It's just minutes before Shabbat here.  Of course, the best to do besides voting and thinking of whom to vote for is to pray.  That's what I did at the Tel Shiloh yesterday.

Here are a few election posts.  First, two from America.  I'll just give the the locations, east coast and west.

And here's the election malaria post.

Food for thought and for your prayers.

Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach

For a few centuries already, the western world has a god, which has led it on all sorts of follies, Democracy.
How we need a Shmuel HaNavi now!

Leadership is a popularity contest, and the judges are neither trained nor educated.  They decide according to the most superficial and impulsive reasons.  In the United States, it's pretty easy to predict the winner in a presidential race.  He's usually the taller candidate.  The Kenndy-Nixon results were close, because JFK and Dick were the same height.

Yes, that means that Obama will probably defeat McCain, no matter what MacCain does.  The Republicans shouldn't blame Palin, which they're all set to do.

In Israel, it's even more complicated.  That's because we don't elect leaders, we elect lists of candidates.  The winners, all 120 Members of Knesset, then form into a coalition government by way of "deals."  That's how what seems like a Right wing Knesset can turn into a Left wing government, which happened with Menachem Begin and Ariel Sharon.

In Biblical time it was simpler.  Religious leadership came from the Kohanim, Priestly Tribe, and the first Kings were chosen by G-d and annointed by Shmuel HaNavi, Samuel the Prophet.

How we need a Shmuel HaNavi now!

Chana knew that and it is why she prayed in Shiloh for a son, to be that Prophet.  Join us in Shiloh to pray to G-d to bring us the Prophetic guidance we need in the upcoming elections.

Our next Rosh Chodesh Prayers will be tomorrow, Thursday, the First of Cheshvan, October 30, at 9:45am.  Tel Shiloh is open for visitors everyday.  For more information call 02-994-4019 or email telshilo@gmail.com.  The Tabernacle Gallery and Coffee Shop is also open for snacks and sells local art.  To order meals and get more information, email tabernaclecafe@gmail.com .

I remember a couple of years ago spending all Tisha B'Av  "craving"  the pumpernickel bread we had special-ordered at the Shomer Shabbat bakery in Great Neck, and then finally it was time to eat it.

I took it out of the bag.  It didn't feel like what I had remembered from all those decades ago.  It didn't have the old smell either.  But what has stayed the same?  Then I finally tasted it.  Yuch!  That's not my beloved pumpernickel!
The Jewish People! Judaism! The Land of Israel for Jewish settlement and sovereignty!

Well, I feel that way now that we're finally in the throes of elections here in Israel.  After almost three full years of craving another chance at the polls, I realize that these elections are no better than that pseudo-pumpernickel.

None of the main candidates/parties are campaigning for my vote.  There aren't even any empty promises.  I can't even pretend that they care about the future of Eretz Yisrael and Am Yisrael, the Land and People of Israel.

I want something very simple.  All I want to hear is that there is an Israeli political  party which states, plain and simple, that it's for

• The Jewish People
• Judaism
• The Land of Israel for Jewish settlement and sovereignty

I haven't kept these sentiments a secret.  I'd be willing to work with such a political party.  That's what my "virtual party" ZOT SHELANU is all about.

Until I hear of an Israeli Political Party which wants my support, I'll keep promoting my ideals on my blogs.  And I'll pray for it, like Chana did in Biblical Times.  This Thursday, Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, I'll be at Tel Shiloh, 9:45am, G-d willing.  Chana's prayers for a son, weren't for her personal maternal drive, it was to bring a new leader to help the Jewish People establish a Kingdom.  We need new leadership now!

I have the right according to American Law to vote in American Elections.  I've never voted.  It's not that I don't have any opinions about who's probably better,it's just that living full-time in Israel, I don't think I have a right to let my
I live in Israel. That's why I'll only vote in Israeli Elections
opinions go any further than my blogs.

Yes, I was born in the United States and lived there until a few months before what could have been my first elections.

And then we left.  We made aliyah.  We even changed our status so that we wouldn't miss voting in Israeli Elections.  Having multiple nationalities is convenient for travelling, since we don't need to get visas to visit family in the states.  But I don't feel that I'm an American in any other way.  We live in Israel, pay our taxes to Israel and it's in Israel we plan on being ad me'ah esrim, unit 120, the Jewish way of saying "until the day I die."

I find it offensive, even chutzpadik, when foreign leaders politicians give Israelis "instructions" as to whom to vote for.  I don't think Jewish organizational leaders should do it either.  None of them know what it's really like here.  My being a "nobody" lets me give an opinion, since I have no "authority."  And yes, I have no problems discussing Israeli politics with those who don't live here.  There's a difference.  Blogging an opinion is just that, my opinion.  I wouldn't tell an American that I understand their issues better than they do.  I look at the United States from a distance.  I live in Israel.  That's why I'll only vote in Israeli Elections.

Succot is supposed to be a joyous holiday. Here's a quick video of Shiloh's Simchat Beit Hasho'eva.  You'll have to click the embedded link, since I couldn't get it on the screen.

There are more of my videos here.