When
Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994, special arrangements were made
for a parcel of land near Naharayim and Kibbutz Ashdot Ya’acov. Although the
land belonged to Israel for decades and had been farmed there by Israeli
settlers; under the treaty it was transferred to Jordan.
Then,
in a spirit of cooperation, it was leased back to Israel so that settlers could
continue cultivating their fields. From that time on, visitors were warmly
welcomed to the Israeli enclave inside the Kingdom of Jordan, and the amicable
agreement was tangible proof that peaceful coexistence could be a reality. The
so-called island became known as the Isle of Peace.
Nearly
three years later, a group of schoolgirls from Beit Shemesh participated in an
outing to Naharayim and the Isle of Peace. The girls and their unarmed teachers
were standing on a hill above an abandoned lake in the enclave when a Jordanian
soldier aimed his weapon in their direction and pulled the trigger. Seven girls
were killed in the massacre.
Following
that tragic event, the late King Hussein made an unprecedented trip to each of
the victims’ homes to express his personal sorrow and the grief of his nation. Eventually,
new security arrangements were finalized that ensured the safety of
contemporary Israeli visitors.
Naharayim
(“two rivers”) is an unusually exciting site. For, besides the Isle of Peace, a
lovely overlook, and a striking memorial garden dedicated to the memory of the
seven young victims, it features a walk to the Yarmouk and Jordan Riversthat
give this site its name. After a good rain, or a blessedly wet winter, their
waters churn so tumultuously that I once heard a visitor liken the sight to Niagara
Falls!
Access
to the Isle of Peace is possible only with a guide from Ashdot Yaakov, which
runs a kiosk and information center at Naharayim. The tour goes into the
enclave and crosses several bridges that Jewish forces blew up during the War
of Independence in order to limit the movements of Iraqi forces. It also
includes a view of Israeli farmers working the land, a deserted lake, a strange
railroad station, and the electrical plant built there by Pinhas Rutenberg in
the 1920s.
Known
as both the Old Man of Naharayim and the Father of Israeli Electricity, Pinhas
Rutenberg was born in Czarist Russia in 1879. He was a fiery revolutionary who
served for a short time in the Provisional Government after the ousting of the
czar, but he was imprisoned when radical Bolsheviks took over the country in
October 1917. At some point he was transformed from an assimilated Jew into a
fervent Zionist and, upon his release in 1918, headed straight for the Land of
Israel.
Rutenberg,
an innovative hydraulic engineer with a genius for organization, carried out a
thorough survey and developed an ambitious plan for establishing power stations
all over the country. But when Rutenberg asked the British mandatory government
for a concession to Palestine’s water sources so that he could build the dams
and power plants he’d envisioned, he found himself faced with stiff opposition.
Adversaries included the Arabs and assorted anti‑Zionists, as well as
detractors who vilified him as a communist because of his Russian revolutionary
background and said he couldn’t be trusted.
But the multi-talented Rutenberg — who some
called a human dynamo — didn’t faze easily. He persisted, and in 1921 he was
granted a 70-year concession to generate electricity by harnessing many of the
water sources in Palestine. Soon afterwards, he began working on an enormous
project: the first big hydroelectric power station.
It
was to be located near the southern edge of Lake Kinneret, at the point where
the Yarmouk River meets the fabled Jordan. Here Rutenberg could take advantage
of the Yarmouk’s heavy flow during floods. And he would also borrow from the
perennial waters of the Jordan, which itself is fed from the Kinneret and
springs in the Jordan valley.
Rutenberg
used a system of dams and channels to regulate the flow of water to his power
plant. There was also a lake, now an enormous empty pit filled with foliage,
which stored water for the summer months when the Yarmouk’s flow isn’t very
strong.
From
a security fence on the Isle of Peace, visitors gaze at the exterior of the
once magnificent power plant and its three large pipes. Water flowed into the
“Zero Canal,” eventually reaching the pipes and dropping sharply 27 meters to
the turbines inside the plant. The force of the water activated the turbines of
the power plant to create electricity for the entire north of Palestine. It
continued to operate until knocked out by Iraqi forces during the War of
Independence.
There
were two neighborhoods at Naharayim, one for Rutenberg and his clerks and
engineers, and another for the workers. Rutenberg didn’t believe in unions —
but if you worked hard you were set for life with medical care, schooling, food
and a place to live!
Building
of the plant commenced in 1927 and all was ready at the beginning of 1931. On
February 13, 1931, however, there was a huge flood and the canal burst. Water
poured into the power plant and sent a 60-ton turbine floating down south.
Everything in the plant was devastated.
Workers
were terrified that their cushy new lives were threatened, and offered to
rebuild the entire site for only room and board. Rutenberg agreed — but
insisted on paying salaries as well. A second February passed with no damage,
and on March 9, 1932, the new turbines began to operate. Naharayim, which
connected the entire north with the country’s first electric network, had begun
to roll!
On
the eve of the Arab invasion of Israel, in May of 1948, Golda Meir held a
secret meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah in an attempt to reach an agreement
that would avoid a war. A shed near the power plant is all that remains of the
fabulous Rotenberg villa in which the two met, for it was blown up by the
Israeli army in 1969, after Arab terrorists used the house as a base for launching
terrorist attacks on Israel.
One
last, unusual site on the Isle of Peace is a deserted railroad station located
out here in nowhere! Back in 1905, and for the next 40-odd years, a train ran
from Haifa to Damascus and, in the 1930s and ’40s, had a stop at Naharayim.
Like the power station, the railroad station was built with Jewish labor. It
was designed in Bauhaus (International 1930’s) style, with a notable lack of
ornamentation, rounded corners, and long, horizontal lines.
The
train was said to be so slow that you could jump off, pick a bouquet of
wildflowers, and climb back on without missing a beat. And it was often late,
which led annoyed passengers to leave graffiti on the walls. On April 1, 1939,
one of them scrawled the Hebrew equivalent of “Where the heck is the train???”
The G-d of Israel was
instrumental in bringing the Jewish people home after the Holocaust in the
mid-20th century. The Land of Israel which has archeologically
depicted the life of the ancient Hebrews for almost 4,000 years is also now
gaining archeological remain of it more modern early Jewish life in the Land of
Israel.
This Biblical
portrayal includes Prophecies that the Jews of House of Israel would return to
the lands of their forefathers. These same prophets also depict how the Lost Tribes
of the House of Israel will soon also return to the Land of their Biblical
Inheritance. This is Divine Destiny in living reality as the 10 Lost Tribes of
Israel return to their Homelands first in Shomron (Samaria), Israel.
If you want to learn
more, Contact “Kol Ha Tor Vision”, the Voice of the Turtledove. Here
is a joint Orthodox Jewish and 10-Triber Mission to bring awareness of the
imminent fulfillment of the Biblical Prophecies regarding the Redemption of all
Israel (12 Tribes Re-conciled and Re-United). This super Event of all Times
will entail Establishing the Shomron (the Ancient Bible Heartland of the
Patriarchs) and the Judean Wilderness as part of the Land of Israel, and
preparing the “Land” for the Return of the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel
and then the Redemption of All Israel.
For inquiries about
Kol Ha Tor Vision for the Lost Tribes of Israel, Visit – “Shomron Lives!”,a Spiritual Retreat and Guest House
in Samaria, that hosts Shomron (Samaria) Tours to reacquaint the Returning Lost
Tribers of the House of Israel.
Lest Americans Forget America’s past Patriots - John Adams, the 2nd president of the US
“I will insist that the Hebrews have done more
to civilise man than any other nation. If I were an atheist, and believed in
blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to
be the most essential instrument for civilising the nations.”
If I were an atheist of another sect, who
believe, or pretend to believe that all is ordered by chance, I should believe
that chance had ordered the Jews to preserve and propagate to all mankind the
doctrine of a supreme, intelligent, wise, Almighty Sovereign of the Universe,
which I believe to be the great essential principle of all morality, and consequently
of all civilisation.”
On January 1, 2013, within week of
the 2013 Israeli Knesset elections, Alan Baker spoke at the “Women in Green
Conference” on the legality of the Jewish towns sprouting up in Samaria and
Judea. Ambassador Alan Baker is
recognized as one of Israel’s leading international law experts, served as
Legal Counsel and Deputy Director General of Israel’s Ministry for Foreign
Affairs between 1996 and 2004. This was followed by four years (2004-2008) as Israel’s
ambassador to Canada. He is presently the Director of the Institute for
Contemporary Affairs at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.
Of
more recent, Alan Baker was asked to become a member of the committee
headed by Judge Edmond Levy to every all the international legal document son
the legality of regulating building communities in Judea and Samaria. This committee in what to known as the “Levy Report” would eventually agree that Israel would
be fully in its rights to do so.
According
to Alan Baker, the task of the Levy Committee was to appraise the global
construction of towns, industry and homes in the Shomron and Judea region and
to make recommendations to the government on how to proceed with these
recommendations. It was the purpose to establish the appropriate legal
procedures on how to authorize such construction in according to the law, for
the planning and zoning requirements in the settlement region of Judea and
Samaria was critical to the State of Israel.
One
of the critical reason for such a report has been that the only guiding
government document used by the Israeli government was the 2004 report authored
by an Israeli leftist attorney, Talia Sasson, who recommended that the
government of the State of Israel dismantle many of the new communities called
“outposts” in Judea and Samaria. Later, Talia Sasson ran for the public office
as an MK in the Israel Knesset as part of the “far-left Meretz Party.”
The
problem, according to Baker in his speech to the Women in Green organization
was due to the misconception of the fact that she had been asked by the former
Prime Minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon to prepare a report on “unauthorized
outposts”. When the report was completed, the “unauthorized outposts” suddenly
became “illegal outposts” which made every pioneering Israeli citizen building
a home outside of the restricted regions zones for Jewish communities into
“criminals” in which they were truly “patriots of Israel.”
It
was then, after the Sasson report was published that the American Presidents
George Bush and later Barak Obama adopted this mantra that all these communities were illegal. As
Baker stated; “Not having authorization is not a crime…Or mission was to
clarify the situation and to make appropriate recommendations.”
The
committee diligently examined all the legal rights of the State of Israel to
build in Judea and Samaria. During these
hearings, the leftists groups who presented their documents to the committee
were solely intent on proving that only the Arab Palestinians had the right to
build on non-privately owned land in the region. Those claims were rejected by the committee
according to Baker.
It
was then at this time, that the Levy Committee, according to Baker, came to its
legal conclusions that “after extensive investigation, we determined that Judea
and Samaria were not legally “occupied.”
During the years between 1948 and 1967 while the British Mandate was the
force of law according to the League of Nations, even the Jordanian crown, who
declared that they had sovereign rights to rule of the “West Bank” region were
never recognized by the international organization such as the United Nations.
Therefore Jordan was not a “former sovereign.”
In
addition to the international dispute over Israeli control over Shomron and
Judea, Baker stated that “building by Israel in Judea and Samaria does not
violate the Geneva Convention.” As such
the current position of the United Nations who claims to represent the legal
opinion of the international community is truly a misinterpretation of the aims
of the founding drafters of the Geneva Convention.
Yet,
as unusual as it may seem, the State of Israel, representing the Jewish people,
do claim that they have a historic right to build in Judea and Samaria. In his conclusion, Allan Baker stated, “No
one can deny this historic right. There are non-legal documents, or treaties,
that attribute to the Palestinians sovereign rights to the region,” but there
are no legal documents that attributes that Palestinian sovereign right to the
region is legal and binding.
Supporting
the legality and strategic legitimacy of the region of Shomron and Judea,
Destination Yisra’el and Kol Ha’tor both share the vision that this entire
region will become the future homeland of the restored Lost Ten Tribes of the
House of Israel. Together with the Jews of the House of Judah, Klal Yisra’el
(All-Israel) will be redeemed and restored back to their tribal homelands in
peace and support for one another.
The Yesha Council - the
council of the Jewish communities of Judea, Samaria and Gaza have created this
graphic Three-dimensional Topographical
Map(in
Hebrew) which shows the danger to all living in the Land of Israel of having a
‘Palestinian state’ in Judea and Samaria. On this pictorial map, it reflects
the idea that a “3-D map is worth a million words” and gives explanation on how
the strategic region of Judea and Samaria towering above the Gush Dan, the
region of Israel’s largest city, Tel Aviv, is critical to the safety and
defense of Israel; where millions of Israeli people live.
Even more so, the Golan Heights also is depicted towering over the Sea of Galilee
(Lake Kinneret) just as the mountains of Jordan stand much higher than the
Jordan Valley. The surrounding region of Jerusalem clearly depicts how hostile
forces on three sides of the city of Jerusalem are controlled by the
Palestinian forces. As former Yesha Council
Director-General and now the leader of the 4th largest Israeli
Political Party in Israel, Jewish Home, Naftali Bennet stated:
Jewish Home Leader, Naftali
Bennet - “The map is designed to make clear to the citizens of greater Tel Aviv
that Judea and Samaria is not far away, but rather overlooks their back yards.
Most of the population is unaware of this, because maps are generally
two-dimensional. Residents of Kfar Saba and Raanana might not be happy to find
themselves literally under the thumb of a State of Palestine, and it’s time
they knew of this danger.”
Strategic
Facts about Samaria (Shomron or Yesha)
The mountains of Judea and
Samaria are the central mountain range of the Land of Israel, running 140
kilometers from the Jezreel Valley in the north to the Arad Valley in the
Negev.
The width of the Judea and
Samaria mountains is 55 kilometers, and the width of Israel’s coastal plain
near Tel Aviv is only 16 kilometers.
Yesha’s main north-south
route, Highway 60, is also the national watershed line, and runs mostly along
the same route taken by the Patriarchs in the Bible.
The mountain aquifer, which
supplies half of Israel’s water, is in Judea and Samaria.
It was two months earlier in November, 2012 that the Women
in Green movement called upon the Israeli government to begin plans to officially
annex the region of Judea and Samaria after the Palestinian Authority presented
an application to the United Nations’ General Assembly to approve their status
as a “non-member observer state.” In a
statement sent to media, WIG spokespersons Nadia Matar and Yehudit Katsover
quoted the founding prime minister of the Jewish State, David Ben Gurion, who
said:
Founding Prime Minister David Ben
Gurion - “What's important is not what the Nations say, but what the Jews do!”
After
the expected vote to approve the PA's application, the Women in Green movement
then called upon the “Israeli government to respond with the immediate
application of Israeli sovereignty over all Judea and Samaria” with these
words:
Women in Green – “The WIG movement is
supporting this request with a massive media and public campaign that is
headlined by the declaration that the application of sovereignty over Judea and
Samaria is a necessary step. Nothing can be more authentic, Zionist, justified,
and Jewish than such a move.”
Included
in the campaign was a short film from the WIG’s second conference whose theme
was for the application of Israeli sovereignty over Shomron and Judea that was
head in the summer of 2012 in Hevron (Hebron), called the “City of the
Patriarchs” that is most noted for its traditional burial site of the biblical
Patriarchs and Matriarchs of both the Jews and the Lost Ten Tribes of the House
of Israel. As such, this city is consider the second-holiest city in Judaiem
next to Jerusalem.
At
the “Sovereignty Conference” in Hebron, the noted guests of honor were Israeli
Minister Daniel Hershkowitz, Knesset MKs Elkin, Hotoveley, Regev, and Ariel, as
well as the Jewish public figures such as Geulah Cohen, Caroline Glick, Adv.
Dafna Netanyahu, Adv. Itzik Bam, head of the Samaria Regional Authority Gershon
Mesika, Yoram Ettinger, and Adv. Howard Grief.
The
WIG spokespersons Nadia Matar and Yehudit Katsover also rejected the cowardice
of the those who feared a hostile international response to the Israeli act of
applying Israeli sovereignty over the regions of Shomron and Judea. Their
response was simple, in the past the international community was hostile to the
fact of the application of sovereignty over Greater Jerusalem and over the
Golan Heights regions. As they retorted: “Just as the international opposition
passed then, so it will pass now.”
In
conclusion, there two patriots of Israel, both Matar and Katsover wrote:
Nadia Matar and Yehudit Katsover – “Two weeks
ago we saw that Israel has advanced defensive means (Eight Day War with Gaza in
December), but all of our sophisticated technology will be of no avail if we
will not internalize that “This is our land”…“The war over the Land of Israel
is a moral and justified one. We will win it. The command of the generations
beats within us, and the voice of the L-rd, in our ears: ‘I will give this land
to your offspring ... and to your offspring after you for an everlasting
possession.’”
The G-d of Israel is quietly
recreating the State of Israel to begin its final acts before the G-d of Israel
take full control of the Land of Israel.
Yes, there are a lot of imperfect people seeking to restore the Land of
Israel to its divine mission, the strategic planetary capital of the future
Messiah son of David. Here will be a
nation focused on holiness, righteousness and justice. If you believe these
fact to be, you might desire to reconnect with the Biblical portrayals of what
is and will be happening in your near future.
This Biblical
portrayal includes Prophecies that the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel are
about to return to the Land of their Biblical Inheritance. This is Divine
Destiny in living reality as the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel return to their
Homelands first in Shomron (Samaria), Israel.
If you want to learn
more, Contact “Kol Ha Tor Vision”, the Voice of the Turtledove. Here
is a joint Orthodox Jewish and 10-Triber Mission to bring awareness of the
imminent fulfillment of the Biblical Prophecies regarding the Redemption of all
Israel (12 Tribes Re-conciled and Re-United). This super Event of all Times
will entail Establishing the Shomron (the Ancient Bible Heartland of the
Patriarchs) and the Judean Wilderness as part of the Land of Israel, and
preparing the “Land” for the Return of the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel
and then the Redemption of All Israel.
For inquiries about
Kol Ha Tor Vision for the Lost Tribes of Israel, Visit – “Shomron Lives!”,a Spiritual Retreat and Guest House
in Samaria, that hosts Shomron (Samaria) Tours to reacquaint the Returning Lost
Tribers of the House of Israel.
Weekly Bible Reading #16 - Year 5773 (2012/2013) – January 26, 2013
Parashat B'Shalach (When he let go): Exodus 13:17 -
17:16
Haftarah: Judges 4:4-5:31
NOTE: Kol HaTor, in its commentaries
on the weekly Parashot, endeavors to search for and accentuate the Torah
Messages contained in the Parashot as applicable to the main Theme of Tanach of
the Return of the House of Israel, i.e. the Lost Ten Tribes of Northern Israel
and their Reconciliation with Judah to form the reunited 12-Tribed Kingdom of
Israel.
DISCLAIMER - The authors whom we quote from for this Commentary
are not associated with KOL HA'TOR and need not agree with our views expressed
herein or in our other publications. While we publish their views for its
relative value to the interpretation of the Parashah, KOL HATOR does not
necessarily agree with the views expressed by these authors.
************
The Bible serves as our guiding Light along the Way. It
should be expected then, that the Weekly Torah Readings should contain
guidelines for the 'Now" that we are living in, similarly as the reader
finds strengthening condolence and inspiration from the Bible in times of
serious stress or troubles.
It also serves as a source of thanksgiving and rejoicing in
the Blessings of Life along the Way.
We have often remarked on how, often, these Readings so
almost eerily correspond with, or resolves the current news highlights and
events of that specific week.
The week of this Parashah saw the important elections in
Israel and its surprising, totally unforeseen results. The question naturally
begs whether this week's Parashah Message holds any relevance to these events.
A closer analysis presents surprising conclusions!
Let us take a moment to summarize the background conditions
to the elections in Israel and then see if the Parashah presents guidelines,
inspiration and hope.
Israel is not just facing an irresolvable political dilemma
in the face of Arab demands, overwhelmingly backed by the world, on our Holy
Land - the demand for a "2-State" solution. It also faces the dark
clouds on the horizon of a looming nuclear threat from Iran. Add to this the
housing problem in Israel, price increases throttling the nation, social welfare
crises facing dwindling financial funding and, most importantly, the political,
social and religious class division which is so un-Jewishly destroying the
great national ambiance of Jewish Israel.
Trust in the Rulers has taken a Nose
Dive. It is Time for Change.
The Kol HaTor Vision of a re-united 12-Tribed Kingdom in the
territory of a Greater Israel - ONE Land, undivided - has received a resounding
"No Chance!" from the electorate. The only party spelling out these
"hopes", Otzmah, received 1% of the total votes - not enough for even
one seat in parliament.
Not that there are not more Jews who believe in a
"ONE-State" solution and oppose a 2-State situation in which Israel
has to share the Holy Land with its arch enemies - but the Jewish intellect and
wisdom is too practical to pursue such a direct Vision. Thus, many One-State
supporters voted for other parties which could hopefully advance conditions for
such an ultimate Outcome - as foretold by the Bible.
From the election results emerged a totally new comer to the
political stage, Yair Lapid, bringing with him a truck load of newcomers to the
Israeli Knesset (parliament) who have never been in Knesset before! No
commentator foresaw this.
Lapid's ideas have now been summarized by one Jewish commentator
as being "in the spirit of Mashiach ben Ephraim" - to bring much
needed UNITY amongst the striving political, religious and social divisions. As
Maggid Dov Bar Leib wrote on his “Years
of Awe” blogsite called “End of Days, the article titled, “The Quiet Revolution towards the Light of Redemption” on
January 25, 2013:
Maggid Dov Bar Leib – “His name [Lapid] means
"A Torch will give light". Is it possible that he is [in the spirit
of] Mashiach ben Ephraim?? Who would have thought? Ben Ephraim returns
our society here in Eretz Yisrael to a civilization based on common decency. He fears G-d but is not
necessarily Shomer Shabbat. ...
He has recovered to help lead a broken nation
back to the Yesod [foundation] of the Torah: Common Decency!! Then I realized that if he is MBEphraim,
many Chareidim will reject him. Since they won't recognize him for what he is:
the common decency that is a pre-requisite for the Torah. Those are his
Mitzvot: Common Decency. Some Chareidim will join him, and some will riot
against him.”
This
indeed was Lapid's platform for election. An enlightening insight into his
approach and thinking (as well as into Israeli religious society) can be
obtained from a video of Lapid's address to a Haredi audience one year before
the elections:
Our
recent Parashot have shown that “we dare not advise HaShem on His election of a
Redeemer.” We have seen how that the ‘Egyptian’ Moses and Yosef was recognized
by the Egyptians and Israelites as being completely contrary to their
expectancies of all concerned. Lapid certainly fills this categorization.
But
- here enters our Parashat B'Shalach with a joyful Song, as the Israelites sang
on the opposite shore of the Sea after their miraculous saving. It brings a
celebration and Hope of renewed Growth! Is it co-incidence that this Shabbat
was a Special Shabbat of a Song of Release and Change?
In
this year of “Revelation?” - as we have learned in Parashat Bereisheet; “According to a summary by Rabbi Jason Sobel, ... This decade
of the 70’s (which we are now in, according to the Biblical Calendar) may turn
out to be a decade of “seeing in abundance; revelation; proper perspective.”
This would bring with it the increase of wisdom and revelation. The numerical
value 73 (2012/13) also refers to ‘wisdom’.”
Shabbat
Shirah (Sabbath of Song – January 26, 2013) is the
special Shabbat (Sabbath) when we read Parshat Beshalach which is the Torah
portion that includes the Song at the Sea.”
Judaism
101 on Special Shabbatot – “Unlike the other special Shabbatot, Shabbat Shirah
does not have an additional reading, but rather is dictated by the presence of a standard
reading. Shabbat Shirah is the Shabbat when we read Parshat Beshalach (Exodus
13:17-17:16), which is the Torah portion that includes the Song at the Sea.
Tradition
teaches that there are only ten true Songs (Shirot, the plural of Shirah) in
the history of the world. These true Songs are not mere melodies; they are
expressions of the harmony of creation and mark monumental transitions in
history. Another of these Songs appears on the haftarah portion for the week (Judges 4:4-5:31): the Song of
Deborah. The Song of Songs is, of course, one of the Ten Songs. Interestingly,
the Tenth Song has not yet been sung: it is the Song of the coming of the Mashiach, which will be sung at the End of Days (see Isaiah
26:1).
Rabbi
Avraham Greenbaum (AZAMRA Parshah) makes the following interesting
observations in his commentary on Parashat B'Shalach:
Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum – “The
lessons learned by the Children of Israel in ALL their wanderings in the
Wilderness are integral parts of this same Torah, as in this week's parshah of
BESHALACH, which begins to relate their encounter with the harsh reality of the
Wilderness after the exuberance of the Exodus. [Similar to the experience of a
soul who has found and turned to G-d, released and facing a New Life].
Directly after the triumphant march
of the Children of Israel out of Egypt “with a high hand”, they appear to go
into retreat, and their former masters come racing after them to recapture
them. Directly after they depart from the Red Sea after witnessing the greatest
ever freak event in the natural order, they find themselves three days into the
Wilderness with no water to drink. They go further, and they have nothing to
eat. They find food today, but will they have food tomorrow? They go further --
and again there is nothing to drink. Suddenly, their deadliest enemies, the
Amalekites attack.
The Promise is that at the end of
the journey lies the “happy ending” -- the Land flowing with milk and honey.
But unlike in fairy tales, the path through the speaking, teaching Wilderness
of reality is long and arduous, twisting and turning in frightening ways. Each
twist and turn in the journey comes to teach a new aspect of faith in G-d:
faith in the miracles that take place in and through the workings of nature (“and
they BELIEVED in HaShem and in Moses his servant”, Exodus 14:31); faith in the
miracles through which we receive our livelihood (the root of MANNA is the same
as EMUNAH, faith); faith in G-d's miraculous power to heal through our keeping
the Torah (“I, HaShem am your healer” Exodus 15:26); faith in G-d’s power to
conquer the forces of evil (“and his hands were faith” Exodus 17:12).
At the very center of this Song, to
which all the world dances, is the vision of the Holy Temple, the House on
G-d's Mountain in Jerusalem. This too is an integral part of BEREISHIT, the
letters of which, when rearranged, spell out BAYIT ROSH -- the “House that is
the Head.”
Exodus 15:13, 17 – “In Your kindness
You have taken this people that You redeemed, You have led them in Your
strength to the dwelling-place of Your holiness. You will bring them and plant
them on the Mountain of Your inheritance, the foundation of Your dwelling place
that You have made, HaShem, the Sanctuary, O G-d, that Your hands have formed”
Shabbat Shirah is also a special
Sabbath for another reason:
Parshat BESHALACH is always read
just prior to, or as this year, actually ON the festival of TU BISHVAT (15th of
Shevat). Many people think of this as the "Festival of Trees".
However, the Mishnah (Rosh HaShanah 1:1) refers to it as the "New Year of
THE TREE".
On one level, this is an allusion to
the Etrog tree -- and it is proper on Tu Bishvat to offer a prayer for the
Etrog one will take in eight months time on the festival of Succos, for it is
now, after Tu Bishvat, that the fruit begins to develop and grow on the tree.
On another level, "THE
TREE" is an allusion to the Tree of Life, which begins sending
fresh vitality and life into the world just when spring starts to appear in the
Land of Israel and the water from the winter rains enters the trees from the
soil, sending energizing sap all through them.”
(Source: AZAMRA Parshah by Rabbi Avraham
Greenbaum.
The Israelites Singing the “Song at the Sea” of their Redemption by the Red Sea
Rabbi Greenbaum, continues:
Exodus 15:23,25 - “And they came to
Marah and they could not drink the waters for they were bitter. And he cried to
HaShem, and HaShem SHOWED HIM (or "taught him") A TREE and he cast it
into the waters and they were sweetened".
Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum – “The ‘Tree’
that sweetens the bitterness of life is the Torah, which provides us with the
waters of DA’AS [Da’at], understanding of how evil is joined to good as part of
G-d's unity.
The first laws of the Torah were
given at Marah: "There He placed for him [i.e. Israel] a law and judgment,
and there He tested [the people]. And He said, If you will surely listen to the
voice of HaShem your G-d and do what is right in His eyes and listen to His
commandments and guard all His statutes, all the diseases that I have put upon
Egypt I will not put upon you, for I HaShem am your healer" (Exodus
15:25-6).
The laws given at Marah were those
of Shabbos (Shabbat),
the Red Heifer (purifying from defilement from contact with a dead body)
and DINIM, the laws governing
our relations with others (see Rashi on Exodus 15:25). All three are bound up with
healing. Only through keeping Shabbos is it possible to heal from the curse of
Adam, “with the sweat of your brow you will eat bread.”.
Man is forced to work in the world.
The only release from this slavery (Egypt) is to abstain from work for one day
of the week, in order to elevate the work of all the days of the week to the
service of G-d. The Ashes of the Red Heifer are the source of all
healing (EPHER = ashes,
has the same letters as the root RAPA
= heal), for if we cannot heal from death and integrate it into our vision
of life, we cannot heal from anything. The laws governing our relations with
others in our family, marital, business and other dealings are the foundation
of social healing, which must go hand in hand with individual healing.” (End of
Quote)
We are thus left with the question and/or the possibility,
that the political change in Israel may be instigated by HaShem sending an
"Egyptian" (secular) Lapid to initiate national Unity, without which
there can be NO Redemption, and, like new life to a tree, initiate 'new' life
into Israeli society. Lapid is outspoken on his wishes to reduce the
stranglehold of the Haredim on marriages, conversion, and throughout the social
cycle. Watch the video link given above.
The Amazing Compassion and Grace of HaShem
We conclude this Parashah with a heart rendering review by Rabbi Pinchas Winstonat Torah.org.
concerning the Jewish view of G-d's Grace and forgiveness: It stems
from the event of Israel's passing through the Sea, between two great
threatening walls of water on either side: The author quotes the Gaon of Vilna:
Gaon of Vilna – “The Torah is
hinting to us through this slight change of spelling [of two references to the
walls of water] that there was reason for G-d to be angry at the [Hebrew]
people who crossed the sea on dry land, a very dangerous situation. The
question is; what happened all of a sudden to change the mood of G-d at this
most precarious moment in the redemption process?
Michah. According to the Midrash,
Michah, who belonged to the Tribe of Dan, had brought along with him an idol
from Egypt. Being the last tribe to leave the sea, there came a point when he
was the only tribe to remain between the walls of water, at which point the
Attribute of Justice began to accuse him before G-d.
For, as long as the rest of the
[Hebrew] nation was still crossing the sea, the miracle was justified in their
merit. However, once only the Tribe of Dan remained in the sea, the Attribute
of Justice complained before G-d that the miracle should not be upheld on their
account, because of the idol of Michah (Likutei Torah, Derech Avos). Hence the
word cheimah, alluding to the anger G-d had towards the tribe of Dan for
Michah’s idol.
Anger, yes. Destruction of the
tribe, No! The question is what stayed G-d’s hand of strict justice? Why did He
not carry through with the demand of the angels to take Michah and his tribe to
task for the idol worship they still perpetrated? The answer to this question
is here: It says in Shir HaShirim [Song of Songs] Rabbah (2:8:2):
Shir HaShirim Rabbah 2:8;2 – “When
Moshe came and told the people: “In this month you will be redeemed,” they
asked him, “Moshe Rabbeinu, how
can we be redeemed? All of Egypt is steeped in our idol worship!”
He answered them, “Since He wants you to be redeemed, He does not
look at your idol worship but instead ‘skips over mountains’ (Shir HaShirim
2:8)” . . . He explained to the people that The Holy One, Blessed is He, was
dealing with them on the level of the light of Arich Anpin called Ayin, which
works above any measure; it does not depend upon merit or demerit. (Drushei
Olam HaTohu, Chelek 2, Drush 4, Anaf 5, Siman 4).
The Midrash is a play on a verse from Shir HaShirim about G-d
“skipping over mountains,” the mountain this time being the grave sin of idol
worship. Incredibly, when a keitz comes, that is, a destined time for
redemption that cannot be pushed off, G-d is prepared to even overlook a sin
such as idol worship, which is considered to be a rejection of the entire
Torah, just to redeem His people.
That is the reason why G-d did not exact punishment on the Tribe
of Dan; His desire to redeem the Jewish people overcame His desire to punish
them, and therefore, they were allowed to survive. The time would come in the
future, in the episode of the Concubine of Givah, when the nation would pay for
Michah’s idol, but not now, not while redemption was in the process. However,
there is another reason as to why G-d let the Tribe of Dan off the hook at this
time:
Midrash Tehillim 32:10 – “Nothing stands in the way of bitachon
(Trust in Divine Providence), as it says in the Midrash: “One who trusts in G-d
will be surrounded by kindness (Tehillim 32:10)—even an evil person who trusts
in G-d will be surrounded by kindness. It further says:
Midrash Tehillim 32:10 - “Many are the agonies of the wicked,
because they do not place their trust in The Holy One, Blessed is He” . . . The
Ramban says something similar: “This is why it says, ‘Trust in G-d and do good’
(Tehillim 37:3), and it does not say, ‘Do good and trust in G-d’; to teach that
trust in G-d does not depend upon good deeds at all. Rather, one should trust
in G-d whether he is righteous or evil (Sefer Emunah v’Bitachon, Ch. 1).
(Drushei Olam HaTohu, Chelek 2, Drush 4, Anaf 5, Siman 4)
As the Nefesh HaChaim explains:
Nefesh HaChaim – “At the time of the splitting of the sea, G-d
told Moshe, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Children of Israel to
travel forward!” (Shemos 14:15). This means that their salvation was dependent
upon them: If they had enough faith and trust and traveled toward the sea, with
confidence and without fear, then this alone would cause the sea to split
before them. It would have prompted a response from above which would have led
to the necessary miracle to split the sea. (Nefesh HaChaim, Ch. 9).
It is important for
the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel take Notice!
In other words, the bitachon (Trust in Divine Providence) that the
Tribe of Dan exhibited by walking into the sea saved their lives while in the
sea, in spite of the idol in their possession. Bitachon does not wipe the slate
clean of past sins; only teshuvah (repentance) or punishment (judgment) can do
that. However, in the meantime, it can save a person from a certain disaster
during a time of crisis, as was the crossing of the sea. It is that powerful a
trait. It is that important to G-d.” (End of Quote).
May the coming year bring us Renewal of Life in Israel. May it
prepare the way for closer unity in the nation of HaShem and open the hearts in
both Houses of Israel for closer acceptance of each other on basis of the
example that He, the G-d of Israel, sets for us!
To understand more about the Return of the 10 Tribes of
Israel to their Homeland in Shomron (Samaria), Israel, Contact “Kol
Ha’Tor”, the Voice of the Turtledove.
Here is a joint Orthodox Jewish and 10-Triber Mission to
bring awareness of the imminent fulfillment of the Biblical Prophecies
regarding the Redemption of all Israel (12 Tribes Re-conciled and Re-United).
This super Event of all Times will entail Establishing the Shomron (the Ancient
Bible Heartland of the Patriarchs) and the Judean Wilderness as part of the
Land of Israel, and preparing the“Land” for the Return of the Lost Tribes of
the House of Israel and then the Redemption of All Israel.
For inquiries about Kol Ha Tor Ministries for the Lost
Tribes of Israel, Visit – “Shomron Lives!”,
a Spiritual Retreat and Guest House in Samaria, that hosts Shomron (Samaria)
Tours to reacquaint the Returning Lost Tribers of the House of Israel.
As the new Knesset in Israel begins to unfold for the 2013
Knesset Year, the new and profound shift in Israeli politics will be a shift to
Israeli Nationalism, and Jewish Orthodox Centrism. The day will come when the central focus of politics
in the State of Israel will become that Jerusalem is the “Light of the World, a
City set on a Hill” and that the spiritual focus of Israel will be Peace and Justice
by Torah Law given by G-d from Mount Sinai.
The preservation of the “Land of Israel”, the preparation
for a new “Gan Eden”, a political and religious center in Jerusalem that will
honor the G-d of Israel, and the preparation for the building of the New Bayit
HaShem (House of G-d) or the Beit HaMikdash (Holy House or Holy Temple) will
focus the spiritual ascendance of Jerusalem around the world.
With HaShem, the G-d of Israel coming closer and closer to
His people, it is understandable that the focus of Israeli Jewish control of
the “Land of Israel” would have become earlier. What has now being appreciated
is the fact that before all the new Knesset members take set in the Israel Knesset,
the focus of the people of Israel first had to return to the “Land of Israel”; the
“Land of Israel” including Shomron and Judea must soon come totally under the
control HaShem loving citizens of Israel. This is why the following legal brief
on the international legal fact will someday be seen as the most profound shift
in Israeli politics; “This Land is Mine, and belongs to the G-d of Israel.”
It was in July 4, 2012 that a retired High Court Judge and
his panel in which he presided issued a legal brief that came to the conclusion
that the Israeli Settlements are not “Occupation” and International Law allows
Jews the privilege to live in Judea and Samaria. The legal panel included; former Supreme Court Justice Edmond
Levy, Circuit Judge Techia Shapira and jurist Dr. Allan Baker.
In one swift move, the revolutionary legal document shifted
the view of the international community away from the international media
attention that Israel is an “apartheid” state because of the “occupation” of
the Palestinian people living in Shomron and Judea, a region known as the “West
Bank” to the rest of the world.
The legal panel noted that the Nation of Jordan took
sovereignty control over most of the region of Judea and Samaria after the 1948
Declaration of Independence and the subsequent 1948 War of Independence, a move
that also was not recognized by the international community. Therefore the State of Israel did not
“occupy” this same land when they went to war in defense against five Arab
states intent on the annihilation of the Jewish people
The committee analyzed the historic and legal background of
Judea and Samaria. They concluded that the “belligerent occupation approach” by
the State of Israel must be abandoned and reflect Israel’s legal status in
those areas. It also noted that Jordan’s
assumed sovereignty over most of Judea and Samaria after the 1948 War for
Independence was not legally recognized by the international community. The
legal sovereignty of Samaria and Judea was recognized only by Great Britain.
Therefore the State of Israel did not “occupy” the same land during the Six-Day
War in 1967 when Israel launched a surprise raid bombing raid against Egyptian
air-fields, the Jordanian-controlled West Bank, and aerial clashes over Syrian
territory in the Golan Heights.
Within 6-days, Israel has won a decisive land war, when they
took control of the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the West Bank
and Eastern Jerusalem from Jordan and the Golan Heights from Syria.
Since that day, the international community including the
United States has labeled the State of Israel as an “occupier” under the
assumption that Israel took control of Jordanian land in the war, when in fact
the land was administered by Great Britain in the Mandate of the League of
Nations after World War I that was to be divided between Israel and a new
country called Trans-Jordan after the Israeli State of Israel declared her
independent as a sovereign nation.
The Arab nations, in 1948, including the Nation of Jordan
refused to accept the partition plan. They went to war and unsuccessfully tried
to destroy and annihilate the fledgling young State of Israel. During this time
the Nation of Jordan “occupied” most of Judea and Samaria after the war which
had not been either accepted by the League of Nation nor the Arab States who
lost the war.
The conclusion of the Levy Committee were turned over to the
Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, which according to the Hebrew-language
Yisrael HaYom newspaper reported stating that he was not obligated to accept
the conclusions of the Levy Report.
The facts of the Levy Report stated in a legal and factual
way, that international law did not and does not apply to the regions of Judea
and Samaria (Shomron). It was the
reports legal opinion that the State of Israel should not destroy Jewish homes
and expel the families from communities that were built in the past with the
approval of the State of Israel government.
The Levy Report also stated that financial limitation
precluded their examination of other communities and outposts that were usually
built adjacent to neighboring communities but did not have territorial links to
the home community. Yet, according to the panel appointed by Prime Minister
Benyamin Netanyahu that it was their legal opinion that no outposts or
neighborhood were built without the knowledge of the cabinet ministers; a
knowledge of which it was their legal mandate to know.
The Levy Report committee also took the government of Israel
to task for not making its policies clear in order to prevent multiple of
opinions and interpretation before it approved of new Israeli communities. They
concluded in their writing within the report that a new and old judicial framework
regarding the implementation of Israel’s status in Judea and Samaria should be
adopted.
The Levy Report also made the recommendation that it should be
an Israeli law that all Arabs and Jews must register any land claims within
four or five years or they would lose their rights of ownership.
You might
Want to Read Destination Yisra’el’s Articles on “Shomron and Judea”
The Rise of the End
Times State of Israel is unfolding before our eyes. This is an anathema to most
of the nations of the world, who believe in the ascendancy of man rather than
the ascendancy of the future Messianic Kingdom of G-d on earth. Yet, the G-d of
Israel continues to provide a pathway for the future redemption of the regions
of Shomron and Judea that are destined to become the new Homeland for the
Returning Lost Ten Tribes of the House of Israel.
We have to recognize
that the G-d of Israel is working with imperfect people in order to restore
this planet to a messianic era in which our lives can be focused on holiness,
righteousness and justice. If you believe in the Sovereignty of G-d and that
His will be completed before the revealing of the messianic age of our future,
then you might desire to reconnect with the Biblical portrayals of what is and
will be happening in your near future, Contact “Kol Ha Tor Vision”,the Voice of the
Turtledove.
Here is a joint
Orthodox Jewish and 10-Triber Mission to bring awareness of the imminent
fulfillment of the Biblical Prophecies regarding the Redemption of all Israel
(12 Tribes Re-conciled and Re-United). This super Event of all Times will
entail Establishing the Shomron (the Ancient Bible Heartland of the Patriarchs)
and the Judean Wilderness as part of the Land of Israel, and preparing the
“Land”for the Return of the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel and then the
Redemption of All Israel.
For inquiries about
Kol Ha Tor Vision for the Lost Tribes of Israel, Visit – “Shomron Lives!”,a Spiritual Retreat
and Guest House in Samaria, that hosts Shomron (Samaria) Tours to reacquaint
the Returning Lost Tribers of the House of Israel.
II
Kings 2:7 – “And the two of them stood at the stood at the Jordan. Elijah took
his mantle and folded it over, and struck the water, which split apart o this
way and that, and they both crossed over on dry land. As they were crossing, Elijah
said to Elisha ‘Request what I should do for you before I am taken away from
you.’ Elisha said, ‘May twice as much as
your spirit be mine.’ Elijah said, ‘You
have made a difficult request. If you see me taken from you, it shall be so for
you; but if you do not, then it will not happen.’”
The most famous of
all the Prophets of Israel was the Prophet Elijah. Throughout his life and
ministry many miracles were recorded. His disciple Elisha was there to witness
many of them.
In the last few
moments in which Elijah and Elisha were together they were discussing matters
of the Torah. Knowing that the time of his departure was imminent, Elijah
turned to Elisha and asked him what gift he should give to him. In matters of
Torah, what a person requests at such a time is a reflection of his spiritual essence
for in the response given, it depicts what was more important to his disciple,
Elisha.
We see this same spiritual
imagery when HaShem came down and talked with the young prince heir to the
throne of King David; Solomon, as he was now prepared to assume the royal
duties to become King of United Israel. When G-d asked Solomon for one thing He
could give to Solomon, Solomon replied, “Wisdom”.
Solomon knew fully
that the kingship of Israel was not for him to possess, only for him to be
given. He understood that the G-d of
Israel was the “Keter” or the King of the Universe, and in His sovereign
authority, there was no king, emperor, ruler or magistrate on earth whose
position and titled were not first approved and appointed by G-d.
Solomon also knew
that there was no reason for him to have become king of United Israel for
Solomon was the twenty-first of King David’s sons by the last and tenth wife,
Bathsheba. Solomon was also Bathsheba’s second and youngest son. In other
words, Solomon was at the bottom of the totem pole of royal aspirants seeking
to become the heir to the throne of King David.
Solomon knew that he
also was smart. He had been given a great brain by HaShem, and that this gift
from G-d was called “Binah”, that is ‘intuition’ and understanding. He used
this gift with great skill and acumen and became known as the “wisest man” on
earth.
Not only that,
Solomon had access to all the royal archives of King David that had been saved
by the ancient Hebrews such as the Torah scroll saved in the Ark of the
Covenant and preserved in the Tabernacle of the Dwelling at Kirjath-jea. Included also in
the royal archives were records and documents that were transferred from all
the imperial courts surrounding Jerusalem to the royal library in Jerusalem the
capital of King David realm. As such, Solomon had access to the hidden
knowledge of his ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that came from all ages
before him that were kept as part of the sacred archives associated with the
Wilderness Tabernacle, prior to begin transferred officially to Jerusalem
during King David’s reign.
Solomon also
understood that of all the ten emanations of the Divine, there are three that
are held solely by the behest of the Divine, to be given by the Divine King to
whomever He so chooses. The rest of the seven emanations are given continuously
throughout the universe for without them the universes, solar systems, and
inhabited planets would not exist. So when the G-d of King David asked Solomon
for one gift, he asked for ‘Chokhmah’, or ‘wisdom’.
So Elijah also posed
the same question to Elisha and Elisha replied:
‘May
Twice as much as your Spirit be Mine.’
There are numerous
interpretations of what this reply actually meant;
Elisha wanted twice
the level of prophecy;
Elisha wanted the
ability to perform twice as many miracles as Elisha; or
Elisha requested that
he be treated as the first-born who would receive a double portion of the
inheritance, or
Elisha should receive
twice the as much of the prophetic spirit as any of the other prophets of
Israel.
Elijah knew and
responded accordingly the following;
‘You
have made a difficult request. If you see me taken from you, it shall be so for
you; but if you do not, then it will not happen.’
According to some
interpretation of the sages of Judah, Elisha’s request for enhanced prophecy
was dependant not upon his mentor and teacher, but upon his own spiritual
accomplishments. The only one who can grow spiritually and become one worthy of
growing spiritually was the young disciples, Elisha himself. Spirituality could
not be bought or sold, for prophecy and spirituality was not ‘commodities’ that
could be willfully transferred to others.
As Elijah and Elisha
were talking about the Torah to one another, what was happening in the world
around them was of no concern to them.
The fact that they were so engaged in the study of the Torah was the
reason that they were not also consumed by the fiery entrance of this heavenly merkabah
(chariot). Yet, according to the sages, ‘If Elisha was worthy of seeing the ascent
of Elijah with the fiery horses and chariot of fire’, then he was worthy of
possessing the spiritual and prophetic essence of his master, Elijah.
Yet, we wonder, was
Elijah really saying to his prime student the following;
“If you
can See It, You can Be It!”
“If You
can Visualize it through the Pristine Prism of the “Eyes of G-d” it can become
a Reality of your Life.”
The State of Israel
and its Jewish citizens have just entered a new era of their lives. The world
as we know it to be is rapidly becoming an era of the past. A new era of spiritual enlightenment is now
unfolding before our eyes. The days of the Messiah is now upon us.
The nations of the
earth are becoming divided and fragmented as witnessed in the Arab Spring that
has consumed numerous nations in the Middle East. The European Union is
becoming fragmented in polarity for every state wants their individuality and
independence from each other; like the legs of the imperial statute of King
Nebuchadnezzar whose legs were iron bonding with porcelain clay.
We saw this same fact
in the recent election of the new president of the United States as America.
Never has America been so polarized since the Civil War in the mid-19th
century.
So the Labor Zionist
State of Israel is now fading into the past, and a New Spiritual Zionist State
of Israel is emerging. Never in the history of Israel has there been such a
revival of spirit that was first witness during the “Eight Day War with Gaza”
in December. This was not a revival of
power, greed and control but a revival of the spirit of the Jews in Israel.
There was a
remarkable transformation of the political climate as the religious right, the
Jewish orthodox and observant, the visionaries, the futurists, the pioneers and
the patriots of the settler’s movement all began to coalesce together in one
mind and purpose. You could hear on the street the hidden word of the past,
“The Maschiah” is here, not fully revealed but his spirit is enveloping us all.
So to the new
government of Israel is now trying desperately to figure out what to make of
the January elections. The division of Israel in the Knesset is as close as
61-59 in support or in opposition.
We can see the
dividing of the “sheep and the goats”. We can see the fading into the dustbins
of history the political architects of the past. Those wanting the New Knesset
to take this era into the new spiritual era of the enlightenment of the future Messianic
Era are now arising with high expectations and great motivation. This will propel them forward into this new
era.
The new political
leaders and parties are now having to grasp the “spiritual mandate” of the
Divine; the Land if Holy, so the people who live upon the land must also be
holy. Holy Land cannot be given away to those that will profane it. The Temple
Mount was designed for the House of HaShem to rest upon it, so it must also
become soon, “Holy unto the L-rd.”
The New Zionist State
of Israel will come, whether the rest of the world wants it to come or not,
because it is destined to come by HaShem in bi’etah (“in His own time”). HaShem
will personally become involved in the installation of a new government dedicated
to HaShem’s government of “Peace and Justice” based upon the principles of the
halakhah of Torah.
So to the real patriots
of Israel; “Look up upon High”. Visualize the transforming power of the Divine.
Elevate your expectations and propel your life forward towards the “End of the
Age”. It is the Beginning of a New Age”;
the Age of HaShem’s Messiah.
Not
only that, to all of G-d’s Chosen ones, the Jews of the House of Judah and the
Lost Ten Tribes of the House of Israel;
“If you
can ‘See It’, You can ‘Be It’!
************
The Rise of the End
Times State of Israel is unfolding before our eyes. This is an anathema to most
of the nations of the world, who believe in the ascendancy of man rather than
the ascendancy of the future Messianic Kingdom of G-d on earth.
We have to recognize
that the G-d of Israel is working with imperfect people in order to restore
this planet to a messianic era in which our lives can be focused on holiness,
righteousness and justice. If you believe in the Sovereignty of G-d and that
His will be completed before the revealing of the messianic age of our future,
then you might desire to reconnect with the Biblical portrayals of what is and
will be happening in your near future, Contact “Kol
Ha Tor Vision”,
the Voice of the Turtledove.
Here is a joint
Orthodox Jewish and 10-Triber Mission to bring awareness of the imminent
fulfillment of the Biblical Prophecies regarding the Redemption of all Israel
(12 Tribes Re-conciled and Re-United). This super Event of all Times will
entail Establishing the Shomron (the Ancient Bible Heartland of the Patriarchs)
and the Judean Wilderness as part of the Land of Israel, and preparing the “Land”
for the Return of the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel and then the
Redemption of All Israel.
For inquiries about
Kol Ha Tor Vision for the Lost Tribes of Israel, Visit – “Shomron Lives!”,a Spiritual Retreat and Guest House
in Samaria, that hosts Shomron (Samaria) Tours to reacquaint the Returning Lost
Tribers of the House of Israel.
Benyamin Netanyahu:
Will He carry the Mandate of Judaism to the Messianic Era?
The
Prime Minister of Israel, Benyamin Netanyahu, has been reelected to another
term as the Prime Minister of Israel. Heralded by the New Israeli Centrists
(the former Right-wing) as the wave of the future, he carries with himself now
the distain of the Israeli left, many American Jews, the American presidential
administration and most European leaders. As Alexander H. Joffe with the War to Mobilize Democracy recently wrote:
Alexander H. Joffe – “No one regards the
prospect of another Netanyahu government with more anguish than the
Palestinians. In the Arab-Israeli conflict’s long, tortured history, they have
reviled no Israeli prime minister – with the possible exception of Ariel Sharon
– more than Netanyahu. The reason is simple: he is one of them. Literally, of
course, he is not. But, unlike previous Israeli prime ministers (again, with
the possible exception of Sharon), Netanyahu has emulated the Palestinian
political strategy of sumud, or steadfastness.
The philosophy of sumud is rooted in
Palestinians’ implacable belief in the righteousness of their cause and the
justness of their methods. It operates both passively and actively in
Palestinian culture, demanding stubbornness and tolerating ruthlessness,
violence, and duplicity. At sumud’s core lies the unswerving, blinkered
view that Israel is illegitimate and its duration limited. As a result,
Palestinian leaders have for decades mobilized their society to outlast Israel.
Indoctrination begins at a young age through family, education, and media, and
later encourages more aggressive resistance, including terrorism.
In other words, Palestinians are playing a
long game. But plans for a functioning Palestinian state that do not depend on
foreign aid have been conspicuously absent, save for the recent efforts of
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Netanyahu’s version of sumud
is evident in his policies and rhetoric that focus on Israel’s legitimacy,
necessity, and permanence. Indeed, his speeches frequently offer lessons in
Jewish history, while casting the “Holy Land” as both a Jewish right and an
Israeli national symbol.”
This
steadfastness has refused to cast aside any future partners in the democratic
partnership for Peace in the Middle East. At the same time, Netanyahu has
deftly cast aside the Obama administration’s enraptured thrall of a “moderate
Islamist” while Islamist countries around Israel are collapsing. Yet, at the
same time, Netanyahu continues to proclaim Jewish rights to retain sovereign
control of the Israeli capital of Israel, and the Jewish rights to settle the
biblical heartland of Israel that was once the homeland of the forefathers of
the Jewish people; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. As Alexander H. Joffe continued in
his article, “Netanyahu the Palestinian”:
Alexander
H. Joffe – “Indeed, while settlement-building in the West Bank has slackened,
it continues. Moreover, aggressive counter-terrorism activities and the
separation barrier have decisively reduced cross-border attacks, containing
mounting pressure in Palestine as the conflict remains on the back burner. And
Netanyahu continues to oversee economic expansion and improved foreign
relations, despite hostile rhetoric from Europe and elsewhere.
The Palestinians seem
to recognize Netanyahu’s variety of sumud for what it is. His
steadfastness – and declining international interest in their struggle, as the
world’s focus shifts to the Arab Spring’s Islamist winter – stymies any advance
toward an agreement.”
It
fact was recently highlighted in Netanyahu’s recent address to the United
Nations in September, 2012, it was Benyamin Netanyahu who stated his core
values and that of the Israeli people, when he stated:
Benyamin Netanyahu – “Three thousand years
ago, King David reigned over the Jewish state in our eternal capital,
Jerusalem. I say that to all those who proclaim that the Jewish state has no
roots in our region, and that it will soon disappear.”
This
vision of Netanyahu was not built on short-term strategic interests to appease
the Muslim people or to placate the European and American Lost Sheep of the
House of Israel whose countries that they govern are in an economic and social
decline. This vision is firmly built upon a core belief that the Israeli
strategic interest is in preserving the Land of Israel for the descendants of
the peoples in which King David and Solomon coalesced into a United Monarchy
3,000 years ago and earned the divine mandate of the G-d of Israel, that this
is also the will of the Divine.
With
only four days left in the political campaign before elections, Netanyahu began
to open up his new administration goals in regards to the “settlements” and a
Palestinian State with the following admissions:
“The days of
bulldozers flattening settlements are behind us not in front of us,” as
reported by the Ma’ariv daily.
“I don’t think it is
a good idea for the Jewish state (for the Palestinians to be incorporated as
citizens of Israel)” as reported by the Jerusalem Post, but added, “first of
all, nobody wants a bi-national state.”
Unknown to most Americans outside of intimate understanding of Israeli
politics, as reported in the Times of Israel, Netanyahu’s nearest
political opponent, Naftali Bennet with the Bayit Yehudi (Jewish Home) party,
currently is advocating annexing Area C, that is totally under the administration
of the State of Israel and controls 60% of the portion called the West Bank.
Bennet proposes to offer Israeli citizenship to the 50,000 Palestinians
residing in those area, and concept known as Israel being a “bi-national
state”. Yet Netanyahu demurs such a political solution when he states:
Benyamin Netanyahu
– “No one wants a bi-national state. I do not want to include a million and a
half or two million Palestinian Arabs within the state of Israel. There are
things that we have in common with other parties, but regarding this issue my
position is clear.”
This
confirmed an earlier interview between Netanyahu and Channel 2, when he stated:
Benyamin Netanyahu – “Any territory that
we evacuate will be captured by Iran…The stronger we are, the more we will be
able to guarantee our future and make peace with our neighbors…I don’t want to
rule the Palestinians and I don’t want them to rule us and threaten our
existence.”
Even though the
Israeli settlements have been the “thorn in the side” of the European’s thrust
to regain momentum of getting the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks started
again, it was President Mahmoud Abbas that insisted again that there will be no
negotiations until Israel agreed to freeze construction in its West Bank
settlements. In other words, Israel must always commit itself first only to
find that the Palestinian leaders refuse to negotiate. This was proven in
Netanyahu’s limited, partial 10-month freeze between the dates of November 2009
to September 2010 when afterwards, Abbas refused to go to the negotiating table
and begin negotiations without any preconditions.
Yet there was also
another prime admission by Netanyahu as recently told the Jerusalem Post that
in spite of the fact that a majority of the nations of the world refuse to
consider that Israel’s West Bank settlement are legal, “there is a common
acceptance that the so-called settlement blocs will remain part of Israel” in
any peace agreement.
What
has frustrated most the United States and Europe, according to Joffe, was the fact
that Netanyahu does not fit their classical ideology of how Israeli prime
ministers are suppose to act and react: either as “heavily accented Eastern
European men and grizzled military officers who talk a good game before
acquiescing to the latest American or international demands for concession,
talks, and aid, and prime ministers like Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir were
not averse to lecturing, they lacked strategic cunning.” As Joffe continues:
Alexander H. Joffe – “Netanyahu’s
unwillingness to compromise disconcerts, confuses, and often enrages Americans.
His relentless disquisitions on Israel’s strategic environment, security
requirements, red lines, and Jewish history are offset only by conciliatory
talk about reopening negotiations, which are immediately reject by the
Palestinians, who, like him, fear showing weakness.
Furthermore, Netanyahu’s unsentimental
assessment of the Middle East does not line up with that of the Obama
administration – in thrall to its collapsing romance with moderate Islamists –
and its devoted supporters among Jewish Americans. These groups do not
understand Netanyahu, who proclaims Jewish rights, defends his country’s
interests, and hints at conciliation but gives up little – much like a
traditional Arab leader…
As a result, Netanyahu’s position is strong.
The Palestinians initiated a zero-sum game that has given him the upper hand.
By using the Palestinians’ own strategy, he has cornered them. After all,
genuine peace efforts by the Palestinians – based on a two-state solution with
no “right of return” for post-1948 refugees – would enrage Hamas and revive
factional violence, adding another self-defeat to an already long list.”
What
Joffe has failed to connect was the fact that the political center of Israeli
politics has recently begun shifting where the former “political right” is now
becoming the “political center”. The Israeli citizen can no longer continue to
be recognized as the “fool” but recognizes that the “peace pot of gold” is
“fool’s gold”. The new mandates of Israeli politics of the future with
the addition of new Jewish orthodox Knesset members appear to include the
following:
The Mandate by the
G-d of Israel to conquer the land must be completed in this modern age, plus
the fact;
The “Land” is to
become a “Holy Land” is becoming a new central political issue upon which the
Israeli sumud or steadfastness of the future will not being willing to
negotiate. This includes that the fact that with the recent “Levy Report”;
That Citizens of
Israel have a right to settle anywhere in the “Land of Israel” given to them by
the legal mandates of the League of Nations and the United Nations;
That Jewish Orthodoxy
has a right to legislate religious principles given by the G-d of Israel at
Sinai into their political life and future Israeli constitution, and that;
The Jewish government
has a right possess any tribal land whose “deed of trust” was given to them or
their brothers, the Lost Ten Tribes of the House of Israel by the G-d of Israel
as a eternal right of possession for Klal Yisrael (All Israel).
The
global agenda of a “Palestinian State” appears also to be a “no go” in spite of
a high potential of a regional Islamic war against Israel, (see Psalms 83). The recent United Nation’s
acceptance of the “Palestinian Authority” as an observer status in the United
Nations appears to be a “dead option” that will not be accepted by the new
Israeli administration.
With
the recent smoldering of America’s global democracy agenda, the Arab Spring has
left Egypt in the hands of the radical Islamists called the Muslim Brotherhood.
It has also dragged the American White House administration’s sympathy that
there is a “Moderate Islam” down a bloody path of a terrorist filled Libya, a
“burning Syria, a smoldering Egypt, and a volatile Lebanon.”
So
the near future of Netanyahu appears good, for the recent Israeli “disgust”
towards Netanyahu’s party, its allies and politics is rapidly melting and will
continue to do so. This fact is predicated by the “on the ground
evidence” that the Israeli political left continues to melt into oblivion with
the recent exodus of Labor Party liberal, the former Defense Secretary Barak,
the policies of Yachimovich’s
Labor Party’s social justice agenda is also bankrupt because it refuses to
address the “security of the State of Israel” and also address the global
ideology of a “Two State” Solution predicated of “land for peace”. As recently
revealed by the Hindu Times, speaking on a future Palestinian State, Netanyahu
states the following as facts:
Many legislators in
Netanyahu’s own Likud-Beteinu faction disown the two-state solution to the
conflict. As admitted to the Jerusalem Post, “I don’t think it is
a good idea for the Jewish state (for the Palestinians to be incorporated as
citizens of Israel).” He repeated the point in the Ma’ariv interview,
saying that “first of all, nobody wants a bi-national state.” In reference to
Mr. Abbas representing the Palestinian Authority, as reported by the Jerusalem
Post;
“He’s (Abbas’) run
away from negotiations for the last four years. He’s piled on precondition upon
precondition.”
“He went to the UN
for a unilateral resolution, which is a fundamental breach of the
(Israeli-Palestinian interim) Oslo Accords.”
“He
(Mahmoud Abbas) embraced (the radical Islamist) Hamas (movement), and if he
changes that and comes back to the table without preconditions, he’ll find me
there, if I’m elected prime minister.” And as reported again by Ma’ariv:
“The Palestinians are
posing entry conditions for commencing negotiations that we cannot accept.” And
finally;
“On the other hand, I
have conditions for how to end the negotiations. Their entry conditions are
unacceptable to me, and my conditions for concluding the negotiations are
unacceptable to them. That is the actual reality.”
So
the G-d of Israel is repositioning the ascent of Israel in global international
politics. As the nations of the world crumble and finally concede to a unified
world authority with ten global economic unions with no “states” and no
“nations”, yet it appears that there will be one Israel turning ever so deftly
back to the mandate of “All Israel” under the planetary government instituted
by HaShem, the G-d of Israel’s messiah.
************
The Rise of the End
Times State of Israel is unfolding before our eyes. This is an anathema to most
of the nations of the world, who believe in the ascendancy of man rather than
the ascendancy of the future Messianic Kingdom of G-d on earth.
We have to recognize
that the G-d of Israel is working with imperfect people in order to restore
this planet to a messianic era in which our lives can be focused on holiness, righteousness
and justice. If you believe in the Sovereignty of G-d and that His will be
completed before the revealing of the messianic age of our future, then you
might desire to reconnect with the Biblical portrayals of what is and will be
happening in your near future, Contact “Kol Ha Tor Vision”, the Voice of the
Turtledove.
Here is a joint
Orthodox Jewish and 10-Triber Mission to bring awareness of the imminent
fulfillment of the Biblical Prophecies regarding the Redemption of all Israel
(12 Tribes Re-conciled and Re-United). This super Event of all Times will
entail Establishing the Shomron (the Ancient Bible Heartland of the Patriarchs)
and the Judean Wilderness as part of the Land of Israel, and preparing the
“Land” for the Return of the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel and then the
Redemption of All Israel.
For inquiries about
Kol Ha Tor Vision for the Lost Tribes of Israel, Visit – “Shomron Lives!”,a Spiritual Retreat
and Guest House in Samaria, that hosts Shomron (Samaria) Tours to reacquaint
the Returning Lost Tribers of the House of Israel.
Weekly Bible Reading #15 Year 5773 (2012/2013) – January 19, 2013
Parashat Boh (Go!): Exodus
10:1-13:16
Haftarah: Jeremiah 46:13-46:28
NOTE: Kol HaTor, in its commentaries
on the weekly Parashot, endeavors to search for and accentuate the Torah
Messages contained in the Parashot as applicable to the main Theme of Tanach of
the Return of the House of Israel, i.e. the Lost Ten Tribes of Northern Israel
and their Reconciliation with Judah to form the reunited 12-Tribed Kingdom of
Israel.
DISCLAIMER - The authors whom we quote from
for this Commentary are not associated with KOL HA'TOR and need not agree with
our views expressed herein or in our other publications. While we publish their
views for its relative value to the interpretation of the Parashah, KOL HATOR
does not necessarily agree with the views expressed by these authors.
************
Our last few Parashot have repeatedly pointed to “A Time of
Trouble” approaching the People of HaShem, like the 10 Plagues and the death of
the first-born of Egypt before the Exodus, as we are drawing closer to the Time
of the Ultimate Redemption, i.e. the Restoration of the Reconciled 12-Tribed
Kingdom of HaShem. Jeremiah 16 describes this as follows:
Jeremiah 16:14-16 - “‘The days are coming,’ declares HaShem,
‘when it will no longer be said, As surely as HaShem lives, Who brought the
Israelites up out of Egypt,’ but
it will be said, ‘As surely as HaShem lives, who brought the Israelites [12
Tribes] up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he
had banished them.’ For I will restore them to the land I gave their ancestors.”
This is referred to as the ‘Second Exodus’ and does not only
refer to the return of Jews to the Land of Israel after World War 2, but to the
Return also of millions of re-identified Ten Tribers who have lost all identity
among the nations where they were exiled for 2800 years. The immensity of such
a vast re-identification and Return will totally overshadow the original
miracle filled Exodus from Egypt, according to Jeremiah.
The Rabbis are united on the principle that HaShem uses
periods of travail upon His People to purify and strengthen them spiritually.
Their struggles with hardship, adversity and misfortune serve to mold them into
the righteous likeness which they require to be part of His Kingdom and to be
in His Service.
This Divine method is not just used in the final refining
process of His elect, but, throughout all humanity, even as initial Calls for
their heart and minds. The Ten Plagues of our last two Parashot are perfect
example of this, and it holds many strategic guidelines for the sincere
observer. HaShem constantly calls on those who know Him not, who rebel against
Him, but, in response, like Pharaoh, they challenge Him, for they do not wish
to acknowledge Him. First G-d appeals to their emotions, but, like against
Pharaoh, after the first Plagues, G-d changes His approach and even hardens his
heart, while appealing to his intellect.
We, the people of Judah and 10-Israel today, when applying
the allegory of ‘Pharaoh’ to ourselves, are also hard of heart against His
Calls for higher devotion and commitment. This becomes especially evident with
regard to the approaching Final Redemption (which also entails working for
Peace in His House which is so disastrously split in two). We do not respond to
His Calls for change and rethinking. We hesitate, turn our ears and hearts
away, procrastinate, promise falsely and continue in our ways of neglecting the
Cause for Peace in Zion..
Then, like with Pharaoh, HaShem “puts on the screws” when He
Calls for final refining. This time He is using a different Calling. He is
appealing to our intellectual resources rather than our emotional. The Troubles
may increase, physical persecution may become a reality (like through wars or
anti-Semitic onslaughts even on our lives). It is all about a higher Calling
for Final Refining.
This insight into the spiritual
implications of the Ten Plagues is given in a Commentary on Parashat Boh by
Chasidic Rabbi Biggs. We publish an extract of it here:
The Exodus from Egypt was a
precursor for the coming of Moshiach. As we study and relive the Exodus, our
yearning for Moshiach is heightened.
The ten plagues parallel the ten Sefirot,
the ten Divine emanations by which Hashem creates the world. The Sefirot are
divided into two types, three intellectual and seven emotional. Evil also has
ten Sefirot of impurity through which it exists.
The ten plagues broke the ten
negative forces of Egypt and prepared for the revelation of the Ten
Commandments. Last week we read of the first seven plagues, which parallel the
emotions. This week we read the final three, which parallel the intellect. The
three faculties of the intellect are Chochmah, Binah, and Da’at [Wisdom,
Understanding and Knowledge] (the abbreviations of the three together form
ChaBaD). The plagues were in an ascending order.
The first plague [of the last three]
in this week's portion is locusts, which paralleled Da’at. Da’at, translated as
‘knowledge,’ is the faculty by which we connect the intellect and the emotions.
It is possible to understand something well on an intellectual level with no
effect on our emotional traits or actions.
We often come to the full
intellectual resolve that we should adopt good practices or reject bad habits
but it doesn’t happen. Think for a moment how many of us smoke or drive without
seatbelts, knowing full well the dangers involved. This is because the resolve
remains in the intellect, and has not reached Da’at.
Da’at is attained through repeatedly
meditating upon and applying the conclusions of our thoughts until they become
second nature. The Talmud states that a child only develops Da'at when he eats
grain. The locusts, which destroyed the grain, were the antithesis of Da’at. In
our service of Hashem, Da’at is constantly attuning our emotions by meditating
on the greatness of Hashem and how each Mitzvah creates a bind with His
infinite light until this becomes our ingrained perception.
Binah means ‘understanding’. When an
idea first falls into our head, we don't fully grasp it. When we carefully
consider the idea, analyzing how it answers numerous questions and sheds light
in other areas, this is the power of Binah. When we fully understand something,
it illuminates our awareness. Darkness and confusion are the opposite of Binah.
Thus, the ninth plague is darkness. In our service of Hashem Binah means to
study each concept we learn in Torah until it illuminates our minds and hearts.
Chochmah (wisdom) is the first
Sefirah. In intellect, it represents the first awakening of a new idea. As a
trait, it represents the nullification to that which is higher. The Hebrew word
Chochmah is a composite of the two words Koach and Mah, which means the power
of nullification. Because of its humility, Chochmah is able to be the channel
of all life.
The first born of Egypt were the
antithesis of Chochmah and of the life that Chochmah represents. Therefore the
plague connected to Chochmah is the smiting of the first-born. This is
represented by dedicating our first thought in any issue towards service of
Hashem. When we rise, our first words are "Modeh Ani (I give thanks to
G-d)…”
Conclusion and application to Judah and 10-Israel
As we approach the reality of the Redemption, there are
things that have to change and need to be achieved:
The restoration and recognition of the Lost House of Israel,
consisting of Ten Tribes in exile among the nations, beyond realization or
recognition.
Reconciliation has to be achieved between these
re-identifying and returning Lost Ten Tribers and the House of Judah before the
Peace can be established which will trigger the Return of the Shechinah
(visible Divine Presence) of HaShem to Zion (the Land of Israel).
Judah (the Jews) have to "recognize Yosef" (who
are busy re-awakening to their Hebraic Roots and approaching Judah for
re-identifying and Return). To Jews today, it must be much like ancient Israel
having to accept foreigner to them and Egyptian style Moses, or Yosef, in his ‘Egyptian
Cloak’ of many colors.
Ephraim (Ten Tribes) who are in process of awakening and
re-identification across the entire world, has to turn away from their
inherited pride and rebellion against Judah (as their fathers did for which
they were exiled into oblivion). As the returnee Prodigal son, they have to
respect and acknowledge their ‘Brother’ Judah who has faithfully been keeping
'The House of their Father' during their exile 'to the pig sties of paganism.
They should shake off their arrogance of pride in rediscovery of Torah
principles and rather than try to ‘save’ Judah, humble themselves and
acknowledge the Divine Mandate of Judah as the ‘Mechoqeck’ of HaShem ('Lawgiver
of G-d,' Ps. 60:7, 108:8).
Like HaShem did with Pharaoh, He will “put on the screws” in
this final refining. He will be appealing to our intellectual rather than our
emotional spirituality. The world is facing catastrophic culmination for its
evil empire Babylon which it has been building throughout nearly 6000 years. The
Sabbath Millennia is at the door.
Chochmah, Binah, and Da'at (Wisdom,
Understanding and Knowledge).
Both Houses urgently need more Knowledge about each
other and about the controversial way that Redemption will have to come. We
need Understanding of each other. This will result in Wisdom
about HaShem's Redemption Plan, to realize our individual personal
responsibilities, to accept each other and thus to establish Peace in Zion.
Our Haftarah concludes with a wonderful confirmation of all
this:
Haftarah
Jeremiah 46:27, 28 - “Do not be afraid, Jacob [12 Tribes of
Israel]My servant; do not be dismayed, Israel [10 Tribes, or, in
this context also all 12]. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your
descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and
security and no one will make him afraid.
Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,”
declares HaShem. Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I
scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only
in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.”
To understand more
about the Return of the 10 Tribes of Israel to their Homeland in Shomron
(Samaria), Israel, Contact “Kol Ha’Tor”, the Voice of the
Turtledove.
Here is a joint
Orthodox Jewish and 10-Triber Mission to bring awareness of the imminent
fulfillment of the Biblical Prophecies regarding the Redemption of all Israel
(12 Tribes Re-conciled and Re-United). This super Event of all Times will
entail Establishing the Shomron (the Ancient Bible Heartland of the Patriarchs)
and the Judean Wilderness as part of the Land of Israel, and preparing the
“Land” for the Return of the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel and then the
Redemption of All Israel.
For inquiries about
Kol Ha Tor Ministries for the Lost Tribes of Israel, Visit – “Shomron
Lives!”, a Spiritual Retreat and Guest House in Samaria, that
hosts Shomron (Samaria) Tours to reacquaint the Returning Lost Tribers of the
House of Israel.
The Israeli elections
are only days away, and a new phenomenon is already becoming a national
obsession. According to a recent article
titled, “Israeli
Parliament Set for Record Influx of Orthodox Lawmakers”, Orthodox Jews in
greater numbers are “infiltrating” the larger parties in order to make a larger
political impact upon the government of the State of Israel.
This fact was noted
recently at a gathering for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party.
While waiting for the prime minister to arrive, Orthodox Jews, swaying in
personal prayers were in attendance and required the prime minister to
“politely” wait at the entrance while the praying was completed. Such is the new politics of Israel, a change
so phenomenal that it may forever change the politics of the Zionist State of
Israel.
Also noted by political
pundits, Orthodox Jews are leaving the smaller “niche parties” and joining the
Likud Party and other mainstream parties. Even in minority numbers, the
dominance of non-observant politicians or secular Jews that have been the
mainstream of Jewish politics is now being challenged.
The Jewish opinion polls
are now also capturing this sea of change, for the religious fervor of the
Orthodox Jew is now becoming contagious to the non-observant Jewish politicians
who are now willing to change the trends of Israeli politics towards a more
hard-line stance on Palestinian conflict.
What we are witnessing is the facts coming from the ground that
religious politicians may capture a record 40 of the Knesset parliament’s 120
seats after the elections. This is compared to the 25 Knesset members that were
presiding in the outgoing assembly that was voted into office in 2009. It was only 20 years ago that a score of
lawmakers were religiously Orthodox.
It is obvious that the
trend is not settling well with the status quo in Israeli politics. Truly
numerous Israeli of the religious observant settler movement are rejoicing but
this is not so with many of the secular majority who have controlled Israeli
politics for decades for the new trend makers are determined to re-identify the
New Israel of the future with sovereign borders that have troubled the state since
1967 and before. This trend will also give rise to a deeper conflict in part
with the substantial Arab Muslim minority who are also represented by their own
parties.
The trend also appears
will take a wider berth in Israeli politics which will shift the international
opinions of Israel away from the secular democratic Israeli left towards the
observant Israeli right. This suggests that the centrists will be hard to
identity for all parties are now in a flux trying to attract the Israeli public
towards the centrists. So we ask what do the “New Centrists” believe and will
the political center of the “New Jewish politics” bring a fundamental shift in Jewish
politics that is centered on; Jewish halakhah or Jewish Law, the Land of Israel
belongs to the G-d of Israel and is Holy Land, the purpose of Israel is to be
the “priests” to the rest of the world, and the land of Israel must remain
under the control of the Jewish people for they have a “deed” to the land for
it to be populated by a restored Klal Yisra’el (All Israel); the House of Judah
and the returning Lost 10 Tribes of the House of Israel.
As such the American Grecian
Hellenistic dream of a Democratic Israel where “religion and state” do not mix
may become a model that will fade into history. If so, then the State of Israel
is embarking on a new journey where future politics is “Law and Order” and
“Peace and Justice” will be centered on the politics of the prophets of Israel
and the halakhah of Torah Law.
The new political
disputes of the future that are being discussed openly by the political pundits
of Israel of today will include such issues as the “Jewishness” of the future
state of Israel, and the conversion status of the new immigrants that will arrive;
the Jews of the diaspora, and soon the vast immigration of the Lost Ten Tribes
of the House of Israel. The whole concept of who will be looked upon as Jewish
or the Jewishness of the future State of Israel may become the shifting center
of the future politics of Israel.
The secular minded
leftist in the Labor Party will meet an upsurge in political dissent that will
come from hardcore members of the Likud and even more so the more observant
members of the new Bayit Yehudi (Jewish Home Party) that are intent on changing
the secular-minded Supreme Court of Israel seeking to keep the central laws of
Israel in line with the internationalist and the World Court at Brussels, who
in turn have turned away from Torah Law, Written and Oral, that has been since
September 17, 1787, the foundation of the Constitution
of the United States.
As Batia Siebzehner, the
Israeli sociologist of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem was cited recently as
she witness the new politics of the Israeli Orthodox urging the embrace of
Jewish religious or Torah Law:
Batia
Siebzehner – “In the long run I see a weakening of the foundations of the
state's democracy.”
Understandably this
“horrifies” the secular Israeli, who now feel that they will be compared on the
global scene with the democratic Islamic Republic of Iran and other Arab states
that are becoming Islamic fundamentalists in outlook. There concern of the Israeli
left is that the new observant MKs in the Israeli Knesset will seek to restrict
civil liberties of such leftist passions for “gay rights” and makes today Tel
Aviv one of the recognized “gay friendly” cities of the world.
The new observant MKs,
it appears will also seek to improve governmental monitoring of foreign funding
for such human rights organizations sponsoring NGOs that are in full dissent and
seek to legally ham-string of the State of Israel from populating the regions
of Shomron and Judea and returning these regions, called the biblical heartland
of the Patriarch Abraham, Isaac and Jacob back under the rule of the Jewish
peoples.
Fundamental to all
dissent in Israel is settled upon the foundation of a future Jewish Theocratic
State, whose legal laws are central to Torah laws of the Jewish past. As David Stav, recognized as a moderate
Orthodox rabbi and director of the Modern Orthodox rabbinic organization,
TZohar who recently announced his running for the chief rabbi of Israel along with
Rabbis David Lau of Modiin, Yaakov Shapira and Eliezer Igra stated recently
that such fears of a New Jewish Theocracy were overblown:
David
Stav – “This is not going to be a theocracy, as most religious politicians are
"committed to a Jewish and democratic state and don't want to see themselves
as coercive to others.”
As the Time of Israel
wrote in the article, titled, “Tzohar launches campaign to initiate change in
Chief Rabbiniate”:
The Times of Israel – “Among the items that Tzohar is calling for will be to elect new
rabbinical court judges who would be more open to the needs of the general
public, not just the religiously observant sectors; and new guidelines for
managing the marriage, divorce and conversion processes in Israel – three areas
that have been particularly notorious in alienating the secular community.”
Yet, these issues that
appear to be so prominent in preserving a “Democratic Western World Oriented
State of Israel” may be a thing of the past for the G-d of Israel appears to be
bringing a fundamental shift not only in Israeli democratic cultural life, that
will includes what the prophets called “a new heart” but also a fundamental
elevation of spiritual consciousness that will permanently change Jewish life
in Israel and the lives of the Lost Ten Tribes of the House of Israel
predominately in America and Northern Europe plus their colonies scattered around
the world. As Destination Yisra’el recently wrote in the article titled, “The
Israeli Settler’s Revolution: Is Israel moving “Right” towards a Theocratic
State of Peace and Justice?” we read:
Destination
Yisra’el – “What
if the Jewish people in Israel were to take seriously the testimony of the
Hebrew prophets, like the Prophet
Zechariah?
Zechariah
7:8-10 – “And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: This
is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice, show mercy and
compassion to one another.Do
not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts
do not think evil of each other.’”
What
if the Jewish Settler’s movement in Israel were to cleanse the land of Israel
and make this land into a Holy Land beholden only to the G-d of Israel? What if
the people of Israel in one election, sweep away the bastion of power of the
Freemasons that have controlled Israeli politics since its inception in 1948,
barring one small political era and whose only argument is who controls
Jerusalem; the Jewish Masons or the Jesuit controlled Vatican P2 Lodge Masons?
What
if the mantle for the radical shift in the whole Middle Eastern world were to
shift into moving the geo-politics of the Middle East into the “Peace and
Justice” model of the Jewish Messiah David, son of David (Maschiah ben Dovid)?
What if the Jewish Messiah does take control of the world and rule it with a
“rod of iron” that will impose peace upon all nations? What if the Jewish State
of Israel will be eventually transformed into a Greater Israel that would
transform the whole world into an era of peace that would bring Torah enlightenment
for all men to live and to study?
Zechariah
8:16-17 – “These are the things you shall do;Speak each man the truth to his
neighbor; give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace;‘Let none of you think
evil in your heart against your neighbor; and do not love a false oath.For all these are things
that I hate,’ says the Lord.”
Is
this not the Plan of the G-d of Israel that all men would worship at Mount Zion
and yearly come to worship in the Temple of G-d as a temple of peace for all
mankind?
The “Latter Rain”;
the Revealing of the Direct Influence of the G-d of Israel in Jewish Politics
The recent torrential storms of rain,
snow and ice in Israel in early January 2013 should give us a pause, for they
may be a portrayal that the G-d of Israel is giving a “Sign” that He is
returning to becoming fully involved in the final Guela or the redemption of All Israel. So are we now witnessing the “Latter Rain”
that has been promised to be sent upon all Israel during the end times, as
reported in the Artzeinu, the “The
Weekly Israel News Update” in its January 12,
2013 update that reported the rain being the “worse in 20 years”. If so, within
weeks, the Sea of Galilee may be ‘topping off” and the dam will be opened so
like the days of old, will send waters cascading down the Jordan River. Will this be the “Latter Rain” prophesied in
Zechariah?
What about the rabbinic prophecy
attributed to the famed 1st century Rabbi in Judea, Rebbe Yochanan ben Zaccai of Yavnah, who prophesied in
the Sanhedrin 97b, that 2013 may be the year when “there will be plenty and
people will eat, drink, and be joyous, and the Torah will return to those who
learned it.”? Then we recently learned
how “Rabbi
Judah ben Samuel’s Jubilee Prophecy gives the Year of the Messiah” as the
end of the Jubilee Year that started in 1967, when Israel took complete
possession of the city of Jerusalem to 2017; signifying the beginning of the
Messianic Kingdom of the Jewish Messiah, David son of David.
Rabbi Judah
heHasid – “In the ninth jubilee Jerusalem will once again come back into
the possession of the Jewish nation – which will signify the
beginning of the Messianic end time.”
Destination
Yisra’el – “It
appears that to justify even the existence of the State of Israel, eventually
the citizens of Israel will have to proclaim that the political center of
Israeli politics should eventually become the Torah mandates and covenant given
to their forefathers by the G-d of Israel. For the rest of the world this would
be a “radical shift” in even world politics and an anathema against the fact
that the Middle East oil governs the politics of the world.
The
entire jockeying for power gives visible recognition that the Israeli political
left is crumbling as Tzipi Livni’s Hatnua Movement may no longer be a political
party. Even Livni’s Kadima Party associates, the current Knesset’s largest
faction is barely is passing the litmus test for the minimum vote threshold to
remain as a political party, so they may fade off into Israel’s political past.
Livni’s
political legacy appears will carry the Sharon’s mantle for the destruction of
the Jewish Orthodox presence in the Gaza region for she was a strong supporter
of the unilateral Disengagement Plan in 2005. This singular act brought Hamas
to power in Gaza. Livni also negotiated on the division of Jerusalem and gave
no credence to the true patriots and pioneers in Israel; the settlers in
Shomron and Judea. As such, “measure for measure” the G-d of Israel withdrew
His protecting hand of mercy and precipitated thousands of rockets to
eventually fall on Israeli cities
The
once invincible domination of the Likud Party alliances under Prime Minister
Benyamin Netanyahu, the most recent called the Likud-Beytenu began to crack not
by the power and potency of the political left but by the strong religious
Jewish nationalist’s supporting the Jewish political party called the Jewish
Home (Bayit Yehudi), that was showing vibrant new leadership under the
direction of Naftali Bennet.
Netanyahu’s
wavering refusal to officially accept the “Levy Report” and protect the Jewish new hometowns
in Shomron and Judea has cost Netanyahu his political reputation. The question
does he have the mandate to be the spiritual leader like King David for the
Israeli pioneering settlers in Israel also. Touted in some corners as being
possibly the long awaited “Maschiah ben Yosef” to carry Israel through in time
of war, that day may soon be coming in 2016.
Outside
of the ultra-liberal Meretz Party, the Israeli left have only the fading Israel
Labor Party headed by the former journalist, Shelly Yachimovich, who is now being
attacked not by Israel’s political right but by her own labor party members.
Carrying forth the social justice mandates of the Labor leftists, Yachimovich’s
social justice agenda have superseded the traditions about Israeli conflict-related
issues like Israeli security and the “Two-State” issues that have kept Israel
in the international news for decades.”
The
Shifting of the Political Center of Jewish Politics
So today, the political
election news is sporting left-wing political parties siding up with religious
candidates. We also see Netanyahu photographed with skullcap-wearing voters.
Recently it was reported that a rabbi became a party member of the
ex-television star Yair Lapid party posing as Israel’s centrist party. Even the
former foreign minister, Tzipi Livni has tapped a skull-capped ex-general to be
a part of her left-wing party.
Today, the party lines
are blurring, as orthodox politician who once represented smaller more
single-issued parties are now being integrated into the larger political
parties. By doing this, the orthodox leaders can obtain more political clout,
even though Orthodox Israeli Jews are still a minority.
According to a recent
survey (2012) by the Jerusalem-based Israel Democracy Institute, 22 percent of
the Israeli Jews are observant today. These figures included the observant
Orthodox, ultra-Orthodox, and the moderate Orthodox. Even though 78 percent of
the population of Israel is still non-observant, the political influence of the
observant Jew is dramatically higher and truthfully so, for that was the
purpose of the State of Israel to become a safe homeland for the Jewish people
so that “Never Again” would another Jewish targeted holocaust occur.
To see how the political
winds have shifted, just look at the year of 1948, when the Declaration of
Independence was declared for the State of Israel. At that time the self-declared national
mission of Israel was centered around the once-powerful kibbutzniks, who lived
in collective farms and became identified with Israel’s early settlement of the
land.
A large percentage of
these kibbutzniks were secular Israelis who did not identify with G-d given
mandate to “possess the land.” The kibbutzniks have for almost 70 years
dominated the Israeli military and the political leadership of the land. Today,
in Israel’s election, the kibbutz movement will probably not win any seats in
the next Israeli Knesset.
Today, the political
warriors for the G-d of Israel and the preservation of the Land of Israel are
the Zionist observant Jews, who have firmly take the mantle as the
“chosen-ones” by the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is they who will
determine the next agenda and the national discourse of the future of Israel.
Today the city of
Hebron, known as the City of the Patriarch where the Tomb of the Patriarchs and
Matriarchs of the Jews and the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel is located has now
become the political fire-storm of Israeli-Palestinian politics. Nestled in the heartland of the Judean
Mountains of Judea, the homeland of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, over 3,000 feet
above sea level is where 250,000 Palestinian and 800 Jewish settlers are
intermingled around Hebron’s Old Quarters. Today, the city of Hebron is
responsible for 33% of the gross national product of the Palestinian West Bank.
In January 13, 1997, the
city of Hebron became where the current Prime Minister of Israel, Benyamin
Netanyahu met his first political “Waterloo” during his first term as prime
minister of Israel. Within days of forming a new government of Israel, he
signed an agreement with Yasser Arafat in which Israel agreed to turn over 80
percent of Hebron and roll back its presence in other parts of the West Bank in
three stages by August, 1998. Netanyahu lost his next re-election bid.
Today, the settlers in
Hebron still feel betrayed by Netanyahu, who also in his second term embraced
the “two-state solution” and froze all settlement activity for 10 months, but
after the freeze the Palestinian government of Abbas failed to become a
negotiation partner for “peace”. So,
again, even though Netanyahu is continuing today to promote expansion in East
Jerusalem and in the two Jewish towns in Shomron and Judea, the political wind
and trends show a hardening and a firming of support to the Jewish people; the
nations of the world will not give them either a homeland nor peace, even if
they give up more land.
Soon, the message will
be loud and clear, if they want the G-d of Israel to side with their cause,
then their political shepherds must “feed their sheep”, if not, then the G-d of
Israel will have to shift the geo-politics of the world to bring all the
nations of the world to the door-step of Israel and settle his dispute with
them, for not protecting Israel and give them their judgments and due rewards.
************
The G-d of Israel is
working with imperfect people in order to restore this planet to a messianic
era in which our lives can be focused on holiness, righteousness and justice.
If so, you might desire to reconnect with the Biblical portrayals of what is
and will be happening in your near future.
This Biblical
portrayal includes Prophecies that the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel are
about to return to the Land of their Biblical Inheritance. This is Divine
Destiny in living reality as the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel return to their
Homelands first in Shomron (Samaria), Israel.
If you want to learn
more, Contact “Kol Ha’Tor Vision”,the Voice of the Turtledove. Here is
a joint Orthodox Jewish and 10-Triber Mission to bring awareness of the
imminent fulfillment of the Biblical Prophecies regarding the Redemption of all
Israel (12 Tribes Re-conciled and Re-United). This super Event of all Times
will entail Establishing the Shomron (the Ancient Bible Heartland of the
Patriarchs) and the Judean Wilderness as part of the Land of Israel, and
preparing the “Land” for the Return of the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel
and then the Redemption of All Israel.
For inquiries about
Kol Ha Tor Vision for the Lost Tribes of Israel, Visit – “Shomron Lives!”,a Spiritual Retreat and Guest House
in Samaria, that hosts Shomron (Samaria) Tours to reacquaint the Returning Lost
Tribers of the House of Israel.
Destination Yisra’el – “The following article, first written
in Hebrew and translated into English, was written by Dr. Mordecai Kedar, an
Israeli scholar in Arabic and Islamic Studies in the Hebrew University called
Bar-Illan. The summarization looks only
at the geo-political ramifications of “What if?” What if the “Radical Right or the Israeli
Orthodox Settler’s Movement” in Israel does take control of the Israeli
government in this next election? What if the Jewish people in Israel were to
take seriously the testimony of the Hebrew prophets, like the Prophet
Zechariah?
Zechariah
7:8-10 – “And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah:
This
is what the Lord Almighty says:
‘Administer
true justice, show mercy and compassion to one another.
Do
not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor.
In
your hearts do not think evil of each other.’”
What if the Jewish Settler’s movement in Israel were to
cleanse the land of Israel and make this land into a Holy Land beholden only to
the G-d of Israel? What if the people of Israel in one election, sweep away the
bastion of power of the Freemasons that have controlled Israeli politics since
its inception in 1948, barring one small political era and whose only argument
is who controls Jerusalem; the Jewish Masons or the Jesuit controlled Vatican
P2 Lodge Masons?
What
if the mantle for the radical shift in the whole Middle Eastern world were to
shift into moving the geo-politics of the Middle East into the “Peace and
Justice” model of the Jewish Messiah son of David (Maschiah ben Dovid)? What if
the Jewish Messiah does take control of the world and rule it with a “rod of
iron” that will impose peace upon all nations? What if the Jewish State of
Israel will be eventually transformed into a Greater Israel that would
transform the whole world into an era of peace that would bring Torah
enlightenment for all men to live and to study?
Zechariah
8:16-17 – These are the things you shall do;
Speak
each man the truth to his neighbor; give judgment in your gates for truth,
justice, and peace;
‘Let
none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; and do not love a
false oath.
For
all these are things that I hate,’ says the Lord.
Is this not the Plan of the G-d of Israel that all men would
worship at Mount Zion and year come to worship in the Temple of G-d as a temple
of peace for all mankind?
Dr. Mordecai Kedar – “The elections
are approaching in Israel, and polls are predicting what the Arab media calls,
with great dread, "the meteoric rise of the radical right in Israel".
Every article about the Israeli political map has the latest polls, showing the
obvious trend that all of us here are aware of. In recent days this writer's
telephone has been ringing constantly, with a representative of one Arab media
outlet or another on the other end, all of whom are absorbed by one great
concern: the strengthening of the Jewish spirit in Israel. The radio stations
in the Palestinian Authority, where - I must admit - I am often interviewed,
express the most apprehension.
The question is: Why is the Arab world so concerned and what are they worried
about? One possible answer is that the radical right will take over the country
and Israel will go to war against the Palestinians in order to destroy the
Palestinian Authority and undo all of the achievements, especially the
international recognition that they won in the General Assembly of the UN about
two months ago. Even if I cannot deny this possibility, it doesn't seem to me
that this is the real reason for the anxiety, because there are many -
especially in the Palestinian Authority - who wish to dissolve the PA, as we
saw last week in the article that we published on this honorable platform.
The reasons for the concern are deeper than this, and stem from the cultural
mindset of the region. An Israel that has a strong character and is confident
of itself and the justice of its cause, might stop behaving like a dishrag, as it
has done in the past, more than once, under the irresponsible leadership of the
bleeding hearts who are the "Pursuers of Peace", and might adopt a
pattern of behavior typical to the Middle East.
More than a few Israeli
politicians, some of them prime ministers, who sought "a solution
now" have earned for Israel the image of "peace seekers",
according to their point of view, but which the Middle East understood as
"Obsequious beggars pleading for a little peace and quiet". In the
Middle East only the vanquished, pleading for his life to be spared, begs for
peace, and usually he will get a big, strong kick that will hurl him all the
way down the stairs. Peace is the last thing you get when you beg for it.
In the embattled region where Israel is situated, the weak individual gets
beaten up: he is shot at, missiles rain down upon him, his buses are blown up,
he is de-legitimized, marginalized diplomatically, sued in international
courts, states are established on his back that threaten him and declare their
violent struggle against him again and again, and he - the weak one - must take
all of this garbage that is rained down upon him and say, "It's only
words". Sometimes he issues a warning but few take him seriously because
he is weak and obsequious; he "seeks peace".
In contrast, only the strong and self-confident, he who can pose a threat, who
does not restrain himself at all from utilizing full force, who will not
surrender anything due to him, will have peace and tranquility. Everyone else
will leave him be because they fear him, and this is the only peace that is
recognized in the Middle East. Peace belongs to the one who responds with great
power to the first missile that falls into his territory, even if it falls in
an open area; who doesn't say on the radio, "no damage was caused",
because the truth of the matter is that indeed great damage was caused to his
sovereignty, and nothing is more important than his sovereignty. Would a normal
person accept someone shooting at his house, even if "no damage was
caused"?
The Arab world fears an Israel that after the elections might be - good heavens
- more Jewish, because then the world might remember that the Jews, not the
Israelis, were expelled from here 1942 years ago, and now the Jews have
returned to their historic land - Judea. A more Jewish Israel might be a
"bad" example to Europe, where a sense of national identity is in
continual decline and where they watch with indifference the alien invasion
that is threatening the character of Europe. The strengthening of the Israeli
Right might therefore encourage the European Right to put an end to the great
immigration of the masses who expect to turn Europe into their land.
A Jewish Israel could be a magnet attracting Jews the world over to immigrate
to Israel and to make Israel the center of their life, and thus it will be
strengthened demographically, economically, socially and politically. This
process might be encouraged by the anti-Semitism in Europe, which is rising as
the Jews lose their influence and the public weight is transferred to groups of
immigrants that don't become part of the society of old, sleepy Europe.
A Jewish Israel will concentrate within it the educated Jews, the
entrepreneurs, the inventors, the developers and the cutting-edge scientists
who brought the Jewish people a prodigious number of Nobel prizes, and thus
Israel will become a bastion of science, technology and development, innovation
and entrepreneurship, while everything around it - chiefly in the past two
years - becomes a quagmire of blood, fire and tears, pillars of smoke,
destruction and devastation.
A sovereign and self-confident Jewish Israel will prove to its neighbors again
that the Jews are not just another "protected people" ("ahl
dhimmi" in their language) who must live according to rules determined by
the imams, and must "pay the head tax in a humiliated condition"
(Qur'an, Sura 9, Verse 29) according to the custom in the Arabian Peninsula of
the seventh century CE. A Jewish Israel will cling with more determination to
Jerusalem, the capital of the Jews since 3000 years ago, long before the sons
of the desert broke into it and invented a history that supposedly grants them
the rights to Jerusalem since the creation of the world.
With a Jewish Israel, the mutual bonds of responsibility will be strengthened
among Jews, and they will establish a more just, unified, fair and humane
society, and Jewish society will be stronger and more robust, more determined
and more able to stand the tests of life that anyone who wants to survive in
the Middle East are subjected to. This society will have a clearer self image,
and will not need to discriminate against minorities only in order to prove to
itself that it is "different".
As a result of this, the way the state
relates to minorities, especially the Muslim minority, will be more humane and
understanding, because - after all - many of the Jewish majority and the Muslim
minority see eye to eye concerning the true problems of traditional society in
a modern and permissive physical and virtual environment. Jews and Muslims
alike aspire to promote the education of the young generation, ethical behavior
of the sons and daughters of their society, restricting the use of drugs and
alcohol, honoring parents and teachers and adherence to religious and
traditional values.
A Jewish Israel will present a solid wall of defense against Islamic
radicalization and tribalism in the Arab world, and will prove that only a
people who clings to its identity and is faithful to its heritage can stand strong
against the tidal wave of radicalization and violence that engulfs the Middle
East, and this is exactly what frightens our neighbors: those who hoped that
with the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood, Israel would be paralyzed with fear
and would flee from all of its assets, discover that, contrary to their theory,
Israel is the state of the Jewish Brotherhood, and will not flee from an enemy.
A Jewish state such as this will prove to those near and far that the Jews have
returned to their historical and eternal homeland and will remain there forever
and ever, and only this way will Israel win peace from her neighbors. It will
not be a “peace of hugs and kisses”, because there is no such thing in the
Middle East, but rather it will be a Peace that stems from our neighbors'
recognition of the reality that the Almighty has imposed upon them, and the
realization that they have no choice but to accept it as it is. Within Islamic
tradition, there is a way to give peace to infidels who are invincible;
temporary peace that continues as long as the enemy is invincible. This is the
peace that Israel can win from her neighbors, and it will continue forever, but
only if Israel is invincible forever.
A more Jewish Israel will ensure peace among all of the citizens and will
oblige her neighbors to leave her in peace, and this is the reason that her
neighbors fear a more Jewish Israel.”
Credit to Dr. Mordechai Kedar – “The State of the Jewish
Brotherhood” - Translated from Hebrew by Sally Zahav with permission
from the author.
The G-d of Israel is
working with imperfect people in order to restore this planet to a messianic
era in which our lives can be focused on holiness, righteousness and justice.
If so, you might desire to reconnect with the Biblical portrayals of what is
and will be happening in your near future.
This Biblical
portrayal includes Prophecies that the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel are
about to return to the Land of their Biblical Inheritance. This is Divine
Destiny in living reality as the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel return to their Homelands
first in Shomron (Samaria), Israel.
If you want to learn
more, Contact “Kol
Ha’Tor Vision”,
the Voice of the Turtledove. Here is a joint Orthodox Jewish and 10-Triber
Mission to bring awareness of the imminent fulfillment of the Biblical
Prophecies regarding the Redemption of all Israel (12 Tribes Re-conciled and
Re-United). This super Event of all Times will entail Establishing the Shomron
(the Ancient Bible Heartland of the Patriarchs) and the Judean Wilderness as
part of the Land of Israel, and preparing the “Land” for the Return of the Lost
Tribes of the House of Israel and then the Redemption of All Israel.
For inquiries about
Kol Ha Tor Vision for the Lost Tribes of Israel, Visit – “Shomron Lives!”,a Spiritual Retreat and Guest House
in Samaria, that hosts Shomron (Samaria) Tours to reacquaint the Returning Lost
Tribers of the House of Israel.
Weekly Bible Reading #14 Year 5773 (2012/2013) – January 12,
2013
Parashat Va'eirah (And I appeared): Exodus 6:2-9:35
Haftarah: Ezekiel 28:25-29:21
NOTE: Kol HaTor, in its commentaries
on the weekly Parashot, endeavors to search for and accentuate the Torah
Messages contained in the Parashot as applicable to the main Theme of Tanach of
the Return of the House of Israel, i.e. the Lost Ten Tribes of Northern Israel
and their Reconciliation with Judah to form the reunited 12-Tribed Kingdom of
Israel.
DISCLAIMER - The authors whom we quote from
for this Commentary are not associated with KOL HA'TOR and need not agree with
our views expressed herein or in our other publications. While we publish their
views for its relative value to the interpretation of the Parashah, KOL HATOR
does not necessarily agree with the views expressed by these authors.
************
Our previous Parashah (Weekly Torah Reading) related how
that Moses, until in his age eighty, never lived amongst his nation of birth,
the Hebrews (12 Tribes of Ya'acov) till he was called by G-d to go and release
the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery. We learned from this, that HaShem uses
whatever forces He wishes, in order to bring about Redemption and that we dare
not try and advise Him on that. We should rather adjust our outlook on
Redemption and broaden our scope to recognize His True Call and Actions towards
Redemption.
This week's Parashah links onto that by describing how, it
seems, even the great Moses did not realize that Redemption was indeed not a
simple process, according to his personal thinking and expectations. Again, it
is something that should be left to HaShem to steer - as HaShem reminds him
when he somewhat audaciously questions G-d "for bringing these troubles on
his people".
This Divine steering Process, according to numerous Bible
instances, are destined to go through an intensifying tribulation period. In
this way, as often referred to, it relates to birth pangs before the birth
takes place. Then, Joy steps in.
The Jewish Sage, the Gaon of Vilna in his book Kol HaTor
quotes a sentence from Psalms in this regard: “One who plants in tears, will
harvest in joy.” That is what the process of Redemption is all about, and there
is no getting around it.
All signs show that we are entering just such a period in
time, referred to in the Bible as the "Time of Jacob's Trouble."
Thereafter, Joyous Redemption will be the Wedding Feast Theme.
Our Torah Reading also relates such a period of great trials
before the enslaved Hebrew nation was released “to go and worship their G-d in
the wilderness.” Just as the ancient Hebrews were Divinely called out of Egypt
to the Promised Land, the Homeland of Ya'acov and the twelve Tribes, so today,
Jews and re-identifying Ten Tribers are being called out of spiritual 'Egypt',
the countries where they are exiled and had gone totally 'lost', back to the
Land Promised to Avraham and the Patriarchs.
Our Parashah is clear about what it is that prevented the
Hebrews from returning to their Land: two factors:
The stubbornness of the people, the Hebrews themselves, and
The stubbornness and hard heartedness of the Pharaoh who
wanted to keep them enslaved, i.e. cheap labor.
Now, Rabbis commonly refer to Pharaoh as a type and an
example of ourselves; individually.
The Talmud teaches us that “even when standing at the gates
of Hell, wicked people will remain unrepentant.” As such, we are all like
Pharaoh. The hardest thing for a person is to admit error; to change our
personal predisposition on preferential important matters; to reverse course.
These are very difficult challenges for people to deal with
as our personal ego's prevent it. It calls for repentance (teshuvah - to
admit error and turn around) - a much called for but seldom accepted and
practiced personal turn about. Our stubbornness, like a Pharaoh, prevents us
from dealing wisely and practically with circumstances which obstruct our
Return, physically and spiritually.
As we will show shortly, this Pharaoh culture of
stubbornness and hard heartedness is a wide-spread problem in both Judah (the
Jews) and 10-Israel (the re-awakening and re-identifying Lost Ten Tribes of
ancient Israel in exile across the globe). Like Pharaoh of old, this problem
presents the greatest stumbling block in the way of the Final Redemption, i.e.
the establishment of the re-united 12-Tribed Kingdom of Israel under the Rule
of Messiah ben David. Once this rebellion of Pharaoh against the Power and Will
of G-d is broken, the Redemption can take place and Peace can reign on earth.
To break this stubbornness of Pharaoh requires, as in this
Parashah, the Ten Plagues to totally destroy his ego and power. We will
highlight a few comparative features here, from our Parashah, to serve as a
mirror for our own images and attitudes. May this serve as directives for us
(both the House of Judah and the House of 10-Israel) to properly prepare for
the Redemption:
“Power always brings with it an
inflation of ego. Pharaoh cannot change course because doing so would deflate
his ego and weaken his perceived power base. His strength, his power, is really
his ultimate weakness. The great Pharaoh cannot admit his past mistakes for
then he would no longer feel himself to be the great Pharaoh.
“He is the victim of his own
position and the power that comes with it. Ordinary people, even his own
advisors, can admit to error and change course and policies. Not so the great
Pharaoh, who deems himself to be a god and above all other humans in his realm.
The more arrogant and prideful a
person is, the less likely it is that he or she will allow reality to alter
preconceived ideas and policies. Pharaoh is trapped in the web of his own
making.”
Can you see some of these traits in yourself?
Let us high-light it further. Pharaoh is carried away by his
own interests, his ruling power, his empire, his comfort zones. He can NOT let
another power interfere. He can NOT let his sources of cheap labor, kingdom
improvement and wealth (income) be dismantled.
Every individual has personal interests, assets, capital bases,
comfort zones and sources of income. Most of us are securely enslaved to it. We
are chained to it and fear the loss of it. Like a Pharaoh of Egypt, it resists
the freedom of our souls which are called to Return; spiritually and
physically. And in Torah terms, it most importantly includes physical Return to
the Land and to identifying with, and as, the Nation of the G-d of Israel.
Do you now start to recognize some of Pharaoh's traits in
you? Or are you already securely in the
Land and committed to HaShem's Cause?
Moshe spoke Hashem’s words to the enslaved Hebrews, “but
they did not heed Moshe, because of shortness of breath and hard work.” They
were caught up in their daily commitments and clinging to their ‘kingdoms.’ The
Rabbis teach that the majority of Hebrews remained in Egypt when their fellow
Hebrews left in the Exodus. They preferred to remain in their comfort zones.
Imagine, taking the road to an unknown Promised Land.
How many Bible believers today would leave their comfort
zones for a new start in a foreign Land - even if referred to as the Promised
Land in the Bible?
Resisting the Call to Return
The process of re-qualifying as a Ten Triber with a New
Hebrew Torah identity entails extricating oneself from enslavement in Egypt.
What is the biggest resistance factor in this process; Personal stubbornness,
lack of faith in the ‘Moses’ leadership AND a Pharaoh identity, resisting to let
the enslaved leave in freedom?
“The Torah tells us about the fertile Nile delta and the
material blessing with which ancient Egypt was blessed. The Egyptians were
granted these abundant resources in order to garner the bountiful crops that
their Nile yielded. They were supposed to use the Nile's refreshing waters to
nourish their blood supply and live spiritually meaningful lives.
However, this people became so debased, they turned the
source of Hashem's bounty into a source of idolatry by deifying the waters of
the Nile. They enveloped themselves in the darkness of the material world, and
were therefore afflicted with the plague of darkness."
Similarly, Jews who resist the Call to Return to Israel and
re-awakening Ten Tribers who resist the Call to fully identify with physical
Israel (which includes Spiritual Israel), have made their capital assets their
god (like the Nile for Egyptians); likewise their financial needs, their homes
and assets, and their infrastructures. Like in the land of Egypt, their daily
involvements have become their "country" - just like the Nile is the
reason for Egypt's existence. But HaShem assured the ancient Israelites,
through Moshe, that He certainly would bring them back to the Land. That, however,
would require “Ten Plagues” (Tribulation).
Thus, we have to expect this tribulation to come over us,
for G-d is intent on bringing us all Home.
The Secret is, that YOU can shorten the Tribulation - like
Pharaoh could have shortened it, had he yielded and not allowed his ego and
stubbornness to each time oppose their release.
The Rabbis point out that the famine in Yosef's time was
shortened because Ya'acov was allowed by Pharaoh to move to and settle in Egypt
for survival. The famine was subsequently even turned into great riches for the
Pharaoh because citizens had to sell their assets and homes to pay him for food
stocks which he had stored through Yoseph.
In this respect, the Rabbis point out an amazing change in
the nature of the Ten Plagues. The first five did not succeed to change
Pharaoh's hardened heart, for his magicians could imitate Moses' wonders. But
then G-d changed His approach and He hardened Pharaoh’s heart. So, from the 6th
plague onwards (the boils); when the magicians could not imitate Moses'
wonders. Pharaoh was still resistant, but this time because G-d had hardened
his heart (Exodus 9:12; 10:20, 27).
By the 9th Plague, Darkness set in, representing that all
Light (opportunity) had left. Pharaoh warned Moshe never to return, for he
would be killed. This was the end.
Pharaoh's opportunities (under the first 5 plagues) were
spent. He earned an unrelenting heart for that, which ultimately culminated in
the Plague of utter darkness. His opportunity to relent started with the 1st
plague, representing blood, which is the life stream of mankind which brings
life and enlightenment if correctly utilized. The Nile, god and sustainer of
the Egyptians, became blood - thus killing the life stream of Egypt to show
that the Creator God of Israel is the True Source of Life. But it would not
convince Pharaoh and humble him.
He lost every opportunity - until, from the 6th Plague
onwards, when G-d hardened his heart; there was no room for repentance and
utter Darkness set in. The Tenth Plague would force Pharaoh to release G-d's
People as He had promised them they would!
Ten Tribers today hear the Call of Moshe and of Yoseph
(representing the Hebraic Restoration spear point element in the Reawakening).
These souls may be Church goers, following what they believe the Bible is
teaching. They may be Sabbath observers, Jewish Feast Day observers - or simply
pro-Israel and pro-Jewish Christian Zionists; they may even be secular.
They are somewhere in the world as a result of their
forefathers having been exiled from the Land of Israel because of their
rebellion against the ‘Jewish’ Torah. They are confronted by some or other
format of the re-awakening Hebraic restoration Truths engulfing the earth.
Their souls are called BACK to their Hebrew Roots, back to the Land, but, like
a Pharaoh they resist, they refuse to bend and acknowledge to higher Truth;
they refuse to accept the ‘Messenger’ whom they proclaim ‘an Egyptian’, they
cling to their worldly comfort zone.
BEWARE! The Pleas that you encounter can start initially as
‘Blood of Life’, true Life, New Life, Eternal Life. Relent - before it turns
into utter Darkness!
Advanced Ten Tribers run another risk: Like a Pharaoh, they
can be proud hearted. They earned the Nile! - like Pharaoh who every morning
went down to it - like a self-worship exercise - but in vain. For outside of
the One True G-d of Israel, Who's Requirements have been mandated to the Tribe
of Judah (Genesis 49:10), there is very little Light - for His Word is the
Light of the World!
You have to humble yourselves and learn from His Lawgivers -
the spiritual leaders of Judah (Psalms 60:7; 108:8). The wisdom that you have
been led to in your Hebraic Restoration experience may have made you proud.
Many such Ten Tribers have become victim of their own position and the power
that comes with it - like Pharaoh - unwilling to listen to the ‘Message of Moshe’
which they reject with contempt. Don't let Darkness overtake you!
The Resistance of Judah
There is the risk of a Pharaoh culture here also: Many Jews
oppose the idea of an ‘Egyptian’ Moshe or Yoseph returning to the fold. The
Returnees who come in the Name of the G-d of Israel, like a Moshe and a Yoseph,
are rejected. They call them pagans, idol worshippers (‘Egyptians’). They
refuse them Return to the fold by conversion. They even reject their willing
and voluntary free support through their gifts and labors, to help to build the
Land and secure it, labeling it as unlawful, a curse on the Land and its
people.
We have had an example of this in Shomron, Israel, just this
past week. A bumper sticker started to circulate with the theme: “With
Christians - no Blessing”. This was a move of opposition by fundamentalist Jews
against the presence and assistance that volunteer Christians offer Shomron
wine farmers.
Hundreds of these Israel lovers (no doubt reawakening Ten
Tribers) come for periods of 3 months to offer their free labors on Shomron
farms. These farms are run by individual farmers who cannot afford the labor
costs for such large labor forces required to produce the fine wines that they
do.
This rejection by a sector of ultra religious Jews overlook
the Biblical Promises that Abraham's descendants would one day return to the
land where they would grow vineyards and produce wine on the mountains of
Shomron, the homeland of their forefathers!
Amos 9:11, 13-15 – “In that day I will restore David's fallen tent ... and
build it as it used to be ... ‘The days are coming,’ declares HaShem ... New
wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills. I will bring back my exiled people Israel;
they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards
and drink their wine. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to
be uprooted from the land I have given them,’ says the L-RD your G-d.”
This Prophecy does NOT
apply to Jews (Judah) only. As our comprehensive extract of Scriptures in this
regard show that "Israel" has a far wider implication in Prophetic
Tanach. It refers to 10-Israel mostly, and if not, then certainly to 12-Israel,
depending on the context - but NEVER to Judah alone. Judah is specified by
name.
Our Haftarah this week tells us what is going to happen to
this Pharaoh.
It should now be clear why HaShem is so resolute about
destroying the Nile - sustainer and god of Egypt - in this Prophetic Scripture.
Ezekiel 28:25-26 – “This is what the
Sovereign HaShem says: ‘When I
gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been
scattered, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of the
nations. Then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant
Jacob. They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant
vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their
neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am HaShem their God.”
Ezekiel 29:9-12 – “Because you said,
‘The Nile is mine; I made it,’ therefore I am against you and against your
streams, and I will make the land of Egypt a ruin and a desolate waste from
Migdol to Aswan, as far as the border of Cush. The foot of neither man nor
beast will pass through it; no one will live there for forty years. I will make
the land of Egypt desolate among devastated lands and its cities will be
desolate among destroyed cities for forty years; and I will scatter Egypt among
the nations and disperse them through the lands.”
To understand more
about the Return of the 10 Tribes of Israel to their Homeland in Shomron
(Samaria), Israel, Contact “Kol Ha’Tor”, the Voice of the
Turtledove.
Here is a joint
Orthodox Jewish and 10-Triber Mission to bring awareness of the imminent
fulfillment of the Biblical Prophecies regarding the Redemption of all Israel
(12 Tribes Re-conciled and Re-United). This super Event of all Times will
entail Establishing the Shomron (the Ancient Bible Heartland of the Patriarchs)
and the Judean Wilderness as part of the Land of Israel, and preparing the “Land”
for the Return of the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel and then the
Redemption of All Israel.
For inquiries about
Kol Ha Tor Ministries for the Lost Tribes of Israel, Visit – “Shomron
Lives!”, a Spiritual Retreat and Guest House in
Samaria, that hosts Shomron (Samaria) Tours to reacquaint the Returning Lost
Tribers of the House of Israel.
You are Israel!
The History was Revealed by the Prophets and Confirmed by Archeology, the Judgment of the God of Israel was Sealed as they were Exiled to Khurasan in Northern Iran, Eastern Afghanistan and Western Pakistan. They Disappeared into the Mists of History as they Migrated in Waves up through Georgia through the Caucasus and Followed the Tracks of their Cousin Dan who left his Name on the Rivers of his Passage (Don, Dniester, Dnieper, and the Danube) as they Migrated Northwestward towards Denmark. They Erupted into Northern Europe in the 3rd Century BCE as the Royal Scythians, Celts, Cymrics, Cimmerians, Goths, Angles, Saxons, Ostrogoths, Visigoths and Frisians.
They Populated the Lands of Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark), the Isles of the West (Britain, Ireland, and Scotland) the Lowlands (Netherlands and Belgium), the Colonies of Great Britain (United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa) plus the Lands of Northern France, and Germany. These today are the Lost Tribes of Israel!
If your Ancestry comes from any of these Lands,
Welcome, You are a “Lost Ten Triber” of the House of Israel!
The Prophets have Proclaimed, at the Time of the End, You will Return Home!
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