DOD (Department of Defense) classification of Religious Extremism
Everyday, the Charedim is being spat at, by both Orthodox and secular Jews in Israel. What has the Charedim done to provoke such wrath from the DOD? For a one spitting incident in Bet Shemesh? If chalitzah were done today, would a woman who spit at her brother-in-law for refusing to perform yibum with her also be classified as a religious extremist and a terrorist?
Apparently, the DOD (Department of Defense) has equated the Israeli Charedim to be in a similar category as terrorists such as Hamas, the Moslem Brotherhoood, Al Qaeda Sunni Moslems. Nevermind that they have always classified the Kahane followers as such, albeit their "crimes" have not matched one iota of the severity of the real terrorists who have made more impact towards the merciless contribution of mass murders in the world.
Note that the Italian Mafia who seeks refuge in their Catholic house-of-worship is not even on the list!
Rabbi Zamir Cohen delivers an excellent lecture about the fascination of the world with the Jewish brain, particularly the South Koreans, the Chinese, the Greeks and the Arabs, as they all now have the Gemara translated into their own languages.
The learning of Gemara is now starting to take root among the Israeli secular Jews who commit one hour a business day to the study of "Gemara Lite".
Our redemption must be near! Here are great and inspiring news about Yaakov Yosef.
Japan Saga Closed
Dear Yidden,
The sad saga of three Yeshiva Bochurim Jailed in Japan finally came to an end today with Yaakov Yosef's homecoming.
After a painfully long four and a half years, the last of the three bochurim, Yakov Yosef ben Reisel, who was recently transferred to Eretz Yisroel, was finally released from custody today, after serving 1,734 days, most of which were spent in isolation in Chiba, Japan.
Last month Yakov Yosef was brought before a parole board, and bechasdei H-ashem he was granted a full and final release on 1st January.
He was also allowed a taste of freedom on the first day of Chanuka when he was able to spend 12 hours with his family and friends.
Shortly after noon, earlier today 19th Teves 5773 (01 January '13), Yakov Yosef was met by his family at the Nitzan prison, who accompanied him and his few belongings on his trip home.
During the short time that Yakov Yosef spent at the Nitzan prison, fellow prisoners who got to know him were overwhelmed with his conduct and said that they would greatly miss him.
Yakov Yosef arranged a minyan twice daily, and delivered a shiur to the prisoners every evening after maariv. The prison shul hadn't functioned for over three years, with the exception of services on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kipur. However, after Yakov Yosef's arrival to the facility, yiddishkeit behind bars was revived. Many prisoners were inspired by Yakov Yosef, who bechasdei H-ashem, during the short time spent there, managed to change the atmosphere in the jail.
Yakov Yosef's grandfather is making a s'eudas hodoah for the whole family and close friends.
At this junction, we thank H-ashem for the great chasodim that He has done during these difficult years. Yakov Yosef has b"H unbelievably managed to sustain all the way through this difficult exile. He managed to complete several mesechtos of gemora and various sidrei halocha with many meforshim in addition to being mechazek his and our emuna and bitochon.
Yakov Yosef always managed to look at the bright side. When a threat of a sentence in excess of 20 years was looming, he rejoiced that the prosecution ultimately requested 13 years. And when the judges handed him a verdict of six years, he rejoiced that it wasn't less, so that the prosecution shouldn't appeal.
We wish Yakov Yosef that from now on he and his dear family should see H-shems kindness in an obvious manner, and may he be zoche to bring nachas to his parents and Klal Yisroel who davened and toiled on his behalf.
A public service message from a resident in an Anglo-populated community in Israel: ***Public Service***: xxxxx A woman's Vigilance saves the day!!!
In last week's chadash edition in the Hebrew side, a featured story (front page) told as follows:
A woman called the police after noticing a black car with 2 Arab guys, circling Dolev (during the day) looking quite sinister.
This was followed by the police coming to the scene and singling the two Arabs guys to slow down. Apparently as soon as the 2 men saw the police they broke into high speed and left through luz down the road and into a near by moshav. The high speed chase continued until the police lost track of the suspect's car.
Later on the police found the car (the two men ran off and got away). Turns out the car was stolen and inside the police found 2 sets of chariedi men garb, complete with pants, shirt, hat, beards, shoes….police costumes as well as teaser guns make shift guns and some other things….the police was puzzled and assumed that the 2 men were either planning to rob or chas v'shalom abduct.
Baruch Hashem a most sinister crime was prevented due to a woman's vigilance.
I read the whole thing in Hebrew and felt very sad this was not translated into English; I think it is imperative that our community appreciates the importance of being vigilance.
We must be aware of the real potential risks which we face daily having all these workers (perhaps some of whom are terrorists) around.
The Obama re-election is good for Jews. Obviously, this is what Hashem has planned, and according to His Will. Who among us lowly creatures knows, maybe he will fit the role of Gog (of Magog) very well and hasten the coming of Moshiach.
Hurricane Sandy is good spiritually for the Jews. There is so much soul searching to be done. We may have over-indulged in gashmius (materialism) in our lives. All the gashmius we have taken years to accumulate can be gone in a day or less. Do we need such a big house? Do we need so much Jewish entertainment? Do we need so much money, when we only need the basic sustainence (food, water, clothing, heat and Torah) to survive, especially in an emergency?
Obama and Israel. When is Israel going to learn?
“Obama’s victory demonstrates that the state of Israel must take care of its own interests,” Danon said. “We cannot rely on anyone but ourselves. (WND)
The above statement could have been written this way. "WE CANNOT RELY ON ANYONE BUT HASHEM." But it wasn't. Until then, Obama and Ahmedinejad and all our Moslem brothers who want to kill us are good for us, the Jews. Because we have yet to learn the lesson. Hashem is very patient. He is still waiting for us to do teshuva -- and in the meantime, He brings us anti-semitism, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, fire, kassams, rockets, nuclear bomb.
There are many shiurim related to Sandy. Go to TorahAnytime,com and LearnTorah.com and you will find them. Sandy happened in the same parshas Vayera, where the Jews are compared to the stars of the heavens and the sands of the seashore. (Verse 22:17) What perfect timing!
Modern-day Dina bat Leah was 20 years old when she decided to join the Palestinians and lived with them under a life of abuse. She was rescued in July, 2012 by Yad L'Achim, a Jewish anti-missionary organization in Israel.
Even though Dina has decided to remove her Arab garbs, may she learn to embrace the holy Jewish garbs and cover her hair as a married woman, and not fall into the Erev Rav's hands.
Yad L'Achim is one of my favorite Israeli charities. During the Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe), support this organization to save the Israeli Jews from the murderous and barbaric Arab hands.
It isn't just the Jews who are concerned about intermarriage with Arabs. A hard-hitting documentary on Jewish girls marrying Arab men that aired recently on Israel's Hot 3 TV station revealed that the Bedouin community also opposes intermarriage.
Reporter Ahmed Abu Swiss noted that the phenomenon is growing at an alarming rate. "We're no longer talking about 15 or 20 men [who've married Jews]," he reported on the program, which aired on Dec. 28, 2011. "There are neighborhoods in which more than 50 men are married to Jews."
Abu Swiss added that Bedouin sheikhs are very concerned about the trend and speak out against it in the mosques. They preach that assimilation is against the Bedouin tradition and results in many Bedouin women remaining single until 35, since the available men are marrying Jews.
In a similar vein, Sheikh Faiz Abu Seheban, the mayor of the Bedouin town of Rahat, recently spoke out against Arab men marrying Jewish women. He told Ilana Dayan, the host of the hugely popular Uvda investigative news program, that a majority of Arabs viewed these relationships in an unfavorable light and that they were like trying to mix oil and water.
In the next video interviewing an Arab man, he emphasizes that the Arab men are at a top "level" and hence, Jewish women are not fitting for them. Let them think however they want, but there is a truth to this --Jewish women are not fitting for the Arab men or any other non-Jewish men, period. Jewish women are princesses of the King of kings, what are they doing mixing with the umos haolam?
The Sephardic Jewry may have escaped the Holocaust, however, they did not escape persecution from the Arabs where they live in Syria, Iraq, Iran, Morocco, etc. The birth of the State of Israel was not good news for every Jew.
Despite the joyous news of the reconstitution of the Jewish State, it was a sad day in Jewish history. Death and destruction consumed Jewish communities of the Near East and one of the most important preserved holy books had reportedly gone up in smoke.
The above quote came from the latest article regarding the Aleppo Codex / Keter Arab Soba / Crown of Aleppo, a must read to learn about the real history of this ancient Tanach scroll that was once used by the Rambam to help him develop his Mishne Torah, and the illegitimate claim to this text by the ex-President of the State of Israel.
My name is Hanan Shomrony and I’m searching for my brother.
He was born in 1946 , his parents’ first born, in Europe after the Second World War. In 1949, when he was two and a half years old, he and his parents made aliya to Zfat in Israel. He was hospitalized a month later in the Emek Hospital in Afula because of dysentery. Two days later my father was informed that he had passed away. ( Parents were not allowed to stay with their sick children so my father was obliged to leave him there.)
There was no funeral and of course there is no grave.
My parents were new immigrants, survivors of the holocaust, who had arrived only one month prior to this. They accepted this news without question and didn’t make any further inquiries.
The Ministry of the Interior informed me, years later, that in 1963 someone with his ID number had left the country. However, in the Death Registry of the Religious Council in Afula he is registered as having died in 17.04.1949 and was buried in a common grave.
His first name was Israel, the son of Hava and Yosef Heiventreager (sp) I.D. nr 0203317-3. It is possible that his first name stayed with him as he was already two and a half years old at the time.
I was born six months later and know of him only from what my parents had told me. Unfortunately, my parents have passed away and the searches that I have been carrying on during the years have never provided any answers. I still hope that this story will awaken a spark of a memory in someone of a baby that was adopted at the age of two and a half, blond with bright eyes that spoke only Yiddish. He or those who adopted him were probably told that he was an orphan brought from Europe. He would be 65 or 66 years old today.
I enclose pictures of him as an infant with our parents before coming to Israel. I regret that I don’t have any pictures of a later period. Perhaps this mail will, by some stroke of luck , be received by someone who will recognize or will find similarities in the faces of our parents and that of Israel.
Please forward to this mail to anyone you can. Perhaps a miracle will happen and I’ll be reunited with my long lost brother.
"Do You Care if Moshiach Comes" is the title of the shiur given by Rabbi Joey Haber of LearnTorah.com. It is an excellent shiur. The Rabbi tries to answer a series of questions he compiled from his followers in the past how many years ago and brings answers from different sources. The Rabbi quotes the Rambam that Moshiach doesn't have to prove himself by doing miracles, as well as quotes other sources that say otherwise. The Rabbi also covers a little bit of history on Bar Kochba, whom Rabbi Akiva himself was certain he was Moshiach. (In one of my earlier posts, I stated a source that Rabbi Akiva thought that BK was Moshiach ben Yosef, not MBD).
The Rabbi also states that throughout history false messiahs appear before the real Moshiach, so that it would rile up the Jews to think about redemption. The false messiahs include JC, Shabtai Tzvi, Bar Kochba and others. Interestingly, the article that CNN published concerning Christopher Columbus on his yahrzeit was mentioned as well. This article, probably written by non-Jews, brought proofs that Columbus was a secret Jew (maranos). These proofs were based on his last will and testament as well as his correspondence to his son and his financiers as follows:
Two of his wishes --
tithe one-tenth of his income to the poor and provide an anonymous dowry
for poor girls -- are part of Jewish customs. He also decreed to give
money to a Jew who lived at the entrance of the Lisbon Jewish Quarter.
On those documents,
Columbus used a triangular signature of dots and letters that resembled
inscriptions found on gravestones of Jewish cemeteries in Spain. He
ordered his heirs to use the signature in perpetuity.
At the top left-hand corner of all but one of the 13 letters written by
Columbus to his son Diego contained the handwritten Hebrew letters
bet-hei, meaning b'ezrat Hashem (with God's help). Observant Jews have
for centuries customarily added this blessing to their letters. No
letters to outsiders bear this mark, and the one letter to Diego in
which this was omitted was one meant for King Ferdinand.
Scholars point to the
date on which Columbus set sail as further evidence of his true motives.
He was originally going to sail on August 2, 1492, a day that happened
to coincide with the Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av, marking the
destruction of the First and Second Holy Temples of Jerusalem. Columbus
postponed this original sail date by one day to avoid embarking on the
holiday, which would have been considered by Jews to be an unlucky day
to set sail. (Coincidentally or significantly, the day he set forth was
the very day that Jews were, by law, given the choice of converting,
leaving Spain, or being killed.)
Columbus' voyage was
not, as is commonly believed, funded by the deep pockets of Queen
Isabella, but rather by two Jewish Conversos and another prominent Jew.
Louis de Santangel and Gabriel Sanchez advanced an interest free loan of
17,000 ducats from their own pockets to help pay for the voyage, as did
Don Isaac Abrabanel, rabbi and Jewish statesman.
Indeed, the first two
letters Columbus sent back from his journey were not to Ferdinand and
Isabella, but to Santangel and Sanchez, thanking them for their support
and telling them what he had found.
The Rabbi does mention the war of Gog uMagog and hopes that it has already occurred as in the 2nd World War, and that we will merit no more wars before Moshiach. The Rabbi also mentions the Internet Asifa and how we are all "lost" to this situation of controlling our access to it. The whole world needs a wakeup call and we need Moshiach desperately to change our way of life and our way of connecting to Hashem.
Just got a cute little story about a police dog in Montana who could only understand Ivrit, not just any plain Hebrew. Ivrit! Well, how did this little dog end up in Montana?
Miky, pronounced Mikey, is in a Diaspora of his own. He was born in
an animal shelter in Holland and shipped as a puppy to Israel, where he
was trained by the Israeli Defense Forces to sniff out explosives. Then
one day, Miky got a plane ticket to America. Rather than spend the
standard $20,000 on a bomb dog, the Helena Police Department had shopped
around and discovered that it could import a surplus bomb dog from the
Israeli forces for the price of the flight. So Miky came to his new home
in Helena, to join the police force.
The problem, the officer explained, was that Miky had been trained entirely in Hebrew.
When
Officer Fosket got Miky, he was handed a list of a dozen Hebrew
commands and expressions, like “Hi’ sha’ er” (stay!), Ch’pess (search!),
and “Kelev tov” (good doggy). He made flashcards and tried practicing
with Miky. But poor Miky didn’t respond.
Officer Fosket (who is
not Jewish) suspected he wasn’t pronouncing the words properly. He tried
a Hebrew instructional audio-book from the local library, but no luck.
The dog didn’t always understand what he was being ordered to do. Or
maybe Miky was just using his owner’s bad pronunciation as an excuse to
ignore him. Either way, the policeman needed a rabbi.
We are fortunate to have Dan Shapiro as the US ambassador to Israel. From the outside appearance, he looks like a frum Yid, but after a simple Google search, it is confirmed that he's a Conservative Jew, nominated by PBO almost a year ago, on March 28, 2011. Nevertheless, he appears to be a "friend" to Israel. Here is his latest visit to Israel covering Meah Shearim and other chareidi communities.
It is with a heavy heart that while mourning for the loss of so many tzadikim this week alone, I try to gain chizuk from divrei Chazal. The Rambam writes:
And now, brothers, you must pay attention and listen carefullly to what I am going to lay out before you. Teach it to children and women so that any questions of belief they may have will be answered, so that the truth will become so firmly lodged in their souls that they cannot budge from it. And you, brothers, be strong and courageous, and be supported by these true verses.
Let not the strength of the enemy's hand and our own nations' weakness frighten you. For this entire situation is no more than a trial and a test so that you can demonstrate your belief and your chosenness to the world.
The Chofetz Chaim elaborates on this point:
Before the coming of Moshiach, Hashem will act in a hurried manner so wondrous that even all who are wise of heart will be unable to fathom it. The troubles and persecutions [of the Jewish people] will follow each other so closely that there will be no space between them. Just as for an expectant woman who is about to give birth, the closer she comes to the moment of birth, the more intense her contractions and her pain, and this is her most reliable indication that the birth is nearing, so too, the wheels of the era will turn fast at the time of the birth pangs of Moshiach.
Toward the end of the sixth millenium, the heavenly tribunal will wish to settle all accounts opened since the world's creation. Hashem will want to prepare His world for its new state, the state of redemption.
Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman states:
Since the world will be in a perfected, flawless state during the time of Moshiach, it is necessary for all old accounts to be settled in the period that precedes it. For piles of accounts have accumulated in heaven from the time of Creation to the present [ that is, sins that man has not yet rectified], and they must be put in order before Moshiach comes. IT is therefore the duty of every individual to pay what he still owes to heaven -- Ikvesa di Meshicha 18.
The Chessed l'Avaraham expounds:
All those who are stubborn and do not repent will perish. But anyone who bears the yoke of repentance and accepts the troubles without complaint, putting his shoulder to the task, will be purified and become worthy. HKBH, is an honest and perfectly just Judge, and there is no injustice. Therefore, He will refine the person time and time again until he is pure and clean silver. This process will be carried out by the strictest standards of judgment. In those days, one nation will pulverize another. Israel will be among them in great suffering. Each nation will want to shear this sheep and eat its meat. But HKBH will have mercy on His people through the merit of the three Avos and they will become purified and cleansed as a result of these troubles and this judgment.
Just got this from an anonymous Israeli grapevine, if you are interested.
The following was related to Rabbi Uri Silver (my close friend and a rebbi at Rabbi Senter’s yeshiva) by Rebbitzin Wolbe on February 29th 2012.
Three months earlier Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe (author of the Alei Shor and the leading Mashgiach of the last generation) appeared in a dream to his granddaughter. He was very excited and animated - which she mentioned was uncharacteristic for Rav Wolbe who always spoke in a very controlled and measured manner. He was speaking very quickly and was looking upwards (also uncharacteristic) and he said that Mashiach is ready to come, if people would be “concerned for their friends like they are concerned for themselves” then Mashiach will come immediately.
Rebbetizin Wolbe mentioned that it is a mitzva to publicize this dream!
On Purim day, I davened to Hashem that Yaakov Yosef ben Raizel be released into freedom by Pesach 2012, I hope Hashem will answer my prayers.
Pesach, the time of redemption and freedom.
The last remaining boy in Japan, Yakov Yosef ben Reisel is hoping that he can finally celebrate his release from a Japanese prison which has been his home for almost four years.
As previously reported, there's been much correspondence between Japan and Israel, where the Japanese have been continuously raising questions on the younger boy Yossi Banda, together with many inquiries on various prisoners who were transferred from Japan in the past. The Japanese also questioned Israel’s policies regarding early release and parole proceedings and other issues regarding prisoner transfers. After the Japanese sent Israel their last official correspondence, the Israeli Ministry Of Justice sent back their response which was acknowledged by the Japanese Ministry Of Justice in mid-January. At the end of January, the Japanese wrote back to Israel; it is based on this letter that we are pinning our hopes for a Pesach release. In the letter, the Japanese wrote that they do not have any further inquiries into all matters and they are satisfied that they can now expedite the transfer of Yakov Yosef. While they did voice their displeasure at the way Israel handled the release of the younger boy Yossi, they were satisfied with the proceedings concerning Yakov Yosef's transfer which was already completed in September. They wrote that they will be working to close the file and will notify Israel when they can come and collect Yakov Yosef.
Such a letter is very rare to be written by the Japanese and it is only due to internal and external pressure that they acquiesced to pen these words.
Yakov Yosef will finish serving two thirds of his sentence on 2nd April. This is an important date because according to Israeli law a prisoner is eligible for parole after he has served 2/3rds of his sentence. Due to the misunderstanding / turmoil surrounding the early release of Banda, the Japanese wanted to ensure that Yakov Yosef will at least serve 2/3rds before releasing him to Israeli hands.
To be clear, the Japanese have no problem with Israel releasing Yakov Yosef or any prisoner on parole once he arrives in Israel; it is part of the international prisoner transfer treaty between Japan and many different countries and is standard procedure. The controversy that surrounded Banda was that the Japanese felt that his sentence was commuted in Israel to enable him to have already served 2/3rds of his sentence and be eligible for parole earlier than originally agreed. In Yakov Yosef's case this is now no longer applicable, as he has almost completed his two thirds and, thus, they have no problem with him being released on parole once he arrives in Israel.
Yakov Yosef is aware of his potential release and his spirits have been lifted because of it. He has had a difficult winter with freezing temperatures and I wouldn't like to say the rest! He has visitors who keep him aware of the situation. His father, who has visitation right, has been visiting him every month for the past few months and is actually there now. Yakov Yosef's spirits are B"H fine, though his spirits have been shattered from time to time. Six months ago, he thought he was going home and it didn't happen. Every day is a struggle as he deals with the potential possibility “Will I get the good news today?” .
Yakov Yosef will now not have to serve in prison in Eretz Yisroel. Even if he were to arrive in Eretz Yisroel tomorrow, the process of accepting and evaluating a prisoner takes around three weeks, by which time he would be eligible for parole and therefore will no longer enter a prison. When Yakov Yosef arrives in Eretz Yisroel, he will immediately be interviewed and go before a parole board, with a plan implemented in agreement with his family and he will be released on his parole date April 2nd.
Pesach now plays a big role and the Japanese are aware of the tense situation that lies upon all of us. An official letter was sent and we made them aware of Pesach and its significance. While every year we send Yakov Yosef matzos for Pesach, this year if it would cholila become necessary to buy matzos it would look like Erev Tisha B’Av rather than Erev Pesach. He has been there for four years in a row for Pesach already; four is enough, more than enough. If we were to have to buy him matzohs this year it would be very, very sad.
While Purim is now over and everyone is focusing on Pesach preparations, for Yakov Yosef and his family, every day is difficult. It’s a very intense, scary matzav for them, not knowing what will come and what the new day will bring. If any news occurs, we will be notified immediately and we will in turn notify the public.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO DAVEN FOR YAKOV YOSEF BEN REISEL!!
Be'Nissan nigalu ubeNissan asidim lehigoel, may H-shem redeem all of us very soon.
It's interesting to note that the Jewish community in Iran is by far pretty large, 25,000. These Jews are "protected" under Shariah Law, which has both advantages and disadvantages. However, they are supposedly not harrassed unless being accused as spying for Israel, the state. Due to the Islamic regime, more Jews have done teshuva and returned to Hashem in Iran. The married women cover their hair (with scarves) thus, according to our holy Sages (including The Chofetz Chaim) brings blessings to the community. If the married Jewish women in SOI (State of Israel) were to cover their hair too, they also would bring blessings to SOI. But alas, that's not so.
There are tombs of tzadikim in Iran today - - Daniel, Mordechai, Ester, Habakuk, Chananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Watch the 3rd video below.
There are four Jewish charity hospitals in Iran, owned by Jews but employ both Jews and moslems. Jews apparently are doing well in this country, living under Moslem rule. If Iran were to take over the SOI today, would the Jews be safer in Israel or in Iran? Probably in Iran, as long as you live with a low profile and not say anything against the regime. Well, this is true too in Israel -- limited free speech. Ok, SOI will allow Arab Moslems to speak out against Israel, but will not allow Jews to speak out against Israel. So, which is better? Living under Zionist rule, or under Islamic rule?
Many Iranian Jews made aliyah and were disappointed, the same way, many American Jews who made aliyah and were disappointed as well for similar reasons.
Some Iranian Jews have come to Israel only to be disappointed because of the lack of religious observance and the immodesty that prevails on the street. They are bothered especially by the rude and rowdy behavior that the kids pick up in the schools. They make the mistake thinking that the Israeli secular school is similar to the schools in Iran where modesty and respect are part of the daily life. Unfortunately, they are disturbed to see the disgraceful manner in which their children begin to behave when they enter the secular Israeli school system. On the other hand they do not want to send their children to the religious schools because they want their children to have a strong secular education.
Source: JewishMag
Regardless, living under Islamic rule, would require the Jewish women to be modest. That is most important. Modesty brings blessings, regardless of whether you are in Israel, in America or in Iran. The disadvantages are due to shariah law, discrimination against non-moslems in various areas of work and government is apparent, similar to many other shariah-law governments.
Here are few videos showing Jewish life in Iran, from various points of view.
And lastly, a secular video about the Cyrus Cylinder, which contains the history of the Persian Jews during Cyrus' permission to let the Jews return to Israel to rebuild the Temple. However, that was short-lived, as when the Jews left, the Persian economics collapsed and the Jews who haven't yet crossed the Euphrates River (to the west) had to be recalled. You can imagine Wall Street collapsing because there's no Jew left there.
Finally, a worldwide Tehillim invite to recite these chapters - 28,32,79,92 and 22 - tomorrow, on Taanis Esther at 11 am your local time for unity.
We have had a warm US winter, Hashem diverted most of the rain and snow storms to Israel.
The Kinneret has been reported to rise sharply. Yesha is a beautiful place to live, minus the Arab villages surrounding Jewish towns and cities. Can't wait for Moshiach to come.
