Interesting Recent Links - No'ah 5774

(Some of these may be a couple weeks old, but still qualifies as "recent" in my book. Sorry for the length.)

Countless articles showing people praying for Rav Hayim Ovadia Yosef Shlit"a. Here's a sampling:
Kikar - Tefillot started
YWN - Simhat Beit Hasho'eva paused for Tehillim
YWN - Many Gedolim and Askanim ask for Tefillot
Kikar - Rav Ovadia asks for Tefillot for himself
Kikar - Family asks for Tefillot after being put on respirator
Kikar - Hol Hamo'ed Tefillot at the Kotel
Kikar and Matzav - Name "Hayim" added
Kikar - Eli Yishai
Kikar - Boyaner Rebbe
Kikar - MK Miri Regev makes a Kabbala to light candles for his Refuah
YWN - Ichud Hatzalah
Kikar - Rav Aharon Zaccai Shlit"a
Kikar - Calls to break one's iphone for his Refuah
Kikar - Yeshivat Or HaHayim
YWN - Rav Hayim Amsallem
Kikar - MK Ariel Attias
Kikar and CosmicX - Merkaz Harav Yeshiva in Rav Kook's home
Kikar - Vishnitzer Rebbe Shlit"a, Tzanzer Rebbe Shlit"a, Kollel Yehave Da'at starts winter Zeman early for his Refuah. (See the Tzanzer Rebbe's Mi Sheberach here.)
YWN - Gerrer Rebbe Shlit"a too
Life in Israel recommends option #3
Matzav - Rav Yitzhak Yosef Shlit"a
Kikar - Massive Kotel gathering (more pictures here, Matzav video here, YWN video here)
Kikar - Rav Shalom Cohen Shlit"a

Kikar opinion piece - Rav Ovadia Shlit"a is the greatest Sephardic leader - relative to the generation - since Rav Yosef Karo

Mashiach is Coming links to a Behadrei article where

Members of Chabad went to the hospital to give members of the media and patients the opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah of blessing the lulav and reported that the outpouring of love that the Jewish people have shown for the Rabbi is unbelievable.

Kikar and YWN - Reports of Rav Amar being named successor by his associates were blasted by Rav Shalom Cohen Shlit"a and completely denied by Rav Amar Shlit"a

Kikar and YWN - Rav Na'im Ovadia (brother of Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlit"a) passed away in the beginning of Sukkot

Matzav - Chacham Avraham Harari-Raful zt”l

Matzav - 2 Murdered IDF Soldiers (HY"D):
Tomer Hazan
Gal Kobi

Time Magazine - For Yemen's Few Remaining Jews, Time Has Run Out

Cross-Currents - Yes, There Is Cause For Optimism

Life in Israel and Esser Agaroth - Female soldier gets called up to Torah on Simchat Torah and Hesder soldiers don't protest

Habayita - More on Fukushima

YWN - R’ Shteinman: We Should Merit Being Saved from Reshaim Like Lapid. Also, in Kikar - Rav Shteinman attacks Lapid in his Sukkah. Also, in Kikar - Rav Shteinman makes a Mi Sheberach for all of Israel except for Lapid

Kikar - Budget for foreign Yeshiva students is scrapped

Kikar - Rav Chaim Kanievsky dances with the smallest Sefer Torah in the world and that's not the Pasul one that was read on Simhat Torah in his home  (See also Matzav and YWN.)

YWN - Gedolei Hador Shlita Endorse Moshe Leon in Jerusalem Race

YWN and Matzav - Agudath Israel blasts YCT

Matzav - Oldest Siddur in Existence Discovered

Matzav - Yerushalayim Wedding Delayed Because Kohanic Chosson Had to Exit

Debka - Russia, Iran, Damascus may crank up border tensions to weaken Netanyahu’s hand in America

R' Dov Bar Leib in Mystical Paths - Geopolitics and Geulah Musings

Tomer Devorah - A Different World

Geula Update from Rav Fish - Bereishit 5774 (about Rav Ovadia Shlit"a)

From Rav Fish's latest:

• Rav Glazerson writes to Rav Fish on the connection between Rav Elyashiv ZT"L and לבחל"ח Rav Ovadia Shlit"a:
• I'm sending an interesting table about Maran Pe'er Hador Vahadaro Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef Shlit"a who is a root of MBY.  The connection between Maran Rav Elyashiv ZT"L and לבחל"ח Maran Pe'er Hador Vahadaro Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef Shlit"a has been widely publicized.  They both sat together for many years in the Great Beit Din of the State of Israel - as you explained that MBY works via the Kelipa goverment that was established in the State of Israel.  Just as you explained with many proofs that Maran Rav Yosef Shalom [Elyashiv] ZT"L was from the root of MBY, similarly, there is no doubt that also Maran Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlit"a, who also has the name "Yosef", is from the root of MBY.  And we see in reality that the State of Israel primarily relies on Maran Shlit"a, and without his support, almost no government would be formed - besides the fact that he was the chief rabbi, etc.
• In the table, one can find: "Mashiahs", "Rav Ovadia", "Yosef", "Elyashuv", "[5]772", "Eliyahu", "Shiloh", "Menahem":
  
• Rav Fish adds:
• The day of the Berit Milah of Rav Ovadia Shlit"a was on Sukkot on the Ushpizin of Yosef, which is why he was named "Yosef".  [YY - see also what I wrote in a comment to the previous post.]  It's amazing that in the day of Yosef's Ushpizin in 5774 they added the name "Hayim" - with the Sod of the verse that's mentioned about MBY חַיִּים, שָׁאַל מִמְּךָ--נָתַתָּה לּוֹ [He asked life of Thee, Thou gavest it him].  [YY - see Sukkah 52a where the simple understanding implies that the verse is referring to MBD, but the Gr"a and Ariza"l say it's referring to MBY.  See the Mashiach Awareness blog how to read that interpretation into the gemara.]
• Similarly, Maran Shlit"a was appointed chief rabbi of Israel in 5734 - after the Yom Kippur War - and he led the State of Israel for 40 years until this evil goverment that was established in 5773 and took the Shas party out of the state leadership.  And regarding MBY, Haza"l say that he will lead the nation of Israel for 40 years.  And afterwards, he will lead together with MBD, if we will pray for length of days.
• The permutations of the letters ע-ו-ב-ד-י-ה are very rare in Tana"ch (only 11 times in Rashei Teivot, once in Sofei Teivot, and once in 1- to 7-letter skips).  Nevertheless, we found that the name ע-ו-ב-ד-י-ה is found twice in Rashei Teivot having to do with the connection of Yosef to his brothers (Bereishit 43:17-18):   וַיַּעַשׂ הָאִישׁ, כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַר יוֹסֵף; וַיָּבֵא הָאִישׁ אֶת-הָאֲנָשִׁים, בֵּיתָה יוֹסֵף.  וַיִּירְאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים, כִּי הוּבְאוּ בֵּית יוֹסֵף, וַיֹּאמְרוּ עַל-דְּבַר הַכֶּסֶף.  And once more having to do with the connection of Sha'ul and David, which is the Sod of the connection of MBY and MBD (Shemuel Alef 17:58): וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו שָׁאוּל, בֶּן-מִי אַתָּה הַנָּעַר; וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד, בֶּן-עַבְדְּךָ יִשַׁי בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי.  Also, the word ע-ב-ד-י-ה without the ו is hinted to in the following verse having to do with Yosef (Bereishit 39:12):  וַתִּתְפְּשֵׂהוּ בְּבִגְדוֹ לֵאמֹר, שִׁכְבָה עִמִּי; וַיַּעֲזֹב בִּגְדוֹ בְּיָדָהּ, וַיָּנָס וַיֵּצֵא הַחוּצָה.
• Also, חיים עובדיה יוסף בן גורג'יה has the gematria of 600, which hints to MBY, to whom the number שש [the number 6] applies, which has the gematria of 600.
• Rav D. Lev adds that הרב עובדיה הרב אלישיב is the gematria of שיבת ציון.

Please pray for Harav Hayim Ovadia Yosef ben Gorgia.

Please Pray for Maran Harav Hayim Ovadia Yosef ben Gorgia

Due to the deterioration of Rav Ovadia Yosef's condition, the name "Hayim" has been added to his name. As one of the great leaders of the generation, he has almost single-handedly sustained multiple generations of Jews throughout the world in Torah and halachic observance. He now needs our Tefilot.

Please tear open the heavens and pray for Harav Hayim Ovadia Yosef ben Gorgia.

Geula Update from Rav Fish - Sukkot 5774

From Rav Fish's latest:

• More about 5774
• He mentions the Karnayim and Dan Yadin mentioned earlier.
• Rav Menahem Mendel of Shklov ZT"L said that תשע"ד is the gematria of:
• שערי צדק 
• ענוה ויראת ה'
• עדן (using the final Nun as 700)
• It's also the gematria of רוח מלכנו משיחנו
• R' Tzion Siboni adds: It's also Notrikon of:
• תשעת דוד
• תשובו עד ה' אלקיך
• It's also Rashei Teivot for: תהא שנת עבדי דוד
• Rav Yosef Marciano adds that if you take the ordinal value of each letter of the Alef-Bet for the word משיח and multiply it by itself, you get 774.  This is because מ is the 13^th letter and 13²=169, ש is the 21^st letter and 21²=441, י is the 10^th letter and 10²=100, and ח is the 8^th letter and 8²=64. 169+441+100+64=774.
• According to Ta'am Tahton, the 5774^th verse in the Torah is: וַאֲנִי אַקְנִיאֵם בְּלֹא-עָם, בְּגוֹי נָבָל אַכְעִיסֵם. [YY-apply what was said 6 months ago about נב"ל.]
• Different Geula Stages
• [He said that the את צמח blessing refers to an early stage of the Geula process - still during the rule of MBY - while רצה refers to the complete Redemption of MBD.  Along those same lines:] We find that the gemara Berachot 49a seems to say that the rebuilding of Yerushalayim and the Geula happen at 2 different times since we cannot conclude a blessing with both of them together.  If they would come together, like מקדש השבת וישראל והזמנים, we would have been allowed to end the blessing with both concepts together.  We see that they must be separate and occur at different times.

Interesting Recent Links - Sukkot 5774

The Hachtara of the new Rishon Letzion Rav Yitzhak Yosef Shlit"a at the Rabban Yohanan Ben Zakkai Synagogue was unexpectedly attended by his father - Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlit"a, who was recently released from the hospital.  Photos and a 1-minute video at YWN and more photos at Kikar.  Kikar also has an edited 8-minute video and a shorter-version 2-minute video.

A number of tragedies לא עלינו happened over Yom Kippur:

• YWN - Toddler Drowns in Bnei Brak Mikveh on Yom Kippur
• YWN - House Arrest in Fatal Bnei Brak Yom Kippur Mikvah Drowning.  See also Kikar.
• YWN - Arrests in Ramat Migron on Yom Kippur
• Matzav - Woman Killed On Way to Kol Nidrei in Jacksonville, FL  See also YWN

Kikar - Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlit"a's brother - Rav Na'im Ovadia - is in critical condition (Please pray for Na'im Ovadia ben Gorgia)

Matzav - Navy Shipyard Gunman was awarded a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Tomer Devorah - Exploding!

Both Tomer Devorah and Soul Mazal notice some quite interesting quotes in JPost from Richard Kemp, former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, on what you may want to call "Israeli Exceptionalism".  Of course, it is only due to our Shomer Yisrael, Who never sleeps nor slumbers.

YWN - DM Ya’alon Expresses Adamant Opposition to Drastic Enforcement of Chareidi Draft.  See also Matzav

CosmicX continues his obsession of the disgraced former Democratic congressman from the great state of New York, and offers interesting analysis with Huma Abedin's Next Step.

Hezbos opines that the Erev Rav were not converts in Who Were the Erev Rav? (part 2 of 4)

Sukkah World - Rules of the Sukkah

Kikar - Building Sukkahs for the non-religious for free.  See also Mashiach is Coming and Life in Israel.

How much did the Kippur Kibbudim go for?  Check out these 3 articles:  Kikar, Kikar, and Matzav

Interesting Recent Links - Kippur 5774 III

Arutz Sheva - Lapid is Sorry this Yom Kippur for Not Passing Enough Anti-Torah Legislation

VIN - Al-Qaida Leader Calls For Terror Attacks Inside US To 'Bleed America Economically'

VIN - Syria Chemical Weapons Sites Being Dispersed To Avoid Detection

Muqata - Did Iran and Russia Just Save Israel?

Habayitah - Gmar Chatima Tova to all Klal Yisrael

R' Pinchos Lipschutz - Has the Beacon Been Dimmed? (on President Obama's failed leadership)

YWN - Colorado Flash Floods - Chabad Center Floods Right Before Yom Kippur

YWN - Archbishop Complies with Request of Rabbanim to Cancel Yom Kippur Event  (I tend to agree with the first comment there.)

CosmicX - On Anthony Weiner's Use of "Hakaras HaTov"

Emes Ve-Emunah - No One is Immune

Matzav - Rav Elyashiv: 30 Minutes on Yom Kippur

Mystical Paths - Report from Kaparos

Kikar - Rabbi of Gilo Neighborhood: Haredim Who Oppose Kapparot are Not Haredim

YWN - Rishon L’Tzion Will Wear Traditional Garb for Crowning Ceremony

YWN - Hachtarah of Rishon L’Tzion Changes Venue to Maran’s Home

Kikar - Hottest Yom Kippur in Israel in 11 years  YWN says some forecasts say the temperature can reach 104ºF!

Tomer Devorah - Repentance as a Nation: The Key to Redemption – Rabbi Meir Kahane (a bit harsh on Toshevei Hu"l, but possibly applied to Toshevei Hu"l who have become totally assimilated into their host's society or those who have no longing for E"Y whatsoever)

Kikar - Yehoram Gaon feels very, very Jewish when singing the Piyut "לך א-לי" (For those unfamiliar, that's this.)

Matzav - Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlit"a: Daven for Rav Shteinman Shlit"a on Yom Kippur   See also Kikar.

YWN - Rav Yoshiyahu Pinto Invited to Meet Iranian President Rohani  See also Kikar.  (Very strange, even though his father Shlit"a helped out Qadaffi)

Fox News - Ethiopian Farmer Claims He is 160 Years Old

Geula Update from Rav Fish - Kippur 5774

From Rav Fish's latest:

• Zohar hints to Tishri, 5774
• We find in the Zohar (Mishpatim 120a): 

  בְּדַרְגַּת מָשִׁיחַ בֶּן יוֹסֵף הוּא רוֹמֵז, "עַתָּה יְלַחֲכוּ הַקָּהָל אֶת כָּל סְבִיבתֵינוּ כִּלְחךְֹ הַשּׁוֹר אֵת יֶרֶק הַשָּׂדֶה", שֶׁעֲלֵיהֶם נֶאֱמַר "בִּפְרֹחַ רְשָׁעִים כְּמוֹ עֵשֶׂב לְהִשָּׁמְדָם עֲדֵי עַד". וְלֹא עַד בִּכְלָל, אֶלָּא עַד דְּמָטִי לָ'עַד', מִתַּמָּן וָאֵילָךְ "לְהִשָּׁמְדָם עֲדֵי עַד". כְּשֶׁהִגִּיעוּ לְתִשְׁרֵי, שֶׁהוּא שׁוֹר, בּוֹ "כִּלְחךְֹ הַשּׁוֹר" וְכוּ', וְיִתְקַיֵּם בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא "בַּבֹּקֶר יֹאכַל עַד", דְּהַיְינוּ "עַד כִּי יָבֹא שִׁילֹה".

  The Zohar hints that when we arrive at Tishri, which has the aspect of "עד" - meaning Tishri of תשע"ד - that is when the downfall of the wicked will begin - with the Sod of להשמדם עדי עד. And then, the verses that talk about the Redemption will be fulfilled: like בבקר יאכל עד and עד כי יבא שילה.
• Also, תשע"ד is Notrikon of תשרי ע"ד
• תשע"ד is also Rashei Teivot for (Tehilim 51:10) תַּשְׁמִיעֵנִי, שָׂשׂוֹן וְשִׂמְחָה;    תָּגֵלְנָה, עֲצָמוֹת דִּכִּיתָ
• לעת תמוט רגלם
• The Megaleh Amukot says:
  

  It says: לִי נָקָם וְשִׁלֵּם, לְעֵת תָּמוּט רַגְלָם. When the Neshamot reach feet with feet (רגלין ברגלין), then is the time of Redemption.

  The explanation is that since "feet" represent the aspect of money, as the gemara says (Sanhedrin 110a):

  It says: וְאֵת כָּל-הַיְקוּם אֲשֶׁר בְּרַגְלֵיהֶם. Ribbi Elazar said: This refers to a person's money which keeps him on his feet.

  ...therefore, when there is hardship with money, the Redemption will come.
• R' David Tzion Siboni adds that there is a hint from the verses to our situation today.  It says:  הֲלֹא-הוּא, כָּמֻס עִמָּדִי - the word עמדי is the gematria of לפיד.  Then, it says: חָתוּם, בְּאוֹצְרֹתָי - referring to the שר האוצר, the Treasury Minister - Lapid.  Then, it says לִי - the Rashei Teivot of יאיר לפיד.  Then, it says נָקָם - the gematria of קץ.  Then, it says וְשִׁלֵּם לְעֵת תָּמוּט רַגְלָם - fighting over the money of Israel.  The word "רגלם" is the gematria of 273, the number of years from the "morning" of the sixth millennium until 5773 [YY - or, perhaps, 5774 if starting from 5501].  Then, it says כִּי קָרוֹב יוֹם אֵידָם [for the day of their calamity is at hand] and then,  וְחָשׁ עֲתִדֹת לָמוֹ - the word חש with the letters is the gematria of יש so it refers to the יש עתיד party.  Finally, it says כִּי-יָדִין יְהוָה עַמּוֹ,  וְעַל-עֲבָדָיו יִתְנֶחָם:  כִּי יִרְאֶה כִּי-אָזְלַת יָד,  וְאֶפֶס עָצוּר וְעָזוּב - Hashem will redeem us because of our inescapable status of poverty.
• 5776 and 1948 years
• If Motza'ei Shevi'it in Tish'a Be'av 5776 [YY - כצ"ל, even though he says 5775] is the end of the days of exile, then the days of exile are exactly 1948 years - the same amount of years from Creation until Avraham was born.  And just as Avraham Avinu came and took the reward for all the generations that preceded him, similarly, the generation of the Redemption will come and take the reward for all the days of exile.  It's also brought down in Sha'ar Hakavanot of the Ariza"l (introduction to Birkat Hashahar) that the filtration of the souls from Creation until Avraham Avinu is the same Sod of the filtration of souls that were filtered during the exile.  And, as was brought down previously, the Ariza"l holds that all the filtrations will cease in the year 5775.
• 40 Years Since the Yom Kippur War
• R' A. Boyer adds that according to the view of Haza"l that our 5774 is really 5773 and 5734 is really 5733, then it comes out that the Yom Kippur War occurred in 5733 and it is now 5773 - 40 years later.  The year of תשל"ג is symbolized by שלג [snow] which hints to חסד, whereas the year תשע"ג is symbolized by געש [volcano] which hints to fire.  And after אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה, אָקוּט בְּדוֹר-- וָאֹמַר, עַם תֹּעֵי לֵבָב הֵם; וְהֵם, לֹא-יָדְעוּ דְרָכָי. אֲשֶׁר-נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי בְאַפִּי;    אִם-יְבֹאוּן, אֶל-מְנוּחָתִי [For forty years was I wearied with that generation, and said: It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known My ways;  Wherefore I swore in My wrath, that they should not enter into My rest.], meaning that in the year of "אם" - year 41 - which is after the 40 years, they will merit to "enter into My rest" in the Final Redemption.  And this will be by way of the Sefira of "Binah" which is the Sod of the number 40 and has the aspect of אמא and אֵם, which has 5 Hasadim and 5 Gevurot, which have the aspect of snow and fire and the aspect of  Yom Hakippurim.

Rav Ovadia Shlit"a to Rav Amar Shlit"a: I Forgive You

This headline, as posted on Kikar, made my day, month, and year:

מרן הרב עובדיה יוסף לרב עמאר: "אני מוחל וסולח לך"

---

It is at this opportunity that I ask forgiveness from anyone whom I may have slighted in an act of commission or ommision whether knowingly or unknowingly. I am truly sorry and beg your forgiveness.

May the Adon Haselihot forgive all of us this Yom Kippur and may we be inscribed in the Book of Mehila, Seliha, and Kappara.

Interesting Recent Links - Kippur 5774 II

YWN - Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade Promises Violence on Erev Yom Kippur (Lo Aleinu)

Torah Musings - Rabbi Herring: The Rav on Shabbos Yom Kippur and Acher

YWN - Rabbi Wein: Looking Ahead to 5774

Israel Bookshop - Rav Shteinman Shlit"a on 9/11, Yom Kippur (excerpts from a new book)

CosmicX - The Weiner Incident in the Kosher Bakery and Anthony Weiner's Day of Judgment

Life in Israel - A Good Word about Going to Uman

YWN - President Obama's Syria Speech

Big John Howell on Obama's speech - "Mister Rogers Neighborhood mixed with a PBS beg-a-thon" (along with comments of America having a new President - Putin. I also recall something like this being said: "America, Wake Up to Your New Communist Overlords" and Putin being named "Most Interesting Man in the World" by Dos Equis.)

Arutz Sheva - Putin to Offer Iran S-300s, Another Reactor

Tomer Devorah and Shirat Devorah - Moishela: Our Last Journey Before Reaching the Geula Sheleimah

Tomer Devorah Reposts from over a decade ago:

• Thoughts on Redemption
• We Could Have Had Kahane...

YWN - Rav Shmuel Eliyahu Shlit"a Recites Selihot at the Ruins of Homesh

Matzav - cRc Top Questions for August 2013

YWN - MK Lipman on the Minhag of Kaparos and Rav Efrati's Response

ParshaBlog - Let them Swing Their Chickens

Kikar - Rishon Letzion Rav Yitzhak Yosef Shlit"a Meets Naftali Bennett

Nice Videos found on Life in Israel:

• Ari Goldwag - Am Echad
• Charlie Harari - Yom Kippur: Coming Clean
• Tap into Yom Kippur (for kids)
• The Chevra - Chai

Geula Update from Rav Fish - Rosh Hashana/Ha'azinu 5774

From Rav Fish's latest:

• Mashiah's coming will mean different things to different people
• The gemara says that 3 things come with Heseh Hada'at: Mashiah, a found object, and a scorpion.  The Maharsha explains that when Mashiah comes, to some, it will be a happy time like the aspect of a found object, while to others, it will be as the bite of a scorpion.  Rav David Lalush adds that the word עקרב consists of ע and קרב - meaning that 70 nations will wage a battle against Yerushalayim in the Gog Umagog War (גוג ומגוג has the gematria of 70).
• Zohar about the End of Days Depicts the Poverty of Torah Scholars
• [Here Rav Fish explains the Zohar Naso 124b as relating to our times. (Note that this Zohar comes right before another Zohar that I mentioned previously having to do with our days.) Rav Glazerson produced a video where he takes Rav Fish's explanation directly from his PDF and adds a Torah Code based on it:]
  
• 5774-5775
• R' Mas'oud Abuhatzeira adds that (Yeshaya 62:1) וִישׁוּעָתָהּ כְּלַפִּיד יִבְעָר hints to a salvation coming in 5775.
• R' David Lalush adds that on the gemara that explains the seven years in which Ben David comes, Rashi explains "On the sixth year, sounds" to mean "sounds that Ben David is coming". [5774 is the 6th year in the Shemitta cycle.] תשע"ד is the same letters as שתדע [that you should know] that Ben David is coming.
• R' David Lalush adds that מִלְחֶמֶת אִירַן is the gematria of ה'תשע"ד. When spelled מִלְחֶמֶת אִירַאן, it's the gematria of ה'תשע"ה.
• More on the 1775 Vavim
• The Hata"m Sofer says that there are 600,000 root souls of Israel plus 1775 root souls from Kelipat Nogah that are mixed in with Israel. Moshe Rabbeinu didn't know what to do with them, so he made them the "Vavim (hooks) for the pillars" - meaning they would support Israel, who are the pillars of the world. We see from this Hata"m Sofer that the 1775 correspond to the souls that require filtration - with the Sod of the work of filtration of the era of exile.
• 5674
• It is brought down in the book "Matbe'a Shel Avraham" that the verse בַּבֹּקֶר תֹּאמַר מִי-יִתֵּן עֶרֶב, וּבָעֶרֶב תֹּאמַר מִי-יִתֵּן בֹּקֶר [In the morning thou shalt say: 'Would it were even!' and at even thou shalt say: 'Would it were morning!'] is the 5674th verse in the Torah. And according to the Ma'aseh Roke'ah, that the number of verses in the Torah corresponds to the number of years of the world, this verse corresponds to the year 5674, which was the beginning of WWI, of which the Hafetz Hayim said was the first of the 3 Wars of Gog Umagog.

Interesting Recent Links - Kippur 5774

Regarding Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlit"a's condition, before the holiday, it wasn't clear if he would be released from the hospital before Rosh Hashana or not, but it was decided not to do so. Over the holiday, there was a slight improvement in his condition and he had a private Minyan in the hospital room. On Monday, it was reported that he was B"H released from the hospital. Please continue to pray for Rav Ovadia Yosef ben Gorgia.

Meanwhile, Rav Shteinman Shlit"a didn't feel well during Rosh Hashana, but has improved. Rav Galinsky Shlit"a was taken to the hospital over Rosh Hashana. The Vizhnitzer Rebbe Shlit"a survived a multi-car crash on the way to Meiron.

YWN and Matzav - Jonathan and Esther Pollard's tribute to Shlomo Zakheim A"H

Rav Glazerson: Yom Kippur 5774

Fox News - Dennis Rodman reveals Kim Jong-Un's daughter's name: Ju-ae (Jew, eh?)

Kikar - A gold medalion with a depiction of a Menorah was found near Har Habayit, which seems to contradict the Rambam's - and Chabad's - opinion (Arch of Titus redux?)

Dixie Yid describes his Uman experience

Kikar - Rav Zalman Melamed Shlit"a goes off on Yesh Atid

Kikar - Zionist rabbis against Habayit Hayehudi

YWN - Rock Attacks at the Kotel on the Second Day of Rosh Hashana

YWN - Vertluch: Rosh Hashana 5774

YWN and Matzav - Rosh Hashana Message from the Kaliver Rebbe Shlit"a

DovBear - Happy 5940!

Kikar - Will Aramaic be harmed due to the Syrian War?

Sefer Karnayim's Hint to 5774

I mentioned this briefly a long time ago, but I'll mention it again more at length as we start 5774.

In the Sefer Karnayim, it states:

The Sod of 774 windows in the room called מצפ"ץ עד"ת, within which is the horn of Ben David and its Sod is within it. This is in the Sod of: when he will come, then will be awakened the 2 horns from the Sod of the upper ש"ת. In the Sod of each one, the Milui of the upper Kallah.

If you understood that, you must be a holy Kabbalist. For the rest of us, we have the commentaries דן ידין and קרן הצבי to help us out.

The Dan Yadin (written by the holy Kabbalist Rav Shimshon of Ostrapoli ZT"L) says that he is coming to explain the idea of Mashiah. The name מצפ"ץ is the Atbash of Hashem's name and has the gematria of 300. עד"ת has the gematria of 474. Altogether, it's 774. 774 is also the gematria of קרן משיח בן דוד [the horn of Mashiah Ben David]. Because of this Atbash, it's hinting to עדת ה'. The name ש"ת refers to upper חכמה, and its gematria - 700 - is the same as קרן קרן. We are left with 74. The "Upper Kallah" refers to Binah, whose representative Milui is שם ס"ג. The Milui without the first letter is: וד י או י, equalling 37. Add another 37 for the other קרן and you get 74 for a grand total of 774. Also, עץ הדעת is connected to this since Hashem's name equals עץ when you do the following Haka'a: 10x5+5x10+6x5+5x6=160...

The Keren Hatzvi (written by the holy Kabbalist Rav Shemuel Shamama ZT"L) explains that at the time of Mashiah, everyone will know that Hashem is King, so it's fit to name the room in a way that hints to עדת ה'. He adds that the reason it didn't just name the room עדת ה' and it needed to use the Atbash is because מצפ"ץ is 300, which is also the gematria of the Milui of א-ל-ה-י-ם [spelled like this: אלף למד הי יוד מם], and it wanted to show that Hashem will exact judgement on the foreign gods, as it says וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, יִפְקֹד יְהוָה עַל-צְבָא הַמָּרוֹם בַּמָּרוֹם; וְעַל-מַלְכֵי הָאֲדָמָה, עַל-הָאֲדָמָה [And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD will punish the host of the high heaven on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.] The word יפקד can be understood as "missing" - meaning Hashem will cause the angels of the nations to be missing from their places on high and brought down from their greatness, and then, He will exact judgement upon all the nations, which is idea of the verse וְסִכְסַכְתִּי מִצְרַיִם בְּמִצְרַיִם [And I will spur Egypt against Egypt].

He continues that it could be that this is hinted to in Tehilim 74, when David Hamelech asks why we have been cast off forever and then says:

זְכֹר עֲדָתְךָ, קָנִיתָ קֶּדֶם-- גָּאַלְתָּ, שֵׁבֶט נַחֲלָתֶךָ; הַר-צִיּוֹן, זֶה שָׁכַנְתָּ בּוֹ

Remember Thy congregation, which Thou hast gotten of old, which Thou hast redeemed to be the tribe of Thine inheritance; {N} and mount Zion, wherein Thou hast dwelt

The Keren Hatzvi says that this can be interpreted: If You remember the 774 windows which are represented by עדת ה', then the Geula will come. The idea of "Thou hast redeemed to be the tribe of Thine inheritance" refers to Mashiah Ben Yosef, whom we hope will not die via Armilus Harasha. And this will occur on "Mount Zion, wherein Thou hast dwelt". ... And the reason he mentions "the horn of Ben David" is to tell you that when He remembers the number of windows, He will lift up the horns of His nation with honor for Mashiah Ben David...

....

If you continue on, there's a lot more interesting info there in both the Dan Yadin and the Keren Hatzvi like the idea that Gog and Armilus are brothers from the same mother whose name is Gasha [גאש"א], which is Rashei Teivot of אם של גוג ארמילוס.

Googling the name "Gasha" told me that it is an uncommon name. Some sites said it is a Russian name meaning "Good" and related to "Agatha". Other sites said it was an Italian name. It is noteworthy that Russia is attributed by some to be Meshech and Tuval who accompany Gog, while Italy is the home country of Armilus, according to Midrashim. Some food for thought.

---

Wishing all my readers:

Shana Tova
Ketiva Vahatima Tova
Tizku Leshanim Rabot, Ne'imot Vetovot
A Gut Gebentched Yahr

However you want to say it, it should be a sweet new year filled with lots of good things for you personally and for all of Kelal Yisrael. May this year bring us to where we want to be as a nation with משיח צדקינו במהרה בימינו אמן.

Interesting Recent Links - Rosh Hashana/Ha'azinu 5774

Sorry for the length. Too many interesting things to share and not enough time this week to share them.

Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlit"a is back in the hospital again with severe pains and is in intensive care. Please pray for Rav Ovadia Yosef Ben Gorgia. Gedolim and Admorim are asking the public to pray for him. There were even prayers for him in Uman. (He did manage to give a Shiur while he was released.)

Kikar - El Al plane lands in Athens due to someone smoking in the bathroom, everyone departs, one passenger had chest pains and was taken to the hospital. If the plane would have continued, the passenger may not have made it. A Seudat Hoda'a was made.

Kikar - R' Nir Ben Artzi: King Mashiah was coronated in Shamayim. See translation at Geula Messages.

Kikar - Rav Shteinman: The Torah Learning of Rav Elyashiv ZT"L Prevented Harsh Decrees. See also Matzav.

(YY - Amazingly, I saw the following article mere seconds after seeing the previous one on Kikar. Link and boldface added by me.)

Dixie Yid - Rav Moshe Weinberger's Shoftim Drasha - The Best Kiruv Tool

The Gemara (Moed Katan 25b) illustrates this reality by recounting how, after the Amora Rabbi Elyashiv passed onto the next world, there were seventy burglaries in his town of Neharda. Rashi explains that until that time, Rabbi Elyashiv's merit prevented people from committing acts of theft. As long as Rabbi Elyashiv was alive, the power of his holiness prevented at least seventy criminals from carrying out the types of crimes they normally committed. We see that when even one Jew lives according to Hashem's will, it "remove[es] the innocent blood from among" the Jewish people. The Jewish people become better and there is less murder, bullying, and hatred.

YWN - When One Mocks a Psak of a Gadol Hador

Tomer Devorah - Revelations - It's the Energy of Redemption

Tomer Devorah - The Final Comfort

Debka - 10 Children Killed in 'Napalm-like' Bomb in Aleppo

Mosaic Magazine - 750th Anniversary of the Ramban's Disputation (h/t R' Gil)

JTA - Jewish shtetl in Azerbaijan survives amid Muslim majority (h/t R' Gil)

YWN - B'Ohel Haneviyim Nitzavim/Vayelech

Esser Agaroth - There's a Xtian in my Soup. See also the follow-up and Tomer Devorah.

Geshmack Torah - United Nations

Mystical Paths - Tzedaka Campaign to Help the Needy

Matzav - Outrage: U.S. Returning Artifacts Looted from Iraqi Jews to Iraq, Instead of Lawful Owners

Emes Ve-emunah - A Time To Act

YWN - Young Israel Supports President Obama's Decision to Strike Syria

Hezbos - Feel the Pulse of Redemption

Hezbos - The Triumvirate Generation of Moshiach

YWN - Lapid Wants Reform Representation on Jewish Identity Administration

Matzav - Japan's Nuclear Tanks Leaking Again

Life in Israel - Burka Men

YWN - Police Chief Calls to Renew his Shiurei Torah

Matzav - Israeli Population Surpasses 8 Million Ahead Of Rosh Hashanah

YWN - Amona Fears of Court Ordered Expulsion

Shiloh Musings - Picturing the New Year, 5774, G-d Willing

Matzav - Prince Charles Wears Unique Yarmulka to UK Chief Rabbi’s Induction Ceremony. See also Life in Israel.

Life in Israel - Zionist Stork Spy Detained in Egypt

Mashiach is Coming - Tav Shin Ayin Dalet

YWN - Chief Rabbi David Lau's Tefilla for Jonathan Pollard (based on instructions from Rav Mordechai Eliyahu ZT"L)

Tomer Devorah - Which Came First, The State or the "Egg"?

Geula Update from Rav Fish - Nitzavim/Vayelech 5773

From Rav Fish's latest:

• וּכְכַלּוֹת נַפֵּץ
  
  • When it says in Daniel: וּכְכַלּוֹת נַפֵּץ יַד-עַם-קֹדֶשׁ [and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people] and Rashi says it means when Israel will be downtrodden and lowly, it will start to happen. Also, the book "Nifla'ot Mitoratecha" says it means to remove the Nun, Peh, and Tzadi from מנצפ"ך and we're left with מ"ך, meaning poverty.
• Torah Code:

  

  "Lapid", "Bennett", "Budget Cuts", "for Hachamim", "5774" along the verses וישימו עליו שרי מסים and וימררו את חייהם

• 5774 Rashei Teivot
  
  • R' Betzalel Loiberbaum: תהא שנת עוזר דלים
  • R' Emanuel Lopez: תהא שנת עקבתא דמשיחא
• 1775 Vavim and 5775
  
  • The Ariza"l understands from the verse that the 1775 is split up as 1000 + 700 + 5 + 70 - in that order - as corresponding to the 4 letters of Hashem's name. Since the main idea of exile is to rectify the ווין, therefore, the "5" corresponds to the ווין of the ווין, which is the letter ו in Hashem's name. They therefore correspond to the hardest years of our exile: 5701-5705.
  • Shemot Rabba Perasha 51:

    When the Mishkan was completed, Moshe told the people, "Come, I'll make an accounting." That is why it says, "These are the accounts of the tabernacle..." When he sat down and counted, though, he forgot the 1,775 Shekel of silver was made for the hooks for the pillars. Moshe started wondering and saying that the people will have basis to accuse him of stealing it. What happened? HKB"H enlightened his eyes and he saw that they were made for the hooks of the pillars. At that moment, all of Israel was appeased over the work of the Mishkan.

    We see that Moshe Rabbeinu had some Yissurim from the 1775 Shekel of silver by forgetting what happened to them. This is symbolic of the 1775 years of exile [since the year 4000]. Then, he remembered what happened and all were appeased. This symbolizes the appeasement and consolation that will occur after the 1775 years.
  • Torah Code:

    

    "The date has fallen, 5775 Eliyahu" (נפל also being a nickname for Mashiah)

• Ramha"l on MBY's Time


• Ramha"l says (Tikkunim Hadashim #8):

  ומשיח בן יוסף נמי ביומא שתיתאה בתר פלגו דיומא אתחזיאת ליה מותא, לאתקנא תיקונא שלים. ומתמן ולהלאה יתחברון תרין אילנין כחדא למיהוי בשלימו חד.

  We see that he holds that the last time for MBY is Hatzot of the sixth millennium, and the last part of this Hatzot period is Minha Gedola.
• Importance of Learning Zohar in Our Days
  
  • Try to imagine if we would suddenly find a jug of healing herbs and tied to the jug is a note from one of the Tanna'im that these herbs can be used to heal an incurable disease. Would there be any person in the world who has this disease who won't try this cure if he has no other chance of living? Kal Vahomer Ben Beno Shel Kal Vahomer when many hundreds of years ago the Zohar was found in the ground, in which Ribbi Shimon Bar Yohai ZY"A instructed his student - Ribbi Abba - to write down the words and to hide it for the last generation - which is our generation, the generation of Redemption - so that this learning will bring healing and salvation from the awesome dangers that stand before us and will save the life of the entire generation. If there's someone who has not yet tried the cure, one should at least learn the revealed parts of the Zohar and the parts that can be understood by all.

Rav Shteinman Shlit"a on Our Times

Kikar reports:

At the end of his regular Motza'ei Shabbat Shiur, Rav Shteinman Shlit"a said:

We find ourselves in the birth-pangs of Mashiah.  And just like during the birth-pangs of labor, the closer it gets to the birth, the contractions are harder, similarly with the birth-pangs of Mashiah - the closer we get to Mashiah, the decrees become harsher and more numerous.

In conclusion, he wished that:

HKB"H should help that we should already reach the Geula.  Let the year conclude along with all its curses - that Hashem should help that that which the Rasha Lapid Yimah Shemo [the evil Lapid - may his name be blotted out] plans to do should not come to fruition.