What's So Special About The Jews?

I have been slaving away with other Jewish women (and men) cleaning and preparing for the Pesach (Passover) Holiday.  My hands are cut and raw from scrubbing. My back aches. My time is pressured.  Why do we do it?  Seems that most Jewish holidays are summed up by the common joke:

"They tried to kill us, we won, let's eat". 

Yet we carry on every year, commemorating these holy days, that we should not forget. One may ask, why is it so important?  What's the point?  Why not just live a happy-go-lucky, fun life?  As long as you don't hurt anyone else, what's the big deal?  However, we know there is a bigger picture involved here.

Mankind is on a journey.  I believe we are coming to a very important time in history when the world will finally get the answers to the above questions, and more.

Our history is rich in stories showing us how much G-d loves us.  Please view this appropriately nice pre-Pesach (Passover) video.  While watching this re-enactment of the miracles G-d did for us, keep in mind how much He loves us. He really loves us!  He didn't do this for any other nation in the world.

Were you inspired?  Even just a wee bit? We are commanded at the Pesach Seder to feel as if we personally were taken out of Egypt.  The Jewish holidays that we celebrate are to remind us, to teach us, to improve us.  Please see below another short video clip which might bring you to answer the question regarding the title of this blog. 

I have to say here, that I liked the video below, however, I was perturbed by the ending.  It should have ended with a conclusion.  But perhaps that's the point.  Perhaps they ended the video like this so that people could answer the question for themselves....

So, what's so special about the Jews? 

It’s Not Fun Being a Prophet - The True Prophets

In continuation of a previous article I wrote talking about False Prophets, I would like to continue with who the real, true prophets are today.

While I agree that we do not have prophets today on the scale of our prophets of the Tanach (Bible), we still have many holy and righteous people proclaiming the word of G-d – to their peril.  

If being a prophet of G-d was easy and prestigious, then we would not have had the story of Jonah and the Whale, where Jonah (Yonah)  tried to run away from G-d and hide, in order NOT to be the one to have to relay G-d’s message to Nineveh.  We also wouldn't read about Jeremiah being thrown into jail, and we wouldn’t have seen Elijah have to hide from King Ahab.  It’s not fun being a prophet.

So, who are the people today that are proclaiming G-d’s words to the public, and how are they treated?

Rabbi Meir Kahane Z"L, who many believe was a modern day prophet, warned the Jewish people and the world about what would happen in the future regarding the Arab threat.  Today we see that what he stated has come to pass.  Read this book to find out what he said. 

Today we see graffiti all over Israel spray painted on walls which states: "Kahane was right".  Yet, what was Kahane’s life like as a modern day prophet?  Let’s see, hmmm, Rabbi Kahane, in order to make ends meet, had to wake up before dawn and drive around in an old car and deliver news papers early in the morning. He had to take on extra work as a taxi driver (can you imagine hailing a taxi in New York and having Rabbi Kahane as your driver???). He became a sports writer - all this just to make ends meet. And finally, after starting the Jewish Defense League (JDL), he worked after hours, not in a plush complex, but in a small office in an old building, furnished only with a few worn wooden tables and chairs, an old typewriter, and for decoration, a few posters of Israel taped to the wall. Stacks of mimeographed JDL flyers sat stacked on the tables and a couple of telephones to make calls to organize protests sat on a desk. Rabbi Kahane was often roughed up and arrested by police at demonstrations and he had numerous court cases and charges brought against him for his activism on behalf of Soviet Jewry. Police broke his finger and battered his arm, and he had the FBI following him and making him trouble.  In short, he didn’t have an easy or cushy life. He suffered for the mitzvah of 'Ahavat Yisrael', love for one's fellow Jew. 

Who are the other prophets of today, people who are proclaiming G-d’s word?

The Tzvia Sariel’s of today. Tzvia is a young woman who recently turned 18 in jail here in Israel.  She was arrested for her activism and was put in jail and held for 3 months because she refused to recognize the authority of the Israeli justice system which runs on laws that were left over from previous occupation forces like Britain and the Ottoman Empire.  She boldly stated that she only recognizes Jewish law in Israel.  Because of her strong stance, she was left in jail as a punishment, an ‘example’ to anyone else who might wish to reject the set of laws still existing in Israel today.  Tzvia is a modern day prophet.  She is someone who is not afraid to proclaim the truth that this Land was given to the Jewish people by G-d and that we have the right to settle in it anywhere we  choose.

The thirteen to fifteen year old girls who were also in jail for refusing to identify themselves to the police, because they do not recognize their authority, are modern day prophets who are fighting and making a stance that G-d and His Torah are truth, and not this secular government which runs on foreign laws.

Nadia Matar, co-Chairman of Women in Green who organizes protests and fights for the Land of Israel, she is a true prophet.  She was brought up on charges for insulting a public official, one who had voluntarily taken on a job which entailed transferring Jews out of their homes in Gush Katif in order that it be given over to the enemies of  the Jewish people.  She doesn't have an easy life.  She gets castigated and roughed up by security forces for her activism.  She is like a Deborah or Yael of yore, a brave Jewish woman who leaves her comfort zone to go out and protect the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.

All those today who stand for G-d and proclaim His word, no matter if they are scoffed at, have their bones broken, or sit in jail – THESE are the true prophets of today.

One would think that a prophet is someone who wears a long robe, has a long majestic beard and stands on a hill top and proclaims the word of G-d to an entranced crowd that shows him great honor.  It is not so. 

The true prophets of today do not have the title “President” in front of their names, like Shimon Peres has.  They do not walk down red carpets.  They do not socialize with the ‘Beautiful Elite People’.  They do not receive honor, wear thousand dollar suits or receive  fancy invitations to international galas. The true prophets of today are spat on, kicked around, castigated, arrested and sit in jail. They are people working three jobs, driving taxis, living on hill tops in tents or make shift housing because they live their belief of settling the Land of Israel.  They are the people who get beat up at demonstrations and sit in jail.  These are today’s true prophets.

In closing, I’d like to explain a passage from the book of Jeremiah.  In 36:4-7,  it talks about Jeremiah telling Baruch the son of Neriah, to transcribe all the words that G-d had spoken to Jeremiah on a scroll.  Then Jeremiah tells Baruch:  “And Jeremiah commanded to Baruch saying, “I am detained; I cannot go to the Temple of Hashem.  So you go and read from the scroll, on which you have written the words of Hashem from my mouth, in the ears of the people…”

Now, what does it mean when Jeremiah says he was ‘detained’?  What possibly could be more important than doing G-d’s word, going to the Holy Temple and reading to the people G-d’s word and imploring the people to repent?  What was he detained with?  Did he have an appointment with his manicurist?  Did he have a lunch date with a business partner?  Did he have a 12 step group meeting for Prophets Anonymous?  What could be more important than doing G-d’s work?

The Radak, (Rabbi David Kimchi, one of our great Torah commentators) lets us understand about Jeremiah and his being ‘detained’.  He writes: “As often happened, Jeremiah had been ARRESTED for his ‘demoralizing and seditious’ statements.”
So, here we see that the King’s guards were sent to arrest the ‘rabble rouser prophet’ who preached unpopular messages to the people, messages the King and his ministers did not like.  And in our day,  Rabbi Kahane, Nadia Matar,  and all the others who stand for G-‘s word, they too, like Jeremiah, are castigated, arrested, and have to sit in jail. It's not fun being a prophet.

Not much has changed, has it?

****  Additon to blog, by request of Michelle to include this picture.  See talk-back #52  (This photo taken by Oded Balilty won a Pulitzer Prize)

Magic Carpets and Miracles

Getting away from the glitz, glamour and the red carpets of the political world, I thought we should take a spin to the places where the real people live.

Ebay and Youtube are both spheres where the little guy can spill his guts, or sell his wares.  I find both these sites everlastingly new and interesting.  Thanks to my readers that send me these links.

Here’s an item of interest that you may like to bid for. 

MAGIC CARPET!  KABALAH DOORMAT!  KEEPS FLOORS CLEANER! WOW

This is a Magic Kabalistic Miracle Doormat!
It is guaranteed to stop more dirt! People notice this one much better than other doormats & wipe their feet cleaner!
Guess why?
It is 3' x 4' beautiful hand-made Doormat that definitely adds character to any fine residence, offices, etc.
Made of quality Stainmaster with soft backing. Will not scratch wood floors. No edge stitching. Heavy! Weighs about 3 lbs. Ships rolled (outside). Before use, needs to lay 'relaxed' to get flat again.

Some leftists and other terrorism supporters may go crazy... so let them stomp on it!
Huge discounts to Dr.Condoleeza Rice & State Dept. Magic Carpet will help reduce taxpayer's expenses by keeping Federal Office floors cleaner!  Startng bid: US $14.99  Click HERE.

Someone please let me know the results, if he sold and for how much, ok?

And Youtube: 
“Searching For My Father  - Michael Elbaz”
He states: “Please help me circulate this video, so maybe I can be heard, and a miracle could happen, Thank you so much.” 

Taking the kid for his word, let's try to help him. Does anyone know any people with the last name Elbaz ( a common last name) here in Israel or the USA/Canada?  If so, ask them if they have a relative named Michael, Micky, Michi, or whatever other form of name ‘Michael’ can be turned into.  Then, let Derek know.  Maybe he can chase down any leads.  I'd also like to know of any follow up here.

Hey, should I do a vlog and post it here?  Looks like fun. 

Shabbat shalom.

The False Prophets

I happen to be reading in the book of  Jeremiah (Yirmiahu) at this time. The story of Jeremiah is depressing, but so telling in what we are experiencing today.

Jeremiah is a prophet who was told by G-d that King Tzedkiyahu (Zedekiah) and all of the Kingdom of Judea would be defeated and taken over by Nebuchadnezer, the king of Babylonia.  But no one wanted to believe him.  Instead, the king and the people wanted to believe false prophesies telling them they would defeat the Babylonian armies and see a victory.  This ‘false prophesy’ was the exact opposite of what G-d was relaying to us through Jeremiah.  But who wants to believe in a depressing prophesy of gloom and doom, when you have OTHERS promising you victory and having your dreams come true?  And what happened to poor Jeremiah, the humble and true prophet of G-d?  They threw him into prison where he rotted until he was taken away into exile with the rest of his people, just as he had predicted. 

          At present, we are experiencing something very similar, and we should take heed of the message from the book of Jeremiah.  Today we also have ‘false prophets’ who promise the People of Israel PEACE.  They say things like, “If we only we forget about Torah, forget our past, forget history, we can march towards a great future filled with peace and prosperity.  What about G-d?  G-d makes people crazy.  Science and technology are the future!  You want peace?  Listen to us then.  We must give our land to enemies. We must arm our enemies. We must prop up the enemy leader and make him look strong.  We must release convicted terrorists to make good will. The enemy will grant us peace from all of this.  This path is our only hope.  No other solution is possible.  We must go this route.”

False prophet # 1 is Shimon Peres.  This is a man who promises peace if we just got rid of history and looked towards a borderless new world.  Please watch this video below where he actually tells Jewish youth to forget about history, because history is’ irrelevant’.  The video shows him telling our youth NOT to listen to their parents and teachers!  We learn from the Torah that parents and teachers are to be shown respect and honor.  They possess wisdom and life experience.  These adults have nourished, cared for, and invested time and money into these children, and they do it to make them the best future adults they can be.  Yet,  Mr. Peres tells our youth NOT to listen to them, and to go their OWN way.  He wants them to follow his vision of a New World Order that has no borders, no nation states, no history, and no G-d.  

Click above to watch 11 minute video.  Then tell me what you think.

They Want to Convince Me To Sell Out

Well, I received a SECOND letter in the mail from the left wing Bayit Ehad (One Home) people asking me to fill out forms that I would be willing to sell out and leave my home.  Bayit Ehad is reported as being pushed by certain left wing knesset members who want to give up our land to the Arabs. They send their letters to Jews living beyond the 'security fence' in Judea & Samaria, not to the Arabs.  Apparently they don’t want to even consider a plan for Arab emigration, only the Jews need to be ethnically cleansed from our biblical homeland. 

Our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob never walked down the streets of Tel Aviv.  The city didn’t exist until the last century.  However, they did walk the roads in Judea & Samaria.  In fact, Bet El could boast a sign saying that “Jacob slept here”.   People living in YESHA (Judea & Samaria) are not living in ‘settlements’.  We are living in ‘RE-settlements’.  We are back here after years of the land being neglected.  Once beautiful towns and agricultural fields have turned to weeds and rocky, uninhabital terrain since the Jews were taken out in Exile. But now we have been brought back and have re-established Jewish life where we lived so many years before.  Hostile terrain is gone, and new homes have been built. Children are again playing in the streets, laughter and gaiety is heard from their mothers standing and talking to one another. Schools and libraries and general life has returned to where our ancestors once lived and thrived.  ...But I digress.
   One of the many RE-settlements in Judea & Samaria. Jewish life is back to stay.

Getting back to the letter that I and my neighbors received, we notice that it was sent in a  blue and white envelope, making it ‘look’ very patriotic.  Ha!

Sorry folks, I just can’t stop laughing.

If you are a resident in Judea and Samaria, and have received this letter full of forms for you to fill out with a note on their stationary trying to convince you they are doing this because they care about YESHA residents and want to enable you to move to what they claim are the true, legal borders of Israel, - don’t throw it in the waste basket.  The forms come with a pre-paid postage that they will be charged for, if it is put in the mail.  People here are saying to take the forms, (they say you can draw a giant ‘X’ on the forms or you can just write them ‘lo todah’ (no thank you) about them trying to buy you out, and put it in the envelope and send it off to them.

Wouldn’t that be great seeing their offices flooded with envelopes they paid postage for, and in them were X-ed out forms? 

I can’t wait to send mine back to them!  ... and they were hoping I would sell out.