Tuesday, September 25, 2012

"Who Will Live and Who Will Die"

Original Article Click Here



The military has released a gripping video of an IDF Cantor’s recital of the “U-Netaneh Tokef” prayer with the background of soldiers in battle. The prayer’s central theme is “Who will live and who will die” and “Repentance, Prayer and Charity removed the evil of the decree”

The video of Lt. Col. Shai Abramson reciting the prayer was selected by IDF Facebook users as the last song on the Cantor’s new album and was produced with the video for the High Holidays.

The video of the prayer, along with a recital in the Great Synagogue on Allenby Street in Tel Aviv, revolves around the Yom Kippur War and a battalion commander and his armored brigade whose soldiers fought in the fierce and deadly “Valley of Tears” battle on the Golan Heights.

At one point, 40 Israeli tanks faced approximately 500 Syrian tanks.
The "U'Netaneh Tokef” prayer is attributed to Rabbi Amnon of Mainz, as related to Rabbi Klonimus ben Meshullam, according to the Orthodox Union.

The prayer, recited also on Rosh Hashannah and before the open Ark of the Torah, states, “The great shofar will be sounded and a still, thin sound will be heard. Angels will hasten, a trembling and terror will seize them - and they will say, 'Behold, it is the Day of Judgment, to muster the heavenly host for judgment!'- for they cannot be vindicated in Your eyes in judgment.

“All mankind will pass before You like members of the flock.  Like a shepherd pasturing his flock, making sheep pass under his staff, so shall You cause to pass, count, calculate, and consider the soul of all the living; and You shall apportion the fixed needs of all Your creatures and inscribe their verdict.

“On Rosh Hashannah will be inscribed and on Yom Kippur will be sealed how many will pass from the earth and how many will be created; who will live and who will die; who will die at his predestined time and who before his time; who by water and who by fire, who by sword, who by beast, who by famine, who by thirst, who by storm, who by plague, who by strangulation, and who by stoning. Who will rest and who will wander, who will live in harmony and who will be harried, who will enjoy tranquility and who will suffer, who will be impoverished and who will be enriched, who will be degraded and who will be exalted.
“But Repentance, Prayer and Charity remove the evil of the decree!”

Friday, September 21, 2012

"I Believe"

A friend shared this video with us and now we are sharing it with you. We do hope that it blesses you and or challenges you.

Shabbat Shalom Ya'll

Thursday, September 20, 2012

What Were You Doing Today?

On Wednesday, while The 2 Spies went to work packing up our house, while the children went to school, and Mommies went grocery shopping.... today while you were at work or the gym or playing video games... there was something happening on the Golan in Israel.

 Soldiers were called up from their homes and from service in Judea and Samaria to take part in a surprise war drill in the Golan Heights Wednesday.  G-d is our Shomer (guard) and He chooses to operate through these amazing young men & women. They rose to the challenge and were successful.

Praise be to the L-RD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. 
Psalm 144:1

The original article can be found Here









Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Appointment with G-d

(Here is the post from last year.... we just HAD to repeat this one)

The High Holy Days are upon us. Here in the Land there is much activity as we prepare for the first of these~ Rosh HaShanah or Yom Teruah. Of course there is always the menu planning and eternal grocery shopping. Lots of lovely celebration foods packed with memories and.... calories!  New clothing for the new year. Clean houses for a fresh start. But in the midst of all the hustle and bustle what may be difficult to maintain is the main reasons for this season~ not only of celebration~ but more appropriately~ reflection, repentance and restoration.

This past month, the shofar has been sounded every weekday morning in the shul. For those who have ears to hear, it is sounding to wake us up. The day is approaching when we will be called to make an assessment of our deeds this past year. How did we spend our time? On what did we spend our money? What words did we speak~ those that build or those that tear down? Do we hold hurts, bitterness and unforgiveness? Even though the general thought or feeling is one of celebration, this is actually a somber time of year as we approach the throne of the King to be called into account.

We do not need to be afraid or enter this time with trepidation. If G-d has instituted these Holy days, He has done so because He is making himself accessible. In essence, He has a calendar and your name is written on these coming days. You have, as it were, an appointment with G-d. As we participate with Him in His moedim (appointed days) He has made the way for true repentance, cleansing and rebuilding of relationships~ first with Him~ and then with those around us. We trust Him in this that He will be faithful to meet us on Yom Teruah. He will show us those we have offended and give us the courage to make things right~ to say 'I'm sorry'. He will remind us of vows not kept and give us the wisdom to keep the vows and to be careful about making future vows. He will prepare us for a life of fruitfulness and beauty with Him as our Guide.

As The 2 Spies are looking ahead, we are in hopes for an even more significant coming year filled with mitzvot (acts of loving-kindness) and a greater reality of the presence of the Living G-d and the Day in which we are living. We look forward, with joy, to the season ahead and are grateful to our G-d for providing a beautiful way to be in relationship with Him and each other.

Our wish for you, dear readers: May you  be written for a wonderful year full of Life!

Monday, September 17, 2012

He Who Believes, is Not Afraid

This season of the High Holy Days, The 2 Spies would like to draw your attention away from the swirling cauldron of the world news. There is a G-d in heaven who is still in charge and it is to Him we continually look and in Him we put our complete trust. From this place of leaning on Him, we can enter into and remain in Shabbat rest. It is He who called us into existence and it is His breath that sustains our lives. In knowing and believing this.... there is no need to fear.

 "...in God I trust; I will not be afraid. 
 What can mortal man do to me? " Psalm 56:4