Parsha Behar
We
dealt in the last few weeks with the holiness of Yom Kippur, marital relations,
the holiness of Am Yisrael and the Kedusha of the Cohanim. We now turn our
attention to Eretz HaKodesh or Eretz Yisrael for its holiness. After many
Mitzvos in Acharei Mos 28 Mitzvos, 64 in Kedoshim, 63 in Emor we still have a
24 Mitzvos this type of concentration of Mitzvos in a short space we see only
in Sefer Devarim. It seems to me that there were times for teaching and times
for review in the years of wandering. Here in our Parsha Shmita (Sabbatical
Year) and Yovel (Jubilee) are mentioned and in Sefer Devarim (Deut.) more of a time
for review during the 38 years prior to entering the land. It was the basis for
our Yeshivos. First learning the topic (Mishnah) then commentary (Gemara) and
then other explanations (Rashi, Tosefos, Rabban Channaniel, Rif, Ron, Marshal,
Chalachos etc.) Here we are told the Mitzvos prior to the first chance to enter
the land before the spies were sent out and in Devarim before Moshe was to
leave this world and turn over the chain of command to Yehoshua.
25:1 And the
LORD spoke unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying:
Both
Rashi and the Ramban discuss the fact that Har Sinai is mentioned and what is
the connection of Shmita with Har Sinai. The answer basically is that if Shmita
which occurs only after the nation enters Eretz Yisrael is given on Har Sinai
so all the Mitzvos were given on Har Sinai.
2 Speak unto
the children of Israel, and say unto them: When ye come into the land which I
give you, then shall the land keep a Sabbath unto the LORD.
Up
until now it was the Bnei Yisrael that had to keep the Shabbos. Now it was time
for the holy people (Am Kadosh) in the holy land (Eretz HaKadosh) to have the
land rest too. Not only weekly on Shabbos where none of the 11 Melachos with
agriculture could be done but also a Shmita or Sabbatical Year of letting the
land lie fallow to renew itself. [Eretz Yisrael renews itself with layers of
dust storms each year which blow in various minerals from Africa or Asia in the
east with dirt and dust which contain different minerals.
A Sabbath to the Lord: For the sake of the Lord, just as is stated of the Sabbath of
Creation (see Exod. 20:10) [i.e., just as every seventh
day is a holy Sabbath day, acclaiming that God Himself rested on the seventh
day and thus acclaiming that God is the Supreme Creator of all existence,
likewise, man must rest from working the land on the seventh year, for the sake
of God, not for the sake of the land, so that it should gain fertility by lying
fallow for a year]. — [Sifthei Chachamim ; Torath Kohanim 25:7]
3 Six years
thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and
gather in the produce thereof. 4 But in the seventh year shall be a Sabbath of
solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath unto the LORD; thou shalt neither sow thy
field, nor prune thy vineyard.
The
land shall have [a complete rest]: for
fields and vineyards [but you may dig holes in your land]. — [Sifthei
Chachamim] Nor
shall you prune: Heb.
לֹא תִזְמֹר. [This refers to the procedure in which]
they cut off the [excessive] vine-branches (זְמוֹרוֹת)
[and this expression] is rendered [by Onkelos] as לָא
תִכְסָח, you shall not cut off, and similar to it is “as thorns cut
down (כְּסוּחִים) [that are burned in
fire]” (Isa. 33:12), and "it is burned with
fire, it is cut (כְּסוּחָה) down.
I
have mentioned a number of times than inanimate objects in the world of Kabbala
and even molecule vibrations have a ‘life’ of their own. So here the land must
observe Shabbos unto the L-RD which is in addition to our observing the weekly
Shabbos.
5 That which
grows of itself of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, and the grapes of thy
undressed vine thou shalt not gather; it shall be a year of solemn rest for the
land.
The after growth of your harvest: although you did not sow it,
but it grew by itself from seeds that [inadvertently] had dropped on [the
ground] at the time of harvesting. This is called סְפִיחַ.
You shall not reap: to keep it like a regular harvest, but it must be rendered
ownerless, [and available] for everyone [to take at will]. — [Be’er Basadeh]
The grapes you had set aside [for yourself]: [i.e., those grapes] that you set
aside (הִנְזַרְתָּ) and kept people away
from them and did not declare them ownerless. You shall not pick: Those, you
shall not pick, but [you may pick] from crops declared ownerless. — [Torath
Kohanim 25:8]
6 And the Sabbath-produce
of the land shall be for food for you: for thee, and for thy servant and for
thy maid, and for thy hired servant and for the settler by thy side that
sojourn with thee;
And [the produce of] the Sabbath of the land, shall be [yours to
eat]: Although I have prohibited the produce [of the Shemittah year] to you, I
did not prohibit you to eat it or to derive benefit from it, only that you
should not treat it as if you were its owner. Rather, everyone is deemed equal
[regarding the use of the Shemittah year’s produce]-you, [your slaves,] and
your hired worker and resident.
This
which Rashi writes about declaring things ownerless holds for even a person
with a small vine or two. I declare in my Kollel or in front of three people
that my vines are ownerless and then I can gather the grapes that are there.
Last year I traveled to the States and the birds took care of it letting the
Mitzvah for the animals of the fields.
7 and for thy
cattle, and for the beasts that are in thy land, shall all the increase thereof
be for food. 8 And thou shalt number seven Sabbaths of years unto thee, seven
times seven years; and there shall be unto thee the days of seven Sabbaths of
years, even forty and nine years. 9 Then shalt thou make proclamation with the
blast of the horn on the tenth day of the seventh month; in the day of
atonement shall ye make proclamation with the horn throughout all your land. 10
And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land
unto all the inhabitants thereof; it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall
return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his
family.
Liberty
for the Jewish Servants (‘slaves’) and the return of the fields to people who
owned them and sold them for they had waxed poor. However, a house in a city
one has only a short time to redeem it. With the advent of modern society, we
could not exist if somebody sold his home and his friend bought it and moved in
and redid the home only to find that the original owner wanted to move back. I
assume that a clause can be made to check into this.
11 A jubilee
shall that fiftieth year be unto you; ye shall not sow, neither reap that which
grows of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of the undressed vines.
This
was the time when each person returned to his family inheritance. He had time
to repair his property both fences, paths and house and it was permissible to
dig a well but clearing of stones from the fields was forbidden unless to
repair a fence, wall of the house or build on another room. The Jewish Servant
with compensation for his work would now return to his inheritance. Those who
had the time could learn Torah and Halacha for the year. Wheels and plowing
tools could be repaired and shovels and axes made. It was not a complete year
of twiddling one’s thumbs.
12 For it is a
jubilee; it shall be holy unto you; ye shall eat the increase thereof out of
the field.
It shall be holy for you: [The produce of Jubilee] attaches its
holiness onto the money [it is sold for] like items dedicated to the Holy
Temple. However, one might think that [just like items dedicated to the Holy
Temple, this produce] leaves [its holy status,] to become unholy-Scripture,
therefore, says here “It shall be,” [as if to say,] they shall remain as they
were. — [Suk. 40b] You shall eat [its produce] from the field: You shall [gauge
your] eating in the house, by way of the field. [That is to say,] once [a
particular food] has been consumed by the beasts in the field, you must remove
[what you had stored of that food] from your house [and make it freely
available to all]. (See Rashi on verse 7 above; Torath Kohanim 25:26). Just as
was stated regarding Shemittah, so it is stated regarding the Jubilee.
One
used to have to do this with wine which was from grapes collected by Beis Din
before Pessach and I put up a sign on my wine 14 years ago. This last year
either nobody mentioned it to me or they stopped selling this wine as I did not
see it anywhere.
13 In this year
of jubilee ye shall return every man unto his possession. 14 And if thou sell
aught unto thy neighbor, or buy of thy neighbor's hand, ye shall not wrong one
another.
And when you make a sale
to your fellow-Jew or make a purchase from your fellow-Jew: Its simple meaning
is obvious. The verse can also be expounded [to teach us the following lesson]:
How do we know that when you wish to sell, you should sell to your fellow-Jew?
For Scripture says, “ וְכִי תִמְכְּרוּ מִמְכָּר
לַעֲמִיתֶךָ,” i.e., “And when you make a sale--sell to your fellow-Jew!”
And how do we know that if you come to buy, you should buy from your
fellow-Jew? For Scripture continues here: “אוֹ קָנֹה
מִיַּד עֲמִיתֶךָ,” i.e., “or when you buy--buy from your fellow-Jew!” - [Torath
Kohanim 25:29 you shall not wrong: This means wronging
through money (see verse 17 below and Lev. 19:33). - [Torath Kohanim 25:31
15 According to
the number of years after the jubilee thou shalt buy of thy neighbor, and
according unto the number of years of the crops he shall sell unto thee. 16
According to the multitude of the years thou shalt increase the price thereof,
and according to the fewness of the years thou shalt diminish the price of it;
for the number of crops does he sell unto thee.
This
was how a fair price was established for using the farm house and fields or
just the fields of the property. Only in the city was the sale final after a
year or specified time. Also being fair and doing right in business
transactions is required.
17 And ye shall
not wrong one another; but thou shalt fear thy God; for I am the LORD your God.
And
you shall not wrong, one man his fellow-Jew: Here, [as opposed to the same
expression in verse 14 above (see Rashi there),] Scripture is warning against
wronging verbally, namely, that one must not provoke his fellow [Jew], nor may
one offer advice to him that is unsound for him but according to the mode of
life or the benefit of the advisor. And if you say, “Who can tell whether I had
evil intentions [when I talked to my fellow in an insulting manner? Perhaps I
did so in order to make him feel remorseful and repent his ways].” (see Be’er
Basadeh). Therefore, it says, “and you shall fear your God.”-The One Who knows
all thoughts-He knows. Concerning anything held in the heart and known only to
the one who bears this thought in his mind, it says “and you shall fear your
God!” - [B.M. 58b]
18 Wherefore ye
shall do My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances and do them; and ye shall dwell
in the land in safety.
Then you will live on the land securely: because it is through the transgression of [the laws of]
Shemittah that the Israelites are exiled [from their land], as the verse says,
“Then, the land will appease its Sabbaths. [All the days of desolation while
you are in the land of your enemies -] the land will rest and appease its
Sabbaths” (Lev.
26:34). And the seventy years of the Babylonian exile [when the land
remained forcibly at rest], corresponded to the seventy years of Shemittah not
observed by Israel, [and thus came to rectify and “appease” them]. [see Rashi Lev. 26:25
where the calculation is explained; Shab. 33a; and see II Chron.
36:21]
How
this makes the land secure we will only find out next week in Parsha
Bechukosai.
19 And the land
shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat until ye have enough, and dwell therein
in safety.
We
will only find out next week in Parsha Bechukosai.
… 22And
you will sow in the eighth year, while [still] eating from the old crops until
the ninth year; until the arrival of its crop, you will eat the old [crop].
Until
the ninth year: Until the Festival of Succoth in the ninth year, the time the
crop of the eighth year is brought into the house, for throughout the summer
season, it was kept in granaries in the field. In Tishrei-that is the time the
crop is gathered into the house. Now, there were occasions when it would need
to yield for four years, namely: in the sixth year preceding the seventh
Shemittah, when they would refrain from doing work on the land for two consecutive
years, the seventh year and the Jubilee year. Our verse, however, refers to all
the other Shemittah years [i.e., the first through sixth cycles of Shemittah].
— [see Ned. 61a]
… 25 If thy
brother be waxen poor, and sell some of his possession, then shall his kinsman
that is next unto him come, and shall redeem that which his brother has sold.
Before
letting a family member go into servitude, it is up to the closest relatives, a
brother or cousin to try to help. However, if this becomes a habit due to
drunkardness, drugs, whims it is no longer up to the family to bail out this
type of person but let him be sold into servitude to learn his lesson.
26 And if a man
has no one to redeem it, and he be waxen rich and find sufficient means to
redeem it;
And
if a man does not have a redeemer: But is there a man in Israel who has no
[relative] to redeem [his sale]? However, [Scripture means] a redeemer who is
[financially] able to redeem his sale. — [Kid. 21a]
It
was obvious that Rashi did not think of the times after the destruction of the
first Beit HaMikdash. For hundreds of thousands died in that war and pogroms of
the crusades were to occur either in the late years of Rashi or not in his
area. The first crusade started in 1096 CE and Rashi died in 1105 CE. (There is
a case this week of a partially disabled 67 year old who has an only child
struggling to feed his own family which I posted below. Such a person could not
redeem the land.)
27 then let him
count the years of the sale thereof, and restore the surplus unto the man to
whom he sold it; and he shall return unto his possession.
With
the money he received from selling his losing farm, he made enough to redeem it
from the person he sold it to as it is his inheritance. This is also a way that
the slave/servant gets worker compensation in the Yovel (Jubilee Year).
He
shall calculate the years of his sale: [The original owner asks the purchaser:]
“How many years were left until the [next] Jubilee?” [He answers:]
“Such-and-such [a number of years].” [The owner continues:] “And how much did I
sell it to you for?” [He answers:] “For such-and-such [an amount of money].”
[Continues the original owner:] “You would have eventually had to return the
field to me at Jubilee.” Hence, [rather than buying actual land,] in effect,
you bought [from me] a number of produce yields, according to the total for
every year [remaining until Jubilee]. Now, you have eaten from it for three or
four years [or whatever the amount may be]. Therefore, subtract their value
from the total [i.e., from the original sale price], and take the remainder
[until Jubilee].“ And this is the meaning of ”and return the remainder" of
the purchase price over the crops he had eaten, and he shall give it to the
purchaser. The man to whom he had sold [it]: [i.e., “the man to whom he-] this
seller who is coming to redeem it- [had sold it.” If the first purchaser had
sold it to another person for a higher price, the original owner makes the
above calculation only with the first purchaser to whom he sold the field and
not with the subsequent purchaser]. — [Arachin 30a; Mizrachi]
28 But if he
have not sufficient means to get it back for himself, then that which he hath
sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until the year of
jubilee; and in the jubilee it shall go out, and he shall return unto his
possession.
Enough
to repay him: From here, [we learn] that he cannot redeem part [of a field but
either all or nothing]. — [Torath Kohanim 25:48, Arachin 30a, Kid. 20b; Sifthei
Chachamim] Until the Jubilee year: [i.e., until, but not including the
Jubilee year (Torath Kohanim 25:50; Mizrachi), and hence the purchaser] must
not at all enter the Jubilee year [while in possession of the field,] because
the Jubilee year releases [the field from his possession] at its very onset. —
[Arachin 28b and Rashi there]
The
ownership of the land was private given by HASHEM to the tribes (See the first
Rashi in Beresheis on the creation of the world). Each tribe had approximately
equal lots distributed when the land was proportioned out. Some got the land on
the top of the hill and some on the bottom. Others got land in flatter country.
Some people hand large families and some small. The ones with smaller portions
after centuries might leave the land to a brother and help for a portion of the
money harvest and sow the crops while opening up a shop in the city.
29 And if a man
sell a dwelling-house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole
year after it is sold; for a full year shall he have the right of redemption.
30 And if it be not redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house
that is in the walled city shall be made sure in perpetuity to him that bought
it, throughout his generations; it shall not go out in the jubilee.
When
the Beis HaMikdash will be rebuilt it will apply to all houses in any
designated city. How will the rest of the land be proportionated out only time
can tell?
31 But the
houses of the villages which have no wall round about them shall be reckoned
with the fields of the country; they may be redeemed, and they shall go out in
the jubilee.
Modern
civilization could not function like this anymore. Houses are no longer one
story mud, clay, straw and rock houses but massive apartments.
32 But as for
the cities of the Levites, the houses of the cities of their possession, the
Levites shall have a perpetual right of redemption.
Since
this was their portion in the land it is light a field.
… 26:1 Ye shall
make you no idols, neither shall ye rear you up a graven image, or a pillar,
neither shall ye place any figured stone in your land, to bow down unto it; for
I am the LORD your God. 2 Ye shall keep My Sabbaths, and reverence My
sanctuary: I am the LORD.
Our
Parsha ends on this note of warning not to do idolatry or violate the Shabbos.
My Return to (or newly discovered) Judaism Part 2
When I left off the story a
few months ago, it was Menachem Av 5726. I had become an agnostic after
discovering the Principle of Cosmic Unity. After half-debating and perhaps more
questioning a Physicist named Himmelstein, I concluded that there was a good
possibility that HASHEM truly existed. We must have had a give and take for two
to three hours. Little did he or I know that would lay the foundation of much
Torah learning in the future. During my questioning I asked the question “How
come there were miracles recorded in the Bible and we do not see them today.”
(Remember this was before the Six Day War and the New York Times and liberality
reigned as king.) He told me that if one was pure (his meaning was ritually
pure or Tahor) one could work a miracle. He told me how Yeshu stole the DIVINE
72 letter NAME from the Beis HaMikdash and worked miracles until his Rebbe came
and made him impure. (This sounds today to me a lot like the Yeshu in the time
of Yehuda Ben Perachiya who was in the Temple in Alexandria, Egypt. – not the
other two mentioned in the Talmud) I of course was so far removed from Judaism
that I went off thinking about being pure of heart. That was the last time I
ever saw Himmelstein as he went off to get his doctorate from Columbia
University and I went off to Greenwood Lake, NY for my summer vacation. He also
clarified to me the misconception of heaven and hell that I had gotten from the
belief of a Catholic girl who loved me at the age of 12 and wanted me to
convert to marry her. (I had some news for her.) I asked him about the concept
(Catholic) about going to hell for eternity even if somebody was basically
good. He explained to me the Jewish concept of soul purification which he broke
up to me in just system of varying times. He talked about the seven days of
mourning, the month, eleven months and a year and also Kaf Keller. My doubts
about an unfair G-D regarding life after death were gone and a true and straight
path in the next world was laid out before me.
Rowing my boat, swimming,
hiking, and observing the Perseid Meteor Shower was my cup of tea for rest,
research and relaxation. I might have been ritually pure as Greenwood Lake was
a Glatt kosher Mikvah. I went that night to the ‘Indian Park’ dock to sit out
and observe meteors. That particular dock put me out further over the water
with a greater area of sky to view than my ‘Greenwood Lake Estates’ beach (The
‘Estates’ were fancy bungalows with one or two all year around houses.) I was
staring at the sky. In the back of my mind was the relatively recent
conversation that I had with Himmelstein. As I looked up at the sky, I noticed
a strange phenomenon. I had seen many times in New York City a halo around the
moon but never in all my numerous observing of the sky since the age of 7 did I
see a halo around a star. (Neither do I recall seeing such a thing
since.) I began thinking of Yacov Avinu and the ladder to heaven. The
fogginess and the halo looked like a tunnel to that particular star in heaven.
The night was poor for observing meteors. I had seen one and then another but
nothing special. I began thinking with my stubbornness on watching meteors for
hours and even losing a girl friend or two for it, I could not think of a purer
person in the world for observing meteors. Perhaps as the fellow said, I could
work a miracle out of purity. Now I did not know the 72 or three 42 letter
names of G-D in Hebrew in fact I was only thinking and praying in English.
I put my left hand over my
head as I had no hat or Yarmulke and I thought. “L-RD, G-D of the Universe, if
you exist show me a sign. If you do, I will learn Hebrew, become religious and
go to Israel. I have been told that one who is pure of heart can work a
miracle. I have seen only two meteors this hour. - At this point my right hand
is stretching behind me on the dock as I continued looking at the widest field
of vision with the halo star in the middle. - If you exist send a meteor across
the sky right now!” As my right hand moved to touch the dock by my hip (like
within a nanosecond), a meteor shot out starting from the halo star moved about
40 degrees across the sky, changed shade of color and magnitude so it was no
figment of my imagination.
About a week later, my
friend Howard Dyckoff came with two other friends from the Astronomy Club and I
told them of what had happened to me. One of them later became a Unitarian
Minister but probably forgot about my story. Howard introduced me to his mother
who convinced me to read the Torah through in English and after months helped
arrange for my learning for a Bar Mitzvah with Rabbi Klayman, an Orthodox
Rabbi.
As I may have written, I
just read the Bible in English and just before Rosh Hashanah 5768 met with the Rabbi.
During the course of the year, I had already learned about Tephillin from
watching the news of the 6 Day War and my friend Joel Klein telling me that
‘those black boxes on the head and on the arm were not for soldier
communication with each other but Tephillin for communication during prayer to
G-D’. I had also seen the soldier bowing down towards a wall in Yerushalayim. I
know that the Jews don’t pray to sticks and stones so what was up? He told me
that the wall was the only remaining part of the Temple and that they were
bowing down unto G-D. And right before meeting with the Rabbi a Danny Levy who
came in with a bunch of Orthodox Jews began praying one evening in my
classroom. Somebody said “Barachu” and the others said “Baruch HASHEM Hamivorach”
two blessings and the “Shema” some more and then Kaddish and silence. Suddenly,
I wanted to know why they were bowing and how to pray with them. I asked Danny
to purchase for me an English/Hebrew prayer book. When I met the Rabbi, I think
Mrs. Dyckoff bought me a Yarmulke, I had the prayer book and the Rabbi took me
to buy Tephillin, a Tallis, “The Hertz Pentateuch”, “Code of Jewish Law”, I also
bought “Iyob”, “Proverbs”, “Psalms”, “Koheles” and a book to learn for my ‘Bar
Mitzvah’ around my 21st birthday. I also signed up for a Hebrew
course with Professor Posner. He was merciful seeing that most of the students
were there to get an A and I was there to really learn and did charity by
giving me a C in the course. Part three is next week.
One of the books Rabbi
Klayman lent me was “How Strange was my path” by Rabbi Avraham Carmel
and his journey to Judaism. Here are two little mentions by Gerim which might
show others the way. Perhaps similar to the three Gerim meeting in the days of
Hillel the Elder:
From S. KM: Hoping to inspire and encourage others with my own personal testimony.
Recently I was reminded of the incident that occurred that really was the
beginning of my return to Judaism. It was about 12 years ago, I was not even
considering in the slightest at this time conversion to Judaism, I had been
invited to a massive conference in Scotland, that was to host every
congregation from the whole Church of Scotland. Scotland is such am amazing
place and I loved the creativity, culture, geology and history so I wanted at
this conference to find my spiritual home, to find the place where my family
could grow, but it was not meant to be. After spending the entire day there I
sat down in the evening and remember saying, 'Please G-d let this be it, let
this be it'. After looking around all about me at all the hundreds of people,
all the artwork all the passion etc a small voice in my soul whispered 'This is
not it'. I felt a total void within me, like everything near was suddenly a
million miles away, but I at the same time knew deep in my soul this was not my
spiritual home. At that moment of sheer void the small voice whispered one word
'Talmud', I am sure it was a heavenly inspiration because it was such a bolt
out of the blue. I didn't even know what it meant, I thought to myself, I think
it is a Jewish book, but I was so excited because I wanted to find out, if this
conference is not 'it', with all that is on offer, then what is this 'Talmud'
that might be 'it'. So I had about 20 minutes left to race down through
Edinburgh to Waterstones bookshop on Princes Street before it closed. Needless
to say, they did not have a copy of the Talmud, but I did pick up three other
books, The Haggadah by Jonathan Sacks, 'To heal a fractured world' by Jonathan
Sacks and 'The Jewish book of Why'. When I found out what the Talmud was, I
thought I must not have been inspired clearly, Oral Torah for a Christian was
more than a little incongruous. So I kept it to myself for 3 years, never
telling anyone, because I thought if I tell my Christian friends I am not going
to church anymore because I had an inspiration in my soul which was the word
'Talmud', they probably would be thinking I was devil possessed. I ended up
going to a huge messianic conference in Pennsylvania, then one in Chicago big
waste of money, put me off messianics for life. However, I met a man who had
been Orthodox Jew (may Hashem redeem his soul from deception) and I told him
the story, he said 'Talmud can also mean to learn', this brought some comfort
at the time and I resolved it must mean that. But then 5 years ago I recognized
the errors of my former beliefs and after denying a man god/false messiah I
began to pursue conversion. Due to difficult personal circumstances (also part
of the inner healing process that needed to take place) it took me until 2015
to move into a Jewish community and I have not looked back despite its
challenges. However, the three books I did come across have proven to be very
inspirational in terms of my conversion to Judaism and my purpose on this walk.
The first one Haggada to me this connects you to a people but also reminds you
to live life as a redeemed person from whatever personal and collective Egypt
and Pharaoh that has attempted to hinder your Avodah to Hashem. 'To Heal a Fractured
World' - Tikkun Olam - to repair the world in which we live, even if the most
important aspect of that world is our own hearts and minds, and finally 'The
Jewish book of Why' to do that within the context of Torah observant Judaism. I
really do believe that day in the conference centre in Scotland some divine
inspiration was able to reach my world and plant a seed that would grow with my
own soul into the wonderful Tree of Life it has started to become. I hope
others can draw inspiration and encouragement from my personal encounter with a
loving G-d, who desires for us to become all He created us to be.
S.A.F. replied on
Facebook: Beautiful!
Similar story. I am in Chicago and was with Messianics for few years and that
was last straw for me. Took me @ 20 years and several messages I ignored.
Aren't you glad to be home! Mazal Tov.
L.T. Your
story is awesome...G-d is good.
S. KM He is, His
plans for us are good.
L.T Indeed they
are.
Now I hope these stories have given you folks a bit
fortification (Chizuk).
Also
from Stephanie KM the liberator is reunited with the holocaust survivor whom he
saved: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wwii-vet-reunites-man-saved-concentration-camp-71/story?id=39170077&cid=abcn_fb
If you are in a charitable
mood to help a retired and partially disabled person: 25: 35 And if thy
brother be waxen poor, and his means fail with thee; then thou shalt uphold
him: as a stranger and a settler shall he live with thee. 36 Take thou no
interest of him or increase; but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with
thee. 37 Thou shalt not give him thy money upon interest, nor give him thy
victuals for increase. 38 I am the LORD your God, who brought you forth out of
the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, to be your God. https://www.gofundme.com/MiriamEyges
From Chaim B: Film the
partnership that made Israel a State: http://aipac.hubs.vidyard.com/watch/oDme2r4xIqA6Gpe-Gdeugg?vyemail=sheri%40greenbaumfam.com
National Unity an Ed-Op from
Ben Dror Yemini: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4802753,00.html
From Allan: This claim has
been made once before so it might be old: http://betinews.com/?p=3661 original source: http://www.disclose.tv/news/red_sea_archaeologists_discover_remains_of_egyptian_army_from_the_biblical_exodus/123111
Possible coalition
expansion: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/212463#.VzyAW5F96M8
Knesset Speaker is
over-powered by love! (a little good news for once) http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4805354,00.html
For Yoella: I may have
posted this before the birth of the IAF via Mahal Volunteers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug_sYWzvgxA&feature=share
Inyanay Diyoma
ISIS declares a state of
emergency in their capitol after they began fearing a coalition attack: http://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/13/politics/isis-raqqa-state-of-emergency/index.html
ISIS of Sinai being trained
in Gaza and also medical attention: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/212242#.Vzdj149OKM8
Hezballah doesn’t accuse
Israel but the US and Russian on the death of their Chief of Staff: http://debka.com/article/25422/Hizballah-links-US-Russia-to-Al-din’s-killing
From Albert: The Washington
Post has 20 full time reporters looking into Donald J. Trump’s past for dirt.
Here is a TV clip from 25 years ago Donald J. Trump talks about our nation
being ripped off and he did not for see a political run as he liked what he is
doing. However, if the situation got so bad, he would not rule it out. Check
this: https://www.youtube.com/embed/MOKi5YeNtRI
I was looking at Orthodox
Tours of Europe this summer. For many-many years it was Sweden, Norway and
Denmark. It has been changed to Norway, Ireland and England. Nobody wants to be
the Hu Akbar end of an attack.
Somebody had intelligence on
the whereabouts of the Hezballah COS: http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Analysis-Intelligence-agencies-succeeding-in-penetrating-Hezbollah-453976
Recent earth-shaking events
in Israel: http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Light-earthquake-measuring-48-hits-southern-Israel-No-injuries-reported-454087
New missile changes the tide
against Iran in Syria: http://debka.com/article/25425/IRGC-routed-in-Syria-by-new-missile
Yesterday there was a
stabbing attempt and today in Yerushalayim: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/212324#.Vzl7ApF96M8
Defense Minister goes too
far a second time: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4803454,00.html
Caught the terrorist who
laid the bomb that injured the officer: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4803352,00.html
Details of the truth behind
the Iranian Capture of US sailors that can be told rest next year if at all: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/212380
New infantry missile
revealed: http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Rafael-unveils-1500-meter-range-infantry-missile-454161
From Jew in Central
America:
Communism has destroyed a
wealthy oil rich country:
The full-blown economic
collapse that is happening in Venezuela right now is a preview of what
Americans will be experiencing in the not too distant future. Just a few years
ago, most Venezuelans could never have imagined that food shortages would
become so severe that people would literally hunt dogs and cats for food. But
as you will see below, this is now taking place. Sadly, this is what the
endgame of socialism looks like. When an all-powerful government is elevated
far above all other institutions in society and radical leftists are given the
keys to the kingdom, this is the result. Food shortages, looting and rampant
violent crime have all become part of daily life in Venezuela, and we all need
to watch as this unfolds very carefully, because similar scenarios will soon be
playing out all over the planet.
The funny thing is that
Venezuela actually has more “wealth” than most countries in the world.
According to the CIA, Venezuela actually has more proven oil reserves than
anyone else on the globe – including Saudi Arabia.
So how did such a wealthy
nation find itself plunged into full-blown economic collapse so rapidly, and
could a similar thing happen to us?
The president of Venezuela
has declared a 60 day state of emergency in a desperate attempt to restore
order, but most people don’t anticipate that it will do much good. Social order
continues to unravel as the economy systematically implodes. The Venezuelan
economy shrunk by 5.7 percent last year, and it is being projected that it will
contract by another 8 percent in 2016. Meanwhile, inflation is raging wildly
out of control. According to the IMF, the official inflation rate in Venezuela
will be somewhere around 720 percent this year and 2,200 percent next year. Ari posted from this left
wing Newspaper: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/16/world/americas/dying-infants-and-no-medicine-inside-venezuelas-failing-hospitals.html?_r=1
USA gives out more Visas to
Arab Countries and less to Israel: http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-us-at-odds-over-visa-waiver-program/
From Allan - Chutzpah: Nobody
is forcing them to buy pork with food stamps! http://www.redflagnews.com/headlines-2016/somali-muslims-in-us-demand-halal-welfare-from-americans
Al Sisi starts a peace initiative:
http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Egypts-Sisi-There-is-trust-and-confidence-between-me-and-the-Israelis-454188
Held for 8 months without
trial and unable to attend his son’s Bris, just because he was the grandson of
Rabbi Meir Kahane will be released: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/212394
Jewish woman and children
rescued from an Arab village after a “romance” turned into 15 years of a nightmare:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/212421
Obama sends in planes to
help Assad!!! http://debka.com/article/25427/Exclusive-US-warplanes-intervene-in-Syrian-war-
Israel will precisely strike
our enemies: http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Yaalon-Israel-will-use-precision-capabilities-to-damage-enemy-454232
Israeli, US, Greece in Navy
Exercise that meets or exceeds NATO standards: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4804273,00.html
As the government announces
that Yaalon will not be Defense Secretary and in his place will be Lieberman
the Gazans try us. Loud explosion heard hence political correct false alarm:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4804928,00.html
This proves that Netanyahu is all about
momentary survival and not long term ideology for the difference between Herzog
and Labor vs. the supposed right is great. It is all a matter of survival for a
year or two: I am happy no labor or Yaalon: http://debka.com/article/25430/-Israel-switches-defense-chiefs-in-surprise-political-move
This is the real coward
Netanyahu who only thinks of his own survival and not that of the people. The
only reason Iran bothers him is because all his wealth is in Israel. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/212495#.Vz1EM5F96M8
Ed-Op by former military
intelligence chief – Assad must go! http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4804899,00.html
Appears that ISIS has shot
down or blown up another plane: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/05/19/egyptair-flight-from-paris-to-cairo-disappears-from-radar.html?intcmp=hpbt1
I received
this: Burlington College announced today it will close after it was
unable to recover from the crushing debt incurred under during Jane Sanders’
tenure as president of the institution. Heat Street reported.
Married to the guy who promises free college for all: Burlington College announced today that it will close on May 27 after it found itself unable to recover from “the crushing weight of the debt” incurred under Jane O’Meara Sanders, the college’s former president and wife of Bernie Sanders.
Black lives matter or human
trafficking using black women? http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/05/19/black-lives-matter-member-reportedly-charged-with-human-trafficking-and-prostitution.html?intcmp=hpbt4
When and where was a bomb
planted on the Egypt Airline Plane? Or was it some other device that when the
pilot removed auto-pilot for decent hit him with gas or destroyed the
maneuverability of the plane? Was in planted in Cairo, Morocco, Tunis, Brussels
or Paris where the plane had flown recently? http://debka.com/article/25432/EgyptAir-flight-blown-up-by-ISIS-time-bomb
Quote condensed: From Barry Shaw "She hated the USA praise Bin
Laden and the PC Liberals like her". http://www.vox.com/2016/5/19/11713686/yuri-kochiyama
From
Yoella: THE FINAL FRAY?
It's with big pain in my heart to write this very
sad introduction. It's not only the pain I feel for (as he has become) OUR
Martin but also the sadness I feel towards all the readers to miss out his
brilliant mind. A mind like no other and a mind to make us aware of the dangers
ahead of us when most people in politics trying to make us go left when we
voted right. A mind that shows us the dangers of certain political movement and
decisions, and a mind that had no fear in telling
the truth.......For me...it would be my last SHARING this INTO THE FRAY. A very
honoree task. As I felt it as an honor to share you Martins thoughts and
insides into the matter. I can't believe this will be over.....Thank you dr. Martin
Sherman...
Will this be Martin’s last INTO THE FRAY column in
Jerusalem Post?
FIVE MENDACIOUS MYTHS MAKE ONE FALSE NARRATIVE http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Into-the-Fray-Five-mendacious-myths-make-one-false-narrative-453863
Be well and have a good Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli
