For those who are new to the Beams, from time to time we write op-eds and news analyses, but these are only for the purpose of showing how Hashem runs the world. We stress that Lazer Beams and Emuna Outreach have no interest in politics nor do we support any political party, religious or otherwise. We are neither right, left, or center. The Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) is what we unshakebly adhere to.
This year, 5768 in the Hebrew calendar, is a shmitta or seventh year, when the Torah requires the land of our holy and beloved homeland to lie fallow, for this is a year of rest for the land. Jews are not allowed to eat vegetables illegally grown during the seventh year, and must either purchase our veggies from non-Jewish farmers or from abroad.
For the last four months, since Rosh Hashanna, the anti-emuna regime in Israel has been waging a covert war on the Torah-observant populace. Sanctioned with the backing of the Prime Minister himself, the ministries of agriculture and trade made staunch protests during cabinet meetings, calling for the government to ban the import of vegetables as well as outlaw the sale of Gaza-grown vegetables within Israel. Even the Israeli Supreme Court intervened to force the state Rabbinate to grant kosher certificates to vegetables that were grown on Jewish-owned land according to the heter mechira, which the ultra-orthodox population doesn't recognize.*
The situation was bleak, with vegetable prices rocketing sky-high in Haredi neighborhoods. With the government attempt to coerce the Haredim to lower their halachic standards, supplies were dwindling and prices were constantly rising. This was acute, especially in light of the fact that we Israelis consume a large amount of fresh vegetables.
Hashem decided to put an end to the Israeli government's newest sanctions against the Torah-loyal population. Not only have the last four months - our annual rainy season - been as dry as a bone, but we are just now emerging from a devastating nationwide frost that has destroyed virtually all the vegetables that have been planted during this current shmitta year. So, not only is the Haredi (ultra-orthodox) population eating vegetables from overseas, but the general populace as well. The same government ministers that tried to prevent Hashem's loyal sons from strict observance of the shmitta year by refusing to allow them to import veggies are now eating salads made with carrots from Morocco, onions from Egypt, and tomatoes from Jordan.
Hashem is showing us that He can overturn the silly schemes that the anti-emuna government devises at any given moment. If Hashem decides what's for dinner, He'll also decide our future. Therefore, we need not lose a moment of sleep about the government's poorly-pondered pointless puppet-style peace plans.
So what does all this have to do with Iran? Time and again, you've heard us condemn the anti-emuna government's dependence on the wobbly reed of flesh and blood. Olmert misplaced his trust, putting in Uncle Sam (samech-mem, the Yetzer) rather than in Hashem. The wobbly reed has broken. Former US Ambassador to the UN Bolton said recently, "I think, given the debacle caused by our National Intelligence Estimate, that it's close to zero likelihood that President Bush will authorize use of military force against Iran's program before he leaves office, absent some dramatic new development." Bolton is a decent chap and a man in the know. He is declaring flat out, "You're on your own, Jewboys!"
Again, Hashem is doing us a favor. He wants us to trust Him rather than trusting Gog Bush and Condescending Rice. No one would be more thrilled than us if our government ministers would make tshuva.
By example of the shmitta vegetables, Hashem is showing us who runs the world. We therefore have nothing to worry about, from Achmedinejad or from anyone else. That's the connection between the Moroccan carrots that we all ate for dinner and the Iranian nuclear schemes. Hashem can freeze Iran's nuclear development just as fast as He can freeze the forbidden shmitta-year vegetables that the government was trying to force on us.
If you're still sceptical, all of Israel is talking about the shmitta miracle of two adjacent banana orchards: Despite the frost, the one managed according to Halacha was completely spared, while the other plot was destroyed in the frost. Hashem is talking to us loud and clear: "Beloved sons and daughters - when shall you throw away your follies and begin to believe in Me!"
It's time for emuna and trust.
Rabbenu Yona says that he who trusts Hashem will be saved from all calamity. Here in Israel, we see this daily.
Building our Emuna and trust is the key word, and not worrying. Let's roll up our sleeves - there's plenty of work to do.
*The Shemittah or sabbatical year is a Biblically-ordained, year-long period during which Jews are forbidden to work the Land of Israel. It is observed once every seven years. Some 120 years ago, when Jews began to return to the Land of Israel after nearly two millennia of exile, they began farming the land for their livelihood. When the first Shemittah year arrived, in 1889, leading rabbis ruled that the farm land could be sold to non-Jews for the Shemittah year, and could be then farmed almost as usual - with the condition that major agricultural activities such as plowing be performed by non-Jews. This arrangement was known as the heter mechirah, literally, the "sale dispensation." Other leading rabbis did not accept it, however - setting the stage for a century-plus of disputes on this issue.
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