Tehilim for Yaakov Yosef, תהלים בשביל יעקוב יוסף

Our tears have already fallen for 4½ years, as we await the release of יעקב יוסף בן ריזל.

Our tears will continue to fall until our brother
יעקב יוסף comes home.

We don’t know what is holding up his transfer. We must beg the רבש"ע with our תפילות to overturn this גזירה.

Psalm for Thursday, תהלים ליום חמישי

9. Hearken, My people, and I shall admonish you, Israel, if you hearken to Me.

10. No strange god shall be within you, neither shall you prostrate yourself to a foreign god.

11. I am the Lord, your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I shall fill it.

12. But My people did not hearken to My voice, neither did Israel desire to [follow] Me.

13. So I let them go after their heart's fantasies; let them go in their counsels.

14. If only My people would hearken to Me, if Israel would go in My ways.

15. In a short time I would subdue their enemies and upon their enemies I would return My hand.

16. The enemies of the Lord would lie to Him, and their time would be forever.

17. Then He would feed them with the fat of wheat and I would sate you with honey from a rock.

Source: Tehilim 81

The Mufti, Haj al-Amin al-Husseini (Arafat's uncle) visited Rav Sonnenfeld, and said, "You are anti-Zionists and we are anti-Zionists. Why don't we work together?"

Rav Sonnenfeld's response: "We cannot work together. We hate what is goyish (non-Jewish) about the Zionists, while you hate what is Jewish about them."

Tel Aviv mayor: Jewish law would turn Israel into Iran

Ultra-Orthodox majority would turn Israel into fundamentalist state like Saudi Arabia, Tel Aviv Mayor Huldai says, insists that city will ultimately offer public transportation on Shabbat 

Oy, Zionists, Oy Tel Avivians, how long will you continue to rebel?

Please daven for Rephael Zakkai Avraham ben Yakira Avigael, רפאל זכאי אברהם בן יקירה אביגיל נא להתפלל בשביל

Please pray for one-year old, Rephael Zakkai Avraham ben Yakira Avigael


who is having a very complicated surgery Wednesday around 10:15 am in
Boston (expected to last around 4-5 hours) to remove an extensive tumor
from his spine (further surgery to remove more tumor from his aorta will
follow, b'ezras Hashem).

From CaringBridge.org:

(Hebrew name: Rephael Zakkai Avraham ben Yakira Avigael)

רפאל זכאי אברהם בן יקירה אביגיל

Thank you for visiting our website - please visit our Background Story to hear about our amazing and unique son. -Kira & Ariel Nurieli

Please Go to the site for the Journal, Guestbook, Photos and to make a donation to help Zakkai Nurieli. 

There is also a Resource for information on diseases.

Background Story

Zakkai Nurieli was born on 10/16/10, 8 Cheshvan 5771 at around 1:30AM.

He was a healthy baby, nursed well, grew well, and has brought joy and excitement to our lives.

On the second week of February 2012, the week after Tu B'Shevat 5772, he suddenly showed signs of his lower body slowing down - first he was tripping, then not walking, not standing, etc. Within a matter of days, his legs were virtually paralyzed. While the pediatrician didn't seem alarmed, thinking this was just a fluke-virus, we were sent to the ER to check what was going on.

A few hours and an MRI scan later, we were told that our son has cancer and the reason he stopped feeling his legs is that the tumor was pushing far on his spine. The part of the tumor that was putting pressure on him was removed in an incredibly successful surgery - within days he was walking (with assistance), pulling himself up to stand, and generally exhibiting remarkable resilience and mobility. But we sat waiting for 3 days to find out what this cancer is...

The news wasn't comforting: he has a unique case of myxoid chondrosarcoma - as far as we know, the only documented case of a baby with this cancer in the entire world. The plan of action? Uncertain. Nobody has ever seen this - no baby has ever had this. No doctor, no specialist, no facility has any experience on which we can rely.

This cancer is highly resistant to treatment and must be removed surgically... which is complicated - it lives right in his deep chest cavity - kissing his aorta and his bronchus and has already eaten into his upper spine and back muscles. A surgery with safe margins is impossible at this size/location. And chemo and other treatments may not shrink it away from his vital organs.

AND YET we are optimistic - there may be some indications that older children with this cancer had some response to high-doses of chemo. If chemo can shrink this cancer just a smidgen away from his organs, then it could be surgically removed.

We are praying and betting against the "odds"... we invite you to join us in hope and prayer and any other support that you may want to provide (for donations, please consider online donations to: Chai Lifeline, who have already been amazingly helpful, or our synagogue sisterhood at Anshei Shalom in West Hempstead - enough thanks cannot be expressed).

Please daven for Aharon ben Leah from the Toulouse tragedy, נא להתפלל עבור אהרון בן לאה מן הטרגדיה טולוז

Please pray for the recovery of Aharon ben Leah, the 15-year old boy who was injured in the Toulouse attack, and undergoing surgery.  Thanks.

Yaakov Yosef ben Razel in Japan (UPDATE)

Below is a report from Rabbi Aron Nezri on the status of Yaakov Yosef ben Reizel:

CHIBA, Japan – The saga of Yakov Yosef Grunwald may be nearing its end, as a letter from the Japanese Ministry of Justice indicates they will now go on to the final chapter and will shortly notify of the release date where he will be transferred to Israel to officially serve the remainder of his six-year sentence in Israel.

The latest communication from the Japanese chided Israel for not abiding by the prisoner transfer agreement with previous prisoners but indicated they will release Yakov Yosef shortly.

Basically, they are satisfied that everything is OK and they will now be dealing with the conclusion of this matter, and that they will, without giving any dates, decide on a timeline for collecting Yakov Yosef.

In the nine months since Yakov Yosef’s appeal was rejected in the High Court in May 2011, his askonim and legal team had been concerned that the lengthy stay indicated the Japanese were reluctant to release him before completing his two thirds of his sentence. But the Japanese missive explained that they were upset that Israel had released the youngest of the 3 bochurim before he even finished serving two thirds of his sentence as required by Israeli law, and in addition they miscalculated the sentences of previous transferred prisoners. Israel had discounted a third of all sentences, including the number of days the prisoner was supposed to serve in lieu of payment of a fine. That amounts to an extra day for every 10,000 Yen owed.

These extra days, called “working days” as opposed to the regular “serving days,” may not be discounted for good behavior, something Israel had been doing until now.

They asked Israel that from now on they should not do this anymore. Israel has as well in response sent an apology in relation to the release of the youngest of the three boys, Yossi, who was released before finishing his two thirds that has caused the major delay in transferring Yakov Yosef. Its is clear that Yakov Yosef was the one to pay a heavy price for that.

Japan has hinted broadly already in the past that they wanted Yakov Yosef to serve at least two thirds of his sentence in Japan before transferring him. That date will be reached on April 2, according to the most lenient interpretation of the law.

But the Japanese have no problem sticking toward that version. I now expect that during March they will send a final reply, and in that final reply they will tell the Israelis to come to collect him. That will be at the end of March or the beginning of April.” As we are now only a month before the end of Yakov Yosef's two thirds, on his arrival to Israel, Yakov Yosef will now not enter a prison at all, but instead will come immediately before a parole board where he will be released very shortly after. He will be kept under some sort of detention until the release has been ordered. This procedure will hopefully be rushed and completed in days.

The other two bachurim arrested together with Yakov Yosef are already back in Israel. Yossi Bando has been out on parole since Jan of 2011, and Yoel Zev Goldstein was acquitted in August.

Please continue to daven for Yakov Yosef ben Reizel for his quick and safe transfer back to home.

Join a massive tehillim tehillim tele-conference for ladies, this Sunday, February 5 at 9:00 p.m. Call 718-258-2008 option 9 selection 1 to participate. See attached document for details.

Yaakov Yosef ben Raizel, the name that has been on our lips, in our minds, hearts and tefillos, has been in prison for almost four years - 46 months. The image of a Japanese jail cell, the hunger, cold, loneliness and pain is one of intense fear for all of us. Yet, for one boy this is not an image, it is his reality, and it has been for so long. The Askonim involved, together with the support of Klal Yisroel worldwide, have moved heaven and earth trying to ease Yaakov Yosef’s living conditions as well as to expedite his transfer to Erets Yisroel. Unfortunately, the transfer is taking much longer than expected, due to Japan’s scrutiny of past prisoners’ transfer and the terms of their transfers. Before Japan releases Yaakov Yosef, the government is investigating Israel’s policies toward transferred prisoners. Every time the Japanese government sends a question to Israel, the Israeli government must research and answer the question, and this is a lengthy and tedious process. Yaakov Yosef’s bags are packed, his papers are processed and he is ready to leave at a moments notice. The continuous questions by the Japanese government are holding up the transfer. We, his brothers worldwide, can do what Yidden have done throughout the ages, to create a change across the world. By opening our hearts and davening for Yaakov Yosef, we can expedite his transfer. Please join the tehillim tele-conference for ladies this Sunday, Feb 5 at 9 pm. 

Please call 718-250-2008 option 9 selection 1.

May he see his yeshua soon.

Clouds of "morning" glory - ענני הכבוד "בוקר"

Tehilim 105:39. He spread out a cloud for shelter, and fire to illuminate the night.

One of the benefits of having NASA is to film one of the myriads of Hashem's glory over the universe.  And this is one of them.  Stretches of clouds that hover over parts of Australia, called the clouds of "morning glory."  I think they should rename it to "Clouds of G-d's Glory."

Here's some info about it:

Explanation: What causes these long, strange clouds? No one is sure. A rare type of cloud known as a Morning Glory cloud can stretch 1,000 kilometers long and occur at altitudes up to two kilometers high. Although similar roll clouds have been seen at specific places across the world, the ones over Burketown, Queensland Australia occur predictably every spring. Long, horizontal, circulating tubes of air might form when flowing, moist, cooling air encounters an inversion layer, an atmospheric layer where air temperature atypically increases with height. These tubes and surrounding air could cause dangerous turbulence for airplanes when clear. Morning Glory clouds can reportedly achieve an airspeed of 60 kilometers per hour over a surface with little discernible wind. Pictured above, photographer Mick Petroff photographed some Morning Glory clouds from his airplane near the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia.

Source: NASA 

Please daven for Ayelet Yakira Bas Chaya Hinda Matel Nechama, נא להתפלל בשביל איילת יקירה בת חיה הינדה מאתל נחמה

Please be mispallel for 2-year old Ayeles Yakira Bas Chaya Hinda Matel Nechama!  Thank you.

Forwarded message to Klal Yisrael:

Some of you may have heard of Ayelet Galena, daughter of Seth Galena (NYC) & Hindy Poupko (Montreal), the little girl who was diagnosed with a rare bone marrow failure and received a bone marrow transplant 103 days ago to be exact. There was some improvement in her condition recently, such that she was able to spend her 2nd birthday with family at her grandmother's home in Cincinnati last weekend. Since then, things took a turn for the worse and she is currently on a ventilator back in the ICU.

You can find her story here: http://ayeletgalena.tumblr.com/

Her family asks for immediate Tehillim for her: Ayelet Yakira Bas Chaya Hinda Matel Nechama

Wonders of Hashem, נפלאות ה'

Spectacular pictures of the Chilean Ash Cloud in June 2011 with colored lightning strikes.  The recent northeastern USA snow storm of this past Motzaei Shabbos (October 29, 2011) which affected millions with power outage, was also adorned with these colored lightning strikes of blue, red, and green lights. The wonders of Hashem.

Shabbat Shalom!

Psalm 91, תהלים 91

Chapter 91

This chapter, the second of the eleven Psalms attributed to Moshe Rabbenu, extols the good fortune of the "Yoshev Be'seter Elyon" – "he who dwells in the shelter of the Supreme One" (verse 1). The commentaries generally explain this as a reference to the pious Jew who devotes his life to the sincere service of his Creator, rather than to the endless pursuit of the vain pleasures of the world. Such a person places his trust in the Almighty, rather than in the less reliable sources of security, such as wealth and physical strength, and is rewarded with the special protection of the Almighty.

Moshe here lists numerous kinds of calamities from which such a person is spared, including enemy traps, disease, and even harmful spiritual forces. God is compared in this chapter to a "shield" and "armor" that covers the entire body (verse 4), such that even if thousands of people fall in battle around this individual, he will emerge unscathed (verse 7). This person is so assured of God's protection that he can even tread upon the openings of snake-holes without any fear or concern (verse 13).

This Psalm is traditionally recited on a number of occasions as part of the regular prayer services, including during Keri'at Shema Al Ha'mita – the nighttime Shema service. The inclusion of this chapter in the nighttime Shema is likely due to verse 5, which declares that under God's protection one need not fear the dangers that lurk in the nighttime darkness. More generally, this chapter as a whole conveys the message that a faithful servant of God does not experience fear during the "dark" periods of life, when one is beset by uncertainty and concern. Even in situations of danger and anxiety, he can feel confident in God's ability to help him overcome the obstacles he confronts and avoid the dangers that lurk all around him.

-- Daily Tehillim

For protection from other things, see the list at DailyTehillim.com.

Protection

A prayer for help against our enemies - Perek 123
A prayer for the end of all wars - Perek 46, 47
Against Evil Spirits - Perek 5
Before confronting an enemy - Perek 22
Before going to war - Perek 60
Faith in God to protect us from enemies - Perek 92
For peace with an enemy - Perek 28
For peace with enemies - Perek 110
For protection - Perek 91
For protection against a flood - Perek 24
For Protection Against Enemies - Perek 7, 9, 10, 35, 44, 50, 54, 74, 104, 109
For protection against sudden or unusual death - Perek 116
For protection at night - Perek 121
For protection during a war - Perek 83
For protection from a ferocious dog - Perek 58
For protection from a snake or scorpion - Perek 120
For protection from danger - Perek 11
For protection from enemies on the road - Perek 125
For protection from evil - Perek 36
For protection from evil people - Perek 11
For Protection from Gossip - Perek 38
For protection from Harm - Perek 119
For protection from the evil eye - Perek 31
For protection from thieves - Perek 18, 50
For protection from tragedy - Perek 13
For protection of a newborn child - Perek 127
For protection of the city or congregation - Perek 88
For success against enemies - Perek 94, 100
For the destruction of the enemies of our people - Perek 79
In praise of God for protecting our People from their enemies - Perek 129
In war - Perek 70
That our enemies receive what they deserve - Perek 55
To conquer a city - Perek 27
To put fear in the hearts of one's enemies - Perek 48, 53
When confronting wild animals - Perek 22

From the Tallest Mountain to the Deepest Ocean Trench, מן ההר הגבוה ביותר על התעלה האוקיינוס ​​העמוק ביותר

יג מַשְׁקֶה הָרִים מֵֽעֲלִיּוֹתָיו מִפְּרִי מַֽעֲשֶׂיךָ תִּשְׂבַּע הָאָֽרֶץ
13. He waters the mountains from his high abode; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your works!
כה זֶה | הַיָּם גָּדוֹל וּרְחַב יָדָיִם שָׁם רֶמֶשׂ וְאֵין מִסְפָּר חַיּוֹת קְטַנּוֹת עִם־גְּדֹלֽוֹת
25. So is this great and wide sea, where there are innumerable creeping things, living things, both small and great!
(Tehilim 104)

Source OurAmazingPlanet.com, Exploring the wonder and beauty of planet Earth through exclusive news, features and images.

Tehilim for Eretz Yisrael - Chapter 83, תהלים בשביל ארץ ישראל- פרק 83

The Artscroll Tehillim lists the following psalms to recite when the Land of Israel is in danger: 83, 130, and 142. This article focuses on Psalm 83, with an audio lecture at the end.

א שִׁיר מִזְמוֹר לְאָסָף.
ב אֱלֹהִים אַל-דֳּמִי-לָךְ; אַל-תֶּחֱרַשׁ וְאַל-תִּשְׁקֹט אֵל.
ג כִּי-הִנֵּה אוֹיְבֶיךָ, יֶהֱמָיוּן; וּמְשַׂנְאֶיךָ, נָשְׂאוּ רֹאשׁ.
ד עַל-עַמְּךָ, יַעֲרִימוּ סוֹד; וְיִתְיָעֲצוּ, עַל-צְפוּנֶיךָ.
ה אָמְרוּ--לְכוּ, וְנַכְחִידֵם מִגּוֹי; וְלֹא-יִזָּכֵר שֵׁם-יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹד.
ו כִּי נוֹעֲצוּ לֵב יַחְדָּו; עָלֶיךָ, בְּרִית יִכְרֹתוּ.
ז אָהֳלֵי אֱדוֹם, וְיִשְׁמְעֵאלִים; מוֹאָב וְהַגְרִים.
ח גְּבָל וְעַמּוֹן, וַעֲמָלֵק; פְּלֶשֶׁת, עִם-יֹשְׁבֵי צוֹר.
ט גַּם-אַשּׁוּר, נִלְוָה עִמָּם; הָיוּ זְרוֹעַ לִבְנֵי-לוֹט סֶלָה.
י עֲשֵׂה-לָהֶם כְּמִדְיָן; כְּסִיסְרָא כְיָבִין, בְּנַחַל קִישׁוֹן.
יא נִשְׁמְדוּ בְעֵין-דֹּאר; הָיוּ דֹּמֶן, לָאֲדָמָה.
יב שִׁיתֵמוֹ נְדִיבֵימוֹ, כְּעֹרֵב וְכִזְאֵב; וּכְזֶבַח וּכְצַלְמֻנָּע, כָּל-נְסִיכֵימוֹ.
יג אֲשֶׁר אָמְרוּ, נִירְשָׁה לָּנוּ-- אֵת, נְאוֹת אֱלֹהִים.
יד אֱלֹהַי, שִׁיתֵמוֹ כַגַּלְגַּל; כְּקַשׁ, לִפְנֵי-רוּחַ.
טו כְּאֵשׁ תִּבְעַר-יָעַר; וּכְלֶהָבָה, תְּלַהֵט הָרִים.
טז כֵּן, תִּרְדְּפֵם בְּסַעֲרֶךָ; וּבְסוּפָתְךָ תְבַהֲלֵם.
יז מַלֵּא פְנֵיהֶם קָלוֹן; וִיבַקְשׁוּ שִׁמְךָ יְהוָה.
יח יֵבֹשׁוּ וְיִבָּהֲלוּ עֲדֵי-עַד; וְיַחְפְּרוּ וְיֹאבֵדוּ.
יט וְיֵדְעוּ-- כִּי-אַתָּה שִׁמְךָ יְהוָה לְבַדֶּךָ: עֶלְיוֹן, עַל-כָּל-הָאָרֶץ

1. A Song Psalm of Asaph.
2. Do not keep silent, O God; do not hold your peace and be still, O God.
3. For, behold, your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate you have lifted up the head.
4. They have taken crafty counsel against your people, and consulted against your hidden ones.
5. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may no longer be remembered.
6. For they conspire together with one accord; they make an alliance against you:.
7. The tents of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarites;.
8. Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;.
9. Assyria also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah.
10. Do to them as you did to the Midianites; as you did to Sisera, as you did to Jabin at the brook of Kishon;.
11. Who perished at Ein-Dor; they became like dung on the earth.
12. Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb; and all their princes like Zebah, and Zalmunna;.
13. Who said, Let us take possession for ourselves of the pastures of God.
14. O my God, make them like whirling tumbleweed, like chaff before the wind.
15. As the fire burns a wood, and as the flame sets the mountains on fire;.
16. So pursue them with your tempest, and terrify them with your storm.
17. Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek your name, O Lord.
18. Let them be put to shame and dismayed for ever; and let them be put to shame, and perish,.
19. That men may know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the most high over all the earth.

The Shortest Psalm

The shortest chapter in Tehillim (Psalms) compiled by Dovid Hamelech, a"h, zt"l, consists of only two verses, and can be found in Chapter 117. It is appropriate for the messianic age, may that be soon, where all peoples acknowledge only Hashem.  How wonderful and amazing that would be.  Where idolatry will be a thing of the past.  Where truth will be so clear to everyone.  Where Hashem will be exalted by everyone and this will call for a true celebration. It is recited as part of Hallel, a collection of chapters 113-118.

א הַלְלוּ אֶת-יקוק כָּל-גּוֹיִם שַׁבְּחוּהוּ כָּל-הָאֻמִּים

ב כִּי גָבַר עָלֵינוּ חַסְדּוֹ וֶאֱמֶת-יקוק לְעוֹלָם הַלְלוּקָהּ

Praise Hashem, all nations, extol Him, all peoples
For His Kindness overwhelmed us, and Hashem's truth is forever
Praise G-d!