The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Assaf, the son of Colonel Ilan Ramon of blessed memory who was Israel's first man in space and one of the fighter pilot's who participated in the 1981 raid on the Osiris nuclear reactor in Iraq, will receive his officer's bars and his pilot's wings at an IAF graduation ceremony later this week. Mazal Tov, Assaf!
We often take for granted the fact that we, the Jewish people, live on miracles. The Jewish people in Israel especially exist on a higher-than-nature plateau that defies any natural course of events. Only an idiot would attribute Israel's existence to military might and so forth. On a military level, as we evr-so-painfully see despite the recent Gaza war, Israel still has no technological/military answer to missile warfare, with missiles still falling in the south of Israel, from Ashkelon to Sderot and all points in between. The Hamas missiles are a tiny threat compared to the quantity and quality of the Hizbolla, Syrian, and Iranian missiles aimed at every square centimeter of our beloved Holy Land this very moment.
People have the mistaken impression that we can sit back and do nothing while Hashem gives us miracles. That's wrong. The miracle of Purim was only after Esther said to Mordechai (Esther 4:16), "Go gather all the Jews... fast for me, don't eat or drink for 3 days and 3 nights; I and my handmaidens shall fast likewise." In other words, the entire Jewish people made complete teshuva and returned to Hashem.
The existential threat of this generation is just as bad as it was in the time of Haman. Achmedinejad and Assad's designs together with their proxies Hamas and Hisbolla, as well as global Islamofascist objectives, are no different than Haman's platform. Although we don't know what our own politicians stand for, since they promise one thing before elections and quickly change their minds after the elections for political expediency, our neighbors are not politically expedient. They have a clear political and military agenda that's based on the destruction of the Jewish people, just like Haman. The words "Israel" and Zionism" are only excuses for the desire to kill Jews.
Every Adar, Hashem renews the of the miracle of our survival. That's what the joy of Purim is all about. Yet, miracles have a price tag - they behoove us. When there's no teshuva to pay for the miracle, Hashem must take a public sacrifice from the greatest and purest tzaddikim of our generation. That explains the brutal murder of Erez Levanon during his personal prayer to Hashem exactly two years ago in Adar, and the barbaric massacre of the 8 Mercaz HaRav boys during their Torah study last year on Rosh Chodesh Adar.
Who needs more martyrs? Let's gather all the Jews and commit to genuine teshuva. If that's too hard, let's help spread emuna in the world. We can start by teaching the bedtime "Shma Yisrael" prayer to every Jewish child we know. Here is the The Shma Prayer in PDF with the original Hebrew, transliteration, and translation; send it to everyone you know. Our sages tell us that the mitzva of saying Shma Yisrael" alone is enough to save us from any and all calamity. Happy Purim week.
A Katyusha rocket fired from Lebanon slammed into a house near the Western Galilee town of Maalot on Shabbat in the morning, injuring three people.
Hizbulla denies responsibility for the attack on Israel.
Abu Abir, spokesman of the PRC (Popular Resistance Committee, the group that is holding captured Israeli soldier Gilead Shalit) has affirmed that Gilead was wounded during the recent Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
We urge the Israeli Government to demand a detailed and updated report on Gilead's condition as a precondition to any further negotiations with Hamas.
Hashem is magnificently compassionate and infinitely merciful, but He wants us to get our act together. His messages are loud and clear - the skies are still iron-blue with no sign of rain, as the worst drought in our history continues. Traditionally, after a Shmitta (Sabbatical) year, we get bumper crops and double rainfall. This year, we have neither. This season's citrus yield is sparse and the fruit quality is way below par. Our sages teach that a lack of rain and sparse yields stem from a lack of emuna.
Friday night at about 8 PM, we heard an explosion to the east. After Shabbat, we discovered that a Grad missile fell in a field about a half mile east of Ashdod. The Red-alert siren was not activated. During Shabbat, more missiles fell in Sderot and surroundings as well.
Gilead Shalit is not yet home and Gaza weapons smuggling is proceeding full speed. Yet, the Israeli government claims they have won the war. Such is the self-deception of a non-emuna outlook.
This won't be popular, but my friends on the right of Israel's political map are also falling prey to the self-deception of a non-emuna outlook. True, Israel's left was smashed during the elections, but that doesn't mean that the right won, despite their euphoria. Here's how:
Ms. Livni, together with her scandal-ridden cronies that make up the Kadima Party, succeeded in garnering more mandates that Bibi and the Likud (28 to 27).
Mr. Lieberman and his Israel Beteinu party have an anti-Jewish agenda that would be readily digestible by the most extreme elements of Israel's left. Our estimation is that Lieberman would rather sit with Livni than with Bibi. Lieberman would easily give in to territorial concessions if he received civil marriages, instant conversions, and additional erosions of the religious status quo that his constituency wants. To make things stickier, there are now signals from the Obama administration calling for a Likud - Kadima coalition. Remember, Bibi had already agreed to surrender Hevron and huge chunks of Judea and Samaria back at the Wye plantation. He has a poor record of standing up to Uncle Sam; for that, you need emuna. So, from our estimation, it looks like Israel will get an anti-religious Centrist government with a ruling majority of 70 mandates (from a total of 120), that includes Kadima, Likud, and Lieberman. Even if Labor joined such a government instead of Lieberman, there would still be 68 mandates and even more readiness to make concessions. Time will tell.
Aguda has no reason to rejoice about their 5 mandates; demographically, they should have received 8. They lost one mandate to Shas, one mandate to Katzal'e and the Ichud Leumi, and one mandate to the Likud. Such is the result of infighting and narrow self-interests.
Bibi's war against Moshe Feiglin cost him at least 8 mandates, but showed us all his true colors.
True, the Knesset has been blessed with an individual of such personal integrity as Katzal'e. But, he and the religious right are not enough to guarantee the future of Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel, territorial integrity, or the very Jewish character of the state. Our votes didn't do the trick. Our votes didn't rescind the drought or assure national security either.
What our votes didn't succeed in doing, our prayers can. So why don't people pray? Rebbe Nachman says that they don't pray because they lack emuna and don't believe in the power of prayer.
If you want to effect a change in Israel, then join us in an hour a day of personal prayer. Devote ten minutes to praying for our security, for the residents of Judea and Samaria, for the release of Gilead Shalit, and for rain.
The difference between winners and losers is prayer. When you pray, you always win in the long run. Have a good week.
If you're an Israeli citizen, please exercise your civic duty and vote. Failing to vote is like falling asleep on guard duty. This will be a very close election, so every vote counts.
We put our trust in Hashem and not in politicians or political parties of any shape or form. Yet, we'd like to entrust the leadership of our beloved nation to people of roots and responsibility. So, when deciding who to vote for, look for a party that has:
1. Dedication to Hashem and His Torah.
2. Personal integrity and rigid standard of ethics in government.
3. Dedication to the spiritual and territorial sanctity of the Land of Israel.
4. Solemn commitment to preserve Jewish values and identity.
5. Endorsement of this generation's spiritual leaders.
Now, cast your ballot and ask for Hashem's mercy.
Just an hour ago, a GRAD rocket fell in Ashkelon. This is what's called a truce, Hamas style. Did you ever stop and think how you'd feel if a rocket fell in your neighborhood?
"We're on a collision course with Syria, a high probability of a confrontation," said Amos Gilad, head of the Israel Defense Ministry's Diplomatic-Security Bureau, earlier today.
Gilad has an accurate assessment of the current situation, but his conclusions lack any semblance of spiritual awareness. He claims that Israel "would have no choice but try to reach an agreement with Syria in the near future" - that's naive, defeatist, and it means surrendering the Golan to Syria as if he learned nothing from the lessons of Gaza. Accurately though, he notes that failing to achieve such a peace would create a far more dangerous front for Israel, which in two years would include a nuclear Iran, Syria's rocket array and a well-equipped Hizbullah. The question is peace with whom? Gilad made the comments during a panel debate of former IDF major generals.
True, we face a dangerous hostile axis of Iran-Syria-Hizbullah. But, it's not the Golan that must be surrendered - it's our material lusts and appetites that prevent us from making teshuva that we should surrender. Nor is it peace we need with Syria - we need peace with Hashem. As in this week's Torah portion, once we make peace with Hashem, He solves the problem of our hostile neighbors. The comprehensive solution to our national security is that simple.
With elections only a week away, there's not a single party that has put the word "emuna" in their platform. Who to vote for? I've not yet found anyone that's selflessly and uncompromisingly loyal to Hashem, His Torah, the Land of Israel, and the Jewish people. If there's a politician and a party that can fill that bill, let them stand up and identify themselves. Don't forget to bring your voting record; past performance speaks louder than empty and meaningless future promises.
President Obama's new representative to the Middle east is George Mitchell, 75. In his proposal to freeze what he calls "Jewish settlements in the West Bank" (in proper English one should say, "Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria"), Mister Mitchell has vehemently voiced his objection to what he calls "allowing natural growth in West Bank settlements." Mitchell wouldn't be running off at the mouth without the boss's OK.
One of my sons with his wife and five children live in Modiin Illit, a thriving Torah city that Obama and Mitchell refer to as a "West-bank settlement", since it's a few meters on the other side of the pre-1967 borders. You know what that means? According to Mitchell and his boss, I now have to ask them for permission to have more grandchildren.
Now hear this, Mr. Mitchell: The Torah commands us to be fruitful and multiply. Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar tried to play god and they got burned to a crisp. Let's hope that you and your boss don't fall into the same trap.
Stupid comment of the day undoubtedly goes to Kadima's chairperson Tzipi Livni, who tried to discredit her contender in the upcoming Israeli elections on the grounds that he'll ruin our relations with the USA. Since when is that a consideration, Ms. Livni?
The Beams proposes a new criteria: How about looking for a candidate that will improve our relations with Hashem? Can you do that, Ms. Livni? We certainly don't think so.
After three weeks of daily missile attacks, Monday was the first day of quiet here in Ashdod. G-d willing, schools will reopen today, as the city - like the rest of Israel's south - gradually returns to normal.
Meanwhile, Hamas vows to rearm. Iran is happy to accomodate them. Many analysts, including Israeli political leaders themselves, feel that this temporary lull will end in more rocket attacks when Hamas replenishes its losses and reactivates its weapons-smuggling system. One may think I'm naive, but this is not necessarily so.
Renewed hostilities don't depend on Iran or Hamas - it depends on us. The current lull in the fighting is Hashem's way of giving us another chance to make teshuva. Hashem doesn't expect people to make a massive revolution in their lives; all He expects is that they learn about emuna, say Kriat Shema (reciting the Shema Yisrael prayer) with their children at night, and try to be a little bit better than they were yesterday. Why Kriat Shema? If one million more Jewish children learn how to say Kriat Shema, then Hamas and Hizbolla will be neutralized without our having to fire a shot. This is the arms race - we must teach every Jewish child to say Kriat Shema before Hamas rearms or before Iran becomes nuclear.
See the following one-minute clip, "The Answer to Terror and Islamofascism," by Emuna Outreach:
Emuna Outreach and the Beams want to express our sincerest appreciation to Disney illustrator "Baruch" Ken Becker, who is always there to help us fight the spiritual battles. Baruch designed our cute little "Shema Yisrael" boy, who we've nicknamed "Srulick Shema". "Srulick" is now a 4"x4" magnet that's being sent with every new Emuna Outreach order and contribution. Here he is, and you're welcome to print him out and post him by your child's bed or on the children's bedroom wall:
Click on the above image to get a full-size image suitable to print out on your computer.
Email your not-yet-observant friends and family, and promise them limitless blessings for themselves and their children by just saying one sentence before bedtime. Rashi tells us in his commentary on the Torah that even if a person has no other mitzva than reciting the Shema Yisrael prayer, Hashem will save him from danger:
Shema Yisrael, Adonoi Elohenu, Adonoi Echad
Hear O Israel, The Lord is our God, The Lord is One!
The more ambitious can find the entire Shema in Hebrew, English and transliteration here.
This is an unbelievably cogent contribution to Israel's security and to overcoming our enemies. By virtue of the "Shema", we'll see limitless blessings both individual and collective, amen.
