A week ago marked the 2nd anniversary of the blogspot on line when I went from private to public from about 1000 readers to untold numbers but again thanks is due to a lady in Canada with a lot of patience – Tsila Kahane may she have a long healthy life.
It is also 5 years since the brutal removal of people from Gush Katif a few days after Tisha B’Av they are still sitting and mourning like Tisha B’Av for housing and income that they no longer have from their hot houses. Some of them were Holocaust Victims who never expected a Jewish State to treat them like it did. Some of the youth were ruined as their faith crushed. I have no idea what happened to the three Cohen children who lost limbs in a terrorist attack on a school bus. What do we have for this a miracle in Ashkelon this morning as a Katuysha lands in central Ashkelon and only 4 people treated for shock just this very morning.
A few words are in order.
Because of the nature of Jewish Weddings a Ketuba and the signing of it and acquiring a wife with a wedding ring, Jews do not marry on Shabbos. Neither are mixed marriages permitted ever! The Conservative Rabbi refused to marry Hillary Clinton to a Jew and he was the Rabbi of the Groom’s Parents. Recently PM Netanyahu has blocked the compromise Conversion Bill because of pressure from the Shabbos Violators. The bill would have made it much easier for non-Jews to convert via Orthodox Rabbis as was the case from the Hebrew year 2448 up until about 200 years ago when the abuse of Judaism by the Reform brought upon delays and bureaucracy in the Conversion process.
I believe the freeze on this is the last fling of the Satan and the anti-Torah elements. What type of car would you rather have if I gave you a choice and full payment. A BMW or Porsche on once side or on the other side a Russian Dashe or a... Chinese Car. The same is for a Convert who wants to come to Judaism. A type of Judaism that is based on 5770 years of experience or a product of the 1800's socialism before or around the revolution of 1848 CE. Less than 200 years with atheistic, interfaith Rabbis and violators of Lev.18:22 and chapter 20. Such a group - the L-RD will not suffer forever!
What is the ALL MIGHTY’S standard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wbndKGZJ1k&feature=player_embedded#! – Thanks to Rabbi Asher Meza
Parsha Ekev
Olam Haba person vs. Olam HaZeh person – Moshe is living out his last week and is basically reminding and instructing people on the ways of Torah in this world as a preparation for the next world. On the other hand a person who only thought about Gashmiyus in this world would leave it something like this which was not hip hop or gangster rap but a song from my childhood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WhLhF12TBE
7:12. And it will be, because you will heed these ordinances and keep them and perform, that the Lord, your God, will keep for you the covenant and the kindness that He swore to your forefathers.
8:1. Every commandment that I command you this day you shall keep to do, that you may live and multiply, and come and possess the land that the Lord swore to your forefathers.
As we know that the Torah does not mince words and HASHEM is not a politician giving a long winded double talk speech so why the repetition of a sort here? What are we to learn from this? To understand better let us read Rashi on both Pasukim.
7:12 And it will be, because you will heed: Heb. עֵקֶב, lit. heel. If you will heed the minor commandments which one [usually] tramples with his heels [i.e., which a person treats as being of minor importance]. That the Lord, your God, will keep: He will keep His promise to you.
8:1 Every commandment: [This is to be understood] according to its simple meaning. A midrashic explanation is [“the whole of the commandment… you shall keep”]: If you have started a mitzvah, finish it, because it is attributed only to the one who completes it, as it is said, “And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought up from Egypt, they buried in Shechem” (Josh. 24:32). But did not Moses alone occupy himself with them to bring them up? [See Exod. 13:19.] However, since he did not complete the mitzvah [of burying the bones], and [the children of] Israel did, [this mitzvah] is accredited to their name. — [Tanchuma 6]
We see that Rashi saw each sentence differently one to emphasize the importance of minor commandments and the other every commandment. For if we say that letting the mother bird go and keeping the younglings we would be minor so maybe we can get around it a bit then the next thing you know we will get around a more and more important Mitzvah until in the end we violate Shabbos, Family Purity, Kashrus, Murder, Adultery. Rashi foresaw the possibility and therefore warned us. Why Shabbos with Murder and Adultery because they are linked in the ten commandments – why Family Purity and Kashrus with Murder and Adultery because by violating the first you deserve Kares and Kashrus can reach that proportion if one eats Chelev (forbidden fat), Aliya (tail fat), Dam (blood) and parts or all of Korbanos that don’t below to the average man.
13 and He will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee; He will also bless the fruit of thy body and the fruit of thy land, thy corn and thy wine and thine oil, the increase of thy cattle and the young of thy flock, in the land which He swore unto thy fathers to give thee. 14 Thou shalt be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. 15 And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness; and He will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee, but will lay them upon all them that hate thee. 16 And thou shalt consume all the peoples that the LORD thy God shall deliver unto thee; thine eye shall not pity them; neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee. …
9:1 Hear, O Israel: thou art to pass over the Jordan this day,
It is obvious that “this day” does not mean now within an hour as they listened to Moshe until he passed away and mourned him 30 days. Obviously, it mean according to Rabbi Aaron Michelson Shlita that you are basically ready today to cross the Yarden and conquer the land but it will be very soon now so be prepared. Sort of like a prelude to D-Day or some other battles.
to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fortified up to heaven, but don’t be afraid for HASHEM is with you. The L-RD will fight your battles to save you.
My friends and readers, perhaps the triple digit heat in the Modiin area or about 50 personal requests by readers or the upcoming marriage of my niece has over loaded me this coming week. I have therefore postponed to next week the rest of the commentary that I did not write. I didn’t even have time to read other Rabbis to sort of add something to my own this week. Most of my writings this week have been associated with other things and my continuing search for the lost tribes of Israel see below. A lot of work and research went into some of the posting of sites given below. To my blog readers please cut and paste. Watching the search for the 10 tribes I found fantastic although I knew very well about the Cohanim of Tunisia for years. Still is Zevulon, Yisaschar or Asher still hidden among the Native American Tribes or among the Jews of China?
Mitzvos and Halachos by Danny Shoemann
It's a Mitzva to return the collateral to the borrower , if and when he needs it. Items needed at night - like bedding - must be returned at night and can be taken back in the morning. Tools needed for his trade must be returned in the morning and can be taken back at night. One who does not return the collateral when required loses this Mitzva and has also transgressed a prohibition, as per Mitzva #92 - http://mitzvoh.blogspot.com/2010/02/mitzvah-92-withholding-collateral.html
Applies to everybody, everywhere, always Verse: "You shall surely return to him the collateral" (Devarim 24:13)
Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 63
One may not remarry one's divorcee if she was married to somebody else since the divorce. If they do get remarried, Bet Din force them to get divorced. If she had an affair after the divorce, the original couple are allowed to get remarried. (A Cohen may not marry a divorcee; even his own divorcee.) Applies to everybody, everywhere, always Verse: "Her first husband make not remarry her... since she was wed to another" (Devarim 24, 4) Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 134
If a person dies without children, his widow is now allowed to marry anybody except for one of her late husband's brothers. If somebody other than a brother marries her, they have both transgressed. The prohibition applies until she does Chalitzah with one of the brothers, as per positive Mitzvah #140 - "Chalitzah, an alternative to Yibum" ( http://tinyurl.com/chaltza) Applies to everybody, everywhere, always Verse: "...the widow shall not be allowed to marry a non-brother..." (Devarim 25:5)Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar; Prohibition 135
If a male who's reproductive system has been injured - such that he can no longer beget children - marries a regular Jewess, they both get 39 lashes by Beth Din. Such a person is allowed to marry a convert - even if he is a Cohen. A man who was born with a non-functional reproductive system is not included in the above prohibition.
Applies to everybody, everywhere, always Verse: "He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not marry into the congregation..." (Devarim 23:2)
Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar; Prohibition 136
A Mamzer may marry another Mamzer or a convert - and their children will be Mamzerim - but they may not marry a regular Jew. A Mamzer is defined as:
- a child born from a forbidden relationship where the punishment is Kares, with the exception of Niddah. (They are called ben or bas Niddah)
- a child who has a parent who is a Mamzer.
A child found in the market whose parentage is unknown, or the child of an unmarried mother who doesn't know who the father is or she refuses to tell us who he is, is considered a Safek Mamzer and the child may only marry converts. Applies to everybody, everywhere, always Verse: "A Mamzer may not marry into the congregation..." (Devarim 23:3) Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar; Prohibition 137
For 3 years after planting a tree, one may not eat its fruit, nor derive any benefit from the fruit, peels or pits. This is a Torah prohibition and applies to trees planted anywhere on the planet by anybody. How to count these 3 years:
- Trees planted until Tu B’Av (tomorrow - 15th of the month of Av; 45 days before Rosh Hashana) have their first birthday on Rosh Hashana, and 2 years later they turn "three years old".
- Trees planted less than 45 days before Rosh Hashana need to count three years from their first Rosh Hashana.
The laws of Orlah apply to trees grown from shoots or pits, and sometimes to trees that have been replanted. A tree that has was cut and its stump is less than 1 Tefach (about 9 cm) high becomes Orlah again. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 173:1,3,4
One does not say Tachanun on Tu B'Av, nor at Mincha the afternoon before. The bride and groom do not fast on their wedding day if it's on Tu B'Av.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 22:8, 146:2
A number of joyous events happened over the years on Tu B'Av.
- It was the day the Generation-of-the-Wilderness realized that the sin of the spies had been forgiven, in the year 2488.
- It was the day that the tribes were allowed to intermarry, including orphaned daughters (as per Bamidbar 36:8) once all those who conquered the Land had passed away.
- On the same day the tribe of Binyamin were allowed to intermarry with other tribes, after the scandal of Give'ah (as per Shoftim 19 - 21), around the year 2524.
- It was the day that King Hoshea ben Elah removed the blockades that the wicked King Yerav'am ben Nevat had placed on the roads, preventing the Jews from going to Jerusalem for the Festivals about 75 years earlier, around the year 3040.
- It was the day the Romans allowed those massacred by the wicked Hadrian in Beitar to be buried, sometime after he died in 138 (C.E).
- It was the day they stopped chopping wood for the altar in the Bet Hamikdash every year, as it marks the end of "summer" (as per Rashi on Breishis 8:22) and the start of the 2 months of "heat". The wood had to be worm free to be used on the altar, and had to be fully dried before the rainy season.
This gave everybody more time for learning Torah - and therefore Tu B'Av is the Joyous Day of Increased Torah Learning (and one does not say Tachanun on Tu B'Av.) Source: The Book of our Heritage, Vol 3 page 307-313
Orlah is the Torah prohibition of eating fruit from tress less than 3 years old, as per Sunday's Halacha. In the 4th year the fruit is called "Neta Revayi" and needs to be "redeemed" by transferring its status onto a coin. The coin needs to be worth at least a "Peruta" (0.22 grams of pure silver; currently less than 2 US pennies.) One says "I am redeeming the Neta Revayi into this coin". The coin is then destroyed and disposed of. Instead of a coin one can use fruit worth 2 pennies, which then needs to be destroyed.
After redeeming them, the "Neta Revayi" (4th year fruit) can be eaten, anywhere by anybody. Sources: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 173:2, Mishna Orlah, 3:9
Fresh fruit is always Kosher, however it may have an Orlah problem, as per yesterday and Sunday's Halacha. When in doubt if the tree is less than 4 years old:
- In Israel the fruit from such a tree is forbidden. (This is one of the reasons that fruit needs Rabbinic Supervision in Israel. Other issues include Shmita, "Neta Revo'i" and the separation of Terumah and Maaser.)
- Outside of Israel the fruit is allowed, as long as you don’t pick it yourself. This is the way Moshe was given the Halocho at Har Sinai.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 173:2, Mishna Orlah, 3:9
Orlah is the Torah prohibition of eating fruit from tress less than 3 years old, as per Sunday's Halacha. In the 4th year the fruit is called "Neta Revayi" and needs to be "redeemed" by transferring its status onto a coin. The coin needs to be worth at least a "Peruta" (0.22 grams of pure silver; currently less than 2 US pennies.)
One says "I am redeeming the Neta Revayi into this coin". The coin is then destroyed and disposed of. Instead of a coin one can use fruit worth 2 pennies, which then needs to be destroyed. After redeeming them, the "Neta Revayi" (4th year fruit) can be eaten, anywhere by anybody. Sources: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 173:2, Mishna Orlah, 3:9
Smearing non-edibles on Shabbat is forbidden, including wax, plaster, tar, putty, clay and creams. One may not put wax or similar into holes on Shabbat, to seal them.
One may not dab a small amount of the above on a book or wall as a placeholder. One may smear food; butter onto bread for example.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:58, Orach Chaim 321:19 If one has a bad rash or an infant a diaper rash or needs an anti-biotic cream, one may dab on the cream but not smear it. The child moving around may cause the diaper to smear it but it is Koach or strength of your original dabbing and has come about without you purposely working it into the skin like in smearing.
The Question that I had of two weeks ago (see Parsha Devarim http://rabbipauli.blogspot.com/2010/07/parsha-devarim-tisha-b-av-bishul-akum-3.html )
I once was driving along US 5 in Washington State and say big 60 cup hot water heaters with Tetley Tea or Taster's Choice plastic spoons and one time cups, and either sugar or sweetener. I found nothing wrong with the Kashrut but the coffee was sponsored by the local parish. Any ideas about this? (The problem being if I am getting enjoyment from an Akum place of worship or if I give a quarter and they make more than a Peruta’s worth am I donating to their worship? This is similar to using a Baal Peor House for a toilet?
I talked to retired Col. Dr. Rabbi Aaron Michelson Shlita and we were the implications of the drinking of coffee from a church by a Jew and contributing something for a cup of coffee or tea. We first had to establish if modern Protestants or Catholics are idol worshippers or not. (A Jew is forbidden to believe in any partner with HASHEM but is a Goy forbidden – I have discussed this about using the Shechina of G-D as a separate entity or the internal image of G-D the Neshama – daughter as a mistake but perhaps not for a non-Jew) So their beliefs are not Avodah Zara per sec. What about the Statue of the image of a man in a church and people kneeling down during the service? The answer is that this statue is a symbol of worship and contrary to idol worship – the worshipper does not attribute power to the statue but to HASHEM. {The Chet HaEgel – golden calf – was the mixed multitude taking one of the Holy Chayos that they saw pulling HASHEM’s Throne and worshipping that and that was supposed to be an Image of HASHEM)
Was the church then specifically looking for worshippers and contributors or to convert Jews? The church volunteers were out there giving out coffee to people driving along route 5 seeing that there was no services other than restrooms at the rest stops. The majority of travelers on the highway are non-Jews so they are not doing this specifically to missionize Jews. The chance of somebody dropping by their church on the long haul is pretty small. The church was interested in preventing accidents and deaths in their area similar to the Mitzvah of accompanying somebody safely to the road to prevent having to later bring the Egel Arufa or the bullock that has his neck broken with the confession of the elders that they did not murder him.
Having established this the money matter still remains and since they are supplying hot water and tea bags, plastic spoons and cups, sweetener or sugar and the time to purchase and drive out to the highway and their labor and if I were to get off the road at a place where there might be a gas station open at that hour I would essentially be paying more if they had open at night a facility for making coffee. (Let us say a $1 instead of a quarter) Therefore since paying the small amount of money was not going really to make their church rich and they would give away the coffee without money – there is no proof that one is enjoying or donating even indirectly to non-Jewish worship. Some Jews go into churches known for their art work the Cysteine Chapel in the Vatican while others like myself don’t. Neither would I enter a church for a wedding or funeral but to wait on the stairs or in a reception hall inside where there are no services. However, if a Jew entered a church and then had a medical emergency I would go in to save his life.
Lastly, a few years ago I discussed the extra Chumra going around the Charedi world with the natural hair wigs from India. Some people burned them over $1000 a piece for the hair was cut off to some Hindu god in some Temple. The leading Rabbis ruled that since cutting the hair in another room as a donation to the idol is not the normal way of idol worship it was not idol worship and one could use the natural hair wigs. It should be noted that since the Beis HaMikdash was destroyed, the holiness went down in the world so did the anti-holiness of Avodah Zara go down. Like it or not monotheistic religions sprang up among the Goyim. Even the initial Buddhism as practiced by Prince Buddha appears to have been influenced by Jews fleeing the destruction of the first Temple.
Miracle in Ashkelon
A rocket fired from the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun exploded in the heart of a populated area in the southern city of Ashkelon on Friday morning. Four people suffered shock. Two empty floors of an apartment building, several cars and a nearby pavement sustained damage. Many windows were shattered. Police dispatched to the rocket's landing site urged the residents to stay in their homes for fear of additional rockets.
"We heard the siren and ran into the fortified room," says Dudi Ben-Shlush, who lives on the fourth floor of the building hit by the rocket. "We heard the loud explosion only after we came out. The entire building trembled, windows were shattered, and the shutters were damaged. "When we went downstairs, we saw that our two cars were completely damaged and their windows were shattered. It was very scary; we thought the entire building was going to collapse."
Nechama Carmi, who lives in the same building, was washing her car when she heard the siren. "I ran into the stairwell and waited there. When I came out I heard the loudest explosion I've heard since Operation Cast Lead. It was very strong and terrifying."
Ilana Asulin, another neighbor, was cooking the Shabbat meal. "I shut the stove, we went into the fortified room and then we heard a very loud explosion."
Mayor: Fortification must continue
Ashkelon Mayor Benny Vaknin, who arrived at the landing site, said that "this is a very serious incident, the worst since Operation Cast Lead. There is no doubt that such a hit inside the city is an escalation. "He added that "most educational institutions, schools and kindergartens have not been fortified, and we demand that the defense minister continue the fortification of the schools and kindergartens. We will convene all the security elements in the city for consultations on our next move." The Parents association is striking the school system until $20 million NIS promised for fortification is authorized and fortification completed. RABBI PAULI ASKS A STUPID IDIOTIC DUMB QUESTION WHY NOT SEND PAMPLETS TO BET HANOUN TELLING THE RESIDENTS TO GET OUT AND THEN PRACTICE BOMBING THE PLACE LIKE WE WANT TO DO WITH IRAN’S NUKES IT WOULD KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE AND GET A LITTLE PEACE AND QUIET IN ASHKELON OR GAZA WILL BE TURNED INTO RUBBLE. GEE I KNOW HOW THE ARABS SPEAK CLEARLY TO ONE ANOTHER LIKE THE HAMAS SHOOTING 20 BULLETS INTO EACH DEAD FATACH MEMBER.
Teddy, a local resident, told Ynet the rocket landed not far from his house. "We grabbed the baby and ran into the fortified room. There was a loud explosion." Matan Tshuva, 18, said that after hearing the air raid siren, "we went down two floors according to the Home Front Command's orders. We have no fortified room and we are on the last floor, so such a room would not have helped us anyway. We heard the explosion only after we got back into the house, about 30 seconds after the siren. "I went to the window to see what it was, and saw a cloud of black smoke behind a building facing the sea. I called the firefighters' department and informed them of the location. They got there immediately. There was a lot of pressure," he added.
A total of four rockets and two mortar shells were fired at Israel last Saturday, causing no injuries. An initial examination revealed that one of the rockets, which exploded near Kibbutz Nahal Oz, was manufactured using professional means, most likely outside of the borders of the Gaza Strip.The city of Ashkelon sustained was hit by many rocket barrages during Operation Cast Lead about a year and a half ago. "We are becoming like Sderot," Tshuva added. "There they suffered much more, but we are also hit occasionally."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3927241,00.html http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=183123
Miracle in Bronx NY
Since my son Asher was struck by lightning from his phone at work via his ear he is sensitive to these stories:
She was asked for a buzz and got the shock of her life. A Bronx mother of four survived being struck by lightning during a raging thunderstorm Friday night, sources and the resilient woman said. Laverne Cook, 39, was working as a security guard at an East Tremont apartment building when she pushed the button to buzz in a resident who was ducking from the rain at about 8:40 p.m., she said.
"The lightning struck the gate as I pressed the button," Cook told the Daily News. "It threw me back," she said. "The current went through my right arm." It took Cook several moments to get to her feet, and she said her initial cries for help went unheard. "Nobody was out there because [it was] pouring down with rain," she said. Fortunately, her boss walked by moments later and called 911 when he saw her swollen, red arm.
She was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital at about 9 p.m. and was allowed to go home a few hours later when doctors determined she had no life-threatening injuries. "I had no feeling in my arm for two or three hours," she said. "It was just crazy. I've never experienced anything like that. I thank God." Cook said the limb still tingles, but expects to make a full recovery. The gate and buzzer, however, are in need of repair since the high-charged bolt struck. Cook was zapped just moments before a man was hit by lightning in Brooklyn.
The 54-year-old was in critical condition after he was hit by a bolt as he walked under a line of trees on Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights. jkemp@nydailynews.com
Eliyokum sent me this on anti-Semitism: http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=21534&blogentry_id=9513&c=263
A must watch for people who never met the prince who converted. I wrote about him a few years ago. I heard him speak in Hebrew view all six: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTgnOfJx5CE&feature=player_embedded
From Elizabeth a 3 minute film by Lori: http://www.aish.com/sp/lal/96276268.html
Regarding Conversion for my newer readers look into the Book of Ruth: http://rabbipauli.blogspot.com/2010/05/megillas-ruth-shevous-and-story.html
When I was growing up both Jews and non-Jews were brought up on moral principle this son was on the hit parade: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF4nwmqvuQI
Yemen a continuing Jewish Saga: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3925453,00.html
Does an Elevator Require a Mezuzah? By Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff
Many people will smile when they see this question. Others will frown. And everyone will gain from reading this article -- since this question provides an opportunity to discuss many aspects of the laws of mezuzah.
Let us start from the very beginning: “I live in an apartment building in New York. My building does not have a mezuzah; why should my elevator?”
The questioner is, of course, correct. Assuming that his building has both Jewish and non-Jewish residents, most authorities contend that there is no requirement to install a mezuzah (Rama, Yoreh Deah 286:1; quoting Mordechai). The commentaries provide two reasons why no mezuzah is required in this instance, some explaining that the Torah never required a mezuzah on a building unless all its residents are obligated in the mitzvah (Taz, 286:2). Others absolve these buildings from mezuzah out of concern that suspicious non-Jewish residents may think the Jew is hexing them with the mezuzah (Shach 286:6). Although some recognized authorities contend that one must place a mezuzah even in a building shared by non-Jewish residents (Aruch HaShulchan, quoting Rashba and several others) the accepted practice is not to.
EXCLUSIVELY JEWISH
However, a building with exclusively Jewish residents must have a mezuzah on every entrance to the building as well as on any other doorways inside the building, even if some of the residents are not yet observant. This is true notwithstanding that no one lives in the hallway or foyer.
... The Rabbi Shlita explains at this point what constitutes the right side for posting the Mezuza for stair wells etc.
Just as a properly functioning elevator lifts us to great heights, so the properly fulfilled mitzvah of mezuzah takes us far higher. We touch the mezuzah whenever we enter or exit a building to remind ourselves of Hashem’s constant presence, and it is a physical and spiritual protective shield. Whenever passing it, we should remind ourselves of Hashem’s constant protection.
Parable from R’ A.L.: The Baal Shem Tov used to spend many hours in prayer. His disciples would finish their prayer earlier and then wait for their Rebbe. While waiting they spent their time studying Torah or reciting passages of the Psalms. Only after the Baal Shem Tov was finished, would they go home and have their Shabbos meal.
One Shabbos, the disciples decided to go home, have their meal and return to the synagogue before their Rebbe finished his prayers. However, to their amazement, when they returned, the Baal Shem Tov had already finished his prayers and was waiting for them.
They asked the Baal Shem Tov, "Why did the Rebbe finish his prayers so much earlier this Shabbos??"
The Baal Shem Tov replied, "I will explain this with the following parable. Many people were standing near to a tree, on the top of which there was a beautiful bird. In order to catch the bird, they decided that each person will stand on the other's shoulder, until the one on top will reach the bird and catch it."
"The same is with us," said the Baal Shem Tov. "The only way I can reach to the higher spiritual sphere is when I place each one of you one on top of each other (in a spiritual sense), and thus, with your help, I could get to where I want to reach. However, when you all left, I lost your support and thus the ability to reach the spiritual heights."
Lost Tribe Alert from Debbie are in 3 parts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZvuM8VrX9I&feature=player_embedded
I know a number of Bukharans could they be Naphtali’s descendants: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ut_ulbG_m0&feature=related
Gog and Magog Alert: Normally I place E. Winston-s articles under the Inyanay Diyoma area. This one falls more in the Torah column so I placed it on the border between the sections.
CENTCOM Plans for Dayton's Army? forwarded with commentary by Emanuel A. Winston, Middle East Analyst & Commentator
Since President Barack Hussein Obama was elected, many - including me - have identified him as a Left-Leaning Arabist of Muslim extraction. As Commander-in-Chief he, along with the hostile Arabist State Department have used their privileged offices to subvert the Jewish Nation/State of Israel at every possible level.
Although the Arab and Muslim nations have proven they are the enemies of the Free West, including America, Israel and Europe, the Arabists in American government have bonded with the Terrorist Muslim nations in a Faustian bargain with the devil of oil.
Even as they kill American soldiers in Afghanistan, Iraq and America - as on 9/11/01, Obama - as Commander-in-Chief - issues orders to first Gen. Dayton and now to Centcom (Central Command) to build the Muslim Arab Palestinian Army (known to be Terrorists) who without question will attack the Jewish Nation/State, using American-taught technology and arms - including secret intelligence, communications skills, as well as sleeper cells placed in sensitive positions.
Clearly, President Obama does not represent the American people or the American Congress who support Israel’s right to defend herself and maintain her sovereignty as a Jewish nation.
Given what Obama is doing to bring America to her knees in national bankruptcy and his personal biased hostility to the only democracy in the Middle East, he deserves nothing less than impeachment as a clear and present danger to the American nation and the Jewish Nation/State.
The following analysis by JINSA (Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs) explains Gen. Dayton’s role and his replacement - all at the hands of President Obama.
COMMENTARY BY EMANUEL A. WINSTON
###
JINSA Report #1009 July 23, 2010
CENTCOM Plans for Dayton's Army?
JINSA has long expressed concern about military skills being transmitted by the U.S. to a Palestinian Authority military force while the Palestinian government remains openly hostile to Jewish sovereignty in the Middle East. The Israelis tell us, "The more they do against Hamas, the less we have to do." The Americans tell us, "Everything we do is coordinated with our friends in Israel."
We believe them both, while remaining enormously skeptical about the ultimate wisdom of the plan and right now have a queasy feeling about the future of what has been called "Dayton's Army."
LTG Keith Dayton, USA, who for the past five years was the U.S. Security Coordinator for the Palestinians, is being replaced by MG Michael Moeller, USAF (who will receive his third star along with the assignment). Interestingly, while LTG Dayton's career in the Army centered on EUCOM, the European Command of which Israel is a member, MG Moeller comes to the job from CENTCOM, which specifically does not involve itself in matters involving Israel or the Palestinians.
Until now?
MG Moeller, currently director of strategy, plans and policy at CENTCOM, is said to have had no contact with the Palestinians to date, but is it possible that the U.S. is thinking that Americans working with a Palestinian army should be integrating their thinking with CENTCOM - an operationally largely Arab command - while the Americans working with the IDF continue to be EUCOM? Is someone thinking that a Palestinian army should not be partnered with the IDF, but with Arab armies?
Yes, we are channeling a report from January that said overtures had been made to move the PA to CENTCOM - to which Gen. Petraeus said such overtures had not been made, and we believed him. Yes, we are also channeling a report that said CENTCOM was "red teaming" the idea that the U.S. should engage Hamas (and Hezbollah). The reports were by the same person, and refuted by people we trust, but still, it is hard not to think that somewhere in the U.S., military people are taking the approach that Hamas (and Hezbollah) is not an enemy of the U.S., but only of Israel. From there, they can "solve" the "Palestinian problem" with the "two-state solution" and declare victory.
In fact, Hamas is an avowed enemy not only of Israel, but of Fatah, Israel and America's current Palestinian partner and the object of Dayton's army's training.[1] It is impossible to consider American engagement of Hamas while training the army that wants to destroy it- unless you are training a PA army for national purposes regardless of what the future Palestinian government decides to do with it, for example, use it against Israel, not Hamas.
MG Moeller will take over a force with three immediate issues - one Palestinian and two American.
1) Over the past several months, reports of Palestinian dissatisfaction with LTG Dayton have surfaced along with increased resistance to his management. Fatah clearly wants American money and training, but then wants us out of the way. Salam Fayyad, the American governments' favorite Palestinian, said LTG Dayton is involved in "training and only training," and "does not interfere in the security mission of the Palestinian Security Services." The PA appears to believe LTG Dayton is too "hands on."
2) The U.S. GAO, on the other hand, believes he is too "hands off." On 10 July, GAO issued a critical report entitled, "U.S. Assistance Is Training and Equipping Security Forces, But the Program Needs to Measure Progress and Faces Logistical Constraints." The report says, "Although U.S. and international officials said that U.S. security assistance programs for the PA have helped to improve security conditions in some West Bank areas, State and USSC have not established clear and measurable outcome-based performance indicators to assess progress." The report, quoting State Department officials, notes the failure of the NSF (the "army") to coordinate with the PCP (the civil police) "despite U.S. programs that encourage NSF units to work with the police and other security forces."
Perhaps because they have different end games in mind.
3) The third problem is definitional - Americans often state Palestinian goals in terms that work for the US, not necessarily for the Palestinians (see Andrew Shapiro's definition of Palestinian national goals in JINSA Report #1008). The GAO notes, "[Documents] for the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem identify performance indicators... however, the targets they set to measure progress toward these indicators focus on specific program outputs, such as the number of battalions or personnel trained and equipped, rather than on broader program outcomes such as helping the PA meet its Roadmap obligations to achieve the transformation of its security sector and create a professional, right-sized PASF [Palestinian Authority Security Forces]."
Has anyone ASKED the Palestinians if they PLAN to meet their Roadmap obligations? Has anyone ASKED the Palestinians if they WANT to create a "right-sized PSAF" and what "right-sized" means to them? We didn't think so, but if you don't know that, the PALESTINIAN emphasis on "specific program outputs" unrelated to the UNITED STATES considers the political goals of the Palestinian Army is precisely what we've been worried about.
And the fact that MG Moeller's focus on American security issues is CENTCOM-oriented makes us worry that the Palestinian force will be disconnected not only from American policy goals, but from the IDF that currently shares its obsession with Hamas, but which may find itself with a Palestinian army relating to Arab state armies on its borders.
[1] And similarly, Hezbollah is an avowed enemy Israel, a multi-ethnic and democratic Lebanon AND of the United States and a forward arm of Iran.
email: feedback@jinsa.org
phone: 202-667-3900
web: http://www.jinsa.org
The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs | 1779 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 515 | Washington | DC | 20036
Inyanay Diyoma
More on Gog and Magog: http://www.debka.com/article/8929/
Anti-iranian and Bin Laden drill that was super dangerous: http://www.debka.com/article/8940/
I read the first few paragraphs suggest you skim through the rest of this long editorial: http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Article.aspx?id=182316
Did you see Hannity with the Iran-Damascus-Caracas flights? Bye - bye American Pie. http://www.nationalterroralert.com/updates/2010/07/11/hezbollah-terrorists-plotting-on-u-s-border/
Not everything goes smoothly in training exercises: http://www.debka.com/article/8931/
Sotah 49B: Before the Moshiach comes the vine will produce grapes and the wine will be expensive: http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/real-estate/six-reasons-to-expect-slow-economic-growth-ahead/19566246/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl9|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailyfinance.com%2Fstory%2Freal-estate%2Fsix-reasons-to-expect-slow-economic-growth-ahead%2F19566246%2F
Finishing with M. Wolfberg’s – Meaning of Life story:
Good Shabbos Everyone. The Torah this week spells out the rewards for living a life dedicated to mitzvahs. As it states in the opening verse of the Parsha, "This shall be the reward when you listen to these laws, and you observe and perform them; Hashem, your G-d will safeguard for you the covenant and the kindness that He swore to your forefathers. He will love you, bless you and multiply you... You will be the most blessed of all the peoples..." (Devorim 7:12-14)
Hashem has given us a limited number of days on this earth. Happy is the man who realizes the purpose of life and uses his limited time wisely. The purpose of life is happiness in growing closer to Hashem, through the performance of mitzvahs. We must therefore use our time wisely in this world by focusing on Torah and mitzvahs.
There once was a man named Yankel who planned to travel from Eretz Yisroel to America by ship. A month before the sea voyage, Yankel noticed on the ship's itinerary that the ship would stopover in France for one day.
Yankel was very excited at the possibility of visiting France. He immediately began to learn French, spending all of his free time mastering the language. Yankel also went to a tailor and had the tailor fashion for him a suit in the latest French styles.
When it finally came time for the ship to sail, Yankel realized his mistake: Yankel had spent all his free time preparing for his one day in France, but he had neglected his final destination of America. It was too late; he boarded the ship without a word of English and with no clue of American customs.
The ship soon arrived in France. Yankel's fellow passengers were envious of Yankel as he came down off the ship like a perfect Frenchman. Yankel was able to talk to the locals in their language and he was able to shop in stores.
By the next day, it was already time for the ship to set sail. Yankel had enjoyed himself, but he dreaded the last leg of journey, because he was not prepared at all for life in America. (adapted from The Midrash Says)
Hashem should be kind to us and grant us long lives; however, we must know that our ships can sail at any moment to our final destination. This world is merely a preparation for the world to come, as the Mishnah says "this world is similar to a lobby before the world to come, prepare yourself in the lobby in order to enter into the banquet hall." (Avos 4:21) It is ironic that we often envy those whose success is in based on their wealth! We would do better to envy those who are spiritually successful, because those people are best preparing themselves. In this world we do mitzvahs which bring us closer to Hashem and prepare us for the World to Come.
One of the most powerful mitzvahs we can do in this life is the study of the Torah. In fact, the study of Torah is greater than all other mitzvahs of the Torah! Why is that so? Because it is only through learning Torah that we will know the correct path to take in life. We therefore must utilize as much time as possible in life learning Torah. The following amazing true story illustrates the importance that one great Torah leader placed on the use of one's time wisely on this earth to learn Torah.
He was a relatively young man; however, Naftali Trop's legendary ability to dissect a topic in the Talmud was enough of a qualification for the Chofetz Chaim to hire the young man as the Rosh Yeshivah of the Radin Yeshivah. Reb Naftali was was commonly known as the "Granat" (an acronym for Gaon Reb Naftali Trop). The young men in the yeshivah loved their rebbi and eagerly drunk in every word of Torah that he spoke, always thirsting for more.
Sadly, Reb Naftali's was struck with illness, and his physical condition began to deteriorate to the point where he was no longer able to teach as he had for over twenty-five years. The young men of the yeshivah, his devoted students, stormed the gates of Heaven, beseeching Hashem to grant Reb Naftali a complete recovery.
But it was to no avail, as his condition worsened. Shifts were arranged for groups of students to recite Tehillim - Psalms for the recovery of their beloved rebbi.
One group of young men even went so far as to take up a most unusual collection — asking fellow yeshivah boys if they would donate time from their own lives, to give to their rebbe. The boys quickly responded. Some gave days, other weeks and some were even willing to give up to a year.
All tolled, the amount of time they had accumulated was over five years' worth of life. And now they wanted to approach the Chofetz Chaim, Reb Yisroel Meir Kagan, for a pledge.
They knocked on the door to the Chofetz Chaim's room and presented their idea to the venerated sage. The Chofetz Chaim listened and then placed his hand over his forehead. The furrows of his forehead bore evidence of the burden of this critical decision. Reb Naftali was considered one of the "oros Shel olam" (lights of the world) and no one knew that better than the Chofetz Chaim.
After a few moments the Chofetz Chaim looked up and announced that he had come to a decision. The young men waited breathlessly. "I've thought about it. Because of Reb Naftali's greatness I am willing to give — one minute of my life to Reb Naftali!"
Had they heard correctly? They were astonished! The Chofetz Chaim blessed them and thanked them for their noble work on behalf of Reb Naftali. They exited the room and walked back to the beis medrash - study hall. But one notion dominated their thoughts. There is absolutely no one in the entire world who is more sensitive and giving than their rebbe, the Chofetz Chaim. And there is no one who is more aware of Reb Naftali's greatness than he. Yet all he would give was one minute of his life!
How precious, then, is time! How precious is life! Perhaps what the Chofetz Chayim was teaching the bochurim - yeshiva students is that the greatest merit for Reb Naftali's recovery would be for them to use their time properly.
They returned to the beis medrash, related what had transpired, discussed it and agreed to return to their learning with a new understanding of what a moment of Torah learning can accomplish. (Reb Yechiel Spero, Touched by a Story 2, p. 214)
A Torah lifestyle is a rewarding path for every Jew. Let us therefore take advantage of every minute, especially to perform the greatest mitzvah, the study of Torah which leads to happiness, mitzvahs and goods deeds. Good Shabbos Everyone.
M. Wolfberg’s stories are sponsored by: Refuah Shleima to Mordechai Menachem Mendel ben Tziporah Yitta Refuah Shleima to Tsviah bas Bracha Leah Refuah Shleimah to Chana Ashayra bas Dodi
Have a wonderful Shabbos, rest and reflect on the creations and miracles of G-D.
Rachamim Pauli
