Torah as an Authentic Model of Government - In response to Shmuel Sackett's post

bs"d

My comment to Shmuel Sackett's post.

Shmuel, I agree with you. The Torah is the key. I am glad to see that Manhigut and articles such as your own specifically mention the Torah rather than use words like "Jewish values" and historical right to the Land. Unfortunately, mentioning the Bible for PR purposes, even by the strongest supporters of Yesha, has been severely discouraged and suppressed. Any reference to the Bible is politically incorrect. There is a real fear of backlash that is quite virulent. Arutz7 and the leaders of Yesha opposed the Disengagement and Convergence publicly because of humanitarian and security reasons rather than on Biblical considerations. It is only now, where humanitarian and security concerns have in fact materialized and still talks of convergence are as strong as ever, that the Torah arguments are coming into the picture.


Talking about the Bible is like opening up the Pandoras box.

I feel that your party, Manhigut Yehudit has a special role to counter and undo the very real negative impression that believers in the Bible who attempt to put "Biblical precepts" into practice, are simply radical Messianic extremists, hate spewing racists, Nazi like, no different than radical Islamic fundamentalism. In Western society, the only existing acceptable politically correct model of government must be based on Democracy. Anything else is viewed as a threat against democracy and freedom.

The following points would be helpful to undo such negative brainwashing.

The Bible is a source of the modern day Republic. Yet over the years, there has been a cover up among Western Society to attribute any recognition of the contribution of the Torah to the political philosophy of government over the ages. From articles that I have read in Azure magazine, there were non Jewish Hebraist philosophers in the 17th Century whose political thought showed how the modern day Republic came about as a direct result of the influence of the Hebrew Bible. The reason I bring this up is in order to make politically correct the notion that a government based on the Bible is actually an authentic ancient model of Government.

Torah is relevant to our day and age and in fact we wish to revive the Biblical model. We believe it is the only appropriate government for the Land of Israel. The Biblical model of government precedes any of the forms of governments that exist in the world today. I would encourage philosophers, economists, and Biblical Scholars to open up this new body of discussion about how a government based on the Bible is worthy at the very least, to be studied, discussed and treated with respect rather than with disdain and marginalized as crazy dangerous radical extremism and the number one threat to Israel's society and to democracy. Please read further thought on this topic at http://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2005/09/hebrew-law-manhigut-yisroel-not-party.html

Any comments are very much appreciated.

Re: Israelis or Jews? by David Wilder - Commentary- Shoftim and Shotrim

Israelis or Jews? by David Wilder
Aug 25, '06 / 1 Elul 5766

My Commentary:

Dear David, amv"sh

I read with interest your article. It seems that the Secular Israeli's have divided the country into two distinct parts. Israeli (Yisroel) and Jews(Yehudah). David, You know better than most that one year ago prior to the disengagement I suggested a similar separation. It wasn't because I wished to divide the Nation but I recognized that we could not and did not wish to coerce the Israeli population to be a Jewish Nation based on Torah and Mitzvoth. It was clear that majority of Israeli population supported disengagement and were simply not on the level and ready to live a life based on Torah and Mitzvoth. Such a life requires living on Faith - Kol Mitzvosecho Emunah.

The Settlers of Yesha have the right to live a life based on Torah and Mitzvoth.In America citizens respect and relate to the concept of freedom of religion.

The Jews of Yesha failed to make the distinction of a government that is based on Torah and a government that is secular so the Israeli's did it for us. I argued that the Jews of Yesha had no alternative but to make that distinction prior to the disengagement and unfortunately failed to do so giving unity as their excuse.

Avrahom said to Lot "Why should brothers fight". Avraham called for a separation because there was no way he could live with the corrupt ways of Lot and his shepherds. After the separation, the shechina once again returned to Avrahom.

The Settlers have no choice but to declare that they wish to live a life based on Torah. They wish to have a Sanhedrin, Shoftim, Judges as well as Shotrim, a Jewish army to enforce the laws of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin will declare laws based on their halachic decisions and their laws are binding. The population is required to adhere to the decisions of the Sanhedrin under penalty of law.

The time has come to at the very least to discuss an alternative to the existing Government. The Government of Israel wish to separate from us and has separated themselves from us as you so clearly show in your article. In addition they treated us brutally. They stole our homes and they imprison our children. They gave Our Land to the enemy who used it to fire rockets at us. They took away our means of Parnassa. That alone should give us sufficient right to separate from them.

But the real reason to separate ourselves is none of the above. The real reason is because if we really yearn to live a life of Torah of Mitzvoth we simply have no option. Setting up a government based on Torah and Mitzvoth with Shoftim and Shotrim is revolutionary. There will be many pitfalls and many mistakes. It seems to me very clear that an attempt such as revolutionary as this has to be done very small scale with people that want it. It would be counterproductive to coerce anyone. This model should come from precisely the Land that the State of Israel wishes to give to the Arabs. It seems very logical to create a government based on Torah and Mitzvoth on Land that is rejected from the State of Israel but fall within the Biblical boundaries delineated in Parshat Masei. The new infant government would be declared a theocracy and not a democracy. It would be self governing theocracy but not based on radical Fundamental Islam, be it Hamas or Palestinian Authority. On the contrary, It would be a proud Jewish theocracy based on the Bible. A Torah government that will enforce Shabbat and Kashrut, It will destroy any temples that are clearly identified as idol worship. The specific laws must be defined by the Shoftim that are established and enforced by Shotrim. The job of the Sanhedrin would be to seriously review all the Mitzvoth read in Sefer Devarim. Moshe knew that he would not enter the Land of Israel and specifically wrote down Sefer Devarim as a guideline of how the Nation of Israel was to keep the Torah in Eretz Yisroel. Many of these Mitzvoth are read at Hakhel following the Shemittah year.

The initial goal is to express the desire and the yearning and intense love for Eretz Yisroel and the Mitzvoth of Eretz Yisroel among our people. I am convinced that with much prayer, we will be Matzliach and this small model will grow and grow as the Nation of Israel and Nations of the world recognize the beauty and the Hashgacha Pratis, peace and security Hashem will bestow this Gush Emunim.

I am also convinced that we will be required to do acts that will go against our nature of being Rachmanim bnei Rachmanim. We will attack brutally any entity that wishes to destroy us including women and children if necessary. We must erase any form of idol worship in our midst. Torah overrules Democracy. The Sanhedrin will define what constitutes Torah. Democracy has worked well for America and many other countries. For Eretz Yisroel, only Torah is the answer and not Democracy. There are many elements of Democracy that exist in the Torah. Yet Constitutional Democracy and Torah are mutually exclusive. We must not fall into the trap of Kochi VeOtsem Yadi. We are required to blindly follow the Mitzvoth and halachot defined by the Sanhedrin and have faith that it will bring positive results in spite of negative press and alarming odds against us in battle and elsewhere.

East vs West-WWIII Chas Vechalila- Radical Islam vs. Materialist Western Culture

bs"d

 

I've been reading it and hearing it from various places. We are facing an Enemy that wishes to destroy the entire Western Society. General Yaalon says it, Yated who quotes Nachum Segal, the New Yorker and Frontpage etc reports it.  The New York Times will quote Nasrallah of Hizbollah and Mahmoud_Ahmadinejad the President of Iran who is quite blatant.  Even my secular brother-in-law from Maryland recognizes the reality. 

 

Jews wherever they are on their number one hit list and they are happy to have Jews conveniently placed in one place like Israel so that it is that much easier to destroy them.

 

This is my commentary.

 

The orchestrator is Hakodosh Baruch Hu.  Why does Hashem put the entire world at risk for destruction.  What is Hashem's goal?  We know that the goal is for the entire world to recognize the Oneness of Hashem.  What is the role of the Jew?  It is the Jews job to bring that recognition to the world. As it says in Aleinu "Lesakein Olam BeMalchus Shakai Vechol Benei Basar Yikrau Bishmecha.." to
Correct the World with the Kingdom of G-d and all of humanity will call Your name.

 

Let us look at the elements of Western Culture and the elements of Fundamentalist Islam.   These are the two opposing forces in the world today. Certain basic elements have given America it's power and different elements has enabled Islamic Fundamentalism's rise to power.    Judaism  has the capability to take these forces and use them to serve G-d rather than to destroy G-d's world.  When these forces are not channeled properly and when we, Am Yisroel,  the spokespeople of G-d are not doing our job, the forces go unchecked in dangerous ways.  The entire world is then in danger.

 

I will use America as the representation of Western Culture.  America is known for it's strong work ethic and puts its strong emphasis on materialism and living the good life.  One raised in western society will believe in the following: "We have worked hard and we have become the superpower that we are.  We believe in Democracy, and wish the entire world to be Democratic as ourselves.  We are powerful.  We have destabilized  Iraq so that we can put in a gov't that will be Democratic in order that the lives of the citizens of Iraq will improve.  Their quality of life will be much improved and they will benefit from Western Society freedoms.  We support the Roadmap Plan in the Middle East which will bring two Democratic States living side by side in peace and harmony.   We will destabilize any gov't and put in it's place a gov't that supports Democracy for the betterment of Mankind.  We enjoy our freedoms and wish the entire world to live in peace and prosperity and the pursuit of happiness."

 

Radical Fundamentalism puts their focus not on this world but on the the World to Come.  We believe in Allah and put our faith in Allah.  We are ready to die for Allah and wish to destroy the infidels from the world.  We don't care about material values of this world and even are willing to sacrifice our life for Allah.  We will be patient and will obtain freedom and  our beliefs will take over the world or we will achieve Martyrdom in the process.  We will win either way.  Our human life and no human life is sacred.  The Jews are weak and their State is weak.  They too have forsaken G-d and have adapted the Western ways.  It is our duty and obligation to destroy them.  We are doing the will of Allah and will be greatly rewarded in the World to Come. Allah is Great!

 

What is the role of Am Yisroel and where have we failed so miserably? 

 

The Lubavitch Rebbe writes

 

TRUST IN G-D –
and you will have peace.

When the Jewish people will trust in G-d, that the Land of Israel belongs unequivocally to them, and are willing to declare this openly to the nations of the world, then “No one will contest the matter, and you will not need to go to war.” In fact, even weapons will prove unnecessary…” The Rebbe, (Likutei Sichos, vol. 34, p. 8)

In the beginning, G-d created the Heavens and the Earth

What is the reason the Torah begins with Creation? Because if the nations of the world say to Israel: "You are robbers because you have conquered with force the lands of the nations of Canaan" Israel can answer: "He created it and gave it to whomever was proper in His eyes. Of His own will He gave it to them and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

-- Rashi on Genesis 1:1

 

------------------

 

 

Torah and Democracy are not the same.  We must choose Torah over Democracy. We must not be the puppet of the American Gov't.  We proudly must declare the Torah Position, which by definition is a theocracy, as the ideal form of government for Eretz Yisroel.  We must not fear public opinion or fear that we will be branded as Radical Religous Extremists.  We are not Islamic Fundamentalist and neither do we accept Democracy as our religion.  Eretz Yisroel and Torah and Am Yisroel are One and our mission is to be a Mamlechet Kohanim and Goy Kadosh, a Kingdom of Priests and a H-ly Nation.

 

 

Having the Land is not enough.  Living on the Land in not enough.  The Land belongs ultimately to G-d.  G-d has given us many commandments and as it says in the beginning of Parshas Reeh,

 

Deuteronomy:

²⁶ See, this day I set before you blessing and curse: ²⁷ blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I enjoin upon you this day; ²⁸ and curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn away from the path that I enjoin upon you this day and follow other gods, whom you have not known.

 

As the commentary in Stone Chumas points out, we can not choose mediocrity.  If we do not choose heights we choose curses.

 

The Torah then continues to command us to wipe out all places of idol worship. That doesn't sound too democratic.  When the Talibans destroyed the temples they were blasted in the Press.  Yet the Torah commands us to do the same to places of idol worship. Democracies believe in Freedom of Religion.  Yet the Torah would clearly wish us to destroy the temple in Tzefas whose worship is to the Sun. 

 

 Photo of the obelisk sun god freemason pillar erected on the Metzuda in 
the holy city of Tzfat.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/60787498@N00/215011807/

 

The Torah clearly delineates the boundaries of Eretz Yisroel in Parshas Maasei.  Parshas Reeh has 80 Mitzvoth.  These Mitzvoth are to be done in Eretz Yisroel.  Moshe knew that he would not be able to enter Eretz Yisroel.  The entire Sefer Devarim is guidelines of how to live in Eretz Yisroel.  How can we say that we are focusing on these Mitzvoth and at the same time disregard the Boundaries specified in Parshas Maasei.  When President Bush speaks of the Roadmap, have we united to say that it is direct contradiction to the Bible?  If we, the believers and keepers of the Bible don't speak up then who will?  When the disengagement was happening, did we unite and declare that the disengagement was clear violations of the Torah.  If we truly yearned to keep the Mitzvah of Shemitah which requires a piece of property we would never be silent.  We would declare that this is our Land and we in turn are obligated to observe the Mitzvoth.  Sefer Yehoshua is quite clear in the rebuke of the Tribes of Bnei Yisroel for their failure to conquer parts of Eretz Yisroel including Lebananon and Gaza. 

 

We see that we are on the brink if not in the midst of WWIII yet we still refuse to claim even in principal in a unified and unequivocal voice that Eretz Yisroel is the inheritance of Am Yisroel and we are obligated in keeping the Mitzvoth.

 

The Mitzvah of Shemittah is the Mitzvah that has direct relationship to security of the Land.  In this past weeks Parshas Reeh, it talks of Shemittas Kesafim.  This Mitzah requires us to relinquish our possessions for the Shemittah year. We return the Land to Hashem and if we are a farmer, forego our source of Parnassa for the year. If we are not a farmer we forego our money through loans that need not be repaid.  This is the antidote to Kochi VeOtzem Yadi  which is the cancer referred to by the Islamic Fundamentalists. 

 

Islamic Fundamentalist wish to sacrifice their lives and their children lives for their idolatrous beliefs.  The Torah clearly condemns sacrificing human life and condemns very clearly sacrificing children to the Molech.  The Torah does demand that we trust our sustenance will come from G-d alone rather than on the work of our own hands. Rather than putting our full trust in Hashem and keep the Mitzvah of Shemittah (without heter Mechirah or Pruzbul), we are willing to go to battle and die.  Our Sages say that poverty is like death.  Yet if we believed in the Torah and Mitzvoth we would believe that Shemittah brings blessings and not poverty.  And going off to War is surely more dangerous then risking losing our job and being dependant on others not to starve.  And in fact the reality of today is precisely what we are most afraid of.  Millions have been displaced and have been homeless and out of work and their homes have been looted.  And in spite of how bad it is, we still did not starve because of the tremendous Chesed of our brothers.  So now we've experienced the worse and no one can deny that it's still a lot better than what Nasrallah and Mahmoud_Ahmadinejad  wishes to do to us.

 

In Shemittah year we put our faith in G-d completely, and made sure to eat.  After the year is over we know that we did not work yet we did not starve.  In fact we ate and ate feasting from the farms of our neighbors and obtaining whatever we need through loans that we are under no obligation to repay.  When the enemy puts the gun to our necks and says get out, you are occupying OUR Land, we reply,  this Land is G-D's!  We spent this entire SHemittah year proving this point.  We let our Lands lie fallow.  We returned the Land to G-d this past year.  G-d chose us to inherit the Land because we keep the Commandments.  This year we have prayed so hard for our sustenance and have seen G-d's miracles first hand each and every day.  Praying comes second nature.  We now pray against you, our enemies and in conjunction with the merit of having kept the Torah, this will cause our enemies to dissipate like the wind.

 

When we do not keep the commandments and are willing to give away the tools necessary to keep the commandments, specifically the Land, we must Trust that Hashem too will keep His word about the curses.  Hashem Yishmor.

 

My prayer is that it is still not too late.  Let us proclaim unequivocally that the Land of Israel is Ours. We are obligated in keeping the Mitzvoth.  We believe in the Bible and what the Torah says the Torah means.  Shemittah is coming up.  We will brainstorm and call upon economists, political scientists and Biblical Scholars and come up with ideas and laws specific to a Shemittah year.  Hashem Yerachem! Please G-d have Mercy!

 

 

 

Ashera -

bs"d

 

I received this email from Zilpa of Tzefat (manna04@zahav.net.il) as for a possible explanation for the war: She quotes from Devarim:

 

Ye shall surely destroy all the places, wherein the nations that ye are 
to dispossess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the 
hills, and under every leafy tree. And ye shall break down their altars, 
and dash in pieces their pillars, and burn their Asherim with fire; and 
you shall hew down the graven images of their gods; and ye shall destroy 
their name out of that place"(Deut. 12: 2-3).

Photo of the obelisk sun god freemason pillar erected on the Metzuda in 
the holy city of Tzfat.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/60787498@N00/215011807/

Is THIS the reason for the war? Because we have left it standing? And it 
is like a thorn in our eye?

 

My response to Zilpa is:

 

Dear Zilpa, amv"sh

 

You definitely have a point. You have a yearning to have a gov't based on Torah. That is the first step to fixing the problem.  The reality is that we are not under a Torah gov't.  In today's political climate, even to suggest a gov't based on Torah where it would be proper to destroy idols etc is very very scary for people.  Do you remember how the world reacted when the Talibans destroyed the Temples?  That's the reaction we are up against.  The world has labeled any theocracy as radical fundamentalism and something to wipe out.  Us Jews have bent over backward to show how accommodating we are to all religions. 

 

To even suggest a Torah theocracy is revolutionary and the Jews and all Jewish media have silenced any hint of a suggestion of a real government based on Torah. 

 

The time has come to at the very least allow public debate about what life would be like with a government based on Torah with a Sanhedrin.  What would Torah rulings be in such a situation.  Let this be  played out in Schools and Mesivtas.  Let there be a mock Sanhedrin and let the kids be the pretend judges.  Maybe one day in the near future, Hopefully, Beezrat Hashem,  in our time soon, a government based on Torah will become the reality and we will not be jailed or marginalized because of our beliefs.

 

Kol Tuv,

 

Faige

Trust in G-d and You Will Have Peace

TRUST IN G-D –
and you will have peace.

When the Jewish people will trust in G-d, that the Land of Israel belongs unequivocally to them, and are willing to declare this openly to the nations of the world, then “No one will contest the matter, and you will not need to go to war.” In fact, even weapons will prove unnecessary…” The Rebbe, (Likutei Sichos, vol. 34, p. 8)

http://thetruthaboutisrael.org 

 

Now to my dear friends at the OU.

 

I just read this link of the Rebbe's  today. When I sent my email why not to sign the OU petition, http://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2006/08/why-not-to-sign-ou-petition.html I receive a response from Rabbi Weinreb that I shouldn't lecture on Torah and then another response from coin on my blog that I was disregarding Torah ShebaalPeh.  Even if  Reb Weinreb of the OU and coin feel that I am not a Rabbi and therefore not qualified to speak out, perhaps words of the Rebbe of Lubavitch,  recognized worldwide as being a Gadol Batorah, Torah Shebaalpeh and Torah Shebichtav and hidden Torah as well,  by Jewish and nonJewish alike, will make a better impression.

 

http://www.sichosinenglish.org/books/when-silence-is-a-sin/03.htm

The Truth About Israel - a MUST READ!

bs"d

I am not born and bred Lubavitch. I have visited his Ohel many occasions and have always found inspiration. Now I just received the following email which contained a link that was mindboggling. I beg you to find the time to read the Rebbe's writings.
http://thetruthaboutisrael.org


Devorah Gralnik wrote:
Date: Thu, 3 Aug 2006 13:35:16 -0700 (PDT)
From: Devorah Gralnik
Subject: Important Must-See Website: TheTruthAboutIsrael.org


We all want to do what we can for Israel during these turbulent times. Get a fascinating, eye-opening look at the situation -- the Lubavitcher Rebbe's vision and the Torah's view on the fate of the Land of Israel and the Jewish people. And learn what every human being ? Jew and non-Jew alike ? can do to help.

It's all laid out in a very compelling and easy-to-follow website,

http://thetruthaboutisrael.org


Please spread the word about this important website.

Take heart, have faith, and may we merit to witness with our own eyes Israel's salvation with the revelation of Moshiach...right away!


__._,_.___

Visit the website of the Flatbush Jewish Action Network, at:
http://jflatbushonline.tripod.com/FJAN.html

Why NOT to sign the OU petition

Subject: OU Petition for Israel
>Date: Fri, 4 Aug 2006 18:54:42 -0400
>
>Please visit:
> http://www.ou.org/community_services/petition

 

bs"d

 

The OU's petition is lacking one very fundamental point that must be addressed and not ignored.  Bush is supporting Israel's right to attack Hizbollah and that is good.  Bush is also promoting a 2 democratic state solution living side by side in peace.  This is a direct contradiction to the Torah.  The OU has failed to stand up for the fundamental truths of the Torah which at times is not democratic.  Hashem created the world. Hashem gave the Land of Canaan first to the Nations of Canaan.  Then Hashem took it away from them and gave it to us Am Yisroel.  He promised the Land starting with Avraham Avinu and then to Yitchok Avinu and then to Yaakov Avinu and to his seed for Achuzat Olam.  No peaceful democratic State, Palestinian or other has been promised the Land of Israel within the delineated borders specified in Parshas Masei except Am Yisroel.  It is exclusively promised to the Nation of Israel.  Judea and Samaria is an integral part of Eretz Yisroel whose boundaries are clearly within the delineated boundaries specified in Parshas Masei.  Am Yisroel in turn are obligated in keeping and guarding the Mitzvoth taught by Moshe Rabein in Sefer Devarim in the midst of the Land (Bekerev Haaretz - see Perek 4 in Sefer Devarim). 

 

The OU believes in the Torah.  They have an obligation to state the Torah whether or not it is politically correct or not.

 

I will not sign this petition since ultimately it does not go to the root of the problem. The security and humanitarian crisis we find ourselves are simply the natural consequences of ignoring what is fundamental to the Torah.  This petition, will not help unless it will attack the root.  It might temporarily suspend the spread of the disease but eventually the disease will return and G-d forbid  even with more strength.  Only the Torah will attack the root of the disease and stop it in its track.

 

Let the OU start a petition that has its roots in Torah rather than in democracy.

 

Sincerely,

 

Robin Ticker

Daven for a Soldier or for someone in harm's way. Request of Rav Kook

bs"d

 

Today I heard that the husband of Garviela (Mageni) daughter of my friend Shoshana Mageni and Chaim Mageni ob"m (the famous tour guide of Kiryat Arba) was one of the reservists killed in Lebanon.

 

Please take upon yourself a name and remind yourself and others to have them in mind.

 

 

Email Yanki Schneck
Assistant of Chief Rabbi of Rehovot itsallgood84@juno.com to get signed up.

 

Subject: REQUEST FROM RAV SIMCHA HAKOHEN KOOK

 

PLEASE SHARE WITH ALL YOUR CONTACTS, THANK YOU.  

 

DEAR COLLEAGUES

 

SHALOM ALEICHEM.

 

IT IS NOW 7:30 PM, THURSDAY EVENING IN NEW YORK,  2:30 AM, FRIDAY MORNING EARLY IN ERETZ YISRAEL.

WITHIN THE LAST 30 MINUTES I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM RABBI SIMCHA HAKOHEN KOOK, SHLITA, CHIEF RABBI OF RECHOVOT, A SPECIAL

INDIVIDUAL KNOWN TO MANY OF US, PERSONALLY. HIS CALL WAS FOLLOWED BY A FAX AND  PHONE CALLS  FROM HIS ASSISTANT, RABBI YAAKOV SCHNECK.

 

RABBI KOOK EXPLAINED TO ME HOW SERIOUS THE SITUATION IS IN ISRAEL, MORE SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS THAN ANY OF US CAN IMAGINE.

ERETZ YISRAEL NEEDS OUR CONSTANT AND SPECIAL TEFILLOS.

 

RAV KOOK SHARED WITH ME HIS VERY RECENT, WITHIN THE LAST FEW HOURS, CONVERSATION WITH RAV CHAIM KANIEVSKY, SHLITA

AND ASKED OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF YOUNG ISRAEL TO SHARE THE FOLLOWING TORAH INSIGHT AND TORAH REQUEST.

SPEARHEADING THIS EMERGENCY CAMPAIGN IS RAV KOOK AND THE BOSTONER REBBE, SHLITA.

 

I SHARE WITH YOU THEIR OPEN LETTER AND REQUEST. PLEASE SHARE THE LETTER, CONCEPT, REQUEST WITH YOUR CONGREGANTS THIS SHABBOS.

 

 

TO ACHEINU BNEI YISRAEL:

 

AFTER HEARING THE HEART-RENDERING APPEAL OF GEDOLEI TORAH TO INTENSIFY OUR TEFILOS AND TORAH LEARNING

DURING THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME FOR KLALL YISRAEL IN ERETZ YISRAEL, WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO JOIN AND ADD TO THEIR REQUEST.

 

THE TORAH INFORMS US THAT IN THE WAR THAT MOSHE RABBEINU AND KLALL YISRAEL WAGED AGAINST MIDYON, MOSHE "DRAFTED"

ELEF L'MATEH, ELEF L'MATEH---ONE THOUSAND SOLDIERS FROM EACH SHEVET/TRIBE. THE MEDRASH RABBA AND THE YALKUT SHIMONI EXPLAIN

THAT IN FACT, EACH SHEVET SENT ONE THOUSAND PAIRS, TWO THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS--ONE THOUSAND TO FIGHT AND ONE THOUSAND

TO DAVEN.  EACH SOLDIER HAD HIS DESIGNATED PERSON WHOSE TASK WAS TO DAVEN AND LEARN FOR HIS SPECIFIC SOLDIER COLLEAGUE.

AND THE TORAH TELLS US--V'LO NIFKAD MIMENU ISH, NO ONE WAS KILLED FROM AMONGST THE JEWISH ARMY.

 

WE BROUGHT THIS IDEA TO RAV CHAIM KANIEVSKY, SHLITA,. HE WAS QUITE HAPPY ABOUT THE IDEA AND POINTED OUT THAT

DOVID HAMELECH INSTITUTED THE PLAN, AS WELL. EACH INVDIVIDUAL WHO WAS IN COMBAT HAD A DESIGNATED PERSON WHO WAS

DAVENING AND LEARNING IN HIS MERIT.

 

THEREFORE, WE ASK OF EVERYONE --SOLDIERS, RESIDENTS OF CITIES AND TOWNS THAT ARE UNDER ATTACK, THOSE THAT ARE IN SHELTERS,

ALL THAT FIND THEMSELVES IN DANGER, TO CONTACT US, TO GIVE US YOUR HEBREW NAME AND THE HEBREW NAME OF YOUR MOTHER.

WE WILL FIND A JEW WHO WILL ACCEPT UPON HIMSELF/HERSELF TO DAVEN AND LEARN, SPECIFICALLY AS A MERIT FOR YOUR SAFETY AND SECURITY. 

 

WE CALL UPON THE JEWISH COMMUNITY--MEN AND WOMEN, ADULT AND YOUTH, IN THE DIASPORA, TO JOIN IN THIS HOLY

ENDEAVOR, ACCEPT A NAME OF A  SOLDIER OR CIVILIAN WHO FINDS HIMSELF/HERSELF IN DANGER. BOND WITH ACHEINU

BNEI YISRAEL IN ERETZ YISRAEL AND "PARTNER" IN TORAH AND TEFILAH WITH A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL, HAVE THAT PERSON,

BY NAME, INCLUDED IN YOUR TEFILOS, TORAH LEARNING AND ACTS OF CHESED.

 

IF YOU WISH TO PARTNER WITH A JEW IN ISRAEL, PLEASE CONTACT US AND WE WILL SHARE WITH YOU A JEW WHO WOULD BE HONORED AND

APPRECIATIVE TO BE PART OF YOUR TEFILOS AND TORAH LEARNING.

BY TELEPHONE, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8-10 PM IN ERETZ YISRAEL, 011-972-2-581-1911; BY FAX, 011-972-2-651-2950;

BY E-MAIL MAORTLMO@BEZEQINT.NET

 

IN THE MERIT OF OUR CONCERN FOR EACH OTHER, MAY WE SEE A SUCCESSFUL END TO THIS WAR, AS IT SAYS IN THE PASUK, V'LO NIFKAD MIMENU ISH,

WITHOUT THE LOSS OF EVEN JUST ONE MORE PERSON.

 

--THE LETTER IS SIGNED BY THE BOSTONER REBBE, SHLITA AND RAV SIMCHA HAKOHEN KOOK

 

--IF WE AT NATIONAL COUNCIL OF YOUNG ISRAEL CAN ASSIST IN MATCHING A CONCERNED JEW WITH A BROTHER OR SISTER IN ISRAEL,

A SOLDIER OR CIVILIAN, PLEASE DO CALL UPON US. TEL 212-929-1525 EXT 100/101; FAX 212-727-9526; E-MAIL EXECVP@YOUNGISRAEL.ORG

 

--THANK YOU, TIZKU L'MITZVOT

 

 

Rabbi Pesach Lerner

Executive Vice President

National Council of Young Israel

111 John Street   Suite 450

New York, NY 10038

212-929-1525 ext 115

Fax 212-727-9526

 

from:
 Elisha Klausner
 Menahel
 Veitzener Cheder

Rav at  Kahal Tiferes Yisroel

"Osa Shalom bimromav ho yaesa shalom elaneu val kul yisrael bimeranu AMEN!!!!!!!!!!"

Let's not Cry for Israel. Let's Sing for Israel

bs"d

 

In the Stone Chumash, the commentary states that Moshe desired keeping the Mitzvoth of the Land of Israel and therefore begged Hashem to enter the Land.  He knew that the only way he could keep these Mitzvoth, like Shemittah, Teruma and Maaser etc was in the Land itself.  Moshe didn't care if he wasn't the leader.  Moshe simply wanted an opportunity to keep the Mitzvoth of Eretz Yisroel. Sefer Devarim focus is on Mitzvoth on how to live in Eretz Yisroel.  Moshe knew that he was not to enter the Land so he spent the last days of his life (from Rosh Chodesh Shvat till 7 Adar) to instruct the people on how to live in the Land of Israel rather than in a spiritual desert. 

 

I would focus on Devarim, Perek 4 Pasuk 5 "See I have taught you decrees and ordinances as Hashem, my G-d has commanded me to do so in the midst of the Land to which you come, to possess it."

 

Why are we not challenging the Gedoilim of our generation who are misguiding the hundreds of thousands of followers into believing that speaking out against the Conversion Plan or against the Roadmap is a political  position.  There is nothing political about these policies.  It is anti Torah.  The Torah specifically instructs Am Yisroel to conquer the Land and keep the Mitzvoth in the midst of the Land, to possess it.   This idea is very clearly repeated in Pasuk 14 Perek 4.  "Hashem commanded me at that time to teach you decrees and ordinances, that you shall perform them in the Land to which you cross to possess it. " This is clearly Torah Shebaal Peh.  Moshe is teaching the people.  If we challenge the Rabbanim we are asked where is your Emunas Chachamim?  Yet it is quite clear that Moshe Rabbeinu, the ultimate teacher and source of Torah Shebaal Peh clearly speaks about the Mitzvoth in the midst of the Land. 

 

How can our Gedoilim detach themselves from the claim to the Land.  The boundaries of Eretz Yisroel before Chait Hamiraglim were much more broad.  The boundaries in Matos Masei include Lebanon and Gaza.  Yet these two areas were never conquered by Yehoshua.  We have the opportunity in our generation to fix these sins.  We can proclaim that we desire Eretz Yisroel and we yearn to keep the Mitzvoth such as Shemittah and all the other Mitzvoth read at Hakhel.  We have the opportunity to proclaim Lebanon and Gaza as part of the Biblical inheritance as delineated in Parshas Masei. 

 

I would choose not to Cry for Israel but proudly claim Eretz Yisroel as our Biblical Inheritance and subject to all kinds of obligations that no other Nation has.  When we recognize our special role, and when we safeguard and perform them(decrees and ordinances), because it is "your wisdom and discernment in the eyes of the people", the nations of the world will say "Surely a wise and discerning people is this great nation."

 

The pasuk says "Ushmartem Vasisem".  You should keep and guard them.  These words are used specifically also for Shabbos.  How can we keep and do the Mitzvoth without the Land  We can merely learn about the Mitzvoth.  That is direct proof that the Land must be under our sovereign hands.  Lakewood or Boro Park is not good enough to keep and perform these Mitzvoth Bekerev Haaretz. One can only learn about them in Lakewood and Boro Park.  One can actually perform them in a  place like Itamar in the Shomron. 

 

It also uses the same terminology when the Torah talks about Gan Eden that Adam must guard it and protect it.  The same words "Leshamra Ulavda".  Let me suggest that the Mitzva that will clearly show the world Chochmaschem Ubinaschem is the Mitzva of Shemitta which includes the essence of Shabbos.  It is Shabbat Haaretz.  The time has come to really focus on Shemitta and how it can be performed without Takana of Hillel, Pruzbul which was a response to a weakness in Emuna after the Churban.  Let us brainstorm about keeping Shemitta w/o Heter Mechira which was established due to a fear of starvation.  These two takanot undermine our show of Emunah by performing Shemitas Kesafim and Shemitas Karkaot.  Keeping Shemittah w/o these Takanot is quite revolutionary and very scary.  We still have over a year to brainstorm.  Lets call in the economists, the political scientists, the Torah Scholars and discuss how such a government can function when the entire farming community is on Sabbatical and the non farming community are told to loan to the poor with an open hand and not demand retribution.  It sounds very much like a socialist, kibbutz lifestyle without working the land.

 

We will come up with a government that is nothing like the existing models.  Actually it will be a combination of the two.  For 6 years it will model the Capitalist economic system that we love and respect in America and on the seventh year it will model the Kibbutz lifestyle that actually allowed the State of Israel to grow and flourish immediately following the Holocaust.  This kibbutz, socialist model for a people that individually had next to nothing and collectively pooled their resources, was integral and necessary and successful in the initial development of the State of Israel.

 

This is the Shira Chadasha for our generation to replace all sadness and crying.

 

 

U'Teshuvah, U'Tefila U'Tzedakah maavirin et roa ha-gezera,"

bs"d

 

U'Teshuvah, U'Tefila U'Tzedakah Maavirin et Roa Ha-gezera,

And Repentance,  and Prayer and Charity remove the Harsh Decree

 

Teshuva:  Let us desire  Eretz Yisroel and her boundaries delineated in Parshas Masei.

 

Let us yearn to keep the Mitzvoth of the Torah. Focus on the Mitzvah of Shemittah and the Mitzvoth read at Hakhel as Moshe Rabbeinu yearned in Parshath Veeschanan to enter Eretz Yisroel in order to keep the Mitzvoth of Eretz Yisroel.

 

Tefillah: Davan for the welfare of our brethren and the soldiers that are in harms way.

 

Tzedakah: Respond to the appeals in announcements in your local papers and in shuls for help for our brothers and sisters from the Northern part of Eretz Yisroel

 

 

Thoughts about Tisha Baav - Roy Neuberger - Why Lebanon?

 

THOUGHTS FOR TISHA B'AV
WHY LEBANON?

Dear Friends:

            Tonight is Tisha B'Av.

            I realized this week that I had been making a big mistake.  I had not been praying with enough passion because I just assumed that the Israel Defense Forces would take care of our enemies. 

            According to the Mishna B'rura, before one takes any medical treatment or medicine, one should say a prayer acknowledging that nothing can cure us without it being the will of the Creator.  The pill or medical treatment is an attempt on our part, as beings who dwell in a material world, to do everything within our power to get better.  But the cure comes only from G-d.

            Every day we say the blessing, "Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, Who gives sight to the blind."  What do you mean "blind"? I am not blind; I can see.  I once heard Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon explain this blessing.  NO, WE CANNOT SEE!  It is not "normal" for us to see.  It is totally a gift of G-d!  We are nothing!  We have no existence, no vision, no strength, no intelligence, no happiness, no success; we have nothing unless G-d gives it to us!  We should not delude ourselves: only the Master of the Universe saves us in every situation. 

The same is true in Israel.  Our brethren in the Land of Israel are putting their lives on the line.  Only G-d can save us. 

But why are we fighting in Lebanon on Tisha B'Av?  What do Lebanon and Tisha B'Av have to do with each other? 

My friends, you will be amazed. 

 

Last week, I was looking in the Artscroll Tanach at a map of the Biblical boundaries of the Land of Israel.  I noticed two large shaded areas, so I checked to see what they indicated.  I almost fell off my chair.  The shaded areas are the parts of Biblical Israel that were never conquered by Joshua. 

What are the names of those shaded areas?  Are you ready?

They are ... GAZA AND LEBANON! 

GAZA AND LEBANON, the exact areas that are giving us such terrible tzouris!  The two areas that Joshua never conquered for Am Yisroel today hold our most vicious enemies, from which deadly missiles, violence and hatred pour out upon us!

For days I tried to understand the meaning of this discovery.  Motzae Shabbos, before going to sleep, I asked G-d to help me.  The following morning I looked at this week's Parsha, Va'eschanan, and I saw in Rashi's commentary the most amazing answer.

The Parsha begins with Moses imploring G-d to allow him to enter the Land of Israel.  "Please let me cross and see the good land that is on the other side of the Jordan, this good mountain and....." 

And what?  What is the word that Moses uses to complete this sentence? 

LEBANON!

LEBANON?

What does Lebanon have to do with this? 

Please listen, my friends, to the holy words of Rashi.

What is the "good mountain" to which Moses refers? 

"Jerusalem."

And what is "Lebanon"?

"This is the Bais HaMikdosh, the Holy Temple, which whitens ("lavan" is "white" in Hebrew) Israel's sins."

"Lebanon" is the Holy Temple, which "whitens Israel's sins."

Let us pause for a moment to digest the enormity of this understanding.

We are here, at the end of history, fighting for our lives.  We stand, in the days before Tisha B'Av, the day of the destruction of the HOLY TEMPLE, in a life and death struggle in LEBANON, which stands for the HOLY TEMPLE.

There are no accidents in history, my friends.

The Battle in Lebanon and the battle of our souls on Tisha B'Av are one and the same!  This is the battle to "whiten Israel's sins."  The nations of the world understand that we are all on the verge of the Final Redemption, when all falsehood and evil will be erased from the earth and the Children of Israel will return to our Homeland and the Holy Temple will return to Jerusalem, never to be destroyed again.

The battle in Lebanon is not about land or politics or public opinion polls, but is in fact the final stand of the enemies of the Children of Israel, the enemies of Biblical Destiny.  THE BATTLE OF LEBANON IS THE BATTLE TO PREVENT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FROM RETURNING TO G-D AND BRINGING ABOUT THE ADVENT OF THE HOLY TEMPLE. 

Of course, we will prevail!   Our prophets have told us that history will end with the coming of Moshiach and the Re-Building of the Holy Temple.  But now it is our turn!  We are all soldiers in this war to cleanse the soul of our people and bring the Temple back forever.  We are all on the front lines with our gallant soldiers and the courageous residents of our Holy Land who are now living in bomb shelters. 

ON THIS TISHA B'AV EVERYTHING IS AT STAKE.  WE CAN NOT TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED.  The footsteps of Moshiach are audible and the Holy Temple is ready to return to the Holy Mountain.  The battle for LEBANON, the "whitening of the sins of Israel" is on, and every one of us is a soldier in this holy war.

May our prayers this Tisha B'Av pierce the heavens and gladden our Father in Heaven with our complete repentance and return to Him in teshuva!

With blessings,

                                                                          Roy S. Neuberger