The War of Gog and Magog and Sukkos
The first of the wars which I label Gog and Magog was the Yom Kippur War. It was fought on Sukkos too. The Haphtarah of these days says all the prophecies except Daniel.
We read Megillas Koheles which has a lot of wisdom and even some Kabbalistic thoughts: King Solomon wrote Koheles and he knew what the Kabbalah said about the left side and right side. Ecclesiastes 10:2 “The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left" One who learns or has learnt Tanya will know all about the left side of the heart and the dark spiritual forces lurking there.
Before I go into our Haphtarah for different days, I want to go into other things from Yechezkel: 13:10 Because, even because they have led My people astray, saying: Peace, and there is no peace; and when it build up a slight wall, behold, they daub it with whited plaster; It does not matter if it is a missile defense shield or a shelter or plastic defense. The prophet knew our leaders then and the same is now! The Hebrew is more powerful: יַעַן וּבְיַעַן הִטְעוּ אֶת-עַמִּי, לֵאמֹר שָׁלוֹם--וְאֵין שָׁלוֹם; וְהוּא בֹּנֶה חַיִץ, וְהִנָּם טָחִים אֹתוֹ תָּפֵל.
On Yom Tov Rishon (first day in Yisrael)
Zechariah: 14:1 Behold, a day of the LORD comes, when thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished;
if a female be found in the wake of these troops she will be treated with the best Islamic, Russian and other Pogrom hospitality
and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, but the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
This would be areas that are between the Yarden River and Yerushalayim where any male in the path of these armies and the women and children left in the area who have not fled will be taken into captivity by the armies of the advancing nations.
3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fights in the day of battle. 4 And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleft in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, so that there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
The gigantic earthquake will be caused by either Michael, Gavriel or the L-RD himself and the bones of the Arabs buried before the Rachamim Gate of the Temple Mount will be ripped from the grave and or ground into calcium powder in such that the entrance for the Moshiach will be made ritually clean and the sealed Gate cracked open. The burial graves of Avshalom, Zechariah (himself) will be completely thrust upwards by the forces on the mountains. So he is not buried there by accident.
5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azel; (The area in the wilderness towards Yericho where the Azazel Goat was thrown off the cliff) yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah; and the LORD my God shall come, and all the holy ones with Thee. 6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that there shall not be light, but heavy clouds and thick;
The upheaval such as the collapse of the twin towers in Manhattan shall produce such dust in the air that it will be a tremendous cloud blowing down towards Yericho pushed by the westerly winds and pursue the enemy worse than gas warfare. The confusion of the withdrawal will cause many foot soldiers to be run over or killed by too much dust in their lungs and gasmask filters. In the darkness tanks will drive off the cliffs on the sides and the quake will cause itself massive ammunition explosions such as the Prophets with the available technology in their day (see Daniel below) could not understand but enough to make them scared sick. I also assume like in the battle of Schem written in Sefer HaYashar that the various nations will accidently in the dark fight against each other. (My fellow paramedic Eli from Har Dov and I from Moshav Margaliot witnessed at dusk three forces in Lebanon shooting one upon the other. It could have been two rival terrorist groups against the Christians or three terrorist groups shooting one upon another. Eli could see clear enough from his vantage point that no Israelis were involved and this is what is described in Sefer HaYashar.)
7 And there shall be one day which shall be known as the LORD'S, not day, and not night; but it shall come to pass, that at evening time there shall be light.
As the wind settles down naturally at dusk so shall the mass destruction of Gog’s armies become clear.
8 And it shall come to pass in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem: half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea; in summer and in winter shall it be.
During the Temple digging of 200 truckloads a day while the Arabs looked for the hidden Teva HaBris (Ark of the Covenant) that a fountain began to spring forth from the Temple mount and truckloads of cement were brought in to seal it. The massive earthquake will cause this natural spring to shoot forth.
9 And the LORD shall be King over all the earth; in that day shall the LORD be One, and His name one.
On that DAY the righteous survivors of the nations and some righteous soldiers among them shall throw off their old religions and shall pray straight unto G-D not to anybody else. At this time as Yeshaya says they shall beat their swords into plow shears and the lion of Judah will lay down with the lost sheep of the ten tribes and HIS NAME shall be one upon all the earth for the live streaming satellite broadcasts shall proclaim HIS NAME through the world and the Torah will come for Tzion and the WORD of HASHEM from Yerushalayim
10 All the land shall be turned as the Aravah, from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; and she shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Chananel unto the king's winepresses.
This was a watch tower on the Second Temple and that area will no longer fear from an attack so that the non-Tumay grapes could be pressed and fermented into wine for the Korbanos.
11 And men shall dwell therein, and there shall be no more extermination; but Jerusalem shall dwell safely.
There shall no longer be criminal elements in the Holy City and even the worst criminals shall not commit crimes there and doors of houses like the first days of the Yeshuv in
Eretz Yisrael (even as few years ago as my moving into Ramat Modiin) will no longer fear burglars and can remain open. And unfortunately because of the horrible war Yeshaya
4:1 And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying: 'We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by thy name; take thou away our reproach.' 2 In that day shall the growth of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. 3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remains in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written unto life in Jerusalem; 4 when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of destruction. 5 And the LORD will create over the whole habitation of mount Zion, and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory shall be a canopy. 6 And there shall be a pavilion for a shadow in the day-time from the heat, and for a refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain.
There will be no great joy in managing 7 wives and 7 mothers-in-laws but there will be no more promiscuity. Wives will be wives and not women preying upon men or bachelors having a field day all the time with different women and there no long will be a reproach. Men will not have a Hugh Hefner type of field day but live in modesty with their wives and manage their internal peace at home. This will not be an easy task as we have seen from Yacov Avinu especially with not 7 princesses but 7 Jewish Queens in one family each being a bigger household manager than the next and the poor King of his Castle or Castles playing Shlomo HaMelech with them to keep the peace and give everyone equal love and attention.
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the peoples that have warred against Jerusalem: their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their sockets, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
Germ and Gas warfare will be used with the unleashing of forces beyond the control of mankind upon the enemies of Yisrael and their lands. And perhaps something else from HASHEM to boot.
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold everyone on the hand of his neighbor and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor.
As described in Sefer Yashar with the wars of the sons of Yacov.
14 And Judah also shall fight against Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the nations round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.
Just the gold on the electrical plating used in electronical warfare will amount to billions. And the teeth of the dead enemies will be a harvest including their knapsacks and clothing.
15 And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in those camps, as this plague.
Deterioration of their equipment from the dust and rubble from the earthquake and even Arab animals used shall be confounded and destroyed.
16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
This is the relationship to the war of Gog and Sukkos as the repentant righteous of the Goyim become Tzaddikim and Chassidim of HASHEM Yisborach. (Meaning the righteous and pious of the L-RD)
17 And it shall be, that whoso of the families of the earth goes not up unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, upon them there shall be no rain.
It is obvious that not all two billion Goyim remaining in the world could logistically come to Yerushalayim but rather these countries will send delegations on Sukkos and some throughout the year and tourism will thrive in Yisrael.
18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, they shall have no overflow; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the nations that go not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations that go not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 20 In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses: HOLY UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’S house shall be like the basins before the altar.
The mundane things in the world shall be holy like the Tzitz on the forehead of the Cohain Gadol which is written “Holy unto the L-RD”.
21 Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holy unto the LORD of hosts; and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein; and in that day there shall be no more a trafficker in the house of the LORD of hosts. For more on the war also see Chapter 12
Shabbos Chol HaMoed:
38:1 And the word of the L-RD came unto me, saying:
2 ‘ Son of man, set they face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the chief (Rosh) of Meshek and Tubal and prophesy against him.’
Commentary: Based on approximately 55 to 60 commentaries I’ve seen between the section in Bereshis (Genesis) 10:2-7 and Yechezkel. The commentators all agree that Gog is the name of the leader at the end of days. Magog is a place “in the far (ends of the) north”. Only Targum Yonatan and the Midrash Rabbah try to identify the places where the children of Noach went after the flood.
Quoting the translation of the Midrash: The sons of Yafet: Gomer, Magog, etc. R’ Shamuel ben Ammi said: There are Africa/Turkey, Germania, Media, Macedonia, Mysia and Tiras (Iran).
The Vilna Gaon interpreted Magog as in Russia. He said, “When you see the Russian fleet heading through the Dardanelle on the way to attack Israel, dress in your finery to greet the Moshiach. Where in Russia? “Yachtei HaZafon” could be as some identify it on the Black Sea inwards. Maybe Chechnya? Perhaps in Siberia?
A new and even radical interpretation is given by Rabbi Eliyahu Shatz in his book just out in Hebrew: “Perush Eliyahu al Sefer Yechezkel” printed late this summer/early Autumn 5763 (2003 CE). Copies can be obtained from:
Eliyahu Shatz, P.O.Box 1716 Ramat Modin Chashmonayim, 73127 Doar Na Modin, Israel
He has given me permission to translate his commentary for your benefit.
He has a different from traditional approach to his dating system and gets the dates he uses from his interpretation of coding of time periods mentioned in Daniel “Edan”, “Plag Edan”, “Et” etc. From this he deduced that “Achrit haYamim”
(End of Days) would be approximately between the years 2000 to 2012 CE in which the wars of Gog would be fought and the Temple rebuilt. (Those of you who read my commentary on Daniel, will recall that a Yemenite Rabbi said: “The year 5765 is the last possible date for Moshiach. One now realizes that the time period coincides). Although the Yemenite Rabbi and Rabbi Shatz have different ways of calculating the dates from Daniel, they both come up with 5765 for the coming of the Moshiach as the latest date.
“Prophesy to Gog” according to Rabbi Eliyahu and my own gut feeling that would be a leader with a name similar to Gog. (My thinking – How about George W. Bush who is “Rosh” leader of the free world.) Rabbi Shatz says that Magog could be from the word “Mog” or sort of melting pot like the USA. Let us look at the shape of the map of the USA including Alaska and Hawaii. Rosh is the shape of Alaska that is in the far north. Meshek means also to stretch like from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Tubal can be like Tovala (transport) and Hawaii is in the middle between Alaska and Australia, Japan and South America, China and the Panama Canal etc. (If one gets a hold of Rabbi Shatz’s book, the maps and distances are there).
My Chavruta of Friday night, Zvi Hershkowitz, attacked my presentation of Rabbi Shatz’s work. “How can you put Rabbi Shatz and HaRav Chafuta Shlita in the same category. Rabbi Shatz is far below the learning level of Rav Chafuta. But since both were wrong on the dates a number of times, I think that as a contemporary Rabbi, I can.
3 and say: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal;
“Rosh” can mean “Russ” as in Russia but nothing else!”
Rashi says, “Towards Gog” – that is the name of the king. The Mahari and Mesudos Tzion add that basically all the children of Yafet (son of Noach) will follow Gog. The Mesudos David shows Gog as leader of all the nations of Yafet.
(Head of the coalition). The Malbim comments that all the 4 nations of exile (as described in the Midrash Rabbah Parshas Lech Lecha about Avraham and the war with the 4 Kings and the amount of soldiers in their armies). Gog’s hordes are coming to conquer Yerushalayim. (It is written in the Malbim “b’zad ehud” which can be translated by the words on one hand will be or the following translation as I write it – strategically in might make more sense on one hand the Yisraelim, on the other meshek and Tubal with Edom and the other the kings of the North but for a poetic picture see my translation as follows. However it makes more logical sense that Armies with the same language and weapons would approach from different sides towards the target so now read on:) Egypt and Ashur are the Yismaelim fighting against Yisroel towards the south. On the eastern front will be Meskel v’Tubal and the princes of Edom (Amelek) and from the north the children of Yafet. They will meet and fight between themselves and kill one another. (To get an idea of what will transpire with bad target identification one can see the Midrash Rabbah and Sefer Yashar on the wars of the children of Yacov with the nations after the slaughter of the men of Schem.) Our Sages tell us that Gog will come upon Yerushalayim three times. Here we learn of two of the attacks on Yerushalayim and the third attack is written in Zarcariah 14. AT THIS TIME WE DO NOT KNOW WHO GOG IS AND WHERE MAGOG IS ONLY THAT HE IS THE LEADER OF MESHEK AND TUBAL. (The Malbim wrote is commentary approximately around the year 5660 (1900 CE).) They are the children of Yafet and they are uncircumcised. They will come upon Yisrael who have returned to their borders and are living in peace. They will come because of the awakening that G-D has put upon them.
The Art Scroll mentions that perhaps the Goths are referred to for Gog’s people
(George Bush is from Gothic descent). Well at the time we were hoping that he would be Gog. Even in the first election I thought that Gore could be the Moroccan pronunciation of Gog. The region of Magog might be in the Caucasian Mountains. Yafet symbolizes the physical beauty such as in Greece and Shem has the spiritual beauty so on a higher plane the physical is fighting the spiritual for control of the beautiful city of Yerushalayim. The tradition is that
Magog, Meshek and Tubal are areas that are part of Russia today.
4) And I will turn you about (lead you astray) and put hooks into you jaws and I bring thee forth and all thy army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed most gorgeously; all of them clothed most gorgeously, a great company with buckler and shield all of them handling swords:
The Rabbi S.R. Hirsh wrote that Yafet (Greece = culture and beauty) will team up with Edom (Rome = war) and Yafet will fail in keeping up beauty and culture during this war. G-D is dragging Gog into this war and he is no more than a puppet as G-D controls the minds of Kings and leaders.
Rashi: I will turn you round and about until it will come in your heart to do so.
Mahari: I will drag you and put into your heart to rule over Yisrael. The desire to rule over Yisrael will be so great that it will force you to leave your land to (oversee the army). The soldiers will be dressed (and serviced with) the finest (equipment). Gog’s army will come from the northern side.
Radak: Gog’s heart will be drawn into the war and he will come upon Israel with his very large army will be equipped with the latest equipment with the best protective equipment.
The Mezudos David and the Mezudos Tzion basically say the same as the Radak and others.
The Malbim says that Gog will be drawn or (politically forced) to leave his land to lead his massive coalition.
Perush Eliyahu: I will force you – like you were in hooks of steel to an illogical war. On Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist used civil aircraft to destroy the twin towers and kill close to 3000 people. Against his will, George Bush was forced to declare a war on terror and in the end will come against Israel. (RP- this is not his will but either Europe or the UN will drag Gog into this). Just change horses in the original into tanks, humbees, armored personnel carriers, mobile artillery, etc. (Eliyahu & revised by RP - He will have in his arsenal the latest uniforms and bullet proof vests, bullets, smart bombs, cruse missiles, electro-optical and the latest technology).
5) Persia, Cush and Put with them all of them with shield and helmet;
The forces of Gog will be augmented with Persia from the east and Sudan/Ethiopia and black Africa and the Libyans from the south.
WHAT ABOUT THE WEST? Tanya Debay Eliyahu on Devarim 28 (Deuteronomy) stating about the curse: “You will want to sell yourself to Egypt in poorness (aninios) and none will help.” Do not read aninios but oniyos (ships). When the war of Gog comes, you will want to sell yourselves into slavery in Egypt out of fear from the massive armies coming against you and will try to flee Yisrael by ships but nobody will take you. Here the curse becomes a blessing “none will help” because HASHEM will take care of Gog’s fleet blockade. The ALL MERCIFUL L-RD will produce miracles that will rival the Exodus from Egypt and the combined fleets of the enemy will be sunk in the Mediterranean Sea.
Mesudos David: Gog will be well supplied with uniforms, equipment and shielding devices.
Mesudos Tzion: Gog will lead this massive coalition.
The Malbim identifies the directions of the forces and adds countries like Iraq, and parts of Kurdistan and Turkey, Egypt etc.
Perush Eliyahu designates Put as countries on the Red Sea. However, here I tend to back up the general consensus that it is Libya and perhaps Algeria and Tunisia too.
6) Gomer and her cohorts Togarmah in the farthest north and its cohort, many peoples with you.
Art Scroll identifies Gomer with France and Perush Eliyahu identifies Togarmah as central Europe. However, the children of Yismael are not mentioned here, in the Malbim on The Book of Daniel, the Arabs and Moslems play a major role in the battle of Gog. Also the tradition of “All the nations of the world coming against Yisrael in the final days” would include all the Asian nations from Siberia – Mongolia through Korea, Indochina and the Pacific Islands of Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Zeeland, Australia, Japan etc.
Haftorah for Chol HaMoed Sukkos Yechezkel 38:18 – 39:16
…
Yechezkel: 38:18 And it shall come to pass in that day, when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, says the Lord GOD, that My fury shall arise up in My nostrils. 19 For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath have I spoken: Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; 20 so that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep upon the ground, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at My presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. 21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, says the Lord GOD; every man’s sword shall be against his brother. 22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will cause to rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many peoples that are with him, an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 23 Thus will I magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself, and I will make Myself known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am the LORD. Hail of stones from either outer space or a super volcano.
1 And thou, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say: Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal;
A repeat of 38:2 and 3.
2 and I will turn thee about and lead thee on, and will cause thee to come up from the uttermost parts of the north; and I will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel; 3 and I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause your arrows to fall out of thy right hand.
(Missile explosions and failures on takeoff). I am pretty sure that I wrote commentary on this and it is buried somewhere back in my word documents which I may or may not have access to right now.
4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the peoples that are with thee; I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort and to the beasts of the field, to be devoured. 5 Thou shalt fall upon the open field; for I have spoken it, says the Lord GOD. 6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and on them that dwell safely in the isles; and they shall know that I am the LORD. 7 And My holy name will I make known in the midst of My people Israel; neither will I suffer My holy name to be profaned anymore; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
There will no longer be partners with G-D in creation and no more secondary aspects. The Shechina manifestation of the HOLY ONE upon man will be an integral part of HASHEM along with man’s own soul and the mundane things it will truly be “nothing else besides him” (Ayn Od bilvado).
8 Behold, it cometh, and it shall be done, says the Lord GOD; This is the day whereof I have spoken. 9 And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall make fires of the weapons and use them as fuel, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the hand-staves, and the spears, and they shall make fires of them seven years;
Just the fuel and rifle butts.
10 so that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests, for they shall make fires of the weapons; and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, says the Lord GOD. 11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place fit for burial in Israel, the valley of them that pass through on the east of the sea; and it shall stop them that pass through; and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude; and they shall call it the valley of Hamon-gog – Literally many dead soldiers of Gog. 12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying them, that they may cleanse the land. 13 Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them, and it shall be to them renowned; in the day that I shall be glorified, says the Lord GOD. 14 And they shall set apart men of continual employment, that shall pass through the land to bury with them that pass through those that remain upon the face of the land, to cleanse it; after the end of seven months shall they search. 15 And when they that pass through shall pass through the land, and any sees a man’s bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamon-gog. 16 And Hamonah shall also be the name of a city. Thus shall they cleanse the land.
This is not from the Haphtarah of Sukkos but relevant to coming times and past happenings which Daniel did not know of: 7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed; then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters. 2 Daniel spoke and said: I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven broke forth upon the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
Bavel, Persia and Media, Greece and Rome.
4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings; I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon two feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. 5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was said thus unto it: 'Arise, devour much flesh.' 6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the sides of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
Christianity and Islam in a war and many divisions among the people.
8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
Mohammed is hinted here the Malbim.
9 I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was as white snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him; thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the judgment was set, and the books were opened. 11 I beheld at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke, I beheld even till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire. 12 And as for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the Ancient of days, and he was brought near before Him.
Moshiach HASHEM.
14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and some of the host and of the stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled upon them. 11 Yea, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the host; and from him the continual burnt-offering was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 12 And the host was given over to it together with the continual burnt-offering through transgression; and it cast down truth to the ground, and it wrought, and prospered. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said unto that certain one who spoke: ‘How long shall be the vision concerning the continual burnt-offering, and the transgression that causes appalment, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot?’ 14 And he said unto me: ‘Unto two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then shall the sanctuary be victorious.’
Complete or semi-Galus from 3338 the destruction and the first redemption in 3408 until 2300 years later or 5708 aka May 14/15 1948 on the modern calendar.
15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, who called, and said: ‘Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.’ 17 So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was terrified, and fell upon my face; but he said unto me: ‘Understand, O son of man; for the vision belongs to the time of the end.’ 18 Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face toward the ground; but he touched me, and set me upright. 19 And he said: ‘Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the latter time of the indignation; for it belongs to the appointed time of the end. 20 The ram which thou saw having the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 And the rough he-goat is the king of Greece; and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22 And as for that which was broken, in the place whereof four stood up, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with his power. 23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have completed their transgression, there shall stand up a king of fierce countenance, and understanding stratagems. 24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper and do; and he shall destroy them that are mighty and the people of the saints. 25 And through his cunning he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in time of security shall he destroy many; he shall also stand up against the prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. 26 And the vision of the evenings and mornings which hath been told is true; but thou, shut thou up the vision; for it belongs to many days to come.’ 27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; then I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was appalled at the vision, but understood it not.
The visions of today’s weapons and what will be used in the War of Gog were so terrifying to Daniel that it was too much information for him to process or understand.
11:1 And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to be a supporter and a stronghold unto him. 2 And now will I declare unto thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all; and when he is waxed strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece.
With his missiles he will not only attempt to attack Yisrael but also Europe.
… 40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him; and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow, as he passes through. 41 He shall enter also into the beauteous land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall be delivered out of his hand, Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries; and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall affright him; and he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to take away many. 45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the beauteous holy mountain; and he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
Mitzvos and Halachos by Danny Shoemann
It's a Mitzva to put a fence around one's roof (if it's accessible) and to remove from one's property all possibility of anybody getting hurt. Included is fencing-in pools, pits and reservoirs and not owning a dangerous dog. The fence needs to be at least 10 Tefachim high (~80 cm - 32") and strong enough that people can lean on it safely. One can fulfill this Mitzva daily by inspecting one's property for anything dangerous that needs attention. Applies to everybody, everywhere, always
Verse: "You shall make a fence for your roof, and not have anything dangerous in the house" (Devarim 22:8)
Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 75
It is forbidden to decide that a Mitzva is no longer applicable. This applies to Mitzvos from the Written or the Oral law. The Rabbis have permission to prevent people from doing a Mitzva under certain conditions, like forbidding to blow the Shofar on Shabbat to ensure that people will not transgress the Torah commandment of carrying in a public domain on Shabbat. Applies to everybody, everywhere, always Verse: "...and do not remove from them" (Devarim 13:1)
Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar; Prohibition 160
It is forbidden to make a stone floor to be used for bowing down, even if one is bowing to Gcd. One who fully prostrates himself to Gcd on a stone floor deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din Even simply kneeling on a stone floor to Gcd is forbidden. On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur one has to cover the stone floors in the synagogue (e.g. with a carpet or towel or paper) before bowing down. One who kneels or prostrates himself in front of an idol, deserves to be stoned to death by Bet Din. Applies to everybody, everywhere, always Verse: "..and a stone floor do not put in your land to prostrate upon" (Vayikra 26:1)
Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 161
==> If you don't live in Israel, add a reminder to your calendar for Eruv Tavshilin for tomorrow and for next week,.
The days between Yom Kippur and Sukkoth are joyous days, since Shlomo HaMelech (King Solomon) inaugurated the first Bet Hamikdash (Holy Temple) during this period. One does not fast even for a Yahrzeit, nor does one say Tachanun on these days. A Sukkah needs at least 3 walls that do not move in the wind.The roof of the Sukkah is made of branches or bamboo that have not been used for any other purpose. The covering must be thick enough to ensure that even on the last day of Sukkoth at midday there will be more shade than sunshine. The covering must not be so thick that rain cannot get through.In rainy climates, one should make a Sukkah that can be covered, so that it can be used once it stops raining. One must be careful to open the roof before using the Sukkah. On the first night of Sukkoth the roof should be opened from candle-lighting until nightfall, if possible. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 133:30, 31, 134:1
The Torah commands us to live in the sukkah for the duration of Sukkoth. 7 days in Eretz Yisrael, 8 days in the Diaspora. One should move into the Sukkah and bring along one's creature comforts; the comfortable chairs and favorite dishes. The Mitzvah of sukkah is one of the few where the Torah explicitly gives us a reason: "Sit in the Sukkah for seven days in order that your descendants should be aware that the Yidden dwelled in Sukkoth during their journey out of Egypt." Sukkos could be referring to the Clouds of Glory that surrounded and protected the entire Jewish encampment (as per R' Eliezer) or actual Sukkah-huts that individual families lived in (as per R' Akiva). One should keep these "reasons" in mind when fulfilling the Mitzvah of Sukkah. One should treat the Sukkah with respect and not bring in items one wouldn't tolerate at a Shabbat table.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 135:1, 2
On Sukkoth there's a Mitzvah to shake the four species; a Lulav, 3 Hadasim, 2 Aravos and an Esrog. When shaking them on Sukkos, the Lulav, 3 Hadasim and 2 Aravos are tied together and held in one's right hand, and the Esrog in the left hand. (Lefties hold the Lulav in their left, Esrog in the right.) All 6 branches must be facing upwards, with the side where they were cut off the tree facing down. The spine of the Lulav must be facing you. The 3 Hadasim are tied to the right of the Lulav. The 2 Aravos are tied to the left of the Lulav. The Lulav is first bound with 3 ties typically made of palm leaves. The 3 Hadasim and 2 Aravos are then bound to it with another 2 ties. The Hadasim should be slightly higher than the Aravos. The spine of the the Lulav must protrude at least 1 Tefach (8 cm - 3") above the Hadasim and Aravos. The top Tefach of the Lulav should not have any ties on it. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 136:8
Wishing everybody a Chag Samayach! - Danny
Reflections of 40 Years in Israel and my visits to the land of my Nativity
It was what the Arabs call ‘Black September’ because the PLO was based in Yarden and King Hussein kicked them out due to their hijacking of planes. My plane was in the air when the last hijacking occurred. When I came to Eretz Yisrael on the 9th or 10th of Elul 5730 or 9/9/70 I knew that I wanted to wait for the Moshiach here. I saw many miracles that the Nation as a whole captured on TV or recorded and met individuals and I reflected towards the end of Mussar on Yom Kippur when my Arterial Fibrillations stop and the heart turned back to normal Rhythm by itself. I made a private blessing of the Nes (Miracle) in my seat and on reaching this season.
I reflected back at my achievements in private and public over the last 40 years and the amount of charity donations and help that I could give to people in and out of Eretz Yisrael. I can see HASHEM Yisborach helping Yisrael. Yisrael is about to jump from a losing financial system (our old socialistic protection and bribe system) to a member of the G-20. It is happening quicker than we think. It will take about 5 years but some of the powers there are about to fall. I am often critical of Netanyahu but he succeeded in turning the Socialist Economy around to a Capitalistic one and left the 4 health insurers run the universal health care. The basic coverage is there for everybody and free hospitalization. If you want certain consolations and certain uninsured medications you pay for let us say silver premium status and gold premium is more. There is a 5% National Health Insurance which covers the basics for everybody and hospitalizations. What keeps the hospitals building and expanding is not the government but private donators. The old Socialistic plan does not work by itself and the 4 individual funds control their own pool of medical doctors and specialists with sometimes people paying privately for the medical doctor that they want to operate on them but it is only a few hundred dollars unless one wants a private clinic like a laser cataract removal clinic.
I saw Ashdod grow from a small city where one could walk through the few sections in about an hour at a reasonable walk not too fast or slow into a large city. I watched Rehovot expand, Petach Tikva enlarge and Chashmonayim, Modiin, Reut, Maccabee, Lapid, Menorah, the three sections of Modiin Illit all start from nothing into a large area with population in the hundreds of thousands and best of all Yehuda and the Shomron grow from zero to about 400,000 people. Sections of Yerushalayim sprout from fields between Yeshiva Torah Ohr and Kiriat Sands that I cannot recognize it and the hills of Rammot fill up with 10’s of thousands of people. Even Hertziiya, Netanya and Haifa grow and Kiriat Sefer and the whole Galil expand to the extent that Afula, Tiberius and Beit Shean are nothing like the towns that I knew. My late cousin Hans of blessed memory invited me to Beer Sheva 40 years ago and around ’80 gave me a few free hours of driving lessons in his teacher car. When I drive through Beer Sheva 30 years after my lessons I have good roads there and the whole town is different except for a few sites like the Army Memorial Site, Train Station, Shuk, and parts of the area behind the bus station and the Arab quarter. The town of Yavne looked like a dump or slum and now it is all modernized and most of the old buildings refaced and reinforced against earthquakes.
Being in Israel also gave me a chance to appreciate the land of my Nativity. In the first 23 years, the only places that I came in contact with were from Boston to Washington DC and in between and in Canadian Water on the tour of the thousand islands. In the States as I left there were two buildings being built in downtown Manhattan. I did not see them until ’82. When I visited NY in 2000, I decided that if I come back to NY, I must go up one of them like a tourist to view the city from 101 stories up on my next visit. Well there was a next visit but no buildings. When I visited the States in ’82 I drove up and down the east coast and made my first trip through all the 13 original States plus TN to the world’s fair there. In ’92 I visited the west and all the States that took me in a circle from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone, Calgary, Banff, Jasper and Vancouver CA and fell in love the fabulous National Parks between Washington and Los Angeles. And I made another trip out west in ’96 to Denver and up to South Dakota. I learned a lot on my trips about the real homespun Americans and that where the moral decline was taking place in the over populated cities and especially rented houses in the little private houses and ma and pop type motels, the life was not all rat race.
My biggest disappointment in Israel is the takeover of small parks by the government or nature society. Nahal Arugot, Nahal David used to be with free entrance up to the early 80’s and the same with the Banias, Tanur and other parks. Now everything is enclosed with a money request to enter. These parks belong to all of Am Yisrael and not a way to tax everybody. Even the National Parks in the USA became ridiculously priced. There one has toilets, sometimes a small concession for food and drink, maps and a park worthy of its name but what was $5 in ’92 and ‘$10 around ’03 or ’04 was $25 in ’09. I guarantee you that the salary of park workers and the maintenance of the parks did not go up 5 times in less than 20 years. While the US parks such as Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons are as large or larger than all of Eretz Yisrael there was one which is the biggest disappointment to Israelis and that is Bad Lands National Park at the beginning is a prairie dog city and after that it was a mini-Negev a mini-Dead Sea.
There is an old joke about Eretz Yisrael and what they show to tourists and people on their private trips. A man dies and is given a choice of heaven or hell. He sees in heaven men sitting around some Sifrei Torah and Gemara have discussions with women peeking into a lecture of some Rabbi from the women’s section. Next he is shown hell and sees men gambling, drinking, beautiful women and all sorts of games. He says that he likes hell better so he is sent to hell and see men buried in sewerage up to their neck and demons with whips. He complains that he saw this and that and the demon laughs and says that is what we show tourists. Living in Eretz Yisrael is hard and the freedoms that one enjoyed in the US don’t completely exist here but if you are law abiding you will never have any problem except with some freedom of speech. There is more truth than joke in the old question: How do you become a person with one million dollars in Israel? The answer is: You start out with two million.
I will not say that I don’t like being in the States for months at a time as it is less nerve racking and less vicious murders surrounding us or the nerves of listening to news. For in the States, the big news can be the new Yankee Stadium or the Marlins winning or losing streak and not Nasrallah (may his name be erased) and the midget in Iran sabre rattling at Yisrael. There are miracles that happen in the USA to people but not at the same except as in the land of KING’s palace where HE works so many miracles that they feel almost normal until one leaves Yisrael. The best way to measure miracles is to witness what happens when they don’t occur. Example Beit Danny vs. the US Base in Saudi Arabia: in ’91 during the first Gulf War, there were shelters on both sides of Beit Danny. The left side was locked with no key so the people jammed into the right side. The Scud hit the left side and nothing much was left from the direct hit, the right side nobody. Now on the last day of the war, there were hundreds of Americans in a confined area on a base and the Scud hit killing according to my memory something like 105 soldiers. So go figure out where the Nes was and where it wasn’t.
My daughter-in-law visiting with my grandchildren from the States was in shock at the park in our Yeshuv where children can play unsupervised without fear of some idiot doing something to them just like the olden days in the States. Israel ,has come a long way and has a long way to go.
The Most Beautiful Synagogues: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3955270,00.html and http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/1,7340,L-3781939,00.html
B’H
“A Sukkot Thought”
September 23, 2010 – 15th Tishrei
Yom Kippur is the climax of the year. Yet, this awe inspiring and decisive day on which our destinies are sealed is not a goal in itself. The period starting in the month of Elul is one of intense spiritual preparation, then comes Yom Kippur as a means to purify ourselves through fasting, meditation and prayers. It is only in such a state of inner peace, resulting form the spiritual cleansing which we underwent and the high moral standard which we reached, that we are fit to celebrate Sukkot, the preeminent Festival of Joy. “You shall rejoice in your feast” (Deuteronomy 16,14).
We celebrate the joy of benefiting by Divine miraculous protection, symbolized by the tabernacle (Sukkah), a prominent feature during the Exodus from Egypt, and during the stay of our people in the arid and inhospitable desert. This protection continued through all the generations by virtue of our consecration as the chosen people. We also celebrate the joy of considering ourselves worthy of this election, worthy of being faithful subjects of the Eternal G-d, instrumental to the revelation of His glory. Inasmuch as we are still under the purifying influence of Yom Kippur, we feel the happiness of forever enjoying the benefit of the inexhaustible
source of Divine kindliness.
The feast of Sukkot also marks our absolute trust in the Providence to
which we subject ourselves. We leave our comfortable home for a fragile temporary hut, just in the beginning of the cool autumn weather when one appreciates the warmth inside. By this act, we exemplify the transient nature of the material assets of this world, which we have to leave sooner or later, and of the vanity of human power and pride. By entering the Sukkah and organizing our life in it, we put into practice our realization of the insubstantiality of material acquisitions, and man’s material status on the one hand, and the value of trust in G-d and of the spiritual values of the Torah on the other.
We immerse in the realm of faith, of truth, of true life, of freedom, for “only he is free who puts all is concern in the Torah” (Ethics of the Fathers, Chap. 6,1). “Extend over us Your Sukkah (protection) of peace.” We pronounce this prayer every evening, when the night starts, when the darkness of vanity and falsehood conceals everything, giving the impression that man is almighty and that our success and happiness depend on our own power. We aspire to true peace of mind, which can only be acquired from faith in divine omnipotence and through studying and practicing the Torah. He who bases his life on the Torah, frees himself from the enslaving urges and from the chains of this world.
The pursuit of worldly possessions inevitably creates conflicting interests
and competition, leading to disunion and dissension. On the other hand, aspiration to spiritual riches based on love of the Al-mighty Creator, and of our brothers and sisters, leads to peace and harmony, for these spiritual riches are available unlimited to all those who seek them.
So, if you build a Sukkah this year, be sure to invite guests to share your joy and this great mitzvah, “During these seven days you must live in thatched huts, so that future generations will know that I sheltered the Israelites in thatched huts when I brought them out of Egypt” (Lev. 23:42-43, Aryeh Kaplan translation).
If you don’t have one of your own, try to be a guest in someone else’s, or become a part of a community Sukkah. It is well worth the experience. Give yourself a spiritual high that will stay with you forever.
Sources: Deuteronomy 16,14, Ethics of the Fathers, Chap. 6,1, Lev. 23:42-43, Aryeh Kaplan translation, A.Hassan.
“Chag Sameach”Yaffa
Inyanay Diyoma
Egypt wakes up: http://www.debka.com/article/9028/
More on Syria and their like of Netanyahu conceding most of the Golan Heights: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3955723,00.html
I heard this tune sung before over and over again when they arrive here, I will believe this: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3956902,00.html
Religion of rest in peace???: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/139709
What Ehud and Bibi will not tell you have to listen to the Egyptians for: http://www.debka.com/article/9033/
Should the ‘peace’ talks fail: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3958115,00.html
SOLUTIONS TO A HOSTILE FLOTILLA REPRESENTING HAMAS IN GAZA commentary by Emanuel A. Winston, Middle East Analyst & Commentator
1) Israel should formally declare such flotillas as an act of declared war.
2. 2) Israel takes the right to defend herself by crippling such ships on the high seas or in their ports of embarkation.
3. 3) Incoming ships, having been warned away and refused to turn back would have their propellers damaged and forced to stop, awaiting a tow. (Numerous methods can be implemented to disable a ship without sinking it.)
4. 4) All ships so disabled will be towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod for unloading and military inspection for outlawed military weapons. Such ships shall be considered the property of Israel for re-sale or simply be dismantled for scrap. None will be returned. Large ships could be scuttled to make a beneficial false reef for fish.
5. 5) All passengers would be considered hostile and be interned awaiting trial. Conditions of incarceration would be equal to whatever conditions have been imposed in Turkey or in Gaza by Hamas.
6. 6) Should any ships of these flotillas fire upon Israeli ships, they would receive return fire or be saturated with vomit gas (non-toxic but extremely offensive when inhaled.)
WHO DIED & LEFT YOU BOSS? by Emanuel A. Winston, Middle East Analyst & Commentator
If what is stated in the following report is in any way accurate, then Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and President Shimon Peres would have to have been in on such planning. If so, they should all be driven out of office – even to the point of allowing them the choice of countries to which they should be deported.
Giving up one’s citizenship as a matter of choice when one betrays his or her nation seems the proper thing to do. We can only guess at the “secrets-under-the-table” deals in which Netanyahu engaged with President Barack Hussein Obama and the Arabist U.S. State Department. Whatever you would imagine would likely not even approach the level of corruption and betrayal actually planned.
It’s little wonder that Netanyahu has applied for an extension of 15 years for his personal Secret Service Guards. We can only be ashamed of such scurrilous leadership ready to surrender Israel’s national sovereignty to dedicated enemies under pressure from an American President. The solution now is to collapse the Netanyahu government and cancel all under-the-table deals not submitted to the Knesset and the people for their approval.
COMMENTARY BY EMANUEL A. WINSTON
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Report: Netanyahu Presented Withdrawal Maps to Syrians Tishrei 8, 5771, 16 September 10
(Israelnationalnews.com) A Lebanese report Thursday said that U.S. envoy George Mitchell, who is meeting with Syrian officials, is carrying with him maps of areas in the north that Israel is prepared to withdraw from in exchange for a peace treaty. However, the report said, Israel told Mitchell that it is willing to make a deal with Syria only if Damascus cuts off relations with Hezballah, Islamic Jihad, Hamas and Iran.
According to the report, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu presented the map to U.S. President Barack Obama at their meeting three months ago, as well as to French President Nicholas Sarkozy. A report in a Kuwaiti newspaper this week said that Netanyahu sent a message to Syrian President Bashar Assad expressing his willingness to enter into an agreement framework within a year, and that Israel would be willing to withdraw from most of the Golan over a 10-15 year period.
www.IsraelNationalNews.com
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PART 2 - BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Continue Commentary by EMANUEL A. WINSTON, MIDDLE EAST ANALYST & COMMENTATOR
Clearly, Netanyahu is following the Obama-Pelosi-Reid policy of claimed “Transparency” which should really be entitled “BEHIND CLOSED DOORS”. Everything the Obama regime foists on the public is first decided “BEHIND CLOSED DOORS” and then sprung like a trap before the people can notice and then object.
Too bad Netanyahu has joined the “BEHIND CLOSED DOORS” gang to entrap the Israeli people.
Richard Nixon once screamed his innocence claiming: “I am not a crook!” when, in fact he was, which is why he resigned before he could be impeached. Crooks are crooks are crooks and despite their loud denials, they remain crooks. So either put them in prison or deport them to a nation nuts enough to take them.
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There will be another issue coming out with a few good Shabbos Stories much closer to the Chag and a special on Beresheis since it is the Shabbos after Chol HaMoed. Will I ever write the Kabbalistic thoughts from creation, I don’t know but at best in years of installments.
I hope that you enjoyed my very-very brief writings on the prophecies of the war. I could just write that for the next year and not have much free time.
It is a Mitzvah to be Samayach on the Chag so Sukkos Samayach dance well on Simchas Torah those with energy and spread love and happiness throughout your family.
Rachamim Pauli
