Latest Essays

• The Failed Mission

  Feb 19, 2026 Admin 0 Comments

  In every essay I have written so far, I have presented a question and answered it, but in this one, I would like to have a different approach. Here I would like to present a bunch of questions on a topic that has been bothering me for a few years now. On the outside, it looks simple, but once you start delving in, you notice a whole different picture. So, with your permission, let's begin.
  
  Just to mention, the following is my opinion, or just some thoughts and questions out loud.
  
  In Masechet Chagigah 14b of the Talmud Bavli, there's a story about four people who went to Pardes: Ben Azzai and Ben Zoma, Acher, and Rabbi Akiva. Four great scholars embarked on a mystical journey. Ben Azzai died, Ben Zoma lost his mind, and Acher lost his faith or went off the derech. Only one, Rabbi Akiva, returned unscathed. 
  
  As a sidenote, Rabbi Elisha ben Avuya or Acher was a wealthy Jerusalemite, one of the great sages of the Mishnah, as they were called Tannayim. Tannayim were the caliber that could raise the dead. He is quoted by name in a Mishnah in Tractate Avot, and his ruling regarding mourning rites is cited in Tractate Megillah. He was a colleague of Rabbi Akiva and the teacher of Rabbi Meir, one of the greatest and most prolific contributors to the Mishnah. Above is his biography, so we know who we are dealing with. 
  
  My personal rule is: No Tannah EVER Goes OFF The Derech. So, in that case, what happened? Why is it documented in the Gemara that he did go off the derech?
  
  I think the correct question that should be asked about what happened in the Pardes? 
  
  So he chopped the trees and saw Angel Methatron sitting. And this is what made him go off the derech? But why?
  
  I do believe there's much more to this. 
  
  The Nation at that time was divided into two camps: those who had visited the Pardes and those who hadn't. 
  
  And I believe that the current problems we have in the nation are because those who were not in Pardes won, since they crushed those who had been there. And I am not talking about one or two people, but the Rabbanut and the community as a whole went against Rabbi Elisha ben Avuya and Ben Zoma. (Looks like the community loves to crush people and go as a group against the few, but more on this later.)
  
  The ascent to Pardes was a failed mission; they had a reason to go there, and thus far, what we know about it is only hinted at and not discussed openly in the Gemara. But there's a reason why they went there.
  
  And the reason IS...
  
  First, what is Pardes? You can read about it here. The fruits they ate from the tree made them know Torah. So, all three knew Torah, not only Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Akiva was a seasoned rabbi, and he was the only one teaching Torah. What happened to the other two? 
  
  Well, Ben Zoma was called crazy. Why? I believe he was a young fellow with no credentials as a Rabbi, and since he knew Torah because he came from Pardes, the rabbis of the old told him, "You think you're going to teach us Torah? We are double and triple your age, and we been at it longer than you, and you want us to listen to you? You must be crazy! Oh yes, you are!" And that's what they labeled him.
  
  In his conversation on Chagigah 15A says: "There was once an incident with regard to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya, who was standing on a step on the Temple Mount, and ben Zoma saw him and did not stand before him to honor him, as he was deep in thought. Rabbi Yehoshua said to him: From where do you come and where are you going, ben Zoma, i.e., what is on your mind? He said to him: In my thoughts I was looking upon the act of Creation, at the gap between the upper waters and the lower waters, as there is only the breadth of a mere three fingers between them, as it is stated: "And the spirit of G-d hovered over the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2), like a dove hovering over its young without touching them. Rabbi Yehoshua said to his students who had overheard this exchange: Ben Zoma is still outside; he has not yet achieved full understanding of these matters."
  
  But if you dwell on his answer a bit more, you will see a depth in his answer. What are the lower and upper waters? The breadth of a mere three fingers between the waters; what does he mean by that? He has given a very deep answer. I believe Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya did not understand him, since they did not learn Torah from a young, crazy, and no-credentials fellow.
  
  Again, just so you know who Ben Zoma is: a Tannah, who is cited in multiple places in the Talmud and the Midrash for Midrashic interpretation, for laws relating to blessings, for discussions about lineage and marriage laws, and in the Passover Haggadah. Although not formally ordained (hence called "Ben" rather than "Rabbi"), he was regarded as extraordinarily brilliant. The Talmud preserves statements showing that leading sages considered him exceptionally sharp in argumentation.
  
  Rabbi Akiva came intact - came back alive and seemed as if nothing happened.
  
  I heard in one of the lectures that there's an opinion that 24,000 students' deaths happened because of his support for Bar Kochba, since they joined his army. And second, he publicly supported Bar Kochba and proclaimed him Mashiach, which turned out to be false, and there were plenty of consequences that followed. 
  
  How come no one holds him liable for that? Oh wait, someone does - Hashem. Rabbi Akiva is counted as one of the martyrs and dies a horrible death. Can it be because of the above??
  
  - Why did Rabbi Akiva support Bar Kochba?
  - Why was Rabbi Akiva smiling when he saw a fox on the Temple Mount, emerging from the place of the Holy of Holies? (Read the whole story)
  - How come Acher and Ben Zoma were not part of the 10 martyrs, since they all lived in that generation, but only Rabbi Akiva was one of the ten?
  
  Let's talk a little about Rabbi Elisha ben Avuya or Acher, as he is currently called. 
  
  - My first question would be, what made Rabbanut turn away from him? 
  - Why did he turn away from them?
  - Why did he leave the community?
  - Why did he stop going to synagogue or Bet Midrash?
  - Why were the kids reciting to him the passages that sounded bad - or insisted that he was a rasha?
  - Why did he ride a horse on Shabbat (a public violation)?
  - Why did he carry items beyond the permitted boundary (techum Shabbat)?
  - Why did he hire a zona? That's a big one.
  - But another BIG question is, what made him a rasha? 
  - What was it about him that, after his arrival from Pardes, made him different?
  - Why did everyone think that the Torah of Acher was maimed and bad? He ate the fruit in Pardes; his Torah was awesome and ahead of its time.
  
  He was a rejected sage, and I really would like to add him to the following list of The Rejected Trio. 
  
  So many questions, and more could be added to this list, but so much of this story can be explained only if it is learned through the passage from Tanach and Torah together, since the keys are hidden there. Once they are applied, then a whole new picture is painted.
  
  Are there consequences for the community for mistreating Rabbi Elisha Ben Avuyah? I believe there, and we are paying for it to this day. Rabbi Elisha Ben Avuyah is a Mighty of Israel, and for mistreating the Tannah HaKadosh, Hashem has taken the insults personally and has punished the nation to this day, to this year of 2026. From just reading the Gemara, it seems all cut and dry, with no questions, but once we start delving in a new way, all the questions above will be answered, and many places in the Torah become clear and understandable.
  
  - Who atoned for Rabbi Elisha Ben Avuyah? There's someone who has made atonement for him.
  - Did he succeed?
  - How far did he go in the atonement process?
  - What is his name, and when did he live?
  - What steps has he taken to accomplish that?
  
  Since Ben Zoma didn't make a sin, how did Hashem atone the nation for mislabeling and mistreating Ben Zoma? Ben Zoma died young, and believe me, he was another rejected one from society. 
  
  Society should get its act together. Nothing in this world goes away unpunished. Eventually, we answer for everything. 
  
  And finally, is there a connection between Rabbi Elisha Ben Avuyah and Adam HaRishon, Chavah, Moshe Rabbenu, and our times? Yes, I think there's one.
  
  And the reason why they went to Pardes IS...
  
  I will reveal the answers to the Honored Rabbis at my humble shulchan aruch - at a set table of insights, where I would like to serve those answers to the above posed questions and some more... 
  

  Shmuel Katanov

   

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• The Mystery of The Half Shekel

  Feb 15, 2026 Admin 0 Comments

  I want to share an interesting idea with you. There are many explanations for the reason for half shekel, but please allow me to offer another one. 
  
  In Megilat Esther, it says that Haman offered 10,000 kikar silver in exchange for the right to get rid of the Jews. Haman was afraid that Achashverosh would object to the loss of Jewish tax revenue if he killed them all. So, to prevent that objection, Haman was ready to sweeten the deal for the King by offering the above amount. King Achashverosh never took the offered money, which is an important fact to remember.
  
  Hashem foresaw the above conversation, so when the Nation of Israel came out from Egypt, Hashem gave Moshe Rabbenu a commandment to collect half shekel from each individual. Moshe Rabbenu did exactly that and collected from 600,000 men, as it says in Parashat Ki Tisa 30:11-16. 
  
  These funds were used to build the mizbeach or the altar in the desert, but its spiritual value has been reserved for future use. 
  
  Targum Sheni Masechet Megilah says that “Haman offered a quarter of the shekel for each person of the 600,000 that came out from Mitzrayim to King Achashverosh, which equals 10,000 kikar silver.” Or, in other words, Haman set the price to a quarter of a shekel or 50% of the half shekel.
  
  Based on the price set by Haman, it makes me think, since at the time of Exodus they collected half shekel, which is 50% of the whole shekel, Hashem deducted half from that collected value, and in its merit, the miracle of Purim happened, and the Nation of Israel was saved from the dark scheme of Evil Haman. 
  
  But the remaining 50% of the half is still unclaimed and has never been used.
  
  For centuries, no matter where in the world the Nation of Israel has been, on Taanit Esther, we have been “paying” in all types of currencies—but in reality, we are renewing the original half shekel, or the remainder of it—nonstop, which in turn has Hashem collecting its spiritual value and saving it for future use. 
  
  But when, and how can this remainder be used?
  
  I believe that when Mashiach comes, Hashem will use the merit of the remaining 50% of the half shekel. And this will end the dark schemes of this world's evil and allow the Nation of Israel to walk away free from current exile into redemption.
  
  But remember, King Achashverosh never took the money offered by Haman!!
  
  That's why says Prophet Isaiah in 52:3-6: 
  כִּי־כֹה֙ אָמַ֣ר יֱהֹוִ֔ה חִנָּ֖ם נִמְכַּרְתֶּ֑ם וְלֹ֥א בְכֶ֖סֶף תִּגָּאֵֽלוּ׃
  For thus said  G-D:
  You were sold for no price,
  And shall be redeemed without money. 
  
  כִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה מִצְרַ֛יִם יָֽרַד־עַמִּ֥י בָרִֽאשֹׁנָ֖ה לָג֣וּר שָׁ֑ם וְאַשּׁ֖וּר בְּאֶ֥פֶס עֲשָׁקֽוֹ׃ 
  For thus said my Sovereign  G-D:
  Of old, My people went down
  To Egypt to sojourn there;
  But Assyria has robbed them,
  Giving nothing in return.  
  
  וְעַתָּ֤ה מַה־לִּי־פֹה֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּֽי־לֻקַּ֥ח עַמִּ֖י חִנָּ֑ם מֹשְׁלָ֤ו יְהֵילִ֙ילוּ֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְתָמִ֥יד כׇּל־הַיּ֖וֹם שְׁמִ֥י מִנֹּאָֽץ׃ 
  What therefore do I gain here?
  —declares  G-D—
  For My people has been carried off for nothing,
  Their mockers howl
  —declares  G-D—
  And constantly, unceasingly,
  My name is scolded. 
  
  לָכֵ֛ן יֵדַ֥ע עַמִּ֖י שְׁמִ֑י לָכֵן֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא כִּֽי־אֲנִי־ה֥וּא הַֽמְדַבֵּ֖ר הִנֵּֽנִי׃         
  Assuredly, My people shall learn My name,
  Assuredly [they shall learn] on that day
  That I, the One who promised,
  Am now at hand. 
  
  And as it was V’Nahapoch Hu, the bitter situation was reversed to happy, centuries ago, so it will be reversed once again in our time. 
  
  Shmuel Katanov
  03/06/2025

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• The “Well-Meaning” In-Laws

  Feb 3, 2026 Admin 0 Comments

  Do you know what I thought was interesting? When Yitro came to the Nation in the desert, then Aharon, the elders, Yitro, and Moshe sat down for a festive meal. They all sat down for a meal, and suddenly Moshe Rabbenu - the Mashiach of the generation, the one who has saved the nation, the one who speaks to G-d, the one after whom 3 million went into the desert - took a tray and started serving people. The Sages said that he had done it out of humility. 
  
  Please allow me to share my perspective on these verses. So, with your permission, let's begin.
  
  The Parashat Yitro 18:12 says: "And Yitro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for G-d; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to partake of the meal before G-d with Moses' father-in-law." The name of G-d that is being used in the sentence is Elokim. So, here goes the question - why does the Torah use the Name of Judgement? It's just a meal. Why judge anyone at that moment? 
  
  The answer is found in the Midrash Mekhilta De Rabbi Ishmael, which states: "This is because Moshe Rabbenu was standing on his feet, serving the people. Moshe was humble enough that he ignored his status completely." 
  
  Again, what is about to follow is simply my opinion of how I understand and view the verses.
  
  But woe, that's a heavy one. Do you mean to tell me that Mashiach of the generation suddenly took a tray and started serving the dishes to everyone? Yes, but why? Was it because he saw his father-in-law? And suddenly he forgot that he is the leader of millions who always sits at the front, and that he is the one who should be served? Are we dealing with some kind of past and unresolved trauma?
  
  To understand this, let's go back in time.
  
  In Parashat Shemot, the Midrash tells us that when Moshe killed the Egyptian, and after being reported to authorities by Dathan and Aviram, he fled to the City of Cush. At around age 20, he joined the army and later became a king. Later, at the age of 67, he came to Midian and was sitting by the well. When the shepherds attacked the daughters of Yitro who were shepherding their flocks, Zohar said that "the girls were being attacked primarily because their father had abandoned the local idolatrous practices." 
  
  When Moshe came to live with Yitro, Targum Yonatan says: Moshe told him his life story - killing an Egyptian, and being deposed after being a king in the City of Cush. Not sure what to make of it, Yitro has thrown Moshe into a prison with no food and water for the next ten years. He would have starved to death if not for one of the daughters of Yitro, Tzipporah. She had pity on him and secretly fed him every day. That is how he survived those ten years. Imagine their amazement when they opened the prison to find Moshe alive and healthy.
  
  Later, he married Tzipporah and had a son whom he named Gershom, as if to say I have been a foreigner in the strange land, says Parashat Shemot 2:22. It never mentions that strange land. But I strongly believe that the strange land was the city of Midian, where Yitro lived. 
  
  In my opinion, since Yitro left his idolatrous practices, the locals were not friendly toward him, his daughters, or Moshe, who was caring for Yitro's flock. And since he was outside most of the time, he had plenty of face-to-face contact with the locals. 
  
  But I would also like to add that he was not only a stranger in the land but also a stranger in the family of Yitro. 
  
  When we are first introduced to Yitro in Shemot 2:18, it says, "they came to their father Reuel." Reuel means a friend of G-d. But not necessarily friendly to the son-in-law. When one comes to meet the future bride's parents, he finds them very religious and friendly. It is only after the wedding that he sees their true colors. Going forward, the Torah no longer uses the name Reuel; instead, it calls him Yitro. 
  
  With six daughters of marriageable age, I assume he had plenty of interesting moments with his brothers-in-law. 
  
  On the way to Moshe in the desert with Tzipporah and her two sons, Midrash Tanchuma says: "Said Yitro, I am here with your wife and two kids. If you will not come out to greet me, at least come to greet your wife. If you do not consider her worthy of your consideration, at least come to greet your two sons." (Hmm...)
  
  And here they are in the tent, everyone sitting around the table, and Moshe Rabbenu is serving everyone with dishes. What's wrong with it? The people who were present at the table - the elders, and Aharon, were stunned!! 
  
  In my opinion, it looks like Moshe had a tough life in the house of Yitro. He was raised as a prince, served as a king in the City of Cush, but in the house of Yitro, he served dishes.
  
  That is why G-d's name is used in the pasuk as "Name of Judgement"- Elokim. As if Hashem was saying to Moshe: Moshe, how can you do this? At least now DO NOT carry dishes in front of YOUR FATHER-IN-LAW and other people around this table. Through you, I have performed the 10 plaques in Egypt. Through you, I have punished Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Through you, I have parted the sea where the Jewish nation passed through it, and I drowned the Egyptians. Through you, with thunder and lighting I have given you the Torah. Through you, I give over the commandments and My teachings. You, I have raised and made almost as a god in the eyes of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. 
  
  And after all I have done for you, you feel it is okay to take a tray and serve people, as you have done in the house of Yitro?
  
  But again, what's wrong with it? 
  
  The elders who were sitting at the table, as is customary, talked. And they have done plenty of talking. At the time of the splitting of the sea, and plenty of efforts on Hashem's part, people finally believed in G-d and Moshe Rabbenu. But after this incident, his ratings dropped. He fell in the eyes of the Nation. The problems with Korach, Dathan, Aviram, and plenty of complaints flowed in throughout their forty-year journey.

  Yitro, his father-in-law heard and then saw that Moshe had risen to unbelievable heights. And simply by being present at the party, he had altered Moshe’s life path. 
  
  Reminds me of another incident in Parashat Vayetzeh 29:31: "וַיַּ֤רְא ה׳ כִּֽי־שְׂנוּאָ֣ה לֵאָ֔ה וַיִּפְתַּ֖ח אֶת־רַחְמָ֑הּ וְרָחֵ֖ל עֲקָרָֽה׃ - Seeing that Leah was unloved, G-d opened her womb; but Rachel was infertile." In all the books, Senuah Leah is translated as "Leah was unloved," but the literal translation is "Leah was hated." Yaakov Avinu did not like that Lavan switched the sisters, and instead of Rachel, whom he loved and for whom he had worked seven years, he got Leah. So he hated her, if I may say so, because Lavan did things his way, the way he wanted, the way he saw things should be done. Yaakov Avinu wanted only one wife, just like his father Yitzchak Avinu had, but he ended up with four, and all because of Lavan, his father-in-law.
  
  No wonder our Sages have made a custom for a groom to break a nice piece of glass on his wedding night. 
  
  In the fourteenth century, the author of Kol Bo offered the following explanation: The broken glass represents the wreckage of our past glory, and the destruction of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem in the first century. It recalls, at the most joyous and momentous occasion of the life cycle, that there is a continuing national sadness. It is a memory of Zion that reminds us that, in life, great joy can be cancelled by sudden grief. 
  
  But it can also mean the following: The sound of broken glass is a reminder to those around the groom and bride at the wedding. SMASH - to remind them how their ancestors have destroyed the ancient Temple in Jerusalem, and how they, the well-meaning in-laws and all those well-wishers, and not around the newlywed couple, may and definitely could destroy once again the new Temple that is about to be built by this new couple that just got married. 
  
  Shout-out to the well-meaning in-laws and all those well-wishers or not - how far have you gone in your efforts?!
  
  The sound of the broken glass - SMASH - means: Stay Out, Don't Get Involved. Mind Your Own Business. And only then does this new couple have a shot at creating their Temple - Bayit Ne'eman B'Yisrael, a Faithful Home in Israel.
  
  Kudos To All The Amazing In-Laws Out There..I Know You Exist!!
  

  Keep On Being AMAZING!!

  
  Shmuel Katanov

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• The “Borrowed” Treasures

  Jan 25, 2026 Admin 0 Comments

  Isn't it strange that Hashem is telling Moshe Rabbeinu to ask the nation to go and ask for gifts of silver and gold from the Egyptians?
  
  Parashat Bo, 11:2 it says: "דַּבֶּר־נָ֖א בְּאׇזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֑ם וְיִשְׁאֲל֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ מֵאֵ֣ת רֵעֵ֗הוּ וְאִשָּׁה֙ מֵאֵ֣ת רְעוּתָ֔הּ כְּלֵי־כֶ֖סֶף וּכְלֵ֥י זָהָֽב׃ - Tell the people to borrow, each man from his friend, and each woman from hers, objects of silver and gold."
  
  The Sages say that Hashem made a promise to Avraham Avinu, and He wants to keep His word. So, when the Jews ask the Egyptians, they will gladly give. 
  
  But I think there's much more hidden behind these words. So, please allow me to uncover what may be the reason for this odd request.
  
  In Parashat Lech Lecha, when Lot was taken captive, Avraham Avinu assembled a small army and went to free his nephew. After the battle of four against the five kings, Avraham Avinu was on the side of the winners. The victorious king made an offer to Avraham, in Lech Lecha 14:21: "וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־סְדֹ֖ם אֶל־אַבְרָ֑ם תֶּן־לִ֣י הַנֶּ֔פֶשׁ וְהָרְכֻ֖שׁ קַֽח־לָֽךְ׃ - Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people, and take the possessions for yourself."
  
  To which Avraham Avinu answered in Lech Lecha 14:23: "אִם־מִחוּט֙ וְעַ֣ד שְׂרֽוֹךְ־נַ֔עַל וְאִם־אֶקַּ֖ח מִכׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־לָ֑ךְ וְלֹ֣א תֹאמַ֔ר אֲנִ֖י הֶעֱשַׁ֥רְתִּי אֶת־אַבְרָֽם׃ - I will not take so much as a thread or a sandal strap of what is yours; you shall not say, It is I who made Avram rich." It seems like Avraham Avinu wants to attribute his success and wealth to only one source—Hashem, but here, I believe—if I may say so—an error was made.
  
  In Parashat Vayera, when the angels visited Avraham Avinu after he had made the Brit, one of the angels said that he had come to execute a judgment against the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. When they finished speaking with Avraham, they left and continued on with their task.
  
  In 18:23-33 it says: "וַיִּגַּ֥שׁ אַבְרָהָ֖ם וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הַאַ֣ף תִּסְפֶּ֔ה צַדִּ֖יק עִם־רָשָֽׁע׃ - Avraham came forward and said, Will You sweep away the innocent along with the guilty? אוּלַ֥י יֵ֛שׁ חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים צַדִּיקִ֖ם בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֑יר הַאַ֤ף תִּסְפֶּה֙ וְלֹא־תִשָּׂ֣א לַמָּק֔וֹם לְמַ֛עַן חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים הַצַּדִּיקִ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃ - What if there should be fifty innocent people within the city; will You then wipe out the place and not forgive it for the sake of the innocent fifty who are in it?" And so Avraham went down in numbers each time lowering it, all the way to 10. Hashem said that He would not destroy if He found ten righteous individuals in that city, and for their sake, he would not destroy other people. On this note, they parted.
  
  This story is located near the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, so many, attribute this conversation to that event, but if I may suggest, let's view this incident from a different angle.
  
  Let's imagine, for a second, that it's not about Sodom and Gomorrah, but rather about the generation that came out of Egypt. Avraham Avinu is a prophet, and he has realized that he made a mistake. When the King of Sodom offered him gold and silver, Avraham declined. But now he has realized that this was a huge mistake. 
  
  In Parashat Lech Lecha 15:13-14, it says: "וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאַבְרָ֗ם יָדֹ֨עַ תֵּדַ֜ע כִּי־גֵ֣ר ׀ יִהְיֶ֣ה זַרְעֲךָ֗ בְּאֶ֙רֶץ֙ לֹ֣א לָהֶ֔ם וַעֲבָד֖וּם וְעִנּ֣וּ אֹתָ֑ם אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָֽה׃  - And [God] said to Avram, "Know well that your offspring shall be strangers in a land not theirs, and they shall be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years; וְגַ֧ם אֶת־הַגּ֛וֹי אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲבֹ֖דוּ דָּ֣ן אָנֹ֑כִי וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵ֥ן יֵצְא֖וּ בִּרְכֻ֥שׁ גָּדֽוֹל׃ - but I will execute judgment on the nation they shall serve, and in the end they shall go free with great wealth." 
  
  And because Avraham Avinu had declined and did not take the wealth - gold and silver offered by the King of Sodom, which he had earned by fighting in a war, where warriors go through pain, blood, and death, and by the rules of war, the treasures taken from the enemy are called booty or spoils of war and are shared amongst the winners. Declining to take the spoils of war from the King of Sodom led Avraham Avinu's descendants to go down to the unknown land into slavery, and to also experience pain, blood, and death, and then be freed by Hashem, and only then bring out that great promised wealth - or "spoils" from the Land of Egypt. 
  
  Remember the discussion Avraham Avinu had with Hashem, where Hashem agreed to save the city if He found 10 worthy individuals? So, since Avraham Avinu's descendants had to go into exile, and later in Parashat Shelach, when the spies came back from Eretz Yisrael, Hashem didn't find the required 10 people out of the 12 spies to save the "city", since 10 spoke against the Land. Hashem did as He had promised - the fate of the men aged 20-60 in that generation or that "city" was decreed to be buried in the desert. 
  
  So, at this point, you may ask why such a harsh punishment for not taking gold and silver when the King of Sodom offered them to Avraham Avinu?
  
  Because Avraham Avinu was raised by a father who was a craftsman, who made idols from clay, wood, gold, and silver. Every day, he saw the influence the idols had on people who came to his father's store. He should have foreseen the consequences of not taking the gold and should have prevented it by taking the treasures when they were offered to him. Only he was able to raise them to the levels of holiness to serve Hashem, but since he declined them, those treasures were made into idols, which misled the population, and eventually led to the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. 
  
  That is why Moshe Rabbeinu asked people to get silver and gold from the Egyptians, and to bring the treasures out of Mitzrayim. In the desert, he has raised those treasures to the highest levels of holiness by making them into Holy items, such as the Mizbeakh, Mishkan, Menorah, and other Holy vessels, to serve G-d Almighty. And those objects were built from gold, silver, and other materials that the nation of Israel has earned, and paid for with pain, blood, and death. 
  
  Just like the Gemara in Masechet Berachot 5A says, Three things are acquired through hardship: The Next World, Torah, and Eretz Yisrael. And I will add that the above artifacts of such enormous proportions of holiness under Torah, which can't be acquired merely by money. They require national effort of sacrifice and suffering, and only then will Hashem's presence be found among the nation, when the Nation is molded as if one vessel through hardships, and at the end, together works toward one goal - to serve Hashem in holiness. 
  
  Part 2: The above is the story of how Moshe Rabbeinu elevated the treasures they brought out of Egypt to the level of holiness. However, there were other events throughout our history where gold was "used".
  
  - In Parashat Ki Tisa, people approached Aharon HaCohen and asked him to create for the nation an intermediary between Hashem and the people, because Moshe Rabbenu had delayed his return from the mountain. Aharon HaCohen asked them to bring him the golden earrings from their wives, thus trying to delay the time. When the wives rejected this idea, men wanted to expedite the process; so men gave their earrings - exactly those that they had gotten from the Egyptians, the ones they paid for with pain, suffering, and death - thus contributing to the sin of the Golden Calf and cheapening the national efforts of years of slavery and national sacrifice. 
  
  - Later, King Solomon tries to atone for it, or elevate the gold in the service of Hashem, where Moshe Rabbenu left off, due to the sin of the Golden Calf. We are told in the Book of Melachim 1 that King Solomon covered most of the First Bet Hamikdash with gold, along with most of its vessels. There's an opinion that about 1,086 talents, or about 34 tons of gold, were brought to Jerusalem from Ophir by King Solomon's workers. This amount of gold is estimated to have been about half of the world’s known gold supply at that time. The First Temple was the most beautiful building in the world in its time, as the House of G-d should be. But there was another problem. King Solomon had around 1000 wives, and for each of them, he built a palace that also required gold to make them feel "royally accepted" in society. So, each of the wives' palaces was also looking golden and sparkly. But later in life, due to his age, he lost control over his wives, and they began to worship their idols in each of their palaces, so the vast amount of gold of King Solomon was not elevated in holiness, and gold did not achieve its intended purpose, thus it was not atoned.
  
  So, where do we go from here? 
  
  We got another shot at it, and it is a Third Bet Hamikdash. According to one opinion, when the time comes, we will build the Third Temple under Mashiach's supervision. And this time, we will also use gold, and lots of it too. The Third Bet Hamikdash - The House of G-d will attract people from all over the world, according to Sefer Yeshayahu. It will be a magnificent structure and, most importantly, holy, built according to the Jewish Law. But why use so much gold on it, you may ask? Since the beauty of that scale and aggrandizement of this structure should elevate the Honor and Name of G-d ONLY. Because, if anyone deserves the praise and fanfare of that magnitude, that would be not us - the mere mortals, but only Him alone - Hashem, G-d Almighty!!
  
  So, at the end of the day, Mashiach would have previous experience working with gold and would find a way to atone and elevate the gold in the service of G-d.
  
  Part 3: But what do we do with the other gold? That same gold that Avraham Avinu didn't take as spoils from the King of Sodom. Since Avraham Avinu hasn't taken the spoils of war and others weren't able to atone for the gold, who will take it? Since its balance is there in Hashem's books marked as pending.
  
  This time Hashem will give this to Mashiach, as it says in the Book of Yeshayahu 53:12, "Therefore I shall give him a portion with many, and he shall split a booty with mighty ones. For he exposed himself to death and let himself be counted among the transgressors, whereas he bore the sins of many and prayed for the transgressors."
  
  Here, I should probably bid farewell and call it a day, since I believe the point is made. 
  
  But - this time, Today, let me ask you a question. 
  
  - "And he shall split booty with the mighty ones" - Why would Hashem give the spoils to Mashiach? What does it mean? How did he earn it? 
  
  - "For he exposed himself to death?" What is it talking about? It almost feels like somehow he mimicked Avraham Avinu, but how??
  
  - "...And let himself be counted among the transgressors" - This one is really puzzling...Why would he do that? Plenty of questions here...
  
  - And how about this one - "...He bore the sins of many and prayed for the transgressors" - Why would he pray for the sinners? 
  
  SOS!! Is anyone out there? 
  
  The above and many more missing pieces of the puzzle will be revealed to the selected few on That Day, hopefully sooner, with the help of the Mighty G-d. 
  
  Shmuel Katanov
  January 14, 2024

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• Yosef & “The Spies”

  Dec 17, 2025 Admin 0 Comments

  As always, what is about to follow is just my opinion, based on studying the Holy Books, and my understanding of the verses. With your permission, let’s get right to it.
  
  In Parashat Miketz 42:9 says: “Josef recalled the dreams that he had about them(the brothers). He said to them, "You are spies! You have come to see where the land is exposed."
  
  What just happened? Yosef HaTzaddik has accused his brothers of being spies, and I believe this is where a whole new story is being unfolded.
  
  The brothers denied the accusations. Later, they brought Benyamin, and eventually they all immigrated to Egypt with their families. One may think that the story is over.
  
  But hold on, Yosef HaTzaddik has made an accusation, do you think it’s all forgotten!? I believe this action has led to many events to unfold over the centuries. Please allow me to get a bit more specific. 
  
  Were the brothers spies? No, not at all. They entered Egypt through ten gates to find Yosef; later, they were caught in a bad neighborhood while looking for him. They had good intentions. 
  
  This begs the question: if you look at Jewish history, why has Hashem given us, their descendants, so much trouble over the centuries?
  
  Yosef had accused the brothers, but he was trying to make his dreams a reality, deliberately taking steps to bring about the events he had seen in his dreams.
  
  In the same way, when Miriam, out of concern for Tziporah, asked about Moshe Rabbenu, Hashem considered it as Lashon Hara and punished Miriam for this sin. Yosef HaTzaddik took it to the next level, knowing the future from his dreams, he tried to bring the events to fruition, made this one big plan, and accused his brothers.
  
  Watch now how Hashem will unfold the events from this point on… 
  
  In Parashat Shelach, the twelve tribes sent out an expedition to spy out the Land. It was a failed mission, since the majority came back and slandered the Land for which that generation had paid dearly. But when they asked for Hashem's permission to go into the Land, Hashem told them, "Send for yourself." An interesting way to answer.
  
  Ever since the sale of Yosef, the nation has felt its aftereffect—this event has always been on the nation’s conscience—something they have always wanted to fix.
  
  That's why Hashem said, "Send for yourself. He meant, send for your own good, definitely try to fix this sin, since this sin must be fixed, and this sin is not going anywhere, unless it is fixed. Let Me see how you will do it."
  
  The 12 people went to spy out the Land in order for Yosef’s words not to sound as an accusation. But the spies have failed to atone for this sin, and all the males aged 20-60 of that generation were punished. (Parashat Shelach)
  
  Now Hashem has taken upon Himself to cleanse the Nation of this sin. And so He begins…
  
  Centuries later, ten great sages were brutally tortured and executed by the Romans to atone for the sin of the brothers.
  
  But it is not enough.
  
  At that moment, it was also decreed that ten religious Jews will be murdered every year till the end of times, as it says in Yalkut Shimoni on Proverbs, as mentioned in the Book of Meam Lo'ez.
  
  But it is still not enough.
  
  The situation with Bar Kamtza was also an atonement for Yosef and the Brothers, which ended badly for everyone involved (Talmud, Taanit 19b, The Rejected Trio).
  
  But it is still not enough.
  
  Since the sin wasn't atoned through all these mentioned situations above, Hashem found a different way to fix it, please refer to the essay called: The Rejected Trio, where the members of the nation will be put through situations of infertility, and men dying early with no children, and then either Levirate Marriage or Khalitza process will take place, and all the pain and suffering that stem from all of these situations, will serve as an atonement of that sin.
  
  The above would be enough, you would think, but no.. Hold your horses, we are not done yet.
  
  Since then, over the centuries, Hashem has put the Jewish nation through many false accusations:
  
  - The death of Jesus, this belief, known as deicide, became a powerful justification for antisemitism.
  - In ancient times, Jews were often blamed for various societal issues, including plagues and economic troubles.
  - Blood Libel: Jews were falsely accused of murdering Christian children to use their blood in religious rituals. This myth led to violence and massacres.
  - Causing the Black Death: During the 14th-century plague, Jews were scapegoated and accused of poisoning wells, resulting in widespread persecution.
  - Economic Accusations: Excluded from many professions, Jews often became moneylenders, leading to stereotypes of greed and exploitation.
  - Conspiracy Theories: In the 19th and 20th centuries, Jews were often depicted as part of a global conspiracy to control governments and economies.
  - Zionism and Ani-Zionism: The establishment of the State of Israel led to accusations against Jews of being responsible for conflicts in the Middle East, often framed in antisemitic terms.
  
  And all the trouble above was because Yosef wanted the dreams to come true. 
  
  Each person is the head of a family-tribe, and just as Yosef and the brothers, these people put their children and descendants in harm’s way.
  
  Miriam talked about Moshe Rabbenu out of concern for Tziporah. Yosef accused the brothers because he was trying to bring the events of the dream to come about. And there we are, with our justifications, working daily on a man-made verbal mess. The mess that probably spread out of control for many, with daily consequences for the other parties to deal with.
  
  And only G-d stands by it all, and brings them and the descendants of the parties involved throughout the world, to the bitter situations they have themselves created, by simply talking.
  
  Makes one uneasy, doesn’t it?
  
  So..what have you been spreading lately?
  
  Shmuel Katanov
  
  

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