Why We Have Purim and Shushan Purim

 New shiur from Rabbi Mendel Kessin

Third Rome #3: Russia's Hidden Role in Hasidism and Zionism

Rabbi Efraim Palvanov 

How did events in the Russian Empire launch two transformative Jewish movements that changed the world? What role has Russia (particularly the KGB) played in the early years of the State of Israel, and the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict? And what does it all have to do with ancient prophecies of Magog, Edom, and the "Third Rome"?

To watch previous lectures on "Third Rome" click on the Palvanov Label below this blog post.

Amalek and the Spiritual Essence of Purim

 New shiur from Rabbi Mendel Kessin

The Three Keys

"Engrave on it with signet-ring [type] engraving: "Holy to Hashem"
  פִּתּוּחֵי חֹתָם קֹדֶשׁ לַי־הֹוָ־ה 
[Tetzaveh 28:36]

In Maseches Ta'anis (2a) R' Yochanan states that there are three maftechos, three keys, in Hashem's possession that He never entrusts to others:

• the key to childbirth
• the key to rain
• and the key to resuscitating the dead

The Gemara derived this from three verses:

Hashem does not entrust the key to childbirth to a messenger, as the verse states: "G-d remembered Rachel; G-d hearkened to her and He opened (vayiftach) her womb" [Bereishis 30:22]

Hashem does not entrust the key of rain to a messenger, as the verse states: "Hashem shall open for you His storehouse of goodness, the heavens, to provide rain for your Land in its time" [Devarim 28:12]

And Hashem does not entrust the key of resuscitating the dead to a messenger, as the verse states: "Then you will know that I am Hashem, when I open your graves" [Yechezkel 37:13]

These three keys, remarked the Vilna Gaon, are alluded to in the verse: "Pituchei chosam kodesh laHashem" - פִּתּוּחֵי חֹתָם קֹדֶשׁ לַי־הֹוָ־ה -

The acronym of the word  חֹתָם [Ches, taf, mem] which means "seal" hints to the following words:

Ches - Chayah [a woman who has recently given birth]

Taf - Techiyas HaMeisim [the resuscitation of the dead]

Mem - Matar [rain]

The verse can therefore be read as follows:  "The keys of [pituchei] childbirth, resuscitation of the dead, and rain - ChoTaM - are designated for Hashem's use only ["kodesh laHashem"].

Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein

The Yanuka: "For My Sake The World Was Created"

5 minutes, Hebrew with English subtitles.

If the English subtitles do not appear, run your mouse over and click on the Cog in the bottom right hand corner of the video, click on Subtitles and the click on English.

Who Will Build the Final Beit HaMikdash?

 Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz

Russia's Nuclear Exercises and Adar

As we approach Adar, we also approach a ramping up from Russia, with it's nuclear forces doing "massive exercise" - on the eve of Biden's visit to Europe. 

We know Adar is the month of miraculous events where evil is turned around - V’nahafoch hu - the enemy’s’ efforts ultimately lead them towards becoming the source of the salvation for the Jews.

And here I want to quote Myrtle Rising about Russia: [I highly recommend clicking on that link and reading the whole blog post]

The Russian nation comes from the klippah of Dubiel ("God is my Bear"—or, in modern Hebrew  ..."God is my Teddy Bear"—ha!). 

Interestingly, even the non-Jews sense this aspect of Russia because they dubbed Russia with the moniker "the great Russian bear." 

The original nation under the klippah/sar/Heavenly representative of Dubiel was Paras—Persia. Persia existed as the initial earthly manifestation of Dubiel......when we hear about Russia's increasing aggression and victories, it stands out as a sign that Dubiel's power is reaching its peak...at which point, the only way is down. 

This is similar to Rabbi Zecharia Wallerstein's parable of a dying fish which, in an effort to return to its life-giving watery habitat, thrashes around more than it ever did or ever needed to do its entire life.

Davka in the last dying moments, power often peaks. 

Dubiel is about to die, so its earthly counterpart is thrashing around. This means we now need to prepare ourselves for the approaching bell-ringing of Mashiach.

Derailments and Toxic Rivers [updated]

There were at least four train derailments in America yesterday.  The first one in East Palestine Ohio has contaminated the Ohio River, one of the longest rivers in America.  I have listed the four known train derailments below the image.  

Is this sabotage, or is it something else.... such as earth movements causing rail lines to buckle?  Whatever the case, once the rivers become toxic, water flows and travels and maybe we are seeing this sign of Geula approaching.  Again, stock up on canned tuna if you need to.

Talmud Sanhedrin 98a "Mashiach ben Dovid will not arrive until someone seeks a fish for a sick person and cannot find one."

Toxic chemicals from the train derailment & explosion in East Palestine have reportedly “contaminated” the Ohio River as far as West Virginia, a water source for over 5 million. 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/02/14/is-the-ohio-river-contaminated-east-palestine-train-derailment-sparks-concerns-over-water/69900528007/

One person is dead after a train derailment in Montgomery County… at 59 and Midline (Fostoria). Authorities say, avoid the area… there’s a possible hazmat situation. #breaking #texas Metro-North

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/driver-killed-after-crashing-into-freight-train-near-houston/3193745/

Railroad @MetroNorth · Train service is replaced by buses on the New Canaan branch between New Canaan and Stamford because of a non-passenger train that derailed near New Canaan. Please transfer in Stamford for service to New Canaan or Grand Central.

https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/metro-north-new-canaan-branch-service-suspended-after-train-derailment/2975935/

Currently multiple emergency crews are responding to a train derailment in Enoree South Carolina CSX Transportation are also on the scene this is still developing

https://twitter.com/rawsalerts

                             Update: This is a picture of snow in Ontario Canada, taken 19 Feb 2023.