Side by Side — Antisemitism and Miracles

Jews Have Become the Targets Of Attacks Wherever They Live: Boro Park, Flatbush, Williamsburg, New Jersey, California, Europe, and Eretz Yisrael

THE ATTACKS JUST WONT STOP: Boro Park, Williamsburg, Flatbush, Crown Heights! [VIDEOS OF ATTACKS at link below]

The anti-Semitic attacks in New York City just won’t stop. Since Chanukah began, YWN has reported three disturbing incidents, and now we have a fourth and fifth!

Boro Park Shomrim tell YWN that a Jewish man was attacked at around 1:00AM, Wednesday morning, on 13th Ave near 48th Street.

The victim stated he was walking down the street, when suddenly, he was approached by a man who punched him. It was a totally unprovoked attack, and no words were exchanged prior to the attack. The suspect then walked a few feet away to where his two friends were waiting and who were watching the attack. All three men then fled on foot.

The NYPD and Shomrim canvassed the area, but the suspects managed to get away,

In yet a FIFTH Chanukah attack, two children were attacked in Williamsburg in front of 99 Wilson Street on Monday. Williamsbuerg Shomrim and the NYPD were on that scene. Thankfully, the two children were not seriously injured and did not require hospitalization.

On Monday a Jewish man was punched in the face in Manhattan, and on Tuesday there were two additional incidents where Jewish men were attacked in Crown Heights – in what appears to have been two separate hate crimes.

Meanwhile, NYC Councilman Chaim Deutsch tells YWN that a video has just surfaced of an incident that was reported several weeks ago.

In the video below, watch how several Jewish children were chased through the streets of Flatbush, in the vicinity of Avenue N & East 5th Street.

Deutsch tells YWN that NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force has been notified & they are investigating.

Councilman Deutsch: “As the world celebrates the holiday season, NYC Jews are beaten on the streets. In the last few days, there have been four anti-Semitic incidents, including three violent assaults. One occurred in broad daylight. Safety is our right, not a privilege.“

All from YWN

Chanukah Miracle in Eretz Yisrael

Ramat Elchanan Resident Experienced ‘Clinical Death’ and Returned to His Body

A resident of the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood of Bnei Brak experienced ‘clinical death’ and saw angels judging him and deciding to return him to life. HaGaon Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein ruled his words are “אמת ויציב” but instructed him not to publicize the events.

Many Jews who experienced clinical death have provided testimony about leaving their body and seeing a white light, and angels heading to a tunnel and meeting with persons related who were niftar, so one may ask if this is true.

The Ramat Elchanan resident was almost ‘a vegetable’ but awakened. When Rav Zilberstein heard the details of the event, he stated without hesitation that this is what occurred.

In the neighborhood Kol Berama bulletin, the story was quoted by Rabbi Baruch Zolberg, who testified that it was “a respectable and serious man who has for many years served in an important and responsible position and one can count on every word he utters and his imagination is very far from who he is, meaning that his words are to viewed as reliable.

The man in question suffered a stroke two years ago which made him totally paralyzed and unresponsive for a number of days, and when the diagnostic tests were completed, it was determined that he sustained serious brain damage from the stroke. Doctors decided that based on his condition and diagnostic testing, there is no chance of the man returning to a normal life and told persons close to him that he would remain “a vegetable” for the remainder of his life.

The man described to the rav that heard everything the doctors were saying as he described leaving his body. At a certain point he saw persons dressed in white without seeing faces. They were judging his actions and suddenly, he heard shouting that he has many merits, and he must be returned to life, to the “same life” and after some time, his body began warning until he awakened.

When Rav Zilberstein was asked if this sounds like something that really occurred, he stated ” ודאי שייך ואמת ויציב”.

The rav instructed him to make a Seudas Hodaya for members of his kollel and only to tell them and not the newspapers.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
YWN

DM Bennett Takes Further Steps in War Against Terrorists

A First:
Defense Minister okays seizure of terrorists' salaries
Israel to seize 'pay to slay' funds given to terrorists and their families.

"We will make sure it doesn't pay to murder Jews,” 

says Bennett.

Defense Minister Naftali Bennett on Wednesday authorized the seizure of hundreds of thousands of shekels’ worth of funds paid to jailed terrorists and their families, in a precedent-setting administrative order.

Bennett, who earlier this month declared he would tighten the use of economic sanctions against terrorists, ordered that salaries paid by the Palestinian Authority to eight terrorists responsible for attacks on Israel, as well as to their families, would be confiscated.

[…] All eight of the terrorists cited in the order are Israeli-Arabs. For years, the Palestinian Authority has paid out salaries to terrorists jailed in Israel, as well as to the families of jailed terrorists, and to the families of terrorists killed during attacks on Israelis.

[…] According to the Defense Ministry, additional orders targeting terrorist salaries will be signed.

“We’ve started taking action,” said Bennett. “This is another step in the war against terrorists; we are working to make sure that it doesn’t pay [to spill] Jewish blood.”

Wednesday’s order is the second time Bennett has introduced new anti-terror economic sanctions this month, following an order targeting the assets of 47-year-old Hamas terrorist Mohammed Jamil Mahmoud Hersh, who has worked as a Hamas operative in London.

Full article at arutzsheva


NAFTALI BENNETT: THE HAGUE'S ICC IS HOME OF MODERN ANTISEMITISM

Australia comes out against ICC investigation of Israel

At the graduation ceremony for the IAF pilots’ course, Bennett said, “The State of Israel will provide a legal Iron Dome for its soldiers and officers... You defend us; we’ll defend you. No soldier and no commander will be deterred from defending the lives of his nation and family because of the hypocritical court in The Hague.”

Bennett said that he is aware of the great stresses pilots face on missions, where they serve as Israel’s “long arm that accurately strikes those who seek to harm us... An additional component has been added to this stress in recent days: The International Court in The Hague. We cannot allow this to weaken you,” he stated. “We won’t let this antisemitism enter the cockpit.”

Bennett said the ICC comes from an antisemitic starting point, such that Israel will always lose because it is the Jewish State and Israel should not try to ingratiate itself to the court. “Every time the hypocritical world scolds us and we accept it, they want more. The Hague is the workshop of modern antisemitism. And now, when the picture is clear, we must treat them as such… The court in The Hague does not do justice, it does politics, it does modern antisemitism. It encourages terror,” he stated.

Overnight Tuesday, Australia said it opposes the International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s decision to investigate alleged war crimes by Israel and the Palestinians, joining the US in speaking out against the probe. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said, “Australia is concerned by the ICC Prosecutor’s proposal to consider the situation in the Palestinian territories, subject to a ruling by the Court’s Pre-Trial Chamber on the scope of the Court’s territorial jurisdiction in the matter.” JPost

CHANUKAH and George Washington

Chanukah (1775) 5537 (repost)

A difficult winter. Terrible cold. We are sitting in Valley Forge and waiting. Why? I don’t know. Perhaps for better days than these. I am the only Jew here. Perhaps there are other Jews among us, but I havenít seen any. We hunger for bread. We have no warm clothing or shoes to protect our feet. Most of the soldiers curse George Washington for going to war against Britain.

There are those who hope for his downfall, but I believe that his cause is just. We must expel Britain from America. She wants to put her hands in everything her eyes see. Although we are suffering here terribly, I am loyal with all my heart to George Washington. More than once I see him at night, passing through the camp, between the rows of sleeping soldiers. He gazes with compassion upon the soldiers who are suffering from the cold. And sometimes he approaches one of the sleeping soldiers and covers him, as a father would cover his son.

There are times when the hunger and the freezing cold torture me to death. But I donít curse General Washington who is fighting for the freedom of America. At moments like this I think of my father in Poland. I think about all that he suffers at the hand of the cruel "Poritz". I remember: I was a child then and I saw my father dancing before the Poritz. What an awful thing to see! My father was wearing the skin of a Polar bear - and danced like a bear before the Poritz and his guests.

What terrible pain! What great shame! My father dancing like a bear - and the "Poritzim" laughing and rejoicing at the sight. I decided then and there that I will never dance like my father before the Poritz. Afterwards, I escaped to America.

And now I am lying in Valley Forge and shivering from cold. They say that Washington is losing and that he can’t win this war. But I don’t believe all that. I lie at night and pray for him.

The first night of Chanukah arrives. On this night, years ago, I left my father ís house. My father gave us this Chanukah menorah and said to me, "My son, when you light the Chanukah candles, they will illuminate the way for you”.

Since then, the Menorah has been like a charm for me. Wherever I go, I take it with me. I didnít know what to do - to light the Chanukah candles here, among the goyim, or not. I decided to wait until they were all asleep, and then I took out my father ís Menorah. I made the Brocha and lit the first candle. I gazed at the light and remembered my parents home. I saw my father dancing like a bear before the Poritz and I saw my mother ís eyes filled with tears. My heart was filled with pain and I burst out crying like a small child. And I decided then in my heart, that for the sake of my father and mother, for my brothers and sisters in Poland. I must help George Washington make America a free country, a land of refuge for my parents and brothers who are subjected to the cruelty of the Poritz.

Suddenly I felt a gentle hand touching my head. I lifted my eyes and it was he - he himself was standing over me and he asked, "Why are you crying, soldier? Are you cold? ".

Pain and compassion were in his voice. I couldn't bear to see him suffer. I jumped up, forgot that I was a soldier standing before a General, and said what came from my heart, like a son speaking to his father:

"General Washington," I said, "I am crying and praying for your victory. And I know that with the help of G-d we will win. Today they are strong, but tomorrow they will fall because justice is with us. We want to be free in this land. We want to build a home here for all those who flee from the hands of "Poritzim", for all who suffer across the ocean. The "Poritzim" will not rule over us! They will fall and you will rise!" General Washington pressed my hand.

"Thank you, soldier," he said. He sat next to me on the ground, in front of the Menorah.

"What is this candlestick?", he asked.

I told him, "I brought it from my father ís house. The Jews all over the world light candles tonight, on Chanukah, the holiday of the great miracle”.

The Chanukah candles lit up Washington ís eyes, and he asked joyfully, "You are a Jew from the nation of Prophets and you say we will be victorious?!”

"Yes sir," I answered with conviction. "We will win just like the Maccabees won, for ourselves and for all those who come here after us to build a new land and new lives.”

The General got up and his face was shining. He shook my hand and disappeared in the darkness.

My faith prevailed. Washington ís victory was complete. The land was quiet. My General became the first President of the United States and I was one of its citizens. I soon forgot the terrible days and nights in Valley Forge. But I kept the memory of that first night of Chanukah in my heart like a precious dream. I did not relate it to anyone because I said to myself: Who will believe me? I was certain that the General forgot it completely. But that was not the case. He didn't forget.

The first night of Chanukah (1776) 5538.

I was sitting in my apartment in New York, on Broome Street, and the Chanukah candles were burning in my window. Suddenly, I heard a knock at my door. I opened the door and was shocked: my General, President George Washington, was standing in the doorway (there himself), in all his glory. "Behold the wonderful candle. The candle of hope of the Jewish People," he proclaimed joyously when he saw the Chanukah candles in my window.

He put his hand on my shoulder and said, "This candle and your beautiful words ignited a light in my heart that night. Soon you will receive a Medal of Honor from the United States of America, together with all of the brave men of Valley Forge. But tonight, please accept this token from me."

He hung a golden medallion on my chest and shook my hand. Tears filled my eyes and I couldnít speak. The President shook my hand again and departed.Ö

I came to, as if from a wonderful dream, then I looked at the medallion and saw an etching of a beautiful Chanukah Menorah. Under it was written: "A token of gratitude for the light of your candle - George Washington”

This is a true story.

The Tzaddik Matityahu zt”l

Matityahu Kohen Gadol - Hasmonai
Leader of the Jewish revolt against the Greeks, during the Second Templ era. A main figure in the Chanukah holiday. Born: Eretz Yisrael, Died: Eretz Yisrael, 166 BCE dailyzohar

15th of Heshvan | 2019-11-13

After the death of Alexander the Great, the lands of the Middle East were divided among different rulers. In the north, Syria was ruled by Antiochus Epiphanies who eventually took over as ruler of the land of Israel. Antiochus saw himself as the representative of Greek (Hellenistic) culture which he wished to disseminate throughout his empire.

Jerusalem, the spiritual center of Judaism, with its Holy Temple, great Torah academies and large Jewish population, was the natural target for the fiercest enforcement of the anti-Jewish decrees. To drive their point home, the Greeks built a gymnasium, one of the central symbols of Greek culture, right next to the Temple (the Second Temple). They wished to make Jerusalem a Greek city.

Antiochus Epiphanies imposed edicts against the Jewish religion, banning Shabbat observance, circumcision and Torah study. He built an altar in the Temple and forced the Jews to sacrifice to the Greek gods. The Greeks also erected altars to their gods in the streets of Jerusalem. Eventually they would insist that a statue of Zeus be placed in the Temple itself.

For those reasons, Matitiyahu, the scholarly and righteous scion of the Hasmonean family, moved his family out of Jerusalem, 40 km. North to Modi'in. But the reign of terror followed them there, too.

The Jewish community was divided in response to the appeal for assimilation. Some saw assimilation as a positive and modernizing influence and they welcomed the release from Jewish parochialism. In general, two camps polarized: the Jewish assimilationists (called Hellenists) on one side, and the devout observant community on the other.

The matter came to a head in a small village called Modi'in, not far from Jerusalem. Greek soldiers came one day and demanded that the Jews sacrifice a pig to the pagan god. At first, no one stepped forward and the Jews stood in proud defiance of their pagan oppressors. But then a Jewish Hellenist volunteered to perform the mock offering.

Furious at this outrage, Matitiyahu, from the family of Hasmonian priests (Matityahu was the deposed High Priest of Yerushalayim), killed the man on the spot, and then killed the Greek soldiers who were present. Matitiyahu and his five sons fled to the nearby caves and became the core of a guerilla fighting unit (167 BCE). They were prepared to fight and die to preserve the exclusive worship of Judaism – battling the Greeks not only militarily, but religiously as well.

The elderly Matitiyahu died within a year and never saw the success of the revolt he began. His son Yehudah HaMaccabee ("Maccabee" is an acronym for the Torah verse "Who is compared to You among the mighty, oh Lord" [Exodus 15:11]),  a brilliant tactician and leader, took over as leader. With a handful of people Yehudah HaMaccabee defeated Antiochus' army and liberated Jerusalem in 165 BCE.

Upon entering the Temple, they found that it had been used for pagan idol worship. Everything therein was contaminated. Everything had to be replaced. Even the altar stone was removed and secreted away somewhere under the Temple Mount. Sefer HaMacabim (4:46) states that the stone was hidden until a Navi (prophet) would come and reveal to them what to do with it. A new altar stone was put in place. After many days of preparation, on the 25th of Kislev, the Jews inaugurated the Temple. The inauguration festival for the Temple lasted eight days. Yehuda HaMaccabee then ordained that these eight days were to be remembered and observed throughout our generations. Thus, we have the holiday of Chanuka.

On these eight days we have the opportunity to connect with the Light of Miracles bestowed upon the Jews at that time by God, a special Light reappearing every year during these eight days, to help us achieve miracles in our lives today!

According to The Ari, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the souls of Nadav and Avihu (sons of Aharon HaKohen) were reincarnated in Matityahu (Shaar HaGilgulim, hakdama 36).

May the merit of the tzaddik Matityahu protect us all, Amen.

Rabbi Mizrachi: Who Deserves to Celebrate Chanukah — Main Difference Between Greek and Jewish Ideology

Rabbi Mizrachi with most timely messages

Who Deserves to Celebrate Hanukkah 12/2016
Time of David Hamelech 

Great explanation from the Torah about what happens at the end of time” (at 54min) and after
Mashiach comes and the 7000th year. Heaven exists until Techias HaMeisim. A lot of good question/answers. "The difference between Trump and some of the Jews in Israel? – Their grand-children are ‘goyim’ and Trumps’ grandchildren are Jews”. Israel Channel 2 is worse

"Great explanation from the Torah about what happens at the end of time” (at 54min) and after
Mashiach comes and the 7000th year. Heaven exists until Techias HaMeisim. A lot of good question/answers. "The difference between Trump and some of the Jews in Israel? – Their grand-children are ‘goyim’ and Trumps’ grandchildren are Jews”. Israel Channel 2 is worse than CNN.

Everything that happens to us, is because of us. Many will not like what the Rabbi says, but believe it or not, it’s the truth. 71% of Jews in America marry non-Jews. 85% with the last name Cohen are non-Jews.



The Main Difference Between The Greek And The Jewish Ideology - In Manhattan 12/20

Sifrei Torah Scorched, Silver Ornaments Stolen — on Chanukah!

SHOCK: Boyan Beis Medrash in Modi’in Illit Ransacked, Sifrei Torah Scorched, Silver Ornaments Stolen

What do we make of this?

Vandals broke into the Boyan Beis Medrash overnight on Monday in Modi’in Illit and ransacked the site, causing extensive damage, including scorching two Sifrei Torah.

The men who arrived in the early hours of the morning to the beis medrash were shocked to discover that the Aron Kodesh was breached and two of the Sifrei Torah were scorched. Some of the Sifrei Torah’s silver ornaments had been stolen as well as all of the shul’s security cameras, which had been installed only recently. Traces of bleach and lighting fuel were found at the scene.

A police source told Chareidim 10: “There was a burglary attempt, apparently with a tool that caused sparks and fire but there was no intentional act of arson.”

The men who discovered the shocking scene called the police who immediately arrived at the beis medrash and opened an investigation

On Monday morning, a report was received by the police on a break-in to a shul in the city of Modi’in Illit,” Israel Police stated. ” According to the report, damage was caused to the Sifrei Torah, to the shul, and silver ornaments were stolen. Police forces and forensic investigators arrived at the scene and began gathering evidence and an investigation was opened.”

Deputy Minister Meir Porush said: “A despicable act has been carried out in Israel. It’s shocking and painful to see the Aron Kodesh deliberately set on fire. I’m in contact with District Commander Moshe Barkat who is on the scene in order to speed up the investigation and find the criminals who committed this abominable act.”

The vandalism is believed to have been a criminal act rather than nationalistic.

Source: YWN

Palestinians Shooting Firecrackers at Jewish Homes in Jerusalem

Jewish-owned homes in the capital came under fire overnight, from local Arab youths shooting fireworks, a Jerusalem city councilman reported. arutzsheva

Aryeh King, a member of the Jerusalem city council, published video filmed overnight in the Maaleh HaZeitim neighborhood in eastern Jerusalem, showing Jewish homes being fired at by Arabs shooting fireworks.

“Just minutes ago, Muslim terrorists opened fire with multi-barreled firework [shooters], firing for three minutes straight at Jewish homes on the Mount of Olives,” wrote King in a Facebook post.

“I call on Justice Minister Amir Ohana and Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan to push legislation which will permit those being attacked by fireworks straight at their bodies or their homes for more than 10 seconds (which shows that it is intentional) to open fire against those committing the terror attack, shooting to kill.”

This insanity has to be curtailed and terrorists severely punished

CHANUKAH: The Spiritual Sufganiya

The Spiritual Sufganiya

When you begin to examine things a little deeper though, you will discover there is more to this eclectic mix of tales and customs than a simple child’s story.

By Les Saidel*

In previous years I have written about the origins, culinary virtues and health properties (or lack thereof) of different oils, doughnuts etc. This year I want to aim a little higher, get a little more spiritual and examine the deeper link between oil, the doughnut (sufganiya in Hebrew), freedom and Hanukkah.

Everyone knows of the heroic story of the Maccabees, the miracle of the oil in the ancient Temple and the custom to eat fried foods on Hanukkah, most prominently sufganiyot and latkes. We do it because that is what we are taught from kindergarten up, it is just what Jews do on Hanukkah. When you begin to examine things a little deeper though, you will discover there is more to this eclectic mix of tales and customs than a simple child’s story.


Let’s start with the oil, because this is the crux of the matter around which everything revolves. Oil features prominently in Jewish religious rituals from time immemorial. It was a mainstay in the ritual service in the Tabernacle and the later ancient Temples. It was used to anoint the high priests, kings and the holy vessels (incidentally the word used for the inauguration of Moses’ Tabernacle – “Hanukkah” hints at the true nature of this festival). The Torah goes into great detail regarding what type of oil should be used for lighting the Menorah, for baking the various ritual breads – how much oil, whether the oil was spread on top, mixed into the bread, or if the bread was fried in oil, which ingredients were mixed into the anointing oil, and so on.

Oil was synonymous with spirituality, or more specifically – the spiritual holiness of the Torah. The Menorah in the ancient Temple was a conduit through which the light of the Torah was transmitted from the Ark of the Covenant in the inner sanctum to the entire world. For this reason it had to be perpetually lit so that God’s spiritual blessing would never be interrupted. The Hanukkah twist is the miracle of the Menorah oil that burnt for seven days more than it naturally should have, when the Maccabees reinstated the Temple service after the Greek tyranny.

Next is the sufganiya, that spherical or ringed piece of dough fried in oil traditionally eaten on Hanukkah (and by policemen in the US year round). Contrary to public opinion, doughnuts were not invented by Mr. Dunkin, by Messrs. Kreme Krisp, or even by Hanson Gregory (check Google). Dough was already being baked with and fried in oil by the ancient Israelites in the Tabernacle after the Exodus from Egypt. The book of Leviticus goes into painstaking detail describing the various meal and bread offerings that were part of the ritual service. Some had oil mixed in the dough, others had oil spread over the ready baked bread and some were even fried in oil, for example the murbechet bread. These different methods and techniques were not random – they were an indication of the spiritual level of the bread and the person bringing the offering. The more oil and the higher its visibility, the higher the spirituality it possessed.

The ambience of modern day Hanukkah (in the northern hemisphere at least) is one of cold, rainy weather outside and inside the warm glow of the candles on the window sill, the delectable fragrance of sufganiyot or latkes emanating from the kitchen and the family all gathered together singing and celebrating this festival of freedom from tyranny. If there is one festival universally observed by Jews from all over the world, regardless of their level of observance, it is Hanukkah.

At its essence, Hanukkah is about who we truly are as a people, a light unto the nations, spreading the teachings and the morality of the Torah. This is physically manifested in the Hanukkah candles and in the oil soaked sufganiya, reminiscent of the Menorah and the ritual breads in the ancient Temple. We sing and rejoice as we celebrate freedom from oppression, remembering our golden age as a nation during the reign of King Solomon and yearn for the Messiah to reinstate us to our former glory.

*See Breads of the Beis HaMikdash
___________________________________
The writer, a master baker originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, lives in Karnei Shomron with his wife Sheryl and four children. He is CEO of the Saidel Jewish Baking Center (www.saidels.com), that specializes in training and education in the field of organic, healthy, artisan baking and the inventor of Rambam Bread. He also lectures and works as a consultant in the fields of cereal chemistry, health, nutrition and authentic Jewish bread.

Source: JPost 

CHANUKAH for the Baal Shem Tov

Kislev: The Miracle of Chanukah

For the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Chassidic movement, Chanukah was his "favorite" holiday -- for Chanukah is the holiday of light, a light that fills the soul and warms the heart. inner.org

Although outside it is dark and cold, the radiance of the Chanukah candles penetrates into the depth of the winter night, permeating it with warmth and transforming the darkness itself into a light force.

From where do the Chanukah candles derive their power not merely to dispel darkness, but to transmute it into light?

The first two letters of the word Chanukah spell chen, one of the eight synonyms in Hebrew for beauty. Chen, which literally means "grace" or "favor," represents that aspect of beauty which expresses itself through the aesthetic of graceful symmetry. The word chen first appears in the Torah in the concluding verse of Parashat Bereishit, the first portion of the book of Genesis. The verse there reads: "And Noah found chen ("favor") in the eyes of God." The name Noah is actually the same as chen spelled backwards. By virtue of its first appearing in the Torah as juxtaposed with its "opposite," we are taught in Kabbalah that chen represents balance and symmetry, particularly that which is comprised of two inverse elements reflecting each other. The opposites that form the graceful symmetry of Chanukah are those of darkness and light, or as referred to in the Aramaic idiom of the Zohar -- "transforming chashocha (darkness) into nahora (light)," whose initial letters themselves spell chen.

We can now begin to understand how the Chanukah candles succeed in transforming darkness into light. Reflective symmetry is the result of two inverse elements possessing a hidden reference to each other. By defining themselves in perfect contradistinction to one another, such elements enter into a symmetrical bond which attests to an underlying unity forming their common source. So it is with darkness and light. Just as light itself possesses the potential to blind one with its radiance (thus testifying to the source of "darkness" included within light), so too does darkness hold within it the potential for illumination (the power of the color black to "shine").

In truth, the hidden light inhering within darkness is infinitely more beautiful than the revealed light which we naturally experience. This is apparent as well from the verse in Ecclesiastes (2:13) which reads: "As the advantage of light over darkness, so is the advantage of wisdom over folly." Although this is the accepted understanding of the verse, a purely literal reading of the words suggests an alternative interpretation: "As the advantage of light from darkness, so is the advantage of wisdom over folly" -- the implication being that the light which emerges from within darkness itself is the true source of wisdom's superiority.

The hidden light which inheres within darkness must be "sparked" into consciousness if it is to transform the opaque realm of Creation into a translucent expanse of Divine light. Herein lies the secret of redemption, expressed in Kabbalah as the process of redeeming those fragments or "sparks" of Divine light which were scattered throughout the universe when the primordial vessels of light fashioned at the dawn of Creation shattered, descending into the lower realms. Parallel to the cosmic restoration of these Divine sparks, there takes place a process here below whereby the lost souls of Israel are aroused to reembrace their people, their land, and their God.

The miracle of Chanukah represents the ability to revive the Divine spark of light which resides hidden within the soul of every Jew, regardless of how oblivious he or others may be to its existence. It is told that in his early years, the Baal Shem Tov walked small Jewish children to and from their local cheder (school). It was his custom to place his holy hand on each child's heart, and bless him that he grow to be a "warm Jew"(in Yiddish: a varemer yid). Even a heart as cold as stone could not help but absorb the fiery love of God and man, and the burning desire for redemption, which radiated from his touch.

The secret of chen as it relates to Chanukah implies that although Jews may appear to be in total conflict with each other, in truth -- in the innermost point of faith, rooted in Jewish being -- they are one. In their apparent opposition, they are actually mirroring each other. The opposing natures and positions which emerge from the endless internal dialogue spanning the history of the Jewish people provide the elements out of which the beautiful tapestry of Jewish existence will display itself at the end of days.

The classic example of antagonism suffused with chen is that of the ongoing opposition between the Talmudic schools of Hillel and Shammai. One of their most famous disputes concerns the order by which we light the Chanukah candles. According to the school of Hillel, we begin by lighting one candle on the first night of Chanukah and then continue to add an additional candle on each successive night. The school of Shammai takes the opposite position, stating that one should light all eight candles on the first night and then progressively eliminate one candle each night thereafter, until one is left with one single candle on the eighth and last night.

In this dispute we encounter the ultimate expression of chen symmetry. Although diametrically opposed to each other, both positions have validity. Common practice nowadays dictates that we conduct ourselves in accordance with the opinion of the school of Hillel. However, it is said that in the world to come, the law will be in accord with the school of Shammai. In truth, both positions assert themselves simultaneously, just as the reality of this world and that of the next are not separated in time but rather parallel each other. The difference is one of conscious emphasis. The power of chen inherent in Chanukah enables us to harmonize the radical contradictions which accompany us through time to the threshold of the Messianic era.

Chanukah Tragedy: "People Stuck Under Concrete"

So, So, So, Sad

"People are stuck under the concrete"

gruesome scene

“Dad went on a trip to Jerusalem, and on the way back we didn’t know he was on this bus – and then this happened. He left home as usual – he was 79-year-old but had a young spirit. He was a retiree who loved to visit Jerusalem, a man of nature, not a person of cars and telephones.”

Yosef Kahalani

Kahalani’s daughter, Iris, spoke with Channel 12 earlier Monday about her father. Yosef Kahalani, a resident of the central Israeli city of Petah Tikva […] a “righteous man, a man of mitzvoth [commandments] who helped everyone.” “My mother is broken,”

“The last time I spoke with him was Saturday night. I was supposed to meet him today, I needed to come pay a condolence call, and we spoke about it. He asked how the kids were and what is happening with everyone, how are they getting along. He was always asking those things.”

“I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to him. When people are sick and they are going to die, people can say goodbye to them. A cement block killed my father, and I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye.”

Source: arutzsheva

Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who arrived at the scene of the accident, said afterwards, "Shocked to the depths of my soul by the scene of the accident on Highway 40. It is too early to draw conclusions, but an analysis of the all fatal accidents of recent times raises one common denominator: Error by the driver.”

“The infrastructure is forgiving and yet the results are tragic. We have to take responsibility. I beg of you - leave all the distractions aside and concentrate 100% on driving," Smotrich asked the drivers. “I pray for the recovery of the injured, share in the grief of the families, and thank the rescue forces for their holy work.”

Source: arutzsheva

The Trump Family Rabbi

For those who were unable to read this in Chanukah Warm Wishes From President Trump, I have typed it out below:


The Trump Family Rabbi:

*Yochonon Donn asks why a good portion of from Jews love the President. Many answers are given, but what caught my eye was the one that said “Trump ‘gets’ Orthodox Jews. He’s from New York, dealt with Jewish people, understands that Orthodox people are normal.”

This does not always happen. Many non-Jews growing up in New York do not support Israel and the Jewish People the way the president does. My father, Rabbi Israel Wagner ztz”l, was the rabbi of the Beach Haven Jewish Center in Brooklyn for close to 50 years beginning in 1951. Beach Haven was a predominantly Jewish area developed by Fred C. Trump, father of Donald Trump.

My parents were Holocaust survivors from Poland, as were many of the shul members. In the very early ‘50s, the community was outgrowing the underground garage they were using as a shul. My father approached Mr. Trump and asked for his assistance in building a community shul, so important to the advancement and growth of Jewish life. He graciously offered to give the land for the shul, while the members of the congregation would build the shul.

Mr. Trump remained a very close friend of my father[’s], as well as a friend of the shul community. He was a regular supporter of the shul, bringing his family (including Donald) to annual shul dinners year after year. If ever approached by my father to assist a family in need in the community he built, he was always there to help.

Having a close relationship with the rabbi, as well as observing the rabbi’s devotion to Jewish education, Torah and mitzvos, the State of Israel, and his family, Mr. Trump’s admiration for these qualities was passed on to his family in a very strong way. This is the environment in which President Trump was raised. There’s no question that all of this strongly impacted the president’s feelings and actions toward the Jewish People and the State of Israel.

One anecdote which comes to mind: At Fred’s funeral in 1998, Donald Trump approached my mother a”h and said: “Rebbetzin, I must tell you that my father did not just consider your husband his dear friend, he considered him his rabbi.”

May Hashem continue to lead President Trump with the anabas Yisrael with which he was imbued from early on.

Malky Weisberg, Yerushalayim

*Metro and Beyond / Issue 786

Chanukah Warm Wishes From President Trump

President Trump sent his “warmest wishes” to the Jewish community Sunday in a White House message ahead of Chanukah.

“More than 2,000 years ago,” the statement read, “the Maccabees boldly reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, securing a victory for the Jewish people and their faith. They proudly lit the menorah to rededicate the Second Temple. Even though there was only enough olive oil to burn for one day, through divine providence, the flames miraculously burned for eight nights.

“As the Jewish community gathers together to celebrate this special and sacred time of year, we are reminded of G-d’s message of hope, mercy, and love. Throughout the coming eight days, each candle to be lit on the menorah will signal to the world that freedom and justice will always shine brighter than hate and oppression.

“Today, the relationship between the United States and Israel, one of our most cherished allies and friends, is stronger than ever. We will continue to stand with the Jewish people in defending the G-d-given right to worship freely and openly.

“As our Jewish brothers and sisters gather around the menorah each night, we pray for a memorable and blessed celebration of the Festival of Lights. May the light of the menorah and the fellowship of family and friends fill your hearts with happiness and a renewed sense of faith.”

THE TRUMP FAMILY RABBI:

CHANUKAH: Rabbi YY Rubinstein: Greece's Jews vs Jerusalem's Jews

Rabbi YY Rubinstein

Chanukah: Greece's Jews vs Jerusalem's Jews

Hanukkah 5780 – Chanuka Segulos

Chanuka Segulas

The Gemara (Shabbos 23b) says that one who habitually lights candles will have sons that are Talmidei Chachomim. Rashi explains that the posuk (Mishlei 6, 23) says כִּי נֵר מִצְוָה וְתוֹרָה אוֹר - 

"the candle is a mitzvah and the Torah is light". By lighting candles of mitzvah, Shabbos candles and the Chanuka Menorah, one will merit what the Gemara says.

After Kindling the Menorah

The Baal Shem Tov to say 

וִיהִי נֹעַם and יֹשֵׁב בְּסֵתֶר עֶלְיוֹן, 

(last posuk of Tehilim 90, and the whole Chapter 91, with the last posuk of chapter 91 repeated twice) 7 times after lighting the Menorah. This is a segula to protect from many calamities. (Ramban says to say each word 7 times, but I haven't seen anyone do it like that. I've only seen people saying the whole chapter 7 times.)

Healing - Refuah

Chanuka is connected to the sefira of "Hod", because there are 10 sefiros, and the 8^th is Hod, making the connection to Chanuka, which is 8 days. In the brocha of Yotzer Hameoros, before Shema of Shachris, it says (according to the Nusach of the Arizal, which would include Nusach Sefard and Edut HaMizrach): כִּי הוּא לְבַדּו (1)מָרום (2)וְקָדושׁ (3)פּועֵל גְּבוּרות (4)עושה חֲדָשׁות (5)בַּעַ

ל מִלְחָמות (6)זורֵעַ צְדָקות (7)מַצְמִיחַ יְשׁוּעות (8)בּורֵא רְפוּאות (9)נורָא תְהִלּות (10)אֲדון הַנִּפְלָאות. 

According to the Kavonos in the Siddur, each one of these praises of Hashem corresponds to another sefira (1-Keser, 2-Chochma, 3-Binah, 4-Chesed, 5-Gevurah, 6-Tiferes, 7-Netzach, 8-Hod, 9- Yesod, 10-Malchus), making the 8^th praise, בּורֵא רְפוּאות - "Creator of cures", correspond to Hod. This makes Chanuka an auspicious time for bringing about healing.

In Shulchan Aruch (570, 2) it says that eating a meal for Chanuka is a סעודת הרשות, a non-obligatory meal. Chazal (Berachos 60a) say that Hashem gave רשות (permission) for doctors to heal. This is what סעודת הרשות alludes to; eating a special meal in honor of Chanuka, which is a special time for healing, can bring about healing. (Shaar Yisaschor, Yimei Orah 72)

Remembrance of Barren Women

Chanuka, and especially the last day, Zos Chanuka, is an auspicious time for the remembrance of barren women, just like Rosh Hashona. One allusion to this is that מתתיהו is numerically equal to ראש השנה. (Bnei Yisaschor, Chanuka 2, 10)

Zos Chanuka - Teshuvah

The days of Chanuka, as brought in many seforim, is the actual final judgment period from Rosh Hashona, making the last day, called Zos Chanuka, because of the Torah reading that day, the final day of judgment.

Reb Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov in Sefer Deverim Nechmadim (Chanuka, 4) brings proof from the Zohar that Chanuka is a time of Teshuva M'Ahava, repentance out of love for Hashem.

Reb Yisroel of Ruzhin, as quoted by his son, Reb Avrohom Yaakov of Sadiger, says that a simple Jew can receive from Hashem on Zos Chanuka, what Tzadikim can on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. (Ner Yisroel 2, 18)

Reb Eliezer of Dzhikov says in the name of Reb Elazar of Lizensk (son of the Noam Elimelech) that Zos Chanuka is an especially auspicious time. (Reb Itzikil of Peshavrsk)

Playing Cards & Klipos - Well Connected

One shouldn't use the shamash for a disgusting use, and certainly not for levity, by playing cards, chas v'chalilah. (Ba'er Heitiv 573:7)

Certainly, one will have to stand judgement for the terrible sin of playing cards by the light of the shamash. (Kav Hayoshor 96)

Every man that fears the word of Hashem, should keep his sons, from when they're young, from these klipos, cards. (Yesod Veshoresh Ha'Avodah 12:1)

Reb Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev says: Due to our many sins, a terrible breach has been made among Acheinu Beis Yisroel to play with cards. It's a light thing in their eyes, but it's known that in each card there is definitely a big klipa… There are many downfalls from this:

1) You lose fear of Hashem.

2) In my eyes you are definitely a thief.

3) You make yourself tamei with klipos that shouldn't even be mentioned. (Kedushas Levi, Chanuka – "Yadua")

UPDATE: HIGH COURT FREEZES OHANA'S NEW STATE ATTORNEY APPOINTMENT

Mandelblit says

“[ . . .] he “has no intention of compromising how we operate,” and that his reason to oppose Ohana’s candidature was to keep the state prosecution “independent and apolitical.” [but the leftists must be dismantled]

“Earlier Tuesday, Mandelblit explained his opposition by essentially categorizing Ben-Ari as a well-respected veteran, but who is a second- to third-level official who would not normally be considered for the top spot. Mandelblit said that normally, the top spot is filled by one of a few deputy state attorneys or one of the six district attorneys. The attorney-general added that Ben-Ari had even competed to become a district attorney three times and failed to be selected each time.” [traditionally DS players]

But as we watch the Hand of HaShem in motion . . . We continue to observe the maneuvering. 

All preparation to bring in the redemption.

We know that the DS is entrenched in Israel’s courts, legal system, 

as well as media and police apparatus.

The leftist control of Eretz Yisrael must be wrestled away from its DS counterparts —

Just as Ya’akov wrestled with the Sar of Eisav and prevailed.

We can see the Hand of HaShem in all this chaos. It may very well be that the reason for this particular snafu in the process is:

“As a consequence of the delay in appointing a replacement for Nitzan is that final decisions about Shas leader Aryeh Deri’s case, UTJ leader Ya’acov Litzman’s case, Case 3000, the Submarine Affair and decisions on other major cases could be delayed.“

In Israel, we do not know exactly who is also part of the DS cabal.

In America, the battle continues.

UPDATE:  

Ohana pans justice system’s ‘pressure’ on his state attorney pick as she exits. Justice minister likens strain placed on Orly Ginsberg Ben-Ari to ‘a gun placed on the table’ before her; she announced her withdrawal on Friday. […] 

“I ask myself — who will agree to enter this inferno? They see how the system is run and how [officials] attack and slander in the media.”

“it saddens me greatly that this is what the system looks like. It saddens me and also in my eyes demands examination.”[…] "she lamented an “attempt to turn my selection into a political matter and present it as part of an effort to hurt the rule of law.” She said this “goes against my conduct and values”

Is this Kosher Mr. Mandelblit?

Egyptian ‘emojis’ Predated Apple’s emojis

Israeli museum explains the emojis of ancient Egypt

Israel Museum uses modern 'emojis' to explain how ancient hieroglyphics were used.

arutzsheva

Ancient papyrus with Egyptian hieroglyphs

iStock

How does an academic explain the importance of ancient hieroglyphics to modern audiences glued to their phones? Through the cunning use of emojis.

The Israel Museum in Jerusalem this week opened the "Emoglyphs" exhibition, comparing the pictograms of antiquity to those of today.

"I usually find it very hard to explain how hieroglyphs are used as a script," the show's curator, Shirly Ben-Dor Evian, told AFP.

"Then it occurred to me that some of the things can now be explained more easily because we are all writing with pictures now -- it has become very widespread."

From the heart symbol to little monkeys and foaming glasses of beer, the pictograms of our own time have enlivened discussion on social media and online messaging since the late 1990s. Some emojis -- from the Japanese word for a combination of an image and a written character -- have hieroglyphic equivalents, said Ben-Dor Evian, who argues that the images are a language in their own right.

The exhibition, in a small gallery within the Israel Museum, welcomes visitors with a wall bearing similar pictograms from both eras. The modern purple-suited dancer emoji with his hand raised strikes a similar pose to an Egyptian in a loin cloth from 3,000 years ago. “There is a similarity in design and shapes, which is very interesting because there are thousands of years and very big cultural gaps between those two systems," Ben-Dor Evian said.

In the Egyptian system, hieroglyphs could designate an object or an idea in so-called ideograms, indicate the sound of the word (phonograms) or serve as classifiers specifying the semantic category of the word.

Emoji, on the other hand, are self-sufficient in designating an idea, a feeling or an object, and are not intended to be accumulated to form a sentence, noted Ben-Dor Evian. "When you use ideographic writing, the image becomes more powerful than the word," she said. She cites the example of the revolver emoji, replaced by Apple in 2016 with a fluorescent green water pistol.

"Why did it change? The reason is, once you start using picture as writing, then it's much more powerful than writing the word 'gun'. It's much scarier.”

She says the modern use of pictograms is not so different from that in antiquity. One difference is that the writer decides how emojis are used, while the ancient Egyptians had strict rules around the use of hieroglyphics, believing they were sacred.

The exhibition, "Emoglyphs: Picture-Writing from Hieroglyphs to the Emoji," is open until late 2020 and includes previously undisplayed items from the museum's own collection and others on loan from abroad.

Among them is a necklace made of linen and papyrus and covered with gold, dating from around 100 BC, which bears the inscription of a scarab beetle, symbol of resurrection.

It is reminiscent of today's ladybird emoji, said Ben-Dor Evian.

"My goal as an Egyptologist is to show to people that something that is ancient is still relevant to their lives today," she said.

Rabbi Mizrachi — Special Shiur for Yeshiva Bochurim

Devotion And Trust In Hashem - In Yesod Ha Torah Yeshiva In Jerusalem

Special Shiur for Yeshiva Bochurim

DM Bennett Does it Again: Solves A Security Crisis.

The only one accomplishing anything worthwhile during the political fiasco.

Imagine if he were Prime Minister?

Bennett solves security coordinator crisis in Judea and Samaria
Bennet instructs Defense Ministry to allow communities in Yehuda and Shomron to continue status quo until further discussion.

After months of controversy, the solution for the crisis of the military security coordinators in the communities of Yehudah and Shomron has been solved on Thursday evening.

Defense Minister Naftali Bennett instructed his office to allow local councils in Judea and Samaria to continue their existing contract agreements with security coordinators. The dispute centered on changes within the IDF in which payments for security coordinators would be given to regional councils and then to local councils.

During the course of the year, discussions on the issue will be held to reach a permanent solution.

Head of Har Hevron council Yohai Demri wrote on his Facebook page: "In light of our efforts and the actions of the security coordinators and communities, we have now been informed that the Defense Ministry has frozen its decision to change the status of the security coordinators until an in-depth discussion on the topic will be held with our contribution."

"We welcome the decision of the Defense Ministry and its head, Naftali Bennett, who led the freeze of the unilateral changes and will convene to hear our arguments before making drastic and detrimental changes. The important news this evening is that the vital work to maintain security will not be harmed and will continue as usual until the parties come to an understanding."

Source: ArutzSheva

Parshas Vayeishev – Through Teshuva, the Entire World is Forgiven

THROUGH TESHUVA, THE ENTIRE WORLD IS FORGIVEN

By Roy S. Neuberger

Immediately after the brothers sell Yosef, we read about Yehuda and Tamar. This is one of those unlikely incidents in which Am Yisroel descends to a low and even embarrassing level, from which we rise incredibly to great heights. Our entire history is logically “impossible!” It is built on miracle after miracle.

The connection between the sale of Yosef, the incident with Yehuda and Tamar and our descent into Mitzraim shows that sinas chinom leads directly into humiliation and exile. What is remarkable is that they also both lead directly to the highest level ofkedusha!

Mitzraim led to Har Sinai. 

Yehuda and Tamar became the parents of Peretz, of whom it is written, “Peretz begot Chetzron, and Chetzron begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminadav, and Amminadav begot Nachshon, and Nachshon begot Salmah, and Salmah begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Oved, and Oved begot Yishai, and Yishai begot Dovid!” (Rus 4:18-22)

How do we understand this? From the lowest comes the highest! “He raises the needy from the dust, from the trash heaps He lifts the destitute, to seat them with nobles.” (Tehillim 113)

Is it good to descend into unacceptable behavior? Isn’t the entire point of history to behave correctly? How can unacceptable behavior lead to such great heights?

“For though the righteous one may fall seven times, he will arise ….” (Mishlei 24:16)

Would it have been better if Adam and Chava had never rebelled in Gan Eden? Of course! But the fact is that, through our stumbling, something great is introduced into the world, and that is called “teshuva!”

“Rabbi Meir would say, ‘Great is teshuva, for on account of an individual who did teshuva, the entire world is forgiven!’” (Yoma 86b)

The chessed of Hashem is such that, when we rebel – G-d forbid – and want to return to Him, He raises us higher than we were before! It is precisely the process of teshuva which elevates us! 

“Min ha maitzar … From the straits did I call upon Hashem!” (Tehillim 118)

Next week, we welcome Chanukah. This is the darkest, coldest season, the longest nights, the shortest days. This is the only Yom Tov which occurs during the waning moon. By the third day of Chanukah the moon is invisible! There is little sun and no moon.

But Chanukah is filled with light! How do we explain this?

The only light in this dark season is created by Am Yisroel through our allegiance to Hashem and His Torah!

And Hashem responds: the moon always reappears on the Sixth Day of Chanukah!

“Because of the similarity between the Davidic dynasty and the moon, when the Sages sent word that the New Moon had been declared, they used the message, ‘David King of Israel lives and exists.” (Ramban, cited in Artscroll commentary on Beraishis 38:29)

In the End of Days, “the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun and the light of the sun will be seven times as strong… on the day that Hashem bandages the injury of His people and heals the wound of His blow.” (Yeshiah 30:26)

May we see it soon in our days!

The light of Chanukah (Photo credit: Ariela Neuberger)

*          *          *          *

Roy Neuberger, author and public speaker, can be reached at roy@2020vision.co.il.

© Copyright 2019 by Roy S. Neuberger