Good Shabbos Deuteronomy 16:1 – 21:10
After Thoughts on
Parsha Reeh
Last week
Devarim 16:1 – 16:17 was skipped over as these Mitzvos are discussed twice
previously in the Torah. Still there is room to renew and add concepts in our
review. This section dealing with the Shlosha Regelim [three (Shlosha) holidays
that one is supposed to go up and enter the prayer-sacrifice area by foot
(Regel = foot) hence the name] I did not cover in the original commentary as
the Yomim Tovim were covered in the past in Parsha Emor and Parsha Pinchas but
still they deserve a few more words. Usually these holidays have a connection
to the holiness of Shabbos, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Here they are treated
as an obligation and importance of visiting the Mishkan or Mikdash three times
each year.
In my
youth, when I was more vibrant and had the energy, I would try to visit
Yerushalayim during Chol HaMoed Pesach and Sukkos as Shavuos is only Yom Tov
without intermediate days. Hence no Temple, no immediate need to visit as I am
not required to bring a Korban Chagigah.
16:1 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the
Passover unto the LORD thy God; for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God
brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.
This
sentence teaches us that Pesach must fall in the beginning of spring. Chodesh
Aviv or the month when spring time begins. This is one of the reasons we add an
extra month of Adar in Leap Years as the 29 – 30 day lunar calendar loses a
month seven times in the nineteen year cycle. This cycle continues for many
thousands of years forward, but when I fast forwarded 10,000 years; we would
find Pesach in May which is not the month of Aviv. So just like the solar
calendar was changed in the days of George Washington, the lunar calendar will
merit correction.
2 And thou shalt sacrifice the
Passover-offering unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the
place which the LORD shall choose to cause His name to dwell there.
Originally
the Mishkan was moveable and no specific place is mentioned. Only when Dovid
and Shlomo established Yerushalayim as Makom (place) HaMikdash did a specific
place became the fixed Regel visitation site.
3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it;
seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of
affliction; for in haste didst thou come forth out of the land of Egypt; that
thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt
all the days of thy life. 4 And there shall be no leaven seen with thee in all
they borders seven days; neither shall any of the flesh, which thou sacrifice
the first day at even, remain all night until the morning. 5 Thou mayest not
sacrifice the Passover-offering within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God
giveth thee; 6 but at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to cause
His name to dwell in, there thou shalt sacrifice the Passover-offering at even,
at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of
Egypt. 7 And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God
shall choose; and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents. 8 Six
days thou shalt eat unleavened bread; and on the seventh day shall be a solemn
assembly to the LORD thy God; thou shalt do no work therein.
The Korban
Pesach shall be in the afternoon before the sunset and roasted so that after
the evening prayers and the Hallel Prayer one could sit down with his family
(or group) and eat of the Pesach and Chagigah. Today we don’t eat roasted meat
or even chicken/duck/goose on the night of Pesach so as not to confuse our
profane (Chullin) with the Kedusha (holiness) of the Korban Pesach. We are
again reminded that at sundown of the first and seventh day is a Yom Tov and
that we can only eat unleavened aka Matzos.
9 Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee; from
the time the sickle is first put to the standing corn shalt thou begin to
number seven weeks. 10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy
God after the measure of the freewill-offering of thy hand, which thou shalt
give, according as the LORD thy God blesses thee. 11 And thou shalt rejoice
before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant,
and thy maid-servant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the
stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are in the midst of thee, in
the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to cause His name to dwell there.
12 And thou shalt remember that thou were a bondman in
Egypt; and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.
Shavuos is
7 weeks after Pesach and since we have a lunar calendar (which in the past was
not fixed but on the sighting of the moon) no specific date was given for
Shavuos. There is a mention of the cutting of the Omer of Barley – the sickle cutting
the standing corn where in old English corn = grain and not American Maize.
13 Thou shalt keep the feast of tabernacles
seven days, after that thou hast gathered in from thy threshing-floor and from
thy winepress. 14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and
thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite, and
the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. 15
Seven days shalt thou keep a feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the
LORD shall choose; because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine
increase, and in all the work of thy hands, and thou shalt be altogether
joyful.
Of all the
holidays, it is a special Mitzvah to be joyful on Sukkos. You have gathered
your harvest by now and celebrate your blessings with stranger (tourist in our
day), orphan, widow, Leviim and poor. It is a Mitzvah to have guests in your
Sukkah.
16 Three times in a year shall all thy males
appear before the LORD thy God in the place which He shall choose; on the feast
of unleavened bread, and on the feast of weeks, and on the feast of
tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty; 17 every man
shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which
He hath given thee.
Three times a year one should come before
HASHEM and bring each according to his ability and the richer people or
congregation will help provide for those in need. [The Torah has social
obligations upon the tribes but is far from Marxists and welfare and soup
kitchens were donated by all to feed and cloth those who were deaf, dumb,
blind, retarded, disabled without family, etc.]
Parsha Shoftim
Moshe continues
with his lecture. Judges were established in Parsha Yisro prior to the giving
of the Torah on Sinai. [Old oral traditions of laws perhaps from the days of
Avraham – based on the time line and when he sacrificed Yitzchak, I can only
guess that he rode a donkey (Hamor) and was a teacher (Rabbi) hence Hammurabi.
16:18 18
Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy
God giveth thee, tribe by tribe; and they shall judge the people with righteous
judgment.
The Great
Sanhedrin was composed of six judges from each tribe. Hence tribe by tribe had
their own judges for little Sanhedrins of 23.
19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt
not respect persons; neither shalt thou take a gift; for a gift doth blind the
eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
Rav Mimran
Shlita, as fair as a judge is he, cannot judge his close family or even me for
we are too close to him. However, if two of his sons were arguing and asked him
to be a fair judge between them, he could under such conditions as he could
treat them equal.
20 Justice, justice shalt thou follow, that
thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Justice,
Righteousness with Mercy helps the people live long and prosper.
21 Thou shalt not plant thee an Asherah of any
kind of tree beside the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee.
22 Neither shalt thou set thee up a pillar, which the LORD thy God hates.
A tree or pillar (stones on the way for
Mercury for travelers) that are idolatry.
17:1 Thou
shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God an ox, or a sheep, wherein is a
blemish, even any evil thing; for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God.
It is like
the sacrifice of Kayn and Hevel. Kayn brought inferior quality and Hevel
brought the best of the best. Nothing blemished, lame, etc. could be brought.
2 If there be found in the midst of thee,
within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that
does
that which is evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing His
covenant, 3 and has
gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, or the sun, or the moon, or
any of the host of heaven, which I have commanded not; 4 and it be told thee,
and thou hear it, then shalt thou inquire diligently, and, behold, if it be
true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel; 5 then
shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, who have done this evil thing,
unto thy gates, even the man or the woman; and thou shalt stone them with
stones, that they die. 6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses,
shall he that is to die be put to death; at the mouth of one witness he shall
not be put to death. 7 The hand of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put
him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So thou shalt put away
the evil from the midst of thee.
The sin of
idolatry requires the death penalty. However, things can never be one witness,
no matter how reliable, for it takes two or more to establish a case. Never can
be a he said – she said case.
8 If there arise a matter too hard for thee in
judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke
and stroke, even matters of controversy within thy gates; then shalt thou arise,
and get thee up unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose. 9 And thou
shall come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in
those days; and thou shalt inquire; and they shall declare unto thee the
sentence of judgment. 10 And thou shalt do according to the tenor of the
sentence, which they shall declare unto thee from that place which the LORD
shall choose; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they shall
teach thee. 11 According to the law which they shall teach thee, and according
to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do; thou shalt not turn
aside from the sentence which they shall declare unto thee, to the right hand,
nor to the left. 12 And the man that doeth presumptuously, in not hearkening
unto the priest that stands to
minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall
die; and thou shalt exterminate the evil from Israel. 13 And all the people
shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.
Enquiry with
the Urim and Thummim by the Cohain Gadol. After, the items were hidden by
Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) before the first Mikdash was destroyed, in the second
Mikdash it was the great Sanhedrin that continued until the sages of the
Mishnah died out. If too difficult today, we wait for Eliyahu HaNovi (Elijah)
coming before Moshiach. For 1800 years we are awaiting answers to certain
questions that arose during the days of the Sages of the Talmud.
14 When thou art come unto the land which the
LORD thy God gives thee,
and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein; and shalt say: 'I will set a
king over me, like all the nations that are round about me'; 15 thou shalt in
any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose; one from
among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee; thou mayest not put a
foreigner over thee, who is not thy brother. 16 Only he shall not multiply
horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he
should multiply horses; forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you: 'Ye shall
henceforth return no more that way.' 17 Neither shall he multiply wives to
himself, that his heart turn not away; neither shall he greatly multiply to
himself silver and gold. 18 And it shall be, when he sits upon the throne of his kingdom,
that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is
before the priests the Levites.
The King
shall not multiply horses/cars and luxuries, nor wives. Melech Shlomo had 700
wives and 300 mistresses and they ended up committing idolatry as he could not
handle so many. Dovid had 18 and the Sages placed a limit upon this number even
though it appears to be extremely high. If we consider the laws of family
purity and tense times for a ruler a few might be good for a king.
19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read
therein all the days of his life; that he may learn to fear the LORD his God,
to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them; 20 that his
heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the
commandment, to the right hand, or to the left; to the end that he may prolong
his days in his kingdom, he and his children, in the midst of Israel.
The king
should be one of the nation. He should think like his subjects and do the best
for them and the continuation of the nation.
18:1 The
priests the Levites, even all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion nor
inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire,
and His inheritance. 2 And they shall have no inheritance among their brethren;
the LORD is their inheritance, as He hath spoken unto them.
The Leviim
get Maaser and the Cohanim get Teruma and Teruma Maaser. The Cohanim also get
gifts of the Korbanos and parts of the animals.
3 And this shall be the priests' due from the
people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep, that they
shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw. 4 The
first-fruits of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the
fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him. 5 For the LORD thy God hath chosen
him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him
and his sons for ever.
These are
the animal parts they receive from each sacrifice outside of the burnt one
(Korban Olah).
6 And if a Levite comoe from any of thy gates out of all
Israel, where he sojourns,
and come with all the desire of his soul unto the place which the LORD shall
choose; 7 then he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his
brethren the Levites do, who stand there before the LORD. 8 They shall have
like portions to eat, beside that which is his due according to the fathers'
houses.
This is the
Maaser of the crops 10% of which 9% belong to the Leviim and 1% they give aka a
tenth of it to the Cohain.
9 When thou art come into the land which the
LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of
those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass
through the fire, one that uses divination, a soothsayer, or an enchanter, or
a sorcerer, 11 or a charmer, or one that consults a ghost or a familiar spirit, or a
necromancer. 12 For whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto the LORD;
and because of these abominations the LORD thy God is driving them out from
before thee.
Each one is
a negative Mitzvah and deserves the death penalty.
13 Thou shalt be whole-hearted with the LORD
thy God. 14 For these nations, that thou art to dispossess, hearken unto
soothsayers, and unto diviners; but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not
suffered thee so to do. 15 A prophet will the LORD thy God raise up unto thee,
from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
16 according to all that thou didst desire of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the
day of the assembly, saying: 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my
God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.'
The nation
was sore afraid of what they saw and heard during the first of the sayings on
Har Sinai that they did not want to hear directly from HASHEM.
17 And the LORD said unto me: 'They have well
said that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a prophet from among
their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put My words in his mouth, and he
shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to
pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto My words which he shall speak in My
name, I will require it of him. 20 But the prophet, that shall speak a word
presumptuously in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that
shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.'
21 And if thou say in thy heart: 'How shall we
know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?' 22 When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the
thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not
spoken; the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, thou shalt not be afraid of
him.
False
prophets shall be put to death as they deceive the people and abuse the name of
HASHEM.
19:1 When
the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth
thee, and thou dost succeed them, and dwell in their cities, and in their
houses; 2 thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land,
which the LORD thy GOD giveth thee to possess it. 3 Thou shalt prepare thee the
way, and divide the borders of thy land, which the LORD thy God causes thee to inherit, into three parts,
that every manslayer may flee thither.
There shall
be cities of refuge for the accidently manslaughter. That person should have
prayed and done all his safety checks that no one would die because of him.
4 And this is the case of the manslayer, that
shall flee thither and live: whoso kills his neighbour unawares, and hated
him not in time past; 5 as when a man goes into the forest with his neighbour
to hew wood, and his hand fetches a stroke with the axe to cut down
the tree, and the head slips from the helve, and lights upon his neighbour, that he die; he
shall flee unto one of these cities and live; 6 lest the avenger of blood
pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way
is long, and smite him mortally; whereas he was not deserving of death,
inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. 7 Wherefore I command thee, saying:
'Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.' 8 And if the LORD thy God enlarge
thy border, as He hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which
He promised to give unto thy fathers-- 9 if thou shalt keep all this
commandment to do it, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God,
and to walk ever in His ways--then shalt thou add three cities more for thee,
beside these three; 10 that innocent blood be not shed in the midst of thy
land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be
upon thee.
He should
have warned people that he was using an axe and to keep distant. However, an
accident occurred or he did not notice a person in his vicinity and the person
was killed.
11 But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie
in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die;
and he flee into one of these cities; 12 then the elders of his city shall send
and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood,
that he may die. 13 Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the
blood of the innocent from Israel, that it may go well with thee.
He is a
murderer and shall be executed if there was a warning and witnesses or jailed.
14 Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's
landmark, which they of old time have set, in thine inheritance which thou
shalt inherit, in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
Removing the land mark is stealing
property.
15 One witness shall not rise up against a man
for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sins; at the mouth of two witnesses, or
at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established. 16 If an
unrighteous witness rise up against any man to bear perverted witness against
him; 17 then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before
the LORD, before the priests and the judges that shall be in those days. 18 And
the judges shall inquire diligently; and, behold, if the witness be a false
witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; 19 then shall ye do
unto him, as he had purposed to do unto his brother; so shalt thou put away the
evil from the midst of thee. 20 And those that remain shall hear, and fear, and
shall henceforth commit no more any such evil in the midst of thee. 21 And
thine eye shall not pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for
hand, foot for foot.
Two witnesses
as a minimum and these witnesses could be falsified by two others.
20:1 When
thou goes forth to battle against thine enemies, and sees horses, and chariots,
and a people more than thou, thou shalt not be afraid of them; for the LORD thy
God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 2 And it shall
be, when ye draw nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak
unto the people, 3 and shall say unto them: 'Hear, O Israel, ye draw nigh this
day unto battle against your enemies; let not your heart faint; fear not, nor
be alarmed, neither be ye affrighted at them; 4 for the LORD your God is He
that goes
with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.' 5 And the
officers shall speak unto the people, saying: 'What man is there that hath
built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his
house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. 6 And what man
is there that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not used the fruit thereof? let
him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man
use the fruit thereof. 7 And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and
hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the
battle, and another man take her.' 8 And the officers shall speak further unto
the people, and they shall say: 'What man is there that is fearful and
faint-hearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart
melt as his heart.' 9 And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of
speaking unto the people, that captains of hosts shall be appointed at the head
of the people.
There is a
famous case in the “Protective Edge War” where Lt. Aharon Kiruv got married one
night and instead of staying home wanted to be with his men. He was with his
partner Lt. Nechemia and Shraeder, the radio operator, when a terrorist emerged
from a tunnel and threw a grenade at them. All lived. Shraeder was kneeling and
only slightly wounded, Nechemia moderately to seriously injured and Aharon
seriously to gravely injured with months upon months of surgery. B”H his wife
was with him but what a way to start a marriage. The Torah has its reasons
above and beyond our understanding. After this speech, the coward has a way out
for nobody needs people breaking ranks and fleeing the battle.
10 When thou draw nigh unto a city to fight
against it, then proclaim peace unto it. 11 And it shall be, if it make thee
answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that
are found therein shall become tributary unto thee, and shall serve thee. 12
And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then
thou shalt besiege it. 13 And when the LORD thy God delivers it into thy hand, thou shalt smite
every male thereof with the edge of the sword; 14 but the women, and the little
ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof,
shalt thou take for a prey unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine
enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee. 15 Thus shalt thou do unto all
the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of
these nations.
This was
the convention of war at that time. If they surrendered and submitted, they
lived.
16 Howbeit of the cities of these peoples, that
the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing
that breathes, 17
but thou shalt utterly destroy them: the Hittite, and the Amorite, the
Canaanite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; as the LORD thy God
hath commanded thee; 18 that they teach you not to do after all their
abominations, which they have done unto their gods, and so ye sin against the
LORD your God.
Of the 7
nations of Canaan, you shall have no pity like that of other nations for they
have committed abominations before HASHEM.
19 When thou shalt besiege a city a long time,
in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof
by wielding an axe against them; for thou mayest eat of them, but thou shalt
not cut them down; for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged
of thee? 20 Only the trees of which thou know that they are not trees for food,
them thou mayest destroy and cut down, that thou mayest build bulwarks against
the city that makes war
with thee, until it fall.
If HASHEM
is giving you the land, do not destroy the fruit bearing tress that shall be
yours.
21:1 If
one be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess
it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath smitten him; 2 then thy
elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities
which are round about him that is slain. 3 And it shall be, that the city which
is nearest unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer
of the herd, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the
yoke. 4 And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough
valley, which may neither be plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer's neck
there in the valley. 5 And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near--for
them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto Him, and to bless in the
name of the LORD; and according to their word shall every controversy and every
stroke be. 6 And all the elders of that city, who are nearest unto the slain
man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the
valley. 7 And they shall speak and say: 'Our hands have not shed this blood,
neither have our eyes seen it. 8 Forgive, O LORD, Thy people Israel, whom Thou
hast redeemed, and suffer not innocent blood to remain in the midst of Thy
people Israel.' And the blood shall be forgiven them. 9 So shalt thou put away
the innocent blood from the midst of thee, when thou shalt do that which is
right in the eyes of the LORD.
The elders should have checked that the
highways were safe from bandits, terrorists or that the guest in their city was
healthy enough to travel. That is why this falls upon the elders and leaders of
the populace.
The Infamous Circle of Blood by Rabbi Yerachmiel
Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/Stories/Stories/5786/1495-46.html
Rabbi Yehuda Petayah was ordained as a rabbi and teacher of Jewish law
already at the age of 17. He also was the foremost disciple in Kabbalah studies
of Rabbi Yosef Chaim of Baghdad (best known as the Ben Ish Chai) who was
considered by many to be the greatest kabbalist of his generation. R. Petayah later
moved to Jerusalem and became one of the leading kabbalists of the city.
During his life, he tried to hide his greatness in Kabbalah. But when he
arrived in Jerusalem, Rabbi Avraham Adas[1] came to him and said: "you
wrote a commentary on the Idrah Rabba [section of the Zohar]. Why do you not
publish it yet?"
Instead of answering, Rabbi Petayah responded: "From where does your
honor know this secret? It has been almost twenty years and I have not told any
human being except my father".
Rabbi Adas tried to avoid answering him, but after being pressed by R.
Petayah he replied: "the holy Tanna (sage of the Mishna), Rabbi Shimon bar
Yochai (who was also the source of the teachings of the Zohar) came to me in a
dream and told me: a great rabbi and immense kabbalist is coming from Bavel
(Iraq). He wrote a commentary on the Idrah Rabba and out of great humility, did
not publish it. Tell him that I want him to publish it and press him to publish
it."
Once while visiting Rachel's tomb in Bethlehem, Rabbi Petayah said that he
saw Mother Rachel and that she is actually buried near the tomb, not under it.
Her body is completely intact as one who is sleeping and she is very beautiful.
He added also that she is not buried parallel to the tomb, but rather at a diagonal
direction from it.[2]
R. Yehuda Petayah was
very much in contact with the spirit world. He was a master at detecting the
presence of spirits and demons, as well as an expert in the art of exorcism,
and has told of many of his experiences in communicating with souls of the
dead, exorcisms, demons and other supernatural phenomena. He also knew how to
test a person to see if he was deluded and imagining things that are not true
or really was having an other-worldly
experience. Many of these incredible experiences are documented in his book
"Minchat Yehuda" (Hebrew).[3]
R. Petayah also became famous in Baghdad, and later in Jerusalem, for the
depth of his knowledge of invocations and amulets, and for being the
uncontested master in the writing of kosher Kameot (amulets). He would heal the
sick, using both mystical and known methods. These amulets were also used for
protection, peace in the home, fertility, wisdom, and many other things.
The famous kabbalist and miracle man, Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri studied this
art of writing of kosher Kameot under Rabbi Petayah. According to Rabbi Yitzhak
Batzri, a young Jerusalem-based kabbalist and grandson of R. Petayah, R.
Petayah refused to teach anyone who could not read foreheads. (i.e. to be able
to see the Hebrew letters and lights appearing on a person's forehead. This
requires a very high spiritual level. The explanation is that every person's
soul is like a Torah scroll and he can rectify or damage "letters"
which then appear on his forehead.)
Rabbi Ariel Tzadok writes: my own teacher, HaRav Meir Levi zt'l told me
that when he was a child he had met Rabbi Yehuda, and when Rabbi Yehuda cast
his eyes upon him, he ran out of the room. I asked Rabbi Meir why he had run;
he responded that he was afraid, because Rabbi Yehuda's eyes were so intense.
Rabbi Yehuda Petayah said regarding himself that he was the reincarnation
of Rabbi Yehezkel ben Yehuda Landau (!), a great Ashkenazi authority in Torah
Law, author of the responsa, "Noda B'Yehuda". R. Petayah said that
even though in his last lifetime he was a tzaddik and pious man, he had to
descend into a body again because he did not fulfil his Torah obligation to
study Kabbalah. Therefore, in this life, the study of Kabbalah was his main
focus and tikkun (soul-rectification). He also authored a number of other works
on Kabbalah including commentaries to the Zohar and Etz Chaim of the Arizal.
Probably, the most important and famous episode regarding Rabbi Petayah
was his involvement with the infamous "Circle of Blood." According to
the August 14, 1987 issue of the Jerusalem Post Magazine, during WWII (while
the German army was preparing to invade Israel from Egypt), Rabbi Petayah
persuaded the British Command in Israel to give him and two others the use of a
plane and a pilot.
Once all were aboard, he instructed the pilot to fly a large circle
completely around Israel (including parts of Egypt) while Rabbi Petayah
performed "kaparot" - the traditional slaughtering of a chicken
performed early in the morning prior to Yom Kippur for atonement. The bloods of
the chickens were thrown out of the plane. Rabbi Petayah thus made a Circle of
Blood surrounding Israel. [There was also recited on the plane a special form
of the Tikun Haketoret (rectification by the incense offerings of the temple)
with Biblical verses, etc., which R. Petayah composed].
While some might think this an act of desperation, it seemed to have
served its purpose. The author of the article quotes the pilot of this plane as
saying:
"Shortly afterwards, Rommel (the German commander of WWII) attacked.
The soldiers in the mess hall kept kidding us: 'Fat lot of good those chickens
of yours have done', they joked. But they were wrong -- it was Rommel's last
fling! Three weeks later came Montgomery's advance from El Alamein. The rest is
history. "Mind you," concluded the pilot, "I wouldn't have
believed it had I not flown the mission myself".
The lesson of the story, declared R. Ariel Tzadok:
Do not
underestimate the power of a Kabbalist, especially one of the caliber of Rabbi
Yehuda Petayah zt'l.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source:
Freely adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from the "Hidden Tzadikim"
section on www. dafyomi.co.il.
Why This Week? Chapter 13 in this
week's Torah reading, Reeh, is mostly about how to deal with false prophets and
missionaries. [In the story: "R. Yehuda Petayah knew how to test a person
to see if he was deluded and imagining things that are not true or really was
having an other-worldly experience."]
Biographic note:
Rabbi Yehuda Petayah (1859-1942) was a
kabbalist and foremost disciple of Rabbi Yosef Chaim of Baghdad (the Ben Ish
Chai). Ordained as a rabbi and teacher of Jewish law already at the age of 17,
he later moved to Jerusalem and became one of the leading kabbalists of the
city. In Baghdad and later in Jerusalem he was also famous for being the
uncontested master in the science of kosher Kameot (amulets) and their writing,
in exorcism and in communicating with spirits and departed souls. Many of these
incredible experiences are documented in his book Minchat Yehuda (Hebrew).
Footnotes:
[1]Rabbi Avraham Chaim Ades (1859-1925), originally of Aleppo, Syria, was one
of the leading Kabbalists in Jerusalem
[2][note in source text:] from the book "Toldot Menachem" pg.29
[3] [note in source text:] Contact with the spirit world was more common in
previous generations. The Chafetz Chaim reportedly dealt with exorcism of a
dybuk (earth-bound soul invading a living person's body) in the 1930s. His
student, Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman, would relate his eyewitness account of this
every Purim. (Modern psychiatrists are trained to diagnose things like voices
in the head automatically as mental illness and sweep it under the rug,
although a growing number of psychiatrists believe that certain rare cases can only
be explained by spirit possession.)
The
War-Time Saga of an Orphaned Fur-Sewer by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/Stories/Stories/5786/1496-47.html
The 'Yosef' in this story was
orphaned of his father at a very young age, and as he was the oldest child, the
burden of supporting his mother and family fell on him. He went to learn how to
sew fur, and that brought income to the family. But, after several years, when he turned eighteen, he was
drafted to enlist in the Romania army, and since he had a profession, he could
not avoid serving. Being a Chassidish boy, he was worried about maintaining his
Yiddishkeit (Jewish observance), and also who would support his mother and
family while he was in the army.
The chasidim among the draftees
would go to their Rebbes for a blessing to be freed from serving. Yosef
traveled to the [2nd] Shtefaneshte Rebbe, grandson of the "Holy
Rizhiner" Rebbe, with another group of Chasidic boys who also received an
order to join the army! Every boy stood in line and the Rebbe blessed each of
them in turn: "May you be freed from the army and from the hands of the
Gentiles."
Surprisingly though, when his
turn came, the Rebbe blessed him "May G*d arrange you an easy service in
the army!" This struck him like a thunderbolt! The Rebbe clearly said that
he will have to join the army! What will happen to his Judaism and of the
income for his family?
He decided to try his luck again
and went to the rear of the line of those other boys still waiting for a
blessing from the Rebbe. Yosef was hopeful when the Rebbe blessed them all to
be freed from the army and the hands of the Gentiles, but when came his second
chance, the Rebbe blessed him with the same words as before: "May the One
Above give you an easy service in the army!"
He began to cry in front of the
Rebbe and asked what about his Torah observance, and who would support his
mother and his family! The Rebbe reassured him not to be worried, because his
serving would be easy and G*d will guard you that your service would not affect
your Kashrus or Shabbos observing. "G*d will also help you to continue to
support the family even while in the army."
After hearing this clear
declaration, Yosef calmed down and said goodbye to Rebbe, who then gave him
another warm blessing.
When the day arrived to report to
the army, Yosef was relaxed, due to his full trust in the Rebbe! When he
arrived at the army center, an officer sent him to serve in the city of
Chernovitz. This greatly comforted him because there were many Chasidic Jews in
Chernovitz.
The first two days he really
worked hard to keep up with the military training. On the third day though,
there was an announcement made -- if anyone among the soldiers had knowledge
how to sew fur, should come forward. Yosef stepped forth and announced he was
an expert in sewing fur.
The officer was glad, and seemed
relieved. He sent Yosef to the home of the chief commander of the army who was
also the minister of Chernovitz. His wife had torn her precious coat of fur and
an expert was needed to fix it, so well that people would not recognize that it
had ever been torn.
Yosef examined the coat and said
he could fix it, but added that he needed to take the coat with him to match to
fur that would blend in perfectly. The minister agreed and turned over the
expensive fur coat to Yosef.
Yosef took it with him to the
garment center in the city. The first business that he entered that sold fur
belonged to a Chasidic Jew. But when the man saw a soldier entering, he became
terrified; what did the soldier want from him?
Yosef reassured him not to be
afraid, and introduced himself as a chasid of Shtefaneshte Rebbe. He told him
of the Rebbe's blessing, and the minister's wife's coat that he was given to
fix.
The owner visibly relaxed and
guided him to where he could find the right colored fur. He also provided him a
corner where he could sit and mend the coat. As Yosef' worked, the owner
quickly perceived his expertise. He exclaimed: "I want to hire you. I have
a very close connection with the army, as I am the one to whom they bring their
uniforms to fix! I will arrange that they free you in order to work for me.
Yosef agreed. He realized that the blessing of Rebbe was already being
fulfilled. True, he had actually worked really hard as a soldier for two days,
but now he will be able to work for a Chasidic Jew, keep up his Yiddishkeit,
and still earn money to support his family.
Yosef went back to the minister
with the repaired coat, accompanied by the shop owner. When he showed it to his
wife she was totally delighted, as there was no indication that it had ever
been torn. He offered Yosef a handsome amount of money for his expertise work.
When the manager of the business
then asked the minister if he could take Yosef to work for him, he immediately
agreed, and said that whenever he would need the services of Yosef, the
employer should make sure that Yosef reports promptly.
Thus, Yosef received his
temporary discharge from the army and began to work for the chasid. Not so long
after that, Yosef became engaged to a fine Chassidic girl, and his boss
arranged for Yosef to be released from the army. Just as the Shtefaneshter
promised - "an easy service!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Freely adapted and supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles from an article by
Yehuda Z. Klitnick in the Parshas Shemos 5786 email of Pardes Yehuda, as posted
on ShabbatStories.com.
Why This Week? The Torah reading, Shoftim, contains the Torah's laws for the
drafting of Jewish soldiers.
Biographical note:
Rabbi Avraham-Matisyahu Freidman of Shtefanesht [1848 - 21 Tammuz 1933], in
Romania, was a grandson of the holy Rabbi Yisroel of Rizhin. In 1869, became
the second Rebbe in the Shtefaneshter dynasty, he succeeding his father, Rabbi
Menachem-Nochum, 4th born of the six sons of the holy Rizhiner that established
Chassidic dynasties. While famed for his miraculous powers and having thousands
of followers and admirers, he was also considered one of the true hidden Tzadikim
of his generation. In 1969 his remains -- which witnesses alive today testify
were still as whole and fresh as the day he died! -- were exhumed and
transferred from Romania to Nachlas Yitzchak in Tel Aviv, where his grave is a
holy site of prayer for thousands of Jews.
Milestone: Oren Nahari,
70, news broadcaster. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-905377
Inyanay Diyoma
Aug. 8th and Aug. 9th
Day
1037 & Day 1038 since
Oct. 7th Roaring Lion Day 158 & Day 159 start of week 149
This morning, Netanyahu
put out a press feeler about a withdrawal from Gaza with Hamas having their
weapons. I opened up with the following words: Bibi has been called
Pinocchio for a good reason. He agreed to complete capitulation on Gaza and
Lebanon for the Trump visit. An explosive drone was sent towards troops
yesterday – nothing, nada, zilch, stand-down, do nothing … In Gaza, the IDF is
preparing for a withdrawal before Hamas turns over even one bullet. He must
have had a poll where the wind was blowing in Israel for suddenly: https://www.foxnews.com/world/netanyahu-rejects-board-peace-gaza-plan-no-withdrawal-until-hamas-genuinely-disarmed
This was the earlier
withdrawal article. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431412
The lack of antimissiles have emboldened the Iranians
and they have 6 minimum demands and no nuclear talks. Is Trump going to keep
playing games until after Nov. 3rd? https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/iran-war-us-trump-strait-of-hormuz-08-08-2026
President Donald Trump has been laying the
groundwork to declare victory in the war with Iran even without reaching a new
nuclear agreement, The Wall Street Journal reported. According to the report, Trump has
privately indicated to senior aides that he could be prepared to walk away from
negotiations over Iran's nuclear program if Tehran fully reopens the Strait of
Hormuz. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431444
Dems in HI wake up. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dem-establishment-strikes-back-longtime-incumbent-fends-off-progressive-challenger
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/08/09/mojtaba-khamenei-surfaces-in-new-iranian-media-footage/
Marla Maples says that
Trump carries a copy of the Zohar close to his heart for protection. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431446
A
special desk established at the Judea and Samaria Police Central Unit to focus
on anti-Israel activists brought about the deportation of 47 foreign activists
from Israel. Likewise, since the beginning of 2026 alone, 130 foreign activists
have been refused entry to Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431449
Bus driver loses temper
and breaks window. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431443
Child drowns in the
Jordan River. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431448
https://www.timesofisrael.com/fire-rages-for-some-10-hours-at-petah-tikva-mall-construction-site/
Aug. 10th
Day
1039 since
Oct. 7th Roaring Lion Day 160
With all the
international news, I forgot to mention that I finally took my time to vote and
send in my absentee ballot for the FL Primary set for Aug. 18. Also there is a
new tropical wave that has a good chance of turning into a tropic depression
off the coast of Africa moving west.
Trump wants to defeat
Iran Economically. However, he may not understand radical Islam and the Shachid
Concept. https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/iran-war-us-strait-of-hormuz-08-09-26
More on the new Israeli
Submarine. https://www.foxnews.com/world/israel-receives-634-million-submarine-germany-major-boost-naval-deterrence
https://www.foxnews.com/us/norad-fighter-jets-intercept-aircraft-near-trumps-bedminster-golf-club
Pubically Netanyahu
says what the polls tell him but privately he and Katz are poodles of Trump. https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-katz-said-to-quietly-okay-reconstruction-in-idf-controlled-part-of-gaza/
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/08/09/beauty-giant-sephora-is-coming-to-israel/
Netanyahu has an iron
grip on his men, if this is true he got money for secrets = treason. https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/08/09/hezbollah-faces-worst-financial-crisis-in-years/
Southern District
Police find arms in Bedouin area. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431439
Arab Doctors and Nurses
in ICU abuse soldiers. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431429
Iran is gambling with
Trump. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/sktmkgu8zg
Cannabis vomiting
disorder rises among youth. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/skpaeypizl
This year we have both
a new moon and the Perseid Meteor Shower together. Aug. 11 - 15th. A
rare solar eclipse in Europe – Iceland will probably trigger volcanos and
quakes there later. https://www.ynetnews.com/environment/article/sji002a88fl#autoplay
Op-Ed Ben Dror Yemeni:
Iran found willing recruits in Israel. There is a deep crisis in education and
loyalty. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/s1n0joi8gx
Op-Ed Amine Ayoub:
Islamic NATO or paper alliance? https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/rjmp11isifl
Op-Ed: Diane Bederman: https://dianebederman.com/the-time-is-ripe-as-we-see-the-hate-of-the-nazis-now-shared-by-muslims-all-over-the-world/
Commander was killed,
he shortened his studies and stepped up. https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/sjspn3l8ge
Hillary back Trump’s
Gaza “Peace” Plan. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431461
Vehicle breaks through
check point. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431434
5 year old forgotten in
car dies. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431438
Poll – small new
parties do not enter Knesset. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431470
Partner of Ganz may
leave for the Likud. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431478
Officials
from one country in the
Middle East advised another regional state to
pursue an agreement with Israel in order to "lull it to sleep" while
preparing for a larger confrontation, according to a Monday report. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-905034
Aug. 11th
Day
1040 since
Oct. 7th Roaring Lion Day 161
Retired Naval Commander
Eliezer “Chinik” Marom was interviewed on the radio. He stated that the Iranian
Strategy is to make Trump into a fool with their demands and actions and to
keep oil prices high through the midterms. In the end, Trump might not have a
choice if the Iranians attack ships or bases but to have another 10 or more
days of war with them. https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-claims-saudi-pakistan-turkey-deal-shows-change-in-perception-toward-us/
https://www.foxnews.com/world/colombia-building-collapses-camera-earthquake-brings-death-destruction
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/08/10/the-us-wants-to-end-a-war-israel-cannot-afford-to/
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/08/10/israel-plans-133b-military-buildup-but-who-will-pay/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-mother-and-daughter-missing-in-vienna-since-friday/
With the help of
HASHEM, this too will come to an end. Americans
are still expected to turn their clocks back on Nov. 1 as
daylight saving time comes to an end, even after the House passed legislation
that would keep clocks forward year-round. The catch? The Senate is in recess
until Sept. 14, and key lawmakers have questioned whether there are enough
votes to pass the measure before the fall time change arrives. https://www.aol.com/articles/clocks-fall-back-nov-1-171148000.html
Hunter Biden joins
Tucker Carlson in antisemitism. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-905151
Birds of a feather: New
York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s
wife, Rama Duwaji, is expected to travel to Syria and Lebanon next month,
protected by police officers assigned to her taxpayer-funded New York Police
Department (NYPD) security detail. Both countries
are on the United States' "Level 4: Do not Travel" list for citizens.
Lebanon's Level 4 status was issued on June 5, while Syria's was issued on
July 8. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-905158
Assad and son sentenced
to death: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-905172
Montenegro two Israelis
chased and kicked. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-905175
Resigns from the
Knesset after switching parties. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-905165
Former Hostage debuts
songs. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431546
IDF demolishes home of
terrorist who murdered two Israelis. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431548
Break a wall and find a
weapon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431552
Brother fell in Golani
Oct. 7th now the younger fellow joins the brigade. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431551
Israeli-Arab
advocacy activist Yoseph Haddad submitted an official complaint to the police
against anti-Israel YouTuber Dennis Feitosa, known as "Def Noodles,"
following the violent
confrontation between the two on Monday night in
Los Angeles. The incident began during a podcast debate and later spilled out
to the parking lot, where the confrontation escalated. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431547
Houthis attack ship
killing two Pakistanis. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-905168
Aug. 12th
Day
1041 since
Oct. 7th Roaring Lion Day 162
Iran continues to
weaken the influence of Trump.
America is tying our
hands. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431572
6dead https://www.timesofisrael.com/three-killed-in-houthi-attack-on-cargo-ship-in-bab-el-mandeb-strait/
https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/lightning-strike-injuries-16-ohio-correctional-institution
I’m still trying to
figure out how Iran will blame the Jews for the bacon recall. https://www.aol.com/articles/bacon-recall-alert-over-12-172824000.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/russia-frees-former-us-marine-jailed-for-more-than-4-years/
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/08/12/diplomats-fear-trump-is-losing-influence/
Yariv Levin: Next
government will replace the supreme court. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431590
Special Ed might be
cut. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431591
Ed-Op Tal Beeri not to
let Israeli Victory become a Hezballah Victory.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431592
Haredi
soldier Haim Treitel, who was wounded
during the fighting in the Gaza
Strip, on Tuesday completed the IDF officers'. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431594
Hamas Snipers target
IDF. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431567
83 years after woman
saved a baby during the holocaust, she was named righteous among the nations. https://www.ynetnews.com/jewish-world/article/skibpx008fe
MN governor race: https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-905263
Settlers clash with the
IDF. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-905267
Aug. 13th
Day
1042 since
Oct. 7th Roaring Lion Day 163
I have 4 errands to do
today and my daily workout; therefore, I am putting this out early and maybe if
I have time more details. So much light pollution from security lights and
towns in the area that neither at 10PM or 4:50 AM did I see even one Perseid
Meteor.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/excitement-sweeps-europe-as-millions-view-total-solar-eclipse/
Muslim incitement. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431629
50 new Nukhba planned
invasion two days ago. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431608
https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-shot-dead-in-northern-arab-city-near-haifa/
Shabbos times this
week. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/shabat/
Iraqi PM seeks to
disarm Iranian Militia. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-905372
Mike Huckabee involved
in Shomron. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-905373
Aug. 14th
Day 1043 since Oct.
7th Roaring Lion Day 164 end of week 149
In the news but not
written. The head of CENTCOM Admiral Brad Cooper visited the Palmachim base. He
wants the US to act militarily but has to convince General Dan Kaine and
President Trump. The Israelis do not need convincing.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/08/13/secret-life-woman-journalist-iran/
Vance: The US aims to
stabilize gasoline prices and keep sanctions on Iran. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431689
Bessent there will be
unprecedented sanctions. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431691
Woman abducted to
Chevron returns to Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431693
A week missing and no
hint. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431677
US
Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee defended Jewish residents of Judea and
Samaria on Thursday, distinguishing between the region's established Jewish
communities and a small number of Israelis involved in criminal or violent
activity.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431684
https://www.aol.com/articles/scientists-ve-solved-part-stonehenge-123000000.html
Rumors of a Charedi split.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431696
Due to security
concerns, El-Al cancels planned Hanoi Route. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431676
X-factor against
drones: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431699
Kushner planning
Israeli Visit dreaming of a Gaza Resort. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431687
New poll with the right
holding 59 seats. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431695
Gush Etzion Arab Riot 9
arrested. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431645
Two illegal outposts
dismantled again. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431653
George Washington to
replace Abraham Lincoln Carrier as crew stressed out needs maintenance. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431662
X suspends Houthi
spokesman. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431663
Return to Ganim 21years
later. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431658
Suspects flee but slip. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431664
Charedi Protest a going a bit too far. "It
was better to die as a Jew in the Holocaust than to spiritually die in IDF
camps" read the sign carried aloft by the Haredi protesters who also drove
the point home by wearing yellow stars meant to evoke the echoes of the
Holocaust. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/rk19q7jlml
Rare and intense August
rain possible. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/rk19q7jlml
On
August 6, 2026, across the arid coastal expanses of Tan-Tan in southern
Morocco, a low-cost, long-range cruise missile designated as Anthem launched
smoothly into the desert sky. Engineered by Covenant Industries—a
U.S.-headquartered defense technology firm with a registered corporate presence
in Israel—the successful missile flight marked the historic operational debut
of the Africa Multidomain Training and Experimentation Center, known as AMTEC. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/s10tlutugx
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/08/12/spectacular-total-solar-eclipse-sweeps-across-europe/
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/08/13/ai-has-learned-to-trick-us-this-could-end-like-chernobyl/
Running for
Senate in MI - listen. Muslim Wannabe
Senator El-Sayed Didn't Realize He Was on Camera Before He Said This! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kH7cdZrUG4
Probing soldier’s
conduct. The truth is that the soldiers took their
time rather than go on a more serious and dangerous mission. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-905518
Kidnapped Missionary
returns to the US. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-905522
After IDF leaves the
outpost area, Police will patrol.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-905517
A wonderful
healthy Shabbos and Chodesh Elul to all in peace and happiness,
Rachamim
Pauli
