SEFER HA'KUZARI: "Intention and Deed"

B"H 

Once a week, I am participating in an online class given by Rabbi Chaim Eisen. The topic is SEFER HA’KUZARI. We have just started and if anyone fluent in English wants to join may do so. Just sign up HERE ! Everything is for free and without any spam. 

As a matter of fact, Rabbi Eisen has been also teaching at Jerusalem’s ORTHODOX UNION (Israel Center) for many years, where I have been participating in another class. Live and not online. :-) Actually he is the only lecturer at the OU I go to because he is a real professional and knows his stuff. 

Anyway, our last online class on SEFER HA’KUZARI was about INTENTION and DEED. 

Intentions are important but they are not enough. The serious deed is what counts.

Rabbi Eisen gave the example of a Yeshiva student setting his alarm clock for Shacharit but when it is ringing, he slams it against the wall and continues to sleep. In this case, the intention was good but the output was lousy. 

However, the question is: WHAT IS A GOOD INTENTION ? In my opinion, this may depend on every person’s potential. G – d is looking at your level of potential and then sees your level of intention. There are times when your level of intention could me much greater because you are not using all of your potential. 

Rabbi Eisen listed people from the TANACH whose intention was good but the deed was just the opposite. Let us look at Nadav and Avihu whose intention was serious but they weren’t commanded to burn incense. It could have been that they were just to overwhelmed and wanted to bring a sacrifice before G – d. However, there are rules and they weren’t allowed to do this at that very moment. 

Another example is the EGEL (Golden Calf). Many Jews participating in the Golden Calf thought that this is the right way to worship G – d. It wasn’t necessarily idol – worship but a different way of acknowledging the Creator. The intention was good, the deed was a catastrophe. 

Another example we find in DIVRE’I HA’YAMIM (Chronicles II), 26:16 – 23: 
King Uzziyahu (Uzziah), a good king who had accomplished a lot, wanted to thank G – d and also burn incense on the Altar. However, burning incense on the Mizbeach is a task for Cohanim only and anyone else taking over this task will be due to G – dly punishment. Despite all warnings, Uzziyahu burnt the incense and was punished with Za’arat (leprosy) on his forehead. The result was that Uzziahu was cut off from the House of G – d and his son Yotam took over kingship.

Is MEGILLATH EICHA still being studied in the days of Meshiach ?

B"H 

Is MEGILLATH EICHA still being studied in the days of Meshiach ? 

An interesting question, as most of us think that, once Meshiach has arrived, the Torah be will the same and valid eternally. However, Yom Kippur will be cancelled because there is no need for atonement anymore. People won’t even think about going against G – d. Jews and Gentiles alike. 

And yes, in the days of Meshiach, there will still be Jews and Gentiles but no more Gentile idol – worship such as Buddhism, Krishna or Christianity. With the arrival of Meshiach, the world will recognize ONE G – d. 

But coming back to the question: 

Is the Jewish world still going to study the "Book of Eicha" after Meshiach’s arrival ? 

The answer I found is YES. The Megillah is part of the Tanach and nothing from the Tanach may be erased, added or changed. And it is especially the study of the "Book of Eicha" making us even more appreciate the Ge’ulah (Redemption). Otherwise we may forget in what great times we live once Meshiach is there.

Present News and Ancient Prophecies

Source: ShiratDevorah

Iran: The Graves of Mordechai, Esther, Daniel HaNavi and Mishael, Azariah and Chananiya

B"H

Rabbi Israel Me'ir Gabbai from "Ohalei Zaddikim" succeeded in receiving a visa for Iran. He traveled to Teheran and further places and prayed at the graves of Habakuk, Mordechai and Esther, and further prophets. He says that there does exist a fear among Jews living in Iran and the situation is not that pleasant.

The grave of Daniel the Prophet in Shush. Rabbi Gabbai found

out that hardly any Jews live in Shush today but many come to visit

and pray at the Kever. 

Rabbi Israel Me'ir Gabbai praying at the grave of Mordechai and Esther.

The Rabbi at the graves of Mishael, Azariah and Chananiya. 

See all photos HERE !

In brief: Who was Yechezkel the Prophet ?

B"H

Yeshayahu, Yirmeyahu and Yechezkel - these are the names of some of the greatest prophets ever and, according to time, Yechezkel is the last one.

Yechezkel ben Buzi (Yechezkel, the son of Buzi), was a Cohen and prophesized in Babylon. He was the only prophet who prophesized for the Jewish people outside Israel although there was an exception with Yirmeyahu in Egypt. We don't have any details about how Yechzekel lived before the Diaspora (Galut). However, there is an idea that Yechezkel had already been a prophet back in Israel.

What is the meaning of the name YECHEZKEL ?

At the end, we see the word "E - L" which is one of the names of G - d.

"Yichazek" means "to strengthen" and the grammar root "Chazak" means "strong".

Thus, Yechezkel means something like "Strong G - d" or "G - d is strengthening".

The Ramban on Molech

B"H

The Ramban (Nachmanides, 1194 - 1270) wrote a detailed commentary on the idol - worship of Molech which took place during the First Temple period. The Gemara (rabbinic discussions) in the Talmud Tractate Yoma 9b lists three reasons for why the First Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. Why let G - d the Temple being destroyed although it was King Salomon (Shlomo HaMelech) who built it ? Why had a destruction to take place ?

Another question: Why should a destruction not take place ? Didn't the Prophet Yechezkel not prophecies a Third Temple in the time of Meshiach ? A Third Temple where the Cohanim and Levi'im serve and Korbanot (sacrifcises) are being brought. Thus the two Temples had to be destroyed in order to pave the way for Meshiach and the Third Temple.

Sexual perversion, murder and idol - worship were reason enough for G - d to destroy the First Temple. The Babylonians were just a tool of G - d's infinite and perfect will.

One of the most famous form of idol - worship during the times of the First Tempel was the worship of "Molech". Executed by special Molech "priests" and taking place in the so - called "Tofet" near today's Cinematheque and Sultan's Pool (Jerusalem). Just right across Jaffa Gate.

The Ramban wrote a special commentary about Molech in Parashat Acharei Mot (Book of Leviticus / Vayikra):

Molech was an idol and Rabbi Avraham ibn Ezra wrote that it is possible that Molech is identical with MILCOM of the Ammonites.

Rashi explained the Molech idol - worship procedure:

The father would hand over his son to the priests, and the priests lit two pyres  (one opposite the other), and they made the child pass on foot between the two fires. 

Rashi asked the question whether a father acting this way is really guilty of worshipping an idol because the son is not touching the fire but only walking through the two pyres. The Torah doesn't allow the Jews to pass the children to Molech: "Le Ha'avir LaMolech". "Le Ha'avir" here stands for actually passing through the fire but the son didn't do so. Moreover, the father didn't deliver his son to Molech but to the priests who then gave it to Molech.

The Ramban, however, has a totally different opinion: He says that the son had to walk into the pyres and was burnt until he died. Furthermore, the Ramban claims that the Gods of the Sepharvaim (see Kings II, 17:31) are also identified with Molech, for their surnames Adrammelech and Anammelech denote kingship (from the Hebrew word "Melech - King").

"Molech" and "Baal" were the most popular forms of idolatry during the ear of the First Temple and both were, at certain times, identical. The Talmud Tractate Sanhedrin tells us a very famous story about how Chizkiyahu's (Hezkiah's) mother rubbed him with the oil of a salamander. His father Ahaz made him pass the Molech but Chizkiyahu survived due to his protective mother.

Not only Ahaz used to sacrifice his children but also King Menashe.

Further Link on the Subject:

The RAMCHAL on the Third Temple

The FLOTILLA in the Book of Prophets or Torah Codes

B"H

No matter what kind of disaster is happening, we Jews are not excluded from speculations about the WHY ? Humankind wants to know WHY something is happening. Why thousands of people die in an earthquake, why the Tsumani took place and why one person died whereas his neighbour survived.
Even when Israel left Gush Katif speculations took place about the WHY. One Rabbi claimed that it is actually G - d's will having us Jews out of Gush Katif because a huge disastrous earthquake would take place within the next years and the Arabs deserve to get killed.

I am surprised, however, that no one has discovered the FLOTILLA in the Torah Codes yet (as, for instance, Obama). Nevertheless, the Prophets tell us about the hatred of the nations (not all Gentiles !) and Akiva points out Gog's coalition against Israel.

Just a Thought: "Israel and the World"

B"H

It doesn't come as a total surprise that the majority of the world is against Israel. Not only against Israel but also against Jews; in particular against religious Jews.

When I was still in Yeshiva, we were always taught that the Jews brought morality into the world and this is why we are hated. In ancient times and before the Torah, the Gentile nations did whatever they wanted. They killed, robbed and raped without any conscience. Comes along the Torah and talks about a creator and no more murdering and robbing. Later on, the Prophets kept on telling us that before Meshiach is coming, the world will be entirely against the Jews and Israel. Basically they will try to destroy us, fail and then Meshiach is coming. Of course, there are different commentaries on that but what we see (or have seen throughout history) that the world is against us. No matter what we do, we are wrong and the rest of the world is right.

Why can't we Jews just be like the other nations and always follow our own "strange" laws ? The answer is simple: Because Jews have a special G - dgiven mission in life. Everyone does; including the Gentiles. Still, Jews have special Tikkunim (soul rectifications) to fulfill in order to bring about Meshiach.

Weren't we told by the Prophets that the world will be against us no matter what we do ? Now you can think about whether the nations are doomed to be against us or whether they are still able to follow their own free will.

I am not at all surprised about all kinds of propaganda against Israel but I don't see Meshiach at the doorstep although we wish he may be.

Parashat Beha'alotcha - פרשת בהעלתך

Vincent van Gogh

B"H

This week's Parasha Beha'alotcha tells us about the incident where Miriam speaks to her brother Aharon about Moshe. Because Zippora's name wasn't mentioned but the two older siblings of Moshe simply referred to her as the "Cushite" woman, the incident could be understood as "Lashon HaRah - Slander". Moreover it says that neither Miriam nor Aharon had a right to talk about Moshe and his relationship to his wife Zippora (they had separated and thus, no sex). Although the older siblings meant well, G - d interfered and punished them because of speaking slander.

Obviously there are times and reasons when we have to speak out and not everything can be considered as "Lashon HaRah". Unfortunately today, almost any kind of criticism is already seen as Lashon HaRah. As an excuse for ignoring bad actions within Jewish frum society, for instance.

When I open up the Chafetz Chaim book on Lashon Harah, I almost immediately close it. According to him, anything may be slander; even thoughts. As we are not living in a perfect world, we should speak up. I am not referring to Miriam at this point but can anyone really blame her and Aharon. However, Torah commentators tell us that the two didn't understand Moshe's extraordinary level of prophecy. He wasn’t "just" like our forefathers (who didn't separate from their wives because of their level of prophecy) nor had he a limited level just like the later prophets. Moshe's level of prophecy was unique because he didn't experience prophecy in a dream like the forefathers or in visions. G - d spoke to him day and night and with clear words. Whatever that means.

While studying this Torah section I started asking myself what all the other thousands of Jews in the desert camp did. No speaking Lashon HaRah ? Wasn't this a kind of boring ?:-)

It says that every human being has a limit of words during his lifetime. As soon as those words are used up, the person has to die. Due to that statement, we should limit using words. Sometimes we really only talk to someone in a rather stupid way. About unnecessary things and afterwards I am always upset because I feel that I have wasted my time. On the other hand, sometimes you simply need to talk about other than holy subjects or you go crazy.

"Shabbat Shalom and watch your conversations !":-)

The RAMBAM on SHMUEL (the Prophet Samuel)

B"H

Israel was commanded to fulfill the Mitzvot upon entering the Land:

1. To choose a king.

2. To wipe out the descendants of Amalek.

3. To build a Beit HaMikdash (G - d's chosen house).

Since it is a Mitzvah to appoint a king, why was G - d displeased with the people's request of a king from Samuel (Shmuel) ?

This is because they made their request in a spirit of complaint. Rather than seeking to fulfill the Mitzvah of appointing a king, they were simply intent on rejecting the Prophet Samuel (Shmuel).

___________________

Source:

"Mishna Torah - Hilchot Melachim"

by the Rambam (Maimonides, 1135 - 1204)

Avivah Gottlieb - Zornberg on "Megillath Ruth"

It is all about Amalek

B"H

We are commanded not to forget what Amalek did to us.

Amalek was a grandson of Yitzchak's son Esav. He was the first one ever attacking Jews for no reason (see Exodus - Shemot 17:8). Amalek attacked Israel in order to destroy it. This was pretty new in Jewish history and "Exodus - Shemot" 17:16 lets us know that there will be war between G - d and Amalek from generation to generation.

Meaning, every generation will bring forth someone who wants to kill the Jews for no reason but for being Jewish.

After G - d had taken us out of Egypt, all nations were impressed but NOT Amalek. He alone dared to provoke G d's wrath and started a battle against Him and Israel.

Today, there are different opinions on what and who is Amalek. Easily we tend to accuse all kinds of anti - Semites or nations who are against us of being Amalek. Starting with Rome and later on the Germans during the Nazi Reich. Now some Jews claim that Obama or the Iranian or Syrian presidents are Amalek. Fact is, the battle is not over yet and will continue until Meshiach comes. There will always be nations hating Jews and trying to destroy them.

After Amalek attacked the Jews in Refidim, the next encounter took place 434 years later. When King Shaul ben Kish (from the Tribe of Binyamin) did not destroy the entire nation of the Amalekites but spared their King Aggag. Not following the precise instructions of Shmuel HaNavi (the Prophet Samuel), Shaul made a vital mistake. Aggag had time to beget a son and this son became an ancestor of evil Haman.

Shaul, on the other hand, was an ancestor of Mordechai and Esther. About ten generations were between them.

In the end, Shmuel killed Aggag in Gilgal but some 520 years later, the Jews in Shushan had to suffer from Shaul's mistake. However, Shaul had caused a new Amalek but the Jews in Shushan caused their own "punishment" for being disobedient. It was them neglecting Torah study and many of them participated in the non - kosher meal (party) of Achashverosh. Not only by eating but also by enjoying.

In a way we can understand King Shaul. Isn't it true that some of G - d's orders seem to be cruel in the first place.

"Destroy everyone ! Don't leave anyone alive !"

When we hear this today, well, then we think about the media, what other people (nations) say, about our own conscience. The answer to that is that G - d sees the wider picture, we don't. We only see the NOW. G - d, however, knows exactly what our actions cause to the future generations and if we knew what He does, we would definitely follow His instructions.

But many times we don't because we have our FREE CHOICE in life.

To be honest: I am glad that I was not in King Shaul's situation but … each of us has his or her own situation and while making decisions, we should also take the future into consideration.

_______________________

Source:

PURIM: Season of Miracles

By Rabbi Zechariah Fendel

The Prophet Nechemiah and "Bitachon"

Photo: Ruins of the Old City wall in Jerusalem's Jewish Quarter  

B"H

Last night I went to a Shiur (lecture) given by Rabbi Mordechai Machlis. The Rabbi likes to teach the Prophets and he does it very thoroughly. Word by word and sentence by sentence. At the moment, he is teaching the "Book of Nechemiah, Chapter 7".

The first chapters of Nechemiah tell us, among others, how the Prophet started rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. He put special emphasis on the city's protection and thus rebuilt walls and gates. Furthermore, he set up guards working in shifts.

Last night, however, the question arose why Nechemiah put so much emphasis on the protection. Why all those walls and gates ? Would we not rather assume that the Holy City is under the entire protection of G - d Himself ?

What does "Trust in G - d - Bitachon" mean ? Can we easily say that G - d will help us anyway ? Can we just sit, fold our hands and wait until His help is showing up ? Can someone looking for a job just say "G - d will help me and I sit here and wait" ? Or does "trusting in G - d" mean that, first of all, it is US taking some action. Making a start by doing something and THEN G - d will be on our side and advance us ?

Nechamiah tried to protect Jerusalem. He took action and thus, gained G - d's support. We can learn from the Prophet that it is important to do something and not just sit and wait until G - d may help us.

Miracles

B"H

In particular many parts of haredi society are very much into miracles. Some argue that Sephardic Jews are those being more superstitious than others. Nevertheless, when you talk to Haredim they always let you know about recent miracles. Sometimes in a very stereotype way:

"G - d has been performing a miracle for us by saving our (haredi) neighbourhoods from terrorist attacks because we keep the Mitzvot".

G - d created the universe in form of miracles; above nature as we understand it. The Rambam (Maimonides, 1135 - 1204) does not deny the existence of miracles and, as most of us know, the Rambam (Nachmanides, 1194 -1270) was very much into miracles. It was him explaining that the words of the Prophets such as Yeshayahu (Isiah) 11:6 are to be understood in a literal sense. Yes, there will be changes in the animal kingdom in the times of Meshiach. Other commentators state that the verse in Yeshayahu is nothing else but a metaphor standing for peace among the nations and the Jews.

In Chassidut, it is the Zaddik (righteous) having the power to perform miracles. But what really is a miracle and what is nature ? Don't we sometimes consider a certain occurence quickly as a miracle because it is just so unnatural and unbelievable ?

I think it was the Rambam saying that when G - d created the world, He already wove into each thing the potential to behave supernaturally. Example: When G - d created water, He invested with it the power to split, and this potential became reality when the Israelites left Egypt, as we will see in next week's Parashat Beshlach.

Various miracles only took place on a temporary basis. Once, and for a very short period of time. Afterwards the miracle was over, everything went back to normal (nature) and the incident never repeated itself.

The Talmud Tractate Pesachim 54a teaches us that ten things were created at twilight of the first Shabbat eve. Among others the Man (Manna), the donkey's mouth (see Parashat Balak) or the opening of the earth's mouth where Korach stood.

Meaning that those occurences didn't take place as a spontaneous miracle but had been planned from the time of creation; interwoven by G - d into His creation and waiting for the special moment to take place. "There is nothing new under the sun" (Kohelet - Ecclesiastes) hinting to G - d's involvement and plan.

It says that miracles do take place but the question is how we relate to them. Do we take everything literally and get excited or are (also) able to recognize the hidden miracles in the cause of nature interwoven by the creator ?

G - d's World

Photo: Taken from Weasel Zippers

B"H

The summit in Copenhagen is over and the world is back where it used to be before:

Heading towards destruction.

Our planet is falling apart but politicians do not hardly care and others even fall asleep. Catastrophe movies always show us that scientist keep on warning about disasters but the world refuses to listen. Not until the real disaster is right in front of us.

Today we do not need any further warnings, as proofs are already too obvious. The ice is melting and the water level is rising. In some years from today, parts of our coasts may be flooded. Lets look at New York or Tel Aviv. Just recently "National Geographic TV" showed the results of the melting poles. Huge parts of New York will soon be part of the sea. I suppose the same applies to Tel Aviv or to any country in the world. At the moment, the press is even going wild about snow in London and the freezing cold weather in Europe and the US.

However, there is another aspect of global warming. Is it only our fault or may something else help causing it ?

According to the Talmud (Sanhedrin), humankind will not exist forever. One day, after the arrival of Meshiach, our planet including the entire universe is going to disappear again. "Back to the time before Creation" where ONLY G - d exists alone and nothing else besides Him.

Our universe is vulnerable; stars come into existence and are also due to die. Once their energy is used up, the end of a star has arrived. And what about the sun ?

Scientists claim that the sun is heating up and thus causes another reason for our global warning. I am only asking myself where the entire topic shows up in the Prophets ? Is there any mentioning about destroying the environment or planets causing us problems in the Tanach ? Let alone in the Torah Codes.

Despite all warning, Copenhagen and floods, the world is going to continue as usual. Too much is at stake. Jobs, money, politics, personal interests. Many people can only be convinced when the disaster is right in front of their doorstep. And even if: I just watched the movie "2012" where whole continents were shifting and the majority of humanity died. Only a few rich people and some Chinese workers survived in arks.

If this is so, why should any high - ranking politician or wealthy businessman be worried. Lets build an ark and show who is the real "G - d".

By the way, in the movie "2012" the American President showed guts and refused to travel to the arks in China. Instead he was wiped out with his people. If Obama or anyone else would do the same ? Or do too many people already see themselves as G - d ?

Why is there a Torah reading on Mondays and Thursdays ?

B"H


According to the Gemara (rabbinic discussions) in Talmud Bava Kamma 82a, Ezra introduced some new regulations after he made his way from Babylon back to Israel. One of his stipulations was that there should be a Torah reading in the Synagogues every Monday and Thursday (besides Shabbat where the entire Parasha is read). We also learn that it was not really Ezra introducing, among others, the Monday and Thursday reading but with him it became officially. Even though the custom had been already in existence in earlier days.

In Exodus (Sefer Shemot) 15:22 it says that when the Israelites crossed the Sea of Reeds, they entered the wilderness of SHUR. Shur is part of the Sinai and the Israelites were wandering there for three days without finding any water.In this statement, the prophet generations after Moshe saw a hidden message. As soon as "Water" is mentioned in Jewish literature, the word also stands for "Torah". Water and Torah are the same element because we both need them for our existence. When it says in Shemot that the Israelites were traveling without finding any water it basically means that they were also without Torah. The Gemara (rabbinic discussions) in Talmud Kiddushin 30b calls the Torah a life elexier. In the same Gemara, G – d is being quoted having told the Israelites that it was Him creating the Yetzer HaRah (negative side inside of us). The counterpart to the negative would be His created Torah. "As long as you go with the Torah (study), the Yetzer does not have any influence on you. If not, the Yetzer will get you"., said G – d.


The Israelites were walking for three days and the commentators see a spiritual exhaustion as well as a physical exhaustion.


The question is why Ezra chose the Monday and the Thursday for the Torah reading during the week ? one of the most common opinions is that on those days during Temple times, people came to the market in Jerusalem and thus were able to listen to the Torah. However, the TOSAFOT, based on the Midrash Tanchuma, add an astonishing explanation:
It was on a Thursday that Moshe went up to Har Sinai in order to receive the second pair of Luchot (Tablets), as he had smashed the first pair when he saw the Israelites dancing around the Golden Calf. And it was a Monday when Moshe returned into the camp of the Israelites. G – d had forgiven them. Therefore, the Midrash as well as the Tosafot regard those two weekdays as a sign of G – d when His unlimited mercy is very obvious. And this is the reason for reading the Torah on these two days. Furthermore Ezra stipulated that the Batei Din (rabbinic courts) should also hold their sessions / trials on Mondays and Thursdays.
The reason was the same: G – d's special mercy on these two days.


Who were the Tosafot ?

Today we also know them under the name "Rishonim". They basically started commentating on the Talmud some time after Rashi. "Tosafot" means "Additions" and are medieval commentaries on the Talmud. If you look at a Talmud page (Daf) then you see the actual Talmudic text in the middle surrounded by Rashi's commentary and the Tosafot. One of the very famous Tosafists was, for instance, Rabbi Me'ir of Rothenburg (Germany).


The Maharal of Prague, Rabbi Yehudah Loew ben Bezalel, 1520 - 1609, states in his "Chiddushei Aggadot" on Talmud Bava Kamma (see page 12 - 13) the same explanation as the Tosafot and the Midrash Tanchuma. Mondays and Thursdays are special days because the heavenly court is also having its meeting (symbolically speaking). Here, the Maharal quotes a Passuk from Talmud Shabbat 129b:
On Modays and Thursdays the heavenly and the earthly court gather at the same time. According to Talmud Rosh HaShana 16a, a person is being judged every single day for his actions. According to Ezra, the earthly courts also gather on Mondays and Thursdays and may be influenced by their counterpart in the upper spiritual worlds. This is why a person should avoid any dangerous action (e.g. bungy jumping) on these two days, as the heavenly court may decide against him. Meaning, we should not challenge the heavenly court with our dangerous actions on these two weekdays. Furthermore the Maharal states that Mondays and Thursdays are also positive days for fasting in order to do a private Tikun (soul rectification).

Conclusion: The Midrash Tanchuma states that Moshe went up to Har Sinai on a Thursday in order to receive the second Luchot. He came down on a Monday when G – d had forgiven the Israelites for the sin of the Golden Calf. Therefore G – d obviously shows more mercy to His creation on Mondays and Thursday.

All kinds of calculations on weekdays can be found in the Talmud as well !

OBAMA in the TORAH CODES

B"H

I am not too much into the Gematria and Torah Code subject at all, but here is an interesting article concerning the US - President Barak Hussein Obama.
___________________

Two Jewish researchers Joel Gallis and Dr. Robert Wolf asserted with utter certainty in May 2007, long before Barack Hussein Obama had won his first primary and when it appeared that Hillary Clinton was a sure thing that he would be the next president of the United States.

More recently in August 2008 the scholars reported that Obama's name "intersects" with a passage in the apocalyptic book of Daniel Chapter 7 and specifically Daniel 7:25 which speaks of the last "king" who would oppress God's people under the rubric of bringing about "change" to the world.

The scholars show that the numerical equivalent of "Barack Hussein Obama" in gematria – the practice of finding the numerical value of letters and creating associations between words and phrases – is 501.

In an article from August 2008 the scholars elaborate that this number is associated with the "end of days" and two factors that they say the Torah indicate would trigger the apocalypse: the rise of Islam and the fact that Jews are bring about their own fall – by overwhelming helping to elect Obama:

The connection is that the descendants of Yishmael are the evil that will befall the Jewish People at that time. We will anger G - d through the work of our handsבמעשה ידיכם (a gematria of 501)and the evil of the ישמעאלים (also a gematria of 501) will befall us. So what could we have possibly done with our hands that would anger Hashem? With our very own hands we finance and work to put the wrong people in power over us. This action results in our downfall. By putting into power leaders in Israel who don’t believe in G-d we help bring about a spiritual collapse. And by electing dangerous leaders in America and other countries we assist in bringing our physical and moral downfall. We vote for these people we put them in power and we raise money for them. This inappropriate work of our hands will bring evil upon us in the form of Yishmael.
For not only is 501 the value of במעשה ידיכם (the work of our hands) and our punishment the ישמעאליםbut it is also connected to the next President of the United States that we are helping put in power through Jewish efforts. For 501 is also the gematria of ראש representing the new heador leader of America.

So who will be the new ראש of America? Our readers probably will be shocked to learn that 501 is also the gematria of ברק חוסיין אובאמהBarack Hussein Obama.

Hashem watches as countless Jews especially in Hollywood California rush to send their money to Obama’s campaign chest. And so with our own hands we are in the process of taking a descendant from Yishmael and placing him as our Rosh in the White House just 7 years after 9/11. He is indeed the evil that will befall us at the end of days the evil that Moses spoke to our ancestors about.

But there are those who argue that Obama is youthful and energized in his appearance and his ideas. Why shouldn’t we believe him when he says the magic words that he is a friend of Israel? How do we really know he’s dangerous to us? Not only is his name the same gematria as Yishmaelim evidencing that he is a Muslim although he denies it but it also has a further connection to a wave of impending evil against the Jews and the rest of the world.

At our Passover seders we spill a drop of wine when we mention each of the 10 plagues and also when we mention the abbreviation of those plagues by saying דצך עדש באחב . Well this abbreviation of the 10 plagues also has a gematria of 501 the same as Barack Hussein Obama and the Yishmaelim.

Obama and radical Muslims will bring as much havoc destruction and confusion to the world as all the 10 plagues together brought to Egypt. It’s interesting how Rabbi Yehudah who made the acrostic or abbreviation of the plagues took the first Hebrew letter of each plague. However with respect to the last plagueמכת בכרותthe killing of the first born he took the bais (the first letter of the 2nd word of the plague) rather than the mem (the first letter of the first word). Perhaps he knew that in the future during the end of days there would be an Obama. Perhaps his message is a warning to us that has been encoded in the Haggadah for nearly 2 thousand years until today.

The foreign minister of Hamas has recently endorsed Obama for president. The Los Angeles Times devoted a lengthy front-page story headlined“Allies of Palestinians see a friend in Barack Obama.”

Ali Abunimaha resident of Obama’s district claims that Obama said several years ago when running for the Senate that he was sorry he couldn’t talk more about the Palestinian cause since his primary campaign had constrained what he could say.

Daniel 7 (25) deals with the last king of the 4th beast of exile who will humble 3 other kings. Rav Saadia Gaon stated that the 3 kings or leaders who will be humble dare from Israel Greece (representing Europe) and Yishmael (representing the Arab nations). This haughty arrogant king will speak words against G - d and the Jewish People and he will try to change the times and the law. How interesting is it that this very wordchangeis the key word used by Obama in his campaign?

The codedend of days message that Yaakov gave over to his sons was not deciphered by them. But our generation the generation alive at the end of dayscan understand the clues and break the code.

In Yaakov’s statement there are 4 words אשר יקרא אתכם באחרית (that will befall you in the end). The word אשר that describes the identity of the evil has a gematria of 501 the same as Barack Hussein Obama. And if you look at the word באחריתin the endthe first 3 letters contain the initials of Obama. The bais is for ברק Barackthe aleph is for אובאמה Obamaand the ches is for חוסיין Hussein.

The scholars using the clues of the book of Daniel say that Obama will reign as "King" for three and a half years. In their May broadcast they ascribe special significance to the date of April 8, 2009, the day before the festival of Passover (Pesach) when the once-in-28-years "Blessing of the Sun" is to be recited. They believe that between now and that date there will be dramatic developments that involve Iran.


Link:

Israel Insider

Redemption 5768

Torah Code. NET

King David, Batsheva & Uriah

B"H

In the kabbalistic book "Shaar HaGilgulim – The Book of Reincarnations" by Rabbi Yitzchak Luria ist says:

King David was a reincarnation of Adam (HaRishon). Batsheva was a reincarnation of Chava (Eve) and Uriah, the Hittite, was a reincarnation of the snake (in Gan Eden). In those statements, the Kabbalist, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, sees the reason why King David "let" Uriah die: In order to prevent the reincarnated snake (in Uriah) leading Chava (Batsheva) astray a second time.
This kind of conclusion may sound rather off but there is also no proof for any opposing statement. The Book of Samuel II (11 – 12) lets us know about the even: One night, David was standing on the rooftop of his palace and from far away, he sees a woman bathing. He finds out that this is Batsheva, the wife of Uriah, the Hittite. But because King David wants to marry Batsheva so desperately, he sent Uriah to war where he died. Afterwards, David is marrying Batsheva. After the wedding, the Prophet Nathan let David know how terrible his plot in the eyes of G – d is. David repented and asked G – d for forgiveness.

Rashi, on the other hand, considers the whole event as a clarification for doing Teshuva (repentance). Everyone who has sinned has the chance to return to G – d, as soon as he seriously regrets his negative actions. And King David was terrible sorry of what he had done regarding Uriah.

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov gave a great explanation on why Batsheva was destined to be the wife of King David:

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov remarked that someone who does not understand why the Land of Israel had to be in the hands of the Canaanite nations before it came into the hands of the Children of Israel will also not be able to understand why Batsheva had to be married to Uriah the Hittite before she was married to David (Sichos HaRaN). From these words, we may infer that Batsheva was intended for David – for it had been prophesied to him already that he was destined to have a son who would build the Temple (II Samuel 7:12-13), and only a unique woman could mother the wisest man that ever lived. (Batsheva proved her strength of character in various ways, see I Kings 1:15ff; moreover, the Midrash says she had no compunction about chastising Solomon even after he became king.)

The greatness of the TIKKUNIM ("repairs") that were destined to result from the union of Batsheva with David was such that the two could only come together in a manner overshadowed with darkness and mystery. David's sin was not the common man's sin of going into a woman who is NIDDAH ("menstruant"), because Batsheva was purifying herself in the Mikveh ("ritual pool") at the very moment when David saw her (v 2). Nor does the fact that the text makes it appear she was married to Uriah the Hittite mean that she was simply in the category of EISHES ISH ("a man's wife"). Although on the surface it looks as if David was guilty of adultery, this is not so. In David's time it was the practice of all men prior to going out to war to give their wives a GET ("bill of divorce"). The purpose was to ensure that if the husband went missing in the war, his wife would not become an AGUNAH ("anchored women", unable to marry anyone else) and that if he was killed and left no children, she would not be subjected to the humiliation of YIBUM or HALITZAH (levirate marriage). Soldiers could thus wholly throw themselves into fighting the war without having to worry what might happen to their wives if they lost their lives. The formula of the GET followed the standard formula of a GET AL TENAI ("conditional divorce") that made the divorce retroactive to the time of the giving of the GET in the event that the husband died in the war (Rashi on v 4; Talmud Kesuvos 9b; Rambam, Laws of Divorce ch 8).
When Batsheva informed David that she had conceived, he sent for Uriah and ordered him to go into Batsheva (v 8) so that when the child was born Uriah would think it was his own, which would help cover up the scandal. It was only when Uriah refused to go into Batsheva while his brother Israelites were fighting a war that David contrived to have him killed. The death of Uriah in the war would cause his GET to Batsheva come into effect retroactively, as explained above, meaning that at the time of David's relations with her she was technically NOT a married woman.
If the sin was NOT that Batsheva was a Niddah or a married woman at the time of the relations, what was it??? Did David sin in ordering Joab to send Uriah to a battle-position in the continuing Ammonite war in which he would certainly be killed? Our rabbis teach that Uriah was indeed guilty of a capital offense in refusing to carry out David's order to go into Batsheva. This made him MOREID BE-MALCHUS ("a traitor to the kingship") the penalty for which is death.
Where David sinned was in contriving for Uriah to be killed in such a way as to make it seem that he was merely a war casualty, whereas in fact David should have taken Uriah before the Sanhedrin and had him publicly condemned to death (Shabbos 56a). However David did not want to do this as it would have drawn public attention to the questionable circumstances of his relations with Batsheva.
It was not that Batsheva was not meant for David and that he took what was not his. The sin was that having caught a glimpse from his roof-top of the mother of Solomon, he took her by force and tried to hide what he was doing instead of waiting for God to bring her to him in the course of time. In this respect there is a certain parallel between David's sin and that of Moses' impatiently striking the rock for water instead of speaking to it.

The real meaning of Nathan's reproof for David personally is not even our business. The average individual cannot expect to grasp the exact nature of David's sin. The prophet's reproof to the saintly David is directed at US, the average readers, who are to learn from it how to recognize our own sins and how to repent in order to rectify them. From verse 4, which successively refers to the rich man's visitor as a HEILECH ("passer-by"), then an ORE'AH ("visitor") and finally an ISH ("man of stature"), the rabbis learned out that the nature of the evil inclination is first to drop in casually as a passer-by, then to install himself within us as a long-term guest, until he finally takes over the entire house and acts as the BAAL HABAYIS ("owner of the house"; Succah 52b).
Nathan the prophet used the parable of the rich man's taking the poor man's lamb in order to prompt David to see for himself where his sin lay and how he should be punished. Had Nathan simply asked David to consider his behavior and ask himself if he had done anything wrong, the king may have tried to rationalize away his actions. Instead, Nathan told David a graphic story about somebody else's gross behavior and asked him to give a quite impartial evaluation of this kind of behavior that would not be colored by the need to justify himself. Rabbi Nachman (Likutey Moharan I, 113) teaches that this is the method whereby God consults sinners about how they should be punished. If He were to ask them directly about their own behavior, they would never give an impartial reply and would always judge themselves too leniently. He therefore shows them someone else's behavior which is parallel to their own and then asks them how they judge it. According to their evaluation of the other person's deeds and how they should be penalized, so God judges and penalizes their own, and this is the meaning of the rabbinic statement that "a person is punished with his knowledge (MI-DAATO) yet without his knowledge" (SHELO MI-DAATO)" (Avos 3:16). We should be very careful when looking at and judging the behavior of others in case we are unknowingly being invited to decide our own fate.
In angrily demanding that the rich man pay fourfold, David sealed his own fate: he suffered by losing four children – Batsheva's first baby, Amnon, Tamar and Absalom (Rashi on v 6).
"Why have you despised the word of God to do evil in His eye?" (v 9). As explained above, the evil was not that Batsheva was already married or that she was not intended for David. The evil was that while knowing Batsheva was intended for him, David still contrived to take her using subterfuge. If Batsheva had not been intended for David, why after punishing him with the death of the baby did God allow Batsheva to conceive and bear a child of whom our text states that "HaShem LOVED him" (v 24)? According to the Midrash based on the KSIV "HE called" and the KRI of "SHE called" in v 24, it was not Batsheva but God Himself who called the child's name SHLOMO, which is also the Name of God throughout Song of Songs. If David's relationship with Batsheva was inherently evil, how could it be that the one who built God's very Temple was born as a result?
David acknowledged that he sinned (v 13), and he fully repented: Psalm 51 is eloquent testimony to the depth and sincerity of David's repentance and his ability to turn the very sin into merit by using it to teach others the path of repentance. Whereas king Saul's sins led to his deposition from the kingship, David's kingship was not undermined by his sin, which indeed added a new dimension to David's Torah, showing that even a Tzaddik can sin and that even a Rasha (wicked person) can repent.
With the birth of Solomon (who does not enter the narrative again until the very end of David's life), the protracted war against the Ammonites came to an end with David's capture and destruction of the capital city and his cruel punishment of the Ammonites (v 31). This was particularly severe because the Ammonite god alluded to in verse 30 ("the crown of MALKOM") and in the KSIV of verse 31 (MALKON as opposed to the KRI of MALBEIN) is none other than MOLEKH, whose worship through passing children through the fire is strictly proscribed by the Torah (Leviticus 18:21, see RaDaK on II Samuel 12:1).
How David could have placed the crown of an idol on his own head when the appurtenances of idolatry are normally strictly forbidden is explained by the rabbis as having been made possible through the prior nullification of the Ammonite idol by a non-Israelite (Talmud Avodah Zarah 44a). How David could have balanced a such a heavy crown on his head (it weighed a talent of gold) is also discussed by the rabbis, some of whom say that it had a magnet in it that caused the crown to be self-suspended in the air! This is by no means the least of the weighty mysteries embedded within the fathomless allegory of these chapters.


http://www.azamra.org/Bible/II%20Samuel%2011-12.htm


Talmud Schabbat 56

Rashi: David didn't sin, as, at the moment when he had relations with Batsheva, she had been already divorced from Uriah. Every soldier gave his wife a GET when he went out to war. - See GITTIN 72a, Kiddushin 43a,

The Land of Israel and the Torah Laws

B"H

The Satmarer Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum z"l once claimed that a Jew shouldn't make Aliyah to Israel when he doesn't intend to keep the Torah laws (Mitzwot) in the Holy Land.

Indeed, there is a controversy about if Jews living in Israel should keep the Torah Mitzwot and not being secular at all. There is a notion that it may be less severe living as a secular Jew in the Diaspora than in Israel.
Those who say that a Jew in Israel should keep the Torah law state that somebody violating Halacha in the Holy Land is just like as if he is spitting into G – d's "face". There is a question mark behind that approach because a secular Jew could, later on, turn into a Torah keeing Jew or do good deeds.

In the "Book of Ezra" (10:10) it says that "Ezra the Cohen rises". He rebuked the Jews because in those days, many of them married Gentiles. And isn't it severe and spitting into G – d's "face" when someone marries a non – Jew ? Especially in the Land of Israel.

Some religious Jews may claim that if a secular Jew feels like marrying a non – Jew, okay, that's his problem. I am so religious and what do I have to do with it ?

In Judaism, however, we have the concept of a "collective punishment" and those violating the law should be aware of the fact that, through their actions, they are causing the entire Jewish people to be punished by G – d.
The Tanach (Torah, Nevi'im – Prophets, Ketuvim – Writings) lists a few incidents of such "collective punishments".

For instance, when Joshua was ordered by G – d not to take any belongings from the people of Jericho after the destruction of the town. However, one Jew named Achan stole something and the entire people was held responsible by G – d. It says in the "Book of Joshua" that the "Jewish people stole" instead of "Achan stole". This shows us that we are also responsible for each other.

I am not saying that now someone feeling so terribly religious and holy should start running around rebuking all the others. It says that rebuking one's fellows has to be learned in order to not hurt anyone else's feelings.

Furthermore, there are commentators discussing the importance of keeping Torah Mitzwot in Jerusalem or elsewhere in the Land of Israel. Some consider it as extremely important to keep the Mitzwot at least in the Holy City of Jerusalem.

The RAMCHAL about the Three Temples

B"H

The famous Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto - the RAMCHAL (born in Padua / Italy in 1707 – died in Israel in 1747) cannot be left out whenever talking about Jewish teachings. He wrote Mussar (Ethics) – books (such as "The Path of the Just" or "Derech HaShem – The Way of G – d") but he also published plenty of kabbalistic writings (e.g. Adir BaMarom). There is no Yeshiva today where the concepts of the Ramchal aren't taught.

In one of his writings, he explains us his understanding of the Three Tempels. Here are a few of his concepts:

According to the Rambam (Maimonides), the Third Temple is already being built in heaven and waiting to come down into our world (see also Exodus 15:17). But not only the Rambam said that the Third Temple has already been built in heaven; Rashi comes to the same conclusion.

But what exactly is the meaning of: The Third Temple has already been built in heaven and is ready to come down. Only Meshiach has to come and then we will see the Temple.

Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto interprets:
In Kabbalah and in Chassidut every single material things (and even humans) has / have its counterpart in the spiritual upper worlds (in heaven, so to speak). On Earth, we are very human with all our strengths and weaknesses but our own perfect counterpart is to be found in the upper spiritual worlds. My own totally perfect "I" or "ME".

After I die, this perfect counterpart of myself will show me what kind of person I should have been while I was alive. It is like standing in front of a mirror and someone is listing us all our sins and failures. Then my perfect "I" comes into the picture and shows me how I should have behaved, solved problems or dealt with people.

"Jerusalem" or the "Temple" have their own counterparts in the upper spiritual worlds. A perfect Jerusalem with perfect people and a Temple where there is no more corruption or anything, but just Holiness (Kedusha).

The meaning of "the Temple already being built in heaven" is not that G – d took some stones and started building. The concept we are talking about is not material but spiritual. A spiritual Temple, a spiritual "I" or "Me", a spiritual city of Jerusalem. These counterparts don't exist in a material sense but only show us spiritual perfection.

Let's remember:
With the arrival of Meshiach, we are receiving a higher soul level which doesn't even let us think of any more sinning. No more crime, anything negative or jealousy; people will be very different. And this way we are going to connect the perfect spiritual world with our material physical world.

Furthermore, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto asked the question why the Prophet Yechezkel (Yezekiel) saw the Third and not the Second Temple in his vision. In his time, the First Temple was destroyed but the Second hadn't even been built.

Yechezkel reached a level of prophecy called BINA; a complete total understanding beyond time and space. And due to this high level he was able to look into the future by even overlooking the Second Tempel (beyond time). The Second Temple itself was only due to be build in another 56 years from then on. But Yechezkel only saw a vision of an eternal unique G – dly Temple and this definitely couldn't have been the Second Temple.