REALITY CHECK!
Posted 4/9/2018
Prophecy spoken by the Prophet Jeremiah 2, 550 years ago:
Jeremiah – ירמיהו, ch. 29, verses 10-14:
“This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with ALL YOUR HEART. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.[b] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Prophecy by the Prophet Ezekiel 2,500 years ago:
Ezekiel-יחזקאלl, chapter 20, verse41-42.
I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the nations of the world.
42 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.”
Never in our 4,000 year history has the prophecy come to life as in our generation. Never has a nation survive after unparalleled persecution as the Jewish people, and yet today Jews are enjoying the blessings of a Golden Age. Persecuted Jews in Russia were allowed to emigrate to Israel 25 years ago when no one would believe it would happen. Persecuted Jews in Ethiopia were airlifted in Operation Moses by the thousands under the most difficult circumstances to Israel 30 years ago when no one would believe it would happen. 68 years ago Yemenite Jews were airlifted under the most dangerous circumstances in Operation Wings of Eagle when no could believe this miracle would happen.
Seventy years ago, three years after the Holocaust in Europe and parts of Africa and the Middle East, Jews from all over the world with different cultures, traditions, languages, and sects, were melded into the growing Israel Defense Forces, and today recognized by the world as one of the most formidable, moral, and MIRACULOUS fighting force in the world. When almost every so- called decent country abandoned the historical fact of the Jews in their homeland, G-d has and is blessing our people with extraordinary achievements despite all the tremendous forces of evil against us. We survived Hamen and Hitler, and, with the special historical and spiritual bond with G-d, will thrive and continue to be a beacon of ethics and morality to the world. As our Patriarch Isaac blessed his son Jacob: “May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed.” How true that that blessing became historical reality. The nations that respected and welcomed Jews, prospered; those who demonized and expelled the Jews became failures.
Study your Jewish history and witness for yourself the incredible journey of truth in the words of our Torah. Be proud that you are part of this greatest journey. Make sure that you do your part to bless G-d and thank Him for His ethics and morals given to the world. Yes, there is so much to be thankful as we celebrate Israel’s modern 70th birthday.
!עם ישראל חי! עוד אבינו חי
With blessings,
Rabbi Tzvi Berkowitz
Rockwood Park Jewish Center
National Chaplain
National Conference of Shomrim Societies
Passover 2018
Posted 3/13/2017
In a few weeks beginning March 30 in the evening through April 7th,we will be celebrating the Festival of Passover.It is the most celebrated of all Jewish holidays. It commemorates the Biblical liberation of the Israelites from exile and the Exodus from Egypt.This is depicted in the Haggadah, which describes the narrative of the festival. For eight days we eat matzah, unleavened bread.
Passover is a time for returning thanks and for giving of ourselves.We pause, while,enjoying the richness and warmth of our own Seder festivities with the invitation ” All who are hungry let them come and eat”.
The Seder is of a religious nature, with a carefully prescribed ritual that makes the dinner quite unlike family dinners held on civil holidays.As we recite this Haggadah, we are mindful that “In every generation one must consider himself, as if he personally went out of Egypt.” The Exodus which led to Passover is a never-ending process in history.The pursuit of liberty must never be relaxed, until the whole of mankind reaches the Brotherhood of Man.
My personal wish to all of our members and your dear families is this:
May you have:
- Enough happiness to keep you sweet;
- Enough trials to keep you strong;
- Enough sorrow to keep you human;
- Enough hope to keep you happy:
- Enough failure to keep you humble;
- Enough success to keep you eager;
- Enough friends to give you comfort;
- Enough wealth to meet your needs;
- Enough faith in yourself to inspire you to do your best, and
- Enough determination to make each day better than yesterday.
On behalf of my dear wife Norma,our children and grandchildren, we wish all our members a Passover filled with joy and happiness.
Chaplain Alan Edwards
National Chaplain