Prayers for a Swift and Total Victory

Tonight at the Kotel, while we were reciting Psalms with the Kabbalist Elder Rabbi Eliyahu Leon Levi, word came that our troops had entered Aza. Immediately, the Rav asked everyone to stand and to recite Psalm 20 out loud 12 times. Soon a large crowd had gathered and the roar inside the Kotel chamber was deafening:

  "For the conductor, a song of David.

  May the Lord answer you on a day of distress; may the name of the God of Jacob fortify you.

  May He send your aid from His sanctuary, and may He support you from Zion.

  May He remember all your meal offerings and may He accept your fat burnt offerings forever.

  May He give you as your heart [desires], and may He fulfill all your counsel.

  Let us sing praises for your salvation, and let us assemble in the name of our God; may the Lord fulfill all your    requests.

  Now I know that the Lord saved His anointed; He answered him from His holy heavens; with the mighty acts of    salvation from His right hand.

  These trust in chariots and these in horses, but we-we mention the name of the Lord our God.

  They kneel and fall, but we rise and gain strength.

  O Lord, save [us]; may the King answer us on the day we call."

 

HaRav Leon

Between each Psalm, Rav Leon cried out petitions to Heaven, filled with Kaballistic codes based on the Hidden Name of G-d, asking Hashem to guard our soldiers and annihilate Israel's enemies. His voice choked with tears. In his youth, he was a paratrooper who fought in the Six Day War. "Our soldiers are just young boys," he reminded everyone. "Suddenly, they are in the midst of a terrible battle. How frightening it is. How much they depend on our prayers." 

Rav Leon said that just as our soldiers are sacrificing their lives for the nation, we must be ready to make sacrifices too, by keeping sleep from our eyes during this long, difficult night, and praying, reciting prayers and the Tikun Hatzot, studying Torah, and judging all Jews in a scale of merit.

Our prayers continued for two hours. I felt as if they roaring echo of our shouts could be heard all the way to Aza, accompanying our troops off to battle, giving them spiritual fuel and drawing down a Divine shield to protect them.

Pray for Israel with all of your hearts, and may Hashem in His mercy answer our prayers for a swift and total victory.      

How Diaspora Jews Can Help

Jewish brothers and sisters the world over - now is the time to unite behind the brave Jews of Israel. Even though you are far away from the “red alert” sirens and falling rockets, you can help the war effort by canceling your winter vacations to the Caribbean, to Disney World, to Hawaii, to Aspen, to Florence and the South of France.

Instead of skiing down snow-packed slopes in your Calvin Klein ski suits, and bronzing your Coppertoned bodies on crystal white beaches, donate your vacation funds to the Israel Defense Forces, or to the Almagor Victims of Terror Organization, or to the many other worthy charities working round the clock to provide relief for the Israelis under bombardment in the cities bordering Aza.

Already, after five days, the war has cost the government of Israel close to 3 billion shekels. Just as the Jewish People in Israel are undergoing a time of self-sacrifice in order to insure the future of the Jewish Nation in Israel, we call upon you to sacrifice too. If Diaspora Jews give up their expensive winter vacations to the Caribbean, to Disney World, to Hawaii, to Aspen, to Florence and the South of France, the money contributed to Israel could provide the Israeli Defense Forces with enough fuel, bombs, and reserve manpower  to annihilate the terrorist haven in Aza, once and for all, and thus make Israel a truly safe haven for all the world’s Jews.

Now is your chance to join in the battle! Don’t ask what Israel can do for you – ask what you can do for Israel!     

Thank G-d I’m Not in America, TRAGIC UPDATE

In America, and the rest of the Western world, the high point of New Year’s Day is getting drunk and going to bed with whatever woman (or man) that you can.

Photo taken just before the orgy

That pretty much sums up the difference between a gentile and a Jew, and the difference between living in the Diaspora and the Holy Land.

True, there are knuckleheads in Israel who will try to ape the goyim by partying tonight in some bars and discos, and there are always Israel radio-show hosts who get all excited, but, all in all, it’s nothing like the drunken orgies you find throughout the Christian world.

The gentiles number the years from the birth JC, the scourge of the Jews. Ironically, they are celebrating his brit. Count for yourselves. From December 25 to January 1 there are eight days. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 1.

In contrast, the Jews number the years from G-d’s creation of the world. While the Western world’s celebration of New Year’s Day is founded on idol worship, the Jews acclaim the kingship and oneness of G-d.

On Rosh Hashanah, in the prayers called “Zichronot,” the Jews remember that G-d is King over the earth. In contrast, on New Year’s Day, the gentiles try to forget G-d completely so that He won’t interfere in their drunken orgies, as they traditionally sing, “May old acquaintances be forgotten,” including the woman passed out naked in a puddle of vomit as you hurry out the door.

The Morning After in Paris

 

Thank G-d, I am not in America.

UPDATE: BREAKING NEWS

BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- At least 59 people were killed in a fire that broke out in an upscale nightclub in Bangkok early Thursday morning, Thai police said. The fire, at a club called Zantika, started at about 12:35 a.m. during an end of year farewell party,  police told CNN. Police said foreigners were among the victims, but there was no immediate word on the identities of those killed in the blaze.

"End of Year Farewell Party"