Yehuda Lave, Spiritual Advisor and Counselor | | | Feel Grateful for What You Have Feel joy with what the Almighty has given you, and do not focus your thoughts on what He has not given you. Imagine how you would feel if you gave someone a present (although you had no obligation to do so), and he immediately complained that you didn't give him twice as much! You would certainly regret having given him anything. Failure to appreciate what the Almighty gives you is behaving in a similar manner. Today, write a list of things you feel you have overlooked appreciating in the past. Be resolved to start feeling grateful for those things. Love Yehuda Lave | | Reasons to live in Israel My AIPAC speech They would never let me speak, I would spoil the party. Contact Editor Tzvi Fishman, TF Tzvi FishmanTzvi Fishman was awarded the Israel Ministry of Education Prize for Jewish Culture and Creativity. Before making Aliyah to Israel in 1984, he was a successful Hollywood screenwriter. He has co-authored 4 books with Rabbi David Samson, based on the teachings of Rabbis A. Y. Kook and T. Y. Kook. His other books include: "The Kuzari For Young Readers" and "Tuvia in the Promised Land". His books are available on Amazon. Recently, he directed the movie, "Stories of Rebbe Nachman." More from the author ► The organizers of AIPAC would never allow me to speak at their convention, lest I spoil the party. But if they did, this is what I would say to the American Jews in the packed convention hall in Washington. "I am deeply saddened to be here today to address the AIPAC Convention. I am pained because on the eve of Israel's 70 years anniversary, there are still Jews who live in United States, as if America is the Promised Land. "If I were to pass out pencils and blanks sheets of paper to everyone in this huge convention center, and ask you to write the name of your nation's capital, I am sure almost everyone would write Washington D.C., and not Jerusalem. "And if I asked, what is your National Anthem, the vast majority of you would answer "The Star Spangled Banner," and not "HaTikvah." ' "And to the question, who was the founding father of your nation, George Washington would be the reply, not Avraham Avinu." Sadly, I could go on and on, and while I speak, who knows how many more American Jews are assimilating each minute, as reliable surveys attest, seventy percent and more. And the figure is constantly increasing, with no solution in sight, because there is only one solution, and that is for the Jews of America to come on mass Aliyah and hold all future AIPAC conventions in Jerusalem. "In the minute that I have been allotted here, allow me to cite just some of the reasons a Jew should live in Israel: "To get closer to G-d. "To fulfill the Torah commandment to live in the Land of Israel. "To live in the Jewish Homeland, among Jews, and not in a foreign Gentile land. "To play a real part in the ingathering of the exiles, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. "To make the declaration, "Next year in Jerusalem" a reality. "To have a Jewish government and army, and to give your children the unsurpassable honor of serving in the IDF. "To live in a country according to the Jewish calendar, where the national holidays are Jewish Holidays. "To live in a country where the official language is Hebrew. "So your children won't intermarry. "So your grandchildren won't intermarry. "To live in the Land of our Forefathers, where prayer ascends directly to Heaven, the place of the Shechinah, and the Land that Hashem watches over from the beginning of the year to the end. "Because there is more Torah in Israel than anywhere else in the world. "Because there are more frum communities in Israel than anywhere else in the world, with more yeshivot, heders, Talmud Torahs, religious colleges and schools for girls than anywhere else in the world. "Because the Kohanim bless the congregation each day. "Because of the extra mitzvot you can only do in the Land of Israel. "To live in a place where your taxes support yeshivot, Tzahal, Jewish charity organizations, Jewish terror victims, Jewish hospitals, the city of Jerusalem, the ingathering of the exiles…. "Because you can get bagels there too. "Because radio broadcasts begin in the morning with "Shema Yisrael." "Because of the modern apartments and fantastic villas all over the country. "Because of the thriving economy. "Because Israel's an international leader in high-tech. "Because of the excellent medical care. "Because that's where a Jew belongs and where G-d wants Jews to be. "It says on the dollar, 'In G-d We Trust.' If you really believe in G-d, then come home to Israel! Thank you. May G-d bless you, and may G-d bless Israel." | | D'var Torah Vayakhel-Pikudei Perhaps the primary difficulty with Parashot Vayakhel – Pekudei is the apparent redundancy of the description of making the Tabernacle. Indeed, the Torah provides a fivefold description of the Tabernacle and its appliances [Parashot Teruma, T'tzaveh, Ki Tissa, twice in vaYakhel (35:4-19; 36:8 – 38:20) and Pekudei]. Rabbeinu Beḥayye writes that the repetitions reflect the lofty level of the Tabernacle and the fact that it is so dear to God. Rabbeinu Beḥayye notes that, in a similar manner, there is a single verse which mentions the Children of Israel five times, as an expression of how dearly God loves His nation: I have given the Levites from the Children of Israel for Aaron and his sons to perform the service for the Children of Israel in the meeting tent and to atone for the Children of Israel, so that there will not be a plague on the Children of Israel when the Children of Israel approach the sanctuary. (Numbers 8:19) Tzror haMor writes that each of the five mentions of the construction of the Tabernacle and preparing its vessels has a particular purpose: the first, of course, conveys God's command; the second describes Moses' relating the Divine command to the nation; the third is Moses' explanation to the artists and artisans who are responsible in practice for creating the Tabernacle; the fourth describes the diligence and precision of the artisans' work, corresponding exactly to God's instructions; the final repetition conveys Moses' confirmation that all the work was done in accordance with the Divine plan. Thus, the final repetition concludes with the summary: Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it as God commanded, and Moses blessed them. (Exodus 39:43) Perhaps Tzror haMor 's words can be seen as an expansion and specification of Rabbeinu Beḥayye's comment that the repetitions convey God's affection for the Tabernacle and for those engaged in its construction. Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch explains the need for the repetitions in Parashot vaYakhel – Pekudei and the practical lesson to be learned from these repetitions in light of the sin of the golden calf. As grave as the sin of the golden calf was, "the highest grace of God was regained" when God said to Moses "I forgive them, as you have requested," [Numbers 14:20] and this was accomplished "without Temple and without offering." This taught the truth "that Temple and offering do not themselves bring about the grace of God, but are only means of showing the way to gain the grace of God." Thus, each repetition of the matter of the Tabernacle serves as a reminder that the Shechina resting with Israel is independent of the Temple/Tabernacle and of the service therein and Israel's ability to achieve atonement is a function of the Israelites' behavior and repentance of their sins. Rabbi Hirsch's comment hints at Jeremiah's words: Do not trust deceitful words, chanting: This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord. (Jeremiah 7:4) The classical commentaries explain that the Israelites relied on the assumption that God would not destroy His Temple in response to the nation's sins, and the people felt that the very existence of the Temple insulated them from retribution for their sins. Jeremiah's message to the people was that the true "temple of God' is not the Temple in Jerusalem, but the Israelites themselves, "for when they are righteous, they themselves are the temple." [Alshikh, Jeremiah 7:4] Indeed, the verse states explicitly: "They are to make a sanctuary for Me so that I may dwell among them." Though our souls yearn for the construction of the Third Temple, we must realize that the true Temple resides within the hearts of the Children of Israel. (David Magence | | Sayings from my sister An investigation may take six months. A quick interview, profile, a day. Diane Sawyer In any interview, you do say more or less than you mean. John Updike It's unfortunate that in an interview sometimes things can seem so black and white. Gisele Bundchen White When somebody wants to interview me, I've always got something to say. Pete Rose I like getting to the meat of things. You can't get it in a five-minute interview. I like to hone a person. I like to make eye contact. Larry King One has a greater sense of degradation after an interview with a doctor than from any human experience. Alice James It's the interviewee's job to know that his privacy is going to be invaded on some level. Otherwise, you are better off not doing the interview. John Travolta Everything has changed. An interview has become such a confrontational thing. It makes you very defensive. Francesca Annis An interview is like a minefield. Michelle Williams A spontaneous interview feels differently than anything else you see on television. David Steinberg The way I work, the interview never becomes larger than the person being interviewed. Ken Burns I actually find it a lot easier to interview people I don't agree with because I'm far more curious about how they've arrived at that place. Hailey Gates A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. Mignon McLaughlin | | Innovations Trigger Global Enhancement Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger, "Second Thought: US-Israel Initiative"
March 8, 2018, http://bit.ly/2trJT6h
Since its 1948-49 War of Independence, the Jewish State has faced clear and present lethal challenges, adversities, assaults and threats, handling them as opportunities in disguise. This state of mind has catapulted Israel to unprecedented heights, commercially and militarily - a uniquely productive partner of the United States.
The scarcity of natural resources and the nature of the Middle East – a prototype of conflict-ridden, violent, intolerant, merciless, unpredictable, shifty and tenuous environment – have shaped Israel's do-or-die state of mind, producing game-changing innovations in the areas of health, medicine, agriculture, irrigation, science, communications, space, homeland and national security.
In Thou Shalt Innovate (How Israeli ingenuity repairs the world), Avi Jorisch – a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council – documents the worldwide positive impact of Israel's groundbreaking and cutting-edge hightech innovations upon critical challenges facing mankind.
Jorisch highlights the cardinal Jewish tenet of repairing – not controlling – the world (Tikkun Olam in Hebrew). This has generated a tailwind to Israel's systematic sharing of its research and development with the world at-large, feeding reality-based optimism and upgrading the standard-of-living in the USA, India, Russia, China, Canada, Europe, Australia, Latin America, Asia and Africa. For example, since 2013 Israel has treated more than 2,500 Syrians seeking medical care, in addition to the dispatching of aid delegations to Turkey, Argentina, Mexico, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Rwanda, etc.
Rather than merely enriching people and making life in Israel more convenient, the multitude of Israeli hightech companies - and there are more startups in Israel than in Canada, the UK, Japan, South Korea and India combined - wind up making the world a far better place.
For instance, within fifteen years half of the world's inhabitants may not have sufficient water for drinking and irrigation, because much is wasted due to inefficiency. Israel's Netafim is a global leader in the development and manufacturing of drip/precision irrigation, helping farmers, cooperatives, and governments - in over 110 countries – to conserve water, while maximizing crops and feeding the chronically undernourished.
Rapidly intensifying cybercrime throughout the world makes Israel's Check Point – the world's largest pure-play cybersecurity company – an indispensable firewall developer and provider. In 2014, hackers stole the personal information of roughly 47 percent of the American adult population, and in 2013, they managed to successfully breach 43 percent of American companies. A firewall is the lifeblood of cyber security, and the Check Point firewall was the first of many Israeli innovations that secure global communication. Today, Check Point's firewall protects more than 100,000 businesses, including 94% of Fortune 100 firms, 87% of Fortune 500 firms, and nearly every government around the world.
The ground-breaking, short-range, surface-to-air Iron Dome missile, which is effective day or night in all weather conditions, with an over 90% rate of success, was fully-developed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and shared with the US, which has subsidized most of the manufacturing cost. The Iron Dome is jointly – and increasingly - manufactured with Raytheon, detecting, assessing and intercepting incoming rockets, artillery and mortars from ranges of 2-44 miles. The US is considering employing the Iron Dome, along with some Europeans, Azerbaijan, Japan, South Korea and possibly some pro-US Arab countries.
Israeli developed GrainPro Cocoon - a large, hermetically sealed, inexpensive bag for rice, grain, spices, and legumes – is employed by 100 countries, including Arab countries, holding up to 300 tons of grain per bag. It is composed of a strong material called polyvinyl chloride (PVC). When farmers seal it off, the bag traps bugs and their eggs inside, depriving them of oxygen, suffocating them to death. On average, the Cocoon can save more than 99% of a farmer's crops, sparing Third World farmers famine and starvation. It can be used any time after harvest collection, and once grain is placed inside it, the insects generally die within ten days. Farmers can then easily remove the dead bugs by using a sieve, among other techniques. Reducing harvest losses, the GrainPro Cocoon is an effective measure combatting world hunger, while helping the rural poor deal with the unpredictable forces of the free market. It enables farmers to delay the sale of crops until prices rise, avoiding an endless cycle of poverty.
Thou Shalt Innovate presents more documentation of Israel's path of pioneering innovation since 1948 - a testament to the country's grit, determination, and chutzpah, which led it to amazing strides in developing its sparse natural resources, while benefitting its own people and the world at-large. Over 300 multinational companies - such as Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google, Intel and Microsoft – operate research and development centers in Israel, leveraging Israel's brainpower and experience. China, India, and the USA now look to the Jewish state to help solve their emerging water needs; universities around the globe are forging strong partnerships and joint innovation centers with Israel's best and brightest institutions in engineering, biology, physics, and chemistry; hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and agriculture ventures are reaching out to Israel to help them cure the sick and feed the needy.
| | See you on Sunday, Shabbat Shalom Love Yehuda Lave | | | |
