12 Elul 5774
Motzaei"sh Parshat Ki Teitzei
This 2014 video makes clear that the HaYovel Ministry is not working in the Jewish vineyards of the Shomron out of a purely altruistic desire to assist Jewish farmers.
Find more videos like this on Jewish Israel
If you are in Israel, please make plans to attend the conference against missionary infiltration of the Shomron hosting many prominent rabbanim.
06 September 2014
05 September 2014
Parshat Ki Teitzei 5774
10 Elul 5774
Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Parashat Ki Teitzei: Wars, past and future
by Daniel Pinner
Dedicated to the memory of Stanley (Zevul Moshe) Rose z”l, a devout Jew, a gentle soul, and a true Mensch,who passed away shortly before Shabbat, 3rd Ellul (29thAugust), the third day of blowing the Shofar to herald the approaching Rosh Hashanah. “One who lives in the Land of Israel, and who dies on Erev Shabbat, and is buried before nightfall at the season when the Shofar is blown, will experience no punishment in the grave” (Tractate Semachot, Sefer Hibbut Hakever1:8). Yehi zichro baruch.
“Ki teitzei le-milchamah al oy’vecha…” – “When you go out to war against your enemies and Hashem your God will deliver them into your hand and you will take from them captives…”, begins our parashah (Deuteronomy 21:10).
The Ohr ha-Chayim (Rabbi Chayim ben Atar, Morocco and Israel, 1696-1743), in his commentary on this first verse in Parashat Ki Teitzei, writes that this going out to war is “to avenge yourselves on your enemies, who are the enemies of Hashem, in accordance with ‘do I not hate those who hate You, O Hashem? And against those who rebel against You I strive? I hate them with the utmost hatred, they have become my enemies’ (Psalms 139:21-22). This is the reason for your going out to war, and if you do this, then ‘Hashem your God will deliver them into your hand and you will take from them captives’. And from this you can learn that if you go out to war for any reason other than this, then there is no guarantee that Hashem will deliver them into your hands.”
The opening verse of Parashat Ki Teitzei is the second of only two times that the phrase “when you go out to war against your enemies…” occurs in the Tanach. The first occurrence is in last week’s parashah, Shoftim: “When you go out to war against your enemies, and you will see horse and chariot, a nation greater than you – you shall not fear them, because Hashem your God, who brings you up from the land of Egypt, is with you” (20:1).
And then the Torah devotes the rest of the chapter to various rules of warfare – how the Kohen (Priest) anointed to lead the nation in battle addresses the soldiers, who among the nation is exempt from military service, how and under what circumstances to engage the enemy in battle, how to relate to enemy civilians and loot, the differences between the seven Canaanite nations and other enemy nations, and finally the prohibition on chopping down fruit-bearing trees when besieging an enemy city.
On the phrase “when you go out to war against your enemies…”, the Midrash picks up on the seemingly irrelevant words “...against your enemies…”, and asks: “What do the words ‘...against your enemies…’ mean? [i.e., would one then go to war against his friends? ‘When you go out to war’ is by definition ‘against your enemies’.] God said: Go out against them as enemies! Just as they have no mercy on you, so too you shall have no mercy on them! See what they say: ‘Come, let us cut them off as a nation, so that the name of Israel will never again be remembered’ (Psalms 83:5) – the name of Israel, of whom it is said ‘Blessed be Hashem, the God of Israel’ (Psalms 106:48). Therefore go out against them as enemies! Israel said: Sovereign of the Universe! How long will they continue to stand against us? – as it says, ‘God, wanton sinners have risen against me, and a gang of tyrants seek my life’ (Psalms 86:14). [God] said to them: And not against you alone have they risen but also against Me, as it says ‘the kings of the earth and the princes stand firm, conspiring against Hashem and against His anointed’ (Psalms 2:2). And therefore it is written, ‘When you go out to war against your enemies’” (Tanhuma, Shoftim 15).
The Torah then switches to a new topic – a human corpse which is discovered in the open countryside, clearly murdered, but it is not known who the murderer was, and the procedure that the elders of the nearest town are enjoined to follow. With this, Parashat Shoftim closes.
And following this, 30 verses after the Torah had first introduced the rules of warfare with the words “when you go out to war against your enemies…”, it again uses the same words when introducing the subject of a beautiful woman of the enemy population whom a Jewish soldier desires.
The Ba’al ha-Turim (Rabbi Ya’akov ben Asher, Germany and Spain, c.1275-1343) notes here that the previous parashah concludes with the words “…you shall do that which is upright in Hashem’s eyes” (Deuteronomy 21:9), and immediately continues with the words “when you go out to war against your enemies…”. The Ba’al ha-Turim comments on this juxtaposition, “because only tzaddikim go out to war”.
To understand this comment of the Ba’al ha-Turim’s, we return to Parashat Shoftim and the officers’ speech listing those among the nation who are exempt from military service (Deuteronomy 20:5-7): anyone who has built a new house and not yet inaugurated it, or planted a new vineyard and not yet redeemed it, or betrothed a woman and not yet married her.
And then there is a fourth category: “Who is the man who is fearful and faint-hearted? – Let him go and return to his house, so that he will not melt his brethren’s heart like his own heart” (v. 8).
This is sound military strategy: one coward or defeatist in a military unit can easily spread cowardice and defeatism among the ranks.
The Ibn Ezra (Rabbi Avraham Ibn Ezra, Spain, Morocco, England, Israel, and France, 1092-1167) has an interesting twist: “‘Fearful’ of hitting another person, and ‘faint-hearted’ when suffering the blows of the other person”. That is to say, according to the Ibn Ezra, the person who is afraid of hitting the enemy (out of misplaced mercy, perhaps?) has no place in the military ranks. Better that he go home than remain in the battlefield and demoralise the rest of his unit.
A modern military tactical and strategic genius, the British Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery (who was instrumental in defeating the Nazis in World War II), famously said that morale is “the single greatest factor in war”. And Montgomery also observed that “the best way to achieve a high morale in wartime is by success in battle”.
Another British military commander who commanded the troops in two world wars, Field Marshal Viscount William Slim, observed that “high morale means that every individual in a group will work – or fight – and, if needed, will give his last ounce of effort in its service”.
And some 2,400 years ago, the Greek historian, soldier, and philosopher Xenophon (a student of Socrates) expressed the same idea: “Not numbers or strength bring victory in war; but whichever army goes into battle stronger in soul, their enemies cannot withstand them”.
“If someone will tell you that there is wisdom among the nations – then believe it” (Eichah Rabbah 2:13).
The Mishnah (Sotah 8:5) cites the opinions of Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yossi the Galilean regarding the phrase “…the man who is fearful and faint-hearted”. Rabbi Akiva understands it according to its simple, literal meaning: “that he is unable to stand in the battle-ranks and see drawn swords”.
By contrast, “Rabbi Yossi the Galilean says: ‘The man who is fearful and faint-hearted’ is the one who is afraid of the sins he has committed, which is why the Torah made him contingent upon all the others, so he can return because of them”.
That is to say, instead of admitting that he is afraid (either afraid of war or afraid of being killed because of his sins), he can leave honourably together with the other soldiers who built a new house and did not yet inaugurate it, or planted a new vineyard and did not yet redeem it, or betrothed a woman and did not yet marry her.
This is sound psychology: after all, a man who is afraid of war might well also be afraid of admitting in public that he is afraid or that he is a sinner, and might out of cowardice remain with the ranks, only to lose nerve once the battle begins and thereby demoralise the other troops. So the Torah allows him this way out without embarrassing himself.
As a consequence, the soldiers who remained on the front lines were (ideally at least) the ones who were unblemished by sin. Hence the Ba’al ha-Turim’s remark that “only tzaddikim go out to war”.
The Midrash Lekach Tov begins its exposition on Parashat Ki Teitzei: “Said Rabbi Tuviyahu, son of Rabbi Eliezer: There is great rejoicing in the world when it is well with the tzaddikim, when they sit and learn Torah, which is the work of Heaven; and thus Deborah and Barak said, ‘My heart is for the lawgivers of Israel, who are devoted to the nation; bless Hashem’ (Judges 5:9). ‘And at the destruction of evil people there is joyous song’ (Proverbs 11:10) – these are the enemies of Israel who are called ‘evil’”.
The Midrash then cites several examples of evil enemies of Israel – Pharaoh, who admitted that “Hashem is the Righteous One and I and my nation are the evil ones” (Exodus 9:27); Korach and his band, who were killed when the earth swallowed them; Sisera, the commander of the army of the Canaanite King Jabin, who oppressed Israel for 20 years until Deborah and Barak defeated and killed him (Judges 4-5); King Ahab, the wicked and idolatrous king of Israel who reigned for 22 years, and who was killed in battle against Aram by a stray arrow (1 Kings 16:28-22:40); and Haman, his wife Zeresh, and their ten sons, who were hanged for their plot to exterminate all the Jews in the Persian Empire.
What is the connexion between this Midrash and the beginning of Parashat Ki Teitzei?
The obvious answer is that when Israel goes out to war against their enemies, who are the enemies of God, with His guarantee that so long as we go out to war for the correct motives, then inevitably the enemies of Israel and of God will be destroyed, which is always a reason for rejoicing.
The Ba’al ha-Turim notes that the final word of the previous parashah is “Hashem” (“you shall remove the innocent blood from your midst when you do what is right in the eyes of Hashem” – Deuteronomy 21:9), and infers from this juxtaposition “that Hashem goes out with you, in accordance with ‘Hashem will go out and will wage war against those nations’ (Zechariah 14:3)”.
The Ba’al ha-Turim quotes here from one of the last prophecies of Zechariah, who was one of the last prophets ever to arise, a man whose lifetime spanned the final years of the First Temple and the first years of the Second Temple. This is a prophecy of the war of Gog and Magog: “Behold! – a day is coming for Hashem, when your spoils will be divided in your midst. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem for the war; the City will be captured, the houses will be pillaged, and the women will be violated; and half the City will go out to exile, but the rest of the nation will not be cut off from the City. Then Hashem will go out and will wage war against those nations, as He waged war on the day of battle” (Zechariah 14:1-3).
Rashi explains “a day is coming for Hashem” to mean “a day that is beloved by Hashem”, and the Radak (Rabbi David Kimchi, France, c.1160-c.1235) explains it to mean that “that day will be the time when Hashem’s glory and might will be seen; that is the time when Gog and Magog will come upon the Land of Israel, as Ezekiel the Prophet prophesied”.
And Rashi and the Ibn Ezra explain “the day of battle” to mean the day that He destroyed the Egyptians at the Red Sea.
So the Ba’al ha-Turim implicitly connects the opening verse of Parashat Ki Teitzei with the final war, the war of Gog and Magog, the war which is prophesied to begin with a grand international coalition attacking Israel (sounds realistic?), and which, in its opening stages, will yield the nations an apparent victory as they conquer part of Israel.
But then, God Himself will go out to fight for Israel against His enemies and ours; and then, as our parashah promises, “Hashem your God will deliver them into your hand”.
Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Parashat Ki Teitzei: Wars, past and future
by Daniel Pinner
Dedicated to the memory of Stanley (Zevul Moshe) Rose z”l, a devout Jew, a gentle soul, and a true Mensch,who passed away shortly before Shabbat, 3rd Ellul (29thAugust), the third day of blowing the Shofar to herald the approaching Rosh Hashanah. “One who lives in the Land of Israel, and who dies on Erev Shabbat, and is buried before nightfall at the season when the Shofar is blown, will experience no punishment in the grave” (Tractate Semachot, Sefer Hibbut Hakever1:8). Yehi zichro baruch.
“Ki teitzei le-milchamah al oy’vecha…” – “When you go out to war against your enemies and Hashem your God will deliver them into your hand and you will take from them captives…”, begins our parashah (Deuteronomy 21:10).
The Ohr ha-Chayim (Rabbi Chayim ben Atar, Morocco and Israel, 1696-1743), in his commentary on this first verse in Parashat Ki Teitzei, writes that this going out to war is “to avenge yourselves on your enemies, who are the enemies of Hashem, in accordance with ‘do I not hate those who hate You, O Hashem? And against those who rebel against You I strive? I hate them with the utmost hatred, they have become my enemies’ (Psalms 139:21-22). This is the reason for your going out to war, and if you do this, then ‘Hashem your God will deliver them into your hand and you will take from them captives’. And from this you can learn that if you go out to war for any reason other than this, then there is no guarantee that Hashem will deliver them into your hands.”
The opening verse of Parashat Ki Teitzei is the second of only two times that the phrase “when you go out to war against your enemies…” occurs in the Tanach. The first occurrence is in last week’s parashah, Shoftim: “When you go out to war against your enemies, and you will see horse and chariot, a nation greater than you – you shall not fear them, because Hashem your God, who brings you up from the land of Egypt, is with you” (20:1).
And then the Torah devotes the rest of the chapter to various rules of warfare – how the Kohen (Priest) anointed to lead the nation in battle addresses the soldiers, who among the nation is exempt from military service, how and under what circumstances to engage the enemy in battle, how to relate to enemy civilians and loot, the differences between the seven Canaanite nations and other enemy nations, and finally the prohibition on chopping down fruit-bearing trees when besieging an enemy city.
On the phrase “when you go out to war against your enemies…”, the Midrash picks up on the seemingly irrelevant words “...against your enemies…”, and asks: “What do the words ‘...against your enemies…’ mean? [i.e., would one then go to war against his friends? ‘When you go out to war’ is by definition ‘against your enemies’.] God said: Go out against them as enemies! Just as they have no mercy on you, so too you shall have no mercy on them! See what they say: ‘Come, let us cut them off as a nation, so that the name of Israel will never again be remembered’ (Psalms 83:5) – the name of Israel, of whom it is said ‘Blessed be Hashem, the God of Israel’ (Psalms 106:48). Therefore go out against them as enemies! Israel said: Sovereign of the Universe! How long will they continue to stand against us? – as it says, ‘God, wanton sinners have risen against me, and a gang of tyrants seek my life’ (Psalms 86:14). [God] said to them: And not against you alone have they risen but also against Me, as it says ‘the kings of the earth and the princes stand firm, conspiring against Hashem and against His anointed’ (Psalms 2:2). And therefore it is written, ‘When you go out to war against your enemies’” (Tanhuma, Shoftim 15).
The Torah then switches to a new topic – a human corpse which is discovered in the open countryside, clearly murdered, but it is not known who the murderer was, and the procedure that the elders of the nearest town are enjoined to follow. With this, Parashat Shoftim closes.
And following this, 30 verses after the Torah had first introduced the rules of warfare with the words “when you go out to war against your enemies…”, it again uses the same words when introducing the subject of a beautiful woman of the enemy population whom a Jewish soldier desires.
The Ba’al ha-Turim (Rabbi Ya’akov ben Asher, Germany and Spain, c.1275-1343) notes here that the previous parashah concludes with the words “…you shall do that which is upright in Hashem’s eyes” (Deuteronomy 21:9), and immediately continues with the words “when you go out to war against your enemies…”. The Ba’al ha-Turim comments on this juxtaposition, “because only tzaddikim go out to war”.
To understand this comment of the Ba’al ha-Turim’s, we return to Parashat Shoftim and the officers’ speech listing those among the nation who are exempt from military service (Deuteronomy 20:5-7): anyone who has built a new house and not yet inaugurated it, or planted a new vineyard and not yet redeemed it, or betrothed a woman and not yet married her.
And then there is a fourth category: “Who is the man who is fearful and faint-hearted? – Let him go and return to his house, so that he will not melt his brethren’s heart like his own heart” (v. 8).
This is sound military strategy: one coward or defeatist in a military unit can easily spread cowardice and defeatism among the ranks.
The Ibn Ezra (Rabbi Avraham Ibn Ezra, Spain, Morocco, England, Israel, and France, 1092-1167) has an interesting twist: “‘Fearful’ of hitting another person, and ‘faint-hearted’ when suffering the blows of the other person”. That is to say, according to the Ibn Ezra, the person who is afraid of hitting the enemy (out of misplaced mercy, perhaps?) has no place in the military ranks. Better that he go home than remain in the battlefield and demoralise the rest of his unit.
A modern military tactical and strategic genius, the British Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery (who was instrumental in defeating the Nazis in World War II), famously said that morale is “the single greatest factor in war”. And Montgomery also observed that “the best way to achieve a high morale in wartime is by success in battle”.
Another British military commander who commanded the troops in two world wars, Field Marshal Viscount William Slim, observed that “high morale means that every individual in a group will work – or fight – and, if needed, will give his last ounce of effort in its service”.
And some 2,400 years ago, the Greek historian, soldier, and philosopher Xenophon (a student of Socrates) expressed the same idea: “Not numbers or strength bring victory in war; but whichever army goes into battle stronger in soul, their enemies cannot withstand them”.
“If someone will tell you that there is wisdom among the nations – then believe it” (Eichah Rabbah 2:13).
The Mishnah (Sotah 8:5) cites the opinions of Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yossi the Galilean regarding the phrase “…the man who is fearful and faint-hearted”. Rabbi Akiva understands it according to its simple, literal meaning: “that he is unable to stand in the battle-ranks and see drawn swords”.
By contrast, “Rabbi Yossi the Galilean says: ‘The man who is fearful and faint-hearted’ is the one who is afraid of the sins he has committed, which is why the Torah made him contingent upon all the others, so he can return because of them”.
That is to say, instead of admitting that he is afraid (either afraid of war or afraid of being killed because of his sins), he can leave honourably together with the other soldiers who built a new house and did not yet inaugurate it, or planted a new vineyard and did not yet redeem it, or betrothed a woman and did not yet marry her.
This is sound psychology: after all, a man who is afraid of war might well also be afraid of admitting in public that he is afraid or that he is a sinner, and might out of cowardice remain with the ranks, only to lose nerve once the battle begins and thereby demoralise the other troops. So the Torah allows him this way out without embarrassing himself.
As a consequence, the soldiers who remained on the front lines were (ideally at least) the ones who were unblemished by sin. Hence the Ba’al ha-Turim’s remark that “only tzaddikim go out to war”.
The Midrash Lekach Tov begins its exposition on Parashat Ki Teitzei: “Said Rabbi Tuviyahu, son of Rabbi Eliezer: There is great rejoicing in the world when it is well with the tzaddikim, when they sit and learn Torah, which is the work of Heaven; and thus Deborah and Barak said, ‘My heart is for the lawgivers of Israel, who are devoted to the nation; bless Hashem’ (Judges 5:9). ‘And at the destruction of evil people there is joyous song’ (Proverbs 11:10) – these are the enemies of Israel who are called ‘evil’”.
The Midrash then cites several examples of evil enemies of Israel – Pharaoh, who admitted that “Hashem is the Righteous One and I and my nation are the evil ones” (Exodus 9:27); Korach and his band, who were killed when the earth swallowed them; Sisera, the commander of the army of the Canaanite King Jabin, who oppressed Israel for 20 years until Deborah and Barak defeated and killed him (Judges 4-5); King Ahab, the wicked and idolatrous king of Israel who reigned for 22 years, and who was killed in battle against Aram by a stray arrow (1 Kings 16:28-22:40); and Haman, his wife Zeresh, and their ten sons, who were hanged for their plot to exterminate all the Jews in the Persian Empire.
What is the connexion between this Midrash and the beginning of Parashat Ki Teitzei?
The obvious answer is that when Israel goes out to war against their enemies, who are the enemies of God, with His guarantee that so long as we go out to war for the correct motives, then inevitably the enemies of Israel and of God will be destroyed, which is always a reason for rejoicing.
The Ba’al ha-Turim notes that the final word of the previous parashah is “Hashem” (“you shall remove the innocent blood from your midst when you do what is right in the eyes of Hashem” – Deuteronomy 21:9), and infers from this juxtaposition “that Hashem goes out with you, in accordance with ‘Hashem will go out and will wage war against those nations’ (Zechariah 14:3)”.
The Ba’al ha-Turim quotes here from one of the last prophecies of Zechariah, who was one of the last prophets ever to arise, a man whose lifetime spanned the final years of the First Temple and the first years of the Second Temple. This is a prophecy of the war of Gog and Magog: “Behold! – a day is coming for Hashem, when your spoils will be divided in your midst. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem for the war; the City will be captured, the houses will be pillaged, and the women will be violated; and half the City will go out to exile, but the rest of the nation will not be cut off from the City. Then Hashem will go out and will wage war against those nations, as He waged war on the day of battle” (Zechariah 14:1-3).
Rashi explains “a day is coming for Hashem” to mean “a day that is beloved by Hashem”, and the Radak (Rabbi David Kimchi, France, c.1160-c.1235) explains it to mean that “that day will be the time when Hashem’s glory and might will be seen; that is the time when Gog and Magog will come upon the Land of Israel, as Ezekiel the Prophet prophesied”.
And Rashi and the Ibn Ezra explain “the day of battle” to mean the day that He destroyed the Egyptians at the Red Sea.
So the Ba’al ha-Turim implicitly connects the opening verse of Parashat Ki Teitzei with the final war, the war of Gog and Magog, the war which is prophesied to begin with a grand international coalition attacking Israel (sounds realistic?), and which, in its opening stages, will yield the nations an apparent victory as they conquer part of Israel.
But then, God Himself will go out to fight for Israel against His enemies and ours; and then, as our parashah promises, “Hashem your God will deliver them into your hand”.
04 September 2014
Zionism as Religion
10 Elul 5774
An IDF Muslim poster boy. Can you believe it? And what about that strange statement - "Zionism is more than a religion." Where did that come from? IS Zionism a religion?
More coming on this subject soon, iy"H.
Meanwhile, the new world religion of the globalists is getting a push forward...
Israel's Peres pitches "UN of Religions" to pope
Retired Israeli President Shimon Peres has proposed a new global peace initiative to Pope Francis: A "United Nations of Religions," given that most wars today have religious, not nationalistic, undercurrents.
The Vatican said Peres pitched the initiative during a 45-minute audience Thursday in the Apostolic Palace. The two men last met when Francis invited the then-Israeli president and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to pray for peace together in the Vatican gardens on June 8.
An IDF Muslim poster boy. Can you believe it? And what about that strange statement - "Zionism is more than a religion." Where did that come from? IS Zionism a religion?
More coming on this subject soon, iy"H.
Meanwhile, the new world religion of the globalists is getting a push forward...
Israel's Peres pitches "UN of Religions" to pope
Retired Israeli President Shimon Peres has proposed a new global peace initiative to Pope Francis: A "United Nations of Religions," given that most wars today have religious, not nationalistic, undercurrents.
The Vatican said Peres pitched the initiative during a 45-minute audience Thursday in the Apostolic Palace. The two men last met when Francis invited the then-Israeli president and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to pray for peace together in the Vatican gardens on June 8.
03 September 2014
Idol Worship in the Holy Land
8 Elul 5774
People ask "Why concentrate on this small group (HaYovel) when there are greater numbers and concentrations of idolatrous gentiles living in Israel?" Yes, there are tens of thousands of African infiltrators. There are thousands of Filipino, Thai, Korean, Chinese (and other) foreign workers. There are tens of thousands of Xians who work for various missionary organizations and churches. There are thousands of olim who claim to be Jews, but practice Xianity and there are reportedly hundreds of thousands of Xian gentiles who came during the massive Russian aliyah, along with the tens of thousands of Arab Xians.
The 'democratic' government of Israel is solely responsible for settling those people here and allowing them to have "freedom of worship." What makes this situation in the Shomron with the HaYovel group different is the following...
They are being assisted and empowered and even legitimized by supposedly religious Zionist Jewish settlers who present themselves as leaders in their communities.
Against the halachah and the simple meaning of the Torah, they are bringing these gentile xians into the midst of Jewish communities where they are performing idolatrous worship to a false god; seeking to build relationships with Jews and break down the barriers established to prevent the sharing of their gospel message; and seeking to establish a way to make "Xian aliyah" (God forbid) and remain on the land full-time, even to claiming a piece of the land for themselves and their own posterity.
We can't change Israeli government policy, but we hoped that through education and information, we might convince other religious Jews of the error of their ways and bring this atrocity to a halt before it costs Jewish lives in conversion, assimilation, intermarriage or Hashem's righteous anger.
There's no convincing the Israeli government. Its stated goal is to destroy Torah Judaism. We need Mashiach for that. But, we thought we could appeal to our fellow religious Zionist Jewish settlers on the basis of the Torah which we share in common. We had given these errant Jews the benefit of the doubt and assumed that they were just good-hearted people who did not fully understand the missionary mentality or theology or penchant for lying. We had hoped to close the door that other religious Jews had opened - we thought - by mistake. But, after years of appeals and every sort of proof imaginable, it must be concluded that lack of understanding is not the problem here.
See for yourself. The HaYovel volunteers freely admit that they are performing Avodah Zarah (worship of Yeshu) in this Holy Land.
There is still hope that an appeal to the residents of the affected yishuvim or an appeal to kashrut certification organizations or a general appeal to the religious Jewish public not to purchase wines made from the affected vineyards might still yield the desired results.
These efforts have been undertaken for several years by a small and dedicated group of sincere, observant Jews in Eretz Yisrael. They act purely leshem shamayim - for the sake of their fellow Jews, for the integrity of the Holy Torah and our Holy Land, and for the Honor of Hashem's Name. There is absolutely no financial gain, but a lot of ridicule, insult and threat.
Please note that Jewish Israel, which is always linked under "Resources" on the right side of this blog, acts as a database for all the information available on this subject. You can even contact them for someone to speak to a group if anyone would like to organize a meeting.
Meantime, please try to attend the conference in Ariel on September 10th if you can.
People ask "Why concentrate on this small group (HaYovel) when there are greater numbers and concentrations of idolatrous gentiles living in Israel?" Yes, there are tens of thousands of African infiltrators. There are thousands of Filipino, Thai, Korean, Chinese (and other) foreign workers. There are tens of thousands of Xians who work for various missionary organizations and churches. There are thousands of olim who claim to be Jews, but practice Xianity and there are reportedly hundreds of thousands of Xian gentiles who came during the massive Russian aliyah, along with the tens of thousands of Arab Xians.
The 'democratic' government of Israel is solely responsible for settling those people here and allowing them to have "freedom of worship." What makes this situation in the Shomron with the HaYovel group different is the following...
They are being assisted and empowered and even legitimized by supposedly religious Zionist Jewish settlers who present themselves as leaders in their communities.
Against the halachah and the simple meaning of the Torah, they are bringing these gentile xians into the midst of Jewish communities where they are performing idolatrous worship to a false god; seeking to build relationships with Jews and break down the barriers established to prevent the sharing of their gospel message; and seeking to establish a way to make "Xian aliyah" (God forbid) and remain on the land full-time, even to claiming a piece of the land for themselves and their own posterity.
We can't change Israeli government policy, but we hoped that through education and information, we might convince other religious Jews of the error of their ways and bring this atrocity to a halt before it costs Jewish lives in conversion, assimilation, intermarriage or Hashem's righteous anger.
There's no convincing the Israeli government. Its stated goal is to destroy Torah Judaism. We need Mashiach for that. But, we thought we could appeal to our fellow religious Zionist Jewish settlers on the basis of the Torah which we share in common. We had given these errant Jews the benefit of the doubt and assumed that they were just good-hearted people who did not fully understand the missionary mentality or theology or penchant for lying. We had hoped to close the door that other religious Jews had opened - we thought - by mistake. But, after years of appeals and every sort of proof imaginable, it must be concluded that lack of understanding is not the problem here.
See for yourself. The HaYovel volunteers freely admit that they are performing Avodah Zarah (worship of Yeshu) in this Holy Land.
There is still hope that an appeal to the residents of the affected yishuvim or an appeal to kashrut certification organizations or a general appeal to the religious Jewish public not to purchase wines made from the affected vineyards might still yield the desired results.
These efforts have been undertaken for several years by a small and dedicated group of sincere, observant Jews in Eretz Yisrael. They act purely leshem shamayim - for the sake of their fellow Jews, for the integrity of the Holy Torah and our Holy Land, and for the Honor of Hashem's Name. There is absolutely no financial gain, but a lot of ridicule, insult and threat.
Please note that Jewish Israel, which is always linked under "Resources" on the right side of this blog, acts as a database for all the information available on this subject. You can even contact them for someone to speak to a group if anyone would like to organize a meeting.
Meantime, please try to attend the conference in Ariel on September 10th if you can.
Jews Open the Door to Xian Infiltration of Shomron Communities
8 Elul 5774
UPDATE: Here is the Sequel to Donny Fuch's article Esau Rising: The War Against The Jewish Soul.
It's called Esau Rising II. You are invited to join the discussion.
_______________________
6 Elul 5774
You may recall that I first addressed the issue of Tommy Waller's HaYovel and its Xian infiltration into the Jewish communities of the Shomron in August of 2009 - How much trouble can be made by "unfaithful men?" (For the many follow-up articles just search the name Waller on this blog or at Esav Exposed.)
Fellow blogger Donny Fuchs published his own expose on this issue in the Jewish Press and it has erupted into a full-fledged war - one of those famous battles for hearts and minds that we frequently talk about here. If you have the time and sechel and inclination to join in, just work your way through the following links and contribute to the discussion in the comments.
Esau Rising: The War Against The Jewish Soul
Fuchs Descending
Standing With Those Who Stand With Israel
I understand another Fuchs article is in the works, so stay tuned.
Also, for those in Israel, a conference on this subject is planned for 7:30 pm on 10 September 2014 in the city of Ariel in the Shomron at the Eshel Shomron Hotel. Already, wicked Jews have contacted the hotel on behalf of their beloved Xian friends to threaten the hotel with cancellations and loss of revenue from their Xian patrons if this conference is not called off. Your support is really needed, now more than ever.
UPDATE: Here is the Sequel to Donny Fuch's article Esau Rising: The War Against The Jewish Soul.
It's called Esau Rising II. You are invited to join the discussion.
_______________________
6 Elul 5774
Fellow blogger Donny Fuchs published his own expose on this issue in the Jewish Press and it has erupted into a full-fledged war - one of those famous battles for hearts and minds that we frequently talk about here. If you have the time and sechel and inclination to join in, just work your way through the following links and contribute to the discussion in the comments.
Esau Rising: The War Against The Jewish Soul
Fuchs Descending
Standing With Those Who Stand With Israel
I understand another Fuchs article is in the works, so stay tuned.
Also, for those in Israel, a conference on this subject is planned for 7:30 pm on 10 September 2014 in the city of Ariel in the Shomron at the Eshel Shomron Hotel. Already, wicked Jews have contacted the hotel on behalf of their beloved Xian friends to threaten the hotel with cancellations and loss of revenue from their Xian patrons if this conference is not called off. Your support is really needed, now more than ever.
02 September 2014
"In a Generation That is All Innocent or All Guilty"
8 Elul 5774
From Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi's Facebook Page...
Chazal tell us that Moshiach will only come in a generation that is Kulo Zakkai or Kulo Chayav completely innocent and worthy, or completely guilty with not a morsel of good. Under these criteria it is hard to see Moshiach coming. "Completely good" sounds like a fantasy and not something we can imagine in today's world. Similarly we see so much good and so many wonderful people that it is equally incomprehensible to imagine a generation without a single good person. So what do Chazal mean?
Rav Elya Weintraub says that the Chofetz Chaim explains as follows. "All innocent" and "all guilty" does not mean that everyone is on the same side of the fence. It just means that everyone sits squarely on one side of the fence. In order for the Moshiach to come the world must be completely polarized. Everyone must choose where they belong, with Hashem or Chas V'Shalom the opposite.
Adam HaRishon was created perfectly good. The element of evil in the world was the snake who stood outside of Adam. Good and bad were separate and clearly defined. When Adam ate from the Eitz HaDaas the boundaries became murky, and good and bad became mixed together. Each person is good and bad at the same time. The face of evil and righteousness look the same to us and we can't tell who is who. We ourselves aren't really sure who we are. Sometimes we are good and sometimes less so. Moshiach won't come until the two sides are clearly divided and everyone knows where they belong, inside or outside. Moshiach's arrival will be the final showdown between good and evil.
People complain that our society is becoming polarized. The "middle ground" is disappearing. Clearly in a sense this is good news, and the best sign yet that Moshiach is on his way. Make sure you are standing on the right side of the fence. The most intriguing part of all is that when Moshiach does arrive, we may be pretty surprised to see who is on each side. The truth will be revealed and it will have nothing to do with our exterior appearance. Moshiach will peer deep within each person's heart and he can't be fooled!
From Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi's Facebook Page...
Chazal tell us that Moshiach will only come in a generation that is Kulo Zakkai or Kulo Chayav completely innocent and worthy, or completely guilty with not a morsel of good. Under these criteria it is hard to see Moshiach coming. "Completely good" sounds like a fantasy and not something we can imagine in today's world. Similarly we see so much good and so many wonderful people that it is equally incomprehensible to imagine a generation without a single good person. So what do Chazal mean?
Rav Elya Weintraub says that the Chofetz Chaim explains as follows. "All innocent" and "all guilty" does not mean that everyone is on the same side of the fence. It just means that everyone sits squarely on one side of the fence. In order for the Moshiach to come the world must be completely polarized. Everyone must choose where they belong, with Hashem or Chas V'Shalom the opposite.
Adam HaRishon was created perfectly good. The element of evil in the world was the snake who stood outside of Adam. Good and bad were separate and clearly defined. When Adam ate from the Eitz HaDaas the boundaries became murky, and good and bad became mixed together. Each person is good and bad at the same time. The face of evil and righteousness look the same to us and we can't tell who is who. We ourselves aren't really sure who we are. Sometimes we are good and sometimes less so. Moshiach won't come until the two sides are clearly divided and everyone knows where they belong, inside or outside. Moshiach's arrival will be the final showdown between good and evil.
People complain that our society is becoming polarized. The "middle ground" is disappearing. Clearly in a sense this is good news, and the best sign yet that Moshiach is on his way. Make sure you are standing on the right side of the fence. The most intriguing part of all is that when Moshiach does arrive, we may be pretty surprised to see who is on each side. The truth will be revealed and it will have nothing to do with our exterior appearance. Moshiach will peer deep within each person's heart and he can't be fooled!
Path to Intermarriage and Assimilation This Way
7 Elul 5774
Ask any Orthodox religious Jew if intermarriage or assimilation is allowed by Torah and I'll bet 100% would answer correctly - a resounding "NO!"*
But, when it comes to taking the path that leads to intermarriage and assimilation, at the end of which is waiting the shmad of the Jewish nation, many Orthodox religious Jews have decided that it's ok to go a little ways down that path a long as we control how far we go and stop just in time before the forbidden happens.
Any sane, logical, reasoning person who is interested in self-preservation needs no book or source or authority to tell him that if the end of the path is to be avoided, do not start down that path. That is the purpose of erecting "fences" around the Torah. But, these people are tearing down every fence and barrier and they're skating right on the edge.
Unfortunately for the Jewish nation, it appears that we are riddled to our core with insane, illogical and unreasonable people who insist on taking this risk and putting their neighbors at risk as well. Who can understand their motivation? Regardless of what it is, it is wrong, wrong, wrong and cannot be condoned. In fact, they must be opposed at every turn.
Because, you see the HaYovel volunteers are not just working in the vineyards. They've been invited to join in and participate in social and religious activities among the Jews of the Shomron:
HaYovel volunteers attend hachnasat sefer Torah in Itamar
HaYovel volunteers attend Sukkot celebration in Har Brachah
(One young member of their group was a featured speaker at the event)
HaYovel volunteers dance with the vineyard owner Avigdor Sharon
(Read his "love" letter to HaYovel. And yes, the practice of Avodah Zarah is still attractive and feels very good. That's what inspires people to engage in it.)
____________________________
As a follow-up to Xians Don't Change Their Spots, They Just Disguise Them, I'm including here further proof of the real agenda which was written as a comment to a different blog post.
********
#1
Artist in Christian Testimony International website lists the Waller Family with the following description of their ministry: "We are dedicated as a family to sharing the gospel of Yeshua (Jesus) by serving the people of Israel within the agricultural settlements and Kibbutzim. We believe that we are living in, what has been prophesied as, the end times. When the Spirit of Elijah will be poured out on the earth. My wife Sherri and I have 11 children. It is with this (Elijah) anointing that we are to help build a bridge for others who are going to come and serve."
********
#2
Tommy Waller, with the help of gullible (greedy?) Jews built a bridge and the Bowling Family came across. They've been in Israel with HaYovel volunteering for several years. Here is how they described the work they did during one of those tours...
"We spoke to many people and told them about Yeshua. We still have ongoing outreach to two of the people we met there. ...I have spent over 35 hours sharing with Gabriel [a shopkeeper in Jerusalem] Pray that he will receive Yeshua as his Messiah." (And they give several other similar examples of proselytizing)
This couple, who have their own ministry in America, were handpicked by Tommy Waller to replace him and his wife one year as leaders of HaYovel. On their ministry home page, the first line says: "Yeshua is Yahweh King of Kings, the Creator of the Universe." (Mark 16 Ministries)
______________________
In the Torah it is written: "You shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughter to his son, and you shall not take his daughter for your son".1
In the Prophets it is written: "And that we shall not give our daughters to the peoples of the land, and we shall not take their daughters for our sons."2
In Jewish Law it is written: "The Torah forbids a Jew to enter a marital relationship with a non-Jew; be it a Jewish man to a non-Jewish women, or a Jewish woman to a non-Jewish man".3
It is evident (both in theory, and statistically) that when Jews marry non-Jews it is unlikely for there to be Jewish continuity. The Torah is a "realist". Thus, as part of its mission to guide Jews in perpetuating Judaism, the Torah prohibits intermarriage.
1. Deuteronomy 7:3
2. Nehemiah 10:31
3. Maimonidies laws of Forbidden Relationships 12:1
(Source: Ask Moses)
Ask any Orthodox religious Jew if intermarriage or assimilation is allowed by Torah and I'll bet 100% would answer correctly - a resounding "NO!"*
But, when it comes to taking the path that leads to intermarriage and assimilation, at the end of which is waiting the shmad of the Jewish nation, many Orthodox religious Jews have decided that it's ok to go a little ways down that path a long as we control how far we go and stop just in time before the forbidden happens.
Any sane, logical, reasoning person who is interested in self-preservation needs no book or source or authority to tell him that if the end of the path is to be avoided, do not start down that path. That is the purpose of erecting "fences" around the Torah. But, these people are tearing down every fence and barrier and they're skating right on the edge.
Unfortunately for the Jewish nation, it appears that we are riddled to our core with insane, illogical and unreasonable people who insist on taking this risk and putting their neighbors at risk as well. Who can understand their motivation? Regardless of what it is, it is wrong, wrong, wrong and cannot be condoned. In fact, they must be opposed at every turn.
Because, you see the HaYovel volunteers are not just working in the vineyards. They've been invited to join in and participate in social and religious activities among the Jews of the Shomron:
HaYovel volunteers attend hachnasat sefer Torah in Itamar
HaYovel volunteers attend Sukkot celebration in Har Brachah
(One young member of their group was a featured speaker at the event)
HaYovel volunteers dance with the vineyard owner Avigdor Sharon
(Read his "love" letter to HaYovel. And yes, the practice of Avodah Zarah is still attractive and feels very good. That's what inspires people to engage in it.)
____________________________
As a follow-up to Xians Don't Change Their Spots, They Just Disguise Them, I'm including here further proof of the real agenda which was written as a comment to a different blog post.
********
#1
Artist in Christian Testimony International website lists the Waller Family with the following description of their ministry: "We are dedicated as a family to sharing the gospel of Yeshua (Jesus) by serving the people of Israel within the agricultural settlements and Kibbutzim. We believe that we are living in, what has been prophesied as, the end times. When the Spirit of Elijah will be poured out on the earth. My wife Sherri and I have 11 children. It is with this (Elijah) anointing that we are to help build a bridge for others who are going to come and serve."
********
#2
Tommy Waller, with the help of gullible (greedy?) Jews built a bridge and the Bowling Family came across. They've been in Israel with HaYovel volunteering for several years. Here is how they described the work they did during one of those tours...
"We spoke to many people and told them about Yeshua. We still have ongoing outreach to two of the people we met there. ...I have spent over 35 hours sharing with Gabriel [a shopkeeper in Jerusalem] Pray that he will receive Yeshua as his Messiah." (And they give several other similar examples of proselytizing)
This couple, who have their own ministry in America, were handpicked by Tommy Waller to replace him and his wife one year as leaders of HaYovel. On their ministry home page, the first line says: "Yeshua is Yahweh King of Kings, the Creator of the Universe." (Mark 16 Ministries)
______________________
In the Torah it is written: "You shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughter to his son, and you shall not take his daughter for your son".1
In the Prophets it is written: "And that we shall not give our daughters to the peoples of the land, and we shall not take their daughters for our sons."2
In Jewish Law it is written: "The Torah forbids a Jew to enter a marital relationship with a non-Jew; be it a Jewish man to a non-Jewish women, or a Jewish woman to a non-Jewish man".3
It is evident (both in theory, and statistically) that when Jews marry non-Jews it is unlikely for there to be Jewish continuity. The Torah is a "realist". Thus, as part of its mission to guide Jews in perpetuating Judaism, the Torah prohibits intermarriage.
1. Deuteronomy 7:3
2. Nehemiah 10:31
3. Maimonidies laws of Forbidden Relationships 12:1
(Source: Ask Moses)
01 September 2014
Xians Don't Change Their Spots, They Just Disguise Them
6 Elul 5774
Despite premature reports of its demise, replacement theology is alive and well and running rampant all over the Holy Land.
Xians believe, based on the claims of their book, the so-called New Testament, that those Jews who rejected Yeshu as Savior/Son of God/Messiah were like branches who were broken off of the olive tree of Israel and were "replaced" by wild branches (the gentile Xians) who were then grafted into these spots. They are taught that they are the true seed of Abraham and his spiritual children and, as such, they are entitled to all of the rights and privileges of inheritance that the status accords, including the promise of the land.
While we've always had to deal with their best efforts to convert us, not since the Crusades have we had to defend our land from the grasping hands of Xians. But, today, so-called lovers of Israel and the Jewish people* have set their eyes on our holy land and they are coming to claim it.
It's interesting how the very people who are most threatened by their aims - the Jews of the settlements in Judea and Samaria - are their staunchest defenders and allies. (See previous post.)
The Waller Family and the HaYovel volunteers are a perfect example of the modern-day crusader: they want to "witness" to you of the gospel in hopes of saving your soul while at the same time attempting to gain a foothold in the land with the hope of taking it over at some not-too-distant time.
Whenever we make these claims, their Jewish defenders and enablers jump up and yell "Where is the proof?!"
Well, here is the proof.
Quoting from Esav Exposed: "Mike Clayton is a 'Hebrew roots' teacher (formerly called 'messianic'). He served as a spiritual advisor and teacher to the Hayovel group while they were in Israel in 2012 and 2013. He believes, as do Hayovel volunteers and other so called xian zionists, that he is part of the people of Israel and that the land of Israel is his home and inheritance.
Below, find a partial transcript of a video which you can view in full here of Mike Clayton (with Tommy Waller in attendance) making these points specifically to the 2012 group of HaYovel volunteers:
"We are grafted in and adopted into the nation of... " [pause for the audience to respond with] "...Israel!"
[Standing overlooking the Temple Mount and speaking on the too-soon return to their homes in America]
"...the reality is...for now, we are gonna have to go to a foreign country because now, here is home, here is home." ["Amens" from the group] "Wherever you live in the world in the Diaspora, that's now gonna be a foreign country."
[Quoting from the NT - Yeshu accusing the city of Jerusalem of having unjustly stoned the prophets God sent to them] "Now, this is not everyone, ok? Don't lump everybody that was in this city into this. This is religion that did this, ok and it's still doing it today." *
[Continuing to quote from the NT on Yeshu's admonition to his followers:] "...you need to be my witnesses" and it goes on and says uh, you know in Tulsa, in London, uh, and it says uh, I think it's like uh, Judea and the Shomron and then to New Zealand [big grin on his face] Right? But, it has to start where? [Pointing to where he is standing overlooking the Temple Mount] Right here! Because the message is right here! The root is right here! Alright?..."
___________________________________
You'll notice I starred (*) two places that I wanted to refer back to here at the end. It must be understood that despite the fact that these new crusaders profess to love Israel and the Jewish people, it's not what you think. They find commonality with the State of Israel because it is an appendage of Xian America at the current time. As soon as it ceases to be a western-style democracy and becomes instead a Torah-based state as God intends, this "love" will quickly turn to animosity and then outright hatred. You can see a hint of that in his remark "it's still doing it today." He is referring to those Jews who in the name of Judaism oppose them.
Which brings me to my next point. These new crusaders find common cause with religious Zionists living on the land because of their obsession with laying claim to their land inheritance. They imagine themselves sharing the Jewish settler's love of the Land of Israel. However, they bear no 'love' for either the "liberal" materialistic American Jew or cosmopolitan European Jew or equally, the black-hatted Chareidi Jews. Because it is not Jews that they love, but the similarity and commonality that they find with the religious Zionist Jews. And not least because they think the settler Jews are the ones most likely to convert to Yeshu.
Finally, the remark that it was not, after all, inidividuals who rejected Yeshu, but a religion that was to blame, only serves to emphasize that while they claim to love "Israel," they still have the antisemite's hatred of Judaism.
Despite premature reports of its demise, replacement theology is alive and well and running rampant all over the Holy Land.
Xians believe, based on the claims of their book, the so-called New Testament, that those Jews who rejected Yeshu as Savior/Son of God/Messiah were like branches who were broken off of the olive tree of Israel and were "replaced" by wild branches (the gentile Xians) who were then grafted into these spots. They are taught that they are the true seed of Abraham and his spiritual children and, as such, they are entitled to all of the rights and privileges of inheritance that the status accords, including the promise of the land.
While we've always had to deal with their best efforts to convert us, not since the Crusades have we had to defend our land from the grasping hands of Xians. But, today, so-called lovers of Israel and the Jewish people* have set their eyes on our holy land and they are coming to claim it.
It's interesting how the very people who are most threatened by their aims - the Jews of the settlements in Judea and Samaria - are their staunchest defenders and allies. (See previous post.)
The Waller Family and the HaYovel volunteers are a perfect example of the modern-day crusader: they want to "witness" to you of the gospel in hopes of saving your soul while at the same time attempting to gain a foothold in the land with the hope of taking it over at some not-too-distant time.
Whenever we make these claims, their Jewish defenders and enablers jump up and yell "Where is the proof?!"
Well, here is the proof.
Quoting from Esav Exposed: "Mike Clayton is a 'Hebrew roots' teacher (formerly called 'messianic'). He served as a spiritual advisor and teacher to the Hayovel group while they were in Israel in 2012 and 2013. He believes, as do Hayovel volunteers and other so called xian zionists, that he is part of the people of Israel and that the land of Israel is his home and inheritance.
Below, find a partial transcript of a video which you can view in full here of Mike Clayton (with Tommy Waller in attendance) making these points specifically to the 2012 group of HaYovel volunteers:
"We are grafted in and adopted into the nation of... " [pause for the audience to respond with] "...Israel!"
[Standing overlooking the Temple Mount and speaking on the too-soon return to their homes in America]
"...the reality is...for now, we are gonna have to go to a foreign country because now, here is home, here is home." ["Amens" from the group] "Wherever you live in the world in the Diaspora, that's now gonna be a foreign country."
[Quoting from the NT - Yeshu accusing the city of Jerusalem of having unjustly stoned the prophets God sent to them] "Now, this is not everyone, ok? Don't lump everybody that was in this city into this. This is religion that did this, ok and it's still doing it today." *
[Continuing to quote from the NT on Yeshu's admonition to his followers:] "...you need to be my witnesses" and it goes on and says uh, you know in Tulsa, in London, uh, and it says uh, I think it's like uh, Judea and the Shomron and then to New Zealand [big grin on his face] Right? But, it has to start where? [Pointing to where he is standing overlooking the Temple Mount] Right here! Because the message is right here! The root is right here! Alright?..."
___________________________________
You'll notice I starred (*) two places that I wanted to refer back to here at the end. It must be understood that despite the fact that these new crusaders profess to love Israel and the Jewish people, it's not what you think. They find commonality with the State of Israel because it is an appendage of Xian America at the current time. As soon as it ceases to be a western-style democracy and becomes instead a Torah-based state as God intends, this "love" will quickly turn to animosity and then outright hatred. You can see a hint of that in his remark "it's still doing it today." He is referring to those Jews who in the name of Judaism oppose them.
Which brings me to my next point. These new crusaders find common cause with religious Zionists living on the land because of their obsession with laying claim to their land inheritance. They imagine themselves sharing the Jewish settler's love of the Land of Israel. However, they bear no 'love' for either the "liberal" materialistic American Jew or cosmopolitan European Jew or equally, the black-hatted Chareidi Jews. Because it is not Jews that they love, but the similarity and commonality that they find with the religious Zionist Jews. And not least because they think the settler Jews are the ones most likely to convert to Yeshu.
Finally, the remark that it was not, after all, inidividuals who rejected Yeshu, but a religion that was to blame, only serves to emphasize that while they claim to love "Israel," they still have the antisemite's hatred of Judaism.
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