Israel's former Minister of Defense and Chief of Staff, Moshe Dayan was once quoted as saying, "Take the American declaration of Independence. It contains no mention of territorial limits. We are not obliged to fix the limits of the State." — Jerusalem Post 8/10/1967 ___________________________ G-d Can Make a Little Go a Long Way by Rabbi Yisrael Kaniel, Associate Director for Religious Affairs In the Torah section of Noach, we read of G-d's decision, as a result of the corruption that engulfed the planet, to destroy all that was on Earth in an extraordinary flood except for those creatures spared by G-d in the ark that he asked Noach to build. In order to prepare for the flood and ensure sufficient supplies for those in the ark, G-d enjoined Noach (Bereshit 6:21): "And as for you, take yourself of every food that is eaten and gather it in to yourself, that it shall be as food for you and for them." Upon reading the aforementioned verse, one may wonder about the seemingly superfluous wording of "food that is eaten" as well as how the ark could hold so much food to last for all of Noach's family and all the animals in the ark during their extensive stay there. An insight by the famous Gaon of Vilna solves both questions. The Gaon of Vilna notes (Pninim M'Shulchan HaGra al HaTorah, p. 36) that our Sages mention that the amount of food that can be consumed at once is the size of an egg (Babylonian Talmud, Yoma 80a). We can then infer that the words "that can be eaten" mean food the size of an egg that can be eaten at once. In other words, the Gaon of Vilna suggests that G-d enjoined Noach to prepare just the size of an egg of food per meal for those in the ark. G-d, in turn, blessed the food to satiate all those in the ark during their extended stay. Consequently, both of the aforementioned difficulties fall away. The seemingly superfluous language is meant to indicate the small size of food that Noach was asked to apportion which, in turn, explains how all the food could fit in the ark. Then, since, with His unlimited powers and omnipotence, G-d can make a little go a long way, G-d was able to make the little stored in the ark last for all its inhabitants for their entire stay. ___________________________ Save the Galilee - Sponsor a Piece of Israel! For the past year and a half, we've been publicizing the deteriorating situation in the Galilee (Israel's North). The situation has only worsened as Arabs are continuing to buy up Jewish land unabated as well as frequent land grabs of State land and massive illegal construction of houses and businesses. The authorities are still behaving with great indifference and often fear to do anything to enforce the law against the Arab population. Whilst we are not statisticians, every week we hear of another Arab purchase of large agricultural lands from Jewish sellers. Recently, for example, a 100 dunam (25 acres) lot was sold by a veteran family to Arabs in the exclusive village of Kfar Tavor. Thanks to concerned donors, we were able to purchase land in Rosh Pina and plant it with olive trees using exclusively Jewish labor. Unfortunately, although each Jewish managed purchase is significant, it is far from changing the downward momentum. We need everybody who cares to get involved and get their friends involved. We need to create a momentum of land buying and Jewish work on the land. Let the enemies of a Jewish State of Israel mourn in another one of the Nakbas as our affirming Jewish sovereignty is their stated disaster! You can be involved by sponsoring the Biblical 4 cubits (2 meters x 2 meters mini lots) for $136. You can donate 12 mini lots for $1200. You can sponsor a whole dunam (1/4 acre) fully planted with olive tree for $24,000. The most important thing is to stay involved and keep participating. Why not donate a fixed amount automatically each month? Say you can't donate $1,200 at one time. Why not do it in monthly installments of $100? Let's hope and pray that the positive start we've experienced thus far multiplies several times this coming year. With love of Israel, Joel Yosef Busner Rabbi Yisrael Kaniel "One who purchases 4 cubits (amot) in the Land of Israel is assured a portion in the World to Come" from Midrash Zuta on Megilat Ruth (4:5) Sponsor 4 square meters (2 meters x 2 meters the Biblical equivalent of 4 cubits x 4 cubits) of Lower Galilee farming land for B'Ahavat Yisrael's Avoda Ivrit (Jewish Labor) youth farming project and as soon as the next Dunam (1/4 Acre) is complete you will receive a certificate with your name and the location of your plot. -The land will be farmed exclusively by Jewish youths and the more land that is purchased and worked by Jews the better chance we have of ensuring Jewish sovereignty in the Galilee! Remember: Every Dunam (1/4 acre) of land will be planted, maintained, and harvested. Income derived from the produce of each property will be used to purchase and maintain our Torah V'Avoda Ivrit Youth Center. Your donation will be a lifetime income producing investment for a great cause! Sponsor a plot in your name, in someone's memory, etc. Price: $136 per unit Special Offer: Dedicate your own section of 12 plots for only $1,200! Sponsor a 1 dunam (1/4 acre) mini olive orchard for $24,000 ___________________________ B'Ahavat Yisrael: "Because I am a Jew!" Visit our website: http://www.byisrael.net See what we do: SAVE THE GALILEE HELP THE NEEDY ...and more To donate: http://www.byisrael.net/donate/ USA (tax deductible): Friends of B'Ahavat Yisrael 4809 Avenue N, PMB # 284 Brooklyn, NY 11234 Phone: 718-686-7061 In Israel: B'Ahavat Yisrael P.O. Box 247 Poriya, Neve Oved 15210 Sent using the MassMail emailing utility. MassMail (c) 2007, KGP Software. All rights reserved.
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