There is something very wrong when a group of religious Jews dedicated to the Land of Israel can't seem to recognize a clear and present danger to themselves and their country. I'm referring to those who view themselves as the creme de la creme of Israeli society---the "settler" population.
At one time, I bought into this myth---that those who put on guns, served in the army and went out to settle the ancient hilltops were model Jews. I visited yishuvim from the Golan, to the Shomron, to Gush Etzion and Gush Katif, searching for my future among them. And I did live among them for two years. I found some rottenness that has silently and insidiously spread until I now fear the whole is corrupt beyond repair. Much less than being the model for the entire nation to emulate, they have become a stumbling block to our continued presence in this land. Do you wonder that "settlements" have become the source of the world's problems???
This is your wake-up call from Shamayim. Why won't you listen???
A self-confessed missionary and his brood of eleven children have been living off and on in Israel for the last six years, each year bringing other missionary volunteers with him to "harvest" the souls of Israel. This year he brought 100 people with him and they have been welcomed into the yishuvim with open arms despite pleas and warnings. Jewish pride and Torah law thrown out in exchange for "friendship" and free labor!
Recently, former Republican presidential contender Mike Huckabee was in town. The same people who eagerly lap up the sweet, but poisoned, Xian "love," fell all over themselves to heap praise on this celebrity "Lover" of Israel (and to be seen in photos with him). And now, it is being suggested that Sarah Palin be invited to meet with the female settler leadership.
This is some kind of sickness of soul that I am ill-equiped to diagnose---this awe of goyische celebrity and pathetic, neurotic need for "love and friendship" that causes Jews to self-destructively fling themselves under the tracks of the Xian tanks about to run roungh-shod over their very homes.
What more can I do or say to convince you? Why can't you see for yourself? For some it's the "love," for others, it's the money, for still others, it's the kavod, but for many, it is the perceived need for numbers and strength to fight the "common enemy"---Islam. What!?? Is our G-d's arm now too short to save us from Islam? You say, we have to do our hishtadlut? By allying ourselves with idolaters and allowing them to corrupt our land and our children with their idolatry??
Oh, I see. You explain it away by deluding yourself that Xianity is not idolatry, despite the FACT that it is a dead Jew that they are praying to and calling lord, G-d forbid! and it is a dead Jew that their book (NT) calls the Creator and Sustainer of Creation, G-d forbid!
THEIR GOD IS NOT OUR G-D!!!!!!!!!! THEY PRAY TO HASHEM AND THE NAME THEY ENVISION IN THEIR MINDS IS YESHU!!!
The very evangelicals which you have made common cause with for the sake of battling Islam, will eventually come for YOU!!
Israel is looking like the new leader of the Free World. The previous leader, the United States, resigned this role last week at the United Nations to take the position of global community organizer. This was made plain by President Obama in his speech, titled “Responsibility for Our Common Future,” in which he heralded “a new chapter of international cooperation.” By contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a blunt and forceful call to action in the central challenge facing free people today. This is the struggle of “civilization against barbarism” being fought by “those who sanctify life against those who glorify death.”
I'm feeling a great sense of anticipation as we approach the season that many of our sages connect with the War of Gog/Magog, especially in light of the Iranian threat and with what just recently transpired at the UN...
In 2004, a full year before Achmadinejad became president of Iran, I had a dream in which the Israeli coast from Ashkelon to Haifa was bombarded by Iranian missiles. The attack came at the full moon.
It's very possible that we have already waited too long for the world's approval of a strike on Iran and they may hit us first.
"...have you seen the post at Shiloh Musings (posted today, 27 September) re if the US was aware in advance of Arab plans to attack Israel in 1973?"
You should take a look and note especially Batya's link to an article at IMRA. It stirs a lot of thoughts.
Tomorrow marks 36 years since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. I refer you to Rav Pinhas Winston on the significance of the number 36. Among other things, it represents the Ohr Haganuz, the hidden light that will be revealed at the final redemption.
Have you seen the headlines for Erev Yom Kippur? Very impressive.
Iran to test-fire missile that could reach Israel on Monday (Reuters)
Police in northern Israel gear up for Yom Kippur violence (Haaretz)
That's just a sample. But this is good news! Do you know why? It means Avinu, Malkeynu hasn't given up on us. He's the One behind all of this. He's calling His children to finish their teshuva already so we can get on to the geula shleimah.
If we each do our part, maybe we will have even better news in the days ahead!!
G'mar chatima tova to each of us and Chag Sameach!!!!!
US Navy missile ships started arriving in Israel on Sunday ahead of next month's joint missile defense exercise between the IDF and the American military's European Command.
...Defense officials said the exercise would not begin for a few weeks, but that the ships were already arriving to begin preparing the infrastructure for the joint drill,....
...“They have to fly over our airspace in Iraq. Are we just going to sit there and watch?” said the former national security advisor to former U.S. President Jimmy Carter....
Might they also be an invasion force prepared to come in and forcibly stop the government from doing whatever it is they disapprove of? Would they go that far??? And what about this?
President Shimon Peres is emerging as a key player in U.S. President Barack Obama’s announcement last week that he is scrapping a defense shield missile system in Poland.
Hashem Melech! G-d is King! That is the theme of Rosh Hashana. What does it mean for us?
Barack Hussein Obama was elected President of the United States, but his popularity rating is going down. Maybe if he had to run now, he wouldn't win again. In Iran, the dictator was charged by opponents with rigging the election, but when those opponents started getting tortured the opposition suddenly disappeared.
We are accustomed to a world in which "the people rule." That is the theory. One man casts a vote, and it is tabulated along with the rest. The winner theoretically becomes the leader. We have grown up to believe that democracy is normal and irreplaceable and irrefutably correct.
My friends, in the world of Torah, it's not like that.
In the Real World, we have ZERO say in Who is the Boss! I am not joking when I say that G-d is terribly unpopular in this world. If you don't believe me, then just look how people behave. They know that He has made rules for us, and they usually ignore those rules and behave as if He does not exist. As the Prophet says, "an ox knows his owner, and a donkey his master's trough; [but] Israel does not know, My people does not perceive." [1]
G-d is King.
It does not alter the situation one iota whether we want Him to be King or whether we believe He is King. We can vote against Him until our finger is numb from moving the voting machine lever, but it won't help. In the Real World we are the ones who lose if we don't understand that He is the Complete and Eternal Master. In reality there is no such thing as democracy. We decide NOTHING, except to the extent that G-d has given us permission to decide. We have NO POWER except what He allows us to have. If we want to live in reality and to have a good year and a good life, we had better come to terms with this.
There is a corollary here. We are surrounded and outnumbered. The world is trying to kick us out of Israel and frighten us everywhere by declaring that we are the villains, the outcasts and the pathetic minority. This is an old story, but it is becoming a worldwide phenomenon. This is a positive sign, because just before the coming of Moshiach it will seem that we have NO HOPE WHATSOEVER and that we are COMPLETELY SURROUNDED by our enemies. Not only that, it will seem that we are so totally hopeless ourselves that there is no reason that G-d should even WANT to rescue us!
Where is there a hint of this? In the Chumash, of course! Ma'ase avos siman l'banim! The actions of the fathers are a sign for the children. In Egypt, we were at the forty-ninth level of descent into the morass of idolatry. One more millimeter and we would have become ... EGYPTIANS, G-d forbid! At the LAST SECOND G-d took us out of slavery, and rescued us from the utter depths!
And then we marched out of Egypt to the shore of the Red Sea, and there we were TOTALLY SURROUNDED, the Egyptians on one side and the sea on the other! It was all over! Or so it seemed. But "Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear! Stand fast and see the salvation of G-d that He will perform for you today."' [2]
At that moment, G-d's will became visible to the entire world. The Children of Israel marched through the sea and were saved; our enemies were drowned, never to arise again.
My friends, these are our marching orders for Rosh Hashana 5770: "Do not fear! Stand fast and see the salvation of G-d that He will perform for you today."
The nations of the world call for CHANGE! They want something new, but we are exactly the opposite! We endure forever because we cling with tenacious grip to the UNCHANGING WORDS OF THE HOLY TORAH! If we grip it with all our heart and all our soul and all our strength, my friends, we will soon see the perfect world which G-d has promised us.
The Torah has not changed! G-d has not changed. We cannot allow ourselves to be afraid of these empty people who threaten us! "G-d is with me. I have no fear. How can man affect me?" [3] Our entire responsibility is to hold fast to our Torah and trust in G-d. But it is a huge responsibility, because it implies that we must give up our belief that alien cultures can save us. The nations of the earth stumble in blindness, but a light shines upon those who keep the Torah of G-d. As the Prophet states, "Darkness may cover the earth, and dense cloud the kingdoms, but upon you G-d will shine, and His glory will be seen upon you." [4]
Remember, my friends, only twenty percent of the Children of Israel made it out of the Land of Egypt. Only twenty percent marched with Moses. Eighty percent, in the words of Rashi, were "wicked individuals who did not wish to depart from Egypt." [5] IF WE WANT TO LIVE IN THE WORLD OF MOSHIACH THEN WE WILL HAVE TO WANT TO LEAVE EXILE, AND EXILE MEANS THE CIVILIZATION OF THE OTHER NATIONS.
When G-d brings about our redemption, there will be nothing we or the nations can do to stop it. No matter how filled the earth is with rebellion and moral pollution, at a moment He will choose, "His kindness [will] overwhelm us," [6] and the rule of idolatry will end.
Do you think you will never see it? You are wrong! Yeshuas Hashem k'heref ayin, the redemption of G-d comes in the blink of an eye, when we least expect it. The moment is not ours, but G-d's. The Prophet assures us, "In its time I will hasten it." [7] He is the King. When it happens, it will be so blindingly fast that our mouths will drop open in amazement, as the jaws of the brothers dropped when the ruler said, "Ani Yosef," I am Yosef. [8] And then, my friends, there will be no doubts, no recounts, no protests. G-d's Rule will be blazingly clear to the entire universe. "No longer shall violence be heard in your land, nor plunder and breakage in your borders; but you shall call G-d's salvation your protective walls...." [9]
K'siva v'chassima tova! May this year be filled with blessings for Israel and for all those who love and obey the King of Kings!
Peres eulogizes pilot Asaf Ramon Shimon Peres gave a speech at the gravesite in the name of "a nation awed and stricken with grief; an entire country silent and weeping".
Peres told the two brothers that when he had pinned a set of pilot's wings on Asaf's uniform just three months ago he had said a silent prayer, "Do not raise your hand against the boy".
Everything Peres touches turns to ashes. There is no greater ego in Israel and there is a lot of competition.
The tragedy of Asaf Ramon's violent death at such a young age in the wake of what happened to his father is yet another shofar blast from Shamayim calling for sinners to awake from their slumber and do teshuva as time quickly runs out. But people are too disconnected from their Source to hear it. They are like sleepwalkers going through their days, marking time until it all ends---some sooner , some later.
It is significant that the Air Force was at the center of this event since it is the Air Force upon whom the whole country is depending to save them from Achmadinejad when Israel finally decides to attack Iran. Be forewarned. This is a sign of what's coming---catastrophic failure---if people don't wake up and do proper teshuva NOW!
Usually, at this time of year, you see people on their best behavior, trying to make amends for the mistakes of the past. Now, at this most critical juncture of time, what I'm seeing instead is people purposely stirring up controversy, causing strife and further divisions and willfully and rebelliously refusing to mend their ways or try to repair the damage they've caused. The few who do attempt to repair their mistakes are met with a hard refusal to accept apologies or grant forgiveness.
WOE TO US, AM YISRAEL, THE WORDS "TRAGEDY" AND "CATASTROPHE" ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO DESCRIBE WHAT AWAITS US IF WE DO NOT DO PROPER AND COMPLETE TESHUVA TODAY!!
NULLIFY THE EGO. HUMBLE THE SELF. DISARM THE YETZER HARA.
Russian and Israeli media continued to discuss in earnest Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's "secret" trip to Moscow earlier this week. While both Israel and Russia have admitted that the trip took place – after denying it – the reason for the visit is still unclear.
But a Russian newspaper Thursday, quoting Israeli sources "familiar with the talks," said that the main item on the agenda in the talks was Iran, and a possible Israeli attack on Tehran's nuclear facilities. "A visit like this can only be connected to new and threatening information about Iran. We cannot dismiss the possibility that Israel has decided to move onto more practical steps in dealing with Iran, and Netanyahu decided to update the Kremlin," a report in the Moscow newspaper Kommarsant said Thursday.
This was a big news day as any one of the following would have made a blog unto itself. But since there were too many for that, I decided to just share them with you here and let you look further into any that catch your eye. Some very interesting stuff.
OBAMA NEWS
US: ‘Secret’ Obama Plan for PA State is ‘Nonsense” ...Hassan Harisha, a deputy speaker of the PA parliament...declared that the U.S. has handed over a draft of the peace proposal to the PA and other Arabs for their perusal.
He said the secret 10-point plan dictates terms for a new Arab state on the land of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, with Muslim sites in eastern Jerusalem under PA control while the rest of the city would remain under Israeli sovereignty.
He did not specify the status of the Temple Mount, which both Muslims and Jews claim as being essential to their people.
Harisha said that the plan includes deploying international troops in the Jordan Valley, transferring terrorist groups, called “factions,” not political parties. Israel officially would include large Jewish areas, such as Gush Etzion and Maaleh Adumim, and the status of smaller communities would be determined during three months of negotiations.
The PA would not be termed “demilitarized,” as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has demanded, but it would be forbidden to sign military pacts with Middle East countries and would allow Israel to control all air space.
The proposed state would be established no later than 2011 on the land of Judea and Samaria, with Gaza being incorporated later.
Harisha said that a limited number of Arabs claiming Israeli ancestry would be settled in the Jordan Valley. Israel also would release all PA prisoners and terrorists over a period of three years.
Obama to seal US-UN relationship Barack Obama will cement the new co-operative relationship between the US and the United Nations this month when he becomes the first American president to chair its 15-member Security Council.
...Mr Obama will join other heads of government in New York during the week of the nuclear summit for the opening of the 64th session of the UN General Assembly. The annual meeting of world leaders is this year raising expectations on a number of fronts.
[Keep in mind that this is all taking place during the ten days of repentance between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, while the entire world is standing in judgement by the Creator.]
Shocker! Judge orders trial on eligibility issueA California judge today tentatively scheduled a trial for Jan. 26, 2010, for a case that challenges Barack Obama's eligibility to be president based on questions over his qualifications under the requirements of the U.S. Constitution. Obama Assassination Predicted By Colombian Nostradamus Child COLOMBIA (May 26. 2009): In a somber and sad prediction a 6-year-old little boy who has been predicting the future since he was 3-years-old says that U.S. president Obama will suffer an assassination attempt in 5 months, that's in late October 2009.
DOLLAR ON ITS WAY OUT?
Dollar hits low for year as gold tops $1,000NEW YORK — The dollar fell to a low for the year Tuesday as gold prices shot above $1,000 an ounce before giving some ground and investors switched funds into riskier investments.
[Not if Israel can help it, but what if she gets caught holding the bag when the rest of the world pulls out of it?]
Fischer Resumes Dollar Buying BingeThe Bank of Israel, headed by Governor Stanley Fischer, surprised speculators on Tuesday and bought nearly $1 billion in U.S. dollars in an effort to shore up the shekel-dollar rate, which had touched below 3.75. After the buying binge, the rate climbed to nearly NIS 3.80 and now is at the NIS 3.787 level. A low rate lowers the costs of imports for consumers but also lowers profits of exporters who receive money in dollars.
Now, UN calls for new currency to replace dollar VIENNA: The dollar’s role in international trade should be reduced by establishing a new currency to protect emerging markets from the “confidence game” of financial speculation, the United Nations said. ...China, India, Brazil and Russia this year called for a replacement to the dollar as the main reserve currency....
IRAN THREAT
[Could this be the reason the PM "disappeared" to Russia??]
Iranian Atomic Work Nears Bomb Capability, U.S. SaysSept. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Iran’s nuclear work is approaching a “dangerous and destabilizing” point at which the Persian Gulf country could build a bomb, the U.S. envoy to the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency said.
“Iran is now either very near or in possession already of sufficient low-enriched uranium to produce one nuclear weapon, if the decision were made to further enrich it to weapons grade,” Ambassador Glyn Davies said today in a statement prepared for the IAEA’s 35-member board of governors, which is meeting for a third day in Vienna.
...IAEA inspectors reported last month that Iran “has not suspended its enrichment-related activities or its work on heavy-water-related projects as required by the Security Council.” The agency said it can’t exclude the possibility that there is a military purpose to Iran’s nuclear program. CRAZY WEATHER
Flash floods slam Istanbul, kill at least 20ISTANBUL – Flash floods roared across a major highway and a commercial district in Istanbul on Wednesday, killing at least 20 people and forcing dozens to scramble onto the roofs of cars and trucks. Some of the dead drowned inside their vehicles.
Fueled by the worst rain in 80 years, waters rose up to six feet (2 meters) high in the city's Ikitelli district, cutting off the route to Istanbul's main airport and the highway to Greece and Bulgaria on the European side of the sprawling city.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Cellphone radiation levels vary widely Some cellphones emit several times more radiation than others, the Environmental Working Group found in one of the most exhaustive studies of its kind. The government watchdog group on Wednesday releases a list ranking cellphones in terms of radiation. The free listing of more than 1,000 devices can be viewed here.
Concerns about radiation and cellphones have swirled for years. Scientific evidence to date has not been able to make a hard link between cancer and cellphones. But recent studies "are showing increased risk for brain and mouth tumors for people who have used cellphones for at least 10 years," says Jane Houlihan, senior vice president of research at the Washington-based group.
If you keep up with this kind of news, then you already know that there is a steady stream of discoveries coming to light and being reported in the press. All of it attests to our ancient and enduring ties to Eretz Yisrael. Bar-Kochba Treasure Chest Discovered in Judean Hills
The United States has taken over the rotating presidency of the 15-member United Nations Security Council for the month of September. U.S. President Barack Obama and other top U.S. political figures will be at the world body this month to highlight issues of importance to the United States.
September is a traditionally busy month at the United Nations because it is when the world's leaders convene for the annual debate in the U.N. General Assembly.
This year, the U.S. presidency of the Security Council happens to coincide with this and offers the opportunity for important meetings at the highest levels.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice told reporters on Wednesday that the highlight of the U.S. presidency will be a summit-level Security Council meeting on nuclear non-proliferation. It is scheduled to be held on September 24 and will be chaired by President Obama - the first time a U.S. president has led a Security Council meeting.
Israel, once in the poorhouse, has turned the economic tables upside down on the United States, known to European and Russian Jews a century ago as the "Goldene Medina." Hundreds of thousands once were inspired to sail to the shores of America in the belief that its streets “were paved with gold," but Israel today has become an economic model for the United States, according to the widely popular American financial website CBS MarketWatch.com website. The latest economic figures indicate that the Jewish State is more economically independent than ever and less reliant on Uncle Sam.
(With thanks to Urban Survival.) 
