Anne Frank - of Blessed Memory

Here's a juicy niblet of the past recently uncovered, about Anne Frank.
Click here.

Square-Faced Tablets of the 10 Commandments

The simple and real reason the tablets of the 10 commandments commonly appear rounded on their tops, like two semicircles, relates to historical factors. Back when Jewish books had to pass through Gentile censorship, they had to be printed by Gentile publishers who printed this image on the first page of Jewish publications. Jews paid the matter little attention, but this 1st-page custom propagated from generation to generation.

The fact is this image of the tablets rounded at their tops contradicts what the Gemora (B. Basra 14a) tells us. There it states clearly the tablets' dimensions and that they filled, with two other items, the hollow of the ark - in such a way that no empty space remained therein. The tablets were 6 x 6 x 3 (tefachim) and flat on all sides (for rounded edges would leave unused, empty space).

A book by a rabbi a few decades ago, published in Israel, proved the accuracy of this Gemora. Nevertheless, the rounded design remains in prominent display in far too many synagogues across the world, perpetuating the error - one that stands in contradiction to what our cherished Gemora teaches.

Besides in synagogues, they abound as well in educational institutions where young children learn in their formative years. This inaccuracy embellishes Jewish flyers, receipts or school certificates. Jews thus have the wrong impression and take for granted this erroneous appearance. 

The source of this mistake derives from Gentile persuasion and history. It contrasts with what Gemora teaches. When the tablets are rendered rounded, it enhances the non-Jewish version over the words of our venerable sages.

Similarly, this same perverted phenomenon holds true for the shape of the Temple Menorah, which too has a history of distortion, as written here.

Here, for example, is a picture of this distortion, in the famous Hurva Synagogue in The Old City of Jerusalem, which, in these very days was again inaugurated (for it had been destroyed and rebuilt a few times). This same distortion can be seen even in most orthodox synagogues around the world.

How to explain it? People just don't know.

The Wonders of Hashem

The very largest creature we know of is the Blue Whale. Surprisingly, it's a mammal. It milks its 2,000 lb. newborns, and has 10 tons of warm blood. It's 100 feet long. The size of its heart is the size of an American compact car. It's more than 10 times as heavy as a large elephant, some 200 tons (400,000 lbs)! Its tongue weighs more than an elephant. It can swim at 23 miles an hour and can dive up to a thousand feet in depth.

How do they feed? I don't know. Except that it feeds on Krill, a tiny fish about the size of your pinky (see side photo).

But to see the incredible way the Humpback Whale "bubble-feeds", see this short video from a previous post.

By the way, this latter video I searched for and found only after a Friday-night guest of mine told me about it. He was a diver in the Israeli Army and afterwards got a job fixing optic fiber cables of the internet - on the ocean floor! He said he never was religious until he saw how puny he was in the face of the awesome phenomena he experienced far beneath the sea's surface. Then he told us about the feeding behavior of the Humpback Whales which he witnessed for himself - from his vantage point near the seabed. He also made the point that the majority of this earth is BELOW water and so we hardly even know 5% of what's really existent in nature.

A Tribute to Martin Grossman

I know nothing of this governor Charlie Crist, except that he's cold-hearted and cozies up to the goon in the White House.

He ordered the execution of Martin Grossman who 25 years ago, at 19 years old, did an insane act, under the influence of drugs. There's no question Mr. Grossman suffers from some dementia, but all these years as he grew up he was remorseful for what he did and was mild-mannered. He acted, then, on the spur of the moment and thereafter foolishly tried to hide the evidence.

The governor's email, in response to emails to him, allocates much verbosity to Mr. Grossman's attempts to cover up his act of murder. As if these attempts of cover-up 25 years ago, in and of themselves, constitute a stronger case against the man. And he talks about the ruthlessness of the act, that Miss Park was hit on the head with his gun, and so on.

Since then, Martin has become a docile human being. His life could easily have been spared. His victim happened to be a law officer. What difference should that make? The poor man had an abusive father and a sick mother. Did he plan the killing. No. It all happened on the spur of the moment.

Much worse people, who killed and cold-bloodedly planned their killing, are spared. The video in the previous post shows they even receive benefits most Americans today do not have.

Remember the case of Limerick Nelson who stabbed Yankel Rosenbaum to death with a knife in the back. The guy is walking free today! Nelson's lawyer said the alcohol made him do it. And what about O.J. Simpson? And what about the guy who killed Rabbi Kahana? He too was acquitted, though he held a smoking gun! Floridian justice looks no different.

Martin Grossman's last words were an apology to the family, and a prayer; He recited the verse "Shma Yisrael" (to acknowledge G-d is The One And The Only) and then added 2 words: "Ahavas Yisroel" (which means "love of fellow Jews"). Why these 2 last words? Perhaps he was told about the outpouring of emails, calls and faxes on his behalf; And/Or he felt his death sentence derived in no small way from enmity towards Jews, and he defiantly stood proud with his people.

Here's his story by a witness who watched this monumental, sanctimonious person in his finest hour.

"The Day I Watched a Man Die"

Here's Crist's email:

Thank you for contacting me and sharing your concerns about the execution of Martin Grossman.

On December 13, 1984, Mr. Grossman violated the terms of his probation by leaving Pasco County and having a stolen firearm in his possession. In a routine stop, Florida Fish and Wildlife Officer Margaret Park found the weapon. When she reached for the radio in her patrol car to report him, Mr. Grossman attacked her with her own large flashlight, beating her over the head and shoulders 20 to 30 times. When Officer Park tried to fight back, Mr. Grossman took her .357 Magnum revolver and shot her in the back of the head, killing her.

Mr. Grossman took several carefully planned steps to cover up this horrible crime. The weapon was buried, and Mr. Grossman attempted to burn his clothes and shoes, which were later disposed of in a nearby lake. The following day, Mr. Grossman thoroughly cleaned the van and changed its tires to mislead law enforcement.

Officer Park’s autopsy revealed lacerations on top of her head, hemorrhaging inside the scalp and extensive fracturing of the skull. All of these injuries resulted from Mr. Grossman’s attack. The facts of this crime clearly meet the definition of heinous, atrocious and cruel, and his actions afterward demonstrate his well-reasoned attempts to cover it up.

The courts have fully reviewed Mr. Grossman’s legal claims, and his conviction and sentence have been affirmed by both the Florida Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court. Based on the facts and exhaustion of legal proceedings, and in accordance with Florida law, I signed his death warrant on January 12, 2010.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.

Here's what Crist is really saying: "I let him die because a law officer was the victim and the politically correct thing to do is kill him, even if he was mentally handicapped back then. Whatever else you say, I don't care about. Period."

UPDATE (11/2/10): Here.

A Glimpse of Geometry & Mathematics in Torah/Judaism

Here's a short, splendid lecture on geometry and math as it relates to Torah "structure", by the eminent Rav Yitzchak Ginzburgh of Kfar Chabad.

By the way: Here's a website that is a search engine for Torah "codes", and also can be used as a Concordance for Torah: TORAWARE

Forced Vaccinations - Gestapo Style

More on Vaccinations

by Charlotte Gerson

Our friends and readers will most probably remember a story we wrote up in our Newsletter, Vol 23, No. 1, Jan./Feb. 2008, reporting on the forced vaccination of kids in Maryland. In that case, armed police and attack dogs were used to intimidate parents in the effort to force them to have their kids vaccinated! Actually, there is no law that can be used, and the coercion mirrors Gestapo tactics!

The story was terrible to read but now additional details are coming out! The Maryland State’s Attorney, Glen Ivey, JD, refused to vaccinate his own children with the same vaccines he compelled thousands of children to endure on November 17, 2007. (Find all the material on the Internet under “Forced Vaccination: State’s Attorney Doesn’t Vaccinate his Own Kids, Just Ours!” Nov. 26, 2007.)

Parents were threatened with jail time and fines. It gets worse: Many of the children vaccinated in this roundup were already fully vaccinated; but the Prince George’s County School System admitted they had lost their records! This meant that because the school had been negligent with their records, the children were being subjected to double doses of the poisonous mercury preservative, thimerosal. Parents who had signed the legal exemption from vaccinations had the documents literally brushed aside, and were forced to have their children vaccinated anyway. When the parents and children reported to the school gym where the vaccinations would be given, they were ushered into a space surrounded by heavily armed SWAT teams accompanied by canine units.

There is an even uglier aspect to this story: Prince George’s County School District is mostly black. The district would lose $63.00 per child if they refuse to admit unvaccinated kids to the school! If 2,300 kids per day are not admitted to school, the state would lose $144,000 in State and Federal revenue! So they force them with snarling dogs and guns.

You can read the rest here, in her sample newsletter, on page 5.

Keren Keet's Cartoon

General Pershing's Answer to ISLAMOTERRORISM

The "political correctness" polluting our atmosphere turned many, especially those in government, to become effeminate or cowardly. Earlier in U.S. history it seems we were more clear-minded. Here's how General John J. Pershing eliminated Islamic terrorism:

The Rebbe's Blessing

This story spans 28 years. It's one of countless miracle stories of the Rebbe. The only reason I write it up is, I know Dovid Marciano from 19 years ago when I attended a weekly class in Chassidus he sponsored at his home in Israel.

David Marciano married in 1982. Three years later he travelled to New York to ask the Rebbe for a blessing for children. The Rebbe blessed him, but not specifically for children. This same scenario repeated itself 4 years later. Meanwhile they visited many doctors, underwent fertility treatments, but to no avail.

In 1989 David suffered a blast during a defense department job. Both hands were amputated at the wrist and iron claws were fit to both arms. It was at this point when I got to know him. He was a magnanimous personality. Despite his severe handicap, he continued to sponsor the weekly Chassidus class. His wife prepared for us wonderful hot tea to sip as we learned.

The year thereafter, the couple travelled again to the Rebbe, determined to request a specific blessing for children. Because of his injury he could not stand for hours to wait in line, so they were sent to the front of the line to see the Rebbe. Again the Rebbe blessed them but with no reference to children.

"I don't know where I got up the nerve," he says, "but I said to the Rebbe that I want a bracha for children. The Rebbe looked at both of us in the eyes, gave us another dollar and said, 'This is for the children to be born!'".

They left the Rebbe with elevated spirits. But over the years their faith did not go untested.

Twenty years passed since the Rebbe's blessing. Finally, after 28 years of marriage with no children, David's wife became pregnant. Three months ago he dreamt, for the first time in his life, of the Rebbe, who handed him a chocolate cake. He awoke drenched in sweat. Two weeks later, in Cheshvan, he was holding a new baby boy in his arms.
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UPDATE (May 15, 2017): Bumped into Marciano in 770 on Pesach Sheini. This is one chabadinfo.com pic of him there with his son.

Can Teeth Cause Psychogenesis?

You thought you were safe with an amalgam-filling of the tooth, or when they filled your root canal with amalgam metal. I would not at all be surprised if some young people, who were just fine during childhood, later developed mental problems because of these fillings.

When I told my dentist friend of this mercury radiation from the amalgam, he waved it off as nonsense. When I showed him this video (8 min.) that demonstrates it, he began to doubt his own conviction. Most dentists (and certainly most doctors) just don't know.  You can watch the video, and get more information, here.

Up Syndrome

Most people have no idea Down's Syndrome children are so very special children, the light of the household. Here's a really fine woman (introduced by a wonderful guy) who does understand. Kudos to the Palin family and to Glenn Beck. May they all enjoy ever more success.

The trisomy 21 syndrome, described by Dr. J. L. Down, ought better to be called "Up Syndrome".

A War Waged to Preserve Jewish Spirituality

It's naive to think the Maccabees rebelled against the ruling empire only because they begrudged governance by outsiders. For over 200 years the Land of Israel was under foreign rule - so what suddenly happened? The First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, who then ruled. Then came the Persians, and under Koresh the Second Temple was built. The next ruler of this land was Alexander of Macedonia. Control thereafter fell into the hands of the Greek Assyrians - so why did they revolt just now?

The answer we find in the Chanuka prayer, "In the time of Matisyahu ... when the vile [Grecian empire] wanted to blank out from Jews Your Torah and to have them transgress Your laws, Your wishes."

The Greek Assyrians saw man, or himself, as the "center" of adoration and ability. They did not object to man-made codes of behavior.

So as long as Jews accepted Torah as an intellectual effort, a book with sound advice for health, business or education, if that's what people wanted to pursue - they had no problem with this. What disturbed them was the association of Torah to aspects of divinity and sanctity. Against such claims they resisted oppressively. They prohibited all attributions in Torah to G-d and His will.

These Gentiles did not want to kill Jews. They wanted Jews to live with them. They wanted only to deny Jews their attachment to G-d. So they forced Jews to renounce their Jewish tradition or their beliefs in holiness and G-d.

To make things worse, a Jewish majority also opposed religious attitude and preferred the secular Grecian lifestyle. These assimilated Jews, known as Hellenists, joined the ranks of the Gentiles. During the war, they actually fought on the side of the Gentiles!

The Chanuka miracle happened in the merit of the few righteous Jews who could no longer tolerate the spiritual oppression of the Greeks.

Today, after some 2,200 years, things haven't changed much. This is why the Chanuka blessing reads, "... miracles you performed ... in those days - in ours." For this struggle is an age-old struggle. Today too the minority Jewish religious element has its opponents who want to wipe out from Jewish education all mention of G-dliness and holiness - to be replaced by artificial rationale.

Today's "reform movement" is the modern-day equivalent of those Hellenists. The reform outlook treats Torah as a "nice book" - but not a holy book. They say, it "most probably" was written by some unknown author or authors. But why unknown? They don't know. This much they would admit; The authors of this book must have been "very smart" or "wise". And why has it achieved such high readership? They'd rather not speculate. And why would they too base their not-so-religious behavior on this book as their "source" - well, it's a great book, right? They consider this book part-history, part poetry (anything but divine!). That it is the authentic gift of G-d to the Jews - let's not be ridiculous! No doubt they most probably have a problem with this "esoteric" concept of "G-d" in the first place.

Is there a difference between the Hellenists of then and the reform movement of today? Yes. The Hellenists knew the other side and strayed therefrom (that's my guess). Today's reformists, except for a bitter few, are "infants kidnapped from birth" - as The Rebbe calls them. They never knew or were exposed to religious aspects of daily Torah life. From birth they grew up in an assimilated Gentile environment. For example, chances are 100% not a single reform "rabbi" today has forgone a college degree.  And I'll bet, also, their "temples" demand "membership admission". Okay, it's not a gladiator show, but the Rabbi should give them a good show for their money. Prayers, as in synagogue, to Hashem - what's that?

Chanuka is a holiday of lights, wherein every day its light is amplified, and wherein these lights must illuminate in public to bring light to others - especially to those "kidnapped from birth."

The Commandment to Make the Groom & Bride Happy

This commandment traces back to the sages. It's just that these Chabad boys take the tradition more seriously than others.

Visitors to the Temple of G-d

Suppose you invite someone to visit you at home; Would you not expect your visitor to behave properly? It would more than annoy you were he to spit on the carpet, or pocket a necklace – thinking you didn't see, right?

This is an analogy to how we might behave; For we too are visitors to this world - which is G-d's domain. Like that visitor, we too mustn’t do as we feel, in disregard of the master of this “house”. We too must behave properly.

But what constitutes proper behavior? How do we know what G-d expects of us?

The answers we find in the “Manual of Life” that G-d entrusted to the Jewish people. This supernatural event occurred in the Sinai Desert in the year 2,448, the day G-d gave Jews “The Ten Commandments”. Moses then took 40 years to complete the Torah as dictated to him by G-d, and by prophesy.

The Hebrew name “Torah” derives from the root word “to instruct”. The Torah, as a book of instruction, contains guidelines by which to live by – for both Jew and Gentile!

G-d chose the Jewish people as the Torah’s trustees. Jews must observe 613 laws contained therein that apply to them. Additionally, there are 7 laws meant for all Gentiles to observe. 

Starting with Adam and Eve, the first 10 generations were expected to observe 6 commandments. After the Great Flood, starting with Noah and his family, mankind received one additional commandment - thus the 7 Noahide Laws.  

Once the Jews received the Torah, they were obligated to disseminate these 7 Noahide Laws to Gentiles, among other obligations.

Eventually all Gentiles must acknowledge this Jewish role and that it derives via Moses (even though Noahide laws predate the Mount Sinai event by 16 generations, or 791 years).

This latter point is important. Were a Gentile to keep the 7 laws, perhaps because he grasps on his own their morality, or recognizes the inherent ideality these carry for world settlement, but refuses to recognize Moses as the mediator – this would disqualify this Gentile from being a Noahide. The giving of the Torah changed the nature of the heretofore Noahide obligations. Since that watershed event, Noahides must accept Moses into their realm of observance. This requirement is almost like an 8th commandment.

So were someone to ask you,"How many religions are there in the world?" The answer should be - "There are only 2 proper modes of decorum in the abode of The Almighty." Judaism is the behavior that conforms to the King’s expectations from His Jewish group of subjects. The 7 Laws of Noah constitute the framework of proper behavior for His Gentile group of subjects. These are two roles, for two groups of people – in the palace of the King.

There are only two ways to worship G-d. There are only two prescriptions of proper behavior in G-d’s domain: Jews serve one way, Gentiles in another.

Jewish Soldier Discipline - Rabbi Yisroel Ariel

Some 30 years ago the avalanche began. That's when prime minister Menachem Begin decided to withdraw from Sinai. Most members of parliament, believers in "The Peace Process", voted in favor of his decision.

At that time, "The Organization to Stop the Retreat" rose to stave off the withdrawal. One of their slogans asserted, "Today Yamit - Tomorrow Jerusalem!" Everyone mocked them, "On Jerusalem we'd never acquiesce!"

Well, look and see this now for a fact. When today a house is about to be built in Giloh, a suburb of Jerusalem, Washington announces, "There will be no construction (for Jews) in Jerusalem!" That's what happens, you give an inch, and they want a mile.

Our sages taught (Shabbat 105b), "Such is the ploy of the instigator of sin: Today he says, 'Just do this', and tomorrow he says, 'Just do that', and, finally - you end up worshipping idols!"

The same applies to military code: He who agrees to uproot "illegitimate" settlements, or agrees to these "last-resort" evictions, will end up violating Shabbat. And did we not see the destruction of Chavat Gilad, the Yeshiva at Chomesh, and Shvut Ami, as "religious" soldiers shamelessly desecrated the Shabbat?

Some respond, "The soldiers are not to blame; It's their officers!" Says Maimonides (Kings 3, 9), "If the King of Israel decrees a decree that opposes one from Torah - for example, to desecrate the Shabbat, we do not obey!" Maimonides goes on to explain, "Were a king to give an order, and one of his servants gives an opposing order, to whom do we listen to?" Every child knows we obey the king's order. But it turns out, what's clear to a child is not clear at all to rabbis and educators.

For see how one of the principals of Yeshivot Hesder ruled when soldiers from both the Shimshon and Nachshon brigades stood up in protest of the evictions:  He said, "As soon as a soldier dons an IDF uniform, he must obey military commands."

In other words, Torah is but a Purim masquerade; When you wear civilian clothing, you serve Hashem; And when you dress up in military uniform, you serve military officers and desecrate the Shabbat. This is his admirable ruling.

Unfortunately, this isn't a joke, nor a festive Purim ruling, but rather a Halachic decision a "renowned" Yeshivot Hesder principal enunciated. This Yeshiva principal is greater than Maimonides, greater than Rabbi Avrum Shapira, greater than Rabbi Goren, and greater than Rabbi Niryah, (all of blessed memory), all of of whom said to disobey such a command. This principal is, in fact, greater than G-d, the King of kings, Who says (Devarim 1, 8): "... Come and occupy the land"; Whereas this principal says, "Wear uniforms and chase the Jews out of the land."

Maimonides chides elsewhere (Bechorot 4, 4), "I've seen in Israel people called 'Principals of Yeshiva' who haven't learned even one day."

Dear Yeshiva principal: Let's follow in the footsteps of the brave students, the soldiers of Shimshon and Nachshon. These are today's heroes. Such as these our sages refer to when they say, "And from my students I learned the most!"

(Translated from sos-israel.com)