Must see videos! *Shomron leaders fight PR War in Congress with Success! " Hasbara in Washington and *Mattot Arim documents Nationalist MKs performance in Knesset.

Bs"d


Shomron leaders wage PR War in Congress with Success!

Video: Congress Members Object to Israel Releasing Terrorists, Members of the U.S. Congress have expressed their objection to Israel's decision to release 104 terrorists as a gesture to the PA.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/wap/Item.aspx?type=0&item=170440

 

The leaders of the Shomron, Gershon Mesika - Mayor; Yossi Dagan - Deputy Mayor and David HaIvri - Director of Public Diplomacy and Communications, have met with some 25 members of Congress, including Ted Cruz, Michele Bachmann, Trent Franks, John Fleming and Louie Gohmert.

 

Most of the Congress members, noted the Shomron Regional Council, were surprised to find out that almost 700,000 Jews reside in Judea and Samaria and that Samaria was literally in the heart of the State of Israel.

 

The members of Congress admitted that they "never met an Israeli resident of Judea and Samaria" and certainly did not receive any first-hand information on the region. They all expressed their support for Israel, said that the U.S. should not pressure Israel to restart peace talks, return to '67 borders and said they object to Israel releasing terrorists. Michele Bachmann called the PA to renounce article 7 of the Hamas Charter which calls for the elimination of Israel. John Fleming said how honored he was to meet the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Samaria.

At the end of this video, Mesika speaks about how encouraged he was to hear of the support and admiration expressed by some of the Congressmen for the delegation. He spoke however also of a vacuum of knowledge in Congress regarding Samaria and that members of Congress regularly receive their information from the Palestinians and the Israeli left rather than from accurate Jewish sources. Yossi Dagan educated them to more accurately use the name Judea and Samaria reflecting thousands years of history rather than the false politically correct name "occupied West Bank" and to call population centers in Judea and Samaria "Jewish communities" rather than "Jewish Settlements"  which has a negative connotation of illegal settlement.

Let us address how our Jewish Leaders and Rabbanim can fill this vacuum in Washington.

 

A little Hasbara goes a long way.

 

Rabbosai,

 

Please reach out and open your offices, to leaders of the Shomron and discuss how you can help improve the Hasbara, Agudah, OU, YI and Chabad International all have Washington liaisons and directly communicate with Members of Congress on a regular basis. .

Let us be true to our Torah and Jewish Heritage and true to basic justice and morality.

104 released terrorist murderers as a precondition for "peace" talks is not acceptable for any legitimate legal system,  International let alone Jewish..

 

Please take each and every opportunity to educate our elected officials in Washington and their aids in a way that can help our brethren in Judea and Samaria.  Many of the members of Congress are righteous Gentiles who have utmost respect, reverence and knowledge of the teachings of the Torah and the Prophets. They are open to hearing about our legal and moral rights from thousands of years ago based on Jewish Code of Law and learning about International law which supports or rights to live and settle in Judea and Samaria and United J-M.  (See work of Howard Grief)

We need to allow our collective pain of the proposed release of terrorists and G-d forbid establishment of a 2 State Solution,  to be heard.   With G-d's help we can still prevent unspeakable tragedy and pain in the future.

 

Our leaders can mobilize their communities to speak out forcefully for Jewish rights to our Biblical Homeland. It needs to be spoken about on Shabbos in shuls and in the classrooms and in the halls of the Batei Medrash.  These are matters of Life and Death. It is a reflection of our yearning to actualize our daily prayers to return to Jerusalem and serve our G-d in the Holy Temple and to once again become a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation..

 

Let us begin this week. Parshat Reeh when the laws of Shemittah are discussed in the Torah Reading.  Observing Shemittah as prescribed by the Torah shows that the Jew recognizes that the Land belongs to G-d.  G-d in turn, promises this Holy Land to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to their seed as an everlasting inheritance. It is for this reason that the Land of Israel is also called "The Promised Land".  We have been Chosen because we are expected to be a Kingdom of Priests.  The concept of being Chosen is not a racist one.  It is a deserved honor due to our obligations to elevate society to observe G-d's will and to make this world a better, happier, more prosperous and peaceful place.

 

Judea is a Lion Kingdom! Let us make sure it is not overrun by evil which replaces a once blooming Land and transforms it to become a barren Land.

 

Following yesterdays' demonstration across the Israeli Consulate, Tamar Adelstein coordinator, Crown Hts. Women for the Safety and Integrity of Israel writes:

"Because yesterday Secretary of State John Kerry announced that negotiations between Israel and the "Palestinians" will include all final status concerns and be kept secret from the public until agreements have been reached we are calling upon all Rabbonim and the Jewish Public to make this Shabbos, Parshas Re'eh, a Shabbos for Pikuach Nefesh and Shleimus HaAretz.

We ask that your Shabbos sermon touch on the very real dangers now facing C'lal Yisroel that negotiations, concessions, and the imminent release of those 104 Arab killers of Jewish women and children, r"l, is causing.

We ask that you relay the Lubavitcher's Rebbe's pained concern to your congregations (YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE LUBAVITCH TO FEEL CONCERN, MY COMMENTS, ROBIN) and organize a response to Prime Minister Netanyahu that in the words of HaRav Gerlitzky will "bring him to the realization that the only way to achieve peace and security in the Holy Land is by standing firm for the integrity of the Holy Land."


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Matot Arim releases its semi-annual report, documenting the performance of nationalist MKs "for posterity and primaries."
Watchdog Warns Ministers: We're Following You, We Won't Forget.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/170454


Robin Ticker
Activist emails sent to my list  are L'Ilui Nishmat Yisrael ben David Aryeh ob"m (Izzy - Kaplan) and Howard Chaim Grief great activists and lovers of Eretz Yisroel, Am Yisroel and the Torah. Yehi Zichronum Baruch.  May their memories serve as a blessing.

Most of these emails are posted on Shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com 

Personal emails to individuals will not be posted to my blog. 

Urgent. Press Conference/Protest Tomorrow 12:30 Israel Consulate. Lunacy of terrorists release to promote peace sparks press releases and protests in NYC and beyond

 BS"D

 

BAMIDAR - NUMBERS - CHAPTERS 35

 

לג. וְלֹא תַחֲנִיפוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם בָּהּ כִּי הַדָּם הוּא יַחֲנִיף אֶת הָאָרֶץ וְלָאָרֶץ לֹא יְכֻפַּר לַדָּם אֲשֶׁר שֻׁפַּךְ בָּהּ כִּי אִם בְּדַם שֹׁפְכוֹ:

33:And you shall not corrupt the land in which you live, for the blood corrupts the land, and the blood which is shed in the land cannot be atoned for except through the blood of the one who shed it

 

 לד: וְלֹא תְטַמֵּא אֶת הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם ישְׁבִים בָּהּ אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי שֹׁכֵן בְּתוֹכָהּ כִּי אֲנִי יְהֹוָה שֹׁכֵן בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

34:And you shall not defile the land where you reside, in which I dwell, for I am the Lord Who dwells among the children of Israel

 

Below please see samples of press releases being circulated by organizations who are not standing silently as over 100 terrorists in Israel are being released in the name of peace. 

 

Please join the growing number of individuals and organizations who by the minute are being added to the growing list of individuals and organizations who are expressing outrage.

 

Please coordinate with like minded groups in your neighborhood, to hold a joint similar event.  We want this to go viral.

 

Press releases being circulated for Press Conference/Protest gathering tomorrow at Israel Consulate in NYC 12:30 pm.

 

Subject Line: Press Conf. & Protest Outside Israeli Consulate in NY THIS TUESDAY!

Text:

B"H
July 28, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONCERNED AMERICANS CALL A PRESS CONFERENCE AND PROTEST AGAINST THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT'S AGREEMENT TO RELEASE 104 ARAB MURDERERS WITH THE BLOOD OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS ON THEIR HANDS

PRESS CONTACT:

Tamar Adelstein – 718-774-0914 / Cadelstein@aol.com

Tuesday, July 30th, 2013, 12:30 to 2pm, across from the Israeli Consulate, 800 2nd Avenue and E. 43rd Street, NYC

On Sunday, July 28, 2013, the Israeli Cabinet voted to release 104 Arab murderers of Jewish men, women and children in another one of its "goodwill" gestures intended to coax the so-called Palestinian Authority back to the table for "peace talks."

The release of unrepentant murderers, who will be greeted as returning heroes by their fellow terrorists, is a repugnant action that endangers the lives of every Jewish citizen who lives in Israel. Every land for peace deal that Israeli and Jewish leaders have agreed to has brought war, terrorism, devastating property damage and loss, and has left, traumatized, vast numbers of our precious Jewish citizenry.

Not only is the release of these terrorists a violation of the judicial process with all its moral and ethical values, but the entire pursuit of the elusive "peace" is an exercise in futility. The PA's Charter calls for the extermination of Israel; there is no point in pretending that "peace" talks can get anywhere.

As Americans, we strongly object to the arm twisting being exercised by President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry.

We call on PM Netanyahu to immediately retract his offer to release 104 Arab terrorist murderers, and we call on all Knesset Members with a Jewish conscience to urge the PM to withdraw the offer and to end the charade of "peace" talks.

This press conference and protest is being supported by numerous local and national pro-Israel organizations.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Next is Press Release to Chabad Community,,,,

B"H
July 28, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

PRESS CONFERENCE AND GATHERING TO PROTEST LATEST ISRAELI GOVERNMENT CONCESSIONS – THE RELEASE OF 104+ ARAB MURDERERS OF JEWISH CHILDREN

PRESS CONTACT:
Tamar Adelstein: 718-774-0914/ Cadelstein@aol.com

Tuesday, July 30th, 2013, 12:30 to 2pm, across from the Israeli Consulate, 800 2nd Avenue and E43rd Street in Manhattan.

CROWN HEIGHTS' WOMEN FOR THE SAFETY AND INTEGRITY OF ISRAEL is organizing the event in response to the Israeli Government's decision to release 104 Arab terrorists with the blood of Jewish children on their hands.

On Sunday, July 28, 2013, the Israeli Cabinet voted to release 104 Arab murderers of Jewish men, women and children in another one of its "goodwill" gestures intended to coax the so-called Palestinian Authority back to the table for "peace talks."

How much more foolish can they get?

Every gesture for peace the State of Israel signs onto endangers the lives of every Jewish citizen who lives in Israel. Every land for peace deal that Israeli and Jewish leaders have agreed to has brought war, terrorism, devastating property damage and loss, and has left traumatized vast numbers of our precious Jewish children.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe, the foremost defender of the Jewish People and their right to settle and live securely in the Land of Israel had this to say about the Israeli Government's concessions and endless caving in to terrorism and World anti-Semitism:

One must scream about the horrible situation - without embarrassment and not from behind a curtain. One should bang his fists on the table if necessary because this issue affects the very lives of millions of Jews!

We insist that the Israeli Government immediately retract its offer to release 104 Arab terrorists, and we call on all Knesset Members with a Jewish conscience to vote "no-confidence" and bring the Israeli Government down to a grinding halt until this injustice is prevented. We urge Israeli politicians to heed the cry of the Lubavticher Rebbe and cease from further engaging in negotiations and reverse all past agreements so that once again Jews may dwell securely in their homeland.

"and even a vocal minority benefits the entire generation"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Next press release from Afsi

 

B"H
July 28, 2012
PRESS CONTACT:

Americans For a Safe Israel

Tel:212-828-2424;800-235-3658; Fax:212-828-4538

www.afsi.org;afsi@rcn.com

Mark Langfan, Chairman

Contact: Helen Freedman, Executive Director

July 22, 2013


CONCERNED AMERICANS CALL A PRESS CONFERENCE AND PROTEST AGAINST THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AGREEMENT TO RELEASE 104 PLUS ARAB MURDERERS WITH THE BLOOD OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS ON THEIR HANDS

Tuesday, July 30th, 2013, 12:30 to 2pm, across from the Israeli Consulate, 800 2nd Avenue and E 43rd Street, NYC

On Sunday, July 28, 2013, the Israeli Cabinet voted to release 104 Arab murderers of Jewish men, women, and children in another one of its "goodwill" gestures intended to coax the so-called Palestinian Authority back to the table for "peace talks".

The release of unrepentant murderers, who will be greeted as returning heroes by their fellow terrorists, is a repugnant action that endangers the lives of every Jewish citizen who lives in Israel. Every land for peace deal that Israeli and Jewish leaders have agreed to has brought war, terrorism, devastating property damage and loss, and left traumatized vast numbers of our precious Jewish citizenry.

Not only is the release of these terrorists a violation of the judicial process with all its moral and ethical values, but the entire pursuit of the elusive "peace" is an exercise in futility. Until the PA changes its Charter calling for the extermination of Israel, there is no point in pretending that "peace" talks can get anywhere.

As Americans, we strongly object to the arm twisting being exercised by President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry. It is up to Israel, and an Arab entity that will recognize Israel's right to exist, to determine the "peace" that they can construct. America, the EU, the UN, and all others who think they can bully Israel should bow out.

We call on PM Netanyahu to immediately retract his offer to release 104 Arab terrorists. We call on all Knesset Members with a Jewish conscience to urge the PM to withdraw the offer and to end the charade of "peace" talks. Israel will ONLY come to the table when the PA Charter is revised.

Signed: Americans for a Safe Israel/AFSI; ...............................

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

Please add your voice..........

Why and what are we protesting?

Steve Plaut, Haifa professor, has written a piece about this issue on his blog --http://stevenplaut.blogspot.co.il/--

 

"Ofrah Moses was pregnant when she was murdered along with her son and her fetus.The murderer was Mohammed A'del Daud, who threw a petrol bomb at their car in 1987.He is about to be set free by Benjamin Netanyahu in order to prove to the world the Jews areUntermenschen [subhuman] whose lives are worthless and whose murder does not count.The Israeli Left is cheering Netanyahu on!The road to peace depends on Jews acquiescing in being defined and treated as sub-humans, whose lives have no worth.

"Rachel Weiss was burned to death together with her three small children in 1988 when the bus she was riding in was attacked by petrol bombs. The murderer was Mahmoud Abu-Charbeesh.He is about to be set free by Benjamin Netanyahu in order to prove to the world the Jews areUntermenschen whose lives are worthless and whose murder does not count.

"In 1985 Meir ben Yair and Michal Cohen were sitting in their car in a forest near Beit Shemesh when they were murdered by Mustafa Ganimat, together with his two terrorist friends.He is about to be set free by Benjamin Netanyahu in order to prove to the world the Jews areUntermenschen whose lives are worthless and whose murder does not count.

"Leah Almakeis and Yosef Eliyahu were murdered while hiking in a forest on Mt. Gilboa.Their murderer was Othman bni Chasin.He is about to be set free by Benjamin Netanyahu in order to prove to the world the Jews areUntermenschen whose lives are worthless and whose murder does not count.

Isa Abd Rabo murdered Ravital Sri and Ron Levi near the Chrimison monastery, stabbing them to death.He is about to be set free by Benjamin Netanyahu in order to prove to the world the Jews are Untermenschen whose lives are worthless and whose murder does not count.

"Oneof Israel's leading historians, Professor Menachem Stern, was murdered in 1989, stabbed to death by Mahmoud Isa Muammar in the Valley of the Cross in Jerusalem.The terrorist also murdered three other people.He is about to be set free by Benjamin Netanyahu in order to prove to the world the Jews areUntermenschen whose lives are worthless and whose murder does not count.

"The above are just a few of the murderers of men, women and children that Benjamin Netanyahu is about to set free in order to prove to the world the Jews are Untermenschen whose lives are worthless and whose murder does not count.

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

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/170221#.UfUc2jbD-os

Bereaved Parents Horrified by Terrorist Release

How is this possible? How?' demands mother of boy who was kidnapped, murdered by terrorists who are to be set free.

By Maayana Miskin

First Publish: 7/25/2013, 12:13 AM

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's agreement to free terrorist murderers in order to bring Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas back to the negotiating table has caused shock and consternation among surviving family members.

"How is this possible? How?" demanded Mazal Karmani, whose son Ronen was kidnapped and murdered by one of the terrorists who is to be freed.

Recent high school graduates Ronen Karmani and his friend Lior Tubol were on their way to visit their girlfriends in 1990 when they were offered a ride. They never reached their destination.

Their increasingly worried families began to search the area. Soon police joined the search as well. After several days, their bodies were found in a valley in Jerusalem. They had been bound and gagged and then stabbed to death.

"He was the heart of the family in every way," his father Eliyahu said sadly. "I'm always thinking, 'when will I die, so that I can see my son?' That's how much I miss him."

"He was my heart," his mother said. She has been thinking about her son "for twenty-three years, every day, every second," she said.

Both parents expressed fury and consternation at the decision to free the murderers. The same men who killed Ronen and Lior in cold blood murdered two other men as well, Eliyahu noted, and they were supposed to serve four life terms.

"Nowhere else on earth do you see this, that a person who got four life sentences plus twenty years is released before completing a single life sentence," he charged. "Why? Based on what?"

"They murdered two helpless childen, who fought, who tried to fight them off," Mazal added. "They bound them, tied their hands and feet and gagged them, and dragged them to the valley, and stabbed them 15, 20 times. They beat them. We found them… we found their bodies bloated in the sun."

"How is it possible?" she demanded. "How could a person, a judge, whoever's freeing them, free such monsters? They'll come back and do more and more things like this in our country, they'll kidnap soldiers, they'll lynch people, they will destroy more and more families."

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

 

 

Letter to Federation Re: Their Boycotting Judea and Samaria

Bs"d

Op-Ed: NY Federation has Its Own Boycott of Judea and Samaria by Ron Jager Published: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 10:54 PM

If New York Federation -funded agencies can so blatantly boycott children who have lost their parents and siblings to terror, why should we be so surprised when the Europeans adopt a similar policy of boycotting Jews?

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/13589#.Ue9BHcu9KK1

To:  

Jerry W. Lewin UJA Federation Grants Chairman , 

John Ruskay UJA/Federation VP and CEO and 

Alisa Doctoroff UJA/Federation President

From: Blogger Robin Ticker shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com 

 

Dear Jewish Federation:

If Jewish Federation keeps on its deviant path,  Jewish Federation should have a name change to accurately reflect its policies of philanthropy to territories known for thousands of years as Judea and Samaria..

I suggest that you change your name to "Federation to Help the Palestinians of the Occupied West Bank" -  A Federation funded by Jewish idiots (in my opinion to put it mildly).  This Federation turns a blind eye when fellow Jews are brutally attacked and murdered in cold blood when the victims are Jewish and live in Judea and Samaria and the perpetrators are Palestinians. 

Is this because you justify such Palestinian barbarity based on bogus Palestinian claims that Jews are occupying Palestinian Land?

Is Ron Jager correct in his findings that the Jewish victims of Palestinian terror are ineligible to receive Jewish Federation funding because they dare live in Judea and Samaria the Biblical Homeland and heartland of Jews?

Palestinians of today who claim Judea and Samaria  as their own homeland and call it Palestine after the ancient name Phillistine taken from the ancient people the Pelishtim,  share no ancestry with such ancient people and have absolutely no authentic roots to Judea and Samaria.  "Federation to help Palestinians...", (using my newly suggested name of Federation), seem blind to truth.  

Jews of today on the other hand, do have clear lineage to the Judean Kingdom whose ancestry are directly linked to the Israelites, specifically the Tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi.  The Biblical inheritance of the Tribe of Judah are the Judean Hills, Judea.  The  Biblical inheritance of the Tribe of Benjamin is Jerusalem and part of Samaria. (known today as Mateh Binyamin).  All Bible Believers can check this out in the book of Joshua.

 

Putting our Jewish Heritage aside.....

So let us imagine that we successfully implement your policies. We attempt to make Judea and Samaria Judenrein and drain the Jews who live there  economically and boycott their products and bring in Palestinians who openly glorify terrorists.  

• We give them the high ground, literally, so that they can easily attack Ben Gurion airport and keep you away from "their" land, the State of Palestine,  and allow them the opportunity to shut off Israel's water supply.  (Check out Mark Langfan topographical maps http://www.marklangfan.com )
• Their goal is the destruction of Israel reflected in their logo. http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=9062 
• By helping them you help to actualize the goals of the Mufti of Jerusalem, their forefather,  the spiritual Father of Palestine who partnered with Hitler, yemach shemo (may his name be blotted out). http://forum.codoh.com/viewtopic.php?t=6986 Wisliceny: Mufti got tour to gas chambers by Eichmann At the post-war Nuremberg trials, Dieter Wisliceny, Eichmann's deputy, revealed: 'the mufti was one of the initiators of the systematic extermination of European Jewry and had been a collaborator and advisor of Eichmann and Himmler in the execution of this plan. He was one of Eichmann's best friends and had constantly incited him to accelerate the extermination measures'.
  http://censorbugbear-reports.blogspot.c ... d-for.html (The very same gas chambers in which your relatives together with my relatives perished.)

• Or will you deny that the Holocaust ever happened like Mahmoud Abbas their moderate leader and whose theme of his doctoral dissertation is:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Other_Side:_The_Secret_Relationship_Between_Nazism_and_Zionism?

 

The Palestinians will never thank your organization which again I have more accurately renamed "Federation for Palestinians", funded by you guys, because you are after all Jews. So don't expect any preferential  treatment. They'll probably follow Hitler's policy re: Jews and won't reward you for your efforts on their behalf. Quite the opposite.  They will blame you just like the Muslim Brotherhood of today calls for siege in Cairo on US Embassy

http://www.investigativeproject.org/4095/mb-leader-calls-for-us-embassy-siege-in-cairo  

No Hakoras Hatov, (appreciation) to Obama and his administration who helped put the MB in power.   

Probably you will label me and my fellow activists a fringe element.   That is your choice.

Call us what you may but I really hope and pray for your sake and not only mine, we prevail. Because  evil will, sooner rather than later, destroy the world we live in, especially if it prevails over the Lion Kingdom (Judea).

 (PS the symbol of Judea is Lion).

And if this G-d forbid occur, you will have only yourselves to thank for your own demise because you empowered them. You used your influence and power to empower evil.  If you continue this path you are traitors to the Jewish People. You bring destruction to mankind. Shame on YOU!

Or you can turn around and defend your rights, the Jewish rights to Judea and Samaria and restore the Lion Kingdom to it's glorious past, the days of King Solomon,  where peace, truth and justice ruled the world.

The choice is yours! Ubacharta baChaim. Choose Life!

--
Sincerely,

Robin Ticker
Activist emails sent to my list  are L'Ilui Nishmat Yisrael ben David Aryeh ob"m (Izzy - Kaplan) and Howard Chaim Grief great activists and lovers of Eretz Yisroel, Am Yisroel and the Torah. Yehi Zichronum Baruch.  May their memories serve as a blessing.

Most of these emails are posted on Shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com 

Personal emails to individuals will not be posted to my blog. 

Having and fighting in a Jewish Army IS Torah! Proofs from Parashath Matot. Part II.

bs"d

 

In answer to Mishpacha's challenge to "Let's Talk Straight" http://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2013/07/lets-talk-straight-about-what-torah.html, I am respectfully raising clear and obvious references from Parshat Matot that show that a Jewish army is integral to Torah! 

 

Let us not delude ourselves into believing that one that learns Torah stands for Torah and one that joins the army is against Torah. Both are Chayalim and are integral parts of the army.   In fact, in Parashath Matot, the war against Midian in Perek 31 is proof that not only is fighting the Torah way, the personal holiness of the soldier is an important factor in the success of the military operation. In the Medrash, (see below), Jews that were davening were standing in prayer near the battlefield! In Perek 32, Moshe's rebuke to the Tribes of Gad and Reuvein to fight with their brethren in very strong terms must resonate in our ears! (I don't see how those of us in Chutz LeAretz are exempt from the Israeli army either)

Numbers Chapter 31 בְּמִדְבַּר

א וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר.	1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:
ב נְקֹם, נִקְמַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, מֵאֵת, הַמִּדְיָנִים; אַחַר, תֵּאָסֵף אֶל-עַמֶּיךָ.	2 'Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites; afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.'
ג וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-הָעָם לֵאמֹר, הֵחָלְצוּ מֵאִתְּכֶם אֲנָשִׁים לַצָּבָא; וְיִהְיוּ, עַל-מִדְיָן, לָתֵת נִקְמַת-יְהוָה, בְּמִדְיָן.	3 And Moses spoke unto the people, saying: 'Arm ye men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian, to execute the LORD'S vengeance on Midian.
ד אֶלֶף, לַמַּטֶּה, אֶלֶף, לַמַּטֶּה--לְכֹל מַטּוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל, תִּשְׁלְחוּ לַצָּבָא.	4 Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.'
ה וַיִּמָּסְרוּ מֵאַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶלֶף לַמַּטֶּה--שְׁנֵים-עָשָׂר אֶלֶף, חֲלוּצֵי צָבָא.	5 So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
ו וַיִּשְׁלַח אֹתָם מֹשֶׁה אֶלֶף לַמַּטֶּה, לַצָּבָא: אֹתָם וְאֶת-פִּינְחָס בֶּן-אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן, לַצָּבָא, וּכְלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ וַחֲצֹצְרוֹת הַתְּרוּעָה, בְּיָדוֹ.	6 And Moses sent them, a thousand of every tribe, to the war, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy vessels and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.
ז וַיִּצְבְּאוּ, עַל-מִדְיָן, כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה, אֶת-מֹשֶׁה; וַיַּהַרְגוּ, כָּל-זָכָר.	7 And they warred against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew every male.
ח וְאֶת-מַלְכֵי מִדְיָן הָרְגוּ עַל-חַלְלֵיהֶם, אֶת-אֱוִי וְאֶת-רֶקֶם וְאֶת-צוּר וְאֶת-חוּר וְאֶת-רֶבַע--חֲמֵשֶׁת, מַלְכֵי מִדְיָן; וְאֵת בִּלְעָם בֶּן-בְּעוֹר, הָרְגוּ בֶּחָרֶב.	8 And they slew the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian; Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.
ט וַיִּשְׁבּוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת-נְשֵׁי מִדְיָן, וְאֶת-טַפָּם; וְאֵת כָּל-בְּהֶמְתָּם וְאֶת-כָּל-מִקְנֵהֶם וְאֶת-כָּל-חֵילָם, בָּזָזוּ.	9 And the children of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones; and all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods, they took for a prey.
י וְאֵת כָּל-עָרֵיהֶם בְּמוֹשְׁבֹתָם, וְאֵת כָּל-טִירֹתָם--שָׂרְפוּ, בָּאֵשׁ.	10 And all their cities in the places wherein they dwelt, and all their encampments, they burnt with fire.
יא וַיִּקְחוּ, אֶת-כָּל-הַשָּׁלָל, וְאֵת, כָּל-הַמַּלְקוֹחַ--בָּאָדָם, וּבַבְּהֵמָה.	11 And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of man and of beast.
יב וַיָּבִאוּ אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל-אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן וְאֶל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶת-הַשְּׁבִי וְאֶת-הַמַּלְקוֹחַ וְאֶת-הַשָּׁלָל--אֶל-הַמַּחֲנֶה: אֶל-עַרְבֹת מוֹאָב, אֲשֶׁר עַל-יַרְדֵּן יְרֵחוֹ. {ס}	12 And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and unto Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp, unto the plains of Moab, which are by the Jordan at Jericho. {S}
יג וַיֵּצְאוּ מֹשֶׁה וְאֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן, וְכָל-נְשִׂיאֵי הָעֵדָה--לִקְרָאתָם: אֶל-מִחוּץ, לַמַּחֲנֶה.	13 And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp.
יד וַיִּקְצֹף מֹשֶׁה, עַל פְּקוּדֵי הֶחָיִל, שָׂרֵי הָאֲלָפִים וְשָׂרֵי הַמֵּאוֹת, הַבָּאִים מִצְּבָא הַמִּלְחָמָה.	14 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war.
טו וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם, מֹשֶׁה: הַחִיִּיתֶם, כָּל-נְקֵבָה.	15 And Moses said unto them: 'Have ye saved all the women alive?
טז הֵן הֵנָּה הָיוּ לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, בִּדְבַר בִּלְעָם, לִמְסָר-מַעַל בַּיהוָה, עַל-דְּבַר-פְּעוֹר; וַתְּהִי הַמַּגֵּפָה, בַּעֲדַת יְהוָה.	16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to revolt so as to break faith with the LORD in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of the LORD.
יז וְעַתָּה, הִרְגוּ כָל-זָכָר בַּטָּף; וְכָל-אִשָּׁה, יֹדַעַת אִישׁ לְמִשְׁכַּב זָכָר--הֲרֹגוּ.	17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
יח וְכֹל הַטַּף בַּנָּשִׁים, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יָדְעוּ מִשְׁכַּב זָכָר--הַחֲיוּ, לָכֶם.	18 But all the women children, that have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

 

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

 

In the Stone Edition:

 

All the Tribes, including Levi (Rashi to v. 4) were equally represented in the fighting force.

 

 on vs. 14
"With the Commanders of the Army: Because it was their responsibility to see that appropriate actions be taken, it was to the officers that Moses directed his anger.  This teaches us that when the leaders of the generation have the power to reproach, they are responsible for the failures of the nation (Rashi).

 

In The Midrash Says page 406 it says "Moshe selected a small army of 12,000 Tzaddikim (righteous men), a thousand per Tribe.  None of them had sinned with the Moabite women.  Those who had sinned were not worthy of avenging the Almighty.  Another thousand Jews from each Tribe were chosen to guard the belongings of the army and to supply food and a third thousand per Tribe stood in prayer near the battlefield."  Bamidbar Rabbah 22:3 Tiferet Zion.

 

Not one life was lost in this battle!

Further on in the Parsha, Moshe responded very forcefully and critically of Bnei Gad and Bnei Reuvein. In the Stone Chumash  Perek 32, 6-15 the commentary states  "Understanding the two tribes to be asking for the right to settle on the east bank and not participate in the long and hard war to conquer Eretz Yisroel for their brethren, he [Moshe] accused them of forsaking their fellow tribes in a time of danger"

 

The following Pesukim are very strong proof that it is our obligation to go armed nto battle to conquer Eretz Yisroel and drive out the enemy.  Perhaps Meir Kahana based his teachings on these very Pesukim. 

 

 

 

6. [Thereupon,] Moses said to the descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben, "Shall your brethren go to war while you stay here?		ו. וַיֹּאמֶר משֶׁה לִבְנֵי גָד וְלִבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן הַאַחֵיכֶם יָבֹאוּ לַמִּלְחָמָה וְאַתֶּם תֵּשְׁבוּ פֹה:
Shall your brethren: This ['hey'] denotes a question.		האחיכם: לשון תמיהה הוא:
7. Why do you discourage the children of Israel from crossing over to the land which the Lord has given them?		ז. וְלָמָּה תְנִיאוּן אֶת לֵב בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵעֲבֹר אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָהֶם יְהֹוָה:
Why do you discourage: You turn aside and dissuade their hearts from crossing, for they will think that you are afraid to cross because of the war and the strength of the cities and the people.		ולמה תניאון: תסירו ותמניעו לבם מעבור שיהיו סבורים שאתם יראים לעבור מפני המלחמה וחוזק הערים והעם:
8. This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh barnea to explore the Land.		ח. כֹּה עָשׂוּ אֲבֹתֵיכֶם בְּשָׁלְחִי אֹתָם מִקָּדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ לִרְאוֹת אֶת הָאָרֶץ:
from Kadesh-barnea: This was its name; there were two places called Kadesh [one Kadesh-barnea and one Kadesh unmodified].		מקדש ברנע: כך שמה, ושני קדש היו:
9. They went up to the Valley of Eshkol and saw the land, and they discouraged the children of Israel from crossing into the land which the Lord has given them.		ט. וַיַּעֲלוּ עַד נַחַל אֶשְׁכּוֹל וַיִּרְאוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ וַיָּנִיאוּ אֶת לֵב בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְבִלְתִּי בֹא אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָהֶם יְהֹוָה:
10. The anger of the Lord flared on that day, and He swore, saying,		י. וַיִּחַר אַף יְהֹוָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וַיִּשָּׁבַע לֵאמֹר:
11. 'None of the men from the age of twenty years and over who came out of Egypt will see the land that I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, for they did not follow Me wholeheartedly,		יא. אִם יִרְאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים הָעֹלִים מִמִּצְרַיִם מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה אֵת הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב כִּי לֹא מִלְאוּ אַחֲרָי:
12. except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly.'		יב. בִּלְתִּי כָּלֵב בֶּן יְפֻנֶּה הַקְּנִזִּי וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן נוּן כִּי מִלְאוּ אַחֲרֵי יְהֹוָה:
The Kenizite: He [Caleb] was the stepson of Kenaz, to whom Caleb's mother bore Othniel [see Jud. 3:9]. — [Sotah 11b]		הקנזי: חורגו של קנז היה, וילדה לו אמו של כלב את עתניאל:
13. The anger of the Lord flared against Israel, and He made them wander in the desert for forty years until the entire generation who had done evil in the eyes of the Lord had died out.		יג. וַיִּחַר אַף יְהֹוָה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וַיְנִעֵם בַּמִּדְבָּר אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה עַד תֹּם כָּל הַדּוֹר הָעֹשֶׂה הָרָע בְּעֵינֵי יְהֹוָה:
He made them wander: He moved them about from place to place, as in נָע וָנָד"a wanderer and an exile" (Gen. 4:12).		וינעם: ויטלטלם. מן נע ונד:
14. And behold, you have now risen in place of your fathers as a society of sinful people, to add to the wrathful anger of the Lord against Israel.		יד. וְהִנֵּה קַמְתֶּם תַּחַת אֲבֹתֵיכֶם תַּרְבּוּת אֲנָשִׁים חַטָּאִים לִסְפּוֹת עוֹד עַל חֲרוֹן אַף יְהֹוָה אֶל יִשְׂרָאֵל:
to add: לִסְפּוֹת like"add (סְפוּ) year to year" (Isa. 29:1), and"add (סְפוּ) your burnt offerings" (Jer. 7:21); it denotes addition.		לספות: כמו (ישעיה כט, א) ספו שנה על שנה, (ירמיה ז, כא) עולותיכם ספו וגו', לשון תוספת:
15. If you turn away from following Him, He will leave you in the desert again, and you will destroy this entire people." ....		טו. כִּי תְשׁוּבֻן מֵאַחֲרָיו וְיָסַף עוֹד לְהַנִּיחוֹ בַּמִּדְבָּר וְשִׁחַתֶּם לְכָל הָעָם הַזֶּה:

 

20. Moses said to them, "If you do this thing, if you arm yourselves for battle before the Lord,		כ. וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם משֶׁה אִם תַּעֲשׂוּן אֶת הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה אִם תֵּחָלְצוּ לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה לַמִּלְחָמָה:
21. and your armed force crosses the Jordan before the Lord until He has driven out His enemies before Him,		כא. וְעָבַר לָכֶם כָּל חָלוּץ אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה עַד הוֹרִישׁוֹ אֶת אֹיְבָיו מִפָּנָיו:
22. and the Land will be conquered before the Lord, afterwards you may return, and you shall be freed [of your obligation] from the Lord and from Israel, and this land will become your heritage before the Lord.		כב. וְנִכְבְּשָׁה הָאָרֶץ לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה וְאַחַר תָּשֻׁבוּ וִהְיִיתֶם נְקִיִּם מֵיהֹוָה וּמִיִּשְׂרָאֵל וְהָיְתָה הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת לָכֶם לַאֲחֻזָּה לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה:
23. But, if you do not do so, behold, you will have sinned against the Lord, and be aware of your sin which will find you.		כג. וְאִם לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן כֵּן הִנֵּה חֲטָאתֶם לַיהֹוָה וּדְעוּ חַטַּאתְכֶם אֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָא אֶתְכֶם:

 

 

 

 

 

 

--

Sincerely,

 

Robin Ticker

Activist emails sent to my list  are L'Ilui Nishmat Yisrael ben David Aryeh ob"m (Izzy - Kaplan) and Howard Chaim Grief great activists and lovers of Eretz Yisroel, Am Yisroel and the Torah. Yehi Zichronum Baruch.  May their memories serve as a blessing.

 

Most of these emails are posted on Shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com 

 

Personal emails to individuals will not be posted to my blog. 

Let's talk straight about what the Torah says about a fighting army to conquer and defend the Land of Israel Part 1:

bs"d

 

Thank you Mishpacha Magazine for their initiative bringing an eye opening discussion re: the Chareidi Community  entitled "One Family One Burden Let's Talk Straight"  into public awareness in their special expanded edition, issue 463  with follow up live panel discussions in the Diaspora in the Five Towns, Brooklyn and  other communities.  I attended the one in Brooklyn featuring Eli Paley, Publisher and CEO, Mishpacha, Yonosan Rosenblum a regular columnist and Eytan Kobre, Editor US desk of Mishpacha. 

 

In a private discussion with Publisher and CEO Paley, following the panel discussion, it was clear to me that he has unbelievable love for both the Chareidi (ultra Orthodox) and Dati Leumi (National Camp) communities. 

 

So let's talk straight w/o Politics. Just Torah Pshuto KeMashmaoh. Let's talk of the simple (pshat) explanation of the verses in the Torah.  Let's for a moment forget the leaders and parties who are running the govt and those who decide how the Israeli army is run and what their intentions are regarding the Chareidi soldiers in the Israeli army for good or for bad..

 

 

Let's focus on what the Torah has to say.

 

The Torah is the common denominator of all Jews be it Chareidi or secular.  It is also the moral compass of the world and the Nations of the world look up to the Jewish People for moral direction because we are the People of the Book!!!

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

It is clear that the Torah advocates for a strong Jewish Army of Soldiers who fight. for the conquest and protection of the Land of Israel

 

• The borders of the Land of Israel is clearly delineated in Parshath Masei the Torah reading of this Shabbath.
• It is a Mitzvah from the Torah  to fight and conquer Eretz Yisroel. It is a Milchemet Mitzvah when our enemies wish our destruction.
• The army camp must be Holy.
• Idol worship needs to be removed from the Holy Land
• Idol worshippers of foreign nations (e.g. Canaanites) of the Land must be driven out of the Land
• Only the Nation of Israel is obligated in observing the 613 commandments and whose fulfillment of commandments are actualized to the fullest by fulfilling the  commandments in the Land of Israel.
• The Temple Mount is the focal point and the Place where G-d's Shechina, presence always resides.
• Many commandments can only be actualized by coming to Jerusalem and  to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and performing the commandments there
• Many commandments are dependant on settling the Land. This brings holiness to the Land and to the entire world.  This also is the secret of a peaceful existence in the Land of Israel.
• All tribes of Bnei Yisroel are expected to be represented and fight and be part of the army.

Let's for now focus on the requirement to have an army and bring proof from Pesukim (verses) in the Torah..

 

Some Proofs from the Chumash:

• "Vehaya Machanecha Kadosh". This refers to a military camp and not a separate seating concert.
• Jews were counted as per those eligible to be in the army (men 20-60) and not men learning in Yeshiva
• The Chait of the Miraglim (Sin of the Spies) was that they preferred the spiritual life in the desert and their closeness to Hashem and they discouraged the Israelites from conquering the Land of Israel. For this they were severely punished and all the people that accepted their words were punished with 40 years of wandering in the desert and every year, we cry on Tisha Baav for the tears that should not have been shed in the desert after hearing and accepting the report of the Miraglim.
• Moshe rebuked the Tribes of Reeuvein Gad and 1/2 Shevet Menashe in case they were thinking of shirking their duty as members of Am Yisroel from being part of a fighting army to conquer the Land of Israel from her enemies.
• Moshe prayed with Aharon and Chur supporting him in the war against Amalek in the desert but all the rest of the fighting men were with Yehoshua actually fighting. True, they would never have won w/o Prayer but Prayer alone was not what G-d wanted from Am Yisroel.
• The Israelites in the Desert also fought the Midianites who caused them to sin with an army of fighting soldiers who excelled in personal holiness and had not sinned, from representatives of all the Tribes of Israel. They killed all males from Midan and then under Moshe's instructions all females who the Urim Veturim determined were to be killed.
• The Tefilin also called phylacteries (/fɪˈlæktəriːz/ from Ancient Greek phylacterion, form of phylássein, φυλάσσειν meaning "to guard, protect") are a set of small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah brings fear in the heart of the enemy when they are worn by G-d fearing Jews. Therefore, it makes sense that the army enlist G-d fearing men rather than soldiers who have difficulty in guarding their personal holiness. Soldiers who wear their Tefilin with pride will best defeat the enemy with the minimum of casualties.
• In Shirat Devorah (Song of Devorah a prophetess), the prophetess rebukes the tribes who shirked their responsibilities from fighting.

 

Conclusion:
If the Chareidim would unite with Dati Leumi and Traditional Masorati Jews, the majority of the Israeli population who have fought in many wars and have always been willing to sacrifice to protect this great Land, to set the ground rules of a Holy
Army, then surely our enemies would dissipate like chaff in the wind.

Amen, Ken Yehi Ratzon,   Sincerely, Robin Ticker

 

---

 

PARSHAT MASEI
(by Yehuda HaKohen)

"You shall possess the land and you shall dwell in it, for to you have I given the land to possess it." (BAMIDBAR 33:53)

The Ramban, Rabbi Moshe Ben Nahman, offers a lengthy explanation of this verse, asserting that the mitzvah for the Jewish people to conquer and reside within the Land of Israel is a positive commandment of great consequence to the overall Hebrew mission.

"In my opinion this is a positive commandment, in which He (HaShem) is commanding them (Israel) to dwell in the land and inherit it, because He has given it to them and they should not reject the inheritance of HaShem. Thus if the thought occurs to them to go and conquer the land of Shinar or the land of Assyria or any other country to dwell therein, they would be transgressing the command of G-D. And that which our rabbis have emphasized (Ketubot 110b), the significance of the commandment of dwelling in the Land of Israel and the prohibition against leaving it, and that they even considered a woman who does not want to ascend with her husband to live in the Land of Israel [as a `rebellious wife'] and likewise the man – the source of all these statements here (in this verse) where we have been given this commandment, for this verse constitutes a positive commandment. And this commandment is repeated in many places, such as `Come and possess the land' (DEVARIM 1:8)."

The Ramban demonstrates that the main idea being taught by this verse is the eternal mitzvah for the Jewish people to assert political sovereignty over the Land of Israel and to reside within its borders.

In his supplement to the Rambam's Sefer HaMitzvot, the Ramban teaches that it is a Torah commandment in every generation that the Nation of Israel take control of and inhabit the entire Land of Israel.

"This (a war to liberate Eretz Yisrael) is what our Sages call milchemet mitzvah (obligatory war). In the Talmud (Sotah 44b) Rava said, `Yehoshua's war of liberation was an obligatory duty according to all opinions.' And do not err and say that this precept is the commandment to vanquish the seven nations… this is not so. We were commanded to destroy those nations when they fought against us and had they wished to make peace we could have done so under specific conditions. Yet we cannot leave the land in their control or in the control of any other nation in any generation… Behold, we are commanded with conquest in every generation… this is a positive commandment which applies for all time… And the proof that this is a commandment is this: `They were told to go up in the matter of the Spies: `Go up and conquer as HaShem, G-D of your fathers, has spoken to you. Do not fear and do not be discouraged.' And it further says: `And when HaShem sent you from Kadesh Barnea saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you.' And when they did not go up, the Torah says: `And you rebelled against the Word of G-D, and you did not listen to this command.'" (Positive Commandment 4 of the Ramban's supplement to the Rambam's Sefer HaMitzvot)

The Ramban asserts that the conquest of Eretz Yisrael is a mitzvah for Israel in every generation and that we are forbidden from allowing any part of our country to fall into – or remain under – gentile control. It is found in the Shulchan Aruch that all of the arbitrators of Torah Law (Rishonim and Achronim) agree with the Ramban concerning this issue.

"All of the Poskim, both Rishonim and Achronim, decide the Law in this fashion on the basis of the Ramban." (Shulchan Aruch, Even HaEzer section 75, Pitchei Tshuva 6)

Although the Ramban (in his commentary to BAMIDBAR 33:53) acknowledges Rashi's warning that Israel's ability to survive and prosper in our homeland depends on the nation's willingness to disinherit the foreign peoples who possess the country prior to our return, he offers a more lenient approach regarding the actions Israel must take against gentile nations inhabiting our country.

While Rashi and others assert that upon our return home from exile, Israel must drive out the gentiles in possession of our country, the Ramban insists that peace could be achieved between Israel and these nations under certain conditions so long as the Jewish Nation possesses exclusive and undisputed sovereignty over the country. Rashi disputes this position, noting the following verse:

"But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, those of them whom you leave shall be pins in your eyes and a surrounding barrier of thorns in your sides, and they will harass you upon the land in which you dwell." (BAMIDBAR 33:55)

On this verse, Rashi explains that "pins in your eyes" means "liteidot ham'nakrot eineichem" – that sticks will be driven into your eyes, meaning that the wisdom of Israel's leadership will be neutralized, such that they will be unable to see or understand what a child can clearly see and understand. There will be a situation in which Jews protect themselves behind fences and walls, which "enclose and imprison them such that none can come in or leave."

The holy Ohr HaChaim supports Rashi's explanation of this verse, commenting that: "Not only will they hold on to the part of the land that you have not taken, but the part which you have taken and settled as well. They shall cause you trouble regarding the part that you live in, saying `Get up and leave it.'"

A reconciliation of these positions with that of the Ramban could be achieved through distinguishing between gentile nations wielding dominion over the Jewish homeland from those who merely dwell peacefully in the country under Hebrew sovereignty. This distinction would account for the presence of Israel's Kenite allies in Eretz Yisrael throughout the period of the Judges and would also explain the Torah's multiple references to the compassion we must display towards the Ger toshav (resident alien). By attempting to steal portions of the Land of Israel, however, a gentile can easily move himself from one category to the other.

This debate raises the obvious contentious question of how to relate to the "Palestinian National Movement," which claims to speak on behalf of all Arabs in our country while seeking to appropriate the Land of Israel from the Jewish people.

The Gaon of Vilna sheds light on this question in his commentary to HABAKUK. Here he illuminates the concept of Peleshet and the uniqueness of its historic national role. The Gaon points out that the verse in BEREISHIT 10:14, which introduces the Philistines to the stage of history, does not describe their birth as the Torah describes the birth of other nations.

"And Mitzraim begot Ludim, Anamim, Lehavim, Naphtuhim, Patrusim, and Casluhim, whence the Pelishtim (Philistines) came forth, and Caphtorim." (BEREISHIT 10:13-14)

The Vilna Gaon explains that the birth of the Philistines was completely unnatural and that they are entirely absent from the stage of world history with the exception of specific generations in which they serve their unique function. When the Nation of Israel enters our homeland in order to build the Hebrew Kingdom – the vehicle through which all of humanity will be elevated to unparalleled blessings – the Philistines appear on the scene to try and prevent this kingdom from being established. This was true when our patriarch Avraham first entered the land (there was a "land-for-peace" deal aggressively solicited by Avimelech of Grar), it occurred when his son Yitzhak was faced with Philistine antagonism and it was true throughout the period of the Judges up until the secure establishment of the Davidic dynasty when Israel finally implemented full dominion over the country.

The Philistines then inexplicably disappear from history until modern times where they (or their spiritual descendents) once again attempt to hold up the construction of G-D's kingdom. The Gaon explains that without the necessary force of Peleshet, Israel would be unable to rise up to our essential mission and realize the true significance of Jewish sovereignty in our homeland. HaShem places this nation into our world as a catalyst for Israel to reach our full potential as a nation.

The truth in the Gaon's words is evident today. As a result of our difficult struggle with Palestinian nationalism – a national consciousness that materialized only upon our return home – Israel has failed to simply exist as a normal country but has instead been confronted with grueling questions of identity. The brutal conflict has forced us to examine who and what we truly are, as well as the core reason for returning home and establishing a state. The ostensibly legitimate territorial claims of another people to our land forces us to question not only our innate connection to our soil, but also our national function in Creation. By forcing out the bigger answers to the difficult questions they create, the modern day Philistines cause Israel to understand what it is that we are actually fighting for. And by the time we are psychologically prepared to appropriately deal with those who threaten our sovereignty, we will have already grasped the true purpose of the kingdom that will lead all mankind to a world of total blessing.
With Love of Israel,
-Yehuda HaKohen

 

 

Sincerely,

Robin Ticker
Activist emails sent to my list are L'Ilui Nishmat Yisrael ben David Aryeh ob"m (Izzy - Kaplan) and Howard Chaim Grief great activists and lovers of Eretz Yisroel, Am Yisroel and the Torah. Yehi Zichronum Baruch. May their memories serve as a blessing.

Most of these emails are posted on Shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com