Gadi Yevarkan – A Fighter for Israeli Citizens

Likud MK ejected from Knesset hearing after blasting Green Pass – Gadi Yevarkan ejected from Knesset hearing after using the phrase 'concentration camps' during debate over restrictions on unvaccinated. [https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/319276]

Likud MK Gadi Yevarkan on Sunday was removed from a discussion on restrictions in the Constitution Committee.
Yevarkan vehemently objected to restrictions imposed on Israeli citizens, saying, "In Israel, serious restrictions are being imposed on the country's 5 million citizens who do not have a Green Pass, like in Austria."
"All that's missing are the concentration camps."
He was then removed from the meeting by Committee Chair MK Gilad Kariv.

Mind You, he is a member of the Covid Constitution Committee! One cannot criticize the leftist socialist anti-Jewish Government. If an MK dares to do so, he gets kicked out of the Knesset. The corrupted Erev Rav big shots think they have the responsibility to behave the same as “those” prior to WWII. A bunch of bullies.

There should be a legal and governmental procedure of OBJECTION.

________________________________

On the same day:

YWN Reports:  On Friday afternoon, just before Shabbos began, members of the Corona Cabinet in the government passed the Health Ministry’s recommendations into edicts with regard to how to operate the malls and business centers during the fifth wave of the Coronavirus in Israel. The Ministry presented its plan to the Corona Cabinet last Tuesday and the vote was held by the cabinet via telephone on Friday.

According to the plan, all malls and business centers will now operate following the purple tag guidelines. According to these rules, one person will be allowed for every 15 meters. Additionally, entrance into stores of more than 100 meters will be allowed for those carrying a green pass that will need to be presented at the entrance. This will hold true for open space outdoor malls as well as closed indoor malls. Staff in these stores will also need a valid green pass.

Food stands in the malls will be allowed to service people who present a green pass, and there will be no seating, but rather pick up and deliveries only. Restaurants in malls will be allowed to seat patrons who have a valid green pass, similar to what is taking place currently.

Green passes will not be applied to stores that provide a necessary service, such as – drug stores, opticians, stores that sell medical equipment, food stores such as mini-markets, and supermarkets. These stores will operate under a purple tag system and allow one person for every seven meters of space.

The regulations will begin to take place at midnight between Sunday and Monday this week, assuming that the regulations are passed by the Constitutional Committee in the Knesset.

Islam’s Miracle Cure Seed – Black Cumin

Black Cumin: Islam’s Miracle Cure Seed

Within Islam there are many herbs, plants and fruits that are believed to have medicinal and healing properties. Olive, pomegranate, dates and figs are amongst those that are directly mentioned in the Quran as blessed foods. However, there is only one that can stake a claim as a super food and that is black cumin, fennel flower, or ‘Habbat ul Sawda’ as it is known in Arabic.

According to hadith, or Muslim teachings, Muhammed is believed to have said: “In the black seed is healing for every disease except death.” (Sahih Bukhari)

Indigenous to the Mediterranean region, the black seed plant (Nigella sativa, also Roman coriander) has been used medicinally by Muslims and non-Muslims alike for hundreds of years. In fact the earliest written reference to the black cumin is in the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament where Isaiah talks of the harvesting of the black seed.

It was also mentioned in the Bible as the curative ‘black seed’ and has been used by Asian herbalists and the Romans for culinary purposes. However it never really held any place of importance until the rise of Islam.

Black cumin seeds and oil –  a superfood

Within Arabo-Islamic culture, the black seed has been prescribed for various ailments including fever, asthma, chronic headaches, diabetes, digestion, back pain, infections and rheumatism. In fact, since its rise in popularity in the Seventh century the black seed has remained a staple of family medicine within the Muslim world. The black seed is believed to have 100 components and is a significant sources of fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

Whenever I get a cold or flu, the first things that gets added to my hot drinks is black cumin and although it leaves no taste in the drink- the trick is to chew the seeds rather than just swallow them whole.

They have a slightly bitter and peppery taste but nothing too strong so it is a relatively pain-free medicine. My mother constantly tells me about its amazing properties and it seems that there science out there to back it up.

Black cumin revives natural medicine

Black seed has been scientifically proven to demonstrate strong anti-bacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties which support its claims to be of medicinal value for various ailments. There was also interesting studies carried out which found that black cumin had inhibitory effects on carcinogens  and was also helpful for fighting tumours.

You can buy black cumin oil which is considered a potent anti-oxidant for treating cancer.

Nigella sativa has been used as traditional medicine for centuries. The crude oil and thymoquinone (TQ) extracted from its seeds and oil are effective against many diseases like cancer, cardiovascular complications, diabetes, asthma, kidney disease, breast and pancreatic cancer.

Black cumin is effective against cancer in blood system, lung, kidney, liver, prostate, breast, cervix, skin with much safety. The molecular mechanisms behind its anticancer role is still not clearly understood, however, some studies showed that thymoquinone has antioxidant role and improves body’s defense system, according to this study.

The issue with treating cancer however means that one needs to be “proactive” in consuming disease fighting foods before the cancer gets rooted. Oftentimes people react with natural medicines such as CBD oil, black cumin, chaga tea, juicing, or apricot seeds hoping that the mix will stop the cancer. All of us need to take care of our health today with a balanced diet, heavy in Mediterrean food to stop cancer before it starts.

A rise in interest of Mediterranean cuisine and herbs has highlighted the uses of the black seed which seems to be enjoying a revival in popularity across the Muslim world and in the West.

Like CBD oil is added to drinks in America, black cumin seed has been introduced to recipes and is even an ingredient in Evoca cola which is also known as ‘Islam Cola’. The extract is said to be tasteless.

Evoca is a London-based soft drinks company, and is sold in the United Kingdom, The Channel Islands, Europe and the Far East.

Black seed can also be used as a spice and particularly as a substitute to pepper: although with its additional properties it really does give flavour with added health benefits.

Source:  https://www.greenprophet.com/2010/10/islam-black-seed/

Rabbi Weissman – Contemporary Lessons from Mishlei – Part 2

 

I was interviewed last week by someone from Il Detonatore, an Italian conservative-leaning online journal.  My English responses follow the Italian translation at the top.  https://www.ildetonatore.it/2021/12/23/sono-ebreo-e-contro-la-dittatura-sanitaria-intervista-a-chananya-weissman-di-davide-cavaliere/

Contemporary Lessons from Mishlei – Part 2

Shlomo Hamelech (King Solomon) did not receive any medical degrees, nor did he publish any peer-reviewed studies in a prestigious journal. That would immediately disqualify him from commenting on health and medicine in the eyes of many today. However, just as one can be healthy without possessing “health papers”, one can acquire true knowledge without flashing “expert certificates”. The words of the Torah, which include the divinely inspired wisdom of Shlomo, need validation from no one.

This wisdom, unlike “the science”, is not subject to revision as new discoveries are made. On the contrary, the more we learn about the world, the more we will appreciate this timeless wisdom. Furthermore, the Torah's wisdom includes all areas of life, including the most fundamental area of healthy living. If we fail to derive all we need to know about healthy living by studying the Torah, and must supplement our knowledge with other sources of information, the shortcoming is with us, not with the Torah. Everything is there.

לב שמח ייטב גהה ורוח נכאה תיבש גרם

A happy heart will benefit the body, and a depressed spirit will dry up the bone. (17:22)

Metzudas David explains this according to the simple meaning:

השמחה תיטיב לגוף כדבר רפואה ושברון רוח תייבש מוח העצמות 

Happiness will do good for the body like a medicine, and a broken spirit will dry up the marrow of the bones.

Modern scientists receive large grants to "prove" what any person with sechel innately knows, then they breathlessly publish studies as if they discovered something revolutionary. These people, who reject belief in God and His wisdom as primitive, are fascinated with the "innovative" notion that one's emotional condition has a tangible physical effect.

Something called clown therapy was introduced only in the last few decades, with the idea that bringing laughter and joy to sick people could improve their physical health. Gee, you think? The only clowns in the equation are the people who think this was a revolutionary scientific discovery. They're only a few thousand years late.

Avraham Ibn Ezra, in addition to writing one of the primary commentaries on Tanach, was a doctor and a renaissance man. His life coincided with the most influential of Jewish doctors, the Rambam (Maimonides), who held Ibn Ezra in high esteem. I would sooner go to them for health advice than any of the "experts" making the rules for us today, though that isn't really saying much. 

Ibn Ezra explains this proverb as follows:

לב, גהה - חסר כ"ף מרפא כלומר הלב שהוא שמח בחלקו ייטיב לגוף כגהה בעבור שתולדתו לשמוח כמו לא יגהה מכם אבל רוח נכאה וכועסת על הבלי העולם תיבש עצם שהוא עיקר הגוף ולא תועיל בו גהה

“Gehah” is missing the [prefix] “kaf”. It means to say that the heart which is happy with its lot will be good for the body like a medicine, for its consequence is to rejoice, like it says (Hosheia 5:13) “he will not heal your wound”. But a broken spirit that is angry about the foolishness of the world will dry up the bone, which is a primary part of the body, and medicine will not benefit it. 

Ibn Ezra explains that “gehah” doesn't mean “body” (similar to the word “gevah”) but “medicine”, based on its usage in Hosheia. He reads the first part of the pasuk here as “A happy heart is beneficial like a medicine.”

But then he takes it a step further than Metzudas David. Not only does a broken spirit cause physical harm, it damages the body so that actual medicine will be unable to benefit it.

What an astonishing comment! No doubt this was corroborated by Ibn Ezra's own experience as a physician. 

Fast forward to today, nearly a thousand years after Ibn Ezra lived, and a thousand more since Shlomo taught his proverbs. The establishment “experts” have done everything in their power to suck the joy out of people's lives and crush their spirits. All the things that give joy to people – being in close proximity to loved ones, religious gatherings, social gatherings, earning a living, receiving an education, traveling, recreational activities, shopping, playing sports, going for a walk, even simply going outside – have been severely restricted or denied them for long periods of time. 

While they have robbed people of joy that has actual healing properties, they have simultaneously crushed their spirits with relentless fear-mongering, punishments, psychological warfare, and sowing discord. They isolated people, quarantined them, distanced them from one another, tested healthy people with fraudulent tests, then pretended they were spreading disease. They replaced human interaction with mindlessly addictive games, entertainment, “news”, and antisocial media. Even in better times this was crushing people's spirits.

Ah, but they have just the thing for all that! A revolutionary pharmaceutical product!

Even if “the science” behind this product was not riddled with deceit and corruption, it is no wonder that those who turn to it are finding neither nirvana nor improved health. They're miserable! Their spirits are crushed! 

Even if this medication were good for them in principle – which it most certainly is not – their misery would prevent it from achieving the desired results. 

The godless monsters claim that “science” can solve all our problems. If only we take all their drugs, and let them control everything, we will be happy and healthy. They are telling an obvious lie. Their drugs cannot work in absence of a joyous spirit, nor can they artificially produce one. At the very most they can support the body's natural, God-given healing process; they cannot replace it. 

What millions of people will pay a heavy price to learn, Shlomo Hamelech taught us thousands of years ago for free. No graduate course required.

__________________________

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When pathological liars inadvertently speak the truth

No, this has nothing to do with his accent, and there is no English word that is similar to "kill" that makes sense (as with Bibi's "rotzim/rotzchim" slip). This was God pulling a Bilam, or maybe a Bilam's donkey.  More on this with part 3 of the Mishlei series...

Outrageous Governmental Destruction in Homesh!

 

Right Wing Outraged as Security Forces Raze Buildings in Chomesh

YERUSHALAYIM - 

Right-wing MKs expressed outrage on Friday after security forces demolished several buildings – including the yeshivah – in the Chomesh outpost in the Shomron just hours after a memorial service was held in honor of resident Yehuda Dimentman, Hy”d, who was murdered last week in a terrorist shooting attack. 

The Religious Zionist Party said in a statement, “The tens of thousands of Jews who went up to Chomesh … expressed the values of devotion and belief in the righteousness of the path. In contrast, [Prime Minister Naftali] Bennett, [Interior Minister Ayelet] Shaked, [Yamina MK Nir] Orbach, [Religious Services Minister Matan] Kahana, and their associates expressed the complete opposite: the loss of values, selfishness, deceit and falsehood.

“They understand that the energies of the devoted public who went up to Chomesh and with them the public that believes – traditional, Orthodox, secular – can overthrow the government they formed with the extreme Left and terrorism-supporting Arabs.”

“Like [former Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon did in his time, so too Bennett and Shaked swapped sides. They will do everything, and we mean everything, to protect their seats. Including destroying settlements in Israel. The destruction is meant to weaken and hurt, but we will persevere.”

Otzma Yehudit head MK Itamar Ben-Gvir said, “Bennett rewarded the murderer and deceived the family that mourned with the entire people of Israel. The demolition in Chomesh is a sign of victory for the murdered, who make a V sign with their hand and go to jail with a sense of triumph. What is worse is that Bennett had promised the bereaved families he would work against the demolition of Chomesh. If Bennett is unable to prevent the demolition, then he does not deserve to be prime minister for even one minute.”

Echoing similar sentiment, the Shomron Regional Council said, “This morning’s destruction gives a boost to terrorists who want to harm us. We demand that the government not give in to this disgrace and immediately change its policy.”

The Chomesh yeshivah said, “A price to terrorism. There are no words. Unfortunately, we see that the Israeli government decided following the terrorist attack in which Yehudah Dimentman was killed to demolish the yeshivah in Chomesh. The terrorists achieved their goal through a contractor – the Israeli government.”

On Monday, Dimentman’s widow, Ettya, sent a letter to Bennett urging that Chomesh not be demolished. 

“Don’t complete what the terrorists didn’t, don’t destroy what we have built at Chomesh,” she implored. “Don’t kill my life’s work, that of Yehuda and our friends at Chomesh.”

https://hamodia.com/2021/12/24/right-wing-outraged-as-security-forces-raze-buildings-in-chomesh/

Shalom Pollack: I Was At Homesh

Yesterday, December 23, 2021, I went to Chomesh.

What is there?

Why did I go?

What did I see?

What were my thoughts?

Yehudah Dimentman, twenty-five years old was murdered by Arabs on his way home from the yeshiva where he learned in Chomesh, a hilltop in Samaria.

Why was he killed? The Arabs proudly claim it is because he is a settler, part of the occupation of the "Palestinian " Homeland

Chomesh was once a dynamic Jewish community strategically overlooking the coastal plain, until 2005 when prime minister Sharon ordered it and three other flourishing Jewish towns nearby be demolished and its population forcefully expelled. No reason for the destruction and expulsions in Samaria were given but the same decree that extinguished the communities firmly ordered that they never be rebuilt. (Sounds like an edict of a Roman emperor after the destruction of the temple?)

Yehudah Dimentman was not only a criminal by Arab definition; Israeli law considers him and those studying Torah amongst the debris of Chomesh criminals as well.

Why did I go?

The widow of the murdered young man, left with a baby, begged prime minister Bennet to please lift the ban on rebuilding Chomesh and at least the yeshiva where her husband studied, prayed, and was murdered, be allowed to exist. After the seven-day mourning period, she asked that "Am Yisroel" join her in remembering her husband and in supporting the rebuilding of  Chomesh and the yeshiva.

When she asked that "Am Yisroel" join her, I understood that Am Yisroel indeed had to be there that day. We could not disappoint her or ourselves as Am Yisroel.

There is a saying," if it hurts you scream out". it did hurt. The murder hurt, the widow hurt, and the situation that allowed these tragedies hurt the most. I had to be there with the finest of Am Yisrael, and that is who I met.

What did I see?

I saw the finest that we have. I expected to because whenever Jews or the land of Israel are in danger, the same section of the population shows up.

It was a cold rainy day but that did not stop over fifteen thousand Jews from coming from far and wide.

Most were teens, boys, and girls. Some carried flags. There was a powerful spirit emanating from the wonderful youth. There was no flirting or intermingling; so different from what one would expect to find when thousands of teens gather This was part of their education and discipline. They came for a serious reason and they understood.

There were also a number of young families with children in tow and babies in their arms and in carriages.

I was amazed at how these parents managed. We walked long distances up and down to reach our destination on top of the hill.

There were also a few older people like me. I was reminded of my years as the many young people flitted by me on our way up the hill. On our way, we passed an Arab village. How did I know it was an Arab village? One; there were no fences or security measures to protect them. unlike Jewish villages who need protection. Two, the garbage was strewn all about.  You would think if they really thought it was their land, they would have some pride in it.

On our way up the road, there was a large pit recently dug out across the road by the government to prevent the return to Chomesh by the stubborn yeshiva students and former residents.

A young man with a megaphone stood above the pit to warn people of the obstacle in the dark and urged us to fill the hole up with rocks to undo the work of those who would keep the place "Judenrein"

I was impressed by the vigor and leadership of this young Jewish man.

The rain became stronger. Huge puddles were formed. There were only a few umbrellas. Nothing deterred them or dampened the spirits.

It was impressive

What did I see?

I saw the best.

It was a great honor to march with them

My thoughts?

I know that I have seen the future leaders of Israel.

I watched the soldiers and police who guarded the procession. I wondered what they thought of the n of Jews who care enough to march in the rain up a hill?

I thought of the neighboring Arabs. What did they think of the Jews who don't give up?

I felt good to know that I was on the right side of history.

This morning at the gym, I mentioned that I was at Chomesh yesterday. One fellow clearly wasn't impressed and sneered and said something to the effect of, ``Oh those people"

I said, ``Yes, our very best. The ones who still have faith. The roots that make sure this tree doesn't fall."

He wasn't impressed and said, "in the end, you will be the only ones in the country," I thought that was a very revealing statement. What I think he meant was that those people with their fanatic beliefs will make things so bad that normal Israelis like him will (continue to) leave the country. This fellow went for a holiday to Greece on Yom Kippur. He has his Jewish values right.

As former prime minister Olmert said, "I want a country that is fun to live in."

What's the point of our holy land if you can't have fun?

I get it.

That is why only a certain kind of Jew marches in the rain - even if it is not so much fun.

I told him yes, that is a possibility we might be the only ones left.

Perhaps we are experiencing a historic process of elimination. Not everyone will have the merit to be here when the story ends.

My book, "Jews, Israelis, and Arabs" explains it all.

Reb Neuberger: Shemot – The Jewish King

THE JEWISH KING

 

In this week’s Parsha we meet Moshe Rabbeinu, the greatest individual and the greatest prophet in history. “Never again has there arisen in Israel a prophet like Moshe, whom Hashem had known face to face ….” (Dvarim 34:10) Moshe was also considered the King of Israel, as Hashem said, “I have appointed you king over Israel.” (Vayikra Rabbah 31:4), but this merit was not passed down through his children as it was with Dovid.

 

Moses “sat like a king on his throne, and everyone stood before him.” (Mechilta, Yisro 1:1)

 

I believe it is appropriate at this time to discuss the nature of the Jewish king. We have to understand what to expect when Moshiach arrives.

 

I am going to use a source the words of the great luminary Rabbi Samson Rafael Hirsch zt”l, who was in his own way a “melech,” a king of Torah. He fought fearlessly and relentlessly against the surging tide of reform, the so-called “Enlightenment,” which was really nothing but darkness. This poisonous movement, which still hisses in our ears, attempts to extinguish the light of Torah in the world. Rabbi Hirsch was not afraid to fight it single-handedly. To do this, he had to clarify countless basic concepts in Torah, and the nature of the Jewish king was one of those concepts which he elucidated in his writings.

 

In the previous Parsha, Yaakov Avinu, last of the Patriarchs, gave brachas to his sons before his death. From each of Yaakov’s principal wives came a king: Yosef from Rochel and Yehuda from Leah. Yehuda is the progenitor of Dovid ha Melech, from whom the eternal line of Jewish kings descends, and it is the character of this Melech Yisroel that Rabbi Hirsch delineates in his commentary on Parshas Vayechi, which we read last week.

 

First, I would like to discuss a subject which has long confused me: why did Shmuel ha Novi chastise Am Yisroel for wanting a king, when in fact there is a commandment for us to have a king?

 

Rabbi Hirsch explains that Shmuel chastised the people because they wanted a king out of fear, a king who would lead them in battle like the kings of the other nations. But that is not the function of a Jewish king. He is not like the kings of other nations. The Jewish king, Moshiach, comes riding on a donkey, not a horse. A donkey, Rabbi Hirsch explains, is an animal associated with peace, whereas a horse is used in battle. As King David himself says, “[The other nations trust in] horses, but we [trust] in the Name of Hashem, our G-d.” (Psalm 20)

 

“Whereas other kings keep the royal stables full of horses, [the Jewish king] raises donkeys, animals used especially during peacetime.” (Hirsch on Beraishis 49:11)

 

When Yaakov blesses Yehuda, he envisions the future Moshiach tying his donkey to a grapevine. What does the grapevine represent? “[The garment of Moshiach] is red, but not with the blood of man. Rather the blood of grapes has colored his robe.” (ibid) Rabbi Hirsch explains that Moshiach is not coming to save us militarily, but rather to teach us Torah and proper behavior.

 

What is the task of the Jewish king?

 

“He is to be the Jew par excellence. By embodying this idea, he will be … leading the Jewish nation to the … constant awareness and … faithful keeping of the Torah …. Neither [in order] to conquer the land nor … to secure it, but ‘when you have come to the land which the L-rd your G-d gives you and you shall possess it and shall dwell in it’ -- without a king! -- THEN you shall appoint a king.” (Hirsch, Collected Writings, Vol. 4)

 

Rabbi Hirsch foresees the way Moshiach will arrive. “In the end of days, [when the Children of Israel will appear to be extremely weak and apparently unable to survive, and the entire world will be in a state of decline] he … will suddenly arise in manly strength ….”

 

In the days of Moshiach, “Men [will] not waste their strength in subjugating and destroying their fellow men.… [Yaakov Avinu envisions] the members of this [final] generation …. Their eyes are more sparkling than wine [and] their teeth are whiter than milk. Courage and the joy of life shine from their eyes and the whiteness of their teeth testifies to their health.” (Hirsch, Beraishis 49:12)

 

My friends, this is what we can expect of Moshiach ben Dovid, the teacher of Israel in the days when the world is healed and has returned to a state of perfection. May we soon see that day with our own eyes and glory in the appearance of Moshiach ben Dovid, the King of Israel and leader of the entire world!

 

 

The Kever of Shmuel ha Novi, the prophet 

who anointed Dovid King of Israel

 

 

GLOSSARY

Bracha: blessing

Kever: grave site

Melech: king

Shmuel ha Novi: Samuel the Prophet, who anointed King David

 

One Man’s Opinion

 "Keep distant from false words -- מדבר שקר תרחק”        Exodus 23:7

War on Words

Let's stop using their fabricated terminologies that lend credence to their fake narrative. I’ve addressed this disturbing phenomenon years ago with regards to media bias [1], but sadly failed to identify it for the past two years of intense state/media/medical-establishment indoctrination. The words they use – and that we subsequently adopt in casual speech – are subliminally affirming their carefully-spun web of lies, deception, and incitement. Our language has been assaulted and hijacked. It's time to take back the narrative.

For example, every time we say "COVID," we unwittingly acknowledge the existence of a "Corona Virus Disease," that this dreaded medical condition is actually caused by a corona virus.

Likewise, whenever we say "SARS CoV2," we acknowledge that a novel “corona virus” causes a "severe acute respiratory syndrome.”

This claim is unsubstantiated and un-scientific, as no empirical evidence exists that a so-called corona virus causes any disease or syndrome altogether.

Instead, we might refer to the alleged pathogen of their alleged pandemic (since "pandemic" is likewise an arbitrary claim that is not corroborated by facts).

Actually, the notion that any "virus" is pathogenic is just a theory, not a fact. The very existence of "viruses" (by their definition) is unsubstantiated.

"Immunization" is likewise a myth, as no lasting immunity is conferred by any vaccine. Speaking of which, "vaccine" is a nebulous term that should be avoided as well, since it's confusing semantics that dubiously equates this novel gene therapy with traditional "vaccines" of the past.

Stop referring to people as “vaccinated” or “unvaccinated” for the same reason. Moreover, the latter term is disparaging and suggests that a person who wisely declined this dubious injection is somehow missing something. Worst of all, these toxic terms are part of the establishment’s dangerously divisive rhetoric that create apartheid divisions in our population separating between the “have’s” and “have-not’s.”

Avoid the term "booster" as well. Where is the science that this injection "boosts" anything? It's actually quite the opposite: evidence suggests that it suppresses the immune system.

Stop calling it a PCR test. It doesn’t “test” anything and was never intended to be diagnostic. It’s good for purely speculative genetic research.

Please don’t say “safe social distancing.” Where is the evidence that distancing makes anyone safe? If anything, it makes people less safe and more vulnerable to loneliness, hunger, apathy, and tyranny.

And the most absurd term of all is "Public Health Policy" LOL. Since when did any of their policies make anyone healthy? If anything, these policies have sickened the public, causing autoimmunity, injury, paralysis, sterility, and death. “Public Unhealth” is more accurate.

It's high time we avoid their agenda-driven, deliberately misleading terminology and insist on semantic accuracy. 

In summary, here are the dubious terms to avoid:

[1] https://westbororabbi.blogspot.com/2011/03/war-of-words-part-i.html

https://westbororabbi.blogspot.com/2011/03/war-of-words-part-iii-incident.html

https://westbororabbi.blogspot.com/2011/03/war-of-words-part-iii.html

https://westbororabbi.blogspot.com/2011/03/war-of-words-part-ii.html

 

Rabbi Winston: Shemot – Divine Decree and Biblical Prophecy

THE STORY BEGINS. We’ve seen this movie before countless times. The Jewish people move to a new country relatively peacefully. They prosper, assimilate, and lose touch with Jewish destiny. Then a new king rises to power and he turns the nation against the Jews. Antisemitism increases, and it is followed by persecution, even genocide. It’s happened just about everywhere Jews have gone.

And by the way, this is not only true about Jews living among non-Jews. It has also been true about Jews living among Jews as well. There have been Jewish governments that have been hostile to their people. We joke about how so many Jews have so many opinions, but it is no joke, especially when it leads to civil war. The gemora says that a Jew without Torah can be one of the most chutzpadik people in the world (Beitzah 25b). That is pretty obvious today, even among some who seem to live by Torah.

It would be nice to break the pattern. It would be nice for once to just transition to the new stage of history without the persecution, without having to run for our lives again and leave everything behind. Nice, but not likely. 

Why not? 

Because of the gray area syndrome.

You’ve never heard of it? That’s because I just made it up. The name, not the syndrome. The syndrome is as old as the Jewish people. It describes a period during which Jewish history becomes precarious. Antisemitism increases and there are hints that it might even become dangerous. It might even make some think about leaving the Diaspora for Eretz Yisroel.

That’s not many people today, because most Jews have invested in where they live. They have houses with mortgages, all kinds of possessions, and probably a lot of family living close by. The idea of selling everything off and packing up the entire family is very unappealing, even daunting. 

The problem is, they don’t know how to evaluate the risk of not selling out and making aliyah. They may be aware that the last time we dealt with a similar situation with a similar gray area eventually resulted in the Holocaust. But is such a thing possible today? As bad as it has gotten in the West, will it ever get that bad, God forbid? 

We don’t know yet. 

We can’t know yet. 

We’re not prophets.

So we gamble.We throw the dice and hope that they will roll in our favor. They haven’t until now, but maybe they will this time. There’s a possibility, and even though it may be small, it’s still a possibility. Someone wins the lottery. Why not us, if we bought a ticket like everyone else? The odds may be heavily stacked against us, but they are also for the person who will win. 

Rising antisemitism has always been an indication of bad times coming up for Jews. Maybe this time it will be different. It’s a gray area.

ONE OF THE deceiving things about Torah is that everything seems to happen so fast. It takes only a few pesukim to cover a lot of time and to get to an important event. It’s like we came, we thrived, we were enslaved. So many important details are left out.

For example, how many years did it take from the time the Jewish people went down to Egypt until they were actually enslaved? They went down to Egypt when Ya’akov Avinu was 130 years old, which was 2238. The slavery did not begin until the last of Yosef’s brothers, Levi, died in the year 2332, 94 years later. Altogether we were in Egypt for 210 years, the slavery ending six months prior to redemption. The slavery lasted, therefore, 116 years. 

This means it took 94 years, almost a century, for the Jewish people to go from honored guests to tortured enemies. That’s a lot of time. When did it change, and why?

The Haggadah answers the question: 

And he went down to Egypt…forced by Divine decree. 

And he sojourned there…this teaches that Ya’akov Avinu did not go down to Egypt to settle, but only to live there temporarily. Thus, it says, “They said to Pharaoh, ‘We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks because the hunger is severe in the land of Canaan. Please, let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.’”

To sojourn, we only went down to Egypt to sojourn. How long? Until the end of the famine, when it would be possible to survive in Canaan again, the land that Ya’akov Avinu had been forced to leave. How long did the famine actually last? Certainly not 94 years. More than likely, a lot less. So what happened? Well, we began…

Few in number…as it says: “Your fathers went down to Egypt with seventy people, and now, God, your God, has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.”

But while there:

He became there a nation…this teaches that Israel was distinctive there. 

Great, mighty…as it says: “And the Children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, and multiplied and became very, very mighty, and the land became filled with them.” 

And that changed everything. First, it made Jews settle down more permanently, to become more invested in life in Egypt. They built houses, opened businesses, expanded their families, married off children, etc. You can accomplish a lot in 94 years, and though it might have been fine at first, it later says: 

The Egyptians treated us badly and they made us suffer, and they put hard work upon us…as it says: “Come, let us act cunningly with [the people] lest they multiply and, if there should be a war against us, they will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the land.”

So did the Jews run away from Egypt while they could? It’s not so simple when you’re so invested in where you live. As the Maharal says, matzah reminds us that poor people are free people, because they can leave a place whenever they want. They have nothing tying them down to where the presently live, unlike people who have built a material life for themselves.

The question is, why would the Egyptians, the mightiest nation on the face of the earth at that time, become worried about some minority nation that is non-military, and adding to the strength of the Egyptian economy? If it was just plain antisemitism, then who needs an excuse to enslave them? It’s like the Caesar who used the sale of Yosef as a pretext to martyr the 10 rabbis so many generations later. Even if the Caesar was just messing with them, why did they ask for three days to let Rebi Yishmael ask God about it? Would the Caesar have backed down if he had returned saying, “Sorry, God says you can’t kill us.”? 

Seemingly not.

What lesson are we meant to be learning that we seem to be glossing over instead?

A GOOD MAGIC trick takes advantage of a person’s vulnerability to distraction. A magician will do something to make you look this way, so they can do their sleight of hand that way while you’re not looking. 

It seems God works the same way. He has antisemites give their reasons for why they hate Jews and want to do them harm. In reality, it’s just a cover up for what is really going on: an exile is ending, the Jews aren’t leaving, and the gentiles need a reason that speaks to them to push us out. 

This is why people are so surprised when they see events change in ways they would have never predicted. They don’t see God behind what is happening. They don’t see Jewish history making things happen. They have lost touch with Jewish destiny and are too much in touch with what governments and the media are saying. They “credit” the people they see with what is occurring and not God Whom they can’t see. They miss His message completely. 

People ask why the first commandment mentions the leaving of Egypt as well, and there are many different explanations. Here’s a new one (I think). It’s to remind us throughout history not to forget that whatever others say or do to the Jewish people is really God working through them. People may sound independent, but they’re not, at least when it comes to what happens to God’s people. This is what the Ten Martyrs understood and lived.

They heard Caesar speaking, but only on behalf of God. So they went to God to hear what He really wanted, and complied with that. 

They died Al Kiddush Hashem. But if we adjust our thinking early enough to think as they did, then hopefully we’ll get to live Al Kiddush Hashem instead. We’ll be able to heed the warnings early enough, and answer the call to move on before we lose everything.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

On the Same Page: Ancient Roots of Modern Nations & Conflicts

NOW THAT WE’RE on the same page means that people share a common perspective they didn’t previously. How they got to that point can vary from situation to situation, but the result is a common perception of a reality.

Unfortunately, it is not so common. To be alive means to be part of reality, but not necessarily to understand it. Reality can be deceiving, like a painting that does not reveal all that is behind each brushstroke. Every moment of history is a composite of many factors, and the more one can recognize those factors, the more accurate their perception of reality will be.

It is perception that binds us or divides us. It is the source of unity or the source of disaccord. Perception can result in great acts of kindness, or it can lead to the deadliest of wars. Ultimately, it is our perception that determines what kind of portion we will receive in the World-to-Come.

Sometimes perceptions, even if inaccurate, are not that dangerous. 

However, other times, perception makes all the difference in the world. There are periods in history when inaccurate perceptions can leave us blind to realities and impending disasters. British Prime Minister Chamberlain returned in 1938 with the mistaken belief that Hitler, ysv”z, wanted peace. World War II and the Holocaust were the result. 

We are living in less-than-simple times. There may be relative calm for the moment, but there are storm clouds on the horizon. Dramatic changes in history, for good and for bad, seem likely. The amazing thing is how divided the world is about what is happening and what will occur. 

As always, there are people frantically blowing whistles to catch the attention of as many people as possible who might be able to help avoid catastrophe. And then there are masses of people who are oblivious to what is going on in the world. They deal with life no differently than they did twenty years ago, when the world was still quite calm.

But if you pay close attention you will see that current events and the nations who are causing them seem to be fulfilling biblical prophecy. You can open a Tanach and read about the historical roots of today’s nations, and see how they have fulfilled their destinies…And all of it is happening right before our very eyes, ancient prophecies coming true in modern times.

Hard to believe?

Read the rest of the book.