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Idiots and Idiocy
2008-03-02 15:03:00
by Akiva at Mystical PathsForgive me for a moment while I resume my political ranting, for I can barely believe the idiocy and can barely restrain my words...- UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon says, "While recognizing Israel's right to defend itself, I condemn the disproportionate and excessive use of force that has killed and injured so many civilians, including children. I call on Israel to cease such attacks. Israel must fully comply with international humanitarian law and exercise the utmost restraint. Incidents in which civilians have been killed or injured must be investigated and accountability must be ensured."As I've stated before, I AGREE with this type of statement. Israel's response should be proportionate, it should prepare 90 anti-personnel artillery shells (the number fired at Israeli civilians in the last 3 days) and fire them directly at Gaza civilian targets. THAT would be proportionate!Instead, Israel carefully targets enemy soldiers and weapons depots and su...
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Correction: Mistranslation & Media Libel
2008-03-02 15:00:00
by Akiva at Mystical PathsThanks to commentor Rikva who pointed out "Reuters mistranslated (Deputy Defense Ministor) Vilnai. He said 'destruction' = 'shoah', NOT holocaust 'Hashoah'." Here's a full article on that point...(National Review Online) A Reuters mistranslation of remarks by Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai this morning has triggered an international news libel against Israel.Among the news outlets jumping on the bandwagon are those that have previously been accused of deliberately attempting to stir up anti-Semitism through false and inflammatory coverage of Israel.They include several British-owned or British-based media. For example, at the present time the following headlines can be found on these websites:Reuters: Israel minister warns Palestinians of “shoah”The BBC: Israel warns of Gaza ‘holocaust’The Guardian: Israeli minister warns of Palestinian ‘holocaust’The Times (of London): Israel threatens to unleash ‘holocaust’ in GazaIn...
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Signs
2008-03-02 00:33:00
by Akiva at Mystical PathsToday was a lovely day, the weather was absolutely fantastic, except I kept hearing these low frequency booms. At first I thought we were having a minor earthquake again, like a week ago. But by the third one, too many in too short a time.Of course, after Shabbat I found out that things have finally hit the fan in Gaza. The Palestinians cry peace and abuse while launching more and bigger missiles, maiming and killing more Jewish civilians intentionally (that's called an international war crime, by the way, Mr. Secretary Ban Ki Moon, not a cycle of violence, not calming steps for peace, a war crime). The Israeli government has bowed as low to the Americans and Europeans as possible, avoiding doing all but the smallest defense actions. They ignored a major town and multiple villages under fire for over a year. They ignored the maiming of tens and the murders of their citizens. Be quiet and let it work out, they were told.But the Palestinians see only weak...
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Basic Info
2008-02-29 08:32:00
by Akiva at Mystical PathsMany have questions about Judaism, and the basic practices certainly can seem different viewed from the outside, especially if one is looking at the commonly called Ultra-Orthodox. I received this basic info question...Not to be mocking or disrespectful in any way but I always wanted to ask a person who is Jewish this... Do you guys still do animal sacrifices for your sins? Just wondering.I try to be respectful in this and I want an honest answer, but I've gotten rude replies when asking others. Could you answer this question for me please? Thank you.Here's my reply...The answer is no. Those sacrifices you refer to were performed only in 1 location, in the Temple of G-d (in Hebrew called the Beis HaMikdash). This temple was located on the mountaintop in Jerusalem.This holy temple was destroyed 1,938 years ago. Since sacrifices were permitted only there, none have occurred since. A little more info here, a decent Wikipedia overview.Since that time, p...
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In Range
2008-02-28 16:27:00
by Akiva at Mystical PathsRafi at Life in Israel writes of his trip to S'Derot, and literally being under Kassam fire yesterday.I live, oh, maybe 30-40 miles from S'Derot. I also live within Kassam range of the Shomron-Yehuda (West Bank). People are going about their business, Shabbos shopping & preparations are in progress. We don't feel our brother's pain.A friend called from America, frantic in hearing the reports of what's going on. He lived in S'Derot for a while, couldn't take it anymore. He called from Texas. He knows their pain first hand, he feels it, but couldn't stay with no light at the end of the tunnel.Yesterday evening the bus drivers were talking about it, the taxi drivers were talking about it, and the missiles fell. The world news shows pictures of poor palestinian families in anguish because terrorists were launching from their yard and their homes got hit in return fire. The news didn't mention that.It also didn't show pictures of the shell shocke...
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A Visit to Lod
2008-02-27 23:57:00
by Akiva at Mystical PathsLod, Israel is not the kind of place that you wander by for a tourist visit. It's primary claim to fame is probably that Israel's airport is officially within city limits. It's unusual among Israeli cities, in that it's a town with a mixed Israeli Jewish and Israeli Arab population, both of which were much in evidence.I wasn't there for an extended visit, but what I saw was an industrial town, a somewhat poor town, but with many synagogues and yeshivas...A main drag area, palm trees always spruce things up... A mix of some new buildings, old buildings, and workshops dotted the area...Things like transmission towers and junction buildings were also mixed in. However, a nice California like greenery offered a redeeming feature...Not too bad from the distance, closer up shows an area that's hurting...Unlike other areas I've been, neither the taxi drivers I dealt with nor these area residents in the middle of the day seemed on the go...(Faces intent...
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The Light of a Mitzvah
2008-02-27 22:59:00
by Akiva at Mystical PathsChapter 40 of Tanya (by the first Lubavitcher Rebbe, HaRav Shneur Zalman of Liadi) has an interesting discussion about kavanah (concentration/focus/meditation) in tefilah (prayer), Torah learning, and mitzvot.It discusses specifically how maintaining a kavanah, a focus, that the prayer or learning or mitzvah is 'for it's own sake' allows these to be elevated to the highest worlds and directly connect with the light of the Ein Sof (the Infinite) via the Higher Will.What's especially interesting to note is the end of this discussion, where the Alter Rebbe helps us understand what will be different in the time of Moshiach...(the prayer or learning or mitzvah with it's kavanah) shines forth and is revealed with a great and infinite brightness that cannot shine forth and be revealed at all in any manner or form as long as the letters and the mitzvah are still in this material world, until the era of the end of days, when the world will be uplifted from it'...
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Save Yerushalayim
2008-02-27 21:13:00
The sacredness of Jerusalem is the central theme of the Jewish tradition. Everyone wants to save Yerushalayim from being chopped up including the secular, religious, zionists, orthodox, left, right, central, and Jewish secular rappers...Support the Path! - Posted at Mystical Paths, MPaths.com.
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Palestinian Cannibalism
2008-02-27 06:47:00
by Akiva at Mystical PathsHaving previously taught their children from the youngest age to kill the Jews, bathe in their blood, and play with their body parts (all of these are documented REALITIES that have actually occurred), now they are teaching their children to EAT the enemy. Yes, you heard that right.Palestinian Media Watch - Here. (Scroll down on that article, the top talks of EATING the Danes, the bottom of EATING the Jews.)Mmm mmm mmm, Jew-kabob, Jew-burger, Jew-warma. I'm not sure you could match this in a Stephen King horror novel. AND YOU THINK YOU CAN MAKE PEACE WITH THESE 'PEOPLE'? They are preparing their next generation to be enemies beyond human measure.Support the Path! - Posted at Mystical Paths, MPaths.com.
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The Spiritual Perspective - Why Do A Mitzvah?
2008-02-25 22:36:00
by Reb Gutman Locks at Mystical PathsThere are a number of reasons you can give for doing a mitzvah. Your reason for doing the mitzvah indicates the spiritual reality you are experiencing.The sages tell us that when you want to encourage a person to do mitzvahs, you can tell him that if he does them he will get a huge reward in the World to Come. Then, hopefully, as he becomes accustomed to doing them, he will learn to do them for the right reason. So, what then is the right reason?Some people do mitzvahs simply because they were taught to do them. They have been raised with these customs and have been doing them their entire lives. They never stop to ask themselves why they are doing them. Others do them because they enjoy doing them. Many do them for social reasons—everyone around them is doing them. Some do them because they see that an organized religious life leads to a better family life. Some do them because they love G-d and want to please Him. Most religious Jews say that...
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Dawn?
2008-02-25 22:32:00
Excerpted from Rabbi Ariel Bar Tzadok of Kosher Torah.com...Many today look at our troubled times and see all types of Messianic prophecies being fulfilled around us. I agree that many prophecies are being fulfilled; some more profoundly than others. Yet, none of this means that the dawn of the Messianic era is immanently upon us. Heaven works according to its own calendar; therefore the actual advent of the Mashiah might be a long way off, or then again it might be tomorrow. What is certain is that prior to the coming of Mashiah, there must first be the restoration of some of the lost lines of communication (to Shamayim) that existed prior to their being severed.
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An Awesome Story of the World of Truth
2008-02-25 09:01:00
...over at Heichal HaNegina.And another one over at A Simple Jew.
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What the.... ???
2008-02-24 21:25:00
by Akiva at Mystical PathsI received this email off a mailing list I subscribed to, completely unrelated to religious topics. All I have to say is, what the ??? Is this type of thought process going on for real in some US quarters? This came from a relatively reputable person in a position of public authority in a US Northeast state. It's unclear if this person was just forwarding other sentiments, or added some of their own...2nd Amendment, Federal Government Actions Are Grounds For Immediate SecessionI was just down in Tennessee an few weeks ago and those boys are ready for Civil War, the rematch! Thought they were right the first time, and awaiting the word... And they are not alone.Buddy of mine also suggested that if Obama wins its RaHoWa [editor's note, that's apparently a White Supremacist code word for Racial Holy War, which Wikipedia states "is the belief that white people should unite and undertake a holy war against Jews and non-whites."].I was at the Apple store i...

Successful Learning, Thank You!
2008-02-24 06:56:00
by Akiva at Mystical PathsA week ago, I traveled up to Tzfat (Safed) for a special siyum (celebration of completion of learning). Two young men finished Gemora Makkos. A few days later, another 8 young men did the same thing (different tractate).Ordinarily, this is nothing so special. Young men learning tractates of Gemora is pretty much the staple of the Torah learning system today. But these weren't ordinary young men.These young men had been abused by the system. Yes, abused. Some are ADD, some have learning disabilities (undiagnosed), some are just more artistic or creative than the average fellow. All of them ran into rigid environments that protect the core by pushing out the non-conformists. They were yelled out, punished, some actually physically restrained or hit, and generally told that their nature's where bad.When they thought of yeshiva, and by association the Torah world, a loving environment wasn't what came to mind. Torah became associated with degradatio...
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Meet the Future Peace Partner
2008-02-18 20:47:00
Thanks to blog reader and friend Danny for this eye opening video...Danny asked, "Where do they get those rifles from?" The answer is, these were provided by the US to the Palestinian Authority. 3 times the US has demanded Israel permit the transfer of weapons and ammunition. The total amount of rifles transferred is over 100,000, and over 1,000,000 rounds of rifle ammunition. The last request, umm, demand included over 30 Russian armored personnel carriers.This video was shot in Shechem (Nablus), currently under no one's control (technically under Palestinian Authority control). All US weapons previously delivered to Gaza were taken over and are in current use by Hamas.Support the Path! - Posted at Mystical Paths, MPaths.com.
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The Spirtual Perspective - Part 17
2008-02-18 07:10:00
by Reb Gutman Locks at Mystical PathsSometimes we can become very frustrated when trying to do a mitzvah. There could be any number of things causing the problem. It might be lack of funds, transportation, or maybe the person we are trying to help is not cooperating. It just does not seem to be working.One of my rough times comes when I am trying to help a bunch of young kids to put on tefillin. Obviously, this should be a time of great joy, but still, they hold their arms like loose strands of limp spaghetti. This makes helping them so much more difficult. I ask them to stiffen their arms and they try to help, but they just do not know which muscle to try to stiffen. It is so easy to become frustrated, even hot at a time like this. It?s like trying to bind loose leather straps on floppy, rubbery arms. It?s easy to say something that could (G-d forbid) ruin the kids? experience.At times like this, when you begin to feel frustrated, before you blow up, think of someone you love, some...
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Down In The Sewer
2008-02-17 21:31:00
by Akiva at Mystical PathsWhen we think, metaphorically speaking, of being dragged down into the sewer, we think of (G-d forbid) encountering inappropriate sights. Or, being bombarded with negative stimulus that leads to inappropriate thoughts. We think the opposite of kedushah (holiness) is large stinking piles of sewage.Of course, such things do exist. And just like coming in contact with sewage truly can infect and be deadly physically, these things can do so spiritually.But the Yetzer Hara (the evil inclination) doesn't often try to draw one into sewage, for most people just won't go (at least not in the beginning).When we think of great troubles in life, we think of those who (Lo Alaynu, please G-d not to us!) encounter a tragedy. A car accident that seriously injures (G-d forbid). A fire that costs lives (Chas v'Shalom). Interaction with extreme violence (crime, terrorism).But, people that enter such times enter a different world. One is not drawn down at such a time, one i...

Links of Interest
2008-02-17 21:12:00
Making Aliya Me'Ahava vs. Aliya Miyir'ahTremors in The Temple MountThe End of Israeli Democracy
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UN Condemns Egypt for Economic Blockade of Gaza!
2008-02-17 10:51:00
by Akiva at Mystical Paths(AUP) NY - The United Nations General Assembly, in coordination with the United Nations Security Council, has condemned Egypt for their ongoing blockade of Gaza and the horrendous impact on the civilian population. The resolution specifically stated that "Egypt is destroying the lives of 1.5 million civilians simply to pressure a neighboring power."UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said, "Egypt's recent threats to forcibly re-close their border with Gaza and stave off the flow of supplies is a crime against humanity." The Secretary General called on all Arab nations to stop using refugee lives as a diplomatic weapon.NOT! Because, that would make sense in a world of truth. Instead, we get this feces fed to us...Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan?s King Abdullah met Saturday at Sharm el-Sheik, condemning the Israeli ?siege on the Gaza Strip? and calling for ?an end to the blockade on the Palestinian people, which causes them much suffering.?which...
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Aliyah Update: The Humor, The Angst
2008-02-16 20:39:00
by Akiva at Mystical PathsAliyah is almost impossible without either a good sense of humor, a good attitude, or both. We lost ours for a couple of weeks, but there's some hope its coming back...- We tried to make a doctors appointment for one of our daughters. The receptionist insisted she couldn't as the computer said our daughter was out of the country. As she was standing next to us, this was rather bizarre. She couldn't fix it, but could be pushed into making the appointment anyway. You just gotta laugh.- Local yeshiva's wouldn't let our boys in as they don't speak Hebrew (yet) and therefore wouldn't be able to get along. After great struggle we finally got one to relent after arranging ulpan (Hebrew language class) in parallel. Turns out they love and are getting along great (thank G-d) in Hebrew yeshiva class, but detest ulpan (seems Israeli teachers can't control a room full of Anglos). Completely counter-intuitive and opposite our concerns. Laugh or cry? Our cho...
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The Reality of Politics versus The Reality of Spirituality
2008-02-14 23:34:00
Neshama emailed this comment about the recent political posts...Your blog is billed as Mystical, but where is the mystical side of this coming election fiasco comment you posted? Since when has the US spent over 2 (two) years on pre-election dancing? This was never included in the constitution and only began in the early 19th Century (in order to control and fix elections).With all of the political and social disruption in the Holy Land, all of the possible scenarios of Divine Intervention to be seen, world economics on a see-saw, spiraling out of recognition, all of the weird weather conditions rumbling over the globe, how can one think this is business as usual.Who is a Wise Man? ? One Who Can See What is Being Born [Tamid 32(a)]Sharing some thoughts with you. This is serious and everyone is asleep.Maybe everyone should begin informing their loved ones and friends. So many things are quietly going on in the background of our busy lives while we are blindly focused on family matter...
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Unease Revisited
2008-02-14 23:25:00
by Akiva at Mystical PathsAs I posted a seemingly anti-Obama article, a reader and Obama supporter requested I post some salient points on the other side. I think that's only fair...(A reader writes...) I'm bothered by the picture you chose to include in your post. It's fake and we all know that. Somehow these fake pictures have a way of getting into peoples minds and becoming real. I'm sure you guessed, but I am an Obama supporter. As a supporter I don't mind if you vote against him, think he's the worst candidate ever, and bad for Israel. That's your right, I disagree, but those are fair opinions.What isn't a fair opinion is carrying on about him being a Muslim. He made a commitment to a church, was baptized, and attends regularly. But somehow these lies persist. I don't understand how they do. And when I see how quickly lies like this spread I get afraid.I'm not trying to convince you that Senator Obama is the best thing ever. I just would like to see some of the...

Let there be NO DOUBT
2008-02-14 09:01:00
that the UN hs COMPLETELY and TOTALLY against Israel...The wonderful Dry Bones shares this comic, which he notes on his blog is DIRECT QUOTES FROM THE UN SPOKESPERSON...DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICES OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL"Middle East Statement:A statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. The Secretary-General has noted today's announcement of an agreed ceasefire in Gaza, and commends Egypt for its continuing efforts to calm a volatile and worrying situation. He calls for all parties to abide by the terms of the ceasefire and to move quickly back to the process of national dialogue in the pursuit of national unity."Question: You read a statement about the situation in Gaza before and I know it's difficult to change terminology, but we have a new Secretary-General now, so let me try it again. A year and half after the last Israeli withdrew from Gaza, the UN system still...
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Unease
2008-02-13 20:46:00
by Akiva at Mystical PathsSomeone requested the following to be posted. Now, given Barak Obama's background, there may be legitimate concern that he has significant islamic sensibilities or leanings. There's been no actual hints of this in his political career or his campaign positions, but there is in his personal background.Now, Mitt Romney (who's campaign just closed) was the last candidate to encounter such a problem. His mormon background and faith, and the general intensity of people of that faith's involvement with their church leaders, led some to ask if a man of that faith can be faithful to the role of President of the United States.The man before that who encountered such a problem was Yosef Liberman (Joe Liberman), who was the Democratic Vice Presidential candidate in the last US election. Could that Jew be trusted not to put Israel's concerns first over that of the United States? Could a Jew who won't work on Saturday and won't eat certain foods be Vice Presi...

In the Clouds
2008-02-13 06:09:00
by Akiva at Mystical PathsAfter a long day of driving, I'm somewhat limited to sharing some images of the holy city of Tzfat (Safed) on a wintery day...On the way up the mountains to Tzfat, they begin to burst with green after the rains of blessing...On a grey and raining day, the neighborhoods sulk...The city of mystics in the mountains finds itself not with a storm above it, but within the clouds itself...The ancient cemetery, the resting place of mekubalim and tzaddikim of so many generations past, where the holy Ari, zt"l, is visited daily, is neither empty of holy souls, nor those who would seek them, even in the midst of the storm...The mikvah of the Ari zt'l awaits those who come for it's cleansing and freezing waters. In the winter it's both freezing outside and freezing inside, yet always warm for the neshamah.The hill behind and above the mikvah is now bare, struck by a Katyusha during the Lebanon war the bushes and trees burned away, it seems nothing has yet regrown....
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Culture War
2008-02-11 23:04:00
by Akiva at Mystical PathsYitz, commenting on my Defending the Torah vs. Loving Your Fellow article wrote:"While I can "hear" your point to a great extent, I think you kinda lost it in your last sentence, even tho it was in parenthesis:(Of course, it is possible in Israel that some violently secular policeman did choose to cruise a religious neighborhood on Shabbos just to upset the residents. I prefer to look with a good eye, however.)Where is your good eye toward the Chareidim? Do you really feel their pain? If it were Yassamnikim coming thru a Nitzan or other former Hitnatkut area & they booed him, how would you react? If Sharon got out of his coma & drove thru?I realize that I'm probably in the minority, but I have to agree with most of what Ben-Yehuda wrote above. I also once heard from a Rav I highly respect, that the Chareidim shout "Shabbos" out of pain, their pain of seeing another Jew defiling the sanctity of the holy Day. In addition, they say it for themselves - as a k...
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Shomer Shabbos
2008-02-11 21:35:00
Commentor Sheron wrote the following,in response to Defending the Torah vs. Loving Your Fellow......Many years ago when I was not Shomer Shabbos (not Shabbos observant) I drove to Jerusalem to visit a friend. At the entrance to Jerusalem, near the traffic lights that were in the middle of the road, sat an old charedie ("ultra-orthodox" religious) man. He was shaking his finger at every car that passed. He did more to remind me of what it means to keep Shabbat than any person chasing a car and yelling 'Shabbos'. His quiet protest. The effort that he made to gently chastise us "koffrim" (rebellious ones) brought many back. True Ahavat Israel (love of your fellow).

The Spiritual Perspective, Part 16
2008-02-11 11:58:00
by Reb Gutman Locks at Mystical PathsThen, what is the spiritual? If we cannot define it, or taste it, how do we know that it is genuine? Is every spiritual experience positive?Be careful here. There are many spiritual possibilities in the world, and the vast majority of them turn out to be extremely negative. Why ?turn out? to be negative and not simply, ?are negative?? Because, in their initial stages they seem positive, very positive. Almost every religion has some type of spiritual manifestation. Some of these experiences are induced by fasting, chanting, or intense belief. Some come about from meditative techniques, asceticism, or from unclean spiritual practices, such as necromancy or magic.The Zohar teaches that whatever man becomes attached to in his spiritual practice, that will be what he brings down from the spiritual world.[i] This means that even unclean practices bring some type of spiritual results! This is why it is so essential to live within the physical specificat...
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Holy Veggies!
2008-02-10 21:17:00
by Akiva at Mystical PathsThe first shemittah vegetables are starting to show up in the market. These are the ones that have had the majority of their grown in the shemittah, the 7th year of rest for the land.The label on this package of potatoes reads:Otzar Beis Din - The Organized Jewish CourtShemittah Shabbos Ha'Aretz - The Rest Day of the Land"And it was for you to eat."These veggies where gathered for the Otzar Beis Din from the fields of Jewish farmers that followed the requirements of the Beis Din from the 6th year, and there is no concern of the prohibition of s'fichin (a prohibition against gathering produce in one's field which grew of it's own accord [from seeds that fell in the 6th year] due to concern that some would sow in the 7th year and proclaim it to be fallen seed).They were strictly supervised, and there is no concern of them being mixed with produce that violates shemittah (a farmer who intentionally sows his field in the 7th year and brings the produce to ...
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S'Derot Protest
2008-02-10 07:21:00
by Akiva at Mystical PathsHaving a few children have their legs blown off has reawakened people to the situation in S'derot. Though some would like to imply the "little" Kassam rockets are a joke that can be ignored, the ongoing bombardment is ruining peoples lives and peace of mind. Oh yeah, and occasionally blowing children's legs off.They're protesting this morning in Jerusalem, here's the announced protest plan:A convoys of cars from S'derot will be leaving around 8:00 AM toward Jerusalem - they plan to get to the entrance of Jerusalem around 9:30. People from all over the country will be meeting them at the entrance. Then the demonstration will move on to the Prime Minister's Residence.For more information, please call Yehuda Freudman, 050-8736348.Support the Path! - Posted at Mystical Paths, MPaths.com.
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