Last Night

The moon last night, Eastbourne, East Sussex, England

Photo: Cloud Appreciation Society

It's Always Darkest Before the Dawn

Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz

Rachel and Leah

This week's Parsha Vayeitze is the Parsha of the week I was born.

Is there any personal significance to the Parsha of the week you were born? Find out here.

Vision of Rachel and Leah: Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Lavan had two daughters, the older was was called Leah, and the younger one was called Rachel.

[Vayeitze 29:16]

Rachel represents the approach of tzadikim whose lives are totally holy; and Leah represents the approach of ba'alei teshuvah (penitents) who elevate the secular world to holiness.

Thus, Rachel was naturally attractive: "Rachel had beautiful features and a beautiful complexion" like the tzaddik whose character is flawless; whereas Leah cried profusely, alluding to the process of teshuvah. She was also naturally outgoing, a talent which helps a person to bring the outside world to the realm of holiness.

"Yaakov was an honest person, dwelling in tents" [Toldos 25:27]-  i.e. he busied himself only with matters of holiness - the approach of tzaddikim.  Therefore, people said that Yaakov was destined for Rachel, since their characters matched.  Eisav, on the other hand, was an outgoing "man of the field". Therefore people said that he would be a good match for Leah, for only the talented, outgoing Leah would have the ability to make Eisav do teshuvah.

Source: Based on Likutei Sichos of the Lubavitcher Rebbe: Gutnick Chumash

G-d Floods Gaza Tunnels

H/T Joe

Now we can see the passing binary solar system in action, over Gaza.  Hashem has used it to flood the tunnels, which the IDF were planning to do anyway.  Hashem did it for them.  I just hope the Israeli hostages are not caught up in the flooding.  As we are in the month of Kislev, which is a month of miracles, let us pray that they come home safely.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, all my posts on the passing solar system can be found by clicking on the Label Wonders underneath this post.

"The Spiritual War" Podcast with Rabbi Shimon Kessin

 "G-d is bringing the Redemption much faster, and there are some people who think that Moshiach will come this year" - Rabbi Shimon Kessin

Rabbi Kessin gives advice on how we can accelerate the Redemption.

The Pain You Cause Others Will Come Back to Haunt You

 Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz

Message to Am Yisrael

H/T Rivka

HaGaon haYanuka

First he meets the soldiers, shiur starts at the 3min mark.  Hebrew with English subtitles.

To see the English subtitles, click on the cog at the bottom right hand corner of the video, click Subtitles and navigate to translate to English.

Right at the beginning he talks about Gog u Magog and says "it is an entirely different matter"....

For all the Noahides, approx 11.30 mark he speaks about the righteous of the nations.

An Enemy of the Jewish People

Following Obama's recent comments on Israel [which I couldn't even listen to because just looking at this man makes me feel ill], Alan Dershowitz calls him despicable and "an enemy of the Jewish people".  I told you this back in 2008 and again in 2011, 2014, and most recently 2023.