Recent Interesting Links

• Rav Chaim Kanievsky quotes (Kikar in Hebrew/YWN in English) the gemara in Ketubot 112b that says that in the generation that Mashiah Ben David comes, there will be accusers of Talmidei Hachamim - when told about the abolition of the Tal Law.
• Dixie Yid has Rav Weinberger on Parshat Tazria/Metzora and finding Oneg - not "Nega"tivity.
• VIN has Mishpacha's article about Rav Amar Shlit"a.
• Matzav has a response to the aforementioned "Why Haredim Should be Zionists" article.
• Rav Batzri Shlit"a is called to help a non-Jewish woman from Greece who only speaks Greek and English with a Dybbuk who started speaking Hebrew.
• Netanyahu's father passed away.  A while ago, I noticed some interesting biographical information about Benzion Netanyahu A"H's father, Rav Natan Mileikovsky-Netanyahu, who descended from the Vilna Gaon and gave 700 speeches in 9 months while in the U.S. according to the article that starts here and continues here.

Rav Fish: Geula Predictions from Gedolim

In Rav Fish's latest, he has some predictions from Gedolim for Mashiah's arrival:

• The Sadigura Rebbe Shlit"a said on Shabbat Hagadol that we are very close to the Keitz and called for an increase in Ahdut and Hesed among Jewish people. [This was already in last week's pdf.]
• Rav Fish heard from a Jew who accompanied Rav Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg ZT"L to the hospital on Friday of Parshat Parah and the rav was in a state where he was in and out of consciousness, where at times he would awaken for a few minutes.  One time when the rav awakened, he said emotionally, "The Mashiah will come in the next Zman" - meaning the current summer Zman [Yeshiva semester].
• Similar words were publicized in the name of Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlit"a, who recently stated that approaching the end of the year, we will merit At'halta deGe'ula [the beginning of the Redemption].

Recent Interesting Links - Yom Hazikaron/Yom Ha'atzma'ut Edition

Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlit"a praises the IDF soldiers, according to Kikar w/ video (Hebrew) and Arutz Sheva (English)

Also, the HalachaYomit site, which is associated with Rav Ovadia, has a moving article about Israel's fallen soldiers.

Hamikdash - Almost 6 Million Jews Live in Israel

Arutz Sheva: Chief Rabbi: Torah Study a Better Way to Celebrate National Days

Life in Israel: Chief Rabbinate On Tachanun On Yom HaAtzmaut

Recent Interesting Links

Lazer Beams: The New Era of Redemption

Tomer Devorah: Ariel Sharon, the Last Prime Minister???

Mystical Paths:  Does It Make Sense to Do it Again?

Shirat Devorah: The Venus Transit and the Star of Moshiach

Elder of Ziyon: Great Speech by Ron Prosor at the UN

Dov Lipman in Jpost: Why Haredim Should be Zionists (h/t Soul Mazal and Life in Israel)

Jewish Worker: A blessed year only for people living in חו"ל? (h/t Life in Israel)

2844

The Tomer Devorah blog:

Daniel 12.11,12 --- And from the time the daily sacrifice was removed and the silent abomination placed, is one thousand, two hundred, and ninety [years]. Fortunate is he who waits and reaches days of one thousand, three hundred, and thirty-five [years].

A difference of 45 years and this year, May 20th will mark 45 years since Yerushalayim was unified. And 2,844 years ago, Shlomo HaMelech began building the First Temple in the month of Iyar.

Once all impediments are removed, we, too, will begin to build - The Third Temple - to our God. Why shouldn't it also be in the month of Iyar - the month of Ziv - "brilliance?"

Interestingly enough, the verse (Daniel 8:14)

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי--עַד עֶרֶב בֹּקֶר, אַלְפַּיִם וּשְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת; וְנִצְדַּק, קֹדֶשׁ

has the gematria of 2844.

Rashi on the verse says that the words ערב בקר from that verse are to be interpreted as gematria.  Perhaps we can say that the entire verse should be interpreted as gematria.  2844 years from 2928 (the year the construction began on the first Beit Hamikdash) brings us to 5772.

Continuing with Rashi's interpretation, Rashi on the previous verse interprets וקדש as the Beit Hamikdash  (unlike the Metzudat David, who says it means the holy nation).  Malbim also interprets it this way.  This tells us that the place that was sanctified by Shelomo Hamelech (even though the sanctification didn't start until 8.5 years later - in Tishri of 2937), whose construction started in Iyar 2928, will be (נצדק) justified 2844 years later. 

May it be so.

New Baby Boy in the YY Family!

(Text plagiarized from here with minor edits.)

בע"ה

With total gratitude to Hashem Yitbarach, and of course, to my dear wife, my wife gave birth to a baby boy on Thursday.  B"H, my wife and the 8 lb. 4 oz. baby are doing fine.

The baby's 4 older brothers and 1 older sister are so proud.

100 Years Since the Tritl of Fez

See Elder of Ziyon and Times of Israel

Rav Yoel Schwartz on 5761

Updated

Hebrewbooks.org just recently added a 52-page book by Rav Yoel Schwartz on the year 5761, which can be found here.  It appears to have been written before 9/11, so it doesn't reference that monumental event, but it nevertheless has very interesting information.

First, he expands on the idea of the obligation to contemplate world events starting on p. 5. 

He then summarizes the statements from various rabbis about the year 5760 and why they didn't pan out.

Next, he goes through various events that occurred in 5760 and 5761 and analyzes each one.

Finally, there is an appendix which compares the Oslo Accords with the Sin of the Golden Calf.

Great reading!

Update:  There is another great book by Rav Schwartz also recently added that was written in 1980 - התקופה ומשמעותה - that talks about End of Days issues back then.  The last half of the book (starting on p. 21) talks about 37 practical things we can do to help bring the Geula closer.

Rav Ovadia Longs to Go to Kever Yehoshua Bin Nun

Kikar has an article and video that shows Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlit"a talking to younger men about the possibility of him going to visit the grave of Yehoshua Bin Nun on the hilula date - the 26th of Nisan. The grave is located in an Arab village and security is not simple.

He asked Tzvi Hakak whether the security situation would allow him to go and asked him to look into it.

One of Rav Ovadia's grandsons later asked him what is so special about the grave of Yehoshua Bin Nun that he wants to visit it [as there are many graves of tzadikim that are more easily accessible]?

Rav Ovadia answered, "What grave is there like that of Yehoshua Bin Nun?  Where?  Tell me - who?  Ribbi Shimon Bar Yohai?  He didn't reach [the stature of] Yehoshua Bin Nun.  He learned from the mouth of Moshe Rabbeinu - among the greats of the Early Prophets.  He spoke with HKB"H mouth to mouth.  There is none like him."

While Rav Ovadia was learning, Rav Eliyahu Sheetrit brought Rav Ovadia a laptop and showed him the grave of Yehoshua on the monitor.

In the end, it was determined that unfortunately, Rav Ovadia would not be able to go to the grave.

Kipenei Hakelev 2

(See the previous post on this.)

Matzav points us to Israel21C, which had an article that featured a new cable channel for dogs - DogTV - made by Israelis.

It sounds like a great idea for dog-owners, but at the same time, it is yet another way to show that the face of the generation is like the face of the dog (one of the signs of the footsteps of Mashiah, as per Sotah 49b). Not only are the faces of the dogs being displayed on the TV - the dogs' faces will be the ones watching it too! Who would have thought of such a Peshat in the gemara until now?

One more for 3324

In addition to these gematrias, I found another:

Shemot 15:16

תפל עליהם אימתה ופחד בגדל זרועך ידמו כאבן עד יעבר עמך יהוה עד יעבר עם זו קנית

plus the words, letters and Kollel = 3324.

Mo'adim LeSimha.

Kibbutz Galuyot Supernaturally

In the haftara for the 8th day of Pesah for those outside of Israel (which, by the way, kind of makes sense to be read only by those outside of Israel), we read (Yeshaya 11:15-16):

וְהֶחֱרִים יְהוָה, אֵת לְשׁוֹן יָם-מִצְרַיִם, וְהֵנִיף יָדוֹ עַל-הַנָּהָר, בַּעְיָם רוּחוֹ; וְהִכָּהוּ לְשִׁבְעָה נְחָלִים, וְהִדְרִיךְ בַּנְּעָלִים

And the LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with His scorching wind will He shake His hand over the River, and will smite it into seven streams, and cause men to march over dry-shod.

וְהָיְתָה מְסִלָּה--לִשְׁאָר עַמּוֹ, אֲשֶׁר יִשָּׁאֵר מֵאַשּׁוּר: כַּאֲשֶׁר הָיְתָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּיוֹם עֲלֹתוֹ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם

And there shall be a highway for the remnant of His people, that shall remain from Assyria, like as there was for Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

3 years ago, I had a post called Keri'at Atlantic, where I wrote that it seems from the commentaries on Yeshaya 11:15-16 that there will be a dry path that will allow the Jews to pass from wherever they are to come to Eretz Yisrael during Kibbutz Galuyot.

The Sha'arei David on these verses says:

אף שאין נראה בימינו הכרח לעבור דוקא דרך ים מצרים כי עוד דרכים יש, מ״מ בזמן קיבוץ הגלויות יהיה גילוי שהוא קיבוץ בדוקא להביא את ישראל אל אדמתם ולא קיבוץ של הסכמת שרי עכו״ם או נדידת עמים, אלא הקב״ה מקבצם קיבוץ גאולה, וע״כ יש הוראה לזאת ע״י שנסללת עבורם הדרך שלא כדרך הטבע וכמו שהיה ביציאת מצרים, וזה שאמר בפםוק אח״ז והיתה מסלה לשאר עמו אשר ישאר מאשור כאשר היתה לישראל ביום עלתו מארץ מצרים, היינו שכל זה נעשה עבור שנראה מסילה לעמו ולא קיבוץ כבשאר עמים, וזה נאמר תלמוד לדידן שלא תסבור בקיבוצים אחרים או הסכמות עמים ונדידת סוחרים שזה קיבוץ גאולה, כי בגאולה יהיה נגלה שנסלל עבורם מסילה בדוקא גם בייבוש ימים וכבישת דרכים עבור עמו, נזכה במהרה (ועיין לקמן פרק מ״ט פסוק י״א).

Even though it doesn't appear in our days to be a necessity to travel specifically by way of the "Sea of Egypt" as there are other ways to travel, nevertheless, at the time of the ingathering of the exiles, it will be revealed that it is an ingathering specifically to bring Israel to their land and not an ingathering of non-Jewish officers' agreements or nations migrating. Rather, HKB"H gathers them as an Ingathering of Redemption. Therefore, there is an instruction for this by way of paving a path for them supernaturally - just like there was during the Exodus from Egypt. And that is what it says in the following verse, "And there shall be a highway for the remnant of His people, that shall remain from Assyria, like as there was for Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt." That means that all this was done in order to see a path for His nation - and not an ingathering like the rest of the nations... so you should not think that in other ingatherings or nation's agreements or migrations of merchants that these are Ingatherings of Redemption. This is because during the Redemption, it will be revealed that a pathway will be paved for them specifically - also with the drying up of seas and the capturing of roads for His people. We should merit this quickly. (See later 49:11.)

He refers you to Yeshaya 49:11, which reads:

וְשַׂמְתִּי כָל-הָרַי, לַדָּרֶךְ; וּמְסִלֹּתַי, יְרֻמוּן

And I will make all My mountains a way, and My highways shall be raised on high.

This seems to indicate an alternative way to get to Eretz Yisrael - via a "high"-way. An airplane, perhaps? No, as this would be too natural in our day. It seems that there will be something more supernatural that will bring us there.  Not that the current settlement in Eretz Yisrael is not miraculous.  It most definitely is.  However, if we are to compare our ingathering to the Exodus, there will be open miracles that will be clear to all.

As we say in the 10th blessing of the Amida:

תקע בשופר גדול לחירותינו ושא נס לקבץ גליותינו

Blow the Great Shofar for our freedom and lift a banner to ingather our exiles

Many commentaries (these sources are from Munkatch Hasidim, but I've heard this from other sources as well) say that ושא נס can also mean that it will happen supernaturally.

Ahdut March Where All Jews Are Loved

Kikar announced the march with this poster...

...and then displayed a gallery of pictures, including the one below:

Love it!

The 3 (or 4) Steps of the Redemption

Mishnat Yaakov on the Rambam:

ד. ונראה דבגזרת בין הבתרים, שלש גזרות נאמרו בה: א' כי גר יהיה זרעך בארץ לא להם, וזה גזרת גלות; ב' ועבדום, זה גזרת עבדות, כי יכול להיות גלות אף בלי עבדות; ג' וענו אותם, דהיינו שעבוד, כי יכול להיות עבדות בלי ענוי, והעינוי הוא מוסיף על העבדות והגלות. (וזה נרמז בהא דעגלה משלשת ועז משלש ואיל משלש). ומן הקל לכבד היתה הגזרה.

וראה בחומש שמות פרשת וארא ו, ו, לגבי בשורת הגאולה, שם נאמר: והוצאתי אתכם מתחת סבלת מצרים, והצלתי אתכם מעבדתם, וגאלתי אתכם וגו', ונראה דאלו השלש לשונות של הגאולה, הם כנגד השלש גזרות וכאמור לעיל, ולגבי הגאולה מתחיל מחמור לקל, והוצאתי אתכם מתחת סבלות מצרים, היינו גאולה מהעינוי, וזה מה שנאמר מתחת סבלות מצרים. והצלתי אתכם מעבודתם, היינו גאולה מהעבדות, וגאלתי אתכם וגו', היינו גאולה מהגלות, ומה שנאמר אח"ז: ולקחתי אתכם לי לעם והייתי לכם לאלקים וגו', היינו גאולה רוחנית, "על גאולתנו ופדות נפשנו".

ונראה דזה כוונת הירושלמי בפ' ע"פ בפסחים, ובמד"ר שהובא גם בדברי רש"י ורשב"ם ריש פ' ער"פ, דד' כוסות, הם כנגד ארבע לשונות של גאולה: והוצאתי, והצלתי, וגאלתי, ולקחתי, דאין זה רק לשונות בעלמא, אלא יש כאן ארבע גאולות ממש, וכל לשון הוא - לגאולה אחרת. גאולה מסבלות, דהוא עינוי, גאולה מעבדות, גאולה מגלות, וגאולה רוחנית, ולכן תקנו כנגד זה ארבע כוסות. וברש"י ורשב"ם איתא נגד ד' לשונות של גאולה, אך במד"ר ובירושלמי איתא כנגד "ארבע גאולות", וזה כמש"כ.

ונראה דזהו מה שנאמר בהגדה של פסח: ר"י היה נותן בהם סימנים, דצ"ך עד"ש ובאח"ב, דנתקשו בזה, מה ענין הסימנים, וכי רבותא לקצר ולתת סימנים, ונראה דר"י נתן סימנים בתהליך גאולת מצרים, דכיון דנתבאר דג' גזרות היו בגזרת בין הבתרים, וג' גאולות היו איפוא בזה, ולפי המבואר במדרשים דהגאולה לא היתה בבת אחת, אשר ע"כ קבע בזה ר"י דהגאולה היתה מחולקת לשלשה שלבים, דהיינו דאחרי דצ"ך, נתבטל העינוי, ואחרי עד"ש - העבדות, ואחרי באח"ב - נגמרה הגאולה, וכבר כתבו המפרשים דבפרשיות התורה, רואים שבשתי מכות ראשונות היתה התראה, ואח"כ מכה שלישית בלי התראה. ואח"כ שוב שנים בהתראה, ושלישית בלי התראה. וכן במכות אחרונות, (ועי' טור וש"ע חו"מ סי' י"א), ונראה דזהו משום דאחר מכה שלישית, אמנם נתבטלה גזרה אחת, והיה צריך להתחיל שוב במכות לגבי הגזרות הנוספות, וזה מה דקבע ר"י ונתן סימנים בהליך הגאולה, שהיה בשלשה שלבים: דצ"ך, עד"ש, באח"ב, וכמש"נ.

Summarized, this means that the 3 decrees mentioned to Avraham were 1) affliction 2) servitude and 3) exile. The 4 expressions of redemption are actual redemptions themselves. The first removed the affliction, the second - the servitude, the third - the exile, and the fourth - the spiritual exile. When R' Yehuda gave Simanim to the 10 plagues, he was saying that the redemption occurred in stages and after each group, another decree was removed. After דצ"ך, affliction was removed. After עד"ש, servitude was removed. After באח"ב, exile was removed. (The spiritual exile was removed at Mt. Sinai.)

However, as many commentaries say, our redemption from Egypt was incomplete. We were decreed to stay for 400 years, but we only stayed for 210. It was a great Hessed that we were redeemed after 210, and if we weren't redeemed then, we would have descended to the 50th level of impurity from which there is no ascent without the Torah. However, we needed to pay for this kindness with subsequent exiles.

In our current exile, our redemption also comes in stages, as Shir Hashirim Rabba says on the verse מי זאת הנשקפה כמו שחר יפה כלבנה ברה כחמה אימה כנדגלות. The affliction stage essentially ended in 1948. The servitude stage perhaps was over in the physical sense when Israel bombed the Osirak reactor in 1981, as it broke free from the nations' bondage and did what it wanted.  (Unfortunately, many will contend that Israel has reverted back to a life of servitude.  Perhaps.  Perhaps the leaders who have done so are likened to those Israelites who wanted to return to Egypt.  Also unfortunately, servitude is not yet over in the spiritual sense, as the Milkman had recently said regarding the statement in the Haggada השתא הכא עבדי.)  The exile stage is not yet over in any sense. 

However, the first stage was supposed to come slowly, while the second stage was supposed to be slow, but not as slow as the first.  Each subsequent stage comes faster and faster, as is mentioned in the aforementioned Shir Hashirim Rabba.

In the first redemption, we could say that the דצ"ך stage really began when Moshe came to Par'o the first time, which occurred in Nissan the previous year.  Then, Moshe disappeared for 6 months (or 3 months according to some).  Then, the דצ"ך plagues began which added more time onto that.  The first stage lasted much longer than the second stage of עד"ש, which was at most 3 months (one for each of the 3 plagues - according to some opinions, but perhaps less as Shehin had no warning).  The third stage of באח"ב lasted at most 68 days (but perhaps less), as we know that the plague of darkness only took 6 days and the final plague happened in one moment.  The fourth stage lasted 50 days until Shavu'ot.

Regarding our current exile, from the time the Talmidei HaGr"a first came to Israel (1808) until 1948 - when affliction essentially ended - was 140 years.  Servitude - the second stage - was over physically in 33 years.  It has been almost 31 years since the physical servitude was over as we await the completion of stages 3 and 4.  They will go faster and will happen before you know it.  Bimhera Veyameinu Amen.

Verses of Shemot 12 as Years

I'm throwing this idea out there. I have no outside basis for this idea so definitely do not take it as MiSinai.

As I just posted before Yom Tov, this is the first time in 14 years that the first day of Pesah falls out on Shabbat. The last time this occurred was in 5758/1998.  As was mentioned in earlier comments, it is quite unusual to have such a large "drought" of Pesah not falling out on Shabbat.  For example, the next time this will occur is in 3 years - in 5775/2015 and then again the following year in 5776/2016.

It is interesting to note that the Sephardic custom is that when the first day of Pesah falls out on Shabbat, we begin the Torah reading from Shemot 12:14 - and not on 12:21 - as noted by halacha 22 here.

Furthermore, we know that we have the concept of יום לשנה - a day for a year - by the episode of the spies. We can extrapolate from that concept that a חודש - a month - can represent 30 years.  We will begin this 30-year period from the year the "drought" began.

Perhaps, we can use the verses in Shemot 12 to represent these years.

Consider the table below:

Source	Verse	Jewish Year	Secular Year
Shemot 12:1	וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל-אַהֲרֹן, בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לֵאמֹר	5759	1999
Shemot 12:2	הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם, רֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים:  רִאשׁוֹן הוּא לָכֶם, לְחָדְשֵׁי הַשָּׁנָה	5760	2000
Shemot 12:3	דַּבְּרוּ, אֶל-כָּל-עֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר, בֶּעָשֹׂר, לַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה:  וְיִקְחוּ לָהֶם, אִישׁ שֶׂה לְבֵית-אָבֹת--שֶׂה לַבָּיִת	5761	2001
Shemot 12:4	וְאִם-יִמְעַט הַבַּיִת, מִהְיוֹת מִשֶּׂה--וְלָקַח הוּא וּשְׁכֵנוֹ הַקָּרֹב אֶל-בֵּיתוֹ, בְּמִכְסַת נְפָשֹׁת:  אִישׁ לְפִי אָכְלוֹ, תָּכֹסּוּ עַל-הַשֶּׂה	5762	2002
Shemot 12:5	שֶׂה תָמִים זָכָר בֶּן-שָׁנָה, יִהְיֶה לָכֶם; מִן-הַכְּבָשִׂים וּמִן-הָעִזִּים, תִּקָּחוּ	5763	2003
Shemot 12:6	וְהָיָה לָכֶם לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת, עַד אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם לַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה; וְשָׁחֲטוּ אֹתוֹ, כֹּל קְהַל עֲדַת-יִשְׂרָאֵל--בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם	5764	2004
Shemot 12:7	וְלָקְחוּ, מִן-הַדָּם, וְנָתְנוּ עַל-שְׁתֵּי הַמְּזוּזֹת, וְעַל-הַמַּשְׁקוֹף--עַל, הַבָּתִּים, אֲשֶׁר-יֹאכְלוּ אֹתוֹ, בָּהֶם	5765	2005
Shemot 12:8	וְאָכְלוּ אֶת-הַבָּשָׂר, בַּלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה:  צְלִי-אֵשׁ וּמַצּוֹת, עַל-מְרֹרִים יֹאכְלֻהוּ	5766	2006
Shemot 12:9	אַל-תֹּאכְלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ נָא, וּבָשֵׁל מְבֻשָּׁל בַּמָּיִם:  כִּי אִם-צְלִי-אֵשׁ, רֹאשׁוֹ עַל-כְּרָעָיו וְעַל-קִרְבּוֹ	5767	2007
Shemot 12:10	וְלֹא-תוֹתִירוּ מִמֶּנּוּ, עַד-בֹּקֶר; וְהַנֹּתָר מִמֶּנּוּ עַד-בֹּקֶר, בָּאֵשׁ תִּשְׂרֹפוּ	5768	2008
Shemot 12:11	וְכָכָה, תֹּאכְלוּ אֹתוֹ--מָתְנֵיכֶם חֲגֻרִים, נַעֲלֵיכֶם בְּרַגְלֵיכֶם וּמַקֶּלְכֶם בְּיֶדְכֶם; וַאֲכַלְתֶּם אֹתוֹ בְּחִפָּזוֹן, פֶּסַח הוּא לַיהוָה	5769	2009
Shemot 12:12	וְעָבַרְתִּי בְאֶרֶץ-מִצְרַיִם, בַּלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה, וְהִכֵּיתִי כָל-בְּכוֹר בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, מֵאָדָם וְעַד-בְּהֵמָה; וּבְכָל-אֱלֹהֵי מִצְרַיִם אֶעֱשֶׂה שְׁפָטִים, אֲנִי יְהוָה	5770	2010
Shemot 12:13	וְהָיָה הַדָּם לָכֶם לְאֹת, עַל הַבָּתִּים אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם שָׁם, וְרָאִיתִי אֶת-הַדָּם, וּפָסַחְתִּי עֲלֵכֶם; וְלֹא-יִהְיֶה בָכֶם נֶגֶף לְמַשְׁחִית, בְּהַכֹּתִי בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם	5771	2011
Shemot 12:14	וְהָיָה הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה לָכֶם לְזִכָּרוֹן, וְחַגֹּתֶם אֹתוֹ חַג לַיהוָה:  לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם, חֻקַּת עוֹלָם תְּחָגֻּהוּ	5772	2012
Shemot 12:15	שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, מַצּוֹת תֹּאכֵלוּ--אַךְ בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן, תַּשְׁבִּיתוּ שְּׂאֹר מִבָּתֵּיכֶם:  כִּי כָּל-אֹכֵל חָמֵץ, וְנִכְרְתָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל--מִיּוֹם הָרִאשֹׁן, עַד-יוֹם הַשְּׁבִעִי	5773	2013
Shemot 12:16	וּבַיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן, מִקְרָא-קֹדֶשׁ, וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, מִקְרָא-קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם:  כָּל-מְלָאכָה, לֹא-יֵעָשֶׂה בָהֶם--אַךְ אֲשֶׁר יֵאָכֵל לְכָל-נֶפֶשׁ, הוּא לְבַדּוֹ יֵעָשֶׂה לָכֶם	5774	2014
Shemot 12:17	וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם, אֶת-הַמַּצּוֹת, כִּי בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, הוֹצֵאתִי אֶת-צִבְאוֹתֵיכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם; וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת-הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם--חֻקַּת עוֹלָם	5775	2015

Verse 2 tells us that the 30-year period from 5758-5787 will be considered the first 30-year period of the new era of Redemption - just like Nissan, 2448 was the first month of the new era of Redemption from Egypt.

Verses 3-5 talk about "taking sheep".  "Taking" as in וה' לקח.  The years that correspond to these verses were difficult years for the Jewish people with bus bombings and major terrorist attacks.  (I'm ignoring the fact that it says בעשר לחדש הזה.  It's a קשיא.)

Verse 6 tells us to wait until "day 14" (5772), at which point all of Israel will slaughter their enemies after Minha Gedola (Av, 5771), which begins the period called "Bein Ha'arbayim".

Verse 7 tells us what we were commanded to do with homes that we would soon be leaving.  This reminds us of the homes that were left in Gush Katif in 5765.

Verses 8-11 tell us how to have our enemies for lunch, i.e., how to defeat them.  In 5766 was the Second Lebanon War, so when we "ate", we ate with bitter herbs as well.  However, in 5769, we were told eat quickly, so we merited a quick victory and many miracles.

Verse 12 tells us what will occur to Egypt "that night", referring to the following year.  Their first-born - i.e., many protestors (just as the first-born protested on 10 Nissan, 2448) - will be smitten.

Verse 13 tells us that the Arab Spring, which began in Tunisia and Egypt, will pass over Israel ב"ה, and while Egypt is getting smitten, Israel will be safe.

Verse 14, as I mentioned earlier, is the verse that Sepharadim begin with when the first day of Pesah falls out on Shabbat.  Notice that it says היום הזה - this day.  It's telling us that "this day" - i.e., this year (of 5772)will be a rememberance for future generations and will be celebrated forever.

Verse 15 tells us that a Birur process will start - whoever eats Hametz and doesn't want to be redeemed will be cut off.

Verse 16 says that converts will not be accepted any longer (as in הנפש אשר עשו בחרן) unless they already started the process beforehand.

Verse 17 is the second verse - after verse 14 - that says היום הזה - this day. And it says it twice.  And it says that the Redemption will occur on "this day".  And again, this year (of 5775) will be remembered as an everlasting law for generations to come. 

Both 5772 and 5775 will have highly significant events in the Redemption process according to Rav Fish.  And both have the first day of Pesah falling out on Shabbat - something not copied by any other year of the "חודש" thus far.

Pesah Falls Out on Shabbat - First Time in 14 Years

For the first time in 14 years, the first day of Pesah falls out on Shabbat.

As noted by a comment from R' Dov Bar-Leib a few posts ago , this also means that:
1) Both Israel and the Diaspora will have a 2-day Yom Tov, but Israel will read Parshat Shemini and the Diaspora will have the 8th day.
2) Tish'a Be'av will fall out on Shabbat, but will be pushed off until Sunday.

Also, Rav Fish's latest email for Pesah (sorry, I didn't have time to translate it this week) says that by making the Eruv Tavshilin, it combines the 7th and 8th days of Pesah into one, which thereby makes Parshat Shemini as if it were the 8th day of Pesah even in Israel.  See there also how both שבת היום and פסח היום separately add up to 772. 

Rav Fish also notes something that I noted a year and a half ago:

If you look at the Mikdash Melech inside, he refers to the beginning of the fifth Perek of Pesahim (58a). The Mishna there says that when Erev Pesah falls out on Friday, the Korban Tamid of the afternoon is slaughtered at the 6½ hour (i.e. Minha Gedola). The gemara explains that biblically, that is when it should be slaughtered every day, but since the Tamid must be the last Korban brought, to allow more time for Nedarim and Nedavot (private voluntary offerings), it is normally pushed off by 2 hours. On an Erev Pesah that falls on Friday, however, since you need to allow for the time to both bring the Korban Pesah and roast it after the Tamid is brought, the rabbis pushed the Tamid's time up back to the 6½ hour.

Interestingly enough, the expression the Gemara uses to denote the biblical time for bringing the afternoon Tamid being at the 6½ hour is the following:

אלא אמר רבא מצותו דתמיד משינטו צללי ערב

which is a paraphrase of the verse in Yirmiya that is brought down by the Zohar. To me, this is strong evidence that the Zohar means the 6½ hour (Minha Gedola). And the Mikdash Melech agrees.

The way I see it, we are in Erev Pesah (i.e., the eve of the Final Redemption according to the great rabbis of our time) that falls out on Erev Shabbat (i.e., the 6th millennium) and we're quickly approaching Minha Gedola of that "day".

May the combination of Pesah and Shabbat help bring the Redemption earlier.

I wish all my readers a Hag Kasher VeSame'ah and Mo'adim Lesimha.

Hashem Visits Har Habayit Before Pesah

If you reached this page because of the headline, I'm sorry to disappoint you.

Arutz Sheva:

The Palestinian Authority welcomed on Thursday the visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Jordanian prince Hashem Al-Husseini, which took place on Wednesday.

A spokesman for PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, issued a statement thanking Jordan for the important visit, which he stressed was held in full coordination with the PA.

We are awaiting the real Hashemite Kingdom that stems from the verse:

וְהָיָה יְהוָה לְמֶלֶךְ, עַל-כָּל-הָאָרֶץ; בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, יִהְיֶה יְהוָה אֶחָד--וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד

when the Shechina will return to its dwelling place, and Har Habayit will be filled with Jews bringing the Korban Pesah on Erev Pesah, while we will tell the other guys שבו לכם פה עם החמור. 

May it be speedily in our days.

Spies Like Pesah

• Multiple sources are reporting that Jonathan Pollard was rushed to the hospital on Erev Pesah.  Please pray for Yehonatan ben Malka.  Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger called upon people to pray for his health and freedom.  Former prisoner Azzam Azzam asked for his release.  Former prisoner Gilad Shalit asked for his release.  A mock seder left an empty chair for him, and organizers ask everyone to do the same.
• Arutz Sheva reports that Eli Cohen, the Israeli spy who was caught and executed in Damascus, used to taste Matza from Jews in the Damascus marketplace on Pesah.
• Kikar reports that accused Israeli spy Azzam Azzam, who was released from Egypt and so got a personal Yetziat Mitzrayim, likes the holiday of Pesah even though he is not Jewish, and feels a personal connection to it.

Rav Ovadia's Grandsons' Segula for a Shidduch

Kikar:

במשפחתו של מרן מקובלת המסורת שהנכד שהגיע לפרקו, זוכה להטיף מהגביע של מרן בשעה שקוראים את עשר המכות כשעל פי העבר כל מי שזכה לעשות כן, מצא בסיעתא דשמיא את זיווגו באותה שנה.

In Maran [Rav Ovadia]'s family, there is an accepted tradition that the grandson who reached marriageable age would merit to pour drops from the goblet of Maran at the time that they read the 10 plagues, as based on past experience, whoever had the merit of doing so found - with Heaven's help - his mate that year.

Death of Last Ottoman Princess - Another Geula Sign

Washington Post:

ANKARA, Turkey — Neslisah Osmanoglu, an Ottoman princess who married an Egyptian prince and was twice forced into exile when both royal households were abolished, has died. She was 91.

Neslisah Sultan, or Princess Neslisah, died in Istanbul on Monday, according to her nephew, Abdulhamid Kayihan Osmanoglu. He didn’t give the cause of death, but new reports said it was a heart attack. A funeral ceremony was being held Tuesday for the princess, who was the oldest member of the Ottoman dynasty.

According to Wikipedia:

After the recent deaths of Prince Burhaneddin Cem (2008) and Prince Ertuğrul Osman (2009), she was also the last surviving member of the Ottoman Dynasty to have been born during the Ottoman era.

Bemidbar 24:24:

וְצִים מִיַּד כִּתִּים, וְעִנּוּ אַשּׁוּר וְעִנּוּ-עֵבֶר; וְגַם-הוּא, עֲדֵי אֹבֵד

But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, and they shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall come to destruction.

I've mentioned before that Rabbeinu Bahya says that the Kittim are from the children of Yavan and it is possible that it is a hint to the evil Kingdom of Yishmael.

Rabbeinu Bahye lived from the mid-13th century until 1340. The Ottoman Empire began in the year 1299. It is highly likely that the evil Kingdom of Yishmael that Rabbeinu Bahye refers to is the Ottoman Empire.

The end of the verse says, "and he also shall come to destruction". Rashi, Ibn Ezra and others say that this refers to the Kittim.

This verse (verse 24) is the very last verse of Bil'am's prophecy that talks about what will happen at the End of Days (see verse 14).

When the last vestige of the Ottoman Empire is gone, we can only look forward to a new era. Bimhera Veyameinu - Amen.

Sipur Yetziat Mitzrayim Hastens the Geula

The Haggada says:

לא את אבותינו בלבד גאל הקדוש ברוך הוא אלא אף אתנו גאל עמהם

HKB"H did not only redeem our forefathers, but He also redeemed us with them.

The Mar'eh Yehezkel says:

Based on [another section of the Haggada, which says] "למען תזכור etc. - including the days of Mashiah". The explanation is that by relating the Exodus from Egypt, we awaken the Hessed of Above and just as He took us out of Egypt, He will show us wonders. And there, the main miracle was that He redeemed them before their time and skipped the Keitz. And similarly, He will do so for us in this exile to make it Ahishena. And that is the idea of למען תזכר את יום צאתך - that that day was before its time, and this will cause via this to bring the Days of Mashiah that He will hasten our redemption. Amen - may it be His will.

3324

Last year, I pointed out a verse that has the gematria of 3323, which is the number of years from the Exodus until last year.

This year, I'll do the same with 3324 - the number of years since the Exodus.

Using gezageza, I found an interesting verse with this gematria:

Shemot 6:29 is where Hashem tells Moshe to speak to Par'oh to let the Israelites out:

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר, אֲנִי יְהוָה; דַּבֵּר, אֶל-פַּרְעֹה מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם, אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי, דֹּבֵר אֵלֶיךָ

Then, amazingly, both the first verse of Parshat Matot and the first verse of Parshat Mas'ei have the gematria of 3324:

First verse of Matot:

וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-רָאשֵׁי הַמַּטּוֹת, לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר: זֶה הַדָּבָר, אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה

First verse of Mas'ei:

אֵלֶּה מַסְעֵי בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲשֶׁר יָצְאוּ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם--לְצִבְאֹתָם: בְּיַד-מֹשֶׁה, וְאַהֲרֹן

The latter one is especially interesting as it depicts the travels of the Israelites after they left Egypt - 3324 years.

Also, we have Devarim 34:3, a verse with much End of Days import, as per Targum Yonatan:

וְאֶת-הַנֶּגֶב, וְאֶת-הַכִּכָּר בִּקְעַת יְרֵחוֹ עִיר הַתְּמָרִים--עַד-צֹעַר

Finally, there's this verse from Yirmiya 46:21 that talks about the downfall of Egypt during the time of Nevuchadnetzar that also has the gematria of 3324:

גַּם-שְׂכִרֶיהָ בְקִרְבָּהּ כְּעֶגְלֵי מַרְבֵּק, כִּי-גַם-הֵמָּה הִפְנוּ נָסוּ יַחְדָּיו לֹא עָמָדוּ: כִּי יוֹם אֵידָם בָּא עֲלֵיהֶם, עֵת פְּקֻדָּתָם

We read this verse as part of the Haftara for Parshat Bo - the perasha of the Exodus.

May the awaited final Redemption be no more than 3324 years after our first redemption.