Greater than Yosef HaTzaddik

 

by Rabbi David Chananya Pinto

“And now, be not distressed, nor reproach yourselves for having sold me here” [Vayigash 45:5]

A story brought in the holy Zohar on Parshat Mikeitz shows the great merit of a person who overlooks personal affront. 

Rav Abba was sitting at the entrance to Lod when he noticed a tired man who sat down on a boulder that jutted out from the side of the mountain and soon fell asleep. While he was still asleep, a poisonous snake made his way over to the sleeping man. Suddenly a branch from a tree broke off and fell directly on the snake, killing it instantly. When the man awoke he noticed the dead snake lying next to him. He got up and started walking away and just then the boulder he had lain on broke away from the mountain and rolled down to the valley below. Once again he was miraculously saved from death. 

Rav Abba was most impressed by the sight of these miracles he had just witnessed. Rav Abba approached the man and asked him: 

“Please tell me, what good deeds do you possess that Hashem performed two open miracles for you? He saved you from the snake’s poisonous bite and from tumbling to certain death.” 

He replied: “It never happened to me that someone harmed me and I wasn’t appeased. I always forgave him and never held on to anger for any bad that was directed my way. Not only did I forgive, but from that day on, I tried to perform acts of kindness to those who tried to annoy me.” 

When Rav Abba heard these words he cried and said: “The deeds of this man are greater than those of Yosef HaTzaddik. Concerning Yosef, those who caused him suffering were his own brothers; he had to have mercy on them. But this person behaved in this manner with every single person, therefore it is fitting that Hashem perform many miracles for him.

As you may be aware, many Israelis are unable to earn any money at the moment due to the war.  So it seems like a good time to advertise this children's book which was written and illustrated by a  a talented 21 year old Israeli Ashira Sekel and is for sale on Amazon.

If you have children in your life, this is a great way to buy them a gift and do the mitzvah of giving tzedaka at the same time. 

Gnome shows us how he and his friends from the animal kingdom on the land, under water and in the air, take care and sustain our gorgeous planet.  

If you're interested, please click here.

Zot Chanukah

Text: Rav Nissim Makor

The last day, Zot Chanukah, is one of the most powerful days of the year. 

The Admor from Ruzhhin teaches, that what a simple man can accomplish on the 8th day of Chanukah, even great Tzadikkim cannot accomplish with their Tefilah during Neilah of Yom Kippur. 

What is so special about the 8th day of Chanukah? 

On Rosh Hashanah we are judged, on Yom Kippur the judgement is sealed and on Hoshana Raba it is delivered. We still have one chance to change things until the 8th day on Chanukah., after which everything is final and the decrees start to be carried out. (The judgement process is 122 days long). 

The last days of Chanukah are the antidote to the heaviness of this month. The Chanukah lights can repair our spiritual vision, letting us see the blessings we have. Therefore, it is a very special day to beg Hashem for mercy for all that we need, and that we should have only good decrees upon us. 

Remember, Zot Chanukah is a day above nature and certainly a day of miracles!!! Take advantage of this special day. Don’t let it just come and go. Use it!!!!

Leaving the World Behind

So the Obamas are the Executive Producers of a Netflix movie called "Leave the World Behind".  I only watched it for research purposes.... it was not a good movie in any sense of the word.  However, it is very interesting because Obama reportedly had a lot to say - he sent "a lot of notes" to the director.

Unsurprisingly, it's about the End of the World.... but at no stage does the movie tell us exactly how the world will actually end.  

But.... there is a hint in the clothing worn by the two children

Obey NASA.

Oh please, NASA has been lying to us for so long !  We have an entire solar system passing us by, it is the greatest show on earth for those who are seeing the daily uploaded images from around the world.

"They" are getting the world ready for some big events. [but their expectations and the reality of what Hashem has in store are two very different things]

Here is a sample of what you are missing if you are not part of the sky watching crowd. I've left some of the info on the photos so you can see these people don't even realize what they are photographing. Both of these images show a planet extremely close to Earth.  

There is no need to be scared, even if the Obama-produced movie wants us all to be terrified....  the planets are not going to crash into us, but big things are going to happen, there's no doubt about that in my mind anyway.

"Not By Chance"

New Argentinian President Javier Milei, says it is not by chance that he was sworn in during the festival of Chanukah, the Festival of Light.  Rabbi Berel Solomon says this is a sign before Moshiach. 

The Hidden Greatness of Yosef

וַיִּקְרָא פַרְעֹה שֵׁם יוֹסֵף צָפְנַת פַּעְנֵחַ

And Pharaoh named Joseph "Tzafnat Pa'neach" [Mikeitz 41:45]

Rashi explains: "Tzafnat Pa'neach - mepharesh hatzefunos [decipherer of the cryptic]"

If that is the meaning of Yosef's title, asked the Sefas Emes [R' Yehudah Leib Alter of Gur], then would it not have been more appropriate to reverse the order of the words and refer to him as "Paneach tzefunos"?

Yosef, answered the Sefas Emes, merited his unique ability to reveal that which was concealed on account of the fact that he acted with extreme modesty, always concealing his own righteousness from the eyes of others.

It is for this reason, he concluded, that he was referred to as Tzafnat Pa'neach. Tzafnat - because he went to great lengths to hide his greatness ["tzafnat" - the hidden one], "paneach" - he merited to decipher hidden matters.

Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein

Chanukah Segulot

Art: Michoel Muchnik

It is considered important to sit opposite the lit Hanukkah candles for a full half hour after lighting and to look at the flames. This action is regarded as a Segula for the healing of one’s soul and one’s fears. It is related that the light of the Hanukkah candles is connected to the light that G-d created at the time of creation that was hidden away and will be revealed only at the End of Days - because this unique light was created before the idea of fear was brought in to the world, looking into the Hanukkah lights is supposed to alleviate fears.

Rabbi Yair Chaim Bacharach (1639-1702) promised that women who sit by the Hanukkah candles for a half hour will merit peace of mind for the entire year, a rare commodity in our days…

It is also related that the very first half hour of when the Hanukkah candles burn is considered an especially auspicious time for prayer - the angels are believed to sit above the candles and take the prayers directly up to Heaven.

The Slonimer Rebbe wrote that for those who have seen immodest sights- which is unfortunately almost unavoidable today - looking in to the flames of the Hanukkah candles erases those images from one’s memory.

It is considered important to use olive oil when lighting the Menorah, as olive oil is known for blessing the user with a good memory, wisdom and children who will rise above others in their wisdom in the same way that the olive oil floats above the water.

The Rabbi of Rodzin explained that there is a tremendous Segula on the eighth night of Hanukkah for those wanting an easy childbirth or children. He said that the things that the most righteous could not get granted at Neilah on Yom Kippur can be asked for by the simpleton on the eighth night of Hanukkah. Those who wish to be blessed with children should recite the verse from Psalms 80 that reads, “G-d of Hosts, return, we beseech You, look from the heaven and behold be mindful of this vine.” The vine is in reference to the woman who wishes to be as fruitful as a vine.

Source

The True Essence of Chanukah

New shiur from Rabbi Mendel Kessin