Gadol, but not Kadosh

Bileam was a man of profound spiritual achievements. His understanding was at level of that of Moshe Rabbeinu. Bileam was also evil. How can this be?

After Bileam did not succeed to curse Israel, he understood why. He advised Balak that there was one way to hurt the Jews - by drawing them into sexual sin. Bileam had understood the great difference between himself and Moshe, between himself and the Jew. Mah Tovu Ohaleicha Ya'akov, how goodly are your tents, Ya'akov. Ya'akov was holy. Moshe was great and holy. Bileam was great and unholy. He was steeped in sexual sin.

Human status is naturally related to Gadlut, greatness. Not to Kedusha, holiness. This should have been different in the world of Torah, but often it is not. What counts, is to be a Talmid Chacham. The Torah warns us. It is possible to be Bileam. It is possible to be Gadol and to not be Kadosh. It is good to be Gadol, but only if one is also Kadosh. Without Kedusha, Gadlut does not help. Even worse, it hurts. Bileam was evil. Without Kedusha, Gadlut leads to evil.

The Three Terrors Con The World

Ma'ayan Mitgaber

The stream of oil leaking into the Gulf was first reported to be 1000 barrels per day. Later it became 5000 barrels per day, and now it is reported to be 60000 barrels per day. I think this is not only because the early estimates were wrong. The flow of oil from a deep high-pressure source naturally increases, as it causes erosion of blockages that hinder it.

The oil that flows into the Gulf is a natural example of a Ma'ayan Mitgaber, a spring that grows stronger. This one is a curse from Tehom, but it mirrors one that is a blessing from Shamayim.

Who merits "drilling into" the spiritual level of Keter experiences a Ma'ayan Mitgaber. The "fluids" coming from Keter flow via Chochma, Bina, Da'at into the "spine." As blockages are removed by the flow, the Ma'ayan becomes stronger and stronger. For who merits, Chidushim can become a continuous experience.

Ongoing Assault

Obama visited "the Gulf," for the fourth time, on day 56 of the disaster. Amazing, Obama now visits the Gulf more often than Mitchell visits Israel...

Obama exclaimed: "This is not simply one catastrophic event. It is an ongoing assault, whose movements are constantly changing."

I heard Obama describe his treatment of Israel: It is not simply one catastrophic event. It is an ongoing assault, whose movements are constantly changing.

On day 57, Obama spoke about the people of the Gulf coast who had been hoping to recover from hurricane Katrina. They had hoped for a good fishing season and a good tourist season. Instead, they are hit by the current tragedy. Obama is going to measure progress by how these people are helped.

Well, Obama's assault on Israel is hitting a people that had hoped to recover from the expulsion of Jews from the Gaza strip. They had hoped for a temporary freeze of international pressure. Instead, they are now hit by a building freeze, even in Yerushalayim, forced negotiations, and international flotillitis. Obama is being measured by his own yardstick.

The Wars of Ishmael

In the era of redemption Ishmael will rise up and become strong while hating Isaac, Jacob and their descendants. They will provoke kings and nations, while the world is sinking into a chaos of wars and tragedies. The following is from Pesikta Rabbati (Kumi Ori 36):

R. Yitzchak said: "The year the Messianic king is revealed... Persia will provoke Arabia, Arabia will go to Edom, to take counsel from them, and then Persia will go back and destroy the whole world... Israel will be in a tumultuous panic, asking: "Where shall we go? What shall we do?"

The Holy Zohar, likewise, often states that the Ishmaelites will attack the Jewish People and Eretz Yisrael in the end of days. The Zohar Bereshit, 119a, teaches: "At that time the Ishmaelites will be aroused together with all the nations of the world to attack Jerusalem." The Zohar further teaches (Vaera, 32a):

The Ishmaelites shall long have control over the Holy Land when it is empty... and will deter Israel from returning to their place... In the future, they will stir up major wars, and Edom's descendants will gather against them and wage war on them... one on the sea, one on dry land, and one near Jerusalem. These will employ great force against each other, and the Holy Land will not be given over to Edomite control.

Thus the war of Ishmael will be against Israel and will also be part of the series of wars between the nations.

All this will occur in an age of global collapse, which G-d will bring in order to punish the nations, sanctify His profaned name, defeat and eradicate false gods and religions, and publicize His Oneness to all the world.

[Rabbi Meir Kahane, Or HaRa'ayon - English translation - chapter 29]

Three times 11 around 66

We noted the special nature of 11 years around 66 of the right, four years before 66 plus seven years after 66, from 5772 to 5783.

Likewise, there are periods of 11 years around 66 of the left (in 5765) and around 66 of the center (in 5758).

The 11 years around 66 of the center are from 5754 until 66 of the left - 5765. This is the period of the great Jewish assault on Jewish destiny. The assault was initially led by the likes of Shimon Peres, Yossi Beilin, and Yitzchak Rabin, helped along by the devastating rabbinical support of Rav Ovadia Yosef. The assault was finalized by Ariel Sharon, helped by the devastating rabbinical support of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. The nations of the world applauded the Jewish assault unanimously.

The 11 years around 66 of the left are from 5761 until 5772. These are the years of Yishmael's response to the Jewish assault. In Israel, the start was the Intifada of 5761. In the West, the start was the attack on the Twin Towers. The climax will be in the coming two years. Subsequently, the 11 years around 66 of the right will start. There will be no relief.