Suffering and Debt

Dovid HaMelech in Sefer Tehillim [Psalms 25:18] makes the following request of Hashem: “Look at my affliction and toil and bear all my sins.”

The seventh bracha of the Amidah, “Re’ah [Na] V’anyenu” ["Look… at our afflictions"] closely parallels this passage in Tehillim, and it is, in fact, the only bracha in the Amidah where we ask Hashem to “look” at something for us.

It is said in the name of the Apter Rav that if a person is suffering, he should affirmatively acknowledge and state “may my pain and suffering be a kapara [atonement] for all of my sins”. In this way, a person acknowledges that the purpose of his suffering or affliction is not meaningless or some kind of torture, but to achieve redirection and/or atonement. With this affirmative acknowledgement, the kapara is achieved.

"Gam zu le'tova" : this too is for the best

"Zol zein a kapara" : it should be accepted as a recompense for punishment.

Rebbe Nachman said : "There are sins whose punishment is debt. One who is punished for such a sin is constantly in debt. All the merit in the world does not erase his punishment. He can do every possible good, still he must remain in debt.

These sins can even cause others to fall into debt. When such transgressions become common, there are many debtors in the world.

The remedy for this is to repent in general for all your sins. Even though you do not know what sin is causing these debts, repent in general and ask G-d to also save you from this particular sin.

If the Torah were written in order, we would know the precise reward and punishment for each commandment."

[Rebbe Nachman]

Israel Placing Ships in Position

WASHINGTON – Israel has dispatched a number of naval vessels – under cover – into the Arabian Sea, and they are moving into its northern regions, just off of Iran, a U.S. intelligence source has reported in Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin.

The Israeli vessels have been positioned at the mouth of the Gulf of Oman, which leads to the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has threatened to shut down that gateway to the Persian Gulf if further sanctions are imposed against its sale of oil and on its central bank.

Israel also has threatened a strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities out of concern that it is using them to develop nuclear weapons. Indeed, Iran just announced that it has achieved significant breakthroughs on a number of fronts in its nuclear enrichment program.

Source: WND

22 Shevat: Yarzheit Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka

Tonight is the yarzheit of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushkah Schneerson [b. 1901], wife of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. The Rebbetzin passed away on the 22nd of Shevat of the year 5748 [1988].

In 1950, upon the passing of her father, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, leadership of the worldwide Chabad-Lubavitch movement passed to Chaya Mushka's husband, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory. Despite the Rebbe's initial adamant refusal to accept the mantle, it was his wife, the Rebbetzin, who, notwithstanding the great personal sacrifice this would entail, finally prevailed upon him to accept the position with all its public and private hardships.

She was steadfast: It is simply unthinkable that her father's thirty years of total self-sacrifice and accomplishment should, G-d forbid, come to naught.

An erudite and wise woman, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka carried the mantle of her revered and exalted position in a most humble and unpretentious fashion. All her life she fulfilled the ideal of the psalmist: "The entire honor of a king's daughter is within." When calling the Rebbe's office at "770," or calling for a high school girl ill in her dormitory, she always referred to herself simply as: "Mrs. Schneerson from President Street."

Gentle and courteous to everyone, the Rebbetzin saw her role as one wholly devoted to the work of her husband. Even when she relayed advice to those seeking his guidance through her, she would repeat his wording with precision, making sure that it was understood exactly as the Rebbe intended.

Painting of Chaya Mushka by Cindy Michael

Fall

Response to ''Strait of Hormuz''

This is an interesting response from a reader, to Friday's posting Gog and Magog: The Strait of Hormuz

Guest post, authored by Joe.

I have a hypothesis that I would like to propose to all that might be interested.

I repeat that it is only a hypothesis.

First of all, I want to convey my deepest respect and awe for the Chazal of yesteryear and admit in all humility that they were far more advanced in their knowledge and understanding of holy scriptures. However, they had the greatest reference book of all, "The Tanakh." Their navigation through the Neviim was profound and they often spoke and communicated in the language of the Neviim. Their understanding however was limited to the world they lived in but with their spiritual eyes they were able to project that world mindset into the future.........the Ketz.

This is the world of the Navi. Zechariah, for instance when he projects the thought of Bavel and Zion's escape therefrom in Sefer Zechariah, chapter 2, is he talking about the "Bavel " that Yehudah had just returned from or was he talking about the future "Bavel" that would encapsulate all the qualities of a superpower? This is the language of the Navi.

When considering Batzrah and Hormuz and their relationship......may I suggest for your consideration, using the above language, that seeking Batzrah in Jordan and Southern Iraq may be far removed. Considering that modern day Edom is not east of Eretz Yisrael but refers to Rome / Xtianity / the West and that Batzrah means "fortress" and the controversy relates to Zion, I propose that this refers to the West.

There are miniscule Yehudim left in Arab counties since their expulsion after the 1948 War of Independence. However, the bulk of exiled world Jewry is in USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other European countries. Hence, the fortress aspect.

I formulate that whilst Islamic terrorism has been the visual face or front for aggressive attacks against Zion /Israel, the West has been flagrantly complicit in many more ways than one:

• Who built up and armed Saddam Hussein during the Ten Year War with Iran ?
• Who allowed Iran to become an Islamic Republic and state sponsor of terror in 1979?
• Who let Saddam Hussein off the hook after the First Gulf War ?
• Who built up the Mujahedin during their war against USSR ?
• Who allowed Gaddafi to reinvent himself ?
• Who allowed the demise of Gaddafi after he became an ally and Muslim Brotherhood to fill the void ?
• Who allowed Yassar Arafat to project himself as a dove of peace and garner world support for a Palestinian State?
• Who allowed the demise of Mubarak and the establishment of Muslim Brotherhood as the future government in Egypt?
• Who allowed Iran to pursue its nuclear programme ?
• Who put pressure on the Sharon government to instigate the Gerush from Gush Katif ?
• Who allowed Chamas to be democratically elected in Gaza ?
• Who allowed Hezbollah to rearm after the 2006 Levanon War ?

Who, who, who ?
Edom / Batzrah ..........and HaShem is preparing a sacrifice and slaughter.
I suggest reading the entire chapter of Ovadyah.

Yeshayahu talks about it in chapter 63 :

א מִי-זֶה בָּא מֵאֱדוֹם, חֲמוּץ בְּגָדִים מִבָּצְרָה, זֶה הָדוּר בִּלְבוּשׁוֹ, צֹעֶה בְּרֹב כֹּחוֹ; אֲנִי מְדַבֵּר בִּצְדָקָה, רַב לְהוֹשִׁיעַ. 1 'Who is this that cometh from Edom, with crimsoned garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, stately in the greatness of his strength?'--'I that speak in victory, mighty to save.'--

ב מַדּוּעַ אָדֹם, לִלְבוּשֶׁךָ; וּבְגָדֶיךָ, כְּדֹרֵךְ בְּגַת. 2 'Wherefore is Thine apparel red, and Thy garments like his that treadeth in the winevat?'--

ג פּוּרָה דָּרַכְתִּי לְבַדִּי, וּמֵעַמִּים אֵין-אִישׁ אִתִּי, וְאֶדְרְכֵם בְּאַפִּי, וְאֶרְמְסֵם בַּחֲמָתִי; וְיֵז נִצְחָם עַל-בְּגָדַי, וְכָל-מַלְבּוּשַׁי אֶגְאָלְתִּי. 3 'I have trodden the winepress alone, and of the peoples there was no man with Me; yea, I trod them in Mine anger, and trampled them in My fury; and their lifeblood is dashed against My garments, and I have stained all My raiment.

ד כִּי יוֹם נָקָם, בְּלִבִּי; וּשְׁנַת גְּאוּלַי, בָּאָה. 4 For the day of vengeance that was in My heart, and My year of redemption are come.

Yirmeyahu talks about it in chapters 48 and 49 :

כב הִנֵּה כַנֶּשֶׁר יַעֲלֶה וְיִדְאֶה, וְיִפְרֹשׂ כְּנָפָיו עַל-בָּצְרָה; וְהָיָה לֵב גִּבּוֹרֵי אֱדוֹם, בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, כְּלֵב, אִשָּׁה מְצֵרָה. {פ} 22 Behold, he shall come up and swoop down as the vulture, and spread out his wings against Bozrah; and the heart of the mighty men of Edom at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.

Amos talks about it in chapter 1

יב וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי אֵשׁ, בְּתֵימָן; וְאָכְלָה, אַרְמְנוֹת בָּצְרָה. {פ} 12 So will I send a fire upon Teman, and it shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.

And now to Hormuz. from Wikipedia :

Ahura Mazdā (also known as Ohrmazd, Ahuramazda, Hourmazd, Hormazd,Hurmuz, Aramazd and Azzandara) is the Avestan name for a divinity of the Old Iranian religion who was proclaimed the uncreated God by Zoroaster, the founder of Zoroastrianism. Ahura Mazda is described as the highest deity of worship in Zoroastrianism, along with being the first and most frequently invoked deity in the Yasna. The word Ahura means light and Mazda means wisdom. Thus Ahura Mazda is the lord of light and wisdom. Ahura Mazda is the creator and upholder of Arta (truth). Ahura Mazda is an omniscient (though not omnipotent) god, who would eventually destroy evil.

So what is the connection ?

Have a look at the map of the Persian Gulf and the "Straits" of Hormuz and you will notice a womb-shaped Gulf with the Straits of Hormuz resembling the constriction of the birth canal.

May I suggest that the constriction of child birth in delivering Mashiach will come from The True G-d of Light who upholds truth and will eradicate evil.

Batzrah /Edom / The "Fortress" West will be the recipient and the wine press of HaShem's fury since they are the cause not the effect of all of Israel's woes and HaShem requires the release of His people from the fortress.

Iran declared last Friday, the 33rd anniversary of its foundation, that the world will get a big surprise over the next couple of days.

Al Capone's Chicago bloodbath on Valentine's Day will be chicken feed compared to what is coming for the West, and I don't mean long stemmed roses, either.

The Essence of Prayers

Unfinished Business

Week's Energy for Parshas Mishpatim

Resetting our Moral Compass

by Rav DovBer Pinson

The Torah reading this week opens with the words; “And these are the Mishpatim /ordinances that you shall set before them.” [21:1]

'Mishpatim' are the ethical and civil laws that govern our behavior towards our fellow human beings, a social contract, as it were.

The Zohar chooses this portion, from amongst all the other Torah readings, to explore the mystery of Reincarnation.

As a rule, our souls incarnate to reach our own actualization and individuation. Each subsequent reincarnation articulates another element of our soul. Each incarnation is a completely different person with a different tikkun [correction], meant to articulate a particular element of soul that has not yet been expressed.

There is one form of reincarnation however, where the totality of who you are and were in the past will reincarnate to create a Tikkun, a rectification for a past life. It is particularly the unfinished monetary issues and unethical dealings between people that require the totality of self to return and hopefully create repair.

Our goal is to fully articulate our particular aspect of soul within our lifetime, and not require a reincarnation of our unique self.

To this end, it is of utmost importance to rectify all negative patterns of unethical behavior that we might express in our lives. In our business dealings, and all other relationships, we must be extra cautious to be moral and honest and repair any unscrupulous behaviors.

This week’s Torah reading imbues us with the energy to effect repair, or Tikkun, for interpersonal issues, particularly in regard to monetary dealings and any dishonorable financial behaviors.

Throughout the week it is important to be extra mindful when it comes to ethical dealings with others.

Try to recognize your negative patterns in regards to business/financial dealings and receive the energy of Mishpatim as an impetus to break out of these behaviors.

Rectifying these negative unethical patterns will ensure a complete tikkun in our lifetime and the ability for our soul to move forward in this life and the next without the need to ‘come back’ and try again.

Please consider sponsoring an 'Energy of the Week' teaching that reaches and inspires an audience of many thousands worldwide This is a beautiful way to honor a loved one. Contact Iyyun today for more details: contact@iyyun.com

Compensation

עַיִן תַּחַת עַיִן "An eye for an eye" [Mishpatim 21:24]

The term "eye for an eye" explain Chazal [Bava Kamma 84a] is not meant to be taken literally - one who causes another the loss of an eye is not punished by having to lose his own eye.  Rather, it means that the responsible party must pay the monetary value of an eye.

Chazal's interpretation of this halachah, said the Vilna Gaon, is alluded to in the words of the verse.  Why does the verse state "Ayin tachas ayin" - which literally means "an eye beneath an eye" - and not "Ayin be'ad ayin" - which means "eye for an eye"?

The Torah, explained the Gaon, is hinting to us that in order to discover the true meaning of the verse, we must look at what is "beneath" the ayin, that is the letters that follow the word "ayin" עין:

The letter ayin ע is followed by the letter pei פ

The letter yud י is followed by the letter kaf כּ

The letter nun is ן followed by the letter samech ס

These letters form the word keseph - כּסף - money !

Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein