"Bibas" three times in the Parsha

The name Bibas is shown three times, written backwards

Terumah 25:24-25

The Spiritual Meaning of Snow

by Rabbi Simon Jacobson

[Snow for Israel this weekend...? ]

Nothing is as it appears. What lies beneath the enchanting snowflakes floating gently from heaven to earth? From whence do these white angels originate? Is this heaven speaking to us?

Mysticism teaches that everything in the physical universe has a spiritual counterpart. Just as a teardrop is a manifestation of human emotion, and anger is an expression of repressed energy, so physical phenomena actually evolve from and are a manifestation of a spiritual reality. Thus snow is a channel of energy, it is a Divine voice speaking to us through visual imagery so that we can experience it with our bodily senses.

Meteorologists may perceive snow to be a result of pressure systems and precipitation levels; physicists will recognize the subatomic particles that create snow; but the mystic sees the cosmic energy that snow manifests and the facets of our psyche that it illuminates.

Let us explore the spirit within the snow.

Water in all its forms is a symbol of knowledge. Descending water represents the transmission of knowledge from a higher to a lower place, the flow of information from teacher to student. On a cosmic level, rain and snow reflect different ways in which divine energy flows to us from a higher spiritual plane.

Water flowing downward thus describes G-d’s way of transmitting His energy to us and represents the conduit through which our material existence and G-d interact. The purpose of existence is to create unity between G-d and man, so that we, in our limited, material existence can become integrated and unified in an intimate and equal relationship with G-d. To achieve this neither the Divine nor the human can be compromised. Unity achieved on G-d’s terms would annihilate our identities, our existence. Can we (our egos, vanities, and needs) co-exist with G-d who is infinite, uncontained and undefined? And unity attained on our material, finite terms would compromise G-d, because He would have to limit Himself to our existence.

If water - the divine wisdom - were to flow continuously, it would totally submerge and obliterate, not allowing space for any other existence. So water flows in various measures to allow for the transmission to be internalized. Sometimes water flows as rain and sometimes it freezes to different degrees producing snow, hail or sleet, which are all metaphors for the teacher monitoring and transforming the flow into forms that the student can contain and assimilate.

Rain is a transmission that is more on Divine terms. Admittedly it falls in drops which symbolizes some level of contraction, but it flows continuously like a stream of information retaining its fluidity and it is absorbed quickly into the earth.

Ice on the other hand, is a transmission that is more on the recipient’s terms. The information has solidified into a compact state so that the student can internalize it. The flow has ceased and turned into a solid form, so the student is not overwhelmed by the continuous flow of new ideas.

Snow is an intermediary state between fluid water and solid ice. In order to appreciate the spiritual implications of this, we need to examine the properties of snow.

A snowflake needs at least two components in order to form. In addition obviously to cold air, it requires water droplets (vapor), and a nucleus. The nucleus is made up of dust, minerals or other microscopic particles in the air. A snowflake is formed when water takes shape around these microscopic particles and the cold air turns it into ice crystals. Thus snow has two components: water and earth - earth being the particles, and the water being the droplets. Earth is the material world - without any recognition of G-dliness; water is the knowledge of G-d - divine energy without any containers. Thus snow, being half heaven and half earth provides the perfect intermediary between these two worlds.

Snow consists of separate snowflakes that are actually independent properties - each comprised of about 100 ice crystals. Snowflakes cling to each other but they are not intrinsically one. In contrast, water is one unified entity. Although it consists of droplets, each drop joins with another and they become one body of water. What is the symbolism of this in the flow of knowledge?

When a teacher has to reach out to a student who is far beneath his or her level of knowledge and understanding, he or she cannot allow the water to just flow freely, it has to be dressed up in metaphors and it has to be paced. In order for the student to understand a new concept, the teacher needs to create a point of reference by using examples, anecdotes, stories, and analogies. Thus snowflakes represent the need to explain gradually, step by step, in a language that is accessible to the student.

Snow falls gently and silently, teaching us in our own process of educating others and educating ourselves, that we need gentleness. If we educate with a sledgehammer - with unceasing rain pour - it will simply submerge and destroy the crops. Even when it rains on earth, science tells us that on a higher level, the beginning process could have originated in snowflakes. So snowflakes are a symbol of that first gentle step.

Who has not been awed by the beauty of the city or countryside covered in snow? The serenity and whiteness of snow attracts us. We sense the purity of snow when we wake up in the morning and the streets, which are so often filled with grime, are all covered with a white blanket of snow. Snow is a great equalizer - no matter how big the building, or the car, whether a Lexus or a Hyundai, they’re all covered equally by the snow. Snow has the ability to cover over the impurities of life and remind us of our own purity.

So snow is heaven speaking to us - speaking to us through purity, speaking to us gently and gradually on our terms. Snow is the intermediary stage between heaven and earth; ice is a little closer to the level of earth; sleet is in between snow and ice. Thus every weather condition sends us a message and lesson - whether it’s rain, snow, ice, sleet or hail.

Ultimately, the intention is that the snow should melt and turn to water. Once the snow falls and blocks our driveways and streets, we want it to melt. In the education process the student needs to pause which requires a freezing of the water, but then at some point it has to melt and integrate into our system in order for us to grow.

***

The idea of educating through metaphor is further expressed through the numerical secret of snow. The gematria (numerical equivalent) of the Hebrew word sheleg [snow] is 333 [shin=300, lamed=30, gimmel=3]. It says in Kabbalah that sheleg is the gematria of three times the letter alef. When you spell out the letter alef, it is 111. [Alef, lamed, and fei is 1+30+80=111] So 111 times 3 is 333 which is sheleg.

What is the significance? The verse states, “Vayidaber Melech Shlomo shaloshes alafim moshel - King Solomon, [the wise one] spoke in 3,000 metaphors.” The number 3,000, three elefs [elef is one thousand], is snow. [The letter alef also refers to the word elef, 1,000]. So snow relates to the concept of three thousand metaphors.

What’s the relationship between the two? Sheleg, snow, is the concept of metaphor itself. The spiritual dimension of snow serves as an intermediary between Divine energy and the universe. Snow is the concept of explaining knowledge in metaphor. Its cosmic significance is this: To understand the process of how G-d created the universe, G-d could not allow the borders of divinity and spirituality to just flow ceaselessly and annihilate the boundaries of existence. G-d had to contain it, and the way He contained it is reflected in snow.

The mystique of snow is precisely because of its dual quality of heaven meeting earth, water meeting land. Next time you look at the snowflakes gently dropping from heaven, blanketing earth in its white embrace, remember that you are witnessing a kiss – the kiss of the Divine and the mundane.

Source: Meaningful Life

Rav Moshe Sternbuch: "Salvation Will Not Come From President Trump"

 

A critical message about redemption!!!! 

"Salvation will not come from President Trump" 

Maran Posak Hador Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch

A 1 min video: English with Hebrew sub-titles

Signs in the Heavens 2025

Grand Planetary Alignment Feb 20-28

Blood Red Moon A total lunar eclipse will occur on PURIM-  March 14, 2025, and will be visible from parts of the world including the Americas, Antarctica, and parts of Africa. 

 

The Tribes of Issachar & Zevulun

Rabbi Efraim Palvanov

What do we know about the mysterious ancient Israelite tribes of Issachar and Zevulun? What is Zevulun’s connection to the Seven Heavens, and what exactly happens in each of those realms? What is the identity of the ‘hilazon’ that was used to make the holy blue dye techelet, and how did Zevulun produce it? How do we properly understand the famous teaching of Zevulun financing the scholarship of Issachar? Plus, eye-opening stories from my recent trip to Israel.

The Messianic Contributions of Elon Musk

Rabbi Mendel Kessin

Mashiach and His Mission to Destroy Amalek

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff

Tu b'Shvat: The Segulot of the Fruits According to Kabbalah

 

Tu b'Shvat [15 Shvat] begins Wednesday night into Thursday February 13

Everything you want to know about Tu b'Shvat from Chabad

The ritual of Tu B’Shvat is not a Halachic obligation but a custom containing marvelous segulot (metaphysical phenomena derived from the Torah) that bring abundance and blessings. 

Each species has a particular "segula". It is enough to look at the species and to have the proper intention while eating it, to benefit from the goodness it can bring. The Torah-Box team suggests:

Wisdom and Parnassa 

Wheat (cakes, bread) is a segula for lucidity, wisdom, and success in studies. Also, ask for plenty of parnassa (sustenance). 

Shalom Bayit 

Beer and pearl barley are a segula for Shalom Bayit. A Sota (a woman suspected of adultery, who was then exonerated) had to bring a barley sacrifice to purify herself for her husband, and she thus deserved to have a boy. 

Marriage 

Wine, grape juice, raisins, stuffed grape leaves are a segula for finding one's Zivug (spouse). It is not for no reason that during a wedding we sing "The grapes of the vine assemble with the grapes of the vine". Grapes are also a segula for fertility, "Your wife will be like a fruitful vine". 

Pure Mouth 

The pomegranate has the same color as the lips, as it says, "Your lips are like a scarlet thread." Its segula is in guarding the mouth against Lashon hara (gossip) and bad words. 

Righteous Children 

The olives and its oil are a segula to have children who are Tzaddikim (righteous). In the same way that the leaves of the olives do not fall, so we hope that our children will not go in the wrong direction. But also "a good name" because "A good name is better than scented oil" and a good memory because olive oil is a segula for the memory. 

Health 

The date is a wonderful segula for greatness and success, as the date is the heart of the sky, so we ask "help us to rise like the date". The date is also a segula for healing and good health.

Source: Torah Box

Long Box Cube

As well as the cube, there is also a long box cube.  Someone asked to see photos, these are the best ones I could find.  There are many more images but they are difficult to see, I just used the ones that are obvious.

First two images are from 2021

2022

2024

Teves the Month of the Goat/Eisav

 

The month of Esav…every month has a certain mazel—fortune and the mazel of Esav in his evil guise, is the month of Teves, the month of the goat. The sign of Esav is the “seir,” a goat, so what is interesting is the Aschaltah D’Geulah began on November 5th which is the month that begins the Redemption, and Trump takes office on January 20th which is Teves.  

Source: Rabbi Mendel Kessin  "What is the Messianic Meaning of the Trump Presidency" - transcription

Now have a look at the golden-hoofed goat at Trump's Mar-a-Lago, it's covered in dollar bills printed with the words "in Trump we trust".

Source: MeidasNews

Four Holy Cities of Judaism

Rabbi Efraim Palvanov

What are the origins of the four holiest cities in Israel? What is the deeper mystical meaning behind them? How do they correspond to the Heavens, the primordial elements, and the fundamental forces of the universe? Find out in this eye-opening class as we explore the inner dimensions of Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed, and Tiberias. Plus: what and where is the immortal city of Luz? What is its connection to the mysterious pineal gland? How did God create Eve? And what can we do to bring about the Final Redemption?

The Cube

This is an actual photo taken from a video shot yesterday by a photographer in Nevada.  You can check it with any AI detector you like, and you'll see it's real.  It was taken during a live podcast, 500 people saw it come up on the screen as he was filming.   

This is the giant cube that's flying around our skies. 

Photos: C. Kuchuris

The Black Devil Fish Warning

I'm not making any of this up.  It's all true.

The Black Devil Fish, a creature of the deep, is adapted to a life of perpetual darkness, relying on bio-luminescence for survival.  

On January 26 this year it rose near to the surface in Tenerife and was captured on film.  

The earthquakes and Kolumbo underwater volcano threat at Santorini followed soon after.  

Trump’s Gaza Plan is “The Final task before Messiah”

This is the relevant part of the article:

Rabbi Yekutiel Fish, a respected mystic rabbi from Jerusalem who authors a Torah blog titled Sod HaChashmal, praised Trump’s plan and predicted that its success was inevitable. 

“Trump is a successful man and puts together business deals that no one else could manage,” Rabbi Fish said. “For him, this is a deal that all sides benefit.” 

But Rabbi Fish saw Trump’s Gaza plan as part of a bigger picture. 

“Everyone is focused on Gaza, but that is only one part of the end-of-days agenda, which has the Jews living in Israel’s prophesied borders,” Rabbi Fish said. “The Torah explicitly includes Gaza. What Trump is doing is cleaning out Gaza of all the haters of Israel. They cannot be in Israel after the Messiah comes. After the Messiah, the only people who can be in the Biblical borders of Israel are those who believe He is One and His name is One. This will include Gaza, half of Lebanon, and much of Jordan.” 

And we see that we are almost there. Syria fell. Lebanon is half gone. Gaza is ripped up. The stage is nearly set for Messiah. But how can the Palestinians be here when we go to greet the Messiah? The Messiah needs someone to take care of this, and in this case, it is Donald Trump. Trump is merely carrying out the final tasks needed before Messiah is revealed,” Rabbi Fish said.

Source: Israel365 [which some say is a missionary hang-out, but this is just an article that seems missionary-free, I don't necessarily recommend this site in general, but sometimes there is information that should be shared]

If you want to know more about Rav Fish, as he is actually known [rather than Rabbi] you can find a lot more of his famous gematriot and other chiddushim at Yeranen Yaakov by searching for "Rav Fish" there.

Sun Over Santorini

Have a look at this 14 sec video, it's showing the sun over Santorini.

You can see that the sun is not a perfect circle, something is causing it to appear distorted and there is a blue line coming out of it.  As the video ends, you can clearly see a pale blue sphere appear at the 11 o'clock mark above the sun.  It's not a lens flare, it's a separate body moving near the sun.  

I've taken a screen shot of the relevant part, see photo below video.

Trump Has No Clue Why He Was Chosen. But I Do.

H/t CSF

Rabbi Isser Weisberg

In this video Rabbi Weisberg reveals what he believes to be the true role of Donald J Trump -- something which he is completely unaware of. The introduction is quite important, but if you want to go straight to where he reveals why he believes Trump was chosen by God, go to about 30:00. 

Also in this video... The destiny of America and western civilization was clearly prophesied dozens of times throughout the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible. And it is not pretty. Destruction and desolation was their destiny, as punishment for all the evil deeds perpetrated by the progeny of Esau / Edom / Rome.

Metaphysically all the souls of this mighty Empire which was destined to last until the Messiah comes - are intertwined, and their destiny is linked. However these prophecies were reversed due to the herculine efforts of a great, holy and righteous Jewish leader whose identity the Rabbi will only reveal in a future video. Trump has a major role in this fascinating turn of events, as revealed in this video.

Missing the Point ?

Rabbi Berel Solomon

I'm just putting these videos here to show you differing thoughts.  If you landed on this video, you need to go back to the Home Page to see the other videos below, from Rabbi Kessin and Rabbi Glatstein.

Trump's Historic Plan for Gaza Alluded to in the Parsha [Beshalach]

Rabbi Daniel Glatstein - 5 minute video

Rav Ya'avod Tzair: The Prophecy Fulfilled

From Torah Thinking Channel: Rabbi Mendel Kessin  - a 1 minute video

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words

Trump holding the chair for Netanyahu = Respect

The Final War and the Chofetz Chaim's Predictions

 

The Chofetz Chaim

“The main thing is not to worry… Just as He provided for us until now with His kindness, so He will surely continue providing for us.”  -  Extract from a handwritten letter by the Chofetz Chaim to his wife during her journey seeking medical care - the letter is for sale here, top bid at time of writing was $44,000.

The Chofetz Chaim famously said that the war of Gog u Magog would occur in three parts: WW1, WW2 and then a third part.  We can see from all the instant anti-semitism after October 7 that we have entered the third stage, it is a continuation of the anti-semitism that existed in WW2.

“While in London I heard from the holy Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman, quoting the Chofetz Chaim, that Chazal say the War of Gog and Magog will be threefold. After the First World War, the Chofetz Chaim said that it was the first battle of Gog and Magog, and that in about 25 years there would be a second world war, which would make the first one seem insignificant. Then there would be a third battle …” [Leiv Eliyahu, Shemos, p. 172] - Source: Torah

The Chofetz Chaim also said that Moshiach will come in a year ending with a five.  We have that in both the Hebrew year and the secular year: 2025 and 5785.

This is the last time the years will end in a 5 prior to 5790, which is the cut-off date for Moshiach's arrival.

The Leshem quoted the Zohar, which apparently held that the period of Techiyas HaMeisim is destined to last either 210 or 214 years. There are two opinions on the matter in the Zohar, but they BOTH agree that the period of resurrection will be AT LEAST 210 years. Source: Rabbi Pinchas Winston

Min haShamayim

Art: Vladimir Kush

The manna reminds us that a Jew's food, and his livelihood in general, come directly from G-d, in a manner of "bread from heaven", i.e. even though, at first glance, it appears that a person earns his livelihood through hard work, in truth however the work of his hands is merely a "receptacle" into which G-d places his blessings.

In other words, it is not the hard work in itself that brings a person his daily bread - G-d provides a Jew with food in a manner which is not limited to the rule of nature.  But in order not to disturb the natural order which He created, G-d garbs His gift in natural phenomena, so that it should appear to come from nature alone.

The eternal perpetuation of manna reminds us that, even though we no longer see bread coming from heaven, nevertheless, in truth the bread continues to come from heaven to this day.

Source: Sichas Shabbos Parshas Beshalach 5751, Lubavitcher Rebbe

4 Shevat: Yarzheit Baba Sali

Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeirah - The Baba Sali

Born: Tafillalt, Morocco,1890

Died: 4 Shevat, Israel, 1984

Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeirah was of a well-known rabbinical dynasty. His grandfather was the famous tzaddik, Rabbi Yaakov Abuchatzeirah. He had great skill in Talmudic interpretation and many of his halachic decisions were accepted and took root among his followers. He was regarded as someone who possessed the Ruach Hakodesh or "Divine Spirit".

Although still very young, people flocked to R' Yisrael for blessings for their parnassa (income), family, and health. Consequently he became known as "Baba Sali," (our praying father) because of the prayers that he would invoke on behalf of those who sought out his guidance.

One day, young Yisrael's father told him, "My child, you have a great power to bless people which you cannot measure. Your words can bring great help to men. From now on, you must use this power to say good things about others and to bless them."

Young Yisrael gave his word. Soon it became known that the blessings of this young child brought miraculous results. He became famous as Baba Sali. A master of the Kabbalah and a great Torah Sage, he took over his father's position as head of the yeshiva and Rabbi of the community. Although he regularly gave many lectures in Torah and kabbalah, he did not permit his students to write them down because he wanted his scholarship to remain unknown. Nevertheless, his fame as a holy man and a righteous Tzaddik continued to draw Jews to him from all over. Even Arabs came to receive his blessings and the coins he gave for charity.

At 19 he was inducted as the Rosh Hayeshiva, after his father's death. After an extended one year trip to Eretz Yisrael he returned, and was compelled to take the position of Rav of the community after the murder of his brother by an Arab. He gave daily lectures, served as a judge in the beit din (rabbinical court), and set the tone for the kehilla. The community appreciated that nothing escaped his holy, penetrating eyes. From throughout Morocco, people converged on his home for his blessings, his counsel, and his encouragement.

In 1964 when Baba Sali noted that much of Moroccan Jewry had emigrated to Eretz Yisrael, he followed them to fulfill his dream of settling there. Baba Sali chose Yavne as his home because many of his followers had settled there.

In 1970 he moved to Netivot where he was steadily visited by Chassidim, Ashkenazim and Sephardim who sought his unique counsel. He stressed emunah (faith), humility, ahavat Yisrael (love of fellow Jews) and kiyum hamitzvot (fulfillment of mitzvot). His phenomenal memory allowed him to access information at will, whether it dealt with law, Talmud, Kabbalah,etc.

He was very humble and did not want to attract attention, however, his prophetic powers and his miraculous prayers soon became renowned. Thousands of Jews from all over the world would come to seek his advice and blessings for children, health, and livelihood. Baba Sali was very close to other great Torah scholars, especially the Lubavitcher Rebbe, whom he referred to as "the Great Eagle in the Heavens." He strongly encouraged the Rebbe's Mitzvah campaigns, especially urging young girls to light candles for Shabbat and Yom Tov.

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

Young and old, men and women, observant and secular, Sephardim and Ashkenazim of every stripe, all streamed to the door of the great kabbalist and tsaddik, Baba Sali, in Netivot, seeking his blessing and help. Everyone, without exception, held him in the highest esteem.

Once a man from Holon, Eliyahu, was scheduled to have his legs amputated. His spinal cord had been damaged by a bullet in the Yom Kippur War. He had already spent much time in the hospital, and so was reconciled to his fate. The procedure was to take place on Friday.

That Thursday, an elderly woman acquaintance suggested that he receive a blessing from Baba Sali before the operation. She said that she knew of someone who had been paralyzed, yet was healed through Baba Sali's blessing. Although Eli was not at all observant, he decided to try it anyway, in desperation. Maybe, maybe....

It would have been impossible to get permission to leave the hospital the day before the operation, so Eli snuck out. He didn't even disclose his intention to see Baba Sali to his concerned family.

Eli sat on a chair in the waiting room near the entrance to the tsaddik's room. After many hours, finally his turn came. The custom was, before anything, to approach Baba Sali on his couch and kiss his hand, but because of the advanced thrombosis of his legs and the crippling pain that accompanied it, Eli was unable even to rise to enter the room.

Following Baba Sali's instruction, Rabbanit Simi, his wife, approached Eli and asked, "Do you put on tefillin?" Do you keep Shabbat? Do you say blessings?

"No," admitted Eli, and burst into sobs.

Baba Sali seemed to be moved by Eli's suffering and his sincerity. He said to him, "If you do my will and observe the Shabbat and repent completely, then G-d, too, will listen to my will."

With great emotion, Eli promptly cried out, "I accept upon myself the obligation to observe the Shabbat in all its details. I also promise to do full tshuvah, to 'return' in repentance all the way."

At Baba Sali's directive, Eli was served tea. After he drank it, the Rabbanit suggested that being that the Rav had blessed him, he should try to get up, in order to go and and kiss the Rav's hand.

After much effort and pain, Eli managed to rise. He couldn't believe it-his legs were obeying him! Shakily, he walked over to Baba Sali and kissed his hand! By then nearly delirious with shock and joy, he began to thank Baba Sali profusely. The Rav interrupted him, saying with a smile, "Don't thank me. Just say: 'Blessed are those who sanctify His name publicly!'"

As if in a dream, Eli stumbled out the door and descended the stairs. He experimented, walking this way and that. He had to know: Was he really awake? Could this truly be happening? With each step, his legs felt better.

On his "new" legs, he went over to Yeshiva HaNegev, not too far from the home of Baba Sali. When the students realized they were seeing the results of a miracle that had just occurred, they surrounded Eli with happy dancing and singing, and words of praise and gratitude to G-d.

Rejoicing in his new-found ability to walk, Eli returned to the home of Baba Sali to say goodbye properly and to thank him again. He also expressed his fear that his legs would relapse to their previous weakness and disease. Baba Sali calmed him, saying cheerfully, "Don't worry. In the merit of your oath to 'return' and repent, and especially that you promised to observe Shabbat according to its laws, which is equal to all the commandments, G-d has done this miracle and nullified the decree against you. Now it is up to you to fulfill your words."

Leaving Baba Sali's house again, Eli telephoned his mother. "I'm all better!" he shouted, without explanation. She figured that fear of the surgery had caused him to loose touch with reality. "Are you coming home?" she asked with concern. "Or will you go straight to the hospital?"

Eli then told her what he had promised Baba Sali, the blessing that he had received from the tsaddik, and the miraculous improvement that had already occurred. As soon as he hung up, he called his doctor at Achilov Hospital in Tel Aviv and informed him of his cure. The doctor told Eli to be back at the hospital the following day, and to "stop acting crazy!"

Eli did go to the hospital the next day. The doctor was barely able to accept the evidence of his eyes. After a few days and many tests, Eli was released. The first thing he did was to return to Netivot, to thank Baba Sali again. The Rav requested of his household that a seudat hoda'ah, a meal of thanksgiving to G-d in honor of the miracle, be prepared and served. At the end of the meal, Baba Sali blessed a bottle of water and told Eli to deliver it to the hospital so that his doctor could drink l'chaim from it. "And tell him," added Baba Sali, "not to be so hasty to cut off legs."

Baba Sali's gabbai (attendant) during most of his years in Netivot, Rabbi Eliyahu Alfasi [who witnessed much of the story and heard the rest of the details from Eli of Holon], reports that he once asked Baba Sali how he performed this great miracle. The tzaddik answered him innocently, "Believe me, Eliyahu, all I did was tell him 'Stand up!'"