Geula-Related Recent Links

Thursday, March 28, 2013

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.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

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

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

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.
58152055Tzav
58142054Metzora
58132053Tzav
58122052Aharei Mot
58112051Tzav
58102050Tzav
58092049Metzora
58082048Tzav
58072047Tzav
58062046Metzora
58052045Tzav
58042044Tzav
58032043Metzora
58022042Tzav
58012041Metzora
58002040Tzav
57992039Tzav
57982038Aharei Mot
57972037Tzav
57962036Tzav
57952035Aharei Mot
57942034Tzav
57932033Metzora
57922032Tzav
57912031Tzav
57902030Metzora
57892029Tzav
57882028Tzav
57872027Metzora
57862026Tzav
57852025Tzav
57842024Metzora
57832023Tzav
57822022Metzora
57812021Tzav
57802020Tzav
57792019Metzora
57782018Tzav
57772017Tzav
57762016Metzora
57752015Tzav
57742014Aharei Mot
57732013Tzav
57722012Tzav
57712011Aharei Mot
57702010Tzav
57692009Tzav
57682008Aharei Mot
57672007Tzav
57662006Tzav
57652005Aharei Mot
57642004Tzav
57632003Metzora
57622002Tzav
57612001Tzav
57602000Metzora
57591999Tzav
57581998Tzav
57571997Metzora
57561996Tzav
57551995Metzora
57541994Tzav
57531993Tzav
57521992Metzora
57511991Tzav
57501990Tzav
57491989Metzora
57481988Tzav
57471987Tzav
57461986Metzora
57451985Tzav
57441984Aharei Mot
57431983Tzav
57421982Tzav
57411981Aharei Mot
57401980Tzav
57391979Tzav
57381978Metzora
57371977Tzav
57361976Metzora
57351975Tzav
57341974Tzav
57331973Metzora
57321972Tzav
57311971Tzav
57301970Metzora
57291969Tzav
57281968Tzav
57271967Aharei Mot
57261966Tzav
57251965Metzora
57241964Tzav
57231963Tzav
57221962Metzora
57211961Tzav
57201960Tzav
57191959Metzora
57181958Tzav
57171957Aharei Mot
57161956Tzav
57151955Tzav
57141954Aharei Mot
57131953Tzav
57121952Tzav
57111951Metzora
57101950Tzav
57091949Tzav
57081948Metzora
57071947Tzav
57061946Metzora
57051945Tzav
57041944Tzav
57031943Metzora
57021942Tzav
57011941Tzav
57001940Aharei Mot
56991939Tzav
56981938Metzora
56971937Tzav
56961936Tzav
56951935Metzora
56941934Tzav
56931933Tzav
56921932Metzora
56911931Tzav
56901930Tzav
56891929Metzora
56881928Tzav
56871927Aharei Mot
56861926Tzav
56851925Tzav
56841924Metzora
56831923Tzav
56821922Tzav
56811921Metzora
56801920Tzav
56791919Metzora
56781918Tzav
56771917Tzav
56761916Aharei Mot
56751915Tzav
56741914Tzav
56731913Aharei Mot
56721912Tzav
56711911Tzav
56701910Aharei Mot
56691909Tzav
56681908Metzora
56671907Tzav
56661906Tzav
56651905Metzora
56641904Tzav
56631903Tzav
56621902Metzora
56611901Tzav
56601900Metzora
56591899Tzav
56581898Tzav
56571897Metzora
56561896Tzav
56551895Tzav
56541894Metzora
56531893Tzav
56521892Tzav
56511891Metzora
56501890Tzav
56491889Aharei Mot
56481888Tzav
56471887Tzav
56461886Aharei Mot
56451885Tzav
56441884Tzav
56431883Aharei Mot
56421882Tzav
56411881Metzora
56401880Tzav
56391879Tzav
56381878Metzora
56371877Tzav
56361876Tzav
56351875Metzora
56341874Tzav
56331873Tzav
56321872Metzora
56311871Tzav
56301870Metzora
56291869Tzav
56281868Tzav
56271867Metzora
56261866Tzav
56251865Tzav
56241864Metzora
56231863Tzav
56221862Aharei Mot
56211861Tzav
56201860Tzav
56191859Aharei Mot
56181858Tzav
56171857Tzav
56161856Aharei Mot
56151855Tzav
56141854Tzav
56131853Metzora
56121852Tzav
56111851Metzora
56101850Tzav
56091849Tzav
56081848Metzora
56071847Tzav
56061846Tzav
56051845Metzora
56041844Tzav
56031843Metzora
56021842Tzav
56011841Tzav
56001840Metzora
55991839Tzav
55981838Tzav
55971837Metzora
55961836Tzav
55951835Tzav
55941834Metzora
55931833Tzav
55921832Aharei Mot
55911831Tzav
55901830Tzav
55891829Metzora
55881828Tzav
55871827Tzav
55861826Metzora
55851825Tzav
55841824Metzora
55831823Tzav
55821822Tzav
55811821Metzora
55801820Tzav
55791819Tzav
55781818Aharei Mot
55771817Tzav
55761816Tzav
55751815Aharei Mot
55741814Tzav
55731813Metzora
55721812Tzav
55711811Tzav
55701810Metzora
55691809Tzav
55681808Tzav
55671807Metzora
55661806Tzav
55651805Aharei Mot
55641804Tzav
55631803Tzav
55621802Metzora
55611801Tzav
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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

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

Sunday, March 17, 2013

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.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

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).

Friday, March 15, 2013

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.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

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.