The True Essence of Chanukah

New shiur from Rabbi Mendel Kessin

'Anyone who hates Israel is considered to be like Amalek'

 

'We have a lot of enemies, but the accepted name for Amalek today is Hamas,' says Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh. 

Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh, dean of the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva in Yitzhar, spoke at a special gathering about the war with Hamas. 

"According to the simple explanation, there is no longer this nation, Amalek. But halakha (Jewish law - ed. says that anyone who hates Israel and wants to destroy the Jewish nation is considered Amalek," Rabbi Ginsburgh said. "This is how the Brisker Rav ruled." 

Amalek, he said, "changes its name. In the previous generation, it was not called Amalek, it was called, 'Nazi.' Now, with us, we have a lot of enemies, but the accepted name for Amalek today is really Hamas."

He added in that in gematriya - a system which gives numeric value to each Hebrew letter - the word, "Hamas," is equal to the words, "v'ani evtach bach," which translate to, "I will trust in You." 

"Therefore, now, we will sing this even more powerfully than before - 'v'ani evtach bach,' and each person who says these words eliminates one Hamas terrorist," he said. 

"From everything we have said now, we can create an operation - especially for the soldiers, who will sing, 'v'ani evtach bach,' with the simple intention - they can fulfill it while singing." 

Rabbi Ginsburgh added, "If you are a yeshiva dean or give Torah classes, when you say, 'v'ani evtach bach,' you need to kill one of the leaders of Hamas. But sometimes it's just luck that even a simple person will score a direct hit on the leader of Hamas, of the snake."

Chanukah: Restoring the Messianic Light

This audio is from 2021 - Rabbi Mendel Kessin

Transcription can be found here

Judging Others

 וַיְהִי אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה  - And it came about, after these words....  [Vayeishev 40:1]

The "words" that are referred to here are those of Potifar's wife, who bad-mouthed Yosef throughout Egypt.

From the actions of Potifar's wife, we can learn a powerful lesson about judging other people:

At first glance, Potifar's wife's actions appear to have been utterly evil.  Not only did she cause Yosef to be sent to prison, but furthermore, she spoke badly of him so that his name was blackened throughout Egypt.

Rashi however enlightens us to the truth, that even these actions were intended for the sake of Heaven! Despite the fact that she was brought up in the corrupt, idolatrous atmosphere of Egypt her intentions were pure, to the extent that our sages compared her to Tamar, the mother of "strong ones and righteous ones" [Rashi]. 

From this we can learn the importance of not judging other people by their first appearances.

Source: Sichos of the Lubavitcher Rebbe
Art: Abraham Leon Kroll

Giant Hail Storm

Giant hail just hit in Gympie, Queensland Australia

Images D. Grant and C. Williams

Two Soldiers

Two soldiers, a Muslim and a Jew, praying side by side.   

Photo: סטטוסים מצייצים [not a page I look at, but this photo was shared by a friend, H/T Judy]

The Messiah Will Be Groomed in Arabia

H/T Sherry

Does Yishmael do teshuva at the End of Days?  

Rabbi Daniel Glatstein

What will happen when Eisav and Yishmael join forces? Who is Yishmael? Rabbi Daniel Glatstein elaborates on events that will take place at the End of Days in another sensational lecture based on the Parsha.

Whatever is Supposed to Happen, Will Happen

Rabbi Alon Anava

How to have bitachon, complete faith in G-d, and no fear.