Parshiyos Netzavim - Vayelech, Rosh Hashanah, Stories

Shlomo Chaim ben Basya Raizal should be added to the prayer list and Benyamin ben Ganendel should be removed from the prayer list.

50 Years ago the “Red Phone” between the White House and Kremlin was initiated to avoid a hot war! Originally it was a Telex then Fax then e-mail. The first real use of it was to avoid war ship zones during the Six Day War.

Last week I meant to write a little more and I was distracted and forgot to emphasize something important.

28:2 And all these blessings shall come upon thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
Observance = automatic blessings coming upon you! I meant to write: Not only will you receive the blessings but because of your observance they will overtake you in such as way as to have such abundance.

It is Elul a woman named Jan wrote this: Ugh god I hate days where politicians feel empowered to speak.... I can't keep food down around the chatter

Parshiyos Vayelech – Nitzavim

This week we see the final major talk of Moshe. It appears to me that everything occurred on his last day that he is giving this directive followed by the teaching of Song (next week’s Parsha) and the Blessing which we read on Simchas Torah. I had a question this week by a fellow who really wants to understand the dynamics of G-D I don’t know if he fully wants to convert to Judaism but more to understand the L-RD. He asked me about Hebrew such as modern Hebrew vs. Biblical Hebrew. In Modern Hebrew of the State of Israel we use the Sephardic Pronunciation and that is how I talk. If I were to give an oral Drasha I would say “Ki Tavo” as Chabad used in the Rashi commentary below. People who read my Drasha 10 years ago will remember me using the Modern Hebrew. As my readership grew, I decided to switch to the Ashkenazi Pronunciation which is used Chutz LaAretz. The real pronunciation would be closer to the Yemenite Thav which is what we see in the word Beth Yisrael. However, the Ashkenazi lack of the TH even the light TH turned into an S over the years and the Sephardim a T. So we have instead of the lisp Beth we have either Beis or Beit. We go after the majority to make this pronunciation. Also the Ayin and Aleph are hard to tell apart today. But those who try to teach language and speak clearer will make a difference with the Aleph liken to an Ay in English and the Ayin likened to a deeper Eye or Aye in English sort of like when two children fight and one twists the arm of the other until he yells Aye. Hebrew outside of the Yemenites does not have a J and G so we only say Gimmel but the Yemenites have a Jimmel. The Yemenite Vav like a wow is I have been told from the Arabic and not really correct. This week’s Parsha is the last time the people spoke a unified Hebrew because in the time of the Tanach with Sibboleth vs. Shibboleth a large number of a tribe were killed off.   

29:9 Ye are standing this day all of you before the LORD your God: your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, even all the men of Israel,

You are all standing: [The verse says “this day,” which] teaches us that on the day of his death, Moses assembled Israel in the presence of the Holy One, Blessed is He, to bring them into [His] covenant. the leaders of your tribes: Heb. רָאשֵׁיכֶם שִׁבְטֵיכֶם, [lit., “your leaders, your tribes,” referring to two separate entities, which does not make sense here because “your tribes” includes the leaders. Rather, this means here:] “The leaders of your tribes.” your elders and your officers: [We learn from the order in this verse that] the more distinguished ones were mentioned first, and after this: “every man of Israel.”

10 your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in the midst of thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water;

Well Moshe asked Pharaoh for the men, the elders, the women, the children and that is whom he led even the converts and perhaps non-Jewish slaves who did the last two jobs which were belittled.

both your woodcutters [and your water drawers]: [The mention of these people separate to the main community of Israel] teaches us that in the days of Moses, Canaanites came to convert [to Judaism], just as the Gibeonites came [to convert] in the days of Joshua. This is the meaning of the verse regarding the Gibeonites, “And they also acted cunningly…” (Josh. 9:4), [i. e., pretending that they had come from a far away country. When they were discovered, Joshua made them woodcutters and water drawers for Israel (see Josh. 9:3-27). Likewise here, the Canaanites attempted to deceive Moses,. but they did not succeed, and Moses did not accept them to be Jews. Rather,] Moses made them woodcutters and water drawers [i.e., slaves for Israel]. — [Tanchuma 2; Yev. 79a; see Rashi Gittin 23b]

11 that thou should enter into the covenant of the LORD thy God--and into His oath--which the LORD thy God makes with thee this day;

This was the last opportunity in Moshe’s life for the Congregation to affirm the covenant and the last time before entering a land that flowed with milk and honey but also has the propensity to vomit out violators of the covenant.

That you may enter: Heb. לְעָבְרְךָ‏. [Meaning,] “That you may pass through [i.e., enter] the covenant.” One should not understand this verb [to be in the causative conjugation,] to mean “to cause you to pass through,” [but rather, the verb is in the simple conjugation, and means that you yourselves will pass through]. This is similar to the expression, לַעֲשׂתְכֶם, “that you [yourselves] should do them” (Deut. 4:14). Alternatively, that you may enter into the covenant: [lit.] “that you may pass through the covenant.” This was the method of those who made covenants: They would set up a demarcation on one side and a demarcation on the other, and [the respective parties of the covenant] “passed through” between [these partitions], as the verse says, “[when] they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts” (Jer. 34:18).

12 that He may establish thee this day unto Himself for a people, and that He may be unto thee a God, as He spoke unto thee, and as He swore unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

HE is keeping his promise to you now you keep yours to HIM.

in order to establish you this day as His people: [Why does God here warn Israel against idolatry by making such grave oaths and severe curses, unlike other commandments where He would simply make a warning and attach a punishment if the commandment was transgressed?] He goes to so much trouble here, for the purpose of keeping you as His people. [Since He promised not to exchange you for another people (see the following Rashi), He must ensure your faithfulness to Him. and that He will be your God: Since God has given you His word and [also] sworn to your forefathers not to exchange their offspring for another nation, therefore, He [ensures your faithfulness to Him by] binding you through these oaths, so as not to provoke Him to anger, because He cannot separate Himself from you. Until here, I have explained this passage according to its simple sense. The homiletic explanation is as follows: Why is parashath Nitzavim juxtaposed to the curses [in parashath Ki Tavo]? Because when Israel heard these ninety-eight curses [delineated in Ki Tavo], besides the forty-nine [curses] stated in Leviticus (26:14-38), they turned pale, and said, “Who can possibly endure these?” [Thereupon,] Moses began to appease them [as follows]:You are… standing this day: You have provoked the Omnipresent to anger many times, yet He has not made an end to you. Indeed, you still exist before Him [“standing… before the Lord”]. — [Tanchuma 1] this day: [You exist now] Just as this day exists. For [although] it becomes dark [for a period, nevertheless] it shines [again]. So too, here, God has made light for you, and He will again make light for you in the future. And the curses and sufferings preserve you and enable you to stand before Him [the curses, by preventing you to stray from serving Him, and the sufferings, by cleansing you of your sins]. Similarly, in the previous parashah [of Ki Tavo, Moses spoke] words of conciliation, [e.g.,] “You have seen all that the Lord did…” (Deut. 29:1). Another explanation of… You are… standing: Because the Israelites were now passing from one leader to the next-i.e., from [the leadership of] Moses to [that of] Joshua. Therefore, Moses made them stand [in assembled ranks], in order to encourage them. Joshua did the same [when he was about to die (Josh. 24:1)]. Also, Samuel [did likewise], when Israel passed from his leadership to that of Saul, [as the verse says,] “Stand now, and I will reason with you before the Lord…” (I Sam. 12:7). - [Tanchuma 1]

13 Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; 14 but with him that stands here with us this day before the LORD our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day—

This covenant is not to be replaced and is also for future generations throughout time.

And [also] with those who are not here: also with future generations. — [Tanchuma 3]

15 for ye know how we dwelt in the land of Egypt; and how we came through the midst of the nations through which ye passed;

For you know: [Verses 15-17 are understood as follows:] Since you saw the idolatrous nations, perhaps one of you was enticed to follow their ways, and“perhaps there is among you…” (verse 17), therefore, I must place you under an oath [because you are in this position of extra susceptibility].

16 and ye have seen their detestable things, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were with them—

you saw their abominations: Heb. שִׁקּוּצֵיהֶם. [Their idols are so termed] because they are disgusting, like creeping, crawling insects (שְׁקָצִים). their repugnant idols: Heb. גִּלֻּלֵיהֶם. - [Their idols, thus termed] because they are putrid and disgusting like dung (גָּלָל) .This is probably a reference to Baal Peor. wood and stone: You saw those [idols] made of wood and stone out in the open, because the heathen [who owned them, did not mind leaving them outside, since he] did not fear that they would be stolen. [Thus, regarding these idols, the verse says, “And you saw their… idols… (of) wood and stone.”] However, [regarding the idols made] of “silver and gold,” they“were with them,” in the [confines of their private] treasure chambers, because [their heathen owners] were afraid that these [expensive idols] might be stolen. — [Tanchuma 3]

17 lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turns away this day from the LORD our God, to go to serve the gods of those nations; lest there should be among you a root that bears gall and wormwood;

Sorry as nice as the Buddhist Philosophy is or Islam is for a man who wants to depress and rule over women instead of a partnership or to be like the western nations with belief in sin and don’t worry about repentance for Yeshu died for your sins. Well I have news for everybody for a Jew to go to the left or the right of Torah it is death for his soul in the next. This week’s Zohar talks about the three different places for punishment in the next world. There is the standard soul cleansing of Gehennom, followed by a deeper level called Sheol. We have referred to this in a more modern term as Kaf Ha Keller. That is a world where the wicked work 6 days a week on trying to make straight objects and rest on Shabbos and Yom Tov. Actually their rest starts when the Jews of the Far East accept Shabbos until the last Jew in Hawaii makes Havdallah so they have a nice reprieve compared to normal Shabbos observance. They learn all about not stealing, not violating Shabbos. Etc. This can go on for almost an unlimited time prior to Gehennom. For example a person committed adultery 100 times was sentenced by the Beis Din Shel Maalah to 100 years of chopping and planning Amar by Amar blocks of wood. Somebody brought back Yitzchak Rabin in a Séance (warning this is forbidden by the Torah) and he told the person that he got between 200 to 250 years only for his Shabbos violation and he was not yet judged on the sinking of the ship where Jews died.

Worse than both are Avadon either the soul is completely destroyed or suspended until the final judgement. There is no soul repair in this level. However, if the person attended Schul a lot during his lifetime and said Amen a lot he could raise himself from one level to the next. I wonder if the person attended so many Minyanim that he would say so many Amen that he would not have to be in Gehennom at all?

18 and it come to pass, when he hears the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying: 'I shall have peace, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart--that the watered be swept away with the dry';

that he will bless himself in his heart: Heb. וְהִתְבָּרֵךְ בִּלְבָבוֹ [the word וְהִתְבָּרֵךְ stems from] the word for “blessing” (בָּרֵךְ). [The verse means:] “In his heart, [this man] will imagine a blessing of peace for himself, saying: These curses will not come upon me. I will have only peace!” he will bless himself: Heb. וְהִתְבָּרֵךְ, bendira soy in Old French [i.e., the verb is in the reflexive conjugation], like “וְהִתְגַּלָּח, And he shall shave himself” (Lev. 13:33), “וְהִתְפַּלֵּל, and he will pray” (I Kings 8:42), [which employs the reflexive form of the root פלל]. I follow my heart’s desires: Heb. בִּשְׁרִירוּת לִבִּי אֵלֵךְ [Meaning, “If I follow] what my heart beholds,” as in [the verse], “I behold it (אֲשׁוּרֶנּוּ) , but it is not near” (Num. 24:17). That is to say [the verse means]: “[Even if I go in the way] that my heart sees [fit] to do.” in order to add the [punishment for the] unintentional sins [of this man]: לְמַעַן סְפוֹת הָרָוָה - Because I will add to him the punishment for what he heretofore committed unintentionally, which I would have overlooked, but now, he has caused that I combine them with the intentional sins and punish him for everything. Similarly, Onkelos renders [the verse here as]: בְּדִיל לְאוֹסָפָא לֵיהּ חֶטְאֵי שָׁלוּתָא עַל זְדָנוּתָא, [meaning,] That I shall add for him the [punishment incurred for the] unintentional sins to [that of] the intentional sins. the [punishment for the] unintentional sins: Heb. הָרָוָה [lit., “drunk.” Here, as explained, the word] refers to unintentional [sins], which [a man] commits as if in a drunken state, that is, unknowingly. to [his] intentional sins: Heb. הַצְּמֵאָה [lit., “thirsty.” Here, as explained, the word refers to intentional sins, that is] when [a man] commits [a sin] knowingly and out of lust.

This is the power of the Yetzer to delude a person unto believing that he is not really sinning in fact sometimes people are not going to the beach or running after members of the opposite sex on Shabbos but working for Israel Bonds or other Jewish Causes on Shabbos well they too fall under the Yetzer.

19 the LORD will not be willing to pardon him, but then the anger of the LORD and His jealousy shall be kindled against that man, and all the curse that is written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven;

How appropriate is this right before Rosh Hashanah. The writing of the name of a person in the book of life or reverse.

The Lord’s fury… will fume: [The image is as follows:] Through anger, the body [of a person] becomes heated up, and fumes are emitted from the nose. Similarly, [referring to God,] the verse says,“Smoke rose up in His nose” (II Sam. 22:9). Now, although this is inappropriate for the Omnipresent [since He has no physical form; nevertheless], Scripture describes [this concept] to the human ear in the manner to which it is accustomed and able to understand, according to the [natural] ways of the world. [Thus, the verse here is figuratively denoting God’s fuming anger.] and His zeal: Heb. וְקִנְאָתוֹ [This is] a term denoting [burning] fury, enprenemant [in Old French, zealous anger], firmly keeping hold of the trait of vengeance, without giving in whatsoever.

… 28 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God; but the things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

I skipped some more warnings and jumped down to this Pasuk to note that the certain Kabbalistic things and the reward for Shabbos, Kashrus and Taharos HaMishpacha belong to HASHEM but laws and requirements are known to us.

The hidden things belong to the Lord, our God: Now, you might object [to God, saying]: “But what can we do? You punish the entire community because of the sinful thoughts of an individual, as Scripture says, ‘Perhaps there is among you a man…’ (verse 17 above), and after this, Scripture continues, ‘Seeing the plagues of that land [and the diseases with which the Lord struck it]’ (verse 21) [which seems to indicate that for the sinful thought of even one individual, the whole land would be struck down with plagues and diseases]. But surely no man can know the secret thoughts of his fellow [that we could somehow prevent this collective punishment!” In answer to this, God says:] “I will not punish you for the hidden things!” [I.e.,] because “[The hidden things] belong to the Lord, our God,” and He will exact punishment upon that particular individual [who sins in secret]. However, “the revealed things apply to us and to our children” [that is, we are responsible for detecting the sins committed openly in our community, and] to eradicate any evil among us. And if we do not execute judgment upon these [open transgressions, over which we do have control,], then the whole community will be punished [because they would be remiss in their responsibility]. There is a dot placed over [each letter of] the words לָנוּ וּלְבָנֵינוּ here, to teach us homiletically that even for open sins [which were not brought to judgment, God] did not punish the whole community-until Israel crossed the Jordan. For then, they accepted upon themselves the oath at Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, and thereby [formally] became responsible for one another (Sanh. 43b). [When dots are placed over letters of the Torah, this denotes an exclusion of some sort. In our context, our Rabbis teach us that the exclusion refers to the period prior to the crossing of the Jordan.]

30:1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt bethink thyself among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, 2 and shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and hearken to His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul;

How should we serve HASHEM? With all our hearts and soul!

3 that then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the peoples, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.

The Lord, your God, will bring back your exiles: Heb. וְשָׁב, lit., The Lord, your God, will (Himself) return (with) your exiles. [That is, the verb שָׁב is in the simple conjugation. Now, since we understand the verse to mean: “The Lord your God will bring back your exiles,”] Scripture should have written, וְהֵשִׁיב ה׳ אֶת שְׁבוּתְךָ [with the verb וְהֵשִׁיב being in the causative conjugation, meaning “to bring back”]. But [although the meaning of the verse is indeed, “The Lord, your God, will bring back your exiles,”] our Rabbis learned from [the simple conjugation of the verb] here [which alludes to God Himself returning], that the Shechinah resides among Israel, as it were, in all the misery of their exile, and when the Jews are redeemed [from their exile], God writes [in Scripture an expression of] redemption for Himself [to allude to the fact that He has also been redeemed, as it were,] so that He Himself returns along with Israel’s exiles (Meg. 29a). A further [lesson] may be learned [from the unusual form of the verb which expresses “to bring back the exiles”]: The day on which Israel’s exiles will be gathered is so monumental and [this ingathering] will be such a difficult [procedure, as it were], that it is as though God Himself must literally take each individual Jew with His very hands, [taking him] out of his place [in exile. We see] the same concept [brought up in Scripture,] when the verse says, “And you will be gathered up, one by one, O children of Israel” (Isa. 27:12). [That verse refers to the ingathering of Israel’s exiles from Babylon. However,] we find this [idea] also regarding the [ingathering of] exiles from the other nations, as the verse says, “And I shall bring back the exiles of Moab (וְשַׁבְתִּי שְׁבוּת מוֹאָב)” (Jer. 48:47).

4 If any of you that are dispersed be in the uttermost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will He fetch thee.

Uttermost parts of heaven, we have seen in our days the gathering of the exiles from areas and places that were not known at the time of the writing of the Chumash. Jews coming from New Zeeland, Argentina, deep in Africa, Norway, etc.

 5 And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and He will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.

… 11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not too hard for thee, neither is it far off.

is not concealed from you: לֹא-נִפְלֵאת. It is not concealed from you, just as it is said: כִּי יִפָּלֵא (Deut. 17:8), [which the Targum renders as:] אֲרִי יִתְכְּסֵי [lit.,“(If the matter) is concealed”]; similarly, the verse, וַתֵּרֶד פְּלָאִים (Lam. 1:9), [which means,] “she went down into concealment,” [i.e.,] she was covered and considered [as if] hidden.

12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say: 'Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it?'

It is not in heaven: for if it were in heaven, you would have to climb up after it [in order] to learn it. - [Eruvin 55a]

The Torah has been revealed there is nothing new to add or to change it is with us here on earth for us to observe.

13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou should say: 'Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it?'

The Torah will not be revealed as hidden elsewhere that one would have to go on a treasure or Torah hunt to the Eskimos or Antarctica but rather:

14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou may do it. 

Rather, [this] thing is very close to you: The Torah was given to you in writing and [accompanied by an] oral [explanation].

15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil,

life and good: Each one [life or death,] is dependent upon the other: If you do good, you will be granted life, while if you do evil, you will receive death. The verse now proceeds to explain how this is so [as follows]:

How appropriate it is to read this right before Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur if this is the Parsha of Shabbos Teshuva.

16 in that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances; then thou shalt live and multiply, and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest in to possess it.

Inasmuch as I am commanding you this day to love [the Lord your God]: This is “good” [referred to in the verse 15]; and upon this, is dependent: so that you will live and increase: This is “life” [referred to in the verse 15. After this, the verse continues]:

17 But if thy heart turn away, and thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; 18 I declare unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish; ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou pass over the Jordan to go in to possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore choose life, that thou may live, thou and thy seed; 20 to love the LORD thy God, to hearken to His voice, and to cleave unto Him; for that is thy life, and the length of thy days; that thou may dwell in the land which the LORD swore unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

This is the warning – observe the Torah and Mitzvos = life but rebel against the Mitzvos and it equals death. So remember where you are from and what is your real goal in this world.

31:1 And Moses went and spoke these words unto all Israel. 2 And he said unto them: 'I am a hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in; and the LORD hath said unto me: Thou shalt not go over this Jordan. 3 The LORD thy God, He will go over before thee; He will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt dispossess them; and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath spoken. …14 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Behold, thy days approach that thou must die; call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may give him a charge.' And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tent of meeting. 15 And the LORD appeared in the Tent in a pillar of cloud; and the pillar of cloud stood over the door of the Tent. …28 Assemble unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to witness against them. 29 For I know that after my death ye will in any wise deal corruptly, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the end of days; because ye will do that which is evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him through the work of your hands.' 30 And Moses spoke in the ears of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song, until they were finished.  (Next week’s Parsha Hazinu)

Erev Tavshilin is needed this year. Rosh Hashanah for Eretz Yisrael and outside of the land two brothers parachute gliding in a very dangerous area. When Yom Tov begins on Wednesday night, the Eruv Tavshilin ceremony is performed on Wednesday and when Yom Tov begins on Thursday night, it is performed on Thursday, in each case by the head of the household. The bread and the cooked food is lifted in one’s right hand and the blessing “Al Mitzvat Eruv” is recited. The following text should be read: “With this Eruv, let it be permitted for us to bake, cook, insulate, light the Shabbat candles, prepare for and perform all our Shabbat needs on Yom Tov.” Even those who eat out on Shabbat, and therefore have no need to cook on Yom Tov for Shabbat, are required to perform the Eruv Tavshilin ceremony without a Beracha to enable them to light the Shabbat candles on Yom Tov for Shabbat. The Eruv ceremony should be performed before lighting the Shabbat candles. When the first day of Yom Tov is Thursday, the Eruv permits cooking on Friday for Shabbat but not on Thursday for Shabbat. The Challah used for the Eruv, should be used as the second loaf [“Lechem Mishnah”] for Shabbat meals and should be eaten at the third Shabbat meal. OUTSIDE OF ERETZ YISRAEL ALSO FOR SUKKOS AND SHEMINI ATZERES/SIMCHA TORAH.

From Chaim B regarding the High Holidays and Sukkos: Dear G-d,

In the past month I blew a ram's horn, ate a fish head, swung a chicken around my head, dressed in a suit and sneakers, then wore a white robe, prayed and fasted for 25 hours, built and ate in a tent with a bamboo ceiling (sometimes in the rain), spent 3 consecutive days with my in laws and three more with my parents, walked around with a palm branch and a citrus fruit, whipped willow branches on the floor, ate roughly 8 lbs. of meat, used 6 vacation days without leaving my neighborhood and spent almost as much time in Schul as I did in my office.  …. May we all repeat this process for many years to come.

My Rabbis have told me that sometimes before getting the most serious about Elul and Judgement let us relax and laugh to put people in the mood. On the lighter side of being Jewish:  

                Two astronauts land on Mars. Their mission: to check whether there is oxygen on the planet.

                "Give me the box of matches,” says one. "Either it burns and there is oxygen, or nothing happens."

                He takes the box, and is ready to strike a match when, out of the blue, a little green Martian appears waving all six of his arms and yelling..."No, no, don't!"

                The two guys look at each other, worried. Could there be an unknown explosive gas on Mars?

                Still, he takes another match...and… A crowd of hysterical green Martians is coming to them, all waving their arms: "No, no, don't do that!"

                One of the astronauts says, "This looks serious. What are they afraid of? Nonetheless we're here for Science, to know if man can breathe on Mars."

                So he strikes a match--which flames up, burns down, and NOTHING HAPPENS!!

                So he turns to the Martians and asks, "Why did you want to prevent us from striking a match?

                The leader of the Martians says, "It's Shabbos' (The Jewish Sabbath). 

Chaim B. explained to me a new interpretation of the Torah: For those who haven't heard, Washington State just passed both laws - gay marriage and legalized marijuana.
The fact that gay marriage and marijuana were legalized on the same day makes perfect biblical sense because Leviticus 20:13 says "If a man lies with another man they should be stoned." We just hadn't interpreted it correctly before!

On a serious note: Nannette asked: It was taught: Four are considered to be like dead people: A poor man, a leper, a blind person, and one who is childless. A poor man, as it says, “For all the men [who wanted to kill you] are dead” (Shemos 4:19). (Nedarim 64b).............COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS MORE FOR ME, Rabbi?

I think one on his own can figure out some of the answers by oneself. On one hand the Pshat told to Moshe after 40 years is that these people died out. Yet Dathan and Aviram were physically alive but poor slaves. A poor man is considered dead because they are in a spot of no hope. In Israel they could be minus in the bank in the old coal mines the song “I owe my soul to the company store”. I have heard a disabled woman cry to me that she barely had money for the Shabbos meal because she is disabled she needs a car and because she has a car she is ineligible for welfare. That to me is likened to a dead person for a dead person cannot move one way or the other and the Status does not get better over time. The leper is completely cast out of society and cannot enter the congregation.  A modern blind person who has braille is not as dead as the one in ancient times as with the braille the person can become part of society and contribute and in a number of cases become happily married. However, the blind person without braille and back-up by society is like a dead person. One who is childless has no future to leave his or her legacy to. Even an adopted child can revive this dead person and that is why the order given by Chachamim is so.

In 29:17 above I explained the various levels of the bad parts of the neither world. You may ask why not explain the good parts of the world to come. My answer is simple if one thinks he might be in for the bad parts of the next world, he will put in an effort to repent. He will be more precise on family purity, Shabbos, Yom Tov and Kashrus. However, if he is only thinking of the good things nobody can guarantee him anything. Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai said “Do not trust yourself to the day of your death.” There is a statement in the Gemara. “Ayn Apitropus Le Arayos!” (There is no guarantor for immodesty). I am no youngster but I would not like to be in a situation of temptation for suddenly I feel young and chipper not older and slow because I ended up being in a situation where I should never have let myself get involved in the following true story will indicate this point. Rabbi Arieh Rothman Shlita told once of an elderly Rabbi where a bent over elderly woman came to him on her cane and asked for a Bracha for her illness. The story was in Yiddish and the wind blew the door shut to his study and two were locked inside together with nobody to open it. He jumped over the separation ledge outside and went to another room where he could open up the door from and place a weight in the door. The old lady looked at him and asked. “You are old and I am sick what possibly could happen?” The Rabbi replied “For the Yetzer, I am young and you are well.” That is what we have to watch out for.

Sometimes we are so deep in the Yetzer that we don’t realize it. One summer I was mostly in either Kiriat Sefer, sometimes the Supermarket in Modiin or praying in  Chashmonayim with modest women. Erev Rosh Hashanah I went to the local gasoline station to fill up, get a free newspaper, calendar and a small sample of honey. There was a woman there in short-shorts with her stomach exposed and very-very low cut top. All of a sudden, my sleeping Yetzer awoke like a lion ready to pounce on me. That is why there is no Apitropus and one cannot trust himself to the day of his death. She drove off and I drove off and we never met again but for one fraction of a moment the Yetzer awoke. Now what would happen if such a woman had been a colleague at work instead a modest woman or the nurse doing my blood test there it would be harder to hide from my Yetzer.

Some of us are so steeped in the Yetzer we don’t realize it. I have watched the current Prime Minister of Israel when he is talking to the Likud Party he acts like he is on the right but when he reads the public opinion polls or is pressured by the USA he turns very far left. He is a victim of the public opinion polls which if one ever read Julius Caesar how the crowd was prior to Mark Anthony’s speech and what happened after he talked and the public opinion was reversed. Shakespeare had it down pat and to a science. Brutus did not have charisma but Anthony did. Now let us look into Taharos HaMishpacha it is hard in fact sometimes in my youth close to impossible. My younger Rosh Yeshiva who must have been in his early 40’s used to go and sleep in the livingroom on the couch during the forbidden time so as not to be tempted. My wife and I asked the Rebbitzen about the power of the Yetzer.

Moving over to Kashrus during my recent trip to a European Country with great pastries and other food don’t think that I did not have a Yetzer to do like the majority of my group and enjoy themselves. We were only about 26 people who were Shomer Shabbos and a few more Shomer Kashrus. However, there were plenty of liberal ideas like eating cooked fish on china plates that was cooked in the same oven as pork that day. Some people ate a hardboiled egg but anybody who read the Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah knows that it becomes Trafe comes in via osmosis through the shell. It is hard enough suffering when traveling around the States and watching the non-Jews enjoy breakfast in restaurant A, lunch in restaurant B and dinner in restaurant C while my family and I are eating out of cans, vegetables and fruits and whatever bread had an OU or OK on it. I am happy is a person can keep Kosher back in the 1960’s there was very Glatt Kosher sold which went to certain Tzaddikim but then by 1970 or so everybody wanted to be a bigger Machmir or Tzaddik than the next. I think my CREATOR L-RD G-D RULER KING OF THE UNIVERSE is happy when a simple Jew does his best to observe Kashrus. Glatt Kosher is only to impress one’s neighbor unless he is on the level of a Chofetz Chaim or Elchonon Wasserman.

Now I turn to Shabbos and Yom Tov. In Israel with an Eruv around the city, it is easy to carry in and out and Shabbos Times are announced on the Radio, Newspapers and in most normal places the merchants too want a day of rest and close their shops. I know a fellow whom I treat like a son. He spends hours producing pro-Yisrael and pro-Zahal clips. Only recently, I convinced him that if he wants to convert that he has to learn Torah, Halacha and Hebrew on a regular basis. Another person that I know is willing to risk his life for Am Yisrael but feels that contra-Propaganda and explaining the situation in Israel outweighs being out of touch with the world on Shabbos. On one hand the work is for the sake of heaven and on the other hand the person is violating the holiest day of the year falling under the Yetzer and delaying the redemption of Am Yisrael. Shabbos and Yom Tov have so many Mitzvos and close to a third of the Shulchan Aruch Ohr HaChaim dedicated to them. It is the RAMBAM who comes and tells us that think of Am Yisrael 50% sinners and 50% righteous. If one more person sins the judgement on Rosh Hashanah is turned against us and if one person does one Mitzvah the scales tip the direction of life for Am Yisrael. Therefore, always a person should view himself has half sinner and half righteous and tip the scale in his own favor through another Mitzvah. It is more than the 39 Categories of Work on Shabbos and Yom Tov it is part of life blood of the nation that kept us alive after the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romans of ancient times are all gone and the Egyptians, Iraqis, Greeks and Romans of today may have nothing to do with the ancient people who lived there.

Give Credit where Credit’s not due by Yerachmiel Tilles http://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=822-51

There was a wealthy man in the town of Kovno named Shraga-Feivel Frank. A prominent businessman from Aleksot once approached him for a substantial loan, naming a date by which he expected to repay it. R' Shraga Feivel cheerfully lent him the money.
After some time passed, the loan was due, but the man did not come to repay it; R' Shraga Feivel said nothing about it, as was his wont in such cases. However, at one point he himself needed a certain sum of money, and his wife Golda recalled that this businessman owed them a large debt. She approached him and requested that he repay the loan, which she was certain he was then able to do, telling him that they needed the money.
The man refused her request, answering with such impertinence that the insulted woman returned home very upset. With much effort her husband calmed her down, but the incident was far from over.
Sometime later the businessman appeared at the Frank home, but not with the money he owed. Instead, he told R' Shraga Feivel that he wished to borrow more money, which he promised to pay back together with the first sum by a certain date. Taken aback by this brazen request, R' Shraga Feivel told the man he would have to consider the matter before replying, and would inform him later of his decision.
When, Mrs. Frank heard of the man's temerity, she asked her husband incredulously, "How can you even consider such a thing after he was so unreliable the first time, and behaved with such ingratitude and impudence! I am sure you'll never see this money either."
"My dear wife," replied R' Shraga Feivel, "are we then any better than this man? Every year on Rosh Hashanah we ask G-d to forgive our sins and accept our prayers. We always say earnestly, 'G-d, this year we'll be good!' But we backslide and sin again the next year. Then how can we come to ask Him once again to forgive us? What happened this past year - didn't we come to Him last year with the same request and the same promise?
"But now I can really say it! This Jew borrowed money and also promised to pay it back, but instead of repaying me he asked to borrow more - and I will give it to him! I will now have some merit in the eyes of G-d, that He should do the same for me, measure for measure, just as I have done for this man."
In the face of such logic, Golda could only bow her head in agreement to extend the loan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from "Gut Voch" (Mesorah) by Avrohom Barash. Connection: Seasonal - Rosh Hashana is fast approaching!

Parents have patience for children but not children for parents: From Chaim O. Don't miss the clip at the end.


In a home on one of the benches were a father and his son who came to visit him. So sit back, without speaking. He read in the newspaper. Suddenly sprang into the bird. The sight of her input and asked:
What's that? '
For a moment his son removed from the newspaper and said:
"This is a Sparrow" – and returned to see the newspaper.
The bird kept running over to the front path, collected crumbs and the father follows her sight.
"What's this?" he asked again.
"I already told you that's a Sparrow!"
He replied impatiently. The bird kept running over to a tree branch. The father followed her and saw her for the first time –
"What's this?" he asked.
"A Sparrow-Navy, sparrow!" replied the son impatiently.
They exchanged glances between them, without words, and once again:
"What's that? '
He burst out: "why are you doing this? I already told you so many times. This is a Sparrow! Don't you get it? "
The father, without saying a word slowly got up and began to walk. "Where are you going?" he cried. Hand relief, reassured his son and walked slowly to the nearby nursing home in brooding son remains on the bench.
A few minutes later the father returned and sat back on the bench next to us. In his hand was a member. He opened it and found a leaflet to the page requested. Put the hand of us – call it "marks", adding "out loud!"
The son began to read:
"Today I was sitting with my youngest son, who just turned three days ago, when a Sparrow stood in front of us. My son asked me 21 times. And I answered all 21 times it was a Sparrow. I hugged him at a time when asked the same question, and not get angry, a feeling of affection and warmth to the innocent little boy. "
He closed the notebook, hugged and kiss his father lovingly embraced as they sat on the bench in an hour.

-------------- To the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNK6h1dfy2o&feature=youtu.be&t=1m9s

B'H

    " Fear Not For I Am With Thee " ROSH HASHANAH RESOLUTIONS 5774

Although the outside world these days seem filled with chaos and dark forces, it is better to view and focus on a more benevolent, peace-loving, compassionate world regardless of these outside influences. Do not discard your dreams of hope and courage amidst this chaos and confusion you are facing. Create the template for perseverance through strength and discernment.

All of us are surrounded by the lens through which to choose to view the world. If we choose to see through the lens of goodness, then goodness is the path upon which you will be led toward the destiny you are meant to fulfill. If we choose to see through the lens of challenges and negativity, then negativity will be the path through which you are led. Challenges and supports will fall on the trail of your life through the doorways or peepholes of your own perceptions.

These turbulent times are meant and sent as lessons to us all. We must recognize that all though humanity thinks that it is in control of everything, humanity is not. We cannot see this truth because our own limitations and egos are in the way. G-d is in control of everything. What we control is our determination to do either good or to do either evil in the Almighty's eyes. Throughout history we were been confronted with many chaotic times, chaotic times which caused darkness to descend upon the earth.  Whatever one may name this chaos, it is our own negativity that eventually causes us the greatest stress. Stress will take you from this world and detour you from your true calling.

In short, follow the path of positive thinking no matter how dark and empty the world seems to you at this time. Negativity will shut up the wellsprings to spiritual and material bounty. Have faith that G-d knows what is good for you and will bring you through this time of uncertainty. He will not let you fall or faultier. He has you on His shoulders at all times. Positive thinking is a form of faith and trust in G-d. Faith and trust are the lights which will dispel much of the darkness in your lives. G-d is always with you and your faith and trust in Him will always open the gates of love, compassion, and bounty.

Yaffa

"L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem"
("you should be written and inscribed for a good new year

The last of the Ethiopian Jews or former Christians make Aliyah. According to some this group was just a Christian Group looking for a better life but they voluntary converted to live in Israel and speak Hebrew and observe Torah now. Still there are reported some unresolved individual cases but no more camps.

Two brothers who fell in Combat memorialized by the OU with gifts to living soldiers for Rosh Hashanah: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/171430#.UiAAq1ffrIU

Israel is not exempt from ID thefts: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4422541,00.html

Finally 45 years later the death of the first Jew in space can be revealed http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1112876626/yuri-gagarin-death-revealed-45-years-later-061813/

By the Reform you don’t have to be Jewish to be a “Rabbi” http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/its-official-you-can-be-a-goy-rabbi/2013/08/14/

Charedim get a chance to prepare better for the army: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/171336#.Uh45vFffrIU

B”H a bit of a medical miracle, the heat stroke soldier is breathing on his own and able to talk again: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4422735,00.html

Remember the old Cowboy and Indian Movies where the hated “Injuns” were always the bad guys defending their real ancestral lands not Arabs that migrated along with Jews into Israel to get jobs and blame the Jews. Well the truth is out:

WE SALUTE YOU HERO!!!

Roy Hawthorne, Navajo Code Talker. USMC. (He appears to be in his 90's.)

He walked the 2 mile parade route. Two Navajo Marines are helping him with the last 1/2 mile.

And he is "in step" too.
http://www.teamm14.com/showthread.php?14121-Navajo-Code-Talker&p=88814#post88814
On the Pacific front during World War II, strange messages were picked up by American and Japanese forces on land and at sea. The messages were totally unintelligible to everyone except a small select group within the Marine Corps: the Navajo code talkers-a group of Navajos communicating in a code based on the Navajo language. This code, the first unbreakable one in U.S. history, was a key reason that the Allies were able to win in the Pacific.

At Roy Hawthorne's school, there was one sure way to get in trouble. Hawthorne lived on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico in the 1930s and attended a school run by the US government. Students at the school were strictly forbidden to speak their native Navajo language. If they spoke anythong other than English, they would likely have their mouths washed out with soap. But Hawthorne never stopped speaking Navajo. At home and at play, he still used the language that had been passed down from one generation to the next. Years later, his knowledge of that language paid off for him and for his entire country. Hawthorne became a "code talker," one of a group of about four hundred Navajos who served in the US Marine Corps during World War II. Their job was to send and receive secret coded messages.

The coder talkers invented a code based on their native language that was never broken by the enemy. The same language that once got Navajo children like Roy Hawthorne in trouble saved thousands of lives during the war.

Stop the senseless slaughter of animals: http://www.yourjewishnews.com/2013/08/n28863.html

As you know I do not perform Conversions but I do guide people: Regarding Conversion the following questions are usually asked by the Rabbis.

1) Why do you want to convert?

2) Why not become a ben or bas Noach?

3) Do you realize that all the Nations of the Planet hate Israel and you will be subject to anti-Semitism?

They may ask more of a couple together and separately to see if both are on board with the idea of conversion.

They may expect questions from you as to what books and requirements does the Beis Din want. For certainly the Chicago Beis Din is not the Miami Beis Din and the London Beis Din is not the Paris Beis Din etc.

I wanted to touch on a few points that I have come across with converts during the past 40 plus years. The first one I came across was at Chanucha. If one reads the "Code of Jewish Law" it appears that one who converts has to say 'G-D of their fathers'. I went to Rabbi Zvi Drapkin Shlita and he told me that rather since all Gerim are children of Avraham and Sarah one can say Avinu and "has made miracles for our fathers" in this season.

Another problem that occurred was with two Jewish Friends of mine one from the age of 3 whose father helped me get a job at the age of 16 and one from my Yeshiva. They both had non-Jewish fathers who were happily married to their mothers until death did they part. On one hand they had a biological connection and a strong connection with the person who bred, educated and raised them and on the other hand Halachically they had a big problem with mourning. In the case of my own second cousin, a father who aided the French Partisans and was buried somehow on the side of a Jewish Cemetery for his help. A Ger or Giyores is bound at some point to come along with this problem. On one hand no official mourning on the other hand broken hearted. They were people created in the image of G-D!

Inyanay Diyoma

Updated this first section Thursday morning: I don't expect the USA to attack Syria before Shabbos as they are a cumbersome bureaucracy and afraid to go it alone without the British. In fact they may not attack before Sukkos they have asked Israel to refrain from a small Syrian hit on us and supposedly Bibi agreed - Quoting Kuwaiti sources on Kol Yisrael. We have an indecisive character who is not a leader in the USA and a weak PM here who is afraid of his shadow opposite the Americans and Chutzpa in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and Iran. Shabbos is the Hebrew Anniversary of 9/11 but Sukkos is more the time of Gog and Magog. However, in parenting 101 we are taught to punish a naughty child immediately and not wait for the other parent to come home. The Syrians are stocking up on food for a long war and the Israelis who did not go to get their gas masks are in panic. It is time to blame both the Minister of Finance past and present and Defense Minister especially past but also present on not providing funding and not ordering enough gas masks. There essentially are no gas masks for people with beards but one with a close cut like Deri and a French Beard can remain bearded. Right now I am not about to shave anything. The last time I did so was in the Gulf War and I kept my goatee and moustache. Yesterday Iran and Syria were sprouting a lot of rant about destroying Yisrael see: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4423951,00.html but today they both are suddenly silent. It seems that Israel gave them a clear message that we want to see Assad continue but if he is foolish enough to attack us that we will kill him and his general brother and finish off the family. So today is the sound of silence (Thursday).

Israel police and emergency services prepare for missile attack DEBKAfile August 29, 2013, 12:28 PM (GMT+02:00) Police chiefs and heads of Israel’s emergency services met Thursday to coordinate their operations for the contingency of missile attacks on Israel from Syria, Lebanon or the Gaza Strip, in reprisal for a US strike against Syria. If the following two stories are true then Obama is a complete fool Obama Allows only 15 US Tomahawks against Syria He has approved a low-key US strike on Syria to avoid breaking the back of Assad’s army and regime. US Strike to Leave Assad’s Chemical Arsenal Intact Syria’s air force, missiles, airfield and regime will also be left unscathed.

The Assad Family is becoming desperate: http://debka.com/article/23218/The-sarin-shells-fired-on-Damascus---by-Syrian-4th-Division’s-155th-Brigade---were-followed-by-rockets-on-Israel-and-car-bombings-in-Lebanon-

US beefs up 6^th Fleet because of the Syrian use of Sarin: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/171234#.UhkND1ffrIU

The guy is no spy for spies are not that stupid: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4421608,00.html

From Col Who knows who used the weapons http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/24/us-syria-crisis-idUSBRE97K0EL20130824?feedType=RSS

Syria is a big mess: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4421637,00.html

IDF is on higher alert status: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/171247#.Uhmj0VffrIU

Refreshing the water in my shelter last time I did that was before Pessach: http://debka.com/article/23220/Western-Mid-East-military-action-prepared-for-Syria-Israel-Jordan-Turkey-face-up-to-Syrian-counter-attack-Russia-on-war-alert

Somebody let the cat out of the bag and it stinks http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/171261#.UhoqHFffrIU

US finally declares that Syria used Chemical Weapons: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4422053,00.html

Israel confirms http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/171268#.UhpNRlffrIU

Jihad vs. Jihad: http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Syrias-Nusra-threatens-to-target-Alawites-over-alleged-chemical-attack-324190

What me weapons - just an “innocent” car! http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/171275#.Uhrt9lffrIU

Thanks to Jennifer: Sign of our times in America: http://www.foxnews.com/story/2008/02/03/deadbeat-dad-runs-for-office-in-chicago/

West poised to strike Syria this week: http://debka.com/article/23222/UN-experts-to-hunt-for-chemical-shell-shrapnel---as-West-poised-to-strike-Syria-this-week

Revolving door policy: We released one of the purely innocent terrorist with the Shalit deal only to be shot for merely throwing Molotov Cocktails and rocks at the vicious Israelis who were going to rearrest a righteous murderer who was released recently in the good will release. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4422259,00.html and http://calevbenyefuneh.blogspot.co.il/2013/08/a-no-go-zone-where-terrorists-should-be.html

From Reuven my words Manchurian Candidate: This is Russian TV not right wingers in the USA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=E-tl6rCTKss#t=21

From Shona: Americans who is on Skype with your children? http://www.maggiesnotebook.com/2013/08/common-core-the-qatar-connection-a-wahhabi-state-skypes-with-your-children/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

All is well at the well: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/171307#.UhuTKVffrIU

How the west will attack Assad: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4422534,00.html

Regarding this article if Syria attacks us it may be the physical end of the Assad Family and I think he knows it quite well: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/171322#.UhxRkFffrIU specifically this article http://www.jpost.com/Syria-Crisis/Attacking-Israel-would-be-self-destructive-act-for-Assad-324370

As I wrote, the films I saw of the adults attacked seemed to have been gassed and one or two children but a woman named Diane S. wrote that the children laid out looked too clean and peaceful not of children covered in vomit etc. from a chemical attack to make one think that the amount of children was staged. http://debka.com/article/23224/Mid-East-including-Israel-on-high-alert-after-Obama’s-failed-last-ditch-bid-for-Syria-deal-with-Iran

If Syria attacks us it will be perhaps the end of Assad: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/171344#.Uhz2d1ffrIU

Normally complacent Israelis panic part of home guard called up in a limited reserve call-up a few other units also called up: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/171371

Also http://www.jewsnews.co.il/2013/08/28/breaking-report-turkey-puts-its-military-on-high-alert/  Related but on the Israeli Side http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4423348,00.html

This is the reason for Obama’s response http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/08/28/intercepted-call-reportedly-clinched-us-claim-on-syria-chemical-weapons-strike/

A person who cannot make a decision is not a leader for right or wrong a leader makes decisions. http://debka.com/article/23230/Obama-says-no-decision-yet-on-strike-on-Syria-DEBKA-He-stalls-for-deal-with-Putin-on-softened-strike

The Haifa Distribution Center runs out of Gas Masks after this article was written: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4423716,00.html

New order in Egypt for present it appears good but in the future who knows: http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Analysis-Brotherhood-out-old-order-returns-to-shape-Egypts-future-324689

From Valerie: Anyone noticed that the boycotting brigade seems to be quiet, or maybe I haven't come across them. The "Stop Israel having Weapons" good folks seem to have taken a holiday also. And no one is launching flotillas... Reports are that the King of Jordan and his lady wife and children have taken time out and gone to the Vatican... why would he go at such a time when his people might need him....? I think that he is signaling to Assad that he is not taking part in the attack and he is also keeping him and his family safe in case of a Syrian attack.

Obama’s delay has given Syria a chance to spread out their weapons such that new and smaller targets have to be found instead of the more concentrated targets. The USA is an overweight giant too bulky. A 5^th Destroyer has entered the area. There appears to be a delay until after the G-20 to negotiate with Russia an agreement. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/171437#.UiABd1ffrIU  and on the moving of Scuds: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4424076,00.html

Israel warns Syria and tells citizens to continue with life as usual the hotels and guest houses in the north have not received cancellation notices and are close to full. http://www.jpost.com/Defense/IDF-chief-Gantz-Anyone-who-fires-on-Israel-will-pay-stinging-price-324724

From Michelle: Many of the wild fires in Israel come from Arab Terrorist now it is California’s turn with Al Qaeda: http://dcclothesline.com/2013/08/29/wildfires-started-by-al-qaeda-as-economic-warfare-against-america/

Emanuel A. Winston is no longer with us but if he was a alive how would he react regarding the negotiations with the PLO on giving away Eretz Yisrael?

Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria published by Gail Winston http://winstonisraelinsight.com/jerusalem/jerusalem-judea-and-samaria/?utm_source=wysija&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklydigest

Published in ISRAEL TODAY

The battle lines are drawn for Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, without which, the security of Israel is at extreme risk.  Israel cannot defend Jerusalem if she decides to surrender Judea and Samaria as a territorial sacrifice for the ‘sake of peace’.  The Arab/Muslim world, supported by the Soviets, Muslim (non-Arab) countries, non-aligned nations, Europe, Japan and Africa (for the sake of oil), and the Vatican will continue to press Israel to give up sovereignty of Jerusalem, if Judea and Samaria follow the precedent of Sinai.

We will not permit the loss of Jerusalem, or Judea and Samaria, as that loss is implied by the linkage interpretation of the Camp David Agreements, and the Reagan Plan [plus every other ‘Plan’ that has since followed].  Giving up under U.S. pressure would not only make Israel’s defense impossible, it would also break the morale of Israel’s population.  Then Israel’s fate could well become that of the Lebanese Christians.  The Arabs will not mind, but American Jews should.
Many frontier Zionist pioneers in Judea and Samaria left their comfortable homes in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, New York, Chicago and other countries to create pioneering facts intended to keep a Jewish presence in the Land of our Heritage.  If there is to be true peace, there is no reason for this part of our Land to be “Judenrein”.  If there is no true peace, then it would be national suicide for our children [and our children’s children] to be obliged to defend Israel along truncated borders.
Israel is continually urged by the world to freeze these pioneer outposts…to make room for a Palestinian, radical, irredentists ‘homeland’. This ‘homeland’ intends to make East or ‘Arab’ Jerusalem its capital.  The United Nations considers 60% of Jerusalem to be part of the West Bank.
What is East or ‘Arab’ Jerusalem?  All the Land Jordan occupied [illegally] in 1948?  Including the Jewish Quarter where every single Jewish synagogue was destroyed by the Jordanians?  Our ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives?  Mt. Scopus where Hadassah Hospital and Hebrew University were cut off after the massacre by the Muslim of 77 Jewish doctors and nurses?  The Western Wall of the Jewish Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism, where access was denied to Jews from 1948 to 1967, contrary to international agreements and guarantees [and is still challenged today]?
Does the United States recognize Arab/Muslim sovereignty over the parts of Jerusalem which Jordan captured during the 1948 War?  Only Pakistan and Britain recognized Jordanian sovereignty over any part of Western Palestine.  No other nations, including the United States, ever did.
The Bible is filled with prophecies of the Jews’ return to Jerusalem.  In the 2,700 years since the two destructions and dispersals, Jews have prayed daily for their return to Jerusalem.  Zionism is Zion.  Zion is Jerusalem.  Jerusalem is Israel.  We have peace in Jerusalem now that the Eternal Golden City is united.  All faiths now worship in freedom.  All holy places are protected.  Jerusalem has been the physical and spiritual capital of the Jewish people for more than 4,000 years.  There has always been a strong Jewish presence, except when forcibly kept out, and a continuous Jewish presence since 1267.  Jews have been the majority of the population in Jerusalem since 1850.
American Jews voted for Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan on faith, in part, because they both promised to uphold the Democratic and Republican Parties’ platforms by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital, and moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.  Now, to our dismay, President Reagan, in his September 1982 “Peace Plan” which he keeps reiterating, has promoted a policy of pressuring Israel into surrendering vital territory to appease the Arab/Muslims.  At the same time, enemies of Israel are being shipped the most advanced American weaponry that even American NATO allies have not yet received.  Again, we are being deceived and Israel’s survival is at risk.  [Nothing has changed since 1984, except if may have gotten worse!]
The pressure of successive American administrations on Israel is, to no small extent, our own fault.  American Jews have permitted our Presidents to endanger Israel’s security.  They may have argued:  “You don’t have to agree with our reasoning; you are free to cause another war by not doing so; you will ultimately be responsible for killing your own young men, but don’t depend upon future American support, air or arms.”  We may not know what really occurs in talks between the U.S. and Israel.   However, the attitudes of our American governments are our responsibility, insofar as they are formed upon the dominant public opinion as molded by and in the Media.
We have empowered our Government to develop such manipulative techniques as attested to in the memoirs of the Camp David negotiations.  By our silence and passivity, we encouraged Carter’s pursuit of pro-Arab/Muslim State Department policies.  [To this day!]  Our failure to act has been compounded by the divisions in our local Jewish communities and our lack of political foresight and understanding.   Israel shouldn’t have been put in a position where she is forced to mortgage her economic future by relinquishing territory, oil and strategic defenses for a cold peace.  Similarly, when then Sec. of Defense Caspar Weinberger instituted confrontational policies and undermined Israeli actions in Lebanon, we should have raised louder voices.
Leadership in the Jewish community has been developed to meet the urgent needs of fundraising to provide essential community services.  These leaders may, or may not, be the best leaders for political action, especially if they are cautious to avoid conflict with American administrations who institute their policies against the best interests of Israel and the survival of the Jewish people.
However, since the perception of the community as a whole, is that the job is being done, it is difficult or impossible for new leaders, with political or public relations experience to play a meaningful role.  The job of political public relations (Hasbara) for Israel is not being adequately pursued by Jewish leadership in America.  Israel does not have the necessary budget to engage in such a vital undertaking.  Israel is now [in 1984 and still today] asking the Diaspora communities to assume direct responsibility for Hasbara but, we have not yet begun to tackle this job.
The American Media make mayhem of misunderstanding.  In the midst of Israel’s tremendous sacrifice of the Sinai Desert for peace, the Media (perhaps briefed judiciously by the U.S. State Department) immediately began an attack, which has not [to today] lessened, upon Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem by the techniques of linkage plus a false interpretation of the Camp David Accords.
It should be painfully clear to all Jews in the Diaspora, that the job of Hasbara is ours and ours alone.  We may never match the millions of petrodollars poured into Arab/Muslim propaganda but, nothing can match the zeal of turned-on Jews, ready to defend the survival of Israel.
Judea and Samaria are Israel’s key to survival.  Jerusalem is our soul; Israel is our heart and upon Israel’s survival depends our own.
GAIL WINSTON, Director of M.E.I.R., Mid East Information Resource

Now for M. Wolfberg’s Good Shabbos Story “Come back tour”

Good Shabbos Everyone.  We are now in the final approach to Judgment Day, AKA Rosh HaShanah which starts next week Wednesday evening.  ""On Rosh Hashanah it is written; on Yom Kippur it is sealed. Who shall live and who shall die... etc."  The gravity of the moment is tremendous.
       In order to prepare for Rosh Hashanah, it is appropriate and fitting that each and every Jew do an accounting of his deeds from the past year.  And if, heaven forbid, after doing this accounting, a Jew discovers that he has violated the Torah in any way whatsoever, he must do the following:  confess to Hashem his wrongdoings, feel shame and regret for the misdeeds, and accept on himself never to repeat those misdeeds.  A Jews who follows such a formula, is assured that Hashem will forgive him for all but the most serious of violations.  As far as violations in our relationships with others, we must seek out those whom we have wronged and ask for their forgiveness
       Let us now tell an inspirational true story which recently took place, which will inspire us all to mend our ways before the Big Day.
       Reb Rafael Gross, of blessed memory, was the rav of the Kerestirer Shul in Miami Beach, Florida.  During the winter time, Reb Rafael's brother Reb Michuel from New Square, used to come down to Miami Beach to also serve as the rav of the shul.  The Grosses are descendants of the great Rebbe Reb Shayala Kerestir.
         Rebbe Yeshaya Steiner of Kerestir,  (1851-1925), was the founder of the Kerestirer Hasidic dynasty. He was born on Iyar 3, 1851 in the town of Zbarav, Hungary.   Later Reb Yeshaya started traveling to Rabbi Chaim Halberstam of Sanz. After the passing of Rabbi Chaim of Sanz, Reb Yeshaya became a disciple of Rabbi Mordechai of Nadvorna. The Nadvorner Rebbe suggested that he move to the town of Kerestir, then part of Hungary, In Kerestir he became a famous Hasidic Rebbe and became known as a miracle worker. In 1925 he was succeeded by his son Reb Avrohom. 
         One day a few winters ago, a Jew named Moshe Brown stopped into the Kerestirer Shul in Miami Beach and told his interesting story to Reb Michuel Gross.  Moshe Brown grew up "Morris" Brown.  In fact, until about 10 years previous, Moshe "Morris" did not even know that he was Jewish.  Morris went on to tell his amazing story:
          Several years ago, Morris was between jobs and decided to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a chef.  So, he enrolled in a famous cooking school which was located in a big city.  Every day, he and his colleagues would prepare all sorts of fancy dishes.  They would taste the dishes and then throw the remainder in the garbage.  From the get go, this practice of throwing away so much food bothered Morris very much.  One day, Morris decided to do something about it.
            At the end of the day, Morris gathered together all the food and baked goods from the day's activities and he arraigned it nicely on a long folding table on the busy street in front of the school.  As is unfortunately the situation in most big cities in America, there are many homeless and hungry people in the area where the cooking school where Morris worked.  Thus, the food was consumed in short order by hungry people.
            One day, as Morris was setting out the food, a passing businessman, who was impressed by Morris' display of kindness, asked Morris if he was Jewish.  Morris told him no, and asked the man why he was asking him.  "Because, I see that you like to do acts of kindness for others, and that is a Jewish trait!"  (See the Talmud, Tractate Yevamos 79a)  With that, the businessman kept walking and Morris promptly forgot about the exchange.
           Several weeks later, the businessman passed by again and he and Morris had the same discussion as before.  This time though Morris started thinking.  His mother had come from Hungary and never spoke about her past.  That night, Morris contacted his mother and asked her if he was Jewish.  At first, Morris' mother hemmed and hawed, not wanting to answer the question directly.  After some prodding however, Morris' mother told him that he was in fact a Jew!  Little by little, Morris become Moshe, a fully observant Jew!
          Why did Morris stop into the Kerestirer Shul?  And now, for the rest of the story...  Moshe's mother came from Hungary.  And from what city did she come?  Kerestir.  And what did she do for a living?  She cooked.  And where did she work?  In Reb Shayala Kerestir's house, a house which was known for feeding all those who nowhere to eat!  
            Thus, when Moshe was walking down the street in Miami Beach and he saw a sign for the Kerestirer Shul, he just had to stop in to take a look!  Good Shabbos Everyone. M. Wolfberg is sponsored by: In Memory of CHAYA CHAVA BAS REB MOSHE YAKOVIn memory of R' Yaakov ben Naftoly, of blessed memory In Memory of Reb Yitzchok ben Reb Shimon (Friedman) of blessed memory Refuah Shleima to Reb Mordechai Mendel ben Tziporah Yitta Refuah Shleima to Leah bas Tziporah

I hope to get out a small Drasha for Parsha Hazinu and a few words on Shabbos Teshuva. Just in case I miss the opportunity Good Shabbos and a good writing in the book of life, health and happiness,

Rachamim Pauli