Please Pray for Leah bas Zahava.
The Dream that you don’t want to dream
Before the Yom Kippur War, about mid to late August, I had two dreams. (1) My father came to me to warn me “I told you that if you go to Israel, there will be a war and you will be in the country. I warned you!” (2) The next dream, the next night there were Israeli soldiers on parade and then suddenly being shot at in combat gear and three wars. At the end of the third there were weapons that I could not imagine back in ’73 aka 5733. At first Yerushalayim had many ruins and then I suggested that since we defeated once and for all our enemies let us build the Temple. In the end the city was rebuilt. Suddenly out on a road or pathway to Yerushalayim there appeared an old wrinkled Sephardi man walking alongside a white donkey with a man who had a glowing face there that I could not view.
I was in the army and one day in my medical corps training had a dream. A few hours later the IDF went on red alert which was cancelled when Syria backed down. I had one more dream just before Iraq invaded Kuwait. Then quiet until a month ago when I got two dreams that I don’t remember and both ended with somebody saying to me, “You dreamed this already in ‘73” and then I woke up. On Rosh Hashanah a deep sleep over came me as I was ill and it says in the Kabbala that when a person is ill, if he is to recover the Shechina rests upon his head. I had the same dream no-memory and then the same quote. When a dream repeats twice it is a symbol that it is true and from HASHEM and when it repeats 3 times it must be soon. Now Chanucha or Moshiach in a very short time and I cannot tell the details but we must be ready. I would not write this and possibly make myself to appear to be a fool in many people’s eyes if I did not believe this to be Emmes (true). So be prepared and remember that with Teshuva, Tephilla and Tzeduka we can avoid the evil decree. At first Yerushalayim had many ruins and then I suggested that since we defeated once and for all our enemies let us build the Temple.
A note on Prayer
Being in Israel since the 9th or 10th of Elul 5730 or 9/9/70; I don’t usually think of using an English translation. Last week I was reading “V’Orlata will shut its mouth” What does the word mean? Is it like the Hebrew word for Yoke (awl) like the yoke of the wicked? Is it like a burnt offering? Or perhaps there is another meaning. The word is written with an Ayin which is guttural like A/W combination. There is one more word that has a similar root. That is Awla or iniquity. The Adler, Birnbaum and Art Scroll Iyov translate V’Orlata not as it is spelled like the Korban but as iniquity. So we go according to the commentators and the Art Scroll explains the exception why iniquity is written like sacrifice.
A few words about the fast
Elisheva sent me this site: http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/997149/jewish/How-Can-I-Make-the-Fast-Easier.htm
Over the Years, I have written about medications and the fast or getting around the fast. Last year, I started the fast with arterial fibrillations and ended the fast miraculously without but to guard my heart, I must take preventive medications. For HASHEM makes the miracle like the 6 Day War and it is up to us to preserve what HASHEM has given us. There medications may be swallowed with what we call less than “Maaleh Loogmo” (less than a mouthful of water spat into a clear throw away cup for measurement). A Bar Mitzvah youth might have a smaller Shuir (measure) than Og Melech HaBashan who was a giant. Therefore the less than a reviess would not apply. ONE SHOULD LISTEN TO HIS MD AND TAKE MEDICATIONS. Fasting is a sin for diabetics and others that might be in danger. I have written this is past years a good G-D fearing diabetic will eat something even if it is less than an olive’s bulk every so and so many minutes as not to go into diabetic shock and endanger his/her life. Heart Patients should consult their MD and even if he and your Rabbi say that you may fast – IF you, the patient feel that you are losing consciousness or whatever comes over you do to a drop in blood pressure do not think twice and take a bite or two – less than the minimum Shuir but something (do not attempt to consult a Rabbi just do it). 9 minutes is the Shuir between eating.
If you hear the name Rabbi Daniel Thompson run do not walk away from him
He is a Christian Missionary disguised as an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi. Besides his belief in Yeshu, he does not dress like a Rabbi when he addresses a crowd and his Tallis is non-Standard. I don’t dress like a Rabbi from day to day just black pants and a white shirt. When I am touring Yellowstone National Park I dress more casual than less but not if I am invited to give a Torah Lecture as a Rabbi.
Failure to Educate
I received a question this week from Plonit Almonit which basically went – Dear Rabbi Pauli; I am talking care of my elderly parents whom are not in the best of health. I missed Selichos today, can I make it up before sundown. Women 24/7 x 365.25 days a year are exempt from time related Mitzvos. (1) A wife and mother has to get her husband and children off to work and school in the morning and make breakfast and put up a load of wash. She has no time to prayer until her 10 O’clock coffee break at work or lunch break or not at all. (2) A man is an ambulance driver or ill himself and barely has time to Shema as he drives to the hospital. (3) A soldier is on the border and just can barely pray the Shema and some Tehillim of the morning prayers. These people are doing other Mitzvos which are necessary for Am Yisrael and exempt from praying on time.
Rabbi what am I to do for praying on Yom Kippur when I have to take care of the elderly and the nearest Synagogue in my area is Conservative and the Orthodox Schul can be only reached by auto?
Torah Axiom: A Mitzvah cannot come from an Avaira (sin). One cannot obtain forgiveness by driving to a Synagogue to ask for forgiveness on Yom Kippur! If a Jew is stuck somewhere on Yom Kippur it is better to pray at home. One of the Good Shabbos Stories that I copy and pasted a few years ago spoke of a Rabbi who was supposed to leave the States with spare time to get to Israel by Yom Kippur. Instead, he ended up in Europe and fell asleep on the plane or was given by accident a wrong flight and he ended up in the Far East. As he exited the plane, he knew that he could not fly without violating Yom Kippur. He managed to purchase some fruits, vegetables and other things to eat before the fast. He managed to get to the local Synagogue on time for Kol Nidrei. But it was like a cloud of darkness of ignorance before him. Men and Women were sitting intermingled. So he went out back into the foyer and prayed privately, Kol Nidrei and the rest of the evening service. In the meantime, the Rabbi and Congregation saw this noble looking Rabbi praying in the foyer and in Sharcharis too. They pressed him to have a seat but he said, “I cannot pray with you while men and women sit intermixed in prayer” because these people are giving their concentration known as Kavannah in prayer to G-D but wasting their thoughts on the other sex. The Congregation agreed to move to separate places on their own volition and they listened to him speak about the high places and the Beis Din shel Maalah. On that day a great Tikun (repair) was made in Am Yisrael. Afterwards the Rav went to Hong Kong and Singapore and raised funds for his Yeshiva and returned home in time for Sukkos. He learned that all the airplane delay and sleep or error which sent him to the Far East came from HASHEM Yisborach.
Sometimes it is better to pray correctly alone than pray with a Minyan of people who violate the Torah. For the L-RD will let the righteous live during the horrific war of Gog and Magog and the wicked shall perish.
1 Happy is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, and whose leaf doth not wither; and in whatsoever he doeth he shall prosper.
4 Not so the wicked; but they are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD regards the way of the righteous; but the way of the wicked shall perish.
Tel Aviv is a non-religious city and the night life in certain areas are off color for most married couples all the more so for traditional Jews but look at this traffic cam in fast motion on Yom Kippur 7 years ago and that will show you how people don’t drive. There is an ambulance or two and perhaps a police car or an Arab taxi caught on the camera in the 24 hour period. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdetCA_7ly8
If one wants he can raise a mundane song or two to the level of Ruchaniyus: During Kol Nidrei HASHEM looks down on his Nation and sings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbxxkwBQk_o or go to the Kotel and with the proper Kavannah and sing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o8SZng55T0
Temporary Repentance film: http://www.aish.com/ci/ss/102719359.html
Zos HaBracha
33:1 And this is the blessing wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
And this is the blessing… [just] before his death: Very close to the time of his death. — [see Sifrei 33: 1] “For, if not now, when?”
2 And he said: The LORD came from Sinai, and rose from Seir unto them; He shined forth from mount Paran, and He came from the myriads holy, at His right hand was a fiery law unto them.
With some holy myriads: With God were only some of the myriads of His holy angels, but not all of them, nor [even] most of them. This is unlike the manner of a mortal, who displays all the splendor of his riches and his glory on his wedding day. — [Sifrei 33:2]
A fiery law for them: It was originally written before God in [letters of] black fire upon [a background of] white fire. — [Tanchuma Beresheis 1] He gave it to them on tablets, inscribed, [as it were,] by His right hand [thus it is said here, “from His right hand”]. Another explanation of אֵשׁ דָּת : As the Targum renders it, that He gave it to them from amidst the fire.
I skipped a good deal of the Rashi here. The Torah was given with a fire burning within another fire (Hebrew: fire eating fire אש אוכלת אש as it is often described in our literature.
3 Yea, He loves the peoples, all His holy ones--they are in Thy hand; and they sit down at Thy feet, receiving of Thy words.
Indeed, You showed love for peoples: [God] also displayed great affection to the tribes, each one of whom were known as a people, for only Benjamin was destined to be born when the Holy One, blessed is He, said to Jacob, “A nation and a multitude of nations shall come into existence from you” (Genesis 35:11). [Thus we see that Benjamin alone was called “a nation.” “A multitude of nations” refers to Ephraim and Manasseh. See Rashi on Gen. 35:11, 48:4.]- [Gen. Rabbah 82:4]
All his holy ones are in Your hand: [This refers to] the souls of the righteous, which are hidden away with God, as It is said, “But my lord’s soul shall be bound up in the bundle of life, for they […] be centered at Your feet: And Israel is indeed worthy of this [privilege to have their souls hidden away with God], because they placed themselves right in the middle (תּוֹ) of the bottom of the mountain at Your feet [figuratively speaking] at Sinai. The word תֻּכּוּ is in the passive conjugation, which has the meaning: הִתְוַכּוּ,“They [allowed themselves] to be placed right in the middle (תּוֹ)” [of the underside of the mountain], between Your feet.
Bearing Your utterances: They bore upon themselves the yoke of Your Torah. — [Sifrei 33:3] ישא מדברתיך: נשאו עליהם עול תורתך: Your Torah: Heb. מִדַּבְּרֹתֶי. The mem in it [i.e., in this word] is somewhat of a root letter [rather than a prefix], as in, “And he heard the voice speaking (מִדַּבֵּר) to him” (Num. 7:89); and, “And I heard what was being spoken (מִדַּבֵּר) to me” (Ezek. 2:2). This form is similar to מִתְדַּבֵּר אֵלַי, [speaking to Himself for me to hear, see Rashi on Num. 7:89]. This too, namely, the word מִדַּבְּרֹתֶי, means: “what You were speaking to let me know what to tell the children of Israel.” Tes porparledurs in Old French. Onkelos, however, renders [the phrase יִשָּׂא מִדַּבְּרֹתֶי as :“they traveled (יִשָּׂא like יִסַּע) according to Your commands (דַּבְּרֹתֶי).” Thus, the Mem is a servile prefix, with the meaning of מִן, from . [Thus, according to Onkelos, the word מִדַּבְּרֹתֶי literally means, from Your utterances.] Another explanation [of this verse is as follows]: Indeed, You showed love for peoples-Even when You displayed Your affection towards the nations of the world, showing them a smiling [friendly] face, and You delivered Israel into their hands,
All his holy ones are in Your hand: All Israel’s righteous and good people clung to You; they did not turn away from You, and You guarded them. — [B.B. 8a)]
For they let themselves be centered at your feet: And they placed themselves right in the middle of, and entered beneath Your [protective] shadow;
Bearing your utterances: And they gladly accepted Your decrees and Your laws. — [see Tanchuma 5] And these were their words:
As many of us love children especially between the age of two and three when they are at their cutest, so HASHEM loves us. The people sat underneath the feet of the royal chariot.
4 Moses commanded us a law, an inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.
And He was: i.e., the Holy One, blessed is He, was King in Jeshurun: i.e., the yoke of God’s sovereignty was always upon them.
5 And there was a king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together. 6 Let Reuben live, and not die in that his men become few …
Whenever the sum total of the people were gathered: At every gathering of רָאשֵׁי - meaning, whenever their number is gathered. רָאשֵׁי as in the verse, “When you take the count (רֹאשׁ) of the children of Israel” (Exod. 30:12). These people are worthy that I should bless them. Another explanation: When Israel is gathered together in a unified group, and there is peace among them, God is their King-but not when there is strife among them. — [Sifrei 33:5]
When G-D was KING over the straight forth and honest people. The whole nation without exception was there that day listening to Moshe as he is about to retire/terminate his work in this world and receive is reward of spiritual pleasure in the next.
We have the blessing of the tribes by Moshe of which most repeat each other in the Schul then comes:
33:26 There is none like unto God, O Jeshurun, who rides upon the heaven as thy help, and in His excellency on the skies.
Jeshurun: There is none like God-Jeshurun, you should know that there is none like God among all the gods of the peoples, and that their rock is not like your Rock.
He Who rides the heavens: is the same God Who is at your assistance, and with His majesty, He rides the skies.
Yeshurun comes from the word Yashar or straight. Mentioned in Beresheis is Sefer Yashar or the book of the straight path but deals with the wars of the sons of Yacov because of Schem and other things. Here the relationship between G-D the KING and HIS Nation Yisrael is mentioned by Moshe. If you not there is another example of Vayehi bringing in bad news. Vayehi Yeshurun Melech and the heads (and people) of the Nation gather all the tribes. … So Moses the servant of the LORD died there.
27 The eternal God is a dwelling-place, and underneath are the everlasting arms; and He thrust out the enemy from before thee, and said: 'Destroy.'
Which are the abode for God Who precedes all: The skies are an abode for God who preceded (קֶדֶם) all other deities. He selected the skies [above] as His residence and abode, while all the strong men live below Him.
Are the mighty ones of the world: [Literally, “The arms of the world.” This refers to] Sihon, Og, and the kings of Canaan, who were [considered] the strength and might of the world. Therefore, despite themselves, they will tremble and quake, and their power will dwindle before God-the fear of one above always falls upon the one below, and thus, He to whom power and might belong-
Thrust out the enemy from before you: And said to you, “Destroy them!” מְעֹנָה Every word that requires a lamed as a prefix [meaning “for” or “to”], can instead have a hey as a suffix [and the meaning is identical. Thus, here, the word מְעֹנָה is equivalent to לַמָּעֹן, meaning “for an abode”]. — [Yev. 13b]
28 And Israel dwells in safety, the fountain of Jacob alone, in a land of corn and wine; yea, his heavens drop down dew.
Safely and alone: Every single individual [will dwell safely]-each man under his own vine and his own fig tree. [And their security will be so sound, that] they will have no need to live together in one group, because of the enemy.
As Jacob [blessed]: Heb. עֵין יַעִקֹב. [The word עֵין, has the same meaning here] like [referring to the manna],“And its appearance (וְעֵינוֹ) was like the appearance of (כְּעֵין) crystal” (Num. 11:7). [So, our verse comes to teach us that the blessing here, of Israel dwelling בָּדָד] is like the appearance of the blessing that Jacob blessed, and not like the [meaning of the word] בָּדָד used by Jeremiah, “I dwelled alone (בָּדָד) ” (Jer. 15:17), but like the appearance of the promise [of secure dwelling] that Jacob made to them [Joseph and his brothers],“And God will be with you, and bring you back to the land of your forefathers” (Gen. 48:21). - [Sifrei 33:28]
Will drip: Heb. יַעַרְפוּ [like] יִרְעִפוּ, will drip.
Also, their heavens will drip dew: [Why does the verse say “also”? It means:] Also, Isaac’s blessing will be added to that of Jacob, which states, “And the God will give you from the dew of the heavens” (Gen. 27: 28). - [Sifrei 33:28]
On condition that we guard and observe the Mitzvos.
29 Happy art thou, O Israel, who is like unto thee? a people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and that is the sword of thy excellency! And your enemies shall dwindle away before thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Fortunate are you, O Israel: After Moses specified the blessings to Israel, he said to them, “Why do I have to specify all the details? In general: Everything is yours!”
Fortunate are you, O Israel. Who is like you…!: Your salvation depends on God, Who is the Shield that helps you and the Sword of your majesty.
Your enemies will lie to you: Like, for instance, the Gibeonites, who said, “Your servants have come from a… distant land…” (Josh. 9:9). and you will tread upon their upon their heights: [The meaning here is: “And you will crush their neck underfoot,”] similar to “Place your feet upon the necks of these kings!” (Josh. 10:24).
34:1 And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, even Gilead as far as Dan;
From the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo: There were many levels [leading up from the plain to the summit], but Moses covered them with one step. — [Sotah 13b]
All the Land: He showed Him the entire Land of Israel in its tranquility, and the oppressors who were destined to oppress it. — [Sifrei 33:30]
Until Dan: He showed Him the children of Dan practicing idolatry, as Scripture states, “And the children of Dan set up for themselves the graven image” (Jud. 18:30), and He showed him Samson, who was destined to issue from him [Dan] as a savior [for Israel]. — [ibid.]
Part of the Tribe of Dan was located on the Coast from approximately Hertziliah today to around Yafo but the other part was underneath the Golan in the north from the Banias and the River Dan below the Hermon and I tend to go for the Pshat in the Pasuk and we assume that the Rabbis had a tradition about what Rashi wrote as he did not pull his ideas out of the air but a definite foundation.
2 and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah as far as the hinder sea;
And all [the land of] Naphtali: He showed him his land in its tranquility and in its destruction, and He showed him Deborah and Barak of Kedesh-Naftali, waging war against Sisera and his troops. — [Sifrei 33:31]
This physically would be continuing in Northern Eretz Yisrael until Akko.
And the land of Ephraim and Manasseh: He showed him their land in its tranquility and in its destruction; and He showed him Joshua, who was descended from Ephraim, waging war against the kings of Canaan, and Gideon, who was descended from Manasseh, waging war against Midian and Amalek. — [Sifrei 33:31]
And all the land of Judah: in its tranquility and in its destruction, and He showed him the kingdom of the house of David and their victories. — [Sifrei 33:31] until the western sea: Heb. עַד הַיָּם הָאַחֲרוֹן, the land in the west [of Israel], in its tranquility and in its destruction. [Here, the sea referred to is the Mediterranean Sea, which represents the westernmost flank of the Land of Israel.] Another explanation: Do not understand the verse as stating הַיָּם הָאַחֲרוֹן, but read it, as though it had said הַיּוֹם הָאַחֲרוֹן, “until the very last day,” meaning that the Holy One, blessed is He, showed Him all the incidents that were destined to happen to Israel [until “the last day,” namely,] until the time that the dead would return to life. — [Sifrei 33:31]
See the explanation after Pasuk 4 below.
3 and the South, and the Plain, even the valley of Jericho the city of palm-trees, as far as Zoar.
And the south: Heb. הַנֶּגֶב, the southland [of the Land of Israel]. Another explanation: the Machpelah Cave [which is in Hebron, in the south of Israel], as Scripture states, “And they went up to the south בַנֶּגֶב, and they came to Hebron” (Num. 13:22). - [Sifrei 33:32]
And the plain: He showed Him Solomon molding the vessels of the Holy Temple, as Scripture states, “In the plain (כִּכָּר) of the Jordan, the king molded them in thick clay” (I Kings 7:46). - [Sifrei 33:31]
At the end of the Dead Sea slightly below the Hotels of Ein Bokek just a wee bit north of the Dead Sea works which are in the area near Maalah Akravim where Moshe physically was. (Remember he did not enter physically into the boundaries of Canaan but this land down to Eilat essential was to be included into the land of Yisrael.
4 And the LORD said unto him: 'This is the land which I swore unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying: I will give it unto thy seed; I have caused thee to see it with your eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.'
So Moshe saw the Golan Heights, the other side of Yarden down to the Dead Sea and the coast from at least Akko to Ashkelon and perhaps north and south a bit of these points depending on the height of Har Nevo and the curvature of the earth. From this point onwards it is unknown if Moshe just wrote what the L-RD told him or Yehoshua sealed Sefer Devarim with his writing.
5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
And Moses… died there: Is it possible that Moses died, and [then] wrote, “And Moses… died there”? But [the answer is:] Moses wrote up to that juncture, and Joshua wrote from then on. Says Rabbi Meir: But is it possible that the Torah Scroll would be lacking anything at all, and yet Scripture states (Deut. 31:26),“Take this Torah Scroll” [and Moses commanded this to the Levites; so, according to the above opinion, is it possible that the Torah Scroll referred to there was an incomplete one, up to the juncture of Moses’s death? This cannot be!] Rather, [continues Rabbi Meir, we must say that] The Holy One, blessed is He, dictated this [i.e., the verse “And Moses… died there”], and Moses wrote it in tears. — [B.B. 15b, Sifrei 33:34]
By the mouth of the Lord: [i.e., Moses died] by a Divine kiss. — [B.B. 17a]
6 And he was buried in the valley in the land of Moab over against Beth-peor; and no man knows of his sepulchre unto this day.
And He buried him: i.e., The Holy One, blessed is He, Himself, in His very glory [buried Moses]. — [Sotah 14a] Rabbi Ishmael, however, says that [the words “And he buried him” mean that] Moses buried himself. And this אֶת in the phrase here וַיִּקְבֹּר אוֹתוֹ is one of the three instances of the אֶת in Scripture which Rabbi Ishmael expounded on in this way [i.e., where the suffix attached אֶת is understood to be reflexive, meaning “to himself” , “to themselves” , and so on]. And similar to this case [are the following two instances]:“On the day when his Nazirite vow is completed, he must bring him (אֹתוֹ) ” (Num. 6:13), which means, “he shall bring himself” [i.e., present himself]. And likewise, “And they cause them (אוֹתָם) to bear the sin of their guilt” (Lev. 22:16). Surely does this refer to others causing them to bear that sin? Rather, the verse must mean that they cause themselves to bear the sin. — [Sifrei Naso 32:124]
Opposite Beth Peor: His burial site was ready there [at Beth Peor], since the six days of Creation, to atone for the [sinful] act of Peor. — [see Num. 25:1-8; Sotah 14a] This [Moses’s burial site] was one of the things created at twilight, on the eve of [the first] Sabbath. — [Avos 5:6]
7 And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
His eye had not dimmed: Even after he died. — [see Sifrei 33:36] nor had he lost his [natural] freshness: [The word לֵחֹה refers to his [body’s] moisture. [Thus, the phrase means:] “[Even after his death,] decomposition did not take over his body, nor did the appearance of his face change.”
I assume that Yehoshua, Gershom and Eleazar were with Moshe when he passed away and later the burial spot was covered over or that this came to Yehoshua in the form of a prophecy to write these words. This was a miracle within itself. I don’t know many Rabbis reaching 80 or 90 who have the save strength as years ago. I know that my Younger Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Yechiel Yehuda London Ztzal was still strong in his voice and spiritually fervor at the age of 85 as at the age 44 or 45 as I remembered him just less nimble on his legs. Rabbi Glixman about 2 or so months before his passing was weaker physically than the ole boxing Rabbi but strong as steel in his love for Jews especially little children.
8 And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; so the days of weeping in the mourning for Moses were ended.
The sons of Israel: [ordinarily meaning the children of Israel, male and female. But here, it refers only to] the males [who wept for Moses]. However, concerning [the passing of] Aaron, since he used to pursue peace and bring peace between a man and his fellow and between a woman and her husband, it is said [at Aaron’s passing], “The whole house of Israel [wept for him]” (Num. 20:29), meaning both males and females. — [Perkei d’Rabbi Eliezer 17]
I prefer to look at the death of Moshe as follows: The women with their hormonal balance are more prone to weep and they most likely wept too. However, the men who learn more Torah and love the explanations and the Pshat, Remez, Drash, Sod and Sod shel b’Sod of the Torah with Midrash and Kabbala with it were like lost sheep. The Gemara says that on the day that Moshe passed into the next world 3,000 Oral Torah Halachos were forgotten. The people prayed and all but 900 returned to us. When will we receive again the 900 when Tishbi will come and introduce us to the Moshiach.
9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him; and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.
But unfortunately he was like the moon in his delivery to Am Yisrael and not like the sun as Moshe spoke to the L-RD face to face so to speak.
10 And there hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face;
Whom the Lord knew face to face: For he was quite familiar with Him, speaking with Him at any time he wished, as it is said, “So now I will go up to the Lord” (Exod. 32:30), and, “You stand still, and I will listen to what the Lord will command concerning you” (Num. 9:8).
11 in all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land; 12 and in all the mighty hand, and in all the great terror, which Moses wrought in the sight of all Israel.
And all the strong hand: [This refers to] his receiving the Torah on tablets with his hands.
And all the great awe: [This refers to the] miracles and mighty deeds [that were performed for Israel] in the great and awesome wilderness. — [Sifrei 33:41]
before the eyes of all Israel: [This expression alludes to the incident, where] His heart stirred him up to smash the tablets before their eyes, as it is said, “and I shattered them before your eyes” (Deut. 9:17). - [Sifrei 33:41] and [regarding Moses shattering the Tablets,] the Holy One Blessed is He gave His approval, as Scripture states, “[the first Tablets] which you shattered” (Exod. 34:1); [God said to Moses:] “Well done for shattering them!” - [Shab. 87a]
There have been miracles that we saw in each of the wars of Am Yisrael since 5708 and getting more and more as time passes and the enemy becomes more cunning. There were miracles with a Novi foretold in advance or even a premonition by some of us. However, nothing was nor will be on the scale of Moshe.
HAZAK - HAZAK V’NITCHAZAK
Mitzvos and Halachos by Danny Shoemann
It's a Mitzva to bequeath one's estate using the laws of inheritance as defined in the Torah. In a nutshell: When there are sons the daughters have no share in the estate. If there are no sons - or descendants of the sons - then the order is: daughters and her descendants, father, brothers. Part of the Mitzva is that a firstborn son gets a double portion of the estate. By Rabbinic decree a husband inherits his wife's estate. Applies to everybody, everywhere, always
Verse: "If a man dies without sons, his estate gets inherited by his daughters" (Bamidbar 27:8)
Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 73
If one chances upon a mother bird roosting on her eggs or her nestlings, and one wants to take the eggs or the nestlings, one has a Mitzva to first send away the mother bird.
The correct way to do this Mitzva is to pick up the bird and shoo her away. If she returns and hovers over the nest before you take the eggs or nestlings, you have to send her away again and again - no matter how often she returns. Only applies to Kosher birds that don't belong to anybody, eggs that are not yet fertilized and nestlings that cannot fly yet. Applies to everybody, everywhere, always Verse: "You shall send away the mother bird, and take the offspring" (Devarim 22:7)
Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 74
It is forbidden to destroy anything that has Kedushah (sanctity). This includes damaging - even slightly - buildings and furniture belonging to a synagogue or Yeshiva. It is also forbidden to erase any of the 7 Hebrew names of Gcd.
Applies to everybody, everywhere, always Verse: "Do not do so unto Hashem your Gcd" (Devarim 12:4)
Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar; Prohibition 157
One is forbidden to stray from the rulings of the Bet Din HaGadol; the "supreme high court" that exists in the time of the Bet HaMikdash. Judaism and the Mitzvos are defined only by what Moshe wrote in the Torah and what how he explained it in the Oral Law; the Mishna and Talmud. This includes everything our sages have taught us, as documented in the Talmud, as well as any rulings by qualified Rabbis One who tries to change accepted Jewish law or customs against tradition, has transgressed this Mitzva. Applies to everybody, everywhere, always
Verse: "Do not stray from what they tell you, neither right nor left" (Devarim 17:11)
Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar; Prohibition 158
One may not add new Mitzvos to the existing 613 that Gcd commanded us. Even declaring a Rabbinic-Mitzva to be Torah-ordained is forbidden. If a Cohen adds a blessing to the 3-fold priestly blessing he has transgressed this Mitzva. The Rabbis are allowed to add safeguards, decrees and thanksgiving Mitzvos (like Chanukah and Purim) - as long as they don't declare them to be Torah-ordained. Applies to everybody, everywhere, always Verse: "Do not add to it" (Devarim 13:1)
Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar; Prohibition 159
There's a Mitzvah to by happy on Jewish Holidays and therefore one must eat two Yom Tov meals; one at night and one during the day. (Se'udat Shlishi - the 3rd meal - is only eaten on Shabbat and is not required on Yom Tov.) Each meal starts with Kiddush over wine and two Challot (loaves of bread) and should include meat and other delicacies. It's also a Mitzvah to ensure that others are happy:
- Children should be given treats
- Wives should get new clothes and jewelry according to one’s budget
- Men should be served meat and wine
In order to prove that the extra expenses are for Yom Tov and not simply for self-indulgence, one must ensure that the poor and needy are also supplied with their Yom Tov needs; invite them over for meals and donate generously to reputable charity funds before Yom Tov.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 103:3, 5, 9
Yom Kippur does not atone for misdeeds done against fellow-Jews unless one first asks them for forgiveness. One should be careful to repay all overdue loans before Yom Kippur; after which one can beg for forgiveness for the delay.
If one is being asked for forgiveness one should not be stubborn nor vengeful; rather one should be forgiving, the same way one hopes that Hashem will be forgiving of our sins. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 131:4
There is a Mitzva in the Torah unique to Yom Kippur: afflicting oneself. To fulfill this Mitzva properly one should keep in mind that the Yom Kippur restrictions are a fulfillment of this 25-hour long Mitzva. This Mitzva includes the following prohibitions:
- On Yom Kippur one may not eat nor drink, even when Yom Kippur is on Shabbat, like this year. If fasting will affect your health, contact a doctor and a Rabbi for instructions.
- On Yom Kippur one may not bathe; one may not even get wet unnecessarily. Upon awakening and after relieving oneself one can wash until the knuckles. Before Birkas Cohanim, the Cohanim wash until their wrists.
- On Yom Kippur no anointing is allowed. This includes perfumes and deodorants.
- On Yom Kippur one may not wear leather shoes.
- On Yom Kippur one may not have marital relations.
All the above are forbidden from candle-lighting on Erev Yom Kippur (Friday afternoon, this week) until after Havdala some 25 hours later.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 133:1
Friday - is Erev Yom Kippour.
It's a Mitzvah to eat more than usual on the day before Yom Kippur, in order to have an easy fast the next day. Those people who find it easier to fast if they don't eat too much beforehand, do not need to eat more than usual. On Erev Yom Kippur one does not say מִזְמוֹר לְתוֹדָה in Shacharis. The reason being that מִזְמוֹר לְתוֹדָה parallels the Korban Toda (thanksgiving sacrifice) which was eaten for 2 consecutive days. Since a sacrifice brought on Erev Yom Kippur couldn't be eaten for 2 consecutive days, therefore one couldn't bring a Korban Toda on Erev Yom Kippur.
On Erev Yom Kippur one also omits Tachanun and לַמְנַצֵּח . Since Yom Kippur is on Shabbat this year, one says Avinu Malkaynu during Shacharis on Erev Yom Kippur.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 131:2,3
Wishing everybody an easy and meaningful fast and a Shabbat Shalom Ktiva Vechatima Tova; wishing you a year full of good tidings. - Danny
Yom Kippur: http://image.aish.com/yomkippur_reader.pdf
Rabbi Barak Kochavi and the Tzaddik
Besides being the representative Rav of Lubavitcher in Ramat Modiin and Chashmonayim, Rav Kochavi Shlita is the principal of a Chabad School in Kfar Chabad. One of the teachers there always walks and says Tehillim or Mishnayos by heart. He asked him, “Why does he do this?” The Tzaddik answered, “I wish to make the air that I breathe in and out holy. For if I say Torah or Prayers, I raise the spiritual level of the air from mundane to spiritual and that is the purpose of man in this world.”
The Sharbit Brother’s Judaica
Rabbi Dan Sharbit Shlita was sitting Shiva this morning from his father’s home in Yerushalayim where he will be returning this evening. In his youth he was sent away by his Talmid Chacham father to learn in the Gates Head Yeshiva. He told the following story which the former Rabbi of Fez and Casablanca added too. The Sharbit brothers had a small Shatnez checking business as well as Judaica. In Fez they would check for the forbidden mixture of wool and linen threads by a microscope. The work was tedious and required speedy results. One could not wait three weeks like today and a 600 French Francs suit nobody would pay 100 Francs to check so they had to return the garment in two or three days for 3 French Francs. They would also sell Lulav and Esrog before Sukkos. The prices were not like today’s prices but reasonable. Like 5, 10 and 15 French Francs of course the money also went further in those days like my mother would tell me when I was getting a dollar an hour minimum wage as a student that when she started working during the Depression that she was happy to have a twelve dollar a week salary.
The brothers moved in the ‘60’s from Casablanca to Paris. There they set up their main Judaica Store. However, they were afraid as partners that they might fight. The chose to travel to Switzerland to see the great Rabbi Moshe Soleveichik to decide their disputes but so as not be like one or both are complete Talmidim, they would visit each one on alternate questions. One time Dan’s father was not happy with the Psak Din and his brother was willing to compromise. He said nothing doing, we agreed to the Rav’s Psak and the Rav’s Psak shall it be whether I am happy or not.
The following two paragraphs Rabbi Sharbit did not tell me or the underlined passages but I felt that I should add them even though I met his father for just a short time.
26:1 [A Psalm] of David. Judge me, O LORD, for I have walked in mine integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
2 Examine me, O LORD, and try me; test my reins and my heart.
3 For Thy mercy is before mine eyes; and I have walked in Thy truth.
4 I have not sat with men of falsehood; neither will I go in with dissemblers.
5 I hate the gathering of evil doers, and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I will wash my hands in innocency; so will I compass YOUR altar, O LORD,
7 That I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard, and tell of all Thy wondrous works.
8 LORD, I love the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwells.
9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with men of blood;
10 In whose hands is craftiness, and their right hand is full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity; redeem me, and be gracious unto me.
12 My foot stands in an even place; in the congregations will I bless the LORD
1 A Psalm of David.
The earth is the LORD'S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the mountain of the LORD? and who shall stand in His holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not taken My name in vain, and hath not sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of them that seek after Him, that seek Thy face, even Jacob. Selah
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; that the King of glory may come in.
8 'Who is the King of glory?' 'The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.'
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates, yea, lift them up, ye everlasting doors; that the King of glory may come in.
10 'Who then is the King of glory?' 'The LORD of hosts; He is the King of glory.' Selah
He had a helper named Moshe the past years since his wife passed away three years ago. Last Tuesday or Wednesday he fell and broke his leg entering the bath tub. He told Moshe in the hospital that he had done a great job and that he no longer needed him. He blessed Moshe and said, “Everything your heart desires come to my grave and I will try my best to fulfill your wishes through the Beis Din Shel Maalah. On Erev Chag, the doctors saw that his condition was not so well and they decided to keep him in the hospital. Either the medications against pain or some infection was causing his Kidney’s to give out even though he was 75 and five years less than the average male life span. By Saturday Night he was slipping but stable and he passed away on Sunday. So how did he know that he would not need Moshe anymore? The secret remains until the resurrection of the dead.
From Chaya: Correction regarding the 40 Marines guarding day care children has some truth from a real story but not Marines guarding the toddlers see: http://www.snopes.com/rumors/glurge/daycare.asp
An Israeli Hero leaves us or Old Soldiers don’t die they just fade away
A GREAT HERO OF ISRAEL HAS LEFT US by Emanuel A. Winston, Middle East Analyst & Commentator
Major General Israel Tal, called Talik, passed away at the age of 86. Talik was my friend and I honored him greatly. Some great men are not known by the people – except for when their name may appear in the newspaper. Such people do not seek public recognition but, they are known by those who worked with them.
Tal was well-known as the father of the Merkava Tank – one of the most advanced tanks in the world. I once published an article entitled: “The Tank a Jewish Mother Could Love” December 12, 1983. The Merkava was built by Talik to protect its crew in a way that other tanks could not. I recall stories about a younger Tal in the early days of the Jewish State who found a way to stop the Syrians on the Golan Heights from cutting of water to Israel by building coffer dams to re-direct the water away from Israel. Talik found a way to extend the Tank rounds as mobile long-range artillery and could hit the coffer dams.
Among his peers Talik was respected as a straight military man and a strong fighter. He was not a military politician pushed ahead by being a political voice for any political party. Tal inspired confidence, respect and, I will add, a certain fear. I watched high ranking men stand in rigid attention when he had a problem with their work.
Israel Tal once won the Israel Prize for his extraordinary work in developing the Merkava Tank – now it its Fourth model: Merkava IV. I know he had little interest in seeking honors. He was truly the quintessential warrior for Israel. He had a few quirks, like not liking to fly but, was more comfortable on the ground in 70 tons of metal.
The Jewish nation world-wide should miss him. I know I will. May he rest in peace and honor.
I have attached an article by Arutz Sheva that provides more detail on Talik’s life in the military.
'Father of the Merkava Tank' to be Buried by Eli Stutz Tishrei 4, 5771, 12 September 10 11:35
(Israelnationalnews.com) Reserve General Israel Tal, who is considered the father of the Israeli Merkava tank, will be laid to rest at 4 p.m. Sunday in the civilian cemetery in Rehovot. He died in his home in Rehovot last week at age of 86. Tal served as the Deputy Commander in Chief of the IDF and was the recipient of several Israel Defense Prizes for his work.
About his death, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said, "A legendary commander and fighter has passed away from us, one who laid the roots of the Israeli Armored Corps and who had a hand in developing the Merkava tank, considered one of the best tanks in the world. 'Talik,' as everyone called him, was one of the founders of the IDF, to whom the security of the State of Israel, the defense of its people and its borders was a life's work, from youth until old age. His contribution to the security of Israel is impossible to measure."
Tal was born in the northern community of Machanaim. At the age of five, when his family lived in Safed, he was saved from an Arab massacre in Tzfat during the riots of 1929. Arab rioters blocked the doors of the house while he and his mother and sister were inside, and then they set the house on fire. Miraculously, he and his family survived the attack.
Tal started his military career with the British Army's Jewish Brigade in Italy during the WWII. He served as a junior officer during the Israeli War of Independence in 1948, brigade commander during the 1956 Sinai War, and armored-division commander during the Six-Day War in the Sinai. Finally, he led the southern front command during the last part of the Yom Kippur War.
In 1970, Israel decided that it required home-grown tank-building capability because of doubt over overseas sales. General Tal spearheaded a team which took into account Israel's specific defense needs, combat terrain, and previous battles, and launched the building of Israel's Merkava tank. The first Merkava tanks became operational in 1980 and took part in the first Lebanon War in 1982.
Part of Tal's innovation in tank warfare was to organize the armored corps as the leading element of the Israeli offensive, taking the place of Infantry. Tal's tactics involved high mobility and relentless assault and the training of all Israeli gunners to hit targets beyond 1.5 km. These elements were key factors in Israel's success in subsequent wars.
Among Tal's sayings were, "The man in the tank will win," and "The best tank team will come out on top."
www.IsraelNationalNews.com © Copyright IsraelNationalNews.comMay he rest in peace in the next world for the countless number of lives he saved with his tank battles and designs - RP.
In case you are a Baal Tshuvah we confess on Yom Kippur between us and HASHEM only and it is not like a non-Jewish Church confession – you might say the one below is more befitting of Sukkos-Simchas Torah rejoicing time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K16fG1sDagU&feature=channel
Inyanay Diyoma
Ehud Barak must have ordered the sirens switched off for his political purposes: http://www.debka.com/article/9020/
I consider this verdict which was Solomonic
in nature quite fair: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3950997,00.html
What do we have to look forward to in the new year: http://www.debka.com/article/9016/
Or this? http://www.debka.com/article/9017/
Netanyahu the sneak: http://www.debka.com/article/9021/
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/139670
Syria and Russia respond: http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=188435 Assad is going to Teheran after Id-El-Feta.
Hamas: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3955563,00.html
Taxes via the back door: The following information is relevant to residents of all states because if the Senate Energy Bill doesn't pass, no sweat, the back door is WIDE open. Here is more about it... (If this doesn't affect your state now, be prepared to fight it.... and pass this on to the people in the affected states.)Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI Tax) is identical to the Senate Cap and Trade (Energy Tax) Bill. It is already mandated and hidden in tax bills in ten states. They are NJ, NY, CT, MA, ME, RI, NH, VT, DE & MD. These states do not want us to know what portion of our energy bill represents this tax. They know that If we knew we would be outraged. I do know that my bill suddenly doubled in 2008 and never went back. Your’s probably did also. Go back and look. I estimate that approximately 50% of your energy bill is this tax. No wonder they don’t want to itemize it.
Arabs will never recognize the Zionist Entity: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3951626,00.html
Sandra is given full Israeli Citizenship; http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3953467,00.html
OBAMA WANTS TO KILL OFF ISRAEL’S NUCLEAR DETERRENT
by Emanuel A. Winston, Middle East Analyst & Commentator
Before you read this excellent article written by A. Savyon (Director of the Iranian Media Project) and published by MEMRI, The Middle East Media Research Institute, on President Barack Hussein Obama’s collaboration with the Muslim Arab world to force Israel to put her Nuclear Deterrence under U.N. controls. Also attached is a Wall St. Journal article by Jay Solomon September 11, 2010 entitled “Nuclear Scrutiny to Turn to Israel”.
I wrote several exposés from1991 to 2010 - predicting a similar plot by Secretary of State James Baker and those guys who came to be known as his three Jew” boys: Dennis Ross, Aaron David Miller and Daniel Kurtzer. Baker has currently been an advisor to Obama and, given their mutual animus toward the Jewish Nation/State, it is not surprising that the Baker Plan would once again morph into the Obama Plan to cripple and eliminate Israel’s Nuclear Deterrence against her Muslim Arab enemies.
Netanyahu Artfully Avoids Obama's Nuclear Trap April 11, 2010 by Emanuel A. Winston, Middle East Analyst & Commentator
This week there is to be a Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, called by President Barack Hussein Obama to "discuss" Global Nuclear Security Matters. Since Obama has done everything possible to insure Iran will reach its oft-expressed goal of having and using Nuclear Weapons, the whole matter is beginning to smell like the 1991 Madrid International Conference, arranged in part as a plan of deliberate entrapment for Israel's Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir and the Jewish Nation/State of Israel.
I wrote numerous articles before the Madrid Conference in 1991, defining it as a Kangaroo Court arranged primarily by the Arabist State Department. Shamir was warned repeatedly that he was walking into a trap but, he wrongly assumed he could handle whatever was thrown at him. He was wrong! The Muslim Arab and European nations swarmed against Shamir with the assistance of then Secretary of State James Baker III and the Arabist State Department.
During the Madrid Conference, denials notwithstanding, Baker, through his staff of what came to be known as "Baker's Jew Boys" (Dennis Ross, Aaron David Miller and Daniel Kurtzer) circulated from room to room, guiding the appeasement agenda, while denying their influential presence.
For me, it smelled like a trap about to be sprung, I opined before the Conference ended that one of the delegates from an Arab country would challenge Israel on its undeclared status of being Nuclear-Capable.
As predicted, just before last statements were read to the assembly, the Egyptian delegate asked that the entire Middle-East region be officially a Nuclear-Free Zone. Take that to mean that Israel was to stand down any Nuclear Deterrence she may have and to submit herself to inspection by the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), no doubt, overseen by Baker's Arabist State Department.
Taken in full context, President George Herbert Walker Bush, James Baker III, the Arabist State Department, the Multi-national oil companies - all connected to the Arab oil pipe-line - did not want Israel to have Nuclear Deterrence. All knew that, despite Israel's success in holding off the Arab Muslims in seven wars and continual cruel acts of violent Terrorism, there would come a time when the Arab Muslims (with overwhelming manpower, unlimited military supplies from the U.S., France, Germany, Russia) would sooner or later be able to overcome Israel IF she had to rely upon only conventional weapons to fight many Muslim Arab armies on four fronts (East, North, South and from the sea on the West). It was her undeclared, ambiguous Nuclear Deterrence that the Arabists - like Bush, Baker, Brzezinski, the E.U., Russia, 'et al', wanted Israel to surrender. Now, it's Obama's turn to bond with the Muslim Arab oil nations, reflecting his early, impressionable years as a Muslim in a "Madrassa" (school for strict Islam), learning the Koran and Mohammed's "Hadith" (his oral teachings). President Obama has gathered around him many of the same Arabists from the past and the present. Counseled now by James Baker III, the early court Jews of Baker (Dennis Ross, Aaron David Miller, Daniel Kurtzer - with the later addition of Martin Indyk),Zbigniew Brzezinski, Brent Scowcroft, General James Jones.....one can see how the coming Nuclear Security Summit might be an even deadlier trap for Israel and Binyamin Netanyahu than was the Madrid entrapment.
We have observed the immediate attack on Israel by Obama once he took office. It seems evident that, following the desires of the Arabists who are his advisors and the demands of the Arab League - including the Saudi King - there seems little doubt that he is working toward severing relations with Israel. This, of course, happened before when General Charles De Gaulle - as Prime Minister of France - went from being a supporting friend of Israel to severing relations - which including cutting off all arms shipments, even those for which Israel had already paid.
Once Arab Muslim oil was the motivation, the red light went on in France and Europe. The same could be said for the "Shadow Arabist Government" in Washington as it became the Muslim and Arab oil representatives.
Prime Minister Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu must have learned a painful lesson from the entrapment of PM Shamir during the Madrid Conference. It's not surprising to see all the former players of Madrid trying to use their Kangaroo Court "Trick" again.
Perhaps even without Netanyahu present, they may try to draft some sort of crooked agreement, trying to force Israel into signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, mandating U.N. control and inspection, in effect, putting a leash on Israel's ability to respond and/or pre-empt when faced with an existential threat such as Iran's Nuclear threats to wipe Israel off the map.
If Obama can force Israel to give up her Nuclear Deterrence, then the U.S., E.U., and Russia could send in a massive so-called "Peace-Keeping Force" to take over Judea, Samaria, the Jordan Valley, Golan Heights - all in the name of "having to protect a now vulnerable Israel".
As we watch Obama cave in to Russian demands, putting restraints on America's Nuclear Deterrence capability, one begins to wonder: Who is really Obama's employer and what is really his assigned agenda?
Netanyahu is sending Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor as his replacement. Regrettably, Meridor is too well-known for his weakness and passivity. It would be like sending Left-Leaning Tzippi Livni or Shimon Peres to stand up for Israel's sovereignty. Hopefully, Netanyahu will send Meridor with very specific instructions to keep his mouth shut and not to engage in any discussions that will serve as an entrapment for Israel.
As a relevant aside, we have heard that the attending Muslim Arabs have said they have no intentions of bringing up Israel's Nuclear Deterrence after they heard that Netanyahu side-stepped the trap.
As for the American people's reliance on Obama and his collaborators to protect America and her allies, current polls show an overwhelming distrust, both for the man and the Democratic Party which proved to be so easy to buy.
Perhaps he is assisting Iran in order to allow it to become Nuclear Proficient will be sufficient to bring about Obama's impeachment.
###
Possible Acceleration of Arab World's Nuclearization as a Result of President Obama's Global Nuclear Disarmament Policy By: A. Savyon Published by MEMRI, the Middle East Media Research Institute
Introduction
The past few months have seen some highly significant developments in U.S. nuclear policy, and in this policy's ramifications for the Middle East. This paper will examine these developments.
The Pendulum of the Obama Administration's Nuclear Policy
Upon taking office in 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama announced his intention to promote his vision of global nuclear disarmament. On April 5, 2009 in Prague, he presented an ambitious strategy for achieving this goal, based on three major components: 1) Taking concrete steps towards a world without nuclear weapons by reducing existing nuclear arsenals; 2) Strengthening the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and keeping new countries from acquiring nuclear weapons; 3) Ensuring that terrorists never acquire a nuclear weapon. To achieve the last, President Obama announced a new international effort to secure all vulnerable nuclear material around the world within four years.
As a further step towards the realization of these goals, on April 12, 2010 President Obama convened the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC, with the participation of most of the leaders of the free world.
One month later, in May, the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) was convened in New York. In light of President Obama's desire to harness this conference to his own vision, and to make sure that it would be a success – i.e. that it would produce resolutions passed by consensus – his administration was forced into agreeing to the condition, set by the Arab countries and led by Egypt, for international pressure on Israel and for Israel's isolation in the international nuclear community in exchange for such consensual resolutions. Capitulating to the Arab-Egyptian pressure, the Obama administration ultimately decided not to use its power of veto, but to vote for the concluding resolution calling on Israel to accede to the NPT and to place all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive IAEA safeguards.
President Obama himself welcomed the resolution, saying that it "includes balanced and practical steps that will advance non-proliferation, nuclear disarmament, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, which are critical pillars of the global non-proliferation regime."
By voting for the resolution, the U.S. abandoned its traditional stance supporting Israel's position that a nuclear weapons-free zone in the Middle East is possible and in fact essential, but must include not only nuclear weapons but all types of non-conventional weapons – such as chemical and biological weapons in the possession of Israel's neighbors – and, moreover, that this goal can be realized only after the attaining of comprehensive peace agreements in the region.
The Obama administration's acquiescence to Arab pressure, and its deviation from long-standing U.S. policy, was perceived by Israel as a threat to its security, and Israel demanded that the situation be rectified. The administration complied; as soon as the conference's concluding resolution passed, administration officials hastened to issue statements aimed at softening the impact of the U.S.'s vote on Israel-U.S. relations. For example, in a May 28 statement, President Obama's national security advisor Gen. James Jones said that the U.S. deplored the decision to single out Israel in the NPT document's Middle East section, and that the U.S. remained committed to Israel's security.
A more significant backtrack came during Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington on July 6. The Israeli daily Haaretz reported that in talks since the conference, the Americans clarified that the decision had been a "mistake," and that "in an effort to clarify the administration's stance on the Israeli nuclear question, it was determined that – in coordination with Israel – the full details of the high-level understandings [on Israel's status of nuclear ambiguity] between the two sides, reached during the 1960s, would finally be revealed." The White House released a special press announcement stating: "President [Obama] told Prime Minister [Netanyahu] he recognizes that Israel must always have the ability to defend itself, by itself, against any threat or possible combination of threats, and that only Israel can determine its security needs."
With this public proclamation, the Obama pendulum swung back to long-standing U.S. policy. However, in the circumstances in which the statement was made – that is, to rectify the U.S.'s vote for the NPT Review conference resolution isolating Israel – Obama's declaration constitutes a public and explicit confirmation of Israel's special nuclear status. The statement expresses the U.S.'s guarantee of Israel's existence and security, and its preservation of Israel's preferred nuclear status in the Middle East. President Obama went even farther, also recognizing Israel's right to deterrence – that is, that Israel is entitled to possess its own strategic deterrent capability. Thus, this statement by President Obama ushered in the end of the era of Israel's nuclear ambiguity.
Consequently, the White House statements following the Netanyahu meeting, i.e. that the U.S. would not touch Israel's policy of nuclear ambiguity, mean nothing, because President Obama had already recognized Israel's nuclear status and its right to maintain it.
Conclusions and Ramifications
The actions in recent months by the Obama administration in nuclear affairs, aimed at advancing a vision and a policy of global nuclear disarmament, have had the exact opposite effect. In his efforts to advance global nuclear disarmament, Obama brought to the fore what the U.S. had for four decades managed to downplay and marginalize – U.S. recognition of and partnership with Israel's policy of nuclear ambiguity. By openly acknowledging what his eight presidential predecessors had recognized implicitly – i.e. that Israel needs nuclear capability to defend its very existence – President Obama has put an end to Israel's status of nuclear ambiguity.
This development could lead to stepped-up demands for Nuclearization by leading Arab states that feel threatened by both Israel and by Iran and could result in accelerated moves in that direction.
*A. Savyon is Director of the Iranian Media Project.
For a Jew: It is a mitzvah to uphold and defend the land in the country where you live like Jews on both sides in WWI. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VD6sGgZZhPg
Due to the long prayers, I have left the Shabbos stories for Sukkos. Be well everybody,
Gmar Chatima Tova,
Rachamim Pauli
