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)

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.....