Rabbi Daniel Glatstein tells how the Chafetz Chaim wrote a special essay about the coming of Moshiach which could not be published because the censors at the time did not allow it's publication.
Instead, the Chafetz Chaim had to publish it as a supplement in a journal which came out between 1905 and 1910, and it is so secret that it is not even mentioned on the headstone of the Chofetz Chaim, where all his other Sefarim are mentioned.
Now for the first time, in English with notations and explanations, Artscroll is publishing Rabbi Glatstein's translation of "Yearning for Redemption". [not available yet] If you're interested in sponsorship opportunities there is an email address at the end of the video to contact Rabbi Glatstein.
As we say every day in the Amidah, Hashem please bring the Geula.....It is our yearning for redemption and this Sefer "Yearning for Redemption" that actually brings the Geula.
Two people in Vilna had an argument that required a Din Torah. They agreed to choose the Dayanim [judges] through Borerus, where each one chose one Dayan and the two Dayanim would choose the third.
One side chose the Vilna Gaon. The other side chose someone who wasn't a Ben Torah and the Vilna Gaon said he would not hear the case together with this other Dayan. He said that the Daas of a Ba'al HaBayis is completely different from Daas Torah and they would never see things eye to eye.
When the Vilna Gaon was asked where his basis for this was in the Torah, he said that it can be found in Parshas Bamidbar. When discussing the encampment of the Shevatim, the Torah says each Degel had three Shevatim under it. By the last Shevet in each group the pasuk say's "U'Mateh," and the Shevet... However, by Zevulun - who was last in the Degel of Yehuda, right after Yisachar - it says only "Mateh," without the letter "Vav". [Bamidbar 2:7]
The Vilna Gaon explains that the letter Vav connects what is written previously with what the Torah is saying now. Since Yisachar learned Torah, and Zevulun were the businessmen, their outlook was always different and there was no common ground between the two. Therefore, the connecting "Vav" was left out.
Israel is being harassed by an Islamist international allied with the Western left: Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, Hamas in Gaza at the military level, and Western governments at the political level.
Not to mention a hostile force acting from within known as the Erev Rav.
This war also exists in the metaphysical and spiritual realms.
The prophecies of the end times seem to be unfolding before our eyes.
The following is the text of Rav Chaya speaking
Israel's worst enemy today is not Hamas, not Iran, not Hezbollah.... because G-d is not going to let the apple of His Eye be gouged out without reacting.
We were waiting for the negotiations between Iran and America to collapse. Baruch Hashem it all went wrong. Two or three days ago the Iranian Foreign Minister said that they will continue to enrich uranium whether it's a negotiation or not. At the same time, a couple of days ago CNN announced on behalf of American intelligence that it was preparing for an attack on Iran. So things are moving forward.
It is written in the text that just before Moshiach comes, Iran falls into the hands of Edom. Edom is the West.
So it is likely that it is not just Israel that will attack Iran. there will certainly be American help. So there you have it. We certainly have Moshiach coming very very soon. This goes hand in hand with the attack on Gaza and the general turmoil around the world.
There is no army in the world who pays more attention to civilians than the Israeli army.
The Arabs are very good at advertising [propaganda] and so the whole world attacks us as usual. It's not new, it's been the case for 3,300 years.
The Torah was given on Mt Sinai and it is called "Sinai" because the hatred of the people is against us.
Regarding the attack on Gaza, there is a very wise old man here in Jerusalem, he has Ruach haKodesh and sees things that other people don't see.
His name is Rav Sheinberger - He already spoke a year ago and said Israel must destroy Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza because they are Amalek. The end of Amalek comes through us and and we are the ones who must do this mitzvah. Now we have decimated the entire Sinwar family Baruch Hashem, and all the commanders one after the other.
We are almost at the end and now the fireworks will be with Iran, who in my opinion is also Amalek.
I don't know when that end will be.... there is a Zohar that says it will be Shavuot which is very close. There are also Zohars which say Pesach and Rosh Hashanah. These are all possible options, but it can happen very very quickly.
There is also the threat of world war with Putin, so France along with other European countries want to send soldiers against Putin. Putin has said "I don't know if I will hesitate to press the button." I tell you, he wouldn't hesitate. Zechariah 13 says two thirds of the world will disappear.
Zelensky, Putin, Trump et al.... it's all about ego. It's incredible that the destiny of the world is given to men who think only of their own money and their own honour: me, me, me! Russia, Ukraine, France etc.
Israel's worst enemy today is the Erev Rav. These people have a hatred of Israel and the [real] Jews. Among them are people who criticize Israel's attacks, saying it is war crimes. However, Israel is the only country who sends messages to civilians telling them when they are going to attack. Thousands of telephone calls were made to people in Gaza telling them to get out of the way, we are going to attack.
This Erev Rav are also attacking the apple of G-d's eye.... the Torah students. After 77 years of living in Israel they have developed laws to break the Torah, such as any student under 27 who does not want to go to the army will receive no funding for their children at creche. so a man with small children has to pay 7,000 shekels for day-care, but still they will give subsidies to the terrorist Arabs.
In my opinion, Hashem is not going to put up with this, and we are very very close to the End. We're not going to stay like this for weeks or months - Hashem will react, and on the contrary, the merit that these people have will ensure they have help from Heaven.
In the Zohar that speaks about Geula on Shavuot, it speaks about the Erev Rav, that they are the KEY to evil and it is because of them that the people of Israel are suffering. It is said that at the end of time they will multiply greatly and be enormous in their power against us.
For me this is a clear sign that the end is very near. B'ezrat Hashem we hope, that it comes with great mercy, and we must prepare now and pray to G-d that it comes quickly without suffering or fear.
B'ezrat Hashem, very soon the Geula, Amen v' Amen.
"...and I will remember My covenant [with] Jacob, and also My covenant [with] Isaac, and also My covenant [with] Abraham I will remember."[Bechukotai 26:42]
Why are the forefathers listed in reverse order? asked R' Shmelke of Nikolsburg.
Chazal have taught us, answered the Rebbe, that "The world depends on three things - on Torah study, on the service of G-d, and on kind deeds [Pirkei Avot 1:2]
Each one of the forefathers was noted for a different character trait.
Yaakov embodied Torah study. He was "a wholesome man abiding in tents" [Bereishis 25:27] who studied Torah in the yeshivah of Shem and Ever.
Yitzchak, who had been bound to an altar, represented service of Hashem.
Avraham, the paradigm of hospitality, represented the trait of kindness.
The order in which the verse lists the forefathers - Yaakov, Yitzchak and Avraham - corresponds to the order utilitzed by Chazal to enumerate the three things upon which the world depends: first "Torah", then "service of G-d" and finally "kindness" [Torah, Tefilla, Tzedaka]
For all of you living in the Northern Hemisphere ... if you spend any time outside this summer you will notice that your skin burns/tans very quickly, much faster than it used to. People are reporting this from all over the world, and I know from my own experience under the sun during our summer, this is the case.
The sun does not look normal anymore. At various times of the day you can find it looking like this:
Vaucluse, Sydney a couple of weeks ago
This guy is talking about the weather in the U.S. and the crazy skies.... you'll notice he says it's "out of this world", and he's right, it's not "our" weather, it's from the passing planetary system and all these new clouds are actually the clouds surrounding the planets. This is how Hashem brings the severe weather to us. Yes, I know it's not possible, but as it's happening it must be possible.
''and I will remember My covenant [with] Jacob, and also My covenant [with] Isaac, and also My covenant [with] Abraham I will remember. And I will remember the Land'' [Bechukotai 26:42]
Unlike the redemption described here, where the Jewish people were redeemed despite their lowly state, without having done teshuvah, in the case of the true and final Redemption '''the Jewish people will eventually do teshuvah at the end of their exile, and they will immediately be redeemed''. [Rambam, Laws of Teshuvah 7:5]
Source: Based on Likutei Sichos Vol 27 Lubavitcher Rebbe
[I didn't know that the Chafetz Chaim was a Cohen - for those who can't read Hebrew, the image of the two hands at the top of his headstone is the sign of a Cohen]
The month of Iyar is the month of light. Even its name, Iyar, is cognate to the Hebrew word for ‘light,’ - Or. In the Bible, the month of Iyar is called the month of Ziv, which also means ‘light.’
How did this month merit such a luminous name? First of all, Iyar comes to us after a long, cold, cloudy winter. The month of Nissan blazes the trail to the spring, followed by Iyar, which is all light. We thank God for the light of the sun, but it is upon us to be mindful of the spiritual light, as well. Light is a wondrous allegory for Divine revelation, God’s illumination and benevolent abundance.
The Torah is also equated to light, “For a mitzvah is a candle and Torah is light.”[1] This is particularly true of the concealed, inner dimension of the Torah, the wisdom of Kabbalah of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in his book, The Zohar. This is another connection to Iyar, for Lag Ba’Omer, the day of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai’s passing, is on the 18th of Iyar. In addition, on the 14th of Iyar we commemorate the day of passing of Rabbi Meir Ba’al Ha’nes in Tiberias. Click here for Rabbi Meir's miracle remedy to find lost objects.
The redemption is also likened to light, and at the Pesach seder we bless God for taking us out of “darkness to a great light.” In the merit of the Torah and the secrets of the Torah the redemption emerges.
Love in the Soul
While all of this is very nice, the fact is that there is still much darkness in the world – hatred, wars, troubles and illnesses. Even in our own communities, the situation is far from perfect. The same is true of our interpersonal relationships and even in our relationship with ourselves. This state of affairs can make it seem like we are light-years away from the redemption.
How do we emerge from the darkness of the exile to the light of the redemption? The main rectification for this time period is love for others. The students of Rabbi Akiva died during the days of the Omer – which we count during the entire month of Iyar – because they did not act with respect toward each other. It is upon us to rectify that blemish and to fulfill Rabbi Akiva’s teaching: “Love your neighbor as yourself – that is a great principle in the Torah.”[2]
How can we truly love our fellow man – even those who seem to be so different from us? Are we supposed to be blind and not pay attention to the distance between us and even the shortcomings and faults of others? Yes! We are supposed to be blind to those shortcomings!
Sometimes, it is good to close our eyes. This world is full of passing sights, replete with smoke and mirrors, old news, breaking news and a flood of input. It is all dizzying, blinding, confusing, superficial light. Stop! It is ok to release the tension, to step off the speeding train and relax. Close your eyes and take a look inward.
A blind person does not see superficial colors and shapes. This is specifically why he can sense something much more internal and essential. Quite a few Jewish Torah giants were blind and it was they who could sense the footsteps of Mashiach:
The Talmudic sage Rabbi Sheshet, who was blind, was the first of his colleagues to perceive when the king was coming by. It was the blind Talmudic sage Rav Yosef who declared: “May the Mashiach come and may I merit to sit in the shadow of his donkey.” (The numerical value of Rav Yosef equals ‘Mashiach’). Isaiah the Prophet says: Who is blind, but My servant? Or deaf, as My emissary whom I send? Who is blind as he who is wholehearted, and blind as God’s servant?[3] God’s servant, His emissary, the Mashiach, seems blind and deaf because he is focused inward.
The blind person sees the inner light, the light of the soul and the redemption. There is a deep connection between the Hebrew words for ‘light’ (or -אור) and ‘blind’ (iver – עור ). The blind person sees the light beneath the surface. It is no coincidence that in Aramaic, a blind person is called ‘sagi nahor,’ which means ‘much light.’
This is the way to love our fellow man: We must ignore his external appearance and focus on the inner dimension that unites us, seeing the connection between all the souls of Israel. This love banishes darkness and melts estrangement and hatred.
May this be an illuminating and healthy month for all!
[1] Proverbs 6:23.
[2] Leviticus 19:18, Sifrei ad loc, Jerusalem Talmud Nedarim 9:4.
This is a brief transcription of the video. There are English subtitles available but some of them are not clear. Anyway I have typed up the relevant parts. Hopefully I have not made too many errors.
Rav Ron Chaya
We are waiting for an American attack on Iran. Why are we waiting for this?
Iran, as Netanyahu said, have an obsesssion with wanting to destroy Israel. They are the ones who ran Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and those who rule all in Yemen. They have militias in Iraq. We think it is Amalek, there is evidence for this, we have talked about it often. So America attacks them to prevent an atomic bomb. France and Israel also have an atomic bomb, but if Iran has one it is to send it to us. It's obvious. So we can't let them have it.
It is written that at the end of days Persia will fall into the hands of Rome. This will happen before Moshiach comes. When it is written that Persia and Rome will last until the end of days it means until just before Moshiach comes. This means that just before Moshiach comes, Persia will fall into the hands of Rome.
Rome is not the Vatican, especially since the Pope is dead. Rome is the leader of the Western World, it is America. There has never been a war between the West and Persia.
Negotiations have taken place between America and Iran regarding their nuclear powers, but the Iranians will never agree to stop, they have made it clear.
We also have a prophecy in the Torah from Bilam, the greatest non-Jewish prophet in history, and at the end he makes a prophecy about the end of time.
After America attacks Iran there will be an economic crash, and that's the end. Many are speaking about an impending economic crash. Elon Musk spoke about it a few weeks ago. Warren Buffett did not say it but financiers say he foresees a great economic crash.
So what will happen in Israel if America attacks Iran? I don't know but it is clear there will be fantastic miracles.
The Erev Rav are causing us many problems, enormous problems like never before in history.
The Zohar says that at the end of days the Erev Rav will fall. We are waiting for that.
What happens next... Gog u Magog and Moshiach. Armies will come to attack Israel. For example, Erdogan wants to attack Israel, to "liberate Jerusalem".
After the Gog u Magog attack, Hashem will reveal Himself and everyone will recognize the G-d of Israel, and Moshiach comes. It is said that this war will be the last 3 hours of the night, but the Vilna Gaon said it would only last 12 minutes and the Baba Sali said it would only last a few seconds.
As soon as the Moshiach arrives, everyone is healed. The mute will start to speak etc. There will be no more illness, no more divorce, no more lack of Shalom Bayit. Everything will be perfect.
We don't know when it will happen but it's in Trump's head and Trump's head is in G-d's hands. The mind of the kings is in the Hand of G-d. When Hashem says it's time to attack, they will attack.
"For the people who were in the land before you committed all these abominable acts, and the land thus became defiled"[Acharei Mos 18:27]
The Rema [R' Moshe Isserles] explained this verse by way of a parable: A father purchased an expensive and beautiful garment for his beloved son. The son, however, was not careful with the garment and he soiled it.
If the son had been careful not to sit in a dirty area, he could have defended himself before his father with the claim that the garment was so fine and delicate that it stained easily, and he should therefore not be held accountable.
But since the son sat in an area that was so muddy and full of dirt that even a coarse and inexpensive garment would have been stained, he has absolutely no way of excusing himself.
The same thing applies to the Jewish people, said the Rema. The Jewish nation is Hashem's precious and only son, blessed with souls so fine and delicate that even the slightest sin is capable of leaving a stain. They can therefore claim before Hashem that it is the soul's delicate nature that is responsible for its stain.
But if the Jewish people commit sins that are so severe that they are capable of contaminating even unrefined nations - as the verse states "For the people who were in the land before you committed all these abominable acts, and the land thus became defiled" - then they will have absolutely no way of defending themselves before their Father in Heaven.
I saw Warren Buffett on the news the other day and I made a mental note to look for a clip of it, because he is the only one so far who has said it so concisely.
The Sages interpret this to mean, “Judge your fellow favorably” [Shevuot
30b]. How can we apparently lie to ourselves by judging people
favorably in every case, when in certain cases we can see them doing
the very opposite of something favorable? What is the meaning of this
mitzvah in that case? The Sages have said, “Any man who is insolent
will in the end stumble into sin” [Taanith 7b]. This means that shame
serves as a barrier and an obstacle to sin. Once a person had breached
the barriers of modesty and shame, there is nothing to prevent him from
sinning, as it is written: “It is a good sign if a man is shamefaced. …
No man who experiences shame will easily sin” [Nedarim 20a].
The
same applies to a person’s influence on others. The first one who sins
completely breaches the barriers of shame. The one who follows him
does not require as much insolence to sin, and the third person needs
even less, once these barriers have been broken down. This is why the
sin of desecrating Hashem’s Name is so grave. A person who openly
sins diminishes the intensity of the fear and shame that are engraved
in man with regards to committing a sin, thereby prompting others to
sin as well.
We can now understand how the advice given to us by the Sages, to
judge others favorably, is designed to help us. It is meant to ensure that
the barriers of shame are not breached within our own hearts, for once
we are certain that everyone is righteous, how could we dare to be the
first ones to sin? However if a person tries to find fault with everyone,
he will be more likely to sin at a time of weakness.
Source – Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin via Rabbi David Pinto
“The main thing [to keep in mind is that the purpose of reincarnation] is to effect the repair of a [negative] influence originating in a previous lifetime... [One way] to discern exactly what that negative influence is is to reflect upon the type of wrong your soul yearns after the most in this lifetime. That which you yearn after most is likely something you became habituated to in a previous life. And therefore pay attention to your vices. [They tell you exactly what you have to work on in this lifetime.] ...The main thing is to repair that which one stumbled in in a previous [life] ... How can one know what one stumbled in during a previous life? ... [Pay attention] to that particular sin one’s soul longs for greatly (for it was emblazened into the soul as a habit in the previous life). That’s why some people are drawn after one type of sin more than another. And that’s also why our Sages say that one must continually judge himself and weigh his actions..."
Note the subtle difference here between culpability and character improvement [tikkun]. Consider yourself not responsible for any sins you may or may not have done in a previous life, if you even had one (and/or know about it). Nevertheless, since in principle, at least, a previous life may be impacting on your present life circumstance, pay attention to your vices. Rather than limiting your free will, this information can, in theory, help it. For instance, you may feel you have no chance to overcome your lust for cheeseburgers. You may tell yourself you were born with this lust. It’s genetic. You feel you have no free will to oppose it. Every time you pass a McDonald’s you have to go in there and order a Big Mac.
However, if you take the Vilna Gaon’s teaching to heart, you may then come to realize that, although you are not now responsible for the sin of eating cheeseburgers in a previous life, you have this great lust as an opportunity for tikkun. Had it been just a regular lust for cheeseburgers your overcoming it may not be metaken (fix) the original weakness emblazoned into your soul. You don’t want this weakness when you are given your place in Eternity. So you were sent back here for the opportunity of eliminating the weakness; indeed, turning it into a strength. Overcoming this extra-powerful lust in this world turns your soul into a “body-builder’s” soul; perhaps even a “Mr. Universe” soul. It’s now stronger than it ever was. In any event, the point is that knowledge or even intuition about a past life can be a powerful aid to free will in this life.
Granted, it can theoretically create the opposite effect. A person may think, for example: What the heck; I’ll get it right in the next life. Or: If I didn’t get it right in the past what’s the point in trying in this life etc. The latter fear is the reason I believe the doctrine was restricted to Kabbalah, which ideally is reserved for select individuals of a higher spiritual standing to begin with.
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"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked. "Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat: "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad." "How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice. "You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."
