The Israeli Yom HaShoah is related to the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising on 27 Nisan 5703. Some years it is moved up to 26th of Nisan due to Shabbos.
I hope you have a safe trip and a Chag Kasher V’Sameach. I am forwarding this to
you. It is quite self explanatory. Among the things I am doing, Holocaust
education is at the top of my list. I have been working as an educator at the
Illinois Holocaust Museum, and per what you see below, for sixmillionvoices.org.
Given that Yom HaShoah is just after Pesach, you may want to forward this to
the Chevra list. I would be delighted if members of our Chevrah would join me for this Yom HaShoah
program. It will be illuminating, powerful, and hopefully inspiring. What
we are doing through our virtual Holocaust education portal, sixmillionvoices.org, is
unique.
Please note that there is no cost for
participating. Just sign up, and the links etc will be sent. It can be viewed
on an ipad, even a cellphone, but ideally on a computer, which everyone should
have.
Please confirm receipt. If anyone has any
questions about the program, please tell them to reach out to me. (over
the past two years, I have done nearly 150 programs. Most are for schools, but
some have been to shuls, adult groups, and of course, special events such as
Yom HaShoah. I am one of two educators. sixmillionvoices.org
Avi
Parsha Shemini
This Parsha
starts after 8 days of preparation of building, taking down, rebuilding and
dedicating the Mishkan and the Cohanim by Moshe. Now on the eight day, Moshe
bows out of the work of the Mishkan and the Cohanim are now taking over the
work of the Mishkan and later the Mikdash.
The death
of the two Cohanim and great Torah Scholars is so painful that the Torah
diverges from the mourning by the laws of Kashrus and Tsoras (mistranslated as
leprosy but a skin disease and punishment for gossip). Only in three weeks, the
Torah continues with the discussion on their deaths.
9:1 And
it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the
elders of Israel; 2 and he said unto Aaron: 'Take thee a bull-calf for a
sin-offering, and a ram for a burnt-offering, without blemish, and offer them
before the LORD.
Now Aharon
and his sons are offering up the Korban Olah.
3
And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying: Take ye a he-goat for
a sin-offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish,
for a burnt-offering; 4 and an ox and a ram for peace-offerings, to sacrifice
before the LORD; and a meal-offering mingled with oil; for to-day the LORD
appears
unto you.'
We are
making an atonement at this point tribe by tribe with Korbanos.
5
And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tent of meeting; and all
the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD. 6 And Moses said: 'This
is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do; that the glory of the
LORD may appear unto you.' 7 And Moses said unto Aaron: 'Draw near unto the
altar, and offer thy sin-offering, and thy burnt-offering, and make atonement
for thyself, and for the people; and present the offering of the people, and
make atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.'
This time
forward only Aharon and his sons will make atonement and Korbanos the days of
the Prophet Moshe or Bechoros (first born sons) has ended.
8 So
Aaron drew near unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin-offering, which
was for himself. 9 And the sons of Aaron presented the blood unto him; and he
dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, and
poured out the blood at the base of the altar. 10 But the fat, and the kidneys,
and the lobe of the liver of the sin-offering, he made smoke upon the altar; as
the LORD commanded Moses. 11 And the flesh and the skin were burnt with fire
without the camp. 12 And he slew the burnt-offering; and Aaron's sons delivered
unto him the blood, and he dashed it against the altar round about. 13 And they
delivered the burnt-offering unto him, piece by piece, and the head; and he
made them smoke upon the altar. 14 And he washed the inwards and the legs, and
made them smoke upon the burnt-offering on the altar. 15 And the people's
offering was presented; and he took the goat of the sin-offering which was for
the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.
The order
of the Korbanos of the Olah, Chatos, etc. is important for the atonement.
16
And the burnt-offering was presented; and he offered it according to the
ordinance. 17 And the meal-offering was presented; and he filled his hand
therefrom, and made it smoke upon the altar, besides the burnt-offering of the
morning. 18 He slew also the ox and the ram, the sacrifice of peace-offerings,
which was for the people; and Aaron's sons delivered unto him the blood, and he
dashed it against the altar round about, 19 and the fat of the ox, and of the
ram, the fat tail, and that which covers the inwards, and the kidneys, and
the lobe of the liver. 20 And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he made
the fat smoke upon the altar. 21 And the breasts and the right thigh Aaron
waved for a wave-offering before the LORD; as Moses commanded. 22 And Aaron
lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them; and he came down from
offering the sin-offering, and the burnt-offering, and the peace-offerings.
The
ceremony that was repeated 12 days for each tribe for atonement was very
important not only for the individual tribes but the entire nation as a whole.
23
And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and came out, and blessed
the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.
People were
covered in their Tallisim and looking down if looking at all. The Cohanim’s
hands were covered for the glory of the Shechina was there. The soul would leave
the body as a moth goes to light if not covered.
24
And there came forth fire from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the
burnt-offering and the fat; and when all the people saw it, they shouted, and
fell on their faces.
This fire,
that fell from heaven on the altar, would last via ignition of kindling wood until
Tisha B’Av in the year 3338. That is 889 years until G-D let it be extinguished
do to the sins of the people.
10:1 And
Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire
therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD,
which He had not commanded them. 2 And there came forth fire from before the
LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. -
It is
called ‘strange’ as they were only supposed to worship as commanded and not to
stray to the right or the left of their duties before the Divine Commandments.
3
Then Moses said unto Aaron: 'This is it that the LORD spoke, saying: Through
them that are nigh unto Me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I
will be glorified.' And Aaron held his peace.
Moshe
thought that he or Aharon might be taken before the L-RD in holiness during the
dedication. But it was through them that HE was sanctified and glorified and
that made Aharon hold his peace.
4
And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron,
and said unto them: 'Draw near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary
out of the camp.' 5 So they drew near, and carried them in their tunics out of
the camp, as Moses had said. 6 And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and
unto Ithamar, his sons: 'Let not the hair of your heads go loose, neither rend
your clothes, that ye die not, and that He be not wroth with all the
congregation; but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the
burning which the LORD hath kindled.
Moshe was
always on call 24/7 before the L-RD and the Cohanim were in the middle of the
dedication of the Mishkan and Mizbayach and could not become Tumay. Therefore,
their first cousins were called upon to participate in the burial.
7
And ye shall not go out from the door of the tent of meeting, lest ye die; for
the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you.' And they did according to the word
of Moses.
This
appears to be only during this dedication for a Cohain Gadol could participate
if he turned a block after the coffin left that block as described in Tractate
Sanhedrin.
8
And the LORD spoke unto Aaron, saying: 9 'Drink no wine nor strong drink, thou,
nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tent of meeting, that ye die not;
it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. 10 And that ye may
put difference between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the
clean; 11 and that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which
the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.'
This is a
general rule for the future and an indication that the two sons were under the influence
when they offered up a non-solicited Korban.
12
And Moses spoke unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that
were left: 'Take the meal-offering that remainsh of the offerings of the LORD made
by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar; for it is most holy. 13
And ye shall eat it in a holy place, because it is thy due, and thy sons' due,
of the offerings of the LORD made by fire; for so I am commanded. 14 And the
breast of waving and the thigh of heaving shall ye eat in a clean place; thou,
and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee; for they are given as thy due, and
thy sons' due, out of the sacrifices of the peace-offerings of the children of
Israel. 15 The thigh of heaving and the breast of waving shall they bring with
the offerings of the fat made by fire, to wave it for a wave-offering before
the LORD; and it shall be thine, and thy sons with thee, as a due for ever; as
the LORD hath commanded.'
It is not
only a Mitzvah to offer up the meal offering and the flesh but to eat the
unleavened offering and the breast and thigh of the Korban. [Now with all the
intent of Aharon, his sons, grandsons and family the food might have been too much
until the amount of Cohanim would grow. So they would eat what they could and
the left overs would be burnt on the Mizbayach.]
16
And Moses diligently inquired for the goat of the sin-offering, and, behold, it
was burnt; and he was angry with Eleazar and with Ithamar, the sons of Aaron
that were left, saying: 17 'Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin-offering in the
place of the sanctuary, seeing it is most holy, and He hath given it you to
bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the
LORD? 18 Behold, the blood of it was not brought into the sanctuary within; ye
should certainly have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.'
On the day
that the sons of Aharon died, he could not eat. Moshe then spoke to him about unfulfillment
of the Mitzvah.
19
And Aaron spoke unto Moses: 'Behold, this day have they offered their
sin-offering and their burnt-offering before the LORD, and there have befallen
me such things as these; and if I had eaten the sin-offering to-day, would it
have been well-pleasing in the sight of the LORD? 20 And when Moses heard that,
it was well-pleasing in his sight.
If I was to
eat as usual, would it be pleasing the L-RD?
11:1 And
the LORD spoke unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them: 2 Speak unto the
children of Israel, saying: These are the living things which ye may eat among
all the beasts that are on the earth. 3 Whatsoever parts the hoof, and is wholly
cloven-footed, and chews the
cud, among the beasts, that may ye eat.
Israel is
on a continent that could extend to Europe and Asia and the known world went
into Africa but how could the Torah talk of the Halacha and its exceptions
unless the Torah knew all the animals in the Americas, Australia, New Zealand
and Antarctica.
4
Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that only chew the cud, or of them
that only part the hoof: the camel, because he chews the cud but parts not the hoof, he is unclean unto
you. 5 And the rock-badger, because he chews the cud but parts not the hoof, he is unclean unto
you. 6 And the hare, because she chewshe cud but parts not the hoof, she is unclean unto
you. 7 And the swine, because he parts the hoof, and is cloven-footed, but
chews not
the cud, he is unclean unto you.
Out of all the animals in the world
that was and will be explored only these animals are the
exception. We miss out on eating horses, donkeys, elephants, lions, tigers,
cats, dogs, bears, etc.
8 Of
their flesh ye shall not eat, and their carcasses ye shall not touch; they are
unclean unto you.
You should
derive no pleasure from eating, touching them or their carcasses.
9
These may ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales
in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them may ye eat. 10 And all that
have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that swarm in
the waters, and of all the living creatures that are in the waters, they are a
detestable thing unto you, 11 and they shall be a detestable thing unto you; ye
shall not eat of their flesh, and their carcasses ye shall have in detestation.
12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that is a detestable thing
unto you.
This leaves
one species of eel that seems to have scales in the water but as soon as one
would take it out of the water, the scales fall off making it forbidden. So,
sharks, sturgeon, sword fish, crabs, lobsters, shrimps, clams, etc. are
forbidden. We maybe miss out on others consider tasty.
13
And these ye shall have in detestation among the fowls; they shall not be
eaten, they are a detestable thing: the great vulture, and the bearded vulture,
and the ospray; 14 and the kite, and the falcon after its kinds; 15 every raven
after its kinds; 16 and the ostrich, and the night-hawk, and the sea-mew, and
the hawk after its kinds; 17 and the little owl, and the cormorant, and the
great owl; 18 and the horned owl, and the pelican, and the carrion-vulture; 19
and the stork, and the heron after its kinds, and the hoopoe, and the bat.
If one
takes notice that most of the birds forbidden are those of prey. The chicken or
turkey can eat a bug but mostly they satisfy themselves on grain.
20
All winged swarming things that go upon all fours are a detestable thing unto
you. 21 Yet these may ye eat of all winged swarming things that go upon all
fours, which have jointed legs above their feet, wherewith to leap upon the
earth; 22 even these of them ye may eat: the locust after its kinds, and the bald
locust after its kinds, and the cricket after its kinds, and the grasshopper
after its kinds. 23 But all winged swarming things, which have four feet, are a
detestable thing unto you. 24 And by these ye shall become unclean; whosoever
touches the carcass of them shall be unclean until even. 25 And whosoever bears aught of the carcass of them shall
wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even
Only the
various locusts that eat only grass or leaves are permitted and forbidden are Beatles,
ants, bees, mosquitoes, etc.
26
Every beast which parts the
hoof, but is not cloven footed, nor chews the cud, is unclean unto you; every
one that touches them shall be unclean. 27 And whatsoever goes upon its paws,
among all beasts that go on all fours, they are unclean unto you; whoso touches
their carcass shall be unclean until the even. 28 And he that bears the carcass of them shall wash his
clothes, and be unclean until the even; they are unclean unto you.
This is a
further clarification of forbidden animals as one might have thought a horse
and a donkey previously therefore paws includes a whole range of mammals.
29
And these are they which are unclean unto you among the swarming things that
swarm upon the earth: the weasel, and the mouse, and the great lizard after its
kinds, 30 and the gecko, and the land-crocodile, and the lizard, and the
sand-lizard, and the chameleon.
The weasel,
mouse are mammals and the rest are reptiles. Snakes swarm also but they are not
mentioned specifically here.
31
These are they which are unclean to you among all that swarm; whosoever doth
touch them, when they are dead, shall be unclean until the even. 32 And upon
whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean;
whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever
vessel it be, wherewith any work is done, it must be put into water, and it
shall be unclean until the even; then shall it be clean. 33 And every earthen
vessel whereinto any of them falls, whatsoever is in it shall be
unclean, and it ye shall break. 34 All food therein which may be eaten, that on
which water cometh, shall be unclean; and all drink in every such vessel that
may be drunk shall be unclean. 35 And every thing whereupon any part of their
carcass falls
shall be unclean; whether oven, or range for pots, it shall be broken in
pieces; they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you. 36
Nevertheless a fountain or a cistern wherein is a gathering of water shall be
clean; but he who touches
their carcass shall be unclean. 37 And if aught of their carcass fall upon any
sowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean. 38 But if water be put upon the
seed, and aught of their carcass fall thereon, it is unclean unto you.
The Tuma is
enhanced and transmitted by water raising the dry seed with a dry carcass as
clean to the water making it Tuma as it touches both and is a media for
transmission of uncleanliness.
39
And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die, he that touches the carcass thereof shall be
unclean until the even. 40 And he that eats of the carcass of it shall wash his
clothes, and be unclean until the even; he also that bearsh the carcass of it shall wash his
clothes, and be unclean until the even. 41 And every swarming
thing that swarms
upon the earth is a detestable thing; it shall not be eaten. 42
Whatsoever goes
upon the belly, and whatsoever goes upon all fours, or whatsoever hath
many feet, even all swarming things that swarm upon the earth, them ye shall
not eat; for they are a detestable thing.
They are
disgusting. It is easy to remember if one takes the word “Ma-oose” (disgusting
in Hebrew) and equate it with the English word ‘mouse’. Thanks to Rabbi Shlomo
Mimran Shlita.
43
Ye shall not make yourselves detestable with any swarming thing that swarmsh, neither shall ye make yourselves
unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby. 44 For I
am the LORD your God; sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy; for I am
holy; neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of swarming thing that
move upon the earth.
A theme
found later in the Torah: Ye shall be holy for I, the L-RD your G-D am Holy.
Lev. 19:1.
45 For I am the LORD that brought you up out of
the land of Egypt, to be your God; ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. 46 This is the law of the beast, and of the fowl, and of every
living creature that movesh in
the waters, and of every creature that swarmsh upon the earth; 47
to make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the living
thing that may be eaten and the living thing that may not be eaten.
Reminder This Week and Every Shabbos until Rosh Hashanah Perkei Avis
All Israel
have a share in the World To Come,
as it is stated (Isaiah 60:21):
'And Your people are tzadikim (righteous).' They
shall inherit the land forever. They are the branch of My planting, the work of
My hands, in which I take pride. (Sanhedrin 90a)
Avos Chapter 1 Mishnah 1
Moses received
the Torah from Sinai and gave it over to Joshua.
Joshua gave it over to the Elders, the
Elders to the Prophets, and the Prophets gave it over to the Men of the
Great Assembly. They [the Men of the Great
Assembly] would always say these three things: Be cautious in judgement.
Establish many pupils. And make a safety fence around the Torah.
Go Cry for Him Argentina by Rabbi Manis Freedman
Shlita
From his new book Divine Vulnerability
Some years ago, Rabbi Manis Friedman
landed in Argentina after an exhausting flight from Minnesota. All he wanted
was to get to his hotel room and rest.
Instead he was taken directly to visit a woman in the community who had lost
her nineteen-year-old son in a car accident six months earlier. She hadn’t
spoken to anyone since. She hadn’t left her apartment. She was beyond reach.
When Rabbi Manis walked in he saw what severe depression looks like. No light
in her eyes. No color in her face. No life in her voice.
She told him about her son. How kind he was. How mature beyond his years. How
special. And when she finished Rabbi Manis asked her to imagine something.
What if God had come to you before your son was born and said: I am looking for
someone to be the mother of a really special kid for nineteen years. Will you
please be his mother?
He was sure she would say yes.
She said absolutely not.
And without thinking Rabbi Manis responded: Well then, it’s a good
thing He didn’t ask you.
Something broke open in her. For the first time in six months she began to sob
uncontrollably. Twenty minutes later Rabbi Manis watched her come back to life
right in front of his eyes. He has called it the most powerful experience of
his fifty years of speaking with people.
What unlocked her wasn’t sympathy. It wasn’t comfort. It wasn’t being told that
God loves her. It was being told that she was needed.
Trading
Bread for Potatoes by R’ Yerachmiel Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1477-28
In 1939, the German military began to attack Poland. When all of
Poland fell to the Germans, the Jews knew it was time to take steps to escape
from the destruction. Russia was no lover of the Jews, but many instinctively
felt that anything was preferable to the Germans. So, along with many others,
HaRav Yisroel Rabinowitz packed his belongings and began to plan his escape to
Russia.
Rabbi Yisroel and his group
cautiously approached the border, following in the footsteps of their barely
visible guide. And then…disaster! Shouts and gunfire rang through the night as
the border guards tried to stop the illegal refugees.
Rabbi Yisroel ran desperately, zigzagging back and forth to
avoid the bullets that were flying through the air. But eventually he tripped
and fell, and the Russian guards were on top of him.
Based on trumped-up charges, the evil Soviets sentenced Rabbi
Yisroel to five years of hard labor in Siberia. Despite the difficulties, Rabbi
Yisroel was determined not to give an inch in his observance of Torah and
mitzvos. He avoided treif (non-kosher) food at all costs. He refused to work on
Shabbos, despite many beatings and punishments.
After some time, though, the
guards realized that he was adamant in refusing to violate his religious
principles, and they left him alone.
Other Jews in the area were greatly heartened by the presence
and moral strength of Rabbi Yisroel. The word quickly got around. For the many
Jews imprisoned in the wasteland of Siberia, he became the source of halachic
(Jewish legal) advice and much needed encouragement.
Passover was several weeks away,
and Rabbi Yisroel began making plans for a chametz-free Pesach. He never
touched the non-kosher soup; he lived solely on his bread ration. What could
replace it for Pesach?
Finally, he succeeded to make
contact with a woman living near the camp, who was willing to trade bread for
other kinds of food. Now he had to find a way to get to the woman to make the
exchange.
An idea began to form in his
mind. He would eat only half his bread ration during the next few weeks, saving
the other half to trade in return for potatoes. Then, shortly before Pesach, he
would fake illness, thereby gaining access to the prison hospital, where
security was lax. In the middle of the night, he would leave the hospital to
make the trade.
The first difficulty was in
saving half of the meager bread ration. The entire ration itself was hardly enough
to live on, and on the reduced ration, he started to feel weak from hunger.
Still, the thought of the upcoming Yom Tov strengthened him and made it all
worthwhile.
Shortly before Pesach, Rabbi
Yisroel managed to procure a grass that causes stomach illness. They readily
admitted him to the hospital, where shortly thereafter they confiscated his fur
coat. After all, they reasoned, bedridden patients had no need for fur coats.
This complicated his plan
immensely; going out in the Siberian night without a coat was not very
advisable. But he had come this far, and he was determined to go ahead with his
plan.
Long after the other patients
were asleep, Rabbi Yisroel slipped out of bed and climbed out of the nearest
window. The freezing wind instantly knifed through his thin nightclothes, and
he started shivering uncontrollably. Moving quickly to keep warm, he dashed to
the hiding place where he kept his extra bread, grabbed the food, and raced to
meet the woman.
As soon as he reached his
destination, Rabbi Yisroel realized that he had to be back at the hospital
before the nurses came around and discovered him missing. So he made the
exchange quickly, thanked the woman politely, and dashed out toward the
hospital.
The way back somehow seemed to
take much longer. Every step was an effort as the frigid wind snatched away his
breath and froze his body. Somehow, he reached the hospital.
He slipped in the window and back
into bed, half frozen, yet with nobody realizing his absence. When Pesach
arrived, the satisfaction of being able to observe the Yom Tov in accordance
with halacha (Jewish law) made the outing at night well worthwhile.
After Pesach, spring finally came
to Siberia. As spring turned to summer, Rabbi Yisroel began thinking about
Tisha B'Av. Should he fast in his weakened state? Rabbi Yisroel decided
to fast and share in the sorrow of his Creator over the destruction of the Holy
Temple.
His friends heard about his
plans, and they tried to convince him not to fast. Still, Rabbi Yisroel
remained firm. So, they decided to help him out as much as they could.
One of the women cooked him a
soup to eat after the fast. As soon as he ate the soup, Rabbi Yisroel suffered
from unbearable stomach pains, and he was taken to the hospital. As he was
dozing off, he suddenly realized that this was the second time he had been in
the hospital for stomach pains. The first time, of course, he caused the
stomach pains himself, to get into the infirmary be able to observe Pesach.
Shouts and cheers awakened Rabbi
Yisroel the following morning. "We are free! We are free!" The other
patients were dancing wildly around the room, laughing and crying
simultaneously.
"What is all this
about?" Rabbi Yisroel asked in surprise.
"Reb Yisroel, we are
free!" they cried with excitement. "Stalin made a pact with the
Polish government in exile, allowing all the political prisoners of Polish
nationalities who are in hospitals to be set free. And that means that we are
free to go!"
Rabbi Yisroel immediately offered
a heartfelt prayer to the One Above. Clearly, his being in the hospital at this
opportune moment was a result of his mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice) in
observing the laws of Pesach. The hand of G-d in his life was so evident, it
was amazing!
Rabbi Yisroel Rabinowitz was sent
to Tashkent, where he soon began teaching children. After the war, he came to
America, where he continued his mission in life: teaching Torah to all. He
served as a rabbinical consultant in the Bronx, and as the rabbi of the Kehillas Ohel Moshe synagogue there on
Wallace Avenue. He also authored two volumes of "Kol Bo" on the
Shulchan Aruch ('Code of Jewish Law')
As we celebrate the Passover
festival, we remember the incredible story of Rabbi Yisroel Rabinowitz, how he
made the service of G-d Al-Mighty a top priority.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted and supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles
from "Yad Nechama": An Anthology of Stories Emailed for Passover
(2009 -2015), as posted by Daniel Keren (pp.121-124), based on a weekly
emailing from "Good Shabbos Everyone."
From the Rabbi's son: Rabbi
Benyamin Rabinowitz, adds deeper meaning to his father's efforts, built upon a
teaching from the Chatam Sofer:
Let us be inspired by the example of my father, Rabbi Yisroel. Whenever we may
be tempted to complain about the effort involved in doing a mitzvah, we should
remember the words of the Sages, "Calculate the cost of a mitzvah against
its reward." (Avos 2:1) Although the effort to perform mitzvahs may be
big, especially on Pesach, the reward for mitzvahs is incredibly great. Through
mitzvahs we grow closer to G-D in a state of happiness. Therefore, one should
always be happy to put effort into performing mitzvahs.
A Noach
Weinberg Story from his biography shortened by R. Pauli
A girl was
a 4th generation in Canada. Her great grandmother had come from
Europe and wanted nothing to do with the restrictions and obligations of
Orthodox Judaism.
From that
environment was born this girl who grew up in Toronto about Bas Mitzvah age
wanted to keep Kashrus. She was the only one in her family. She went to College
and managed to spend some time in Yerushalayim at Aish HaTorah. Gradually she
became more and more observant.
Over time,
she met a young man also from non-religious background via Aish. They both had
an Orthodox wedding attended by only a few Frum People. Among the attendees was
Rebbitzen Lori Plaitnik.
At the
wedding, the Rebbitzen met an old Frum Man with tears in his eyes. She asked
him why? He replied that her great grandmother was his aunt. He escaped World
War I war torn Europe. He had come to America as a youth and his aunt took him
in. He begged her to let him learn in a Yeshiva and she funded his learning.
The great grandmother has 14 great grandchildren some of whom are non-Jewish
others barely Jewish but by merit of sending him to a Yeshiva, she merited to
have one great grandchild who is Orthodox.
Singing
in Fifteen Different Languages by R. Yerachmiel Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1478-29
[The first half of the story
might have you convinced that it is for Simchas Torah, but by the end you will
see the connection to Shevi'i Shel Pesach]
In 1953, most Lubavitchers in
North America lived in Brooklyn; not in Crown Heights, but in Brownsville. That
was when my family moved there as well, from Paris, where I [Rabbi Yosef
Minkowitz] was born following the Second World War.
On Shabbat, we would walk half an
hour to be with the Rebbe for the prayers and Chasidic gatherings -
farbrengens. In those days, the Rebbe's farbrengens were short, less than two
hours, and they took place in what is today the upstairs small synagogue in
770.
The platform that the Rebbe sat
on during the farbrengens was a piece of plywood on top of a few milk crates,
placed against the southern wall of the room. In front of the Rebbe were two
rows of two tables, where a total of forty people sat, with more people
standing around; in all, there were maybe one hundred and fifty people squashed
into the room.
Directly across from the Rebbe
there was a table where all the children under Bar Mitzvah would stand. We
didn't understand much of what the Rebbe was saying, but we could still see the
Rebbe and participate in the event.
Toward the end of the event, as
the Rebbe prepared to leave, the kids would run out of the room, and stand in a
semi-circle in front of the Rebbe's office, singing the last song sung at the
farbrengen.
As the Rebbe would approach, he
would motion with his hand to encourage our singing, and he would stay with us
for a few moments before going into his office. It was like our own private
mini-farbrengen!
Over time, the population grew
and the room became too small, so the farbrengens moved into the courtyard of
770, until the building was expanded in 1960.
After one farbrengen on a hot
summer day in the early '60s, I was walking back home from 770 together with my
mother. Up ahead, we noticed the Rebbe's mother, Rebbitzen Chana Schneerson,
standing on Kingston Avenue, on the corner of President Street.
"Gut Shabbos," my
mother greeted her.
"Was the air conditioner
working in 770 today? Was it hot inside?" Rebbitzen Chana asked. With the
expansion of the synagogue, air conditioning had been installed but it didn't
always work well.
"It felt fine," my
mother replied.
"You know why I'm
asking," remarked Rebbitzen Chana. "I have a relative there."
She was smiling as she said it; she always had a good sense of humor.
* * *
In 1956, we had another interesting farbrengen experience. In those days there
was a Chasid named Rabbi Uriel Tzimmer. Hailing from the Hungarian community,
he was a highly intelligent person, as well as being a prolific writer, who
took quite a zealous stance on some of the religious questions of the day.
Although he had originally come from a different community, he became quite
close with the Rebbe and even helped write up the first two volumes of Likkutei
Sichot, a collection of the Rebbe's talks.
That year, Simchat Torah was on a
Friday, which meant that the Simchat Torah holiday farbrengen - which in other
years would last for many hours - was quite short. Consequently, there were two
farbrengens the next day: One in the early afternoon, as usual for the last
Shabbat of every month, and an additional, later farbrengen, in order to make
up for Simchat Torah, which lasted for many hours through the night and into
early the next morning.
Earlier on Shabbat, the Rebbe's
chief secretary, Rabbi Hodakov, had gone over to Uriel Tzimmer with a request:
A few weeks ago, after coming back from the newly established Camp Gan Israel,
the returning campers had prayed the afternoon service with the Rebbe. During
that time the Rebbe had heard them singing a song they had learned at camp, and
now he wanted them to sing it at the farbrengen that evening.
The song originated in Jerusalem,
based on the prayer Ha'aderet VeHa'emunah, "The Glory and the Faith."
A leader sings each line of praise, and then asks where to direct this praise:
"To whom? To whom?" At this the crowd responds: "To the Life of
All the Worlds! / Who is He, and which is He? / This is my G-d and I will
glorify Him!"
In camp, the children had learned
to sing the "To whom" part of the chorus in Hebrew and English, in
addition to the traditional Yiddish. Now, the Rebbe wanted Uriel Tzimmer to
lead the singing, using all of the languages he knew. This was because Uriel
Tzimmer, who had actually worked as a translator in the United Nations, spoke
quite a few languages.
And so, that evening Uriel
Tzimmer led the children in singing this song in French, Russian, German,
Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Polish, Arabic, Turkish, Italian, Dutch, Hungarian
- aside from the languages the children had already learned, and maybe a few
more. There were around fifteen kids, and we were the choir, singing the Hebrew
refrain in response to all of these languages. The Rebbe sang along with us,
waving his hands in encouragement all the while. The Rebbe then asked the elder
Chasid, Reb Zalman Duchman, to recite "Hamalach Hagoel," the blessing
our forefather Jacob gave to his grandchildren, and then sent cake to be
distributed to the children.
It's a memory I can never forget!
As is documented in the published
account of this farbrengen, the Rebbe then went on to dedicate a few words to
the children. The lyrics "This is my G-d and I will glorify Him" come
from the song the Jewish people sang at the Splitting of the Sea. Our sages say
that they all saw G-d in those moments, but it was the children who "perceived
Him first." The same, said the Rebbe, will be true of the future
redemption: "The children born in the throes of this bitter exile, in
utter darkness…they will be the ones to 'perceive Him first.'"
The Rebbe concluded: "At a
time when so much is concealed and unclear, these children are not fazed…from
them will grow the generation of redemption."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Excerpted and modified by Yerachmiel Tilles
of ASCENT-in-Tsfat from an emailing of JEM - Here's My Story on January of 2011
and February of 2020..
Rabbi Yosef Minkowitz has served as the principal/dean of the Beth Rivkah
Academy in Montreal since 1973(!). He was interviewed in January of 2011 and
February of 2020.
Why This Week? On the seventh day
of the Exodus is when the Jewish people, led by Moshe and Miriam, sang
"The Song by The Sea."
Milestone: HaRav Yossi
Segal, for more than four decades, Yossi’s prayer at the Bet El Yeshiva
was a source of inspiration to all who davened with him. He served with
distinction as both Baal Tokea (shofar
blower) and Baal Koreh (Torah
reader) during the High Holidays at the yeshiva. Many were especially moved by
his reading of the Kinot on
Tisha B’Av, which he recited with profound emotion, shedding many tears. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425117
Milestone:
Tzruya-Suki-Lahav, 74, https://www.timesofisrael.com/tzruya-suki-lahav-writer-poet-and-briefly-springsteens-violinist-dies-at-74
Milestone: Asher
Reuveni, 76, writer of Sephardic and Yemenite Music.
Milestone: Amos
Epstein, 84, one of the elders of Kfar Aza lost much of his family on Oct. 7th.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424736
THIS CARTOONIST, KIRCHEN,
IS GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=25412879425054403&set=g.5906563945
Inyanay Diyoma
Mar. 28th
Day 904 since Oct. 7th Day 29 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury start of week 130
Six or more Iranian
attacks over Shabbos one with 5 missiles. The Houthis enter the fray. 9
soldiers injured in Lebanon with one dead and some civilians dead in Tel Aviv.
A but of fancy dreaming
but I doubt it. https://www.timesofisrael.com/text-of-board-of-peace-gaza-plan-calls-for-hamas-to-disarm-over-period-of-eight-months/
https://www.foxnews.com/us/500-groups-3b-revenues-behind-nokings-protests-communist-call-revolution
19 injured in Beit
Shemesh. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-891463
In order to get close
to his children, Singer Eyal Golan surprised fans
Friday by announcing in a special video that he plans to observe the upcoming
Shabbat HaGadol. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424681
IDF eliminates senior
Hezballah Officer. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424711
Three
men were killed and two others seriously injured in a three-vehicle crash on
Route 316 near the Nahal Yatir interchange on Saturday afternoon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424708
Mar. 29th
Day 905 since Oct. 7th Day 30 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
Although it was
relatively quiet by us. The successful damages and injuries of last week has
had Iran sending numerous missiles to the Negev.
About the only thing
the Fanatic Shiites got right is that their war is going to speed up the coming
(not their Mahdi) but Moshiach.
A troop landing ship
has come from the Sea of Japan towards the Arabian Sea. https://www.timesofisrael.com/pentagon-said-prepping-weeks-long-ground-operation-in-iran-short-of-full-invasion/
BDE, A volunteer to the
Paratroopers from New Haven, CT, Moshe Yitzchak HaCohain Katz HY”D, was killed
in action. A person who put his People above himself. May his memory be
blessed! https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424731
IDF
troops from the Alpinist Unit, under the command of the 810th Brigade,
completed a targeted operation to thwart attempts by terrorist organizations to
establish a foothold along the Lebanon border. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424744
Part of the $5 Billion
paid worldwide anti-war protest. Police
arrested 21 demonstrators across Israel Saturday night while forcibly
dispersing protests against the US-Israeli war with Iran, which turned out
hundreds of people in major cities nationwide. https://www.timesofisrael.com/21-arrested-in-tel-aviv-haifa-during-mounting-protests-against-iran-war/
IDF destroys Iran’s
Mobile Command Centers. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424740
Iran threatens Israeli
and US Universities in the M.E. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424730
Iran damages US Saudi
Base. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424745
The
Israeli Air Force, acting on IDF Intelligence, targeted more than 250
infrastructure sites of the Iranian terrorist regime across various areas in
Iran, as well as Hezbollah infrastructure sites throughout Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424723
US
media outlets reported over the weekend that the US military’s stockpile of
Tomahawk missiles is being depleted amid the war with Iran. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424716
“Journalist” The
IDF on Saturday afternoon eliminated Ali Hassan Shaib, a terrorist in the
intelligence unit of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, in a targeted strike. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424707
Leftist anti-religious
Journalist works for CNN. https://www.timesofisrael.com/cnn-crew-say-troops-assaulted-them-detained-them-then-trumpeted-far-right-ideology/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/paris-cops-thwart-suspected-terrorist-bombing-near-bank-of-america/
Mar. 30th
Day 906 since Oct. 7th Day 31 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
Yesterday and on
Friday, the 7minute warning sounded and both times I sent out the news for the
day.
A tragedy of our times,
a father of 5 children, 30years old and a fellow who learned Torah, could not
take the pressure and anxiety and took a gun to his head.
Propaganda lies: We
need Charedim in the Army or we will collapse. The Netzach Yehuda Brigade is a
Charedi Battalion but the Jew from Cable Nazi Network violated the Shabbos to come to them
and spread lies Lashon HaRa at its worse about settlers and Charedi soldiers.
The silly soldiers put THE L-RD G-D ahead of man made protocol and followed
Halacha. So now the Chief of Staff who has an army collapsing upon itself for
lack of Charedi Soldiers has disbanded them in favor of the Nazi Network. https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-confirms-battalion-pulled-early-from-west-bank-action-after-alleged-assault-of-cnn-crew/ I was in the IDF and know how religious soldiers are
treated and not advanced like General Winter and General Zini so don’t cry
collapse if you don’t want G-D Fearing Soldiers!
Shelters used as stores
or Synagogues are not my cup of tea unless there is a way to clean out the area
during war. https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-arad-missile-blast-adds-fuel-to-feud-over-shelters-being-used-as-synagogues/
According
to the IDF, about 40 facilities linked to weapons manufacturing, research and
development were struck over the past two days in a series of large-scale air
force operations. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hycd2ivi11e
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/03/29/pentagon-preparing-for-weeks-of-ground-operations-in-iran/
Gaza Division Prep.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424601
The United Nations
peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that a peacekeeper was killed
when a projectile exploded at one of its positions near the southern Lebanese
village of Adchit al-Qusayr on Sunday.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424792
Staff
Sergeant (Res.) Effi (Efraim) Ben-Yakar, 32, a reservist in a special IDF
forces unit who was called up under Tzav 8 (an immediate draft order) at the
outbreak of the war, collapsed at his home during a short rest leave due to
cardiac arrest. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424814
Haifa Refinery hit.
(It’s bus stop was a short walk from my home base in the IAF.) https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424813
On Saturday,
the IDF struck a cell of Hezbollah military operatives who were dressed as
paramedics and operated near an ambulance in southern Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424812
Sergeant Liran Ben Zion
aged 19 from Holon, served as a soldier of the 9th battalion, 401st Brigade,
and fell during combat in southern Lebanon.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424819
Haifa
Refinery hit. (It’s bus stop was a short walk from my home base in the IAF.) https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424813
https://www.timesofisrael.com/pm-says-israel-to-expand-south-lebanon-buffer-zone-as-idf-pushes-deeper-into-territory/
Mar. 31st
Day 907 since Oct. 7th Day 32 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
March came in like a
lamb and is going out like a roaring lion. Unfortunately, 4 Nahal Soldiers fell
in Lebanon last night.
We had close to 36hrs.
of an alert Hiatus from 15:36 Monday to 21:00 plus or minus and then two this
morning 05:26 or 09:26 and fortunately no siren. I was wiped out from 4 weeks
with less sleep so I took a nap about 10AM but at 11AM I was woken up. This
time, I took the 2nd cup of coffee downstairs and was telling my
wife, it looks like only the Dead Sea to Beit Shean when a siren noise started
outside and Home Command started scrolling a list of 411 cities in the center
of the country.
My daughter’s niece,
turning 15, was baby-sitting and took the children in Petach Tikva to a home
safe-room. It took a direct hit from one of the cluster bombs released. The
room shook, she and the kids were covered in plaster but nobody was hurt. B”H!
I want to remind people
who don’t read my rabbipauli.blogspot.com
what I wrote from one of the teachers of my nephew, Menashe. It applies to
people also with a medical emergency on the Seder Night.
Halachic
Psak especially for people in Eretz Yisrael this year at the Pesach Seder: If
one is in the middle of eating the required Matzos in the short time required
and gets a warning to go to the shelter, one should have in mind when making
the blessing to be able to bring down the Matzo into the shelter to eat it
during the required time period. Otherwise, one must start over again. Since
the Iranians have a nasty habit of sending one, two or three missiles in waves
this is best.
Not
mentioned last week: Rabbi Moshe Feinstein TzZal said a piece of Matzo 4inch by
5 inch or 10 cm by 12.5 cm.
Murphy’s
Law is still in effect. “Anything that is bound to go wrong will go wrong”. A
few years ago, our little Passover Electric Oven was not baking properly, so we
bought a larger new one. Made in China. Like their quality control system this
year after very little use, it short circuited. That is one of the reasons my
wife and I like to kosher our kitchen early.
TODAY IS
THE LAST CALL TO SELL YOUR CHAMETZ ON-LINE.
These are the four
soldiers that fell in Lebanon: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424860
Could end without
opening Hormuz. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-891724
But Trump’s allies urge
continuation: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424862
https://www.timesofisrael.com/spain-closes-airspace-to-us-planes-involved-in-iran-war/
US is on track to crush
Iran’s Military in weeks. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424862
Dozens
of Knesset members have appealed to IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, demanding
the immediate reinstatement of Reserve Battalion 941 - composed of alumni of
the Haredi Netzach Yehuda battalion - to operational duty. The battalion was temporarily removed
following an incident involving a CNN journalist.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424846
As
part of the wave of strikes completed yesterday (Sunday), the Israeli Air
Force, acting on IDF intelligence, struck a site where air defence systems
belonging to the Iranian terrorist regime had been deployed near the Caspian
Sea in northern Iran. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424831
Hamas in Gaza: Following
the identification, the IDF struck and eliminated the armed terrorists in order
to remove the threat posed to IDF troops. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424823
Troops to remain in S.
Lebanon. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s13yvxyo11e
Iran leadership in
chaos. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sylybgyibe
Israel Matzah Factory
continues under fire. https://www.ynetnews.com/jewish-world/article/h1adwvuowl
Arkia stops flights
from Yarden. https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/rywa0pliwl?tbref=hp
Apr. 1st
Day 908 since Oct. 7th Day 33 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
This morning I got 4
alerts but only one with a siren. In Tel Aviv there were 5.
In Bnei Brak there was
a hit that has a girl in critical condition with others injured.
We might have a wild
Seder tonight. I usually sleep earlier but left the lights on to 1AM just in
case. https://www.timesofisrael.com/8-lightly-hurt-by-cluster-bomb-in-central-israel-as-iranian-attacks-persist-across-region/ https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424920
The Spanish and French
are not letting the US use their bases so perhaps the US will leave NATO. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424885
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/03/31/american-journalist-kidnapped-baghdad-police-officials-say/
3 Israelis had to be
extracted from an Arab town. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424911
Yesterday (Tuesday),
the Israeli Air Force, acting on IDF Intelligence, struck and eliminated the
engineer operative Mahdi Vafaei, Head of the Engineering Branch of the Quds
Force’s Lebanon Corps, in the Mahallat area in Iran.
https://www.israelnatil’sonalnews.com/news/424921
Rubio the end of the
war is near. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424914
The
police have arrested a suspect who allegedly damaged a monument for Jerusalem
Yasam officer First Sergeant Yosef (Yossi) Kirma. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424894
The
Iranians warned that 18 companies-including Apple, Google, Intel, Microsoft,
and Meta-will be targeted starting at 8 pm tomorrow evening (Wednesday), in
response to the assassinations. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424905
The
IDF has confirmed that on Monday, it eliminated Ibrahim al-Khaldi, a terrorist
from the Hamas naval force, in the area of Nuseirat. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424896
The
IDF said Wednesday that the Israeli Navy carried out a strike in Beirut that
killed a senior Hezbollah commander responsible for operations along the border with Israel. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hjkf0v9obx
After 78 years, the
body of an MIA found. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rko3b005iwx
North Korea is Israel’s
greatest threat. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/by11ubiqozx
Iran's
new leader has just asked the United States for a ceasefire, US President
Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post on Wednesday. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-891907
Apr. 2nd and 3rd
Day 909 and 910 since Oct. 7th Day 34 and 35 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury end of week 130
Erev Pesach close to
our afternoon prayers and the last minute preparations for the Seder, Israel
was under attack a few times for up to 10 missiles. The Seder in Yerushalayim
and the foot hills was quite and only at 1:30 and 3:30 AM there were attacks
from Iran. Quite reigned until a few minutes before the Motzei Chag prayers. I
saw it was too late for a Minyan and there was a fierce sand storm that turned
Cyprus Red and was clogging our lungs. I prayed inside before the all clear. I
got another alert before the counting of one day in the Omer and then a siren.
The trajectory looked strange for Iran. It was at an opposite angle then I
realized it was from the Houthis. https://www.timesofisrael.com/tehran-vows-crushing-blows-to-us-after-trump-threats-to-send-iran-to-stone-age/
They hit as far south
as Ashdod on Seder Night but only the coastal areas. https://www.timesofisrael.com/hezbollah-fires-around-80-rockets-at-north-on-1st-day-of-passover-2-lightly-injured/
I normally pray in the
outdoor Minyan but people with a heart condition should avoid pollution. https://www.timesofisrael.com/dust-storm-turns-israels-skies-gray-on-passover-drives-up-pollution/
Since the war began,
2223 people injured as of Motzei Yom Tov. 554 physically with 19 dead and one
in critical condition. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424969
Half of Iran’s Missile
Launchers are still underground and in good condition. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424976
https://www.foxweather.com/earth-space/artemis-ii-day-by-day-guide-humanitys-10-day-return-moon
Spies in Modiin Illit. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424982
In a
joint operation by the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the Israel Police,
Makdad Moder Hosni Nator, an Israeli citizen and resident of Qalansawe, was
arrested for questioning on suspicion of contact with a foreign intelligence
agent and carrying out tasks under that agent’s direction. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424979
Half of Hezballah
Missile Launchers in tact.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424976
An
unusual medical emergency unfolded aboard Arkia flight IZ597 from Tel Aviv to
Bangkok after a toddler, around two years old, fell ill mid-flight. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424966
50 Ballistic Missiles
struck. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424960
Op-Ed: Giulio
Meotti Christians
you’re next: Christians who today revel in
antisemitism-whether from the nostalgic right or the Third-Worldist left-will
discover too late that the Islamist enemy makes no fine theological
distinctions. It wants to uproot Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and then come for
Peter and Paul. … Israel is not on the list of the 50 Countries that prosecute
Christians. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424926
Heavy Damage in Haifa
after cluster Bombs hit. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424983
Teams
were dispatched to scan several locations where reports of impacts were
received, including Tel Aviv, Givat Shmuel, and Bnei Brak. Miraculously, there
were no casualties. In
Petah Tikva, heavy damage was caused to buildings and property after an
explosion created a large crater at the impact site. The missile from Yemen was
intercepted and caused no injuries or damage. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424977
15 terrorists
eliminated. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424978
Shabbos Times: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/shabat
Apr. 4th
Day 911 since Oct. 7th Day 36 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury start of week 131
Sometimes I leave spaces
for one news group such as Arutz 7 to fill inbetween other news. This happened
on Friday and I did not publish some of the news. 5 articles below, I missed.
Friday a siren at 4PM
while my wife was making a Pesach “cake” consisting of cholate, sugar, eggs and
nuts. In the night two warnings. One Menashe tells me that he is awake but was
dreaming and fortunately as no siren. Today one around noon that allowed me
enough time to say grace after meals quickly and shelter. The second at 3 PM
and another 8:32 PM after which my daughter, some grandkids and the youngest
great grandson visited me. Now why was I ignoring most of them to make faces
and talk to him? He goes nuts over my daughter his “Safta”. By accident he
stole my son-in-law’s Afikomen (Matzah dessert) and won the prize over his
first cousins who had plans.
Both Pilot and
Navigator Retrieved by the US. https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/second-us-fighter-jet-downed-by-strait-of-hormuz-as-search-for-f-15e-crew-member-in-iran-continues
Friendly fire: Sergeant
First Class Guy Ludar fell in combat in Lebanon, the IDF announced Saturday
evening. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425003
The
IDF is shifting direction after two weeks in which it said it would insist on
disarming Hezbollah. Today, Friday, the military is already emphasizing that
its war aims are primarily to significantly weaken the organization and create
a deep defensive line, including demolishing dozens of homes along the first
line of villages, similar to the “yellow line” model in the Gaza Strip. One month 1,000 Hezballah eliminated.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjzhrgpobl
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/03/21/inside-the-assassins-serving-iran-in-israel/
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/03/war-with-iran-likely-to-last-at-least-10-more-days/
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/02/idf-reveals-irans-plan-for-passover-never-fully-materialized/
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/02/report-us-weighs-2-ground-operations-in-iran/
Several
impacts were recorded in Bnei Brak between Friday evening and Saturday night,
including a direct hit on a residential building on Kehillot Yaakov Street on
Friday night and another impact Saturday afternoon in the city center. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425014
IDF strikes Iranian
Petrochemical complex. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425010
Toronto Jewish owned
store riddled with bullets. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425013
IAF pounds Iranian Air
Defenses, Missile Hubs and R & D sites. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425008
Apr. 5th
Day 912 since Oct. 7th Day 37 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
Sometimes it doesn’t
pay to work when one is tired late at night. In my youth I fared better but a
mistake on the date from copy-paste-erase is not nice.
On the other hand, if I
put out news to serve you, so I should work under all circumstances.
The new deadline
appears to let people pray on Easter Sunday and Monday morning, all hell is
going to breakout in Iran.
The top Israeli Court
violated Shabbos to let the left demonstrate against the government in numbers
10 times that of permitted gathering plus 300 riot police.
Related stories: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425019
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425030
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425031 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425016
Maybe this will calm
him down from violating Shabbos to protest a just war. A
man in his 50s who participated in a far-left protest at Tel Aviv's Habima
Square collapsed Saturday night after suffering cardiac arrest in a bomb
shelter shortly after an air raid siren sounded. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425018
Two
warheads from an Iranian cluster missile fired toward the Tel Aviv metropolitan
area around noon exploded near the Kirya base in Tel Aviv - one in a parking
lot and another at a school, the censors cleared for publication.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425004
Three
Israeli women in their 20s and a two-year-old toddler were rescued from the city
of Jericho in Judea and Samaria after entering the area for a holiday vacation.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425020
Fourth Suspect in
London Ambulance Firebombing arrested. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425025
Bye-bye from American
Pie as Iranian Military Leaders taken out.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425021
Kindergartens to
restart. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425029
Rocket Launcher Truck
blown up in Iran. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425006
Op-Ed Daniel Greenfield
The Honest Truth of the Death Penalty Law.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424996
A
reserve soldier serving in the Samaria Regional Brigade was dismissed from
service after documenting a Palestinian Arab detainee who was bound and
blindfolded, holding a sign advertising the soldier’s jewellery business. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425012
China supplying Iran
rocket propellant. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425017
https://www.foxnews.com/us/people-injured-vehicle-slams-louisiana-parade-sheriffs-office
https://www.timesofisrael.com/explosion-hits-christian-pro-israel-center-in-the-netherlands/
Apr. 6th
Day 913 since Oct. 7th Day 38 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
I watch from time to
time Trey Yingst on Fox News having eyes with black bags.
So many people are
sleeping poorly here. At 03:20 we were awakened, afterwards
a siren and then
another warning and a siren then again until about 3:47. I took a
sip or two of cola that
I had grabbed. Back to sleep on and off until 6:15 for the
early Minyan but that
would be not so as I was dressing at 06:43 another warning.
My wife did not have
hear hearing aid and was fast asleep until I disturbed her.
That is life here and
on Yom Tov early in the morning, I expect a massive attack
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/05/israel-set-to-weigh-iran-strike-options-lebanon-war-goals/
Last night a large 3
cluster bomb was not shot down. It hit a building
and
miraculously
did not explode. However, 10 were injured. 2 bodies have been
pulled
from the wreckage and 2 people most likely buried under the rubble.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425068
During the early
morning Barrage, this woman suffered an injury.
Also, an elderly woman
suffered a fall on her head. 20 different places were hit.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425090
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-04-06/live-updates-892184
Op-Ed Limor Livnat:
With the help of China and Russia, the next Iranian War
Looms. (He missed N. Korea)
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/05/with-help-from-china-and-russia-the-next-iran-war-looms/
Iranian text books vs.
US and Israel. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjpfq513bg
Open up the straits. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryutwrkhwe
Beer Sheva Industrial
Zone hit for the third time in a week. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryle56j3wg
Huckabee worried about
violence by extremists against Arabs and Christians. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/hyxpaqk211x
Kiryat
Shmona Magistrate's Court indicted a
51-year-old West Bank resident for extortion by
threats, impersonation, including of a fighter pilot and Mossad
agent, respectively, and entering Israel illegally, Israel Police reported on
Sunday.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-892106
Iran
has launched toward US targets in neighboring Gulf states rely on the QIAM
system, which was developed with North Korean assistance. He added that Iran's
"new" Shahab-3 missile is "almost an exact copy of the [North
Korean] No Dong."
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-892054
The US
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
had conducted an extensive deception campaign as part of the rescue effort. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-892079
After finding two
bodies the hope for the other two missing people faded. A woman was injured in
central Israel. https://www.timesofisrael.com/2-dead-pulled-from-wreckage-of-haifa-building-hit-by-missile-2-more-people-still-missing/
Sometimes I think the
Iranians have hacked my phone. I told my wife after I finished the first half
of the news update today that I am going for a walk outside and then a nap.
Ha-ha on the way back down the hill = beep-beep warning. After a short time a
siren. Then I decided to shop while the missiles were on break and to have
lunch. Finally, I heard enough news between Israel with 38 fallings from one
cluster bomb and the munitions officer rescue on Fox. I said, “Time to nap
after this article finishes!” Beep-beep and another few sirens within a siren. https://www.timesofisrael.com/downed-us-airman-said-to-have-directed-strikes-on-iranian-positions-from-hiding-place/
Non-Religious try to
accuse the Haredim but it was a gathering in a protected area. https://www.timesofisrael.com/flouting-wartime-restrictions-over-1000-men-gather-for-address-by-top-haredi-rabbi/
A repeat performance of
Pharaoh vs. Moshe in a modern setting. https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-says-wont-open-hormuz-for-temporary-truce-after-pakistan-proposes-45-day-ceasefire/ & https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425083
https://www.timesofisrael.com/4-7-magnitude-earthquake-off-lebanon-coast-felt-in-northern-israel/
Apr. 7th
Day 914 since Oct. 7th Day 39 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury 2.5 Years of War
Today started with an
Iranian attack in the South, then Eilat and the Middle of the
Country “As my wife
entered the shelter, she saw a list of Yeshuvim under attack:
“While did you let me
come down stairs if we are not on the list?” Suddenly a
siren! “Yes, darling.
Is that all?” I was in the arm with many drills it does not
bother me a bit of
exercise over nothing but matzos.
Tonight, for the first
time since the splitting of the sea, miracles may take place
beyond our
comprehension. https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-us-has-plan-to-destroy-every-bridge-and-power-plant-in-iran-tuesday-night-if-no-deal/
Op-Ed former National
Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi. The Illusion of Total
Victory. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/hjd8ocehbg
Ignoring rumors that Mojtaba
is dead: Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is incapacitated and
receiving medical treatment in the holy city of Qom, according to an
intelligence assessment reported by The Times, raising questions about who is
leading the country. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bykq11gfnbl
Hit this Morning: https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h1rh17gh11e#autoplay
Haifa Missile: The
investigation, conducted by the Israeli Air Force and the IDF, determined that
the ballistic missile launched from Iran broke apart mid-air, causing the
interceptors fired at it to miss. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425100
The
IDF’s Persian-language spokesperson issued an unusual warning Tuesday urging
civilians in Iran to avoid train travel, as operations against infrastructure targets
appeared to expand. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjaeugz2zl
IDF mopping up to the
Litani River. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/syrttmfhwx
Haredi Cult leader,
adultery, etc. causes outrage when his followers get him a spot by the Kotel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425095
Six-year-old
Avigail Elimelech from Lod died Sunday at Shamir-Assaf Harofeh Medical Center
after being choked by a swing rope in the yard of her home.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425096
Every year people make
this dangerous trek and often have to be rescued. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425104
Brutal Captivity in
Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425081
Hezballah Gas Stations
taken out. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425078
https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-given-until-weeks-end-to-accept-disarmament-proposal-sources/
Following the
identification, the soldiers eliminated the terrorists and destroyed the
compound in order to remove the threat to IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425159
Endangered Plant
discovered in Israel. https://www.ynetnews.com/environment/article/skle9be3zx
New Arab League Leader
may be extreme. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/hj8rmky2bg
Yom Tov Times: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/shabat
The
IDF on Tuesday published footage filmed from its missiles showing how the
Israeli Air Force strikes the Iranian terror regime's air defence systems. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425167
A
total of ten individuals were arrested at the scene, all identified as Judea
and Samaria residents staying in Israel without legal authorization. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425163
The IDF confirmed on
Tuesday that on Monday, the Israeli Air Force, acting on IDF intelligence,
completed a wide-scale air strike in several areas in Iran targeting key
Iranian terror regime infrastructure.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425164
IDF eliminates weapons
smuggler in Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425116
Alongside
strikes on dozens of helicopters and aircraft at airports in Tehran, the
elimination of senior regime officials, and petrochemical facilities, the
Israeli Air Force, guided by IDF intelligence, carried out strikes on Monday on
additional key Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) infrastructure. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425145
Astronauts set a new
record. https://www.jpost.com/science/space/article-892269
Have a
healthy, joyous and peaceful Yom Tov,
Rachamim
Pauli
Apr. 8th and
9th
Day 915 and 916 since Oct. 7th Day 40 and 41 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
Yogi Berra said: “It ain’t over until it is
over!” Yep, the spell check said
‘isn’t’ but he did not talk that way.
Yom Tov at about 1:30,
3:11 all clear and 3:39 not to mention my shower Erev Yom Tov. One circumstance,
Tel Aviv had no warning. That was after Iran had
agreed to a ceasefire. Israel only stopped when they stopped bombing. The Gulf
States were also attacked.
The Iranians claim that they can still
enrich Uranium, close the strait, get reparations, etc. Trump still has the
15points. Negotiations on Shabbos. Some are saying that Trump Always Chickens
Out TACO.
Op-ED
David
Horowitz: https://www.timesofisrael.com/trumps-new-reasonable-iran-is-neither-new-nor-reasonable-and-he-knows-it/
Iranians
are trying to give us Dementia. https://www.foxnews.com/video/6392665395112
Ami
Gaidarov, a 22-year-old resident of Haifa, was arrested in March on suspicion
of committing security offenses involving contact with Iranian intelligence
elements and assisting the enemy during wartime by carrying out
security-related missions under their direction. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425236
IDF
troops in the Southern Command on Wednesday struck and eliminated Muhammad
Samir Muhammad Washah, a key terrorist in Hamas’ rocket and weapons production
headquarters, who had been planning terrorist attacks against IDF soldiers
operating in the area. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425230
Preparing for Israel
Prize: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425233
https://www.aol.com/articles/fbi-arrests-suspected-leaker-downed-222800563.html
Threatened to arrest
Amit Segal. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425171
I had plans to travel round
trip to the States in 10 days from now but I am afraid about the return trip. I
decided to cancel everything. I hope maybe to fly later in the year.
Staff Sergeant Touvel
Yosef Lipshitz fell. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425198
Noa
Mor, 38, from Tel Aviv, was killed this past Sunday in a kitesurfing accident
in Sinai, Egypt. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425208
Harlem man threatened
Jewish Children. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425195
Before the we cease and
they fire, Israel destroyed key sonar and missile sites.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425190
Peacekeepers killed in
Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425196
Shachid: Ali Ahmad Ali Amrain, a terrorist who was involved in
smuggling weapons for the Hamas terrorist organization. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425116
Hackers published
photos of former COS. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425235
The
IDF on Wednesday struck in the Beirut area and eliminated Ali Yusuf Harshi, the
personal secretary and nephew of Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425232
An Arab mob attacked a
settlement point in the Jordan Valley this evening (Wednesday). During the
incident, one of the residents was seriously wounded after a rock struck his
head. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425213
Tel Aviv Metro delayed
until 2037. https://www.ynetnews.com/real-estate/article/rkyjigenzg?tbref=hp
She was 22 and he was
12. She was Charedi and he was secular and a troubled youth. But 7 years later,
he proposed. https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/lifestyle/article/sj00pmeg2wg?tbref=hp
Shabbos Times: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/shabat
Iranian FM: "The US
must choose - ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both,"
Araghchi asserted. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-892391
Apr. 10th
Day 917 since Oct. 7th Day 42 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury end of week 131
Next week is
Holocaust Memorial Day in Israel. In Remembrance I start out with a
Story of the
architect of the Holocaust (only one of the four stories in my
BlogSpot this
week deals with that period). Reinhard
Heydrich was born in Halle in
1904
into a cultured, musical, middle-class family. His father directed the local
conservatory.
Reinhard grew up playing the violin.
https://www.ynetnews.com/jewish-world/article/byv8ipr2bl?tbref=hp
As I
mentioned yesterday, I cancelled my visit to the USA scheduled for after next
Shabbos because I probably would have an out going flight but not an incoming
one back. The Iranians are saying one thing in private but I am afraid that
they will do what the Supreme Leader says in public. Skillful at haggling in
their Bazar, the enriched Uranium is not a haggling point for the world neither
is the strait of Hormuz.
Op-Ed Yuval Azulay: Israel’s
declared war goals, including securing Iran’s enriched uranium, toppling the
ayatollah regime, destroying its ballistic missile systems and halting funding
for proxy groups, have not been achieved. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/hysxpd4hbe
Op-Ed Military
Correspondent Yossi Yehoshua Iran’s Plan Backfired but it is far from over. Gains
remain fragile, threats unresolved and the next round is taking shape. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/rk500g2enbl
The
U.S. Central Intelligence Agency used a new secret device dubbed
“Ghost Murmur” during the operation to locate a downed
navigator in Iran.
https://www.ynetnews.com/tech-and-digital/article/bywkzwhh11e
Rockets to Ashdod from
Lebanon, Iran targets Kuwait.
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-04-10/live-updates-892567
Youth being fed
propaganda by Al Jazeera. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-892525
Melania Trump answers
smear campaign. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-892569
Op-Ed Nadav Haetzni
Lebanon Will Determine the Fate of the Campaign. https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/10/lebanon-will-determine-the-fate-of-the-campaign/
Netanyahu's
stirring declarations were merely a prelude to a familiar retreat in the face
of the US administration, a collapse under Tehran's ultimatum. … since
2009 the Likud leader, hand in hand with the IDF high command, has set new
records in losing his nerve and entrenching the same failed concept. Einstein’s
definition of Insanity.
Bracing for full-scale
fighting in Gaza. https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/09/hamas-disarmament-deadline-expires-israel-prepares-resume-gaza-war/
As written above
Netanyahu under pressure is scaling back but not Hezballah. https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/09/israel-lebanon-strikes-iran-negotiations-roaring-lion/
Over-worked and
probably fell asleep at the wheel. The
police announced this evening (Thursday) that Master Sgt. Niv Simon Buhbot, a
Border Police (Yasam) soldier in the Sahar Unit of the Southern District, was
killed in a fatal road accident on Highway 25. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425256
A
superintendent (Deputy Commissioner-rank) officer in the Lahav 433 unit was
questioned today (Thursday) under caution by the Department of Internal Police
Investigations (DIPI) on suspicion of sexual harassment and committing an
indecent act against a female officer subordinate to him. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425258
Hezballah stunned and
confused. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425253
Calling Israel ‘evil’
and he is the negotiator. www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425270
Khamenei
also warned that Iran would not allow "criminal aggressors" to go
unpunished, stating that the country would demand "full reparations for
all damages caused," as well as compensation for those killed and wounded.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425266
Former Iranian FM dies. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425275
US
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Iran should not charge fees to
tankers going through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blockaded since the
start of the Iran war. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425274
Hezballah launches
missiles at central Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425261
https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-ceasefire-halts-fighting-iran-war-becomes-a-battlefield-for-votes/
A healthy,
happy, peaceful and restful Shabbos to all (don’t forget to count Omer) and
this Shabbos Chapter One of Perkei Avos,
Rachamim
Pauli
