Here’s a serious blog before the joy of Purim takes over the keyboard. We read the portion of Amalek on Shabbat Zachor before Purim in order to remember that victory over our enemies depends on the holiness of our sexual lives. When Israel’s sanctity rises, then the strength of Amalek falls, paving the way for its destruction on Purim ("Yisrael Kiddoshim," Rabbi Tzaddok HaKohen of Lublin, 8:27).          

Today, the spirit of Amalek in the world is still trying to uproot the holiness of Israel by exporting all of its immoral culture, homosexuality, and pornography to the Holy Land. In addition, throughout the Diaspora, the spirit of Amalek is working overtime to lure the Jews into sexual transgression via assimilation.

This is what we have to remember, and guard against, and fight with education and counseling, in order to repel this plague of spiritual pollution from our borders, from our streets, and from our homes, cell phones, and computers.

The next time you are tempted to click on a forbidden link and take a peek at some porn, ask yourself if you really want to add power to the enemies of Israel, helping them to carry out their terrorism and slaughter.

The Torah states:

"Remember what Amalek did to you by the way, when you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you by the way and smote the hindmost of you, all that were feeble in your rear, when you were faint and weary, and he feared not G-d (Devarim, 25:17).

Usually, during their Shabbat Zachor sermons, rabbis explain Rashi's third understanding of the verse. Rashi writes that the Hebrew for "how he met you by the way" - "karcha baderech" - comes from the word "kar" meaning cold. In attacking Israel, Amalek showed the nations of the world that, notwithstanding all of the miracles in Egypt, the Jewish People were not invincible, just as when a scoundrel jumps into a scalding bathtub, even though he gets burnt, he cools it off for others to follow after him.

This is all well and good, but it ignores Rashi’s central explanation.

Rashi says that "karcha" should be understood as keri, meaning seminal pollution. Rashi explains that Amalek lured the Jews into homosexual transgression, then cut off their "milot," the sign of their circumcision, and threw them up to the sky, as if to say, "This is what's left of Your holy nation." Rashi concludes that the protective Clouds of Glory spit out these Jews who were feeble because of their sexual sins. These were the Jews whom Amalek killed.

The decree of destruction fell upon the Jews of Shushan because they wanted to stay loyal Persian citizens instead of returning to Israel to rebuild the Beit HaMikdash when the prophesied seventy years of exile drew to an end. They wanted to rub shoulders with the goyim, attend the gala parties of Achashverus, holding up their goblets of kosher Manischewitz wine, while feasting their eyes on the king’s harem of half-naked women.

Unlike on Hanukah, we don’t say the joyous recitation of Hallel on Purim because even after the great salvation, we were still subject to foreign rule in a foreign land – as King David teaches us, “How can I sing the L-rd’s song in a foreign land?”

A Jew cannot really be happy in a foreign land. He can find material comfort, physical pleasures, and egotistical highs, but he can’t find true joy of the soul. True joy for a Jew can only be found in the Land of Israel.   

That’s why the Psalm continues: “How can I sing the L-rd’s song in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem!”

The Jews in the time of Mordechai wanted to forget Jerusalem and stay right where they were in the flesh pot of Shushan.

Sound familiar?

One of the reasons that we dress up in costumes on Purim is to remind ourselves that a Jew who lives in a foreign land is like a person who dresses up in a costume. Whether he dresses up in the costume of being an American, or a Frenchman, or an Englishman, he is living a masquerade. We can try to pretend that we are loyal Persians, or Germans, or Americans, but the Hamans and Hitlers of the world will always eventually come to power to remind us that we are Jews, strangers in a strange land.

And if Hamans don’t arise to save us by reminding us that we don’t belong in a foreign land, the lavish parties and loose women and career opportunities and open arms of the gentiles devour us all the same.

The fact is that a Jew doesn’t belong in a gentile land. It is like a man dressing up as a woman. It’s unnatural. Even perverted. It is against G-d’s will for the world.

You don't have to dress up anymore

Dear friends in the Diaspora, why continue the masquerade? Why continue pretending to be Americans and Canadians and Englishman and Australians?

Come home to Israel and discover the joy of being yourself!

I don’t intend to write about the personal side of the tragic scandal that has fallen upon us from out of the blue. Hopefully, all of the painful reports and rumors will prove to be without concrete foundation. Rather, I would like to focus on the social and national aspects of the unfortunate affair.

It is impossible to ignore the tsunami of media attention, front-page headlines, TV reports, and round-the-clock radio coverage that the story is receiving.  Granted, not every day is a famous rabbi suspected of immoral relations with students. It seems to me that the media’s knives have been sharpened precisely because the rabbi in question is a leading figure in the national religious camp, which, in combining Torah with a love for Eretz Yisrael and all the Jewish People, aspires to be a role model for others to follow.

When President Bill Clinton of the United States is caught in a disgraceful sex scandal, it is a red light that the culture and society of America is immoral, as well as its commander in chief.

So too in our case, when a spiritual leader of the dati leumi community (national religious camp) is under the magnifying glass of the media, the entire community is under the spotlight as well. Therefore, we are called upon to make a communal self-accounting and to understand that there is something rotten in our midst, whether the facts of the case prove to be true or not.

For example, a photograph of the emergency meeting of the “Takana Forum” appeared in the media. The Forum is a distinguished group of rabbis and educators set up to deal with problems related to sexual abuse. In the picture, the rabbis are seen sitting on one side of the room, and the women of the Forum are sitting on the other side. My friends, in the Haredi (UltraOrthodox) world, this would never be. There, rabbis meet with rabbis, and women are free to meet and discuss things in some other room. There isn’t any mixing.

The time has come to stop pretending that this prudent behavior is some form of unduly saintliness and extreme uncivil crudeness. This is not “ultra” Orthodox. This is the way Judaism should be in guarding the modesty so paramount to a true Torah society.

The time has come to stop pretending that these types of scandals can’t happen amongst us, as if we are immune from such base temptations. It is time to stop ignoring the warnings of our Sages, as if the dangers don’t apply to us. It is time to stop pretending that the laws of modesty are secondary matters in Halachah and Jewish life, and that we are exempted from them because we are engaged in more lofty matters – the building of the nation and the settlement of the Land. It is time to stop inviting guests to mixed weddings, and to stop holding mass demonstration where men and women are squeezed together like sardines. It is time to stop trying to be just like the secular Israelis, in order to win their favor.

The time has come to regard modesty as a subject of vital importance, both for the individual and the community, and to understand that sexual holiness is the very foundation of our nation. The time has come for our spiritual leaders to speak about these matters openly, for us to learn the laws, and to rebuild the fences that our Sages have instituted throughout our history to prevent tragic scandals from occurring.

Certainly, in the Haredi world, there are many moral breaches and sordid scandals as well. Our Sages have warned us that no one is free from the temptations of forbidden relations. Nevertheless, just as our Haredi brothers can learn from us about the love of the Land and the great and holy mitzvah of its rebuilding; we can learn from them about the sacredness of modesty.

The time has come for us, the national religious Zionist camp, to raise aloft, not only the banner of settlement, but also the banner of kedusha (holiness) as well. Without sanctifying all aspects of our lives, we cannot raise our heads and aspire to assume the leadership role in directing the nation forward. Without sanctifying all of our lives, all the splendor of the settlement movement, and all of the tremendous achievements we have made in all aspects of Israeli life, are in danger, G-d forbid.

Let’s hope and pray that out of the present darkness, a new light will appear to shine on Zion, and that we will all merit to rise up to a higher level of rectification and tikun, both personally, and for the entire national religious camp as well, in confidence that all of the nation will follow.               

There is no question that the next best thing to living in the Land of Israel is to be a devoted daily reader of INN, Israel National News.  In its love for the Torah, Eretz Yisrael, and the entire Jewish Nation, no other website can compare to INN. Therefore, by attaching themselves to INN by reading it every day, readers are attaching themselves to the things it stands for – to the Torah, to the settlement of the Land of Israel, and to the Jewish Nation as a whole. For Jews living in the Diaspora who would love to come on aliyah, but who are tragically unable to, for whatever real reasons they have, a lifeline dose of INN a few times a day is the next best thing.

Even for the likes of Vienna Mike, Roger from Manchester, and Shmuelik from Monsey, their devoted reading of INN demonstrates that their souls are connected to the Land of Israel, even though their heads and their bodies may be embedded in the quicksand of galut. Their criticisms and tirades are merely the warped ranting of brains poisoned by a long and bitter exile. Nevertheless, their faithful reading of INN shows that their souls are pure. We know that it is merely their fears and sins which prevent them from coming to Israel, even though they themselves secretly crave to be here. And on a deeper level, we know that it is the Land of Israel that is rejecting them, and not really they who are rejecting the Land, for this is a jealous Land, rejecting those who don’t set Jerusalem above their chiefest joy. Their incessant talkbacks, no matter how boring they may be, along with Paul from Toronto and Joey from Australia, and too many others to mention, show that they truly want to be here, living a true Jewish life. And for that, they are deserving of accolades and praise. They are our brothers, here in spirit, if not in the flesh. Their longing to be in Israel earns them a portion in the Land. Whether their reasons for not coming be justified or lame, their constant preoccupation with Israel via their love/hate relationship with INN proves their identification with the Land and the Jewish Nation.

Remember, he's still your brother!

All of them are our brothers, the healthy ones who truly want to come, as well as the screwed up ones who protest at the top of their lungs. For just as a love for a brother continues even if he be locked up in a mental institution, G-d forbid, so our love for our INN brothers and sisters must be unflinching even though he or she clings to the familiar darkness of galut, fearing (with secret attraction) the great and growing light in Israel that radiates from the screen of his and her computer.

Diaspora All-Stars

So my fellow Aliyah Bullies beware! No matter how confused and uptight INN readers may be – they are the cream of the crop, the all-stars of galut. Their fervent addiction to INN and their inner yearning for Israel puts them here amongst us in spirit. Let all of us fortunate ones in Israel pray that their heads and living bodies will follow speedily soon!       

When the month of Adar begins, a Jew is called upon to be especially happy. Joy is a fundamental ingredient in serving G-d. One of the things that brought about the exile of the Jewish People from the Land of Israel was because of sexual immorality. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov teaches that unhappiness is the principle source of sexual transgression. This helps us understand an additional teaching of our Sages that we were exiled from the Land was because we didn’t serve G-d with joy.

Today also, the root of sexual sin and depravity is the widespread unhappiness and depression which grips the modern materialistic world we live in. Unhappiness leads people to the fleeting and sordid high of pornography, to homosexuality and other sexually deviant behavior, and to masturbation.

So, to break bad habits and help everyone achieve an extra measure of happiness this month, and for all of our lives, here’s some advice from Rabbi Nachman, from his book, “Likutei Etzot – Advice.”

RABBI NACHMAN OF BRESLOV ON BEING HAPPY

*Depression is like a sediment which covers the heart of the Jew and stops it from burning with passion for G-d.  

*Seeing the face of the Tzaddik can give you joy and enthusiasm.

Guess who?

*Depression is a form of idolatry. How joyous we are depends on our purity and how close we are to the true Tzaddikim, who are the joy of all Israel. If you are joyous, the light of G-d’s countenance will radiate upon you.

*The main reason for immorality is because of depression. The way to be pure is through joy. If you are happy, G-d will help you to keep yourself pure.

*Man’s imagination is the source of all temptations. It is one of man’s animal aspects. If it becomes dominant, it is because of depression which is an evil spirit. Forgetfulness gains a hold, and one forgets one’s true purpose of sanctifying oneself in order to merit the World to Come. We have to fight back and aim to be constantly happy in order to shatter the power of the imagination. Then we will be able to set the World to Come always in our minds. 

*When a person is depressed, his intellect and mind go into exile.

*Don’t be depressed. The root of depression is in the husks (kelipot) which are at war with all that is holy. Whenever depression takes grip, the Shechinah, which is the joy of Israel, goes into exile. The destruction of the husks of unholiness depends on joy.

*Because the incense which was burned in the Holy Temple had the power to free the holy life force from the husks, you should recite the passages in the prayer book which deal with the daily incense offering with great concentration. This will help bring you to joy.

*You should feel so happy when you do a mitzvah that you don’t do it merely to receive a reward in the World to Come. Rather because you want G-d to send you another mitzvah, because your joy is the mitzvah itself. If you pray with intensity and great awe and love, you will be able to experience this joy.

*The way to come to joy is through Torah and prayer. You should always prayer to attain the level that I hidden from you. And when this is revealed you should pray to achieve the level that is still hidden. This is how to rise from level to level. It is the way to find joy, which is the source of spiritual strength.

*If you put so much effort into a holy task that you literally sweat, you will be able to experience true joy.

*It is a wonderful thing when people dance for joy for the sake of a mitzvah! There are times when it is a mitzvah to drink some wine – on Shabbat or Yom Tov, or at a wedding, or other religious celebrations. If you drink on such occasions, your intention should be for the sake of Heaven. Drink moderately, and not to excess, with the purpose of experiencing the true joy of Israel, which is to rejoice in G-d who chose us from all other nations. As your joy begins to radiate, it will spread to your legs and you will literally begin to dance for joy. This will banish the evil forces of the Other Side, which grips the legs. The fire with which we dance is “a fire offering, a sweet savor to the L-rd” (BaMidbar, 28:8). But when one dances in the heat of the evil inclination, it is a “strange fire” (Vayikra, 10:1), and the wine which he drinks is the “wine of drunkenness,” which gives a hold to the forces of the Other Side.

*The music of one who is truly G-d fearing can help you to be happy. It has the power to break the force of fantasy. You will be able to focus your thoughts on the World to Come and to understand the hints which G-d sends you constantly each day in order to draw you closer to Him.

*If you are joyous it will bring you to new horizons in Torah.

*The holiness of the Land of Israel has the power to break the force of depression.

*A person who examines and judges himself over everything he does thereby frees himself from the harsh judgments that were weighing upon him. He will be so happy that he will literally dance for joy.

*Once a person decides to be pure and devote himself to serving G-d, it is a very big sin if he allows himself to be depressed. Because G-d hates depression. 

*There are times when the only way to make yourself happy is by doing something silly or making jokes. There are so many troubles that people have to go through physically and spiritually – trying to make a living, etc. etc. – that the only way they can make themselves happy is by doing something silly and acting a bit crazy. The whole vitality of the body and the soul depend on being happy. And in the worlds above, great unifications are brought about through the joy of the spirit.

*It is a great mitzvah to always be happy. Be determined to keep away from depression, and aim to be happy constantly. Happiness is the remedy for all kinds of diseases, because many illnesses are caused by depression. You must be resourceful in order to make yourself happy. Often you must do something a little bit crazy in order to make yourself happy.

*To find true joy is the hardest thing of all. It is harder than all other spiritual tasks. You must literally force yourself to be happy at all times. Put all of your energy into it. Use every kind of ploy. Often the only way is by doing something foolish or childish.

*Most of all you must be happy while you are praying. Be sure to always pray with joy. The same applies with carrying out the mitzvoth. You should be especially joyous on Shabbat and Yom Tov. Even on weekdays it is a great mitzvah to be happy.

*It is a great thing to bring joy to the heart of your fellow Jews. Most people are full of pain or worry and all kinds of troubles, and they find it impossible to speak out what is in their hearts. Someone who comes with a smiling face can literally give them fresh life. This is a very great thing. When you make another person happy, you are literally giving new life to a Jewish soul. 

Mitzvah gedolah!

Chodesh tov!