The Remarkable Blessing of a Meal for Hosea ben Beeri

1. Today, the 7th of Sivan, marks the yahrzeit of the prophet Hosea ben Beeri. Hosea prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. According to Ibn Ezra, he prophesied for approximately forty years, from the end of Uzziah's reign to the beginning of Hezekiah's reign.

2. A well-known and tested blessing involves organizing a meal for the poor in honor of the prophet Hosea ben Beeri. This meal is considered a segulah, or spiritual remedy, for blessing and success, health and salvation, and protection from every distress and ailment. The reason for its powerful impact lies in the mitzvah of charity, kindness, and mercy as commanded in the holy Torah, which serves as a wonderful force for receiving prayers and many salvations.

Here are the specifics of this blessing: It is taught in the name of the Chozeh of Lublin that the sick should accept upon themselves to, when they recover, host a meal for the poor on a Tuesday—to honor Hosea ben Beeri—and by this merit, they will be saved. The Chozeh of Lublin further adds that it is good to recite praises such as *Nishmat Kol Chai* during the meal with ten Torah scholars present.

As noted in sacred texts: "It has been received from the holy Rabbi of Lublin, zt"l, that if a person has an ill person in their home, they should accept upon themselves to, when the sick one returns to health, hold on the first Tuesday of the week a mitzvah meal, or a meal for the poor, for Torah scholars and pious individuals, for the soul of Hosea ben Beeri."

3. It is mentioned in the Midrash that his father, Beeri, was also a prophet, but since his prophecies were few, they were included within the book of Isaiah.

4. The prophecies of the prophet Hosea were compiled in the book of 'Hosea,' which is the first book of the 'Trei Asar' (The Twelve). The book was compiled by the Men of the Great Assembly.

5. Hosea was a prophet for the ten tribes before they were exiled from their land, although he also indirectly addressed the Kingdom of Judah, without mentioning Jerusalem by name.

6. The Talmud, in Tractate Pesachim, states: "Hosea, Isaiah, Amos, and Micah prophesied in one era, and the greatest among them was Hosea."

7. Hosea was from the tribe of Reuben. It is mentioned in Bereshit Rabbah: "Hashem said to Reuben, 'You initiated repentance first (in the sale of Joseph), by your life, a descendant of yours will also lead the call to repentance, as it is stated: 'Come, let us return to Hashem.'"

8. The Midrash relays a story about the prophet Hosea, illustrating Hashem's immense love for the people of Israel, even when they sin. The Midrash also demonstrates how angry Hashem can be with those who accuse His beloved children. The Midrash reads: "Hashem said to Hosea, 'Your children have sinned,' and he should have replied, 'They are Your children, the children of Your beloved, children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, turn Your mercy toward them!' Not only did he fail to say this, he said to Him, 'Master of the Universe, the entire world is Yours, transfer them to another nation!' Later, it continues: 'Hashem said, 'What should I do with this elder? I will tell him to take a wife and have children... then I will tell him to send them away from you, and if he can send them away, then I will send Israel away, etc.' After he had two sons and a daughter, Hashem said to him, 'You should have learned from your teacher (Moses), who when I spoke to him separated from his wife, even you should separate from her.' Hosea said, 'Master of the Universe, I have children from her, and I am unable to divorce or send her away.' Hashem responded, 'Thus, Israel who are My children... and you said transfer them to another nation etc?!' Hosea stood, pleaded for mercy, canceled the decree, and began to bless them."

9. In all his words, rebuke and comfort are intertwined, contrasting yet complementary. He harshly chastised Israel saying: 'For you are not My people, and I will not be for you,' but he also comforted the Israelites: 'And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, "You are not My people," it shall be said to them, "You are the children of the living God."'

10. Hosea called the people to repentance, saying: 'Come, let us return to Hashem, for He has torn, but He will heal us, He has struck, but He will bind us... and let us know, let us strive to know Hashem, His coming forth is as certain as the dawn, and He will come to us as the rain, like the latter rain watering the earth.'