Connect the Dots

Guest post by Reb Eliyahu Neyman

The story goes something like this - a religious man got into a taxi cab in Israel and some time into the ride the driver of the cab told the man (his passenger) that he has a friend who also become "religious". Interesting... the passenger thought, and he proceeded to ask the taxi driver what was it that inspired his friend to take on the path of Torah?

The taxi driver then shared the amazing story of how him and his friend where on a camping trip in the wilderness and one night they awoke to the feeling of sheer terror. A huge snake had managed to slither into their quarters and had wrapped itself around the taxi driver's friend's neck! Panic struck and realizing the victim was about to suffocate to death (G-d forbid) the secular young men remembered that before a Jew dies he should say the Shema Yisrael prayer one last time, so in a frantic mode the friend did just that and said the Shema Yisrael almost sure of his impending death in seconds.

After he finished the quick prayer with what was probably a whisper everyone around was witness to a most amazing sight: the snake loosened it's hold and uncoiled from his neck before slithering away entirely!

After that event, the taxi cab driver proceeded to relate, his friend became "religious".

Impressed, inspired and bewildered the passenger of the cab couldn't help but ask one more question - Why aren't you religious then?

The cab driver responded in a short, matter-of-fact and explanatory-tone -- the snake wrapped itself around his friend's neck, not his!

Sadly, how many of us can relate in some way, shape or form to the above true story? No explanation is necessary..

We have now begun the month of Elul and have less than 30 days before Rosh Hashana (The New Year & Jewish Judgement Day).

Rabbi Lazer Brody gave a very insightful Emuna lesson last week based on Torah and current events. I want to share just a few points he presented in his talk live from Yerushalayim. I will try to relate it as best I can with a few quick notes, and a few additions. Please forgive me in advance for any unintentional misrepresentation.

Last week's Parsha was Re'Eh - Hebrew meaning "Look" "See!" The prophet tells us during Shabbos Chazon a few weeks ago that problems arise because we don't open our eyes and look at what Hashem is doing! Rebbe Nachman of Breslev teaches us that we as Jews have to look at the wisdom in Creation and understand that what is happening in the world are really messages from Hashem. A person could be learning Torah all day long but if he/she doesn't relate it to the world at large they are truly disconnected and missing the main point of G-d's active involvement in the world He created and runs, a core principle of our Torah.

Almost two weeks ago the Gaza rocket blitz began in Israel following a deadly and brutal terrorist sabotage and massacre in Eilat. The following week a near magnitude 6 earthquake shook much of the Eastern US. The unprecedentant quake was felt from Atlanta Georgia to Toronto Canada. The two most astonishing impacts were seen right away - damage to the United States National Cathedral in Washington DC that took the form of the top spires (crosses) being knocked off, and a big crack developed in the Washington monument at the Capitol. Speaking of which, both the Capitol and the Pentagon were urgently evacuated as staff feared another attack was in progress (earthquakes just don't happen like that in those parts). With a proverbial snap of the fingers Hashem showed how He can empty out the most powerful nation's capital and pentagon in mere seconds and we don't even have to wait for the next elections!

Note - this quake hit on the exact day (Tuesday) that we read the Torah portion of the day dealing with how to deal with the "false prophet" and a city of idol worship. You connect the dots.

Days later as talk of the quake was still fresh Hurricane Irene paid the Eastern seaboard a tropical visit. Some 65 million people were in the crosshairs of the storm and this week plenty of people are STILL without power around New York.

The Gemara points out that Hashem brings tremors to the world to straighten out crooked hearts. Rebbe Nachman explains that one with a straight heart is happy and the Pittsburgher Rebbe illustrates that a person with a straight heart is on a higher level than a tzaddik! Remember, happiness is synonymous with holiness. Don't be fooled by "religious" looking people who chronically walk around with a frown and constantly look down on others. Where happiness is lacking, holiness is as well. Besides, anyone can wear a costume and it's easier to grow out a beard than to change a negative character trait. But Hashem wants the heart and He's not fooled by outward appearance.

Hashem then sometimes has to intervene and straighten out our hearts if we don't do it ourselves.

A religious community in Israel hired a contractor to build a new shul. Well, the contractor decided to cut a few corners and save some time and money in a not-so-honest way. In effect, instead of the traditional method of making a solid concrete foundation on top of sand and only then topping it off with a tile floor he went ahead and quietly put the tile onto the sand. When the religious community found out although too late to do anything about it, they became angry and quite upset at the contractor. They didn't realize that according to the first principle of Emuna it was Hashem and NOT the contractor who decided their shul was going to be built like that.

This latest rocket barrage that affected Israel demonstrated the big picture quite well...one of the warheads fired from Gaza went through the roof of that shul during morning prayers, pierced the paper thin tile floor of the synagogue, hit the sand underneath and DID NOT EXPLODE! Had their been a layer of concrete, which would normally be the case in an 'honest job' that shell would have most likely detonated and G-d forbid what would have been. Nobody was hurt that day in that synagogue.

Rabbi Shalom Arush Shlita says that if the UN recognizes a Palestinian State this month, then it looks like we're headed toward an almost certain war situation, G-d forbid.

It's no longer business as usual, the world is changing fast. Hashem wants to bring Moshiach and change the world into a place of true peace and spirituality. But for that to happen we have to work on becoming proper vessels for that light and that new reality.

It is said that the miracles of the Final Redemption will make the miracles of the Exodus from Egypt look like Sesame Street in comparison. Apparently we are going to need those miracles with the way things have been stacking up in the world.

It is now the second day of Elul, we are less than 30 days from Rosh Hashana and this last month of the year is perhaps the most conducive time on the Jewish calendar for Teshuva. This word Teshuva, sometimes referred to by "repentance" actually means to "Return", to "come home". Our task is to bring our hearts back to Hashem. Hashem is our Loving Father and He is waiting for us. He wants to give us the satisfaction of initiating the relationship with Him.

A core spiritual principle is when we arouse ourselves here below the spiritual cause and effect initiates an arousal of Heavenly mercy from Above onto the Jewish people.

So what's it mean to wake up? We have to ask ourselves: Do I have the same prejudices as I did last year? Do I love every Jew?

Our free choice in life really boils down to one point: Desire - Ratzon (Hebrew)

We must ask ourselves - Do we desire to do Hashem's will? Do we desire to get closer to Hashem?

Do I really love You?

Do I really want to eat kosher?

Do I really want to keep the Shabbat?

Hashem wants our heart, Hashem wants our Desire.

Let's do our part to work on our Desire and do all we can to make Hashem's Desire a reality - a world of peace, harmony and love. A world guided by the light of Divine inspiration where humanity is busy with doing the Will of its Maker and busy learning about Hashem.

G-d created all of the spiritual worlds and yet he Desired to have a dwelling place right here, in the lowest of all worlds - our physical world. It's our job to do our part. We know He will do the rest!

Chodesh Tov and may you and your family be inscribed for a Holy, Happy & Healthy New Year!

Terrorist Attacks

I work about 200 ft from where the bomb exploded and at about 3 pm we felt a huge force and heard a loud explosion. Never been exposed to bombings, I was sure it was purim firecrackers... . Someone with more experience said that it sounds like a terrorist bombing... I didn't believe that it could even be a possibility...

We started hearing loud sirens coming from all directions and saw people running... My co worker went outside and called my cell to tell me it was a terrorist bomb and I should stay put in the office... It took me about an hour to calm down till I was able to gather myself to go outside... The streets were closed to traffic and people for security reasons. I just wanted to get away from the havoc. I found a sidestreet that was somewhat less crowded and people were allowed to go thru. I walked and walked and walked thanking HKB'H that I'm alive and able to thank Him. When I finally got home I just wanted to get into bed... I just wanted to sleep... B'h, this morning was easier and went to work normally b'h.

May we only hear good news and may the Geula come with much needed mercy, amen.
ברוך אתה הטוב והמטיב

Carmel Disaster

קטעים במלכים א', י"ח
וַיִּשְׁלַח אַחְאָב בְּכָל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּקְבֹּץ אֶת הַנְּבִיאִים אֶל הַר הַכַּרְמֶל...
וַתִּפֹּל אֵשׁ יְהֹוָה וַתֹּאכַל אֶת הָעֹלָה וְאֶת הָעֵצִים וְאֶת הָאֲבָנִים
וְאֶת הֶעָפָר וְאֶת הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר בַּתְּעָלָה לִחֵכָה:
וַיַּרְא כָּל הָעָם וַיִּפְּלוּ עַל פְּנֵיהֶם וַיֹּאמְרוּ יְהֹוָה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים ...
וַיְהִי עַד כֹּה וְעַד כֹּה וְהַשָּׁמַיִם הִתְקַדְּרוּ עָבִים וְרוּחַ וַיְהִי גֶּשֶׁם גָּדוֹל ...

From Kings I, 18
...Ahab sent for all the children of Israel and got the prophets together at Mount Carmel
...Then the fire of HaShem came down burning up the offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and drinking up the water in the drain.
...And when the people saw it they all went down on their faces and said HaShem is the Elokim.
...And after a very little time, the heaven became black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.

Life and Death are in the Hands of the Tongue

Life and death are in the hands of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Sometimes we do not take this biblical phrase literally, because talking about other people may have become a pastime. We can feel good about ourselves by noting other people’s faults. Gossip can help us prove that we are the better one. And sometimes, it’s easier to learn Torah and pray.

If we stopped for a moment and realized that the above biblical phrase is literal, we would make a more conscious effort to think every time we uttered a word. If we realized that every word that goes out of our mouth goes straight up to Heaven and creates a negative prosecution for the person we are speaking about, we may think twice. Particularly if the person we are speaking about is someone close to us. If we also realized that the person can come to harm if he or she has enough negative prosecutions, then we may prefer to remain silent.

In the Chofetz Chaim: A Lesson a Day we read, “Satan, the Heavenly Prosecutor, is always ready with his accusation, but he needs a second witness to set the judicial process in motion. Hashem has granted each Jew the power to act as a witness and thus take part in opening a case against another Jew. Loshon hara has the drastic effect of turning oneself into Satan’s corroborating witness.” In other words, when we speak about another person, Satan has what he needs to begin prosecution against the person we are speaking about. The Zohar takes this one step further and tells us that the words we use here are the same words Satan uses in Heaven.

Let’s say we are angry with our spouse. Today he or she may have left a small mess after dinner. We become angry and may inadvertently mouth off a string of unpleasant words. The following day, this happens again and we follow the same routine. Then, at work, his or her co-workers are angry because the job they expected finished wasn’t. Then he may enter the synagogue and have a disagreement with one of the members. Finally, when he comes home, he is sick, or he discovers that a deal he had so hoped would help his finances has fallen through. Could it be that our negative words or feelings actually harm our spouse, children, parents, and friends? Could it be that some of the words we used against them are the same words used in prosecution against them?

When one person is angry with another person, he can also get a group of people to empathize with his predicament, and then create several negative prosecutions in Heaven all at once to the determent of the person spoken about. Often when we have negative feelings, we don’t connect them to their effects. And often, we don’t wish our fellow Jew harm, especially not those closest to us. But in Heaven, every word and every thought counts. At the Bedtime Shema, we tell God that we forgive every Jew, those who have wronged us through speech, deed, thought, or notion.

The Vilna Gaon tells us that “…the mouth is the Holy of Holies;” holier, in fact, than Torah learning. If the whole Torah is based on loving our neighbor as ourselves, this is not surprising. If we can change circumstances with fervent prayer, then we can create negative effects with derogatory speech. This ability comes with the free will we have on earth. Every moment is a choice.

There is a purpose for speech, although, and that is to praise God by prayer and daily blessings. “This people I formed for Myself; they shall recite My praise. (Yeshayahu 43:21). There is a worldwide awakening toward this trend. People are beginning to practice gratitude and praise. Judaism is a leader in praise, as this is the way of life for a practicing Jew. We praise almost every movement we make throughout the day. Psalm 150 details a future redemptive era of pure praise when the whole world will be praising God. If we remember this throughout the day, then we may remember to choose to use speech to praise God so that we may come closer to greeting Moshiach in our day.

Alon's Clinical Death Story

Alon Anava tells the story of his out of body experience which leads to his ultimate life change from anti religious Jew to Chabad Chassid.

Dramatic Secrets of Megilat Esther

Prior to Achashverosh's marriage to Vashti, the daughter of King Belshazar, he was a stable boy in Babylonia. HaShem made him very rich and this is how he bought his way into the kingdom and became a king over 127 countries.

Mordechai HaYehudi's, zs'kl, full name is Mordechai ben Yair ben Shimi ben Kish from the tribe of Binyamin. In the whole world there was no righteous man like him in his generation.
His name was 'Ben Yair' because he lit Am Israel with HaShem's Torah.
'Ben Shimi' because HaShem heard his prayers.
'Ben Kish' because he knocked on the gates of mercy and it opened up for him.

He was one of the Sanhedrin and knew all 70 languages. There was no one smarter than him in his generation.

Mordechai HaYehudi taught Torah in Eretz Israel until the Babylonian exile. But in Bavel he found no rest and returned to Eretz Israel. When he heard about his aunt's death and Esther, a'h, is an orphan without parents, he returned to Bavel to raise her as his daughter. Mordechai HaYehudi moved with Esther to the capital city of Shushan and built a Bet Midrash.

When the command of King Achashverosh to find him a wife was announced, Esther hid in her house for 4 years. During these 4 years, Achashverosh did not yet find a wife and announced all over his kingdom that any girl that does appear in front of him, her judgment is death. He also sent messengers to every city to find maiden girls and that's how Esther was discovered. She was immediately taken to the palace of the king.

Esther was different from all the other girls, she had no requests from Hagai, the girl's security guard. She refused to put on makeup, perfumed, decorate herself with beautiful jewelry, refused to even try on beautiful clothing, and she refused to eat any food prepared in the palace because they were not kosher. She kept alive by eating seeds and drinking water.

On the day she was due to be presented to the king, Hagai forced her to put on jewelry against her wishes. He was afraid that he'll be killed if Esther is presented to the king without perfumes and jewelry.

When the king saw Esther, he was astounded by her beauty. He looked at a picture of Vashti and admitted that Esther is much more beautiful. That moment he decided that this girl is worthy to be the queen.

He removed Vashti's picture from the wall and replaced it with Esther's picture. In order for Queen Esther to know what day is Shabbat, she had 7 maidservants for each day of the week. Each girl was named the day of the week and when it was the 7th maidservants day, Esther knew it was Shabbat kodesh.

From the day Esther HaMalka was taken from Mordechai HaYehudi's home, Mordechai HaYehudi would walk around daily near the garden of the women's home and would inquire about Esther HaMalka. He would teach her how to behave amongst non-Jews and strangers. He warned her not to reveal her nationality and not to tell Achashverosh that she was Jewish. Even though Achashverosh would frequently ask her information about her nationality, she obeyed Mordechai HaYehudi's instructions and did not reveal.

This secret drove Achashverosh crazy and was dying of curiosity to know. He commanded his servants to send expensive gifts to every city in his kingdom. Achashverosh thought to himself that when Esther HaMalka will see that he improves the conditions of her nation, she will reveal her secret. But Esther HaMalka continued keeping silence. This made Achashverosh very angry and he threatened her that he will again gather all maiden girls from all the countries and find a new queen to replace her. But courageous Esther HaMalka was not afraid to lose the crown and did not reveal a thing to the king.

In a small town in Persia lived a man named Haman (imach shemo). He had 10 sons and they were extremely poor. Even though Haman worked hard for a livelihood, he did not succeed providing for his family. The hunger in the family was overwhelming and Haman decided to join the army because it was a time of war and much money was being offered to anyone that will join the fight. Together with other soldiers, Haman went out to the battlefield and it was a very difficult war. Many died and some soldiers ran away because they were afraid. Haman also ran away to the desert. He was tired, hungry, and lonely in the desolate desert. He was almost dying when he suddenly saw a Jew. The Jew offered him some of his dry bread and water. After eating and drinking, Haman said to the Jew, "I don't have any money to repay your kindness. Therefore, I will be your servant for life." With this, he pricked his finger and with the blood of his finger, he signed the deal on a piece of paper. It stated "I, Haman ben Hamdata, is hereby obligated to be your servant for eternity."

Haman returned to the battlefield and he saw that his regiment were winning the enemy. He returned with his regiment to the army main office and got paid handsomely. He quickly returned home with the money but it was very quickly spent and again they had no food. Haman suggested to his wife that they move out of the village into the city and hopefully, he will be able to find decent work with decent pay. They quickly packed up the little they had and went towards the city. On their way Haman found a great treasure hidden inside a pit. They were treasures from the kingdom of Yehuda and from the Bet HaMikdash. He took the treasures to the capital city of Shushan, purchased a great big home with orchards and vineyards. His money grew daily and everyone agreed that there is no richer man than Haman in the land. When Achashverosh heard about this rich man Haman, he invited him to his palace and appointed him as his advisor.

When Esther HaMalka was chosen to replace Vashti, Haman decided to flatter her. Even though he wished the king would marry his daughter, he knew that it would be in his best interest to be loyal to the Queen so he will be able to obtain anything he wishes from the king.

Achashverosh gradually promoted Haman and placed him as his personal body guard. Haman was considered to be the most important minister and everyone bowed down to him whenever he passed by them - except Mordechai HaYehudi. While everyone was quivering when Haman passed by and would immediately bow down to him, Mordechai HaYehudi stood up courageously. Everyone was surprised by Mordechai HaYehudi's courage to publicly humiliate the most important minister.

They asked him if he is not afraid of punishment and Mordechai HaYehudi would answer, "Who is this Haman I should bow down to him? He is a human being like all of us. I only bow down to the Creator of the World." "But didn't your father Yaakov Avinu and his sons (a'h) bow down to Esav?" the people inquired. Mordechai HaYehudi replied, "Yaakov Avinu and his sons bowed down to Esav before Binyamin (a'h) was born. I am from the tribe of Binyamin and the same way Binyamin did not bow down to humans, I, too, will not bow down to any humans."

Haman was furious and wanted his revenge on Mordechai HaYehudi. As a matter of fact, he hated all Jews and wanted to kill the entire Jewish nation. When he cast a lot when to kill the Jews, at that same hour, the Divine Spirit said, "Wicked son of wicked! You will not cast a lot on Am Israel but on yourself. Am Israel will be saved."

When the month of Adar came out in the lot, Haman decided that it was the best month to kill the Jews. "The astrology sign of Adar is fish and the same way fish are easily caught and killed, I will easily erase the nation of the Jews."

HaShem heard this and said, "Wicked, you are happy prior to your event. Do you not know that although fish get swallowed easily, but sometimes, they also swallow quickly. Am Israel will not fall in your hands but you will fall in theirs."

Haman went with his devious plans to king Achashverosh and convinced him to allow him to wipe off the Jewish nation. Achashverosh hated the Jews no less but was afraid of their great G.OD. "Their G.od loves the chosen nation and He punishes anyone that tries harming them. Do you not remember the terrible 10 plagues He brought on the Egyptians? How He took out His nation on dry land in the sea? He drowned 600,000 strong Egyptian men in the sea. Their great and awesome G.od used the stars to bring down the powerful Sisra. No one was able to kill Sisra till G.od gave him into the hands of the woman Yael (a'h). The G.od of Israel watches and protects His nation and punishes their enemies. We cannot win the nation of Israel, let's leave them alone and no harm will come to us."

Haman was not discouraged and said, "Don't be afraid of the G.od of Israel. The Jewish nation sinned against Him and He is angry at them. Therefore, the G.od of Israel will give you the power to wipe them out."

But Achashverosh was afraid to harm the chosen nation. Haman told him, "I can give you proof that the Jewish nation is not loyal to their G.od and neither to their king. Call any Jew right now and place in front of him 2 glasses of wine. In one glass will be a dead fly and in the other glass, you will take a sip from it in front of him. When you will offer the Jew which glass he will choose to drink from, the Jew will choose the first glass, the one with the dead fly rather that the glass you drank from." This angered Achashverosh and he angrily said, "Am I so despised by the Jewish nation?" He immediately called his advisors to ask them their opinion.

When the advisors heard the plan, they panicked. "Honorable King! Don't do it ever. If Am Israel will be wiped away, the world will immediately destruct. The world will not survive even an hour without Am Israel. The world was created for Am Israel, the chosen nation of the powerful G.od. Without Bnei Israel in the world, there will be no sun, no moon, no stars, no rain, no dew, no earth, no food..."

Haman would not quit. "It's true the G.od of Israel is powerful but that was a long long time ago. He got old and cannot save them. How did king Nevuchadnetzar enter the Holy Temple and burned it down completely? How did he take the Jews into captivity and their G.od did nothing?" When the advisors and the king heard this, they had no answer and it agreed then and there to wipe out the Jewish nation.

When the non-Jews heard that 13 of Adar is the day that all Jews will be killed, haters of the Jews started abusing the Jews. They no longer wanted to employ Jews and many Jews lost their jobs and livelihood. They made the Jews' life miserable and all that was left was for the Jews to turn to HaShem for help.

While announcements to kill the Jews on Adar 13 were being posted all over the countries, the king and Haman had a wine party. During the party, Haman asked from Achashverosh to purchase all the Jews to do as he pleases with them. Achashverosh did not agree, "The nation of the Jews are in my trust and I'm responsible for them as long as they live in my countries. I have no permission to sell them. What am I going to answer the G.od of the Jews when G.od will demand them from me? What will I say? With what can I justify? Let's cast a lot, we will choose one to be "nation" and the other "money". When I will randomly choose and 'nation' wins, I'll not sell them but if "money" wins, I agree to sell them to you and you can do whatever you choose with them."

Haman agreed and they cast a lot. Achashverosh chose one of the notes and opened it. The word "money" was chosen and this is how it was decreed on Am Israel to be sold to the wicked Haman.

After wicked Haman (yimach shemo) signed the letters of decree to kill all Jews, young to old, children, women and men in one day, wicked Haman was overjoyed and walked with his entourage in the streets of Shushan. Ahead of him, he met up with Mordechai HaYehudi, zs'l, who was walking in front of him. Mordechai HaYehudi saw 3 children coming from school, and he ran after them. Haman and his entourage wanted to know why Mordechai HaYehudi was running after the schoolchildren, so they followed him.

Mordechai HaYehudi asked one of the children to quote a verse and the young boy answered,
"אל תירא מפחד פתאום ומשואת רשעים כי תבוא".
Do not be afraid of sudden terror, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it comes;

The second child quoted:
עוצו עצה ותופר דברו דבר ולא יקום כי עמנו אל
Take counsel together, and it shall be brought to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand; for God is with us.

The third child quoted:
ועד זקנה אני הוא ועד שיבה אני אסבול אני עשיתי ואני אשא ואני אסבול ואמלט
Even to old age I am the same, and even to hoar hairs will I carry you; I have made, and I will bear; yea, I will carry, and will deliver.

When Mordechai HaYehudi heard this, he was overjoyed and laughed. Wicked Haman asked, "Why are you so happy over the words of these children?" Mordechai HaYehudi replied "They told me good news - that I should not fear the evil advice you advised against us."

Esther HaMalka did not know about Achashverosh and Haman's decree against the Jews. She was very surprised to hear from her maidservants that Mordechai HaYehudi is walking around the palace garden dressed in sack. She immediately sent Hatach, one of her servants, to inquire from Mordechai HaYehudi the reason for the sack and she also sent him clothing to remove the sack. But Mordechai HaYehudi refused to remove the sack and told Hatach, "Am Israel are in trouble and I should wear royal clothing? I will not remove the sack till the Merciful One annuls this decree. Go to Esther HaMalka and tell her the terrible decree that was decreed on our nation and ask her to go to the king to beg him to cancel it."

When Esther HaMalka heard the message, she became petrified and transferred thru Hatach a message to Mordechai HaYehudi, "How can I beg the king to cancel the decree when I cannot even say that I'm from the Jewish nation? I did everything you instructed me to do and did not tell the king I am from the nation of the Jews. How can I now tell him that I am a Jewess? Also, there is a law in the land that no one may enter infront of the king without royal permission and only Haman can give this permission. I was not called to come to the king 30 days."

When Hatach attempted to pass Esther HaMalka's message to Mordechai HaYehudi, Haman killed him. HKB'H said, "Because wicked Haman killed the messenger of Esther HaMalka and Mordechai HaYehudi, I'll send Angels Micha'el and Gavriel to act as the messengers."

The 2 angels came to Mordechai HaYehudi and told him Esther HaMalka's message. Mordechai HaYehudi replied his message to Esther HaMalka, "Know this Esther HaMalka, you were chosen to be the queen only for the purpose to save your nation. If you keep silent now, salvation will come from a different source and the home of your father will be lost. Why are you afraid of this wicked person? Is he stronger than Amalek who fought against Am Israel and lost? Is he stronger than the 31 kings that gathered to fight against Am Israel and Yehoshua bin Nun (zs'l) killed them with one blow? Is he stronger than Sisra, the strongest man on earth, and HaShem gave him into the hands of a woman? Is he stronger than the giant Goliath that Dovid HaMelech (zs'l) killed him with a rock and beheaded him? Don't be afraid. Be strong and the HaShem will help you."

"If you refuse to help your nation that are now in great trouble, know that you will not escape punishment if tragedies befalls on them. The day will come when you will need to answer the Heavenly court why you did not help your nation. What will you answer?"

"I'm asking you to collect courage and go to the king to ask mercy for your nation. HaShem hears your prayers and will protect and save you from any harm."

When Esther HaMalka heard this, she sent the messengers back, "I completely agree to fulfill your request. I will approach the king and will have no pity on my life. I prefer to be killed in this world rather than lose my portion in the world to come. But only one thing I ask from you: Gather all the Jews of Shushan and fast for me 3 days and 3 nights and I and my maidservants will also fast. Afterwards, I will approach the king."

Mordechai HaYehudi announced a 3 day fast and on the first night of Pesach, he gathered all the Jews of Shushan for prayers and repentance. 12,000 Kohanim stood infront of the nation, in their right hands they held Shofars and in the left hand, they held Torah. With tears, they begged HaShem, "Our G.od and the G.od of our fathers, if You will destruct us, who will read from the holy Torah that You gave us? Who will remember Your name? Even the sun and the moon will not light their light to the world because they were created only for Am Israel."

The Jews fell on their faces and cried, "Answer us, our HaShem, answer us." For a long long time they continued praying, yelling, begging HaShem to annul the decree. They blew shofars till the High Ministers Angels of Shamayim cried together with them.

Mordechai HaYedudi knew that young children are pure without sin and their prayers will reach the Heavenly Throne. He gathered 22,000 children to the Bet Midrash and the children sat around him, crying and screaming, with sacks and ashes on them, learning Torah while fasting for 3 whole days and nights.

Esther HaMalka did the same inside her palace. She fasted for 3 days and prayed non-stop. She begged HaShem to have mercy on her and her nation. On the fourth day, she dressed in her royal clothing including the royal crown. Before exiting towards the garden of the palace, Esther HaMalka stood humbled with a shaking heart and called out to HaShem.

"HaShem my King and HaShem of my fathers, HaShem of Avraham, HaShem of Yitzchak, HaShem of Yaakov, and HaShem of Binyamin, my father. I know why I was chosen to be the queen and it was not because of my deeds. It is to save Am Israel from our enemies. Today I go to fulfill my obligation. Please HaShem, help me do what I am obligated to do. If Your children will be destroyed from the earth, who will say 3 times a day to You "Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh?". "Look at us and see what has become of us. The king sold us for 10,000 silver money and Haman wants to wipe us off the face of the earth."

"Please HaShem, look at my tears. Remember Avraham Avinu that passed all the 10 tests You gave him. Have mercy on us in his Zechut. 3 days I fasted to remind You the 3 days that Avraham Avinu walked to fulfill Your command to kill his son as a Korban on the Mizbe'ach. You promised him that this act will forever be in favor of Your children in time of trouble. 3 days I did not eat or drink keneged the 3 ways You divided Your nation: Kohen, Levi, and Israel. They all stood infront of You at Har Sinai and called out loudly, "Naase Ve Nishma, We will do and we will listen. If all these are not enough merits to save us, please listen to the High Heavenly Ministers that are crying and begging YOU to have mercy on us."

"HaShem is merciful and compassionate. Please have mercy on me when I come infront of the king to ask for mercy for Your nation. Please send a merciful angel infront of me so I will find favor in the King's eyes so he will agree to listen to my words. Please listen to me as You heard the prayers of Chanania, Misha'el, and Azaria (a'h) and as you saved Daniel (zs'l) from the lion's den, save us too from those that wish to kill us."

Three maidservants accompanied Esther HaMalka. One on her right, one on her left and the third one behind carrying the rims of her royal clothing. The Creator of the World placed the Divine Spirit on Esther HaMalka and 'dressed' her with the Divine Spirit which added more beauty to her image.

When the guards saw Esther HaMalka approaching the King's palace, they were shocked at her courage. They knew she was not called upon to visit the king. The guards were wicked and they thought to themselves, "I wish the queen would be killed so we can have her royal clothing." The way the security guards were watching her made Esther HaMalka feel very frightened.

When she passed by the idols inside the palace, the Divine Spirit left her. Esther HaMalka felt it and called out in fear to HaShem, "אלי אלי למה עזבתני My Go.d, My G.od, why did You leave me? Why do You leave me alone as a sheep amongst 70 wolves? You know that I'm not going to the king for personal gain. Only for the safety of Am Israel."

Esther HaMalka's pure prayer reached the Heavenly Throne and immediately, HaShem sent 3 angels to protect and strengthen Esther HaMalka. One angel raised her neck so she looked tall and impressive. The second angel pulled a heavenly pipe full of charm and beauty for Esther HaMalka.

When King Achashverosh heard that Esther HaMalka is in the garden, he got very angry and thought to himself, "When I asked my previous wife Vashti, to appear in front of me, she refused. And this wife comes when I didn't instruct her." He turned his face sideways so not to look at Esther HaMalka but that moment, the third angel turned his face directly towards Esther HaMalka.

When Achashverosh saw Esther HaMalka, his heart was instantly filled with love for her and he stretched out his golden scepter. The golden scepter miracleously stretched till the garden. But after 3 days and nights of fasting, Esther HaMalka was too weak and had no strength to stretch her hand to touch the scepter. Instantly, angel Micha'el raised her hand and neared her to the king's scepter.

That second, Achashverosh jumped out of his royal chair and ran to Esther HaMalka. His face became very gentle and he said to Esther HaMalka, "I see that your request is very big and you are even willing to die for it. Nothing is too big for me to fulfill you wish; half of my kingdom I'll give you. Just don't ask me to build the Holy Temple for the Jews because I already promised I'll never built it."

When Esther HaMalka heard this, she thought it's not the right time to mention that she's a Jewess. Instead she requested that Achashverosh and Haman join her for a party she prepared for them.

When Esther HaMalka returned to her palace, she thought over what just transpired and was glad that she also invited Haman to the party. "This way Achashverosh will feel jealous and think that I prefer Haman over him and the decree to kill all the Jews will be cancelled."

That evening, Achashverosh and Haman went to Esther HaMalka's party. During the meal, Haman removed his crown from his head and put it on the side. Esther HaMalka did the same and placed her crown next to Haman's crown. She moved her royal chair closer to Haman's chair and even poured wine for Haman. While observing this, Achashverosh was bewildered at Esther HaMalka's sweet treatment to Haman.

When the party was over, Esther HaMalka asked that they return tomorrow for another party. They both accepted the invitation.

When Haman exited the palace, he saw Mordechai HaYehudi sitting at the gate and Mordechai HaYehudi raised his leg at Haman. Haman saw that on the shoe was glued the piece of paper of the deal he had a long time ago with Mordechai HaYehdi in the desert. When Haman remembered it, he got very angry. When he got home he called his wife and advisors to advise how he should punish Mordechai HaYehudi. His wife Zeresh, i's, said, "Mordechai is a Jew. You will not be able to punish and kill him because His G.od is with him. If you will throw him into a fire, he will be saved just as Chanania, Misha'el and Azaria (a'h) were saved. If you place him in jail, he will be freed just like his great grandfather was freed, Yosef HaTzaddik (a'h). If you banish him to the desert, nothing will happen to him just like his fathers lived in the desert in peace for 40 years. If you poke out his eyes you will not succeed just like what happened to the heroic Shimshon (zs'l) when he killed all the palestinians when he was blinded. You must hang him on a tall tree because no one from his nation was ever saved from hanging."

Haman liked his wife's advise and instead of going to sleep, he immediately went out searching for a tree to hang Mordechai HaYehudi. After much search, he was unable to find a tall tree but suddenly he remembered that he has a tall tree in his backyard. He called his servants to retrieve it. This tree plank was leftover from the ark that Noach (zs'l) built.

That hour, the Heavenly Divine Voice said, "Haman, this tree that you are preparing is going to be used for you."

Wicked Haman looked out from his bedroom at the tree prepared for Mordechai HaYehudi and felt a sudden urge to see him. The strong feeling to find Mordechai HaYehudi became too powerful and he got dressed and went searching for him. He found Mordechai HaYehudi in the Bet Midrash with children sitting around him, crying and screaming, with sacks and ashes on them, learning Torah. Wicked Haman counted 22,000 children.

He ordered them to be shackled in heavy chains and placed guards to watch them. Then he said, "Tomorrow I'll first kill the children and then hang Mordechai HaYehudi."

All began to cry and bellow and their cries went up to Heaven. HKB'H heard the cries and asked, "What is this voice I hear like young goats and lambs?" Moshe Rabenu, zs'l, said to HKB'H, "These are not voices of young goats and lambs, it is voices of the youngsters of Your nation, whom are fasting for 3 days, because the enemy wants to butcher them like young goats and lambs."

At that hour, HKB'H grasped the letters of decree and tore them up. HaShem sent angel Micha'el to caused Achashverosh to wake up in panic, "בלילה ההוא נדדה שנת המלך". Angel Micha'el entered Achashverosh's room, threw him off the bed and hit him 365 times while other angels were yelling at king Achashverosh, "You are ungrateful. Pay back the goodness to the person that did good for you."

HaShem made a miracle and when the Memory Book was brought to the king, the page opened up to the page containing the information that Mordechai HaYehudi saved the king's life.

That same minute, Haman was in the gardens of the palace. When the guards saw him, they said to the king that Haman wants to see him right away. When Achashverosh heard this, he immediately remembered what angel Micha'el told him in the dream and was convinced that Haman has come to kill him and take over his kingdom. He instructed that they allow Haman to enter. Of course Haman had no clue about the king's dream and did not suspect anything. "You are my head advisor and I wanted your advise regarding how to honor a person." Haman was surprised by this question and had no doubt in his mind that the king is referring to him. Haman advised that this person should dress in royal clothing with the royal crown and taken around the city on the royal horses.

Achashverosh told Haman, "Go immediately to my treasures and choose the most elegant royal clothing together with my crown and scepter. Then go to my royal stable and take my Arabian horse. Take all this and bring it to Mordechai HaYehudi."

Even in his worst dream, Haman could not imagine what he heard was true. He felt so humiliated and angry but from the shock, was unable to answer. After regaining his composure, he said to the king, "There are many Mordechai's in your countries. Which Mordechai are you referring to?" The king got angry, "Don't play games with me, go to Mordechai HaYehudi and do everything I commanded you."

Haman fell to the floor and begged Achashverosh not to embarasse him publicly, "Why do you command me to give honor to my arch enemy? I'd rather give you 10,000 silver money. Instead of honoring Mordechai HaYehudi thru embarrasing me, give Mordechai HaYehudi to be the governor." The king replied, "Give your 10,000 silver to Mordechai HaYehudi and I'll promote him to be a governor and now, do as I commanded immediately."

Haman was devastated, "I'll cancel the decree to kill the Jews. Right now I'll send messengers to cancel the decrees to all 127 countries. But please don't honor Mordechai HaYehudi."

The king did not want to hear anymore and angrily said, "Of course I will cancel the decree in honor of Mordechai HaYehudi. And you, go immediately and do all that you advised for Mordechai HaYehudi."

When Haman left the palace, Achashverosh sent 2 guards to follow Haman to see that he fulfills the king's commands.

At that hour, Mordechai HaYehudi was sitting in Bet HaMidrash teaching Torah to the children. When he saw Haman approaching him, he thought that Haman has come to kill him and urged the children to run for their lives. But none of the children were afraid and said as one, "Our teacher, our Rebbe, we will never leave you." Mordechai HaYehudi hugged the children as Haman was coming closer towards him. Haman said to Mordechai HaYehudi, "Rise from your mourning and remove the sack off of you because I was sent under the king's commandment to dress you in royal clothing." Mordechai HaYehudi did not believe Haman and said, "Leave me alone, why do you want to make fun of me infront of my students? Why do you insist to make the last minutes of my life miserable? Allow me to go home and then you can hang me as you desire."

Haman replied, "Does it look like I'm joking? Know this, your sack and ashes are much more important that my 10,000 silver. Your G.od has heard your prayers and has performed miracles for you, as He did for your forefathers. Now get up because I need to dress you in royal clothing. This is the order of the king."

Mordechai HaYehudi asked Haman, "How can I wear this royal clothing when my body is full of ashes?" Haman replied, "Wait here and I'll bring someone to wash and perfume you so you can be clean to be dressed in royal clothing."

Haman searched in the whole city for a washer but could not find because on that day, Queen Esther decreed that all the people of the city are forbidden to go to work. Haman was forced to take Mordechai HaYehudi to the bathhouse and bathe and clean him. Afterwards, he dressed him in royal clothing.

When Haman wanted to place the crown on Mordechai HaYehudi's head, he said, "I cannot allow you to place the crown on my head because I have not had a hair cut in a long time since I was in mourning." Haman replied, "I will find a barber for you." He ran looking for a barber but could not find because of Queen Esther's decree. With no other alternative, Haman ran home and brought his scizzors and while cutting Mordechai HaYehudi's hair, he was sighing. Mordechai HaYehudi asked him why he is sighing and Haman answered, "Why should I not sigh and cry? I am the most important minister of the kingdom and here I am, washing, dressing, and grooming my arch enemy?"

Mordechai HaYehudi knew Haman since he was a poor man and answered him, "You think I don't know who you are and who your father was? Your father used to be a barber and wash people in the bathhouse for 22 years. You ran to your house to bring your father's washing and barber tools."

Mordechai HaYehudi was very weak from fasting and was unable to raise his leg to get on the horse. Haman was forced to kneel on four so Mordechai HaYehudi can use him as his ladder. When Mordechai HaYehudi sat on the horse, he gave Haman a hard kick. Haman was very hurt and said, "It says in your holy Torah 'do not rejoice in your enemies downfall'. Why do you hurt me in my time of downfall?". Mordechai HaYehudi replied, "If you were only my enemy, I would not rejoice as our holy Torah instructs us. But because you are the bitter enemy of the Jews, it is my duty to kick you as it says in our Holy Torah, "'ואתה על במותינו תדרוך And thine enemies shall dwindle away before thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places."

Haman took Mordechai HaYehudi around the city of Shushan and all men, women, and children saw this. 27,000 princes were placed infront of Mordechai HaYehudi and they all called out
"ככה יעשה לאיש אשר המלך חפץ ביקרו 'Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.'

When the Jews saw how their leader is being honored, they went out of their home with torches and called out happily, "'Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the King of the World, the Creator of the World is delighted to honor.'

When they reached Haman's house, his daughter looked out the window and was sure her father was riding on the horse and Mordechai HaYehudi was leading him so she took a pail full of dirty water and spilled it directly on her father, the one leading the horse. Wet and dirty, Haman looked up to see who did this and saw his daughter. His daughter was so shocked to see her father leading the horse and felt so ashamed of her mistake, she committed suicide by jumping out of the window.

Dirty and wet, Haman returned home after this ordeal. He wife said, "Mordechai HaYehudi is from the Jewish nation and once you have began to fall, you will continue falling. The Jews will be saved and your end will be bitter."

Haman didn't get a chance to reply because loud knocking on the door was heard. He was due at the palace right away for Esther HaMalka's party. The guards would not allow Haman to wash up and they forced him to come immediately to the palace.

At the party, king Achashverosh asked Esther HaMalka what is her wish. Esther HaMalka answered, "If I found favor in the eyes of the king, please save my nation because we were sold to be executed."

Achashverosh was frightened and angrily asked, "Who is this person who dares to kill you?" Esther HaMalka got scared when she saw Achashverosh's angry face. She pointed her finger towards Haman and said, "This enemy is my nation's enemy."

Achashverosh nightmare came true. He suspected that Haman wanted to kill him and take over his kingdom. He went out to the garden to calm down.

At the same time, HaShem sent His angels to the garden in the image of the 10 sons of Haman and Achashverosh saw them cutting down his beautiful trees in the garden. He asked them, "Who gave you permission to destroy my garden?" the angels replied, "Our father Haman instructed us to come here and remove every tree and plant from your garden."

Achashverosh couldn't take it anymore and angrily burst back into Esther HaMalka's palace to pour out his fury on Haman. At that same second, Haman was crouching down by Esther HaMalka's legs begging her to have mercy on him. When the king entered, angel Micha'el pushed Haman onto Esther HaMalka's bed. When Achashverosh saw Haman on his wife's bed, he yelled, "Also my wife in my palace you want to capture?"

Charvona, zs'kl, hearing the king's furious yelling, walked inside the palace of the queen and said, "My honored king, not only does wicked Haman want this but he is responsible for putting the poison in your food and Mordechai HaYehudi is the one who saved you from this death trap. This is the reason Haman hates Mordechai HaYehudi so much and even built a 50 foot tree to hang him on. You can see the tree by his house ready to hang Mordechai HaYehudi."

Achashverosh sent servants to see if this was true and when they returned, they told the king what they saw, "A tree is ready in Haman's backyard to hang Mordechai HaYehudi."

When Achashverosh heard this, he commanded that Haman be hunged on the tree immediately.

Mordechai HaYehudi turned to Haman and said, "The king commanded that I hung you on the tree you prepared for me." When Haman heard the verdict, he cried and begged, "If it was decreed that I die, please kill me with a sword. Let me die with honor. Don't hang me on a tree the same way simple people and criminals are hung on a tree."

Mordechai HaYehudi didn't pay attention and hung Haman on the tree. After Haman was hunged, the king gave Mordechai HaYehudi the house that belonged to Haman with all its treasures. Mordechai HaYehudi split the money into 3 portions: one for the Yeshivot and shuls, second portion he guarded for the future building of the second Bet HaMikdash, and the third portion he took for him and Esther HaMalka.

Mordechai HaYehudi was appointed to be the ministers of all ministers and head of the kingdom's treasury. Mordechai HaYehudi served with loyalty. Everyone in the kingdom of Achashverosh loved Mordechai HaYehudi and Esther HaMalka and they knew no more sorrow.

In order for the great miracle never to be forgotten, Esther HaMalka sent letters to all the scholars of Am Israel and asked that they rule Purim a day of holiday for all generations, on its original name Pur, casting of the lots.

The scholars of Am Israel wrote everything in the scroll and called it Megillat Esther which is read every year in every shul, city, state, country all over the world in thanks to HKB'H for the great miracles He performed for Am Israel.

Baruch (blessed is) Mordechai HaYehudi
Berucha (blessed is) Esther HaMalka
Arur (cursed is) Haman Harasha
Arura (cursed is) Zeresh, wife of Haman

May the zechoyut of Mordechai HaYehudi and Esther HaMalka, a'h, protect us and may we be zoche to also see the Geula Shlema bekarov. Amen.

ישתבח שמו לעד לנצח נצחים בכל העולמות
Blessed is His name for eternity in all worlds

Today Was a Good Day

Going to the museum of Yad Va'Shem was never on my itinerary because it effects me with intense emotional turmoil. But רבות מחשבות בלב איש, ועצת ה' היא תקום Many thoughts in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of HaShem shall stand.

During the two hours inside the Yad Va'Shem museum, there was ONE thing that caught my attention and moved me to emotional tears as well as thoughts of Teshuva.

I saw a diary of a Jew, HI'D, and was very surprised he wrote perfect English. Inside the diary it read, "Today was a good day in the Ghetto. I found cabbage."

Can you imagine that today is a good day because you found cabbage????? Food for thought.

Have a good and meaningful day!

Who Will Take Care of My Children?

When she was 16 years old, Ravital Levi-Gilad had an outer body experience. She saw herself in Heaven but was told that her time has not come yet and must return to the lower world. This experience did not change Ravital's life, she continued her life as if nothing happened and after a while, she even forgot about it.

Ravital today is 41 years old, a mother of 3, married a second time to Yaniv Levi and resides in Hertzelia. She was brought up in a traditional home but at the age of 18, she joined the army and short time after married a secular man.

About 13 years ago at the age of 27 years old, married with children, Ravital had another clinical death experience while sleeping. But this time she was unable to shake off the experience and it completely changed her life.

"It happened while I was sleeping," Ravital says, "I felt myself going outside of my body. A person who never experienced this could not understand. I saw myself on top watching my husband and children sleeping. I entered a tunnel of light, a comforting and loving light. It's indescribable, it is a light of love and mercy. I didn't panic, I felt like a baby in his mother's womb. Suddenly the "Light" spoke to me and asked my name. I was panic-stricken when I heard the "Light" speak and could not answer. A few seconds passed and the "Light" asked me again for my name and I don't know where I got the strength but I was able to answer. As soon as I answered, I found myself in a large hall. At the other end of the hall, behind the wall, was a gentle yellow light and within this light my grandfather's parents suddenly appeared. They passed away a few years ago. I saw more family members but wasn't able to identify all of them. All of them came towards me with open arms and were happy to see me. They seemed to be singing".

When did you understand that you are in the world of truth?
When I was in the tunnel of light I did not yet understand I was dead. Only after seeing dead family members, I started panicking and began understanding that I am no longer amongst the living. I realized I entered the world of truth. It kind of hits you. I was unable to approach my grandfather's parents. I was unable to move -- it's difficult to explain it. It was as if my family members didn't have permission to come towards me".

At that moment, Ravital was called to the Heavenly Court. She says that it's impossible to understand the terrible emotions of shame and fear a soul feels during court. "Across from me, about 10 meters, 3 judges with long beards sat. You can tell right away they were holy men, Rabbanim from the lower world. Their faces had severe facial expression. Even before they began talking to me, I was crying. I knew I had nowhere to run and I was feeling so much regret and shame. The degree of regret and shame can never be felt in the lower world. They asked me why I didn't observe Shabbat. I was embarrassed to answer and knew that my judgment will not be good. My grandfather's parents disappeared. Before I was able to comprehend what was going on, I saw 2 'movies' across from me on gigantic screens. On the right screen I saw a 'movie' that was not good, and when it ended, the 'movie' on the left side began showing. The second 'movie' was neither good nor bad, it was about my life from the day I was born till present".

"When the 'movies' ended, I begged from the judges to return to life . They were quite and angry. I continued crying and begging to be able to return to the lower world. They asked me why I want to return. I told them thru the tears that I have a autistic son who needs me desperately. I begged the judges, 'who will take care of my husband and children if I die?'. The minute I said husband and children, I turned my face and was able to see them sleeping. The soul has no boundaries, it can see from one end of the world to the other end".

"After seeing them, the Rav sitting across from me on the left side spoke with the other judges quietly. Today I understand that he was advocating for me. I saw that he was able to convince them and he asked me if they return me to the lower world, will I promise that I'll repent. I yelled, "YES!". The question was asked three times if I'll repent, and I cried and yelled, "YES YES YES".

"I felt my soul vacuumed inside my body thru the nostril. Today I understand the meaning of the words, 'וייפח באפיו נשמת חיים and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.

It was 3:10 am when Ravital woke up screaming and yelling and told her then-husband what occurred to her. "I was alive, breathing, and healthy," she says, "I told my husband that I just returned from the world of truth. It was then I decided that I will cover my hair properly and observe Shabbat.

Why do you think it happened to you, why are you different from thousands of non-observant Jews?
This is calculations of Heaven. I don't know. Maybe more is demanded of me because I have a son with limited capabilities. Maybe because I grew up traditionally and left it. I really don't know. When I was 16 years old, I had my first out of body experience. Someone took my hand and took me to heaven. I remember when I looked down I saw a red river, it was fire. I was told that my time has not yet arrived. I did not connect it to returning to Judaism. When it happened again at the age of 27, I clearly understood that I must repair my ways.

What is the difference between our world and the upper world?
In this world a person can merit credit every second, even only with a good thought. Death in this world is a passage into another world where one cannot merit any credit and cannot correct the past. The shame and regret is only felt in the upper world. There is no longer a body to perform a good deed and there are no opportunities to correct. There is nowhere to run to. I had the merit to return to this world and remember details to correct myself.

Returning to Judaism was not an easy journey for Ravital. "At the time I was married to a secular man and as I was learning about Judaism and trying to observe it, I saw that it was impossible to do so with my partner. He tried to accommodate me but it did not come from inside of him. I tried to make our home observe Shabbat but realized that I could not do it with my partner. Eventually we got divorced, but it wasn't only because of religious reasons.

"I bought a house and lived with my three children. One day a Yeshiva student knocked on my door asking for a donation. I asked him who sent him to me and he told me that his Rav did. I asked him who is Rav is and he showed me a picture.

When Ravital saw the picture of the Rav, she became pale. She remembered the face of the Rav very very clearly. "The picture of the Rav brought me back into the Heavenly Court. It was the advocating Rav whom I promised I'll repent. I was shaking like a leaf. I gave the Yeshiva student a description of how the Rav speaks and described his body movement".

"At that moment I took upon myself a final decision to do Teshuva - this time for real."

"My connection to HKB'H is so strong, I feel when I talk to Him, it's as if I'm talking to my father. Nothing can compare the feeling of speaking to Aba. I asked Aba to merit me to marry a religious man. Within a few short months, my Aba sent me the love of my life - a Gd-fearing man, and we got married within a short time.

Another thing that happened to Ravital was she was able to foresee the future. She was shown how her grandfather will have a car accident. A few weeks later, her grandfather had a terrible accident and the car was total loss. She arrived at the hospital even before her father because she knew when it'll happen. She foresaw other things but it became very difficult for her and she prayed that seeing the future will be removed from her. A short while later, all the visions stopped.

"I know and believe in the Creator. HaShem shows His love. I understand that as long as I'm breathing, I can correct. Unfortunately, I see too many Jews "sleeping awake". They don't understand the meaning of life, the gift of life".

"Don't wait for the last day. Correct yourself now, as soon as possible. Everyone understands that each person has the last day. You need to be aware that you are always seen from above and constantly being filmed. At the end, you will see your life on a 'screen' but you cannot return to correct."

For questions, comments, or information, you can contact Ravital at franfor@walla.com
http://www.hidabroot.org/ARDetail.asp?BlogID=111495

Borrowed Time

Rabbi Meir Avshalom Chai, 40, zs'kl, of Shavei Shomron, was murdered Thursday afternoon when terrorists fired at the car he was traveling in, between the Jewish communities of Shavei Shomron and Einav in Samaria, west of Shechem.

12 years earlier:

Rav Meir Chai was involved in a deadly car accident and after many hours of effort, the doctors were able to resuscitate him twice but he remained in critical condition for many weeks, unable to breathe on his own.

After long weeks of recuperation, he was finally able to breath on his own. When he 'woke up', he told his family and the doctors that he was in the world of truth and begged the heavenly court to allow him to return to his body. He told the heavenly court that he wants to be around his newborn son and didn't want to leave his wife a widow and his newborn son an orphan. The court decided that he'll be given exactly 12 years to raise his newborn son.

Since then, Rav Meir Chai used the borrowed time to strengthen his faith in HaShem. His family said that as the end of the 12 years was approaching, he was very apprehensive. On that fatal Thursday, the son that was born 12 years earlier celebrated his 12th birthday.

In the afternoon hours, Harav Meir Avshalaom Chai, HI"D, was murdered.

He returned his soul to His Maker.

יהי זכרו ברוך!

http://www.kikar.net/חשיפה.html

Woe to us on the Day of Judgment

Asher (Maso'od) Biton is a popular resident of Kiryat Shmona. He made Aliya from Morocco at the age of 6 and at the age of 13 he began working in Chevre Kadisha. Asher loved his work so much, he continues till today. Many can testify that Asher works Leshem Shamayim with much love and happiness. It's strange to see a 13-year-old boy digging graves, "As a child, I was physically strong and anything that was needed, I was first to volunteer. I learned the entire system of Chevre Kadisha." People that know Asher describe him as a simple, modest, and humble person. Always smiling and very optimistic. What happened to him shocked the city and all prayed that his health return to him.

Clinical Dead
"A person cannot know what will happen tomorrow," quotes Asher when he begins describing what occurred to him. "It was a beautiful bright day but my body was feeling strange, I felt something unnatural happening to me." Asher drove to his parent's grave and asked them for forgiveness for hurting them. "I knew something is going to happen to me."

"At 10:30 am, I arrived at the cemetery and felt excruciating pain in the chest. I felt my left arm very heavy and was unable to lift it. I told Machluf (Ochana, his cousin: Chevre Kadisha manager) that I'm in pain and they took me to HMO (health center). When we entered the elevator, I suddenly was unable to see, I became blind. Everything was dark and my head was spinning and unable to breathe. The Doctor immediately did an EKG and discovered that I had an heart attack. During treatment, I cried and said to my cousin Machluf, "Please forgive me. I am dying today." That minute I had a heart attack and died.

"My soul exited my body and was floating 2 meters above my body. I saw and heard everything. Machluf hugged my body and said, "My brother, goodbye." Doctor Boris Sidlekovsky didn't give up. He gave my body electric shots and after 5 attempts, he ruled I was dead.

Did you feel the electric shots?
"I felt turbulence. It was difficult and was crying and praying they should have mercy on this body."

You say that you floated over your body. What did you see?
I was dead for 45 minutes and during this time, I entered different worlds.

Heavenly Court
"I left Kiryat Shmona, Israel, the world and entered the world of truth," continues Asher.

How did the soul arrive there?
I felt a very strong wind pulling me to a small river that expanded during my upward 'flight'. During this time I felt a very special air that is indescribable, it cannot be described in this world. From there I saw a light that slowly became stronger - an infinite light with many colors. Suddenly I saw 4 images, 2 from each side and they were grabbing my arms.

What did they look like?
Their eyes were glazing fire. Suddenly they called, "Maso'od Biton!" 3 time and said, 'go to Heavenly court.' On the way there I saw many images in black with red eyes. In the background I hear, "Come to heavenly court."

In this place, did you have a body or a face?
Nothing. I felt I was in space. Like a small sheep against 70 wolves. When I arrived at the heavenly court, the black images were staring at me in a cruel way and were screaming and yelling, "Wicked, wicked, wicked."

What did you do? Are you wicked?
(Asher began crying and his breathing became difficult. I waited...) I was unable to answer them. It was prohibited for me to speak.

Why?
Because one is prohibited to speak in the heavenly court. They began bringing all my files. I see the black images running back and forth, they wanted me and I felt so ashamed.

Who are these black images?
They are angels of destruction. Their gaze is very cruel and eyes blazing fire. They showed me my signatures. Meaning, they were showing me all the transgressions I committed. They whispered between themselves and decided that my judgment is Gehenom. They continued screaming, "Wicked, wicked, wicked." I felt so disgraced and shamed. I now understood the meaning of "Woe to us on the Day of Judgment".

Asher continues to describe the heavenly court. Four images of young children in white surrounded him. "They defended me. They demanded we approach the Rabbinic Heavenly Court and claimed that it's not fair that that I was judged so quickly to Gehenom without anyone hearing the good deeds I did."

From there we went to a different world. A world that is a copy of this world. We arrived at the IDF cemetery of Kiryat Shmona. We saw five rows of soldiers of IDF, all were wearing white.

Do you remember the soldiers you saw?
Of course. I know all of them. Eli Ochana ben Rachel, Mordechai Pinchas, Uri Azulai - he died sanctifying HaShem's great name. I saw him with the same smile he used to smile. I saw Eyal ben Margi and many other soldiers. They are saints. They were all dressed in white. When they saw me, I heard them happily chanting, "Masu'ud arrived". They were very excited.

I don't understand - when you saw them, were you in this world, our world?
I saw my body in this world but my soul was in the upper worlds. We all went to the Rabbinical Heavenly Court. The soldiers defended me against the black images (the angels of destruction) and said to them, "Leave him alone, he is with us."

What does the Rabbinical Heavenly Court look like?
There are 71 judges. Their faces has an infinite light. Their beauty is indescribable.

Do you whom they are?
Yes but am not allowed to reveal. The first four Tzaddikim I recognized - two of them are alive and breathing and the other two passed away in our generation.

Asher describes important details of his judgment, tens of young children, angels, and many more details but to describe all this a book is needed to be written, not an article. In the Rabbinical Heavenly Court there are scales and on one side is weighed the person's good deeds and on the other side are weighed the transgressions. After placing all the good deeds vs. the transgressions, it is judged which side is heavier. This procedure is done only after a soul entered the pure Mikveh in the upper world. This Mikveh is the place where all transgressions are cleansed. The details are without a doubt very scary but in a place of reward and punishment, one pays for his transgressions and this place is very just, to put it mildly.

During his suffering in this place, he heard loud screaming at him, "Wicked, this is what happens to a person that speaks in shul!" After all the suffering for his transgressions, they continued to hurt him, "Wicked, why did you speak in shul?" (As Asher was describing the pain and shame, he almost choked while crying).

Where you not able to defend yourself?
No and even worse, they showed a 'movie' of my life from the minute I was born till I died.

How did you see the 'movie'; on a TV screen?
I don't know how to describe it but to differentiate between holiness and secular, it's like a screen. You see everything including my Bar Mitzvah, what I did in total privacy, in public, everything! And like I said, I was punished severely for speaking in shul. I was shown how many time I spoke, with whom I spoke, who spoke to me and how I replied...

What other punishments did you receive?
Many. Including desecration of the holy Shabbat. Such as crying, getting angry, and being sad on Shabbat. One of the most severe punishments is for desecrating the holy Shabbat.

What about the little details of desecrating the holy Shabbat, such as sorting, carrying, etc.?
Of course. Even though I was very careful not to carry anything, I was accused of these transgressions because I was told that I did not properly learn these Mitzvot.

After viewing the 'movie' of his life, Asher was returned to the Rabbinic Heavenly Court. The court is conducted in a method of judging good deeds (credit) vs. obligations (debit). "When I arrived, they brought a jar full of water and said to me, "This is all your tears collected from the pain you endured.' Everything is counted for in the upper world. They took the suffering I endured vs. the tears and placed it on the scales. You must understand that I was petrified. I didn't understand what is happening to me, what they are going to do with me. After weighing the good deeds and obligations, I was judged that I have more good deeds.

Two persons wearing white took me to the purifying Mikveh. They 'showered' me and took me to a large Mikveh and dunked me and it was then that I was permitted to enter the lower Gan Eden. It's a place you can enjoy eternally and every minute and second is pleasurable.

Who was there?
I saw my parents, including David Marco and my brother Eli. They were all so happy and asked me, "Why did you come here?" I saw most of my family members, may they rest in peace. I saw everyone. I also saw a row of Tzaddikim and Rabbanim with crown on their heads and learning Torah and Gemara.

What were you thinking and feeling?
It was an indescribable pleasure. I did not want to return to this world. I wanted to remain there. You must understand that I was allowed entrance to Gan Eden only after long stormy arguments between the images in white and images in black and the images in black were 100 times more than the images in white. But after I was judged entrance to Gan Eden, the images in black disappeared like they were never there. They showed me a table of gold and said to me, "these are your sins." They showed me a large green garden with all sorts of plants and fruits, all in green, and told me "this is your portion."

How did you return to this world?
I was shown a very holy man and light come forth from his face. I was staring at him for a long time. He told me in an angry tone, "I don't want to see you here. I want to see you in Miron." He repeated this 3 times. He hit me on my forehead where we place the Tefillin of the head with his right hand. From there, I was taken while accompanied by persons wearing white to an enormously large room. Suddenly I felt someone pushing me and immediately I was returned to my body in the operating room. I felt I was floating on top of my body and crying, "Help me, help me" and entered my body.

Since returning to his body, Asher Biton's health is slowly returning. Chasdei Shamayim, he is now able to do things independently. He began writing a book on his heavenly court experience and publicly speaks about it.

Doctor Boris Sidlekovsky, the doctor that treated Asher says, "After the 5 electric shots I gave Asher, I gave up but something in me could not give up. I called Rav Amram Afergan Shlita from Kiryat Ata and told him the situation. He asked that I give Asher one more electric shot and said we will see a miracle. As a believing person, I believe in miracles but to actually see Asher Biton return to life after 45 minutes, is something totally different.

Did you believe he can return to the living?
If I did not believe, I would have not called the Rav. But when it actually happened, I pinched myself and asked if this is real. It was a very difficult situation because Asher had a heart attack and he was clinically dead. The person did not breathe. All the doctors gave up and when he began breathing again, we were all shocked! There is no other word to describe except a miracle. A true miracle.

Comment: Asher continues to go to shul and can be found in Vradim shul in Kiryat Shmona. Anyone can ask him questions and more details.

Translated from http://www.kr8.co.il/BRPortal/br/P102.jsp?arc=29107

Additional comments:
The Kaf HaChaim (ibid. Siman 151:8) describes the severity of the sin of talking in Shul and says that one who talks in Shul would be better off not coming at all. He also criticizes even people who learn Torah and discuss it publicly during davening; he concludes that one must be even more diligent about all of this on Shabbos.
The Chayei Adam (Klal 17 Sif 6) writes that the Mitzvah to revere a Shul is MideOraisa and quotes that one who talks in Shul is as though he denies Hashem.
The Magen Avraham (ibid. Sif Katan 3) notes that the AriZal was very careful to say only words of Tefillah in Shul, avoiding even discussions of Mussar and Teshuvah, lest he be led by them to improper topics.
The Mishnah Berurah ( ibid. Siman 124 Sif Katan 28) indicates that one should educate and train one's children by encouraging them to display the proper feelings in awe in Shul, and adds that it would be better if children who run back and forth and play in Shul would not be brought there at all because they will grow up having bad habits in Shul and because they disturb other people.

Secret of Living in Eretz Israel

From the Kadosh Tzaddik Rav Avraham Azulai, zs'l,
Maayan 3, Nahar 13, Chesed L’Avraham

The secret of the one who lives in the land of Israel, during the coming of the Moshiach.

Everything outside of the Holy Land is under the dominion of the storm wind, thick cloud and flashing fire. These are the "outside" (i.e., the dark) forces, the atmosphere of the lands of the "outside" nations. This is the secret why the Shekhina (Divine Spirit) guards over Israel all by Herself, but only in the land of Israel.

This is not the case outside the land, Heaven help us. When the klipot seek to dominate the land of Israel, to destroy it, then does the Shekhina depart from the land and ascends above to the spiritual palaces and then afterwards the entry to the palace is sealed and closed. Then is permission given to breach the walls of Jerusalem, which are the "klipah Nogah" (the brilliant husk) which separates the good from the evil. Then enters the nations who contaminate [everything], who send forth their hands upon the children of Israel and destroys all the physical chariots and exiles them. The Shekhina runs after her children to see what is to be with them outside of their land . . . For being that her children are cast away, it is impossible for Her to let go of them. Therefore, the Shekhina dwell in the lowest of chariots . . .

Know, that it is an accepted tradition in our hands, that on the day that King Mashiach will come with the ingathering of the exiles to the Land of Israel, there will be found in the Land 7000 of the children of Israel. On this same day, the dead of the Land of Israel shall be restored to life.

On that same day also, the walls of Jerusalem shall be removed, and rebuilt from precious stones and pearls. Then, at the time, the dead of the Land of Israel shall be restored to life, they shall be new spiritual creations. Also, the 7000 who shall be left alive at that time, they too shall be new creations, all of them with spiritual bodies, similar to the body of Adam prior to his sin, and the body of Chanoch, Moshe Rabeinu and Eliyahu. They shall all float in the air, soaring like eagles. This shall be seen by all the people ingathered from the exile.

When their brothers are made into a new creation, soaring through the air, they'll dwell in the (lower) Gan Eden and learn Torah from the Mouth of the Holy One, Blessed be He. All the children of the ingathered exiles, with worry in their hearts and anguish in their souls, will cry out to King Mashiach. They ask, we also are the nation of the Children of Israel like them. Why have they merited to be spiritual beings in body and soul, and not us? Why are we less?

The Mashiach shall answer them saying, "The character of the Holy One, Blessed be He is already known and famous; He gives to each one 'measure for measure'. These people also dwelled outside of the Land, and after great effort they succeeded to come to the Land of Israel, in order to merit a purified soul. They cared not for their physical or material well being. They came by sea and by land, and were not dissuaded by the dangers of the sea or of being robbed along their journey. They suffered under cruel regimes, all for the sake of the essence of their spirit and soul. Therefore, have they become complete spiritual beings, measure for measure.

However all of you, who had the ability to come to the Land of Israel, as they did, were discouraged over concern for your finances. You were worried about your physical safety and your money. These, you made to be the principle things in your lives, and not your spirit and soul. Therefore have you remained physical beings".

May the merit of the tzaddik Rabbi Avraham Azulai, zs'kl, protect us all, Amen.

Divrei Torah For Shavuous

Guest post by Reb Ploni

… It is very surprising that the Holy One, blessed be He, commanded on Tuesday night (before He gave us the Torah) that the Jews should separate from their wives (as explained in Gemora Shabbos), and the separation should start immediately … One would have thought that the people would have needed a few days preparation before this … especially because there is an established rule that the Holy One, blessed be He, does not make unfair demands from His creations … and here He did not give any advanced notice but immediately gave a command to separate.

… The reason there was no advance notice is because there were two reasons for the commandment of separation. The first was that separation was a preparation to help each person become detached from materialism so that he would be able to receive spirituality. The second is that this was a test given to the people to check if they were fitting to receive spirituality, meaning to receive the Torah. The test was - would they be willing to immediately detach themselves from materialism, without prior notice. Those who were willing to do that were deemed fitting to receive the Torah…

Therefore the test had to happen specifically without notice, because they needed to be able to immediately detach themselves from materialism. If anyone was not willing to do this, this showed that he was not ready to receive the Torah. To give an example from this world, if G-d forbid, there is a fire, then certainly everyone would drop everything and flee to save their life, because saving their life comes before saving his property … and even if they were not prepared for this beforehand. A person certainly does not need preparation, if G-d forbid there is a fire, to understand that he has to leave everything, his house and his property, since in his heart he understands how precious his life is….

Similarly, when the Holy One, blessed be He wanted to reveal Himself and give the Torah, the people needed to understand that the Torah is life. They needed to be ready in their hearts to separate immediately. Those who were not prepared for this by having planting deeply in their heart the understanding that spirituality is much more important than materialism, and did not realize the true value of the Holy Torah and serving G-d, would be unprepared to suddenly abandon materialism. This was their test. At the time of the giving of the Torah, all of the Jewish nation passed this test, and were worthy of praise.

From this we can learn that someone who wants to merit the crown of Torah needs to have planted deeply in his heart the concept that “Torah is our life and the length of our days” and “is more valuable than gold and pearls” until he is prepared for such a test and be willing to give up everything for the sake of the Torah and its’ commandments. And if, G-d forbid, he will encounter such a test and has no time, not even a moment, to consider things carefully, but immediately willingly gives up all of his material things for the sake of the Holy Torah, in order to save his “true life”, (similar to the case of a sudden fire …); only after he successfully passes such a sudden test can he know that he is truly a “ben Torah” and not just fooling himself. But anyone who G-d forbid is willing to give up learning the Holy Torah, or give up performing its’ commandments because of his own convenience, or because some unpleasant things may occur, certainly such a person has not yet come to the level of a “ben Torah” who is worthy for “Kabalas Hatorah” and the crown of Torah.

Song of Songs (3:1) writes “On the day of his wedding and on the day of the happiness of his heart”. The gemorra explains “the day of his wedding” refers to “Giving of the Torah”, and “the day of the happiness of his heart” refers to “rebuilding the Beis Hamikdash”, may it be rebuilt soon in our days. This is the complete redemption which we are waiting for. Since we see that the verse puts Giving of the Torah next to rebuilding the Beis Hamikdash, we can connect these ideas in other contexts. Just like the preparation for the Giving of the Torah included separating from this world as explained above, and also if they could make this detachment suddenly with no advanced notice, so too this type of sudden separation from this world (materialism) will precede the final redemption. Only someone who truly is not attached to this world will be able to pass this test. Therefore, before the final redemption, we also need to be prepared to go through this type of trial…. As is written in Malachi (3:1), “…And suddenly, the Lord Whom you seek will come to His Temple….”. (Rashi says “the Lord Whom you seek” is The G-d of justice.) [This means that someone who truly searches for the complete redemption, and the spiritual world of truth, will have the Lord appear to him and will merit the complete redemption.]

Someone who is not ready to suddenly disconnect from this world, will not able to pass this test, G-d forbid. So we need to try and put in lots of effort to prepare our heart to be ready for this test. We do not know if at this time we are at the spiritual level needed to pass such a test, or if we are fooling ourselves. We will only know when the test comes, then we will see. We don’t know how difficult this test will be, how sudden it will be, or whether it will be something that will come in one moment. But we need to be ready to detach ourselves from everything in order to receive the spirituality and the truth and the new world.

The easiest way to come close to the Holy One, blessed be He, is through prayer, as is brought down in the holy seferim. Harav Chaim Vital wrote that it is already impossible to spiritually purify and cleanse the body except through prayer…. A person needs to know the treasure which exists in prayer. Even when a person is not able to pray in the proper manner, meaning that he is not pouring out his soul to G-d, as written in sefer Hasidim that prayer is “the happiness of his soul with his G-d”; even if his prayer is on a simpler level, the manner which he expresses his heart to G-d also cleans the heart of a person and this purifies and cleans the person.

Excerpts from divrei Torah said by Rav Aharon Tzvi Rumpler, Parshat Yitro 5761 (translated from the Hebrew).

Dvar Torah Bechukotai "My Laws"

Guest post by Reb Anonymous

The Yaavetz, zs'kl, (in sefer Migdal Oze) discusses in great detail that the cause that our exile has been prolonged, the cause of decrees of annihilation against us, and the cause of our expulsion from many countries was due to the sin of having a wealthy life-style and forgetting about the destruction of the Beis Hamikdosh.

The sefer Meshech Chochma on the Torah (Parshas Bechukosei, Vayikra 26:44) also writes about this. He decries the desire to settle down in foreign countries, and despite our exile wanting to become citizens there and indulge in a life of physical pleasures, copying the ways and life-style of the goyim, chas v’sholom. He writes "Hashem Yisborach patiently withholds his anger for a hundred or two hundred years. Afterwards, there is decreed upon us, chas v’sholom, annihilation, and decrees of expulsion. This is all for our benefit, in order that we should not fall away completely, chas v’sholom, by distancing ourselves further from Hashem Yisborach."

Sharply, and with stinging words, he writes that these decrees are what will happen in the end in Germany, chas v’sholom, see there. His holy words were said in the nineteenth century with ruach hakodosh. Due to our many sins, his words were fulfilled in a terribly severe way, may Hashem have pity.

FC Message to American Jews
6 April, 2009

Jews of America,
I beg you to realize that you are soon going to be in great danger. Start packing your bags and be ready as soon as you can.
Daniel.

Rabbi Shalom Arush Shlita
“Those who don't come to Israel while they still can may be lucky to escape from the USA with a plastic bag and a pair of pajamas in the not so distant future.”

Tzaddik Nistar Message to American Jews
July 28, 2008

"American Jews in the Diaspora should begin preparing returning to Eretz Israel - the latest possible date to return to Israel is Rosh Chodesh Sivan, 5769 (May 24, 2009). Those that will not return by that date, will 'miss the boat'"

December 23, 2008
"Although things change in Shamayim, the decree to leave America by Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5769 has not been changed!"

The Tzaddik Nistar told my husband, "Although Eretz Israel is bought with pain, regardless it will be better and safer in Eretz Israel than anywhere else." He again stressed, "Jews should leave to Eretz Israel ASAP - while they still can.... deadline is Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5769."

The End

My name is Moshe Levy and I used to live in Paris, France. I used to go to lots of discotheques but not only that, I also gave dancing lessons. I used to ride my bike a lot and one day as I was riding my bike, I felt very hot and sweaty. When I finally got to my parent's house, I collapsed into bed, and my whole body was dripping with water like a faucet and that's when I died.

My neshama left my body and from above I saw my family yelling in fear because I died. Suddenly something like a vacuum sucked my Neshama and I flew upwards and while flying, I heard beautiful music and felt happiness. The further I went upwards, the smaller the lower world looked. I was flying like a rocket upwards.

I was placed in a very dark place, in total darkness and quietness and was all alone. The darkness was very very thick and if I had a knife, I'd have been able to slice the darkness. The darkness was very heavy and choking and I was able to even hold the darkness. It was a form of a punishment I never dreamed about. I was choking and yelled with all my strength, 'where am I? What is going on? Take me out of here.' A voice answered, "This is your punishment for being an egoist. You liked everything for yourself, never considering other people; therefore, this is your punishment. Here you can be an egoist, everything is only for you. Measure for measure."

After a while, I saw smoky figures flying towards me. They were very scary and white smoke was coming out of their eyes. They were yelling at me, "Woe, woe, woe to you" and I saw more troops of white forms coming at me, yelling. I tried hiding but they kept coming at me, surrounding me and yelling loudly, "Woe, woe, woe to you". I felt they wanted to hang me dead. Suddenly they all became silent and an old man appeared to me. He had a white beard and looked very beautiful. He looked so gentle and it was a real pleasure just to look at him. I understood he was an important holy man, a Tzaddik, because everyone was silent when he entered. He told the white smoke figures to leave me alone and I saw they were afraid of him and respected his wishes.

Who was this Tzaddik? It was my grandfather, Rabbi Yitzchak Tayeb, zs'kl. I asked him, 'where am I? What's going on here? Everything is so strange. Am I up or down? Am I alive or dead?’ My holy grandfather answered, "This is the world of truth - till now you lived in the world of lies and now you are in the world of truth."

Suddenly he took out his walking stick that he used to have while he was alive and grabbed my throat with it. It was hurting me so much and I was petrified. He told me, "You did bad things in the lower world. You ruined people; you put them to sleep with your discos and tennis. This is what you do to me? Huh????" I told him, "Grandfather, you don't need to yell at me, we are family, I am your grandson and you are my grandfather." He said that in the world of truth there is no grandfather/grandson. I asked him to remove the stick from my neck but he refused and pulled it even harder. I asked him if I was his animal and he replied, "You are worse than an animal. This is the world of truth and it's a very serious world. There are no games or lies in this world."

"You are in terrible trouble in this world; your situation is very difficult. Let's begin with the little things you did. You were sent to Talmud Torah and did you ran away from the school?" I replied that I never did that. At that moment, a gigantic screen was shown of me running away from the Talmud Torah. Again I was asked, 'did you ran away from the Talmud Torah and curse your teacher?' I saw that I had no choice but to admit the truth. I asked so what if I ran away from the Talmud Torah and cursed my teacher? They replied, "It was not just a teacher, it was a Rav - an important person! You must apologize to the Rav for cursing him!" I didn't understand why I had to apologize; I remember he ran after me so I ran even faster. They replied, "He ran after you to save you, he wanted to help you. He wanted to teach you the Aleph Bet Gimel Daled to prepare you for your Bar Mitzvah in order to do HaShem's will. And what did you do? You ran away, you threw it all away and grew up without it."

They asked me what I did with my limbs? I answered that with my hands I did karate, kung fu, and tennis. They said, 'this is what you brought with you to this world? Did you use your hands to give Tzedaka to the poor?" I replied that I don't know what is Tzedaka and was never taught this. They asked me if I ever helped an elder person cross the street, did I ever do any Mitzvot? I remembered that when I was younger I used to go almost daily to an old age home and talk to the elders. I used to give them water or open the window for them to give them fresh air- it was so minor but in the world of truth, it was something concrete, something worthy.

They knew that I did Bikur Cholim but they wanted me to say it - it is a form of pain in Shamayim. When I told them about this Mitzvah, they began speaking to me in a more gentle voice. I told them that one day when I was about 16-17 years old an elderly man placed Tefillin on me in the old age home and it felt so good and although I didn't understand the words and was only looking at the Sefer, it caused me to get very emotional and cry. I loved this feeling and didn't want it to ever leave me.

They said that because this was done with the right hand, the right hand will not get punished.

They asked, 'what did you do with your mouth?" I replied, "I know many jokes, I'm a comedian." The second I said jokes, the entire world went dark! Everything went back to the thick and heavy darkness and I didn't know how to turn the light back on. I yelled, 'what's wrong, why is it so dark here, I'll tell you a joke.' As I was saying the joke, I felt small snakes inside my mouth. I couldn't see them but felt my mouth full of snakes. It was so disgusting. I understood that jokes were no good and shut my mouth.

They told me that I spoke lots of Lashon Hara. Suddenly, I felt a big machine inside my mouth and was being operated on. I felt as if 1,000 dentists were working on my mouth and I was in tremendous pain. I asked, "What do you want from me?" They told me, "Listen, soon you will return to the world of lies, the lower world. You will not return the same way any more - you will not dare say one bad word, jokes, riddles, and lashon hara. You will be very serious." I immediately agreed and the machines and dentists were removed from my mouth.

They asked, "What did you do with your eyes?" I replied, "Theaters, I saw many movies, girls..." I wanted to show them my little black book and at that moment, the lights were shut off again. I was again in total heavy and thick darkness and I heard something like a long train shouting. I was petrified. It was someone who was very very angry with me and would not forgive me. He was as big as a train and he showed me only his face. I saw his face was gigantic and full of eyes. He came closer to me and wanted to rip me apart. I was petrified and asked what is this 'thing'? I was told, this is the world of truth and it's the angel of death."

He came very close to me, next to my face. He said to me, "I'm not the one to blame. It's your fault. You created me. You looked and looked and looked and from this I was created." Every one of his eyes was scarier than the previous one. I was so scared. I asked him why he is staring at me and he replied, 'I am staring at you the same way you stared at the girls. You created me every time you stared at a girl and I belong to you and you belong to me.' Measure for measure.

It seemed eternal the way he was staring at me and I was so petrified. Imagine your worst enemy staring at you and all you want is for him to go away, to leave, and to disappear. It was like having your worst 1,000 enemies staring at you, ready to tear you apart. The time seemed like 20 years.

I understood that I must correct my ways and protect my eyes. I realized that what I did was wrong and I thought to myself if I'm enabled to return to the world of lies, the lower world, I will change my ways. As soon as I had this thought in my mind, the angel of death disappeared but my suffering was far from over. Suddenly both my eyes were removed from my soul and it was sliced into thin thin pieces and it became like tiny pieces of papers. It was so painful and the shame I was feeling is indescribable. I felt like my neshama turned into powder and was being thrown all around. I wanted to die but I was already dead.

They suddenly returned the soul to me and asked me, 'what did you do with your ears?" I replied that I used to listen to lots of music. They yelled at me, "For music you did Bitul Torah?" They yelled extremely loud in my ear and I felt like a 1,000 microphones were inside my ear popping out my eardrums. My eardrums literally popped out and it was so painful. I remember this pain as if it just happened. The volume of the microphones in my ears is indescribable. They told me that the punishment is measure for measure. I went to discos and caused others to sin, this is my punishment and they will decide for how long.

They asked me, "What did you do with your legs?" Meanwhile, my ears, mouth, and eyes were simultaneously still suffering and I couldn't even concentrate on their question. I was so confused but knew that I had better answer the question. I answered, "I used to jog and run." They told me, "Begin running now." I wasn't sure where to run and they said repeated, 'RUN!' I began running and behind me I saw a large snake coming at me like a speeding car. His mouth was so big and he wanted to swallow me. I yelled that the snake should disappear. Instead, they told me, "You liked running so now run for your life because he wants to swallow you. Measure for measure. Running for nothing is not the purpose of the lower world and this is your punishment."

They asked me, "What did you do with your hands?" They said that they have a problem with my hands because of my fingers. They asked me, "What did you do with your fingers?" They told me that there are 2 people here that have major complaints against me. I asked who and it then that I saw my grandmother. She came screaming loudly, "Thief, robber, thief." I said that's my grandmother and they said there is no grandmother/grandson in Shamayim, here she has complaints against you. She again yelled, "Thief, robber, thief." They told and showed me how I stole a small piece of chocolate from her. When I was 10 years old, I saw in her refrigerator a small piece chocolate and Gd have mercy on me, I took it without permission and ate it without blessing it. I was shown on the big screen stealing her small piece of chocolate and eating it without a Bracha. They yelled at me, "Chuzpan - you steal food and dare to eat without a Bracha! Shame on you!! Your grandparents taught you to say blessings and what do you do in return? Steal from them and not say Bracha." My grandmother said that it's not her problem that I did not say a blessing, her problem with me is that I stole her chocolate. At the time, she was excitedly planning to give this piece of chocolate to a toddler but instead I stole it away from her. She said that I killed her and repeated it several times.

They took me to an abandoned home and I see people freely entering and leaving this abandoned house. There are many houses like the one I saw in the world of truth and inside them live lost souls and it's a form of a punishment. There is no floor inside the house, only dust and the souls walk on it. This is their home and I was placed in the middle of this house and I saw them walking in couples and all were coming towards me, surrounding me. They were yelling at me, "Thief, robber, thief." One of them I recognized because when I was younger and lived in the lower world, I took his girlfriend away from him. He was very angry with me. I recognized another soul and remembered that I once borrowed his pen and never returned it back to him. I saw a set of parents sitting like it was 9 B'Av. I asked what happened to this couple and was told that I caused these parents much suffering. I took their children to dancing classes and discotheques. And the pained parents cried every day and night worried why their children did not come home. They blamed me for ruining their children. They yelled at me, "Leave, you wicked person." They threw things on me, whatever came to their hands.

Suddenly, everyone left and it was quiet. I saw a distant light and it was very hot. I became hot, very hot. I went towards the hot light but it wasn't light - it was Gehenom! I saw gigantic bursts and flames of fire - it was about 30 meters (75 feet) of burning fire. I saw an enormous clock hanging and the seconds were ticking very loudly, boom - boom - boom. I understood that very soon at 12 midnight, they were coming to take me inside this hell fire. They were going to kill me and I am no longer alive. I was petrified watching the seconds tick away so loudly and it was so close to midnight, I wanted to die. I realized that I am a dead man and they have every right to burn me.

They asked me, "What did you do with your Brit Milah?" I couldn't concentrate because the seconds were so close to midnight and I was suffering so much. I was trying not to concentrate on the clock but rather on their question but I couldn't remove my thoughts away from the ticking clock. It caused me so much indescribable pain. They again asked, "What about your Brit Milah and zera levatala (seminal emission)? What about all the females you went with?" They spoke to me very aggressively. I understood that I'm in a terrible situation and there was no way I will be able to get out of it. They told me to get inside immediately because I'm Tameh (impure). They forcibly took me inside the room, it was a small room. Inside the room I saw a small angel with a warped face of a mongoloid - he was very scary looking. He said to me, "You created me and now I have the desire to rip you apart." I saw his fingers like skeleton and on each of his fingers semen was dripping. He told me that every time I touched myself and had seminal emission, it created this. He wanted to rip out my soul, to scrape my soul out with his dripping pointy fingers. He came closer to me and that was it. I was finished. I no air to breathe. I was dead.

I don't want to begin to describe what happens to a person that touches his Brit Milah! OY VAY VOY!!!! And oy to the person who is offered a Shidduch and refuses. He told me to tell everyone in the lower world, "Tell them that whomever thinks he has time, there is NO time, he must act quickly in these Mitzvot!" He told me that I must tell everyone and this is my Tikkun and if I don't act quickly to notify people, he will quickly finish me off. He warned me never to touch myself ever again and if I have a problem, talk to HKB'H. He warned me that every Shidduch I'll be offered, not to refuse it. HaShem will send me a bride and he warned me not to listen to other people's opinions. Do only HaShem's will.

He suddenly removed his black coat and I saw his body was full of pus dripping from inside his body. It was blood, it was red like blood. I saw sperm dripping on his body and he told me that each drop of sperm on his body is a baby I murdered. He wanted to come closer to me and attach all the Tumaa onto me and I shriveled in fear. I didn't want him touching me with all the pus, blood, and sperm. I knew that if this thing touches me, I'll never be able to live again. There is nothing more disgusting that this creature. I was horrified that I created him. I told him that if and when I will be allowed to return to the lower world, I promise that I'll make my utmost effort never to touch myself ever again. I also promised never to look at girls.

As soon as I said this, the door opened up and they took inside the darkness. I was floating upwards and I saw a distance light and as I was approaching it, I saw a circle of holy men learning Torah. It was a gigantic hall full of warm light and the Tzaddikim were discussing my judgment. I understood that my fate is in the hands of these holy men and there was nothing I can do. They were debating whethere I'm a Tzaddik or a wicked man. I became so crazed and begged them to stop but they didn't hear me. I saw 2 big angels stating I was a wicked man. I was petrified and I yelled with all my might, "I want to do Teshuva, I want to do Teshuva" From the fear, I began crying and continued yelling that I want to do Teshuva.

Suddenly everything stopped and I saw the most awesome light appearing and said, "I love you, I love you." It was Ishtabach Shemo La'ad. He Himself appeared. HaShem is so humble, so modest. HKB'H is not looking for honor. HaShem told me, (for those that can understand it) "Wherever you go, whatever you do, mention Me. Tell people about Me in your workplace, mention Me to people. I want people to talk about Me, to know that I Am the King and I Am in charge, not them. Tell them what happened to you and what will happen to you."

They took me to a black city - it was a dark city. I saw thru the darkness someone eating bread without first washing his hands (Netilat Yada'im). I saw gigantic angels coming at that instant to this person and they removed his soul out of his body and tore it apart. They took me to the sea and I saw a 30 meter angel that wore very strange clothing. He looked like an enormous king kong and I was so tiny and he drowned me in the water till it was no longer possible for me to breathe. He took me out of the sea water for a few seconds only to return me back inside the water. This kept going on and on. I asked the angel why he is doing this to me and he answered that this is my punishment for not doing Netilat Yada’im. He told me that my parents and grandparents taught and explained to me why and how to do Netilat Yada’im but I ignored it. Measure for measure. After a long time, they returned me to the world of souls.

I entered Gehenom and inside I saw many young boys and girls dancing while holding sticks of fire in their hands. I understood that each one gets a turn but I didn't know what is waiting for them. Suddenly a large door opened up and an angel came out, catching one of the souls and throwing him into the fire. You don't want to know what is going on inside, HaShem Yerachem. Yelling and terrible odor, sweat, and the soul can't take the suffering. I remember a terrible odor of excrement - boiling disgusting excrement. It was the most unpleasant smell to the nose and makes the soul suffer tremendeously. Suddenly they took my neshama and threw it and I saw myself flying and boooooom - it was terrible. I saw 4 angels coming from all 4 directions and they were hitting me hard with sticks. I asked why am I getting beaten up and they replied, "Sir, you will have children and if you will not educate them to Talmud Torah, you are finished."

They showed me what happens a person that damaged his Brit Milah, HaShem Ishmor. He damaged his Brit so much, blood started coming out it and it was very very painful for him. They said, "This is his punishment. All these pain and blood that comes out of his Brit will come to the world of truth and these are the babies crying. All the sperm that was ejaculated turns into angels of destruction and they wait in the person's grave till the person dies and they eat up his body. Every wasted drop that the man caused turns into an angel of destruction and each drop is counted for. Measure for measure. A person needs to think a million times before chas vechalila touching himself.

I saw a woman running in that black dark city. The angels of destructions were running after her and she was running in fear away from them. She was so petrified, her dress fell off and she was totally undressed. What does it mean she was naked? She had no Mitzvot to wear and was worthless, not even worth a penny. Someone who doesn't do any Mitzvot, even the simplest Mitzvah is totally naked. She was screaming HELP HELP but no one came to help. Suddenly, HaShem Ishmor, the destructing angels forcibly placed her in a black room and barbers were waiting to shave off all her hair. They placed her in a large blackest pot and the black angels in the black room with all its black walls beat her up because she caused men to sin. I saw she regretted all her sins but it was too late and now she was worthless. She was so black and shriveled - she looked like a piece of rag.

When I was 16-17, I put on Tefillin with an elderly man in the old age home, and in this merit, I was permitted to be taken out of this horrific room. When I came out, I kept vomiting, including my intestines. I felt dead, I was a dead nothing. My Neshama emptied out and I was dead. I cannot describe this - it is so awful.

I saw 2 Malachim going towards rooms and more rooms. I understood that these are court rooms. They showed me my holy uncle that suffered a lot in the lower world. He knew everything and I saw him going with the 2 angels and he proceeded silently to the second floor. I said to him, "Uncle" but he did not respond. The 2 angels closed the door behind him and stood over me. I understood that my uncle suffered in the lower world, he had cancer but he suffered quietly, never complaining. Suddenly my uncle yelled out "You shamed me, you shamed me." I asked him how I shamed him and he replied, "You told the community that I do not know how to read and you shamed me." From this shame, he did not return to the shul and missed prayers. He stayed in his house with his wife until his dying day. I realized I killed him. He told me that now it's time for my punishment and I began crying, "Uncle, you are my uncle. I used to come to your house." He said there is no uncle/nephew in Shamayim and now it's a soul against a soul! The 2 angels showed me the punishment for the shame of my foolish talking about my uncle. I understood that talking can literally kill a person.

They took me to rooms full of steel machinery. People were tied down tight to these machines and there was a large knife that slices a person like a bread slicer. The angles have plenty of time and they slice the person slowly. It was so painful to even watch. I asked them why I have to watch this and they replied that the pain I caused people from my talk is worser than watching people getting sliced. This punishment is measure for measure for shaming another.

I saw a tiny angel with a face of a dog and there were many dogs behind him flying like an airplane straight at me. It was like a war against me and they caught my soul. Their mouths were like a sharp needle (something like a concord's front beak) and they were barking loudly except it sounded like chickens. I cannot describe it. They went straight for my neshama and sliced me. I died. But the angels resurrected me again and I was crying, I didn't want to go thru this again. But again I went thru it.

Sometimes a neshama of a Sephardic needs to learns with a neshama of an Ashkenazi but the parents or the Rabbanim of the Yeshivot will not allow them to study Torah together. They don't begin to know how they ruin the children! And it also ruins the Achdut (unity). It's prohibited to separate Am Israel. HaShem is very angry at this and the people who cause separations between the Ashkenaz and Sephardic suffer a lot in Gehenom because they cause the children to suffer. Someone who thinks they control the world, suffers tremendously! I saw the suffering they go thru and they don't have Gan Eden, HaShem Ishmor. HaShem runs the world, not humans! HKB'H wants unity, not separations!

They showed me a woman who used to reveal her chest and caused men to sin. HaShem Ishmor. I saw an extremely large bear coming at this woman and he caught the woman by her breasts and hanged her breasts on steel pipes and her body was in extrutiating pain. Blood was coming out of her breasts and she was yelling in pain.

Women that wear provocative clothing, including so-called modest tight clothing that reveal the shape of her body, I saw how they suffer in the world of truth. She goes to gehenei Gehenom as well as the store owner! The Creator of the World hates immodest women! A person that sells immodest clothing is secluded in pain. There are many rooms for people that sell immodest clothing. In these rooms, they are secluded. They cannot move or speak.

Oy to women that wear these kind of clothing, those wigs, and think they are religious while walking the streets and showing strange men their beauty. And meanwhile, her poor husband is in the Kollel but he too will get Gehenom! Whomever does not believe, can ask me personally. I'll meet with him and tell him why he will be placed in Gehenom, r'l. He gave his wife permission to seduce strange men! Who gave him such permission???? First of all, he should abandon his Gemara and come home and clean out his wife's closet, the tight clothing, the revealing shirts, the short skirts with slits, the wigs. They are worse than the seculars. Shamayim told me this! A secular woman goes out totally immodest so she is unfortunate because she knows no better. But the religious women go out on purpose to attract strange men's attention. She walks the streets with her baby carriage and makes all kind of poses and her clothing are very attractive and she attracts attention, r'l. You see her body thru the clothing and you start having all kinds of imaginations. In Shamayim, this is loathed because it's obstructive. The Creator of the World is angry at this!

And the wigs they wear are a joke - they wear someone else's hair. And those beautiful big hats that seek attention. In short, whatever the woman wears that is conspicuous and causes men to look at her, she is in trouble - she is finished! A woman should dress like a queen inside her home only for her husband to enjoy and outside she should wear baggy clothing not to cause even one man to look at her. A woman who does this is a Tzaddeket! How dare a woman go out of her house with a wig or an immodest kerchief that reveals her hair? It's scary. In the world of truth, it's real fear, deathly fear. She attracts half the city and the most important thing to her is to be beautiful outside her home. In Shamayim, she will not be beautiful! Black angels will place her in a large black pot in a black room with its black walls and they will burn her because of her wig. She went out in the streets with a purpose that men should look at her, therefore, she has no merits!

I saw a woman that revealed her legs and for her punishment, they caught her by legs and threw her like she was a rag and they hung her upside down on steel pipes and blood drips down and she is yelling for help but there is no help for her.

For a person that hears Lashon Hara, they catch him by his ear and hang him by the ears.

I saw souls running to Harav Kook (zs'kl) begging him to save them from judgment. He walks them gently to Gehenom, suffering together with them of their judgment. He consoles them.

I saw people that had snow in their hands and I asked them why you have snow and they replied they are going to Gehenom and are taking snow to cool down from the heat of the fires of Gehenom. There is a place in Shamayim that snows and they steal the snow from there and in Gehenom they use the snow to rub on their bodies. I saw Rav Kook accompanying them into Gehenom and consoling them.

I saw people being buried and as soon as the burial is over, very hungry snakes and worms eat up the dead man's body. It's very scary. They come thru the mouth, nose, eyes, ears - it's truly scary and disgusting. Every limb that a person damages, the hungry snakes and worms have permission to eat it.

I was allowed to hear thru a hole from very far Tzaddikim sitting in Gan Eden. I was a wicked man and therefore, permission was not granted to come closer or to even view them. But I heard the happiness and it was happiness I cannot visualize. But it's worth to return to this world and to give up the path of sin just to be able to view this happiness. There was a thick wall with tiny holes and some have permission to view the Tzaddikim in Gan Eden thru the tiny hole. Just to view the Tzaddikim thru tiny holes gives the wicked people some sort of comfort from their punishments. All wicked souls that have permission to view the Tzaddikim regret how they wasted their lives on nonsense.

I was shown Gog UMagog. It was the scariest! So many planes were in the sky blowing up, there was no room for air. Thousands of planes all over America, England, France - it was a mess and very loud. The streets were packed with army vehicles and people were running in every direction. The world was violently shaking.

Suddenly I saw myself inside a Yeshiva and this was something new for me. I am sitting with learned men and I see that all the tables and their clothing are full of dust but the men continue to study Torah. I asked 'what is going on here' and they told me not to go outside but to remain inside with them. I saw that these men were very pure and holy and they understood that the end of the world has arrived. It's the end of the world! Outside the world is falling apart but they paid no attention, they were occupied with Torah. I understood that the Torah HaKadosha is protecting them. They told me that anyone who holds on to the Torah will be protected.

Shamayim saw that I wanted to do Teshuva and I understood that I must begin my Tikunim. They returned my soul back to my body and I found myself in the hospital's morgue in Paris. Thank Gd, they did not shut my box with nails so I was able to get out and I walked slowly into the hallway and was crying. Where is the Creator of the World? Where is everything I just saw? Everything just disappeared and I had no interest to talk to anyone. I wanted to go back to shamayim...

In the end a person takes with him to the world of truth only the Mitzvot he performed in the lower world. This is what the Creator of the World wants from us!

Watch the document video, courtesy of Bechagvei HaSela