We learnt two things about the nature of Esav, his vocation was hunting, and he loved the great outdoors.

The great Gaon of Vilna offers a most fascinating alternative interpretation of this verse.

The Mishna refers to a creature known as the אדני השדה — Adnei HaSadeh, that grows with a large cord that comes out of the ground, similar to the cord of squash and pumpkins, its form is like the form of a man in everything — in the face, the body, the hands and the feet — and it is connected to the cord from its navel. And no creature can approach the cord’s length, since it grazes around it like the length of the cord, and it devours all that it can reach. And when they come to hunt it, they shoot arrows into its cord, until it is separated, and [then] it dies immediately. (כלאים ח ה, חינוך תקי”ב)

The Gaon asserts that the איש השדה — ‘the man of the field’ mentioned in the earlier verse is not referring to Esav but to this anthropomorphous beast of the field.

The verse should be read as describing Esav as a talented hunter who succeeded in capturing the איש השדה — this dangerous, tethered to the ground, creature who inhabits the field.

Despite this enthralling account, why is this specific detail relevant?

The Torah was seemingly seeking to contrast the tent-dwelling Yaakov the Yeshiva student, with his wild brother the hunter, providing the background to understand Esav’s disinterest for a spiritual life, and was thus more than happy to relinquish his birthright for an enticing bowl of red lentils.

Why would the Torah portray this conquest among the numerous other beasts he had certainly hunted in the wild?

Why would G-d create such a mysterious quasi-human attached to the ground by an umbilical cord in the first place?

The great 18th century mystic, Rav Eliyahu HaKohen Itamar of Izmir, addressed this question and suggests it was done to serve as evidence of Creation’s account of man being formed from earth into a living being, that many thought was preposterous.

Rav Chaim Vital, the prized disciple of the Arizal, teaches that within creation there are four general strata — Mineral, Plant, Animal and Human. G-d created bridges between each of these classes.

Coral, though stony like, grows like a plant. Sea sponges are anchored in the seabed, yet possess cellular structure like animals, and reproduce sexually. The Adnei HaSadeh, though tethered to earth, have human features.

The Sefer HaIkarim adds the most critical component that gives meaning to these observations. (מאמר שלישי)

G-d created a world where there is a thread that connects the varied strata of nature, to teach us that our purpose is to strive higher and higher up that ladder of connectivity, from down here on terra firma until we reach the source of it all, the כסא הכבוד — Throne of Honor, from where our souls all stem from.

Esav, the ‘man of the field’, who had been exposed to his family of strivers, sought to distract himself from any consciousness of this goal by stimulating his mind, senses, and passion by pursuing an adventurous and exciting life outside the ‘tent’, sating his palate with the cornucopia of corporeal pleasures it offered.  

There was one challenge that niggled at his core.

The אדני השדה — the humanlike creature tethered to the ground, was a constant reminder of the need to elevate oneself beyond the natural world.

He realized that in truth anyone who is bound to earth alone, without a higher aspiration towards the spiritual and a life of meaning, is no different than Adnei HaSadeh. We just have a larger tether, that is nevertheless limited to the restrictions of what a physical realm can possibly provide.

Esav’s archenemy was the pangs of consciousness this pest prodded. The Torah specifically highlighted this one aspect of his life that revealed for us the depths of his negative attitude for spiritual growth.

In Mishlei, Shlomo Hamelech assures if one pursues wisdom and a heightened awareness of G-d, ‘ It shall be health, לשרך — to thy navel, ושקוי — and marrow, to thy bones.’ (3 8)

The navel, the sealed remnant of the umbilical cord that sustained us during gestation, somehow represents the total of our body’s health, together with the marrow, the tissue that occupies the hollow of our bones that is critical to blood production and immunity.  

There is another ‘navel’ that is critical for our soul’s health.

Man was created from the earth scooped from Mount Moriah, from the location of the Holy Temple, from the geographical known as טבורו של עולם — the navel of the universe.

The navel is the centerpoint of our body, just as the land of Israel; the city of Yerushalayim; the Holy of Holies, are the central points of the universe.

It is the point in our bodies that we are formed from and develop.

The אבן שתיה — the Foundation Stone upon which the Holy Ark was placed, that protrudes slightly, the point from which the world expanded from, was taken from beneath G-d’s throne, from which all our souls are anchored in.

One focuses on the physical miracle of our existence, the other aims to concentrate on the purity of our souls that are rooted upon high.

A young embryo possesses stem cells.  Stem cells are the body’s ‘master cells.’ They are the building blocks of all organs, tissues, blood and the immune system. These stem cells exist within the umbilical cord as well.

Although these represent the very nucleus of our physical being, there is a more significant ‘stem cell.’ That which we connect through an invisible but very real umbilical cord that wends through the Temple leading up to the Heavenly Throne, the starting point from which all else develops so superbly.

That is what the verse in Mishlei speaks of. If we plug in to the higher realm, the physical too will follow naturally.

Are we ‘men of the field’, drawing our energy from the limited life a physical world has to offer, or are we ready to tether ourselves to the source of all life, G-d, where the possibilities are endless?

The Baal HaTanya expounds on this in his Igeres HaTeshuva (5) where he writes:

This is the meaning of the verse, “For people is a part of G‑d;Yaakov is the חבל — rope of His inheritance.”(דברים לב ט)

The analogy is of a rope, whose upper end is bound above and the lower end below; so, too, the “upper end” of the soul is “bound Above,” and its “lower end” is enclothed within the body.

The gematriya of this mythical creature, the אדני השדה, is equivalent to the name of עשו, adding the number of letters in his name, 379!

May we untether ourselves from the connection to ‘earth’ and link to the highest source above, in the image of Yaakov, assuring good health and growth for many long years ahead!

באהבה,

צבי יהודה טייכמאן

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The Mepharshim have a variety of ideas to deal with this profound dillemma – the wells were spiritual conduits cultivated by Avraham (something they wanted nothing to do with), Avraham had named the wells with names to cause people to think of Hashem – hence Yitzchak restored their names, and many more ideas of the significance of the wells. I will add on to the plethora of thoughts.

A few years ago, one player in the National Football League decided to protest the horrific plight of African Americans in the United States by kneeling during the Star Spangled Banner. This led to many other of his fellow multi-millionaire players to similarly protest their “suffering” by kneeling as well. This began a very difficult to fathom pattern of behavior. Next came the slogan “Black Lives Matter”. Of course they mattered so much that the movement was marked by rioting, destroying black owned as well as White and Korean owned businesses. And then “Defund the Police”. Of course to bold the point, serious upticks in Black on Black murders followed in cities across America. And then, just when we thought this was just a prelude to violence, came the erasures. Statues depicting historical figures from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars were toppled and defaced – not just pro-slavery statues but even the statues of those who fought to free the slaves. Cities, under threats of violence or worse loss of votes, renamed streets and theaters that had any connection to historical figures, regardless of what side they had been on. Of course none of this helped the poor, the homeless or lesser fortunate but it did enrich a select few who led the movement and made off with all the monies raised and donated to this worthwhile cause.

But why these steps? Why the toppling of historical statues? Why demanding the renaming of streets and landmarks? In October of 2022, From throwing soup across Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and Vermeer’s ,The Girl With the Pearl Earing, Just Stop Oil activists have targeted artworks at some of the worlds most renowned galleries. On November 15, 2022 Environmentalists in Vienna deface Gustav Klimt’s ‘Death and Life’ painting with black oily liquid. None of these acts of vandalism accomplished much other than making some realize that most “climate activists”.are certifiable and worthy of being laughed at¹ but they did do something. They were acts or erasure, destroying something from the past. Something revered and loved by many. Something of value.

Nothing was more fundamental to world culture for 5,000 years than belief in a deity. Avraham had re-familiarized everyone with the belief in a single G-d. The theory of Evolution wouldn’t even show up in the world lexicon for another 3,500 years after Avraham. It was a common staple among the world’s peoples. Whether it was Christianity, Islam or Sun Worship, people believed in a higher power. And that had some impact on their behavior and produced a base line of morality.

Erasing history allows a restart. A restart for a world not based on Judeo – Christian values. Overturning the only definition of marriage that ever existed. Rejecting the one absolute incontrovertible scientific, biological fact that there are only two genders. Is it a coincidence that all of this coincides with radical increases in violent crime, lawlessness in cities across the country and a “secure border” which had 2 million people streaming across annually until two years ago, some of whom were on terrorist watch lists and others importing deadly drugs for our children’s consumption. I think not. In the world of George Soros and many extremists, this is in fact the goal. A restart without those pesky values.

The P’lishtim were the first to try this. We don’t care how valuable the wells are – Avraham dug them. They have spiritual roots. We must get rid of them. Even if it costs us a valuable resource. Erasing history has always been about rejecting G-d. But Yitzchak came to restore them. As the Bnei Yisroel, our task is the same. To restore some sense of morality and decency to a troubled world. Just as our forefather Yitzchak took it upon himself.

Dovid Fink

1 – Personally, I believe that caring for the planet is a Torah concept. No one should take liberties with harming our planet or defacing it with pollutants. But make no mistake, that is not what the current climate nuts are about. These are the same people who in the 1970’s started spreading fear about the coming of another ice age. Then in the 80’s it was “acid rain”.  The people shouting the loudest have enriched themselves while they fly their private jets to climate conferences. They ignore data which in fact does show a cooling taking place in certain time frames like 2015 to 2025 Instead of admitting that they don’t have any idea what they are talking about, they simply pivot from “Global Warming” concerns to “Climate Change” fears. Clever indeed. And it keeps the money rolling in.

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The levaya took place on Thursday, November 12, at 1:00 PM at Chevra Ahavas Chesed, 9700 Liberty Rd Randallstown MD 21133.

Kevura will took place at Chevra Ahavas Chesed, 9700 Liberty Rd Randallstown MD 21133.

Shiva Information:

Shiva will be observed at 6304 Apollo Dr.

Visiting hours: Fran is only sitting shiva in Baltimore 11/12/2026 from 4-10pm. She returns to Elizabeth NJ on 11/13/2026. Sander is sitting shiva in Baltimore until 11/15 abd returns to Canada.

The family will get up from shiva on Wednesday, November 18.

Full shiva details and updates on the Nichum Aveilim page

.בלע המות לנצח ומחה ה׳ דמעה מעל כל פנים

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The weapon, formally known as the Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or MOAB, is the largest non-nuclear weapon in the US arsenal. It weighs more than 30,000 pounds and was used by the US military in 2017 against an Islamic State cave complex in Afghanistan.

A Pentagon mentioned that the Defense Department plans for “a wide range of operational scenarios” to carry out presidential and defense secretary-level orders and ensure the success of military missions.

The White House did not confirm that the plans exist, saying it does not comment on sensitive military plans. A spokesperson said Trump “keeps all options on the table” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

The reported preparations come as tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high. Trump has warned that the conflict could escalate if he cannot reach an agreement with Iran, while the United States has continued military operations targeting Iranian capabilities.

Trump has also raised the possibility of strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, including the deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain site, which analysts believe could be connected to Iran’s nuclear program.

The US and Iran have largely avoided direct attacks against each other in recent weeks following months of US strikes on Iranian targets. However, the Trump administration continues to prepare military options as it seeks to pressure Tehran over its nuclear program.

This article was independently written by the BJL Newsroom based on reporting from CBS News

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Join NWCP for an important evening with elected officials, including Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman, State’s Attorney Ivan Bates, State Senator Shelly Hettleman, member-elect to the State Senate, Malcolm Ruff, and law enforcement leadership.

🤝 Build relationships with the officials we count on when our community needs them most.

A strong turnout sends a powerful message: Baltimore’s Jewish community is united, engaged, and committed to its safety and future.

Rav Yaakov Hopfer, shlit”a:
“This is a very important community event. I urge everyone to attend.”

📅 Motzei Shabbos, November 21 | 8 PM
📍 Congregation Shomrei Emunah
🍽️ Elegant dairy buffet | $75 per person

Your presence matters. Please make every effort to attend!

📞 410-664-6927 ext. 8
🌐 https://nwcp.info

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The shul in the central Netherlands opened in 1727 and is described as the oldest Ashkenazi synagogue in Western Europe still in use. The museum had been planning the exhibition for five years, and it was scheduled to open in early 2027.

On November 4, Paul Baltus, director of Amersfoort in C, which oversees Museum Amersfoort and other city cultural institutions, called off the exhibition. The report says his reference to pressure pointed to possible confrontations by pro-Palestinian activists.

“As a small and vulnerable organization, I do not want to expose my staff to that kind of pressure,” Baltus said. “Since then, the social climate has changed significantly.” He said security guards and cameras were possible, but “the reality is that our volunteers would still have to deal with a range of reactions.”

The same day, Mayor Lucas Bolsius told the City Council that the decision “has caused considerable pain within the Jewish community” and that the city would seek talks “to ensure that the exhibition can proceed.” After a meeting on November 5, Bolsius and Baltus announced on November 6 that they would work toward a solution. The mayor said help had been offered by the city, the national government and others.

Baltus offered to contribute the museum’s Jewish artifacts and expertise to an exhibition at the synagogue and to add the shul’s history to the museum’s permanent Amersfoort exhibit. The mayor has not guaranteed that the exhibition will open as planned.

Jewish leaders welcomed the mayor’s involvement but criticized the museum.

“We think it is ridiculous that a museum in a city doesn’t want to have an exhibition about a 300-year-old synagogue,” said Hans Weijel, vice chairman of the CJO, the Dutch Jewish umbrella group. “The conflict is in the Middle East, not here.”

Emile Schrijver, director-general of Amsterdam’s Jewish Cultural Quarter, said the museum did not consult the Jewish community first. “The moment you make Jewish history dependent on what is happening in the Middle East,” he said, “you are making Jewish existence conditional.”

About 40,000 Jews live in the Netherlands.

Independently written by the BJL Newsroom based on reporting from The Jerusalem Post and Jewish-Heritage-Europe.

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Following the main 10:30 AM state observance, local Jewish veterans and community members came together at Noon for a gathering that highlighted the enduring bonds of military and faith.

The midday service was a collaborative effort led by Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum of the Jewish Uniformed Services Association of Maryland (JUSA) Chabad and Dan Berkovitz, Commander of the Maryland Free State Post 167 of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA (JWV). Standing among the quiet rows of white marble markers, the leadership brought a profound sense of Jewish tradition and communal support to the national holiday.

Local leaders also stepped forward to express their gratitude. Maryland State Delegate Jon Cardin and Baltimore County’s Jonathan Schwartz each shared heartfelt remarks, emphasizing the community’s unwavering appreciation for the sacrifices made by military families and the importance of ensuring veterans are supported long after they return home.

The most powerful moments of the gathering, however, belonged to the veterans themselves. In a moving departure from standard ceremonial speeches, the floor was opened for veterans to share who they were carrying in their thoughts and prayers. One by one, men and women spoke the names of fallen comrades, childhood friends, and family members who had worn the uniform. Hearing these personal stories brought a stark, human reality to the day, shifting the focus from historical dates to the faces and memories that these veterans carry with them every day.

To honor those memories, the gathering united in prayer. Rabbi Tenenbaum led the recitation of the Kel Maleh Rachamim, the traditional prayer for the souls of the departed, its ancient melody echoing across the peaceful grounds. This was followed by a collective recitation of the Mourner’s Kaddish, a powerful affirmation of life and peace in the face of loss.

As the crowd dispersed into the Wednesday afternoon, the lingering sentiment was one of profound connection. Through the combined efforts of JUSA, JWV Post 167, and the willingness of local veterans to share their stories, Veterans Day at Garrison Forest was not just a date on the calendar, but a living, breathing testament to those who served and the community that remembers them.

Finally, a Vietnam Veteran and Retired Navy Captain put tefillin in honor of the Day. Yasher koach.

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