Monday, January 14, 2013

Let Gratitude Be Your Attitude


I received a comment from Anonymous that I thought was important enough to warrant its own blog post.  Here it is:

There is so much suffering that goes on that everyday Moshiach doesn't come is such a disappointment.  I hope it is truly near.  I am anticipating the redemption.

My reply:
We are told many places in scriptures about the final testing that will occur in the end of days.  Hashem is sorting it all out and giving us, measure for measure, what we need to finish our Tekun, our rectification.  The great amount of suffering and hardship occurring in the world today is a very positive sign that we are very close to the end.  Each of us having a very positive attitude towards what is happening helps the redemption process.

As an example, I presently have a virus that has caused me pain and discomfort.  I thank Hashem on a daily basis for paying attention to me and giving me what I need for a higher level of Tekun.  With a very positive attitude I look at this discomfort as a blessing and I believe that this is my final sickness for eternity.  But, the most important thing for me is to react to this message from Hashem.  Such actions as adding on perhaps an additional 15 minutes a day of Torah study; giving a little bit more to charity; evaluating my mistakes and human fragilities and improving the way I perform everyday in serving Hashem, praying with more concentration and inspiration (especially in the pronunciation of the names of Hashem), improving my performance of the 613 mitzvot (commandments) and thousands of other actions that I do that could be done better.  I am constantly making changes in my life and never being satisfied with what I do (always looking to improve my relations with my Creator) is the key to success.  Hashem will heal me faster since He knows that I accept His will as always being for the good and that I have a strong desire to react to the messages He sends me in a very positive way.  I do not want sickness, suffering, poverty, unemployment, hunger, etc for anyone (including me and my family); but, I very much encourage everyone to realize how much proper reaction to all the messages Hashem has been sending us, can work to our benefit. 

Problems should not be considered disappointment, but opportunity; and, we should all thank Hashem for what He does.  Someday, very soon, we will fully understand and be so gracious for the help He bestows upon us as individuals and as a people.  In other words: don’t be disappointed but instead “Let gratitude be your attitude.”

Keep up the good word of anticipating the redemption every day.  If all the Jews would have a strong sense of anticipation, Moshiach would be here instantly.  The good news is that since all Jews are not doing what they should, Hashem is helping us in many other ways and will bring the redemption soon – all signs are pointing to it.  The only thought that each of us should have is “what do I as an individual still need to do.”  Just remember: measure for measure we each get from Hashem in return what we do to serve Him and how we follow His ways.  It’s a simple system that results in a tremendous amount of happiness and joy for each one of us for eternity.  Thank you, Hashem.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Occupation

This scary video was posted on Arutz 7.  More about the horrors of life in the so-called Wild West Bank.  How can Jews cause such hardships for such fine outstanding terrorist citizens of Israel.  I don’t mean to imply that the “occupation” of Biblical Israel isn't valid; after all, there are many, many Arabs “occupying” the land of Israel and calling it their homeland (and the world believes the propaganda of the terrorists, even though by international law and according to the Bible "all this land is "Israel").  Watch this short video – if you have the stomach for it.

Additional notes:  When all the Jews return to Israel in the near future, all the Arabs will be gone.  That means all these downtrodden houses will belong to the Jews.  Did you pick one out for yourself?

I think we should condemn the building of new houses in the United States of Magog and all European countries since they are becoming Islamic nations and should not be building houses for the infidels in future Islamic nations.  Let us bring it to the UN since it is "U"nbelievable "N"onsense (that is what UN stands for; isn't it?)

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Rabbi Nir ben Artzi Parshat Miketz Shabbat Chanukah 5773

 A Message to Am Yisrael in the Land and throughout the world

As posted on:  Rabbi Nir Ben Artzi in English

http://rabbinirbenartzienglish.blogspot.co.il/

(from the translator: May the inspiration gained from the translation of this message be a blessing for the soul of my mother, Shvartzel Tova bat Moshe Yeshayahu and Glicka, who would have celebrated her 65th anniversary today with my father, who should live and be well)

The King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He, says that the entire world, everything that lives and breathes on this earth, is joined to the Holy One! Some are linked openly and others in a more subtle fashion, yet everything lives by the merit of holy sparks that invigorates the entire world to life, the waters, the land, people, living creatures, as well as the winds blowing in the heavens and the earth.

We, human beings, don’t fully understand the powers of the Creator. The Holy One says, ‘There is no time precious Jews, it’s getting close, very close! Our righteous Mashiach ben David has to be revealed, must stop his secretive work and begin working out in the open.’ There is pressure in Heaven to already reveal King Mashiach, even more than that which we find on earth!

The entire world is against the Jewish state – Israel. Whoever is for Am Yisrael, has a Jewish spark. The whole world is not interested in Jews, it is only interested in the Holy land – the holy Eretz Yisrael.

All Jewish mothers and fathers, you need to have heart-to-heart talks with your children to warn them, not to answer messages or telephone calls from goyim who are seducing young Jewish girls for evil things. They destroy their lives, this is part of the cold war waged by the goyim, in order to destroy Am Yisrael, like drugs, and alcohol and the infiltrators who come here in order to destroy Tel Aviv. Parents must be prepared to deal with these problems with explanations and not force, pity on our children!

All the leaders of Hamas are actors. They present themselves as good and sweet people – they are fakers and liers! They receive hundreds of millions of dollars for the people of Gaza and its surroundings, they take the money for themselves with part going for weapons – and the people suffer. Citizens of Gaza: Don’t trust the Hamas leaders, they should stop rescuing you! Citizens of Gaza wake up – leaders of Gaza are stealing from you and cheating you!

Hamas of today is Amalek of the past – and more cruel!

In Iran it’s the same story with a different shade, with all the taxes that are taken from the people and all the money that comes into the country, their president and his advisors are sinking it into atomic weapons. The Master of the world is preparing a surprise for them that they never dreamed of. Everything will blow up in their face! The Iranian people must wake up and create a revolution in order to change the government.

Iran in the meantime is quiet, their president thinks he has been forgotten. Sorry to tell him he hasn’t been forgotten at all! They are planning for him a major blow that he never dreamed of, from down here as well as in heaven. Let him continue to dream, that’s good for him. His own people are pursuing him. All the money he is sinking into weapons and atomic activity – is a bottomless pit. The economy is collapsing in Iran. Ahmedinejad can’t do a thing, it’s all a show with scenery so that they will say another one wants the power.

In the United States they know the plans of all the large countries and what they are conspiring.

Morsi thinks he can out-wit the Holy One. Egypt will continue to be in chaos, as it was during the time of the flood and the tower of Babel. They will receive the 10 plagues again! Citizens of Egypt wake up!

Syria will continue to be erased. The Syrian soldiers are not stupid, even if they will be ordered to send chemical missiles, they won’t – they know it will all fall on them! Assad is afraid, he is having dreams about Ghadafi and knows deeply that his turn will also come like Ghadafi’s! In the meantime, let him live and continue his work!

Turkey is afraid of Syria and Russia, because the Syrians are cruel people, they have no semblance of humanity. The Turkish are afraid that the Syrians ‘will surf’ into Turkey and create an uprising – be patient, they will also have an uprising!
In Jordan they know that Hamas and the Palestinians want to conquer Jordan, they are digging a ‘hole’ for their king in order to hide him and his government.

In Ramallah they’re celebrating, having received a sort-of approval from the UN, nothing will help them, there are plans of the Holy One – they will fall!

Hezbollah is like a parrot in a cage, it is confused all the while that Syria is thorny. A parrot without wings just talks. Their swords will enter their own hearts and their arrows will break, this includes Iran.

The government of Israel and all members of Knesset, stop slandering and bad mouthing each other. Speak nicely and the people will choose who they wish, the people are not stupid. All the slanderers and gossipers will not be elected. When there will be unity and togetherness in Israel’s government – no one will be able to speak badly about Am Yisrael. The world sees the problems between the parties and play on the weakness of the Israeli government – against Israel. The slander must stop immediately. Don’t speak in the media against the government. If is forbidden to gossip, and measure for measure has not ceased from the world. Whatever a person does returns to him – good or bad!

The Holy One has promised our forefathers, going back many generations, that holy Eretz Yisrael belongs to the Jews. Only the Holy One will decide who will be in the government. All the talking does nothing, up above they check the heart and not the mouth!

Tzahal must not rely on anyone. The armed forces must fulfill its obligations  as assigned and not, God forbid, to get involved in politics. It doesn’t matter who will be elected – everything will be the same. Am Yisrael can sleep at night, it exists and remains in the merit of Tzahal!

All forces of nature will continue, the Holy One is shaking out the entire world so that the Jews will come to Eretz Yisrael and so that the goyim will stop bothering Am Yisrael!

Anti-Semitism will grow in a way that was never seen since the beginning of the world. Government of Israel – don’t get excited by any nation in the world.
Real estate will grow and expand without end, the economy of Israel is the best in the world and will never collapse.

Am Yisrael will continue to increase kindness, will continue to produce and build baseless love. No one in the world can help the Jews in Am Yisrael and in the world – only the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He!

The world is hanging on a ‘hair strand’, on an ‘explosion’ from which there is no return. Mashiach is working is secret, for the protection of Am Yisrael and for the good of Am Yisrael. This is the reason that Am Yisrael sees all the nations around her in conflict while Am Yisrael sits and watches!

Am Yisrael, don’t be ungrateful. We must thank the Master of the world and fulfill the ten commandments in their entirety. Don’t delay!

All that is written in this message is happening and will happen exactly. You can check it out! It is a mitzvah to spread this message everywhere in the Land and outside of it!

Translation provided by Rabbi Elan Adler.

A Special Chanukah Menorah


In 1975 our family was stationed with the US Army in Germany.  My wife and I were in an antique shop and came across the Chanukah menorah (candelabra)pictured above on the right.  Being thirty years after the war and knowing that there hadn't been a Jewish population in that area for the three decades, made us look in amazement and curiosity about the origin of the menorah.  We purchased it with the hopes of honoring and memorializing the family that may have once used it every year.  Since then we have continued to light this menorah every year on the eighth night of Chanukah.  Hopefully this will bring merit to that family and every Jewish family, which through persecution and hatred, are not able to light Chanukah candles.  Since Chanukah commemorates a victory over such persecution, it seems very appropriate to light our menorah, especially in Israel, in memory and honor of all Jews then and in more recent times.  Many families around the world are not able to serve our Creator in the way that they should and would enjoy -- let this menorah be for them.

May the coming year see peace throughout the world and all the Jews returning to Eretz Yisroel.    Next year we will all light our Chanukah menorahs in Jerusalem.  B"H