HAMELECH-- The King

In a few short hours, another grave will be filled in our Shiloh Cemetery.  Less than a week ago, we buried a man who had lived over one hundred years.  Today, at high noon, we will bury a fair-haired teenager, Yonatan Eldar, HaYa"D, May his blood be avenged.

It's Rosh Chodesh Adar Sheini, the second, "leap year" Adar.  It's also the last day of Adar Alef, the first Adar.  Will his yartzeit on non-leap years be the first or last day of the month of Adar?

HAMELECH-- The King

Chazal, our sages, discuss/ask why G-d's name isn't mentioned in the Megilat Ester.  Hester Panim, His face is hidden.  I compare that to the sun on a cloudy or storm day.  The sun is in its correct place in the sky.  It is bright and warm and radiating, just like on a "perfect laundry day."  Chazal's answer is that every time we read "hamelech," "the king," it means G-d, since there is no name attached, and the "article the" means something very specific.  There is only one king who doesn't need a name, the King.

And in today's world, when the media, and even my blogs, discuss elections, such as for the American presidency, it's important to remember to add the adjective "American" or the specific name.  Here in Israel, "the president" must mean the Israeli one.  Whoever lives in the White House isn't the Israeli president.

And the only king for us is

Hamelech, HaKodesh Baruch Hu, Our G-d.

HaMakom Y'Nachem to the bereaved

Refuah Shleimah to the injured

Jerusalem--Where's the Beauty?

Ehud Olmert, Jerusalem's mayor at the time, wasn't just seeking a functional solution to a traffic problem. He wanted a symbol.
Today's Jerusalem is filled with ugly construction sites.

We should have a poll giving everyone the chance to vote for the ugliest.

Entering or leaving Jerusalem from the area of the Central Bus Station is a visual, and sometimes traffic, nightmare.  The planned Calatrava Bridge just doesn't match anything in the city.

Of course, it looks amazing in this computer-generated picture, but even the normally fearless express terror at traveling on or under it.  Here's another perspective.

The great beauty of Jerusalem is in its soul and how the light turns the stones golden.

Don't forget who was Mayor when this very expensive and flashy bridge was planned.  No other than Ehud Olmert, the one and only.

Meet Me At The Tel

Tel Shiloh, that is, of course!  My friends and I have started visiting the site of Ancient Shiloh on a regular basis.  Tourists come from all over the world, so why shouldn't we?  And why shouldn't other Israelis visit Shiloh?  Either come to Shiloh whenever you want, or join us this Friday, Rosh Chodesh Adar Sheini, 9:45am.

Chana prayed for a son whom should would dedicate to leading the Jewish People out of the chaotic rut they were in.  And it was her son, Samuel, who annointed our first two kings.  Today, we, too need a leader, one to lead us out of today's very dangerous "rut."  So, Shiloh's the place.  "Nahaphochu!"  Let's reverse this "peace process" which is killing us.  We need leaders who lead, not chase their tails and search for world approval.

Shiloh is where the Mishkan, the Tabernacle stood for almost four hundred years!  I'm sure it was much more difficult to get to Shiloh in Biblical times.  Now there's modern transportation and public buses.  Instead of trekking for days, drive or take a bullet-proof Egged bus.  We're less than half an hour north of Jerusalem and the same to Israel's super highway "number 6."  Shiloh is a few minutes drive to the Jordan Valley and less than forty minutes to Petach Tikvah.

Could Eli, Hannah and Samuel have walked here? 

Sit quietly, enjoy the view, say T'hillim, (Psalms) and you'll sense the holy fragrence of the Ketoret.  For personal requests to G-d or to save our nation, Shiloh is the traditional site for prayer.  The Jewish Laws of Prayer are derived from how Chana prayed here in Shiloh.

If you'd like to avail yourself on the tourist facilities, call 02-994-4019, and tell them that "Batya sent" you!