כ' לחודש העשירי תשע"ד
Anniversary of the Passing of Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon
(Ramba"m/Maimonides)
Anniversary of the Passing of Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon
(Ramba"m/Maimonides)
Mike Isley, September 26, 2013
Sukkot ended at sundown Sept. 26. I have learned so
much more this year about the Wonderful Feast of Sukkot. It has been
great fun learning how to build a sukkah. I have shared food and drinks
with friends in my sukkah; I have slept in my sukkah. I am so proud of
all my friends, Jew and Non-Jew that are making an effort to learn more
about the Feast of the Lord!
The eighth day of the festival, which began Sept. 18,
is known as Shmeni Atzeret. On this day, prayers are recited. This
wonderful celebration and joy has so much to do with Harvest and
Thanking the Lord for His provision! Shmeni Atzeret is the day to thank
God for the harvest and yield He has bestowed upon His people.
My friend Tommy Waller and HaYovel,
his non-profit group, are in Israel right now during the High Holy
Days. By picking grapes for the Israeli farmer, they are fulfilling
Biblical prophecy. (cont.)
Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Most people in the world already know that Yishma'el wants Israel for itself.
Most people in the world already know that Yishma'el wants Israel for itself.
PA President Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) shows his vision of a |
"Palestine" is based on a very old lie. The lie began with the Roman extension of the name "Philistia," to most all of Israel, in an attempt to the Jewish People's connection to their homeland. Yet, "Philistia" was located in the area of Azza (Gaza). The Romans changed the names of many cities, such as Shchem to N(e)apolis, which became Nablus, since Arabs cannot pronounce the "p" sound.
And we know that you (Esau) want Israel too, believing that following of your false deity/messiah, or intercessor, or whatever you are calling him these days, makes you the true inheritors of OUR Land.
Silly Christian! Israel is for Jews! There isn't any mention of Esau on this map! |
Although the rabbit is not kosher, a midrash on Parashath Shemini teaches that the pig is the most appropriate symbol for Esau/Rome/The West/Christians.
א וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל-אַהֲרֹן, לֵאמֹר אֲלֵהֶם. ב דַּבְּרוּ אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, לֵאמֹר: זֹאת הַחַיָּה אֲשֶׁר תֹּאכְלוּ, מִכָּל-הַבְּהֵמָה אֲשֶׁר עַל-הָאָרֶץ.
ג כֹּל מַפְרֶסֶת פַּרְסָה, וְשֹׁסַעַת שֶׁסַע פְּרָסֹת, מַעֲלַת גֵּרָה, בַּבְּהֵמָה--אֹתָהּ, תֹּאכֵלוּ. ד אַךְ אֶת-זֶה, לֹא תֹאכְלוּ, מִמַּעֲלֵי הַגֵּרָה,
וּמִמַּפְרִסֵי הַפַּרְסָה: אֶת-הַגָּמָל כִּי-מַעֲלֵה גֵרָה הוּא,
וּפַרְסָה אֵינֶנּוּ מַפְרִיס--טָמֵא הוּא, לָכֶם. ה וְאֶת-הַשָּׁפָן, כִּי-מַעֲלֵה גֵרָה הוּא, וּפַרְסָה, לֹא יַפְרִיס; טָמֵא הוּא, לָכֶם. ו וְאֶת-הָאַרְנֶבֶת, כִּי-מַעֲלַת גֵּרָה הִוא, וּפַרְסָה, לֹא הִפְרִיסָה; טְמֵאָה הִוא, לָכֶם. ז וְאֶת-הַחֲזִיר כִּי-מַפְרִיס פַּרְסָה הוּא, וְשֹׁסַע שֶׁסַע פַּרְסָה, וְהוּא, גֵּרָה לֹא-יִגָּר; טָמֵא הוּא, לָכֶם. ח מִבְּשָׂרָם לֹא תֹאכֵלוּ, וּבְנִבְלָתָם לֹא תִגָּעוּ; טְמֵאִים הֵם, לָכֶם. (ויקרא יא, א - ח)
The list of non-kosher, four-legged animals represent the four kingdoms which have ruled over Israel. The first three, the camel, the rabbit, and the rock-badger (hyrax) are not kosher due to their limbs; whereas the pig, the fourth and final kingdom of Edom (Esau), is not kosher, due to its insides.
Not only that, but the pig is known sit with its front hooves out, showing its "kosher" attributes. It also makes a chewing motion, even though it is not really chewing its cud. In other words, it lies!
And, while Jews run around either concerned that you are trying to convert us to your false beliefs, or to assure us that you are not, and that we should accept your volunteers into our homes, these same Jews forget that you want our Land, or at least portions of it.
Whether you believe that you are from lost tribes and will inherit the northern kingdom (Israel, including Ephraim), and take on misswoth (Torah commandments), while we Jews reside in the southern kingdom (Judea), and take on your avodah zarah (foreign/forbidden worship), or that you will take it all, mixing in with us or not, it does not matter.
The only misswoth you need to worry about are the Seven Misswoth B'nei Noa'h, which include the rejection of your avodah zarah. (...and certainly do not include tzitzith)
Funny how the title of the above is "A Reflection of Sukkot." There is an interesting midrash about goyim (non-Jews) and Sukkoth, one that is apropos.
Toward the time of Ge'ulah, the goyim (non-Jews) will try, and subsequently fail, to fulfill the misswah of Sukkah. The relevant component of this misswah, is that it is fulfilled with the entire body, just like the misswah of residing in Eretz Yisra'el.
The failure of the goyim to fulfill this misswah will show them, once and for all, that the Land of Israel does not belong to them, but only to us.
Does this sound like a challenge? I would advise caution. Do not test His Will.
Is this midrash literal? Or, like the Ramba"m might suggest, is it metaphorical?
Either way, I pray that I live to see the day when the Holy Land is finally rid of unholy beliefs and practices.
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