Lazer Beams

Emuna News Analysis: Spread of the Shiite Empire

Expecting war? The "Iron Dome" missile defense system redeployed near Haifa - above image, via Rafael, Advanced Weapons Systems Development, Israel - "If Hashem will not guard a city, the watchman's vigilence is in vain", Psalm 127:1)

Understanding Israel news without emuna is like trying to take a photograph with the camera's lens cap on. That's why I wholly disagree with IDF Northen Command head Maj. Gen. Yair Golan who says that Israel is not heading for war. Former Shin-Bet Director Avi Dichter says the same thing - no war in sight. This reminds me of the smug anti-emuna pre-Yom Kippur War (1973) atmosphere, when despite the tension, PM Golda Meir, Defense Minister Moshe Dayan and their generals miserably misread the map and also said there would be no war. And, there was a war - a terrible one - that Israel almost lost, were it not for a series of miracles that Hashem performed.

Hashem makes the news and decides wars, as we say every morning in the L'Kel Baruch Neimot prayer. So what is Hashem doing now?

"From the north, evil shall be released on all the residents of the Land (Israel)" - Jeremiah 1:14.

Why does the above passage use the passive form, "shall be released"? Because Hashem will decide when the Iranians and the proxies north of us begin firing missiles - they are mere puppets in Hashem's hands. If Israel wants to avoid war, it must urgently make peace with Hashem. That means, that the Israeli government must urgently curtail hostilities against the world of Torah. Recently, elected officials have been openly referring to the Haredi population as "parasites". If an elected official referred to the Arab population in such a venomous manner, he would be drummed out of office. But now, with a Haredi-free government, the populists are now blaming all of the country's ills on the Haredim as an excuse to deligitimize the black-hatted population, giving them the choice of submission to secular directives or lose financial and other basic privileges. That's unfortunate, for the Israeli Government's financial support of the Torah world earned it tremendous merit. Yet, if the Government chooses to forfeit this merit, someone else will gain the privilege. The Yeshiva World will not fall, with or without Government support.

Furthermore, the Israeli media is notorious for its maltreatment of the Torah-loyal Haredi population, who are abused far more in the media than the Arabs are. Secular Israel lives in denial, for Torah is our only right to the Land of Israel. The Jews are Hashem's Chosen People only because of their acceptance and observance of Torah. Throughout the Torah, Hashem warns us that a breach in Torah study and observance will bring about a breach in peace and security, as we see happening now. 

This should be a warning to all those who are trying to undermine Torah education and Torah learning in the Land of Israel. My heart breaks at seeing knitted-kipa-wearing brothers partner with those who seek to deligitimize and dehumanize the Torah-loyal community. Everyone thought that with the Bayit Hayehudi party in the government, that building would flourish in Judea and Samaria. Hashem is showing otherwise; even with Bayit Hayehudi's Uri Ariel as Housing Minister, as of this morning, all building is once again frozen in Judea and Samaria - a direct order from PM Netanyahu (and probably Obama via Kerry). What a measure-for-measure boomerang: one who partners in stifling the growth of Yeshivas will see the growth of his own community stifled.

Expectedly, as soon as the government and media delegitimize Torah-loyal Jews, the nations - even allies - begin to deligitimize Israel. Several days ago, a respected former Bush-administration official said that the use of chemical weapons in Syria is an Israeli false-flag operation. And earlier today, the world is crying out that the Israelis broke all rules by using depleted uranium on the early Sunday pre-dawn strike against Syria. Yet without emuna, Israeli officials can't smell the Hashem's measure-for-measure coffee. Israel badmouths its Torah-loyal sons, wait and see how the nations badmouth Israel.

How do we know this? The Chafetz Chaim and sages before him all the way back to the Zohar have taught that the nations cannot harm a Jew until one Jew harms another Jew. 

As far as our northern border goes, if I read the cards right, Assad will not fall. At worst, he'll head a new Alawite state that the Iranians, Hizbulla murderers and he carve out in Shiite and Alawite controlled areas of Syria, then fight an ongoing ethnic war until he recaptures all of Syria. The difference between Syria and the Sunni countries that were affected by Arab Spring is that Syria has the total backing of Iran. Iran (and Russia) won't let their man Assad fall. That's why all of Hizbulla - Iran's Lebanese proxy - is also at Syria's disposal. Syria is itching to retaliate against Israel now after the IAF Sunday morning strike near Damascus; that would be a good way to stop the rebels and mobilize them against Israel. But Iran won't yet give the green light; it needs a few more short weeks to assemble its A-bomb. Iran will go to war when it's confidant it will win. The Ayetollas are known for their patience.

Meanwhile, Iraq has also become an Iranian proxy. Shiite Al Maliki - a gross butcher of humanity and an arch-villain - is Tehran's man on the campus. So, with control of Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon - and the USA's ineptness in the balagan (Israeli slang for chaos) of the Middle East, Jordan will soon crumble too. People are afraid of the Jihadis and Al Qaida, but for now, the Sunni Moslems are no match for their Shiite rivals on a global scale. That's why Turkey and Saudi Arabia tremble every time they hear the word Iran.

Iran, the Shiite Empire, is spreading just as the Gemara and Zohar said it would. Moshiach is close by. He could either come pleasantly, if we all make teshuva and stop harassing the Torah public, or come under a rain of missiles, G-d forbid. Take your choice, Israel. As for me, I choose Hashem and emuna. With Torah and emuna, living in the Land of Israel is a paradise on earth. That is a major miracle, for we're in the Middle East and not in the South Pacific. May we all hear good tidings soon, amen!

"Fowl" Business

Here at the Beams, we're concerned with strengthening our emuna. With emuna, you know that Hashem does everything for the very best, so you don't concern yourself with such "fowl" things as politics.

Rights of Religious Soldiers

"And He (Hashem) gave them (the Jewish people) the lands of nations (the Canaanites, Philistines)... for them to safeguard His statutes and observe His teachings" (Psalm 105:44-45).

In the above passage, King David - Hashem's anointed - tells us exactly why Hashem gave us the Land of Israel: not to be a nation like any other nation, but to be His chosen people who learn Torah and observe its commandments with no compromise.

Personal holiness is the foundation of Judaism, the element that brings us close to The Almighty and separates us from every other nation. The Torah warns, "For Hashem, your G-d, walks in the midst of your camp to rescue you and to deliver your enemies before you; so your camp shall be holy, so that He will not see a shameful thing among you and turn away from you" (Deuteronomy 23:15). Our national security depends on personal holiness. Our future in Israel depends on our commitment to Torah; these are not my words, but the words of King David, cited above.

Unfortunately, the IDF nowadays doesn't seem to care about Hashem's commandments in general and personal holiness in particular.

Last week, a religious soldier was jailed for refusing to shave his beard. He went through IDF protocol, and "signed on for a beard" in the base chaplain's office. But the haughty base commander didn't like the idea of a bearded airman, a helicopter mechanic. He threw the young man in jail.

Last year, several top officer candidates were booted out of officer-training course for refusing to listen to female soldiers sing at an assembly.

Rabbi Yoel Schwartz, one of the founders of the Nachal Haredi, recently protested the IDF's breaching of promises to Haredi soldiers, among other things, forced mingling with women.

I know that this post will fall on deaf ears. But I cannot be silent on this. We face severe security challenges on all our borders. Hashem only knows if Hezbulla has aleady attained chemical weapons. Al Qaida now parades along the Golan borders. Egypt is worse than a Jihadi wild-west show. And any day now, Iran will have its A-bomb.

Our felafel-republic politicians want to convince the inane masses that all our economic and security problems are from the "Haredi draft-dodging". They all know that nothing is further from the truth, but hating the Haredis works effectively at the ballot box. Nevertheless, by uprooting Torah scholars and drafting them into an army that doesn't want them (unless they assimilate into secular society), they are uprooting our very right to the Land of Israel.

The IDF's trampling of Haredi/religious soldiers' basic beliefs is also a trampling of Torah, which unfortunately is another trampling of our very right to this land. 

If the IDF really cares about inducting Haredi soldiers, and if it really cares about our national security, it should start adhering to what King David said in Psalm 105.

Anti-religious bias, or any other type of bias for that matter, has no place in the army. Forcing soldiers to go against Torah is a crime, and commanders who do so are the ones who should be sitting in jail.

Until the IDF cleans up its act, and firmly anchors the rights of religious soldiers, then all the talk of "equal sharing of the burden" is meaningless. Military service is a wonderful privilege, only if it enhances one's allegiance to Torah rather than undermining it. 

Nachman and Raizy Glauber, of blessed memory

Webster's dictionary does not have the word to describe the Jewish People's loss today.

The Beams, Breslev Israel and Emuna Outreach are beside ourselves with grief upon hearing the bitter news of a tragedy beyond belief - the loss of Nachman and Raizy Glauber, of blessed memory, both only a tender 21 years of age from Williamsburg in Brooklyn. The couple was en route to a hospital to have their first child when a drunk driver crashed into the taxi that was taking them.

We've been flooded with letters of grieving people asking about the meaning of this. All I can say is that Nathan and Raizy were undoubtedly flawless tzaddikim whom Hashem chose as ritual sacrifices for all of Klal Yisroel. Such a tragedy obligates every single one of us to wake up, assess ourselves and return to Hashem.

The couple's last name - Glauber - is Yiddish for "believer". We have nothing else to lean on but our emuna, our belief in Hashem.

May The Almighty console the family, the community, and all the other mouners of Zion and Jerusalem, amen.

Rabbi Yoel Schwartz: ‘IDF Keeps Promises - or Hareidi Soldiers Leave’

Rabbi Yoel Schwartz was among those who founded the Nahal Hareidi (Netzach Yehuda) battalion, which opened the IDF to hareidi-religious soldiers by providing an environment suited to their religious lifestyle.

via www.israelnationalnews.com

The ball is now in the IDF/Israeli Government court: do you really want Haredi and Hesder soldiers, or don't you?

Et Tu, Naftali?

The following is a personal letter to Naftali Bennett, head of the Bayit Hayehudi party:

Dear Naftali,

In Shakespeare's classic play, Julius Caesar is stabbed and killed by the person he considered to be his best friend, Marcus Brutus. As Brutus sticks him with the knife, Caesar says, "Et tu, Brute?" - or, "you too are betraying me, Brutus?"

Many people, including a substantial number of English-speaking immigrants, regarded you as a breath of fresh air in Israeli politics. You promised to bridge the gap between all sectors of the population. You promised to honor the Torah and the world of Torah learning. You promised to strengthen the Jewish settlement in every corner of our beloved homeland.

There have been political parties that have been staunch on Torah. There have also been political parties that have been staunch on our right to every square inch of our G-d given Land of Israel. Three great tzaddikim - the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Sadigora Rebbe, and the Bostoner Rebbe, all of blessed and saintly memory - were uncompromising in both areas, for in essence, the Torah and the Land of Israel are inseparable. All three tzaddikim had limitless love for every individual. Naftali, you had us believing that you were walking in their holy footsteps.

You and I both know the values that one learns in Israel's elite units - dedication, loyalty and reliability. We know that we are no better than the integrity of our word. We also know the values one learns in Torah - emuna, and once again, dedication, loyalty and reliability. No wonder that so many of us who grew up without Torah backgrounds found our way to Torah after serving in one the IDF elite units. 

Naftali, where are those values in your pact with Yair Lapid? Why have you taken the cheap populist stance of drafting the Haredim, as if thousands of them aren't already serving today? Why are you strengthening Lapid's hand in limiting deferments to 2,000 Torah learners? The Mir Yeshiva alone has 3,000 students! Was it the Iron Dome that protected Israel in the recent round of hostilities, or all the Torah lerning in Ashdod, Ashkelon, Netivot, Ofakim and Beer Sheva? How many Katyushas did the Iron Dome miss right here in Ashdod? Yet, rockets fell in parking lots in the middle of the city rather than on highrise condos, Heaven forbid. That was the power of Torah...

On Purim yesterday, we were required to drink wine until we can no longer differentiate between cursed Haman and blessed Mordechai.

Unfortunately, Israeli politics is now a Purim joke. Naftali, without drinking a drop, we can no longer differentiate between you and Yair Lapid. We have few expectations from Yair - the poor guy never tasted the sweetness of Torah. But you? And this is the chevruta (partner) you choose? And now, you too are sticking a knife in the world of Torah? Et tu, Naftali?

You could have been the individual that forced the IDF to be more sensitive to the needs of Haredi soldiers. You could have been the one who tripled the size of the Nahal Haredi and the IAF programs for Haredi hi-tech specialists. You could have been the one to make sure that a soldier doesn't get kicked out of officer's school for refusing to listen to women singing, or other ridiculous anti-religious excuses. You could also have been the hero that puts an end to the deligitimization of the holy Yeshivot and those who truly learn Torah.

Don't ruin your opportunity of a lifetime, Naftali.

Naftali, talk is cheap; your "unbreachable pact" with Lapid shows exactly who you really are. We all make mistakes. We can all correct them, too. I urge you, for the sake of Torah and Eretz Yisrael, to reassess your position. If you choose, you can be Hashem's messenger in bringing Moshiach. Sure, let's make sure that everyone serves the country; but Heaven forbid, let's not diminish one minute of Torah learning. I implore you to rethink your position. Go out to the field and talk to Hashem for an hour - ask Him if you are doing His will. Seek His help and He'll be glad to guide you. If you make your "unbreachable pact" with Hashem, you're bound to succeed.

With respect and blessings, Lazer Brody

Hashem Fights the Wars

Look what we read in this past week's Torah portion, Beshalach:

Hashem shall fight the war for you, and you shall remain silent (Exodus 14:14).

Interesting, the above passage is Exodus, chapter 14, verse 14. 14 is the numerical value of the Hebrew word for "hand" - yad. And, 28 (2x14) is the numerical value of the Hebrew word for "power" - koach.

To this day, Hashem's mighty hand is fighting the war for us. So isn't it logical that the Israeli Government shouldn't bite the hand that not only feeds us, but fights for us too? Once again, that's Hashem's hand.

Throughout modern Israeli history, every time the government attempted to disrupt Torah learning, war broke out. Hashem seems to be saying, "Oh, you politicians have time to meddle with My Torah learners, I'll send some enemy to meddle with you and to keep you busy." But non-emuna eyes are blind, so they fail to see the connection.

The recent Gaza hostilities and the GRAD missiles that reached as far as Tel Aviv came right after all the populist gab of drafting Yeshiva boys. And now, as Bibi dreams of his secular honeymoon with Lapid and a Haredi-less Israeli government, the threat of war in the north amid the chaos in Syria is mounting every minute, and chemical weapons of mass destruction are about to fall into the hands of either Jihadi Sunnis or Hizbulla Shiites. Tension is very high here now. Only a blind man or a fool can't connect the dots.

For years, I've been an active supporter of the Nachal Haredi. Emuna Outreach has been fighting in every possible way for Haredim to receive the necessary conditions they need to serve, such as glatt-kosher food and time for prayers and Torah. I vehemently oppose Haredi draft dodging, and if it were up to me, any young man who is not learning Torah would be doing either national civil service or military service, immediately. But Heaven forbid if one serious young man is yanked away from his Gemara.

What, do you think that Hamas doesn't know how to direct their rocket fire? Is the IDF responsible for all the missiles that fell in parking lots between high-rise buildings, and not on the high-rises themselves? No, that's the power of Torah.

I'd suggest that the government focus its animosity on our enemies, and not on our spiritual front line of defense. If we want Hashem to continue fighting for us, then we cannot lay down any of our own weapons, military and spiritual. Reducing Torah learning is not a shot in the foot, it's a shot in the soul. The only thing worse than a dead body is a dead soul. It's time to strengthen Torah, not to weaken it.