Parshat Naso by Tzvi Briks

Parshat Naso

We have found many subjects in Parshat Naso that seem to have no relationship to any of the topics covered and follow one after the other. According to the Ari’Zal all topics from their Penimiut, or internal perspective, belong with each other. The order of topics in the Parsha begins with the children of Kehat, and the children of Gershon, and the children of Merari (Levite Tribes). This is followed by the sending of the Temei’im (impure individuals) outside of the encampment. This is followed by the obligation to do Vidui (confession) on Chata’im (misdeeds) and the fine of 20% on that which was stolen after one did a Shevua (oath) on the objects stolen. This is followed by Sota (adulteress) and the drinking of the “cursed waters” (Mayim Meorerim). This is followed by matters of Nezirut (Nazirites). This is followed by the Kohanic or Priestly blessings, which is followed by the dedication of the Princes (Chanukat Hanesi’im).

First, let’s explain the children of Kehat, Gershon, and Merari. Why does the Parsha state: Take the sum of the sons (Naso ET Rosh b’nei) of Kehat and the same is stated for the sons of Gershon, but it does not state to take the sum of the sons of Merari. Rather it states as for the sons of Merari? Furthermore, why does it state pertaining to the children of Kehat and the children of Merari – by their families and by their father’s house (lemeeshpechotam leveit Avotam) whereas by the children of Gershon it states conversely, by their father’s house and their families (leveit avotam lemeeshpechotam)? It’s also surprising since the sons of Gershon are the Bechorim (firstborn) why were they not given the important work of carrying the Aron (the Holy Ark) and its Keilim (serving instruments and vessels) but it was given to the children of Kehat who were not the firstborn of the Levite tribes?

This can be explained according to the works of the Ari’Zal. The Ari’Zal explains that in every spiritual structure (koma) there are Vessels and there are Lights (Keilim VeOrot), and the Lights are divided into the Internal Light (Ohr Penimi) that illuminates within the vessel, and the Surrounding Light (Ohr Makif) that illuminates outside of the vessel. This same division was also found in the Mishkan (Tabernacle). The Keilim or vessels are represented by the boards (Kerashim) which are the foundations of the House. The Ohr Penimi is represented by the Aron (the Holy Ark), the Meezbeach (Alter), the Menorah, and the Shulchan (the showbread table). The Ohr Makif is represented by the surrounding curtains (Yeriot) of the House, and the Hangings (Kela’im) that surround the Court or Yard.

According to this plan, the children of Kehat who carried the vessels of the Mishkan- their work was in the Ohr Penimi. The sons of Gershon who carried the surrounding curtains-their work was in the Ohr Makif. The sons of Merari that carried the boards – their work was in the Vessels (Keilim) themselves.

The purpose of Torah and Mitzvot in this world or dimension (called the dimension of Tikun or rectification) is to elevate the 288 sparks (Rafach Nitzotzot) that fell in the precreative process of the shattering of the vessels back to their source or root, according to the AriZal. There are 2 methods to elevate these sparks:
1. When B’nei Yisrael descended to Mitzrayim (Egypt) and elevated the sparks of holiness until it became a great wave, and also B’nei Yisrael entered into the desert in the place of “snake, serpent, and scorpion”, and in everyplace they traveled to and encamped they elevated from there the roots of Kedusha ( holiness).
2. The second method occurred on the night of the exodus from Egypt
When B’nei Yisrael could not correct all the sparks and did not have time to tarry, a great Light was revealed and the sparks of holiness cleaved to their root.
The Tikun (rectification) performed by the Korbanot (sacrifices) is the elevation of the sparks of holiness themselves by doing the Korban (sacrifice). Prayers in lieu of sacrifices do the same thing. The Tikun done by learning and doing Torah, extends the light of the Torah below, and by doing this, the roots of beneficence cleave to this great light like the flame of a candle attracted to a torch.

This, therefore, explains the 3 aspects of the tribe of the Levites positioned to serve Hashem. The children of Merari and the children of Kehat described by the scripture as “to their families to the house of their fathers”, their quintessential work was to elevate the sparks of holiness upward. “The house of their fathers” is the spiritual root from which they fell whereas “to their families” is the dissemination below with the vessels, like leaves that fall from a tree. However, there is a difference in the method of the Tikun. The children of Merari carried the vessels themselves alluding to the descent into the place of the fall and from there they elevated the 288 sparks. The job of the children of Kehat was to extend the great light from the Holy Ark and the Menorah and elevate the 288 sparks on high. However, the work of the children of Gershon was at the level of the Ohr Makif or surrounding light. The AriZal explains that the Ohr Makif surrounds the Keilim that have within them the Ohr Penimi or internal light. This therefore guards and protects the sparks in the vessels that might be tentacalized by the Chitzonim (externals, or existential forces of evil). The Ohr Makif has its root in the Keter (the sefira loosely termed as the Crown). The root of the firstborn, the children of Gershon, is also the Crown. After them the children of Kehat extend the light, and after them the children of Merari elevate the vessels themselves.

Understanding these concepts allows us to understand the rest of the Parsha. Sending out the impure outside of the 3 encampments follows the same logic. There are 3 types of Tumah (impurity):

1. The Metzorah is sent external to the 3 encampments
2. The Zav is sent external to2 of the encampments;
3. The impurity from a dead corpse (Tumat Meit) is sent external to only one encampment.

The impurity of the Metzora (severe skin dermatosis) indicates that the essence of one’s vessels has been affected indicating that the Or Penimi and Or Makif have been removed, and only then can the impurity (Tumah) control the Body of the Keilim. Therefore one is sent outside of neither the 3 encampments indicating that one does not possess an Ohr Makif or an Ohr Penimi nor any keilim.
A Zav (bloody show of the reproductive organs from a male or female not congruent with a cycle) is a Tumah that is excreted from the body internally which alludes to the removal of the lights from a person, but the Keilim have not been defected. Therefore one is sent outside of 2 encampments.
In the Tamei Meit, the lights (internal and external) have not been removed but the impurity surrounds his vessels, and therefore one is sent outside of one encampment.

Thereafter, scripture states confession after a Cheit, or sin, and the fine of 20% on a theft one makes an oath on the stolen item. Someone who sins (intentionally performs a misdeed) defects 3 things that are removed from him: internal and external lights and the Keilim that have been defected. When one does Teshuvah (return to the spiritual norm), one rectifies the keilim and returns the internal lights. The Ohr Makif, however, only returns when one performs Vidui (confession) stated out loud verbally. Then the being is complete with an Ohr Makif, an Ohr Penimi, and Keilim.
This is why the fine of 20% is added because it represents the fifth partzuf or hologram of the Keter, because it is not enough to return the stolen item which represents the Keili, the Ohr Penimi and the Ohr Makif, but one has to extend the fifth light from the Keter.

In the Sota, when she drinks the” cursed waters” in the internal aspect of her body the Ohr Penimi is removed and by shaving her hair the Ohr Makif is removed, the Mayim Meorerim can then affect her keilim directly if she sinned, and the punishment is done against the body. If she has not sinned the Ohr still stays in the Keili and there is no effect.

The Nazirite wants to ascend and separate from the pleasures of this world through 3 ways: one separates from, wine, hair cutting, and impurity of the dead. The essential will of the Nazirite is to guard oneself from materialistic attraction. Therefore, one surrounds oneself with 3 things that extend the Ohr Makif for protection. Becoming inebriated with wine removes the Ohr Makif of Holiness and in its place is the Ohr Makif of impurity. Sanctifying the hair represents the Ohr Makif, and the death of a corpse represents the Ohr Makif of impurity and avoiding it represents the Ohr Makif of Kedusha or holiness.

The Priestly blessings are where the Kohanim extend the Ohr Makif, the protective force over Klal Yisrael, in order to protect the Upper unification that is performed during Sim Shalom.

The Chanukat hanesee’im, the dedication of the Princes extends the Ohr Makif like the Keter which is the Prince of the Sefirot (Luminous emanations).

Tzvi Briks
Rosh Chodesh Sivan
Based on the work of Rav Raphael Moshe Luria, Zatza”l, translated, and abridged

Two Voices: Jackie Mason versus The Radical Left

Hat tip: BOK, Shy Guy

Nu, so you're too busy to read.  Listen to these and make your decisions.  Who, which side is best for the survival of the world?





Now for a "dumb question:" What's so awful about the "capitalist system" that it must be destroyed. Capitalism, supply and demand, that's human nature. Communist countries, the great super power, the USSR, fell, collapsed and became Capitalist because that's the way the world works. Western infiltrators had no part in it. Their communist system was as sturdey as an igloo in the desert. The same happened to Mao's communist China.

Beware of the Leftists. They are out to cause anarchy, chaos and then rule by totalitarian dictatorship. They, the Left, don't abide differences of opinion.

The IDF Puts Its Faith in Technology. Why Not Just Play Computer Games?

*Here's the report

While reading this, please listen to David Bedein's radio show.

Having Ehud Barak as Defense Minister has me running scared and our enemies cheering.  Shouldn't it be the opposite?

The freshest emails in my box early this morning were reports of violence against innocent Jews in the Shiloh area.*  No, it wasn't a case of Arab terrorism.  It was the Israel Defense Forces attacking Jewish residents here in the small Jewish communities near Shiloh.  The last report I received tells of injured Jews attacked by our soldiers in the middle of the night.  Sick, yes, I agree.

Also in my email were notices from IMRA about some of the "defense innovations" Barak has invested our tax money.

"In the future, robots will replace fighters in the field." (complete article)

Colonel Nessim Levy says that it will prevent/reduce human casualties.  In the meantime, to reduce casualities, our soldiers are sent to attack civilians who don't want to escalate into a real battle or civil war.  That keeps the soldiers pretty safe.  It reminds me of how King Saul kept trying to kill David, but King David refused to harm him.

Samuel chapter 24
ג וַיָּבֹא אֶל-גִּדְרוֹת הַצֹּאן עַל-הַדֶּרֶךְ, וְשָׁם מְעָרָה, וַיָּבֹא שָׁאוּל, לְהָסֵךְ אֶת-רַגְלָיו; וְדָוִד, וַאֲנָשָׁיו, בְּיַרְכְּתֵי הַמְּעָרָה, יֹשְׁבִים. 3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.
ד וַיֹּאמְרוּ אַנְשֵׁי דָוִד אֵלָיו, הִנֵּה הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר-אָמַר יְהוָה אֵלֶיךָ הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן אֶת-איביך (אֹיִבְךָ) בְּיָדֶךָ, וְעָשִׂיתָ לּוֹ, כַּאֲשֶׁר יִטַב בְּעֵינֶיךָ; וַיָּקָם דָּוִד, וַיִּכְרֹת אֶת-כְּנַף-הַמְּעִיל אֲשֶׁר-לְשָׁאוּל--בַּלָּט. 4 And the men of David said unto him: 'Behold the day in which the LORD hath said unto thee: Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thy hand, and thou shalt do to him as it shall seem good unto thee.' Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.
ה וַיְהִי, אַחֲרֵי-כֵן, וַיַּךְ לֵב-דָּוִד, אֹתוֹ--עַל אֲשֶׁר כָּרַת, אֶת-כָּנָף אֲשֶׁר לְשָׁאוּל. 5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
...
ט וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד לְשָׁאוּל, לָמָּה תִשְׁמַע אֶת-דִּבְרֵי אָדָם לֵאמֹר: הִנֵּה דָוִד, מְבַקֵּשׁ רָעָתֶךָ. 9 And David said to Saul: 'Wherefore hearkenest thou to men's words, saying: Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
י הִנֵּה הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה רָאוּ עֵינֶיךָ, אֵת אֲשֶׁר-נְתָנְךָ יְהוָה הַיּוֹם בְּיָדִי בַּמְּעָרָה, וְאָמַר לַהֲרָגְךָ, וַתָּחָס עָלֶיךָ; וָאֹמַר, לֹא-אֶשְׁלַח יָדִי בַּאדֹנִי--כִּי-מְשִׁיחַ יְהוָה, הוּא. 10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to-day into my hand in the cave; and some bade me kill thee; but mine eye spared thee; and I said: I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed.
יא וְאָבִי רְאֵה--גַּם רְאֵה אֶת-כְּנַף מְעִילְךָ, בְּיָדִי: כִּי בְּכָרְתִי אֶת-כְּנַף מְעִילְךָ וְלֹא הֲרַגְתִּיךָ, דַּע וּרְאֵה כִּי אֵין בְּיָדִי רָעָה וָפֶשַׁע וְלֹא-חָטָאתִי לָךְ--וְאַתָּה צֹדֶה אֶת-נַפְשִׁי, לְקַחְתָּהּ. 11 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee, though thou layest wait for my soul to take it.
יב יִשְׁפֹּט יְהוָה בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ, וּנְקָמַנִי יְהוָה מִמֶּךָּ; וְיָדִי, לֹא תִהְיֶה-בָּךְ. 12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee; but my hand shall not be upon thee.

Israel is investing in weapons against missiles, but our greatest enemy won't be defeated by all these technological inventions and machinery.  Our greatest enemy is the Leftist defeatist "post-Zionist" ideologies raging in Israel and the Jewish world.

All of our greatest military victories were due to G-d's miracles, not superior strategies nor weapons.  If we would just fight our enemies and settle our G-d-given Land, then we will live in peace.

עושה שלום במרומיו הוא יעשה שלום עלינו

Oseh shalom bimromav Hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu

He makes peace in His heights, He will make peace for us

Real Life in Israel: Arabs attacked you? Don’t go to the police! by Kalman Liebskind

Hat tip: Honenu

Arabs attacked you? Don’t go to the police!
by Kalman Liebskind

Below is an exact translation of his article (March 28, ’11)

I am writing this while still in a tremendous rage. I am furious because until a few hours ago I believed that the law enforcement authorities were the recommended address for someone attacked by Arab rioters in the center of our country. But that’s over now. I’ll never believe it again.

Stone throwing, even though it is liable to cause injury, is generally regarded in a forgiving way. A stone that does not send its victim to the intensive care unit will never get into the news. Only those who are intrepid enough to reach remote Internet websites know that for some time this activity is no longer confined to Judea and Samaria. Soldiers are beaten up by Arabs in Haifa, Jews are stoned in the Negev, in Yaffo, and in Galilee. Hamas flags are flown in Ramlah. This week, believe it or not, this Intifada reached the door of my home.

Just to make things clear, I live in Moshav Gimzu, in spitting distance of Ramlah and Lod, in the middle of the Jerusalem – Tel Aviv highway, as deep as you can get within the green line. On Monday evening we returned with our children from a trip to the Judean hills. Since we travelled in two cars for the trip, we planned to go via our home, leave one vehicle, and then go to eat something outdoors with the children.

On the entry road to the moshav we heard the first boom. Ilana, my wife, who was following me with some of the children, took a direct hit by a stone in the windshield. The stone hit the glass, which by a miracle did not shatter, only about 16 inches from my son’s head. When my wife and the children in a panic told me what had happened to them, I couldn’t believe it. Stones? Where we live? A hit by an asteroid seemed more likely than stones being thrown 300 yards from our home.

While the children were busy describing the event with great emotion, and we speculated about the origin of the stone, we moved them to my car and left the moshav again. The moment we reached the place of the first attack we heard a second boom. This time the stone hit the front wing, not far from Ilana’s window. We now also saw the attacker, a youth aged about 18, who aimed at us from not more than 10 yards away. After he saw the hit he ran off, accompanied by someone else, to the woody and dark area.

Only afterwards did we learn that two other women had received direct hits before us. A few moments later, after I called the police (who took more than 40 minutes to arrive), we and a few neighbors went to the woods to try and find the stone throwers. We were met by an astounding sight.

From a distance of a few hundred yards from the road, in the middle of the area, under a large tree, about twenty Arab youths from Lod, probably in the last grades in high school, sat around a camp fire with a few bearded teachers or instructors who wore galabiyahs and skull caps, matching the latest Islamic fashion.

“If we want to we will also burn down all of Gimzu”, one of the bearded Arabs, full of self confidence, threatened the first moshavniks to arrive. They told the police that they had left a Koran lesson in the mosque in Lod and gone to make a barbecue.

The two policemen who had arrived behaved as though they had been called about a car parked in a permitted place. When one of the residents of the moshav related that one of the leaders of the group from Lod had threatened him they refused to record the complaint or even to take down details. When we requested that they record the graffiti in Arabic sprayed on the trees, they told us not to tell them what to do. At the end of the incident they arrested the Arab youth that we identified. No-one else from his group, including the adults, was questioned there.

I am forced to admit that two weeks after the terrorist attack in Itamar I feel a little uncomfortable in saying here that my daughters, who were twice on the receiving end of stones within ten minutes, refused to go to sleep unless we slept with them in the bedroom. Anyway, that’s the way it happened. In the middle of the country, whatever way you look at it.

But this is only the beginning of the real story. Yesterday morning I received a phone call from the police. A detective asked me to come to complete the investigation, at the request of the State Attorney’s department. He led me to believe that we were talking of a few missing details in my complaint, on the way to submitting an indictment against the stone thrower.

A quarter of an hour later, when I sat opposite him, he dropped the bomb. “I am informing you that you are suspected of committing the offence of threatening with a weapon. You are not obliged to say anything, but anything you do say will be used in evidence against you.” I thought I hadn’t heard him properly.

“Me? Threats? With a weapon? Where did you get this nonsense from?” When he explained to me that the Arabs in the group that threw the stones claimed that I threatened them, I remembered that immediately after the incident a policeman friend of mine predicted that this was precisely what would happen.

“Every time they catch them doing something they immediately submit a counter complaint”, he warned me. “You’ll find yourself in an investigation.” At that time I laughed at him, but I no longer do so. “After all, on the evening of the incident the police were there at the scene, after I myself called them”, I argued with the detective. “Why did no Arab claim at that time that I threatened him? When did they remember this?”

I learned from the detective that the Arabs saw me in the police station, when I arrived at night, at the end of the incident, to give a statement, and complained that one of the people who complained about them was the real offender. Bingo! We have a counter complaint. Now we are playing a two-sided game. There are no longer an attacker and a victim.

I suggested that the detective invite at least 50 members of the moshav who were present on that same evening to come and testify. “Ask them if any of them saw me approach the Arabs, threaten them or even speak to them.” “That’s worthless”, replied the policeman. “Your friends from the moshav are interested parties”. “And the Arabs who threw stones at me and whom I complained against aren’t interested parties?” I asked him, furious.

After an hour of questioning, next to a detainee with chains on his legs, the police measured my height, took my fingerprints and photographed me from every direction. I was then released on bond.

I left the police station humiliated and having learned painful lessons about a pathetic and tired police force, that encourages citizens not to call on it and not to request its help. A sloppy police force with policemen who only want to finish their shift and go home without problems. If a group of nationalist offenders, who can for a long time stone the cars of innocent Jewish citizens and endanger their lives, can make such a fool of the police, I therefore advise citizens: Try and manage by yourselves. Don’t call the police, they won’t help you. They will interfere, waste your time, give you the runaround, and in the end turn you into criminals.

Boycott Those Who Boycott Us, Take a Shot of Something Else

Due to the banning of Israeli books in  West Dunbartonshire, Scotland libraries, there's a call to boycott Scotch Whisky.  Jameel of the Mukata has blogged about it.

Scotch Whisky is an expensive item, a popular duty free purchase.  It can easily range from $40-$400 per bottle.

Personally, I can't stand the taste, but other people either love it or the effect on their bodies and minds.  And some just like the idea that the ounce (or ounce plus) in their shot glass is worth a lot of money.

Whisky is a staple, required drink, for many men at Jewish eating events, like a kiddush, or wedding or Bar Mitzvah feast. Bragging about the price paid is part of the "ceremony."  Now, will these traditional Jewish men give up their whisky for the sake of Jewish pride?

Simple History Lesson

Hat tip: Shy Guy

Just got the English. Thanks to Hadassa



Whose Land is this?


The illustrations do help.

Missing The Forest For The Trees, Jews, Where Are You?

This article was written for Voices Magazine and is in the most recent issue.  There's nothing better I can write to celebrate Jerusalem Day, which celebrates the same day that Shiloh was liberated during the 1967 Six Days War.

Voices from Shiloh

Missing the Forest for The Trees
By Batya Medad
Iyar
May, 2011

That expression is used for many “lessons,” missing the forest for the trees, when one gets all bogged down in details and forgets the true meaning or purpose.

One of the things I truly love about Voices Magazine is that it’s so unapologetically Israeli. More specifically, JEWISH-ISRAELI. Sharon Katz and I agree that true Jewish Life can only be lived here where Judaism began, in the Holy Land. (Sharon, I hope I pegged you right and I’m not just projecting my thoughts and feelings. But I met you first by reading your articles in the magazine and only later f2f.)

Many G-d fearing, Torah observant Jews live far from the Land of Israel and don’t mourn, apologize for the fact. They proudly state that they are super observant, stringent in obeying Torah Law by eating only the fussiest standards of Kashrut, keeping Shabbat & Holydays to their fullest, dressing carefully sans “shatnes” and by the strictest principles of tzniyut, halachic modesty.

They are so mired in the trees that they have no idea that they’re not in the forest, the Holy Land, ארץ ישראלת Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel. If you follow the narrative development of the Bible, the Chumash most specifically, you see first that G-d created the world, the plants, animals, people, Shabbat and Judaism. To Abraham, the first Jew, he gave an order:

לך לך!

Lech Lecha!

Go, Get yourself going!

Leave your land and your traditions and your father’s house. And to where was Abraham and his family and followers supposed to go?

א וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-אַבְרָם, לֶךְ-לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָּ.
“…to the Land I will show you.” Bereishit Chapter 12

The rest of the Chumash, divided into portions and read annually, is the story, the saga of that trek. It’s not just a guide book for tourists. The story is much deeper than that. It follows Abraham’s descendants as they very realistically get mired in all sorts of wars and enslavements until they, with the help of G-d’s miracles, are about to enter/reenter that special Land.

That’s the “main idea,” the summary. We Jews are supposed to be in one Land and one Land only, ארץ ישראל The Land of Israel.

The Jewish Month of Iyar is a special month. In the first week we celebrate Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, Independence Day, and towards the end we celebrate Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day. Both these days show us how the Hand of G-d controls Jewish History.

David Ben-Gurion and his Jewish Socialist Zionist followers had been expecting to be more a “protectorate” than a truly independent country, but the young State of Israel was rejected by the world’s powers and had to survive on its own. And then nineteen years later, in 1967, when the young country was threatened extinction by the surrounding Arab countries, the United Nations and rest of the world stood idly by expecting (waiting for) us to be defeated and destroyed. But, again, G-d saved us, and not only didn’t we end six days later as we had began, but Israel found itself holding our historic Homeland, Judea, Samaria, the Jordan Valley, Gaza, Golan and the Sinai. As an added bonus we finally had defensible borders.

This is a history of Biblical proportions and importance. Many Jews throughout the world understand G-d’s message and came, but there are still those who are caught in the trees. I can only feel sorry for them.

I thank G-d every day for the privilege of living here in Shiloh and helping to build our nation. Baruch Hashem!

The Six Days War and The Sin of The "Golden Calf"

For thousands of years Jewish philosophers, rabbis and others have wondered how the Jewish People, newly escaped-by G-d's miracles- from deadly slavery in Egypt could have so quickly sinned by forming and worshipping the Golden Calf.  There were no certified accurate quartz watches in those days, so what if it had seemed that Moses was a bit late returning from his rendezvous with G-d on Mount Sinai?  It seems such a pretty lame excuse to revert to Egyptian calf-worship culture.

Moses's return from Mount Sinai, the presentation of G-d's Torah to the Jewish People was supposed to be a joyous event, the Shavuot Holiday.  The Jewish People were expected to accept it and quickly enter the HolyLand, but things didn't quite go as planned.

Nothing in timing is without reason.  G-d is in charge of the calendar, and that's why the 1967 Six Days War happened during the forty-nine (49) days of Sefira, the Counting of the Omer, between the Second night of Passover and just before Shavuot.  The war ended less than a week before Shavuot.  The Liberation of Jerusalem, Yom Yerushalayim, is the same day of the week as Shavuot.

After the nineteen years of Jordanian rule and decades, centuries millennium of Jewish restrictions, finally Israel, The Jewish People had the Temple Mount, Har HaBayit b'yadeinu, in our hands.   I have no doubt that the Moshiach HaShem was waiting right here to redeem us after our totally miraculous victory in the Six Days War.

As far away as New York, where I was at the time, you could feel G-d's presence.  The world stood in awe, just as it says in the Bible that Yitro and others "heard what had happened."

And then... the door was slammed in G-d's face, like when the people demanded of Aaron to craft the Golden Calf.  The keys to the Temple Mount, Har HaBayit were given to the Muslims.

As Rabbi Chanan Porat reveals, we just weren't ready:

“At one time, [noted Israeli independence fighter and philosopher] Israel Eldad told me: ‘I have some criticism on you. You stood on the Temple Mount and asked where the Western Wall was. You made a historic shortcut. Instead of staying on the Temple Mount where our Temple stood, you asked where the Western Wall was...

G-d willing, soon we will be ready to embrace G-d, His miracles and all of our Holy Land.

Chag Yerushalayim Sameach

A Joyful Jerusalem Day!

Why are Israelis "Nicer" Of Late?

There was an interesting piece in the Jerusalem Post Magazine.  I can't link it from the magazine, because it's of their "premium," for pay only online deal.  That's even worse than the New York Times, but like most of the good articles in the times, I found this one, The new, nice Israeli by Larry Derfner, someplace else.  Just google the title and author and you'd be amazed at what you can find for free.  I was able to get the photo that illustrated it from the JPost site.  I don't know who the photo editor is, but he/she has a sense of humor.  I can't imagine a less attractive or suitable photograph to illustrate an article that supposed to show how Israelis have gotten nicer the past couple of decades, than these two poorly dressed overweight ladies.

Derfner admits to being Leftist:

This nice, new Israeli flies in the face of a pet theory of the Left (with whom I identify politically) – that the continuing occupation and slide to the Right is having a coarsening effect on people’s personal behavior. This may be true in the theater, movies and novels, but not in real life, I find. Israelis have become more callous toward Arabs in general, but I doubt that an individual Israeli Jew is now going to be more callous to an individual Israeli Arab, and I see no evidence whatsoever that Israeli Jews are now more callous, on a personal level, to each other or to foreigners. What I see, over and over, is evidence of the opposite.

I wish Derfner would think a little harder about the differences in life here pre-1967 Six Days War and ever since.  He almost has it when he mentions the times he remembers that weren't quite so pleasant:

Why shouldn’t Israelis be happy? And if they’re happy, why the hell shouldn’t they be nice?

And that’s what’s happened – in the last 15, 20 years (except for four years of intifada and recession) life in this country has gone from hard to easy, from constricted to free, and Israeli behavior, logically, has gone from rough to smooth.
Emphasis mine

If you look at Derfner's "time chart," you'll notice that davka the "niceness" began a generation after the Six Days War.   And yes, the reason is exactly the opposite of what the Left wants us all to believe.  It's all very simple.  During the pre-State time and the nineteen years when we had Auschwitz borders, Jews were constantly under attack.  Our Capital City, Jerusalem, was surrounded on almost all sides by enemy Arabs; sniper attacks were frequent.

And the situation in the rest of the country wasn't any safer.  The Syrians used to Golan Heights to attack Israel.  The Golan overlooks Israel's pre-1967 agricultural land.

Judea and Samaria are next to, right next to Israel's coastal plain, known as "hamerkaz," the center of the country.  Prior to the Six Days War, these were dangerous border towns when Jordan was in charge. Yes, places like Rosh Ha'ayin, Petach Tikvah, Kfar Saba and Lod-Ben Gurion International Airport are a very short ride or hike to the old border.

Now think about it.  What has really made Israelis nicer, calmer, less likely to be stressed out nervous wrecks?  It's the fact that when the dust settled and the bullets stopped flying forty-four years ago at the end of the 1967 Six Days War we finally had defensible borders. 

Yes, we were finally holding more of the Land of Israel, from the Golan Heights to the Suez Canal, from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River.  That physical, geographical security has "softened" your typical Israeli.  It also brought emotional optimism and financial wealth.  Prior to the Six Days War, Israelis were leaving in droves and the common "joke" was that "the last to leave should turn off the lights."

If we, G-d forbid, give this precious Land away to our enemies, there won't be any of us left to turn out the lights, because the Arabs plan on killing us all, Right, Left and Center.  They don't care what our politics is, or they would have returned Gilad Shalit.  Yes, the Leftists aren't immune.  Wake up!

Arab Anarchy and Terrorism, Is It Just A Matter of Money?

Some of the (or all of the) per capita richest countries in the world are the Arab ones sitting on expensive (supply and demand) oil, but Arab countries don't help their own people, and they're not interested in democracy.

It has been announced that the Group of 8 western powers are going to bankroll the insurgency, protest movements in Arab countries.

At a series of working sessions that lasted until the early morning hours Friday, representatives of the Group of 8 expressed concern that the democracy movement in the Arab world could be “hijacked” by Islamic radicals if the West did not help stabilize the economies of the two countries that touched off the Arab Spring, according to two European diplomats who were present during the discussions.

Money won't change things. It'll just encourage more violence as more and more Arabs will be encouraged to try to get rich by rebelling/rioting/protesting. The ordinary Arab citizen of those countries will only see one big change, the face in the fancy portrait staring at him/her in public buildings.

Bibi, History Hasn't Changed, Nor Has The Map

This wonderful video of the young Binyamin "Ben Nitai" Netanyahu is again going around the internet and emails.  And again it's worth watching and listening to.  The pre-politician Bibi showed himself to be extremely knowledgeable and  talented in describing the real situation here in the middle-east.

Facts, history and geography aren't like fresh milk that spoils.  The points Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu made are just as true and important now as they were then, over thirty years ago.



Now, why does Bibi refuse to follow the expert advice he suggested all those years ago?