Extra-Terrestrial Life and the Torah

Note: this originally came from Torah.org but I could not find it there.  I found  a version of  it on Scribd.

You can also see more on this at Sefaria and Chabad Is There Life on Other Planets? as well as YU Torah: What did Chazal Say? [audio]

Extra-terrestrial Life - Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan 

One of the unique aspects of Judaism is its far reaching universality. Not only does Judaism provide a lesson for every human being, its teachings extend to the very boundaries of the universe. It is an axiom of Judaism that the entire universe was created for the sake of man. 

In one place, the Talmud reckons that there are some [10 to the 18th power] stars in the observable universe, and explicitly states that they were all created for the sake of man. It goes further to state that all the angels and spiritual worlds also only exist for this purpose.

Of course, this immediately raises a question that many find quite difficult. How is it possible that man, living on a dust mote called planet Earth, should be the center of the universe? Our Sages realized the vast number of stars in the universe, and also realized that many of them were many orders of magnitude larger than the earth. [Maimonides - Foundations of Torah 3:8].

It should be quite simple to understand that size and quantity alone are meaningless to an infinite God. There is absolutely no question that the human brain is vastly more complex than the greatest galaxy, and furthermore, that it contains more information than the entire observable inanimate universe. Beyond that, man is endowed with a divine soul that towers over even the highest angels. 

Although the creation of such a vast universe for the sake of man does not defy logic, we still need to seek out a reason for its necessity. Some sources state that by contemplating the greatness of the universe, one can begin to comprehend that of God, and thereby fear Him all the more [Maimonides -Foundations of Torah 2:2].  However, if we speak of the possibility of extra terrestrial life, we must explore the question somewhat further. 

The Free Will Question 

One of the first to discuss the question of extraterrestrial life in general was Rabbi Chasdai Crescas [Or Hashem 4:2]. After a lengthy discussion, he comes to the conclusion that there is nothing in Jewish theology to preclude the existence of life on other worlds. As possible evidence for extraterrestrial life, he quotes the Talmudic teaching [Avoda Zara 3b] that "God flies through 18,000 worlds." 

Since they require His providence, we may assume that they are inhabited.  Of course, this Talmudic quotation is by no means absolute proof, for it may be speaking of spiritual worlds, of which an infinite number were created. One could also attempt to support this opinion from the verse [Psalms 145:13], "Your kingdom is a kingdom of all worlds."

However, here, too, this may be speaking of spiritual universes.

The exact opposite opinion is that of Rabbi Yosef Albo, author of the "Ikkarim." He states that since the universe was created for the sake of man, no other creature can exist possessing free will. Since any extraterrestrial life would neither have free will nor be able to serve a creature having free will (as terrestrial animals and plants serve a terrestrial man), they would have no reason for existing and therefore be totally superfluous.

One could bring some support to the second opinion from the Talmudic teaching that every land where it was not decreed for man to live was never subsequently inhabited. However, here again, it is not absolute proof, since this may only refer to our planet. 

The Star of Meroz 

Between these two extremes, we find the opinion of the Sefer Habris who states that extraterrestrial life does exist, but that it does not possess free will. The latter is the exclusive possession of man, for whom the universe was created. 

The 18,000 worlds mentioned earlier, in his opinion, are inhabited physical worlds. The proof that he brings for his thesis is most ingenious. In the song of Deborah, we find the verse, "Cursed is Meroz... cursed are its inhabitants....   that Meroz is the name of a star.  According to this opinion, the fact that Scripture states, "Cursed is Meroz... cursed are its inhabitants" is clear proof from the words of our Sages for extraterrestrial life.

Of course, even this proof is subject to refutation, for the Zohar also follows the opinion that Meroz is a star, yet states that "its inhabitants" refers to its "camp," that is, most probably, to the planets surrounding it. Nevertheless, the simple meaning of the verse seems to support the opinion of the Sefer Habris.

The Sefer Habris goes on to say that we should not expect the creatures of another world to resemble earthly life, any more than sea creatures resemble those of land.  He further states that although extraterrestrial forms of life may possess intelligence, they certainly cannot have freedom of will. The latter is an exclusive attribute of man, to whom was given the Torah and its commandments. He proves the latter thesis on the basis of the above-mentioned Talmudic teaching that all the stars in the observable universe were created for the sake of man. 

Wings to Escape the Earth 

The basic premise of the existence of extraterrestrial life is strongly supported by the Zohar. The Midrash teaches us that there are seven earths. Although the Ibn Ezra tries to argue that these refer to the seven continents, the Zohar clearly states that the seven are separated by a firmament and are inhabited. Although they are not inhabited by man, they are the domain of intelligent creatures. We therefore find the basic thesis of the Sefer Habris supported by a number of clear-cut statements by our Sages. There may even be other forms of intelligent life in the universe, but such life forms do not have free will, and therefore do not have moral responsibility. 

Freedom of will, however, is not at all an observable quantity. Even its existence in man has been hotly debated by the secular philosophers. Indeed the main proof that man does indeed have free will comes from the fact that God has given him moral responsibility, namely the Torah. It is in this sublime, yet unobservable quality, that man is unique.  

However, if we assume this to be true, we would return to the basic question of Rabbi Yosef Albo, mentioned earlier:  If such creatures never have any utility for man, what is their reason for existence?

We find a most fascinating answer to this question in the Tikunei Zohar. Speaking of the verse [Song of Songs 6:8],"Worlds without number," the Tikunei Zohar states: "The stars certainly are without number. But each star is called a separate world. These are the worlds without number."

The Tikunei Zohar further states that every tzaddik (righteous person) will rule over a star, and therefore have a world unto himself. The 18,000 worlds mentioned above would therefore be that number of stars, presided over by the 18,000 tzaddikim that are alluded to in the verse [Ezekiel 48:35] "Around Him are 18,000." However, these may only refer to those worlds visited daily by the Divine Presence, but there may be innumerable worlds for the lesser tzaddikim.

We therefore have a most fascinating reason why the stars were created, and why they contain intelligent life. Since an overcrowded Earth will not give the tzaddikim the breadth they require, each one will be given his own planet, with its entire population to enhance his spiritual growth.

Once we know that the stars and their planets were created as an abode for the tzaddikim, we might naturally wonder how they will be transported to them. However, the Talmud even provides an answer to this question. 

Discussing the passage [Isaiah 40:31], "They shall mount up with wings as eagles," the Talmud states that in the future world, God will grant the tzaddikim wings to escape the earth. The Zohar goes a step further and states that "God will give them wings to fly through the entire universe."

In a way, this teaching predicts the advent of space travel. But more than that, it provides us with at least one of the reasons why space flight would be inevitable as part of the prelude to the messianic age. This, of course, could bring us to general discussion of the role of modern technology in Torah perspective, a lengthy subject in its own right. 

Republished fromTorah.org , excerpted from "The Aryeh Kaplan Reader"

Published by ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications Ltd. 

Video: Dr Steven Greer UAP/ET Disclosure Press Conference 6/12/2023

Video: Garry Nolan, Stanford University

Physical Organs Correspond to the Organs of the Soul

For a Refuah Shleimah for Yaakov Avraham ben Devorah

Text by Rabbi David Hanania Pinto

“Pinchas son of Elazar son of Aharon the Kohen saw, and he stood up from amidst the assembly and took a spear in his hand” [Balak 25:7]

My holy forebear, Rabbi Chaim Vital, zy”a, states [Sha’arei Kedushah 1:1] that man’s body is comprised of 613 parts, corresponding to the 613 mitzvot. Each part of the body corresponds to a different mitzvah. And just as in the body there are 613 organs, so too, the neshamah contains 613 organs, paralleling the 613 mitzvot. This was very difficult for me to comprehend. The neshamah is a most elevated, spiritual entity. What connection can it have with the 613 physical parts of the body?

I thought over the matter and arrived at the conclusion that the body is physical mass. It is naturally drawn to materialism, not to mitzvot. Since the body does not want to part with its natural urges and temptations in favor of observing mitzvot, Hashem created the neshamah, corresponding to the organs of the body. The organs of the neshamah are spiritual, granting power to the body to overcome materialism and observe mitzvot. If not for these vital organs, the body would never be pulled to do mitzvot. How dreadful that would be! Hashem, Who knows our makeup, created spiritual organs in man’s neshamah. These are what motivate him to keep the mitzvot, which correspond to them.

For this reason, the pasuk [Eichah 3:23] states, “They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” The neshamah, which enters the body anew each morning, fuels it so that it can triumph over its materialistic nature and hurry to accomplish mitzvot. The neshamah, with its powers of purity, descends, sanctifying the body [see Eitz Chaim 29:3].

When Pinchas took note of what was transpiring with Zimri and the Midianite woman, he hurried to grab the spear and, sparing not a moment, killed both of them in one fell swoop. The pasuk [Balak 25:7] states, “He stood up from amidst the assembly and took a spear in his hand.” The Zohar (see III, 237a) states that the word רמח [spear] hints to the fact that Pinchas sanctified the name of Hashem with all his 248 [רמח] limbs.

The gematria of the word בידו [in his hand], adding one for the word itself, is equal to that of the word גידו [his limb]. Pinchas harnessed all his body parts for the purpose of fulfilling the injunction [Shoftim 17:7]: “You shall destroy the evil from your midst.”

From where did Pinchas gain the determination to act so zealously? It was from his neshamah, comprised of 613 organs which affect the physical organs, as explained according to Rabbi Chaim Vital, zy”a.

Asteroids and Moons

I left a comment yesterday about a massive asteroid passing by Earth....

,,,,here is a photo from today.... it's an asteroid, whether it's the one they told us about or a different one, I do not know.  Somehow I don't think it's the one they were talking about.  Not a photoshop, not a hoax, a real photo by a real person.  Mainstream media will never show you this.

And this one which was taken half an hour earlier, is the moon from planet known as Atu - so I was told.  They are all revolving around us, passing by in the sky.  You just need to be in the right place at the right time with eyes to see and a camera in hand.

And I'm adding this photo, taken of the sun today in Sydney.  No rain here today, no rain scheduled for tomorrow either.

The Torah Perspective on Extra Terrestrial Life

Do aliens exist?

Rabbi Hajioff talks about Devorah haNeviah so often in this shiur that I had to give it it's own blog post.

Yes we do believe in the existence of "aliens".  Listen and learn.

Why is Evil so Strong?

 New shiur from Rabbi Shimon Kessin

Angels, Prophecy and Curses v Blessings

HT: Sherry

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff

Last week's shiur which I missed, and I will go back and listen, was about Aliens: click here to watch

The Greatness of Man's Soul

New shiur from Rabbi Mendel Kessin

Q and A with Rabbi Breitowitz

I decided to blog this video because one of the questions was about aliens and other universes.  Fast forward to the 43 min mark to hear the answer.  Or listen to the entire shiur which also includes questions on  Divorce Rate, Unanswered Prayers, Souls, Adam & Eve, Modesty...and more

New Page

Just putting this photo up to direct readers to my new page "Kochav Yaakov" which you can find

at the top of the page or by clicking here 

Pages are visible if you are using a computer -  if you are on a phone they are visible by clicking the arrow to the right of "Home" at the top of the page.

Yanuka: The Greatness of the Souls of Israel

Hebrew - English subtitles

This one is for the people who are suffering.  We are all suffering but some have great suffering in their lives.  This is for you.

I know there are many non-Jews reading my blog.... if you are one of them and have connected to the Jewish people and the Torah, you have a special soul and you should not feel excluded. Righteous Gentiles have a place in Olam HaBo - the World to Come.

Lost

Concerning this, those who speak in parables say "Come to Heshbon...." [Chukat 21:27]

In Maseches Bava Basra [78b], Chazal expound on this verse as follows: "Regarding this hamoshlim would say - This refers to those who rule [hamoshlim] over their yetzer hara.  'Come to Cheshbon' - Come and let us make a calculation [cheshbon] of world importance."  This teaches us that it is incumbent upon each individual to evaluate his deeds in order to determine whether or not he is acting properly.

R' Yitzchak Blaser, one of the primary figures in the Mussar movement, was approached by members of his community who requested that the Rav rouse them with words of inspiration in light of the upcoming High Holy days.

"Allow me to draw a parable" he began.  "A caravan lost its way in a forest. For a week the travelers wandered around aimlessly, unable to find their way out.  Suddenly, the men saw a lone figure walking in the distance. They quickly made their way toward him and asked him to show them the way out of the forest.

"My brothers and friends" replied the man, "you have been roaming this forest for only a week.  I, however, have already been lost for several weeks. Let us try to find the way out of here together, perhaps then we will be successful."

"But there is one area in which I can be of assistance" continued the man. "I will tell you the paths that I have already tried, and we will know not to mistakenly tread them again."

"This applies to our own situation as well" said R' Blaser with great humility. "I am just as lost as you are; only more so, for I am old and have already been lost for many years.  Yet my experience can be of benefit, as I will be able to enlighten you as to things that I have seen in my life which I have investigated and found to be trivial and meaningless!

"You can trust me on those matters that it would not be worth your while to try those things.

"Come, let us search together for the path that leads to complete repentance!"

Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein

Masters of the Game

People ask "why are they hiding it" ?  Who are "they"?

You need only look at your Mastercard for the answer.

The main share-holders of Mastercard are the Vanguard Group, Inc. BlackRock, Inc. State Street Global Advisors, Inc.  The three largest shareholders of Pfizer, J&J and Merck are Vanguard, SSGA and BlackRock. Pfizer of course brought us the Covid vaccine.  These people control the world.

Blackrock has a half-a-trillion-dollar deal to rebuild Ukraine.

They know about Nibiru, the Mastercard logo even shows us the two suns - one yellow and one red! Of course they say it represents something else, but it's right in front of our eyes...  conspiracy theory or not, join the dots and understand. 

“The smaller investors are owned by larger investors. Those are owned by even bigger investors. The visible top of this pyramid shows only two companies whose names we have often seen…They are Vanguard and BlackRock. The power of these two companies is beyond your imagination. Not only do they own a large part of the stocks of nearly all big companies but also the stocks of the investors in those companies. This gives them a complete monopoly. A Bloomberg report states that both these companies in the year 2028, together will have investments in the amount of 20 trillion dollars. That means that they will own almost everything. 

See: https://forbiddenknowledgetv.net/monopoly-an-overview-of-the-great-reset-follow-the-money/

I realize this blog post has entered the realm of conspiracy theories, but I just wanted to investigate and show you what I found.  Someone else brought the Mastercard logo to my attention and I went from there.  Blackrock and Vanguard are two words I've heard many times, so I'm not surprised at all.

My Asteroid

This was in the sky a few weeks ago, it looked like a very large star and it seemed to be moving slightly. I didn't know what it was so I just photographed it and when I zoomed in on the photo I could see it was a circle with a ring around it.  Not knowing what it was, I asked some people on a group and I was told it was an asteroid.  I love it, especially because it is MY photo and I promise you it is real. Zoom and enlarge to see more clearly.  You'll have to save the photo to your PC or phone to zoom in, I think I've enlarged it as much as possible on Blogger.

The Sun

Today is Gimel Tamuz, the day that Joshua commanded the sun to stand still in Gibeon [Joshua 10:13], and also the 29th Yarzheit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.  So here I give you some recent photos of our sun, where you can clearly see it is not normal.  There is a giant planet behind the sun, causing it to appear as if there is a giant red halo around it.  

I tried to get the videos at the end of the post, but they ended up in the centre.  Can't see to move them, so they are stuck there.

See here, another planet or moon on top of the sun, as well as the giant red halo.

This is the sun, with an asteroid passing in front of it, and there have been thousands of photos of the sun looking incredibly weird.  This has nothing to do with wildfires.

This is the sun being cut off by a planet over it.

Here you can see a giant sun or planet on top of our sun.

Wisconsin: you can clearly see the red around it.

Planet above the sun.

The Way of Strife

"Why do you elevate yourselves over Hashem's congregation?" [Korach 16:3]

Such is the nature of a dispute that is not for the sake of Heaven, noted R' Simchah Bunim of P'shischa. It blinds the eyes and closes the hearts of the quarrelers, so that they lose their common sense.

For the Torah testifies about Moshe Rabbeinu: "Now the man Moshe was exceedingly humble, more than any person on the face of the earth." How could anyone possibly accuse him of possessing the contemptible trait of arrogance? Yet this is exactly what Korach and his assembly did, as the verse states: "Why do you exalt yourselves over the congregation of Hashem?"

Rather, this is the way of strife, the power of impurity that accompanies it totally corrupts an individual's intellect.

Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein

The Mechanism of Man's Interaction with the Divine

 Rabbi Mendel Kessin

The Yanuka: Care and Caution

Hebrew with English subtitles

 "A person can be punished and live 70, 80 years for a claim that someone has against him... we must be careful not to harm any person..."

Ten Signs for the Coming of Moshiach

HT: Sherry

Rabbi Yehoshua Zitron

 

Right at the beginning when he talks about the pillars of fire and the possibility of Nibiru system causing that.... here are some current photos to give you some idea.  Nibiru is not a conspiracy, the only conspiracy is they [unsuccessfully]  try to cover it up.

South Pole webcam

Around 3 mins: When he talks about the sun and the moon and the stars going dark, this could very easily occur when they are blocked by these huge planets.

The Sufferings of the Generation before Moshiach

Text below was transcribed by Nava from the Dreaming of Moshiach Blog, in 2007.

In Gemara, Chazal tells us that three divisions of sufferings came down to the world. 

The first division of suffering was placed on the generations of the seven holy shepherds: Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov Avinu, Moshe Rabenu, Aaron HaKohen, Yosef HaTzaddik, and Melech Dovid, zs'l. 

The second division of suffering was placed on the remaining generations, excluding our generation.

The third division of suffering was placed on our generation, the last generation. 

The first two sufferings were a gradual process but the last suffering, the third, is the hardest and harshest. Whether it's an illness, unnatural death in a family, livelihood, divorce, finding a spouse, having children, etc....every Jew, regardless where, when, what, who, why, is suffering! 

This is the reason Chazal wrote in Gemara that if a person is not suffering in the generation of the End of Days, know that this person is not a Jew!

If someone tells you he is not suffering, he is not the son/daughter of Avraham Avinu, zs'l. 

Why is this very harsh decree occurring specifically in our generation, all at once and so numerous?

The suffering is a necessity required before the arrival of Moshiach Tzidkenu. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, zs'l, explains it further in the Zohar HaKadosh, as follows: 

When Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, zs'l, (Rashbi) was hiding in the cave, he wrote the Zohar HaKadosh in Ruach HaKodesh (Divine Spirit). Thru Ruach HaKodesh, he saw that in the last generation will be in a large fire and he cried for us and said, ווי לון מאן דגרמי דיוזיל ליה - Oy to the people who will live in the last generation. Rashbi saw that our generation will transgress the Torah and commit adultery, lust, promiscuity, stealing, heresy, secularism, etc. He cried because he saw that we will need to go thru so many tests and suffering. 

But why so much suffering in our generation? Why does the Yetzer Hara (evil inclination) have so much power in this generation, more than in all past generations? 

It is because HKB'H is so merciful and so generous! The Zohar HaKadosh explains: Every soul comes into this world only for the reason to correct past lives for sins committed. HKB'H saw throughout all generations that many souls were unable to correct themselves and remained unworthy to enter Gan Eden. Even though they were reincarnated as humans, animals, in-animates, plants, food, etc., and also placed in Gehenom or Kaf Hakela. Yet, they were still unable to correct their souls. Even after so many reincarnations, these souls were unsuccessful in their tikun and were placed in Heichal HaNeshamot (hall of souls). 

The Zohar HaKadosh continues and says that HKB'H revealed Himself to the souls placed in Heichal HaNeshamot and the neshamot cried to HaShem, "Merciful Heavenly Father, help us correct ourselves, we want to succeed in cleansing our souls, we reincarnated as humans, plants, animals, we went thru Gehenom, Shaol Tachtit, Kaf Hakela... but we still have not properly corrected our souls...". 

When Merciful HKB'H heard this, He said, "I'll place you all in one generation, a generation that will have much confusion, tests, suffering, and hardships, a generation where the truth will be absent, a generation where one will be easily trapped by the evil inclination. There will be many opportunities to get trapped into terrible sins; everything will be available to you in split seconds. It will be a generation that will feel exhausted from trying to do Teshuva, the evil inclination will be very powerful and adultery, lust, temptations, promiscuity, stealing, heresy, secularism, etc. will be everywhere." "BUT, despite all these hardships, all neshamot that will succeed to pass these difficult tests and continue to have Emunah, will be tremendeously rewarded and will merit to live in the Geula." 

This is the reason the holy Rashbi also said  "Overjoyed is the person who lives in that generation." Although it's difficult to comprehend, it's important to know:  all people in this generation: you, me, him, her, them.... are all from Heichal Ha-Neshamot. 

Source and more click here

Change Your Garments and Change Who You Are

Art Vladimir Kush

Text by Yitzi Hurwitz - from the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

[This is the second part of the article, to read the entire essay click here]

What is the eternal message for us in the stories of the spies? 

To answer this question, let me take you to a deeper place. 

We each have a neshamah (a G‑dly soul) that comes into our bodies and into our animal souls, similar to the spies coming into the land of Canaan. The ultimate goal is to conquer the land and make it holy—to turn Eretz Canaan into Eretz Yisrael. Similarly, we are meant to affect the body and the animal soul, which naturally crave the pleasures of the world, and make them holy to do G‑d’s will. 

There are two ways to do this, symbolized by the two sets of spies. 

In Moses’s time, the Jewish people were at a very high level; they were tzadikim. Their job was to inspect the entire land and the seven nations that lived there. The seven nations symbolize the seven emotional attributes that we each have. 

The idea here is to inspect your emotional makeup, and if need be, change your attributes to align with G‑d’s will. The problem is that the average person doesn’t have control over their emotions and certainly doesn’t have the ability to change them, and it takes incredible power to make that kind of change. A tzaddik has that power, but most of us are not at that level, how can we make our bodies holy? That is where Joshua’s spies come in. 

In Joshua’s time, they weren’t at the level of tzadikim. They only went to Jericho, the entryway to the land of Israel. But change the Jericho, and you will eventually conquer the entire land. Jericho (Yericho) is like the Hebrew word rayach, an “aroma.” In Kabbalistic teaching, aroma refers to the “garments” of the soul, which surround it. You may not be able to change your emotional makeup of your animal soul, but you have the power to change its garments. 

Just as a garment is an expression of who you are, the garments of the soul are how it expresses itself.

What are the garments of the soul? Thought, speech and action. Speech and action are easier to control than your thoughts since you cannot stop thinking, but you can always choose to think about something else, effectively controlling your thoughts. Change the garments, and eventually, with G‑d’s help, you will be able to change your emotional makeup as well.

The Yanuka: Letting Go of Your Stubbornness

Hebrew with English subtitles 2 mins

[How to rectify the sin of the Golden Calf and of Adam]

Just a Passing Planet

What you are looking at here are clouds from other planets.  When you see these dark ominous clouds shaped like spheres they are actually the atmosphere from other planets.  This is the the passing Nibiru system, very close to earth.  They are causing all the extreme weather.  They will not "crash" into us because they push away electro-magnetically, with a lot of lightning strikes.  It's not HAARP and it's not photoshop. I wouldn't waste my time on that.

There are so many photos I could upload, never-ending actually.  The system is very very close to us and will be for a couple more months I believe.  There must be a reason why this is so, and Hashem has a Plan, we are the lucky ones who get to watch the greatest show on earth, an entire solar system passing us by.  Most of the world is oblivious, but more and more people are starting to realize these are not normal clouds. 

Meanwhile the US government is trying desperately to mislead everyone with nonsense reports of aliens and a spaceship landing in someone's backyard.  Best advice is to not believe anything the US government says about aliens. It's a distraction and totally made-up. 

Donegal Ireland  13 June 2023

Close-up Donegal Ireland

Bromsgrove, UK

Cheltenham May 11 2023

Location Unknown

Texas - this is the base clouds of a planet, you can even
see the sphere shape on the side

                                                     

And we have another sun behind our sun, and a planet or moon visible near our sun.

                                                          Crazy sights on the ski slopes

The Nibiru Effect on our sun [don't be confused and think this is from the bush-fires, it is not from the bush fires, this is a striped sun caused by the object behind it]   

Conne River, Newfoundland

Conne River, Newfoundland

Did You Ever ...

 ... see hail like this ?   No, you have never seen hail like this.  Until now.

Photo: North Texas Weather Centre via FB

I've added another one from today, it wasn't a one-off.. this is hail now in Oklahoma

                                                     

Prophecy and the Gift of Shabbos

 New shiur from Rabbi Mendel Kessin

Love and Positivity

 

''....they shall make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments, throughout their generations, and they shall affix a thread of sky blue [wool] on the fringe of each corner.'' [Shelach 15:38]

The turquoise strands of the tzitzit allude to ''abandoning evil'' [negative] and serving G-d out of fear; the white strands allude to ''doing good'' [positive] and serving G-d out of love.

In the current era, the turquoise dye [techelet] is not available to us, leaving all eight strands white. This teaches us that nowadays our emphasis in serving G-d should be on love and positivity.

Source: Likutei Sichos vol 8 Lubavitcher Rebbe

Moshiach: Now or Never

New shiur from Rabbi Efraim Palvanov 

How has the coming of Mashiach been understood throughout Jewish history? 

Are we long overdue for the arrival of the Messiah? 

How might we understand Mashiach ben Yosef, Mashiach ben David, and their adversary “Armilus”?

Find out in this class, where we also discuss whether a Jew is required to believe in the notion of a Messiah, how long the Israelites really spent in ancient Egypt, and explore mysterious figures like Zerubbabel and Nehemiah ben Hushiel.

More End of Days Secrets from Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai

For a List of Fulfilled Prophecies See Here

The Day You Can Ask For Anything

HT: Rivka

Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneersohn

In 5743, the Lubavitcher Rebbe spoke about the date of 23 Sivan, today’s date, and said that in line with with what happened on this day during the Purim story, Hashem grants any request on this auspicious day. 

In the farbrengen of Parshas Shlach 5743 [1983], the Rebbe addressed the date of 23 Sivan, today’s date. 

The Rebbe said: “The Megilla relates that on this day, the 23rd of Sivan, after the hanging of Haman, ‘V’yikaru sofrei haMelech- the scribes of the King were called‘, and they wrote whatever Mordecai commanded.

"Mordechai drafted a royal decree giving the Jews the license to defend themselves and kill all who rise up against them to kill them, nullifying the previous decree of annihilation. 

"The decree was dispatched to all 127 provinces of Achashverosh’s empire. [Book of Esther, chapter 8]. This led to the Jewish people knowing how to defeat their enemies on the 13th of Adar which was then followed by the celebration of Purim.

“Everything from the Torah is eternal, repeating itself each year. This above mentioned decree of Mordechai also repeats itself every 23rd of Sivan. Today the scribes are being called again to draft a  royal decree, the ‘scribes’ being the scribes of Hashem, who is called Achashverosh, being that acharis v’reishis shelo, all belongs to him. 

“The sofrim write "whatever Mordecai asks". 

Every Jew is like Mordecai who doesn’t bow to anything against the Torah.

“On this day, the 23rd of Sivan, every Jew, even though they are in galus as Mordecai was, and even though there is a darkness, as there was during the decree of Haman, nevertheless, every Jew has the power to accomplish what he wants, the same way Mordecai accomplished. We can request what we want and it will granted by Hashem Himself.

”As the world shakes from one event after the next, the Rebbe’s holy words reverberate today more than ever. May we utilize the special day to daven for everything we need, and especially the one real solution, the coming of Moshaich.

This post first appeared at Anash.org

A Deep Understanding of Moshiach ben Dan

Yes you read that right. Moshiach ben Dan.

I've never heard of that before, but Rabbi Shimon Kessin is going to explain it. [I haven't listened yet] Shiur was given yesterday June 11 2023.

On Xtians Becoming Jews

This is interesting... it's only 5 minutes and it seems to confirm Rabbi Kessin's assertion that Eisav does teshuva at the end of days.  Some people have doubted the "good part of Eisav" rhetoric, especially the Trump side of things. I'll be interested to see what people think about this. 

On the growing number of Noahides and Christian converts to Judaism, as a fulfilment of ancient Biblical and Jewish prophecy. Also: is the term "Judeo-Christian values" appropriate?

Rabbi Efraim Palvanov

Also, from Rabbi Yuval Ovadia, "A Special Tikun for Klal Yisrael" which you can watch here.

Thanks to TR for sending it.

The Greatness of Torah and the Breakdown of American Civilization

New shiur from Rabbi Mendel Kessin

"Nevua is the major state that we will experience in yemos ha Moshiach."

King David's Segulah of Protection

There is a tradition brought down by the Chida that King David put the image of Tehillim 67 למנצח “For the Conductor” in the form of a menorah on his shield and all his enemies would fall before him. But what is the secret of the power of this prayer that it gave King David such power and protection?

Image: המנורה כתובה by Ba'al haKokhav, converted to vector art by Andrew Meit (CC0)

The Torah teaches us that all the peoples of the world are blessed through Avraham and his offspring the children of Israel. However, this blessing depends upon the children of Avraham doing the will of Hashem.

The kabbalistic tradition explains that when Jewish people allow the soul to rule over the body and the physical world is used to serve the higher will of Hashem and His Torah, then this blessing flows properly to the nations of the world and the desire of the masses of people for a peaceful life is fulfilled; then the evil desires of the powerful few are held in check.

However, when Jewish people do not follow Torah and the bodily desires rule the soul, then the power is given to the evil ruling few who desire war over peace.

Torah and Tefillah
Torah is the source of our power, tefilah brings this power into manifestation. When we are involved in Torah and tefillah we give power of soul to rule body and therefore to live like the tzaddik.

Click here to read

Halos Galore

Google explains why halos appear: High, thin cirrus clouds drifting high above your head create the halos you see around the sun or moon. The halos are from tiny ice crystals in Earth's atmosphere. They do it by refracting and reflecting the light. Lunar halos are signs that storms are nearby. 

Strange how all over the world yesterday and last night [depending which side of the world you are on] this phenomenon occurred.  

These photos are all taken yesterday, in different parts of the world. The sun has a halo, the moon is reflecting the sun's halo. These halos have nothing to do with tiny ice crystals in the atmosphere.  People are starting to notice and even if you haven't personally seen it, keep looking and I'm sure you will at some point.   Please don't start looking at the sun directly [obvious but sometimes not obvious to people]. If you notice a halo on a cloudy day and you want to take a photo, don't look at the sun, just point your phone/camera  in the general direction and hope for the best.  :)

Yarrawonga, Vic, Australia [moon]

Queensland, Australia [moon]

Edmonton Alberta Canada 

Hagerstown, Maryland and Belize, Central America [sun]

Phoenix Arizona [sun]

New Zealand [moon]

Armidale NSW Australia [moon]

Emunah [Faith]

from the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov translated by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan

Faith is a very strong thing, and it can greatly fortify your life.

If you have faith, then you have a source of comfort and inspiration even when troubles strike. You realize that all troubles are ultimately for your good and are an atonement for your sins. You know that G-d will be good to you in the end, both in this world and the next.

The faithless skeptic, on the other hand, has nowhere to turn when troubles strike. He is utterly alone, without comfort or inspiration.

It is impossible to put everything into writing, but an intelligent man should be able to build upon this himself.

The main thing is innocent faith. With it, one can have a portion both in this world and the next. Happy is he who has such faith, for he shall never be moved.

There are souls conceived in absolute holiness. When such a holy soul comes down to this world and is not tainted with sin, it results in a person with perfect faith. Such a person never has any doubts.

Others can express their skepticism in such a man's presence, but his faith is no way disturbed. He is totally oblivious to all doubts. His ears are deaf to all their speculation and confusion.

Even one who is not endowed with such an extraordinary soul can realize that the average person's questions are mere foolishness. Upon close examination, their questions turn out not to be questions at all.

Many people are disturbed by questions for years, not realizing that their questions are actually answers. It is only their lack of intelligence that makes them seem like questions in the first place.

They have questions like those one might ask a child: "If we have a broken window, why replace it with a pane from the next window if a bird can then fly through the remaining empty frame?"

Such a question actually includes its own answer. But a child does not realize this and considers it a very difficult question. He will ponder it and not know what to reply.

But the question itself is really very foolish. The question about the bird is really the answer to the first foolish question. The reason why we do not use the adjacent pane is precisely because it leaves a space through which a bird can fly.

A young child does not have enough intelligence to realize that the answer is included in such a question. For this very reason, the question seems very difficult to him.

The same is true of many people. A foolish question enters their mind, and they have no idea that this question actually includes its own answer. It seems like a difficult question, but only because of their lack of intelligence. Understand this well.

Consider all this and be strong in faith. Flee from this foolishness and confusion, and cast all questions and doubts from your mind.