The Fallen King

There were so many pieces of Torah I wanted to write, but news has swept them away.

What do we do when our leader or King falls?  To give into the nations of the world, to succumb to the blindness of doubt, what hope is there for a leader who reverses course and releases terrorists just to sit at a table with another terrorist?

Our task is not to judge. After all the King of Israel is the heart of the nation and in our imperfect return all of our "kings" have been just that; a reflection of the level of the Nation itself.  We cannot judge for we are not standing where he is standing, in the test he has been given.

The Land of Israel is a whole entity.  It is one.  There is no division that can scar it, nor politician that can relinquish it.  Every Jew that settles the Land of Israel performs more than just a mitzvah, but expands the border of the Kingdom of Israel. Yet we live here in an imperfect entity, where many of us are enamored with the allure of present comforts, without the thought of the future.

Kingdom from within the State

Were at the end of time.  How long is left, is not clear, yet we are moving closer to point in time where "Jerusalem will be a Cup of Poison." At that point in time the shell or klipah which surrounds the Kingdom of Israel will fall away and the Nations of the World will realize the truth.

As the State of Yisrael breaks the Kingdom will emerge whole from within it. The true King will not fall like the leaders of today.  He will lead.  He will believe in the words of Isiah:  "All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness." (40:17) and we will be comforted.

The test is for us as a Nation to believe in the same words and only then can we expect our leaders to do the same.
s

The Collapse is On

The light of the Creator permeates all of existence as the creation is the direct expression of the Creator's will.  There are only two situations in the creation: Revelation or Concealment.  All of creation acts as a medium for these two expressions.  Galuth is the global situation which causes the light of the Creator to be concealed. What began as a physical exile turns into a spiritual one as the heart of the world (the Temple) became disconnected with it's counterparts in the above worlds (see Nefesh HaChaim, the first Gate). Without a Temple in this World, Am Yisrael no longer was able to be the Sovereign in its own Land and so the Temple's disappearance millenia ago was the direct catalyst to the disappearance of a sovereign Jewish entity here in the Land of Israel.

The concealment of the Creator's light left a world full of kelim (vessels), but these vessels became twisted and warped.  As the Galuth rolled on in History the Rabbis were able to harness Halacha as a National directive, but that only lasted as long as there were no other challenges to their legitimate leadership of Am Yisrael.

With the "breaking of the Ghetto walls" and the rise of the "enlightened gentile" Jews could no longer be counted on to follow the Rabbis and so even movements like Zionism, which started out as a directive from the Vilna Gaon, become hijacked by opposing "enlightened" forces.  These forces which spawned everything from Secular Zionism to Communism to Wilsonian Liberalism are none other than the Klipah of the Erev Rav.  This Klipa feeds off the Galuth. It uses the same vessels which are meant to be raised up when in the hands of Holy Men as tools for evil.  Zionism has become the preeminent example of this.

When Jews began streaming back in search of establishing a sovereign entity with the express purpose of furthering the redemption and building the third Beih Hamikdash, the Erev Rav knew that it was a life and death struggle for their existence.  So they did the most unthinkable thing, join the struggle to establish a sovereign state in the Land of Israel.

They convinced their Edomite masters to grant them leadership and in that way they would be in full power to prevent the movement and the rise of Moshiach ben Yosef.  The only issue with this plan was that coming back to the Land of Israel itself is one of the steps in the Geulah process.  By coming back some of the concealment prevalent in Galuth recedes and light shines brighter in the world.

Redemption comes in stages. In each stage concealment is lowered and the light of the Creator shines brighter.  The Erev Rav took a gamble and in that gamble allowed the redemption to move along in hopes that their control would be cemented here in the Holy Land.

Yet, their power along with the Statue of the Global Hegemonic Kingdom is now in collapse mode. The Erev Rav is evil and although tremendous forces are at work in the world we live in, the Erev Rav remain in control of the State of Israel and some of the highest halls of power across the globe.

We cannot destroy the Erev Rav by going against them directly.  They have succeeded in controlling the agenda for the Jewish people over the last 150 years or more and the multitudes of our brethren, even religious ones pulled into their orbit.  Our war is more than a war over Land, it is cultural war.  The Erev Rav seek to draw Western culture into Am Yisrael's "belly" in hopes that it remains base and low...too low to realize it's holy potential.

We can only take control of the Geulah when we break free of reliance on the West.  The more we see through the West's hypocritical use of expressions like "freedom" or "equality" then we open our minds to follow the true path.  This is the path of Torath Yisrael, which is the true Torah given to our master and teacher Moshe Rabbeinu.

By connecting to the will of the Creator we will have the strength to resist the temptation of false Western freedoms and help rid our Land and region of Western control. The global realization that the "freedom" they have is false has spurred uprisings throughout the globe. The Creator light bursts forward in the most unlikely ways as movements that are both anarchist and leftist have become the greatest tool to help collapse the "Evil Empire" of Edom. As the mask of Galuth falls away our ability to see the light of the Creator will magnify and we will see how now this period of time of global turbulence was necessary to force the collapse of those powers seeking to halt the redemption and extinguish the light of G-d from our planet.

The Mask Has Dropped

I have not written on this blog in some time.  The world seems to have grown increasingly more unstable as the transition between the world of Esav's hegemonic control through the Westphalian System of nation states falls apart.  As the USA recedes the vacuum created is a space of opportunity.  Yet, this is the most dangerous time.  It is a time when the modern Rome can go from just a bystander in future world events to one which attempts one last ditch hope to prove the need for its future existence.

The revelations this week about the scope and breadth of NSA surveillance in the USA should be a message to everyone that the emperor no longer has clothes.  The USA is now transformed into the very nation it always claimed to be fighting against.  All of its claims are now gone.  The mask has dropped and so has the pleasantries.

John Kerry and his ilk have stepped up threats.  MAKE PEACE OR ELSE.  Of course his minions here have continued to support such insane propositions.

Both Am Yisrael and Esav seek boundaries.  Am Yisrael uses boundaries throughout Halacha to create space for holiness or kedushah.  Esav does the opposite.  They seek boundaries in order to rid a space of all holiness.  After all, for the West all boundaries are holy and if all boundaries are holy, then nothing really is holy.

Dividing the Land of Israel at the End of Days is the last hope for Esav as it becomes irrelevant.  Esav hopes now to prove its relevancy by showing that Israel is the same as all other nation-states, but that is where it fails. Israel is more than the boundaries of the State.  Am Yisrael or Malchut Israel exists on a global level.  The boundaries of Eretz Yisrael and outward are just delineations of holiness within the framework of the global Kingdom. Our nation has power as a nation in Eretz Yisrael, but its reach is global for Halacha works within all boundaries, even if each boundary has apparent gradations in holiness.

                                                

So now we are at the End.  Rome is now revealed as evil andas  hypocritical as it's enemies and with its march to irrelevancy, the borders that had been declared post WW1 as sacrosanct across the indigenous regions of the West's former colonies are falling apart.

As the borders around us become meaningless,  the Middle East's indigenous peoples seek to rectify the sin of Western Imperialism.  Within this context our own people have an opportunity to break free of our modern colonial masters.  The war between the forces of Mashiach ben Yosef and the Erev Rav and of course their Western masters is entering it's final phase.

After all, the Tzipi Livni has declared that we must choose between democracy and Torah.  I for one choose the latter. Of course that is the struggle.  The Creator has made our choice simpler, since the West we always admired no longer really exists, if it ever did to begin with.

Yosef Rising

It happens quickly.  One leader falls and another begins to rise to the challenge. 

We are standing in what is known as Yemot HaMashiach Ben Yosef.   The days of Mashiach ben Yosef. Within this era there is a paradigm being played out...the Shaul vs. David relationship is unfolding before us.  Every leadership transition has to have this paradigm and we now see it taking place.

Bibi who believes he is the predetermined leader set to herald a State of Israel that is both accepted and strong represents the finest of the previous ruling order, but that is what it is; a ruling class that does not see itself as having a divine mandate, but is satisfied in ruling for the sake of ruling. No matter how much he wants to do the right thing, Bibi is a product of a State of Israel without redemption as it's goal.  This is Shaul who could not defeat Amalek, because he could not differentiate between his rule as the King of Israel and that of another King. 

Then there is Naftali Bennett. He has been outside the system, connected to the new world; the one which is leaving behind the constrictive nature of our hegemonic world order.  Hi Tech success, grass roots leader, young and forward thinking.  He is of course the former Chief of Staff for Bibi and now he is rising.  His role is that of the David within the quest to be Mashiach ben Yosef. He offers a course towards a redemptive paradigm.  Technology and Spirit.  A true tikkun instead of continued malaise driven by empty words and slogans. He is set to take the mantle of Mashiach ben Yosef from the Shaul.

The country is changing.  Old ways are melting, barriers falling, something new is happening, a Yosef is rising and rising very fast.

Towards an Authentic Jewish Spirituality

Reprinted from Machon Shilo

by Yoel Qeren

What is Jewish spirituality? As with all Torah concepts, exile has clouded our ideas of what spirituality is and what purpose it serves. True spirituality is a personal experience of the ethereal universe and ultimately, of God Himself. In its highest form, Jewish spirituality is prophecy, and prophecy in its highest form will bring about the resurrection of the dead. Our sages tell us that this is the true goal of authentic Jewish spirituality. They called us "B'nei Nevi'im", the sons, or spiritual heirs of prophets. That is who we are meant to be.

Prophecy was once the driving force behind the nation of Israel, its leaders and its military.That was its purpose, to guide the nation according to the will of Hashem. Needless to say, we are a far cry from this lofty ideal today. However, it is our duty, as a nation reconstituted on its ancient homeland, to begin moving back toward this original spirituality, back toward the prophetic ideal.

To begin moving in this direction, we must take small steps. First and foremost is the study of Tanakh. This in and of itself is a great spiritual endeavor. Its pages are a window into the world of the prophets. We can see how they prayed, how they spoke, and the message they brought to Israel. From them we learn of the profound spiritual effects of music and that in addition to communal prayer, one must make time to speak directly to our Father in heaven. The importance of these concepts was recognized throughout history by such luminaries as R' Nahman of Breslov, who brilliantly expounded on the spiritual benefits of music and meditation, and taught his disciples to engage in free, unscripted conversation with God every day.

Next, we must immerse ourselves in the words of our sages, who imparted to us their knowledge of prophecy and its purpose. From them we learn that the prophetic experience exists on many levels. Our sages tell us that every dream is one sixtieth of prophecy. Stop and think about that for a moment. Something as mundane and routine as a dream is actually a small taste of the loftiest spiritual state attainable by man. Even though actual prophecy may seem out of our reach, we must know that it is always with us. And if we train ourselves to think, act and pray in a manner consistent with the way of the prophets, we may gain small glimpses, small flashes of light and clarity that can change us for the better.

Lastly and perhaps most importantly is the necessity of having a continual connection with the land of Israel.Prophecy is intimately connected with this land, and eretz Yisrael is the only aspect of Jewish spirituality that is tangible. The land itself is holy and unlike other aspects of qedusha, it can be touched, smelled, tasted. When you touch the land of Israel, you touch and experience holiness. The physical and spiritual planes are united here like nowhere else on earth. Yet they are united in a way that is simply and easily experienced.

Do not confuse this with the awe of creation that one might experience upon seeing a beautiful mountain or river. This is also a profound spiritual experience, but it can be found anywhere. The land of Israel is different. It is overflowing, not only with natural beauty, but also with an overpowering sense of history and purpose.

When one drinks from the same springs as prophets and kings, when one climbs to the caves his ancestors lived and even died in, he begins to feel a sense of continuity and connection with those who came before him. It is almost as if they are standing beside him. Their words come alive, echoing through the hills and valleys. The lines between past and present, between physical and spiritual, begin to blur.

It is at this point that a Jew begins to grasp who he truly is. He begins to understand his relationship with his maker and his people. He attains a clearer vision of his purpose in this world and where he should be headed. These are small yet vital steps toward the ultimate goal of restoring prophecy.

Immersion in Tanakh and Hazal, connecting with eretz Yisrael and engaging in honest, heartfelt prayer; this is the way of our fathers. It will do for us what no red string or swinging chicken can. This is authentic Jewish spirituality and like a fiery chariot, it waits to carry our nation to new heights.

Learn More at Machon Shilo

Sun is Setting on the USA and the West

• IMF Warns America's Economy
• Millions Still Without Power
• On the Brink of War

The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave is a fallen shadow of its former self.  The world is changing fast and the cultural emptiness that has simmered for years underneath the surface in America has boiled up and revealed the hollow shell which has always been there.  The ligh of redemption is hidden within the Klippot of the world in which we live, but Edom is empty, as the Midrash states, "'...darkness on the face of the deep' refers to the Evil Kingdom" otherwise known as Edom.

The world is world built on the four Kingdoms of our exile.  In order for the redemption to commence, Edom being the sum total of all exile's before it must fall.  In that as the Maharal says in Ner Mitzvah will translate in Edom "returning the crown of Torah to Am Yisrael."

Yes, the world seems like its crumbling, but a new world is being born and we are here to witness it's birthday!

Stay tuned...it's coming!

Ruling From Above

לד  וַיָּגָר אַבְרָהָם בְּאֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים, יָמִים רַבִּים.  {פ}

34 And Avraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines many days. {P}

In the midst of the tension and euphoria of the pending release of Gilad Shalit I want to move beyond the pros and cons of the deal since it appears to be a done deal.  We have a problem as a Nation a sickness if you will.  In a sense we have been dwelling for far too long in our Land which in irony is the same land of the Plishtim for our Lands are one and the same.  By the Torah telling us Avraham dwelt in the Land of the Plishtim it was informing us that there are times when even in our land it is not truly ours.

These Plishtim both modern and in the past are nothing more than a non nation, a mix of outcasts masquerading as an ancient clan deserving of a home land here in our Land. Gilad Shalit represents all of us for he has dwelled in the "Land of the Plishtim for many days" as we all have.  Our Nation is bound in many ways to the Palestinian struggle.  We are stuck and submerged in the lies and falsehoods of our enemies.  We know that each member of Am Yisrael is a microcosm of the whole Nation and so Gilad Shalit suffered in captivity within Israel and yet within the Land of the Plishtim at the same time.  His release is our release.  His return home is our return home

Returning A Captive

The sages teach us that the returning of a Jewish captive is greater than all other mitzvot. It is a strange mitzvah, because by redeeming a captive we are in  sense rewarding those that put the captive there, no matter the price. Yet we go forward with it anyhow.  It is dangerous!  Many are saying.  Yes it is, but we are implored in the second to last siman in Hoshen Mishpat to risk our lives to save our fellow Jew's life and/or property.  The collective Am Yisrael seems to be willing to do that.  The deal isn't fair; we all know that.  Then again life is often times not fair. The Shalits as much as we feel for them have put the nation in a tight position.  Not everyone would.  Others have sucked it up and dealt with their fate (i.e. Jonathan Pollard), because they did not want the nation to suffer like they had, but this really isn't about the Shalit family anymore, it is about us.  Are we up for the task?  Are we ready to move on in our Land and leave the land of the Plishtim behind?

Ruling Our Land

The name Gilad Shalit hints at a greater correlation between his release and the unfolding Geulah process. Shalit means ruler. Gilad is the place of Eretz Yisrael home to Eliyahu HaNavi.  We don't know the end of this story, for the story of Gilad Shalit as every captive Jew is really all of our stories.  We as a nation are a vessel for the divine light, which holds up the world.  It penetrates our being whether we are aware of it or not.  It is this role we play as a divine nation that puts us into this world as a partner in building it and nurturing it from a spiritual perspective. Gilad Shalit's release despite the emotional dilemma it causes us will help us to move forward as a Nation towards the complete redemption.  This is simply because, like Eliyahu HaNavi, we are a Nation which rules our Land from above and beyond nature. This is the very point and power behind Pidiyun HaShevuiim (redeeming a captive), it is above the intellect and forces us to believe in something bigger than ourselves. May Gilad Shalit's release be a sign for good things to come to our Nation and may it be the key which unlocks all of our captives as well as all of us.