Parsha Behaalosecha
This week’s
Parsha is a continuation of the dedication of the Mishkan and is dealing with
the lighting of the Menorah of seven branches inside the Mishkan. The Bnei
Yisrael are about to leave Har Sinai and abode in Midbar Paran.
At the end
of our Parsha, Miriam, who worried about her baby brother in the basket in the
river, now is concerned about his wife. She ends up speaking Lashon HaRa, even
if true and known but behind his back. She is punished for idle gossip, but
because of her merits, Am Yisrael will wait seven days before continuing on
towards Eretz Yisrael.
8:1 And
the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 'Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him: When
thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the
candlestick.' 3 And Aaron did so: he lighted the lamps thereof so as to give
light in front of the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.
HASHEM does
not need light as HE created light. Mankind needs light and the light unto the
world or all the nations starts in the Mishkan/Mikdash. So this small Menorah
in the Tabernacle/Temple was to bring the physical and more so spiritual light
unto the world. Nowadays we have neither a Mishkan nor a Mikdash and the
Synagogue or learning in the Beis Midrash enlightens the world. A few minutes
of Torah, Halacha, Mishnayos, Mussar (ethics) or Talmud before or after prayer
helps. In Israel there is always a small learning section at the end of the
Prayers. Sometimes in the army with 4 hours of sleep a night, it was my only
learning while other times I learned Perkei Avos from my Siddur.
4 And this was the work of the candlestick,
beaten work of gold; unto the base thereof, and unto the flowers thereof, it
was beaten work; according unto the pattern which the LORD had shown Moses, so
he made the candlestick.
Since the
Menorah was inside, unless one was standing at a perfect angle, one could not
see the golden Menorah but it worked for the world behind the scenes.
5 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 6
'Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. 7 And
thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of
purification upon them, and let them cause a razor to pass over all their
flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and cleanse themselves. 8 Then let them
take a young bullock, and its meal-offering, fine flour mingled with oil, and
another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin-offering. 9 And thou shalt present
the Levites before the tent of meeting; and thou shalt assemble the whole
congregation of the children of Israel. 10 And thou shalt present the Levites
before the LORD; and the children of Israel shall lay their hands upon the
Levites. 11 And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for a
wave-offering from the children of Israel, that they may be to do the service
of the LORD. 12 And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the
bullocks; and offer thou the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a
burnt-offering, unto the LORD, to make atonement for the Levites. 13 And thou
shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for a
wave-offering unto the LORD. 14 Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among
the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be Mine. 15 And after that shall
the Levites go in to do the service of the tent of meeting; and thou shalt
cleanse them, and offer them for a wave-offering. 16 For they are wholly given
unto Me from among the children of Israel; instead of all that opens the womb, even the first-born of
all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto Me. 17 For all the
first-born among the children of Israel are Mine, both man and beast; on the
day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for
Myself. 18 And I have taken the Levites instead of all the first-born among the
children of Israel. 19 And I have given the Levites--they are given to Aaron
and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the
children of Israel in the tent of meeting, and to make atonement for the
children of Israel, that there be no plague among the children of Israel,
through the children of Israel coming nigh unto the sanctuary.' 20 Thus did
Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the
Levites; according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses touching the Levites,
so did the children of Israel unto them. 21 And the Levites purified
themselves, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them for a sacred
gift before the LORD; and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them. 22 And
after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tent of meeting
before Aaron, and before his sons; as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning
the Levites, so did they unto them.
Prior to
the golden calf, the Bechorim (first born) were to lead the service instead of
the Cohanim or in worst case instead of the Leviim. But after some Bechorim
sinned with the Egel HaZahav, it was decreed that the non-sinning Leviim would
be consecrated in their place. The shaving, bathing in the Mikvah and
sacrificial offerings was their dedication.
23 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 24
'This is that which pertains unto the Levites: from twenty and five years
old and upward they shall go in to perform the service in the work of the tent
of meeting;
Previously,
we were taught from thirty to fifty years. There was a five-year training or
apprenticeship before the Leviim would mantle or dismantle the Mishkan.
25 and from the age of fifty years they shall
return from the service of the work, and shall serve no more;
Talmud
Bavli Chullin around Daf 25 +/- the service of the Leviim today (in the future
Mikdash = Temple) no longer requires the strength of younger men to patrol the
area, dismantle and rebuild but to patrol and sing for the sacrifices. Thus, as
long as the Levi has a good voice and could walk and patrol the Mikdash, he could
continue to serve.
26 but shall minister with their brethren in
the tent of meeting, to keep the charge, but they shall do no manner of
service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charges.'
They were the guards and singers. Another
task of the Leviim, being spread out in all of Yisrael was to teach Torah. Their
payment would come from the Maaser.
9:1 And
the LORD spoke unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the
second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying: 2 'Let the
children of Israel keep the Passover in its appointed season. 3 In the
fourteenth day of this month, at dusk, ye shall keep it in its appointed
season; according to all the statutes of it, and according to all the
ordinances thereof, shall ye keep it.' 4 And Moses spoke unto the children of
Israel, that they should keep the Passover. 5 And they kept the Passover in the
first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at dusk, in the wilderness of
Sinai; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of
Israel. 6 But there were certain men, who were unclean by the dead body of a
man, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day; and they came before
Moses and before Aaron on that day. 7 And those men said unto him: 'We are
unclean by the dead body of a man; wherefore are we to be kept back, so as not
to bring the offering of the LORD in its appointed season among the children of
Israel?' 8 And Moses said unto them: 'Stay ye, that I may hear what the LORD
will command concerning you.'
Who were
these men? They were the first cousins of Moshe and Aharon. They had just
buried the two sons that had died.
9 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 10
'Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: If any man of you or of your
generations shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar
off, yet he shall keep the Passover unto the LORD;
Far off: In
the days of walking and animal transportation, further away from Modiin was
considered far away. I have been told by people from my area who have walked along
route 443 that it took them 8 hours to reach the old city aka place of the
Mikdash.
11 in the second month on the fourteenth day at
dusk they shall keep it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter
herbs; 12 they shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break a bone
thereof; according to all the statute of the Passover they shall keep it.
This
festival of Pesach Sheni is only for these people and their families. They are
permitted in their homes leaven and the Matzos, bitter herbs, etc. are observed
with the Korban Pesach (Sheni) at night only.
13 But the man that is clean, and is not on a
journey, and forbears to
keep the Passover, that soul shall be cut off from his people; because he brought
not the offering of the LORD in its appointed season, that man shall bear his
sin. 14 And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the Passover
unto the LORD: according to the statute of the Passover, and according to the
ordinance thereof, so shall he do; ye shall have one statute, both for the
stranger, and for him that is born in the land.'
Stranger
means Ger Tzedik (full convert) and not a Ger Toshav (Ben Noach) living in the
land like the Christians and Druze who are full citizens and do Military
Service or Muslim who are citizens and most don’t do military service. The Ben
Yisrael who cuts himself off from the Korban Pesach gets Kares or cutting off
in the next world.
15 And on the day that the tabernacle was
reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, even the tent of the testimony; and
at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until
morning. 16 So it was always: the cloud covered it, and the appearance of
fire by night.
This
description is of the Mishkan in the Sinai Desert.
17 And whenever the cloud was taken up from over
the Tent, then after that the children of Israel journeyed; and in the place
where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel encamped. 18 At the
commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the
commandment of the LORD they encamped: as long as the cloud abode upon the
tabernacle they remained encamped. 19 And when the cloud tarried upon the
tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD,
and journeyed not. 20 And sometimes the cloud was a few days upon the
tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they remained encamped,
and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed. 21 And sometimes
the cloud was from evening until morning; and when the cloud was taken up in
the morning, they journeyed; or if it continued by day and by night, when the
cloud was taken up, they journeyed. 22 Whether it were two days, or a month, or
a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, abiding thereon, the
children of Israel remained encamped, and journeyed not; but when it was taken
up, they journeyed. 23 At the commandment of the LORD they encamped, and at the
commandment of the LORD they journeyed; they kept the charge of the LORD, at
the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
After almost a year or a year by Har
Sinai, building the Mishkan and starting on their journey(s) everything was
done by the command of HASHEM.
10:1 And
the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 'Make thee two trumpets of silver; of
beaten work shalt thou make them; and they shall be unto thee for the calling
of the congregation, and for causing the camps to set forward. 3 And when they
shall blow with them, all the congregation shall gather themselves unto thee at
the door of the tent of meeting. 4 And if they blow but with one, then the
princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto
thee. 5 And when ye blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the east side shall
take their journey.
Normally,
for announcing Shabbos, Yom Tov or a danger of an attack, the Shofar was blown.
Now the Trumpets were sounded and a take-off would be an army bugle.
6 And when ye blow an alarm the second time,
the camps that lie on the south side shall set forward; they shall blow an
alarm for their journeys. 7 But when the assembly is to be gathered together,
ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. 8 And the sons of Aaron, the
priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for a statute
for ever throughout your generations. 9 And when ye go to war in your land
against the adversary that oppresses you, then ye shall sound an alarm with the
trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be
saved from your enemies. 10 Also in the day of your gladness, and in your
appointed seasons, and in your new moons, ye shall blow with the trumpets over
your burnt-offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace-offerings; and they
shall be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.'
The trumpets
are also used for Rosh Chodesh and Yomim Tovim. Along with the song of the Leviim
for the Sacrifices, a Trumpet was blown.
11 And it came to pass in the second year, in
the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, that the cloud was taken
up from over the tabernacle of the testimony. 12 And the children of Israel set
forward by their stages out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud abode in
the wilderness of Paran.—
Am Yisrael is now
encamped between modern Eilat and the Dead Sea by the Paran Wilderness.
13 And they took their first journey, according
to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 14 And in the first place
the standard of the camp of the children of Judah set forward according to
their hosts; and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 15 And over
the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar.
16 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son
of Helon. 17 And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the
sons of Merari, who bore the tabernacle, set forward. 18 And the standard of
the camp of Reuben set forward according to their hosts; and over his host was
Elizur the son of Shedeur. 19 And over the host of the tribe of the children of
Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 20 And over the host of the tribe
of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 21 And the Kohathites the
bearers of the sanctuary set forward, that the tabernacle might be set up
against their coming. 22 And the standard of the camp of the children of
Ephraim set forward according to their hosts; and over his host was Elishama
the son of Ammihud. 23 And over the host of the tribe of the children of
Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 24 And over the host of the tribe of
the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni. 25 And the standard of
the camp of the children of Dan, which was the rearward of all the camps, set
forward according to their hosts; and over his host was Ahiezer the son of
Ammishaddai. 26 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was
Pagiel the son of Ochran. 27 And over the host of the tribe of the children of
Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. 28 Thus were the journeyings of the children
of Israel according to their hosts.--And they set forward.
The
marching order of the tribes and the leaders is given again here as a reminder
to us.
29 And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Reuel
the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law: 'We are journeying unto the place of which
the LORD said: I will give it you; come thou with us, and we will do thee good;
for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.' 30 And he said unto him: 'I
will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred.'
Yisro,
Hobab, was one of the three wisest men in the world who had advised Pharaoh
along with Iyob and Bilaam. Moshe wanted him to stay and guide Am Yisrael as he
was monotheistic.
31 And he said: 'Leave us not, I pray thee;
forasmuch as thou know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou shalt
be to us instead of eyes. 32 And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall
be, that what good soever the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto
thee.' 33 And they set forward from the mount of the LORD three days' journey;
and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them three days' journey,
to seek out a resting-place for them. 34 And the cloud of the LORD was over
them by day, when they set forward from the camp.
Food and
water were supplied by heaven and even their movement was directed from heaven.
35 And it came to pass, when the ark set
forward, that Moses said: 'Rise up, O LORD, and let Thine enemies be scattered;
and let them that hate Thee flee before Thee.' 36 And when it rested, he said:
'Return, O LORD, unto the ten thousands of the families of Israel.'
Some Rabbis think these three lines like a
Sefer in itself. We say these beginning words unto this day when we take the
Torah out of the Aron.
11:1 And
the people were as murmurers, speaking evil in the ears of the LORD; and when
the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among
them, and devoured in the uttermost part of the camp. 2 And the people cried
unto Moses; and Moses prayed unto the LORD, and the fire abated. 3 And the name
of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.
4 And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting; and the children
of Israel also wept on their part, and said: 'Would that we were given flesh to
eat! 5 We remember the fish, which we were wont to eat in Egypt for nought; the
cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic; 6 but
now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all; we have nought save this
manna to look to.'-- 7 Now the manna was like coriander seed, and the
appearance thereof as the appearance of bdellium. 8 The people went about, and
gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and seethed it in
pots, and made cakes of it; and the taste of it was as the taste of a cake
baked with oil. 9 And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna
fell upon it.-- 10 And Moses heard the people weeping, family by family, every
man at the door of his tent; and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; and
Moses was displeased. 11 And Moses said unto the LORD: 'Wherefore hast Thou
dealt ill with Thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in Thy sight,
that Thou lay the burden of all this people upon me? 12 Have I conceived all
this people? have I brought them forth, that Thou shouldest say unto me: Carry
them in thy bosom, as a nursing-father carries the sucking child, unto the land
which Thou didst swear unto their fathers? 13 Whence should I have flesh to
give unto all this people? for they trouble me with their weeping, saying: Give
us flesh, that we may eat. 14 I am not able to bear all this people myself
alone, because it is too heavy for me. 15 And if Thou deal thus with me, kill
me, I pray Thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in Thy sight; and let me
not look upon my wretchedness.'
The logistics
of feeding a few million people with nothing in particular to eat was too much
for Moshe and he needed help. HASHEM provided to the people the Mann. He was at
his wits end and was given the Sanhedrin.
16 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Gather unto
Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou know to be the elders of the
people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tent of meeting, that
they may stand there with thee. 17 And I will come down and speak with thee
there; and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon
them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it
not thyself alone. 18 And say thou unto the people: Sanctify yourselves against
to-morrow, and ye shall eat flesh; for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD,
saying: Would that we were given flesh to eat! for it was well with us in
Egypt; therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. 19 Ye shall
not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty
days; 20 but a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be
loathsome unto you; because that ye have rejected the LORD who is among you,
and have troubled Him with weeping, saying: Why, now, came we forth out of
Egypt?' 21 And Moses said: 'The people, among whom I am, are six hundred
thousand men on foot; and yet Thou hast said: I will give them flesh, that they
may eat a whole month! 22 If flocks and herds be slain for them, will they
suffice them? or if all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, will
they suffice them?'
Quails are
small birds and HASHEM gathered such an abundance to feed 2,000,000 people or
more for two months.
23 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Is the LORD'S
hand waxed short? now shalt thou see whether My word shall come to pass unto
thee or not.' 24 And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD;
and he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round
about the Tent. 25 And the LORD came down in the cloud, and spoke unto him, and
took of the spirit that was upon him, and put it upon the seventy elders; and
it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, but
they did so no more. 26 But there remained two men in the camp, the name of the
one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad; and the spirit rested upon
them; and they were of them that were recorded, but had not gone out unto the
Tent; and they prophesied in the camp.
These men
deserved to be on the Sanhedrin, but in order not to embarrass two others, they
forgo their place and is instead because of their deed, they were granted prophecy.
27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses,
and said: 'Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.' 28 And Joshua the son
of Nun, the minister of Moses from his youth up, answered and said: 'My lord
Moses, shut them in.' 29 And Moses said unto him: 'Art thou jealous for my
sake? would that all the LORD'S people were prophets, that the LORD would put
His spirit upon them!'
Moshe did
not look at their prophecy as competition, but rather a complimentary one. This
was even so that they prophesized that Moshe would lead the people to Eretz
Yisrael but not in Eretz Yisrael.
30 And Moses withdrew into the camp, he and the
elders of Israel. 31 And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought
across quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, about a day's
journey on this side, and a day's journey on the other side, round about the
camp, and about two cubits above the face of the earth. 32 And the people rose
up all that day, and all the night, and all the next day, and gathered the
quails; he that gathered least gathered ten heaps; and they spread them all
abroad for themselves round about the camp. 33 While the flesh was yet between
their teeth, ere it was chewed, the anger of the LORD was kindled against the
people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague. 34 And the name
of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the
people that lusted. 35 From Kibroth-hattaavah the people journeyed unto
Hazeroth; and they abode at Hazeroth.
And the whole nation ate quails for 30 days
and were satisfied.
12:1 And
Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had
married; for he had married a Cushite woman. 2 And they said: 'Hath the LORD
indeed spoken only with Moses? hath He not spoken also with us?' And the LORD
heard it.—
Wow unto
the wife of a prophet, her face is blacked by not having a husband by her side.
3 Now the man Moses was very meek, above all
the men that were upon the face of the earth.—
Like
Avraham, who viewed himself as dust and ashes, Moshe was even more humble.
4 And the LORD spoke suddenly unto Moses, and
unto Aaron, and unto Miriam: 'Come out ye three unto the tent of meeting.' And
they three came out. 5 And the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood
at the door of the Tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forth.
6 And He said: 'Hear now My words: if there be a prophet among you, I the LORD
do make Myself known unto him in a vision, I do speak with him in a dream. 7 My
servant Moses is not so; he is trusted in all My house; 8 with him do I speak
mouth to mouth, even manifestly, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude
of the LORD doth he behold; wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against
My servant, against Moses?'
Aharon was
rebuked for not saying “Lashon HaRa” and telling Miriam to shut-up.
9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against
them; and He departed. 10 And when the cloud was removed from over the Tent,
behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow; and Aaron looked upon Miriam;
and, behold, she was leprous. 11 And Aaron said unto Moses: 'Oh my lord, lay
not, I pray thee, sin upon us, for that we have done foolishly, and for that we
have sinned. 12 Let her not, I pray, be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half
consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.' 13 And Moses cried unto the
LORD, saying: 'Heal her now, O God, I beseech Thee.'
Heal her –
the shortest prayer.
14 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'If her father
had but spit in her face, should she not hide in shame seven days? let her be
shut up without the camp seven days, and after that she shall be brought in
again.'
Miriam was
shunned from the camp 7 days because of her Lashon Hara.
15 And Miriam was shut up without the camp
seven days; and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again. 16
And afterward the people journeyed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness
of Paran.
Because she
waited among the bull rushes for Moshe, so Mida Knegged Mida (measure for measure) the Nation waited for
her.
This
story was forwarded by Rita. It is not a Jewish Story but HaKaros HaTov Story.
Appreciating
a good deed measure for measure.
In 1943, an American pilot fell out of the sky into one of the
most dangerous jungles on earth.
For thirty-one days, Fred Hergesheimer wandered alone through
the rainforest of New Britain after his burning reconnaissance plane was shot
down over Japanese-controlled territory during World War II. He was twenty-seven years old.n Starving.
Delirious.
Barely alive.
He survived on roots and stream water while moving through the
jungle at night trying to avoid Japanese patrols searching the island. By the time voices finally emerged from the trees on the
thirty-second day, Fred believed he was about to die.
He thought the Japanese had found him. Instead, it was a group of Nakanai tribesmen.
The villagers carried the weak American pilot back to their
coastal village and hid him from Japanese forces despite knowing the
consequences if they were caught.
The Japanese were offering rewards for captured Allied airmen. They were also executing anyone who helped them.
The villagers hid Fred anyway. He was so sick he could barely swallow solid food.
Then a nursing mother named Ida walked into the hut where he was
lying.
She returned carrying a cup filled with her own breast milk and
fed him herself for ten days to keep him alive while also nursing her own baby.
Fred never forgot her name.
Whenever Japanese patrols approached the village, someone would
quietly blow into a conch shell hidden nearby. That sound meant Fred had seconds to disappear.
And if he ran across the sand wearing boots, village children
followed behind him carrying tiny palm-frond brooms — sweeping away his
footprints before Japanese soldiers arrived.
If they had been discovered, the entire village likely would
have been massacred.
Nobody betrayed him. The children could not pronounce “Freddie,” so they called him
“Mastah Preddi.”
Master Freddie.
He lived among them for seven months. Then, in February 1944, Australian commandos finally reached the
village and radioed for an American submarine to extract him from the island. On a moonless night, Fred paddled out toward the submarine in a
canoe while the villagers watched from shore.
Some mothers reportedly tried giving him their children to take
back to America with him.
Fred survived the war and returned home to Minnesota
where he married, raised children, and built a normal life. But he could never forget the people who had saved him. Especially Ida.
Especially the children with the little brooms. For years, one thought haunted him constantly: “How could I ever repay them?” So in 1960, Fred returned to New Britain alone.
As his boat approached the beach, the villagers lined the
shoreline waiting for him in the moonlight. Then they began singing the only English song they knew:
“God Save the Queen.” Fred stepped into the sand and cried. He found Ida again.
He met the son she had been nursing while feeding him from her
own body during the war.
And after returning home, he decided thank you was not enough. A missionary later told him the village desperately needed a
school. So a middle-aged Minnesota salesman began going door to door
across his hometown raising money through church groups and small donations. By 1963, Fred returned to New Britain and helped build the
village’s first permanent school.
Years later, he and his wife Dorothy moved there themselves for
four years — leaving America entirely to teach children at the foot of a
volcano twelve thousand miles from home. Over the next several decades, Fred continued returning to the
island again and again.
He helped build schools. Libraries.
A medical clinic.
In 2000, the Nakanai people officially made him a tribal chief
and gave him the title “Suara Auru.” Chief Warrior.
Then, in 2006, at ninety years old, Fred made one final journey
into the jungle.
The wreckage of the plane that crashed in 1943 had finally been
found.
Villagers carried the elderly pilot through the rainforest on
their shoulders so he could see it one last time.
The broken wing that had once dropped a starving young American
into their lives still rested there beneath the trees. Fred Hergesheimer died in 2010 at age ninety-four.
The schools and clinic he built are still operating today.
And when people asked why he spent nearly seventy years repaying
a village he could have forgotten after the war, Fred always gave the same
answer:
“These people were responsible for saving my life. How could I
ever repay it?”
He spent the rest of his life trying.
David S. is
no longer a hardline Democrat: Antisemitism threw him out.
I grew up in a Jewish American household which means I grew up as
a Democrat.
Today as a Jew, and as someone who cares deeply about the future
of America, watching what is happening inside parts of the Democratic Party is
shocking and alarming.
I don’t live in Philadelphia, but the outcome of this race should
concern every moderate Democrat in the country. In a district that is
overwhelmingly Democratic, voters had the opportunity to choose from serious
and educated candidates, but instead elevated a candidate backed by the
far-left activists, whose rhetoric and positions on Israel cross dangerous
lines.
When anti-Zionism turns into denying Israel’s simple right to
exist, spreading “genocide” blood libels, or amplifying conspiracy theories
involving Jews and Israel, that is not “progress.” It is extremism. And when those
views become normalized or politically rewarded, it sends a chilling message to
Jewish communities everywhere.
This is not just about Israel. It is about whether the Democratic
Party remains a home for moderates, liberals, and people of basic common sense,
or whether it continues drifting toward ideological extremes.
People can disagree on policy. That’s democracy. But if moderates
stay silent while the loudest and most radical voices take over, the long-term
damage to both the party and the country could become irreversible.
I still believe America is resilient, and I believe better days
are ahead. But moments like this should be a wake-up call not just for Jews but
everyone.
Miracles vs. Bribes by R’ Yerachmiel Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1485-36
Some two hundred years ago, Poland waged a bloody war of independence
against Russia and, as in many wars, the Jews were the losers. Both sides hated
them and they were almost totally defenseless, their only shields were prayer
and 'tzadikim' (totally pure, righteous Jews).
Once the Polish forces passed through a certain Jewish town and demanded the
inhabitants to provide them with food and lodging. For some reason one of its
wealthier homeowners didn't find favor in their eyes. Perhaps he didn't work
fast enough or perhaps he really did refuse to help them but, in any case, they
arrested and beat him, put him in chains and took him back to their camp to
give him a 'trial' and hang him.
His wife and daughters were left alone weeping, screaming and carrying on until
one of the neighbors suggested that they should try getting a meeting with the
Polish commander and beg for mercy. After a few days of trying they came up
with nothing. It was impossible to even find the commander, no less speak with
him.
Then someone else suggested added prayer, charity and repentance which they
also tried. But their father still remained locked up. Finally they decided to
travel to the great Tzadik and Chasidic master, Rabbi Shlomo of Radomsk, and
pour their hearts out. Not that they were Chasidim, they were desperately
grasping at straws.
They arrived at the Rebbe's headquarters and because of the urgency of their
situation, were immediately, granted an audience. They entered the Rebbe's
office and explained, begged, pleaded, and wept; they needed a miracle before
it was too late!
"Miracle?" the Rebbe said. "I think you can solve the whole
problem with money. Offer the commander a proper sum of cash."
They tried to protest; getting an audience with the commander was impossible!
They had been trying for days with no luck. And for sure he wouldn't take
money, he had so much already. His troops had stolen millions!
When the Rebbe refused to reply, they understood that they had no choice but to
try.
And it worked! Somehow, everything just clicked. The first officer they met
astonishingly agreed to arrange a meeting with the commander, and as soon as
they entered his tent and offered him money he immediately replied, "Good!
Thirteen thousand rubles and he's free!"
They ran home, fetched the money, which was a small fortune, brought it to the
commander, and he kept his word - another wonder! He freed the Jewish prisoner.
The reunited family did not right away return home. Instead, they immediately
headed for Radomsk to tell the Rebbe what happened, thank him profusely and, of
course, give him a sizeable donation.
As soon as they finished their story, before they could say a word of thanks,
the Rebbe interrupted and asked, "And how much did he demand? How much did
you have to pay?"
They answered and he replied. "What! Thirteen thousand? Why that is
ridiculous! Far too much! But don't worry; you will get it all back. Every
ruble!"
They tried to disagree; the money was no so importance to them they just wanted
to thank the Rebbe! To no avail. He again ignored them and they backed out of
his room.
A short while thereafter, the Russians totally crushed the Polish forces. When
they captured that commander, he tried to save his skin by handing over lists
of all the money and booty they had taken, among which was the 13,000 rubles.
Just days later the Russian army, in a display of kindness, and honesty,
returned every penny! The Rebbe had accomplished two incredible miracles!
So, they again headed to Radomsk full of gratitude and bearing money for the
Rebbe's synagogue. To their total surprise, however, when they finished telling
him what happened and began thanking him and opening the envelope to pay him,
he silenced them with an angry reply.
"What, you think you can buy me with your flattery and money? I don't need
your money or your stories either. Miracles? Feh! What are you talking about?
Now leave before I have you evicted!!"
They tried to explain, to protest, to clarify to the Chasidim outside the
Rebbe's room, as well as to slip a few rubles into the hand of the Rebbe's
secretary, but after the Rebbe's outburst all the Chasidim wanted to do was to
get them outside as pleasantly and as efficiently as possible.
A day or two later one of the Rebbe's secretaries summoned up courage,
approached the Rebbe and humbly asked. "Rebbe, that family you yelled at.
After all, what did they do wrong? They only wanted to thank you. What is the
problem with that?
The Rebbe smiled and replied. "I couldn't have asked for anything worse!
We see that when the Jewish people sinned with the Golden Calf and G-d wanted
to destroy them, Moses protested. So G-d explained to Moses that His intention
was not to end Judaism (G-d forbid) but rather to make a new improved Jewish
people beginning with Moses in place of Abraham Isaac and Jacob (Ex.32:10).
Whereupon Moses replied, 'If that is your plan, then erase me from your Torah.'
(Ex.32:32)
"At first glance," the Rebbe continued "this is hard to
understand. Why did G-d have to tell Moses what He was about to do. Why didn't
He just punish the Jews and explain later? But the answer is that G-d 'could
not do what He wanted in this matter if Moses protested. He set up the world in
a way that totally humble tzadikim like Moses can, so-to-speak, 'force' G-d to
change His will.
"So He proposed to make Moses the founder of a new Judaism. Why? Because,
G-d hoped that if Moses accepted the role he would become a 'bit' egotistical
and this tiny bit of egotism would puncture his humility, thereby nullifying
his ability to 'stand in G-d's way'.
"That is also why G-d earlier ordered Moses to take his staff and turn it
into a snake in front of Pharaoh before beginning the plagues (Ex. 7:9).
Namely, to remind Moses not to hearken to the snake that tricked Eve into
wanting to 'be like G-d' (Gen.3:5) i.e. with the power to work miracles, which
would lead to becoming egotistical.
"That," concluded the Rebbe, "is why I refused the praises and
money of these people. The only power I have is humility. I know that if I took
any credit, it would destroy my total submission to the Creator and my ability
to help others."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source:
Modified and supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles, from the free translation by
Rabbi Tuvia Bolton (from Kol Sipurei Baal Shem Tov, vol. 4, p 127) in one of
his weekly e-mailings <torah
@ohrtmimim.org> in Elul 2021.
Why This Week? Towards the end of this week's Torah reading, Behaalosecha, we
are told, "This man Moshe is the most humble, more than any person on
Earth. [Num. 12:3]
Biographic note:
Rabbi Shlomo HaKohen Rabinowitz of Radomsk [1803 - 29 Adar 1866] is the author
of Tiferet Shlomo. He attracted thousands of chasidim; the masses revered him
for his lofty prayers, beautiful singing voice, speaking ability and
benevolence towards their needs, while the more scholarly Hasidim admired his
profound discourses in Halakha and Kabbalah. He (the Tiferet Shlomo), the
Chidushei HaRim of Gur, and the Tzemek Tzedek, the third Lubavitcher Rebbe, all
passed away during the same week. (based on Daily Zohar.com) His son, known as
the Chesed L'Avraham, said of him: "He would bring all of his ruach
hakodesh (Divine inspiration), blessings and wonders into reality by means of
quoting verses, so that nobody would realize that it was actually a
miracle." (from inner.org)
Inyanay Diyoma
May 22nd,
May 23rd and May 24th
Day 959, Day 960 and Day 961 since Oct. 7th
Day 82, Day 83 and Day 84 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury start of week 138
On the surface it looks
like Trump is going back to last Dec. or Jan. or worse with the Iranian Deal
and that Iran is in a win-win situation with the nuclear material in their
possession and missiles galore. It is said that Witkoff is pushing the deal. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-says-iran-deal-largely-negotiated-84-day-war-nears-possible-end
https://www.timesofisrael.com/soldier-killed-in-northern-israel-by-hezbollah-drone-from-lebanon/
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/feds-subpoena-hasan-piker-medea-benjamin-over-cuba-trips
Another tragic
accident. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427475
Hezballah tunnel
destroyed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427498
Terrorist crosses the
line. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427466
Iran might give up
Nuclear Material? https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427485
Pompeo not remotely
America First. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427494
Light aircraft crashes.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427497
German National
attacked Synagogue goers. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427487
May 25th
Day 962 since Oct. 7th Day 85 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
Netanyahu finally got
through to Rubio and perhaps Trump regarding Lebanon after Naim Kassam called
for the over-throw of the Lebanese Government by Hezballah.
Since the cease and
they fire in Lebanon, we lost 11 soldiers most to drones. The latest was the
948th since Oct. 7th. https://www.timesofisrael.com/soldier-killed-in-south-lebanon-by-hezbollah-drone-another-seriously-wounded/
A stagnant army is
always a target. Yesterday 30 small explosive drones in Israel and today even
more hitting a civilian house with an 85year old man and caretaker. Now the IDF
has plans for Tyre. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427573
The Iranian agreement
in the works puts us back to Dec. or just before the riots of Jan. with perhaps
the wicked regime stronger from lack of Trump or Israel replacing them. 70% of
their missiles are in place and perhaps a similar number of drones with more
coming in from the Caspian Sea from Russia. Trump promises no money without a
Nuke Deal but gives them 60 days to make money and drain their oil.
Hamas is not giving
Trump his beaches and hotels. Slowly, the IDF is moving the yellow line from 50
to 60% of Gaza and 70% will come without displacing one person. Then we will
move the people into our controlled areas. https://www.timesofisrael.com/three-said-killed-in-israeli-strike-in-gaza-including-one-year-old-child/
The Arab Mafia just
killed a man around 50 and three injured in Nathzeres.
The
IDF has confirmed that over the weekend (Friday), it eliminated the terrorist
Louay Hisham Mahmoud Basal, who posed an immediate threat to IDF troops and was
eliminated in a precise strike. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427525
COS IDF ready to fight
Iran. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427529
A
dramatic mid-air collision between a small sightseeing plane and a paraglider
in northern Austria was caught on camera, showing a woman narrowly escaping
death after her canopy was sliced apart high above the ground. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427553
Bibi is now in crisis
mode. Rabbi Landau told Degel HaTorah to vote against the Draft Bill that would
not pass. In addition, Gadi Eisenkot met with Moshe Gafni in his bid to become
Prime Minister via the Charedi Party for an exemption from the draft that had
existed 78 years before the bid by the left to destroy Torah with fines and
giving more to exempt Arabs than Jews. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427551
State
media reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Pakistani Prime
Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing on Monday, as part of ongoing diplomatic
efforts to end the war in Iran. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427572
Trump wants more
countries to join the Abraham Accords. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427575
May 26th
Day 963 since Oct. 7th Day 86 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
Isn’t it funny that
when it comes to negotiations, the Supreme Leader is deep in hiding and it
takes very long to find him. But from last night to mid-morning, he issued a
warning about the Americans knocking out the mine laying boat. Hmmm. https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/iran-war-news-trump-strait-hormuz-blockade-ceasefire-peace-deal-may-25
https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-orders-idf-to-intensify-blows-against-hezbollah-amid-surge-in-drone-attacks/ & https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427624
After being released
because of the drones, reservists called back for an attack. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427620
Drones are now
attacking at night. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427592
Iran seems to have
found Trump’s Achilles Heel. https://gellerreport.com/2026/05/ivanka-trump-targeted-for-assassination-by-irgc-terrorist.html/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/05/25/chinese-cameras-israel-could-be-exploited-iran-expert-warns/
Related to the above
article. An interesting Chinese Advertisement to get into your computer or
cellphone is a Tai-Chi apt. You see a person around 60 with a pot belly like me
trying out the app and it is most likely and AI stomach. After a month you see
him flat stomach with bulging biceps veins. In my gym there are a lot younger
and thinner men than I working out with weights. I see only one possibly two
with veins such as that.
In any event, I took up
the challenge to see if I could reduce some upper arm flab and help my diet. At
close to 79, I am not doing 30kg or 66 lbs. in each hand like my 21year old
grandson. I am working out with 4kg weights per hand or 9 lbs. sometimes 5 kg
or 11 lbs. and both together 15 kg or 33 lbs. I started doing 100 times with
the weights on each hand twice or three times a week. After a month, I am
beginning to see a blue color of veins in my arms. To have bulging veins will
probably take me 4 – 5 months more with a diet. As for me, my advice is to stay
away from Chinese Apps and keep your phone and internet free of spyware for
China and Iran.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/bank-of-israel-cuts-borrowing-costs-while-flagging-geopolitical-risks/
Despite the
interference of the High Court and the Attorney General and the deepest parts
of the State. Mossad Head Approved. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427628
Hersh, the American who
died in Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427611
Jewish lawmaker faces
threats. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427366
Op-Ed Fern Sidman: The
high stakes of Trump. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427616
Netanyahu’s aide may
face trial. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427623
Mafia man arrested at
night. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427618
Lost faith in UK
Society: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427609
May 27th
Day 964 since Oct. 7th Day 87 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
The Iranian people are
losing hope with Trump. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-897472
The 3.5 quake in
Tiberia was not even news worthy. https://www.foxnews.com/world/israeli-ambassador-compares-frances-far-left-leaders-rhetoric-hitler-antisemitism-surges
Toronto antisemitism. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-897406
PM Netanyahu supposedly
underwent dental surgery in the middle of the night. This comes after his
“sunstroke” that turned into a pacemaker. His cold that turned into prostate
cancer. Just reporting what was in the news.
Maine: Platner with the
Nazi Tattoo. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/watch-purple-heart-veteran-reacts-platners-refusal-apologize-mocking-shreds-ptsd-excuse-
Perhaps this is why
Bondi resigned. https://www.foxnews.com/us/pam-bondi-diagnosed-thyroid-cancer-weeks-departing-trumps-attorney-general-report
Russia’s
top security official has warned that the Afghanistan-based
Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-KP) is actively recruiting citizens from
Central Asian countries and migrant workers in Russia into terrorist networks
operating across the region. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-897486
The following is not
the Torah position but deals with antisemitism. https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/05/26/rome-pride-parade-bans-jewish-lgbtq-groups-not-condemning-genocide-gaza/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/05/26/iran-warns-retaliation-new-us-strikes/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-york-state-passes-buffer-zone-bill-to-protect-houses-of-worship/
Charedi Protestors
against army jail chief. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427679
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/05/26/gaza-aid-convoy-activists-beaten-and-detained-in-libya/
Cabinet meeting stormy.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427676
KC-46 Tanker added to
Israel’s fleet. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427695
No cooperation with
police on Draft Dodgers. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427692
Petition to remove
illegal Arab building to 75 meters from security fence. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427686
More Charedi
enlistment. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427677
You know elections are
near when the Shas Food Program returns. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427683
Extreme left MAPAM will
not rule out coalition with Charedim aka Draft Exemption and no sanctions. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427672
Bnei Brak balconies in
danger of collapse. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427675
Calling out a wicked
‘friend’. US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) criticized
Pakistan on Tuesday, after its Defense Minister rejected normalization with
Israel, claiming that doing so would clash with Pakistan’s “fundamental
ideologies." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427660
Not Ben Gvir: https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/05/26/gaza-aid-convoy-activists-beaten-and-detained-in-libya/
5 found alive in Laos
cave flood. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1ovpsnlfx#autoplay
May 28th
Day 965 since Oct. 7th Day 88 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
Mafia family: The girl
was playing outside = victim 116. In the house there was an Arab Mafia family.
The brothers got into a gun fight. Her father pulled out his gun and the bullet
flew outside killing his daughter. The shooting brought on the police and all
the guns disappeared and the father was busy cleaning up the blood from the
scene along with other family members. https://www.timesofisrael.com/7-year-old-girl-shot-dead-in-arara-after-fight-between-kids-escalated-to-involve-parents/
Nobody knows what is
really going on with the negotiations with Iran. Iran TV says the deal is too
good to be true. One thing appears certain that Qatar and the Saudis want Trump
to make a deal at any price but recognizing the Abraham Accords. That too is
ticking him off. The usually loyal Republicans (Cruz and Graham) are pressing
him not to give in on money before no nuclear material. Where and what is/are
the negotiations? https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/iran-irgc-donald-trump-war-nuclear-talks-hormuz-strait-peace-may-27
Second strike against
Iran breaking the cease and they fire. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427721
Iranian-Hezballah
commander targeted. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1edbohxze#autoplay
Op-Ed Michael Oren
Israel should demand deigned weapons. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/rj5jcgvxzg
How Obama and Biden
turned Iran into a lethal threat. https://www.foxnews.com/video/6396807522112
Female Sgt. Killed by
Drone in N. Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427716
Officer under house
arrest via Iran Contact but reported to superiors. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427717
Shomron 5 terrorists
arrested. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427731
Anti-drone purchasing: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427715
Bye-bye two Hamas
commanders in Gaza: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427714
This is what the news
in Israel and before the people of Iran are led to believe.
I hope this is what
really is happening. https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-says-us-not-satisfied-in-talks-with-iran-days-after-claiming-deal-imminent/
Hang in there Shabbos
is coming: www.israelnationalnews.com/shabat.
No evidence but who
cares: Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara ordered that a serious
indictment be filed against Yonatan Urich in the “Bild" affair. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427748
Three
months after a ramming incident near the town of Ataret in the Binyamin region
left two Jewish Israelis injured, the legal aid organization Honenu revealed
that one of the two Arab passengers in the suspected vehicle is a released
terrorist. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427752
Pollard was a Jewish
scapegoat but Aldrich Aims of the CIA spied for Russia. Now this: https://www.foxnews.com/us/us-feds-seize-40m-gold-bars-cash-rolexes-senior-us-govt-official-faked-navy-pilot
May 29th
Day 966 since Oct. 7th Day 89 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury end of week 138
I think that Trump is
shrewder with the negotiations than we think. I think he is about to pull a
Reagan on Iran. The Iranians think time is on their side. I am beginning to
think of a plan that is happening. The Iranians are stalling for time but Trump
is probably doing something big. We shall see if I am correct sometime after
July 4th.
UN is now Hamas
Propaganda Organ. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427793
Poll the left needs the
Charedim to govern. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427797
Poll Netanyahu will win
again. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427791
Missing Toronto girl
found safe. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427791
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/05/28/time-for-gwu-to-take-antisemitic-threats-seriously/
https://www.foxnews.com/world/moscow-taliban-forge-military-alliance-power-grab-us-afghanistan-exit
Have a
healthy, joyous, peaceful and restful Shabbos,
Rachamim
Pauli
