BS”D
Discussion with Moishe’la
A handicapped child
Elul 22 ‘5773 (Aug 28 ’13)
World War One, World War Two, Now World War Three
Tatti: What is happening in Syria?
Moishela: I want to tell you this whole thing with Syria is another part of the script. They put in Al Qaeda. Now Al Qaeda is suddenly the good guy, on the side now of the Americans, of the poor children that were killed. However they are all murderers. All the Syrians are murderers, and doesn’t matter who does what, but for sure this whole episode with Syria is a ploy to help finish off the Yishmael countries and bring all of the world to a much greater, much much greater conflict, probably the biggest conflict ever known to this world.
What exactly the time frame is, I don’t know. I know that during last year which was ב"תשע and this year ג"תשע the whole world has made a tremendous change. Whoever doesn’t see it, is technically blind or blinding themselves from the reality.
Nothing in the world looks the same. We are constantly being bombarded with fearful happenings. And if we look closely to these fearful happenings, most of the time they were manufactured, and it’s very clear because the scripting is worse than the most amateurish script writer in Hollywood. They write their own script. They stick in their own actors, and they play it as if it’s true, and the stupid population of the world goes along with them. These Reshoim, are the Gilgulim of the greatest, of the Reshoim that ever lived. And these Reshoim have come back to do their evil, evil acts against the Yidden, and against humanity. The vast majority are Goyim, but we have amoung our Yidden, neshomas also of the Erev Rav that are working hand in hand with the evil ones of the Goyim. They are all part of a greater plan, a plan to win the war against Hakodosh Boruch Hu, Chas Vesholom, and this is the greatest part of the war.
World War One, World War Two, and now World War Three. These three wars will soon come together as one big World War Three. There’ll be one more war which is Gog Umagog and then Moshiach will lead us Be'ezras Hashem, into the Geula Shleima with all its glory, with all its Kedusha, with its closeness to Hashem. But we still have a way to go. It’s not a long time, but it’s a hard, hard journey, and this journey will bring us in the end to the Geula. It will be unbelievably cruel and it will be absolutely a war of the evil against the good, of the Reshoim against Hakodosh Boruch Hu, Hashem Yishmor V'yatzil Osonu.
I want you to know that even though we speak about third world war, Gog Umagog, you have no idea what it means. How could even the most evil human being think that they can fight against Hakodosh Boruch Hu and sit so-to-speak on His throne instead of Him, Chas Vesholom? Its so ridiculous. How could they believe it? But they are the Snake himself, and they are so evil that their minds are not functioning with any kind of basic logic. And they are sure of themselves because Hashem lets them feel that they are already winning this war, that they will be able to lie to everybody, and everybody will believe their lies. Only a few don’t believe the lies, and they make no difference because the vast majority believe very much every silly stupid ridiculous thing they’re told.
As long as you tell them, “Don’t worry we’re going to keep you safe. Don’t worry you’ll still be living with all your Gashmius. Don’t worry nothing will change. We’ll just keep you safe.” And that’s enough for them to totally turn over whatever freedom they have whatever rights they have and become total slaves, as the Yidden became slaves in Mitzrayim. The same Shita they’re using, the same way that Paroh enslaved the Yidden so long ago, these evil ones are enslaving the whole world. But I know all of this. There’s a few things that I’m not sure of what’s going to happen. It’s clear to me that the government, not everyone in the government, but the government is working together with them, the government of the state of Israel. Many of the people in the state of Israel, the judges, the doctors, the people in the government, and so on are part of this group. Certainly, the medical profession has many, the judicial arm of the state has many, and of course the government has many. The army, not the average soldier, but more of the leaders are part of this, and they are all Erev Rav. They have made a pact with the Devil himself and they’ve come against their own people. They wanted to become like all the other countries and now they’ve become like all the others, big enormous Reshoim like everybody else. But the Zionists before like Ben Gurion and so on, were also part of
this, so don’t be surprised when you suddenly realize that somebody strange has taken over this so-called Medinas Yisroel. This will be the final Birur (selection) separating the Erev Rav from the real Yidden. Once that’s done, we will see clearly the truth. It’s very soon. How soon, I don’t know. Very soon. It’s going faster and faster. This conflict in Syria which is one of the main stepping stones to Iran will bring us into a major, or maybe the most major war ever in civilized memory.
And it’s time for Yidden to do Teshuva. To really hold on to Hashem because without food, without water, without all the things we need to exist, there’s only one place to look and that’s to Hakodosh Boruch Hu, to the Ribbono Shel Olam. And we should accept Him and know for sure that that’s what He is, the Creator of everything including the Sitra Achra, and He will destroy the Sitra Achra, and He will destroy the evil and the Sheker, and we will be left with only the truth. So I beg you Yidden, why suffer without any reason? Come back to the truth. Show Hakodosh Boruch Hu you love Him, and that you’ve kicked the Egel Hazahav out of your home, out of your hearts and you're building again a home that is a small Bais Hamikdosh. On these small Botai Mikdosh Am Yisroel will rebuild the third Bais Hamikdosh.
Tatti: Is it going to spill over to Eretz Yisroel also?
Moishela: I don’t know. I’m not sure we’ll suffer so much from it. We might suffer something. The point here is not so much Syria as it is Iran. We’ve been at war for a long time. We’ve been in the war since last year when Egypt started to have trouble. How exactly it’s going to develop, I don’t know. I do know it’s going to develop to a horrific thing.
30 August 2013
Discussion with Moishe'la : " It's time."
BS”D
Discussion with Moishe’la
A handicapped child
Elul 13’ 5773 (Aug 18 ’13)
“It’s time Am Yisrael. You better get your act together”
So many things are happening in this world every single day. From hour to hour, from minute to minute, we don’t know what giant new event will bring us to feel shocked, startled, afraid etc.
The upheavals in the Arab countries are very frightening, especially for those who live in Eretz Yisroel, but the Israelis don’t seem too disturbed. They’re going along happy-go-lucky or running from place to place trying to make a living, not really worrying too much about what’s happening.
In the whole world, in the giant world, it seems that things are quieter, but in reality great things are happening. Very frightening things are happening, things that will bring us to a major, major explosion. The end is coming very close. Everyone with any brains in their heads, with any feelings at all, can feel, can see the terrible dark clouds amassing everywhere. The sky is full of them blocking out the rays of light. Of course I’m speaking figuratively, but that’s the feeling inside. That’s the feeling inside of every person who can see the truth and feel what’s happening.
I’m going to warn you that it’s time to do Teshuva. Am Yisroel, I’m talking to Am Yisroel the time is coming. I would even predict that by the time Succos is over, by time they put back the Torahs after dancing on Simchas Torah and say Havdolah it will be a different world.
I want to tell you that for many years there have been handicapped adults and children writing, warning and people keep saying, “Oh you said that already. It didn’t happen yet.” True, everyone sees that the world has become more difficult to live in, stranger, full of crazy things happening. The sinister side of the population of the world is coming to the surface. The Rishus, the evil is expanding everywhere, and oozing out from every corner, but still the average human being wants to go on with his regular life.
Very similar to World War Two, to just before World War Two. The main difference is that as evil as Hitler was, these maniacs that are trying to take over the world are ten times more evil, maybe even a million times more evil. And they are in charge of all kind of weapons, all kinds of poisons that they have already spewed into the world and are ready to destroy much of the world to gain their crazed power. Basically they are no different than previous generations of Reshoim, just they have much more technical ability to control the world.
So now where are we left, Am Yisroel? Where do we fit into all this picture? It’s just as the Nevuas (prophesy) say. Read the Nevuas and you’ll know where we fit in. It’s time Am Yisroel. You better get your act together. It’s time to do Teshuva. You can’t trust anything anymore, nothing, only Hashem. We’ll be stripped of everything. The only thing we’ll have to lean on is our trust and our love of Hashem.
If we are really ready to sacrifice ourselves for Hashem, and to admit that everything He does is for our good, then we’ll be saved. It’s not going to be easy.
Again I warn you, make a Cheshbon Hanefesh. Make an exact Cheshbon. Make an accounting of all of your Aveiros (sins), of all of your weaknesses, of all of your Aveiros against Hashem, SheLo Naidah, of all of your Aveiros against other human beings, and beg forgiveness. Beg forgiveness. It’s not enough to beg forgiveness; you have to cry. You have to feel so sorry that you ever did it, that you ever got into the stupidity of hating other people, of trying to get revenge, of taking things that aren’t yours, of doing any kind of Aveirah that’s against the Torah. Cry over it. Feel in your heart, that your heart is crying over it.You must do it, Am Yisroel. Things are going to be very hard now. They are getting more and more difficult. However it’s going to change drastically. All of a sudden, in one minute the whole thing will change. We’ll get a tremendous shock, but the whole world will change. There will be a totally different reality.
Am Yisroel I beg you, whether you are in Eretz Yisroel, or in America, or Europe, or wherever, beg Hashem, beg Hashem. It won’t matter how much wealth you have . It’s not going to help you. It’s going to disappear with everything. Everyone will be the same. Everyone will have the same. The only ones that will be ahead of the game, are the ones with trust, Emunah, Bitachon in Hashem. And they won’t be so scared.
Am Yisroel it’s really not a joke, and it’s coming very soon. And all the warnings you’ve been having in every direction, all the tragedies, SheLo Naidah, all the Tzaddikim that have been taken from this world, all the horrific happenings like the gay parade in Yerushayalim, like crushing up the bones of Jews that died a few thousand years ago, these horrific events bring upon us other horrific events, and we have to do Teshuva! Also if we did not raise our voices, and we did not oppose and protest. If we allowed Yerushayalim to be desecrated, if we allowed the graves of Kedoshim to be desecrated, then we’re at fault and we’ll have to pay. We have to beg forgiveness. We have to do real Teshuva. It’s hard work to do Teshuva. You have to tear your clothes and cry. You have to beg. You have to cry with a broken heart. You have to feel how bad you were, how evil you were, and beg Hashem to help us destroy the evil in ourselves, and come back only to Him.
Only a true Jew that stood at Har Sinai would ever be able to do this. No Erev Rav would be able to do this because he does not have the Yiddisha Neshomah, and he can’t be that close to Hashem ever, and he still has idol worship in his heart.
I’m warning you Am Yisroel. The Goyim have their eyes on Eretz Yisroel. They want to control Eretz Yisroel, and they don’t want Moshiach to be a Yid. They want Moshiach to be one of their people, and their big victory, in their minds, SheLo Naidah, is when they sit in Yerushalayim and rule.
I’m not talking about the Arabs, I’m talking about Edom, and that’s what they’re planning Am Yisroel. So if you think you’re going to have a picnic here in Eretz Yisroel, think again. Hashem will defend us, Hashem will help us, but until He does, we’re going to have a very very big test of Emunah and Bitachon.
So Jews all over the world I beg you my fellow Jews, my brothers, my sisters please, please don’t make it hard, don’t make it hard. Come back. The Gashmiusdik life of the Egel HaZahav is finished. Accept it and go in the way of truth.
There will be atomic explosions.
There will be soldiers killing civilians.
There will be chaos in the world.
There will be starvation.
Your money is not going to help you.
Eretz Yisroel will have it easier, but still we’re going to have it hard.
I’m warning you, please do Teshuva. Survive…
Do Teshuva, Am Yisroel cry out to Hashem and do Teshuva.
Discussion with Moishe’la
A handicapped child
Elul 13’ 5773 (Aug 18 ’13)
“It’s time Am Yisrael. You better get your act together”
So many things are happening in this world every single day. From hour to hour, from minute to minute, we don’t know what giant new event will bring us to feel shocked, startled, afraid etc.
The upheavals in the Arab countries are very frightening, especially for those who live in Eretz Yisroel, but the Israelis don’t seem too disturbed. They’re going along happy-go-lucky or running from place to place trying to make a living, not really worrying too much about what’s happening.
In the whole world, in the giant world, it seems that things are quieter, but in reality great things are happening. Very frightening things are happening, things that will bring us to a major, major explosion. The end is coming very close. Everyone with any brains in their heads, with any feelings at all, can feel, can see the terrible dark clouds amassing everywhere. The sky is full of them blocking out the rays of light. Of course I’m speaking figuratively, but that’s the feeling inside. That’s the feeling inside of every person who can see the truth and feel what’s happening.
I’m going to warn you that it’s time to do Teshuva. Am Yisroel, I’m talking to Am Yisroel the time is coming. I would even predict that by the time Succos is over, by time they put back the Torahs after dancing on Simchas Torah and say Havdolah it will be a different world.
I want to tell you that for many years there have been handicapped adults and children writing, warning and people keep saying, “Oh you said that already. It didn’t happen yet.” True, everyone sees that the world has become more difficult to live in, stranger, full of crazy things happening. The sinister side of the population of the world is coming to the surface. The Rishus, the evil is expanding everywhere, and oozing out from every corner, but still the average human being wants to go on with his regular life.
Very similar to World War Two, to just before World War Two. The main difference is that as evil as Hitler was, these maniacs that are trying to take over the world are ten times more evil, maybe even a million times more evil. And they are in charge of all kind of weapons, all kinds of poisons that they have already spewed into the world and are ready to destroy much of the world to gain their crazed power. Basically they are no different than previous generations of Reshoim, just they have much more technical ability to control the world.
So now where are we left, Am Yisroel? Where do we fit into all this picture? It’s just as the Nevuas (prophesy) say. Read the Nevuas and you’ll know where we fit in. It’s time Am Yisroel. You better get your act together. It’s time to do Teshuva. You can’t trust anything anymore, nothing, only Hashem. We’ll be stripped of everything. The only thing we’ll have to lean on is our trust and our love of Hashem.
If we are really ready to sacrifice ourselves for Hashem, and to admit that everything He does is for our good, then we’ll be saved. It’s not going to be easy.
Again I warn you, make a Cheshbon Hanefesh. Make an exact Cheshbon. Make an accounting of all of your Aveiros (sins), of all of your weaknesses, of all of your Aveiros against Hashem, SheLo Naidah, of all of your Aveiros against other human beings, and beg forgiveness. Beg forgiveness. It’s not enough to beg forgiveness; you have to cry. You have to feel so sorry that you ever did it, that you ever got into the stupidity of hating other people, of trying to get revenge, of taking things that aren’t yours, of doing any kind of Aveirah that’s against the Torah. Cry over it. Feel in your heart, that your heart is crying over it.You must do it, Am Yisroel. Things are going to be very hard now. They are getting more and more difficult. However it’s going to change drastically. All of a sudden, in one minute the whole thing will change. We’ll get a tremendous shock, but the whole world will change. There will be a totally different reality.
Am Yisroel I beg you, whether you are in Eretz Yisroel, or in America, or Europe, or wherever, beg Hashem, beg Hashem. It won’t matter how much wealth you have . It’s not going to help you. It’s going to disappear with everything. Everyone will be the same. Everyone will have the same. The only ones that will be ahead of the game, are the ones with trust, Emunah, Bitachon in Hashem. And they won’t be so scared.
Am Yisroel it’s really not a joke, and it’s coming very soon. And all the warnings you’ve been having in every direction, all the tragedies, SheLo Naidah, all the Tzaddikim that have been taken from this world, all the horrific happenings like the gay parade in Yerushayalim, like crushing up the bones of Jews that died a few thousand years ago, these horrific events bring upon us other horrific events, and we have to do Teshuva! Also if we did not raise our voices, and we did not oppose and protest. If we allowed Yerushayalim to be desecrated, if we allowed the graves of Kedoshim to be desecrated, then we’re at fault and we’ll have to pay. We have to beg forgiveness. We have to do real Teshuva. It’s hard work to do Teshuva. You have to tear your clothes and cry. You have to beg. You have to cry with a broken heart. You have to feel how bad you were, how evil you were, and beg Hashem to help us destroy the evil in ourselves, and come back only to Him.
Only a true Jew that stood at Har Sinai would ever be able to do this. No Erev Rav would be able to do this because he does not have the Yiddisha Neshomah, and he can’t be that close to Hashem ever, and he still has idol worship in his heart.
I’m warning you Am Yisroel. The Goyim have their eyes on Eretz Yisroel. They want to control Eretz Yisroel, and they don’t want Moshiach to be a Yid. They want Moshiach to be one of their people, and their big victory, in their minds, SheLo Naidah, is when they sit in Yerushalayim and rule.
I’m not talking about the Arabs, I’m talking about Edom, and that’s what they’re planning Am Yisroel. So if you think you’re going to have a picnic here in Eretz Yisroel, think again. Hashem will defend us, Hashem will help us, but until He does, we’re going to have a very very big test of Emunah and Bitachon.
So Jews all over the world I beg you my fellow Jews, my brothers, my sisters please, please don’t make it hard, don’t make it hard. Come back. The Gashmiusdik life of the Egel HaZahav is finished. Accept it and go in the way of truth.
There will be atomic explosions.
There will be soldiers killing civilians.
There will be chaos in the world.
There will be starvation.
Your money is not going to help you.
Eretz Yisroel will have it easier, but still we’re going to have it hard.
I’m warning you, please do Teshuva. Survive…
Do Teshuva, Am Yisroel cry out to Hashem and do Teshuva.
Parashat Nitzavim-Va’yelech 5773 : Shabbat Shalom
24 Elul 5773
Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Parashat Nitzavim-Va’yelech: The final Shabbat of the year – the final comfort
by Daniel Pinner
“I will intensely rejoice in Hashem, my soul shall exult in my God, because He has clothed me in garments of salvation; a robe of righteousness He has draped over me, like the bridegroom dressed as gloriously as the High Priest, like the bride who adorns herself with her jewelry” (Isaiah 61:10, from the Haftarah).
After the Roman pagans destroyed the second Holy Temple, our Sages decreed that for the three Shabbatot during the Three Weeks of mourning, the chilling, terrifying prophecies of Jeremiah and Isaiah, castigating Israel for their sins and foretelling the coming destruction, would constitute the Haftarot.
And then for the next seven weeks, we would be comforted from Shabbat to Shabbat by Isaiah’s majestic and inspiring prophecies of the magnificent future that awaits us. These ten Haftarot – from the first Shabbat after the ninth of Av until the last Shabbat of the year – are appropriate not to the Torah readings of their respective Shabbatot, but rather to the season.
The seventh and last of the Haftarot of Consolation is the final Haftarah of the year, which we will be reading this Shabbat. The previous six Haftarot – Va-et’chanan, Eikev, Re’eh, Shoftim, Ki Teitze, and Ki Tavo – have all been selections from Isaiah Chapters 40 to 60, and all are the prophet’s ecstatic prophecies of the wonderful future that awaits us in the time of the return to Zion.
And now, this final Haftarah of the year, the Haftarah that introduces us to Rosh ha-Shanah, is the ecstatic response to God: “I will intensely rejoice in Hashem, my soul shall exult in my God….” These are the words either of Jerusalem upon the return of the exiles (Targum Yonatan, Radak) or of Israel upon their return from exile (Radak, Ibn Ezra, Metzudat David).
Then comes the riposte: “For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness will come out like brilliance and her salvation will burn like a torch” (Isaiah 62:1). This is either God Himself responding to Israel while they are yet in exile (Targum Yonatan, Rashi, Radak), or the words of Israel in exile (Ibn Ezra).
The Targum Yonatan renders: “Until Zion’s redemption is wrought I will give no respite to the nations, and until consolation comes to Jerusalem I will give no peace to the kingdoms, until its light will be revealed as the bright dawn, and its redemption as a burning fire.” God is announcing: not only is there is no peace for Israel in exile, there is no peace for the entire world as long as Israel is in exile.
The prophet continues by depicting Israel and Jerusalem in the days of the final redemption: “On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed guardians all day and all night – they will never be silent; O you who are Hashem’s remembrancers, do not keep quiet! And do not give Him any quietude until He will establish and until He will make Jerusalem a praise in the earth” (Isaiah 62:6-7).
The prophet exhorts us that though Jerusalem’s walls be protected by the guardians – whether these guardians are our Forefathers (Targum Yonatan), or angels (Shmot Rabbah 18:5, Radak), or those who mourn for Zion (Metzudat David) – nevertheless: give God Himself no rest until the redemption is complete!
And the prophet continues: “Hashem has sworn by His right hand and by His mighty arm: I will no longer give your grain as food to your enemies, and foreigners will no longer drink your wine for which you toiled; instead its harvesters shall eat it and will praise Hashem, and its gatherers shall drink it in My holy courtyards” (Isaiah 62:8-9).
The prophet here uses the word yochluhu (“they shall eat it”), which word appears only four times throughout the Tanach. The first time was in our last few days in Egypt, when the slavery had already finished and we were poised on the very threshold of redemption. God commanded us to sacrifice the Paschal Lamb: “They shall eat the meat on this night fire-roasted and matzot; with bitter herbs yochluhu, they shall eat it” (Exodus 12:8).
The second time the word “yochluhu” appears in the Tanach is almost a year after the Exodus, when the Kohanim were consecrated and the Mishkan (the Tabernacle) was inaugurated. “Moshe said to Aaron and his sons: Cook the meat at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and there you shall eat it and the bread which is in the basket of the Inauguration-Offerings, as I have commanded saying, Aaron and his sons yochluhu, shall eat it” (Leviticus 8:31).
The third time the word yochluhu appears in the Tanach is about a month later, when God told the men who were ritually impure to sacrifice the Paschal Lamb on Pesach Sheni, a month after Pesach, on the 14th of Iyyar: “In the second month, on the fourteenth of the month, in the afternoon, he will make [the Pesach sacrifice]; with matzot and bitter herbs yochluhu, they shall eat it” (Numbers 9:11).
The fourth time the word yochluhu appears in the Tanach is in this prophecy of Isaiah’s.
The Ba’al ha-Turim (Rabbi Ya’akov ben Asher, Germany and Spain, c.1275-1343), in his commentary to Exodus 12:8, notes the significance of this word and the contexts in which it appears. Just as in Egypt every Jew was commanded not to leave the entrance of his house (Exodus 12:22), so too Aaron and his sons were commanded not to leave the entrance of the Tent of Meeting (Leviticus 8:33).
And similarly, says the Ba’al ha-Turim, the word yochluhu links the final redemption with the first redemption. The redemption from Egypt serves as the paradigm for the final redemption, and the prophet alludes to this by depicting the final redemption with the word yochluhu, recalling the redemption from Egypt.
One of the essential components of the final redemption is the vanquishing of Israel’s historic enemies. And sure enough, the Haftarah continues with Isaiah’s depiction of Israel’s victory over Edom: “Who is this coming from Edom, with reddened garments from Botzrah? This One Who is glorified by His raiment, girded with the greatness of His power? – ‘It is I, speaking with righteousness, mighty to save’” (Isaiah 63:1).
The Radak (Rabbi David Kimchi, France, c.1160-c.1235) writes, “Botzrah was a great city of Edom, which is why Edom is called by the name Botzrah/” The Metzudat Zion (“Fortress of Zion”, commentary on the Prophets and Writings written by Rabbi David Altschuler and his son, Rabbi Hillel Altschuler, Galicia, 18th century) suggests that mi-Botzrah (“from Botzrah”) is a cognate of mivtzar (“fortress”).
The Edomite city of Botzrah lies about 45 kilometres (28 miles) south and slightly east of the southern tip of the Dead Sea, in what used to be Edom. Today it is the town of Beitzeirah in Arab-occupied trans-Jordan (currently known as the Kingdom of Jordan).
The Ba’al ha-Turim (commentary to Genesis 36:33) notes that the word mi-Botzrah (“from Botzrah”) occurs only in two contexts in the entire Tanach. Parashat Vayishlach concludes with Esau’s genealogy: “And these are the descendants of Esau – he is Edom…” (Genesis 36:1). After detailing Esau’s – Edom’s – descendants, the Torah continues, “And these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king of the Children of Israel reigned: Bela son of Beor reigned in Edom and the name of his city was Dinhabah. And Bela died, and Jobab son of Zerah, mi-Botzrah (‘from Botzrah’), reigned in his stead” (vs. 31-33, repeated verbatim in 1 Chronicles 1:44).
Writes the Ba’al ha-Turim: “In the future time yet to come, Botzrah will be punished together with Edom because they established a king for them. This is the inference of ‘…reddened garments from Botzrah.’”
The Ba’al ha-Turim seems to base his comment on a somewhat cryptic Midrash: “‘And Bela died…’ – this can be compared with a king’s son who was involved in litigation with someone whose sustenance came to its end. Someone else came and supplied his sustenance, whereupon the king said: I will deal only with the one who supplied him with his sustenance! This is what God said: The kingship had already been uprooted from Edom – and then along came Botzrah and supplied them with kings! Therefore I will deal only with Botzrah, as it says ‘For Hashem will make a sacrifice in Botzrah and a mighty slaughter in the land of Edom’ (Isaiah 34:6)” (Bereishit Rabbah 83:3).
Eight times the Tanach mentions Botzrah. Two of these are the historical reference “Bela died, and Jobab son of Zerah, from Botzrah, reigned in his stead” (Genesis 36:33 and 1 Chronicles 1:44). The other six are all prophecies of the terrible fate that God has in store at the end of days for Botzrah and Edom and the surrounding nations who dare oppress His people (Isaiah 34:6, 63:1; Jeremiah 48:24, 49:13, 49:22; and Amos 1:12).
Our Haftarah continues: “Why are Your garments red, and Your clothes like one who trod the wine-vat? – ‘I alone have trodden the wine-press, from among the nations no man was with Me. I trod on them in My anger and I trampled them in My fury, and their life-blood spurted out on My clothes, thus I soiled all My garments’” (Isaiah 63:2-3).
Almost seven centuries before the prophet Isaiah lived, Moshe, beginning his farewell address to Israel, told them of God’s admonishment not to harass Edom: “You shall not provoke them, because I shall not give you any of their land even as much as the sole of the foot to tread on, because to Esau I have given Mount Seir as an inheritance” (Deuteronomy 2:5).
The Ba’al ha-Turim picks up on the unusual phraseology here. The Torah uses the word ad for “even as much as,” although the word ad literally means “until.” Writes the Ba’al ha-Turim: “‘…even as much as (ad) the sole of the foot to tread on’ – until (ad) ‘a star will tread forth from Jacob’ (Numbers 24:17) – until (ad) the time will come, as it says ‘I alone have trodden the wine-press.’"
The Ba’al ha-Turim’s insight here is based on several Midrashic sources (primarily Pesikta Zuta). What this means is that although we were forbidden to conquer so much as single step of Edomite territory when returning to Israel from Egypt, there will be no such limitation in the days of the final redemption.
This prophecy of Isaiah’s is the passage which our Sages decreed would always be read on the final Shabbat of each year. This is the last of the seven Haftarot of Consolation. This is the prophetic message which our Sages desired to infuse us with as we approach Rosh ha-Shanah.
After three weeks of mourning exile and the destruction of Jerusalem and our entire country, we have seven weeks of consolation. And this week’s Haftarah is the final comfort as we prepare to leave the spent year behind and enter the new year of 5774.
Let the new year and its blessings begin!
Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Parashat Nitzavim-Va’yelech: The final Shabbat of the year – the final comfort
by Daniel Pinner
“I will intensely rejoice in Hashem, my soul shall exult in my God, because He has clothed me in garments of salvation; a robe of righteousness He has draped over me, like the bridegroom dressed as gloriously as the High Priest, like the bride who adorns herself with her jewelry” (Isaiah 61:10, from the Haftarah).
After the Roman pagans destroyed the second Holy Temple, our Sages decreed that for the three Shabbatot during the Three Weeks of mourning, the chilling, terrifying prophecies of Jeremiah and Isaiah, castigating Israel for their sins and foretelling the coming destruction, would constitute the Haftarot.
And then for the next seven weeks, we would be comforted from Shabbat to Shabbat by Isaiah’s majestic and inspiring prophecies of the magnificent future that awaits us. These ten Haftarot – from the first Shabbat after the ninth of Av until the last Shabbat of the year – are appropriate not to the Torah readings of their respective Shabbatot, but rather to the season.
The seventh and last of the Haftarot of Consolation is the final Haftarah of the year, which we will be reading this Shabbat. The previous six Haftarot – Va-et’chanan, Eikev, Re’eh, Shoftim, Ki Teitze, and Ki Tavo – have all been selections from Isaiah Chapters 40 to 60, and all are the prophet’s ecstatic prophecies of the wonderful future that awaits us in the time of the return to Zion.
And now, this final Haftarah of the year, the Haftarah that introduces us to Rosh ha-Shanah, is the ecstatic response to God: “I will intensely rejoice in Hashem, my soul shall exult in my God….” These are the words either of Jerusalem upon the return of the exiles (Targum Yonatan, Radak) or of Israel upon their return from exile (Radak, Ibn Ezra, Metzudat David).
Then comes the riposte: “For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness will come out like brilliance and her salvation will burn like a torch” (Isaiah 62:1). This is either God Himself responding to Israel while they are yet in exile (Targum Yonatan, Rashi, Radak), or the words of Israel in exile (Ibn Ezra).
The Targum Yonatan renders: “Until Zion’s redemption is wrought I will give no respite to the nations, and until consolation comes to Jerusalem I will give no peace to the kingdoms, until its light will be revealed as the bright dawn, and its redemption as a burning fire.” God is announcing: not only is there is no peace for Israel in exile, there is no peace for the entire world as long as Israel is in exile.
The prophet continues by depicting Israel and Jerusalem in the days of the final redemption: “On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed guardians all day and all night – they will never be silent; O you who are Hashem’s remembrancers, do not keep quiet! And do not give Him any quietude until He will establish and until He will make Jerusalem a praise in the earth” (Isaiah 62:6-7).
The prophet exhorts us that though Jerusalem’s walls be protected by the guardians – whether these guardians are our Forefathers (Targum Yonatan), or angels (Shmot Rabbah 18:5, Radak), or those who mourn for Zion (Metzudat David) – nevertheless: give God Himself no rest until the redemption is complete!
And the prophet continues: “Hashem has sworn by His right hand and by His mighty arm: I will no longer give your grain as food to your enemies, and foreigners will no longer drink your wine for which you toiled; instead its harvesters shall eat it and will praise Hashem, and its gatherers shall drink it in My holy courtyards” (Isaiah 62:8-9).
The prophet here uses the word yochluhu (“they shall eat it”), which word appears only four times throughout the Tanach. The first time was in our last few days in Egypt, when the slavery had already finished and we were poised on the very threshold of redemption. God commanded us to sacrifice the Paschal Lamb: “They shall eat the meat on this night fire-roasted and matzot; with bitter herbs yochluhu, they shall eat it” (Exodus 12:8).
The second time the word “yochluhu” appears in the Tanach is almost a year after the Exodus, when the Kohanim were consecrated and the Mishkan (the Tabernacle) was inaugurated. “Moshe said to Aaron and his sons: Cook the meat at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and there you shall eat it and the bread which is in the basket of the Inauguration-Offerings, as I have commanded saying, Aaron and his sons yochluhu, shall eat it” (Leviticus 8:31).
The third time the word yochluhu appears in the Tanach is about a month later, when God told the men who were ritually impure to sacrifice the Paschal Lamb on Pesach Sheni, a month after Pesach, on the 14th of Iyyar: “In the second month, on the fourteenth of the month, in the afternoon, he will make [the Pesach sacrifice]; with matzot and bitter herbs yochluhu, they shall eat it” (Numbers 9:11).
The fourth time the word yochluhu appears in the Tanach is in this prophecy of Isaiah’s.
The Ba’al ha-Turim (Rabbi Ya’akov ben Asher, Germany and Spain, c.1275-1343), in his commentary to Exodus 12:8, notes the significance of this word and the contexts in which it appears. Just as in Egypt every Jew was commanded not to leave the entrance of his house (Exodus 12:22), so too Aaron and his sons were commanded not to leave the entrance of the Tent of Meeting (Leviticus 8:33).
And similarly, says the Ba’al ha-Turim, the word yochluhu links the final redemption with the first redemption. The redemption from Egypt serves as the paradigm for the final redemption, and the prophet alludes to this by depicting the final redemption with the word yochluhu, recalling the redemption from Egypt.
One of the essential components of the final redemption is the vanquishing of Israel’s historic enemies. And sure enough, the Haftarah continues with Isaiah’s depiction of Israel’s victory over Edom: “Who is this coming from Edom, with reddened garments from Botzrah? This One Who is glorified by His raiment, girded with the greatness of His power? – ‘It is I, speaking with righteousness, mighty to save’” (Isaiah 63:1).
The Radak (Rabbi David Kimchi, France, c.1160-c.1235) writes, “Botzrah was a great city of Edom, which is why Edom is called by the name Botzrah/” The Metzudat Zion (“Fortress of Zion”, commentary on the Prophets and Writings written by Rabbi David Altschuler and his son, Rabbi Hillel Altschuler, Galicia, 18th century) suggests that mi-Botzrah (“from Botzrah”) is a cognate of mivtzar (“fortress”).
The Edomite city of Botzrah lies about 45 kilometres (28 miles) south and slightly east of the southern tip of the Dead Sea, in what used to be Edom. Today it is the town of Beitzeirah in Arab-occupied trans-Jordan (currently known as the Kingdom of Jordan).
The Ba’al ha-Turim (commentary to Genesis 36:33) notes that the word mi-Botzrah (“from Botzrah”) occurs only in two contexts in the entire Tanach. Parashat Vayishlach concludes with Esau’s genealogy: “And these are the descendants of Esau – he is Edom…” (Genesis 36:1). After detailing Esau’s – Edom’s – descendants, the Torah continues, “And these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king of the Children of Israel reigned: Bela son of Beor reigned in Edom and the name of his city was Dinhabah. And Bela died, and Jobab son of Zerah, mi-Botzrah (‘from Botzrah’), reigned in his stead” (vs. 31-33, repeated verbatim in 1 Chronicles 1:44).
Writes the Ba’al ha-Turim: “In the future time yet to come, Botzrah will be punished together with Edom because they established a king for them. This is the inference of ‘…reddened garments from Botzrah.’”
The Ba’al ha-Turim seems to base his comment on a somewhat cryptic Midrash: “‘And Bela died…’ – this can be compared with a king’s son who was involved in litigation with someone whose sustenance came to its end. Someone else came and supplied his sustenance, whereupon the king said: I will deal only with the one who supplied him with his sustenance! This is what God said: The kingship had already been uprooted from Edom – and then along came Botzrah and supplied them with kings! Therefore I will deal only with Botzrah, as it says ‘For Hashem will make a sacrifice in Botzrah and a mighty slaughter in the land of Edom’ (Isaiah 34:6)” (Bereishit Rabbah 83:3).
Eight times the Tanach mentions Botzrah. Two of these are the historical reference “Bela died, and Jobab son of Zerah, from Botzrah, reigned in his stead” (Genesis 36:33 and 1 Chronicles 1:44). The other six are all prophecies of the terrible fate that God has in store at the end of days for Botzrah and Edom and the surrounding nations who dare oppress His people (Isaiah 34:6, 63:1; Jeremiah 48:24, 49:13, 49:22; and Amos 1:12).
Our Haftarah continues: “Why are Your garments red, and Your clothes like one who trod the wine-vat? – ‘I alone have trodden the wine-press, from among the nations no man was with Me. I trod on them in My anger and I trampled them in My fury, and their life-blood spurted out on My clothes, thus I soiled all My garments’” (Isaiah 63:2-3).
Almost seven centuries before the prophet Isaiah lived, Moshe, beginning his farewell address to Israel, told them of God’s admonishment not to harass Edom: “You shall not provoke them, because I shall not give you any of their land even as much as the sole of the foot to tread on, because to Esau I have given Mount Seir as an inheritance” (Deuteronomy 2:5).
The Ba’al ha-Turim picks up on the unusual phraseology here. The Torah uses the word ad for “even as much as,” although the word ad literally means “until.” Writes the Ba’al ha-Turim: “‘…even as much as (ad) the sole of the foot to tread on’ – until (ad) ‘a star will tread forth from Jacob’ (Numbers 24:17) – until (ad) the time will come, as it says ‘I alone have trodden the wine-press.’"
The Ba’al ha-Turim’s insight here is based on several Midrashic sources (primarily Pesikta Zuta). What this means is that although we were forbidden to conquer so much as single step of Edomite territory when returning to Israel from Egypt, there will be no such limitation in the days of the final redemption.
This prophecy of Isaiah’s is the passage which our Sages decreed would always be read on the final Shabbat of each year. This is the last of the seven Haftarot of Consolation. This is the prophetic message which our Sages desired to infuse us with as we approach Rosh ha-Shanah.
After three weeks of mourning exile and the destruction of Jerusalem and our entire country, we have seven weeks of consolation. And this week’s Haftarah is the final comfort as we prepare to leave the spent year behind and enter the new year of 5774.
Let the new year and its blessings begin!
29 August 2013
They're at it again!
Police chief: Prepared for any event
Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino addressed the situation in Syria and said: "I want to tell all of Israel – we are prepared. I ask the citizens of Israel to not change their plans for the upcoming holidays; we will do everything necessary in order to maintain the routine and security of the people. You have someone to rely on."
Yes, we most certainly do! And it's not the army and it's not the government and it certainly isn't YOU. It's HaKadosh Baruch Hu!!
A Kuwaiti newspaper reported Thursday that Gulf leaders have been in touch with Israel, and have asked that Israel act “with restraint” in the event of an attack by Western nations on Syria. That restraint would be necessary if Bashar al-Assad responds to an attack against him by attacking Israel.
...According to the report, Israel responded by saying that it would indeed exercise “restraint,” as long as the attacks on Israel “did not exceed reasonable bounds.” The report did not describe what those bounds were.
All I can say to this is... Maybe the government will agree to act with "restraint" and consider a certain number of fatalities or casualties as "acceptable losses," but someone should warn them that they don't speak for the Creator of the World. What He might do, I don't know, but my feeling is that His patience has about run out.
Parashat Nitzavim/Vayelech 5773
Free Will – Rabbi Meir Kahane
See – I have placed before you today the life and the good, and the death and the evil, that which I command you today. To love Hashem, your G-d, to walk in His ways, to observe His commandments, His decrees, and His ordinances; then you will live and you will multiply, and Hashem, your G-d, willbless you in the Land to which you come to possess it... I call heaven and earth as witnesses! Before you I have placed life and death, the blessing and the curse. You must choose life, so that you and your descendants will live. (Deut. 30:15,16).
This warning was issued when the Jewish People were about to enter their land, to live there isolated from the nations' detestable practices. Unfortunately, even in Eretz Yisrael, we sinned greatly and exile was decreed, such that instead of being a “nation that dwells alone” (Num. 23:9), we ended up among the nations, and most of the Jewish People became like them. As a result, large parts of our people, in effect, lost the ability to choose. The free choice that was their lot in Eretz Yisrael, their land and birthplace, became a farce among the nations where they were conquered by foreign culture; and countless Jews became spiritual captives.
How can we expect Israel to repent as a people when they do not even have any questions? Why should G-d continue punishing His people for so long when not only is the punishment not beneficial, but, as we saw following the dreadful Holocaust, tens of thousands of believing Jews even became heretics? How can G-d draw near to Him a people that has lost its understanding to choose between good and evil, between life and death? Regarding the verse, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then may you also do good, that are accustomed to doing evil” (Jer. 13:23), Redak comments,“You have so accustomed yourselves to evil that it cannot leave you, as though it were a second nature to you.” In this age of great scientific and technological advancement, when materialistic, cosmopolitan “realism” makes assimilation seem acceptable, it is clear that the Jewish captive to foreign culture will not improve his ways. Quite the contrary, he marches along proudly, far from the camp, far from the idea of repenting, almost cut off from every link to his origins. He has lost, so to speak, the power of free choice. He who was earmarked to be like the stars of the heavens, wallows in the mire.
The Torah's very defining good and evil in real, absolute terms constitutes a declaration of war against the culture of the nations and the Hellenists [westernized, secular Jews] who adopted it. That culture preaches that no one absolute good or evil can be determined, since all ideas and concepts, including those defining good and evil, are the product of human thought. Both those who deny the existence of a Supreme, Omniscient, Omnipotent G-d Who is the source of wisdom and truth, and those who admit the existence of a Supreme Being yet deny Torah from Sinai, i.e., that G-d set forth a blueprint in the Torah, hold that we cannot attach special status to one “good” over another. Tolerance and pluralism are the ultimate principles of that alien culture. Since followers of that culture cannot determine with certainty what evil is, they cannot eradicate it from the world. Clearly, tolerance and psychological flexibility regarding (almost) all views and lifestyles are their philosophical darling. For them, almost absolute liberty and freedom transcend all else. Included in this is a person's freedom and right to do whatever he pleases with his life so long as it does not “harm his fellow man”. Clearly, this approach is a disgusting philosophical abomination to G-d and Israel. G-d, the Creator, fashioned a world that rests on truth, an exact, defined truth, determined by Him. The world was created to put G-d's clear, precise ideas and attributes into practice, and whoever seeks to differ with them imperils his soul. It is not man who determines his path on this earth. He is not free to choose whatever lifestyle he pleases without facing the consequences– bitter punishment from His father in Heaven.
The Torah treats with contempt the idea of man having freedom over his body and his life. Our sages comment on the verse, “The tablets were the tablets of G-d, and the writing was the writing of G-d, graven [charut] on the tablets.” (Ex. 32:16): “Read not charut, 'graven', but cherut, 'freedom'. The only free man is the one who studies Torah” (Avot 6:2).A person is not free, he is not at liberty to act however he pleases. He is bound by the yoke of Heaven, the fetters of our holy Torah. Only by agreeing to serve G-d and accept His yoke does he become free. This alone liberates him from the empty bestiality which enslaves him to his own needs, to his own selfish ego, to abominable lust. G-d does not recognize man's right to do as he pleases as long as he does not harm his fellow man. G-d established that man's life does not belong to him. Man was commanded to live and given a path to follow. Not only is he forbidden to harm his fellow man. But he is forbidden to harm himself. As long as a person opposes his Maker, he harms himself. He takes his own soul, committing spiritual suicide, and he is not free to act this way. Life itself is not man's personal property. G-d blew into man the breath of life only so he would lead a well-defined life of goodness. As our sages said (Avot 4:29), “Perforce you were born and perforce you live.” If a person says, “Since I was created against my will, if I do not wish to live I have a right to commit suicide,” G-d declares that man is not free either to live as he wishes or to die however he likes. Regarding one who commits suicide, our sages said (Semachot – Avel Rabbati 2:1): We do not eulogize him, but we stand in line for him and say the blessing for mourners, to show respect for the living. As a rule, whatever shows respect for the living we do, but nothing beyond that. Rambam (Hilchot Avel 1:11) and Tur (Yoreh Deah 345) ruled the same way. Thus we learn that even a man's life is not in his own hands, let alone his lifestyle.
A person is granted free will, and he has the right and duty to choose goodness and life and to loath evil, defilement and death. If, of his own free will, he chooses evil and defiles himself, G-d will not help him to avoid evil by closing the door to evil. Rather, G-d opens the way for him to do what he wants. It says in Yoma 39a:If a person defiles himself a little bit, Heaven will defile him a lot. If he does so on earth, he will be defiled from Heaven. If he does so in this world, he will be defiled in the World-to-Come. The Rabbis learned, “Make yourselves holy and remain sanctified” (Lev. 11:44): If a person sanctifies himself a little bit, Heaven will sanctify him a lot. If he does so on earth...That is what is meant by “Heaven gives him an opening”. The more he defiles himself and sins, the more his defilement and sin become habit, and ultimately second nature. All this applies to the Jew, and all the more so to the non-Jew. Moreover, if a non-Jew profanes G-d's name by reviling and humiliating a Jew, and he refuses to desist, then when the time of redemption and revenge arrives, G-d will not only open the way for him to continue, but will even entice him to do so, for his fate has already been sealed. Certainly, if Gog announces that he is accepting the yoke of Heaven and submitting to G-d, and he subjugates himself to G-d and Israel, thereby bringing the world the great and final Kiddush Hashem, G-d will certainly let him repent in this way. Yet, as long as he does not do this, as long as he and the world continue in arrogant chilul Hashem, G-d will set the time for His revenge and, then, will entice him into receiving his punishment.
Rambam explains in Hilchot Teshuva 6:3: [...] Why then did G-d address him [Pharaoh] through Moses, saying “Send out Israel and repent,” when He had already made it clear that He knew Pharaoh would not send them out, as it says, “I realize that you and your subjects still do not fear G-d” (Ex. 9:30); and, “The only reason I let you survive was to show you My strength” (Ex. 9:16)? It was to inform mankind that when G-d prevents the sinner from repenting, the sinner cannot repent, but must die for the wicked deeds he performed previously of his own free will. It was so with Sichon. In accordance with his sins, he was denied repentance: “The L-rd your G-d hardened his spirit and made his heart firm (Deut. 2:30). The same applies to the Canaanites. In accordance with their abominations, G-d denied them repentance until they waged war against Israel: “It was the L-rd's doing to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that He might destroy them utterly” (Joshua 11:20).
Here we learn a major principle of free choice regarding a wicked non-Jew who profanes G-d's name. An evildoer can submit to G-d in one of two ways. First, he can repent and crown G-d King, accept G-d's sovereignty and subjugate himself to G-d and mitzvot. Clearly, such repentance is appropriate and desirable, and G-d will not prevent his submitting in this way. The second way is for him to submit, not out of repentance and acceptance of G-d's yoke, but only out of fear and weakness. Certainly, this does not constitute sufficient repentance from his wickedness and Chilul Hashem, for until he rises and proclaims openly that Hashem is G-d and King, bending his knee before Him, G-d's name is not sanctified in the world. Therefore, if his whole submission is out of weakness and fear, he will still deserve punishment and revenge. G-d will, therefore, harden his heart so that he does not submit out of fear. Thus, G-d hardened Pharaoh's heart, because Pharaoh never accepted the yoke of G-d's kingdom. By the same token, G-d did not let him escape his sin and punishment through mere fear, but hardened his heart, so that G-d's name would be sanctified. It will be similar with Gog, who will stand firm in his chilul Hashem, and the time of Kiddush Hashem will arrive. It thus says, “I will bring you against My land, O Gog, before their eyes” (Ezek. 38:16). [The ensuing punishment and revenge we find described in this week's Haftarah]: “I alone have trodden a wine press, not a man from the nations was with Me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in My wrath, and their lifeblood spurted out on My garments, so I soiled all my garments. For a day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redemption has come...” (Isaiah 63:3,4)
This is the greatest, most terrifying Kiddush Hashem there can be, and it is this which will make all the nations accept G-d's sovereignty.
-[Source: Compiled by Tzipora Liron-Pinner from "The Jewish Idea" of Rabbi Meir Kahane HY"D]-
This warning was issued when the Jewish People were about to enter their land, to live there isolated from the nations' detestable practices. Unfortunately, even in Eretz Yisrael, we sinned greatly and exile was decreed, such that instead of being a “nation that dwells alone” (Num. 23:9), we ended up among the nations, and most of the Jewish People became like them. As a result, large parts of our people, in effect, lost the ability to choose. The free choice that was their lot in Eretz Yisrael, their land and birthplace, became a farce among the nations where they were conquered by foreign culture; and countless Jews became spiritual captives.
How can we expect Israel to repent as a people when they do not even have any questions? Why should G-d continue punishing His people for so long when not only is the punishment not beneficial, but, as we saw following the dreadful Holocaust, tens of thousands of believing Jews even became heretics? How can G-d draw near to Him a people that has lost its understanding to choose between good and evil, between life and death? Regarding the verse, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then may you also do good, that are accustomed to doing evil” (Jer. 13:23), Redak comments,“You have so accustomed yourselves to evil that it cannot leave you, as though it were a second nature to you.” In this age of great scientific and technological advancement, when materialistic, cosmopolitan “realism” makes assimilation seem acceptable, it is clear that the Jewish captive to foreign culture will not improve his ways. Quite the contrary, he marches along proudly, far from the camp, far from the idea of repenting, almost cut off from every link to his origins. He has lost, so to speak, the power of free choice. He who was earmarked to be like the stars of the heavens, wallows in the mire.
The Torah's very defining good and evil in real, absolute terms constitutes a declaration of war against the culture of the nations and the Hellenists [westernized, secular Jews] who adopted it. That culture preaches that no one absolute good or evil can be determined, since all ideas and concepts, including those defining good and evil, are the product of human thought. Both those who deny the existence of a Supreme, Omniscient, Omnipotent G-d Who is the source of wisdom and truth, and those who admit the existence of a Supreme Being yet deny Torah from Sinai, i.e., that G-d set forth a blueprint in the Torah, hold that we cannot attach special status to one “good” over another. Tolerance and pluralism are the ultimate principles of that alien culture. Since followers of that culture cannot determine with certainty what evil is, they cannot eradicate it from the world. Clearly, tolerance and psychological flexibility regarding (almost) all views and lifestyles are their philosophical darling. For them, almost absolute liberty and freedom transcend all else. Included in this is a person's freedom and right to do whatever he pleases with his life so long as it does not “harm his fellow man”. Clearly, this approach is a disgusting philosophical abomination to G-d and Israel. G-d, the Creator, fashioned a world that rests on truth, an exact, defined truth, determined by Him. The world was created to put G-d's clear, precise ideas and attributes into practice, and whoever seeks to differ with them imperils his soul. It is not man who determines his path on this earth. He is not free to choose whatever lifestyle he pleases without facing the consequences– bitter punishment from His father in Heaven.
The Torah treats with contempt the idea of man having freedom over his body and his life. Our sages comment on the verse, “The tablets were the tablets of G-d, and the writing was the writing of G-d, graven [charut] on the tablets.” (Ex. 32:16): “Read not charut, 'graven', but cherut, 'freedom'. The only free man is the one who studies Torah” (Avot 6:2).A person is not free, he is not at liberty to act however he pleases. He is bound by the yoke of Heaven, the fetters of our holy Torah. Only by agreeing to serve G-d and accept His yoke does he become free. This alone liberates him from the empty bestiality which enslaves him to his own needs, to his own selfish ego, to abominable lust. G-d does not recognize man's right to do as he pleases as long as he does not harm his fellow man. G-d established that man's life does not belong to him. Man was commanded to live and given a path to follow. Not only is he forbidden to harm his fellow man. But he is forbidden to harm himself. As long as a person opposes his Maker, he harms himself. He takes his own soul, committing spiritual suicide, and he is not free to act this way. Life itself is not man's personal property. G-d blew into man the breath of life only so he would lead a well-defined life of goodness. As our sages said (Avot 4:29), “Perforce you were born and perforce you live.” If a person says, “Since I was created against my will, if I do not wish to live I have a right to commit suicide,” G-d declares that man is not free either to live as he wishes or to die however he likes. Regarding one who commits suicide, our sages said (Semachot – Avel Rabbati 2:1): We do not eulogize him, but we stand in line for him and say the blessing for mourners, to show respect for the living. As a rule, whatever shows respect for the living we do, but nothing beyond that. Rambam (Hilchot Avel 1:11) and Tur (Yoreh Deah 345) ruled the same way. Thus we learn that even a man's life is not in his own hands, let alone his lifestyle.
A person is granted free will, and he has the right and duty to choose goodness and life and to loath evil, defilement and death. If, of his own free will, he chooses evil and defiles himself, G-d will not help him to avoid evil by closing the door to evil. Rather, G-d opens the way for him to do what he wants. It says in Yoma 39a:If a person defiles himself a little bit, Heaven will defile him a lot. If he does so on earth, he will be defiled from Heaven. If he does so in this world, he will be defiled in the World-to-Come. The Rabbis learned, “Make yourselves holy and remain sanctified” (Lev. 11:44): If a person sanctifies himself a little bit, Heaven will sanctify him a lot. If he does so on earth...That is what is meant by “Heaven gives him an opening”. The more he defiles himself and sins, the more his defilement and sin become habit, and ultimately second nature. All this applies to the Jew, and all the more so to the non-Jew. Moreover, if a non-Jew profanes G-d's name by reviling and humiliating a Jew, and he refuses to desist, then when the time of redemption and revenge arrives, G-d will not only open the way for him to continue, but will even entice him to do so, for his fate has already been sealed. Certainly, if Gog announces that he is accepting the yoke of Heaven and submitting to G-d, and he subjugates himself to G-d and Israel, thereby bringing the world the great and final Kiddush Hashem, G-d will certainly let him repent in this way. Yet, as long as he does not do this, as long as he and the world continue in arrogant chilul Hashem, G-d will set the time for His revenge and, then, will entice him into receiving his punishment.
Rambam explains in Hilchot Teshuva 6:3: [...] Why then did G-d address him [Pharaoh] through Moses, saying “Send out Israel and repent,” when He had already made it clear that He knew Pharaoh would not send them out, as it says, “I realize that you and your subjects still do not fear G-d” (Ex. 9:30); and, “The only reason I let you survive was to show you My strength” (Ex. 9:16)? It was to inform mankind that when G-d prevents the sinner from repenting, the sinner cannot repent, but must die for the wicked deeds he performed previously of his own free will. It was so with Sichon. In accordance with his sins, he was denied repentance: “The L-rd your G-d hardened his spirit and made his heart firm (Deut. 2:30). The same applies to the Canaanites. In accordance with their abominations, G-d denied them repentance until they waged war against Israel: “It was the L-rd's doing to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that He might destroy them utterly” (Joshua 11:20).
Here we learn a major principle of free choice regarding a wicked non-Jew who profanes G-d's name. An evildoer can submit to G-d in one of two ways. First, he can repent and crown G-d King, accept G-d's sovereignty and subjugate himself to G-d and mitzvot. Clearly, such repentance is appropriate and desirable, and G-d will not prevent his submitting in this way. The second way is for him to submit, not out of repentance and acceptance of G-d's yoke, but only out of fear and weakness. Certainly, this does not constitute sufficient repentance from his wickedness and Chilul Hashem, for until he rises and proclaims openly that Hashem is G-d and King, bending his knee before Him, G-d's name is not sanctified in the world. Therefore, if his whole submission is out of weakness and fear, he will still deserve punishment and revenge. G-d will, therefore, harden his heart so that he does not submit out of fear. Thus, G-d hardened Pharaoh's heart, because Pharaoh never accepted the yoke of G-d's kingdom. By the same token, G-d did not let him escape his sin and punishment through mere fear, but hardened his heart, so that G-d's name would be sanctified. It will be similar with Gog, who will stand firm in his chilul Hashem, and the time of Kiddush Hashem will arrive. It thus says, “I will bring you against My land, O Gog, before their eyes” (Ezek. 38:16). [The ensuing punishment and revenge we find described in this week's Haftarah]: “I alone have trodden a wine press, not a man from the nations was with Me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in My wrath, and their lifeblood spurted out on My garments, so I soiled all my garments. For a day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redemption has come...” (Isaiah 63:3,4)
This is the greatest, most terrifying Kiddush Hashem there can be, and it is this which will make all the nations accept G-d's sovereignty.
-[Source: Compiled by Tzipora Liron-Pinner from "The Jewish Idea" of Rabbi Meir Kahane HY"D]-
28 August 2013
Medinat Yehuda: "What Every Jew Should Know"
WHAT EVERY JEW SHOULD KNOW
"Martin Luther's life and work profoundly shaped life here in the West. We think the way we do, in no small measure, thanks to him. Let's hope that his influence and the Gospel can spread as people watch a well done movie."
(See also Jewish History: Martin Luther's Impact on Hitler and the Middle East)
The following is taken entirely from Medieval Sourcebook - Martin Luther (1483-1546): The Jews and Their Lies, excerpts (1543)
At the beginning of his career it is often said that Luther was apparently sympathetic to Jewish resistance to the Catholic Church. He wrote, early in his career:
"The Jews are blood-relations of our Lord; if it were proper to boast of flesh and blood, the Jews belong more to Christ than we. I beg, therefore, my dear Papist, if you become tired of abusing me as a heretic, that you begin to revile me as a Jew."
However, sometime before 1517, in his Letters to Spalatin, we can already see that Luther's hatred of Jews, best seen in his 1543 letter, was not some affectation of old age, but was present very early on. Luther expected Jews to convert to his purified Christianity. When they did not, he turned violently against them.
It is impossible for modern people to read the horrible passages below and not to think of the burning of synagogues in November 1938 on Krystalnacht. Nor would one wish to excuse Luther for this text.
A number of points must, however, be made. The most important concerns the language used. Luther used violent and vulgar language throughout his career: he was not a man to say "manure" when he meant "shit". We do not expect religious figures to use this sort of language in the modern world, but it was not uncommon in the early 16th century. Second, although Luther's comments seem to be proto-Nazi, they are better seen as part of tradition of Medieval Christian anti-semitism. While there is little doubt that Christian anti-semitism laid the social and cultural basis for modern anti-semitism, modern anti-semitism does differ in being based on pseudo-scientific notions of race. The Nazis imprisoned and killed Jews who had converted to Christianity: Luther would have welcomed them.
None of this justifies what follows, but it may help to comprehend what is being written here.
Martin Luther: The Jews and Their Lies (excerpts):
"I had made up my mind to write no more either about the Jews or against them. But since I learned that these miserable and accursed people do not cease to lure to themselves even us, that is, the Christians, I have published this little book, so that I might be found among those who opposed such poisonous activities of the Jews who warned the Christians to be on their guard against them. I would not have believed that a Christian could be duped by the Jews into taking their exile and wretchedness upon himself. However, the devil is the god of the world, and wherever God's word is absent he has an easy task, not only with the weak but also with the strong. May God help us. Amen."
****
"What shall we Christians do with this rejected and condemned people, the Jews? Since they live among us, we dare not tolerate their conduct, now that we are aware of their lying and reviling and blaspheming. If we do, we become sharers in their lies, cursing and blasphemy. Thus we cannot extinguish the unquenchable fire of divine wrath, of which the prophets speak, nor can we convert the Jews. With prayer and the fear of God we must practice a sharp mercy to see whether we might save at least a few from the glowing flames. We dare not avenge ourselves. Vengeance a thousand times worse than we could wish them already has them by the throat. I shall give you my sincere advice:
First to set fire to their synagogues or schools and to bury and cover with dirt whatever will not burn, so that no man will ever again see a stone or cinder of them. This is to be done in honor of our Lord and of Christendom, so that God might see that we are Christians, and do not condone or knowingly tolerate such public lying, cursing, and blaspheming of his Son and of his Christians. For whatever we tolerated in the past unknowingly - and I myself was unaware of it - will be pardoned by God. But if we, now that we are informed, were to protect and shield such a house for the Jews, existing right before our very nose, in which they lie about, blaspheme, curse, vilify, and defame Christ and us (as was heard above), it would be the same as if we were doing all this and even worse ourselves, as we very well know.
Second, I advise that their houses also be razed and destroyed. For they pursue in them the same aims as in their synagogues. Instead they might be lodged under a roof or in a barn, like the gypsies. This will bring home to them that they are not masters in our country, as they boast, but that they are living in exile and in captivity, as they incessantly wail and lament about us before God.
Third, I advise that all their prayer books and Talmudic writings, in which such idolatry, lies, cursing and blasphemy are taught, be taken from them. (remainder omitted)
Fourth, I advise that their rabbis be forbidden to teach henceforth on pain of loss of life and limb. For they have justly forfeited the right to such an office by holding the poor Jews captive with the saying of Moses (Deuteronomy 17 [:10 ff.]) in which he commands them to obey their teachers on penalty of death, although Moses clearly adds: "what they teach you in accord with the law of the Lord." Those villains ignore that. They wantonly employ the poor people's obedience contrary to the law of the Lord and infuse them with this poison, cursing, and blasphemy. In the same way the pope also held us captive with the declaration in Matthew 16 {:18], "You are Peter," etc, inducing us to believe all the lies and deceptions that issued from his devilish mind. He did not teach in accord with the word of God, and therefore he forfeited the right to teach.
Fifth, I advise that safe-conduct on the highways be abolished completely for the Jews. For they have no business in the countryside, since they are not lords, officials, tradesmen, or the like. Let they stay at home. (...remainder omitted).
Sixth, I advise that usury be prohibited to them, and that all cash and treasure of silver and gold be taken from them and put aside for safekeeping. The reason for such a measure is that, as said above, they have no other means of earning a livelihood than usury, and by it they have stolen and robbed from us all they possess. Such money should now be used in no other way than the following: Whenever a Jew is sincerely converted, he should be handed one hundred, two hundred, or three hundred florins, as personal circumstances may suggest. With this he could set himself up in some occupation for the support of his poor wife and children, and the maintenance of the old or feeble. For such evil gains are cursed if they are not put to use with God's blessing in a good and worthy cause.
Seventh, I commend putting a flail, an ax, a hoe, a spade, a distaff, or a spindle into the hands of young, strong Jews and Jewesses and letting them earn their bread in the sweat of their brow, as was imposed on the children of Adam (Gen 3[:19]}. For it is not fitting that they should let us accursed Goyim toil in the sweat of our faces while they, the holy people, idle away their time behind the stove, feasting and farting, and on top of all, boasting blasphemously of their lordship over the Christians by means of our sweat. No, one should toss out these lazy rogues by the seat of their pants."
***
"He did not call them Abraham's children, but a "brood of vipers" [Matt. 3:7]. Oh, that was too insulting for the noble blood and race of Israel, and they declared, "He has a demon' [Matt 11:18]. Our Lord also calls them a "brood of vipers"; furthermore in John 8 [:39,44] he states: "If you were Abraham's children ye would do what Abraham did.... You are of your father the devil. It was intolerable to them to hear that they were not Abraham's but the devil's children, nor can they bear to hear this today."
***
"Therefore the blind Jews are truly stupid fools..."
***
"Now just behold these miserable, blind, and senseless people."
***
"...their blindness and arrogance are as solid as an iron mountain."
***
"Therefore be on your guard against the Jews, knowing that wherever they have their synagogues, nothing is found but a den of devils in which sheer self-glory, conceit, lies, blasphemy, and defaming of God and men are practiced most maliciously and veheming his eyes on them."
***
"Moreover, they are nothing but thieves and robbers who daily eat no morsel and wear no thread of clothing which they have not stolen and pilfered from us by means of their accursed usury. Thus they live from day to day, together with wife and child, by theft and robbery, as arch-thieves and robbers, in the most impenitent security."
***
"...but then eject them forever from this country. For, as we have heard, God's anger with them is so intense that gentle mercy will only tend to make them worse and worse, while sharp mercy will reform them but little. Therefore, in any case, away with them!"
***
"Over and above that we let them get rich on our sweat and blood, while we remain poor and they such the marrow from our bones."
***
"I brief, dear princes and lords, those of you who have Jews under your rule-- if my counsel does not please you, find better advice, so that you and we all can be rid of the unbearable, devilish burden of the Jews, lest we become guilty sharers before God in the lies, blasphemy, the defamation, and the curses which the mad Jews indulge in so freely and wantonly against the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, this dear mother, all Christians, all authority, and ourselves. Do not grant them protection, safe-conduct, or communion with us.... With this faithful counsel and warning I wish to cleanse and exonerate my conscience."
***
"But what will happen even if we do burn down the Jews' synagogues and forbid them publicly to praise God, to pray, to teach, to utter God's name? They will still keep doing it in secret. If we know that they are doing this in secret, it is the same as if they were doing it publicly, for our knowledge of their secret doings and our toleration of them implies that they are not secret after all and thus our conscience is encumbered with it before God."
***
"Accordingly, it must and dare not be considered a trifling matter but a most serious one to seek counsel against this and to save our souls from the Jews, that is, from the devil and from eternal death. My advice, as I said earlier, is:
First, that their synagogues be burned down, and that all who are able toss in sulphur and pitch; it would be good if someone could also throw in some hellfire. That would demonstrate to God our serious resolve and be evidence to all the world that it was in ignorance that we tolerated such houses, in which the Jews have reviled God, our dear Creator and Father, and his Son most shamefully up till now but that we have now given them their due reward."
***
"I wish and I ask that our rulers who have Jewish subjects exercise a sharp mercy toward these wretched people, as suggested above, to see whether this might not help (though it is doubtful). They must act like a good physician who, when gangrene has set in, proceeds without mercy to cut, saw, and burn flesh, veins, bone, and marrow. Such a procedure must also be followed in this instance. Burn down their synagogues, forbid all that I enumerated earlier, force them to work,and deal harshly with them, as Moses did in the wilderness, slaying three thousand lest the whole people perish. They surely do not know what they are doing; moreover, as people possessed, they do not wish to know it, hear it, or learn it. There it would be wrong to be merciful and confirm them in their conduct. If this does not help we must drive them out like mad dogs, so that we do not become partakers of their abominable blasphemy and all their other vices and thus merit God's wrath and be damned with them. I have done my duty. Now let everyone see to his. I am exonerated."
***
"My essay, I hope, will furnish a Christian (who in any case has no desire to become a Jew) with enough material not only to defend himself against the blind, venomous Jews, but also to become the foe of the Jews' malice, lying, and cursing, and to understand not only that their belief is false but that they are surely possessed by all devils. May Christ, our dear Lord, convert them mercifully and preserve us steadfastly and immovably in the knowledge of him, which is eternal life. Amen."
From Luther's Works, Volume 47: The Christian in Society IV, (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1971). pp 268-293
Devash
22 Tishrei 5764
PS: "Luther expected Jews to convert to his purified Christianity. When they did not, he turned violently against them."
We should be very mindful that history could repeat itself with the Hebrew Roots Restorers/Messianic Xians who are expecting Jews to convert to the 'Hebrew roots' Rabbi Yeshua' version of Xianity. When they do not???
Devash
7 Tishrei 5774
"Martin Luther's life and work profoundly shaped life here in the West. We think the way we do, in no small measure, thanks to him. Let's hope that his influence and the Gospel can spread as people watch a well done movie."
(See also Jewish History: Martin Luther's Impact on Hitler and the Middle East)
The following is taken entirely from Medieval Sourcebook - Martin Luther (1483-1546): The Jews and Their Lies, excerpts (1543)
At the beginning of his career it is often said that Luther was apparently sympathetic to Jewish resistance to the Catholic Church. He wrote, early in his career:
"The Jews are blood-relations of our Lord; if it were proper to boast of flesh and blood, the Jews belong more to Christ than we. I beg, therefore, my dear Papist, if you become tired of abusing me as a heretic, that you begin to revile me as a Jew."
However, sometime before 1517, in his Letters to Spalatin, we can already see that Luther's hatred of Jews, best seen in his 1543 letter, was not some affectation of old age, but was present very early on. Luther expected Jews to convert to his purified Christianity. When they did not, he turned violently against them.
It is impossible for modern people to read the horrible passages below and not to think of the burning of synagogues in November 1938 on Krystalnacht. Nor would one wish to excuse Luther for this text.
A number of points must, however, be made. The most important concerns the language used. Luther used violent and vulgar language throughout his career: he was not a man to say "manure" when he meant "shit". We do not expect religious figures to use this sort of language in the modern world, but it was not uncommon in the early 16th century. Second, although Luther's comments seem to be proto-Nazi, they are better seen as part of tradition of Medieval Christian anti-semitism. While there is little doubt that Christian anti-semitism laid the social and cultural basis for modern anti-semitism, modern anti-semitism does differ in being based on pseudo-scientific notions of race. The Nazis imprisoned and killed Jews who had converted to Christianity: Luther would have welcomed them.
None of this justifies what follows, but it may help to comprehend what is being written here.
Martin Luther: The Jews and Their Lies (excerpts):
"I had made up my mind to write no more either about the Jews or against them. But since I learned that these miserable and accursed people do not cease to lure to themselves even us, that is, the Christians, I have published this little book, so that I might be found among those who opposed such poisonous activities of the Jews who warned the Christians to be on their guard against them. I would not have believed that a Christian could be duped by the Jews into taking their exile and wretchedness upon himself. However, the devil is the god of the world, and wherever God's word is absent he has an easy task, not only with the weak but also with the strong. May God help us. Amen."
****
"What shall we Christians do with this rejected and condemned people, the Jews? Since they live among us, we dare not tolerate their conduct, now that we are aware of their lying and reviling and blaspheming. If we do, we become sharers in their lies, cursing and blasphemy. Thus we cannot extinguish the unquenchable fire of divine wrath, of which the prophets speak, nor can we convert the Jews. With prayer and the fear of God we must practice a sharp mercy to see whether we might save at least a few from the glowing flames. We dare not avenge ourselves. Vengeance a thousand times worse than we could wish them already has them by the throat. I shall give you my sincere advice:
First to set fire to their synagogues or schools and to bury and cover with dirt whatever will not burn, so that no man will ever again see a stone or cinder of them. This is to be done in honor of our Lord and of Christendom, so that God might see that we are Christians, and do not condone or knowingly tolerate such public lying, cursing, and blaspheming of his Son and of his Christians. For whatever we tolerated in the past unknowingly - and I myself was unaware of it - will be pardoned by God. But if we, now that we are informed, were to protect and shield such a house for the Jews, existing right before our very nose, in which they lie about, blaspheme, curse, vilify, and defame Christ and us (as was heard above), it would be the same as if we were doing all this and even worse ourselves, as we very well know.
Second, I advise that their houses also be razed and destroyed. For they pursue in them the same aims as in their synagogues. Instead they might be lodged under a roof or in a barn, like the gypsies. This will bring home to them that they are not masters in our country, as they boast, but that they are living in exile and in captivity, as they incessantly wail and lament about us before God.
Third, I advise that all their prayer books and Talmudic writings, in which such idolatry, lies, cursing and blasphemy are taught, be taken from them. (remainder omitted)
Fourth, I advise that their rabbis be forbidden to teach henceforth on pain of loss of life and limb. For they have justly forfeited the right to such an office by holding the poor Jews captive with the saying of Moses (Deuteronomy 17 [:10 ff.]) in which he commands them to obey their teachers on penalty of death, although Moses clearly adds: "what they teach you in accord with the law of the Lord." Those villains ignore that. They wantonly employ the poor people's obedience contrary to the law of the Lord and infuse them with this poison, cursing, and blasphemy. In the same way the pope also held us captive with the declaration in Matthew 16 {:18], "You are Peter," etc, inducing us to believe all the lies and deceptions that issued from his devilish mind. He did not teach in accord with the word of God, and therefore he forfeited the right to teach.
Fifth, I advise that safe-conduct on the highways be abolished completely for the Jews. For they have no business in the countryside, since they are not lords, officials, tradesmen, or the like. Let they stay at home. (...remainder omitted).
Sixth, I advise that usury be prohibited to them, and that all cash and treasure of silver and gold be taken from them and put aside for safekeeping. The reason for such a measure is that, as said above, they have no other means of earning a livelihood than usury, and by it they have stolen and robbed from us all they possess. Such money should now be used in no other way than the following: Whenever a Jew is sincerely converted, he should be handed one hundred, two hundred, or three hundred florins, as personal circumstances may suggest. With this he could set himself up in some occupation for the support of his poor wife and children, and the maintenance of the old or feeble. For such evil gains are cursed if they are not put to use with God's blessing in a good and worthy cause.
Seventh, I commend putting a flail, an ax, a hoe, a spade, a distaff, or a spindle into the hands of young, strong Jews and Jewesses and letting them earn their bread in the sweat of their brow, as was imposed on the children of Adam (Gen 3[:19]}. For it is not fitting that they should let us accursed Goyim toil in the sweat of our faces while they, the holy people, idle away their time behind the stove, feasting and farting, and on top of all, boasting blasphemously of their lordship over the Christians by means of our sweat. No, one should toss out these lazy rogues by the seat of their pants."
***
"He did not call them Abraham's children, but a "brood of vipers" [Matt. 3:7]. Oh, that was too insulting for the noble blood and race of Israel, and they declared, "He has a demon' [Matt 11:18]. Our Lord also calls them a "brood of vipers"; furthermore in John 8 [:39,44] he states: "If you were Abraham's children ye would do what Abraham did.... You are of your father the devil. It was intolerable to them to hear that they were not Abraham's but the devil's children, nor can they bear to hear this today."
***
"Therefore the blind Jews are truly stupid fools..."
***
"Now just behold these miserable, blind, and senseless people."
***
"...their blindness and arrogance are as solid as an iron mountain."
***
"Therefore be on your guard against the Jews, knowing that wherever they have their synagogues, nothing is found but a den of devils in which sheer self-glory, conceit, lies, blasphemy, and defaming of God and men are practiced most maliciously and veheming his eyes on them."
***
"Moreover, they are nothing but thieves and robbers who daily eat no morsel and wear no thread of clothing which they have not stolen and pilfered from us by means of their accursed usury. Thus they live from day to day, together with wife and child, by theft and robbery, as arch-thieves and robbers, in the most impenitent security."
***
"...but then eject them forever from this country. For, as we have heard, God's anger with them is so intense that gentle mercy will only tend to make them worse and worse, while sharp mercy will reform them but little. Therefore, in any case, away with them!"
***
"Over and above that we let them get rich on our sweat and blood, while we remain poor and they such the marrow from our bones."
***
"I brief, dear princes and lords, those of you who have Jews under your rule-- if my counsel does not please you, find better advice, so that you and we all can be rid of the unbearable, devilish burden of the Jews, lest we become guilty sharers before God in the lies, blasphemy, the defamation, and the curses which the mad Jews indulge in so freely and wantonly against the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, this dear mother, all Christians, all authority, and ourselves. Do not grant them protection, safe-conduct, or communion with us.... With this faithful counsel and warning I wish to cleanse and exonerate my conscience."
***
"But what will happen even if we do burn down the Jews' synagogues and forbid them publicly to praise God, to pray, to teach, to utter God's name? They will still keep doing it in secret. If we know that they are doing this in secret, it is the same as if they were doing it publicly, for our knowledge of their secret doings and our toleration of them implies that they are not secret after all and thus our conscience is encumbered with it before God."
***
"Accordingly, it must and dare not be considered a trifling matter but a most serious one to seek counsel against this and to save our souls from the Jews, that is, from the devil and from eternal death. My advice, as I said earlier, is:
First, that their synagogues be burned down, and that all who are able toss in sulphur and pitch; it would be good if someone could also throw in some hellfire. That would demonstrate to God our serious resolve and be evidence to all the world that it was in ignorance that we tolerated such houses, in which the Jews have reviled God, our dear Creator and Father, and his Son most shamefully up till now but that we have now given them their due reward."
***
"I wish and I ask that our rulers who have Jewish subjects exercise a sharp mercy toward these wretched people, as suggested above, to see whether this might not help (though it is doubtful). They must act like a good physician who, when gangrene has set in, proceeds without mercy to cut, saw, and burn flesh, veins, bone, and marrow. Such a procedure must also be followed in this instance. Burn down their synagogues, forbid all that I enumerated earlier, force them to work,and deal harshly with them, as Moses did in the wilderness, slaying three thousand lest the whole people perish. They surely do not know what they are doing; moreover, as people possessed, they do not wish to know it, hear it, or learn it. There it would be wrong to be merciful and confirm them in their conduct. If this does not help we must drive them out like mad dogs, so that we do not become partakers of their abominable blasphemy and all their other vices and thus merit God's wrath and be damned with them. I have done my duty. Now let everyone see to his. I am exonerated."
***
"My essay, I hope, will furnish a Christian (who in any case has no desire to become a Jew) with enough material not only to defend himself against the blind, venomous Jews, but also to become the foe of the Jews' malice, lying, and cursing, and to understand not only that their belief is false but that they are surely possessed by all devils. May Christ, our dear Lord, convert them mercifully and preserve us steadfastly and immovably in the knowledge of him, which is eternal life. Amen."
From Luther's Works, Volume 47: The Christian in Society IV, (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1971). pp 268-293
Devash
22 Tishrei 5764
PS: "Luther expected Jews to convert to his purified Christianity. When they did not, he turned violently against them."
We should be very mindful that history could repeat itself with the Hebrew Roots Restorers/Messianic Xians who are expecting Jews to convert to the 'Hebrew roots' Rabbi Yeshua' version of Xianity. When they do not???
Devash
7 Tishrei 5774
Medinat Yehuda: "Hachnasat Torah in Tapuach Ma'arav"
HACHNASAT TORAH IN TAPUACH MA'ARAV
For anyone who might be interested, I would like to share my impressions of last evening's Hachnasat Torah and shul dedication in Tapuach Ma'arav [West Tapuach, a Jewish community in Samaria]
But before I do, allow me to say a resounding yasher koach to the organizers of the event. It appeared to be well-planned and in my opinion was also well-executed.
Buses were arranged to bring people from all over the country. There were at least two from Jerusalem, and according to what I heard there were also buses from Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak, Ra'anana, Kfar Saba, Netanya and Haifa, with possibly others. It was a simple matter to call and make a reservation and the buses ran pretty much on schedule. There was a festive atmosphere even before we got underway somewhere around four in the afternoon.
Now, in order to understand the significance of making this trip, you have to first understand that I very rarely leave Jerusalem for anything. It's not that I don't like to travel, I do. But very few things can tempt me out of the Holy City even in her current state of neglect.
However, it was my feeling that besides showing honor to the Torah and to the blessed memories of the martyred Kahanes, being present at this event made a very important statement; much more than attending yet another hafganah [political demonstration].
It had been maybe three years since I had traveled north into the Shomron and it is always amazing to see the progress of construction both Jewish and Arab. It is only in the very steepest of hills where there is no human habitation. Surprisingly, the roads appeared quieter than I have ever known them to be.
We arrived just at sunset and those wishing to daven ma'ariv were invited into the new miklat (at least it was new to me). Although a nice-sized facility, it did not begin to accommodate the numbers of people who had already arrived. The air was crisp and a chill was beginning to set in, but the sky was beautifully clear with stars twinkling in anticipation.
I can't begin to think how to describe those vehicles that we have in Israel for such events as this. Do they have them in America, too?---a huge thing covered all over in multi-colored flashing lights and emitting traditional Jewish music at a deafening pitch? Behind that was a chuppa mounted on four wheels which was topped front and back with lights made to look like burning torches and another multi-colored something with flashing lights in the center. Believe it or not, it was so gaudy that it was beautiful, especially with the stark rock-strewn surroundings of the Shomron as a backdrop.
As it was the conclusion of the Fast of Asara b'Tevet, tables laden with bottles of soft drinks and plastic bowls of pretzels and popcorn were quietly and happily mobbed by the throngs of would-be celebrants after ma'ariv prayers and at approximately six pm, the celebration began. An exciting display of fireworks from the roof of the miklat kicked off the event and the dancing started even before the new Torah arrived. Smiles were everywhere in evidence.
Soon we were making our way to a small square building lit up and sitting on a hilltop in the distance. There were as many adults as youth and many children and babies. There was a large group of chareidi-dressed young men. And yes, there were 'gun-toting settlers,' the majority of whom were carrying their army-issued rifles as mandated by law, at least as far as I could see. A few children carried torches, but that is standard for any Hachnasat Torah. And there couldn't have been more than two or three Kahane signs carried proudly at the front of the crowd and behind the escorted Torah.
A bus ride was offered to the older adults who might have trouble making the kilometer and half trek, but I'm not sure anyone took up the offer. It was the longest parade of people and vehicles I have ever seen for any similar event (granted my experience is limited). As we walked leisurely down one hill and around and up another, everywhere along the way, people were singing, clapping, and dancing under the glowing winter sky.
My romantic eye caught the shimmer of moonlight on the rock outcroppings and the always wonderous to me image of the end of the world, where the lighted coastline meets the darkened sea as one looks towards Tel Aviv. To the south, the lights seem never to end as Eli runs into Shilo and on down to Ofra on one side and Ma'ale Levona and Bet El proceed on the other; all the lights converging on a glow at the horizon which can only be the reflection of Jerusalem on the skyline.
No matter which direction one looks, the area is lit with the presence of Jews returned to their homeland. However, those puny little mercury lights, as bright as they are in the dark of night in the Shomron, pale in comparison to the fire of Torah that breathes in the souls of the Jews returned to Eretz Yisrael. As I contemplated the miracle that a thousand people would set aside six or seven hours to walk over a mile in the cold dark from one hilltop to another purely for the sake of a mitzva, all of it focused on the same Torah that we received by Moshe's hand at Har Sinai over 3500 years ago, I began to understand how we have survived the millenia. I couldn't help but feel that Hashem was well-pleased with his children this night.
As the Torah scroll made the approach up the newly-paved road to its new home, fireworks again lit up the sky. The music and dancing never stopped. The inside of the new beit knesset/beit medrash was packed and Dov Shurin was the featured musician. The gracious hosts of Tapuach had laid out an entire meal for their guests---piles of pita along with the requisite humus, tomato and cucumber salad, pickles and olives, burekas, and piping hot chulent, more soft drinks, sliced cake and fruit. No one was in want of anything.
It was noisy and spread out. I can't be sure of everything that went on everywhere, but I had a great time seeing old friends and just soaking up the kedusha that results from masses of Jews performing a mitzva. I caught a ride back to Tapuach and was glad to warm up in the bus as it waited for stragglers to board for the return trip. We left out of Tapuach's gate about ten pm and stopped at yishuvim all along the way depositing Jews returning to their homes in Shomron and Binyamin. Then comes the sight that always makes my heart beat faster; over that last tall hill and Yerushalayim comes into view, a magic city on a mountaintop.
It was a great party given for a noble cause, but the best thing I brought away from it is this---no matter what place we Jews call home in Eretz Yisrael, we are back to stay.
Devash
11 Tevet 5764
PS: Two weeks later, the army of Israel came to Tapuach Ma'arav and completely destroyed this little beit knesset.
Demolition of Tapuach Synagogue Begins With Violence
Only a few hours after the Supreme Court rejected a petition this morning against the demolition of a synagogue in western Tapuach, hundreds of police and soldiers arrived on the scene early this afternoon and began the destruction in a violent manner - and were met with some violence in response.
... With loud screams and other noise in the background, [eyewitness Gershon] Hershkovitz said, "Hundreds of police/soldiers arrived here with great violence, most of them armed, and some of them even fired in the air. No one was hurt by the shots, thank G-d, but this is a bad precedent - and some people have been knocked unconscious by their violence... They took out the Torah scrolls and other holy books fairly roughly - but some 30 people are barricaded on the roof, so they can't take down the building... We call on people from all over to come and help us."
The Torah scroll, in the memory of terror victims Binyamin and Talia Kahane, was introduced into the synagogue in a festive ceremony only two weeks ago. Many hundreds of people from all over the country participated in the joyous occasion. Tapuach residents deny that the building is a center for the promulgation of the teachings of Rabbi Meir Kahane, Binyamin's father. In fact, Talia's father, David Hertzlich, said that he uses the building "just to teach little children the verses of the Bible."
By late this afternoon, some 30 residents had been arrested, the furniture had been taken out of the synagogue, and one wall was knocked down. Another eyewitness said that the books were taken out in an orderly fashion, "but our resistance wasn't just for show. We were trying to stop them. We also want to show them that it won't be so easy for them to take down other places in the Land of Israel."
For anyone who might be interested, I would like to share my impressions of last evening's Hachnasat Torah and shul dedication in Tapuach Ma'arav [West Tapuach, a Jewish community in Samaria]
But before I do, allow me to say a resounding yasher koach to the organizers of the event. It appeared to be well-planned and in my opinion was also well-executed.
Buses were arranged to bring people from all over the country. There were at least two from Jerusalem, and according to what I heard there were also buses from Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak, Ra'anana, Kfar Saba, Netanya and Haifa, with possibly others. It was a simple matter to call and make a reservation and the buses ran pretty much on schedule. There was a festive atmosphere even before we got underway somewhere around four in the afternoon.
Now, in order to understand the significance of making this trip, you have to first understand that I very rarely leave Jerusalem for anything. It's not that I don't like to travel, I do. But very few things can tempt me out of the Holy City even in her current state of neglect.
However, it was my feeling that besides showing honor to the Torah and to the blessed memories of the martyred Kahanes, being present at this event made a very important statement; much more than attending yet another hafganah [political demonstration].
It had been maybe three years since I had traveled north into the Shomron and it is always amazing to see the progress of construction both Jewish and Arab. It is only in the very steepest of hills where there is no human habitation. Surprisingly, the roads appeared quieter than I have ever known them to be.
We arrived just at sunset and those wishing to daven ma'ariv were invited into the new miklat (at least it was new to me). Although a nice-sized facility, it did not begin to accommodate the numbers of people who had already arrived. The air was crisp and a chill was beginning to set in, but the sky was beautifully clear with stars twinkling in anticipation.
I can't begin to think how to describe those vehicles that we have in Israel for such events as this. Do they have them in America, too?---a huge thing covered all over in multi-colored flashing lights and emitting traditional Jewish music at a deafening pitch? Behind that was a chuppa mounted on four wheels which was topped front and back with lights made to look like burning torches and another multi-colored something with flashing lights in the center. Believe it or not, it was so gaudy that it was beautiful, especially with the stark rock-strewn surroundings of the Shomron as a backdrop.
As it was the conclusion of the Fast of Asara b'Tevet, tables laden with bottles of soft drinks and plastic bowls of pretzels and popcorn were quietly and happily mobbed by the throngs of would-be celebrants after ma'ariv prayers and at approximately six pm, the celebration began. An exciting display of fireworks from the roof of the miklat kicked off the event and the dancing started even before the new Torah arrived. Smiles were everywhere in evidence.
Soon we were making our way to a small square building lit up and sitting on a hilltop in the distance. There were as many adults as youth and many children and babies. There was a large group of chareidi-dressed young men. And yes, there were 'gun-toting settlers,' the majority of whom were carrying their army-issued rifles as mandated by law, at least as far as I could see. A few children carried torches, but that is standard for any Hachnasat Torah. And there couldn't have been more than two or three Kahane signs carried proudly at the front of the crowd and behind the escorted Torah.
A bus ride was offered to the older adults who might have trouble making the kilometer and half trek, but I'm not sure anyone took up the offer. It was the longest parade of people and vehicles I have ever seen for any similar event (granted my experience is limited). As we walked leisurely down one hill and around and up another, everywhere along the way, people were singing, clapping, and dancing under the glowing winter sky.
My romantic eye caught the shimmer of moonlight on the rock outcroppings and the always wonderous to me image of the end of the world, where the lighted coastline meets the darkened sea as one looks towards Tel Aviv. To the south, the lights seem never to end as Eli runs into Shilo and on down to Ofra on one side and Ma'ale Levona and Bet El proceed on the other; all the lights converging on a glow at the horizon which can only be the reflection of Jerusalem on the skyline.
No matter which direction one looks, the area is lit with the presence of Jews returned to their homeland. However, those puny little mercury lights, as bright as they are in the dark of night in the Shomron, pale in comparison to the fire of Torah that breathes in the souls of the Jews returned to Eretz Yisrael. As I contemplated the miracle that a thousand people would set aside six or seven hours to walk over a mile in the cold dark from one hilltop to another purely for the sake of a mitzva, all of it focused on the same Torah that we received by Moshe's hand at Har Sinai over 3500 years ago, I began to understand how we have survived the millenia. I couldn't help but feel that Hashem was well-pleased with his children this night.
As the Torah scroll made the approach up the newly-paved road to its new home, fireworks again lit up the sky. The music and dancing never stopped. The inside of the new beit knesset/beit medrash was packed and Dov Shurin was the featured musician. The gracious hosts of Tapuach had laid out an entire meal for their guests---piles of pita along with the requisite humus, tomato and cucumber salad, pickles and olives, burekas, and piping hot chulent, more soft drinks, sliced cake and fruit. No one was in want of anything.
It was noisy and spread out. I can't be sure of everything that went on everywhere, but I had a great time seeing old friends and just soaking up the kedusha that results from masses of Jews performing a mitzva. I caught a ride back to Tapuach and was glad to warm up in the bus as it waited for stragglers to board for the return trip. We left out of Tapuach's gate about ten pm and stopped at yishuvim all along the way depositing Jews returning to their homes in Shomron and Binyamin. Then comes the sight that always makes my heart beat faster; over that last tall hill and Yerushalayim comes into view, a magic city on a mountaintop.
It was a great party given for a noble cause, but the best thing I brought away from it is this---no matter what place we Jews call home in Eretz Yisrael, we are back to stay.
Devash
11 Tevet 5764
PS: Two weeks later, the army of Israel came to Tapuach Ma'arav and completely destroyed this little beit knesset.
Demolition of Tapuach Synagogue Begins With Violence
Only a few hours after the Supreme Court rejected a petition this morning against the demolition of a synagogue in western Tapuach, hundreds of police and soldiers arrived on the scene early this afternoon and began the destruction in a violent manner - and were met with some violence in response.
... With loud screams and other noise in the background, [eyewitness Gershon] Hershkovitz said, "Hundreds of police/soldiers arrived here with great violence, most of them armed, and some of them even fired in the air. No one was hurt by the shots, thank G-d, but this is a bad precedent - and some people have been knocked unconscious by their violence... They took out the Torah scrolls and other holy books fairly roughly - but some 30 people are barricaded on the roof, so they can't take down the building... We call on people from all over to come and help us."
The Torah scroll, in the memory of terror victims Binyamin and Talia Kahane, was introduced into the synagogue in a festive ceremony only two weeks ago. Many hundreds of people from all over the country participated in the joyous occasion. Tapuach residents deny that the building is a center for the promulgation of the teachings of Rabbi Meir Kahane, Binyamin's father. In fact, Talia's father, David Hertzlich, said that he uses the building "just to teach little children the verses of the Bible."
By late this afternoon, some 30 residents had been arrested, the furniture had been taken out of the synagogue, and one wall was knocked down. Another eyewitness said that the books were taken out in an orderly fashion, "but our resistance wasn't just for show. We were trying to stop them. We also want to show them that it won't be so easy for them to take down other places in the Land of Israel."
Medinat Yehuda: "We Can't Build the Temple Yet"
WE CAN'T BUILD THE TEMPLE YET
A commentary in the 12 January 2001 issue of Chabadonline magazine by Yanki Tauber, entitled The Temple Mount, includes a most profound statement: "The 'Western Wall' is holy to us because---and only because---it marks the outside boundary of the Temple Mount." Perhaps we have sunk to our present sorry state, in part, specifically to bring many Jews to this very important realization.
As the footsteps of Mashiach echo off the ancient stones which remain from Israel's glory days, when the Temple stood tall against the deep blue Jerusalem sky, more and more people, Jew and non-Jew alike, are seeking ways to advance the idea of rebuilding the House of G-d on Mount Moriah...the Temple Mount.
At the present time, there are several groups and organizations directing all their energies and resources to this noble cause while others, just as worthy, are busy promoting the security of the yishuvim in Yesha, and still others are trying to change the dire situation in the country by means of the electoral process. It is an unfortunate feature of the awesome times in which we are living that so many critical issues confront us all at once. For that reason, it is essential that we focus on goals and prioritize our actions so that our combined efforts will bring success on all fronts.
The following are the three most critical and important goals in order of priority:
1. Establishment of a True Jewish Government
2. Elimination of the Threat of Internal Enemies
3. Reconstruction of the Beit Hamikdash
This is a logical conclusion based upon the fact that the second cannot be accomplished without benefit of the first and the third cannot be accomplished without benefit of the first two. Furthermore, Israel will continue its downhill slide and eventually cease to exist altogether without all three. It is clear to us today that without the backing of our government, it will be impossible to defeat our mortal enemies and until the enemy that has raised its hand against Hashem's throne is destroyed, we will never be able to sanctify the Holy Place for the building of the Third House. It is incumbent upon us to work diligently and uncompromisingly and most importantly, efficiently, to realize each of these goals and each in its particular time because we cannot afford the luxury of waste.
Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook is quoted in Torat Eretz Israel, p. 283:
When people approach me with this proposition [to rebuild the Temple], I say: ...Just as there is a precept to build the Temple, there is a sequence to its fulfillment. The Gemara says, "Israel was commanded with three precepts when they entered the Land: To appoint a King; to annihilate the seed of Amalek; and to build Hashem's chosen house. And the Gemara continues, And how do I know which comes first? You have to say raise up a King. And how do I know whether to build the Temple first, or to annihilate the seed of Amalek? You have to say first annihilate the seed of Amalek. The Gemara is speaking of the initial entry into the Land and of the construction of the first temple, but the Rambam decides that this is generally true. 'Israel was commanded with three precepts upon entering the Land...the King's appointment precedes the war with Amalek, and the annihilation of Amalek precedes the building of the Temple.' This is a clear order not a haphazard arrangement."
Devash
Medinat Yehuda: "Turn and Return"
TURN AND RETURN
When viewed in light of one's own lifespan and experiences, history appears to be linear with a point of origin, progressing from less-developed to more-developed. However, if we lift our eyes beyond this narrow focus, we will discover clues which hint at the circular nature of history.
From the myriad rotating spheres which revolve in elliptical pathways through the heavens to the orbit of electrons spinning around the nucleus of the most elemental molecule, and from the never ending progression of the seasons to the daily rising and setting of the sun and the constant wax and wane of the moon, all of creation alludes to this.
We see evidence of this circularity also in the obervance of our religious festivals and with the completion and reinauguration of the yearly Torah reading. Furthermore, if we view the lifecycle accurately, we will find that rather than a linear progression from birth through death, instead it is "From dust you were created and to dust you will return"---a complete cycle.
The significance of this idea is best summed up by two well-known proverbs: "What goes around comes around" and, "He who does not learn from history is doomed to repeat it." Our grasp of this concept could be critical in shaping our response to the awesome events unfolding in our time, enabling us to make wise decisions and determining, in no small measure, not only our chances for success, but possibly our very survival in the coming days.
One example (of many) of the circular nature of history that comes immediately to mind from our Torah involves the initial attempts by the Children of Israel to enter Eretz Israel. We all know the story of how when the time came to enter and conquer the land, ten of the twelve spies returned from their foray with a negative report. Remember how the people’s acceptance of this bad report resulted in failure and delay of entry until the following generation?
Our Torah tells us how the children of that failed generation had to virtually repeat the scenario of the first, right up to the preliminary sending of scouts into the land, but with major changes that, in the end, gave them success and victory. This is the understanding of the phrase which we read in last week's sedra: "... understand the years of generation after generation...." (Devarim 32:7)
“Remember the days of the world, understand the years of generation after generation. Ask you father and he will relate it to you, your elders and they will tell you.” (Devarim 32:7)
Rashi explains:
REMEMBER THE DAYS: what He (G-d) did to previous generations who provoked Him to anger.
THE YEARS OF GENERATION: so that you become conscious of what might happen in the future, that He has the power to bestow good upon you and to make you inherit the Days of Moshiach and the World-to-Come.
This lesson is instructive for our day as well. The failure of our predecessors to establish a Torah government, expel the Arabs from Eretz Israel, and commence the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash in the immediate aftermath of the Six Days War has resulted in another wilderness-wandering while another generation expires. We may be assured by the lessons of the past that another opportunity will arise and it will be our responsibility to make that tikun. It is therefore crucial to understand where they went wrong and not to hesitate to make the corrections which will ensure success and victory for our children.
It might be possible to say that success came too quickly and too easily to the Sinai generation and as a result they were too immature (as a people) and inexperienced to handle it. The same might be said of the generation that fought the Six Days War. How many of them were thinking solely in terms of survival, with not a hint of the possibility of conquering Yehuda, Shomron, and Yerushalayim? Just as the wilderness generation doubted and feared because of their inexperience with freedom, the Six Days War generation made the same errors because of their inexperience with military power and self-government.
It has been said that whoever controls Yericho controls the Land of Israel. It was no coincidence that Yericho was the first city conquered by the Israelites and the first city given away to Arafat, ym”sh. Remember “Jericho First?” By the same token, it is no coincidence that Yericho is the only “West Bank” city that has yet to be retaken.
A cursory reading of Shoftim reveals a sad and tragic cycle:
peace--plenty--sin--suffer--repent--salvation--peace
Our national cycle:
return--build--sin--destruction--exile--return
How many times must we circle the block before getting the nerve to park it in the garage and lock the door? This is our home, the place where our national destiny will be realized. It’s time we understood that the only way off this merry-go-round is to fulfill the purpose for which we were created; to do the job we were born to do. If we refuse? Well, another opportunity will eventually roll around, but the honor will have passed to succeeding generations.
Devash
3 Av 5762
When viewed in light of one's own lifespan and experiences, history appears to be linear with a point of origin, progressing from less-developed to more-developed. However, if we lift our eyes beyond this narrow focus, we will discover clues which hint at the circular nature of history.
From the myriad rotating spheres which revolve in elliptical pathways through the heavens to the orbit of electrons spinning around the nucleus of the most elemental molecule, and from the never ending progression of the seasons to the daily rising and setting of the sun and the constant wax and wane of the moon, all of creation alludes to this.
We see evidence of this circularity also in the obervance of our religious festivals and with the completion and reinauguration of the yearly Torah reading. Furthermore, if we view the lifecycle accurately, we will find that rather than a linear progression from birth through death, instead it is "From dust you were created and to dust you will return"---a complete cycle.
The significance of this idea is best summed up by two well-known proverbs: "What goes around comes around" and, "He who does not learn from history is doomed to repeat it." Our grasp of this concept could be critical in shaping our response to the awesome events unfolding in our time, enabling us to make wise decisions and determining, in no small measure, not only our chances for success, but possibly our very survival in the coming days.
One example (of many) of the circular nature of history that comes immediately to mind from our Torah involves the initial attempts by the Children of Israel to enter Eretz Israel. We all know the story of how when the time came to enter and conquer the land, ten of the twelve spies returned from their foray with a negative report. Remember how the people’s acceptance of this bad report resulted in failure and delay of entry until the following generation?
Our Torah tells us how the children of that failed generation had to virtually repeat the scenario of the first, right up to the preliminary sending of scouts into the land, but with major changes that, in the end, gave them success and victory. This is the understanding of the phrase which we read in last week's sedra: "... understand the years of generation after generation...." (Devarim 32:7)
“Remember the days of the world, understand the years of generation after generation. Ask you father and he will relate it to you, your elders and they will tell you.” (Devarim 32:7)
Rashi explains:
REMEMBER THE DAYS: what He (G-d) did to previous generations who provoked Him to anger.
THE YEARS OF GENERATION: so that you become conscious of what might happen in the future, that He has the power to bestow good upon you and to make you inherit the Days of Moshiach and the World-to-Come.
This lesson is instructive for our day as well. The failure of our predecessors to establish a Torah government, expel the Arabs from Eretz Israel, and commence the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash in the immediate aftermath of the Six Days War has resulted in another wilderness-wandering while another generation expires. We may be assured by the lessons of the past that another opportunity will arise and it will be our responsibility to make that tikun. It is therefore crucial to understand where they went wrong and not to hesitate to make the corrections which will ensure success and victory for our children.
It might be possible to say that success came too quickly and too easily to the Sinai generation and as a result they were too immature (as a people) and inexperienced to handle it. The same might be said of the generation that fought the Six Days War. How many of them were thinking solely in terms of survival, with not a hint of the possibility of conquering Yehuda, Shomron, and Yerushalayim? Just as the wilderness generation doubted and feared because of their inexperience with freedom, the Six Days War generation made the same errors because of their inexperience with military power and self-government.
It has been said that whoever controls Yericho controls the Land of Israel. It was no coincidence that Yericho was the first city conquered by the Israelites and the first city given away to Arafat, ym”sh. Remember “Jericho First?” By the same token, it is no coincidence that Yericho is the only “West Bank” city that has yet to be retaken.
A cursory reading of Shoftim reveals a sad and tragic cycle:
peace--plenty--sin--suffer--repent--salvation--peace
Our national cycle:
return--build--sin--destruction--exile--return
How many times must we circle the block before getting the nerve to park it in the garage and lock the door? This is our home, the place where our national destiny will be realized. It’s time we understood that the only way off this merry-go-round is to fulfill the purpose for which we were created; to do the job we were born to do. If we refuse? Well, another opportunity will eventually roll around, but the honor will have passed to succeeding generations.
Devash
3 Av 5762
Medinat Yehuda : The Eighth Year (Pt 2)
23 Elul 5773
THE EIGHTH YEAR
Part 2 : THE ZIONIST ENTITY
(Originally written 14 Nissan 5762)
Recently seen in Israeli media:
"No one in a position of power in Israel is seriously considering a complete and indefinite reoccupation of the West Bank and Gaza, carpet-bombing Ramallah or destroying the Palestinian water and electricity systems, a senior official said. Officials also acknowledged that Israeli planners are sensitive to the political constraints on an all-out offensive, including the fear of igniting a regional war and the likelihood of criticism by the United States." (Jerusalem Post)
“To appease his guests, Ben-Eliezer asked one of his military aides to look into the matter [the claim that 34 new settlement outposts had been established in the West Bank] and to report back to them with his findings as soon as possible….
“The minister was clearly trying to find favor in the eyes of his visitors. He knows that if, on election day, these people [Peace Now representatives] were to move their protest banners to the courtyard of the Labor Party headquarters, his next boss would be opposition leader Yossi Sarid….
“Ben-Eliezer hinted that the incursions into the refugee camps and towns of the West Bank had been nothing more than a show for domestic purposes…..” (Ha’aretz)
“The Supreme Court nullified this morning a duly-passed Knesset law….Yaakov (Ketzaleh) Katz, Arutz-7's Executive Director, said that the decision is a political one, proving the hatred of the left-wing and the judicial system for the religious-nationalist population.” (IsraelNationalNews)
“Afterwards, the evil government will rule over Israel for nine months...”
Perhaps “nine months” is not literal, but refers to the period of time necessary to bring an idea to maturity; to “birth” a Torah-based government which is the necessary vehicle for Redemption.
To continue with our exploration of the parallels inherent in the “birthpangs” analogy, although it appears that we find ourselves mired in the depths of the third phase of first stage labor (see Part 1), it is worthwhile to look ahead. By focusing on the goal---the “birth”---we can fortify ourselves to withstand whatever we must in the short term and assure ourselves that we do not suffer in vain.
In the first stage of labor, the woman is at the mercy of forces beyond her conscious control. There is very little she can do to alter the course of events. The feeling of being inextricably committed to a process which cannot be stopped can be overwhelming. Education is the only effective way to cope. Being prepared with the facts of what to expect in advance will provide some measure of mental relief to see her safely through this stage.
The second stage of labor, while still compelled by the force of involuntary contractions, presents the first opportunity for active participation which can directly affect the outcome of the birth. The mental focus and the strength of voluntary physical exertion which is brought to bear by the laboring woman can greatly facilitate the birth and shorten this stage of the labor process if done in cooperation with the natural process and not in opposition to it. If efforts to expel the fetus are begun too soon, the result can cause injury, delay the birth, and put the fetus’ life at risk. The expertise of the birth assistant is crucial in determining the onset of the second stage.
If we are to understand the Redemption process as a “birthing process”, and the start of the Oslo War as the beginning of labor, how are we to put this second stage of labor into context? To do this, it is necessary to first complete the picture with a discussion of the third stage of labor.
The third and final stage of labor comes very shortly after the infant’s emergence from the womb and it culminates in the delivery of the placenta. To briefly regress, at conception, the developing embryo implants itself in the wall of the womb by means of a vital structure called the placenta. This blood and nutrient-rich organ is the life-sustaining source for all the physical needs of the fetus during the entire term of gestation and this is its sole purpose and function. When the infant has entered the world, nature itself condemns the placenta for destruction, as it now serves no further use. It must be noted that it is the birth assistant’s job to examine the placenta carefully for wholeness after its expulsion. It must be ascertained that no part of it is missing since any torn piece still adhering to the wall of the womb will be a potential source of life-threatening hemorrhage or infection.
The Land of Israel and the People of Israel---together---are the laboring woman. Only Am Israel living on the soil of Eretz Israel will give birth to the Torah-government headed by Mashiach ben David, which will itself be the vehicle for the Complete Redemption---may it come speedily in our days!
If this analogy holds true, it is easier to understand the relationship of the secular Zionist state to the eventual Torah-based government of Mashiach which will bring true peace and the knowledge of The One G-d to the whole world. The “Zionist entity” serves as the ‘placenta’ until which time as it becomes irrelevant. It is a grave mistake to confuse the two constructs. Who, with his eyes fixed on the birth of his long-anticipated and anxiously-awaited son, would desire the bloody placenta over the infant? There are clear signs even now that the ‘placenta’ is breaking down and losing its ability to nurture the nearly viable fetus. On the contrary, if labor did not spontaneously begin at the predetermined end of the gestation period, it must be induced, because the placenta will begin to destruct within the womb and instead of ensuring life will actually become a threat to the life of the unborn child.
So then, if the surmise that the beginning of the Oslo War was the onset of labor is correct and that it will end with the eventual demise of the Zionist State of Israel and the birth of the restored Kingdom of David which herald’s the Redemption itself, it remains for us to draw the appropriate conclusions about what corresponds to the second stage of labor---the birth itself. This will be discussed in Part 3, as matters become clearer to all of us.
“…with praiseful songs let us call out to Him.”
Devash, 14 Nissan 5762
Medinat Yehuda: "We Could Have Had Kahane..."
12TH YAHRZEIT OF RABBI MEIR DAVID KAHANE ZT"L HY"D
We Could Have Had Kahane, But We Chose Arafat
On the occasion of HaRav Meir Kahane's twelfth yahrtzeit, I humbly and respectfully offer the following essay in thanks and appreciation for the Torah that I learned from his writings. His memory is certainly a blessing for me and so should it be for all Am Israel.
On one of the videos of Rav Kahane which I had the privilege of viewing at the yeshiva which he established in Yerushalayim, he made the following statement: "You have a choice. You can have here Kahane or Arafat. If you don't want Kahane, you will get Arafat." And as the saying goes, "Today, everyone knows that Kahane was right."
From our inception as a nation until now, we have had only one choice...blessing or curse. Once we accepted the Torah, it was a given that we would certainly fulfill it as we pledged to do, but by which course? Willingly, out of love and obedience? Or, G-d forbid, by force of punishment and through terrible suffering and fear?
This is the picture of Redemption-in-Haste or Redemption-in-it's-Time, a subject which figured prominently in Rav Kahane's writings. Many of the Rabbi's students believe that he was Mashiach ben Yosef. But we know from our sources that it was not a given that Mashiach ben Yosef would have to die. We also know that Mashiach ben Yosef can be both a person and a process, but if so, it would be plausible to assume that their fates would be interwoven. Can a case be made for this idea? I offer the following for your consideration.
The State of Israel, from it's beginnings as a yishuv, was not recognized by his brothers, the majority of world Jewry, because he appeared too much like an "Egyptian." The mostly secular Zionists were not at all what religious Jews expected to see as the hand of G-d restoring Zion. However, in time, it became clear to most that the return to the Jewish homeland would uniquely provide for the physical survival of the Jewish people just as Yosef had done during the famine in Egypt. Just as Yosef's going down into Egypt eventuated in the nurturing of the family of Ya'akov into a nation of millions, so has the State of Israel uniquely provided for the Jewish people to return to its homeland and renew itself as a nation. But it has provided for something else as well, something which might not appear to be so desirable at first glance, but which was altogether necessary. It has uniquely provided for the re-emergence and re-identification of the mixed multitude---the Erev Rav.
"The Divrei Chayim writes:
Any kindness performed by the 'mixed multitude' (eirev rav) is done for their own benefit. We clearly see that the rabbis, chassidim, and laymen of this generation, for the most part, descend from the eirev rav (due to our many sins), and they want to rule over the masses. All of their deeds are done for their own benefit, to receive honor or monetary gain. Therefore, one should not associate with them, only with those who truly serve G-d and sacrifice themselves for His name, not for their own selfish gains. (VaYakhel) " [Eim Habanim Semeichah, p.50]
Only with the reappearance of Yosef, would we be able bring the Erev Rav out into the open. ( And how the Erev Rav bark and bite and foam at the mouth whenever Kahane is in sight or hearing.) Mashiach ben Yosef is what makes it possible for Amiel Vardi to go out on the Sabbath and help Arabs harvest olives near Itamar. When threatened by Jewish residents of the area with warning shots, what was his response? Did he tell them that he was a fellow Jew? According to the newspaper report, Vardi said: "I am an Israeli. If you go on shooting, you will hit an Israeli." The process of Mashiach ben Yosef is what makes it possible this week for a leading newspaper to refer to young residents of the Shomron as "skinheads in tzitziot" and for the politicians to "regret" the desecration of Shabbat for the dismantlement of Jewish homes and synagogues while warning about the threat halacha poses to the "rule of law."
As Divrei Chayim says, "...they want to rule over the masses..." and as such they think they will kill Yosef and thereby destroy the Jews forever. Little do they know that this only hastens their own demise. They were only able to kill Rav Kahane because he was the last chance for Redemption-in-Haste. If he had been able to bring about the advent of Mashiach ben David through the democratic process of elections, Mashiach ben Yosef did not have to die---not Rav Kahane and not the State of Israel. But because of our many sins, we did not merit it and so Mashiach ben Yosef did die and so Mashiach ben Yosef will die, only to be resurrected by the hand of Mashiach ben David as the renewed Kingdom of Israel in the future.
It is no coincidence that the Persian Gulf War was launched only weeks after Rav Kahane's cruel assassination. For the first time in the history of the modern State of Israel, the Jews failed to take the responsibility and initiative to defend themselves against an aggressor. The government in power was paralyzed by inaction as its people sat shaking in fear in sealed rooms with gas masks over their faces. Hints of things to come. Little did we know then that Rav Kahane's removal paved the way for the Oslo death machine to roll into place. The rest, as they say, is history.
G-d, in His mercy, allowed us the comfort of Rav Binyamin Kahane's words of truth and sanity to sustain us for a few more years, but our fate was already sealed. And since we did not listen and heed and act when it was time for such things, what have we arrived at today?
Today, we have the false messiah Effi Eitam heading the equally false religious-Zionist party Mafdal. When Effi Eitam rose so quickly to public prominence shortly after leaving the army on "principle," it was legitimate to examine his words and actions and to determine what role he would play in our continuing drama. The favorable play given to his in-depth and detailed interview in Ha'aretz just as he took control of the NRP should have been a clue. Only after I heard him speak in English telling an audience of his supporters why the new security fence was a good and desirable thing was it clear to me that he had been planted by the evil regime as a decoy, a bone thrown to the religious public to make them think that they still had a voice in the government. What dupes we can be!
But Kahane was too extremist, so now we have Effi Eitam, a tranquilizer to calm us as we are herded like the faithless sheep we are straight to the spiritual slaughter...or so they think. As Redemption-in-it's-Time progresses, the dawn is lightening on the horizon ever more and with the additional light, we are seeing more clearly than ever.
What happened at Pesach this last year? We are keenly aware that something happened. There was a shift of some sort in our reality. Suddenly, the army was back in Shechem and Hevron and even Aza! But, if these are the birthpangs of Mashiach that we are suffering through, where are we in the birth process? If we have taken the upper hand against our enemy, the Arabs, why do we not see more success?
We are facing a double enemy---a two-headed monster. The Erev Rav work hand-in-hand with the Arabs against us. People were getting too close to the light---too close to seeing the truth of our situation, so the battle shifted to a different realm. Tactics were changed, that's all. Without stopping terror completely, the emphasis began to be placed in the political arena. I would suggest to you that the Arabs and Amalek have formed an alliance while Eisav has allied itself with the Erev Rav, so that all of our traditional enemies hover over the faithful of Hashem waiting for the opportunity to make the thrust that will finish us off for good.
Amalek is not only to be found among the indigenous peoples of the region, but as our history has proven time and again, it exists among the people of Europe. Is it any wonder that the EU is so very supportive of the so-called Palestinians?
And as for Eisav, he whom our sages told us was Edom/Rome and represents the Christian world, America stands as the prime representative and inheritor of that title. The so-called Christian Zionists are enamoured with the State of Israel and its leaders and politicians. They have regular love-fests, both here and abroad, where they all heap love and admiration on each other. The Erev Rav call for the West's support because "we are a democracy just like you." And the West responds, "We must support Israel because it is a democracy just like us. We share a Judeo-Christian heritage."
When we will have become thoroughly and completely Americanized, G-d forbid!, we will have ceased to be the unique and treasured nation of G-d. Today, the only thing that has so far prevented this is the continuing war for physical survival. A 'blessing' in disguise. This is a battle on another front and we are fighting them all simultaneously---fighting for both physical and spiritual survival. While Amalek/Ishmael kills our bodies, Eisav/Erev Rav wants to destroy our very souls. We should cease to be Jews and become democracy-worshiping Israelis instead.
An important lesson was taught this past Shabbat, but how many are willing to learn? We can only hope that Rav Kahane did not foresee the depths to which we would sink in our degradation at the hands of the Erev Rav. The lauded IDF stands today in disarray because soldiers were coerced by their commanders into violating the Shabbat through lies and subterfuge. As the Divrei Chayim says, "...they want to rule over the masses..."
One young soldier in a Nachal Chareidi unit, those established to enable fervently religious young men to serve in the army without compromising their religious principles, is not surprised. He tells of his chagrin at hearing the commander's opening speech to the new recruits in which he informs them that the army is the means by which they will be mainstreamed into Israeli society. And this is no secret, that the army serves the regime as it's change agent. Newspapers regularly report this aim at every opportunity they take to fault the chareidi public for not meekly acquiescing to self-annihilation.
The vaunted Jewish army which accepts goyim and attempts to turn them into faux-Jews through their own conversion courts and who allows 7,000 Christians to take their oath of allegiance on the Christian Bible; who, despite the pleas of hesder yeshiva rabbis, has begun mixing men and women in combat units and who brags to the world that their purity and morality rests on the fact that Jewish young men were sacrificed to save the lives of Arab women and children who by some accounts assisted and aided the terrorists in their midst. If we'd had our eyes wide open, we would not be so surprised.
The Arabs want to kill our bodies and we know this because we are bleeding and dying and burying our dead. We see the wounded and cover the graves and we know we have an enemy. Rav Kahane wanted us to understand that we have another enemy, no less lethal. He called it a modern-day Hellenism and the Erev Rav leads the way to spiritual destruction at their hands.
How appropriate it is that we find ourselves at this occasion coming into the weeks just prior to Chanukah, that very holiday which commemorates our battle and victory over the Hellenists---the battle to remain loyal to our Holy Torah! And the purification of the Beit Hamikdash stands at the center of that story.
Denial of the Torah and our destruction as a unique nation are the goals which drive our enemies. Our identity and the realization of our destiny is bound up with one particular spot of earth which lies atop Har HaMoriah and this is not only our heart---our lifeblood---but the key to the end of everything.
From the beginning, the Zionists were not interested in keeping the Old City of Jerusalem. In recent years, stories have been written in the papers about how the city could have been taken in 1948, but certain orders never came. And of course, everyone knows, to our shame, how the Defense Minister gave over the Mount to the Arabs in 1967. We can follow the whole sad, sorry story right up until today when Jews are not even allowed to set foot upon Har Habayit. Those with limited vision wonder how it is that the Israeli government is so afraid of Arab reaction that it would not enforce its own laws regarding freedom of access to religious holy sites there.
Mashiach ben Yosef is both dead and dying. If we had any doubts, the destruction and continuing desecration of Kever Yosef is testimony to the truth of it. What stands between us and our holiest place in this world? When one looks, he sees the WAKF guards and the Israeli police. They work together hand-in-glove and anyone who has ever ascended to Hashem's holy place knows how chummy they are together. They have much more in common with each other than they do with the religious Jews who went up to present themselves before Hashem.
The evil regime which is in the hands of the Erev Rav has common cause with the Amalekim and Ishmaelim and together with Edom/Rome/Am-reika, they intend to see the establishment of a Palestinian State with the Old City of Jerusalem as its capital, an event, thank G-d!, which will never come about, but they don't yet know that. The only thing they fear is that Jews will come into possession of Har Habayit and begin to build a Temple there. This is why they must see to it that the Arabs remain in control and possession of it at all costs. This is why they stood by while the Mount was plundered and raped. This is what ensures their own survival, or so they think.
The fact is that their power is in some mystical way tied to their control of Har Habayit. Our Sages have taught us that the Ishmaelim would have control of it for 1300 years in the merit of brit milah. How this enables the Erev Rav, I do not understand, but one thing I highly suspect is that the bulging and crumbling of the supporting walls is a sign to us that their power is crumbling as well. The best experts on the subject have said that it is no longer a question of "if," but only "when" the wall will fall. And newspapers have been quick to point out that the Israeli government will reap the blame if anything goes wrong there. How ironic can it be that in their attempt to wipe out every vestige of evidence of our right to the place, it would only bring it down on their own heads.
Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook wrote in Torat Eretz Israel, p. 283:
"When people approach me with this proposition [to rebuild the Temple], I say: ...Just as there is a precept to build the Temple, there is a sequence to its fulfillment. The Gemara says, "Israel was commanded with three precepts when they entered the Land: To appoint a King; to annihilate the seed of Amalek; and to build Hashem's chosen house. And the Gemara continues, And how do I know which comes first? You have to say raise up a King. And how do I know whether to build the Temple first, or to annihilate the seed of Amalek? You have to say first annihilate the seed of Amalek. The Gemara is speaking of the initial entry into the Land and of the construction of the first temple, but the Rambam decides that this is generally true. 'Israel was commanded with three precepts upon entering the Land...the King's appointment precedes the war with Amalek, and the annihilation of Amalek precedes the building of the Temple.' This is a clear order not a haphazard arrangement."
Recently, I wrote an essay describing the idea that history is not so much linear as it is circular. If we look at these three in a circular fashion, we see that the Temple precedes appointing a king. This shows us that before Mashiach ben David will come to power, the Arabs and the Erev Rav will lose control of Har Habayit. We begin with Akeidat Yitzchak atop Har HaMoriah and end with the Beit Hamikdash HaShlishit.
Har Habayit is the key as Chanuka reminds us. It is the key to remaining Jewish; to remaining true to Torah; to retaining possession of the land; and to bringing in the final redemption. What else can we understand from Chanuka? That our mitzva is to publicize the miracle of lights with Light.
In this time in which we are suffering the death of Mashiach ben Yosef and Mashiach ben David has not yet been revealed to us, what can we do? Each person must strengthen himself and those within his realm of influence. Look for the light of redemption that is breaking through in many places and reflect it out into every dark corner. Look for G-d's hand in every event of our lives and make it known to as many as you can. See Hashem seated on His high and lofty throne. He is in complete control and His plan will be accomplished. The important thing is that we not despair and doubt this great Truth, but that we encourage ourselves and each other with the knowledge that even now Hashem reigns and that "[His] testimonies are exceedingly trustworthy about [His] House, the sacred dwelling---...." (Psalm 93)
"Some with chariots, and some with horses, but we---in the Name of Hashem, our G-d, we call out. They slumped and fell, but we arose and were invigorated. Hashem save! May the King answer us on the day we call." (Psalm 20)
Devash
15 Marcheshvan 5763