Happy Lag Ba'Omer!

18 Iyyar 5780
Day 33 of the Omer

In Rav Yagen's shiur that I posted previously, he makes the point that Rashbi, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, was "quarantined" so to speak for 13 years as he hid in a cave from the Roman authorities.  In these times, we can begin to imagine what it would be like to be confined and have your movements restricted for fear of your life, although certainly not at Rabbi Shimon's level.  So, Rav Yehudah Richter brings a question: "Why did a Tzadik like Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai have to suffer so severely?"  And he brings the answer:

[I received this orally, so please bear with me for any mistakes I make in this written transmission.  Any mistakes are mine alone.]

According to the Mitzpeh Eitan, a commentary on the Ein Ya'akov, Rashbi came to visit his teacher Rabbi Akiva after he was imprisoned by the Roman authorities.  This was, of course, before he himself was on the run.  Anyway, Rashbi came to ask Rabbi Akiva to continue to teach him even from prison.  But, Rabbi Akiva, fearful of implicating Rabbi Shimon in his 'crimes,' refused.  To which Rashbi kiddingly threatened to "moser" him to his father Yochai if he continued to refuse. 

[According to another source, Rashbi's father, Yochai, was "in favor at the court of Rome."]

So, the Mizpeh Eitan records that for this word "moser" - even though he was not at all serious - caused Rashbi to be "handed over."  This is such a very serious thing to do that even the very suggestion of it cost Rashbi 13 years of his life.

That completes what was told over to me by Rabbi Yehudah Richter, but then I saw in my reading that Rashbi learned with Rabbi Akiva for 13 years before he was arrested.  And Rashbi was confined to the cave for 13 years.  That can't be a coincidence. 

I imagine that even knowing his student spoke in jest to demonstrate his determination to continue his learning, still, it must have cut to Rabbi Akiva's heart and cause him an instant of anguish and pain.  For causing it, Rabbi Shimon apparently had to pay with a year of his life for every year of learning he owed to his teacher, Rabbi Akiva.  Maybe.

This is another lesson we are learning in this special time in history when the "authorities" everywhere have encouraged us to be moser on our neighbors - to turn people in if they are not wearing masks or keeping the prescribed social distance or if they dare to pray in a minyan, even when in accordance with all the guidelines. 

Better we should pray for their continued health and the health of those around them, if we believe their actions are putting themselves and others at risk.  Better to pray for them rather than to turn them over to the authorities, especially as not even the so-called experts can agree on the efficaciousness of the prescribed measures.

Better we watch every word that comes out of our mouths and weigh their consequences before they are spoken and bring every concern like this that we have to HKB"H in prayer.

Listen and learn why this situation is not as simple as many would like you to believe and learn the authentic Torah position on the current matzav...

"Preparation for Lag Baomer - 5780"

17 Iyyar 5780
Day 32 of the Omer

In the general area of Meron?  On the eve of L"G Ba'Omer?  It should be a sign for Tov on this Tov day of Iyyar.

2 earthquakes shake Israel's north within hour

...The Geophysical Institute said the first earthquake, which occurred at 5:38am, measured 3.2 in magnitude and its epicenter was some 14 km (8.6 miles) north of Beit She'an in the north.

Beit She'an has a unique geographical setting due to being located at the junction of the Jordan River Valley and the Jezreel Valley.

The second tremblor took place around 6:53 am and measured 2.7 in magnitude. Its exact epicenter is said to have been some 54km (33 miles) north of Nahariya the northernmost coastal city in Israel.

"5G or 5 G-d. The Final Battle of Messiah"

16 Iyyar 5780
Day 31 of the Omer
Shavua Tov!

"Be Prepared: May 12, 2020"

14 Iyyar 5780
Pesach Sheini
Day 29 of the Omer

~ SHABBAT SHALOM ~

BEAUTIFULLY SAID...

14 Iyyar 5780
Pesach Sheini
Day 29 of the Omer

VERY POSITIVE videos in honor of Pesach Sheini - please share! And chag sameach!!

AMAZING (RE)DISCOVERY

13 Iyyar 5780
Day 28 of the Omer

GOOD NEWS!  After deep study and intensive investigation, the 'experts' have discovered what my grandparents and great-grandparents always knew - sunlight kills germs!!



Note, the comment: "...Another critical discovery that received less attention."

And for those who were not fortunate enough to receive this tradition from their elders or who have difficulty thinking for themselves, please extrapolate from the following disclaimer taken from the website of the manufacturer of the most advanced face mask in existence:

According to WHO, wearing a face mask does not guarantee that you will not contract a virus. Viruses can also pass through the eyes and viral miniscule particles, called aerosols, can enter through the masks. However, droplet-capturing masks are effective against the primary method of virus transmission. HOWEVER, we do not recommend under any circumstance for you to come in contact with those showing symptoms, and if you are showing symptoms, please refrain from contact with others."

I'll give you a hint.  The mask will not prevent you catching the coronavirus if you are exposed to it and it is not healthy to keep your face covered from fresh air and sunlight. 

The Price of Peace

13 Iyyar 5780
Day 28 of the Omer

I saw a headline that said the US "expects" Israel to extend sovereignty in the West Bank in the coming weeks.

That could be taken one of two ways - as a simple observation or a statement of intent.  I think it is their way of publicly putting this non-government on notice of what is expected of it to do for the sake of Trump's re-election campaign.  This has got to be a done deal SOON.

Friedman to 'Post': To annex, Netanyahu must tell Abbas he’ll negotiate state

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must offer Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to negotiate, based on the establishment of a Palestinian State in 70% of the West Bank, for the US to support Israel moving forward with annexing the other 30%, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman told The Jerusalem Post.

Report: Pompeo to visit Israel next week, meet Netanyahu and Gantz

Obviously, they are trying to portray it as a supportive act on their part, but it is much, much more than that. Everything the Americans do is as if it's a favor, but it's really only for their own self-interest, and that's fine, just be honest about it.  Better yet, they should do us both a favor and just butt out.  Because every time this starts up again, HKB"H throws something else their way as a deterrent.

Israel must sign over 70% of Judea and Samaria to Abbas and help create the Terror State of Palestine so that she may be recognized as the legal owner of the remaining 30%.  This is the price of peace, not with the Palestinians, but with the United States of America.  And even then, it won't buy peace with all Americans and certainly not with the Arabs!

I have a message for you Mr. Friedman, Mr. Pompeo:  Not one inch of Eretz Yisrael will ever be turned over to foreigners again without the kind of fight the likes of you have never seen.

In the Eye of the Storm

12 Iyyar 5780
Day 27 of the Omer

Don't let the present calm fool you.  We are in the eye of the hurricane, having passed through one side of the storm and waiting for the other side to hit full force.  Be ready for it. Brace yourselves for it.

~~~

And may I take this opportunity to publicly thank HKB"H from the depths of my heart for sparing everyone I know from the dreaded disease and especially that there were no further fatalities over the past 24 hrs from it.

~ THANK YOU, HASHEM! ~