A Righteous Cause

by Rabbi Chaim Richman, Temple Mount Institute

But on this past Shabbat, as we read of the Golden Calf, we also read in the haftorah, the prophetic reading that corresponds to the Torah reading, of the prophet Elijah's great showdown with Ahab and the false prophets of the Baal (Kings I:18). Take a moment to read this entire chapter, for on this Shabbat, as Sharon's perfidy and betrayal resounded all around us, the voice of prophecy was heard clearly, as if uttered today:

'And it was when Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, 'Is that you, the troubler of Israel?''

'He said to him, Not I have troubled Israel, rather you and your father's house have, by your forsaking the commandments of G-d...'

The time is soon coming when a showdown will take place in Israel, just as that which took place between Elijah and the prophets of the Baal. For a decision will have to be made, once and for all, as to in which direction we shall go forward as a nation.

'Ahab sent among all the Children of Israel and he gathered the prophets to Mount Carmel. Elijah approached all the people and said, 'how long will you dance between two opinions? If HaShem is the G-d, go after Him! And if the Baal, go after it!''

'But the people did not answer him at all...'

The time of the showdown for Israel is fast approaching, for we cannot much longer dance between two opinions. 'And it was at noontime, Elijah ridiculed them, and said, 'Cry out in a loud voice, for he is a god! Perhaps he is conversing, or pursuing, or relieving himself; perhaps he is asleep and he will awaken!'"

Let us fearlessly and openly ridicule those who worship false gods, those who would cause Israel to stray away from G-d. The enemy within is in his last death throes. "... today it will become known that You are G-d in Israel...the entire people fell on their faces and exclaimed, "Hashem - He is the G-d! Hashem - He is the G-d!"

For you, too, gentle reader, the time of decision is approaching. What for some may be the catastrophe of our era, for others may be no more than a yawn; time to change the channel. How many will say, "It's a shame about those people - let's see what else is on." Where do you stand? Sitting in your home, in comfort and security, surrounded by your loved ones, ask yourselves: What would you do, if they came for you, to remove you from your home, the home you built with your own hands, the home your children were born in? To destroy your house of worship, your livelihood, the community you have built up? What are you prepared to do now, to prevent this desecration? What will you do if they come for you, and you are alone, because, like the old story says, "when they came for the settlers, I didn't say anything, because I wasn't a settler...and when they finally came for me, there was no one left to say anything."

There are those that you can influence. The time is now. If you have cast your lot with Israel, the time has come for you to fulfill your oath. Pray about it. Think: what would G-d have you do? And then go and do it.

Keyword(s): Temple Mount Institute

The Death of the Living Dead

by Rabbi Chaim Richman:

The Talmud teaches: "The righteous are called 'alive,' even in death. But the wicked are dead even while they are alive." This unique perspective lends a new understanding to events of the past week. Yasser Arafat, the godfather of terrorism, is dead. The death announcement that was read in the chamber of the Palestinian Council proclaimed: "His pure spirit was returned to its source."
The Chairman was clinically dead for the past week. Reports of his brain-death, and speculation as to his subsequent burial, began on the eve of the Sabbath, a time when the Jewish people were preoccupied with the theme of burial. For on this Sabbath we read the Torah portion of Genesis 23, which tells of Abraham's acquisition of the Machpelah Cave, and the burial of Sarah.

But as no official diagnosis of his ailment was ever released, and scant reports conflicted with rumors, speculation abounded as to whether he was dead or alive. For a man who caused the sure and certain death of thousands, here is a great irony: there was never any question as to the death of his victims. But the Talmudic statement gives us pause…was he ever really alive? For what does it mean, to be called 'alive?'

It was reported on Thursday morning that "his heart stopped beating at 4:30." The statement struck the reader as odd. He had a heart? It beat?

Yasser Arafat was the father of terrorism as we know it. He is the man who created the modern-day institutions of airplane hijacking, car bombs, and hostage-taking; the man who ordered the massacre of school children and Olympic athletes; the man who turned the wide-scale murder of Jews throughout the world into a legitimate form of political expression. As Knesset member Aryeh Eldad observed today, "the only difference between Yasser Arafat and Adolf Hitler is in the technology and numbers involved."

As Arafat lay dying, one BBC correspondent was even moved to tears as she described how the "frail old man" was airlifted out of his compound. Yesterday, once his demise was officially declared, many countries released statements of sympathy and condolences for the arch terrorist who personally looted millions – by some counts, billions – of dollars in aid that was intended for his suffering people. France's Jacques Chirac, of course, was "deeply pained by the passing of his friend," the man who called for Jihad against the Jewish people, Jihad to liberate Jerusalem. China said he was "an outstanding leader." Russia pointed out that he "dedicated his life to a just cause."

Alas, gone is the outstanding, just man, the pure spirit who masterminded and bankrolled countless terrorist attacks for 40 years; from the Munich Olympics Massacre, Maalot School Massacre, and Costal Road Massacre of the seventies, to hundreds of other acts of terrorism, leaving thousands dead, all the way up to the shootings and suicide bombings of our day, including a 16 year old boy who blew himself up in Tel Aviv's Carmel Market during Arafat's final days. The Vatican was moved to declare that he was "a leader of great charisma."

Make no mistake about this Nobel peace prize winner. World leaders laud and lionize him, applaud his courage and mourn his passing, but we say "this is the day that the L-rd has made; let us be glad, and rejoice in it!" (Psalms 118:24).

"Alas, the bitterness of death approaches." Those words were spoken by Agag, King of Amalek, brought in chains before the prophet Samuel. The time had come for Samuel to correct the mistake of King Saul's misplaced mercy. "Just as your sword made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women!" And Samuel severed Agag before the L-rd in Gilgal.

Samuel the prophet, realizing how wonderful Agag's death would be, did not wait or deliberate. He slashed Agag to ribbons, "before the L-rd."

The death of Yasser Arafat is wonderful; the world is a cleaner, brighter, more beautiful place. "Oh violated daughter of Babylon, praiseworthy is he who repays you according to the manner that you treated us. Praiseworthy is he who will clutch and dash your infants against the rock" (Psalms 137:9). The passing of this evil fiend makes it easier to breathe on this planet. The Palestinians plan on burying him in a stone coffin, thus we need not worry that he will become part of our earth. The physical remnant of his monstrosity will remain outside the cycle of life.

Unfortunately, Israel has always emphasized that the entire problem is Arafat. Now that the witch is dead, enormous pressure will be brought upon Israel to begin new negotiations with the fresh leadership, for doubtless a "window of opportunity" has now been opened. But this, too, is a myth, for the problem was not Arafat, the problem is the Palestinians. The palpable hatred and violence that emanates from little children, that is seen and felt daily, is not something that was ordered by Arafat. It is something that comes naturally, and it is fueled by Islam.

Arafat's wife Suha, who had not been seen by her husband's side for three years, but who suddenly remembered her wifely duties, had final authority over his official death, according to French law. But she had every reason to postpone pulling the plug – that is, until she straightened out the finances and made sure of her money. Here are only several facts from a long and detailed list: In the year 2000, the World Monetary Fund reported that 897.6 million dollars disappeared from the Palestinian Treasury and benefited companies that Arafat controlled. Arafat returned only 119 million. This was in addition to 900 million dollars that was transferred from the Palestinian Authority into private bank accounts between 1995-2000. And according to a CBS report, Arafat transferred more than 300 million dollars to a private bank account in Switzerland.

According to plan, the murderer will be buried inside his compound in Ramallah, within a stone coffin, not a wooden one. Palestinian officials say this is because the Ramallah burial place will be only temporary; they plan on re-interring him at a later date on the Temple Mount. Apparently, at some point towards the last phase of the wicked Arafat's state of death commonly referred to as his "life," he expressed a desire to be buried on the Temple Mount. "The final resting place will be the Al Aqsa Mosque," said Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat. "One of these days, we will have a Palestinian state, and President Arafat will be laid to rest in Jerusalem."

For years, the Egyptian-born terrorist toiled to market the myth he created – that he was born in Jerusalem. But Arafat's Jerusalem connection is no less a lie than the legend of Moslem connection with the site of the Holy Temple, a fable that the Palestinians take great pains to propagate and manipulate for political gains: it was reported today that ten bags of earth – holy soil – were removed from the Temple Mount, to be placed in Arafat's burial place. This is a further fulfillment of the verse, "…Destroy! Destroy! to its very foundation" (Psalms 137:7).

In a rare show of sanity, Israel has refused the request to bury Arafat on the Temple Mount. Justice Minister Tommy Lapid, a man who doesn’t usually have anything reasonable to say, put it succinctly: "Jerusalem is a place where Jewish kings are buried, not Arab terrorists."

Washington took exception to Lapid's statement, and objected. But would America consider burying Bin Laden in Arlington National Cemetery?

Regarding Israel's refusal to bury Arafat on the Temple Mount, the Mufti last week stated that "Jerusalem is a Moslem city, and the Wakf decides what happens on the Temple Mount, according to Islamic law. What we do is none of Israel's business."

But the great irony of this lie is that it was foretold by the sages of Israel. For although G-d bequeathed the entire Land of Israel to the Jewish people, our sages observe that there are three distinct locations which the other nations can never claim do not belong to Israel. Regarding these locations, the Bible actually testifies that a financial transaction took place, and these locations were purchased. They are the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, and the Tomb of Joseph in Nablus.

And the greatest irony is that the Temple Mount is the place that the G-d of Israel chose to manifest Himself to all humanity…the Mountain of the L-rd. The Holy Temple brings about the spiritual reconciliation of G-d and man and the revelation of the Divine Presence. When the Shechina dwells within the Temple, the face of mankind shines.

The monster we called Arafat tarnished that face and blackened it like no one else in recent times. Our sages teach that the altar of the Holy Temple atones for man; Arafat erected the pagan altar of Molech and brought the cult of death into high fashion. He dedicated his life to the destruction of G-d's people. By doing so he declared war on the G-d of Israel Himself. The blood he shed cries out to that same G-d from the soil of Israel and from all over the world: "So may all your enemies be destroyed, O L-rd! And let those who love Him be like the powerfully rising sun" (Judges 5:31).

Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Chaim Richman
www.templeinstitute.org

Between Destruction and Redemption

by Rabbi Chaim Richman, Sent with Blessings of Consolation and Rebuilding:

This month, the Hebrew month of Menachem Av, literally means "a consoling father." It is a microcosm of the cycle of destruction and redemption. This past week, we observed the Fast of Tisha B'Av, (the 9th day of Av) marking 1,934 years since the destruction of the Holy Temple. Tisha B'Av is the crescendo that brings to a close Israel's traditional three-week mourning period for the Holy Temple.

We move in constant cycles, from destruction to redemption. Two days before the date of the Temple's destruction, we held hands, over 100,000 strong, and made a tikkun (rectification) for the sin of the spies, the "original sin" of the first Tisha B'Av that singled out that night as a date of recurring tragedy (Numbers 14:1). The spies expressed their disdain for the Land of Israel, and broke the nation's confidence in G-d's promises. But the participants in the human chain that spanned from Gush Katif to Jerusalem declared that even if our leaders disdain the Land, this chain, the people of Israel themselves, will have to be dismantled before they will allow their G-d-given land to be abandoned.

Just days ago we mourned the destruction of the Holy Temple; yet the day of mourning was followed by the 'Sabbath of Consolation': "Comfort, comfort My people, says your G-d" (Isaiah 40). We have already moved from destruction to imminent redemption. This Monday is Tu B'Av, the fifteenth day of Av, one of the happiest days of the year, a day of unique spiritual power. Our despair gives way to dance; we celebrate the potential for the Temple's immediate restoration. For with G-d anything is possible, anytime and anywhere, and He does not go back on His word. As we read in yesterday's Torah portion: “For what nation is there so great, that has G-d so near to them, as the L-rd our G-d is in all things that we call upon Him for?” (Deut. 4:7)

Let us assert, in the ears of all those who have a heart to hear, that this season of devastation and the Divine promise of repair is an excellent time to remind the nations of the world of another preeminent Divine promise: that all blessing reaches them exclusively through Israel. Granted, this contention is not popular in today's world. But it was none other than G-d who made this statement, politically incorrect in the extreme, to our father Abraham, and much to the world's chagrin, He never took it back:

"And I will make of you a great nation; I will bless you, and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed through you" (Gen. 12).

There is no mystery or ambiguity in those words. Thus, a thought for the world to consider: Tisha B'Av is the ninth day of the eleventh month of the Hebrew calendar; the original 9/11. The exact measure which the nations mete out to Israel is the measure that they will receive in either Divine blessing or Divine retribution. Thus, for example, insensitivity to Israel's ongoing scourge of devilish Muslim murderers, and the thousands of Jewish lives that have been claimed or maimed, has now brought the inhuman monster of Islamic terrorists to the doorstep of virtually every nation. Yet when striking against Jews in Israel – including a pregnant woman and her four children – the media still refers to them as "militants" or as an organization's "military wing" or even "freedom fighters."

Recently, the World Court condemned Israel for building a protective wall around itself as a violation of international law. But the same court neither condemns nor even bothers to mention the reason for this wall: the continuing calculated murder of Jews by Palestinians. The court thus upheld that the practice of murdering Jews – even a toddler on his way to kindergarten – is not a violation of international law. This could explain the irresistible fact that many of the nations whose members comprise this court have themselves, throughout the years, excelled at murdering Jews.

The wisest of all men already observed that beneath the sun "in the place of justice there is wickedness" (Ecc. 3:16). Sadly, pathetically, Israel's own Supreme Court also eminently serves the interest of our enemies, and makes it clear that according to its perverse, self-destructive world view, Jewish interests in the Jewish state – in this case, Jewish lives – are secondary to Palestinian economic concerns. Despite the military's warnings, the Court mandated that the fence's route be changed to accommodate the economic needs of our children's murderers. So much for democracy and its august bodies.

Everyone knows that this wall, which the world condemns Israel for building and which costs millions of dollars, will not stop terror. What a waste. How much better it would be, wonderful in fact, if instead of building a ghetto wall down the middle of our Biblical homeland – and instead of evacuating parts of our own country and dismantling Jewish homes – Israel would simply be free to deal with her enemies the way America and other nations deal with theirs. But Israel's enemies are not on the other side of the world; they are right outside our homes, making ready to break down our doors at this very moment.

G-d's own un-democratic instructions to Israel for dealing with her enemies are currently being ignored:

"When the L-rd your G-d will bring you to the Land to which you come to posses it, and He will thrust away many nations from before you...

"You will devour all the people that the L-rd your G-d will deliver to you; your eye shall not pity them...

"Perhaps you will say in your heart, 'These nations are more numerous than I; how will I be able to drive them out?' Do not fear them...The L-rd your G-d will deliver them before you, and will confound them with great confusion, until their destruction...you shall cause their name to perish from under the heaven; no man will stand up against you until you have destroyed them." (Deut. 7)

On Tisha B'Av, we read this verse in the book of Lamentations (5:18): "For Mount Zion which lies desolate; foxes prowl over it." These same foxes that prowl over the spot of the Holies of Holies are poised to tear our children asunder. What should our response be? What would yours be?

Everyone wants Israel to give peace a chance, to give up, to make sacrifices for peace. To try anything for peace. Indeed, just as all blessing comes to the world through Israel, so too it is on account of the Divine service in the Holy Temple that peace and prosperity abound, both for Israel and all the nations of the world.

Thus let us consider an alternative peace plan, far more Biblically-based then the current security fence, or the Oslo accords, or the Road Map. Our sages taught that "if only the nations of the world had known how much they needed the Holy Temple, they would have surrounded it with armed fortresses in order to protect it" (Bamidbar Rabbah 1,3). How ironic that the nations condemn Israel, instead of aiding, urging, begging her to rebuild the Temple! How ironic that Israel, desperately lacking that peace, rather than build the Holy Temple, instead builds a wall around herself, a wall that costs millions, which will not provide protection, which the nations condemn. If Israel rebuilds the Temple, the nations themselves will be so grateful that Divine blessing has finally returned in full force to our world, they would build a protective wall around Israel.

But that will not be necessary. "And I will be for it – the word of the L-rd – a wall of fire all around, and for glory will I be in its midst" (Zechariah 2:9).

"Call out, saying, Thus said the L-rd, Master of Legions: I have become zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion, a great zeal; and I am wrathful, a great wrath against the complacent nations, who, when I became slightly wrathful, augmented the evil. Therefore, thus said the L-rd: I have returned to Jerusalem in mercy; My Temple will be rebuilt in it – the word of the L-rd, master of Legions – and a plumb line will be stretched out over Jerusalem. Call out again, saying, Thus said the L-rd, Master of Legions: My cities will once again spread out with bounty; the L-rd will have mercy on Zion once again and He will choose Jerusalem once again." (Zechariah 1)

Rabbi Chaim Richman
http://www.templeinstitute.org/