News

In our previous article, we began exploring the nature of the Cheit HaEigel. After all, if the Jewish People were elevated to such an angelic state that they could receive the Torah, how could they commit such a terrible sin at this moment? Even worse, they not only committed this sin immediately following Matan Torah, but they did so in the very same spot, Har Sinai, the very place where we “married” Hashem! Chazal compare this to a kallah (bride) betraying her husband under the chupah! As the pasuk says, they strayed “quickly” (Sh’mos 32:8). How could klal Yisrael fall so rapidly and drastically right after Matan Torah?

Imagine you are on a train, traveling toward your destination. You look to your right and see a fellow passenger. Attempting to be friendly, you ask him where he’s heading. He shrugs his shoulders and says, “I don’t know.” Confused, you ask again. He repeats, “I’m just riding the train. I don’t know where I’m going.” At this point, you begin to wonder if this guy is out of his mind. Who goes on a train without a destination in mind?

As I am writing this, the news from Eretz Yisrael is nerve wracking. This past week has been like a roller-coaster of good and bad. There was President Trump’s announcement of his plans for Gaza, which came as a complete surprise! Empty Gaza of all the people (read: terrorists), clear it out, and rebuild from scratch.

With everything happening that’s been happening, there’s been some other news in Israel. The Supreme Court appointed a new president, without the consent of the elected government. It’s a continuation of the fights surrounding the judicial reform. I won’t bore you with all the details. But I will say, that this is not the Torah’s ideal at all of a proper justice system.   

Less than a month in office and President Donald Trump is changing everything.  The culture, the way government functions, diplomatic relationships, tax policy, the border, and a dozen other topics all have been affected by Trump’s seemingly endless series of Executive Orders.  The news is coming so fast from the White House that by the time one order is covered by the media and protested by the Democrats, the public is two or three topics removed from it.  This breakneck speed is creating a massive shift in the country - so much so that Trump is basically resetting how the country works.

There was a peasant farmer in old Russia standing at the side of the road, weeping profusely. As he stood there, the Czar happened to pass by in his royal coach. The Czar saw the peasant, and when he noticed him weeping, he stopped his chariot to inquire what was wrong.