Opening the Gates

''Karma'' is the word given to the Hebrew term ''midda kneged midda'' - measure for measure

Judges and police officers you shall appoint in all your cities..... [Shoftim 16:18]

This verse can be understood in the light of the teaching found in the Talmud in Berachos [61b] that "Tzaddikim are judged by their yetzer tov [good inclination] and the wicked are judged by the yetzer hara [evil inclination]. The average person is judged by both."

The righteous have an admonisher inside them who reproves and reprimands them even about the good deeds that they perform. He points out the defects and shortcomings of their actions, how they are lacking and how they should have been performed for the Almighty Creator. In this way they are "judged by their yetzer tov".

The wicked are just the opposite. Not only do all their actions appear good in their eyes, but their evil inclination shows them that even the evil deeds they do are good. Thus, the wicked are judged by the yetzer hara.

But the average person is judged by both, and as the Tanna taught, "we are average people" - that a person should always consider himself a beinoni, average, as someone who walks on both paths. On the one hand, he should constantly rebuke himself, debating his own actions; he should consider himself to be falling short of properly serving Hashem and fulfilling his obligations. When doing mitzvos, he should understand well that he has not acted properly with true clarity and purity as befitting the service of the Almighty; he should be humble and lowly in his own eyes.

Even so, one should not consider himself wicked, Heaven forbid, as our Sages taught: "Do not be wicked in your own eyes" [Avos 2:18] Otherwise if one does consider himself wicked, he will have no motivation to perform the mitzvos, not to learn Torah or pray or perform any good deed. He will give up hope, resigned that he is not worthy enough to do these things. Therefore, one must hold on to both paths at the same time in order to be complete. Then he will fulfill the teaching of our Sages "With all your heart" [Devarim 6:5] - with both inclinations. This is the meaning of "we are average people" and the "average person is judged by both".

Thus it says "Appoint for yourself judges and police officers". This refers to the two judges we spoke about, the good and evil inclinations. The good inclination is an "officer" since it polices the nation, preventing them from committing any offence, and so the good inclination admonishes and rebukes man for his misdeeds and shortcomings in serving G-d.

"In all your cities" [literally "gates"] - every mitzvah and holy act has its own gate. When a person learns, prays, or does any other act of holiness in this world, he opens the gates to that specific mitzvah above.

Source: Mipeninei Noam Elimelech
Translated by Tal Moshe Zwecker

Hawaii Conspiracy vs Reality

Conspiracy theory is that the fires in Lahaina Hawaii were started by a DEW - a Directed Energy Weapon.  To see photos of these DEWs, enter the term into Google and click on Images.

I don't think it was a DEW.... but it was a similar thing that happened, however it came from Hashem.

Here are some photos of what people are talking about. [this is not my concept, I am taking it from people who know a lot more than I do about these things]

"Geostorm" is a movie, I haven't seen it, but it has nothing to do with this.

These photos are actually showing something called an "ion bleed off" from another planet.

Here are some more, taken at other places in the world.

The reason why the fires became so intense from this ion bleed off in Hawaii is because of winds from Hurricane Dora.  It was perfect timing. Only Hashem can do this.

I remember the fires in Australia, a few years ago, the winds were insane, and I was nowhere near the fires, I live in the city.  The wind felt strange, it was angry, I felt Hashem's power in that wind. 

I don't believe that any fire so huge as to destroy an entire city can be anything other than the Hand of G-d.  

This man is explaining how the wind fanned the fire, and from what he is saying, it is obviously the Hand of G-d.  In the same way it happened in Australia, first there was a drought, no rain and very dry vegetation, and then the fire starts, fanned by incredible wind.

Now if you're still having trouble believing in a second solar system passing by us, I have more photos and videos to put up, but that will be in another blog post.  

Individual Tests

I searched my blog for this image... and then saw it was on a post for the current Parsha Re'eh... 

and I needed to blog this today, because I know I was being tested last week when I had to

block anonymous comments, and I think I learnt something huge. 

''...for the Lord, your God, is testing you...'' [Re'eh 13:4]

One of the basic teachings of the Torah is that God does not expect of a human being anything which is beyond the human capacity to carry out.  This is quite understandable, for even a human being, who is very far from absolute perfection, would not expect of a tool that he has fashioned any more than he has put into it.

Certainly God, the Creator of man, knows man's capacities.  From this, it immediately follows that when a person faces any kind of a test of faith, it is certain that he has been given the capacity to overcome it.  And the more difficult the test, the greater are the individual's capacities.

The reason that an individual is tested is not because God wants to know how he will acquit himself, but in order that this person be afforded the opportunity to realize his potential, even that which is unknown to him.

And when one's potential capacities are released and activated, they become part and parcel of his or her arsenal, to be used for personal as well as communal benefit.

Source: Excerpt from a letter of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

The Role of the Body and Soul in this World and the Next

Rabbi Shimon Kessin

Hashem Will Bless You

Art Barbara Rochlitz

Text by Rabbi David Hanania Pinto Shlita

It is written, “Because of this thing, Hashem your G-d will bless you” [Re'eh 15:10].

The term hazeh (“this”) has a numerical value of 17.

The Sages say, “He who gives a small coin to a poor man obtains six blessings, and he who speaks comforting words to him obtains eleven blessings” [Bava Batra 9b]. 

Hence the verse states, “Because of hazeh [this] thing, Hashem your G-d will bless you.”

Source – Kol Eliyahu

Melbourne's Meteor

They are calling it a meteor but no-one really knows what fell from the sky last night.

Melbourne, Australia.

When is Moshiach Really Coming?

HT: Sherry

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff

Blessings in Disguise

Art Mike Worrall

"See! I am giving to you today a blessing and a curse" [Re'eh 11:26]

Hashem did not want the soul to eat "bread of shame" [i.e. sustenance given gratuitously, without having been earned by the recipient]; He therefore made it possible for man to serve Him in a meaningful way with toil of body and soul. Through our endeavors in avodah [service of G-d] we are Divinely enabled to earn all manner of goodness.

The difficulties, trials, and tests of life are themselves the means by which we are to attain our ultimate objective - that the soul achieve the lofty spiritual level it once possessed before it descended into the body: "The soul that you have given me is pure."  The purpose of life is for the soul to regain that level of original "purity" and even transcend it - for one hour of teshuvah [repentance] and good deeds in this world is worth more than all the lifetime of the spiritual World to Come [Olam HaBa].

So you see that life's trials, tragedies, and difficulties actually bring us closer to our goal, our raison d'etre; they are part of the Divine system of toil and endeavour enabling us, finite mortals, to reach the highest levels of rewards and goodness - which can only be earned by meaningful "labor" and effort.  It follows that one must not allow the difficulties of life's trials [or even one's failure from time to time] to overcome the double joy of being G-d's children and of having received His promise "Your people are all righteous".

Source: Excerpt from a letter written by the Lubavitcher Rebbe

New Heavens and a New Earth

Singapore

Birmingham, England
rainbow colours from coloured asteroids
and gas giant behind our sun and second sun

Fruita, Colorado
lightning discharge from planet

Isaiah 65

16 So that he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself by the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from Mine eyes. 

17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 

19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people; and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 

25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, saith the LORD

Two Doors

 

Art Jorm Sangsorn

Hashem created two doors: one in Shamayim and one in the heart of man.

When one opens his heart to the needs of his fellow man, then the corresponding door in Shamayim is opened to hear his cry. 

Vilna Gaon

The Power of Tu b'Av and Rebirth after the 9th

 

Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz

Final Credits

Illui nishmat Mordechai ben Menachem

Artist Unknown

Every commandment that I command you this day you shall keep to do, that you may live and multiply, and come and possess the land that the Lord swore to your forefathers. [Eikev 8:1]

The lesson that one who completes a mitzvah is credited with it [see Rashi] is particularly apt for our generation.

For according to all the signs which were given by our Sages, we are presently in the last generation of exile, which will become the first generation of redemption.

Thus, it is greatly encouraging to know that despite the fact that the Torah study and observance of mitzvot in previous generations greatly surpassed that of our more humble efforts, nevertheless one who completes a mitzvah is credited with it.  

Mashiach will come in the merit of our mitzvot, which are performed in the last moments of exile.

Based on Likutei Sichos vol 9 pp 104-5 Lubavitcher Rebbe

Morning Moon and Night

Photographer Samuel  took these photos of the moon in Toowoomba Queensland Australia. The first one was taken last night.

and this one was taken this morning

Sometime in between those two photos, the moon looked like this

Photo: William in Raby NSW Australia

The Transformation of Reality in the Messianic Era

New shiur from Rabbi Mendel Kessin

Mashiach Facts

 

When Will the Mashiach Come?

There is a wide variety of opinions on the subject of when the Mashiach will come.  Some of the Jews' greatest minds have cursed those who try to predict the time of the Mashiach's coming, because errors in such predictions could cause people to lose faith in the messianic idea or in the Torah itself.  This actually happened in the 17th century, when Shabbtai Tzvi claimed to be the Mashiach; when Tzvi converted to Islam under threat of death, many Jews converted with him.  Nevertheless, this "prohibition" has not stopped anybody from speculating about the time when the Mashiach will come (including some who themselves spoke harshly of those who engaged in such vain efforts!).

Although some scholars believed that God has set aside a specific date for the coming of the Mashiach, most authorities suggest that the conduct of mankind will determine the time of the Mashiach's coming.  In general, it is believed that the Mashiach will come in a time when he is most needed (because the world is so evil), or in a time when he is most deserved (because the world is so good).  For example, each of the following has been suggested as the time when the Mashiach will come:

• when all Israel repent a single day
• when all Israel observe a single sabbath properly
• when all Israel observe two sabbaths in a row properly
• in a generation that is totally innocent, or totally guilty
• in a generation that loses hope
• in a generation where children are totally disrespectful towards their parents and elders (commonly thought to be "our generation", in every generation!)

What Will the Mashiach Do?

Before the time of the Mashiach, there will be war and great suffering (Ezekiel 38,16).  Then the Mashiach will bring about the political and spiritual redemption of the Jewish people by bringing all Jews outside Israel back to Israel, and restoring Jerusalem (Isaiah 11,11-12; Jeremiah 23,8; 30,3; Hosea 3,4-5).  He will establish a Torah government in Israel that will be the center of all world government, both for Jews and Gentiles (Isaiah 2,2-4; 11,10; 42,1).  He will rebuild the Temple and reestablish its worship (Jeremiah 33,18).  He will restore the religious court system of Israel, if it had not already been reestablished before him, and establish the Torah as the law of the land (Jeremiah 33,15).

Source and more at Mechon Mamre click here

Global Boiling

It's interesting that we have now entered the stage of "Global Boiling" rather than "global warming". This is a term brought to us by the UN.

Just as the souls from the generation of the Flood have re-incarnated at the End of Days,  we also have the "boiling" aspect of things.

At the time of the Flood:   "The gates of heaven broke loose, and the depths of the earth opened to send forth streams of raging, boiling water..."

Our water is also heating up.  On July 25 water temperatures off Florida Keys measured 101 degrees.

None of this is surprising when you consider that we currently have two suns, one behind the other. And behind the second one is a gas giant, hence the appearance of the sunset photo below. 

Sunset Italy July 22

A Sign: Fox on Temple Mount

 

Last night [Tisha b'Av]  in Jerusalem, a fox was spotted wandering among the rocks. On the solemn day of Tishabav, which commemorates the destruction of the Temple, we recall a story from the Talmud of Makkos. In this tale, a group of Rabbis visited Jerusalem to witness the ruins of the Temple. As they stood on the Temple Mount, they saw a fox emerging from the very place where the Holy of Holies once stood. This sight intensified their sadness, but Rabbi Akiva responded with laughter. 

Confused by his reaction, the other Rabbis asked Rabbi Akiva why he was laughing amidst their grief. He explained that their tears were fulfilling two prophecies. Uriah had predicted the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, which led to the area being inhabited by foxes. On the other hand, Zechariah had prophesied a future where people would return to Jerusalem and live there peacefully. 

Rabbi Akiva believed that since Uriah's prophecy had come true (seeing the fox), it meant that Zechariah's prophecy would also come true (people living peacefully in Jerusalem). Therefore, their tears of sorrow were actually bringing hope for a better future. The other Rabbis found comfort in Rabbi Akiva's explanation and thanked him for his wise words.

Source: Sholom Rochela Rodal

Yellow Moon

This may appear to be two suns.  It's actually three different objects.  On the left is the yellow moon belonging to another planet.  Then we have our sun, and behind our sun is a much larger sun, which you can see from the reddish halo around our sun.

There are a lot of photos showing this yellow moon, and people think it is the second sun.  We can't even see the second sun, it's BEHIND our sun.  The other planets and their moons are orbiting around the second sun, which is why they are so close to earth right now.

Here is a photo taken yesterday in Hungary, where you can clearly see the red behind our sun.

Labor Pains of the Mashiach

HT: Sherry

Rabbi Shimon Kessin

The Yanuka Shiur for Tisha b'Av

Hebrew with English subtitles