The Government Is Tottering

26 Adar 5778

Will it stabilize or will it fall. It's being battered about by earth-shaking events and political ill-winds. Can it survive? Do God-fearing Jews even want it to survive in its current form? Anything might be better than being stuck in the rut of the status quo. I, for one, would not shed any tears on its demise.

I wonder what would be if we could pass a law that no one who had ever held office before could run in the next election and open the entire field to newcomers. Turn the political ill-winds into a refreshing wind of change. Ahh!

And why are there no term-limits in this country??? In fact, I think all politicians should be limited to one term. That way, they can concentrate on the job they were elected to do rather than spend most of their first term trying to secure a second term. If four years is not enough, perhaps the term itself should be extended to five or six years, but no one holding office should be investing their time in trying to get re-elected when they should be serving their constituents. And, in my opinion, there should never be such a thing called a "career politician."

Please Vote in the Blog Poll

25 Adar 5778

Just to the right of this blog post.

Many thanks!

Devash

Do You Have a 'Golden Calf' in Your Life?

24 Adar 5778

We're closing in on Rosh Chodesh Nisan at the end of this week. Better start cleaning out all the chametz we've collected since last year. Look carefully inside yourself - into all the corners of your heart and mind - and if you find some remnant of the 'Golden Calf,' get rid of it!

Shevat-Adar Messages from Meir Yisroel

24 Adar 5778
Shavua tov!

Third Shevat Message

First, Second and Third Adar Messages

"It's the Job of the Jews"

22 Adar 5778
Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei-Parah

The Job of the Jews!

...At an ecumenical gathering of spiritual leaders from the across the globe, they were deciding in which way to unify their minds for some noble purpose. It was proposed that they take some meditative moments together to transcend this world and to reach beyond the mud of daily life and the constant tug of physical desire. In the final instant a new and surprising suggestion was offered by one of the clerics, “Instead of trying to get beyond worldliness, why don’t we raise the physical and create a space for G-dliness here on earth?!” The suggestion was immediately dismissed by the moderator of the exercise, “Nah!” he said, “That’s the job of Jews!” Observing the quantity of details and the quality of communal effort that went into creating the Tabernacle is an emphatic reminder of the importance our unique mission on this earth and the critical task we have of transforming our own little corner of creation. It remains, after all these years, “The Job of the Jews!”

See the full text of this D'var Torah by Rabbi Label Lam here.

~ SHABBAT SHALOM ~

Their Torah Is Worthless

21 Adar 5778

Here we go again.

Jerusalem Faction plans mass protest against IDF serviceTwo weeks after the passing of their leader, Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach, radically anti-conscription sect gears up to flood Jerusalem streets, 'cause a noise the world will hear' in bid to demonstrate undiminished resolve to continue struggle.

Even if you agree with them, the ends here in no way justify the means. Were it a one-time event, one might be inclined to forgive the blatant disregard for their fellow Jews' welfare, but it's not a one-time event. And despite the multiple times the public has been grievously inconvenienced by this magnificent display of sinat chinam, nothing has been accomplished but a massive chillul Hashem.

Consider this. A single-mother who works to physical exhaustion every single day, but who cannot afford Jerusalem rents, must make a long bus ride home each night. Unfortunately for her, the bus route runs through Bar Ilan Street and every time there is a hareidi demonstration or a gadol's funeral, she can be left high and dry waiting for a bus that never comes because the road has been closed somewhere along the way. When she sits slumped tiredly on the bench with her groceries at her feet and looks down at her watch for the fifth time and realizes the bus is not coming and it will be another hour before the next one is due, a tear slips slowly down her cheek.

Rabotai, that single tear has just nullified all the Torah learning of all these demonstrating students. And how many times and how many ways and how many other mothers, fathers and children have been aggrieved by these ill-conceived actions? Add them all up. Do you think HKB"H is proud of them? I don't!

Israel Has Been Conquered by the West, Who Will Liberate Her?

21 Adar 5778

One can't help getting the sense in this country that it has become just one big marketing scheme. Everything is for sell in one form or another - even the Torah! It's pitiful and pathetic to be sure and a far, far cry from the vision of our holy prophets.

IS A DISNEYLAND THEME PARK COMING TO ISRAEL?

“We are very good at many things in Israel – hi-tech, medicine – I think it is also time for us to be good at something that is fun and enjoyable."

...US entrepreneurs have been in contact with officials in Israel in recent months about the development of the amusement park, Channel 10 News reported on Monday night.

If this doesn't break your heart, then maybe it is in the wrong place. 

"Peace Requires Compromise"

20 Adar 5778

Viewing the speeches at the AIPAC conference, one might be forgiven for thinking the redemption has already arrived, or at the very least is well underway. However, all is not as it might appear.

One clue about what is really going on here can be found in VP Pence's speech where he says, "...any peace will undoubtedly require compromise." This is meant as a friendly warning for Jews to be prepared to accept some not-so-nice demands upon Israel. And it is a further allusion to this illuminating midrash...

"That was Esau's intention when he told Yakov, 'Let us travel together and I will go before you' (Breishit 33.12). He wanted them to join together in both this world and the world to come, to meet each other halfway, with each modifying his conduct until they were alike (Yalkut Shimoni, Breishit 133).

That's the meaning of compromise. And when they say there is "no daylight between Israel and the US," that means compromise has already been made. 

But, for real Jews, there can be no compromising on the Torah or the destiny of Klal Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael. Therefore, we are on a collision course with those requiring compromise. 

Mashiach is no compromiser and he will not be the leader of a nation of compromisers!