When Sheker met Pachsa

by Rabbi Daniel Travis

Two by two the animals came into the Ark to Noach. [Bereishis Noah 7:9]

The concepts in this verse are illustrated by the following allegory:

Sheker (lies/deceit) approached Noach and requested entry into the Ark. Noach refused sheker on the grounds that it did not have a “mate.” When sheker left Noach, it met pachsa (financial loss and destruction) and proposed that they form a partnership, so that together they could gain entry into the Ark. Pachsa agreed, stipulating that any profit which would be earned through sheker would be handed over to pachsa to be destroyed.

There are many questions to be asked about this allegory. Why did our Sages see fit to single out sheker from all the possible negative character traits? Furthermore, why was it necessary for sheker to find a mate? Surely it would have been better to deny sheker entrance to the ark altogether. On the other hand, if sheker belonged in the world, should it not have been allowed to enter the ark without having to fulfill any conditions?

The decree of the flood was sealed on account of the dishonesty of that generation. Sheker was rampant, and there was no way to stop it short of wiping out the entire world. In the process of reconstructing the world, God wanted to make sure that the sins which had caused it's demise would not be repeated. Therefore sheker could not be allowed to perpetuate in its present form. However, it was important that sheker continue to exist in order for the iniquities of the previous generation to be rectified. This could only come about through recognition of the utter futility of any involvement with sheker.

When pachsa joined forces with sheker, causing the loss of all profits earned through sheker, it made it glaringly evident that any association with sheker is totally counterproductive. The lesson that would be learned from the alliance between sheker and pachsa allowed sheker to continue to exist.

After leaving the ark, sheker came to pachsa and requested all of the profits that it had acquired through under-handed methods. Pachsa reminded sheker of their agreement, and sheker was unable to respond. Although under normal circumstances sheker would have denied ever making such a promise, this case was different. Denying the truth would be tantamount to self destruction, for without its partnership with pachsa, sheker would not be allowed to exist.

At the time of the flood sheker joined with pachsa to teach the following generations the futility of trying to acquire wealth dishonestly. Although this type of destruction is certainly a punishment for one’s crooked behavior, there is a flip side to this relationship. Since pachsa “wed” itself to sheker, it can not affect any money earned one hundred percent honestly.

This concept was vividly demonstrated to the Jewish people after their Exodus from Egypt. For forty years they were sustained every day with manna, a miraculous food that descended from the heavens. Each individual was instructed to take an omer each day – not more, not less. If someone tried to “steal” a little bit more than he was allotted, the extra manna would disappear. The futility of taking more than was Divinely allotted was quite clear. Although we are not privileged to see this principle in action in such a striking fashion, it is still in effect even in our times.

Someone once came to Rav Mordechai Schwab and told him that one of his investments had gone sour, causing him a loss of seventy thousand dollars. Rav Schwab asked him if the money had been earned honestly to which the man replied in the affirmative. Rav Shwab assured him that he would recover the money, for wealth acquired honestly does not get lost. Within a few months the investment turned a profit.

Similarly, when Rav Chaim of Volozhin was hosting a meal in his home, one of his guests inadvertently knocked over the table. All the delicate porcelain on the table came crashing to the floor. The guests were all stunned into silence, in anguish over the tremendous loss which they were certain had occurred. Only Rav Chaim remained calm. He explained to his guests that property loss can occur only if the money used to purchase that property had been acquired corruptly. Since he knew that every penny used to buy the dishes that now lay on the floor had been earned honestly, he was sure that none of the porcelain had broken, so there was nothing to worry about. When they picked up the dishes, they found that not a single one was broken or damaged.

From the above incidents we see that the partnership that sheker established with pachsa still remains in force. As such, we can be sure that any funds acquired without a tinge of corruption are not subject to pachsa, and will be spared from damage.

(c) Text Copyright © 2006 by Rabbi Daniel Travis and Torah.org

Miracles: The Holtzberg Torah and this week's Haftorah

Ht: Yosef

A Torah dedicated to Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, the victims of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has been donated to the IDF and will be accompanying the soldiers as they go in to rescue hostages.

The Haftorah for Parshat Bereishis is Isaiah 42:5 - 43:10

Chapter 42

6. I Hashem have called you in righteousness, and have taken hold of your hand, and kept you, and set you as a covenant of the people, for a light unto the nations;  

7. To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.

22. But this is a people robbed and spoiled, they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison-houses; they are for a prey, and none to save them, for a spoil, and none are saying: 'Restore.'

Chapter 43 

10. You are My witnesses, saith the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He; before Me there was no God formed, neither shall any be after Me. 

11.  I am Hashem, and beside Me there is no saviour.

פקוד פקדתי

HT: Yosef

Before Yaakov Avinu passed away, he called his grand-daughter Serech bas Asher to him.  He had blessed her with a long life and knew that she would be the only one from his generation who would still be alive to witness the Redemption from Egypt.  He told her that when the true Redeemer arrives he will use the words פקוד פקדתי  - P'kad p'kaditi

She was instructed to keep the words a secret.

When Moshe Rabbeinu came to the zekkeinim, he told them 'Hashem told me פקוד פקדתי'.

They went with these words to Serach who told them that these are the words that signify that Geula is finally here.

The words פקוד פקדתי are also gematria תשפ״ד  -  5784

פקוד פקדתי = 784

Also see Rabbi Kessin here

When G-D approached Moshe, He said, “pokod pokaditi”—I have surely remembered = which refers to His having “remembered” the afflictions of the Jews and that He’s come to take them out. Not only that, Moshe went to the klal—community and told them this and he used that expression of “pekidah” by which they recognized him as the Mashiach because he used the “right language,” of “pekidah.”

 

The Rope of Moshiach

Rav Refael Dovid Auerbach [the brother of Rav Shlomo Zalman] related that over 90 years ago his father, Rav Chaim Leib Auerbach, once approached one of the caretakers who used to light the stove in a shul in the Old City of Yerushalayim. Although the caretaker was over 95 years old, he awoke early each day to light the stove and heat the shul before davening. The caretaker mentioned that his father used to travel to see Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk. Rav Chaim Leib asked the caretaker if he could relate anything his father had told him about the Tzaddik. The elderly man told him ten stories about the author of Noam Elimelech. Later Rav Chaim Leib told all of them over, but Rav Rafael could remember only three of them.

It was Rebbe Elimelech's custom, the caretaker related, to teach two types of Torah at shalosh seudos, the third Shabbos meal: one on the weekly parshah and the other about the days of Moshiach. Rav Rafael recalled the concepts that Rebbe Elimelech taught about the days of Moshiach, as told to his father by the old caretaker of the shul in the Old City.

In the times of Moshiach, the chareidim will be trampled and so badly mistreated that had this been so in the times of the Baal Shem Tov, no-one could have withstood it due to their fragile souls. However, in the times of Moshiach the hearts of the people will be so tough that they will be able to endure the trampling and degradation that will be common in those days.

In the times of Moshiach, there will be great foolishness, and the line between good and evil will blur. Rebbe Elimelech brought the analogy of sifting flour with a sieve. At first all the grains of the flour - the fine and the coarse - are shaken together, battered against the sides of the sieve. In the midst of the shaking, the fine flour passes through the sieve's holes and falls to the bottom, again receiving a blow when it lands.

When the course leftovers see the fine clean flour, they become arrogant and say "See how lowly you are? You have fallen to the bottom and received an additional beating while I, the coarse waste, have been left above and not received any beating."

The coarse grains do not realize how short-lived is their triumph, because in just a short while the sieve will be overturned and the coarse grains will end up in the trash for good.

In the generation of Moshiach, Hashem will, so to speak, stretch a long rope from one end of the world to the other, and all of Klal Yisrael will take hold and grasp the rope. Hashem will take one end of the rope, and violently shake it until they will all be in the air. Not everyone will be able to withstand this shaking and many will fall to the ground. The foolish ones will say "If Hashem is shaking us so hard, surely He wants us to loosen our grasp" and they will fall to the ground. Only the wise ones will hold on tight with all their strength and might. This is "chevlo shel Moshiach" - literally "the rope of Moshiach" - usually translated as "the labor pains of Moshiach".

Source: "Mipeninei Noam Elimelech" translated by Tal Moshe Zwecker

Light for Israel

 

The Middle East Conflict at the End of Time

 Rabbi Mendel Kessin, new shiur

Chizuk

HT: DL

I don't know who this man is, but he's very powerful. If you know who it is, please leave a comment.

Updated: It is Rabbi Shlomo Farhi.

The 50th Level of Tumah [Impurity]

Transcription now available: The Transformation of Reality in the Messianic Era

Rabbi Mendel Kessin

Excerpt: When the Mashiach comes, it’s because the world has reached mem-tes sha’arei tumah—the 49th level of tumah—and what we see now is that the world is now entering the 50th.  Remember what I said about RaMCHaL? The messianic era is supposed to be an unbelievably glorious era, no death, everybody's wealthy, a utopia, but the Satan will say, justifiably defending justice: they're in the mem-tes sha’arei tumah. The Jews in Egypt are on the 49th level of tumah so how can You bring the messianic era? You can't do that! They don't deserve it! This isn't justice! How can you give them the Messiah?

Clear Prophecy

 HT: Yosef

Translation: The Levush brings down from Rav Hai Gaon that Techias Hameitim [the revival of the dead] will be in the month of Nissan, and the war of Gog U’Magog will be in the month of Tishrei. That’s why on Pesach we Lein the Haftorah from Sefer Yechezkel about Techias Hameitim, and on Shabbat chol hamoed Succot we lein the Haftorah of Gog U’Magog. 

The Chatam Sofer says that it doesn’t mean Milchemet Gog U’Magog [the war of Gog u Magog] will be on Succot because that’s z'man simchateinu [time of our rejoicing], rather it means it will happen on the days after Succot, at the end of Tishrei.

To round things off nicely, the yarzheit of the Chatam Sofer is 25 Tishrei, which it is currently in America, although in Australia we are already into the 26th Tishrei.  

The Chatam Sofer

5784 - A Message from the Past

HT: Yosef

There is a very interesting quote recently discovered with a weird and non logical push at a number that seems very out of place.

Looking at the current situation in Israel, perhaps a tzaddik from 200 years ago was trying to hint something to us about this year 5784.

The Bnei Yissaschar, The Rebbe of Dinov, had a grandson who authored a book called "אור למאיר" "Light for Illumination". At this time, they were all great tzaddikim (righteous individuals) with their eyes deeply focused on the heavens. 

In the portion of Parshas Bo, the following insights are presented: 

The four exiles that the Jewish people endured are rooted in spiritual exile and redemption, similar to their physical exiles, notably the exodus from  Egypt. The Midrash says that in the portion of Bereshis [Genesis], the Torah tells us: "והארץ היתה תהו ובהו וחשך על פני תהום ורוח אלהים מרחפת על פני המים" - "the earth was unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep, and a wind from G-d sweeping over the water". 

Following this verse is the statement: "ויאמר אלהים יהי אור ויהי אור" - "God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light". This light, it is suggested, was concealed until the times of Moshiach because it needed to be subdued and was only accessible to great tzaddikim (righteous individuals). 

In Shemos 10:23, it is mentioned that "ולכל בני ישראל היה אור במושבתם" - "but all the Israelites enjoyed light in their dwellings". "אור למאיר" suggests that this refers to the light of Moshiach, which was revealed in the homes of the Israelites at that time. "במושבתם" - in their dwellings - is then modified by "אור למאיר" with the deliberate omission of the Hebrew letter "vav" (ו). 

The gematria (numerical value) of this word, with the "vav" omitted, equals 784. 

The commentary proceeds to explore the gematria of the words "דוד" - (Dovid, meaning King David) and "משיח בן דוד" - Moshiach ben Dovid, the Messiah from the lineage of David.  "דוד" has a gematria of 14, and "משיח בן דוד" is considered to possess the "Power of Dovid," resulting in a gematria of 28. The square root of 28x28 equals 784. 

Furthermore, the phrase "מלך ישראל קים" - King of Israel endures - has a gematria of 781. When combined with the words themselves, it totals 784 (781+the 3words = 784). 

"אור למאיר" then quotes the Arizal (Rabbi Isaac Luria) and suggests that when Moshiach arrives, the light of the Moon and the Sun will be the same. This symbolizes a time when the primordial light created in the beginning will be fully revealed to humanity. 

It appears that "אור למאיר" is delving into intricate connections between gematria, biblical verses, and Messianic concepts. These connections may, at first glance, appear to be quite stretched, almost like an attempt to place a bullseye around an arrow that has already found its mark. Yet, beneath this intricate web of associations, there seems to be a deliberate and persistent effort by "אור למאיר" to convey a central theme.

The emphasis on the number 784 hints at a deeper, perhaps even spiritual or prophetic significance. This emphasis might be signaling the year 5784, which holds the potential for profound significance in the context of Messianic expectations and the awakening of spirituality.

Shiur: The War of Gog u Magog

Just uploaded, new shiur from  Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz

The Final Exile of Yishmael

from the writings of Rav Chaim Vital 

Rabbi Chaim Vital (1542-1620) was unquestionably the leading disciple of the Holy Arizal, Rabbi Isaac Luria, and his foremost interpreter. The Ari himself wrote very little and what is commonly known as the "Ari's writings", were in fact transcribed by Rabbi Chaim.

"You already know that the exiles [from Egypt until the Mashiach] are four: Babylonia, Persia, Greece, and Rome [as represented by the four cups of wine on Pesach, the four beasts in Daniel 7, and many other places. The fourth, Rome stretched out from the 2nd Temple destruction and apparently ended with the Holocaust].

However, the Jewish people are destined further in the end of days to be in the exile of Yishmael, as mentioned in Pirkei D'Rebi Eliezer, and in the Midrashim of our Rabbis, and in the Zohar end of Parsha Lech Lecha. And there in [Zohar] Parsha Lech Lecha it says that being that Yishmael is the son of Avraham, and was circumcised, he is called "Pereh Adam" - "A wild donkey of a man" - [Bereishit 16:12], implying not a full man, because he was circumsized without Priah [an integral part of the Bris Mila]. But the other four exiles are compared to beasts as mentioned in the book of Daniel Chapter 7.

.....and he will cause suffering to Israel, great and terrible sufferings, such that none like these had ever been seen, and we will not know what to do. And we will have no other hope than to trust in His great Name to save us from his hand. And this is what is meant in verse 8, "Our help is in the name of the L-ORD, who made heaven and earth. Which means who made heaven and earth for the sake of the Torah and Yisrael who as in the verse "if not for my covenant day and night [study of Torah], I would not have appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth [Yirmiyahu 33:25]". Therefore He is forced to help us from their hands, and redeem us a full future redemption, in order that there will be a cause for the existence of heaven and earth.

Read the entire essay at Daf Yomi Review

Yanuka: The Power of Prayer

 English subtitles 

Ain Od Milvado

"There are three matters that come only by means of diversion from attention of those matters, and these they are: The Moshiach, a lost item, and a scorpion." Sanhedrin 97a [Source]

The scorpion is Hamas, and now we await Moshiach.

I feel that the fact it was exactly 50 years since the 1973 Yom Kippur war - and both wars were surprise attacks - is a sure sign of the Hand of Hashem here.  

Rabbi Kessin says we are at the 50th level of Tumah.... and the window is almost closed.....I didn't think the world could exist at the 50th level, but there's that number 50 again.

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come. [Yoel 3:4]

There is a "ring of fire" eclipse of the sun on October 14, and a lunar eclipse on October 28, when the moon is likely to turn red. More information at https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/astrology/planets-transits/solar-and-lunar-eclipse-in-october-2023-date-time-and-how-to-watch/articleshow/104244044.cms

However, the moon has been red and orange quite a lot lately, in various parts of the world, and at various times of the night. 

This is not a normal world war, this war includes mini-wars inside many countries where Jews and Jihadists live.  It's already started here.  

Everyone will see that there is nowhere to turn - except to Hashem.  It's not going to take too long, the way it's playing out.

Photo JK 

Understanding the Current Gaza War

 Rabbi Lazer Brody

8th Day

I'm horrified at everything happening right now.  

Shemini Atzeret, celebrated together with Simchat Torah in Israel [and over two days outside of Israel] is known as the "8th day" of Succot.  

8 of course represents the Messianic Era. 

I don't have too much to say about this, I'm not in Israel, I'll leave the talking to the Israelis.

Australia officially stands with Israel, thank G-d.  Tomorrow night the Sydney Opera House will be lit up in the Israeli colours of blue and white to show support and solidarity.  

May this be the final war, and may we see the coming of the Moshiach very soon. 

The Sun Yesterday Colorado

 

Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado October 5, 2023

What is Hoshana Raba?

Willow tree - ''Aravah''

The seventh day of Sukkot is called Hoshana Rabbah, and is considered the final day of the Divine “judgment” in which the fate of the new year is determined. It is the day when the verdict that was issued on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is finalized.

The Midrash tells us that G‑d told Abraham: “If atonement is not granted to your children on Rosh Hashanah, I will grant it on Yom Kippur; if they do not attain atonement on Yom Kippur, it will be given on Hoshana Rabbah.”

Isaiah says, “They seek Me day [after] day.” The Talmud explains that these two “days” refer to the day when the shofar is sounded [Rosh Hashanah] and the day when we take the willow [Hoshana Rabbah]—the day when the heavenly judgment begins, and the day when it concludes.

In addition, on Sukkot we are judged regarding how much rain will fall in the upcoming year. Thus, on Hoshana Rabbah, the final day of Sukkot, this judgment is finalized. Considering how much our wellbeing and economy depend on bountiful rainfall, it is clear how important this day is.

Read more :  click here

Rain and Dew

The sporadic nature of rainfall represents the Divine attribute of Justice, which responds to us according to what we deserve. The mystical reason that rain is more plentiful at certain times is that the world goes through periods of being more and less deserving.

Dew represents the Divine attributes of Kindness and Generosity, giving with no consideration of worthiness. From G‑d’s perspective the worthy and the unworthy are equally valued. Thus, He gives at all times to all people, deserving or not. [Rabbi Lazer Gurkow]

Last Night's Light Show

It rained last night.  We had the system passing by, lots of rain and we needed it.  Some lucky people got an amazing light show, like this one in Adelaide, South Australia.  Electrical discharge from passing planets. The thick mass of purple clouds belongs to the planet Atu, turns the sky purple, purple lightning.  If it's purple, Atu is in the vicinity.

Adelaide Australia October 4 2023

and then on to Wichita Kansas some hours later, where they saw this amazing light show.  

This electrical discharge from other planets is the reason why we now get storms that look like this [two months ago in Castle Rock]

19 Tishrei - Yarzheit of the Vilna Gaon

Painting of the Vilna Gaon from Yesodei Hatorah School corridor wall

Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna - The Vilna Gaon - Leader of Lithuanian Jewry, Torah scholar and kabbalist. Born: Vilna, Lithuania, 1720 Died: 19 Tishrei Vilna, Lithuania,1797

Popularly referred to as the Vilna Gaon, the Gra (initials of Gaon Rabbi Eliyahu), or simply as the Gaon. Considered to be the greatest Torah scholar of the past two centuries.

Even as a child Eliyahu of Vilna amazed the congregation when, at the age of 7, he delivered a learned discourse in the Great Synagogue in Vilna. By 10 years of age he had surpassed all his teachers, and, studying by himself with total concentration, he acquired knowledge of the vastness of Torah in both its revealed and mystical aspects. Every minute of his life was devoted to Torah study. He never slept more than two hours in a 24-hour period; he never accepted any rabbinic post or leadership of a yeshivah. He taught few disciples, selected from the foremost Torah scholars of his time. He also mastered astronomy, mathematics and music.

Known for fierce opposition to Chassidut, which was initiated in 1736 by the Baal Shem Tov, he and his followers in this anti-Chassidic Movement were known as "Mitnagdim," or opponents. Their opposition was based on the beliefs, vigorously denied by Chassidic leaders, that Chassidut took liberties with the Oral Law, that it substituted emotion for intellect in the Study of Torah, that its form of prayer departed too far from the traditional form of prayer, etc.

The Vilna Gaon cleared a new path to Talmud study, focusing on gaining a clear understanding through keen analysis of the principals and approaches of the early authorities. His methodology stood in sharp contrast to the pilpul system of the Polish yeshivahs, an intricate system of creating a complex framework with which a series of questions would be answered. He toiled hard on emending the the talmudic and midrashic texts. Subsequent discoveries of ancient manuscripts confirmed the soundness of his corrections, which appear in the Vilna edition of the Talmud [Haga'ot Hagra].

His works which were recorded and published by his disciples, include Aderet Eliyahu, a commentary on the Torah; a commentary on Ecclesiastes; Shenot Eliyahu, a commentary on the Mishna, Order of Zeraim; Biur Hagra, a commentary on Shulchan Aruch; a commentary on Sefer Yetzirah, a kabbalistic work; and many other works.

His commentary on the Torah is filled with interesting allusions that show the oneness of the Written Torah and the Oral Law, demonstrating their common source in Divine revelation.

The Vilna Gaon was revered in Vilna and throughout the world for his phenomental knowledge and saintly character. One of his most outstanding disciples was Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, the founder of the yeshivah of Volozhin. Following the Gaon's approach to learning, this institution spread Torah for more than a 100 years. Today most yeshivas follow the study pattern of Volozhin, keeping alive the approach to Torah pioneered by the great Vilna Gaon.