Kever of Rabbi Elimelech in Lizensk, Poland [Photo: יהונתן וואקסמאן] |
Thursday, March 4, 2021
The Rebbe of Rebbes - Yarzheit 21 Adar
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Holiness Flew Away
Monday, March 1, 2021
Not Accountable
Someone close to someone close to me committed suicide last week. I was searching on the internet for something sensible to say to one of the relatives, and to be honest, I couldn't find much there that felt right.
Until I read this:
Friday, February 26, 2021
The Purim Codes
It is fairly safe to assume that (a) Streicher did not know about the three small letters in the Megilla, (b) he did not know that these letters corresponded to the year in which he was being hanged, and (c) even had he known, he would have had no motivation to reinforce the validity of Jewish texts, traditions, or prophecies. One could not ask for a more independent confirmation of the all encompassing knowledge to be found in the Sifrei Tanach.
Thursday, February 25, 2021
A Mysterious Guest's Purim Secret
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Powerful Prayer Day
Also see: Purim's Golden Opportunity
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Monday, February 22, 2021
The Torah is Light
Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein
Sunday, February 21, 2021
Thursday, February 18, 2021
The Lesson of the Tachash
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Terumah: The Tachash and the Erev Rav
The Tachash is said to have had one horn, this picture is for illustrative purposes only, and not a real Tachash |
Sunday, February 14, 2021
The Battle of the Last War....
...are you programmed
New shiur from Rabbi Alon Anava whose videos can now be found at Vimeo.com
Wonderful lecture, everything is explained here, highly recommend this shiur.
The battle of the last war - Are you Programmed? from Rabbi Alon Anava on Vimeo.
Friday, February 12, 2021
Egypt as the Model for Redemption
Rabbi Mendel Kessin, audio - this lecture was given in October 2020
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Kochav Yaakov in Adar ??
Back in 2016 I published a blog post about ''Nibiru'' [the Star of Jacob] which was predicted by the Ramak to appear on the 25th day of the 6th month, which generally speaking is Elul. See A Date with Nibiru
Another rabbi is saying that we will see the Kochav Yaakov in Adar this year: if you count the months beginning at Tishrei, then Adar IS the sixth month: see Major Kabalistic Leader predicts Star of Jacob as early as Adar
It seems to be that Adar is the month we have been waiting for, on so many levels.
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Why the Entire World is being Attacked by CoronaVirus
I'm re-listening to this shiur, which was given in March 2020 by Rabbi Anava who has been unwell and hopefully will return to the video scene very shortly. Anyway, I found that the re-listening one year later was quite interesting.
Monday, February 8, 2021
Friday, February 5, 2021
The Melave Malka and Moshiach Connection
by Rabbi Benjy Simons
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Rabbi Yuval Asherov
Monday, February 1, 2021
Why Tzaddikim Atone for Us All
by Rabbi Elchanan Lewis
Question: How can the death of a Tzaddik become a Kapparah [atonement]?
Friday, January 29, 2021
Shabbat Shira Customs
Thursday, January 28, 2021
The Essence of Tu B'Shvat
Rabbi Mendel Kessin, new audio
The Essence of Tu b'Shvat click here to listen
Another interesting link at Daf Yomi Review Torah Numerology The Final Frontier
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Miriam's Tambourine
The righteous women did not delegate their responsibilities to their leader, Miriam the prophetess. Rather, each and every woman made for herself a tambourine, in a personal effort to trust in G-d's redemption and rejoice in it when it comes.
There is always a temptation to leave the responsibility of inspiring the people to Jewish leaders. However, we can learn from the righteous women in Egypt that it is every single person's obligation to inspire his or herself and all of the people that he or she comes into contact with.
Source: Sichas Shabbos Parshas Beshalach 5752, Lubavitcher Rebbe
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
The Stages of the Geulah and The Pandemic
Two new audios from Rabbi Mendel Kessin given 8/10/2020
The Stages of the Geulah
The Pandemic
Monday, January 25, 2021
Parshat HaMon
Art: Heidi Malott |
Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Riminov [1745-1815], a disciple of the Holy Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk, instructed everyone to read "Parshat HaMann" specifically on the Yom Shlishi [Tuesday] of Parshat Beshalach in the "Shnayim Mikra v'Echad Targum" format, i.e. reading the Hebrew verses twice and the Aramaic translation of Onkelos once. This year it will occur today Tuesday 26 January.
Not to be confused with the evil villain of the Purim story, Parshat haMann [The Chapter of the Manna] is found in the 16th Chapter of the Book of Exodus: verses 4-36. This Chapter details the episode of the miraculous "Manna" [bread from heaven] that sustained the Children of Israel during their 40-year journey in the desert.
English version here: Ou.org
Thursday, January 21, 2021
Trust in Hashem
It's a relief that all the waiting is over now. Now we can get back to the normality of trusting Hashem above all else. And in that vein, this new video from Rabbi Zitron seems appropriate: "What Happens if you trust in people vs Hashem". I guess this is what it's all about. We cannot put our faith in one person. Not that we abandoned Hashem, chas v'shalom, we just thought Hashem was using Trump to get to a certain place. Seems we got it wrong. What happens next.... I do not know. Speak your mind in the comments if you need to vent some steam.
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Monday, January 18, 2021
The Difficulty Hidden in Moshe's Name
Art: Lucy Campbell |
Source: Revach.net
Friday, January 15, 2021
World Wide Moshiach Event
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
The World of Lies
George Orwell's 1984 has surged to the top of the list of Best Selling Books. [Source]
Why is Dissension Compared to the Plague of Frogs?
by Rabbi David Hanania Pinto
The Maggid, HaGaon HaTzadik Rabbi Aryeh Shechter zt"l, in his sefer 'Aryeh Sha'ag', imparts a wonderful lesson concerning the plague of Frogs.
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Trump's New Video
Like you, I have no idea what is actually going on. Apparently this is a new video released on Trump's new social media platform. Why it is available on You Tube, I do not know. Nevertheless, here it is, for what it's worth. Apologies for the Xtian prayer at the end, but you get the drift.... skip the last minute if you don't want to hear it.
Update: this is just a video someone has spliced together. Trump's official words can be found at the new social media platform link above.
Monday, January 11, 2021
Choosing A Spouse
Text by Rabbi Benjy Simons
Sunday, January 10, 2021
The Cure before the Disease
Art: Dena Ackerman |
Based on Sichos Shabbos Parshat Vayeishev 5751 Lubavitcher Rebbe
Friday, January 8, 2021
5781 - Gematria ''Civil War''
The number 781 is the gematria of the words "civil war" as discovered by Rabbi Glazerson in the video below,
Stormy Times
This photo was taken a couple of nights ago, during a huge storm. We have had so much rain lately, a total opposite to this time last year when we had massive bushfires. Israel is wondering where it's winter has gone.... and Sydney is wondering where it's summer has gone.... I guess we've swapped seasons this year.
I don't know what will happen in America, whether there will be a last minute V' nahafoch hu, or whether we are really stuck with Biden. Whatever the case, Hashem has a Plan and we must trust that it's all from Shamayim.
I read that Donald Trump is not only banned from Twitter but also banned from FB, he's in good company as so is this blog.
Thursday, January 7, 2021
Is January 6, 2021 the Watershed Moment which will lead us to the Final Redemption?
Rabbi Mendel Kessin interviewed by Josh Wander, yesterday
Monday, December 21, 2020
The Jupiter Saturn Conjunction of December 21st
I wonder if this conjunction is heralding a new era, a Messianic Era.... we can only hope and pray that it is.
The “great conjunction” of Jupiter/Tzedek and Saturn/Shabbatai, which has been in the news lately, has special meaning in Jewish astrological thought. This cosmic convergence, in which Jupiter and Saturn appear almost on top of each other in the night sky, has long been a focus of Jewish messianic speculation.
Sunday, December 20, 2020
Confronting the Truth
Parshas VaYigash: Rav Moshe Shternbuch -
Thursday, December 17, 2020
Zot Chanukah
The final night of Chanukah [this year Thursday night] is known as Zot Chanukah, the night when all 8 candles are lit. Maximum amount of light and maximum amount of blessings.
It is an extra special time for us: It is a day that can bring children to the childless, is able to bring parnassa [income] and also known as the day of the signing and carrying out of judgment for the rest of the year. [Bnei Yissachar]
The Purim of the Curtains
Art Vladimir Kush |
I had never heard of this 'Purim' until I looked up the date of January 6 on the Chabad calendar. [see Comments on this post] - January 6 is when Congress settles the Election
Here is the story of the Purim of the Curtains.
By Gershon Kranzler
You probably think I am joking, and the relationship between Purim and curtains goes no further than a Purim joke. Well, you are wrong. There was really a Purim of the Curtains, originally called “Purim Vorhang,” and like the first Purim of Shushan and the other local Purims celebrated in different countries, it commemorates the miraculous salvation of a Jewish community from the hands of their enemies.
Purim of the Curtains used to be celebrated in the middle of the winter, on the twenty-second of Tevet, two months before our regular Purim. Its story happened more than 300 years ago in the once-famous large Jewish ghetto of Prague, in Bohemia (now in the Czech Republic). As far as we know, this is how it originated:
Rudolph of Wenceslav, the governor of Bohemia, was one of those who resented the rise of Jewish fortunes during the reign of Ferdinand II. He considered it a personal affront when a man like the wealthy Jacob Schmieles of the Prague ghetto was knighted and bore the noble title of Bassevi von Treuenberg. But there was little he could do to the Jews of Prague, who in those days counted more than 1,000 people, many of them rich and influential merchants and bankers. For the memory and influence of Chief Rabbi Judah Loew, famous as the Maharal, was still felt among Jews and non-Jews. Thus, despite all efforts, the governor was not able to provoke any riots or pogroms of major proportion. But one day, in the winter of 5383 (1623), providence really seemed to play into his hands.
Among the treasures of his palace were heavy gold brocade curtains, artfully woven by a famous medieval master weaver from Brussels. They were considered invaluable, and the governor was responsible to the crown for them. All through the spring, summer and fall, till the middle of winter, they were stored away so that the sun and dust would not harm their precious texture. December came, and Chamberlain Hradek, next to Rudolph of Wenceslav the mightiest man in all of Bohemia, gave orders to have all the velvet and brocade curtains and the Persian carpet taken out of storage to prepare the palace for the festival season. Everything proceeded in proper order, for each piece of the precious ornaments and furnishings had been carefully recorded and systematically stored away. At the bottom of the list were the famous gold brocade curtains of the state room. As usual, they had been placed in the huge iron chest in the cellar that held the most valuable articles of the palace.
The important day came when Hradek himself went down into the cellar to make sure that the servants treated the precious materials carefully. The heavy iron lid of the chest was opened, and the yellow glow of the candles showed—could it be possible?—nothing but the bare brown wood of the cedar-lined iron chest. Everyone present gasped, and a cry of horror passed from the cellar through the hundreds of halls and rooms of the palace, up to the battlements of the watchtower. Soon the governor himself heard the shocking news of the missing gold curtains. He ordered an immediate investigation. No one was permitted to leave or to enter the palace. Raging like a furious lion, Rudolph of Wenceslav questioned every one of the employees, from the chamberlain down to the lowest cleaning woman—but to no avail. They all staunchly denied any knowledge of, or connection with, the theft of the precious curtains.
“If they are not back here by tonight,” roared the governor at the frightened servants who were gathered in his office, “I’ll have all of you thrown into prison.” There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that he really meant it.
After a few minutes of heavy silence—interrupted only by the furious pacing of the governor from one corner of the huge office to the other, and the violent rapping of his riding crop against his boots—the chamberlain suggested that the governor order all of the city’s pawnshops and warehouses searched by his soldiers. “If your honor permits, I’d suggest keeping a special eye on the stores and shops of the Jewish dealers. They have a liking for stolen merchandise,” Hradek added maliciously.
Rudolph of Wenceslav was highly pleased with the advice of his chamberlain, and shortly afterwards, troops of his soldiers combed every store and shop of Prague that might possibly hide the golden curtains. They sealed off the ghetto, and, without telling anyone of the object of their search, they turned every house inside out, in futile search and vengeful destruction.
One troop of soldiers came also to the large house and store of Enoch Altschul, who was one of the patrician leaders of the Prague ghetto, and a scholar as well as a wealthy merchant. Without care or consideration the rough soldiers searched every closet, chest and drawer, and threw their contents all over the floor in wild disorder. Unable to find what they were looking for, they put a pistol to the breast of Enoch Altschul and threatened to shoot him if he did not reveal where he had hidden his most precious merchandise. Rather than risk his life, Enoch Altschul opened the secret vault in the back of his store. Among other precious goods stored in the plain wooden closet behind the wall covering, soldiers came upon a pile of heavy, glittering materials. With a hoarse cry of fury and satisfaction, the soldiers pounced upon the old merchant, beat him and shackled him with heavy iron chains.
The story of the theft and of the search spread like wildfire, and brought out every citizen into the streets of Prague. At the point of their sabers, the soldiers led Enoch Altschul through the silent and shocked crowds of the ghetto, and then through the wildly shouting crowds outside the ghetto. One glance at the open chest with the brocade curtains told the story; and before his guilt had been proven, Enoch Altschul was given the vilest treatment ever accorded any common thief or criminal in public. As the procession left the ghetto, the guards immediately closed the chest, for there was no telling what the wild mob would do.
Governor Rudolph of Wenceslav was still furiously pacing the floor of his office when the soldiers brought in Enoch Altschul. The sight of the recovered curtains soothed his anger, yet he was even more pleased by the sight of the patriarchal Jew led before him in heavy chains. At once he realized that here was the opportunity for which he had been waiting ever since he had been appointed to the governorship, to humiliate the Jewish merchants and courtiers, and to do some looting among the treasure of the ghetto for his own and his people’s pockets. Outwardly, Rudolph of Wenceslav kept up his rage as he shouted all kinds of vile insults at Enoch Altschul.
The old Jew faced him quietly. His inner dignity served only to increase the governor’s rage. But neither by insults nor by vicious slaps with the riding crop was Rudolph of Wenceslav able to make the old Jew betray how he had come into possession of the precious golden curtains from the governor’s palace.
“I gave my word of honor to a most noble member of your court. Unless he himself grants me permission, I am not able to explain the presence of these curtains in my house,” Enoch replied firmly.
“You thief! You have no honor, nor does your word hold any value. You are only trying to save your hide. But never mind! We shall see whether the whip can’t make you talk.”
Torture and flogging were not able to break the will of Enoch Altschul. Towards evening he was again brought, lying on a stretcher, before the governor. “Are you now ready to tell me who gave you the curtains?” the governor shouted at the limp figure. Too weak to answer, the old merchant merely shook his head feebly.
“You have time till tomorrow morning. If you don’t talk by nine o’clock, not only will you and your family hang from the highest tree that can be found in all of Prague, but my people will be given permission to storm the ghetto.”
For the first time since being seized, Enoch Altschul lost his calm. No longer was he staking only his own life on his word of honor. The horrible meaning of the governor’s threat was obvious, and it shook his determination.
All through the night he tossed back and forth on his hard bed in the dark cell of the palace dungeon, his tortured body racked by pain. His was a terrible responsibility. Desperately, Enoch Altschul implored G‑d for help and guidance. Was it more important to keep his oath to the man who had brought him the ill-fated curtains, despite the fact that he had now pretended not to notice him when he saw him carried before the governor? Or was the fate of the community too vital to be risked by his, Enoch’s, code of personal honor? Towards morning he fell into a restless sleep. Suddenly, the cell seemed illuminated. The image of his beloved teacher and friend, the sainted Rabbi Judah Loew, appeared before him and assured him that everything would turn out well in the end. Although he awoke immediately afterwards, Enoch Altschul felt deeply strengthened and encouraged by this dream. All the time until the guards came to take him before the governor, he kept on praying to G‑d for His help. As he soon was to find out, though, he had not been the only one who had been unable to sleep that night, and to whom his master had also appeared in a dream.
Rudolph of Wenceslav was impatiently rapping his riding crop on the top of his desk when Enoch was carried into the state room before the fully assembled court. Despite the tortures of the previous day, the old Jew looked calm and collected. Without a word, the governor signaled to have Enoch carried to the large plaza crowded with hundreds of heavily armed soldiers. About them milled a large crowd of wildly shouting people, all seemingly waiting for something to happen.
“At a signal from this window, they will break into every house of the ghetto,” announced Rudolph of Wenceslav. Yet before Enoch had a chance to speak, Hradek, the haughty chamberlain, threw himself between the governor and the Jewish merchant. His face as white as snow, he called excitedly to the astonished Rudolph:
“Mercy, your honor, mercy, I am the guilty one! Punish me, not this noble old man who thinks he is protecting your own personal honor!”
The governor and the entire court were shocked by the confession of the chamberlain. Incredulously they listened to his tale:
“Several months ago I was in urgent need of 25,000 ducats, which I had lost in a night of heavy gambling. I could not think of any other way to pay this debt than by taking the precious gold brocade curtains from the palace chest and pawning them to the venerable Enoch Altschul, who has helped me in many a tight spot. In order to protect myself, I wrote a note in your name, signed and sealed with your seal. In it, I had you ask for the money, and promised kind treatment for the Jews of Prague if no one found out about this transaction. At the same time, the note threatened that if Enoch betrayed the secret to any person in the world, the entire ghetto would be severely punished. Not satisfied with the note, I had Enoch swear personally by his G‑d and his honor to guard the secret as his life, for the sake of your reputation and political career.
“When you questioned us,” continued Hradek, “I advised you to have all Jewish stores and homes searched, because I knew your soldiers would recover the brocade curtains. I knew that you would not play long with the Jewish merchant in whose possession they were found, and that I could count on Enoch not to break his word of honor under any circumstances. Thus, both you and I would be helped. I almost succeeded. But during this past night I had a terrifying vision. After hours of trying vainly to quiet my guilty conscience, I fell asleep. In my dream, the famous leader of the ghetto whom they called the Chief Rabbi Loew, who died several years ago, appeared to me. He was accompanied by that terrifying monster of clay, the Golem, feared by all the citizens of Prague. No one who dared to accuse an innocent Jew of a crime ever lived to escape the Golem’s crushing fingers. The voice of the old rabbi said quietly: “You had better tell the truth tomorrow!”
“Shaken by fever and fear, I could hardly wait for the dawn of the morning, and for the hour when you had the Jew brought before you, to confess my guilt in public.”
As he spoke, the chamberlain’s hands were constantly fumbling with the collar of his coat at his throat, as if to free himself from someone’s clutches. After he had finished the tale of his shameful deceit, he fainted and slid to the ground before the governor and the members of the gathered court, terror written all over his lifeless face and figure.
Enoch Altschul was at once freed from his chains, and the soldiers dispersed the waiting mob, instead of leading it to attack the ghetto as had been their original purpose.
In commemoration of this miraculous turn of events, Enoch Altschul asked his people to celebrate “Purim of the Curtains” every twenty-second day of Tevet, the date when this incident took place. For more than one hundred years the Altschul family, and with them the entire Jewish community of Prague, observed this celebration faithfully, and commemorated their salvation from the accusation of stealing the famous gold brocade curtains from the palace of the governor of Bohemia.