Mystical Kavanos of Birchas Ilanos

we still have a few more days for this. Erev Rosh Hodesh is this thursday. Birchas Ha'ilanos: 

Reaping the Divine Fruits of Blessing of Pesach 

 

 Mystical Kavanos of the Ben Ish Chai For Birchas Ilanos

💥לקנות מגוי זכות הצלת יהודי? צפו בשיחה מרתקת של המנהיג מרן רבי דוב לנדו עם משגיח סלבודקא הרב יונגר

 

מרן רבן של ישראל הגר"ד לנדו שליט"א בניחום אבלים אצל הגה"צ רבי יעקב דב יונגר משגיח ישיבת סלבודקא על פטירת אחותו היחידה ע"ה נהנתם מהסרטון? תנו לייק והרשמו כמנוי ותתנו לנו את הכוח להמשיך................ צופים יקרים: הקליקו "הירשם כמנוי" ואחר כך לחצו על הפעמון, ואז תהיו המעודכנים הראשונים בכל סרטון חדש שעולה ליוטיוב ! נו, לא כדאי להירשם ? יש לכם תיעוד וידאו מעולם התורה לפרסום? שלחו אלינו מייל 6701822@gmail.com המערכת מכבדת זכויות יוצרים התיעודים המתפרסמים בערוץ זה הם ע"פ תורתינו הקדושה, ולהבדיל ע"פ חוקותיהם, חוק זכויות יוצרים תשס"ח 2007 למנינם, סעיף 27א, במידה ובעל המוצר חפץ שנפסיק להשתמש במוצר, או שנייחס הסרטון אליו שלחו לנו מייל לכתובת: 6701822@GMAIL.COM והעניין יטופל. **********************************************

🔥אש מן המזרח: ביהמ"ד בער באש התורה, כך הלהיב רה"י הליטאי הגאון רבי דוב דיסקין את בני הישיבות הספרדים

 

מאות אברכים ובני ישיבות השתתפו במעמד האדיר "עומקא דשמעתתא", שנערך ביום שני י"ט ניסן, ד' דחול המועד פסח, בבית המדרש "חניכי הישיבות – שתילי זיתים" בבני ברק, על ידי ארגון "מורשה" להרמת קרן התורה, ובסיוע המועצה הדתית בעיר. במהלך המעמד התכנסו תלמידי חכמים לצד צורבים צעירים להקבלת פני ראשי הישיבות שליט"א, ובמשך שעות ארוכות נשאו ונתנו בדברי תורה, בשאלות, חקירות וסברות במגוון נושאים. את המשא התורני הובילו הגאון הגדול רבי ברוך דב דיסקין שליט"א ראש ישיבת ארחות תורה והגאונים רבי מנשה תופיק אביעזרי שליט"א – ראש ישיבת "באר יצחק", רבי ברוך דב דיסקין שליט"א – ראש ישיבת "אורחות תורה", ורבי ערן חבה שליט"א – ראש ישיבת "בית הלוי". באי המעמד תיארו אווירה מיוחדת של בית מדרש שכולו חי ותוסס, כאשר ראשי הישיבות מעלים שאלות לעיון ולחידוד, האחד משיב ורעהו מקשה, והציבור כולו נסחף אחר השקלא וטריא בריתחא דאורייתא. במשך זמן רב שררה במקום תחושת התרוממות מיוחדת, שעה שהקהל עקב בדריכות אחר הדיונים התורניים שנשמעו מכל עבר.

Hundreds of yeshiva students and yeshiva students participated in the grand event "Umka Dshemata", which was held on Monday, the 19th of Nissan, the fourth day of Chul HaMoed Pesach, at the "Yeshiva Students - Olive Saplings" Beit Midrash in Bnei Brak, by the "Moresha" organization for raising the Torah Foundation, with the assistance of the city's religious council.

During the event, rabbis gathered alongside young choristers to welcome the yeshiva heads, and for long hours they read and gave Torah discourses, questions, investigations, and explanations on a variety of topics. The Torah burden was led by the great gaon Rabbi Baruch Dov Diskin, shlit"a, head of the Arhot Torah yeshiva, and the gaonim Rabbi Menashe Tawfik Abiezri, shlit"a - head of the "Be'er Yitzchak" yeshiva, Rabbi Baruch Dov Diskin, shlit"a - head of the "Orhot Torah" yeshiva, and Rabbi Eran Levi, shlit"a - head of the "Beit Halevi" yeshiva. The attendees described a special atmosphere of a beit midrash that was alive and vibrant, with the yeshiva heads raising questions for consideration and refinement, one answering and the other challenging, and the entire audience being swept away by the shekel and the fresh ritcha of the Torah. For a long time, a special sense of elation prevailed in the place, as the audience closely followed the Torah discussions that were heard from all sides. את המעמד הנחה הרה"ג רבי יחזקאל פרובר שליט"א, מרבני ישיבת "באר התלמוד", ובמהלכו הוענקו למשיבים שהצטיינו בתשובותיהם כרטיסי ספר טעונים במאות שקלים, כאות הוקרה על עמלם וידיעותיהם. עם סיום המעמד פרצו המשתתפים בשירה של שמחה, בליווי תזמורת, ושרו במשך שעה ארוכה שירי תורה והודיה. גם ראשי הישיבות הצטרפו למעגלי השירה, והאווירה המיוחדת של "חדוותא דשמעתתא", שהשתלבה בשמחת החג, הותירה רושם עז על המשתתפים. ראש הישיבה הגאון הגדול רבי בצלאל טולידאנו שליט"א , ראש ישיבת "זוהר התורה", הוזמן אף הוא למעמד, אך נבצר ממנו להשתתף, והוא שיגר את ברכתו וברכת התורה לציבור המשתתפים. קרדיט תיעוד: בקודש פנימה

The event was led by Rabbi Yechezkel Prober, Shlita, of the rabbis of the "Be'er Talmud" yeshiva, and during it, the respondents who excelled in their answers were awarded book cards worth hundreds of shekels, as a token of appreciation for their work and knowledge.

At the end of the event, the participants burst into joyful singing, accompanied by an orchestra, and sang Torah and thanksgiving songs for a long hour. The yeshiva leaders also joined in the singing circles, and the special atmosphere of "Hedvata Deshmaeta", which was integrated into the joy of the holiday, left a strong impression on the participants.

The great Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Bezalel Toledano Shlita, Rosh Yeshiva "Zohar HaTorah", was also invited to the event, but was unable to attend, and he sent his blessing and the Torah blessing to the participating public.

Documentation credit: In the Holy Inside

Iran Losing Grip on Strait of Hormuz as U.S. Launches Massive Operation to Reopen....AND INTERVIEW

Amazing is a gigantic understatement: 

 

 'COMPLETE BLOCKADE': Trump drops BOMBSHELL move in Hormuz crisis

Bill O’Reilly: “Nobody Realizes What IRAN Is Secretly Gearing Up For”

 

What if everything you've been told about Iran and even "peace" itself is dangerously incomplete? A closer look at Iran - Israel tensions, the Strait of Hormuz, and how some are connecting today’s events to end-time prophecy, Moshiach, and the Geulah. What’s really going on… and why does it matter now? #Moshiach #JewishProphecy #EndTimes

Is the war over? Or are we heading for a much bigger battle?!

Rabbi Baruch Rosenblum in an extrao...

Rabbi Baruch Rosenblum comes with a shocking message that you won't hear anywhere else! Is the war really over - or is this just another step on the way to something much deeper and greater? To listen to the Rabbi's lessons on the new line, dial 073-3454222 [dubbing of videos is messing up clouding the messages. better to hear in the original. Translation doesnt convey the emes]

As read elsewhere, there was a US legal need for a pause in order for Trump to enact further and heightened actions. No REAL cease fire! Just a technical “war” maneuver.

To become a partner in distributing the Rabbi Shlita's lessons, you can enter the following link: https://ultra.kesherhk.info/external/... Or by phone 0583208888

This War Is Not Normal. These Miracles Are Not Natural.

Nothing is “normal”

This war is being reported like any other conflict, but what is actually happening defies logic, probability, and nature itself. In this powerful talk I gave at Anshe Chesed Synagogue in Florida, I reveal why we are not just witnessing a war, but living through open miracles unfolding in real time.

 

We’re Missing One Key Detail About the Iran Negotiations……and

 

 

And

 

Waiting For The Mashiach.....Forever

As some people wait to be redeemed, others understand that the return of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel is not contingent on a future or “magical” Messiah. The connection to Eretz Yisrael is a present and ongoing responsibility, not something to be postponed for a distant redemption, but something rooted in real life and action today.

 

“ EARMARKED FOR REDEMPTION" - The Final Days of Nisan

closer maybe, but not there yet. lets wait and see; so far were back at that comfortable zero.....

 

Rabbi Weissman

 

Just Follow the Script 

Chapter 5 of EndtheMadness Guide to the Shidduch World

This comment is a bit late, but I have no doubt it will be relevant again before too long. We came full circle this Pesach. Jews were trapped in Israel by the seed of Amalek, allowed to leave the country only in small numbers, with great difficulty and expense, according to the whims of their masters, while Ben Gurion airport was taken over by the American military and the IDF. “Let my people go” took on a new meaning.

Until the next round of Raging Lions, Redemption Reflux, or Two More Weeks to Victory, enjoy Ceasefire, a made for TV drama.

And now, chapter 5 of EndtheMadness Guide to the Shidduch World:

Just Follow the Script

Change #3: Dates are scripted, supervised, and otherwise controlled. 

It wasn’t this way a generation ago, even in most segments of the “Torah protector” world. The main concern was ensuring that singles met for purposes of marriage and not frivolity. Once this was accomplished, they enjoyed more leeway in arranging their dates and going through the dating process. 

Not anymore. Today the actual dating process looks like this in most of the “Torah protector” circles. The shadchan arranges the time and place of the date and conveys this information to the parents. The singles meet at the location of the date (as opposed to the guy picking up the girl) and part ways there at the conclusion of the date (as opposed to the guy escorting the girl home). At the conclusion of the date both parties are entirely noncommittal about their desire or lack thereof to continue seeing one another, and will communicate thenceforth only with their parents or the shadchan until an additional date is negotiated (and it is generally very much a negotiation). 

Strictly formal attire is required for the date, though that is the only aspect of the date that will consist of any particular class. For the boy this obviously includes his Shabbos black hat. Dates will normally be conducted in hotel lobbies, where comfortable seating is available at no cost and which are not inherently impure environments, like cafés. A popular alternative is the living room of a neutral third party who lends their premises for the occasion as an act of chesed. (This has the added advantage of completely eliminating the possibility of immoral behavior, which is only absurd but not impossible if singles met somewhere without supervision.)

Singles are prepped on what to talk about, what questions to ask, and how to respond to the anticipated questions. Typically they will talk about their family members and try to portray them in a neutral yet flawless and impressive fashion. Since both the questions and the responses are rehearsed, judgments of one another are based primarily on inferences and deductions from how the actors play their respective roles. 

The goal of the boy is to exhibit his love of Torah and his aptitude for it, while somehow demonstrating that he stands out despite being a perfect conformist—in short, that he is a “great catch.” As part of this, at some point they will go for a stroll during which the boy will deliver a complex Talmudic lecture that the girl will pretend to be interested in. (How well she pretends is a strong indication of how interested she is in the guy, yet few guys seem to be aware of this. If the girl strolls along with her arms folded and a vacant look the guy will continue his discourse in complete oblivion. It’s a comical sight indeed.) 

The goal of the girl is to appear beautiful yet unassuming, demonstrate her love for Hashem, her desire to support her husband’s learning, and to generally appear extremely capable of running a home and taking care of her future husband while not appearing “too smart” in a way that would threaten his self-confidence and leadership role. 

After the date both sides will posture and jockey for leverage. They will necessarily find something about the other party to be “concerned” about to demonstrate that they are in control and a great “catch” that does not need to chase anyone. Each will try to turn the tables on the other until either the shidduch is terminated or they settle on being reasonably satisfied and willing to continue the process. At this point another date will be arranged for the boy and girl and the next chapter in the script rehearsed. 

If this script reaches the third chapter, the shidduch is then deemed to be “serious” and a marriage proposal will be no more than a few chapters away. The stage of the relationship in the “Torah protector” world is determined not by the actual quality of the relationship, or even the existence of one, but by how many meetings have been negotiated. These are the main hurdles that need to be crossed. If everyone in this mad play can stand one another long enough to make it through enough meetings and all the negotiations in between, then this is a good shidduch. 

One other interesting change in the script is that the entire process is conducted under a veil of secrecy from all those but the actors in the play. A girl’s face will turn white if she is spotted on a date by someone who knows her. This is for two reasons. First, being seen with a boy is inherently shameful (and until recently in her life an unthinkable crime), even if it is for purposes of marriage. Second, if all the obstacles before an actual meeting have already been overcome, it must already be somewhat “serious.” 

But in reality the girl is particularly uncomfortable and has no feelings whatsoever for the person she is with. She certainly doesn’t want someone she knows getting the impression that she is about to get engaged to this person and then gossiping about her dating escapades. Consequently, girls are particularly sensitive to meeting in places where someone who knows them might see them. Guys are less bothered by this, unless the girl they are with is unattractive, since that hurts their reputation as a good “catch.”

What all this nuttiness was meant to achieve: Controlling as much of the dating process as possible to prevent sexual behavior before marriage; expedite the road to the wedding; prevent immature young people from marrying the wrong person. 

How this has backfired: The “Torah protector” world has done an excellent job of ensuring that men and women on shidduch dates do not engage in inappropriate behavior before the wedding. Such conduct is virtually unheard of— inappropriate behavior in this world generally occurs only after the wedding or by dropouts from this society who rebel against all the restrictions. 

They have also done a remarkable job of ensuring that singles do not date “just for fun.” Fun is the last adjective young men and women would associate with dating.

Turning the dating process into a script creates a culture where the goal is to succeed not by developing one’s inner self and finding a partner who is truly compatible, but by airbrushing one’s outer self to better play the expected role. It is much like high school and college students trying to pad their résumé with things that sound impressive but have little intrinsic value or relevance to the person, or an educational system that encourages preparing for a test (and learning all manner of tricks to beat the test) as opposed to truly educating. 

Only here the stakes could be a lifetime of misery. 

Expediting the road to the wedding by condensing the dating process forces singles to agree to marriage without having first developed a real relationship with the person they are marrying, without even truly knowing them. In their desire to prevent the opposite extreme—endless dating and indecision—the “Torah protector” society has dismissed the value of a relationship process and declared that this process is either overestimated, can occur after the wedding with no ill effects, or can be forced into the limited number of meetings that are mandated before a wedding is expected.

As we find with so many aspects of this society, there is little allowance for individual needs and timetables. Those who don’t fit well into the one-size-fits-all approach will have many problems, and will be considered defective for having these problems.

The intense formality and veil of secrecy emphasize the notions that dating is inherently “bad,” a necessary evil that must be minimized and kept private as much as possible. This encourages singles to only agree to date someone who has been thoroughly “checked out” to avoid “wasting time,” but this process is only as good as the filters that are used and the people who are doing the filtering. Neither deserve the great trust they are given.

This also ensures that people will meet based strictly on checklists and prefabricated, narcissistic requirements. In real life, relationships do not succeed or fail based on such things, yet in this search for the most important relationship the “Torah protector” society relies almost exclusively on criteria that are irrelevant at best and often misleading.

We have heard from countless couples the same thing: “No one would have thought of setting us up, but we are just right for one another.” We have heard from countless singles the same thing: “We were perfect on paper, but the date was horrible.”

Micromanaging every aspect of the process guarantees that many people who should meet each other never will. It also leads to more bad decision making than it will ever prevent, because the system itself actually encourages it. Rather than preventing young people from “falling in love with the wrong person,” it drives young people to marry someone they have little emotion for, do not know beyond a fabricated layer, and have chosen based largely on irrelevant criteria.

Patchwork solutions: Attempting to tinker with and fine-tune the process. Research singles a little more thoroughly; devise more clever questions to ask in the research process; devise more clever ways to test singles on dates; allow singles to meet a fourth or fifth time if they still “aren’t sure”; trust the shadchan even more; don’t worry about it and just trust in Hashem to make it all okay.

More of the same = more of the same.

Go off script and buy the complete EndTheMadness eBook for only $9.99 here.

Limited copies are available in Israel for 70 shekels. Contact me directly to purchase this and my other books at weissmans@protonmail.com.

Geluah Center update with HomeBound to Eretz Yisrael Legend Michael Weichbrod!

 

Traveling Eretz Yisrael with Aryeh Leib Deutsch

https://www.youtube.com/@TravelingEretzYisraelWithA.L.D

Buckle up — this episode is ancient engineering meets epic adventure! Your host Aryeh Leib Deutsch teams up with two absolute legends: the world-renowned tour guide Netanel Eiseman (master storyteller of Tanach, history, and the living Land), and Izzy Rabin, the expert tour guide who brings the incredible 2000 year old Amat Habiyar Aqueducts to life with his signature e-scooter tours! ●We go deep into the Judean Hills to uncover: The mind-blowing Ancient Biyar Aqueducts — massive, hand-carved water systems from the Second Beis Hamikdash period that carried fresh water to Yerushalayim over kilometers of rugged terrain! ●Zooming through breathtaking Judean landscapes on e-scooters — feeling the wind, the history, and the neshama rush as we trace paths where water once flowed to the Holy City of Yerushalayim! ●Standing in awe at the engineering marvels, hearing the stories of how these aqueducts powered Jewish life, ritual purity, and the daily miracles of Yerushalayim in ancient times. Highlights from the tour include: •Hiking in Harei Yehuda: The hosts emphasize the importance of hiking to truly connect with and feel the land and its history. •Hidden Picnic Spot: A secluded spot between Bat Ayin and Soref with picnic benches and a beautiful stream flowing through olive trees. •Amat Habiar Aqueducts: Izzy Rabin explains the ancient aqueduct (Amat Habiar, part of the Biyar system) transported water from springs near Afrat to the Beis Hamikdash in Yerushalayim over nearly 20 km. Vital during the Second Temple period when the Gishon spring alone wasn't enough. •The Spring inside a Cave: A massive cave containing a fresh spring — one of the beautiful springs of Harei Yehuda. •E-Scooter Tours: Izzy Rabin offers e-scooter tours to easily explore the historical paths. •Bakar Inspection Room: The group enters an ancient inspection room (a cavern-like structure) where aqueduct flow was monitored to prevent blockages. This 2,000-year-old structure remains intact. The video concludes with reflections on the perfect blend of history, nature, and enjoyable activity — encouraging everyone to experience the Judean Hills "Harei Yehuda" firsthand. From off-the-beaten-path trails to jaw-dropping views, deep Torah connections, and that rush of connecting past to present — this is Eretz Yisrael at its most alive: history you can ride through, feel, and taste. Traveling Eretz Yisrael with Aryeh Leib Deutsch Jersey roots to Eretz Yisrael vibes 🇺🇸✈️🇮🇱 OG Lakewood guy — made Aliyah 2025 — now living in & exploring the Holy Land. ●Raw, authentic adventures in Eretz Yisrael: Love the soul & spirit of Eretz Yisrael? SUBSCRIBE + 🔔 for new episodes!

Ancestors' Footsteps Alive: Oleh Regel path discovery W/ Elisha Bruck – Just opened to the public!

 This is what excites my heart:

👑שיח צדיקים: אחר המעמד ההסטורי ששודר בכל רחבי תבל, מנהיג הדור מרן הרב לנדו בשיח עם האדמו"ר ממכנובקא

 

 

 בה הגר"ד לנדו שהתקיים באולם מתחת בית המדרש מכנובקא בבני ברק, נועד האדמו"ר ממכנובקא בחדר עם רשכבה"ג מרן שליט"א, לסיום ברכו זה את זה. צילום: דניאל נפוסי

Raising a funny swamphen

 

 

 see this scary?

The TRUE STORY of Kamunyak: The LIONESS Who Adopted 6 Baby Antelopes

 

This video tells the true, documented story of Kamunyak — a wild lioness in Kenya's Samburu National Reserve who adopted six oryx calves between 2001 and 2003. Every fact presented has been cross-referenced with the original documentary footage filmed by Saba Douglas-Hamilton, reports from the Kenya Wildlife Service, and scientific correspondence from leading lion researchers including Doctor Craig Packer and Doctor Laurence Frank. Where sources conflict, we say so. Where we do not know something, we say that too. All visuals and videos are AI-generated. Please always exercise caution around wild animals and never attempt to approach or handle wildlife without proper training. ───────────────────────────────────── In December 2001, a young solitary lioness did something that no scientist could explain. She found a newborn oryx calf — her natural prey — and instead of killing it, she lay beside it. She guarded it from cheetahs and rival lions. She did not eat for fifteen days. She let the calf's biological mother approach to nurse it, then took the baby back. When that calf was killed by a male lion, she grieved for five weeks. And then she did it again. Six calves over two years. The Samburu people called her Kamunyak — The Blessed One. The world's leading lion scientist called her something else entirely. This is her story. Every word of it is true. ───────────────────────────────────── 🤎 WILD HEARTS CLUB — Be part of a community that believes animal stories matter:    / @wildheartsstories  

🫠מרתק: מה הגיב מנהיג הדור מרן רבי דוב לנדו שליט"א להגאון רבי אברהם אלטמן זצ"ל שאמר לו שהוא אברך רגיל

I've disabled the auto-dubbing as it sounds awful, please read text

Apr 9, 2026

ביקור מיוחד נערך בערב שבת קודש שביעי של פסח תשפ"ה כשהגאון רבי אברהם אלטמן זצ"ל ראש ישיבת עטרת צבי באשדוד עלה לביקור חג במעונו של רשכבה''ג רבינו מרן ראש הישיבה הגאון רבי דב לנדו שליט”א. בפתח הביקור כשהנכד הודיע למנהיג הדור שהגר”א אלטמן הגיע, קם רשכבה''ג מרן ראש הישיבה לכבודו, הגר”א אלטמן אמר לרה”י כי הוא אברך פשוט אך בתגובה אמר רבינו מיד שהוא “אינו חייב להאמין לזה”… בביקור המיוחד שנמשך דקות ארוכות שוחח הגר”א אלטמן עם מרן ראש הישיבה בענייני המועד, וסיפר על הקשר ארוך השנים שקיים עם ישיבת סלבודקה כשבניו למדו בישיבה. הגר”א אלטמן אמר בשיחה כי רואים אצל רבינו את “קול השם בהדר” ומברך כי יזכה גם ל”קול השם בכוח”, ושהר”י יהיה בריא וחזק. בסיום הביקור אמר הגר”א אלטמן לראש הישיבה כי יהיה זה חיזוק גדול שהר”י יבוא למסור דברי חיזוק לאברכים בכולל, אך ראש הישיבה ענה בחיוך כי “צריך לשאול את תעודת הזהות שלי אם היא מרשה”… תמלול השיחה: הנכד לרבינו: זה הרב אלטמן מאשדוד (ראש הישיבה קם לכבודו) הגר”א אלטמן: באתי לביקור במועד, אני אדם פשוט. רבינולנכד: אני לא חייב להאמין לזה… הגר”א אלטמן: יש לנו קשר הדוק מאוד, הבנים שלי למדו כמעט כולם בישיבת סלבודקה. רבינו: שיהיה נחת מכולם. הגר”א אלטמן: אני מבקש ברכה שיהיה לי נחת מעצמי. רבינו: השם ימלא כל משאלות לבך לטובה. הגר”א אלטמן: אני מברך את הראש ישיבה שיהיה בריא וחזק. רבינו: אמן. ישר כח, וכן למר. הגר”א אלטמן: כתוב “קול השם בכח, קול השם בהדר”, הדר יש הרבה לראש הישיבה, אני מברך שיהיה גם כח. הנכד: יש להם באשדוד כולל עם מאתיים אברכים. רבינו: שיהיה הצלחה רבה, שיהיה לכם הצלחה בכל. הגר”א אלטמן: לומדים אצלנו כמעט מאתיים אברכים, התנאי לקבל אברך לכולל הוא “תמים תהיה עם השם אלוקיך”. יהיה חיזוק גדול שהראש ישיבה יתן לנו דברי חיזוק בתחילת הזמן. הנכד: הוא מבקש שסבא יבוא לחזק אותם באשדוד. רבינו: צריך לשאול את התעודת זהות שלי אם היא מרשה… הבן: הראש ישיבה אומר שהגיל והתעודת זהות שלו לא כ”כ נותן… רבינו: אגוט מועד.

Dead Prophets Society - Rise of Moshiach ben Yosef and Moshiach ben David - Part 1

 

What Just Happened? Trump Ceasefire Confusion

Wait. What just happened? Trump just declared a ceasefire with the Islamic regime of Iran. Is there really a ceasefire? Is the war over? Who won?

 

Just When You Thought it Was Over......

 

An unbelievable war story ………

 [as read on harnof group]

An unbelievable war story written by Avi Abelow.

My son is an IDF reserve soldier, serving right now in Gaza. In the middle of his service, he got a day off to attend one of his best friend’s wedding. But this wasn’t a normal wedding.

Because of ongoing missile attacks from Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon, the original wedding hall was shut down. The couple had to scramble and find a new location with a bomb shelter. They found a synagogue in Jerusalem just days before the wedding.

My son was with the groom from early in the morning of the wedding day. And then the chaos began.

At one point in the middle of the day, someone called him with an urgent problem: there was no room in the synagogue for the yichud, the private room where the bride and groom spend their first moments together after the wedding chuppah. Without hesitation, my son reached out to a family who lives in the community near the synagogue and asked them to send a message to their community WhatsApp group asking if anyone had a room in their home they could lend to the couple to use as a yichud room.

Within minutes, families, complete strangers who didn’t even know the couple, or my son, started responding. “We have a room.” “You can use ours.” “We’d be honored.” One home, right next to the synagogue, turned out to be perfect.

Problem solved.

Then, just an hour before the wedding, another crisis.

Someone called to say the synagogue wasn’t set up at all. No tables. No tables. No chairs arranged. No tablecloths. No plates. Nothing. All the supplies were just sitting there in piles at the door. Remember, this wasn’t a wedding hall with staff, this was a last-minute war-time solution in a local synagogue, and the family was busy with pictures and overwhelmed.

Again, everyone called my son.

With only an hour to go, he had another idea.

He went back to those same families, the ones who had just offered their homes for the yichud room, and asked if they could come help set up the wedding in their local synagogue.

And once again, the response was immediate.

“We’re coming.”
“We’ll help.”
“It’s our privilege.”

These were people who didn’t know the bride or groom. Didn't know my son. They just jumped to offer to help.

By the time my son arrived at the synagogue with the groom, the entire synagogue hall had been transformed. Tables set. Food arranged. Everything ready. Beautiful.

All done by strangers.

This is the Jewish people in Israel today.

In the middle of war.
Under missile fire.
With uncertainty all around us.

And yet, there is joy.
There is giving.
There is unity.
There is life.
There are weddings!

This is our strength.

And this is why we will win. Actually, we have already won!!! No enemy will ever beat us. Not Pharaoh. Not the Nazis. Not the red-green jihadi alliance against us today!

Strengthen your faith in God. These are geulah/redemptive times.

Am Yisrael Chai!!! 🇮🇱

Israel Good News Only

💥What right do you have to violate the advice of the High Court of Justice and the Yoa Mashiat? W...

The Mishkenot Yaakov Synagogue gathered for a ceremony to mark the end of winter time and encourage writing groups led by the leader of the generation, Rabbi Maran Shlit"a At the center of the ceremony, Torah scholars led by the Hamra Da'Tara Gaon Rabbi Yisrael Ulman Shlit"a listened to the message of the leader of the generation, Rabbi Maran Shlit"a

With the permission of the Hamra Da'Tara Shlit"a The young men of the Mishkenot Yaakov community and their parents gathered here, led by the Hamra Da'Tara Shlit"a and the rabbis Shlit"a, on the occasion of the end of winter time, in which the young men persevered and diligently studied Torah, practiced, and meditated, and saw the fruit of their labor in writing Torah novellas and printing them.

There are many advantages in writing Torah novellas, advantages in the methods of study themselves, also in the satisfaction that the students have, and in the memorization of things. In writing, there are many levels and different styles, but first and foremost when studying a subject, when writing the summary of the methods and the calculations of the methods, the calculations of the shekel and tarya in the first ten, and so on, the subject becomes clearer and more refined and like a term in a box.

Of course, it is customary in yeshivahs to write Torah novellas, and this is how the important young men have always done it. There are also different styles in this, but one must be aware that one understands what one is writing, and writes in a way that others can understand. This is a real test to check the novella, or the difficulties and evidence that are raised, whether they are understood or not. There are those who can also establish a fellowship to write together, when two people write together, and each brings his part, this develops the Torah novellas in a special way.

There is another thing that is very necessary in the ways of study, one should also write short notes, or a short proof here and there, it can be a specific topic or a scholarly investigation, and in studying for years, one finds more proof and more evidence and more questions, and after that an entire pamphlet can come out of this topic.

I wish all the young men who are working on writing their studies, that they will be blessed to study in the evenings and in the evenings. It is clear that when young men seek to ascend further in their ways of study, heaven will be at their service and they will be blessed to ascend further and further in all their ways of study to increase Torah and magnify it, and thanks to this, God Almighty will break the advice of the ancients on us to stop Torah and its study, God forbid, and so Torah and its study will be our portion for the OT, and we will be saved soon together with the House of Israel in the salvation of the worlds soon in our days, Amen.

Documentation credit: Minchat Davar

Eliezer Meir Saidel: Playing With Fire – Shmini

 

Playing With Fire – Shmini

וַיִּקְחוּ בְנֵי אַהֲרֹן נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא אִישׁ מַחְתָּתוֹ וַיִּתְּנוּ בָהֵן אֵשׁ וַיָּשִׂימוּ עָלֶיהָ קְטֹרֶת וַיַּקְרִיבוּ לִפְנֵי ה' אֵשׁ זָרָה אֲשֶׁר לֹא צִוָּה אֹתָם. וַתֵּצֵא אֵשׁ מִלִּפְנֵי ה' וַתֹּאכַל אוֹתָם וַיָּמֻתוּ לִפְנֵי ה'. (ויקרא י, א-ב)

 

In parshat Shmini we read about the deaths of Nadav and Avihu, the sons of Aharon, on the 8th day of Nisan, the day of the inauguration of the Mishkan – a day that epitomized the climax of celebration and redemption of Am Yisrael.

 

Just one passuk before, we read about a different kind of fire וַתֵּצֵא אֵשׁ מִלִּפְנֵי ה' וַתֹּאכַל עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ אֶת הָעֹלָה וְאֶת הַחֲלָבִים וַיַּרְא כׇּל הָעָם וַיָּרֹנּוּ וַיִּפְּלוּ עַל פְּנֵיהֶם (ויקרא ט, כד). HKB"H's fire descended onto the mizbeach and consumed the korbanot. This was not fire made by man - it was unmistakably supernatural, Heavenly fire, a clear, visible sign that HKB"H's Shechina rested amongst Am Yisrael in the Mishkan. This caused Am Yisrael to rejoice and to fall on their faces in awe, what is known as גִּלּוּ בִּרְעָדָה.

 

Immediately after that we have two additional psukkim that speak about fire – Nadav and Avihu bringing an אֵשׁ זָרָה, which resulted in a second Heavenly fire that descended and consumed them, causing their deaths.

 

The stark contrast between "fire of celebration" and "fire of retribution" in such a short time period is jarring and difficult to reconcile. According to the Midrash (ספרא) Nadav and Avihu sinned much early, at Har Sinai, but HKB"H did not take retribution on them at that time, because He did not want to ruin the rejoicing of Matan Torah. If so, why did HKB"H take their lives on the day of the inauguration of the Mishkan and ruin the celebrations of that great day? Could it not have waited until after the celebration?

 

According to the Or HaChaim (ibid.) Nadav and Avihu knew that their actions would result in death, but so great was their desire to be closer to the Shechina through the act of bringing the Ketoret, that they were willing to die for it. HaRav Baruch Rosenblum שליט"א says that it is like someone who is willing to risk their life to climb Mt. Everest, just to experience the sublime feeling of reaching the peak and being closer to Heaven than another other point on earth. 

In a similar vein he says that in the sin of Korach, all the followers of Korach knew that they were going to die if they brought the Ketoret, but they went ahead with it anyway, because it was something they felt was worth dying for. Same with all the Kohanim Gedolim in the time of Bayit Sheini who bribed and paid to be Kohen Gadol. They knew when they entered the Kodesh HaKodashim on Yom Kippur they would die, but they considered it worth the cost. This is why there was such a turnover of Kohanim Gedolim in the period of Bayit Sheini.

 

In a previous shiur (Shmini 2025) we discussed the sin of Nadav and Avihu in more detail, and we will not repeat that here. Instead, I would like to explore a topic related to the above, but which is also connected to current events and raises a major issue that Am Yisrael, in this generation and these times need to address.

 

The question is "Is it possible to experience the presence of the Shechina today, even though we don't have the Beit HaMikdash?"

 

To illustrate, I would like to bring a mashal from the movie "Avatar". For those who have not seen this great (3D) movie, it is a fictional, futuristic story about pioneers from a dying planet earth who try to save humankind from extinction by attempting to colonize another planet with its own indigenous population, culture and religious beliefs. 

This native population is connected to their wellspring of existence through the "Home Tree", a special, magical tree that connects past, present and future and is the source of all life for these people. In the movie, some evil humans destroy the "Home Tree", thus scattering the native population and managing to take control of the planet. Without the umbilical cord of their "Home Tree" to connect them, the planet's society collapsed.

 

For Am Yisrael, our "Home Tree" (lehavdil) is the Beit HaMikdash. One might think that since our "Home Tree" has been destroyed, it is no longer possible to experience the Shechina. Am Yisrael at the inauguration of the Mishkan, above, experienced the presence of the Shechina with their own eyes. They saw the fire descending from Heaven onto the mizbeach.

 

The Mishna (אבות ג, ו) says that even though we no longer have the Beit HaMikdash, it is still possible to experience the Shechina. If ten people are עוֹסְקִין בַּתּוֹרָה, the presence of the Shechina is שְׁרוּיָה בֵּינֵיהֶם – the premise of a minyan. However, it is not only if there are ten or more. If there are 5, 3, 2, even one person who is עוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה, the Shechina can be present. The Mishna brings various psukkim to prove each number.

 

Each and every one of us have experienced the Shechina at least once during our lives (probably many more) and I can prove it.

 

Anyone who has been present in shul when the Kohanim go up to duchen – every day in Israel and on chagim in the Diaspora – knows not to look directly at the Kohanim while they are reciting the priestly blessing. Why? Because the Shechina is present in the spaces between their fingers and we are not allowed to gaze directly at the Shechina. The יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם we have is equivalent to Am Yisrael falling on their faces and rejoicing in our passuk above (hint: – we need to rejoice when we listen to בִּרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים, at least have a smile on our face throughout – and certainly to not chat with the person sitting next to us in shul during the blessing).

 

However, it is not limited to being in shul, with a minyan, where the Mishna specifically tells us that the Shechina rests. All of us have experienced the Shechina on a personal, individual level at some point in our lives, be it a period of crisis, joy, epiphany, challenge, etc. I personally experienced it multiple times during the writing of sefer Meir Panim, the undeniable siyata di'Shmaya guiding my eye and my pen to discover and record things that could never possibly have emanated from my own limited intellect. 

When I reread the sefer (I try to read it often, to keep the details clear and vivid in my memory – R' Eliezer ben Horkenos had to repeat things 100 times before it sank in, this Eliezer needs many more than 100 times), when I get to certain sections, I cannot believe that it was my hand that actually wrote those words. Sometimes, I cry tears of joy when I read them. That is experiencing the Shechina.

 

This is what David HaMelech meant when he said אַחַת שָׁאַלְתִּי מֵאֵת ה' אוֹתָהּ אֲבַקֵּשׁ שִׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית ה' כׇּל יְמֵי חַיַּי לַחֲזוֹת בְּנֹעַם ה' וּלְבַקֵּר בְּהֵיכָלוֹ (תהילים כז, ד). The נֹעַם ה' he is referring to is the Shechina. Once someone has experienced the נֹעַם, the Shechina, all other pleasures in the world pale in comparison. David HaMelech personally experienced the Shechina, which enveloped him 24/7.

 

Even without the Beit HaMikdash we can experience the Shechina! So, why then do we need the Beit HaMikdash at all? Why was it insufficient for HKB"H to leave the world with the reality of the Avot, individual families, whose reality and everyday existence were de facto like having a Mikdash! The Ramban, in his introduction to sefer Shmot, says that the tents of the Avot were de facto a Beit Mikdash – the Menorah, perpetually lit, the blessing in the bread (Shulchan) and the Shechina in a cloud on the tent. Why is having a "personal", private Beit Mikdash insufficient? The passuk says וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם (שמות כה, ח) – the ultimate purpose of the Beit Mikdash is to create a Mikdash within ourselves anyway!

 

However, that was not HKB"H's plan. It is not enough that each person has a private Mikdash within them and experiences the Shechina on a personal level, HKB"H also wanted us to have "national Beit Mikdash", in addition to the personal version. This is why He commanded us to build the Mishkan in the Midbar, which then entered Eretz Yisrael with Yehoshua.

 

This is where David HaMelech learned it from, that a situation where a national Mikdash does not exist – is unacceptable. Mishkan Shilo had been destroyed and the Aron HaBrit was "wandering" from place to place and was not permanently resting where it should. David, who was already king and had defeated his enemies, said "This is totally unacceptable! It cannot be that I am living in a בֵּית אֲרָזִים while the Aron HaBrit is in storage" (שמואל ב, ז, ב). That night HKB"H appeared to Natan HaNavi and said "Quick! Go immediately to David and tell him not to build the Mikdash. 

I know David, when he gets an idea in his head, he doesn't mess around! David will get up early next morning and start building the Mikdash!" Natan Hanavi appeared in front of David the following morning and said "HKB"H says wait. You will not be the one to build the national Mikdash, it will be your son Shlomo" (why David was not zocheh, we will examine later).

 

David HaMelech's words should be reverberating in our ears every minute of every day! "How is it possible that I am living in a comfortable house/apartment, with a leather upholstered lounge suite, a well-equipped kitchen, an ornate jacuzzi in the bathroom, a shaded swing chair on the porch overlooking the garden … while HKB"H's "house" has not yet been built! This is totally unacceptable!" You might say "Well that is not true, we have built a beautiful shul in our community with an ornate Aron Kodesh, wood pews, stained glass windows, lavish carpeting … I personally donated a large sum for building it!" It is true the shul is called a מִקְדָּשׁ מְעַט, but it is still a "personal" Mikdash, on a small community level, like that of the Avot perhaps. It is not yet a "national" Mikdash that the Rambam says we have a מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה to build (הלכות בית הבחירה א, א).

 

What purpose does a national Mikdash serve that a private Mikdash doesn't?

 

The answer is that each of us having a private Mikdash preserves the integrity of Am Yisrael and allows the Shechina to rest within Am Yisrael. Having a national Mikdash preserves the integrity of and allows the Shechina to rest in the … WHOLE WORLD!

 

The purpose of Am Yisrael is not only to be an עַם לְבָדָד יִשְׁכֹּן and to selfishly keep the Shechina to ourselves. It is to do tikkun olam, to be an אוֹר לַגּוֹיִם so that the entire human race will achieve completion! This is the purpose for which HKB"H created the world, and this is the mission and role of Am Yisrael in the world. By not building a national Beit Mikdash we are dooming the rest of the world to poverty and war. Only when the Beit HaMikdash exists will the entire world be blessed and peace will reign. This is why the nations have to send representatives to the Beit HaMikdash on Sukkot, to thank HKB"H for their bounty that exists by virtue of the Beit HaMikdash.

 

Some of us are more attuned to the Shechina than others. Those who are more מִתְעַסְּקִים בַּתּוֹרָה, as the Mishna says, will be more attuned. The greater the עִסּוּק, the more attuned we will be.

 

Similarly, some of us are more attuned to building our private Mikdash, while others are more attuned to building our national Mikdash. Ideally there should be a balance between and an equal focus on both, however, in this generation that is hard to find. Some are completely unattuned, not to building the private nor the national Mikdash.

 

Without generalizing, the Charedi sector (with the exception of Chabad and Brisk) is predominantly focused on building the private Mikdash and is purposely unfocused on building the national Mikdash, which they believe will descend ready made from Heaven. They are often, sometimes violently, against any attempts to our building it (despite the psak of the Rambam), or even devoting time to studying it. With the exception of one or two, the vast majority of Charedi yeshivas focus on studying the "seven masechtot" of halacha intensively, while the entire seder Kodshim is purposely neglected.

 

Perhaps the most interesting and perplexing phenomenon that prevails today (also without generalizing) is that the National Religious sector, who ideologically do believe in settling and rebuilding Eretz Yisrael and fulfilling the psak of the Rambam to build the national Mikdash - while they verbally express support for it, they sadly take little active part in it. In the microcosm of our activities in Machon Lechem HaPanim (which is a mirror to the larger picture), we have found that the Dati Leumi sector is almost totally uninterested in taking any active part in building the national Beit HaMikdash. 

While they do not voice opposition to it like the Charedi sector does, their support is mostly lip service and nothing more. The largest demographic that attends our Lechem HaPanim workshops is Chabad. We have repeatedly found that spending equal amounts on advertising our activities to the Dati Leumi sector and to the Chabad sector results in an overwhelming majority of participants to our workshops from the Chabad sector.

 

This is a very surprising reality, given that the "motto" of the Dati Leumi sector (to which I belong) is תּוֹרָה וַעֲבוֹדָה, which essentially means studying Torah and building and serving in the Beit HaMikdash! However, the עֲבוֹדָה part has been "transformed" into something else - being participant in the economy of the country (studying/working for a parnasa, serving in the army, etc. – all of which are no less important, but also no more important than building the national Mikdash). I attribute this phenomenon to the bourgeois mindset that has mostly overtaken the Dati Leumi sector, in which building the national Mikdash does not really fit in with the busy schedule of other "more important" things. In this, the Dati Leumi sector has become identical to the Charedi sector, who regard the Beit HaMikdash very low priority, compared to the other "more important" issues.

 

I will not even speak about the secular sector, for whom the national Mikash is a total non-entity and is as foreign to them as aliens from the planet in the movie Avatar. This was the opinion of an Ha'aretz reporter who came to write an article on our workshops.

 

After Chabad, I am sad to say, the largest population group who are interested in building the national Beit HaMikdash are – Evangelical Christians! This is an enormous קִטְרוּג on Am Yisrael, Rachmana litzlan, that the goyim are more interested in our destiny than we are.

 

There is, I am glad to say, a small, but growing group of the younger generation, many from the נֹעַר הַגְּבָעוֹת, who have been captivated with the concept of rebuilding the national Mikdash. They frequently engage in activism, trying to change the status quo on Har HaBayit, trying to offer korbanot, like recently trying to bring a Korban Pesach on Har HaBayit, etc. Last Shavuot they tried to offer the Shtei HaLechem on Har HaBayit, in an intricate mission that could put many Hollywood movies to shame. 

They smuggled in the two large loaves in a baby stroller, underneath the baby! Unfortunately, while this group are highly focused on building the national Mikdash, they are less focused on the private Mikdash, paying less attention to halacha than to evading the secret service. Last year I voiced frustration with the way they conducted the mission which resulted in the Shtei HaLechem on Har HaBayit being pigul – unfit for the korban (see shiur on Naso 2025).

 

I participated in a Mikdash conference last year in Jerusalem and heard HaRav Yisrael Ariel שליט"א  from Machon HaMikdash address this issue, voicing the opinion that, even though these activists didn’t pay enough attention to halacha – they compensated for it with their passion to rebuild the national Mikdash, while the rest of the bourgeois establishment prefer to pay lip service, rather than doing anything real to further the vision of the national Mikdash.

 

I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. To rebuild the national Mikdash we need a balance of passion and halacha. We need to have a pure, innocent, תָּמִים yearning to build our national Mikdash and the courage to act on this passion. This needs to be coupled at the same time with adherence to halacha. In the equation of whom we need to fear most, the Shabak or HKB"H, the answer is undoubtedly HKB"H. If the toss-up is between avoiding being phone-tapped or having a kosher korban, the kosher korban takes preference. Hopefully the lessons have been learned and this year's attempt will be with a kosher set of Shtei HaLechem.

 

This is what our parsha teaches us. The unbridled passion of Nadav and Avihu that was not tempered by halacha – led to disaster. This is the foundation principle of the Beit Hamikdash and if an infringement of this principle takes place, even on the day of its inauguration, intended as a celebration, retribution cannot be postponed.

 

In this matter, it is incumbent on leaders and scholars like HaRav Yisrael Ariel שליט"א from Machon HaMikdash and other authorities in the field, like myself to make a more concerted effort to be mekarev these activist groups and to give them halachic guidance, so that their activities are not counterproductive, but rather highly focused to לְעוֹרֵר רַחֲמֵי שָׁמַיִם.

 

Similarly, the task of reconnecting the Dati Leumi sector to the mission of building the national Mikdash is something we need to invest more resources and energy on. This sector is a niche audience for this mission, they just need to be woken up and shown how important the national Mikdash mission is to our future, certainly no less than serving in the army or settling in Eretz Yisrael, learning Torah and working for a parnasa – perhaps even more so!

 

It sounds good in theory, in practice however, it is a little more complex.

 

It all starts with תְּמִימוּת, a sincere, innocent, burning desire to restore HKB"H's Shechina to Am Yisrael not only on a private level, but also on a national level. Unfettered by agendas - personal, or political.

 

It cannot however come about only with תְּמִימוּת, it also needs maximum hishtadlut. The resources needed to reach the target audiences to establish a mass grassroots movement are enormous. It needs the backing of established organizations with a common vision. It needs funding from philanthropists who support that vision.

 

As we speak, we can see the destructive power of sheer money. How Qatar, with its almost unlimited financial resources have succeeded in infiltrating and controlling most of the Western world. What the antisemites accused the Jews of doing in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a worldwide conspiracy to control the world – has de facto been implemented in the opposite direction by the enemies of the Jews, Qatar and the Moslem Brotherhood. They have succeeded in perpetuating lies and rewriting history – just using money!

 

Imagine what we could achieve in the opposite direction if we recruited our entire nation and those of influence in the world who support us, to reverse this evil and reestablish the truth. To strip away all the lies and fallacies these evil people have been encasing reality with and rediscovering our core and our destiny.

 

This is a call to arms! I urge you to forward this shiur to as many people as you can. If you know of people of influence who are interested in helping Am Yisrael fulfil its destiny as a nation thereby restoring the world to peace and prosperity, I implore you to try recruit them to this cause.

 

There is an army of people out there, of which I am a proud member, each dedicating their lives to a specific aspect of the national Mikdash. All together, we have the know-how to build it.

 

We are lacking only one thing – a burning desire in the majority of Am Yisrael to build the Mikdash. When we have a grassroots movement of the majority of Am Yisrael who urgently want the Mikdash to be built, then it will be rebuilt. To establish this grassroots movement requires vast financial and organizational resources to reconnect our people with their authentic roots. Until our nation achieves parity and internal peace, this vision cannot be realized. This is why David HaMelech could not build the Beit HaMikdash, he had to wait for his son Shlomo, in whose time internal peace reigned in Am Yisrael.

 

This movement has to be spearheaded by leaders with vision and vast knowledge of halacha relating to the Beit HaMikdash. It needs to give our hungry youth a roadmap, to harness their passion and to focus it with halacha, so that we don't have a recurrence of the Nadav and Avihu syndrome.

 

When HKB"H sees that we are doing our maximum hishtadlut, He will מַשְׁלִים. We cannot expect HKB"H to send the 3rd Beit HaMikdash down from Heaven, without us lifting a finger and doing our own maximum hishtadlut. This is the way HKB"H and the world works. Heavenly abundance cannot appear when the table is empty. To rain blessing down to the world there has to be Lechem HaPanim on the Shulchan.

 

Am Yisrael are changing conceptions. Instead of going around in endless circles defending from and weakening the proxies, we have finally decided to deal with the head of the snake, on the premise, that if the head of the evil snake falls, its proxies will wither and die.

 

The same applies to building the national Mikdash. We have been furiously running around in endless circles dealing with the symptoms of the absence of a national Beit HaMikdash, assimilation, antisemitism, internal strife etc. We should instead be targeting the "head" issue. If we succeed in rebuilding the national Mikdash, all the "proxy symptoms" will evaporate. 

Just like we have decided to go all out to root out evil from the world, we need to stop fooling around with half measures and go full out to replace evil with the absolute good. If we win this battle with Amalek, but do not continue the mission by fulfilling our destiny as a nation, then it will all have been for nought. We will revert to the infighting that has plagued our nation for millenia.

 

Both are flip sides of the same coin. You have שַׁאֲגַת הָאֲרִי on one side, eliminating the evil. On the flip side you have בִּנְיַן אֲרִיאֵל, establishing the absolute good by building the national Mikdash. בבי"א.

 

  

Shabbat Shalom

Eliezer Meir Saidel

Machon Lechem Hapanim

www.machonlechemhapanim.org