I WANT TO SEE IT!!

25 Adar I 5771

A Must See New Movie From The Maker of Divine Information, Zero Hour, Gog U Magog, And More!

Kol Hakavod to Yad L'Achim and Hatzlacha Raba to Our Brothers in Ashdod!

23 Adar I 5771

Thousands Rallied in Ashdod Against Missionaries

Chief Rabbi of Ashdod, Harav Yosef Sheinin: “They are from the seed of Haman who wanted to destroy and kill and wipe out Am Yisrael! They want to destroy us like back then, but through different means. They are seeking to destroy Jewish souls. Woe is to us that the plague of impurity has spread to our city of Ashdod.

“Dear brothers,” he called out. “We must pour out our hearts before Hakadosh Baruch Hu that He should cleanse the tumah from our city and from our land.”

Rabbi Sholom Dov Lipshitz: “Like our fathers in those days of Haman, who gave their lives to remain faithful to Hakadosh Baruch Hu, we must cry out and prevent this terrible shmad.”

...The Admor of Melitz proclaimed, “This is the time to act with mesirus nefesh. Davka now that the tumah and the sitra achra rule over the world, he who fights them and becomes stronger in the ways of Hashem and increasing kedushah, will merit success in all his matters.”

The Pittsburgher Rebbe referred to the passuk forbidding Am Yisrael from making a pact with the residents of Eretz Canaan, saying, “Hakadosh Baruch Hu pleads with us: I gave you this holy land so that you will act in it like the sons of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov.”

...Harav Shmuel David Gross, the Rav of Kehillas Chassidei Gur:“How can we sit peacefully when in our city there are large centers of avodah zarah? We have here spiritual terrorists who are every day throwing hundreds of missiles on the city and trying to injure and kill, chalilah, as many Jews as possible. From here we issue the cry: Leave our city!”

All Jews agree that this kind of missionary---the ones who target Jews for conversion---are anathema. But (too) many, especially those benefitting from the financial largesse of so-called "Xian Zionists," don't seem to have a problem as long as it's only gentiles who are being targeted for conversion. "They're not like those other Xians. They don't want to destroy us; they only want to bless us as it says, 'Those who bless you will be blessed...' "

This is naive in the extreme. All sects of Xianity believe that their "New Testament" is equal in inspiration and authority to our Holy Torah, l'havdil elef havdalot! Xians were given three commandments by their man-god: love G-d, love your neighbor, and 'reproduce,' i.e. make new Xians. It is their holy duty and obligation to spread the "good news" that the messiah already came and saved the world (despite all evidence to the contrary.) Sharing this "good news" is the ultimate act of love in their view and conversely, to withhold it is the ultimate act of hatred.

So, when a Xian (not a righteous gentile!) comes to a Jew and says, "I love Israel and the Jewish people," know that he is zeroing in on his target. THEY DO TARGET JEWS FOR CONVERSION!! They're just too smart (and duplicitous) to say so outright. They believe that Jews have been turned off Xianity for two thousand years because of "mistreatment" (that's an understatement!) by the Catholic Church. So, their aim is first to convince the Jew of their genuine love for the Jew and then the Jew will be open to his message. And how do they aim to accomplish this? By "breaking down the wall of separation" that divides Jew from Gentile by "building relationships" and giving generous gifts which makes the Jew feel a sense of obligation to the giver.

In this way, literally thousands of missionaries have attained access to Jewish children. Yeshivah bochurim in one yishuv have been invited to be penpals with Xians in Holland. A rabbi's daughter is engaged in a Facebook relationship with a Xian visitor to her home. Jewish children from Ariel have been sent to visit churches in Texas "but, they don't proselytize." The missionaries are allowed to visit the kindergartens. They take pictures of these pure Jewish neshamas and then paste them onto their websites as proof that they have gained inner access to the Jewish community and on the basis of that, their like-minded followers pour money into their coffers to sponsor even more missionary activity, Hashem yerachem!

Jews who innocently or naively or foolishly (take your pick) go along with this are partners in the spread of avodah zarah in Hashem's world---taking many souls, including Jewish ones, to perdition. Rabbi Gross of Chassidei Gur called them "spiritual terrorists," I call them spiritual pedophiles. Our mission is to be a light, a beacon, bringing the world back to a pure and true knowledge of the Creator and instructing the nations on how He wants His creatures to relate to Him. Today, through their relationships with Xians, Jews are actively engaged in thwarting that mission, not fulfilling it.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG TO THINK THAT AS LONG AS THE MISSIONARY DOESN'T STEAL JEWISH SOULS (and yet they will, given half a chance, just ask them), IT'S OK TO BE "FRIENDS" AND TO TAKE THEIR MONEY, THEREBY HELPING THEM RAISE EVEN MORE MONEY, SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO GO AND ENSLAVE GENTILE SOULS TO THEIR ABOMINABLE LIE!!!

"Friends" don't leave their friends in the dark about the most critical issue in the life of every human being: Who is G-d and what does He want from me?

Levi Hazan on Parshat Vayakhel

21 Adar I 5771

SHABBAT SHALOM!

PROOF that Hashem really is running the world

20 Adar I 5771


Amazing! The "hidden" hand of Hashem!

"As if trying to avoid problems for populated nations [Cyclone] Atu is weaving around the main islands and will do so around the North Island over the next 48 hours as it quite clearly curves further east away from land, before heading more southerly after clearing East Cape.

"It's as if Atu knows we are there and doesn't want to cause us more problems" says head weather analyst Philip Duncan, who has been tracking the storm since it first started.

He says Atu is more powerful than Wilma, which hit Northland at Auckland Anniversary Weekend in late January. "Atu is stronger and bigger than Wilma was at this point. It's definitely fair to say that New Zealand is getting a lucky escape from this monster cyclone as it brushes by several hundred kilometres to the east".

Mr Duncan says if Atu had tracked further south the upper North Island would have been facing a "devastating" tropical cyclone.
(NZ Getting "Lucky Escape" From Monster Cyclone)

Hashem wants to bring the redemption with mercy, if we will only cooperate!

******

This must be the End of Days because we are only just now running out of everything we need to survive on the planet.

• Scientists predict that we'll "need to produce as much food in the next 40 years as we have in the last 8,000."
• Almost all of the population growth will occur in poor nations.
• As populations swell, resource depletion will be exacerbated.

(Earth Could be 'Unrecognizable' by 2050)

******

Interesting. Could be because this is the last generation and these are all souls who have just a small tikun to make.

"A new study conducted by the Maccabi HMO health fund has determined that there has been a sharp surge in the number of children diagnosed with autism in Israel. The study indicates that one in every 200 children is diagnosed with autism. 80% of those diagnosed are boys." (More Children Diagnosed as Autistic)

******

And we'll end with some good news. The majority of Am Yisrael is not cut off from its roots!

"A Dahaf Institute poll indicated that most Israelis are not willing to relinquish control of the Cave of the Patriarchs - known in Hebrew as Maarat HaMachpelach -- in Hevron. 25% of respondents said that they would be willing to turn over the cave to the Palestinian Authority in a possible future negotiation. 20% said they would be willing to relinquish Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem. 59% support the Education Minister's new decision to send students to visit the Cave of the Patriarchs. 37% opposed such school visits." (Poll: Majority Wants to Keep Cave of Patriarchs)

Where is "Home"?

19 Adar I 5771


On winning the Chicago mayoral election, notable Jew, Rahm Emmanuel reportedly said: 'You sure know how to make a guy feel at home.'

That can change overnight. Historically, just when the Jews most felt at home in their chosen place of exile, that's when Hashem essentially pulled the rug out from under them. How much more so now when the geula is arriving before our very eyes!

Shirat Devorah recounts the incredible situation that the Christchurch, NZ Jewish community is facing since yesterday's powerful earthquake in her post entitled---Christchurch Population Urged to Relocate.

The message could not be clearer, but is anyone listening? Does anyone really care what Hashem wants from us? Or are we only concerned with the present reality which though flawed is at least familiar to us?

If we truly love HKB"H, we will set aside our own petty, selfish desires and cooperate with Hashem to bring the geula with mercy, for the sake of the honor of His Blessed Name.

Just saying...

18 Adar I 5771

Today: "...the iconic cathedral has fallen..." in the Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake.

Yesterday: "Fierce winds bring down the national Christmas tree."

On a different note, from Shirat Devorah: "New Zealand Chabad House destroyed."

It isn't the first and chas v'shalom may not be the last. All Chabad Houses should be converted into aliyah centers for hastening the return of the Jews from the exile.

Hashem is busy eliminating the exile, if we aren't helping, then we are hindering that process.

Everything is moving so fast!

18 Adar I 5771

I took a few hours to work on a separate blog archive for Rabbi Nir Ben Artzi's translated messages and while I was otherwise occupied, major stuff was going down!

Drudge was reporting that Qaddafi was en route to Venezuela and that gas, oil and gold prices were taking off. Meanwhile, the "unrest" has now spread to Morocco and Algeria.

Also an erupting volcano in the Phillipines has sent thousands fleeing for their lives. And yet another winter storm is "walloping" the American Midwest on its way to the Northeast.

At the same time, Debka was reporting that "US warships" had "boxed in" the Iranian flotilla at the Suez Canal:

"The Iranian warships found themselves cheek to jowl with a major concentration of American naval might piling up in the Red Sea and Suez and were not sure what would happen if they went foward with their mission...."

At last report, the Iranians are supposed to be transiting the Canal on Tuesday night, 22 Feb.

(All this in addition to a report that a 5.9 earthquake had occurred at the Suez Canal at 3 am on Mon.)

Some notable quotes on the matzav:

(1) U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) Mike Mullen, on a pre-planned visit to the Middle East, says he is “stunned” by the pace of upheavals in region. "The speed with which this has happened has really taken me aback,” Mullen said of unrest that has moved through the region.

(2) The events currently shaking the Arab world “were ordained from above” by a guiding hand, Israel Defense Forces Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Naveh said on Sunday. Naveh added that the Israeli army needed faith in God now more than its supply of planes and tanks.

"We are ready for the 'End of Days' "

16 Adar I 5771

How appropriate that we be focused on Iran (ancient Persia) and its president (gigul of Haman) in these days between Purim Katan and Purim.

All eyes are on the Suez Canal to see what will be with the Iranian warships planning to travel the entire length of Israel's Mediterranean coastline on their way to Lebanon and Syria.

Here are some Ahmadi classics:

Ahmadinejad says 'We are ready for the end of days'.

Ahmadinejad and Mahdi

Arrival of Mahdi And Views of Ahmadinejad

Dr. Ahmadinejad on The Mehdi

Happy Purim Katan!

14 Adar I 5771

Did you know that there is a hidden clue to Purim in this week's parsha - Parshat Ki Tisa?

Shemot 34.30-33 "...Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses and behold! the skin of his face had become radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. ...he placed a covering over his face." (Moshe Rabbeinu wore a mask.)

Purim/Pesach is prime redemption time and the globe is hopping so here is a rundown of what's happening out there...

Huge solar flare jams radio, satellite signals: NASA

WASHINGTON (AFP) – A powerful solar eruption that has already disturbed radio communications in China could disrupt electrical power grids and satellites used on Earth in the next days, NASA said.

The massive sunspot, which astronomers say is the size of Jupiter, is the strongest solar flare in four years, NASA said Wednesday.

The Class X flash -- the largest such category -- erupted at 0156 GMT Tuesday, according to the US space agency.

"X-class flares are the most powerful of all solar events that can trigger radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation storms," disturbing telecommunications and electric grids, NASA said.

Rep.: 'Like Cairo Moved To Madison'...'DAY OF RAGE' HITS WISCONSIN

Iran denies cancellation - warships to cross Suez Canal

Bahrain crushes protest camp, locks down capital

At least four dead, 60 reported missing and more than 600 hurt after assault on square by riot police

14 reported killed in Libya protests

Thousands of Yemenis protest nationwide

USA TO REBUKE ISRAEL AT UN

Arkansas towns feel unexplained surge in earthquakes

Three billion-dollar disasters in U.S. last year

Parshat Ki Tisa

13 Adar I 5771

Because in a non-leap year, Parshat Ki Tisa is also Parshat Parah, we do not usually read the haftarah designated for Ki Tisa. But, this year, we do. And what is the subject? Eliyahu HaNavi and the incident with the prophets of Ba'al on Mt Carmel.

Interesting that this came up at the holiday of Hanukah because of the Carmel fire and now at Purim Katan which according to Rabbi Sitorsky: "Purim Katan has within it the kedusha and aura of Purim. ...Whatever Purim stands for, so does Purim Katan."

Among other things, this parshah deals with The Golden Calf Affair. What is the connection between all these things? Teshuvah!

Rabbi Sitorsky says that this is the parshah of teshuvah, when "teshuvah becomes a reality." He says that Adar and Elul are sister months. Adar is to Nisan what Elul is to Tishrei and Yom HaKippurim is the day that is k'purim---like Purim.

After the cheit ha'eigel we see Moshe Rabeinu adjuring the Children of Israel: "Mi l'Hashem elai! " Whoever is for Hashem, come to me!

Upon Mt Carmel, Eliyahu HaNavi adjures the Children of Israel to stop hopping between two opposing ideas, "If Hashem is G-d, go after Him, if Ba'al is god, then go after him." But, basically, make up your minds already!

The crux of the matter is this: YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE! Hashem told us He is a jealous G-d. He will not share our loyalty with any other.

The Jews attending Achashverosh's banquet was a supreme act of disloyalty to Hashem, just like the cheit ha'eigel was. In the midbar, Hashem was ready to wipe out Bnei Yisrael---men, women and children---and start over again with Moshe Rabbeinu's progeny, but Moshe Rabeinu stood in the gap for us. In Shushan, Hashem allowed Haman, y"sh to issue a decree to wipe out Bnei Yisrael---men women and children---until Esther HaMalka stood in the gap for us.

In all cases, it was our teshuvah which saved us in the end and it's no different today. The same choice stands before us. Each of us must examine himself honestly and truthfully to ascertain whether there is anything---anything at all---that comes first in our lives before Hashem Yitbarach.

There is still time to do teshuvah, but nobody knows when he will breathe his last breath in this world and then it will be too late.

Last One

12 Adar I 5771


This is the last of the original blogposts that I will repost. It's from 03.01.08.

Jerusalem, Front and Center

In an article from the National Council of Young Israel's winter edition of their publication Viewpoint, there appears the following question:

"Will we, the generation that G-d graced with the gift of A United Yerushalayim, protect her, or G-d forbid, fail her?"

I suggest to you, ladies and gentlemen, that the failure already took place forty years ago and continued every day that the mosques remained and the Beit Hamikdash was not rebuilt. And this is why she is now being ripped from our guilty hands. For does it not say that in every generation that the Temple remains unbuilt, it is as if it was destroyed in that generation?

This is another case in point. Suddenly people have awoken to the fact that a big problem exists (that happens when the status quo is shaken by unexpected forces), but for some reason they can't seem to connect the dots. They don't appear able to follow logically from problem to solution even with 4000 years of Jewish history as their guide. As Shlomo Hamelech was wont to say, "There's nothing new under the sun."

Haggai, Perek 1: "...the word of the Lord came to Haggai, the prophet ...saying: This people has said, "The time has not come-the time for the house of the Lord to be built." And the word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet, saying: Is it [an appropriate] time for you yourselves to sit in your ceiled houses, when this house is in ruins?

And now, so said the Lord of Hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much and you bring in little. You eat without being satiated. You drink without getting your fill. You dress, and it has no warmth. And he who profits, profits into a bundle with holes.

So said the Lord of Hosts: Consider your ways. Ascend the mountain, bring wood, and build the house-and I will accept it, and I will be honored, said the Lord. You looked for much, and behold, it became little. And you brought it home, and I will blow into it. Because of what? says the Lord of Hosts, Because of My house that is lying in ruins. Yet you run, each to his house.

Therefore because of you the heavens have kept back, so that there is no dew, and the earth has kept back its produce. And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the grain, and upon the wine, and upon the oil, and upon everything that the ground will bring forth-and upon man, and upon beast, and upon all the labor of their hands."

This was at a time when few had answered the call to come home from Babylonian captivity. Enemies surrounded us and dwelt among us. When we first began to rebuild Yerushalayim with the permission of our foreign master, we had to post guards for protection from those who did not want to see the Jews returning and rebuilding the Holy Temple. A new master replaced the more benevolent one and based on false accusations against the Jews (see, nothing new at all), our foreign master ordered the building stopped. We were poor and few in number and not masters of our own Land, yet Hashem held us accountable and not after forty years but after only eighteen!

How our guilt cries unto Heaven!! Hashem granted us great military victories over our enemies. We grew in strength and numbers and wealth. We ruled over ourselves with no one to answer to but Hashem Himself! Look how the city has grown and prospered and spread out. Luxury apartments are being sold for literally millions of dollars. And where is the House Hashem made us promise to build for Him???

Yerushalayim does not exist to become simply another world capital, another tourist destination, a place for Jews to face while in prayer and mention at the end of the Passover seder. It is the very gateway to Heaven and the dwelling place of the Shechinah! By leaving it in ruins, we have disrespected and disgraced the Makom!

What does the Council of Young Israel counsel us to do?

•We will cry out...
•We will take to the streets worldwide on her behalf.
•We will pray...

Do they proclaim to all the world---the Jews are going to rise up en masse to lay the cornerstone of the Third Beit Hamikdash---and then organize to accomplish it? Why not??? For this is the ONLY solution. If we don't do it, then we will lose her. Mark my words!

Yes, it will be temporary, but woe to us for even the "temporary" loss of Holy Yerushalayim and the shame and pain and degradation which we will suffer along with the Holy One, blessed be He!

Read it and weep! Your forefathers knew how to respond to punishment. They knew how to do teshuvah!!

Haggai, Perek 1: "...And Zerubbabel the son of Shaltiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak the High Priest, and all the remnant of the people heeded the command of the Lord their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him, and the people feared the Lord. And Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, said in [fulfilling] the Lord's mission to the people, saying: I am with you, says the Lord. And the Lord inspired the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shaltiel, the governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak the High Priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people, and they came and performed labor in the house of the Lord of Hosts, their God."

We can do no less and have any hope of salvation. Hashem have mercy!

How do you do teshuvah when you don't understand what you did wrong?

11 Adar I 5771

Here is another of the original blogposts. This one is from 01.01.08, which would make it the second one.

Teshuvah

...We were talking about the need for real, effective teshuvah to bring about an end to the suffering of the Jewish people. If we did real teshuvah, we could bring Mashiach immediately. But it is clear to me from my own interactions with Jews in Eretz Yisrael, that the vast majority of people are nowhere near ready to do so.

Take for example those expelled from Gush Katif, their supporters and rabbis.

After forty years of "settlement," of living amongst the Arabs, of providing them with employment and health care, of befriending them and sharing their lives with them, they went into shock when it began to appear that they would be ousted from their homes and businesses and communities.

But why should this have come as such a surprise to a predominately religious, Torah-reading and Torah-observant crowd?

Bamidbar, Perek 33: "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their temples, destroy their molten idols, and demolish their high places. You shall clear out the Land and settle in it, for I have given you the Land to occupy it.

... But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the Land from before you, then those whom you leave over will be as spikes in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they will harass you in the land in which you settle. And it will be that what I had intended to do to them, I will do to you. [i.e., drive us out of the Land.]

There you have the reason it happened. Need I explain why it could not be stopped? Let's look at how the Jews chose to respond to the decree when it came down. These are some of the things that were done:

•A human chain was formed from one place to another.
•A three-day march from one place to another was organized.
•Celebratory rallies were held at which politicians pontificated.
•A mass "hug for democracy" was carried out as a crowd made a circle around the Knesset.
•"Settlers" visited their secular brothers to explain their position
•Cake and coffee continued to be offered to the soldiers while both the leadership and the rank and file declared their firm opposition to any real opposition, i.e. they would resist peacefully, but nothing more.
•Prayer rallies took place at which no one repented because no one thought they had done anything wrong. And the situation remains so to this day.

At no time did anyone ever suggest during all the desperate davening in those final days that they had erred in not driving the Arabs out at the very beginning or at the very least not to have employed and befriended them. They even hired them to build the batei knesset for crying out loud!

The Jews would never have dreamed of tearing down the mosques as Hashem commanded us to do, but their own houses of worship were burned and demolished. And who cries over it today?

And the worst part of it is that nothing has changed. After the thousands of rockets which have rained down upon Sederot, one of their English-speaking spokespersons was interviewed on the radio recently and declared that it has not changed her opinion about how to deal with the Arabs---"If they will stop making war, we can all go back to peaceful coexistence just like before."

Hashem will never allow us to go back to maintaining the status quo, so if this is the goal, we can look forward to an escalation of the rocket warfare raining down upon us until a people arises that is willing to bend its will to that of Hashem and do as He has commanded us.

[15.02.11 addition: Needless to say, there is no point sending a Mashiach to lead us to annihilate the enemy if the people are not willing to follow or support such an action.]

Part of our teshuvah must be to educate and inform our brothers of these hard facts so that they can do proper teshuvah, too. Then the geulah can come with mercy.

"Snow Bomb"

11 Adar I 5771

South Korea chaos after 'heaviest' snowfall

The heaviest snowfall in more than a century on South Korea's east coast is causing widespread chaos.

Hundreds of houses have collapsed under the weight of the snow. One newspaper described it as a snow bomb.

The South Korean government has deployed 12,000 soldiers to rescue stranded residents.

The worst weather has been in Gangwon province. Weather experts say there will be more snowfall in the area in the coming hours.

"I am 83 years old. It's the heaviest snow in my life. I am really grateful for the soldiers' help," said Park Chae-ran.

The heaviest fall in a century is leaving a chaos in its wake - and more snow is forecast. The BBC's Nick Ravenscroft in Seoul says that although winters are colder than anywhere else at its latitude, with frequent frost and snow, this year has been different.

The Four "Rs"

11 Adar I 5771


This is a copy of my very first post on this blog 31 Dec 2007.


Remembrance, Recognition, Return, Restoration

The world is poised on the very brink of completing the process of its redemption. What is important for us as individuals to understand is that whatever occurs on the macro-level also occurs on the micro-level. In fact, one might even say that it does not occur on the macro-level until it occurs on the micro-level in the same way that the body is the sum total of whatever has already occurred in each individual cell.

Each Jew is a cell in the body of Klal Yisrael. We experience as individuals the same process that Klal Yisrael endures. The steps in this process are outlined within what we call "the Four 'I wills'" of the Passover Haggadah which is taken from Shemot, perek 6:

1. "I will take you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and ..."
2. "I will save you from their labor, and ..."
3. "I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. And..."
4. "I will take you to Me as a people, and I will be a God to you, and you will know that I am the Lord your God, Who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians."

These four "I wills" correspond to the four "Rs:" Remembrance, Recognition, Return and Restoration.

" I will take you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians,..."
One of the many "burdens" of exile is forgetting who we are or rather who we were before the suffering of 3500 years of assimilation. The first step back requires us to "remember" and keep in mind that each step along the way is itself on ongoing, increasingly revelatory process.

"I will save you from their labor..."

Hashem will, at the appointed time, undo the damage and cause us to recognize ourselves, each other and the times in which we are living. It begins with just a small glimmer of light, like a match struck in absolute darkness, and it grows slowly over time until you suddenly realize that it has become more day than night.

"I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments."
Once we have remembered our past and recognized our place in the future, we cannot help but return to the One who has brought it all about. When we return to ourselves, we return to Him and as we return to Him, He returns to us and this initiates a cascade of return for the entire creation. It sets us on a path of return to Gan Eden.

"I will take you to Me as a people, and I will be a God to you, ...."
The return brings us naturally to restoration, to the fulfillment of the very purpose of creation itself---relationship with the Creator. Notice that with this step we complete the entire process by returning to the beginning: "...and you will know that I am the Lord your God, Who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians."

***********

Restoration has been the goal since Adam and Chava were ejected from The Garden. This was the first exile. As a people, the Jews have been praying and longing for the restoration of David's Kingdom, the Sanhedrin and the Holy Temple with its service for literally hundreds of years. We also eagerly anticipate the restoration of prophecy. Along with these, we are promised the following:

"And I will restore your judges as at first and your counsellors as in the beginning; afterwards you shall be called City of Righteousness, Faithful City. " (Yeshayahu, Perek 1, pasuk 26)

Though generally understood to be referring to The Great Sanhedrin, I believe that it also includes those known as "The Judges" of Ancient Israel, for if ever there was a time when we needed their courage, their insight and their counsel, it is today.

Itamar's at it again

1o Adar I 5771

Pictured above are Sondra Oster Baras, Leah Goldsmith and Victoria Hearst. Don't know who they are? No reason why you should.

Sondra Oster Baras is the head of the Israeli side of Christian Friends of Israeli Communities (CFOIC). She's been busy bringing Christians and Jews together for at least the last twelve years. Anyway that's when I first spoke to her about the damage she was likely to cause Klal Yisrael with her activities.

Leah Goldsmith is the wife of Rabbi Moshe Goldsmith, who is also the mayor of Itamar, a Jewish community in the Shomron. They plead innocence when it is pointed out to them that they are bringing hordes of missionaries into their community (very likely without their neighbors' knowledge) and granting them access to children and yeshiva bochurim. They just think these visitors are "lovers of Israel and the Jewish people - righteous Gentiles." Or so they claim. I don't buy that for a minute. It's happened too many times for them not to have learned to investigate who it is they are hugging and welcoming into our home.

So who is Victoria Hearst? Why, another missionary, of course. Another in a long line of missionaries given a hero's welcome to this pioneering Jewish community. Her website describes her conversion to Christianity and her missionary activities.

"Victoria formed Praise Him Ministries in 2001, which includes Praise Productions Christian Store and Ridgway Christian Center.

Victoria has a Sunday morning radio show called “Praise Him.” Being a strong conservative, Victoria preaches the Gospel, as well as covering today’s issues, both moral and political.

Victoria is a volunteer for Good News Jail and Prison Ministry. She is a member of the ministry’s Western Slope President’s Council. Every weekend, she works with Chaplain Bill Potter at Delta Correctional Center for men as choreographer and director of the facility’s Chapel of Hope Choir.

Victoria sits on the board of Billye Brim Ministry/Prayer Mountain of the Ozarks in Missouri, and the advisory board of Voice of Refugees ministry in California. Victoria loves Israel and the Jews. She has been to Israel many times and helps Mayor Ron Nachman of the city of Ariel in Judea and Samaria with certain projects. She also assists the Jews of Gush Katif who lost their homes and livelihoods when they were forced out of Gaza in 2005. Victoria believes that all Christians need to support Israel and the Jews’ right to the land as GOD promised in the Bible."

For the right price, any missionary can gain access to the holy of holies, just as long as they go through Ariel, Itamar, Har Bracha, Shiloh, etc to get it. This is Erev Ravian in the extreme. Some people are just gonna have to face up to the facts.

"Simplify, Focus, Separate"

10 Adar I 5771

I found a folder full of articles that I wrote a few years ago. I hope to post them as I go through and see if they are still relevant. Here's one from Feb 2008. It might be something I saved from the beginning of this blog which actually started in Dec 2007, but at one time I started deleting from the beginning. Anyway, here it is...

SIMPLIFY, FOCUS, SEPARATE

I know. It's easy to point out the problems, but what we really need are some solutions. We have to realize that it is too late for many things that might have helped us earlier on. Right now, we have to work on ourselves and try to help as many people within our own sphere of influence as we can. What do we do?

1. Simplify the message so that it is easy to remember and easy to understand.
2. Focus our energies on the root of the problems. When that is solved, everything else will fall into place.
3. Assist the flow of spiritual energy which is bringing about birur---separation. The spirit of the Erev Rav promotes mixture.

*********************

SIMPLIFY THE MESSAGE

We entered into a covenant with Hashem and broke it, so we suffer the consequences until we finally decide to fulfill our end of it.

The basics are these:
---enter the land
---conquer it
---drive out the former inhabitants
---destroy all traces of their abhorrent culture and false religion
---establish a Sanhedrin
---appoint a king from the lineage of David & Solomon
---rebuild the Temple and renew its service

(That's basically what the covenant requires of us as a nation in our own Land.)


FOCUS ON THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEMS

Disobedience through lack of faith.

Expressed in these ways:
---Fear of the gentiles more than fear of G-d
---Disbelief in Hashem's ability to assist us
---Disbelief in Hashem's willingness to assist us
---What applied in the past has no relevance for us today
(I'm sure you can think of others)


ASSIST THE BIRUR - OPPOSE MIXTURES

Creation is about harmonizing disparate entities (see Havdalah), not breaking down all the
boundaries (something the Erev Rav excels at!)

With respect to Yishmael, Eisav, the Erev Rav...

Some practical suggestions (make your own):

---Separate yourself from the nations, make aliyah
---Don't hire Arabs
---Don't patronize businesses who do
---Tell them why you won't give them your business
---Don't provide your services to Arabs

---Don't call gentiles your "brothers & sisters"
---Don't support those who teach that there is no difference between a Jew and a gentile
---Don't support organizations that curry favor with gentiles
---Let them know your views and the Torah basis for them

---Learn the traits which identify the Erev Rav
---Distance yourself from them as much as possible
---Never trust them
---Learn how to fight against them

---Discuss these issues with others, it's time to take back the dialogue for the honor of the Torah.

Keep in mind that we are held responsible only for what we can do, not for what we can't.

A Vision of Things to Come

10 Adar I 5771


A reader sent me a link to the following video. I'd just like to make note that when we have a REAL Sanhedrin, the men won't be wearing Western suits and ties. Every Sci-Fi fan knows that the most advanced civilizations in the future wear flowing robes. ;-)

"Zayin Adar"

9 Adar I 5771


Feb. 11th, the day that Hosni Mubarak resigned as President of Egypt was also "Zayin Adar"---anniversary of both the birth and death of Moshe Rabeinu, the man who brought down Egypt 3,323 years ago.

In his commentary on Parshat Tetzaveh, Rabbi Sitorsky remarked the following:

“…We know that Zayin Adar is a very, very important day. In fact, the Chatam Sofer, who has many, many drashot on Zayin Adar in his sefer basically says that it is the greatest day of the year. He says it’s the whole purpose of why Hashem created the world so that Moshe Rabeinu would come to this world…. That was the day that Haman mistakenly believed to be on his side being that it's also the day of the passing of Moshe Rabeinu and the Gemara says that he did not know though that it was the day in which Moshe Rabeinu was born....

"...The nes of Purim is all because of Zayin Adar.... Why should the birthday of Moshe Rabeinu be different? And it is different. And this year is also different. This year is a leap year, a shanah meuberet. A shanah meuberet is very, very unique because we are being visited by a month that's not part of time. It's above time."

He goes on to say that the year that Moshe Rabeinu was born was a shanah meuberet, as well as the year that Haman orders the attack on the Jews. He discuss which Adar is the one that was added. Is it the first Adar,the one that follows Shevat or is it the second Adar, the one that preceeds Nisan?

"The Yerushalmi seems to indicate that Adar rishon is the tosefet. ...The question is, where does it come from? So, this is the month that is above time because time only has twelve months. The world was created that every year should have twelve months. There are twelve shevatim, there are twelve boundaries to the universe....The number 13, that is the number that is associated with being above nature. Thirteen attributes of mercy. Purim, according to the Yerushalmi, was also in a leap year and the actual nes occurred in the second Adar.

"The question is though, when was Moshe Rabeinu born? Moshe Rabeinu, says the Gemara in Sotah, ...was born in Adar rishon. That year was a shanah meuberet." [If you want to know how they could declare a leap year before the Torah was given, you'll have to listen to the entire shiur. :-)]

Because Moshe Rabeinu was such a special and unique person, he had to be born in a month that was special and unique---a month outside of time---which is Adar rishon, the tosefet.

What does it mean that this earth-shattering event in Egypt happened on this particular date? I don't know. But what I do know is that it didn't happen by chance and it ultimately bodes well and good for Bnei Yisrael.

Following are some interesting remarks reported on that day which agree with recent predictions made by Rabbi Nir Ben Artzi.

Ex-Egypt Envoy: Israel In Trouble

...“It’s over, Egypt is no longer a superpower,” former Israeli Ambassador to Cairo Zvi Mazel told Ynet. “Egypt has completely lost its status in the area, while Turkey and Iran are on the way up. It’s a different world.”

“As long as we had Mubarak, there was no void in our relations with the region. Now we’re in big trouble,” he said.

Israel, Mazel said, had many reasons for concern. “From a strategic point of view, Israel is now facing a hostile situation. It’s over, there is no one left to lead the pragmatic, moderate state.”

...“We may see a series of upheavals in the region now. Mubarak’s downfall supports revolutionaries everywhere, from Yemen to Algeria. The question is whether such a Middle East will be manageable. What if there are coups in Jordan, Morocco or Saudi Arabia? Only God knows who will take power.”


Mubarak Slammed U.S. In Phone Call With Israeli MK Before Resignation

...Ben-Eliezer said Mubarak expanded in the telephone call on “what he expects will happen in the Middle East after his fall”.

“He contended the snowball (of civil unrest) won’t stop in Egypt and it wouldn’t skip any Arab country in the Middle East and in the Gulf.

“He said ‘I won’t be surprised if in the future you see more extremism and radical Islam and more disturbances — dramatic changes and upheavals,” Ben-Eliezer added.

Shabbat Shalom - Tetzaveh

7 Adar I 5771

NOTE: Rabbi Nir Ben Artzi's message for Tetzaveh has been completed and corrected. If you've already read it, you might want to go through it again. (Again, my profound apologies for my poor translation skills.)

NOTE: For those in the Jerusalem area, Rabbi Nir Ben Artzi will be speaking at Beit Knesset "Mitspeh Aryeh" at 110 Aharon Eshkoli St in Ramot Bet this coming yom sheini (Mon, 14/2/11) 10 Adar I at 8:30 pm.

It's worthwhile to view the video below even if you don't understand the Hebrew, in order to see with what honor Rabbi Nir Ben Artzi was received by the Jews of Hevron when he recently spoke at the Mearat HaMachpelah - The Cave of the Patriarchs - where the fathers and mothers of the Jewish people are buried.

Volcanoes in the News

5 Adar `א

Icelandic volcano 'set to erupt'
Scientists in Iceland are warning that another volcano looks set to erupt and threatening to spew-out a pall of dust that would dwarf last year's event.

Geologists detected the high risk of a new eruption after evaluating an increased swarm of earthquakes around the island's second largest volcano.

Pall Einarsson, a professor of geophysics at the University of Iceland, says the area around Bárdarbunga is showing signs of increased activity, which provides "good reason to worry".

He told the country's national TV station that a low number of seismometer measuring devices in the area is making it more difficult to determine the scale and likely outcome of the current shifts.

But he said there was "every reason to worry" as the sustained earthquake tremors to the north east of the remote volcano range are the strongest recorded in recent times and there was "no doubt" the lava was rising.

...The last recorded eruption of Bárdarbunga was in 1910, although volcanologists believe its last major eruption occurred in 1477 when it produced a large ash and pumice fallout. It also produced the largest known lava flow during the past 10,000 years on earth.

It is the second largest volcano on Iceland and is directly above the mantle plume of molten rock.

By comparison, Bárdarbunga dwarves the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which shutdown most of Europe's airspace last year after its ash cloud drifted across the continent's skies.

Russian volcano activity causes global concern

...A string of volcanoes on Russia's eastern seaboard of Kamchatka have been unusually active for the last six months. The dust they threw up diverted winds in the Arctic, pushing cold air over Europe and North America and causing the unusually cold winter this year, say scientists.

The volcanoes (160 in total, of which 29 are active) are still on the go and could create more problems this year, depressing harvests around the world just as global food prices soar and culminating in a second freezing winter next Christmas.

The eruptions have come at the worst possible time. The Pacific Ocean has already been cooled by the so-called La Nina - which contributed to the deluge in Australia and Tropical Cyclones - while at the same time the Atlantic Ocean is warmer than usual, say climatologists. Erste Bank says the combination of this means the weather forecast for the first quarter of this year is extreme, which will hit both the agricultural and mining sectors, sending already spiking prices up even faster. "These climatic conditions reduce the outlooks of harvest for agricultural commodities (last year was also bad) and prevent the mining of commodities like coal," says Erste. "The extreme weather will probably culminate in the [first quarter] - this is the reason why the prices of commodities will be influenced by this weather... then an acceleration of consumer inflation... There are also problems for transport due to strong storms."


Growing Fears in Japan As 2 Volcanoes Erupt Again

Amid growing fears that a massive eruption could still be on its way the latest eruptions covered nearby villages with rocks and ash. The two volcanoes spewed plumes of smoke and ash up to 2-thousand meters into the air resulting in multiple injuries and destroyed homes.

...volcanic experts are warning that the recent eruptions on Shinmoedake and other peaks in Japan resemble the highly destructive blasts that occurred 300 years ago which killed more than 30 people.


(H/T Global Disaster Watch)

"Better Late Than Never"

BS"D

YESHIVAT HARA'AYON HAYEHUDI
Jerusalem, Israel
HaRav Yehuda Kreuser SHLIT"A, Rosh Yeshiva

PARSHAT TRUMAH (view on Youtube)
30 Shvat-1 Adar I 5771/4-5 February 2011

LET'S GET IT DONE!

"And you shall build Me a Sanctuary, that I may dwell within."

Nobody will argue that the main thrust of our weekly parsha is the building of the tabernacle and all its vessels. The Rabbis bring down that this commandment was not just a one-time event for the generation of the desert, but rather a commandment for all generations.. As the Rambam writes: "It is a positive commandment to build a house for G-d, dedicated to offering sacrifices, where we celebrate three times a year."

And as in all commandments given to us by G-d, one is obligated to take all measures to ensure that the commandment gets done. Take, for instance, the mitzvah of sitting in a succa (booth): One must first build the succa according to Jewish law, and then dwell in the succa for the entire week. It would be totally absurd to wait around for a succa to appear out of nowhere, or to search the skies for one to fall out of heaven. If one acted in this manner, he would surly be sent to the nearest insane asylum right away, but this is exactly what we do when it comes to the commandment of building a House for G-d.

It just might be for this reason, that in our parsha the Torah, understanding the Jew only too well, commands us to build the Tabernacle and its vessels not once, not twice not even three times - "You shall build, you shall make, you shall do" - but over one hundred and forty times. This leaves us with no doubt that we have the obligation to make sure that the House of G-d gets done. Our Rabbis have taught us that in every generation that the Temple is not built, it is as if the Temple was destroyed in that generation.

We find that when the Jews returned from their 70-year exile from Babylonia, their first act was to rebuild the Temple and reinstate the sacrificial service. Sure, they could have said: We don’t know how it's done, we don’t understand the prophesies of Ezekiel who prophesied on how the Temple must be built. They also did not say: Hey, heads up y'all, the Temple is falling out of the sky, or we have to wait for Mashiach to build it, or one of the many other excuses that we hear today, for the gates of excuses are never closed. Rather, upon arrival in the Land of Israel, they got right down to work - understanding that a commandment is something that must be done by man.

For the past two weeks, the "Green Bay Packers" have spent countless hours going over strategies, poring over films in their preparation for the big game to bring the Lombardi trophy home in the "Super Bowl", knowing what is at stake, and that over 100 million people will be watching the big game. Can we as Jews do any less for the House of the living G-d? Can we prepare any less than the Packers and Stealers do for their game, when it comes to G-d's commandments? I think not!

The prophet Haggai rebuked us for our lack of effort to build G-d's House, saying: "How can you dwell in your well-built houses, when the House of G-d lies in ruins?" Upheavals throughout the world that we see today, extreme weather, etc. is all part of His plan, all coming from Him, to awaken us to return to out Land and rebuild His House! This is what the parsha is talking about: DO, BUILD, MAKE. Not once or twice - but 140 times!

Blessings,
Levi

Aliyah Wrap-Up (for now)

3 Adar `א


Moriyah comments:

Devash,

Why don't you write about true articles spelling the problems in EY by the Israeli pro-Arab government, the anti-olim attitude by the many Sabras in EY, the anti-religious seculars in EY, the school violence that happens so often in Israeli religious and secular schools, so that when olim from America come to EY, they won't be culture-shocked and demand to return to their host countries?

Arutz Sheva is a Zionistic media outlet, and so are your views.

For several reasons, Moriyah, first of which, although I've faced many challenges here, the things you name have not been among them. I have no experience with what you describe.

Second, there are problems no matter where you live. I had many more troubles with the educational system in America than I've had here. "Problems" of one sort or another are unavoidable. They are part of the "package" that Hashem gives us in order to accomplish whatever growth or tikun is designated for us in this world.

Third, I don't think such discussions can prevent culture shock. Everybody who travels, even on vacation, undergoes culture shock. It's also unavoidable, but it's not fatal. People adjust. They recover.

Finally, Moriyah, as I've tried to point out before. It's completely irrelevant. A Jew performs a mitzvah because it's been commanded by Hashem and issues external to that are simply not part of the equation. Whatever is here has been allowed by Hashem for His own reasons.

The seven nations were the worst of the worst, but Hashem did not say "Oh, children, stay in the wilderness until I remove the seven nations. You don't want to be exposed to their tumah." No! He told us to come home to the Land promised to our forefathers and to begin work immediately to remove the tumah ourselves. And nothing has changed!! Hashem expects us to do the work and the Jews still in chu"l have no right to shirk their portion of the responsibility. (Not unlike the two and a half tribes who wanted to settle over the Jordan.)

Don't you see that the key to overcoming the Erev Rav regime is large numbers of Torah-believing (Torah-acting) Jews to come home? It is a war to conquer the Land. The Erev Rav brought 300,000 goyim from the CIS and now they are bringing all kinds of "refugees." If our religious brothers and sisters won't come and help do their part to conquer the Holy Land for Torah, what else can we do?

At least in Eretz Yisrael we have the right (and the obligation) to conquer it for Torah. In chu"l, you're just a (tolerated) guest in someone else's home.

Yesterday I quoted a letter from Mishpacha magazine written by a reader irate that an entire magazine issue was dedicated to the issue of aliyah. I'd like to end this current discussion of the topic with a portion of a letter from this week's edition of Mishpacha written in response to one of the aliyah articles. It was authored by a rabbi whom I love and respect and whom I feel greatly privileged to know personally---Rabbi Sholom Gold of Har Nof, Yerushalayim:

"...I was profoundly disappointed that the one crucial and vital imperative that brought me on aliyah in 1982 was totally absent from the roundtable [featured discussion]. I came on aliyah because it is a mitzvah----plain, simple, period. A mitzvah! The only role "tafkid" can play is as a temporary exemption from the mitzvah.

The Chazon Ish writes: 'The halachah has already been decided like the Rambam and the Ramban, that it is a mitzvah to live in Eretz Yisrael, and it is well known how much the Chofetz Chaim longed to come to Eretz Yisrael.' It couldn't be clearer or more emphatic than that.

Before I left the Young Israel of West Hempstead, I flew to Toronto to meet with Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky, who was visiting there at the time. We had a fascinating, wide-ranging conversation during which, in response to a question I asked, he said (the words are engraved on my heart and mind), 'Sholom, I hold that it is a mitzvah to live in Eretz Yisrael now, as it always was, and if I could, I would go to the airport right now and get onto a plane, but I can't...'

...American Orthodox Jews need to hear a clear clarion call to come home, and soon. They should come face-to-face with the reality that Eretz Yisrael is ours, it is accessible, it is Hashem's great gift to His people. Everyone knows the words of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, that Hashem gave three good gifts to His people, and all three were given through toil and sacrifice: Torah, Eretz Yisrael and Olam HaBa. No one would ever say, 'Okay, Hashem, Torah is a good gift, but no thank you, it's not for me.' Nor would one ever dismiss Olam HaBa. But Eretz Yisrael seems to get in the way of many people's "tafkidim,' so it is not on the agenda. That is a pity."

Amen!

Second American Revolution (Part 2)

3 Adar `א

I have to say that my feelings are mixed when it comes to encouraging Western, particularly American, Jews to make aliyah. Invariably, they want to drag America with them when they come. They want to strengthen democracy and tolerance. They view the Israel/America relationship as sacrosanct and perpetuate the xian image of the Jewish G-d. All things which I personally abhor. It is the American immigrants who have made the shidduchim whereby missionaries and "right-wing" politicians have gained entre to Israeli society.

Take Mike Huckabee for example. The English news division of Arutz Sheva (American immigrants by and large) is gaga over him. (Do a search and se how many articles have been written about him for A7.) An American Jewess, who visits Israel frequently, came into my workplace the other day and raved on and on about getting her picture taken with Huckabee. They call him "a solid supporter of Israel;" wants to move the American Embassy to Jerusalem (please don't!); says the Arabs have 22 other countries to live in (yes, but what about the Israeli Arabs?).

It so happens that Mike Huckabee is one of those new revolutionaries who wants to take the US back to it's true xian roots. If the theocrats in America can take over the political landscape by infiltrating all the higher offices, they don't need to resort to a coup.

Huckabee: Change the Constitution to bring it in line with "G-d's standards" (as defined by xians, of course)


Vigilante justice in Huckabee's America: Execute whoever leaked Wikileaks cables

Huckabee on the Peace Process: The best way to make peace with the Palestinians is to provide them with good jobs


Settler leader praying to see Huckabee in Oval Office

If settler leader Dani Dayan could vote in the 2012 United States presidential elections, he would throw his support behind possible Republican contender Mike Huckabee.

“Our prayer is to see you [Huckabee] in the Oval Office,” said Dayan, who heads the council of Jewish Communities of Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip.

Huckabee met up with a group of Christian tourists who were traveling with him. The whole group was then entertained by country music played by the Waller brothers from Tennessee.

The Wallers are self-admitted missionaries and Mike Huckabee is a Baptist minister. Huckabee would of necessity oppose any move on Israel's part to tighten anti-missionary laws or to remove the Arabs from Israel. This so-called settler "leader" has his head screwed on backwards.

In this there will be no difference between an Obama and a Huckabee. Israel will have a "friend" in the White House as long as she is attached to Edom and acts as a virtual pipeline for Western culture to the Middle East. On the day that any Israeli leader, i.e. Mashiach, refuses to continue to cooperate, it won't matter if it's a Republican or a Democrat and we have already seen this all played out over and over again in recent history, but for a people whose refrain is "never again!", the Jews seem to have a very short memory.

I think there must once have been a time when Jews would have steered clear of any politician openly professing the religious views that Huckabee espouses, but that day appears to be over. There's no telling how many "right-wing" and "Orthodox" Jewish Americans would vote for him given the opportunity, out of fear of Obama.

Huckabee's allegiance to his man-god Yeshu will trump any loyalty to rights protected under the constitution. Not allowed? Just amend it! All Jews have to gather in Israel before Yeshu will come back? So send them on over. It'll be doing them a favor!

And fortunate they will be if their fate follows the model of Medieval Spain and not 20th-century Europe! G-d forbid!!

To finish this subject, I'd like to draw your attention to the flyer pictured at the top. It says:

THE AWAKENING!
Because our Faith matters...Because our Freedom matters.
Raising Our Voices: Equipping and Empowering a New Revolution

They mean to do it. They've been working at it for many, many years and they are getting very impatient to see it accomplished now. Watch the following video and imagine you're a Jew living in an America ruled by these people.

Answering "M's" Question

2 Adar`א

M said...

Hello Devash,
What do you recommend for a Jew that is a Israeli Citizen who lived abroad for over 10 years and is only a Toshav Chozer....really no rights like an Oleh other then tax break and customs break. Add to that an upside down mortgage (house worth less then paid for), no money in savings, credit cards bills, car bills on top of mortgage payment and other misc. bills and 3 kids. How does someone in that situation move to Israel? Can not even afford the plane ticket and has no family to go to in Israel. This Jew does have faith and loves HKB"H, but is just too poor to go. What do you suggest to do?

You see Jews all over the world are panicking but they can at least do Aliya....some can't, what is a Rabbi like Nir Ben Arzi suggest to do? If all Jews can make Aliya on there own and even Israeli citizens can return and can they should right away...I know we are all in danger, but destitute Jews or sick Jews that take care of elderly parents for example, can't. What are they to do? I guess just trust in HKB"H to come and pick them up, right?

Please answer. M

First of all, let this be a lesson to those who would make aliyah and then after two or three years turn around and go back. (Not to imply that this is what “M” did. But if you think it is difficult coming the first time, try doing it two or three times and I speak from personal experience.)

Get this if you get nothing else: Jews of the West are building homes and lives on a slowly sinking ship. The end is coming, faster every day. It’s not by accident that they say the housing market is “under water”! People speak about aliyah as if they actually have a choice. Believe me, that is only an illusion. The only choice you have is to do it the easy way or the hard way, sooner as opposed to later.

"...I shall take you out of the peoples, and I shall gather you from the lands in which you were scattered, with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with poured out fury. And I shall bring you to the wilderness of the peoples, and I shall contend with you there face to face. As I contended with your forefathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I contend with you, says the Lord God. And I shall cause you to pass under the rod, and I shall bring you into the transmission of the covenant. And I shall separate from you those who rebel and those who transgress against Me; from the land of their sojournings I shall take them, but to the land of Israel they shall not come, and you will know that I am the Lord.

...But on My holy mount, on the mountain of the height of Israel, says the Lord God. There all the house of Israel-yea, all of them-will serve Me in the land; there I will accept them, and there I will require your heave offerings and the first of your food with all your hallowed things. With a pleasing savor I shall accept you when I take you out of the nations, and I shall gather you from the lands in which you were scattered, and I shall be hallowed through you before the eyes of the nations. And you will know that I am the Lord when I bring you to the land of Israel, to the land that I lifted My hand to give to your forefathers." (Yechezkel 20)

There is no question that there are Jews who feel that they truly cannot come, but I guarantee you that they will come in the end, because Hashem has promised that He will not leave any behind. As far as sick parents go, are there no doctors or hospitals or nursing homes in Eretz Yisrael? And they will be better cared for as Jews. If tomorrow, the Jews woke up in 1938 Germany, knowing what was coming, I guarantee you that they would find a way to leave. But the trouble with Western Jews is that despite what their eyes see and what their ears hear, they honestly don't believe that the exile will ever end. And forget about any belief in yishuv ha'aretz as a mitzvah. There are rabbis telling people all day, every day, that it's simply a matter of personal choice.

(Hang tight, M, I promise I'm getting to your question.)

Recently, the Mishpacha magazine did a feature on aliyah and one man wrote a letter of protest, not even embarrassed to sign his name to it. I excerpt it here (without the name) for your edification:

...I was not only disappointed [with the issue] - I was offended!

Aliyah is a real issue and topic, to be sure, but an entire magazine issue revolving around it? How presumptuous of you! Do you honestly think that your readers spend hard-earned money and invest precious time reading to be insulted this way? What if, for whatever reason, aliyah isn't relevant to me? Do I not deserve a single article that speaks to me? [Note: I read the issue in question and all the regular weekly articles were there and did not deal with aliyah at all.] Or has Mishpacha decided for us that aliyah is relevant to evey single Jew, and thus it is our responsibility to know all about it? Do you really think I buy the magazine to feel like I'm being preached to?

Forgive my harsh tone, but this week's issue has left me reeling, and perhaps underscores the entire "supremacist" attitude of those who have made aliyah, the patronizing way that they view us "still here" in comfortable, secure America, as second-class citizens.

He might as well say that Yehoshua ben Nun and Calev ben Yefuneh had a "supremacist" and "patronising" attitude toward the other ten spies. This is the voice of a rebellious son in the extreme. "What if aliyah is not relevant to me?" Aliyah is relevant to every Jew in this generation. Every Jew belongs in Eretz Yisrael. In this generation, the whole Jewish world is divided into those who've made aliyah and those who have not yet made aliyah. Those who've already made aliyah have passed a major test of Jewish life. There is no question about that. That they call to their brothers to join them, assuring them that the water is fine and the land is good is an act of goodwill and caring, not the evil thing so many on the "wrong" side of the ocean are trying to accuse them of. If you are one of those who have this bad, mad attitude, get over it! It's HKB"H you have to contend with and you are already on the losing side. Submit your will to His, and get used to the idea that you have no more choice in this matter. The world as we've always known it is ending. A new reality is dawning.

Now, tachlis. "M", I'm not a rabbi, so I'm not speaking here halachicly. The Jews have had since 9/11 to get their affairs in order and make their aliyah arrangements. All during that time, Nefesh b'Nefesh operated offering cash incentives and making it easier than ever to make aliyah from the West. I don't mean to be insulting to you "M" , but we've arrived to a time when we have to speak very frankly to one another. When you left Israel at that time, it was the worst thing to do and now it is going to cost you to correct that mistake. There are perfectly legal things you can do to get out of the situation that your bad judgment created for you. People all across America are doing it. I don't see why the Jews shouldn't also take advantage of it.

You can stop making your house payments and let the house go back to the bank. I know of people who have been two years in their homes without making a payment. They are banking that money in the meantime. In your case, you can use it to buy your tickets and get a fresh start in Israel. Cars can be given back to the bank and bankruptcy can eliminate the credit card debt. It doesn't take care of student debt, but that payment can be deferred for a good period of time in order to allow you to get resettled.

So many people see parnasah as the biggest obstacle, but really it's lack of faith that is the biggest obstacle. The same Hashem who provides your paycheck in chu"l can find you in EY and deliver it personally.

The only people I see who have a real problem without a good solution are those who are divorced and paying child support or can't remove their children from the country without the court's approval. Those who do not lie to Hashem when they pray every day to return to Zion, who truly want to come but really can't, if they ask for His help, Hashem will provide some way for them.

Also, "M", I've heard this from others as well, but no Jew should ever say "I have no family in Israel." All Jews are family and even more so in Eretz Yisrael.

The following links should prove helpful:

Drastic Drop in Returning Israelis

...Absorption Minister Sofa Landver is now calling on the government to fund a second wave of benefits.

“We’re at a crossroads today on the issue of aliya and returning Israelis,” she said at Sunday’s cabinet meeting. “The State of Israel must take advantage of the window of opportunity that has been created and invest much greater funds in taking advantage of the enormous human potential available to us. We have to act before it’s too late.”

In response to the new figures, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday ordered the establishment of a joint committee of Absorption Ministry and Prime Minister’s Office officials that will develop a new benefits program for returnees within 30 days and present the plan to the government for funding.

Spending on returnee benefits enjoys a broad consensus among government officials, especially in the powerful Budgets Department of the Finance Ministry, because returnees tend to be highly skilled, educated and of working age, including a higher-than-average percentage of academics, scientists and those working in technical professions.

Jewish Agency reaches out to Israelis abroad

Tourism fair to offer 2,000 jobs

"M", I wish you much mazal, brachah and hatzlachah to bring your family and return to the only Jewish homeland.

With love from your Israeli "Savta,"
Devash

The Second American Revolution is Being Prepared

Rosh Chodesh
30 Shevat 5771


What if Democracy is just an historical aberration? What if all the quasi democracies in the Middle East are about to go Islamic while the Vatican bails out the EU in exchange for a revival of the Holy Roman Empire. Maybe the whole world will prepare for Mashiach's worldwide reign by reverting each one to a theocratic society.

And what about America? Will it undergo a second revolution to install the theocracy that the Christian Right has been drooling for?

Don't think it's possible? Maybe it's just flying beneath your radar screen. Pay attention now.

The photo inset is taken from a video titled "Reclaim 7 Mountains of Culture." The video lays out a plan by which the Church can take over America and the world. It speaks of "enemies of the gospel" and "advancing the Kingdom of God." It lays out each mountain to be conquered by identifying its "good" and "evil" sides. For the Mountain of Religion which it depicts with a cross (see above) it says: "The Mountain of Religion, where people worship God in spirit and in truth...", i.e. the "good" way (the xian way); "...or settle for a religious ritual," i.e. the "evil" way (any other way, and that would, of course, include Judaism).

Read up on The Family:

"...The organization has been described as one of the most politically well-connected ministries in the United States. ...Although the organization is secretive, it holds one regular public event each year, the National Prayer Breakfast held in Washington, D.C. Every sitting United States president since President Dwight D. Eisenhower, up to President Barack Obama, has participated in at least one National Prayer Breakfast during his term. The Fellowship's known participants include ranking United States government officials, corporate executives, heads of religious and humanitarian aid organizations, and ambassadors and high ranking politicians from across the world. Many United States Senators and Congressmen who have publicly acknowledged working with the Fellowship or are documented as having done so work together to pass or influence legislation."

And its "C Street" connection.

"...Despite their political differences—[Senator Tom] Coburn and [Representative Zach] Wamp are Republicans, [Representative Bart] Stupak and [Representative Mike] Doyle are Democrats—they had pledged to hold one another to a life lived by the principles of Jesus, and they considered the Tuesday supper gatherings at C Street an inviolable ritual."

And what about the Tea Party Movement whose language is reminiscent of revolution?

Tea Party, Meet the Religious Right

...the tea-party movement is no longer merely populist, libertarian, or anti-government, if it ever was. It is theocratic. Indeed, after several months in which the religious right seemed lost and dispirited, it has found a way to ride the tea-party express into renewed relevance.

From the beginning, of course, there's been overlap between the tea parties and the Christian right. Both have their strongholds in the white South, and both arise out of a sense of furious dispossession, a conviction that the country that is rightfully theirs has been usurped by sinister cosmopolitan elites. They have the same favorite politicians -- particularly [Sarah] Palin and Rep. Michele Bachmann, who is also speaking in Nashville. Glenn Beck, the media figure most associated with the tea-party movement, has a worldview deeply shaped by apocalyptic Mormonism; he is contemptuous of the idea of church-state separation and believes the United States was founded to be a Christian nation. (As they all do!)

...enterprising theocrats would look to the tea parties for salvation. And [Rick] Scarborough, for one, is nothing if not enterprising. ...The author of books like In Defense of … Mixing Church and State and the pithier Liberalism Kills Kids, Scarborough spent the Bush years organizing conferences that brought together conservative Republicans with preachers and activists working for the imposition of biblical law. (according to the xian interpretation, of course).

They even have a standing army waiting in the wings to enforce their version of "biblical law."



So what does all this portend for the Jews? "Behold I will send for many fishers, says the Lord, and they will fish them, and afterwards I will send to many hunters and they will hunt them from upon every mountain and upon every hill, and from the clefts of the rocks." (Yirmiyahu 16.6)

The American theocrats believe that the time for the "fishers" is ending and the time for the "hunters" is about to begin. Is this to be the "humiliating" end of American Jewry that Rabbi Nir Ben Artzi speaks about? Will American Jews be hunted, rounded up and shipped to Israel like so much cattle, forced to leave everything behind?

Fishers and Hunters by Rachel Tabachnick

...For decades apocalyptic Christian Zionists have demonized Jews as the source of evil in American society while wrapped in the protection of an Israeli flag. No single source demonstrates this better than the book "Let My People Go," written by Tom Hess, a major Christian Zionist figure for three decades. ...Hess claims that American Jews have failed to fulfill God's purpose because of their attachment to the fleshpots of America:

"...the Jewish people today are in slavery to many false gods in America.... My prayer is that American Jewish people become aware of the bondages to these gods and break free from them.. They must make Aliyah (return) to Israel before greater judgment or plagues come upon America. The Jewish people in America must be freed from this slavery to materialism in all of its forms in order to escape to Israel. Because of the way the Jewish people have prospered and been blessed in America, this struggle is even greater than it was to leave Europe more than seventy years ago."

This demonizing of "liberal or secular" Jews has become such an acceptable part of Christian Zionism that this rhetoric is now widely used by those Jewish leaders and writers who partner with them. This is apparently done without consideration of the danger to all Jews, left and right, secular or observant, as these slurs become more acceptable and are increasingly applied to any Jewish person that does not support the Christian Zionist agenda.

...(Hess) "There is so much blood on American soil, it is a miracle we have not already been destroyed as a nation! Many secular, reformed and conservative Jews have encouraged abortion despite the fact that the killing of their future generations will affect the future of the Jewish people. There is little difference today between child sacrifice in the Old Testament and abortions today."

Hess goes on to warn his "Jewish friends" of what will happen to them if they do not leave their attachments to the sins of the United States. He uses the now infamous fishers and hunters example, claiming that Christian Zionists are the fishers trying to encourage Jews to leave the United States and other countries around the world before the hunters come after them. There are echoes of John Hagee's "Hitler as God's hunter" sermon, also exposed in a video by Bruce Wilson.

(Hess)"...People ask: Why did God allow the Holocaust in Europe? For years, a loving God warned the Jews to leave through Jewish Zionist prophets, but ninety percent of them refused to leave before it was too late! If more than ten percent of the Jews leave America before it falls or becomes a lesser power, it would be one of the first times in history. Zechariah 12:8 said that two thirds of the Jews in the world would be killed. One third of them, six million have already been killed in the Holocaust. I am concerned that six million more could be devastated in America unless they return soon.

God says in Jeremiah 16:16 that he will send for many fishers to warn and help them return to Israel. In Europe, the fishers were the Zionist and the hunters were the Nazis. Today in America the fishers are the Jewish prophets as well as the Christian Zionists. May the Jewish people respond to the fishers today or the hunters may soon come. In America they could be the KKK, Islamic terrorists or others.

This book is written with a deep love to warn the Jewish people to escape the Daughter of Babylon (USA) because it is about to be greatly devastated. Precious Jewish people, if you don't leave immediately, you may go back with no money, you may be killed or may not be able to go back at all."

The book was first published in 1987 with six additional editions published in several languages.

...For these apocalyptic Christian Zionists, "good Jews" are those who act in accordance to the role assigned to them in this end time drama while "bad Jews" or those that stay in their respective countries for reasons of greed, materialism, and other evils. Likewise, they view Jewish leaders who work in conjunction with Christian Zionists as doing God's will, while those Jewish leaders who resist their assigned roles in this apocalyptic drama are supposedly avoiding God's will due to their attachment to evil, usually described as being of a liberal or secular nature. Those Jewish leaders who veer from the Christian Zionist narrative become vilified as obstacles to God's will, regardless of their previous partnership.

Hess' book has been used in Russia and Eastern Europe in coordination with extensive Christian Zionist efforts to encourage Jews to make aliyah as well as proselytizing Jewish communities.

...The introduction to Let My People Go was written by the late David A. Lewis, founder of a previous organization called Christians United for Israel. From the introduction:

"Very frankly, if I were a Jewish person, I would take Tom Hess message very seriously. Having a love for Israel and the Jewish people, it would give me deep pain for some of my Jewish friends to leave these shores and make aliyah to Zion. I think, however, that the pain of staying could conceivably be worse. I do recall that the Jews of Germany were saying that it couldn't happen right up until the time of the unleashing of the Holocaust. After 911, the USA will never be the same. Also, if we should see a financial collapse in America, there will be a search for a scapegoat. The history of western civilization demonstrates that the scapegoat usually, if not always, turns out to be the Jew."

Like the sailors on the storm-tossed ship carrying Yonah HaNavi, the storm-battered gentiles of the world are going to figure it out---that everything that happens in the world is for the sake of the Jews. When they realize that their only hope for survival will be to toss the Jews overboard, then look out!