Pillars of Smoke

 

Before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes,

I will set portents in the sky and on earth: 

Blood and fire and pillars of smoke;

[Joel 3:3]

Currently erupting 

Hayli Gubbi volcano, Ethiopia: Erupted on November 25, 2025, sending ash clouds and volcanic bombs into the air. 

Ibu volcano, Indonesia: Eruption has been ongoing, with daily ash plumes and visible incandescence reported. 

Reventador volcano, Ecuador: Eruption continued between November 25 and 26, 2025. 

Sabancaya volcano, Peru: Eruption continued between November 25 and 26, 2025. 

Barren Island, India: Erupted on November 25, 2025, with continuous ash emissions observed. 

Showing potential for imminent eruption 

Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii: Eruptive activity is currently paused after a recent lava fountaining episode, but preliminary models suggest another event is likely within a week.

Connect to the Channel of Abundance

H/t Rivky

On Shabbos day, the 9th of Kislev in the 9th month, on the 9th day, in the 9th hour, during the 9 auspicious minutes 

Nine minutes which are the channel of all abundance 

Go to Kupat Project: the Ninth Hour: 130 Ways to Connect to the Channel of All Abundance

Ninth month – Ninth day – Ninth hour – Nine minutes 

Based on the teachings of the holy Kabbalist Rabbi Avraham Me׳rimon in his book ‘Brit Menucha’, Rabbi Chaim vital in the introduction to ‘Eitz Chaim’ and ‘Sha’ar Hahakdamot’ quotes Rabbi Avaraham that on the Ninth month (Kislev) on the Ninth day and on the Ninth hour, the gates of mercy and blessings are open for NINE minutes for us to pray to the master of the universe for all our needs. Take advantage of this time!

This is also explained by the holy Rebbe of Slonim. 

This year (2025) the ninth day falls on SHABBAT (November 29th, 2025) 

Rabbi Anava will be praying at Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu’s tomb at this time, and you can submit names for prayers! Click here to submit names.  Rabbi Anava also has a very long video, nearly 3 hours, and he apologises for the length of it, but it you want to listen to "How to Activate a Miracle in Your Life" click here.

Superficial Honour

 

"Yaakov has taken everything that belongs to our father, and from what belongs to our father he has amassed all his wealth" [Vayeitze 31:1]

The following question was once posed to the Vilna Gaon: The Midrash Rabbah states in relation to the abovementioned verse:  "There is no honor except for [that accrued by] silver and gold".  Yet, in Shemos Rabbah [ch 38] it states: "There is no honor except for [that accrued by] Torah, as the verse states: "The wise inherit honor".  The question is, is it the Torah or one's wealth that brings a person honor?

Wherever we find the word kavod [honor] spelled without a vav, answered the Gaon, we are meant to apply Chazal's statement "There is no honor except for [that accrued by] silver and gold".  For that type of honor is superficial and false.

However, continued the Gaon, when kavod is spelled in its complete spelling - with a vav - Chazal's statement "There is no honor except for [that accrued by] the Torah" applies.  For the honor that comes from the Torah is genuine and full.

Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein

More Trust, More Blessings

The way to receive more blessings is to simply trust in Hashem [and learn Torah].

The more trust, the more blessings.

The question was asked "What can I do to have more trust in G-d?" and the Rebbe responded.

Purple Haze

Blogger failed and refused to upload any images for a few hours..... and now I'm so happy it's working again, that all I want to do is share these purple skies.   The first one is from yesterday in Illinois and the second one is a couple of weeks ago in Ohio.  

If you're not watching the sunsets, you won't see the colours.  The sunsets lately are just so magical, the colours are so intense.  It's like being in another world. 

A Message from Zev

I want to introduce you to an amazing young man named Zev.  

Zev is a 17 year old with special needs, he is a non-verbal autistic, who happens to be extremely intelligent.

Non-verbal is exactly as it sounds, he cannot verbalize his words.   He can sing and hum, but he cannot communicate in the normal way.

When he turned 13 and became barmitzvah, his parents bought him a computer, and he learned how to type.  In the beginning he needed assistance, but it turned out that he could do it mostly by himself.

One of the first things he "said" to his mother via the computer was "Mommy I love you".  He had never been able to say that before.

Zev with his mother Leah

His first d'var Torah was this:

Moshe Rabbeinu could not talk perfectly. In spite of his disadvantage, he was our greatest teacher.

It seems to me the lesson is clear. It is not the talking that makes a man great, it is the listening and understanding of the messages of Hashem.  I think I never had the ability to know my listening was my strength because I looked only at a lonely, quiet life.  Now I have hope for my future, the chance to learn Torah, to become a mentsch...

Since then, he has written many d'var Torahs via his computer.

So, does he have anything to say about Moshiach?

He typed: "It's not enough to HOPE for Moshiach, we have to LIVE for Moshiach."

[Permission was obtained for use of this information and photos]

5786 - 2026 - The Year of Moshiach, The Year of Purim, 250th Anniversary of USA

 Laivi Shor

5786 - 2026 has Great potential for the Arrival of Moshiach. Why will the year be like Purim? What is the importance of the 250th Anniversary of the USA?

Deceptive Appearances

In Parshas Toldos we read about Eisav's deceptive acts towards his father, climaxing at the end of the Parsha, where he marries one of Yishmael's daughters in order to appear righteous in Yitzchak's eyes. 

Rashi, however, comments that in fact "he added wickedness upon his wickedness, in that he did not divorce the first ones" [28:9] - i.e. just like he had married his first wives in an attempt to appear righteous [26:34] so too here "he added wickedness upon wickedness" marrying once again, this time to a member of Avraham's family in order to maintain his deceptive veil of righteousness.

In the following Parsha, Vayeitzei, we read of another trickster, Lavan, who acted deceptively towards Yaakov. However, it could be argued that Eisav's deception towards his father reprsented a greater degree of moral corruption than the acts of Lavan, because Eisav actively promoted himself as a righteous person.  Lavan, on the other hand, may have acted deceptively, but he did not scheme to find ways of proving his righteousness to others.  He merely concealed his selfish and corrupt motives so Yaakov would not come to uncover his plans.

So, the Torah's description of Eisav here, at the end of Parshas Toldos, comes to warn us of the moral corruption which was exemplified by Eisav.  Here we are warned to steer clear of this lowly activity: promoting oneself as righteous while the truth is something very different indeed.

Source: Based on Likutei Sichos of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, The Gutnick Chumash