Parshiyos Tazria-Metzora
The Torah is
resting these two Parshiyos from the death of the two sons of Aaron. Death is
Avi-Avos HaTuma and one gives birth or has Tsoras/Tsaras one has
Av HaTuma. So that is the relationship between the Parshiyos. Most of Tazria
and all of Metzora are based on the skin disease called Tsaras. It is similar
to Psoriasis.
12:1 And the LORD spoke unto
Moses, saying: 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: If a woman be
delivered, and bear a man-child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in
the days of the impurity of her sickness shall she be unclean.
From
here the Rabbis say that if a woman has her seed ready first in the be fruitful
and multiply act then she will have a male child.
3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his
foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 And she shall continue in the blood of purification
three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the
sanctuary, until the days of her purification be fulfilled. 5 But if she bear a
maid-child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her impurity; and she
shall continue in the blood of purification threescore and six days.
This was because the
husband produced seed prior to the woman.
6 And when the days of her purification are
fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first
year for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtle-dove, for a
sin-offering, unto the door of the tent of meeting, unto the priest. 7 And he
shall offer it before the LORD, and make atonement for her; and she shall be
cleansed from the fountain of her blood. This is the law for her that bears,
whether a male or a female. 8 And if her means suffice not for a lamb, then she
shall take two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons: the one for a
burnt-offering, and the other for a sin-offering; and the priest shall make atonement
for her, and she shall be clean.
Our Rabbis noted that this
was similar to the atonement for a vow. From here the Rabbis learned that many
women while giving birth make a vow not to have more children and therefore
this atonement is appropriate.
13:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto
Aaron, saying: 2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, or a
scab, or a bright spot, and it become in the skin of his flesh the plague of
leprosy, then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his
sons the priests.
Our Rabbis taught us that
the spiritual root cause of Tsoras is Lashon HaRa. We learn this from Moshe who
said, “They will not believe me.” He had to put his hand in his breast and it
became ‘leprous’ or whitish. The solution to talking Lashon HaRa and gossip is
to send the man away from the camp and he cannot talk the Lashon HaRa (I used
man but it applies to woman too).
3 And the priest shall look upon the plague
in the skin of the flesh; and if the hair in the plague be turned white, and
the appearance of the plague be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is the
plague of leprosy; and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.
4 And if the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and the appearance
thereof be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white,
then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days. 5 And the
priest shall look on him the seventh day; and, behold, if the plague stay in
its appearance, and the plague be not spread in the skin, then the priest shall
shut him up seven days more.
The initial time or minimum
away from the camp is 7 days and if the person is still burning to tell Lashon
HaRa without repentance then another 7 days apply.
6 And the priest shall look on him again the
seventh day; and, behold, if the plague be dim, and the plague be not spread in
the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is a scab; and he shall
wash his clothes, and be clean.
The first of 4 different
appearances of skin disease.
7 But if the scab spread abroad in the skin,
after that he hath shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall show
himself to the priest again. 8 And the priest shall look, and, behold, if the
scab be spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is
leprosy.
If the Tsoras is still
active after 21 days, then the person is officially pronounced unclean.
… 13 then the priest shall look; and, behold,
if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that
hath the plague; it is all turned white: he is clean. 14 But whensoever raw
flesh appears in him, he shall be unclean. 15 And the priest shall look on the
raw flesh, and pronounce him unclean; the raw flesh is unclean: it is leprosy.
16 But if the raw flesh again be turned into white, then he shall come unto the
priest; 17 and the priest shall look on him; and, behold, if the plague be turned
into white, then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he
is clean.
If he turns completely
white, he is clean otherwise he is in a contamination stage. Or that the size
of the blister(s) have stopped growing.
18 And when the flesh hath in the skin
thereof a boil, and it is healed, 19 and in the place of the boil there is a
white rising, or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be shown to the
priest. 20 And the priest shall look; and, behold, if the appearance thereof be
lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white, then the priest
shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy, it hath broken out in
the boil. 21 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs
therein, and it be not lower than the skin, but be dim, then the priest shall
shut him up seven days.
The Cohain turns into a
dermatologist in essence to determine if it be Tsaras or Psoriasis.
… 4 Or when the flesh hath in the skin
thereof a burning by fire, and the quick flesh of the burning become a bright
spot, reddish-white, or white; … 25 then the priest shall look upon it; and,
behold, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and the appearance
thereof be deeper than the skin, it is leprosy, it hath broken out in the
burning; and the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of
leprosy. 26 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hair
in the bright spot, and it be no lower than the skin, but be dim; then the
priest shall shut him up seven days. 27 And the priest shall look upon him the
seventh day; if it spread abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce
him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy. 28 And if the bright spot stay in its
place, and be not spread in the skin, but be dim, it is the rising of the
burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean; for it is the scar of the
burning.
The Priest had to learn to
be a master of this skin disease.
29 And when a man or woman hath a plague upon
the head or upon the beard,
“The glory of a man is he
beard” – Rabbi Akiva Daf 157A bottom of the page to 157B.
30 then the
priest shall look on the plague; and, behold, if the appearance thereof be
deeper than the skin, and there be in it yellow thin hair, then the priest shall
pronounce him unclean: it is a scall, it is leprosy of the head or of the
beard. 31 And if the priest looks on the plague of the
scall, and, behold, the appearance thereof be not deeper than the skin, and
there be no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut up him that hath the
plague of the scall seven days. 32 And in the seventh day the priest shall look
on the plague; and, behold, if the scall be not spread, and there be in it no
yellow hair, and the appearance of the scall be not deeper than the skin, 33
then he shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall
shut up him that hath the scall seven days more. 34 And in the seventh day the
priest shall look on the scall; and, behold, if the scall be not spread in the
skin, and the appearance thereof be not deeper than the skin, then the priest
shall pronounce him clean; and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
The
disease has stopped spreading and he is clean. The beauty of the woman is in
her hair and therefore married women are required to be modest and only their
husbands should be allowed to see their hair that is considered part of the
body to be covered. Unmarried females show their beautiful hair to attract men.
Now these parts have become infected with Tsaras and have to be hidden 7 days.
35 But if the scall spread abroad in the skin
after his cleansing, 36 then the priest shall look on him; and, behold, if the
scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for the yellow hair: he
is unclean. 37 But if the scall stay in its appearance, and black hair be grown
up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean; and the priest shall pronounce
him clean.
The rule is no more growth
or less appearance and the boil, scall, etc. is clean.
38 And if a man or a woman have in the skin
of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots; 39 then the priest shall
look; and, behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be of a dull
white, it is a tetter, it hath broken out in the skin: he is clean. 40 And if a
man's hair be fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean. 41 And if his
hair be fallen off from the front part of his head, he is forehead-bald; yet is
he clean.
The priest sees that he is
clean by virtual of the shrinking of changing of the color of the disease.
42 But if there be in the bald head, or the
bald forehead, a reddish-white plague, it is leprosy breaking out in his bald
head, or his bald forehead. 43 Then the priest shall look upon him; and,
behold, if the rising of the plague be reddish-white in his bald head, or in
his bald forehead, as the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the flesh, 44 he
is a leprous man, he is unclean; the priest shall surely pronounce him unclean:
his plague is in his head.
However, in this case he
has the disease growing and he is Tamay.
45 And the leper in whom the plague is,
his clothes shall be rent, and the hair of his head shall go loose, and he
shall cover his upper lip, and shall cry: 'Unclean, unclean.' 46 All the days
wherein the plague is in him he shall be unclean; he is unclean; he shall dwell
alone; without the camp shall his dwelling be.
With his Lashon Hara, he
has embarrassed others so now he/she is isolated and declared “unclean”. Maybe
in the first place somebody would have said Lashon HaRa they would have stopped
it.
47 And when the plague of leprosy is in a
garment, whether it be a woolen garment, or a linen garment; 48 or in the warp,
or in the woof, whether they be of linen, or of wool; or in a skin, or in any
thing made of skin. 49 If the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or
in the skin, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin, it is the
plague of leprosy, and shall be shown unto the priest. 50 And the priest shall
look upon the plague, and shut up that which hath the plague seven days.
The plague is a mold that
develops on the garment. It is partially due to Lashon HaRa but aeration of the
garments and keep them in a dry area prevent such a mold. In FL I found a white
mold on leather shoes that were not aerated and I assume that had I had a
woolen garment; the color mold would appear. That was due to a natural process
and Lashon HaRa only speeds up such things.
…14:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:
2 This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: he shall be
brought unto the priest. 3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and
the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the
leper;
The following is done. I
was told by the late Dr. Rabbi Zev Vilna MD specializing in internal
medication. Once there were twins who had Jaundice. One twin was more primitive
and the relatives brought him two doves and sent one away and one they
slaughtered the other twin was more modern and depended on medicine. The
primitive twin was cured first.
4 then shall the priest command to take for
him that is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar-wood, and scarlet,
and hyssop. 5 And the priest shall command to kill one of the birds in an
earthen vessel over running water. 6 As for the living bird, he shall take it,
and the cedar-wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the
living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water. 7
And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven
times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let go the living bird into the
open field. 8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave
off all his hair, and bathe himself in water, and he shall be clean; and after
that he may come into the camp, but shall dwell outside his tent seven days. 9
And it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his
head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off; and
he shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and he shall
be clean. 10 And on the eighth day he shall take two he-lambs without blemish,
and one ewe-lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth parts of an
ephah of fine flour for him shall set the man that is to be cleansed, and those
things, before the LORD, at the door of the tent of meeting. 12 And the priest
shall take one of the he-lambs, and offer him for a guilt-offering, and the log
of oil, and wave them for a slaughter the
sin-offering and the burnt-offering, in the place of the sanctuary; for as the
sin-offering is the priest's, so is the guilt-offering; it is most holy. 14 And
the priest shall take of the blood of the guilt-offering, and the priest shall
put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon
the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. 15 And
the priest shall take of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own
left hand. 16 And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in
his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before
the LORD. 17 And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put
upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb
of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of
the guilt-offering. 18 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he
shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed; and the priest shall
make atonement for him before the LORD. 19 And the priest shall offer the
sin-offering, and make atonement for him that is to be cleansed because of his
uncleanness; and afterward he slaughters the
burnt-offering. 20 And the priest shall offer the burnt-offering and the
meal-offering upon the altar; and the priest shall make atonement for him, and
he shall be clean.
This is the process of the
Korbanos and cleansing. This is for a person of certain means but for the poor
the process is less expensive.
21 And if he be poor, and his means suffice
not, then he shall take one he-lamb for a guilt-offering to be waved, to make
atonement for him, and one tenth part of an ephah of fine flour mingled with
oil for a meal-offering, and a log of oil; 22 and two turtle-doves, or two
young pigeons, such as his means suffice for; and the one shall be a
sin-offering, and the other a burnt-offering. 23 And on the eighth day he shall
bring them for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tent of
meeting, before the LORD. 24 And the priest shall take the lamb of the
guilt-offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a
wave-offering before the LORD. 25 And he shall kill the lamb of the
guilt-offering, and the priest shall take of the blood of the guilt-offering,
and put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and
upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. 26
And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand. 27 And
the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his
left hand seven times before the LORD. 28 And the priest shall put of the oil
that is in his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be
cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his
right foot, upon the place of the blood of the guilt-offering. 29 And the rest
of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put upon the head of him that
is to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before the LORD. 30 And he shall
offer one of the turtle-doves, or of the young pigeons, such as his means
suffice for; 31 even such as his means suffice for, the one for a sin-offering,
and the other for a burnt-offering, with the meal-offering; and the priest
shall make atonement for him that is to be cleansed before the LORD. 32 This is
the law of him in whom is the plague of leprosy, whose means suffice not for
that which pertains to his cleansing.
Now like with
woolen garments, the stones of the house can develop a mold rooted in physical
reasons but caused by the negative spirituality of Lashon HaRa.
33 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto
Aaron, saying: 34 When ye are come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you
for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of
your possession; 35 then he that owns the house shall come and tell the priest,
saying: 'There seems to me to be as it were a plague in the house.' 36 And the
priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go in to see
the plague, that all that is in the house be not made unclean; and afterward
the priest shall go in to see the house. …54 This is the law for all manner of
plague of leprosy, and for a scall; 55 and for the leprosy of a garment, and
for a house; 56 and for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot; 57 to
teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean; this is the law of leprosy. 15:1 And the LORD spoke
unto Moses and to Aaron, saying: 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say
unto them: When any man hath an issue out of his flesh, his issue is unclean. 3
And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue,
or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness.
The issue is not that the
man had a ‘wet dream’ as happens to teens or that he purposely released seed
but that it flowed a few times and three times involuntary seed release or gonorrhoea.
He is called a Zav.
4 Every bed whereon he that hath the issue
lies shall be unclean; and everything whereon he sits shall be unclean. 5 And
whosoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water,
and be unclean until the even.
This is not your average
Tuma as sitting down does not impart such Tuma, this is worse.
6 And he that sits on anything whereon he
that hath the issue sat shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and
be unclean until the even. 7 And he that touches the flesh of him that hath the
issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until
the even. 8 And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean, then he
shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the
even.
This goes for a wagon, bus,
train, ferry or car seat.
9 And what saddle soever he that hath the
issue rides upon shall be unclean. 10 And whosoever touches anything that was
under him shall be unclean until the even; and he that bears those things shall
wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
Even the cleaner of such
cushions from cars, boats, wagons etc. has to wash his own clothing and go to
the Mikvah.
11 And whomsoever he that hath the issue
touches, without having rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes,
and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 12 And the earthen
vessel, which he that hath the issue touches shall be broken; and every vessel
of wood shall be rinsed in water. 13 And when he that hath an issue is cleansed
of his issue, then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and
wash his clothes; and he shall bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be
clean. 14 And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtle-doves, or two
young pigeons, and come before the LORD unto the door of the tent of meeting,
and give them unto the priest.
As one kosher vessels and
clothing for use or wearing in the Mikdash.
15 And the priest shall offer them, the one
for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering; and the priest shall
make atonement for him before the LORD for his issue. {S} 16 And if the flow of
seed go out from a man, then he shall bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean
until the even. 17 And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the flow of
seed, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even. 18 The woman
also with whom a man shall lie carnally, they shall both bathe themselves in
water, and be unclean until the even.
Unlike the state of Niddah,
this woman is only unclean until bathing in the Mikvah and that night she is
clean and can prepare food in a Tahor manner. The blood that the Zava sees also
comes from the womb and not a bleeding wound on the side of the walls of the
passage to the womb.
19 And if a woman has an issue, and her issue
in her flesh be blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days; and whosoever
touches her shall be unclean until the even. 20 And everything that she lies
upon in her impurity shall be unclean; everything also that she sits upon shall
be unclean. 21 And whosoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe
himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 22 And whosoever touches anything
that she sits upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be
unclean until the even. 23 And if he be on the bed, or on anything whereon she
sits, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until the even. 24 And if any man
lie with her, and her impurity be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and
every bed whereon he lies shall be unclean.
During the times of the
Temple, women marked off their periods from the day they got the first one.
Example Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Between 7 to 11 days in the month is considered a
Zava. If they occur three days in a row, then the woman is a Zava. Since we
don’t record when I daughters had their first period and calculate periods from
there, we observe 7 clean days and don’t know when a Zava starts.
25 And if a woman have an issue of her blood
many days not in the time of her impurity, or if she have an issue beyond the
time of her impurity; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness she shall be
as in the days of her impurity: she is unclean. 26 Every bed whereon she lies
all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her impurity; and
everything whereon she sits shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her
impurity. 27 And whosoever touches those things shall be unclean, and shall
wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
Towards the end of the
first chapter of Tractate Shabbos the Rabbis issued a Gezaira. “A Zav should
not sit down to eat with a Zava – (lest they get together as both being
Tamay).”
28 But if she be cleansed of her issue, then
she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. 29
And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtle-doves, or two young
pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tent of meeting. 30
And the priest shall offer the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a
burnt-offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her before the LORD for
the issue of her uncleanness.
Both for the
Zav and the Zava, the purification is 7 days.
31 Thus shall ye
separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in
their uncleanness, when they defile My tabernacle that is in the midst of them.
32 This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him from whom the flow of
seed goes out, so that he is unclean thereby; 33 and of her that is sick with
her impurity, and of them that have an issue, whether it be a man, or a woman;
and of him that lies with her that is unclean.
Since the woman had Gonorrhoea,
I left the translation of sickness and the object here is that Am Yisrael
should be pure.
How Rod Serling Entered the Twilight
Zone
His best friend was killed by falling food during World War II.
That's why The Twilight Zone exists—and why death in the show is never heroic.
Rod Serling was born on Christmas Day, 1924, in Syracuse, New
York. As a child, he never stopped talking. He'd perform entire radio dramas
alone in his basement for hours. During family car rides, everyone stayed
silent just to see if he'd notice.
He never did.
By high school, Serling stood five-foot-four and weighed almost
nothing. The day after graduation in 1943, he enlisted in the Army. He wanted
to fight Nazis. He dreamed of becoming a tail gunner on a B-17.
His eyesight wasn't good enough.
So, he chose the paratroopers instead. At his height, he was
considered too small. The rules were clear.
Serling talked his way in anyway.
They sent him to Camp Toccoa, Georgia, a place designed to break
men. Every morning at five, soldiers ran seven miles up a hill at a
forty-five-degree angle in full gear. Those who fell out went back to regular
infantry.
Private Serling made it.
He took up boxing, fought seventeen bouts as a flyweight, and
broke his nose twice. He picked fights with tankers and infantrymen just to
prove his size didn't matter.
Then his orders came. He'd be shipping to the Pacific, not
Europe. He was disappointed.
He went anyway.
What Serling didn't know was that his commanders had a problem
with him. He was creative, mouthy, bad at following orders he thought were
stupid. So, they transferred him to the demolition platoon, nicknamed
"The Death Squad" for its casualty rate.
His sergeant said it plainly: "He screwed up somewhere
along the line."
But Serling ended up there anyway, clearing enemy positions
while Japanese soldiers tried to kill him.
In February 1945, he and 1,500 paratroopers jumped onto Tagaytay
Ridge near Manila. They marched into a city where 17,000 Japanese soldiers had
been ordered to fight to the death. His regiment suffered a fifty percent
casualty rate.
Serling was wounded twice. Shrapnel tore through his wrist and
knee. The knee would buckle for the rest of his life. His wife grew accustomed
to hearing him fall on the stairs.
But the injury that scarred him most wasn't physical.
It was watching his best friend die.
His name was Melvin Levy. A Jewish private from Brooklyn. The
platoon comedian. The guy who kept everyone's spirits up, who found humor even
in hell.
After weeks of brutal combat, the exhausted paratroopers were
pinned down in muddy foxholes, surrounded by enemy forces, running low on
ammunition.
Then they heard it: U.S. Army planes approaching.
Supply drop.
Heavy crates began falling from the sky. Fifty-pound boxes of
supplies, a hundred or more, dropped without parachutes.
The men knew the drill. When you hear the planes, you take
cover. If one of those crates hit you, it would kill you instantly.
Most of the men scrambled into their foxholes.
But Melvin Levy stayed out in the open.
He was doing what he always did. Making jokes. Trying to lift
everyone's spirits.
Then one of the crates struck him.
It killed him instantly.
Rod Serling watched it happen.
One moment, his best friend was laughing. The next moment, he
was gone. Killed not by an enemy bullet, not in combat, but by supplies
intended to keep him alive.
Serling led the funeral services. He placed a Star of David over
the grave.
He never forgot.
When Serling came home in 1946, he was twenty-one years old.
He'd earned the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and the Philippine Liberation
Medal. He wore a paratrooper bracelet on his left wrist. He'd wear it every
single day for the rest of his life.
But he also came home with nightmares. His daughter Anne would
later remember hearing him wake up screaming, dreaming that the enemy was
coming at him.
Serling said it himself: "I was bitter about everything and
at loose ends when I got out of the service. I think I turned to writing to get
it off my chest."
He tried writing realistic dramas about social issues. Racism.
War. Injustice. But network executives kept censoring him. Too controversial.
Too political. Too angry.
So Serling realized something brilliant: if he wrapped his
social commentary in science fiction and fantasy, he could say things that
would never be allowed in realistic drama.
In 1959, he created The Twilight Zone.
Over five seasons, he wrote ninety-two of the show's 156
episodes. Again, and again, he returned to the same theme: In the blink of an
eye, everything can change. Life can end absurdly, randomly, without warning or
justice.
Episode nineteen was called "The Purple Testament."
It's set in the Philippines, 1945. An American lieutenant gains the ability to
see which of his men will die next.
One of the soldiers who dies in the episode is named Levy, Melvin Levy.
Sterling honored his friend by name, ensuring that the man who
made soldiers laugh in hell would never be forgotten.
Death in The Twilight Zone is rarely heroic. It's absurd.
Random. Unfair.
Because that's what Rod Serling learned in the Philippines:
death doesn't care about justice.
Sometimes a man tries to lift his friends' spirits, and supplies
meant to save him kill him instead.
That's the world. That's the twilight zone between what should
happen and what does.
Rod Serling smoked constantly, trying to cope with memories that
never left him. On June 28, 1975, during open-heart surgery, he suffered a
heart attack on the operating table.
He died at age fifty.
But what he created outlived him.
The Twilight Zone has never truly gone off the air. And at the
heart of it all—behind every twist ending, every moment of cosmic irony—is a
twenty-one-year-old paratrooper watching his best friend die in the most absurd
way imaginable.
That moment became art.
Rod Serling took the worst thing he ever saw and transformed it
into 156 episodes exploring what it means to be human in an irrational
universe.
And every time you watch The Twilight Zone, every time reality
tilts sideways and reveals something darker underneath, you're experiencing
what Rod Serling felt in 1945 when his friend stopped telling jokes and never
spoke again.
Melvin Levy died in the Philippines.
Rod Serling made sure the world would never forget.
Because that's what artists do with trauma. They don't just
survive it. They transform it into something that helps others understand the
incomprehensible randomness of existence.
Serling spent thirty years turning his worst memories into
stories that explored fate, mortality, justice, and the cruel absurdity of the
universe. He gave voice to the darkness he'd witnessed, wrapping it in science
fiction so audiences would listen.
And we did listen. We're still listening.
The Twilight Zone endures not because of its special effects or
plot twists, but because Rod Serling understood something fundamental about
being human: we're all living in the space between what should be and what is.
Between justice and chaos. Between meaning and randomness.
He learned that truth in a muddy foxhole in 1945.
He spent the rest of his life helping us understand it too.
The Life of Chaim Vital by Rabbi Yerachmiel
Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1479-30
Rabbi Chaim Vital (sometimes referred to as Rabbi Chaim Vital
Calabrese, since his family was from Calabria, Italy) was born c. 1543 and
raised in Safed. Rabbi Chaim is renowned primarily as the recorder and editor
of the teachings of 'the Holy Ari' (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria), although he himself
was also an accomplished kabbalist and writer.
Rabbi Chaim's father, Rabbi Yosef was famed as an expert scribe
whose tefillin were much sought after, having been written in holiness and
purity, and with special Kabbalistic intentions. Rabbi Yosef Caro said in the
name of his maggid (an angelic teacher) that half the world existed by virtue
of Rabbi Yosef Vital's tefillin.
Rabbi Chaim studied the revealed aspects of Torah [Scripture,
Talmud, Midrash, Jewish Law] under Rabbi Moshe Alshich, one of the foremost
rabbis in Safed. Rabbi Yosef Caro [Author of Shulchan Aruch ["Code of
Jewish Law"], at the behest of his maggid, advised Rabbi Alshich to invest
as much effort in his young student as possible, for he would be Rabbi Caro's
successor as the leading decider of Torah law.
At the same time, Rabbi Chaim studied Kabbalah under the leading Kabbalistic
luminary in the world in that period, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero (Ramak). One of the
senior kabbalists living in Safed, Rabbi Shabtai Lapidot, recognizing that
Rabbi Chaim was destined for greatness, urged the young man to extract himself
from all worldly matters and devote himself to the study of Kabbalah, promising
him that he would reach unimaginably lofty levels.
Indeed, in the year 1569, at the relatively young age of 26, Rabbi
Chaim began writing - based on the teachings of Ramak -- a commentary on Zohar,
the primary text of Kabbalah. However, by the following year Rabbi Chaim's life
took a completely different direction.
In the year 1570, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (the Arizal) came to Safed
from Egypt. Initially Rabbi Chaim was not attracted to the Arizal, but after
the passing of his teacher, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, he became attached to the
Arizal, quickly becoming his chief disciple. He tells that Ramak appeared to
him in a dream a few months after his passing, and when Rabbi Chaim adjured him
to tell him the truth - whether they studied Kabbala according to his system or
according to the Arizal's in the Heavenly Academy - his former teacher replied:
"Both approaches are true. However, my approach is the simple
one, suitable for beginners in the wisdom of Kabbala, whereas the teachings of
your teacher [the Arizal] are deeper and are the primary approach. I, too, in
the Heavenly Academy, study only according to the approach of your
master."
In the initial stages of Rabbi Chaim's initiation into the Arizal's
new approach to Kabbala, Both the intensity of their learning and its
tremendous quantity and complexity affected Rabbi Chaim strongly. He confessed
to his mentor that he could not retain or integrate all of the vast wisdom that
was being bestowed upon him.
Rabbi Luria simply told him not to worry. He has a plan. The next day he
announced that they would travel to Tiverya ('Tiberias') together.
Upon arrival, they rented a small boat and rowed southward on Lake Kinneret
['the "Sea" of Galilee'] in the direction of the Tomb of Rabbi Meir
Baal HaNes. About halfway there, the Ari slowed the boat and carefully scanned
the water, searching for a certain spot.
At a point opposite the arches of the Ancient Synagogue of Tiberias, which
appeared to Rabbi Chaim to be no different from the rest of the lake, the Ari
stopped, lowered a flask into the water, filled it, and handed it to Rabbi
Chayim.
"Drink this!" he ordered his disciple. "It is water
from the well of Miriam from which our forefathers drank in the wilderness.
They were called the 'Generation of Knowledge', and once you have partaken of
this water, it will cure you and you shall forget nothing I teach you."
[1]
"From that time on," wrote Rabbi Vital, "I began to enter the
depth of this wisdom."
Within a year of his initiation into the Arizal's teachings, Rabbi Chaim had
become famous throughout Israel and the Diaspora as one of the great
kabbalists. When the Arizal passed on in 5332 (1572 CE), a mere two years after
Rabbi Chaim had begun studying with him, Rabbi Chaim was almost universally
regarded as his successor. In fact, the Ari had already revealed to him that
the reason he had moved to Safed is that Eliyahu HaNovi had instructed him to
do so solely to teach Rabbi Chayim.[2]
The Arizal was not accustomed to record his teachings in writing.
Many of his disciples, however, recorded his oral teachings, despite the
Arizal's explicit prohibition to do so. He had given only Rabbi Chaim
permission to record his teachings.
After the Arizal's passing In the year 1572, when the population of
Safed was decimated by a terrible plague, Rabbi Chaim gathered all the
manuscripts of his fellow disciples and began editing and organizing them.
Today these are known as Kitvei Arizal - the Writings of the Holy Ari. He began
teaching the Kabbalistic insights he had received from his master to his many
disciples and thus he became the revered leader of a significant group of
kabbalists. He also gained a reputation as a miracle worker, a healer and a
master of practical kabbala. He was able to discern the nature and history of
the souls of men.
In 1587 Rabbi Chaim was appointed a leading judge in the rabbinical
courts in Jerusalem by his teacher, Rabbi Moshe Alshich. He remained there for
several years and then returned to Safed. He moved to Damascus in 5354 (1594)
where he passed away in 5380 (1620 CE) at the age of seventy-seven.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sources: Compiled and adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from various classic
sources, including Shem HaGedolim; and from the Ascent
of Safed and KabbalaOnline websites.
Why this week? Thursday night-Friday, Nisan 30, is the
Hilula/yahrzeit of Rabbi Chayim Vital.
Biographic note:
Rabbi Chaim Vital [of blessed memory: 5303 - 30 Nisan 5380 (1543 - April 1620)]
Student of Rabbis Moshe Alsheich and Moshe Cordevero, but best known as the
main disciple of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria and the authoritative redactor of his
doctrines, as recorded in Etz Chaim ("Tree of Life", Pri Etz Chaim ("Fruit
of the Tree of Life"), and Shmoneh Sha'arim ("Eight Gates"). He
was the author of several books of his own as well.
(For teachings of Rabbi Chayim
Vital) (for stories of Rabbi Chaim
Vital)
Footnotes:
1[for more details, see my story #446]
2… "Your entire being did not come down to this world except to rectify
his soul, because he has a very precious soul. And through you (i.e., the
wisdom you will impart and the spiritual work you will do with him), he will
merit wisdom and a great light will shine through him to the entire people of
Israel." [for more details, see my story #1130][a very precious soul: It
is recorded hat the Arizal hinted that he was an incarnation of Rabbi Shimon
bar-Yochai, and that Chayim Vital was an incarnation of Rabbi Akiva, the main
teach of Rabbi Shimon bar-Yochai.]
Milestone Moshe Timor,
89, Radio Broadcaster and narrator, https://www.news1.co.il/Archive/001-D-517650-00.html
Milestone: Elliot
Engel, 79, https://www.timesofisrael.com/longtime-us-congressman-eliot-engel-whose-defeat-augured-surge-in-anti-israel-sentiment-dies-at-79/
Inyanay Diyoma
Day 918 and 919 since Oct. 7th Day 43/44 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury start of week
132
The US talks with Iran
after 21 hours at the Bazaar failed. One did not have to receive direct Nevua
(Prophecy) from HASHEM to predict that!
There comes a time when
one cannot ignore anti-Semitism of the right and the National Socialist (NAZIS)
of the left and their attempt to take over the Democrat Party in the USA.
From Lynette W. M. a
quote from Rev. Jordan Wells:
It’s All About Israel — And the Nazi Wing of the GOP Is Melting
Down
Wake up, America.
What we’re seeing explode on X right now isn’t some random
“disagreement.” It’s a full-blown split in the Republican Party over
antisemitism.
A small but loud faction has fully embraced demonic conspiracy
theories about Israel and the Jewish people. They’re furious that President
Trump remains strongly pro-Israel and refuses to tolerate antisemitism in our
ranks.
They rage every time Trump stands with our ally Israel —
especially now as he takes decisive action against terrorists and backs Israel
against radical threats.
These people aren’t “America First.”
They’re the Nazi wing of the party — the ones who get triggered
by strong support for Israel and immediately pivot to Jew-hatred disguised as
“criticism.”
True patriots know: Supporting Israel isn’t weakness — it’s
strength. It’s moral clarity against evil. Trump gets it. He’s delivering for
America and standing firm with our democratic ally in the Middle East.
The rest? They’re exposing themselves.
Purge the anti-Semites. No room for Nazi sympathizers in the
MAGA movement.
Trump is pro-Israel because he’s pro-America.
If that bothers you… maybe you’re not on the right side after
all.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-iran-talks-move-to-third-round-as-trump-claims-no-difference-to-him-if-deal-reached/ & https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425335
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-says-navy-destroyers-working-to-de-mine-strait-of-hormuz/
More Nukhba eliminated
in Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425290
Launcher destroyed
before firing. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425343
IDF
forces located and destroyed a bomb-making laboratory in Tulkarem on Friday,
acting on intelligence information, the military said. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425345
IDF deals a heavy blow
to Hezballah. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425292
Friday
night, IDF soldiers conducted targeted raids on terror infrastructure in
southern Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425317
Spain banned from Gaza
Board. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425296
180+ terrorist
eliminated in one minute. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425307
Trying to stone a
shepherd to death, Arab shot dead. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425320
"The
campaign is not yet over, but it is already clear that we have achieved
historic accomplishments," Netanyahu said. "I want to remind everyone
where we were: Iran tried to encircle Israel in a stranglehold. They sought to
choke us, and now we are choking them. They threatened our destruction, and now
they are fighting to survive." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425323
Peace Council to hold
talks in Cairo. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425325
Over 500 pro-Pally
protestors arrested. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425339
The
US Department of State announced on Saturday that three Iranian nationals were
arrested following the termination of their lawful permanent resident status by
Secretary of State Marco Rubio. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425342
Not the 36 Righteous
People. https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/04/11/frances-macron-says-discussed-iran-ceasefire-ukraine-with-turkeys-erdogan/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/orthodox-christian-pilgrims-flock-to-jerusalem-for-holy-fire-ceremony/
https://www.foxnews.com/world/irans-supreme-leader-severely-disfigured-us-strikes-report
https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-reportedly-forming-new-unit-to-tackle-iran-spying-cases/
Apr. 13th
Day 920 since Oct. 7th Day 45 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
The
Judges were in session about the law for the army. The microphones were
supposed to be off. One Judge to the other: “Q: What do you say Haggai? A: I
say, it is our job to dismantle the whole Torah Learning.” This is their wicked
plan to destroy the only thing that has kept Am Yisrael alive for 3338 years
since the Exodus. This is a wicked generation of ‘Judges’.
The Iranian Blockade of
Hormuz backfires as the USN to enforce a blockade and end China’s oil and
missile shipments to and from Iran. Wow two can play at the blockade game.
Trump even considering limited air strikes to put pressure on Iran.
Read the headline below
and then you will understand why Israel is having only small Holocaust
Ceremonies and Independence Day gatherings.
The
Home Front Command is expected to announce significant restrictions ahead of
Israel’s 78th Independence Day celebrations. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425379
https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/hungary-election-results-orban-b2dbd42a?mod=hp_lead_pos2
This man is Jewish but
loves too much non-Jewish women. Poor fellow never
learned modesty or to
live a Torah life.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/04/12/gaza-aid-flotilla-aims-to-break-israeli-blockade/
Spain rebuked for
effigy of Netanyahu. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425389
Law of Nuisances too
loud the Mosque Speakers. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425376
Woman who drove car
into café indicted. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425369
The
IDF Spokesperson's Unit announced that over the past week, Givati Brigade
soldiers identified Hezbollah terrorist activity from within the government
hospital in Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425367
Bint Jbeil
(When I hear the Hebrew Spoke it sounds like ‘binge bail’ but the spelling
gives the correct way of speaking) is the main center of Hezballah terrorism in
south Lebanon. Over 100 terrorists have been killed and dozens of buildings
bombed from the air.
Mida Knegged Mida
(measure for measure): The soldiers of the 13th Battalion
of the Golani Brigade conducted a second raid on a Hezbollah terrorist
infrastructure site in southern Lebanon, in which Staff Sergeant Touvel Yosef
Lifshiz was killed during an encounter on April 7th, 2026. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425363
Right now Israel has a
red light from Trump on dealing with Iran but the light could change anytime. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425378
During a
meeting with soldiers, Minister Katz revealed the name of the operation along
the front line of villages-“Silver Plow." The operation focuses on
levelling terror infrastructure and houses used by Hezbollah as launch and
firing positions against Israel. Col. Avraham told me that the
cranes and bulldozers are having a lot of trouble due to the fact that the
population used heavy boulders for walls. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425375
Op-Ed Giulio Meotti Ten
Years Ago, Trump warned of “no-go zones in Europe”. Will Europe be a wasteland?
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425384
Terrorists who capture
Jews eliminated: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425373
I have a
huge HaKaros HaTov for his help in understanding problems with light bulb
sockets in Israel during my integration into Israel. He is Charedi and a
student of great Rabbis. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425393
Stress among Holocaust
Survivors: Around
50 Holocaust survivors were harmed in their homes during the campaign against
Iran, while many others are struggling with constant fear due to a lack of
adequate shelter during sirens. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425394
Something to learn from
Hungary’s Judicial Reform: "A bunch
of lunatics have
been
shouting in the streets here for a year that the judicial reform would destroy
democracy in Israel and that we would soon become
Hungary," Rothman wrote.
"And
today we discovered that in Hungary it is possible to replace the 'dictator'
through
democratic elections. He even called to congratulate the winner."
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425392
Op-Ed on visiting the
Death Camps: By Rabbi Shlomo Aviner:
Among his suggestions: Cancel the Poland student trips and
give all the money to organizations that grant assistance and support to
Holocaust survivors. There are many such organizations, and you can find them
by yourself. That's far less complicated than all of the logistics of traveling
abroad. I would like to mention one worthy organization that distributes free
medicines to the poor, including many Holocaust survivors: “Chaverim
L’Refuah" [Friends for Healing]. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425406
Kiryat
Shmona Mayor Avichai Stern called for decisive action against the threat posed
by the Hezbollah terror organization to residents of his city.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425413
Two soldiers moderately
injured. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425383
Op=Ed Ariel Kahane. The
“Dictator” is going home. https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/13/the-dictator-is-going-home/
Antisemitic censorship.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/12/ireland-national-concert-hall-cancels-mda-fundraiser-october-7/
Uganda ready to help
Israel. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h1ukefqhwl
Bank HaPoalim willing
to help offices until living quarters. https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/r1g8h1chbx
A
rare wild ass foal was born at the Ramat Gan Safari.
https://www.ynetnews.com/environment/article/rkzghxq2zl
Almost half of the
young German Muslims hold Islamic attitudes. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-892746
Russia and Ukraine
Orthodox Easter Ceasefire Violations. https://www.jpost.com/international/internationalrussia-ukraine-war/article-892712
(CENTCOM)
has announced that it will be sending underwater drones to help clear the
Strait of Hormuz. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-892741
Apr. 14th
Day 921 since Oct. 7th Day 46 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
The blockade has
started and one ship snuck through. Will the marines board by helicopter? Tune
in next time for the next episode.
Tension with Iran
increases and more restrictions return.
Sgt. Major falls in
Lebanon due to accident. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425452
Holocaust survivor,
whom I thought was closer to my age, makes Aliyah the second house up the block. https://www.timesofisrael.com/over-80-years-after-fleeing-the-nazis-a-survivor-moves-to-israel-finally-home/
Rabbinical Council
thanks President Trump. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425424
Direct hit in Nahariya.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425425
Amb. Mike Huckabee on
the Shoah. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425412
Israel’s Amb. On Iran’s
Lies. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425391
Anti-Semite running for
office. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425414
Israel’s
ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, strongly criticized Finance Minister Bezalel
Smotrich for his remarks directed at German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425460
Vending Machine
Protest. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425457
IRGC makes more
threats. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425453
68 Arabs try to sneak
into Israel in Garbage Truck.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skx7aacnzx
Hezballah threat. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425451
Holocaust Survivor and
her fallen grandson. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425440
Apr. 15th
Day 922 since Oct. 7th Day 47 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
We are receiving up to
200 rockets and a number of drones each day from Lebanon. 50% are from the area
south of the Litani River. “Controlled mostly by the IDF.” The truth is that
Hezballah dug into the rocks in the forest and have many caves with supplies
there.
Israel-Lebanon begin
earnest talks. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425487
Mossad
head David Barnea addressed the campaign against Iran, intelligence operations
in the heart of Tehran, and the continuation of activities in Iran.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425475
Israel is no longer
under existential threat. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425483
Iranian Pressure for
more rockets. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425486
10 Paratroopers
wounded. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425482
Four
Border Police soldiers from the Beit Horon base, including two medics, were sent
to serve prison sentences in a military jail after lighting a barbecue during
Shabbat within the base. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425480
Yesterday, she cut a
military deal with Israel but today she is roasted. https://www.foxnews.com/world/trump-blasts-close-ally-meloni-says-shes-failing-us-iran
Charedi Beach Tragedy. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425504
Lt. Col. Wounded. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425496
Four more Gaza Tunnels
destroyed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425485
3 Hezballah terrorists
surrender. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425491
When one branch of
government goes haywire. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425517
The
Shin Bet and Northern District Police’s central unit revealed today (Wednesday)
a serious espionage affair: Shomou Abu Abed, an Israeli citizen and resident of
Nazareth, was arrested in March on suspicion of committing serious security
offenses on behalf of an Iranian agent.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425519
Iran restoring its
missile bases. https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/15/satellite-images-reveal-iran-restoring-its-missile-cities/
China supplying Iran
with satellite data on US bases. https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/15/report-china-gave-iran-access-to-satellites-to-strike-us-bases/
Apr. 16th
Day 923 since Oct. 7th Day 48 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
I cancelled my flights
finally this week one on-line and one with the AI that did not cancel it last
week. It took me a lot of time and energy.
Unknown to all of us is
what Trump is negotiating and what he is willing to give to Iran. Hannity says
one thing that I hope is closer to the truth. The Israeli left news stations
are saying that the man who criticized Biden for giving Iran $15 Billion is talking
about giving them up to $250 Billion so as the X-files say: “The Truth is out
there.” On one hand, he is closing off completely Hormuz to Iran and on the
other hand he is holding out an olive branch. The IDF hasn’t the foggiest idea.
In Lebanon, he has
arranged for a telephone conversation between their president and PM Netanyahu.
The kink in the keg is Hezballah. Still they are sending drones and rockets and
we are bombing Bint Jbeil. With face to face fights on the ground.
Hamas is in control of
Gaza and Iran has repaired a lot of clogged missile launch sites.
In the meantime, Trump
and others have Tsoros at home. https://www.foxnews.com/us/dc-curfew-ends-teen-takeover-fears-clock-city-braces-chaos-amid-spring-break-mayhem
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/15/satellite-images-reveal-iran-restoring-its-missile-cities/
The dictators of the
leftist court means unequal branches of government. https://www.timesofisrael.com/high-court-weighs-petitions-urging-ben-gvirs-ouster-but-seems-hesitant-to-back-them/
Shabbos Times: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/shabat
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/15/erdogan-attacks-israel-no-power-can-wag-a-finger-at-turkey/
IDF terms for ceasefire
in Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425575
Critical Condition: A
suspected hit-and-run incident occurred Tuesday afternoon in Or Yehuda, where
an 11-year-old girl was struck by an electric scooter ridden by two minors. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425576
There is always a Kappo
Jew in every crowd. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425569
Hezballah terrorist in
bushes eliminated. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425581
US stops 10 ships
trying to break blockade. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-04-16/live-updates-893165
Hezballah and Iran are
one. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425563
Force 100 are to return
to front. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425583
Secretary of Defense to
Iran: “Choose wisely.” https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425607
Israel meets with Marie
Le Pen. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h1h2fz0nzx
Rehab of wounded
soldiers. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/sy1evxc2zg
Photos of Nazis left at
Haifa Health Bureau.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-893188
European
officials are pushing to form a "European NATO" in case the United
States decides to stop participating in
the alliance, with the main focus on replacing American assets on the
continent, the Wall Street Journal
reported on Wednesday. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-893166
Apr. 17th
Day 924 since Oct. 7th Day 49 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
Did Trump stop the war
and the evil empire will rise again to fight the Jedi with more missiles and a
rebuilt Hezballah? By then there will be more Lasers and Arrow 4 or Arrow 5.
The total to 25,644 people who have died during service to the
country since 1860, when Jews left the Jerusalem Old City walls to establish
new neighborhoods in the Holy Land. https://www.timesofisrael.com/170-soldiers-added-to-list-of-israels-fallen-since-last-memorial-day/
Two examples of French
Injustice but there is a True Judge who rules.
Analysis of what is the
problem in Yarden. https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/17/jordan-faces-a-dangerous-bind-between-hamas-and-israel/
3 Hamas Commanders are
Shachidim. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425593
Lebanese crossing the
Litani. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425645
IDF
and Border Police forces under the Judea and Samaria Division on Friday
concluded a week of extensive operational activity, during which a significant
blow was dealt to the organizational and financial infrastructure of terror
groups in the area, foremost among them Hamas. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425648
New Polls but no real
change. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425638
US
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) responded with skepticism on Thursday to
President Donald Trump's announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and
Hezbollah. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425618
The moral disgrace of
the Vatican – Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu Shlita
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425646
A wonderful
new month of Iyar, a healthy, happy, restful and peaceful Shabbos,
Rachamim
Pauli
