The Significance Of How to Protect Yourself and Your Family Within The On-Going Chaos

Rabbi Mendel Kessin, interview recorded over Zoom yesterday

Fast forward to the 9 minute mark to skip the intro. if you're in a hurry.

Gimel Tamuz 5784

                                                              Art Robert Kremnizer

Gimel Tamuz [3 Tamuz] this year is the 30th yarzheit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

Article written by Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski obm

Every person has a direct line with G-d, and we are not permitted to pray to intermediaries. Indeed, the propriety of prayers where we appear to be asking for blessings from angels or for their intervention on our behalf, is the subject of debate, and must be interpreted in such a way that does not violate our basic belief that we relate only to G-d as the One from Whom everything emanates.

Yes, there is also the concept of faith in a tzaddik, which is derived from the verse in Exodus [14:31] "They had faith in G-d and in Moses, His servant". The sages derived from this verse that believing in the leader of Israel is equivalent to believing in the Creator [Mechilta]. In addition, the Talmud states that if there is a sick person in one's household, let him go to a chacham [a wise man] to pray for his recovery [Bava Basra 116a]. Inasmuch as everyone has a direct contact with G-d and we do not work through intermediaries, why is the prayer of a tzaddik more potent that one's own prayer?

There are several ways in which we can understand the concept of faith in a tzaddik. First and foremost is that the opinion of a wise man, a tzaddik, as a Torah authority, must be accepted and followed even if we are in disagreement with it [Sifri, Deut 17:11].

There is also a concept of receiving a blessing from a tzaddik and this has its basis in a statement from G-d to Abraham "And you will be a blessing" [Gen 12:2] which the Midrash interprets to mean that G-d gave Abraham the power to bless people, and that gift has been given to other tzaddikim as well. Nevertheless, a person must understand that even though the tzaddik conveys the blessing, the origin of the blessing is G-d.

A woman once came to Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobel, pleading for a blessing to have a child. To the amazement of the bystanders, the Rabbi, who was exceptionally kind and benevolent, said brusquely to her "I'm sorry, I cannot help you". The woman left the room tearful and broken hearted.

Noting the bewilderment of his chassidim, Rabbi Mordechai said "Just wait a few moments, then go find the woman and bring her back here." The chassidim did as they were told and when the woman came back, the Rabbi asked her "What did you do when you left here?"

The woman replied "I turned my eyes to Heaven and I said "Dear G-d, the Rabbi refuses to help me. Now You are my only hope. Bless me that I have a child."

Rabbi Mordechai said to the chassidim "This woman believed that I had magical powers, and she was trusting in me rather than in G-d. When I refused her request, she placed her trust in G-d where it belongs. She will now be blessed with a child."

The primary function of a tzaddik is to assist people in the proper service of G-d, to help them recognize their character defects and show them how to do teshuvah.

The power of a tzaddik is in his strong belief in G-d, and anyone who has that strong a belief can bring about similar results. When the tzaddik prays for a sick person, for example, and says that G-d is the healer of the sick, his belief is so strong that it actually brings down the Divine healing upon the person. In fact, said Rabbi Mordechai, the prime reason for having a relationship with a tzaddik is to learn how to perfect one's belief in G-d.

Extracted from "Not Just Stories" by Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski MD
Published by Shaar Press

The Lubavitcher Rebbe would often answer requests by saying that he would pray for the person at the grave of his father-in-law, the previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak.

Good Idea !

This is a TikTok from ThatJewishFamily : how to get the hostages back fast

The Presidential Debate and the Hand of G-d

Rabbi Mendel Kessin

Clarification of the Jewish Understanding of Christianity

Moshe's Donkey and Moshiach

Art by Elhanan Ben-Avraham

Moshe complains about the accusations hurled against him and says "Lo Chamor Echad Meihem Nasasi" -  I didn't even take a single donkey from them [Korach 16:15]. Rashi says this refers to when he came down to Mitzrayim to redeem them on a donkey, and he paid for it from his own money. Rav Shimon Schwab asks, why would Moshe think that he should have taken the money from Bnei Yisroel?

Rav Schwab answers that the gemara in Sanhedrin [98a] says that when the geula comes, if we are zocheh [if we merit it] Moshiach will arrive on clouds, if not then Moshiach will come come as a pauper on a donkey. Why? 

The whole world needs to know that Hashem is bringing the geula and Moshiach has no power by himself. If Bnei Yisroel are Maaminim [believers] and Ovdei Hashem [servants of Hashem] then Moshiach can come in grand fashion and we will all place thanks in Hashem and not Moshiach. But if we do not recognize Hashem's hand, then Hashem will need to send a Moshiach who is powerless and destitute to show that it is not his charisma, brains, or money that will release us from the galus.

Moshe was the Goel in Mitzrayim.  Bnei Yisroel was not Zocheh and Moshe came riding into town on a donkey lacking any pomp or grandeur. He came with the stick in his hand and the shirt on his back. To show his poverty he should have asked Bnei Yisroel to pay for his donkey. Even then he did not, since he did not want to take anything from any member of Klal Yisroel.

Source: Revach

"Moshiach is Arriving Very Soon"

Update: This is a must listen shiur.

Please read the comments first, as there is a link to listen to it in English via AI,  sent by Yisroel.

Someone asked me to help them watch this video with the sub-titles .... anyway I started to transcribe it, and so here is the beginning of the shiur transcribed, I will add more to it a bit later.  To see the sub-titles click on the Settings cog and navigate to English and click on the CC.  

Thank you to Dave for sending this link.

Rav Ron Chaya

The Yanuka said last week Moshiach is arriving very soon so we are preparing, we believe it !

Does Moshiach know he is Moshiach?

In the writings of the Ari, in the beginning he does not know he is Moshiach and then one day G-d reveals to him who will be Moshiach, and he tells no-one but after a while he tells a few Tzaddikim. 

We heard already two weeks ago that Moshiach has revealed himself to two hidden Tzaddikim, and they know he is Moshiach.  One of those is Rav Kook, we believe, and he believes he knows who Moshiach is.

Moshiach is waiting for the green light from G-d and when this happens he will reveal himself and he is going to do actions where all mankind will know He is Moshiach.  I don't know what he is going to do but it will go very quickly - there is something very interesting in Eruvin that says Moshiach cannot come on Shabbat because a day before the prophet Eliyahu must come and announce His coming.  If he comes on a Friday we are preparing for Shabbat and we are busy, who has time for that, especially if it's a winter Shabbat we don't have time, so it won't be a Friday.  As soon as Moshiach comes all the people will recognise him and will help us prepare for Shabbat..

When Moshiach comes it's immediate and very fast. When Moshiach comes we make four blessings.,,,

Created at Twilight

"But if Hashem will create a phenomenon, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them" [Korach 16:30]

Rashi cites the Gemara in Maseches Sanhedrin [110a]: "If the mouth of the earth is a creation from the six days of Creation," said Moshe Rabbeinu, "then fine. But if not, may Hashem create one!"

Why, asked the Chasam Sofer [R' Moshe Sofer], did Moshe Rabbeinu have any doubt as to whether or not the mouth of the earth had been created during the six days of Creation?  For Chazal state [Avot 5:9] explicitly:

Ten things were created at twilight on the eve of the first Sabbath:

the mouth of the earth

the mouth of the well

the mouth of the ass

the rainbow;

the manna;

Aaron's staff;

the Shamir, writing;

the inscription on the tablets of the Ten Commandments;

and the tablets themselves. 

How then could Moshe have overlooked this Mishnah?

One of the ten things enumerated by Chazal, answered the Chasam Sofer, was "Moshe's grave".  This grave, whose location is unknown, was also created at twilight of that erev Shabbos.

Hashem therefore concealed all ten things from Moshe so that he would not hear of his own passing.  Thus, Moshe had to request "If the mouth of the earth is a creation from the six days of Creation, then fine. But if not, may Hashem create one!"

Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein

The Perfect Storm

 

Text: Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

Every great person I’ve ever met has found their sense of purpose from the storm they’ve encountered. 

It was in the very process of being broken and overwhelmed that they found the strength to build their identity, clarify their purpose, and strive for greatness. 

And our story, in essence, is always the same. 

Hashem sends a storm our way. 

We break. We struggle. We persevere. We get up. 

And we then spend the rest of our life on a journey of self-actualization, striving to help as many people along the way as we possibly can. 

No matter where you are along this storyline, always remember: The storm wasn’t sent to break you; it was sent to build you… so that you can help other people do the same.