19 May 2025

Go Ahead, Make My Day!!

22 Iyyar 5785
37 Days of the Omer

Report: Trump Associates Warn Israel - End War or We'll Abandon You
Associates of U.S. President Donald Trump have made it clear to Israel that "the United States will abandon Israel if the war doesn't end," the Washington Post reported, citing a person familiar with the details. The source added that pressure from the administration on Israel has increased in recent days. They noted that "politically - Netanyahu could end the war with overwhelming support from both the Knesset and the public, who want this, but he doesn't want to end it."
(YNET:  Daniel Adelson, New York)


The resumption of humanitarian aid into Gaza was part of a US promise to Hamas as part of the deal for Edan Alexander’s release, Yisrael Hayom reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The report follows Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s controversial decision on Sunday to resume the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Hamas had said that it released Alexander as a “goodwill gesture” during President Trump’s visit to the Middle East but according to the sources, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff directly committed to Hamas leaders that the US would pressure Israel to immediately resume aid to Gaza.

Israel had promised not to resume aid to Gaza until the IDF’s new distribution centers were operational in order to prevent Hamas from commandeering the aid. However, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that the aid will be “temporarily” delivered by international organizations [i.e, the UN].

At this point, all factors acknowledge that Hamas will seize a significant portion of the aid. The report quoted an Israeli official as saying that Washington is aware of the issue but considers the arrangement a “necessary evil” to maintain support for Israel’s military operation.  (YWN)
Britain, France and Canada Threaten Israel with Sanctions: 'Escalation Intolerable'
Britain, France and Canada sharply criticized Israel in a joint statement, saying they would consider imposing sanctions against Israel due to the 'intolerable' escalation in Gaza. The powers called on Israel to 'immediately cease its military operations in Gaza and remove restrictions on humanitarian aid entry.' According to them, 'the level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable.' The countries' leaders also accused the Israeli government of failing to provide essential humanitarian aid, stating this 'could constitute a violation of international humanitarian law.'
(YNET:  Itamar Eichner)

22 Western Nations to Israel: Gaza Residents Must Receive Immediate Humanitarian Aid
22 Western nations and three humanitarian organizations issued a statement calling on Israel to allow the "immediate" resumption of humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. The statement, published by the British Foreign Office and signed by foreign ministers from Canada, Germany, France, Japan, Australia, Spain, Sweden, Italy and others, states that Gaza's civilian population "must receive the urgent assistance they need."
(YNET:  Itamar Eichner)

THREAT ASSESSMENT

21 Iyyar 5785
36 Days of the Omer 

Prof. Gadi Taub's Assessment of the Question...

Has Trump Turned His Back on Israel? (Full interview here.)

18 May 2025

Mashiach and Geulah

20 Iyyar 5785
35 Days of the Omer 
Shavua Tov!

Rabbi Dovid Genish : "Rabbi Dovid Genish is the Rav of Kehillat Meam Loez. A one of a kind, English speaking Sephardic kehilla in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel."

16 May 2025

"The Omer: Countdown to Faith"

18 Iyyar 5785
33 Days of the Omer
Erev Shabbat Kodesh

Parashat Emor - The Omer: Countdown to Faith 
by Rabbi Meir Kahane, ztz"l, Hy"d

When you come to the land that I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, you must bring an Omer of your first reaping to the Kohen. He shall wave it in the motions prescribed for a wave offering to the L-rd so that it is acceptable for you. The Kohen shall make this wave offering on the day after the first day of the [Pesach] holiday [see Torat Kohanim, Emor, Ch. 12] .... You shall then count seven complete weeks after the day following the [Pesach] holiday when you brought the Omer as a wave offering, until the day after the seventh week, when there will be [a total of] fifty days. [On that fiftieth day] you may present new grain as a meal offering to the L-rd. (Lev. 23:10-11, 15-16)

In order to reinforce the principle of a holy nation, G-d tied Pesach, the time of national liberation, to Shavuot, the time of the Giving of the Torah, via the Sefirat HaOmer, the “counting of the Omer”. The counting is also tied to the Land, for it begins with the harvesting of the Omer. This is why our sages declared (Menachot 83b), “All communal and individual offerings can come from the Land of Israel or from outside of it, from new grain or from old, except for the Omer and the two loaves of Shavuot, which can only be brought from new grain and from the Land.” The mitzvah of the Omer bound Pesach to Shavuot and the people to their holiness. It completed the creation of Israel as a holy nation and ensured that this holy nation would merit Eretz Yisrael. Our sages said (Vayikra Rabbah, 28:6): Never take the mitzvah of the Omer lightly, for Abraham merited through it to inherit the Land. It says, “To you and your offspring will I give the land where you are now living as a foreigner. The whole land of Canaan” (Gen. 17:8), and this was so that Abraham “would keep G-d's covenant” (Ibid., v. 9). By fulfilling the mitzvah of the Omer, which ties Pesach to Shavuot, and thereby becoming a holy nation, Israel merited to inherit the Land from the nations; for had they not agreed to be a holy nation, why should G-d have taken the Land from the nations and given it to them?

Our sages ask why the Torah was not given immediately or shortly after Israel left Egypt, and they answer (Kohelet Rabbah, 3:[11]2): When Israel left Egypt, they were worthy of receiving the Torah immediately. Yet ... G-d said, “My children have not yet attained their lustre. They emerged from an enslavement of mud and bricks, and shall I give them the Torah? Let them enjoy two or three months of the Manna, well-water [Miriam's well that miraculously followed Israel] and quails, and then I shall give it to them.” Nonetheless, the nation's faith was weak and abated very quickly. As our sages (Shemot Rabbah, 5:14): “Moses and Aaron then went to Pharaoh” (Ex. 5:1): And where did the elders go that they were not mentioned together with Moses and Aaron, when G-d had previously said to Moses, “you and the elders will go” (Ex. 3:18)? Our sages answered, “The elders went with them, yet they stole away... and disappeared. By the time Moses and Aaron reached the palace, not one remained.” Numerous other sources testify to Israel's lack of faith then. G-d, therefore, demanded of them at least a small sign of faith, albeit fleeting, before He would redeem them, because faith and trust are the root of serving G-d. Without them, without faith in the King, Redeemer and Savior, there is no Torah. Therefore, the counting of the Omer not only underscores the bond between the people and holiness, between a holy nation and its holy land, but also establishes the formation of the people on the basis of faith. The Omer was harvested from the new grain, and until then it was forbidden to eat new grain and forbidden even to harvest it. As Rambam wrote (Hilchot Temidim U'Musafin 7:13), “It is forbidden to harvest in Eretz Yisrael any one of the five species of grain before the Omer is harvested.” Through this, we proclaim that G-d gives bread to all flesh and that we depend on Him for this grain, for His blessings, for His dew and His rain. Therefore, the first cutting is given to G-d as the meal offering, as an announcement that we have placed our hope in Him with faith and trust, and as an acknowledgment and giving of thanks for blessing us with this harvest.

This idea is also alluded to in the law that this Omer comes from barley (Menachot 68b), an animal food, as with the meal offering of the Sotah, the suspected adulteress, and of the Sotah we find: All of the meal offerings come from wheat [a food consumed by humans] but [the meal offering of the Sotah] comes from barley [consumed by animals]... R. Gamliel says, “Just as her deeds were bestial, so is her offering from the food of the beast.” (Sotah 14a). All this is so even though the Omer meal offering is not entirely like the Sotah offering, since the former requires oil and frankincense, whereas the latter does not. Furthermore, the former is brought as geresh, the finest grade barley flour (not normally consumed by animals), whereas the Sotah barley offering is brought as regular barley flour, the way animals eat it. Even so, G-d wished to hint to us at the start of the new grain that man, like the animal, depends on G-d's mercy. As King David described in Psalms (104:27), “All of them wait for You, that You may give them their food in due season.” Our sages furthermore said (Vayikra Rabbah, 28:3): It says, “Neither say they in their heart: 'Let us now fear the L-rd our G-d, Who gives the early and late rain in due season'” (Jer. 5:24). [Let him not say], “Once G-d gives you everything, you no longer need Him.” “Who keeps for us the appointed weeks of the harvest” (Ibid.). G-d will protect us from evil winds and evil dews. When? During the seven weeks between Pesach and Shavuot. In other words, we should not think that since the winter has passed and there was rain, and there is already grain, there is no more need to pray to G-d regarding this grain. Even when there is grain, if during harvest time rain falls and there are evil winds and evil dews, the grain will be ruined. As Samuel said, “Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call unto the L-rd that He may send thunder and rain... and all the people greatly feared the L-rd and Samuel” (I Samuel 12:17-18). For this reason, the Omer meal offering is waved, as our sages said (Vayikra Rabbah 28:5): How would he wave it? R. Chama bar Ukva said in the name of R. Yossi bar Chanina, “He passes it back and forth, and up and down. He passes it back and forth for the One Who owns the entire universe, and he raises it up and down for Him Who owns those in Heaven and earth.” R. Simon, son of R. Yehoshua says, “He passes it back and forth to cancel harsh winds, and he raises and lowers it to cancel harsh dews.” The main point here is that faith is a fixed component of the Omer meal offering, because the meal offering itself symbolizes faith. Indeed, G-d established this interlude between national liberation and sanctification in order to exalt and refine Israel with mitzvot and values, precisely those of faith and trust in G-d – the manna, the well and the quail. All three served as signs that the sustenance and survival of man on the individual and national level are solely in G-d's hands.

As our sages said (Pesikta Rabbati, 18):G-d said to Israel, “My children, when I used to give you the Omer [of manna that fell for each person], I would give each of you 'an Omer per person, according to the number of people each man has in his tent' (Ex. 16:16). Now that you are giving Me the Omer, you give Me only one Omer from all of you collectively.” We see that the waving of the Omer, which makes the new grain permissible, serves as a reminder of the Omer of the manna, and as a symbol of Israel's faith and trust in G-d. From here, we learn that even physical and national liberation do not make the people fit to assume the mantel of holiness. After all, a secular nation, like all the nations, surely thinks exclusively in nationalist, “realistic” terms. For such a nation, only the size of its army and the quantity of arms and allies can make them secure. They must advance to this by keeping mitzvot which express concepts, values and trust in G-d, which refine and elevate the nation from base secular nationalism.
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[Source: Compiled by Tzipora Liron-Pinner from "The Jewish Idea" of Rabbi Meir Kahane HY"D]

~ SHABBAT SHALOM ~

15 May 2025

The Light in the Darkness

18 Iyyar 5785
33 Days of the Omer

"It is customary to light bonfires, to symbolize the
light Rabbi Simeon bar Yohai brought into the world."

Lag ba'Omer Sameah 

This Is An Education

17 Iyyar 5785
32 Days of the Omer 

I highly recommend hearing this podcast for the education it offers on the Israeli mindset, motivations and behind-the-scenes actions.  In my view, Prof. Gadi Taub is one of those not-yet-fully observant Jews, i.e., not compatible with descriptions of the Erev Rav.  If you only have the time to hear half of it, it will still be well worth your time.  Even though I can't agree with everything he says, I still have warm feelings for him as a brother and fellow Jew.  His knowledge and insights on this subject, as well as his courage to share it so publicly, are priceless.


14 May 2025

This Is the Third Messianic War for Temple Mount

16 Iyyar 5785
31 Days of the Omer

Back on Sunday, I wrote in my blog post entitled "Big Week Ahead" to "focus on eve of Lag ba'Omer - Netzach sheb'Hod - "Nakba Day."  Now I'm going to attempt to explain why, but bear with me as it's a lot of information.  It begins with the year 5760....

...You should know that the amount of [undrawn water necessary for] a mikvah [to be kosher] is [a volume equal to the displacement of] 5,760 eggs. The secret regarding this is that, at the end of the five thousandth, seven-hundred and sixtieth year from the creation, the verse, "I God will remove the impure spirit from the land ..." (Zechariah 13:2) will become fulfilled, as well as the verse, "I will give peace in the land, and you will lie down, and no one will make you tremble; and I will remove the evil beasts from the land..." (Vayikra 26:6); that is, the forces of spiritual impurity, as is mentioned in the Zohar. (Maayan 2, Nahar 59, B'Sod HaMikvah, Chesed L'Avraham)

"...240 years before the seventh millennium (i.e., the year 6000 from creation), the lower waters will rise and cover the entire world, and only Eretz Yisroel [the Land of Israel] will remain, which will float on the surface of the water like Noach's Ark; they will approach Gan Aiden [Garden of Eden], the place from which the four rivers leave. The people who survive will be completely righteous, and there they will be whitened, purified, and made spiritual." (Yalkut Reuveini, Shichechus Leket, "Eretz Yisroel v'Chutz L'Aretz," 6; in the name of the Rokeach--Gali Razyah

The Hebrew year 5760 coincided with the secular year 2000, during which the Chr*stian world was expecting a return of their false messiah.  In fact Pope John Paul made his infamous visit to Jerusalem that year on March 21, 2000 which was Purim (14 Adar Bet)! 

Because of the kabbalistic references, the Jews were also looking for something and they, unlike the Chr*stians, were not disappointed. Something happened alright, or rather something - some process - began.  

A couple of days before Rosh Hashanah, PM Ariel Sharon ascended the Temple Mount and this became the accepted excuse for why, in the very closing hours of 5760 on Erev Rosh Hashanah, Arafat launched a second intifada, which he aptly named the "Al Aqsa Intifada."  

We did not realize it it then, but this was the beginning of a 25-year war for Jerusalem, just as the name indicated.

As is known, the Land of Israel has three levels of kedushah. In ascending order, they are:  1) the Land as a whole; 2) Jerusalem; and, 3) the Temple Mount - Har Habayit.  We were returned to the Land in 1948 and to Holy Yerushalayim in 1967.  It was going to take a lot longer to merit the return to Har Habayit which would, of necessity, include the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash.  

Before the Temple Mount would be fully in our hands once again, Klal Yisrael would have to undergo a serious process of teshuvah for purification and sanctification.  Since HKB"H has had to bring us to our redemption, so to speak, kicking and screaming the whole way, it has taken all these years of suffering - tzarot and nisyonot.  

Eisav would begin his downward spiral, played out in such a tremendous physical imagery, in 2001 (5761).  It, too, has taken this long, circuitous route due, not to its many sins, but due to its many merits, which had to be paid in full before judgment could commence.

"So said the Lord: For three transgressions of Gaza, yea for four, I will not return them; Because they carried away captive a whole captivity, to deliver to Edom."  (Amos 1.6)

"So said the Lord: For three sins of Edom, yea for four, I will not return them: For pursuing their brother with a sword, and they destroyed their mercy and grasped forever their anger and kept their fury forever." (Amos 1.11)

The 21st century began with Jews literally running away from southern Lebanon, which is part of Eretz Yisrael on May 24, 2000 (19 Iyyar 5760).  That was followed by more land forfeiture, followed by more war, skirmishes, conflicts and attacks in the streets, without respite, until like a bookend of sorts came Hamas on Simchat Torah of 5784 and basically made a third intifada and called it "Al Aqsa Flood," fulfilling the promise of the Yalkut Reuveini:  "...the lower waters will rise and cover the entire world."

Since Simchat Torah of 5784, the entire world has truly and completely been sucked into this whirlpool with us, yet we alone will rise above it all in the end.  


(Simchat) Torah is the answer - the only answer - to all that ails Klal Yisrael.  It was the violators of Torah who were most affected by the initial events of that day, those who so thoroughly spurned the Torah that they violated the sanctity of both the weekly Shabbat as well as the holiday Shabbat.  

The Chesed l'Avraham cites the Zechariah prophecy:  "I God will remove the impure spirit from the land..." (Zechariah 13:2), linking the year 5760 to its fulfillment.  That can only be true if it has been a process since then (Al Aqsa Intifada until Al Aqsa Flood) which should culminate at the end of the present circumstances.

In Zechariah, chs. 12, 13 and 14, it describes the process and its conclusion...
Behold! I am making Jerusalem a cup of weakness for all the peoples around, and also on Judah, [that he] shall be in the siege against Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass on that day that I will make Jerusalem a stone of burden for all peoples; all who bear it shall be gashed, and all the nations of the earth shall gather about it. (12.1-2)  

Behold! A day of the Lord is coming, and your plunder shall be shared within you.  And I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to wage war; and the city shall be captured, and the houses shall be plundered, and the women shall be ravished, and half the city shall go forth into exile-and the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city  And the Lord shall go forth and wage war with those nations, like the day he waged war on the day of the battle.  (14.1-3)

On that day the Lord shall protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the weakest of them shall be, on that day, like David.  And the house of David shall be like angels, like the angel of the Lord before them.  And it shall come to pass on that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come upon Jerusalem.  And I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplications.  And they shall look to me because of those who have been thrust through [with swords], and they shall mourn over it as one mourns over an only son and shall be in bitterness, therefore, as one is embittered over a firstborn son.  On that day there shall be great mourning in Jerusalem, ....  And the land shall mourn, every family apart....  (12.8-12) 
On that day, a spring shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for purification and for sprinkling.  And it shall come to pass on that day, says the Lord of Hosts: I will cut off the names of the idols from the earth, and they shall no longer be mentioned. And also the prophets and the spirit of contamination I will remove from the earth.  (13.1-2)

Clearly, this is not speaking of a 24-hr. day.  "BaYom HaHu" could also be translated IN that day which could indicate a general time frame. This "day" is likely the conclusion to what began in 5760.  From then until now everything became focused on Jerusalem or had a connection to Jerusalem.  The phrase "on that day" indicates to me the culmination of the process which appears to describe the events since October 7th, 2023.  

For reasons which are too lengthy to go into here (it's already too long), I believe wholeheartedly that the potential and possibility exists for this phase of the geulah process to finish by Shavuot 5785.  

In fact, I expect a major signpost event on May 15, 2025, the 32nd day of the Omer (Eve of Lag baOmer - Netzach shb'Hod).  Also known as Nakba Day!  It will mark the end of seven years since the US Embassy was dedicated in Jerusalem.

The Omer period is historically linked to the barley harvest and the transition from physical to spiritual redemption. Netsach's association with Moses and leadership suggests its week is about enduring freedom, while Hod's connection to Aaron and service, especially on Lag BaOmer, is about accepting divine guidance. The Zohar's revelation on Lag BaOmer is seen as a foretaste of knowledge in the messianic era, with bonfires symbolizing passionate striving for God.

The periods of Netsach and Hod during the Omer counting offer significant possibilities for spiritual growth, focusing on endurance, victory, humility, and acceptance. Their future potential lies in cultivating these qualities for personal development and preparing for collective redemption, with Lag BaOmer standing out as a day of messianic anticipation and mystical revelation.

In Kabbalistic thought, the Temple of Solomon is often seen as a microcosm of the divine structure, and its architectural elements are sometimes interpreted as symbolic of the sephirot or cosmic principles. 

Some Kabbalists associate Jachin and Boaz with the sephirot because of their placement on the right and left sides of the temple entrance, mirroring the right-left polarity in the Tree of Life. Specifically: Jachin (on the right) is sometimes linked to Netzach, which is on the right side of the sephirotic tree and associated with active, enduring qualities. Boaz (on the left) is sometimes connected to Hod, which is on the left side and associated with receptive, intellectual qualities. This symbolism is not universal across all Kabbalistic texts but appears in certain esoteric interpretations, where the pillars are seen as embodying the balance of divine forces (e.g., mercy and severity, or active and passive energies).   (Source:  Unknown)

As long as we are focusing on the return to Har Habayit, it makes sense that the kabbalistic connection might influence the time, especially as the first two wars for the Land occurred in this very month - Iyyar - the month of Ziv, the month of counting the Omer!!   Iyyar 5 in 1948 and Iyyar 27 in 1967 - one at the beginning and one at the end.  Now, perhaps we will have the third and final one in the middle.

And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple; and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin; and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.  (Melachim Alef, 7.21)
And they shall dwell therein, and there shall be no more destruction; but Jerusalem shall dwell in safety.  (Zechariah 14.11)

Having witnessed the horror, may we be blessed to see our deliverance as well, speedily in these days!!!  

_______________________________________

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13 May 2025

Suddenly, We Are on a Fast Track to Geulah

15 Iyyar 5785
30 Days of the Omer 

The Erev Rav are tearing down their State Idol with their own hands! Mark my words, all-out war with the religious will be the last straw for them.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israeli Judge Yoram Broza, who serves as Deputy President of the Magistrate’s Court in Be’er Sheva, was reportedly caught making shocking, and unprecedented remarks against the religious sector on multiple occasions.

According to a report by Avishai Grinzeig on i24NEWS, Baroza allegedly told a religious judge:

“After we’re done with Hamas, we’ll move on to deal with the religious Zionists. Why weren’t Ben Gvir and his son, or Smotrich and his son, killed? The religious are to blame for everything. Religious Zionists are worse than Hamas. They are the greatest threat to the state.”

“This corrupt government and the religious will lead us to destruction. The members of this messianic government will bring about all our deaths.”

In another meeting, he allegedly told another judge that religious people were to blame for the October 7 massacre:  “Because of you, the religious, all this mess happened. The entire October 7 disaster happened because of you.”

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara escalated her war against Torah on Tuesday, ordering the IDF to send draft notices to all Chareidim of draft age in the upcoming draft year [which begins in June], without any distinction in their status as Lomdei Torah.

There are approximately 80,000 bnei yeshivos who are eligible for the draft and about 18,000 have received draft orders. The implication is that in the upcoming draft year, in addition to the new draft cohort, the IDF will have to send conscription notices to approximately 60,000 bnei yeshivos.

Baharav-Miara, whose real goal is to topple the government, is escalating the crisis caused by reports of an arrest operation of Chareidi draft dodgers on Monday evening. The IDF later clarified that the arrests are part of a routine operation that takes place every year.

Senior UTJ officials said: “Even if they arrest 20 non-Chareidi draft dodgers and only one ben yeshivah, we will bring down the government.”

A senior figure in a Chareidi party told Maariv: “We are examining the meaning of the decision to carry out the arrest of draft dodgers. If Lomdei Torah are arrested, we will not be able to continue in the government. A point worth remembering is that we turned a blind eye to the arrest of bochurim at Ben Gurion Airport, but we will not be able to ignore the arrest of Lomdei Torah.”


The military police launched an arrest operation on Tuesday evening against Chareidim who have not reported for conscription orders sent to them in recent months.

The arrest of bnei yeshivos for refusing to serve in the army is unprecedented, something that hasn’t happened since the establishment of the state.

“In the first stage, we are talking about dozens, an action that is mainly supposed to create deterrence,” Ynet reported.

The IDF stated on Tuesday: “Anyone eligible for the draft who did not report for conscription in accordance with the instructions of the order he received is expected to face disciplinary or criminal sanctions.”

The IDF later claimed that the arrests are part of a routine operation that takes place every year. “The military police are working to locate and capture deserters from all populations. This is not a targeted action against Chareidim,” the army stated.

However, the Charedi parties expressed great anger at the very existence of the operation, especially at the present time, when the draft law is still being formulated.

Senior officials in the Chareidi parties conveyed a warning to the Prime Minister’s Office: “If bnei yeshivos are arrested, we will consider immediate resignation from the government.”