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https://theisraelbible.com/when-god-confuses-us/?

When God Confuses Us
Oct 26, 2023

A Jewish man prays while looking up to heaven (Shutterstock.com)

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים אֲבָל֙ שָׂרָ֣ה אִשְׁתְּךָ֗ יֹלֶ֤דֶת לְךָ֙ בֵּ֔ן וְקָרָ֥אתָ אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ יִצְחָ֑ק וַהֲקִמֹתִ֨י אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֥י אִתּ֛וֹ לִבְרִ֥ית עוֹלָ֖ם לְזַרְע֥וֹ אַחֲרָֽיו׃

Hashem said, “Nevertheless, Sara your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall name him Yitzchak; and I will maintain My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring to come.

vai-YO-mer e-lo-HEEM a-VALL sa-RAH ish-TE-kha yo-LE-det l'-KHA ben v'-ka-RA-ta et sh'-MO yitz-KHAK va-ha-ki-MO-tee et b'-ree-TEE it-TO l'-v'-REET o-LAM l'-zar-O a-kha-RAV

Genesis 17:19
Has God ever thrown you a curveball? Of course, He has. There’s an old Yiddish expression, “Man plans, and God laughs.” We wake up every morning with an idea of what the future looks like. We make plans, as we must, only to be blindsided by God. The surprises God throws at us are sometimes blessings, sometimes they challenge us to the core. And more often than not, we don’t even know what’s a blessing and what is a challenge until years later. But one thing is certain, God does not reveal His plans.

Now you may be thinking, “What do you mean? Of course God reveals His plans. It’s called prophecy.” Yes, the Bible is filled with the word of God telling us what the future holds. But here’s the thing. We still don’t know. God still surprises us.

We might be inclined to think that the reason we are so confused by God is due to our own limited understanding. Maybe we’re jumping to foolish conclusions. But this is incorrect. To quote Isaiah,

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

This passage does not merely mean that God knows things He hasn’t told us yet. It means that there is a fundamental human inability to understand God’s thoughts and plans. And this isn’t a bug in the system. It’s a feature.

In fact, the inability to understand God’s plans for our lives is a central theme in the life of the father of monotheistic faith, Abraham himself.

In the very first story about Abraham, we read that Abraham was sent by God to “the land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1) But almost immediately after arriving in the land, God brought a famine that forced Abraham to leave. And in one of the last stories of Abraham’s life, the binding of his son Isaac, God first tells Abraham to sacrifice his son, only to later retract that command and insist that Abraham not harm Isaac at all. There are numerous examples of God sending Abraham mixed messages.

Perhaps the best example of this phenomenon is found in the birth of Ishmael.

When God first spoke to Abraham and told him to go to the promised land, God told Abraham that He would make Abraham a great nation. Despite this promise, Abraham and Sarah remained childless for many years. After Abraham’s victory in a local battle to save his nephew Lot, God promised Abraham “great reward” (Genesis 15:1). Abraham responded by pointing out that God had yet to give him children to inherit any reward God would give him. God responded by promising Abraham that he would have a child “from your own body” (Genesis 15:4).

Immediately after this prophetic promise, lo and behold, Sarah approached Abraham with the suggestion that Abraham take Sarah’s maidservant Hagar to have a child with her. After all, Sarah was in her late seventies and was far past child-bearing age. It’s not difficult to imagine what was going through Abraham’s mind. Think about it. God promises Abraham that he will have a child from his own body. Sarah then offers Hagar as a mother for Abraham’s child. There is no doubt that Abraham thought that the child born to him from Hagar was going to be the one who would inherit him and be the bearer of Abraham’s covenant with God. Abraham was certain that this child, Ishmael, would be the one to become a great nation as numerous as the stars of heaven (Genesis 15:5). He was certain that Ishmael’s descendants would go into slavery in Egypt and be redeemed “with great wealth” (Genesis 15:13-14).

We know that Abraham thought that Ishmael was the son who would carry forward the covenant because Abraham said as much. Twelve years after the birth of Ishmael, God again spoke to Abraham. In this vision, God told Abraham that Sarah, at 90 years old, would give birth to a son who would become the bearer of the covenant. How did Abraham react?

And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” – Genesis 17:18

In other words, Abraham did not see the necessity for the miracle of Sarah bearing a child in her old age. After all, Abraham already had a son named Ishmael. To disabuse Abraham of his misunderstanding God immediately and emphatically responded.

Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.” – Genesis 17:19

Imagine Abraham’s surprise. For 12 years he was absolutely certain that Ishmael was the son who would inherit the covenant. After all, wasn’t Ishmael born as a direct result of Abraham’s prayer to God asking for a child? How could there be any other way to understand what happened? But Abraham was wrong.

Abraham was the very first person to profess faith in God. And yet, even Abraham was kept in the dark as to God’s plans for his life. But Abraham’s faith was not shaken by this confusion. He continued to trust God and to serve Him with perfect obedience.

Too often, when people are confused about God’s plan, when things don’t work out as expected, their faith is shaken. My friends, we must all take a lesson from the life of Abraham. God doesn’t want us to know His plans. He wants us to believe in Him.



Rabbi Pesach Wolicki is Executive Director of the Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation. He is cohost of the weekly Shoulder to Shoulder podcast.

Related Names and Places:
Related Bible basics: Abraham

Relate Bible Verses: Chapter 12, Chapter 15, Chapter 17, Chapter 55

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These are trying times. As we await our soldiers’ inevitable invasion of Gaza, we are all on edge. We know that the current lull in rocket attacks is merely the calm before the storm.
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[WATCH] Joe Biden is ALARMED By So-Called "Settler Violence"; Here is What Really Happened
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House votes 412-10 to support Israel, condemn Hamas and Iran
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CAMERA Reveals Anti-Israel Bias at ‘CNN,’ ‘The Guardian,’ ‘USA Today’
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Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Thus said the lord of Hosts: The fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth month, the fast of the seventh month, and the fast of the tenth month shall become occasions for joy and gladness, happy festivals for the House of Yehuda; but you must love honesty and integrity.
כֹּה־אָמַר יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת צוֹם הָרְבִיעִי וְצוֹם הַחֲמִישִׁי וְצוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וְצוֹם הָעֲשִׂירִי יִהְיֶה לְבֵית־יְהוּדָה לְשָׂשׂוֹן וּלְשִׂמְחָה וּלְמֹעֲדִים טוֹבִים וְהָאֱמֶת וְהַשָּׁלוֹם אֱהָבוּ
Zechariah 8:19 (The Israel Bible, p. 1452)
koh a-MAR a-do-NAI tz'-va-OT TZOM ha-r'-vee-EE v'-TZOM ha-kha-mee-SHEE v'-TZOM ha-sh'-vee-EE v'-TZOM ha-a-see-REE yih-YEH l'-VAYT y'-hu-DAH l'-sa-SON ul-sim-KHAH ul-mo-a-DEEM to-VEEM v'-ha-e-MET v'-ha-sha-LOM e-HA-vu
Stand for Truth or Perpetuate Lies
By Shira Schechter
On October 24, 2023, a statement by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent ripples of disbelief and shock throughout Israel and its global community of supporters. Commenting on the murderous attack by Hamas against innocent Israelis on October 7, Guterres suggested that the attacks by Hamas were a response to the Palestinians' "56 years of suffocating occupation."

The audacity of his words can't be understated. What Guterres essentially communicated was that Israel is somehow accountable for Hamas's actions. Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gila Erdan voiced on social media that the Secretary-General was "completely disconnected from the reality in our region." According to Erdan, by stating that "the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum," Guterres showed "an understanding for terrorism and murder."

Guterres’ viewpoint, sadly, is not confined to the Secretary-General. Many people seem to be disconnected from reality and ensnared in a web of distortion. They buy into the lies of Hamas and other Israel-haters, claiming that Israel is the oppressor and that the Jews are the ones who are evil. Their narratives propagate fallacies, and they garner support by spreading their lies.

Judaism, on the other hand, is a religion that treasures truth.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/stand-for-truth-or-perpetuate-lies/?

https://www.israel365news.com/377716/un-secretary-general-blames-israel-for-hamas-attack-jews-respond/?
UN Secretary-General Blames Israel For Hamas Attack; Jews Respond
A ruler who listens to lies, All his ministers will be wicked.
PROVERBS 29:12THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
ANTISEMITISM
OCTOBER 25, 2023
3 MIN READ
Home » UN Secretary-General Blames Israel For Hamas Attack; Jews Respond
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen blasted U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday for remarks in which he appeared to justify Hamas’s Oct. 7 murder rampage in the western Negev.

“It is important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum,” Guterres had told the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday, claiming that “the Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation.

“They have seen their land steadily devoured by settlements and plagued by violence; their economy stifled; their people displaced; and their homes demolished. Their hopes for a political solution to their plight have been vanishing,” added the Portuguese diplomat.

Hamas terrorists killed at least 1,400 Israelis and wounded more than 4,500 in a massive offensive launched from Gaza on Oct. 7, which included the firing of thousands of rockets at Israel and the infiltration of the Jewish state by terrorist forces.

“Mr. Secretary-General, in what world do you live?” Cohen rebutted as he addressed the Security Council. “Definitely, this is not our world.”

Cohen canceled a private meeting with Guterres, he subsequently announced on X (formerly Twitter). “I will not meet the U.N. secretary-general. After Oct. 7, there is no place for a balanced approach. Hamas must be erased from the world,” wrote the top diplomat.

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan also denounced the secretary-general’s speech, noting in a post on X that Guterres spoke as Hamas bombarded central Israel with rockets.

“The shocking speech by the U.N. secretary-general at the Security Council meeting … proved conclusively, beyond any doubt, that the secretary-general is completely disconnected from the reality in our region and that he views the massacre committed by Nazi Hamas terrorists in a distorted and immoral manner,” said Erdan.

“His statement that ‘the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum,’ expressed an understanding for terrorism and murder. It’s really unfathomable. It’s truly sad that the head of an organization that arose after the Holocaust holds such horrible views,” the ambassador said.

Erdan urged Guterres to resign “immediately,” while sharing a post that called on the Jewish state to “rethink its relationship” with the international organization.


‘Legitimizing and justifying the gruesome massacre’

Israel’s Channel 12 reported on Tuesday night that Erdan refused a visa request from U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths, who had planned to visit the region.

Erdan will recommend additional retaliatory measures to be taken by Jerusalem, the report claimed, including the deportation of U.N. officials in the country.

Israeli Minister-without-Portfolio Benny Gantz said, “terror apologists cannot speak on behalf of the world.”

“Days when the U.N. secretary-general supports terrorism are dark days for the world. Absolutely nothing can justify the slaughter of innocent civilians. Now is the time to stand on the right side of history, or be judged by it,” Gantz wrote on X.

“By saying this, he [Guterres] is wrongfully legitimizing and justifying the gruesome massacre of men, women, children and babies, and the savage kidnapping of over 222 innocent babies, children and civilians who are still being held by Hamas,” charged Danny Danon, a member of the Israeli Knesset and former Israeli ambassador to the U.N.

“The U.N. secretary-general should be ashamed of himself. I call upon him to retract his abhorrent statement or step down now and resign from his position,” Danon said, according to a statement from his office.

“You have lost any last shred of dignity and moral clarity. You have brought disgrace upon the institution you’re leading,” said Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana in an X post.

Ohana called on Guterres to “apologize to the Israeli victims and families who experienced a modern Holocaust” on Oct. 7. “They are still being targeted by the Hamas killing machine as you spew your vile antisemitic speech,” added the lawmaker.


The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) expressed outrage on Tuesday over the morally reprehensible comments made by Guterres in which he seemed to blame Israel for the Oct. 7 Hamas pogrom in which more than 1,400 Israelis were brutally murdered and around 200 others taken into captivity in Gaza.

‘It is unbelievable and unconscionable how out of touch with reality the UN secretary-general is,” said CAM CEO Sacha Roytman Dratwa. “Over the last couple of weeks, our generation has had a chance to reflect and better understand how the Holocaust was allowed to happen by the silence and complicity of global decision-makers and opinion-shapers in the face of Nazi-style atrocities.”

“The fact that the so-called leader of the most prominent international institution has engaged in victim-blaming shows how he clearly has different rules for Jews among all the other peoples of the world,” Roytman Dratwa added. “He sees the blood of masses of Jews spilled and can only think of the political ramifications.”

“Would he have said that the Holocaust didn’t happen in a vacuum, which is a repugnant but sadly increasing global sentiment?” Roytman Dratwa asked. “These comments are just a thin whisper away and hold the Jewish people uniquely responsible for their own massacres, rapes, beheadings, and kidnappings.”

CAM joins the growing number of people and institutions calling for Gutteres’ immediate resignation as UN secretary-general.



Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

I will bless those who bless you And curse him that curses you; And all the families of the earth Shall bless themselves by you."
וַאֲבָרֲכָה מְבָרְכֶיךָ וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ אָאֹר וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ כֹּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה
Genesis 12:3 (The Israel Bible, p. 30)
va-a-va-r'-KHA m'-VA-r'-KHE-kha um-ka-lel-KHA a-OR v'-niv-r'-KHU v'-KHA KOL mish-p'-KHOT ha-a-da-MAH
Genesis 12:3 and the Moral Imperative to Speak Out
By Shira Schechter
The Holocaust stands as one of the darkest chapters in human history, when the world's silence allowed the genocide of millions to persist. After the horrors of World War II, the phrase "Never Again" became a global rallying cry, a commitment to not repeat the mistakes of the past. The question is: Have we learned from history? Will the world again remain silent when evil rears its ugly head? Will our Christian friends stand with us when our enemies once again try to rid the world of the Jews?

"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act." These words are attributed to Dietrich Bonhoeffer (February 1906 – 9 April 1945), a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident. During World War II, Bonhoeffer gained renown for his unwavering resistance to the Nazi regime, expressing strong opposition to Adolf Hitler's euthanasia program and the genocidal persecution of the Jews.

Bonhoeffer’s words are as relevant now, in the wake of the heinous attack committed by Hamas against Israel on October 7th, as they ever were. The atrocities committed by Hamas have shocked the world. It was the worst attack against the Jews since the Holocaust. Will the world again remain silent in the face of this evil? Will you be complicit in the atrocities committed against the Jews by not condemning them and speaking out against Hamas?
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/genesis-123-and-the-moral-imperative-to-speak-out/?

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

We have heard, O Hashem, our fathers have told us the deeds You performed in their time, in days of old.
אֱלֹהִים בְּאָזְנֵינוּ שָׁמַעְנוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָנוּ פֹּעַל פָּעַלְתָּ בִימֵיהֶם בִּימֵי קֶדֶם
Psalms 44:2 (The Israel Bible, p. 1522)
e-lo-HEEM b'-oz-NAY-nu sha-MA-nu a-vo-TAY-nu si-p'-ru LA-nu PO-al pa-AL-ta vee-may-HEM BEE-may KE-dem
The Warrior Legacy of King David
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz
King David started life as a shepherd but he came from a military family. I imagine his brothers coming home on leave, sitting at the dinner table, telling war stories to their red-headed little brother. Of course, David’s rise to the throne began on the battlefield, facing off against the giant Goliath.

Military tales were surely a part of Israelite culture, ranging from the Battle of Five Kings in the Valley of Siddim in the time of Abraham, to the conquest of the Promised Land under Joshua, to the struggle against the Philistines in David’s time. One theme that must have run throughout all of these tales was the role of God in each of these battles.

This tradition continues in modern times, as the stunning victories in the 1948 War of Independence and the 1967 Six-Day War are described as miracles. I once spoke with an old Israeli veteran who had fought in the Golan as a tanker in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, when 160 outclassed Israeli tanks faced over 1,000 Syrian tanks. He told me how he was young and terrified but carried out his tasks until he was numb with fatigue, and then kept fighting on. A secular Jew, he described how he stumbled out of his tank in the morning and looked out over the Valley of Tears.

“We were firing blindly all night,” he said. “But what I saw in the morning was a vast field of tanks that had been crushed by the hand of God. There was no way we did that.”

Today, Israelis reassure each other that they have a holy Iron Dome in heaven protecting them from Hamas rockets which is even more effective than the mechanical version. And miracle stories from the current war against Hamas are abundant.

David's oral tradition that kept alive the military exploits of previous generations, and God's hand in them all, was his message in Psalm 44.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE https://theisraelbible.com/the-warrior-legacy-of-king-david/?

For the first time in 2,000 years: Priests blessing soldiers going to war
Before you join battle, the Kohen shall come forward and address the troops.
DEUTERONOMY 20:3(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
https://www.israel365news.com/377693/for-the-first-time-in-2000-years-priests-blessing-soldiers-going-to-war/?


Three generations wiped out by Hamas in Kibbutz Be’eri
The righteous man perishes, And no one considers; Pious men are taken away, And no one gives thought That because of evil The righteous was taken away.
ISAIAH57:1(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
https://www.israel365news.com/377671/three-generations-wiped-out-by-hamas-in-kibbutz-beeri/?


Miracle Near Gaza When Israeli Soldier’s “BROKEN” Rifle Saves Hundreds of People
https://www.israel365news.com/video/miracle-near-gaza-when-israeli-soldiers-broken-rifle-saves-hundreds-of-people/?


Herzog: Hamas had plans to deploy chemical weapons
Israeli troops found instructions for dispersing cyanide gas on the body of one of the Oct. 7 terrorists, according to the Israeli president.
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State Department Says Ceasefire Would Benefit Hamas, Not Stop Rockets
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London Police Shut Down Billboards
Showing Children Held by Hamas
“Who are the police protecting here,” the Campaign Against Antisemitism wrote. “Those standing up to terrorists, or those who sympathize with them?”British police last week forced a Jewish nonprofit to turn off digital screens on vans that were displaying images of Israeli children kidnapped by Hamas.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism was told that the projected images were “breaching the peace.”
They encircle me with words of hate; they attack me without cause.
PSALMS
109:3(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
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Never Again is Now! (But it’s too late for American Jews)
by Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz
When I learned about the Holocaust as a teen, I thought to myself that my generation was so much smarter than the silly European Jews who waited too long, ignoring the clear signs. As I watch what is going on in the US, I realize that I am seeing history repeat itself.
READ MORE https://www.israel365news.com/377664/never-again-is-now-but-its-too-late-for-american-jews/?

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

I will bless those who bless you And curse him that curses you; And all the families of the earth Shall bless themselves by you.”
וַאֲבָרֲכָה מְבָרְכֶיךָ וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ אָאֹר וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ כֹּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה
Genesis 12:3 (The Israel Bible, p. 30)
va-a-va-r'-KHA m'-VA-r'-KHE-kha um-ka-lel-KHA a-OR v'-niv-r'-KHU v'-KHA KOL mish-p'-KHOT ha-a-da-MAH
Three Things You Must Know About Genesis 12:3 in Light of the War in Israel
This week’s Torah portion, known as Lech Lecha (Genesis 12:1-17:27) contains Genesis 12:3, the foundational Scripture for Christian Zionism.

So many non-Jews read this wonderful verse and conclude that it’s time to start caring more for Israel. This verse is often quoted and many know it by heart, so here are three things to know about Genesis 12:3.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/three-things-you-must-know-about-genesis-123-in-light-of-the-war-in-israel/?

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

O nations, acclaim His people! For He'll avenge the blood of His servants, Wreak vengeance on His foes, And cleanse the land of His people.
הַרְנִינוּ גוֹיִם עַמּוֹ כִּי דַם־עֲבָדָיו יִקּוֹם וְנָקָם יָשִׁיב לְצָרָיו וְכִפֶּר אַדְמָתוֹ עַמּוֹ
Deuteronomy 32:43 (The Israel Bible)
har-NEE-nu go-YIM a-MO, KEE dam a-va-DAV yi-KOM, v'-na-KAM ya-SHEEV l'-tza-RAV, v'-khi-PER ad-ma-TO a-MO
Fight Like David: Thoughts on War
Terror attacks are, unfortunately, not something new to Israel. We experienced way too many just this year alone, even before the heinous attack by Hamas terrorists on October 7th. Every time an attack rocks our nation, we feel angry, we feel devastated and we wonder how much more we are going to have to endure.

Countering devastation with comfort and hatred with love, the Jewish community springs into action. After the murder of Lucy, Rina and Maia Dee hy”d, for example, people from all over Israel sent food, candy and love; people from all over the world reached out to the family and committed themselves to more Bible study and more faithful Torah observance. This is Israel’s true “cycle of violence”; evil Arab terrorists murder our children, and kindhearted Jews respond by showering the victims with love.

But what usually happens is that when the shiva (seven-day mourning period) ends, the government officials and Jewish celebrities who visited the bereaved family turn their attention elsewhere. The rest of us go back to our carpools and commutes, praying to never experience this cycle again – but knowing in our hearts that we almost certainly will. We tell ourselves that we must soldier on; what else can we do until the Messiah arrives?

Actually, there is much we can do, if only we have the will. Something we must do if we want to break this cycle, and now is the time for action!
MORE https://theisraelbible.com/fight-like-david-thoughts-on-war/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Fight+Like+David%3A+Thoughts+on+War&utm_campaign=I365+-+Daily+-+October+22%2C+2023

https://theisraelbible.com/the-flood-the-tower-and-the-battle-for-western-civilization/?
The Flood, the Tower, and the Battle for Western Civilization
Oct 19, 2023

A rainstorm in Israel (Shutterstock.com)

וַתִּשָּׁחֵ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ לִפְנֵ֣י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַתִּמָּלֵ֥א הָאָ֖רֶץ חָמָֽס׃

The earth became corrupt before Hashem; the earth was filled with lawlessness.

va-ti-sha-KHET ha-A-retz lif-NEI ha-e-lo-HEEM va-ti-ma-LEI ha-A-retz cha-MAS

Genesis 6:11
This week’s Torah portion, the portion of Noach (Genesis 6:9-11:32), tells the stories of two failed societies. In each of these two stories, we encounter a breakdown in values that leads to dissolution and destruction.

First, the generation of the flood.

The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted its way upon the earth. – Genesis 6:11-12

The Hebrew word translated here as “violence” is hamas, a word whose precise meaning is vague. It appears to be a general term for lawlessness and cruelty. According to the Jewish sages, hamas refers to rampant theft, violence, rape, and general disregard for law and order. The final phrase in the verses cited above, “for all flesh had corrupted its way upon the earth,” is understood to refer to a complete breakdown of sexual boundaries between the sexes and even between animals and humans.

The second society we encounter is that of the Tower of Babel. Here, the nature of their wrongdoing is unclear. All the Bible tells us is that everyone got together to build a tower. Why did God disperse them? The text is so vague that the Talmud was led to ask “What did they do?” (Sanhedrin 109a). The Talmud proceeds with numerous suggestions as to what sinister motives they possessed. Most of the opinions point to some motive of rebellion against God.

I’d like to suggest that there are two phrases in this story that reveal what was really going on. First, is the opening verse of the story.

And the entire earth was one language and single ideas. – Genesis 11:1

“One language and single ideas.” A few verses later, we see that it was this characteristic of that society that concerned God and led to His response.

And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they have started to do, and now nothing which they plan to do will be impossible for them.” – Genesis 11:6

The second phrase that reveals the true nature of this society is found in their declaration of their plans for the tower.

And they said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of all the earth.” – Genesis 11:4

Why did they want to build a city and a tower? Was it to better care for the needy? Was it in order to use the tower in the service of God?

“Let us make a name for ourselves.” The generation of the tower of Babel sought to glorify not God, but themselves.

Let’s return for a moment to the first problem with this society. Why was God so concerned about the fact that everyone had “the same language”? Why is this a problem? And why did God say that “nothing which they plan to do will be impossible for them”?

I’d like to suggest that the leaders of the tower of Babel society were the first totalitarian dictators. Totalitarians have always needed to remove any possibility of dissent and difference of opinion as a precondition to hanging on to power. Control of information by criminalizing dissent is critical to wielding total control over society. Alongside this control of information, dictators also typically engage in projects designed to aggrandize themselves in the eyes of the public such that people are led to believe that they cannot survive independent of these all-powerful governing authorities. By “making a name for ourselves” and suppressing dissent, dictators throughout history have made it nearly impossible for those who live under them to disperse and seek their own freedom and independence.

The generation of the flood and the generation of the Tower of Babel represent two ways that a healthy and free society can lose its way. Unfortunately, in today’s Western world, we see indications that both these templates of societal decay are afoot.

Rampant crime, looting, and the breakdown of sexual boundaries are endemic problems sweeping the US and European nations alike. At the same time, we see heavy-handed censorship that demands uniformity of speech and thought coupled with Communist-style promotion of the all-powerful state as the only path to survival. Tragically, this has become the direction of the current US government in cooperation with media and corporate elites who seek to limit personal freedom and undermine traditional Biblical values. The flood and the tower are both alive and well in 2023.

In the words of Ecclesiastes,

What has been, it is what will be, And what has been done, it is what will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun. – Ecclesiastes 1:9

The Biblical narratives of the generation of the flood and the Tower of Babel are, tragically, as relevant today as they ever were. These stories are followed by the introduction of Abraham, whom we will meet in next week’s Torah portion. Then, as now, the answer to the dangers of the flood and the tower is the path of Abraham, the father of faith, who had the courage to call out the name of God in a hostile world.

This message is even more urgent and relevant as Israel is at war with Hamas, the embodiment of evil and chaos in our modern time. In Western society, the left-wing activists and public figures who cheered on BLM as they burned U.S cities and sought to cancel anyone whose speech deviated from their official narrative, have embraced the values of the flood and the tower generations. And it should be no surprise to people of Biblical faith that it is this same political camp that is now cheering for Hamas and calling for the end of the State of Israel. The enemies of God and Israel, are the enemies of civilization.

We must continue to fight for the eternal values of law, order, personal freedom, and humility before God. And may God grant Israel a decisive victory over our enemies.

Rabbi Pesach Wolicki is Executive Director of the Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation. He is co-host of the weekly Shoulder to Shoulder podcast.

Related Names and Places:
Relate Bible Verses: Chapter 6, Chapter 11

Hayovel Launches Operation Ittai: Defending Israel’s Heartland
Just like Ittai, a foreigner who stood with King David in the Bible (2 Samuel 15), Hayovel is calling on Christians from all over the world to stand with Israel.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/377474/hayovel-launches-operation-ittai-defending-israels-heartland/?
Israeli Girl With Autism Thought Kidnapped by Hamas Found Dead

Noya's plight went viral after J.K. Rowling joined the effort to bring her home.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/377501/israeli-girl-with-autism-thought-kidnapped-by-hamas-found-dead/?

US Shoots Down Missiles Launched From Yemen, Perhaps Towards Israel
“Any response, should one occur, will come at a time and a manner of our choosing,” said a U.S. Department of Defense spokesman.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/377492/us-shoots-down-missiles-launched-from-yemen-perhaps-towards-israel/?
International Criticism, Israeli Gratitude for US Veto at UN Security Council

“The council needs to get this right,” said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/377496/international-criticism-israeli-gratitude-for-us-veto-at-un-security-council/?


Lighting the Path to Peace in Troubled Times
On January 1, 2000, the New York Times published a special Millennium Edition. This unique issue featured three distinctive front pages, each offering a fascinating glimpse into a different millennium.
READ MORE »https://theisraelbible.com/lighting-the-path-to-peace-in-troubled-times/?

For in six days Hashem made heaven and earth and sea, and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; therefore Hashem blessed the Shabbat day and hallowed it.
כִּי שֵׁשֶׁת־יָמִים עָשָׂה יְהֹוָה אֶת־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת־הָאָרֶץ אֶת־הַיָּם וְאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־בָּם וַיָּנַח בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי עַל־כֵּן בֵּרַךְ יְהֹוָה אֶת־יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת וַיְקַדְּשֵׁהוּ
Exodus 20:11 (The Israel Bible)
KEE shay-shet ya-MEEM a-SAH a-do-NAI et ha-sha-MA-yim v'-et ha-A-retz et ha-YAM v'-et kol a-sher BAM va-YA-nakh ba-YOM ha-sh'-vee-EE al-KAYN bay-RAKH a-do-NAI et YOM ha-sha-BAT va-y'-ka-d'-SHAY-hu
Lighting the Path to Peace in Troubled Times
By Shira Schechter
On January 1, 2000, the New York Times published a special Millennium Edition. This unique issue featured three distinctive front pages, each offering a fascinating glimpse into a different millennium. The first front page transported readers back to January 1, 1900. The second front page captured the actual news of the day, January 1, 2000, a momentous occasion in its own right. However, what truly captured the imagination was the third front page, a projection into the envisioned future of January 1, 2100. Amidst all the thought-provoking articles and imaginative storytelling on this page, such as whether or not robots should be allowed to vote, there was one remarkable detail that stood out—the Sabbath candle-lighting time in New York for January 1, 2100. When asked about this unusual inclusion, the New York Times' production manager, an Irish Catholic, offered an insightful response that resonates with the enduring nature of Jewish tradition. He stated, "We don’t know what will happen in the year 2100. It is impossible to predict the future. But of one thing you can be certain—that in the year 2100 Jewish women will be lighting Shabbat candles."

Every Friday evening, as the sun is about to set, Jewish women all over the world light candles. Why do we light candles as we welcome the Sabbath? What significance does this age-old tradition hold?
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/lighting-the-path-to-peace-in-troubled-times/?

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Let us deal shrewdly with them, so that they may not increase; otherwise in the event of war they may join our enemies in fighting against us and rise from the ground.”
הָבָה נִתְחַכְּמָה לוֹ פֶּן־יִרְבֶּה וְהָיָה כִּי־תִקְרֶאנָה מִלְחָמָה וְנוֹסַף גַּם־הוּא עַל־שֹׂנְאֵינוּ וְנִלְחַם־בָּנוּ וְעָלָה מִן־הָאָרֶץ
Exodus 1:10 (The Israel Bible)
HA-vah nit-kha-k'-MAH LO pen yir-BEH v'-ha-YAH kee tik-RE-nah mil-kha-MAH v'-no-SAF gam HU al so-n'-AY-nu v'-nil-kahm BA-nu v'-a-LAH min ha-A-retz
From Exodus to Today: The Enduring Struggle Against Antisemitism
Antisemitism has been around since biblical times, and it continues to rear its ugly head today as the brutal attack by Hamas terrorists on October 7th demonstrated very clearly.

The earliest recorded instance of such hatred can be found in the first chapter of the Book of Exodus. In the biblical narrative, Pharaoh becomes increasingly alarmed that the Children of Israel, transitioning from a clan to a nation, would pose a potential threat to Egypt. As a result, he devises a devious plan to subjugate and undermine them.

Since the time of Pharaoh and the slavery in Egypt, Jews have suffered throughout the generations as a result of antisemitism. But today, antisemitism has taken on a new form. As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks wrote, "The hate that begins with Jews never ends with Jews." Antisemitism doesn't only threaten the Jewish people, but today threatens anyone of faith who believes in the Bible and the God of Israel. We must, therefore, stand together to fight against evil and antisemitism.

read more https://theisraelbible.com/antisemitism-then-and-now/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=From+Exodus+to+Today%3A+The+Enduring+Struggle+Against+Antisemitism&utm_campaign=I365+-+Daily+-+October+19%2C+2023

https://www.israel365news.com/377419/israel365-calls-to-cancel-annual-event-for-hamas-linked-organization/?%3AnSiqhEWCjTAmXJTZkfcJCmWZW%2FB6yS%2Fw
Israel365 calls to cancel annual event for Hamas-linked organization
"All your enemies have opened their mouths wide against you; they hissed and gnashed their teeth [and] said, "We have engulfed [her]! Indeed, this is the day we longed for; we have found it; we have seen it!"
LAMENTATIONS 2:20(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz
ANTISEMITISM
OCTOBER 19, 2023
7 MIN READ
Home » Israel365 calls to cancel annual event for Hamas-linked organization

Sign at the building entrance to CAIR headquarters. Credit: DCStockPhotography/Shutterstock.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is having its annual banquet on Saturday at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Arlington, Virgina. The banquet was planned well in advance but the war between Israel and Hamas has changed the tone of the gathering.


“Traditionally, our annual banquet is a time of celebration,” the invitation now reads. “However this year, our annual community gathering is now centered in solidarity with Palestine. While we reflect on the progress we’ve made, we must take steps to address what clearly still needs to be done to promote justice for all people, including Palestinians in Gaza facing the threat of ethnic cleansing.

At the event, CAIR will boast of its recent work “mobilizing Americans of all faiths to send over 44,000 messages to members of Congress to demand a ceasefire and the pursuit of credible peace negotiations to end the occupation,” according to a press release from the group.

Cair has taken a strong anti-Israel stance, urging US lawmakers to address the “Israeli government’s apartheid policies”and other “root causes of Mideast violence”, essentially blaming Israel for the murder of over 1,300 Israelis by Hamas. They called on President Joe Biden to condemn Israel, but not the Hamas attackers. “You must condemn the occupier, not the occupied,” a statement by the organization read.
This sort of convoluted reasoning characterizes the relationship between CAIR and the Biden administration. In May, the White House had CAIR take part in its “National Strategy to Combat Anti-Semitism”.

It is especially troubling as CAIR was linked to Hamas in a federal terrorism case in 2007. Again, in 2010, CAIR was linked to Hamas funding and was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in a federal investigation into U.S. funding streams to the terrorist organization.
MORE https://www.israel365news.com/377419/israel365-calls-to-cancel-annual-event-for-hamas-linked-organization/?

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

For the LORD listens to the needy,
and does not spurn His captives.
כִּי־שֹׁמֵעַ אֶל־אֶבְיוֹנִים יְהֹוָה וְאֶת־אֲסִירָיו לֹא בָזָה
Psalms 69:34 (The Israel Bible, p. 1552)
kee sho-MAY-a el ev-yo-NEEM a-do-NAI v'-et a-see-RAV LO va-ZAH
Bring Our Hostages Home
Psalm 69, a poignant psalm written by King David, is one of the many psalms recited by those facing adversity. Its themes of suffering, persecution, and the fervent plea for divine intervention resonate profoundly with the ongoing crisis in Israel. In the midst of the violence and turmoil, the words of this psalm find an echo in our hearts as we turn to King David's age-old verses for expression of our feelings, guidance and hope.

The release of Israel's hostages is a matter of life and death and needs our urgent attention. As we learn and recite Psalm 69 today, have in mind the over 150 innocent men, women and children who are being held captive by cruel and evil Hamas terrorists at this very moment.

In addition to praying for the immediate release of the hostages, download the poster with their pictures at the bottom of this email. Hang it in your synagogues and churches and share it with everyone you can. Take pictures of yourself with the poster and flood social media with calls for their release. Let's do whatever we can to help! May they be returned home quickly and safely.

MORE https://theisraelbible.com/bring-our-hostages-home/?

https://theisraelbible.com/faith-in-the-midst-of-crisis-psalm-44/?

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

All this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten You, or been false to Your covenant.
כׇּל־זֹ֣את בָּ֭אַתְנוּ וְלֹ֣א שְׁכַחֲנ֑וּךָ וְלֹֽא־שִׁ֝קַּ֗רְנוּ בִּבְרִיתֶֽךָ
Psalms 44:18 (The Israel Bible)
kol ZOT BAT-nu v'-LO sh'-kha-kha-NU-kha v'-LO shi-KAR-nu biv-ree-TE-kha
Faith in the Midst of Crisis: Psalm 44
Psalm 44 provides a poignant reflection on the relationship between God and His people, particularly during times of adversity. When contextualized within the contemporary conflict between Israel and Hamas, this Psalm emerges as a profound lamentation, mirroring the sentiments of a nation beleaguered by hostility yet anchored in faith.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/faith-in-the-midst-of-crisis-psalm-44/?

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Send forth Your light and Your truth; they will lead me; they will bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling-place,
שְׁלַח־אוֹרְךָ וַאֲמִתְּךָ הֵמָּה יַנְחוּנִי יְבִיאוּנִי אֶל־הַר־קׇדְשְׁךָ וְאֶל־מִשְׁכְּנוֹתֶיךָ
Psalms 43:3 (The Israel Bible, p. 1522)
sh'-lakh o-r'-KHA va-a-mi-t'-KHA HAY-mah yan-KHU-nee y'-vee-U-nee el har kod-sh'-KHA v'-el mish-k'-no-TE-kha
Continue to Pray for Israel
By Shira Schechter
The crisis in Israel is far from over. As the IDF gears up for a potential ground operation in Gaza following the tragic loss of numerous lives—including men, women, children, and the elderly—there's an added threat with Hezbollah indicating possible involvement from the North.

Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and in your prayers.

Here are some select Psalms to recite for the safety and security of Israel's soldiers, civilians, hostages and wounded citizens.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/continue-to-pray-for-israel/?

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

or kingship is the LORD’s
and He rules the nations
כִּי לַיהֹוָה הַמְּלוּכָה וּמֹשֵׁל בַּגּוֹיִם
Psalm 22:29 (The Israel Bible, p. 1497)
KEE la-do-NAI ha-m'-lu-KHAH u-mo-SHAYL ba-go-YIM
Israel is Still in Urgent Need of Your Prayers
By Shira Schechter
The recent heinous act of terror by Hamas against the people of Israel has left us all devastated and deeply shaken. As more details emerge, the chilling extent of the atrocities that took place on that fateful Saturday morning becomes even more harrowing. Innocent families were mercilessly slaughtered in their own homes; women faced unspeakable violence; children were treated with inhumane cruelty, and countless civilians are now being held captive. The scale of the horrors, some too vile to even articulate, is overwhelming. With the death toll now surpassing 1,200 and rising, the looming prospect of an IDF ground invasion of Gaza fills us with anxiety.

Please join us in fervent prayer for the safety of the brave Israeli soldiers who stand guard on the frontlines and for the protection of the civilians of Israel who live under the constant threat of rocket fire. Ask the Lord to bestow healing upon the wounded, comfort the traumatized and swiftly and safely bring home all those held against their will.

May peace prevail, and may the cycle of violence and hatred come to an end.

Here are some select Psalms to recite:
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE https://theisraelbible.com/israel-is-still-in-urgent-need-of-your-prayers/?

Escalation in Gaza Conflict Results in Casualties and Hostages

Sirens reverberated across various Israeli cities as rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip caused injuries to five people in southern and central Israel.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/376679/escalation-in-gaza-conflict-results-in-casualties-and-hostages/?

U.S. Sends Military Aid to Israel Amid Conflict with Hamas, White House Confirms
In response to the escalating violence between Israel and Hamas, the U.S. has initiated deliveries of essential military equipment and munitions to Israel, according to an announcement by the White House on Monday.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/376685/democratic-socialists-of-america-criticized-for-backing-nyc-rally-supporting-palestinian-actions/?

IDF Issues Evacuation Directives for Gazans Amidst Conflict with Hamas

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released videos in Arabic on social media platforms advising Gaza residents on evacuation procedures as the military retaliates against Hamas's recent actions.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/376688/idf-issues-evacuation-directives-for-gazans-amidst-conflict-with-hamas/?

Israeli Hostages Need Your Prayers

In a shocking and cruel attack staged by Hamas against Israel on Saturday, more than 150 Israeli citizens of all ages, from the young to the elderly, were taken hostage.
READ MORE » https://theisraelbible.com/israeli-hostages-need-your-prayers/?
[WATCH] Laurie Cardoza Moore Calling for Prayers and Support for Israel

On the 50th Anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, a new day of horror has befallen Jewish State.
WATCH » https://www.israel365news.com/video/laurie-cardoza-moore-calling-for-prayers-and-support-for-israel/?#
United Hatzalah Calls for Public Assistance amid Crisis in Gaza Periphery

With 1,500 of its 7,000 members presently stationed in the affected area, the organization has provided treatment to over 1,000 individuals, both civilians and soldiers.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/video/laurie-cardoza-moore-calling-for-prayers-and-support-for-israel/?

Duty and Solidarity: An Exodus from NYC to the Frontlines

As Israel begins to respond to the horrific attack, IDF reservists in the US begin to return to Israel.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/video/laurie-cardoza-moore-calling-for-prayers-and-support-for-israel/?

Faith Amidst Fear: A Simchat Torah Like No Other
by Zahava Schwartz
This normally joyous holiday turned into a haunting reminder of the fragility of life and the undying spirit of our faith.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/376694/faith-amidst-fear-a-simchat-torah-like-no-other/?
aish.com
What You Need to Know about Israel’s War Against Hamas
LATEST
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ISRAEL’S WAR AGAINST HAMAS
ELLIOT MATHIAS
Answers to commonly asked questions.

The startling attack on Israel that was launched this past Saturday morning was the deadliest attack in the history of modern Israel.

As of Tuesday October 10th, Israeli media is reporting approximately 900 Israelis were murdered and over 2,500 hospitalized1. Additionally, more than 150 Israelis were captured and taken back into Gaza, where they are being held hostage. The vast majority of Israeli casualties were civilians, including women, children, and the elderly.2

Who was behind the attack? Who is Hamas?
Aish
Mourning Two Israeli Heroes
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The attack was carried out by Hamas, the ruling entity of the Gaza Strip, which sits on Israeli’s western border. The Gaza Strip also borders Egypt.

Hamas won Palestinian parliamentary elections in 2006 – the last time elections were held. In 2007 they fought a bloody campaign against their Palestinian rival Fatah, taking full control of the Gaza Strip.

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Hamas was founded in 19873 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, sharing its Islamist ideology. The founding charter of Hamas calls for Israel’s destruction and a main priority of Hamas is to pursue an armed struggle against Israel. Hamas has violently opposed peace negotiations such as the Oslo peace accords negotiated by Israel and the PLO in the mid-1990s.


Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, Canada, Egypt and Japan4.

Why did Hamas attack Israel?
Hamas has stated that they carried out its attack “in response to atrocities that Palestinians have faced over decades”5. Since 2006, Hamas has initiated at least 8 military conflicts with Israel, but none as large scale and lethal as what occurred this week.

Many believe that recent developments in the Middle East sparked Hamas’ attack. This includes recent discussions between Israel and Saudi Arabia to normalize relations which Hamas is vehemently opposed to. A major Arab country like Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel would diametrically oppose Hamas’s stated goal to destroy Israel. By attacking Israel and provoking Israel to take military action to defend herself, Arab countries like Saudi Arabia are put in a difficult political situation and make normalizing relations with Israel remote.

Additionally, Hamas is backed by Iran, which has openly called for the destruction of Israel. News outlets have reported that Iran helped organize the attack and gave the green light to Hamas at a meeting in Beirut the week before.6

How could Hamas pull this off?
Many in Israel and around the world are wondering how Hamas could pull off such a devastating attack on Israel. Under constant attacks since its inception by her enemies, Israel has proven to have a strong defensive military, fueled by innovative, cutting-edge technology.

Israel has said that a full investigation will take place after security is restored and those injured are cared for. But immediate reports clearly indicate Israel was not aware of or prepared for this attack.

Once reason is the timing of the attack which took place on the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. Reports have said that many Israeli soldiers were allowed to go home to celebrate with their families, which is common for holidays since all Israelis are drafted into the army.

Another potential reason is that Hamas did not act alone. As stated, Iran has supported Hamas financially and militarily and most likely was involved in the planning and carrying out of the attack. The potential for cyber warfare which may have inhibited Israel’s surveillance is a possibility.

Finally, the attack shows that Hamas is not a harmless group of thugs throwing rocks and using crude weapons. They are a fully weaponized militia with rocket launchers, automatic weapons, and missiles. They have the capability to inflict deadly attacks on Israeli military, police, and civilians.

What has been Israel’s response?
Israel’s initial response was to repel the Hamas terrorists who had entered Israel. After three days of intense fighting, Israel has regained control of the south and is now turning their attention to attacking Hamas in Gaza. Israel has announced that they expect a long and protracted war as they aim to destroy Hamas’s military capabilities.

Israel has attacked a large number of Hamas strongholds in Gaza and they have mobilized over 300,000 reserve soldiers7. A ground invasion of Gaza seems imminent.

Complicating Israel’s response are the Israeli civilian hostages being held in Gaza. While the Israeli government is determined to defeat Hamas and provide protection for its millions of citizens, it can’t abandon these captured Israeli citizens.

Additionally, Israel has had to respond to incursions into Israeli territory on its northern border with Lebanon. Hezbollah has launched rockets and artillery into Israel "in solidarity" with the Palestinian people.8

Why are some people blaming Israel?
While the overwhelming majority of international leaders have publicly condemned Hamas and vocalized support for Israel, some media outlets and other organizations have blamed Israel for the attack.9

They have claimed that Hamas’ attack was a response to Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians. Specifically, they point to Israel’s refusal to grant the Palestinians their independence, as well as Israel’s military actions against the Palestinians.

First, it must be stated unequivocally that no political grievance EVER justifies the murder and kidnapping of innocent people. Children and elderly civilians have been targeted and are amongst the casualties. This is plain evil and even Amnesty International which is known for being critical of Israel has stated that Hamas has committed war crimes.

Second, history has shown that Israel has made many attempts to live peacefully with the Palestinians, offering them independence multiple times including through the Oslo Accords in 199310 and the Camp David Summit in 2000. Additionally, Israel unilaterally removed any military or civilian presence from Gaza in 2005, giving the Palestinians full control of that territory for the past 18 years.

Finally, while unfortunately many innocent Palestinians have lost their lives or been injured during the many battles between Hamas and Israel, that has never been Israel’s intention. A fundamental difference between Hamas and Israel is that Hamas intentionally targets innocent Israeli civilians and puts Palestinian civilians in harm’s way. Israel defends its own civilians and targets Hamas terrorists who hide behind Palestinian civilians, which has caused inadvertent casualties.

What are international leaders saying?
There has been widespread international condemnation of Hamas' attack on Israel. Statements include:11

US President Joe Biden:

"The United States unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza," Biden said. "I made clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people," Biden wrote. "The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation."

French President Emmanuel Macron:
"France stands in solidarity with Israel and the Israelis, committed to their security and their right to defend themselves."
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak:
"The scenes we have seen in Israel over the last 36 hours are truly horrifying." Sunak said he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "to assure him of the U.K.'s steadfast support as Israel defends itself against these attacks," adding that "terrorism will not prevail."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau:

Trudeau said his country condemned the "terrorist attacks against Israel." "These acts of violence are completely unacceptable," he wrote. "We stand with Israel and fully support its right to defend itself. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky:

"In the face of such a terrorist strike, everyone who values life must stand in solidarity. Our position is crystal clear," he said. "Anyone who causes terror and death anywhere on the planet must be held accountable." “The same evil, and the only difference is that there is a terrorist organization that attacked Israel, and here is a terrorist state that attacked Ukraine,” Zelensky says in a video address to a NATO parliamentary assembly in Copenhagen.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, who has Palestinian ancestry:

“The best thing that could happen to the Palestinian people is for Hamas to completely disappear. Those savage beasts do not represent the Palestinians,” Bukele says on the social network X. “Anyone who supports the Palestinian cause would make a great mistake siding with those criminals.” He also compared Hamas to the MS-13 gang, which has terrorized El Salvador for years.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/over-900-reported-killed-in-israel-since-start-of-hamas-attacks/
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-drafts-300000-reservists-it-goes-offensive-2023-10-09/
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/08/world/middleeast/hamas-military-gaza-explained.html
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/8/what-is-the-group-hamas-a-simple-guide-tothe-palestinian-group
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/8/what-is-the-group-hamas-a-simple-guide-tothe-palestinian-group
https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-israel-hamas-strike-planning-bbe07b25
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-drafts-300000-reservists-it-goes-offensive-2023-10-09/
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-strikes-lebanon-after-hezbollah-hits-shebaa-farms-2023-10-08/
https://nypost.com/2023/10/09/thirty-one-harvard-organizations-blame-israel-for-hamas-attack/
https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/pcw/97181.htm
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2023/10/09/world-leaders-reaction-condemn-attacks-on-israel/7501696852211/
READ MORE https://aish.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-israels-war-against-hamas/?src=ac

Escalation in Gaza Conflict Results in Casualties and Hostages

Sirens reverberated across various Israeli cities as rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip caused injuries to five people in southern and central Israel.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/376679/escalation-in-gaza-conflict-results-in-casualties-and-hostages/?

U.S. Sends Military Aid to Israel Amid Conflict with Hamas, White House Confirms
In response to the escalating violence between Israel and Hamas, the U.S. has initiated deliveries of essential military equipment and munitions to Israel, according to an announcement by the White House on Monday.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/376685/democratic-socialists-of-america-criticized-for-backing-nyc-rally-supporting-palestinian-actions/?

IDF Issues Evacuation Directives for Gazans Amidst Conflict with Hamas

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released videos in Arabic on social media platforms advising Gaza residents on evacuation procedures as the military retaliates against Hamas's recent actions.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/376688/idf-issues-evacuation-directives-for-gazans-amidst-conflict-with-hamas/?

Israeli Hostages Need Your Prayers

In a shocking and cruel attack staged by Hamas against Israel on Saturday, more than 150 Israeli citizens of all ages, from the young to the elderly, were taken hostage.
READ MORE » https://theisraelbible.com/israeli-hostages-need-your-prayers/?
[WATCH] Laurie Cardoza Moore Calling for Prayers and Support for Israel

On the 50th Anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, a new day of horror has befallen Jewish State.
WATCH » https://www.israel365news.com/video/laurie-cardoza-moore-calling-for-prayers-and-support-for-israel/?#
United Hatzalah Calls for Public Assistance amid Crisis in Gaza Periphery

With 1,500 of its 7,000 members presently stationed in the affected area, the organization has provided treatment to over 1,000 individuals, both civilians and soldiers.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/video/laurie-cardoza-moore-calling-for-prayers-and-support-for-israel/?

Duty and Solidarity: An Exodus from NYC to the Frontlines

As Israel begins to respond to the horrific attack, IDF reservists in the US begin to return to Israel.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/video/laurie-cardoza-moore-calling-for-prayers-and-support-for-israel/?

Faith Amidst Fear: A Simchat Torah Like No Other
by Zahava Schwartz
This normally joyous holiday turned into a haunting reminder of the fragility of life and the undying spirit of our faith.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/376694/faith-amidst-fear-a-simchat-torah-like-no-other/?
aish.com
What You Need to Know about Israel’s War Against Hamas
LATEST
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ISRAEL’S WAR AGAINST HAMAS
ELLIOT MATHIAS
Answers to commonly asked questions.

The startling attack on Israel that was launched this past Saturday morning was the deadliest attack in the history of modern Israel.

As of Tuesday October 10th, Israeli media is reporting approximately 900 Israelis were murdered and over 2,500 hospitalized1. Additionally, more than 150 Israelis were captured and taken back into Gaza, where they are being held hostage. The vast majority of Israeli casualties were civilians, including women, children, and the elderly.2

https://www.israel365news.com/376370/we-are-under-attack-and-desperately-need-your-help/?
https://danielgordis.substack.com/p/the-single-worst-day-in-israels-history?
The single worst day in Israel's history? Probably.
Other questions will follow, but for now, Israelis want to know just this: where is my sister? Where are my kids? And why does no one know?
OCT 8
IDF Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi (Photo via Facebook)
Take a guess as to how many Israeli civilians were killed in the Yom Kippur War?
Zero. Not a single one.
Bludgeoned by the Syrians and the Egyptians, Israel still managed to fulfill the single most basic obligation of any government—to keep its citizens safe.

In the Yom Kippur War, Israel made massive mistakes with intel that it had and waited far too long to call up reserves. But it did have intel. And the top brass did fight over what to do about the intel.

They just got it wrong.

This week, there was no intel to fight about.

Yesterday, in a single day, Israel lost about as many civilians as it did soldiers in the entire Six Day War. And we’re far from done counting.

Yesterday may well have been the worst day in Israel’s history.

It’s just not clear that there isn’t worse to come.

We went to sleep last night—those of us who could peel ourselves away from the TV and the relentless flow of horrifying news—certain that we would awaken to Israel being back in Israeli hands. Yes, Hamas terrorists were still in control of some seven towns and there was “fierce fighting” (always a code that means “soldiers have been killed, but the censor says we can’t say that) in several locations. And true, the army inexplicably took many hours to get to places that are a 20 minute helicopter ride away. But still, the soldiers were finally there.

Now the tides would shift. For this was the IDF, on home territory, versus Hamas, which is not a professional army—and which, away from the border, would have no way to get reinforcements in. By the time we woke up, we knew, these battles would be over.

They weren’t. The news early this morning reported fierce gun battles still raging in several kibbutzim and towns; residents were still hiding in their safe rooms, more than 24 hours after the attack started, still hoping that the army might get to them in time. Then it was reported that Hamas was sending in reinforcements across the border—fighters, ammunition, food.

What?

I don’t know anyone who hasn’t thought that, at first, they’d misheard the news.

I went to minyan this morning at my regular shul. At the end, just as people started to file out, someone got up to read the Prayer for the State of Israel—which is normally recited only on Shabbat. The exodus to the door ceased, people turned around. It was silent in the room. Not a soul moved. People cast their eyes downward or upward, and answered “Amen.”

Then he continued with the Prayer for the Soldiers of the Israeli army. The same response.

He followed that with the Prayer for Hostages, a prayer that we’ve recited back in the Ron Arad days, the Zechariah Baumel days, the Gilat Shalit days. There’s a place in the middle where you insert the name of the hostage or hostages. Over the years, we all knew the names of those hostages—Arad, Baumel, Shalit and others—by heart. But this time, when he got to that spot in the prayer, he didn’t know what to say. What are their names? How many are there?

Could it really be as high as a few dozen, as some were intimating?

He paused, just said “the missing women and men.”

We didn’t even have enough information to say the prayer.

We began to fan out of the synagogue, clusters of us in each direction. And then, at the very same instant, we all got the same message on our phones and watches. Israel announced that there were about 100 hostages being held in Gaza. You could hear the gasps from the people walking home. Across the street, I saw a man just about my age slump into a light pole, unable to believe what he’d just read. Two young men ran up to him to steady him.

The pace of the news cycle is too fast for it to be worthwhile for us to summarize it here. (I described some of what the first day was like in this piece for Bari Weiss’ The Free Press.)

What matters now is for people who care to understand is what people here are feeling: for the first time in their lives—it feels as if there is no functioning country. People don’t know where their family members are, but what little information they’re getting, they’re getting from Hamas.

What follows—to give a sense of the anguish and heartbreak—are four brief vignettes from this morning’s news—

a woman looking for her sister who was working as a nurse in Be’eri, now gone without a trace

a family who saw Hamas television pictures of their family being held hostage in their kibbutz home, and now, presumably, in Gaza

a family who saw a Hamas video of their daughter and their grandchildren, petrified, as they were being rounded up by Hamas

a former general whose son messaged from from the safe room, so he grabbed his pistol made made his way to Kibbutz Nahal Oz—and what happened

The Search for Amit Mann

The woman on the left in the upper picture is Lior Man, speaking to Channel 12 about her sister, Amit, on the top right. Amit was working as a nurse in Be’eri, the kibbutz where fifty people were held hostage in the dining room yesterday afternoon until they were somehow freed (details are very sketchy).

Yesterday morning, Amit texted her family to say that she could hear shooting and rockets. Then she texted to say that she saw terrorists outside the building. Then she texted to say that the terrorists were headed to them, but that men in the building, who happened to be armed, were firing back and keeping them at bay. Then she wrote that the terrorists were at the door.

Then she stopped texting.

Instead, her sister said, she set the phone to a voice call so her family could hear all the sounds in the room. The family could hear shooting, screaming of “Please Don’t!”, more shots, then quiet.

The phone went dead.

Then she texted again. Hem alai “They’re on me,” she wrote. Zeh HaSof. “This is the end.”

That was the last they heard of her. They don’t know, said Lior standing outside the emergency room of one of the many hospitals she and her family have searched, if Amit was killed and is still in the clinic because more than 24 hours later, the army is still fighting to control Be’eri. Or if she was taken hostage into Gaza. Or if she was killed and her body was taken. Or maybe she was wounded and is in a hospital? Which?

They have no idea. And in this Startup Nation, at that point in the morning, there was no source of lists. No news. No calls from the army. Only Hamas was providing information that some Israelis could use to confirm where their family members were.

If Amit has been killed, she’s now one of about 600. If she’s hostage in Gaza, she’s one of about 100 (as far as we know). If she was wounded and is hospitalized, she’s one of more than 2000, about 350 of then critical or serious.

Hebrew Reads: “Citizens of Israel: Did you get information that you want to share? STOP before you forward it.” It’s followed by a plea to let the government be the source of information. Sadly, it seems unable to do that.
The army’s inability to communicate with citizens has been such a colossal failure that Israelis began sharing updates that Hamas was posting online. The Home Front Command (Pikkud HaOref) took to Instagram to beg Israelis not to do that, so that the army could reach families first.

But the army hasn’t been reaching any families, people said—and ignored the plea. So it is from Hamas and Israeli society media where many are getting their information.

Wounded and hostages in their own home; by now, presumably in Gaza

Channel twelve cut to a different family. The video footage showed their siblings and their kids’ kids at home. The father clearly has a severe leg wound, bleeding badly. And in the lower screenshot, from a video that could only have been taken by Hamas, you see the armed gunman in their house.

No one has heard from the them since yesterday. They are, presumably, in Gaza.

Hamas TV showing Israelis as they’re captured

Another family interviewed on Channel 12 knows exactly what happened to their kids— they were kidnapped by Hamas and taken to Gaza. As can see from the shot above, even Israeli TV was ignoring requests not to show Hamas clips. You can see the Arabic on the screen; though a bit fuzzy, the expression of the woman just captured with her children is the stuff of nightmares.

Imagine the parents/grandparents with that image being the last anything they have from or about her.

Israelis are facing an unfolding horror. If you would like to share our conversation about what they are feeling and what is happening that the English press can’t cover, please subscribe today...


Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Of David. The LORD is my light and my help;
whom should I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life,
whom should I dread?
לְדָוִד  יְהֹוָה  אוֹרִי וְיִשְׁעִי מִמִּי אִירָא יְהֹוָה מָעוֹז־חַיַּי מִמִּי אֶפְחָד
Psalms 27:1 (The Israel Bible)
l'-da-VID a-do-NAI o-REE v'-yish-EE mi-MEE ee-RA, a-do-NAI ma-OZ kha-YAI mi-MEE ef-KHAD
Israel in Crisis: Recite these Psalms
Israel is currently in an unprecedented crisis - a nightmare we have never experienced before. Hamas terrorists have brutally murdered hundreds of innocent civilians, dozens of men, women and children have been taken hostage and rockets are raining down on Israeli towns and communities. What is the appropriate response to such a catastrophe?

Throughout history, Jews have turned to Psalms as a way to connect with God during moments of joy and hardship alike. Here are selected Psalms that resonate with the current events in Israel.
Let's unite in prayer and stand with Israel at this difficult time.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
We are Under Attack and Desperately Need Your Help
We are in desperate times. We need those who stand for good and for truth to stand up and act. We need your help, and we need it now.
READ MORE https://www.israel365news.com/376370/we-are-under-attack-and-desperately-need-your-help/?

We are Under Attack and Desperately Need Your Help

By Elie Mischel
What we are experiencing now is unthinkable, unimaginable. The horror, the evil, the pain. It is more than we can bear.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/376370/we-are-under-attack-and-desperately-need-your-help/?W

Israel at War: At least 240 Jews murdered by Hamas
At least 250 Israelis were killed and over 900 wounded as Palestinian terrorists wandered the streets of two Israeli towns and 2,200 rockets were fired from Gaza.
READ MORE »https://www.israel365news.com/376271/israel-at-war-at-least-100-jews-murdered-by-hamas/?

Israel desperately needs your prayers!
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/376327/pray-for-israel-with-yair-levy-and-israel365s-rabbi-tuly-weisz/?
Rabbi Wolicki: "Calling on all friends of Israel to rise up in prayer"

In the wake of horrific attacks by Palestinian terrorists that left hundreds of Jews dead, Rabbi Pesach Wolicki called on all friends of Israel to join in prayer, recommending Psalm 20:
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/376297/rabbi-wolicki-calling-on-all-friends-of-israel-to-rise-up-in-prayer/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=We+are+Under+Attack+and+Desperately+Need+Your+Help+and+Today+s+Top+Stories&utm_campaign=I3N+-+AM+-+October+08%2C+2023&vgo_ee=rMVnfvOmOTGd%2FpQbdE95CIyyj2bxNWYnapjC%2BnQ9M9lcdEPv%3Ad%2BvNWowxGfUmNthUzAmif56vQIIvIgSW
Why We Read the Torah Anew Each Year
https://theisraelbible.com/why-we-read-the-torah-anew-each-year/?
The Jewish holiday season in the Hebrew month of Tishrei is a short but intense period ending with the Biblical holiday of Shemini Atzeret (the Eight Day of Assembly).
READ MORE »
[WATCH] Israel Mobilizes for War in Gaza

On Shabbat, the holiday of Simchat Torah, Israelis woke up to the deadliest terrorist attack in Israeli history.
WATCH » https://www.israel365news.com/376293/netanyahu-we-are-at-war/?
Second Wave of Rocket Attacks Hits Tel Aviv Area

Color Red sirens sounded for the second time on Saturday night as another wave of rockets fired from Gaza targeted Israel.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/376290/second-wave-of-rocket-attacks-hits-tel-aviv-area/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=We+are+Under+Attack+and+Desperately+Need+Your+Help+and+Today+s+Top+Stories&utm_campaign=I3N+-+AM+-+October+08%2C+2023&vgo_ee=rMVnfvOmOTGd%2FpQbdE95CIyyj2bxNWYnapjC%2BnQ9M9lcdEPv%3Ad%2BvNWowxGfUmNthUzAmif56vQIIvIgSW
Netanyahu: ‘We are at war’

"The enemy will pay a price the likes of which he has never known," said the Israeli prime minister.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/376379/deadliest-terror-attack-in-israels-history-a-timeline-of-devastation/?
Deadliest Terror Attack in Israel’s History: A timeline of devastation

An estimated 1,000 terrorists infiltrated Israel by air, land and sea, killing at least 350 Israelis and wounding more than 1,000.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/376379/deadliest-terror-attack-in-israels-history-a-timeline-of-devastation/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=We+are+Under+Attack+and+Desperately+Need+Your+Help+and+Today+s+Top+Stories&utm_campaign=I3N+-+AM+-+October+08%2C+2023&vgo_ee=rMVnfvOmOTGd%2FpQbdE95CIyyj2bxNWYnapjC%2BnQ9M9lcdEPv%3Ad%2BvNWowxGfUmNthUzAmif56vQIIvIgSW


The Collapsing of the Conception
by Rabbi Yehudah Glick
Since the expulsion of the Jews from Gush Katif, all the cities from Tel Aviv and south have been targeted by rocket attacks countless times.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/376375/the-collapsing-of-the-conception/?

Calls for Israel and the World to Unite Against Evil
by JNS
"I call on all citizens of Israel to unite in order to achieve our highest goal—victory in the war," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/376388/calls-for-israel-and-the-world-to-unite-against-evil/?

https://www.israel365news.com/376271/israel-at-war-at-least-100-jews-murdered-by-hamas/?
Israel at war: at least 240 Jews murdered by Hamas
At least 250 Israelis were killed and over 900 wounded as Palestinian terrorists wandered the streets of two Israeli towns and 2,200 rockets were fired from Gaza.
Palestinian terrorists launched a massive rocket barrage from Gaza targeting cities in south and central Israel at 6:30 Saturday morning. Hundreds of Palestinian terrorists infiltrated into Israel crossing at multiple points, and carrying out a murderous rampage in the streets of Sderot. At least 250 Israelis were killed and over 1,104 wounded. Footage shows Palestinian terrorists driving around Sderot and murdering Jewish civilians in the streets. There are also reports of terrorists in the streets of Kibbutz Beeri. Hamas claimed to have captured at least 52 Israelis, including both IDF soldiers and civilians.


There are reported to still be 22 “active” areas in southern Israel, where gunmen are still active or feared to be in the field.


Unverified footage from the Gaza Strip purported to show Hamas terrorists with the body of an IDF soldier taken from Israel during the attack. Another video appeared to show Palestinian terrorists dragging away a live Israeli soldier on a motorcycle.

Other images showed terrorists atop an IDF tank.

Palestinians stand next to a burning tank inside the border fence with Israel in the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. October 7, 2023. Photo by Yousef Mohammed/FLASH90
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters that more than 2,200 rockets fired into Israel since 6:30 AM. Red Alert warning sirens were sounded as far away as Tel Aviv. Direct hits on buildings were reported in Ashkelon, the Gederot region and Tel Aviv.


Two hours later, the IDF launched the operation “Swords of Iron” in response to Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel.

A massive call-up of reservists went out as the IDF said it was moving to a “state of war”. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared an emergency situation within a range of 80 kilometers from the Gaza Strip.

School was canceled across Israel. Gatherings were also restricted to 10 people outdoors and 50 people indoors in those areas, the Home Front Command said.

The Hamas-run health ministry in the Gaza Strip said 198 Palestinians were killed and another 1,610 were wounded as of Saturday afternoon.
This is a developing story and will be updated.

https://www.israel365news.com/376017/was-morocco-hit-by-prophetic-earthquake-lights/?
Was Morocco hit by prophetic “earthquake lights”?
Your thunder rumbled like wheels; lightning lit up the world; the earth quaked and trembled.
PSALMS77:19(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz
BIBLICAL NEWS
OCTOBER 2, 2023
4 MIN READ
Home » Was Morocco hit by prophetic “earthquake lights”?
While scientists cannot explain the phenomenon, the mysterious lights that sometimes appear preceding major seismic events were explicitly described by King David.

On September 8, a massive earthquake devastated Morocco. While the world’s attention was focused on humanitarian relief efforts, scientists began to study a poorly understood phenomenon known as “earthquake light”. A closer look at the Bible may have helped understand this natural light display that connects heaven and earth.

Morocco suffered a massive 6.8 magnitude earthquake, the most powerful ever recorded in the region, three weeks ago in the province of Al-Haouz. Hitting on September 8, the natural catastrophe killed more than 2,900 people and injured 5,500, and devastated several remote settlements in the Atlas Mountains.

There were also reports of earthquake light sightings (EQL). Also known as earthquake lightning or earthquake flash, this is a luminous aerial phenomenon that appears in the sky at or near areas of tectonic stress, seismic activity, or volcanic eruptions. Sometimes, the lights may appear similar to ordinary lightning, or they may be like a luminous band in the atmosphere akin to a polar aurora. The luminosity is reported to be visible for several seconds but has also been reported to last for tens of minutes. Appearances of the earthquake light seem to occur when the quakes have a high magnitude, generally 5 or higher.





The cause of earthquake lights is unknown. Scientists conjecture that it is due to the ionization of oxygen in certain rocks that may occur during seismic events. Another possible explanation is the local disruption of the Earth’s magnetic field. Scientists are intensely interested in the phenomenon, believing that this may provide more information that will allow seismologists to better predict earthquakes as EQL can appear before the seismic activity.


Earthquake lights are so bizarre and inexplicable that some skeptics even question whether they exist. In 2016, science podcaster Brian Dunning said he was skeptical that the phenomenon even existed, citing a lack of direct evidence. There is also a “staggering volume of literature… hardly any of these papers agree on anything… I’m forced to wonder how many of these eager researchers are familiar with Hyman’s Categorical Imperative ‘Do not try to explain something until you are sure there is something to be explained’.

Since earthquake lights appear in proximity to major seismic events, they are more likely to occur on or near rift valleys, places where, at some point in the past, Earth’s crust had been pulled apart, creating an elongated lowland region that lies between two higher blocks of land.

If this is so, it is almost assured that earthquake lights have made an appearance in the Holy Land. Israel is seismically active, located along the Syrian-African fault line, which runs along the Israel-Jordan border, part of the Great Rift Valley that runs from eastern Lebanon to Mozambique. The Jordan Rift Valley is the result of tectonic movements within the Dead Sea Transform (DSF) fault system. The DSF forms the transform boundary between the African Plate to the west and the Arabian Plate to the east. The Golan Heights and all of Transjordan are part of the Arabian Plate, while the Galilee, Judea and Samaria highlands (West Bank), Coastal Plain, and Negev along with the Sinai Peninsula are on the African Plate. This tectonic disposition leads to a relatively high seismic activity in the region.

The region has experienced many earthquakes, the most destructive ones being those of 31 BCE, 363 CE, 749 CE, and 1033 CE. Some of the earthquakes were also followed by a tsunami.

An earthquake in 1837 in the area killed as many as 5,000 people. The last major earthquake to hit the center of Israel was a 6.2 magnitude quake in 1927, killing over 500 people and damaging sites, like the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and al-Aqsa Mosque. On March 22, 2012, a 3.7 earthquake hit the exact region as well.

Biblical scholars explain that the name of God, “Elohim”, refers to the aspect revealed through nature and linked to judgment. For early man, and even today, every natural phenomenon can be an awe-inspiring experience, an occasionally fearsome reminder of our mortality. An earthquake is, quite literally, a moving experience. It may be that when King David wrote Psalms, he was referring to earthquake lights:

Your thunder rumbled like wheels; lightning lit up the world; the earth quaked and trembled. Psalms 77:19

The Sefrei Devarim teaches that when God gave the Torah to Israel at Mount Sinai, He “thundered” the entire world on its inhabitants.” This global earthquake that was accompanied by fire is based on a verse in Psalms:

Your thunder rumbled like wheels; lightning lit up the world; the earth quaked and trembled. Psalms 77:19

The voice of Hashem is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, Hashem, over the mighty waters. Psalms 29:3

Though clearly traumatic, Massive earthquakes in Israel are prophesied to accompany the multinational Gog and Magog conflict that will signal the end of times.

On that day, when Gog sets foot on the soil of Yisrael—declares Hashem—My raging anger shall flare up. For I have decreed in My indignation and in My blazing wrath: On that day, a terrible earthquake shall befall the land of Yisrael. The fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that move on the ground, and every human being on earth shall quake before Me. Mountains shall be overthrown, cliffs shall topple, and every wall shall crumble to the ground. Ezekiel 38:18-20

Researchers from Tel Aviv University published a report in Science Advances journal in which they warn that a potentially devastating earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter Scale is expected to hit Israel in the near future. If this proves true, King David’s earthquake lights may make an appearance soon.

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Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

You shall live in booths seven days; all citizens in Israel shall live in booths,
בַּסֻּכֹּת תֵּשְׁבוּ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים כׇּל־הָאֶזְרָח בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל יֵשְׁבוּ בַּסֻּכֹּת
Leviticus 23:42 (The Israel Bible, p. 307)
ba-su-KOT tay-sh'-VU shiv-AT ya-MEEM kol ha-ez-RAKH b'-yis-ra-AYL yay-sh'-VU ba-su-KOT
Rooftop Reflections
By Rabbi Elie Mischel
I remember the day I turned twenty years old. In Jewish thought, turning twenty is very significant because it is only at the age of twenty that we become fully responsible for our actions. Though girls and boys become Jewish adults at the ages of 12 and 13 respectively, we are not fully responsible for our sins until the age of twenty.

I understood that turning twenty was a big deal, but I didn’t know how to properly celebrate this significant birthday. A rabbi of mine directed me to a book of letters by Rabbi Moses Feinstein, in which Rabbi Feinstein addressed a twenty-year-old who had exactly the same question that I had. What was his advice? Rabbi Feinstein told this boy to “be careful to honor your mother.”

I’ll be honest - I was looking for something more exciting or profound than simply being careful to honor my mother. I thought he might tell me to study the Bible all night or do something “spiritual.” Honoring my mother is incredibly important, of course, but what did that have to do with turning twenty?
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