Rosh Chodesh Nissan-- Pesach Can't Be Avoided

This year, even before the first Iranian missile was launched at Israel, I kept thinking that "a month after Purim will be Pesach, and I had better start preparing." 

Purim and Pesach are a month apart... On Rosh Chodesh Adar we had a nice group of women praying together on  Ancient Tel Shiloh, and obviously we hadn't a clue what would noisily herald the joyous holiday... missiles from Modern Persia aka Iran.

None of us can accurately predict the future, even less than a month from now. Nor can we predict what will be on Rosh Chodesh Nissan in less than two weeks. We've prayed together during other wars and COVID restrictions, so we're planning on our usual prayers on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Any "adjustments" will be announced immediately before, so please plan on joining us for Women's Rosh Chodesh Prayers in Ancient Shiloh. If you have any questions, email shilohmuse@gmail.com 

Tel Shiloh is an amazing archeological site with activities for all. For more information 02-578-9111 or  visit@telshilo.org.il.

Please pray for a total, indisputable VICTORY

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #20: Israel Needs New Esther and Mordechai, ASAP!

This is inspired by a challenge to compare the Biblical Purim story with today's situation concerning the Jewish People, The State of Israel and our war for survival. Which of today's Israeli and world leaders are like the five main characters, King Achashverosh, Haman, Vashti, Mordechai and Esther of the Purim story?

Fairly easily I was able to decide on the Persian King Achashverosh, who's very much controlled by his advisors and seems terrified or unwilling to move without the approval of his backers. Haman is also easy to name, and he, too, represents a coalition of supporters and advisors. Vashti took a bit more thought to decide on. She had her moment of fame and then was pushed off the stage. Only our two heroes are missing, Esther and Mordechai. Try as I can, I just don't see anyone or team showing the capabilities and daring needed to topple King Achashverosh and Haman.

Following are my three Purim characters of today.

• King Achashverosh- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu
• Haman- US President Biden
• Vashti- former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett

Of course if you disagree, I invite you to state your opinions in the comments. 

I'll start with Naftali Bennett as Vashti, since she's off stage very early on. Bennett after his great success in high-tech had been Netanyahu's chief of staff from 2006-8, until Bibi kept dampening Bennett's ambitions, jealous of his talents, and threw him out of the palace. A few years ago, Bennett did the impossible and crafted an unthinkable, even miraculous, coalition and became Israel's Prime Minister. In response, Netanyahu showed his antidemocratic fangs and did everything in his power to destroy Naftali Bennett. He succeeded, very much like Achashverosh's banishment of Vashti. Some Bible scholars say that Vashti was from the royal family and married down. The marriage is what gave Achashverosh the kingship.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has been in this high office most of the past twenty years, which according to all logic means that he's responsible for the dangerous mess the State of Israel is in. Like the Biblical Achashverosh, he needs reminding... so far, he's still asleep at the wheel. Considering that Bibi was educated in the USA, he should be familiar with Harry Truman's motto: 

The Buck Stops Here!

Instead of acting like a strong sovereign leader, Netanyahu likes to talk tough, but his policies are weak. And it's really embarrassing and dangerous for the State of Israel, that he seems so unsure and halting. The additional members of his "war cabinet," like King Achashverosh's advisors, seem even less competent. In Bibi's case, he brought in the same military men who built the defenses that failed on October 7, 2023. They're all covering their you-know-whats. 

American President Biden represents Haman, the enemy. Achashverosh trusts Haman, and gives him so much authority -including his ring for signing national orders. That reminds me of how Netanyahu is sharing our military secrets and plans with Biden and his staff. Bibi is consulting with them, as if we're all on the same "team," using Biden's terminology. 

How could Bibi do such a thing? What about our national security? The United States has been training and arming the same Arabs who have been attacking us!!! Don't forget that Chuck Schumer, Biden's stooge, announced to the world that the USA wants Netanyahu REPLACED! Biden confirmed it, and Bibi doesn't have the guts to pull our ambassador out of Washington. Doesn't he have any pride, national or personal? He even makes Achashverosh look good.

Think about it. Something is very wrong.

In the Purim story, early on we see Mordechai planting his orphaned relative, Esther, in Achashverosh's palace. Mordechai was a gutsy rebel. That's the Hebrew meaning of his name. The first three letters מרד mem, resh, daled are the root of mered, rebellion. That's why Haman hated him so. Haman knew well that Mordechai couldn't be controlled by Persian authorities. 

I have no idea if an Esther has already been planted someplace where she can turn the tables and bring us victory. Gd willing, she's there, and soon we'll see wonderful miracles. 

If Esther and Mordechai haven't yet started their tasks, Gd willing they'll start soon, ASAP or better yet YESTERDAY!

PRAY!!!

Masks- A Linguistic Purim Spiel, Story, Dvar Torah

Bemasked and Bewigged Purim 5781

I was rather surprised and even flattered when a neighbor asked me to prepare something to say about "Masks" for the Old Fogeys' Purim Party. To be honest, I wasn't quite sure if I was supposed to be serious, theological or humorous, but I figured that if I asked too many questions, I'd lose the gig.

My mind began racing in all different directions in two languages. Actually, I was thinking in English and translating into Hebrew almost simultaneously. The talk was to be in Hebrew, even though my brain's wiring is primarily English. 

One shouldn't forget that according to some expert linguists, Hebrew is the root/source of all languages. If that's really true, then thinking in English is sort of like thinking in Hebrew. 

Every once in awhile the similarities between English and Hebrew words strike me like a bolt of lightening. When I'm on the Jerusalem Lightrail in Pisgat Zeev I hear:

"פסגת זאב מרכז"

"Pisgat Zeev Merkaz*"

"Pisgat Zeev Market"

Until the lightrail announcement, I had never noticed the similarity between merkaz and market. Remember that markets are in town centers...

Back to masks...

...The job of a mask is to mask is to hide...

OOPS! A mask is a מסכה masecha, but to mask or to hide is להסתיר lihas'tir which unrelated linguistically to מסכה masecha. which has the same root as סוכה succah, which gives us protection. 

By thinking/planning in English I was making no sense in Hebrew. And davka me, who gets all riled up at bad translations causing even theological mistakes. For example a Biblical Prophet, Navi נביא is not a fortune or future teller. He or she is a messenger, a tool Gd uses to pass important warnings to the Jewish People. Because it's always translated into "prophet" meaning teller of the future, now even Hebrew speakers think that the role of a Navi is tell the future.

Mask does sound very much like masecha. Maybe they are related...

Then it hit me! Such siyate d'Shmaya, such irony, too! During this past year masks have been a tool for protection against the COVID corona virus! No longer do we primarily think of a bank robber in a mask. Now we wear masks to stay healthy and keep others healthy. It's for protection, not hiding. 

Hebrew really is the root of all languages.

Stay safe, and wear your mask in public or when with other people.

*Center

The Truth About Purim, Via Facebook Live

Reflecting on Purim, Corona virus, Jewish History and Jewish Life today.

Just to warn you, I generally come up with unique opinions.

I'd like to know what you think, even if you don't agree with me. Let's agree to disagree, but please listen first.

Have a wonderful week. Stay healthy best you can and keep your sense of humor.

Gantz-Arab Gov't, Not a Purim Joke

Benny Gantz making his big announcement
(yes, we still watch an old-fashioned tv set)

Things are looking worse and worse for Israel as Benny Gantz seems to be crossing his original "red line" in terms of counting on the extreme Left anti-Israel Arab party aka the Joint List to shore up his coalition. I don't know what deal/promises the backers/funders/organizers of Blue & White demanded of its so-called leadership, but Gabi Ashkenazi isn't letting principles get in his path to power.

MK Gabi Ashkenazi, one of the four leaders of the Blue and White party, expressed his opposition to the establishment of a minority government with the support of the predominantly Arab Joint List party in closed talks between the four leaders, Channel 13 News reported Monday.
However, if such a move is promoted, Ashkenazi does not intend to vote against it and prevent the establishment of such a government, the report said.

Some of Blue & White's Telem MKs are also having trouble accepting such a coalition, and their leader,  Moshe Bogie Yaalon wants them to resign, rather than stick to their principles.

Here in the Jewish Calendar, the Jewish World, it's Purim. Purim celebrates the story of how a Jewish woman, in disguise, ended up reversing an evil decree against the Jewish People.

Gd willing, we will see some Blue and White MKs act as true leaders and not followers. I just hope that that very male party has the strength, daring, cunning and strong principles of the very female Queen Esther.

For Want of an Asterisk, Shiloh Celebrates Two Days of Purim

Before I get started, I want to thank my husband for doing some of the research for this.

There are a number of places here in the HolyLand where Purim is a two day holiday. Many of them are neighborhoods in modern day Jerusalem, which are distant from the Old Walled City. In those cases, it's perfectly understandable that their status is questionable. But for many of the other locations where Purim is celebrated both days, especially Shiloh, it really makes no sense.

As I understand it, the basic criteria for celebrating Shushan Purim, the day after regular Purim is this Mishnah, the requirement that the city had a wall at the time of Joshua.

Sefaria, Mishnah Megillah 1

מְגִלָּה נִקְרֵאת בְּאַחַד עָשָׂר, בִּשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר, בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה עָשָׂר, בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר, בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר, לֹא פָחוֹת וְלֹא יוֹתֵר. כְּרַכִּין הַמֻּקָּפִין חוֹמָה מִימוֹת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן נוּן, קוֹרִין בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר. כְּפָרִים וַעֲיָרוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת, קוֹרִין בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר, אֶלָּא שֶׁהַכְּפָרִים מַקְדִּימִין לְיוֹם הַכְּנִיסָה:

The Megillah [Scroll of Esther] is read on the eleventh, on the twelfth, on the thirteenth, on the fourteenth, [or] on the fifteenth [of Adar], not earlier and not later. Cities surrounded with walls from the days of Yehoshua son of Nun read it on the fifteenth [of Adar]. Villages and large cities read it on the fourteenth, but villages read in advance on the day of assembly.

Shiloh Hakeduma, Ancient Biblical Shiloh, the Canaanite Wall

Shiloh Hakeduma, Ancient Biblical Shiloh, the Canaanite Wall

According to those criteria, Shiloh fits the bill perfectly. Sections of that wall exist even today, as you can see in the above photos. This is the Shiloh, agreed by both Biblical and archeological scholars, where Joshua brought the Tabernacle.

Nu, so what's the problem? The Mishnah also lists a number of cities where Jews are to celebrate Purim the second day, and Shiloh, for some reason, isn't in that list. It's presumed that at that very time the Mishnah was written, there wasn't much of a Jewish community living in Shiloh. But that isn't a requirement according to the actual Mishnah, unless I'm mistaken.

Joshua 18

וַיִּקָּ֨הֲל֜וּ כָּל־עֲדַ֤ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ שִׁלֹ֔ה וַיַּשְׁכִּ֥ינוּ שָׁ֖ם אֶת־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְהָאָ֥רֶץ נִכְבְּשָׁ֖ה לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃

The whole community of the Israelite people assembled at Shiloh, and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The land was now under their control;

Today over forty 40 years since we, the Jewish People and State of Israel have returned to Shiloh, we're stuck in a strange halachic situation. We live a short walk from the wall which dates to the time of Joshua, but we're not among the cities celebrating Purim on the 15th of Adar. On the 14th of Adar we celebrate Purim with a bracha and Al Hanisim, but because we know that Shiloh existed as a walled Jewish city at the time of Joshua, we celebrate the holiday sans bracha on the the following day.

The listing in the mishnah of cities that should celebrate Shushan Purim should have included an asterisk*, with the following note:

"*plus any walled cities in the Land of Israel we may have left out"

Photos from each of the four readings of  Megillat Esther, Purim 5779, the fourth being my walk home.

Star of The Purim Story Esther, Not Haddassa

I have my "differences" with the accepted Biblical commentaries in a lot of issues. And I see things in the linguistics of the Tanach/Bible in ways that others don't. It's hard to say why, but for sure, one of the main reasons is that I didn't grow up with the "Torah stories" that most others grew up with.

Almost everything I know about the Tanach/Bible I learned as an adult. Add that to the fact that my mind does work a bissell differently from others, and you shouldn't be surprised.

Unlike EVERYONE ELSE, I read the line I've circled here as:

"And he raised Hadassa, actually named Esther..."

Standard commentary of her name is that her Persian name was Esther, but her real name was Haddassa.

It's a well known fact that there's a Hebrew root to the name Esther סתר.  סתר S-T-R means "secret." And the same linguistic root להסתיר lihastir means to hide.  Those who claim the root to be Persian, say it's "star." I have a question for you:

When are stars out?

Did you answer "at night"?

Think again, please. Stars are always surrounding the earth. It's just that daylight hides them. Clouds and rain hide them even at night. Yes, stars are mostly hidden.

Not only did Esther hide her national identity when in the palace; she hid her intelligence, too. Ester was a woman of secrets, just like her name in Hebrew, Esther סתר , אסתר S-T-R means "secret."

There's a linguistic theory that Hebrew is the root of all languages. What do you think?

Purim: Mordechai and Esther, The Rebel and The "Sleeper"

One of the great things about the Hebrew language is that pretty much every single combination of two or three letters can be understood as words.

Waiting to hear the Megilla, the Scroll of Esther

Chaz"al, our sages, have been debating and discussing the meanings of the two most crucial names in Megillat Ester, Mordechai and Esther. Most claim that neither are actual Jewish/Hebrew names. Maybe it's a bit chutzpadik of me to add my two cents 2¢ to the discussion, but very learned teachers and friends do respect my opinions, so here goes:

Megillat Ester, Chapter 2, Verse 7זוַיְהִ֨י אֹמֵ֜ן אֶת־הֲדַסָּ֗ה הִ֤יא אֶסְתֵּר֙ Hadassah, that is Esther

I agree with those who say that the name Esther/Ester is Hebrew/Jewish, not a version of "star." It is derived from the Hebrew linguistic root  סתר, s, t, r, which means hide. In the megillah narrative, Esther is planted as a spy, a "sleeper," by her uncle Mordechai. In the line in which she is introduced to us, I don't think that the הדס hadas, myrtle plant is used as a noun, name of the bush.  The myrtle is a hardy, evergreen plant. The fact that in the megillah, it's written with a ה "h" at the end to make it feminine, I consider it an adjective. So I'd translate it as:

"strong/hardy is Esther"

We have some myrtle in our garden, and they thrive in the most difficult of weather. Yes, that is very much like Esther who rose so magnificently to the challenges she was faced with.

Mordechai is considered by most as a totally non-Jewish, non-Hebrew name. It is even suggested that he is the Navi, Prophet Malachi. But I see a Hebrew name very clearly. Actually, so did Haman. Haman accused Mordechai of being rebellious. And what is the meaning for the first three Hebrew letters in מָרְדֳּכַ֛י Mordechai?

מרד mered, rebellion

Now go over Megillat Ester with this new information. What do you think?

Chag Purim Sameach!

GUEST POST: REFUTING THE FANS OF VASHTI

REFUTING THE FANS OF VASHTI
(a guest post by Mr. Cohen)
======================================
In recent years, Jewish Feminists have claimed that
Vashti, the wife of King Achashverosh from the
Biblical Book of Esther, was a Feminist hero or role model. 

 

This claim can be refuted with knowledge of Torah.

 

======================================

Why Vashti was evil [quick summary in time order]:

======================================
(1) Targum Yonatan on Esther, chapter 1, verse 9,
translates “Queen Vashti” [וַשְׁתִּי הַמַּלְכָּה] into Aramaic
as “Vashti the evil Queen” [ושתי מלכתא רשיעתא].

(2) Vashti deserved punishment because she forced

Jewish women to work on Shabbat [while naked]

(Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, chapter 48 and also

Babylonian Talmud, tractate Megillah, page 12B).

(3) Vashti did not come [when she was summoned

by her husband, King Achashverosh], only because

she was suddenly struck with leprosy
(Babylonian Talmud, tractate Megillah, page 12B).

(4) Vashti is the ONLY woman who is explicitly

identified as an evil woman [ושתי הרשעה] by the Talmud

(Babylonian Talmud, tractate Megillah, page 12B).
 

Even the wives of Esau and the wife of Lot were

never explicitly labeled as evil women by the Talmud. 
 

Even Zeresh, the wife of Haman [וַיְסַפֵּר הָמָן לְזֶרֶשׁ אִשְׁתּוֹ],

from the Book of Esther, chapter 6, verse 13, was never

explicitly labeled as an evil woman by the Talmud.

(5) Vashti’s reign was a fulfillment of the curse of

the Biblical Prophet Isaiah (chapter 3, verse 12):
“As for My people, their rulers are mockers,
AND WOMEN WILL RULE OVER THEM…”
(Midrash Rabah, Book of Esther, chapter 3, paragraph 2).

(6) Vashti was one of four women who held power

in the world and oppressed the Jewish people
(Midrash Rabah, Esther, chapter 3, end of paragraph 2).

(7) Vashti desecrated the sacred garments of
the Jewish High Priest (Midrash Rabah on the

Biblical Book of Esther, chapter 3, paragraph 9).

(8) Vashti influenced King Achashverosh to

stop the reconstruction of the Jewish Temple

in Jerusalem (Midrash Rabah on the Biblical

Book of Esther, chapter 5, paragraph 2).

(9) Rashi’s commentary on Esther, chapter 2, verse 1,

teaches that King Achashverosh regretted killing Vashti

because of her beauty – [which suggests that Vashti’s

physical beauty was her only positive attribute.]

(10) Yalkut Meam Loez commentary on Esther,
chapter 1, verse 9, (based on earlier sources):
Vashti wanted to tempt the Jews to commit sexual
misdeeds, so they would be unworthy of rebuilding
the Temple in Jerusalem, that her grandfather,
Nebuchadnezzar, had destroyed.

(11) Yalkut Meam Loez commentary on Esther,

chapter 1, verse 11, (based on earlier sources):

Vashti wanted to the Jews to forget Shabbat,

so they would no longer have hope for redemption

and rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem,

(12) Esther is mentioned 55 times in the entire Book of Esther.
Esther is mentioned in every chapter except for
the first chapter and the very short last chapter or 10th chapter.
Vashti is mentioned 7 times in the first chapter of the Book of Esther,
and 3 times in the second chapter, but never after the second chapter.
======================================

CONCLUSION:
 

Vashti was: NOT a hero, and NOT a Feminist, and NOT righteous.

Vashti does NOT deserve the admiration of any person.

Claiming that Vashti was hero of the Book of Esther
is like claiming that Eva Braun was hero of World War II.
Eva Braun was the girlfriend of Adolph Hitler [yemach shemo].
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eva_Braun

https://cross-currents.com/2018/03/01/queen-esther-strong-jewish-woman-mans-world/
======================================
Please also read: If Daniel Were Alive Today:
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2018/03/if-daniel-were-alive-today.html
 
Please also read: If Jeremiah Were Alive Today:
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2018/03/if-jeremiah-were-alive-today.html

Please also read: If Isaiah Were Alive Today:
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2018/03/if-isaiah-were-alive-today.html

Please also read: If Ezekiel Were Alive Today:
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2018/03/if-ezekiel-were-alive-today.html

Please also read: If Ezra Were Alive Today:
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2018/03/if-ezra-were-alive-today.html

Please also read: If Nehemiah Were Alive Today:
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2018/04/if-nehemiah-were-alive-today.html

Please also read: If Joshua Were Alive Today:
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2018/05/if-joshua-were-alive-today.html
______________________________________________
PLEASE help by making a PayPal donation to:
FourCupsOfWine@gmail.com
THANK YOU!!
______________________________________________

OTHER BLOG POSTS BY MR. COHEN:

Quick Bible Quotes from Joshua and Jeremiah:
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/11/guest-post-joshua-chapter-23-verse-12.html
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/12/guest-post-jeremiah-chapter-17.html

Ancient Roman historians connected Jews with the Land of Israel and Jerusalem:

https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2017/02/guest-post-josephus-vs-muslim-liars.html
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/05/guest-post-cornelius-tacticus.html

Rambam Rejected Childless Messiah:

http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/08/rambam-rejected-childless-messiah-by-mr.html

Why Muslims Hate Jews:
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/12/guest-post-why-muslims-hate-jews.html
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2017/01/guest-post-moynihan-1982.html

Forgotten Oppression against Jews:

https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2017/01/guest-post-forgotten-oppression.html
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2017/03/guest-post-forgotten-anti-semitism.html
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2017/06/guest-post-kiddush-hashem-1498.html

American anti-Semitism:
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2017/01/guest-post-seven-times-stronger.html

https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2017/01/guest-post-jewish-nyc-mayor.html

How a Reform Rabbi Become Orthodox (true story):

http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/07/how-did-reform-rabbi-become-orthodox-jew.html

Why Barak Hullman left Reform Judaism and became Orthodox:
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/why-reform-judaism-doesnt-work-wont-work-and-how-to-fix-it/

Sephardic Jews Reject Reform Judaism:
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2017/07/sephardim-reject-reform.html
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2017/08/guest-post-persian-rabbis-decree.html

Quick quote from Famous Jewish mega-donor about Jewish Continuity:
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2018/02/mr-sy-syms.html

Greek NYC Jews and Syrian NYC Jews
(a rarely-told true story that very few people know about):
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/03/greek-jews-syrian-jews.html

How to Convict the New York Times of Unfair Bias Against Israel:
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/11/guest-post-how-to-convict-new-york-times.html
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/11/guest-post-nyt-erases-israel-from-map.html
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/03/guest-postnyt-vs-israel.html

Why Pray for Tzahal-IDF:
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/04/guest-post-why-pray-for-idf.html

How to Pray for Tzahal-IDF:

http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/09/how-to-pray-for-tzahal-idf.html

How Torah Can Defeat Terrorism:
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2017/08/defeat-terror-with-torah.html
____________________________________________________________
Do Palestinians Want a Two-State Solution?
by Daniel Polisar, PhD in Political Science
https://mosaicmagazine.com/essay/2017/04/do-palestinians-want-a-two-state-solution/

Articles Refuting the so-called “Two-State Solution”:
www.algemeiner.com/2017/10/08/the-two-state-solution-is-holding-israel-hostage/
https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/2017/06/when-it-comes-to-territorial-compromise-israel-doesnt-have-a-choice/

*********************************************************

PLEASE HELP DEFEND ISRAEL FROM UNFAIR MEDIA:
*********************************************************
http://advocacy.ou.org/
https://antisemitism.uk/
https://twitter.com/EyeOnHamas 

www.camera.org

www.DanielPipes.org
www.FactsAndLogic.org
www.HonestReporting.com              
www.IsraelBehindTheNews.com

www.memri.org

www.memriTV.org

www.MideastReporter.com
www.MythsAndFacts.org                 
www.TheIsraelProject.org

www.BBCwatch.org                         

www.jhrw.com                                  
www.ngo-monitor.org
www.PalWatch.org                           
www.UKMediaWatch.org
www.UNwatch.org

www.aish.com/jw/mo/4-Reasons-Why-the-Media-is-Biased-against-Israel.html
______________________________________________

Adar, Purim, The Month of Joy

I had a very different post in my head that I may write in the future, but since today is the first of the Jewish Month of Adar, 5778, I decided that it wouldn't be appropriate.

We'll be celebrating Purim in two weeks or less depending on where you live. Purim is a Jewish Holiday which celebrates Gd's presence even when we don't see Him directly. The Megillat Ester, Scroll of Esther, which is read twice each Purim day, doesn't mention the Name of Gd.  But if you read the narrative carefully, you see that Gd is protecting the Jewish People behind the scenes.

It's the real Holiday of Joy, because we are commanded to be optimistic and trust Gd. This is not to be done passively. Purim is not a holiday to stand on the sidelines. We must act, even fight if necessary. When we do fight, Gd will help us. We also must pray and help other Jews.

Here in Shiloh, we celebrate two days of Purim, the regular one and what's known as Shushan Purim, which is the following day. I've heard the Megillah read over 140 times since moving to Shiloh, and the readings were all very clear and easy to follow. We, the Jewish People, have been celebrating the holiday for thousands of years, one of the proofs that we are the People of This Land and of the Bible.

At the end of the Megillah, we're commanded to give food gifts to our neighbors, and we do it to this day. Every time I hear it, I feel totally connected to the narrative in the Megillah. We read and listen to the story and follow the commandments, the same as Jews did two thousand years ago.

"When Adar begins, joy enters..."

Real Miracle of Chanukah

Dry Bones is super brilliant, especially here:

Bones explains Jewish History and resilience in a nutshell.

This perfectly illustrates what I've said many times about my feelings when listening to Megilat Ester, the Scroll of Esther, which in Shiloh is read four times over our two day Purim.  Megilat Ester, the Scroll of Esther was written about events that took place well over two thousand, close to 2,500 years ago, hundreds of years before those of Chanukah.

Scroll of Esther, Chapter 9

20And Mordecai inscribed these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,		כוַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב מָרְדֳּכַ֔י אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח סְפָרִ֜ים אֶל־כָּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּכָל־מְדִינוֹת֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ הַקְּרוֹבִ֖ים וְהָֽרְחוֹקִֽים:
21to enjoin them to make the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and the fifteenth day thereof, every year,		כאלְקַיֵּם֘ עֲלֵיהֶם֒ לִֽהְי֣וֹת עֹשִׂ֗ים אֵ֠ת י֣וֹם אַרְבָּעָ֤ה עָשָׂר֙ לְחֹ֣דֶשׁ אֲדָ֔ר וְאֵ֛ת יֽוֹם־חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר בּ֑וֹ בְּכָל־שָׁנָ֖ה וְשָׁנָֽה:
22as the days when the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month that was reversed for them from grief to joy and from mourning to a festive day-to make them days of feasting and joy, and sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.		כבכַּיָּמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר־נָ֨חוּ בָהֶ֤ם הַיְּהוּדִים֙ מֵאֹ֣יְבֵיהֶ֔ם וְהַחֹ֗דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר֩ נֶהְפַּ֨ךְ לָהֶ֤ם מִיָּגוֹן֙ לְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּמֵאֵ֖בֶל לְי֣וֹם ט֑וֹב לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֗ם יְמֵי֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה וְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּמִשְׁלֹ֤חַ מָנוֹת֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֔הוּ וּמַתָּנ֖וֹת לָֽאֶבְיֹנִֽים:
23And the Jews took upon themselves what they had commenced to do and what Mordecai had written to them.		כגוְקִבֵּל֙ הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־הֵחֵ֖לּוּ לַֽעֲשׂ֑וֹת וְאֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־כָּתַ֥ב מָרְדֳּכַ֖י אֲלֵיהֶֽם:

And we have been celebrating the Purim Holiday with feasts and gifts for thousands of years.

Simple reminder. Both Chanukah and Purim celebrate miracles Gd made for the Jewish People centuries before the beginnings of both Christianity and Islam. This is further proof that the only true religion is Judaism.

Haman Alive and Well All Over The World

Recently there have been reports about the Arab terrorist who murdered seven Israeli schoolgirls being released from jail, totally unrepentant.

20 years after 7 Israeli schoolgirls were killed, some hail Jordanian shooter as a hero upon his release

And the European Union hasn't pulled the plug on all the money they give the PA-Palestinian Authority even though they use it to indoctrinate their schoolchildren to murder Jews.

Report: 24 Palestinian Authority Schools Funded by UK, EU Ignore Aid Conditions, Continue to Indoctrinate Students to Commit Violence Against Israelis

And on Purim there was another terror attack:

Stabbing attack in Jerusalem

So, as you can see, we still have a lot of work to do to destroy Haman and all his descendants all over the world, including here in the Holy Land.

The Purim story is NO JOKE!

Celebrating Purim in Shiloh

Purim, A Very Serious Holiday

On Purim I wear a wig, unlike my usual
scarf or hat for covering my hair.

Yes, I'm serious about that. I know that Purim is a joyous holiday, known for frivolity and crazy behavior including drinking, but the truth is that there's an important message in the Purim story.

No matter how comfortable and "accepted" the Jewish community seems to be in foreign lands or under foreign rule, there is always a danger. There are always those who want to destroy us. Jewish History keeps repeating itself. One Haman goes and another appears.

And in the big picture, the State of Israel, or any Jewish State Kingdom in Ancient History was also always under attack. Invaders take many different paths. Some are military and some use "kindness." The Persian king Achashverosh invited the Jews of his kingdom to feasts celebrating his reign, and American Presidents off the State of Israel "buy in America" shopping coupons aka "aid." The resulting dependence on America has severely affected our sovereignty, independence and self-sufficiency.

To properly celebrate the Holiday of Purim we are commanded to read the Story of Ester at night and in the morning. If you don't know Hebrew, so follow it in English. Here in Shiloh we hear/read it four times, since we celebrate both days of Purim. So, I've gotten to know it pretty well. I'm always impressed by the simple fact that today, thousands of years after the event occurred, just before the Second Holy Temple was built in Jerusalem, we still follow the instructions told to us in Megillat (Scroll/Story of ) Ester. We tell of what happened, give money to the poor and feast to celebrate the great miracle of the Jewish victory.

Chag Purim Sameach!!

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!

Bernie Sanders is 100% WRONG!

The State of Israel envisioned by Leftists both here and abroad is one that wouldn't survive in the real world. It encourages, strengthens and plays in the hands of our unabashed enemies. Bernie Sanders, J-Street and all those others are horrendously and tragically wrong!

Sanders: One can be pro-Israel and rap its government

It doesn't matter one single iota that they claim to love Israel and be pro-Israel. It just makes their stand more dangerous and more tragic.

Israel is a tiny country surrounded by dangerous enemies which unabashedly proclaim their aim to destroy and replace the only Jewish country in the world. It is impossible, totally unrealistic, illogical to make peace with enemies like that.

Speaking before a conference held by J Street, a liberal Jewish American organization that primarily lobbies for a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, Sanders said that "those of us who support Israel have got to tell the truth about policies that hurt the chances of a peaceful resolution." (Jerusalem Post)

Neither Israel nor the so-called "occupation," sic, is the cause for the tension and terrorism between Israel and her neighbors. Blaming Israel is a totally facetious antisemitic lie, even when said by Jews.

Anyone who reads the history of this part of the world can easily learn that the Jewish People have always had enemies that attempted to invade and destroy us. Yes, quite of few managed to occupy this land, the Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, Persians, Turks etc., but none of them has ever destroyed us.

The Jewish People/Nation is among the oldest in the History of the World. We keep on returning to our Ancestral Homeland, and each time we must fight our enemies, a new one for each generation.  And, yes, Jews like Sanders and those in J-Street have always been around assimilated into foreign cultures and supporting our enemies.

We are now in the Jewish Month of Adar, and the Holiday of Purim is less than a couple of weeks away. Read the Purim Megillah and see that then most of the Jewish People occupied by Persia were very much like Bernie Sanders, celebrating the rise of King Achashverosh and ignoring the plans of Haman. The Jewish Mordecai had to infiltrate Ester into the royal palace to save the Jewish People.

Stop listening to those drunk on foreign, non-Jewish wine and values.

We must learn from history and not ignore it!

Chodesh Adar Tov!

GUEST POST: SEVEN TIMES STRONGER

SEVEN TIMES STRONGER
a guest post by Mr. Cohen -- about American anti-Semitism during the Holocaust
 
Popular concern for Europe’s Jews could not develop without wide-spread knowledge of what was happening to them.  But the information gap, though extremely important, was not the only limiting factor.

Strong currents of anti-Semitism and nativism in American society also diminished the possibilities for a sympathetic response. A quieter, more prevalent prejudice, a “passive anti-Semitism,” was another major barrier to the growth of concern. 

It was reflected in opinion surveys taken by the [USA] Office of War Information.

 

They showed that the impact of atrocity information on the average American was 

SEVEN TIMES STRONGER when it involved atrocities-in-general, than when
it referred specifically to atrocities against Jews.

SOURCE: The Abandonment of the Jews: America and the Holocaust 1941-1945

(chapter 16, page 327) by David S. Wyman, year 1984, Pantheon Books, New York,
ISBN: 9780394428130, 0394428137, 9780394740775, 0394740777.
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internet anti-Semitism by
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OTHER BLOG POSTS BY MR. COHEN:

Ancient Roman historians connected Jews with the Land of Israel and Jerusalem:
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2017/02/guest-post-josephus-vs-muslim-liars.html
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/05/guest-post-cornelius-tacticus.html

Rambam Rejected Childless Messiah:

http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/08/rambam-rejected-childless-messiah-by-mr.html

Forgotten Muslim Oppression against Jews:

https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2017/01/guest-post-forgotten-oppression.html

Why Muslims Hate Jews:

https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/12/guest-post-why-muslims-hate-jews.html
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2017/01/guest-post-moynihan-1982.html

Quick Bible Quotes from Joshua and Jeremiah:

http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/11/guest-post-joshua-chapter-23-verse-12.html
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/12/guest-post-jeremiah-chapter-17.html

How a Reform Rabbi Became Orthodox (true story):
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/07/how-did-reform-rabbi-become-orthodox-jew.html

Sephardic Jews Reject Reform Judaism:
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2017/07/sephardim-reject-reform.html
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2017/08/guest-post-persian-rabbis-decree.html

Greek NYC Jews and Syrian NYC Jews:
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/03/greek-jews-syrian-jews.html

How to Convict the New York Times of Unfair Bias Against Israel:
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/11/guest-post-how-to-convict-new-york-times.html
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/11/guest-post-nyt-erases-israel-from-map.html
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/03/guest-postnyt-vs-israel.html

Why Israel’s 1967 Borders are Undefendable:
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2017/03/guest-post-why-1967-borders-are-suicide.html