Genuine Wonder or Optical Illusion

Art: Jacek Yerka

"Provide a wonder for yourselves" [Va'eira 7:9]

Why, asked R' Elimelech of Lizhensk, would Pharoah ask Moshe to "provide a wonder for yourselves"?  Since Pharoah was the one who wanted proof of Moshe's legitimacy, would it not have made more sense for him to say "Provide a wonder for me"?

The difference, answered the Rebbe, between a genuine wonder and one which is no more than an optical illusion is that the illusion amazes only those who witness it.  However, the one who performs the feat is not impressed in the least, since he knows that it was no more than a delusion.  A genuine wonder, on the other hand, amazes not only its spectators, but even the tzaddik who performs it.

This, then, was Pharoah's intention when he said: "Provide a wonder for yourselves" - Provide us with a true wonder, one that will not only dazzle us but will even make an impression upon yourselves."

Source: Rabbi Y. Bronstein

The Brisker Rav's Prediction

The Brisker Rav

Yitzchok Zev (Velvel) Halevi Soloveitchik (Gri"z), also known as the "Brisker Rav," was the last rabbi of the town of Brisk (Brest, Belarus) before the Holocaust. His father, R. Chaim Soloveitchik, was Rosh Yeshiva of the Volozhin yeshiva, while his maternal grandfather, R. Rafael Shapira was its long-time Rosh Yeshiva. He was an extraordinary learner, and was said to have memorized the entire Babylonian Talmud, along with Rashi, by age 16. After the closing of the Volozhin yeshiva, the family moved to Brisk, where his paternal grandfather, R. Yosef Ber Soloveitchik, was Rav. The position then passed to his father and later to himself. He Holocaust forced him to flee to Jerusalem, where he maintained a position of non-participation with the Israeli government, including opposition to receiving government funding for yeshivot. His children and followers founded several yeshivas in Jerusalem, all known as Brisk.  [Source: Sefaria.org]

Yeranen Yaakov translates Rav Fish on the Brisker Rav's prediction for Moshiach 5780/81: click here to read

Psalms to say for Other People

by Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh

Q: Are there certain chapters of Psalms to say when praying for someone?

A: First of all, it is good to say the chapter of the person for whom you are praying, which is his age plus 1, as we learn from the Ba’al Shem Tov. For example, if a person is 23 years old, this means that he is already in his 24th year, so chapter 24 is his chapter for the year. This is the chapter that we should say when praying for him. In addition, various chapters are recommended for specific issues, and are written in some holy books and books of Psalms.

Another way to pray for someone is to spell out the letters of his name according to chapter 119 in Psalms. In this chapter, there are eight verses for every letter of the alef-beit. The correct way to spell out the name is as follows: For every letter of the person’s name, we take the verse that begins with that letter in chapter 119, as per its place in the name. For example, if we want to pray for someone named Moshe David (משה דוד) we read the first verse of the letter mem in chapter 119, followed by the second verse of the letter shin, etc. When we get to the second name, in this case, David, we continue. The letter dalet is the fourth letter, so we would read the fourth verse of the letter dalet, the fifth verse of the letter vav, etc.

If the full name has more than eight letters, we begin again from the first verse of the letter for the 9th letter of the name, etc.

The Bird That Announces Moshiach

Art Veronica Minozzi

As I type this, I hear distant sounds of thunder.... a prelude to the week long rain forecast for a very thirsty Australia.  Thank you to everyone who prayed for us, the rains are here.

Transcribed from a shiur by Rabbi Sholom Zirkind

There is a bird called the ''racham''.  [Sometimes it is called Sherakrak] Why is it called this?  Because when this bird comes, it means that ''rachamim'' - the sign of mercy -has come to the world.  Rashi says this mercy means ''rain''.   The sign is when the bird sits on something and makes a ''sherakarak'' sound.

We have a tradition that if you hear this ''sherakrak'' on the ground, Moshiach will come.

In Zechariah, Hashem speaks about the end of the exile, and says ''I will whistle to them and gather them''.  Acdus [unity] will bring Moshiach.

It was explained by the Sages that the racham bird was sitting on ground that was ploughed and a hail storm came and killed the bird.  So we can see from this story that when this occurred and that bird made the ''sherakrak'' sound it was not the time for Moshiach to come and that bird was a faker.

This bird has been identified as a magpie [very common in Australia by the way], others says there is an arabic name for a bird similar to ''sherakrak'' and still others say it is an Egyptian vulture.  The Arizal writes that the racham bird doesn't make any noise and the sound comes from it's wings when it flies, but when Moshiach comes it will actually be able to shriek.

The sound of this bird is a sign of rain. [In Australia, we have  a bird called the Kookaburra, and when the kookaburras sing, they are announcing rain.]

The Maharal of Prague speaks about this gemorrah and says we should accept it literally.  He explains that different birds have different qualities and give us different messages, they are also able to tell the future - they have spiritual qualities shown by the fact that they can fly. They are more spiritual refined than other  animals that walk on the ground. They are more connected to Heaven, and are more able to relate what is going on than other creatures.

The Maharal continues that in the Shabbas Musaf prayer we see the letters of the Alef Beis reading backwards [and it also says Moshiach will come in the merit of Shabbos].  The sherakrak bird = sherak spelt שרק - are the Hebrew letters backwards from their places in the Alef Beis. This shows us that the letters of the Alef Beis are uniting with each other in unity.  The letters of Shin Reish Kuf  re-arranged also spell the word ''kesher'' - connection.  When we whistle we put our lips together, indicating unity.... the whistle of the sherakrak bird is also a sign of unity.  When Moshiach will come Hashem will have complete unity with creation.

A Person's Name Affects His Essence

by Rabbi David Hanania Pinto

"The name of the first was Shifrah and the name of the second was Puah" [Shemot 1:15]

Why did Pharaoh change Yocheved and Miriam's names to Shifra and Puah, which are Egyptian names?

The Rebbe of Riminov zt"l explains: Pharaoh knew that as long as the midwives, Yocheved and Miriam, are called Jewish names, there is no way he can challenge them with this cruel decree of killing Jewish children. Therefore, he first commanded them to change their names to 'Shifra' and 'Pu'ah', hoping that Egyptian names will have an effect on their state of mind and change their essence and character, to the extent that they will now be capable of murdering Jewish children. Only after that did he order them, "if it is a son, you are to kill him".

A person's name is his essence. It is absorbed in his innermost being and greatly influences his spirit and character.

Taal Volcano in Parsha of the Week

Image: Independent News

HT: Yeranen Yaakov

Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes after lava spewed from a volcano near the Philippine capital of Manila, amid fears a bigger eruption could be imminent. Schools and businesses across the capital were shut on Monday as clouds of ash from the Taal volcano drifted over the city.

From this week's Parsha: [the Hebrew word Taal is highlighted in red]

 וַיְהִי בַיָּמִים הָרַבִּים הָהֵם וַיָּמָת מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם וַיֵּאָנְחוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן הָעֲבֹדָה וַיִּזְעָקוּ וַתַּעַל שַׁוְעָתָם אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים מִן הָעֲבֹדָה.  [Shemot 2:23]

From next week's Parsha:   וַיֵּט אַהֲרֹן אֶת יָדוֹ עַל מֵימֵי מִצְרָיִם וַתַּעַל הַצְּפַרְדֵּעַ וַתְּכַס אֶת אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם  [Vaeira 8:2]

Why Nightmare Scenarios Precede the Geulah

Rabbi Mendel Kessin new shiur given January 11 2020

What Tzaddikim See with their Pure Eyes

by Rabbi David Hanania Pinto

One who studies this Parsha [Vayechi] will notice that the word 'eyes' is mentioned several times. "Now Yisrael's eyes were heavy with age", "Red eyed from wine" and more. Why is this?

Due to Ya'akov's old age, he was no longer able to see, but this only refers to human sight. He was, however, able to foresee all that would transpire in the future with a spiritual vision, for he had rectified his eyes. Since Ya'akov's attribute was truth, as it says (Micha 7:20) "Grant truth to Ya'akov", he was therefore unable to hide what his eyes saw with Divine Inspiration and asked "Who are these?", for even though Menashe and Ephraim were considered tzaddikim, he saw that their descendants will serve idolatry.

The holy Rabbeinu Chaim Pinto zya"a, became blind in his old age yet he could perceive everything using his supernatural wisdom. Although he could not see, he was able to name every person who entered his home.

I recall an incident that happened many years ago, with my esteemed father Rabbeinu Moshe Ahron zya"a. He required a certain medical procedure on his eyes and I was directed to an expert doctor for eye disease, who lived in Manchester, England. I accompanied my father zya"a on this trip and on arriving in England, we took a taxi to the doctor's house. The taxi stopped two streets away from his house since there was no entry for vehicles, and from there we had to make our way by foot.

Wonder of wonders! My father had never been to England and was not familiar with its streets, but when we got out of the taxi he started walking quickly with his face down. He knew exactly where to turn and where to go, and I had to run to try and keep up with him, all the time wondering how he knew the way.

When we arrived at the doctor's house, Abba zya"a stopped and asked me simply, "Is this where the doctor lives?" And indeed it was the right address.

How did Abba zya'a merit attaining these holy levels? Because he rectified his eyes and was most particular to guard them from looking at forbidden sights. This is how he merited seeing things with Divine inspiration. With this spiritual vision, he knew how to get to the doctor's home, without any previous knowledge of the area.

May it be His will that we merit guarding our eyes against looking at improper sights and may we sanctify ourselves with our actions, sight and thoughts. Amen v'Amen.