Our story from last week
continues here. Although I could have done the Parsha as I have always done
that is complete, I decided to keep this story consistent this year. 25:1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to
commit harlotry with the daughters of Moab.
There are two ways that Jews are
attacked by external forces. The first attack is to murder the body and the
second is to murder the Neshama. It might not be that way to the Goy. I never
wrote about the boys that bullied me and my friends when I was known as the
only Jew on the block. I think that I wrote about 12 year old Mary Ann and 12
year old me. I was over a year away from puberty but Mary must have been there.
She started talking about marrying me because I was so nice. However, she was
going to save my soul into heaven so that we could get married.
She started sprouting all the
Catholic Dogma of heaven, hell the Eucharist and all the holy rollers. I did
not really hold from the idea of people bowing down to a statue of a dead Jew
nailed to a T-Square. Nor the statues of all their saints such as Valentine who
masqued Jews. I barely knew anything of my own religious being a
super-assimilated Reform Jew. But it was against the 10 commandments to make a
statue. (The Catholic Bible in those days had a different version of the 10
Commandments and not making idols or images was in the KJV but not the Catholic
Version.) This is what the Bnei Shimon and others had with their own versions
of Mary Ann and Baal Peor.
2 And they called the people
unto the sacrifices of their gods; and the people did eat, and bowed down to
their gods.
Eating non-kosher except
blood or forbidden fat will not bring death upon a Ben Yisrael but punishment.
However, bowing down to other gods certainly will.
3 And Israel joined himself
unto the Baal of Peor; and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
It was 4% of the population,
which is much greater than the half percent that participated in the Egel
HaZahav. However, the Egel was a physical symbol of HASHEM as they had seen the
Regel Egel and Face of the Ox (Yechezkel 1) or DIVINE Chariot at the sea as it
split. Here was a pure case of idol worship. The Gemara Sanhedrin brings down a
case of a Jew that wanted to make fun of the idol and made excrement in front
of the statue and took a rock and speared it on the statue and the priest cried
wonderful how powerful. The Jew went to his Ruv and had to repent as he did not
know that was the way of worshipping the idol.
4 And the LORD said unto
Moses: 'Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them up unto the LORD in
face of the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.'
All the leaders of the people
who sinned were to be hanged for doing this.
Take all the leaders of the
people: to judge those who worshipped Peor. — [Sanh.
35a] And hang them: The
[idol] worshippers. And hang them: Heb.
הוֹקַע. This refers to [death by] hanging, as we
find with the sons of Saul [where a similar expression is used,]“and we shall
hang them (הוֹקַעֲנוּם) for the Lord” (II Sam. 21:6),
and there hanging is specifically mentioned. Idolatry is [punishable] by
stoning, and all those stoned are also hanged [as is stated in Sanh. 45b
according to Rabbi Eliezer]. Facing the sun: for
all to see. The Midrash Aggadah (Mid. Tanchuma Balak 19) says: The sun identified
the sinners, for the cloud folded back from the area above him and the sun
shone on him.
5 And Moses said unto the
judges of Israel: 'Slay ye every one his men that have joined themselves unto
the Baal of Peor.' 6 And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and
brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the
sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, while they were
weeping at the door of the tent of meeting.
Then an Israelite man came:
The tribe of Simeon gathered around Zimri, who was their prince,
and they said to him, “We have been sentenced to death, yet you sit there [and
remain silent] etc.,” as it is related in [the chapter of] Elu hen hanisrafin’
(Sanh. 82a). The Midianite woman: Cozbi
the daughter of Zur (see verse 15). Before
the eyes of Moses: They said to him, “Moses,
is this one forbidden or is she permitted? If you say it is forbidden, who
permitted for you the daughter of Jethro…?” as is stated there (Sanh. 82a). While
they were weeping: The law [that anyone
cohabiting with a non-Jewish woman is to be executed by zealots] eluded him.
[Therefore,] they all burst out weeping. At the incident of the golden calf
Moses [successfully] confronted six hundred thousand as it says, “He ground it
until it was powder…” (Exod. 32:20), yet here he appeared so helpless?
However, [this happened] so that Phinehas should come and take what was due to
him. — [Mid. Tanchuma Balak 20]
Moshe did not know what to do
that moment as he was married to a Midianite Woman but she as a convert to
HASHEM.
7 And when Phinehas, the son
of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of
the congregation, and took a spear in his hand. 8 And he went after the man of
Israel into the chamber, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel,
and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of
Israel.
He thrust them through during
the middle of the act. He pulled them out of the tent while they were alive as
they died disgraced before AM Yisrael so he, the Cohain, did not become
Tumay.
9 And those that died by the plague
were twenty and four thousand.
I have already indicated that Cozbi
reincarnated as Rachel bas Kalba Savua and Zimri as Rabbi Akiva and his 24,000
Talmidim the ones that died then on Chilul HASHEM died in the Bar Kochba Revolt
on Kiddush HASHEM. Pinchas came back as Eliyahu HaNovi who came to help Rabbi
Akiva by asking for straw for his wife when Rabbi Akiva was about to give up.
Parsha Pinchas
25:10 And the LORD spoke unto
Moses, saying: 11 'Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest,
hath turned My wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was very
jealous for My sake among them, so that I consumed not the children of Israel
in My jealousy.
The quick action of Pinchas stayed
the plague and the death of Am Yisrael.
12 Wherefore say: Behold, I give
unto him My covenant of peace;
By going to war against Zimri, he achieved
peace for himself and his seed.
13 and it shall be unto him, and to
his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was
jealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.'
Not everybody is promised survival
for his seed and many a family over the centuries were whipped out. However,
Pinchas’s family will last forever.
14 Now the name of the man of
Israel that was slain, who was slain with the Midian woman, was Zimri, the son
of Salu, a prince of a fathers' house among the Simeonites.
Was it because he was a prince of
Shimon that he did this? Was it some sort of Karma Kickback between Levi
(Moshe) and Shimon (Zimri) for the actions of Shimon and Levi with Dina and
Yacov splitting them apart? Was it because the Leviim followed the same modesty
standard as their forefather and the tribe of Shimon became more and more
sunken in the Tuma of Mitzrayim? Whatever the reason being personal or
collectively as a tribe this horrible dishonorable thing occurred.
The name of the Israelite man: In the place it [Scripture] traces the lineage of the righteous man for praise, it traces the lineage of the wicked man for shame. — [Mid. Tanchuma Pinchas 2, Num. Rabbah 21:3] The chieftain of the Simeonite paternal house: Of one of the five paternal houses belonging to the tribe of Simeon. Another interpretation: To proclaim the praise of Phinehas, for although he [Zimri] was a chieftain, he [Phinehas] did not refrain from acting zealously against a profanation of the Divine Name. This is why Scripture tells us the name of the one who was slain. — [Mid. Aggadah]
15 And the name of the Midian woman
that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head of the people of a
fathers' house in Midian.
Here she went against the Bnei
Yisrael, Torah and Modesty for her father and as Rachel when against her father
for the opposite and made a Kiddush HASHEM in her reincarnation and Tikkun.
The Midianites caused the deaths of the Bnei Shimon so they should be harassed as they would have destroyed more from the Am had Pinchas not stopped them in their tracks.
18 for they harass you, by their wiles wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the prince of Midian, their sister, who was slain on the day of the plague in the matter of Peor.'
Their assimilation and missionary tactics were more dangerous than a Bilaam, Inquisition, Bavel and other Kingdoms. For they caught us off-guard with their over love and got us to worship idols.
26:1 And it came to pass after the plague, that the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying: 2 'Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers' houses, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel.' 3 And Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying: 4 '[Take the sum of the people,] from twenty years old and upward, as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, that came forth out of the land of Egypt.'
After all the deaths in the desert and 40 years of wandering, how many Bnei Yisrael are alive?
5 Reuben, the first-born of Israel: the sons of Reuben: (1:21 those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.) 7 These are the families of the Reubenites; and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty.
The population of the tribe of Reuven was reduced by almost 2,800 since the last census.
…11 Notwithstanding the sons of Korah died not. 12 The sons of Simeon after their families: 14 These are the families of the Simeonites, (1:23 those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.) twenty and two thousand and two hundred.
Even before the recent loss of 24,000, their population was down by a large amount. The southern flank of the camp had a decrease in population but militarily it did not make much of a difference as Amalek and Arad to the south had been defeated soundly.
18 These are the families of the sons of Gad according to those that were numbered of them, (1:25 those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.) forty thousand and five hundred.
Here too, we have 5,100 less.
19 The sons of Judah: (1:27 those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.) 22 These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred.
This tribe has merited and increase of 1,900.
23 The sons of Issachar after their families: (1:29 those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.) 25 These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three hundred.
They increased by 9,900 members.
26 The sons of Zebulun after their families: … (1:31 those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.) 27 These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred.
They grew by 3,100 members. The eastern flank of the camp did not have any real threats after the defeat of three enemies and Balak afraid to start a war. Much of the time Yehuda led the way so it was good that their camp grew in numbers.
28 The sons of Joseph after their families: Manasseh and Ephraim. 29 The sons of Manasseh: … 33 And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters; and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. (1:35 those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred) 34 These are the families of Manasseh; and they that were numbered of them were fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.
The Bnei Menashe grew by 20,500 they must have had some merit.
35 These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: (1:33 those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.) 37 These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those that were numbered of them, thirty and two thousand and five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families.
We talk about the blessings with thousands of Menashe while Ephraim went down by 8,000.
38 The sons of Benjamin after their families: (1:37 those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.) 41 These are the sons of Benjamin after their families; and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and six hundred.
Benyamin gained 10,200. All in all on the western flank of the camp there was a large gain in numbers. This was good for the army as the army was about to conquer Eretz Yisrael which was to their west.
42 These are the sons of Dan after their families: (1:39 those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.) 43 All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those that were numbered of them, were threescore and four thousand and four hundred.
There was a small increase of 1,700.
44 The sons of Asher after their families: … (1:41 those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.) 47 These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those that were numbered of them, fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
The net increase was 11,900 people.
48 The sons of Naphtali after their families: … (1:43 those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.) 50 These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred.
The decrease in population was 8,000.
51 These are they that were numbered of the children of Israel, (1:46 even all those that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.) six hundred thousand and a thousand and seven hundred and thirty.
With all the deaths with the complaints, uprisings and Baal Peor, the population only decreased only by 1,820.
52 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 53 'Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names. 54 To the more thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to the fewer thou shalt give the less inheritance; to each one according to those that were numbered of it shall its inheritance be given. 55 Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot; according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. 56 According to the lot shall their inheritance be divided between the more and the fewer.' 57 And these are they that were numbered of the Levites after their families: … (3:39 All that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.) 62 And they that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, every male from a month old and upward; for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.
The tribe of Levi grew by 1,000 males.
63 These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. 64 But among these there was not a man of them that were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. 65 For the LORD had said of them: 'They shall surely die in the wilderness.' And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Yephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
There is a legend from the Medrash that 15,000 men did survive on the last 15th of Av but perhaps they were above the census age. For it is always possible that they did not participate in the crying or listened from Ephraim and Yehuda to their delegates. If they were over 60 they were not men that would be numbered. The Pshat is that all died the Medrash is that some lived.
Among these there was no man…: But the women were not included in the decree [enacted in the aftermath] of the spies, for they cherished the Land. The men said, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt!” (14:4), whereas the women said, “Give us a portion” (27:4). This is why the passage of Zelophehad’s daughters follows here. — [Mid. Tanchuma Pinchas 7]
27:1 Then drew near the daughters
of Zelophad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son
of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph; and these are the
names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 And
they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes
and all the congregation, at the door of the tent of meeting, saying: 3 'Our
father died in the wilderness, and he was not among the company of them that gathered
themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah, but he died in
his own sin; and he had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father be done
away from among his family, because he had no son? Give unto us a possession
among the brethren of our father.' 5 And Moses brought their cause before the
LORD.
One thing that I repeat myself
every year is that the concept of women’s inheritance and land ownership was
revolutionary in those times. Up until a week or two ago, a woman driving in Saudi
Arabia was unheard of. So establishing this principle of equality to some
extent in financial ways was important. Genetically, men are better at logic
without emotions to be judges and women are better in taking care of children
and judging character. They see things from a more emotional than logical
standpoint. It is the genetic make of testosterone and estrogen and we cannot change
this. However, owning land and growing crops or raising animals can be done by
both men and women and in fact best in a partnership and with one’s children.
6 And the LORD spoke unto Moses,
saying: 7 'The daughters of Zelophad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a
possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt
cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them. 8 And thou shalt speak
unto the children of Israel, saying: If a man die, and have no son, then ye
shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter. 9 And if he have no
daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren. 10 And if he
have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's
brethren. 11 And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his
inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall
possess it. And it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment,
as the LORD commanded Moses.'
12 And the LORD said unto Moses:
'Get thee up into this mountain of Abarim, and behold the land which I have
given unto the children of Israel. 13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also
shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered; 14
because ye rebelled against My commandment in the wilderness of Zin, in the
strife of the congregation, to sanctify Me at the waters before their
eyes.'--These are the waters of Meribath-kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.—
Essentially, after you finish the
war with Midian, you will be gathered unto your people. If you or I were to be
told this, would we expedite it or delay it? Moshe expedited the war.
15 And Moses spoke unto the LORD,
saying: 16 'Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over
the congregation, 17 who may go out before them, and who may come in before
them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the
congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.' 18 And the
LORD said unto Moses: 'Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is
spirit, and lay thy hand upon him; 19 and set him before Eleazar the priest,
and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. 20 And
thou shalt put of thy honor upon him, that all the congregation of the children
of Israel may hearken. 21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who
shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD; at his word
shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the
children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.'
Your successor is not one of your
sons, but your faithful student Yehoshua. Since Melech David this is not supposed
to be the case but in the Litvak Yeshivos the spiritual leader is close to the
most qualified of the Rabbanim. The Chassidim have from father to son or in
Lubavitch, the final Rebbe was the son-in-law.
22 And Moses did as the LORD
commanded him; and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and
before all the congregation. 23 And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a
charge, as the LORD spoke by the hand of Moses.
The laying of the hands on the next leader is called Smicha in Hebrew. We use this term for giving Rabbis their qualification.
28:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them: My food which is presented unto Me for offerings made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Me, shall ye observe to offer unto Me in its due season.
Parsha Pinchas now goes into details of the offering. Since the Korban Tamid is done daily in the morning and the evening, we begin with this. One should note that when we pray on the Yom Tov or Shabbos we always mention the Korban Tamid in the pre-Shachris Prayer and after the Prayer of the Yom (day). This goes for Shabbos which is next in hierarchy and Rosh Chodesh. However, as we pray on Yom Tov that falls on a Shabbos or Rosh Hashanah which is always Rosh Chodesh Korbanos are included in Mussaf.
3 And thou shalt say unto them: This is the offering made by fire which ye shall bring unto the LORD: he-lambs of the first year without blemish, two day by day, for a continual burnt-offering. 4 The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at dusk; 5 and the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil. 6 It is a continual burnt-offering, which was offered in mount Sinai, for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 7 And the drink-offering thereof shall be the fourth part of a hin for the one lamb; in the holy place shalt thou pour out a drink-offering of strong drink unto the LORD. 8 And the other lamb shalt thou present at dusk; as the meal-offering of the morning, and as the drink-offering thereof, thou shalt present it, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the LORD.
These two lambs are divided in the Mishkan or Temple for the morning prayers and Mincha or late afternoon pre-sundown evening time.
9 And on the Sabbath day two
he-lambs of the first year without blemish, and two tenth parts of an ephah of
fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with oil, and the drink-offering
thereof. 10 This is the burnt-offering of every Sabbath, beside the continual
burnt-offering, and the drink-offering thereof.
The Avoda in the Mikdash pushed aside Shabbos for the Korbanos that were required as a Bris Mila on the 8th day does. However, not voluntary or obligatory Korbanos for individuals or the Korban for the public that erred they could only be brought on regular weekdays.
11 And in your new moons ye shall present a burnt-offering unto the LORD: two young bullocks, and one ram, seven he-lambs of the first year without blemish; …
This continues in details for all the Yomim Tovim and ends with the voluntary Korbanos to be brought during the Regelim.
39 These ye shall offer unto the
LORD in your appointed seasons, beside your vows, and your freewill-offerings,
whether they be your burnt-offerings, or your meal-offerings, or your
drink-offerings, or your peace-offerings.
30:1 And Moses told the
children of Israel according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.
Lack of proper training and
preparedness for IDF Paramedics
By Rabbi Rachamim Pauli
Before I even start my
article-editorial, I will bring down from Debka from last week a quote. Training
sessions for reserve units do not focus on their prospective assignments in the
next potential war.
Depots holding emergency supplies of war materiel are
not properly maintained and much of the equipment is not fit for operational
use.
The IDF has been unable to combat the prevalence of
smartphone use by officers and other ranks. Their ingrained use of Whatsapp
betrays their location to the enemy and undermines discipline. Field
intelligence is only partly functional. Seven months ago, the IDF announced the
issue to combat units of encrypted cell phones, the development of which cost
the vast sum of $100m. What happened to those phones? – Gen. Yitzchak Brick. This
appeared in the article by Debka that Israel is not prepared for the next war.
I experienced along with my friends around 1986 things
like gears falling out of my jeep. Danny having a tire pop off his jeep. A
vehicle opposite Syria loosing it’s brakes and the men jumping out before the
crash into the valley below. I thought some of this was corrected with newer
equipment but what was new in the 1990’s is close to 20 years old today.
A paramedic wrote in the magazine section of lack of
proper training and review of paramedics. I will have to continue next week as
there is too much to write and will repeat this introduction for
consistency. …
This
little introduction story to this week’s story.
The
True Dream by Rabbi Rachamim Pauli
Many years ago road 443 was the old British Mandate
Road going from the area near Lod to Yerushalayim. It had dangerous curves, no
divider and went through Arab Villages on the way from Shelat to Beit Horon.
The area was developing and the government was
planning the town of Modiin. Road 443 was going to be four lanes soon. Right
now it was close to completion. A Jewish Contractor was taking 9 Arab Workers
to build a house on Chashmonayim or Modiin along the road. His Ford Transit or GMC
was involved in a head-on accident with an oil tanker and another car. The
Vehicle burst into flames and as I drove to work in the other direction I could
see the smoke over the mountain and the vehicle still on fire. I did not have
sympathy for terrorists and their supporters but was horrified knowing the Arab
workers trapped inside were burnt to death as the flames continued five minutes
before I arrived.
The Contractor’s remains were interred. During the
Shiva, the Contractor appeared to his son in a dream that part of his skull had
be pushed out of the vehicle and he wanted it buried with the rest of his body.
His son immediately arose from his bed in Chashmonayim and went to the accident
scene. He searched and found the missing part of the skull. He saw to it that
the skull was buried with the body and returned to his Shiva. {I wrote about
this many years ago, but it is a great introduction to our story.}
French Wine by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles http://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1073-42
An important man once appeared to the Baal Shem Tov in a dream. "I have no peace in this World of the Hereafter. My soul cannot rest, for my son, who lives in Paris, does not follow the Torah way of life."
On the following day the
Baal Shem Tov set out for Paris to see what he could do. When he arrived in the
city, it was already nighttime. The horses stopped of their own accord before a
large mansion. The Baal Shem Tov told his attendant to knock upon the gate.
"This is no
hotel," said the gatekeeper angrily, ordering them to go on.
The Baal Shem Tov told his
attendant to knock again until finally the master and his wife were awakened by
the tumult. When the good woman saw the dignified features and regal bearing of
the Baal Shem Tov seated in the carriage, she begged her husband to let him
stay with them.
"We have such a large house with so many empty rooms and no children to fill them. Let us at least take in this man and let him stay for as long as he desires."
"We have such a large house with so many empty rooms and no children to fill them. Let us at least take in this man and let him stay for as long as he desires."
The master finally gave in
to his wife's request and a room was prepared for the Baal Shem Tov.
The next day the Baal Shem Tov told his attendant to spread the word that a miracle worker had come to town. That very day people began streaming to the mansion, requesting an audience with the Baal Shem Tov.
The next day the Baal Shem Tov told his attendant to spread the word that a miracle worker had come to town. That very day people began streaming to the mansion, requesting an audience with the Baal Shem Tov.
When the mistress of the
house noticed all the activity centered around her guest she inquired of the
visitors what they wished. They told her why they had come, each with his
personal request, and entrusted her with their donation for charity. The good
woman handled all the financial transactions of her important guest and
realized that between the monies coming in from donations, and the monies being
distributed to the door and needy, when all was said and done there was none
left for the Baal Shem Tov.
Then, when the results of
the miracle worker's potions and advice soon filtered back, the woman was
convinced that her guest was indeed a holy man possessed of wondrous powers.
She began pleading with her husband that he approach the Baal Shem Tov on her
behalf.
"We have been married
for so many years and have not been blessed with children. This holy man will
surely be able to help us."
Much against his will, the
husband finally agreed to speak to his guest.
"What kind of business
do you own?" asked the Baal Shem Tov when his host finally came to him.
"I have a wine
distillery," came the reply.
"Do you produce any
kosher wine?"
"No."
"Well, then,"
said the Baal Shem Tov, "when the next harvest is ready, make some kosher
wine and bring it to Mezhibuz. You will make a handsome profit."
The wine manufacturer
laughed to himself, for he made a very profitable business without producing
kosher wine. He just shrugged his shoulders and said that the harvest was still
a long time off and he would see. Then he mentioned his personal request, his
desire for children.
The Baal Shem Tov gave the man several medicines for his wife and told him that next year at this time she would give birth to a son. The wine merchant had little hope for these medicines as his wife had already consulted the most famous doctors without results.
The Baal Shem Tov gave the man several medicines for his wife and told him that next year at this time she would give birth to a son. The wine merchant had little hope for these medicines as his wife had already consulted the most famous doctors without results.
The Baal Shem Tov bade his
hosts farewell and left. The woman took the potions that he had given her and
in three months' time found herself with child.
When the wine merchant saw
that the rabbi's blessing had come true, he decided to make the kosher wine
after all and to bring it to Mezhibuz. He would then take the opportunity to
invite the Baal Shem Tov to the brit which would surely take place in the near
future.
When the wine was ready, he
loaded the barrels into several wagons and set forth for his destination. He
traveled for several days and eventually found himself in a deep forest. Night
fell and the merchant wished to stop for the night. He jumped off the wagon and
went to seek some house or shelter. But the driver had not noticed his master
get off and continued driving on.
Suddenly the driver
realized that his master was not inside and began shouting for him. He went
back part of the way, calling his master all the while, but could find no trace
of him. After an extensive search he decided to return home. When the mistress
of the house heard that her husband was lost she hurried back to the forest to
seek him but was forced to return home empty handed and disappointed.
The master's search for
shelter was rewarded. He spied a light and walked towards it. He found a group
of men within a small shack, many of whom he recognized as Paris acquaintances,
seated around a table playing cards. He joined them, staking all his money on
the game. He lost it all.
His acquaintances suggested
that he take one last fling and put up his clothes as stakes against the money
he had lost. He lost this last game also and was seized by his creditors. They
stripped him of his clothing, heedless of his cries for mercy. He begged them
to let him keep his clothes until he returned home for others but they just
threw him out of the hut in his undignified state.
The merchant wandered around helplessly in his white underclothing. Suddenly he spied a shepherd from afar. He ran towards him to seek help, but the shepherd could not distinguish the living form in the dimness of the dawn and thought that he was seeing a ghost. The merchant pursued the fleeing shepherd until he caught up with him by his cottage. When the shepherd saw that his pursuer was indeed flesh and blood he invited him in and refreshed him with food and drink. The merchant then said that he had been attacked by a band of robbers who had stripped him of his very clothes. He was naturally ashamed to admit that he had lost everything at cards. The shepherd had pity upon the man and gave him some clothing.
The merchant thus began a half year of wandering which had a considerable effect on him. As he began frequenting synagogues and Torah study-halls, his respect and desire for Torah knowledge grew all the while. The man eventually became a chasid of the Baal Shem Tov during this period, and once went to spend a Shabbos with him.
He sat down at the table with the other chasidim and no one paid him any particular attention. The Baal Shem Tov offered his guest a drink of wine but the man was suddenly taken aback. The label on the bottle testified that this was the very brand that he produced in Paris and was therefore unkosher wine.
The Baal Shem Tov laughed at his guest's consternation and reassured him, "I know who you are. This is your wine, isn't it? Well, have to qualms, for this is the special wine that I asked you to make and bring to me. Your wagons are situated just a little way out of Mezhibuz. Now go and sell the wine and return home to your wife who is about to give birth to a son."
The man gladly followed the Baal Shem Tov's advice and was soon reunited with his wife. As predicted by The Baal Shem Tov, she gave birth to a son. The wine merchant became a G-d fearing observant Jew and Torah scholar in Paris.
The merchant wandered around helplessly in his white underclothing. Suddenly he spied a shepherd from afar. He ran towards him to seek help, but the shepherd could not distinguish the living form in the dimness of the dawn and thought that he was seeing a ghost. The merchant pursued the fleeing shepherd until he caught up with him by his cottage. When the shepherd saw that his pursuer was indeed flesh and blood he invited him in and refreshed him with food and drink. The merchant then said that he had been attacked by a band of robbers who had stripped him of his very clothes. He was naturally ashamed to admit that he had lost everything at cards. The shepherd had pity upon the man and gave him some clothing.
The merchant thus began a half year of wandering which had a considerable effect on him. As he began frequenting synagogues and Torah study-halls, his respect and desire for Torah knowledge grew all the while. The man eventually became a chasid of the Baal Shem Tov during this period, and once went to spend a Shabbos with him.
He sat down at the table with the other chasidim and no one paid him any particular attention. The Baal Shem Tov offered his guest a drink of wine but the man was suddenly taken aback. The label on the bottle testified that this was the very brand that he produced in Paris and was therefore unkosher wine.
The Baal Shem Tov laughed at his guest's consternation and reassured him, "I know who you are. This is your wine, isn't it? Well, have to qualms, for this is the special wine that I asked you to make and bring to me. Your wagons are situated just a little way out of Mezhibuz. Now go and sell the wine and return home to your wife who is about to give birth to a son."
The man gladly followed the Baal Shem Tov's advice and was soon reunited with his wife. As predicted by The Baal Shem Tov, she gave birth to a son. The wine merchant became a G-d fearing observant Jew and Torah scholar in Paris.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Lightly edited and supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles from the English edition of Tales of the Baal Shem Tov (vol. 2, pp.. 216-221) by Y. Y. Klapholtz, as translated by Sheindel Weinbach.
Source: Lightly edited and supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles from the English edition of Tales of the Baal Shem Tov (vol. 2, pp.. 216-221) by Y. Y. Klapholtz, as translated by Sheindel Weinbach.
Biographical notes:
Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer [of blessed memory: 18 Elul 5458 - 6 Sivan 5520 (Aug. 1698 - May 1760 C.E.)], the Baal Shem Tov ["Master of the Good Name"-often referred to as "the Besht" for short], a unique and seminal figure in Jewish history, revealed his identity as an exceptionally holy person, on his 36th birthday, 18 Elul 5494 (1734 C.E.), and made the until-then underground Chasidic movement public. He wrote no books, although many works claim to contain his teachings. One available in English is the excellent annotated translation of Tzava'at Harivash, published by Kehos.
Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer [of blessed memory: 18 Elul 5458 - 6 Sivan 5520 (Aug. 1698 - May 1760 C.E.)], the Baal Shem Tov ["Master of the Good Name"-often referred to as "the Besht" for short], a unique and seminal figure in Jewish history, revealed his identity as an exceptionally holy person, on his 36th birthday, 18 Elul 5494 (1734 C.E.), and made the until-then underground Chasidic movement public. He wrote no books, although many works claim to contain his teachings. One available in English is the excellent annotated translation of Tzava'at Harivash, published by Kehos.
Connection: The Weekly Reading
of Pinchas gives details on the daily, weekly, monthly and holiday offerings on
the altar, all of which had to be accompanied by kosher wine libations.
From Judith W. Terrific - true
story!
This story is confirmed in Elmer
Bendiner's book, The Fall of Fortresses.
Sometimes, it's not really just
luck.
Elmer Bendiner
was a navigator in a B-17 during WW II and he told this story of a World War II
bombing run over Kassel, Germany and the unexpected result of a direct hit on
their gas tanks:
“Our
B-17, the Tondelayo, was barraged by flak from Nazi antiaircraft guns. That was
not unusual, but on this particular occasion our gas tanks were hit. Later, as
I reflected on the miracle of a 20 millimeter shell piercing the fuel tank
without touching off an explosion.
Our
pilot, Bohn Fawkes, told me it was not quite that simple. On the morning
following the raid, Bohn had gone down to ask our crew chief for that shell as
a souvenir of our unbelievable luck. The crew chief told Bohn that not just one
shell but 11 had been found in the gas tanks. 11 unexploded shells where only
one was sufficient to blast us out of the sky. It was as if the sea had been
parted for us. A near-miracle, I thought.
Even
after 35 years, so awesome an event leaves me shaken, especially after I heard
the rest of the story from Bohn. "He was told that the shells had been
sent to the armorers to be defused. The armorers told him that Intelligence had
picked them up. They could not say why at the time, but Bohn eventually sought
out the answer. Apparently when the armorers opened each of those shells, they
found no explosive charge. They were as clean as a whistle and just as
harmless. Empty? - Not all of them!
One
contained a carefully rolled piece of paper. On it was a scrawl in Czech. The
Intelligence people scoured our base for a man who could read Czech. Eventually
they found one to decipher the note. It set us marveling; translated, the note
read,” "This is all we can do for you now. Using
Jewish slave labor is never a good idea."
GOP Senator voted for Hillary in 2008. http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/06/29/gop-sen-cindy-hyde-smith-voted-for-hillary-clinton-in-2008/
Improvement of communications in Yehuda and
the Shomron. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248239
Fellows it is inadvisable to marry this woman
unless you need ricin. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248244
Charedim and the draft law – the plot is to
let it pass against the Charedim and then change it in committee and return a
different version to ram through. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5300586,00.html
Reform have their prayer plaza. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248249
New Jewish Mayor in Mexico. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248287
Special honors to fighter of Nazis. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5301863,00.html
Aguda threatens to leave government. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5302404,00.html
Microsoft leases entire TA Building. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3741497,00.html
Apple will not use Intel 5G Technology. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3741719,00.html
Facebook blocks as hate speech:
I stand for the flag song and the Declaration of Independence. https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/07/05/facebook-blocked-then-unblocked-declaration-of-independence-as-hate-speech/23475527/?a_dgi=aolshare_facebook
Inyanay Diyoma
Syrian Rebels lose more towns in south. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5300167,00.html
Syrian wounded to Israeli hospitals. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248226
Amalek work accident in Gaza. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5300381,00.html
As oil prices rise, Trump requests more Saudi
production. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5300244,00.html
Need lasers to supplement. https://www.debka.com/iron-dome-versus-laser-system-missile-interceptors-israeli-strategists-are-split/
Three different articles on Iran. One the
internal protests, two the end of the rulers in Iran is nearing and three the
Iranians and Hezballah are approaching Israel. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5300849,00.html
Gaza Balloon bomb
found in park. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248274
Troops and combat equipment pouring into the
north.
Gaza Balloon bomb found in park. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248274
Gazans infiltrate burn gear. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5301237,00.html
Update on the Golan. It is now time for me to
refresh the water in my shelter and stock some supplies just in case. https://www.debka.com/idf-boosts-golan-lines-with-tank-artillery-rocket-units-marks-out-security-zone/
Israel negotiates with terrorists. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248291
Ben Dror Yemeni Ed-Op on 70 years of refugees.
The details of US President Donald
Trump’s new peace initiative don’t matter. We already know what the Palestinian
reaction will be in advance. Those who rejected Bill Clinton’s proposal, who rejected Ehud Olmert’s proposal and who turned down Barack Obama and
John Kerry’s proposal will turn down
Trump’s new proposal as well. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5299664,00.html
Trump promises sanction on Euro-companies
trading with Iran. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5301414,00.html
Syrian rebels unite close to Israel. https://www.debka.com/syrian-rebels-of-tafas-go-over-to-isis-spark-battles-closer-to-quneitra/
Terrorist dies after Infiltrating
Israel. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248318
Amazing weather control. Israel, Lebanon,
Syria, Iraq and Iran suffering drought on whom to put the blame – yes Israel. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5302428,00.html
US debates putting revolutionary guards from
Iran on terror list. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5302924,00.html
When your leaders aren’t leaders: https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5302229,00.html
Putin-Trump Summit puts Syrian Offensive on
hold. https://www.debka.com/pause-in-syrias-daraa-offensive-amid-putin-trump-impasse-on-its-goals-putin-seeks-israeli-flexibility/
Iran-Europe should learn from Trump. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248405
Two 4.1 Quakes hit N. Israel. https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/41-magnitude-earthquake-shakes-northern-Israel-561502
Golden cup Soccer App and various fake dating
sites with fake profiles are used by Hamas against IDF soldiers. More males
fall for it most females report it. They infiltrate What’s App with their
female operatives and then access phones. https://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Heartbroken-over-Hamas-IDF-intel-uncovers-more-Hamas-honeypots-561446
Son of ISIS leader dies. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248386
Hamas uses toys to burn which can be applied
to Europe and the Americas. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248377
Parasite disease in the Shomron. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248385
If Ganz runs. https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Poll-finds-Gantz-will-have-huge-impact-on-election-561499
4.5 quake near Tiberias: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248397
Tiberias not ready: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248457
Spanish antisemites. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/22408
Jihad in Sinai loses three. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248397
Shin Bet head is criticized. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248442
Israeli Red Line 1974 agreement. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5304872,00.html
“Enlightened” Leftist Kibbutz Racism. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5301482,00.html
Mother pleads for son’s body. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5304652,00.html
US Army buys Tank Trophy System. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248471
Percentage of Charedim in Army http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248518
Mossad recovers watch of spy. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248496
Ed-Op Kedar Arabs vs. Aspirations. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/22425
US Left the biggest threat. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/22395
A Jewish Air Conditioning Manufacturer in
South Africa was murdered and it is uncertain if it was because he was Jewish
or not.
Have a pleasant and peaceful
Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli
