The Return to Joseph's Tomb in Shechem
Sunday was the anniversary of the death of Joseph (Yosef HaTzaddik).
Here is the Arutz-7 story and here are some of my pictures from the return to Shechem (known as Nablus by those who choose to use a mispronunciation of the Roman name Neopolis rather than the eternal biblical name)
People came from all across Israel to return to the burial site of Yosef the Tzaddik, Alav HaShalom (Peace be upon him)- son of Yaakov,Alav HaShalom - grandson of Yitzchak, Alav HaShalom - and great-grandson of our father Avraham, Alav HaShalom.
"Until When?"
Former Gov't Minister Benny Elon speaks with Yishai about the Aliyah revolution
Me, behind the structure - in the moonlight shadows of Har Grizim and Har Eival.
Some brought musical instruments, some brought their kids, one man brought a Torah scroll that used to reside in Kever Yosef.
Men and women took turns packing into the small room of Joseph's tomb - the markers have been hacked to rubble with sledgehammers.
Posters with smiling young Arab terrorists had been plastered to the dome atop Joseph's Tomb.
The Hebrew reads "Joseph still lives" - an allusion to what Yaakov was told after more than 30 years of thinking his beloved son had been killed. Evidently the descendants of Ishmael think otherwise.
Kumah clean-up
This is what it used to look like:
Then...
But Sunday, the second of Tammuz, hundreds of candles, spiritual and physical, were lit - with God's help they will illuminate the city of Shechem and bring a great light to the entire world.
The Legacy of a Redeeming Force
Today, the third of Tammuz, is the tenth anniversary of the passing of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, ZTL. The Rebbe is widely considered to be one of the singlemost influential Jew in modern times. His momentum continues to propel the incredibly successful Chabad movement even ten years after his passing from this world.
In addition to his incredible wealth of Torah knowledge, and knowledge of the sciences and the modern world, it was the Rebbe's caring for each and every Jew in this world that defines his legacy. His incredible yearning for the arrival of Moshiach has spread throughout his movement. In his honor, we should all pray to see the arrival of Moshiach each day during our lifetime.
Though he never stepped foot in Eretz Yisrael, the Rebbe cared deeply for the State of Israel. He actively encouraged those Jews of the Former Soviet Union to make Aliyah, by committing monetary and other resources to ensure that those who wished to arrive in Israel could.
One time the Rebbe was approached with by an ardent Zionist. The Zionist challenged that as the General of a massive Jewish Army, the Rebbe himself should fulfill Aliyah and then his followers would certainly join him. The Rebbe replied something to the following "If a General is on a sinking ship, is it appropriate for him to get off the ship first and hope that all of his followers make it as well? Rather a responsible General will ensure that each one of his officers will get off the ship first, before he himself will find safety."
The Rebbe often guided leaders of Israel on Israeli politics and military strategy. His political views on Israel can be read in the short and sweet book "Eyes upon the land."
In a conversation with Ariel Sharon following the Six Day War, the Rebbe asked specific, pointed questions about military strategy involving details that could not be known by any man who was not in the battle or war room in the Knesset, establishing his status (possibly) as a modern-day prophet. In addition the Rebbe gave now Prime Minster Sharon political advice for today's times.
I certainly hope and pray that the Prime Minister is explicitly following the Lubavitcher Rebbe's advice. The Rebbe had tremendous insight into many matters (including those of the political and diplomatic spectrum), even when it would appear as though he was not directly or remotely involved.
For those of us living in America, I can say with certainty that there is a feeling in the air in Eretz Yisrael that just does not exist here. But I will suggest that one can find this feeling for a few moments by visiting the Kever of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Queens.
I believe full-heartedly that the Rebbe is indeed the Moshiach of the Lubavitch movement. He single handedly redeemed an undermobilized Chassidic Movement, turning it into the driving force for restoring Jewish awareness and performance worldwide. Today one cannot go to any city in any country with Jewish inhabitants and not find a Shaliach of the Rebbe.
I bless that the fervent nature of the Rebbe's movement will continue to spread the knowledge of Torah and fulfillment of Mitzvot worldwide, and that each of us will find our own redemptive forces, eventually realizing for ourselves and witnessing the arrival of the age of Moshiach.
Malkah's new show on Israel National Radio
That's right, ladies and gentlemen, we're keeping it in the family. I, too, have started work at Israel National Radio, with two cool shows.
One, a two hour political talk bit, plays on Sundays, and if you're listening from 8am-10am EST, you can even call in live, toll-free. It's called the Weekend Edition
The other show I'm taking over from Tamar Yonah (of The Aliyah Show fame) - The Eyshet Chayil Show. Aside from learning about how to soothe your child to sleep and how to get the perfect balance between the crunchy and the chewy cookie, you can also hear about about Women and Activism, and Women in the Workforce.
So listen in at
IsraelNationalRadio.com
Hebread!
This past Friday we had our first Hebrew bread bake! We used eggs from Kdumim, honey from Ofra, olive oil from the Golan, wheat from Itamar, water from the tap and salt of the earth. We learned how to knead bread, and how to braid it. It was a fun event and an inspirational one - but the best part was eating the bread Friday night. MMMM..MMMM So good and nourishing. Blessed are you G-d who brings forth bread from the LAND!
This event was sponsored by the generous donation of Cherie and Dave Deslauriers who pray to break bread with the people of Israel. 
Herbie Dan the Baker and teacher
The class
The smile
The teamwork
The Yish
Mattityahu Ze'ev aka Jason
The bread!
The final product - Shabbat Shalom!
Preventing the Redemption?
Could it be that Jews lax in their enthusiasm to return home and settle our land are actually preventing the redemption?
Could it be that they are also preventing us from rebuilding the Beit Hamikdash [the Temple] on Har Habayit?
Harav Yisachar Shlomo Teichtal ZT?L writes about this idea extensively in Eim Habanim Semeichah.
Perhaps these details will make for some good future blogging. But in short, there he concludes, after bringing proof after proof, that not only will the redemption occur naturally (and not miraculously) but we Jews must initiate the process by returning Home. He writes:
A person cannot expect his field to sprout grains before he works it. That is to say, if he does not plow, sow, and prepare the field, he will not achieve his goal. He will remain empty-handed, even if he prays all day and all night. Only after he does his part by plowing and sowing, can he pray to Hashem to bless his handiwork. The same is true of redemption. After we decide to return to our Land and after we actually begin the process, the Holy One Blessed be He will complete it for us. This is true and clear. Blessed is Hashem Who enlightened me to this principle. (Page 167)
But I came across some other points about this that are not usually discussed when dealing with this topic. Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan ZT"L keenly points them out in his work The Real Messiah? About the redemption he writes:
There is even evidence that the majority of the Jews will have to return to their homeland before the Messiah comes in a non-miraculous manner. One of our important traditions regarding the advent of the Messiah is that it will mark the return of prophecy. Furthermore, according to many traditions, the Messiah will be preceded by the prophet Elijah, and furthermore, he himself will be a prophet. However there is a basic teaching that prophecy can only exist in the Land of Israel, and then, only when majority of Jews live there. Thus, unless we assume this rule is to be broken, the majority of Jews will have to live in the Land of Israel before the Messianic Age commences. (The Aryeh Kaplan Anthology. Page 321.)
About rebuilding the Temple on Har Habayit he writes:
Another important consideration is the tradition that the Bais HaMikdash or Holy Temple will be rebuilt before the onset of the Messianic Age. However, there is also a tradition that Jerusalem cannot be rebuilt before the ingathering of the diaspora. This would also seem to indicate that Israel will be settled before the Messianic Age. (Ibid.)
[Rabbi Kaplan also cites scores of sources in almost a dozen endnotes for the above passages.]
So let me ask those questions again.
Could it be that Diaspora Jews lax in their enthusiasm to return home and settle our land are actually preventing the redemption?
Could it be that they are also preventing us from rebuilding the Beit Hamikdash on Har Habayit?
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
Does this remind anyone else of that 1984 Apple Computer Superbowl Commercial? (REUTERS/Menahem Kahane/POOL)
