SEPT 26, ‘25 // Bais Hamikdosh entered his heart, and pierced it through and through. He would not betray Hashem a second time. “It is enough that I angered my Creator once! I will not anger Him again!” The Romans tried to persuade him: “We will give you the right to collect taxes from Judea for three years!” Yosef refused. “It is enough that I angered my Creator once, I will not do it again!” They tortured him. He remained firm in his refusal. As they tormented him to death, he repented and screamed: “Woe, Woe that I have angered my Creator!” (Midrash Rabba) The traitors of Klal Yisroel. Cut through their hearts through and through and the angel will appear. Hashem loves them more than a father loves his only son born to him in his old age. (Bal Shem Tov) Yakum Ish Tzerroros was the nephew of the great Tanna Yosi ben Yoezer. Yakum was not an observant Jew (to put it mildly). One Shabbos he jumped onto his handsome horse, and went riding through the streets enjoying the sensation of power and pleasure. Suddenly he came face to face with his uncle, Yosi ben Yoezer. He was being led to his death by order of the Greek King Antiochus, for the crime of being a Torah Jew. Right beside the horse of Yakum Ish Tzrerroros, trotted another horse, loaded with long strong beam, from which he planned to hang Yosi Ben Yoezer. “Uncle,” Yakum called out with a sardonic smile, “look at the horse my master has given me, and look at the horse your master has given you!” Yossi ben Yoezer did not miss a beat. “If this is the fate of those that do His will, can you imagine the fate of those that don’t do His will?” The words of his uncle went deep into his heart and ate away at him with the venom of a snake. Yakum could find no peace. He was filled with regret and did teshuva with his entire being. As all his misdeeds came back to haunt him, he decided that only death can be a proper atonement. He thought it through carefully. According to the sins he had committed he deserved all four of the death – penalties of a Jewish court. He figured out a way how to perform Arba Misus Beis Din on himself, and died, with the teshuva in his heart a fully observant Jew. Yosi ben Yoezer was led to his death. In his final moments, he was shown a vision. He saw the bed of Yakum Ish Tzerroros flying through the air, and pronounced: “My nephew has proceeded me to Gan Eden!” The sinners of Klal Yisroel. Slice through their hearts and an angel will emerge. Hashem loves them more than we cherish the biggest tzaddik. (R’ Ahron Karliner.) When Yakov Avinu came to his father Yitzchok 168
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTY1MDA0