The Plagues Of America?

***For some truly awesome photos of IKE's distruction, likening it to a plague, click HERE and then return to read this blog.

When we learn about the plagues of Egypt, do we get angry at the person who is teaching us this biblical history?  Most of us would say no.  It is in this vein that I wish to point your attention to the massive plagues that seem to be happening in the United States. ...And don't be angry at me that I am asking you to consider this.

      (Below: Mass Exodus Fom Hurricane Ike)

In the last two hurricanes that slammed into the U.S., we have seen a true-blue exodus  take place of 3 million people.  Two million running from Gustav and another one million from Ike.  If you are not aware, three million people is close to half the population of Israel!  Can you imagine HALF of the population of Israel having to flee their homes in an exodus like what took place in the USA?

As G-d fearing people, we know that G-d controls everything in this world.  Nothing happens without His allowing it to happen.  This does not mean that I believe in a cruel mean G-d that sits up in heaven and throws lightening bolts in anger against mankind below.  Not at all!  I believe that G-d created us, loves us, and wants us to follow His ways, to cling to Him, and to grow from the challenges we face.  I believe He wants us to make the proper choices in life so that we can take this world and make it better after being here.  If we make the wrong choices, if we chose to do evil, then it's not just a punishment, per se, rather, a CONSEQUENCE.

Imagine that you are a parent.  If one of your children does not clean his room, throwing his books and shoes in the middle of the floor and then decides to go to bed, would it be a 'punishment' if he got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, rubbing his eyes and then tripping over the mess he left?  A punishment, or a consequence?  And do you, his parent want your child to trip and hurt themselves?  Absolutely not.  You gave him instructions.  You told him to keep his

Map of Missiles/Rockets That Reach Israeli Population Centers and International Airport.

room tidy and reminded him that he has a habit of not wanting to put things in order before he goes to bed.  But these are the consequences of disobeying the rules, the laws of nature, the laws of the home.  You, the parent would hope that your child would now have learned his lesson and will now follow the rules of safety and a harmonious home life in the manual you gave him of house rules. Others would call it the 'Bible'.

The Bush administration is at this moment working to undermine Israel and destroy her.  Because the establishment of a Palestinian State in the heartland of Israel would be impossible for Israel to survive.  All of Israel's major poulation centers, including her international airport,  would be vulnerable from mortar, rocket and missile attacks. 

The Bush administration wants to go against the Bible, G-d's word, and divvy up Jerusalem and the land of Israel.  Something that G-d said He would not tolerate.  Yet Bush & Co. continue to press on, pressuring Israel to make more concessions, more good will gestures, more prisoner releases of convicted terrorist murderers, before the end of Bush's 8 year term is up, in only several weeks time.

                            Egyptain Plague of Hailfire

Pharoah also tried to crush the Children of Israel.  He was the one who had the hardened heart, yet his whole nation suffered.  Some Egyptians feared G-d, and hid their animals inside their homes and barns when the burning hail storms came down and demolished their farms.  The Egyptians suffered much damage, but still survived to rebuild and recoup.  Do we not see the same thing happening in America now? It was hurt, but it too survived, and will hobble along re-building from this latest plague. 

                               Ike's Aftermath

Yes, in G-d fearing people's eyes, Gustav and Ike, the exodus of 3 million people, the devastation and havoc, was similar to one of the plagues of Egypt.  I am not at all happy about this.  The American people are a good people.  I would imagine it would be more just to see the Islamic TERROR regimes suffer.  But I do not claim to know all of G-d's ways or His accounting.  Perhaps troubles befall the Jews and now the Americans because G-d cares enough to straighten us out, where as He has less interest in disciplining  the more evil ones?  I am at a loss.  However, one thing I do I believe, and that is,  if this part of history were happening before the Torah was given,  it would have made it in as one of the stories of the Bible.  Perhaps it would have gone something like this:

"And King Bush, prince of the Western World continued to make the lives of the Children of Israel very bitter.  He lured the corrupt Kings of Israel to the peace table promising riches and open markets and peace.  But the price was the Land of Israel to be given to the sons of Ishmael. And The Holy One, Blessed Be He, made a great wind to blow over the seas over the southern region which belonged to King Bush. 

And a wall of water and great winds crashed into the homes and great cities of the King.  But he would not hearken to the word of the L-rd.  And another great storm came on the heels of the first, displacing millions of people, and still King Bush did not hearken.  And another wall came down, this time in their financial sector which they called Wall Street.  And the great institutions that were housed there fell, leaving the population to carry the debts of silver and gold. 

And a great financial woe settled on this land, and the people cried."….

Pride & Shame

I don't remember being fond of a politician for a long time.  But I have to admit, I like this woman, Sarah Palin.  This doesn't mean that she is perfect, or the answer to the world's problems, or even that she won't get corrupted one day like most politicians do.  But at least IN THE MEANTIME, I am going to go out on a limb and say, I like Sarah Palin.

Sarah Palin seems to be a down to earth mom, a woman with values, and a woman that kept a baby even though she had a big and important career ahead of her.  Keeping her fetus though she knew it had Downs Syndrome, when it would have been so easy to rationalize aborting her baby says a lot about her inner strength and character.

Just look at this gem off the news wires this week:

"Girl to Auction Virginity on Radio Show" 

"Radio host Howard Stern is set to shock his listeners - by auctioning off a girl's virginity on his show.

The 22-year-old brunette is auctioning off her virginity in a desperate bid to pay for her college tuition. The San Diego brunette, who is using the pseudonym of Natalie Dylan for "safety reasons'', was introduced to the RJ by the owner of a legal Nevada brothel, where her sister already works.

The winner of the auction will get to consummate the relationship at the brothel.

"I don't have a moral dilemma with it," the Sun quoted Dylan, as saying. "We live in a capitalist society. Why shouldn't I be allowed to capitalize on my virginity? I understand some people may condemn me. But I think this is empowering. I'm using what I have to better myself," she added."

Natalie says her mother, who is a primary school teacher, doesn't approve of the auction but 'supports' her." ***

Is this what the world has come to?  Is there no shame anymore? Is this how we have raised a generation of children in the most enlightened and freest country in the world?  Without religious convictions, where morality can be rationalized away to permit anything?

Back to Sarah Palin and all moms who have morals and some pride.  In today's world, they are a breath of fresh air.  They give us a sigh of relief in a world that seems to have gone mad.  To be a woman who can be a mother, break the glass ceiling, AND be a G-d fearing woman who values life, no matter if it is not packaged in a perfect body or not, is a rarity today.  Oh, and did I forgot to mention that she loves Israel?  I had written about this in a previous blog, but here is a follow up.  Jake, a Noahide from Alaska who first tipped me off that Palin has an Israeli flag in her governor's office, now sent me another piece of EXCLUSIVE news.  Just read his email to me:

Shalom Tamar!
I'm so excited right now.  I just got back from seeing Sarah Palin speak here in Anchorage at a convention before getting back on the campaign trail with McCain.  Anyway, I wore my Israeli/American flag pin that you sent me [for winning a contest you ran on your blog] on my shirt today.  After Sarah's speech, she made the usual rounds of hand shaking.  My daughter and I were pretty close to the barricade, within arms reach, so I decided to wait for her to make it to our side and shake her hand.  And then it occurred to me.  She might not have an Israeli flag lapel pin, but I could change that right now.  I undid my MUCH-BELOVED PIN!  You have no idea Tamar.  I literally wear it every day.  But I decided Sarah needed it more than I did at this point.  She finally made it to where I was.  She was signing everything anyone stuck in front of her so she had a marker in her hand.  I reached out and she reached out to shake my hand and I placed the pin in her hand.  She got a surprised look on her face, like, WHAT'S THIS, looked down and then back up at me and kind of gasped, put her hand over her heart and said "THANK YOU!"  I nodded and said, "STAND WITH ISRAEL!' and she nodded right back and then she paused, looked me right in the eyes and, with that confident nod she does sometimes, said with sincerity, "I WILL WEAR THIS."  She looked very serious.  I gave her the 'I love you sign' in sign language and that was that. 
So now we shall see what she does with it. 
I think it's pretty awesome Tamar that Sarah Palin now has that pin from Israel all because you took the time to send it to me.  Pretty cool.
Shalom,
jake in Anchorage, AK

p.s. Tamar, here's a picture I snapped immediately after our exchange when she started to move on.  jake

Love Is Not Enough

I admit it.  I'm a bit confused. It doesn't make me feel bad or threatened.   Actually, it could be quite exciting.  However, there is much work ahead.  What I am talking about is this phenomena of people from all over the world wanting to be counted as part of the Jewish nation.

Only 60 some years ago in Europe, the most cultured part of the world, it was a crime to be a Jew.  You were not considered human, and you were hunted down and exterminated.  Today however, it is becoming vogue to either be a Jew, or cozy on up to Jewish culture and claim that you are either part of our nation, or even more Jewish than the Jews.

This last week, I did a show on the lost ten tribes of Israel.  We learn from our prophets that in the end of days, the lost ten tribes will be returned to the Jewish Nation.  This is a very exciting thing, however, the road may be bumpy.

There are thousands, perhaps millions of people today who believe that they are part of the lost ten tribes.  Some people claiming Jewish ancestry have been officially recognized such as Beta Israel (Blacks from Ethiopia) and the Bnei Menashe (Asian Indians) as they have kept Jewish tradition and Torah as best they could, conferred with our rabbinical leaders today to make sure they have a kosher conversion back to their roots (if required) and have joined us here in Israel as full fledged Jews. They have intermarried with the rest of the Nation of Israel and are living a total Jewish life here in the Land of Israel.

However, a problem arises  today when there are others who profess to being either from a  lost tribe, or claim to be the real Jews themselves.  This is where a blurring of lines can get very sticky and complicated.  While not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings and while saying this with as much love in my heart for my fellow man as I can, wanting to be a Jew, or even claiming to be a Jew, does NOT make one a Jew.  There are 613 commandments that Jews must obey and there is a specific code of  Jewish law which one must accept and take upon himself to be counted as part of the Jewish nation.  Having a burning desire, or burning love for G-d and His Torah is not enough. 

Case in point: Hu Yang is from Beijing.   He loves everything American; hot dogs, hamburgers and Britney Spears. He watches American Idol when he can cut in on outside internet and he keeps up with all the baseball and football stats and games.  In short, this man is dying to be an American.  He even managed to obtain a job where he is allowed to travel to the States for work.  However, loving and feeling attached to America does NOT make him an American.  It doesn't matter how much he identifies with America or how crazy he is about it.  He is not an American citizen nor will he ever be, unless he applies for citizenship, takes a course on American government, passes a test, and then swears an oath of allegiance in front of a certified legal court judge.  After fulfilling those requirements, Hu Yang can celebrate his new identity and status as an American and live as a full fledged, legal life with his new community.

But what if Hu Yang wanted to live in America legally, but remain a communist, as he believed in his heart that capitalism was evil and that communism was the truthful, fair, humanistic way that all people should live and share the wealth of the planet?  What if he wanted to live in America, enjoy the culture, but turn it one day into a communist country?  Would there be a problem here?  Would it wear down and destroy the American way of life of freedom and values that make it distinct from other nations?  Would America continue to be a beacon of light and offer freedom if it were infiltrated with people who wanted to hold on to their values and beliefs that contradicted the very essence of what America stood for?

This can be a very exciting time in history, to see people from around the world wanting to be Jews, or believing that they are, and really joining the Jewish Nation to be a light.  But it must be done through Jewish law and respect and honor for our ways which we have carried with us for thousands of years since receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. No blurring of borders, no making claims and stealing an identity and then going against Torah and Halacha (the Code of Jewish law). 

A Hu Feng, a John Doe, or a Rodney Jackson can feel like a Jew, dress like a Jew, eat like a Jew, and pray like a Jew, but this does not make him a Jew. One must learn and take an oath before a legal orthodox rabbinical court and take an oath to uphold the 613 commandments and live a full Jewish Torah observant life.  Then, we the Nation of Israel will all see your total commitment and embrace you and welcome you and absorb you in the Land and our communities as we have with all our brothers who have come from different parts of the planet.

Barack Obama's wife’s cousin, 'Rabbi' Capers Funnye.  Are this man and his congregation really part of the Jewish Nation?

Jews in Nigeria?

Wanna-be Japaneese Jews or Lost tribe?

Yes, it is exciting to see this love and attachment for Israel and Torah as we see in these videos above.  I am rooting for all of Mankind to come closer to G-d, live in harmony, and even decide to join the Jewish Nation.   However, there is no requirement that non-Jews become Jews.  It's hard to live a Jewish life. One can join us, but make sure it is kosher and legal.  You are joining a priestly nation which is a tremendous responsibility, and quite simply, love is not enough.