13 Marcheshvan 5774
I've written here many times over the years about the dangers of creeping assimilation in Eretz Yisrael, not the assimilation of Jews among goyim, but of goyim among the Jews. Evil Erev Rav "Jews" are actively promoting, sponsoring, even recruiting Xians to live and work in the yishuvim under the pretense of them "fulfilling prophecy" or being one of the "lost" ten tribes.
Listen to Hanoch Young pander speak to a Christian audience at the Alliance of Redeemed Israel conference in Florida just a couple of months ago.
'Rabbi' Eliezer Melamed of Har Brachah, who has been instrumental in allowing Xian missionaries to take up residence in his yishuv wrote the following op-ed article which was recently featured at Arutz Sheva and The Times of Israel and who knows where else?
Christians Fulfilling the Prophecy of Isaiah
Following is a response and rebuttal by Rabbi Dr. Sholom Gold, Rabbinic Director of Jewish Israel:
"Jumping the Geula Gun" - a Response by Rabbi Sholom Gold to Rabbi Eliezer Melamed
My Jewish brothers and sisters, if you don't come home and claim your heritage and help us physically to fight the Erev Rav, they will bring others to take your place! Whether it is the Erev Rav of the left giving our land to the Arabs or the Erev Rav on the right giving it to the Xians - once it's gone, what will it take to get it back again!?
12 Marcheshvan 5774
I've been hearing this sound overhead non-stop for the past hour. Night before last, it was this sound and not a light could be seen anywhere.
Given that the US debt crisis is looming larger than ever this day before a possible default AND that talks in Geneva went about as expected AND that the Prime Minister is hinting at Israeli military action to come, it makes me think that these sounds have some greater significance.
Monday, October 21st will be 17 Cheshvan - the anniversary of the Great Flood. Will a global economic tsunami wash over the world in the days to come? If the Great Powers are paralyzed by it, will the Arabs see it as an opportunity to eliminate Israel once and for all? Will the Israeli government strike before they do?
These are the kinds of questions running through my mind as I listen to yet another military jet zoom over my head on this sunny fall morning just outside Jerusalem.
Why do we preface Cheshvan as Mar-cheshvan? Mar - bitter. Because it is the only month without a holiday. However, it is destined to have a holiday in the future.
12 Marcheshvan 5774
The American government is bankrupt. It owes more money than it can ever hope to pay back. It's been "kicking the can down the road" by raising the debt limit and printing more dollars, but world economists agree that even this must come to an end sometime. Has the "can" finally reached the end of the road???
Debt clock ticking, but default damage already unfolding
The warnings from Wall Street are dire: A stomach-turning dive in the stock market. World economies in peril. Another recession in the United States. A replay of the 2008 financial crisis — or worse.
And the date investors are worried about is fast approaching. It’s Thursday, when the United States bumps up against the $16.7 trillion limit set by Congress for the amount of money the government can borrow.
...t may not happen exactly at the open of business Friday morning. The government might scrape by until next week sometime. But if it’s forced into default by Congress, the damage would spread within days. And would take years to clean up.
As US Default Nears, Investors Shrug Off Threat
Warren Buffett likens it to a nuclear attack. Economists warn that government spending on programs like Social Security would plunge. The Treasury says the economy would slide into a recession worse than the last.
Yet you wouldn’t know that a U.S. debt default could amount to a nightmare from the way many companies and investors are preparing for it: They aren’t. The assumption seems to be that in the end, Washington will find a way to avert a default.
“Doomsday is nigh, and everyone shrugs,” said Nicholas Colas, chief market strategist at ConvergEx Group, an investment brokerage in New York.
11 Marcheshvan 5774
Rachel Imeinu Passes Away
On the eleventh of Cheshvan, while giving birth to her 2nd son, Binyamin, Rachel, the beloved wife of Ya'akov, died, and was buried on the road to Bethlehem.
The site of her burial in Bethlehem, south of Jerusalem, known to us by tradition, is covered by a stone edifice. For millennia, Jews have come to this site to pour forth their hearts in prayer, and to awaken her merit in any time of travail, for the community as well as for the individual.
Our mother Rachel was not buried in the tile cave of Machpelah in Hevron together with the other Matriarchs and Patriarchs of our people. Instead, she was buried on the road to Jerusalem, exactly where she died, while coming back to Jerusalem from the House of Lavan with Ya'akov.
Why did our Father Ya'akov bury Rachel on the road in Bethlehem?
According to Rabbi Eliyahu Ki Tov's Book of Our Heritage, Ya'akov saw prophetically that in the future, Jewish exiles would pass by on that road and she might seek mercy for them.
When Nebuzaradan exiled the Jews from Israel, and they in fact passed her grave, Rachel emerged to weep and to ask for mercy in their behalf, (Yirmeyahu 3l): "Thus did the Lord say, a voice is heard on high, lamentation and hitter weeping, Rachel weeps for her children, she refuses to be consoled for her children, for they are not." And God in fact answers: "Thus did the Lord say, refrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for there is reward for your labor, said the Lord, and the children shall return to their boundary" (Rashi Va'yechi, and Midrashim quoted by Radak, Yirmeyahu 31).
Another Midrash relates: When the Patriarchs and Matriarchs went to intercede with God over the image which Menasheh placed in the Temple, God was not reconciled. Rachel entered and said before Him: Lord of the universe! Whose mercy is greater? Yours? Or the mercy of a person of flesh and blood. Surely, Your mercy is greater. Have I not brought my rival (Leah) into my house? For all the work which Yaakov did for my father, was done by him, only for my sake. When I came to enter the chupah, my sister was brought in my place. And not only did I keep silent, but I even gave her my signs. You too -- though Your children have brought Your enemy into Your House - be silent towards them! He said to her: You have defended them well, there is reward for your labor, for your righteousness in having given your signs to your sister (Rashi Yirmeyahu 31).
From the time when the People of Israel went into their first exile until Yirmeyahu's prophecy of redemption ('and the children shall return to their boundary'), the grave of our mother Rachel has always been and will always remain a House of Prayer to Israel, for she is a mother to all Israel, and always awakens mercy in their behalf.
10 Marcheshvan 5774
BS"D
Discussion with Moishela (with his family)
A Handicapped child
Cheshvan 3rd '5774 (Oct 7 '13)
NOW WE ARE ORPHANS
Today we have entered a new phase in the process of ridding ourselves of this terrible diaspora and bringing us to the Geula. The last of the great Tzaddikim of this generation, of the great Rabbonim that had tremendous influence on most of the Jewish world has been taken from us. I can say for sure that we are now officially Yesomim (orphans). We are orphans, we are alone and even though there are still Rabbonim, it is different. Those that have left us came from a generation that was much more truthful and they influenced a great part of the Jewish world. Now the last of them has been taken from us.
Of course, Boruch Hashem, we still have a few Tzaddikim left but they cannot take upon themselves the huge task of being leader and father and spiritual mentor to much of Klal Yisrael, not only to one small group.
Don’t think that Hashem took Harav Ovadya Zt"l in order to help us, in order to make our lives easier, in order to bring a Kappara for us. Harav Ovadya Zt"l and Harav Elyashev Zt"l and all the great Rabbonim that were taken from us in the last 68 years did not leave this world to make it easier on us. They were taken to make it easier on them, because what is waiting for us is very very difficult, and what is waiting for them is the most splendid, choicest spots in Gan Eden.
We remain here and we may look forward now from this moment on to a great descent into difficult times. We will have to find the truth for ourselves. We won't be able to be sure if we attach ourselves to a Rav if he's a Rav of truth or not. We will have to look only to Hashem Himself to help us get through this terribly lonely time. In this noisy world, this world of action and violence, this world of lies and deceit, we will just have to find the time and place where we can be alone and just talk to Hashem without confusion.
We must try to feel exactly what Hashem wants from us and try very hard to Daven and attain the Emes.
I'm sorry that I cry so much .Writing this message has brought out of me more pain. The Tzaddikim of today are great according to this Dor, but now when one of the greatest has been taken away we are left with no shield, except our own Teshuva, Torah and Mitzvos. As you know this is a lowly generation.
Hashem put the world into a new mode. We are now coming into the last stages before the Geula Sheleimah. But now the final distance to the Geula could be as hard as the thousands of years of Golus compacted in a much shorter time.
It is very sad and I beg Hashem to help me know what to do. The pain will be so strong, but with Hashem's help all true Jews will manage with Hashem's kindness to greet Moshiach Tzidkainu.
Rav Ovadya was sent to save the Sephardi world of Torah and Mitzvos that for so many generations was the elite of the world. Many of these Kehillos like the European Jews fell very hard with the introduction of the Haskolah.
After the Europeans conquered Middle Eastern countries like Morocco etc., many so-called enlightened Jews moved there infecting their Sephardi neighbors with their newfound lax attitude in Torah observance. In Eretz Yisroel the Sephardic Jews lost most of their Yiddishkeit due to the bad Influence of the Israeli, Ashkenazi, non-religious, community. So Hashem sent a personality who helped pull up a whole generation that was almost lost to Yiddishkeit. This giant personality managed with Hashem's help to put thousands of Sephardic Bochurim back into Yeshivas. He helped to bring the parents of these Bochurim back to the Mesorah of their forefathers.
He helped create a new generation of Sephardim that were proud of their heritage. Many are in Ashkenazi Yeshivas now, but now many more are proud of their Sephardi Heritage and prefer Sephardi Yeshivas.
Since the first great Aliya of Sephardi Jews, they were treated very badly in the state of Israel. In most cases they were considered second class citizens. Rav Ovadya helped bring these people up to realize their rich heritage and to reignite their love of Hashem and his Torah. Sephardi Jews were still strong in their observance of Torah and Mitzvahs until they came to Medinas Yisroel. Here they became distant from their Mitzvah observance. However because in their hearts most Sephardi Jews have kept a strong love of Hashem and have kept the great Mitzvah of Taharas Hamishpacha they kept the link alive with their great ancestors.
Reb Ovadya was a real Ish Emes, even though many could argue about his Zionistic leaning. He was a Yid that did everything to separate his Kehillah from the Chiloni world, and proof of this is how many true Baalai Teshuva were influenced by Rav Ovadya.
Thousands of Torahdik homes have been built by those who he influenced to become Baalai Teshuva. These Baalai Teshuva's sons learn in Charaidi Yeshivas and their daughters in Charaidi schools. The young generation of these Baalai Teshuva are continuing in the direction of true Yiddishkeit. Our generation is well known as the weakest generation ever and it wasn’t easy what Rav Ovadyah, Be'ezras Hashem, accomplished. He bent a little here and there, but we cannot criticize him. He loved every Yid and he was a giant in Torah knowledge and everything he did to save Am Yisroel was according to Torah.
The few Tzaddikim that are left cannot take Am Yisroel on their shoulders in the same way that those greats of the past did, and therefore this is almost the end of the Golus as we know it and the beginning of a short journey through no-man's land. Now each person will be on his own searching for a Kesher between him and Hakodosh Boruch Hu. There will be terrible times of confusion now and it has actually already started.
We will have to do without leaders. Maybe some Tzaddikim will help us find our way individually. At some point Am Yisroel will be separated from the Erev Rav completely. At first we will all be frightened but true Yidden will see it's only for our good.
Yes, Mommy I know how hard it will be but until we reach the Geula Shelaima we will suffer much. Hold onto Emunah and Bitachon in Hashem. If you fall unwillingly, just get up and do Teshuvah and keep going. Don’t think you'll get to the knowledge of Hashem's existence by not doing Mitzvos and learning Torah. When you truly recognize Hashem, you will also recognize the fact that a person's only Tafkid in life is to do Hashem's will and we were created to grow and thrive only when we do His will.
If you have a true Tzaddik stay with him. He will be able to help you greet Moshiach. There will be all kinds of Jews that will try to lead but in the end they will fall because they are not on the side of Truth. Beware of the false prophets that will appear during this difficult time.
I do feel Am Yisrael has had a great loss. We are so alone now, and while we must not be sad for too long and we must not dwell on the fact that we feel now so alone and abandoned. We must pull ourselves together and try very hard to come as close as possible, each individual, to Hakodosh Boruch Hu.
We are going into the last test before the great explosion begins and now we can see much more clearly that the world has become a dark fearful place. A person won’t have anywhere to escape to, no one to cry and tell our troubles to. We have no one, only directly to Hashem. Those who do not feel closeness to Hashem will not know what I'm talking about and those poor souls who cannot make contact because they are so heavy with their Gashmius, those Jews can never rise high enough to feel that contact with our Creator. But if we become lighter and more refined and more detached from the Olam Hazeh then we can reach the greatest of heights and even without our greatest Rabbonim to guide us. We can still save ourselves and our families and come close to our Creator.
I know that Harav Ovadya had many followers and Harav Ovadya was a man of truth. Sometimes he said the truth so bluntly that people didn’t know what to do or how to react but that was because they were living a lie and the plain truth was too hard for them to digest. Harav Ovadya had people that liked him more and liked him less but no one can deny he was a great Talmid Chachom. No one can deny that he was a kind father to streams of Yidden that came to him for help and for Chizuk.
No one can say that he didn’t love Am Yisroel because he loved Am Yisroel very much. His greatness was his love for Am Yisroel, and his tremendous Torah knowledge which he used to help Am Yisroel. He definitely was a man Leshem Shomayim, even though he was the leader of a political party. I just beg those who are his followers to emulate him and not start fighting over politics. I beg those that followed him when he was alive to keep his truth and guard it and don’t get into clashes with each other which will create a tremendous Chillul Hashem. Unfortunately human nature is human nature and when we don’t have greatness to help us to control our worst side then everything can go out of control.
No, we must not care what others do. Each one of us has to take ourselves in hand and search only for the truth, live only by the truth and whoever wants to live by the truth Hashem will guide them to the Emes.
We must all, Ashkenazi and Sephardi Charaidi and Chiloni realize our tremendous loss today and that this is the beginning of a new phase, a new time, a new hope. The prophecy has come true that the generation before Moshiach will be orphans, and will not have the greatness of the great Rabbonim to guide us. We've seen clearly with our own eyes that when Harav Ovadya exited this world Hashem put us into a new situation which was foretold .We should be encouraged and know that means that Moshiach is definitely soon to be revealed. It cannot be otherwise.
9 Marcheshvan 5774
Computer Glitch Blamed For Nationwide EBT System Shutdown On Saturday
BOSTON (CBS/AP) - People in Ohio, Michigan and 15 other states found themselves unable to use their food stamp debit-style cards on Saturday, after a routine test of backup systems by vendor Xerox Corp. resulted in a system failure.
At about 9 a.m. Saturday, reports from across the country began pouring in that customers’ EBT cards were not working in stores.
At 2 p.m., an EBT customer service representative told CBS Boston that the system was currently down for a computer system upgrade.
Xerox spokeswoman Jennifer Wasmer released further details later in the afternoon in an emailed statement.
“While the electronic benefits system is now up and running, beneficiaries in the 17 affected states continue to experience connectivity issues to access their benefits. Technical staff is addressing the issue and expect the system to be restored soon,” Wasmer said. “Beneficiaries requiring access to their benefits can work with their local retailers who can activate an emergency voucher system where available. We appreciate our clients’ patience while we work through this outage as quickly as possible.”
Wasmer said the affected states also included Alabama, California, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.
U.S. Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Courtney Rowe said the outage is not related to the government shutdown.
Shoppers left carts of groceries behind at a packed Market Basket grocery store in Biddeford, Maine, because they couldn’t get their benefits,....
Food Stamp Temporary Stimulus Boost Ends
A temporary increase in food stamps expires Oct. 31, meaning for millions of Americans, the benefits that help put food on the table won't stretch as far as they have for the past four years.
'De-Americanised' world needed after US shutdown: China media
Beijing (AFP) - While US politicians grapple with how to reopen their shuttered government and avoid a potentially disastrous default on their debt, the world should consider 'de-Americanising', a commentary on China's official news agency said Sunday.
"As US politicians of both political parties (fail to find a) viable deal to bring normality to the body politic they brag about, it is perhaps a good time for the befuddled world to start considering building a de-Americanised world," the commentary on state news agency Xinhua said.
In a lengthy polemic against American hegemony since World War two, it added: "Such alarming days when the destinies of others are in the hands of a hypocritical nation have to be terminated.
"A new world order should be put in place, according to which all nations, big or small, poor or rich, can have their key interests respected and protected on an equal footing."
World top bankers warn of dire consequences if U.S. defaults
9 Marcheshvan 5773
Beginning of September 2013...
Nuclear warheads reportedly moved from Texas to South Carolina
A high level source has confirmed a secret US nuclear warhead transfer is underway to the East Coast from Dyess Air Force Base, home of 7th Bomb Wing located just outside Abilene, Texas.
The move of the nuclear warheads to South Carolina is reported to be a secret transfer without paper trail.
“Dyess is beginning to move out nuclear war heads today. I got a tap from DERMO earlier. He said it was the first time they have been even acknowledged since being put there in the 80′s. No signature was required for transfer… There was no directive. He said that Dyess Commander was on site to give authority to release. No one knew where they were going really, but the truck driver said to take them to South Carolina and another pick up will take them from there.”
At the same time...
Senator Lindsey Graham warns of NUKE ATTACK on South Carolina without war in Syria
Now...
Michael Carey, Air Force General In Charge Of Nuclear Missiles, To Be Fired Over 'Loss Of Trust'
The Air Force said Friday it fired the two-star general in charge of its nuclear missiles in response to an investigation into alleged personal misbehavior. It was the second sacking this week of a senior commander of nuclear forces.
The decision was made by Lt. Gen. James Kowalski, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command. Kowalski is in charge of all Air Force nuclear weapons, including bombers. On Wednesday, the second-in-command at U.S. Strategic Command, Vice Adm. Tim Giardina, was relieved of command....
...Kowalski has selected the vice commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, Maj. Gen. Jack Weinstein, to temporarily replace Carey as head of 20th Air Force.
And although his name does not appear on the list of Jewish Generals and Admirals in America's Military, with a name like Weinstein, the antisemites won't care. In fact, it's already started.
7 Marcheshvan 5774
Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Parashat Lech Lecha - Abraham and Jewish greatness - Rabbi Meir Kahane
Hashem said to Abram, "Go for yourself from your land, from your relatives, and from your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation; I will bless you, and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and all the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you." (Gen. 12:1-3)
After Adam sinned and G-d saw that it was impossible to achieve by natural processes a state in which all of mankind would be good, He decided to create a single emissary, one nation which would be anointed as G-d's Messiah on earth, a light unto the nations to teach them G-d's ways. This Messiah, this chosen people, was Israel. Israel were called "Adam" because it was they who were to continue the mission of Adam, who was created for this purpose yet failed. For two thousand years, G-d searched for the man who would undertake Adam's mission but execute it differently, who would fashion a nation - from his seed - which would be G-d's elect, a holy nation that would sanctify itself and thereby influence the world to accept the yoke of Heaven.
G-d waited two thousand years, searching the world over to find one person who would be worthy to have this nation emerge from him. Yet, He did not find him until he enhanced the intellect and understanding of our forefather Abraham, making him ready for this mission if he would only use that understanding for self-sacrifice. This is the intent of Bereshit Rabbah 30:8, which stated that Abraham "was ready to direct the whole world in repentance." Clearly, greatness cannot emerge from lowliness, and G-d perfects the spirits of certain beings for greatness. Yet, if they do not use this Divine gift, it goes to waste. As our sages said (Esther Rabbah, 6:3), "Noach was ready to recognize his Maker", yet he did not sacrifice himself for this. Abraham's intellectual improvement came about through his being from a family that was close to the monarchy and to priests of idolatry. It is obvious that this was so, for they certainly would not have allowed just anyone to fashion and sell idols as they did with Terach [his father]. Since Abraham was in this position, he had the opportunity to learn and ponder. The same goes for Moses. G-d arranged for Moses to grow up with Pharaoh so that he would be surrounded by royalty and greatness. All the same, whoever is unready for self-sacrifice forfeits G-d's improvement.Nedarim 32a teaches, "When Abraham was three, he recognized his Creator, as it says, 'It is because ["ekev" in Hebrew] Abraham obeyed My voice [and kept My charge, My commandments, My decrees and My laws]'" (Gen. 26:5). Abraham lived 175 years, and "ekev" has the numerical value of 172. It is thus interpreted that out of his 175 years, he kept G-d's charge for 172 - "ekev" - years, i.e. all but the first three. Rambam explains (Hilchot Avodah Zarah 1:3): Weaned, but still a toddler, Abraham's thoughts began to soar. Day and night this great spirit would ask himself how our world could function without a master. He wondered who was directing it, for it could not possibly direct itself. No one had taught him or informed him of anything. He was immersed in Ur Kasdim among foolish idolaters, his father and mother and his whole nation, and he worshipped with them. Gradually his understanding grew until he grasped the truth through apt perceptions. He knew that there was just one G-d and that He conducts the world and created everything, and that in all the universe there is no G-d but Him. He knew that the whole world had erred, and that their error was due to their having worshipped the stars and images until they lost the truth.
Abraham's knowing his Maker began with his understanding as a small boy that idols are meaningless. Terach made and sold them, and the boy certainly saw how they were made and understood that something man made cannot cannot possibly be man's master. Our sages said (Bereshit Rabbah, 38:13). "R. Chiya, grandson of R. Ada of Jaffa, said: Terach was an idol worshiper. One time he went out and left Abraham to sell idols for him. When a customer came in to make a purchase, Abraham would ask how old he was, and he would reply that he was fifty or sixty. Abraham would then say, woe to the sixty-year old who wishes to worship something one day old. The customer would be embarrassed and leave. One time a woman came, carrying a plate of fine flour, and said, take this and place it before the idols. Abraham took a staff and broke all the idols, placing the staff in the hands of the largest idol. When his father returned, he asked Abraham who had done this, and Abraham responded: I cannot lie to you. A woman came with a plate of fine flour and told me to place it before the idols. I did so and they all began arguing over which one would eat first. Then that large one took the staff and smashed the others. Terach then said: Why are you mocking me? Do they have minds? Abraham responded, can your ears not hear what your mouth is saying? Terach took him and handed him over to Nimrod. Nimrod said to him, let us worship fire, and Abraham replied , let us worship water which douses fire. Nimrod said, then let us worship water, and Abraham replied, if so , then let us worship the clouds which hold the water. Nimrod said, let us worship the clouds. Abraham replied, let us worship the wind which disperses the clouds. Nimrod said, let us worship the wind. Abraham replied, let us worship man, who is not moved by the wind. Nimrod said, this is all just talk. I only bow down to fire. Now I shall throw you into it, and let the G-d that you bow down to come and save you."
Thus, once Abraham's belief was complete, he proceeded to risk his life for the Oneness of G-d, treating idolatry with contempt. First, he did so with his father's idols, and then he went out and chastised the public. Abraham completed his spiritual development by not retreating or denying his faith, instead sanctifying the name Heaven (see Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, Ch. 26, where it says that before he was thrown into the fiery furnace,he also sat in prison: "His second trial was his being imprisoned for ten years, three in Cutha and seven in Kardu.") This is how Abraham grew to greatness. G-d searched for someone fit to inaugurate the era of Torah, someone from whom the Chosen People could emerge and become G-d's anointed emissary to disseminate the true Jewish idea throughout the world. Such a person had to be unique, someone who would find the truth himself and be ready to risk his life for it without and prophecy or revelation by G-d until after he had passed his test. The true believer is known solely for his complete bitachon, his readiness to sacrifice his life for Kiddush Hashem. Our sages said (Shir HaShirim Rabbah, 1:13): "My beloved is to me a bundle of myrrh" (Song of Songs 1:13): R. Azariah, in the name of R. Yehudah, interpreted this verse as dealing with Abraham: Just as his myrrh heads the list of spices [Ex. 30:23, for the sacred anointment], so is Abraham at the head of all saints. Just as this myrrh gives off no scent without fire, so were Abraham's deeds unknown until he was thrown into a fiery furnace.In other words, there was no proof of the genuineness of Abraham's faith until he was ready to sacrifice himself for Kiddush Hashem, trusting not that he would be saved, but in the truth of G-d's existence and in His ultimate victory. Having bitachon does not mean trusting that if one does a specific act he will be saved or that G-d will give him what he wants. When Abraham was ready to fall into a fiery furnace, he was not certain he would be saved, yet he was still ready to do it for the sake of Kiddush Hashem. He was certain of G-d's existence. Precisely his brother, Haran, who linked his trust in G-d to that G-d would perform a miracle for him, was killed. As our sages say (Bereshit Rabbah, 38:13): Haran was there, and he had conflicting thoughts. He said, "Either way! If Abraham wins, I will say that I am with Abraham, and if Nimrod wins, I will say that I am with Nimrod." When Abraham entered the fiery furnace and was saved, they asked Haran, "Whose side are you on?" and he answered that he was with Abraham. They took him and threw him into the fire, and his innards burned up... He died in sight of Terach his father.
We see that G-d does not perform miracles for those who rely on them. That is not bitachon at all but knowledge that one will be saved. Bitachon comes into play precisely where there is danger, when a person does not know whether he will be saved, yet trusts in G-d anyway, championing Divine truth destined to win out. This self-sacrifice is the pinnacle of bitachon, as stated, and from it stems Kiddush Hashem. Kiddush Hashem is a trait that nothing else transcends; and because Abraham was ready to sanctify G-d's name even at the cost of his life, he merited to be chosen as G-d's select son, from whom would emerge lofty, holy seed.
The Jewish people were conceived through the self-sacrifice of their founder, our forefather Abraham, and only through such self-sacrifice, the climax of accepting the yoke of Heaven, was it possible to anoint the messenger nation of G-d. The Jews are unique because they possess the truth and are, moreover, obligated to preserve in their self-sacrifice on its behalf, even if standing alone like Abraham, the first Jew.
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[Source: Compiled by Tzipora Liron-Puinner from "The Jewish Idea" of Rabbi Meir Kahane HY"D]
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