Sparks

 

"A star will shoot forth from Jacob, and a staff will arise from Israel" [Balak 24:17]

Rambam understood the verse above as referring to King David and Moshiach.  The Jerusalem Talmud, however, uses the metaphor of a "star" in this verse to refer to even the ordinary Jew. 

At first glance, this appears to be a contradiction, for Moshiach represents the highest perfection possible in a human being, whereas the "ordinary" Jew includes every Jewish person, even the most simple.  However, the matter can be reconciled based on the Baal Shem Tov's teaching that every Jew contains within him a "spark" of the soul of Moshiach.  The verse therefore refers to both Moshiach himself and the "Moshiach" within us.

The presence of this "spark" of Moshiach has a twofold implication:

a) The verse states the star will "shoot forth" suggesting that one's personal spark of Moshiach should be revealed and "shoot out" into the world;

b) Every Jew is able to speed up and bring about the actual manifestation of Moshiach through revealing his own spark and adding in Torah and Mitzvot.

Likutei Sichos Lubavitcher Rebbe

Gog Umagog Just Entered Its Final Stage

H/t Sherry

Rabbi Tovia Singer with Rabbi Aron Sokol

It's All Written!

Rabbanit Michal Shoker is speaking on the video.  However, I have transcribed it for you in case you can't hear the English which has been auto-dubbed.  It is very worthwhile to hear this, or read the transcription below, even though we are aware of Trump's plans etc, this sets it out from the prophecies and the Megillah.

If you listen to the video and you can fill in the blanks where I couldn't understand the name of the Rabbi, please leave it in the comments.  Thank you.

Regarding what is happening with Trump now....It is written in the Megillah on page 14 that the king removed his signet ring... Rabbi  ....... Kahane  [?] said that the removal of the ring was greater than everything because it brought everyone back. The King gave the ring to Haman the wicked, and this is exactly what is happening now. 

It is written that in the future there will be a king whose decrees are harsher than Haman's, that is more wicked than Haman and this is exactly what is happening now. 

People of Israel, we all need to wake up to repentence, trust and faith in the Holy One blessed is He, because there is going to be control over the people of Israel. Because of this control, essentially Bibi Netanyahu will not do what Trump desires, but will go and fight where necessary -  whether in Iran or Lebanan - this will make Trump even angrier, and will actually cause all the nations of the world to be angry with us. He will incite everyone against us and we will be very very close to the war of Gog u Magog... SOON ! When? No-one knows. 

But you need to understand now that this whole process is so that the people of Israel will repent. It is written that this is what brought the Jews to repentance during the time of Purim with Haman the wicked, It is written by Rabbi ..... [?] in the Essay of Redemption page 301 Chapter 7 that before the coming of Moshiach, before the people are purified from the Exile, birthpangs will increase, there will be sorrow upon sorrow.  At that time [the angel] Michael will stand up and it will be a time of trouble such as there never was, and at that time the people will be delivered, everyone who's name is written in the Book.  

And it is said that many will purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall continue to behave wickedly and none of the wicked will understand - only the wise will understand. The wise will look forward to Redemption. Those who strengthen themselves in faith and trust in Hashem.  And Hashem will bring the third part through fire. Everyone who will merit Redemption with Hashem's help will be purified through fire, and test them as gold is tested. 

And  if we truly merit the Redemption we will pass through tribulations, we will need to endure them with trust and faith in the Holy One blessed is He.  

It is further said that the son of David will not come until the kingdom of Edom spreads over the Holy Land for nine months. It is said He will give them up until the time that she is in labor [for birth] is brought forth, then the remnant will return to the children of Israel. This means we will see the rule of Edom over the kingdom of Israel for nine months.

So we know the term of pregnancy is nine months, and this too is nine months. So even if it is hard we will all cry out for the Kingdom of Heaven and for David and the re-building of the Holy Temple so that no other kingdom will rule over us, only the Kingdom of Hashem.  Amen !

Messianic Prophecies Unfolding Now—Is Trump Detached?

Rabbi Tovia Singer

And There Arose a New King - וַיָּקָם מֶלֶךְ חָדָשׁ

 

Shemot 1:8  A new king, who did not know Joseph, arose over Egypt.

Trump Says Only Israel Wanted To Continue Bombing Iran And “Only Fools Would Want That”

Read the article at Yeshiva World News

Gimmel Tammuz

Gimmel Tammuz [3 Tammuz] is recognized in Jewish tradition as an auspicious day for open miracles and divine revelation [nissim geluyim]

The Miracle of Yehoshua: On the 3rd of Tammuz in the year 2488 (1273 BCE), Yehoshua bin Nun commanded the sun and moon to stand still in Giv'on so the Jewish people could complete their battle. The Sages teach that Yehoshua established this date for all generations as a time of open miracles and transcendent light. 

Liberation of the Previous Rebbe: On Gimmel Tammuz in 1927, the Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, was released from Communist imprisonment in Russia. The Rebbe noted the spiritual parallel between this miraculous liberation from death and Yehoshua's miracle of suspended nature. 

The Legacy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe: Gimmel Tammuz is the anniversary of passing (yahrtzeit) of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Rather than a day of sadness, Chabad tradition marks it as an auspicious day of elevation, highlighting that a tzaddik continues to shower blessings and intercede for miracles in this physical world.

The Rebbe constantly insisted on yearning for and demanding Moshiach's coming, refusing to make peace with an imperfect world.  

Video: In honor of the Rebbe’s yahrzeit, the JEM team presents a new film exploring the Rebbe’s perspective on how to see the world.  "You're Looking at the World Wrong" [5 in video]

12 Minutes ....

H/t Rivka

On a recent blog post "No-one is Prepared for What is Next" an anonymous commenter wrote:

This recent attack israel vs iran lasted 12h, news are calling it the 12h war... 12 day war was before this 12 hour war (remember?)... maybe 12 minute war is coming? Remember what the Gaon of Vilna said about 12m.

Then today, someone called me and told me about a video that had come up on their feed, with a headline saying "It Will Last 12 Minutes".   I remembered I'd posted that video back in August last year, but here it is again, because after reading the anonymous comment, I think she's spot on.... we had the 12 day war, then the 12 hour war.... and the final one will be 12 minutes, as prophesied by the Vilna Gaon.

Rabbi Akiva Tatz on J-TV.

A Vision from the Past

Chodesh Tov!  Welcome Tammuz. Let's hope it's a good one.

About 17 years ago, although I can't remember the exact date... I was living in a different place, so that's the only way I can date it.... I was shown a vision in a dream, and at the time I didn't understand it.  I still don't really understand, but as with every "vision" that I've ever been shown, I believe that it is something that is going to happen.  

17 years ago, I did not know anything about Donald Trump, apart from the fact that he was someone who was a public figure.  He was not running for President, and I don't even think Rabbi Kessin had begun to speak about him yet.   However, in a dream, you always know who you're seeing.  I've never forgotten it, just like I've never forgotten any of the visions I've seen, and they've all actually happened in real life some time after the dream.

So, here I give you an AI version of the vision I was shown.  It was presented to me as an image, and then I woke up, with that image imprinted on my mind.  

I was shown the Sydney Harbour Bridge with a large water spout in front of it, and Trump dressed as a clown in a white and blue clown suit [Israeli colours] and Trump was collapsed on the ground.  I am unsure if he was dead or alive in the vision, but he was "collapsed".

So I'm sharing it here, make of it what you will.... I don't have any major understanding of what is being shown here.

Super-Rational

One of the reasons for the Sabbatical year is to allow the land to rest for a year, to enhance its fertility [Guide for the Perplexed 3:3]  From this it follows that after six consecutive years of intensive agriculture, the land is at its least fertile point in the seven year cycle.  So the Torah's promise that the land ''will yield produce (sufficient) for three years'' in the naturally infertile sixth year, is totally irrational, and requires a person to accept an authority which is higher than his mortal understanding.

The Talmud [Sanhedrin 97a] compares the six agricultural years to the six millenia of this world, and the Sabbatical year to the seventh millenium [when the Geula will have arrived].  

Since the Jewish people suffer from a gradual regression in spiritual stature as the generations pass, a person might ask ''How could the efforts of the spiritually weak and ''infertile'' sixth millenium bring the true and complete redemption?''

The Torah answers:  It is the super-rational self-sacrifice and commitment to Judaism of the final generations of exile that will bring the blessings of the Redemption.

Source: Lubavitcher Rebbe Likutei Sichos vol 27 pp 189-190

"No-one is Prepared For What is Next"

H/t Sherry

Rabbi Tovia Singer

Rabbi Tovia Singer explains why the prophets may have seen this moment coming, and why what happens next could be far more significant than most people realize.

War in the Summer? Redemption in Mercy? It's Up to Us.

This has been auto-dubbed, female voice.... usually I don't like the auto dubs, but the message is worthwhile, as we pray for Geula with rachamim [mercy] not judgment.

"Redemption is a multi-stage process..... We are currently on the scales, and it has not yet been decided in Heaven whether the Redemption will come through mercy or through judgment."

What's Behind The Sun?

There is something behind the sun... presumed to be the gas giant Immaru... whatever it is, it should not be there in the normal course of events.  This is why both the sun - and the moon - often have colours around them, and if you point your phone camera randomly at the sun and take a photo, you may end up with a rainbow effect just like this, and wonder why....

Photo S. Holloway Sydney Australia

And this was the full moon in Maine.   Something big is coming.... the signs are right there over our heads.

Maine

To Remain in the Desert

''You will not come to the Land...'' [Shelach 14:30]

G-d does not issue a punishment to bring revenge on the sinner.  Rather, the ''punishment'' is a form of spiritual ''medicine'' aimed at correcting the spiritual deficiency caused by a sin.

With this in mind, the ''punishment'' given to the Jewish people here is difficult to understand.  Their sin was that they did not wish to enter the Land because they desired to remain in the desert where they could serve G-d without distraction; and yet, their punishment was to receive what they wanted: to remain in the desert [for forty years!]  How would this ''correct' their sin of not wanting to enter the Land?

In truth however, the sin of the spies was not that they were too spiritual, but rather they were not spiritual enough.  To be involved with the physical world and remain spiritually attuned demands the highest degree of attachment to G-d.  So when the generation showed that they were lacking this level of dedication, they were given 40 more years of unrestricted Divine worship, enabling them to reach the level where they would be ready to engage in the world.

Source: Based on Likutei Sichos Vol 33 Lubavitcher Rebbe

23 Sivan Foretold

H/t Yosef Shidler for text and images

 

There is a short video uploaded here by Yosef Shidler 

If you can't access it, I've copied the transcript. 

All right. So the megilla explicitly mentions - in the first column of the megilla - in the first chapter it mentions that this year is 5786 ....what is happening and what is most interesting on what is happening is that this year current events with this whole Iran war, which basically is Persia, the place where the megilla happened, are aligning specifically with the four months that the megilla explicitly mentions.

Teves, the first month that the megilla mentions in the order of things, right? Why Teves is interesting is because Teves is when all the Iranians went out and they started to try and overthrow and cause this uprising, right? Remember this whole scenario? So they were trying to overthrow the government. That happened - the real beginning of that they pinned right to about 8th of Teves and it ended right before the end of Shevat. 

Nothing happens. I remember we were all sitting in Shevat and we're like oh come on. When's this Iran war going to happen? When's this Iran war going to happen? Trump keeps talking about it. Everyone in the media is talking. When's the war finally going to happen? And we were sitting there and nothing's happening. The whole month of Shvat, right? Shvat's not mentioned in the megllah.. 

Then we get to the first date that we can read the megillah... All right, that is when the war begins and it goes all the way until the middle of Nissan. Then there's a ceasefire and it concludes, right - and so we have Teves, we have Adar and we have Nissan - all three months mentioned in the megillah, right? Then we go into Iyar and everyone's like, "Okay, what's happening with this Iran war?" And all this discussion and conversation and everything's going on, right? Nothing happening. Everyone's wondering, "Why is nothing happening?" 

All right, so we're sitting there. We're trying to figure out what's the next step. When's Trump going to act? Finally, 29 Iyar, right? On 29 Iyar, the final day of Iyar, Trump puts up a big post, "the calm before the storm". The storm is coming back, right? We're going to go back into Iran. We're going to do our business right - today is Rosh Chodesh. So literally Trump is saying that I'm about to pick up and he showed the Iranian boats in that picture that he posted. We know that he's going back for Iran.

So essentially you have a pattern where you have months on, then off, months on off right - so what is the mathematical odds that we would get this whole pattern to exactly line up the way it did? 

Also first of all let's just do it in the terms of just this year, meaning that the fact that this year the megilla....you know you have four months that are mentioned in the megilla out of 12 and the factor of all four months lining up specifically to have the megillah calls out those four months. So it says those odds are one in essentially 495 that that happens. 

Then you factor that there's a code in the megilla.. The megilla potentially called out this year of 5786 and that number goes up by like a thousand. Like the mathematical odds that the megilla called out this year and that events are aligning with these months in order is crazy crazy crazy - numbers that are like blown up to the sky type of numbers. meaning that for for this to be predicted or for this to have been predicted and then happen, the mathematical odds are extremely extremely extremely low and very very unlikely to happen. 

So bottom line I guess the month of Sivan is going to be very very telling as to what happens during this month if we perceive and if miracles happen and you know the war continues and I think we have a lot in store for us. I think it's going to be extremely interesting and extremely telling in the general course of events throughout the month. So, I guess pay attention to what happens because it's definitely going to be very very interesting to see that pattern emerge and continue.

Sh'lach - Rejecting the Land of Israel

Art: Jerusalem Landscape by Michoel Muchnik

"And [the spies] began to speak badly about the land that they had explored." [Sh'lach 13:32] 

A dispirited discussion took place at Beit HaRav, Rav Kook's house in Jerusalem, not long after the end of World War II. The Chief Rabbi had passed away ten years earlier; now it was his son, Rabbi Tzvi Yehudah Kook, who sat at the head of the table.

One participant at the Sabbath table had brought up a disturbing topic: the phenomenon of visitors touring Eretz Yisrael and then criticizing the country after returning to their homes. These visitors complain about everything: the heat, the poverty, the backwardness, the political situation - and discourage other Jews from moving here, he lamented.

Rav Tzvi Yehudah responded by telling over the following parable, one he had heard in the name of Rabbi Samuel Mohilever, the rabbi of Bialystok.

The Failed Match

There was once a wealthy man who sought the hand of a certain young lady. She was the most beautiful girl in town, and was blessed with many talents and a truly refined character. Her family was not well-off, so they were eager about a possible match with the prosperous fellow.

The young woman, however, was not interested in the match. Rich or not, the prospective suitor was known to be coarse and ill-mannered. She refused to meet with him.

The father asked her to at least meet with the young man in their home, so as not to embarrass him. After all, one meeting doesn't obligate you to marry him! To please her father, the young woman agreed.

The following Sabbath afternoon, the fellow arrived at the house as arranged, and was warmly received by the father. Shortly afterwards, his daughter made her entrance. But her hair was uncombed, and she wore a faded, crumpled dress and shabby house slippers. Appalled at her disheveled appearance, it did not take long before the young man excused himself and made a hurried exit.

What everyone says about this girl - it's not true, exclaimed the astonished young man to his friends. She's hideous!

Rav Tzvi Yehudah stopped briefly, surveying the guests seated around the table. Superficially, it would appear that the brash young fellow had rejected the young woman. But in fact, it was she who had rejected him.

The same is true regarding the Land of Israel, the rabbi explained. Eretz Yisrael is a special land, only ready to accept those who are receptive to its unique spiritual qualities. The Land does not reveal its inner beauty to all who visit. Not everyone is worthy to perceive its special holiness.

It may appear as if the dissatisfied visitors are the ones who reject the Land of Israel, he concluded. But in fact, it is the Land that rejects them!

A thoughtful silence pervaded the room. Those present were stunned by the parable and the rabbi's impassioned delivery. Then one of the guests observed, Reb Tzvi Yehudah, your words are suitable for a son of your eminent father, may his memory be a blessing!

Seeing the Goodness of Jerusalem

Rav Tzvi Yehudah's response was indeed appropriate for Rav Kook's son. When visitors from outside the country would approach the Chief Rabbi for a blessing, Rav Kook would quote from the Book of Psalms, "May God bless you from Zion" [128:5].

Then he would ask: What exactly is this blessing from Zion? In fact, the content of the blessing is described in the continuation of the verse: "May you see the goodness of Jerusalem."

The rabbi would explain: The verse does not say that one should merit seeing Jerusalem; but that one should merit seeing 'the goodness of Jerusalem.' Many people visit Jerusalem. But how many of them merit seeing the inner goodness hidden in the holy city?

And that, he concluded, is God's special blessing from Zion.

[ Source: Stories from the Land of Israel. Adapted from Malachim Kivnei Adam]

Second Thoughts

Source: "Anatomy of the Soul" - Chaim Kramer - from the writings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

Guard your thoughts carefully, for thought can literally create a living thing. The higher a faculty, the further it can reach. You can kick something with your foot, but throw it higher with your hand. You can reach still farther with your voice, calling to a person very far away. Hearing reaches yet further, for you can hear sounds like gunfire from a very great distance. Your sight reaches even further, seeing things in the sky. Highest of all is the mind, which can penetrate the loftiest heights. You must therefore safeguard your mind above all else. [Rebbe Nachman's Wisdom]

Knowing that thought can reach the loftiest heights, we must realize that thoughts are never mere thoughts. We must never allow ourselves to entertain the notion that it doesn't matter what we think. Good thoughts are extremely beneficial both to those who think them and to the world at large, while evil thoughts are most detrimental.

Rebbe Nachman taught: In ancient amphitheaters, monarchs used to stage battles between wild beasts and their prey. The same type of battle is waged daily in one's mind: battles between good thoughts and evil thoughts. When the good thoughts emerge victorious from the battle, it causes great pleasure Above. [Likutey Moharan 1, 233]

Rebbe Nachman also explains a related passage from the Zohar [III, 123a]

"Every day contains hidden good. But accompanying each day is an angel that prevents people (who are unworthy) from partaking of this good. This angel can take many forms - darkness, thorns, snakes, scorpions - all of which act as guardians to protect the good of that day and to prevent anyone who is unworthy from benefitting. Indeed, were it not for these guardians, the wicked would be able to freely enter into the mysteries of the Torah (and partake of the hidden good of that day).

"It is for this reason that when someone who is not worthy attempts to gain entrance into the Torah's mysteries, troops of destroying angels, which manifest as darkness, concealment, confusion etc. immediately surround him and confuse his thoughts, preventing him from trespassing. However, when one who is worthy wishes to enter, these guardians assist him.... they bring him to the hidden good and speak in his favour to the Master of the Universe..."

The "snakes and scorpions" are the thoughts that confuse a person when he wants to learn the mysteries of the Torah. Yet if he persists in his desire to find G-d, these very thoughts will assist him, then he will find great good every day.... For a person has the ability to incline his thoughts in any direction he wants. Even when his thoughts stray, it is within his power to harness them and return them to the straight path.

The harmful thoughts that assail people serve as a reminder of the ongoing battle with Amalek, the archenemy of the Jewish people. This is the meaning of the verse "Man's thoughts are rak ra kol hayom [only evil all the day]. In Hebrew, the final letters of these words spell AMaLeK. Evil thoughts represent the Amalek within. Amalek also alludes to doubts and confusion. This is seen in the numerical value of the word Safek (doubt) which is 240, the same as the gematria of the world Amalek. Like Amalek, doubts attack a person stealthily. Even before we realize we are under siege, we find ourselves overwhelmed by conflicting thoughts and emotions. It is therefore a Biblical commandment to remember Amalek, that is to be aware of him and his stealthy manner and to wage a constant battle against him.

The Hidden Code in the Mona Lisa

 Well, this is interesting.  

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The Geula Can Come Any Moment Now. Get Your Act Together

Rabbi Daniel Glatstein - 6 min video

Why Is It Harder Now To Believe In The Coming Of Mashiach?

Rabbi Mendel Kessin

Is Belief In Life on Other Planets Heretical: UFO's, Extraterrestrial Life & Space Travel

Rabbi Daniel Glatstein

The View of the Sefer HaBris & Rav David Nieto

This is Part 2 of Rabbi Glatstein's videos on this subject - Part 1 can be found here