She makes it sound so exciting.
My experience was, in fact, talking to Hashem as my matchmaker. Yes i’ve been talking to Hashem for yeeeeaaarssss! And yes He Made my match.
19 June 2026
“ Anyone Who Persecutes Bnei Torah May Lose Their Share In Olam Haba”
A harshly stated letter was published in the Hamodia newspaper in Israel (which is affiliated with the Gerrer chassidus) on Wednesday in response to the recent wave of arrests of lomdei Torah, including a Gerrer chassid who was arrested and sentenced to military prison.
The Gerrer chassidus announced on Tuesday that a protest will be held outside Military Prison 10 on Wednesday afternoon. According to the plan, thousands of Gerrer chassidim will participate in the protest, which has been coordinated with the police.
The letter, written at the personal request of the Gerrer Rebbe, was signed by senior Rabbanim from across the Chareidi spectrum, including HaGaon HaRav Meir Tzvi Bergman and HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef, and numerous other Rabbanim, poskim, and Roshei Yeshivos.
The letter states, in part: “To Acheinu Bnei Yisrael: With the intensification of the persecution of the Torah world and Yahadus by state authorities who seek to uproot Yavneh and its sages and Batei Medrash from Yisrael, chalila, and who don’t hesitate to use any means to harm Lomdei Torah, including harming their parnashah, children, and every aspect of life.
“Recently, they have gone even further and launched a campaign of hunting down our precious Torah scholars, uprooting them from their Batei Medrash and throwing them into prisons for their ‘sin’ of wanting to engage in Limmud Torah, and maintain kedushah without foreign influences. The honor of Torah has been trampled, while new decrees are enacted to restrict the steps of Lomdei Torah. Those who dwell in the tents of Torah are being plundered, and the Shem Shamayim is desecrated to the utmost when a Jew throws another Jew into prison for this ‘offense.’ Such a thing isn’t found even among the nations where Acheinu Bnei Yisrael live.
“We hereby declare the Da’as Torah l’halachah that there is great reason to fear that there will be Heavenly retribution upon anyone involved in these persecutions and in the arrests of avreichim and bnei yeshivos engaged in Limmud Torah—lest he inherit Gehinnom and lose his share in Olam Haba.”
“The Rambam has already ruled (Hilchos Talmud Torah, Perek 1, Halacha 11): “Anyone who disgraces the Chachamim has no share in Olam Haba, and is included in the verse ‘for he has despised the word of Hashem.’ And Chazal warned (Shabbos 119b): “Rav Yehuda said in the name of Rav: Anyone who disgraces Talmidei Chachamim — there is no cure for his wound… What is the meaning of ‘Do not touch My anointed ones’? These are the Tinokos shel Beis Rabban. ‘And do not harm My prophets’ — these are the Talmidei Chachamim.”
“We are confident in the koach of Torah and rely upon the Giver of the Torah, that the Divine promise will be fulfilled for us: ‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall condemn; this is the heritage of the servants of Hashem, and their righteousness is from Me, says Hashem.’” (Yeshayahu 54:17).”
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
馃毃 "讗讬谉 讬讛讜讚讬 砖诇讗 讻讜讗讘 诇讜!" • 诪砖讗 诪专谉 讛讙专"讚 诇谞讚讜 讘注爪专转 讛讗诇驻讬诐 讘诪讜谞住讬
馃毃 讝注拽转 讛转讜专讛 诪诪讜谞住讬: 讚讘专讬讜 讛诪专讟讬讟讬诐 砖诇 诪谞讛讬讙 讛讚讜专 诪专谉 专讗砖 讛讬砖讬讘讛 讛讙讗讜谉 专讘讬 讚讘 诇谞讚讜 砖诇讬讟"讗 讘注爪专转 讛专讘讘讜转 讛诪专讻讝讬转 诇诪注谉 拽专谉 注讜诇诐 讛转讜专讛 转讬注讜讚 诪讬讜讞讚 讜诪注讜专专 讛转专讙砖讜转 诪注爪专转 讛讗诇驻讬诐 讛讛讬住讟讜专讬转 砖讛转拽讬讬诪讛 讘注讬专 诪讜谞住讬 砖讘讗专爪讜转 讛讘专讬转, 讘诪住讙专转 诪住注 讛讞讬讝讜拽 讜讛讛爪诇讛 诇诪注谉 注讜诇诐 讛转讜专讛 讘讗专抓 讬砖专讗诇. 讘诪砖讗讜 讛谞讜拽讘 讜讛诪专讙砖, 诪转讗专 诪专谉 专讗砖 讛讬砖讬讘讛 讛讙专"讚 诇谞讚讜 砖诇讬讟"讗 讗转 讛讻讗讘 讛注爪讜诐 讛砖讜专专 讘拽专讘 讬讛讚讜转 讛注讜诇诐 诇谞讜讻讞 讛讙讝讬专讜转 讜讛拽砖讬讬诐 讛注讜讘专讬诐 注诇 讘谞讬 讛讬砖讬讘讜转 讜讗讘专讻讬 讛讻讜诇诇讬诐 讘讗专抓 讛拽讜讚砖. 讘讚讘专讬讜 讛讜讗 诪讚讙讬砖 讻讬 讘讻诇 诪拽讜诐 讗诇讬讜 讛讙讬注讜, 驻讙砖讜 讬讛讜讚讬诐 诪讻诇 讛讞讜讙讬诐 讜讛注讚讜转 讗砖专 诇讘诐 谞砖讘专 诇诪专讗讛 诪爪讜拽转 诇讜诪讚讬 讛转讜专讛, 讜讻诇 讗讞讚 砖讜讗诇 讗转 注爪诪讜: "诪讛 讗谞讬 讬讻讜诇 诇注砖讜转 诇诪注谉 诇讜诪讚讬 讛转讜专讛 讘讗专抓 讬砖专讗诇?" 诪专谉 诪砖讘讞 讗转 谞讚讬讘讬 讛注诐 讛谞讜砖讗讬诐 讘注讜诇 注讜诇诐 讛转讜专讛, 讜拽讜专讗 诇讻诇 讬讛讜讚讬 诇讛讬讜转 砖讜转祝 讘讛讞讝拽转 讛转讜专讛 讛拽讚讜砖讛 讘讗诪爪注讜转 拽专谉 注讜诇诐 讛转讜专讛, 讻诇 讗讞讚 诇驻讬 讻讜讞讜 讜讬讻讜诇转讜. 馃摉 诇驻谞讬讻诐 讛转诪诇讜诇 讛诪诇讗 砖诇 讛诪砖讗: 诪讜专讬 讜专讘讜转讬, 讗谞讞谞讜 讛讜诇讻讬诐 诪诪拽讜诐 诇诪拽讜诐 诇讛砖诪讬注 讗转 讝注拽转 讛转讜专讛, 讜讗谞讞谞讜 专讜讗讬诐 砖讗讬谉 讬讛讜讚讬 讘注讜诇诐, 砖讗讬谞讜 讻讗讜讘 诪讛讙讝专讜转 讻谞讙讚 诇讜诪讚讬 讛转讜专讛 讘讗专抓 讬砖专讗诇. 讜讗驻讬诇讜 讻注转, 讘驻谞讬讗 讚诪注诇讬 砖讘转讗, 诪转拽讘爪讬诐 讬讛讜讚讬诐 诪讻诇 讛讞讜讙讬诐 讜讛注讚讜转 诇砖诪讜注 讗转 讝注拽转 讛转讜专讛, 讜讗讬谉 讬讛讜讚讬 讗砖专 诇讬讘讜 讞诐 诇转讜专讛 讜诇讜诪讚讬讛, 砖讗讬谞讜 砖讜讗诇 讗转 注爪诪讜 – "诪讛 讗谞讬 讬讻讜诇 诇注砖讜转 诇诪注谉 诇讜诪讚讬 讛转讜专讛 讘讗专抓 讬砖专讗诇?" 讘专讜讱 讛砖诐 讬砖谞诐 讬讛讜讚讬诐 爪讚讬拽讬诐, 砖讛转砖讜讘讛 讘专讜专讛 诇讛诐. 讬砖 诇讛诐 讬讻讜诇转, 讜讛诐 谞讜转谞讬诐 谞转讬谞讜转 讘住讻讜诪讬诐 注爪讜诪讬诐 诇诪注谉 "拽专谉 注讜诇诐 讛转讜专讛", 谞转讬谞讜转 砖诇讗 讛讬讛 讻诪讜转诐 讘讗讜驻谉 诪讜驻诇讗 注讚 诪讗讚. 讗讘诇 讬砖 讻讗诇讜 砖讗讬谉 诇讛诐 讬讻讜诇转 诇转转 住讻讜诪讬诐 讙讚讜诇讬诐. 讜讙诐 讛诐 砖讜讗诇讬诐 讗转 注爪诪诐, 讻诇 讗讞讚 讜讗讞讚 – "诪讛 讗谞讬 讬讻讜诇 诇注砖讜转 诇诪注谉 诇讜诪讚讬 讛转讜专讛 讛砖专讜讬讬诐 讘爪专讛 讘讗专抓 讬砖专讗诇?" 讗讘诇 讻诇 讗讞讚 爪专讬讱 诇讛转讗诪抓 讜诇转转 讻驻讬 讬讻讜诇转讜 讜讬讜转专 诪讻驻讬 讬讻讜诇转讜 诇"拽专谉 注讜诇诐 讛转讜专讛", 讜讻诇 讗讞讚 诇讗 讬驻讞讜转 诪讛讞讝拽转 讗讘专讱 讗讞讚 诇讻诇 讛驻讞讜转, 讜讻诇 讛诪专讘讛 讛专讬 讝讛 诪砖讜讘讞. 诪讬 砖谞讜转谉 诇拽专谉 注讜诇诐 讛转讜专讛 诇讗 讬驻住讬讚, 讗诇讗 讬专讜讜讬讞 讻驻诇讬讬诐 讜讬讜转专. 讗谞讞谞讜 注讜诪讚讬诐 注专讘 砖讘转 诪讘专讻讬谉, 讬讛讬 专爪讜谉 砖谞转讘专讱 讻讜诇谞讜 诪砖诪讬诐 诇讞讬讬诐, 砖转讛讗 讘谞讜 讗讛讘转 转讜专讛 讜讬专讗转 砖诪讬诐, 讞讬讬诐 砖讬诪诇讗 讛砖诐 诪砖讗诇讜转 诇讘谞讜 诇讟讜讘讛. 馃毃 The Cry of Torah from Monsey – Rav Dov Landau's Powerful Address at the Historic Mass Gathering A moving and historic address delivered by the leading Torah sage, Rosh HaYeshiva Rav Dov Landau shlit"a, at the central mass gathering in Monsey, New York, during the campaign to strengthen and support the Torah world in Eretz Yisrael. In his heartfelt remarks, Rav Landau spoke about the pain felt by Jews around the world over the hardships facing yeshiva students and kollel families in Israel. He described how, wherever the delegation travels, Jews of every background ask themselves the same question: "What can I do to help the Torah learners in Eretz Yisrael?" Rav Landau praised the generous supporters of Keren Olam HaTorah and encouraged every Jew to participate according to their means in sustaining the world of Torah learning. Watch this powerful and inspiring address from one of the foremost Torah leaders of our generation. 馃憞 讗讬讝讛 诪砖驻讟 诪转讜讱 讚讘专讬讜 砖诇 诪专谉 讛讙专"讚 诇谞讚讜 讞讬讝拽 讗转讻诐 讘诪讬讜讞讚? 讻转讘讜 诇谞讜 讘转讙讜讘讜转! 馃摙 讛转专讙砖转诐 诪讛转讬注讜讚? 讻诇 诇讬讬拽, 转讙讜讘讛 讜砖讬转讜祝 谞讜转谞讬诐 诇谞讜 讗转 讛讻讜讞 诇讛诪砖讬讱 讜诇讛讘讬讗 诇爪讬讘讜专 讗转 讛专讙注讬诐 讛谞讚讬专讬诐 诪注讜诇诐 讛转讜专讛. 馃敂 讻讚讬 诇讛讬讜转 讛专讗砖讜谞讬诐 诇爪驻讜转 讘转讬注讜讚讬诐 讞讚砖讬诐 讛讬专砖诪讜 诇注专讜抓 "讙讚讜诇讬 讛讚讜专" 讜诇讞爪讜 注诇 讛驻注诪讜谉. 馃摡 讬砖 诇讻诐 转讬注讜讚 讗讜 讛爪注讛 诇住专讟讜谉? 砖诇讞讜 诇诪讬讬诇: gdoleyhador@gmail.com 讛讗砖讟讙讬诐
诪讚讜注 讗砖讛 讘讙诪讬讟专讬讗 讚讘砖? 讚专砖转 诪专谉 讛讙专"讬 讝讬诇讘专砖讟讬讬谉 讘砖诪讞转 谞讬砖讜讗讬 谞讻讚转 讛专讘 诪砖讛 讙驻谞讬 注诇 诪注诇转 讗砖讛 讛讻砖专讛
#讛讬讛讚讜转 #讛专讘讝讬诇讘专砖讟讬讬谉 #注专讱讛讗讬砖讛 #讞讬谞讜讱讬讛讜讚讬 #讙讬诪讟专讬讛 #诪住讜专转
诪专谉 专讘讬谞讜 砖诇讬讟"讗 讛砖转转祝 讛砖讘讜注 讜谞砖讗 讚讘专讬诐 讘砖诪讞转 谞讬砖讜讗讬 谞讻讚转讜 砖诇 讬讜"专 讚讙诇 讛转讜专讛 讞"讻 讛专讘 诪砖讛 讙驻谞讬, 讘讗讜诇诪讬 拽讜谞拽讜专讚 讘讘谞讬 讘专拽, 诇讛诇谉 诪转讜讱 讻转讘讬 专讘讬谞讜:
"讬讚讜注, "讗砖讛" 讘讙讬诪讟专讬讛 "讚讘砖", 讻讚讘专讬 专讘讬谞讜 讛讞讬讚"讗 (驻谞讬 讚讜讚 驻专' 转讝专讬注): "诪爪讗 讗砖讛, 讙讬诪讟专讬讛 讚讘砖, 砖讛讬讗 诪转讜拽讛 讘诪讚讜转 讟讜讘讜转 讜谞讗讜转, 诪爪讗 讟讜讘".
讜讘讬讗专 讙讬住讬 专砖讻讘讛"讙 诪专谉 讛讙专"讞 拽谞讬讘住拽讬 讝爪讜拽"诇, 砖讛专讬 转讻讜谞转 讛讚讘砖 讛讬讗 诇讛驻讜讱 讗转 讻诇 讛谞讜驻诇 讗诇讬讜 诇讚讘砖 讻诪讜讛讜 (讬注讜讬讬谉 讘专讗"砖 讘专讻讜转 驻"讜 住讬诪谉 诇讛); 讻讱 讙诐 讛讗砖讛, 讘讻讜讞讛 诇讛驻讜讱 讗转 讘注诇讛 诇爪讚讬拽 讜转诇诪讬讚 讞讻诐, 讻讬 "讞讻诪讜转 谞砖讬诐 讘谞转讛 讘讬转讛 讜讗讬讜讜诇转 讘讬讚讛 转讛专住谞讜" (诪砖诇讬 讬讚 讗).
讜讻诪住讜驻专 讘诪讚专砖 (讘"专 讬讝): "诪注砖讛 讘讞住讬讚 讗讞讚 砖讛讬讛 谞砖讜讬 讞住讬讚讛 讗讞转, 讜诇讗 讛注诪讬讚讜 讘谞讬诐 讝讛 诪讝讛. 讗诪专讜, 讗讬谉 讗谞讜 诪讜注讬诇讬诐 诇讛拽讘"讛 讻诇讜诐, 注诪讚讜 讜讛转讙专砖讜. 讛诇讱 讛讗讬砖 讜谞砖讗 专砖注讛 讗讞转, 讜注砖转讛 讗讜转讜 专砖注, 讜讛诇讻讛 讝讗转 讜谞砖讗转 诇专砖注 讗讞讚, 讜注砖转讛 讗讜转讜 爪讚讬拽. 讛讜讜讬 讗讜诪专 - 砖讛讻诇 诪谉 讛讗砖讛".
Eliezer Meir Saidel: Chukat - Pig Out
Pig Out - Chukat
讜ַ讬ִּ砖ְׁ诇ַ讞 诪ֹ砖ֶׁ讛 诪ַ诇ְ讗ָ讻ִ讬诐 诪ִ拽ָּ讚ֵ砖ׁ 讗ֶ诇 诪ֶ诇ֶ讱ְ 讗ֱ讚讜ֹ诐 讻ֹּ讛 讗ָ诪ַ专 讗ָ讞ִ讬讱ָ 讬ִ砖ְׂ专ָ讗ֵ诇 讗ַ转ָּ讛 讬ָ讚ַ注ְ转ָּ 讗ֵ转 讻ׇּ诇 讛ַ转ְּ诇ָ讗ָ讛 讗ֲ砖ֶׁ专 诪ְ爪ָ讗ָ转ְ谞讜ּ. 讜ַ讬ֵּ专ְ讚讜ּ 讗ֲ讘ֹ转ֵ讬谞讜ּ 诪ִ爪ְ专ַ讬ְ诪ָ讛 讜ַ谞ֵּ砖ֶׁ讘 讘ְּ诪ִ爪ְ专ַ讬ִ诐 讬ָ诪ִ讬诐 专ַ讘ִּ讬诐 讜ַ讬ָּ专ֵ注讜ּ 诇ָ谞讜ּ 诪ִ爪ְ专ַ讬ִ诐 讜ְ诇ַ讗ֲ讘ֹ转ֵ讬谞讜ּ. 讜ַ谞ִּ爪ְ注ַ拽 讗ֶ诇 讛' 讜ַ讬ִּ砖ְׁ诪ַ注 拽ֹ诇ֵ谞讜ּ 讜ַ讬ִּ砖ְׁ诇ַ讞 诪ַ诇ְ讗ָ讱ְ 讜ַ讬ֹּ爪ִ讗ֵ谞讜ּ 诪ִ诪ִּ爪ְ专ָ讬ִ诐 讜ְ讛ִ谞ֵּ讛 讗ֲ谞ַ讞ְ谞讜ּ 讘ְ拽ָ讚ֵ砖ׁ 注ִ讬专 拽ְ爪ֵ讛 讙ְ讘讜ּ诇ֶ讱ָ. 谞ַ注ְ讘ְּ专ָ讛 谞ָּ讗 讘ְ讗ַ专ְ爪ֶ讱ָ 诇ֹ讗 谞ַ注ֲ讘ֹ专 讘ְּ砖ָׂ讚ֶ讛 讜ּ讘ְ讻ֶ专ֶ诐 讜ְ诇ֹ讗 谞ִ砖ְׁ转ֶּ讛 诪ֵ讬 讘ְ讗ֵ专 讚ֶּ专ֶ讱ְ 讛ַ诪ֶּ诇ֶ讱ְ 谞ֵ诇ֵ讱ְ 诇ֹ讗 谞ִ讟ֶּ讛 讬ָ诪ִ讬谉 讜ּ砖ְׂ诪ֹ讗讜诇 注ַ讚 讗ֲ砖ֶׁ专 谞ַ注ֲ讘ֹ专 讙ְּ讘ֻ诇ֶ讱ָ. 讜ַ讬ֹּ讗诪ֶ专 讗ֵ诇ָ讬讜 讗ֱ讚讜ֹ诐 诇ֹ讗 转ַ注ֲ讘ֹ专 讘ִּ讬 驻ֶּ谉 讘ַּ讞ֶ专ֶ讘 讗ֵ爪ֵ讗 诇ִ拽ְ专ָ讗转ֶ讱ָ. 讜ַ讬ֹּ讗诪ְ专讜ּ 讗ֵ诇ָ讬讜 讘ְּ谞ֵ讬 讬ִ砖ְׂ专ָ讗ֵ诇 讘ַּ诪ְ住ִ诇ָּ讛 谞ַ注ֲ诇ֶ讛 讜ְ讗ִ诐 诪ֵ讬诪ֶ讬讱ָ 谞ִ砖ְׁ转ֶּ讛 讗ֲ谞ִ讬 讜ּ诪ִ拽ְ谞ַ讬 讜ְ谞ָ转ַ转ִּ讬 诪ִ讻ְ专ָ诐 专ַ拽 讗ֵ讬谉 讚ָּ讘ָ专 讘ְּ专ַ讙ְ诇ַ讬 讗ֶ注ֱ讘ֹ专ָ讛. 讜ַ讬ֹּ讗诪ֶ专 诇ֹ讗 转ַ注ֲ讘ֹ专 讜ַ讬ֵּ爪ֵ讗 讗ֱ讚讜ֹ诐 诇ִ拽ְ专ָ讗转讜ֹ 讘ְּ注ַ诐 讻ָּ讘ֵ讚 讜ּ讘ְ讬ָ讚 讞ֲ讝ָ拽ָ讛. 讜ַ讬ְ诪ָ讗ֵ谉 讗ֱ讚讜ֹ诐 谞ְ转ֹ谉 讗ֶ转 讬ִ砖ְׂ专ָ讗ֵ诇 注ֲ讘ֹ专 讘ִּ讙ְ讘ֻ诇讜ֹ 讜ַ讬ֵּ讟 讬ִ砖ְׂ专ָ讗ֵ诇 诪ֵ注ָ诇ָ讬讜. (讘诪讚讘专 讻, 讬讚-讻讗)
Am Yisrael were camped in Kadesh. Miriam had just died and the unfortunate episode of Mei Meriva had just occurred.
As opposed to Kadesh Barnea, which is in Midbar Paran, from where the spies were sent, the Kadesh above is the city of Kadesh in Midbar Tzin (专砖"讬 讘诪讚讘专 诇讘, 讞), on the border of the kingdom of Edom, south of Kadesh Barnea.
Geographically speaking, it is located (today) in the northeastern Sinai Peninsula, approximately parallel in latitude to Mitzpe Ramon. It is mamash in the "boondocks", far from civilization (GPS coordinates 30°38'54"N 34°25'20"E).
In parshat Devarim (讚讘专讬诐 讘, 讛) Moshe recalls that he was commanded by HKB"H to not provoke Edom because Edom is the inheritance of Eisav and HKB"H will not allow Am Yisrael to even set foot in Edom (Rashi, ibid. adds "without their permission"). In the previous passuk it says 讗ַ转ֶּ诐 注ֹ讘ְ专ִ讬诐 讘ִּ讙ְ讘讜ּ诇 讗ֲ讞ֵ讬讻ֶ诐 讘ְּ谞ֵ讬 注ֵ砖ָׂ讜 讛ַ讬ֹּ砖ְׁ讘ִ讬诐 讘ְּ砖ֵׂ注ִ讬专 讜ְ讬ִ讬专ְ讗讜ּ 诪ִ讻ֶּ诐 讜ְ谞ִ砖ְׁ诪ַ专ְ转ֶּ诐 诪ְ讗ֹ讚 (砖诐, 讚), that your brothers the sons of Eisav will greatly fear Am Yisrael and therefore 讜ְ谞ִ砖ְׁ诪ַ专ְ转ֶּ诐 诪ְ讗ֹ讚, do not provoke them.
Moshe, heeding HKB"H's directive, sends messengers to the king of Edom to ask for permission to pass through their land. Moshe uses the same language in speaking to Edom that HKB"H uses, 讻ֹּ讛 讗ָ诪ַ专 讗ָ讞ִ讬讱ָ 讬ִ砖ְׂ专ָ讗ֵ诇, your brother Israel.
Moshe tells the messengers to relate what had happened to Am Yisrael, from when Yaakov went down to Egypt to the present, when they are now standing at the border of Edom. How the Egyptians mistreated them and how HKB"H sent a redeemer to take them out of Egypt.
Why did Moshe feel it was necessary to rehash this story to the king of Edom?
Sefer Be'er Mayim Chaim (注诇 驻讬专讜砖 专砖"讬 讘专讗砖讬转 讻讟, 讬讗) written by R' Chaim ben Betzalel (1520), the older brother of the Maharal, says that when Eisav sent Eliphaz to kill Yaakov as he was leaving for Charan, Yaakov convinced him not to, because of the prophecy given to Avraham 讻ִּ讬 讙ֵ专 讬ִ讛ְ讬ֶ讛 讝ַ专ְ注ֲ讱ָ (讘专讗砖讬转 讟讜, 讬讙), that the descendants of Avraham would have to be slaves in Egypt. If Eliphaz would kill Yaakov, that would result in Eliphaz's descendants being slaves in Egypt instead of Am Yisrael.
This convinced Eliphaz and he did not kill Yaakov. Instead, Eliphaz told his son Amalek to wait until Am Yisrael left Egypt before attacking them and trying to kill them.
By relating this, Moshe was testifying that indeed it was Am Yisrael who suffered in Egypt instead of Eisav's descendants as Yaakov had truthfully told Eliphaz, hoping that it would evoke sympathy from the king of Edom.
Moshe directed the messengers to request safe passage through the land of Edom. The Ramban (讚讘专讬诐 讻, 讬讟) says that Am Yisrael initially said that they would not trespass through fields or vineyards (but would pass through cities), travelling only on public roads, not veering left or right and not consuming any resources (water etc.).
However, the king of Edom refused and warned that he would attack Am Yisrael if they attempted to do so. The Ramban continues to say that the messengers then said to the king of Edom "We will not even pass through the cities, we will travel only on the main highway and if we do draw water from the rivers alongside the highway, we will pay full price for the water". The messengers said "until we pass out of your border", they didn't say "on our journey to the land HKB"H promised us", to not arouse the jealousy of the Edomites.
Despite these assurances and placations, the king of Edom refused and mustered his army. The Malbim (讘诪讚讘专 讻, 讻讗) says that unlike Sichon who left his land and attacked Am Yisrael, Edom did not attack, they just mobilized their army on their border in a defensive posture, to prevent Am Yisrael from entering.
Since they did not receive permission to enter Edom, Am Yisrael changed course and took a detour, heading south-east and circumventing Edom from the east.
The Targum Yonatan (讘诪讚讘专 讻, 讻讗) says that the reason HKB"H commanded Moshe to not provoke and wage war with Edom was because 诇ָ讗 诪ָ讟ָ讗 讝ִ诪ְ谞ָ讗 诇ְ诪ִ转ְ讬ַ讛ֲ讘ָ讗 谞ִ拽ְ诪ָ转ָ讗 讚ֶ讗ֱ讚讜ֹ诐 讘ִּ讬讚ֵ讬讛讜ֹ谉, the time had not yet arrived when Am Yisrael would exact their revenge on Edom.
The Midrash (讘专讗砖讬转 专讘讛, 驻专砖讛 住讛) compares Edom to a 讞ֲ讝ִ讬专, a pig that has one of the two simanim for a kosher animal – it has a cloven hoof but does not chew the cud. The pig flaunts its exterior siman, the cloven hoof as if to say "Look at me, I am kosher", meanwhile "inside" it is rotten. This is how Eisav behaved. On the outside he portrayed himself to his father Yitzchak as if he was a tzaddik, while in truth he was evil.
Another Midrash (讜讬拽专讗 专讘讛 讬讙, 讛) says that Edom is called a 讞ֲ讝ִ讬专 for a different reason, because 砖ֶׁ诪ְּ讞ַ讝ֶּ专ֶ转 注ֲ讟ָ专ָ讛 诇ִ讘ְ注ָ诇ֶ讬讛ָ 讛ֲ讚ָ讗 讛讜ּ讗 讚ִ讻ְ转ִ讬讘 讜ְ注ָ诇讜ּ 诪讜ֹ砖ִׁ注ִ讬诐 讘ְּ讛ַ专 爪ִ讬ּ讜ֹ谉 诇ִ砖ְׁ驻ֹּ讟 讗ֶ转 讛ַ专 注ֵ砖ָׂ讜 讜ְ讛ָ讬ְ转ָ讛 诇ַ讛' 讛ַ诪ְּ诇讜ּ讻ָ讛 (注讜讘讚讬讛 讗, 讻讗). It is from a different root, 讞ֲ讝ִ讬专 诪ִ诇ְּ砖ׁ讜ֹ谉 讞ֲ讝ָ专ָ讛, meaning to return. Edom in the time of Geulah will return the malchut to HKB"H and Beit David.
A third Midrash (诪讚专砖 讛讙讚讜诇, 砖诪讬谞讬 讬讗, 讝) says the Romans ordered the Sanhedrin to present to them an exemplary scholar who would answer their numerous questions. The Sanhedrin sent R' Meir and why is his name R' Meir? 砖ֶׁ讛讜ּ讗 诪ֵ讗ִ讬专 驻ָּ谞ִ讬诐 讘ַּ讛ֲ诇ָ讻ָ讛.
The Romans asked R' Meir why is a 讞ֲ讝ִ讬专 called a 讞ֲ讝ִ讬专? R' Meir replied 砖ֶׁ讛讜ּ讗 注ָ转ִ讬讚 诇ַ讞ֲ讝讜ֹ专. The Romans mistakenly understood this to mean that in the time of Mashiach, Edom will return (i.e. continue) to rule. So, they said to R' Meir 讚ַּ讬ֶּ讬讱ָ 诪ֵ讗ִ讬专 讗ֵ讬谉 讻ָּ诇 讞ָ讚ָ砖ׁ 转ַּ讞ַ转 讛ַ砖ָּׁ诪ֶ砖ׁ, what kind of a chidush is that? (they believed they were going to rule forever).
The Or HaChaim HaKadosh (讜讬拽专讗 讬讗, 讝) says that this is not what R' Meir meant, he meant that when the Geulah arrives, 讛ָ讞ֲ讝ִ讬专 讬ַ讞ְ讝讜ֹ专 诇ִ讛ְ讬讜ֹ转 诪讜ּ转ָּ专, that in the time of Mashiach the pig will change its nature and will begin to chew the cud, this making it a kosher animal. On a deeper level it means that Edom will be 讞讜ֹ讝ֵ专 讘ִּ转ְ砖ׁ讜ּ讘ָ讛 and serve HKB"H.
HaRav Jonathan Sacks zt"l proposed a fundamental premise which permeated many of his shiurim. That sefer Breishit is the template for all history, past, present and future and it is all based on sibling rivalry – Kayin and Hevel, Yitzchak and Yishmael, Yaakov and Eisav, the brothers and Yosef.
Chazal and many of the Rishonim equate Rome/Christianity with Edom (Ramban, R' Bachyei etc.), Islam with Yishmael (Rambam, Ramban, etc.) and the Far Eastern religions with the sons of the 驻ִּ讬诇ַ讙ְ砖ִׁ讬诐 that Avraham sent 拽ֵ讚ְ诪ָ讛 讗ֶ诇 讗ֶ专ֶ抓 拽ֶ讚ֶ诐 (讘专讗砖讬转 讻讛, 讜) (The Zohar 讞诇拽 讗, 拽诇讙 注"讘).
If you are interested in the history and evolution of the Christian religion, I suggest you read and listen to HaRav Tovia Singer 砖诇讬讟"讗 who is an expert in the subject and has thousands of hours of lectures on his Youtube Channel.
He is more erudite a Christian scholar than most Christian scholars and his exposure and analysis of all the falsifications and perversions of the Tanach to fit the Christian narrative is mind blowing. R' Singer is definitely a phenomenon, 讻ָּ诇 诪ָ讛 砖ֶׁ讘ָּ专ָ讗 讛拽讘"讛 诇ִ讻ְ讘讜ֹ讚讜ֹ 讘ְּ专ָ讗转ִ讬讜.
The current exile we are in is galut Edom, which encompasses most of the Christian world – Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, North and South America, Australia, Canada and southern Africa. If anyone is doubtful that we are still in galut Edom, you need to examine the extent of dependency of the Jewish world (in Israel and in 讞讜"诇) on Western powers. The answer to the question "How much can Bibi defy Trump?" will vividly illustrate the degree of this dependency.
Galut Edom, however, is waning. History has a nasty habit of repeating itself and what happened with the Barbarian "invasion" of the Roman Empire in the 5th century is again happening with the Edom "Empire" today.
Ancient Rome was not defeated on the battlefield by decisive military might, it was infiltrated by invading tribes, Goths, Franks, Saxons, Picts, Huns etc. who migrated into the Roman Empire because of climate change, seeking refuge from wars, seeking job opportunities, etc.
These, coupled with corruption and decay in the highest echelons of power and the replacement of traditional Roman nationalist values with the new religion of Christianity and its "turn the other cheek" philosophy, were instrumental in the fall of the empire.
Today, as we speak, we are experiencing a similar phenomenon. The "modern" invaders of the Edom Empire are predominantly Islamic Muslims fleeing conflicts in the Middle east, many of them fundamentalist, other refugees from around the world seeking asylum, seeking job opportunities, because of climate change, etc.
Traditional Christian values in the indigenous Edom Empire are being replaced by the new "religion" of Woke, progressive liberalism. The birthrate of the indigenous populations of the Edom Empire in America and Europe is on the decline, while that of the "invading" immigrants is increasing exponentially. Europe, Canada and Australia have been overrun without a single shot being fired. Entire cities have been overrun, many of them capital cities.
Once world superpowers, like France, UK, Germany and Italy have been quietly overrun by Islamists. America is not far behind with foreign "invading" economic powers like Qatar and other Gulf states, infiltrating politics and university campuses with their petro trillions. Half or more of the Democratic and Republican parties are in their pockets.
The mayor of New York city is an Islamist. The so-called democratic political structure that once defined America is dead, being replaced by rotting decay and corruption, fueled by foreign influences trying to hasten its demise. America is just the upper deck of the Titanic. What happened in Europe, Australia and Canada is now also happening in America.
The affluent, decaying Edom Empire no longer has the stomach for conflict of any kind - they have forgotten what it means to fight. The rotting decay of progressive liberalism with its perverted values has eroded any nationalist and moral values, replacing them with perverted instant gratification narcissism. How can you fight evil if you can no longer identify evil?
When you are unwilling to sustain a conflict, it does not matter if you have superior military power, the opposing side who is willing to wait you out, for a year, four years, 47 years, even though militarily their navy may currently be at the bottom of the sea and their air force non-existent, they will eventually triumph, because they have the ideology and the patience and you do not.
Islam, with its imperialist ambitions and fundamentalist ideology is now quietly taking over the Western world. They are winning, not with military might, but with petro trillions and rugged, focused ideology and determination.
If this trend continues, in a few short decades the "West" will be gone, replaced by an Islamic fundamentalist global village and one remaining superpower – China. China is encouraging this world Islamist takeover and at the same time keeping it out of China. The Muslim population in China is under 2% and is not increasing one iota, China is repressing its expansion.
The once superpower that was Russia, a pale shadow of the former Soviet Union, led by an ex-KGB officer who thinks he is still living in the glorious Soviet Empire, which ceased to exist many decades ago, is so bogged down in his never ending war in Ukraine which is exposing the "naked king" of Russia for who he really is, a despot who cannot convince his own people and army to fight for him.
Where does that leave us? Am Yisrael?
Geopolitics do not concern me, they are the machinations of G-d, not man (as much as man would like to think he manages them). It is best to leave HKB"H's cheshbonot up to Him and not try second guess Him or play "chess" with Him. They say the Iranians invented chess, but HKB"H invented the Iranians, so in a chess game between HKB"H and the Iranians, who do you think is going to win?
All that should concern us is what HKB"H promised us, through the Avot and the 谞ְ讘ִ讬讗ִ讬诐. We must place our trust in HKB"H, not in flesh and blood, friendly as they may seem or favorable to our cause. If we are looking for strategic alliances, the One we should be most concentrating on right now is with HKB"H. David HaMelech stated this categorically in Tehillim (拽诪讜), which we read every day in Shacharit. We would be wise to heed his advice.
HKB"H promised us that galut Edom would be the last exile and we can see the end of galut Edom materializing more and more every day in front of our very eyes. After galut Edom, is the everlasting era of the Mashiach and the Geulah. The rise of Yishmael is temporary and short lived and its purpose is to reestablish our alliance with the King of kings, HKB"H.
To shame us for straying so far from the path and to inflict pain and anguish on us to drive us back into His welcoming arms by doing teshuva, which Am Yisrael is doing – in droves, b"H. Now is the perfect time to concentrate on that. The rashei teivot of 转诪讜讝 are 讝ְ诪ַ谞ֵּ讬 转ְּ砖ׁ讜ּ讘ָ讛 诪ְ诪ַ砖ְׁ诪ְ砖ִׁ讬诐 讜ּ讘ָ讗ִ讬诐.
Our parsha teaches us that the purpose of Edom is to "return". To return the malchut to HKB"H and Am Yisrael. For those neshamot who were originally neshamot of Am Yisrael that got swallowed up in Christianity and Islam over the centuries that have returned to the fold, like R' Akiva, Shmaya and Avtalyon, Onkelos and a myriad others, whose bond with HKB"H has been rekindled during our 1956 years of galut Edom and Yishmael, they too will return and reconnect with HKB"H.
Those of our "brothers", and they are our brothers – we share the same fathers Avraham and Yitzchak - who relinquish evil and accept the malchut of HKB"H, they will return and the 讞ֲ讝ִ讬专 will begin to chew the cud and become a kosher animal. At the end of his life Yishmael did teshuva. Eisav's head rolled into Yaakov's lap in Me'arat HaMachpeila and is there to this day, which means that not all of Edom is evil, there is a part that are not. Those who do not return, will perish in 诪ִ诇ְ讞ֶ诪ֶ转 讙ּ讜ֹ讙 讜ּ诪ָ讙讜ֹ讙.
Instead of trying to "double guess" HKB"H and depress ourselves with irrelevant details like an US-Iran deal, we should be concentrating on living each moment to the full, with simcha. Trying to make the right choice at each and every moment.
That is what life is – a long series of moments at which we make a choice. Each moment only has two possible choices – the right choice and the wrong choice. (General rule - the best of the worst choices also counts as a right choice and the easiest choice is usually the wrong choice). We encounter these "choice moments" multiple times a day, every day.
This is the way we make the only alliance worth having stronger - our alliance with HKB"H. Trusting HKB"H that He is orchestrating geopolitics for our benefit. Concentrating only on making ourselves worthy of His efforts.
I will leave you on an optimistic note. The gematria of –
讜ַ讬ְ诪ָ讗ֵ谉 讗ֱ讚讜ֹ诐 谞ְ转ֹ谉 讗ֶ转 讬ִ砖ְׂ专ָ讗ֵ诇 注ֲ讘ֹ专 讘ִּ讙ְ讘ֻ诇讜ֹ 讜ַ讬ֵּ讟 讬ִ砖ְׂ专ָ讗ֵ诇 诪ֵ注ָ诇ָ讬讜
is the same gematria as –
砖ֶׁ讘ְּ讻ָ诇 讚ּ讜ֹ专 讜ָ讚讜ֹ专 注讜ֹ诪ְ讚ִ讬诐 注ָ诇ֵ讬谞讜ּ 诇ְ讻ַ诇ּ讜ֹ转ֵ谞讜ּ, 讜ְ讛ַ拽ָּ讚讜ֹ砖ׁ 讘ָּ专讜ּ讱ְ 讛讜ּ讗 诪ַ爪ִּ讬诇ֵ谞讜ּ 诪ִ讬ָּ讚ָ诐
Shabbat Shalom
Eliezer Meir Saidel
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