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!

Giving it Over to Him

It isn't always easy trying to do something which is out of the ordinary.  As the modern expression goes, I am acting 'out of the box' and am praying that I will gain strength and flourish along with it.  After so many changes and periods of growth, this is yet another extreme test of my emuna.  The difference is, this one was self-imposed.  I trust in HaShem and I have no doubt that He exists and is ever-present in my life.  I also believe with all my heart and soul in the teachings of Rebbe Nachman, of blessed memory, and all the beautiful lessons of life that have sprouted forth from him through Rav Shalom Arush, Shlita and Rabbi Lazer Brody, Shlita, may they be blessed always.  Therefore, I am taking their advice (as I interpreted it) with regards to our parnassa, income. Rabbi Brody explains that our income is designated for us at Rosh Hashanah and whether we work 50 hours a week or 10 hours is irrelevant as parnassa is in the Hands of HaShem. As long as one’s time is spent in spiritual pursuits either by learning or practicing the laws of Torah, then the expression “G-d will provide” is a reality.


They also teach that it is the husband’s responsibility to support his family and while I have tried to contribute my fair share, it has been very difficult for me as a working mother and wife. It’s all very nice to try to be superwoman, to work outside the home, look after the family’s needs and still have a grain of time left for myself. In reality though, it is impossible and something has to give.  In my case, it is usually the home which suffers. Before we made aliya and when our older children were small, I made it my occupation to be a mother and would never think of going out to work.  If the house was a mess, it was only because my energies were spent looking after my family and the physical home was secondary in importance.  Now that our kids are no longer children, it’s a whole different story, complete with a new set of expectations and requirements.

I tried to internalize my role as a wife and mother (as stated in Women’s Wisdom and elsewhere) and came to the conclusion that I must spend more time doing what I am meant to do in my life and fulfill my true purpose in the world.  I found that I was unable to do that in my present job.  The organization in which I was employed was beneficial for the time being and fulfilled its purpose, but then things changed.  About a year ago they reorganized the job descriptions and moved everyone around. There were so many internal changes and politics, I found it was no longer conducive to my personal or spiritual growth. On the contrary, it became a enormous effort to refrain from participating in loshon hara. Before the summer, I had a talk with my boss who felt there wasn’t much work for me unless I was willing to do work which was not my ‘cup of tea’.  The choice was either doing work I didn’t enjoy or be laid off.  So I conceded and pushed off the inevitable until after the Chaggim, Rosh Hashanah through Sukkot.

At the same time, I began to have an urge to stay home more to be able to cook properly for Shabbat, invite more guests, bake challah and keep the house in order. As it was, I had no energy left by the end of the week. I wanted to leave my job but I felt if HaShem gave me this opportunity, who am I to quit and pass up much needed income? I also preferred to be fired than to quit so I could receive severance pay plus unemployment benefits which I have been paying into.  I was going to ask my Rav what to do, but decided to go straight to my Boss for his opinion; That is HaShem. I told Him how I felt and explained that I was thankful for the job and did not want to sound unappreciative, G-d forbid, but I really want to be a full-time homemaker once again, and have more time for my writing and spreading His Light. I was giving the decision over to Him and asked that He should guide me in the right path. 

The next day my boss (employer) called me into her office. I knew things were very slow and wasn’t surprised when she said she was giving me 30 days notice. She felt very bad as she did not want to let me go but she had no choice. I told her it was fine but it was more than fine. I was overjoyed.  I don’t think she understood how I had a smile on my face as she was firing me, but I couldn’t help myself. 

As usual, that wasn’t the end, as the yetzer hara (evil inclination) had to stick his head into the equation.  The following day, after rethinking the situation, my boss called me into her office again. She told me that they really didn’t want me to leave and she offered me a different position in the organization.  I considered it for about 10 seconds but then politely refused. That was 30 days ago. 

A bit of background on the beginnings of this job is also amazing and a clear-cut acknowledgment of G-d’s intervention.  When I began working for this wonderful organization almost two years ago, my husband and I were just in the early stages of learning with Breslev and trying to get our marriage back on track.  I wanted my husband to attend Rav Arush’s Yeshiva, but it was far and complicated to reach from where we live so he only went once.  It was no coincidence that my place of employment was just around the corner from the Chut Shel Chesed Yeshiva so I made it my mission to convince him to join me each morning on the journey to work. It became a daily routine which gave us some quality time together and he is now committed to attending Gemara classes every day regardless of whether I accompany him or not. 

So here I am feeling like I have repossessed my life. I am free to fulfill my true goals as I see them and with HaShem’s help, I pray that we will never want for anything despite my unemployment.  May it be His Will that we merit to receive all we need to live our lives in abundance according to his Divine Plan.  Amen.

On the Bus

I know my blogging is very sporadic with blog posts few and far between, but G-d willing, that should be changing soon. As soon as I can, I will try to write a blog about what is going on in my life (some changes), but for now I just want to share a nice, little incident that happened on the bus today. If it wasn't so over-used, I  would call this blog post "Only in Israel" since it surely wouldn't take place anywhere else in the world.

I was on my way home from work, and I was sitting directly behind the seats with four grouped together; two seats opposite each other. An older man whose back was facing me was a very friendly man, talking to everyone who came and sat down in his section. He even gave a pen to a little boy sitting across the aisle with his Abba (Daddy), instructing him to use it for his limudai kodesh (religious studies) homework. When a young man in an army uniform came on the bus, there was an empty seat next to him, so the older man stopped him in the aisle and asked him to sit there. It seemed like he knew him already, but it's not certain as he treated everyone as a good friend. 

This sociable older man proceeded to take a bouquet of greenery out of his bag and gave a twig to each of the men sitting in his quartet. All of them were smiling and talking and smelling the little sprigs. I tried not to listen or watch too closely as my manners taught me, but I couldn't help feel the sense of camaraderie among these strangers on the bus. There was no way he could have seen me admiring this whole event, but he suddenly handed me a twig of my own without even turning around. I was barely able to say "thank you", when he was giving another to the girl beside me. Upon closer inspection, it was apparent that it was a small branch of Hadass (Myrtle), one of the four species we use on Sukkot as part of the Lulav. I said a bracha (blessing) and deeply inhaled the beautiful and natural fragrance.

After awhile, two of the passengers departed and left the two seats facing my direction unoccupied. Before long, a couple of high school boys got on the bus and as they began to pass by, our friendly 'Goodwill Ambassador' caught their attention and asked them to take the two seats across from him.  Glad to have somewhere to sit, they happily took their places as directed. After a bit of chit chat, the nice older man handed them each their own piece of Hadass.  They looked at their gift curiously and accepted it with a smile. Knowing that the boys were secular, the older man and the religious soldier were anxious to help them out with a kippa and a prayer. The soldier lent them his own kippa as they took turns being guided word by word in reciting the blessing over the greenery. It has been some time since I have seen such a beautiful sight.  Here were so many worlds connecting - an older religious, Sephardic man, a young observant soldier and two secular young men, all joined in a mitzvah, on a bus no less. What an irony that the center of this unity was the Myrtle Branch, the same plant used in the Lulav which itself represents a coming together of our People. 

Eventually they each went their own way and I was left with a feeling of contentment and joy. I only wish I had asked the older man his name. If I didn't know better, I would have thought he was Moshiach!

May each one of us strive to accomplish in our lifetimes what that man did in a short bus trip home.  May we soon merit to witness the true Moshiach, in our days, Amen.

Seedlings of Sukkot

Sukkot. Despite all the work it entails, it is a Holiday I look forward to each year. A Sukkah is literally a booth, a temporary structure we build adjacent to our home for the week-long Jewish Holiday of Sukkot.  It is one of the three biblically mandated Holidays on which Jews made pilgrimages to the Temple in Jerusalem. It is a happy time for anyone who builds a Sukkah and enjoys the Mitzvot (good deeds) it earns. It is actually a commandment to be happy which makes it an even more joyful occasion. Why do we build a Sukkah where we eat (and sleep) during this period? We are directed to embark on this undertaking to commemorate the time we spent in the desert in transit from Egyptian slavery. The Jewish People were miraculously freed from slavery only to find themselves en route to the Land of Israel through the uninhabitable desert. They built temporary, fragile huts along the way somewhat similar to those we create each year. So how did they survive the 40 years it took to reach the Promised Land with such inadequate provisions? Only by the Hand of HaShem. He provided food daily in the form of manna which sustained our people with all the nutrients needed and was as tasty as they chose. ‘Clouds of Glory’ accompanied them on their journey to guide them and protect them on their way.  Our Sukkah is a small offering of thanks and recognition of the Wondrous Miracles HaShem performed in order to bring us to our Holy Land.


We utilize a Lulav and Etrog to represent the unity of our People. We pray for the unification His Holy Name, uniting the letters in perfect harmony. There is so much to be said about Sukkot, but I want to share a personal aspect that came to mind this year.

The Sukkah itself has many precise specifications but we are free to choose the basic design and materials on our own, within the framework of the rules. For the last several years, due to storage considerations and mobility, we have been constructing our Sukkah with plastic walls. This year, in Israel at least, the weather has been extremely hot. During the evening meals, the flying bugs found the light bulb very enticing so it became a good test for us to keep them out of our food. By this hour though, the temperature was pleasant and aside from the insects, sitting in the Sukkah was a pleasure.


The daytime meals were a different story. We were sweltering in the heat, like plants in a hothouse. Our Sukkah contains two mesh windows but that only allowed for oxygen to enter. With no breeze, we had to concentrate on the amazing food which HaShem provided and the Mitzvot we were fulfilling to keep us from running into the comfort of our apartment. I couldn’t help but look for a explanation for this difficulty. Since everything is for a reason, this too must have some significance other than making us sweat. The more I felt like a plant being germinated in a greenhouse, the more I realized that was essentially what was happening. A greenhouse or hothouse is used to protect plants from the outside elements, to enable them to grow while storms or other undesirable situations brew on the other side of the walls. It creates the opportune conditions to enable their optimum development while they are still in the delicate stages of life. This is exactly what G-d is doing with us. By following His Laws, specifically the Festival of Sukkot, we protect ourselves from the negative exterior forces which may otherwise rule (and ruin) our lives. We are allowing ourselves to thrive within the boundaries our Father has set for us.


As with all occurrences in life, we must use each opportunity to grow and learn, putting our trust in no one other than The Creator. Once we understand and internalize that He, and only He, is our Protector, we ‘seedlings’ will flourish into grown ‘plants’. Through our actions we prove our sacred desire to accept and appreciate all HaShem has bestowed upon us, consequently He will remove the walls He has placed around us. Then, G-d willing, He will be able to transplant us from the 'hothouse' back into the Garden of Eden. Only there will we experience the true joy we have waited so long to merit, even greater than the joy of Sukkot. May that day arrive soon!


Post script: 
"All who are exempt from the succah [because of severe discomfort; e.g. heavy rain or extreme cold] and do not leave, do not receive reward for this and are merely simpletons (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim, Ramah, 639:7)"
We considered going inside due to the unbearable heat, but it wasn't enough discomfort to give up sitting in the Sukkah. Had I gone inside, I wouldn't have been inspired to look for an explanation which to me was well worth the effort. 

Help Me Find My Way Home

A soulful, inspiring song about longing to live in the Land of Israel

Center of the Storm

Something has been bothering me for a very long time now. A 'very long time' is a relative term since a long time could be anywhere from thousands of years, several years to a few hours or minutes etc., depending on the context.  But if you're a young soldier serving your mandatory army service and are violently taken hostage against your will, even one second is far too long. And for that boy's parents, family and friends, 'a very long time' becomes a never ending nightmare.  It doesn't take much to guess that I am referring to Gilad Shalit and all of our missing soldiers; Ron Arad, Guy Hever, Zvi Feldman, Yehuda Katz and Zachariya Baumol, may they all be well.

We have recently seen proof that Gilad ben Aviva is still alive, thank G-d. Anyone with a heart must feel as I do whenever I think of him languishing in some cold, dark, damp cement room, all alone with no one but his captors to revive his spirits. When I get chilly at night I think of him, and cry, and wonder if he has blankets to keep him warm. During Yom Kippur yesterday, our Day of Atonement, I contemplated whether or not he even realized what day it was. Would he be allowed to practice his own religious rituals? Surely not. As we are all aware, against International Law, he has been denied the basic human right of being allowed a humanitarian visit by the Red Cross, or any other neutral organization for that matter (not that the Red Cross is neutral). I know I am not alone as I pray daily for his spiritual, physical and emotional health and for his immediate return home.

As long as he remains imprisoned, it is incumbent upon us, those who are free to come and go as we please, free to speak our minds, to do everything in our power to ensure that he is released.  Whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world - Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 4:8 (37a)

Something just doesn't make sense to me and it is time to put it on the table, so to speak. The Israeli Army has amazing intelligence. They pretty much know where many wanted terrorists are at any given moment.  They are able to use precision strikes to blow up desired targets without hurting civilians. They can go to foreign countries and successfully put a 'hit' on dangerous enemies.  But they don't know where one little, suffering, lone soldier is being held?  I just don't buy that.  It is impossible that no one knows where Gilad is being kept. So why aren't they getting him out?  His parents must have asked this question more times than I.  Are those who are at the helm of the army afraid of the consequences?  That has never been a deterrent in the past. Which leaves me with just one conclusion; G-d has some major plan of His own. Since HaShem is in control of everything,  He is obviously directing this as well. Nothing makes sense and everything is upside down. This is the world experiencing the birth pangs of Moshiach and I feel like Gilad Shalit is in the center of it. He could very well, G-d willing, soon be part of his own rebirth, as the head of the storm of Redemption crowns into a new dawn.   


In the meantime, as we wait with anticipation, we must all join together to beseech HaShem to protect Gilad, watch over him and guard him from harm.  And may he, all the missing soldiers, Jonathan Pollard and all of our People soon be united in Peace and Joy in the service of HaShem at the newly rebuilt Beit Hamikdosh. 

You Might Just be Wise

(Lyrics by Chaya Golda Ovadia, Music and Additions by David Dome)

Why are we waiting, sitting idly by?

We should be giving repentance a try.

These days of awe, this time of regret

Can clear decrees which are not settled yet.  

   

This is the moment when lives hang by a thread,

It should behold us to tremble with dread,

Before HaShem, fall down on our knees,

Beg our Father to accept all our pleas.

For the sins we admit, for transgressions unknown,

Our tearful appeal can chill a soul down to the bone,

How can we waste time? With our hearts must implore

Our Merciful Judge at the Heavenly Door.

It’s never too early for our chance to pray

To soften the verdict on Judgment Day.

If not we will hide our faces in shame

When standing before His Magnificent Name

Opportunities passed are never returned

We’ll lament in regret for our hard lessons learned

Look deep in your heart, be truthful as can be

And you’ll have no fear from the solemn decree.

You might be aware, yeah, you might just realize,

The things you call good may just be in disguise

And now it's time to be judged and it’s time to open our eyes

And return to Hashem, yeah, you might just be wise.

So why are we waiting, sitting idly by?

We should be giving tshuva a try.

These days of awe, and this time of regret

Can clear the decrees which are not settled yet.

And you might be aware, yeah, you might just realize,

Those things you call good may all be in disguise

Now it's time to be judged and it’s time to open our eyes

And return to Hashem, yeah, you might just be wise.

On a Need to Know Basis

Photo Credit - www.aaronovadia.com

Everyone views things differently; we each have our limits and topics that interest us can vary significantly. The very things that I find exciting may cause someone else to turn away in boredom. But what frustrates me is when I want to relate something which I am very passionate about to my kids and they refuse to hear about it. Well, actually most of my children indulge me when I try to share with them, but one of them simply can’t give me that. It’s nothing to do with respect, but some topics are just too difficult to bear. The mention of a chosen few topics creates panic so before anyone has a chance to totally freak out, I have to change the subject or leave the room. Moshiach, terrorists, war, redemption… these words are like a head-crushing, suffocating vise to some people. This creates a lot of tension for me, because there is so much I need to impart to my family, especially now and specifically on those particular ‘forbidden’ topics.

Recently we have come to an agreement. I was informed that any information on these subjects will be handled on a ‘need to know basis’. If there is something urgent to pass on, I can say it, otherwise I will keep my views to myself.  In theory that sounds fair but the problem is everyone NEEDS TO KNOW NOW!

As a mother, despite the fact that my children are adults in their own right, I have a responsibility to them. It’s not like I’m in some elite club of people who have an inside track on the future but I feel like there is a minority of us who really see what’s happening in the world. Is it denial or just spiritual blindness on everyone else’s part? One doesn't have to be spiritual to read the news. With all the countries itching to take Israel down, all the natural disasters occurring throughout the world and all the man-made catastrophes to boot, doesn't it kind of make you wonder ‘Who’ is doing all this? If you think it’s just natural phenomenon, think again. If you believe that there have always been wars so that is nothing new, take a closer look. G-d has allowed man to create such amazing technology that we are now sitting ducks waiting for total annihilation in our own backyard. Never before have there been such weapons of massive destruction that could potentially destroy the whole planet. That is precisely what HaShem planned. As in the past, He knows that a hateful portion of man would misuse their free will and intelligence with evil intent. The difference today is that the only antidote for this horrifying scenario is a true, major, eye-opening miracle. But the definitive word is ‘eye-opening’. Open your eyes people! The only way to ensure a miracle is to make changes now, BEFORE it’s too late. This is our window of opportunity to guarantee our survival.

In the time of Noah and the Ark, everyone laughed at him until the rain began to fall. Even then, it wasn’t until there was no let-up in the flood that people understood that it was not a joke. The Bible isn’t some storybook made up for reading in Church or Synagogue; it is an authentic journal of history. What happened then could happen now. I don’t fear for the continued existence of mankind since prophecies tell us that there will be a time of true peace and a period of Redemption. But I need to know that everyone I care about, all of my family, all of our people and all the G-d fearing people of the world will grab this chance to implore HaShem to have mercy on us. It is only through prayer, charity and repentance that HaShem will save any of us. Miracles don’t come easy and without a genuine effort why should we be blessed with this gift? The choice is ours to make. If we turn our eyes upward to see past our homes, clothes, cars, jobs and vacations we may, G-d willing, have the merit to witness Divine Wonders.

May Moshiach come immediately to lead the way!

Nowhere to Hide

We all exist in the same world so I often wonder why some of us see it and some don't. I mean, things are happening in the world right now that defy logic and rationality. One would have to live in a big, thick bubble to be oblivious to the major events taking place as I write. But trying to explain to most people that life as we know it may soon be changing is like talking to a brick wall.  The proverbial fly on the wall would be more receptive.

One major development is the BP oil spill off the shores of the U.S. gulf coast. There have been plenty of YouTube videos put up about this major disaster and most are quite fascinating. There is talk of lethal gases being leaked into the air, mixed into the water and evaporating into the atmosphere. The toxic oil has been recycled into the ecosystem and is falling as dangerous oil rain, ruining crops and endangering lives. The massive drilling and other attempts at repairing the problem have only made things worse, resulting in possible chemically-saturated hurricanes and unheard of tsunamis. It isn’t being discussed on mainstream media, but I believe that is only because the government is trying to prevent panic. You may say these are simply alarmist videos which fall into the same category as conspiracy theories, but if you think about it realistically, they make perfect sense.



Someone pointed out this interesting play on letters: OIL RAIN = IRAN OIL. If we understand that G-d rules the world mida k’neged mida, meting out judgments measure for measure, it is clear that the American lust for OIL from IRAN is so great that it has now been bestowed upon them with equal magnitude as OIL RAIN.

While all of this may appear to be a natural occurrence, make no mistake... it is all from the Hand of G-d. The Master of the Universe is giving those who believe in him ample opportunities to take the hint and return 'Home', or at the very least, return to Him spiritually; heart and soul. To those who refuse to accept the concept of a Supreme Power, doesn't this scientific incident scare the heck out of you? How many natural disasters and other catastrophies will it take?  It brings to mind an old movie with the catchy quote: "Where you gonna go, where you gonna run, where you gonna hide? Nowhere... 'cause there's no one like you left."

My family and I live in Israel and, as Rabbi Lazer Brody pointed out, enemy missiles are now aimed at every square inch of our land. The potential scenarios are unimaginable to put it gently. If not for the firm belief that HaShem will protect us, and that He does only what is best (emuna), I would be at my wits end right now. But I will never fear because I know that I can call out to HaShem and He will be right there for us. That is what He wants from His children. Why don't you try it?  Your life may depend on it.


Ein Od Milvado! There is nothing but HIM!