The End of Democracy- Baruch Hashem!- Parshat Vayeira 2026 5787

 Insights and Inspiration

from the

Holy Land

from

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

October 30 2026 -Volume 17 Issue 4 19^th of Cheshvan 5787

 

Parshat Vayeira

 

The End of Democracy- (Baruch Hashem!)

 

Click here below for print edition

(Weekly Newsletter - Parshat Vayeira 2026  )

The elections are over. Or they're not… It seems the next round is on their way. Because as I told the people asking me before the elections, I didn't think anything was going to come out of it. It's pretty obvious here that the nation is split. There's the pro-Bibi crowd- or at least those that feel that even if they don't like him- as I don't, there's no one else even close that could do half the job he's been doing- which again in my opinion, isn't even half the job that needs to be done. Yeah… this should've been over long ago.

 

On the other side you have the anti- Bibi crowd. It doesn't make a difference to them really anything besides getting rid of him. Most of it's personal and not political, by the way. So the facts don't really matter, Israel's security or better interests are irrelevant. They'll stop at nothing to get him out. Even if it means demonizing Chariedim, selling out to Arabs or allying themselves with foreign interests that are out to get us and even kill them. Their sinah/hatred is Kamtza /bar Kamtza level self-destructive. They'll die and sell the country out as long as Bibi comes with them.

 

The middle crowd is of course the Chareidim and Arabs, both really outsiders that have no real interest in the State or even it's betterment. It's about who can give us the most. Who will allow us to further our own personal agendas? Both by the way feel they're doing this in the name of Hashem or Allah. Both are basing themselves on the fact that the State itself is corrupt, is idolatrous, is anti-religious. Is a fraud and a sham and all about personal interests. They're the fastest growing voter bloc and will ultimately dominate the country. Imaginably if Qatar would find the Chareidim and give them free gas fill-up's as they did to the Arab voters in this past "democratic" election, Shas may not have gone down votes, Gimmel would've done better and probably most of these smaller burn-the-vote parties would've backed out. For the right price all of those important issues that they broke-off or didn't vote because of would've become irrelevant. Don't you love democracy…?

 

But, as I said, I think it's over now. I'm going to say something radical, like I always do, but I think it's going to happen. Or to be more accurate not happen. OK guys, ready? Here goes. There will no longer be another elected Prime Minister in Israel. Democracy is officially over. It may take a few more elections without results, but at the end no one is going to come together and form a government. The game is over. We're entering a new era. This is really the end of the end.

 

Before you knock me off and say that it's ridiculous. I'd like to first point out that there's a gemara that actually predicts and describes exactly that.

Sanhedrin 98A Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina says: The son of David will not come until the until the  'Malchus Hazalla'- the contemptuous kingdom will cease from the Jewish people.

Rashi on the spot say that refers to any rulership in Israel even a light and weak one.

Most of the commentaries understand that as Israel having a leadership that is under the same auspices as Edom- the western world. Democracy. Mashiach ain't coming until that last Golden Calf and the unfortunate pride we've been taking in the idea that we are "the only democracy in the Middle East" And we are a proud Jewish democracy. Until that idolatrous concept come crashing down. Which is exactly what I believe is happening.

 

See the problem with Democracy is that every citizen has a vote. If Israel would annex the West Bank into a one state solution and the entire Palestine was Israel, the next prime minister would inevitably be Palestinian. They'd have 2 million more voters and wouldn't even need Qatar's gas cards. It's why Israel is married to the two-state solution, even though the Arabs never once said they want it. In fact, quite the opposite, they're very clear they want River to the Sea. Even in this election the whole fallacy of this democratic process is clear. Arabs are controlling what's going on. Secular Israelis will literally follow them to the gas chambers even though they're cheating and not being democratic, because they want to bow down to this notion that this needs to be democratic here. And sadly, many on the right do as well. Mashiach can't come until this idea literally crumbles. Until it crashes and burns, which I believe we're seeing right now.

 

So if not democracy then what? How do we elect leaders? How is this country going to run? And don't tell me Mashiach, because the gemara is quite clear, that this has to happen before "Ben Dovid" comes… For that my friends, let's finally take a look at the parsha. Let's check out what Hashem's "Newspaper" had to tell us on the aliya of the day of the elections. Are you ready to hear a mind-blowing idea, that happened on perhaps one of the most consequential days in the Torah? It's the day that the redemption started. The day before Ben Dovid's spark came down to the world.

 

This week's parsha, which Chazal tell us happens on Pesach, begins right after the Bris of Avraham, the eternal covenant that all of his descendants still have until today. Last week, it was Yishmael that entered into that covenant along with all of Avraham's household. This week though we begin the true line of Avraham with the tiding of the angels that Sarah will finally have a child, Yitzchak. And it will be through him that the covenant will continue. But that's just the beginning of the day.

 

See it turns out that on the third aliya, which was Tuesday, the Torah tells us it was election day in the Torah as well. For the story jumps from Avraham to Sodom and to Lot. Lot, like Yishmael was also a contender for the legacy of Avraham and the covenant with Hashem. After-all he's Avraham's nephew and Sarah's brother. He's been with Avraham the entire time. He's the closest relative to take over that mission of Avraham. In fact he even moved to Sodom, Rashi tells us with the guarantee of Avraham that he would be there for him. He'll be on his right side.

 

Why's he there? Because he wants to bring Mashiach. He tried uplifting the land with his shepherds, although the time wasn't ripe yet. There was still work to do. So he moved out here. He's not necessarily the simple bad guy leaving Hashem and Avraham and going off the derech, as many of us have been given the image through out the years. We see that clearly from the sacrifice that he made on behalf of his guests and perhaps even more so, by the fact that the Torah tells us that the first thing he does is run for elections. On that very day of Pesach, Lot is elected to be the Prime Minister- or shofeit- of Sodom. A guy running away from Avraham and Hashem doesn't run for political office. He has an agenda. He has a platform. He's out there trying to save the world and bring Mashiach that is waiting in his loins to shine forth.

 

There are a few questions though about this narrative that I believe is worth considering. Number one, why is it coincidentally election that day? That seems a little bit strange. As well, why in the world would Sodom choose to elect a guy like Lot, an outsider, the right hand of Avraham and his primary student as their leader? This is the ultimate "insider city". They kill and torture anyone that's not from them, yet here, bizarrely enough they elect Lot as their leader. Finally, and perhaps strangely enough, it seems that right away they're ready to throw him out of office. To kill him. To take his daughters and his guests. Wow, talk about a short-lived campaign victory. What changed? They just enthusiastically elected him that morning. Were they a change government or not?

 

The answer perhaps is that they as well as Lot felt and heard the rumblings in the world of that incredible Pesach redemption day. Avraham, the savior of Sodom had wiped out Nimrod in what could've been an "end of days" war. Hashem has made an eternal covenant with him. Evil is being eradicated from the world. Egypt, Gaza, Avimelech, they're all coming around. The kelipos are being raised. There's a geula energy like never before. Things are happening that have never happened before and much like today, the world knows something big is going to happen. It's that platform that Lot comes to office. That there are snap elections taking place in Sodom. They're a city that wants to preserve itself. Maybe they as well smell in Lot that ruach of Mashiach. They recognize that the same old-same old doesn't work anymore. It's time for something new.

 

And thus Lot comes to office. His mandate, save Sodom. Bring Mashiach. Uplift the world. Conquer the land, that his shepherds tried to elevate, but that the time wasn't ripe yet to the final day where the glory of Hashem, who's miracles he had witnessed time and time again and been raised on will finally herald in. Yet, he fails. He misses the point. He's not Avraham. He's not Yitzchak. He doesn't have the strength to stand on one side of the world while the rest of the world is on the other. He's pragmatic. He wants to work within the system. He still believes in democracy and incremental change. At the end of the day, Lot is a follower and not a leader. And the fate of candidates like that, are is that their leadership is shilton ha'zola- it contemptuous, it's weak, it's not reflective of Malchus Shamayim. It can't reveal it either. Because at the end of the day it's more about you than Him.

 

The truth is there is perhaps no figure besides Avraham that the Torah shares so much information and stories about until now. We're introduced to Lot back in Noach right away with Sarah and he's always there following with Avraham. He's the ultimate chasid. He copies everything his Rebbi does, but he hasn't built up the internal reservoir to be able to lead himself. He's always the one going "ito" with him, he's the one "also walking along Avraham". He's pragmatic. He joins his party. He's part of the coalition. But at the end of the day. He has his own agenda. He's got his own flocks, his own shepherds, his own way of doing things. The only time where we find actually that he gives up his own agenda is when he stays silent in Egypt. After-all there, Pharaoh's giving out big bucks to the "brother of Sarah". And guess what he is? The actual brother of Sarah, while Avraham is really not. Yet, he holds himself back and acts selflessly for Avraham's sake. Probably losing out billions in the deal. It's that merit that ultimately saves him. But it really doesn't change him. He's not a leader. He can birth Mashiach, perhaps, but he can't be one.

 

This all comes to play on that election day morning. Lot is sitting pretty. His mandate to lead Sodom to a new era has begun. He was elected to teach them a new way. Yet, Lot is nervous about losing that shteller. He sees the angels and urges them to sneak in through the backdoor. To leave the dirt on their feet so that people will assume that he just got here. We can't change the laws in one day. It's a process. I'm just getting started. There's a system. There's a democracy. There's a supreme court and laws here. Yes, I'm working to change that and we'll eventually get there. But for today let's just not shake things up yet.

 

Sodom hears about this and comes banging on Lot's door. This is the moment. Can he change them? Will he lead them? Will he put his life on the line and keep his campaign promises? Or is he just another politician that made big promises but ultimately upon reaching office sells out like everyone else. The Torah tells us in what is a very cryptic and seemingly unnecessary verse.

 

Bereishis (19:6) And Lot went out to them to the opening and the door closed behind him…

 

This was his chance. This was the opening. They demanded the men. Was Lot man enough to keep his promises. Was there going to be a new era here? Is he going to be able to stand up to the protests. Will he shine the light of Avraham in the world? Will he bring Mashiach. Will he like Avraham tell them there is no fear of Hashem here? Will he bring those angels and their light out to Sodom? It's Pesach. He's making the Seder. This is his chance to slaughter that idolatry of the society he's living in. To open up that door for Eliyahu Ha'Navi. To tell them that Hashem will pour his wrath on the nations. On Chamas.

 

But he doesn't the door closes behind him. He instead negotiates. He compromises. Take my daughters. It's not the chareidim, but it's a good scapegoat. Leave the angels alone. They're part of my coalition. They're one of us. They're under my protection. I'm with you guys too… But slow down. Let's find a middle ground.

 

And that's where he fails. The people of Sodom see through the bluff and politics.

 

Gesh Halah- come close- go away. It's a fascinating term.

 

 Make up your mind Lot. Either your with us or against us. You can't be both. You came with this Echad- this One-ness to judge us, to lead us, and yet your judgement is just like ours. Just lite. They realize that Hashem isn't a halfway deal. They see that you can't claim to be the nation of Hashem and a Jewish state with desecration of Shabbos, with "Pride Parades", with churches and with mosques. That you can't claim to have a right to your biblical heritage land promised to Avraham Avinu from where we're meant to shine out the light of Hashem to the world and then hand it over to the Arabs. To give them voting rights. To bring them into your coalition. To allow them to desecrate His holy Mountain top where Yitzchak was offered as a sacrifice.

 

You're a phony Lot. You're not Mashiach. You can't inspire us or save us. The most you might be able to do is save a little hamlet city of Tzoar. But ultimately, we will perish with your leadership. So we may as well have a good time going down. We may as well try to take these angels down with us. The revolution- the mahapecha you promised is not going to be a spiritual one. Rather we're going to perish and be turned over, because you don't have the power of Avraham and his light to stand up and tell us what we need to hear. Because you don't believe we can handle the truth. And you're too scared of losing your power, your money, your new government job and car to stand up to us.

 

That's the folly of Lot. When the angels take him out, he delays. He looks back as Rashi tells us at all his money. At his big house in Tom's River. His Tesla. His dreams of growing and shteiging and serving Hashem and even being mekarev the people around him in his chesed house he built there. And he can't leave that all behind. He has to be shlepped out, by his payos. His merit? The one time he did give up on that money, back in Egypt. Then he could do that. There he had Avraham by his side. Yet, without Avraham, on his own, he didn't have the strength. At the end of the day, as Chareidi as he was… He was still a politician that wasn't ready to bring Mashiach and preferred to work within the system.

 

Judaism was never meant to be a democracy. It's a monarchy. It's a King that is faithful and brings the nation to Hashem. It's a leader that leads and that doesn't follow the will of the people. The fallacy of a democracy is that evil people have a vote. Silly people have a vote. Your enemy has a vote. It's a system that works and makes sense if the objective is creating a society that will carry out and represent the will of the people. It's why there are elections in Sodom. Yet, Eretz Yisrael is never meant to be a place where the will of the people is objective. It's about building a house of Hashem. It's about creating a resting place from where that light can shine out to the rest of the world. A democracy that is founded on the will of the people, rather than the will of Hashem is the opposite of that world.

 

Mashiach can't come until we get that shilton hazola- will crumble. Until we see that at the end of the day, it doesn't work. Sodom sees through it. So does Iran and Qatar. The world won't buy it. Just like they don't buy or claim to Eretz Yisrael in it's entirety, because we're too scared to say it. Just like they don't buy our right to even fight a war to eradicate our enemies sworn to kill us as a just cause, because they see that we're ready to hand over our own daughters and holy soldier sons to bring those same enemies humanitarian aid, to protect their children, to feed our murderers and house them in our prisons. It's a shilton ha'zola- it's a government that sells it's self cheap. And they're not buying it and frankly have never bought it. And slowly I think we're beginning to understand as well, that it doesn't work.

 

The light of Mashiach is burning higher and higher. Sodom and Amora were destroyed and hopefully Iran will be soon too. Ben Dovid is on his way. Let's open the door for Eliyahu. That's the only vote we should be casting. May the era of politics finally conclude.

 

Have an electively delicious Shabbos,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz 

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YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK

 

“Fun yener zeit planken hot men andereh gedanken.". - On the other side of the fence, you have a change of heart.

 

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK

answer below at end of Email

 

21. A Mediterranean woodland tree with a smooth red trunk is called _______ 

 

What is Shrubland (“Bata” ( ?

a. A vegetation landscape characterized primarily by tall trees

b. A vegetation landscape characterized primarily by herbaceous plants

c. A vegetation landscape characterized primarily by annual plants

d. A vegetation landscape characterized primarily by bushes 

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S COOL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwaFpVljVgo  – Meir Kahana's top 7 moments.., Check it out… A true prophet… HY"D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWCOVpohg-s&list=RDqWCOVpohg-s&start_radio=1- - Long but great Shlomo Katz and Hanan Ben Ari Shlomo Carlebach Yartzeit KumZitz

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jskn5yhLZrs&list=RDJskn5yhLZrs&start_radio=1  – Baruch Shalom Hineini… in honor of his grandfather…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R46BwaCn-2A&list=RDR46BwaCn-2A&start_radio=1  – MBD 30 years ago singing Hineini… Ohel concert

 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Moria+Mona  –Moriah MBD singing that Mona hit.. back in the Kumzitz day…

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S ERA’S AND THEIR PLACES AND PEOPLE IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK

Aliya Challenges- 3427 from Creation-333 BC – A fascinating unknown aspect of this period of time immediately after the building of the Basi Ha'Mikdash, the Navi tells us is that 2^nd Aliya movement began. This time around it was Jews that were not so frum. They came to Israel to get away from the perhaps the intensity of the communities in Bavel. They came to Eretz Yisrael as an escape. They heard that it's more open here. That there were intermarried Jews here. That perhaps they can live in Israel and not be as religious as their communities back in Bavel Park were…

 

And they came in large amounts. Eretz Yisrael though, by the time they arrived had already undergone its spiritual revolution led by Ezra and Nechemia. They had divorced their non-Jewish wives and had rededicated themselves to the Temple and the service of Hashem. And yet here they were seeing these newcomers with their foreign wives and even worse than that, they were encouraging their children to marry out as well. This became a big problem. We were barely back in the land after our long exile and destruction and we were already messing it up.

 

It is into this world that Nechemia came down hard. Unlike the first round of Jews that he and Ezra were lovingly me'karev and brought close slowly. These new guys, coming to destroy the land were not going to get that treatment. Nechemia came down hard upon them. He castigated them publicly. He had them hauled into court. They were given lashes. They were forced to conform. Their wives were sent away and their children were not accepted into schools. Welkam to Eezrael. This is not a place to come to for an easier religious life and to feel good about coming to. We have a mission from here to accomplish. It's light to the world. It's holiness. It's about the chosen-ness of our nation. And Nechemia wasn't going to allow them to mess it up.

 

Seemingly it worked. The nation was cleansed and established. It was at this point in history and at this juncture that the final era of prophecy comes to an end. There will be a new system. It will be called the Men of the Great Assembly. Stay tuned next week for this transition.

 

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TERRIBLE ELECTION JOKES OF THE WEEK

 

I really wanted to vote for Gimmel. I even went down to the ballots. I took their voter slip and then when it came time to put it in the voter box. I found that it was -as you said to me when I tried to get my daughter in your school… Too full and not enough room…

 

Israeli elections are kind of like Ikea. You choose what you like, but then realize you don't know how to put it together. So you then call the Arab to help you put it up.

 

The Arabs are claiming that they didn't steal the elections. They paid every Shekel for each vote they had promised.

 

The Arabs are demanding new elections immediately. They're claiming they used up all their free gas coupons they received.

 

If you told a Jew a few hundred years ago that a Jew would be able to vote for their own candidate in an election to establish a government in our country, they would find it very hard to believe. If however you told them that we had those elections every few months because the candidates couldn’t’ get along with one another and would constantly topple the government they would then find it much easier to swallow it.

 

We really have to do something about the relationship between the government and it’s criminals and prisoners. It just doesn’t seem fair that there are only 120 seats in the Knesset for them to receive an office and position.

We ask you please don’t reveal the results of the election to the Meretz party. Their families have not yet been informed…

 

So an Ashkenazi man dies and comes up to heaven and as he enters Gan Eden he sees that the entire garden is filled with smells of Matbucha and kibbeh and he realizes that he is entirely surrounded by Sefardim. When he asks the angel why there are only Sefardim here, the angel explained that they were all Shas voters and Maran had promised them Olam Habah if they vote for his party.

 

“But then why are there some Ashkenazim, sitting there in the corner” he asked. “Oh those” the angel said “They were part of the heskem odafim (the extra votes agreement”) that Shas had with Gimmel.

 

 

The way things work after the elections. The new mayor of the city decided that it was time to fulfill his election promise to build a new bridge for the city. He went to the local Arab contractor, Achmed, and asked for a quote and was told it would cost 120 million shekel. When asked what the breakdown Achmed explained-“40 million for material, 40 million for workers and 40 million profit”

 

He then went to the Boris the Russian contractor and asked him how much it would cost and he was told it would be 240 million shekel. When asked to explain Boris said that it was “80 million for material, 80 million for workers and 80 million profit”

 

Finally, to make it fair he went over to the Jewish contractor and was quite shocked when they guy told him that it would be 400 million shekel. By far this was the most expensive quote. When asked to explain Dudu said “It’s very simple. 140 million for you, 140 million for me and 120 million to the Achmed the Arab that will do the work for us.” Needless to say he got the contract…

 

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The answer to this week”s question is B – This is one of those questions, I would've skipped, as I had no clue as to either of them. But on this I have to answer, so I got this actually half right with a guess. The first part I got wrong. I guessed Eucalyptus because I had nothing else and it's kinda smooth and sorta red. But knew it wasn't right as it's not really indigenous to here. The answer though was katlav or strawberry tree or arbutus. Not that I or any of my tourists would care. The second they care even less about. I guessed B and it turns out the answer was Ba nd D. So half right.    So half right/half wrong makes the new score Rabbi Schwartz having 14.5 points and the MOT having 4.5 points on this latest Ministry of Tourism exam.

Judicial Reform- Parshat Vaykhel Pikudey- Hachodesh 2023 5783

 

Insights and Inspiration

from the

Holy Land

from

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

March 17^th 2023 -Volume 12 Issue 22 24^th of Adar 5783

 

Parshat Vayakhel- Pikudei- Ha’Chodesh

Judicial Reform

(Don’t miss our book offer and free sampler here Rabbi Schwartzes Pesach book Sampler! CLick! )

I haven’t yet weighed in yet, for you dear readers, on all of the action, protests and politics going on lately in Israel. I’ve never really been one that has been too interested in Israeli politics and since my surgery I really don’t weigh too much either- on anything. Frankly, I find the whole political thing here kind of silly. In my generally never humble opinion, politicians are really a waste of energy, breath and time. I don’t get why so many people are into it. Why they follow them. What possibly redeeming nature and enjoyment do they get out of promoting the agendas and personas of those that are clearly quite capable of promoting themselves. In the end none of them are really worth anything. They will all sell you out. They will all disappoint you. So why even go there?

Now, the truth is American politics isn’t really much different. But it’s much simpler. Two parties. Two candidates generally. It’s all about money in my pocket and who I think will give me more and that’s it. It’s got nothing to do with religion. It’s got nothing to do with shidduchim. It really has no spiritual ramifications. It’s all about dollars and cents. Which translates into voting for the Republican in the meaningless office of President who really doesn’t effect my bottom line but yet aligns with most of my political views, and then hypocritically yet pragmatically voting Democrat for the local candidate who will afford those Kollel Rabbis more social service programs. Unless of course, you’re from the rich chevra whose taxes might go up… then you shmear them both. And just make sure you pay them to stick in enough loopholes for your accountant to find for you. But who you vote for there really doesn’t make any moral statements about yourself. It’s just who you think will be better for the “Economy-Stupid” as one great candidate said when I was growing up.

In Israel though who you vote for is as religious as whether you eat g’brochtz on Pesach, what Nusach tefilla you daven, and whether you carry in the eiruv or not. It defines your religious orientation. They have made voting into the 614^th mitzva in the Torah. Yes, it’s a biblical commandment not merely a rabbinical one. And going out and rounding up votes, hanging posters and signs and playing those silly jingles from your radio is fulfilling the mitzva la’mehadrin min ha’mehadrin. It’s the hechsher (preparation) for the mitzva, no less than baking your own matzos and building your own Sukka. Maybe even more so… And unlike the States where it is all about the money- here it is about the money too- but it’s framed that it’s about your God, your observance level and your inner moral spiritual compass. Your either with us or against us. There is no in-between.

Yet, in the end, what I don’t think they get is that all of these politicans will ultimately disappoint you. They’re all losers. They’re all self-aggrandizing narcissists that all claim to be saving the world. Yet in the end, it really becomes clear that it was always only about them. That’s the situation in all politics today and Israel and the Jewish people are at the top of that game.

I understand why this is. I also understand why this will never change in the near future until Mashiach gets here. See, in previous generations there was some modicum of patriotism that motivated individuals to run for public office. Sure, they were also out for the kavod… it’s only natural and only human. Yet, today the world has changed. Today if someone is running for public office, they really have to be seriously meshuga. You have to be so hungry for glory, for honor, for fame and fortune that you are ready to sacrifice everything and anything else to achieve that burning goal and desire.

Today we are living in a different world than 30-40 years ago. Today the media is out to get you. Out to shmutz you. There are no secrets anymore in today’s world. All the skeletons- and who doesn’t have skeletons-are out there to be blasted to the entire world. They will find someone, something, somewhere, anything shmutzy that they can pin on you since you were a young man in high school and put it on the front covers of their newspapers or the top page of their websites. You will be viral. Literally.

Who in their right mind would want to subject themselves or their family to that type of scrutiny? We all have things in our past and maybe even in our present that we don’t want to be front page news. That we’re not proud of. And even though we know that everyone else has that too, but there was once a thing as keeping one’s private business private. Not anymore. And as minor or as far distant in the past one has moved from that; it doesn’t make a difference. Today it is front page news. And it will remain there forever. And they will make it much worse than it really was. It’s scary. It’s enough to make any rational person, say fuggedaboutit. As a result, it only leaves in the candidate pool- the people that are such megalomaniacs that will be the ones that are running for public office. So why spend time and energy talking about meshuganes…

Yet, perhaps now is the time to talk about this stuff. You can’t really avoid it. The country is on fire. The entire world seems to be obsessed with this whole judicial reform issue going on Israel. Every shnook has an opinion. Dershowitz, Biden, “Rabbis”- both male and family and confused genders have something to say. Left wingers are rioting like chareidim in Meah Shearim usually do when a soldier walks down the street. Decorated “Zionist” patriotic generals are telling people not to serve. And for what? Because they lost an election. Because the people decided that perhaps they should have a say in the laws that get passed in this country, rather than the elite self-appointed Supreme justices, who feel they know better than everyone else?! They scream Democratzia! But democracy is decided by the people at the voting booth, is it not? Having a court that appoints itself, decide what laws could and should be passed, what government committees elected by the people should be allowed to allocate, to strategize, who is and is not allowed to serve in a government despite the fact that the people elected and voted for them, is the opposite of democracy. It’s theocracy and the judges are the “Theos” in that crazy ‘cracy’.

So yes, I can’t avoid talking about it… I think Hashem wants us to talk about it. Because when the entire world is talking and focused on something it’s a sign from heaven that we need to take it apart and see it through Hashem’s eyes. What He wants from us. What our perspective should be. And what better place to start then this week’s Torah portion; the conclusion of the Book of Shemos and Parshat Ha’Chodesh that we read this week, the last of the four special parshiyos read before Pesach as we enter the month of Nissan; the month of our redemption.

The four-week cycle started with getting ready for Purim with the donation of Shekalim. Those shekels pre-empted Haman’s on Purim and prepared us for the ultimate goal of building a Home for Hashem and the sacrifices we bring there. Parshat Zachor was all about eradicating evil and wiping out Amalek. Hashem wants a clean house when He gets here and all the Amalekite-shmutz that challenges our faith has to be thrown out and erased. Parshat Parah,, read last week, adds a level of purity to our Home. We are cleansed. We are purified. The sins and Tumah of the past have been eradicated and we are holy. Which then brings us to Ha’Chodesh. It is the Torah reading of how we become partners with Hashem in this world. We establish the months. It is based on two witnesses coming to court. To a Jewish court. To a holy court. To the real Supreme Court. It is the final step in the geulah. Pesach the holiday of liberation can only happen when we understand how and what a Jewish court should look like.

Parshat Vayakhel and Pikudey which discuss the actual building and collection for the Mishkan, took place on Rosh Chodesh Nissan this week. Yeah, as I told you it’s a timely topic. As we know in the times of the Bait Ha’Mikdash the court was right there on the Temple Mount. Our sages tell us that this is so that they always remember that anyone who rules in the way of Hashem is His Partner in Creation. You’re the roommate of God, right there living in His house with Him. Separation of Church and State? Yeah… But Synagogue and State, Torah and the Jewish court system, it’s all one big Bais Ha’Mikdash and us, together with Hashem. His law and our law are the same. It is the worlds law. Because His presence will be revealed when that we shine that concept out to the entire world. We just need to give Him the court that He is looking for.

It is perhaps even most fascinating that the person in charge of the service in the Mishkan and the Bais HaMikdash, none other than the Kohen Gadol who is the only one who enters the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur, wears the most prominent of his garments- the breastplate front and center on his chest. The breastplate which contains the names of the tribes of Israel as well as the name of Hashem which would light up the stones of the breast-plate called the Urim V’Tumim; the lights and devotion or the sincerity. The center and the focus of the Kohen Gadol and those who would see him would be this Choshen Mishpat- which translates as the Choshen or breastplate of Judgement and its role and its name comes from the idea that it is there to atone for any travesty or distortion of judgement. That’s what is at the heart of it all. The connection between the two concepts couldn’t be any clearer.

But, they can be… See the word Choshen is not a common word. In fact, it’s not used for anything else besides this Choshen. Yet, The ARI’ZL tells us some interesting secrets about this word Choshen. He notes that it is fascinatingly the same letters as the word Nachash-snake. As in the original snake in the garden of Eden. Even more fascinating is that the gematria of the word Choshen is the same as… hold on to your hats… Mashiach! Judgement, Snake, Mashiach… What do these things have in common?

Do you know what the temptation of the snake was to man in garden of Eden. Vi’hiyisem kei’elokim- Eat from the tree and you will be like God to know Good and Evil. What does it mean to be like Hashem? To know good and evil.

Hashem knows what’s right and wrong for us and for the world. The temptation of the snake is to make us think that we are “gods” and do as well. There is only one time where the Torah uses the phrase of Elokim- god when it is talking about men. Do you know where that is? It’s by a court. We are told to bring the judgements to court el ha’elokim- to the judges. The role of the judge is bring the law of Hashem to this world. Not to be God but to bring the people to the law of Hashem. The temptation of the snake is to make him think that he is god. He knows what’s best. The atonement for that distortion of justice-of that nachash is the choshen- the breastplate.

The word nachash, interestingly and non-coincidentally as well is used as a verb in the Torah. L’nacheish- is someone who portends to know the future. It’s really the same concept and the same sin, in fact the English translation of l’nacheish to tell the future is to “divine”. It’s to think that you know what is going to happen. It’s why you think you’re so qualified, perhaps the only one qualified to cast judgement. Because if things don’t work out the way that you see good and evil then the world will fall apart. Sure, Hashem tells us in the Torah-what good and evil and right and wrong is, but the corrupt egotistic judge thinks he knows better. He ate the fruit. The punishment of the snake in the garden is perhaps the one that is most appropriate for that ego. Eat dirt, baby! Crawl on your belly, as low as you can go… humble pie. That’s the only cure for snake-judges that think they are gods.

This month, god willing, though we will see Mashiach. Mashiach is the final fixing of that sin of the nachash, for Mashiach will bring us all to Hashem and His Torah. He will anoint the Kohen Gadol and restore that light of the name of Hashem that is the Urim V’Tumim in the Choshen to shine out the sincerity of our beliefs and our devotion to Hashem. The world senses this is coming. It’s time. Everyone is talking about judicial reform in Eretz Yisrael. It is the last step before the geula. But the reform that we are looking and awaiting is not going to come from the Knesset. It won’t come from democracy. It won’t be a result of protests and counter protests and it won’t happen as long as the supreme court is not connected to the Bais Ha’mikdash. It needs to be Supreme with a capital “S”.

The only prayer in Shemona Esrei that tells us what Hashem loves is the one that discusses the return of the era of the judges of past. Melech Oheiv Tzedaka U’Mishpat- the King who loves tzedaka and justice. It is as well that the only prayer that tells us that without that we will have yagon v’anacha- despair and wailing. That’s what the protests are- lots of despair and lots of wailing.

Yet it’s not just us that are wailing. Hashem is protesting in heaven as well. But He is not protesting the sorry state of the justice system in Israel. He is protesting that we’re not davening hard enough for the real justice system. That perhaps the idea of a Divine Torah court is too frightening and too intimidating for us to wrap our brains around. That even we religious observant Jews would be more than happy with a court that just let our children not serve in the army, gave money to our yeshivas and Kollels and didn’t tax our disposable plates and sugar drinks. That is what Hashem is protesting in heaven. That we’re willing to settle for that… That we think that’s all we need. All we can get… All that should be… If that’s the case then in reality we’re really not that different then those other protestors in that way. We want it our way and not Hashem’s way or at least not entirely so. Ouch!

But the protests will end. Mashiach will come. Nissan is here. It’s parshat Ha’Chodesh. This is the week that we are born anew. Chadeish Yameinu K’Kedem- That Hashem returns us to that Gan Eden M’Kedem- that world where there is only one Judge, and His word is always True.

Have judiciously renewing Shabbos and a redemptive Chodesh Nissan Tov!

 

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

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PESACH IS ALMOST HERE HAVE YOU GOTTEN THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR THIS HOLIDAY YET???

(All proceeds go to supporting our local shul who”s campaign recently you may have not yet contributed to although you had meant to of course… 😊)

HERE”S A FREE SAMPLER LINK!!!

Rabbi Schwartzes Pesach book Sampler! CLick!

Can you believe that Pesach is right around the corner? The great holiday is coming around the bend and I’m sure you’ve started getting ready with your preparations. Making your plans, cleaning your house, buying your matzos, finishing up your Chametz and even beginning to think about all of the inspiration that you will tap into this great holiday and that you will share with your family.

Well, as usual when it comes to inspiration and insights, we want to be here to help you and therefore we’ve got the best gift you can buy yourself or whoever you wish to share this holiday with. None other than Rabbi Schwartz’s two great books aptly titled

"The Most Enjoyable Book You'll Ever Read About Pesach"

That totally sold out is in its second printing and the follow-up that original work

From the Back page blurb

Really?!! The most enjoyable book about Pesach?

What will I find here that I haven't heard before?

You'll have to read it to find out. One thing we can guarantee is that this book will certainly be one that you will be able to enjoy over and over again.

With his world-renowned wit and wisdom and his love for every Jew, Israel, and inspiration (and chulent), Rabbi Schwartz brings to life the timeless and yet original messages and ideas that the holiday of Pesach can and should mean to every Jew.

TABLE OF CONTENTS INCLUDE GREAT CHAPTERS ON

Shabbos Ha’Gadol, Exile, the Plagues, Pesach Seder and Redemption

And great articles enjoyably and mystically titled

Just one Shabbos,

Kid-ding Around

Ani V’Atah

The Worst Jew

Bedtime Stories

Of Mouth and Men

Plagued!

Animal House

Jewish Trip Planning,

The Holy Prophet

A Song for the Ages

Make Me Proud

And many many more…

AND THEN ROUND OUT YOUR COLLECTION WITH BOOK NUMBER TWO CREATIVELY TITLED…

The- 'Next'- Most Enjoyable Book You'll Ever Read About Pesach""

Your Most Enjoyable Pesach Book 2.0.

 

From the slave pits in Egypt to the jungles of Africa, the streets of Jerusalem to the locked-down houses in Karmiel, Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz with his enthusiasm, inspiration and laughter, guides you through the holiday of Pesach as you've never experienced it before.

Whether you've joined him on tours, read his Mishpacha magazine columns, been inspired by his teachings, or whether you just like his picture on the cover of this book, you are sure to be enlightened, inspired and entertained. This year God Willing will finally be the year of Redemption IYH and you want to make sure your ready for that special passion of Eretz Yisrael and appreciate Pesach in the most enjoyable way with Rabbi Schwartz

Great chapters include

Imaginary worlds

Scar-place

Jungle time

Coro-nachas

The first seder

Zaydie maysehs

Plague-demic

Hitting the jackpot

Galus america

The morning after

and much much more

It's the perfect Pesach Prep book, an amazing Seder accompaniment and the perfect way to enjoy your holiday as never before

From the back cover

Quotes- That Were Never Said

This is a really great book, I'm so glad that my son become a rabbi, tour guide, and author rather than a Doctor or a Lawyer ."-My Mother

Our father is a very wise man and we love listening quietly at the Shabbos table to his Torah E-mails -My children

"This is a really great book, I'm so glad that my son become a rabbi, tour guide, and author rather than a Doctor or a Lawyer ."-My Mother

 "This book has changed my life in so many ways; I attribute all my success in life to Rabbi Schwartz's insights and weekly Inspiration."-- Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz

 "I knew that when I threw him out of my Yeshiva it would inspire him to become the next leader of the Jewish people."- -Quite a few of my Rabbis and Principals

 “This book contains no pictures of women and barely mentions any female names— besides the ones who make chulent- Most Jewish magazines

“I love being on a diet; it makes me feel so healthy."- The author

From the beginner to the greatest scholar, from the Kabbalist to the Chasid to the Yeshiva student, young and old, this book will definitely be the most enjoyable book you've ever read about Pesach.

STOP CLEANING FOR FIVE MINUTES AND CLICK ON THE LINK-YOU DESERVE THE BREAK-YOU KNOW THIS WILL MAKE YOUR PESACH EVEN MORE ENJOYABLE

This is almost as important as buying Matza!!

To order this book which is not available in stores this year, please respond to this E-Mail to Rabbi Schwartz

The book is a 65 NIS or $20 USD donation for one or both for 125 Shek or $36 to the Young Israel of Karmiel and Rabbi Schwartz'es weekly insights

 (plus shipping where necessary)

Please be in touch and be the first ones to get this for this year, before it hits stores next year...

TO RECEIVE THIS BOOK PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO

rabbischwartz@yahoo.com

with your mailing address

2) by Paypal at our blog http://holylandinsights.blogspot.co.il/

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YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK

 

““Vos ken vern fun di shof az der volf iz der rikhter?.”- What will become of the sheep if the wolf is the judge?

 

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK

answer below at end of Email

15) During WWI, forces from Australia and New Zealand fought in Israel. The acronym of their names is:

 

Who got off his horse when he entered the Jaffa Gate?

A) General Gordon

B) Kaiser Wilhelm II

C) General Allenby

D) Kaiser Franz Joseph

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S COOL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYzh71Lxhcw   –Beautiful Shabbos medley with Yossi Green Motti Vizel Benny Laufer and Malchus amazing choir

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ltu-PioKm0    -Latest Rabbi Yoel Gold story Arab remembers Jewish story..

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izR8_gr5_gI  – Reb Chaim Kanievsky amazing story with father of killed soldier

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AcwzFRXvEk   – Ari Goldwag and Avi Stewart beautiful rendition Count the Stars… a beautiful Abie Rottenberg rendition

 

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S ERA’S AND THEIR PLACES AND PEOPLE IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK

 

Food Miracles- 690 BC- Having resurrected the dead with the son of the Shunamite woman, Elisha moves on to preform more miracles. Just as in the time of his Rebbi Eliyahu Ha’Navi, Elisha as well has a famine that takes over the land as a result of the Jews not following the mitzvos. It seems if Hashem wants to send us a message he hits us in our bellies.

 

The first miracle takes place in Gilgal, this is not far from where Elisha returned from Eliyahu Ha’Navi’s “departure from this world in his fiery chariot up to heaven and when he first became a prophet. On the way back we discussed a few weeks ago about his miracle of making the salty water sweet. This time around he ups the notch when he sees the hungry student prophets and he tells them to go out and find some food for a chulent stew, One of the students, who couldn’t of been the brightest one, found some gourds-which is never good to put in chulent and puts them in the pot. The problem was that they were poisonous and when the students started eating it they started getting sick. This is no problem for Elisha. He tells them to take some flour and chuck it in and sure enough miraculously it becomes delicious and edible. Chulent crisis averted.

 

Fantastically- my wife likes this vort-  the Abarbanel says that this miracle took place naturally to show and teach the people that sometimes natural remedies like flour can cure all better than the best medicines and vaccines. Hashem can bring salvation from anything, we don’t need science. It’s all here already in the simple things Hashem already put on the world. Yeah… you anti-vaxxers should see this Abarbanel.

 

The second miracle he preforms is not in making bad food good, but in multiplying food. A man comes from Baal Ha’Shalisha- a place it seems in the Shomron. There is an Arab village called Kfar Tluth- which in Aramaic the word that is three like shalisha, which is just near Karnei Shomron and South of Kalkilya. The Talmud tells us it is where the corps grow earliest. The man brings 20 loaves of barely for the prophets. The problem is that is not nearly enough for over 100 prophets. Once again Elisha says no problem put it before them and there will be leftovers even. And so it was.

 

An aside here about these miracles is that they are all amazing, but as well they are revealing about the fallacy of the unoriginal religion called Christianity which steals almost verbatim these miracles. In Kfar Kana Yoshka turns water into wine just as Elisha turned it into oil. Elisha takes a a little food and multiplies it and whadaya know the New Testament talks about Yoshka in Beit Tzaida- near the Madrassa hike doing the same. They steal the resurrection story as well… It’s all bubeh maysehs… As I said it’s a very uncreative religion that really took much of their stories from Tanach.

 

 During my tour guiding course whenever they would take us to these places and churches where these stories took place, inevitably my fun was finding where they stole it from. There is only one Hashem, one Torah and we are here in Eretz Yisrael to shine out the emes to the world. It’s about time we started showing these guys how fake their religion really is. They know it… They’re just waiting for us to be brave enough to tell them. And that’s after-all why we’re here.

 

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S TERRIBLE JUDGE JOKES OF THE WEEK

 

Judge: "Lady, you shoplifted a can of tomatoes, so I sentence you to four weeks in prison, one for each tomato."

Lady's husband: "Your honour, don't forget she also stole a can of peas."

 

At the height of the Israeli political corruption trial, the prosecuting attorney attacked a witness. “Isn't it true,” he bellowed, “that you accepted five thousand dollars to compromise this case?”

The witness stared out the window, as though he hadn't hear the question.

The prosecutor again blared, “Isn't it true that you accepted five thousand dollars to compromise this case?”

The witness still did not respond.

Finally, the judge leaned over and said, “Sir, please answer the question.”

“Oh,” the startled witness said, “I thought he was talking to you.”

 

What does a judge have in his lemonade? Just ice

 

A judge was interviewing a woman regarding her pending divorce, and asked, "What are the grounds for your divorce?"

She replied, "About four acres and a nice little home in the middle of the property with a stream running by."

"No," he said, "I mean what is the foundation of this case?"

"It is made of concrete, brick and mortar, your honour" she responded.

"I mean," he continued, "What are your relations like?"

"I have an aunt and uncle living here in town, and so do my husband's parents."

He said, "Do you have a real grudge?"

"No," she replied, "We have a two-car carport and have never really needed one."

"Please," he tried again, "is there any infidelity in your marriage?"

"Yes, both my son and daughter have stereo sets. We don't necessarily like the music, but the answer to your questions is yes."

"Ma'am, does your husband ever beat you up?"

"Yes," she responded, "about twice a week he gets up earlier than I do."

Finally, in frustration, the judge asked, "Lady, why do you want a divorce?"

"Oh, I don't want a divorce," she replied. "I've never wanted a divorce. My husband does. He says he just can't communicate with me!!

 

The doctor told me I had only six months to live, so I shot him dead. The judge gave me fifteen years. Problem solved.

 

What did the judge say to the constipated lawyer? Motion denied…. OYYY

 

A California state trooper pulls over a car and walks over to the driver. “Today’s your lucky day.” he says. “We have a program to promote seatbelt use. I pulled you over because you were wearing your seatbelt. You will receive a reward of $5,000. So, what are you going to do with the money?

The man thinks for a moment and answers, “I think the first thing I will do is go out and get a drivers license.”

His wife in the front passenger seat screams out, “Oh for goodness sake, officer don’t listen to him, he always talks nonsense when he’s drunk.”

The commotion wakes up their friend in the back seat. He sees the officer and screams to the couple, “I told you we wouldn’t get far in a stolen car.”

And then there is a banging from the trunk followed by a voice, “Ay amigos, did we cross the border yet?

"

Judge: I order you to pay $10,000 Mario: Why?

Judge: It’s a fine.

Mario: No itsa not.

 

A man is in court. The Judges says,"on the 3rd August you are accused of killing your wife by beating her to death with a hammer, how do you plead?"

"Guilty", said the man in the dock.

 At this point a man at the back of the court stood up and shouted "You dirty rat!"

The Judge asked the man to sit down and to refrain from making any noise. The Judge continued "..... and that also on the 17th September you are accused of killing your son by beating him to death with a hammer, how do you plead"?

"Guilty", said the man in the dock.

Again the same man at the back stood up and shouted even louder, "You dirty rotten stinking rat"!! At this point the Judge called the man to the bench and said, "I have already asked you to be quiet, if you continue with these outbursts, I will have to charge you with contempt of court. I can understand your feelings, but what relationship have you to this man?"

He replied "He is my next door neighbor".

The Judge replied, "I can understand your feelings then, but you must refrain from any comments". The man replied "NO, your Honor, you don't understand. Twice I have asked if I could borrow a hammer, and BOTH TIMES he said he didn't have one"!!!

 

A woman was found guilty in traffic court and when asked for her occupation she said she was a schoolteacher.The judge rose from the bench. "Madam, I have waited years for a schoolteacher to appear before this court."

He smiled with delight. "Now sit down at that table and write, 'I will not run a red light' five hundred times."

 

LOVE THIS ONE!!

A man in rural Arkansas is brought before a judge for his preliminary hearing.

"What is the charge, counsel?" The judge asks.

"Bigotry, your honor," the prosecutor replies. "This man has three wives."

"You idiot," the judge says. "That ain't bigotry, it's trigonometry."

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The answer to this week”s question is C –ANZAC is the Australian New Zealand Corps. They’ve got a nice memorial for this army by Beer Sheva which joined with the British to throw the the Turks out of Israel in WWI. Allenby is the general who out of humility got off his horse unlike Kaiser Wilhelm when he came into Jerusalem. He didn’t want to come in as a conqueror rather as pilgrim returning to the Holy Land.  So got this one right again and now  the score is now 12.5 for Schwartz and 2.5 for Ministry of tourism on this exam so far…