September 18, 2015
Dear friends!
We are experiencing shaking in all parts of our lives, including extreme weather such as haze and heat and at the same time, sudden rains in the south; the unstable political situation in Jerusalem at the Temple Mount, Judea and Samaria and the terror activities there, throwing stones, stabbings, other attacks, which are happening more frequently.
In Syria, the situation is getting worse and the border with Israel is fragile. And of course, there is the Russian presence in Syria which is increasingly involved in our region. With all of this, those who lead us, the ones who understand the chronicles written explicitly in the Bible, should cry out loud! This is the time to wake, and the clock is strong in its advance, demanding each person to wake from the foggy, long lasting sleep of thousands of years of exile. It requires strength here, and maybe a leap, which demands us to get rid of habits, and out from the mold, which has caused us to atrophy in the depth of our soul. When I speak about leaping, I mean of course, an inner waking, decisive move. And, what is it about? In the portion "Nitzavim" (standing up), appears an amazing psalm, which wakes us to a new thinking.
It appears in Deuteronomy 30:11 “For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not too hard for thee, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say: 'Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it? 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say: 'Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it? 14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it."
As it has been said and the way we can understand this psalm, the request is clear and obligating. There is no need to give someone the authority or the power to take the monopoly on the Bible. People are required to absorb and learn according to their ability of understanding. Another word: Torah was given to all Jewish person and in a way for all people - because that's our life! Each person can implement Moses’s Torah which was given in Sinai. Centuries ago, a great soul came into the world, the founder of the Chasidism, Rabbi Israel Baal SheM Tov, who felt that the Torah was given in a distorted way, only for smart geniuses. R. BaShT Z”L, with strength and vision, provided accessibility to the Torah, back to the people even for the simplest ones. Such step, was brave and came from a brave man who wasn't afraid to break the conventions, even when those results were disastrous and still echoing in us. He had to endure insults and boycots by Rabbis who in those times, considered him a threat. The ones who continued his way was R. Nachman from Braslav, and other Chasidim, who restored Jewish people to G-d, and in my opinion, expanded it. R. Avraham Itzchak Kook (bless his memory), who cried from the depth of his vision, of the Torah studies, of the land of Israel, and even went so far in his word to every soul with the punch line: " You have wind in your wings – you have! Go out and study yourself. Be yourself, because there, you feel your individuality and your strength! From there, you will feel close to your G-d!". He also, had to endure insults and boycotts, yet, even feeling in isolation, he had the courage of men with vision. He wrote poetry and his insights are read eagerly by many more who understand that there is no room for atrophy but for waking up and for getting to know the instrument which is called Human, and how Torah can be alive with a special soul. All of this is in the basic framework in which Torah is making a way in the acceptable way. We should remember, that our G-d has given us our Torah, and to outsiders, it can seem as laws of limitation, but, it seems that a real freedom, comes from limitations by balancing between good and evil, and makes a person return to the crown of the Creator.
The last events in the Temple mount
As you all know, these days, we have
scenario of Intifada in Judea and Samaria, and in the Temple Mount – as well.
What the Bible say, about all
of those troubles, we are going through?
It says by the prophet:" There, will be troubles to Israel and we wouldn't be able to get out of it…." Indeed, those troubles, that we are experiencing nowadays, don't have but one solution. But, before touching solution, we should understand one simple thing: The men, who is leading Israel, in order to succeed in his job, he has obligations to the alliance with the Almighty. The voices, which are heard, don't make it easier for him as a prime minister. There are a "lot of pressures" they say, and the answer is very simple: If the leader of Israel, is going according to the laws of the Nations of the world, he will be under pressures… But, if he stick, to a true belief with Hashem and the alliance with Him, and its instructions, only blessing will be to him and his nation. Let's remember, that also the kings of Israel at Jeremiah's days, mainly Zidkiyahu, wanted to live in peace without any problems and didn't listen to what the prophet has said and neither to Hashem, pushing them to fight against Nebuchadnezzar. And, we all know the story, about Zidkiyahu and his kingdom. We don't have such leader and from there, all our troubles. Our leadership is without vision, and when there is no vision the nation will be interrupted.
On the end, here is the solution: as
I said, relaying on the Bible, our trouble will be big, and we wouldn't be able
to get out from it even having our strength and wisdom. But, G-d, the G-d of
Israel, will be able as it has said in portion of "Hazinu" (Listen): " See now,
Me, I am the one, and there no one else". In order to get to know His holy name,
for us and to the other nations, "Israel eternity wouldn't lie, and on that
day, the name of Hashem will be one!" Amutat "Lechaim", has begun the year,
and feels that our message is unique. We are showing an example for the way
to manage without bureaucracy, without useless offices or dark buildings which
has been our aim during these 11 years. This is our call to you, to wake new
people who can support us in our blessed mission which is based on the Bible
"Love thy neighbour as yourself "!
My blessings,
Daniel
Gmar Chatima Tova to all the ones who
blessed us for the new year.
Daniel Braun
E-mail: danielxrw@gmail.com
Phone: + 972 54 772 3510
Welcome to our website at: www.lechaimtolife.org