Everybody wants spirituality. To be a good person means to walk in G-d's ways. How does that translate to reality? The only guidebook to spirituality that has stood the test of time is the Hebrew Bible. The Bible says that the Jews will be a light onto the nations. But if you are not a born Jew, you have to convert, which is not so easy!! If you do convert, it is a lot of work to be a Jew (three times a day prayer, keeping kosher, observing the Sabbath).
This blog will show you how to be Jewish without the work!!
Monday, April 11, 2022
Breaking news: Joint List Leader Calls on Arab Israelis to Leave Security Forces Posts and What does time actually mean? and Chassidim Davening Late – Is It Permitted? By Rabbi Ari Enkin and Stop the Russian Invasion of America By Daniel Greenfield and Great Sayings and Have We Lost Our Jewish Minds? By Josh Wander -
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.
The Three are Rabbi Yehuda Glick, famous temple mount activist, and former Israel Mk, and then Robert Weinger, the world's greatest shofar blower and seller of Shofars, and myself after we had gone to the 12 gates of the Temple Mount in 2020 to blow the shofar to ask G-d to heal the world from the Pandemic. It was a highlight to my experience in living in Israel and I put it on my blog each day to remember.
The articles that I include each day are those that I find interesting, so I feel you will find them interesting as well. I don't always agree with all the points of each article but found them interesting or important to share with you, my readers, and friends. It is cathartic for me to share my thoughts and frustrations with you about life in general and in Israel. As a Rabbi, I try to teach and share the Torah of the G-d of Israel as a modern Orthodox Rabbi. I never intend to offend anyone but sometimes people are offended and I apologize in advance for any mistakes. The most important psychological principle I have learned is that once someone's mind is made up, they don't want to be bothered with the facts, so, like Rabbi Akiva, I drip water (Torah is compared to water) on their made-up minds and hope that some of what I have share sinks in. Love Rabbi Yehuda Lave.
Joint List Leader Calls on Arab Israelis to Leave Security Forces Posts
Ayman Odeh's comments pour cold water on the possibility of the Arab Joint List aiding the Bennett government, which now lacks a majority
Ayman Odeh, the leader of the main Arab faction in Israel's parliament, last week. Credit: Ohad Zwigenberg Jack KhouryApr. 11, 2022 11:04 AM
The leader of the main Arab faction in Israel's parliament called Sunday on young Arabs who have enlisted in the country's security forces to quit their jobs, drawing criticism from across the entire political spectrum.
"I call on those who have enlisted, who are a small minority, between 1 and 1.5 percent, throw your weapons in their faces," Ayman Odeh said in a video posted Sunday and filmed at Jerusalem's Damascus Gate. "We don't need to be with them, not part of this crime," he said, "but rather on the same side as our people, in order to end the occupation.
"It's a disgrace that a young Arab or the parents of a young Arab would agree to enlist and serve in the security forces, which are actually forces of the occupation," said the Joint List leader, whose faction is in the opposition in the Knesset.
Odeh added that he had recently met with groups of young East Jerusalem Palestinians who alleged that they had been attacked by Arab police officers.
Tensions between Palestinians and Israeli forces in the West Bank have been on the rise following a series of Israeli raids in response to a recent wave of Palestinian terror attacks that has taken the lives of over 14 Israelis over the last two weeks.
Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked accused Odeh of incitement, saying that he belongs outside the Knesset and that no agreement could be made with him. Shaked's statement was a reference to reports over the last several days that the governing coalition — of which she is a part and which lacks a majority following the defection of her Yamina party colleague Idit Silman — may now need to seek the Joint List's cooperation.
The defection of Silman, who had been the coalition whip, leaves the government headed by Naftali Bennett, who is also from Yamina, with control of just 60 of the 120 seatsin the Knesset. Following Silman's defection last week, Odeh announced that the Joint List would not help Bennett save his government.
"We will not be a lifeline," he said. "This is a bad government that we cannot be a part of."
The Yamina party also denounced Odeh. "The Joint List will not be a part of the coalition or the government, contrary to reports," the party said Sunday. On Monday Bennett added that he was "proud of the Arab soldiers serving in the Israeli Army."
Odeh's call for young Arab Israelis to refrain from serving in the security forces also drew criticism from the center-left.
Public Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev of the Labor Party called the comments "infuriating, dangerous and irresponsible," while Deputy Economy Minister Yair Golan of the Meretz party, slammed Odeh for "working against the interests of the Arab citizens of Israel."
Stop the Russian Invasion of America By Daniel Greenfield
photo Credit: Official White House Photo by David Lienemann
Vice President Joe Biden greets Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at the Russian White House, in Moscow, Russia, March 10, 2011.
While the Biden administration is focused on protecting the borders of Ukraine from Russia, some 8,600 Russians have shown up at our border with Mexico since last August.
Not to be left too far behind, 5,534 Ukrainians have also arrived since October.
Last December, two cars carrying 18 Russian migrants tried to barrel their way through at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. A CBP officer opened fire on a Mercedes driven by the invaders.
YouTube is full of guides for Russians looking to get into the United States through Mexico.
In one video, a man with Asiatic features wearing a Russian Army shirt directs his video to all Russians, describes how he made it to San Diego after a previous failed attempt in which they discussed trying to evade CBP and race to the border crossing, and advises that if you don't leave Russia with a "commanda", close friends, relatives, "like in the army", it won't work well.
He suggested that in immigration detention around 70% were Russian speakers, "Ukranians, Belarusians, Russians, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz."
"Make a decision and make a run for it, in a fraction of a second," he advises. "And it'll be what will be. Even if they catch you, nothing will happen to you."
That ought to be the motto of the Biden Administration's open borders immigration policy.
That's why there are encampments of Russians and Ukrainians in Mexico demanding asylum.
Did Putin invade Tijuana while no one was looking? If he tried, a heroic resistance of cartel members with machine guns mounted on Toyota pickup trucks would have sent Russian troops, already suffering from dysentry, alcohol poisoning, and six different kinds of STDs, packing.
How exactly did a town worth of Russians and Ukrainians pop up in Mexico? They flew there. And they didn't do it to buy hundred peso Rolexes made in China but because they know that if they come up with a timely sob story about fleeing the latest crisis, we'll let them in.
And it's working.
According to the AP, of the 8,600 Russians who invaded America, "all but 23 were processed under laws that allow them to seek asylum." When Russians invade Ukraine, we send in the Javelin missiles. When Russians invade America, we throw a parade to welcome them in.
Only four of the Ukrainians who showed up since September were asked to leave.
Every Russian who shows up now claims to hate Putin. But if loving Putin were grounds for asylum, they'd all come dressed in Putin t-shirts. The Ukrainians, regardless of where they live, including one who came from Uganda, claim to be fleeing the Russians. And they're all fleeing each other to Mexico and demanding that we save them from each other. Right now.
The Trump administration's Remain in Mexico policy was supposed to stop this kind of migrant tourism under which migrants from every single country in the world would fly to Mexico and show up at the border, demanding asylum.
Asylum from what? Mexican sunsets?
Despite the Biden administration's open borders plot, state lawsuits and court rulings led the policy to remain in force. Russians and Ukrainians flying halfway around the world to show up at our land border don't have a credible fear of persecution in Mexico. They're gaming the system.
"While Moscow to Cancún is the most common route, some Russians fly from Amsterdam or Paris to Mexico City and then go to Tijuana," an expert relates. Is there a reason these folks can't apply for asylum in Amsterdam or Paris? Having reached Paris, aren't they now safe?
Despite Gov. Ron DeSantis suggesting, 'If (Putin) went into France, do you think they'd do anything to put up a fight? Probably not", Paris hasn't actually fallen again. Yet. It's safe from Putin (albeit not so much from Algerian or Moroccan Jihadists shouting, "Allahu Akbar.")
The United States does not share a border with either Ukraine or Russia. Despite that we're being invaded anyway because the one border we aren't allowed to protect is our own.
If Putin wanted to invade America, all he would have to do is fly his forces into Tijuana International Airport (if we don't steal your luggage, it's because your clothes aren't good enough) and have all 150,000 conscripts apply for political asylum. Two days later they'd all be on buses heading around the country courtesy of the Lutheran Immigration Services, the Conference of Catholic Bishops, HIAS, and the beleaguered American taxpayer.
He wouldn't even need to bring any tanks. We've already surrendered our border and nation.
The AP informs us that one Russian "narrated his trip from Moscow's Red Square to a San Diego hotel room, with layovers in Cancún and Mexico City. His YouTube video shows him confessing to nerves after buying a used car in Tijuana, but he says later in San Diego that everything went smoothly – despite two days in US custody – and that others considering the journey shouldn't be afraid." Maybe they should be afraid. At least just a little.
A few days ago, Biden announced another $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine.
Imagine what $800 million could do on our border. There still isn't any money to build a border wall. Texas is shouldering the costs of deploying the National Guard to the border. Border personnel are still deprived of the resources they need to deal with the invasion of America.
The Ukrainians are entitled to secure their border. But why don't Americans have that right?
Anyone who has a legitimate fear of persecution and requires political asylum can file their requests for asylum. The vast majority of arrivals however are economic migrants. The Southern land border now sees a vast horde of international migrants from India, China, Russia, and every other part of the world who fly into Mexico, rent cars, and drive up for asylum.
Open borders mean that we share a border with the entire world. And the world is showing up.
Maybe after spending billions securing Ukraine's border, the Biden administration and some of its Republican open borders allies can give a thought to securing the border of a beleaguered nation being invaded by the Russians and by everyone else. A country called America.
No man goes before his time - unless the boss leaves early.
Groucho Marx, Comedian
Don't blame the boss. He has enough problems.
Donald Rumsfeld, Politician
Don't hide in the dark and let someone else make your boss look like a rock star.
John Rampton, Entrepreneur
Your boss is only human and just wants the best from you.
Naomie Harris, Actress
Being the boss anywhere is lonely. Being a female boss in a world of mostly men is especially so.
Robert Frost, Poet
In my house I'm the boss, my wife is just the decision maker.
Woody Allen, Comedian and film maker.
Without false modesty, I feel that, when I'm on the stage, I'm the king, the boss of the situation.
Vladimir Horowitz, Pianist and composer
When you're an assistant, you're executing the wishes of your boss.
Brad Goreski, Fashion stylist
Nothing is as embarrassing as watching your boss do something you assured him couldn't be done.
Earl Wilson, Journalist, gossip columnist, and author
Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto.
Until 1904 pretty much every human who had ever existed misunderstood the concept of time. The Buddhists thought it was cyclic, the Christians believed it was pre-ordained, the Vedas tell us that ancient Indians thought it was cyclic. Meanwhile Newton believed time was a perfect, ubiquitous field across the entire universe which sets a regular beat to all phenomena.
Anyway there's a lot of evidence they were all wrong. The theory of time given to us in Special and General Relativity, developed by the young patent clerk Einstein in the so called 'Watch Valley', the part of Switzerland fabled worldwide for creating the greatest timepieces in Europe, has stood for a century now. Einstein realised that a watch doesn't measure an abstract quantity, 'time', instead it measures motion.
Motion is of course the combination of time and distance. Try and measure time without motion, it's impossible. Every watch has moving parts, as do sundials, hourglasses and timekeeping candles.
When you combine this fact with the notion of light speed being a constant in every point of space, time becomes wedded to spatial separation.
Consider a square block on the floor. It has width, height and depth, all of which you can see. But if you adjust your point of view, walk to the side, the apparent width or depth of the object may change. If you grow taller, its apparent height may change. We all know this intuitively, that is, the apparent dimensions of an object are not a clear description of its identity, it must have some intrinsic properties other than these. E.g., we know our friend way off walking in the distance has some absolute property of size, which is roughly unchanging, so that her apparent smallness must merely be an illusion.
Einstein realised that time is no different. The time on a watch depends on who's looking at it, if you're moving at a great enough speed the watch appears to work in slow motion, he called this time dilation.
Now that time is in the same category as apparent size, it's completely dependent on who's looking and from where. An astounding fact! Our brain doesn't adjust for this in the same way it does for apparent size; as mentioned, if you see a friend in the distance you know they're not actually tiny, but when you see a star, you don't know the light is old or red shifted by relativity.
The fact that time is apparent means we need a new intrinsic property for objects, a kind of meter rule. It turns out it's light and energy.
All objects have their energy distributed between mass and kinetic/potential energy, Einstein's famous E = mc(squared). Now, take a photon—it is one of two particles in the universe with zero mass! That is, all its energy must be in motion all the time, which is exactly what we observe—photons never stop and move at a constant velocity! The other consequence is that photons don't technically see time. By moving at the speed of light, time as we know it ceases to exist for them, but unfortunately we can't reach their velocity to see what it is they perceive.
Anyway, the linking of space and time is a beautiful, subtle point which Einstein made. Time isn't an intrinsic property anymore than apparent depth is—there are billions of times across the universe, planets and civilisations nipping this way and that relative to their galactic cores, and relative to other galaxies in their own unique timezones.
The next question is, if neither time or size are an intrinsic quality of an object, then what is?
Although it might sound a bit funny, one is not necessarily permitted to pray whenever one wants. Some prayers are subject to some very strict time frames as to when they may begin and by when they must be completed. Nevertheless, there has historically been a laxity and sense of disregard for such deadlines by Chassidim, especially the Rebbes. The most notable, and possibly the most halachically severe of these breaches, is with regard to the Shacharit prayer.
As a general rule, the designated time for reciting Shacharit begins at sunrise and extends until the fourth halachic hour of the day.1 In the event that one missed this deadline, one is still permitted to recite Shacharit as long as it is before halachic noon, though one loses some "credit" for not having prayed at the proper time. Once midday2 arrives, however, it is simply forbidden to recite the Shacharit prayer, and one who does so is guilty of reciting G-d's name in vain.3 Nevertheless, one will readily find Shacharitminyanim in Chassidic shtiebels worldwide well into the afternoon, with some Rebbes known for daveningShacharit just moments before sunset!
While there does not seem to be any halachic justification for such conduct, there are some creative Chassidic explanations and justifications that have engendered some tolerance for the practice. The Rebbe of Tshechenov was once asked how he could allow his Chassidim to disregard the allotted times for prayer. He replied, "It must be that such conduct is not truly a sin. If it were, we would have witnessed widespread "aveira goreret aveira" – a continuous breakdown of halachic observance. However, we see the reverse is true! In most areas of observance, the Chassidim are more meticulous with halachic details than all others!4 Similarly, one authority boasts "…and if it is a sin, it is the only sin that they [the Chassidim] commit."5
It is also said in the name of the Rebbe of Ruzin that the deadlines allotted to the various prayers are only binding on those who pray on behalf of their own needs. As the Rebbe teaches, "When one appears before a king to entreat him on behalf of oneself one must be sure to appear only at the times he designated for receiving visitors. However, when one approaches the king on behalf of the entire kingdom – he may do so at any time."6 So too, it is suggested that the Rebbes who pray after the deadlines are individuals whose entire existence is devoted to the community. In fact, one who is so completely devoted to the community is actually exempt from praying anyway.7 There are many other such creative explanations for davening late.8
Some want to suggest that there is greater room for leniency regarding prayer "start times" on Shabbat. This is based on the view that services should actually begin slightly later on Shabbat, similar to the daily offering in the BeitHaMikdash that was brought at a slightly later hour on Shabbat.9 Even so, we are explicitly cautioned not to neglect the designated times allotted for the prayers.10
Nevertheless, it is recorded that some Rebbes sanctioned a later Shacharit start time, specifically on Shabbat. They argued that before davening people are more likely to use their time wisely preparing for prayer, such as by reciting Tehillim, studying Torah, and other such preparations. Once davening is over, however, most people will waste their time doing nothing productive until it is time for the Shabbat meal. As such, it might indeed be worthwhile to set the davening time that much later on Shabbat in order to ensure that precious Shabbat time will be used for worthwhile pursuits.11
In a fiery rebuttal to the mitnagdim, the Rebbe of Liska notes that those who daven late are generally those who wake up early and spend every single moment, from the time they open their eyes until they have davened, in the service of G-d. Whether it is immersing in a mikva every morning, spending time in hitbodedut, or reciting Tehillim – their entire routine is one of "kabbalat ol malchut shamayim," just as is the essence of prayer. So too, these preparations, referred to as hechsher mitzva, are carried out in order to be able to daven properly with all the proper kavanot. Preparations for a mitzva are considered to be part of the mitzva itself. Hence, it can be suggested that such people aren't truly "missing" the prayer deadlines at all!12
Nevertheless, there have been Rebbes in the past who condemned the practice of missing prayer deadlines. They assert that the great Rebbes who conducted themselves in this manner had ample justification for having done so but that such conduct should not be imitated by the Chassidim.13 The Rebbe of Dinov, Rav Tzvi Elimelech Shapira, even writes: "There is a sickness… that people disregard the set times for Shema and prayers… do they also eat matza after Pesach or sit in a Sukkah after Sukkot?"14 And Rav Yitzchak of Skver: "…there are no excuses for missing the deadlines for prayer."15
_____________________
OC 89:1.
See Mishna Berura 89:7.
Rema, OC 89:1; Mishna Berura 58:26.
Eretz Tzvi (Frommer) 36. See there for additional justifications.
Minhag Yisrael Torah, OC 89:3.
Eser Orot, cited in Minhag Yisrael Torah 89:3.
OC 70:4, 93:4.
See Divrei Yitzchak (Kaduri) Shaar Seder Hayom 17.
Rema, OC 281:1; Mishna Berura 281:1.
Magen Avraham 281:1.
Minhag Yisrael Torah, OC 89:3.
Or Hayashar V'hatov p. 141, cited in Minhag Yisrael Torah 89:3.
The Rebbes of Ziditchov, Dinov, and others, cited in Minhag Yisrael Torah 89:3.
Photo Credit: James Jacques Joseph Tissot (French, 1836-1902) and followers
Jews have dreamed of coming home to Eretz Yisrael for 2000 years. In our generation, this has finally become a reality.
Well, at least for some.
Others have very different dreams. A dream of returning home. But to an imaginary home in Eastern Europe. What some so fondly refer to as the "Alter Heim". For these Jews, Jerusalem is just a direction that one prays in and mentions after the Passover Seder. But what they are really hoping for is, for next year to be back in Ukraine or Russia, Poland, or Germany, Romania or Hungary. Or Monsey, Lakewood, Toronto or Golders Green.
How sad, that I have seen with my own eyes Jews who willingly choose to repopulate anti-Semitic towns throughout Europe. Choosing to close their eyes and forget what happened to our people less than a century ago. And to forget, the command given to our collective ancestor Abram, "leave your native land and your father's house for a land that God would show you".
I keep telling Jews I meet, that there isn't such a thing as a "Jewish Refugee" today. That was an outdated concept of the past when 80 years ago, our people had no place to go. Today, they have a home. A home that is willing to welcome all of her children with open arms. Willing to offer all Jews not only refuge from our persecutors, but the fulfillment of a dream that was dreamt by generations of our ancestors. A dream, not just to see the Holy Land, but to live in it, to create a life there, to have our own government, language, and army. To realize that which God has promised to each and every one of us.
But there still remains the Jew who can't bring himself to part ways with the ugly and tragic exile. Who continues to fall for the traps that the spies laid for us by telling us about the difficulties and hardships of the Land. Hoping that they will find the Golden Medina, they search to settle the new/old exile where they can comfortably live happily ever after. I'm afraid that they are trading one exile for another and their fate of being fleeing refugees will repeat itself again and again, and they will be doomed to the fate that has been forced upon us in the past, but is willingly embraced in our generation, to be a Wandering Jew.
Although I bear that name, I am proud that I am no longer Wandering. The call of Martin Luther King Jr. rings daily in my ears, "it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop … I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land"
Josh WanderAmong many other things, Josh Wander is founder of Bring Them Homea website presenting a Torah perspective on Aliyah.
See you tomorrow bli neder
Today I am off to Chutz Laretz to honor my wife's parents for Pesach.
The blog will continue as I will write from wherever I am, without too many glitches hopefully
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