No Sweat - it's only a Nuke

by rabbi Lazer Brody

Anne Bayefsky is a lady with a razor-sharp mind and an eagle eye. She's an attorney with international recognition as a leading Human Rights and International Law specialist, a barrister and solicitor on the Ontario Bar and a professor at York University in Toronto. The cherry on her cake of accomplishments is that her Eye-on-the-UN organization is a fierce watchdog that monitors the UN.

Anne came to the conclusion today that an Iranian Nuke doesn't make Obama lift an eyebrow, and that he'll sit on the sidelines while Iran assembles its bomb. See her whole article here.

No sweat, folks, it's only a Nuke. Pour the President another glass of iced tea and let him continue in his rocking chair on the White House lawn.

All those readers who think I harbor animosity for President Obama don't know me well enough. Negative emotions? Heaven forbid! I'm not being cynical - President Obama is fantastic. He's an agent - unwittingly enough, to be sure - in sanctifying Hashem's name. Here's how:

1. Since we don't have the brains to put all our trust in Hashem, Obama is helping us by showing that we can no longer depend on or trust him or his administration. The USA was quick on the trigger today in condemning Israel for upholding the rights of two Jewish landowners in East Jerusalem. If Obama is selling Israel down the river for two houses in East Jerusalem, can we expect his backing for a massive attack on Iran? Certainly not. We praise and thank Hashem for showing us Mr. Obama's true nature at such an early stage, and we thank Mr. Obama for waking us up and throwing us into Hashem's loving arms.

2. Mister Obama should receive a retainer from Nefesh B'Nefesh. Aliya from the USA is booming, and G-d willing, many more are on the way.

3. Mister Obama is quickly teaching our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora that there's no place like home, and home is here in the Holy Land of Emuna, Eretz Yisrael.

4. Mister Obama is an excellent Gemara instructor; for years, we've been learning (see tractate Sota 49a) that there's no one to trust but Hashem. Mister Obama is driving that lesson home better than anyone.

Here's the great news, dear brothers and sisters: No one will help us against Iran. This knowledge in itself is a mitigation of severe judgments. There's a phenominal thirst for emuna and a spiritual awakening that will also "sweeten" bitter edicts. Now that the USA has joined the UK and the other nations of the world in condemning us, we officially stand alone. That is the best news. Now, we'll have no choice but to attribute the many miracles that are on the way for us to Hashem, and to know one else.

With emuna, you see how Hashem does everything for the best. Obama himself is none other than a marionette with Hashem pulling the strings, so how can we be angry with Obama?

Children of Hevron

by rabby Lazer Brody

Several years ago, during a visit to the Washington, DC area, I personally witnessed how a pair of series killers traumatized nearly two million people in the DC metropolitan area. People were literally paralyzed, and many refused to step out of their houses.

In sharp contrast, the Jews of Hevron are surrounded by scores of frenzied, terrorist series killers. Yet, they seem to fear nothing other than The Almighty. During a recent visit to Hevron, I visited a local cheder (religious boys' elementary school), curious to find out how the little guys - Israel's unsung heroes - are holding up under the pressure of their environment.

I was amazed to find calm, happy, well-adjusted, and highly-motivated children. They all knew their studies by heart, and were more than willing to tell me about this week's Torah portion, recite their mishnayos, or elaborate on Hevron's history.

What makes these little kids so stable, living in the eye of a hurricane? The answer is simple: uncompromising Torah education, simple and steadfast faith, and parents who are living examples of dedication to G-d, the Jewish people, and the Land of Israel.

Hashem is sending a stiff warning, Mister Obama (Psalm 105:16): "Don't touch My anointed, and don't harm My prophets!" If you do, a lot more than your teleprompter will smash all around you.

מי כעמך ישראל

Another Flood?

by we want mashiach

We all know the promise of Hashem to Noach, that He will never bring another Mabul to destroy the world. The symbol of this promise is the rainbow, which appears at any moment that there would have been a Mabul had it not been for that promise. Unfortunately, too many rainbows have appeared throughout the world, especially in recent years.

History of the Mabul

One of the reasons for the original Mabul was stealing. The people would steal from each other tiny amounts (worth less than a "peruta" or penny). It is told that each person would steal a tiny amount and at the end of the day, the vendor was left with nothing. This was impossible to enforce in a court of law (Bet Din) as they do not have jurisdiction upon a value so small. Therefore Hashem had to judge the cases.

Once Hashem got involved in dealing with the crime, there was a portfolio of other unpunished crimes that were done by the generation. These too had to be dealt with. Therefore, the flood was brought upon the world, destroying it completely, save Noach and his family and the animals that he was commanded to bring with him into the Ark.

One specific sin that was mentioned was homosexuality. This was not only between people, but even the animals and vegetation became corrupt and acted likewise. The vegetation would not sprout what was planted, rather a different thing. So if someone planted wheat, barley would grow, etc.

Future Mabul

Hashem promised to never bring another flood. But He was discussing one of water. We do know that there will be a flood of fire at the end of days. I try to picture S'dom, the city of sinners - burning down (actually melting down) from the unbelievable destruction that was brought upon it, for its iniquity.

Rabbi Avigdor Miller, zt"l said that New York is even more corrupt than S'dom. Had it not been that there are Jews earning money and supporting Torah with that money, NY would have long gone the path of S'dom. I sometimes wonder if 9/11 was only a preview. I cannot imagine what is to be said of other cities with worse reputations. Or of a country with laws permitting outright stealing under a nice headline of "Bankruptcy" as we see going on today.

If we learn from history, we can therefore expect another Mabul (this time of fire) to come upon the world for its crimes. Most of it will likely have to do with the persecution they have done to us over the years. Once that is being judged, the rest of the crimes will be as well and we can only imagine what will ensue.

Brewing storm

That is why I take particular interest when reading that there are "super volcanoes" brewing in America. Under Yellowstone National Park and Mt. St. Helens in Washington. At some point, these volcanoes can erupt, spewing an unprecented amount of lava, that could cover several states.

Obviously, I have no idea what Hashem's plans are. It would be pretty dumb to even guess. I just take it that we need to realize what's really brewing and what's really in store. The world can continue to think everything is fine and worry about their dollars or what's left of them. Meanwhile, we are being warned to prepare for dangerous tests of our faith. If we can hold on to Hashem, we will be safe. That will surely be a most difficult thing to do. We cannot trust ourselves and must strengthen and prepare for it. Looking around, it is clear that these tests have already begun and will only get tougher.

What's New?

by we want mashiach

Although there have been many new developments over the past few weeks, most are not out of the ordinary. [Ordinary, in pre-Mashiach terms of course.]

It clearly seems that the spiral downhill is only speeding up. This is a good thing. We are to witness the revelation of a world so diametrically opposite of anything we're used to. The events that have been transpiring are clearly the precursor of those changes.

It has only become clearer and clearer that we are to cling to Hashem with strong faith, even though we are witnessing severe and sometimes painful situations. It's all part of our final test, which is likely to be the most difficult in history.

Winners and Losers: The importance of morale

by Rabbi Lazer Brody

One must never underestimate the power of morale, especially in a spiritual war like the kind we're fighting today, on the verge of redemption.

Let me take you back to Britain of 1940. Hitler's Luftwaffe was pounding the UK; all of London was in bomb shelters. On September 7th, 1940, a massive 330 tons of bombs were dropped on London. The bombing continued for 57 consecutive nights.

Britain was sorely licking its wounds. Yet, Winston Churchill addressed the nation and said, "We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!"

A year later, Churchill said, "Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." The British, strengthened by the words of their leader, held a stiff upper lip and became winners.

How I wish an Israeli leader would tell the world, "We shall never surrender...we shall never give up one tiny letter of the Torah's commandments and principles!"

The more we stand on our convictions to G-d and his Torah, the more we shall defeat the forces of epikursis in the world that are out to destroy us in a spiritual war to the death. By strengthening ourselves daily in the service of Hashem, we are winners. Losers are the ones who sacrifice their principles under pressure. We shall fight for the principles of Torah whatever the cost may be. With Hashem on our side, our morale is forever high. Faith will win - soon.

Flight 613

Who will we trust?

by we want mashiach

Iran is beefing up its defenses against the threat of an Israeli strike. Yet, in the same day, we hear obama threaten/tell Netanyahu not to strike Iran.

There's absolutely no question that Hashem is putting our faith on the line here. This looming threat of Iran is a perfect storm. It's always in the background and often hits the headlines with scary updates. Hashem is keeping our attention on it. He wants us to focus on Him. He wants us to trust in Him.

Everyone has their idea of how/when/where Israel should strike Iran. Too many may have faith in the IAF. But we all know Who is really in charge. During these trying times pre-empting Mashiach, we are all being tested. Hashem wants to see who really trusts in Him. As it winds down the road and we realize that we really have no other alternatives, that choice will become more and more clear. Soon it will be so clear that we will have lost our free-choice. May Hashem help us all make the best of our free-choice now and choose to trust in Him only. There is nothing else!