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Tens of thousands of Jewish people from Israel and around the world gathered at the Western Wall of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount on Monday for the biblical Priestly Blessing.
The Priestly Blessing is performed at Passover, Shavuot (Pentecost) and Sukkot - the three biblical festivals during which the people of Israel were required to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
The event is led by hundreds of Cohanim, those Jews who can trace their lineage to the family of Aaron, Moses’ brother and Israel’s first high priest.
The following words are recited by the priestly Israelis over the congregation:
“May the LORD bless you and keep you; May the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; May the LORD lift up His face unto you and give you peace.”
They are the same words that Numbers 6:23–27 tells us Aaron and his sons recited over the assembly of Israel during their sojourn through the desert.
As always, security was tight, with thousands of police deployed in and around Jerusalem’s Old City to prevent terrorist attacks against the mass gathering.
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Everyone knows that the current Israeli and American governments don’t get along very well. And the Obama Administration’s hostility toward Jerusalem only seems to be increasing in its waning days.
The Obama White House has experienced “overwhelming frustration” in its dealings with the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said US Vice President Joe Biden last week.
Speaking at a gathering of the left-wing Jewish organization J-Street, Biden accused Netanyahu of “moving us and more importantly…moving Israel in the wrong direction.”
In survey results published this week, Israelis signaled that the feeling was mutual concerning President Barack Obama and his handling of American affairs.
Conducted on behalf of Israel’s Channel One News, the poll found that a solid 51 percent of Israelis believe that no matter who wins the upcoming US presidential election, the end result will be a positive change for the Jewish state.
Only 8 percent felt there was a chance US-Israel relations could get worse than they are under Obama.
A 39 percent plurality remain certain Democratic contender Hillary Clinton will win the White House, while 30 percent said real estate mogul Donald Trump will be the next American president.
More Israelis feel Clinton will be overall better for their nation, though a plurality acknowledges that Netanyahu will get along better on a personal level with Trump.
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An Iron Dome launcher fires an interceptor rocket in the southern Israeli city of Ashdod. (Reuters)
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More than four-fifths of the U.S. Senate have signed a letter urging President Barack Obama to quickly reach an agreement on a new defense aid package for Israel worth more than the current $3 billion per year.
Eighty-three of the 100 senators signed the letter, led by Republican Lindsey Graham and Democrat Chris Coons. Senator Ted Cruz, a 2016 presidential candidate, was one of the 51 Republicans on board. The Senate's Democratic White House hopeful, Bernie Sanders, was not among the 32 Democrats.
"In light of Israel's dramatically rising defense challenges, we stand ready to support a substantially enhanced new long-term agreement to help provide Israel the resources it requires to defend itself and preserve its qualitative military edge," said the letter, which was seen by Reuters.
It did not provide a figure for the suggested aid. Israel wants $4 billion to $4.5 billion in aid in a new agreement to replace the current memorandum of understanding, or MOU, which expires in 2018. U.S. officials have given lower target figures of about $3.7 billion. They hope for a new agreement before Obama leaves office in January.
The funding is intended to boost Israel's military and allow it to maintain a technological advantage over its Arab neighbors.
The letter said the Senate also intends to consider increased U.S. funding for cooperative missile defense programs, similar to increases in the past several years.
Obama has asked for $150 million for such programs, but lawmakers are believed to be willing to send Israel hundreds of millions for programs like its Iron Dome air defense system and David's Sling medium- and long-range defense system.
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Emergency workers search the scene after a blast on a bus in Jerusalem April 18, 2016. (Ronen Zvulun)
Israel: The Canary in the Mineshaft
What happens in Israel sooner or later reaches the rest of us in the West. Israel is the canary in the mineshaft, serving as a warning to the rest of us that calamities are coming our way.
As an isolated outpost of Western civilization in a hostile neighborhood, Israel is the first target of Islamic terrorists, but don't be fooled—they're targeting us too.
Once again, Israeli civilians are targets of a concerted terror campaign by Palestinian terrorists. If you've been following the news lately, you'll have noticed that Israeli civilians are being attacked at random by knife-wielding Palestinians. There's also been a return to random attacks on pedestrians using vehicles as a weapon of choice, as well as the recent jihadi bus bombing in Jerusalem leaving over 20 more casualties to terror, and the discovery of yet another Palestinian terrorist tunnel dug under the border from the Gaza Strip into Israel.
The Palestinians' grievance this time? Same as always! The Israelis simply won't agree to commit national suicide by acceding to Palestinian demands to abandon Israel to the tender mercies of Palestinian thugs.
It has been aptly noted that the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. That is as true today as ever. Repeatedly, Israeli officials have been willing to make the difficult compromises to obtain peace only to be met by Palestinian intransigence—and worse.
During the last days of the Clinton administration, for example, Israel was willing to give the Palestinians 98 percent of what they demanded. That sounds like a pretty good deal under any circumstances. The Palestinian response? A resounding NO!
Despite Israel's going the second mile and more, the Palestinians demanded 100 percent or nothing. It seems Palestinians would rather starve than settle for part of a loaf—even the entire loaf, less one slice.
What type of leader rejects an agreement that gives him 98 percent of his demands? A leader who is not serious about peace! A leader who would rather continue the struggle than reach a solution. A leader who cannot handle the responsibilities that peace would require.
And what followed on the heels of the Palestinian rejection? A Palestinian uprising—called an intifada. Now, get this. The Palestinians are offered 98 percent of what they demand, and they not only reject such an offer, but Palestinian terrorists initiate widespread violence against Israel to punish them for not yielding the final 2 percent. So much for good faith negotiations between the parties.
It appears that we are once again on the verge of another uprising, another intifada. Palestinian leadership has given up on negotiations with Israel. Why? Because Israel will no longer simply yield and yield and yield again in the face of Palestinian stonewalling.
If the Palestinians are serious about peace, they can have it. No one wants peace more than the State of Israel, which has been on a war footing for almost its entire existence as a state. Israel has gone the extra mile to reach peace only to have its extremely generous offers thrown back in its face by Palestinian authorities.
Now is the time for the Palestinians to decide whether they want peace or not. Sadly, I'm betting that this will be one more in a long list of lost opportunities.
In the meantime, we urge you to stand with us and with Israel as we continue to fight for Israel at the U.N., in the international court of public opinion, and with this current administration, which appears to be on the precipice of betraying Israel publicly and dramatically by declining to veto a number of anti-Israel resolutions currently making their way to the U.N. Security Council.
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SHANNON BREAM: Germany is the last stop on President Obama's three-country tour. He began the week, of course, with a bit of a tense trip to Saudi Arabia, as that region faces numerous critical challenges.
Tucked in the midst of all the trouble is Jordan, where King Abdullah II is not only managing the influx of more than a million refugees, but also waging a constant battle against the threats from ISIS. There are growing questions about why the U.S. and -- in that region -- more Arab nations aren't stepping up to do more to help the man who has been viewed as our most faithful Sunni Arab ally.
Joel Rosenberg, best-selling author...met days ago with King Abdullah and came away with some key insights and joins us now live from Jerusalem. Welcome to you, Joel.
ROSENBERG: Great to be with you, Shannon. Shalom from Jerusalem.
BREAM: And listen, let me ask you -- you had an unbelievable amount of access, a special invitation from King Abdullah. Tell us a little bit about what you saw, and what kind of viewpoint it gives you now, on exactly what Jordan and that region is facing.
ROSENBERG: It was fascinating. King Abdullah in January was given a copy of my recent novel, The First Hostage, which is about ISIS -- the Islamic State -- trying to capture chemical weapons in Syria and launch an attack against the United States, Israel and Jordan, and even try to topple King Abdullah. A friend of his, an advisor to him, gave him the book, and he read it in just a few days. And rather than banning me from the kingdom, invited my wife and I on a five day visit. It was fascinating.
Look, King Abdullah is our most faithful Sunni Arab ally, and yet he faces enormous challenges. All of us in this region face the threat of ISIS, but Jordan, you know -- ISIS's roots run deep in Jordan. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the man who invented ISIS -- then called Al Qaeda in Iraq -- was from Jordan. So the king faces a huge challenge, but I think he is up for it. I spent time with him, having lunch with him, having dinner with him, meeting with many of his top generals. He's a Special Forces guy. He was the head of Special Forces in Jordan before he took the throne. But he needs more American, Arab and international help.
BREAM: Yeah, and we have such a delicate score of relationships across that region, as you know. You know about the visit to Saudi Arabia this week, the tensions that are there. We also have word this week that the U.S. has spent more than $8 million purchasing heavy water nuclear materials from Iran, and some people see a link there between the meetings with Saudi Arabia, the pressure regarding Iran, and now this new purchase at a time when a lot of people here still aren't sold on the overall nuke deal that we just made with them.
ROSENBERG: Yes, what is surprising almost every Sunni Arab leader in the region -- and certainly Israel, as well -- is why is the President of the United States tipping away from our historic allies -- Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf emirates, and again obviously Israel, as our most faithful ally in the entire region -- and tipping all this effort to help Iran? And not taking decisive measures to destroy ISIS once and for all? ISIS and a nuclear Iran pose existential threats to every leader, and every person, in this region, as well as to the United States. And yet the President keeps tipping -- when push comes to shove, he's going with Iran these days. This is a huge mistake. It bothers me. It bothers many in this region.
BREAM: Well, Joel, we thank you so much for giving us some insights. You've written an op-ed that gives even more about that amazing trip you had with the King. And you know how I feel about The First Hostage. I can understand why after reading it he would have invited you. It is a great read. People will be entertained, as they always are with your books, but they will learn a lot about what we're really facing, as well. Joel, thank you for joining us live from Jerusalem.
ROSENBERG: Thank you.
[NOTE: During the interview, Fox News I identified me several times as a "former advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu." While it's true that I worked as an aide to him in 2000, that was more than 15 years ago. I want viewers to be clear that I don't claim to speak for Mr. Netanyahu in any way. My views are wholly my own.]
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The almond tree is the first to blossom in springtime in the Land of Israel. In Scripture, it symbolizes quick action, as here the Almighty is informing Jeremiah that He will hasten to fulfill His prophecies (Jeremiah 1:12). Amazingly, in Hebrew the very word for "almond" - sha-KAYD - is similar to the word for "hasten" - sho-KAYD. "Hasten" to plant a tree this springtime in the Holy Land!
The worst fire in Israel's history ravaged Israel's Carmel Forest region in December 2010. Hear the story of JNF's incredible work to rehabilitate the forest and beautify the Land of Israel once again.
US President Barack Obama last month put the blame for failed Middle East peace on the economic success of the Jewish State, a claim foreseen by the sages of Torah as part of the Messianic process.
This exquisite necklace displays the Ten Commandments with Hebrew letters and English writing, inscribed in 24 karat gold. The finely detailed miniature writing is legible and can be seen with the special magnifying glass which is included with purchase. The golden Ten Commandments are mounted on an Onyx gemstone and encircled in a 15 x 21 mm .925 sterling silver frame. Also included is an 18 inch (45 cm) .925 sterling silver necklace. It comes in a gift box and is a perfect and unique gift for any special occasion. Key ring magnifying glass included!
Sarah Tuttle-Singer's photo of almond blossoms in Rosh Pina. Almond trees have grown in Israel since Biblical times and were amongst the gifts sent by Jacob to Joseph in Egypt (Gen. 43:11).
I love receiving your emails. They seem to add to my faith. Thank you, Martha P.
Good morning - I look forward to Israel 365 every morning with great anticipation. The pictures are wonderful, I have been to Israel once and long to return someday, and I am trying to learn Hebrew so it is great to practice along with your texts. Thanks so much, love it, love it, love it. Keith
