5 Lessons
Josephus' Jewish Sambatyon
Josephus hints to his people that even during the period in which non-Jews succeeded in forcing the Jews of Syria to work on the Sabbath, thus concealing the physical Sabbath River, they did not succeed in concealing the spiritual Sabbath River.
Rabbi Mordechai Hochman | Av 5767
The Ten Tribes Beyond the Sambatyon
The road from Babylon to the Land of Israel passes through Syria, and many of the returning exiles got stuck there, beyond the Sambatyon River. Though largely unobservant, they were protected from assimilation by the observance of the Sabbath.
Rabbi Mordechai Hochman | Iyar 5767
The Goats Brought Bears on their Horns
On being told that his goats were doing damage R' Hanina ben Dosa exclaimed, 'If this is true may bears devour them, but if not may each of them bring home a bear on its horns at evening.' In the evening each of them brought home a bear on its horns
Rabbi Mordechai Hochman | Tevet 5767
Nikanor, His Doors, and the Sea Creature
“All the gates in the Sanctuary were changed for golden ones with the exception of the Nikanor's because of the miracles wrought with them.” Nikanor provides the gate through which the redemption will come, and his two doors together are opened.
Rabbi Mordechai Hochman | 5766