, and myself were in the Oval
Office.
President Reagan gave the list of 1,200 names to Soviet
President Mikhail Gorbachev at the Reykjavik Conference and spoke of its
importance. Within weeks a trickle of Jews began to leave Russia. Soon the
trickle mushroomed into tens of thousands.
After President Reagan left office and I became Ambassador to
the Common-wealth of the Bahamas, he and Mrs. Reagan came to the Bahamas to
vacation. They invited my wife and me to a cocktail party for a few friends. I
told the President what a wonderful service he did for the Jewish people in
getting the Jews to leave Russia and I asked why he never mentioned the act in
public.
Mrs. Reagan said that Mr. Gorbachev told them that there were
many around him that did not want the Jews to leave Russia. If we made it
public, the exodus would stop. So, President Reagan used "quiet
diplomacy" with Mr. Gorbachev.
The story continues with a human touch. My brother, Marty, who
has had trouble with his feet, went to Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California.
He was assigned a doctor who referred him to a specialist.
The specialist examined him and asked a question, "As your
name is Hecht, would you know a Senator Hecht?" Marty answered with a
smile, "He is my brother."
The doctor became very emotional and replied that I had saved
his wife, mother and father-in-law. They were on the list and told to be at the
airport at a certain time. They did not know what to expect. They boarded the
plane and took off for Vienna. With what money they had, they sent a telegram
of thanks to President Reagan.
Since that time, I have met many more Jews that were on that
list. The Rebbe's advice and instructions on using "quiet diplomacy"
resulted in the saving of hundreds of thousands of lives, and a stronger Israel
where the majority immigrated.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Excerpted and supplemented by Yerachmiel
Tilles from TheRebbe.org, as told by Senator Hecht.
Why This Week? Sunday, June 29, is Gimmel Tammuz, the 31st yahrzeit of the
Lubvitcher Rebbe.
Biographic note:
Senator Meir-Yaakov "Chic" Hecht [Kislev 5688
- Iyar 5766 (Nov. 1928 - May 2006)]; served as U.S. Senator
[Republican] from Nevada from Jan. 3rd, 1983 - Jan. 3rd,1989, and as U.S.
Ambassador to the Bahamas from 1989-1993. In 1988 was inducted into the Army
Intelligence Hall of Fame, due to his service as a counter-intelligence agent
in Berlin during the Korean War (early 1950's). The "quiet diplomacy"
he used to help Soviet Jews gain permission to emigrate was perhaps his
greatest accomplishment as a U.S. Senator.
Oh where oh where have
the Commandos gone? By Rachamim Pauli
During the first Gulf War, while
Saddam was sending 39 rockets towards us, there was a gray unmarked jet
standing on the ground close to my office. The name of the game was to send in
the Chief of Staff’s Commandos and capture or kill Saddam. We knew where he
was. But the accident with Ehud Barak at Tzellim ended that venture.
Two weeks ago or so, there were 5
Divisions fighting in Gaza and now there were 4. Now where in the world was the
Commando Division? I of course am 30 years gone from the reserves and front
lines and 25years retired from work so I have no connections.
But I immediately thought “My man
Saddam” and figured out what was going on. The Commandos were landed in a few
places. I mentioned my thoughts to Col. Avraham last week and hinted to a
fellow who was in the Saddam gray plane thing but that was over the phone so
did not say anything more than a hint.
Inyanay Diyoma
Friday June 20th afternoon
I was happy. The rabbipauli.blogspot dot com
was out. Spoke to two grandchildren and my oldest son in the States. We were on
the phone with Menashe when we got a warning. At first it appeared that we were
out of the area. In the north, northeast, south and west of us there were
rockets. But I heard sirens from outside. Then my phone went off and a minute
later my wife’s phone. We go to the shelter slowly out of caution. We are safe
but a government building in Haifa was hit and three seriously wounded with
another 20 or so with various wounds.
June 21st and June 22nd
Swords of Iron Day 624 and Day 625 Rising Lion
Day 8 & 9 start of week 90
The miraculous news of America fighting for us
was wonderful. WE SAID THE BLESSING HATOV U’ MAYTIV
(BLESSING FOR GOOD NEWS IN THE SIDDUR). WE SAID THE FULL HALLEL WITH THE
BLESSING! It is imperative to say thanks for such a miracle. Now for the news in full. My son-in-law said
“Nishmat Prayer”.
A siren within a siren 07:37. 07:43, 07:45 .
Somewhere between 20 – 30 missiles this morning and then another 5 missiles. 5
missile hits and 5 shrapnel falls all in all 86 injured.
The one that hit a shopping center in Ramat
Aviv caused cracks in buildings half a kilometer away. Only at 08:11 was the
all clear sounded. This made me miss the 8 AM Minyan and I went to the 8:30
Minyan.
My daughter told me that after they saw the
massive destruction of buildings, the went to the shelter on the street above
but the people in the building did not go into their own shelter until the
booms were so loud. They told my daughter and family of the second siren.
I have the application and got the siren on
Sheridan Road in FL when I recently visited.
Fox News Live after strike and missile attack: https://www.foxnews.com/video/5614615980001
Hannity June 21st on attack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uzOR6-_Tis
Israel Airspace to open at 2PM https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/2025-06-21/live-updates-858458
The UAV attacks 1000 plus launched 500 plus
reach Israel only one hit a building near the Jordanian Border in Beit Shean.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/06/20/us-jewish-lawmaker-says-run-off-road-pro-palestinian-activist/
Swords of Iron Day 624 and Day 625 Rising Lion
Day 9 & 10 start of week 90 Part 2
WARNING GPT CHAT AI follows you
around knows your exact location. Soldiers it is a target to hit you for
snipers!
Iran threatens every American in the Middle
East. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-858495
Iran's
Supreme National Security Council must make the final decision on whether to
close the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Press TV said on Sunday, after parliament
reportedly approved the measure. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-858584
Two
F-5 fighter jets belonging to the Iranian Armed Forces at the Iranian Dezful
Airport were struck by the IAF, the military said. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-858507
Weitzman Institute Hit. https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/what-missiles-cant-destroy/
In the communities of Mitzpe Netofa and Otniel, congregants
recited the Hallel prayer, said on days of thanksgiving, and in Petah
Tikva, some recited the Nishmat Kol Chai prayer, to thank God for the
destruction of the nuclear reactor in Iran. Rabbi Hanania Reichl recited the
blessing: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who is good
and bestows good,”. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410447
Border
Police forces operated at multiple sites across Israel on Sunday morning in
response to the barrage of rockets launched from Iran. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410444
More on this below: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410445
June 23rd
Swords of Iron Day 626 Rising Lion Day 11
I left my phone/pants hanging in the bathroom
last night instead of next to my bed. A blip from my wife’s phone woke me up. I
only saw that the emergency was flashing on my phone when I got to my pants.
03:02 one lousy rocket wakes up the whole country. Fortunately, it was shot
down but the all clear was only at 03:23. I did not fall back to sleep until
about 04:35. I am 78 walk down the 18 steps slowly but surely and grab some
cold drink on the way down. No panic running. So many people are injured by
falls each time.
Today we lost our 4th drone. It was
shot down by the Iranians. 2 others they also downed during the 24 hour periods
over their heads. One drone was shot down by the US forces on Saturday night
outside of Iran – mistaken ID. US PRODUCED AI PLANES FOR IRAN TO SHOOT AT.
What the US requested from Israel is that we
take out more radar and more anti-aircraft is certain areas. We did, we cleared
Iran, Iraq of all our planes and then the US went into an almost sterile
environment. Fordow was going to be a slam dunk for the pilots. 7 planes but
only 6 bombed. The other was a spare in case of an ordinance that did not
explode. https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-israeli-militaries-jointly-drilled-iran-strike-during-biden-administration-report/
10:20 the warning. TV says that there were
stopped 2 missiles to the north but more are heading to Yerushalayim and the
south. TV shows red alerts in the south. 10:28 sirens sound. Then again to the
north and finally to the south. In total 15-17 missiles in 4 stages the all
clear is 11:03. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410507
Part of the electrical grid was knocked out in
the south. Another Barrage of 5-10 missiles on the north.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-russia-set-to-hold-talks-as-tehran-fumes-at-us-over-strikes/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/mahmoud-khalil-resumes-pro-palestinian-activism-appears-at-nyc-rally/
WATCH THE MIRACLE ON FILM OF
MOVING VEHICLE. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410507
IDF Spokesman June 22nd: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410480
An
Iraqi source told the UAE’s Al-Ain news that Iran is withdrawing military
advisers from Baghdad.
The report characterized this as “significant.” https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-858632
Iran loses 6 military airports. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410503
IDF requests extension of draft law. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410499
Sleeper Cells: Following the
strikes, Trump asserted on social media that any Iranian retaliation against
the US "WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED
TONIGHT." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410496
Euro Wimps want Israel to do their dirty work -
Op Ed Guilio Meotti https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410510
Mizrachi Global Prayer: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410478
Close to our goals. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410483
Political Prisoners are being freed from some
jails in Iran.
The
IDF confirmed on Sunday that Israeli Air Force fighter jets flew over Iranian
territory and began striking storage facilities containing long-range
surface-to-surface missiles, known as “Khorramshahr,” in the Yazd area. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410468
A Democrats with principles stronger than
politics. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410443
Enriched Uranium: The Mossad has this in their
sites. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410446
https://www.timesofisrael.com/suicide-bomber-kills-at-least-13-in-syrian-church-near-damascus/
June 24th
Swords of Iron Day 627 Rising Lion Day 12 the
end?
Note my previous posts lost a day due to
Shabbos it is day 12.
In a face saving gesture pre-negotiated with Qatar,
US and Iran. https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-launches-missile-attack-on-american-base-in-qatar-in-retaliation-for-us-strikes/
There is supposed to be a we cease and they
fire since 7AM but from 05:29 to 07:04 by me but 4 other areas had rockets at
them. In the hour and a half, I was able to put up coffee and take care of my personal
needs say the blessings and Korbanos of the morning. 07:55 end of stay next to
protected area.
The Iranians told the US and Qatar of the
attack and purpose misses for their internal propaganda “exacting a price from
the great Satan”.
Welcoming myself back to my office
upstairs. I saved 18 stairs if I had to go to the shelter.
Trump was angry at us because after we agreed,
we gave a farewell present to Iran with one less nuclear scientist, a few less
military assets at 3AM. I heard the planes straining with their loads heading
outwards as I went to sleep. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410564
During the morning attack one regular or
heavier explosive missile destroyed a building complex killing 4 people in
their “safe rooms”, a lady and a family of three. At 10:32 Iran shot two missiles at Haifa and
we hit back a radar complex. President Trump dropped the F Bomb in a press
conference at us and Bibi promised him absolute compliance and coordination. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410574
and
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410577
Spain does not want to pay 5% of its budget to
NATO – Trump may say something. https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/06/23/spain-pushes-eu-suspend-israel-trade-pact-amid-gaza-conflict-sparking-division-bloc/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/06/23/uk-ban-group-palestine-action-anti-terrorism-laws/
FBI on high alert for terror cells. https://www.foxnews.com/video/6374805394112
https://www.foxnews.com/us/american-airlines-plane-hit-unexpected-turbulence-5-hospitalized
The Knesset
Ethics Committee has issued a series of disciplinary decisions against dozens
of Knesset members from both the coalition and the opposition, following
complaints submitted by fellow MKs and members of the public. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410555
Yisrael
Beytenu Chairman MK Avigdor Liberman warned Tuesday that the diplomatic
approach to ending the conflict with Iran announced by US President Donald
Trump could have dire consequences for Israel and the region. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410560
https://www.timesofisrael.com/tehran-will-restore-its-nuclear-program-iranian-atomic-chief-vows/
June 25th
Swords of Iron Day 628
So called “Pentagon Leak” that CNN and NYT
reports not much damage to the Iranian Nuke Program. Israel sent in a team on
the ground with cameras and ropes. https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-says-israel-sent-agents-into-irans-fordo-nuclear-site-saw-obliteration/
Op-Ed Ron Ben Yishai Months are needed to
assess the damage. Israel must be prepared. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/s1vjhu00nxg#autoplay
Life is returning to ‘normal’ in Israel if
there is such a thing. 7 soldiers die in Gaza as terrorists either place an IED
or popped out of a tunnel with a magnet explosive device and placed it on a
vehicle (Col. Avraham expressed this as one of his fears for his men). https://www.timesofisrael.com/7-israeli-soldiers-killed-when-armored-vehicle-hit-by-explosive-in-southern-gaza/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410614
this brings the total fallen to 872 since Oct. 7th. My wife and I
wonder if Hamas can be broken and the cost of soldiers this month is high 19 in
June for 20 live and ill hostages and the wounded are not counted. MK Gafni
wondered the same in the Knesset Committee he heads.
Potty Mouth Trump tells Netanyahu and Katz to
return the planes loaded with munitions from strike. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-858881
The number of temporarily or fully displaced
people from the Iranian Missiles is over 33,000 and although we suffered with
491 injured 17 still in serious condition and 29 dead. Before the war, it was
estimated that between 4,000 to 8,000 Israelis would die in missile attacks.
Their missiles are harder to shoot down until we have the laser system in
operation. Still out of 571 shot at us 67 got through that is an 88 to 89%
stoppage rate.
Although
Israel’s founding was made possible through the 1948 Independence War,
it is the 1967 Six Day War that reordered the Middle East and framed Israel’s
identity in 2025. And yet, Israel’s 12-day war against Iran may have outdone
its achievements during the Six Day War on multiple fronts. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-858882
Electronic Warfare saves many from drone
attacks. https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/syj11emvnel
Op – Ed War and Illusions. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/rj8phfpexe
Quds commander alive: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410612
IDF Spokesman: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410633
False Alarm during a test that went out of
hand. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410641
CO-OP to boycott Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410629
On
Tuesday, guided by IDF intelligence, the IAF struck and eliminated, in the area
of southern Lebanon, Haytham Abdullah Bakri, the head of the
"Al-Sadiq" Currency Exchange. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410630
Trump: “Ceasefire is going well, I am proud of
them.” https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410631
A
senior US military official stated on Tuesday that Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi
rebels will likely be a persistent problem for the US in the future, even after
Washington and the Houthis reached an agreement that ended a US air campaign
against the group. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410613
US President
Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, said on Tuesday
that the US and Iran are already in the early stages of renewed discussions
over Iran’s nuclear program. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410615
Iran wants to restore all nuclear capacity. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-858888
Four
countries — Austria, Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia — have reported a spike in
hepatitis A cases between January and May 2025, according to a rapid risk
assessment issued by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
(ECDC). https://www.foxnews.com/health/hepatitis-outbreak-infects-thousands-travelers-popular-destinations
In
the memo, Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters
said, "Oklahoma kids will be taught facts, not indoctrination." https://www.foxnews.com/politics/exclusive-red-state-updating-education-standards-address-rise-antisemitism-schools
https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-says-inmates-at-evin-prison-transferred-after-israeli-strike/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/attorney-generals-husband-dies-after-lengthy-battle-with-als/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-arrest-three-more-israelis-on-iran-espionage-suspicions/
June 26th
Day 629 first day of Rosh Chodesh Tammuz
I went back to normal today but had to sleep
off my tension exhaustion with the last Minyan then gym today.
Another Miracle in the Gaza area.
A terrorist with an explosive device ran after the General’s APC and tried to
open it for a grenade toss but he couldn’t.
The seven soldiers that died were not as lucky
as the general, the terrorist ran up to their vehicle and dropped the
explosives inside. Then he popped down the tunnel hole before the bombardment.
Arab murdered texted name of killer before he
died. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410691
An
indictment was filed Thursday against three Arab-Israeli residents accused of
involvement in major weapons theft from the IDF. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410707
June 27th
Swords of Iron Day 630 end of week 90
There is a
real chance of ending the war in Gaza if the left ends the eight year kangaroo
trial and nonsensical charges against Netanyahu. Then he will not be afraid of
losing office and jail. This will lead to peace agreements with many Arab
Countries including Syria. https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-trump-said-working-on-plan-to-end-gaza-war-and-expand-abraham-accords/
Syria may join
the accord. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/abraham-accords/article-859223
The Houthis
have not forgotten us but their missile last night was a dud.
HOW THE LEFT
DELAYS THE PRISONER EXCHANGE. THE COURTS HAVE BEEN ALWAYS THE DOMINION OF THE
EXTREME LEFT IN ISRAEL. The Jerusalem District Court rejects Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu’s request for a two-week hiatus in his graft trial after the State Attorney’s Office said it opposed the
move.
“Those calling to stop
the fighting and surrender are not only abandoning hostages Hamas will never
release - they’re also disrespecting the hundreds of families who’ve lost loved
ones,” Mor said. “The soldiers who fell in Gaza didn’t die so that Hamas could
regain control.” https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410741
Also I have a
small story behind the news of the missing division in my
rabbipauli.blogspot.com today. Oh where oh where have the Commandos
gone? By Rachamim Pauli
A done knocked out an Iranian Nuclear Scientist
and two Revolution Guards last night.
The commander of the Hatzerim Air Base reviewed the airstrikes
against Iran. "We see with our own eyes the nuclear facilities below us as
we bomb them", said the commander of Hatzerim Base in an interview with
Kan Reshet Bet. "We see the ground-to-ground missile sites, and also the
fire and smoke we left behind in every strike." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410708
12 strikes in south Lebanon: https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1vxjajvxe#autoplay
It is not only Ireland, it is also Spain. I am
having second thoughts about Spanish Olives and Olive Oil OU or no OU.
According
to Iran International, security forces recently raided the homes of
Jewish families in Tehran, Shiraz, and Isfahan. During these operations,
authorities confiscated mobile phones, computers, and other personal
belongings. Individuals with any digital ties to relatives in Israel were reportedly
detained for questioning, with some held for extended periods. In several
cases, past travel to Israel was cited as grounds for arrest — a serious
allegation under Iranian law. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410758
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-859226
The
Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation are
conducting a festive Rosh Chodesh prayer this morning (Friday) in honor of Rosh
Chodesh, including the recitation of thanksgiving Psalms and Hallel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410751
Tunnel
Used by Terrorists Who Attacked IDF Troops During Operation Protective Edge Has
Been Fully Dismantled: 97th Battalion Activity in the Northern Gaza Strip. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410761
Opinion Poll puts Lapid way down. Likud leads
with 33 seats, followed by the newly formed "Bennett 2026" slate with
17 seats. The Democrats win 13 seats, Shas 11, Yisrael Beytenu 9, United Torah
Judaism 8, and Otzma Yehudit 6. National Unity, Hadash-Ta’al, and Ra’am each
receive 5 seats. Yesh Atid and Religious Zionism each receive just 4 seats. The
Balad party does not cross the electoral threshold.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410736
During
a special IDF operation based on prior intelligence on Wednesday, IDF troops
dismantled a structure in the area of Houla in southern Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410726
Insanity: The Coordinator of Government Activities in the
Territories (COGAT) Spokesperson announced on Wednesday that 2,000 blood units
were transferred to the Gaza Strip. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410727
Violence
against Israeli border control officers at Ben Gurion Airport and land crossings is on the
rise, prompting a formal warning from the country’s State Employees Union
(Histadrut). Last week, the union sent a letter to the Population and
Immigration Authority and the Airports Authority demanding
immediate action to curb the assaults, warning that workers may strike and even
shut down border crossings. https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/bj81rqo7xl
According
to top IDF sources, by the time the IDF attacked on June 13, the Islamic
Republic not only had 2,500 ballistic missiles – more than the 2,000 most
frequently reported number – and it was not only on the way to building a new
facility for mass producing ballistic missiles, but the facility was so far
along that IDF Intelligence estimated that by 2026, Iran would jump to 6,000
missiles, by August 2027 to 8,800 missiles, and at that rate, it would have
reached more than 10,000 missiles sometime in 2028. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-859174
Shabbos Candle Lighting: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/shabat
There’s
a new kind of antisemite in America. He doesn’t wear a swastika. He wears a
sports coat. He sips whiskey, quotes Churchill out of context and claims to
love Israel—until Israel fights back. His name is Tucker Carlson, and he just exposed the true
soul of the MAGA far-right: sanitized, smiling and full of contempt for Jewish
sovereignty. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/bk72ivwnex
Op-Ed Yossi Yoshua: Iran is not Hezballah. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/r1f2hkuvgx
A healthy, peaceful and restful
Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli
