A World Out of Balance

15 Elul 5776

The Torah's laws instruct us on how to live our lives and build a society in perfect balance between chesed and gevurah - mercy and justice.

Our world is currently dangerously out of balance and believe it or not, it appears to be weighted too far to the side of chesed.

Chesed is represented by water. But, just like water needs the boundaries of a vessel (a cup, a bucket, a tank) in order to make it useful instead of destructive, so does chesed need to be bound by the limits of gevurah. Unrestrained chesed manifests in the world like these floods...



Some people think: mercy = good, justice = bad. That's what we have absorbed from the corrupt common culture. Unrestrained chesed says anything goes - complete freedom - do anything you want. There are no limits. 

That is what we see expressed today in the laws and culture of Eisav and so teaches Eisav's religion (Xianity) which says it doesn't matter what you've done, mercy has already been extended via a free ticket to Heaven.

As a result of the permissiveness of Xianity, Islam came into the world to bring it back into balance with strict sharia (Islamic) justice. One extreme breeds its opposite and neither one alone is healthy for us as individuals, as communities or as a global society.

The world is in desperate need of a Torah example to follow in order to bring it back into the perfect balance of mercy joined to justice.

But, that is the job of the Jewish People in Eretz Yisrael. However, although we live among a majority-Muslim Middle East, we have attached ourselves culturally and in matters of law to the hedonistic West. And this is a large part of our problem with the Islamic world.

Everyone has heard the term Judeo-Xianity (God forbid!), but whoever heard of Judeo-Islam? Both concepts are a disaster for us and for the world. But, there is no denying the truth that the former exists (God forbid!). In days past, it was called Hellenism, but I digress.

A Jew who wants to follow the Torah in its fullness - with all its parts intact - the merciful as well as the just, is not about to sign up with ISIS or trying to create a Jewish Taliban (God forbid!). The fact that anyone could think so shows just how confused and ill-informed he is about Torah Judaism. 

If the Torah is followed as instructed to Moshe Rabeinu and passed down to the Jewish Sages until today, there are built-in checks and balances which guarantee the success of all who follow it and the most balanced approach to law that human beings can take. This will curb excesses and result in health and balance and happiness for all.

Parashat Ki Teitze 5776

13 Elul 5776
Erev Shabbat Kodesh

Parashat Ki Teitze opens with these words: "When you will go out to war against your enemies...."

But, what about the enemy who claims to be your "friend"?

The Judean Hammer

Mike Huckabee is often regarded as a friend of Jews and of the State of Israel. Yet what kind of friend desires your conversion? Answer: Only an evangelical one, whose purported friendship is a friendship in name only. Meet the real man. The missionary behind the friendly face.(h/t JewishIsrael, for their recent post on Huckabee.)


Disclaimer: The Judean Hammer is not affiliated with JewishIsrael, nor do our views necessarily reflect their positions.

A LEADER AND A STATESMAN

12 Elul 5776

Some men achieve greatness in this life - as it is measured by the world. Some people are dazzled by this perceived "greatness", the celebrity of such men, whether they be successful businessmen, statesmen, politicians, or anyone who commands headlines in the mass media. Every kind of grace is granted to such a person in situations where a lesser man would be held to a different standard.

One such man is the former Deputy Defense Minister, former Minister of Immigrant Absorption, former Minister of Transportation, former Information Minister, former Minister of Defense, former Prime Minister, former Minister of Finance, former Foreign Minister, former Minister of Regional Cooperation, former President of Israel, founder of the Peres Center for Peace: Shimon Peres.

Director General of the Defense Ministry during the Ringworm Children Affair and the Yemenite Children Affair, the Prime Minister of Israel who ordered the betrayal of Jonathan Pollard, the Israeli Foreign Minister who secretly (and illegally) negotiated with the PLO and signed the Oslo Accords, who brokered the transfer of Jerusalem to the Vatican, the Vice Premier of Israel who enabled the Expulsion of Jews from Gaza, Retired President of Israel who advocates the expulsion of Jews from Judea and Samaria, promoter of a World Religion with the Pope at its head: Shimon Peres.

Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, recipient of honorary knighthood, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George from Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace in London, who is suspected of having a hand in the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin as well as the false accusations against and unjust imprisonment of former President Moshe Katsav: Shimon Peres.

This Shimon Peres was struck down by a stroke a week after getting a pacemaker implanted. The secular date was September 13, 2016 - 23 years to the day (September 13, 1993) of the signing of the Oslo Accords on the White House lawn.

Rabbis are calling for the Israeli public to say prayers for his full and quick recovery. I have assembled a few verses of scripture to be read on his behalf:

1. For every deed God will bring to judgment - for every hidden thing, whether good or bad. (Koheleth 12:14)

2. Men of evil do not understand judgment, but those who seek the Lord understand everything. (Mishlei 28:5)

3. For You are not a God Who desires wickedness; evil does not abide with You. (Tehillim 5:5)

4. Evil will kill the wicked, and those who hate the righteous shall be accounted guilty. (Tehillim 34:22)

5. You destroy speakers of lies; the Lord abhors a man of blood and deceit. (Tehillim 5:7)

6. A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor,.... (Mishlei 28:16)

7. Your enemies will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked shall be no more. (Iyov 8:22)

8. When the wicked rise up, people hide; but when they perish, the righteous increase. (Mishlei 28:28)

IMHO: As the fate of Shimon Peres goes, so goes the fate of the Erev Rav.

Are the Charges Justified? (Final)

12 Elul 5776

(Part 1, Part 2)

Imagine this scenario. A public social media page purporting to represent a Jewish Community features an article about a signing ceremony of some "agreement" that their representatives made with an African non-Jew who is described prominently in the article itself as "VP of the Africa-Israel Initiative".

...the head of the House of Jacob and VP of the Africa Israel Initiative signs a partnership agreement with______ head of______ and______ the founder of Israel Africa Hub and coordinator for Africa outreach for______ for the purpose of building a center for Israel Africa relations in ....

A search of this same social media returns a page for this organization which clearly shows it to be a Xian organization. And not just any Xian organization, but one which wants to bind itself to Israel specifically. 

Now, it was not me who chose to characterize this non-Jewish party to the signing as the "VP of the Africa-Israel Initiative". If he is no longer associated with it or its mission, why mention it.? Why make the connection?

The fact that the question arises does not in any way imply an accusation. It just suggests the need for further information. I promised the readers to try to get to the bottom of it. You have seen the results of my initial attempts in part 1 of this series of blog posts.

Following is some additional information which has come to light. It is in the form of a podcast entitled "It is Time for Africa to Connect to the Truth". It was published on the Israel Rising website on 29 August 2016 - a mere two weeks ago. Underneath the audiofile, it says the following...

______ speaks with (African non-Jew), founder of the House of Jacob, the Shabbat Fellowship, and Vice President of the Africa Israel Initiative on his personal journey and his thoughts on the future of Africa Israel relations.

There it is again - "Vice President of the Africa Israel Initiative".

It comes up again in the first 1:30 minutes of the podcast...

Hi everybody. This is_____, founder of______. I'm here in the______ with a special guest, a good friend of mine, (African non-Jew), a resident of Johannesburg, leader of the Shabbat Fellowship and originally was from Nigeria, from Biafra. And he moved on to Johannesburg twelve years ago and he is also the Vice President of the Africa-Israel Initiative, which is a continental-wide pro-Israel initiative from sub-Sahara, Africa and it's a tremendous, tremendous organization. I had the opportunity to speak at one of their conferences in Ghana and that's how (African non-Jew) and I met. And he's a tremendous individual, inspiring, and we had just spent the day in _______ together in the region where I live, south of ______. And it's a beautiful experience seeing the Biblical roots of Israel where it all began from over here overlooking the Dead Sea all the way over overlooking the Cave of the Patriarchs. Everywhere we go and walk down here is a holy place and the dirt is holy. And (African non-Jew) is here, he's joined us, he joined us for Shabbat and he's here with us now. (African non-Jew), thank you for coming down here. It's been a pleasure being with you today, learning with you and connecting with you and uh, you're an inspiring person.

DISCLAIMER: No one is trying to imply that the Jews who were party to this agreement with the African non-Jew share the beliefs or mission of the Africa-Israel Initiative or that they approve of it or sympathize with it in any way. God forbid! The point simply needs to be made, that all Jews and especially those in Eretz Yisrael must begin following Torah and halachah with regard to forming relationships and alliances with non-Jews. It can't be that "every man does what is right in his own eyes." 

From the Africa-Israel Initiative website:

MISSION STATEMENT

The fulfillments of the prophetic word are already happening in our time. Israel became a nation state again in 1948, and has since then become a source of innovation, development, security and blessing to the whole world. Africa is being transformed to the new center of Christianity, and will encompass the moral and ethical clarity to the global society as the fruits of years of revival throughout the sub-Saharan regions are being integrated into business, politics, industry and national and church leadership. In this time of history it is crucial for the churches to raise the importance of the state of Israel and the Jewish people to the community, and remember the words spoken to Abraham thousands of years ago: “Those who bless you I will bless.”

It is time for Africa to rise! It is time for Africa to claim: We have the blessing power! It is time to join with Gods people and release into Africa the riches and blessings that God decided to submit to the world through this people, as is obvious to the world counting Jewish Nobel Prizes and innovation to the world in modern time.

...This is an African project in partnership with Israel. From the heart of south-Saharan Africa will blessings come forth.

Featured on the TEACHINGS page of the Africa-Israel Initiative website...

It links to a video produced by Maoz Israel...

Maoz Israel Ministries is a Messianic Jewish non-profit organization founded in 1976, and whose ministry headquarters is based in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Its founders, Ari and Shira Sorko-Ram, also founded a Messianic Congregation, Tiferet Yeshua (The Glory of Yeshua) in downtown Tel Aviv, and manage a non-profit publishing company in Israel that prints and distributes Bible-based books for outreach and spiritual growth in the Hebrew language.

Maoz also manages a humanitarian aid organization, istandwithisrael.com, in Israel that supports widows, orphans, the needy, oppressed and victims of terrorism.

This organization also grants scholarships for educational advancement in Hebrew language studies (for new immigrants), job skills and career courses, and university studies for Israeli Messianic Jews.

Maoz also provides legal aid for Messianic Jews in Israel who suffer from severe, relentless persecution and social injustice because of their faith in Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah by anti-freedom of religion ultra-Orthodox organizations. With inflated government grants and non-working population, these organizations are able to harass and target Messianic Jews on a daily basis.

Maoz participates in many projects, programs and conferences with the Messianic Jewish movement throughout Israel. It also provides help for Arab Christian ministries.

Our Mission Statement

Maoz Israel Ministries, a Messianic Jewish ministry in Israel, is a catalyst and vehicle for outreach, training, translating, publishing, music recording, video production, economic and disaster relief, and has established and underwrites a Hebrew indigenous Messianic Jewish congregation in Tel Aviv.

...Our ultimate goal is to see the Israeli people accept the atonement of their Messiah Yeshua as promised in Scripture.

As is the "ultimate goal" of every Xian "ministry" on earth, including the Africa Israel Initiative "Ministry".

VIDEO: The Vision of The Africa Israel Initiative

(2:50 minutes in) ...Everywhere I go, people love J---- C-----, they go to church and they love Israel. It is time to channel this love into practical connections with Israel in reality. In the Africa Israel Initiative, we want to provide a two-way street, a highway of blessings from Israel to Africa and form Africa to Israel. 

We bring business networks to Africa from Israel ["Technology will go forth from Jerusalem"] and from Africa we'll bring church leaders and pilgrims to the Holy Land on tours [i.e. more Xian idolaters to pray to Yeshu in all our holy places]. 

Wait! Here is the clincher, in code, but I think you can understand the intent behind these words...

...I encourage you to come with us. You will see the joy and the happiness, even the tears, in the eyes of the Jewish People when we have fifty, yes hundreds of Africans walking in the streets full of love...when the Jewish People see the compasssion and the love from the African countries, African people coming to Israel, it will... , you will understand that this can change a lot of things.


These non-Jews are experts in knowing how to carefully word what they say to avoid admitting anything outright and they know how to tell Jews what they most want to hear. Organizations like Maoz Israel have coached them for the last 30 years.

What they say: "We are embracing Torah."
What they mean: "We now understand that as gentile believers in Yeshu, we have been grafted into Israel, therefore everything that is Israel's belongs to us as well - Shabbat, mitzvot, Jewish ritual, the Land of Israel." (Of course, as they themselves interpret and define it!)

What they say: "I've left the church."
What they mean: "Since I saw the error of my ways, I've left the church and now attend a messianic synagogue. I don't believe in J---- anymore. I call him by his proper Hebrew name and worship him as Ha Shem. (God forbid!)

What they say: "I'm of Jewish blood (or) Jewish descent (or) from the Lost Tribes (or even), I was born Jewish. I just can't prove it."
What they mean: "I'm desperate to be recognized as Jewish (without having to actually renounce Yeshu), so I can make use of the Law of Return to make aliyah to Israel.

The thing is, there may be some who are telling the truth, but they are so few as to be infinitesimal; certainly not the millions upon millions being predicted by those who have been taken in. 

Here is a clue to look for: If they go all over denouncing Yeshu the false god and fake Mashiach, they are probably on the up and up. And usually, they won't be able to get enough distance between themselves and their former associates. They are repelled by it.

My intent here is not to condemn, but to inform, educate and encourage. It is my firm belief that if the real Jews involved in these interfaith projects knew the true face and the real agenda behind the efforts of their non-Jewish counterparts, they would run, not walk, the opposite direction. 

No apologies wanted or required. Just start doing the right thing from right now. May we all be zoche to be strengthened in our Yiddishkeit and create of ourselves an impregnable security wall against all malicious attempts at intrusion!

AM YISRAEL CHAI L'OLAM VA'ED!!

Are the Charges Justified? (Part 2)

11 Elul 5776

(Part 1)

In my view, this issue is not about a difference of opinion or even a difference of hashkafa. There is a much bigger issue here. It's about conformity to Torah law. And it's about transparency when presuming to act on behalf of an entire Jewish community. And being accountable for your mistakes.

In the interests of peace among brothers, and seeing that it serves no further purpose, I have removed the original blog post which this addresses. But on this subject, I cannot back down, despite the threats intended to intimidate me.

According to what I have learned from my rabbis, relations (friendships, marriages, etc.) between Jews and non-Jews is forbidden. And as I understand it, that would include even "the best" of them. Those who proclaim and worship another god, how much more so.

TRANSLATION: "Therefore, those people who sin with their souls and with their bodies to annul the advice of Hashem, who learn with the nations, according to my humble opinion, their sin is too great to bear and they will not see the consolation of Zion."

The Rambam in Hilchot Avodah Zarah, Chapter 7, Halachah 1:

It is a positive commandment to destroy false deities, all their accessories, and everything that is made for their purposes, as [Devarim 12:2] states: "You shall surely destroy all the places [where the gentiles... served their gods]" and, as [implied by Devarim 7:5]: "Rather, what you should do to them is tear down their altars."

In Eretz Yisrael, the mitzvah requires us to hunt after idol worship until it is eradicated from our entire land. In the diaspora, however, we are not required to hunt after it. Rather, whenever we conquer a place, we must destroy all the false deities contained within.

[The source for this distinction is Devarim 12:3, which] states: "And you shall destroy their name from this place," [implying that] you are obligated to hunt false deities in Eretz Yisrael, but you are not obligated to do so in the diaspora.

From the commentary: On we are not required to hunt after it. - since these lands are not holy, we are not obligated to eradicate idol worship from them. (Kinat Eliyahu)

In other words, we do not go out from Eretz Yisrael and travel the world begging the non-Jews to leave their idolatry and accept the Sheva Mitzvot. Neither do we go out from Eretz Yisrael and travel the world inviting the non-Jews to come to Eretz Yisrael and welcoming them to bring their idolatry in with them and practice it in our midst.

And yet, there are those who are doing precisely this - the very opposite of what has been commanded. 

People, you don't understand what you are bringing upon yourselves and upon your fellow Jews!!

We are living in perilous times. The protective walls have been dismantled and bridges have been built and all by the hands of our fellow Jews who live among us.

Anyone who is aware of the situation understands that we, the Jewish people in Eretz Yisrael, are being overrun by supposedly well-meaning, supposedly "pro-Israel" non-Jews. I have yet to meet even one who was not into "Hebrew-Roots Restoration".  They are all wearing tallits, kippas, tsitsit and blowing shofars; calling themselves by Hebrew names. They are coming to scout out "their" land. And not one of them enters a Jewish community without being brought in by a Jew who lives in the area.

Not enough people appreciate the gravity of this problem. These "fellow" Jews like to talk a lot about being a "Light to the Nations". Well, I am here to be a "Light to MY Nation" and illuminate a dark corner where Jews and non-Jews are making common cause together which will only come back to bite us all in the end.

(Final Part)

Are the Charges Justified? (Part 1)

11 Elul 5776

In reference to the Har Hebron part of my blog post entitled Say What!?!, David Mark commented:

Wow. Thank you for posting about me without even checking the facts. What you did here is basic Motzei Shem Ra and since you did not ask me for clarification it is a bad thing to accuse another Jew of this before Elul. Perhaps you should email me and ask who he is and what he does. First of all he has left the folds of Christianity. House of Jacob has no connection the same name in America. Putting the name in Google does not constitute real research. Africa Israel Initiative unfortunately has an overt Christian underpinning and Sam (Shmuel) finding himself in an awkward position for leaving Christianity is trying to find a way to teach those in the organization the truth. So once again I implore to either change the post, take it down, or apologize a poorly researched blog post. Either way you are now over a serious averot just before Yom Hadin.

First of all, let me just say that I do not go looking for these things. People send them to me and ask for my input. If I find it is part of a negative trend, I will address it in a blogpost or a series of blogposts. If it concerns something that has already been published in the public sphere, then it needs to be addressed publicly and not privately where people can then say - this is all confidential and cannot be shared publicly.

Second, I will say that one cannot "research" what is not publicly available. In that case, one must rely on contacting the people involved and questioning them. In the aforementioned blog post, I gave evidence of my good faith attempt to contact the source of the story featured on the Har Hebron Facebook page and promised to inform the readers of the outcome.

Because of the amount of information that needs to be given over, this will run to more than one blog post. Today, it will suffice to provide the response to my initial queries. Tomorrow, iy"H, I will reply point by point.

To remind you, the text of the Facebook post says the following:

Shmuel "Sam" Gordan [should be spelled Gordon] the head of the House of Jacob and VP of the Africa Israel Initiative signs a partnership agreement with Yochai Damri head of Har Hebron and David Mark the founder of Israel Africa Hub and coordinator for Africa outreach for Har Hebron for the purpose of building a center for Israel Africa relations in Har Hebron.

Here are some of the responses I received to my questions:

TD: What is this "House of Jacob" that he [Gordon] heads in Africa?

HH: House of Jacob is this former Pastor's way of trying to teach former Christians the truth. He unfortunately has lost most of his congregation over his speaking of the Jews being right. He should be supported... not admonished.

DM: I brought him to big enough Rabbis who grilled him. He is a former pastor.

DM: There are so many more groups and activists for you to focus on and you are picking the one or two people that actually are not so involved with the issues you are working on.

DM: The agreement has nothing to do with the Christian organization [Africa-Israel Initiative]. It is with his Shabbat fellowships. That is trying to pry African Christians out of their avodah zarah.

~~~

TD: Who does this "agreement" obligate and to what?

HH: It is not legal. It is an expression of friendship. Please take the time to research carefully when you wrote blogposts.

TD: Why do you think I am asking you? And you still have much to answer for, so do not turn it around and attack the messenger. Perhaps if you had done the minimal research that I have done, you should have had second thoughts about such an undertaking. Do you see value in making even a sham of an agreement with those who boldly say they intend to be the center of Xianity for the world and export Xian values from Africa? What do you feel the Jews of Har Hebron have to gain from such an "agreement"?

HH: The agreement has nothing to do with the Christian organization. It is with his Shabbat fellowships. That is trying to pry African Christians out of their avodah zarah.

TD: Wait a minute. Are you saying that this "agreement" is not WITH this Africa-Israel Initiative? But, only with this one man and whatever other people he says he represents? And he is TODAY the "VP" or "a" VP for "Africa-Israel Initiative"?

TD: Can you get me a copy of the text of that "agreement" and tell me who precisely it addresses?

TD:  Wrt that meeting with the rabbis, what language was used? Were interpreters present?

~~~

TD: If you would like to provide further information to set the record straight, I am happy to accommodate with space on my blog. There are a lot of questions, as you can well imagine. ... I'd really be interested in your side of it.


DM: ...People like Shmuel should be celebrated and encouraged. And those of us who work with people like him should be promoted.

From here on, it went to email so that certain sensitive information would remain "confidential".

(Part 2)

Birur by "Borg"?

10 Elul 5776

One month ago, I wrote a blog post entitled The Not-So-Secret War Against the Torah. I was reminded of it when I read Binyamin's statement that "..this world which the majority in it are against the Torah, and not against the Jews particularly, but against the Torah."

In other words, if the Jews will agree to leave the Torah, they will be tolerated in the New World Religion and even be honored as the third pillar of "Abrahamic Faith" along with Xianity and Islam.

Also mentioned in that earlier blog post was the plan to inaugurate the AMEN House of Prayer
at the beginning of a three-week "cultural festival" called Mekudeshet:

"...for one week in September, a small structure of four walls and a bit of balcony, called the Alpert Youth Music Center will become AMEN, a home for something that has never before been attempted in the Holy City – a place of worship for the three great monotheistic religions “who share a passion for Jerusalem in which they will co-exist temporarily under the wings of the Almighty.”   (photo h/t Y.Y)

Under the radar, away from the public eye, a small clutch of religious leaders have been gathering for years to believe, to hope and to reconnect via the atavistic language of faith.

...The concept they have created, which the believing public is invited to join between September 5 to 11, is part of a festival known as Mekudeshet, Blessed, part of Jerusalem’s Season of Culture."


The Mekudeshet homepage makes some startling statements:

...We have sought out ways to present Jerusalem as a place that is both holy and secular. 

...Jerusalem obligates us, always, to step off the well-trodden paths and to absorb both the bad and the good;....

...we understand that after all is said and done the essence of Jerusalem is contained within the Hebrew root for the words sacred and holy. It is from holiness that faith, hope, and the aspiration for tikkun olam (the concept of repairing the world) derive; holiness is the source of divisiveness, exclusion, and hatred; holiness is both the spring from which all the good of Jerusalem bursts forth and the foundation stone of all that is bad.

...we feel ready and mature enough to reach into Jerusalem’s heart of hearts and propose a more expansive and profound interpretation of the words holy, sanctification, and sacredness.

...We will try during the three weeks of Mekudeshet—or actually at any given moment— to go back to the source, to the spring, to the core, and to the heart, and to call on anyone who believes—no matter what they believe in—to come to Jerusalem. Come and find yourselves. Come in peace.

I don't know if this was also part of that, but it fits the same agenda: Israeli Leaders Meet With Leaders of Eastern Faith Traditions.  (photo h/t/ R.L.)

According to Binyamin Golden, an autistic young man who is known for his "messages from Heaven" says this is the final test. Will we cooperate in being assimilated out of existence? Will we let go of our hold on the Holy Torah and embrace instead the Brotherhood of Man? God forbid!

Kedushah cannot be redefined as both holy and profane, both good and bad. A choice is required of each of us. The Torah bids us choose - blessing or curse, life or death. There is no both!

And there is no Torah Judaism combined with other "faith traditions". It's US or THEM, but there's not BOTH!



From Part 2 of The Coming World Religion, foundational writings for the "New Age":

The Jews, who refused even to leave their "Age of Aries" (the time of the Torah) to enter the Age of Pisces, (to merge with Christianity) are doubly behind in their evolutionary development.

..A necessary preparation for the leap upward is the isolation, refinement and preservation of the top 10% of humanity as the new "seed". The major New Age efforts at indoctrination are therefore designed to get the other 90% of humanity to accept this elitist selection as necessary and just, and if possible to secure their cooperation in the purge.

...High on the list of those 90% which must be eliminated are the Jews who insist on Jewish identity: "When humanity has solved the Jewish problem (with the understanding and cooperation of the Jew)... it will do so by fusing the problem in one vast humanitarian situation. When that happens [the dissolution of the "Jewish race"], the problem [the presence of "separation" and "hate" in the world] will be rapidly solved and one of the major difficulties will disappear off the face of the earth. Racial fusion will then be possible... and then there will be peace on earth." 

...When Jews forget that they are Jews, "we shall see a very different world."

Of course, what they plan will never come to fruition because HKB"H will not allow it. However, it is after all A TEST and many individuals, some with very good intentions, will fail this FINAL EXAM for Life. Don't let it happen to you. Try not to let it happen to anyone you can possibily influence. 

Choose blessing, choose life, choose separation in accordance with the demands of our Creator and His Holy Torah.

Kol Hakavod to Breslev Israel!

9 Elul 5776

It was never the intent of this blog to besmirch the entirety of Breslev or even Breslev Israel for one slip-up on Facebook. This incident was just one example of how much of Judaism has been subject to the intrusion of foreign ideas of one fashion or another. In general, I hold Breslev in high regard (except for Uman), and even more so after reading commenter "Esther's" defense of it. 

Consequently, I am very happy to report that I have received a very kind email from the administrator of Breslev Israel's facebook page with the following explanation: 

Unfortunately, a volunteer, English as a second language staffer at Breslev Israel posted that very unfortunate and embarrassing Shabbat Shalom post containing a Christian reference. 

On Sunday morning, the minute our regular moderator saw the post, she deleted it immediately. It was unfortunate and embarrassing but also a good lesson for the Breslev Israel staff to not allow less than qualified people post on this page. 

This blog wishes to thank Breslev Israel's facebook page administrator for taking the time and trouble to contact us. If you lodged a complaint with them, turn about is fair play, and you should now go, as will I, and thank them on their page (if you have access to facebook).

All the troubles that plague Am Yisrael should be so easily and cordially resolved! 

Many thanks and wishes for a good, sweet New Year for all Am Yisrael!!