07/11/2024
BS"D
Thank you all for your wonderful birthday wishes.
May the Almighty bless you with all your needs
Founded in Israel to train emmisaries as Envoys, Chaplains and Rabbis for Institute of Ingathering of the Exiles
07/11/2024
Lech-Lecha – 5785
G-d said to Avram: “Know for sure that your descendants will be foreigners in a land that is not theirs for 400 years. They will be enslaved and oppressed. But I will finally bring judgment against the nation who enslaves them, and they will leave with great wealth… The fourth generation will return here (the Promised Land), since the Amorites’ sin will not have run its course until then” (14:13-16).
Generations later, Avraham’s descendants departed in a hurry en route for the Promised Land. They left in darkness, loaded with the spoils of Egyptians who had enslaved them. The Torah describes that night as being:
Leil shimurim: It is the night of anticipation – a night that G-d kept watch, as He brought them out of Egypt. It is the night that G-d will - shimurim - keep watch for generations of all Israelites, in the future (Shemot 12:42).
Leil shimurim, literally a night of guarding, is understood variously by the commentators.
According to both Rashi and the Rashbam, the night of Yetziat Mitzrayim was the night that G-d guarded zealously in His Diary. It is the night that He selected as the moment that would end the 400 years mentioned in this parasha; of Am Yisrael’s being outsiders and ultimately slaves in foreign lands (15:13-14). The Rashbam emphasizes that by then, the Amorites living in the Land will have had ample time and opportunity to correct their evil ways, but after four generations (each ‘generation’ according to the Rashbam being 100 years, possibly the amount of time it takes for one generation to see the several generations that emerge during its lifetime) they will be past any hope of returning to any form of civilization that is compatible with the Sheva Mitzvot B’nei Noach. This is where G-d “keeps in mind the sin of the fathers for their descendants, to the third and fourth generation” (Shemot 20:5), the fourth generation forfeiting their right to live in Eretz Yisrael for consistently having followed in the evil footsteps of their ancestors (c.f. Vayikra 18:27-28).
And in the future, every Pesach night would be leil shimurim. As G-d protected the Israelites from the death of the firstborns He inflicted on the Egyptians that night, so He would continue to save Am Yisrael from harm. Every year, Seder night would be the night that G-d gives special protection to Israel.
The Ramchal (Otzrot Ramchal: Ramchal Al HaTorah, 53) explains leil shimurim in somewhat more severe terms. In contrast to the Rashbam, but compatible with many other commentators, he takes the view that the period that Ya’akov Avinu and descendants suffered exile and servitude was much shorter than the 400 years that G-d confided to Avraham Avinu. According to the Ramchal, G-d cut the timeline short. The Israelites had been suffered excessively at the hands of the Egyptians. G-d told Moshe: “I have been listening to the cries of the enslaved Israelites…” (Shemot 6:5). G-d emphasized with their pain and saw that they could take no more.
But only some of them were spiritually ready for the geula, the redemption. That period of exile was not long enough for all of Ya’akov’s enslaved descendants to be in harmony with G-d’s standards, or even to be on the path that they would be able to tune into G-d’s standards when He would reveal Himself to them at Matan Torah. Including them in the redemption would consign the whole process of the geula to failure; they would undermine the process for Klal Yisrael. Therefore, it was leil shimurim LaShem – it was a night when G-d took care of those who were already LaShem – for G-d. Not for those who were not: G-d used the diversions of the plagues to quietly end the lives of the Israelites who would be unworthy (c.f. Rashi to 13:18), who lacked the potential to be mekabel the Torah.
And, looking forward, the Torah informs us: “It is the night that G-d will - shimurim - keep watch for generations of Israelites in the future”. The geula that will take place in the future will be for everyone, not only for the privileged elite. It will happen when it should happen, rather than its date being before all of Am Yisrael is ready. In contrast with the geula from Mitzrayim, the geula sheleima in the future will happen when every Israelite will be able to live in harmony with the Shechina. Am Yisrael will spiritually be ready to be mekabel the shechina of the geula to the degree that there will be no eradication of those who are spiritually unprepared to take part. The Ramchal stresses that for that reason the geula will not be for those Israelites who are “for G-d” but not for those who are not. The geula in future generations will be for all Israelites, as they will all be ready – or at least be sufficiently on the path to be able to participate in the geula sheleima.
And perhaps the challenge for our generation is ensure that our children get full access to a worthy Torah education in the hands of those who are in the best condition to deliver it, from their example as well as from their learning.
Jacob Solomon
03/11/2024
This drawing is made by a 13 year old girl. All the edges have the names of the hostages who are still waiting. Inside the Star of David is written Am Israel Hai. On the shoe is a verse from Tehillim, and inside it says: Together we win. Share the photo to appreciate it. Beautiful!
31/10/2024
Anger is a battle most people fight with their whole lives. The Pearls of Life look to Rabbi Avigdor Miller to explain about the results of anger on the home and family. Rabbi Miller commented that It’s brought down that Hillel lo hikpid b’soch beiso, Hillel never got angry in his home. Rabbi Miller gave a little anecdote. When my father-in-law passed away the Agudas HaRabanim held a little hazkara meeting in the headquarters and they asked me to come down and speak. So when I spoke there, I said as follows: "I knew my father-in-law for forty years and I could say upon him, He never became angry in his house." He never was impolite to his wife – that’s what it means. I testify to that. For forty years I watched that man and never once did he say an impolite word to his wife! That’s what it means when it says that Hillel was not makpid b’soch beiso. Over his children, of course a man must exercise authority. The truth is that sometimes a man must exercise authority over his wife too! Sometimes a man must speak up – no question! But we’re talking about hikpid! Hikpid means to do something when you’re out of control, to be angry. But when a man puts on an act as if he is angry; ka’as hapanim v’lo ka’as haleiv – with his face he’s angry, but in his heart he’s not angry, that’s the man who is Ka’as hapanim v’lo ka’as haleiv! Certainly Hillel sometimes had to discipline his children. Whether it was necessary to discipline his wife, that I can’t tell you. But there’s one thing you can rely on – Hillel never was angry in his house! And that’s because Hillel always had a guest in his house. When a guest is present, you can’t be angry. You’re ashamed; it’s embarrassing to get angry in front of a guest. And Hillel always had a guest because Hakodosh Boruch Hu was always in Hillel’s house. That’s why Hillel never could lose his temper in his house.The gemara tells us a story. There was a couple who used to fight every erev Shabbos. Erev Shabbos, people are excited; time is short, and there’s a lot to prepare. So this couple used to fight among themselves. So a certain sage came every erev Shabbos and he sat in their house. And now they weren’t able to fight because they were ashamed. After some months of this guest in their house on erev Shabbos, they became accustomed to doing things calmly. Then he stopped coming. Hakodosh Boruch Hu was in Hillel’s house always! He was his permanent guest! And therefore, Hillel never became angry in his house.
Adapted from TAPE # 703 by Yeshiva Pirchei Shoshanim
31/10/2024
🕯🇮🇱- Tonight is the Yartzeit of Shimon Hatsadik buried in east Jerusalem
2300 years ago, Shimon HaTzadik, the first Tanna and the last member of the Anshei Knesset Hagdolah, received the Torah tradition from his teachers, the last prophets, and faithfully continued the holy task of guiding the Jewish people. Kohen Gadol and head of the Sanhedrin, he embodied both religious and political power.
The Talmud relates that five miracles occurred in the Bais Hamikdash during his tenure. First, the red string that was hung in the Bais Hamikdash during the Yom Kippur services turned white, symbolizing Israel's purity. Second, on Yom Kippur two sacrificial goats were designated — one to be offered in the Kodesh HaKodoshim, one to be cast off a cliff. The Kohen Gadol drew lots in each hand to determine which goat should be used for which purpose. During Shimon HaTzadik's 40 year-tenure, the lot indicating the goat to be offered in the Kodesh HaKodoshim always turned up in his right hand, a sign of Divine favor. Third, every evening a full night's supply of oil was put into each lamp of the Menorah. Miraculously, the oil put into the western lamp burned for 24 hours, demonstrating the constant presence of G‑d in the Bais Hamikdash. Fourth, although each Kohen received only a small portion of the Lechem Hapanim (the showbread), he felt satiated as if he had eaten a full meal. Fifth, the fire on the Altar burned steadily without constant addition of wood. Sadly, after Shimon HaTzadik's death miracles of such magnitude were no longer manifest in the Bais Hamikdash
30/10/2024
The Pearls of Life cannot emphasize enough that if a person lets an evil and improper word leave their lips, impure spirits grab that word and use it to defile and prevent the holy words and prayers they may later say from going up to Heaven creating a spiritual barrier between the speaker and Heaven. That person thereby will lose the ability to get merit for the Holy words and prayers they may speak. Why put effort in when it won’t be accepted and that person will receive enormous punishment for having spoken those word. Yeshiva Pirchei Shoshanim
30/10/2024
Cheshvan-Ackrav/Scorpio.
Chodesh Tov.
Bs”d
Remember, Astrology is not about telling the future, nobody can do that. By understanding the energy of each month, we are then able to navigate smoothly through the month, because one cannot act the same way every month. Every month has a different energy and it helps to know what that specific energy is. The Bnei Yissaschar says that a completely new existence comes into being every month.
Sefer Yetzirah/The Book of Formation, ascribed to Avraham Aveinu is a treasure trove of knowledge about the global master plan. It tells us that without knowing the astrology of each month, it is very difficult to determine the outcome of your month.
May this article be an Ilui Neshamah for Chaim ben Moshe Aharon HaLevi and Chaim Baruch Alta Ben Yoel HaLevi.
Cheshvan:
Chodesh Tov.
HaShem enthroned the letter Nun upon the sense of smell, attached a crown to it, and formed with them the Mazal of Scorpion in space and the month of Cheshvan in time.
Sefer Yetzirah 5:9.
It is important to be conscious of the letters of the month the whole month. Chazal says the Hebrew letters are the building blocks of the world and have enormous power. There are twelve different combinations, one for each month, and it is important to learn the energy behind these letters. Literally by just looking at these combinations we tap into the power of the month.
Let’s start learning!
What is so special about the sense of
smell that was given to Cheshvan?
The Bnei Yissaschar explains:
We know that the sin of Adam tainted the world. He caused death to the entire world, Zohar, Bereishiet 237a. In the story of Adam all the senses are mentioned except smell. ( And the woman saw, and she took, and he ate, and they heard). Since the sense of smell was not used it didn’t become tainted like the others. It was still part of the whole body, but the sense of smell did not get directly involved like the others. The four senses lost a degree of their spirituality because of this, and even today the sense of smell is not as physical as the others.
Chazal say that a scent is something the soul enjoys, Berachot 43b.
Now concerning the Mashiach, it is written: “HaShem will imbue the Mashiach with a spirit of reverence for HaShem, Yeshayah 11:3. This implies that the Mashiach will be granted a Divine given sense of smell. The sense of smell will be the first sense to be receptive to the Mashiach. It will stand above all others.
The sense of smell belongs more to Heaven than earth.
Cheshvan is the eighth month from Nissan, and the eighth of anything connects to the Sefirah of Binah, which is above nature, which is seven. Even though Cheshvan can be a very difficult month, however, we have the power in this month to go above nature and connect to the spiritual world in a very powerful way.
Just smell it!
Even though the sense of smell is mainly spiritual, the beautiful thing about the sense of smell is that even in the physical world there is nothing nicer than a beautiful smell, a pungent rose or the smell of fresh bread baking. You get the best of both worlds. There are people who are blind, whose sense of smell is so acute that can identify smells that most people can’t. Think about this for a minute!
How many beautiful smells do we encounter each and every day and on the other hand, how many bad smells are there? And how many of the beautiful smells do we stop to enjoy or do we just carry on with our business? People drink coffee all day yet never even remember to smell the coffee, which has a beautiful smell. Remember the saying, “always remember to smell the roses along the way.” It is recommended to say a blessing over a spice/smell on Friday night when you return home from Shul, before Kiddush. The highest smell is from the myrtle/haddasim, which we use on Sukkot in the Lulav and the best to use for the blessing of the beSamim/smell in Havdalah.
Cheshvan is one of the strangest months of the whole year. It’s name is actually Mar Cheshvan. Mar means bitter. Why would a month be called bitter? One of the reasons given is that there are no holidays in Cheshvan, and another is that the Flood of Noach started on the 17th of Cheshvan. However, ask most people and they will tell you that Cheshvan is always a very difficult month. This is usually true, but it doesn’t need to be so. So how can we make this month a sweet month? First of all Cheshvan is one of the most powerful months of the year, in fact Cheshvan is most probably the loftiest of all the months. There is more energy in this month than any of the months.
To understand Cheshvan we need to go back to Tishrei. Tishrei is the most spiritual month of the year with all the holidays. We are able to tap straight into the Sefirah of Binah the whole month. The problem is that Tishrei is only potential. For example; Sukkot is all about accumulating surrounding and inner light for the whole year. One Rabbi said Tishrei is like winding a watch and then letting it unwind the whole year. If Tishrei is all about potential, Cheshvan is all about starting to manifest that potential. The problem is that the holidays in Tishrei are very long, and when they are finished, most people just want to rest and take a break. This is the reason Cheshvan becomes a bitter month. You have to keep up the pace! During Tishrei we climb to great heights. The purpose isn’t to stay there, it is now time to move on and manifest it.
We have to find a way to keep the inspiration of Tishrei and the holidays alive so that it will remain with us the whole year. The purpose is to get further along the road with our Avodat HaShem.
We made a lot of commitments to change during the holidays. Now that the holidays are already over, have we started fulfilling the commitments. If have haven’t even started, it means you were never really serious about keeping them. Where do you stand?
If you change the letters of Mar(Mem and Reish) around it becomes Ram/elevated (Reish and Mem).
This is the power of this month, the ability to change negative into positive.
The month of Cheshvan is a month of great potential, the ability to rise above nature. The third Temple will be inaugurated in Cheshvan.
The influence of Tishrei is still with us and we need to continue the momentum.
The Maor v’Shamesh, says that Cheshvan “is mesugal to understand Torah, more than all other months.”
In Tishrei people are davening a lot, giving Tzedakah, sitting in the Sukkah and generally doing a lot more mitzvot than normal. To manifest this energy we have to keep up that pace from Tishrei. We are on such a high level after the holidays,
we should be disappointed that the holidays are leaving, not the other way round, happy to be able to relax. This is the month of Cheshvan in a nutshell. If we stop doing the spiritual work we started in Tishrei, the fall can be very steep. The Robsh*tzer Rebbe, zt’l said: “Woe to those who are happy when the holidays pass.” The Yomim Tovim aren’t hurdles to pass, rather opportunities for growth and a connection with HaShem”.
The biggest question we have to keep asking ourselves everyday of Cheshvan is:
Have I started doing what I promised on Rosh Hashanah? This question should drive us forward every day to keep up the pace and bring the blessings of HaShem into our lives. Yearning for something brings it close. Yearn to keep the holidays with you and they will be with you the whole year.
Rabbi Chaim Palagi, Sefer Chaim, siman 36, writes that the first twelve days after Simchat Torah correspond to the twelve months of the year. The way one acts on these days these days influences the entire year. He writes that one should be careful with their thoughts, speech and deeds during these twelve days, for they correspond to the twelve months of the year.
So what can we physically do to keep the holidays with us throughout the year?
What is the secret? The more I study, the more I realize that the next two sentences are two of the most important in our lives!
The key to life is self discipline.
The key to self discipline is consistency.
Self discipline is the ability to get yourself to take action. To do what needs to be done. The ability to resist temptation and stick to our goals is called self discipline. We didn’t come to this world to indulge in our desires, we came to restrict them.
EVERYTHING depends on self discipline. We live in the physical world called Malchut and the world of Asiya, which is the world of action. In the upper worlds, where there is no time, space or motion, one just has to think something and it is already done. Here in the physical world, it is not enough to just have the thought, we have to actually get up and do the action to manifest it. This is the hard part. How do we turn our thoughts into action? We need to understand a little how the mind works. There are two parts, the conscious and the subconscious. The conscious part is the part that makes decisions in the moment and the subconscious part is like a tape recorder. On it we have all these programs of what we like and what we don’t. Many of these programs are unfortunately not good ones, for example, not being able to resist the extra piece of cake, smoking etc.
Over the years we have accumulated so many negative programs in our subconscious, and the sad thing is that people don’t even realize that they are doing something habitually wrong for the last twenty years. Most of the bad programs we pick up are from our childhood and are usually connected to our families and environment. Many times the influence us in a negative way. These situations haunt us in the present and will carry on haunting us for life if we don’t break free and take control of our lives.
It is estimated that by the age of 30-35, 95% of our actions are habitual, which actually means our subconscious controls the way we act, good and bad. If you think you had free will, think again, because with most of our actions, there is very little thought from the conscious mind.
The core of free will is that if one wants to break a negative trait, they literally have to take back their free will that they gave away to the negative trait, so that we can make the decision to change. Until one has made that committed decision in the conscious mind to change 100%, change cannot happen. Basically, if one wants to change, they have to change their thoughts (program) first before a change will occur in the physical (action) world.
If you try to do it the other way around, it will never last. Just ask a person who wants to give up smoking but hasn’t committed to it yet. The biggest problem with the subconscious is that it doesn’t discriminate. They same as it can manifest goodness and blessings, on the other side it can also manifest pain, failure, sickness, depression and many other problems. For the subconscious both are exactly the same.
Quantum physics has proved that our mind has an effect on our reality. For one to change their reality, one has to change the mind. We have to change our thinking!
The subconscious has been described as a garden and the conscious has been described as the gardener. Whatever the gardener plants in the garden, that is what you will reap.
Change is hard, but we have HaShem on our side, who only wants to give us good. Take control this month and keep Tishrei inside of you for the whole year.
Remember this next statement about HaShem. HaShem doesn’t care where you are in the process, as long as you have started, because we have to make the first step. HaShem doesn’t help us until we start.
Read this again and internalize it!
There is a story about a person who rented an apartment and never paid rent. The landlord took him to court and the judge asked him why he didn’t pay. He said that the building was is bad shape and all the money went to fixing things. The judge said that’s ok, but you never paid once. This means that you never intended to pay. The same applies to our lives and this month. All the beautiful kabbalos/commitments that we made on Rosh Hashanah means nothing if we don’t even start. As I said we have to make some effort, that is the rule of this physical world. Take it upon yourself to REALLY try and make a difference in your life today.
We can do it! This month is the month to do it!
Think about what you need to do and just start doing! Remember the famous saying:
JUST DO IT!
Hashem is watching us, waiting and hoping to see if we keep our promises that we made in Tishrei to change.
We have to keep to a schedule every day if we want to accomplish goals. Doing something over and over creates a program in your subconscious which over time will become habitual and change the bad programs. If it is a good goal then this continuity will help you to achieve it. But, remember there is always an opposite side, and if we just look at modern society, we will see how many bad programs there are in people. For example, smoking, drinking, drugs, internet etc.
We have to have be constantly aware of our thoughts and emotions. When we start having negative feelings, we have to catch ourselves and try to overcome them. Most people are not in touch with what is going on in their minds. Most people react to situations without recognizing that it is within our power to control our reactions.
We have the ability to choose one thought over another. Do it!
Cheshvan is a month of extremes, either it is bitter or elevated, there is no in between. This is the secret to this month.
Keep up with all the mitzvot from Tishrei and I guarantee that Cheshvan will be a very elevated month. Keep the excitement of Tishrei going. Cheshvan has the most energy of all the months and the third Temple will be dedicated in Cheshvan.
Become excited and manifest all those beautiful ideas you had on Rosh Hashanah.
Rabbi Alon Anava Shlita gives us an interesting view of the power of Cheshvan.
Everything I read about Scorpio says that it is the most powerful month. Why? I never really had an answer until I heard this lecture. Let me explain.
The tribe associated with Scorpio is Menashe. Menashe had a special quality. What was that? He did not complain when Yaacov blessed his younger brother, Ephraim before him. He didn’t mind being second. He was Mevater. What does this mean? He gave in, he accepted it without protest. His actions created unity.
This is a very big middah. Being mevater reflects a profound understanding that HaShem is in charge of our lives. If something happens and a person is mevater, he realizes that the situation is exactly the way HaShem wants it. Menashe understood this and that is why he was quiet. There are many stories of people who gave in when they were right and afterwards miracles happened for them. Try this you will be amazed at how it. When a man gives into his wife, he brings down all kinds of blessings on himself and his family.
Tikkun of Achdoot/Unity.
To give some background. From the beginning of time, there was always strife between brothers;
Cain and Abel
Shem and Yafet against Cham
Yitzchak and Ishmael
Yaacov and Eisav
Yosef and his brothers
This recurring theme is very important because none of these brothers were able to do the tikkun/correction of achdoot/unity. Unity is one of the most powerful forces in the universe and Chazal says that if the Jews were unified, they would bring the redemption immediately. It also says that if thieves are unified they will be successful. This is the power of unity. We also know that Hashem hates machlokets/arguments more than anything. When the Jews did the sin of the golden calf and the spies, the manna still fell on those days, but when Korach had a machloket with Moshe, that day the manna did not fall.
This tikkun/correction is one of the biggest tests in everybody’s life and one that is with us all the days of our lives.
When Yaacov crossed his hands and wanted to bless the younger one first, Yossef told his father that this was wrong. Yosef thought that here we go again with the strife between the brothers. Yet there was not a sound out of Menashe. In all the writings and commentaries there is not a word that he complained. This was Menashe’s special quality. He was Mevater. Even though he was a big shot, he was Yosef’s right hand man, he did not mind being second. He was happy for his brother. When he kept quiet he was able to accomplish this tikkun of unity. This is a very powerful character trait to have, to be happy for others without any jealousy. Later we see with Moshe and Aharon, they perfected this tikkun. Moshe did not want to accept the job of the redeemer because he was the younger brother and Aharon was very happy for Moshe when he came to Egypt even though he was the older brother. Their relationship was the perfect one, in that they cared more about the other one than themselves. This is an amazing chidush.
Why is unity so powerful? There are a few reasons and they are all very powerful.
We know that the sin of hatred for no reason(Sinat Chinam) was the cause of the second Temple being destroyed and also the reason we are still in galut/exile. The antidote for hatred for no reason is love for no reason(Ahavat Chinam). Love for no reason comes about because when there is unity between two parties. We know that the acronym for first line of the the prayer, Ana Becoach has a numerology of 506, which is also the numerology of Ahavat Chinam/love for no reason. This acronym is a very powerful force and can be used in our everyday life to help relationships with difficult people.
Also from Menashe, we learn that when he didn’t complain, he let go of his ego. Most people would be upset that they were passed over and would complain. From Menashe’s action we can use this to get rid of our ego. Humility is one of the most powerful character traits and connects to the Sefirah of Keter.
Also Rabbi Akiva told us that, Love thy Neighbor, is one of the most important laws in the Torah. This is a very deep subject, but one of the teachings, is that even though it is very difficult to love a stranger as much as your family, who are your closest neighbors, the idea is to want for your neighbor as much as you want for yourself. If you want a million dollars for yourself, then you must want the same or more for your neighbor. This was the power of Menashe. He was happy for his brother. From the above we see that in this month we have the ability to connect to all these forces, unity, love for no reason, love thy neighbor and humility. This is the power of this month. So much energy. It is said that the light of Cheshvan is the most authentic light. Being able to connect to these qualities makes this month the most powerful and the reason the third Temple will be dedicated in this month. Turn the bitterness(Mar) into sweetness/elevation/(Ram).
As mentioned above, the Great Flood started on the 17th of the month. Some say that the month is named Mar/bitter because of the Flood. The question we need to ask is; there have many been many disasters throughout history, so why is this one singled out? Also why was water used to destroy the world?
The internal energy of water is chessed/mercy. Water always flows to the lowest ground to share. Sea water is also a very good conductor of electricity and the body and most foods are made mostly of water. The fetus is also surrounded by amniotic fluid which is 98% water.
What does all this mean?
In Judaism there is something called a Mikvah, a ritual bath. After a woman has had her menstrual cycle, it is a requirement for her to go and dip in the Mikvah. If she does not go to the Mikvah, she is not allowed to go with her husband. The idea is that during her cycle she is impure and only after she has dipped in the Mikvah, does she become pure and able to go with her husband. The Mikvah is most probably the most important mitzvah that a woman has. For men the Mikvah is not an obligation but most chareidi/very religious men go to the Mikvah every morning before they pray. It is a big deal for them. What is the secret of the Mikvah? The Mikvah creates a protection shield around the person and purifies them. When one goes under the water, metaphysically they die, (humans cannot survive under water). When this happens, all their negativity dies as well and theoretically a person comes up a new pure person. It is difficult to keep this state but this is what actually happens.
This is the secret of the Mikvah, the ability to purify oneself completely.
With this in mind, we can start to understand why HaShem used water to destroy the world. Before the Great Flood, the world was full of thievery and the only way that HaShem could purify the world of this negativity was with the chessed/ mercy of water. Scorpio/Cheshvan is a water sign but is the left column of the three water signs. HaShem used the judgement of water as a means to cleanse the world. If HaShem had destroyed the world by some other means, it would not have been able to return the world to the original pure state, and therefore Cheshvan, being the left side of the water signs, was the only month that HaShem could use. It was a big chessed.
Also being a water sign, lets try understand the power of water?
Watch two drops of water moving towards each other, and you will notice, that as soon as they touch, they become one. Only water has this molecular property and ability to create a total union.
This ability to bring about unity, which is the most powerful force in the world, is the source of water’s power. Water can be either a channel of mercy or, chas veshalom, the opposite. Chazal says that if the Jews are in unity, Mashiach can come. The last couple years have been a very difficult for many people. Let’s try be in unity with our neighbor, and in the merit of this unity, Mashiach will come.
It is interesting to note that Cheshvan is called the first Rosh Chodesh of the year, yet is not, Tishrei is. We don’t say Chodesh Tov on the first of Tishrei, we say Shana Tova. The first of Cheshvan is the most powerful day of the year besides Shabbat and the holidays. Rosh Chodesh is the seed of a month and the whole month is encapsulated in Rosh Chodesh. Being the first Rosh Chodesh of the year, there is a lot of energy to tap into. Take advantage of this day, it only comes around once a year. Learn a little bit more Torah, give Tzedakah, make a mitzvah meal, do more good deeds etc.
The most important event that occurred in this month, was the completion of King Solomon’s Temple, Kings 1, 6:38.
“In the month of Bull, the eighth month from Nissan, the house was completed.”
The Hebrew name for this month is Bull, Cheshvan is Aramaic.
The tribe connected to Cheshvan is Menashe, (Menashe has the same letters as neshamah), and the sense connected to this month is smell. When Noah offered up a sacrifice, Genesis 8:21, “And HaShem smelled the pleasant fragrance”. Menashe had the same ability as his father Yosef, who was able to balance the physical with the spiritual. He was Yosef’s right hand man and had to deal with day to day problems of government, while his brother, Ephraim sat with his grandfather in the Yeshiva and studied Torah. Still Menashe achieved a very high level of spirituality.
The letters of the month are Dalet and Nun, which spell “Din/judgement. Nun created the month of Cheshvan and Daled created the planet Mars, the planet of judgement and war. The month of Nissan/Areis share the planet, Mars with Cheshvan. The extremities of this month can be explained by the Nun. On one side the letter Nun is associated with Nefilah/falling. And the numerology of fifty is associated with the 50 gates of impurity.
On another side it is connected with the 50 gates of holiness, the Sefirah of Binah, which are the 50 portals to wisdom concerning the creation of the world.
Nun is the letter of perfection. It also connects to the Yovel/Jubilee year.
The Special Name of HaShem for this month is, Vav, Key, Key and Yud. The verse that is connected to this name, mentions honey. One of the jobs we have this month is to inject sweetness into it. The whole month of Tishrei we dipped our bread in honey. Let’s keep that going. Try see a more positive picture of life and to start caring for others instead of judging them. At the moment, it is easy to get down on ourselves. Try to see the good and Scorpio will become a sweet month.
Scorpio is a water sign, but the left column of the three water signs, which is fire of water. This creates boiling water. What does this mean? There is a lot of pressure in this month and one of the tikkuns of Scorpio’s is not to fall to this pressure but to find balance which they lack. When they are under pressure it is very difficult for a Scorpio to be logical. Their emotions take over and they make impulsive decisions which are usually wrong.
The scorpion is a lowly creature. It is active at night and hides underground. It has a very powerful sting and is very dangerous. Chazal says that if a snake wraps itself around your legs when you are davening Amidah, you are not allowed to move. However, if you see a scorpion, you have to leave the Amidah, and kill the scorpion. Scorpio’s have tremendous power, intense emotions and are very intuitive. With this intuitive skill, Scorpio’s can detect people’s innermost feelings, and accurately pin point people’s weaknesses. Intensity and depth are very important to them in everything they do. Trivial things are uninteresting to a Scorpio. Scorpio’s are strong willed and determined and try to accomplish whatever they undertake. They also have a kind of magnetic appeal. They make friends easily and are very loyal. They require depth and intensity in a relationship. Everything about Scorpio’s is about extremes, either all or nothing.
If they are interested in something, they go all the way but if they are not that interested, it is very difficult for them to get excited about a project. All this energy is very good if it is channeled into spirituality, however, if a person is only into the physical, their desires can take them down the wrong path.
The main tikkun/correction of people born in Cheshvan is that they love to control. They will do anything for people. They love to give gifts. The problem is that they have a hidden agenda. They usually do these good deeds because they want people to owe them favors. Scorpio’s are always calculating what they can get out of things. Their tikkun is to do these deeds for Hashem and not for their calculations.
Scorpio’s are ruled by emotion rather than by logic. They have to learn to slow down before making decisions. Many times their haste combined with the trait of getting even, leads them to make the wrong decision. The secret for Scorpio’s is to find balance, the middle ground. Don’t rush into situations, think them through.
They can be very impatient. They are also very aware of surroundings around them and will notice specific details about people and places, yet they are very secretive and hide their actions. They make great detectives and spies.
According to Sefer Yitzirah, the part of the body associated with Scorpio, is the sexual organ.
The animal associated with this month is the scorpion. What is the characteristics of a scorpion? First he has a very dangerous sting and second he is the only animal that will commit su***de if he is backed into a corner, for example, surrounded by fire. How does this apply to people? Scorpios can be very dangerous people if you get on their wrong side, especially women born in this month. The have a big sting and love revenge. They don’t care if they hurt themselves as long as they get revenge/commit su***de. This is another tikkun of people born in this month, to realize that everything is from Hashem and not to take things personally.
Most people have this trait of revenge. It can be very dangerous because there are no limits. Once you start it is very hard to stop. Everybody needs to be careful this month!
The line of the Ana Becoach associated with this month is the third line. This line can be broken into two. The first three letter are; Nun, Gimmel and Daled. The numerology of these three is 57, which is the same numerology as Zan, sustenance. The last three letters spel Yud, Kaf and Shin, which is a holy name and is able to go back to the embryonic state and get rid of negativity.
Scorpio’s can be great if they work on themselves spirituality. They have no other choice. They need to learn to let things happen and not to force the issue. With their power, they think they can overcome any obstacle, but this is exactly their problem. Their power comes from HaShem and when they learn to relax and enjoy the process they can reveal the highest energy. They need to concentrate on fixing themselves before they try fix others.
I am a Scorpio. That is why I know this sign so well. A tip for people living with Scorpio’s. It is difficult to control a Scorpio, but if you make them think they are in control, they will do anything for you. Don’t say to them; “I think we should do this and that,” say to them; “Don’t you think it is a good idea to do things this way”. They will then think they are in control and it is their idea and will do anything you want. Try it.
Remember even though these traits apply to people born in this month, EVERYBODY will have these challenges this month.
Have a great elevated month!
Chodesh Tov.
Notable Yotzheit’s in this month.
3rd-Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
4th-Rabbi Kalonimus Kalman Shapiro
9th-Rabbeinu Asher ben Yechiel, the Rosh.
10th-Gad ben Yaacov Avinu.
11th-Rachael Emanu
Binyamin HaTzadikk ben Yaacov Avinu.
Metushelach ben Chanoch.
15th-Matatiyahu ben Yochanan Kohain Gadol, father of Chasmonaim
Chazon Ish
Rabbi Leib “Baal Yisurim”
16th-Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach
20th-Rabbi Mordechai Sharabi
21st-Rabbi Avraham Azulai
There are no holidays in Cheshvan, but there are two Yotzheit’s in this month which are very powerful. First, on the 11th of Cheshvan, we have the Yotzheit of Rachael Emanu. This day is a very
powerful day and we can get as much from this day as some holidays. Why? To give some background, Rachael died because of evil eye. Yaacov unknowingly put a curse on her when he said to Laban;
“With whomever you find your gods, he shall not live”; Genesis 31:32. Yaacov did not know that Rachael had taken her fathers idols. Because she died from evil eye, she became the antidote to evil eye. By connecting to Rachael on her Yotzheit, we receive the power to protect ourselves from this form of negativity. Also Rachael sat on the idols, thereby treating them with no respect, denigrating them. This is a big lesson for us. When we acknowledge negative things we give them power. Step on negativity. Rachael is also the mother of Israel and she will surely look after us if we do our spiritual work. When the first Temple was destroyed and the Jews were being led into captivity, Avraham, Yitzchok, Yaacov and Moshe Rabeinu prayed for them. HaShem did not except their prayers. But when Rachael prayed for them, Yormeyah 31:15, HaShem accepted her prayers.
In Genesis 30:22, HaShem “remembered” Rachael. What did HaShem remember?
He remembered how Rachael gave her sister the signs she and Yaacov had agreed on so that she would not be embarrassed. Not only did she give Leah the signs, but she made Leah feel like Yaacov really wanted to marry her. Rachael went the extra mile so much so that Leah once told Rachael, “You nearly took my husband.” Yaacov and Rachael were soulmates from the time of creation. Yaacov loved Rachael deeply and was pained that he could not be buried with her. He knew that one day, the Jews would pass her grave and she would pray for them and HaShem would accept her prayers. She said to HaShem that just as she did not want to embarrass her sister, so to HaShem should not get upset that Bnei Yisrael went against HaShem. When HaShem heard her words, He was comforted and said He would not forsake Bnei Yisrael. Don’t take this lightly. Her Yotzheit is a very big segulah for protection and we can learn a lot from the middot/character traits of Rachael. She was so selfless that she is the Matriarch who is called the Mother of Israel. Her son, Yosef, also was able to master the ability to get rid of evil eye.
We also have the Yotzheit of Rabbi Avraham Azulai on the 21st of Cheshvan. He was born in Morocco in 1570 and died in Chevron in 1643. He was very well respected and his most famous book is called: Chessed L’Avraham; the mercy of Avraham. This is a very deep Kabbalistic book and below is a extract from it.
“You should know that the amount of [undrawn water necessary for] a mikvah [to be kosher] is [a volume equal to the displacement of] 5,760 eggs. (You need forty se’ah for a Mikvah, a se’ah is approximately 22 liters. There is the volume of 144 eggs in one se’ah. Multiply 40 by 144 and you get 5760). The secret regarding this is that, at the end of the five thousandth, seven-hundred and sixtieth year from the creation, the verse, "I God will remove the impure spirit from the land ..." (Zechariah 13:2) will become fulfilled, as well as the verse, "I will give peace in the land, and you will lie down, and no one will make you tremble; and I will remove the evil beasts from the land ..." (Vayikra 26:6); that is, the forces of spiritual impurity, as is mentioned in the Zohar. The mystery of the matter is, that, there are three periods of resurrection of the dead in the future at three different times. The first resurrection will be of the dead of Eretz Yisrael; the second resurrection of the dead will be of Chutz L'Aretz, and the third resurrection will be that of the seventy nations and the entire world; it will be a time of great judgment. The third resurrection will be at the END of the 5,760th year from creation (the solar year of 2000).”
Maayan 2, Nahar 59, B'Sod HaMikvah, Chesed L'Avraham.
Commentary:
On Friday afternoon at noon, which is three quarters of the way through Friday, the day starts at night, we start to feel the energy of Shabbat. The year 5750 in the cosmic calendar is noon time on Friday. The same as we start feeling Shabbat on a regular Friday, from the year 5750, we will start feeling the energy of the cosmic Shabbat which is the energy of Mashiah. Rabbi Avraham Azulai says that we need another ten years(the 10 Sefirot) for cleansing, which brings us to the year 5760, which is the year he talks about in his book Chessed L’Avraham. He says that from this year, 5760(which just happened to be the year 2000) we will start to feel the energy of Mashiach. So since 2000, we have been in the period of “the pangs of Mashiach.” It is written in the Zohar, that the Mashiach can come in two ways, either through mercy or through judgement(Chas VeShalom). If we look back at the last 20 years, we can see the prophecy of Rabbi Azulai is starting to come true. There is terrible judgement and chaos in the world. With all the terrorism and wars going on, especially in the Middle East and the fluctuations in the financial markets, people are more scared than ever. It is 240 years from 5760 to 6000. 240 is the numerology of Amalek/Safek/doubt which is the opposite to Emunah, which is the biggest test of our generation today.
There has never been a more important time to start to become spiritual. The virus has caused so much doubt in people’s minds, that they are scared of their shadows. No country in the whole world has got this virus right. Everyone is floundering. The only solution is to have complete faith in HaShem. He is the only protection. Don’t wait another minute. Start now!
Also the technology revolution that has taken place over the last 20 years is crazy. Who would have believed 20 years ago that we would be able to do with our phones what we can do today. This might seem a good thing but it is actually destroying society. Families don’t sit down to meal and bond anymore. Everybody is off with their own form of screen. One Rabbi called it the the curse of the screens. What are the kids born today going to be like in 20 years. Only Hashem knows. The only way to protect ourselves is to have complete faith in Hashem and do His work. Don’t give power to problems.
They are not real, they are an illusion. They might look real but they are an illusion. I guarantee if you keep up your work in Cheshvan, Hashem will surely grant you a great year. The year ahead is going to be filled with many challenges, be strong and have complete bitachon in Hashem.
The bottom line is that this month is a bitter month not because of the Flood or because of no holidays. The Sages are trying to teach us that there is so much energy in this month, if one doesn’t harness it, it will burn you and become bitter. Remember one of the traits of this month is it is extreme, there is no middle ground. REMEMBER THIS. Keep on with your spiritual work and turn the month into an elevated one.
Chodesh Tov.
Rachael Emanu:
Zot Chanukah
The Torah reading for the eighth day of Chanukah (the maftir, when it falls on Shabbat) begins with the sacrifice brought by the prince of the tribe of Menashe. The 12 tribes correspond to the 12 months, and the month that corresponds to Menashe is Cheshvan. (This is true when one counts Nissan as the first month and counts the tribes in the order that they traveled in the desert and also brought their sacrifices, as related in the Torah reading for Chanukah.)
Cheshvan is the month when, according to tradition, the third Bet Hamikdash will be dedicated. (The first Bet Hamikdash was dedicated in Tishrei, which corresponds to Ephraim, while the second Bet Hamikdash was rededicated in Kislev, which corresponds to Binyamin. Thus, all three Temples were or will be dedicated in months that are connected with the children of Rachel, the "Akerret Ha'bayit"/"Mistress of the House" [i.e., the Temple].)
On the eighth day of Chanukah, when we read about the sacrifice of Menashe's descendant, we allow ourselves to look forward to the future redemption, which also is connected with Menashe, as explained above. We say, "This is the dedication" - Let us soon see the Temple's final dedication. (Bnei Yissaschar)
A Story about Rabbi Azulai:
The fallen sword of the Sultan:
In the early 1640s, the sultan of the Ottoman Empire made a journey from his seat of government in far-off Turkey to places of importance in his domains.
He made his way to the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron. He entered, adorned in his traditional ruling garb, including the golden sword, studded with diamonds and precious stones, which hung at his side. The Sultan wandered from room to room, finally entering the huge hall named after the Patriarch Yitzchak.
The center of attraction in the Yitzchak Hall is a small circular hole in the floor, near the wall shared with the smaller Avraham Hall. The hole is perhaps the most sacred spot in the entire illustrious structure above the burial caves of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs, for it leads down into the caves themselves. Pilgrims from all over the world journey for weeks and months just to have the opportunity to stand by this small, dark, circular opening, leading into the cave, which according to tradition was excavated by Adam, the first man.
The Sultan leaned over the revered aperture, peering down into it. As he bent over, his precious sword fell from his side, down into the cavity in the ground. Hearing the clang of metal hitting the ground, the sultan realized that his sword lay in the caves underneath. The sultan called the officer of the guard and ordered him to lower a soldier through the hole into the caves below, to retrieve his sword.
Quick to respond to the sultan’s order, the officer selected a soldier nearby. Another soldier wrapped a rope around his waist and lowered the soldier into the underground cavern. No sooner had they done so when, without warning, piercing screams penetrated from inside the hole below. Quickly they pulled up the soldier, but he was dead. The sultan ordered that another soldier be lowered into the caves. So it was, and his fate was precisely as his predecessor’s.
Quickly they pulled up the soldier, but he was dead.
The sultan continued to send soldiers into the caves, until it became apparent that all who enter the caves do not exit alive. The sultan turned to his hosts and exclaimed, “Who will return to me my sword?” The Arabs, looking at one another, answered without hesitating. “Why not send down a Jew? If he dies, none of us would care, and if not, you will have your precious saber back.” So the Jews were ordered, on pain of death, to supply a volunteer to be lowered into the caves to return the sultan’s sword to him.
The Jews of Hebron had heard what happened to the sultan’s soldiers. How could they send one of their own to his death? They prayed and fasted, hoping to avert the decree. Realizing that they had no choice, they looked at one another. Who would dare to enter the sacred caves of the Patriarchs?
The elderly rabbi of the community, the Kabbalist and sage Rabbi Avraham Azulai, author of Chesed L’Avraham, solved the dilemma. “I will enter the holy caves. Have no fear.” And so it was. After praying and pleading before the G‑d of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, Rabbi Avraham Azulai immersed himself in the mikvah and dressed in white garments, the traditional dress of the dead. He set forth to the Cave of Machpelah.
With a rope tied around his waist, Rabbi Azulai was lowered into the cave. When his feet hit the ground, Rabbi Azulai looked around him and found, standing by his side, three bearded men. “We are your forefathers,” they told him, “Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov.” Rabbi Azulai was dumbfounded. Finally he said to them, “Why should I leave here and go back above? I am elderly, and here I have found my forefathers. I desire only to stay here with you.”
“Why should I leave here and go back above?..."
The Patriarchs insisted, “You must return the sword to the sultan. If not, the entire Jewish community of Hebron is liable to be wiped out. But have no fear. In another seven days you will return here, to be with us.”
So the saintly rabbi returned to the Yitzchak Hall, above the cave of the Patriarchs, and with him was the sultan’s sword. The sultan was pleased. Upon seeing their beloved rabbi return alive, the Jews of Hebron declared the day a holiday. Rabbi Avraham Azulai spent the next week with his students, teaching them all the esoteric teachings of Torah. Day and night he learned with them, instructing them, imparting to them all that he knew.
Seven days after being lowered into the Cave of Machpelah, Rabbi Avraham Azulai returned his soul to his Maker, dying peacefully in his home. He was brought to rest in the ancient Jewish cemetery in Hebron, overlooking the final resting place of his beloved forefathers, Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov.
Chodesh Tov.
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