"The Fast of 17 Tamuz: Fasten Your Seatbelts"

15 Tamuz 5778

Or "Secrets of the Coming of the Messiah in Parashat Balak." You won't want to miss this!!

The Final Piece of the Puzzle or the Final Straw?

14 Tamuz 5778
3 Days Before the Onset of The 3 Weeks

Why would the British Monarchy choose this week to send a representative for its FIRST EVER OFFICIAL VISIT to the State of Israel? Or as the Times of Israel posed the question: "Why, after 70 years in which no royal made an official trip, is the 2nd-in-line to the throne now here?"

"...warm ties, high trade, wide sci-tech cooperation, and shared security challenges would not, in themselves, have sufficed to shatter the unofficial 70-year boycott of modern Israel that the royal family from the land that produced the Balfour Declaration had maintained. Prince William, second in line to the throne, would not have been dispatched to do what his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, has never done, and what his father, Prince Charles, has only done unofficially. That the first official royal visit to Israel is under way, and under way precisely now, people involved in this trip privately acknowledge, is in large part also a function of change elsewhere in the region."

It seems someone anticipated that there would be those who would ask such questions, so they've provided a pat answer in advance - hints that this is about forming a united front against Iran.  Well, think again.

The fact that William is here at the same time as Kushner and Greenblatt is more revealing, even without Rivlin's 'off-handed' request yesterday for the British royal to carry a message to Abbas - "Rivlin asks Prince William to take ‘message of peace’ to Abbas."

Another clue can be found in the wording of William's itinerary in which his announced visit to the Old City of Jerusalem was referred to as "occupied Palestinian territory."

The British ambassador to Israel on Thursday defended describing Jerusalem’s Old City as being part of the “Occupied Palestinian Territories” in the itinerary for Prince William’s upcoming visit to Israel and the West Bank.

“All the terminology that was used in the program was consistent with years of practice by British governments. It’s consistent with British government policy,” David Quarrey said.

The royal itinerary, published last week by Kensington Palace, raised some eyebrows in Israel, as it indicates that the palace considers the Old City to be Palestinian territory occupied by the Jewish state.

In my considered opinion, the only thing that would justify such a visit today is British involvement in forcing a "peace" deal on Israel that Israel is not going to want once the details are known. And furthermore, it is an indication of how close they think we all are to bringing the "process" to an end.

Dennis Ross: The US peace plan is serious

Dennis Ross, who was President Clinton's Middle East envoy and a member of the National Security Council staff with responsibility for the Middle East and the Persian Gulf in the administration of Barack Obama, says that he is convinced of the seriousness of the work of Jason Greenblatt and Jared Kushner, President Trump's envoys to the Middle East.

...Ross made a short visit to Israel a few days ago as part of his work as a consultant to the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. By coincidence, he was here at the same time as Trump's two envoys. Kushner and Greenblatt shuttled between Amman, Cairo and Jerusalem, and tried to persuade Arab countries to buy into their initiative, while Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) continues in his refusal to talk to them.

Yep. The vultures are definitely circling. They must think our demise is very near.

One last question remains. Can "Wills" get Abbas to the table?
______________________

NOTE: In light of the blog post previous to this one, I'd like to bring your attention back to one written only a bit over a year ago. It's well worth re-reading as a reminder - "This Is The Most Important Blog Post You Will Read Today."

No More "Mashiach" For Me

13 Tamuz 5778

Semantics Matters

So, someone emailed me privately and suggested that each group of people has their own messiah who will lead them to God at the End of Days. Several people have pointed out that the term Mashiach can refer to a gentile king as in the case of Koresh, etc. - something of which I am well aware and which I do not deny. 

But, the idea that there will be a Mashiach for Eisav and also one for Yishmael or that the word can apply to any world leader of the day because they are "messianic figures" is not only NOT backed up by Torah sources, it is downright dangerous.

We live in fraught times, so I hope no longer to use this terminology, bl"n, but to use instead the language of the Prayer Book and the Prophets...

Opening Blessing of the Amida Prayer

Blessed are You, Hashem, our God and the God of our forefathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob; the great, mighty, and awesome God, the supreme God, Who bestows beneficial kindnesses and creates everything, Who recalls the kindnesses of the Patriarchs and brings a Redeemer [Goel] to their children's children, for His Name's sake, with love.

Shabbat Pre-Minchah Prayer

'A redeemer [Goel] shall come to Zion and to those of Jacob who repent from willful sin,' the words of Hashem.

From now on, bl"n, I will try to substitute Redeemer or Goel [the One] in place of Mashiach [the 'apparently' Many].

Focus on the Bigger Picture - What Is At Stake

Some of my readers may find this extreme, but allow me to paint a scenario for you which may explain more adequately what I see as the problem with multiple Mashiachs at the End of Days.

What better way for the globalists to bring about their New World Order than to bring each group their expected Christ (Yeshu) , Messiah (Moses), Mahdi (Mohammed), etc. and have each one instruct his own group to make peace with the others. Each will be allowed to keep his own religion as long as it accepts "the other" and abandons "extremism" and all will unite together in Jerusalem, on the Temple Mount, at "The House of Prayer for All Nations."

An explanation for why there is no resulting Gog uMagog War has already been offered. The evil decree was cancelled. We merited to bring redemption early.

Much groundwork has already been laid to facilitate this plan. It is unfortunately very far from being unimaginable. I'm not accusing anyone in particular of consciously or intentionally attempting to plant seeds of doubt in impressionable minds which might cause them to stumble and err should such a scenario ever materialize - God forbid! - but, it could happen subconsciously and unintentionally and the harm would be the same regardless.

I can even give you the "prooftexts" they might use...

For Christians (Luke 9:28-30)

Jesus...took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. (New Testament)

For Muslims (Sahih Muslim, 2/58)

... it is clear that Jesus, Moses, Muhammad and all other Prophets (God's peace be upon them all) had one and the same mission.  ("Jesus in the Quran," "Jesus Will Return" : Islamicity)

Our Prophet also told us that Jesus will be sent back to earth and related that in that time, which is called "the end of time", there may be a period in which the earth will attain unprecedented peace, justice and welfare.

In Sahih Muslim, it is also stated that the Hadith in which it is said that the Prophet Jesus will descend amongst people at the end of time have reached the degree of being mutawatir, i.e. narrated by so many people in each generation that it is not possible to have any doubt of their authenticity, and that it is counted as one of the major signs of the Day of Rising. (Sahih Muslim, 2/58)

For Jews (Zechariah 4:11- 14)

Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?” He replied, “Do you not know what these are?” "No, my lord,” I said. So he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand before the Lord of all the earth.”

Some... many... Jews might now buy into the idea that Mohammed is Mashiach Ben Yishmael and Yeshu is Mashiach Ben Eisav because our own prophet references "two anointed ones" and they already misrepresent the Rambam's ideas about the 'value' of Islam and Christianity and how it has paved the way for the world to look for a Messiah.

Recently, Jews have become very chummy with Christians and as a result, they have begun quoting their Christian 'friends' version of "prophecies being fulfilled before our very eyes." There is active 'reaching out' to Muslims going on in some Jewish circles as well. 'Rabbi' Yehuda Glick, for one, is actively engaging all sides and is a key advocate for The House of Prayer for All Nations where all religions are represented.

Don't think it can't happen!! We don't know how far Hashem will let this proceed as a test of loyalty to Him before he cuts the evil off. We are all vulnerable unless we cling to HKB"H with all our might and remain steadfast and true to our Torah and Mesorah.

Both Christians and Muslims expect Yeshu to come back to earth from the sky. How hard would it be to simulate this earth-shattering event with current 3D Holographic Technology and how would Jews react to it if the majority of the billions of the world's population believed it? They already believe fake news!



Like Moshe Rabeinu and Aharon HaCohen - Mashiach Ben David and Mashiach Ben Yosef will work in partnership to redeem Am Yisrael, but Mashiach Ben David is the One who will be crowned and known as Goel Yisrael.

Also like Moshe Rabeinu, the Redeemer comes to redeem Yisrael, not the world. As the pasuk says...

'A redeemer [Goel] shall come to Zion and to those of Jacob who repent from willful sin,' the words of Hashem. (Isaiah 59:20)

Although, the righteous of the nations, along with all of creation, will certainly benefit from it, the Redeemer comes to fulfill the promise to redeem Yisrael. And again, just like Moshe Rabeinu, there is only One.

You've been warned, so this concludes my remarks on this subject, except for comments below.

Can "Eisav" and "Yishmael" Do Teshuvah at the End of Days?

12 Tamuz 5778

Eisav and Yishmael are frequently - erroneously - referred to as "brother" and "cousin" by some Jews, but this is incorrect. The Torah itself bears witness that Hashem Yitbarach made His covenant with Yitzchak, but not with Yishmael (Gen. 17:19-20), and with Ya'aqov, but not with Eisav (Gen. 28:13). That's why we refer to HKB"H as the God of Avraham, Yitzchak and Ya'aqov.

The Ramchal explains the relationship between Israel and the Nations in Derech Hashem like this:

...Avraham's tree consisted of 600,000 main branches. These were the individuals who left Egypt, and it was to them that the Torah was given and the land of Israel divided. Every Jew subsequently born is considered to be an element and descendant of one of these primary branches.

It was to these 600,000 original Jews that the Torah was given. When this occurred, the tree was said to have attained maturity.

At this time, God also gave the nations a last chance. In His mercy he had suspended their final judgment until the time that the Torah was given [with the revelation at Sinai]. He then offered the Torah to every nation, giving them the opportunity to accept it.

If any nation would have accepted the Torah, it would have elevated itself from is lower state. As it was, none of them desired the Torah, and their judgment was therefore sealed completely. The gate was permanently closed, never again to be opened.

It still remained possible, however, for any individual to convert to Judaism. In this manner, he could still include himself in Avraham's tree of his own free will.

The decree, however, was not that the other nations should be destroyed. It only meant that they would have to remain on the lower level that we have discussed. This lower state would never have been meant for man if Adam had not sinned. It only came into being in the first place as a result of his sin.

These nations still have the human aspect, blemished though it may be, and God desired that they should at least have a counterpart of what was actually appropriate for all mankind. He therefore granted them a Divine Soul (neshamah) somewhat like that of the Jew, even though it is on a much lower level. They were likewise given commandments, through which they could attain both material and spiritual advantages appropriate to their nature. These are the seven [universal] commandments given to the children of Noach.

All this had been arranged from the beginning of creation, prepared for the contingency that man would sin. In this respect, it is like other harmful things and punishments, which were also created conditionally, as our Sages teach us.

In the World-to-Come, however, there will be no nation other than Israel.

The souls of righteous gentiles will be allowed to exist in the Future World, but only as an addition and attachment to Israel. They will therefore be secondary to the Jew, just as a garment is secondary to the one who wears it. All that they attain of the ultimate good will have to be attained in this manner, since by virtue of their nature they can receive no more.

When the world was divided into seventy nations, God appointed seventy [directing] angels as Officers (Sarim) in charge of these nations, to watch over them and attend all their needs.

Thus, God does not oversee these nations except in a general manner. It is each one's directing angel who takes care of the details, through the power that God gives it for this purpose. God thus told Israel (Amos 3:2), "Only you have I known among all the families of the earth."

...God thus made the rectification and elevation of all creation totally dependent on the Jews. To the extent that this can be expressed, we can say that He subjugated His Providence to them. Through their deeds, they can cause [His Light] to shine forth and have influence, or, on the other hand, hold it back and conceal it.

The deeds of the other nations, on the other hand, do not add to or subtract from the state of creation, nor do they cause God to reveal Himself or withdraw. All they can do is bring about their own gain or loss, and strengthen or weaken their own directing angel.

Although God does not involve Himself expressly in the direction of the nations in detail, it is possible that He should exercise His Providence over them when it is required for the sake of Israel. This may be because of a single Jew, or for a number of them. (Derech Hashem, Part II: Providence, Chapter 4: Israel and the Nations)

Given this, I don't see how it will be possible for either Eisav, or Yishmael to "do teshuvah" to the extent of rectifying and elevating themselves to the level of the offspring of Avraham Avinu at the End of Days. The time for this ended and it is now only possible for individuals, but even this is coming to an end with the arrival of Mashiach Tzidkeinu.

Furthermore, it exposes the error currently spreading around the world that the gentiles have a crucial role to play in bringing about the redemption of the world or that they are somehow our partners in same.

DANGER! BE CAREFUL!

11 Tamuz 5778

We are in the midst of a tremendous birur. HKB"H is testing all of us, each at our own level, so it stands to reason that whatever test we are assigned will be a proper challenge. Now, more than ever before, it is absolutely critical that we be very, very careful not to deviate even one centimeter from our mesorah, either to the left or to the right. 

When a "respected rabbi" or anyone else comes with a chidush that Eisav is the "Fourth Avot," even though our mesorah for over three thousand years says there are only three. Or that Eisav and Yishmael, as descendants of Avraham Avinu, were also "Jews." Or that US President Donald Trump is the presumptive Mashiach ben Eisav while Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman is possibly Mashiach ben Yishmael. Or that any opposition to Trump is "Satanic." Understand that this is a part of your loyalty test. That's what the final birur is all about - your loyalty to HKB"H and to the tradition handed down to us from Har Sinai. And only those who remain absolutely loyal to both will merit to greet Mashiach Tzidkeinu.

An entire generation is being mislead these days by rabbis who are "too big to fail" and too big to call out. Interestingly and very tellingly, their errors all come down to one thing - mixing Jews and gentiles, blurring the lines between them and us, eliminating the division between Jews and gentiles, whether virtually or actually. 

Furthermore, by bringing out this idea of multiple messiahs or even "messianic figures," whether intentionally or not, it does nothing more or less than prepare the ground for the acceptance of a false Mashiach and/or the rejection of Mashiach Tzidkeinu as an anti-Mashiach, Hashem yerachem!

It has been pointed out that rabbis are under a heavier attack from the Other Side because by misleading one rabbi, all of his followers will also be mislead. We learned from this week's parashah that even Moshe Rabeinu erred! 

In this time of sifting, it's not only we who are being sifted, but we must also be sifting everything we consume, separating the news from the fake news and the Torah from the fake Torah. Be as careful about the kashrut of your spiritual food as you are of your physical food. Don't swallow everything labeled "Torah" whole. Chew on it awhile and see if it tastes familiar. If it's "off" in any way, spit it out. It might be ok, but then again, it might be poison for your soul. 

During these days, we can't be too careful!

US/Arab Alliance Against Israel Implemented by Kapo Jews

9 Tamuz 5778
Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Parashat Chukat

Some highlights from the parashah:

Ashes of the Red Heifer, Miriam HaNevia dies, Aharon HaCohen dies, nobody wants to let us cross their land, armies come out to fight us, complaints, complaints, complaints, a plague of snakes, more deaths, Moshe Rabeinu hits the rock and is condemned to die in the wilderness...

What a catastrophe this "redemption" has become. It seems like death is waiting around every corner and where is the promised "land flowing with milk and honey?" 

We brought it all on ourselves. And nothing much has changed.

Tammuz 9

In 423 BCE, Nebuchadnezzar's troops breached the walls of old Jerusalem and entered the city. Four weeks later, the Holy Temple was destroyed, and the Jews were exiled to Babylon. Originally, a day of fasting and mourning was observed on the 9th of Tammuz. Seventy years later, however, when the Second Temple was built, the fast was abolished and the day was turned into a holiday. Some 500 years later when Jerusalem fell on the 17th of Tammuz -- prior to the destruction of the Second Temple -- the Sages decreed the 17th of Tammuz as a fast day to commemorate both tragedies. (Source)

~ Shabbat Shalom ~

Tamuz message #1 from the Journal of Meir Yisroel

I believe that from the Seventeenth of Tamuz the world will rock and change in a most drastic way. I can’t be a hundred percent sure of the date. However it is coming one way or another and it definitely will be enough to shake up most of the population of the world into a new and very frightening reality that they cannot deny anymore.

Shiva Asar b'Tamuz is next Shabbat!

"Mashiach - Guns or Roses"

8 Tamuz 5778

Americans and Their Duplicitous Word Games

6 Tamuz 5778

The current US and Israeli administrations like to say they are so close that there is "no daylight [visible] between them," but that's not exactly true, as the following two examples demonstrate.

US envoy scolds Israeli MKs for demanding US recognition of Golan — report

US Ambassador David Friedman reportedly told Israeli lawmakers they were “ungrateful” for demanding that Washington follow up on its recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel with an official US acknowledgement of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

...The report quoted him as saying that Israelis do not understand that the US has global interests unrelated to the Jewish state, while Israeli politicians have only a domestic agenda.

In private conversations, Friedman allegedly told the politicians that, instead of being grateful after the US recognized Jerusalem and made the momentous move of its embassy to the city, the Israelis immediately asked for more, displaying what he termed “ingratitude.”

Someone recently said to me that once N. Korea and Iran have agreed to give up their nuclear ambitions, Israel will then be on the hot seat.

Trump signed secret pledge to safeguard Israeli nukes — report

US President Donald Trump has reportedly signed a secret letter pledging not to strong-arm the Jewish state into relinquishing its nuclear weapons.

The US president’s backing came after Israel’s ambassador to the United States reportedly pressured the administration last year, raising the ire of American officials.

The rare moment of tension between the Israeli government and Trump White House in February 2017 came a month after Trump entered office and was said to devolve into yelling and profanity, according to a report by The New Yorker on Monday.

...The feeling in the White House, added a former aide, was that “there is a lot of good will, but don’t take advantage of us.”

Despite the initial tensions, Trump would go on to sign the letter, the report said.

Although Israel saw the letters as guaranteeing the US would not pressure Israel on its nuclear arms, US officials said the document was not unequivocal in its language.

“It was not a blanket ‘We’ll never ask Israel to give up its nuclear weapons.’ It was more, ‘We accepted the Israeli argument that they’re not going to disarm under current conditions in the Middle East,” the New Yorker quoted a former US official as saying.

Daniel Pipes recently wrote the following...

Pipes: U.S. Embassy Move May Bring Regrets

...What was the strategic thinking behind the U.S. Embassy move to Jerusalem?

There are two different interpretations. The common one is that this is Donald Trump fulfilling his campaign promise. It fits in with a positive understanding of Israel’s value, building the U.S.-Israel relationship. I disagree. I see it in the context of a larger effort, little to do with campaign promises and a lot to do with hostility towards Iran.

If you wish to build up an anti-Iran alliance, then you need to take several steps. The first is to lavish attention and arms on the Saudis, so that you bring them over as an ally in a way they have never been before. Step two is solidify and warm up relations with Jerusalem – such as moving the embassy. Step three is warm up and solidify relations with the Palestinians. That hasn’t happened – quite the reverse. The Palestinian Authority (PA) has engaged for half a year of a boycott of American officialdom.

I see this as transitory. At a certain point, either Mahmoud Abbas or his successor will say, “OK, Trump, you’ve talked to us about some benefit we’re going to get. What is it?” And we know pretty well what it is. The U.S. government will recognize Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital and, in return, the Palestinians are supposed to give up the right of return.

So, in Trump’s thinking, you take care of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict by giving each side what it wants, and then the Saudis will accept Israel as a full-fledged partner and you have a real alliance against Iran. The problem with this is that the Palestinians are not going to fulfill their role, and will not change their hostility towards Israel. This will once again leave the U.S. government annoyed with Israel for not resolving things with the Palestinians. I see Israel being in the hot seat, once again, as the Palestinians misbehave.

Although I was thrilled at the time the embassy move was declared, I think I will eventually wish that the U.S. embassy were still in Tel Aviv.

I, for one, was not thrilled. I didn't want it to move in the first place. I knew it was going to come with a cost - a cost possibly too dear to bear, especially for so little return.

Beware the Dealmaker. He believes everyone has his price and therefore, everything (and everyone) can be bought - for the right price. Someone should give him fair warning - Torah Jews and Eretz Yisrael are not for sale AT ANY PRICE!!

Sivan Messages From Meir Yisroel

5 Tamuz 5778

BS"D 

From the Journal of Meir Yisroel

Sivan I

Sivan II

Conspiracy Theory Becomes Conspiracy Fact

4 Tamuz 5778

Remember back during the Jade Helm exercises in the US in 2015, there was a lot of 'conspiracy' talk about Walmarts being closed and readied to become detention centers? Well, it was true. 

Inside America’s Largest Child Migrant Detention Center: An Old Texas Walmart

The US government released some memorable images on Thursday, revealing the inside of a mysterious new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) immigration detention center for children who crossed illegally into the United States. [Please see the article for more details.]

It begs the question... What about the rest of them???

WALMART CLOSINGS MAP

"Netiv Ha'Avot - The Truth About the Destruction"

1 Tamuz 5778
Rosh Chodesh Bet

A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT AND TREMENDOUS FIRST-PERSON ACCOUNT.

HERE IT COMES...

1 Tamuz 5778

Rosh Chodesh Bet

Trump is being credited with a "miracle" today because of what he allegedly accomplished with the North Korean Leader Kim, but if you read and listen carefully, you will understand that this is just like the US Embassy relocation to Jerusalem and the "recognition" of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. "Much ado about nothing." It's all a show leading to some nefarious underlying agenda that does not bode well for Jews or Israel in the end. The whys and wherefores of the details are beyond me since I am not privy to all the inner machinations. However, I know it deep in my soul.

The latest in just a few minutes ago from the AP...

Trump’s Mideast team to push peace plan in region

The White House says President Donald Trump’s Mideast negotiating team will visit the region next week as it finalizes its as-yet unveiled Israeli-Palestinian peace plan and will hold talks on deteriorating conditions in the Gaza Strip. The trip comes as officials say the Trump administration is near completion of the plan with an eye on a possible release this summer.

And now the pressure will really be on not to mess this up for Trump...

Two Norwegian lawmakers nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

A pair of Norwegian lawmakers have nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize after he signed an agreement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday to work towards the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

This Out-of-Season Rain Is A Very Ominous Sign

30 Sivan 5778
Rosh Chodesh Alef

Since I posted yesterday on the out-of-season rain we are receiving here in Eretz Yisrael, some new details have come out.

Floods inundate southern towns as freak rains batter country

...Israel was hit with heavy rains this week, causing power outages and severe flooding throughout the country, a highly unusual occurrence for mid-June.

...Sderot resident Danny Hazan told the Ynet news site that the overnight deluge overwhelmed the city’s water infrastructure, having taken local residents by surprise.

“The drainage system has totally collapsed. It’s been raining all morning and hasn’t stopped,” he said. “People weren’t ready for it, lots of people had already set up pools in their yards for the summer — and all of the sudden it starts raining.”

Heavy rainfall Tuesday night through Wednesday was also reported along the coast and in northern Israel. The inclement weather caused power outages for several Galilee towns overnight.

The rains are expected to continue through Thursday, and authorities are warning of flash floods in southern Israel’s dry desert valleys.

Though Israel’s rainy season typically ends in March, this year has already experienced several unseasonable heavy rainstorms later in the year.

And we are still having rain today. It has even showered off an on a few times at my home in the Judean Desert. 

Commenter Dan G made a most astute observation from this week's Haftarah...

"...If you will fear Hashem, and worship Him, and hearken to His voice, and you will not rebel against the word of Hashem, but you and the king who reigns over you will follow after Hashem, your God . . . But, if you will not hearken to the voice of Hashem, and you will rebel against the word of Hashem, then Hashem's hand will be against you and against your fathers.

Even now, stand yourselves erect and see this great thing that Hashem will do before your eyes. Is it not the wheat harvest today? - yet I shall call to Hashem and He will set forth thunder and rain, then you shall recognize and see that great is your wickedness that you have perpetrated before the eyes of Hashem, to request for yourselves a king."  (Shmuel Alef 12.14-18)

What was significant about the rain that Shmuel HaNavi called down is that it was out-of-season. Wheat is harvested after the rainy season has ended in Eretz Yisrael. And it was clearly meant to send the message that Hashem was greatly displeased with us and that we had what to do teshuvah for.

Notice the critical "and the king who reigns over you." It is not enough that we as individuals obey Hashem. Once we set a king over us, we are now judged along with him. I would go so far as to say that the final pasuk there might just as well end for us in the words, "...to request for yourselves a Prime Minister," i.e. setting up a so-called Jewish State in Eretz Yisrael not in accordance with Hashem's Torah. The "kings" that we have set over us up to now have all been in rebellion against the King of kings - HKB"H.

Someone very near and dear to me had another amazing idea. Remember Yehudit's "prophecy?" I was reminded of something important that it says there...

* The Erev Rav Gov't will deceive the nation and secretly weave dangerous deals.

* They will hand over holy places, including Yerushalayim, and this will cause a 'storm' in Am Israel.

* North of Israel will burn up from missiles from the Iranian Hizbulla, with the support of Syria.

I have no access to the original words. What if it said instead that it would cause a "storm in Israel" and this is the storm it was referring to?  Is the back and forth with the American administration part of this "weaving dangerous deals?"

Ambassador Friedman in Washington to Plan ‘Peace Deal of the Century’

Scoop: Kushner to visit Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia for peace plan talks

Jared Kushner will return to Middle East to discuss Israeli-Palestinian peace plan: Report

Is war in the north coming next?

They say we can't possibly understand the meaning behind events today because we have no prophets. But, this is precisely why the prophecies of our earlier prophets were recorded for all time. So that we would have them now, when we need them most!

This Is Sooo Not Normal

30 Sivan 5778

Rosh Chodesh Alef

In my 22 years in Israel, I have only seen it rain as late as Shavuot a few times. I've never seen it rain this far into the year before.

Local Showers In Northern And Central Israel

The unprecedented weather experienced in Israel last month has returned with unseasonably low temperatures in Jerusalem on Tuesday, erev Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, and reports of heavy local showers in Ra’anana and other areas.

The volatile weather continues to be unsettled. On Tuesday morning, local rains began to fall in the north of the country, and the Dan region began to turn cloudy.

Basic Concepts: "Mercy and Compassion"

29 Sivan 5778

"He who is compassionate to the cruel will ultimately become cruel to the compassionate."
(Source: Tanhuma, Parashat Mezora,1; Yalkut Shimoni, I Samuel, Chapter 121)

The Jewish People are a nation of kindness and mercy. The kind deeds they perform for their fellow man stem from a psychological drive, implanted in them by G-d, to show compassion.

Yet, this compassion becomes an inexhaustible fountain only through one's concerted effort to understand these G-d-given traits and direct himself in their application.

...Our sages said, "G-d gave Israel three fine gifts," because G-d instilled these traits in the Jewish People when they stood at Mount Sinai. The same point arises in the principle that "if someone lacks shyness, it is clear that his ancestors did not stand at Mount Sinai. This indicates that when Israel stood at Mount Sinai and G-d revealed Himself and chose them as His special nation - holy, elect, supreme - He implanted in them, but not in the nations, a special soul with mercy, shyness and kindness. If a non-Jew seeks to convert, his soul is transformed into a Jewish soul with these traits, and then it is as though even he is among those whose ancestors stood at Sinai.

Israel were chosen by G-d as His nation and inheritance; He filled their soul with noble mercy. Yet, if they do not make use of such Divine traits, over time an apathetic shell develops which defeats their delicacy and sensitivity. To our great chagrin, we see a growing portion of our people who have cast off G-d's yoke, resulting in their special Divine traits being dulled. Where they were once the merciful children of merciful parents, they have instead been filled with base cruelty and evil.

There is no more disgraceful or wicked trait than cruelty at the wrong time and place.

...there is no better path for a person to cling to than a good heart and no worse path than an evil heart, because everything depends on the heart, the seat of lust and pride, man's emotions and desires. It says, "Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the L-rd" (Prov. 16:5); and, "Before destruction man's heart is haughty" (Prov. 18:12) G-d is not looking for the wise or mighty. How can these be boastful next to the wisdom and might of Him Whose word created might and wisdom?

...A person should not boast of his wisdom, might or wealth, for these are fleeting and inconsequential. They are the source of pride, lust and selfishness - the absolute opposite of the world's reason for existence. Rather, one should take pride in being good-hearted, modest and humble, for that is man's whole purpose.

...Indeed, G-d is kind and merciful, and His mercies are over all His works. Man is duty-bound to emulate Him, and Israel, His nation, are commanded to wear the mantle of mercy and show mercy to all His works.

...Yet, it must always be in the right time and place in accordance with the dictates of Halachah, Jewish law, and the Divine conception of mercy. Let us never forget the mitzvah of not showing mercy where forbidden to do so.

...the definition of "mercy" and "love of Israel" are what G-d defines them to be, and not the mercy of fools enslaved to alien culture.

[Source: Or Hara'ayon, Chapter Eight: "Mercy and Compassion," pp. 169-180]

Misplaced Mercy and Compassion: It is actually forbidden to open the door wide to everyone who knocks and certainly for those forcing their way into your home.

What Is Planned for Israel?

28 Sivan 5778

In 2003, I attended a lecture that I wrote up afterwards and eventually posted to my blog ten years later in 2013. The title is not much different from the one above: "What the United States Intends for Israel."  No matter how it's worded, the question is still worth asking.

During that lecture, it was revealed that "over the next two years, America is going to 'take out all seven dictatorial regimes in the Middle East.'"

...The conquest was begun with Iraq and is to be followed by Iran, the groundwork for which is already being laid and which, according to Mr. Loftus, will be finished "by Spring", only to be followed in swift succession by Libya, N. Korea (which will be divied up to China), Syria and Lebanon. Since Jordan and Egypt are already on America's payroll, that only leaves Saudi Arabia which will have no other option, according to Mr. Loftus, but to fall into line. The plan is ostensibly to "liberate" all the democracy-starved hordes of the Middle-East and rebuild all the war-torn countries courtesy of the American taxpayer (to whom Israel is also beholden, reminds Mr. Loftus, lest we Jews ever forget), and create a climate in which "moderate Islam" can flourish.

In 2007, General Wesley Clark would go public with the same story...



Clearly the timetable is a bit skewed, but apparently, the plan still exists in some form. The whole world is glued to the media to see what will be with regard to North Korea as Kim and Trump meet in Singapore.

I can't help thinking that if it all goes to hell, and how can it not when you're talking about two egomaniacs, it will bode very ill for Israel. Because we are coming to "the end of Ramadan," the time that the US previously announced would herald the revelation of Trump's "deal of the century" peace plan. Just because it's gone into stealth mode, don't think for a moment that they have forgotten us.

Ambassador Friedman in Washington to Plan ‘Peace Deal of the Century’

US ambassador to Israel David Friedman has been called for urgent discussions on the Middle East peace plan at the White House and will therefore be absent from a conference of the American Jewish Committee in Jerusalem, Israel Hayom reported Sunday night.

...Confirming that he was away to discuss President Trump’s peace plan, which the latter once described as the “peace deal of the century,” the ambassador said at the start of the video that he is in Washington “in consultations on the administration’s evolving peace plan. Wish us luck.”

Friedman’s trip to the White House confirms many recent reports that the Trump administration is about to present its peace plan soon. Israel Hayom cited a source in the White House who intimated that “the plan is not yet ready but has entered its final stages.”

Consequently, I can't help thinking that if the North Korea talks fail to achieve immortality for Trump, the pressure will be unbearable to wring it out of Israel and the 'Palestinians.'

Four days ago, I was a bit stunned by this announcement via the Debka website: US to Boost It's Military Presence in Israel. As you already know from reading my blog, at last count, the US had eight military bases here in Israel. Now, another base has been established since the last count, so the current total is at least NINE.

US Army Opens Permanent Base in Southern Israel as Trump Slams Iran Deal - Sept. 19, 2017
Years in the making, Site 883 expands on long-standing and active ballistic missile defense cooperation.

If you imagine them prepared to become an occupying force like the Romans or the Greeks, or even the British, like I do, you begin to understand my concern.

Stay tuned...

What Happens When You Poke God in the Eye?

28 Sivan 5778

We may soon find out...

Netanyahu boasts Israel only Mideast country that 'welcomes gays'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a Jewish advocacy group on Sunday that Israel is the only country in the Middle East that accepts the LGBT community, two days after some 250,000 people flooded the streets of Tel Aviv to take part in the annual Gay Pride Parade.

“There’s only one state in the Middle East that welcomes gays … This is the one place in the Middle East where gays walk proudly on a Tel Aviv beach and participate here, in our Knesset deliberations, in our government,” Netanyahu told a gathering of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), with audience members greeting his words with a round of applause.

Gently breaking taboos, a settlement bloc moves gingerly toward LGBT acceptance

‘The Tel Aviv of the Gush’

For many, it was no coincidence that Sunday’s event took place place in the Gush Etzion bloc, and in Efrat in particular.

“I think the Gush is fairly open-minded compared to other religious communities, both in, and not in, the settlements,” said Andrew Braverman.

...The 19-year-old, who studies at Yeshivat Machanayim in Migdal Oz just south of Efrat, said he is given special permission by his rabbis to leave class early on Thursday evenings to go to LGBT gatherings at the Jerusalem Open House.

“There’s something about the Gush that people are so content with their lives and their religious identities that they allow themselves to be more open to differences,” said one Efrat mother, whose son recently came out the closet.

The seven LGBT teens who spoke with The Times of Israel each pointed out how the settlement bloc’s heavy American presence has created an environment that is relatively more accepting of those coming out of the closet.

It is also predominantly American olim who are acting as bridges between other Jews and Xian missionaries, too. Not to forget, that Netanyahu himself was raised in America and imbibed its immoral culture.

Mashiach will fight against all of this because it is all contrary to the Torah. I hope we will all be on the right side of things when he starts cleaning house.

Basic Concepts: "Chessed (Kindness)"

27 Sivan 5778

Our primary job in this world is to emulate our Creator by giving to others as He is the ultimate Giver. Human beings are driven by their base natures to seek to "get," yet no matter how much they "get," it never seems to make them happy. The greatest joy a human being experiences comes as an act of giving.

...Man's task is to build the world according to Divine commands and conceptions. Whoever performs a chessed, a kind act, actually builds and completes the world. G-d built an incomplete world, so to speak, and handed it over to man to complete via performance of his task. By the same token, G-d decreed circumcision to perfect man, and it must be precisely on the eighth day so as to complete the seventh day, which symbolizes "G-d's work," as it were.

...The goal of G-d's command to "be fruitful and multiply" (Gen. 1:28) is for man to provide himself with future generations to build the world according to Divine ethics. ...By emulating G-d's attributes in building the world, one brings the world peace and perfection.

The Hebrew word for attributes, midot, also means measurements. Thus, G-d's midot, His worldview and values, are the midot, the yardstick to be used in building the world. Accordingly, we can understand the verse, "The world is built upon kindness" (Psalms 89:3), to mean that whoever does acts of kindness, G-d's great attribute, and builds the world by this measure and standard, perfects it in accordance with G-d's will.

...We have seen that the world rests on kindness. Although our sages said (Avot 1:12), "The world rests on three things: Torah, Divine service and lovingkindness." Torah and Divine service are only vehicles to refine man's behavior on this earth, and proper behavior hinges on kindness. If there is no kindness, chaos strikes the world and people swallow one another alive.

...Make no mistake. Kindness, per se, is not the main purpose of creation or of Torah. Rather, it is the most outstanding, pronounced expression of modesty, self-abnegation, subjugation of the evil impulse and acceptance of G-d's yoke discernible to man. Man, by giving, nullifies his sense of taking. By worrying about his fellow man, he suppresses his selfishness, arrogance and lust.

There is nothing great or praiseworthy about the poor person's receiving kindness or charity. In taking and benefiting, one performs no mitzvah. The mitzvah is entirely in that the giver gives, that the kind person's mercy wells up and he forgets himself, his property and his selfishness, suppressing his ego and giving of his money or time to someone else. In doing so, he reinforces the humility within. By suppressing his evil impulse and lessening his lust, arrogance and selfishness, he fulfills his task on this earth. For this he was created.

[Source: Or Hara'ayon, Chapter Seven: "Chessed (Kindness)," pp. 155-158]

Holocaust - Part 2

25 Sivan 5778
Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Parashat Shelach - Mevorchim

As the nation stood at the threshold of Eretz Yisrael and Moses told them that it was time for them to conquer it (Deuteronomy 1:21), a pivotal incident took place. Twelve of the truly great leaders of the nation, one from each tribe, went to survey the Land - and came back with a report that demoralized the people and caused them to lose faith in their ability to occupy their Divinely ordained inheritance. As a result, the entire generation was condemned to death in the Wilderness and Israel's entry into the Land was delayed for nearly thirty-nine years. (Source: Commentary to the Stone Edition Chumash)

This is the Shabbat when we announce the new month that begins next Tuesday night through Thursday - Tamuz. Only a bit more than two weeks into that month, we begin the period of The Three Weeks, culminating in Tisha b'Av - a date which is immortalized in this week's parashah.

Yechezkel HaNavi prophesied that we would repeat this error in the time before Mashiach comes. And before anyone says, "Bad prophecies don't have to happen," let me remind you that every horrible prophecy given about our future has come to pass until now - because we don't ever seem to learn our lessons. Why should we expect that to change at the last moment - especially when we are at rock bottom spiritually?

This is what the prophet of God says...

...I will take you out from the nations and gather you from the lands to which you were scattered, with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath; and I will bring you to the wilderness of the nations* and I will contend with you there, face to face. Just as I contended with your forefathers in the Wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I contend with you - the word of the Lord Hashem/Elokim. 

...I will separate from among you those who rebel and those who transgress against Me; I will take them out of the land of their sojourning, but they will not come to the soil of Israel; then you will know that I am Hashem. (Yechezkel 20:34-38)

*The commentary says regarding wilderness of the nations: "You will be punished in a deserted area, so that your enemies do not witness your downfall." This is reminiscent of the reason our sages tell us that the four-fifths who didn't make it out of Egypt died during the plague of darkness.

Where is this "wilderness" today? According to a famous story concerning Rav Aharon Kotler, it is America.

Rav Aharon ultimately emigrated to the United States via Siberia in 1941 to join Rav Moshe Feinstein in building post Holocaust Yiddishkeit in America. It is told that he performed a Goral HaGra to help determine if he should move to Eretz Yisroel or America. It took him to the Pasuk in Shemos 4:27 "And Hashem said to Aharon go towards your brother Moshe in the desert." The desert referring to America which was desert compared to the lush and fertile grounds of the European Yeshiva world. His brother Moshe he understood as Rav Moshe Feinstein. (Source)

Everyone wants to believe that the ultimate redemption will come with mercy. What if it is, but we have failed to recognize it? What if two-thirds were condemned to die and the entirety of the "West" - Europe and America were doomed, but Hashem separated it into two parts with 70 years as a grace period in between? Clearly, the warning went out to European Jewry and they failed to make the appropriate response. Here we are still in the shadow of that horrendous event with warning sirens blaring all around us and still - still - literally millions of Jews are still failing to make the appropriate response. 

Don't say you didn't know.

 I will take them out of the land of their sojourning, but they will not come to the soil of Israel....

Like the original "scouts," who perished in the wilderness, but it did not have to be!

It does not have to be!!

VERY IMPORTANT "MESSAGE TO AM YISRAEL"

24 Sivan 5778

"MESSAGE TO AM YISRAEL"

"Black Hat or Knitted Kipah"

24 Sivan 5778

"Which one will Mashiach wear?"

"The Biggest Chillul Hashem Ever"

23 Sivan 5778

The following video has a connection with this blog post and its accompanying comments. There must be an important reason that this subject has come to prominence again right now. From the catastrophe in the Jewish community to the international news out of the US Supreme Court, there is a reason...

God Save Us From Christian "Repentance"!

23 Sivan 5778

Christians wanted to "atone" for handing over Jews to the Nazis so they built a missionary base in the heart of the Jewish nation.

HOW A FINNISH KIBBUTZ BECAME A CENTER FOR MESSIANIC JEWS

...despite their small Jewish population, Finland turned over eight Jewish refugees from Austria to the Nazis in 1942 during a collaboration with Germany. When news broke out about this exchange, the Finnish people felt the need to atone these sins, and they did so right in Israel.

...“The first purpose of Yad HaShmona is to atone for the sins of the Finnish people against the Jewish nation,” said Ayelet Ronen, general secretary of Yad HaShmona.

...Today, the kibbutz became a home for families who believe in Jesus. Its residents are a mixture of Christian Finns and Messianic Jews who continue to preserve the Finnish culture while also upholding the structure of a traditional Israeli kibbutz.

... the process to establish a kibbutz by non-Jewish people was an obstacle because the kibbutz system was dedicated to Jews. A request from Christian Finns to start one of their own in Israel was not a priority for the government.

However, ...Golda Meir, then Prime Minister of Israel...approved of the non-Jewish kibbutz although the reasoning behind her approval remains a mystery.

...Yad HaShmona continues to be unique from other kibbutz today. With the majority of their residents being Believers (Messianic Jews and Christians), they celebrate all Jewish holidays as well as Christmas,....

...The kibbutz has also developed into a center of activity for those who believe in the New Testament.

The "one new man" - Hashem yerachem!