As Gaza continues to simmer, now Israel's northern border has flared up. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is calling the terrorist aggression of kidnapping two more Israeli soldiers an act of war by Lebanon. In addition, in the news, there are reports posted on WorldNetDaily.com that Arab Katyusha rockets are ready in Judea to be fired on the major population centers in central Israel.
Sounds so ominous and terrible. So, what else is new? Welcome to Beyn HaMeitzarim 5766.
Here we are at the beginning of the Three Weeks, the period commemorating the devastation and destruction suffered by the Jewish people in the past. Now, as we enter into the period of time that has always brought bad things upon the Jewish people, war is being thrust upon us by a hate-filled anti-Semitic enemy that will only stop once we are all dead. And you thought Nazism ended with World War II. Welcome, my dear readers, to WWIII. But it did not begin now; it has been going on undeclared for some time, at least since 9/11/2001.
Prime Minister Olmert was elected on a platform to surrender more of ancestral Israel to the Arabs, enabling them to, on their own, create a so-called Palestinian State. Apparently, his plans are being interrupted. Apparently, Heaven has other plans for Mr. Olmert and Israel. It would be nice to believe that the Israeli government is paying attention to the subtle, but forceful, prodding of Heaven, but I bear no such illusions; nonetheless, time will tell.
You must understand, our enemies are not stupid. Guided as they are by their hatred of us, they are not pursuing their military goals haphazardly. They are moving with the caution and care of precision military psychological warfare. They know that they cannot win this war against the Jews by fighting like lions, so instead they choose a subtle, more devious way and fight instead like the snake or scorpion. Both of these lethal animals stay close to the ground to avoid detection and then strike under foot. They move with stealth, are hard to detect, and suddenly without warning, they can strike quickly and with lethal effectiveness.
There is an age-old lesson taught in the Arts of War: "Only one who knows how to fight an enemy's methods stands a chance of defeating the enemy. One who does not meet the enemy on the enemy's playing field will miss the enemy altogether and enable the enemy to strike and win."
This is a basic rule of all military engagements. Mr. Olmert certainly has been taught this somewhere along the line by his military advisors and generals. Yet, knowing what needs to be done and then doing it, as we have long seen, are often two entirely different things. Let us watch not what Mr. Olmert says, but rather what he does. The PM is fast learning that talk is cheap, and that bombing empty buildings in Gaza, while looking great for the media, does absolutely nothing to better a growing crisis.
Now, Mr. Olmert has a two front war. Soon it will be three fronts. Will he respond with the necessary lethal forces to defeat Israel's enemies and send then running? I guarantee you that this will not happen.
Mr. Olmert and the present Israeli leadership are far too weak to act effectively. They have no courage, no morale, and no willingness to fight. They only want to do the smallest amount necessary to return to a status quo of an illusionary peace. With that, they are happy. This overwhelming desire for complacency reminds me of the drug addict, who only lives to get his next fix and, once high again, forgets about everything else.
Well, maybe this time Mr. Olmert will have to face his addiction to illusionary peace. Maybe this time Heaven has other plans in store for Mr. Olmert that will force him into acting in a way that will not allow him to continue in his drug-like trance of believing illusions and idiocy. Maybe this time, everything is going to explode in his face. And all the European and American horses and all of their men will not be able to save this Humpty Dumpty again.
We are entering the Three Weeks. History has recorded their influence and effect upon greater Israel and the Jewish people. Here we are again. War clouds are not brooding; they have already exploded, bringing their storm upon us. Will Mr. Olmert try to hide under his umbrella of illusionary peace and restrained responses? He is too weak to do anything else.
Yes, the Three Weeks are just beginning. Twenty-one days is a long time. A lot can happen over the next three weeks. Rest assured, indeed, a lot will happen. But regardless of what happens, however bad things appear, always remember and never forget: it is HaShem who is King, even over mighty America and the Dark Lords of Europe.
I know war is coming and great upheaval is inevitable. The sages of Torah have tried to warn the world of this for a long time. The hostile world has long been warned to mend their ways, not for the sake of Heaven alone, but also for our own sake.
However, all our Torah words of wisdom and warning, morals and mission, have usually fallen on deaf ears. After all, how long can one cry out and try to awaken a sleeping driver behind the wheel of a run-away car before the car is about to go over the cliff? We can cry and scream, yet once the car begins to go over the cliff, waking up too late is not really going to help.
If PM Olmert wishes to be the sleeping driver of the out-of-control vehicle heading over the cliff, so be it. Then, there is nothing more to say. No more warnings to be given. The festering sore of evil that is terrorism, anti-Semitism and continuing attacks against Israel and Jews will not go away.
There will be no peace. There will be no status quo of illusionary peace. There will be no more illusions at all.
Welcome to war, world of sleepers. War has a terrible way of awakening even those who slumber deep. Ask those who take the trains in India.
Maybe if Mr. Olmert wakes up and smiles upon Heaven, Heaven will in turn smile upon him. Unfortunately, I am a pessimist, I do not believe Mr. Olmert can or will do the right thing. I do not believe he knows the difference between right and wrong.
Again, let us remember, it is ultimately HaShem that has brought war to Israel. And because it is HaShem's hand that is guiding everything, we have nothing to fear.
HaShem is with us and, as Psalms 23 says, "Surely goodness and mercy shall pursue us." They will eventually catch up with us, if we only slow down from running away and let them catch up. HaShem is in charge and, as the Scottish poet Robert Burns once wrote, "The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry." And Proverbs 19:21 says, "Many are thoughts in the minds of men, but it is the counsel of HaShem that shall arise [and dominate]."
Therefore, nations of the world and Mr. Olmert their servant, do as you will, try as you may. Let us see you get out of this one.
Yitkadal v'yitkadash shemey rabbah - The Great Name shall be exalted and sanctified.
Pray for the safety of our soldiers. May they have the courage of lions and the safety of eagle's wings. May G-d watch over them and protect them. Amen.
Copyright © 2006 by Ariel Bar Tzadok. All rights reserved.
Sounds so ominous and terrible. So, what else is new? Welcome to Beyn HaMeitzarim 5766.
Here we are at the beginning of the Three Weeks, the period commemorating the devastation and destruction suffered by the Jewish people in the past. Now, as we enter into the period of time that has always brought bad things upon the Jewish people, war is being thrust upon us by a hate-filled anti-Semitic enemy that will only stop once we are all dead. And you thought Nazism ended with World War II. Welcome, my dear readers, to WWIII. But it did not begin now; it has been going on undeclared for some time, at least since 9/11/2001.
Prime Minister Olmert was elected on a platform to surrender more of ancestral Israel to the Arabs, enabling them to, on their own, create a so-called Palestinian State. Apparently, his plans are being interrupted. Apparently, Heaven has other plans for Mr. Olmert and Israel. It would be nice to believe that the Israeli government is paying attention to the subtle, but forceful, prodding of Heaven, but I bear no such illusions; nonetheless, time will tell.
You must understand, our enemies are not stupid. Guided as they are by their hatred of us, they are not pursuing their military goals haphazardly. They are moving with the caution and care of precision military psychological warfare. They know that they cannot win this war against the Jews by fighting like lions, so instead they choose a subtle, more devious way and fight instead like the snake or scorpion. Both of these lethal animals stay close to the ground to avoid detection and then strike under foot. They move with stealth, are hard to detect, and suddenly without warning, they can strike quickly and with lethal effectiveness.
There is an age-old lesson taught in the Arts of War: "Only one who knows how to fight an enemy's methods stands a chance of defeating the enemy. One who does not meet the enemy on the enemy's playing field will miss the enemy altogether and enable the enemy to strike and win."
This is a basic rule of all military engagements. Mr. Olmert certainly has been taught this somewhere along the line by his military advisors and generals. Yet, knowing what needs to be done and then doing it, as we have long seen, are often two entirely different things. Let us watch not what Mr. Olmert says, but rather what he does. The PM is fast learning that talk is cheap, and that bombing empty buildings in Gaza, while looking great for the media, does absolutely nothing to better a growing crisis.
Now, Mr. Olmert has a two front war. Soon it will be three fronts. Will he respond with the necessary lethal forces to defeat Israel's enemies and send then running? I guarantee you that this will not happen.
Mr. Olmert and the present Israeli leadership are far too weak to act effectively. They have no courage, no morale, and no willingness to fight. They only want to do the smallest amount necessary to return to a status quo of an illusionary peace. With that, they are happy. This overwhelming desire for complacency reminds me of the drug addict, who only lives to get his next fix and, once high again, forgets about everything else.
Well, maybe this time Mr. Olmert will have to face his addiction to illusionary peace. Maybe this time Heaven has other plans in store for Mr. Olmert that will force him into acting in a way that will not allow him to continue in his drug-like trance of believing illusions and idiocy. Maybe this time, everything is going to explode in his face. And all the European and American horses and all of their men will not be able to save this Humpty Dumpty again.
We are entering the Three Weeks. History has recorded their influence and effect upon greater Israel and the Jewish people. Here we are again. War clouds are not brooding; they have already exploded, bringing their storm upon us. Will Mr. Olmert try to hide under his umbrella of illusionary peace and restrained responses? He is too weak to do anything else.
Yes, the Three Weeks are just beginning. Twenty-one days is a long time. A lot can happen over the next three weeks. Rest assured, indeed, a lot will happen. But regardless of what happens, however bad things appear, always remember and never forget: it is HaShem who is King, even over mighty America and the Dark Lords of Europe.
I know war is coming and great upheaval is inevitable. The sages of Torah have tried to warn the world of this for a long time. The hostile world has long been warned to mend their ways, not for the sake of Heaven alone, but also for our own sake.
However, all our Torah words of wisdom and warning, morals and mission, have usually fallen on deaf ears. After all, how long can one cry out and try to awaken a sleeping driver behind the wheel of a run-away car before the car is about to go over the cliff? We can cry and scream, yet once the car begins to go over the cliff, waking up too late is not really going to help.
If PM Olmert wishes to be the sleeping driver of the out-of-control vehicle heading over the cliff, so be it. Then, there is nothing more to say. No more warnings to be given. The festering sore of evil that is terrorism, anti-Semitism and continuing attacks against Israel and Jews will not go away.
There will be no peace. There will be no status quo of illusionary peace. There will be no more illusions at all.
Welcome to war, world of sleepers. War has a terrible way of awakening even those who slumber deep. Ask those who take the trains in India.
Maybe if Mr. Olmert wakes up and smiles upon Heaven, Heaven will in turn smile upon him. Unfortunately, I am a pessimist, I do not believe Mr. Olmert can or will do the right thing. I do not believe he knows the difference between right and wrong.
Again, let us remember, it is ultimately HaShem that has brought war to Israel. And because it is HaShem's hand that is guiding everything, we have nothing to fear.
HaShem is with us and, as Psalms 23 says, "Surely goodness and mercy shall pursue us." They will eventually catch up with us, if we only slow down from running away and let them catch up. HaShem is in charge and, as the Scottish poet Robert Burns once wrote, "The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry." And Proverbs 19:21 says, "Many are thoughts in the minds of men, but it is the counsel of HaShem that shall arise [and dominate]."
Therefore, nations of the world and Mr. Olmert their servant, do as you will, try as you may. Let us see you get out of this one.
Yitkadal v'yitkadash shemey rabbah - The Great Name shall be exalted and sanctified.
Pray for the safety of our soldiers. May they have the courage of lions and the safety of eagle's wings. May G-d watch over them and protect them. Amen.
Copyright © 2006 by Ariel Bar Tzadok. All rights reserved.