I had a bit of a jolt when I opened up my pew sheet and looked at the prescribed readings in church yesterday (Sunday 27 September, Australian time).
You see, over the past few days I have read the reports of Ahmadinejad and Qaddafi ranting and raving against the Jews. I have read reports of Russia and the USA as good as telling Israel that they had better not do anything to try to stop Iran. So I went off to church with a niggling worry at the back of my mind.
And what were the first two readings?
The first reading from the Hebrew scriptures, the TaNaKh, was from the book of Esther - chapter 7 - including this line, which Esther speaks to Ahasuerus, "For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish."
The second was Psalm 124:
"If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say:
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
Then they had swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us:
Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
"Blessed be the LORD who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
"Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth".
You can be sure that when we recited that Psalm together *I* said it on behalf of the Jewish state of Israel, and on behalf of the whole House of Israel, every Jew standing in the crosshairs of the Jihad.
On this Yom Kippur, this Day of Atonement, may the holy angels of the LORD surround Israel; may the great Archangel Michael stand above them in the heavens; may it *not* be like that other terrible Yom Kippur, thirty-six years ago:
Thank you Robert and all just men and women here.
Thank G-d, it was a peaceful fasting day, although me and my mother-in-law had to swalow our just sentiment of revolt when an arab kid here in Ramla stopped in front of our house, turned to us and drank a lot of water from a bottle while gleefuly staring at us.
As the sage says: the Chessed (goodness) of Ishmael is thus: the more he receives from on High, the more arrogance and pride...
But let it be! This is Israel, this is OUR land, Ramla is OUR town, where they are free to remain muslims, and make money, and have education, first-world healthcare... Hash-m is watching, Hash-m never sleeps.
Chatima Tova Lokulam
I had a bit of a jolt when I opened up my pew sheet and looked at the prescribed readings in church yesterday (Sunday 27 September, Australian time).
You see, over the past few days I have read the reports of Ahmadinejad and Qaddafi ranting and raving against the Jews. I have read reports of Russia and the USA as good as telling Israel that they had better not do anything to try to stop Iran. So I went off to church with a niggling worry at the back of my mind.
And what were the first two readings?
The first reading from the Hebrew scriptures, the TaNaKh, was from the book of Esther - chapter 7 - including this line, which Esther speaks to Ahasuerus, "For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish."
The second was Psalm 124:
"If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say:
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
Then they had swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us:
Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
"Blessed be the LORD who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
"Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth".
You can be sure that when we recited that Psalm together *I* said it on behalf of the Jewish state of Israel, and on behalf of the whole House of Israel, every Jew standing in the crosshairs of the Jihad.
On this Yom Kippur, this Day of Atonement, may the holy angels of the LORD surround Israel; may the great Archangel Michael stand above them in the heavens; may it *not* be like that other terrible Yom Kippur, thirty-six years ago:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1253820680672&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Greetings to my friend Hagit in Israel!
G'mar chatimah tovah to all Jews!
And Happy Dusherra to all Hindus - Jai Shri Ram!
“G’mar Tov”
Thank you Robert, and please extend these New year's greetings to all JWers. :)
same to you robert
I wish a safe and rewarding Yom Kippur to all Jewish people everywhere.
Thank you Robert and all just men and women here.
Thank G-d, it was a peaceful fasting day, although me and my mother-in-law had to swalow our just sentiment of revolt when an arab kid here in Ramla stopped in front of our house, turned to us and drank a lot of water from a bottle while gleefuly staring at us.
As the sage says: the Chessed (goodness) of Ishmael is thus: the more he receives from on High, the more arrogance and pride...
But let it be! This is Israel, this is OUR land, Ramla is OUR town, where they are free to remain muslims, and make money, and have education, first-world healthcare... Hash-m is watching, Hash-m never sleeps.
Chatima Tova Lokulam