Favoritism in Heaven is Acquired Down Here

by Rabbi David Hanania Pinto

"You shall make vestments of sanctity for Aharon" [Tetzaveh 28:2]

Going about our daily life, we encounter many different sorts of people. There are the successful ones and the ones who constantly fail; those who are energetic and those who take life easy. There are people who are greatly respected and those who are less valued. There are also people who have 'connections' - children of important personalities or famous askanim; they are the ones who can resolve almost any predicament, with minimum time and effort…

This latter group is in a special category; everything falls into place for them almost by itself - they find work easily, they have friends in all the right places, they are accepted in the best educational institutions, and in the Beit Haknesset too they are accorded all the honors. The cherry on the cake is that when they need to deal with an issue in a government office, or sort out a problem with the local council they enjoy special treatment; lengthy procedures are carried out with alacrity and in a most efficient manner and they also receive all kinds of benefits…

But in heaven, Rabbi Osher Kovlesky shlita enlightens us, there is no such thing. All people are considered equal and are judged according to their deeds alone. Benefits are bestowed on those who have earned the merit. But there is nevertheless one group, a special 'elite' group, whose members do enjoy special reprieve in heaven. They are dealt with lightly, processes are shortened for them, they are assisted in closing their case, and their sins are bypassed. They automatically merit lenient treatment, not down in this world but in heaven – the place where it matters the most…

How does one join this club? It is open to one and all. One's country of origin makes no difference, nor does one's financial status. Those who enjoy special benefits in heaven, those who merit efficient service in the most valuable place - are those who give in to others, those who show submission. They behave with restraint, know how to defer to others and to be flexible and they know how to yield even when they truly deserve something.

Chazal have revealed a wonderful concept: "המעביר על מידותיו" – one who yields and doesn’t take a stand over offenses that were done to him, "he is forgiven for all his sins" – he merits heavenly assistance to fully repent. His repentance is given priority, he is treated with reprieve when seeking to erase debts and sins, and the focus is on judging his merits.

But one moment, how can this be? In heaven, nothing is overlooked. Heaven reckons every word that comes out of our mouths and every sight that we gaze at; a careful note of our every deed is recorded, "for all these things G-d will call you to account" [Kohelet 11:9]?

This is certainly correct - if we too behave according to the strict law and we are most particular about everything that others do to us! But, if we know how to yield and we are prepared to behave beyond the strict letter of the law, then in heaven we will merit the same attitude: we will be rewarded with abundant merits which will glide over our sins.

In this parsha we are told about the garments of the kohanim, the special clothing that Ahron and his sons wore. Aharon HaKohen "loved peace and pursued peace". This was his essence. He was a person who exuded peace and went out of his way to make peace between others and to increase peace and brotherhood. One of the most effective tools for increasing peace and friendship is to adopt the trait of giving way, to forgo and forfeit. We should firmly resolve that we are prepared to flee from all strife and peace is our priority, even if this means forgoing in any way.

The next time someone takes our place in the line, or takes advantage of us in any way for example by blocking our air or light, or parking in our private space – we can be right and make sure that he doesn’t get away with it, but it is much more worth it to be clever - to surrender and show restraint, to move on. At that moment we may seem weak in other people's eyes, but right then all our books of debt will be opened in Heaven, and entire pages will be deleted without batting an eyelash. We will merit special benefits and alleviations, which will cause our repentance to be accepted willingly and with ease. It could be that the person will again park in your space, and it is totally correct that someone insulted you so deeply that there is no way you are going to help him, and maybe the neighbor's extension blocks your light – but it is so much more worth it to merit a stream of benefits in heaven! To forgo and receive preferential treatment in the place where life itself is determined, is of much greater worth!

The Final War and Fall of the Erev Rav

Published Motzei Shabbat

Rav Ron Chaya - French with auto-translate subtitles

The world seems to be heading towards a war of unprecedented scale. Yet, prophets have been foretelling these events for millennia. But who is this mysterious internal enemy, the "Erev Rav," who is weakening the Jewish people? Indeed, is their downfall the necessary condition for the coming of the Messiah?

When Will Moshiach Arrive ?

Bava Batra 12a-b

When studying the Bible we find that prophecy begins to wane during the Second Temple times, and that by the time the Second Temple was destroyed, prophecy has largely ceased to exist. The Gemara on today’s daf discusses what became of nevuah – of prophecy. 

Rabbi Yochanan taught that from the time the Temple was destroyed, nevuah was taken from the prophets and given to shotim and tinokot – to fools and to small children. 

This difficult statement has been the center of much debate and discussion among the commentaries.

The Maharsha rejects the notion that true prophecy has been given to these kinds of people. The concept of prophecy – of the ability to receive the word of God – must be given to those people who are on a high spiritual and intellectual level. He suggests that we are not discussing true nevuah here, rather a lower level of foreknowledge that comes through a supernatural force, but not through a real relationship with God. 

The Iyun Yaakov suggests that the lack of nevuah after the destruction of the Temple is a consequence of the fact that en nevuah shorah ela mitokh simcha – that prophecy can only take place in a setting of joy – and after the destruction of the Temple, people with high levels of intellectual and spiritual sensitivity cannot reach a level of joy that would allow them to connect with the Almighty. Specifically because of their lack of sensitivity, fools and children may occasionally undergo a prophetic experience.

The Maharal explains that there is a constant barrage of prophetic waves that emanate from on high that are beyond the comprehension of people with normal intellect. Ordinarily, only select individuals – nevi’im – are able to tap into these waves and still retain their sanity, while ordinary people cannot receive these waves because of their source, which is beyond comprehension. It is specifically those individuals whose intellect does not stand in the way of their comprehension – like children and fools – who can occasionally receive these messages.

Source: OU  [halfway down the page]

And bearing all that in mind..... this child seems to know when Moshiach is coming.... Hebrew and there are english subtitles, they came up instantly for me but you may have to toggle something to get them. Click on CC, click on settings and navigate to auto translate.

Destined to Fall

H/t Doniel Stochel

‏"אם לוקה החמה בראש חודש אדר, מנהיג המיצר לישראל עתיד ליפול באותו החודש". (ליקוטי מהרי"ח, סוכה כ"ט) 

“If the sun is eclipsed on Rosh Chodesh Adar, the ruler who causes distress to Israel is destined to fall in that same month.” [Likutei Mahari”ch, Sukkah 29] 

There was a solar eclipse on Feb 17 / R"H Adar. 

An annular solar eclipse (a “ring of fire” eclipse) occurred on February 17, 2026 as the Moon passed between the Earth and Sun and covered most of the Sun’s disk.

The Month of Adar and the Clarification of Esau

by Gal Einei : Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh

The root Adar appears five times in the Torah. The rule is that the first appearance of a root in the Torah is the most important and expressive of all. The first appearance of the root “Adar” in the Torah is in Genesis 25:25, refers to the birth of Esau: “And the first one emerged ruddy, completely like a cape of hair (Aderet [root of Adar] se’ar), and they called his name Esau.” This is the root of Adar in the Torah, aderet se’ar. The Torah refers to only two people as red-complexioned: Esau and King David. From this we learn that King David, the King Mashiach, comes to rectify the red-complexioned Esau. 

In Hebrew, the word for “red” is adom, cognate to Adam. There is something red in the essence of man. Adam is also cognate to adamah (earth). Apparently, the archetypical earth is red clay. The word admoni (אדמוני) used to describe the red-complexioned Esau has the numerical value of 111, which is the same numerical value as the word פלא (wonder) and אפל (dark). In the personality of man, we have an illuminated side and a dark side. (This is the secret of “according to the will of איש ואיש(this man and that man)” in the Scroll of Esther. In the redemption, the verse “איש ואיש (this man and that man) will be born in it”[1] will be fulfilled. The average value of איש ואיש is Mordechai Hayehudi (the hero – along with Queen Esther) of the Scroll of Esther. His illuminated side is white, while the dark side is red. There is something red in the dark side. 

Every person has their Jacob and their Esau, who are also their Mordechai and Haman. The illuminated side is Jacob and Mordechai. The dark side is full of potential. Who sensed Esau’s potential? His father, Isaac. Hence “And Isaac loved Esau, for “there was hunting in his mouth.”[2] Esau hunted him with his words. In the Torah portion of Mishpatim it says, “And he did not hunt, and God brought it to his hand and I will appoint for you a place to where he can flee.”[3] Rashi on this verse provides us with a lengthy analysis of the root of the word צדה (hunt) and concludes that the meaning is like an ambush. Apparently, each of the sides of a person’s personality – the illuminated side and the dark side – lie in ambush for each other. 

Esau is full of potential. It is impossible to bring the redemption without him. The Lubavitcher Rebbe said that in our generation, Esau is ready – the dark side is ready for “the advantage of light over darkness.” In potential, he has more light than the original light. 

Why is the month of Adar connected to the dark side? First, Haman was happy that the lot fell on the month of Adar. The sages say that he was happy because he knew that Moses had died in the month of Adar. In general, though, there is something about Adar that is a dark month, the month of Esau, who was born like an aderet (Adar) cape of hair. 

The holiday of the month of Adar is Purim, the month in which everything is transformed. On Purim we eat and drink until we don’t know the difference between “cursed is Haman” (the dark side) and “blessed is Mordechai” (the illuminated side). On Purim, we have to reach a state in which we cannot differentiate between the dark side and the illuminated side, a state in which all seems the same; one simple unified state. 

The first appearance of Adar in the Torah in connection with a garment (cape) shows the connection of this month to garments and the world of garments. It is customary to wear a costume on Purim. This Purim, we can wear the cape of Esau and transform it into the cape of Elijah the Prophet. Esau means “completed” and indeed, Esau was born completed. The time has come for us to complete the clarification of Esau. The Lubavitcher Rebbe said that we have already completed the service of clarification. Everything is finished, everything is Esau (completed). 

[1] Psalms 87:5. 

[2] Genesis 25:28. 

[3] Exodus 21:13.

Welcome Adar

Adar is a month with miraculous potential.  

It kicks off with the Annular Solar Eclipse which you can read about here, and will be followed by a Total Lunar Eclipse on Purim.  

The Arizal says that each month represents a part of a person's head. The month of Adar represents the "nose". 

Sweet smell, says the gemara Brachos [44b], gives pleasure not to the body but rather to the Neshama. 

The Bnei Yisaschar explains that when Adam and Chava ate from the Eitz HaDaas [Tree of Knowledge] they used all their senses for the aveira [sin] except their sense of smell. The pasuk says: she saw, she listened, she touched, and she tasted. But nowhere does it say that anyone smelled. Therefore the sense of smell has a certain purity that is unmatched by the other senses.

It is therefore appropriate that for the great Nes [miracle] that took place in the month of Adar, the month of smell, that both of the heroes of Purim, Mordechai and Esther had names referring to smell.

Mordechai's name says the gemara Chulin [139b] is hinted in the name of the fragrance used in the Ketores called Mor Dror or Mira-Dachya as translated by Unkelos. 

Esther's real name, the Megila tells us [2:7], was Hadassa - the sweet smelling myrtle tree. Since a person's name represents their true inner self, Mordechai and Esther with their lofty purity were able to avoid the pitfalls of Achashveirosh and his materialism during his party and even while living in his palace.

During the special month of Adar where these qualities reign supreme, these two pure tzaddikim saved Klal Yisroel from destruction.

Ikvot Moshiach: The Time Immediately Before Mashiach

Photo from Poland May 2025 - passing planet overhead
these stripes in the sky were also seen in New Jersey at 8am Feb 15 by a reader of this blog
Keep your head to the sky whenever possible

This is the world we live in.

Text by J. Immanuel Schochet

The time appointed by G‑d for the Messianic redemption is a closely guarded secret. Nonetheless, we are offered many hints to recognize its proximity: when certain conditions come about, await the imminent coming of Mashiach. 

Most of these conditions are quite disturbing, clearly displaying a situation of the very “bottom of the pit.” One major source describes the world-condition in those days as follows: increase in insolence and impudence; oppressing inflation; unbridled irresponsibility on the part of authorities; centers of learning will turn into bawdy houses; wars; many destitutes begging, with none to pity them; wisdom shall be putrid; the pious shall be despised; truth will be abandoned; the young will insult the old; family-breakup with mutual recriminations; impudent leadership.

Other sources add: lack of scholars; succession of troubles and evil decrees; famines; mutual denunciations; epidemics of terrible diseases; poverty and scarcity; cursing and blaspheming; international confrontations nations provoking and fighting each other. In short, it will be a time of suffering that will make it look as if G‑d were asleep. These are the birthpangs of Mashiach, bearable only in anticipation of the bliss that follows them. 

“When you see a generation ever dwindling, hope for him… when you see a generation overwhelmed by many troubles as by a river, await him.” “When you see nations fighting each other, look toward the feet of Mashiach.”

Little wonder that some sages expressed apprehensions about those days in terms of, “Let [Mashiach] come, but let me not see him.” The prevailing attitude, however, is to await his coming in spite of all, even if thereafter we shall merit no more than sitting “in the shadow of his donkey’s dung!” 

The troubles and agony of chevlei Mashiach [birthpangs of Mashiach], however, are not unavoidable: 

“What is man to do to be spared the pangs of Mashiach? Let him engage in Torah and acts of loving-kindness!” 

Moreover, there are also good and happy signs indicating the imminent coming of Mashiach: a good measure of prosperity; a renewal of Torah-study; and opening of the “gates of wisdom above and the wellsprings of wisdom below,” evidenced also by scientific and technological discoveries and advances; a manifestation and propagation of the mystical teachings of the Torah; and also “In the time that Mashiach will awaken, many signs and miracles will occur in the world.”

Source and Footnotes: click here

Shalom President Herzog

President Herzog's visit to Australia concluded yesterday, with his Melbourne visit, and another massive demonstration estimated to be around 30,000 people. Demonstrators marched down Swanston Street to Parliament, accusing Herzog of being a war criminal.

Source: 9News

It has been said by more than one journalist, that it is puzzling as to why Albanese actually agreed to the invitation in the first place, and Albo himself must be wondering how he got himself into this situation.  But ultimately, this is what Hashem wanted, and so President Herzog visited Australia, and this drove the anti-semites crazy and brought them out onto the streets.  In Sydney it was like a battle-royal which included police moving in on muslims who had decided to begin praying in the middle of a blocked off zone.  It seems like we have a civil war here: muslims and anti-semites vs the Silent Majority.

But the last word goes to President Herzog, and this is what he had to say about Australia and the anti-semitism that greeted him.