It's Started

(NOTE: This is a copy of the recent post on my political blog, http://ephratbreeze.blog.com/. I only add it here because it is that important.)

Last week I mentioned a meeting that our peaceful, democratically inclined neighbors held in Khartoum, Sudan. My exact words were:


“Certain intelligence sources report that the above “heroic act” was the first result from a secret Iranian funded meeting of Muslim Brotherhood heads in Khartoum, Sudan last week. According to these sources, Hamas, an offshoot of the brotherhood, is to launch a series of these attacks to ignite a third intifada. Brotherhood leaders attended from Egypt, Syria, Tunisia, Jordan and Great Britain.”

Today’s news headlines in Israel include the following:

• A woman was killed, 30 injured, in bomb blast at central Jerusalem 74 bus stop opposite Binyanei Haooma Wednesday afternoon.
• Hamas keeps up pressure. Fired five mortar shells into southern Ashkelon after Jerusalem bombing
• Second Grad missile from Gaza explodes in Beersheba earlier Wednesday
• Seven more mortar rounds against Eshkol and Shear Hanegev
• Beersheba schools and university ordered closed after Grad injured 5 people, damaged property
• Two more exploded in Ashkelon and south of Ashdod Tuesday night, several mortar rounds
• Palestinian barrage from the Gaza Strip has been non-stop for 11 days

Now just what is it that Hillary and Zippy are telling us about the peaceful muslim brotherhood that we’re supposed to believe?

We’re OK here in Efrat, for now.

That last post also mentioned “Hidden Miracles.” They are all around us, if we only open our eyes and look.

Of course, many people prefer to believe that every unexplained happening is a coincidence. These are the same people who deny the possibility of a Divine Creator of the world; it all came together as a result of  “evolution,” “accidents,” “primordial soup,” or whatever. After all, to believe in a Divine Creator might require me to believe in things like good and evil, instead of moral relativism and such.

But I digress. Sunday and Monday of this week were the Jewish holidays of Purim and Shushan Purim (in Jerusalem). Last week Irma went into Jerusalem, shopping with a friend. They agreed to go again this week, today. As a result of losing two normal weekdays, Irma forgot that today was Wednesday. She didn’t get to go to Jerusalem today and ride (like last week) the #74 bus that was involved in the terrorist bombing. Was this another hidden miracle from Purim, or a coincidence? We are grateful to our Creator for blessing us with another miracle.

Meanwhile, friends, as we here in Israel continue to be attacked by are “peace-loving” neighbors, we ask for your prayers; prayers to the Creator of the world, or prayers to the gatekeeper of coincidences. We are confident that He, in His mercy and Wisdom, will sort them out and give credit to both sets of prayers.

Also, thanks to all of you who support ARMDI and MDA, our emergency medical and ambulance services.

Happy Trails, Y’All
Mel

The Village Smithy

Under a spreading chestnut-tree

The village smithy stands;

The smith, a mighty man is he,

With large and sinewy hands;

And the muscles of his brawny arms

Are strong as iron bands.

From The Village Blacksmith, by Henry Wadsworth Longfeller

We residents of Efrat have our very own blacksmith. Actually, Elimelech Feigin is more than a blacksmith; he is a blacksmith artist and craftsman. Elimelech specializes in a form of artistic metalworking that lies somewhere between silversmithing and blacksmithing. His work might be better explained by examples of his artistry, of which this is one:

This beautiful rose started out as a small blank of iron, about 2 inches square, as shown below.

Through a series of steps, shown below, Elimelech turns pieces of iron, steel, copper or aluminum into amazingly beautiful works of art. His gallery/studio is in the basement of his home, just down the block from me. He makes many of the tools he uses andeach hammer or other tool has its own specific use.


Elimelech’s works of art include mezzezahs, menorahs, handrails and many other works of art. His customers come from Israel and other countries, and his works of art decorate homes and synagogues in Israel and around the world. His contact information is on his website: http://metalcombinations.com/.

Elimelich Feigin is another one of those “DearHearts and Gentle People,” who live in my home town (See my blog of that name - 1/21/11). I’m in awe of his talent and I’m very proud to have him as a friend.

His hair is crisp, and black, and long,

His face is like the tan;

His brow is wet with honest sweat,

He earns whate'er he can,

And looks the whole world in the face,

For he owes not any man.

Week in, week out, from morn till night,

You can hear his bellows blow;

You can hear him swing his heavy sledge,

With measured beat and slow,

Like a sexton ringing the village bell,

When the evening sun is low.

And children coming home from school

Look in at the open door;

They love to see the flaming forge,

And bear the bellows roar,

And catch the burning sparks that fly

Like chaff from a threshing-floor.

He goes on Sunday to the church,

And sits among his boys;

He hears the parson pray and preach,

He hears his daughter's voice,

Singing in the village choir,

And it makes his heart rejoice.

It sounds to him like her mother's voice,

Singing in Paradise!

He needs must think of her once more,

How in the grave she lies;

And with his haul, rough hand he wipes

A tear out of his eyes.

Toiling,--rejoicing,--sorrowing,

Onward through life he goes;

Each morning sees some task begin,

Each evening sees it close

Something attempted, something done,

Has earned a night's repose.

Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,

For the lesson thou hast taught!

Thus at the flaming forge of life

Our fortunes must be wrought;

Thus on its sounding anvil shaped

Each burning deed and thought!

Be well, Y’all,
Mel

Charity, Efrat Style

The Hebrew word for charity is “Tzedakah.” But, the word means much more. The word tzedakah comes from a word root (tzedek) meaning “justice.” In the Torah, the two words are intertwined so as to show that helping your neighbor is not just some nice thing to do, but is an action that is required by the Torah, a mitzvah.


In addition to being required, there are some “rules” or etiquette that goes along with the act of tzedakah. For one, the donor should be careful not to offend the sensibilities of the recipient; give anonymously, if possible; If not anonymously, give with a smile and a kind word, etc.

There is much discussion in Jewish religious literature about who benefits more from the act of tzedakah, the donor or the recipient. Just about everyone agrees that the blessings attached to giving, far outweigh anything that the recipient gets. In fact, some feel that the recipient is actually an agent of G-d in helping to spread Holiness.

There are tons of people throughout the world and also here in Israel with their hands out for help. In my little corner of the world, our neighborhood in Efrat, there is a very special lady who sits in our little strip mall every Friday to receive tzedakah. This little gray-haired lady never asks for anything, but she just might be one of the highest paid people in Efrat; not really, but she should be.

You see, she always has a super-friendly smile and warm words and blessings for everyone, including my dog, Bandit. I don’t know how many people come to her every Friday, but it must be hundreds. We all look forward to seeing her and giving tzedekah, but more important is the warmth that she spreads to all of us.

You see, this lady (probably not right to use her name) just seems like she MUST be one of G-d’s messengers. She radiates warmth and love to everyone, with an enthusiasm that infects everyone within 50 meters (about 55 yards).

How would you respond to a person, angel, like this? Probably like the rest of us; you’d give charity, tzedakah, with joy and love in your heart. And, like the rest of us around here, you’d go out of your way to receive a pre-Shabbat blessing from this messenger from G-d.

Thank You, HaShem, for the messengers and teachers that You send to us to teach us Your ways.

Be Well, Y'all
Mel



Almond Blossoms - Springtime in Efrat