Rachel and Leah

This week's Parsha Vayeitze is the Parsha of the week I was born.

Is there any personal significance to the Parsha of the week you were born? Find out here.

Vision of Rachel and Leah: Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Lavan had two daughters, the older was was called Leah, and the younger one was called Rachel.

[Vayeitze 29:16]

Rachel represents the approach of tzadikim whose lives are totally holy; and Leah represents the approach of ba'alei teshuvah (penitents) who elevate the secular world to holiness.

Thus, Rachel was naturally attractive: "Rachel had beautiful features and a beautiful complexion" like the tzaddik whose character is flawless; whereas Leah cried profusely, alluding to the process of teshuvah. She was also naturally outgoing, a talent which helps a person to bring the outside world to the realm of holiness.

"Yaakov was an honest person, dwelling in tents" [Toldos 25:27]-  i.e. he busied himself only with matters of holiness - the approach of tzaddikim.  Therefore, people said that Yaakov was destined for Rachel, since their characters matched.  Eisav, on the other hand, was an outgoing "man of the field". Therefore people said that he would be a good match for Leah, for only the talented, outgoing Leah would have the ability to make Eisav do teshuvah.

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

G-d Floods Gaza Tunnels

H/T Joe

Now we can see the passing binary solar system in action, over Gaza.  Hashem has used it to flood the tunnels, which the IDF were planning to do anyway.  Hashem did it for them.  I just hope the Israeli hostages are not caught up in the flooding.  As we are in the month of Kislev, which is a month of miracles, let us pray that they come home safely.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, all my posts on the passing solar system can be found by clicking on the Label Wonders underneath this post.

"The Spiritual War" Podcast with Rabbi Shimon Kessin

 "G-d is bringing the Redemption much faster, and there are some people who think that Moshiach will come this year" - Rabbi Shimon Kessin

Rabbi Kessin gives advice on how we can accelerate the Redemption.

The Pain You Cause Others Will Come Back to Haunt You

 Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz

Message to Am Yisrael

H/T Rivka

HaGaon haYanuka

First he meets the soldiers, shiur starts at the 3min mark.  Hebrew with English subtitles.

To see the English subtitles, click on the cog at the bottom right hand corner of the video, click Subtitles and navigate to translate to English.

Right at the beginning he talks about Gog u Magog and says "it is an entirely different matter"....

For all the Noahides, approx 11.30 mark he speaks about the righteous of the nations.

An Enemy of the Jewish People

Following Obama's recent comments on Israel [which I couldn't even listen to because just looking at this man makes me feel ill], Alan Dershowitz calls him despicable and "an enemy of the Jewish people".  I told you this back in 2008 and again in 2011, 2014, and most recently 2023.

Yishmael vs Edom - Iran vs USA

Who Will Win?

"We're close to the end. We want to know: how close are we? "

Rabbi Daniel Glatstein

How to be Saved !

 Rabbi Yuval Ovadia spells it out in this video.

From the Zohar [from around 12:30 in the video] - note, I'm mostly quoting Rabbi Ovadia, but have changed some words and added a couple of things to clarify.  Please listen to the shiur to hear his exact words.

"A star with seven moons - a mini solar system in fact - will appear."   [To see all the posts I've done on this "mini solar system" click here]

This is the Kochav Yaakov, although Rabbi Ovadia calls it the Star of David.

Some people call it Nibiru, but there's a whole other theory that Nibiru is just a blue planet, so let's just call it the Kochav Yaakov.

The appearance of this star will be parallel to the revelation of Moshiach.

Although nothing is for sure until it happens, the rise of the jihadists around the world could lead to a war between them and the gentile nations - between Yishmael and Eisav.  Maybe Korea or China will wage war against a xtian country.  During this war, the Star shows up, causing the destruction of many places on earth.

How can we be saved?  The Prophet says anyone who will call out for salvation from the Almighty will be saved.  So many were saved during the massacre of October 7 because they called out to Hashem. These were secular Jews, not religious, and they called Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad - they just said this "Jewish Password", the first line of the Shema, and were literally saved!

He tells an amazing story of how a Jewish family were saved by this Jewish password, around the 15 minute mark, but I do suggest you listen to the entire shiur.