The Reason Moshe Rabbeinu Was Punished because they made him into a G-d when he was only a Rebbi

 

In Chutz Le'aretz, Jews will be listening to the baal korah read from Parshas Chukas this Shabbos. They will hear that Hashem tells Moshe Rabbeinu:

קח את המטה והקהל את העדה אתה ואהרן אחיך ודברתם אל הסלע לעיניהם ונתן מימיו והוצאת להם מים מן הסלע 

"Take the staff and gather together the assembly, you and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes that it shall give its water"

But what did Moshe actually do?

It seems from the following verses that Moshe did not follow instructions and made some mistakes.

ויקהלו משה ואהרן את הקהל אל פני הסלע ויאמר להם שמעו נא המרים המין הסלע הזה נוציא לכם מים? וירם משה את ידו ויך את הסלע במטהו פעמים ויצאו מים רבים 

"Moshe and Aaron gathered the congregation before the rock and he said to them "Listen now, You rebels, shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?" Then Moshe raised his arm and struck the rock with his staff twice, and abundant water came forth"

a)  Hashem told him "gather the assembly" and he gathered the "congregation."

b) Hashem told him to speak to the rock, yet he decided to hit the rock.

c) Moshe called them "rebels" 

d) Moshe when saying to them "shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?" made it seem like he had the ability to bring water from the rock, and should have instead said "only Hashem can bring water from a rock" The Torah then states that Hashem told both Moshe and Aaron 

"יען לא האמנתם בי להקדישני לעיני בני ישראל לכן לא תביאו את הקהל הזה אל הארץ אשר נתתי להם"

"Because you didn't believe in Me to sanctify Me in the eyes of the Children of Israel, therefore you will not bring this congregation to the Land that I have given them."

It was after this incident that Hashem decreed that Moshe & Aaron would not enter Eretz Yisrael.

Much ink has been spilled trying to make sense of what actually happened and what it was exactly that triggered Hashem to deny Moshe & Aaron entry into Eretz Yisrael, since it is not explicit in the verses.

Why did Hashem ask Moshe to take the stick and speak to the rock, which could have confused anyone? 

In fact way back in Parshas Beshalach in the city of Refidim, when the Jews were complaining about lack of water, Hashem tells him to take his stick and hit the rock. Isn't  understandable that Moshe would be confused? 

In fact the Ramban says Moshe didn't get punished because he hit the rock instead of speaking to it as Rashi suggests, because hitting the rock and getting water was still a great miracle. According to the Ramban Moshe's hitting the rock did not diminish the miracle one iota? 

The Ramban adds that the fact that Hashem didn't allow Moshe to enter the Land couldn't be because Moshe called the Jews "rebels," and it couldn't be because of Moshe's statement  that it  made it seem like he had the ability to bring water from the rock, and should have instead said "only Hashem can bring water from a rock" The Ramban goes in a very lengthy pilpul trying to get to the bottom of what really happened? 

The Ohr Hachayim Hakodosh is perplexed as well and quotes 10 different reasons from a variety of Rishonim on what exactly occurred and  also goes into a very lengthy explanation.

I want to suggest that the answer of what went wrong is in Moshe's last words to the Bnei Yisrael in Parshas Ve'eschanen days before his petirah.

Moshe seems to complain and states:

ויתעבר ה' בי למענכם "But Hashem became angry with me because of you!" (Rashi's translation)

It seems from these four words, that the reason that Moshe couldn't enter Eretz Yisrael was because of something that the Bnei-Yisrael did and had nothing to do with what Moshe did or said at Mei Merivah.

But we know that Moshe was not a complainer and especially not to Klall Yisrael, so what changed here?

It could possibly be that Moshe was not complaining at all but stating a fact. He simply said that he couldn't be the one to bring Klall Yisrael into Eretz Yisrael because of who they were. (this is not how  Rashi learns this verse).

 Let me explain.

The incident at Mei Meriva where Moshe hit the rock instead of speaking to it took place in the 40th year, just months before they would enter Eretz Yisrael. The older generation had already died in the desert because of the sin of the meraglim, and Klall Yisrael now, was a brand new generation who lived entirely on miracles. 

They had  heard about how Moshe brought plagues on the Egyptians, Krias Yam Suf, they didn't actually experience it. To them Moshe was more than "rabbeinu," to them Moshe was like a G-d!  What they experienced in the here and  now in the desert was a total miraculous existence and all thanks to Moshe!

When they heard Moshe Rabbeinu at Mei Merivah stating:  "shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?" It basically confirmed to them that if Moshe only wished, he, Moshe, could bring water from a rock. When they saw that instead of gathering an "assembly" like Hashem instructed, Moshe instead invited the entire "congregation" to witness the miracle that was about to occur they were convinced that he could possibly also be a "deity."

  Study the words that Hashem used when telling Moshe that he would not enter Hashem says

 לכן לא תביאו את הקהל הזה אל הארץ  "therefore you will not bring this congregation to the Land" You gathered the "congregation" instead of the "assembly" as I instructed, so  now you won't bring the "congregation" into Eretz Yisrael. Moshe had an opportunity at Mei Meriva to set the record straight that all miracles are from the One Above, but he failed in his mission, that's why Hashem told him:

"יען לא האמנתם בי להקדישני לעיני בני ישראל לכן לא תביאו את הקהל הזה אל הארץ אשר נתתי להם"

That is why Moshe told them days before his demise ויתעבר ה' בי למענכם  "Hashem wouldn't allow me to enter because of you" Because if I would be the one to bring you into Eretz Yisrael, you would eventually make me into a deity, into a G-d, and therefore "Hashem won't even allow you to know where I am buried. "

There is only One G-D and He is the one that brings water from a rock, He is the One who smote the Egyptians and split the sea. The older generation that knew Moshe when he was growing up in the house of Paro would never have thought to make him into a G-D! They knew that even though Moshe was the greatest prophet that ever lived, he was still human.

This should be a lesson for all of us, no rebbe or Rosh Yeshiva are Gods, they are all human and make mistakes. All these civil wars in Ger, Satmar, Viznits, Bobov, Sadegera, Ponovitz, etc are all about the mighty shekel and as Oin Pen Peles's wife told Mr. Oin... "no matter who wins this machlokas, be it Moshe or be it Korach, you will still be Mr. Oin! This is a message to the followers of these mere humans. No matter who wins, you will still have to go and punch a clock the next day, to bring parnassa into your homes. 

All those running to R' Shayele Krestirer or to the graves of other rabbis and spending huge amounts of money that go straight into the coffers of the grandchildren of the those who brutally murdered our grandparents should learn the message of Moshe Rabeinu Z'l ... He was human after all and we have no clue where he is buried!

The Gerer Rebbe is not G-d, R' Chaim Kanievsky wasn't G-d, and R' Yoel Teitelbaum wasn't a G-d! They are all prone to make mistakes and are not perfect. Once we realize and internalize this message we will be on our way to bring Mashiach speedily in our days. Amen!

Satmar Protesters in London Spark Outrage After Wearing Yellow Stars Against British Educational Directives

 

I wrote "satmar" because I recognize many of the protestors and they are all Satmar. Which is ironic, because both Satmar rabbis in New York endorsed Hochol for Governor and she has said many times that she supports LGBT education in the schools, yet her opponent Lee Zeldin opposes these mandates!

Bunch of hypocrites!

A demonstration by some 100 chareidim in London has sparked outrage after they wore yellow stars reminiscent of the Nazi period persecution of Jews. The chareidim were protesting British interference in chareidi education, with the new British laws requiring all educational systems to teach subjects which are taboo in chareidi circles. A number of chareidi schools which refused to teach these issues have been forced to close in the meantime.

The protesters, who are linked to the Rabbinical Committee of the Traditional Charedi Education, took part in the demonstration outside the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion in Westminster, at which Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss were among 700 attendees.

Ukraine Says No Visitors Allowed in Uman for Rosh Hashana

 

Tens of thousands of Breslover chassidim are reeling Thursday following an announcement from the Ukrainian ambassador to Israel that dashed any hopes of chassidim being able to visit the kever of Rebbe Nachman in Uman for Rosh Hashana.

“Due to concerns for the lives and well-being of the visitors to Ukraine and in light of the blatant Russian war in our country, despite all efforts, we can not guarantee the security of pilgrims and do not currently allow tourists and visitors to enter Ukraine,” the country’s ambassador to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk said in a statement.

“On this occasion, we address to you, because your prayers are important to us,” the statement continued. “Please pray that before Rosh Hashana the war in Ukraine, which broke out due to blatant and cruel Russian aggression, will come to an end, and pray for the victory of Ukraine.”

“We hope that the prayers will be fulfilled, and that Ukraine will once again be a country that generously receives visitors from Israel, and especially Jews who come to Ukraine to visit the graves of the righteous.”

The annual pilgrimage to the tziyon is a yearly highlight for an untold number of chassidim, whose davening during the Yomim Noraim is uplifted as they spend time near their revered Rebbe.

“It’s a devastating blow,” a Breslover chassid who routinely visits Uman. “We look forward to this literally every day of the year. And while we knew this was likely to happen, its confirmation is no less crushing.”

Israel Police: “Our Assumption Is That Moishe Is Alive”

 

Moishe’s parents and siblings went to Meron on Wednesday, 102 days after Moishe’s disappearance to daven at the kever of Reb Shimon Bar Yochai. Afterward, the Kleinermans met with the members of the Israel Dog Unit (IDU) team who are searching for Moishe.

The head of the Israel Dog Unit, Mike Ben-Yaakov, spoke to the Kleinermans about the ongoing search for their son.

Earlier on Wednesday, Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai held a situational assessment on Moishe’s case at the Ma’ale Adumim precinct. “We won’t give up until we learn what happened to Moishe and where he is,” he said. “Israel Police, as in any case of a missing person, certainly one who is at risk, is investing much resources in trying to locate him.”

“This is a complex investigation. Despite the fact that he was last seen in the Meron area, we’re not ruling out any location throughout the country where he could be found. Our investigation is examining various angles and we’re working on the assumption that Moishe is alive.”

Song of Yevamos

 

The British perfidy: 100 years of lies, deceit and untruth and its corrupt Mandate

 

Will Israel act to reclaim its sovereign legal rights after a century of British corruption over their maladministration of the Mandate for Palestine?

This is a subject that irks me a great deal because collectively, we Jews, do not seem to have what it takes to hold tight to our sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Subverted Mandate For Palestine

After World War I, Great Britain received the power to be the holder, mind you a shameful one, of the Mandate for Palestine in the Land of Israel.

In order to understand the injustice that was done, we must remind ourselves and remember how that country treated Israel then and its current claim to Jerusalem today.

Britain’s Perfidy

Pursuing Great Britain receiving the Mandatary role for the Land of Israel, its first perfidy was to cease to apply the Mandate’s provisions to all of the mandate’s originally assigned territory. Those provisions had to do with “facilitating Jewish immigration” and “encouraging close settlement by Jews on the land.” However, those in control in Britain decided that these provisions would not apply to any of the Mandate’s territory east of the Jordan River.

That territory, today known as Jordan (then named Transjordan), constituted 78% of the area that was intended to be part of a future Jewish National Home, the state of Israel, and was closed off by Britain to Jews. In place of having Jews settle in their land, that territory was perfidiously stolen by Britain to become the Hashemite Tribe’s Emirate of Transjordan, created by the British to satisfy the Hashemite Emir Abdullah’s territorial ambitions.

'Justice' gone mad Bodega worker charged in fatal stabbing — after fighting back against attacker

 

A hard-working Manhattan bodega clerk who was forced to grab a knife to fend off a violent ex-con, now finds himself sitting behind bars at the notorious Rikers Island jail charged with murder and unable to post $250,000 bail.

The sky-high bail for Jose Alba — who has no known criminal history — was just half of what controversial Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office demanded, despite surveillance video showing the clerk being assaulted by his alleged victim in the bodega.

Alba, 51, was charged with the fatal stabbing of Austin Simon, 34, who can be seen storming behind the counter at the Hamilton Heights Grocery on Broadway and West 139th Street to attack the store worker Friday night.

The dead guy: Simon

“It was either him or the guy at the moment,” Alba’s daughter Yulissa told The Post Wednesday, saying it was a case of self-defense.

“He’s never hurt anybody. He’s never had an altercation where he had to defend himself. This is the first time for him.”

If you charge a $1.75 fee for extra sauce you will get a riot

 

Repost
Bel fires in NYC. Unclear how this started or what day it was on . #news #NewYorkCity #NYC pic.twitter.com/jQ9voIhblW

— Viral News NY (@ViralNewsNYC) July 6, 2022

 Three raging customers trashed a Manhattan eatery in a caught-on-camera outburst over the weekend that left two employees injured, police said.

The wild scene took place at Bel Fries, a fry restaurant on Ludlow Street in the nightlife-centric Lower East Side, on Sunday at 4:10 a.m. and ended with the arrests of three women, according to the NYPD.

Shocking video of the mayhem posted to Twitter shows the trio of suspects hurling glass bottles, a metal stool and other items at employees, leaping over the counter, throwing sauce all over the restaurant and destroying a plastic barrier.

A crowd of people can be heard cheering and filming the chaos with their phones.

Their rowdy tirade started over the women’s anger at the eatery’s $1.75 fee for extra sauce, according to one report.

An employee who is filming the incident tells the women “you’re gonna go to jail” as they hurl items at him — all while an alarm is going off.

At one point, one of three women gives the employees the middle finger and in another moment, a different woman dances on top of the counter.

The trio caused more than $250 worth of damage to the business and injured a 33-year-old female employee and a male employee. Both suffered lacerations to their heads, according to cops.

Bel Fries was forced to shutter its doors to make repairs and recover from the incident and was still not open by Wednesday, according to its Instagram.

Police arrested the three women — Pearl Ozoria, 27, of Manhattan; Chitara Plasencia, 25, of Brooklyn and Tatiyanna Johnson, 23, of Brooklyn on robbery and criminal mischief charges.

Ozoria allegedly punched the cop arresting her in the face and was slapped with additional charges of assault of a police officer, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration and disorderly conduct.

Plasencia and Johnson were each also charged with criminal possession of a weapon.

Rabbanim Who Are Banning Rav Melamed's Halacha Sefarim Are Still Allowing Monster Walder Books

 

Many readers have emailed me wanting to know my take on this.

Shas MK Decides To Donate Kidney, Doctors Find And Remove Growth From His Own Kidney

 

MK Moshe Arbel recently decided to donate a kidney but did not realize that the implication of his decision may have saved his own life.

Arbel had contacted the Matnat Chaim organization founded by Rabbi Yishayahu Haber z’l which has in the past few years sponsored hundreds of kidney donations in Israel. The 38-year-old lawyer, who had previously served as Shas’s legal advisor before become a member of Knesset, started a procedure of tests to determine whether he was a worthy candidate for donating a kidney. However during the tests, an irregular growth was discovered in Arbel’s kidney and he recently underwent an operation to remove the growth.

A relieved Arbel made a celebratory Seudas Hodayah to thank Hashem for the miraculous discovery, which he would never have known of if he had not altruistically decided to donate a kidney.

Arbel said that “Israel is a powerhouse of chesed and leads the world in kidney donations. Hashem gave me the merit of wanting to join this amazing volunteer group and this led to the early discovery of a growth and my speedy recovery. I thank the public for their concern for my welfare and wish to relate that I feel well and thank the doctors for their speedy treatment.”