Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Parashat Tetzave - Zachor
23 February 2018
22 February 2018
Balancing the Scales a Bit
8 Adar 5778
I'm not here to tell you how to think. I'm here to provide you with "the other side of the story" so you can make a well-informed decision about where you stand on certain issues - no matter which way you choose to go. Cyberspace seems to be curiously heavily weighted in favor of only one side at the moment.
With regards to a bombastic statement attributed to a prominent Bnei Braq rabbi, Da'at Torah says the following...
RABBI DAVID BAR-HAYIM ON RAV CHAIM DOVID STERN
I'm not here to tell you how to think. I'm here to provide you with "the other side of the story" so you can make a well-informed decision about where you stand on certain issues - no matter which way you choose to go. Cyberspace seems to be curiously heavily weighted in favor of only one side at the moment.
With regards to a bombastic statement attributed to a prominent Bnei Braq rabbi, Da'at Torah says the following...
RABBI DAVID BAR-HAYIM ON RAV CHAIM DOVID STERN
20 February 2018
Israel's Vulnerability to An Attack By Iran
6 Adar 5778
This is the week of Parashat Zachor: "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way." But, it's not enough to remember what Amalek did. We have to also remember why he was successful against us.
And sinners among our people have allied themselves with idolatry at the center of power in our country, davka now, this week before Purim, Parashat Zachor, in the shadow of the threat of war with Amalek.
This is the week of Parashat Zachor: "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way." But, it's not enough to remember what Amalek did. We have to also remember why he was successful against us.
Idolatry in the camp of Israel (The Book of Our Heritage, Eliyahu Kitov)
You followed me in the wilderness in a land that was not planted (Yirmeyahu 2:2) – The Sages explained: This [the complete dependence on G-d that characterized Israel’s existence in the desert] is only temporary and will last only as long as you are on the way [to the Land of Israel] and until the Torah is permanently implanted within you. Afterwards, you shall enter the land which is My place, and you will plant at the time of planting, sow at the time of sowing, and harvest at the time of harvesting, and I shall grant you bounty greater than any other nation or land.
However, the imperative to remove all traces of idolatry and to serve only G-d—this is incumbent upon you now and for generations to come. Have you removed the foreign gods from your midst? Have you brought yourselves under My wing and shattered all of your idols? Let Amalek come and examine you. If your hearts are completely with Me, you have nothing to fear. But if there is among you a man or woman whose soul still clings to the idols of Egypt and their abominations, let them [the idols] come and save you from the wicked Amalek! The verse therefore states: And Amalek came (Shemos 17;8)…and he tailed after you [striking] all the weak who fell behind (Devarim 25;18).
After he tailed after you—R. Nachman explained: All those whom the “protective cloud” cast out were caught by Amalek. The Sages explained: This refers to the tribe of Dan who were cast out by the “protective cloud” because they were all idol-worshipers. The idol which Michah had created was in their midst, and there were many among them who had not wholeheartedly resolved to serve God alone (Yalkut Shimoni, Parashas Ki Setze).Now, Amalek comes to threaten us again, davka this week at this time of year...
The complete obliteration of Amalek will occur at the time of the final redemption, immediately preceding the month of Nisan. A trace of that obliteration is felt each year during Purim, which falls in the month preceding Nisan. The reading of Parashas Zachor was therefore prescribed for this time of year.
And sinners among our people have allied themselves with idolatry at the center of power in our country, davka now, this week before Purim, Parashat Zachor, in the shadow of the threat of war with Amalek.
May all the enemies of God and Israel fall, never to rise again.
We've Lost Their Minds
5 Adar 5778
In the war for hearts and minds, we've lost the minds of the vast majority of people already. They are so far gone that I don't see any possible way to get them back. Take this story as a case in point...
Shocking: IDF Accused of Coordinating Settlers’ Expulsion with their Arab Neighbors
...Samaria residents were astonished to discover Monday night that the Arab village of Baita had posted on its Facebook page that the IDF had informed them ahead of time about the evacuation of the Evyatar outpost, News 0404 reported.
Evyatar was established in April 2016, near the Tapuach junction, by some 50 families, in memory of Evyatar Borovsky HY’D, who was stabbed to death at the Tapuach junction five years ago.
The first post, at 8:18 AM Monday, declared: “By the promises of the occupation army on Friday… The outposts are scheduled to be removed today from mount Sbeih…” (sic)
Amazingly, Monday night the outpost was evacuated, which suggests the IDF move had been coordinated with the village that produced the very murderers of Evyatar Borovsky. The evacuation of seven homes was violent, and three Jewish residents – while the murderers looked on.Have they become so inured to the fact of these "uprootings" that they are only "shocked" that it was done with so little compassion and regret?
...The Samaria Settlers’ Committee meanwhile issued a statement saying, “It is inconceivable that the Civil Administration would coordinate the evacuation of a settlement with a village of murderers … The Civil Administration seems to have forgotten who is an enemy and who is a friend.”Do their ears even hear what their mouths say??? Does a "friend" (not to mention a "brother") violently uproot a person from his home???
I call on these people to reclaim their lost minds and return to sanity!! Those who come to uproot are also the enemy. Do not be shocked or surprised when they make common cause with those who do not appear in the guise of friendship or brotherhood.
19 February 2018
18 February 2018
Wine Season Is Upon Us
3 Adar 5778
I recently heard from Rav Richter the following which he brought from the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh, if I am not mistaken...
There are two issurim regarding Jews, gentiles and the drinking of wine: 1) Jews may not drink wine together with gentiles; and, 2) Jews may not drink wine served by gentiles. [See further here and here.]
The resulting separation that this brings about between Jews and gentiles is what saved us during this season of time on two different occasions.
The two "Peh" holidays - Purim and Pesach - feature the drinking of wine prominently in their narratives.
In Egypt, we kept our language, our Hebrew names and our distinct mode of dress, remaining separate and apart from the Egyptians, hence we merited to drink the four cups of wine at the Pesach seder.
On the other hand, in exile in the Persian Empire, the Jews sat and ate and drank wine in the presence of King Achashverosh and his nation at a grand banquet and were nearly destroyed as a result. Now, every Purim, when we sit and drink wine in holiness with our fellow Jews at the Purim seudah, we are making a tikun for that sin of mixing with the gentiles and drinking wine with them.
With this in mind, it is no mystery why the ovdei avodah zarah of Hayovel attached themselves davka to the wineries of Eretz Yisrael. Their stated goal from the very beginning was to eliminate the separation between Jews and gentiles. As admitted and even admired by one Jewish writer: "As a group of Christian Zionists, Hayovel acts as a bridge between the two religions in a totally unprecedented manner,...."
Further to the wine, their idolatrous worship of the man-god Yeshu is indivisible from their volunteer work davka in Israel's vineyards!
More about wine and avodah zarah here...
May all the true Jews merit to do teshuvah and present themselves a pure and holy, completely separate nation to HKB"H, especially at this season which mirrors our redemption.
I recently heard from Rav Richter the following which he brought from the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh, if I am not mistaken...
There are two issurim regarding Jews, gentiles and the drinking of wine: 1) Jews may not drink wine together with gentiles; and, 2) Jews may not drink wine served by gentiles. [See further here and here.]
The resulting separation that this brings about between Jews and gentiles is what saved us during this season of time on two different occasions.
The two "Peh" holidays - Purim and Pesach - feature the drinking of wine prominently in their narratives.
In Egypt, we kept our language, our Hebrew names and our distinct mode of dress, remaining separate and apart from the Egyptians, hence we merited to drink the four cups of wine at the Pesach seder.
On the other hand, in exile in the Persian Empire, the Jews sat and ate and drank wine in the presence of King Achashverosh and his nation at a grand banquet and were nearly destroyed as a result. Now, every Purim, when we sit and drink wine in holiness with our fellow Jews at the Purim seudah, we are making a tikun for that sin of mixing with the gentiles and drinking wine with them.
With this in mind, it is no mystery why the ovdei avodah zarah of Hayovel attached themselves davka to the wineries of Eretz Yisrael. Their stated goal from the very beginning was to eliminate the separation between Jews and gentiles. As admitted and even admired by one Jewish writer: "As a group of Christian Zionists, Hayovel acts as a bridge between the two religions in a totally unprecedented manner,...."
Further to the wine, their idolatrous worship of the man-god Yeshu is indivisible from their volunteer work davka in Israel's vineyards!
HaYovel Ministries has designated "worship leaders" to guarantee that "praise and worship" is ongoing continuously in the vineyards during the working period.
Volunteer Nate Taylor: "A group of worship leaders who have taken different times throughout the day to make sure that there's continuous praise/worship and prayer throughout the vineyards. These vineyards belong to our Abba (God, the Father) in that our praise and worship is an important part of that cycle to recognize who Ha-Shem is. I believe it does motivate and encourage others, not only to work harder and faster, but they're not even thinking about that, they're thinking about how we praise Ha-Shem throughout the day, not only with our words and our lips, but with our actions."
An affiliate of HaYovel encouraging their followers to volunteer writes:
I have drunk the wine from the hills of Samaria. That is the wine that, one day, the Messiah will drink at the great reunion in Jerusalem for all His Believers!!
...What if you were among the workers, who picked the grapes, of the winery from which the Messiah picks that big bottle of wine??!!
HaYovel writes in a newsletter:The WINE is a running theme with them in their end times vision, right up to the present day.
At HaYovel we absolutely love weddings! .....and because we believe the vineyards have been and are being prophetically planted, pruned and harvested on the mountains of Israel specifically for the wine served at the great wedding feast in Jerusalem .....we feel it is important for us to do anything and everything we can to help. [See further here.]
More about wine and avodah zarah here...
May all the true Jews merit to do teshuvah and present themselves a pure and holy, completely separate nation to HKB"H, especially at this season which mirrors our redemption.
14 February 2018
The Only Way To Go Is Up
30 Shevat 5778
Rosh Chodesh Adar א
When Adar comes in, joy is supposed to increase, but this being the tenth anniversary of the Mercaz HaRav Massacre clearly indicates that is not always the case. We can only count on such things when we are being all that we can be. The following shiur by Rav Yehuda HaCohen Richter of Elon Moreh points out where we are lacking. It's up to us to make the necessary corrections to insure that Klal Yisrael will indeed see only happy times in the month of Adar.
The only solace this generation is assured is that once we have hit rock bottom, and we're pretty close now, the only way left to go is up.
Rosh Chodesh Adar א
When Adar comes in, joy is supposed to increase, but this being the tenth anniversary of the Mercaz HaRav Massacre clearly indicates that is not always the case. We can only count on such things when we are being all that we can be. The following shiur by Rav Yehuda HaCohen Richter of Elon Moreh points out where we are lacking. It's up to us to make the necessary corrections to insure that Klal Yisrael will indeed see only happy times in the month of Adar.
The only solace this generation is assured is that once we have hit rock bottom, and we're pretty close now, the only way left to go is up.
13 February 2018
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