A Space for Creation

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In this short clip I discuss the idea that G-D allowed a space for creation to exist. Although there is a perception of a lack of G-Dliness, this space does not negate G-D’s existence but rather allows a covering.  Why did the Creator pull back.  Essentially, he did so out of living kindness.  How else would we his most beloved and cherished creations have the capacity for free choice? Once again our free choice does not mean G-D is not around. On the contrary, he is right here with us every moment of the day. If we choose to carry a thought, speech, or action that increases holiness in the world then his presence will be revealed, but if we choose the opposite, the Creator then pulls back more increasing the perception of his lacking.

Our mission is to uncover the divine hidden within the creation and reveal G-D’s presence from within the very space that he appears to have retreated from.

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The Old Yemenite Village is in Our Hands Again

After nearly 80 years of having Arab squatters live within its walls as well as severe vandalism and desecration, the Old Yemenite Synagogue had a rededication ceremony yesterday.  Built in the 1880s by Yemenite Jews who walked to Israel on foot, it quickly became the central focus of the growing Jewish community outside of the Old City walls.

The Yemenite Village was built upon a barren hillside across from the City of David and stood their until consecutive Arab pogroms chased the Jews out. By 1948 the whole neighborhood was taken over by Arabs that had moved from outside of Jerusalem as well as Jordanian forces.  This village was renamed Silwan.

Today, the Yemenite Village is being rebuilt through acquisitions in Silwan facilitated by Ateret Cohanim.  With 21 families and 8o children it appears that the Yemenite Village now hidden within the Arab occupation of the hillside is set to grow. With all the positive events in the neighborhood over the last few years, yesterday’s dedication was by far the most impactful and emotional.

The Yemenite synagogue is a three domed structure.  The Arab squatters encouraged by EU funded organizations held onto 2/3 of the building, with the first domed room having been bought a few years earlier.  The Supreme Court eventually ruled that the squatters had to leave. Now a few years later and some basic renovations, a full renovation is being prepared.

Ministers Zeev Elkin and Miri Regev spoke at the ceremony yesterday and Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas was in attendance.

Watch Daniel Luria of Ateret Cohanim speak about the importance of the Synagogue below.

 

Danny Moskowitz (Ateret Cohanim photographer Matanya Ofir)
Mike Huckabee (Ateret Cohanim photographer Matanya Ofir)
Yemenite Beit Knesset (Ateret Cohanim photographer Matanya Ofir)
Rav Amar (Ateret Cohanim photographer Matanya Ofir)
Ministers Zeev Elkin and Miri Regev (Ateret Cohanim photographer Matanya Ofir)

Dan Crenshaw, the Biblical Warrior for Congress

“The American-Israeli bond runs deep, born out of mutually held values of democratic norms, rule of law, and freedoms of religion and opportunity. As a long-time supporter of Israel, I will ensure that our alliance does not waver, and that America continues to support Israeli security, advocate for her on the international stage, and contain the threat from Iran and terrorism across the region.”

The above quote is taken from Dan Crenshaw’s website.  With his runoff victory in the Republican primaries in Houston’s congressional district on May 22nd, Crenshaw is set to face the Democratic challenger.  This race for congressman already sees Crenshaw out to a large lead.

There is no doubt that both Republican candidates are staunch supporters of Israel, but Crenshaw’s unwavering tone on his support and his personal connection to people in areas “Palestinians” want for their state put him on a different level.

Yet, Dan Crenshaw appears to get the idea that the USA and Israel have a natural bond that goes beyond security necessities.  This bond is Biblical.  The USA has always saw itself as a facilitator for the Jewish return to Zion.  As far back as the founding fathers in whom there was a real debate on making the official language of the USA Hebrew to Abraham Lincoln’s desire to help the Jewish people return to their ancient homeland, the USA has taken the mantle as an extension of Israel.

Dan Crenshaw was nearly killed in his third tour of duty in the Middle East.  He spent days in a coma and lost his eye.  He has been blessed to continue and assuming he will be victorious this November, his blessings will continue. Blessings are drawn when one makes it a point in doing the Creator’s will by standing up for truth and justice. Crenshaw certainly has continued in that path and despite the fact that Washington D.C. is a swamp, with Biblical values, Dan Crenshaw will do just fine.



ISRAEL-TURKEY CONFRONTATION: Is Cyprus Ground Zero for War?

Since 1974 Turkey has occupied 40% of Cyprus, constituting in what the international community holds is an illegal occupation. In that time Turkey has driven out the Greek Cypriots from the Turkish enclave in the northern part of the island, where the ethnic Greeks had made up more than 80% of the populace.

As Turkey has swung further and further towards an Islamist style republic, with an increasingly autocratic president in Erdogan, Israel and Cyprus along with Greece have begun to form various economic alliances as a buffer to Turkey’s expansion. While Cypriot animosity to their Turkish occupiers cannot be overstated, Israel’s increasingly strong economic position and regional leadership capabilities in the technology and military arenas is both attractive and reassuring.

Greece, Cyprus, and Israel have jointly developed an East Med gas pipeline that will take their gas to Europe.  This has given them the need to also create a joint task force in dealing with threats from Iran, Hezbollah, and Turkey to both Cyprus’ and Israel’s gas and oil fields.

With Turkey trying to establish itself as the leader of the Islamic world, it has grown more and more antagonistic to Israel. Yet, behoind its stated infuriation over Israel’s self-defense from a potential Gaza stampede, the real thing bothering Erdogan is Israel’s alignment with Greece and Cyprus.

With positive relationships having been developed over the years in tourism between the three countries and now with a combination of economic, technological, and energy cooperation, Israel has become the stable anchor and friend both Cyprus and its big brother Greece have sought.



Turkey has grown very cool to the idea of energy collaboration between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. In a recent visit to London Turkey’s Erdogan said that the “Eastern Mediterranean faces a security threat should Cyprus continue its unilateral operations of offshore oil and gas exploration in the region.”

Earlier this year, Turkish Navy vessels threatened to sink a drilling ship hired by Eni to explore for oil and gas off Cyprus’s shore.  Weeks before that, Turkey’s Navy had blocked the drilling vessel that Eni had hired.

Turkey claims that the drilling operations are ‘unilateral’ and claims that part of the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus is under Turkish jurisdiction.

These sorts of events and declarations have pushed Greece, Cyprus, and Israel closer together.  With the latest row between Turkey and Israel heightening tensions between the two, the frontlines of any potential conflict between the two may end up being Cyprus who has begun to rely on Israel for help with maritime security training.

With tensions mounting between Turkey and the three East Mediterranean allies,  Jonathan Cohen, US State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs said the following in hopes of calming the situation: “If confirmed, I will continue to support longstanding US policy recognizing the Republic of Cyprus’s right to develop its resources in its EEZ. The island’s oil and gas resources, like all of its resources, should be equitably shared between both communities on the island in the context of an overall settlement.”

Cohen backed by the US government appears to be placating both the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government along with Turkey’s assertion that it deserves some of the access to Cyrus’ resources.  The problem with this approach is it rewards Turkey for it malevolent behavior at a time when it is actively engaged in wrecking havoc in several geographic areas in the region.

With the continued cooperation between Israel, Cyprus, and Greece in the offing, expect tensions to only increase with Turkey. Will there be war in the eastern Mediterranean? Perhaps not tomorrow, but with a falling Lira and an expansionist leader in Ankara, the threat is only increasing.