Thursday, August 10, 2006

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

Monday, August 07, 2006

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;
 
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!!!!!!!!!!"

Sunday, August 06, 2006

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.
 
 

Friday, August 04, 2006

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