Thought provoking blog post from Rabbi Lazer Brody:

“Israel has now entered the threshold of Big-Decision time. The IDF can’t remain static for long on the outskirts of very densely-populated urban areas such as Gaza City, the home turf of the Hamas, which loves to fight while hiding among the civilian population. All the cities of Gaza contain entire networks of underground tunnels, which really make combat sticky – you get fired at from one window, and by the time you storm the house, the terrorists have already crossed the street in an underground tunnel and are firing at you from another window. Knowing the size and scope of the enemy is virtually impossible, and the booby-trapped streets and buildings make Gehinnom look like Sesame Street compared to Gaza. The previous six-month ceasefire gave the Hamas plenty of time to prepare.

Big-Decision Time is now upon the Israeli Government: If morale weakens and it pulls out now from Gaza after the IDF has lost four of its finest soldiers to friendly fire, Hamas is the big winner and hero of the entire Third World. And if Israel presses forward to engage the enemy inside the big cities, it will undoubtedly pay a big price in loss of life without necessarily attaining its political and security goals.

So what should the IDF do? Maintain the siege and become sitting ducks to mortar and antitank fire, or penetrate the cities and make the big gamble of human loss?

Hashem has put Israel in a stalemate. We haven’t understood Hashem’s gentle message by withholding the rains particularly in this post-Sabbatical year. We haven’t understood Hashem’s louder message by pulling the economic rug out from under our feet. Now – in spite of the IDF’s gains – Hamas continues the flow of missiles raining on the south of Israel. The army is faced with a most difficult decision as to its next move and is yet long away from putting an end to the rocket and missile fire against the south of Israel. Hashem has put Israel in a situation where there’s only one way out: Teshuva.

Let’s not wait for Olmert, Livni, or Barak to make teshuva. Let’s do it ourselves. Make sure that every child you know learns how to say “Shema Yisrael.” Hashem wants to bring us Moshiach, but we have to desire it as well. A mitzva that we all need to improve on is “Ahavat Yisrael,” loving our fellow. Let’s start with loving the soldiers that are putting their lives on the line for us.”

With gratitude to Rabbi Lazer Brody and his blog, Lazer Beams:

A week doesn’t go by without three or four people asking me what to do about the chatter in the synagogue, especially among the “big wigs”. Since it’s easier to correct ourselves than it is to correct someone else, I tell people not to get into arguments with the chatterboxes, but to work on their deep concentration in praying until they don’t hear or feel anything that’s going on in the periphery.

Image, left: A Big Wig

Folks chatter in the synagogue because they don’t believe that Hashem is right there with them. If they knew that The King was there, they’d freeze! If a person chattered to his buddy in the solemn court of a flesh-and-blood king, he’d get the guillotine.

The more we develop our emuna, the greater our spiritual sensitivity becomes. The greater our spiritual sensitivity becomes, the more we feel Hashem. The more we feel Hashem, the better we pray. The better we pray, the less we chatter in the synagogue.

Our dear friend from London, gifted musician and songwriter David Dome, wrote the following witty song about the big wigs that run their mouths off in the synagogue:

The Big Wig

words and music by David Dome

Well I’ve got plenty to say, In the shul everyday.

I’m such a big wig in here, No one else can come near.

You see I open my mouth, My big “north and south”.

And I break all of the rules, About talking in shul.

Instead of saying Amen, I’m gonna talk to my friend.

And when the Rabbi turns round, I won’t make a sound.

But when he turns round to pray, I still have more to say.

About the traffic that lay, On the road yesterday.

Someday when I realise, I’ll shut my mouth and open my eyes.

Such a twittering bird, I know I’m quite absurd.

Ah, but what can I do? I’m more important than you.

I speak of whiskey and wine, The Financial Times.

And what’s happening in, The shul I haven’t yet been.

I’m a twittering bird, With what’s overheard.

But when I’m outside the door, I won’t say anymore.

I got plenty to say, In the shul everyday.

I’m a big wig in here, No one else can come near.

The Big Wig, by David Dome

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