Rabbi's Blog

Dear OZ family,

Shavua Tov.

Every minyan wherever you go concludes with additional chapters of Tehillim to gain Divine favor and intercession for Israel’s current plight. The Mishna in Masechet Ta’anit mentions chapter 121, “I lift my eyes to the mountains”, chapter 130, “Mi’ma’makim”, and chapter 142, “Koli el Hashem Ez’ak”, for the community to say for tragic events. I remember Shimon Mayer and Werner Rosenbaum telling me that in the 1930’s in Germany, they would say chapter 83, which references many nations that join together to destroy us, with no one to come to our aid. Some prefer today to say chapter 140, which refers to the murderous design of “Ish Chamasim”.

We have been saying chapters 120-and 121. !21 is a standard chapter that relies very heavily on God’s constant protection, guidance, and supervision. The next chapter speaks of the lies and subterfuge of the enemy. It could predict an enemy that would wave white flags in front of rifles. It could depict an enemy that hides behind women and children, the same way the Yevusi hid behind cripples and the blind, in Shmuel Bet chapter 5. We have to contend, not only with the deceitful treachery of Chamas, but the willful blindness and complicity of many in academia, media, in government and in UN agencies. The chapter ends:  “I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war”.

We all must be ready to do battle on many fronts for Israel. Here’s one way to do so in our own neighborhood. Morton Williams just opened a new store on 68^th and Broadway. They not only carry a wide line of Israeli products, but they display a banner that declares, “We proudly offer Israeli products”. Needless to say, this has caused an uproar in the new protesting class of New Yorkers and Morton Williams is now complicit in genocide, from which these poetic protesters say they cannot hide. Let us do our part and shop at Morton Williams and buy Israeli products and point it out as we check out. May our God Who neither sleeps nor slumbers shine His graces on the success of Israel in making the land safe for its people.

Stay well and healthy.

Rabbi Allen Schwartz   

Rabbi Allen Schwartz

Congregation Ohab Zedek

118 West 95^th Street | New York, NY  10025-6604

Phone 212.749-5150, ext 200 | Fax 212.663-3635

E-mail ras@ozny.org

Website:  www.ozny.org