Shalom Pollack: foot notes

 I was sitting on the bus the other day in Yerushalayim when I  overheard a conversation behind me.

They were an older Israeli couple. One asked the other about the origin of the term "Religious Zionist". After all, she told her husband, we secular Israelis are Zionists too. Why do they appropriate the name Zionists?
He explained that since all secular Israelis are Zionists, religious Zionists must set themselves apart from other religious people who are non Zionists.

A bit complicated, but there was logic that might have described  Israel when he was a young man, not today.
Today,  clearly not all secular Israelis are Zionists.

I turned around (yes, that is still an accepted bus experience in Israel) and asked the man if he was sure that all secular Israelis are Zionists by definition?
Would he include prominent secular Israeli "leaders" who spread blood libels about the Jewish state?
Are the heads of Israeli political parties running in the upcoming elections who tell the world that the IDF kills Arab babies for sport  Zionist?
Is it Zionism when "Zionist leaders" assert that religious "hilltop youth" are a bigger threat to Israel than Hamas?

At this point, she responded with certainty;  indeed, they were a greater threat than Hamas.
I asked her, " Who wants to kill you, Hamas or the religious hilltop youth?"
The conversation ended.

The elder couple is typical of a certain profile of the Israeli population.
From their youth, they were indoctrinated by  Socialist, secular elites who told them that  Israel's success lies in its distancing from traditional Jewish identity,
the real enemy.

The challenge to their self-image of the all-knowing,  born-to-lead elites is more unsettling  than Hamas. That is why they built a coalition with Hamas-supporting  Israeli Arabs to defeat the Jews they despise and do so again in the coming election.
The Arabs are her only hope to continue her hegemony over the annoying Jews.  They need their numbers against a growing pro-Torah population.

There are many like her, though a shrinking demographic, which only adds to their insecurity and intolerance.

This group self-identifies as the true  Zionists; the  "original" smug  Zionists, before the growing numbers of religious Jews became hard to ignore.

Then there are the outright self-hating, self-loathing Jews who hate the word Zionism.
The circumstance, geography, and dates change, but the self-loathing, tortured, warped souls follow the same pattern.

In their quest for acceptance by the Gentile anti-Semite, these fallen souls commit any moral crime to separate themselves from their Nation and people.
On campuses, in the media, etc., these weary spirits are the vanguard of hatred for Israel.
They are lost to their people, themselves, and ultimately scorned by those they try to impress.

This pathetic tragedy repeats itself throughout our history.

What seems to be a rather new phenomenon is the  "very (the only?) Jewish" anti zionists, the "Neturei Karta." They and the classic self-haters share a life mission.
(A scene is seared in my memory: Anti-Israel Hasidic-clad Neturei Karta shared a stage with anti-Semites in Germany. The Germans were whooping it up, having a hilarious time watching the "Jews" denounce and curse the Jewish state while the Jews glowed, showered by the encouragement of the whooping, drunken  Germans.)
The Jews on that shameful stage will tell you that is just what the Torah demands.
I heard them say it.
Both groups of traitors are a part of our world.
One speaks in the name of Torah. The other speaks in the name of morality and caring.
Both are a disgrace.


Both publicly support our enemies, serve as their mouthpieces, and are always scorned by them.
Both care little for the lives of eight million Jews.

They are a small,  dark footnote to a glorious Jewish story that surges forward without them.

shalompollack613@gmail.com

Fire….Water……Wind…….As Punishments From Shamayim

 [this is for educational purposes only]

Fire as Punishment

Fire (esh) in the Torah represents sudden, consuming, and absolute divine judgment or zeal. 

Nadab and Abihu: Aaron's sons are consumed by a sudden divine fire from God after offering unauthorized incense (esh zarah) in Leviticus 10:1–2.
The Camp Fires: In Numbers 11:1, a fire from God breaks out at the edges of the camp to consume the complaining Israelites at Taberah.
Korah's Rebellion: In Numbers 16:35, a fire consumes the 250 men offering incense during the rebellion of Korah. 

Water as Punishment

Water (mayim) represents overwhelming, chaotic force that resets creation or sweeps away corruption, most notably seen on a cosmic scale. 

The Great Flood: In Genesis 6–7, God uses water to flood the earth and wipe out corrupt humanity, serving as the ultimate punishment and reset for the world.
The Crossing of the Sea: The waters of the Reed Sea collapse back down to punish and drown the pursuing Egyptian army in Exodus 14.

Balance of Fire and Water

Complementary Forces: While fire burns and water drowns, traditional and mystical commentaries view them as balanced counterparts of divine interaction with humanity—judgment (gevurah, fire) paired with mercy and repair (chesed, water). 
Purification: Both elements are also used for purification post-punishment or battle, where metal items pass through fire or water to be cleansed (Numbers 31:23). 

mmmmmmmm

The specific ways wind is used to deliver punishment in the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) are outlined below:

1. The East Wind (Ruach Kadim) as an Instrument of Destruction

In biblical geography, the east wind blows from the arid Arabian desert into the Land of Israel and Egypt. It is historically known as a scorching, dry wind that destroys crops and brings devastation. In the Torah, God explicitly commands this specific wind to exact punishment: 

The Eighth Plague of Egypt (Locusts): In Exodus 10:13, wind is the driving vehicle for punishment. Moses stretches out his staff, and God guides a strong east wind across Egypt all day and night. By morning, the wind brings a catastrophic swarm of locusts that darkens the land and devours every last piece of Egyptian vegetation. 
Pharaoh’s Dream of Famine: In Genesis 41:6, Joseph interprets Pharaoh's prophetic dream. Pharaoh sees seven ears of grain that are "scorched by the east wind." This wind serves as a harbinger of a severe, punishing seven-year famine meant to humble Egypt and reshape the region.

2. The Weaponization of the Red Sea

While the splitting of the Red Sea was an act of salvation for the Israelites, it simultaneously served as the final, fatal punishment for Pharaoh’s pursuing army. 

In Exodus 14:21, God drives back the sea using a "strong east wind all that night," turning the seabed into dry land.
When the Egyptian chariots rush into the gap, the wind shifts or ceases, causing the massive walls of water to crash back down, drowning the entire army. Later, in the celebratory Song of the Sea (Exodus 15:10), Moses attributes this directly to God’s breath: "You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the majestic waters." 

3. The Wind of Dispersion (The Tochacha)

In the Torah, the Hebrew word for wind is ruach (רוּחַ), which also translates to "breath" or "spirit". Because it is an invisible yet highly destructive force, the Torah frequently depicts wind as an instrument of divine judgment, punishment, and cosmic correction.

In the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, God outlines the Tochacha (the Rebuke)—a series of terrifying curses and punishments that will befall the Israelites if they violate the covenant and turn to idolatry. 

Among these punishments is scattering and dispersion. While the literal text refers to being scattered among the nations, subsequent biblical poetry and Rabbinic commentary interpret this as God "blowing" the people away like chaff in the wind. Leviticus 26:36 notes that the psychological punishment will be so severe that the mere "sound of a driven leaf" (moved by the wind) will strike terror into the hearts of the sinners, causing them to flee as if running from a sword. 

Source:  google ai

 

Tel Aviv Weather Warning…….Incoming Unprecedented “August” Storm

TEL AVIV WEATHER REPORT:  A widespread change in the weather trend following a drop in temperatures and relief from the heavy heat loads • Drizzle and local rain are expected to fall in the north and center of the country, accompanied by isolated thunderstorms • Special warning of the risk of local flooding along the coastal plain cities | Watch the full forecast with Boaz Dayan, from the 'Israel Morning' program with Sarah B.K……. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pupxnNnkgy4

שינוי מגמה נרחב במזג האוויר בעקבות ירידה בטמפרטורות והקלה בעומסי החום הכבדים • טפטופים וגשמים מקומיים צפויים לרדת בצפון הארץ ובמרכזה בליווי סופות רעמים יחידות • אזהרה מיוחדת מפני חשש להצפות מקומיות לאורך ערי מישור החוף | צפו בתחזית המלאה עם בועז דיין, מתוך תוכנית 'ישראל הבוקר' עם שרה ב"ק

YNET WEATHER REPORT: After days of summer heat, Israel is expected to see an abrupt and highly unusual change in the weather Saturday night, with forecasters predicting a significant rain event that could bring thunderstorms, hail and flooding to parts of the country.

The heaviest rain is expected overnight from Saturday, August 29, into Sunday, August 30, particularly along the coastal plain from northern Israel through the Sharon region and the Tel Aviv metropolitan area to the southern coastal lowlands.

Up to 30 mm of rain could fall within just one to three hours early Sunday, with thunderstorms and hail possible from northern Israel to the northern Negev; forecasters say the system could even break August rainfall record!

https://www.ynetnews.com/environment/article/hjnl5dhwfx

אלול זה מפחיד כמו דוב? חרדת הדין במחיצת המנהיג הרב לנדו, הסיפור המרטיט של הגר"א מן

 

The Olam Haba’ah You Can Aquire In One Moment In This World

 

Reb Neuberger: Ki Savo

 

I WAS WRONG AND YOU WERE RIGHT!

I would like to comment on the accusations against us. It is crucial for us to understand the truth, not only because we must be able to answer these accusations, but also so that we can remain strong internally. Especially now, during Chodesh Elul, we must strengthen ourselves. “Ka’ve el Hashem … hope to Hashem! Strengthen yourself and He will give you courage!” (Tehillim 27)

Rashi wrote almost 1000 years ago: “[When] the nations will say to Israel, ‘You are thieves, for you conquered the lands of [the seven nations who inhabit Eretz Yisroel],’ you must say the following to them, ‘The whole earth belongs to Hashem. He created it and He gave it to the one found proper in His eyes. By His wish He gave it to them and by His wish He took it from them and gave it to us!’” (Rashi on Bereishis 1:1)

The Creator of the World gave the Land of Israel to us. This is the only answer we need.

The Children of Israel are the most compassionate nation in the world. The army of Israel is the most compassionate army in the world, constantly risking their own safety to show mercy to our enemies. Prime Minister Golda Meir put it brilliantly when she stated, “We may someday be able to forgive the Arabs for killing us, but we can never forgive them for forcing us to kill them!”

But here is what both we and our enemies must understand: the entire course of history is orchestrated by the Master of the Universe. Do not try to stand in His way!

You cannot stop the tsunami by raising your finger against it.

“The word of Hashem … the children will return to their border.” (Yirmiah 31:15)

“I will take you from among the nations and gather you from all the lands and I will bring you [back] to your own soil.” (Yechezkel 36:24)

“He will gather in the dispersed ones … from the four corners of the earth.” (Yeshiah 11:12)

Our enemies cannot thwart the plan of the Master of the Universe. If they try to prevent us from living in the Land which the Master of the Universe gives us as an eternal inheritance, they cannot expect to survive. If they fight against Hashem, they will fail.

As the Novi says about our enemies, “you will fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your cohorts and all the peoples that are with you.” (Yechezkel 39:4)

I want to tell you a story. My wife recently received a prescription from her doctor, which we took immediately to a pharmacy in Jerusalem. These days, most of the pharmacists in Israel seem to be Arabs. The pharmacist looked at the prescription and said, “No! I cannot fill it! It is a copy and not the original.”

I told him, “We saw the doctor write it a half hour ago!” But no argument would prevail. It was unpleasant, but we had no choice. When we got home and unpacked, guess what! Out came the “original” prescription! The pharmacist had been correct! The doctor had made a copy of the prescription and that was what we had handed to the pharmacist.

A few days later I had occasion to return to that same pharmacy. I said to the pharmacist, “I need to speak to you.” He looked at me as if I were threatening him, but I said, “No, don’t be concerned. Remember that argument last week about the prescription? Well, I was wrong and you were right! We found the original when we got home and here it is! I apologize for my mistake.”

The pharmacist’s mouth dropped open. His smile was a mile wide! He looked as if he wanted to kiss me! For sure, no one in his entire life had ever said to him, “You are right and I am wrong!”

Please listen, my friends: the truth is that we are the only nation in the world who knows how to say “Chatassi! I am wrong! Chattasi! I need to improve! Chattasi! Heal me Hashem!” This is our secret and this is how we achieve atonement on Yom Kippur, because we know how to admit when we are wrong. The other nations do not know how to say, “I am wrong. Heal me Hashem!” That is why they are not healed and that is why they are distant from Hashem. But we are Hashem’s Children!

The Nation which knows how to say “Chatassi!” is the Nation which has returned to the Holy Land. Those who oppose us will be – excuse me, but it is true – obliterated if they try to block our way. “When the wicked bloom like grass and all the evildoers blossom, it is to destroy them until eternity …. Behold, all the enemies of Hashem shall perish!” (Tehillim 92)

May we see the complete Redemption soon in our days!

 

GLOSSARY

Chodesh Elul: the Jewish month before Rosh Hashanah

Novi: Prophet