Bondi Chanukah Terror Attack

 Video of shooting attack, may be distressing, sounds of gunshots

Report of latest news

Video of actual shooters firing at crowd. Distressing.

Chanukah Segulot

Art: Michoel Muchnik

It is considered important to sit opposite the lit Hanukkah candles for a full half hour after lighting and to look at the flames. This action is regarded as a Segula for the healing of one’s soul and one’s fears. It is related that the light of the Hanukkah candles is connected to the light that G-d created at the time of creation that was hidden away and will be revealed only at the End of Days - because this unique light was created before the idea of fear was brought in to the world, looking into the Hanukkah lights is supposed to alleviate fears.

Rabbi Yair Chaim Bacharach (1639-1702) promised that women who sit by the Hanukkah candles for a half hour will merit peace of mind for the entire year, a rare commodity in our days…

It is also related that the very first half hour of when the Hanukkah candles burn is considered an especially auspicious time for prayer - the angels are believed to sit above the candles and take the prayers directly up to Heaven.

The Slonimer Rebbe wrote that for those who have seen immodest sights- which is unfortunately almost unavoidable today - looking in to the flames of the Hanukkah candles erases those images from one’s memory.

It is considered important to use olive oil when lighting the Menorah, as olive oil is known for blessing the user with a good memory, wisdom and children who will rise above others in their wisdom in the same way that the olive oil floats above the water.

The Rabbi of Rodzin explained that there is a tremendous Segula on the eighth night of Hanukkah for those wanting an easy childbirth or children. He said that the things that the most righteous could not get granted at Neilah on Yom Kippur can be asked for by the simpleton on the eighth night of Hanukkah. Those who wish to be blessed with children should recite the verse from Psalms 80 that reads, “G-d of Hosts, return, we beseech You, look from the heaven and behold be mindful of this vine.” The vine is in reference to the woman who wishes to be as fruitful as a vine.

Source

Sun Getting Personal Now

Do you see what the sun is doing...?  It's sending out blue and yellow beams that reach the ground.

One of these beams appeared right in front of me a few weeks ago and I jumped out of the way, although it seems quite harmless.  It's got beams like an octopus' tentacles. That sunbeam is stretching 93 million miles to tap you on the shoulder.  [I don't know the people in the photo, it was posted on a weather group]

This is happening because the sunlight, i.e. the sun itself, is being squashed at the sides by the passing planets.  You can see the outline of them in these photos. We are seeing their DARK sides, their front sides are facing their sun which is behind or close by our sun.

A Miracle

Before G-d performs a miracle for a person, he first falls upon hard times - the extent of which is determined by the magnitude of the miracle.

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

Mashiach ben Yosef will prepare the world for Mashiach ben David

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff

Trusting Only in Hashem

Refuah Shelaimah David ben Esther Rivka

Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein

"Yet the chief wine butler did not remember Yosef, and he forgot him" [Vayeishev 40:23]

This verse seems redundant, noted the Maharam of Amshinov. Why must it state that "he forgot him" once it already informed us that "the chief wine butler did not remember Yosef".

The Rebbe answered: As soon as Yosef uttered his request to the chief wine butler he realized that he had sinned, as he had trusted in a human being instead of Hashem.  He therefore prayed to Hashem that the butler would forget his request entirely! And, indeed, "he forgot him".

Rashi explains that Heaven punished Yosef and made him remain in prison an additional two years because he placed his trust in the chief wine butler.

The Alter of Novarodok's (R' Yosef Yozel Horowitz) level of bitachon was legendary.

One night, the Alter was sitting alone in his house in the woods learning Torah by candlelight. He continued learning until his very last candle burned out.

The Alter was now left sitting in complete darkness and it saddened him that he would have to stop learning for lack of a candle. But then the Alter decided that he must strengthen his faith in Hashem and trust that He would provide him with all that he needed - including a candle.

The Alter quickly got up and opened the door of his home. At that very moment, a man stepped out of the forest, handed him a candle, and disappeared.

For twenty-five years, the Alter saved the candle as a remembrance of that miracle and to show his students that Hashem takes special care of those who sincerely trust Him.

But then a fire broke out in Novarodok.  The Alter's home was among the many homes that were destroyed in the fire.  The fire consumed everything that was in the house, including the wondrous candle.

"You should know" said the Alter to his students, "that Heaven made us lose the candle in order to teach us that we must trust in Hashem even when we have no proof that He will help us".

Storm Byron / Purple Skies

I don't think there's any doubt about the colour of the skies over Greece as Storm Byron came by.  Obvious culprit is the purple planet Atu.

Photo Source: BBC

A local photographer and storm chaser caught the dramatic lightning on a 150-second long exposure

You may seem more of this in Israel as Storm Byron is expected to arrive on Wednesday.

Jackpot

 

They say the streets of Las Vegas are deserted now, people are not flocking there as they used to.  

**********************

I've already written this in the comments yesterday, but it really needs it's own post.

Counting from the date of the establishment of the State of Israel - May 14, 1948 - until the 7th day of Chanukah this year [Dec 21] - it will be 77 years, 7 months, and 7 days, which you can see for yourself by clicking here [thanks Yaak].

If you are unaware, our world is a world of 7 and the world of Moshiach is a world of 8.

Chanukah also represents the number 8.  

Seven symbolizes the Natural order, for G‑d created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, which He made holy, thus creating the holy Shabbos. Seven, therefore, represents the whole of Creation, or Nature. 

 Eight, on the other hand, being higher than seven, symbolizes the Super-natural. The human brain is a creation of G‑d, and part of Nature. Human intelligence is therefore limited to the Natural order; anything which is above and beyond Nature is also above and beyond human understanding. [Source - The Significance of Eight]

Video: The Light of Moshiach is Already Here

Rabbi Moshe Chaim Eade

In this lesson, we uncover the deepest secrets of Chanukah, the 36 lights, the Hidden Light, Messiah and the Rambam’s teaching on Techiyat HaMeitim (resurrection). The Sages teach that Chanukah is a preview of the world to come. A taste of the light of Mashiach. A whisper of the future of humanity. In this video you’ll discover: ✨ Why the 36 lights of Chanukah represent the hidden light of Creation ✨ Why children naturally feel the light of Chanukah ✨ How the days of Mashiach will mirror Chanukah’s spiritual glow ✨ The Rambam’s final principle — resurrection is real, literal, and essential ✨ Torah sources that clearly predict the resurrection ✨ What the resurrection actually means for your life ✨ Why we will reunite with loved ones ✨ Why the body must return in perfection ✨ How Mashiach will usher in peace for all nations

 

Strange pink fog rolls over Sarasota, Florida 

Sumerian Tablets

 

The Sumerian cuneiform tablets have been translated by AI, and an interesting verse was quoted from it, referring to the end times.

"When the machine of thought awakens, the circle will close

the words of the sky will again be heard by the clay"

Machine of thought is interpreted as referring to AI.

"the clay" means humans

5,000-year-old cuneiform text is translated to English by a revolutionary AI system

An Eighth of an Eighth

"I have become unworthy through all the acts of kindness" [Vayishlach 32:11]

The Vilna Gaon was once asked to explain Chazal's statement [Sotah 5a]  "Said R'Chiya bar Ashi in the name of Rav: A Talmid chacham must have one-eighth of an eighth [of haughtiness]".  

Rashi explains that it is essential for a talmid chacham to possess this minute amount of pride in order to prevent those who are ignorant in Torah learning from making light of him and his words.  Why did Chazal choose specifically the measure of one-eighth of an eighth?

The term "one eighth of an eighth" answered the Gaon, is not a reference to a particular measure. Rather it is hinting at the eighth verse of the eighth parsha of the Torah.  The eighth portion in the Torah is Parshas Vayishlach, and the eighth verse of the parsha [32:11] begins with the word "katonti" - "I am very small".

While a talmid chacham must possess a certain amount of arrogance, it must be a "very small" amount.

Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein

Behind the Sun

Referring back to the Two Suns post, and the gas giant behind our sun.... you can clearly see it here in this video.  Now the guy talking is quite frantic with excitement or fear, I'm not sure which, and he may say a few suspect words, and there is some kind of female singing halfway, but you can turn the sound off if you want and just look at it.  He thinks it's a "mothership" - it's not a mothership, it's a gas giant.

The 10 Levels of Angels and their Spiritual Missions

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff - under 5 mins

Parsha Vayishlach - Moshiach is Coming! We are Not the Jews of the 1930s

Laivi Shor

The Geulah (Redemption) is Unfolding, Moshiach is Coming Soon!

Two Suns and a Rainbow Moon

I don't know where this was taken, but it's a genuine photo, I've checked it out, definitely not AI.

Original can be seen here.

Moon over Parkhills Missouri the other night.   Untouched, not AI, no filter.

I know people look at these photos and think they're made up.  I can assure you they are not.  This is constantly happening above our heads.  Once you have seen something with your own eyes, you'll understand.  

And here's another one we see all the time now, the giant halo around the sun and the blue line.   The halo was hardly ever seen until recently, and now it's being seen daily.  The blue line is something that's only been seen recently and that is also happening daily.

This is what is really going on.

Small in His Own Eyes

"[My merits] have become small" [Vayishlach 32:11]

When G-d shows His kindness to a person, it brings that person closer to G-d, causing his feeling of self-importance to diminish, since "everything is like nothing before G-d".

Therefore, it was precisely due to the fact that G-d had been so kind to Yaakov that he became small in his own eyes - for the kindness brought him closer to G-d, and so he felt that he was not worthy of G-d's promise to be saved.

Source: based on Tanya Igeres Hakodesh ch.2

How could Yaakov the patriarch fear that "perhaps... I have become soiled with sin" [Rashi v. 12] when surely he was aware that he had not sinned?

A tzadik is not static - he constantly grows spiritually from one level to the next.  After reaching a higher level, his previous actions are spiritually deficient compared to his current standing. They are thus considered as "sins", metaphorically speaking. [The Hebrew word for sin - chet - can also mean ''deficiency'' [see Kings 11:21]  Thus Yaakov was worried that perhaps due to such ''sins'' he was not worthy to be saved.

Source: based on Likutei Sichos Lubavitcher Rebbe

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

Yitzchak and Yaakov reveal the final battle before Mashiach

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff

Both Yitzchak and his son Yaakov revealed what nations would come and attempt to block the final redemption before Mashiach’s arrival.

Let's Do This

This segula is attributed to Rav Palagi, via Rav Shalom Arush

"Whoever merits to not complain or speak negatively at all from Rosh Chodesh Kislev until the 8th day of Chanukah, will see a miracle that year."

Not a Penny in the Pocket

H/t Rivky

Alternatively, the Messiah will not come until the peruta will cease from the purse....

Sanhedrin 97a.10

A peruta is a small coin, a penny.

The U.S. Mint presses it's final penny as the 1-cent coin gets cancelled.

Yaakov and Esav, the eternal fight of Good and Evil

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff

The Battle Ground Before the End of Days

The first six minutes of this is basically an introduction, if you're in a hurry.

Rabbi Daniel Glatstein

It's us against the nations of the world, us against Eisav.  Now Eisav was a wicked guy but there was one merit that Eisav had that was so powerful that we're still dealing with it until this very day. That mitzvah is kibud av v'eim - honouring your father and mother.

When Yishmael Will Fall

The end of last week's Parsha finishes with the words, "Al Pnei Kol Echov Nafal" - "Over all his brothers he [Yishmael] shall fall". 

This week's Parsha starts with the words, " ViEileh Toldos Yitzchak" - "And these are the offspring of Yitzchak". 

Baal HaTurim explains the connection. "Al Pnei Kol Echov Nafal" - when Yishmael - [the Arabs] will fall, then, "ViAyleh Toldos Yitzchak" - Mashiach Ben David will come from the descendants of Yitzchak. 

The fall of Yishmael is a prerequisite for the coming of the Mashiach.

Source: Revach

Humpty Dumpty Had a Great Fall

It's like watching a car crash in slow motion.  I mean, seriously, you couldn't make this stuff up and have people believe it.... but it's all reality now.  The lunatics really are running the asylum.

Remember Robert de Niro... he had a whole lot to say at the time, and here's a little reminder. 

"Hell No, I'm Not Afraid!" - Netanyahu Exclusive Interview

Erin Molan speaks to Netanyahu "Hell No, I’m Not Afraid” — Reacts to Mamdani, Trump’s Pardon & Ending U.S. Aid 

The Mistakes of Trump and their Messianic Consequences

Rabbi Mendel Kessin, new shiur

Heavens Above !

I see a lot of sky photos daily, but I thought these worth sharing here.

I

Photo: Amanda Grant-Mock

Original can be seen here on FB

I guess you think this is AI.  You'd be wrong.  Everything in the photo is identifiable.
The clouds top right belong to a planet, the clouds top left belong to a different planet, and the round swirly cloud is formed by a passing asteroid.

 

This photo of the sunset was taken on November 7 by MiKaSa.

Not only is the sun totally distorted by something, but you can clearly see two eyes, one on either side. The one on the left is more distinct.  It is not AI, it is a real photo, and you're welcome to check it on any AI image detector.

The distortion of the sun is happening because there are planets all around pinching the sun and distorting it.  

And finally, this was the moon over Portugal, November 4, 2025

Yishmael Repents before Mashiach Arrives

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff - 20 min video

When will Jacob's star arrive? The War of Ishmael and Edom in the End Times.

4 min video in Hebrew, English sub-titles. 

Rabbi Yuval Ovadia

I have typed up a semi-transcription but I suggest you listen to it yourself for the exact words.

Just a note here [from me].... obviously the comet that we saw on 25 Elul over a year ago was not THE STAR, unless it does a boomerang and comes back.  But at the moment we have many comets approaching earth and an unknown entity they call 3I-ATLAS.  

The holy Zohar says, in Parshat Vayeira, Rabbi Chaya said.... the bnei Yishmael will rule the Holy Land when it is empty of all things for a long time. Just as their bris is without perfection, they will follow the bnei Yisrael to their place until the right of the bnei Yishmael is finished.  

We see this with our own eyes.  For 100 years, if not 150 years, they have been delaying the return of the bnei Yisrael to their place. But it is not written that they will completely eliminate us and therefore the Jewish kibbutz in the Land is  increasing and increasing and this is proof that this is a move of G-d. The whole point of the kibbutz of the exiles here in Israel is a move of G-d.  

It is written "the children of Jacob, the children of Yisrael - meaning all those who come to the Land are children of Israel.  We are in the category of the children of Israel who are equal to their place.  That is why Ishmael came into the world.  

Why was his name called Ishmael? In the last days, the people of Israel will cry out to G-d because of the many troubles He will cause them.They will do teshuva and G-d will hear and answer them.  What about all the Jews who live in the rest of the world?  It will be that Ishmael will cause problems for those Jews as well, to every Jew wherever he is.  Ishmael is the staff in the hand of HKBH.  We can strengthen ourselves with gatherings, with tzniut [modesty], humility.  If there will be no deviation from the Divine, there will be no permission for the harmful to harm. And if we unite and love each other and multiply in kindness and tzedaka, it can be completely cancelled or at least sweetened.

The Holy Zohar says in Parshat Vayeira: the children of Ishmael will incite strong battles in the world and the children of Edom will gather against them and there will be battles, one on the land, one on the sea and one near Yerushalayim.  At that time, a people will be aroused, from the end of the earth, against the Romans of iniquity, and they will wage war for three months, and nations will gather there and fall by their hands.

Soon, my friends, a world war will be waged until all the children of Edom will gather against it - that same people from the end of the world.  Then HKBH will awaken upon then. This is by way of natural disasters. When you will be in a world war, you will understand that the sign of it is about to arrive.,,,

THE STAR. 

Later it is written that He will take hold of the corners of the earth and wash the bnei Yishmael from it just as one washes away the dirt from the carpet. 

Everything is happening. Everything is in progress. The great and terrible day of the Lord is closer than anything else, and our eyes will see it and our hearts will rejoice in the chariot and in the approaching day.

Amen v' amen.

Will Moshiach come in 2026? Practical Survival Guidebook - Part 2

Part 1 can be found here

Laivi Shor

Are the Days of Moshiach going to begin in 2026? We learn the Midrash Ne'alam in the Zohar that teaches about when the Ingathering of the Exiled Jewish people, the Days of Moshiach, and the Resurrection of the Dead will begin.

The Final Exile of Yishmael

from the writings of Rav Chaim Vital 

Rabbi Chaim Vital (1542-1620) was unquestionably the leading disciple of the Holy Arizal, Rabbi Isaac Luria, and his foremost interpreter. The Ari himself wrote very little and what is commonly known as the "Ari's writings", were in fact transcribed by Rabbi Chaim.

"You already know that the exiles [from Egypt until the Mashiach] are four: Babylonia, Persia, Greece, and Rome [as represented by the four cups of wine on Pesach, the four beasts in Daniel 7, and many other places. The fourth, Rome stretched out from the 2nd Temple destruction and apparently ended with the Holocaust].

However, the Jewish people are destined further in the end of days to be in the exile of Yishmael, as mentioned in Pirkei D'Rebi Eliezer, and in the Midrashim of our Rabbis, and in the Zohar end of Parsha Lech Lecha. And there in [Zohar] Parsha Lech Lecha it says that being that Yishmael is the son of Avraham, and was circumcised, he is called "Pereh Adam" - "A wild donkey of a man" - [Bereishit 16:12], implying not a full man, because he was circumsized without Priah [an integral part of the Bris Mila]. But the other four exiles are compared to beasts as mentioned in the book of Daniel Chapter 7.

.....and he will cause suffering to Israel, great and terrible sufferings, such that none like these had ever been seen, and we will not know what to do. And we will have no other hope than to trust in His great Name to save us from his hand. And this is what is meant in verse 8, "Our help is in the name of the L-ORD, who made heaven and earth. Which means who made heaven and earth for the sake of the Torah and Yisrael who as in the verse "if not for my covenant day and night [study of Torah], I would not have appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth [Yirmiyahu 33:25]". Therefore He is forced to help us from their hands, and redeem us a full future redemption, in order that there will be a cause for the existence of heaven and earth.

Read the entire essay at Daf Yomi Review

The Murky Roots of Mashiach...

 

...he's NOT who you would ever expect him to be.

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff

The 50th Gate

The Kabbalah speaks of "50 gates of spiritual understanding", 49 of which can be achieved by a person as a result of his own initiative.  The final 50th gate is then granted by G-d from Above.

When Avraham had circumcised himself, he had reached the greatest degree of spiritual perfection that he could possibly achieve as a human being - the 49th gate - and he became "sick" yearning for the 50th gate.  This is alluded to by the fact that choleh חולה [the Hebrew term for "sick person"] has the numerical value [gematria] of 49.  Then "God appeared to him", revealing to him the 50th gate of spiritual understanding, which cured his spiritual sickness.

And, being that his physical sickness was a reflection of his spiritual dissatisfaction, the Divine revelation healed him physically too.

Based on Sichat Shabbos Parshas Vayeira 5750 - Lubavitcher Rebbe

The Mystical Secret Behind not mixing Milk and Meat

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff - 12 min video

Some really good insights here that you may not have heard before.

Moshiach is Coming Soon

A Practical Survival Guidebook Part 1 

If Moshiach (Messiah) comes this year will you be ready? Have you just heard about Moshiach and want to learn more? What do we have to do to get ready?

Laivi Shor

Hidden Blessings

“A blessing rests only on something that is hidden from the eye.” [Taanit 5b]

"And they gave their father wine to drink on that night....."[Vayeira 19:33 ]

According to the Zohar, the dot on the word - וּבְקוּמָהּ - alludes to the fact that God was secretly assisting this event, because Moshiach was to materialize from it, since Ruth, King David's great-grandmother, was a convert from the Moabites.

The latter event between Lot and his younger daughter [19:35] is written without the letter vav, to indicate that the union did not produce such great offspring.  Rabbi  Shimon said "When the verses states that Lot wasn't aware, it means he wasn't aware that Moshiach was destined to come from this union."

Why should the beginnings of Moshiach occur in such an undignified manner?

Ramak explains that when a very lofty soul is about to descend into the world, the forces of kelipah [evil] oppose the soul's descent vehemently.  Sometimes, however, kelipah will consent to the soul's descent if it occurs amidst a particularly sinful act.  Thus we find that from this undesirable act the ancestor of Moshiach was born.

Source: Lubavitcher Rebbe

11 Cheshvan: Yarzheit Rochel Imeinu

Jewish Mother's Day The 11th of Cheshvan 

by Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh

One of the most important days in the month of Cheshvan is the 11th, which commemorates the day of passing of our matriarch Rachel. Rachel was Jacob's most beloved wife and was the principal of his household and thus the principal of the entire house of Israel. From the first day of the year, the 1st day of Tishrei, the 11th day of Cheshvan is the 41st day. 41 is the numerical value of the Hebrew word "eim," which means "mother," thus the 11th of Cheshvan is truly the Jewish Mother's Day.

"Rachel cries for her children, she will not be comforted…"

Rachel constantly mourns over the exile of her children, the Jewish people, and the Almighty comforts her with the words: "Withhold your voice from crying and your eyes from tearing, for there is a reward for your actions… and the children will return to their border." Literally, "return to their border" refers to the return of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel. But, more deeply, it refers to the return of our people to our natural spiritual environs: Judaism and our ancestral Jewish nature. These are the borders that truly circumscribe the uniqueness of our people. Amazingly, numerically, the value of the Hebrew word for "border" (g'vul / גבול) is exactly the same as the value of the word for "mother" (eim / אם); both equal 41.

In Hebrew, Cheshvan is written with the four letters: חשון. The borders (the first and last letters) of Cheshvan are chet - ח and nun - ן, which together spell the word chein - חן, meaning "beauty." The word chein - חן, "beauty" equals 58. The 58th day of the year is the 28th day of Cheshvan.

Rachel is described as the most beautiful woman in the Torah. The numerical value of the two middle letters, shin and vov, שו, is equal to isha -אשה , meaning "woman." Thus, the name of the month itself hints at the special and unique grace endowed to women.

King Solomon says that external beauty by itself is deceitful. If external beauty is all that a woman seeks then the name of the month becomes Marcheshvan, which means Bitter-Cheshvan. It is of such a woman King Solomon says: "And I find the woman to be more bitter than death." But, of true beauty, the beauty of a Jewish woman that emanates from within, he says: "The woman of beauty shall support honor." This true beauty is given to us, the Jewish people, by G‑d through the Torah, for "there is no truth but Torah" and "there is no honor but Torah."

It was Rachel, who was first endowed with this real beauty. Rachel is described as the most beautiful woman in the Torah, "She had a beautiful face and a beautiful figure." Thus, Rachel was the embodiment of the verse: "A woman who fears G‑d, she shall be praised," praised both for her grace and true beauty.

The beauty of the Jewish woman is not just a passive agent of spirituality. The sages teach that the offspring of Esau and his grandson Amalek can be defeated only by the children of Rachel.

Who embodies the spirit of Amalek in our day and age? In Hebrew, the words "Amalek" (עמלק) and "doubt" (safek / ספק) have the same numerical value. Thus, the spirit of Amalek that continues to plague each and every Jew is doubt; doubt in our faith, doubt in our Torah, and doubt in ourselves and the moral justification of our path.

But, sometimes the spirit of Amalek becomes bolder and captures a Jew (whether he be a private individual or a political figure) to the point of driving him or her to unconscious or even conscious self-hatred. This can result in a Jew's cooperation with the enemies of our people.

Finally there are the direct spiritual offspring of Amalek: those enemies who threaten the lives of Jews and our return to the Land of Israel.

The sages say that beauty is a woman's weapon. With everything that we have said about Rachel, her role as our matriarch, as the progenitor of Jewish nature, and of her beauty, it should now be clear that our weapon for defeating Amalek is the special beauty and grace of the Jewish mother. Joseph the tzaddik (righteous one) inherited his mother Rachel's beauty and he too is described as having a beautiful face and a beautiful figure. That is why the prophet says about him that "the house of Jacob will be fire and the house of Joseph its flame and the house of Esau straw, and together they will ignite him and consume him; and there will be no remnant for the house of Esau."

True Jewish beauty and grace destroy the enemy indirectly but, beauty is no regular weapon. True grace and beauty work by attracting the sparks of holiness that are bound within the enemy. These sparks are G‑d's will that the enemy still exist. Yet, when they are redeemed by their attraction to true beauty, they escape the enemy's grasp, leaving him void of any Divine source and causing his demise. True Jewish beauty and grace destroy the enemy indirectly by leaving him void of any beauty or grace himself, making him irrelevant and powerless.

The battle against Amalek in our generation must be conducted primarily with our ability to communicate to all around us the true nature of Jewish beauty and grace. It is to this beauty of Jewish nature and character that we return during the month of Cheshvan by reconnecting with our matriarch Rachel, with our own Jewish nature, and with ourselves.

Also visit: Rachel's Tomb

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Yiddishe Mama

Rachel lost her own spiritual luxury - the privilege of being buried in the Cave of Machpeilah - in order to help her children. This represents the unparalleled quality of the "Jewish mother" who is always willing to sacifice her own needs, spiritual or physical, for the sake of helping her children.

And this is the inner reason why Jewish identity follows the maternal and not the paternal route. For even though the father possesses a greater degree of spirituality - since he has the privilege of observing more mitzvos than a woman - the quality of a Jewish mother is nevertheless greater, that she is willing to forego much of that spirituality in order to enable her to raise a family with tender loving care. And since this quality is even more quintessentially Jewish than the spirituality of the man, it is the mother that actually makes her children Jewish.

Based on Likutei Sichos of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

Parshas Vayechi

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Mama Rochel understood that tending to a broken heart comes above even Kavod Hashem....

When Rochel, out of frustration, complained to Yaakov about not having children, Yaakov got angry with her. The mefarshim say, based on a medrash, that Yaakov was punished for getting angry at Rochel and telling her that she needs to daven to Hashem and not complain to him.

Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro points out that Yaakov was defending Kavod Shamayim (the honor of Heaven) and was correct that Rochel's complaints were unjustified. His mistake was that he addressed the words that she spoke and not the pain in her heart. Had he pierced the veil of her soul, he would have known that because of her anguish, the words escaped her mouth and she was not accountable for them. He should have been slower to defend Kavod Shamayim and faster to understand human suffering.

This he explains was the greatness of Rochel. After the destruction of the first Temple, when Bnei Yisroel went into Galus, all the Avos and Imahos came before Hashem with all their great zechusim but were turned away empty handed. All the heroism of the Akeida, Yaakov's Torah, and lives of pure mesiras nefesh to build Klal Yisroel, did not impress Hashem in that dark moment of history.

The only one who merited Hashem's attention was Rochel Imeinu. What was her great act that warranted this special treatment? That she gave the simanim to her sister and helped fool Yaakov. With this bravery, in her mind, she was sabotaging the history of the Jewish nation since she understood that it was her and Yaakov that were destined to build the nation. Nevertheless she chose to cast aside her own destiny and Hashem's grand plan in order to save her sister from a single embarrassing moment.

Only Rochel, who had such a deep understanding of another person's pain and how it carries more weight than the entire Jewish experience, can be Hashem's emissary to bring his children's pain before Him. Only tears from Mama Rochel can bring the Geula.

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