בס׳ד

"Where does it say that you have a contract with G-d to have an easy life?"

the Lubavitcher Rebbe



"Failure is not the enemy of success; it is its prerequisite."

Rabbi Nosson Scherman



31 May 2021

The domain of woke politics

Rutgers prez denies university apologized for condemning anti-Semitism

In a phone interview with the Post Sunday night, Rabbi Yosef Carlebach, the executive director of Rutgers University Chabad House, characterized Rutgers as “a tremendous place for Jewish life” and home to a “thriving, happy Jewish population.”

Carlebach, who has been part of the Rutgers community since 1978, thought university officials had “made a big mistake” with the scope of their statements.

The rabbi said that rather than trying to address recent incidents of anti-Semitism on and around campus — including physical attacks on people who outwardly appear Jewish and the egging of a fraternity house during a Holocaust remembrance event last month — university officials “tried to enter the domain of woke politics.”

“In trying to be everything to everybody,” Carlebach explained, “they turned out to be nothing.”

https://nypost.com/2021/05/30/rutgers-prez-denies-university-apologized-for-condemning-anti-semitism/

My mother was born in Sheikh Jarrah in 1921

האוייב הכי גדול של עם ישראל בהיסטוריה

As Hate Surges, Prominent European Jews Worry War Against Antisemitism Is Lost

26 May 2021

Phone Calls

2 more arrested in back-to-back attacks against Jewish victims in Brooklyn

It’s Not about Israel; It’s about Being a Jew

Volunteer phone calls are for Jewish seniors

One Word

The video below is about being careful with what you say.

The other day I caught a video of someone discussing how we usually say, "I got to wake up. I got to go to work." He suggested changing one word to produce a different and more positive mindset. "I get to wake up. I get to go to work."

What a difference one word makes.

First the @NYTimes publishes an op-ed supporting terrorism. Then it publishes The Map That Lies.

New Video from Rabbi Alon Anava: Message of Meron

23 May 2021

Dedication and Fervor

"Vayas Kain Aaron" - "And Aaron did so; toward the face of the Menorah he kindled its lamps, as Hashem commanded Moshe". Rashi explains that the Torah emphasizes that "Aaron did so" to declare Aaron's praise - "Shelo Shinah" - that he did not act differently. Would anyone suspect that Aaron would deviate from Hashem's command?

The Meforshim answer that Aron as Kohen Gadol lit the Menorah the entire 40 years that the Mishkan was in the wilderness. A person naturally does something the first time with more dedication and excitement than after he has done it for several years. In his praise, the Torah says that Aaron did not change: Even after lighting the Menorah for so many years, he continued to do so with the same dedication, fervor, and excitement as the first time.

http://www.thejewisheye.com/rev_pbahalo.html

Watch: Manhattan Attack Victim Yosef Borgen Speaks To CNN’s Don Lemon

Antisemitic gangs hyped up on leftwing identity politics are roving New York City beating Jews, or as the New York Times describes it, "Conflict In Gaza Leads To Clashes In Times Square."

Why and Where

How I Achieved My Personal Breakthrough

Why The World Hates The Jews

Watch: Where Is The Media On Anti-Semitic Attacks Across The US?

20 May 2021

The Erroneous Headline

On May 19th SkyNews AU reported "Israeli soldiers attempting to provide humanitarian aid to residents of Gaza have been forced to retreat after Hamas started firing at the group."

https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6254846435001

Yet, SkyNews also reported:



SkyNews eventually tweeted:





Few Regrets

The last living WWII-era German Nazis have shockingly few regrets

When the world turned its back on European Jewry

Walgreens Closes 17 San Francisco Stores Due To "Out Of Control" Shoplifting

Bari Weiss tweeted "Has there been a single story in @nytimes @washingtonpost @CNN about the current wave of hate crimes against Jews on the streets of Los Angeles and other major cities across the West? Or have I missed something?"

Under the Bari Weiss thread, someone tweeted, 'That’s a “curious” headline' about a Washington Post article titled "Police probe sidewalk brawl involving Palestinian supporters."

The article contains the follwing sentence.

Mayor Eric Garcetti, in tweets posted Wednesday afternoon, said the LAPD is looking into the assault as a hate crime and condemned what he called an “organized, anti-Semitic attack.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/police-probe-sidewalk-brawl-involving-palestinian-supporters/2021/05/19/0923f51e-b8e7-11eb-bc4a-62849cf6cca9_story.html

Yet, the headline characterizes the incident as a brawl.

19 May 2021

The Kidney Recipient

Kidney of Lod lynching victim Yigal Yehoshua donated to Arab recipient

Below are two reports about the same incident. Which one is to be believed?

An M-16-armed female terrorist arrived at the Elias junction at the entrance to Kiryat Arba on Wednesday afternoon and opened fire as she advanced toward IDF soldiers and civilians at the junction.

Two soldiers fired at her and neutralized her. There are no casualties to our forces. Before being eliminated she managed to fire 28 bullets.


https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/306470

A Palestinian girl was shot and killed today by Israeli occupation forces gunfire to the east of Hebron in the south of the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

WAFA correspondent said Israeli forces opened fire at a girl near the Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba,...

Some reports, however, said an Israeli settler from Kiryat Arba was the one who shot and killed her then left his M16 automatic rifle near her body to prove that she was intending to wage an attack.


https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/124620

A Nazir Tamei, before he starts his Nazirus again brings three korbanos, one of them being a Chatos. The (Nedarim 10) Gemara asks, "What did this holy Yid do wrong?" The Gemara says that a Nazir is called a Chotei because he refrains from drinking wine. "From here," says the Gemara, "we learn that HaYoshev BaTaanis, someone who undertakes fasting when not required to by Halacha, is also called a Chotei. Why?

The Chasam Sofer says that the whole point of a fast is to remove yourself from the indulgences of Olam HaZeh and to become inspired to do Tshuva. A person must commit to change during the course of the fast or else he has gained nothing.

People are classified in two ways either as Holchim, moving up and bettering themselves on a constant basis, or Yoshvim remaining in your place in life and not elevating yourself towards Shamayim. The Chasam Sofer explains that HaYoshev BaTaanis, someone who undertakes a fast but remains a Yoshev and does not contemplate his life during the fast, has not gained anything by his fast except weakening his body. For that, he is called a Chotei. However, if someone uses the Taanis which weakens his body to better his neshama, he is Holeich and surely not a Chotei.


http://www.revach.net/parshas-hashavua/life-lessons/Parshas-Naso-Chasam-Sofer-The-Crime-Of-Fasting/5080

Wednesday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that a Palestinian woman was shot dead by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). https://en.royanews.tv/news/28103/2021-05-19

The Called Off Strike

The truth about the al-Jalaa tower (the al-Jazeera and AP offices in Gaza)

נפטר וחזר לחיים בכדי לספר

Israel Defense Forces Call off Strike During Mission When Presence of Children Suspected

11 things you can do to help Israel

?גוג ומגוג? משיח? גאולה ברחמים

15 May 2021

15 Seconds

What Can You Do in 15 Seconds?

Below are two versions of an incident that occurred on Friday evening, one reported by Yahoo, the other by JPost.

On Friday night, a molotov cocktail was thrown at a house owned by Arabs in Jaffa. A 12-year-old boy was seriously wounded. The family claimed Jewish extremists were behind the attack.
https://news.yahoo.com/israeli-airstrike-levels-high-rise-135416231.html

In Jaffa, two Arab children were burnt, one severely, when a petrol bomb was thrown into their residence in the Ajami neighborhood.

Although suspicion initially feel on Jewish extremists, Channel 12 reported that the police now suspect Arab extremists of the attack who were seeking to attack a Jewish home but mistakenly attacked an Arab family instead.

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/jerusalem-suspects-arrested-for-throwing-molotov-cocktails-starting-fire-668206

David Friedman Shuts down Rashida Tlaib

Rav Aharon Kotler: Why Always "Zecher Yetzias Mitzrayim" and Not "Zecher Har Sinai"?

Survivor's Guilt: Covid, The Holocaust, and Sinai

Washington Post laps up the latest Palestinian propaganda

12 May 2021

Projections

Feel Israel's Pain

The Chofetz Chaim points out that Shevet Benyamin had 35,400 people while Shevet Dan had 62,700 people. Yet Dan had only 1 son while Benyamin had 10 sons. And not only was Chushim the only son of Dan, but he was deaf as well.

If at the beginning of the Galus Mitzrayim, we had tried to predict which of these two Shevatim would be larger a few generations forward, clearly the mathematical projection would have been that Shevet Benyamin would be far more populous than Shevet Dan. This statistical likelihood, of course, never materialized. The Choftez Chaim says that we learn from here that if Hashem wants to bless a person with many descendents, he will be blessed with many descendents, even if through natural factors that is unlikely. Conversely, if Hashem feels that a person should not merit many descendents, then it will not happen, even if he has the best situation "on paper".

This lesson applies to everything in life. Sometimes we look at a situation and ask - based on natural projections (derech haTeva) - how will this person earn a living? How will he be able to survive financially? Hashem has many messengers. Shevet Dan and Benyamin are testimony to the fact that Hashem controls the world. He has His own calculations. That which we think will happen, by the natural order of events, is not always what happens. Everything is in the Hands of Hashem.

http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Bamidbar-Math-Quiz-One-Son-OutProduces-Ten/267

nypos

The Clash

Pro-Palestine, Pro-Israel Protesters Clash In Manhattan Over Escalating Crisis In The Middle East

A Stranger Amongst You: My Life with Asperger's

President Trump Is Kicked Off of Twitter But Hamas Leader Allowed to Celebrate the “Bombing of Tel Aviv”

Ben Shapiro attacks 'ignorant media' over coverage of violence in Jerusalem

Branco Cartoon – Crash of Civilization



11 May 2021

Tefilla of the SheLah Hakadosh

Tefilla of the SheLah Hakadosh

This special prayer was composed by the SheLah Hakadosh to express the prayers of parents on behalf of their children. The SheLah Hakadosh said the optimal time for parents to recite this prayer is Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan for that is the month when G-d gave us the Torah, and when the Jewish people began to be called His Children

The Aftermath of Corona and Meron Tradegy - R. Yitzchok Sorotzkin

Shabbos Sermon That Congregants Asked to Record

ההגרלה על ספר התורה בעיצומה

Omar Accuses Israel of “Act of Terrorism” With Gaza Strikes

3 May 2021

Psalm 145

Meron: The Tragedy of Them – No, Us

מפעים: הנער ההרוג ממירון הגיע בחלום לאחיו

The article above relates that one of the young victims appeared to his brother in a dream and asked that Tehillim Chapter 145 should be recited in his name three times a day. in addition to the times that it is said in the Ashrei prayer, as a merit for the soul of Moshe ben Malka Freida.

2 May 2021

Instead of

Bhol.co.il has published a letter that Rabbi Shimon Matalon, AH, one of the victims of the Meron tragedy, gave to an acquaintance this Thursday who was told to open it on Sunday. Below is a loose translation of what was written.

Instead of being filled wiith disappointment - accept everything with love

Instead of being rigid - be flexible

Instead of grumbling - let the mind rule

Instead of griping - thank more

Instead of complaining - filter out the bad

Instead of drowning in water - say 'everything from heaven'

Instead of blaming the whole world - remember who is the greatest of them all

Instead of seething - take a deep breath, stretch

Instead of getting upset, exercise faith

Instead of seeing black - in the full half choose

Instead of sinking into depression - remember that from every experience G-d saves

Because G-d determines the situation - and you the mood
https://www.bhol.co.il/news/1215019

המנחמים נדהמו: מה בחר לציין אחד ההרוגים בסידורו האישי

A Single Moment

The other day, I was listening to a radio station when I heard a song with lyrics taken form Ethics of the Fathers containing the words, "A single moment of repentance and good deeds in this world is greater than all of the World to Come."

As I concentrated on the words, I realized how precious every moment of life is and that time should not be wasted, but, rather utilized for doing good deeds and accumulating scores of mitzvot that will stand us in good stead during our ultimate journey. As the tragedy in Meron befell us, we are more likely to contemplate the ephemeral nature of our time in this world and understand that we don't have all the time in the world to do what must be done. Why not use this moment to contribute to a worhy cause, or to learn a devar Torah in the merit of those who were noftar. You can donate here to help the victims' families , or here or donate to Oorah

פרק ד משנה יז

הוא היה אומר: יפה שעה אחת בתשובה ומעשים טובים בעולם הזה, מכל חיי העולם הבא. ויפה שעה אחת של קורת רוח בעולם הבא, מכל חיי העולם הזה Ethics of the Fathers, Chapter 4 17.

"He would also say: A single moment of repentance and good deeds in this world is greater than all of the World to Come. And a single moment of bliss in the World to Come is greater than all of the present world."
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2032/jewish/Chapter-Four.htm

A Simple Cheshbon Nefesh: Why Did This Tragedy Occur?

Embrace the pain, resist the blame

Parshas Behar starts by saying that on Har Sinai Hashem told us the mitzva of Shmitta. Rashi famously asks, "What is the connection between the two?" Rashi explains that just like Shmitta was given on Har Sinai, so, too, were all the mitzvos in great detail. Yet, the question remains, why choose Shmitta out of all the mitzvos to teach us this lesson?

The Ben Ish Chai answers that Har Sinai and Shmitta have something in common. They were both in a bad position, but this was precisely the reason for their success. Har Sinai was not even a candidate for Kabolas HaTorah, as it was way to small and plain. However, in this merit, it was chosen. Similarly, Shmitta is a disastrous year agriculturally, but precisely because of this Hashem blesses the land with incredible abundance as a reward.

This connection is not only the similarity between the two, but a lesson for all mitzvos. We need not fear the perceived loss from doing any mitzvos, be it the extra cost of money or time required by the mitzva. In every mitzva, it is this sacrifice that will sow the seeds of reward.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/life-lessons/Parshas-Behar-Ben-Ish-Chai-Har-Sinai-Shmitta-Where-Less-Is-More/5050