This Sukkot the Jewish people are fighting to defend our religious and historic rights to our homeland in this hostile, belligerent, malicious, hateful, virulent, fanatical part of the world. But the story does not end at our borders. For whatever the dangers facing us in our holy land, the sword of Islam is far wider than the distance between the “river and the sea”. Chag Sukkot Sameach!

The current situation is meant to propel Medinat Yisrael to the exclusive status of world leader, nothing less! It is HaShem’s answer to our request:
Our Father, our King, raise high the pride of Yisrael Your nation.
Our Father our King, raise high the pride of Your anointed one (the Jewish nation or the mashiach).

May we all be inscribed in the Book of Life and merit the final redemption of Am Yisrael, as we walk together to the Temple Mount, to the dwelling place of the Creator in this world.

Our Father, our King, annul the (evil) intentions of our enemies. Iran and its proxies surrounding us planned, with the help of 350,000 Bedouins, to attack Israel from three sides at a pre-determined time to eliminate the Jewish State and murder its 7 million Jews. We have no way of knowing how often HaShem has saved us! Remember this during Rosh Hashana prayers.

The Medina is now in the blaming stage. Who is responsible for the events of the morning of Shemini Atzeret-Simchat Torah? When will we be able to continue our beautiful lives as they were before that fateful day?

Seventy-six years ago, the gates to Eretz Yisrael were thrown open to all Jews. The call was sounded to return home and receive immediate citizenship under the “The Law of Return”. Very few came home from the western countries. In fact, the year my wife and I came on aliya in 1962, a mere 677 people came from the millions of Jews in the US. It’s time to USE IT or LOSE IT.

David replied, “you come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of HaShem, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day HaShem will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down … and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.”

Ten years ago, I wrote in a whisper to prepare for the day. Five years ago, I wrote in a voice a few decibels higher to prepare for the day. Now my voice is hoarse from screaming, to prepare for the day that will be followed when there will be no one to listen…

HaShem began the Torah describing His act of creation out of nothing, thus establishing His “ownership”. It dawned on me that every parasha in Bereisheit has to do with Jewish possession of the holy land. For example, let’s consider two seemingly unrelated incidents: the first international war, and Akeidat Yitzchak.

Hardcore Torah-true Jews will never forsake the millions and millions of Jews who came before. From the time of receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai through such time that we will have proven ourselves worthy of the honor of being the chosen nation, we remain steadfastly Am Israel.

We were caught unprepared due to the overconfidence of the IDF, and cycles of broken leadership – egocentric, ineffective communication, divisiveness, and out of touch with the average Israeli. How can we remedy the situation and restore our merits in the eyes of HaShem?

This week’s parasha begins with the gift and challenge of free-will that distinguishes us from all other species in HaShem’s creation – giving us the freedom to make choices that can lead to blessings or curses.