Saturday, August 11, 2007

A Tornado Grows in Brooklyn

Yes, I believe that the expulsion of two Jewish families from the Shalhevet Pass Hevron market under direct orders from Co. Rice on Tuesday, August 7th is directly related to the tornado in Brooklyn on Wednesday, August 8th. It is the first tornado in Brooklyn ever, at least since the U.S. Weather Service has been keeping records. The tit for tat shakeup of the world associated with Gog UMagog, I sincerely believe has begun. It is a little secret of the prophets of Israel that the world will not escape the wrath of G-d when the Jewish heartland is ripped free of its faithful Jews. From what I can see from the news on the tornado is that the worst damage was in Sunset Park and Bay Ridge neighborhoods, adjacent to Borough Park. It is a message to the Jewish community that it cannot build its homes in comfort in America, thinking that the destruction of Jewish homes in the Land of Israel is an Israeli problem. Nor can you prosper while the tragedy here becomes more acute. I am in the middle of a major article on this subject as I write this update. The article will concentrate on how the sub-prime mortgage collapse and the attempt to destroy Jewish life in Yesha are intrinsically related to each other. Also since the American president is the one pulling Armilus's (Olmert's and yes Peres's) strings for the pleasure the Saudi royal family, owning an American home is not a kosher way to prosper any longer. It makes no spiritual sense that the value of an American home should rise for the benefit of American Jews as the value of a home in Yesha plummets so that the Saudis will produce abundant amounts of oil to help America prosper. As Gog W. thickens the plot of American involvement in Jewish life here, the American prosperity machine will sink into its own red ink. You can take that to the bank. It is no accident that we are in the Years of Sukkot, a festival of temporary housing, as this tit for tat tragedy continues. In the end the tat will win over the tit because the tat is brought to you by G-d Almighty.

It is important to understand that throughout all of this that will yet transpire, feeling the pain of your fellow human being is a great repair for the soul. It helps us all become greater people who will, G-d willing, share in the Messianic Era together. We will know through experience how to avoid doing what is hateful to our fellow human being by understanding how it feels to ourselves. Facing financial distress in America because of the crashing of the value of one's home will help us better understand the distress of having one's home taken away from someone in Gush Katif with nothing but a paper shack to replace it. If you have not yet felt that distress because you have chosen to ignore it, for the benefit of your soul may you soon feel it. If you have felt that distress, experiencing it for yourself will be even a greater tikkun. It would have been more pleasant to learn these lessons on empathy without the suffering, but our lack of merit and our stone hearted ways have seemingly left G-d with no alternative. I hopefully, bli neder, will have this next installment of "The Houses of Lavan" published this coming week.

18 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dov,
This past Friday I bought the weekly hamodia (charedi Israeli newspaper in english) in hope to find coverage of the Hevron expulsion, which took place last week. I was looking to share in some outrage, see the pictures proving the brutality of IDF and Israeli police, etc, etc. you can only imagine my disappointment (to put it lightly) when page after page there was nothing on the subject. Yes, on the page 9, the editors found a corner to include a short article titled “Hebron community angered by destruction of shul at market site”.
Dov, I can’t begin to describe to you the emotions I felt reading the article. Initially the pain for the families and youth supporters who had to endure the brutality, then more pain for the fact that our land and nation is torn apart piece by piece right in front of our eyes, and then agony for the fact that this tragedy only takes very little space on page 9 in lives/minds/hearts of jews who learn Torah. This kills me!!!

Ironically, 8 pages before that covered a very hot issue – collapse of heftsiba. I feel for those who lost their assets in this bankruptcy. Yet, I have suspicion that would all those jews care enough about our brothers and sisters in Hevron there would be no collapse, nor would there be the expulsion. What do you think???

Kind regards

MOSHIACH NOW!!!!

8/12/2007 1:02 PM  
Blogger Golusman said...

Dov -
I am surprised you left out the obvious comparison to what happened with hurricane Katrina, while the tornado pales in comparison to the devastation, the message is similar.(See http://toralog.blogspot.com/2005/09/poor-storm.html) Katrina occurred when a major "peace initiative" supported by the US was implemented, the expulsion from Gaza. This unusual tornado occured when a much smaller idiotic action was taken in Hevron. Yet the message is similar..the more attempts that are made to take away the 1967 miracle in the name of setting up another phony state (i.e. base for launching terror attacks), the more peace the US can expect on its shores..especially when they supposedly conducting a war on terror, and yet want to reward terror with holy land. And both incidents happened during the same Torah portion of R'eeh, where the Haftora speeks of a "whirlwind".

8/12/2007 3:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

dov

not all homes are plummeting in yesha - in some yishuvs in the gush, prices have pretty much doubled over the past couple of years, as there aren't enough houses around to meet the demand of people wanting to live here.

look forward to the next post....

8/12/2007 5:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Actually,
I'm hoping that home prices fall in Yesha. Since the evil government is not allowing any new homes starts, there are almost no homes free, and growing families have nowhere to go in yesha. Prices have been rising, and this is preventing new couples from purchasing, or even renting.

8/12/2007 8:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Rav Dov:

I always enjoy reading your blog. It certainly appears that the current State of Israel is a foundation for a soon coming future redemption. However, while it might be a mitzva to settle the land, it cannot be said to be a requirement now because:

1) It is stated that we must not push the redemption and since nobody knows the exact date.....

2) When Mashiach comes he will gather in the exiles. If everybody is in Israel at the time, who will he gather in?

3)If the Jews don't follow Hashem in the land, the land will spit them out. Do most Jews in Israel follow Hashem's will and doesn't seem as if the land is spitting the Jews out via violence?

4)The Arutz 7 much touted slogan of the Sin of the Spies states that modern day diaspora Jews are repeating the sin of the spies by not following Hashem's will to resettle the land. But there is no prophecy today and therefore, Hashem has not directly communicated to us to settle the land. He will do so when Mashiach comes. Additionally, when the spies rejected the order to settle the land and Hashem became angry, the Israelites were told not to invade. They did so anyway and suffered a terrible defeat. If we push the redemption, the same thing could happen.

I am pro-Zionist, pro-settler,pro-frum Judaism. But when it gets down to advising Diaspora Jews that they are neglecting their responsibility, that may be going a bit far. After all, not all of this blog's predictions have come true. I imagine that the same sort of rhetoric must have taken place during the time preceding and during the Roman rebellions.

Of course, I am not advising that Rav Dov is advising of the necessity to settle in Israel now, but there are some radical statements by other readers sometimes.

Nevertheless, Kol Ha Kavod to those who are now settling the land.u

8/13/2007 6:30 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

simple jew - that's a good point

something similar struck me after reading dov's post - i wonder if the number of chareidi 'dispossessed' is anywhere near the 9000 person mark...

i wish we had more achdus. a jew is a jew is a jew, even the ones we don't like / don't agree with

8/13/2007 11:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Dov,
Please do not be angry with me for asking this question, because I ask it with care for you and (I hope) in all tsayneeot. Why are you posting on Shabbos?
Yesha Galluzzo

8/13/2007 4:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ASJ et al
For the past two years and even now as people are possibly losing their life's savings as well as their homes, it has been and it is constantly THE LEFTISTS AND PEACE NOWNIKS that are eating away at anything Jewish in Israel. They were on the backs of Hefsiba every step along their way in the building process, knawing and chewing at anything they could find to bring the builders down.

To them should your wrath be directed.

This is no excuse for the haredi/frum element in Israel not to have compassion, and not to extend their support toward ANY JEW in Israel who is in trouble.

DAVKA, Hashem wants us to come together and care about one another.

B"H more and more American Jews are increasing their awareness of the internal struggles of Am Yisrael, and the simanim erupting all over the world. But many many more need to awaken, because like the story (abbreviated version) goes:

They came for the ______ and I didn't wince.
They came for the ______ and I didn't cry out.
They came for the ______ and I didn't protest.
Now they are coming for me, and there's no one left to protest for me.

While the travesty was happening in Hevron, young people were taken from us in accidents, and earthquakes were happening in other part of the world, together with the tornado that ripped through Brooklyn. AND even the parsha Re'eh speaks of the duchifas bird.

Keeping posted to Dov's excellent written perspective is one very good way to see the deeper aspects to the unraveling of societies.

8/13/2007 4:44 PM  
Blogger Dov Bar-Leib said...

There is much to respond to, but I must first say that the time stamp on my article is 11:45 pm on Saturday night. More later

8/14/2007 3:03 AM  
Blogger Dov Bar-Leib said...

This is Israeli time. In New York it is still Shabbat.

8/14/2007 3:05 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

BS"D

Well..this here place is starting to remind me of a fire and brimstone preacher that I heard on the radio once.

Make aliya...or you'll go to Hell and burn. God of Abraham is gonna put a tornado upon some innocent Gentiles in an adjacent neighbourhood to Boro Park just to teach those money-dripping Jews in Boro park a lesson that they better get pro-active about protesting Zionism's actions against Jews. Tit for tat.

While I gently mock the style and the high faluting drama of this latest post....I seriously despise the arrogance, self certainty and condescending attitude to fellow Jews less learned, less "Pious" and living where Hasgacha Pratis put them in their am ha-ratzus.

Somehow I feel that their hearts are a bit more humble than the "Aliya-or-you-die" mongers posing as Torah Emes.

Pass.

RMY

8/14/2007 9:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dov,
Maybe I should defer to your wisdom and waited for you to respond to Zeev, but I could not hold back in this case. Please don't consider me a Moreh befnei Rabo.

Zeev,

You write as though you have a hate/love relationship with the concept of yishuv haaretz. On the one hand you are happy that there are Jews in Israel and on the other you condemn anyone that promotes it and in your twisted way of thinking you seem to be frightened of hastening the geulah which shows me that you believe that being mekayim the mitzvah might actually hasten the geulah.
You also seem to be overly concerned with Moshiach being unemployed.
As to your dilema of hastening the geulah and that it's Moshiach's job to ingather the galus, I feel obligated to tell you that you are terribly mistaken! Not only according to the Ramban there is a positive commandment to live in and conquer the land, but also according to ALL shitos, including all Amoraim & Tanaim who conclude that living in Eretz Yisroel is equal to all the Mitzvos. The Baal Tosfos Yomtov writes that before the Geulah there will be an Aschalta just like in the time of Koresh (Bayis Sheini) and Rabeinu Hashlah, and the Gr”a who almost every day spoke to his talmidim concerning this holy mitzvah, which will hasten the geulah. He was tremendously worried with tears in his eyes for those who are not occupied in this endeavor. He said anyone not doing anything to this end would be better off had they not been born. (At least starting from the year 1840)

Also, see Drishas Tzion from Reb Tzvi Kalisher, a talmid of Reb Akiva Eiger and the Chasam Sofer, who states that klal yisroel will first be makriv karbonos, and only then will we merit final redemption. He explains at length, how to establish the exact location of the mizbeach, the authenticity of Kohanim, and other pertinent issues, and eventually Reb Akiva Eiger accepted his position with the intervention of the Chasam Sofer.

And the list goes on and on…

With the exception of one Amorah (Reb Yehuda, kesubos 110) kol haoleh mebavel etc. who is a daas yachid and who is not accepted and is disproved in the same sugya in the gemarah and commentaries. (& even according to him, it is only a problem from bavel.) And with the exception of one rishon, Reb Chaim Cohen, who according to the maharit was a misprint (Talmid toah) and besides one acharon the Megilas Esther, who the Satmar Rav and Minchos Eliezer base their opinion on.

I would be happy to hear from you if you can find another source that the mitzvah of living in Eretz Yisroel does not actively apply to us.

As for the unemployment issue, the last time I checked my sources, it would seem that the main purpose of Moshiach is to elevate the world to higher levels.

One additional note on the subject of our obligation to hasten the geula, the Vilna Gaon expounded on why it's taking longer than necessary for the geulah to happen and he understood that the cause is from our lack of being connected to our holy land, in particular, to Yerushalayim. He also explained that our yearning to it would not be proper if this were to occur as a result of a revelation to the masses or even through individuals or even through ruach hakodesh. Rather, our return to Eretz Yisroel should stem from the spirit of our Holy Torah and it's commandments.

MGC

8/20/2007 12:25 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

(quote)This is Israeli time. In New York it is still Shabbat.

And in Australia, Shabbat would have ended 8 hours earlier than that.

Looking forward to some insights into Hurricane Dean, the Peru earthquake, the floods everywhere.....

8/21/2007 10:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am interested in the next installment both as an economist and as a Israeli.

9/02/2007 2:17 PM  
Blogger Hershel said...

Dov.
Where ARE you???


We so desperately need to hear from you. There is SOOO much going on. Please.

9/02/2007 8:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dov, is there any connection between the following:

1. Greece on Fire, especially when this year they are hosting the World Olympics.

At first I thought this might be an allusion to the prophecy of Nevuas HaYeled, where the fall of the Lady in the Harbor (statue of liberty) is the precursor to the end of this golus.

2. Sarkozy (France, statue of liberty) cozying up to pres. Bush (Eisav & ancient greece).

and

3. With respect to that brooklyn tornado, unfortunately it was a wake up call for some.

9/04/2007 2:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

MGC:

Perhaps you should leave psychoanalizing to those better qualified. You are batting a big zero.

What your refer to as my love/hate relationship with aliah/Israel, etc.. is really just balance. Not everyone needs to be an anti_Israel Satmar or an Aliyah fanatic. History shows that the best recruit for an Aliyah fanatic is an anti-Israel Satmar and visa versa. AH YES, the "TRUE BELIEVER". They have the RED TELEPHONE DIRECT TO HASHEM!! And as long as they have some PARADISICAL PLAN, they are happy. Reality has no place, only THE MOVEMENT. All other Torah opinions are incorrect.

Also, it is interesting when people grow up in America, Canada, England or wherever and then they make THE MOVE!! to Israel, they suddenly feel that they have a vested interest in EVERYONE making the move. Suddenly everyone who did not make the move is going against Hashem's plan. They know EXACTLY what Hashem wants.

Clearly it is a mitzva to settle the land, but neither you nor anyone else has received direct word from Hashem that it is currently a requirement.

I simply questioned the wisdom of the ALIYAH IS A MUST IMMEDIATELY CROWD. You then went off on a tangent.

So again, one of my main points was and still is that if ALL JEWS make aliyah now, and Maschiach can be recognized by bringing the Jews to Israel, how will we recognize Maschiach when he comes? And there are no spies currently being sent by Hashem and there are no prophets. One could point either to the miracle of the Six Day War or the Evil miracle that a ragtag bunch of terrorists is holding mighty Israel at bay. The Torah is wisdom and should not be used as propaganda.

9/05/2007 5:30 AM  
Blogger chazatz said...

Reb Dov,

Wishing you a complete recovery and a Ktiva Vachatima Tova to you & yours.

Zeev..

Thank you for explaining your psyche. The analyst always need feedback from his patient and your feedback will help me fine tune my analysis should I choose to do so. All kidding aside..
The REALITY is that EVERY JEW who is not living in Eretz Yisroel (E"Y) must yearn to be there. Those of us who are stuck in chutz la-aretz must be saddened and miss the holiness of E"Y. Yishuv Ha-aretz is one of the 613 mitzvot and no one can say which mitzvah is relevant now or when or which is more important.
The mitzvot are binding always and we must yearn to be able to practice as many as we can.
Did you stop to consider that it might just be that the people who did make aliyah, realizing that it is doable and not "impossible", feel an oblligation to enlighten others about their newfound discovery? Why do kiruv workers feel an obligation to enlighten uninformed Jews to put on tefillin, light shabbat candles, etc? Do you think that they claim to know "what Hashem wants"? No! They know, as do you, waht the 613 mitzvot are and they are attempting to spread the light and teach other Jews about the mitzvot.
My point when writing to you was to hopefully clarify & convince you that yishuv ha-aretz is a mitzvah like all other mitzvot and nowhere does anyone state that it's a "time sensitive" mitzvah. My "tangent" was sources regarding our obligation in this mitzvah now, then and forever.
Regarding one of your main points that Moshiach will be recognized by bringing Jews to E"Y", don't you think that there are enough Jews in chutrz la-aretz who are non-believing and/or unaware that they are Jewish, for Moshiach to bring back home?
The Torah is a guide to living. NOT wisdom! The Torah is infinitely wise in it's guide to life, and we must glean from the mitzvot how to live our lives. Since one of the mitzvot is to live in E"Y and so many of the mitzvot are specifically connected to living in E"Y, the least we should be saying is "how we envy our brothers and sisters who live in E"Y and we should be making active plans to one day soon make the move. Especially since the (evil/good-for balance)miracle of the airplane; in less than 24 hours we can be there!

Shalom and Shana Tova.
MGC

9/07/2007 1:59 AM  

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