First Things First

12 Menachem Av 5786 

The Yetzer Hara is such a formidable enemy because he is not above tempting a good and righteous Jew to do a good and righteous act if it will lead to a sin.  Sometimes a good and righteous act, even when performed by a good and righteous Jew, can be shrouded in pompous, self-serving motives.  Like it makes him feel good, superior to others, especially when he can point to himself as an example to follow.

It's a truly wonderful thing when Jews take note of the chillul Hashem that exists in the continuing destruction of Hashem's House on Har HaMoriah.  It's especially poignant at this time of year.  And it's very commendable when they take real and concrete steps to exhibit their faith in the Divine promises of its rebuilding by preparing all that it is possible to prepare in advance of that time.  

But from where I sit, it seems that these noble acts have unwittingly served a darker purpose.  They've become a distraction from the first steps, a way of making people feel they can leap ahead and build the edifice without doing the harder, less satisfying work of laying the actual foundation.  And what would that be precisely?

Quoting Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook 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."

It makes perfect, logical sense.  First, we have to have a REAL Torah-Jewish government, not a Hellenized imposter [10 years old and as relevant as ever].  And that government must defeat and remove the enemy who holds sway on the Temple Mount.  Only when the Arabs are gone and the Dome is gone and the government rules according to Torah Law, will a HOLY Temple which can never again be destroyed be built.  That's why we can prepare for it, but Mashiach is the one who will build it.  

Until then, the only kind of Temple we could see built on Har Habayit will be some kind of perverted, UNholy structure dedicated to humanity and their New World Religion.  God forbid!! Would we really want to see Women of the Wall carrying on at the Holy Temple as they do at the Western Wall?  Would we really want to see the Holy Temple standing a half-mile from the annual Pride Parade?  God forbid!!

When the previous two Temples were built, there were still prophets in our Land.  We had strong, righteous, recognized leaders.  Today, "most of the rabbis are from the Erev Rav"!

I want to see and experience the world that has the Beit Hamikdash at the center of it, but as it says in Shir HaShirim: "...do not stir up, do not arouse love, until it please."

Tisha b'Av is now past for another year and we are standing before a rare opportunity.  We have a non-government in that the Knesset has been dissolved and the various political parties are preparing for a new election. 

Let's please turn to this matter with the same resolve and energy and confidence to inspire and encourage the good and righteous Jews to campaign, both in Shamayim and in This World, for nothing less than a R-E-V-O-L-U-T-I-O-N in our national government.  

We are in most desperate need of a Torah government and again, from where I am sitting, the minds and hearts of good and righteous Jews are more open and accepting of the idea of rebuilding the Temple than they are of choosing a King and establishing a Sanhedrin; of Jewish-only citizenship and land ownership; of the closure and dismantlement of houses of avodah zarah and the outlawing of the practice of idolatry across this Holy Land with the closure and deportation of all missionary organizations.  This is a priority because HKB"H hates idolatry so very much and it brings curses and accusations and evil decrees against us in Shamayim.  

Instead of preparing our society for the Third Beit Hamikdash by at least speaking out about the plague of idolatry as a first step in the right direction, some of those advocating most vocally for its rebuilding are taking known idolaters up onto the Mount where they bring offerings of prayer to their foreign god.

Please let's not waste any more time avoiding the harder, less romantic deeds needed to prepare for the Holy Temple to stand in our midst.  Now is the time to put first things first and rebuild our Jewish society with a Torah government.  And now is the time to focus the minds and hearts of the Jews on it and convince them that it is possible and desirable.  

It HAS to come BEFORE the Temple can be rebuilt!!!!!

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Latest from Moshe Feiglin... 

(Translated from Hebrew:  See original.)

Again, the same stupid and bloody pattern.

After an attack - they stop the workers.

After a few weeks of relative quiet - they bring them back with infuriating indifference.

And then the next attack comes. And it starts all over again.

This isn't policy. This is moral and rational bankruptcy.

This time the terrible price came with the fall of Maj. Yuval Ezra and Sgt. Maj. (res.) Beniyahu Malat HY"D. But the system keeps on as if nothing happened: another pathetic Band-Aid, another atrophied tactical response trying to sweep reality under the rug.

To stop workers from entering settlements but leave industrial zones open? To approve "exceptions at construction sites" while the blood is still fresh on the ground?! This is cynical mockery at the expense of Israeli citizens.

If there's a security threat that justifies closing the crossings today - it existed with exactly the same intensity yesterday too. And if there's no threat - why spill Jewish blood and only then remember to act?

Security can't be run like a pathetic pendulum based on the weekend's body count!

As long as the State of Israel insists on maintaining an "integration economy" and relying on manpower from those who educate to slaughter us, we are funding the terror with our own hands and feeding the monster that will come back to bite us.

Enough managing the terror. Enough Band-Aids.

The response to blood and bereavement isn't "easing and exceptions at construction sites" - the response is victory!!! Full sovereignty over all of Judea and Samaria, and complete and final elimination of dependence on the enemy.

A truly sovereign state doesn't wait for the next funeral to remember that it must protect its citizens. May the memory of Yuval and Beniyahu HY"D be blessed, and may their families know no further sorrow.

AMEN!!