TITLE CORRECTION TERUMAH PART 2
Two weeks ago, I was not
on the ball and did not mention Parsha Shekelim. This week is Parsha Zachor
With the threat of war
looming over our heads, Chassidim talking that this year is the year of Geula
(Redemption) and all the breaking news about me, it is hard to keep up and
write the Parsha. My policy is always write quality vs. quantity. Although I
prefer both, it does not always work. But I left off in the beginning of
Terumah and now continue.
Parsha Terumah Part 2
Last Shabbos, my friend
Nachum asked me a question from his Russian translation and explanation that
opened up my eyes to a new understanding. As Moshe stood on Har Sinai, he was
shown the Mishkan. As a young prince in Egypt, maybe he learned diplomacy, the
art of war including martial art skills against the shepherds harassing
Tzipporah and her sisters. But he may have had a hole in his scholastics in
logistics, engineering and other things or not only heavy of speech but fumble
fingers for enginering.
The Russian Commentary
was that Moshe was shown the Mishkan and various items (maybe in dancing
flames) on Har Sinai. Betzalel and Ohaliav only had to look up at the mount and
they had a vision and received via Moshe the mechanical dimension of the
Mishkan. Once they had this in the back of their mind, it was easy enough for
them to go to a drawing board or even in dirt or sand draw up plans for the
wood for the Teva, Ark cover, gold stand and the rings and how the staves went
in, the menorah and the casting thereof and how the beaten work would go
further, etc. Casting and making a mold I learned the theory in my foundry
course but with fumbling hands, I could not construct things accurate and
quickly like others in my class. I knew that in the mold one needed something
to hold the casting in place and there had to be a gas/air vent. I was on the
level of a 70 or 80 while others would be on the level of 90 or 100 in their
grades. That was Moshe, he knew what had to be done and how it looked but he
did not have the skills to complete the project.
Note: I am using the
standard 18 inches or 45 cm for a cubit which is the standard I learned and
goes nicely with the length of my own arm. The Chazon Ish has a man with 20inch
arm or 50 cm and that is how he holds. Since I am a certified quality/standards
engineer, I hold my own standard.
31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work
shall the candlestick be made, even its base, and its shaft; its cups, its
knops, and its flowers, shall be of one piece with it.
With modern day casting
methods, the Temple Institute cast a Menorah visible in Yerushalayim enclosed
in bulletproof glass. It is one piece. It was extremely hard for the most
experienced cast people and mold makers to do it.
32 And there shall be six branches going out of the sides thereof:
three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three
branches of the candle-stick out of the other side thereof; 33 three cups made
like almond-blossoms in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three cups made
like almond-blossoms in the other branch, a knop and a flower; so for the six
branches going out of the candlestick. 34 And in the candlestick four cups made
like almond-blossoms, the knops thereof, and the flowers thereof. 35 And a knop
under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one
piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, for the six
branches going out of the candlestick. 36 Their knops and their branches shall
be of one piece with it; the whole of it one beaten work of pure gold. 37 And
thou shalt make the lamps thereof, seven; and they shall light the lamps
thereof, to give light over against it.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293983-d11548355-Reviews-Golden_Menorah-Jerusalem_Jerusalem_District.html another photo and story https://aish.com/the-search-for-the-lost-menorah/
38 And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of
pure gold. 39 Of a talent of pure gold shall it be made, with all these
vessels. 40 And see that thou make them after their pattern, which is being
shown thee in the mount.
The dishes had a handle to put over the Menorah to
snuff out the old candles for oil renewal, but the light would continue as the
rest were lit.
26:1 Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains: of
fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim the work of
the skilful workman shalt thou make them.
The curtains were made
my hand with hand made threads.
2 The length of each curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and
the breadth of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall have one
measure.
Each one was 12.60
meters by 1.8 meters or 42 feet by 6 feet. No mention is made of the width.
3 Five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and the
other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.
Joined together in width.
Taken from Google AI Inner Curtains (Mishkan): 10 curtains made of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and
scarlet, featuring artistic cherubim. Each was 28 by 4 cubits, joined into two
sets of five with 50 golden clasps.
4 And thou shalt make loops
of blue upon the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the first set; and
likewise shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is outmost in the
second set. 5 Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops
shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the second set; the loops
shall be opposite one to another. 6 And thou shalt make fifty clasps of gold, and
couple the curtains one to another with the clasps, that the tabernacle may be
one whole. 7 And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the
tabernacle; eleven curtains shalt thou make them.
The first curtains were
for the Holy of Holies and inner court of the Mishkan. This set for the
covering.
8 The length of each curtain
shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits; the eleven
curtains shall have one measure.
13.5 meters by 1.8
meters or 44 feet and 3.5 inches by 6 feet. No mention of the width is made but
one can see the heaviness involve with each curtain.
9 And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six
curtains by themselves, and shalt double over the sixth curtain in the
forefront of the tent. 10 And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the
one curtain that is outmost in the first set, and fifty loops upon the edge of
the curtain which is outmost in the second set.
Google AI: Goat-Hair Curtains (Ohel - Tent): 11 curtains measuring 30 by 4 cubits, placed over the inner
curtains. These were divided into two sets (six and five) and joined with 50
brass clasps.
11 And thou shalt make fifty clasps of brass, and put the clasps
into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one. 12 And as for
the overhanging part that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain
that remains over shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. 13 And the cubit
on the one side, and the cubit on the other side, of that which remains over in
the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the
tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.
45 cm or a foot and a
half hanging over the boards.
14 And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed
red and a covering of giraffe skins above.
On top of these curtains
shall be the ram and giraffe skins as a water proof covering.
15 And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle of
acacia-wood, standing up. 16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a
cubit and a half the breadth of each board.
Each board was tapered
from a cubit and a half square 67.5 cm x 67.5cm or 27 inches by 27 inches. The
top part was about 10 cm x 67.5 cm or 4 inches by 27 inches. This taper would
make it feasible for the wagons to pull the boards. A number of years ago I
calculated the volume by the specific density of acacia wood and it was a few
tons per wagon not to mention the weight of the curtains and skins per wagon.
17 Two tenons shall there be in each board, joined one to another;
thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
A base for support.
18 And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards
for the south side southward: 19 And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver
under the twenty boards: two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and
two sockets under another board for its two tenons;
https://www.raebear.net/bible-study/book-studies/exodus/seg3-sinai/tabernacle-blueprints/tabernacle-structure/
If you search down the
page, you will see two projections from the board that ends up in a structure into
a holding container.
Each board was 67.5 cm
or 27 inches wide hence the 13.5 meters 44 feet 3.5 inches of the curtains.
20 and for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side,
twenty boards.
Each board was 67.5 cm
or 27 inches wide hence the 13.5 meters 44 feet 3.5 inches of the curtains.
21 And their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under one board,
and two sockets under another board. 22 And for the hinder part of the
tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.
4.05 meters or 13 feet 6
inches. Eastward was 6.25 meters by 22 feet 1.75 inches.
23 And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle
in the hinder part. 24 And they shall be double beneath, and in like manner
they shall be complete unto the top thereof unto the first ring; thus shall it
be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.
These boards on the top
will be 20 cm or 8 inches wide. Clamps will hold them together on top.
25 Thus there shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver,
sixteen sockets: two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another
board.
In the corners.
26 And thou shalt make bars of acacia-wood: five for the boards of
the one side of the tabernacle,
These bars 3.35 meters
or 11 feet 3 inches shall be supports to hold the Mishkan together. As we shall
see they are overlaid with gold.
27 and five bars for the boards of the other side of the
tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the
hinder part westward; 28 and the middle bar in the midst of the boards, which
shall pass through from end to end. 29 And thou shalt overlay the boards with
gold, and make their rings of gold for holders for the bars; and thou shalt overlay
the bars with gold. 30 And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the
fashion thereof which hath been shown thee in the mount.
The rings are for
placing the bars through that the Mishkan is held side by side in place.
31 And thou shalt make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and
fine twined linen; with cherubim the work of the skilful workman shall it be
made. 32 And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold,
their hooks being of gold, upon four sockets of silver. 33 And thou shalt hang
up the veil under the clasps, and shalt bring in thither within the veil the
ark of the testimony; and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place
and the most holy.
This is the section inside
the Mishkan for the housing of the Aron HaKodesh.
34 And thou shalt put the
ark-cover upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
35 And thou shalt set the table without the veil, and the
candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the
south; and thou shalt put the table on the north side.
This gives instructions
for which direction to place the Menorah and Shulchan (Table).
36 And thou shalt make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue,
and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the weaver in
colors. 37 And thou shalt make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and
overlay them with gold; their hooks shall be of gold; and thou shalt cast five
sockets of brass for them. 27:1 And thou shalt make the altar of acacia-wood,
five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be four-square; and
the height thereof shall be three cubits. 2 And thou shalt make the horns of it
upon the four corners thereof; the horns thereof shall be of one piece with it;
and thou shalt overlay it with brass. 3 And thou shalt make its pots to take
away its ashes, and its shovels, and its basins, and its flesh-hooks, and its
fire-pans; all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass. 4 And thou shalt
make for it a grating of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make
four brazen rings in the four corners thereof. 5 And thou shalt put it under
the ledge round the altar beneath, that the net may reach halfway up the altar.
6 And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of acacia-wood, and overlay
them with brass. 7 And the staves thereof shall be put into the rings, and the
staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, in bearing it. 8 Hollow with
planks shalt thou make it; as it hath been shown thee in the mount, so shall
they make it. 9 And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south
side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen a
hundred cubits long for one side. 10 And the pillars thereof shall be twenty,
and their sockets twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets
shall be of silver. 11 And likewise for the north side in length there shall be
hangings a hundred cubits long, and the pillars thereof twenty, and their sockets
twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver. 12 And
for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty
cubits: their pillars ten, and their sockets ten. 13 And the breadth of the
court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits. 14 The hangings for the
one side [of the gate] shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their
sockets three. 15 And for the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits:
their pillars three, and their sockets three. 16 And for the gate of the court
shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine
twined linen, the work of the weaver in colors: their pillars four, and their
sockets four. 17 All the pillars of the court round about shall be filleted
with silver; their hooks of silver, and their sockets of brass. 18 The length
of the court shall be a hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty everywhere, and
the height five cubits, of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass. 19
All the instruments of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the
pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.
Parsha Tetzaveh Part 1
This week, the Parsha
continues where we left off last week with oil for the Mishkan and lighting
fires. There is something that I have not mentioned and that is the physical
resonance frequency of materials and crystals. This brings us into a mystical
relationship with our creator. Gold, Silver, Brass, pine wood vs. acacia wood
in terms of structure and atomic vibration. The various crystalline structures
of the precious stones and their placement on the Ephod (vest/apron) of the
Cohain Gadol lends spiritual essence. This is above and beyond my understand
but it is like a quantum computer AI communicator with our creator. Extra fine
flour, extra virgin olive oil and the various linen and skins may be
precautions for holiness but there something spiritual that happens when all
the individual parts align properly to make spiritual holiness.
This week, I am using a
lot of supplementation from my commentary from 5771 due to the dire straits
that Yisrael is in at this very moment. Does the clothes make the man or
the man make the clothes? This week in the gym a few people came to me and told
me how they see that I lost weight. Actually all I did was change my work out
pants from extra-large to 2X to be more comfortable and I bulged out less. It
could be that I put back on some muscles and redistributed fat. Last year, I
went into details of the Jewels in the Choshen Mishpat of Aaron and this year
into his clothing.
Concerning the concretion with the Bullock and details
on the Jewels or the names and order engraved one can find them on Torah
Tidbits and I believe that one year I also covered this. Therefore the material
and design thereof I am concentrating on this year. Most men I will assume are like
me and not super particular of our dress while others are always dressed
tip-top. It is enough for me black pants that fit nicely and a clean white
shirt that I appear in public with. A Chief Rabbi, King or Cohain Gadol had a
further obligation with his dress. The current Prime Minister of Israel has a
spare or two white shirt just in case that comes along with him.
The garments of the Cohain consists of materials that
offer atonement for sin. In the world of Kabbala I am sure that the combination
of the garments does things in the heavenly spheres and the holy dimensions or
Sefiros. Rabbi Pinchas Winston in a very advanced Drasha covers just the Olive
Oil this week.
27:20 And thou shalt command the children of Israel,
that they bring unto thee pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp
to burn continually.
The
donation of olive oil for the lamps of the Mishkan was to be the finest extra
virgin olive oil and of course free from Tuma. Our Sages say that Yisrael is
like the fine olive oil comes out best when beaten and the purity comes out.
Rabbi Pinchas Winston Shlita wrote (It is on an advanced level so beginners may
not understand)
[Glossary – hisbatlos is the process of making null or
giving over of an object or of oneself completely like dissolving a powder in a
liquid or in this case Moshe’s will to be G-D’s will] Thus we say Ayn Ode
Bilado or there is nothing without HIM so essentially we both in body and soul
are nothing but part of G-D’s will.
And
you shall command the Children of Israel to bring to you pure olive oil beaten
for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually. (Shemos 25:1-2)
One of the many things that fascinates me about Torah is how so
much can be learned from so little. Take the first word of this week’s Parsha,
v’attah—and you—for example, not something to which we might pay much
attention, but a word about which the Zohar speaks at some length.
Rabi Chiya said: What is different about this place [more than
other places in the Torah] that it says, “And you bring close to you,” and,
“you will speak to all the wise-hearted,” and, “you will command the Children
of Israel,” and, “and you will take spices”? Rather, all of it alludes to a great
secret that it is in order to include the Shechina with it. (Zohar, Tetzaveh
179b)
In order words, the word ‘v’attah’ (and you) somehow alludes to
a combination of The Holy One, Blessed is He, and the Shechina—Divine
Presence—working together to perform the Mitzvos mentioned above. For,
apparently, one of the Kabbalistic Names for the Divine Presence is ‘Attah’
(You), since it is the Sod of the revealed world (Pardes). Hence, the word
v’attah alludes to something very holy going on here.
This, of course, requires some explanation, especially since
this is the one Parsha in which Moshe Rabbaynu’s name is not mentioned. For, as
Chazal explain, after Moshe demanded that God either forgive the Jewish people
for the sin of the golden calf or remove his name from the Torah, both
occurred. The Jewish people were forgiven, and ‘Moshe’ was removed from the
Torah or at least from one Parsha from the Torah—this week’s—because you don’t
threaten God, no matter how sincere you are.
But this raises a question. Regarding the other verses that
begin with ‘v’attah’ an explanation is necessary. However, regarding the verse
from this week’s Parsha, a simpler reason can be given as to why ‘v’attah’ is
used: to avoid referring to Moshe Rabbaynu directly. Usage of the third person
here could have been the Torah’s way of not mentioning ‘Moshe’, as per God’s
plan.
Not in this case. For had that been true, the Torah could have
begun with the word ‘You’ alone, without the word ‘and’, or the letter Vav,
preceding it. Once the Vav was used together with the word Attah (you), the
combination alludes to something far deeper, something that included Moshe
Rabbaynu in God’s Torah in a way that the usage of his own name could not have
done. Perhaps Moshe’s ‘threat’ worked to his advantage, not his disadvantage.
To begin with, there are many names for the Divine Presence,
many of which are plain words in everyday language, but which take on a new
meaning when viewed from a Kabbalistic perspective. For example, the Halacha
says that one should pray the Amida in front of wall—a Kir in Hebrew—when
possible, the obvious reason for this being in order to reduce the amount of
possible distractions when standing before God.
However, according to the Zohar, one of the names of the
Shechina is Kir, or wall, because it refers to some aspect of the Divine
Presence. Therefore, what the Halacha is really saying, on a Kabbalistic level,
is that when a person prays the Amida, he should do so before the Divine
Presence, meaning in a way that is appropriate for someone who is standing
before the Shechina.
Likewise, another name for the Shechina is ‘Attah’, because it
is a word that refers to the Sefira of Malchus, the source of the Shechina
(i.e., the Malchus of Atzilus). Therefore, in many places that the word Attah
shows up in the Torah, on a Sod-level, it is probably a reference to the
Shechina as well. Certainly in some of the more obvious places, like in this
week’s Parsha and all those to do with the construction of the Mishkan, it is a
reference to the Shechina.
The letter Vav, which represents the number six, is unique for
many reasons, one of which is that it represents the six Sefiros of Chesed,
Gevurah, Tiferes, Netzach, Hod, and Yesod. This is also the level that corresponds
to what we call ‘The Holy One, Blessed is He, in the Sefiros. Therefore, when
the Vav is added to ‘Attah’, the combination alludes to the union of The Holy
One, Blessed is He, together with His Shechina, which is what history is all
about, brought about through Moshe Rabbaynu.
We’d all like to believe that the Shechina dwells upon us to
some degree, that when we do holy things, the Holy Presence joins together with
us, on some level. Perhaps it does to some extent, but not to the extent of
Moshe Rabbaynu, through whom the two levels achieved unification, which was
absolutely necessary for the building of the Mishkan. In fact, the Zohar
explains, this is how Divine wisdom was filtered to all the wise-hearted who
participated in its construction.
That is quite a level to achieve, something that can only be the
result of hisbatlus—self-annulment—to the point that the will of God matters
more to you than your own will, and the well-being of the Jewish people is more
important to you than your own well-being. Surely this is what Moshe Rabbaynu
exhibited when he asked to have his own name removed from the Torah if God did
not forgive the Jewish people.
If so, then leaving Moshe Rabbaynu’s name out of this week’s
Parsha may have served two purposes. On one hand it is true, you do not
threaten God, even if you are Moshe Rabbaynu and you have His own people’s best
interest at heart. However, on the other hand, it is hard to ignore how brave
Moshe Rabbaynu had acted in doing so, something that also had to be acknowledged
in some way.
It is not unlike the story of Choni HaMagel—Choni the Circle
Drawer—told in the Talmud:
It once happened that [during a drought] they petitioned Choni
HaMagel, “Pray for rain to fall.”
Choni told them, “Go, bring your Passover ovens
indoors so that they should not dissolve.”
Choni prayed, but no rain fell. What did he do? He
drew a circle and stood in the middle of it and said to God, “Master of the
Universe! Your children turned to me because I am like a member of YOUR
household. I swear by YOUR great NAME that I am not moving from here until You
have compassion upon Your children!”
Rain began to drizzle.
Choni said, “That’s not what I asked for! I asked for
rains to fill the cisterns, trenches, and reservoirs!”
As a result, rain started coming down in torrents.
So Choni added, “That’s not what I asked for either.
I asked for good rains, of blessing and generosity.”
A proper rain began to fall, and it continued to fall
until it forced the Jews out of Jerusalem up onto the Temple Mount because of
the flooding caused by the rains. So they told Choni, “Just as you prayed that
the rains should fall, pray now that they should stop.”
He told them, “Go and see if the ‘Stone of Claims’
has dissolved yet.”
Shimon Ben Shetach sent a message to Choni, “If it
were not for the fact that you are Choni I would have issued a decree of
excommunication against you! But what can I do against you? You are like one
who unburdens himself before God and yet He still fulfills your wish, like a
child who unburdens himself before his father and yet his father fulfills his
wish! ‘Let your father and mother be glad, and let her who bore you rejoice’
(Mishlei 23:25).” (Tanis 19a)
What was Shimon ben Shetach saying? If what Choni did was wrong,
why did God fulfill his request, and in such detail? And, if God fulfilled
Choni’s request to such an extent, then why did Shimon ben Shetach assume that
Choni was out of line, and get so upset at Choni? There seems to be some kind
of inconsistency here.
It has to do with protocol. There is a way to relate to God. As
the Talmud notes, even in the World-to-Come when man will exist on a much
higher spiritual plane and become far more endeared to his Creator, still God
will maintain a certain distance, so-to-speak because, after all, God is God.
No matter how close man comes to God, he will still be infinitely distant from
God since God is infinite. How much more so while man remains in his present
unholy state!
Yet, God has soft spot, and it is amazing how much He is prepared
to sacrifice His own honor because of it. It is a Jew’s love for his people,
and his willingness to sacrifice himself for their well-being. The more he is
willing to put himself out for their sake, the more endeared he becomes to
their Father-in-Heaven.
This is what the Talmud means when it says that if one is
worried about his upcoming judgment on Rosh Hashanah, he should obligate
himself to the community. This way, if he lacks sufficient personal merit to
survive Divine judgment, the merit of the community will be added to his own
personal merit, and push him over the top, so-to-speak.
But, it is more than that. It is the willingness to give of
oneself for the sake of the Jewish people that are also being added to his
previous merits, and it is a merit that counts for many Mitzvos at one time.
For, it shows love of the Jewish people, and by helping the children of God,
one not only helps them, but their children as well, and their children after
them, etc. The impact of Chesed, especially the teaching of Torah, is
incalculable my man, but it is by God, and He adds that to a person’s account.
Nevertheless, there is still protocol, as Shimon ben Shetach
pointed out to Choni HaMagel, and God to Moshe Rabbaynu. “You are great,” God
told Moshe, “for your willingness to put yourself on the line for your
brothers, MY children. But,” He added, “You have to also set an example for
others lesser than you, about how they should have the proper respect for ME.”
So, though leaving Moshe Rabbaynu’s name out of this
week’s Parsha indicates that you have to be careful how you address God, even
if you are on the level of Moshe Rabbaynu and Choni HaMagel, the sod behind the
exclusion reveals that if you are sincerely acting on behalf of the Jewish
people, all will be forgiven. If, just to repeat, you are sincerely working on
behalf of the Jewish people. http://www.torah.org/learning/perceptions/5771/tetzaveh.html More
Rabbis and commentators can be found on www.torah.org
21 In the tent of meeting, without the veil which is before the
testimony, Aaron and his sons shall set it in order, to burn from evening to
morning before the LORD; it shall be a statute forever throughout their
generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
We are all Tumay now and we have no Beis HaMikdash or Menorah to
light with non – Tumay Olive Oil. We have physically pure extra virgin olive
oil but not ritually pure oil.
28:1 And bring thou near unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons
with him, from among the children of Israel, that they may minister unto Me in
the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's
sons. 2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, for splendor
and for beauty. 3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise-hearted, whom I
have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron's garments to
sanctify him, that he may minister unto Me in the priest's office. 4 And these
are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, and an ephod, and a
robe, and a tunic of chequer work, a mitre, and a girdle; and they shall make
holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto Me
in the priest's office.
This first command is
sort of a check list of what is needed for the garments of the Cohain Gadol
minus his under clothing. This is how the public will perceive him.
5 And they shall take the gold, and the blue, and the purple, and
the scarlet, and the fine linen.
These shall be our basic
colors.
6 And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and purple,
scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skilful workman. 7 It shall
have two shoulder-pieces joined to the two ends thereof, that it may be joined
together. 8 And the skilfully woven band, which is upon it, wherewith to gird
it on, shall be like the work thereof and of the same piece: of gold, of blue,
and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. 9 And thou shalt take two onyx
stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel: 10 six of their
names on the one stone, and the names of the six that remain on the other
stone, according to their birth.
The settings and etching
of the names shall be in chronological order and not importance of the tribe.
11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a
signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones, according to the names of the
children of Israel; thou shalt make them to be inclosed in settings of gold. 12
And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, to be
stones of memorial for the children of Israel; and Aaron shall bear their names
before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.
Six tribes on one
shoulder and six on the other shoulder.
Again this week, I have
not finished what I set out to do so will have to hopefully continue next week.
Parsha Zachor
I did not write down
Parsha Shekelim but we will read it next week’s Parsha.
Devarim 25:17 Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way as ye
came forth out of Egypt; 18 how he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost
of thee, all that were enfeebled in thy rear, when thou were faint and weary;
and he feared not God. 19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath
given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD
thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out
the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget.
From the Depths of a
Jewish Heart by R’ Yerachmiel Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1472-23
Rabbi Zalman
Serebryanski, a senior Chassid from Russia and dean of the Lubavitch
Rabbinical College in Melbourne, Australia, once brought a girl to Rabbi
Chaim Gutnick. "Please, help this girl convert," he asked.
Rabbi Gutnick
listened to the girl's story. She lived in the Balaclava [1] district
of Melbourne, and from her youth had felt a strong attraction to Judaism.
Whenever she heard stories of the Holocaust, she was deeply touched. She had
been reading and studying about Judaism for a long time, and now wanted to
convert.
Rabbi Gutnick was
moved by her sincerity. Nevertheless, he did not want to perform the
conversion. The girl was still living at home with her non-Jewish parents.
Would she be able to practice Judaism in her parents' home? Would her interest
continue as she matured into adulthood? Since he could not answer these
questions, he decided to let time take its course. If the girl was still
interested when she was older, she could convert then.
Rabbi Gutnick's
refusal plunged the girl into deep depression, to the extent that she had to be
confined to a hospital. The elder Rabbi Serebryanski, stirred by the depth of
her feelings, continued to visit her from time to time. Finally, after several
weeks, he called Rabbi Gutnick, telling him of the girl's condition and asking
him whether perhaps he would change his mind because of the strength of her
feelings.
Rabbi Gutnick
answered that the reasons which had dissuaded him from performing the
conversion were still valid. Nevertheless, he promised to write to the
Lubavitcher Rebbe describing the situation. If the Rebbe advised him to
facilitate her conversion, he would happily comply.
Reb Zalman told the
girl that the Rebbe was being consulted, and her condition improved immediately.
Rabbi Gutnick did
not receive an immediate reply to his letter. But at a later date, at the end
of a reply to another issue, the Rebbe added: "What's happening with the
Jewish girl from Balaclava?"
Rabbi Gutnick was
surprised. The girl and Rabbi Serebryanski had both made it clear that her
family was Anglican!
He and Rabbi
Serebryanski went to confront the girl's mother. At first, she continued to
insist that she was Anglican, but as the sincerity of the two rabbis impressed
her, she broke down and told her story.
She had been raised
in an Orthodox Jewish home in England. As a young girl, she had rebelled
against her parents and abandoned Jewish life entirely, marrying a gentile and
moving to Australia. She had not given Judaism a thought since. She loved her
daughter, however, and would not oppose her if she wished to live a Jewish
life.
Once the girl's
Jewishness was established, Rabbis Serebryanski and Gutnick helped her feel at
home in Melbourne's Lubavitch community. She continued to make progress in her
Jewish commitment, and today is a teacher in a Lubavitch school.
But Rabbi Gutnick
still had a question: How did the Rebbe know she was Jewish? At his next yechidus (private
meeting with the Rebbe) he mustered the chutzpah to ask.
The Rebbe replied that, at Rabbi Zalman's urging, the girl had also written him
a letter. "Such a letter," the Rebbe declared, "could only have
been written by a Jewish girl."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Modified by Yerachmiel Tilles from the excellent story
collection, To Know and to Care by Rabbi Eliyahu and Malka
Touger.
Why This Week? Overdue for a story of "the Rebbe."
Biographical note:
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe (11
Nissan 1902 - 3 Tammuz 1994), became the seventh Rebbe of the Chabad dynasty
after his father-in-law, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, passed away in
Brooklyn on 10 Shvat 1950. He is widely acknowledged as the greatest Jewish
leader of the second half of the 20th century. Although a dominant scholar in
both the revealed and hidden aspects of Torah and fluent in many languages and
scientific subjects, the Rebbe is best known for his extraordinary love and
concern for every Jew on the planet. His emissaries around the globe dedicated
to strengthening Judaism number in the thousands. Many hundreds of volumes of
his teachings have been printed, and hundreds of English renditions too.
Footnote:
[1] Balaclava is an inner suburb of Melbourne, home to a large population of
Melbourne's Orthodox Jewish Community, consisting of both chasidic and not.
Milestone: David Shucker, 82, Last
Jew who lived in the Saudi Kingdom. https://www.timesofisrael.com/david-shuker-last-jew-of-saudi-arabia-dies-at-82/
Milestone: Isaiah Zagar, 86, https://www.timesofisrael.com/renowned-jewish-mosaic-artist-who-created-philadelphias-magic-gardens-dies-at-86/
Inyanay Diyoma
Feb. 21st
Day 869 since Oct. 7th start
of week 125
Friday, the USS Gerald
R. Ford Carrier group passed through the straits of Gibraltar.
If my memory serves me,
in the early chapters of Sefer Daniel, the Malbim talks about the Iranians
waging war on the Nations and then afterwards the nations will blame ?guess
who? And come against that nation which shall be the war of Gog and Magog. The
pitiful small nation will tremble and turn to their father in heaven. That is when
the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE will step in (with forces not seen since the
splitting of the sea – my words). https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-university-students-reportedly-hold-anti-regime-rallies-at-campuses-in-tehran-mashhad/
Hezbollah is no longer run by Lebanese leaders, but rather by
officers of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, some of whom were already
been present in Lebanon. Al-Arabiya claimed that the Friday airstrikes
carried out in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley were a “prelude" to an Israeli
military operation - one that appears likely to be conducted in parallel with
strikes on Iran. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422745
https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-charged-with-hate-crime-after-ramming-truck-into-brisbane-synagogue/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-says-it-targeted-hamas-command-center-in-lebanon-strike
Also Lebanon’s Hamas. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422739
Op-Ed Dr. Martin Sherman:
Deradicalization of Gaza and other Myths. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422698
https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-says-open-to-gaza-peacekeeping-force-but-rejects-foreign-role-in-internal-affairs/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/germany-still-in-running-to-host-2036-olympics-despite-centennial-of-nazi-era-games/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-arabia-could-have-uranium-enrichment-under-proposed-deal-with-us-experts-warn/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/80000-muslim-worshipers-pray-peacefully-at-al-aqsa-on-first-friday-of-ramadan/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/cliff-face-collapses-at-a-herzliya-beach-none-reported-hurt/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/bennett-says-he-wont-include-ben-gvir-in-any-future-government/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-charges-engineers-with-sending-google-trade-secrets-to-iran/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/germanys-merz-vows-to-keep-out-far-right-as-he-warns-of-a-changed-world/
In the Ed-Ops this
weekend, Amit Segal of Yisrael Hayom wrote about change in Demographics. This
year for the first time 14 mandates worth of votes or 600,000 new voters will
be going to the polls for the first time. They are more religious and more
right wing since Oct. 7th than older voters. 20% Likud, 10%
Aguda/Degel, 10% other religious parties, 7% Ben Gvir all in all 56% minimum
right wing – Arutz 12.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/21/tuckers-ideas-about-jews-come-from-darkest-corners-of-the-internet-says-huckabee-after-combative-interview/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/21/pezeshkian-says-iran-will-not-bow-to-pressure-amid-us-nuclear-talks/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/20/china-signals-increased-support-iran-us-prepares-potential-strike/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/20/france-moves-criminalize-anti-zionism-surging-wave-antisemitism-targeting-jews-israelis/
An RPG missile was washed up Friday morning on the Zikim beach.
Following the discovery, IDF and police forces were deployed to the location,
and the missile was examined by professionals. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422727
Cameras mounted on the helmets of Jerusalem Border Police officers
captured an operation in the capital's Abu Tor neighborhood, during which the
forces seized three M-16 assault rifles, loaded ammunition clips, and a large
amount of ammunition. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422690
Families of Armored Corps
soldiers, along with activists from the organization "Wives of Warriors
for the Sanctity of the Camp" from the "Chotam" organization,
protested Friday morning during the conclusion ceremony of the Armored Corps
"March for the Beret" at Latrun. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422735
Political analyst Amit Segal revealed new behind-the-scenes details
regarding the formation of the previous government in his column for Israel
Hayom on Thursday evening. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422703
On Friday morning, IDF troops operating in the southern Gaza Strip
in accordance with the ceasefire agreement identified a terrorist who crossed
the Yellow Line and approached the troops, posing an imminent threat to their
safety. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422728
Quentin Griffiths, co-founder of the online fashion retailer ASOS,
has died after falling from an apartment building in the Thai resort city of
Pattaya, authorities said. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422737
US President Donald Trump on Friday said that Iran “better
negotiate a fair deal", while slamming the regime’s leadership over their
crackdown on anti-government protests last month. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422740
Two youths aged 16 were arrested in the north of France earlier
this week on suspicion of planning attacks on a shopping center or concert venue,
the French anti-terrorist prosecutor's office announced on Friday. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422744
A human body was discovered Friday in the Amud Stream in the
Galilee. The body, which has not yet been identified, was transferred to the
National Institute of Forensic Medicine (Abu Kabir). https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422746
Cuban security advisers and doctors have been leaving Venezuela as
Interim President
Delcy Rodriguez's government faces intense pressure from Washington to unwind
Latin America’s most consequential leftist alliance, according to 11 sources
familiar with the matter. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-887389
Both of my sons and a lot of my readers will get a real
Northeaster.
https://www.foxweather.com/live-news/live-updates-historic-blizzard-targets-millions-in-the-northeast-with-blinding-snow-intense-winds
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-court-okays-louisiana-law-requiring-ten-commandments-to-appear-in-classrooms/
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/labor-dept-deploys-strike-team-california-21b-unemployment-debt-fraud-concerns
https://www.foxnews.com/media/mamdanis-socialist-push-rent-controls-about-wreck-new-york-city-housing-market
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/judge-forces-ca-hospital-keep-trans-treatments-minors-trump-funding-threat
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-approves-dc-emergency-declaration-over-potomac-sewage-spill-fema-mobilizes
Mass shooting in VA. https://www.aol.com/articles/virginia-mass-shooting-leaves-2-194446655.html
Jordan is approaching possible
escalation with Iran “as a country at the heart of the storm — but one that does not
want to be part of it,” a Jordanian source said Saturday, hours after satellite
images showed dozens of U.S. fighter jets at Muwaffaq al-Salti Air Base in the
kingdom. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyj6kuduwe
US Administration divided on Iranian attack. Iran’s
leadership on Saturday escalated warnings to the United States against
launching a military strike, as President Donald Trump weighs possible action
amid internal debate in Washington and political pressure ahead of November’s
midterm elections. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sy9fxuduzx#autoplay
Four people were wounded, including a man in his 30s who was
seriously injured, in a violent clash in the northern town of Kfar Kanna that
involved gunfire and grenades dropped from drones, police and medical officials
said. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1z5lfvu11l
The Trump administration is attempting to mediate between Israel
and Turkey in an effort to restore normalized relations, a senior official
involved in the Gaza Board of
Peace initiative said. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sk11lnup00wl
Op-Ed Ron Ben Yishai Instead of a short, concentrated strike
lasting a day or two, U.S. military planners are now preparing for a broad,
sustained campaign across Iranian territory. The emerging concept, according to
security assessments in Washington and Jerusalem, envisions a weeks-long
“attrition campaign” designed not only to punish, but to reshape Iran’s
strategic posture. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/h1us5wvuzl
Feb. 22nd
Day 870 since Oct. 7th
IRAN has always said that they were enriching Uranium for ‘peaceful
purposes’ so why don’t they want to give up the over-enriched Uranium?
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-officials-believe-us-iran-at-unbridgeable-impasse-as-they-near-open-conflict/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-and-muslim-states-fume-after-huckabee-says-israel-has-biblical-right-to-much-of-mideast/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-university-students-reportedly-hold-anti-regime-rallies-at-campuses-in-tehran-mashhad/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/democratic-candidate-running-for-us-senate-in-illinois-says-israel-committed-genocide/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-disqualifies-its-own-olympic-bobsleigh-team-for-lying-to-officials/
Former hostages Segev Kalfon, Matan Zangauker, and Ilana Gritzewsky
took the stage in Times Square in central Manhattan at the massive CTeen - the
Chabad youth organization - event. The three shouted “Shema Yisrael,"
the crowd echoed them emotionally, and everyone sang “Shir LaMaalot"
together. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422778
Israeli Muay Thai boxer Ahavat Hashem Gordon secured a decisive
victory on Saturday night at event No. 127 of the prestigious UTMA
organization, widely regarded as one of the leading platforms in the sport. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422784
The Hudna (Arabic – truce) broke
down just hours after last night’s shooting in Kfar Kama.
Déjà vu. A new Palestinian security force is set to operate under the
National Committee for Gaza Management (NCAG) and will receive training in
Egypt, as part of a broader plan to stabilize the Gaza Strip. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422801
One of the last Jewish Communities
left in Europe. Prague's Jewish community is one of Europe's oldest, and its
current members will not let you forget it. "The Star of David was first
used, and became indistinguishable as the official symbol of the Jewish
community, in Prague," Ron, one of the young residents whom I spoke with,
points out, and adds that the city's coat of arms even portrays the Jewish
community's flag, which bears the Star of David. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422612
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Energy and Infrastructure
Minister Eli Cohen addressed the Government on Sunday regarding a decision to
accelerate the building of an AI server farm. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422803
Tzur Natan Durani, owner of the Malachei Avraham farm near Maale
Hever, was attacked last Friday by dozens of Arab rioters from the village of
Bani Naim in what appeared to be a planned ambush in the farm’s grazing lands. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422793
The Trump administration is reportedly open to a
proposal allowing Iran "'token' nuclear enrichment" if it guarantees
no pathway to a nuclear weapon, a senior US official revealed to Axios on
Saturday. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422770
Blood Libel in Turkey. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422790
The
deputy attorney general, Efrat Greenbaum, has decided to file an indictment
against a former bodyguard to the Prime Minister over his alleged role in a
fatal traffic accident in Mexico in 2015, in which Tal Nahum was killed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422768
US President Donald Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, told
Fox News in an interview on Saturday night that Trump is “curious"
as to why Iran has not yet agreed to a deal on its nuclear program. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422775
Carlson retracts Herzog-Epstein
connection. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422772
Lithuanian-haredi leader Rabbi Dov Lando on Thursday delivered
words of encouragement at a special gathering in the main hall of the Hebron
Yeshiva, sharply criticizing what he claimed were "decrees" against
Torah learners. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422767
The Military Prosecution has filed an indictment with the Southern
Regional Military Court against an Israel Defense Forces sergeant, accusing her
of aggravated abuse and improper conduct. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422756
Op-Ed Giulio Meotti: Vienna’s Fall
Islam wins Europe’s War of Generations. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422782
The plague of Pink Cocaine with
chemicals and even rat poison. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/h1ntlmdozx
Op-Ed Rami Simani Trump’s Churchill Moment:
https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/b1xtybduwg
Crusader era sword found on beach. https://www.ynetnews.com/environment/article/byjkqmo00we?tbref=hp
Iranian succession steps.
Whereabouts of successors reported to Israel daily. Iran’s Supreme
Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has taken steps to prepare for the possibility of
his own elimination amid rising threats from Israel and the United States,
according to a Sunday report by The New York Times. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-887492
Planned protest against Israel at
Buchenwald Camp. Islamo-Nazis. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-887465
Feb. 23rd
Day 871 since Oct. 7th
The talk on the news is that the US will only
punch the bully in the nose at first. Aka a wake-up strike on the nuclear
facilities. I predict they will lash out and then get clobbered. The Israeli
mood among the religious public is “bring it on”, “bring Moshiach now”, etc. I
am not the bring it on type but bring Moshiach sounds good to me.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-iran-to-hold-talks-thursday-as-tehran-claims-good-chance-of-diplomatic-solution/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/fresh-campus-protests-in-iran-continue-for-second-day-with-shows-of-defiance/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/west-bank-mosque-set-on-fire-graffitied-with-revenge-in-apparent-settler-attack/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/amid-rising-antisemitism-and-strife-over-israel-josh-shapiro-turns-to-his-jewish-faith/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-israeli-news-anchor-who-was-harassed-by-far-right-mob-these-are-netanyahus-goons/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/formal-complaints-by-career-soldiers-jumped-40-in-last-year-report/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/high-court-orders-justice-ministry-lawyer-to-advance-sde-teiman-leak-case-within-a-week/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/coalition-to-renew-work-on-bill-barring-court-intervention-in-ministerial-appointments/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/woman-82-jailed-for-a-year-for-leaving-scene-of-hit-and-run-that-killed-4-year-old-boy/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/australian-teen-assaulted-at-scouts-camp-while-wearing-yarmulke-israeli-flag/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/18-year-old-border-police-trainee-killed-in-suspected-accidental-shooting/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-two-years-of-war-defense-tech-buoys-israels-economic-recovery/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/mk-mansour-abbass-son-hit-by-car-seriously-injured-while-riding-electric-bicycle/
A 73-year-old Israeli woman was killed on Sunday night in a serious
road accident in Te Anau, South New Zealand. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422838
Soldiers
from the IDF's 7th Brigade, operating under the command of the Gaza Division,
have completed their Rafah-area operation to secure the area along the
"yellow line," following approximately three months of continuous counter-terror
operations in the Gaza Strip. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422837
A
resident of the village of Kharas in the Judea region was arrested early Sunday
in a joint operation carried out by the IDF and the Israel Police. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422810
The
Regavim movement sent an urgent letter to Defense Minister Israel Katz,
Minister in the Defense Ministry Bezalel Smotrich, the regional command chief,
and the Civil Administration, demanding rapid action to enforce the law against
illegal infrastructure work in the Hebron Hills. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422794
For
the first time, the Israeli flag was raised today (Monday) on the summit of
Mount Sartaba, a historic site in the Jordan Valley. The initiative, led by the
Ministry of Heritage, is part of a broader series of symbolic actions at
historic sites across Judea and Samaria, aimed at strengthening the connection
to Jewish heritage. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422845
On
Sunday, IDF troops operating in the southern Gaza Strip identified a terrorist
who crossed the Yellow Line and approached the troops, posing an imminent
threat to their safety. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422847
U.S. Secret Service agents and local authorities shot and killed an
armed man who allegedly breached a secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago and raised a
gun at law enforcement officials in the early hours of Sunday, Feb. 22. https://www.aol.com/articles/armed-man-shot-killed-allegedly-142646421.html
El Mencho shot and killed by Mexican
Army. Mafia murders policemen take over airport burn planes. All flights from
USA and Canada cancelled. https://www.foxnews.com/world/cartels-outgun-police-rocket-launchers-seized-el-mencho-raid-spotlight-cjng-firepower
https://www.foxnews.com/world/pentagon-official-warns-us-assets-middle-east-set-highly-kinetic-war
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/its-hidden-female-genital-mutilation-secret-shame-minnesota-somalis
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-soldier-who-saved-jews-in-pow-camp-during-wwii-to-be-awarded-medal-of-honor/
Feb. 24th
Day 872 since Oct. 7th
A short while after I sent out my
last news update, I went to eat lunch. The first thing I heard was that the US
is evacuating the Beirut Embassy, other non-essential personal from other areas
are being evacuated. Marco Rubio postponed his visit to Israel from this
weekend to a later date. As you read this, the Gerald R. Ford Group should be
approximately off the Syrian Coast. [It was off Crete but in a few hours could
move.]
There are all sorts of things flying
around the Israeli News that the Iranians are/were a week away from a nuclear
bomb. The Iranians might want a limited war to invoke sympathy among Shiites.
As the negotiation deadline appears, more and more speculation is taking place.
Some dopey child or children set off
a firecracker/cherry bomb today. There was a notice that there are people with
PTSD not to do this.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-seen-working-to-maintain-control-of-gaza-via-trump-backed-bodies/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/decisive-hours-progress-on-a-new-nuclear-deal-or-countdown-to-a-us-strike/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-said-frustrated-with-limits-of-military-leverage-against-iran/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-tucker-carlson-mike-huckabee-debate-is-a-battle-for-the-gops-soul-on-israel/
56 https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-shot-and-killed-in-northern-arab-town-as-deadly-crime-keeps-surging/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-israeli-news-anchor-who-was-harassed-by-far-right-mob-these-are-netanyahus-goons/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/congregants-from-prison-chiefs-synagogue-taken-on-tour-to-see-hamas-prisoners-report/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/rising-mediterranean-pushes-groundwater-up-into-tel-aviv-basements/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/report-finds-geopolitics-driving-chinese-pivot-toward-antisemitism/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-revokes-measure-that-made-more-online-purchases-tax-exempt/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-stood-by-as-settlers-killed-palestinian-teen-stole-hundreds-of-sheep-report/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/uk-premier-visits-poland-with-family-to-find-wifes-ancestral-jewish-home/
Israel has conveyed an indirect warning to Lebanon that it would
respond forcefully, including by targeting civilian infrastructure such as
Beirut’s airport, should Hezbollah take part in any war between the US and
Iran, two senior Lebanese officials told Reuters on Tuesday. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422912
The Ashkelon Magistrate's Court on Tuesday extended by six days the
detention of Yaakov Kobi Salem, a partner in the company that supplied medical
air cylinders to the Ashdod refinery. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422909
Iran is reportedly close to finalizing a deal with China to
purchase CM-302 anti-ship cruise missiles, according to six sources familiar
with the negotiations, Reuters reported. The supersonic missiles, which
travel at high speeds and fly low to evade detection, have a range of roughly
290 kilometers and could significantly boost Iran's naval strike capabilities. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422910
Attempted ramming attack at the tunnel checkpoint. A terrorist
arrived at the checkpoint with a vehicle this afternoon (Tuesday) and attempted
to run over police officers operating at the scene. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422914
A 27-year-old man from northern Israel has been charged after
allegedly driving off while his wife was lying on the hood of his car,
following a confrontation outside a hotel in Haifa. Car found to be unfit to be
on Israeli road brings additional charges. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422911
An El Al flight from Tel Aviv to New York was forced to turn back
and return to Israel within the past 24 hours after encountering severe weather
conditions en route to the United States. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422899
Hamas has made a strategic shift in its smuggling methods into the
Gaza Strip for transporting materials used in rocket production. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422872
A resident of the village of Kharas in the Judea region was
arrested early Sunday in a joint operation carried out by the IDF and the
Israel Police. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422810
Israeli intelligence has concluded that even after the aircraft
carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group — which were documented
yesterday near Crete, Greece — arrive in the region, the United States has only limited military capability to attack Iran. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1bfh11i00bl#autoplay
Vanderbilt
University in Nashville, Tennessee, has launched an investigation into a
lecturer who presented students with a calculus problem stating that
Palestinian land decreases each year “due to the occupation by Israel.” https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hy1111wsubl
An internal document submitted to the Indian government and
obtained exclusively by Reuters shows that in January the airline recorded 1.09
incidents per 1,000 flights, four times the rate in December and the highest
level in at least 14 months. The spike comes as the Indian carrier, which also
operates flights to Israel, seeks to rebuild its reputation following a fatal
crash last summer. https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/sylcq11oozg#autoplay
Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received a
private massage while naked in a bedroom at Buckingham Palace, with payment made by cheque from a royal household account,
according to a report by the Daily Mail. https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/hke5zzsd11g
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s visit is expected to launch “a new phase” in India-Israel
relations, with a broader agenda centered on advanced technology, trade, and
strategic cooperation. India’s Ambassador to Israel, J.P. Singh, made that
point in an interview with The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday, ahead of Modi’s arrival
in Israel on Wednesday. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-887753
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s next visit to Israel could do more
than generate headlines. It could lower the friction that constrains the defense relationship and help India
and Israel deepen cooperation at a moment when they are confronting the same
strategic problem: how to defend societies and critical infrastructure against
air and missile threats in an age of saturation. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-887742
Israeli journalist Amit Segal claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu offered him the fourth spot on Likud’s list ahead of the 2022
elections during the "Heroes of Truth" conference for ZAKA volunteers
earlier this week. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-887747
A kosher
restaurant in central Paris was sprayed with acid on Thursday night, the
Paris public prosecutor’s office told The Jerusalem Post on Monday. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-887662
https://www.timesofisrael.com/great-isaiah-scroll-oldest-near-complete-biblical-book-ever-found-on-show-in-entirety-for-1st-time-since-1968/
https://www.foxnews.com/world/russias-war-against-ukraine-enters-fifth-year-experts-outline-3-possible-outcomes
US President
Donald Trump has not yet decided whether he wants a deal with Iran, or to
launch a weeks-long war to topple the regime, or to launch a narrow attack to
try to pressure Tehran into a deal more to his liking, sources have indicated
to The Jerusalem
Post. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-887769
Feb. 25th
Day 873 since Oct. 7th
I DVR-ed the State of the Union and
have nothing to say at the time. It only indicated to me that the US would not
attack last night. Marco Rubio is due on Purim but if my gut is right, there
will be something to celebrate then regarding Iran. Right now nobody believes
that there will be a large strike and Iran will collapse. But we have seen in
our life time that the Soviet Union Collapsed and about 65% or more of
Hezballah shriveled.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/irans-shadowy-chemical-weapons-program-draws-scrutiny-reports-allege-use-against-protesters
I will not let Iran have a nuclear
weapon – Trump. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422939
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sjakien00bl#autoplay
The
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) killed or arrested at least 100
fighters from Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) in clashes on Monday as the
Shia-Marxist group attempted to carry out operations near Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's Tehran headquarters, MEK confirmed. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-887869
https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-us-wiped-out-irans-nuclear-program-but-they-want-to-start-all-over-again/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/f-22-jets-deploy-at-israeli-air-force-base-as-us-builds-up-forces-for-iran-strike/
https://www.foxnews.com/world/russian-dark-fleet-tanker-believed-delivering-oil-cuba-detected-us-coast-amid-trump-ban
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/possible-bullet-holes-mysteriously-appear-american-airlines-plane-after-flight-from-colombia
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-hails-turnaround-ages-record-long-sotu-packed-wins-warnings
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-awards-back-to-back-medals-honor-during-state-union-address
Omar and Trump shouting match she
should be ashamed of herself. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422950
New Blood Libel “Organ Harvesting”
from the UK. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422944
Not really Kosher. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422919
On February 25, 2026, Israeli President Isaac Herzog landed in
Addis Ababa, beginning his official state visit to Ethiopia. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422947
2 dead 9 injured in Netanya fire. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422938
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Tuesday evening signed an
order raising the VAT exemption ceiling on purchases from abroad from $75 to
$130. The order will take effect at midnight. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422931
A group of young Arabs threw stones at the home of Noam Glik, a
resident of the Amishav neighborhood in Ramla. The incident was captured in a
video from the scene, where the youths are seen throwing stones at the house
while chanting "Am Yisrael mait" ("The people of Israel are
dead"). https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422917
With
universities reopening on Saturday after several weeks of closure, students
have once again returned to the front lines of protest, and demonstrations and clashes between
them and Basij forces have continued in most universities across the country.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hytpyznd11l
Billionaires’ row turns into a ghost
neighbor thanks to Mamdani. https://www.ynetnews.com/real-estate/article/bkko00f2ubx
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ag-coalition-bill-would-structurally-politicize-internal-police-investigations-unit/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-feds-sue-university-of-california-for-turning-blind-eye-to-antisemitism-at-ucla/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/defying-trump-senior-palestinian-official-rejects-demand-for-hamas-disarmament-pa-reforms/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/total-disorder-comptroller-accuses-government-idf-of-systemic-failure-in-post-oct-7-evacuation/
Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi is set to arrive in Israel on Wednesday for a two-day state visit
that will take him from the tarmac at Ben-Gurion Airport to the halls of the
Knesset, through a Jerusalem innovation showcase, and into the Hall of
Remembrance at Yad Vashem. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-887854
Jewish figures on the far right are increasingly expressing concerns
about United States President Donald Trump’s handling of an antisemitism rift
among the Republican party, after its instigator, Tucker Carlson, reportedly
visited the White House for the third time in weeks on Monday. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-887846
The
Syrian transitional government in Damascus is involved in US-backed
talks with the Druze leadership in Sweida, according to
Agence France-Presse reports on Tuesday. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-887829
The Islamic regime has been
pushing for an interim deal, seeking to drag out talks with the US to achieve a
deal that would allow it to keep its ballistic missile program, legitimize its
nuclear program, and get some degree of relief from US sanctions, according to
former British Army intelligence officer Lynette Nusbacher. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-887808
Feb. 26th
Day 874 since Oct. 7th
More and more F-22 aircraft landing
in a Negev Air Force Base. A few squadrons will be available for attack. There
are more supplies on the way. The talk is that Israel will be given the green
light to attack and then the USA will come in if necessary. I think this will
be an interesting Tanis Esther. KLM will stop flying to Israel as of March 1st
for an unmentioned period of time.
Iranian exile groups are updating
Israel on the whereabouts of Khamenei and others because the US does collateral
damage and Israel will not hurt the spies.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/irans-supreme-leader-runs-state-within-state-through-secret-4000-person-network-report-says
https://www.foxnews.com/us/ex-air-force-pilot-arrested-allegedly-training-chinese-military-pilots-without-authorization
https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-find-no-hate-crime-in-canberra-bars-posters-of-netanyahu-and-others-as-nazis/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-delivers-unmanned-spy-submarine-to-german-military/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-linked-hacker-group-claims-to-breach-data-of-israels-largest-healthcare-network/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/bureau-chief-of-japanese-public-broadcaster-reportedly-arrested-in-iran/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/bill-gates-admits-affairs-with-two-russian-women-denies-involvement-in-epsteins-crimes/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/visiting-ethiopia-herzog-touts-israels-strong-relationships-across-africa/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/slain-israeli-embassy-workers-brother-us-hockey-team-attend-trumps-state-of-the-union/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/iranian-fm-arrives-in-geneva-for-talks-as-us-demands-any-nuclear-deal-not-sunset/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-the-knesset-modi-says-india-stands-firmly-with-israel-in-this-moment-and-beyond/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-woman-arrested-in-turkey-for-serving-in-idf-released-after-us-intervention/
https://www.foxnews.com/world/cuban-coast-guard-kills-four-exchange-fire-us-registered-boat
https://www.timesofisrael.com/facing-trump-hamas-bet-on-survival-and-is-being-vindicated-irans-regime-has-the-same-game-plan/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/nyc-council-sees-showdown-over-watered-down-buffer-zone-bill-for-houses-of-worship/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/25/antisemitic-crimes-germany-surge-new-high/
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trumps-war-fraud-draws-range-reactions-during-sotu-speech
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/25/cia-launches-fresh-social-media-push-recruit-iranians-trump-threatens-military-action/
You can’t fix stupidity in
California: https://www.foxnews.com/us/child-predator-dubbed-monster-parents-fear-most-cleared-release-through-california-parole-program
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/life-threatening-listeria-risk-prompts-massive-frozen-blueberry-recall-across-multiple-states
In a wide-ranging conversation, speaking with the U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee about the high-stakes diplomacy with Iran, the risk of escalation, and the broader regional picture, from
Gaza to the West Bank, as he reflected on what he describes as the defining
resilience of Israeli society. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/byzdgtpu11g#autoplay
Israel’s national carrier El Al on Tuesday
announced a special sales campaign for flights between April and June, offering
discounted fares to destinations in Europe, the United States and Asia, as the
airline faces potential fines totaling about 230 million shekels, or roughly
$63 million, from the Israel Competition Authority. https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/s1ffzy300wl?tbref=hp
AI predicts attack dates: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-888027
Pay to Slay of the PLO. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-888003
Netanya wins a $1,000,000 grant. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-887940
Within two hours three separate bus
crashes in the Negev. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-888046
Shabbos times. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/shabat
Senior advisors to US President Donald Trump would prefer if Israel
struck Iran first, believing that such a move would provide better optics and
help muster voter support for a US
strike, Politico
reported on Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the discussions. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-888044
Feb. 27th
Day 875 since Oct. 7th end of week 125
Head of CENTCOM paid a visit to the
White House last night. Across the street from us a family of 5 is renting the
basement. I don’t even know who they are or what they look like. Suddenly, they
started an inquiry if neighbors could let them come to their shelter. Once or
twice the siren caught one of us in the shower or just coming out. On top of
that a meter plus wide by two meters long shelter is not for 7 to 8 people on a
regular basis. Let them bother the landlord. We are crowded enough if forester
son Menashe comes home.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/former-israeli-prime-minister-argues-iran-trying-buy-time-geneva-talks
Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads US Central Command and oversees
military operations in the Middle East, briefed President Donald Trump on
Thursday about potential military options regarding Iran, according to an
individual close to the president cited by ABC News. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/423062
https://www.foxnews.com/world/taliban-unleash-extensive-offensive-pakistan-deadly-border-strikes-erupt
Every once in a while sanity is
found in California. https://www.foxnews.com/us/child-predator-cleared-parole-arrested-after-surprise-warrant-drops-hours-before-prison-release
The Yesha Council published its annual population report today
(Friday), indicating that as of January 2026, the Israeli population in Judea
and Samaria stands at 540,327 residents in approximately 150 communities. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/423077
The Louis D. Brandeis Center and StandWithUS organizations have
filed a lawsuit against the state of California, the California State Board of
Education, the State Department of Education, and Superintendent Tony Thurmond
on behalf of Jewish parents across the state whose children have experienced
pervasive antisemitism in the public school system, the New York Post reported.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/423079
Dr. Mordechai Kedar, Vice President of Newsrael and a Middle East
expert, believes Iran does not currently feel genuinely threatened despite
recent statements from President Trump. “Whenever they sense a willingness to
negotiate, or maybe let’s come to terms, they start postponing, they start
dragging time, buying time, con you, cheat you, lie to you," he asserted. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/423054
The IDF on Thursday struck eight military compounds belonging to
Hezbollah’s ‘Radwan Force’ in the Baalbek area in Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/423042
He once dressed up as a Nazi and the
Queen took him to task. https://www.timesofisrael.com/harry-and-meghan-meet-with-hospitalized-gazan-children-during-visit-to-jordan/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/likuds-ultra-orthodox-wing-accuses-haredi-factions-of-seeking-to-take-over-party/
Underground terror route closed off.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/423027
https://www.timesofisrael.com/san-francisco-mayor-daniel-lurie-denounces-tax-the-jews-chant-heard-during-protest/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/former-nazareth-mayor-charged-with-funneling-millions-from-city-to-crime-family/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/australian-tribunal-rules-all-zionists-are-terrorists-chant-is-unlawful/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/berlin-saw-record-2267-antisemitic-crimes-in-2025-report-shows/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-us-immigrants-to-israel-no-longer-need-to-double-pay-social-security-under-new-law/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-iran-said-to-agree-to-further-talks-next-week-as-mediator-claims-progress/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/trumps-claim-on-iranian-missile-development-said-unsupported-by-us-intelligence/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/mamdani-meets-trump-at-white-house-seeks-administrations-help-on-mahmoud-khalil/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/not-waiting-for-state-okay-2-kibbutzim-buy-lockable-bulletproof-doors-for-safe-rooms/
As the health system prepares for the possibility of another
campaign against Iran, hospitals across the country have in recent days been
bracing for a renewed descent underground — this time in a different manner,
incorporating lessons learned from the previous days of war with Iran. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/ry29wt0d11e
The Chinese intelligence agency MizarVision published satellite
photos showing 11 US F-22 Raptor fighter jets deployed at the Uvda Air Force
Base on Thursday. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-888153
The U.S. State Department on Friday issued an updated
travel advisory authorizing the departure of nonessential government employees
and their family members from the United States mission in Israel, citing
security risks. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkzw000owx
A healthy, happy, peaceful
and restful Shabbos and Purim Samayach,
Rachamim Pauli
