Prayers for Men: Shalom Charles ben Gracia, Daniel ben Rivka, Ephraim ben Mazel, Zev ben Rachel, Yisrael Ben Dovid ben Drorah Rivka, Meir Melech ben Bracha,
Women: Karen Neshama bas Esther
Ruth, Chaya Melecha Rachel bas Baila Alta, Miriam bas Irene Taita Malka, Drorah Rivka bas Chana, Leah bas Sara, Mine’
Dulah bas Maxine, Rachel Izel bas Sara, Miriam Esther bas Golda
Chaya, Dina bas Sara, Sophia bas Basya,
I also received this from Neal Z. Please continue to keep Izzy in
your thoughts and in your prayers (Yisroel Alter ben Chava Chana), as the power
of our collective prayers can hopefully continue to penetrate the heavenly
gates of mercy!
Parsha Shemos
The Yahrzeit of Rabbi
Glikman Ztzal always falls around this Parsha and this week’s Parsha is
dedicated to his memory. It is now 19 years since his passing.
Last week, we read of
the death of Yacov Avinu and then Prime Minister of Egypt, Yosef.
This week we continue
with the names of the tribes and the passing of them. A new generation of born
in Egypt Yisraelim has arisen but also a new Pharaoh who did not know his
history or at least pretended not to know of Yosef and the enrichment of the
Kingdom and the gratitude and welcoming of the Bnei Yisrael.
1:1 Now these are
the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt with Jacob; every man came
with his household: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; 3
Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; 4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were
seventy souls; and Joseph was in Egypt already. 6 And Joseph
died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. 7 And the
children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and
waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.
What was 12 tribes and
70 people soon became 700, 7000, 70,000 and the population was growing and
growing into the hundreds of thousands.
8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph. 9 And he said unto his people: 'Behold, the people of the children
of Israel are too many and too mighty for us; 10 come, let us
deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when
there befalls us any war, they also join themselves unto our enemies, and fight
against us, and get them up out of the land.'
The fact that they were
born in Egypt and outside of worshipping idols were assimilated in the culture
meant nothing to their accusers.
11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them
with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh store-cities, Pithom and
Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they
multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And they were adread because of the
children of Israel. 13 And the Egyptians made the children of
Israel to serve with rigor.
בְּפָֽרֶךְ - means: with hard labor that crushes (מְפָרֶכֶת) the body and breaks it.
14 And they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar
and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field; in all their service,
wherein they made them serve with rigor.
Chabad
translation explains the repeat of rigor thus: All the work they subjected them
to was imposed with crushing harshness.
15 And the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the
name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah; 16
and he said: 'When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, ye shall
look upon the birthstool: if it be a son, then ye shall kill him; but if it be
a daughter, then she shall live.'
The commentaries call
the midwives Yocheved and Miriam.
Shifra. This was Yocheved, known as שִׁפְרָה because
she would improve (מְשַׁפֶּרֶת) the physical condition of the newborn by the care she provided. Puah. This was Miriam, known as פּוּעָה because
she used to call out (פּוֹעָה), speak, and croon to the newborn in the
way women soothe crying babies. פּוּעָה is
an expression of crying out, as in: “Like a woman in labor I will cry out (אֶפְעֶה).”
Miriam is most likely not
older than 5 years old at the time of Pharaoh’s Gezaira and while I can accept Yocheved
as a mid-wife, it is hard to imagine a 5year old as back-up. This is one time
where the Pshat seems to over-ride the Drash Tradition. Or that Miriam and
Yocheved were a back-up team.
17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt
commanded them, but saved the men-children alive.
This appears to be the
case as midwives are there for mother and infant and not to murder male
children.
18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto
them: 'Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men-children alive?' 19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh: 'Because the Hebrew women
are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the
midwife come unto them.'
They talked like antisemites
towards Pharaoh comparing Jews giving birth to animals giving birth in the
wild.
20 And God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied,
and waxed very mighty. 21 And it came to pass, because the
midwives feared God, that He made them houses. 22 And Pharaoh
charged all his people, saying: 'Every son that is born ye shall cast into the
river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.'
Pharaoh built perhaps
the first maternity hospital or ward.
2:1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a
daughter of Levi. 2 And the woman conceived, and bore a son; and when she saw
him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
At first Amram did not
want to have any more relations with Yocheved. For he did not want to put her
through 9 months of labor and then to have the baby killed. She said to him in
effect. “Pharaoh wants to kill only the males and you and the Sanhedrin will
kill the females too.” He then was convinced that she was correct and asked the
Sanhedrin to cancel the directive of no relations.
3 And when she could no longer hide him, she took for him an ark of
bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch; and she put the child
therein, and laid it in the flags by the river's brink.
Moshe was born premature
and the Egyptians counted months. They might be off by a month or two as some
women have larger tummies earlier than others, but there comes a time when the woman
is due and if not a girl the boy must be thrown into the water. So hoping
against all odds, they let him float down the river.
4 And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.
5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe in the river; and her maidens
walked along by the river-side; and she saw the ark among the flags, and sent
her handmaid to fetch it. 6 And she opened it, and saw it, even the child; and
behold a boy that wept. And she had compassion on him, and said: 'This is one
of the Hebrews' children.'
The daughter of Pharaoh
is called “Basya” or daughter of G-D as Pharaoh was an incarnation of his god.
She might have even been married to her father as the Pharaohs were known to
inbreed.
7 Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter: 'Shall I go and call
thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?'
Midrash says that Moshe
refuses to suckle from the Egyptian wet-nurses until his mother is called.
8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her: 'Go.' And the maiden went and
called the child's mother. 9 And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her: 'Take this
child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages.' And the woman
took the child, and nursed it.
So now the Go-al or Redeemer
of Israel not only does not die in the river, he is brought up as a
child-grandchild of Pharaoh, himself. The river turns to ‘blood red’ and
Pharaoh rescinds the Gezaira.
10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter,
and he became her son. And she called his name Moses, and said: 'Because I drew
him out of the water.'
Moshe because she pulled
[MOSHEK] him to herself out of the water.
11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown up, that
he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens; and he saw an
Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren.
Moshe grew up as a child
of the daughter of Pharaoh (one of them) but Yocheved instilled in him that he
was one of us. Therefore he had empathy for the man being beaten. Otherwise why
should somebody brought up and educated to be a snob like the Present Day Tucker
Carlson be anything but an antisemite.
12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there
was no man, he smote the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
This is the Pshat but
the Drash says “and that” into the future and no child born from him would be
good for the Bnei Yisrael.
13 And he went out the second day, and, behold, two men of the
Hebrews were striving together; and he said to him that did the wrong:
'Wherefore smite thou thy fellow?' 14 And he said: 'Who made thee a ruler and a
judge over us? think thou to kill me, as thou didst kill the Egyptian?' And
Moses feared, and said: 'Surely the thing is known.'
They simply put two and
two together. Moshe is not there = smiting. Moshe there one dead antisemitic
task master.
15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But
Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he
sat down by a well.
Once the talebearers
wanted their reward from Pharaoh, things got to hot for Moshe to stick around.
16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came and
drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.
Moshe fled to an Oasis
but he dared not drink without permission.
Now,
the ruler of Midian - i.e.,
he had been
their leader, but he had renounced idolatry, so they ostracized him. אֶת־הָרְהָטִים - are the channels of running water constructed in the
ground.
17 And the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up
and helped them, and watered their flock.
He was a price who had
seen combat in Africa and was highly trained in martial arts. These Shepherds
harassing the women were no match for a level ten black belt equivalent.
18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said: 'How is it
that ye are come so soon to-day?' 19 And they said: 'An Egyptian delivered us
out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and
watered the flock.'
The Shepherds were harassing
the girls. I have seen films a number of years ago of Arab young men harassing modestly
dressed Arab females. This appears to be the case not physically abusing them
but having some fun.
20 And he said unto his daughters: 'And where is he? Why is it that
ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.' 21 And Moses was
content to dwell with the man; and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. 22 And
she bore a son, and he called his name Gershom; for he said: 'I have been a
stranger in a strange land.'
Don’t you know the laws
of hospitality from Avraham our father? Invite the man to dine with us. A good
Shidduch and protector for his daughters.
23 And it came to pass in the course of those many days that the
king of Egypt died; and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage,
and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
All work halted during
the days of mourning for Pharaoh. This we saw even in modern slave states like
North Korea when the leader died and everybody had to mourn hysterically. The
Bnei Yisrael mourned the slavery more than the enslaver.
24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant
with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God saw the
children of Israel, and God took cognizance of them.
G-D heard the supplications
earlier than the original 400 years. For instead of 400 years in Egypt, it
became 400 years from the birth of Yitzchak because they were worked with rigor.
3:1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro his father-in-law,
the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the farthest end of the
wilderness, and came to the mountain of God, unto Horeb.
Har Horev = Har Sinai
and even before the Bnei Yisrael it had a reputation as the mountain of G-D.
2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire
out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with
fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said: 'I will turn aside now,
and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.' 4 And when the LORD saw
that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush,
and said: 'Moses, Moses.' And he said: 'Here am I.'
He wanted to see this curious
phenomenon but suddenly was spoken to.
5 And He said: 'Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off
thy feet, for the place whereon thou stand is holy ground.'
The Cohanim in the
Mikdash also would serve bare foot. However, with the absence of the Mikdash
today, Cohanim in the modern era Schul pray with socks or stand on a rug.
6 Moreover He said: 'I am the God of thy father, the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' And Moses hid his face; for
he was afraid to look upon God.
Moshe became sore
afraid.
7 And the LORD said: 'I have surely seen the affliction of My
people that are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their
taskmasters; for I know their pains; 8 and I am come down to deliver them out
of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good
land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of
the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the
Hivite, and the Jebusite.
I made a covenant with your
forefathers and now is the time to redeem my promise.
9 And now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto
Me; moreover I have seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest
bring forth My people the children of Israel out of Egypt.'
You have been chosen to
lead my flock of people out of Egypt.
11 And Moses said unto God: 'Who am I, that I should go unto
Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?' 12
And He said: 'Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be the token unto
thee, that I have sent thee: when thou hast brought forth the people out of
Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.'
I, THE L-RD, will be
with you and you shall return with them to this mountain.
13 And Moses said unto God: 'Behold, when I come unto the children
of Israel, and shall say unto them: The God of your fathers hath sent me unto
you; and they shall say to me: What is His name? what shall I say unto them?'
Moshe has had some
education on his people from Yocheved but not a deep tradition from Amram.
14 And God said unto Moses: 'I AM THAT I AM'; and He said: 'Thus
shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: I AM hath sent me unto you.'
I WILL BE WHAT I WILL
BE.
15 And God said moreover unto Moses: 'Thus shalt thou say unto the
children of Israel: The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the
God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you; this is My name for
ever, and this is My memorial unto all generations. 16 Go, and gather the
elders of Israel together, and say unto them: The LORD, the God of your
fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, hath appeared unto me,
saying: I have surely remembered you, and seen that which is done to you in
Egypt. 17 And I have said: I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt
unto the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the
Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, unto a land flowing with milk and
honey.
Moshe you shall go before
the elders (Moshe is 79 years old and not the younger man who fled Egypt} and
the elders will listen to you. Especially, if they know that you survived
Pharaoh twice – once from drowning and once for slaying the Egyptian.
18 And they shall hearken to thy voice. And thou shalt come, thou
and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him:
The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, hath met with us. And now let us go, we pray
thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the
LORD our God.
You shall tell Pharaoh
this pretext.
9 And I know that the king of Egypt will not give you leave to go,
except by a mighty hand. 20 And I will put forth My hand, and smite Egypt with
all My wonders which I will do in the midst thereof. And after that he will let
you go.
Being able to see back
and forth in time, I know that Pharaoh will not let you go.
21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians.
And it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty; 22 but
every woman shall ask of her neighbor, and of her that sojourns in her house,
jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment; and ye shall put them upon
your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.'
When the time comes, the
Bnei Yisrael will get riches for their labor in Mitzrayim.
4:1 And Moses answered and said: 'But, behold, they will not
believe me, nor hearken unto my voice; for they will say: The LORD hath not
appeared unto thee.' 2 And the LORD said unto him: 'What is that in thy hand?'
And he said: 'A rod.' 3 And He said: 'Cast it on the ground.' And he cast it on
the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
This is the Lashon HaRa
on the elders “they will not believe me”.
4 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Put forth thy hand, and take it by
the tail--and he put forth his hand, and laid hold of it, and it became a rod
in his hand--
The shepherd staff
suddenly became a moving snake and now by touching its “tail”, it returns to being
a staff.
5 that they may believe that
the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and
the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.'
They will be convinced
by this.
6 And the LORD said furthermore unto him: 'Put now thy hand into
thy bosom.' And he put his hand into his bosom; and when he took it out,
behold, his hand was leprous, as white as snow.
A punishment for Lashon
HaRa is to become a Leper. Moshe said that the Bnei Yisrael will not believe
me. This constitutes Lashon HaRa and therefore a momentary Leprosy. There is a
story of the Chafetz Chaim. Once he was on a train and sat next to a man who
was on his way to Radin to see the “great and wonderous Gaon, the Chafetz
Chaim”. The Chafetz Chaim, being humble said, “He is not so great and wonderous
as you claim.” The man was furious “How can you say such a thing about the
Gadol HaDor?” and with that gave him a thrashing. When they got off the train
and the townspeople welcomed their Rabbi. The man was besides himself. He went
to the Gaon and begged for forgiveness. The reply was amazing. “I of course
forgive you. I learned my lesson not to speak Lashon HaRa about myself. For
that I deserve a thrashing in this world instead of the next.”
7 And He said: 'Put thy hand back into thy bosom.--And he put his
hand back into his bosom; and when he took it out of his bosom, behold, it was
turned again as his other flesh.--
He was cured of leprosy
immediately.
8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither
hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the
latter sign. 9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe even these
two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of
the river, and pour it upon the dry land; and the water which thou take out of
the river shall become blood upon the dry land.'
This is the third
wonderous thing.
10 And Moses said unto the LORD: 'Oh Lord, I am not a man of words,
neither heretofore, nor since Thou hast spoken unto Thy servant; for I am slow
of speech, and of a slow tongue.' 11 And the LORD said unto him: 'Who hath made
man's mouth? or who makes a man dumb, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? is it not I
the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee
what thou shalt speak.'
Moshe either stuttered
or he had a speech-pallet defect. He was too embarrassed to speak. The people
at the time of Moshe could listen to a man who stuttered and an eloquent
speaker like Yechezkel or Yimiyahu before the destruction would not be listened
to.
13 And he said: 'Oh Lord, send, I pray Thee, by the hand of him
whom Thou wilt send.' 14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses,
and He said: 'Is there not Aaron thy brother the Levite? I know that he can
speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee; and when he sees
thee, he will be glad in his heart.
Thy brother, the Levi,
but instead of you and your seed becoming the Cohanim, from now on, he and his
seed will be.
15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put the words in his mouth;
and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye
shall do. 16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people; and it shall come
to pass, that he shall be to thee a mouth, and thou shalt be to him in God's
stead. 17 And thou shalt take in thy hand this rod, wherewith thou shalt do the
signs.'
Aharon will be your
translator or spokesman.
18 And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and
said unto him: 'Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren that are in
Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive.' And Jethro said to Moses: 'Go in
peace.'
This teaches us that
Derek Eretz (manners) are before Torah. Here we have a man ordered directly by
G-D (or at least his Angel) to perform wonders and miracles for around
2,000,000 people who will be liberate. There are indications that there were
ten million but only two million would deserve freedom. Still, Moshe has
obliged himself to ten Yisro’s sheep and he has to receive permission to leave
his obligation.
19 And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian: 'Go, return into Egypt;
for all the men are dead that sought thy life.'
That Pharaoh and his
police chief, judges and others of 40years ago are dead and buried. The murder
is a cold case and it is closed for all practical purposes.
20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass,
and he returned to the land of Egypt; and Moses took the rod of God in his
hand.
At first he took his
whole family, but when he confronted Pharaoh, he did not want adverse
conditions for them and sent them back to Yisro.
21 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'When thou go back into Egypt, see
that thou do before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in thy hand; but I
will harden his heart, and he will not let the people go.
In order to make a
bigger Kiddush HASHEM, I will harden the hearts of Pharaoh and his advisors
against any freedom.
22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh: Thus saith the LORD: Israel is
My son, My first-born.
A Jew came to Rabbi
Glikman Ztzal to humor his mother. He had be influenced by Missionaries to
believe that G-D gave his only son. The Rabbi opened up the Chumash to this
Pasuk and said, “How do you explain this.” The fellow went to the Missionaries
and said, “You lied to me”. As for me, I let the non-Jews believe what they
want as it is better for them to have some fear of G-D than not believe at all.
It is just that we are all with a Divine Neshama in HIS Image (spiritually).
23 And I have said unto thee: Let My son go, that he may serve Me;
and thou hast refused to let him go. Behold, I will slay thy son, thy
first-born.'
Pharaoh is forewarned that his first-born will die if
he does not let the Bnei Yisrael go.
-- 24 And it came to pass on the way at the lodging-place, that the
LORD met him, and sought to kill him. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint, and cut
off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet; and she said: 'Surely a
bridegroom of blood art thou to me.' 26 So He let him alone.
Then she said: 'A bridegroom of blood in regard of the circumcision.'
At first the constrictor
swallowed Moshe from the top to his bris area and then from the bottom until Tzipporah
realized that it was being attacked for not circumsized.
27 And the LORD said to Aaron: 'Go into the wilderness to meet
Moses.' And he went, and met him in the mountain of God, and kissed him. 28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD wherewith He had
sent him, and all the signs wherewith He had charged him. 29 And
Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of
Israel. 30 And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had
spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31
And the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had remembered the
children of Israel, and that He had seen their affliction, then they bowed
their heads and worshipped.
They met and Aharon
gathered the elders.
5:1 And afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said unto Pharaoh:
'Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: Let My people go, that they may hold a
feast unto Me in the wilderness.' 2 And Pharaoh said: 'Who is the LORD, that I
should hearken unto His voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, and
moreover I will not let Israel go.'
Pharaoh and the
Egyptians believed that he was an incarnation of G-D. Being a god, himself, he
questioned one he had never encountered before.
3 And they said: 'The God of the Hebrews hath met with us. Let us
go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice unto
the LORD our God; lest He fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.'
Let us go and worship
before a misfortune comes upon us from the L-RD our G-D.
4 And the king of Egypt said unto them: 'Wherefore do ye, Moses and
Aaron, cause the people to break loose from their work? get you unto your
burdens.' 5 And Pharaoh said: 'Behold, the people of the land are now many, and
will ye make them rest from their burdens?'
We will rest and worship
and prevent a catastrophe.
6 And the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people,
and their officers, saying: 7 'Ye shall no more give the people straw to make
brick, as heretofore. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 And the
tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye
shall not diminish aught thereof; for they are idle; therefore they cry,
saying: Let us go and sacrifice to our God. 9 Let heavier work be laid upon the
men, that they may labor therein; and let them not regard lying words.'
These people are
becoming slackers, I shall not give them any straw or opportunities to produce
bricks so easily if these thoughts have entered their minds.
10 And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers,
and they spoke to the people, saying: 'Thus saith Pharaoh: I will not give you
straw. 11 Go yourselves, get you straw where ye can find it; for nought of your
work shall be diminished.' 12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout
all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 And the taskmasters were
urgent, saying: 'Fulfil your work, your daily task, as when there was straw.'
14 And the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had
set over them, were beaten, saying: 'Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your
appointed task in making brick both yesterday and today as heretofore?' 15 Then
the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying:
'Wherefore deal thou thus with thy servants? 16 There is no straw given unto
thy servants, and they say to us: Make brick; and, behold, thy servants are
beaten, but the fault is in thine own people.'
Conditions for the
people had gone from bad to worse.
17 But he said: 'Ye are idle, ye are idle; therefore ye say: Let us
go and sacrifice to the LORD. 18 Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no
straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.' 19 And the
officers of the children of Israel did see that they were set on mischief, when
they said: 'Ye shall not diminish aught from your bricks, your daily task.'
They pressed the people
with more difficult tasks.
20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came
forth from Pharaoh; 21 and they said unto them: 'The LORD look upon you, and
judge; because ye have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh,
and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.'
They came after Moshe
and Aharon.
22
And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said: 'Lord, wherefore hast Thou dealt
ill with this people? why is it that Thou hast sent me? 23 For since I came to
Pharaoh to speak in Thy name, he hath dealt ill with this people; neither hast
Thou delivered Thy people at all.'
Instead of good, I have
brought ill upon the people.
6:1 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Now shalt thou see what I will
do to Pharaoh; for by a strong hand shall he let them go, and by a strong hand
shall he drive them out of his land.'
In the future, you will
go out with a strong hand when Pharaoh lets you go.
A Miracle for Oz Acampo from TV Interview English R.
Pauli
Oz was a volunteer
Paramedic for Magen David Adom. He started volunteering in his High School
Years. Some of his classmates did so too. When he joined the army, he chose the
Givati Brigade. It is one of the infantry brigades in Israel. It was a bit
unusual as Oz lived up in Northern Israel which was more likely to pick Golani
as that is for a northern fellow while
Givati is in the southern part of Israel.
On Oct. 7th,
Oz found himself in Kibbutz Reem trying to save whom he could save. He fought
in Gaza and not long after his deployment, he was in Kahn Unis when he was critically
injured. He was unconscious and it was uncertain if he would even make it to
Soroka Hospital. Somehow, he lived. His commander called up the hospital the
next day inquiring if Oz was still alive.
After days of a
Hiatus, some of his former classmates including a female acquaintance from
school who volunteered for the Ambulance Service. The particular day that they
visited was the day he woke up from his coma.
The young woman
visited him again and again. Soon they became more than just acquaintances.
They fell in love with one another.
Today, they are
together, Oz is talking and acting normally. He still has more to go to return to his former self but is a walking
medical miracle.
This Story is of Matan? Rose the Son Gad Rose, of the
Golani Battalion Commander
It seems that the boy
has muscular dystrophy or cystic fibrosis. In order to live he needs to have
his genes changed within. It costs millions of Shekels. Sofar, the family has
raised a few million Shekels but it is not yet enough. The signs from the
treatment is positive. They were asking for people to donate their lunch money
50NIS for help. Of course the boy is not the only one. My problem is that I did
not hear or watch how to donate. I assume if you write to Arutz 12 and ask how
to donate to the boy with “Nivoon
Shririm” son of Golani
Commander you will be able to transfer money. The TV Network raised
1,500,000 NIS in donations and help from the Pharma Companies but still needs
1,500,000 NIS for complete treatment.
Mystical Teachings
and a Suggestion from Heaven by Rabbi Y. Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1465-16
Rabbi David-Moshe
Rosenbaum, the son of the Kretshnif Rebbe in Kiryat Gat, Rabbi Yisroel-Nisan
Rosenbaum, merited to twice visit the Lubavitcher Rebbe--once in the winter of
the year 1991 and once in the summer of the same year. His father's
extraordinary admiration for the Rebbe induced him to avail himself of these
opportunities.
"When you will
see the Rebbe you will get an idea how a student of the Baal Shem Tov
looks," urged his father.
"Indeed,"
recalls his son, "the atmosphere of holiness and spiritual elevation I
absorbed there, I will forever remember."
"My winter
visit with the Rebbe was in the middle of the first Gulf War during the Torah
reading of Terumah. Till today, my amazement at the unfailing trust the Rebbe
emanated and with which he answered anyone who asked for his opinion about the
situation, especially to those in Israel, has not faded.
"The Rebbe took
an unusual responsibility by advising people to go ahead with their previously
planned trips to Israel, without fear. This strengthened my understanding of my
father's admiration for the Rebbe. Where is there anyone it this generation who
is able to take such a responsibility and have proved the reliability of his
words."
This description by
Rabbi Rosenbaum, who is the current Kretshnif Rebbe in Kiryat Gat, is an introduction
to the following fascinating story which happened with him personally, or more
precise, with his father, the Rebbe.
* * *
It begins one time
when Rabbi Rosenbaum's wife was about to give birth to one of their younger
children. He was ready to take her to the hospital, yet in spite of it being 5
o'clock in the morning, he didn't want to change the tradition of all previous
births of his children, so he called his parents' home to ask for his father's
blessing.
His father never
answered the telephone; it was always his mother who would pick up the
receiver. He was waiting for her to answer so he could ask her to tell his
father they were going to the hospital, and to request his holy blessing.
He waited for her to
answer but no one picked up the phone. "I guess they don't hear the
ringing," he thought, as he hung up and resumed making last preparations
for his wife's hospital stay.
When they arrived at
the hospital he tried his parents' number again. This time, to his joy, the
phone was picked up. However, much to his surprise, it was the Rebbe himself
who answered.
The son told his
father emotionally that his wife was about to be taken to the delivery room
whereupon his father, greatly moved, blessed her with an easy and smooth
delivery. Rabbi Rosenbaum noticed that his father's voice didn't sound as it
usually did, but being understandably distracted he didn't really pay
attention.
At seven in the
morning he once again called his parents. "Mazal Tov!" he cried
joyfully, "In 'a good and successful time' a boy was born to us!" His
father replied with the traditional "Mazal Tov" blessing, after which
he added something highly unusual: "As for the name for the newborn - he
has one already."
His son had no idea
what his father was talking about. What did he mean "he has one
already"?! Who had already chosen a name for him?
He asked his father
"Please explain to me what you mean? I will accept whatever you say,
Father, but I would like to know who it is that already gave a name to my
newborn son and why!"
The Rebbe cleared
his throat and told him: "Around 5am, at the time that you took your wife
to the hospital, I saw the Lubavitcher Rebbe in a dream. The Rebbe's face was
shining, and an air of joy was surrounding him while he taught me deep Torah wisdom.
After he finished speaking, he remained standing near me. I understood that he
wanted to add something.
"What does the
Rebbe want?" I asked him. The Rebbe smiled a special smile and said, 'Soon
the phone will ring; pick up the horn and you will understand what I want.'
'Exactly at that
moment the phone rang," he continued. "I guess that was the first
time you called. I was still completely under the influence of the dream. My
turbulent thoughts held me captive and I could not pick up the phone. I half
dreamt and half dozed.
"Then the phone
rang again. Sudden as lightning, the Lubavitcher Rebbe appeared again and
ordered, 'Nu, answer the phone.' I quickly picked up the phone and heard your
voice, my son, with the good news."
Now his son
understood why his father changed his habit and answered the phone himself, a
direct instruction of the Lubavitcher Rebbe is not something that happens every
day.
"But what has
all this to do with a name?" he wondered out loud.
"You shall see,
my son," explained his father; "listen carefully. I pondered what was
the Rebbe referring to when he said I would understand by myself. That is when
I realized that the Rebbe meant that the newborn should be called by his holy
name, Menachem-Mendel. That is why I said that your son, my dear grandson,
already has a name…a very special name."
It goes without
saying that Rabbi Rosenbaum followed his father's instruction, who felt that
this was a personal request of the Rebbe. At the brit-milah circumcision
ceremony the baby's name was announced: Menachem Mendel ben HaRav David-Moshe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted by
Yerachmiel Tilles from the basic translation by Mrs. C.R. Benami, long-time
editorial assistant for AscentOfSafed.com, from the Hebrew weekly, HaGeula #1173.
Biographical Note:
Rabbi David-Moshe Rosenbaum is currently Kretshnif-Kiryat Gat Rebbe. He was
named after his grandfather, who was the Rebbe of Kretshnif (in what is now
Romania) until his passing in 1969. His father, Rabbi Yisroel-Nisan Rosenbaum
was the Kretshnif-Kiryat Gat Rebbe until his passing in 2019. [The first Rebbe
of Kretshnif was Rabbi Meir Rosenbaum of Nadvorna-Kretshnif, a son of Rabbi
Mordechai Leifer, founder of the Nadvorna Chassidic dynasty and the patriarch
of all the many rebbes who have "Nadvorna"--or
"Kretshnif"--as part of their title.]
Compiler's Note: In addition to his two visits to the Lubavitcher Rebbe in his
younger years cited in the above story, 32 years later, on 26 Tevet 5783
(1-18-23), he and his entourage were honored with a guided visit to the Rebbe's
room and the next-door famous library. [The article on anash.org is accompanied by 32 interesting large photos. [A short
video of the Kretshnif-Kiryat Gat Rebbe speaking to IDF soldiers]
I am a second or third
cousin one generation removed from Herbert Heller who authored this holocaust film.
The movie was called Avenue
of the Giants but is now The Optimist. I had the privilege of meeting him and his wife
(Seamstress of Auschwitz). His daughter, Vivian, sent me the link. It is a nice
read. https://deadline.com/2025/12/holocaust-film-the-optimist-stephen-lang-release-date-march-1236648621/
Milestone: Uri Lupolianski,74,
Former mayor of Yerushalayim. Father of 12 and grandfather of over 50. Jailed
for receiving bribes to Yad Sarah and other charities in the Holyland Hotel
Olmert Scandal. https://www.timesofisrael.com/uri-lupolianski-only-ultra-orthodox-mayor-of-jerusalem-dies-at-74/
Milestone: Eva Schloss, 96, Eva Schloss, the
Auschwitz survivor who dedicated decades to educating people about the
Holocaust and was the stepsister of diarist Anne Frank, has died aged 96, her
foundation announced Sunday. https://www.timesofisrael.com/eva-schloss-anne-franks-stepsister-and-holocaust-survivor-dies-at-96/
Milestone: Rabbi Haim
Yaakov Naftali Zilberberg, 76, kept a kosher story in Poland and then Tel Aviv,
Chassid of Gur. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420328
Inyanay Diyoma
Jan. 3rd
Swords of Iron Day 820
start of week 118
This happen fast before Moshiach. I
don’t know how long Trump’s patience will be with Hezballah or Hamas but with
the news from South America today, I think that it is in their interest to
disarm quickly.
US dominated the news on Shabbos:
https://www.foxnews.com/world/explosions-venezuelan-capital-caracas-reports
https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/us-strikes-venezuela-maduro-captured-january-3-2026
US will run Venezuela until safe. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420322
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bishop-robert-barron-slams-zohran-mamdani-warmth-collectivism-line-for-gods-sake
https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/berkshire-hathaway-shares-warren-buffett-era-ends-60-years-ceo-greg-abel-taking
https://www.foxnews.com/travel/roman-era-discoveries-unearthed-biblical-city-mentioned-book-revelation
https://www.foxnews.com/health/experimental-vaccine-could-save-thousands-lives-per-year-scientist-claims
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-strikes-hezbollah-radwan-force-training-site-weapons-depots-in-southern-lebanon/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-jets-strike-uae-backed-separatists-in-yemen-abu-dhabi-says-its-forces-have-withdrawn/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/rat-jew-graffiti-painted-on-ireland-road-police-treating-incident-as-a-hate-crime/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/4-people-and-horse-safe-after-getting-caught-in-floods-rescuers-say/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/zelensky-names-ukraines-head-of-military-intelligence-as-his-new-chief-of-staff/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ritual-cremations-may-have-occurred-in-africa-9500-years-ago-researchers-say/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-arrested-on-suspicion-of-murder-after-woman-found-dead-in-haifa-apartment/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-arrested-on-suspicion-of-murder-after-woman-found-dead-in-haifa-apartment/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/romi-gonen-hamas-chief-offered-me-early-release-in-exchange-for-silence-on-sexual-assault/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-citizen-reported-missing-in-swiss-inferno-that-officials-attribute-to-sparklers/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-said-planning-to-operate-inspection-site-at-rafah-border-crossing-when-it-reopens/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-linked-hackers-claim-they-breached-former-minister-ayelet-shakeds-phone/
Developments in cold case: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420318
Hamas claims it only has small arms.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420321
The IDF on Saturday conducted a precise strike in the northern Gaza
Strip dismantling a Hamas shaft containing a rocket launcher loaded and ready
to be launched toward the city of Sderot. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420323
As anti-regime protests entered their sixth day in Iran, a video
posted online shows mourners at a funeral for a protester chasing regime forces
away.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420308
“I was in the lowest place a person can be before death, the
lowest," he said in an interview with AP. "I had no control
over anything, when to eat, when to shower, how much I want to eat." … He
admits that the nightmares return at night, and every small noise reminds him
of the days of captivity. "“Although the war in Gaza is over, now my war
is starting with my soul," he said. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420297
https://www.timesofisrael.com/with-new-trade-restrictions-spain-looks-to-trigger-eu-cascade-against-israel/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/fbi-says-it-disrupted-plot-for-new-years-eve-terror-attack-inspired-by-islamic-state/
Jan. 4th
Swords of Iron Day 821
https://www.timesofisrael.com/maduro-in-ny-jail-after-capture-venezuelas-vp-rodriguez-claims-op-had-zionist-tint/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-expresses-hope-for-resumption-of-venezuela-ties-after-maduros-deposal/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-oldest-complete-biblical-scroll-ever-found-was-originally-split-in-2-scholar-finds/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/bbc-settles-with-oct-7-survivors-after-filming-destroyed-home-without-permission/
Weapons cache in a parked vehicle.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420335
Protesters from extreme factions demonstrated today (Sunday) at the
IDF Recruitment Center in Tel Hashomer against the enlistment of haredi youth
into units designated for the haredi community, including the Netzach Yehuda
Battalion and the Hashmonaim Brigade. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420359
Injured Charedi Soldier becomes a
career soldier. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420330
"Israel’s accomplishments in 2025 were extraordinary, and many
of them confounded its critics as well as objective experts. Perhaps the most
unexpected success - and a supremely important achievement - was the release of
virtually all the hostages. Prime Minister Netanyahu said he would get them
back, and few believed him. Only one now remains, Ran Gvili, a heroic fighter
killed defending his country on 7th October, and there is optimism that his
corpse will be recovered," Col. Kemp stated. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420347
The Tel Aviv District Court on Sunday sentenced a terrorist to life
imprisonment after convicting him of the murder of Ludmilla
Lipovsky, an 83-year-old woman, in a stabbing attack in Herzliya. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420355
101year old who survived the Shoah
gets a ‘selfie’ with the Prime Minister. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420351
Security officials say Hamas is exploiting the significant increase
in humanitarian aid entering Gaza to exert control over the population and to
finance terrorism, according to a report by Kan Reshet Bet. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420352
Charedi Brigade Newspaper partially
banned. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420354
Next Generation 155-mm.
self-propelled howitzer designed to replace the aging M109 Doher fleet that has
served the IDF for decades. https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-882081
After
about 20 years, the Chabad House in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital — through which tens of
thousands of Israeli backpackers have passed over the years and which is
considered one of the best-known Chabad centers in the world — was forced to
vacate immediately after the property owner demanded that Chabad emissaries
Hezki and Chani Lifshitz leave the compound without delay. https://www.ynetnews.com/jewish-world/article/s1fgrpwnbg
Negev and Galilee Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf claimed Sunday during a
Cabinet meeting that Hezbollah had used Arab
citizens of Israel to purchase apartments in Kiriat Shemona during the war, “in
an attempt to take over the city from within.”
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkzqjcdvzg
Over
the past weekend, Angelina Jolie visited the Egyptian
side of the Rafah crossing as part of what was described as a “humanitarian
tour” on behalf of Gaza residents. It is unfortunate she did not go a bit
further and travel a few more miles to places such as Kibbutz Beeri, or the
site of the Nova music festival, to witness the atrocities committed there on October 7 — but that is a subject for another
story.
Following Jolie’s widely criticized visit, another report emerged
about her: The Hollywood actress is said to be fulfilling a long-held dream of
leaving the United States and relocating to Europe. According to the reports,
Jolie is in the process of packing up and selling her Los Angeles estate,
valued at an estimated $25 million, ahead of the planned move. https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/lifestyle/article/rj80b0de11g
At least 10 killed and 130 arrested
in Iran. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sjgu22inze#autoplay
Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado
said Saturday that she is prepared to lead her country through a democratic
transition following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro
by U.S. forces in a dramatic overnight raid on Caracas.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bknag0inzx
Israeli stands with the Iranian People. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/benjamin-netanyahu/article-882262
Jan. 5th
Swords of Iron Day 822
https://www.timesofisrael.com/shas-vows-to-oppose-2026-budget-unless-coalition-passes-haredi-draft-exemption-bill/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-new-venezuelan-leader-to-pay-big-price-if-she-doesnt-do-whats-right/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-teen-charlotte-niddam-confirmed-dead-in-new-years-fire-at-swiss-ski-resort/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/woman-stabbed-to-death-in-pardes-hanna-police-arrest-husband-as-suspect/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/german-state-antisemitism-czars-property-torched-hamas-symbol-painted-nearby/
https://www.foxnews.com/world/trump-says-cuba-ready-fall-after-capture-venezuelas-maduro
https://www.foxnews.com/world/uk-confirms-joint-airstrike-targeting-suspected-isis-weapons-facility-syria
https://www.foxnews.com/us/american-jailed-billionaires-monaco-death-plot-kill-wife-exposed-long-con-expert-says
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dan-bongino-leaves-fbi-deputy-director-role-after-less-than-year-returns-civilian-life
Rabbi Tzemach
Mazuz, head of the Rosh Yeshiva of Kisei Rahamim yeshiva, called for an end to
divisiveness and hatred between the various sectors of Israeli society. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420414
Senior US District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, 92, among the
longest-serving active judges in the federal judiciary, has been selected to
preside over the criminal prosecution of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in
Manhattan federal court. Maduro is currently in US custody following his
arrest, and the case is expected to carry significant international and
diplomatic ramifications. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1rqksvvzx
The Jewish community in Venezuela has been on heightened alert in
recent days amid US military activity and the ongoing political crisis in the
country. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420418
Spying on Bennett. According to the indictment, from the end of
October 2025 until his arrest, the defendant maintained continuous contact with
a foreign agent and carried out various tasks for him, transferring the results
and receiving payments through digital wallets on the Binance trading platform.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420420
The IDF on Sunday struck and eliminated two Hezbollah terrorists in
the area of Al-Jumayjimah in southern Lebanon, a military statement confirmed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420419
Western intelligence assessment shared with The Sunday Times says
that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has prepared a secret
escape plan should his security forces fail to contain the nationwide protests
sweeping the country.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420400
Mammography tests, designed for the early detection of breast cancer,
may also contain additional information relevant to identifying cardiovascular
disease: breast arterial calcifications (BAC). These are calcium
deposits in the walls of arteries within the breast that can be seen on routine
mammography images and that studies have linked to an increased risk of heart
disease. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/rjf72run11e
In a surprising discovery, researchers at the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology have
found that a cellular system tasked with disposing of toxic proteins—crucial in
preventing Alzheimer’s disease—may
actually be helping the disease spread across the brain. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/sk311qzo4be
In Farsi: ”Trump is a man of
action”. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-882354
A shed on the property of Brandenburg Commissioner for Combating Antisemitism Andreas Büttner was set on fire in a suspected arson attack
on Sunday before dawn, according to the German politician and Brandenburg Police.
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-882329
The command center at the Negev Air Force base in southern Israel
detected a drone flying over the base for several minutes. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420413
Extreme Right anti-army radio. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420410
Referring to the sanctions included in the draft legislation,
Goldknopf compared them to “a yellow star for Torah students," a remark
that immediately drew criticism from across the political spectrum. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420378
A fierce debate ensued during a meeting of the Chief Rabbinate
Council on Sunday between Chief Rabbi Kalman Ber and Chief Rabbinate Director
General Yehuda Cohen.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420379
Grenade hurled at Ashkelon home. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420411
The first group of yeshiva students enlisted today (Sunday) in a
unique course to train IDF welfare officers aiming to reduce gaps and provide a
tailored response for soldiers serving from the haredi community. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420390
Creating a Managing Board: Deputy Palestinian Authority chairman
Hussein al-Sheikh and head of the General Intelligence, Majed Faraj, arrived in
Cairo today (Sunday) and met with senior Egyptian officials, as part of efforts
to advance the "second phase" of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza
Strip. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420387
https://www.timesofisrael.com/beersheba-district-court-president-benny-sagi-killed-in-shocking-crash-on-route-6/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/sara-netanyahu-touches-up-official-photos-of-herself-distorting-archival-record/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-say-theyre-done-with-qatargate-probe-hand-it-over-to-state-prosecutor/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-us-believes-ukraine-did-not-strike-putin-residence-despite-russian-claims/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-officer-who-saved-civilians-in-southern-israel-on-oct-7-dies-after-illness/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-backed-forces-regain-control-of-yemens-hadramout-from-uae-backed-separatists/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/another-round-of-israel-syria-negotiations-reportedly-to-begin-monday-in-paris/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/islamic-republic-in-survival-mode-amid-protests-iranian-officials-said-to-believe/
Jan. 6th
Swords of Iron Day 823
The death toll in the Arab sector
has reached 7 in the first five days of the year. The latest victims were a
father and son installing security camera on the house of a criminal and were
murdered by the rival gang. https://www.timesofisrael.com/3-shot-dead-within-hours-in-arab-gangland-violence-toll-for-2026-already-at-7/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/attorneys-for-qatargate-suspect-urich-say-he-plans-to-resume-working-for-netanyahu/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-bold-move-central-bank-cuts-interest-rates-for-2nd-straight-time-after-ceasefire/
Arabs: Six women and one man ranging in age from 4 to 67. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israelis-stranded-in-gaza-blocked-from-returning-due-to-bureaucratic-stalemate/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/spanish-map-of-jewish-and-zionist-businesses-taken-down-amid-uproar/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/despite-ban-dozens-still-suffering-kidney-failure-from-toxic-hair-treatments/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/french-court-convicts-10-of-cyberbullying-over-claims-about-brigitte-macrons-gender/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/splits-emerge-over-venezuelas-future-as-un-security-council-meets-to-discuss-us-raid/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/you-were-completely-wrong-netanyahu-and-lapid-spar-in-stormy-knesset-debate/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-grants-4g-access-to-palestinian-west-bank-cell-companies-after-delay-due-to-war/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/01/05/dozens-australian-sports-figures-call-royal-commission-antisemitism-bondi-attack/
https://www.foxnews.com/media/nick-shirley-says-leftists-coming-after-me-exposing-minnesota-fraud
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/vp-vances-ohio-home-damaged-man-in-custody-secret-service-says
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/klobuchar-urged-run-minnesota-governor-walz-ends-re-election-bid-amid-fraud-scandal
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has enlisted Russian President
Vladimir Putin to convey calming messages to Iran, indicating that Israel does
not intend to attack it. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420454
Op- Ed Diane Bederman: Confirmation versus Protest. https://dianebederman.com/confirmation-versus-protest/
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants former general Ofer Winter
to lead Bezalel Smotrich's list in the upcoming elections, Shahar Glick
reported on Galei Tzahal on Tuesday. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420465
Illegal Arab building threatens
Yerushalayim. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skcq7eknbl#autoplay
Modern Chassidim work & army: https://www.ynetnews.com/jewish-world/article/bkkorx5ebe
“Grandpa, look what we found!" exclaimed the grandchildren of
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee as they excitedly pulled five ancient
coins from a recently discovered hiding cave near the community of Naale in
Binyamin. The family participated in an archaeological tour initiated by Ruthie
Lieberman, political consultant and founder of the Yes! Israel Project,
together with Sarah Paley. The tour was guided by Dr. Dvir Raviv of Bar-Ilan
University, who is leading an archaeological survey of the area. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420467
A soldier in the 13th battalion, Golani Brigade, was severely
injured in an operational accident in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420459
UK Home Secretary
Shabana Mahmood has barred Islamic preacher Dr. Shadee Elmasry from entering
the country after he defended Hamas following the October 7 terror attack on Israel.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420462
A pregnant dusky shark was found lifeless after becoming trapped in
fishing lines. Researchers at the Morris Kahn Station are working to determine
the circumstances of its death. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420466
After several days of intensive searches in rough terrain, the
Israel Dog Unit, a nonprofit specializing in working dogs, located Yechiel
Shitrit deceased in the Haifa region.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420463
Yasam officers from the Judea Precinct arrested two suspects from
the villages of Dura and a-Duwara-Bani Naim on Monday morning following
incendiary posts on social media. The arrest was conducted in collaboration
with the IDF Yehuda Brigade and directed by Central Command intelligence. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420432
Sergeant Major (Res.) Ran Hirschhorn, a platoon sergeant in the
Karmeli Brigade, passed away unexpectedly after collapsing last week due to a
stroke, which was followed by a heart attack. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420447
A suspect in the arson of a Melbourne vehicle with a Hanukkah billboard was
arrested by the Victoria Police on Tuesday, law enforcement announced. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-882452
Jan. 7th
Swords of Iron Day 824
The headlines started off with the 8th
Arab killed this year but then three more were gunned down this morning and the
internet has not yet caught up.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/zamir-idf-building-strategy-around-surprise-war-civilian-resilience-key-to-success/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/nvidia-unveils-next-generation-ai-superchip-architecture-partly-developed-in-israel/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/swiss-bar-in-deadly-blaze-had-missed-six-years-of-safety-checks/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/german-prosecutors-launch-terror-probe-into-berlin-power-outages/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/central-elections-committee-to-work-on-combating-ai-influence-on-vote/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/last-hurdle-cleared-to-start-controversial-settlement-project-near-jerusalem/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-maduros-capture-rubio-links-operation-to-fight-against-iran-and-hezbollah/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/bbc-draws-fire-after-airing-holocaust-cello-repair-story-that-does-not-mention-jews/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/greenland-and-allies-reject-threats-to-island-as-trump-reiterates-us-need-for-it/
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-gop-rep-doug-lamalfa-dead-65
https://www.foxnews.com/health/common-pain-relievers-may-raise-heart-disease-stroke-risk-doctors-warn
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/minnesota-hotel-removed-from-approved-federal-lodging-list-after-refusing-accommodate-ice-agents
33% of Israelis do not have adequate
shelter. More
than half of the hospital beds in high-risk areas lacked proper shielding.
Operating rooms, catheterization rooms, and intensive care units were also
found to be exposed. Only 17% of catheterization rooms were properly shielded
as required. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420489
The IDF on Monday conducted precise strikes against terror
infrastructure sites belonging to the Hezbollah and Hamas terrorist
organizations in several areas in Lebanon, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420461
Michael Reagan, the son of former US President Ronald Reagan and
actress Jane Wyman, has passed away at the age of 80, the Ronald Reagan
Presidential Foundation and Institute announced Tuesday in a statement. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/4205 07
Iran: Some police join in chants. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420498
Netanyahu preparing for elections. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420505
https://www.timesofisrael.com/teenager-killed-others-injured-after-bus-runs-over-haredi-protesters-in-jerusalem/
Jan. 8th
Swords of Iron Day 825
The Arab Mafia death toll rises to
12.
THIS TRAITOR, PRIOR TO HIS ARREST, PLANTED EVIDENCE AGAINST POLLARD:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/aldrich-ames-cia-agent-who-sold-us-secrets-to-soviet-union-dies-in-prison-at-84/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-set-to-charge-bus-driver-who-ran-over-haredi-protester-with-aggravated-murder/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-says-negev-is-out-of-control-while-touring-south-amid-jewish-arab-tensions/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-plans-to-start-2nd-phase-of-gaza-deal-before-hamas-disarmed-last-hostages-body-returned/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/uk-jewish-groups-call-for-ouster-of-cop-who-banned-maccabi-tel-aviv-fans-from-soccer-match/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/workers-of-israeli-owned-ny-bakery-unionize-call-to-end-support-of-palestine-genocide/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/gefen-bitton-israeli-critically-wounded-in-bondi-attack-to-be-flown-to-israel/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/families-of-soldiers-who-died-by-suicide-petition-high-court-for-idf-recognition/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-rare-move-knesset-panel-moves-to-overturn-smotrichs-150-vat-exemption-order/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/court-reinstates-ban-on-urich-speaking-with-netanyahu-working-in-his-office/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/01/07/iran-judiciary-chief-warns-no-leniency-protesters-helping-enemy/
https://www.foxnews.com/world/iranian-military-leader-threatens-preemptive-attack-after-trump-comments
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/01/07/tiktok-removes-videos-antisemitic-polish-lawmaker-hate-speech-complaint/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/01/07/pakistan-saudi-talks-jf-17-jets-for-loans-deal-sources-say/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/01/07/chinese-refiners-expected-replace-venezuelan-oil-iranian-crude-traders-say/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/01/07/israel-backed-militia-says-killed-two-hamas-operatives-gaza/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/01/07/clashes-syrias-aleppo-deepen-rift-government-kurdish-forces/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/01/07/virginia-ag-calls-k-12-schools-adopt-ihra-definition-antisemitism-ahead-new-governor-taking-office/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/01/07/trump-slams-rep-thomas-massie-hater-israel-praises-republican-primary-challenger-ed-gallrein/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/01/07/texas-joins-legal-action-against-american-muslims-palestine-move-counter-hamas-terrorism/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/01/07/eu-funded-ngo-backed-online-platform-targeting-jewish-businesses-catalonia/
Op-Ed https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/01/07/audacity-jews-survive/
https://www.foxnews.com/us/who-renee-nicole-good-woman-killed-minneapolis-ice-shooting
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cruz-demands-impeachment-boasberg-judge-who-sentenced-kavanaughs-attempted-assassin
The
Ministry of Defense and the IDF have recently completed the distribution of
thousands of Arad assault rifles to quick-reaction teams operating across
Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420592
The
Knesset approved on Wednesday in its preliminary reading a bill that would
significantly erode Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara’s authority over legal
advisers to government ministries, in the government’s latest effort to weaken
the authority of judicial officials. https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-okays-bill-ending-attorney-generals-authority-over-ministry-legal-advisers/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/australia-to-form-royal-commission-into-antisemitism-after-bondi-mass-shooting/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-detects-failed-rocket-launch-from-gaza-amid-diplomatic-moves-toward-phase-2-of-truce/
Jan. 9th
Swords of Iron Day 826
https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-regime-cuts-nationwide-internet-access-protests-claim-44-lives-across-major-cities
https://www.timesofisrael.com/internet-phone-lines-cut-across-iran-as-thousands-rally-in-tehran-death-toll-at-45/
Military Priorities: The IDF and the Defense Ministry are weighing
the establishment of a fourth squadron of F-35 stealth jets, known in Israel as
the Adir, versus purchasing an additional squadron of F-15I aircraft.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjpzfva4be
Arab death toll hits 14 this time a
Druze. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420646
Thousand of Rifles for Civil Defense
Teams. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420592
In a joint operation by the ISA and the police, a 15-year-old
Arab-Israeli resident of the north was arrested in recent weeks after
suspicions arose that he was in contact with terrorists. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420595
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/01/08/jewish-new-york-state-assembly-candidate-vows-change-campaign-announcement/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/01/08/denver-jewish-community-center-starts-donation-drive-firefighters-massive-fire/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/01/08/anti-israel-congressional-candidate-michael-blake-deep-ties-defense-contractor-despite-campaign-rhetoric/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/01/08/new-yorks-cooper-union-settles-campus-antisemitism-case-pledges-reforms/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/01/08/saudi-coalition-says-separatist-leader-fled-yemen-uae-help-advances-aden/
I have a number of news items from Arutz
7 that will have to wait until Motzei Shabbos due to the Shabbos Deadline. Shabbos
times. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/shabat
Mossad Agent targeted. Hackers
released multiple videos, which they alleged were taken outside the home of a
Mossad agent, whom they accused of playing "a major role in organizing and
directing networks behind the unrest inside Iran."
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-882791
Many of my news readers don’t read my
blogspot so I am bringing the Holocaust Film release. I am a second or
third cousin one generation removed from Herbert Heller, who authored this holocaust
film. The movie was
called Avenue of the Giants but is now The Optimist. I had the privilege of meeting him and his wife
(Seamstress of Auschwitz) his daughter, Vivian, sent me the link. It is a nice read. https://deadline.com/2025/12/holocaust-film-the-optimist-stephen-lang-release-date-march-1236648621/
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/national-security-experts-sound-alarm-over-ccp-linked-land-ownership-near-us-military-bases-unthinkable
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-admin-reportedly-considers-paying-each-greenland-resident-100k-us-takeover-talks
https://www.foxnews.com/us/nasa-administrator-orders-early-return-4-crew-11-astronauts-medical-situation
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/17-republicans-rebel-against-house-gop-leaders-join-dems-pass-obamacare-extension
https://www.timesofisrael.com/protesters-chant-we-support-hamas-near-new-york-city-synagogue-jewish-school/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/syria-announces-ceasefire-after-days-of-clashes-with-kurdish-fighters-in-aleppo/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ai-security-boom-triples-valuation-of-israeli-cyber-startup-to-9-billion-within-a-year/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/somaliland-official-confirms-talks-with-israel-on-hosting-a-military-base/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/french-author-sued-for-libel-by-her-relatives-over-nazi-collaborator-family-novel/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/leading-religious-zionist-rabbi-extremist-settler-violence-must-be-stopped-from-the-pulpit/
The IDF is court-martialing a Givati Brigade company
commander in the Northern Command for dumping urine on his soldiers’ clothes in
an attempt to discipline them.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-882764
Egyptian Vessel violates Naval
Blockage. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-882822
US Amb. Cooperation with Israel on
Iran. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-882829
Police arrested a 23-year-old Jerusalem resident overnight on
suspicion of impersonating a medical staff member and committing sexual
offenses against patients at Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in Jerusalem,
authorities said Tuesday.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sywdcqc411l
Defense Dept. vs. Arabs burning
trash. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420590
Request for Starlink for Iran. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-882845
A healthy, happy,
peaceful and restful Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli
