30 October 2008

Don't Forget...

...to thank Hashem for the beautiful life-giving rains He sent in response to our prayers for it!! Abundant rain in this season is a blessing and a sign of favor from Above. But if we don't acknowledge the Source and show proper gratitude for it, we may lose it very quickly, G-d forbid!

Rain report

...The storm was exceptional because cloudbursts and thunderstorms drenched desert areas with amounts of rain almost never seen. Two inches of rain fell in Mevuot Yericho, north of Jericho, more than half the amount the Jewish community receives during the entire year. In nearby Argaman, a cloudburst dumped one inch of rain on the farming community, 25 percent of its annual precipitation.

...October rainfall in Be'er Sheva was more than two inches, more than twice the usual amount for this time of year. Ein Gedi at the Dead Sea, where Highway 90 was closed at least twice due to flooding, has received nearly three times its annual average.

...Another winter system is brewing ....



THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU , THANK YOU, HASHEM!!!
WE'D LIKE SOME MORE, PLEASE.

29 October 2008

The Brotherhood of All Jews

I sincerely doubt that even David HaMelekh himself would have had a problem with a soldier under his command in the following situation. What this soldier doesn't yet understand, apparently, is that the "leadership" in this country are NOT our "brothers"! They are the Erev Rav!!

As my late father, a"h was wont to say on occasions like this: "Pitiful. Just pitiful."


Soldier Jailed for Calling Ashkenazi 'Brother'
(IsraelNN.com) A soldier was sentenced to 35 days' incarceration in military jail for addressing the Chief of Staff as "my brother and hero" in a message he sent to him through the IDF's internal e-mail system.

The letter concerned an idea the soldier had, regarding the purchasing of umbrellas for soldiers. The request ends with the exclamation "my brother and hero!" which was deemed disrespectful by the military authorities.

The message was transferred to the soldier's divisional commander, who sentenced him to jail time.

Soldiers "Tricked"?

Zekharya 14.14 --- " Yea, even Judah will fight against Jerusalem! "

We wonder how such a thing could be. Well, if this story can be believed, this might be one way...

Soldiers Were Tricked Into Guarding Kiryat Arba Destruction

Election Fever

You can hear a lot of comments on the US elections these days, even in Israel where even in Jerusalem, the mayoral campaign takes a back seat to what is happening across the ocean. They always evoke a reaction from me, but I try not to give voice to them.

I overheard someone say that although they didn't expect their vote to count for much "at least I felt I tried."

My thoughts: This could be one of the major drawbacks to the democratic system. It gives people a false sense of empowerment. The entire thing could be manipulated from higher up and behind the scenes, but the whole process of going to the polls can be used to pacify and control the masses, making them believe that they can actually do something to change their fate despite the fact that no matter who they vote for they get the same policies.

Just yesterday, I heard a woman remark in regard to voting, "Good luck to all of us" with the same angst that usually accompanies the phrase, "G-d help us all" and I wondered if maybe she was putting too much faith in the democratic process and not enough in HKB"H.

But then, we all knew that right alongside the Dollar idol, there stands the Democracy idol. All of the idols have to fall, just as each plague in Egypt destroyed one of their false gods, so, too now; which is another good reason to believe that there is bound to be some serious event fouling up the "Democratic Process"---cancellation / postponement due to, disqualification, assassination, natural disaster or some other act of G-d. Take your pick.

Other thoughts on the elections...

It's certainly no coincidence that the current leaders of the Edomite regime (US), the Yishmaelite regime (PA) and the Erev Rav regime (IL) are all scheduled for replacement at approximately the same time.

US Pres George W Bush 20 Jan 2009 (24 Tevet 5769)
PA Pres Mahmoud Abbas 9 Jan 2009 (13 Tevet 5769)
IL PM Ehud Olmert 10 Feb 2009 (16 Shevat 5769)

You do realize that the "piece" process is really being driven by these three parties? The rest of the world just goes along.

New Sign On my Desk


Modi'in in the News Again

Modi'in has been in the news in recent days with regard to community attitudes towards religious observance. On October 1, it was reported that a religious high school student was threatened with expulsion for bringing his tefillin to school (Tefillin? Not in this school) and again on October 20, another story appeared describing the heartbreak of a religious ten year old immigrant boy whose soccer teammates refused to play with him because he wore a kippa (Religious boy ousted from soccer practice).

This all came back to me as I read the following today. Maybe there is a connection. Maybe there is a lesson here for all of us.

Rabbi’s ruling: Torah falls; community must fast
Sacred scroll falls out of 12-year-old Modiin boy's hand during Simchat Torah celebrations. All adult male synagogue members must repent, says city's chief rabbi
Hila Shay Vazan

The Torah scroll that fell from the hands of a 12-year-old child during the traditional "hakafot" (circuit) celebrations at the Zechor Avraham Synagogue in Modiin, yielded a religious ruling by the city’s chief Rabbi David Lau.

The decree stated that all the community’s men will have to fast in repentance next Thursday.

Hakafot occur on the eve of Simchat Torah and entail opening the synagogue's ark and carrying the Torah scrolls around the synagogue seven times in circuits – while singing and dancing.

The incident took place last Tuesday in the heat of the hakafot; when dozens of worshippers began dancing with the Torah scrolls and passing them from one person to the next.

During one of the rounds, a scroll was handed to the 12-year-old son of one of the community’s veteran families.

All of a sudden, he bumped into something, stumbled and dropped the Torah.

This kind of incident is rare and thus, community members were obliged to turn to the chief rabbi for a religious ruling.

Halacha (Jewish Law) determines that if a Torah scroll drops, the public must fast.

The stunned community members turned to Rabbi Lau with a request to provide a ruling on the issue and the latter determined that “the heavens have shown the community that it must asses its ways because they most certainly committed some sort of sin.”

Moreover, the rabbis stated that they must “improve their deeds”.

Fast from sunrise to sunset
Rabbi Lau determined that since this case concerns a child above the age of 10 who carried a Torah, this is not a case of negligence but rather a violation and thus the incident is, “a call for the community to gather together and enhance the sacredness of their synagogue and Torah scroll.”

As mentioned, the rabbi determined at the end of his ruling that all the dozens of men in the community must fast next Thursday.

Their fast must be from sunrise to sunset and they must say penitential prayers at the synagogue. They must also gather together to study Torah and avoid speaking during the prayers and Torah reading.


“I am saddened that this happened to such a serious and responsible family,” said Rabbi Lau.

“This is a difficult feeling that is tough convey. But while this is not the child’s fault, the Halacha is interpreted and compels the community to fast,” he said.

27 October 2008

"DR DOOM"

Nouriel Roubini: I fear the worst is yet to come
When this man predicted a global financial crisis more than a year ago, people laughed. Not any more...


The Sunday Times
October 26, 2008
"... Roubini has become the prophet of his age,.... Born in Istanbul 49 years ago, he comes from a family of Iranian Jews. They moved to Tehran, then to Tel Aviv and finally to Italy, where he grew up and attended college, graduating summa cum laude in economics from Bocconi University before taking a PhD in international economics at Harvard.

Fluent in English, Italian, Hebrew, and Persian.... He is, ... ferociously bright. When he left Harvard, he moved quickly, holding various positions at the Treasury department, rising to become an economic adviser to Bill Clinton in the late 1990s. Then his profile seemed to plateau. His doubts about the economic outlook seemed out of tune with the times, especially when a few years ago he began predicting a meltdown in the financial markets through his blog, hosted on RGEmonitor. com, the website of his advisory company...."


Roubini:`Panic' May Force Market Shutdown P1
(Bloomberg) October 23, 2008

25 October 2008

Something to Think About

(UPDATE: A post of similar theme to the following one can be seen at Shirat Devorah---Sarah Palin, Torah Codes and the Coming of the Moshiach )

After reading these two posts, you will begin to understand why it is Barack Obama and Sarah Palin who stand out during these days and not Joseph Biden/John McCain.

Excerpts from The Ishmaelite Exile by Rabbi Yechiel Weitzman:
...in the initial stage of the End of Days, the descendants of Esav will do battle with the children of Ishmael. Only at a later stage, the last stage before the redemption, will they all unite for a struggle over Jerusalem....

The final stage of the Ishmaelite exile will be fulfilled when Edom invites Ishmael (or vice versa) to join him in a world war: 'When the male ox (Ishmael) is teamed with the female (Edom), then the Ishmaelites will destroy the entire world' (Zayit Ra'anan....)

...Bil'am revealed in his final prophecy that the last stage in the process of Israel's perfection will be characterized by the alliance between Ishmael and Esav, an alliance aimed at tormenting the entire world and the Jewish people in particular.

...At the very outset of their history, Ishmael and Esav forged a bond through marriage.* And so it shall be at the End of Days. This alliance between them will bring history to its culmination in the redemption....

Today, the entire world is transfixed by the possibilities embodied by the Democratic contender for the office of President of the United States. He is much more than just half white and half black---his mother was a white Christian (Esav) and his father an African Muslim (Ishmael).
Not only is he the product of a literal union between Esav and Ishmael, but even spiritually, he is a mixture. According to Islamic law, he is a Muslim who spent his formative years in the mosque and in Muslim schools. However, once grown, he chose to identify as a Christian, being mentored for twenty years by a black-racist Christian preacher. So, externally and internally he is the embodiment of the marriage of Esav with Ishmael.

Does this mean he is destined to become US President and lead the War of Gog/Magog?

Maybe, but not necessarily. The very fact that such a person is featured so prominently in this time period is meant to show us what stage of history we are now living in. It's an indicator of what to expect next. He is a big siman whether the election happens or not, whether he wins it or not.

19 October 2008

TRANSITION

Everything that is happening in the world today, at every level of existence, is a process of transition from one reality to another. We are now holding between the bulk of labor and the impending birth. Literally overnight our lives can change drastically. We must be prepared for that possibility.

Here is an example. (H/T to Global Disaster Watch)

How tremor, landslide swallowed our farmlands– Victims of Enugu earth tremor
By Adelani Adepegba
Published: Saturday, 18 Oct 2008


...“This incident is a major one never witnessed in this part of the world. ...Nwajide said that the tremor could not be controlled and could indeed happen again. He stated that the affected land had been rendered useless for any productive activities, warning residents not to do anything on the area.

A farmer, who was affected by the devastation, Ugwuanyi, said he could no longer recognise his farm when he got there, adding that the whole area looked like the scene of a major battle between two great elemental forces.

13 October 2008

CHAG SAMEACH!

See the Holiday Weather Forecast and check out the Jerusalemite blog for things to do during chol hamoed.

Wishing all of Bnei Yisrael a true Zeman Simchateinu with the Geula Shleimah, Mashiach Tzidkeinu and Eliyahu HaNavi!!

10 October 2008

"Another 7..."

Drudgereport headline: "DOW LOSES ANOTHER 7% "

So that's "7" on the first day of Rosh Hashana and "7" on Yom Kippur. Hmmm.

07 October 2008

More on Number Seven

After Rosh Hashana I posted the following image along with a short analysis referring to the significance of the number seven:

For your further interest see Hidabroot's video Lucky Number Seven.

Quoting Rabbi Zamir Cohen: "Kabbala maintains that this special number holds the secret to greater wealth and prosperity, tranquility, security and joy:the number seven holds these all."
On Rosh Hashana, the 777 historic one-day point drop, 7% of the total value of the stock market, heralded just the opposite. Instead of greater wealth, it heralded less wealth; instead of prosperity, it portended poverty; instead of tranquility and security, upheaval and uncertainty. It was anything but joyous on the trading floors.

Like a neon flashing sign, this number should be pointing us directly to Hashem, the source of all abundance. Only by following the set of instructions He gave us, our Holy Torah, can the world prosper and succeed in Truth and honest business without exploitation or subjugation.

The warped Western value system and false financial system must give way to the Torah ideal as exemplified in Eretz Yisrael under the leadership of Mashiach Tzidkeynu, may we see it very soon in these days!

06 October 2008

"Web Bot Predictions"

No endorsement here, just a heads up for your interest:

Web Bot Predictions for 2008 / 2009
By: John Kehne
www.December212012.com

Since its conception in the late 1990’s, the Web Bot Project has made a number of very accurate and insightful predictions regarding coming events. Originally designed to track stock market trends, the Web Bot uses a system of spiders that crawl the Internet looking for patterns of behavior, trends and chatter pertaining to coming events. This tool is believed to be able to forecast the future by tapping into the collective unconscious of society.

One of the first accurate predictions from the Web Bot program took place in June of 2001. The program predicted that a life-altering event would take place within the next 60-90 days. An occurrence of such proportion that it's effects would be felt worldwide. The program based its prediction on "web chatter" and regrettably, the prediction proved accurate when the Twin Towers fell on 9/11/2001.

Throughout its short existence, the Web Bot has accurately predicted many other natural and man made disasters such as the 2001 anthrax attack on Washington DC, the East Coast power outage in 2003 and the earthquake which lead to the December 26 2004 tsunami. It is even credited with predicting hurricane Katrina and the devastating events that followed. In addition, the Web Bot has foretold of a global devastating event expected to take place in late December 2012.

Even more remarkable is a series of predictions made back in late 2006 about the coming events of late 2008 through mid 2009. Although these predictions may or may not pan out to be completely accurate, it is interesting to evaluate each one based on its own merit and relationship to the times in which we live. The following is a breakdown of these predictions.

- September 22-27 2008 are seen as precursor dates to a significant event expected to take place on October 7 2008.
Closely watch events during September 22 through 27 2008 for hints as to what to expect on October 7 2008. Although the predictions are not specific, the event is expected to be as significant as the events of 9/11.

- October 7 2008 to February 19 2008 will be filled with emotional intensity
The Web Bot has never picked up any event lasting this long. In comparison, the events of 9/11 lasted about 10 days. This event will be four months of high emotion.

- In October Global emotional release event begins – largely economic.
The rest of the world will begin to seriously question the stability and reliability of the U.S. dollar.

- Catastrophic collapse of the dollar is possible – as the language is active around that concept.
The Web Bot foresee consumer society confidence collapsing by mid November 2008. This could be a direct result of the recent government bailout and failure of several large financial institutions in the U.S. along with the devalued U.S. dollar and the increased cost of living.

- Global economic collapse possible in Fall 2008 cascading off the U.S. woes.
Think of the U.S. economy as a lit fuse that was lit over the early part of 2008. The rest of the world has no choice but to react to the declining U.S. dollar and the enormous amount of debt that the U.S. has accumulated and put upon itself.

- May be a global replay of what the 1932 bond crash in the Great Depression was.

- Tensions build in cities, encounters scarcity.
As the cost of food, fuel and other necessities of life continue to rise so does peoples level of stress. As the holidays approach, individuals find themselves taking extreme actions that they would have never considered in the past.

- The populace of the US impacted by a condition like posttraumatic stress. It will be something like “time shocked” or “time stunned”.
Just as you wrap you head around one big change or traumatic event, another will come along which will be bigger and harder to absorb.

- Mood of the population improves: People have a renewed sense of optimism that the corporate/elite can and will be replaced in the elections but the ‘us against them’ grows.
This appears to be directly related to the upcoming presidential elections. People will briefly experience a renewed optimism and confidence in the promises made by the new president, but the mood will quickly change when they realize that it is business as usual in Washington.

- Possibly early elections, or at least calls for that because of anger.
This seems to relate to Israel and the possibility of early presidential elections necessary to curtail the increased threats from Iran.

- In late 2008 the rest of the world’s currencies are ‘touched off’ by the dollar and U.S. decline.
The continuing instability of the U.S. economy and financial systems will prove to be a catalyst for global unrest and uncertainty.

- The Web Bot foresee a West Coast/Vancouver area large-scale earthquake around December 12, 2008.Many have seen signs of this coming for quite some time. This may not be the “Big One”, but it will prove to be significant and very devastating to the area.

- There will be a 2009 winter/spring natural disaster, which caused people to become angry about government response.
With the dramatic increase in natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and more, the government’s inability to respond to the immediate needs of the people will prove to be devastating for many.

- The Web Bot foresee that the winter in the Northeast will be very cold, causing some schools to close, and then later to reopen as shelters for people who can't heat their homes.
Language suggests that the shortages will be caused by a lack of supplies, cost of fuel, or both.

- Global Coastal Event likely in early to mid 2009The Web Bot sees a permanent loss of low-lying territory globally and foresees that one continent in particular will get hit badly, but it does not say which one. Places to avoid: anything at sea level (Bangladesh/Florida/ etc).

It would appear that many of theses Web Bot predictions seem to focus on the economy both in the U.S. and around the world, and the underlying threat of these predictions is being felt right now. With the recent multi-billion dollar government bailout of many financial institutions, the U.S. has entered into an economic disaster that is sure to destabilize the financial future and wellbeing of many.

Prepare yourself for what is coming. The Web Bot tells us that for the remainder of 2008, bad will only get worse.

The Hovering Specter of Iran

Ex-CIA Agent: War With Iran May be Coming
By: Tim Collie

No matter who is elected president in November, former CIA officer Robert Baer has no doubt about what will be topping his agenda: Iran.

“Everything is coming to a head in the Middle East,” Baer tells Newsmax. “The days of messing around with Iran are over. We’ve been kicking this can down the road for 30 years, and now we’re at the end of the road.”

The former CIA covert operative asserts that the Islamic nation of 70 million people is building an empire in the Middle East, believing it should be the “citadel of Islam.”

He warns that Iran is probably months, if not weeks, away from war with Israel....

05 October 2008

Question to Think About

Why are MSNBC and FOXNEWS featuring this old news in their current headlines???

Orthodox Jewish 'Modesty Patrols' Put Israelis on Edge

Jewish 'modesty patrols' sow fear in Israel

02 October 2008

Another Good Sign

According to Rav Ephraim Sprecher of Yerushalayim, "Rain is a symbol of God's rachamim." He said, "It rained rachamim on Rosh Hashanah!"

"Historic Day" / Historic Number

















As the seventh month arrived and concluded the seventh year of the shmita cycle in Eretz Yisrael, the American (Edomic) Empire suffered a historic blow to its stock market:

(MSNBC) "...worst single drop day ever.... a history-making day.... largest single point drop in history...."

Since there are no coincidences, there is a message here (or maybe even a few) from Shamayim. What are we supposed to take from this?

The first thing that came to my mind is that seven is the number of completion. Seven days make a week; seven years make a shmita cycle. The seventh millenium will be the Great Shabbath of time. On the seventh day Hashem rested from all His creating and commanded us to cease from our labors as well in commemoration of that fact.

If this is a virtual flashing neon sign to the Jews on Rosh Hashana, perhaps it is meant to tell us that Hashem is finished holding back from judging the nations who are seventy and who are obligated to seven mitzvot and who want to divide the land of the seven species---Eretz Yisrael.

Here are some further thoughts on "seven":

(Inner.org) Zayin (7) “A 'vav' whose head extends in both directions and thus appears as a crown. Scepter of a King. [We crown Hashem King in the seventh month---Tishrei.]

(Inner.org) In the Bible we find that G-d has seven eyes (Zachariah 4:10 ). This is obviously not meant to be taken literally, but clearly conveys a secret. In His Providence, G-d overlooks and judges creation from seven perspectives (corresponding to the seven attributes of the heart). [All creation passes before Hashem for judgement in the seventh month---Tishrei.]

(Book of Our Heritage) Jewish tradition attributes special value and significance to being the seventh. Our Sages write: 'All sevenths are beloved above.' In the count of the generations, the seventh generation from Adam was most precious, for it was the generation of Chanoch of whom the verse (Bereshis 5:22) states: And Chanoch walked with God. Among our ancestors, the seventh was most favored, for Moshe was the seventh generation from Avraham, and regarding him the verse (Shemos 19:20) states: And Moshe ascended unto God. Among the sons of Yishai, the seventh --- David --- was most favored....

Time is also sanctified by sevenths, and we find (Bereshis 2:3): And God blessed the seventh day; the seventh --- shemittah --- year is sanctified; and seven cycles of seven years are crowned by a yovel (jubilee) year. And among months, the seventh --- Tishrei --- is most precious (Yalkut Shimoni, parashat Yisro 276).

...In the Land of Israel, Tishrei is also the harvest season, when the Jewish people witness the material bounty with which God has blessed them. Our sages note that these qualities of Tishrei, "the seventh month," are alluded to by the similarity between the words sheva [seven] and sova [satiety and abundance].


Whatever message you take from this event and the significance of seven, it is definitely a sign for GOOD for תשס"ט whose letters stand for שנה סימון טוב---year of a good sign.