Global Arctic Attack

Forget about the Fruit of KaBoom terrorist

The globe is under an Arctic Attack

We wish ... global warming .. would be!

Midwest bracing for heavy snow, wind chills of -50

90 Million Americans expect to see more snow this weekend

2 states in America's heartland are under winter warnings or watches.

Thanks to the drop in temperature in South Florida, St. Lucie Medical Center is seeing an increase in the number of patients with colds, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Dr. Rudy Lindner says ever since it got chilly, his emergency room has been full of patients with low immune systems who went out into the cold and got sick.

Ninety-three sea turtles found floating in the Mosquito Lagoon along Florida's Atlantic coast were rescued after the cold water shocked their tropically inclined systems.

W Palm Beach ... Rodents are trying to flee the cold and they are looking at your home as a nice place to stay warm during our freezing temperatures. In Tampa, rats have infested an apartment building there. Residents have noticed holes in screens and droppings inside their homes.

Residents are bracing for another Canadian system that will bring even colder air to the eastern half of Nebraska later this week, bringing with it about 4 inches of snow

and strong winds.

Atlanta ... Snow and blustery winds blew into the already-frigid East on Friday and a deep freeze settled into the Deep South, making highways especially hazardous in a region unaccustomed to the chilly temperatures.

Arctic air continued to blanket much of the nation a day after a tractor-trailer jackknifed on a snow-slick Ohio road and hit a van carrying disabled adults, killing four people.

No School Today for the Kids in Nebraska


Some are having fun in all this snow

Eliyahu HaNavi ... Part I

Motzei Shabbos, light a candle for Eliyah HaNavi, incorporate into your Melava Malka stories about Eliyahu, and before bentching, sing Eliyahu's song. Have in mind that you are asking Eliyahu to come soon and announce Moshiach's arrival. Your requesting the arrival of Moshiach will not go unnoticed by Hashem, and is one of the Rambam's ikkarim.

The appearance of mysterious men on missions of rescue and salvation throughout our nation’s history has always been attributed to the Prophet Eliyahu. Who exactly is this man, and how does he continue to impact upon the survival of the Jewish Nation?This month’s installment surveys the words of our Sages and ancient history in order to present a clearer picture of Eliyahu Hanavi and the role he will play in our redemption process and in shaping our nation’s future.

The Last Recorded Prophecy

The Tanach contains many recorded prophecies pertaining to Mashiah’s arrival and the events that will unfold at that time. In the final prophecy recorded before the end of nevua (prophecy), the prophet Malachi conveys the following promise to the Jewish people: “Behold I will send to you Eliyahu Hanavi prior to the onset of the great and awesome day of Gd…” (Malachi 3:23).

The commentaries[1] explain that “the great and awesome day of Gd” refers to the time of Mashiah’s arrival. Just prior to the onset of the Messianic age, the ancient prophet Eliyahu, who lived during the First Temple era, will be sent forth and appear in person to the Jewish nation to herald our redemption.

When Exactly Will Eliyahu Come?

We find different indications as to when precisely Eliyahu will arrive. The commonly assumed opinion[2] is that he will arrive together with Mashiah ben David. In fact, many have the custom to recite a short prayer before or after havdalah on Mossa’ei Shabbat, “Eliyahu Hanavi…bimhera yavo elenu im Mashiah ben David – Eliyahu Hanavi... may he speedily come forth to us with Mashiah ben David.”

Other sources[3], however, claim that Eliyahu will arrive one or three days before Mashiah ben David, while others say that he will come even earlier, before Mashiah ben Yosef.[4]

to be continued

Shabbat Shalom

Shabbat Shalom - Parshas Shemos

Blessing of the New Month of Shevat

Rosh Chodesh is Parshas Vaeira

The Parshios continue in their exciting narrative:

Joseph and all his brothers died, and so did all of that generation, the first generation living in Egypt. The last son of Jacob to die was Levi, in the year 2332, at the age of 137. Once all of Jacob's sons had died, the Jews (except for the tribe of Levi) began to neglect their traditions. One of the practices they abandoned at this point was circumcision. The Israelites were unnaturally fertile and prolific, they increased and became exceedingly strong. The women gave birth regularly to sextuplets. Before long, the land was filled with them.

* * * * *

At this time, a new king, who did not know Joseph, arose over Egypt. According to one opinion, this was in fact a new king; others say that this was the same king, but that he acted as if he had never heard of Joseph.

* * * * *

Just then, Pharaoh's daughter Basya—who had decided to renounce idolatry—went down to bathe, i.e., ritually immerse herself in (lit., "on" or "concerning") the Nile, in order to spiritually cleanse herself of idolatry (including Nile-worship). By using the Nile to renounce idolatry, she abrogated its status as an idol. The basket then slipped into the river and floated into the princess' field of vision.

As soon as the basket entered the river, the Egyptian astrologers sensed it—as Yocheved had predicted—and Pharaoh, thinking that he had accomplished his purposes, cancelled his decree to throw all baby boys into the river. Basya saw the basket and told her attendant maidens that she was going to see what it was. … Basya stretched out her arm, which then miraculously became long enough to reach the basket, and thus took the baby herself.

* * * * *

God looked upon the Israelites, and God took note. Having decided that it was time for them to be redeemed, God had to select a redeemer. He appeared to Aaron and told him to prophesy to the Israelites, preparing them for redemption by saying, "Let everyone discard all the idols in his sight, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt, I am God, your God." But Aaron was not successful in this mission; he could not convince the people to sever their ties with Egyptian culture.

From: The Parsha of The Rebbe

More Parsha texts, commentaries, Midrashim

What is the Real Fear?

If the poor yidden in Poland, Germany, Hungary, Czechoslavia, were equipped with cell phones, radios and/or internet and email DURING WORLD WAR II, maybe more people would have learned what was happening all around them and MAYBE could have gotten as far away as they could, as soon as they realized what was happening.

Was anyone 'in the know' able to tell them to escape?

Without such personal and individual COMMUNICATION they were surely trapped and doomed.

The 'Will' needs to be strengthened

There is a war in Yerushalayim going on right now

.... Rabbis against the Internet

"the Sunday morning HaMevaser continues to carry the cry against the internet and chareidi websites; mosdos should not accept children from homes with internet connectivity, even if they only see “chareidi sites” they should not be accepted ..."

Some are saying:

“What do the rabbis expect?” ...

“Don’t fly, don’t have a cellular phone, don’t travel on a bus."

“Undoubtedly, the rabbonim who signed are indeed respected individuals but it is hard ... to believe that a 96-year-old person ever entered the internet at all, or worked with a computer. He accepts what is told to him. If an askan who is in his court says “Rav, the internet is bad” then he accepts it and signs [the kol korei]”.

"Under a blitz attack by ultra-Orthodox rabbis, the people behind the country's ultra-Orthodox Web sites are attempting to return fire. The campaign has already led to the closure of one major ultra-Orthodox public Internet site and the resignation of key figures from others....The letter ... targets not the estimated hundreds of thousands of Haredim who use the Internet, but rather the operators of the Haredi sites.... The undersigned rabbis called on the Haredi community not only to avoid looking at the sites but also not to cooperate with them in any way and not to advertise on them as individuals, organizations or companies. "

The allegation:

"Recently, 'Haredi' Internet channels have been sending forth all sorts of reports and gossip and slander against the Haredi public... The rabbis further stated that it is the ultra-Orthodox websites 'which impeach a public tempted to (surf) the vilest of places, which have already caused so many in Israel to breach Torah laws about things best kept private.' "

A response:

"...the CEO of Global Networks, the Internet media company whose Web portals include the ultra-Orthodox Behadrei Haredim ... is threatening a million-shekel lawsuit against Rabbi ... the behind-the-scenes leader of the three-week-old campaign against the sites.

Sources: various Hareidi news sites

Commentary

There are some 'delicate situations' which have existed for a long time in the religious community, but because they were not publicly known they have continued to exist without being challenged; however, because of being made public presumably on the religious web sites, more and more people became aware, and have been trying to administer antibiotics to quell the diseases. This 'open to public scruitiny' is what seems to be bothering the Rabbis (as stated in 'the letter'). This is not to make light of the bittul Torah and destruction to some undisciplined neshomas.

There are problems that need to be eradicated, and usually when they become public, there is heightened awareness to fight against those things that ruin a community from within; however, it might not be the internet per se. The internet is an information highway that one can make a left or right turn at will.

When discussing a very sensitive situation earlier this week, Meshi-Zahav explained: "... others involved in this kind of work [askanus Zaka] are aware that in the chareidi community, some of the urgent issues, the problems that no one wishes to discuss, are not addressed appropriately - the issues that are ignored in the hope they may disappear, or at the very least, escape the scrutiny of the public eye" and "a “cheshbon nefesh” as he puts it, the need for the chareidi community to finally come to terms with some harsh realities, realities that we prefer not to admit to ourselves."

It's the 'Will' that needs to be strengthened.

This could actually be a blessing in disguise,

one that could rectify the transgression of Adam HaRishon.

The internet seems to be here to stay, incorporated into businesses, college courses, accounting procedures, IRS tax filings, recipe databases, hospital record-keeping, state and city multitudinous records, government offices processing procedures, traffic light controls, and the list goes on and on, not to mention Torah shiurim, college class research & long-distance learning, participation in scientific and medical research, educational material, historical records, Gemara, Chumash, SHAS, and Aggadah sources.

The muslims want the clock turned back to the Medieval 7th Century, with control over every facet of one's breathability. Time marches on, as the cliché goes.

As the Lubavitcher Rebbe always taught, it is man's responsibility to bring the holiness down and infuse it into our world.

Parshas Kedoshim begins with

“You shall be holy, because I, G-d, am holy.”

"The Sages discuss the practical implications of this statement. Rashi says it means the self restraint necessary in order to keep the rules of the Torah concerning boundaries in human relations. Ramban says it means self-restraint in general, even concerning permitted things. He quotes the Sages who tell us "Sanctify yourself in that which is permitted", meaning "restrain yourself." Just because the food is permitted, it does not mean that one has to be a glutton.

"Why? Why all this self-restraint? Why not just enjoy oneself, especially if it is permitted? What is the problem?

"The aim of the Torah and its teachings is not to make a person leave the world, ascending towards holiness and all that is beyond, but the reverse: to reveal holiness and G-dliness in this physical world. Hence the many laws of the Torah which almost all concern some aspect of our physical lives. By keeping those laws we are drawing the Divine and the sacred into our physical domain, into our kitchen, office and bedroom. ..."

From Turning Holiness Upside Down

Did He or Didn't He, Will He or Won't He

Did He or DIdn't He

Ha'aretz reported today that Rahm Emanuel told an Israeli official he was "sick" of the Israelis:White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel recently told the Israeli consul in Los Angeles that the Obama administration is fed up with both Israel and the Palestinians, Army Radio reported on Wednesday. Emanuel met with Jacob Dayan, consul general of Israel in Los Angeles, about two weeks ago, after which Dayan briefed the Foreign Ministry.

Emanuel reportedly also said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly acknowledged the two-state solution too late, and that the freeze on settlement construction in the West Bank came only after months of U.S. pressure. Haaretz

The report added that both sides reportedly rejected the peace plan proposed by former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, but that if there is progress in peace talks, Obama might visit Israel and the region.

Will He or Won't He

There's word that President Barack Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, already is looking at life beyond the White House and that he might be eyeing the 5th floor at Chicago's City Hall. It was no secret that then-Chicago Congressman Rahm Emanuel was less than thrilled when the newly-elected president asked him to give up his seat in the House to become the White House chief of staff a year ago. Read on here and here.


"The Jewish Kennedys ... This spring, the next great American dynasty will take a spiritual vacation. No, the Kennedys aren’t off to Hyannis Port. The Bushes aren’t whacking brush somewhere in Central Texas. The Roosevelts aren’t in Oyster Bay.

"The Emanuel boys are heading to Israel. Ari and Rahm Emanuel are returning to the land of their forefathers—and their actual father, Benjamin—to celebrate the bar mitzvahs of their eldest sons, Noah and Zach. That’s two more Emanuel men coming of age. “They take synagogue seriously. They take their Jewish life very seriously,” said Rabbi Asher Lopatin, head of the Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel congregation in greater Chicago, the synagogue Rahm and his family attended before moving to Washington in 2009. “They’re very dedicated about giving their kids the breadth of opportunities of education in America.”

"Members of every generation of the family—Benjamin, Ari, Rahm, Zeke, Rebekah, and Gabrielle—either declined to comment at length for this story or did not respond to interview requests. The Emanuel brothers are fiercely protective of their children’s privacy, and efforts to speak to members of their close circle all met with stony silence."

Hopefully, the above news reports are truly reflective of the actuality;

for a fuller interesting article about the 'Emanuel' family,

you can read it here.

You won't be disappointed.

We hope that the Emanuel Family enjoys their Bar Mitzvah trip to Eretz HaKodesh, the Kotel, the weather, and experience the holiness of the very air they will breathe. So it goes, when one leaves Eretz Yisrael they leave with more than their luggage; hopefully this will awaken something ... Why maybe Reb Gutman Locks positioned at the "Wall" might even get to them?

Chasdei Shamayim

Nava from Dreaming is back from Dimanhur, Cairo, Egypt and of course she has a story for us:

"I must share with you at least one story lekadesh shem shamayim, to sanctify Hashem's name. A very sweet woman told me that 11 years ago she travelled to Abir Yaakov ....'

read about her trip and the

beautiful story of this woman.

She was unable to take pics because her camera was confiscated, but someone else was successful and she has a link to those pictures.

Thank you Nava for sharing about your trip.

Westward Blows the Freeze

Winter Could Be Worst in 25 Years for USA...

Britain braced for heaviest snowfall in 50-years...

GAS SUPPLIES RUNNING OUT IN UK...

Elderly burn books for warmth?

Miami shivers from coldest weather in decade...

As officials in Broward County declare a cold weather emergency for Tuesday night, all of South Florida is bundling up for these winter temperatures. Officials are calling this the coldest weather for South Florida in a decade. Wednesday morning is expected to be the coldest, with temperatures in the 30s.

Seoul buried in heaviest snowfall in 70 years Seoul residents slogged through the heaviest snowfall in modern Korean history after a winter storm dumped more than 11 inches (28 centimeters) Monday, forcing airports to cancel flights and paralyzing traffic in South Korea's bustling capital.

-33 In Some Parts Of Iowa, Feet Of Lake Effect Snow In Western Michigan

More than a foot of lake effect snow fell in South Haven, Mich., Monday, shutting down the town's main street.

UK Swans on Frozen Canal

Siberian Maral in the Snow

3 die in fire at Detroit home; power was cut...

Midwest Sees Near-Record Lows, Snow By The Foot...

Vermont sets 'all-time record for one snowstorm'...

Iowa temps 'a solid 30 degrees below normal'...

Someone tell Ehud Barack to lift the freeze and leave the residents of Yehuda and Shomron alone; and to stop groveling to Abbass.

The Time is Now!

Where Did the Time Go?

Do Not Ask the Brain

"...the sensation of passing time can be very different, Dr. Zauberman said, “depending on what you think about, and how.”

In fact, scientists are not sure how the brain tracks time. One theory holds that it has a cluster of cells specialized to count off intervals of time; another that a wide array of neural processes act as an internal clock.

Either way, studies find, this biological pacemaker has a poor grasp of longer intervals. Time does seem to slow to a trickle during an empty afternoon and race when the brain is engrossed in challenging work. Stimulants, including caffeine, tend to make people feel as if time is passing faster; complex jobs, like doing taxes, can seem to drag on longer than they actually do.

“People have a hard time understanding the passage of time,” Dr. Zauberman said, “and in order to understand it latch onto something we do understand” — the unfolding of events....

Researchers found a similar dynamic at work in people’s judgment of intervals that last only moments. Relatively infrequent stimuli, like flashes or tones, tend to increase the speed of the brain’s internal pacemaker.

On an obvious level, these kinds of findings offer an explanation for why other people’s children seem to grow up so much faster than one’s own. Involved parents are all too well aware of every hiccup, split lip and first step in their own children; whereas, seeing a cousin’s child once every few years, without intervening memories, telescopes the time.

On another level, the research suggests that the brain has more control over its own perception of passing time than people may know. For example, many people have the defeated sense that it was just yesterday that they made last year’s resolutions; the year snapped shut, and they didn’t start writing that novel or attend even one Pilates class. But it is precisely because they didn’t act on their plan that the time seemed to have flown away.

By contrast, the new research suggests, focusing instead on goals or challenges that were in fact engaged during the year — whether or not they were labeled as “resolutions” — gives the brain the opportunity to fill out the past year with memories, and perceived time.

Finally, the mind is perfectly capable of interpreting a fast-forward year, or decade, as something other than a frittering away of opportunities for self-improvement. In another series of experiments published in Psychological Science, psychologists found that when people were tricked into believing that more time had passed than was really the case, they assumed they must have been having more fun. The perception heightened their enjoyment of music and eased their annoyance at doing menial tasks.

More food for thought:

Mediterranean Diet May Prevent Mental Decline

How to Train the Aging Brain

Your Brain and Your Memory in 3-D

Memory Game

National Geographic on Memory and more Memory

The time is NOW !

Sources: NYT and NGM

The Archer, The Trapper, and the Abir Yaakov

Jewish End of Days has some good advice for us, especially in light of the large contingent of Israelis, including our Nava from Dreaming, who traveled to the gravesite of the Abir Yaakov, Rabbi Yaakov Abuchatzeir, in Egypt (Sun-Mon). I wonder if Akiva from Mystical Paths went also? (Maybe he'll have some more of his great pictures?) We will have to watch their blogs to find out.

Yishmael is known as the Archer.

Genesis 21:20

Esav is known as the Trapper.

Rashi on Genesis 21:28

A nice perspective on both here.

This is what we are witnessing now, the Yishmaelites just cannot refrain from lobbing rockets, rocks and knives against the Jews. And Eisav/Edom, in his many nations, cannot help but 'trapping' the Israelites into dead-end negotiations, outlandish demands on her people, land and protective security, from trying to steal Jewish land, Jewish religious items, places of worship, and the list goes on.

Edom arms Yismael: US to sell Cairo 156 F-16's; advanced arms to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and UAE.

But our Sages have given us segulos to apply in time of troubles. One such is:

The holy Abir Yaakov, Rabbi Yaakov Abuchatzeira, ztkl, writes that the “Two Covenants” of the mouth and circumcision are like one, as the gematria of milah and peh are both 85. These covenants are directly connected to strict judgments insofar as “85 plus 1″ equals 86, the gematria of the divine name Elokim, the attribute of strict judgments. (He further writes that our forefathers merited redemption from Egypt because they guarded these Two Covenants.) Pilgrimage to gravesite.

Jewish End of Days reminds us that this "Tshuva will actually cause strict justice (din) to join forces with kindness (chesed) and mercy (rachamim) as an ally and protector against our enemies."

We must try to find greater endearment and greater favor in the Eyes of Hashem,

"that are on the Land of Israel from one end of the year to the other end".

New Broadway Show: "Inti-FaDa Musical Chairs"

Friday, Erev Shabbat (Vayechi), Arabs from the village of Beit Rima rioted outside Nevei Tzuf in the Binyamin region of Samaria, throwing rocks, injuring a 16 year old Israeli, all while being filmed. INN coverage. The organizer of this "outing" obviously paid a photographer (hefty lefty) to film the entire episode.

Introducing New Middle East Play,

"Inti-FaDa Musical Chairs"

Pollywood interviews Producer on the Palestine Media Center web site and brings us a scene from the Abbass' New International Strategic Middle East Play: Inti-FaDa Musical Chairs (i.e. "A-Rahm Choreographic Studio"):

The "Stage is Set"

The Actors are: "Abbass, Man of Peace", "Impetuous Innocent Arab Youth", "American Peacemakers", "Concerned About Peace World Nations", "Innocent Al-Aqsa Martyrs", "Concerned Jewish American Liberals", "Titus and Hordus Brothers", "Settler Provacateurs", and last but not least the "Murderous IDF".

Act One:

(no background lights, spotlight on weeping Abbass)

“I will not turn to violence,” he replied. “No matter where you drag us, I will not return to violence.” “And if violence forces itself upon you?” he was asked. “Not me. I am against this,” he claimed. “I will not accept violence, terrorism, gunfire or a military intifada. Absolutely not.”

Act Two:

Widely distributed propaganda lies, most likely to include language such as "youths" out for a walk encountered the IDF and they (the IDF) attacked them. Backdrop giant screen showing (selected) shots of innocent encounter.

Act Three:

Those Israeli Usurpers. Jordan and Palelstinian Authority Claim Dead Sea Scrolls belong to the Palestinians. (screaming) "Our Heritage is being Stolen from us". "Jordan claims that the scrolls were found in "disputed territory" that Israel captured from Jordanian control in 1967."

Act Four:

The Play intensifies. Musical drumbeats to the tune of 'Rocks of Ages' plays in the background. At a IDF checkpoint outside the Cave of Patriarchs in Hevron, (innocent) Arab youths concealing two knives, each with a blade over 10 cm (4 inches) in length, after questioning reveal plan to carry out a stabbing attack inside the Cave of the Patriarchs. While south of Shechem, near Madma, another (innocent) Arab was found (by IDF) with a knife with a 12 cm blade on his person, while some of their (innocent) Arab friends were throwing rocks at Israeli civilians near the village of Kablan. While rocks were flying in the air at Jews on the roads leading to Eifarim and Beit Aryeh (in the Modi'in area) coming from nearby village of Samarian Dir Abu-Mashaal.

Act Five:

Hordus and Titus announce: Imminent Demolitions. "We are ready any time to begin the second stage of the moratorium order," ... "After distributing the orders, the next natural stage will be to demolish the structures (Jewish homes) ...."

Intermission:

Act Six:

Palestinians gather around speaker in town of Ramallah for important announcement. PA Prime Minister (hand picked by US President) Salam Fayyad tells those gathered (now is the time) that Yehuda and Shomron MUST BE FREE OF ALL JEWS. Sounds a little like ethnic cleansing.

Act Seven:

Arab youth innocently celebrating New Year's Eve around a bonfire roasting (not marshmallows, bit) One Thousand One Hundred Thirty Seven (that's 1137) cars in France.

Finale

Dear Audience, this is up to you.

Why is the Brain Divided?

"Almost every function once thought to be the province of one or other hemisphere—language, imagery, reason, emotion—is served by both hemispheres, not one.

There is nonetheless a highly significant difference in how the two hemispheres work, giving rise to two wholly distinct takes on the world. Normally we synthesize them without being aware that we are doing so. But one of the two hemispheres can come to dominate—and just as this may happen for individuals,

it may also happen for a whole culture."

The two hemispheres also differ in their attitude to their differences. The right hemisphere is inclusive in its attitude to what the left hemisphere might know, but the left hemisphere is exclusive of the right. Where the right hemisphere's world responds to negative feedback, the left hemisphere gets locked ever further into its own point of view. Its capacities are limited to doing the same things it has always done, and no more.

Iain McGilchrist, the author of "The Master and his Emissary: the Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World" takes the reader through history's Greek, Roman, Renaissance, Reformation, Rationalism and the Enlightenment, up to the current world's mindset through the Left Brain / Right Brain Hemispheric perspectives.

Sort of ... the political state of mind as it affects the world's peoples.

Iain McGilchrist's full article is in The Wall Street Journal

Solomon & Sheba, Inc.

Solomon & Sheba Inc.

A new inscription confirms trade relations between “towns of Judah” and South Arabia, Biblical Archaeology Review.

Southern Arabia is 1,200 miles south of Israel. The Bible documents this trade quite extensively—most famously in the supposed affair between King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.

The land of Sheba is referred to two dozen times in the Hebrew Bible.

... the international trade between Judah and southern Arabia very probably existed as early as the latter half of the tenth century B.C.E.—the time of King Solomon.

The Land of Israel is like Noah's Ark

Vayechi: Conclusion and Renewal

Levi Chazen

In his book Kol HaTor, the Vilna Gaon writes, regarding the sentence, "the remnants will be in Zion", that only in the Land of Israel will the survivors of the Jewish people be found, for only those who partake in the Redemption will be found. He worried about this greatly. My teacher, Rabbi Nachman Kahane, has said time and time again, for all who want to listen, that the Land of Israel is like Noah's Ark, the safe haven for the Jewish people; one does not want to be caught outside...

* * *

For the Jew, a conclusion is also a time for renewal. It is time that the conclusion of the exile take place and and in its wake, the renewal of the Promised Land filled with the Jewish people.

There are some people who instinctually see beyond the present, into the future, but decipher their vision for all to understand, and I believe that the gifted Levi Chazan is just such a unique viewer of the dissonance in the Jew's life in Eretz Yisrael. To read more of Conclusion and Renewal visit the link above.

Not Really a Consolation

"...the Talmud says with respect to Yaakov Avinu in parshas Vayechi (this Shabbos):

Rav Nachman said to Rav Yitzchak: 'Rebi Yochanan said that our father Yaakov did not die.' Rav Yitzchak asked him, 'Was it for no reason that the eulogizers eulogized, the embalmers embalmed and the buriers buried?' Rav Nachman answered him, 'I am only citing a verse, as it says, 'And you, my servant Yaakov, fear not, says G-d, and do not tremble, O Israel. For behold, I shall save you from afar, and your descendants from the land of their captivity' (Yirmiyahu 30:10). The verse equates Yaakov with his descendants: just as his descendants are alive, he, too, is alive.' (Taanit 5b).

As Rashi points out, it never mentions that Yaakov Avinu actually died, and given the supernatural basis of his entire existence, it is not hard to imagine that, like his fathers before him, Yaakov simply ascended to a higher spiritual plane, one beyond the visions of the average human being. "

* * * * *

"... whenever it comes to anything that threatens the existence of the Klipot, it has to be done in a way that gives them the impression that nothing of spiritual value is occurring. This explains a great deal about why so many events have taken place in history for the sake of redemption, but often in a way that seems contrary to the way of Torah. However, it must be added, this is only something G-d can arrange, with few exceptions, especially since only G-d can make something look against the values of Torah, only to reveal in the end that all was not as it seemed on the surface."

Source: THIRTY-SIX: Rabbi Winston, The Leshem on the Parsha

If the First Intifada Plan worked, let's do it again?

Uprising Planned to Target the Jews of

Yehuda and Shomron

(written by Aaron Klein for WND 12/27)

Selections from his report:

".... The Palestinian Authority has decided to support and encourage a "low-level" popular uprising in the strategic West Bank, according to Palestinian and Jordanian intelligence sources."

".... The Palestinian and Jordanian sources told WND the decision empowers local leaders of PA President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah organization to lead what would be viewed as a "popular struggle" of Palestinians protesting as well as throwing stones, rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli soldiers and Jewish residents of the West Bank"

*Commentary:

"Emanuel A. Winston

Middle East Analyst & Commentator

December 20, 2009

When a government turns against her own citizens, then it must be overthrown by whatever means necessary. Clearly, the documents of betrayal - as described in *brief below - speaks of collusion with a foreign government to drive Jews out of their homes in Judea, Samaria, Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, etc. This is nothing less than high treason against the Jewish Nation/State and the Jewish people - worldwide. ...."

While the next Intifada and Expulsion

is being planned,

the US is pressuring Israel:

According to a report appearing in the London-based al-Hayat, the United States is pressuring Israel not to comply with Hamas demands to release Fatah Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti and other terrorists who murdered innocent people.

Maybe Abbas is afraid his plans (with US assistance) and his power will be usurped by some of these up-for-release terrorists (that would like to help Hamas run over Abbas and establish Hamas authority in Yehuda and Shomron) ... and that's why the US is urging Israel not to release those bad guys!?