Bondi Chanukah Terror Attack

 Video of shooting attack, may be distressing, sounds of gunshots

Report of latest news

Video of actual shooters firing at crowd. Distressing.

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

Sun Getting Personal Now

Do you see what the sun is doing...?  It's sending out blue and yellow beams that reach the ground.

One of these beams appeared right in front of me a few weeks ago and I jumped out of the way, although it seems quite harmless.  It's got beams like an octopus' tentacles. That sunbeam is stretching 93 million miles to tap you on the shoulder.  [I don't know the people in the photo, it was posted on a weather group]

This is happening because the sunlight, i.e. the sun itself, is being squashed at the sides by the passing planets.  You can see the outline of them in these photos. We are seeing their DARK sides, their front sides are facing their sun which is behind or close by our sun.

A Miracle

Before G-d performs a miracle for a person, he first falls upon hard times - the extent of which is determined by the magnitude of the miracle.

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

Mashiach ben Yosef will prepare the world for Mashiach ben David

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff

Trusting Only in Hashem

Refuah Shelaimah David ben Esther Rivka

Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein

"Yet the chief wine butler did not remember Yosef, and he forgot him" [Vayeishev 40:23]

This verse seems redundant, noted the Maharam of Amshinov. Why must it state that "he forgot him" once it already informed us that "the chief wine butler did not remember Yosef".

The Rebbe answered: As soon as Yosef uttered his request to the chief wine butler he realized that he had sinned, as he had trusted in a human being instead of Hashem.  He therefore prayed to Hashem that the butler would forget his request entirely! And, indeed, "he forgot him".

Rashi explains that Heaven punished Yosef and made him remain in prison an additional two years because he placed his trust in the chief wine butler.

The Alter of Novarodok's (R' Yosef Yozel Horowitz) level of bitachon was legendary.

One night, the Alter was sitting alone in his house in the woods learning Torah by candlelight. He continued learning until his very last candle burned out.

The Alter was now left sitting in complete darkness and it saddened him that he would have to stop learning for lack of a candle. But then the Alter decided that he must strengthen his faith in Hashem and trust that He would provide him with all that he needed - including a candle.

The Alter quickly got up and opened the door of his home. At that very moment, a man stepped out of the forest, handed him a candle, and disappeared.

For twenty-five years, the Alter saved the candle as a remembrance of that miracle and to show his students that Hashem takes special care of those who sincerely trust Him.

But then a fire broke out in Novarodok.  The Alter's home was among the many homes that were destroyed in the fire.  The fire consumed everything that was in the house, including the wondrous candle.

"You should know" said the Alter to his students, "that Heaven made us lose the candle in order to teach us that we must trust in Hashem even when we have no proof that He will help us".

Storm Byron / Purple Skies

I don't think there's any doubt about the colour of the skies over Greece as Storm Byron came by.  Obvious culprit is the purple planet Atu.

Photo Source: BBC

A local photographer and storm chaser caught the dramatic lightning on a 150-second long exposure

You may seem more of this in Israel as Storm Byron is expected to arrive on Wednesday.

Jackpot

 

They say the streets of Las Vegas are deserted now, people are not flocking there as they used to.  

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I've already written this in the comments yesterday, but it really needs it's own post.

Counting from the date of the establishment of the State of Israel - May 14, 1948 - until the 7th day of Chanukah this year [Dec 21] - it will be 77 years, 7 months, and 7 days, which you can see for yourself by clicking here [thanks Yaak].

If you are unaware, our world is a world of 7 and the world of Moshiach is a world of 8.

Chanukah also represents the number 8.  

Seven symbolizes the Natural order, for G‑d created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, which He made holy, thus creating the holy Shabbos. Seven, therefore, represents the whole of Creation, or Nature. 

 Eight, on the other hand, being higher than seven, symbolizes the Super-natural. The human brain is a creation of G‑d, and part of Nature. Human intelligence is therefore limited to the Natural order; anything which is above and beyond Nature is also above and beyond human understanding. [Source - The Significance of Eight]

Video: The Light of Moshiach is Already Here

Rabbi Moshe Chaim Eade

In this lesson, we uncover the deepest secrets of Chanukah, the 36 lights, the Hidden Light, Messiah and the Rambam’s teaching on Techiyat HaMeitim (resurrection). The Sages teach that Chanukah is a preview of the world to come. A taste of the light of Mashiach. A whisper of the future of humanity. In this video you’ll discover: ✨ Why the 36 lights of Chanukah represent the hidden light of Creation ✨ Why children naturally feel the light of Chanukah ✨ How the days of Mashiach will mirror Chanukah’s spiritual glow ✨ The Rambam’s final principle — resurrection is real, literal, and essential ✨ Torah sources that clearly predict the resurrection ✨ What the resurrection actually means for your life ✨ Why we will reunite with loved ones ✨ Why the body must return in perfection ✨ How Mashiach will usher in peace for all nations