Current Events Update 2023

New shiur from Rabbi Mendel Kessin

Given yesterday in Israel

Spiritual Darkness

"And there was a thick darkness throughout the land of Egypt... No man could see his brother nor could any man rise from his place" [Bo 10:22-23]

This verse, said R' Chanoch of Alexander, teaches us a valuable lesson in Divine service.

''And there was a thick darkness throughout the land of Egypt'' - when it is a period of spiritual darkness - and ''No man could see his brother'' - when somebody only cares about himself and ignores the plight of others - then ''nor could any man rise from his place'' - he will not be able to rise from his low spiritual state.

Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein

The Severity of the Sin

Art by Nick Gustafson

Moses cried out to the Lord concerning the frogs that He had brought upon Pharaoh....And the Lord did according to Moses' word, and the frogs died .... [Va'eira 8:8-9]

Why is it, asked the Chofetz Chaim, that at the Plague of Frogs, Hashem accepted Moshe's prayer as soon as he uttered it and immediately stopped the devastating plague, yet when the Jews were in the wilderness and were attacked by fiery serpents, Moshe's prayers did not have an immediate effect?

For, in that case, Hashem told Moshe: ''Make yourself [the image of] a venomous snake, and place it on a pole.'' [Bamidbar 21:8]   Only by gazing at the copper ''snake'' did those who were bitten survive.

Why was it necessary for Moshe to perform an action here in order to save the Jewish people in the wilderness, yet in Egypt, no additional action was required?

This is meant to teach us, answered the Chofetz Chaim, the severity of the sin of speaking lashon hara.

As a rule, prayer is effective for removing all misfortunes and calamities.  Therefore, when Moshe beseeched Hashem to remove the frogs from Egypt, Hashem accepted his prayer and instantly stopped the plague.  However, the fiery serpents were sent to attack the Jewish people as a punishment for speaking lashon hara.  

Since they had committed a sin which the Heavenly Court judges with exactitude, Moshe's prayers were not immediately effective.  Instead, Hashem instructed him to make an image of a venomous snake for the people to gaze at.  This way, each Jew would think of his Father in Heaven and personally repent for his sin.  Each Jew would then be forgiven and granted life.

Source: Rabbi Yisroel Bronstein

"A Time of Trouble"

Text by R' Dan Stochel

The Eban Ezra writes the following about the coming Final Wars.

Daniel 12:1 "This time of trouble will cover the entire world." 

Other similar sources are: Midrash Talpiyot: anaf Otot Mashiach (signs of Mashiach) section 1 & 7.

And the very reason this trouble covers the entire world is as Rabbi Shabtai Bass (1641-1718) known as the Siftey Chachamim writes on Talmud Megillah 17b: 

This most humbling of realities stemming from the global "Pachad" meaning global "Fear" during these Final world wars fought in cyber space, tarriff wars, currency devaluation trade wars, is because it lays the necessary foundation for a "worldwide" redemptive process in order for not just Jews but correct thinking righteous gentiles also need to feel this Pachad so they too do teshuvah on their level -- since this time it is meant for all humankind because Hashem is bringing with it a complete and worldwide redemption!

The Mystery of G-d in the Last Two Thousand Years

 Rabbi Shimon Kessin

Cosmic Shemittot

Rabbi Efraim Palvanov 

Were there civilizations before ours? How can we explain archaeological evidence that dates as far back as 12,000 years? Explore the ancient Kabbalistic notion of Shemittot ("Cosmic Sabbaticals") of 7000-year cycles.

This short video is spliced together from two longer classes. For the full version Part 1 click here and Part 2 click here

The Name of God

                                                             Art: Joe Bergholm

God said to Moses: "Ehyeh asher ehyeh'' (I will be what I will be) [Shemot 3:14]

Rashi explains that G-d's reply to Moshe's question [about His Name] was ''I will be with them in their present time of need, just as I will be with them at the time of future persecutions.''

Obviously, Rashi does not agree with those commentators who suggest that G-d told Moshe to tell the Jews His true Name [Rashbam, Rambam and Abarbanel].  Rather, according to Rashi, G-d was responding with words of encouragement to tell the Jewish people.  [In this respect, Rashi agrees with Ramban].

After the true and complete redemption through our righteous Moshiach '' all flesh will see together that the mouth of G-d [Havayeh] spoke.''  And then we will be permitted to pronounce the Tetragrammation exactly how it is written.

Source: Likutei Sichos Lubavitcher Rebbe

The Continuation of Yaakov's Task Through Yosef

 Rabbi Mendel Kessin