GUEST POST: PERSIAN RABBIS DECREE

PERSIAN RABBIS DECREE
(a GUEST POST by Mr. Cohen)
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RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE IRANIAN RABBANIM  
IN THE UNITED STATES [OF AMERICA] AT ITS FIRST
NATIONAL RABBINIC CONFERENCE, 2017 JUNE 7 *
YEAR TAF SHIN AYIN ZAYIN, SIVAN 13, IN ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA:

“…We do declare that:”

“We affirm the eternality of our holy Torah, the Jewish nation, and the Holy Land of Israel.”

“We affirm that our Judaism is solely determined by the teachings of our Holy Torah, both written and oral, as passed down through the generations, all the way to Sinai.”

“Movements such as Conservative and Reform are foreign to our Torah tradition, and their executions of halachic rites such as: marriage, divorce, and conversion will NOT be recognized.”

“Our ties to the Holy Land of Israel are inseverable.  We will emphasize its centrality, and encourage our members to support Israel in every way possible.”

“From Tzion Torah will go forth, and the word of HaShem from Yerushalayim.”  

[Tanach, Micah, chapter 4, end of verse 2].

“As such, we will look to the Rishon LeTzion for Halachic guidance, in concert with other established Sefaradi Halachic authorities.”

“We resolve to do our utmost to avoid assimilation by supporting our Torah institutions, and disseminating fundamental Jewish values, such as: the observance of Shabbat, kashrut, and Family Purity.”

“We will maximize our efforts in bringing our brethren close to Torah Judaism with open arms, hearts, and minds.”

“Our places of worship shall be worthy to be “A House of HaShem”. 

As such, separate seating and full adherence to Halachah will be the norm.”

“We will work to unite and preserve centuries-old minhagim and customs.”

“May HaShem assist us to bring glory to His Name now and forever. Amen.”

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Please also read: If Daniel Were Alive Today:

https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2018/03/if-daniel-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 Jeremiah Were Alive Today:

https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2018/03/if-jeremiah-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 also read: Refuting the Fans of Vashti:

https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2018/02/refuting-fans-of-vashti.html
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FourCupsOfWine@gmail.com.
THANK YOU!!
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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

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
(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
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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/
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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
_________________________________________________________
Pro-Israel Articles from Aish HaTorah:www.aish.com/jw/me/Ten-Ways-Israel-Is-Treated-Differently.html
www.aish.com/jw/me/13-Facts-about-Israel--the-Middle-East.html
www.aish.com/jw/s/The_Pro-Palestinians_Real_Agenda.html
www.aish.com/jw/me/Why-Are-There-Still-Palestinian-Refugees.html
www.aish.com/jw/me/The-Arabs-Real-Grievance-against-the-Jews.html
www.aish.com/jw/me/Col-Richard-Kemp-on-Israels-Moral-Army.html
www.aish.com/ho/i/Menachem-Begin-on-the-Lessons-of-the-Holocaust.html
_________________________________________________________

Articles Refuting the BDS Movement from Aish HaTorah:

www.aish.com/jw/me/The-BDS-Smokescreen.html
www.aish.com/jw/me/BDS-The-Attempt-to-Strangle-Israel.html
www.aish.com/jw/me/BDS-and-Anti-Semitism.html
www.aish.com/jw/me/Fighting-BDS-in-the-Name-of-Human-Rights.html
www.aish.com/jw/s/Winning-the-BDS-Battle.html
www.aish.com/jw/s/10-Ways-You-Can-Fight-BDS.html
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They are back! *I May Stop Blogging on Arutz 7 and Other Blogging News

I'm one of the most veteran bloggers on Arutz 7. And I've probably blogged more posts/articles there than anyone else. And until a short while ago, when they used to feature the six most popular blog posts and at least two and even four were usually mine.

From the time Arutz 7 started their "bloggers column," they had always featured it on the main page of the site. That made it easy for readers to know that we bloggers exist. Even until very recently, when I'd meet people the first time, they'd say that they read my articles on Arutz 7. I remember way back when, accompanying a couple of Nefesh B'Nefesh flights as a journalist, olim told me that they knew me from my Arutz 7 blog.

But that is no more. Arutz 7 has changed more than the graphics on its site. First I noticed that clicking "Blog tag" no longer gave you the "top six" blog posts. And now you can't even find blog posts on the main page of Arutz 7. You have to click either the tab in the upper menu banner or at the very bottom.

You should know that we bloggers do not get paid. We do Arutz 7 a favor by contributing our articles for free, and they do us a favor by giving us a forum to post them. But now that the "forum" is hidden from easy access, it's not a very good deal for us.

When Times of Israel first began publication I blogged for them, but then I stopped. They annoyed me with all sorts of rules, such as insisting on "original material," as if they were paying us for writing. I got fed up, especially when they took down posts of mine. It would have had been different if they had paid me, but you must remember that bloggers do these publications a service. I stopped, and afterwards was glad.

So now, I may not bother blogging on Arutz 7. I still have all of my own blogs. The Jewish Press has permission to post my material. And recently a new internet magazine has opened which davka promotes bloggers, Israel Blogger. I've been blogging for them, as you can see here.

What do you think?

Is Bibi on His Way Out?

I can take the simple commonsense, mathematical or physics-type answer and give an easy yes to my question. Bibi will soon be celebrating his 68th birthday. He has been Prime Minister of Israel for an approximate decade, and even if he has inherited his father's longevity, it's an easy guess to say that not n his worst nightmares is he planning another decade in office. So, that means that Bibi is more than halfway through, which means that he's on his way out.

Now, the real question is whether after all these years of public service and politics will Binyamin "Bibi" Netanyahu leave gracefully with a "good name," or will he be served a "Go to jail" card?

Bibi and his wife Sarah have been under a "legal microscope" for quite awhile already, and  it seems to me that if there had been some serious crimes, they'd be jailed already.

On the other hand, there are those who see him as getting punished by Gd in this world for moral failures against Jewish life/building in the Land of Israel. And his recent incomprehensible failure to uphold minimal security for our security forces on the Temple Mount certainly may have tipped things against him and will cause Bibi a very nasty downfall. Metal detectors and photographic surveillance on the Temple Mount had widespread support among Israelis, Right, Left and Center, Jews and non-Jews alike. Bibi's capitulation to Arab terrorists was suicidal and incomprehensible especially for a man who's known as a brilliant masterly politician.

If Netanyahu had been strong about keeping the new security devices in place, the latest polls would have shown his Likud taking seats from Jewish Home, Yisrael Beiteinu, Yair Lapid and Kulanu. But as soon as Bibi crumbled he speeded up the "post-Bibi" competition among his wannabe successors. Look at the difference according to the polls  in "Jeremy's Knesset Insider".

With Bibi at the helm: Current Knesset seats in [brackets]

27 [30] Likud
22 [24] Zionist Union
18 [11] Yesh Atid
11 [13] The Joint (Arab) List
09 [08] Bayit Yehudi
08 [06] Yisrael Beitenu
07 [10] Kulanu

Likud under a different leader:
31 [30] Likud led by Saar, Erdan or Katz
20 [24] Zionist Union
16 [11] Yesh Atid
11 [13] The Joint (Arab) List
10 [08] Bayit Yehudi
08 [06] Yisrael Beitenu
07 [10] Kulanu

Don't forget that even with all the complaints and public investigations of Bibi, the polls are pretty consistent in giving the Likud the most seats. According to Israeli Law one vote for a political party, not a person, and the leader of the party that succeeds in forming a coalition becomes the Prime Minister.

What do you think?

True Story: No Room on Israeli Bus for Jewish Passengers

This past Friday I found myself sitting on the steps in a #86 bus from the Yarkon Junction to Ariel. Happy to finally be on my way home, I just sat down on the steps near the driver. I really felt much more comfortable in more ways than one. Here's the story...

On Friday I got stuck trying to get home. I had been to a "simcha," a festive occasion not too far from the Yarkon Junction. I calculated that I'd have no problem getting home on one of the Israeli buses to Ariel that stop at the Yarkon Junction. The only problem was that the buses didn't stop. They were full of Arabs who work in the Tel Aviv-Petach Tikva areas. I don't know what percentage of them have work permits or not or how they get to work. But there are times of the day when the buses are so full of them, there's no room for any more passengers by the time they reach Yarkon Junction.

Finally one stopped for me. I happily got on the bus and paid the driver. Then the driver said:

"There's no room. I just let you on since someone got off from the back."

Then I look around and saw that I was possibly the only Jew on the bus. I wasn't about to stand until they got off, most probably just before Ariel. So I calmly sat down on the steps near the driver. It's not the cleanest place to sit, but it's comfortable.

Since there wasn't a free seat, and I didn't feel like doing the staring until someone got up thing. 

A few miles down the road, after we had passed a couple of stops without stopping at all, some passengers got off. I had to get off the bus to let them off. And I realized from the conversations some had with the driver, that he was also an Arab. I was happy to be on my way home and prayed for the best.

After another group of Arabs got off, finally I sat down on a proper seat, yes, next to an Arab. It was in the front row. And then at the bus stop at the entrance to Ariel, before the security check, the bus emptied almost completely. Then there were about three of us, all who looked like Israeli Jews, left on the bus. By the time I got off near the Ariel University I was the only passenger left. The bus driver and I discussed which stop was best for me. The driver was polite to me the entire trip, and I did feel safe. What bothers me is that the bus fares are subsidized by Israeli taxpayers. These are Israeli buses, public transportation. And it's not right that Israeli citizens should find themselves waiting at bus stops without bus service.

In Jerusalem there are these gorgeous new modern white buses that are part of an Arab bus company that connects Jerusalem to nearby Arab towns. Why can't there be something like that in the Petach Tikva area to Samaria? That way there will be room on the Israeli buses for Jews?

Déjà Vu, Like in The Days Of "Judges"

My chevruta, study partners, and I are repeating Matan's Al Haperek program in which we learn Na"Ch, meaning the Prophets and Writings Sections of the Bible. We enjoyed It so much when the program was running that we decided to repeat it on our own. We finished Joshua and now we're up to Shoftim, Book of Judges.

Learning the Bible puts a very good perspective on today's political situation here in Israel. Certain things get repetitive. I'm not talking about the sins here. I'm talking about conquering the Land. We notice that some cities end up being conquered more than once. Apropos to the fact that we're a half a century, yes a full fifty years, since the miraculous 1967 Six Days War, way back when the Jewish People had to reconquer Land, meaning go to war again for a very simple reason.

Conquering is one thing, but it doesn't change facts on the ground unless you keep the mitzvah of yishuv ha"Aretz, live in the Land, build homes, cities, plant vineyards etc. That's part of  being sovereign.

Unfortunately, successive Israeli Governments have intentionally left most of the Land we liberated in 1967 judenrein, empty of Jews. In addition it hasn't been fully annexed and made part of sovereign Israel. That's why we're under diplomatic and terrorist attack.

It's not enough to have a miraculous victory of Biblical proportions. We must use the Land for the good of the Jewish People. Gd willing, speedily in our days...

Why do we relegate ourselves to the  Kotel?

Shiloh celebrating 40 years

Ancient Biblical Shiloh

Ancient Biblical Shiloh

Timeless Truth: No People Like The Jewish People

Today's the 10th of the Jewish Month of Av, and some of the "mourning restrictions" still hold. We, the Jewish People, have spent a solid three weeks remembering and mourning past tragedies, ancient tragedies from Biblical times. Is there any people like the Jewish People?

No!

A few years ago, I had a "cousins day" in Philadelphia, PA. That's a city with great significance in American History. I was rather amused at what they call "archeology" there. The sites have histories of just a few hundred years. In my hometown of Shiloh, archaeologists are able to document and active history of thousands of years, and it's clear that there was a strong Jewish presence long before the Christians and Moslems were around.

Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh

Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh

Yesterday there was an amazing development in the modern relationship between the Jewish People and the Temple Mount, the site where both of our Holy Temples had stood. On Tisha b'Av, the 9th of the Jewish Month of Av, 5777, more Jews were lined up to ascend the Temple Mount than to pray at the Kotel. This was a revolution of sorts.

More Jews are insisting on going to the holiest spot than making do with the outer support wall aka the Kotel.

We are totally connected to our ancient past, our amazing history. We shouldn't let the politicians get us down. We are on our way to Redemption, thank the Good Lord.

9th of Av Warning

I just posted a very positive optimistic blog post about the 9th of Av on A Jewish Grandmother,  Only in Israel, 9th of Av. It's on a day like today, when I have two very contradictory messages to post that I'm very happy to have a number of blogs.

The three week period of mourning leading to the 9th of Av and the fasting we do on that day are to remind us that our Land was invaded and Holy Temples destroyed.

Here we are over two thousand years later, and thank the Good Lord we are in a Jewish State. OK, true we do have enemies who unabashedly proclaim their plans to destroy us. As the world stands silently by, rather déjà vu, we have managed to miraculously defeat them time again.

There are even Jews who consider the status quo to be sufficiently good to mandate the cancellation of the fasting and mourning. I would certainly not go that far. I think that observing the fasting and mourning from the 17th of Tammuz to the 9-10th of Av as a still very necessary warning.

The commemoration of the tragedies to to make us remember, a reminder that even a Holy Temple built of heavy stone as grand as the one Herod built can be destroyed. Just read the Torah portion and Haftara our sages chose for the 9th of Av:

Complete Tisha B'Av Service, ArtScroll 

Dvarim 4:25When you beget children and children's children, and you will be long established in the land, and you become corrupt and make a graven image, the likeness of anything, and do evil in the eyes of the Lord your God, to provoke Him to anger,		דברים ד, כהכִּי תוֹלִיד בָּנִים וּבְנֵי בָנִים וְנוֹשַׁנְתֶּם בָּאָרֶץ וְהִשְׁחַתֶּם וַעֲשִׂיתֶם פֶּסֶל תְּמוּנַת כֹּל וַעֲשִׂיתֶם הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְהַכְעִיסוֹ:
26I call as witness against you this very day the heaven and the earth, that you will speedily and utterly perish from the land to which you cross the Jordan, to possess; you will not prolong your days upon it, but will be utterly destroyed.		כוהַעִידֹתִי בָכֶם הַיּוֹם אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ כִּי אָבֹד תֹּאבֵדוּן מַהֵר מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם עֹבְרִים אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ לֹא תַאֲרִיכֻן יָמִים עָלֶיהָ כִּי הִשָּׁמֵד תִּשָּׁמֵדוּן:
27And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will remain few in number among the nations to where the Lord will lead you.		כזוְהֵפִיץ יְהֹוָה אֶתְכֶם בָּעַמִּים וְנִשְׁאַרְתֶּם מְתֵי מִסְפָּר בַּגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר יְנַהֵג יְהֹוָה אֶתְכֶם שָׁמָּה:

Complete Tisha B'Av Service, ArtScroll 

I think that the true, the real lesson of the 9th of Av is only effective if we take it as a warning. We shouldn't think that because we have a Jewish State today, which is one of the most successful countries in the world, that we will all live happily ever after. Life isn't that simple.

Our Kingdom was invaded, the Temples destroyed and we were exiled twice before.

The State of Israel is a good start, but we are still far from Redemption, far from the Messianic Era. We, the Jewish People, still suffer terrible internal strife. Although there are good Jews preparing for Kohen, Priestly, Worship at the Holy Temple, we have not yet begun building the Third Temple. We do have prayers in the Hebron Cave of the Patriarchs, but there is not yet Jewish Prayer on the Temple Mount.

The State of Israel still refuses to be sovereign on not only the Temple Mount but the entire Land of Israel.

We have such a long way to go unfortunately. I do see progress. There was a time, not all that long ago, when you couldn't even hear anyone mentioning the subjects. But still we must hurry before Gd loses patience with us and decides that we are to be exiled yet again.

Next year, Gd willing, may there be feasts, not fasts on the 9th of Av. Gd willing with full Jewish Sovereignty the Third Temple will appear as the building commences, like the Red Sea parted when Nachshon stepped in.

It's up to us!

Bibi and Likud Right? No, Wrong!

I'd say double wrong.

• Wrong #1 is to label the Likud and Prime Minister Binyamin "Bibi" Netanyahu as promoting Right wing policies.
• Wrong #2 are their policies.

At times, like when campaigning or for the right media effect, they talk the talk. But push comes to shove, once the cameras are down and it comes to real policy, not theoretical, they don't walk the walk. In old cowboy and indian movies, they'd be described as having "forked tongues."

Reverend Fun - Untrustable Snakes

After just too many years of Likud-led coalition, I'd say that all the Likud MKs and ministers are the same. None have quit in disgust; their obvious ambition overrides their supposed principles. Coalition partner Yvette-Avigdor Lieberman may try to give the impression of being a tough fighter, but the only thing he really fights for is his own personal power. Some of his policy statements/proposals are even worse than Bibi's. 

Unfortunately, the Jewish Home, formerly NRP, is proving itself more Yosef Burg, than the principled patriotic pro-Jewish Rights and Sovereignty in the Land of Israel that most of its voters had been hoping for.

The wily Bibi Netanyahu made his coalition partners sign a contract that was more reminiscent of Dorian Gray than what their voters had voted for. 

The backtracking on security cameras for Arab Muslims is embarrassingly outrageous. Simple logic, where's the common sense? The previous policy which policed and inspected everyone but Arab Muslims entering and wandering around the Temple Mount was inexcusable. I'm sure that all of the police and soldiers and their loved ones stationed  on the Temple Mount were relieved once those metal detectors were in use. But within a couple of days, Bibi folded, melted showed the world and the Arab terrorists that he does not care about the security of the State of Israel. Each time something like this has happened, many of us expect, or pray, that the coalition will break up and that we'll see politicians with principles. 

I guess that "politicians with principles" is an oxymoron. 

What a way to enter Tisha b'Av...

• Gd willing, there will be a miracle, and we'll finally have a true, reliable Jewish Leader who fears nobody but Gd Almighty. 
• Gd willing, there will be a miracle, and we'll finally have a leader who will impose fully Israeli Sovereignty over the Entire Land of Israel. 

That is the only way we will achieve PEACE.

Tzom Kal

An Easy and Effective Fast

9th of Av Yet Again

9th of Av Yet Again is also cross-posted on Israel Blogger.

9th of Av

In another two days is the Fast of the 9th of Av, when we must endure a 25 hour fast* to commemorate/remember the invasion/conquering of Jerusalem and destruction of both our Holy Temples. This is the saddest most tragic time in the Jewish Calendar. In the heat of the summer, we
are commanded to remember.

This past year, especially the past couple of weeks, it's much too easy to see how the increased violence and dangers are caused by our sins. Yes, remember that we're all in this "boat"together. We can't say:

"I'm perfect. He's the one who got us into trouble."

Yom Kippur

In another two months it will be Yom Kippur, and on Yom Kippur we also fast 25 hours and we list "our sins" to Gd begging forgiveness. The Yom Kippur Prayers are written in plural. It is forbidden to edit the text with the excuse:

"I didn't do that."

We are One Jewish People, One Family. We have to care for and take responsibility for each other. The internal sin, which weakened us and caused our defeat and the destruction of the Jewish Kingdoms and Holy Temples came from within us.

Déjà vu

Déjà vu. It's happening yet again. We have a government that runs to foreign leaders for "advice" and "aid" rather than doing what is best for the Jewish People and State of Israel. Our government treats foreign values as gods instead of obeying the One and Only Gd Almighty. Our government worries about world opinion instead of what's best for us.

Our Israeli Government does not act as a sovereign power.

We ordinary citizens feel hopeless and powerless. We have not united to do what we know is best.

Our Israeli Government is destroying Jewish homes while permitting our enemies to build and grow stronger. It feels like the 9th of Av all the time.

I dread checking the news.

Elul, Teshuva, Repentance 

It's hard to keep in mind that there is a way out of this dangerous mess. We don't have to wait for the Month of Elul to repent. Teshuva, Repentance is accepted by Gd all year long.

• If we hurry and build homes and communities for Jews all over the Land of Israel...
• If we execute all Arab terrorists instead of offering them trials and prison services...
• If we ascend the Temple Mount with prayers and building materials...

THEN THIS TUESDAY ON THE 9TH OF AV WE WILL CELEBRATE THE MOSHIACH AND DEDICATE THE THIRD HOLY TEMPLE, SPEEDILY IN OUR DAYS, GD WILLING!

*Those with certain medical issues/conditions are supposed to drink, even eat. Fasting is only for those healthy enough and not taking even temporary medications. Check with both doctor and qualified rabbi, who understands the medical aspects.

Israel's Security Solution, Clear and Timeless

Israel's Security Solution, Clear and Timeless is cross-posted on Israel Blogger.

Today, when I was in the synagogue listening to the Torah Portion of the Week, Dvarim, I heard the Solution to Israel's Security Problems. It was so clear. Just read the last line of the parsha:

Dvarim 3:22Do not fear them, for it is the Lord, your God, Who is fighting for you."

דברים גכב,לֹ֖א תִּֽירָא֑וּם כִּ֚י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם ה֖וּא הַנִּלְחָ֥ם לָכֶֽם:

This may sound simplistic and unrealistic to some, but having lived through the 1967 Six Days War, even though in New York, I could easily see that the IDF was just a tool in Gd's hands.

1967 Six Days War

To summarize:

In May, 1967, Egypt began threatening Israel with annihilation. Egypt demanded that the United Nations remove its peacekeeping forces from the Suez Canal. the UN quickly buckled and removed its peacekeeping forces. While Egypt had no problem gather allies and support, the State of Israel was left alone. Support came from prayers to Gd from Jews and others all over the world.

Israel's War Aim:

Simply put, the only goal that the State of Israel had as it prepared to fight was to survive. The government had hoped that our destroying enemy air forces would end the war without the need for troops on the ground, since the Arabs had more than we did.

Miraculous:

In the fifty years since the war, many military experts have tried to analyze it. Even then, in 1967, people were incredulous. We could only credit the Hand of Gd. The conclusion of the international experts is the  same. The victory, including the straightening and expansion of Israel's borders had to have been a miracle. There is no other way to explain it.

Conclusion

The State of Israel must stop trying to get foreign support and allies, because our survival is dependent on our belief in Gd. We do have to make our military efforts, but the victories aren't ours alone. It's not the IDF that should get all the credit. These are gifts from Gd Almighty. No foreign country will protect us the way Gd does.

Today is no different from when King David, as a young man, told the then ruling King Saul that he will defeat Goliath with the help of Gd, not with conventional modern weapons of the time. David didn't stand around waiting for Gd to kill Goliath. He found simple stones and aimed perfectly, and then Gd did the rest.

Summer Treat, Bible Tanach at Herzog

This is cross-posted on Israel Blogger.

Yesterday, along with hundreds or most probably thousands of others, I spent the whole day learning Tanach, Bible at Michlelet Herzog in Alon Shvut.

People came from all over Israel to attend, and classes were in two languages, Hebrew and English. Considering the amount of English heard in the hallways, WC and cafeteria, I'd say that many English speakers attended classes in Hebrew.  There was an amazing range of choices in lectures, and most people had preregistered, so the organizers knew in which sized rooms the lectures should be. Most people also paid for lunch, which was plentiful and efficiently served. And there was also an option to take buses, which even had a stop in Shiloh. Yes, that's how I traveled.

I only attended one day of the classes, but I have many friends who were there for more. Considering that there were five scheduled classes in just one day, I'd expect to fade long before the day was over. But thanks to the perfect temperature air-conditioning, spritz humidifiers outdoors, perfectly timed breaks between lessons and the unlimited hot/cold drinks available, I remained awake and alert the entire day.

Of the five classes I took, the highlights were Yehuda, "The Making of a Hero" by Rabbi Alex Israel, "An Unnatural Fault Line: Jerusalem," by Rabbi Moshe Shulman, and Dr. Yael Ziegler's "Our Father, Our King: The Difference Between Shirat Hayam and Shirat Haazinu."

These were lectures, not discussions, and frequently I had to bite my tongue to keep from trying to dialogue with the speaker. This was much less a problem with Yael Ziegler who is an expert in giving such a complete and brilliantly planned Bible Tanach lesson, which inspires and informs, rather than leaving me with a host of unanswered questions.

Rabbi Alex Israel stepped into the usual mistake of presuming modern family modes and values for the time of Yehuda and Tamar. I find that worse than annoying. Marriage in the time of the Bible was not like modern time at all. To me it's very obvious that Tamar's marriage to Yehuda's eldest son, Er, had nothing to do with "love." There was some business or political decision between her clan and Yehuda's. His sons, who as Israel did point out, were most probably too young to understand their role and cooperate by having children with her. But, as I see it, Tamar did understand the importance of having a family with Yehuda's clan, and that's why she took the daring step of disguising herself as a prostitute and seducing Yehuda. Disguises and daring women were very common threads in the David and Messianic line. Think of Ya'akov and Leah. Ya'akov disguised himself as his brother to fool his father to get the main inheritance instead of his brother, and then Leah tricked him, pretending that he was marrying her sister Rachel. These are points I had wanted to mention if it had been "that sort of lecture." But there was no time for questions and dialogues. 

Rabbi Moshe Shulman's topic was totally new for me. I hadn't thought about the idea that the "political" Yehuda and Yisrael split predated the King Solomon's descendants. Rabbi Shulman used the tribal maps to simplify the geography of the split, which caused me to want to ask what happened to the Tribe of Shimon, Simon, which was in the area of Yehuda. Yes, that's one of my "dumb questions."  Besides that, I quickly saw something that the tribes of Yehuda and Binyamin had in common, which Shulman didn't mention at all. It almost reminded me of Korach...  Both those tribes had members anointed as kings by Shmuel Hanavi, as instructed by Gd. Actually, I was disappointed that Shulman didn't mention it. The rivalry between the sons of Rachel and Leah is depicted many times in the Bible, but here we see them united against the sons of the concubines and their other brothers.

I really like it when a Bible lecture inspires me to ask lots of questions, but when it's not a framework that allows discussion, at least I have my blog, and I will send them this link. Bli neder, can't promise, I will post answers if I receive them. All lectures should be on the Herzog site at some point.