Testing Times

 

 

Everything in the world - whatever it is and whatever happens - is a test, designed to give you freedom of choice. Choose wisely.

Occupy yourself with doing good, and the bad will automatically fall away.

Rely on nothing and no-one but G-d. This is true simplicity. Anything else means pursuing a complicated course of action.

Pray, pray, pray.  Whatever you need... praying is the best way to get it.

Keep in mind that the essence of your prayers is the faith you have in them that they will be answered.

Remember: things can go from the very worst to the very best .... in just the blink of an eye.

from the writings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

Within Reach



"She sent her maidservant and she took it" [Shemot 2:5]

Chazal inform us that the basket carrying Moshe was too far for Pharoah's daughter to reach from where she was standing. Still, she stretched out her hand (amasah) in the direction of the basket and Hashem miraculously lengthened her arm for her.

R' Meir Shapiro, the Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, called for an emergency meeting of the leaders of Lublin to discuss a certain person whose life was in danger.  R' Shapiro demanded of them to do something to save his life.

"This matter that you speak of" responded one of the leaders, "is beyond our capabilities.  We regrettably do not believe that we can carry it out."

"In this week's parsha" replied R' Shapiro, "the Torah states: "And she sent her maidservant".  Chazal teach us that the arm of Pharoah's daughter was miraculously lengthened in order for her to take hold of Moshe's basket.

"I wonder" continued R' Shapiro, "why did Pharoah's daughter even attempt to retrieve the basket in the first place?  After all, if it is obvious to an individual that something is not within his reach, does he waste his energy trying to obtain it?"

"We see from here" concluded R' Shapiro, "that when a person is expected to accomplish something, he should not deliberate whether or not he is capable of succeeding - he must try! Let him first make an effort, and then Heaven will assist him."

Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein

The Beginning of the End??

H/t Sherry and Serious Bible Student

Rav Ron Chaya

Subtitles available, all languages.  Rough transcription in the comments.

The Palisades Palestine Connection

People are noticing the similarities.... they both currently look the same, i.e. totally destroyed and they both start with "Pal" - even though the "Palestine" they refer to is actually called Aza or Gaza - nevertheless there is a connection, just not the one the anti-Semites have grabbed hold of.

Dov bar Leib shows us the  connection between the Mishkan and California - although there are a lot of comments there, just click this link to take you to the actual page, scroll down to see his comments dated 9 January.

I'm going to quote his last sentence:

Both Eretz Yisrael and California have 50th Gates (Golden Gates). Eretz Yisrael has the Golden Gate from the Qidron Valley to the Ezrat HaNashim on the Temple Mount, and San Francisco's Golden Gate is well known and has been used by some in humanity to take the Human race in the wrong direction. Both places have spiritual power to move all of humanity in one direction or the other.

The Tenth Day of the Tenth Month

The 10th of Tevet (known as Asarah B'Tevet) is observed as a day of fasting, mourning and repentance. We refrain from food and drink from daybreak to nightfall, and add Selichot (penitential prayers) and other special supplements to our prayers. The fast ends at nightfall (and Kiddush has been said, when this fast occurs on Friday), or as soon as you see three medium-sized stars in the sky.

What does it commemorate? 

Jerusalem Surrounded 

For years, G‑d had sent His prophets to warn Israel about the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple if they didn’t mend their ways. But they derided the holy men as bearers of “false prophecies of doom,” bent on demoralizing the nation. They even went so far as to kill one of the prophets. 

Then it finally happened. On the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tevet, in the year 3336 from Creation (425 BCE), the armies of the Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem.

Ever patient, G‑d delayed the destruction to give the Jews yet another chance to repent. He repeatedly sent the prophet Jeremiah to admonish His nation, but they foolishly had him imprisoned. Thus, 30 months later, on Tamuz 92 (or 17,3 the very date the walls would be breached when the Second Temple was destroyed), 3338, the city walls were breached, and on 9 Av of that year the Holy Temple was destroyed and the Jewish people were exiled. 

Unique among Jewish fasts, 10 Tevet is observed (in a joyful manner) even when it falls on a Friday, though it interferes somewhat with Shabbat preparations.

More plus footnotes: Source

Woken Up Yet ? [updated]

I spent most of yesterday watching a Live Stream of the fires in California.  I was horrified and amazed as I watched million dollar properties burn while people helplessly watched on, with no water to put out the fires, compounded by the fact that there had been no back-burning -  which is what we do here in Australia.... back-burning is to deliberately burn parcels of land well beforehand in order to halt an out-of-control fire spreading even further.  

Australians are prepared for fires, but it seems these Palisades people didn't have a clue what to do.... and there's only one road out.  Scenes of earth-moving equipment shovelling abandoned cars out of the way to make a path for the Fire trucks was something I'd never seen before.  Hundreds of abandoned Porsches, Mercedes.... all being unceremoniously pushed to the side.  

How is that even possible.... in California, the land of the disaster movie... out of control fires, the devilish Santa Ana wind blowing through like a jet engine, and no water available from the fire hydrants so the Fire Dept had to leave.

Well, it's because the Governor of the State is woke [the new word for stupid] and even Trump had to call him out.

But don't blame him entirely.... he got there because they voted him in.  All the woke stupid people voted for this guy.  

So Hashem gave them a cluster....   a word I can't write in full but you know what I'm saying.... it's when mass human incompetence and the Hand of G-d come together to cause a major devastation.  And it's still going, they say at least until the weekend.  That Santa Ana wind is blowing like there's no tomorrow.

Feel for the people in L.A. who can't breathe because of the air quality.  I'm sorry that so many innocents have to suffer because there are so many woke stupid people who vote in these morons to run their lives.

So 2025 has certainly got off to a nightmare start, and it's just the beginning of more of the same, in the lead up to Moshiach coming.   I think we're in for a wild ride.  Maybe some of these woke people will wake up, who knows.

Update: Fire has now broken out in the Hollywood Hills.... near the HOLLYWOOD sign.  G-d is sending a strong message.

Link to NY Times https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/08/us/california-wildfire-la-palisades

The Power of Mashiach Ben Yosef and the Upcoming Inauguration

Rabbi Mendel Kessin

The Spiritual Ladder

I heard in the name of Rebbe Elimelech that if a person wishes to rise higher in his spiritual level, he must see to it that his character traits are whole and perfect on the lower level. This is because it is impossible to maintain a constant static level.

A person is like the angels called Chayos, which run and return, for sometimes he rises and sometimes he falls.  And if his lower levels are not perfected, how can he return to them?

The Rebbe compared this to a man climbing a ladder.  The wise and intelligent man will first test all the rungs to make sure that they are whole and intact so that if needs be he can retrace his steps and return to them.

[Tal Moshe Zwecker: Mipeninei Noam Elimelech]

How to Avoid an "Evil Eye"

"Ben Porat Yosef, Ben Porat Alei Ayin" [Vayechi 49:22].

Rashi says that this means that Yosef will multiply and be beyond the reach of Ayin Hara [the evil eye]. As a reward for not taking his master's wife, no one will be able, through jealously, to inflict any harm on what belongs to him.

The Shulchan Gavo'a brings from Rav Eliyahu Dessler that no matter how rich a person is, no one is ever jealous of a totally selfless person whose whole life is about giving. An element of jealousy stems from the intended or even unintended flaunting of oneself before others.

Yaakov gave Ephraim and Menashe a bracha "V'Yidgu LaRov" - they should multiply like fish. There are two attributes of fish that Yaakov had in mind. Fish are not seen from the dry land. Moreover the fish live a life totally separated from the inhabitants of the land. They don't compete with them in any way. That is why the Ayin Hara does not affect them.

If a person lives a life of Yosef, where he doesn't want what doesn't belong to him, and he lives and enjoys his material assets out of the public eye, he too will not suffer from any unwanted evil eyes.

Source: Rav Eliyahu Dessler

Lightning

We're living through an episode of Stranger Things.  

The Empire State Building, the Capitol and the Washington Monument were all struck by lightning on New Year's Eve.

To make things even more crazy, the truck that ploughed into the people in New Orleans was a Ford Pro Lightning model.

Here is the link to the Twitter account I got this information from.  [I don't know anything about the person who owns this account]  You can find news stories on the internet which will confirm all this.

It's All Good

Now Yosef could not bear all those standing beside him, and he called out, "Take everyone away from me!" So no one stood with him when Yosef made himself known to his brothers. [Vayigash 45:1]

Yosef could not bear that Egyptians would stand beside him and hear his brothers being embarrassed when he would make himself known to them. [Rashi]

We can learn from the example of Yosef towards his brothers that one should never seek revenge against a person who causes him any form of distress or damage.  Rather, one should repay even a guilty offender with kindness. [Tanya ch.12]

Why should we be kind to guilty offenders?

Because whatever that person did to you ultimately stems from G-d.  The person was merely an agent from G-d, Who decreed that this thing should happen to you.

Thus, since "everything that G-d does is for the good", you must repay the person - who brought this "good" to you - with kindness.

Source: Likutei Sichos Lubavitcher Rebbe

The Reckoning Begins

 

by Afshine Emrani  MD FACC

2025: The Reckoning Begins 

Carter’s death marks the end of a dying era. 

Obama’s sinister grip on America crumbles into irrelevance. 

Trump returns, triumphant, to restore what was stolen. 

A global shift erupts: Iran breaks its chains, the mullahs fall, and freedom rises from the ashes. 

America reclaims its greatness, casting out corruption and embracing strength. 

Israel awakens, fulfilling its Biblical destiny as a light unto the nations. 

The world stands on the precipice of prophecy fulfilled. 

This is not a time for complacency. 

This is the Messianic Era. 

Are you awake to the truth?

Mikeitz: At The End of Days

                                                                

Ontario Nov 7 - Photo Gianluca Marvosi

Text Source: Likutei Sichos of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Gutnick Chumash

The word Mikeitz means "At the end" as in the saying "the end of days" [Daniel 12:13]

In Aramaic the word "days" is almost identical to its Hebrew equivalent, but the last letter switches from a mem to a nun    ימים = ימין

The Zohar notes that this Aramaic word  ימין is identical to the Hebrew word  ימין , meaning "right" and on this basis, the Zohar concludes: There are two 'ends', one on the spiritual 'right' and one on the spiritual 'left'.

In Jewish mysticism, "left" represents the side of evil.  So, the 'end of the spiritual left' refers to the day when evil will cease to exist, with the end of exile, i.e. "the end of days" (קץ הימים).

"Right", on the other hand, represents goodness and holiness.  Thus we refer to the "end of the right" to indicate that there is no dilution of values in the realms of holiness, so the end is as good as the beginning.  The term קץ הימים ("end of the spiritual right") is thus an allusion to the final redemption, when good will triumph over evil, and we will see how good is found consistently throughout the entire world.

We are thus left with the question: Which "end" does the word Mikeitz refer to - the "end of the left" or the "end of the right"?

In fact, both could be argued:

a) At the beginning of our Parsha, Yosef is released from jail.  This was the end of Yosef's exile, i.e. the "end of the left".

b) On the other hand, we then read how Yosef suddenly rose to power and became ruler over Egypt - his redemption, represented by "the end of the right".

How could the two opposite concepts of exile and redemption be alluded to by the same expression?

Chassidic thought explains that the inner purpose of exile is that the Jews should be scattered around the world in order to "rescue" sparks of holiness which had been lost in physicality.  Thus, redemption is not the elimination of exile, but rather, it is the goal of exile.  And therefore, both concepts are hinted to by the same word.

Yud-Tes Kislev - The Rosh haShanah of Chassidus

 

The Alter Rebbe - Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi author of The Tanya

The 18th of Kislev marks the completion of the annual cycle of daily readings from the Tanya. The 19th and 20th of Kislev are the "Rosh HaShanah of Chassidus".

On Yud-Tes Kislev we re-commence the annual cycle of daily readings in Tanya, as divided by the Rebbe Rayatz.

It is the anniversary of the release of the Alter Rebbe - Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi [Hebrew: שניאור זלמן מליאדי], the first Rebbe of Chabad, who was informed upon by misnagdim in Russia and arrested on trumped-up charges of supporting the Ottoman Empire.

His informers pointed to the fact that he would urge his followers to send money to the Land of Israel as "evidence" of his alleged insurrectionist aspirations [in fact, the money was sent to support poor Jews]. At the time, the Land of Israel was a part of the Ottoman Empire, which was at war with Russia.

Rabbi Shneur Zalman was charged with treason, and released in the secular year 1798 on the Jewish date of Tuesday, 19 Kislev.

The 53 days of Rabbi Shneur Zalman's imprisonment are said to correspond to the 53 chapters of the first section of the Tanya.

19 Kislev is also considered to mark the day upon which Rabbi Shneur Zalman was conceived, for he was born exactly nine months later, on 18 Elul. [Shemu'os Vesippurim, Refoel Kahn, vol. 1, p. 39]

Rebbetzin Menuchah Rachel born [1798]

On the very day that Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi was liberated from prison, a granddaughter was born to him -- the daugher of his son Rabbi Dovber and his wife Rebbetzin Sheina. The girl was named Menuchah Rachel -- "Menuchah", meaning "tranquility" [Rachel was the name of a daughter of Rabbi Schneur Zalman who died in her youth].

In 1845, Rebbetzin Menuchah Rachel realized her lifelong desire to live in the Holy Land when she and her husband, Rabbi Yaakov Culi Slonim [d. 1857], led a contingent of Chassidim who settled in Hebron. Famed for her wisdom, piety and erudition, she served as the matriarch of the Chassidic community in Hebron until her passing in her 90th year in 1888.

The 19th of Kislev is also the yahrzeit of R. DovBer, the Maggid of Mezritch, who [as successor to the Baal Shem Tov] was the mentor of the second generation of the chassidic movement - from 5521 [1761] until his passing on the third day of the week of Parshas Vayeishev, Yud-Tes Kislev, 5533 [1772]. His resting place is in Anipoli.

Rabbi Dov Ber was born in Volhynia in 1710, according to the Jewish Encyclopedia, though other sources say his year of birth is unknown. Little is known about him before he became a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. A Hasidic legend states that, when he was five years old, his family home burst into flames. On hearing his mother weeping, he asked: "Mother, do we have to be so unhappy because we have lost a house?" She replied that she was mourning the family tree, which was destroyed, and had begun with Rabbi Yohanan, the sandal-maker and master in the Talmud. The boy replied: "And what does that matter! I shall get you a new family tree which begins with me!"

How aptly those words described the role he was later to play; for the boy was destined to become the successor to the Baal Shem Tov.

Source: Chabad

The Pintele Yid

The Pintele Yid is the Jewish spark that never dies.

Actor Liev Schreiber

Deciphering the Dream

Art Jacek Yerka

''In three days Pharoah will remove your head'' [Vayeishev 40:19]

The dreams of the chief baker and the chief wine butler, noted the Dubno Maggid, were very similar. Why, then, did Yosef interpret the dream of the chief wine butler favorably - that Pharoah would soon reinstate him to his post - but that of the chief baker unfavorably - that he was about to meet his end?

The answer, explained the Maggid, can be understood with a parable: An artist painted a magnificent portrait of a man balancing a basket full of bread on his head. Two men came to admire the painting. While they stood there, a bird landed atop it and began to peck away at the bread, which it thought was genuine.

''Such a marvellous artist!'' said one man to the other. ''This bird actually believes that the bread is real!''

''No'' responded the other, ''he is not much of an artist at all. For while the bread may be quite realistic, the man carrying it is not, for if it was, the bird would be afraid to approach the painting.''

We are now able to understand concluded the Dubno Maggid, why Yosef interpreted the dream of the chief baker unfavorably. When the chief baker related his dream to Yosef, he said ''And the birds were eating them from the basket above my head.'' Yosef understood that if the birds were unafraid to approach him, it was an indication that he was soon to be executed by Pharoah and was already considered a ''dead man''. For had he been ''alive''', the birds would have refrained from eating the food on his head!

Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein

The Mystery of the Orbs

A couple of short videos here that will confirm my theory that it was US drones that were chasing the mysterious orbs.

First up, a Military Drone Expert confirming the situation

And this one is some amazing footage of an orb doing some incredible things, which is consistent with other videos I've seen taken by different people from various places in the U.S.

Just some more orbs here

I've seen these orbs many times, I look at sky photos all the time.  So the orbs decided to come in closer now, and the US government sent out the drones.  

Signs in the Heavens.  

Paving the Way for Moshiach

Purple skies in the UK - Paving the way for  royalty: King Moshiach

Lake Colac, Australia

Based on Sichos Shabbos Parshat Vayeishev 5751 Lubavitcher Rebbe

Rashi explains the simple reason why the Torah begins to speak of Yehudah in the middle of the story of Yosef.  ''To teach us that [Yehudah's] brothers demoted him from his high position.''

However, Rashi does not explain why the entire account of Yehudah and Tamar was recorded here, leading up to the birth of Peretz and Zarach.

However, according to the explanation of the Midrash, we can understand that the account of Yehudah and Tamar was included here to explain the reason why Yosef was sold : because G-d was paving the way for Moshiach.

Thus, before we read of Yosef's enslavement, and the ensuing Egyptian exile, the Torah prefaces ''the cure before the disease'' informing us of G-d's inner intent.

Orbs Everywhere

Here are a few videos I found showing various orbs.  Not all videos on Tik Tok are suitable for publication and some cannot be downloaded, but I managed to get these.

Australia

Triangular

Montreal

Drones Chasing Orbs

 

The drones were chasing the orbs.  Many drone owners reported that when they aimed their drones at an orb, the drone battery immediately drained. 

And this is what Sheffield UK's skies looked like last night.   Not a photoshop.

Photo: Luke Eastwood

Are these things connected?   I think so.

Moon last night -  Photo:  J Rinehart -  Blue Ridge Parkway, Botetourt County, Virginia

Transforming Enemies

from the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

At the beginning of the portion Vayishlach, the Torah relates how Ya'akov sent emissaries to his brother Esav. He instructed them that, when speaking to Esav, they should refer to Ya'akov as "Esav's servant" and to Esav as "Ya'akov's lord." Later on in the portion, we find Ya'akov bowing down seven times before Esav, calling him many times "my lord" and referring to himself as "your servant."

Ya'akov's extreme obsequiousness seems hard to fathom. In fact, the Midrash states that Ya'akov was punished for sending emissaries to Esav and for calling him "my lord" - his profuse obeisance was considered sinful.

Especially so since G-d had already told Rivkah that "the older one will serve the younger" and moreover, in Yitzchak's blessing to Ya'akov, he specifically stated "you shall be a lord over your brother."

What was the reason for Ya'akov's servility?

Since the Patriarchs were wholly dedicated to G-d's will, evil could not have been part of their makeup, and thus, for them to commit gross sins was an impossibility; those actions that appear to be "sins" cannot be construed as such in the simple sense, Heaven forbid.

The proof that this is indeed so can be derived from this very incident. Although Ya'akov was punished for his actions, we nevertheless learn from his behavior that "it is permissible to flatter the wicked ... for the sake of peace." Were Ya'akov's conduct to have been considered a true sin rather than a mere failing, we would never have derived a lesson from it. What then was the purpose of Ya'akov's behavior?

Chassidus explains that Esav's spiritual source was loftier than Ya'akov's; by elevating Esav, Ya'akov was able to draw down an additional measure of spirituality from his brother's spiritual origin. Ya'akov's bowing before Esav, calling him "my lord," etc., was thus primarily directed at Esav's lofty source rather than at Esav himself.

But the fact remains that Ya'akov was totally subservient before his brother, and was punished for it. How was this befitting Ya'akov's spiritual quest?

There are two methods by which evil can be vanquished and refined: One is to draw down a great measure of sanctity upon the object one wishes to refine. This has the effect of pushing aside the evil within the object and elevating the rest to holiness.

The second approach involves the descent of the individual, bringing about the purification to the level at which the unrefined object exists. By thus coming into intimate contact with the object, he is able to transform it from evil to good.

Each of these methods has unique advantages. With regard to the person doing the purification, there is obvious merit to drawing down an infusion of holiness, inasmuch as the person himself does not have to undergo a personal descent in order to purify and elevate an object.

For the object involved, however, it is better if the person bringing about its purification actually descends into the object's realm, for then, rather than having the evil within it simply shunted aside, the object actually becomes holy, and ceases to act as an entity that conceals G-dliness.

The prime goal of Torah service is to bring peace within the world and true peace comes only when one's enemy is transformed into a friend. To bring peace "within the world" thus means that one is ready to get "down and dirty," as it were, clothing oneself in worldly garments in order to transform the material world into a holy entity.

In order for Ya'akov to truly transform his sibling, it was necessary to descend to the level of Esav as he found him. By doing so, he was able to transform Esav so that Esav said: "Let what is yours remain yours" thereby admitting that Ya'akov was entitled to Yitzchak's blessings, including the blessing of "You shall be a lord over your brother."

The Tov Sh'b'Eisav

Did you happen to listen to Rabbi Anava's shiur yesterday.... Who Are You Kidding?

He showed us a totally different way of looking at Eisav.  

Anyway.....this short clip below just randomly appeared on my feed.   It seems to again prove that Trump is the tov sh'b'Eisav - the good side of Eisav - as Rabbi Kessin has told us for years. Watch til the end and hear what he says, it's like a confession that he is indeed the TOV she'b'Eisav, and he's done teshuvah this time around.

Yaakov and Eisav Prepare to Meet at the End of Days

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff

The Final Battle of Moshiach ben Yosef....

....and David vs Eisav & Amalek

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff

Who Are You Kidding?

I just started listening to this.... he begins by speaking about the fact that often we have friends and family members who have no interest in doing Teshuva, and what we can do about this..... but that is just the introduction.   He then changes tack and begins to talk about the person he finds most interesting in the book of Bereishis.... and that person is..... Eisav !

So even though I'm only at the beginning of this shiur, I knew everyone would want to hear what he has to say about Eisav, as we've heard the opinion of several different Rabbis, as well as bloggers and commenters.... let's see what Rabbi Anava thinks.

More Gematriot Revealing "The King Moshiach"

H/t Yankev

If you need any more proof that  Moshiach is sooo close, just read this:

The Midrash of Rashbi refers to Niron Mizrachi, which in Hebrew has the same numerical value as “Basher Assad”, and “President Al-Assad” נשיא אל-אסאד is exactly the gematria of the force he opposed: “the King Moshiach” המלך המשיח!

See the full blog post at The Fall of Assad in Damascus

Syria, Assad and Geula

H/t Jack Fried

From Rabbi Alon Anava's book: 

The Australian Government Should Be Ashamed of Itself

Please don't think that our moronic Prime Minister speaks for the country - he is nothing but a clown.

How to Bring Mashiach

Rabbi Mendel Kessin - new shiur

The Fifth Exile of Yishmael and the End of Days

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff

Ani Ma'amin

 6,500 Chabad Shluchim singing Ani Ma'amin at the recent Kinus ha Shluchim

Leftover Sparks

".... Lavan was informed that Yaakov had fled. He took his relatives with him and pursued him" [Vayeitze 31:22,23]

The Maggid of Mezritch taught: "Yaakov had left behind letters from the Torah which he had not yet extracted from Lavan. This is why Lavan pursued him - to give him the letters which remained with him.  An entire chapter was added to the Torah by these letters."  [Ohr Hame'ir, beg. Parshas Vayeitzei, see Ohr HaTorah vol 5, p.869a]

The "letters of the Torah" which Yaakov left behind were "sparks" of holiness.  In fact, Yaakov had spent twenty years in Lavan's house extracting whatever sparks of holiness he could find there, and when the process was complete, he left. At least he thought it was complete....

In truth, however, Yaakov had left some sparks behind, so Lavan chased Yaakov to give them to him.

Why did Yaakov leave sparks behind?

Chassidic teachings explain that, while most of a person's achievements in life come through his own conscious efforts, there are some "super-conscious" achievements that are so lofty they cannot occur intentionally.  So, while we are usually the ones that choose our own paths in life - to find the sparks which we are destined to elevate - sometimes our "sparks" pursue us, because they are too sublime to be "extracted" solely by our own endeavors.

Source: Based on Likutei Sichos of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Gutnick Chumash

Concept by Mordechai Becher    Illustration by Rafi Mollot

Text: Rabbi Y. Y. Jacobson

The Yeshiva decided to field a rowing team. Unfortunately, they lost race after race. They practiced for hours every day but never managed to come in any better than dead last.

The Rosh Yeshiva  finally decided to send Yankel to spy on the Harvard team. So Yankel schlepped off to Cambridge and hid in the bullrushes of the Charles River, from where he carefully watched the Harvard team as they practiced.

Yankel returned to Yeshiva, and announced: "I have figured out their secret."

"What? Tell us," they all wanted to know.

"We should have eight guys rowing and only one guy shouting."

Kislev The Month of Dreams

The Month of Kislev: Sagittarius

 

Keshet (bow) is the Hebrew name for Sagittarius. At dawn during Kislev a constellation reminiscent of a bow appears on the horizon - the Keshet, identified by our Sages as the sign of this month.

The bow was used in the past to shoot missiles, such as arrows, at the enemy. In the Midrash, the bow symbolizes the projection upwards of the scorpion from the brambles into which it had been cast. Projection implies shooting upwards from below. In the words of R' Bachyei:

"After the soul has received its judgment in purgatory, it will be projected up from there much like an arrow from the bow. That is the reason for the proximity of Akrav (Scorpio) to Keshet, as alluded to by our Sages (who said "They descend to Gehinnom yelling and crying... and rise".

Source: Gad Erlanger "Signs of the Times"

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

Text: Rav Yitzchak Ginsburgh  [also see Kislev: the Month of Dreams]

The Month of Kislev according to The Book of Formation (Sefer Yetzirah) - Kislev is the ninth of the twelve months of the Jewish calendar.

Kislev is the month of Chanukah--the only holiday in the Jewish calender which spans, and hence connects, two months: Chanukah begins on the 25th day of the month of Kislev and concludes in the month of Tevet (either on the 2nd or 3rd, depending on the number of days in Kislev).

The name Kislev derives from the Hebrew word for "security" and "trust." There are two states of trust, one active and one passive, both of which are manifest in the month of Kislev. The miracle of Chanukah reflects the active trust of the Maacabim to stand up and fight against the Hellenistic empire and its culture. Kislev's sense of sleep reflects the passive trust that G-d's providence always guards over Israel.

In the tradition of Chassidut, the 19th day of Kislev, the day of the release and redemption of Rabbi Shneur Zalman, the author of the classic text of Chassidut, the Tanya (the disciple of the Magid of Mezerich, the successor of the Ba'al Shem Tov) from prison (where he was placed for the dissemination of the innermost mysteries of the Torah) is referred to as "the New Year of Chassidut" (implying that it is through the spiritual channel of this day that the inner wisdom of Chassidut and the power to integrate this wisdom into one's daily life is brought down into this world).

The foundation of the way of Chassidut is absolute trust and faith in G-d's omnipresence and the omnipotence of His Divine providence.

Color: Blue-Violet

Letter: samech

The word samech means "to support". The experience of feeling supported corresponds to the trust and confidence in Divine providence associated with the month of Kislev, as described above. So do we find expressed in Psalms: "G-d supports (somech) all the fallen and lifts up all the bent over;" "Even when he falls he will not be let to fall to the ground, for G-d supports (yismoch) his hand."

The shape of the samech is a circle, which represents the all-encompassing omnipresence of G-d and His providence. The "great circle" of G-d's Infinite light is explained in Kabbalah and Chassidut to reflect His "right arm" which embraces (and supports, from beneath) with great, infinite love all of reality, as is said: "And from beneath, the arms of the universe."

Mazal: keshet (Sagittarius--Bow)

The bow of Kislev is the bow of the Maacabim. It symbolizes their active trust in G-d to fight against the empire and culture that then ruled the earth. Though the Chashmonaim themselves were from the Priestly tribe of Israel, the "art" of the bow is ascribed in the Bible to the tribe of Benjamin in particular, the tribe of the month of Kislev.

The Kohanim (and Leviim) are not considered as one of the twelve tribes in the correspondence of the tribes to the months of the year (according to the Arizal). As an all-inclusive manifestation of the Jewish soul, the Kohanim contain and reflect the spiritual source of each of the twelve tribes of Israel. This is especially so with regard to the tribe of Benjamin, for in his portion was the holy Temple wherein the Kohanim served. Thus the relation of the Kohanim to Benjamin is similar to that of soul to body. The Kohanim fight the holy war embodied in the bow of Benjamin.

The bow of war of Kislev is actually projected (shot) from the bow (the rainbow; in Hebrew both "bow" and "rainbow" are identical--keshet) of peace (between G-d and Creation) of the end of the previous month of Cheshvan, as explained above. The two bows (semi-circles) unite together to form the complete circle of the samech of Kislev.

Tribe: Benjamin

Sense: sleep

The sense of sleep is the tranquility and restfulness that comes with trust and security in G-d and His Divine providence. So do we find in the blessings at the end of Leviticus (26:5-6): "And you shall dwell securely in your land. And I shall give peace in the land, and you shall lie down without fear...."

As the word "sense" (chush) is cognate to "quick" (chish), the sense of sleep implies the ability to sleep well but quickly (as is told of great tzadikim who required very few hours of sleep per day).

The very talent of Benjamin to shoot straight at his target depends upon a most tranquil inner spirit. He shoots and hits almost asleep. G-d carries his arrow to its intended destination. A tranquil personality is one with little inner friction and tension. The sense of sleep entails the ability to release stress, confident in the support of G-d.

The sense of sleep entails as well the sense of dreaming. In accord with our faith in Divine providence, especially manifest in relation to the connection between the weekly Torah portions and the annual cycle of months and their events, all of the dreams of the Torah are contained within the portions that are read during the month of Kislev.

When one possesses complete trust in G-d one dreams good dreams of the future. Good dreams at night reflect good thoughts throughout the day, especially the optimistic attitude and consciousness taught by Chassidut (whose New Year is the 19th of Kislev): "Think good, it will be good."

 

The Messianic Approach to Learning Torah

Rabbi Mendel Kessin

Excerpt: Really what it is, which is shocking, is the method of RaMCHaL, the derech ha’Mashiach—the path of the Messiah. That's what the Mashiach will do. He doesn't introduce a new Torah. What he's going to do is organize the Torah in a way we have never seen before when, suddenly, everything becomes connected, everything, not only the physical universe, the spiritual universe too. 

Why there is such thing as gravity or electricity? Why do we put on tefillin? How does it connect to olamos—worlds? Everything will be unified as one system. That's the nun sha’arei bina--50th Gate of Understanding. That’s the derech—path of the RaMCHaL. it's called “to unify.” It’s the original tablets.

It's hard to understand that, what Torah used to be. It used to be a unification. I call it “contextual learning.” You want to learn? Do not learn fragments. Look at the entire picture first.

Video and full transcript here

Evening Sky

 Photo doesn't do it justice, the sky was bright orange as the sun set about an hour ago.

The Elections in the USA: Preparation for the King Moshiach

Rabbi Aryeh Weingarten

It's Hebrew with English subtitles [click on the CC for the subtitles and then the cog for auto-translate and choose your language].  

He's very excited and by the tone of his voice alone, I think he could bring Moshiach.  

 "All the nations will be left without a head, all Monarchy will be abolished from them... first of all the evil Eisav [democrats]  in the United States has fallen and b'ezrat Hashem it is not enough that only Trump has risen, or the Republicans, we are waiting for Melech haMoshiach to reign in Israel and for the whole world......this is a preparation for Redemption,,,,"

Mashiach's Prophetic Power of Smelling the Truth

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff

Yaakov

According to kabbalistic teachings, Yaakov corrected the spiritual damage caused by Adam's sin.

Therefore, just like Adam had been misled by the ingenious plot of the serpent, the correction of Adam's sin had to come through ingenious trickery - "Your brother came ingeniously and took your blessing" [Toldot 27:35]

Based on Likutei Sichos Lubavitcher Rebbe

"The voice is the voice of Yaakov, but the hands are the hands of Eisav"  [Toldot 27:22]

"There are certain Jews", the Dubno Maggid once said, "who are the very personification of the words: "The voice is Yaakov's voice" as the way they pray and study conforms perfectly with all the pertinent halachos.

"Unfortunately," continued the Maggid, "their hands are Eisav's hands. For when it comes to the mitzvos of tzedakah or gemilus chasadim, these same Jews keep their hands tightly shut.

"It is vital for such individuals to know that one aspect of avodas Hashem without the other will not last."

Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein

The Ba'al Shem Tov Reveals the Mystical Reason.....

.....why it takes so long for some people to get married.

This is really interesting.  Why do some people find it so hard to find their true soul mate.... why do some people have to search a long time to find them..... Rabbi Daniel Glatstein explains in a 5 minute video.

Chabad Rabbi Kidnapped in UAE

 Update:  He was murdered by terrorists

Israel's intelligence agency Mossad launched an "active investigation" into the case of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, a Chabad Shliach in the United Arab Emirates who has been missing. 

Kogan reportedly had a meeting in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office in Jerusalem last week. 

Israel Prime Minister’s Office released the following statement on behalf of the Mossad and the National Security Council: 

“Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan citizen, a Chabad emissary in the UAE, has been missing since Thursday, November 21, 2024. 

 “Since his disappearance, and given information indicating that this is a terrorist incident, an active investigation has been going on in the country. 

 “Israeli security and intelligence organizations, concerned for Kogan’s safety and well-being, have been working tirelessly on this case. 

 “This also serves as a reminder that for a while, per the recommendations of the National Security Council, there has been a level 3 – moderate travel warning issued for the UAE, with a recommendation to avoid any non-essential travel there and for those who are in the country – take extra precautions.” 

Rabbi Kogan, who was raised in Jerusalem, served in the Givati Brigade operational military unit of the Israel Defense Forces. He got married 3 years ago to Rivky Spielman of Crown Heights, a niece of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, the Chabad Shliach killed in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. 

Security officials suspect that Rabbi Kogan, who resides in Abu Dhabi, was tracked by Islamic terrorists who later fled to Turkey. They believe he disappeared from a location approximately an hour and a half from Dubai, where he operates the Rimon kosher supermarket in the center of Dubai. 

According to a report on the Ynet news website, Rabbi Kogan was in Jerusalem this past Tuesday, where he attended a meeting in the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The meeting was with Yossi Shelley, the Director-General of the Prime Minister’s Office, who has been approved as Israel’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. According to Ynet, both Shelley and Rabbi Kogan traveled to the Emirates the next day, Wednesday. 

Source: COLLive

"We're Very Close"

H/t Sherry/Rivkah

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff 

Are We Living in the Messianic Era? Rabbi Explains the Signs

Turkey Strikes Back?

H/t Dave

Rav Ron Chaya

French with auto-translation to any language. Click CC/subtitles and Settings for the Auto-translate.

Some translation....

"This morning we learned something quite astonishing and crazy - that America authorized Zelensky/Ukraine to use American missiles that the U.S. already gave Ukraine, to bomb Moscow.

I call that 3rd World War."

Putin will not be embarrassed so there will be a reaction, and it can affect all of Europe, because NATO is complicit in this...

Zechariah 13 : two-thirds [of the world] will disappear, and the remaining third will be refined like silver and gold.

We don't know. The one who knows, he doesn't speak.  And the one who speaks, he doesn't know.

So I don't know.

He goes on to speak about Gog u Magog.

I will try and type more later.  I may have made mistakes, better to watch the subtitles and see for youself.

Body and Soul

Art: C. Schloe

The Zohar teaches that Sarah represents the body, whereas Avraham represents the soul.  Even after death, the soul still remains related to the body, thus "Avraham - the soul - came to eulogize Sarah - the body - and to weep for her"  [Chayei Sarah 23:2]

Chassidic teachings emphasize the importance of the body as a tool in the service of G-d.  Since the ultimate purpose of creation is to sanctify the physical world, the body has a distinct advantage over the soul, in that it is the means by which G-d's Will is enacted.  Therefore, G-d told Avraham [the soul] "Whatever Sarah - the body - tells you, listen to her voice" [21:12], indicating that there is an inherent superiority to the body, over the soul.

Although the soul is incomparably more refined than the body, nevertheless, in the times of Moshiach we are promised that the superiority of the body will be revealed such that "the soul will be animated by the body".

Based on Likutei Sichos Lubavitcher Rebbe

Trump's Victory and the Purpose of Loving Mankind

Rabbi Shimon Kessin

I haven't listened to it yet, I have no idea what he's going to say.

This is the brother of Rabbi Mendel Kessin, for those who don't know.

Re-thinking Mike Huckabee

Yesterday I made a disparaging comment about Trump's choice of Mike Huckabee as the new US Ambassador to Israel.  I have now deleted that comment I made. 

Seems I was wrong to jump to conclusions.

Listen to Rabbi Berel Solomon's short message

The Seeds of Moshiach

Rabbi Lazer Brody

In our introduction to the Book of Ruth, we learn how the Dark Side tries everything to prevent Moshiach's arrival, so Hashem must engineer it in such a way that catches the unholy spiritual opposition completely off guard.

Tikkun for an Evil Eye



Art: Linda Boucher

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

"He who possesses a beneficient eye shall be blessed." [Proverbs 22:9]

There is a “beneficient eye” and an “evil eye”. Both terms have been used for several millennia and are found in the Talmud as indicators of the measure of a man.

Abraham was the paradigm of one who possesses a “beneficient eye”. He always looked for good in others, and felt neither jealousy of, nor hatred for, his fellow man. Bilaam, on the other hand, epitomized the possessor of an “evil eye” – one who always looks for fault or is jealous of another’s possessions or status.

The Talmud, when referring to the evil eye, credits it with almost mystical powers. Looking at another’s possessions with jealousy in your eyes can cause evil to befall that person. For this reason Talmudic law forbids us to build our homes too close to that of our neighbours. Privacy is very important, lest we look upon our neighbours’ possessions with a covetous eye. Neighbours should maintain a reasonable distance between one another, or, at the very least, homes should be built with a separation and a space between them.

Having an “evil eye” is usually understood as looking at another person with the intent that evil should befall him. It also includes coveting another’s possessions, being annoyed at his success (as if his success somehow impinges on our ability to succeed in life), pettiness and so on.

Rebbe Nachman teaches that an evil eye leads to an increased breathing rate. Somehow, jealousy and rage at another’s success causes one to draw breath at an accelerated pace.The Talmud therefore teaches “The cup of benediction at the conclusion of a meal should be given to one with a good eye. It is thus written (Proverbs 22:9) “He who possesses a beneficient eye shall be blessed.” Do not only read “shall be blessed” but shall bless….”

Conversely, one should beware of people with stingy and jealous eyes, as King Solomon cautions (Proverbs 23:6) “Do not break bread with [one who possesses] an evil eye”.

It is not merely a matter of superstition. As much as a good eye blesses, an evil eye takes. The source of the power of the evil eye is greed. When one looks upon another's possessions with greed, and the other is in any way guilty of mis-using his money, or is otherwise unworthy of the wealth he possesses, he might lose his possessions, G-d forbid. Clearly the way we look upon another's possessions can arouse Divine judgment against him. In the same vein, when we view the possessions of others generously, we can with a mere look of our eyes, bring blessing upon them.

When we realise that the eyes are the "windows to the mind" the significance of "evil eye" increases.

Rebbe Nachman taught: Memory depends upon the eyes, as in (Exodus 13:9) "[the tefillin shall be as] a remembrance between your eyes". In order to guard one's memory, one must first guard oneself from an evil eye - from evil thoughts about others, from jealousy, and from all forms of negativity. The evil eye can cause harm not only to the one being focused upon, but also to the one who is focusing, to an even greater degree. Conversely, maintaining an evil eye goes hand in hand with forgetfulness."

Yet we needn't live in constant fear of the evil eye, of others who may wish us harm. Rebbe Nachman teaches that if we feel incapable of guarding ourselves against an evil eye, then we should flee from it. However, if we can come to understand the essence of the evil eye, our actions can be far more effective: we can rectify it.

For example, a person might have an evil eye against another's position in life. This evil eye stems from the fallen attribute of Malkhut (kingship) which, when blemished, leads to low self-esteem and the need to put others down in order to get ahead. To correct one's own fallen Malkhut, one should strive to elevate G-d's Malkhut - by learning Torah or by otherwise disseminating G-d's Name in the world. In this way, one demonstrates one's allegiance to G-d, rather than to one's own need for self-aggrandizement. This serves to rectify the evil eye of the fallen Malkhut at its root.

When you invite jealousy, you're inviting negative energy from someone else. For this insensitivity or transgression on your part, you may incur a Divine consequence of losing some of your blessing. [If you give a child a toy and he hits his little brother with it, you might take the toy away. He's not using it the way you intended.]

Another spiritual rule that the kabbalists describe, explains the evil eye like this:

When someone stares at your blessing and thinks, "Why should so-and-so have that brand new Hummer? He's not so righteous. Why is God rewarding him?", it's like a complaint to Heaven, and an accusation that gets registered. The heavenly court then examines you and your blessing to determine if you in fact deserve it. If you don't, your blessing may be damaged or lost.

Of course, the accuser doesn't get off scott free, either, because then the heavenly court decides to investigate the accuser. "Who is this that comes to judge My child?" God asks.

So it's always a bad idea to give someone else an evil eye. And it's a bad idea to expose yourself to it, too.