Cooking from Scratch

 HH

Saba Yisroel's wife, Esther (Mindel) was a true woman of valor, her father beat her trying to persuade her to demand a divorce, but she was obstinate in her loyalty to Saba. They were destitute, and they lived through times of famine when it is estimated that at third of the population of Israel succumbed to starvation, disease, and extermination by the ruling Turks and the local arabs. This did not deter Saba from bringing home guests to feed, in addition to his large family. Esther was a master of conjuring up food, delicious food without any budget. She would get the fish heads from the fish market for free, and she knew how to maximize whatever meat was left on them to make delicious soup. She also had different delicious recipes for mallow - khobiza in Arabic - a wild grass, which she was able to gather from open fields, and once an arab confronted them saying that it was his field, and so they got permission from him, and from then on specifically gathered from that field.

One time Saba brought some guests, and before he entered the house, he went in and asked his wife, saying that he came across some people who were stranded with nothing to eat, would it be alright for him to bring them - not telling her that they were waiting by the front door. Esther said certainly. Saba said, are you sure, how will you come up with food for them. Esther said she had a fish or two, and she could cut in half, and then there is the other side, and then in half... so Saba went to the door and let them in.

She was also an excellent seamstress and made her own clothes.

One time on the anniversary of passing of Esther, Saba told Sharon T. that he must honor and be grateful to his righteous wife saying - you owe her your life, because everything I merited was in her merit, and without her, you would not have me. You must honor her as you would your own mother.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman

Yartzeit (anniversary of death) of Nachman Shabsai (Reuvain) ben Tzadok (who passed away this year) and Giula - post from 7/6/10

HH

**** there's a great picture of him on the Hebrew na-nach.net ****

At the azkara (remembrance) last night, some guy named Baruch told over a few stories about N”S.
Once there were a group of guys in Uman by Rabbainu and it was erev Pesach midday and they didn’t have anything for Pesach and they weren’t at all prepared either. The atmosphere was very depressing, until N”S walked in and promised them that they would have 100 kilo of meat, x amount of chickens, x kilos of Matzo etc., new clothing from head to foot etc.. This guy Baruch asserts that before sunset all had been fulfilled, he was there.
Baruch says that in that time period in Uman they often had very little food and N”S would always reassure them that all would be well.
Baruch also told over, I couldn’t hear so well but this is the upshot, that N”S promised him that he would get married that year, Baruch went through some difficult times, N”S came to him in a dream and told him because Baruch had believed him he would in fact get married that year, and so it happened . [it could be that N”S came to him in a dream after the engagement, and told him…].
Nachman Shabsai would frequently tell people, תחשוב טוב יהיה טוב – think good and it will be good.
Someone at my table told me a very typical and common story that happened with him. He was in Meron as his custom to go for 21 days every year for Lag BuOmer. N”S asked him if he could take him to the Maayan (spring) of Shmaya ViAvtalyon, this guy replied that he didn’t have a car, N”S told him don’t worry there will be a car, and just then someone pulled up and asked them if they wanted a ride to the Maayan.


Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman!

Nachman Shabsai OB"M - post from 7/28/09

HH

There are amazing stories about Nachman Shabsai that I heard, they are trying to write them down and make a book B"H.

First I would like to remind you of a previous post, that during the week of the mourning for N"S the Daf Yomi spent 4 days learning about very very holy tzadikim who were extremely fat (Bava Metzia 83b - 86 see Tosfos there).

Here is one story:

   During Sfiras Hu-Omer (if I recall correctly) N"S was hospitalized. He had many many visitors to the extent that minyanim would convene prayers there and eventually the hospital refused to put up with them. One person told me that when he arrived at the hospital to visit N"S and asked the nurse where to find him, the nurse knew his room number by heart, and asked, "what is he some type of admu"r?" An arab man who was in the hospital told one of my friends that he had been prepared to commit suicide until N"S talked him out of it. A few similar amazing tidbits come to mind, maybe I"ll be zoche to write them later.

   The hospital put him on a diet of: cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese, water (and maybe one other thing). Once he asked my friend M"O to get him some wafers, Mordichai told him that N"S had to keep his diet, N"S told M"S: you think I need you to get wafers, Hashem Yisborach can get them for me a different way. Shortly afterwards and arab youth was walking by - eating wafers. N"S asked him if he could have some, without a word the boy walked over and gave N"S the whole bag.

    Later, in middle of the night, a nurse saw the empty bag of wafers near N"S and berated and rebuked him for not keeping his diet. N"S told her that he need lafah (something similar to schwarma) the nurse told him that he was crazy, how was he going to get lafa in middle of the night. N"S told her that H"Y was able to do everything. Just then the phone rang it was an American friend asking if he could come visit. N"S told him for sure, and to bring some lafa, the friend arrived with the lafa and 100 shekel for N"S.

another story:

   N"S once got on a bus and sat in the back. He started complaining that he was hungry, famished. People were disgusted, slowly they left the back of the bus and made their way to the front. One woman began yelling at N"S how dispicable he was, that he should go on a diet.... N"S took it all quietly as the woman let it all out. Before N"S got off the bus N"S began to bless the woman with blessing after blessing....

another story:

   Once at a chasuna (there's a whole story how he got there but I don't remember it well enought to write down, it's something like taking a "special" taxi from Yerushalayim to Beis Shemesh even though he hadn't any money, when they arrived they quickly got the money, M"O who was with him also raised 200 shekel and found that N"S had already paid, N"S took 100 from M"S and gave it to someone as charity (he supported many people and often gave all his money to charity)) he was told that a few feet away there was a free bus that would take him home. N"S said H"Y is everywhere and that he didn't have to budge. In the end someone pulled up right next to N"S and drove him home to the door.

these are just some of many stories that I have recently heard.

Great blessings of Na Nach Nachmu Nachman Meuman!

Daniel

HH

Recently I had the merit of reading the holy book of Daniel with the commentary of Rabbi Moshe Dovid Walli (an elder contemporary and student of the Ramchal) and B"H there are a few amazing things that really stick out. The most amazing and point that struck home, very very strong and profound, was how Daniel merited to everything through fear of Heaven (especially his adamant resolve not to eat non-kosher food, nor even food cooked by a gentile, even at the risk of his life)  and prayer. Daniel merited to Divine Knowledge and Divine Inspiration, and his wisdom far surpassed all the wise men in the world - Rabbi Nachman revealed that Daniel tamed the lions in their den he was thrown into by means of his absolute knowledge of their nature and creation. Daniel is called Eesh Chamudos - The Man of Charisma, and the most powerful King Nevuchadnetzar bowed down to him and offered sacrifices before him, recognizing that HY was mamash inside of him. And all of this Daniel attained through prayer to Hashem!

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

Ketchup is Nanach!

HH
Ketchup - קאטשאף - has the numerical value - gematria - of Na Nach Nachma Nachman Me'Uman! (Which can also hint to its being the antithesis...?!)

Years ago we heard from Arelle Steinfeld about schnitzel שניציאל.
Coca Cola - without Me'Uman.
Pita - פיתא
לאקשין - luction
קעשייא - kasha

And for those that want to remain dairy, there is pizza which is the secret of single, round, double - layers, triple - triangular slices, quadruple - the box, and the angel of the Petek and New Years PTz... as posted already at length.

A Nanach feast!

NNNNM!

Bounty in Uman

BH this week Gilad fired all the Ukrainian women who baked and cooked for him, he couldn't deal with their stealing. So HY sent the pilgrims here food in other ways. E.g. one person came to give thanks for a miracle Rabbi Nachman had done for them - after having all but given up on finding a mate, she or he came to the holy tomb and a few months later was on the way to getting married - so they put down some food here. Another guy came with twin girls 5 years old, they were born miraculously after being childless for a few years and having went through all the types of fertility treatments they had given up. They made a short visit at the holy tomb of Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman - they arrived exhausted, so they prayed a bit and went to their lodgings to sleep and continue to pray afterwards. The women had an apparition (the whole thing is printed out here) and very excited they returned immediately to the holy tomb to pray intensely. Shortly afterwards they returned to the holy land and immediately were contacted by someone with some sort of treatment they had not yet tried, even though they were tired from the trip, they immediately took the procedure, and had the twins.