1)"Do you have family in Israel?"
This is the first question I am always asked by my well meaning non-Jewish coworkers who see the war news and want to know if my family is safe. This one question highlights the fundamental difference between the way the non-Jewish world looks at the news and events in the world and the way we look at them. In their mind if a close relative is in danger that's one thing, but if not, then the concern is muted, you have less to be worried about, you are not losing sleep every night.
A family member in Israel recently (before the war) was talking about needing help for something, and they were not overly concerned because, in their words, "We are all family here." If that was the feeling two weeks ago, kal v'chomer that is the feeling now, and it extends not just to those in Israel, but even to those of us living in chu"l.
Even if you don't have a brother or sister in Israel, a parent or aunt or uncle, or even a first, second, or even third cousin, each and every one of us feels like we have family there; we are personally invested in everything that is happening in a way that only family is invested.
2) I was made aware of this Yalkut Shimoni thanks to a talk I saw by R' Oury Cherki.
וַיָּקׇם קַיִן אֶל הֶבֶל אָחִיו וַיַּהַרְגֵהוּ
The word וַיָּקׇם implies that Kayin was lying down or sitting down and then got up. What was going on in this encounter? The Yalkut writes:
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, הֶבֶל הָיָה גִבּוֹר מִקַּיִן, שֶׁאֵין תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וַיָּקָם אֶלָא מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיָה נָתוּן תַּחְתָּיו אָמַר לֵיהּ שְׁנֵינוּ בָּעוֹלָם, מָה אַתָּה הוֹלֵךְ וְאוֹמֵר לְאַבָּא, נִתְמַלֵּא עָלָיו רַחֲמִים, מִיַּד עָמַד עָלָיו וַהֲרָגוֹ. מִן תַּמָן אִנּוּן אָמְרִין טָב לְבִישׁ לֹא תַּעֲבִיד וְכוּ׳.
I don't need to elaborate on the application to iyana d'yoma. Hevel assumed Kayin had the same moral rule book that he did, which was a mistake.
3) The biggest lie of all the big lies Joe Biden has told is his statement on Sunday that, "...A significant portion of Palestinian people do not share the views of Hamas and Hezbollah."
Is there a shred of evidence that would support such an assertion? Did the Palestinian media last Saturday and Sunday condemn the atrocities that occurred? Was social media filled with Arab voices declaring that Hamas did not act in their name? Have the people of Gaza when polled declared themselves sick of Hamas' ruling their territory? Do they teach their children in school to love peace?
No. These barbarians celebrated what happened. These barbarians have held multiple demonstrations in support of Hamas.
Ask yourself this: Has there been a SINGLE demonstration in the Arab world protesting against Hamas?
Just another one of Joe's lies. One that we will pay the price for.
My father zatzal used to say over the story of the Beilis trial. The alleged expert on the Talmud, a priest, said that the Jews view gentiles as subhuman, as animals, and have no more moral aversion to killing them than to killing animals, vermin. This is what the Gemara means by אתם קרויין אדם ואין העובדי כוכבים קרויין אדם This accusation brought terrible fear to the Jews, who knew that if Beilis were to be found guilty, it would unleash a pogrom worse than ever before, in light of speedy communication and weaponry, and it was indisputable that the Gemara says it. It would justify murder, as we pose a threat to them. They consulted with R Meir Shapiro, and he told them how to answer. He said that they totally misunderstood the Gemara, and he could prove what the Gemara really means. If a gentile reads the paper, and sees that thousands are dying from famine in China, he might sigh, and turn the page. If a Jew hears that in Moscow Jews can't get Matza for Pesach, he will soon be at the post office with cases of Matza. That's because Jews see themselves as one, as one Adam.
ReplyDeleteThen he said that he could prove it is true. When someone reads that Ivan, the Russian, killed his neighbor, he says, "Ivan is a murderer." But when a Russian hears that Moishe killed his neighbor, he says "The Jews are all murderers." This is because you, gentiles, recognize that all the Jews are one, while for you, every person is an individual. That is why Klal Yisrael is קרויים אדם.
But I disagree about Biden. He sent an aircraft carrier. He is ready to put boots on the ground. He is treating Israel like the 51st state. Without him, Iran/Hezbollah would have declared war. He is, as he sees it, saving tens of thousands of Jewish lives. We owe him tremendous hakaras hatov. נפשו הוא חייב לו
ReplyDeleteHe also 1) restored aide to the Palestinians which Trump had cut off; 2) resumed US support for UNRWA; 3) unfroze billions in Iranians assets; 4) relaxed sanctions so Iran could make billions in profit from oil.
DeleteYes, at this moment of crisis he has stood with Israel and provided the arms needed for defense. However, we might not be in this situation if not for his unforgivable foreign policy of appeasement of the enemy.
And in news earlier this week: "A federal judge in Texas on Tuesday evening ordered the discovery phase of a lawsuit accusing the Biden administration of knowingly providing funds that benefited Palestinian terrorists get underway.
DeleteAmerica First Legal (AFL) first filed the lawsuit in 2022, alleging that President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken resumed payments to the Palestinian Authority (PA) that former President Trump ended in order to be in compliance with the Taylor Force Act — a federal law that prohibits the government from sending American taxpayer dollars to the PA until it stops supporting terrorism. " (https://www.foxnews.com/politics/judge-lets-lawsuit-claiming-biden-admin-knew-us-funds-aiding-palestinian-terrorists-move-forward)
Can I prove to you none of this would have happened had Trump been in office? Of course not. It's a hypothetical. But I can prove to you that under Biden our enemies have had $ and support restored to them. And the support of the democrat aligned left in Congress, the media, and colleges across the country is undeniable.
SEC. BLINKEN: "The U.S. and Israel have agreed to develop a plan that will enable humanitarian aid from donor nations and multilateral organizations to reach civilians in Gaza, and them alone. "If Hamas -- in any way -- blocks humanitarian assistance from reaching civilians, including by seizing the aid itself, we'll be the first to condemn it."
DeleteI'm sure Hamas is trembling at the thought of that strongly worded condemnation after they use that 100 million for more terrorism. This would be funny were it not for the blood that will inevitably be spilt.
Also Vayikra Rabba 22:4, at greater length
ReplyDeleteעוֹבָדָא הֲוָה בְּחַד גַּבְרָא דַּהֲוָה סָלֵיק מִן בָּבֶל, יָתֵיב לְמִקַרְטָא בְּאוֹרְחָא, וְחָמָא תַּרְתֵּין צִפֳּרִין מִתְנַצְיָין חָדָא עִם חָדָא, וְקָטְלַת חָדָא מִנְּהוֹן חֲבֶרְתָּהּ, אָזְלַת הַהִיא אַחְרִיתֵּי וְאַתְיָא עִשְׂבָּא וִיהַב עֲלָהּ וְאַחְיַית יָתָהּ, אֲמַר טַב לִי נְסַב מִן הָדֵין עִשְׂבָּא וְאַחְיֵה בֵּיהּ מֵתַיָא דְאַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל, כִּי פָרֵי וְסָלַק חָמָא חַד תַּעֲלָא מִית מִקְלַק בְּאוֹרְחָא, אֲמַר טַב לִי מְנַסְיָא בַּהֲדֵין תַּעֲלָא, וִיהַב עֲלֵיהּ וְאַחְיֵיהּ, וְסָלֵיק עַד שֶׁהִגִּיעַ לְסוּלַמֵּי צוֹר, כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעַ לְסוּלַמֵּי צוֹר חָמֵי חַד אֲרִי קְטֵיל וּמִקְלַק בְּאָרְחָא, אֲמַר טַב לִי מְנַסְיָא בַּהֲדֵין אֲרִי, וִיהַב עֲלוֹהִי מִן עִשְׂבָּא וַחֲיָה, וְקָם וַאֲכַל יָתֵיהּ, הוּא דִּבְרִיָּתָא אָמְרֵי טַב לְבִישׁ עֲבַדְתְּ בִּישָׁא עֲבַדְתְּ, טַב לְבִישׁ לָא תַעֲבֵיד וּבִישׁ לָא מָטֵי לָךְ.