Monday, June 29, 2009

Will Obama outlaw the Eighteen Benedictions?

by rabbi Lazer Brody

We say to Hashem thrice daily in the Amida prayer, "And to Jerusalem Your city return in mercy, and dwell within as You promised," invoking Hashem to return and rebuild the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

Hold on folks, there's a problem here: The Holy Temple Mount is in East Jerusalem. Obama wants a total freeze on Jewish east Jerusalem, including natural growth, much less additional construction.

Will Obama outlaw the Eighteen Benedictions (Amida, or "Shmona Esrei") because of the Jerusalem benediction? According to Obama, G-d is potentially an illegal settler in Jerusalem Who must be stopped!

Obama has therefore told G-d that He may not build the Third Temple, and He certainly may not dwell there. Hashem is violating the settlement freeze by bringing Moshiach and building Bet HaMikdash.

Up until now, few were so cheeky as to blaspheme Hashem. Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and Titus did, and each had a very tragic ending.

Mr. Obama, telling families in Modiin Illit and Beitar Illit that they cannot have more children is blaspheming Hashem. For the good of your country, back off, sir; you are playing with an all-consuming fire. Wait and see.