30 June 2014

Baruch Dayan HaEmet

3 Tamuz 5774

The three yeshivah bachurim have been found. According to reports, they were murdered soon after capture. On the recording of the cellphone call which was considered to be a "prank" by the police, gunshots were heard and shell casings were recovered from the burned-out car which was found the day after they went missing. Their bodies were discovered in a field today near Halhoul in the Hevron District.

May G-d speedily avenge their blood!!!!

29 June 2014

With An Eye on the Daily Headlines

1 Tamuz 5774
Rosh Chodesh

Excepted from Lights on Orot by R. David Samson and Tzvi Fishman:

"...What does it mean to 'yearn for Salvation'? The commentary of the Ran explains this as a yearning for the fulfillment of the words of the Prophets in one's lifetime. A Jew has to have one eye on the Tanach, and one eye on the daily headlines to see how the prophecies of Redemption are being materialized in his lifetime...."

Mid East is sizzling: Armed US drones over Baghdad, Saudi, Jordanian tanks deploy

IDF preparing for possible Gaza offensive

Thousands flee Ukraine for Russia; truce nears end

North Korea fires 2 short-range missiles

Thousands go without water as Detroit cuts service for nonpayment

The race to stop Las Vegas from running dry

27 June 2014

Parshat Chukat 5774

29 Sivan 5774
Erev SHabbat Kodesh
Erev Rosh Chodesh Tamuz

Parashat Hukkat: Towards the Land of the free
by Daniel Pinner

Parashat Hukkat opens with the mitzvah of the red heifer, which is subdivided into 3 mitzvot and which spans 22 verses (the whole of Numbers Chapter 19). And with this mitzvah the narrative of the generation which exited from Egypt concludes.

The Torah continues: “The Children of Israel – the entire community – came to the Zin Desert in the first month” (Numbers 20:1), the first month of the fortieth and final year of their desert wandering, either on the 1st of Nissan (Megillat Ta’anit 17, Seder Olam Rabbah 9) or the 10th of Nisan (Targum Yonatan to Numbers 20:1).

Some thirty-eight silent years are unaccounted for between the mitzvah of the red cow and the Children of Israel coming to the Zin Desert – thirty-eight years during which the adult men who had left Egypt and had been infused with slave mentality had passed from the world and died in the desert.

The “entire community” who came to the Zin Desert was the new generation – the generation which had been forged in the desert, free and unafraid, the generation which had not been raised in slavery, the generation which would be worthy of inheriting the Land of Israel.

And their first test was not long in coming: “The Canaanite, king of Arad, the Negev-dweller, heard that Israel had come by the way of the spies [derech ha-atarim], and he warred against Israel and captured a prisoner from it”.

The translation of “atarim” as “spies” follows Targum Onkelos, Targum Yonatan, Rashbam, and Ibn Ezra. That is to say, the king of Arad, in the south of Israel, 40 km (25 miles) due east of Beer Sheva (8 km/5 miles west of the present-day town of Arad), saw the Children of Israel approaching along the same route that the spies had followed a generation earlier, and realised that their time had come to enter and conquer their Land. Realising that he was inevitably going to be dispossessed by the Israelites who were coming home, the king of Arad initiated combat with the Israelites and took a prisoner of war.

The Talmud Yerushalmi (Yoma 1:1 and Sotah 1:10) and the Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 19:20 and Sifrei Bamidbar ,Beha’alot’cha 82 among others) understand “atarim” to be a cognate of “tayyar” (leader, guide).

Rashi, in his commentary to Numbers 21:1, cites both these explanations of the word “atarim”.

The Midrashim apply the appellation “tayyar” to Aaron who had just died in the immediately preceding verses and to the Ark of the Covenant which travelled a three-day journey ahead of the Children of Israel to guide them (Numbers 10:33).

“‘The entire community saw that Aaron had passed away’ (Numbers 20:29) – and what is written immediately afterwards? – ‘The Canaanite, king of Arad, the Negev-dweller, heard…’ You find that when Aaron died the Clouds of Glory vanished, and they [Israel] appeared like a woman with uncovered hair. Who was the king of Arad? – He was Amalek, as it says ‘Amalek dwells in the Negev [south] land’ (Numbers13:29)… – he dwelt on the border. When he heard that Aaron had died and the Clouds of Glory had vanished, he immediately attacked them. ‘Derech ha-atarim’ [which above we translated ‘by the way of the spies’] means following the great Guide which led them along their way, as it says ‘the Ark of Hashem’s Covenant travelled ahead of them a three-day journey to seek out a resting-place for them’ (Numbers 10:33). ‘And he [Amalek] warred against Israel’ (Numbers 21:1)” (Bamidbar Rabbah 19:20).

The Targum Yonatan (Numbers 21:1) has a slightly different exposition: “Amalek, who was dwelling in the south-land, who came and disguised himself and ruled in Arad, heard that Aaron’s soul had gone to its rest and that the Pillar of Cloud which in his merit had guided the nation of the House of Israel had vanished, and that Israel had come by the same way as the spies to the place wherein they had rebelled against the Lord of the Universe. When the spies had returned, the Children of Israel were encamped in Rekam [an alternative name for Kadesh Barnea], and they turned back from Rekam and returned to Moseroth, six journeys [compare Numbers 33:31-36]. For 40 years they travelled from Moseroth, then they returned to Rekam by way of the spies and they came to Taurus Amanus [an alternative name for Mount Hor, Numbers 20:22], where Aaron died. And thus [Amalek] came and waged war against Israel and took from them much captivity”.

Or, in the terser words of the Talmud, “‘The Canaanite, king of Arad, the Negev-dweller, heard’. What did he hear? – He heard that Aaron had died and that the Clouds of Glory had vanished, so he reckoned that he now had permission to war against Israel” (Rosh Hashanah 3a, Ta’anit 9a).

A generation earlier, when the Children of Israel saw the scattered remnants of the recently-decimated Egyptian Army approaching them when they stood on the sands of the beach of the Red Sea, they were terrified and had no fighting spirit (Exodus 14:10-12). A few weeks later, when Amalek attacked them in the desert, they had barely more fighting spirit; as the Ibn Ezra notes, “Amalek came with a small nation, yet had it not been for Moshe’s prayer, he [Amalek] would have overpowered Israel” (commentary to Exodus 14:13).

And a little more than a year after that, when the spies returned from their mission, they managed to cast the entire nation into unreasoning panic simply by invoking the name of Amalek and relating that “Amalek dwells in the Negev land” (Numbers 13:29).

Now, a generation later, their response was totally different. This generation who had been nurtured in the harsh freedom of the desert had no fear of fighting. When Amalek, the king of Arad, attacked them and took a captive, they did not flee from this enemy king, neither did they attempt to make peace with him; they did not negotiate for the return of this captive, nor did they organise a brief foray into his territory with the intention of withdrawing as soon as possible; nor even did they call on an outside force to help settle their differences.

Rather, Moshe led Israel in battle to defeat this king, and the nation stood solidly behind Moshe in his response. They annihilated his city and renamed it Hormah (“utter destruction”) to eternalise the lesson of how the Jewish nation responds to a captive who is captured by an enemy.

This, even though the enemy captured only one captive, a slave-woman (Yalkut Shimoni 764; Rashi, Numbers 21:1), “and he killed no one” (Sforno, Numbers 21:1).

Thus responds a nation free and self-confident. And thus acts a nation which is worthy of independence in its homeland. They go to all-out war to defend their own – and even to bring back a servant of theirs who is held captive. Let everyone know that they are safer as a servant of Israel than as a free citizen of an enemy of Israel!

And this free generation of the desert, the generation which will begin to conquer and inherit the Land of Israel less than a year hence, felt no need to justify what they had done, felt no embarrassment at violating the civil rights of the king of Arad and his people. Far from using euphemisms to express their military action, and far from insisting that their response was and would remain “proportionate” and that they really desired nothing more than peace if only the enemy would agree to talk, they unashamedly renamed the city “Utter Destruction”.

Following this, the Children ofIsrael continued on their approach to the border with the Land of Israel, encamping at Oboth, then onto Zered, and then onto Arnon on the border of Amorite territory (Numbers 21:10-13). And there, to celebrate a well which they encountered, “then Israel sang this song: Arise, O well, declare unto it! O well which was dug by princes, excavated by the nobles of the nation by a lawgiver, by their staves, and a gift from the desert…” (vs. 17-20).

This is the third of ten songs that Israel would ever sing, nine in the days of the Tanach and the tenth destined to be sung in the days of mashiach (Mechilta de-Rabbi Yishmael, Shirata 1; Tanhuma, Beshallach 10; Yalkut Shimoni, Exodus 242 et. al.).

The Ben Ish Chai (Rabbi Yosef Chayim, Baghdad, 1832-1909) expounds upon this: “It is known that the source of Israel’s souls is called ‘a well’, and there everything is unity, which is why Israel are called ‘a nation’, and therefore the Torah says that ‘with seventy souls [“nefesh”, literally “soul” in the singular] your fathers went down to Egypt’ (Deuteronomy 10:22), calling them ‘nefesh’ (soul) in the singular and not ‘nefashot’ (souls) in the plural. Such was not the case with Esau, whose family are called ‘nefashot’, because the source of the souls of the nations of the world is separateness” (Ben Ish Chai Halachot, Parashat Hukkat year 2).

The generation that had grown up never tasting slavery, free in the desert, untainted by fear of the nations, was the generation that fully internalised and epitomised this unity, the brotherhood of all Jews. This was the generation that fully knew how to respond to attacks, knew the appropriate response to an enemy who dares to take one of our nation captive.

And such was the generation that was worthy of inheriting the Land of Israel.

26 June 2014

Numbers Don't Lie, Do They?

28 Sivan 5774

Language can be manipulated, but numbers don't lie. Or do they?

The reported "unemployment" rate in the US is 6.3 %.

But, the "labor force participation" rate is 62.8 %. Using that statistic, that means that 37.2 % of the population is unemployed.

According to this report, less people working results in a lower unemployment rate...

"The tepid labor force participation rate, which has hovered for months at its lowest level in four decades, is a primary reason the unemployment rate has fallen rapidly in the years since the recession ended in 2009."

Can anyone else make sense of this? I sure can't! However, this I get...

"...the headline unemployment rate has proven misleading as an indicator for the health of the broader economy,...."

25 June 2014

Binyamin: "The Last Crusade" - Questions and Answers (Part 2)

27 Sivan 5774

The following message was given on the 26th of May when the Pontiff was in Israel.

Communication with Binyamin

Jerusalem, 26 Iyar 5774

Question: It very much amazes me, how it can be that a Jew reads Psalms every day, and expects that King David will help him with his prayers and now, he won't wake up to the very thought that David HaMelech, alav hashalom, himself needs his help, how does he discount the shoulder-pulling and simply disregard the horror?!...


Answer:  The answer is, because people today are doing almost every thing, also in holiness, for the sake of their needs, and not for the sake of the needs of the gadol hador or the tzadik who is buried there. He needs certain things... He needs A, B, C, D,... Because he's suffering - so, he comes to the tzadik. Because he doesn't think that it can be that one like David HaMelech, alav hashalom, that from his seed comes Mashiach -  that his Psalms will help him. It's not getting through his head. He knows what he needs - and that's it. And aside from this - he doesn't want problems.


Question: So, what are we doing in order that people will open their eyes?


Answer: I want to tell you that things are going to be so confusing and so difficult, and the majority of it will be mainly in the world, though we will also take some hits - but, it won't be like what will happen in the world and then, the Jews will open their eyes.


Look at what's happening in Europe. On the same day that we saw the Jews that were in the Jewish museum in Brussels - elections took place. The elections were for the general European government election as well as the Belgian government. And now, who got in? Mainly, the right grew very, very powerful, the Neo-Nazis! In the general European rule as well as the Belgian and that's scary. Murderers of Jews. Also in France, they murdered Jewish children. The most frightening. And there are very many Europeans who want to move, and they have nowhere to go - only to Israel, to Eretz Yisrael. Because where will they go? Every place is dangerous. And anyway, a real-Jew feels much safer in Eretz Yisrael. It's their place - how can it not be? They sense it in their soul.


Question: Where do the Arabs fit into this story?


Answer: The Edomites do not love the Ishmaelites. Pay attention to what they're doing. They're taking a place like Syria, and making like there's a "war" here between the Russians and the Americans and the Europeans.  And so, the Americans "support the rebels," and the Russians "give to the other side," and Paras (Iran) is giving also to Assad. It's a situation that appears like we have 'almost a world war' between the Russians, the Iranians and the Chinese against the Americans, the Europeans and the British. But, what's really going on? It's all a show. That's how they encourage the Arabs to kill each other themselves. And so, they don't need to work so much... They don't need to go to war. And so also the whole world accepts it... What do they care if the Syrians kill each other... Well, there is much news... But, it's impossible... Don't get involved really.


It's the same thing in Egypt, there they really comprehend that the Americans are making fun of them. But, the British - they raised up 'the Muslim Brotherhood,' and they were sent to overthrow Mubarak, and afterwards to make problems. And etc., and etc. It's like one-against-the-other. And this is what they're calling the "Arab Spring," because this is how this system passes from country to country. Thus they're making their war against Yishmael. Therefore, we're actually already in World War III. Do you understand?


Question: Actually, if so, they're eliminating the Arab authorities without going in...

Answer: Correct. Going in minimally.

Question: The Africans who are increasing recently in the area, isn't it part of this globalist agenda, to integrate the African-Christians here?

Answer: Most certainly. They're bringing not just Ethiopians. There are Ethiopians for whom it is possible to say that at some stage they were Jews, and they are perhaps Jews, but they are bringing those whom it's certain they are gentiles. And not only that, they're combining them now. You don't understand. They're combining them quietly. And they are exactly-Christians.

They want to turn this place into, for example, a symbol of the world-center of various-peoples-with-one-religion which they are creating now. And it's for this that they need to rule over all our holy places, including Mama Rachel, including Rashbi, including who-knows-what, apparently all of them.

And the IDF - indeed there are more groups there who are really Jews - but, to our great sorrow, it's full-full of gentiles.

Question: So, the people are actually just marching like sheep to the slaughter...

Answer:  Right, correct. Not all the people, but many. Most of the people - from all the years of secularism, and from all the determination to be like the gentiles, they simply lost their Jewish foundation, their Jewish feeling, and they only understand the language of the gentiles. That's not everyone, it's much. There are many who, with just enough of a drop of intention, a little care - and their Jewish heart will start to beat again.

Question: Did the Pope's visit to Eretz Yisrael teach us that a new era has begun in the world?

Answer: That he came - it's a symbol of a changing world. Now, he went home and said they should come to him 'to make peace.' But, this already says that the world is changing. That's it. The world tomorrow - it's another world.

Question: Regarding the earthquake that we had here in the Land not long ago, it's brought in holy books that this occurs when there are changes in the government?

Answer: It's all warnings. I think that they already changed the government, it appears to me that it's already a government of gentiles.

Question: Are we already in the nine months of evil rule that's before Mashiach as mentioned in the Gemara?

Answer: According to my reckoning, the nine months rule of the evil kingdom already started.

Question: In accordance with what we see in Chazal, the difference between gentiles and Am Yisrael is the acceptance of the Torah, the utter and complete acceptance. That while Bnei Yisrael said 'na'aseh v'nishmah' with no exception, everything in wholeness, as opposed to the gentiles who accept only what is convenient for them...

Answer: Correct, and therefore on this Shavuot, we need to connect again a connection with HKB"H, by way of the Torah, by way of mitzvot.

Until today - most of the people in the world - the majority had a pretty good life. They're not exactly waiting for Mashiach. It wasn't foremost at the moment. Not what they wanted now. They wanted to make a little more money... And they wanted some other vacation to travel...  And etc.  But now - it will be difficult for us, not without purpose. Then, everyone will be waiting for Mashiach, but only the real Jews. The others - can't understand this idea at all. They will be waiting for the mashiach of the wicked Because, also they, so to speak, 'are waiting for Mashiach.' But their mashiach will be like 'another type of mashiach.' This will be the connection. And we must be careful not to become confused. Those who do teshuvah now - they won't be confused. But, those who continue with the path of the Lie - they're liable to become confused. 

We need to return in complete teshuvah, to leave the eigel hazahav. And to pass our time exclusively in holiness. And that's what will save us. Because then - when we request from HKB"H to bring Mashiach - then he will hear us.

Will the US Embassy in Baghdad Fall to ISIS?

27 Sivan 5774


In November 2007, The Guardian published this report on the then as-yet-to-be-opened US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq:

...The original budget for the embassy, the biggest US one in the world, was $592m (£296m) but this has jumped by a further $144m.

...The size and cost of the embassy is a signal of US intentions to stay in Iraq. The embassy, in Baghdad's heavily-fortified Green Zone, will be hidden behind blast walls and have 27 separate buildings, housing 615 people.


All of that may soon be coming to an end as attested in an excerpt from this report from PJ Media:

Contractors are being flown out Iraq, according to the Washington Post, to remove them from the line of advance of ISIS. 

...Although precautionary preparations have been made, the US embassy in Baghdad itself has not been evacuated. “The State Department said in January that it had about 5,000 personnel working at the embassy and at consulates in Basra and Irbil, including 2,000 Americans. Embassy personnel are protected by some 200 Marine Corps security guards.”


If the embassy is evacuated, it will leave what is perhaps one of the most lavish and expensive diplomatic facility in history in the hands of al-Qaeda. It contains what is probably a huge intelligence facility. “The 104-acre compound — already its biggest and most expensive in the world — currently houses 1,350 U.S. government employees in the heart of Baghdad’s International Zone and will increase its capacity because the U.S. is consolidating overall diplomatic property in Baghdad down by one-third. The most interesting upgrade is the construction of a data hall in an existing classified embassy annex building that will cost $20 to $35 million. It will require ‘electrical/telecommunication system upgrades [and] extensive mechanical and plumbing systems,’ according to a June 12 notice from the State Department.”


...The grandeur and magnificence of the Baghdad embassy has only been recently eclipsed in appointments by the new US embassy in London. 


...America will also be leaving behind a training effort “billed as the most ambitious American aid effort since the Marshall Plan — began in October and has already cost $500 million, including $343 million worth of construction projects around the country.”

If the embassy is evacuated as al-Qaeda reaches Baghdad the optics will be atrocious. The very magnificence of the buildings will underscore the magnitude of the defeat. The sheer size of the palaces will make destruction no easy task. For these grand edifices, constructed at so much taxpayer cost must be reduced to total ash by America’s own hand. The taxpayer pays for the matches.


...Baghdad has not yet fallen. It may never fall. But prospect should make people sit up and wonder whether they understand the meaning of the word “defeat”. It’s not just a word or military phrase, but a condition of unutterable loss and subjection. It is humiliation distilled. It is total abjection.

24 June 2014

Eisav's Grand Strategy

26 Sivan 5774

Eisav apparently has a grand strategy for the Middle East and it's been going on for awhile - at least since the early '80s when they armed Iran against Iraq during their war. In the next set of questions and answers from Binyamin's latest message, he tells us that the idea that a Russia-China-Iran axis would go to war with the US-Europe and Britain over Syria is just a show. It is apparently part of a master plan whose sole goal is to get the Arabs to kill each other off, leaving the oil fields clear for Western takeover.

This explains why America is arming both sides in the current battle for control over Iraq. In power is the puppet government installed by the coalition powers when Saddam Hussein was overthrown. Now, they are being conquered by an Islamic Caliphate army which got its arms and training from the same people. It also explains why the CIA covertly destabilized the long-standing governments in Libya, Egypt and Syria.

I guess it's like lighting a backfire to fight a fire. If you see you can't put out a fire, you purposely light another one that will burn toward the one you want to put out. When they meet in the middle and suddenly find there's no more fuel to burn, the fire goes out. It's very dangerous business, however. You're counting on the fact that you can control the fire and the direction it will take and not just double the conflagration. If I had to guess, I'd say it's leaning more towards the latter, unwanted outcome...

ISIS at the Saudi border; Jordanian border breached

Because it all depends on which way the wind is blowing and HASHEM is the One controlling that.

Could these events, along with the tragic kidnapping of three Jewish teens, be bringing us to the next big Israeli land conquest, as seems to be prophesied by Yeshayahu 11:12-14?

...And He shall raise a banner to the nations, and He shall gather the lost of Israel, and the scattered ones of Judah. He shall gather from the four corners of the earth.


[This prophecy will be fulfilled at the End of Days when the Jews have been regathered to Eretz Yisrael.]

And the envy of Ephraim shall cease, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, nor shall Judah vex Ephraim.


[Furthermore, it is a time when the Jews are no longer divided into two kingdoms, but live as one people in the Land.]

And they shall fly of one accord against the Philistines in the west, together they shall plunder the children of the East; upon Edom and Moab shall they stretch forth their hand, and the children of Ammon shall obey them.


[Directions are determined from Jerusalem: The "Philistines to the West" could be the Palestinians in Gaza. Maybe "fly" is to be taken literally as in an aerial bombardment. "East" could be what the world calls "the West Bank" and Edom, Moav and Ammon are Jordan or the "East Bank."]

Based upon the foregoing, I could see this current drive against Hamas due to the kidnapping escalating into an all-out invasion and re-taking of 'Palestinian' areas of Yesha, especially if it turns into a Third Intifada.* And if ISIS progresses to destabilize and bring down the monarchy in Jordan, I can see the IDF moving to control those areas as well.

Therefore, at some point in the future, Israel is destined to "occupy" even more land area than it now has. Just imagine how the world will react to such a scenario.

__________________________

*Maybe, this is the significance of "three" boys - a third intifada leading to the third temple.

One more side note: I understand that ISIS means "throne." Perhaps this is a hint that current events are leading to the crowning of Mashiach! Just a thought.

22 June 2014

Binyamin: "The Last Crusade" - Questions and Answers (Part 1)

24 Sivan 5774

The following message was given on the 26th of May when the Pontiff was in Israel.

Communication with Binyamin
Jerusalem, 26 Iyar 5774

Question: Askanim told me that they know of the existence of dozens of projects in various and diverse disciplines all run by means of various branches of evildoers. And the common goal is to destroy the Jews and Judaism. One of the objectives, for example, is to bring to the Land, to flood the place with a million gentiles, different nationalities, Sudanese and etc., and etc., in order to blur the Jewish identity of Eretz Yisrael. Likewise, there are projects, various programs to create arguments and disputes within the Torah-and-Mitzvot-observant community. They're operating on all fronts.

And it's not so secret. One of their heads recently said without hiding it, that now, finally, they're already operating inside the Chareidim, they have people who understand the spirit of things there and they have entered in there with all kinds of initiatives. They're proud of it. So, exactly what they are doing with the Arabs - they're doing also to us...

Answer: Correct, and this is what I wanted to explain to you. Look here, for whom are all these apartments?! It's not for Jews...! It's too many apartments. Much too many. Their plan - it's to bring to here very many gentiles and to make from this place a gentile place. Completely gentile. But, the moment that they will implement this and in the moment that in the government there will be a gentile-government, and it's already almost one, then Mashiach can come. We need to hold on and continue to draw close and to do teshuvah, and to clean ourselves, and to be holy.  'Kedoshim tihiyu' Hashem says to us - you shall be holy. We need to be holy. And this is what will save us.

Yes, we need, indeed, to say 'No' to all sorts of things that make demands on us, we need to stand and to live al kidush Hashem, but, in practice, HKB"H will do it, He Himself will make the great war, He Himself and our righteous Mashiach.

And if we will be clean and holy - then, it's possible to do it without fear. And if we won't be holy - it will be very hard. We really have to do teshuvah, real teshuvah, and to begin to live like Jews. That's our power. Because if we won't be righteous - then, how will we win? Because look here, we're not winners, Hashem does the job for us. And if we're not at a high enough spiritual level, and if we will fight, but afterwards return to our homes with the same nonsense - then what will that help us...?!

Question: The struggle here, I think - it's not something 'one-time.'  It needs to be something fundamental, and should come to the masses, not something small ... 

Answer: You're right, but what you don't understand - it's the size of the problem. Because it's not just Kever David HaMelech, the issue here is that this group of people who are already controlling the world and they're already controlling the strongest armies of the world, the American army, the Russian army, the Chinese army, the Europeans, the British, etc. And also the Israeli, correct, also this.

Now, they've decided that this is the place they want, not just Kever David HaMelech - but the total! And to fight against them - even with demonstrations, yes, we have to, and there are rallies that are taking place, and Gedolei-HaDor have said to go and I believe there will be people, but let's say we get a hundred thousand people, but anyway, what will they do? They will wait or they will bring an army. And it won't be simple. They're murderers. I'm only saying thus: Yes, we have to protest. The main thing you should know: To fight against them - it's like fighting against Rome. Because it's exactly Rome, exactly the whole philosophy of Rome.

How, if that is the case, can we fight the strongest? When we do teshuvah. If we do real teshuvah, and turn into Jews like Hashem wants, with trust, and faith, and all the things that Hashem requires from us, then Hashem will fight for us. He can finish them off in less than a second, all the evildoers with all their armies. I'm not saying not to make demonstrations, but you should know that they are very strong.  

And to make demonstrations - it's still not saying 'do teshuvah'... And these who are go to a demonstration - it's still not saying that they have stopped hating people, good Jews, who are trying to be close ones to Hashem, and that's not to say that they have stopped being occupied with things which are forbidden to them. It's not to say anything, it's just exactly this subject. It's also not always because it's pulling them, but, because it's 'action.' But, if we do teshuvah before then, or together with it do teshuvah, - then, it can save us completely, and totally erase these. And Hashem will do it for us - we just need to return to Him. And if we will return to Him - everything will be good for us.  

Question: We're starting to see in Am Yisrael Jews-with-heart who are starting to wake up - how can it really lead the nation to repentance? 

Answer: First of all, there is an awakening, but it's not all the groups. The largest main groups with the most roots - they're not moving. They're not ready to come and demonstrate. They surely heard the Head of the Church, and they're thinking: 'Why not?! There should be many pilgrims arriving here... tourists. It'll bring money... better for us...' They still haven't grasped the issue. But, who does comprehend...? Many ba'alei teshuvah. A lot of people who fought for their Judaism. Many people who in truth really believe in HKB"H. And not necessarily the regular Chareidim, although there are also Chareidim among them. But at this moment, if the rabbis said to go out to it - then that's something else. Something positive is happening here. But, it's not the last word, it's just the beginning, because we have another long way. Not years, but certainly, certainly months. And there will be much suffering and a lot of confusion.

To be continued...

20 June 2014

Two New Messages from Moishela - Sivan 5774

BS"D


Discussion with Moishela (with his family)
A Handicapped child
3 Sivan 5774 (June 1, '14)

"Life Is Zooming By"

Time is racing by. We have Shabbos then it is Sunday and by Monday it’s already almost the end of the week. It’s really Monday and we have several days left, but it goes so fast. Life is just zooming by. We’re headed for the Geula, the Geula Sheleima and as we get closer, time is picking up speed faster and faster and faster.

People are born. They go through childhood. They become adults. They marry. They have children. They feel like they’ve done something in life. They work. They achieve, and then they give their souls back to Hakodosh Boruch Hu. And who remembers them? They walked this earth. They seemed to make a difference when they were alive, at least to somebody, but then they disappear from the reality of the people that are left in this world, and after one or two generations most people are forgotten, people that lived and breathed and did things, just forgotten like it never was. However soon we’re going to see how everything is really connected. Once we get to the Geula and even before, we’re going to see how life is a continual chain that reincarnates itself in different forms, that life is a dynamic creation that never dies. It keeps going on and on. It doesn’t matter which dimension of life we live in, whether it’s this place called the world where there’s a sun, a moon, and stars and so on, or if it’s another dimension that’s called Olam Haba where there’s Gan Eden and Gehenom etc., and there are other dimensions more than we can ever know and it’s all alive. It’s all alive and Hakodosh Boruch Hu is the Hakol Yachol and He created it and we are His sons and His daughters and He is going to save us. He has put us in this world to make Tikkunim, to become purer, to become more spiritual, so that we may be able to continue on, to continue the chain of Creation. He has great things still for us to do and to be, and we only have to get through this last time before the end of this world and the beginning of the world of truth, Yemos Hamoshiach. 

I have been very, very sad lately because, although I know that this world is only a bridge to greater things, the thought of how Am Yisroel and even the world is going to suffer in the next short period of time makes me fearful, makes me want to cry, even though I know it’s all for our good. Anyone who wants to open their eyes and see can realize themselves what is happening, can see for themselves the great and enormous lie. Unfortunately most people of the world, the vast majority, believe the lies and are willing even to go to their deaths like cattle that are taken to the slaughter.

But let’s just look what’s happened here in Eretz Yisroel in the last few weeks. We had a visit from the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Before he came here there were many rumors going around and many of them are very true. Nothing can be more Edom than the Roman Catholic Church. Nowhere can be more Edom than Rome itself, where the Vatican is. No one of the Vatican can claim not to be Roman when sitting in the Vatican, in their basement, are the Keilim from the Bais Hamikdosh. So this so-called spiritual leader of the world came to Eretz Yisroel, not for an innocent visit, but to set in motion their plan to take over Eretz Yisroel - Medinas Yisroel, completely. You may be shocked by this idea, but I think many people are not so shocked because lately we’ve seen many happenings that seem very strange to us. The head of the Catholic Church, who himself is only a puppet, was sent to Eretz Yisroel to take over, not at the same moment that he came, but to lay the foundations.

First Har Tzion will be taken over. For this he must have inside help which is obviously the government of the State of Israel, which is helping him. Besides all this, we can see that they are after the Kever of Dovid Hamelech. Why? Because they want to sit here in Jerusalem and rule the world from here. The Catholics have always wanted this Kever. They have always tried to conquer Jerusalem, but only for brief moments succeeded. However now they are not going to do it with swords and arrows, or with missiles and submachine guns. They’re going to do it with friendship. They’re going to show us, try to show us, how similar we are, and everything I’m saying now is almost direct quotes from the Pope himself, Yemach Shemo Vezichro. He has invited Catholics all over the world to come to the Galil to find their roots. People going to the Kosel have been shocked by the literally thousands of crusaders carrying huge crosses that have appeared therer. However they have not only appeared at the Kosel, but in many of our holy places including Kever Rochel, including Shmuel Hanavi, including the Kever of Reb Shimon Bar Yochai, and of course last but not least the Kever of Dovid Hamelech. They have invaded Medinas Yisroel with the approval of the ministry of tourism, ignoring the fact that these are not regular tourists, these are crusaders and they want to take over Eretz Yisroel.

So my dear Jews, my dear fellow Jews, soon Medinas Yisroel will be not a Jewish state. That’s why I guess Netanyahu wants to have it officially named the Jewish state. The government has passed a law where they intend to convert almost anybody that desires conversion. Most conversions will be done by non–qualified so-called Jewish Rabbis. This is against the Jewish law! Most of the country will be filled with converts who are not real converts, besides all the other Goyim that are planning to settle here. You’ll see, my dear friends, that I’m right if you haven’t seen it already. All of the laws against the Chareidim that are being passed are to destroy the Chareidim, Chas Veshalom, to pull them away from Hakodosh Boruch Hu, away from Torah and Mitzvos and push them into the working field with all the Chilonim who have no idea about their Yiddishkeit so that they can be easily twisted by the smooth talking Pope that tries to show them how Christianity and Judaism are so, so similar, Chas Vesholom.

And my dear friends, the Erev Rav among us will go in their direction and we, the ones who hopefully are true Jews, will have to say, “No, we don’t accept it.” We will have to get stronger in observing our Yiddishkeit and we’re going to have to come much closer to Hashem. We’re going to have to have true love one for the other and true Achdus with Hashem which will bring all of us to Achdus. Hashem hates when His Jewish People fight with each other and say Loshon Horah about each other. Now we are going to have to come together as one Am with Hakodosh Boruch Hu and that’s the only way we will ever be able to defeat this, but we will not be able to defeat this ourselves. We will be able to Daven, to try to get close to Hakodosh Boruch Hu, to hold on to that rope that is connecting us, that spiritual rope that is connecting us to Hakodosh Boruch Hu. He will shake us and shake us, and we won’t let go. We won’t let go, and if we do Teshuva and we come close to Him, and we refuse to be shaken by the Goyim then we will survive Be’ezras Hashem. (Unfortunately many of the Yidden that are in key positions in the State of Israel are either Goyim, Erev Rav or something of the sort.) Then if we don’t give in we will be saved by Hakodosh Boruch Hu, and we will, Be’ezras Hashem, greet Moshiach Tzidkainu. Hashem Himself will take care of the Goyim who have persecuted us since Avrohom Ovinu was in this world, and Hashem will destroy all of Edom completely for all the wickedness, all the persecution against Hakodosh Boruch Hu’s children, but the greatest Aveira that they have is trying to defeat Hakodosh Boruch Hu Himself, and that’s what they’re trying to do now. They come into His Eretz Yisroel which was specifically given to Am Yisroel, in order to make war on Hashem by trying to convert His people to the Sheker of other religions, made up religions. It won’t work and Hashem will destroy them and many people that look like they’re Jews will be destroyed because they’re Erev Rav and their Neshomas are not the Neshomas of Jews. We the true Jews will be able to leave the destruction and go into the world of the Olam Haba of Moshiach. We will be able to bask in the light of the Shechina and we will be healed of all of our handicaps, whether physical or spiritual, and we will be whole. We will be whole and we will smile and be happy and we’ll forget about all of the suffering of all of those thousands of years. We’ll just forget about it completely and move onwards and upwards to the goal that Hashem has set for us.
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BS"D

Discussion with Moishela (with his family)
A Handicapped child
11 Sivan 5774 (June 9, '14)

"MAZEL TOV"

Mazal Tov! The State of Israel has become Mamash a state like all the other states of the world. My heart is breaking, but this State of Israel, has become a country like all the countries of the world. We have become Goyim, complete Goyim, Shelo Naida.

I heard today that the Knesset wants to pass a law that says that any patient who feels that he wants to put an end to his life because he has a terminal illness Shelo Naida or mental illness etc., can request of any doctor prescriptions for a poisonous medication that will end his life. The doctor will not be held responsible in any way for the patient’s death.

We have become like all the nations of the world. Not only are half of the people running for President of the State of Israel officially suspected of being thieves, but also one former president of Israel is sitting in jail on terrible charges and a Prime Minister is about to start his time in prison also for cheating and stealing etc. Wow! Mommy and Tatti we have made the big time. We are now like all the other nations. What do you say about that?

Parshat Korach 5774

22 Sivan 5774
Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Day 8 of Captivity

Parashat Korach – Attaining Greatness: Do's and Don'ts - Rabbi Meir Kahane / Rav Binyamin Ze'ev Kahane

Korach son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi separated himself, with Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, the offspring of Reuben. (Num. 16:1)

Rav Binyamin Ze'ev Kahane, the son of Rav Meir Kahane, relates: 'Rashi comes and repeats the question asked by the sages: “Now Korach who was prudent, why did he commit this folly?” In other words, it is obvious that Korach was not some nut, but rather a “gadol” in Torah, as we will soon see. He also appreciated the greatness of Moshe Rabbeinu, as the Parasha itself testifies to, and knew that Moshe was not after the “kavod”. And so he should have known that there would be some serious Divine backlash to the steps he was taking. This being the case: “Why did he commit this folly?” And Rashi answers: “His eyes deceived him; he saw a great chain (i.e., a chain of great men) issuing from him, (viz.,) Shmuel, who weighed against Moshe and Aharon. [Korach] said: Because of him I shall be saved. And twenty-four 'watches' will arise from his son's sons, all of them prophesying through 'Ruach HaKodesh' ... [Korach] said: Is it possible that all this greatness is destined to arise from me and I shall remain silent? Therefore he associated himself to come to that prerogative: for he heard from the mouth of Moshe that all of them would perish and one would be saved, one that the Eternal One would choose, that one would be holy; he erred and applied this to himself; but he didn't see correctly, for his sons would return to G-d and that was what Moshe had seen.”And here we must ask a great question: We are talking about a tremendous Torah giant with “Ruach HaKodesh” who was capable of seeing generations and generations into the future! How then, could a man with such great vision and prophecy walk like a blind man in an alley, unable to understand something which any thinking, logical person could understand who does not possess any special “Ruach HaKodesh”?' (The writings of Rav Binyamin Ze'ev Kahane, HY”D, Parashat Korach)

A possible explanation, by taking a look at Korach's collaborators in the rebellion, can be found in Rabbi Meir Kahane's Peirush HaMaccabee on Shemot and Isaiah: So they got themselves up from near the dwelling of Korach, Dathan and Abiram, from all around. Dathan and Abiram went out “nitzavim” (erect) at the entrance of their tents, with their wives, children and infants (Num. 16:27). [Chazal said regarding this:] The expression “yetziva” (standing erect) always refers to prophecy, as it says, I saw the Lord “nitzav” (standing erect) on the Altar (Amos 9:1), and it also says, And Hashem came, “va-yityatzav” (and was present) … (1 Samuel 3:10) (Mechilta de-Rabbi Yishmael, Beshallach 3; Shirata 10) And similarly: The expression “yetziva” (standing erect) always refers to Ruach ha-Kodesh (ibid.). That is to say, every time that the Tanach uses the expression “yetziva” (standing erect) with reference to a tzaddik, implying that he stands straight and upright and strong, stubborn and steadfast, unflinching and sure, proud and fearless, this is because G-d is with him at that time. After all, it would otherwise be inconceivable for the term “yetziva” (standing erect) to apply to a mortal man, who is alive today and dead tomorrow, strong today yet old and feeble tomorrow. The adjective, “yatziv” (erect, firm) and the verb “nitzav” (stand erect) refer specifically to G-d, as in the verse: G-d “nitzav” (stands erect) in the Divine congregation (Psalms 82:1). And this is the reason that the Torah uses the same verb to describe Israel at Mount Sinai: “va-yityatz’vu” (and they stood erect) at the bottom of the mountain (Exodus 19:17). And similarly: You “nitzavim” (are standing erect) today, all of you, before Hashem your G-d (Deuteronomy 29:9). And G-d uses the same verb in instructing Moses to appear before Pharaoh: Get up early in the morning, “ve-hityatzev” (and stand erect) before Pharaoh (Exodus 8:16). On the face of it, this seems puzzling: how could Moses possibly have dared to go to Pharaoh – and more than that, to stand proudly before him? – Only because G-d was with him.

However, this same verb is sometimes applied to evil people: the Torah says that Dathan and Abiram went out nitzavim (“standing erect”) (Numbers 16:27). And the Midrash explains: They went out reviling and blaspheming, as it says, they went out standing erect. Similarly, later on the Tanach says: And the Philistine [Goliath] would approach morning and evening, “va-yityatzev” (and he stood erect) for forty days [reviling and blaspheming](1 Samuel 17:16) (Tanchuma, Korach 8). This is because evil people arrogate to themselves the status of standing erect, which is the diametric opposite of the tzaddik: The tzaddik who has elevated himself and sanctified himself and shed his pride knows that he can succeed only in the merit of the power that G-d has nitzav (“relegated”) to him, even as he himself is a worm and not a man (Psalms 22:7). By contrast, the evil person, who is of coarse spirit and arrogant, claims that he stands erect through his own power – and more, like Dathan, Abiram, and Goliath, he blasphemes Hashem. And this is how David describes the nations: The kings of the earth “yityatz’vu” (stand erect)…against Hashem and against His anointed (Psalms 2:2), although He Who dwells in Heaven will laugh, the Lord will make fun of them (verse 4). And so at the Red Sea, Moses told the Children of Israel: “hityatz’vu” (stand erect) and see Hashem’s salvation (Exodus 14:13). More than this: if the Jewish nation will be humble, and will accept upon itself the yoke of Heaven, then no man “yityatzev” (will stand erect) before you (Deuteronomy 7:24).

G-d performed a miracle by making Aaron’s staff – a dry wooden stick – blossom, as it says Moses came to the Tent of Testimony, and behold! Aaron’s staff had flowered…flowers had come forth, and blossoms had blossomed (Numbers 17:23). G-d smashed Korach’s arrogance, and that of Dathan and Abiram, who in their arrogance knew only how to make fight and contention blossom and flourish, as the Torah says of Dathan and Abiram, behold, two Hebrew men were contending (Exodus 2:13). The Hebrew word “nitzim” (contending) connotes quarrels that sprout and blossom forth, like the “nitzanim” [blossoms] are seen in the Land (Song of Songs 2:12). In their arrogance, these men kicked against G-d and sought to aggrandize themselves; and G-d symbolized the humiliation of the arrogant and the aggrandizement of the humble and those who believe in Him by the staff, a simple wooden stick that was in the Tent of Testimony, sprouted and blossomed. Only the humble and the modest can be great; only one who makes himself small will become truly great, while if he makes himself great, then he will shrink to the tiniest of dimensions. And every person must believe that all his achievements and accomplishments come solely through G-d’s providence.

The prophet Ezekiel said: And all the trees of the field will know that I, Hashem, have cast down the tall tree, I have raised up the lowly tree; I have dried up the moist tree, I have cause the dried-up tree to flourish (Ezekiel 17:24). And the Midrash interprets: “I have cast down the tall tree” – this is Korach; “I have raised up the lowly tree” – this is Aaron, as it says, “behold! Aaron’s staff had flowered”…; “I have dried up the moist tree” – these are Abimelech’s wives…; “I have caused the dried-up tree to flourish” – this is Sarah (Yalkut Shimoni, Ezekiel 357). And all of this is the keystone of faith.
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[Compiled by Tzipora Liron-Pinner from 'Peirush HaMaccabee' on Shemot and Isaiah (English translation by Daniel Pinner) of Rabbi Meir Kahane, HY"D and from 'The writings of Rav Binyamin Ze'ev Kahane, HY"D']
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18 June 2014

Binyamin: "The Last Crusade"

20 Sivan 5774

The following message was given on the 26th of May when the Pontiff was in Israel.

Communication with Binyamin
Jerusalem, 26 Iyar 5774

We were witnesses today to the last crusade. The meaning of this is very simple. A thousand years ago or more, there were a hundred years when groups of Christians came from Europe to conquer Eretz Yisrael and to remove the Muslims. They did not succeed. They did succeed in killing many Jews along the way and making many, many problems.

And now, today, we see clearly that the head of the Catholic Church is planning to conquer Eretz Yisrael, or perhaps more correctly: the State of Israel. In my opinion - he already conquered it. But, he's doing it in another way. Instead of killing Jews, in a clear way, and instead of spreading hatred in the region, etc. he supposedly brings love... understanding. And he says that the Jewish religion and the Christian religion - are alike... and also Jews need to learn about Christianity... and they need to learn about Judaism... and in fact, it's one thing.

And this really is the way he intends to take over here completely. Although he is not the person planning all this, he is totally the player they put into this game. But, this is the program.


It pains my heart. I really just want to cry when I hear how the Jews bow down to him, how the Jews forget what it means to be a Jew and are ready to believe in what he is telling them about how we are 'alike'... And the chief rabbi received him kindly. How can it be?! They don't understand what they're planning...?! Oh well, the Prime Minister, oh well, the President, but the Chareidim?! Where are the Chareidim?!

Baruch Hashem, an announcement passed in the name of the gedolei hador that we need to go protest, Baruch Hashem. But, I'm scared about the seculars who believe all the speeches, that 'we're alike'... that we need to accept all these pilgrims who are coming to Eretz Yisrael in order to conquer it... How can it be?! How can we see this and keep quiet?! 

I want to say to you: Their plan - it's to take over this place. Their plan - it's to turn us into gentiles. Their plan - it's to sit here and rule over the world from here. And it's not just the Catholic Church, but they're at the top. They're leading.


You don't understand how much, how much they've already entered within our lives. Did you not pay attention how they wander around our streets...?! They're not here as tourists, they're here to conquer the place and to settle down here! Look how much construction there is in Tel Aviv and in Jerusalem. I'm not talking about places like Migdal HaEmek. Here! They're building apartments here in Jerusalem. So, say: 'Good, we need apartments in which to live...' But the young people are not able to live in these apartments because these apartments are too expensive, they can't buy it. So, for whom is all this...?! Are they for the millions of Jews who are preparing to come to the Land...?! Or perhaps it's for the gentiles who are able to come and sit here in the Land...?

The Land of Israel, the State of Israel - is full of gentiles. Whether it's the army or the Sudanese who are arriving. How can so many Sudanese arrive without somebody noticing...?! It's impossible! It must be that they permitted them to enter intentionally. And now they've sold Tenuva to the Chinese...

Question: What will they do with all of the workers...?

I believe that their plan is to keep the Jewish workers for awhile and slowly, slowly exchange them for Chinese workers. Because it's cheaper to bring Chinese here and to pay them pennies, because they are slaves, than to keep Israelis who only have demands, demands and more demands...

And so, according to their plan, we will have a multi-diverse land or state of various types. The head of the Catholic Church and those above him - want to turn this country, and especially Jerusalem, into an international city, an international country of various types, and from here, as I said, to rule over the world by means of a religion that will be a 'concoction,' a compound of Christianity, Judaism and especially idol worship.

And here in the Land - life would be relatively good. There is only one problem...  The group that really won't want it - it's the Chareidim. Because the Chareidim are holding fast to their Torah, and they won't be ready to abandon it, at least I hope not. So, what do we do?...

We must be strong, and trust in Hashem. They've already been coming down on us hard. Trying to force us to turn into good children, disciplined, who want to do what the State asks. For example, the law they made today that they won't give complete-income to avreichim, only for avreichim! They're not taking it from any other citizens. They're not taking it from the Sudanese... only from us. Only avreichim who learn Torah. It's not democratic. Not at all democratic. But, when did we ever think this place was democratic...?! It's communist! Only, we think it's democratic...

Therefore, we have to be strong, because the coming period will be very, very difficult, especially for those who don't play the game like they want. It will also be dangerous. But, it's forbidden for us to abandon the Torah even for a minute. That is the time to trust in Hashem and not to fall into their hands. It will be up to us to close ourselves inside our ghettos and not to acquiesce.

We must learn l'shem shamayim, as a tikun for all the years of materialism when many did not learn for the sake of Heaven or barely learned, just 'supposedly learned.' We have a large tikun now, but it's the last tikun. This is the last tikun. And like "The Last Crusade," also in this way it will not be successful. Exactly like all the previous times that they tried to conquer Eretz Yisrael which did not succeed for them, perhaps only at the beginning it 'seemed' to succeed, but in the end, Hashem will erase them. So, we also are in the last tikunim, and it's forbidden for us to miss the opportunity.

We have to come close to HKB"H, and trust in Him that if there is no food - He will give us, and if there is nothing for us to drink - He will give us, and if we have no clothes - Hashem will give us, He will take care of us. He will take care of everything for us. He is All-Powerful, and no one else. We must live solely al kidush Hashem. We've arrived to this time now that will be very, very hard. But here in the Land - it will be better still than abroad. There, they will suffer much more than us.

But, I have a responsibility to tell you, and I only want to say to you again: "Please, Am Yisrael! Come close, come close to HKB"H! Come close to HKB"H  - and don't leave Him. Hold onto Him with all your strength. Learn Torah, do mitzvot, come close and come close to the truth. And don't leave. Love every single Jew. Don't be involved in all the dirt of This World, of the Eigel Hazahav. Clean ourselves up, purify our hearts and our thoughts. And be holy. We have a lot of work to do. This generation is in a very difficult situation, but with the will and with help from Heaven, we can purify ourselves and our streets and our homes, and Eretz Yisrael."

Am Yisrael, I beg of you, for your own good, please, don't forget my words. Many things that we've said we see that they're happening. The world, in just a little while, will be under the control of the completely wicked, and practically, it's already under this kind of control, but it's not yet so clear. We can't fight against them, we don't have the power, only HKB"H and his messenger - Our righteous Mashiach ben David. Only they can fight. Only HKB"H can stop them. Not us. But to protest - we must. And not to allow them, under absolutely no circumstances, to weaken our faith and trust and the mitzvot we are doing. Don't allow them. Only thus will we get through it in peace. Do not let them. Say: "No!" Say: "No further!" Try to get rid of all the unnecessary materialism, and just to be with Hashem.

In the near future, if we thought there was little money, then there will be much less money, and we will live exclusively with miracles. At first - perhaps it won't be so understandable, but it won't take much time until the real Jews will understand that, all told - it's all miracles. And only miracles that Hashem can do - and no one else. Therefore, we have nothing to fear. If we trust in Hashem - we will survive and receive our righteous Mashiach.

[Questions and Answers to follow, bl"n]

17 June 2014

A Popular Myth Debunked

19 Sivan 5774

One of the most popular cultural myths around today says that Israel could not exist without America. Some people go so far as to claim that the United States achieved its great power just so that it could support Israel. To hear many Jews as well as gentiles talk, you'd think that America and Israel had been arm-in-arm from the very beginning. Historical facts disprove this popular, but erroneous misconception. Furthermore, America represents the single greatest threat to Israel today. Please familiarize yourself with the facts so that you can debunk this myth wherever it arises.

Excerpted from The Geopolitics of Israel: Biblical and Modern 

...From its founding until the Camp David Accords re-established the Sinai as a buffer with Egypt, Israel's strategic problem was this: So long as Egypt was in the Sinai, Israel's national security requirements outstripped its military capabilities. It could not simultaneously field an army, maintain its civilian economy and produce all the weapons and supplies needed for war. Israel had to align itself with great powers who saw an opportunity to pursue other interests by arming Israel.

Israel's first patron was the Soviet Union -- through Czechoslovakia -- which supplied weapons before and after 1948 in the hopes of using Israel to gain a foothold in the eastern Mediterranean. Israel, aware of the risks of losing autonomy, also moved into a relationship with a declining great power that was fighting to retain its empire: France. Struggling to hold onto Algeria and in constant tension with Arabs, France saw Israel as a natural ally. And apart from the operation against Suez in 1956, Israel saw in France a patron that was not in a position to reduce Israeli autonomy. However, with the end of the Algerian war and the realignment of France in the Arab world, Israel became a liability to France and, after 1967, Israel lost French patronage.

Israel did not become a serious ally of the Americans until after 1967. Such an alliance was in the American interest. The United States had, as a strategic imperative, the goal of keeping the Soviet navy out of the Mediterranean or, at least, blocking its unfettered access. That meant that Turkey, controlling the Bosporus, had to be kept in the American bloc. Syria and Iraq shifted policies in the late 1950s and by the mid-1960s had been armed by the Soviets. This made Turkey's position precarious: If the Soviets pressed from the north while Syria and Iraq pressed from the south, the outcome would be uncertain, to say the least, and the global balance of power was at stake.

The United States used Iran to divert Iraq's attention. Israel was equally useful in diverting Syria's attention. So long as Israel threatened Syria from the south, it could not divert its forces to the north. That helped secure Turkey at a relatively low cost in aid and risk. By aligning itself with the interests of a great power, Israel lost some of its room for maneuver: For example, in 1973, it was limited by the United States in what it could do to Egypt. But those limitations aside, it remained autonomous internally and generally free to pursue its strategic interests.

The end of hostilities with Egypt, guaranteed by the Sinai buffer zone, created a new era for Israel. Egypt was restored to its traditional position, Jordan was a marginal power on the east bank, Lebanon was in its normal, unstable mode, and only Syria was a threat. However, it was a threat that Israel could easily deal with. Syria by itself could not threaten the survival of Israel.

Following Camp David (an ironic name), Israel was in its Davidic model, in a somewhat modified sense. Its survival was not at stake. Its problems -- the domination of a large, hostile population and managing events in the northern Levant -- were subcritical (meaning that, though these were not easy tasks, they did not represent fundamental threats to national survival, so long as Israel retained national unity). When unified, Israel has never been threatened by its neighbors. Geography dictates against it.

Israel's danger will come only if a great power seeks to dominate the Mediterranean Basin or to occupy the region between Afghanistan and the Mediterranean. In the short period since the fall of the Soviet Union, this has been impossible. There has been no great power with the appetite and the will for such an adventure. But 15 years is not even a generation, and Israel must measure its history in centuries.

It is the nature of the international system to seek balance. The primary reality of the world today is the overwhelming power of the United States. The United States makes few demands on Israel that matter. However, it is the nature of things that the United States threatens the interests of other great powers who, individually weak, will try to form coalitions against it. Inevitably, such coalitions will arise. That will be the next point of danger for Israel.

In the event of a global rivalry, the United States might place onerous requirements on Israel. Alternatively, great powers might move into the Jordan River valley or ally with Syria, move into Lebanon or ally with Israel. The historical attraction of the eastern shore of the Mediterranean would focus the attention of such a power and lead to attempts to assert control over the Mediterranean or create a secure Middle Eastern empire. In either event, or some of the others discussed, it would create a circumstance in which Israel might face a Babylonian catastrophe or be forced into some variation of Persian or Roman subjugation.

Israel's danger is not a Palestinian rising. Palestinian agitation is an irritant that Israel can manage so long as it does not undermine Israeli unity. Whether it is managed by domination or by granting the Palestinians a vassal state matters little. Nor can Israel be threatened by its neighbors. Even a unified attack by Syria and Egypt would fail, for the reasons discussed. Israel's real threat, as can be seen in history, lies in the event of internal division and/or a great power, coveting Israel's geographical position, marshaling force that is beyond its capacity to resist. Even that can be managed if Israel has a patron whose interests involve denying the coast to another power.

Israel's reality is this. It is a small country, yet must manage threats arising far outside of its region. It can survive only if it maneuvers with great powers commanding enormously greater resources. Israel cannot match the resources and, therefore, it must be constantly clever. There are periods when it is relatively safe because of great power alignments, but its normal condition is one of global unease. No nation can be clever forever, and Israel's history shows that some form of subordination is inevitable. Indeed, it is to a very limited extent subordinate to the United States now.

For Israel, the retention of a Davidic independence is difficult. Israel's strategy must be to manage its subordination effectively by dealing with its patron cleverly, as it did with Persia. But cleverness is not a geopolitical concept. It is not permanent, and it is not assured. And that is the perpetual crisis of Jerusalem.

(The Geopolitics of Israel: Biblical and Modern is republished with permission of Stratfor.)