Tag: Israel

  • Natural Redemption

    All the plagues in Egypt could be explained scientifically. This ties in with the concept of natural redemption. Nothing seems abnormal until you realize that there has been a change in the world.

  • Don’t Follow the Crowd

    Joshua & Caleb did not follow the conventional wisdom of the other scouts. They were outliers in their views. Yet they were correct in their analysis while the others were not. This is to teach that it is the outliers who advance ideas, not those who follow the crowd.

  • Israel Independence Day

    No matter how we count the Omer, Israel Independence Day falls in the middle of the mourning period. This is no accident. Israel Independence Day is the atonement for the sins committed by Rebbe Akiva’s students during the Bar-Kochba Revolt.

  • Believe in God & Yourself

    פרשת דברים / ה’ באב תשפ”ב

    The sin of the spies is recounted in this week’s portion. The real sin that they committed was twofold. The lacked faith in God being able to help them in conquering the Land of Israel and they lacked faith in themselves.

  • The American Roots of Israel

    פרשת חקת / ה’ בתמוז תשפ”ב

    When the Vilna Gaon (d. 1797) read the American Constitution, he was convinced that the redemption was beginning. Article 6 states that there be no religious test to hold office in the US. This meant that Jews were full and equal citizens of the country. This was unheard of before then. The Zionist movement can be traced to the Vilna Gaon’s understanding of US Constitution.

  • The Miracles of Jerusalem Day

    פרשת במדבר / כ”ח באייר תשפ”ב – מ”ג בעומר

    Today is the anniversary of the Liberation of Jerusalem in 1967. For Jews this was an open miracle. There were many miracles during the 6 Day War and Jerusalem’s liberation was the high point. The question is do we recognize it when God performs miracles for us.

  • The Vilna Gaon Predicted Israel

    פרשת בחוקותי / כ”ו באייר תשפ”ב – מ”א בעמר

    The Vilna Gaon, who died in 1797, predicted that two dates would be important in the future, the 18th Day of the Omer, (that is the 5th of Iyar), and the 28th of Iyar. Today we recognize these days as Israel Independence Day and Jerusalem Day. Both for events that happened in the 20th Century. How did he know?

  • The Miracle of Israel

    פרשת קדושים – י”ט בעומר / ד’ באייר תשפ”ב

    Today we celebrate the independence of the State of Israel. Of all the countries that have come into being since WWII Israel is the only one whose achievement of Independence can be considered a miracle. It is up to us to recognized this.

  • Israel Memborial Day

    פרשת קדושים – י”ח בעומר / ג’ באייר תשפ”ב

    Today we remember the fallen defenders of the State of Israel. For those of us who served in combat and lost close friends it is emotional. If you think that war can be cheap and inexpensive, speak to a widow or orphan. They pay the full price.

  • Holiness in the Center

    ה’ בחשוון תשפ”ב / October 11, 2021

    Abraham is sent on a holy mission to be at the center of the ancient world. This so that others may learn from him.