The Redemptive Story Behind Cyclone Chapala

25 Heshvan 5776

Erev Shabbat Haye Sarah

The Redemptive Story Behind Cyclone Chapala | part 2 | part 3

UPDATES! Cyclone Megh makes landfall in Yemen, kills 14 on island | Farewell to Megh and Kate

I found this video, which was posted on 22 Heshvan/4 November, at Devash's blog. My comment there was posted before I took a closer look at it and became interested in translating it because it has an incredible story, which could turn out to be the very definition of an Act Of G-d. Emphases are also mine.

I am not a professional translator, but I do take my responsibility seriously. Many thanks for reading!

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[Black] Cyclone Chapala, a rare event in Yemen (Teman), struck on 21 Heshvan 5776 (3 November 2015).

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[Map of the storm path, compared to the usual path] Who led the storm to Yemen and why? The answer is in the parsha of the week.

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What is so special about this? Yemen on average receives almost 100 mm of rain per year and, because of this storm, she got 300 mm of rain in one day and as a result she was completely flooded, meaning she got a whole year’s worth in one day, according to CNN.

[Actually, 2-3 years’ worth – look at the numbers again, and the CNN weather lady says it too. –CDG]

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[Deeply flooded city] In addition, cyclone events have never been known to happen in Yemen.

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[A river runs down a wide city street] The storm left rivers of rain behind.

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[As seen from a satellite the International Space Station] Cyclone Chapala over the Indian Ocean.

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[People walking around screaming during raging cyclone, completely clouded over] To begin with, it says the storm was implied in the prophet Zecharia chapter 9 [pasuk 14] and hints at the very close time of the coming of Mashiach:

And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth like the lightning: and the LORD G-D shall blow the shofar, and shall move in the storm winds of the south (b’sa’aroth Teman). 

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[People walking around screaming during raging cyclone, destruction is heard, sky begins to darken] And before this, it is written there:

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Ziyyon; shout, O daughter of Yerushalayim: behold, thy king comes to thee: he is just, and victorious; humble, and riding on an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.

And this is Mashiach, poor and riding on a donkey.

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[Boy runs out into the storm; father goes after him; more destruction, and LIGHTNING; Sky darkens considerably, then, cut to new scene as sky appears golden] The explanation of the words “shall move in the storm winds of the south” is that the Holy One, blessed be He, will lead the storm to Yemen through the angels; and after this, He will blow (a month or two?) a great shofar, Mashiach will arrive and Geula will begin.

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[More LIGHTNING and THUNDER – amazingly, electricity seems to remain connected] And also, pay attention to the strange lightning in this cyclone, flashing like that: This hints to what is written: “shall go forth like the lightning” that will also be in this storm.
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[Sky turns grey again and is at its darkest, nearly night] And according to NASA, at least, there isn’t supposed to be lightning in the middle of a hurricane or a cyclone! You might want to check it out. [In Israel we don’t get cyclones or hurricanes either! - CDG]
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That’s no problem; but what is the connection to the unfortunate Yemenis? Davka Jahnun is tasty [a Temani dish – the video producer might be Temani (a Yemenite Jew) - CDG]. 

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[First white page (headline: Temani Jews: Clear and Present Danger) of two that document the attempt on the part of the Yemeni Muslims to convert the Jewish community there a year prior. (They’ve been trying to do that since at least Iggeret Rambam.) On the second reading I believe they failed – one Jew was killed – and the rest fled. I will have to translate this to be sure – please be patient with me! In any case, this whole series of events could be called the Anatomy of an Amazing Act of G-d. ] And this was a year ago, come and see what happened several weeks ago.

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[Second white page (headline: Temani Judaism Endangered: Convert to Islam or Leave)]: The government itself advertised – to convert to Islam or leave – but this is dumbfounding – how the Temani Jews successfully guarded their identity thus far, and truly put their souls to the test.

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[Black] Ladies and gentlemen, all this is in Parashat Vayera, when the Holy One, blessed be He, sent angels to Sodom and Gomorrah in order to destroy them; the same thing happened here – angels led this storm straight to Yemen, and all this because of the prayers of the Jews of Teman – Yemen. Behold the power of prayer! We all need to learn from them. And therefore they sent a message that every Temani Jew must leave, just as the angels saved Lot before they struck the city down.

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[A screenshot with gematria found directly in Parashat Vayera]

And the evidence for all this, the Torah brings minimally [I think this refers to the compact space this message takes up on the screen, with little skipping. I find it interesting that it also looks like a raft, with something like a banner on it. –CDG] the angels “halach”, “b’sa’aroth”, and also “teman” – the whole gematria shown there is located in Parashat Vayera.

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[Black] And perhaps it is extremely amazing…that the Zohar predicted all this in advance…Zohar (Balak 68) – and this is its wording [as best as I can translate it –CDG]:

After the Patriarchs knew that the Holy One, blessed be He, would redeem His people, how much joy upon joy will there be on that day! (but…) in the northern (or hidden) land of the kingdom of Teman how much sorrow upon sorrow they will heap on the people of Israel on that day, and He will receive their prayers willingly.

In other words, He will answer them in the storm and will save them.

כֵּיוָן שֶׁיָּדְעוּ הָאָבוֹת שֶׁצִּוָּה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת אַיַּלְתּוֹ וְאֶת עַמּוֹ, כַּמָּה שִׂמְחָה עַל שִׂמְחָה בַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה. בְּאֶרֶץ הַצָּפוֹן מַלְכוּת תֵּימָן, כַּמָּה צָרוֹת עַל צָרוֹת יִתְעוֹרְרוּ בַיּוֹם הַזֶּה עַל עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְתִתְקַבֵּל תְּפִלָּתָם בְּרָצוֹן. וּבְעֶרֶב הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה תַּחֲזֹר שְׁכִינָה לְתוֹךְ בֵּיתָהּ, וּמָשִׁיחַ לִמְקוֹמוֹ, וְהָאָבוֹת לְתוֹךְ הַמְּעָרָה שֶׁלָּהֶם.

[Hebrew with nikud thanks to Ateret4u.com. NOTE: It seems Sod Torah’s version is slightly different - the word “she’tziwa” – Who commanded - is “goel” – redeems – in the video? -  I’m sure there is an explanation for this, but I am in no position to figure it out myself. And I added the last sentence of that passage here – “And in the evening of that day the Shechina will return inside her house, and Mashiach to his place, and the Patriarchs inside their cave.” - CDG]

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[Black] And if we are correct, and everything goes according to this Zohar in the meantime, and then Edom goes to take over Israel, but…Everything is predetermined and yet there is freedom of choice. It could still change everything to good, but even so – one should never give up on G-d’s mercy even though a sword may be placed on his neck [lo aleynu!]. 

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[Black] The murdering will continue for just a little while longer; everyone must strive to cleanse himself, and he will be saved from Gog uMagog. We must deal with the next few months as though they were the Days of Awe. HQB”H desires you and wants you, rather than what is precious to you.  Dear ones, regard yourselves as precious. The year 5776 is a year of mercy. If you will rouse and awaken your love, until it fully blooms, haShem will not just put off the wars for a whole year, but at this time, the Time of Jacob’s Trouble – and from it he will be saved – come, let us learn from the Temani Jews who were saved by the power of prayer. HaShem brought a giant storm for the sake of just tens of Jews in Teman! If we will strengthen each other in this way, haShem will turn the universe upside down for us!

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If this post proves to generate enough interest, be”H I would like to translate the white pages and spell out the story as it developed.

Biblical translations are from The Jerusalem Bible, Koren Publishers.  I don’t have a Zohar in any language, so I cannot guarantee my translation of that passage even minimally due to the esoteric nature of the material. Hebrew readers are invited to comment, provided that they can convey their ideas in English.

Shabbat Haye Sarah shalom!

UPDATE 2018/12/24: Good thing I translated this! While doing something else, I noticed that the video is no longer on YouTube.