South Carolina Political Leader Affirms Support For Israel After Visit to Judea & Samaria

"I see the roots of the Jewish people on this land and in this region."
   - Rep. Alan Clemmons

"Because he was impressed by the biblical and archaeological sites in Samaria, Clemmons told the Shomron Regional Council’s Foreign Relations Department that he plans to work toward bringing hundreds of volunteers from the U.S. to help the archaeological excavations in the region."  Israel National News

"Ours is the last generation of exile and the first generation of redemption. Therefore, we have a unique responsibility to spread good, righteousness, and justice throughout the world at large, teaching the gentile nations to observe the seven universal laws commanded to Noach and his descendants. This will serve as a preparation for the era when "I will make the nations pure of speech and they will all call on the name of the L-rd..." - The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Toldos 5750

Rep. Alan Clemmons

Pro-Israel U.S. Rep. Tours Judea and Samaria

Rep. Alan Clemmons moved by the archaeological excavations in Judea and Samaria; plans to bring volunteers to help.

By Elad Benari

First Publish: 12/4/2011, 3:36 AM

South Carolina Representative Alan Clemmons visited on Friday the community of Netzer, between Elazar and Alon Shvut. During the visit, Clemmons was given a tour by the leader of the Women in Green movement, who explained about local residents’ daily struggle to safeguard state lands from Arab encroachment.

Clemmons, a Christian friend of Israel, is behind the "South Carolina Stands With Israel" resolution, a bill that was passed in June calling on the State of Israel to retain control over Judea and Samaria and highlighting what it terms the “cordial and mutually beneficial relations” enjoyed by Israel and South Carolina since 1948.

The resolution resolved that “the members of this body support Israel in their natural and G-d-given right of self-governance and self-defense upon their own lands, recognizing that Israel is neither an attacking force nor an occupier of the lands of others…”

During his visit to Netzer, Clemmons was very moved to walk on the Path of the Patriarchs and very upset to hear about the Arabs’ sabotage and attacks against the Jews planting in the area. Clemmons praised the determined Jewish activists who continue to plant and safeguard the land, not caving in to the Arab agricultural terror.

Clemmons also visited the archaeological excavation sites in Itamar, Har Gerizim and Tel Shiloh. During these visits he was accompanied by the director of the Shomron International Liaison Office, David Ha’Ivri, and by Yossi Dagan of the Shomron Residents Committee.

Clemmons, who was moved by what he had seen, told reporters who accompanied him on the tour, “Many people in the United States have no comprehensive knowledge and they think that Judea and Samaria are not related to the State of Israel and are occupied territory. I admit that I too came here with incorrect stigmas. After a day of touring Samaria I was shocked and moved by what I saw. When I tour here today and see the archeology and the ancient Jewish roots here in Itamar, Tel Shiloh, and Mount Gerizim, I see the roots of the Jewish people on this land and this region. I support Jewish development and construction in this region.”

“I wish President Barack Obama would come with me on a tour of Samaria, and then he’d probably change his mind,” added Clemmons, referring to Obama's questionable policy on Israel, which has resulted in criticism from the Republicans.

Because he was impressed by the biblical and archaeological sites in Samaria, Clemmons told the Shomron Regional Council’s Foreign Relations Department that he plans to work toward bringing hundreds of volunteers from the U.S. to help the archaeological excavations in the region.

The head of the Shomron Regional Council, Gershon Mesika, welcomed the new venture and said, “For the past two years we have hosted dozens of volunteers from abroad during the summer to help harvest the vineyards in Samaria, and we can see clearly how when those volunteers return to their countries after several months of volunteering in Samaria, they become ambassadors of Israel. We look forward to being a bridge of bringing together Judea and Samaria and the entire State of Israel and to hosting hundreds and thousands of volunteers – be it in agriculture or archaeological excavations.”

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Flatbush Jews: Believing, Praying,Waiting for Redemption

A rabbinical leader in Brooklyn calls for the community to prepare for the Redemption. (Thanks to Chabad.info)

"We all see clearly that we are actually holding by the days preceding Mashiach (the Messiah). One of the main signs is that things are happening very quickly and early. Early – as you can see in the weather. The flowers of Shavuos came out in late March this year. The weather of June is here in April. So the bria is saying that things are moving very quickly and early. What’s happening in the industrial world, changes that would have happened in years are now happening in  months, even weeks. This indicates clearly that Mashiach is near.

            The Zohar says that the sign of the footsteps of Mashiach, the near arrival of Mashiach, is when the gates of wisdom open up and the world is showered with unbelievable wisdom."

"Swords into plowshares," - Transitioning to a world of peace

And they shall beat their swords into plowshares

and their spears into pruning hooks.

Nation shall not lift up sword against nation

neither shall they learn war any more.

                                                                             - Isaiah 2: 2-4

"Since these days the heads of state of the nations of the world are
making decisions and announcements regarding the reduction and 
elimination of weapons and the increase in things required for the
maintenance of (their) economies...this is a clear sign of the beginning
of the fulfillment of this prophecy as part of the true and complete
redemption through Moshiach."

                 The Lubavitcher Rebbe, 1991

"The 1990s was a period of remarkable progress in peaceful transition in the world,...Spending on the military plummeted almost 40% worldwide." 
                From Defense to Development, Ann Markusen


“ (We) support and promote the processes by which people, skills, technology, equipment, financial and economic resources are shifted from the military or defense sector towards alternative civilian purposes.”
Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC), established in 1994

“The peaceful use of military technology represents the trend of history.”  
         China Academy of Engineering Physics  


                                                       

A new book, Scientific Thought in Messianic Times, documents the transformation of weapons of war into instruments of peace taking place in our time. Here is an overview of Professor Silman's book in a review by Rabbi Dovi Reichman.



Finally, religion is on the offensive. Science not only does not debunk religion, quite on the contrary, it helps us understand and prepare for the coming of Moshiach, as Professor Shimon Silman, Professor of Mathematics at Touro College and Founder/Director of the RYAL Institute, asserts in his new book Scientific Thought in Messianic Times. 

Kabbala calls it “Unification.” Science calls it “The Theory of Everything.” But regardless of the disparate nomenclature, the two terms represent the epicentre of both Kabbalistic and (current) scientific thought. Science is finally coming around to support the mainstay of Kabbalistic and Chassidic thought.  

Myriads of books and articles have been published attempting to explain – to various degrees of success – why science does not conflict, contradict, or disprove religion. Science used to be, and is still considered by many, a foe of religion and everything Divine. Religion has seemingly been on the defensive since time immemorial; even the Rambam, living in the 12th century, had to respond to challenges made by advocates of the scientific disciplines.  

Professor Silman, turning the tables on religion bashers, shows how science is currently coming of age and is rapidly trending in the direction of actually proving the central theme of Kabbala and Jewish Mysticism—the absolute unity of G-d. Not that Kabbala needs support or approbation from science, quite to the contrary. But showing how science supports the central notion of kabbala, and furthermore, prepares us for the raison d’etre of our existence—the coming of Moshiach—is, for the understatement of this millennium, revolutionary.  



                                             *       *       *

 
Bifurcated into different chapters, Silman first demonstrates how science, across a wide range of disciplines, is moving towards transforming military technology initially developed for battle and bloodshed into tools of peace, health, and prosperity, thus actualizing Isaiah’s prophecy of “turning swords into ploughshares.”  

But even more avant-garde, the author then shows how the current scientific vogue, with “string theory” and “the theory of everything” being the all the rage, actually prepares us for the Messianic era! In the Messianic era we will see the unity of G-d, and these theories give us a mindset of unity of the entire universe! The book concludes with an impressive and inspiring view of the nature of science in the era of Moshiach. 

Fear of Islamic Jihad Grips Europe: The Beginning of Divine Retribution?

They supported terrorists against Israel with money and weapons and votes in the U.N. They looked the other way when Arabs ruthlessly murdered citizens in the marketplace and sleeping families in their homes.  And now Europe's pro-Arab sympathies have come home to roost.

"Also from the nations no one came to My aid to wreak vengeance on the foes of Israel, for they were all Israel's enemies, and I will wreak vengeance on them." - Commentary, Isaiah 63.3 (Redak)

Latest victims of Islamic terrorism:
Ayreh, Jonathan, and Gavriel Sandler

Survivor Fogel Family Massacre: 12 year old Tamar

Toulouse Terrorist Not Alone: Extreme Islam Threatens Europe

The terrorist who murdered 7 people in Toulouse may have been killed, but the phenomenon of extreme Islam in Europe did not die with him.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

First Publish: 3/23/2012, 5:15 AM

Israel National News

Mohammad Merah, the terrorist who murdered seven people in Toulouse, France, including four Jews, was killed following a standoff on Thursday, but the phenomenon of extreme Islam in Europe did not die with him.
In fact, terrorists who carry out attacks such as the ones Merah committed are by no means a surprise and are not something which is new for many Europeans in general and for France in particular.
On Thursday, a fan page for Merah was shut down by Facebook, but not before about 500 users had joined it, many of whom posted messages in support of the terrorist.
Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a new crackdown in France on the spread of terrorist-linked ideologies and activities.
Anyone who regularly visits "websites which support terrorism or call for hate or violence will be punished by the law," Sarkozy said.
He also promised a crackdown on anyone who goes abroad "for the purposes of indoctrination in terrorist ideology."
Sarkozy, as do leaders in England and Belgium, has had to deal with a phenomenon that has gained momentum in recent years whereby Islamic groups try to “conquer” European countries and force them to adhere to extreme Muslim Sharia laws.
Many Muslims see Europe as a continent on which a war should be fought to turn it into a “House of Islam”. These particular Muslims will not rest until they defeat the non-Muslims who are viewed as “infidels.”
In Belgium, for example, a video distributed on the internet in recent months depicts an extremist group who threatens to turn Belgium into a Muslim country.
It was also recently revealed that Muslims constitute one-quarter of the population of Brussels and that the most popular name for newborn babies in the city in 2011 was Muhammad. It was also the most popular name for babies in Antwerp, where an estimated 40 percent of primary school children are Muslims.
Sharia has also been implemented in several places in Britain to the dismay of local residents. According to reports last year, Islamists set up zones where the Muslim Sharia law would be enforced.
Some communities were bombarded with bright yellow posters which read: ‘You are entering a Sharia-controlled zone – Islamic rules enforced.’
The messages were found on bus stops and street lamps and were seen across certain boroughs in London. They order that ‘no gambling’, ‘no music or concerts’, ‘no drugs or smoking’ and ‘no alcohol’ should be seen in the Sharia-controlled zone.
European leaders are aware of the phenomenon and are trying to deal with it, yet at the same time fear that a direct confrontation with these groups will lead to terrorist attacks in these quiet countries. Perhaps the Toulouse terrorist will turn on that red light and will place a warning sign that will cause leaders to work to prevent the next attack.

Jewish World Waking Up to An Ancient Prophecy About Moshiach

An ancient prophecy about the coming of the Messiah, quoted by the Rebbe in 1991 et the time of the Gulf War, is appearing now in Jewish news sources such as Israel National News, Hamodia, and below, the Jewish Press. This prophecy, from the Yalkut Shimoni, reveals that Arab nations fighting each other heralds the arrival of the Messiah and the unfolding of the Messianic Era.

Crises And Wake-Up Calls: The Only Answer

By: Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis

Esther Jungreis

Published: December 7th, 2011                                   

Latest update: March 1st, 2012

 There is an amazing prophecy in the Yalkut Shimoni – a Midrashic compilation that eerily foretells the events of today: Rabbi Yitzchok said, “The year in which Melech HaMashiach will be revealed, all the nations of the world will be provoking each other. The king of Persia (Iran) will provoke the king of Arabia (Saudi Arabia). The king of Arabia will go to the King of Edom (the leader of the Christian nations – the president of the United States) to take counsel, and the king of Persia (Ahmadinejad) will threaten to destroy the entire world.

The nations of the world will be outraged. They will fall on their faces in panic and experience pains like birth pangs. Israel too, will be outraged and in a state of panic ask, Where do we go?

“But say unto them, ‘My children, do not fear. The time of your redemption has come…. and this last redemption shall be different from the first that was followed by further bondage and pain. After this last redemption, you will not experience any further pain or subjection” (Yalkut Shemoni, Isaiah 59).

The Klausenberger Rebbe, zt”l, referring to this teaching, said, “Remember these words. They are perhaps not understood now, but in time they will be and be a source of strength to our people.”

Had you heard these prophecies centuries ago, when they were written, you might have scoffed. Even if you read them as recently as 1970, you would have been hard put to believe it, for of all the Muslim countries the Shah’s Iran was probably the friendliest to the U.S. and Israel. But today the impossible has become possible, and events are unfolding so rapidly we have difficulty absorbing their impact. How are we to understand it all?

The Yalkut compares our suffering to birth pangs. But birth pangs are deceptive; when the contractions begin, it’s easy to ignore them because they are mild and occur at long intervals. As birth becomes immanent, however, the contractions intensify and the pain becomes more intense. And just when it appears the woman can no longer endure the pain, the baby is born and new life enters the world.

It is these labor pains to which we are witness today. How long will they last? It’s anyone’s guess, but one thing is certain – please G-d, the birth is sure to take place. In the interim, however, we may ask, “Is it possible to ease the suffering? Is it possible to protect ourselves from these painful contractions?”

To read more, please click here:

Netanyahu Gives Obama a Megillah, A Not So Subtle Message About Iran.

Right before the Jewish holiday of Purim (this year on March 8), Netanyahu met with Barack Obama in the White House. On the agenda was the nuclear threat from Iran (the seat of ancient Persia). The Prime Minister's gift to Obama, a Megillas Esther (a scroll retelling the miracle of Purim) was not lost on anyone who knows the story: many centuries ago when the Jews of Persia were threatened with annihilation, the leadership of Mordechai and the Jewish Queen Esther strengthened the commitment of the Jewish people to their faith to the point that a great miracle was wrought for them and they defeated their enemies. 

In our time, the Rebbe said that because we are in the era of the Redemption, "Jews can maintain their Judaism with great strength and mastery, also over the nations of the world, for it all depends on their will."

(Parshas Vayigash, 1992)   

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Netanyahu Gives Obama a Purim Message to Heed

By Jeffrey Goldberg Mar 7, 2012 11:45 AM ET     

Earlier this week, the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, visited President Barack Obama in the White House. The two met together with their national-security advisers for 90 minutes, then had a 30-minute chat alone, then moved to a lunch together with various high officials of their governments.

Many words were exchanged during these meetings, but it turns out they all might have been superfluous. Netanyahu delivered his overriding message quite efficiently, and almost wordlessly, in the form of a gift to the president.

The gift he handed Obama was a copy of “Megillah of Esther,” the scroll that recounts the heroics of Queen Esther in ancient Persia.... 

The scroll tells the story of the beautiful Esther and her cousin, the wise Mordechai, and how they plot -- successfully -- to keep the evil vizier Haman from murdering Persia’s Jews.

The Real Message

The prime minister of Israel is many things, but subtle is not one of them. The message of Purim is: When the Jews see a murderous conspiracy forming against them, they will act to disrupt the plot. A further refinement of the message is: When the Jews see a plot forming against them in Persia, they will act to disrupt the plot, even if Barack Obama wishes that they would wait for permission.

Leading Torah Scholar Exhorts Israel to Prepare for the Redemption.

In 1991 at the time of the Gulf War,  the Rebbe  MHM announced to the Jewish people as a prophecy, "The time of your Redemption has arrived. " The Rebbe referred to an ancient mystical text, the Yalkut Shemoni, which describes the Gulf War in detail and says that at this time Moshiach (the Messiah) will be revealed. Recently this passage is appearing in the news with reference to the current crisis with Iran. A secular Israeli paper, Yediot Achranot, printed the ancient text from the Yalkut, and said that maybe it applies right now. Also, a venerable Torah sage quoted this passage and told a packed crowd in Brooklyn, NY:

"Maybe the time for the Geulah* has arrived. We must prepare for the Geulah.”

* Geulah = the Redemption

Art by Baruch Nachshon

From Matzav.com
Rav Moshe Wolfson spoke Tuesday night (2/14/12) in a rare mid-week assembly for his kehillah, Emunas Yisroel in Boro Park, asking bluntly why there is no greater uproar within the community over the potential for war over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“Why are we quiet? Where is the awakening? Why is everyone so apathetic?” asked Rav Wolfson, who is also mashgiach of Yeshivah Torah Vodaath. “Everyone is busy with narishkeiten, we don’t hear the alarm? We don’t know that we have to pierce the heavens for rachamim from the Ribbono Shel Olam?”

Rav Wolfson told the packed beis medrash of nearly 1,000 people that the potential for a war encompassing Iran, Israel, Europe and the United States over the next few weeks is a real one, and Klal Yisrael must prepare itself spiritually.

“Everyone knows that there is currently a growing danger from Iran - and it is a great error for whoever does not know this,” Rav Wolfson said. “Why should a Yid not know what is happening to [other] Yidden? Everyone must know what is happening in regard to other Yidden. Everyone must know what is happening in Eretz Yisrael.”

Rav Wolfson began talking this past Shabbos about the dangers from the Iran crisis, when he stopped and said that it was not a subject to discuss on Shabbos. He said he would continue the topic during the week. The last time he called for a special asifah during the week to discuss current events was in 1991, prior to the Gulf War.

Rav Wolfson started his address, which was carried live by Kol Halashon, with the famous Rambam, who writes that it is a mitzvah to daven during troubled times. “If you don’t daven,” the Rambam says, “then it is a cruelty, since it will get worse.”

“The leader in Iran says clearly - he repeated it this week - that he wants to kill, Rachmana litzlan, every Yid in the world, just like Haman,” Rav Wolfson said. “If he will be successful, chas v’shalom, in getting the nuclear bomb - and experts says he will have it by the summer - it will be a great danger for Klal Yisrael.”

“A good part of the world’s Jews live in Israel, and the government there says that they will attack Iran first, before they could get the nuclear bomb. If that happens, everyone knows that that will cause a world war.”

Rav Wolfson said that he heard that Harav Yosef Rosenblum, Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivah Shaarei Yosher, spoke recently about the crisis with Iran - he said that during this eis tzarah, “Hashem is judging us on every klal and on every prat.”

Rav Wolfson quoted the Pesikta, who says that the year when Moshiach will come all nations will battle each other. The spark that will set it off, according to the Medrash, will be when the king of Paras - which is modern-day Iran - will threaten “Arabia,” presumably Saudi Arabia, such as is happening today.

Arabia will go for an alliance with Edom - the culture of Edom is today’s Western world, Europe and United States. Paras will then destroy the world and the Yidden will be thrown into turmoil. Hashem will then say: “Do not fear, the time for your Geulah has come.”

Rav Wolfson noted how eerily similar this Medrash is to what is occurring today.

“We don’t have to be in a panic,” Rav Wolfson said, “Hashem will perform miracles for us. But efsher takeh. Maybe the time for the Geulah has arrived. We must prepare for the Geulah.”