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Sunday, September 30, 2012

The 5773rd Verse of the Torah

According to multiple sources, the 5773rd verse of the Torah is from Parshat Ha'azinu (Devarim 32:21):
  הֵם קִנְאוּנִי בְלֹא-אֵל,   כִּעֲסוּנִי בְּהַבְלֵיהֶם;    וַאֲנִי אַקְנִיאֵם בְּלֹא-עָם,   בְּגוֹי נָבָל אַכְעִיסֵם.
They have roused Me to jealousy with a no-god; they have provoked Me with their vanities; and I will rouse them to jealousy with a no-people; I will provoke them with a vile nation.
It is often thought that this verse that mentions a "no-people" refers to the Palestinians. And it still could.

The Ramban says that it refers to Bavel and Edom, and the uncensored Ba'al Haturim adds further credence to this via gematrias.

Yevamot 63b (words|daf|translation) has more explanations, but notice the last one:
(דברים לב) בגוי נבל אכעיסם אמר רב חנן בר רבא אמר רב זו אשה רעה וכתובתה מרובה רבי אליעזר אומר אלו הצדוקים וכן הוא אומר (תהילים יד) אמר נבל בלבו אין אלהים וגו' במתניתא תנא אלו אנשי ברבריא ואנשי מרטנאי שמהלכין ערומים בשוק שאין לך משוקץ ומתועב לפני המקום יותר ממי שמהלך בשוק ערום רבי יוחנן אמר אלו חברים
I will provoke them with a vile32  nation.33  R. Hanan b. Raba stated in the name of Rab: This refers to a bad wife the amount of whose kethubah25  is large.34  R. Eliezer stated: This refers to the Sadducees;35  for so it is said, The fool32  has said in his heart: 'There is no God' etc.36  In a Baraitha it was taught: This refers to the people of Barbaria37  and the people of Mauretania38  who go naked in the streets; for there is nothing more objectionable and abominable to the Omnipresent than the man who goes naked in the streets. R. Johanan said: This refers to the Parsees.39
And Rashi there explains who the חברים (Parsees) were:
אלו פרסיים רשעים ומבזין ואינם מכירים כבודם של ישראל
These are the wicked Persians, who despise and do not recognize the honor of Israel.
(See, however, Tosafot Gittin 17a ד"ה הא, who disagrees with Rashi.)

I'd like to offer an explanation along the lines of Rashi's explanation of Ribbi Yohanan and using the methods of the Ba'al Haturim. The gematrias of לא-עם and גוי נבל ("no-people" and "vile nation") together is 242. The gematria of אחמדינז'אד וח'אמנאי ("Ahmedinejad and Khamenei" using Wikipedia's spellings) is 241. Add the Kollel to get 242.

Iran's leadership has made itself into a vile nation, but it happened בלא עם - without the will of the people.

Iran is the vehicle through which Hashem is sending us a message.

Are we listening?


Additional Notes:

1) עמלק + the Kollel = 241 = אחמדינז'אד וח'אמנאי
2) The gemara goes on to describe Ribbi Yohanan falling when told of the Parsees entering Bavel, but when told that they accept bribes, he recovered and was able to sit down again. The current leadership of Iran, however, doesn't seem to be persuaded by monetary concerns, as sanctions have done nothing.  We possibly should be as concerned as Ribbi Yohanan's initial reaction.
3) According to Jastrow, who says "Mauretania" means Britannia, some of the recent behavior of the royals starts to make sense now.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Rav Dovid Soloveitchik: The Matzav is Ayom VeNora

In Rav Fish's latest, he quotes Rav Avraham Yisrael Froilach Shlit"a, a close student of Rav Meshulam Dovid Soloveichik Shlit"a. On 2 separate occasions - before Rosh Hashana and during Shabbat Shuva - Rav Dovid Soloveichik repeated to him over and over that both the physical and spiritual situation that we are currently in is Ayom VeNora (terrifying and dreadful).

When others tried to calm his fears, he said, "That's what they said in Poland!"

He contrasted the reaction of the Jews of Poland and that of the Jews of Yerushalayim during the Holocaust. The Polish Jews convinced themselves that everything would be alright, whereas the Jews of Yerushalayim cried out and prayed fervently to Hashem for salvation. The outcomes of these communities during the war proves which is the correct path, he said.

At one point, after Rav Dovid told him that the situation is Ayom VeNora, Rav Froilach tried to connect it to the Torah reading (at the time) from Parshat Nitzavim, where it says, גפרית ומלח שרפה כל ארצה (and that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and a burning).  Rav Dovid grabbed his hand, and said "Has Veshalom!  What, you want there to be גפרית ומלח שרפה כל ארצה?!  This already happened twice in the 2 Hurbans!  Do you want this again?!"

Rav Froilach remained silent for a few moments as Rav Dovid continued, "I'll tell you one thing.  The verse at the end of Malachi tells us: הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי שֹׁלֵחַ לָכֶם, אֵת אֵלִיָּה הַנָּבִיא--לִפְנֵי, בּוֹא יוֹם יְהוָה, הַגָּדוֹל, וְהַנּוֹרָא  וְהֵשִׁיב לֵב-אָבוֹת עַל-בָּנִים, וְלֵב בָּנִים עַל-אֲבוֹתָם--פֶּן-אָבוֹא, וְהִכֵּיתִי אֶת-הָאָרֶץ חֵרֶם (Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers; lest I come and smite the land with utter destruction.)  Even those days, where we deserve 'I come and smite the the land with utter destruction,' nevertheless, I will send Eliyahu Hanavi.

We must pray that Hashem will choose sending Eliyahu Hanavi and not the end of the verse."

This is just a short summary.  If you can read the Hebrew, please do so.

Bibi's Speech, His Rabbi's Speech, and the Yalkut Shimoni

Before we get to Bibi's speech, there are a couple lesser known things about it:
  1. Kikar is reporting that right before the speech at the UN, he recited chapters of Tehilim to pray for its success.  Let's just call it modernity with tradition.
  2. I was forwarded the following email which I am posting here with permission.  It originated from Beryl Eckstein, who attended Yom Kippur Tefila at the חובבי ציון (also known as הצבי ישראל) shul in Yerushalayim's Talbiya neighborhood.  The name of the rabbi who gave the speech is Rabbi Bronstein.  Beryl sent this email out before Netanyahu's speech was given.  Only edited for formatting.

Shavua Tov, 

Bibi and Peres were in shul for Kol Nidrei which in itself was quite cool.
It is pretty neat to be standing 5 feet from the two of them and I felt much
of the awe that chasidiim feel before their Rebbi (not sure either Bibi or
Peres would appreciate the comparison) This year the Rabbi spoke about a
Yalkut Shimoni from Yeshayahu. I will quote him because it is so powerful;

נתייצב כולנו כשלנגד עינינו מאמרו של רבי יצחק מלפני 1500 שנה, המובע בילקוט
שמעוני וישעיהו פרק ס רמז תצט:

 ״ אמר רבי יצחק: שנה שמלך המשיח נגלה בו, כל מלכי אומות העולם מתגרים זה בזה,
מלך פרס מתגרה במלך ערבי, והולך מלך ערבי לארם ליטול עצה מהם, וחוזר מלך פרס
ומרחיב את העולם, וכל אומות העולם מתרעשים ומתבהלים ונופלים על פניהם ויאחוז
אותם צירים כצירי יולדה. וישראל מתרעשים ומתבהלים ואומרים להיכן נבוא ונלך?
להיכן נבוא ונלך?

ואומר להם הקב״ה: בני, אל תתייראו! כל מה שעשיתי לא עשיתי אלא בשבילכם. מפני מה
אתם מתייראים? הגיע זמן גאולתם!

ולא כגאולה ראשונה גאולה אחרונה, כי גאולה ראשונה היה לכם צער ושעבוד מלכויות
אחריה, אבל גאולה אחרונה אין לכם צער ושעבוד מלכויות אחריה״

Bibi went over to the Rabbi and took the Rabbis speech and said he wanted to
use it at the UN. I doubt he will quote it but you never know.

Bibi is there every year but never speaks. This year he said he felt
compelled after the Rabbi's speech. He said he had 3 messages for us;

1) he was going to the US to tell the truth. People now are not just trying
to delegitimize (probably not a word) Israel but the Jewish religion. I hope
he includes Abbas in this but doubt he will

2) every nation that has risen up in history against the Jews is no longer
in existence 

3) we shall not fear and we shall not give up hope. 

He said it beautifully and I am sure most will write this up better than I
did, but I will remember Bibi studying the words of theילקוט and how amazing
it was to see the leader of the Jewish nation sitting and living the words
of Torah.

SHavua Tov and chag sameach

Beryl

Wouldn't that have been interesting if Bibi included it!

Here's what he actually said:

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Kippur Contemplations III

See Kippur Contemplations I and Kippur Contemplations II

I owe the readers of this blog an explanation and an apology.

On August 1st, I had told you that I was going to quit the blog and had implied that I would only post infrequently.  I had every intention of doing so at the time.  I was just about to start Daf Yomi, and felt I wasn't going to have time for the blog any longer. 

As time went on, however, I realized that I missed my posting too much to just abandon it, so I started posting more and more, even while still doing Daf Yomi.  Now, it seems like I'm posting even more than before.  While I don't expect that to continue, I realize it won't be as infrequent as I first thought.  On the other hand, it may drastically slow down at certain times if I feel the need.  So I cannot tell you what to expect with the frequency of posts on this blog.  Expect the unexpected.  (Kind of like Mashiah's arrival.)

So ... please forgive me for misleading you into thinking that the blog was over.  I had misled myself as well.

In addition, please forgive me for any posts or comments in which I did not show you proper respect.  Sometimes, I get carried away in arguments, and forget to respect the person with whom I am arguing.  Also, please forgive me if Blogger's spam manager deletes your legitimate comment unnecessarily and I fail to unspam it.  Also, if you are a blogger, please forgive me if I didn't link to you or didn't properly attribute an idea to you. 

May we all be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life and may we all have an easy and meaningful fast.

Gemar Hatima Tova!

Kippur Contemplations II - The NFL Referee Lockout Edition

The Packers were robbed.  And that's totally fine with me. 

After a series of bad calls by the unqualified scab NFL officials, the icing on the cake was the last play of the game.  Seattle was down 12-7 when they had the ball in Packer territory.  With 8 seconds left, Seattle threw a Ne'ila Hashem Hu Ha'Elokim pass (aka h.m.), was actually intercepted by the Packer defender before the Seahawk receiver also got one or two hands on it, and they both landed in the end zone.  One official was waving his hands, while another official put his 2 hands up, signaling a touchdown.  Another terrible call to end the game and give the victory to the Seattle Seahawks.  Packer fans were up in arms.  Being a Bear-fan (and a part-time Seahawk fan), I cannot feel bad for them though.

This mess started since there is a NFL referee lockout going on.  The real officials who should be calling the game are sitting on the sidelines while the inexperienced scabs are out there doing the best they can.  An NFL game deserves better, but the Seahawks took advantage when it counted.

On Yom Kippur, Hashem locks out the makatreg-extraordinaire - the prosecutor-par-excellence - the Satan.  We know that the Satan has no power on Yom Kippur since Hashem does not allow him to have any power.  In fact, the gematria of השטן - the Satan - is 364, showing that there is one day of the year - Yom Kippur - when he is banned from prosecuting.  Without him prosecuting, we have a chance of coming out of judgement victorious.

That's what happened with the Monday Night Football game.  The real NFL officials (prosecutors) were absent, so by really trying to drive the football down the field (Teshuva from love), the Seahawks turned a sure-interception (our sins) into a touchdown (merits).

May we too seize the opportunity of an absent Satan to do complete Teshuva stemming from love and turn our sins into merits, Amen.

Kippur Contemplations I

For me, the most emotional time of the Kippur prayers is the Viduy of Minha during the repetition of the Amida.  The viduy, written by R' Yitzhak ben Yisrael, reads like a story of someone on trial in Hashem's court, finding himself in serious trouble and needs legal assistance from his own body parts.  He sequentially asks his head, face, forehead, mouth, lips, tongue, heart, soul, palms, and feet to help him in his time of need.  But instead of helping him, each one of his body parts answers that they cannot help him as a sin was committed with that body part: the head for light-headedness (for being too flippant), the mouth for speaking profanity, etc.  The person, down in the dumps, then says קָרָאתִי לַמְאַהֲבַי הֵמָּה רִמּוּנִי (I called for those whom I love, but they deceived me). In the end, seeing no recourse, the person is forced to admit to all his sins.

The verse cited - קָרָאתִי לַמְאַהֲבַי הֵמָּה רִמּוּנִי, while I sometimes want to apply it to various Israeli leaders over the years, can be used today in regard to US-Israeli relations. Israel constantly and consistently relies on the US for support, and calls upon it for help.  No doubt that the US helps Israel a lot, but when it matters most, when it comes to Israel's existence, they have deceived them.  Is the US the one Israel should be relying upon?  The answer is an emphatic NO.  For both political and religious reasons, in this Ikveta Dimshiha period, Israel should be relying on no one but our Father in Heaven.

See also CosmicX's post about this and how he connects it to last week's haftarah.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Mishpacha Magazine on the Shomrei Emunim Rebbe ZT"L

Mishpacha Magazine's cover story was about the Shomrei Emunim Rebbe ZT"L, who died about a month ago.  I quoted him often on this blog regarding Mashiah topics.

Here's the beginning of the article, as seen on mishpacha.com:
Rosh HaShanah, 5772

The Shomrei Emunim beis medrash was packed, and the Rebbe, Rav Avraham Chaim Roth ztz”l, was immersed in his spiritual meditations. The shofar would be sounded in just a few minutes, and the Rebbe prepared the crowd with powerful words of mussar, bursting into tears. “The pasuk says, ‘In the evening there will be light.’ L’eis erev, in the evening, is 5772 in gematria. That is the year that is about to begin. It will be a year of redemption, especially toward the end, as the pasuk says — there will be light …”

But the Rebbe had not yet finished. “But we have had a number of times of Heavenly favor in the past, times that were ripe for redemption and salvation, and we squandered the opportunity. Not only that, but they became, Rachmana litzlan, years filled with pain and anguish, instead of redemption and calm. Be careful, my children, not to ruin this year as well, not to miss the opportunity. Do teshuvah, learn much Torah, be careful to observe the mitzvos, and keep to the bounds of sanctity, so that this time we can experience the arrival of Mashiach, who is waiting just outside the door.”

The Rebbe, however, didn’t live to see Mashiach’s arrival; on Isru Chag Shavuos, he collapsed after Shacharis and hovered between two worlds for three months until his holy soul rejoined the Heavenly court.

“When I heard the Rebbe thundering those words,” the Radoshitzer Rebbe — son-in-law of the Shomrei Emunim Rebbe and grandson of Rebbe Moshe Mordechai of Lelov — told Mishpacha after the shivah, “I was gripped with fear. There were other times when the Rebbe hinted that this is a time ripe for salvation. Sometimes he even spoke about it outright. He constantly hammered the yearning for the geulah into his children and grandchildren, into everyone around him, into anyone who merely came to bask in his presence. I don’t know if there is anyone else in our generation whose entire being was so immersed in such sincere, pure longing for the ultimate Redemption.”
The article goes on to say how the Rebbe predicted 9/11, the Columbia disaster, and knew the day of his own death, among other Nissim VeNifla'ot.

May he be a Melitz Yosher for us all, especially at this time.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Worldwide Mashiah Prayer - This Sunday!

From AllJewsAsOne.com


Click to enlarge


Netanel Yahalomi HY"D

Arutz Sheva:
Corporal Netanel Yahalomi, 20, is the soldier who was killed in Friday’s terrorist attack near the Israel-Egypt border, it was cleared for publication on Friday afternoon. Another IDF soldier was moderately injured in the attack.

The attack occurred when three armed terrorists opened fire at IDF soldiers who were patrolling along the Israel-Egypt border. Yahalomi, a combat fighter of the Artillery Corps from Nof Ayalon died from his wounds.

Private Netanel Yahalomi was raised to the rank of Corporal following his death. He will be laid to rest on Saturday night at the military cemetery in Modi'in.

The attack took place around noon Friday. Heavy exchanges of fire ensued, during which the terrorists were killed.

One of the terrorists reportedly detonated himself in the attack.

An initial investigation showed that the terrorists entered into Israel through an area where there is no security fence and that they were heavily armed.

Large IDF forces converged on the location of the firefight, in the Har Harif area, and engaged the terrorists until they were eliminated.

"A very large terror attack was prevented," said IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Yoav Mordechai. "The terrorists apparently intended to infiltrate the territory of the state of Israel. They were found with explosive belts, vests and guns." According to Voice of Israel government-sponsored radio, he said the terrorists intended to blow themselves up amidst soldiers.

...

Ynet also has more information about his family with pictures.

HY"D.

OU & RCA: Pray to End Iranian Threat on Yom Kippur

Matzav:

The Orthodox Union (OU) and the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) today called upon all congregations to dedicate a specific moment during their services on the upcoming holy day of Yom Kippur to daven for an end to the threat of a nuclear armed Iran. The OU and RCA leadership issued the following statement:

“On Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, Jews worldwide spend the day in fasting, prayer and repentance. Yom Kippur is not a day for politics.

But Yom Kippur 5773 is different.

On this Yom Kippur - the world faces an evil regime whose leaders have publicly committed themselves to destroying the State of Israel and to harming Jews worldwide; in addition, the Iranians are a threat to the global community.

On this Yom Kippur - the leader of that evil regime will address the United Nations General Assembly and again preach his hatred;

On this Yom Kippur - the words found in the High Holiday prayer book, “God determines which nations shall face war and which shall enjoy peace,” prompt us to contemplate with anxiety the fate of the State of Israel and her people, of Jews throughout the world and, indeed, of civilization as a whole.

The threat is dire and demands our attention on our holiest day. Therefore, we call upon all congregations to dedicate a specific moment during their services on the upcoming holy day of Yom Kippur to pray for an end to the threat of a nuclear armed Iran.

On Yom Kippur, may Israel and its people be sealed in the Book of Life for a year of life and peace.”
I already mentioned the existence of Rav Ovadia's prayer for the New Year which is anti-enemy-heavy and Rav Metzger's Iran-specific New Year prayer.

Let's make it a Yom HaKePurim - a day like Purim, as the Zohar says - and defeat the Haman of our time with our prayers.

Geula Update from Rav Fish - Vayelech 5773

Hebrew received via email.  My translation to English follows.

מִלְחֶמֶת גּוֹג וּמָגוֹג תִּהְיֶה מִלְחֶמֶת דָּת בֵּין הַיִּשְׁמָעֵאלִים לַנּוֹצְרִים.
שָׁמַעְתִּי בְּשֵׁם הרה"ג ר' זָמִיר כֹּהֵן שליט"א מַדּוּעַ הַמַּהְפֵּכָה בִּמְדִינוֹת עֲרָב הִיא דַּוְקָא בַּמְּדִינוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ חִילוֹנִיּוֹת, וּלְאַחַר הַמַּהְפֵּכָה נֶהֶפְכוּ לְדָתִיּוֹת, וּבַמְּדִינוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ דָּתִיּוֹת קוֹדֶם לֹא הָיוּ מַהְפֵּכוֹת. וְדִּיֵּק בְּדִבְרֵי הַמַּלְבִּי"ם (יחזקאל לב, יז) שֶׁהַמִּלְחָמָה בֵּין אֱדוֹם וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל תִּהְיֶה מִלְחֶמֶת דָּתוֹת, וְלָכֵן הַמִּשְׁטָרִים הָאִיסְלַמִיִּים שֶׁאֵינָם דָּתִיִּים מִתְחַלְּפִים לְמִשְׁטָרִים דָּתִיִּים כַּהֲכָנָה לְמִלְחֶמֶת הַדָּתוֹת שֶׁל גּוֹג וּמָגוֹג. וְכֵן מוּבָא בָּ'אַבַּרְבַּנֵּאל' בְּכַמָּה מְקוֹמוֹת שֶׁכָּל הַמַּאֲמִינִים בְּדַת הַנּוֹצְרִים נִקְרָאִים אֱדוֹם, וְכָל הַמַּאֲמִינִים בְּדַת יִשְׁמָעֵאל נִקְרָאִים יִשְׁמָעֵאל. וּמִלְחֶמֶת אֱדוֹם וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל תִּהְיֶה מִלְחֶמֶת הַדָּתוֹת. וְנָבִיא אֶת הַדִּיּוּק מִדִּבְרֵי הַמַּלְבִּי"ם: הִנֵּה בְּעֵת קֵץ, אַחַר שֶׁכְּבָר יֵשְׁבוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל אַדְמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, עֲתִידִים הָאֻמּוֹת לְהִתְאַסֵּף וְלִכְבֹּש אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, וְיָבֹא גּוֹג נְשִׂיא מֶשֶׁךְ וְתוּבָל מֵאַרְצוֹת הַצָּפוֹן וְהַמַּעֲרָב, שֶׁהֵם הָעֲרֵלִים הַנִּקְרָאִים אֱדוֹם, וּמֶשֶׁךְ וְתוּבָל הֵם מִבְּנֵי יֶפֶת הַגָּרִים בְּאֵירוֹפָּא, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתַב הַיּוֹסִיפוּן. וְשָׁם אָמַר כִּי פָּרַס כּוּשׁ וּפוּט אִתָּם, וְכֵן בֵּית תּוּגְרְמָה, שֶׁהֵם כֻּלָּם נִמּוֹלִים מַחֲזִיקִים בְּדַת יִשְׁמָעאֵלִים, וְהֵם יִתְאַסְּפוּ עִם בְּנֵי אֱדוֹם לִכְבֹּש הָאָרֶץ מִיַּד יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲבָל בְּבוֹאָם יַעֲשֶׂה בֵּינֵיהֶם מְהוּמָה וְיִלָּחֲמוּ אִישׁ בְּאָחִיו הַיְינוּ אֱדוֹם וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל יִלָּחֲמוּ זֶה בָּזֶה, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֱמוּנָתָם מְפֹרֶדֶת, וְשָׁם יִשְׁפֹּט ה' אֹתָם בְּחֶרֶב וּבְדָם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר שָׁם וּבִזְכַרְיָה י"ד, עַל זֶה סִפֵּר כָּאן אֵיךְ כֻּלָּם יֵלְכוּ לָאֲבָדוֹן, וְחָשַׁב תְּחִלָּה מִצְרַיִם וְאַשּׁוּר וְעֵילָם שֶׁהֵם מַחְזִיקֵי דַּת יִשְׁמָעֵאל, וְהֵם נִמּוֹלִים הַיּוֹם, וְאַחַר כָּךְ חָשַׁב מֶשֶׁךְ וְתוּבָל וֶאֱדוֹם וּמְלָכֶיהָ וּנְסִיכֵי צָפוֹן שֶׁכֻּלָּם הֵם עֲרֵלִים, וּבֵינֵיהֶם תִּהְיֶה הַמִּלְחָמָה, וּתְחִלָּה תִּהְיֶה עִקַּר הַמַּפָּלָה בְּמִצְרַיִם שֶׁהֵם קְרוֹבִים לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהֵם יָבֹאוּ בָּרֹאשׁ וְיִפְּלוּ, וְיָבֹאוּ הָאַשּׁוּרִים וְהַפַּרְסִיִּים לִנְקֹם נִקְמָתָם וְיִפְּלוּ כֻּלָּם שְׁנֵי הַצְּדָדִים. וְרוֹאִים שֶׁהַמִּלְחָמָה בֵּין אֱדוֹם וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל הִיא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֱמוּנָתָם מְפֹרֶדֶת. וְעוֹד רוֹאִים מֵהַמַּלְבִּי"ם שֶׁהַמִּלְחָמָה תַּתְחִיל בְּמִצְרַיִם, וְאַחַר כָּךְ יָבֹאוּ הַפַּרְסִיִּים לִנְקֹם אֶת נִקְמַת הַמִּצְרִים. וְרוֹאִים בְּיָמִים אֵלּוּ שֶׁמִּתְעוֹרֶרֶת מִלְחֶמֶת דָּת בֵּין הַיִּשְׁמָעֵאלִים לַנּוֹצְרִים בְּכָל הָעוֹלָם, בִּגְלַל פִּרְסוּם שֶׁלּוֹעֵג לָאִיסְלַאם. וּפֻרְסַם בְּעִתּוֹן 'הַמְבַשֵּׂר' (ג' בתשרי תשע"ג) שֶׁקְּבוּצַת אַנְשֵׁי דָּת בְּמִצְרַיִם הִכְרִיזוּ שֶׁהֵם שָׂכְרוּ חֶבְרוֹת הֲפָקָה לְיַצֵּר פִּרְסוּמִים שֶׁיִּלְעֲגוּ לַנַּצְרוּת. וְכֵן רוֹאִים שֶׁהַמִּלְחָמָה הַזֹּאת הִתְעוֹרְרָה מִפִּרְסוּם בָּאִינְטֶרְנֶט דֶּרֶךְ חֶבְרַת גּוּגְל הַמְרַמֶּזֶת עַל גּוֹג. וְעוֹד נִרְאֶה שֶׁיִּתָּכֵן שֶׁלָּכֵן הַמְּהוּמוֹת הִתְחִילוּ בְּיוֹם כ"ה בֶּאֱלוּל תשע"ב כְּשֶׁהָרְגוּ אֶת הַשַּׁגְרִיר הָאַמֶרִיקָאִי בְּלוּב. כְּפִי שֶׁהֵבֵאנוּ לְעֵיל מֵהַזֹּהַר (בלק ריב:) שֶׁתְּחִילַת הַתַּהֲלִיךְ שֶׁל בִּיאַת הַמָּשִׁיחַ, שֶׁמִּמֶּנּוּ יִתְעוֹרְרוּ קְרָבוֹת בָּעוֹלָם, יִהְיֶה בְּיוֹם כ"ה בֶּאֱלוּל שֶׁהוּא יוֹם בְּרִיאַת הָעוֹלָם. וְנָבִיא אֶת לְשׁוֹן הַזֹּהַר מִתּוֹךְ הַתַּרְגּוּם וְיֵרָאֶה בְּכ''ה לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשִּׁשִּׁי, וְיִתְכַּנֵּס בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי לְסוֹף שִׁבְעִים יוֹם. יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן יֵרָאֶה בְּעִיר שֶׁל רוֹמָא, וְאוֹתוֹ יוֹם יִפְּלוּ שָׁלֹשׁ חוֹמוֹת עֶלְיוֹנוֹת מֵאוֹתָהּ עִיר שֶׁל רוֹמִי, וְהֵיכָל גָּדוֹל יִפֹּל, וְשַׁלִּיט אוֹתָהּ הָעִיר יָמוּת. [אוּלַי מְרַמֵּז עַל נְפִילַת הַשַּׁגְרִירוּת בְּלוּב, שֶׁהִיא הַיּוֹם מְדִינָה תַּחַת חֲסוּת רוֹמִי, הַשַּׁגְרִיר הוּא הַשַּׁלִּיט, וְשָׁלֹש חוֹמוֹת הֵן שְׁלֹשָה אַנְשֵׁי בִּטָּחוֹן.] אָז יִתְפַּשֵּׁט אוֹתוֹ כּוֹכָב לְהֵרָאוֹת בָּעוֹלָם, וּבְאוֹתוֹ זְמַן יִתְעוֹרְרוּ קְרָבוֹת חֲזָקִים בָּעוֹלָם לְכָל אַרְבָּעָה צְדָדִים, וֶאֱמוּנָה לֹא תִמָּצֵא בֵינֵיהֶם. וְרוֹאִים בַּזֹּהַר שֶׁשִּׁבְעִים יוֹם אַחֲרֵי כ"ה בֶּאֱלוּל יַתְחִילוּ דְּבָרִים גְּדוֹלִים, וְזֶה יוֹצֵא בְּה' בְּכִסְלֵיו תשע"ג. וְכֵן כ"ה אֱלוּל תשע"ב הָיָה בְּפָרָשַׁת נִצָּבִים שֶׁכְּבָר הֵבֵאנוּ לְעֵיל שֶׁ"אַתֶּם", אוֹתִיּוֹת אֱמֶת, אוֹ ר"ת אֵלִיָּהוּ תִּשְׁבִּי מָשִׁיחַ. "נִצָּבִים" בְּגִימַטְרִיָּא בַּקֵּץ. "הַיּוֹם כֻּלְּכֶם" ר"ת כ"ה, "הַיּוֹם כֻּלְּכֶם לִפְנֵי הוי"ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם", ר"ת בְּגִימַטְרִיָּא אֱלוּל. "לְמַעַן הָקִים אוֹתְךָ" בְּגִימַטְרִיָּא תשע"ב.

The Gog Umagog War will be a religious war between Muslims and Xtians.

I heard in the name of Rav Zamir Cohen Shlit"a:

Why are the revolutions in the Arab countries only in secular countries, and after the revolution, they become religious, while countries that were religious previously had no revolutions?

He inferred from the words of the Malbim (Yehezkel 32:17) that the war between Edom and Yishmael will be a religious war, which is why the Islamic policemen who are not religious will turn into religious policemen as preparation for the religious war of Gog Umagog.

And it is similarly brought in the Abravanel in many places that all who believe in the religion of the Xtians are called "Edom" and all who believe in the religion of Yishmael are called "Yishmael".  And the war between Edom and Yishmael will be a religious war.

And we will bring down the inference in the words of the Malbim:
Behold, at the time of the End, after Israel has already settled on the Land of Israel, the nations are destined to gather and capture Yerushalayim, and Gog, the prince of Meshech and Tuval will come from the lands of the North and West, who are the uncircumcised ones who are called "Edom", and Meshech and Tuval are from the children of Yefet who live in Europe, as Yosifon wrote.  And there it says that Paras, Kush, and Put are with them, and also the house of Togarma, who are all circumcised, according to the religion of Yishmael, and they will gather with the children of Edom to capture the land from Israel.  However, when they come, they will make trouble among them and they will fight with each other - i.e., Edom and Yishmael will fight with each other because their beliefs are different.  And there, Hashem will judge them with sword and with blood, as is described there and in Zecharia 14.

Upon this, [the prophet] is relating here how they will all be destroyed.  He first lists Egypt, Assyria, and Eilam, who hold by the religion of Yishmael and are circumcised today.  Afterwards, he lists Meshech, Tuval, Edom and its kings, and the princes of the North, who are all uncircumcised.  And between them will be the war.  And at first, the main downfall is in Egypt, which is close to the Land of Israel - they will come first, and they will fall.  And the Assyrians and the Persians will come to avenge them, and they will all fall - both sides.
We see that the war between Edom and Yishmael is because their beliefs are different.

And we also see from the Malbim that the war will start in Egypt, and later, the Persians will come to avenge the Egyptians.

And we see in these days that a religious war between the Yishmaelites and Xtians is being awakened in the entire world because of a film that mocks Islam.  And it was publicized in the newspaper "Hamevaser" (3 Tishri, 5773) that a group of religious people in Egypt announced that they hired production companies to produce films that will mock Xtianity.

And we also see that this war was awakened from a film on the Internet by way of [Youtube which is owned by] Google (גוגל), which hints to Gog (גוג).

And it also appears that it is possible that this is why the troubles started on the 25th of Elul, 5772, when they killed the American ambassador in Libya.  As we brought earlier from the Zohar (Balak 212b) that the beginning of the process of the coming of Mashiah, from which wars will be awakened in the world, will occur on the day of the 25th of Elul - which is the first day of the creation of the world. And we will bring the language of the Zohar from the translation:
And it will be seen on the 25th of the 6th month and it will enter on the seventh day at the end of 70 days.  On the first day, it will be seen in the city of Rome, and that day, 3 supreme walls from that city of Rome will fall, and the great palace will fall, and the ruler of that city will die.
(Perhaps, this hints to the downfall of the ambassador in Libya, which today is a country under the protection of Rome, the ambassador is the "ruler", and the 3 walls are the 3 security guards.  [YY - or, perhaps, 1 foreign service information management officer and 2 security guards.])
Then, that star will spread out to be seen in the world.  And at that time, strong wars will be awakened in the world - to all 4 corners, and belief will not be found among them.
And we see in the Zohar that 70 days after the 25th of Elul, big things will start, and this comes out on the 5th of Kislev, 5773.

And also, the 25th of Elul, 5772 was in Parshat Nitzavim, where we already brought down that [the first word of the Parsha] אתם is the letters of אמת [truth] or the Rashei Teivot of אליהו תשבי משיח [Eliyahu Tishbi Mashiah].  נצבים is the gematria of בקץ [in the End].  היום כלכם is Rashei Teivot כ"ה [i.e. 25].  The gematria of the Rashei Teivot of היום כלכם לפני ה' אלקיכם is אלול [Elul].  למען הקים אותך is the gematria of 772.


Thursday, September 20, 2012

Ehud Barak - Rahm Emanuel Caption Contest


Picture from here
 My contribution:

Barak: Congratulations on surviving your first strike.
Rahm: Nu, when's yours coming?



Anyone else?

Rav Hayim Pinto Fights Iran in a Unique Way

Kikar reports that Rav Hayim Pinto, the Chief Rabbi of Ashdod and of Kiryat Malachi, revealed that he has 6 Tzadikim buried in his office in Kiryat Malachi.  People only knew about 4.  One of the new ones is Rav Shlomo Buzaglo.  (I'm not sure, but it seems from the article that the other one is his wife.)

(The only reference to Rav Shlomo Buzaglo that I found online after a superficial search was here, where he is listed among other rabbis of Morocco and lived in Fez about 300 years ago.)

An event was held in the middle of the night for Selihot along with Shofar-blowing and Tikkun Karet, where this was revealed to the community.

Rav Pinto said, "My office was closed up until now, but since we are hearing sounds of war, we then said that with Hashem's help, they will stand as a merit to Am Yisrael," referring to the Tzaddikim buried in his office.

He added, "I brought them for the sake of Heaven, I suffered for them for the sake of Heaven, I endangered myself for the sake of heaven, I went around Arab countries for the sake of Heaven, and they are here for the sake of Heaven - and the whole purpose is to protect Am Yisrael."

According to Rav Pinto, the graves were brought 23 years ago, while the other 4 were brought 25 years ago.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Mohammed and Yeshu Crumbling


These 2 headlines were featured next to each other on FoxNews.com

Rambam, Hilchot Melachim, 11:13:
וכשיעמוד המלך המשיח באמת, ויצליח וירום ויינשא--מיד הם כולן חוזרין ויודעים ששקר נחלו אבותיהם, ושנביאיהם ואבותיהם הטעום
And when the real King Mashiah will arise and he will be successful and be lifted and raised up, immediately they [the Xtians and the Muslims] will all return and know that their ancestors inherited falsehood, and that their prophets and fathers have misled them.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Leek Locution

Like as we eat this leek, may our luck never lack in the year to come.
- de Sola Pool Rosh Hashana Mahzor1

Like as we eat this leek, may Luke Skywalker defeat the Dark Side and may the Loch Ness Monster be caught in the year to come.
- Sci-Fi Club Rosh Hashana Mahzor

Like as we eat this leek, may we have loquacious friends, may we get many Likes on Facebook, may we continue to look fabulous, and may our Lukshen Kugels turn out delicious in the year to come.
- Bored Housewives' Rosh Hashana Mahzor

Like as we eat this leek, may our league end the lockout in the year to come.
- NHL Players Association Rosh Hashana Mahzor

Like as we eat this leek, may the local weather produce many leaks in the year to come.
- Roofers Association Rosh Hashana Mahzor

Like as we eat this leek, may our liquor never lack in the year to come.
- Kiddush Clubs of America Rosh Hashana Mahzor

Like as we eat this leek, may our loco enemies put up a lackluster performance and thereby take a licking in the year to come.2
- IDF Rosh Hashana Mahzor


1. This one is real.
2. This one somewhat resembles the Hebrew prayer for leek.

The Quincessential Prayer for Freedom

According to Wikipedia, North African Jews have quinces (usually as a jelly) on Rosh Hashana night.  Quinces are חבושים in Hebrew.  Before eating them, they would recite:

יהי רצון מלפניך ה' אלהינו ואלהי אבותינו שתהא שנה זו טובה ומתוקה ושיצאו חבושי עמך ישראל ממאסרם לאורה
May it be Your will, Hashem, our G-d and the G-d of our fathers, that this year be good and sweet, and those of Your nation Israel who are imprisoned should leave their incarceration to go toward the light.

Even if you don't have this custom or don't have a quince, it doesn't hurt to say it and have in mind:
among all חבושי עמך ישראל.



Other interesting Rosh Hashana links (all in Hebrew):



Wishing everyone:

Shana Tova
Tizku Leshanim Rabot, Ne'imot VeTovot
Ketiva Vahatima Tova

As we say in Ahot Ketana:

Let the year end with its curses and may the new year begin with its blessings.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Pray for Mashiah on Rosh Hashana


I found this on both the Kol Tzofayich newsletter (page 4, bottom-right corner) by Rav Shmuel Eliyahu and the Kol Emunim newsletter (page 4, top-left corner) by Shomrei Emunim Hasidim - 2 very different groups and quoting different people, but saying pretty much the same Devar Torah, so it must be true.  I will paraphrase it:

It says in Shemuel Alef 20:27:
מַדּוּעַ לֹא-בָא בֶן-יִשַׁי גַּם-תְּמוֹל גַּם-הַיּוֹם, אֶל-הַלָּחֶם
Why did the son of Yishai not come either yesterday or today to the bread?

Using Rabbinic license, this is referring to someone who was asking near the end of the second day of Rosh Hashana, and everyone was fervently praying for 2 days straight.  One who witnesses this comes to ask Hashem, "Hashem, we've been praying with such concentration for 2 days straight - why has the son of Yishai - i.e. Mashiah - not come either yesterday or today?" 

The answer is because "אל הלחם" - those who prayed were only praying for their bread - i.e. for their Parnassa, not for Mashiah's coming or the end of the exile of the Shechina.  This is why Mashiah hadn't come.

This year, let us make an effort to make the focus of our Rosh Hashana prayers on Mashiah coming this year.  When that problem is resolved, all our other problems will disappear.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Rav Yitzchak Brand: Don't Rely on Goyim - Attack Iran

According to Kikar, Rav Yitzhak Brand Shlit"a from Immanuel tells Prime Minister Netanyahu not to rely on any other nation to attack Iran - Israel has to do it alone.

His proof is from Divrei Hayamim II 16, where King Asa of Yehuda, who had King Ben Hadad of Aram fight against King Ba'sha of Yisrael, who was building a blockade against King Asa. In verse 7, King Asa is rebuked for not relying on Hashem and only relying on Aram for help, and he was punished for this, Rav Brand says.

According to Rav Brand, the relations between King Asa and King Ben Hadad were immeasurably greater than the relations between the US and Israel nowadays, especially with the current president, and still King Asa was punished for relying on Aram. All the more so today, he says.

I will just note that this was not the first time PM Netanyahu was compared to King Asa.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Geula Through Teshuva

My translation of the Mahsof Halavan on Nitzavim (written by Ribbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira, the grandfather of the Baba Sali):

Or else, "Atem Nitzavim" could be hinting to the idea that at that moment, all the souls of Israel of all the future generations were all standing there, as Raza"l proved from the verse "but with him that standeth here with us this day before the LORD our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day". And Moshe Rabbeinu, alav hashalom, saw the length of this final exile that it is especially long, and he had great pain over the Shechina, Whose pain in the exile is boundless. And Moshe Rabbeinu, alav hashalom, knew Its pain more than the rest of the world, since he is Ba'alah DeMatronita [YY - don't ask me to explain this concept], and he is exceedingly angry over the news of the length of Its pain in the exile.

And he said that the length of the exile is dependent upon the Children of Israel - they are the ones who caused the length of the exile with their sins. This is because HKB"H only decreed 1000 years of exile, as it says: "He hath made me desolate and faint all the day," and 1 day of HKB"H is 1000 years, and anything added to those 1000 years is because of the sins of Israel.

And behold, due to the sins of all the days of the length of the exile, at every midnight when the Shechina screams out and complains about Its pain in exile, all the worlds shake, cry, and scream out with It. And the forefathers, foremothers, tribes, Moshe Rabbeinu alav hashalom, all his generation, and all the Children of Israel of that world - all are pleading and crying before HKB"H at that moment for the pain of the Shechina - until when will It continue to be pained?

And this is what Moshe Rabbeinu, alav hashalom, said to the souls who are destined to be in the final generation who see the length of the exile as being too long, but they do not pay attention why the exile is so long. They really believe that Mashiah will come and hope for his salvation every day, but they are not aroused to do complete Teshuva through which he will come. Rather, they say with their mouths, "For we hope for Your salvation the whole day," but the main idea is missing from them - which is Teshuva.

And it is possible that this is what the prophet [Hoshe'a], alav hashalom, intended when he said "And My people are in suspense about returning to Me; and though they call them upwards, none at all will lift himself up." At first glance, ואל על יקראהו "And though they call them upwards" is not understandable. However, according to what we just said, it comes out nicely. He is saying, "And My people are in suspense" - that is, their eyes are in suspense and hoping: when will I redeem them from exile and return them to their land as originally? And they said with their mouths, "For we hope for Your salvation the whole day," but what is in their mouths isn't correct since Redemption is dependent upon Teshuva, as it says "Return, ye backsliding children, I will heal your backslidings," for they are not redeemed without Teshuva.

And that is what is meant by "And My people are in suspense about returning to Me" - as we said that they are hoping that I will return them to their place, but they throw the burden upon Me when they say that this salvation is dependent upon Hashem, Who will have mercy upon us and redeem us from the exile. And that is ואל על יקראהו "And though they call them upwards" - ואל על are 2 words. This means that sometimes, they say אל - to Hashem are our eyes suspended that He will redeem us from this exile. This is the meaning of the word ואל. And sometimes, they say על - the burden of this exile is upon Hashem, like "Cast thy burden upon the LORD". However, this is not the truth as the main idea is that we do Teshuva.

And this idea of Teshuva, upon which Redemption is dependent, we don't find avenues to do it and we don't agree to do it. And that is the idea of "none at all will lift himself up" - meaning that we don't agree together to do the uplifting with which we will be redeemed, which is Teshuva, as we said. And that is the meaning of "none at all will lift himself up" - to do Teshuva.

And that is what Moshe Rabbeinu, alav hashalom, said here in the verse "Atem Nitzavim": אתם נצבים היום with the Kollel = [695 =] בגלות איה רחל. Moshe Rabbeinu, alav hashalom, is telling the souls of the last generation that are at the end of the exile, "You should know that the Shechina has great pain during the length of the boundless exile, and the forefathers, foremothers, tribes, elders, princes, prophets, the pious, and the righteous cry and plead before HKB"H and say, 'Where is the Shechina which traveled away and was expelled from Its place? It is in great pain!'" And that is the idea of "your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers" - in the exile, they scream out and ask, "Where is Rahel [i.e. the Shechina] Who traveled away from Her place? It is in great pain!"

And this matter is dependent upon you - you, the children of the exile, through whose sins the exile is lengthened. And this is the idea of the verse כל איש ישראל "even all the men of Israel." The word כל is the gematria of הגולה with the Kollel [=50]. And the idea that Israel is considered the man of the exile - in other words, this is why you, Israel, are children of the exile: I say that you should awaken yourselves and know that the pain that Shechina is enduring is because of you, so you should repent with complete Teshuva in order that the written verse will be fulfilled, "Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and they that return of her with righteousness."

Sunday, September 09, 2012

G-d and Jerusalem

The DNC rammed through the motion to reinstate G-d and Jerusalem being Israel's capital in their party's platform, notwithstanding the more-than-one-third of delegates who opposed the motion.  It's good that they did so because had they not done so, I would have told them that I hope G-d does not remove Democrats from His platform.

Anyways, it was quite interesting that these 2 concepts - of Hashem and Yerushalayim - were constantly together.  The 2008 platform had both together.  Before the reinstatement, the Republicans complained about the absence of both of them - together.  And they were both reinstated - together.  As if Hashem and Yerushalayim were - and are - inseparable.  And that would be correct.

In fact, the Haftarah that we just read on Shabbat says (referring to Yerushalayim):
וְקָרְאוּ לָךְ עִיר יְהוָה, צִיּוֹן קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל
and they shall call thee the city of the LORD, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
We see that Yerushalayim is called "Hashem's city".

And it was always that way.  One of the first references to Yerushalayim in the Torah is during Akeidat Yitzhak, where it says:
 וַיִּקְרָא אַבְרָהָם שֵׁם-הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא, יְהוָה יִרְאֶה, אֲשֶׁר יֵאָמֵר הַיּוֹם, בְּהַר יְהוָה יֵרָאֶה.
And Abraham called the name of that place Adonai-jireh; as it is said to this day: 'In the mount where the LORD is seen.'
This is another reference where Hashem's name is part of Yerushalayim's name.

Not only that, but Yerusalayim is called by Hashem's name alone. The very last verse in Yehezkel states:
וְשֵׁם-הָעִיר מִיּוֹם, יְהוָה שָׁמָּה
And the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.
The simple meaning of the verse helps our case in and of itself, but when we take a look at Bava Batra 75b, we see the following:
אמר רב שמואל בר נחמני אמר רבי יונתן שלשה נקראו על שמו של הקב"ה ואלו הן צדיקים משיח וירושלים ... ירושלים דכתיב  סביב שמונה עשר אלף ושם העיר מיום ה' שמה אל תקרי שמה אלא שמה
Rav Shemuel Bar Nahmani said in the name of Ribbi Yonatan: 3 are called by the Name of HKB"H, and these are they: the righteous, Mashiah, and Yerushalayim. ... Yerushalayim, as it is written, "It shall be eighteen thousand reeds round about. And the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there." Do not read it "[Hashem] is there (שָׁמָּה)", but rather, "[Hashem] is its name (שְׁמָהּ)."
Inseparable indeed.

(See the City of Yerushalayim's website for 105(!) names for Yerushalayim in Hebrew alone, let alone other languages, for more examples of this.)

Thursday, September 06, 2012

The Forward Goes Geula Blogging

Here.

Who would think to see such an article in the Forward?  Even if they think they are mocking, it is amazing that they are taking notice.

It must be a sign...

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Uva Letzion Goel in 5773 - The Full Count

From my summary of Rav Fish's posting from last Yom Kippur:
In the name of Harav Hagaon R' David Samson Shlit"a: we find in the Siddur HaRasha"sh that when saying the chapter of Tehillim (Psalm 20) יענך ה' ביום צרה, which contains 70 words, one should have in mind the 70 sounds of a birthing mother, and when saying the Kedusha of Uva Letziyon, one should have in mind the birth of the Heavenly influence of the entire day. It comes out that the words, ובא לציון גואל are words 71, 72, and 73 respectively. Going a bit deeper, the words ובא לציון hint to the birth as Tziyon symbolizes the birthplace, whereas גואל hints to the actual Redemption, in the year 5773.
Expanding on this idea, we can go further back in time and further back in the prayers to the beginning of Tahanunim on Monday and Thursday.  The year of the destruction of the second Beit Hamikdash is traditionally held to be 3828.  Of course, the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed due to our sins so beginning with the Vidui of Tahanunim right after the destruction seems very appropriate.

Various Nus'ha'ot can alter the count.  I happened to use the first Siddur I had handy, which was the למען שמו באהבה Siddur.  Other Sephardic Siddurim would not alter the count by very much.

ParagraphNo. of WordsRunning Year Count
--3828
אשמנו9413922
מה נאמר2393961
יהי רצון2874048
א-ל ארך אפים314079
ויעבר234102
רחום וחנון74109
לדוד1654274
ה'104284
אבינו מלכנו 1164400
א-ל מלך594459
ויעבר 234482
אנשי אמונה754557
א-ל מלך594616
ויעבר 234639
תמהנו 794718
א-ל מלך594777
ויעבר 234800
אלקינו 814881
והוא רחום1955076
אבינו אב הרחמן1155191
אנא 365227
אין כמוך9535322
הפותח 925414
קדיש555469
א-ל ארך אפים255494
א-ל ארך אפים265520
Verses for taking
out the Sefer Torah
skip45520
יהי חסדך75527
אשרי 1735700
למנצח 705770
ובא לציון גואל35773


1) This number will vary the most according to various Siddurim.
2) Many siddurim put מה נאמר and יהי רצון right before והוא רחום, but the count is unaffected.
3) I cheated a bit here as the למען שמו באהבה siddur - as do most Sephardic siddurim - have only 94 words, but some Sephardic siddurim have 95 words as they start this paragraph אין כמוך חנון ורחום ה' אלקינו like Ashkenazic siddurim.  Hashem's name is omitted in the former.
4) I only included the א-ל ארך אפים paragraphs since they are supplicatory prayers, whereas everything else that is associated with the Sefer Torah is omitted.