Shmini Atzeret and the Eagle

 B”H

As we approach Shmini Atzeret, it’s worth remembering the song of the animal in Perek Shira for this week, Week 4:

The Eagle is saying, "And You, G-d, Lord of Hosts, Lord of Israel, awake to reckon all the nations; do not be gracious to any wicked traitors, sela!" (Psalms 59:6)

Zachur LaTov (Remembered for Good)

 B”H

ההוא = טוב (17)

Bava Basra 106b

In the discussion between Rav Pappa and Abbaye concerning the field bought from "Hahu Gavra”, Rav Pappa complains that he bought a "20" field, but when he counted it, it was only "15."  Abbaye told him what the man meant was that it produced like 20, and that the laws related to invalidating the sale did not apply here because Rav Pappa was familiar with the field..

"Hahu Gavra" here appears to be Elisha HaNavi. Elisha once performed a miracle in which 20 loaves of Bikurim bread fed 100 people and there was still more left over. (II Melachim, 4:42) Elisha performed 15 miracles in his lifetime (and one after his passing). Rav Pappa asked Abbaye how Elisha could have told him that he performed 20 miracles, when Rav Pappa only counted 15. Abbaye explained to him that what Elisha was saying was that, as Rav Pappa already knew, the miracles of Elisha were like the miracle of the 20 loaves of bread and that they all produced much more than meets the eye. 15 can easily equal 20 and much more.

9/11 is Tisha B’Av, 10/7 is Yom Kippur

The 9th day of the 11th month (counting from Tishrei) is the fast of Tisha B'Av. The 10th day of the 7th month (counting from Nissan) is the fast of Yom Kippur.

Alternatively, the 9th day of the 11th month (counting from Nissan) is Erev Yud Shvat, the day in which the Rebbe became Rebbe, and the 10th day of the 7th month (counting from Tishrei) is Yud Nissan, the Rebbe's birthday.

Time and Place of Elijah and Moshiach

Our sages teach us that Moshiach is born on Tisha B'Av. Could Tisha B'Av also be a reference to a year and a place? 

Often in gematria, we add a definite article. In this case, תשעה באב becomes התשעי באב, the Ninth of Av. Counting the ה separately, that’s numerical value for this coming year, 5785: ה״תשפה.

Furthermore, the letters of התשעי באב could also be the number and initials for a place (switching around the letters slightly):

770, Brooklyn, New York, United States: 

תשע , ברוקלין, יורק החדש, ארצות ברית 

770 is also the Gematria of the name of the Lubavitcher Rebbe: 

רב מנחם מנדל בן לוי יצחק

5+785 is also the Gematria of “Then, Elijah the Tishbite will come:”

אז יבא אליהו התשבי

5785 Calendar

 

The Shulchan Aruch (+ Chofetz Chaim/Shmirat HaLashon) and the Year

 B”H

There are 1705 chapters of Shulchan Aruch + 115 sections in the Sefer Chofetz Chaim and the Sefer Shmirat HaLashon combined. 5 chapters/sections a day.

Today is the 13th of Elul, Yom Hilula of the Ben Ish Chai, and we begin the first five sections of the Sefer Chofetz Chaim.

Reflections

 B”H

We are entering the month of Elul this Tuesday, and I wanted to take the idea of Cheshbon HaNefesh to the next level. Hopefully a daily reflection, starting today:

Last night I had a dream about an interview someone who was not honest in business (in the interview, the person kept fixing his hair, which was red and in a weird sort of wavy style). He was treated very lightly by the interviewer. No one, especially the person himself, seemed to think it was a very big deal. There was a sound in the house, and I was brought back to reality im such a way that I felt had descended many levels to get back to my bed.

As I was waking up, I felt a strong urge to study Rav Kook (his yahrzeit is this week). As soon as I could, I stacked up all the books I had of him that I could find and started perusing them. I was struck by the spirituality and universality of the works, which I seemed to only vaguely remember. I was taken by his passion, his description of mystical experiences, his longing for a new prophetic era. It was so beautiful and so real. I longed myself to be again in that mystical mode and defined my return to observant Judaism.

Every Elul, when the King is in the field, I seem to connect back to the liberating ideas of Rav Kook. He is like the missing link that brings everything else together and also helps me share my journey with others. This year, I hope to not forget this again.

[The day this was originally posted was the 28th of Av, the Yahrzeit of the Netziv, Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin, Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin for close to forty years. The Netziv once said that if the Volozhin Yeshiva had been created just to to have a student such as Rav Kook, it would have been worth it.]