Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Serious Purim Dvar Torah by Mike Guzofsky. Milchemet Mitzva, Pidyon Shvuyim

bs"d
 
This letter is not only a Dvar Torah. If you read till the end you will see it  also has personal relevance to a man, Yekutiel ben Yaakov, aka  Mike Guzofsky, that is scheduled to being sentenced on March 25th for his activism in raising awareness that this is a Milchemet Mitzvah and we are obligated to fight our enemies that wish to destroy us.  There is a Mitzvah of Pidyon Shvuyim, but the writer goes beyond his own personal threat to freedom and desires that we address and validate his cry that we go as a Nation and literally fight our enemies as per the Mitzva of fighting Amalek.  Is Hamas, Fatah, Hizbollah on the same plane as Amalek?  Their roots show  alliance and allegiance with Nazi Germany. Their ideology is no different than Nazi Germany.  By nature, the Jewish people do not like to fight and kill.  It is abhorrent to our very nature.  Yet this is a mitzva that we must do in spite of our Nature.  Hashem Oz LAmo Yiten Hashem Yevarech es Amo Bashalom! 
 
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ONE LAND FOR ONE NATION – IT IS US OR THEM!
 
A day does not pass without us being reminded that there is no possibility to achieve peaceful coexistence between Jews and Arabs in Israel, and that we must decide: "us or them!" G-d willing, we will review here some basic questions and answers from contemporary Torah sources that will all lead us to the above conclusion and to the rationale behind this assertion. In truth, if Israel's short history is not sufficient evidence that there exists no relevant "peace partner" with whom Israel could talk peace, it is hardly likely that sources and logic will play a role in proving this to the "blind Hebrews". However, there are far too many Jewish lives at stake to free ourselves of the monumental task to attempt persuading even those Jews who still prefer sacrificing themselves, their homeland and their children on the altar of the false peace Gods such as "Oslo", "Annapolis" and "The Roadmap".
 
Is there logic to support the determination of the Ramban and others who state that the mitzvah of living in the land obligates us to be the sole and exclusive rulers in Eretz Israel? (Additions to Ramban's positive commandments 4)
 
The Torah declares (Bamidbar 33:55) "If you do not inherit the land from them, the ones who remain will be thorns in your eyes.." Rashi explains on the preceding verse, "Inherit the land and settle therein" – Inherit the land - Disinherit its inhabitants, and dwell therein – and then you shall be able to dwell there, if not, you will not be able to survive there."  Must this be the case – is there no hope of reconciliation, where we can all live together in peace and in harmony?
 
The Gemarah (Megillah 11A) and the Midrash (Intro to Esther Rabbah 7) brings down the view of R' Levi who summarizes the whole holiday of Purim and the entire Book of Esther with the verse in Bamidbar 33: "If you do not inherit the land…" What is the connection? That verse is referring to conquering and settling the land of Israel, whereas the story of  Purim is unfolding in the Exile, in Persia?
 
The Book of Esther (9: 26) informs us that the source for "Purim" being the name of the holiday is based on the fact that lots were drawn to determine the day slated by Haman and Ahashverosh for the annihilation of the Jews which was to be the 13th of Adar. The word used to describe the lottery is "pur". Why then do we refer to Purim in the plural, we should be celebrating "Pur" the singular use of the word in reference to the "Pur"?
 
If we review the story of Purim closely we will learn that Ahashverosh already signed on Haman's proposal of a "final solution" to annihilate all Jews at their meeting on the 13th of Nissan, Erev Pesach. In other words, the decree was passed down 11 months before it was to be implemented. Mordecai then warns Esther, and she calls for a three-day-fast which was held 13, 14, and 15 of Nissan. On the third day, she risks entering Ahashverosh's chambers in the palace, inviting Haman and Ahashverosh to a festive party on the 15th of Nissan. There she says to Ahashverosh, "come tomorrow and I will do as the king instructs." On the eve of the16th of Nissan, Ahashverosh could not sleep, and he is reminded of the incident when Mordecai rescued him. It is on the 16th of Nissan when Mordecai is dressed in his Majesty's garb and given the honorable display by none other than Haman - who is given the task, to parade Mordecai through town, while Mordecai rides atop the king's horse and Haman, walks leading the horse to honor Mordecai. Immediately following the tour through metropolitan Shushan, on the first day of Hol Hamoed Pesach, Haman is hung. Haman remains hanging for 11 months, until the Jews were given license by the king to take revenge against all of those who wished to harm them. The Jews kill 75,000 of their enemies and the ten sons of Haman.
 
In other words, Haman was killed 11 moths before the decree to kill the Jews was rescinded. While Mordecai was given Haman's house in Nissan, it was not until close to one year later when the Jews are able to celebrate their victory. Esther spent 70 days until the 23rd day of Sivan, to no avail, beseeching the king to rescind Haman's evil decree. The king is still dead set on annihilating the Jews. What was Esther's mistake? Why was she still as of yet unable to abolish the wacko decree left behind from the now deceased Haman?
 
Rav Shmuel Eliyahu offers the following answer: The story is told in the Zohar (Zohar Tosfot 304) Rabbi Elazar, son of Rav Shimon Bar Yochai was standing with friends in the field when he saw a dangerous snake that was about to pounce on a Jew. Rav Elazar approached the snake and told him that the Jew who he is going to bite has already repented and is no longer deserving of his death-bite. The snake stopped in his tracks, but refused to leave the area, still posing a clear threat. Rav Eliezer then repeated his words over and again to the snake who still refused to leave. It was only then, when Rabbi Elazar realized what his mistake was. "I know what you want, return to your cave, where you will find an evil gentile who has caused tragedy to Jews, go and bite him!" The snake quickly followed Rabbi Elazar's dictate and went to bite and kill the evil gentile.
 
Rabbi Elazar then went to explain to his friends this strange discourse with the snake, explaining that a decree can not be rescinded "on empty" without being given an alternative direction and recipient to receive that end verdict.
 
Rav Eliyahu explains the connection to Esther: What took Rav Elazar three times to realize, also took some time for Esther to understand. You can't nullify a decree "on empty". The decree is rescinded only after Esther requests to annihilate and destroy those who oppress us. Then, and only then, is her request simply granted.
 
Rabbi Eliyahu wrote those prophetic words on the eve of the expulsion of 10,000 Jews from their homes in Gaza and in the Shomron. He added, "Perhaps the best way to fight the expulsion order is to redirect it agains the evil gentiles…we must learn to state our case with clarity from Esther. This will draw an end to the needless bloodshed on both sides that has been going on for too long."
 
The time has come to understand that there is no such thing as an empty void or vacuum in this world. Israel is not an empty area open to absorb all. Eretz Israel does not belong to us and to them. There is no hope of coexistence with two nations dwelling on the same tiny parcel of land. As Rashi explains, we will never be successful in settling the land with peace and security as long as they are here. It is only with this mindset that we will be able to overcome the decrees and challenges placed by Ishmael as well as those decreed by our own government. As long as the modern day Amelekites remain in our midst we will not achieve peace or security. And this explains Rabbi Levi's use of the verse referring to disinheriting the inhabitants of the land to summarize the essence and lesson of Purim. While the verse is speaking of all of the inhabitants of the land and not necessarily Amalek, the principle remains the same. One can not expect to live in peace and harmony with those who seek to destroy them. One needs to internalize the need to destroy their enemies before they destroy them. Shaul had mercy on Aggag the King of Amalek and Haman, Aggag's descendant, in afar away land, will later threaten to annihilate every Jew in the world.
 
Why doesn't Rabbi Elazar use the verses in Samuel that refer to the direct sin of Shaul which could be used to trace the history of Haman? Because he wishes to introduce the idea and the concept of the connecting theme to all of our tragedies throughout Jewish history – the psychological national illness that will plague the Jewish people until they are able to break out of the shackles of fear of the Exile; the fear of the reaction of the gentiles if we do that which G-d has commanded us to do, and in this case that which logic dictates – to drive out our enemies before they drive us out.
 
There are two choices, and only two choices. It is us or them. We will either have the faith to do those "dangerous" mitzvoth which truly test our faith in G-d or continue to march down the path of self-destruction, capitulating before the very gentiles who seek to destroy us.
 
Next week, on the 18th of Adar, (25th of March) I am scheduled to be sentenced before a Jerusalem court (Judge Rivkah Feldman) for holding an independent national referendum before the disengagement expulsion where I offered these two alternatives; The Sharon plan to expel 10,000 Jews from their homes or the Jewish alternative to expel our enemies and to distance the threat of  kassams and terror. I was convicted of "incitement to racism" and can be sentenced on Tuesday March 25th at 10:00 AM to as much as five-year's prison for my outrageous crime. According to the confused courts of Israel, it is not considered racist to actually drive thousands of Jews out of their homes, however to hold a mock referendum where people are given a choice to cast their vote on the subject, is considered racist. In the meantime, the Kassams are falling on our heads, with greater intensity and range, and the murderers are intensifying their efforts to murder us and our children.
 
I would like to call upon you all to join me in the court room or in protest outside of the court building at the Russian Compound in Jerusalem Tuesday morning 9:30 AM, March 25th. If you can't be there then send a contribution to help me appeal and publish this insane verdict. This is not about the freedom of Yekutiel Ben Yakov (Mike Guzofsky) I will feel greater freedom in a prison cell than most of the people roaming the streets of Israel. This is about saving Israel before it is too late. This is about demanding the freedom to propose the only alternative that can save Jewish lives today. This is about supporting the necessary action to prevent massacres like the one that just happened in Mercaz HaRav. This is about having the wisdom to understand that the decree will not be rescinded until we redirect it on the heads of those who dream of our destruction!
Contributions can be sent to 'Mishalot Yisrael' POBox 6592 Jerusalem Israel.
 


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Fwd: ZVIYA SARIEL RELEASED-FOUND INNOCENT! HALLEL!

bs"d
 
TIME TO SING HALLEL!
 
Hodu LaHashem Ki Tov, Ki LeOlam Chasdo! 
 
Sing Praises to Hashem because it (He) is good, His Kindness is with us forever! 
 
MIn Hameitzer Karasi Ka, Anani BaMerchav Ka...From the straits did I call upon G-d, He answered me with expansiveness.
 
Pischu Li Shaarei Tzedek Avo Vam, Odeh Ka. Open for me the gates of righteousness, I will enter them and thank G-d.
 
Zeh Hashaar LaHashem, Tzadikim Yavou Vo  This is the gate of Hashem, the righteous shall enter through it (this first letters of the words in this pasuk has the initials of TZvia's hebrew name)
 
Odcha Ki Anisani Vetehi Li Leyeshua  I thank You for You have answered me and You have become for me a salvation
 
Even Maasu Habonim Haysa Lerosh Pina  The stone despised by the builders has become the cornerstone.
 
Meyeis Hashem Haysa Zos, Hi Niflos Beyneynu.  From Hashem emanated this, it is wondrous in our eyes.
 
Zeh Hayom Asa Hashem, Nagila Venismecha Vo.  This is the day Hashem has made, let us rejoice and be glad!
 




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How can we offer sacrifices of Thanksgiving in our Day when there is no Holy Tem

bs"d
 
 
In response to Jon Silverman's letter, does anyone have any suggestions? 




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great letter from Jon Silverman! Fantastic

The Alter Rebbe said "live with the times" [the times of the parsha].

I receive your news of Tzviya Sariel getting released. At the same time, i read in today's torah portion of Tzav, Rashi's commentary on a thanksgiving offering:

12
.
If he is bringing it as a thanksgiving-offering. i.e., if [he is bringing the offering] to give thanks [to God] for a miracle that had happened to him, for instance, those who made a sea-voyage [and returned safely] or journeyed in the desert, or those who had been imprisoned [and were subsequently released], or a sick person who recovered. All these are required to give thanks [to God], for regarding them, it is written, "They shall give thanks to the Lord for His kindness and for his wonders to the children of men. And they shall slaughter sacrifices of thanksgiving" (Ps. 107:2122).

I was wondering what one says when one is released from getting imprisoned, too.  And now i know. Thanks to your email.

I love living with the times. 
keep up with the great emails!

----- Original Message ----
From: "FaigeRayzel@aol.com" <FaigeRayzel@aol.com>
To: FaigeRayzel@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 3:35:13 PM
Subject: Tzviya Sariel to be Released on Wednesday

 
Yasher Koach to all of us that didn't give up and worked on her behalf  and the mitzvah of Pidion Shvuyim, freeing captives, and recognized her struggle as being one that is not a personal one but one that exposed the rotten core of the judicial system within Israel.  Even her most basic civil rights of requiring proof of evidence of a crime  in order to be imprisoned was ignored and they continued to harass her and imprison her when charges were dropped.
 
This should just be the beginning in my opinion of our activism for an authentic judicial system based on Torah.  Tzviya's treatment proved that she was right on target for her unwillingness to recognize Israel's judicial courts.  The way they treated her proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that their system has nothing to do with justice but is simply the gov'ts tool to harass it's loyal citizens in Judea and Samaria.  The whole reason Tzviya, a young girl,  was so stubborn regarding her refusal of being heard at the secular court was from experience in witnessing the way others were treated by the courts. 
 
Let us work to promote the idea of a Torah based judicial system which is Tzviya's desire. Even the secular are interested in Mishpat Ivri rather than a hodge podge of British, Turkish and Israeli law. Judges can not be above the law and neither can policemen and policewomen.  We say in the Shemoneh Esreh (18 blessings in the morning and afternoon prayers) the following blessing. Hoshiva Shofteinu Kavarishona Veyoatzeinu Kevatchila.  Return our judges and advisors as in days in the past.  Tzion Bamishpat Tepadeh Veshaveha Bitzdaka.  Zion, with justice will be redeemed and those that return (or those captured) with righteousness.

 

On the day Tzviya is released, let us give thanks to Hashem! 

 

Baruch Ata Hashem elokeinu Melech Haolam Matir Assurim.  Blessed are you Hashem, King of the Universe for releasing the captive.








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Rav Yaakov Yosef, Rav Ovadia's son speaks out for Torah & demands Shas to leave!

bs'd
 

Thank you Israel Kaplan for sending me this.  All members of Shas should put their support behind Rav Yaakov Yosef who is a true leader and speaks out for Torah and not blinded by money.
DURING RECENT MONTH IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT DISCUSSIONS OVER SPLITTING JERUSALEM HAS BEEN PUT ON THE TABLE.  ABBAS, HAS ACKNOWLEDGED SEVERAL TIMES THAT IT IS BEING DISCUSSED AND OLMERT DENIES AND SO THESE TWO WORLD CLASS IDIOTS PLAY THEIR GODLESS AND EVIL GAMES.   ON THE TORONTO SCENE HOWEVER ANOTHER PROOF THAT JERUSALEM IS BEING DISCUSSED WAS WHEN SEVERAL LOCAL JEWS APPROACHED THE INFLUENTIAL COMMUNITY LEADERS TO SPEAK OUT AND EXPOSE OLMERTS EVIL PLANS. THE HEAD OF THIS ORGANIZATION STATED " I HAVE KNOWN NOW FOR QUITE SOME TIME THAT THE ISRAELI GOVT.  HAS SOLD OUT JERUSALEM".     THE SHAS PARTY IS AND WILL BE PARTY TO THE DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL UNLESS THEY ARE REMOVED VERY, VERY QUICKLY.
 
 
FROM WND'S JERUSALEM BUREAU
'Jewish party sold Jerusalem for $138 million'
Rabbi blasts his father for remaining in Israeli leader's coalition

Posted: March 17, 2008
9:52 pm Eastern

By Aaron Klein
© 2008 WorldNetDaily
JERUSALEM – In unprecedented criticism of his father, the son of the spiritual leader of a major coalition partner in Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government demanded his father's party immediately bolt the government amid rampant media reports Jerusalem is up for negotiations.
Rabbi Jacob Yosef accused the ultra-Orthodox Shas party of "selling Jerusalem" for 478 million Israeli shekels, or $138 million. Yosef's father, Rabbi Ovadye Yosef, serves as the spiritual leader of Shas, where he is also considered the party's more important and revered figure.
Earlier this month, the Knesset's Finance Committee approved $138 million in government funds to Shas' educational institutions as part of the party's coalition agreement with Olmert.
 
If Shas bolts, Olmert's coalition government could fall apart, precipitating new elections.
"How dare you sell out Jerusalem for 478 million shekels. Jerusalem is worth more than all monies in the world," said Jacob Yosef, rabbi of the Givat Mordechai neighborhood in Jerusalem, addressing his father's party.
Jacob Yosef is also a member of the Rabbinical Congress for Peace, a coalition of more than 350 Israeli rabbinic leaders and pulpit rabbis.
The Israeli Shas party has stated it would bolt the prime minister's coalition if it becomes clear the Israeli government is negotiating to cede of any part of Jerusalem.
Olmert repeatedly has insisted Israeli-Palestinian negotiations are not dealing with the status of Jerusalem, but Palestinian leaders, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abba, and many Israeli officials, including Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, have said in recent weeks negotiations are covering all core issues, including Jerusalem.
Yosef accused his father's party of staying in the government until a formal announcement regarding dividing Jerusalem is made, by which time, the rabbi said, it will be too late.
"When someone brings a rope to hang your child, will you say 'oh, it's nothing, he only brought a rope?' Or if a killer is only sharpening the knife, will you say, 'it's nothing, he's only sharpening the knife?' You will stop him right at the beginning because by the time the knife is on the throat it will be too late. What is Shas waiting for? It must leave the government right now," Yosef exclaimed.
Shas denies Jerusalem is being discussed during weekly Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, which commenced after last November's U.S.-sponsored Annapolis summit.
"Nobody is talking about Jerusalem. The moment Jerusalem is being discussed, Shas will leave the government – period," Shas Spokesman Roi Lachmanovitch told Israel National News.
A Rabbinical Congress for Peace statement issued earlier this month said: "Every novice journalist and anyone listening to the news in Israel knows that giving up large chunks of Jerusalem has been on the negotiating table for quite some time and is in its advanced stages. Only the representatives of Shas are burying their heads in the ground and pretend they know of nothing."
"They are lying to themselves and deceiving their electorate. The Shas ministers know that Olmert and Abbas have agreed not to make public any agreement on Jerusalem until after the final signature in order to keep Shas in the government," said the RCP statement.
The statement was signed by scores of prominent rabbinic leaders here.
Since the Annapolis summit, which aimed to create a Palestinian state before the end of the year, senior negotiating teams including Livni and chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia have been meeting weekly while Olmert and Abbas meet biweekly.
Unlike previous Israeli-Palestinian negotiations in which both sides attended with about a dozen advisors each, Livni's and Quereai's teams are small, usually consisting at most of five people each. Media leaks from the current negotiations have been rare. Some momentum is highly expected before a visit Bush has scheduled to Israel in May, his second trip since Annapolis.
Olmert's government has hinted a number of times it will divide Jerusalem and reportedly has halted all Jewish construction permits for eastern sections of the city.
In December, Israeli Vice Premier Haim Ramon said the country "must" give up sections of Jerusalem for a future Palestinian state, even conceding the Palestinians can rename Jerusalem "to whatever they want."
"We must come today and say, friends, the Jewish neighborhoods, including Har Homa, will remain under Israeli sovereignty, and the Arab neighborhoods will be the Palestinian capital, which they will call Jerusalem or whatever they want," said Ramon during an interview.
Positions held by Ramon, a ranking member of Olmert's Kadima party, are largely considered to be reflective of Israeli government policy.
Olmert himself recently questioned whether it was "really necessary" to retain Arab-majority eastern sections of Jerusalem.
Israel recaptured eastern Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount – Judaism's holiest site – during the 1967 Six Day War. The Palestinians have claimed eastern Jerusalem as a future capital; the area has large Arab neighborhoods, a significant Jewish population and sites holy to Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
About 231,000 Arabs live in Jerusalem, mostly in eastern neighborhoods, and many reside in illegally constructed complexes. The city has an estimated total population of 724,000.
Olmert to blame for dividing Jerusalem?
Ramon listed population statistics as the reason Olmert's government finds it necessary to split Jerusalem.
But WND broke the story that according to Jerusalem municipal employees, during 10 years as mayor of Jerusalem, Olmert instructed city workers not to take action against hundreds of illicit Arab building projects throughout eastern sections of Jerusalem housing over 100,000 Arabs squatting in the city illegally.
The workers and some former employees claim Olmert even instructed city officials to delete files documenting illegal Arab construction of housing units in eastern Jerusalem.
Olmert was Jerusalem mayor from 1993 to 2003. As mayor, he made repeated public statements calling Jerusalem the "eternal and undivided capital" of Israel. Jerusalem municipal employees and former workers, though, paint a starkly contrasting picture of the prime minister.
"He did nothing about rampant illegal Arab construction in Jerusalem while the government cracked down on illegal Jewish construction in the West Bank," said one municipal employee who worked under Olmert. She spoke on condition of anonymity, because she still works for the municipality.
One former municipal worker during Olmert's mayoral tenure told WND he was moved in 1999 to a new government posting after he tried to highlight the illegal Arab construction in Jerusalem. He also spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing for his current job.
Aryeh King, chairman of the Jerusalem Forum, which promotes Jewish construction in Jerusalem, told WND an investigation by his group found Olmert's city hall deleted files documenting hundreds of illegal Arab building projects throughout eastern sections of Jerusalem. He said he forwarded his findings to Israel's state comptroller for investigation.
King also claims Olmert told senior municipal workers not to enforce a ban on illegal Arab buildings.
"Ehud Olmert gave the order not to deal with the problem and not to put Israeli security forces to the duty of taking down the illegal Arab complexes," said King. "Senior municipal workers told me Olmert said not to bother with the illegal Arab homes, because eventually eastern Jerusalem would be given to the Palestinian Authority."
King's report alleges Jerusalem municipal officials erased the files, which detail over 300 cases of Arab construction in eastern Jerusalem deemed illegal starting from 1999. The illegal buildings reportedly were constructed without permits and are still standing. According to law, they must be demolished.
Local media reports investigating King's charges alleged the files were erased by Ofir May, the head of Jerusalem's Department of Building Permits, with the specific intention of allowing the statute of limitation on enforcing the demolition of the illegal construction to run out.
The Jerusalem municipality released a statement in response to the allegations claiming the threat of Arab violence kept it from bulldozing the illegal Arab homes.
"During the years of the intifada, the municipality had difficulty carrying out the necessary level of enforcement in the neighborhoods of eastern Jerusalem due to security constraints," the statement read.
King said the hundreds of buildings allegedly detailed in the deleted municipal files house more than 20,000 illegal units.
"We're talking about perhaps 100,000 or more Arabs in eastern Jerusalem living in illegal homes with the government doing nothing about it," King said.


 


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IZZY KAPLAN
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