Israel has been at war, one way or another, for the last 64 years since its rebirth as a modern nation in 1948. No other country in the history of mankind has been under so much pressure from the international community for all the wrong reasons if any reason at all. Yet no other country in the entire world has ever survived this level of aggression from its neighbors. Something is going on in Israel that is far greater than the undeniable military might of IDF.
Recently, I wrote about the change of power in Egypt and the quiet Muslim Brotherhood takeover. The world watched, hopeful and encouraged as a man came to replace Hosni Mubarak in a "free election". The army was still in place and very much involved in controlling every move the government made. I did not know how long this would last, but I felt it would be short-lived.
Well, it didn't last very long! Newly elected Egyptian Mohamed Morsi seized the day when he saw a unique opportunity to force the current armed forces generals to step aside. Read More
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It is with some trepidation today that I approach the pulpit because I feel the gravity of the subject, and I also feel the inadequacy that comes from knowing that no words of mine can even begin to encapsulate the magnitude of evil which is embodied by the Holocaust.
Parashat Sh’mini: Leviticus 9:1–11:47
Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his fire pan, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered before the Lord alien fire, which He had not enjoined upon them. And fire came forth from the Lord and consumed them; thus they died at the instance of the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord meant when He said:
Through those near to Me I show Myself holy,
And gain glory before all the people.”
And Aaron was silent. (Lev. 10:1–3, njps)