October 7, 2023 – A Day That We Will Not Forget – War Is Declared

We seem to have forgotten Amalek.

Amalek has not forgotten us.

According to The Bible—Amalek was the grandson of Esau. Esau and Jacob were brothers—sons of Isaac. Jacob became the inheritor of the Blessings of G-d that came to him through his grandfather Abraham and then through his father Isaac.

There is an entire story that details why Jacob received the blessings of both his G-d and the inheritance of his father Isaac. This seems to have been the divine plan even though Esau was the first-born technically. There is a story about the birth that describes why there is some discussion regarding the birth order of these twins. Suffice it to say that Esau was ANGRY that Jacob ended up with both these blessings. I can only imagine that his anger became the psychological “banner” for his family throughout ALL their generations.

Wikipedia on Amalek says:

“According to the Bible [Genesis 36:12], Amalek was the son of Eliphaz (himself the son of Esau [ancestor of the Edomites]) and Eliphaz's concubine Timna. Timna was a Horite and sister of Lotan.[4] Amalek is described as the "chief of Amalek" among the "chiefs of the sons of Esau",[5] from which it is surmised that he ruled a clan or territory named after him.

The Amalekites (/ˈæməlɛkaɪts/[6]) were considered to be Amalek's descendants through the genealogy of Esau.[7]”

History of the Jewish People has been replete with references to peoples who seemed to have a peculiar dispensation toward the destruction of the Jewish People. Groups identified with Amalek include the Romans, Nazis, Stalinists, ISIS, Palestinians and bellicose Iranian leaders such as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. There is also a record in the Book of Esther of the Bible that Haman is a descendant of Amalek.

Again Wikipedia on Haman:

Haman (Hebrew: הָמָן Hāmān; also known as Haman the Agagite) is the main antagonist in the Book of Esther, who according to the Hebrew Bible was an official in the court of the Persian empire under King Ahasuerus, commonly identified as Xerxes I (died 465 BCE) but traditionally equated with Artaxerxes I or Artaxerxes II.[1] As his epithet Agagite indicates, Haman was a descendant of Agag, the king of the Amalekites.

More metaphorically, to some Hasidic rabbis (particularly the Baal Shem Tov), Amalek represents atheism or the rejection of God.

The following bits and pieces are taken from the article: A Lesson From Timna the Concubine by Chana Weisberg;

“If you were to stare evil in the eye, what would you see? What would be its character traits?”

Amalek is “the archetypal enemy of the Jewish people. He is the father of the nation that first waged war against the Jewish people upon their miraculous emergence from their Egyptian bondage.”

“Traditionally, any mortal threat to the Jewish people is referred to as an Amalekite design.”

What are the origins of such a character?

In Genesis 36:12, we are introduced to Amalek's parents. "Timna was a concubine to Elifaz, son of Esau, and she bore Amalek to Elifaz." Some verses later, we are told more about Timna's background. "And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam and Lotan's sister was Timna."

We learn that Lotan, Timna's brother is an important person. "These are the chiefs who came of the Horites: the chief Lotan, the chief Shobal, the child Ziboen, etc." Therefore, Elifaz's concubine, Timna, was no common woman, but was the product of a royal family of the Horites.

The Talmud (Sanhedrin 99b) explains that Timna sought to convert to Judaism, but Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob refused to accept her. The Talmud concludes that Timna became a concubine to Elifaz instead, insisting, "It is better to be a maidservant to this nation than to be a princess in any other nation." Elifaz is of the lineage of Abraham, Isaac, and Esau and being from the seed of Abraham and Sara was considered extremely prestigious. Timna perceived the great respect and honor given to the descedants of Abraham/Sarah and Isaac/Rebecca. She was willing to sacrifice her personal dignity in order to be attached to such a prominent and respected people—even if her connection would be a servile one.

Timna's actions seem so righteous, so altruistic and pure. Why then would she be mother to a child who represents the antithesis of goodness and who is the very paradigm of evil?

Avraham was the ultimate seeker of converts; in fact, that was his stated goal. If our patriarchs rejected Timna, they may have perceived that her motives were insincere. Timna was not searching for G-d, but rather for her personal aggrandizement. Had Timna truly wanted to join a nation serving G-d and following His ways, she would not have "settled" for joining the family of Esau, whose path was the antithesis of the Abrahamitic teachings. Timna desired, rather, to be part of a powerful but not necessarily G-dly or spiritual people.

“She was willing to temporarily sacrifice her personal status, but only for what she perceived as a greater, more fulfilling gratification. Her actions were not about G-d, but entirely about herself. Our perceptive patriarchs realized this and therefore rejected her from joining the nation of G-d.”

“In the era of Redemption, evil will be eradicated and all mankind will be perfected. Only one nation—Amalek—will not be a part of this vision. Their hand is on G-d's throne, G-d shall be at war with Amalek for all generations.

Amalek represents an attitude that is beyond repair because it is the opposite of G-dliness. It is entirely egocentric, even while dressed up as an act of devotion to G-d. These are the seeds that can grow into the most extreme acts of evil fathomable.” This happened on October 7, 2023 when Hamas insurgents swarmed into Israel on a mission of absolute destruction.

The greatest distortion of goodness is an act of malevolence adorned in the religious garb of purity. Selfishness acted out in the noble name of G-d.

Hamas is Amalek. The Jews may not remember Amalek, but Amalek has not forgotten the Jews.

In Parshat Vayishlach

Jacob returns to the Holy Land after a 20-year stay in Charan, and sends angel-emissaries to Esau in hope of a reconciliation, but his messengers report that his brother is on the warpath with 400 armed men. Jacob prepares for war, prays, and sends Esau a large gift (consisting of hundreds of heads of livestock) to appease him.

The Jews of Israel have been trying for decades to accommodate the desires of Amalek (who call themselves Palestinians, though there has NEVER BEEN A NATION OF PALESTINE). This will never prove acceptable to those who say they are Palestinian. This will also never be acceptable to the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. G-d has given this land to the Children of Israel (a name Jacob earned as he returned to the Holy Land before meeting with Esau). Three thousand years ago G-d told Abraham that his children would make their home in this land (Israel). The Children of Israel can not give this land away to anyoine for any reason. This Land of Israel belongs to G-d, and G-d has decreed that B’nei Israel will live in this Holy Land.

Only the Spirit of Amalek would have it otherwise. Do not be Amalek. Esau has been at war with “Israel” [Jacob] all the years of his life, and he passed the hatred on to all his succeeding generations. Do not be Amalek. Believe in G-d. Believe it is true when the Bible says G-d gave this Holy Land to the Children of Israel. Believe in G-d, and not in propaganda. Do not be Amalek.

Israel At War – What About The Hostages? [Part 01]

 There is too little information about the 240+ people kidnapped and taken to Gaza by Hamas.

In other circumstances, the Red Cross is allowed to see prisoners of war in order to assess their health and welfare. Maybe that isn't happening with these Israelis because they are not "prisoners of war".

So then—what are they? What is their Label? They are mothers & fathers, grandparents, children, workers, young people, and people from other countries who came for a concert party. They are people who run dairies. They are people who work farms. They are just people. Or, are they a bargaining chip?

If they are to be used for bargaining, then get to the bargaining table already. Let's get on with this process. If the taking of these people is not about bargaining, then what the heck is the purpose for taking them?

There must be a purpose. Isn't that logical?

Is any of this logical? Is the world poised for another World War? Does this take focus away from Russia, or China? Even if that were the case, why take hostages without making known why they were taken. Is it a secret? Will we ever know?

I really don't want to turn this post into a treatise on "kidnapping". However, there is a large set of categories that inform what these people who were taken mean to their captors, and therefore, why they were taken.

The encyclopedic explanation of the etymology of the word "kidnap" gave me some insight. A history and categorization of kidnapping indicates several forms of "taking another person" mostly without permission. Something called Tiger kidnapping describes taking someone to make someone else do something against their will or inclination. If our people were taken to make us do something we otherwise would not do, then what is that something they want us to do?

Does Hamas want us to retaliate against their violence so the entire world will come to the Middle East and all the rage of the radical Islamists will find their ultimate targets?

I really don't want them to be that smart.

Just release our people. Now!

By The Rivers Of Babylon

ASSIMILATION: A CONSEQUENCE OF EXILE

This week we begin the Hebrew month of Tammuz, a month named for a Babylonian deity.  It is an example of how assimilated we became when we were exiled to Babylon in the 6^th century BCE.

 Psalm 137 tells of our profound sadness and longing for Jerusalem at that time.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3QxT-w3WMo

[The information above this message is borrowed from another website – name withheld purposely]

[The opinion below this message is entirely my own]

Assimilation is the bane of Judaism. Many of our people did not leave Egypt. Many of our people did not return from Babylon. Many of our people stayed in Persia. Many of our people have been absorbed into the people surrounding them for the last 2000 years of Roman exile.

We know of Crypto-Jews, the Khmelnytsky pogroms, the Donmeh converts, Conversos, Marranos. This link displays a concise history of how the Crusades effected the Jews in Eastern Europe and Palestine. There is a Wikipedia article on the subject of History of Jewish conversion to Christianity and another article that lists notable Jews converted to Islam. All this information details how the Jewish people have been forced into conversions and assimilation. But why? 

Because we were chosen. To be a "Chosen People" means we were chosen (not that we did the chosing), for better and for worse. We have sure seen some of the worse part.

We have been conquered and exiled several times. We have been slaves. We have been spread through all the countries of the world. We have been hated, slaughtered, stripped of our humanity, experimented on, had everything stolen from us, incinerated, attacked at home and abroad, and still, we exist.

All of the empires that came against us in ancient days no longer exist. We still exist. We have been chosen. It was expected that we would be absorbed into each culture. We could have been. Some were (see the above links) assimilated and lost to our tribes. The unexpected result is that we remain. We are chosen.

We will not sing the songs of Zion in joy when we are not in Zion. We will not give up our land. We will not sit idle while the blood of our people is delivered to the adversary. We are chosen.

We are not chosen because we are wonderful. We are not chosen because we are special. We are chosen for a purpose. It was not our purpose when we were chosen. We are not good at acting upon this purpose. We do not always understand the reasoning behind this purpose. It is unexplained. We may be unworthy. But, we have been chosen.

We have been told by the words of the Bible that we are to be holy because our G-d is holy. We have not been holy. We have been told by the words of the Bible that we are to be a nation of priests. We are not a nation of priests. We do not seem to be holding up our end of this purpose, yet, we are chosen, and we exist.

Maybe we will exist until we have fulfilled the purpose for which we have been chosen. Maybe we will exist after we have fulfilled our purpose as well. 

Being chosen is a gift. Being chosen is also a burden. It is the yoke of heaven that should be as light as a feather but sometimes feels as heavy as a millstone around the neck. 

Many people are upset that we were chosen. Don't be so upset—it isn't an easy existence—being chosen.

Do know this—we are home. Israel is home. Here we will sing the Songs of Zion. We will not leave G-d's land behind again unless it is G-d's will. We are home. We will learn to be holy. It is expected of us. It is part of our purpose.

We shall also bring light to a world in darkness. We need to become holy individuals to become a holy people to return holiness openly to the land of Israel. It is not our job to give away to others the land that was given by G-d to our ancestors.

Let us all come to the Holy Land and learn to be holy people. Let us no longer sit by the Rivers of Babylon and refuse to sing the Songs of Zion to our oppressors.

Come Home.

The United States Social Security System wants to share this information about email scams

Stop Social Security- related scams

National Slam the Scam Day March 9, 2023

On National Slam the Scam Day and throughout the year, we give you the tools to recognize Social Security-related scams and stop scammers from stealing your money and personal information. Share scam information with your loved ones. Slam the Scam!

Recognize the four basic signs of a scam:

1. Scammers pretend to be from a familiar organization or agency, like the Social Security Administration. They may email attachments with official-looking logos, seals, signatures, or pictures of employee credentials.
2. Scammers mention a problem or a prize. They may say your Social Security number was involved in a crime or ask for personal information to process a benefit increase.
3. Scammers pressure you to act immediately. They may threaten you with arrest or legal action.
4. Scammers tell you to pay using a gift card, prepaid debit card, cryptocurrency, wire or money transfer, or by mailing cash. They may also tell you to transfer your money to a “safe” account.

Ignore scammers and report criminal behavior. Report Social Security-related scams to the SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG).

Report a Scam

Visit www.ssa.gov/scam for more information and follow SSA OIG on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest scam tactics. Repost #SlamtheScam information on social media to keep your friends and family safe.