Statement About the U.N.'s Declaration of the Palestinian State

 Rabbi Mendel Kessin - 3 min video

We're In a World of Despair, But It's Going to End Well !

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff - 5 min video

"Everyone will be talking about the end of the world.... whether it's a nuclear war, meteors, aliens.... "

When Gaza Falls, Moshiach Will Come

HaRav Shalom Barel

This is from 2024, but it's taken this long to get this far.

English sub-titles.  I don't have time to type them up, but you can have a look at this older post for an english version by a different rabbi.

Seven Interstellar Objects

Currently tracking SEVEN objects.

Multiple comets are currently flying through the Inner Solar System in addition to interstellar object 3I/ATLAS. Because we're currently in a Solar Maximum period, will all these comets trigger increased solar activity this fall? Are they omens for significant world events about to unfold? And what's the latest with 3I/ATLAS? Geophysicist Stefan Burns reports...

Emunah: A Lightness of Being

 

from the writings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

"Eicha Esa Livadi Tarchachem U'Masachem V'Rivchem" - "How can I carry you alone, your bother, your load, and your quarrels" [Devarim 1:12]

Rashi says that Tarchachem means that they were nudnicks, and Masachem means they were apikursim [heretics] - Tarchachem clearly means tircha [bothersome], but how does masachem or heavy load come to apikursis?

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov answers that while intellectuals may consider people with emunah [faith] simple and naive, in a sense they are right.  With emunah  life becomes easier, as not everything must be explained and rationalized.  Emunah is a great tool to lift the weight from you.

 

However, an Apikores is constantly plagued by doubt and questions that nag him endlessly, leaving him no peace.  This constant state of turmoil eats at him and becomes a huge burden on his own shoulders.  This explains why Rashi says that masachem means apikursis, as there is no greater burden around. 

Debunking Yet Another Conspiracy Theory

I've seen this latest conspiracy claim so many times now.  Someone took the letter from Chief Rabbi David Yosef which he wrote to the family of Charlie Kirk, and changed the date.  Not only the English date, but the Hebrew date as well.   They are using this as "evidence" that Israel had advance knowledge of this event.   People are actually believing this. 

Here's the original letter which you can also view at VIN News - notice the dates 19 Elul / September 12

and here's the one that's doing the rounds on all the anti-semitic posts.  It was apparently originally posted by Eyal Yakoby but he deleted it when he realized the error and his account now comes up as suspended. 

This screen shot below is from a different X account, the one who's stirred up all the trouble.  I won't name him because he's just another pot stirrer who doesn't need any more publicity.

United by the Divine

Photo: Ontario 7 Nov 2024 Gianluca Marvosi

You are all standing this day before the Lord, your God ... [Nitzavim 29:9]

Jews must stand firm and unshakable, though they are ''the smallest among all the nations''.

This can be only when they are bound and united together - ''All of you''.

How is it possible to form a true and enduring union of different individuals with different ideas, different interests, and different aspirations?

The answer is:  ''Before the Lord, your God''.  The union of all Jews is possible because, as a matter of fact, they are already united by virtue of their souls, the Divine soul, which is actually a part of God above, and which is found in every Jew without exception.  

The profound reflection that one stands '''before the Lord'' who is ''Your God'' - your strength and your life - must bring forth and actualize the union of one Jew with another, and of the individual with the community of our people, in the fullest measure.

Excerpt from public letter by the Lubavitcher Rebbe on Erev Shabbos Parshas Nitzavim 5721

24 Elul - Yarzheit Chofetz Chaim

 

1838-1933 [5598-5693]

Rabbi Israel Meir HaCohen Kagan is commonly known as the "Chafetz Chaim," the name of his famous work on guarding one's tongue.

Born in Zhetel, Poland on February 6, 1838 [11 Shvat 5598], he was taught until age 10 by his parents and then moved to Vilna to further his Jewish studies. Refusing the pulpit rabbinate, the Chafetz Chaim settled in Radin Poland and subsisted on a small grocery store which his wife managed and he did the "bookkeeping"-watching every penny to make sure that no one was cheated. He spent his days learning Torah and disseminating his knowledge to the common people.

As his reputation grew, students from all over Europe flocked to him and by 1869 his house became known as the Radin Yeshiva. In addition to his Yeshiva, the Chafetz Chaim was very active in Jewish causes. He traveled extensively (even in his 90's) to encourage the observance of Mitzvos amongst Jews. One of the founders of Agudas Yisrael, the religious Jewish organization of Europe and later the world, the Chafetz Chaim was very involved in Jewish affairs and helped many yeshivos survive the financial problems of the interwar period.

Exemplifying the verses in Psalms 34:13-14, "Who is the man who desires life...? Guard your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit," the Chafetz Chaim passed away in 1933 at the ripe age of 95.

The Chafetz Chaim's greatest legacy is the 21 sefarim [holy books] which he published. His first work, Sefer Chafetz Chaim [1873], is the first attempt to organize and clarify the laws regarding evil talk and gossip. He later wrote other works, including Shmirat HaLashon, which emphasized the importance of guarding one's tongue by quoting our Sages. The Mishnah Brurah [1894-1907], his commentary on the Daily Laws of a Jew [his first series in the Shulchan Aruch], is found in many Jewish homes and is accepted universally to decide Halacha.

Firmly believing that he was living right before the time of Moshiach and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple, the Chafetz Chaim wrote a work that stressed the learning of laws concerning sacrifices, the Holy Temple, and related topics. He also published seforim to strengthen certain aspects of Jewish life including kashrus, family purity, and Torah study.

More on the Chafetz Chaim click here