Hamas/Gaza War Musings #48: Deja Vu: Amalek = Hamas

Our sages all say that Amalek began attacking when it perceived weakness in the People of Israel and its leadership.... 

Every generation has its Amalek, but it's quiet because it's afraid of us. It attacks when we fight amongst each other or go around begging foreigners for help. Yup. That's the truth.

That's why in 1967, Egypt, Syria and Jordan conspired to attack on three fronts and destroy the State of Israel. It "checked the water" with threats and demands on us, our supposed allies and the United Nations which had "peacekeeping forces" which were supposed to protect us. The UN quickly removed its forces to facilitate easy attack, our supposed allies waited in safety and our Israeli government ordered the digging of graves. The State of Israel was all alone, but Jews in Israel and all over the world prayed to Gd. Simply put, that's how we won so decisively.

When instead of declaring all of the Land we liberated sovereign Israel, the government refused to settle all but the most agriculturally promising areas, our enemies attacked again six years later. Yes, the Yom Kippur War. This time they didn't threaten, they just attacked with the hidden support of the United States, while Israel was kept in the dark. As the war went on, the USA tried to keep Israel from  having a decisive win, yup-- nothing's new. Thank Gd Arik Sharon refused to follow orders and crossed the Suez Canal with his forces, and Egypt surrendered.

Unfortunately, that was the last show of true strength anyone saw from Israel. In the past decade plus, every couple of years, we're attacked, Bibi refuses to call it a war, refuses to defeat the enemy, just offers a ceasefire, claiming that "now we've shown who's stronger," and most of the country falls for it. I haven't.

Israel tries to compromise, act "gracious," do clever high-tech "tricks," make deals, ceasefires etc. And again the internal fighting definitely encourages our enemies.

For me it's so clear, so obvious. That's why with every "deal" offer, comprise, fokokt "moral fighting," "compassionate" "humanitarian" food to the Gazans, the demands of the terrorists get larger and more dangerous for us.

If you study the Tanach/Bible, you should see that it's classic Amalek... Remember what important instructions Gd told the Prophet Samuel to say to King Saul in 1 Samuel Chapter 15:

Now go, attack Amalek, and proscribe all that belongs to him. Spare no one, but kill alike men and women, infants and sucklings, oxen and sheep, camels and asses!”

Did King Saul obey? No! He kept the Amalek king alive, plus some of the animals. which he used for sacrifices contradicting Jewish Law. Yes, just like Bibi has been doing with his "moral fighting" and "humanitarian aid." How was King Saul punished? He and his sons were killed in battle. That was the end of his rule, no dynasty.

Today there are two very strong parallels with the Biblical Amalek.

• Amalek fights us when we appear weak.
• The only way to have a true lasting victory is to destroy our enemy without mercy.

Need I say more?

Israel Attacked by Hamas 2023/5784, War Musings #14 Read & Follow The Bible Tanach

This is basically a quick continuation of my previous War Musing, War Musings #13 We're All Hostages of Hamas, Dangerous Faux Morality & Pressures.

First I'd like to remind everyone that not a single solitary country, besides Israel follows the "war morality" that protects its enemies at the expense/endangerment of its soldiers and civilians. Honestly, I don't mind our being unique or first in some things, but being the one and only in this category is stupidly suicidal, not moral. The Nazis and Japanese would have won World War Two if the Allies had followed such rules.

Considering that Hamas attacked when Israeli society had been severely weakened by dissention, internal problems, makes it most similar the the Biblical Amalek. Amalek attacked the rear, the weak, like the terrorist Hamas. 

Israel's weakest border is/was the southern one with small communities populated by "peaceniks" who were so trusting of their Gazan neighbors that many didn't even have armed local self-defense staff. Many residents trusted their friends on the other side of the border. Afterwards, these friends were recognized in the security films of the surprise attack...

Biblical King Saul, the first Jewish king was ordered by Gd to kill of a Amalek, men, women and children, plus to destroy all of their animals. Saul lost the kingship, because he didn't obey those orders.

Earlier in the biblical narrative we hear Abraham debating with Gd about the destruction of two evil cities. Abraham, like many modern Israelis, worried about the "innocent civilians" who'd be harmed. Gd challenged Abraham to find a number of innocents, my version here, so they could be saved. In the end, not even a minimum amount of innocents were found, and the cities were destroyed. The only survivors were Abraham's relative Lot, plus Lot's wife and two daughters. When the wife looked back, she, too, was killed by Gd.

End of Bereishit Genesis Chapter 18

I Samuel 15

To me, these two stories should be taken very seriously as Gd's instructions today.

A Different Look at "Zachor"

I had been debating on whether or not to post this on "A  Jewish Grandmother." That's not because Torah and Parshat Shavua belong more on my other blog. It's just that I wanted my Israeli Elections 2019 posts to stay on top. But my messages/commentaries about "Zachor" really belong here.

דברים כה Dvarim 25

זָכ֕וֹר אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֥ה לְךָ֖ עֲמָלֵ֑ק בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ בְּצֵאתְכֶ֥ם מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃
Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey, after you left Egypt—
אֲשֶׁ֨ר קָֽרְךָ֜ בַּדֶּ֗רֶךְ וַיְזַנֵּ֤ב בְּךָ֙ כָּל־הַנֶּחֱשָׁלִ֣ים אַֽחַרֶ֔יךָ וְאַתָּ֖ה עָיֵ֣ף וְיָגֵ֑עַ וְלֹ֥א יָרֵ֖א אֱלֹהִֽים׃
how, undeterred by fear of God, he surprised you on the march, when you were famished and weary, and cut down all the stragglers in your rear.
וְהָיָ֡ה בְּהָנִ֣יחַ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֣יךָ ׀ לְ֠ךָ מִכָּל־אֹ֨יְבֶ֜יךָ מִסָּבִ֗יב בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְהוָֽה־אֱ֠לֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵ֨ן לְךָ֤ נַחֲלָה֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ תִּמְחֶה֙ אֶת־זֵ֣כֶר עֲמָלֵ֔ק מִתַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם לֹ֖א תִּשְׁכָּֽח׃ (פ)
Therefore, when the LORD your God grants you safety from all your enemies around you, in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as a hereditary portion, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!

Zachor is read to us twice a year in the synagogue. The first time is the Shabbat before Purim as preparation for  that holiday. Zachor זָכ֕וֹר means "Remember!" Haman, the totally evil anti-Jewish person in the Purim Megillah narrative is descended from Amalek, and he schemes a scheme to kill/destroy all of the Jewish People after the destruction of the First Holy Temple, when our leadership was exiled by the Persians.

A half a year later, we read Zachor זָכ֕וֹר again, since it's part of the Torah Portion Parshat Shavua that comes up a few weeks before Rosh Hashanah, just before we complete the annual Torah Reading cycle. In the Jewish Year of 5779, this year, it was this past Shabbat.

So last week, as I was preparing myself, doing homework, before attending our Senior Citizens' Women's Parshat Shavua Class, something new hit me about what's written. The standard conventional commentary about Amalek is that they make a point of attacking the weak, those who can't defend themselves. When I reread the verses for the umpteenth time, a few words suddenly stood out:

"וַיְזַנֵּ֤ב בְּךָ֙ כָּל־הַנֶּחֱשָׁלִ֣ים אַֽחַרֶ֔יךָ"
"all the stragglers in your rear"

The general principle when taking a group of people on a hike, or whatever, is to make sure the weaker participants are surrounded by the strong ones for protection and so that they won't stray, stop or get lost. In this Biblical narrative, the stronger ones were tired, so the weaker ones were unprotected, perfect fodder for Amalek, who wouldn't dare attacking anyone capable of fighting back.

Not to "blame the victims," this important Torah Lesson is to remind us, make it clear that it's a Mitzvah, Torah Commandment to protect the weaker in society. Leaving them exposed, whether on the trail or geographically, by government policy is forbidden by Torah Law.

In the early days of the State of Israel, the government used new immigrants, almost exclusively those from "Arab lands," North Africa to settle the more isolated and vulnerable locations of the new country. Newly constructed "Development Towns" weren't populated by the elite veteran European Israelis. New immigrants from Morocco, Tunisia, Iraq etc were literally dumped straight off the boat or plane, and given tents to share, until small substandard apartments could be built for them. If they requested to live in Holy Jerusalem, they were told that their new home was a nearby neighborhood of the long dreamt for city, even when hours away. And the lucky ones who did get housing in Jerusalem, were placed on the border and had to endure the dangers of Jordanian snipers. Security was also horrendous in the Development Towns and small isolated agricultural settlements where some were dumped. Besides the short-term government appointed administrators, only desperate newcomers lived in those new places.

Over half a century later, the residual resentment is still strong in many Eidot Mizrach families.

Gd willing the scars of past policies will fully heal, and today's elections will result in a wise and caring government, which is the only protection from modern Amalek.

Shabbat Zachor, Remembering 23 Years Since "My" Terror Attack

Davka Shabbat Zachor...

• It's a full year-- innocent Jews in Southern Israel have been suffering from riots and attacks and fires from Gaza...
• Twenty-three 23 years since I was injured in a terror attack.

This Shabbat as I sat in shul reading the special Maftir (Torah portion) and Haftara, ISamuel 15:1-34 (click and read the entire chapter;) the words were so clear and simple.

זָכ֕וֹר אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֥ה לְךָ֖ עֲמָלֵ֑ק בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ בְּצֵאתְכֶ֥ם מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃
Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey, after you left Egypt—
אֲשֶׁ֨ר קָֽרְךָ֜ בַּדֶּ֗רֶךְ וַיְזַנֵּ֤ב בְּךָ֙ כָּל־הַנֶּחֱשָׁלִ֣ים אַֽחַרֶ֔יךָ וְאַתָּ֖ה עָיֵ֣ף וְיָגֵ֑עַ וְלֹ֥א יָרֵ֖א אֱלֹהִֽים׃
how, undeterred by fear of God, he surprised you on the march, when you were famished and weary, and cut down all the stragglers in your rear.
וְהָיָ֡ה בְּהָנִ֣יחַ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֣יךָ ׀ לְ֠ךָ מִכָּל־אֹ֨יְבֶ֜יךָ מִסָּבִ֗יב בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְהוָֽה־אֱ֠לֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵ֨ן לְךָ֤ נַחֲלָה֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ תִּמְחֶה֙ אֶת־זֵ֣כֶר עֲמָלֵ֔ק מִתַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם לֹ֖א תִּשְׁכָּֽח׃ (פ)
Therefore, when the LORD your God grants you safety from all your enemies around you, in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as a hereditary portion, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!

2 So said the Lord of Hosts, 'I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid (wait) for him on the way, when he came up out of Egypt.
בכֹּ֚ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת פָּקַ֕דְתִּי אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשָֹ֥ה עֲמָלֵ֖ק לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁר־שָֹ֥ם לוֹ֙ בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ בַּעֲלֹת֖וֹ מִמִּצְרָֽיִם:
3 Now, go, and you shall smite Amalek, and you shall utterly destroy all that is his, and you shall not have pity on him: and you shall slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.' "
געַתָּה֩ לֵ֨ךְ וְהִכִּֽיתָ֜ה אֶת־עֲמָלֵ֗ק וְהַֽחֲרַמְתֶּם֙ אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א תַחְמֹ֖ל עָלָ֑יו וְהֵמַתָּ֞ה מֵאִ֣ישׁ עַד־אִשָּׁ֗ה מֵֽעֹלֵל֙ וְעַד־יוֹנֵ֔ק מִשּׁ֣וֹר וְעַד־שֶֹ֔ה מִגָּמָ֖ל וְעַד־חֲמֽוֹר:

Unfortunately, the message, the mitzvah, is still very relevant. That's because King Saul did not obey Gd's orders, that important mitzvah. Saul didn't immediately execute all of Amalek. Yes, it's a mitzvah to execute/kill Amalek and his descendants, those enemies who aim to destroy us. It isn't cruel to kill them, even the women and the children. We won't have true peace until our enemies are dead and gone.

That's the message or Zachor,Remember. That's the message of Purim. We dress up in costumes to disguise ourselves, and lehavdil, to differentiate, our enemies of today dress in proper suits and come armed with NGOs, diplomats, academics, journalists and smiling surgically enhanced celebrities using doublespeak to demand our destruction in pretty euphemisms.

Today, thousands of years after King Saul failed in his Gd given mission, more innocent Jewish families are in mourning, because more Israelis are being murdered by Arab terrorists. And successive Israeli Governments continue the ways of Saul by warning our enemies, rather than executing them.

• Wasting expensive ammunition on empty buildings will not bring us peace.
• Apologizing for killing or injuring rioters, regardless of their age/sex, will not bring us peace.
• Giving diplomatic immunity to terrorists and their supporters will not bring us peace.
• Negotiating and compromising will not give us peace.

May this year be the year we totally destroy Amalek, Gd willing!

Chag Purim Sameach

Zachor! Remember!

This upcoming Shabbat is Shabbat Zachor! Remember! It's a mitzvah, Torah commandment to remember that we have enemies who want to destroy us completely and take advantage of our weaknesses, like the Biblical Amaleks.

This Shabbat also marks twenty-two 22 years since I was injured in an Arab terror attack, which was the first ramming attack. A woman was murdered by the Arab terrorist at "my" terror attack, and a couple of dozen were injured more seriously than myself.

Yesterday, when on a bus home, I suddenly noticed that two of the bus windows had obvious signs that they had been hit by rocks. And it's no secret that there are periodic Arab terror attacks, low-tech rock throwing, on the roads. Rocks when thrown by Arab terrorists can kill, too.  Yehuda Shoham, HaYa"D, the baby son of neighbors was killed by Arab terrorists throwing rocks at their car.

I posted the photos on Instagram and facebook. Lots of people asked what had happened, so I replied that the damage was from an old attack. Egged Taavura just hasn't replaced the windows. Then someone wrote that those damaged windows are a reminder, like Shabbat Zachor. That's a very good point.

REMEMBER we have real enemies who want us dead and no allies who will help defend us. We, the Jewish People only have each other and Gd.

Shabbat Zachor: Remembering Our Eternal Enemies

For me there is no need for a special "Holocaust Day." We have one every year the Shabbat before Purim, Shabbat Zachor, when we are commanded by Gd to remember that Amalek will use any trick to attempt to destroy us.

On a personal level, it's the Shabbat right after I was run over by an Arab terrorist in 1996. That Shabbat, while my foot was still very swollen, I hobbled down the hill to the large central Shiloh Tabernacle Synagogue, and all of us from Shiloh who had been at the attack thanked Gd together for our survival.

Gd commanded us, yes a real Torah Mitzvah/Commandment, to remember the dangers Amalek presents to us at all times.

“Zachor Et Asher Asah Lecha Amalek BaDerech Betzetchem MiMitzrayim”“Remember what Amalek did to you on your way out of Egypt! (Devarim 25)”On the Shabbat that precedes Purim, two Torah scrolls are taken from the ark; one for the regular parsha and one for the Maftir – ‘Remember what Amalek did to you’ (Devarim 25). Because of this reading, it is called, Shabbat Zachor (Remember). The Haftorah also deals with Amalek.
There is a mitzvah in the Torah to remember Amalek and his descendants and to orally recall their iniquity. We are to tell our children in each generation what the people of Amalek did to us during our departure from Egypt. This mitzvah will be fulfilled completely only when we shall have caused Amalek’s memory to perish, and their name to be erased from the world, together with the slightest remnant of anything that bears their name. As the Torah says: ‘Remember what Amalek did to you on the way, upon your departure from Egypt’… ‘You shall erase the memory of Amalek from beneath the heavens, you shall not forget.’ Upon which the Sages have expounded: ‘Remember,’ orally – ‘You shall not forget,’ in your heart. (OU)

On the Shabbat before Purim, the holiday on which we celebrate the foiling of Haman the Amalekite's plot to destroy the Jewish people, the weekly Torah reading is supplemented with the Zachor ("Remember!") reading (Deuteronomy 25:17-19) in which we are commanded to remember the evil of Amalek and to eradicate it from the face of the earth. (Chabad)

That's why I consider this Shabbat, the Shabbat before Purim, to be the true Holocaust Remembrance Day. The Nazi attempt to destroy the Jewish People, all ages and even those who weren't even Jewish by Jewish Law, just had a Jewish grandparent, were included in the Nazi extermination sic plan.

Unfortunately, as we can read in the news, the Jewish People/Nation still have enemies, tricky enemies. They will use "fake news" and pseudo-morality and inaccurate distorted history etc to destroy and endanger us. And like the Hellenists of old, even Jews will join the chorus claiming their Jewish roots make them experts in what's good for other Jews and the State of Israel.

Being "paranoid" is being wise. 

• We must REMEMBER that our eternal enemies still exist and haven't given up in their attempt to destroy us.  
• We must REMEMBER that King Saul was deposed by Gd, because he didn't destroy all of Amalek immediately.

The State of Israel and World Jewry must REMEMBER that our eternal enemies still exist and haven't given up in their attempts to destroy the Jewish People/Nation. These enemies are really one, Amalek, and we won't have a true peace until we destroy them completely, the way that Gd commanded King Saul. It is completely forbidden to have mercy on our enemies. That is the Torah Commandment of ZACHOR, זכור  REMEMBER!

Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach

May You Have a Peaceful and Blessed Shabbat

ZACHOR, זכור  REMEMBER!

Stop Crying for The Terrorist! Deja Vu- King Saul

Arab terror attack, (illustrative purposes) (photo credit:KBUZTAT MEDABRIM TAKSHORET)

History keeps on repeating itself, until we learn our lesson. Way back in Biblical Times King Saul, the first King of the Jewish People, sinned by keeping the Amalek king Agag alive instead of immediately executing him. ISamuel 15:

ט  וַיַּחְמֹל שָׁאוּל וְהָעָם עַל-אֲגָג, וְעַל-מֵיטַב הַצֹּאן וְהַבָּקָר וְהַמִּשְׁנִים וְעַל-הַכָּרִים וְעַל-כָּל-הַטּוֹב, וְלֹא אָבוּ, הַחֲרִימָם; וְכָל-הַמְּלָאכָה נְמִבְזָה וְנָמֵס, אֹתָהּ הֶחֱרִימוּ.  {פ}	9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, even the young of the second birth, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them; but every thing that was of no account and feeble, that they destroyed utterly. {P}
י  וַיְהִי, דְּבַר-יְהוָה, אֶל-שְׁמוּאֵל, לֵאמֹר.	10 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying:
יא  נִחַמְתִּי, כִּי-הִמְלַכְתִּי אֶת-שָׁאוּל לְמֶלֶךְ--כִּי-שָׁב מֵאַחֲרַי, וְאֶת-דְּבָרַי לֹא הֵקִים; וַיִּחַר, לִשְׁמוּאֵל, וַיִּזְעַק אֶל-יְהוָה, כָּל-הַלָּיְלָה.	11 'It repenteth Me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned back from following Me, and hath not performed My commandments.' And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

And he also sinned greatly by massacring a village of Jewish Priests. ISamuel 22

יב  וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל, שְׁמַע-נָא בֶּן-אֲחִיטוּב; וַיֹּאמֶר, הִנְנִי אֲדֹנִי.	12 And Saul said: 'Hear now, thou son of Ahitub.' And he answered: 'Here I am, my lord.'
יג  וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָו, שָׁאוּל, לָמָּה קְשַׁרְתֶּם עָלַי, אַתָּה וּבֶן-יִשָׁי--בְּתִתְּךָ לוֹ לֶחֶם וְחֶרֶב, וְשָׁאוֹל לוֹ בֵּאלֹהִים, לָקוּם אֵלַי לְאֹרֵב, כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה.  {ס}	13 And Saul said unto him: 'Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?' {S}
יד  וַיַּעַן אֲחִימֶלֶךְ אֶת-הַמֶּלֶךְ, וַיֹּאמַר:  וּמִי בְכָל-עֲבָדֶיךָ כְּדָוִד נֶאֱמָן, וַחֲתַן הַמֶּלֶךְ וְסָר אֶל-מִשְׁמַעְתֶּךָ וְנִכְבָּד בְּבֵיתֶךָ.	14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said: 'And who among all thy servants is so trusted as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and giveth heed unto thy bidding, and is honourable in thy house?
טו  הַיּוֹם הַחִלֹּתִי לשאול- (לִשְׁאָל-) לוֹ בֵאלֹהִים, חָלִילָה לִּי:  אַל-יָשֵׂם הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּעַבְדּוֹ דָבָר, בְּכָל-בֵּית אָבִי--כִּי לֹא-יָדַע עַבְדְּךָ בְּכָל-זֹאת, דָּבָר קָטֹן אוֹ גָדוֹל.	15 Have I to-day begun to inquire of God for him? be it far from me; let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father; for thy servant knoweth nothing of all this, less or more.'
טז  וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ, מוֹת תָּמוּת אֲחִימֶלֶךְ:  אַתָּה, וְכָל-בֵּית אָבִיךָ.	16 And the king said: 'Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.'
יז  וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ לָרָצִים הַנִּצָּבִים עָלָיו סֹבּוּ וְהָמִיתוּ כֹּהֲנֵי יְהוָה, כִּי גַם-יָדָם עִם-דָּוִד, וְכִי יָדְעוּ כִּי-בֹרֵחַ הוּא, וְלֹא גָלוּ אֶת-אזנו (אָזְנִי); וְלֹא-אָבוּ עַבְדֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ, לִשְׁלֹחַ אֶת-יָדָם, לִפְגֹעַ, בְּכֹהֲנֵי יְהוָה.  {ס}	17 And the king said unto the guard that stood about him: 'Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled, and did not disclose it to me.' But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. {S}
יח  וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ, לדויג (לְדוֹאֵג), סֹב אַתָּה, וּפְגַע בַּכֹּהֲנִים; וַיִּסֹּב דויג (דּוֹאֵג) הָאֲדֹמִי, וַיִּפְגַּע-הוּא בַּכֹּהֲנִים, וַיָּמֶת בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא שְׁמֹנִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה אִישׁ, נֹשֵׂא אֵפוֹד בָּד.	18 And the king said to Doeg: 'Turn thou, and fall upon the priests.' And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and he slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
יט  וְאֵת נֹב עִיר-הַכֹּהֲנִים, הִכָּה לְפִי-חֶרֶב, מֵאִישׁ וְעַד-אִשָּׁה, מֵעוֹלֵל וְעַד-יוֹנֵק; וְשׁוֹר וַחֲמוֹר וָשֶׂה, לְפִי-חָרֶב.	19 And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen and asses and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

For me this latest controversy concerning the soldier who killed the terrorist who was already seemingly "down" is multiply deja vu. Just a couple of weeks ago was Shabbat Zachor when we are supposed to/we are commanded to remember not only what Amalek did to us during the exodus from Egypt, but what Gd commanded us, especially King Saul to do to Amalek and all of his descendants plus. They were to be executed and destroyed. But in contradiction to those very clear orders, King Saul led the people in saving Agag and his finest... "and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen..." Because of that sin, Samuel the Prophet was ordered by Gd to tell Saul that his kingship was over. But although Saul seemed to express remorse, apparently they were just words, because it was after that that in his ungodly quest to kill David, who was to succeed him, he ordered the murder/massacre of the Priests in Nob.

This is so much like those Leftists who are so quick to condemn Jews and so slow to condemn the terrorists. They have no problems believing that Jews may have done damage to Arabs, but they don't see the inherent dangers coming from Arabs, even those who are trying to kill/murder Jews.

In the Arab terror attack in which I was injured, twenty years ago, the terrorist jumped out of his car after running over us, injuring many and killing a woman. Since there had been many suicide bombers at the same time, it was expected that he and his car were about to explode, so a couple of bystanders quickly shot him dead. I have a strong memory of hearing:

"A bomb! The car may explode! Run!!" 

After a few months of legal trouble, they were declared as innocent of wrongdoing. 

The soldier who killed the Arab terrorist yesterday had a legitimate reason to shoot the terrorist. A medic standing right there said that the terrorist had begun to move and it looked like he had bomb belt to use against the Jew in the immediate vicinity. 

“As we started to treat him [the soldier] someone started shouting ‘Look out, look out! He’s trying to blow himself up. Get the bomb squad.’”
“That’s what people were yelling there; I heard it with my own ears. If the video had recorded the sounds at the scene,” the witness said, referring to the video recording released by B’Tselem, “you’d be able to hear it as well.”  (ARutz 7)

Watch video: http://media-ios.a7.org/a7radio/misc/video/16/mar/250316-telrumeda.mp4

When one is dealing in life and death situations, one must know what one's priorities are. 

The job of the security forces is to protect innocent Israelis and not to protect terrorists. One of the first rules for identifying possible terrorists is wearing a coat or heavy bag in a suspicious way. Especially if the terrorist had already attacked and there have been cases of even after being shot multiple times they jump up, probably because some are drugged to make them more fearless.The soldier did the right thing and the Leftists who are accusing him of unwarranted cruelty should be jailed with his terror buddies. (my comment on facebook)

Yes, it seems like we're still in transition from the time of Judges and the kingship of Saul. May we merit the leadership of a King David, speedily in our times...

Chag Shushan Purim Sameach and Shabbat Shalom!

Twenty Years Since I Was Runover by a Terrorist

With Shabbat Zachor approaching, that means that it's soon going to be twenty, yes 20 years since "my terror attack" when I was run over by an Arab terrorist.

Today the sidewalk where I had been standing with a few dozen others does not exist. It's the crosswalk over the lightrail tracks. Twenty years ago there was no light rail, and to go to Shiloh, other Mateh Binyamin (County) communities and the Shomron, Samaria, one continued down the road through Ramalla. This was the place with lots of bus stops, besides being a trempiada.

At the time, the Arab terror tactic/weapon of choice was explosives to blow up oneself and as many bus passengers as possible. This was the time of Arab suicide bombers, think of the World War Two kamikaze pilots who killed themselves while trying to blow up Ally/American ships. Not just any culture can train/indoctrinate to do such things.

I'm pretty sure that there hadn't been any Arab terrorist rammings, like the one I had experienced, before this one. There had been knifings/stabbings, shootings and the suicide bus bombers. And during the few weeks before the attack, there had been lots of suicide attacks. To try to calm down people and since the police/army hadn't been there, they first announced that it had been an accident and began prosecution of the young men who neutralized/executed the terrorist on the spot after he had jumped menacingly out of his car.

Considering that the terrorist's car had made a sharp turn over my foot, knocking me down to the ground, I was very lucky that I wasn't seriously injured. Many others were, because he drove into the crowd waiting for buses and rides. A woman was murdered, too, by him.

I've blogged a lot about the attack over the years, because it happened, and although today I have recovered physically, one can never wipe out such a thing. And this is the season that the memories get stronger and stronger, especially considering that today's arab terrorists have been utilizing this terror attack method.

And no doubt, I'll blog more about it. Remember that Shabbat Zachor, the Shabbat before Purim is when we are commanded by Gd to remember what Amalek had done to us and what the modern Amalek is still doing. It's clear in my mind that the Arab terrorists of today are today's Amalek.

Do you have any questions about the attack you'd like answers to?

Arab Terrorism Caused by Israel's Weakness

When I was a high school English Teacher in a yeshiva high school, and I'd want to give a hint to my students of what the Hebrew for "doubt" is I'd ask them to give a word with the same gematria as Amalek. And they quickly shouted out:

" ספק,  saffek."

Kehilat Yaakov Synagogue, Har Nof, Jerusalem, where two Palestinian terrorists attacked worshipers at prayer, killing four and a policeman who tried to stop them, Nov. 18. 2014. (Photo credit: Kobi Gideon/GPO/FLASH90/Times of Israel)

Chazal say that our eternal enemies, Amalek, can sniff out our weaknesses and that's when they attack. In another couple of weeks will be Shabbat Zachor, the Shabbat before Purim when we are commanded to remember what Amalek had done to us.

“Zachor Et Asher Asa Lecha Amalek BaDerech Betzetchem MiMitzrayim”“Remember what Amalek did to you on your way out of Egypt! (Dvarim 25)”On the Shabbat that precedes Purim, two Torah scrolls are taken from the ark; one for the regular parsha and one for the Maftir – ‘Remember what Amalek did to you’ (Dvarim 25). Because of this reading, it is called, Shabbat Zachor (Remember). The Haftorah also deals with Amalek.
There is a mitzvah in the Torah to remember Amalek and his descendants and to orally recall their iniquity. We are to tell our children in each generation what the people of Amalek did to us during our departure from Egypt. This mitzvah will be fulfilled completely only when we shall have caused Amalek’s memory to perish, and their name to be erased from the world, together with the slightest remnant of anything that bears their name. As the Torah says: ‘Remember what Amalek did to you on the way, upon your departure from Egypt’… ‘You shall erase the memory of Amalek from beneath the heavens, you shall not forget.’ Upon which the Sages have expounded: ‘Remember,’ orally – ‘You shall not forget,’ in your heart. (OU)

The great weakness of Modern Zionism has always been the yearning for peace between Jews and Arabs in the Land of Israel. This made us more accommodating and accepting of the terror and cruelty that Arabs have exhibited from the very beginning until this very day. And it has also caused a "guilt complex," because most Jews, dangerously, believe that Arabs have equal if not stronger rights to be here in the Land of Israel.

Modern, Liberal (with a capital "L") philosophy cannot accept the Biblically based concept that the Jewish People are the One  and only One Chosen People of Gd.

For well over a century, ever since the very beginning of Modern Zionism, the return of the Jewish People from all over the World to the Holyland to establish a Jewish State, there have been attempts to placate the Arabs. There have been three very dangerous results:

• Arabs from all over have been attracted to live in the Land of Israel, greatly increasing the once minimal population. And even if they themselves had recently arrived from Syria, Egypt etc. they all claim that their families have lived here forever.
• Arab terrorism against Jews became an accepted, because the Arabs know that they are lightly punished and treated as ordinary criminals, if punished at all.
• By accepting Arab rights to be here and inventing an Arab nationalism which is called Palestine, sic, Jewish Rights to the Land of Israel have been marginalized by Jews and non-Jews alike.

The best way and only way to stop Arab terrorism is to stop being sorry for our victories. This Land is not to be shared with Arabs. It is our Land, the only Jewish Land there is. Anyone who does not accept full Israeli/Jewish sovereignty over the Entire Land of Israel should just leave and look for a land of his/her own. And not everyone is of a land-based people. 

We will only have peace when we fully defeat the enemy and stop trying to be nice!!

Benzion Netanyahu's Greatest Mistake

Hebrew names are words and/or biblical personalities.  They all have meaning and history.  Hebrew is an extremely magical language.  When someone's name is "analyzed" lots of information can be deduced.  That's not the say that every single person with the name of עדינה Adina, which means gentle will be all that gentle.  But I'd certainly prefer to have a Calev or Joshua on my team than a Nimrod.

I'd think that a great scholar of Jewish History and the Bible such as the late Professor Benzion Netanyahu would have picked a stronger name for his second son than Binyamin, Benjamin.  It's not the name for a strong, loyal to G-d leader. The first Benjamin in the Bible was the youngest child of Ya'aqov Avinu, Our Forefather Jacob.  Benjamin was a pawn.  We don't hear him speak.  He survived his childbirth which killed his mother.  His father and brothers made his decisions for him.  One doesn't see him acting independently or responding when the Egyptian Viceroy, who actually was his elder brother in disguise, sentenced him to imprisonment.

Second, his tribal descendants, the Tribe of Benjamin was involved in one of the most despicable Biblical stories, Pilegesh ba'Givah, the rape and murder of the concubine in Givah.  The tribe of Binyamin caused a major civil war which almost caused the destruction of their tribe.

And my third example of the problem with the name of Benjamin for a leader concerns King Saul, who was from that tribe.  King Saul was instrumental in two major sins as a king. He kept trying to cause a major civil war against David and his followers. He was willing to do anything to destroy David to guarantee that his son Yonatan, Jonathan would follow him as king to establish a dynasty.  Before David took over as king, he walked a very narrow tightrope trying to both defend himself and be a leader protecting the Jewish People. 

King Saul also refused to obey G-d's commandment to destroy all of Amalek, including the Amalek livestock.  In direct defiance of G-d's orders he kept alive Agog, the Amalek king and the livestock, which he used in an uncalled for ceremony.  When Samuel the Prophet discovered what he had done, Saul blamed the people for urging him to do it.

Finally the Prophet Samuel had to make it very clear to Saul that he was deposed.  Soon after that Saul committed suicide and his sons died in battle.  King David was then able to reign over the People of Israel.  Even better was that King David was in direct communication with G-d and didn't need the mentoring of Samuel.

Unfortunately, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is too much a "Benjamin" to be a strong Prime Minister.  Do you see the parallels in his letter to the problems we had thousands of years ago with King Saul?

Here's the very disgraceful Saul/Benjamin-like "letter to the people" that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu released. 

Prime Minister Netanyahu
From time to time, prime ministers are called on to make decisions that go against public opinion – when the matter is important for the country.
In order to make decisions that are supported by the public, there is no need for prime ministers.
At the present time, it seems to me that it is very important for the State of Israel to enter into a diplomatic process. This is important both in order to exhaust the chance of ending the conflict with the Palestinians and in order to establish Israel’s position in the complex international reality around us.
The major changes in our region – in Egypt, Syria and in Iran – not only place challenges before the State of Israel but they also create considerable opportunities for us.
For these reasons, I believe that it is important for the State of Israel to enter a diplomatic process that will continue for at least nine months – in order to check if it is possible to reach an agreement with the Palestinians during this time.
But even with all of the importance that I ascribe to the diplomatic process, I was not prepared to accept the Palestinians’ demands for withdrawals and freezes as preconditions for entering negotiations.
Neither was I prepared to accept their demand to release Palestinian prisoners before the start of negotiations. I did agree to release 104 Palestinians in stages after the start of the negotiations and in accordance with the circumstances of their progress.
This is an incomparably difficult decision, it is painful for the bereaved families and it is painful for the entire nation and it is also very painful for me.
It collides with the incomparably important value of justice.
It is a clear injustice when depraved people, even if most of them have sat in prison for over 20 years as in this case, are released before they have finished serving their sentences.
The decision is difficult for me seven-fold because my family and I personally know the price of bereavement stemming from terrorism. I know the pain very well. I have lived with it every day for the past 37 years. The fact that previous Israeli governments have released over 10,000 terrorists does not make it easier for me today, and did not make it easier when I decided to bring back Gilad Shalit.
Gilad Shalit’s return home entailed an incomparably difficult decision for me – releasing terrorists. But I believed that the value of bringing children back home needed to overcome this difficulty.
People in positions of leadership need to choose between complex choices and sometimes the necessary decision is especially difficult when most of the public opposes it.
Thus I decided to end Operation Pillar of Defense after the elimination of arch-terrorist Ahmed Jabari and after the severe blows the IDF dealt to Hamas and the other terrorist organizations.
I made the decision to end the operation even though most of the public supported continued action, which would have required entering the Gaza Strip on the ground. As Prime minister, I thought that the goal of deterrence had been mostly achieved by the determined actions that we carried out.
Today, almost one year after the end of Operation Pillar of Defense, we are witness to the quietest situation in the south in over a decade. Of course, this quiet can fray at any minute but my policy is clear on all fronts: We will, as much as possible, foil threats against us in a timely manner. We will react strongly to any attempt to harm our people.
In the next nine months, we will consider whether there is a Palestinian element opposite us that, like us, truly wants to end the conflict between us.
Such a conclusion will be possible only under conditions that will ensure security for Israel’s citizens and ensure our vital national interests.
If we succeed in achieving such a peace agreement, I will submit it to a referendum.
Such a fateful decision cannot be made by a close vote in the Knesset.
Every citizen must be allowed to directly influence our future and our fate on such a crucial issue.
The best answer we can give to those same base murderers that sought to defeat us through terrorism is that in the decades that they sat in prison, we built a glorious country and turned it into one of the most prosperous, advanced and strongest countries in the world.
I promise that we will continue thus.
Yours,
Benjamin Netanyahu.

It's Clear in The Torah That All Jews are Commanded by G-d to Serve in the Jewish Army

Warning: I'm not a rabbi and don't claim to be.  I'm not even a Torah scholar and certainly never claim to be.  I'm a simple Jew who does my best to live according to what G-d commands us.  Almost half a century ago I began to be Torah observant and soon after that got married and moved to Israel.  For over thirty years we've lived in Shiloh.  This is my personal opinion.

This week's Parshat Shavua, Torah Portion of the Week has a very timely story. 

Matot-Masay (Numbers 30-36) are the last chapters of במדבר Numbers (In The Desert.)  It takes place during the fortieth year of wandering in the wilderness, just as the Jewish People are about to cross the Jordan River enter the Land of Israel.

Numbers Chapter 32 בְּמִדְבַּר

א  וּמִקְנֶה רַב, הָיָה לִבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן וְלִבְנֵי-גָד--עָצוּם מְאֹד; וַיִּרְאוּ אֶת-אֶרֶץ יַעְזֵר, וְאֶת-אֶרֶץ גִּלְעָד, וְהִנֵּה הַמָּקוֹם, מְקוֹם מִקְנֶה.	1 Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle; and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle,
ב  וַיָּבֹאוּ בְנֵי-גָד, וּבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן; וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל-אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן, וְאֶל-נְשִׂיאֵי הָעֵדָה לֵאמֹר.	2 the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying:
ג  עֲטָרוֹת וְדִיבֹן וְיַעְזֵר וְנִמְרָה, וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן וְאֶלְעָלֵה, וּשְׂבָם וּנְבוֹ, וּבְעֹן.	3 'Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Sebam, and Nebo, and Beon,
ד  הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר הִכָּה יְהוָה לִפְנֵי עֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל--אֶרֶץ מִקְנֶה, הִוא; וְלַעֲבָדֶיךָ, מִקְנֶה.  {ס}	4 the land which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle.' {S}
ה  וַיֹּאמְרוּ, אִם-מָצָאנוּ חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ--יֻתַּן אֶת-הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת לַעֲבָדֶיךָ, לַאֲחֻזָּה:  אַל-תַּעֲבִרֵנוּ, אֶת-הַיַּרְדֵּן.	5 And they said: 'If we have found favour in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession; bring us not over the Jordan.'
ו  וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה, לִבְנֵי-גָד וְלִבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן:  הַאַחֵיכֶם, יָבֹאוּ לַמִּלְחָמָה, וְאַתֶּם, תֵּשְׁבוּ פֹה.	6 And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben: 'Shall your brethren go to the war, and shall ye sit here?

This statement by Moshe is a very important one.  And I as a longtime Israeli whose husband, sons, other relatives, neighbors and friends have served in the IDF, most survived but not all, relate to those words very strongly.

In 1948 a small Jewish State was established, which lacked the Walled City of Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and many other areas of the historic Land of Israel.  Nineteen years later, as a result of the Six Days War when Israel was attacked by three coordinated Arab states, Jordan, Syria and Egypt, Israel miraculously won and liberated most of those Biblical areas.

Israel's victories in 1948, 1967 and 1973 were so obviously miraculous that it was and is obvious that G-d lent His Power and approves of the existence of the State of Israel.  In this week's Torah Tidbits, Phil Chernofsky wrote about the " old philosophical question about whether a glass is half full or half empty" apropos to the State of Israel.

There are some Jews who view the establishment of the State of Israel as an empty glass - or worse. As has been written many times in Torah Tidbits, that is a lamentable attitude towards something that we should be thanking and praising G-d for. Israel has been returned to Jewish hands, Jews from all over the world are returning to their homeland, and the land that had been desolate and abandoned for so many long years of exile is flourishing.
There are some Jews who see the modern State of Israel as a full glass. The dream - Herzl’s dream has been realized. The Jewish people have their state, have their homeland back. What more could we want? As has been often written in these pages, these people are seriously missing the point. Our dream has not merely been ‘Next year in Jerusalem’, but in Yerushalayim HaB’nuya - in rebuilt Jerusalem, and that means the Beit HaMikdash and all that accompanies it.
There are many Jews who view our current status as the proverbial half-filled glass. This group is subdivided into the half-empty or half-full types - but let’s leave that for another time.
Let’s be optimistic. Today we have a half-full glass. We have witnessed the process of the Ingathering of the Exiles. We has seen - with out our own eyes, as the expression goes - parts of Zecharia’s prophecy come to be. There are old men and women who sit in the streets of Jerusalem and we see Jewish children playing in those streets. We see the Land flourish with fruits and vegetables that not only fill our food baskets but are, in some cases, the envy of the world. Israel’s impressive strides in many fields are evidence of our return to Israel - with G-d’s blessing.

I am not saying that things here are perfect.  It's our job to make it better, closer to perfect and not to stand back and reject the State and the IDF.

At the women's Shabbat Torah Class in my neighborhood, we were reminded that the Jewish People were given three commandments to do once entering the Land:

1. anoint a king
2. destroy Amalek
3. build the Beit Hamikdash

I numbered them, because they are supposed to be done in that order.  G-d facilitated the establishment and continued existence of the State of Israel.  It is up to us to make is a Jewish State, a proper Jewish Kingdom.  And it's up to us to make the army, the IDF a strongly Jewish army. The only way to do this is to have Torah observant Jews as soldiers and officers. That is how, with the help of G-d, our enemies will be destroyed.  And then we will be able to build the Beit Hamikdash, the Holy Temple.

The Sin of Being Merciful to One's Enemies

Just two days ago was Shabbat Zachor, when we're reminded to remember what Amalek did to us.  All Jews are supposed to listen to the words in the Torah that tell us what happened to the Children of Israel soon after leaving Egypt:

יז זָכוֹר, אֵת אֲשֶׁר-עָשָׂה לְךָ עֲמָלֵק, בַּדֶּרֶךְ, בְּצֵאתְכֶם מִמִּצְרָיִם. 17 Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way as ye came forth out of Egypt;
יח אֲשֶׁר קָרְךָ בַּדֶּרֶךְ, וַיְזַנֵּב בְּךָ כָּל-הַנֶּחֱשָׁלִים אַחֲרֶיךָ--וְאַתָּה, עָיֵף וְיָגֵעַ; וְלֹא יָרֵא, אֱלֹהִים. 18 how he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, all that were enfeebled in thy rear, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God.
יט וְהָיָה בְּהָנִיחַ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְךָ מִכָּל-אֹיְבֶיךָ מִסָּבִיב, בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה-אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ נַחֲלָה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ--תִּמְחֶה אֶת-זֵכֶר עֲמָלֵק, מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמָיִם; לֹא, תִּשְׁכָּח. {פ} 19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget. {P}

The Haftara, additional Bible portion read afterwards, tells how our first king, Saul, was fired by G-d for "tweaking" the very clear orders to destroy all of Amalek's descendants and livestock.  King Saul delayed executing Agag and reserved some of the livestock for a ceremony he "composed."  When confronted by Samuel the Prophet, who was the go-between between him and G-d, Saul blamed "the people" for pressuring him to add these "innovations."  But if you read the Bible, you'll see that it's written "Saul and the people" showing that it was his decision and the people followed their king, not as he claimed.
What's recorded does not support Saul.  And even if his claim was true, he was the king, chosen by G-d, and as a leader, it was his responsibility to control the situation by influencing the nation to follow G-d's orders.

  ב כֹּה אָמַר, יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, פָּקַדְתִּי, אֵת אֲשֶׁר-עָשָׂה עֲמָלֵק לְיִשְׂרָאֵל--אֲשֶׁר-שָׂם לוֹ בַּדֶּרֶךְ, בַּעֲלֹתוֹ מִמִּצְרָיִם. 2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts: I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way, when he came up out of Egypt.
ג עַתָּה לֵךְ וְהִכִּיתָה אֶת-עֲמָלֵק, וְהַחֲרַמְתֶּם אֶת-כָּל-אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ, וְלֹא תַחְמֹל, עָלָיו; וְהֵמַתָּה מֵאִישׁ עַד-אִשָּׁה, מֵעֹלֵל וְעַד-יוֹנֵק, מִשּׁוֹר וְעַד-שֶׂה, מִגָּמָל וְעַד-חֲמוֹר. {ס} 3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.' {S}
ח וַיִּתְפֹּשׂ אֶת-אֲגַג מֶלֶךְ-עֲמָלֵק, חָי; וְאֶת-כָּל-הָעָם, הֶחֱרִים לְפִי-חָרֶב. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
ט וַיַּחְמֹל שָׁאוּל וְהָעָם עַל-אֲגָג, וְעַל-מֵיטַב הַצֹּאן וְהַבָּקָר וְהַמִּשְׁנִים וְעַל-הַכָּרִים וְעַל-כָּל-הַטּוֹב, וְלֹא אָבוּ, הַחֲרִימָם; וְכָל-הַמְּלָאכָה נְמִבְזָה וְנָמֵס, אֹתָהּ הֶחֱרִימוּ. {פ} 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, even the young of the second birth, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them; but every thing that was of no account and feeble, that they destroyed utterly. {P}
י וַיְהִי, דְּבַר-יְהוָה, אֶל-שְׁמוּאֵל, לֵאמֹר. 10 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying:
יא נִחַמְתִּי, כִּי-הִמְלַכְתִּי אֶת-שָׁאוּל לְמֶלֶךְ--כִּי-שָׁב מֵאַחֲרַי, וְאֶת-דְּבָרַי לֹא הֵקִים; וַיִּחַר, לִשְׁמוּאֵל, וַיִּזְעַק אֶל-יְהוָה, כָּל-הַלָּיְלָה. 11 'It repenteth Me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned back from following Me, and hath not performed My commandments.' And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night

I also have a problem with Samuel's behavior here.  It is said that Agag used his last night of living to impregnate his wife, and a descendant of that child was Haman.  It's written that "Samuel cried... all night."  If instead of crying he had rushed to the scene couldn't he have executed Agog before that final act?  Samuel was too attached to his protege`which paralysed him when he needed to act quickly.

Because of King Saul's sins, we're still suffering from Amalek.  And our politicians are no better than King Saul.  That's all I can think of when reading the pathetically perverse, misguided apologies by our Israeli government for injuring civilian Arabs and our allowing fuel to be pumped to Gaza despite the closure. 

Remember, I do

This past Shabbat (yesterday) was Shabbat Zachor, the Shabbat we're supposed to remember what Amalek did to us all those millennium ago, because in actuality, Amalek is still active, still attacking us.

Amalek wasn't destroyed by King Saul, even though Saul had been ordered by G-d, via Samuel, to destroy him totally and utterly, even his livestock.

To this very day, we're paying for Saul's sin. Saul was a weak and fearful "leader." When G-d had commanded Samuel to anoint him king, it had been hoped that Saul would accept instructions from Samuel. But free will can be very unpredictable and dangerous. Saul, enjoying his power as king, didn't obey, and for that reason he was deposed in what I consider the Bible's greatest dramatic scene.

Sounding very much like a modern politician, Saul, blamed the people. If you look carefully at the Biblical text, it doesn't say that the people ordered, or urged Saul to disobey G-d. It says:
"...Saul and the people..." Saul is mentioned first. This is not like the sin of the Golden Calf, when the people rebelled and Aaron tried to control it by joining.

The Hebrew makes it even more clear that Saul led, because all verbs in Hebrew are either in singular or plural. " וַיַּחְמֹל שָׁאוּל וְהָעָם עַל-אֲגָג" "Vayachmol" is in singular. Even if it's supposed to mean that Saul and the people were totally united, as one, it condemns him for not struggling to obey G-d.

1 Samuel Chapter 15
ז וַיַּךְ שָׁאוּל, אֶת-עֲמָלֵק, מֵחֲוִילָה בּוֹאֲךָ שׁוּר, אֲשֶׁר עַל-פְּנֵי מִצְרָיִם. 7 And Saul smote the Amalekites, from Havilah as thou goest to Shur, that is in front of Egypt.
ח וַיִּתְפֹּשׂ אֶת-אֲגַג מֶלֶךְ-עֲמָלֵק, חָי; וְאֶת-כָּל-הָעָם, הֶחֱרִים לְפִי-חָרֶב. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
ט וַיַּחְמֹל שָׁאוּל וְהָעָם עַל-אֲגָג, וְעַל-מֵיטַב הַצֹּאן וְהַבָּקָר וְהַמִּשְׁנִים וְעַל-הַכָּרִים וְעַל-כָּל-הַטּוֹב, וְלֹא אָבוּ, הַחֲרִימָם; וְכָל-הַמְּלָאכָה נְמִבְזָה וְנָמֵס, אֹתָהּ הֶחֱרִימוּ. {פ} 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, even the young of the second birth, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them; but every thing that was of no account and feeble, that they destroyed utterly. {P}

Saul's blaming the people was even worse than when Adam blamed Chava (Eve) for eating the forbidden fruit.

Today we are caught in a situation very much like the Haftara of Shabbat Zachor, but today is much, much worse. Saul and his sinful advisers dominate the government, the media and even our religious leadership. The voice of Samuel is gagged and muffled. Even worse are those who speak in his name confusing us.

In a couple of days, it will be Purim, the Holiday which reminds us that even when G-d seems to be absent, He is always with us, Hester Pannim. Let's pray that G-d will once again bring us miracles, even if we don't deserve them.

Like King Saul...

King Saul, the first of the Jewish Kings, failed and was deposed, because he didn't obey G-d's orders, to totally annihilate Amalek, his family and his live stock:

1 Samuel Chapter 15
1 And Samuel said unto Saul: 'The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over His people, over Israel; now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. {S} 2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts: I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way, when he came up out of Egypt. 3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.' {S} 4 And Saul summoned the people, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. 5 And Saul came to the city of Amalek, and lay in wait in the valley. 6 And Saul said unto the Kenites: 'Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt.' So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7 And Saul smote the Amalekites, from Havilah as thou goest to Shur, that is in front of Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, even the young of the second birth, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them; but every thing that was of no account and feeble, that they destroyed utterly. {P}

For not obeying G-d's orders, Saul lost the kingship.

That's what this movie reminds me of.



And here is how Saul's kingship ends:

22 And Samuel said: 'Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in hearkening to the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, He hath also rejected thee from being king.' {S} 24 And Saul said unto Samuel: 'I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words; because I feared the people, and hearkened to their voice. 25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD.' 26 And Samuel said unto Saul: 'I will not return with thee; for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.' {S} 27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his robe, and it rent. {S} 28 And Samuel said unto him: 'The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. {S} 29 And also the Glory of Israel will not lie nor repent; for He is not a man, that He should repent.' 30 Then he said: 'I have sinned; yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.' 31 So Samuel returned after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD. {S} 32 Then said Samuel: 'Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites.' And Agag came unto him in chains. And Agag said: 'Surely the bitterness of death is at hand.' {S} 33 And Samuel said: As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal. {S} 34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeath-shaul. 35 And Samuel never beheld Saul again until the day of his death; for Samuel mourned for Saul; and the LORD repented that He had made Saul king over Israel. {P}

More on Our BBC Guest

When BBC reporter, Aleem Maqbool, trekked from Nazereth to Bethlehem he stopped in only one Jewish town, Shiloh, and stayed with me and my husband.

We knew nothing about him when we agreed to host him, but apparently, Honest Reporting considers him one of the most politically hostile correspondents around.

Maqbool's very professional, meaning that he's charming and polite and doesn't argue when interviewing. It's not that he pretended to agree with me, but afterwards he did tell me that he found my interview full of points he hadn't heard before and was hoping to get them all in the final broadcast. No, we haven't seen the final broadcast. Our television only receives Israel's Channel 1 and Jordan. I'm curious about the show and hope that we'll receive a dvd of it.

Maqbool told us that he does visit Ramalla frequently. He also claimed that it's possible to wall Israel in after Israel gives the Arabs the land they want. I mocked that idea as technically impossible, reminding him that "I'm sure your contacts in Ramalla told you how easy it is to breach the walls." He just "smiled" in response. This isn't anything just my paranoid mind devised. It has been broadcast on Israeli news shows, showing various holes in the fence/wall. There is no budget for upkeep.

After twenty-seven years' experience dealing with journalists, diplomats, etc, I don't expect them to be our friends. Only rarely have I been very pleasantly surprised.

I believe in straight-talking bluntness, no wishy-washy politician-like ambiguous political double-talk. There's nothing to be "flexible" about. I'm not "diplomatic." I'm determined and confident, not dreaming. I'm a pragmatist.

If that makes people uncomfortable, big deal.

Experts counseling women in "rape protection" say that it's all in the "body language." The same advice goes for keeping the bullies away.

The parents of the Chabad emissaries, Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holzberg, murdered in Mumbai lit Chanukah Candles in India at the location of the terror attack. That's the right reaction.

We're all fighting the same terrorism. We must be unbending. That's the lesson of Chanukah. We will only survive if we're strong and uncompromising.

Our enemies are the descendants of the Biblical Amalek. The gematria of Amalek is the same as the gematria of "doubt." Show doubt, weakness, compromise and Amalek, our enemies will get stronger. It can be likened to a Law of Physics.

That's why we light one candle more each night of Chanukah. By showing our strength, we get gradually stronger and stronger. That is the true lesson of Chanukah.

Chag Urim Same'ach

May We Have An Enlightened Chanukah

Chelm's a Joke, But This Isn't Funny

News is already reporting that Israel is withdrawing from Gaza, but the government has never bothered reporting its war aims. Actually they're referring to it as "an operation." Funny, the use of the word. Doctors, nowadays, refer to "operations" as "procedures." Following euphemisms can be quite an adventure.

The government claims that the "operation" is for "Israel's defense." But they stress that it's not to hurt or damage anyone other than Hamas.

The more the government explains and apologizes, the more we're condemned. It's seen as a sign of guilt, weakness and doubt.

Doubt in Hebrew is ספק, "saffek." Our sages tell us that the Gematriya of "saffek" is the same as for Amalek. Amalek attacked us when we showed weakness and always attacked the weakest elements.

Amalek doesn't show mercy, and G-d commanded Saul, our first king, to destroy Amalek and all his possessions. Saul lost the right to rule when he didn't obey that commandment.

As King Solomon wrote:
אין חדש "Ain chadash," There's nothing new...

Signalling What?

The US Navy is sending three warships to the eastern Mediterranean Sea in a show of strength during a period of tensions with Syria and political uncertainty in Lebanon.
Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters the deployment should not be viewed as threatening or in response to events in any single country in that volatile region.
"This is an area that is important to us, the eastern Med," he said when asked about news reports of the ship movements. "It's a group of ships that will operate in the vicinity there for a while," adding that "it isn't meant to send any stronger signals than that, but it does signal that we're engaged, we're going to be in the vicinity and that's a very, very important part of the world." (complete article)

IMHO, it signals that the US considers itself in charge and sovereign, though in foreign and international waters. I wish it would butt out and leave us alone. All the "help" from the US, UN and Europe has accomplished, has been to strengthen and embolden our enemies.

Israel is under attack. The cities the Arabs have been bombing are all pre-1967. Olmert and his cohorts are incapable of defending Israel and defeating our enemies. In another two weeks, it will be Shabbat Zachor, when G-d reminds us to totally annihilate Amalek. It is read in the "tune" of every Jewish ethnic group to make sure that we all understand that it is our personal individual responsibility to destroy every last iota of Amalek, when and wherever we are.

Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach!

May You Have a Peaceful and Blessed Sabbath