Trump & Yesod ShebeYesod

We all know who's coming to Israel tomorrow. To Jerusalem no less.

I saw someone message my wife earlier today that she was going to Kever Yosef tonight and it hit me that tonight is yesod she'beyesod. Which is Yosef's day.

For those who are not familiar, yesod is the aspect of Yosef Hatzadik - the tzadik yesod olam. Yesod of Yesod is the concentration of that power (just as Lag b'omer is the concentration of the power of Hod - Hod of Hod). The power of the Tzadik is in controlling his passions - hence Yosef's overcoming the temptation of Potifar's wife. His control over his passions gives him dominion over the world - Egypt of that time; and, of course, the Jewish people.

How ironic that the president of the US, who is arguably a perfect example of the opposite of this mastery (by his own admission - see his books) - would come to Israel on that very day of Yosef's power! And of all places, come to Jerusalem, which is the Yesod of the world!

The Yesod is the point that connects the male and female aspects, and in a cosmic sense, Jerusalem is the point that connects the Heavenly spheres (male) to the Earthly spheres (female).

I can not say that I fathom the significance of this, but it is surely remarkable and noteworthy.

Let us all continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Amen.

Vayishlach - Distorted Reflections

Why are the three locations that the midrash says clearly belong to the Jewish people all currently being claimed by the Arabs? When we do not understand a word in Hebrew, why do we turn to other languages to understand that word? What is the significance of the city of Shechem? Why is it given to Joseph? What is the significance of its numerical value of 360? Why does the story there revolve around an issue of connection between male and female? Why does the Torah stress that Jacob came there first on his way into Israel? Why does he buy property there?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 25:58

Yosef & Yesh Tikvah

It was recently that I remembered that two different important events for me were connected. In 2011, I was zoche to visit Kever Yosef three times. The last time I went was on December 27, 2011, which was Rosh Chodesh Teves. Here's a little clip from that day.

It was exactly two weeks later at the very middle of the month of Teves that I composed and wrote the first draft of the song "Yesh Tikvah." Looking back, it feels like they are connected. The idea of being in darkness and facing it with faith and the knowledge that there is hope is certainly what Yosef represents to me.

As we have watched Kever Yosef be a point of destruction and rebuilding over and over, it must serve as a source of chizzuk for us that we will rise from all the challenges, and the very difficulties themselves will build a greater future for us.

Here's a video from Arutz 7 of the rebuilding of Kever Yosef after the recent destruction.

Kever Yosef

I merited to be one of many visiting Kever Yosef tonight. Here are two pictures from my trip. (The shine is a reflective jacket.) I found it interesting that the jpost writes about the murder in Shechem during Pesach and talks about tonight's visit. It seems clear to me that the death on the sixth day of Pesach created a new reality where the Jewish people have new access to Yosef. It is a very positive sign for Moshiach ben Yosef.