Michtav M’Eliyahu (2:184) A tzadik decrees and G-d fulfills – It is obviously true that this does not mean that a tzadik can decree something which G-d doesn’t want. The explanation is that there are tzadikim for whom the whole world exists in their merit. That all that happens in the world is merely a means for us to learn from the conduct of these tzadikim how to elevate our service of G-d. What we learn from them is what preserves all of us from the lowest to the highest. That is what it means that because of their merit we live because we are mere utensils for the tzadik which enables us to see G-d’s great kindness in that \He freely sustains the entire world .So when a tzadik who is at this exalted level sees an issue which hides an aspect of G-d’s honor it is appropriate for him to ask G-d to withhold it even if it involves a change in G-d’s normal actions. This is what is meant by “a tzdik decrees and G-d fulfills."
A tzadik decrees and G-d fulfills Daf Hayomi today: Menachot 109b Shimon HaTzaddik understood this to be a sign that his death was impending. Indeed, after the pilgrimage festival of Sukkot, he was ill for seven days and died. And his fellow priests refrained from reciting the Priestly Benediction with the ineffable name of God. At the time of his death, he said to the Sages: Onias, my son, will serve as High Priest in my stead. Shimi, Onias’ brother, became jealous of him, as Shimi was two and a half years older than Onias. Shimi said to Onias treacherously: Come and I will teach you the order of the service of the High Priest. Shimi dressed Onias in a tunic [be’unkeli] and girded him with a ribbon [betziltzul] as a belt, i.e., not in the vestments of the High Priest, and stood him next to the altar. Shimi said to his fellow priests: Look what this man vowed and fulfilled for his beloved, that he had said to her: On the day that I serve in the High Priesthood I will wear your tunic and gird your ribbon. The fellow priests of Onias wanted to kill him because he had disgraced the Temple service with his garments. Onias ran away from them and they ran after him. He went to Alexandria in Egypt and built an altar there, and sacrificed offerings upon it for the sake of idol worship. When the Sages heard of the matter they said: If this person, Shimi, who did not enter the position of High Priest, acted with such jealousy, all the more so will one who enters a prestigious position rebel if that position is taken away from him. This is the statement of Rabbi Meir. According to Rabbi Meir, the temple of Onias was built for idol worship.
ReplyDeleteWow, according to R’ Meir jealousy of the younger brother Onaias for the honor and power of the older brother, Shimi, who rightfully became the High Preist---Lead Onaias to do horrible acts (dressing like a woman idol worshipping whatever). Who has the honor and power today in Israel and the USA ? Those out of power are deeply jealous of those in power, agreed?
I heard in Chabad, that the previous Rebbe had tried to avert the Holocaust, and asked the chassidim to remain with him in Poland.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately his efforts were not successful, and he fled to America.
Sure, and in Satmar they say that the only reason that the Kastner train succeeded was because the Satmar had a dream that it would if he was on it.
DeleteOk but what did Satmar Rebbe decree?
DeleteBefore the gulf war in 91, the lubavitcher Rebbe decreed that Saddam Hussein would not harm Israel. He was right. Also I heard from rav Weinbach ztl of ohr sameach, that Jerusalem is the safest place in the world. This was actually before the Rebbe said it.
DeleteThe Satmar stood there in the train station, looked over his chasidim and told then that if they just stayed put and said enough tehillim, they'd be fine. Shortly after they were all dead.
DeleteAnd the Rebbe's prediction? That's supposed to support the claim he's a navi. He made a prophecy and it came true. Thing is, my father, a"h, said the same thing when the war started. "You watch and see. God will protect his people. No one will get hurt." So was he a navi too?
And is Jerusalem the safest place in the world? Well at this point the people firing at Israel don't want to fire at Jerusalem for their own religious reasons, not because it's got some kind of special shield.
If they generally avoid firing at Jerusalem, it's because Hashem doesn't want them to. However, sadly there were terrible attacks there after the Oslo and Wye talks.
DeleteQuite a few of the extreme hareidi Gedolim took such a stance. Brisker rov ended up moving to Israel. Reb elchonon tragically felt he was better off refusing his visa to YU.
Delete1) Or it's because they don't want to accidentally hit the Temple Mount. They'd have a hard time blaming The Jews(tm) for that one. Okay, they'd try but outside of their medieval lands, no one would buy it.
Delete2) Yes, but none of them flat out told their followers to stay put while they themselves accepted tickets from the evil Zionists. None of them said "You can go anywhere, just not Israel!" and then went to Israel.
I was going post something, but then I deleted it...
DeleteI should probably do that more often
DeleteIt's a good middah to do that sometimes.
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