Have you ever seen the Hand of G-d (figuratively speaking) manifest itself in the world?
Have you ever been privileged to witness the visions of the prophets coming to life before your very eyes?
Well, if not, then that is all about to change.
Arutz Sheva reports: "PA Farmers in Gaza: How Do Those Israelis Do It?"
* "So devastated will I leave the land that your enemies who live there will be astonished.... Your land will remain desolate and your cities in ruins." (VaYikra 26:32-33)
* "Future generations - your own descendants who will arise after you, as well as the foreigners who will come from distant lands - shall see the calamities of this land, and the ills with which G-d has struck it.... Nothing can be planted and nothing can grow - not even a blade of grass...." (Devarim 29: 21-22)
* "And I shall make the land a desolate waste, so that its proud strength will cease, and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate; no one will cross them. Then they shall know that I am a G-d, when I make the land a desolate waste...." (Yechezkel 33: 28-29)
Let us now look at the words of the Torah and our prophets, which speak of how the Land of Israel will rejoice upon the return of her children (as was the case with Gush Katif 30 years ago):
* "I will open up rivers on the bare heights and fountains in the broad valleys. I will turn the desert into a pool of water and the dry ground into springs of water. In the desert I will place cedars, acacia trees, myrtles and pines... In order that they may see and know, pay heed and understand together that G-d's hand did this, the Holy One of Israel created it." (Yishayahu 41: 18-20)
* "As for you, O' mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and bear your fruit, for My people Israel, for their return is close at hand. For behold, I am with you, and I shall return to you; then you shall be tilled and sewn.... I shall cause you to be inhabited as in your former times, and I will make you even more bountiful than you were in your beginnings. You shall know that I am G-d." (Yechezkel 36: 8-11)
* "As long as Israel does not dwell on its Land, the Land does not give her fruits, as she is accustomed. When she will begin to reflourish, however, and give of her fruits, this is the clear sign that the end - the time of the Redemption - is approaching, when all of Israel will return to their Land." (Maharsha)
I have no doubt that there will be those who will find other reasons to explain how it is that a land - a desert - that had flourished under the Jewish People for over 30 years has suddenly become desolate and barren, not willing to give of her fruits. Yet, for those of us who have not been cursed to view the world through the eyes of a skeptic, behold the power of the Hand of G-d, and the truth of His Torah and Prophets.
May we merit to witness the return of the Jewish People to all parts of their Land and be blessed to partake of her fruits - and to enjoy them in peace and tranquility as we anticipate the Redemption.
"But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid." (Micah 4:4)
Have you ever been privileged to witness the visions of the prophets coming to life before your very eyes?
Well, if not, then that is all about to change.
Arutz Sheva reports: "PA Farmers in Gaza: How Do Those Israelis Do It?"
After years of producing bug-free lettuce and other vegetables for Jewish farmers, the sands of Gaza have reverted to their old ways. PA farmers report failure in keeping the bugs away.Now, let us compare this with the words of the Torah and our prophets, who speak of what will befall the Land of Israel at the times when the Jewish People will not be living upon her, having been exiled, as was the case of Gush Katif:
The Jews who first arrived in Gaza some 30 years ago were repeatedly told by the Arabs who welcomed them that the land was "cursed"....
Ma'yan Yadai, a 27-year-old mother of two who was thrown out of Gush Katif said,"It is difficult for me to believe that this obviously blessed area is the very same area that our Moslem neighbors called the ?cursed land? of El G?erara. They have told me that nobody lived in this area from the time that the last Jews left because there was not enough rain, and nothing could grow properly. They were happy when the Jews returned because the rain started again, and the land began to produce."
* "So devastated will I leave the land that your enemies who live there will be astonished.... Your land will remain desolate and your cities in ruins." (VaYikra 26:32-33)
* "Future generations - your own descendants who will arise after you, as well as the foreigners who will come from distant lands - shall see the calamities of this land, and the ills with which G-d has struck it.... Nothing can be planted and nothing can grow - not even a blade of grass...." (Devarim 29: 21-22)
* "And I shall make the land a desolate waste, so that its proud strength will cease, and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate; no one will cross them. Then they shall know that I am a G-d, when I make the land a desolate waste...." (Yechezkel 33: 28-29)
Let us now look at the words of the Torah and our prophets, which speak of how the Land of Israel will rejoice upon the return of her children (as was the case with Gush Katif 30 years ago):
* "I will open up rivers on the bare heights and fountains in the broad valleys. I will turn the desert into a pool of water and the dry ground into springs of water. In the desert I will place cedars, acacia trees, myrtles and pines... In order that they may see and know, pay heed and understand together that G-d's hand did this, the Holy One of Israel created it." (Yishayahu 41: 18-20)
* "As for you, O' mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and bear your fruit, for My people Israel, for their return is close at hand. For behold, I am with you, and I shall return to you; then you shall be tilled and sewn.... I shall cause you to be inhabited as in your former times, and I will make you even more bountiful than you were in your beginnings. You shall know that I am G-d." (Yechezkel 36: 8-11)
* "As long as Israel does not dwell on its Land, the Land does not give her fruits, as she is accustomed. When she will begin to reflourish, however, and give of her fruits, this is the clear sign that the end - the time of the Redemption - is approaching, when all of Israel will return to their Land." (Maharsha)
I have no doubt that there will be those who will find other reasons to explain how it is that a land - a desert - that had flourished under the Jewish People for over 30 years has suddenly become desolate and barren, not willing to give of her fruits. Yet, for those of us who have not been cursed to view the world through the eyes of a skeptic, behold the power of the Hand of G-d, and the truth of His Torah and Prophets.
May we merit to witness the return of the Jewish People to all parts of their Land and be blessed to partake of her fruits - and to enjoy them in peace and tranquility as we anticipate the Redemption.
"But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid." (Micah 4:4)