Latest Essays

• The Secret to Longevity

  Nov 16, 2024 Admin 0 Comments

  The Parashat Vayera 18:2 says: Avraham was sitting at the entrance of his tent when — Looking up, he saw three figures standing near him. Perceiving this, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them, and bowing to the ground." Three strangers came to Avraham, Rashi told us they were angels — Angel Mikhael came to announce to Sarah the birth of a son, Angel Gabriel to overthrow Sodom, and Angel Raphael to cure Avraham, for one angel does not carry out two missions (Genesis Rabbah 50:2). They stayed by Avraham, and later left to carry out their missions. 
  
  The Gemara Masechet Shabbat tells us that when Shabbat begins everyone is surrounded by two angels — a good angel and a bad one. When we come home, and the table is set for the Shabbat meal, the good angel blesses the house saying that next week it should be so, as well — a set table, with a happy family, and a table full of delicious salads, hot delicacies and blessings in life. But if the person comes and no table is set or does not even go to synagogue, then the bad angel curses, that next week it should be so, as well, which eventually leads to the destruction of that home, and after that, both angels leave. 
  
  In addition to the above, everyone at any age receives a new Neshama or a soul from Higher Worlds, and this soul does something amazing. 
  
  Since we are busy every day, each of us has a list of chores to complete for the week, and we run and drive around trying to complete this list. Suddenly we get unexpected events that we must attend to and deal with. Kids, parents, family matters, obligations, jobs, businesses — our plate is full, literally — everyone is busy. We have no time for anything else.  But there's one thing we miss out on, and this is the learning of the Torah. As much as rabbis tell us from the podium about its importance, we don't seem to have any time for it left at the end of the day. So why would it be so important?
  
  And this is where Hashem steps in and sends us a third "angel", or something Holy and Divine — a Neshama Yetera, an Additional Soul, which stays with us from the beginning of Shabbat until its departure. You may ask, why do we need this Additional Soul? We may think that we are doing fine without it, but...
  
  Because of our constant "pursuit of physical happiness" which at that moment indulges our body and creates a fleeting feeling of security and happiness, we are strangling to death the soul that is within us, which gives us that precious life every moment here on this Earth. But guess what, our soul is starved, because of the lack of the Divine, and is not content staying in this body, and would rather go to its source — G-d Almighty. But this would mean an end to our physical existence. And just like Hashem sent a Malach Raphael to cure Avraham Avinu after the circumcision, Hashem sends us this Additional Soul to "cure us" or make a "Shalom Bayit" - a Peace between The Body and Soul so that Starved Soul of ours should stay for another week, so that person's existence should not cease. That Additional Soul stays with our soul to learn Torah, which gives it those missing "Spiritual Nutrition" — that the body is not supplying. It fills it with The Divine throughout Shabbat, and then at the end of the Shabbat, the Additional Soul leaves the body, leaving the Soul inside content and in peace till the next Shabbat comes around. 
  
  Midrash tells us, that when Moshe Rabbenu's time to die has come, Hashem sent the Angel of Death to take his neshamah. When he approached Our Teacher, Moshe, his soul saw the Angel of Death and said it wouldn't go with him. Why? asked the Angel. The soul said - it is content and doesn't want to leave his body, since Moshe Rabbenu is full of Torah. Hashem had to intervene and took Moshe's soul Himself, and at that moment Moshe Rabbenu passed on to the Next World.
  
  When King David asked Hashem when he would pass away, Hashem told him—on Shabbat. Since then, every Shabbat that he stayed alive he has made a party, and that's why we make the fourth seudah, a Melaveh Malka. But on Shabbat King David was doing one thing, all the time — filling himself with Torah — learning it, reading it, singing it, filling every minute of his with Torah and not wasting it on anything else. 
  
  When his time came to pass on to the Next World, the Angel of Death, didn't know how to take his soul, so for as long as he learned the Torah, the Angel of Death couldn't take his life. The Angel of Death had to come up with a plan. He made a noise in the garden, and King David looked up from his study and went to see what happened. And this is when, the Angel of Death took his life, since he had that blank moment — a moment void of Torah study.
  
  Only you can help your starved soul — this Shabbat, next Shabbat, every Shabbat, and every day by filling yourself and your soul with Torah knowledge, to the point when you become the Torah geyser from whom the new Torah insights come out flying, and you become soaked thoroughly with Torah and Divine, so you get awarded with healing and longevity by G-d Almighty. 
  
  So..my friend, how's your soul feeling Today?
  
  Shmuel Katanov

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• The Pious Sinners

  Oct 28, 2024 Admin 0 Comments

  Each of us lives in the community, and if you look hard enough, you may notice a behavior that many regard as normal. But is it the right thing to do?!
  
  One of the makkot or plagues Hashem brought upon Egypt was the Makkat of Khoshekh, the Plague of Darkness. Torah tells us that it was so dark that no Egyptian could physically move during it. But if you read the Midrash on this, it gets even more interesting. It says that during this plague, around 12 million Jews died, and the sons of Israel went from house to house and buried them under the cover of the darkness so as not to cause shame to the nation. In every plague, it has affected Egyptians, but in this one, we have buried many of our own. 
  
  So, let’s stop here. 
  
  During the three days of darkness, we have buried 8 million people. Some say 12 million or even more, but for this article, I will use the 12 million who were buried; since 20% came out from Egypt, which comes out to 3 million people, we have left behind 80% of the nation within those three days, which in total makes 15 million people were living in Egypt before the plague.
  
  But the amazing thing is, no one screams from the podium about this event; why?? During the Holocaust, we lost 6 million, and we make so much noise about that till today, but 12 million - no noise is made, and not much is said. With your permission, please allow me to shed some light on what might have happened there, or to be the one to make the noise I believe needs to be made. As always, everything that is about to follow is my opinion, which I would like to share with others.
  
  In Parashat Shemot 3:3, when Moshe stood at the burning bush and was instructed by Hashem to go to Egypt to free the nation of Israel, Moshe hesitated, and rightfully so. Two individuals have given Moshe the reason to flee Egypt since they reported him to the authorities when he killed an Egyptian while saving another Jew. Now returning, it was not something Moshe wanted to do besides other reasons; he knew they wouldn’t stop and would continue, and may even outperform and amaze themselves and others at their skill level even more than the previous time. And they did precisely so.
  
  When Moshe Rabbenu went to the pharaoh, he performed miracles and brought or triggered a plague that Hashem had performed. It had the intended effect on the Egyptians, as Hashem wanted, but those two individuals were busy spreading a completely different story to the nation.
  
  When Moshe came to Egypt, he told Aharon HaCohen, his brother, and the elders that G-d sent him. Aharon HaCohen believed Moshe, but the elders believed Aharon HaCohen, since they knew him and not his brother, Moshe. Every time the plague happened, Aharon HaCohen confirmed it as the "Doings of the Almighty." But those two—Dathan and Aviram—had a different plan and a story to tell to others who were willing to listen.
  
  So what did these two tell them? They said that Moshe grew up in the House of Pharaoh and learned to perform those "miracles", with no G-d involved; it was Moshe performing at an advanced level of sorcery. 
  
  But guess what - Dathan and Aviram were not the lazy bunch, and they didn't mind going miles from house to house - since they had no WhatsApp or other technologies we have today to spread slander, they put the time and effort into this "project." So, the elders living far from Aharon HaCohen believed these two since they were persistent and convincing. They walked far and wide and reached 12 million people - the elders and the ordinary folks had believed them that Moshe was not for real, and all of those "miracles" - plagues were just his tricks. Since Aharon HaCohen and the elders loyal to him could convince only 3 million people, Hashem decided to leave the rest of the nation behind, so 80% of the Nation, 12 million people, were buried during the Plague of Darkness.
  
  So, the merit of the deaths of 12 million people belongs to these two individuals - Dathan and Aviram.
  
  - Hashem made Moshe His choice, but these two didn't agree with Him and smeared Moshe, no matter the effort, the time it took, or the consequences it had on the nation—thus challenging G-d's authority and weakening the belief in G-d of the people of that generation and on.
  
  - The nation - those 3 million people - truly believed in Moshe and Hashem later after they crossed the sea, as it says in Parashat Beshalach - Vayaaminu Ba Hashem Uve Moshe Avdo. However, as a result of the actions of Dathan and Aviram, our nation still struggles with faith in Hashem and Moshe to this day. 
  
  - Later in recent history, we have had another similar incident. After thousands of years of following the Derech, or the Way, that Moshe Rabbenu taught us in ancient times, in the early 1800s and on in Europe, new ways to serve G-d were introduced. As a consequence, we lost another 6 million people, and the effects of that are still present today.
  
  As it was, so it will be. The Holy Books tell us of the End of Times. Those past reincarnations will smear the Son of David, and it will be a heavy load. 
  
  But all that is done to test Aharon HaCohen and the Elders of that generation. Whether they will back the one G-d has chosen, side with the ones who smear, or ignore it altogether and go on their way, their actions will determine whether The Nation will leave any of its members behind.
  
  That's why Parashat Korach says, And Korach took but never says what he took. Korach was a bystander who was quietly learning - he had witnessed the performance of The Masters of Defamation - Dathan and Aviram. Korach has taken that "experience" - the knowledge of what the lies can achieve when repeated enough times, and their power to convince and rule the masses, and with that experience, Korach has taken with him the above “experts or the consultants,” and together with other "upstanding scholars", they went against Moshe Rabbenu.
  
  So next time you are out there in public, socializing in the community, look around at those who do the Talking and the Walking and those who quietly stand on the side while gaining that "invaluable experience."
  
  That’s why King David said in the Book of Tehillim 1:1, "Happy is the man who does not walk in the advice of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scorners."
  
  After causing so many terrible problems in the nation and years of accusations of Moshe Rabbenu by Dathan and Aviram, Moshe Rabbenu calls on G-d again to solve this thorny problem once and for all, and goes for the unthinkable.
  
  Parashat Korach 16:28-30 says: "And Moses said, By this, you shall know that it was Hashem who sent me to do all these things; that they are not of my devising: If these people’s death is that of all humankind, if their lot is humankind's common fate, it was not Hashem who sent me. But if Hashem brings about something unheard-of, so that the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, you shall know that those involved have rejected Hashem." 
  
  And so it happened. Dathan, Aviram, Korach, and their families have fallen into the depths. Gemara Bava Batra 74A says that they never died, but they constantly keep on repeating down there deep in the Earth below: Torah is Truth, and Moshe is Truth—a bit too late if you ask me, but they realized that Moshe's doings were directly from G-d. 
  
  The same will be true with the Son of David, who also will do the same per the Will of G-d. Just like Moshe Rabbenu, who has judged Korach and his people, the Son of David will take the judgments to the next level by the sense of smell to root out the Dathans, Avirams, and other pious sinners of his time who have quietly operated for years amongst the nation. 
  
  Shmuel Katanov

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• Have You Repented Lately?

  Oct 14, 2024 Admin 0 Comments

  Every year, we have been reading the same parsha on the first day of Rosh Hashana. Three words bother me, especially the way they are translated, interpreted, and, most of all, embraced by society. I want to mention once again that this is only my opinion. I believe the existing interpretation keeps people from making full repentance and truly embracing the way of Hashem. So, with your permission, please allow me to get a bit more specific.
  
  In Parashat Vayera 21:17 it says - "וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אֱלֹהִים֮ אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַנַּ֒עַר֒ וַיִּקְרָא֩ מַלְאַ֨ךְ אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ אֶל־הָגָר֙ מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָ֖הּ מַה־לָּ֣ךְ הָגָ֑ר אַל־תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֧ע אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶל־ק֥וֹל הַנַּ֖עַר בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הוּא־שָֽׁם׃  - G-d heard the cry of the boy, and a messenger of G-d called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for G-d has heard the cry of the boy in his present state." בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הוּא־שָֽׁם - Baasher Hu Sha’m - in his present state - these are the 3 words that I was talking about. Rashi explains this as, according to the actions he is now doing shall he be judged and not according to what he may do in the future. And since in the word Baasher the Bet means In or Within, it means that Hashem is trying to tell us that something is hidden within.
  
  This needs to be understood well since once we get it, it will unlock other important areas.
  
  First, we must understand the Sha’m - There.. something has happened somewhere… In Parashat Lech Lecha 16:7-16, when Hagar runs away from Sarai, an angel finds her by the spring of water. In his conversation with Hagar, the angel instructs her to return to her mistress and submit to her domination. He tells her that she will have a son and she should name him Ishmael, and the angel specifies the negative characteristics the boy will have. And so it was - when Sarah Imenu saw how Ishmael was mocking and going against Yitzchak, she asked Avraham Avinu to drive him and his mother Hagar out of the house because of the threat Ishmael posed to Yitzchak's spiritual growth and physical being. 
  
  That's why the angel has used the word: Baasher Hu Sha’m - to mean not as much as "in his present state" but as he, the angel, has prophesized there before, or predicted, or has made up the boy's future there at that time to be.
  
  So, the fact that Sarah Imenu threw him out of the house is not something we should question or be amazed about. Since it all goes according to plan - Ishmael behaves as the angel had predicted. 
  
  From generation to generation, we come to the Holiday of Rosh Hashana, and we are told that if we sit, pray, and be nice to others -- and since all along we were taught that Hashem's judgment depends on "our present state" no matter our teshuva status, then we are guaranteed a good judgment. As if no repentance is required - just sit and smile and believe that your teshuva is accepted - and many have done exactly that for years. 
  
  But, as you make your way in life, in your daily encounters with people, you see their good or bad character traits. And on Rosh Hashana, a person from that crowd goes to shul and prays as Baasher Hu Sha’m - as he was created there - by his parents, years back at the time of the conception. The parents may not be around anymore, but he is the result and the fruit of that union. In this world, he relates to others as Baasher Hu Sha’m - as it was programmed into him - displaying either good or evil traits by being an amazing individual or an evil person.
  
  But let's go a bit further!!
  
  Why would the Sages include the parsha where Ishmael is mentioned in the reading of the First Day of Rosh Hashana? The Rosh Hashana Day is meant to proclaim Hashem as King - to make Him the King of our Nation and a Ruler of the World. How does Ishmael fit into all of this? 
  
  It is to show the World that Hashem has chosen only the descendants of Yitzchak as His Nation. But also to show the Chosen Nation the dedication of the unchosen nation - the number of times it prays and its willingness to go the distance to "proclaim G-d". It is a battle between Sarah Imenu and Hagar that has lasted for thousands of years. Therefore, to win - We must improve our service and commitment to G-d. Abolish those thorny man-to-man traits that have plagued us for thousands of years. And finally, make that full repentance.
  
  So, my reader... Have you... repented lately???
  
  Shmuel Katanov

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• Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue

  Sep 9, 2024 Admin 0 Comments

  Sometimes, you see a word in the Torah, which triggers a whole new understanding, and once you sit down to write it, it takes you to some uncharted territory where you have never been. As it always goes with anything I write - it is my opinion, an understanding of how I see the passages based on learning the Holy Books. So, with that disclaimer out of the way, let's look at something that is simply amazing. Maybe it may even help you see it in a different light, so perhaps you should even consider using it in some way or form on higher levels. With that said, let's begin. 
  
  Parashat Shoftim has plenty of thought-provoking pesukim, but one stands out—at least, it seemed so to me.  
  
  Pasuk 16:20: "צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף לְמַ֤עַן תִּֽחְיֶה֙ וְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־ה׳ אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃ - Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive and occupy the land that your G-d Hashem is giving you." I believe this pasuk is the answer to how to bring peace to the nation of Israel or any nation in the world. The key to this would be the word "Justice" which, for some reason, was mentioned two times. 
  
  For example, imagine this scenario: Two people come to court because they disagree on some issue. One is rich, and the other is poor. A judge judges the case and announces the verdict. Both are free to go since the case is solved. So, the condition of the first Justice is met. 
  
  But why does the Torah include the second word: Justice shall you pursue?
  
  This is when the judge would ask the poor man to stay, and after the rich man has left the courtroom, the judge will start a whole new type of questioning that would go something like this:
  
  Let's say the poor person's name is Chaim. The judge would ask him: "Chaim, I remember, or I have been told, that 20+ years ago you were a pretty successful businessman or had a job, you had a family, or you may even still have one, and you were living a pretty comfortable lifestyle. But I see that something happened during these years, or maybe I shall say "someone happened" during these years, and your life took a wrong turn. Please, tell me about it."
  
  And this is when the judge finds out things were pretty good. He held a job or had a business, but "he crossed someone's path," and that person made it - a goal of his life - to go after him and ruin his life. And so it was. Slowly, he lost his livelihood, his reputation was blemished, and he had to move to a different city. But those people still found him. He couldn't find a job or open a business since no one wanted to associate with him - he was done. All the doors for him were closed. 
  
  Years have passed. The money he had saved up from his prosperity years - is gone. Kids were growing up, the wife was nervous, and news about him was all over. So, this is when he was forced to go around and beg for a piece of bread.
  
  There are two ways out of this humiliating situation: suicide - which solves those people's problems but is not a good option for him, or homicide - if he starts to talk about those people, death will be his likely end.
  
  And this is where we come to Parashat Shoftim 21:1-9, which tells us about the Eglah Arufah. The body of a poor person is found in the field between the two cities. The person traveled between the cities to collect enough money for bread to feed himself and his family. But his sin is - he talks about the wrong that was done to him. He is asking people to take up on his cause and do justice on his behalf, and as much as those people try to shut him up by discrediting him, he keeps on talking. They didn't think he would be that stubborn; others were quiet after a few years - but this one won't stop - but finally, now he is dead. And the killer is unknown.
  
  The locals measure the closest location of the corpse to the city that the corpse is closest to. The closest city is assumed to be responsible - meaning he was in that city last and came out from that city so that the killer may be from that city. So, the city's elders, nearest to the corpse, shall take the heifer, which has never worked and never has pulled the yoke. They break its neck, wash their hands, and make the declaration: “‘Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it done. Absolve, Oh L-rd, Your people Israel whom You redeemed, and do not let the guilt for the blood of the innocent remain among Your people Israel.’ And they will be absolved of the bloodguilt. And this will be morally right in the G-d's eyes."
  
  That poor person who is now dead, was collecting charity. Charity or Tzedaka has the same root as the word Tzedek or Justice, when the letters are switched around. Just like Cohen HaGadol's mother is giving out cookies in the Cities of Refuge, so the people residing in those cities should not pray for Cohen HaGadol's early death (Mishna Makot 2:6). Same way, when the poor person that collects charity - it is us, the community that gives him charity - for the time being, postponing a judgment until someone wakes up and does justice on his behalf to those people that caused that poor person all these trouble and suffering. 
  
  In the Eglah Arufah case, a person went to collect charity. Since he is known everywhere, they haven't given him much - they have not done Justice due to him, so he is forced to go to another city, and another city, and constantly talk to others because of his pain and frustration to the point where someone who had enough of him, have killed him so to put an end to this. 
  
  Comes Torah and says, "Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue." The first Justice is meant to be for the case in front of the Judge—this is what the two parties came for. Judge this case, and let them go in peace. 
  
  But the second part is Justice Shall You Pursue - which means finding out how the person got to this point in his life, where the poor person is forced to collect charity and to find those people who have forced this situation upon him. Since they have done it, are doing it, and will do it again in the future, that same proven strategy will be used on others.

  While they do what they do best, they always stay under the radar and are considered to be respected members of the society where they live, work, and thrive while on the lookout for those that challenge "their honor".
  
  Do you hear those poor people, walking around with stretched hands and asking for - Justice?! When we - the community - don't do our part to pursue justice on their behalf, the poor scream out to Hashem, and He has to get involved...He Must - which in turn causes all sorts of problems in the Nation.
  
  So what is the secret to thriving and living in the Land that Hashem has given us? And I truly believe the answer would be - Justice, Justice We Shall Pursue!!
  
  To further develop this idea, about justice and more, please see part 2.
  
  Shmuel Katanov
  
  

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• Why Do Good People Suffer?

  Aug 26, 2024 Admin 0 Comments

  There plenty of clues in the Torah, and in this essay, we'll examine one of them. 
  
  In Parashat Ekev - וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ עֵ֣קֶב תִּשְׁמְע֗וּן אֵ֤ת הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֥ם וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם וְשָׁמַר֩ ה׳ אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ לְךָ֗ אֶֽת־הַבְּרִית֙ וְאֶת־הַחֶ֔סֶד אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖ע לַאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ׃ - And if you obey these rules and observe them, your G-d will maintain faithfully for you the covenant made on oath with your fathers. 
  
  The most interesting word here is Ekev, and besides the normal translation as a heel, there's an awesome secret hidden in it that I would like to discuss. So, with your permission, let's delve into it!
  
  וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ עֵ֣קֶב תִּשְׁמְע֗וּן - Vehaya Ekev Tishmeoun - When you will listen - there's lots of great promises made by Hashem. To unlock this sentence, we need to refer to another place. 
  
  In Parashat Toldot, we are told the story of Yitzchak and Rivkah. The Midrash tells us that when Rivkah Imeinu was pregnant and passed by the synagogue, the child would be active, and if she passed by the place where the idol was worshipped, the child would be active again, as if it wanted to come out. She was worried—why her child would be so puzzled—drawn after holy and unholy. So, she went to inquire. 
  
  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר ה׳ לָ֗הּ שְׁנֵ֤י (גיים) [גוֹיִם֙] בְּבִטְנֵ֔ךְ וּשְׁנֵ֣י לְאֻמִּ֔ים מִמֵּעַ֖יִךְ יִפָּרֵ֑דוּ וּלְאֹם֙ מִלְאֹ֣ם יֶֽאֱמָ֔ץ וְרַ֖ב יַעֲבֹ֥ד צָעִֽיר׃ 
  and Hashem answered her,
  “Two nations are in your womb,
  Two separate peoples shall issue from your body;
  One people shall be mightier than the other,
  And the older shall serve the younger.” 
  
  And so it was. When her time to give birth came, there were twins in her womb. 
  
  וַיֵּצֵ֤א הָרִאשׁוֹן֙ אַדְמוֹנִ֔י כֻּלּ֖וֹ כְּאַדֶּ֣רֶת שֵׂעָ֑ר וַיִּקְרְא֥וּ שְׁמ֖וֹ עֵשָֽׂו׃ - The first one emerged red, like a hairy mantle all over; so they named him Esau. 
  וְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֞ן יָצָ֣א אָחִ֗יו וְיָד֤וֹ אֹחֶ֙זֶת֙ בַּעֲקֵ֣ב עֵשָׂ֔ו וַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ יַעֲקֹ֑ב׃ - Then his brother emerged, holding on to the heel of Esau; so they named him Jacob... 
  
  Here, we learn that Hashem referred to Yaakov as the one holding onto Eisav's heel. 
  
  So, another way to read this pasuk we have started with would be not Vehaya Ekev Tishmeoun - When You Will Listen, but maybe should be read as Vehaya Yaakov Tishmeoun - "When Yaakov Will Listen to these rules and observe them carefully..."
  
  So, let's look at this scenario from this angle for a second. 
  
  Remember in Parashat Vayishlach 32:25-29, Yaakov Avinu went to get some jugs and was alone, and suddenly an angel jumped on him, and they fought. It was a long fight until the break of dawn. When the angel saw that he had not prevailed against him, he asked to be let go. Then the angel said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking." But Yaakov answered, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." Said the angel, "What is your name?" He replied, "Yaakov."
  
  וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לֹ֤א יַעֲקֹב֙ יֵאָמֵ֥ר עוֹד֙ שִׁמְךָ֔ כִּ֖י אִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־שָׂרִ֧יתָ עִם־אֱלֹהִ֛ים וְעִם־אֲנָשִׁ֖ים וַתּוּכָֽל׃ - Said the angel, "Your name shall no longer be Yaakov, but Yisrael, for you have fought with beings divine and human, and have won." 
  
  Yisrael means Yashar El - straight to Hashem; all the prayers go straight to Hashem, no longer with a delay or through an intermediary, as the one who is attached or very close to G-d. Before the fight with an Angel, Yaakov Avinu was just a prophet and a righteous married man, with four wives and 13 children. But after he won the battle with an angel and passed the hardships with people, at that moment he had become a giant - a father of the tribes, and a forefather of the nation.
  
  How can this be applied to our everyday lives?
  
  When the child is born, that child stands at the level of Ekev or the Heel until the age of Bar Mitzvah. But once he has reached his 13th birthday and girls the age of 12 the child enters the level of Yaakov. At this stage the neshama or soul changes, since now it has Yetzer Hara and Yetzer HaTov or Good and Bad Inclinations or Good or Bad Angels inside, and until the age of 120, there's a constant battle that goes on inside the person - whether one should do good or evil. And since this inclination or Yetzer is part of his Divine Soul, this person, like Yaakov Avinu, battles with his exclusive and internal Divine Angels. Hashem puts him through many tests and situations until he passes his tests, subdues his Yetzer Hara to total control, chooses to do good and not evil, atones for past misdeeds, and continues so for the rest of his life. This is when this person graduates from the level of Yaakov to the level of Yisrael and becomes even more closer to Hashem. 
  
  Did you hear of Olam Habah or The Future World, the one that will start some time after Mashiach comes, which will be one long and the most enjoyable time ever?! Any ideas on how to get the entry ticket to it? There's a pasuk that gives it away. Kol Yisrael Yesh Lakhem Khelek LeOlam Habah - All Yisrael have a share in the World To Come - All Yisrael, which, by the way, doesn't mean Every Jew, but means only those Yaakovs that have graduated from the level of Yaakov to the level of Yisrael. They have battled men - by halacha, and battled Divine - their Yetzer Hara, subdued it to the point where it was under their total control, repented and embraced Torah and mitzvot for life and for real, and thus graduated from the level of Yaakov to the level of Yisrael, and only then got their ticket to the World To Come. 
  
  And since we've come this far, let me ask you this: Do you know why good people suffer and bad ones seem to have it smooth and easy?
  
  Those who go through life without paying attention to the laws of the Torah always stay at the level of Yaakov. At this level, they get all their goodness here on this Earth but lose their entry ticket to the World to Come. 
  
  But the ones who seem to suffer more than the others are under the strict supervision of G-d Almighty. Since He loves them and wants them to earn their passage into the Future World, and He wants them to be there next to Him. He tests them and creates unpleasant situations for them through other people who ought to be punished for their misdeeds, puts them through trials and tribulations, so they learn to fight their Evil Inclination, and eventually, get it under their total control, and submit themselves to Hashem, to His laws, and Torah way of life. 
  
  But I bet you hear this often: This is how I am; I have always been like that!! Most probably, I am a reincarnation of some person who battled it then, and I can't change this about myself now. 
  
  So... little about reincarnations or the gilgulim. 
  
  Some very high souls have few things to fix about themselves. For them, the transition from Yaakov level to Yisrael is easy and almost unnoticeable to others due to their environment, their targeted efforts, fewer lacks, and their insatiable and burning desire to reach those heights.
  
  But for the rest of us who have it tough and have plenty to change about ourselves… what should we do?
  
  Many say Hashem loves you - they are not lying to you. He does, since He has given you those hardships. Because each hurdle makes the next one easier to overcome, even though it hurts more than the last time, each hardship is a stepping stone that gets the Evil Inclination under control - slowly muting its volume and minimizing its importance. Slowly but surely, step by step, year after year, blow after blow, until we finally stand on our feet with Yetzer Hara under our full control. And at that moment, the Divine becomes our life and calling. At this point, we graduate from the level of Yaakov to the level of Yisrael, and we become very close to Hashem in this world, as His extension down here on the planet Earth, with a guaranteed ticket to the Future World. 
  
  So, my friend, how about you? Are you ready to battle your Internal Angel?!! 
  
  Vehaya Yaakov Tishmeoun - When Yaakov Will Listen to these rules and observe them carefully... Your name shall no longer be Yaakov, but Yisrael, for you have fought with beings divine and human, and have won.
  
  A light tap on the microphone.
  
  Testing, testing. Is this thing on? May I have your attention, please? Will the real Yisrael please stand up? I repeat. Will the real Yisrael please stand up?
  
  We're not gonna have a problem here!!
  
  Shmuel Katanov

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