Instead of a commentary on this week's Torah portion, I wanted to talk about the events in Mumbai, India. Islamic terrorists thought it was a good idea to murder as many people as they could. As of right now, there are 160 people dead with another 327 injured. And the fighting is still going on.
At this point, we do not precisely know what they had planned to do. it looks like they were going after westerners. Over ten targets were attacked.
Among those targets was the Chabad House in Mumbai. Among those murdered were Rabbi Gavriel and Mrs Rivkah Holtzberg.
Here is a news letter I received today from a Chabad Rabbi in Memphis...
Dear Friend,
In shock, we join the 3000+ Chabad Centers & World Jewry in mourning the tragic and senseless loss of our fellow friend Chabad emissaries in Mumbai, India Rabbi Gavriel & Mrs. Rivkah Holtzberg who together with other Jewish hostages were killed by terrorists in the Mumbai Chabad Center.'May Hashem Avenge Their Blood'
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, taught us that during a time of intense grief, we will defeat evil and terrorism through acts of goodness and kindness. Where terrorists hope to create fear and hatred we will create love and joy
Let us all resolve and commit to strengthening our concern and compassion for each other by increasing our good deeds, our prayer and Torah study.
Make an effort to greet your neighbors and friends with a smile. Feed someone who is hungry. Clothe someone who needs clothing. Join a Torah class and participate in one more prayer service.
As we enter the Hebrew month of Kislev with the holiday of Chanukah, let us increase the light and warmth of Torah and mitzvot.
May we have ONLY good news to report. May the almighty send us the complete and final redemption though his righteous Moshiach NOW!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Sunday Helicopter Picture!
This Helicopter is a Lockheed Martin Systems US101. This particular one will be the new presidential transport helicopter often referred to as Marine One. Its about as High Tech as it gets in Helicopters!Friday, November 21, 2008
Hebron Today
What would Abraham say today
This from Arutz 7...
Tens of Thousands Stream to Hevron as Peace House Showdown Looms
by Gil Ronen
(IsraelNN.com) Tens of thousands of Jewish believers are expected to stream into Hevron, the City of the Patriarchs, for Shabbat Chayei Sarah. On this Sabbath, the Torah portion which is read in the synagogues relates the details of the purchase of the Cave of the Patriarchs, known as Machpela, by the Biblical patriarch Abraham.
The Sabbath is likely to be an especially emotional one because of the relevance of the Torah story to current events. The government has received a green light from the High Court of Justice to evict the Jews living in Hevron's Peace House and the Minister of Public Security has announced that the eviction will take place within 30 days' time.
The atmosphere is tense, with the media circulating rumors about supposed attacks by mitnachalim ("settlers" in Hebrew) – as Jews living in Yesha are called – against the IDF and the nationalist camp claiming that the government is engaged in libel. Some nationalist spokesmen have hinted that the government may be planting agents among Hevron's Jews in order to try and goad them into wrongdoing.
25,000 Visitors ExpectedAbout 25,000 people are expected to be in Hevron for the Sabbath. "There is a very great concern that their arrival will involve a dangerous act of provocation because of the intent to vacate the 'House of Dispute'," a "senior security source" told the Hebrew-language newspaper Ma'ariv. "We are preparing for the likelihood that the extremist elements will sneak in among the visitors and try to heat up the atmosphere," he added. A senior military source said, however, that the Jewish community has been careful to kick out people who are known to cause violent provocations.
Although the court left the timing of a possible raid on Peace House to the discretion of the government and military, the government appears intent upon carrying it out sooner rather than later, despite – and maybe because of – the upcoming elections.
People inside the building are busy barricading themselves in and welding steel bars on doors to make entry difficult for a would-be eviction force.
Judge: 'Settlers are Right'Retired District Court Judge Uri Shtruzman said this week at a conference that Judge Ayala Procaccia "twisted the original meaning" of a ruling he made in another case – known as the Mishmar Ayalon Case – in her justification for the decision regarding Peace House. He said that if the judge had really been guided by that precedent she would have reached the opposite conclusion and allowed the Jews to remain inside Peace House until the court case is settled.
"Since the current High Court did not do so…," Shtruzman said, "it is no wonder that the settlers are crying out that the High Court was not guided by considerations of fair judgment, but [rather] by a political world view."
This from Arutz 7...
Tens of Thousands Stream to Hevron as Peace House Showdown Looms
by Gil Ronen
(IsraelNN.com) Tens of thousands of Jewish believers are expected to stream into Hevron, the City of the Patriarchs, for Shabbat Chayei Sarah. On this Sabbath, the Torah portion which is read in the synagogues relates the details of the purchase of the Cave of the Patriarchs, known as Machpela, by the Biblical patriarch Abraham.
The Sabbath is likely to be an especially emotional one because of the relevance of the Torah story to current events. The government has received a green light from the High Court of Justice to evict the Jews living in Hevron's Peace House and the Minister of Public Security has announced that the eviction will take place within 30 days' time.
The atmosphere is tense, with the media circulating rumors about supposed attacks by mitnachalim ("settlers" in Hebrew) – as Jews living in Yesha are called – against the IDF and the nationalist camp claiming that the government is engaged in libel. Some nationalist spokesmen have hinted that the government may be planting agents among Hevron's Jews in order to try and goad them into wrongdoing.
25,000 Visitors ExpectedAbout 25,000 people are expected to be in Hevron for the Sabbath. "There is a very great concern that their arrival will involve a dangerous act of provocation because of the intent to vacate the 'House of Dispute'," a "senior security source" told the Hebrew-language newspaper Ma'ariv. "We are preparing for the likelihood that the extremist elements will sneak in among the visitors and try to heat up the atmosphere," he added. A senior military source said, however, that the Jewish community has been careful to kick out people who are known to cause violent provocations.
Although the court left the timing of a possible raid on Peace House to the discretion of the government and military, the government appears intent upon carrying it out sooner rather than later, despite – and maybe because of – the upcoming elections.
People inside the building are busy barricading themselves in and welding steel bars on doors to make entry difficult for a would-be eviction force.
Judge: 'Settlers are Right'Retired District Court Judge Uri Shtruzman said this week at a conference that Judge Ayala Procaccia "twisted the original meaning" of a ruling he made in another case – known as the Mishmar Ayalon Case – in her justification for the decision regarding Peace House. He said that if the judge had really been guided by that precedent she would have reached the opposite conclusion and allowed the Jews to remain inside Peace House until the court case is settled.
"Since the current High Court did not do so…," Shtruzman said, "it is no wonder that the settlers are crying out that the High Court was not guided by considerations of fair judgment, but [rather] by a political world view."
Friday Torah, Chayei Sarah
Genesis/Bereshits 23:1-25:18
Chayei Sarah
Palestinian Arabs have been claiming lately that there is no historic presidencies for Jews to live in the Middle East. They have made such claims as the Temple never existed and that Jerusalem has always been an Arab/Moslem city.
But this weeks portion gives historic and moral backing to Jewish claims that Israel (I speak of the geographic area) rightfully and historically belongs to the Jewish people.
The portion begins with the Death of Abraham's wife Sarah. Abraham goes to a place called Kiriat Arbah to obtain a burial place for Sarah.
4. "I am a stranger and an inhabitant with you. Give me burial property with you, so that I may bury my dead from before me." 5. And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him,6. "Listen to us, my lord; you are a prince of God in our midst; in the choicest of our graves bury your dead. None of us will withhold his grave from you to bury your dead." 7. And Abraham arose and prostrated himself to the people of the land, to the sons of Heth.8. And he spoke with them, saying, "If it is your will that I bury my dead from before me, listen to me and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar.9. That he may give me the Machpelah (double) Cave, which belongs to him, which is at the end of his field; for a full price let him give it to me in your midst for burial property."10. Now Ephron was sitting in the midst of the sons of Heth, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the sons of Heth, of all those who had come into the gate of his city, saying,11. "No, my lord, listen to me. I have given you the field, and the cave that is in it, I have given it to you. Before the eyes of the sons of my people, I have given it to you; bury your dead." 12. And Abraham prostrated himself before the people of the land.13. And he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, "But, if only you would listen to me. I am giving the money for the field; take [it] from me, and I will bury my dead there." 14. And Ephron replied to Abraham, saying to him,15. "My lord, listen to me; a [piece of] land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is it between me and you? Bury your dead."16. And Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out to Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, accepted by the merchant.
It is important to note that dispite an offer to give the Cave to Abraham for free, he insisted on buying it at the going rate. The reason that this is important is because if the land and cave had just been given to Abraham, it could later be clamed to not belong to Abraham, but just loaned to him. But as Abraham bought the land in front of witnesses, it was clearly his and would pass to his decedents.
It is for this reason that Hebron is considered to be the first Jewish City as Abraham is considered to be the first Jew.
Today, the right of Jews to live in Hebron is hotly disputed. There are a few hundred Jews living admits thousands of hostile Arabs. For many years Jews were not permitted to pray at the various Holy sights in and around Hebron. It wasn't until the 1967 Six Day War that Jews were able to pray at the Cave of the Patriarchs.
Here is a story about that time from the web sight of the Jewish Community of Hebron...
The Return to Hebron - June, 1967
Who was the first Israeli to return to Hebron in 1967? Who was the first Jew to enter the Cave of the Machpela in over 700 years? (Moslems refused to permit Jews into the Cave of the Machpela. Jews were allowed to pray outside, at the infamous "7th step". Anyone attempting to get any closer to the entrance was beaten by the Arab guards stationed there.) Surprisingly enough, the first Israeli in Hebron and in the Cave of the Machpela was the then Chief Rabbi of the Israel Defense Forces, Rabbi Shlomo Goren, z”l. And here is his story:
Rabbi Goren was present with Israeli forces as the IDF conquered the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Holding the rank of general, Rabbi Goren knew that the army's next mission was Hebron. Wanting to be among the first Israeli's in the ancient City of the Patriarchs, he joined the armed forces stationed at the recently captured Etzion Block, on their way to Hebron. On the night of 28 Iyyar, before retiring for the evening, he requested to be awoken when the soldiers began their march to Hebron the following day.
The next morning he awoke, only to find himself alone with his driver. Realizing that he had been "left behind," he ordered his driver to begin the 20 minute journey to Hebron, expecting to meet the rest of the army, already on their way.
Rabbi Goren thought it pecular that he hadn’t encountered any other Israeli soldiers on the road as he reached Hebron. He thought to himself surely the Israelis had already finished the job of marching on Hebron already. Driving into Hebron, Rabbi Goren was greeted by the sight of white sheets, hung from roof-tops and windows, throughout the city. He was astounded, but understood. In the summer of 1929, Arab residents of Hebron had massacred 67 Jews and wounded many others. The 1967 Arabs of Hebron were, very plainly, scared of Jewish retaliation. So, they did not fire one shot. Instead they hung white sheets from windows and roof-tops.
Rabbi Goren quickly made his way to the Cave of Machpela. Finding the huge doors bolted, he tried breaking in by shooting at the lock, firing his Uzi submachine gun. Finally, after getting into Ma’arat HaMachpela he blew the Shofar, as he had done 24 hours earlier at the Western Wall.
Only afterwards did Rabbi Goren discover that when he left the base at the Etzion Block, the rest of the forces were on the other side of the hill, making plans for the attack on Hebron. They did not know that the Arabs would surrender. In other words, Rabbi Goren, a single Israeli soldier, single-handedly conquered a city of 80,000 Arabs. Jews had returned to Hebron and to Ma’arat HaMachpela!
Rabbi Goren hung an Israeli flag outside the Ma'ara and brought a Sefer Torah inside. The next day he received a telegram from Minister of Defense Moshe Dayan. It read, "Take down the flag, take out the Sefer Torah, and everyone who enters must take off his shoes, because the building is a Mosque!" Rabbi Goren sent back a telegram saying, "The Sefer Torah is Kodesh (holy) - it stays. The flag means to me what it means to you. If you want to remove it, do so. I will not touch it."
Dayan sent an officer into Hebron to remove the flag and Torah. On the way back to Jerusalem, the officer was killed in an automobile accident. Dayan then rescinded his order to remove shoes in the Ma'ara. (This story was told to a group of people by Rabbi Shlomo Goren in Kiryat Arba about 8 months before he passed away.)
Hebron is a Jewish City. It should be populated by Jews. It is part of the land that G-d promised to the descendants of Abraham.
Much of the rest of the portion is about how Abraham sent one of his servants out to find a wife from his people for his son Isaac. But probably my favorite part of this portion is this...
7. And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life that he lived: one hundred years and seventy years and five years. 8. And Abraham expired and died in a good old age, old and satisfied, and he was gathered to his people.
Can any of us hope for more than that in this life?
Good Shabbos
Chayei Sarah
Palestinian Arabs have been claiming lately that there is no historic presidencies for Jews to live in the Middle East. They have made such claims as the Temple never existed and that Jerusalem has always been an Arab/Moslem city.
But this weeks portion gives historic and moral backing to Jewish claims that Israel (I speak of the geographic area) rightfully and historically belongs to the Jewish people.
The portion begins with the Death of Abraham's wife Sarah. Abraham goes to a place called Kiriat Arbah to obtain a burial place for Sarah.
4. "I am a stranger and an inhabitant with you. Give me burial property with you, so that I may bury my dead from before me." 5. And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him,6. "Listen to us, my lord; you are a prince of God in our midst; in the choicest of our graves bury your dead. None of us will withhold his grave from you to bury your dead." 7. And Abraham arose and prostrated himself to the people of the land, to the sons of Heth.8. And he spoke with them, saying, "If it is your will that I bury my dead from before me, listen to me and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar.9. That he may give me the Machpelah (double) Cave, which belongs to him, which is at the end of his field; for a full price let him give it to me in your midst for burial property."10. Now Ephron was sitting in the midst of the sons of Heth, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the sons of Heth, of all those who had come into the gate of his city, saying,11. "No, my lord, listen to me. I have given you the field, and the cave that is in it, I have given it to you. Before the eyes of the sons of my people, I have given it to you; bury your dead." 12. And Abraham prostrated himself before the people of the land.13. And he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, "But, if only you would listen to me. I am giving the money for the field; take [it] from me, and I will bury my dead there." 14. And Ephron replied to Abraham, saying to him,15. "My lord, listen to me; a [piece of] land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is it between me and you? Bury your dead."16. And Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out to Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, accepted by the merchant.
It is important to note that dispite an offer to give the Cave to Abraham for free, he insisted on buying it at the going rate. The reason that this is important is because if the land and cave had just been given to Abraham, it could later be clamed to not belong to Abraham, but just loaned to him. But as Abraham bought the land in front of witnesses, it was clearly his and would pass to his decedents.
It is for this reason that Hebron is considered to be the first Jewish City as Abraham is considered to be the first Jew.
Today, the right of Jews to live in Hebron is hotly disputed. There are a few hundred Jews living admits thousands of hostile Arabs. For many years Jews were not permitted to pray at the various Holy sights in and around Hebron. It wasn't until the 1967 Six Day War that Jews were able to pray at the Cave of the Patriarchs.
Here is a story about that time from the web sight of the Jewish Community of Hebron...
The Return to Hebron - June, 1967
Who was the first Israeli to return to Hebron in 1967? Who was the first Jew to enter the Cave of the Machpela in over 700 years? (Moslems refused to permit Jews into the Cave of the Machpela. Jews were allowed to pray outside, at the infamous "7th step". Anyone attempting to get any closer to the entrance was beaten by the Arab guards stationed there.) Surprisingly enough, the first Israeli in Hebron and in the Cave of the Machpela was the then Chief Rabbi of the Israel Defense Forces, Rabbi Shlomo Goren, z”l. And here is his story:
Rabbi Goren was present with Israeli forces as the IDF conquered the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Holding the rank of general, Rabbi Goren knew that the army's next mission was Hebron. Wanting to be among the first Israeli's in the ancient City of the Patriarchs, he joined the armed forces stationed at the recently captured Etzion Block, on their way to Hebron. On the night of 28 Iyyar, before retiring for the evening, he requested to be awoken when the soldiers began their march to Hebron the following day.
The next morning he awoke, only to find himself alone with his driver. Realizing that he had been "left behind," he ordered his driver to begin the 20 minute journey to Hebron, expecting to meet the rest of the army, already on their way.
Rabbi Goren thought it pecular that he hadn’t encountered any other Israeli soldiers on the road as he reached Hebron. He thought to himself surely the Israelis had already finished the job of marching on Hebron already. Driving into Hebron, Rabbi Goren was greeted by the sight of white sheets, hung from roof-tops and windows, throughout the city. He was astounded, but understood. In the summer of 1929, Arab residents of Hebron had massacred 67 Jews and wounded many others. The 1967 Arabs of Hebron were, very plainly, scared of Jewish retaliation. So, they did not fire one shot. Instead they hung white sheets from windows and roof-tops.
Rabbi Goren quickly made his way to the Cave of Machpela. Finding the huge doors bolted, he tried breaking in by shooting at the lock, firing his Uzi submachine gun. Finally, after getting into Ma’arat HaMachpela he blew the Shofar, as he had done 24 hours earlier at the Western Wall.
Only afterwards did Rabbi Goren discover that when he left the base at the Etzion Block, the rest of the forces were on the other side of the hill, making plans for the attack on Hebron. They did not know that the Arabs would surrender. In other words, Rabbi Goren, a single Israeli soldier, single-handedly conquered a city of 80,000 Arabs. Jews had returned to Hebron and to Ma’arat HaMachpela!
Rabbi Goren hung an Israeli flag outside the Ma'ara and brought a Sefer Torah inside. The next day he received a telegram from Minister of Defense Moshe Dayan. It read, "Take down the flag, take out the Sefer Torah, and everyone who enters must take off his shoes, because the building is a Mosque!" Rabbi Goren sent back a telegram saying, "The Sefer Torah is Kodesh (holy) - it stays. The flag means to me what it means to you. If you want to remove it, do so. I will not touch it."
Dayan sent an officer into Hebron to remove the flag and Torah. On the way back to Jerusalem, the officer was killed in an automobile accident. Dayan then rescinded his order to remove shoes in the Ma'ara. (This story was told to a group of people by Rabbi Shlomo Goren in Kiryat Arba about 8 months before he passed away.)
Hebron is a Jewish City. It should be populated by Jews. It is part of the land that G-d promised to the descendants of Abraham.
Much of the rest of the portion is about how Abraham sent one of his servants out to find a wife from his people for his son Isaac. But probably my favorite part of this portion is this...
7. And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life that he lived: one hundred years and seventy years and five years. 8. And Abraham expired and died in a good old age, old and satisfied, and he was gathered to his people.
Can any of us hope for more than that in this life?
Good Shabbos
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Crazy Israel
The Sunday Times of London is reporting that Obama has said that Israel would be "Crazy" not to accept the 2002 Saudi peace plan which calls for an Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders, including East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, in return for full diplomatic recognition from all Arab countries.
First of all, I would ask why anyone would believe that an Israeli withdraw would lead to peace. What evidence is there? Why would the Arab countries want peace when they see that Israel surrendered quite a bit of what they want. Would they not still press for more? The 1947 lines? "Return" of the 1948 refugees? Turn Israel into a bi-national state? The eventual elimination of the Jewish homeland?
Second, what makes anyone think that Jews would be allowed into an Arab Jerusalem? The Palestinian Arabs are already trying to wipe out any historic evidence that there were ever any Jews in that area. What would they do to, Oh say, the Mount of Olives or the Western Wall? How about all the Synagogues in the Old City?
Third, Why is it that to show they want peace with the Arabs, it is always Israel that has to give up "Land for Peace." Why can't the Palestinian Arabs give up any claim to Jerusalem to show they want peace? Why can't Syria give up any claim to the Golan to show they are serious about peace with Israel?
The Palestinian Arab leadership and the leadership in Syria have no desire for peace with Israel. These leaders want to control as many people as possible. They still se Israel as the boogy man to keep their people in line. If Israel did withdraw tot he 1967 lines, their would be new and stronger demands for "Peace." Obama has little sympathy for Israel. He believes that Israel is the bad guy and its the Arabs who are oppressed. He has a natural sympathy for Islam and I would say he is as much a Moslem as he is a Christian. Even his Christianity comes from a church with is ragingly anti Semitic.
Israel has much to fear from the upcoming Obama presidency. Probably more so than from the Palestinian Arabs, Syria and Iran combined.
First of all, I would ask why anyone would believe that an Israeli withdraw would lead to peace. What evidence is there? Why would the Arab countries want peace when they see that Israel surrendered quite a bit of what they want. Would they not still press for more? The 1947 lines? "Return" of the 1948 refugees? Turn Israel into a bi-national state? The eventual elimination of the Jewish homeland?
Second, what makes anyone think that Jews would be allowed into an Arab Jerusalem? The Palestinian Arabs are already trying to wipe out any historic evidence that there were ever any Jews in that area. What would they do to, Oh say, the Mount of Olives or the Western Wall? How about all the Synagogues in the Old City?
Third, Why is it that to show they want peace with the Arabs, it is always Israel that has to give up "Land for Peace." Why can't the Palestinian Arabs give up any claim to Jerusalem to show they want peace? Why can't Syria give up any claim to the Golan to show they are serious about peace with Israel?
The Palestinian Arab leadership and the leadership in Syria have no desire for peace with Israel. These leaders want to control as many people as possible. They still se Israel as the boogy man to keep their people in line. If Israel did withdraw tot he 1967 lines, their would be new and stronger demands for "Peace." Obama has little sympathy for Israel. He believes that Israel is the bad guy and its the Arabs who are oppressed. He has a natural sympathy for Islam and I would say he is as much a Moslem as he is a Christian. Even his Christianity comes from a church with is ragingly anti Semitic.
Israel has much to fear from the upcoming Obama presidency. Probably more so than from the Palestinian Arabs, Syria and Iran combined.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Friday Torah, Vayeira
Genesis/Bereshits 18:1 thru 22:24
This weeks portion has two of the most famous incidents in the bible along with another incident that is well worth note.
We start with Abraham, 99 years old, the third day after he circumcised himself, being visited by three men. The scriptures say...
1. Now the Lord appeared to him in the plains of Mamre and he was sitting at the entrance of the tent when the day was hot.
It says that "The Lord" appeared to him. Yet it was three men who came to visit
2. And he lifted his eyes and saw, and behold, three men were standing beside him, and he saw and he ran toward them from the entrance of the tent, and he prostrated himself to the ground.3. And he said, "My lords, if only I have found favor in your eyes, please do not pass on from beside your servant.
These three men had big news for Abraham. They told him that with in a year Sara would have a child.
Further on in the portion, we see Abraham arguing with G-d about His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah
20. And the Lord said, "Since the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah has become great, and since their sin has become very grave,21. I will descend now and see, whether according to her cry, which has come to Me, they have done; [I will wreak] destruction [upon them]; and if not, I will know."22. And the men turned from there and went to Sodom, and Abraham was still standing before the Lord.23. And Abraham approached and said, "Will You even destroy the righteous with the wicked?24. Perhaps there are fifty righteous men in the midst of the city; will You even destroy and not forgive the place for the sake of the fifty righteous men who are in its midst?25. Far be it from You to do a thing such as this, to put to death the righteous with the wicked so that the righteous should be like the wicked. Far be it from You! Will the Judge of the entire earth not perform justice?"26. And the Lord said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous men within the city, I will forgive the entire place for their sake."27. And Abraham answered and said, "Behold now I have commenced to speak to the Lord, although I am dust and ashes.28. Perhaps the fifty righteous men will be missing five. Will You destroy the entire city because of five?" And He said, "I will not destroy if I find there forty-five."29. And he continued further to speak to Him, and he said, "Perhaps forty will be found there." And He said, "I will not do it for the sake of the forty." 30. And he said, "Please, let the Lord's wrath not be kindled, and I will speak. Perhaps thirty will be found there." And He said, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."31. And he said, "Behold now I have desired to speak to the Lord, perhaps twenty will be found there." And He said, "I will not destroy for the sake of the twenty."32. And he said, "Please, let the Lord's wrath not be kindled, and I will speak yet this time, perhaps ten will be found there." And He said, "I will not destroy for the sake of the ten."33. And the Lord departed when He finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
My comment on Sodom and Gomorrah is that they were not destroyed because of Homosexuality, as is commonly believed. They were destroyed because they did not take care of the poor. (look it up!) All the other sin and abomination came from that.
The last and probably biggest indecent in this portion is the sacrifice of Isaac
1. And it came to pass after these things, that God tested Abraham, and He said to him, "Abraham," and he said, "Here I am."2. And He said, "Please take your son, your only one, whom you love, yea, Isaac, and go away to the land of Moriah and bring him up there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains, of which I will tell you."
We all know the story of how Abraham was about to plunge the knife into Isaac when G-d stopped him. Yet there was two deaths that day. The relationship between Isaac and Abraham died. They never spoke again until the death of Sara. And Abraham's relationship with Sara was over, too. We see that Abraham went to Beersheba, where we learn next week that he and his men spent years digging wells.
19. And Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beer sheba; and Abraham remained in Beer sheba.
I find it interesting that Abraham's obedience to G-d cost him his son and his wife. Following G-d can often cost us those things most dear to us.
What did Abraham gain from his obedience to G-d?
16. And he said, "By Myself have I sworn, says the Lord, that because you have done this thing and you did not withhold your son, your only one,17. That I will surely bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand that is on the seashore, and your descendants will inherit the cities of their enemies. 18. And through your children shall be blessed all the nations of the world, because you hearkened to My voice."
Was it worth it?
(One of the strangest sermons I ever heared was the story of Abraham and Isaac from the point of view of the knife. That was a strange Rabbi!)
Good Shabbos!
This weeks portion has two of the most famous incidents in the bible along with another incident that is well worth note.
We start with Abraham, 99 years old, the third day after he circumcised himself, being visited by three men. The scriptures say...
1. Now the Lord appeared to him in the plains of Mamre and he was sitting at the entrance of the tent when the day was hot.
It says that "The Lord" appeared to him. Yet it was three men who came to visit
2. And he lifted his eyes and saw, and behold, three men were standing beside him, and he saw and he ran toward them from the entrance of the tent, and he prostrated himself to the ground.3. And he said, "My lords, if only I have found favor in your eyes, please do not pass on from beside your servant.
These three men had big news for Abraham. They told him that with in a year Sara would have a child.
Further on in the portion, we see Abraham arguing with G-d about His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah
20. And the Lord said, "Since the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah has become great, and since their sin has become very grave,21. I will descend now and see, whether according to her cry, which has come to Me, they have done; [I will wreak] destruction [upon them]; and if not, I will know."22. And the men turned from there and went to Sodom, and Abraham was still standing before the Lord.23. And Abraham approached and said, "Will You even destroy the righteous with the wicked?24. Perhaps there are fifty righteous men in the midst of the city; will You even destroy and not forgive the place for the sake of the fifty righteous men who are in its midst?25. Far be it from You to do a thing such as this, to put to death the righteous with the wicked so that the righteous should be like the wicked. Far be it from You! Will the Judge of the entire earth not perform justice?"26. And the Lord said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous men within the city, I will forgive the entire place for their sake."27. And Abraham answered and said, "Behold now I have commenced to speak to the Lord, although I am dust and ashes.28. Perhaps the fifty righteous men will be missing five. Will You destroy the entire city because of five?" And He said, "I will not destroy if I find there forty-five."29. And he continued further to speak to Him, and he said, "Perhaps forty will be found there." And He said, "I will not do it for the sake of the forty." 30. And he said, "Please, let the Lord's wrath not be kindled, and I will speak. Perhaps thirty will be found there." And He said, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."31. And he said, "Behold now I have desired to speak to the Lord, perhaps twenty will be found there." And He said, "I will not destroy for the sake of the twenty."32. And he said, "Please, let the Lord's wrath not be kindled, and I will speak yet this time, perhaps ten will be found there." And He said, "I will not destroy for the sake of the ten."33. And the Lord departed when He finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
My comment on Sodom and Gomorrah is that they were not destroyed because of Homosexuality, as is commonly believed. They were destroyed because they did not take care of the poor. (look it up!) All the other sin and abomination came from that.
The last and probably biggest indecent in this portion is the sacrifice of Isaac
1. And it came to pass after these things, that God tested Abraham, and He said to him, "Abraham," and he said, "Here I am."2. And He said, "Please take your son, your only one, whom you love, yea, Isaac, and go away to the land of Moriah and bring him up there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains, of which I will tell you."
We all know the story of how Abraham was about to plunge the knife into Isaac when G-d stopped him. Yet there was two deaths that day. The relationship between Isaac and Abraham died. They never spoke again until the death of Sara. And Abraham's relationship with Sara was over, too. We see that Abraham went to Beersheba, where we learn next week that he and his men spent years digging wells.
19. And Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beer sheba; and Abraham remained in Beer sheba.
I find it interesting that Abraham's obedience to G-d cost him his son and his wife. Following G-d can often cost us those things most dear to us.
What did Abraham gain from his obedience to G-d?
16. And he said, "By Myself have I sworn, says the Lord, that because you have done this thing and you did not withhold your son, your only one,17. That I will surely bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand that is on the seashore, and your descendants will inherit the cities of their enemies. 18. And through your children shall be blessed all the nations of the world, because you hearkened to My voice."
Was it worth it?
(One of the strangest sermons I ever heared was the story of Abraham and Isaac from the point of view of the knife. That was a strange Rabbi!)
Good Shabbos!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
The Meaning of a Hebrew Word
Here is a strange little article from Breitart.com....
An Israeli soldier got three weeks in the slammer for yawning during a ceremony this week to mark the assassination of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, his mother said.
The concerned woman said her son yawned "without covering his mouth" while the commander of his air force base in the north of the country was speaking during the memorial event Israel held on Monday.
When the commander spotted him, he stopped his speech and later ordered the soldier to spend 21 days in jail for what the commander called his "disrespectful act," the mother told public radio.
Rabin was assassinated in 1995 by a Jewish extremist who opposed the peace process with the Palestinians.
Rabin is revered as a national hero, both for his legendary career as army chief and for peace efforts in the 1990s that earned him a Nobel peace prize shared with now President Shimon Peres and the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
An Israeli soldier got three weeks in the slammer for yawning during a ceremony this week to mark the assassination of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, his mother said.
The concerned woman said her son yawned "without covering his mouth" while the commander of his air force base in the north of the country was speaking during the memorial event Israel held on Monday.
When the commander spotted him, he stopped his speech and later ordered the soldier to spend 21 days in jail for what the commander called his "disrespectful act," the mother told public radio.
Rabin was assassinated in 1995 by a Jewish extremist who opposed the peace process with the Palestinians.
Rabin is revered as a national hero, both for his legendary career as army chief and for peace efforts in the 1990s that earned him a Nobel peace prize shared with now President Shimon Peres and the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
It reminded me of how I learned the true meaning of the Hebrew word "Balagan." A word that is heared quite often in Israel and especially in the Israeli Army.
In early 2007 I found myself on an Israeli Army Base as a Sar-El volunteer. One morning the base was having a special formation due to the change in the commander of the army. There was a podum and flags all around the parade ground. The whole base stood in formation to hear the words of the new army commander being read by the base commander. We Sar-El volunteers, in our ill fitting uniforms, stood in formation along with the soldiers. As the ceremony began, music began playing and an officer marched across the parade ground to the flag poll. With as much spit and polish and martial bearing, the officer began to raise the flag up the poll. As it got to the top, the base was called to attention and we all saluted. The officer steped back from the flag poll and gave a salute that would not have been out of place at West point.
It was at that point that things went wrong. The flag descended down the poll and fell on the ground. The officer had forgotten to secure the rope.
Balagan: All messed up, Snafu, A Big Mess, Things Going Wrong.
I LOVE MAPS!!!!!!!!
I was going to post about the Israeli municipal elections or maybe the idiot statement Olmert made about giving up Jerusalem and returning to the 1967 borders. But instead, I thought I would talk about maps.
A couple of years ago, on a trip to Israel, I went up to the Golan Heights to tour the battlefields from the 1973 war. I tried to find a good map of the Golan. But the only maps I found were small tourist maps with little detail. I even tried aviation charts. But even on those, the Golan was about two inches long. (it only takes a few minuets to fly across the Golan, I guess)
Since then, I have been trying to find good maps of Israel. But I was constantly disappointed. But a week ago, I found a web sight that seem to have maps of everything! They have a huge selection of “Hiking” maps of Israel. They are from 2004. The scale is 1-50,000. So I ordered one for the Golan.
It came today and it is GREAT!!!. The detail is wonderful I can even found the Mc Donald’s in Tiberius! I wish I had this map when I toured the Golan. The only problem is that these maps are in Hebrew. My Hebrew is poor. But I still love these maps. And now I want the whole set.
Omnimap.com is the sight. These hiking maps were $27.95 and worth twice the price! The whole set is $477.95. I’m saving my pennies!
A couple of years ago, on a trip to Israel, I went up to the Golan Heights to tour the battlefields from the 1973 war. I tried to find a good map of the Golan. But the only maps I found were small tourist maps with little detail. I even tried aviation charts. But even on those, the Golan was about two inches long. (it only takes a few minuets to fly across the Golan, I guess)
Since then, I have been trying to find good maps of Israel. But I was constantly disappointed. But a week ago, I found a web sight that seem to have maps of everything! They have a huge selection of “Hiking” maps of Israel. They are from 2004. The scale is 1-50,000. So I ordered one for the Golan.
It came today and it is GREAT!!!. The detail is wonderful I can even found the Mc Donald’s in Tiberius! I wish I had this map when I toured the Golan. The only problem is that these maps are in Hebrew. My Hebrew is poor. But I still love these maps. And now I want the whole set.
Omnimap.com is the sight. These hiking maps were $27.95 and worth twice the price! The whole set is $477.95. I’m saving my pennies!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Obama's New Thug
Obama's first staff pick is very illuminating. Rahm Emanuel is a former Clinton staffer who is to be Obama's Chief of staff. I have read in the Jewish press that Emanuel is a signal to Israel that the new administration will be friendly to Israel. And I have read that Emanuel is a "Principled Jew".
Well, Emanuel can be called a lot of things. But Principled Jew isn't one of them. He is a Jew who is best described as one who has left the religion of Judaism for the religion of Liberalism. He is first, foremost and completely a liberal. His only god is power. He was chosen to be a political thug. He will be Obama's Lucca Bratzi.
Emanuel seeks only power. He craves only power. He lusts after only power. And as the President's Chief of Staff, he will have the power of the President.
Emanuel is known for screaming death threats toward his political opponents while stabbing a steak knife into a table. He once sent a dead fish to a political opponent, ala The God Father.
With this pick, Obama has sent a signal that no decent will be tolerated. He will send his enforcer to destroy any one who opposes him. He will have complete control.
Frankly, its Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi who should be the most worried. With this pick, Obama told them 'You WILL do as you are told".
Well, Emanuel can be called a lot of things. But Principled Jew isn't one of them. He is a Jew who is best described as one who has left the religion of Judaism for the religion of Liberalism. He is first, foremost and completely a liberal. His only god is power. He was chosen to be a political thug. He will be Obama's Lucca Bratzi.
Emanuel seeks only power. He craves only power. He lusts after only power. And as the President's Chief of Staff, he will have the power of the President.
Emanuel is known for screaming death threats toward his political opponents while stabbing a steak knife into a table. He once sent a dead fish to a political opponent, ala The God Father.
With this pick, Obama has sent a signal that no decent will be tolerated. He will send his enforcer to destroy any one who opposes him. He will have complete control.
Frankly, its Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi who should be the most worried. With this pick, Obama told them 'You WILL do as you are told".
Friday, November 7, 2008
Republicans Love Palin
This from the Rasmussen Report.....
Friday, November 07, 2008
Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Republican voters say Alaska Governor Sarah Palin helped John McCain’s bid for the presidency, even as news reports surface that some McCain staffers think she was a liability.
Only 20% of GOP voters say Palin hurt the party’s ticket, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Six percent (6%) say she had no impact, and five percent (5%) are undecided.
Ninety-one percent (91%) of Republicans have a favorable view of Palin, including 65% who say their view is Very Favorable. Only eight percent (8%) have an unfavorable view of her, including three percent (3%) Very Unfavorable.
When asked to choose among some of the GOP’s top names for their choice for the party’s 2012 presidential nominee, 64% say Palin. The next closest contenders are two former governors and unsuccessful challengers for the presidential nomination this year -- Mike Huckabee of Arkansas with 12% support and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts with 11%.
Three other sitting governors – Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Charlie Crist of Florida and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota – all pull low single-digit support.
These findings echo a survey earlier this week which found that Republicans were happier with their vice presidential candidate than with their presidential nominee. Seventy-one percent (71%) said McCain made the right choice by picking Palin as his running mate, while only 65% said the party picked the right nominee for president.
The key for the 44-year-old Palin will be whether she can broaden her base of support. An Election Day survey found that 81% of Democrats and, more importantly, 57% of unaffiliated voters had an unfavorable view of her.
(Want a free daily e-mail update? Sign up now. If it's in the news, it's in our polls).
Palin, Alaska’s first woman governor, was elected to a four-year term in 2006. She was largely unknown nationally until McCain chose her to be the party’s vice presidential candidate. She quickly became a darling of the GOP’s conservative base and energized the party’s rank-and-file.
Speculation about her future has run high for weeks when it appeared Barack Obama was likely to beat McCain. Already this week there is talk of her possibly taking the seat of embattled Republican Senator Ted Stevens if he manages to hang on and win won reelection despite recent federal felony convictions. Stevens would have to step down if his appeal of the convictions is unsuccessful.
Palin could also run for another term as Governor in the state where she still enjoys very high approval ratings.
Among Republicans, 66% of men and 61% of women say Palin is their choice for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012. Sixty-six percent (66%) of GOP women have a Very Favorable view of her, as do 64% of men.
While Palin’s high favorables suggest she has a bright political future in the Republican Party, it is important to note that favorites four years out from a presidential election quite often do not get the nomination. Obama, for example, was just an Illinois state senator four years ago, and Hillary Clinton appeared a shoo-in for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008.
Similarly, vice presidential candidates historically have seldom risen to the highest office by election.
Republicans are closely divided over the two most important issues in the next presidential election: 31% say economic issues, 30% say national security. Fifteen percent (15%) list fiscal issues, followed by cultural issues (12%) and domestic issues (6%). Five percent (5%) are undecided. Palin is overwhelmingly the top choice for 2012 among voters in all these categories.
Over two-thirds of Republicans describe themselves as conservative in terms of foreign policy, fiscal and social issues.
Eighty percent (80%) of Republicans have a favorable view of Huckabee, including 46% Very Favorable. Sixteen percent (16%) regard him unfavorably.
Eighty-one percent (81%) view Romney favorably, with 45% Very Favorable. Fifteen percent (15%) have an unfavorable opinion of him.
Jindal, Pawlenty, and Crist are far less known than the other candidates. Roughly 40% of GOP voters have no opinion one way or the other of these three Republican Governors.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Republican voters say Alaska Governor Sarah Palin helped John McCain’s bid for the presidency, even as news reports surface that some McCain staffers think she was a liability.
Only 20% of GOP voters say Palin hurt the party’s ticket, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Six percent (6%) say she had no impact, and five percent (5%) are undecided.
Ninety-one percent (91%) of Republicans have a favorable view of Palin, including 65% who say their view is Very Favorable. Only eight percent (8%) have an unfavorable view of her, including three percent (3%) Very Unfavorable.
When asked to choose among some of the GOP’s top names for their choice for the party’s 2012 presidential nominee, 64% say Palin. The next closest contenders are two former governors and unsuccessful challengers for the presidential nomination this year -- Mike Huckabee of Arkansas with 12% support and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts with 11%.
Three other sitting governors – Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Charlie Crist of Florida and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota – all pull low single-digit support.
These findings echo a survey earlier this week which found that Republicans were happier with their vice presidential candidate than with their presidential nominee. Seventy-one percent (71%) said McCain made the right choice by picking Palin as his running mate, while only 65% said the party picked the right nominee for president.
The key for the 44-year-old Palin will be whether she can broaden her base of support. An Election Day survey found that 81% of Democrats and, more importantly, 57% of unaffiliated voters had an unfavorable view of her.
(Want a free daily e-mail update? Sign up now. If it's in the news, it's in our polls).
Palin, Alaska’s first woman governor, was elected to a four-year term in 2006. She was largely unknown nationally until McCain chose her to be the party’s vice presidential candidate. She quickly became a darling of the GOP’s conservative base and energized the party’s rank-and-file.
Speculation about her future has run high for weeks when it appeared Barack Obama was likely to beat McCain. Already this week there is talk of her possibly taking the seat of embattled Republican Senator Ted Stevens if he manages to hang on and win won reelection despite recent federal felony convictions. Stevens would have to step down if his appeal of the convictions is unsuccessful.
Palin could also run for another term as Governor in the state where she still enjoys very high approval ratings.
Among Republicans, 66% of men and 61% of women say Palin is their choice for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012. Sixty-six percent (66%) of GOP women have a Very Favorable view of her, as do 64% of men.
While Palin’s high favorables suggest she has a bright political future in the Republican Party, it is important to note that favorites four years out from a presidential election quite often do not get the nomination. Obama, for example, was just an Illinois state senator four years ago, and Hillary Clinton appeared a shoo-in for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008.
Similarly, vice presidential candidates historically have seldom risen to the highest office by election.
Republicans are closely divided over the two most important issues in the next presidential election: 31% say economic issues, 30% say national security. Fifteen percent (15%) list fiscal issues, followed by cultural issues (12%) and domestic issues (6%). Five percent (5%) are undecided. Palin is overwhelmingly the top choice for 2012 among voters in all these categories.
Over two-thirds of Republicans describe themselves as conservative in terms of foreign policy, fiscal and social issues.
Eighty percent (80%) of Republicans have a favorable view of Huckabee, including 46% Very Favorable. Sixteen percent (16%) regard him unfavorably.
Eighty-one percent (81%) view Romney favorably, with 45% Very Favorable. Fifteen percent (15%) have an unfavorable opinion of him.
Jindal, Pawlenty, and Crist are far less known than the other candidates. Roughly 40% of GOP voters have no opinion one way or the other of these three Republican Governors.
Friday Torah, Lech Lecha
Lech Lecha, Genesis/Bereshits 12:1 thru 17:27
G-d has a plan. Nothing happens by chance. And some times there is a person who is essential for that plan. In Lech Lecha we begin to see one of those people.
Abram is first introduced in last weeks portion. But aside from a brief mention, we learn nothing about him until this portion.
1. And the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you.2. And I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will aggrandize your name, and [you shall] be a blessing.3. And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you." 4. And Abram went, as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him, and Abram was seventy five years old when he left Haran.
We learn nothing about his early life. We know nothing about his relationship with the one true G-d. But some how, he was intememt enough with G-d so that G-d spoke to him.
Abram is the first of the three great Patriarchs. But like so many other great men of the Bible, he is a deeply flawed individual. Yet G-d chose him to be a father of two nations. And all nations of the world could be blessed thru him.
This tells me that despite our own flaws (and I have many) we can be a blessing, we can be used by G-d.
The first flaw we see in Abram is during his move to Egypt. He had Sarai say that she was his sister. Most people think that Abram told her to say that because he was afraid of being killed by Pharaoh for Sarai. While this may be true, he was also looking to be enriched by Pharaoh. And the scriptures tell us that he received much for Sarai.
16. And he benefited Abram for her sake, and he had flocks and cattle and he donkeys and men servants and maid servants, and she donkeys and camels.
This brings up difficult questions. Did Abram “Pimp” Sarai? Did Pharaoh sleep with Sarai.
17. And the Lord plagued Pharaoh [with] great plagues as well as his household, on account of Sarai, Abram's wife.
The scripture doesn’t tell us. But commentaries say that Pharaoh was stricken by disease before he had a chance.
Pharaoh Got a little upset over this whole incident. He threw Abram out of town. But Abram didn’t learn from this incident. He pulled this “She’s my sister” routine again in next weeks portion.
There are several jewels in this portion. The first is where Abram is called a Hebrew (Chap 14:12). And after a battle where the clan leader Abram saves his relatives, we meet a figure called Malchizedek, King of Salem. Malchizedek gives Abram a blessing and in return Abram gives Malchizedek 10% of his belongings.
In chap. 15, we hear G-d’s promises to give Abram a son. But shortly after, both his and Sarai’s lack of faith cause Sarai to give Abram her servant, Hagar to produce children. And as we can see today, that didn’t turn out well.
And at the end of this portion, we see Abram do something that did take a great deal of faith. Abram, now called Abraham is given the covenant of circumcision.
23. And Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house and all those purchased with his money, every male of the people of Abraham's household, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskin on that very day, as God had spoken with him.24. And Abraham was ninety-nine years old, when he was circumcised of the flesh of his foreskin
The man did himself and his family! That took FAITH.
Good Shabbos
G-d has a plan. Nothing happens by chance. And some times there is a person who is essential for that plan. In Lech Lecha we begin to see one of those people.
Abram is first introduced in last weeks portion. But aside from a brief mention, we learn nothing about him until this portion.
1. And the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you.2. And I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will aggrandize your name, and [you shall] be a blessing.3. And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you." 4. And Abram went, as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him, and Abram was seventy five years old when he left Haran.
We learn nothing about his early life. We know nothing about his relationship with the one true G-d. But some how, he was intememt enough with G-d so that G-d spoke to him.
Abram is the first of the three great Patriarchs. But like so many other great men of the Bible, he is a deeply flawed individual. Yet G-d chose him to be a father of two nations. And all nations of the world could be blessed thru him.
This tells me that despite our own flaws (and I have many) we can be a blessing, we can be used by G-d.
The first flaw we see in Abram is during his move to Egypt. He had Sarai say that she was his sister. Most people think that Abram told her to say that because he was afraid of being killed by Pharaoh for Sarai. While this may be true, he was also looking to be enriched by Pharaoh. And the scriptures tell us that he received much for Sarai.
16. And he benefited Abram for her sake, and he had flocks and cattle and he donkeys and men servants and maid servants, and she donkeys and camels.
This brings up difficult questions. Did Abram “Pimp” Sarai? Did Pharaoh sleep with Sarai.
17. And the Lord plagued Pharaoh [with] great plagues as well as his household, on account of Sarai, Abram's wife.
The scripture doesn’t tell us. But commentaries say that Pharaoh was stricken by disease before he had a chance.
Pharaoh Got a little upset over this whole incident. He threw Abram out of town. But Abram didn’t learn from this incident. He pulled this “She’s my sister” routine again in next weeks portion.
There are several jewels in this portion. The first is where Abram is called a Hebrew (Chap 14:12). And after a battle where the clan leader Abram saves his relatives, we meet a figure called Malchizedek, King of Salem. Malchizedek gives Abram a blessing and in return Abram gives Malchizedek 10% of his belongings.
In chap. 15, we hear G-d’s promises to give Abram a son. But shortly after, both his and Sarai’s lack of faith cause Sarai to give Abram her servant, Hagar to produce children. And as we can see today, that didn’t turn out well.
And at the end of this portion, we see Abram do something that did take a great deal of faith. Abram, now called Abraham is given the covenant of circumcision.
23. And Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house and all those purchased with his money, every male of the people of Abraham's household, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskin on that very day, as God had spoken with him.24. And Abraham was ninety-nine years old, when he was circumcised of the flesh of his foreskin
The man did himself and his family! That took FAITH.
Good Shabbos
Thursday, November 6, 2008
McCain staff trashes Sarah
I am disgusted by the way former McCain campaign officials are trying to destroy Sarah Palin. They are trying to blame some one else for their own failure. I hope that Gov. Sarah keeps herself in the spotlight so that she can run in 2012. I urge all of you to e-mail the Governor's office inn Alaska to show her your support.
This from Townhall.com.....
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
How Sarah Could Run for the Senate
Posted by: Amanda Carpenter at 3:19 PM
As we wait for the final results to come in about Ted Steven's Senate race many of you have been wondering about Sarah Palin's options for the slot.I have all the relevant Alaskan state law statutes in front of me so let me run down the scenarios for you. SCENARIO 1) If Ted Stevens loses, Democrat Mark Begich becomes Alaska's new senator. Palin can challenge Lisa Murkowski for her seat in 2010. (This would be fitting since Palin unseated Murkowski's father. It would be interesting to watch Palin go after the daughter, too.)SCENARIO 2)Ted Stevens wins and then the Senate refuses to seat him. Or, Stevens does the right thing and resigns.If this happens and Palin wanted to get his seat she would be best off temporarily appointing someone else and running for the seat straight up in a special election. This is because Alaskan law requires a special election and while Palin may be able to temporarily appoint herself the laws on this are too new and confusing to mess with.Regardless of whether she runs or not, Palin would need to call for a special election between 60 and 90 days AFTER the vacancy occurs. Now, about the temporary appointment. It's complicated. Alaskans passed a ballot measure in 2004 that said the Govenor is allowed to call for a special election, but NOT make a temporary appointment. The Alaskan state legislature passed something on this in 2004 as well. And, it's at odds with what the voters did. The legislature passed a measure that says "When a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator, the governor may, at least five days after the date of the vacancy but within 30 days after the date of the vacancy, appoint a qualified individual to fill the vacancy temporarily until the results of the special election called to fill the vacancy are certified."You got that? The ballot initiative says she can't do it, but the legislature says she can. No one knows which measure would win in the end because it's never been tested.But, it wouldn't make a lot of sense for her to appoint herself at all. That would be a touch "diva." Appointing the place holder and then running honestly would be much better and, I'm guessing, more Palin's style.I was on a conference call with conservative activists this afternoon and a leader from Alaska said, "If she runs, she wins."
This from Townhall.com.....
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
How Sarah Could Run for the Senate
Posted by: Amanda Carpenter at 3:19 PM
As we wait for the final results to come in about Ted Steven's Senate race many of you have been wondering about Sarah Palin's options for the slot.I have all the relevant Alaskan state law statutes in front of me so let me run down the scenarios for you. SCENARIO 1) If Ted Stevens loses, Democrat Mark Begich becomes Alaska's new senator. Palin can challenge Lisa Murkowski for her seat in 2010. (This would be fitting since Palin unseated Murkowski's father. It would be interesting to watch Palin go after the daughter, too.)SCENARIO 2)Ted Stevens wins and then the Senate refuses to seat him. Or, Stevens does the right thing and resigns.If this happens and Palin wanted to get his seat she would be best off temporarily appointing someone else and running for the seat straight up in a special election. This is because Alaskan law requires a special election and while Palin may be able to temporarily appoint herself the laws on this are too new and confusing to mess with.Regardless of whether she runs or not, Palin would need to call for a special election between 60 and 90 days AFTER the vacancy occurs. Now, about the temporary appointment. It's complicated. Alaskans passed a ballot measure in 2004 that said the Govenor is allowed to call for a special election, but NOT make a temporary appointment. The Alaskan state legislature passed something on this in 2004 as well. And, it's at odds with what the voters did. The legislature passed a measure that says "When a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator, the governor may, at least five days after the date of the vacancy but within 30 days after the date of the vacancy, appoint a qualified individual to fill the vacancy temporarily until the results of the special election called to fill the vacancy are certified."You got that? The ballot initiative says she can't do it, but the legislature says she can. No one knows which measure would win in the end because it's never been tested.But, it wouldn't make a lot of sense for her to appoint herself at all. That would be a touch "diva." Appointing the place holder and then running honestly would be much better and, I'm guessing, more Palin's style.I was on a conference call with conservative activists this afternoon and a leader from Alaska said, "If she runs, she wins."
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Day After
There were several reasons for the Socialist victory. First was the economic situation. It scared a lot of people. The MSM was playing it up big, convincing enough people that they were about to loose their house. And the perception was that Obama will pay off their house note.
The second reason was that McCain was a horrible candidate. He was sinking fast until he picked Sarah Palin as a running mate. This put some energy into the Republican base. But McCain didn't have any fight in him until it was too late. Palin was great. But few if any people decide because of the running mate.
Obama was able to present himself (with the help of the MSM) to present himself as anything people wanted him to be. He was able to hide the fact that he hates America and all it stands for.
And the Media has to take a big part of this Obama win. They were clearly in the tank for Obama as soon as it was clear that Hillary was going to loose the primary. They deliberately hid any damning evidence against Obama. The most notable instance of this is the infamous LA Times video.
I predict that it wont be very long until the disillusionment begins. Obama will not be able to be every thing to everybody. He will raise taxes across the board. Transfer money to those who don’t pay taxes, make energy less available and more expensive, and surrender to our enemies.
He will also abandon our only true ally in the Middle East, Israel.
I can see a replay of the 1994 mid term elections when the Republican Party took over both the House and Senate. If Obama gets half the programs he wants, the economy will tank like it did in the 70’s.
We are in for a rough few years. But I see a REAL conservative arising from the ashes of this election. It may be Sarah Palin!
The second reason was that McCain was a horrible candidate. He was sinking fast until he picked Sarah Palin as a running mate. This put some energy into the Republican base. But McCain didn't have any fight in him until it was too late. Palin was great. But few if any people decide because of the running mate.
Obama was able to present himself (with the help of the MSM) to present himself as anything people wanted him to be. He was able to hide the fact that he hates America and all it stands for.
And the Media has to take a big part of this Obama win. They were clearly in the tank for Obama as soon as it was clear that Hillary was going to loose the primary. They deliberately hid any damning evidence against Obama. The most notable instance of this is the infamous LA Times video.
I predict that it wont be very long until the disillusionment begins. Obama will not be able to be every thing to everybody. He will raise taxes across the board. Transfer money to those who don’t pay taxes, make energy less available and more expensive, and surrender to our enemies.
He will also abandon our only true ally in the Middle East, Israel.
I can see a replay of the 1994 mid term elections when the Republican Party took over both the House and Senate. If Obama gets half the programs he wants, the economy will tank like it did in the 70’s.
We are in for a rough few years. But I see a REAL conservative arising from the ashes of this election. It may be Sarah Palin!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Your right to vote in Philadelphia
This from World Net Daily...
Black Panthers blocked a doorway to a polling location and intimidated voters in
Philadelphia, Pa., according to a Republican poll observer.
After one of
two
men wearing black panther gear brandished a nightstick to threaten
voters, the
poll observer called police.
"As I walked up, they closed ranks, next to each
other," he told Fox News. "So I walked directly in between them, went inside
and
found the poll watchers. They said they'd been here for about an hour.
And they
told us not to come outside because a black man is going to win
this election no
matter what."
He said he then walked back outside and
the man with a night
stick told him, "'We're tired of white supremacy' and
he starts tapping the
night stick in his hand. At which point I said, 'OK,
we're not going to get in a
fist fight right here,' and I called the
police."
Officers escorted the man
with the night stick away from the
polling location, but the other person in
Black Panther gear is a poll watcher and lives in the building where
voters are scheduled to cast their ballots. He was allowed to remain on the
premises.
The incident is one of many cases of intimidation against
Republicans at Philadelphia polling sites. According to recent reports, GOP
Election Board members have been kicked out of at least half a dozen polling
stations in Philadelphia because they are Republicans – despite a
Pennsylvania
judge's ruling that on-site election judges are not allowed to
remove
court-appointed poll observers.
Fox News reported Republican poll
watchers in
West Philadelphia were asked to leave because Democrats are the
party of power,
and the Republicans are not being allowed to monitor the
election
process.
"We're saying that the poll watcher is not allowed to
stay in the
poll and watch," the complainant said. "He's been asked
initially to leave.
Then, later on, the election judge came and said
essentially that he only had
the right to pass through on an intermittent
occasion."
Removing the minority
party from poll-watching positions is a
violation of state law. It is a
misdemeanor offense that carries a fine of
$1,000 and up to two years of prison
time.
According to TownHall,
Republicans have been removed from the following
precincts: the 44th Ward,
12th and 13th divisions; 6th Ward, 12th division; 32nd
Ward, Division
28.
McCain spokesman Ben Porritt told Townhall, "Election
board officials
guard the legitimacy of the election process and the idea that
Republicans
are being intimidated and banned for partisan purposes does not
allow for an
honest and open election process."
Pennsylvania Secretary of
State Pedro
Cortes said the situation is currently being resolved in court.
Prediction
Obama will win all the swing states except Ohio. He will get 320 Electoral College votes. And the MSM will call him the New George Washington.
Of course, I have been wrong about EVERYTHING this election.
The 2012 election cycle starts when the polls close!
Of course, I have been wrong about EVERYTHING this election.
The 2012 election cycle starts when the polls close!
Monday, November 3, 2008
One Day More
I feel like I am watching a terminally ill relative pass away. You know its going to happen. And you try to prepare for it. But when it actually happens, its still a shock.
Its time for "Change." Change that's going to cost you plenty!
Tiger Mike, WFG
3 November, 2008
Its time for "Change." Change that's going to cost you plenty!
Tiger Mike, WFG
3 November, 2008
Election 2008, or Time to Rebuild
I write this two days before the election. And it is now apparent that Obama will win a sizable victory. He will get between 300 and 350 electoral votes. I predict he will win Virginia, North Carolina, and possibly Florida. The week or two following the election will be the hardest one for those of us who are conservatives. The main stream media will harold this as the New Liberal Era. Obama will go from being the Messiah to being G-d himself. It will be BAD.
In addition, I predict that the Republican party will have substantial losses in the house and Senate. In the Senate, the Republican party will either lose the ability to filibuster or there will be enough turncoats to prevent a filibuster.
The Republican party will then start the blame game. It will be Rush Limbaugh’s fault. It will be Sarah Palin’s fault. It will be the fault of religious conservatives. It will be every one's fault except the person who is most responsible (Its McCain by the way).
Many on our own side will give up hope and try to find their place in the new New Deal that is to come. Many republicans will see this election as a rejection of their ideas and will attach themselves to Liberal ideas to try to make them “Liberal Lite.” They will state their intention to cooperate with the majority and the new President.
If you are a committed conservative, as I am, you must help to rebuild a conservative movement. It will be very difficult. There will be many setbacks and defeats along the way. But if you love the United States of America, you must stand strong.
Realize that we are not just fighting the Liberals in government. We also must fight the Main Stream Media. For it is the MSM who have done more that any other group, person, or organization to bring about this radical change in government. They have done everything inn their considerable power to bring about this socialist victory.
Just what can we do? First of all, DON’T LOSE HEART! It is a fact that most people in the United States are not liberal. They live their lives in a conservative manor. We WILL get them back. And maybe sooner that you think!
Second, STAY INFORMED! Read a variety of web sights, blogs, and news papers. Watch the news (as much as you can stand) to see what the enemy is saying and doing.
Third, GET INVOLVED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL! The next congressional elections are only two years away. And remember just what happened two years into the Clinton Presidency. With this guy, it is quite possible for it to happen again. Clinton tried to take away every one’s guns and nationalize every one’s medical care. Obama will try to do much more than that. So, support you local candidate with your time and effort.
Fourth, start saving money that you can give to individual conservative candidates. It can be only $10 a month or it could be $10,000 a month. But it will be needed to fight the socialists and the MSM in just another year. There will be many candidates in congressional, gubernatorial and senatorial races who will need and deserve our support. When the time comes, REMEMBER THEM.
Obama and the Democrat party envision turning this country into something resembling Sweden, a country that is so socialistic that people don’t work. They just let the government take care of them. And the care is getting worse and worse every year. The producers in Sweden are some times taxed at over a 100% rate so that the government can give a few crumbs to the peasants while keeping their own power. Their standard of living decreases every year.
The Democrat/Socialists Party will take our money, our opportunity, and our very freedom if we let them. They will promise Utopia, and I am confident that they will indeed deliver what Utopia originally was. It was a book by Sir Thomas Moore that envisioned a closed, repressive society where individual freedom did not exist. The nanny state that Obama will bring us will end up being Big Brother. (Read the book Utopia by Thomas Moore. It will scare the hell out of you!)
The next few weeks will be brutal. It may be best to ignore the media onslaught until mid December. But then, for the sake of our country, for the sake of our communities, for the sake of our families and for the sake of the world, we must stand up and fight! There will be defeats. There will be setbacks. But in the end we will win.
TAKE HEART! BE STRONG! WE WILL WIN! WE WILL PREVALE!
Tiger Mike
2 November, 2008
Please forward this to like minded conservatives.
In addition, I predict that the Republican party will have substantial losses in the house and Senate. In the Senate, the Republican party will either lose the ability to filibuster or there will be enough turncoats to prevent a filibuster.
The Republican party will then start the blame game. It will be Rush Limbaugh’s fault. It will be Sarah Palin’s fault. It will be the fault of religious conservatives. It will be every one's fault except the person who is most responsible (Its McCain by the way).
Many on our own side will give up hope and try to find their place in the new New Deal that is to come. Many republicans will see this election as a rejection of their ideas and will attach themselves to Liberal ideas to try to make them “Liberal Lite.” They will state their intention to cooperate with the majority and the new President.
If you are a committed conservative, as I am, you must help to rebuild a conservative movement. It will be very difficult. There will be many setbacks and defeats along the way. But if you love the United States of America, you must stand strong.
Realize that we are not just fighting the Liberals in government. We also must fight the Main Stream Media. For it is the MSM who have done more that any other group, person, or organization to bring about this radical change in government. They have done everything inn their considerable power to bring about this socialist victory.
Just what can we do? First of all, DON’T LOSE HEART! It is a fact that most people in the United States are not liberal. They live their lives in a conservative manor. We WILL get them back. And maybe sooner that you think!
Second, STAY INFORMED! Read a variety of web sights, blogs, and news papers. Watch the news (as much as you can stand) to see what the enemy is saying and doing.
Third, GET INVOLVED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL! The next congressional elections are only two years away. And remember just what happened two years into the Clinton Presidency. With this guy, it is quite possible for it to happen again. Clinton tried to take away every one’s guns and nationalize every one’s medical care. Obama will try to do much more than that. So, support you local candidate with your time and effort.
Fourth, start saving money that you can give to individual conservative candidates. It can be only $10 a month or it could be $10,000 a month. But it will be needed to fight the socialists and the MSM in just another year. There will be many candidates in congressional, gubernatorial and senatorial races who will need and deserve our support. When the time comes, REMEMBER THEM.
Obama and the Democrat party envision turning this country into something resembling Sweden, a country that is so socialistic that people don’t work. They just let the government take care of them. And the care is getting worse and worse every year. The producers in Sweden are some times taxed at over a 100% rate so that the government can give a few crumbs to the peasants while keeping their own power. Their standard of living decreases every year.
The Democrat/Socialists Party will take our money, our opportunity, and our very freedom if we let them. They will promise Utopia, and I am confident that they will indeed deliver what Utopia originally was. It was a book by Sir Thomas Moore that envisioned a closed, repressive society where individual freedom did not exist. The nanny state that Obama will bring us will end up being Big Brother. (Read the book Utopia by Thomas Moore. It will scare the hell out of you!)
The next few weeks will be brutal. It may be best to ignore the media onslaught until mid December. But then, for the sake of our country, for the sake of our communities, for the sake of our families and for the sake of the world, we must stand up and fight! There will be defeats. There will be setbacks. But in the end we will win.
TAKE HEART! BE STRONG! WE WILL WIN! WE WILL PREVALE!
Tiger Mike
2 November, 2008
Please forward this to like minded conservatives.
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