Interesting Recent Links - Pesah 5773

In case you missed it, see the post before this one: Geula Update from Rav Fish - Pesah 5773

Matzav (originally from Yated USA) - Pesach and the “Enlightened Ashkenazi Elitists” (guaranteed to ruffle some feathers, but I can't argue with a thing he says, and I'm no Kana'i).

Arutz Sheva - Temple Groups Practice Passover Sacrifice and see more videos about this at Life in Israel

YWN - Star-S Pesach Hotline's 10 Most asked Passover Questions from Sephardic Jews

Matzav and Kikar - Rav Chaim Kanievsky Makes a Siyum on Kol Hatorah Kulah - again.

Rav Yaakov Horowitz on Teaching Galut 101 to Children

Dixie Yid guest post - Technology in the Third Beit Hamikdash (cute and shows impressive Beki'ut)

YWN video - Rav Ovadia and his Beit Din Sell Hametz

Jewish Press - Obama to Impersonate Pharaoh at White House Seder

Geula Update from Rav Fish - Pesah 5773

From Rav Fish's latest:

• From R' Yosef Sofer: The letters that follow אחר צה"ל are וקם שבט.  This hints that after the draft decree to the IDF, the verse that refers to the coming of Mashiah will be fulfilled: וקם שבט מישראל.
• [From Rav Fish's update for Yitro this year:]

  It is publicized in the name of the Hazon Ish ZT"L that some of the Kana'im came to him during the establishment of the State of Israel to explain their views to him. He answered them that their views would be correct in maybe 60 years, but until then, we have to take money from the Zionists and to vote and to influence from the inside. And today, after a little more than 60 years, it appears that in Shamayim, it has been decided like the opinion of the Kana'im that the time has come to separate from them, as we said.

  When this "government of apostasy" was established, the leader of "Torah VeYir'ah Institutions", who was the greatest Kana'i of the previous generation, had passed away
• The Pope:
• The Rama"z adds: 
• On Wednesday of Parshat Vayikra, when they made the final announcement about this "government of apostasy", on that same day, they announced the appointment of a new pope, who wears all white, with the aspect of, "כלו הפך לבן it is all turned white". (See the beginning here.)
• And also, when they appoint the pope, they have a tradition to make Avoda Zara out of white smoke.
• Rav Shlomo Reiskin adds:
• This pope is the 266th pope; 266 is the gematria of חורבן [destruction, as in that of the Beit Hamikdash], to hint that until now will be the Beit Hamikdash in a state of destruction, whose root is in Xtianity.
• Also, the name of the pope is BerGOGlio, including the word "GOG" [YY - also, his mother's mother's last name is "Gogna"].
• He is the first "non-Ashkenazi" [i.e. non-European] pope in 1272 years, meaning he is a "Sepharadi" from right of the Kelipa (Keitz Hayamin), in contrast to all his predecessors who were "Ashkenazim" from the left of the Kelipa.  The previous "Sepharadi" 1272 years ago was Pope Gregory (גרגוריוס) from Syria, who also contains the word "גוג Gog".
• Also, the name of the Vatican spokesman [YY - that may not be his official title, but rather the English-language media attache] Tom Rosica hints to their downfall: "Tom" is "יתמו" [they will be finished] and "Rosica" is "יתרסקו" [they will be crushed].
• נב"ל:
• Continuing on the Keli Yakar's idea that הפך לבן means that the word changed to be נבל, it appears that we could add that נבל hints to a war against the Parnassa of Israel, as we see in the gemara (Pesahim 111b) that the angel that is appointed over poverty is called "נבל Naval". 
•  We also find regarding Naval HaCarmeli that the Parnassa of King David descended from Heaven to Naval and he did not want to be the benefactor to David's men.
• The Sha'ar Hapesukim by the Ariza"l (Balak 188) says that Naval HaCarmeli was a gilgul of Bil'am, who tried to curse Israel and harm the Parnassa of Israel, as it says in Midrash (Devarim Rabba 3:4):  "Everything that Israel eats in this world is from the power of the blessings of the wicked Bil'am."  This means that Balak and Bil'am tried to harm the Parnassa of Israel, but HKB"H changed the curse into a blessing.  Also in Sha'ar Hapesukim, it says that Naval was a gilgul of Lavan, who did not want to be the benefactor of Parnassa to Yaakov Avinu. 
• R' Tzion David Siboni adds: the gematria of "לפיד בנט ביבי" is "לחם עוני".
• Also, the Zohar (Bereishit 28a) on the verse "ונבל כי ישבע לחם": 

  this refers to the Erev Rav, as in "עַם נָבָל, וְלֹא חָכָם"

    
• Also, the Tikunei Zohar (2a)

  The Shechina is more angry over ונבל כי ישבע לחם since it says regarding it [the Torah, here] לְכוּ, לַחֲמוּ בְלַחֲמִי['Come, eat of my bread'] since he [one who is full of bread] is a stingy person, Naval with his money is called "Naval". Since he is not generous and is not of the decendants of the Avot, about whom it is said: "נְדִיבֵי עַמִּים, נֶאֱסָפוּ". This is because a stingy person is a pauper of the mind since he does not perform kindness to Torah-learners to support them, and Torah without Mitzvot is not considered "Torat Hashem".

• And it's also brought down in Rashi (Tehlim 60:6) that Hashem tests those who fear Him with tests in that if one passes them, the nations of the world will not second-guess the good that Hashem gives them [those who fear Him] afterwards. Here are his words:

  You have given to those who fear You a "נס" - tests of many troubles. "להתנוסס" - with which to be tested if they will stand strong in fearing You. "מפני קשט" - to adorn Your measures in the world; when You give them goodness, the nations will not second-guess You, but rather, they will adorn Your judgement and will say, "It is nice that He gave them goodness since they withstood many tests."

• We find in the gemara that the angel that is appointed over Parnassa is called, "נקיד" and the angel appointed over poverty is called "נבל".  Rashi there explains that נקיד is an expression of cleanliness, so therefore, it doesn't want the crumbs to be thrown about to be trampled over with feet.  נבל, on the other hand, is an expression of dirt.
• Rav Yosef Gertner adds that this is why Yaakov fought Lavan regarding Parnassa, by way of the sheep that were נקדים (spotted) and peeling spots on the sticks.  This is because Lavan לבן is connected [using the same letters] as the angel of poverty - to fight against Yaakov and to trick him to prevent him from having a Parnsassa.  And Yaakov fought against him using the angel נקיד, who is appointed over Parnassa.  We also find this in the Zohar (Vayetze 162a) that Yaakov fulfilled the Mitzvah of Tefillin by way of the sticks that he put in the water so that the sheep would conceive and give birth, etc.  And the Mitzvah of Tefillin is connected to the angel נקיד to draw the blessing of Parnassah, as explained in the essay "Hashmal Tzitzit".  Also, the verse (Bereishit 31:7) וַאֲבִיכֶן הֵתֶל בִּי, וְהֶחֱלִף אֶת-מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּי is Sofei Teivot תפילין to show that the Mitzvah of Tefillin is what saved Yaakov from the trickery of Lavan and caused an abundance of Parnassa to come to Yaakov.  And we also find in the Zohar (Vayetze 161a) that this verse has hints to the blessing of Parnassa with which Hashem blessed Yaakov.
• Locusts:
• And also, in these days, swarms of locusts have spread over the Land of Israel.  And it is known the story of the Ariza"l who rebuked his students who did not support a certain pauper in Tzfat.  And when they then were diligent in supporting him, they saw swarms of locusts coming and then returning from whence they came.  And the Ariza"l told them that they saved Tzfat from a plague of locusts which comes as a punishment for harming the poor.
• And we know that the prophet Yoel prophesied about the great plague of locusts that occurred in his days, and immediately afterwards, he prophesied about Gog Umagog and the Future Redemption.  In chapters 1-2, the prophecy was about the locusts, and in chapters 3-4, the prophecy is about the End of Days.  Chapter 3 begins, "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy".  Most of the commentators ask why he said that the Future Redemption will occur "afterward", meaning after the plague of locusts that was in their days much much before the End of Days.  The Malbim there explains that even the earlier chapters hint to the Future Redemption, and therefore says "afterward" as we see in the verses:
• [Yoel 1:6] "For a people is come up upon my land, mighty, and without number..."
• [1:15] "Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand..."
• [2:1-2] "let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is at hand. A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, as blackness spread upon the mountains; a great people and a mighty, there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after them, even to the years of many generations."
• [2:11] "And the LORD uttereth His voice before His army; for His camp is very great, for he is mighty that executeth His word; for great is the day of the LORD and very terrible; and who can abide it?"
• [2:19-20] "And the LORD answered and said unto His people: 'Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations; But I will remove far off from you the northern one, ..."
All these verses, according to the simple meaning, are speaking about the locusts, but the Malbim explains that we see clearly that it also hints to the Future Redemption. Afterwards, it starts the prophecy about the Future Redemption in the entire chapter 3. It comes out from all this that the Prophet Yoel hinted that before the Redemption, a plague of locusts will come to the Land of Israel. (Rama"z helped Rav Fish with this.)
• Lapid and his father are the 2 flames (לפידים) that burn the tails that symbolize the State of Israel which belongs to Ephraim, in the Sod of MBY before the Geula.
• It says (Yeshaya 7:2-7): "And it was told the house of David, saying: 'Aram is confederate with Ephraim.' And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest are moved with the wind.  Then said the LORD unto Isaiah: 'Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, in the highway of the fullers' field; and say unto him: Keep calm, and be quiet; fear not, neither let thy heart be faint, because of these two tails of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram, and of the son of Remaliah.  Because Aram hath counselled evil against thee, Ephraim also, and the son of Remaliah, saying:  Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set up a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeel;  thus saith the Lord GOD: It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass."
• This prophecy was said at a time that there were 2 kingdoms in Israel, the kingdom of Ahaz from the House of David, who ruled in Yerushalayim, and the house of Pekah ben Remalyahu from Ephraim who ruled in Shomron.  And it's brought down in the Gr"a (Sifra Ditzni'uta, chapter 1) that the verses also hint to what will occur between the 2 Meshihim in the future.  The Kingdom of Ephraim corresponds to the kingdom that will belong to MBY before the Geula.  Afterwards, "Emanuel", who is Hizkiya, is born, and he corresponds to MBD. 
• Also, we only find one other place in Tanach where "שני [ה]זנבות" is used, and also there, the 2 tails were burning.  (Shofetim 15:4-5) "And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took torches [לפידים], and turned tail to tail, and put a torch [לפיד] in the midst between every two tails.  And when he had set the torches [לפידים] on fire, he let them go into the standing corn of the Philistines..." 
• And it's possible that there is a hint here to Ya'ir Lapid and his father, who are the 2 Lapidim who burn the 2 tails, who symbolize the Erev Rav kingdom, which is related to Ephraim in the Sod of MBY. 
• Also, פקח בן רמלא is the gematria of נתניהו [YY - my calculation has it off by 10] as Rashi on Yeshaya 7:6 says that his name was really פקח בן רמלא.
• Also, בן רמליהו hints to בנימן נתניהו, who is whom this prophecy refers to according to what we are saying.
• Rav Avraham Agassi adds: בנט is hinted to in בן טבאל, who might be whom this prophecy refers to acccording to what we are saying.
• Also, בן טבאל is the letters בן אב טומי לפיד.
• Also, בנט is the letters of נבט, the father of Yerav'am, the king from the tribe of Yosef.
• Also, יאיר is the gematria of the name of his father יוסף טומי, hinting to the idea that he defiled [טמא] the kingdom of Yosef more than it was previously.
• Also, לפיד symbolizes Yosef's attribute of Yesod, as it says in Likutei Torah of the Ariza"l (Shofetim 289) "אשת לפידות - is Yesod, upon whom it is said, 'and His arrow shall go forth as the lightning', which refers to the drop of Zera that shoots out like an arrow."
• And it is known that the helicopter tragedy many years ago over She'ar Yashuv, in the week that the Haftara that contains Yeshaya 7 is read, everyone said that it was hinted in the verses, where verse 3 says "You and She'ar Yashuv your son" and verse 4 said "Keep calm, and be quiet; fear not, neither let thy heart be faint, because of these two tails of smoking firebrands".  We see that even then that a tragedy of the State of Israel is hinted to in this prophecy.
• And we will bring down an essay about the helicopter tragedy from Dr. Moshe Katz that deals with skips in the Torah.  In it, we see a great connection between the tragedy and the number 73, which is the number of the current year: 5773: On Tuesday, the 28th of Shevat, 5757, a terrible tragedy occurred that is known as "The helicopter tragedy". The tragedy occurred when 2 Yas'ur helicopters belonging to the IDF crashed into each other in the skies of Northern Israel at the time that they were carrying soldiers from the Nahal (Yesod) Brigade to Southern Lebanon. The accident occurred over the Yishuv that is called "She'ar Yashuv". In the incident, 73 people on the helicopters were killed. The incident occurred between Parshat Yitro and Parshat Mishpatim. In the Haftara of Parshat Yitro appear the following verses: "Then said the LORD unto Isaiah: 'Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, in the highway of the fullers' field; and say unto him: Keep calm, and be quiet; fear not, neither let thy heart be faint, because of these two tails of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram, and of the son of Remaliah." The connection between the verses and the tragedy is bone-chilling, and was publicized on all forms of media. An entire country is enwrapped in heavy sorrow. Let's delve into the details:
• the Haftara of the Parshat Hashavu'a when the tragedy occurred, it was Chapter 7 and verse 3. This hints to the 73 fatalities who fell in the tragedy.
• "She'ar Yashuv" was mentioned in the verses and "two tails of smoking firebrands" and "fierce anger".
• In She'ar Yashuv at the time of the tragedy, 73 families lived in the Yishuv.
• In Parshat Mishpatim, read on the Shabbat after the tragedy, this verse appears: "Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel", meaning Moshe went up with 73 other important people in Israel. Again, the number 73.
• Rav Shlomo Reiskin adds that the tragedy occurred in the Galil גליל, which has the gematria of 73.
• Also, in the year 1973 was a great crisis for the State of Israel, the Yom Kippur War, when their Kohi Ve'otzem Yadi fell.
• Also, Route 73 in the Galil starts at Adashim Interchange - צמת עדשים - which has the gematria of משיח בן דוד.  And it ends at Nehalel Interchange - צמת נהלל - hinting to the Great Hallel with which we will praise Hashem in the Geula.  And the road crosses the Yishuv called Ramat David.  Rav Avraham Weinberg adds that David and Shelomo together ruled [in Yerushalayim] for 73 years.
• Also, when searching in Torah codes for the minimal meeting between "אסון" and "המסוקים", a table shows the minimal meeting, and shows כ"ח שבט, along with שאר and ישוב.

Interesting Nissan Geula Links

It doesn't feel like חודש האביב around here.  It's been pretty cold, and in fact, the Sunday before Pesah (the day that many people choose to clean out their vehicles) and/or Erev Pesah, it might even snow.

Nevertheless, it always feels like עת הזמיר הגיע וקול התור נשמע בארצנו here at this blog all year round.  When Nissan comes around, the feeling just intensifies.  Here are some of the links I found.  Let me know if you see any others by adding a comment.

Jewish Press - The Month of Yearning for Redemption

Jewish Press - Shir HaShirim: The Love Between God And Israel

Mashiach Is Coming points out that Rav Ovadia's psak to say the blessing of שנתן מכבודו לבשר ודם on President Obama went from Bechadrei to Ma'ariv to The Blaze.  The English translation on The Blaze, which wrongly says that he "created" the blessing (instead of saying that he applied the blessing) also omits what both Hebrew articles say - that Rav Ovadia quotes Haza"l as the reason it is a Mitzvah to see him:

For if one merits, in the future, one will distinguish between their honor and the honor of Jewish kings and the honor of the King Mashiah.

Rabbi Glazerson - Mashiah in Nissan 5773

YWN - Vertluch: Parshas Tzav – HaGadol

The Kol Emunim newsletter has a couple of Geula-related Divrei Torah (beginning of page 1 and center of page 3)

(Indirectly related to Geula:) The Yesodot HaHinuch newsletter has more on the previous pope's resignation and Rav Ades.

בניסן נגאלו ובניסן עתידין להגאל

Update:

Lazer Beams - V'hi She'amda: The Eternal Promise

Shabbat Hagadol Calendar Stuff

During a non-leap year, Shabbat Hagadol always falls out on Parshat Tzav. During a leap year, it can fall out on either Metzora or Aharei Mot.

Consider the table below. This table goes backwards 300 years - from 5815 (2055) back to 5516 (1756).

Notice that whether it falls out on Metzora or Aharei Mot comes in streaks. Just using the data below (I haven't checked before or after the aformentioned range), it can fall out on Metzora up to 8 leap years in a row (which only occurred once in this range of years - from 5594-5613[1834-1853]) and it can fall out on Aharei Mot up to 4 leap years in a row. Next year, 5774 (2014), will be the last of 4 leap-year Shabbatot Hagadol in a row that have fallen out on Parshat Aharei Mot. The last time 4 leap-year Shabbatot Hagadol in a row have fallen out on Parshat Aharei Mot was from 5518-5527 (1758-1767) - almost 250 years ago!

Perhaps, the significance is that we will no longer be cast away as a Metzora, but rather, we will be Aharei Mot - after the period of death and into a new era of life for all mankind.  And after 4 times of Aharei Mot in this era of Ikveta Dimshiha, we can finally achieve הנה אנכי שלח לכם את אליה הנביא, which is read on Shabbat Hagadol.

May we achieve it even this year - before the 4 times.  This year, it falls out on Tzav, which is an expression of Ziruz, as Rashi points out.  May Hashem be Zariz to redeem us this year in this Hodesh Nissan, Amen.

5815	2055	Tzav
5814	2054	Metzora
5813	2053	Tzav
5812	2052	Aharei Mot
5811	2051	Tzav
5810	2050	Tzav
5809	2049	Metzora
5808	2048	Tzav
5807	2047	Tzav
5806	2046	Metzora
5805	2045	Tzav
5804	2044	Tzav
5803	2043	Metzora
5802	2042	Tzav
5801	2041	Metzora
5800	2040	Tzav
5799	2039	Tzav
5798	2038	Aharei Mot
5797	2037	Tzav
5796	2036	Tzav
5795	2035	Aharei Mot
5794	2034	Tzav
5793	2033	Metzora
5792	2032	Tzav
5791	2031	Tzav
5790	2030	Metzora
5789	2029	Tzav
5788	2028	Tzav
5787	2027	Metzora
5786	2026	Tzav
5785	2025	Tzav
5784	2024	Metzora
5783	2023	Tzav
5782	2022	Metzora
5781	2021	Tzav
5780	2020	Tzav
5779	2019	Metzora
5778	2018	Tzav
5777	2017	Tzav
5776	2016	Metzora
5775	2015	Tzav
5774	2014	Aharei Mot
5773	2013	Tzav
5772	2012	Tzav
5771	2011	Aharei Mot
5770	2010	Tzav
5769	2009	Tzav
5768	2008	Aharei Mot
5767	2007	Tzav
5766	2006	Tzav
5765	2005	Aharei Mot
5764	2004	Tzav
5763	2003	Metzora
5762	2002	Tzav
5761	2001	Tzav
5760	2000	Metzora
5759	1999	Tzav
5758	1998	Tzav
5757	1997	Metzora
5756	1996	Tzav
5755	1995	Metzora
5754	1994	Tzav
5753	1993	Tzav
5752	1992	Metzora
5751	1991	Tzav
5750	1990	Tzav
5749	1989	Metzora
5748	1988	Tzav
5747	1987	Tzav
5746	1986	Metzora
5745	1985	Tzav
5744	1984	Aharei Mot
5743	1983	Tzav
5742	1982	Tzav
5741	1981	Aharei Mot
5740	1980	Tzav
5739	1979	Tzav
5738	1978	Metzora
5737	1977	Tzav
5736	1976	Metzora
5735	1975	Tzav
5734	1974	Tzav
5733	1973	Metzora
5732	1972	Tzav
5731	1971	Tzav
5730	1970	Metzora
5729	1969	Tzav
5728	1968	Tzav
5727	1967	Aharei Mot
5726	1966	Tzav
5725	1965	Metzora
5724	1964	Tzav
5723	1963	Tzav
5722	1962	Metzora
5721	1961	Tzav
5720	1960	Tzav
5719	1959	Metzora
5718	1958	Tzav
5717	1957	Aharei Mot
5716	1956	Tzav
5715	1955	Tzav
5714	1954	Aharei Mot
5713	1953	Tzav
5712	1952	Tzav
5711	1951	Metzora
5710	1950	Tzav
5709	1949	Tzav
5708	1948	Metzora
5707	1947	Tzav
5706	1946	Metzora
5705	1945	Tzav
5704	1944	Tzav
5703	1943	Metzora
5702	1942	Tzav
5701	1941	Tzav
5700	1940	Aharei Mot
5699	1939	Tzav
5698	1938	Metzora
5697	1937	Tzav
5696	1936	Tzav
5695	1935	Metzora
5694	1934	Tzav
5693	1933	Tzav
5692	1932	Metzora
5691	1931	Tzav
5690	1930	Tzav
5689	1929	Metzora
5688	1928	Tzav
5687	1927	Aharei Mot
5686	1926	Tzav
5685	1925	Tzav
5684	1924	Metzora
5683	1923	Tzav
5682	1922	Tzav
5681	1921	Metzora
5680	1920	Tzav
5679	1919	Metzora
5678	1918	Tzav
5677	1917	Tzav
5676	1916	Aharei Mot
5675	1915	Tzav
5674	1914	Tzav
5673	1913	Aharei Mot
5672	1912	Tzav
5671	1911	Tzav
5670	1910	Aharei Mot
5669	1909	Tzav
5668	1908	Metzora
5667	1907	Tzav
5666	1906	Tzav
5665	1905	Metzora
5664	1904	Tzav
5663	1903	Tzav
5662	1902	Metzora
5661	1901	Tzav
5660	1900	Metzora
5659	1899	Tzav
5658	1898	Tzav
5657	1897	Metzora
5656	1896	Tzav
5655	1895	Tzav
5654	1894	Metzora
5653	1893	Tzav
5652	1892	Tzav
5651	1891	Metzora
5650	1890	Tzav
5649	1889	Aharei Mot
5648	1888	Tzav
5647	1887	Tzav
5646	1886	Aharei Mot
5645	1885	Tzav
5644	1884	Tzav
5643	1883	Aharei Mot
5642	1882	Tzav
5641	1881	Metzora
5640	1880	Tzav
5639	1879	Tzav
5638	1878	Metzora
5637	1877	Tzav
5636	1876	Tzav
5635	1875	Metzora
5634	1874	Tzav
5633	1873	Tzav
5632	1872	Metzora
5631	1871	Tzav
5630	1870	Metzora
5629	1869	Tzav
5628	1868	Tzav
5627	1867	Metzora
5626	1866	Tzav
5625	1865	Tzav
5624	1864	Metzora
5623	1863	Tzav
5622	1862	Aharei Mot
5621	1861	Tzav
5620	1860	Tzav
5619	1859	Aharei Mot
5618	1858	Tzav
5617	1857	Tzav
5616	1856	Aharei Mot
5615	1855	Tzav
5614	1854	Tzav
5613	1853	Metzora
5612	1852	Tzav
5611	1851	Metzora
5610	1850	Tzav
5609	1849	Tzav
5608	1848	Metzora
5607	1847	Tzav
5606	1846	Tzav
5605	1845	Metzora
5604	1844	Tzav
5603	1843	Metzora
5602	1842	Tzav
5601	1841	Tzav
5600	1840	Metzora
5599	1839	Tzav
5598	1838	Tzav
5597	1837	Metzora
5596	1836	Tzav
5595	1835	Tzav
5594	1834	Metzora
5593	1833	Tzav
5592	1832	Aharei Mot
5591	1831	Tzav
5590	1830	Tzav
5589	1829	Metzora
5588	1828	Tzav
5587	1827	Tzav
5586	1826	Metzora
5585	1825	Tzav
5584	1824	Metzora
5583	1823	Tzav
5582	1822	Tzav
5581	1821	Metzora
5580	1820	Tzav
5579	1819	Tzav
5578	1818	Aharei Mot
5577	1817	Tzav
5576	1816	Tzav
5575	1815	Aharei Mot
5574	1814	Tzav
5573	1813	Metzora
5572	1812	Tzav
5571	1811	Tzav
5570	1810	Metzora
5569	1809	Tzav
5568	1808	Tzav
5567	1807	Metzora
5566	1806	Tzav
5565	1805	Aharei Mot
5564	1804	Tzav
5563	1803	Tzav
5562	1802	Metzora
5561	1801	Tzav
5560	1800	Tzav
5559	1799	Metzora
5558	1798	Tzav
5557	1797	Tzav
5556	1796	Metzora
5555	1795	Tzav
5554	1794	Metzora
5553	1793	Tzav
5552	1792	Tzav
5551	1791	Aharei Mot
5550	1790	Tzav
5549	1789	Tzav
5548	1788	Aharei Mot
5547	1787	Tzav
5546	1786	Metzora
5545	1785	Tzav
5544	1784	Tzav
5543	1783	Metzora
5542	1782	Tzav
5541	1781	Tzav
5540	1780	Metzora
5539	1779	Tzav
5538	1778	Tzav
5537	1777	Metzora
5536	1776	Tzav
5535	1775	Metzora
5534	1774	Tzav
5533	1773	Tzav
5532	1772	Metzora
5531	1771	Tzav
5530	1770	Tzav
5529	1769	Metzora
5528	1768	Tzav
5527	1767	Aharei Mot
5526	1766	Tzav
5525	1765	Tzav
5524	1764	Aharei Mot
5523	1763	Tzav
5522	1762	Tzav
5521	1761	Aharei Mot
5520	1760	Tzav
5519	1759	Tzav
5518	1758	Aharei Mot
5517	1757	Tzav
5516	1756	Metzora

Was Obama's Israel Visit Predicted by the Ramha"l?

Here's an opinion (in Hebrew) that says it was.

Let My Pollard Go!



Source: Esser Agaroth



Source: Jewish Press



This all assumes that President Obama is like Par'oh, the defeated party and Tanin Hagadol in the Exodus story.

Veyeish Omerim he is like the slaughtered party in the Future Redemption:

Update:
This was used in a rally for Pollard's freedom:

Source: VIN

Mrs. Ruchama Shain, A"H

YWN and Matzav inform us of the passing of Rebbetzin Ruchama Shain, A"H.  She was the daughter of Rav Yaakov Yosef Herman ZT"L and the author of All For the Boss (which was about her father) and other books.  She was also the sister-in-law of Rav Scheinberg ZT"L.

One of my rabbis in Yeshiva had said many years ago that the book All For the Boss was an acceptable book to read for Mussar Seder.  A good portion of the book can be found on Google Books here.

Yehi Zichrah Baruch.

Beware All Who Disrespect Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlit"a

See here:

The head of the opposition against Maran Shlit”a once took an especially drastic step against Maran. When Maran Shlit”a was once walking through Jerusalem’s Zion Square, this man threw a vegetable at Maran in order to humiliate him. Several years later, in the year 5735 (1975), there was a large-scale terrorist attack in Zion Square and this man’s son was killed in exactly the same spot where his father humiliated Maran Shlit”a. From then on, it seems that this man stopped his evil ways and would then divide up chapters of Tehillim in various synagogues. (This entire incident shall, G-d-willing, be explained fully in the best-selling biography on Maran Shlit”a, Abir Ha’Ro’im, Volume 2).

Bennet with Lapid

Sha'arei Teshuva (3:193):

המתחבר לרשע, ולא דיו אשר לא יוכיחהו בשבט פיו והרחק לא ירחיקהו, אבל כמו חבר יקרבהו. ונאמר (דברי הימים ב כ לז): "בהתחברך עם אחזיה פרץ ה' את מעשיך". והצדיקים מאס ימאסוהו את הרשע, כמו שנאמר (תהלים טו ד): "נבזה בעיניו נמאס".

ואמרו רבותינו זכרונם לברכה (בבא קמא צב, ב): "לא לחינם הלך זרזיר אצל עורב, אלא מפני שהוא מינו". ואמרו (בן סירא יג): "כל עוף למינו ישכון, ובן אדם לדומה לו".

ואמרו (מגילה כח, א): "אסור להסתכל בפני אדם רשע", שנאמר (מלכים ב ג יד): "לולי פני יהושפט מלך יהודה אני נושא, אם אביט אליך ואם אראך". ואמרו (שם) "כל המסתכל בדמות אדם רשע, עיניו כהות לעת זקנתו, שנאמר (בראשית כז א): "ויהי כי זקן יצחק ותכהין עיניו מראות"", מפני שהסתכל בדמות עשו, אף על פי שלא היה מכיר מעבדיו, כי היה עשו מסתיר מעשיו, כעניין שנאמר (ישעיהו כט טו): "והיה במחשך מעשיהם" (ראו גם ביאורי אגדות על חגיגה טז - פרי צדיק וישלח ד).

וכבר הקדמנו להודיעך באר היטב, כי רבו דרכי מוות הנמצאים אל המתחבר לרשע.

Orehot Tzadikim (24):

הרביעי: המתחבר לרשע, אף על פי שאינו מחניף לו ואינו משבחו, אלא שהוא מקרבו ומתחבר עמו – יש לו עונש; לא די שאינו מוכיחו אלא שמקרבו, ויש לו עונש בזה. ועוד מוסיף עונש על הקריבות שהוא מקרבו, שנאמר (דברי הימים ב כ לד): "בהתחברך עם אחזיהו, פרץ יי את מעשיך". והצדיקים מואסים הרשעים. ואמרו רבותינו זיכרונם לברכה (בבא קמא צב ב): לא לחינם הלך הזרזיר אצל העורב, אלא שהוא מינו; וכן אדם המתחבר לרעהו הדומה לו. ואמרו (מגילה כח א): אסור להסתכל בצלם דמות אדם רשע, שנאמר (מלכים ב ג יד): "לולי פני יהושפט מלך יהודה אני נושא, אם אביט אליך ואם אראך". וכל המסתכל בדמות אדם רשע – עיניו כהות לעת זקנתו, כיצחק אבינו עליו השלום, שכהו עיניו מפני שהסתכל בעשו, אף על פי שלא היה מכירו במעשיו.

ויש מכשול גדול בחיבור הרשעים:

האחד מפני שהוא אוהב שונאו של יוצר הכל, ואין העבד הנאמן לאדוניו מתחבר לשונאו.
השני שלומד ממעשיו.
השלישי שגם אחרים יתחברו איתו ויאמינו לו, והוא גוזל אותם. וגם הם ילמדו ממעשיו, ואפילו אם לא ילמדו ממנו – הם רואים ממנו דברים שאסור להם לראותם. וגם הוא לא ישוב, כי אם היו מוכיחים אותו והיו נבדלים ממנו – היה שב מדרכו הרעה. ומי שמתחבר לרשע – לסוף הרשע מושל עליו; וזהו רע על כולם, כי כיון שהוא מושל עליו – לא יניחנו לעשות טוב.
הרביעי שזה צריך להניח מחמת יראה לעשות כמה דברים טובים. לכן אל יתחבר אדם אלא עם ירא שמים; כי ריש לקיש עם מי שהיה מדבר בשוק – היו מאמינים לו סחורה בלא עדים (יומא ט ב), כי היו יודעים בוודאי כיון שדבר עמו בשוק שהוא נאמן. הרי הדיבור הוי כמו חניפות.

Tehilim 75:11:

וְכָל-קַרְנֵי רְשָׁעִים אֲגַדֵּעַ; תְּרוֹמַמְנָה, קַרְנוֹת צַדִּיק

All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.

קרני רשעים has the gematria of 980

יאיר לפיד נפתלי בנט plus the words has the gematria of 980

As I heard many times re: this verse, when the corners (קרני) of the word רשעים, which have the gematria of עמלק are cut off, then the corners of צדיק, i.e. the קץ, will be lifted up into motion.

Geula Update from Rav Fish - Vayikra 5773

From Rav Fish's latest:

• We find in the gemara (Sanhedrin 97a):

  Ribbi Yitzhak said: Mashiah Ben David will not come until the entire kingdom turns to apostasy.  Rava said: What is the verse supporting this? (Vayikra 13:13) "It is all turned white: he is clean."

• We see that the kingdom which will turn to apostasy before the Geula is hinted to in the Torah with the word "לבן", which is Rashei Teivot לפיד בנט נתניהו (Lapid, Bennet, Netanyahu).
• It's also brought down in the Keli Yakar (Vayikra 13:7 and continued here)

  Mashiah Ben David will not come until the entire kingdom turns to apostasy, as it says: "It is all turned white: he is clean." A hint to this is "הפך לבן" - when the word is turned around (הפוכה), it becomes "נבל".  This means that when they all will contemn the Rock of his salvation (וַיְנַבֵּל צוּר יְשֻׁעָתוֹ), then Hashem will be "forced" to purify the land from its idolatry.  And the proof is from this plague [of Tzara'at] that comes as a punishment - when it turns all white, the sinner will definitely set his heart on repenting.  Similarly, with Israel, when they will see the entire kingdom turning to apostasy and they will see that there is none remaining, shut up or left at large, they will definitely set their hearts on repenting with complete repentance toward Hashem, and then, "he is pure".  And the idea of "quick raw flesh in the rising" is that above, the flesh looks healthy, while underneath, the bright spot stays.  Perhaps, as punishment, this Tzara'at comes to groups of flatterers who are pretenders, who show themselves as Kosher on the outside, while their inside is full of trickery and oppression - this is why this type [of Tzara'at] comes to them, measure for measure.

• And we also see in the prophecy of Malachi regarding the Future Redemption (Malachi 3:1):

  Behold, I send My messenger, and he shall clear the way before Me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to His temple ... And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are built up; yea, they try God, and are delivered.' Then they that feared the LORD spoke one with another; and the LORD hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before Him, for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name. ... Then shall ye again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not. For, behold, the day cometh, it burneth as a furnace; and all the proud, and all that work wickedness, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall set them ablaze, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear My name shall the sun of righteousness arise ...

  and the Malbim says:

  "And now we call the proud happy" - because they do not exert themselves to serve Hashem, and nevertheless, "yea, they that work wickedness are built up". However, those who are truly G-d-fearing who do not serve in order to receive a reward, they are the ones who "spoke one with another" and they proved from this that this world is not a world of reward and punishment, but rather a world of tests. And through this itself - that the righteous are afflicted in this world - was their service at a high level, and they are then written in this book for a rememberance.

  We see that before the Geula, there will be a filtering between those who do not exert themselves to serve Hashem, who connect with evildoers against the righteous who truly serve Hashem, who serve Hashem with exertion and with Mesirut Nefesh. And in this manner, the filtering of the Redemption will begin: "Then shall ye again discern between the righteous and the wicked ... all the proud, and all that work wickedness, shall be stubble".
• Mashiah from Poverty:
  • We also brought down from the Zohar that the Geula will come from the harsh pressure of poverty, and we will bring down its words (Tikkunim 53b):

    "וַיְּמַן ה' דָּג גָּדוֹל לִבְלֹעַ אֶת יוֹנָה", דָּא עֲנִיּוּתָא, דְּאִיהוּ עֶצֶב, וְנוּקְבָא דִּילֵיהּ עִצָּבוֹן, דְּכוּרָא דָּג נוּקְבָא דָּגָה, דָּא הוּא "וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל יוֹנָה אֶל ה' אֱלֹקָי"ו מִמְּעֵי הַדָּגָה", מִכַּפְנָא דַּעֲנִיּוּתָא דְּמָטֵי לְמֶעוֹי דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא "וַיֹּאמֶר ה' לַדָּג וַיָּקֵא אֶת יוֹנָה", בְּדוֹחְקָא דְּדַאֲגָה דִּילְהוֹן דְּדוֹאֲגִין מִן עֲנִיּוּתָא, מִדּוֹחְקָא יִפְקוּן מִן גָּלוּתָא, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב "וְאֶת עַם עָנִי תּוֹשִׁיעַ".

  • And we also find in the Midrash (Yalkut Zecharia 569):
    

    Ribbi Pinhas in the name of Ribbi Reuven [said:] David "picked up" HKB"H 5 times, corresponding to the 5 times it says קומה ה' in Tehilim ... HKB"H said to him, "David, my son, even if you pick Me up 1000 times, I will not arise.  When will I arise?  When I see the poor being robbed and the impoverished groaning, as it says "'For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise', saith the LORD".

  • Also, it is brought down from the Kotzker Rebbe: "When the Jewish people will be very bothered from worries of Parnasa, then Mashiah will come."
  • Also, it is brought down in the commentary of the Gr"a on the Zohar (Aharei 67b): "Poverty of Talmidei Hachamim hastens the Geula just like they say אגרא דכלה דוחקא [which can mean that the main reward for coming to hear the Torah at the Shabbat before the holiday was for enduring the crush of people, but also could mean that the main reward for Torah study is the poverty associated with it.  The Gr"a seems to mean the latter interpretation.]
  • Also, it is brought down in the commentary of the Gr"a on the Zohar (Tikkunei Zohar Hadash 74d) that the Geula will come after there will be great poverty to Talmidei Hachamim for 9 months.  Here are his words:

    Through the great magnitude of the exile, the Geula will be hastened, as they say "אגרא דכלה דוחקא". And therefore, they said, "[Mashiah ben David will not come] until the evil kingdom will spread over Israel for 9 months, and during that time Mashiah will be conceived in the kingdom of holiness for 9 months, and then will be birthpangs of Mashiah until he will be born. And those who delve into Torah learning will be in distress and trouble for 9 months until the months have finished.

• Rashi (on Shabbat 31a) explains that the question asked the person צפית לישועה is "Did you expect the words of the prophets whose prophecy is the salvation that we are hoping and expecting its fulfilment?"
• It's said in the name of the Shomrei Emunim Rebbe ZT"L (Kol Emunim 191) that the month ניסן (Nissan) begins with a bent Nun and ends with a straight Nun.  This hints to 2 redemptions: the redemption from Egypt, where the 50th gate [of Tum'ah] was bent and no one could enter it [from below], and the Future Redemption, where the 50th gate will be straight, and peole will even be redeemed from it.