The Tanhuma Speaks of our Ahdut Today

 Tanhuma on Lech Lecha:

מה כתיב למעלה מן הענין? וישמע אברהם כי נשבה אחיו, וכי אחיו היה אלא ראה ענותנותו של אברהם אחר אותה מריבה שכתוב ויהי ריב בין רועי מקנה אברם ובין רועי מקנה לוט אף על פי כן היה קורא אותו אחיו דכתיב כי אנשים אחים אנחנו

[Expounding the verse that begins the Convenant Between the Parts: אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה "After these things", we ask:] What does it say before this topic? It says: "And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive".  Was Lot really his brother??? [He was his nephew and brother-in-law, but not his brother!!]  Rather, it's teaching us that we should take a look at the humility of Avraham.  After that quarrel where it says, "And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle", and nevertheless, Avraham called him "his brother", as it says, "for we are brethren".

As numerous people have already pointed out, there is an incredible Ahdut in the air that we haven't had in 50 years in Israel.  And this was after a terrible fight between right vs. left and religious vs. non-religious that was going on beforehand.

And just as Avraham was: וירק את חניכיו - he went to battle to free his brother from captivity, similarly, we are going to battle to free our brothers and sisters from captivity.  And just as Avraham was victorious in his mission, with Hashem's help, we will be victorious in our mission.

Another Midrash in Lech Lecha compares the Geula of Lot (who was actually necessary to produce the ancestry of Mashiah) from the 4 kings with the Final Geula:

דבר אחר:

• ויהי בימי אמרפל מלך שנער, זו בבל.
• ואריוך מלך אלסר, זה אנטיוכס.
• כדרלעומר מלך עילם, זה מדי.
• ותדעל מלך גוים, זו מלכות אדום, שהיא מכתבת טירוניא מכל אומות העולם.

אמר רבי אלעזר בר אבינא: אם ראית מלכיות מתגרות אלו באלו צפה לרגלו של משיח, תדע שכן, שהרי בימי אברהם על ידי שנתגרו המלכיות אלו באלו, באה הגאולה לאברהם.

This Midrash is saying that when we see the superpowers going after each other, we should expect the feet of Mashiah just as there was a Geula for Avraham when the kings battled each other.  (So far, we have US, Chinese, and French ships coming to the Middle East.  Are the Russians next?)

May the Ahdut displayed until now allow for a victory in battle and ultimately and speedily lead to the Final Redemption, Amen.

Year 8 and the 9 Months - Part 2

In Part 1, I noted R' Ari Goldwag's חידוש about year 8 of the 19 year cycle and I noted that the October 7th massacre was at the very end of Tekufat Tamuz, which is also the end of the first trimester of the 9-month "pregnancy".

If we take this a step further, we can say the following:

There is a concept that the holidays of Tishri are compared to a marriage between HKB"H and the Jewish people.  Rosh Hashana is like Eirusin, Yom Kippur is like Nisu'in, and Sukkot is like the 7 days of Sheva Berachot.  We can possibly say that Shemini Atzeret/Simhat Torah is compared to the Yihud of HKB"H and the Jewish people alone (symbolized by the 1 bull brought on that day since קשה עלי פרידתכם).

Let's also take a look at Niddah 31a (translation from Sefaria):

תנו רבנן שלשה חדשים הראשונים תשמיש קשה לאשה וגם קשה לולד אמצעיים קשה לאשה ויפה לולד אחרונים יפה לאשה ויפה לולד שמתוך כך נמצא הולד מלובן ומזורז תנא המשמש מטתו ליום תשעים כאילו שופך דמים מנא ידע אלא אמר אביי משמש והולך (תהלים קטז, ו) ושומר פתאים ה'

§ The Sages taught in a baraita: During the first three months of pregnancy, sexual intercourse is difficult and harmful for the woman and is also difficult for the offspring. During the middle three months, intercourse is difficult for the woman but is beneficial for the offspring. During the last three months, sexual intercourse is beneficial for the woman and beneficial for the offspring; as a result of it the offspring is found to be strong and fair skinned.

The Sages taught in a baraita: With regard to one who engages in intercourse with his wife on the ninetieth day of her pregnancy, it is as though he spills her blood. The Gemara asks: How does one know that it is the ninetieth day of her pregnancy? Rather, Abaye says: One should go ahead and engage in intercourse with his wife even if it might be the ninetieth day, and rely on God to prevent any ensuing harm, as the verse states: “The Lord preserves the simple” (Psalms 116:6).

Rashi says that the 90 days represents ⅓ of the pregnancy.  The Maharsha says that Rashi was not exact since a pregnancy could last 271, 272, or 273 days.  However, if we take Rashi at face value, it's possible to say that Rashi was saying that really ⅓ is exact and the "90th day" that the gemara mentions is not exact, and the gemara meant that the warning "it is as though he spills ... blood" is for having relations the day before ⅓ of the pregnancy is over.  So, if the pregnancy was 273 days, that would make ⅓ of the pregnancy the 91st day - not the 90th day.  וצ"ע.

Tekufat Tamuz started on July 8th - the Shabbat when we read the first of the תלת דפורענותא haftarot, where we read:

ה  בְּטֶרֶם אצורך אֶצָּרְךָ בַבֶּטֶן יְדַעְתִּיךָ, וּבְטֶרֶם תֵּצֵא מֵרֶחֶם הִקְדַּשְׁתִּיךָ:  נָבִיא לַגּוֹיִם, נְתַתִּיךָ.

5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee; I have appointed thee a prophet unto the nations.

If this day was the beginning of the "pregnancy", and the 91st day of Tekufat Tamuz was October 7th morning (as a Tekufa lasts 91 days and 7.5 hours), and that was the day of Simhat Torah, the day of Yihud with HKB"H, then כאילו שופך דמים.

(I don't know the reasons behind it.  הנסתרות לה' אלקינו.  I'm just making an observation.)

Abaye was correct in saying that since we didn't know when the "pregnancy" began at the time, we should still celebrate Simhat Torah.  Some merited to have Hashem's protection since שומר פתאים ה'. Others were לא עלינו not so lucky.

We hope that the rest of the "pregnancy" goes better.  The "birth" is also a big question mark.  It seems to be up to us how that goes.

Sanhedrin 98b (emphasis added by me):

שאלו תלמידיו את רבי אלעזר מה יעשה אדם וינצל מחבלו של משיח יעסוק בתורה ובגמילות חסדים

Rabbi Elazar’s students asked Rabbi Elazar: What shall a person do to be spared from the pains preceding the coming of the Messiah? Rabbi Elazar said to them: They shall engage in Torah study and acts of kindness.

May we merit to see the Final Redemption sooner than we think with Hashem's abundant mercy. 

Year 8 and the 9 Months

To help understand R' Ari Goldwag's incredible חידוש about the year we're in, I created this table below.  If you haven't watched his video yet, it's highly recommended.

Yellow for regular years

Cyan for leap years

19 Year Cycle

Year of Cycle	Cycle 1	Cycle 2	Cycle 3	Cycle 4	Cycle 5
1	5701 1941	5720 1960	5739 1979	5758 1998	5777 2017
2	5702 1942	5721 1961	5740 1980	5759 1999	5778 2018
3	5703 1943	5722 1962	5741 1981	5760 2000	5779 2019
4	5704 1944	5723 1963	5742 1982	5761 2001	5780 2020
5	5705 1945	5724 1964	5743 1983	5762 2002	5781 2021
6	5706 1946	5725 1965	5744 1984	5763 2003	5782 2022
7	5707 1947	5726 1966	5745 1985	5764 2004	5783 2023
8	5708 1948	5727 1967	5746 1986	5765 2005	5784 2024
9	5709 1949	5728 1968	5747 1987	5766 2006	5785 2025
10	5710 1950	5729 1969	5748 1988	5767 2007	5786 2026
11	5711 1951	5730 1970	5749 1989	5768 2008	5787 2027
12	5712 1952	5731 1971	5750 1990	5769 2009	5788 2028
13	5713 1953	5732 1972	5751 1991	5770 2010	5789 2029
14	5714 1954	5733 1973	5752 1992	5771 2011	5790 2030
15	5715 1955	5734 1974	5753 1993	5772 2012	5791 2031
16	5716 1956	5735 1975	5754 1994	5773 2013	5792 2032
17	5717 1957	5736 1976	5755 1995	5774 2014	5793 2033
18	5718 1958	5737 1977	5756 1996	5775 2015	5794 2034
19	5719 1959	5738 1978	5757 1997	5776 2016	5795 2035

Another point that I will make is that October 7th is always (in this and the previous century) the end of Tekufat Tamuz and the beginning of Tekufat Tishri.  This year, since next year is a secular leap year, the Tekufa ended at 9PM on October 7th.  Therefore, Shemini Atzeret, which is when the massacre of Jews took place השם יקום דמם, was the last full day of Tekufat Tamuz.

(As an aside, the last time Shemini Atzeret fell out on the last full day of Tekufat Tamuz was when it fell out on October 6th, 1966, a few months before the Six Day War.)

If the 9 months started at the very beginning of Tekufat Tamuz, and we're beginning to "see the pregnancy" now, there will be an interesting 6 months ahead, when Tekufat Nisan begins right before Rosh Hodesh Nisan. 

Appropriate Songs for the Matzav

New song:

5784 and the End of Galut Yishmael

 Covenant Between the Parts:

יג  וַיֹּאמֶר לְאַבְרָם, יָדֹעַ תֵּדַע כִּי-גֵר יִהְיֶה זַרְעֲךָ בְּאֶרֶץ לֹא לָהֶם, וַעֲבָדוּם, וְעִנּוּ אֹתָם--אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת, שָׁנָה.	13 And He said unto Abram: 'Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
יד  וְגַם אֶת-הַגּוֹי אֲשֶׁר יַעֲבֹדוּ, דָּן אָנֹכִי; וְאַחֲרֵי-כֵן יֵצְאוּ, בִּרְכֻשׁ גָּדוֹל.	14 and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge; and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
טו  וְאַתָּה תָּבוֹא אֶל-אֲבֹתֶיךָ, בְּשָׁלוֹם:  תִּקָּבֵר, בְּשֵׂיבָה טוֹבָה.	15 But thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
טז  וְדוֹר רְבִיעִי, יָשׁוּבוּ הֵנָּה:  כִּי לֹא-שָׁלֵם עֲוֺן הָאֱמֹרִי, עַד-הֵנָּה.	16 And in the fourth generation they shall come back hither; for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.'

Each one of these verses shows us something about 5784, as will be explained.

These verses are widely interpreted to refer to the Exodus from Egypt occurring 400 years from Avraham had "seed" - namely the birth of Yitzhak, which is also the 4th generation after they descended to Egypt.

However, there are various Midrashim that say that the Berit Bein Habetarim also refers to future exiles as well. (See Pirkei deRibbi Eliezer 28 and Bereishit Rabba 44:18 as examples of this.)  Note further that the end of this chapter of Pirkei deRibbi Eliezer says that the final exile before Mashiah is that of Yishmael.  (I've discussed Galut Yishmael on this blog in the distant past.  See the links here)

Verse 13

When did Galut Yishmael begin?

Just like our other Galuyot that occurred after Yerushalayim became our capital (i.e. excluding Galut Mitzrayim), which began after Yerushalayim was taken over in a disgraceful way, it makes sense to say that Galut Yishmael began in the same way.

According to Wikipedia:

The Islamization of Jerusalem began in the first year A.H. (623 CE), when Muslims were instructed to face the city while performing their daily prostrations and, according to Muslim religious tradition, Muhammad's night journey and ascension to heaven took place. After 13 years, the direction of prayer was changed to Mecca.

The idea that Islam would choose Yerushalayim and the same spot as the Beit Hamikdash as their target of worship is Replacement Theology 101 (something Yishmael would learn from Esav).  That 13 years later, they decided to turn their backs toward Yerushalayim adds insult to injury.

Note the date that this occurred: 623 CE - exactly 1400 years ago.

The gemara in Sanhedrin 97b brings down a Beraita quoting Ribbi Natan, who speaks of the opinion of "Rabboteinu" (our rabbis), who say that the time period until Mashiah comes is 1400 years. Although that opinion is rejected by Ribbi Natan, it seems that he only rejected it because he doesn't believe in making any calculations for various reasons - not that the calculations are wrong or that Rabboteinu's words were totally incorrect.  This calculation of 1400 years is based on 400 years being a "period" (based on verse 13 above) and the verse that says that the final exile will last "until a time and times and half a time", which tells us to multiply 400 by 3.5, per Rashi on the gemara.  It comes out that if the starting point is the "Islamization of Jerusalem", the 1400 years concludes this year.

(Avid readers of this blog may remember a similar post that I did 4 years ago with a very similar idea but with a slightly different starting point.)

As noted, we only know the 1400 years if we know the 400 years from verse 13.

Verse 14

In 5783, there was an earthquake in Syria and Turkey, killing over 50,000 people and affecting about one sixth of Turkey's population.  We'll see what lays in store in 5784.

Verse 15

Rashi on this verse notes how Avraham was told that he will die at a time that his descendants were either completely righteous or no longer - or not yet - wicked.  Yishmael had done Teshuva at the end of his life (and Esav had not yet acted immorally).  Yishmael doing Teshuva at the end of his life is symbolic of Yishmael doing Teshuva at the end of its world dominion.  

Saudi Arabia, the seat of Ishmaelite power, is on the verge of a peace treaty with Israel.  And although its demands hardly constitute a complete Teshuva, the fact that it is willing to make peace is definitely a form of Teshuva.

Verse 16

Most scientists consider a generation to be about 25 years.  Google searches seem to confirm that number.  That being so, since the State of Israel is in its 76th year, it is now in its 4th "generation".  The creation of the State of Israel has been the biggest chink in the armor of Malchut Yishmael to date.  Will 5784 break it for good?  Israel is on the verge of having the majority of Halachic World Jewry on its land.  Will it happen this year?  Time will tell.

(One more thing about the number 76 is the something I've mentioned previously on this blog - the idea that Rabbeinu Bahye talks about on the verse לִי נָקָם וְשִׁלֵּם, לְעֵת תָּמוּט רַגְלָם: כִּי קָרוֹב יוֹם אֵידָם, וְחָשׁ עֲתִדֹת לָמוֹ - that the word למו (gematria of 76) is a sign and hint to the Redemption.)

I will conclude with the famous Ba'al Haturim at the end of Hayei Sarah:

על פני כל אחיו נפל וסמיך ליה ואלה תולדות יצחק לומר כשיפול ישמעאל באחרית הימים אזי יצמח בן דוד שהוא מתולדות יצחק:

When Yishmael falls at the End of Days, then [Mashiah] Ben David, who comes from Yitzhak, will sprout.