The Shomrei Emunim Rebbe About the World Situation and 5772

Someone sent me the pdf above which is a scan from a magazine.  I think it's the BaKehila magazine, but I'm not sure. I also don't know when it was published. The Shomrei Emunim Rebbe is quoted there, and among other things he says, he says some interesting things about the past, present, and future. I will begin the translation from page 3 of the pdf:

The Shomrei Emunim Rebbe remembers the days of trepidation [during WWII] in the Holyland, and it is logical to say that it was an exciting sight that made waves in its time and for generations.

Shomrei Emunim Rebbe (SER): When the Rasha [Hitler, via Rommel] YM"S announced that within 48 hours he would enter Eretz Yisrael and knock down the stones of the Kotel and until then, his evil work would not have been complete, my father ZT"L sent me to the Maharitz Dushinsky to set up a day of prayer, and indeed, a day of prayer was set up next to the grave of the Or HaHayim Hakadosh.

I stood there not far from the Husiatyn Rebbe and I heard that he said that he saw over the grave - the name of Yud-Kei-Vav-Kei Blessed be He shining brightly, and this is a sign that [Rommel] will not be successful to enter Eretz Yisrael. And this is what occurred. And it's amazing that the elder Rav Shlomke of Zhvil ZY"A said, "I don't know why they're making such noise - he's not going to enter Eretz Yisrael."

The Toldos Avraham Yitzhak Rebbe (TAYR): My grandfather said that at the time of the coming of Mashiah, they will know who expelled the wicked one from Eretz Yisrael.

SER: On 26 Iyyar, 5705, when we were informed about the downfall of the wicked one [Hitler] YM"S, my father ZT"L thought a little and said, "This will be child's play compared to the war to come."

We were amazed to hear his words as we already heard and knew about the vastness of the destruction and we saw that indeed he knew exactly what happened in Europe. On the other hand, how could he say that it was child's play?! When 3 months had passed, on 5 Av, when they sent the atomic bomb over [Hiroshima and Nagasaki] Japan, and that small explosion killed about a quarter million people, then we understood the interpretation of the words.

The next war, which will be nuclear, indeed will shrink in comparison all the awesome wars that came before it. We no longer need a developed example in order to believe that hundreds of millions could die within a number of hours, Hashem should have mercy.

TAYR: For many years already, there has been a difficult situation in the world.

SER: The difficult situation is because people do not want to listen. Is this something sane? For both America and Europe, (Iyov 12:23) "He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them" was fulfilled in them [YY - already mentioned this and the Zohar that follows here] as they became crazy and transfered 85% of their manufacturing to China, and they are all left exhausted, and now, they need to borrow money.

The truth is that this is brought down in the holy Zohar [Va'era 32a] בההוא זמנא יתער עמא חד מסייפי עלמא על רומי חייבא, ויגח בה קרבא תלת ירחין, ויתכנשון תמן עממיא ויפלון בידייהו - [a nation from the end of the earth [namely, China] will wage war against evil Rome and will win]. We see that HKB"H took the world out of its natural course and is conducting it in a supernatural way. Also, what is happening in the Arab countries, we see wonders, but the most wonderous thing is that our community is asleep and doesn't understand. And this is how it was before the war in Europe, where my father ZT"L cried that a destruction is coming [YY - read the beginning of article in the pdf], but people didn't want to listen. The same thing is today - not that there will Has Veshalom be a destruction, but there will be a filtering, and this could happen even within a half-minute, as he brought down there, that they didn't know even one second beforehand.

TAYR: Are they able to do Teshuva at that moment?

SER: Who will have the patience and peace-of-mind to do Teshuva at such a moment? However, Hashem Yitbarach will help that the Jewish people, wherever they live in the world, will be saved, as we know that Eretz Yisrael in the future will spread across all the lands, and probably, Hashem, Who is good, will have mercy upon all of Kelal Yisrael wherever they are.

However, one needs to speak and say over these things, as the Abravanel writes that he requested from the leaders of his generation that they should speak and wake up the world with these matters of the War of Gog Umagog and the coming of Mashiah, as this will bring the Redemption closer. And the Baal Shem Tov ZY"A said about [the Abravanel] that he had the soul of Mashiah, and he said that at the time of the Expulsion of the Jews from Spain, if the Jewish people would have made Aliya to Eretz Yisrael, the Abravanel would have been the King Mashiah because he had the lineage until King David A"H, but because they did not make Aliya to Eretz Yisrael, the decrees of 5408 and 5409 were caused, and who knows what else happened.

I am not one who calculates the Ketz, but I said that the gematria of the verse (Zecharia 14:7) וְהָיָה לְעֵת-עֶרֶב, יִהְיֶה-אוֹר ["but it shall come to pass, that at evening time there shall be light"] the gematria of לעת ערב is 772 [YY - also mentioned here by Rav Fish,] as in this year, we will already see the light, and the verse (Yeshaya 60:20) כִּי יְהוָה, יִהְיֶה-לָּךְ לְאוֹר עוֹלָם ["for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light"] shall be fulfilled. However, we need to awaken the community that they should not sleep or slumber. The world is teetering and we are sleeping.

Tzanzer Rebbe ZT"L 37 Years Ago on Vayetze and the End of Days:

Kikar has an article (in Hebrew) about the Tzanz-Klausenberger Rebbe ZT"L, who said some interesting things 37 years ago (Parshat Vayetze, 5735) about the Geula.  His words were put into writing for the first time recently.  Among what he said:

• If we would be allowed down into the real cave of Me'arat Hamachpela, Mashiah would definitely have come already.
• Rav Yosef ibn Yahye, among those exiled from Spain 500 years ago, predicted that the Geula would be in 5700, a little earlier or a little later - which is an unusual prediction to be so much later than the time of the prediction.
• It's too bad that Kever Rahel is covered as it really should be out in the open for people to easily pray there
• The Mazal of the Yishmaelim knows that it's bad (for them) to allow the Jews to pray at holy places as doing so will bring the Redemption, so they do whatever they can to prevent it.
• The Yishmaelim are really Kofrim.  They appear to be righteous [as far as Bein Adam Lamakom goes], but then they join in with the Communists and Edom and show their true colors.  This weakens their power.
• Yaakov Avinu cried when he saw Rahel Imeinu because she would not be buried with him.  The idea is that in the End of Days, the Jews would not be able to reach Yaakov Avinu's actual burial place, so only Rahel's tomb would be available to cry upon when we need a place to pour out our hearts to Hashem.  Rahel knows full-well from her father's deception at the wedding what it means to show and trick the whole world into thinking how wonderful you are, but really be a cheat.  She is the best candidate to come before the Heavenly Throne to show the difference between Yishmael and Yisrael.  That is what is meant by "ותרץ ותגד לאביה" - and she ran and told her father - it means her Heavenly Father.  She will pray to Him and describe how Yisrael are really Tzaddikim and Yishmael are really Resha'im.  [YY- adding my 2 cents here - we need to make sure that this is an accurate description of us.]
• When we see Jews having peace and quiet and settling among the nations, that's when we have to worry about problems from the nations.  On the other hand, when we see the nations all vowing to destroy the Jews, that's when we should be happy and know that the nations' accounting is full and that our salvation is near.

The Wandering Little Jews

Boro Park Scoop:

The story is almost exactly identical to the previous incident which occurred on Motzei Yom Kippur. In that story a 2-year-old child was found wandering the streets by a Shomrim Volunteer. This time a child was found by a Hatzolah Volunteer at 3:30AM, early Tuesday morning.

Sources tell BoroParkScoop.com, that Boro Park Hatzolah has a vehicle staffed by two volunteers which drive the streets of Boro park during the night, and respond as a first response to any call – thus enabling Hatzolah to maintain their 2 minute response time.

The Hatzolah vehicle, known at “Truck 1″, was driving on 53rd Street and New Utrecht Avenue just after 3:30AM, when they noticed a 2-year-old child in pajamas walking down the street. They quickly stopped and held the child, and contacted Boro Park Shomrim and police to see if anyone reported a child missing. There wasn’t any such calls.

Shomrim quickly did what they had done in the previous incident, and had volunteers start knocking on doors to see if anyone was missing a child.

At approximately 4:20AM, the Shomrim hotline recieved a frantic phone call from a mother stating that their child was missing. Shomrim rushed the child to the home, and the mother and child were reunited.

Once again, the community thanks the dedicated volunteers of Hatzolah and Shomrim for being on the streets 24 hours a day saving lives, and keeping the streets safe.

(BoroParkScoop.com Newsroom)

I noticed that there are exactly 51 days between the 2 incidents.  This is the same number of days as the 51 days between Rosh Hodesh Elul and Hoshana Rabba, which is represented by the "Na" (נ"א) of Hosha"na" Rabba and אנא ה' הושיעה נא.

These incidents can be compared to the Jewish people who have left the traditions of the past and are wandering the streets of the world not knowing what to do. We are calling out אנא ה' הושיעה נא. Then, the Shomer Yisrael will pick us up and gather us home.

Rav Fish Submits English-Language PDF Entitled "Geula in 5772" - Part 2

In case you missed it, here's Part 1.



You can view it by clicking on the image above and then click "Download" on the right panel.

Hannuka Gematrias and Notrikons

Here

She'anu Mashkimim Ve'heim Mashkimim

Toledot: Braving the Economy, Occupy Gerar, Antisemitism's Beginnings

A few notes from Parshat Toledot:

Braving the Economy


26:12

וַיִּזְרַע יִצְחָק בָּאָרֶץ הַהִוא, וַיִּמְצָא בַּשָּׁנָה הַהִוא מֵאָה שְׁעָרִים; וַיְבָרְכֵהוּ, יְהוָה

And Isaac sowed in that land, and found in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him.


Rashi notes that Yitzhak Avinu was successful despite both harsh conditions for the land where he sowed and the harsh conditions of that year.


Baruch Hashem, Beli Ayin Hara, Israel has so far weathered the economic storm pretty well.  This BBC report tells of the difficulties, but still paints a moderately rosy picture of Israel's economy.


Occupy Gerar


After the Torah tells us how Yitzhak became wealthy, it explains how he became too wealthy for Avimelech, so much so, that Avimelech kicked him out:


26:16

וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִימֶלֶךְ, אֶל-יִצְחָק:  לֵךְ, מֵעִמָּנוּ, כִּי-עָצַמְתָּ מִמֶּנּוּ, מְאֹד

And Abimelech said unto Isaac: 'Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.'


Apparently, Yitzhak was the 1% and the rest of Gerar, i.e. the 99%, didn't like that too much.  In fact, verse 27 records that they actually hated him.  Of course, the occupiers blamed the Joooooos.  Who else?  They fought over wells, saying "The water is ours" - in other words, "You have too much money!  Give some of it to us!  Distribute the wealth!  I don't care what your father did - these wells belong to everybody!"  Socialism found its roots.


Antisemitism's Beginnings


27:41

וַיִּשְׂטֹם עֵשָׂו, אֶת-יַעֲקֹב, עַל-הַבְּרָכָה, אֲשֶׁר בֵּרְכוֹ אָבִיו; וַיֹּאמֶר עֵשָׂו בְּלִבּוֹ, יִקְרְבוּ יְמֵי אֵבֶל אָבִי, וְאַהַרְגָה, אֶת-יַעֲקֹב אָחִי

And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau said in his heart: 'Let the days of mourning for my father be at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.'


This eerily sounds exactly like today's headlines:

Egypt - Cairo Rally: One Day We'll Kill All Jews

Cairo, Egypt - Muslim Brotherhood rally in Cairo’s most prominent mosque Friday turned into a venomous anti-Israel protest, with attendants vowing to “one day kill all Jews.”

Syrian Front Heats Up - Even More Than Before

Israel, Jordan on alert over threatened Syrian revenge for 6 pilots' deaths

Nuke carrier leads US strike force into Syrian waters

בשאר אל-אסד = 599 = ואת הבהמה למינה

As much as the Syrian President wants to drag Israel into this, may Israel stay far away from it, but if it must get involved, may Hashem protect it from all harm.

Geula Update from Rav Fish - Toledot, 5772

From Rav Fish's latest:

• A lot more is discussed about דמשק (Damascus) and its tie-in to the Geula
• Rut 3:13 is mentioned twice in the Zohar as hinting to the Geula:

יג  לִינִי הַלַּיְלָה, וְהָיָה בַבֹּקֶר אִם-יִגְאָלֵךְ טוֹב יִגְאָל, וְאִם-לֹא יַחְפֹּץ לְגָאֳלֵךְ וּגְאַלְתִּיךְ אָנֹכִי, חַי-יְהוָה; שִׁכְבִי, עַד-הַבֹּקֶר.

13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part; but if he be not willing to do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth; lie down until the morning.'

and the gematria of the last 5 words with the letters = 773. The Sefat Emet says that the last 5 words of this verse refer to a Be'itah redemption. More is said about this too.

• As 5772 is the 4th year of the Shemitta cycle, which when applied to the Shemitta cycle within which Mashiah comes, is destined to have "plenty and not plenty".  This means that the plenty has begun, but not to its full potential until the 5th year.  The rains have Baruch Hashem begun in Eretz Yisrael immediately after the first recitation of Vetein Tal Umatar - the first night had a lot of rain, and within 2 weeks, they already received one third of the total annual rainfall for that year.  Rain is the clearest sign of plenty and sustenance.
• It was also recently publicized that Rav Chaim Kanievsky said that we're currently at the end of Ikveta Dimshiha.
• A Midrash Peli'a says that when Sarah Imeinu foresaw that Moshe Rabbeinu would not enter Israel, she told Avraham Avinu to send away Hagar and Yishmael.  Perhaps since Yishmael's whole purpose of being in Eretz Yisrael is for the Redemption and she saw that Moshe wouldn't enter - meaning the Final Redemption would be delayed, she had no use for Yishmael to be around her, so she asked Avraham to send her away.
• The Zohar says that Ateret Hayesod has the aspect of gold.  The Dome of the Rock represents Ateret Hayesod.  The Yishmaelim have the power to rule over this place due to the fact that they keep Berit Milah.
• The Gr"a on לי נקם ושלם לעת תמוט רגלם [Vengeance is Mine, and recompense, against the time when their foot shall slip;] says that the revenge against the other nations will only come after they have fallen economically.
• Just like the last 2 exiles were Greece and then Rome, the same is true with the economic collapse - it first starts with Greece and then moves on to Italy.
• He has a Torah Code chart about Jonathan Pollard from Rav Glazerson.  The Ariza"l writes that "Yehonatan" is Yesod when "David" is Malchut.  This could be why Rav Eliyahu helped him change his name from Yonatan to Yehonatan.

Minister Yishai at Kever Yosef

Arutz Sheva:

“It is a great privilege to be here,” Yishai said. “We pray that G-d, in the merit of the righteous Joseph, will bring us the Messiah and the full redemption. I call on everyone here to take upon themselves and urge others to love their fellow Jews without hesitation. The Tomb of Joseph belongs to us. The visit by this group is very important and I hope that as a result we will be able to correct the injustice of a lack of a permanent Jewish presence here.”

Zohar on the Next War

(hat tip for video: Rafi)

Ma'amar Darach Kochav Beya'akov in Zohar Hadash Parshat Balak (from Hashem1.net.  Also, the Zohar with the Sulam can be found here)

ובחודש בול [שהוא מרחשון] יפלו שונאי ישראל, ויעברו אלו הגילולים שיישארו בארץ הקדושה, ומשם ילכו [ישראל] ויעוררו מלחמות על העולם, ובעוד שאלו יעשו מלחמות עם כל בני העולם, יתקבצו בניו של אדום על הארץ הקדושה, ויתפשו אותה, וישלטו עליה י"ב חודשים.

לסוף י"ב חודשים יתגעש וירעש כל העולם. ובין הזמנים האלו, תלך השכינה ותחזור למערה של משה. ויסתתר מלך המשיח תשעה ירחים, כירחים של היולדת, ובאלו ט’ ירחים כמה צירים וחבלים יקבל על עצמו.

...

אחר שיעברו תשעה ירחים אלו, אז יעורר הקב"ה את המשיח הזה, ויוציאו מגן עדן, ואותו יום שיצא [מגן עדן] יזדעזע כל העולם, כי כל בני העולם יחשבו שימותו.

As we are in Hodesh Bul right now, but not much longer, will Israel awaken wars upon the world?  Will Edom rule Israel for 12 months?  Would 9 months later put us at Av 5773?

May Hashem help us all and spare us all of this and go directly to the Geula via miracles.  May we see Hashem's salvation very soon.

Amazing Story of Bitahon

Rav Avrohom Alter of Yeshivas Migdal Torah of Chicago recently told over an amazing story of faith in Hashem to provide for one's needs.

Click here - the story is at the 45-minute mark until almost the end of the recording.

Old News Clips About Israel

FuzzyMemories.tv is a site that has old TV clips from Chicago.  Some of these clips include national and international news.  Here are some of the ones that have to do with Israel.

Here's a November,1973 clip talking about prisoner exchanges after the Yom Kippur War.


Here's an ABC News clip from Israel's handover of El Arish in May,1979.  Also, a "Piece Conference" in Be'er Sheva.


In this October, 1979 clip, President Carter's Secretary of State got mad at settlement expansion.  Shocking!


Israel is briefly mentioned in this interesting March, 1980 clip - "60 Minutes" on Libya's Qaddafi


Near the end of this November, 1982 clip, we have the Israeli embassy in Quito being bombed, Arafat ימ"ש rejecting Reagan's peace proposal - also shocking! - and trouble in South Lebanon.

Russian Warships and CIA Spies

I thought this would be a cool post title even though the 2 stories are (seemingly) unrelated.

• Tomer Devorah and Soul Mazal both point out the irony and Mida Keneged Mida that CIA spies were confirmed to be compromised in Lebanon and Iran on the anniversary of the start of Jonathan Pollard's incarceration.  It shows that to successfully fight evil, one must be clean of evil.  (Think מי האיש הירא ורך הלבב)  May Pollard be released and may the CIA be successful in their next attempt.
• Debka and Haaretz report that according to the Syrian news agency, 3 Russian naval vessels on the Mediterranean were heading toward Syria to protect it from foreign interference.  As I mentioned previously, the Talmidei HaGr"a said in the name of the Gr"a that when Russian ships enter the Bosporus Strait, we need to wear our Shabbat clothes because Mashiah is coming soon.  While it seems from this report that these Russian ships were already in the Mediterranean, they are getting even closer to Israel by entering Syrian territorial waters.  (On the other hand, the Brisker Rav reportedly said that this sign of Russian ships coming via the Bosporus as a Geula sign only applied if this would have occurred in the Gr"a's time, and should not be considered a sign forever.  Nevertheless, the buildup of warships of one of the world's most powerful navies that close to Israel cannot be ignored.)

Geula Update from Rav Fish - Hayei Sarah, 5772

From Rav Fish's Latest:

• With what's going on in Syria, it's interesting what the Otzar Midrashim says that when Niron Mizrahi of Damascus falls, the Eastern kingdom will fall, and then, the salvation for Israel will sprout.
• David Hamelech captured Suria, but it didn't have the full status of Eretz Yisrael because it was captured before Eretz Yisrael proper was captured, says the Rambam on Demai 6:11.  So why did David Hamelech do so?  He knew that capturing Damascus was integral to getting the Beit Hamikdash.  (דמשק is the same letters as מקדש.  Also, אַפֵּךְ כְּמִגְדַּל הַלְּבָנוֹן צוֹפֶה פְּנֵי דַמָּשֶׂק - the Levanon refers to the Beit Hamikdash, says Shir Hashirim Rabba 7:10, and that is צופה פני דמשק, so there's a definite connection.)  Therefore, he tried to capture Suria to bring about the Beit Hamikdash being rebuilt, but it was premature.    Now that he captured Suria, he merited to see the light of the Beit Hamikdash prematurely in Bat Sheva - as he knew that the builder of the Beit Hamikdash would come via her.  This is why he cried profusely over Bat Sheva's first son who died, as he carried the completion of Malchut Beit David and the Beit Hamikdash.  It wasn't until Shelomo was born that David's kingdom shone.  The Zohar (No'ah 73b) compares Bat Sheva belonging to Uriah Hahiti at first and Eretz Yisrael belonging to the Canaanites at first as being the same sod.  This is because Bat Sheva represents the completeness of Eretz Yisrael.  Both Bat Sheva and Eretz Yisrael were given over to the Kelipa first.  
• Dina, the daughter of Yaakov, was switched in the womb with Yosef.  Therefore, she had the masculine qualities of "going out" and Yosef had feminine qualities too.  Pirkei DeRibbi Eliezer (38) says that Asenat was the daughter of Dina and Shechem and was sent away by Yaakov Avinu and ended up in Potifar's house.   "Emunat Itecha" (5757 p. 16) writes that Dina had the spark of Mashiah Ben Yosef within her so וַתֵּצֵא דִינָה is the gematria of משיח בן יוסף and the gematria of the Milui of דינה is also equal to משיח בן יוסף.  We see that Dina's job is to enter the Kelipa and work for Yosef and prepare the setting for Mashiah Ben Yosef - and this is called מדינה - i.e. the State of Israel comes from Dina - from the root of Dina, who is working in the Kelipa to prepare for Mashiah Ben Yosef.  [YY - Rav Fish emphasizes here that any person who doesn't keep Mitzvot cannot be a Mashiah, as many mistakenly think.]  By Dina being hidden in the box and not marrying Esav, Yaakov was punished - since her job was to join the Kelipa to produce Asenat, she wasn't supposed to be hidden anyways, so she could have helped Esav mend his ways, so this is why Yaakov Avinu was punished for this.
• The Zohar that talks about the 6.5 + 6.5 years after the 60 years - another girsa is really 6.5 + 6 years, which would put the end of the era at Pesah, 5772.  Rav Morgenstern's Yam Hahochma agrees to this dating.
• Rav Shimon Horvitz ZT"L, a Rosh Yeshiva of Sha'ar Hashamayim and Kabbalist, wrote in an approbation to a book in 5692:

I request from the honor of his Torah that he should organize well all the hints and novelties regarding our Redemption and the freedom of our souls, and he should publish it with success and Hashem should help him with this because with the darkness of this great and awesome exile, it is proper for all who have secrets and good hints regarding the Redemption that they should publicize them as they cause joy in the hearts of man and cause a strengthening of hope, and they are like cold water on a tired soul.

• The Malbim at the end of Daniel gave his Ketz and people asked him how he could do so.  He replied that תפח רוחן של מחשבי קצין only applied right after the Hurban, but not now.
• We saw the sudden passing of 3 Gedolei Yisrael, the Rashei Yeshivot of Mir, Beis Hatalmud and Beis Medrash Elyon.  The common thread of all three is that they were Lithuanian Gedolim who came from America who had big Yeshivot in Eretz Yisrael.  On a spiritual level, there is a clear hint from above that the spiritual connection of America and Eretz Yisrael took a huge blow and some of the Tzadikim who transported that positive influence are no longer with us.

Former Chief Rabbi Lau Talks Mashiah With Turkish TV

The interview is with Adnan Oktar, about whom you can read here. According to Wikipedia, he denies being a Holocaust denier, but the Guardian is skeptical. He appears to have done some Teshuva in that regard and having Rabbi Lau on definitely helps.

I heard lots of "Inshala", "Mashala", and some "El Hamdullah" in this interview. Otherwise, I only understood the English and Hebrew spoken. There was a lot of talk about the days of Mashiah in this 34.5 minute interview.

Hat tip Rafi

A Liberated Tunisia, a Liberated Yerushalayim

Elder of Ziyon quotes Tunisia Live (along with Elder's emphasis):

Tunisian Islamist party Ennahda invited Houda Naïm, a Hamas member of the Palestinian Legislative Council based in Gaza, to speak at a rally in Sousse, a coastal Tunisian city, this past Sunday. The event marked the first time in known memory a member of Hamas has addressed the Tunisian public.

Naïm praised the victory of the Tunisian people in establishing democracy, and stated her hope that the “liberation” of Tunisia would lead to the liberation of Palestine.

The event also saw a speech from Ennahda’s general secretary Hammadi Jebali, recently proposed by the party to be the new Prime Minister of Tunisia.

Jebali declared that the occasion was “a divine moment in a new state, and in, hopefully, a 6th caliphate,” referring to the historical system of Islamic monarchies.

The tone of this last comment is in sharp contrast to many of the party’s public statements, where it has denied any intention of instituting Sharia or Islamic law in the nascent democracy.

The general secretary also echoed Naïm’s words, stating, “The liberation of Tunisia will, God willing, bring about the liberation of Jerusalem.”

This is the democracy that Esav wanted for Yishmael? This is what it got. The beginning of the sixth caliphate. Neighbors Egypt and Libya are watching closely. Tunisia was the first to start the Arab Spring. It might be the first to bring about the Islamic Winter.

Not all is bad with the article, though.  At the end, when it calls for the liberation of Jerusalem, I agree. Hopefully, Hashem will soon liberate it from the Waqf.

ציון במשפט תפדה ושביה בצדקה

Recent Interesting Links - Parshat Hayei Sarah

• Dixie Yid has R' Moshe Weinburger Shlit"a talking about about Rav Finkel ZT"L. An excerpt:

I was זוכה to meet with the Rosh Yeshiva about 20 years ago and he asked me, "Moshe, do you ever think the Cubs will win the World Series?" I tried to imagine the effort the Rav Noson Tzvi put in to go from being that little boy with the Cub's hat, to the gadol that he became.

• Some crazy person, who injured and attempted to murder the former Rav of צפת, thinks he can bring the Geula by murdering Rav Ovadia Shlit"a. Rav Ovadia knows about the threat and has upgraded his security detail. Someone close to him said that we need to learn lessons from the murder of Baba Elazar ZT"L.
• Firecracker thrown at Rav Yoshiayu Pinto's house
• Rav Chaim Kanievsky recently said (Hebrew/English) that Hashem is closing accounts before Mashiah comes.  See also Neshama.
• Rav Ovadia on Iran: Hashem should nullify their advice and their swords should go into their hearts
• Someone on Ladaat asks: with all the Tzadikim dying, do we say מיתת צדיקים מכפרת or Has Veshalom do we say מפני הרעה נאסף הצדיק?
• Rabbi Steven Pruzansky on Modern Orthodoxy
• Video of an interview of residents of Oz Tzion, which was destroyed and being rebuilt
• Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak "doesn't know" if Israel is behind the explosion in Iran, but offers a prayer, saying, "I do not know, but may there be more such explosions."

Inspiring Article about Jewish Survival

Here by the Chief Rabbi of South Africa, Rabbi Warren Goldstein

Rav Fish on King David's Roots in Parshat Vayeira

Rav Fish has a pretty long essay (in Hebrew) about the roots of David Hamelech from this week's Perasha.

Rav Berland: Ahdut Will Defeat Iran

Rav Berland Shlit"a had a Shiur last night to 300 Hasidim in Yerushalayim, reports Behadrei Hareidim. He said that there will be open miracles as in the time of the wicked Haman so there is nothing to be concerned about as Ahdut will win.

May we truly become one people and defeat our enemies in that merit.

Another Moroccan Kabbalist's Body Reburied Whole

Arutz Sheva:

The body of Rabbi Reuven Ajeyani, Rosh Yeshiva of the Etz Chaim Yeshiva in Sefrou, Morocco was interred Wednesday in the Jerusalem Har Hamenuchot cemetery, 70 years after the rabbi passed on.

Rabbi Ajeyani was famous for his vast knowledge of Talmud and Kabbalah, and was known for his blessings that brought about Divine salvation for countless followers.

The body of Rabbi Ajeyani was found miraculously intact, without signs of decomposition, demonstrating his true virtue.

This reminds me of my post last year about Moroccan Kabbalist brothers Ribbi Avraham Tangi and Ribbi Shelomo Tangi, where the same occurred.

Recent Interesting Links

• Netanyahu's father-in-law, Shmuel Ben Artzi, passed away.  Kikar has the details of an old meeting he had with Rav Yaakov Galinsky from Hadera, both of whom were Talmidim of different branches of the Novardok Yeshiva.  It also mentions how he learned under the Steipler for a year, put up the Hazon Ish's first Sukkah, and many other interesting things.
• Rafi explains why he admired Rav Finkel.
• Aryeh Deri was interviewed about the early years of the Shas party.  Update: English translation here.
• A dog found drugs inside a Siddur.
• Rav Ovadia Shlit"a supports those who oppose demolition of homes and called Peace Now "Resha'im"
• Rabbi Michael Broyde on Modern Orthodoxy today
• Mystical Paths, Going Home and The Muqata talk about the Sarkozy/Obama open mic slip-up.
• HonestReporting has its "Guide for the Perplexed" glossary of terms (h/t EoZ)
• Mystical Paths on Rochel and Geula
• Mystical Paths has a follow-up to my previous post about a war with Iran
• Tomer Devorah shares some of her insightful thoughts

Germany and Italy Again for WW3?

Debka:

Germany has put its Air Force F-16 and Tornado warplanes in intensive training for a possible attack on targets in Iran, after taking part last week in a joint drill with the Israeli Air Force and other NATO members at the Italian Decimomannu air base on Sardinia.

Iran, for its part, is gearing up for a gloves-off reprisal against its attackers. DEBKA-Net-Weekly's coming issue out Friday has exclusive details on this menacing military buildup.

We know what the Gemara Megilla 6a-6b says about Rome keeping Germany in check and that when they get together, they destroy the world, like what happened in WW2.

This time, however, it seems that they will be fighting on the side of Am Yisrael - against Yishmael.  However, it is still a possibility that this will lead to "destroying the world" - whatever that exactly means.

May Hashem save us from all Tzarot.

Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, ZT"L

I did not merit to know the Rosh Yeshiva of the Mir, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel ZT"L, who passed away early this morning.  Nevertheless, I knew the Yeshiva he headed - "The Mir", as they say - as the premier Yeshiva in Israel.  The majority of the rabbis of the Yeshiva I attended in Israel learned at The Mir.

For some good posts about the life of this former Chicagoan, see:

R' Yair Hoffman
R' Harry Maryles
Neil Harris

Targum on Berit Bein Habetarim Notes Iran's Downfall

Both the Kol Emunim newsletter (p.1, left column) and Hashem1.net (from 5 years ago) note how Iran's downfall is noted by what's known as the Targum Yonatan on Parshat Lech Lecha.  (I linked to it 5 years ago too.)

If you see the Targum inside, it appears that the Targum Yerushalmi agrees to the Targum Yonatan that Iran's downfall is noted.

Hashem1.net notes from the wording of the Targumim that not only will its downfall occur, but its downfall will be such that it will never rise again.  Also, from the wording of the Targum Yonatan at least, it will cause the rise of the nation of the house of Israel.  May this occur speedily in our days.


Update: Some commenters (Anonymous and Josh) have pointed out that the original manuscript of Targum Yonatan had "Edom" instead of "Persia" and that some versions have "Persia" due to the censors.  I commented that it could be that the censors prophecied not knowing what they prophecied.  One possibly could use the same reasoning in this post which comes from Vayikra Rabba.

Eid-Al-Adha Coincides with Parshat Vayeira This Year

The Muslim holiday of Ein-Al-Adha, which commemorates Ibrahim's alleged willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael to Allah according to Muslim tradition, coincides with Parshat Vayeira this year. Parshat Vayeira, as many know, is the Parasha in which Avraham Avinu is willing to sacrifice Yitzhak Avinu on Mount Moriah.  In fact, it was Yishmael who was left behind with the donkey to whom he was compared. 

This convergence is a rare occurrence due to the fact that the Muslim calendar is solely lunar-based.  I don't know what the significance of this is, but I have a guess.
The last few times this occurred (based on the United States commemoration of this holiday):

Nov 7, 1848

Oct 23, 1882

Nov 10, 1913

Oct 19, 1915
 
Nov 5, 1946
 
Oct 20, 1980

Nov 7, 2011

Earthquakes Rattle Democratic, Republican Strongholds

3.2 Earthquake Shakes the East Bay

Oklahoma rattled by state's largest quake

Could Rahel Imeinu Really Have Helped Soldiers During Cast Lead?

In honor of the upcoming 11 Heshvan Yahrtzeit of Rahel Imeinu, the Pahad David newsletter (from Rav David Hanania Pinto Shlit"a) answers that question on page 2 (for Hebrew speakers).

See also here, here and here.

Marches Against Yerushalayim

Arutz Sheva:

Israeli security officials are keeping a wary eye out on several groups that are planning mass marches on Jerusalem.

Read the whole scary article there.

Is Zecharia 12 coming true with this march in March?

Why Can't Eli Yishai Sleep? - 3

Arutz Sheva:

Minister of Interior Affairs Rabbi Eli Yishai (Shas) says that all talk of an attack on Iran is unnecessary, and that the State should handle its security affairs. Rabbi Yishai spoke entering a conference at Sderot.

He denied reports stating that he was losing sleep over a complicated raid on Iran. (Reshet Bet Radio)

Peacenik Gave Sefer Hazohar to Former Hamas Spokesman

Yeah, you read the headline correctly.

Gershon Baskin, a leftist with ties to Hamas, gave a Zohar to former Hamas spokesman Razi Hamad.

I call it "Razim for Razi".

Apparently (if I'm getting the story correctly), this occurred after Gilad Shalit was kidnapped, and back channels were working on some sort of solution of getting him out.  Some rabbis had a connection to Hamas, but Gershon had a stronger connection, so the rabbis wanted him to give the sefer to their spokesman at the time to build a relationship with them and get Gilad out.  They attached a page in Arabic explaining what the Zohar is.

Just plain weird.

Rav Kaduri ZTVK"L Told His Havruta When Mashiah is Coming: Av, 5772

A Hebrew-language monthly newsletter called "Or Elyon" tells over some very interesting information, which I will translate below.

Click the image below and then click "Download" on the right.


Update: Here is another link to Or Elyon.

Rav Yosef Hayim Zaccai Shlit"a, from the city Beitar Illit, who merited to learn many years as the Havruta of the Elder Kabbalist Rav Yitzhak Kaduri ZTVK"L, and in addition, acted as the Hazzan of his Yeshiva for 15 years, reveals to "Or Elyon" the awesome secret that he heard with his own ears from the holy mouth of Rav Kaduri ZT"L on the time of Mashiah Tzidkeinu's coming:

It was on Hannukka, 5766, about a month before the passing of Moreinu VeRabbeinu the Elder Kabbalist Rav Yitzhak Kaduri ZT"L, we sat and learned the Holy Zohar as is our custom every evening. Suddenly, the rabbi asked me, 'Why did Yehuda do this?' In other words, why did Yehuda bring the Mashiah with the story of Yehuda and Tamar in a way that appears not proper? I answered him, 'The honored rabbi knows all the secrets, and definitely, that which the Kabbalists explained is not hidden from his holy eyes - that HKB"H wanted to hide from the ס"מ, who is the head of the forces of the Sitra Ahora (impure forces) in the world, that He is bringing the Mashiah in order that he will not be jealous and prevent his coming to the world. Therefore, HKB"H brought the Mashiah in an outer form that looks - Kivyachol - like it is being done in an unholy way, and by doing so, the matter will be hidden from the eyes of the ס"מ.'

The Rav repeated the aforementioned question again and again, and then, I understood that the rabbi is interested that we speak about the Mashiah. I got the courage and asked him, "Our rabbi! When will Mashiah come?" The rabbi answered me, "I cannot reveal," and laughed a big laugh. I asked him again, "Our rabbi! When will Mashiah come?" The rabbi answered in 2 words, "בשנת תשעב [In the year 5772]," (which is the year in which we are currently), and he repeated this twice. I was very shocked by his words, and immediately, when I left the rabbi's home, I went up to the Kollel of Kabbalists in the Yeshiva of the rabbi, and told over what the rabbi said to them - they were all amazed.

About 2 weeks later, in the beginning of Tevet, 5766, the rabbi was admitted to Bikur Cholim Hospital in Yerushalayim. I would arrive daily to the hospital to learn with the rabbi. And then, I asked him again, "Our rabbi! In what month and in what year will Mashiah come?" And the rabbi answered me, "In the month of Av, 5772." And he repeated this twice. It is important to note that the rabbi retained conciousness until 2 weeks before his passing. The rabbi died on 29 Tevet, 5766 (as is known, he died at the age of 113 years old!!).

From that day on until today, I publicize and tell this over to everyone I meet. A short while ago, people showed me an essay by the name of "Sod HaHashmal", which Rav Fish Shlit"a authored, and there, it is brought down a testimony from the great kabbalist Rav Morgenshtein Shlit"a, the author of the "Yam HaHochma" books on Kabbala, that he has a tradition from the Vilna Gaon ZT"L that the Geula will come at the end of the year 5772. I was very happy to see that even the great Ashkenazic kabbalists predict Mashiah's arrival at the end of this year.

It is important to note! There is a time for Mashiah's coming that in Haza"l's terminology is called "Be'ita" (in its time) - this time is hidden from all. On the other hand, the Mashiah can come at any moment if Am Yisrael will do Teshuva and will be worthy of his arrival. In Haza"l's terminology, this time is called "Ahishena" (I will hasten it). In my humble opinion, it appears that the intent of the rabbis ZT"L is that Av, 5772 is the most auspicious time for the coming of Mashiah. And it's true that we see many signs that we are extremely close to the time of the coming of Mashiah Tzidkeinu, as we showed many times in the newsletters (see, for example, the essay about Gilad Shalit in the current newsletter [YY - which is also great stuff on the same pdf, page 3]), it is incumbant upon ourselves to worry not to cause with our actions that the aforementioned set time that is auspicious for the Geula will be delayed.

As we said, we are currently in the period of the "End of Days". To what can we compare our situation today? To a giant hall full of people, and in the middle of the room, a large screen is being lowered down which will divide the room into 2 parts. Everyone that is on the right will merit "all goodness", they will benefit and be happy, whereas those who remain on the left will suffer hardships. The screen continues to fall and all that remains are a few centimeters until the screen will reach the floor. In such a situation, everyone is diving under the screen and going to the right side, and everyone is carrying his friend to give him the chance to come over to the right side. The moral of this parable is that the Holy Zohar says that only those who keep the Torah and Mitzvot will merit the Complete Geula. We are currently at the "Zero Hour". We now need to dive through the narrow opening that is left open to the world of Judaism and Teshuva, and also to carry as many good souls as possible toward Judaism with us, so that they will also merit the Geula soon, Amen.

Note that Av, 5772 is exactly 9 months from now.

Why Can't Eli Yishai Sleep? - 2

Read part 1

Ladaat did an interview with Eli Yishai, where he clarified by saying:

The war is not army against army. When I say that I cannot sleep, I mean what I say. We need a lot of prayer. I am not speaking about targeted assassinations. When we are presently in a category of fighting that is totally different - and not fighting that we recognize - we need Siyata Dishmaya. There were great successes to the security forces. Today, this is a war of missles and that is totally different. We need a launcher and interceptor and this [requires] a totally different level of quality. There is the Iron Dome and Magic Wand. A war of this type requires a lot of mercy from Heaven.

In dramatic and critical moments, Maran [Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlit"a] decided in decisions of which some will not be publicized and some may be publicized at a later date, but these decisions were important as they are matters of life and death.

See also Tomer Devorah.