NO PLANES-NO JEWS CAN COME TO ISRAEL-PREDICTION OF Messiah TIMES AND Corona Is Gematria of Moshiach And Supermoon to Appear on Purim, then Passover: ‘An Omen Signaling Imminent Return of Davidic Dynasty’ By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz and US city grants mosques preliminary approval to broadcast the call to prayer over loudspeakers

Can't see images? Click here... Yehuda Lave, Spiritual Advisor and Counselor Yehuda Lave is an author, journalist, psychologist, rabbi, spiritual teacher, and coach, with degrees in business, psychology and Jewish Law. He works with people from all walks of life and helps them in their search for greater happiness, meaning, business advice on saving money,  and spiritual engagement. Now also a Blogger on the Times of Israel. Look for my column Love Yehuda Lave NO PLANES-NO JEWS CAN COME TO ISRAEL-PREDICTION OF Messiah TIMES Classical Jewish texts depict a Messiah who will come to redeem the Jewish people, gather the exiled to the land of Israel, and rule over a prosperous nation, and relate other more detailed (and diverse) traditions about the Messiah's arrival as well as the conditions of the messianic era. According to the Talmud ( Babylonian Talmud Rosh Hashana 31a and Sanhedrin 97), Midrash and the Zohar the 'deadline' by which the Messiah must appear is 6000 years from creation (approximately the year 2240 in our calendar though calculations vary Converting to Judaism in the Messianic Age A central question that preoccupied the rabbis was how the messianic age would differ from the present age. One concern was that many Gentiles would convert to Judaism at the last moment just in order to participate in the new age. Some sages concluded, therefore, that "converts are not received in the days of the Messiah," just as they were not welcome in the days of David and Solomon ( Babylonian Talmud Yevamot 24b) THEREFORE IF THERE ARE NO PLANES, NO GENTILES CAN COME TO ISRAEL TO CONVERT TO JUDAISM. What is the "End of Days"? The term "End of Days" is taken from Numbers (Bamidbar) 24:14. This has always been taken as a reference to the messianic era. Here we shall explore—albeit briefly—the Jewish belief in the coming of Moshiach (Messiah). What does the word Moshiach mean? Moshiach is the Hebrew word for "messiah." The word messiah in English means a savior or a "hoped-for deliverer." The word Moshiach in Hebrew actually means "anointed." In Biblical Hebrew, the title Moshiach was bestowed on somebody who had attained a position of nobility and greatness. For example, the high priest is referred to as the kohen ha-Moshiach. In Talmudic literature, the title Moshiach, or Melech HaMoshiach (the King Messiah), is reserved for the Jewish leader who will redeem Israel at the End of Days. What is the belief in Moshiach? One of the principles of Jewish faith enumerated by Maimonides is that one day there will arise a dynamic Jewish leader, a direct descendant of the Davidic dynasty, who will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, and gather Jews from all over the world and bring them back to the Land of Israel. All the nations of the world will recognize Moshiach to be a world leader, and will accept his dominion. In the messianic era, there will be world peace, no more wars nor famine, and, in general, a high standard of living. All mankind will worship one G‑d, and live a more spiritual and moral way of life. The Jewish nation will be preoccupied with learning Torah and fathoming its secrets. The coming of Moshiach will complete G‑d's purpose in creation: for man to make an abode for G‑d in the lower worlds—that is, to reveal the inherent spirituality in the material world. Is this not a utopian dream? No! Judaism fervently believes that, with the correct leadership, humankind can and will change. The leadership quality of Moshiach means that through his dynamic personality and example, coupled with manifest humility, he will inspire all people to strive for good. He will transform a seemingly utopian dream into a reality. He will be recognized as a man of G‑d, with greater leadership qualities than even Moses. In today's society, many people are repulsed by the breakdown of ethical and moral standards. Life is cheap, crime is rampant, drug and alcohol abuse is on the increase, children have lost respect for their elders. At the same time, technology has advanced in quantum leaps. There is no doubt that today man has all the resources—if channeled correctly—to create a good standard of living for all mankind. He lacks only the social and political will. Moshiach will inspire all men to fulfill that aim. Why the belief in a human messiah? Some people believe that the world will "evolve" by itself into a messianic era without a human figurehead. Judaism rejects this belief. Human history has been dominated by empire builders greedy for power. Others believe in Armageddon—that the world will self-destruct, either by nuclear war or by terrorism. Again, Judaism rejects this view. Our prophets speak of the advent of a human leader, of a magnitude that the world has not yet experienced. His unique example and leadership will inspire mankind to change direction. Where is Moshiach mentioned in the Scriptures? The Scriptures are replete with messianic quotes. In Deuteronomy 30:1 Moses prophesies that, after the Jews have been scattered to the four corners of the earth, there will come a time when they will repent and return to Israel, where they will fulfill all the commandments of the Torah. The gentile prophet Balaam prophesies that this return will be led by Moshiach (see Numbers 24:17-20) Our forefather Jacob refers to Moshiach by the name Shiloh (Genesis 49:10) Moshiach will be a man who possesses extraordinary qualities. He will be proficient in both the written and oral Torah traditions. He will incessantly campaign for Torah observance among Jews, and observance of the seven universal Noahide laws by non-Jews. He will be scrupulously observant and encourage the highest standards from others. He will defend religious principles and repair breaches in their observance. Above all, Moshiach will be heralded as a true Jewish king, a person who leads the way in the service of G‑d, totally humble yet enormously inspiring. When will Moshiach come? Jews anticipate the arrival of Moshiach every day. Our prayers are full of requests to G‑d to usher in the messianic era. Even at the gates of the gas chambers, many Jews sang "Ani Maamin"—I believe in the coming of Moshiach! He will not arrive on the Sabbath since that would require people to violate the Sabbath in welcoming him [Babylonian Talmud) Many rabbis believed that the Messiah will arrive suddenly on the eve of Passover, the first redemption, which serves as a model of the final redemption [Mekilta de-Rabbi Ishmael, Pischa 14]. Corruption and Degradation Will Precede Redemption One statement from the time of the rabbis describes the era leading up to the Messiah in the darkest terms of societal corruption: Some sages predicted that the Messiah would not arrive until Israel observed the commandments more fully: Specific Features of the Messianic Age Foreign nations would not be obliterated in the messianic era. Nations such as Rome would come to the Messiah to pay tribute to him, but their appeals for a favor would be rejected. BT Pessahim 118b "Jews are required to keep the Sabbath, to eat kosher, to pray, and all the other commandments. But we show our love for God by doing things that are not commandments; by choosing to live in Israel. When someone says that they want to come to the land of their fathers because that is where God's presence is felt the most, then God says 'Wow!'" However, the Talmud states that there is a predestined time when Moshiach will come. If we are meritorious, he may come even before that predestined time. This "end of time" remains a mystery, yet the Talmud states that it will be before the Hebrew year 6000. (The Hebrew year now is 5780.) This does not rule out the possibility of Moshiach coming today and now, if we merit it. It should be noted that many Torah authorities are of the opinion that we are in the "epoch of the Moshiach," and many Rabbi's have stated on numerous occasions that the messianic redemption is imminent. Maimonides, the great Jewish philosopher, and codifier of the 12th century, rules that if we recognize a human being who possesses the superlative qualities ascribed to Moshiach, we may presume that he is the potential Moshiach. If this individual actually succeeds in rebuilding the Temple and gathering in the exiles, then he is the Moshiach. What exactly will happen when Moshiach comes? Maimonides states in his Mishneh Torah—a compendium of the entire halachic tradition—that Moshiach will first rebuild the Temple and then gather in the exiles. Jerusalem and the Temple will be the focus of divine worship, and "from Zion shall go forth Torah, and the word of the L‑rd from Jerusalem." The Sanhedrin—the supreme Jewish law court of 71 sages—will be re-established, and will decide on all matters of law. At this time, all Jews will return to full Torah observance and practice. It should be noted that in this present age of great assimilation and emancipation, an unprecedented return of Jews to true Torah values has taken place. This "Baal Teshuvah" phenomenon is on the increase, and paves the way for a full return in the messianic era. Will miracles happen? The Talmud discusses this question and again arrives at the conclusion that, if we are meritorious, the messianic redemption will be accompanied by miracles. However, the realization of the messianic dream, even if it takes place naturally, will be the greatest miracle. LIKE CANCELLATION OF ALL PLANES GOING ON ALL OVER THE WORLD. Maimonides writes, "Neither the order of the occurrence of these events nor their precise detail is among the fundamental principles of the faith . . . one should wait and believe in the general conception of the matter." What will become of the world as we know it? Initially, there will be no change in the world order, other than its readiness to accept the messianic rule. All the nations of the world will strive to create a new world order, in which there will be no more wars or conflicts. Jealousy, hatred, greed and political strife (of the negative kind) will disappear, and all human beings will strive only for goodness, kindness, and peace. In the messianic era, there will be great advances in technology, allowing a high standard of living. The food will be plentiful and cheap. However, the focus of human aspiration will be the pursuit of the "knowledge of G‑d." People will become less materialistic and more spiritual. What are the "birth pangs" of Moshiach's arrival? The Talmud describes the period immediately prior to the advent of Moshiach as one of great travail and turmoil. There will be a world recession, and governments will be controlled by despots. It is in this troubled setting that Moshiach will arrive. There is a tradition that a great war will take place, called the war of Gog and Magog, and there is much speculation as to the precise timing of this war in relation to Moshiach's arrival. There is a tradition that Elijah the Prophet will come to the world and announce the imminent arrival of Moshiach. However, according to other opinions, Moshiach may arrive unannounced. Elijah would then arrive to assist in the peace process. Some suggest that if the Moshiach arrives in his predestined time, then Elijah will announce his arrival; but if Moshiach comes suddenly, then Elijah will appear after Moshiach has come. As mentioned before, it is unclear as to exactly how these events will unfold. However, this uncertainty does not affect the general matter of Moshiach's arrival. When will the resurrection of the dead take place? One of the principles of Jewish faith is the belief in the resurrection of the dead. According to the Zohar—an early Kabbalistic text—the resurrection will take place forty years after the arrival of Moshiach. However, certain righteous individuals will arise with the coming of Moshiach. All the dead will be resurrected in the Land of Israel. Charity is a catalyst for redemption. And every day in our prayers, we sincerely plead many times for the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the ingathering of the exiles and the return to Torah observance under the leadership of Moshiach. Summary In conclusion, the Jew always was and remains the eternal optimist. Even in his darkest hour, he hopes and prays for a brighter future—a world of peace and spirituality. The sages of Israel, from whose words we derive life, already taught us that the mitzvah (Torah commandment) to live in Israel was established as one of the greatest of the mitzvoth by Nachmanides, Maimonides, and all the other sages who establish the law…Therefore, at this time, we are sending out a holy proclamation to those who dwell outside of Israel, to wake up and hurry, and to investigate every possible way that is in your ability to come to live in Israel. You must educate your children about the great spiritual level of those who do so and to help them in every way you can to come and dwell in the Holy Land. This is especially true now when there is a threat to the sanctity of Israel and the Jews from outside. Every Jew who moves here will be an aid in fighting off this threat to the sanctity and will establish the future of Judaism throughout the world and will merit those who come to its aid. The one who chooses Zion and Israel will surely merit to see miracles and wonders, and may our eyes see the return of God to Zion." Ideas, that help explain how the world works Semmelweis Reflex: Automatically rejecting evidence that contradicts your tribe's established norms. Named after a Hungarian doctor who discovered that patients treated by doctors who wash their hands suffer fewer infections, but struggled to convince other doctors that his finding was true. Supermoon to Appear on Purim, then Passover: 'An Omen Signaling Imminent Return of Davidic Dynasty' By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz The first supermoon of 2020 will appear on Monday evening as the holiday of Purim ends and the second day referred to as Shushan Purim begins.   A supermoon occurs when the full moon coincides with the perigee — the closest that the Moon comes to the Earth in its elliptic orbit — resulting in a larger-than-usual apparent size of the lunar disk as viewed from Earth. A full moon at perigee appears roughly 14% larger in diameter than at apogee and appears up to 30 percent brighter. Supermoons usually appear 3-4 times each year. The holiday of Purim was set for the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar. As per the Book of Esther, the Jews who lived in Shushan celebrated Purim on the 15th of Adar. These two dates were established in perpetuity. The sages established this rule for other cities that were similar to Shushan, that is to say, walled cities that existed when Joshua entered Israel after the Exodus from Egypt. Along with Shushan (which is located in modern-day southwestern Iran), this includes Jerusalem, Jericho, and, according to some opinions, Jaffa and Tiberias. Purim (this year not a leap year)  also coincides with the vernal (spring) equinox when the Sun crosses the celestial equator – the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth's equator – from south to north. On the equinox, the day and night are each about 12 hours in length everywhere on Earth.   Americans traditionally assign names to astral events based on Native American traditions who tracked seasons based on lunar cycles. According to the Farmer's Almanac, one of the most popular names for the full moon in March is the "Full Worm Moon " because as the weather warms and the ground softens, earthworms begin to appear, which the Native Americans marked as a sign of the beginning of spring. The Shushan Purim supermoon will be followed by two more in consecutive months: the second will be on Wednesday, April 8 and the third on Thursday, May 7. The next supermoon will be the morning of September 17, arriving in time to begin Rosh Hashanna, the Hebrew New Year.  Supermoon: A Sign of New Governments Rabbi Yosef Berger noted the political significance of the supermoon falling on Purim, Passover, and Rosh Hashanna. "The moon represents Malchut (מלכות; kingship)," Rabbi Berger said. "Every kingdom rises and falls and eventually disappears. Only Israel and the Davidic dynasty is eternal. That is because other kingdoms grab power by virtue of their strength. The moon, kingship, does not have a strength of its own. Like the moon, kings must reflect the glory of the sun, of Hashem (God; literally the name. The only king who did this was King David. And so the Davidic dynasty is eternal, like the glory of God it channels into the world." "Purim is where we see the glory of God brought into the world and overcoming an earthly king and the political forces that acted against the Jews. Pesach (Passover) was when Hashem brought the Jews out of Egypt. The only reason he did so was to have the world see that He was our one true king. Rosh Hashanna is when the Jews declare that Hashem is king." "We know from the Talmud that the Redemption will come in the months of Adar and Nissan, that is to say, the months of Purim and Pesach. "A supermoon on all these holidays means that the Davidic dynasty is about to return," Rabbi Berger concluded.  The City of Shushan (And Many Other Capitals) Become Confused It is interesting to note that the city of Purim became "dumbfounded" after King Ahasuerus sent out Haman's decree to kill the Jews. Accordingly, written instructions were dispatched by couriers to all the king's provinces to destroy, massacre, and exterminate all the Yehudim, young and old Esther 3:13 This Shushan Purim supermoon comes at a time when several countries are facing political confusion and upheaval. Israel just completed a third-round election that, through a remarkable and entirely un-anticipatable series of events, should have been scheduled for Purim. Since it is a national holiday, the elections were advanced one week earlier. Perhaps due to their roots in a holiday whose very nature implies confusion, the elections produced ambiguous results. According to most experts, neither Netanyahu nor his opponent, Benny Gantz, will be able to succeed in forming a coalition. The U.S. is currently going through primary campaigns in which the Democrats are most probably going to run their convention without any clear winner to be chosen as the most popular delegate. Many nations, including China, Iran, and even the Vatican, are being confused and challenged by the coronavirus.    Purim After the Messiah The Jewish Sages teach that once Moshiach (Messiah) arrives, none of the Biblical festivals will be celebrated any longer except for Purim. Purim is referred to as the "hidden holiday" since neither God's name nor His intervention appears in the story of Purim. The name of Esther, the heroine of the story, literally means hidden, Rabbi Pinchas Winston, a prolific end-of-days author, explains that the distinctive light of Purim, which is embodied in the ability to recognize God even when He is hidden, will never be extinguished. Purim: A Time When Enemies Become Friends in Redemption Jews are commanded to drink on Purim until they can no longer tell the difference between Mordechai, the righteous hero, and Haman, the evil villain. The story took place in Persia, a region currently ruled by an evil Iranian regime that is Israel's greatest enemy. But in the same way that the Book of Esther flips tragedy onto victory, the Sanhedrin sees Iran as a possible key player in the construction of the Third Temple. The Tomb of Esther and Mordechai Queen Esther is the iconic and legendary character of the Purim story. Her tomb, and that of the other hero of the story, Morchechai, lies in the Iranian city of Hamadan. Today, the Iranian Jews are known as the children of Esther. Last month, in an extremely Purim-like case of confusing the villain and the righteous hero,  the Iranian government threatened to demolish the Tomb of Mordechai and Esther and convert the site into a Palestinian consular complex. From my friend Brian Stone An 80-year-old Texas rancher goes to the Mayo clinic in Rochester for check-up. The doctor is amazed at what good shape the guy is in and asks, 'How do you stay in such great physical condition?''I'm from Texas and in my spare time I like to hunt and fish' says the old guy, 'and that's why I'm In such good shape. I'm up well before daylight riding herd and mending fences and when I'm not doing that, I'm out hunting or fishing. In the evening, I have a beer and all is well.''Well' says the doctor, 'I'm sure that helps, but there's got to be more to it. How old was your father when he died?' 'Who said my father's dead?'The doctor is amazed. 'You mean you're 80 years old and your father's still alive? How old is he?''He's 100 years old,' says the old Texan. 'In fact he worked with and hunted with me this morning, and then we went to the topless bar for a while and had some beer and that's why he's still alive. He's a Texas rancher and he's a hunter and fisherman too.''Well,' the doctor says, 'that's great, but I'm sure there's more to it than that. How about your father's father? How old was he when he died?' 'Who said my Grandpa's dead?' Stunned, the doctor asks, 'you mean you're 80 years old and your grandfather's' still alive?' 'He's 118 years old,' says the man. The doctor is getting frustrated at this point, 'So, I guess he went hunting with you this morning too?' 'No, Grandpa couldn't go this morning because he's getting married today.' At this point the doctor is close to losing it. 'Getting married!! Why would a 118 year-old guy want to get married?' ..... 'Who said he WANTED to?' US city grants mosques preliminary approval to broadcast call to prayer over loudspeakers Paterson has about 30,000 Muslim residents and more than 15 mosques (File/AFP) Paterson city council approves measure 7-0, allowing adhan to be broadcast outside from 6am to 10pm The US city of Paterson, New Jersey, has backed an ordinance to allow the adhan, the Muslim call to prayer, to be broadcast over loudspeakers. Under the new measure, which still has to go through two public hearings before being implemented, the adhan would be exempt from the city's noise control ordinance and allowed to be broadcast outside every day between 6am and 10pm. The resolution was approved by council members on Tuesday by a vote of 7-0, with two members abstaining. "We applaud Paterson officials for taking this admirable step toward inclusion, and encourage them to pass the proposed ordinance," said Salaedin Maksut, executive director of the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). "Their open-mindedness to such laws is a concrete demonstration of respect and mutual understanding between the residents of our rich and diverse communities." 'Their open-mindedness to such laws is a concrete demonstration of respect and mutual understanding between the residents of our rich and diverse communities' - Salaedin Maksut, executive director of CAIR-NJ Paterson has approximately 30,000 Muslim residents, along with more than 15 mosques scattered across the area. Maksut compared the sounds made from the Muslim call to prayer to church bells, which are allowed to be broadcast in communities all across the United States. "The Islamic call to prayer is an integral aspect of a Muslim's five daily prayers," he said. "Like church bells, it summons worshipers to enter the prayer space, to turn one's body, mind and spirit toward God." Council members said during the lengthy debate that some mosques in the city currently use outdoor speakers to call Muslims to perform their five daily prayers. Supporters of the proposal said that the proposed revision would prevent mosques from receiving a noise summons for broadcasting the call. "We're solving a problem that doesn't exist," Councilman William McKoy said in support of the measure. In the United States, some cities allow for the adhan to be broadcast, such as in Hamtramck, Michigan, which passed a similar ordinance in 2004. When the Messiah Comes, Israel Will Deport Him When the Messiah comes, the Right will crucify him. Im Tirzu will roll out ads and billboards showing him with a tail to go along with his horns. Bradley Burston When the Messiah comes, he will be without papers. When the Messiah comes, he will be taken into a small room, off-white and chilled, with one gray metal chair at each side of a gray metal desk. When the Messiah comes, he will be questioned by a junior officer of the Shin Bet, and by an official of the Interior Ministry, who got his job through his cousin, who is an inspector of ritual dietary observance at a cookie bakery and who got his job through his sister's father-in-law, third assistant to the deputy chair of the Shas party branch in Ramla. When the Messiah comes, no one will know. His donkey, which is white and is named Snowpea, will be impounded in a leaky underground police lot near the Lod railroad station. There will be no paperwork. By nightfall, it will have disappeared, spirited into a closed truck by the lot's watchman, who after his shift will drive the donkey to a moshav. The money will change hands, and the donkey as well, four times, until it is sold by settlers to Palestinians some of whose ancestral land now lies inside the settlement fence. When the Messiah comes, the first sign will be a gag order. A coded report on a high-profile news website will be made to disappear. It will reappear on a blog in Seattle, and then in the Guardian. The government will delay response, finally issuing a statement ascribed to sources in Jerusalem, reading "We have no knowledge of this." The IDF, quoting an unnamed senior military official, will state that there is no evidence that a Messiah of any kind has come. It will later soften the denial, saying it is checking the report and directing reporters to the Defense Ministry, which turfs them to the Prime Minister's Office, which cannot be reached for comment. When the Messiah comes, rabbis will treat him like Jesus. They will brand him disloyal, diseased, Reform. In-wall posters, Sabbath sermons, ritual decrees, and signed petitions, careful not to use his title, chief rabbis of cities and towns will warn of an existential threat to the essential Jewish character of the state. Under no circumstances are Jews to sell or rent homes or lots to someone like this. The rabbis' wives will vilify him as a carnal threat to Jewish girls. The rabbis' declarations will divide the Jewish people and bring wrath and dishonor upon Israel. The rabbis will continue to draw large civil service salaries, as well as generous tips, in cash, goods, and services under the table and off the books. When the Messiah comes, the Right will crucify him. Im Tirzu will roll out ads and billboards showing him with a tail to go along with his horns. A blogger from Commentary will call him a whiny, petulant boob. In Maariv and the Jerusalem Post, seven columnists will all have at him in the same three day period. NGO Monitor will ask for donations to expose his sources of funding. When the Messiah comes, the Occupation will end. But before it does, a global social network led by the Republican Jewish Coalition, Fox News, The Zionist Organization of America and Daniel Pipes, will launch a campaign aimed at exposing the Messiah as a Muslim. When the Messiah is crucified, the army will deny that he was even present at the time. When the Messiah comes, an Israel political party whose voters are routinely denigrated by native-born Israelis as whores and non-Jews will propose legislation declaring him a delegitimizer of Israel and the army (over the crucifixion), a blasphemer of Zionism (for suggesting that the Palestinians were not the sole obstacles to peace), and rendering him ineligible for citizenship unless he signs a loyalty oath stating that even if Israel did practice crucifixion, it did so in a democratic and Jewish manner. Aides to Knesset Member Michael Ben-Ari, along with Beitar Jerusalem soccer fans, will take out a Facebook page headed "Mavet L' Mashiach" – Death to the Messiah. When the Messiah comes, he will be granted refugee status by the United Nations as a legitimate seeker of asylum but will be held at a detention camp in Israel's Area 51, near the perimeter of the Dimona nuclear reactor facility, where a judge will trick him into signing an illegible document, which will force his deportation to Chad. By the time the messiah leaves the Jewish state, he'll be thrilled to go.   See you Sunday-bli neder Shabbat Shalom Love Yehuda Lave Rabbi Yehuda Lave PO Box 7335, Rehavia Jerusalem 9107202 LIKE TWEET FORWARD You received this email because you signed up on our website or made purchase from us. Unsubscribe