The BRACHOT For When Mashiach is Here – REPUBLISHED

BE PREPARED

The BRACHOT For When Mashiach is Here

Rav Kanievsky Shlit"a said to be ready to say the blessings when Mashiach arrives (The Rav has periodically spoken about Mashiach). If Rav Kanievsky Shlit"a happens to be Eliyahu HaNavi, and he announces "who" Mashiach is, the following are the Brachot to be said IY"H  [written in a sequence depending what happens first, second, etc.]

When we first hear from a reliable source the good news of Moshiach’s arrival, we will recite 

• “Baruch Attah Hashem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam HaTov V’HaMeiteiv.”

When we see the huge throngs of Jews assembled to greet him, which will no doubt number at least 600,000 people, one recites 

• "Baruch Attah Hashem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam Chacham harazim.”

When one sees the rebuilt Beis HaMikdash or rebuilt shullen or Batei Medrash, one recites, 

• "Baruch Attah Hashem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam matziv gvul almanah.”

When we actually see the Moshiach, we will recite

• "Baruch Attah Hashem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam She’chalak Mikevodo Li’rei’av."

Immediately after reciting this bracha, we will recite the bracha

• "Baruch Attah Hashem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam She’chalak Meichachmaso li’rei’av."

And the following Shehechiyanu and Go'el Yisrael: 

*For a deeper explanation of these Brachot, and about Mashiach, visit When Moshiach Comes at Yeshiva.org.il by Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff

https://habayitah.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-brachot-for-when-mashiach-is-here.html

AM YISRAEL THE PEOPLE OF THE MOON – Part I The Nation of the Moon

Commemorating Rosh Chodesh Nissan, the Month of Miracles, Yom HaMishi L'Parshas ViyikrA

As posted from Parashas Vayakhel-Pekudei by Rabbi Avigdor Miller ztz'l

Part I. The Nation of the Moon

Shabbos HaChodesh

On Shabbos HaChodesh we read maftir from Parshas Bo (12:1); the Bnei Yisroel are going to be leaving Mitzrayim very soon, and Hashem is speaking to Moshe and Aharon. He’s telling them the first dinim, the first Torah laws, that the people are going to be commanded to keep as a new nation; about Rosh Chodesh Nissan and the various dinim for preparing the korban Pesach.

Now, Rashi at the very beginning of the Chumash, in Bereishis, says the Torah could have begun right here: with these pessukim in Parshas Bo. After all, the nation was being born right now, and they were being commanded for the first time by their Creator. Rashi explains a certain reason why it’s not that way, but actually it’s right here in Parshas HaChodesh where the Torah begins.

A New Beginning

And so, it pays therefore to take especial note of what’s written here, what the Torah ‘starts’ with: הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם רֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים רִאשׁוֹן הוּא לָכֶם לְחָדְשֵׁי הַשָּׁנָה – Hakadosh Baruch Hu tells us that from now on the first month of our calendar, of counting months, will always be the month of Nissan.

From now on, all the years that we find in the Tanach are calculated according to the Exodus of Mitzrayim. When Hashem wants to tell us that Shavuos falls out on a certain date, He says “in the third month” — it means the third month from Nissan. When He wants tell us that Rosh Hashanah is the first day of a certain month, He says “on the first day of the seventh month” — the seventh month from Nissan. So you see that even Rosh Hashanah is not called the first month. The Torah doesn’t count from the creation of the world; all the calculations of the years are from the Yetzias Mitzrayim.

And why is that? What’s Nissan more than Tishrei when the world was created? Because this month, that’s the beginning of time. Bereishis, that’s when the history of the world began, but for the Am Yisroel, it was right now. “You’re becoming a nation now,” Hashem says. “You’re going to leave Egypt to serve Me and therefore, הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה – This month, when you went out to freedom, לָכֶם רֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים – that’s the beginning of your history (ibid.).” The creation of שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ, the entire universe, that’s important but it’s nothing compared to the creation of a people to serve Hashem.

The Mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh

But it wasn’t only the lesson of Chodesh Nissan that the Am Yisroel was being taught now. It’s much more than that because at this time הֶרְאָהוּ לְבָנָה בְּחִדּוּשָׁהּ – Hashem showed Moshe the moon in its renewal, וְאָמַר לוֹ כְּשֶׁהַיָּרֵחַ מִתְחַדֵּשׁ יִהְיֶה לְךָ רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ – and He told him, “When the moon renews itself like this, that will be the beginning of the month for the Am Yisroel” (ibid. Rashi).

It means that the entire principle of Rosh Chodesh, of the Am Yisroel counting according to the moon, was being taught to them now. Yes, the principle of Nissan being the first month, that’s true, but also Rosh Chodesh in general. A new idea, a new mitzvah, for the Am Yisroel: Your months are calculated according to the moon.

The nations of the world don’t make any fuss about the new moon because they follow the sun in their calculations. January, February, March, April, they’re all sun months. The truth is that even the gentile word ‘month’ from the word moon is just a borrowed term from us. The Gentiles don’t have a moon month; it’s a sun month.

The Jewish Calendar

Whereas for the Am Yisroel, our month is a lunar month. That’s why every year, our year, the moon year, falls eleven days behind the sun year. Every once in a while, by a certain arrangement, there’s a leap year, an extra month to make up for that. But our calendar is moon-based; the moon is our criterion of time.

That’s what we say in Barchi Nafshi, עָשָׂה יָרֵחַ לְמוֹעֲדִים – Hashem made the moon for the festivals (Tehillim 104:19). Moadim means אֵלֶּה מוֹעֲדֵי ה׳. A remarkable statement! עָשָׂה יָרֵחַ – Why did Hashem make a moon? לְמוֹעֲדִים – So that the Am Yisroel should utilize it to know when Rosh Chodesh is and calculate our yomim tovim according to that. And so the moon is like a Jewish calendar hanging in the sky.

The Jewish Moon

Imagine that you would see a great calendar suspended in space with pages of light — inscribed with stars instead of letters — and telling you when Pesach will fall out, when Shavuos and Sukkos will fall out. That’s the moon — it’s there for the Am Yisroel.

Now that may seem very chauvinistic or parochial, very narrow-minded. Here is a little nation down below, looking up at the moon. “It’s our moon,” they say. “It’s a Jewish moon.”

The whole world would laugh at such a thing. The New York Times will have a cartoon about that. It’ll show a Yid’l in the velt’l pointing to the moon, “It’s my moon.” They’ll put a yarmulkah on the moon and ridicule us. “Ha! A Jewish moon! The Jews want to own everything for themselves. Ha! Ha! Ha!” A big guffaw.

So they can laugh but that’s the plain truth; it’s our moon. I’ll tell you more, it’s our sun too. All the stars are ours. The universe is ours. Everything is for the Am Yisroel. But the moon is especially ours — it’s our calendar. There’s a luach hanging in the sky for us.

The Moon Nation

But we’re going to say something now, an additional point. Not only is the moon for the Am Yisroel but we are also compared to the moon. We find that reiterated in a number of ways in the seforim. That’s why when we go outside once a month to thank Hakadosh Baruch Hu for renewing the moon, so when we make the bracha we say as follows: וְלַלְּבָנָה אָמַר – Hashem spoke to the moon; it means He gave the command, שֶׁתִּתְחַדֵּשׁ – that the moon should go through phases. The sun doesn’t wax and wane; the sun is a sun all the time. But the moon becomes smaller and then it disappears. עֲטֶרֶת תִּפְאֶרֶת לַעֲמוּסֵי בָטֶן – And it does that as a crown of glory for those who are carried from the belly. ‘Those carried from the belly’ means the Am Yisroel, like the possuk says about us: הָעֲמוּסִים מִנִּי בֶטֶן – The ones carried by Hakadosh Baruch Hu from our inception; from the beginning of our history, the moon symbolizes us.

And so not only do we count according to the moon, but we are also symbolized by the moon. And we have to study that analogy and gain the information that it wishes to provide us; what it means that we are like the moon not like the sun.

Interpreting the Allegory

You know, the sun is most obvious in the world; the entire world is bathed in the light of the sun. Whereas the moon is many times overlooked, it gives off only a little light, and sometimes it disappears entirely. And so Rosh Chodesh signifies an important principle. It’s a symbol that the Am Yisroel was especially made to be a small people. We are a minority in the world. And we are going to remain a minority. The nations of the world, no matter how diverse they are, all together they comprise one vast majority in opposition to the Am Yisroel. It makes no difference whether they are Mohammedans, or Christians or Buddhists or evolutionists, all together the nations are standing in opposition to us.

Now, it doesn’t mean that we fight with them, no. And on certain issues we can even ally with the good gentiles; in fighting against immorality and wickedness. Certainly, we can. But fundamentally, we stand alone against all the nations of the world. We are a unique people because there’s nothing in the nations of the world that can equate what the Jewish people stand for. The Jewish people stand for Hashem Who gave us a Torah at Sinai. That’s a Jew summed up in one sentence. We are the nation that accepts the obligation of obeying the Word of Hashem that was delivered at Sinai.

United Nations

And this, no creed in the world follows. Some say there never was a Matan Torah at Har Sinai and the others say it was abrogated later. Others say there never was a Sinai. Some say there’s no God at all. Hatzad hashaveh she’bahen, the common denominator is that we are the only one that upholds the Toras Hashem from Sinai. You could be Chassidic or Misnagdic, it doesn’t make any difference. Sefardi, Ashkenazi, no difference. All together we were mekabel the Torah at Sinai and we are standing faithfully by that. That’s the Jewish nation.

And because of that we’re the one nation that doesn’t mix. The Jew doesn’t intermarry. The Jews have certain moral principles. And therefore, all the nations of the world feel estranged from the Jew. The fact is that even today, when there are so many Jews who have lost their identity, there are still a lot of traits in them that don’t permit them to mingle. They’re misfits in gentile society.

That’s why the world doesn’t like us. They can’t agree on anything but this one thing they know, that we’re dirty Jews. The Negro will call you “a dirty Jew”. The WASP will call you “a dirty Jew” and the Irishmen will also call you “a dirty Jew”. They all unite for that. You’re a dirty Jew to everybody, no matter where you go. In all languages you’re a dirty Jew, worse than a dirty Jew. Don’t expect anybody to side with you. You’re a minority. You’re a me’at. You’re the smallest of all the nations. That’s what it means to be like the moon.

Kiddush Levanah

So you’ll say if we’re so small, so disregarded, what’s going to happen to us? What’s going to be?

And that’s why every month when the moon renews itself after disappearing, we go outside on the street and we say, עֲטֶרֶת תִּפְאֶרֶת לַעֲמוּסֵי בָטֶן – It’s being renewed as a crown of glory to the Am Yisroel, שֶׁהֵן עֲתִידִין לְהִתְחַדֵּשׁ כְּמוֹתָהּ – to remind us that we too are going to be renewed. That’s what the moon is saying to the world.

Of course, the Gentiles will put up a protest about that: “What kind of business is this? You hear the arrogance of these people? Orthodox Jews standing outside in the street, they say, the reason the moon is now renewed, it’s a symbol that they too will reappear once again as a great nation! Ignoramuses! Living in darkness! Don’t they know the moon has phases? The moon orbits around the earth, and therefore its appearance changes according to the changing angles of sunlight. It’s a natural thing. So what’s this business about a symbol?”

Revealing the Secret

And so we say to the world, “Oh, you poor, ignorant fellows. You never learned Parshas HaChodesh. So we’ll tell you the secret. Everything has a natural purpose too, but we live on a higher plane than that, and we know that Hakadosh Baruch Hu says it’s for us: ‘There is a higher purpose. I made it this way to be a message from Me to you, to My nation that is symbolized by the moon, that You will someday reappear and become the greatest in the world.’”

Right now, we are like the moon. Until the end of days, we’re going to be a minority, like the moon is so small compared to the sun. Sometimes we don’t even see it at all because it’s so small. But the moon in its phases is a symbol of what’s going to happen eventually. Someday we will be renewed. Eventually the truth will be demonstrated to all mankind. Eventually, the nation of the moon will grow full again, and we’ll become the great nation recognized by everyone.

“Someday the world will discover the truth,” Hashem says, “and then you’re going to shine. וְהַמַּשְׂכִּלִים יַזְהִרוּ כְּזֹהַר הָרָקִיעַ – And those who had seichel, those who understood someday they’ll shine with the splendor of the firmament. You’re going to shine then with a light, with a splendor that’ll make the sun look inconspicuous. The sun will be lost in your brilliance someday.” But until then, until the end of history, we live with the knowledge that we learned when we came out of Mitzrayim: “My people,” Hashem says, “Rosh Chodesh means that you’re like the moon; you’ll walk through history as the small one, the ones who live in the shadows of the night.” 

Continued in Part III

https://torasavigdor.org/parshah-booklets/shabbos-hachodesh-5786-nissan-and-the-new-moon/

THE PEOPLE OF THE MOON – Part III The Ancient Holiday

Part III. Celebrating the New Moon

Rosh Chodesh: Recalibration Day

So we come back now to Parashas HaChodesh and we understand why Rosh Chodesh Nissan is so important, why it’s the first month of history. When the Bnei Yisroel went out of Egypt, they were beginning now a career of accomplishment; they were being born now for the all important function of being מְעַט מִכָּל הָעַמִּים.

Now, a nation that is going to have to undergo that test of being the מְעַט מִכָּל הָעַמִּים and pass that nisayon successfully, needs to be reminded from time to time about its function in this world. And that’s why, besides for Rosh Chodesh Nissan, they were taught the dinim of Rosh Chodesh in general. Because what better time to recalibrate, to take stock, than Rosh Chodesh, the symbol of our smallness and our greatness.

Don’t Squander the Chodesh

But there’s more. Rosh Chodesh is an important day for a nation being born now because of all the principles we discussed but also because it teaches us about time, about not squandering our one chance in this world to accomplish what we were born for. That’s one of the most important purposes of counting months – to remind us that time is passing.

A month is a big slice of life and when we count months we’re reminding ourselves that we have too important a function in this world to let time just go by. And so Rosh Chodesh means, “What have you done for Me lately? I gave you a function in this world,” Hakadosh Baruch Hu says, “and what did you accomplish with this past month, with this great gift of life that I gave you?”

The Watermelon of Life

Rosh Chodesh is like the woman who has a lot of children and the father brought home a watermelon. It was a big watermelon and she wanted the children to appreciate it. She knew that if she would just put the whole thing on the table it would be finished up and forgotten about so she cut it up into little slices and gave each one a little piece. “Tomorrow,” she said, “is another day and we’ll sit down and enjoy it all over again.” And so she intentionally handed out little pieces each day so they should appreciate it more.

Life is the biggest watermelon there is! There’s no bigger fun than being alive. Practice that tonight when you walk out; you’re walking down Ocean Parkway thinking how much fun it is to be alive. To walk, to breathe, to see! Ahh! But not only fun. It’s an opportunity! It’s an opportunity to make something from yourself. Achieving, that’s the best fun of this world!

A Slice of Life

But the trouble is if it’s dished out in in one long monotonous string, one big watermelon. Hakadosh Baruch Hu gives you seventy or eighty or ninety or a hundred years in one big chunk and you might feel it’s nothing. It’s easy to swallow up the whole thing without paying attention and before you know it it’s almost finished.

So what does He do? He dishes it out in portions. Life is chopped up in small portions, so that we should make the best use of it. He cuts it up first of all in years. Every year you feel, “Oh, it’s another year I’m getting. Baruch Hashem, an additional year.” And you take stock.

But even that is too much. It’s too big a portion. So He chops it up in months. A month! Thirty days! That’s a nice slice of life! And it’s renewed constantly so it should be an opportunity for us to appreciate it. That’s why He made a moon — the new moon says, “Wake up sleepyhead! Another month just passed you by and another one is heading your way.”

The Gift of Rosh Chodesh

That’s why we say in Mussaf Rosh Chodesh, רָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים לְעַמְּךָ נָתַתָּ – You, Hashem, gave to Your people Roshei Chadoshim. Nasata means that You gave it to us as a gift. And what is the gift of Rosh Chodesh? There are many reasons why it’s called a gift but the first thing is what it says in the siddur: “You gave it to us as a זמן כפרה לכל תולדותם – a time when they make atonement for all that happened to them.”

On Rosh Chodesh you bring korbanos, offerings, that atone for everything that happened in the past month and therefore when Rosh Chodesh comes, it’s intended as an opportunity to stop and think, to take stock of your life. It’s not done but it should be done. Stop and think, “What did I do in the past month? How much did I accomplish in the past month?”

That’s why erev Rosh Chodesh some people use it as a yom kippur katan. In many places they used to fast the day before Rosh Chodesh and say special tefillos. Now, I’m not saying everyone must do that but there’s no question that everyone should utilize Rosh Chodesh itself as an opportunity to make a little pause and think about the past month.

A Day of Atonement

Zman kapparah means that the Jew who lives with an awareness of his function in the world thinks back over the past month and he considers whether he committed any errors, whether he forgot about Hakadosh Baruch Hu, whether he was in any detail disloyal to the Torah, he wronged his fellow man. It’s not for the entire year — that’s Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur — but at least in the month that has ensued, we review it, we look back.

And if you look you’ll discover. If you don’t look, you never have any errors. People can live with a clear conscience all their lives although they committed sometimes serious things. But if you look back, and you spend more time on it, you’ll be surprised how much you’ll discover that needs to be rectified: mistakes made between yourself and your neighbors, members of your family, the wrong things you said, the way you reacted. And also to people on the street, how did you behave. How did you behave when it came to your obligations in giving tzedakah, or dealing with Hakadosh Baruch Hu, did you think about Him enough.

There’s a great deal of work on Rosh Chodesh, to look back since the last Rosh Chodesh. What happened; what happened in our tefillah. What happened in our bein adam laMokom, bein adam lachaveiro, what happened in the families. It’s a very good idea to give an accounting to yourself of what happened in the past month. In general, a Jew lives with cheshbon. “בֹּאוּ חֶשְׁבּוֹן” a Jew is told. “Come and make calculations.” A bookkeeping of life is just as important — much more important — than the bookkeeping of business, and Rosh Chodesh was created for that.

Plan Ahead

And cheshbon includes the future too. So on Rosh Chodesh he sits down by himself for a few minutes and he thinks, “What am I going to do with my coming month?” Because Rosh Chodesh is a new beginning, a fresh start, and a nation that lives for a purpose — not for pastimes, not for entertainment and restaurants and baseball — makes sure to utilize that day as a preparation for a new beginning; it’s a chance for a new start.

So let’s say you were discouraged last month and you didn’t accomplish much. So now you look back and you say, “I was a flop, a failure, but no matter! I’ll start all over again.” And Hakadosh Baruch Hu is going to aid you. He’ll help you make that new beginning because that’s His system with those who try to make a beginning; He’s going to help them.

Pray Ahead

Now, when you take stock of the past and plan for the future, included in that is to ask for the future. Because now you appreciate what a month means and you want the upcoming thirty days to be successful. That’s why when the Rosh Chodesh bentchen used to take place, Jews used to weep. Yehi Ratzon is a serious time in the synagogue, on Shabbos Mevorchim.

And so Rosh Chodesh is a day when we ask Hakadosh Baruch Hu to prosper us for the month to come; that we know from Yaaleh V’yavo. Today everybody is confident and they just rattle it off but you’re missing out because it’s important to prepare for the month ahead with tefillah. We want to be remembered for tovah and bracha and chayim tovim and yeshua v’rachamim. We’re asking for a lot! And so when you say Yaaleh V’yavo next time, remember that the month depends to a big extent on how you asked for it.

Not only in Yaaleh V’yavo. Yaaleh V’yavo symbolizes all of our tefillos for the coming month. All day long you should be busy speaking to Hashem asking Him that the month that’s coming should be a successful month, that the next month should be a month of good health, a month of success in parnassa, a month of aliyah; we should make progress in serving Him and in knowing Torah more.

There’s a lot of things to ask for! And we shouldn’t generalize! Ask Hakadosh Baruch Hu that the month that’s coming should be a month free of automobile accidents, free of illnesses – a million things could happen chas v’shalom, and we don’t want any one of them to happen. And therefore it’s so important for a person to pray ahead of time. If you usher in a new month with the proper prayers, Hakadosh Baruch Hu listens to your requests, you have much more opportunity of being successful.

Don’t Forget to Say Thank You

And of course we can’t just merely beg always and say give me. You have to say thank You too. And so a big part of Rosh Chodesh is thanking Hakadosh Baruch Hu for the past month. And that’s what Hallel says; Hallel is to thank Hashem that you lived to this Rosh Chodesh. “Another month I lived! Oh Hashem, I thank You so much!”

You know when you’re being served something that’s delicious so you don’t say, “I’ll wait till the end of the meal and then I’ll say thank you to the host.” Every dish that he hands you say “thank you.” Every separate course you say “thank you.” And so we don’t wait only till the end of the year. Every Rosh Chodesh we say Hallel because we’re thanking for the past month.

We should put work into that, effort into thanking, and the Hallel should be with great gratitude. Thirty days of happiness, thirty days of life. Thirty days that you ate meals almost every day. Maybe every day. And so there’s a lot to be grateful for. Thirty days that you wore clothing. Thirty days that you were able to sleep. Thirty days that you breathed. Breathing thirty days! There’s a lot to be grateful for.

Hallel means to thank Hashem that you lived to see another Rosh Chodesh. Suppose a man was sentenced to be put to death and he received a reprieve for one month, a month is a gift. Many people pay big money in order to live another month. And Hakadosh Baruch Hu certainly deserves a great Hallel for a gift not of a minute. A minute? יש קונה עולמו בשעה אחת – In one minute, a person can do teshuva. And the next minute if you’ll get busy, you could become a ben Olam Haba.

And therefore we sum up now; besides for all the secrets, the allegories and lessons of Rosh Chodesh, there are also three elements to the day. Number one is the element of zman kaparah, to atone for the past month which means retrospect, to go back and consider what happened, mistakes we made or the progress we made in order to hold onto it. If you started good things, you have to consider what good things you began in order to hold onto it. Second, to beg and ask that the month should be a month of happiness and success. And number three, to thank Hashem for the past month; to express our gratitude that we lived to see another Rosh Chodesh.

The Ancient Holiday

And so you understand now why Rosh Chodesh was so important in the ancient times. Although the Torah did not forbid any work on Rosh Chodesh, it’s remarkable that our forefathers voluntarily refrained from work on Rosh Chodesh. During the entire time of the first Beis Hamikdash, our forefathers refused to work on Rosh Chodesh. You see that everywhere in Tanach. It was to them like a regular festival, a holiday, a yom tov. 

And it’s easy to understand why. Parshas HaChodesh is the beginning of the Torah! That’s when we became a nation! Rosh Chodesh Nissan is the beginning of our history! And how did we survive history? How is it that we’ll remain standing until the end of time? Because we’re a nation that lives with all the lessons of Rosh Chodesh, all the attitudes and principles that can be gained by living according to the lessons of the new moon.

And that’s the best way to go into Nissan, the month of Pesach, the month when we were born — by recommitting ourselves to live by the lessons that Moshe Rabbeinu taught the nation on that first Rosh Chodesh of our history.

Have a Wonderful Shabbos

This week’s booklet is based on tapes: 134 – Jacob the Little | 149 – He Made Darkness | 421 – Rosh Chodesh and the Moon | 491 – I Created All Of Them For You | E-71 – Hallel 

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THE SHIPS OF KITTIM, PART 2

“[Bilaam] declaimed his parable and said, ‘Oh! Who will survive when he imposes these! There will be big ships from the place of Kittim, and they will afflict Assyria … but it, too, will be forever destroyed.’” (Bamidbar 24:23-24) 

The possuk, “Oh! Who will survive when he imposes these” is widely understood to refer to the travails of the Messianic Period. The Sforno, for example, says this possuk is similar to the Gemara (Sanhedrin 98b) which says, “Let [Moshiach] come, but let me not be there when he comes (because of the suffering at that time.)”

In the aftermath of October 7, 2023, a fleet of American warships was dispatched by American President Joe Biden to the Eastern Mediterranean, ostensibly to protect Israel and prevent the Gaza conflict from widening. At that time, I wrote an article entitled, “The Ships of Kittim,” identifying this incident with the prophesy of Bilaam. Just last week, one of our readers recalled that article, with the comment that “it is even more relevant now!” 

I am very grateful to this reader. In fact, the fleet now surrounding “Assyria” (which is modern Iran) is many times larger than the fleet sent by President Biden in 2023, and contemporary events seem to be in amazing conformity with the prophesy of Bilaam. 

What, in fact, are these “big ships from Kittim?”

Onkelos (himself a Roman convert) identifies “Kittim” with Rome. Rashi says, “Kittites … are Romans.” Ramban says, “big ships will come from the place of the Kittim, those being the Romans.” Rome stands for the entire Western Culture, who are the descendants of Esav, our primordial enemy who destroyed Bayis Shaini and sent us into our present Golus. 

Ramban continues: “Now, [Bilaam] concludes his words with the destruction of the Kittim (Romans) because they are [the nation represented by] the fourth [and final] beast [of Daniel’s dream], which is to be destroyed by the hand of the Moshiach, as [Scripture] states…. And this matter is known from the words of our Sages, that the fourth beast that Daniel saw is Rome, which exiled us, and that is [the kingdom] that will be destroyed by the hand of Moshiach [in the End of Days].” (Artscroll Ramban on Bamidbar 24:24)

My friends, please pay close attention: “Targum Yonason explains that, in the End of Days, a huge fleet of ships will depart from ‘Italy’ (referring to Edom, the Western World) and they will fight against the legions of Yishmoel (the Arab nations). In the end, both of them – Edom and Yishmoel – will fall into the hands of Moshiach and be obliterated … and Yishmoel will be destroyed.” (Translation from Redemption Unfolding)

A huge fleet is now surrounding and attacking Iran/Persia. This seems to be in accordance with the prophesy of Bilaam, but there is a question, because, at least for the moment, the fleet is on our side. If this fleet represents Edom attacking Assyria/Yishmoel, then how do we understand that it is apparently friendly toward us?

Here is a possible solution. 

First, we are – as a result of two thousand years of Golus Edom – very much absorbed into the Kingdom of Edom. We will be extricated only at the Geulah Shelemah. Secondly, we do not know where the current war is going. President Trump – the friend of Israel – will not be President forever. 

Today, the inheritance of Edom/Rome has passed to the United States, as the leader of the Western World. We have to remember that “Rome” is the “fourth beast,” the hated power which destroyed Bayis Shaini. They are the ones who sent us into Golus, and they are the ones who have tortured us during this entire Golus. During some periods, we have experienced the sword of Esav and during some periods the “kiss of Esav.” Esav is always dangerous, but the “kiss” may be even more dangerous than the sword!

As this mighty fleet battles the “legions of Yishmoel” before our very eyes, can we doubt that we are seeing prophesy unfold? With gratitude to President Trump, we must not lose sight of the fact that our victory will come solely through the hand of Moshiach ben Dovid. 

Please remember Mitzraim. When we left Mitzraim, we had thought we were free forever, but, at the Yam Suf, we were suddenly surrounded by the vicious enemies we had thought we had left behind! Victory seemed to turn to catastrophe until Moshe told us, “Do not fear! Stand fast and see the salvation of Hashem that He will perform for you today.” (Shemos 14:13) Then, Nachshon ben Aminadav walked into the sea and it split for us!

We cannot allow ourselves to believe that the Ships of Kittim will save us. Know that our salvation comes from Above. “On high, may merit be pleaded upon … us for a safeguard of peace. May we receive a bracha from Hashem and kindness from the G-d of our salvation and find favor and good understanding in the eyes of G-d and man.” (Mishlei 3:4) 

We are now surrounded by mighty events, which may be the prelude to a world of truth and salvation. May we be worthy of seeing the Ultimate Consolation with the coming of Moshiach ben Dovid, the final destruction of all our enemies and the revelation of the Bais Hamikdosh, soon in our days!

Are these the ships of Kittim? 

GLOSSARY

Bais Hamikdosh: the Holy Temple

Bayis Shaini: the Second Temple

Esav: the twin brother of Jacob, our primordial enemy

Geula Shelema: Final Redemption

Golus: Exile

Golus Edom: the Exile of Rome, the present exile of the Children of Israel 

Mitzraim: Ancient Egypt

Possuk: sentence in the Torah

Yam Suf: the Sea of Reeds, where the Egyptians surrounded our ancestors

📖 רק כך נציל את עם ישראל: בשיא המלחמה - המנהיג הרב לנדו בשיעור ושיחה במרחב מוגן של ישיבת נר זרח עוצם

 

מנהיג הדור רבינו מרן ראש הישיבה הגר"ד לנדו שליט"א במשא מיוחד בעניני התקופה לאחר שיעור כללי בהיכלה הזמני של ישיבת נר זרח - עוצם בבני ברק בראשות הגאון רבי יצחק זאב פיינשטיין שליט"א. שע"י רשת הישיבות ארחות תורה. הישיבה פונתה ע"י הרשויות עם תחילת המלחמה וכעת שוהה בבני ברק. לאחר השיעור רבינו נשא דברי הדרכה בחובת התקופה, מול הסכנות מבית ומחוץ, ולקראת ימי בין הזמנים להלן הדברים המלאים: ברשות ראש הישיבה והרבנים שליט"א. במדרש שיר השירים רבה על הפסוק 'האלף לך שלמה מאתים לנוטרים את פריו', ר' חייא בריה דרבי אבא אמר, הלומד תורה בצער נוטל אלף, שלא בצער מאתים נוטל בשכרו. ר' יודן בשם ר' בון אמר, הלומד תורה שלא במקומו נוטל שכר אלף, ובמקומו נוטל שכר מאתים. פלאי פלאים, לא במקומו אלף, במקומו מאתיים. זה כבר יותר משנתיים, שבני הישיבות לומדים תורה מתוך צער, כאשר הרשויות מצרים את צעדיהם, וכך התווסף עוד צער לבני ישיבות רבים שנאלצים ללמוד תורה שלא במקומם, זה צער גדול. מאידך, כבר יותר משנתיים, שהעם היושב בציון שרוי במצב מלחמה, הסכנות עצומות, והחששות כבדים, אבל שומר ישראל שומר שארית ישראל, וכל הצלת עם השם היא בדרך ניסית, לא בדרך טבעית כלל, ואנו מאמינים ובטוחים שתורה היא זו שמגנא ומצלא. אין לנו נביא, ואיננו מבינים את הנהגת הבורא, אבל צריך לדעת שהסכנות גדולות מאד וצריך זכויות גדולות של לימוד התורה הרבה יותר מאשר בימים כתיקונם, והלומד תורה בצער נוטל אלף, חמש ידות על פני לימוד תורה שלא בצער. והלומד שלא במקומו נוטל אלף, חמש ידות על פני לימוד במקומו. כולנו בני הישיבות כל לומדי התורה נזר הבריאה, אנחנו מקיימי העולם, לימוד התורה שלנו מגן על עם ישראל, מגן ומציל במשמעות הכי פשוטה, ולכן עלינו לקיים את תפקידנו ביתר שאת, ללמוד וללמוד ושוב ללמוד, להיות שקועים בתורה, ללמוד שעות רצופות, ולחיות את התורה, להתלהב מקושיה, ולהתענג על דברי תורה. זה תפקידנו, זו חובתנו, זה זכותנו, ורק כך נציל את עם ישראל ונגן עליו מכל האויבים הרבים האומרים לכו ונכחידם מגוי. יחד עם זה עלינו להרבות תפילות בכוונה, להקפיד יותר על הלכות תפילה, ואומרים בשם החזון איש זצ"ל שבזמן פורענות להגיד מזמור 'יושב בסתר' מסוגל מאד. כמובן שצריך להתחזק באמונה ובבטחון שכל מה שקורה הוא מאת השם יתברך, ומי שחי בידיעה הזאת הוא רגוע ומאושר וכל תקוותו בהשם יתברך שהוא הטוב והמיטיב, וכל מאי דעביד רחמנא לטב עביד, וכשמתחזקים באמונה ובבטחון, השם יתברך משפיע טובה על אוהביו, וקרוב השם לכל קוראיו. יחד עם זה יש חובת השתדלות, ויש דיני פיקוח נפש, וצריכים להקפיד מאד מאד על ההנחיות, לא להקל בזה, זה החיוב דאורייתא של ונשמרתם מאד לנפשותיכם, ואומרים בשם מרן הרב מבריסק זצ"ל שעל ידי קיום חיוב 'ונשמרתם' הקדוש ברוך מביא את ההצלה. ועוד דבר חשוב: לשמור על רוגע ושלוה ואוירה טובה, והעצה לזה, להתעניין מה שפחות במה שקורה, מספיק מה שיודעים ממילא, לא צריך לחפש עוד מידע ועוד מידע, זה מיותר, וזה גם גורם לגרום לפחד ולחרדה מיותרים. בשבוע הבא מתחיל בין הזמנים, בבין הזמנים אין שום פטור מלימוד תורה, ובפרט במצב כעת שעם ישראל זקוק להגנה של התורה, חס ושלום שבני הישיבות והכוללים לא יתרפו מעסק התורה בבין הזמנים, ואדרבה בבין הזמנים אפשר ללמוד מסכתות או נושאים אחרים שבמהלך הזמן פחות עוסקים בהם. צריך בבין הזמנים גם לנצל את ההזדמנות לקיים כיבוד אב ואם, ולעזור בבית כשצריך את העזרה, כבד את אביך ואת אמך למען יאריכון ימיך. יהי רצון שיערה השם רחמים על עמו ישראל, ויצילנו מכל פורעניות וגזרות רעות, ונשב באהלה של תורה כל הימים ללא שום הפרעות, ויגאלנו גאולת עולמים במהרה בימינו אמן. קרדיט תיעוד: מנחת דבר

Google translate:

The leader of the generation, Rabbi Maran Rosh Ha-Yeshiva, the Graad Lando Shlita, on special duty regarding the affairs of the period, after a general lesson on the temporary closure of Yeshiva Ner Zerach - Otzem in Bnei Brak, led by the Gaon Rabbi Yitzhak Zeev Feinstein Shlita. By the Yeshiva Archot Torah Network.

The yeshiva was evacuated by the authorities at the beginning of the war and is now residing in Bnei Brak. After the lesson, Rabbi delivered a speech of guidance on the duty of the period, in the face of dangers from home and abroad, and towards the days between times. The full words are as follows: With the permission of the Rosh Ha-Yeshiva and the Rabbis Shlita.

In the Midrash Shir Hashirim Rabba, on the verse 'Solomon gave you a thousand to keep the fruits of his harvest', Rabbi Chiya Bariya Darbi Abba said, He who learns Torah with sorrow takes a thousand, but not with sorrow takes two hundred in his wages. Rabbi Yodan, in the name of Rabbi Bon, said, "He who studies Torah in an inappropriate place receives a thousand wages, and in its place receives a two hundred wages. Wonders of wonders, not in its place a thousand, in its place two hundred.

It has been more than two years that yeshiva students have been studying Torah out of sorrow, while the authorities are restricting their steps, and thus more sorrow has been added to many yeshiva students who are forced to study Torah in an inappropriate place, which is a great sorrow. On the other hand, it has been more than two years that the people who live in Zion have been in a state of war, the dangers are immense, and the concerns are heavy, but the Keeper of Israel keeps the remnant of Israel, and all salvation of the people of God is in a miraculous way, not in a natural way at all, and we believe and are certain that the Torah is the one that protects and heals.

We do not have a prophet, and we do not understand the Creator's guidance, but we must know that the dangers are very great and we need great privileges of studying Torah much more than in normal times, and studying Torah in sorrow receives a thousand, five hundred wages over studying Torah without sorrow. And the one who studies out of place takes a thousand, five hands over studying in his place.

We are all yeshiva students, all Torah students, the crown of creation, we are the sustainers of the world, our Torah study protects the people of Israel, protects and saves in the simplest sense, and therefore we must fulfill our role even more intensely, study and study and study again, be immersed in the Torah, study for hours on end, and live the Torah, be enthusiastic about its difficulties, and delight in the words of the Torah. This is our role, this is our duty, this is our right, and only in this way will we save the people of Israel and protect them from all the many enemies who say, "Go and exterminate them from the Gentiles."

At the same time, we must increase our prayers with intention, be more careful about the laws of prayer, and we say in the name of the Chazon Ish zt"l that in times of calamity, reciting the psalm "Yoshav Besit Ter" is very effective.

Of course, we need to strengthen our faith and confidence that everything that happens is from God, the Blessed One, and those who live in this knowledge are calm and happy, and all their hope is in God, the Blessed One, who is the good and the beneficent, and all that is from David, the Merciful, is for the good of the servant, and when we strengthen our faith and confidence, God, the Blessed One, influences good on His lovers, and God is close to all who call upon Him.

At the same time, there is a duty of effort, and there are laws of pikuach nefesh, and we need to be very, very careful about the instructions, not to be lenient with this. This is the obligation from the Torah of "And you shall guard yourselves very carefully for your souls," and we say in the name of the Maran Rabbi of Brisk zt"l that by fulfilling the obligation "And you shall guard yourselves," the Holy One, blessed be He, brings salvation.

And another important thing: maintain calm and peace and a good atmosphere, and the advice for this, to be interested in what is happening, what you already know is enough, there is no need to look for more information and more information, it is unnecessary, and it also causes unnecessary fear and anxiety.

Next week begins the interregnum, during the interregnum there is no exemption from studying Torah, and especially in the current situation when the people of Israel need the protection of the Torah, God forbid that the yeshiva students and kollelim do not let go of the Torah business during the interregnum, and on the contrary, during the interregnum one can study tractates or other subjects that are less often dealt with.

During the interregnum, one should also take advantage of the opportunity to honor one's father and mother, and help at home when help is needed, honor your father and mother so that your days may be prolonged. May God have mercy on His people Israel, and save us from all calamities and evil decrees, and that we may dwell in the tabernacle of the Torah all the days without any disturbances, and may He redeem us with eternal redemption quickly in our days, Amen.

Documentary credit: Minchat Davar

Eliezer Meir Saidel: We are living in GREAT times!

 

[any questions, contact above]

We are living in GREAT times!

For those with their finger on the pulse, it is impossible to miss the enormous הִתְעוֹרְרוּת amongst Gedolei Yisrael in the last month regarding the correlation between current events and the impending Geulah. We are only now beginning to hear amazing sources, previously concealed from public knowledge, that have been lying dormant, waiting to be revealed when time is right.

I would like to share with you one of these sources, that I heard today from מוֹרִי וְרַבִּי HaRav Baruch Rosenblum שליט"א.

Chapter 34 in Sefer Yeshayahu discusses HKB"H's retribution on the goyim when the Geulah arrives. Here is one of these psukkim –

חֶרֶב לַה' מָלְאָה דָם הֻדַּשְׁנָה מֵחֵלֶב מִדַּם כָּרִים וְעַתּוּדִים מֵחֵלֶב כִּלְיוֹת אֵילִים כִּי זֶבַח לַה' בְּבׇצְרָה וְטֶבַח גָּדוֹל בְּאֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם. (ישעיהו לד, ו)

One of the well-known Acharonim who wrote a perush on sefer Yishayahu is R' Shmuel Laniado zt"l (born 1530), a great Mekubal who lived part of his life in Haleb, Syria and part of his life in Tzfat, where he learned directly with the great Mekubalim of his time, the Ari, the Ramak, R' Shlomo Alkabetz, etc. (Aside: The Laniado Hospital in Netanya is named after two Syrian financiers and benefactors from Haleb - Alfons and Yaakov Laniado, who are his great, great … great descendants). 

R' Shmuel Laniado's perush on sefer Yeshayahu was published after his death in a sefer called "Kli Paz". This is his perush on the above passuk -

"There is a country far from Bavel named Batzra, and it is between the border of Ashur (today – Eastern Iraq) and Persia (today - Iran) and between the border of the land of "Edom" (today - where all the USA/Edom military forces are amassed - in the gulf states, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia) – (an island called) Hormuz. And today it is under the rule of the Yishmaelim. And blessed is the one who knows the truth of things. Perhaps through there will be the war in Acharit HaYamim".

This was written almost 500 years ago!

I would also like to share with you a gematria that be'Siyata di'Shmaya I discovered this morning.

The gematria of "א' ניסן תשפ"ו" is - "המלחמה הגדולה ביאת המשיח"

Gedolei Yisrael are like "seismologists", they can detect "tremors" that others cannot feel. They are more highly attuned to what is going on behind the scenes and their excitement over recent events is inescapable.

We need to ready ourselves for the contingency that Mashiach is going to be revealed this week. There are certain halachot that relate to how we greet the Mashiach and we would be well advised to revise them, in preparation.

1.    Even before we see the Mashiach, when we first hear that Mashiach has been revealed (שער העין, עמ' ש"צ), we need to say the bracha –  בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱ-לֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב.

2.    When we see Mashiach, we have to say a series of Brachot (Source: R' Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, שו"ת מנחת שלמה, סוף ח"א, quoting R' Shmuel Hominer  

 

3.    Although this is not a halacha, many Tzaddikim kept a set of their best clothes ready, so that if Mashiach arrives, they will greet him in these clothes. Today, I suppose this means the kind of clothes we would wear to a wedding, or those we wear on Shabbat. Best to dust them off and get them ready.

 

How should we conduct ourselves in this very special week?

 

1.    In the days leading up to Rosh Chodesh Nisan, we all need to make a concerted effort to grab as many mitzvot as we possibly can. We all need to make a concerted effort to treat our fellow Jews with respect and love and be extra makpid לְהַעֲבִיר עַל הַמִּדּוֹת, to be מְוַתֵּר, to not get angry, short tempered with anyone in Am Yisrael, לָדוּן לְכַף זְכוּת, especially our family members and neighbors.

 

2.    When we daven שְׁמוֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה we need to have extra kavannah when we say וּמֵבִיא גוֹאֵל לִבְנֵי בְנֵיהֶם לְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה and Birkat ha'Geulah - רְאֵה נָא בְעָנְיֵֽנוּ וְרִיבָה רִיבֵנוּ ... בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' גּוֹאֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל

 

3.    After finishing tefilat Shacharit, we all need to say with extra kavannah – אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה בְּבִיאַת הַמָּשִׁיחַ וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיִּתְמַהְמֵהַּ עִם כָּל זֶה אֲחַכֶּה לּוֹ בְּכָל יוֹם שֶׁיָּבוֹא

 

While we (in Eretz Yisrael) are in the mamad (bomb shelter), instead of only focusing on our phones/whatsapp, we should be reciting (at least) these two pirkei Tehillim aloud – 

Eliezer Meir Saidel

Machon Lechem Hapanim

www.machonlechemhapanim.org