David's Shield - A Call for Unity

from Breslev.co.il

(This article first appeared on Breslev.co.il)

If you are a Jewish male, you either wear a kippa (yarmulke, skull cap) or you don’t. If you do wear a kippa, it may be crocheted, suede, colorful or just plain black or white. Or maybe you just wear one for that special occasion; your son’s Bar Mitzvah or your nephew’s Brit Mila (circumcision), or possibly not at all. If you’re a married Jewish woman, you either cover your head or you don’t. It may be that you wear a hat, a headscarf, a ‘sheitle’ (wig), or a ‘snood’ but it could be that you only cover your head when going to ‘shul’ (synagogue) or maybe not at all. Your head coverings and clothing styles may classify you by what you have taken upon yourself, and the path you have chosen, but by definition, we are all Jews. Whether Chassidic, Charedi, National Religious or non-observant, we are all one big family.  And like any family, it requires a lot of tolerance, understanding and emuna to keep peace in the home. If we want HaShem’s blessings and protection, we must make peace amongst ourselves a top priority.

The Jewish People is somewhat like mushroom, bean and barley soup. All the ingredients are very unique, special and necessary. Together they incorporate the proper flavor, texture and nutrients, maximizing the end result. Without each and every item, it just wouldn’t be mushroom, bean and barley soup. Similarly, without every element of the Jewish People, we would not be able to complete the task at hand, that of being a “light unto the nations” (Isaiah 42:6). Everyone, despite their background or present level, has something invaluable to contribute. It is therefore incumbent upon each of us to look for the good in others and appreciate our differences.

 

Regardless of one’s religious or political affiliations, there is one sign which is universally accepted as a Jewish symbol ~ the Magen David, Star (or Shield) of David. Jews the world over, wear this emblem on a chain close to their hearts.  As well, many Jewish items proudly display this logo of old. On the surface, this symbol is simply a representation of the shield that King David used in battle. But when one delves deeper into its significance, the results are very profound.

 

The Magen David is made up of two triangles, one over the other with six points. If one compares these conjoined triangles to the Jewish People, it illustrates how we are melded together as one, yet with each sector maintaining its own ‘point’. Our views and interpretations may extend in different directions, but the center, The Torah, is where we unite. The Star of David is representative of the number seven by counting 6 points plus the center. The number seven is very important in Judaism, one central reason being the commandment to observe the Sabbath (Shabbat): six days of Creation followed by the seventh day of rest.

 

The Magen David is often blue in color, as on the Israeli Flag. While the blue of the flag was chosen by man, blue is essential to the Biblical directive for the tzitzit (fringes) that men wear, one thread of each corner to be dipped into the extraordinary and rare blue techelet dye. “And they shall place upon the tzitzit of each corner a thread of techelet.  And you shall look upon it and remember all of the commandments of Hashem and you shall do them," (Bamidbar 15:38, 39). As well, the design of the Israeli flag with two blue stripes on either side of the star was inspired by the “Tallit” (prayer shawl) which Jewish men of all persuasions wear during prayer. And when the time comes, in preparation for burial, this same Tallit, if it fits the specifications, may be used to wrap his purified body.

 

G-d Himself has been referred to as David’s Shield as seen from the Blessings of the Haftarah recited on Shabbat and Festivals ‘Blessed are You, HaShem, Shield of David’. When HaShem shielded David in battle and during his flight from Saul, King David was inspired to write these verses of Tehillim (Psalms) ‘Thou hast also given me Thy shield of salvation’ (18:36) and “He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in Him” (18:31)  

 

It is no coincidence that the connection between our People and David’s Shield, the Star of David, is one of vast proportions. It is through David HaMelech’s progeny that Moshiach will arise and save us. Today, when the need for G-d’s protection and salvation is immeasurable, we must unite together in a mosaic of sweet harmony. As Rebbe Nachman, of blessed memory, said, “Every single Jew has in him a portion of God above” (Likutei Moharan 35:1). If we can just put our differences aside and gather all those sparks of holiness, the results will be astounding!

 

We each believe our way is the right way, which is acceptable as long as our goals are for the sake of Heaven. But if each one of us will commit to reaching out to someone with a differing view, and internalize that we are all brothers and sisters, we will merit altering the universe. In the end, when Moshiach comes to redeem us, he will bring with him all the answers we so desperately crave and we will finally unify in a world of Peace, Truth and HaShem’s Eternal Light. G-d willing, may it be soon in our days, amen!

A Mouse in the House

There must be some spiritual reason I have yet to understand to explain why the strangest things happen to our family on Shabbat (the Sabbath). One instance I’m referring to is unwelcome intruders from nature. There is no doubt that the fact we live in a ground floor apartment with direct access to grass, trees and bushes facilitates their entry, but why do they always seek our attention on the holiest day of the week? Specifically when we are not allowed to capture or kill bugs or any living creature, they honor us with their presence. I can only attribute it to being a test from HaShem (G-d).  

The knowledge that everything is for a reason became apparent Friday night two weeks ago when our daughter came home long after I had fallen asleep. Like most mothers who have some kind of built-in antennae when it comes to their children, I awoke when she arrived. Had I not gotten up to check on things soon thereafter, no one would have seen the humongous tarantula racing across the bathroom floor. I reflexively let out a shriek which launched my husband and daughter quickly from their beds. Thank G-d, the striped, furry creature crawled onto our washing machine which was less than a meter from the side door. A few strategic sweeps and several tense moments later, the arachnid was back in his own habitat. Instead of complaining that my sleep had been interrupted, I was able to sincerely thank HaShem for the disturbance.

The following week I was looking forward to a rejuvenating, early Shabbat sleep once again, but it was delayed as one of our sons spotted an unusual visitor in the living room. “Mom, there’s a mouse!” was all I needed to hear to get me to spring into action. The tiny grey mammal ran here and there until he scurried down the hall to the boys’ room. Instead of screaming and jumping onto a chair to evade the critter, I tried to get a closer look at him. He was actually quite cute. If rodents didn’t spread disease and leave droppings everywhere, I would have even invited him to stay awhile, but sadly it was the mouse which seemed distressed. He explored every possible exit route and found a dead end at each corner, all the while trying to avoid the ‘giants’ in the room. We wanted him out and he wanted out, but how? Finally, our son brought in a box to use but we were unsuccessful in luring him inside. It wasn’t until he escaped into a small bathroom that we were able to shut the door with the mouse and our son inside. Before long, our son came out proudly holding the box rattling with its live contents. He quickly rushed outside to release the frightened little mouse back into the wild.                   

Since each occurrence in our lives, no matter how seemingly insignificant or minute, has a purpose, I tried to think of what HaShem was trying to teach me with yet another Friday night Shabbat incident. I read that Rav Chaim Kanievsky, may he be blessed, instructed with regards to getting rid of mice, one must be stringent in giving maaser money (tithe – 10% of one’s earnings) to the poor. This was a valuable lesson, but we already got rid of the mouse so it didn’t really apply here. Also, the quandary involved not only a mouse, but all pint-sized creations which enter our home in error. While trying to decipher Divinely sent messages, I try to draw on my intuition but I realize we can never discount anything. Occasionally my perception is crystal clear and at other times, it’s as clear as mud.

In this case, several thoughts came to mind, but one which flashed in my head like a neon sign had significance for others as well. Both the tarantula and the mouse could slip through any teeny opening but the message they brought was larger than life. When they first crossed the threshold between their world and ours, they were filled with fear. Both were out of their element despite the fact that they could have certainly built their homes within ours. Had we left them alone, they may have easily created a comfortable living area, setting up an unobtrusive corner somewhere and live it up so to speak. Over time, there would have been families of both species creating generations of mice and tarantulas under our roof. Soon they would lose sight of where they came from and how they got there. Both should have been burrowing down in their natural dwelling places out in the field but somehow lost their way. For reasons known to G-d alone, they were sent into ‘exile’, to foreign territory just like all of our people who are scattered to the ‘four corners’ of the earth. Baruch HaShem, (thank G-d) humans are on a higher level than the rodents and spiders. Man does not act on instinct alone but through freedom of choice. Man can choose to make his home anywhere he desires, so doesn’t it make sense to live amongst his own people, in the land G-d gave to us?

Yes, it is a difficult decision to leave the comfortable corner we have set up for ourselves in someone else’s house, but it CAN be done. To quote from Sichot HaRan #11 (Rabbi Nachman’s Wisdom) “The Rebbe said he had great joy of being worthy to have been in the Land of Israel. He endured many obstacles, doubts, delays and disturbances in order to make his journey to the Land of Israel. Money was also an obstacle. But he overcame everything and finished the job completely—he made it to the Land of Israel!

He said, “I believe—and I know a lot about this subject—.every motion, every thought, everything that one does attempting to do something holy is not wasted. When one breaks through all the obstacles and achieves his holy goal, his every move and all the uncertainties and confusion that he faced when he was still in the throes of doubt and bewilderment—‘Can I do this or not?’—with hurdles facing him at every turn; when one finally overcomes them, those very obstacles, doubts, etc., every last one of them, are all made into exalted and sacred things, marked for good.”  (from Ask A Breslover, by Ozer Bergman)

The first week after we made aliya to Israel, our daughter got terribly sick with what turned out to be a common case of strep throat. A friend told me that everything in the Land is bigger and much more intense; the illnesses, the bugs, the plants, the weather but also the Kedusha (holiness). I found that to be true as I have witnessed extremes in all areas of life since coming ‘Home’.  I have never seen such weird and gigantic insects nor as beautiful and unique birds as I have here. I can also report that nowhere in the world are the miracles as huge, frequent and obvious…. at least to anyone who chooses to see them. One phenomenon that is actually reduced in Israel is fear. With a strengthening of our emuna and a complete reliance on HaShem, Israel becomes the safest place in the world. As Rabbi Lazer Brody says “When you fear One, you fear no one”.  

So don’t be stuck like a mouse in the house. Just as mice and tarantulas don’t belong in our homes, the Jewish people don’t belong in any other land but Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel. There’s no time like the present to cross back over the threshold. Your family is waiting to welcome you home!  

(first published on Breslev.co.il)

Dodging Disaster

הודו ליהוה כי טוב, כי לעולם חסדו 

Give thanks to HaShem for He is good, for His kindness endures forever!

Oftentimes we are presented with terrible difficulties in life while occasionally we receive HaShem’s abundant mercies. When the latter occurs, especially in a miraculous manner, it can be overwhelming as one tries to comprehend the enormity of the gift. Saying that one would be thankful is an understatement as there are no words to adequately express the profound appreciation one feels. Our Rabbis teach the importance of publicizing a miracle as we see particularly from Chanukah when we are commanded to place our Chanukah Menorah in public view. Purim is another example of a spectacular event we expose openly. In light of this, I would like to relate one such personal occurrence.

Our son, Uri, and his friend, Noam, went on a post-army trip to work in Australia for a few months with a bit of touring planned for the route home ~ New Zealand, Hong Kong and Thailand. After being in Australia for 3 months, Noam left for New Zealand while Uri and a new friend, Itzik, planned to meet Noam there a few weeks later.

It was Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011, יח` אדר א. I don’t usually sleep late in the morning, but this particular day I wasn’t yet awake at 8 something when our oldest daughter called. I was able to say Modeh Ani while my husband brought me the phone which quickly jolted me out of my drowsiness. If the phone could vibrate emotions, it would be shaking with distress. The urgency in my daughter’s voice was palpable as she began speaking. She had just been in touch with Uri who was heading to New Zealand during the night, our time. After this short disclaimer, she asked if I had heard the news. There had been a major earthquake in New Zealand but Baruch HaShem, Uri was fine. As with every grave incident which is too close for comfort, I thought to myself, what were the chances of them being exactly where the earthquake struck anyway, so why all the anxiety? Little did I know that our daughter had also spoken to Uri the previous day during which he informed her of his plans; Uri and Itzik were to meet Noam in Chrixxchurch, the precise location of massive destruction. The death toll was already at 65 with more expected. (Sadly, the final tally of confirmed dead eventually rose to 182). All morning we were anxiously waiting to hear about Noam, praying for his safety, since he hadn’t contacted his family yet, probably due to problems with communications in general. B”H he contacted them a couple of hours later.

The boys were all safe and sound, thank G-d, so we could breathe a sigh of relief. Why then did I spend the whole morning crying?  I was not sobbing from sorrow, though my heart went out to the victims and their families. On the contrary; my emotions were enormously intense as I was engulfed with a deep sense of gratitude, the depth of which I had never experienced before. On the surface it appeared to be a personally uneventful day, give or take a couple hours of uneasiness. The facts tell a different story however, via a succession of events which could only have been orchestrated by G-d Himself.

Uri and Itzik were scheduled to fly to New Zealand but their flight was significantly delayed for unknown reasons. They were finally aboard the plane headed for New Zealand, due to land shortly, when the earthquake occurred resulting in the airport closure. Despite the proximity to their destination, the plane was forced to turn around mid-air. They refueled in Tasmania and flew back to Australia.

When Noam’s sister-in-law called to tell us the good news that Noam was finally in touch with his family, the story he related to her brought me to tears. Noam, Uri and Itzik were supposed to meet in a specific building in the city center of Chrixxchurch. Noam was on a bus going to the meet them but the bus passed the building so Noam asked the bus driver to please let him out. The driver refused to stop because it wasn’t his designated stop. When Noam kept asking, the driver sympathized with Noam’s plight and went as far as to call his supervisor to ask if he could make an exception for this young tourist. He was told no. Noam finally got off the bus far from the city center when the earth suddenly shook. Traumatized from the quake, Noam began making his way back to the center of town when he saw a news report showing the exact building where the three were supposed to meet - totally collapsed! Horrified, not knowing the flight had been delayed, thinking his friends were already there, he was screaming that he had to get through to find them, but the authorities wouldn't let him pass. Needless to say, he was in a state of shock. He didn’t find out Uri and Itzik were ok until he spoke to his Mom.


Had they met as planned, they probably would have all been in that building when it went down. Thank G-d for His Great Mercy, Who spared them through so many miracles. 

When I pondered the significance of all that transpired, it also occurred to me that if HaShem can do anything, and in His infinite compassion He chose to save our boys from this calamity, He could have simply prevented the building from falling on them, saving them from injury even in the midst of all the destruction. Instead of several individual miracles, one collective miracle would have done the same job, so why all the extra ‘work’?  It didn’t take much deliberation to conclude that like anything else G-d does for our benefit, it is not merely the end result which is His gift to us, but also the hidden messages within it. Yes, their survival was the ultimate reward, but HaShem was personally guiding the boys with His staff of life. These exclusive miracles were uniquely designed for each of the boys to grab hold of and to learn from, tailor made to lead them on their own path. With the snowball effect kicking in, it was also a lesson for each one of us who loves and cares about them, bringing us to introspection of our own. The whole episode strengthened my emuna and reconfirmed my confidence in HaShem’s active presence in our lives. To know that G-d is constantly with us can be difficult to internalize, but when one has the privilege of seeing His unbelievable wonders, it adds more credence to our beliefs. Recognizing that He was protecting my beloved son so many miles away, I was able to relax in the comfort of His loving arms, the serenity of which was consoling beyond compare. As the words of thanks poured from my lips to my Heavenly Father, I also understood that this miracle must be shared with others for encouragement and inspiration.

The following day, Uri and Itzik boarded the first available flight to New Zealand to meet their friend, Noam.  Since there were no youth hostels or hotels open in Chrixxchurch after the quake and the Chabad House was severely damaged, they decided to head south to do some sightseeing. I had originally been against Uri’s trip but when I saw the beautiful pictures he took, I realized that not everything is black and white. While in essence, a carefree, aimless vacation appears to be a waste of precious time, it allowed him to witness many of G-d’s creations first hand. Observing the beauty of such magnificent landscape and wildlife was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I was genuinely happy that he had the opportunity to partake of it (all within the boundaries of Halacha [Jewish Law], of course). 

Photo Credit - col@col.org.il

Noam had previously been in touch with the Chabad Rabbi, so they contacted him when they returned to Chrixxchurch a week later. The Rabbi wanted to go into the city center to collect some seforim (holy books) and the Sefer Torahs (Torah Scrolls) which were buried in the ruins, so Noam volunteered to go with him. Once again, they weren’t allowed to enter the area but were finally given permission with a police escort. Although Noam was ready and willing to go in alone to retrieve the holy items, considering the danger involved, he was forbidden. With a little coaxing, the police agreed to do it themselves. Baruch HaShem, two Torahs were brought out from the darkness of destruction. This was a bittersweet celebration as it soon became apparent that three young Israeli backpackers lost their lives in the earthquake (Baruch Dayan HaEmet – G-d is the True Judge).

It is astounding to replay the succession of happenings which shadowed Uri’s trail. Whither he went, devastation followed as he seemed to dodge one disaster after another:

January – While in Australia, the country was faced with unprecedented storms and flooding.  People lost their homes and some lost their lives. Uri was in Melbourne most of the time, while the flooding occurred mainly on the other coast.

February – The New Zealand earthquake as stated above.

March 6^th – Still in New Zealand they were in a town called Kaikoura.  By 4 p.m. they left to head inland to Queenstown.  At 4:43 p.m. a quake hit the area 20-kilometres east of Kaikoura. There were no reports of damage, but rocks fell onto State Highway One about 17 km north of Kaikoura.

March 11^th, a huge 9 magnitude earthquake struck Japan with a powerful tsunami resulting in thousands of deaths and bringing the nuclear power plants to the brink of total meltdown. Thank G-d he had no plans to visit Japan.

Thursday, March 24^th - Uri was in the air on his way from Hong Kong to Bangkok, Thailand when an earthquake shook Myanmar (Burma), just north of Thailand and was felt in Bangkok as well. The death toll rose to 74 people with at least 111 injured.

Sunday, March 27^th – After spending Shabbat at a Chabad House in Bangkok, Uri and some new Israeli friends took a bus to Phuket in the south of Thailand. When they arrived, they were unable to enjoy any sightseeing as a bad rainstorm had erupted. At a time of year when extreme heat was the rule, unheard of cold temperatures permeated the area. This added salt to the wounds of the terrible flooding and mudslides which claimed the lives of at least 53 people and stranded thousands of tourists in southern Thailand. Trains to the region were cancelled and three airports shut down. The Thai navy evacuated about 1,200 people from Koh Samui and Koh Tao, a remote island popular with backpackers. In the center of all this torrential weather and resulting damage, in the idyllic town of Phuket, Uri, his friends and Beit Chabad remained unscathed, B”H, under HaShem’s Protective Wing.

Sunday, April 3^rd - The day Uri left Phuket for Bangkok, another earthquake hit the region, this time south of Thailand in Indonesia near Chrixxmas Island with a tsunami warning issued.

These miracles cannot just be swept under the rug as natural phenomena. As stated before, we each have an obligation to find the sublime meaning in all incidents affecting our lives. The righteous Baal Shem Tov zt’l once said, “Every single thing that a person sees or hears is an instruction to him in his conduct in the service of G-d”. Beyond that, one can also see a definite trend in the movement of the world as a whole and the messages HaShem is trying to transmit to humanity… if we will only open our eyes and ears. We each have our role to play in the grand scheme of things. I can only pass on what I believe to be inspiring; what you do with that knowledge is up to you. What I do know is that the Master of the Universe does nothing without a reason and without His protection we are but dust beneath the rubble.

Deuteronomy 11:26 states “See, I give you today a blessing and a curse". Life’s journey is a constant battle between good and evil, between our yetzer tov and our yetzer hara. If we use our experiences and awareness wisely to fulfill G-d’s Will, through complete and sincere emuna, we will have the power to turn all the bad of the world into a state of Divine perfection. When this challenge is finally met, our genuine, earnest thoughts and actions will enable Moshiach to finally proclaim his long-awaited arrival.

May we all merit to behold a world overflowing with continuous Wonders and Miracles, soon in the coming days, Amen.

(this article first appeared on Breslev.co.il)

Think Again!

Our enemy has done it again. They are trying to achieve their goals by using insane, inhuman, reprehensible and cowardly acts. The so-called relative calm has once again been shattered with yesterdays bombing in our Holy City of Jerusalem. One beloved soul has been returned to her Maker and many others are injured, some seriously. The truth is, there was never any quiet in the first place since terror has been constant within our Land for years. Countless attempts at violence occur on a daily basis but rarely make the news thanks to our amazing security (with G-d’s Help, of course) by foiling any attempts before they actually do damage. This may have been the first explosion in the heart of our Capital in several years, but we are not strangers to these nightmare occurrences. We are barely recovering from the shock and outrage over the horrific murders of five members of the righteous Fogel family, leaving three precious orphans to fend for themselves. To call these executioners animals is far too kind as there are no words in the English language to adequately describe such monsters.

As difficult as it is to say, despite all the pain, we can find some good in these events. Just knowing that HaShem is running the show and it is all for a purpose can give us resolve to push on and continue to live our lives without fear. The best part is knowing that our enemy is losing their battle. They think that by maiming us and planting panic into our hearts we will give up one of HaShem's sacred gifts that is so dear to us, our treasured Homeland. They think that by murdering us and causing our souls to ache with grief, we will be forced out of the Land that we are destined to settle. Well, they can think again!

Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel, is our G-d-given Land, our Birthright and our life. Our bitter cousins, the offspring of Yishmael, are willing and even anxious to go down fighting in order to take it away from us, gladly destroying us in the process. While they eagerly sacrifice their own lives to satiate their need for revenge and bloodshed, we do anything in our power to preserve the sanctity of human life.

Their seriously misguided tactics are like a sharp, metal boomerang ready to rebound and cut off their own heads. The more they push us, the stronger we become. They more they relentlessly strive to divide us, the more united we grow. Where we once bickered over trivial differences, we now devotedly care for one another with a re-born intensity. Sadly, it takes a crisis to bring us together. G-d willing, we will build, we will prosper and we will firmly defend our right to our Home. And most importantly, we will attain this objective as one loving family, united under G-d.  Perhaps that is all HaShem really wants!

Be strong and courageous; for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land which I swore unto their fathers to give them.(6) Be strong and courageous; be not frightened, neither be thou dismayed: for the L-RD thy G-d is with thee wherever thou goest.'(9)  (Joshua 1:6 and 1:9)

(This blog post is dedicated to the memory of those who have lost their lives just for being Jews living in the Land of Israel)

Strongest Thing in the World

It's all for the best

Words of wisdom.  Read what Rabbi Lazer Brody shlit'a has to say about the situation today and what we can do about it:

Thursday, 03 March 2011

It's All for the Best

Political activism is worthless; it won't do a thing to save Judea, Samaria, or Jerusalem. Politicians can't stop Iran's nuclear ambitions or the Islamic Jihadi objectives. Torah, teshuva, and prayer can. If you don't believe in prayer, says my beloved teacher and spiritual guide Rav Shalom Arush, you don't believe in Hashem.

Let's not wait for more tribulations to bring us together in a new unity, rallying around emuna. The growing emuna alliance will flourish, G-d willing, and lead the way to the final redemption of our people, our homeland, and global peace. But, let's do it on our own initiative, without Hashem having to prod us like stubborn cows that won't move.

We don't yet have the entire picture. As humans, with flesh-and-blood eyes and brains, we don't understand everything that Hashem is doing right now in the Arab world and everywhere else around the globe. But we do know that he's doing everything for the very best.

Rav Elchonon Wasserman of saintly and martyred memory told the following parable:

Once a man who knew nothing at all about agriculture came to a farmer and asked to be taught about farming. The farmer took him to his field and asked him what he saw. “I see a beautiful piece of land, lush with grass, and pleasing to the eye.” Then the visitor stood aghast while the farmer plowed under the grass and turned the beautiful green field into a mass of shallow brown ditches.

“Why did you ruin the field!” he demanded.

“Be patient. You will see,” said the farmer.

The farmer then showed his guest a sackful of plump kernels of wheat and said, “Tell me what you see.” The visitor described the nutritious, inviting grain, and then, once more watched in shock as the farmer ruined something beautiful. This time, he walked up and down the furrows and dropped kernels into the open ground wherever he went. Then he covered the kernels with clods of soil.

“Are you insane?” the man demanded. “First you destroyed the field and then you ruined the grain!”

“Be patient. You will see.”

Time went by, and once more the farmer took his guest out to the field. Now they saw endless, straight rows of green stalks sprouting up from all the furrows. The visitor smiled broadly.

“I apologize. Now I understand what you were doing. You made the field more beautiful than ever. The art of farming is truly marvelous.”

“No,” said the farmer. “We are not done. You must still be patient.”

More time went by and the stalks were fully grown. The farmer came with a sickle and chopped them all down as his visitor watched open-mouthed, seeing how the orderly field became an ugly scene of destruction. The farmer bound the fallen stalks into bundles and decorated the field with them. Later, he took the bundles to another area where he beat and crushed them until they became a mass ofstraw and loose kernels. Then he separated the kernels from the chaff and piled them up in a huge hill. Always he told his protesting visitor, “We are not done, you must be more patient.”

The farmer came with his wagon and piled it high with grain, which he took to a mill. There, the beautiful grain was ground into formless, choking dust. The visitor complained again. “You have taken grain and transformed it into dirt!” Again, he was told to be patient.

The farmer put the dust into sacks and took it back home. He took some dust and mixed it with water while his guest marveled at the foolishness of making “whitish mud.” Then the farmer fashioned the “mud” into the shape of a loaf. The visitor saw the perfectly formed loaf and smiled broadly, but his happiness did not last. The farmer kindled a fire in an oven and put the loaf into it.

“Now I know you are insane. After all that work, you burn what you have made.”

The farmer looked at him and laughed. “Have I not told you to be patient?” Finally, the farmer opened the oven and took out a freshly baked bread, crisp and brown, with an aroma that made the visitor’s mouth water. “Come,” the farmer said. He led his guest to the kitchen table where he cut the bread and offered his now-pleased visitor a liberally buttered slice. “Now,” the farmer said, “now you understand.”

***********

Hashem is the Farmer and we are the uncomprehending visitors who do not begin to understand His ways or the outcome of His plan. Only when the process is complete and Redemption is a reality will the Jewish people know why all that transpired during this long and bitter exile had to happen. Until then, we must be patient and have faith that everything, even the destructive and painful, is a part of a Divine process that will produce ultimate goodness and beauty.

The Message in the Rain

I know I’m a bit of a fanatic but I decided to go out for my daily walk today, despite the pouring rain. I really love the rain (which we desperately need) and I needed the walk, so what could be better? It’s only water, after all. Yesterday I was caught in a downpour and came home drenched, but I had a great time in the process. Unusual things make me happy these days….

I ventured out with my boots, coat, scarf and an umbrella in hand. As I started walking, the rain intensified and began coming down in torrents.  Rather than return to the comfort of home, I kept plowing along, enjoying every second of it. I actually tried to begin some hitbodedut (personal prayer) but I couldn’t get past an idea which was taking form in my mind. The intense rain and the current news were so conjoined it was flashing before me like a beacon of light. To sum up the events of the past few days in a few sentences is not simple, but I will give my take on it in condensed form. Basically, Islamic radical groups, being egged on by Iran, have been stirring up trouble in all the Arab countries surrounding Israel. First, Lebanon was taken over by Hezbollah and now Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is being pushed from power by mobs of wild protesters, anxious to overthrow his government. As of today, he is still holding his own, but it’s only a matter of time. The same chaos it threatening Jordan, but so far it is just a taunt. From what I have read, there is a possibility that even Syria may be provoked by the same hooligans, controlled like puppets by Iran’s Ahmadinejad. Twitter, Facebook and Al Jazeera win prizes for spreading the word in record time to the maximum number of followers, all haters of Israel who pray for our destruction.

And then there is the rain; beautiful, torrential and miraculous rain. It is said that rain is a blessing from HaShem. He will only provide rains for our land “If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give your rains in their season, and the land shall yield her produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely. I will give peace in the land (Leviticus 26: 3-6)

I know that a good majority of our People do not abide by what is written above, observing the commandments as we are required to do, but I also know that we do not understand the ways of HaShem, nor the balance of Justice in the Heavenly Courts. These rains that are saturating our parched land are a sure sign that G-d loves us. I believe that He is sending us this blessing as a message to those that can ‘see’ it. He is telling us not to worry. Our Father in Heaven will take care of us and provide for us, despite what is happening on all sides of our borders. No man, no nation nor any missile can hurt us as long as we trust in HaShem for He is our true Protector. The sooner everyone wakes up and sees this truth the better, for  it’s only a matter of time..... 

High School Poems

This is something a little different. I am going to write down some of my poems from high school.  I have them on fading paper so this is a good way to save them (unless cyberspace crashes one day).  Anyway, I am posting some of them, but please note that I was not as depressed as I sound in some of these poems. And especially now after so many years, thank G-d for emuna, Torah and HaShem! These poems no longer represent who I am. Here we go:

Sleep

Relaxation,

   rest,

      thoughts swirling around.

A jumble of memories,

   the future,

      and now.

Tossing,

   turning,

      again and again,

Sorting the "Where"

   the "Who" and

       and the "When"

Darkness,

   stillness,

       muscles relax.

Mind keeps on working,

            assembling

                    the facts.

Exhaustion,

   fatigue,

      drowsiness comes.

Gliding, the mind slides,

            murmurs,

                 hums.

Muscles,

  tendons,

         physically weak,

Brain always working,

             now records:

                     "Sleep"

The Depths of Darkness

The sky is dark,

The moon is grey,

But through the mist

I see the way.

A star beyond

Is coming near,

It shines quite bright 

To stop all fear.

Now I can't see 

The dark of night,

For I'm blinded by

The warming light.

Who is to Blame?

Once I had a little doll,

What was her name?

Amy? No. Sue? No.

Oh, what does it matter.

I was given her to look after.

She had no mind; 

I gave her mine.

She had no feelings or expressions;

Mine were hers.

She was bad,

      I spanked her.

She was good,

      I was happy.

I fed her,

But she never ate...

She grew up anyways,

     Or at least  

      I did!

Now she knew right from wrong.

She always listened.

She was an obedient child,

Always listened.

Finally, I set her up on her shelf to live

for herself.

I checked in on her,

Never changing her habits.

Then I changed.

I became more mature,

My wisdom grew with experience.

Then I noticed when I checked again -

She had not changed,

But she was

       doing

             wrong!

I had taught her.

She listened well.

The Elastic

An elastic,

So flexible yet so brittle.

My mind,

Same as this rubbery band.

So many forces,

     Stretching,

           Pulling,

                Exerting all their energy

Upon this mangled, jumble of life.

Opposing strengths

     Tugging

          Hopelessly

                In all directions,

Desperate to put the protrusion on their side.

But force is inhuman,

     How could it know,

            Or be expected to see

That it surrounds 

           and strangles

                 its purpose?

How could it know....

   Elastics break!

Tile

           

Ok, this next one was a project for school. We had to sit at our desks and look at something and write a poem about it.  This is what I came up with:

A tile on the floor,

Lonely and alone,

Within, lie numerous,

               multicolored,

                     multi-shapes.

All but one.... a three dimensional metal piece

of something!

A piece of what?

               Me!

               A representative of me;

Alone yet surrounded by everyone!

              Not me you say?

              You say there's a compatible shape beside

              piece of something? 

              The piece of me?

Oh I see it!

It's right there next to me - I mean next to the piece of something.

              Then when I reach out....

                        Why is it gone?

It was never really there.

Was it?

There are more, but these are enough.  I hope you enjoyed my trip down memory lane.  We all change... G-d willing for the better. Baruch HaShem!