Saturday, October 8, 2011

In the news:

The first article gives some interesting information on Yom Kippur:

Yom Kippur: Israel Stops and Reflects

Below are just a few highlights; there is much more in the article and it is a worthwhile read.

The highest of the High Holidays – Yom Kippur – is to begin on Friday night, and Jews around the world are completing their last preparations for the solemn day that ends the Ten Days of Penitence.

The prayers for Yom Kippur, which begin with the Kol Nidre prayer said at night, then take up most of the day, are replete with the various concepts of teshuvah, as well as acknowledgement of G-d’s goodness in affording mortals this opportunity to exonerate and improve themselves.

One of the dramatic prayers is a review of the High Priest's preparations and one time yearly entering the Holy of Holies in the Temple, during which the each member of the congregation prostrates himself before G-d.

The end of the fast is signaled by a dramatic, lone shofar-blast and the immediate singing of "Next year in rebuilt Jerusalem". In many Israeli synagogues, this is a signal for joyous dancing as the fast's end signals a lightening of spirits.


Another article (below) is worth reading in its entirety:

Palestinian UN Declaration Exposes Media's Agenda

The Palestinian Authority’s (PA) actions at the U.N. on September 23 have effectively ended the near-future possibility of a peaceful two-state solution between Israel and a Palestinian state.

Even if the U.S. doesn’t veto the Palestinian request for statehood, how would it be achieved through this process?

The only way, presumably, would be through war.

Israel certainly isn’t going to give up half of Jerusalem because the Palestinians claim it as their own. And there won’t be any so-called “right of return.” It would certainly harden the positions, and be a de facto end of any sort of peace process, which has largely been a charade anyway for the past two decades.


A few more facts that are worth noting:

These facts remain incontrovertible. Until 1967, Israel didn’t control the West Bank, Gaza or East Jerusalem, and yet the Arabs went to war against Israel three times—in 1948, 1956 and 1967. Israel offered statehood to the Palestinians three different times: in 2000, 2001 and 2008, each time rejected.

So why won’t they accept such an agreement today?

“Because saying yes would have required them to sign a final peace agreement that accepted a Jewish state on what they consider the Muslim patrimony.”


Gantz: Israel must always be war-ready

In a special holiday interview, IDF Chief Benny Gantz explains his operational doctrine, says military working tirelessly to ensure enemy forces never surprise Israel again


How Obama Got Around Congress Withholding $200 M In Aid To The "Palestinians"

A story in the UK Independent says that the US Congress showed its displeasure with the 'Palestinians' going unilaterally to the UN by withholding $200 million in aid that was supposed to be disbursed to Mahmoud Abbas' little fiefdom by the end of this fiscal year, which ended October 1st.

Obama Administration was aware for some time that the final $200 million might be withheld by Congress and informed the 'Palestinians' in advance. The Obama Administration promised the 'Palestinians' that they would do their best to head this off, but when they couldn't, an arrangement was made with the Saudis to make up the missing $200 million in advance.

A scant ten days ago, the Saudis gifted Mahmoud Abbas and the 'Palestinians' with the exact sum the US Congress was withholding from them...$200 million.

...it's almost guaranteed that the Saudis either received the money from the Obama Administration directly to give to the 'Palestinians' or more likely, that the Saudis supplied the cash in exchange for an American quid pro quo somewhere else down the line.


Lets take another peek at the Wall Street Protests:

Occupy Wall Street crowd failing to attract average people

For the moment lying about on mattresses, strumming guitars under starlit skies; lining up in the great outdoors for meals delivered during texting appeals to the starved sense of adventure for people with nothing

With media hounds like Code Pink and Greenpeace running the show, breakouts of internecine fighting among the hordes is all but inevitable.

So far fair weather and Mother Nature have smiled on Obama’s rag tag, sanitation challenged army.

A sudden change will send the disaffected youth back to Mama’s basement leaving the colonels of the army to fight amongst each other trying to prove who is most influential and powerful.


The Meaning of 'Occupy Wall Street.' The Confusion on the Left and the Right

The “Occupy Wall Street” protests have created a major problem for the Obama administration and the Democrats.

Undoubtedly, the occupation and protests have been encouraged by the constant refrain of the need to “tax the rich” and the calls to have “millionaires pay their fair share” that have come regularly from the White House.

Having heard the president and his team engage in regular rounds of class warfare, we should not be surprised when scores turn out and act like taking over public space with signs attacking the wealthy will somehow lead to a resolution of the very real problems facing our country.


And this; you have to love the obvious contradictions that are just too rich to ignore:

There are also many younger highly tech-savvy people. CNN’s Erin Burnett interviewed one unemployed software engineer, who, as she pointed out, was sitting with his laptop Apple computer and other varied products from the late Steve Jobs’ company.

Dan, who seems to be a nice young man, was asked by Burnett whether he included Apple among the corporations he was protesting. Surprised by the question, Dan answered that their “design is elegant.” Undoubtedly, he seems unaware that Apple trades at close to $400 a share on the very stock market he is protesting.


Marxism versus the Middle Class

Obama's out there waving around one of the richest men in the world (Warren Buffet) in his attempt to sell average Americans on his "millionaire's tax."

But the real focus should be how it is going to affect those at the bottom. Obama and his surrogates have been floating the idea of 250K or 200K as the possible cutoff. Now, it should be pointed out that there is nothing stopping them from making the cutoff as low as 150K or 100K -- we're still in the idea phase, after all.

The bottom line is that the middle class will be hurt by this tax scheme more than any other group will. The lower class won't be hammered by these rates. The upper class has armies of accountants to protect their assets.

And this is how Marx wanted it.

Marx's idea has often been called a "classless society," but this characterization constitutes one of the biggest myths in modern history.

What Marx wanted was a return to the "natural order" -- a medieval society where there is a ruling upper class that owns all the property and makes all the decisions while the lower peasant class does all the menial labor.


And this quote provides the "bottom line":

Guess which class Buffet, Obama, King, and Edwards are going to be in and which class the rest of us will be pushed into.

Marxism's bad history will also be ignored.

Why is it that despite fifty years of gentle Communist guidance, most people in Cuba dwell in horrid conditions?

Why is it that after ten years of feel-good fanfare and hype, there is still an impoverished population in Venezuela?

Hollywood types love to tell us everything is great in these nations. Everything probably does look great from the five-star hotels in ritzy tourist areas or from the sections where the government-appointed tour guide decides to escort such people.


A Second Open Letter to the So-Called '99%'

The fact is, indebted students like the man above and the ones who are still posting their pictures at the “We Are the 99 Percent” site have been scammed. That much is true.

Or rather, they bought into a scam and are now reaping their reward. The scam wasn’t perpetrated by the corporations, and not by the banks, but by the educational establishment that keeps coming up with ever more irrelevant degree programs to keep more and more professors tenured and insulated from the real world.

The benefit to students and to the future of the nation isn’t even close to being an afterthought in most of the ivory tower.


Also see this very interesting and insightful article:

Occupy Wall Street: Who Wants to Hijack the Movement

18 comments:

GG said...

Hi Scott~

This article of today struck me in the most unusual way. :)

Have you noticed lately how MSM is putting God as G-d? Would it be so bad to lift God up in public with displays of affection instead of Omitting him?

How about the fact that he is:

Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent

Yet all they can talk about are things of less importance, without limitations like...


Obama's approval ratings, Oprah's book of the month or newest show.. (insert eye roll here) Giving guns to Mexico to aid in more Organized Crime..creating bigger Obstacles all the while promoting the latest and greatest Operating Systems and trying to head us all into a One World System...leading to Oppression of the American people while taking an Oath to preserve, serve and protect, while still creating Overwhelming scenarios world wide.

Boy, I better go out today and have some fun (ha ha)..The weather is beautiful and I think I shall take advantage it and have a state of ONENESS with our Heavenly Father.

God Bless!!

GG

Dylan said...

Even on Facebook lots of people are saying "G-d" instead of "God". What's so wrong about the o that people keep leaving it out of the word "God"? It baffles me.

GG said...

Me too Dylan. It seemed this week alone as I read various articles it was printed that way. Are they trying to seem close without getting too close? :)

I remember something Paula said a few months ago which I found profound. It seems like some have one foot in the world and one in the clouds.

God Bless!!

GG

Mrs. C said...

Hi Sis GG & Brother Dylan :)
I dont know about the MSM, but whom ever out there is spelling God
as G-d is following the Jewish way of spelling God.
They dont write the full name of God, out of complete reverence and respect for God. For them, Gods Holy name is not to be written where is may be thrown away or erased. They have many different names for God, or descriptions of Him. A document for example, that one of His names is written on becomes Holy and cannot be destroyed, it must be given a kosher burial. Theres more that Ive read, but that gives ya an idea of why the spelling of God is different :)
God Bless!

Oh, and BTW, there are many Christians out there now that have adopted the Jewish way of spelling God :)

GG said...

Hi Mrs. C-

That is good news to hear. I can understand that in the humble articles out there for sure :). There seems to be a slang slant to it lately and I hope the hearts of many truly honor God as the Jewish spell it. I love learning much from you :)

God Bless!!

GG

Dylan said...

Yeah, I can understand when they do it out of reverence, but in some places it is used in a disrespectful way.

ally said...

Mrs. C-you are correct! Dylan, you also are right! Well, our G-d is slow to anger, and long suffering, willing that none should perish. However looks like G-d is getting ready discipline his children and the whole neighborhood too.
I shouldn't be so joking and silly like I am sometimes. Our Father is serious business and I could NEVER be as holy as neccessary to approach him. Thank you Jesus for being the scapegoat for my frail human stupidity and ever intercessing before the Father for me. You are an awesome big brother!
Today (as this whole month)and last month...looking to our Jewish heritage.

Waterer said...

I heard a lecture with this spelling of God's name thing as part of it. The expert on Jewish things said that the jews only began spelling God's name with out all it's letters after the Babylonian captivity. He said God's name is Jehovah. He is our Father.
( In islam they do NOT see Allah as a father at all. ) He also said it is important for us to use God's whole name because of the great number of verses that say He does things for the glory of His NAME.
Real names matter. There are other names for God that express other aspects of His character but Jehovah is the I am that I am.
WHen Moses said , Who shall I say sent me ( to the Captive Jews)? God said ,
Tell them I am that I am sent you.
Jehovah.

DrNofog said...

A False Piety

As usual...too many irons in the fire...too many things happening...

I had been wanting, for a number of yrs, to put together a post, an 'Open Letter to the Jews' on this very subject. I suppose this will probably be the closest I'll come to it, in light of the speed of 'things' happening in the ME...

Quite a while back I came across some info on the meanings of the 3rd commandment "not take the Name Jehovah in vain", and it gave me a whole new perspective to the following vss [just a very few so you get the gist of it].

Deuteronomy 32:3 ...Because I will publish the name of Jehovah: ascribe ye greatness unto our God...

1 Samuel 12:22 ...For Jehovah will not forsake his people for His great name's sake...

1 Kings 8:42 ...For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm...

Psalm 106:8 ...Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known...

Isaiah 42:6 ...I Jehovah have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles...

Isaiah 49:6 ...And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth...

Ezekiel 36:22-23 ...Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith Jehovah GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went,
And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am Jehovah, saith Jehovah GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
Con't.

DrNofog said...

Pt2
--We have sayings like "A man's word is his bond", and many others that point to when someone's name is mentioned, their 'character' immediately comes to mind [such as Bubba Clintoon & Obummer compared to, say like, Billy Graham]...

Israel was called and "commissioned" to proclaim, publish, speak, walk in, and show forth the Glory and the Goodness, the Love, Blessings, and Mercies of Jehovah!

Indeed, the Glory and the Goodness are switched interchangeably here, when "...he [Moses] said, I beseech you, show me your glory.
19 And He said, I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of Jehovah before you; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
20 And he said, You can not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. - Exodus 33:18-20

So, what happened??

Somewhere between the Babylonian captivity and the Pharisees of Jesus' time, and continuing to this day, the Jews, instead of loving God and drawing close to Him, they began to fear Him and put a twist on the 3rd commandment wherein it would be safer to never speak His Great Name AT ALL rather than risking being found guilty of using it improperly.

Even tho the Prophets, all the way to the 400 silent yrs following Malachi, spoke in the Name of YHVH and spoke His Name, the Jews would substitute Adonai [Lord, Master] whenever they came to YHVH in the Scriptures [a,o,ai are the vowel points that are inserted under the Name YHVH].

However, "in vain" also carries the meaning of "to become, or made useless, of no effect"...

So instead of strictly and safely keeping the Commandment, they have broken it severely!! And their commission too!!!

This is just the 'backbone' of what I wanted to put together, as there is so much more to it, such as -Why does He mention *FOR* His great name sake, which goes all the way back to the 1st slanderous lie against His "character" [Gen.3], and the Day when all creation acknowledges His True Goodness!...

And how is His Great Name really pronounced, since it has fallen into disuse for so long??

And wouldn't people think you had a screw loose if you only ever introduced the love of your life as; Hi, this is "the Wife"... Wife, could you come here a sec?, and NEVER spoke her real name??

Hope this helps
;)

Dutch Treat said...

Thanks for informing us Mrs. C. I did not know this. Yet somehow I have a hard time believing that the MSM or most other secular groups is spelling it like that out of awe and reverence for Him. After all, it is this same secular society that's been trying to remove Christ from Christmas for a while.

DrNofog said...

Waterer said... "...Jehovah is the I am that I am..."

Yrs ago I was talking on that subject with an Israeli couple living here, and he pointed out that the Name YHVH is not really a name at all per se.

It's really 3 parts of speech jammed together, but it's the only way GOD could describe Himself.

It is the verbs I_was_I_am_I_am_to_be, His Eternal covenant-keeping Name!

Waterer said...

Dear Doc,

Thanks for the tutorial. I am not a language scholar . Definately not but an avid user of Strongs. No doubt they are not perfect either. But for Jehovah , they say it equals
Existing One. When Lord God is used it is Adonai , reverential term of Lord with Jehovah. As an endearment. Respectful. The Jehovah they use with Adonai has a slight differnce in vowels which from what I can understand ( which is limited) still means dear existing one.
I LOVE when Jesus declares Himself saying before Abraham, I AM.
It is different from the meaning of theos which I think is what most people in the world mean when they use the word god.
I have much to learn and enjoyed your tutorial. Thank you!

WVBORN56 said...

There used to be a regular poster on RR web site that was a messianic Jew who always wrote G-d's name this way and as Mrs. C said it was done because He is so Holy one could not even write out His name. Kind of like not touching the arc of the covenant.

Misty said...

DrNo, thanks for all of that. I have been really uncomfortable with the G-d thing for a long time even knowing the "official" explanation and what you say makes much more sense to me considering all the Scriptures that magnify His name.

GG said...

Thanks so much for adding that Doc. I had not known that. I hear a lot in our music the reference to:

Jehovah Jireh,Jehovah Nissi and Jehovah Shalom

but wasn't sure that it was used for the proper but more for the emphasis of lifting him up even more. Glad to know this :)

God Bless!!

GG

DrNofog said...

I have never had a beef with the "official explanation" of their traditional reverence for handling, writing, and copying the Scriptures, which included things like at each occurrence of 'YHVH' the copying scribe would wash and put on a fresh garment before continuing. Except, of course, when it goes to the extremes of things like Phylacteries, etc., which Jesus also condemned them for.

But what I was pointing to is that this has always been touted loudly to direct your attention away from the fact that this has all become a cover-up for falling down on their commission; "...having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof..."!

Anyway, YHVH in Exodus 3:14, I inserted "I_" at each verb for clarity, as it is simply "Was_am_to_be", but all in the 1st person singular, and is built off of "Hayah" meaning "existed" or "was", so the translators can only make sense of it by saying "Well, this can only mean a self-existent One".

It can also be "I shall be who I shall be" or "I am who I am" with the meaning of "eternally ongoing"...

In the Greek Septuagint [280yrs BC], Exodus 3:14 it is "ego eimi ho on", "I am the BEING" or I am HE WHO IS, which helped later non-Jewish scholars better understand the meaning.

John recorded Jesus by using "ego eimi" [in Koine Greek, the international trade language of that time] for "I am" or "I am HE", but literally, since ego is already "I am" and eimi is not "he" but rather a double emphasis "I", it reads "I! I am! as the gesture of tapping all your finger tips on the center of your chest.

But you have to remember that Jesus wasn't speaking Greek to the Pharisees, but Hebrew, so He must have used some form of YaHoVah or Yah when He said "I AM", and hence the immediate reaching for stones!!
;)

GG said...

You make him so proud to have created such a well-rounded, well-educated servant :)

GG