Why Live In E”Y?

As global events get crazier and scarier, many in the Moshiach blogosphere are issuing dire warnings to the Jews who live in America. Some are expressly or impliedly stating that being in E”Y during the End of Days will be physically safer than America.

The truth is, nobody really knows where they should be to physically safe and survive.  It is almost perfectly clear from sources that at least some remnant of Jews living outside E”Y will survive the End of Days. It is also clear that, unless we do sufficient tshuva, Jews living in E”Y also face physical suffering (G-d forbid).

In my opinion, the only real choice a person has is the place where one will die – outside the land, or in the land. And Chazal is very clear that it is far preferable to die in E”Y than outside of it.

Be Honest About It

In terms of right or wrong – if it IS a mitzvah to dwell in the land, then it is the “right” thing to do, or, at a minimum, to strive and long to do.

It is hard for me to understand those who claim it is not a mitzvah to live in E”Y. The great mystic, the Ramban, lists it as one of the 613 mitzvot. The great rationalist, the Rambam, does not list is is as one of the 613 mitzvot but states clearly that a person should live in E”Y, even in a city where they majority of people are gentile. And he forbids leaving E”Y except in a few limited circumstances.

In my opinion, those who claim it is not a mitzvah to live in E”Y are rationalizing – so many people I talk to love to hold by the Ramban when it comes to being mystical and kabbalistic, but scream “Rambam, Rambam” as a “proof” that living E”Y is not a mitzvah. Let’s be honest people!

That said, if a person feels that moving to E”Y is unfeasible because of their personal situation, they should always strive to get there, as if they don’t have a pair of tefillin to wear and strive and long for a set, or a person doesn’t have an esrog for Succot but they strive and yearn for one.

Primary Urgency – To Live In The King’s Palace

And importantly, even if it is arguably unclear whether Yishuv E”Y is a mitzvah, Chazal is very clear that E”Y is the place for a Jew to get as close to G-d as possible. To claim otherwise flies in the face of myriad statements of Chazal.

In my view, the primary urgency should be the urgency to strive to get as close to HaShem as possible and thus, live in the King’s Palace, E”Y. This primary urgency is the main reason why a person should want to live in E”Y.

If a secondary urgency is the feeling that E”Y might be physically safer during the End of Days, then this doubled urgency can help push a person over the obstacles and make aliyah. But nobody is doing anything wrong for not feeling this secondary urgency (although its hard for me to understand how a thinking person cannot feel it).

But if a person does not feel the primary urgency, then, frankly, examination of one’s hashkofah through independent analysis of relevant sources in Chazal and the early Rishonim is in order.

“If I forget thee, Yerushalyim . . . “

Only Punching Allowed (for now)

As a result of major democratic Jewish donor threats, politically motivated PBO vetoes UN resolution calling settlements illegal, but at the same time the US forcefully pronounces them “illegitimate” and reaffirms the US commitment to push for a Pal (War) State.

My first reaction to the news this motzei Shabbat was, “he did the right thing.”  But, with further reflection this morning I realize hat this reaction is erroneous and a result of a galut consciousness where we rationalize and make excuses for abuse.

Victims of Abuse

The Jewish people in exile resemble an abused wife. The Nations have beaten us for thousands of years.  We have become accustomed to it to such an extent that, when they don’t beat us, like, for example, in America, we perceive the lack of being beaten as a kindness.

We’ve been so beat down and abused that we consider not being beaten up a chesed! – “Wow, they are such wonderful people, they’re not beating us up.”  Thus, for example, Jews are wont to say America is the “medina shel chesed” because people here are not abusing and persecuting us.

Let’s be clear – a person refraining from abusing an innocent is not a chesed!! And a person abusing another with a lesser intensity than expected is also not a chesed or a tovah.

Only the victim of abuse might view it so.

Only Punching Allowed (for now)

Likewise, with respect to current events.

America, led by PBO, continues to condone events which are leading to an Iranian takeover of the Middle East. Egypt is allowing Iranian warships, including a large freighter carrying weapons for Hizballah, through the Suez canal.  The US does not even protest against it or try to stop it from happening, although UN sanctions authorize inspection of these ships and confiscation of weapons.  Punch.

And, notwithstanding the UN veto, the US continues to proclaim Jews living in Judea, Samaria, and Historical Jerusalem illegitimate. Punch.

The US continues to push for a Pal (war) State. Punch.

The Pal call for the UN resolution was essentially a call for the Nations to ratchet up the level of abuse from a Punch to a Kick.

The US veto, in context, is a continuing of the status quo and a continuation of the abuse, albeit at an intensity not as high (for now) as the most wicked Nations desire – The US is saying, “Hey boys, only Punching allowed right now.”

(Although, the cynic in me believes the whole “show” is just a ploy to help prop up Abbas by showing he is not an American patsy, and to keep Jewish political donations flowing through 2012).

Purim Connection

So, should we show ha’carat ha’tov to PBO for not agreeing to Kick but rather just keep Punching?

In my opinion, the answer is no.  The US is still punching, and hurting.

Over time, many punches can knock a person down as much as just a few big kicks.

But for sure, thank you to those wealthy non-religious Jews for choosing to exercise their influence with PBO. It is a deed reminiscent of Esther, who used her influence with the evil and arrogant Achashverosh for the good of the Jewish people. This should be a great merit for them.

Given that the vote took place on Purim Katan, the parallels are obvious and clear.

HaShem is protecting us, and giving us time to do tshuva.

Serious Series of Events

Latest news, in this order!

1. Iran Warships To Transit Suez Canal
2. Israel – “A Serious Provocation”
3. White House – “I don’t have anything for you on that”
4. USA to Rebuke Israel at UN
5. Biggest Solar Flare In Years Headed To Earth!

Please HaShem, help the Jewish people get to the Holy Land before the door closes!!

Erev Rav – My People

This week’s Torah portion highlights the story of the Erev Rav, who led and instigated the construction and worship of the golden calf.  Our Sages teach that the Erev Rav is referred to as “Am“, the people.

Our Sages teach that, in the End of Days, the Erev Rav will be the Jewish people’s greatest enemy, as they push for the destruction of K’lal Yisrael by engaging in efforts meant to unite Yishmael and Esav against the Jewish people living in Yishuv E”Y.

If one ever wanted a hint to “who is Erev Rav”, they have to look no further than the American lobby group, J-Street. The group purports to represent the interests of American Jews.

Today, when asked to comment about the Nations’ push for a UN Security Council resolution stating that Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria are illegal, J-Street’s executive director Jeremy Ben-Ami, stated:

J Street’s executive director Jeremy Ben- Ami told The Jerusalem Post that he hopes the US will promote attempts to table or edit the resolution, but that if these efforts fail, he is not in favor of using veto power over it. . . Ben-Ami said, “We believe the US should not veto a resolution in line with the overwhelming majority of America’s political stance on the issue.”

In essence, a non-veto by the US of this resolution means the resolution would become the new, fundamental “international ruling” upon which further international “legal” actions against Yishuv E”Y will be “justified.”

If you haven’t already, note the J-Street executive directors name  – Ben Ami – the son of my people, the Am, the Erev Rav. I don’t like to cast, and rarely do cast, spiritual allegations like these – but here the shoe fits perfectly.

More On The Resolution.

As it stands, 120 Nations have co-sponsored the resolution. There are 120 permutations of the divine name Elohim, which represents the attribute of strict judgment (middat ha’din). V’haven.

Also, commentators believe that the US, notwithstanding calls to cast a no-veto or abstain, will veto the resolution while 14 other members of the UNSC will vote “for” it.

14 is the gematria of yad – hand, which is to say the Nations are sealing their judgment with their own “hand” – ultimately, they will be held accountable for their wickedness.

HaShem should protect us, and these events should inspire faith and repentance.

Things are happening.

Left Jab, Right Cross.

Lately, I’ve been reading the posts are our friend Tomer Devorah’s site regarding the growing anti-semitic, right wing undercurrents in America.

If there were to be an economic crisis-collapse like the 2008, only worse and involving dollar devaluation and rampant inflation, the stage would then appear set for right wing (fascist) patriots to move into the mainstream politic and discourse. (Read more in Left Jab, Right Cross, published last summer)

While surfing and coming across this article entitled American Jewish leader made secret visits to Syria, here’s a sampling of comments.

Now you nation’s faltering, your homos want to wed
Minorities are lawsuit fiends, your Bill of Rights is dead
And only Jews are protected by laws we make ourselves
Goyim struggle to survive in Neo-Bolshevik made HELL!”

These arrogant, zionist jews need to return to their homeland! ……….I realize they think they are God’s chosen few………….but I hate to inform them, that there is room in Heaven for Christians too!……

Jewish supremacism is a global cancer on this planet. Jewish marxism/communism/zionism is destroying America and all White majority nations and terrorizing the Muslim world. Jews control your government, your television and media, and what is taught in schools. Jews aspire to genocide the White race through race mixing propaganda, non-White immigration, feminism to lower the White birth rate, homosexuality worship, White guilt incited by false lies against the White race and victim status mentality pumped into dark races. Jews use their financial power to control your media and schools and use these weapons to pervert and dumb down everyone especially White people. Jews aspire for world control and domination by destroying racial identity in Whites and everyone esle eventaully and unifying all nations under their oppressive communist control. Israel is a fake stolen terrorist state. Every war is nothing but a game instigated by Jewish international bankers to serve Jewish global aspirations. White peole have been dumbed down by Jewish propaganda and lies into race mixing and hating themselves and their race. Tolerance is the virtue of fools who no longer believe in anything.

Lovely.

And if you haven’t seen this cute little short:

Also lovely.

HaShem should protect and enable us all to return home as soon as possible!

Israel Off The Grid

Last week, our community shul’s bulletin informed us that an 11 year old boywas injured in a skiing accident and rushed to the hospital. Doctors treating the boy performed a body scan. During the scan they noticed a lump in the boy’s chest.

Thank G-d, the boy is recovering well from the skiiing accident, but this week he undergoes a biopsy on the lump.  Please daven for this little tzadik’l, Ephraim ben Sarah Tikvah – he and his family should hear good news and he should have a refuah shlema.

All of us have heard similar stories where an “accidental” injury led to the discovery of an unknown, potentially life-threatening condition.  And because of the accident and consequent discovery, the patient received immediate treatment and was healed.

Hidden Disease – Relying on the Unreliable

The application of the “accidental discovery of a life-threatening condition” principal is clear to see in current events related to Egypt. The pro-democracy riots, sudden and accidental in nature, are revealing a hidden, dangerous condition: relying on the unreliable.

The SOI is unwisely relying on a weak reed that is unreliable and threatens to give way, break, and pierce the SOI at any time; it is now clear to all that the strong man Mubarak’s fall will lead to Egypt’s implicit and/or explicit abrogation of the Camp David peace treaty.

Already the SOI has been given a strong hint of what to expect in the future in terms of Egyptian unreliability. As a result of “terrorism” in the Sinai, 25% of Israel’s natural gas supply has been cut off overnight.

Hopefully, this incipient stage of Egyptian betrayal will wake the SOI up to the fact that all of their current geopolitical reliances are misplaced, and that the nation will take anticipatory actions towards military and economic self-reliance based on this fact.

As all nations surround us, we must prepare for “Israel Off-The-Grid.”