From: Bulletin Editor bulletin@unitedisrael.orgSubject: United Israel Bulletin - February 26, 2018

Date: February 26, 2018 at 1:12 PMTo: livetospin@gmail.com

February 26, 2018 / 11 Adar 5778

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Publishing important Biblical research and messages of current interest since 1944.

UN Observers In the Golan HeightThe Editor talking with UN Observers in the Golan Heights

This week, while touring Israel with a group, the Editor talked briefly withsome United Nations observers in the Golan Heights. Earlier in the week, wetraveled to the northernmost parts of Israel to show the tourists the viewfrom Mount Bental. There, atop the viewing position, two UN Observers wereat their post. One was watching things in the distance through a telescopewhile the other stood slightly behind him in a fortified trench. The editorapproached the two uniformed men and engaged in a conversation with theUN observer standing idly.

"Where are you men from?"UN Observer - "I am from Denmark. He (the one watching through thetelescope) is from Norway."

"Are you keeping an eye on the conflict in Syria?"UN Observer - "We sometimes look that way, but we are also watching toensure that Israel is not violating the agreements.""Of course you are."

"Can you point out for me where Syria is from here."UN Observer - "Technically you are in Syria, but this land has been occupiedby Israel."

When pressed further about what the UN is monitoring in terms of Israel,the Observer said that they were watching to make sure that Israel did notbegin to increase troops in the Golan. This encounter with the UN on Israel'snorthern border, confirmed once again that the UN has a bias against Israel.We could hear shelling in the near distance, and black smoke could be seenin Syria, and two United Nations observers were seemingly more concerned

in Syria, and two United Nations observers were seemingly more concernedthat Israel was not in violation of "the agreements."

If things were left to the United Nations, Israel would turn the Golan Heightsover to its war-torn neighbors in the north. Thankfully, things are not left tothe United Nations.

U.S. Embassy Move - May 2018According to reports being circulated, the U.S. will move its embassy toJerusalem as was previously announced by the President back on December6th. The move will likely coincide with the 70th anniversary of Israel'sDeclaration of Independence on May 14th. Initially the U.S. Embassy willoperate out of the present consular office in Arnona, located in southernJerusalem. Ambassador David Friendman and several key aides are expectedto begin working out of the Arnona location with others to follow later. Somehave suggested that this initial move is merely symbolic, but the announcedaction plan indicates that this is a solid step forward in the formal process ofthe new U.S. postion vis-a-vis, the United States of America's recognition ofJerusalem as the Capitol of Israel. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has signedoff on the security plan for the move. More details are available here. Welook forward to following this story in future editions of the Bulletin.

look forward to following this story in future editions of the Bulletin.

Dr. James D. Tabor's PersonalReflections On Billy Graham

Billy Graham passed away on February 21 at the age of 99. In this blog post,Dr. James Tabor offers some personal reflections on the man and hismessage. Read the article on the TaborBlog here.

Jon Langberg ReviewsThe Bible Collection: Abraham

Publication Information/ Studio: Bible collection Burbank, CA: Dist. byWarner Home Video, 2005.

Abstract: .Director of photography, Raffaele Mertes; editor, Michael Brown;music, Ennio Morricone, Marco Frisina. Originally broadcast on TNT Apr. 3,1994.MPAA rating: Not rated.DVD; Dolby Digital stereo. English & Spanish;subtitles: English, French & Spanish “Closed captioned”.

Summary: Dramatization of the story of Abraham.

Story Line:

The movie, in general, follows the biblical account. Abraham doesn’t knowwhat he is seeking but he knows the answers don’t come from idols. He setsout to find answers and gets them.

Main Actors/ Actresses: Robert McKee, Joseph Sargent, Richard Harris,Barbara Hershey, Maximilian Schell, Vittorio Gassman , Ennio Morricone,Marco Frisina , Lorenzo Minoli.

Author’s Review & Grade:

It is the story of a man seeking God and finding him in a big way and yet in acalm and quiet way. Abraham hears the voice of God and in his heart knowsit is the one true God. Though God did not reveal himself to Abraham andhis people before, Abraham knew that when God spoke to him he mustfollow and obey the one true God. Abraham leaves his father’s house andthe pagan land of Ur for the promised land of Canaan, after being promised

the pagan land of Ur for the promised land of Canaan, after being promisedby God that doing so will cause his descendents to become a great andnumerous people.

This is a very special movie for me. It is an opportunity to see what quitepossibly might have been the character of Abraham. The story of Abrahamis not as exciting or colorful as some of his descendants but make nomistake it is a powerful story.

While watching this movie, I wondered what Abraham would think abouthis children today living in the “holy land”. I wondered how many wouldactually listen to the words and wisdom of father Abraham. After all, noother human was noted in the scriptures as being the most beloved of God.Yep, a good movie should give you something to think about…..enjoy.

On a 1 to 5 scale, I give this movie a 5. It is OK for older children. Because ofthe quality of this movie and naturally just because it is about Abraham, I dorecommend it for “Movie Night” at the Learning Center.

75th Annual ConferenceWe hope that many of you will be joining us for our upcoming United IsraelAnnual Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina the last weekend of April.This year’s meeting marks the 75th annual meeting as well as the beginningof our 75th year as an organization. The event will reflect upon our rich past,highlight our current activities, and look forward to our future work. Formore information on the program, hotel reservations and conferenceregistration, please visit our Conference Information page.

There is no charge for registration, but contributions towards the costs ofthe conference can be made on our Donate Page. We appreciate yoursupport.

The Month of Adar Part One

The Month of Adar Part OneThe Joy of Purim

Part of an ongoing series entitledHidden Sparks Beneath the Surface

By Elisheva Tavor aka Betty Givin

All of the months are interrelated, each connecting to the next in thecycle of the seasons, the ‘round’ of the year…set up by The Creator from

the beginning for our benefit to make up what we call time…like abeautiful string of pearls…each is significant to the whole…and each

carries within it a special spark that lies hidden beneath the surface.

The month of Adar is no exception. According to the sages when Adar comeswe are to increase our joy, our simcha: for it is in this month that wecelebrate the wondrous Festival of Purim which is considered the mostjoyous of all the holidays! But how does one go about increasing the joy? Dowe have a “joy button” we can press?

For starters the story of Purim recorded in the Book of Esther is one filledwith miracles…hidden miracles…ones that are masked or concealedwithin the events of the story…miracles that when revealed burst forth likesparks that have been hidden beneath the surface…miracles that bringimmeasurable joy!

In order to understand the fullness of this joy, we must delve into thebackground of the story and the events leading up to it…the story behindthe masks… the whole “megillah” as it is recorded in the Book of Esther.

The Story

The Book of Esther takes place in Persia in approximately the year 357 BCEduring the time of the Babylonian exile of the Jewish people from theirhomeland. It recounts the story of a very brave and courageous youngJewish woman named Hadassah whose name in Hebrew means myrtle.After having lost her parents she was raised by her cousin Mordechai. By aseries of seemingly random events young Hadassah was taken to the palaceof King Achashverosh where she was chosen to be his wife in place of Vashtiwhom he had ordered to be killed after she refused to obey his summons.Young Hadassah became Queen and was known as Esther in the Persiancourt.

Soon afterwards the king's advisor Haman persuaded King Achashversoshto hold a public execution for Mordechai the Jew because of his refusal tobow to him (Haman). He also influenced the king to declare an edict that allthe Jews in the realm be exterminated. Warned of this plot by her cousinMordechai, this amazing young woman Esther, single handedly was able tosave her people at the risk of her own life and turn the wicked plan ofHaman on its head by having him along with his 10 sons hung on the same

Haman on its head by having him along with his 10 sons hung on the samegallows that he had planned for Mordechai.

This wicked plan to exterminate the Jewish people is brought to mind everyyear on Shabbat Zachor (the Sabbath of Remembrance) which immediatelyprecedes Purim. The theme is “remembering to forget “Amalek, the namedarch enemy of the Jewish people from generation to generation who isreferred to in Exodus 17:16 as the hand against the throne, and the sameone who once again reared his ugly head in the personage of the villain inthe Purim story, who is none other than Haman. In Deuteronomy 25:17Moshe recounts the evil deeds of Amalek, and strongly urges the people to“blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven, “and adds”thou shalt not forget.”

When the evil Haman wished to destroy the Jewish people he held a lotteryto determine the most opportune date to carry out his wicked scheme. Thelot called a pur fell on the 12th month of Adar (hence the name of the festival,Purim, Ester 9:26). The Talmud tells us that he was delighted for what abetter month to annihilate the Jews than Adar, the month which according toJewish tradition, Moshe passed away? Surely, he thought, no month could belower for the Jewish people (Talmud. Megillah 13b)

But wait, there’s more! What Haman did not know was that according to thissame Jewish tradition, Moshe not only died on the 7th day of Adar, but wasalso born on that selfsame day! The Jewish sages relate that the dayof Moshe’s birth helped avert the evil decree; and as a result, instituted it as afast day in memory of Moshe. There is a special tikun for the 7th of Adar thatis found in the siddur, the Jewish Prayer Book.

With the aversion of the evil decree, the Jews were able to successfullydefend themselves and were triumphant over the Persians. The majority ofthe battles between these two entities took place on 13 Adar; the Jews restedand celebrated on the following day, 14 Adar. In the capital city of Shushan,however, where there were a greater number of Jew-haters, the fightingcontinued for two days, 13 and 14 Adar. The victory celebrations in Shushanwere thus held on the 15th.

“The Jews took it upon themselves, and their descendants and all whojoined themselves to them that they should unfailingly keep these twodays according to their writing and according to their appointed timesevery year and that these days should be remembered and keptthroughout every generation, every family, every province and everycity…”( Esther 9:27)

The Hidden Message of Purim

Purim, Yom ha Purim is related to Yom Kippur In fact Purim has beendesignated Yom Kippur Katan or a “little” Yom Kippur, as both have to do

designated Yom Kippur Katan or a “little” Yom Kippur, as both have to dowith “covering “on one hand and revealing on the other which calls forintrospection leading one to shuv… to return to who they are and to connectto the Creator. Rabbi Isaac Luria of the 16th century asserts that the truename of Yom Kippur is Yom Ki Purim. At first glance these two festivalsappear like polarized opposites…one day we spend fasting and praying andcommunicating with our Creator on a spiritual level and the other day wedress up in costumes and celebrate by eating, drinking and with our friendson a more physical level; yet both levels serve to deepen our connection toHaShem.

The Book of Esther and the festival of Purim are all about masks andhiddenness, but also about revelation. As we take a closer look into theevents of the story we find that in order to reveal the characters for whothey really are that it becomes necessary to peel off the masks.

The meaning of very name Esther, the heroine in our story, alludes to themask she wears and the theme of hiddenness within the book which isnamed after her which The Hebrew root of Esther is satar which means tohide or conceal. That way the name Ester would have sounded like I AmHidden.

Surprisingly there is no reference to the name of HaShem within the text;for even He is masked…hidden…yet we see from the events recorded in thestory that He is definitely working behind the scenes, just as He is workingbehind the scenes in our lives today.

Megillat Esther- Hidden & Revealed

The scroll containing the Book of Esther is referred to as the Megillah. Theroot of Megillah is gillah which means rolled. The Megillah, a rolledscroll, has the connotation of its contents and message being hidden; yet asit is unrolled, read and HEARD, it is revealed! Therefore, Megillat Esthersends a special message in its name alone, for it is a message of Revealingthe Hidden!!!

Esther’s Challenge and her Courage

After having made her decision to risk her own life and go before the kingwithout being summoned to plead in behalf of her people, she enlists theirhelp by asking them to join her in a 3 day fast for her. There is a grippingstory in the Talmud about her walking down a long corridor on her way tothe throne room to see the King. It tells of the formidable tall wooden statueson either side of her… statues that reach to the ceiling. Towering over her,these idols of the king whisper, “you are going to die, you are going todie”…over and over! What did she do? Fear can paralyze…hold that thoughtof Queen Ester in your mind….

Now imagine yourself going walking down a path…you are on an important

Now imagine yourself going walking down a path…you are on an importantmission that you have promised to undertake. All of a sudden, you stop deadin your tracks…frozen…because directly ahead of you is a giant blackpanther perched on a rock, appearing as though he is just seconds awayfrom taking a giant leap right at you! What do you do? Do you turn yourback and run which would mean sudden destruction or do you stand yourground and face that fearsome creature? You squeeze your eyes shutmomentarily and breathe a prayer…and when you open your eyes, thepanther has vanished along with your fear!

Go back to Queen Esther as she walks down that long corridor with the tallwooden idols towering over her on either side of her telling her she is goingto die…What do you think is going through her head? She knows that if sheretreats, she and all the Jews in Shushan will perish under the wicked decreeof Haman.

Perhaps she is thinking of her Uncle Mordechai’s words to her a few daysearlier

“Do not think in your heart that you shall escape in the king’s house anymore than all the other Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, thenshall relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from elsewhere; but youand your father’s house will perish; and who knows whether you havenot come to royal estate for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14)

She knows that has no choice but to face her fears and continue on hermission. Perhaps she too squeezes her eyes shut momentarily, goes insideherself as her own words reverberate in her head, “I will go before the kingeven though it is against the law and if I perish, I perish.”(Esther 4:16)

Perhaps she remembers the comforting words of King David in Psalm 3:4-5

“Thou O G-d art a shield about me; You’re my glory,

You’re the lifter of my head!”

She is then able to draw on her emunah (faith) and fortitude, as she calls tomind the adeir, the strength and power inherent in the very name of themonth of Adar…the strength and power that her G-d has promised to giveher. She walks forward armed with the knowledge that her G-d is with her…the king extends his golden scepter, she bravely reveals her hidden Jewishancestry, exposes Haman and his evil plan and is able to reverse the edit ofthe King against the Jews and save her people from annihilation, thusfulfilling her purpose.

The unholy feast of King Achashverosh orchestrated by the evil Haman tocelebrate the execution of Mordechai and annihilate the Jewish people thenbecomes nahafochu, turned around and inside out. It is transformed into aholy feast of joy and celebration. Haman’s mask had been ripped off, his evilplan exposed and revealed and turned on its head, because this hidden one

plan exposed and revealed and turned on its head, because this hidden oneEster, in obedience to the promptings within her heart, took courage, andcame forth to be revealed and to fulfill her purpose at just the right time.

This was a dark time in Jewish history and a personal dark time in the livesof Mordechai and Queen Esther. But as the scroll in unrolled and revealed,we see how each of these dark moments when viewed in isolation appear asthough it is all over for the Jewish people, yet what you see on the surface isnot what you get. Each moment and each event, even the ones that mayappear trivial and unrelated when seen together, become part of a biggerstory…a story behind a story…this is the Whole Megillah and reflects oneof the most powerful themes of Purim.

One such example which on the surface seemed random and trivialoccurred the night before Mordechai was to be hanged on the gallows. It isrecorded in Ester 6:1 and reads, “On that night the king’s sleep wasdisturbed, so he commanded the record of the book of chronicles to bebrought; and they were read before the king.” It ‘just so happened’ (or didit just so happen?) that the king had a sleepless night and the portion read tohim that night related an event several years prior of Mordechai saving theking’s life by exposing a plot to kill him. Consequently Mordechai was savedfrom death and was honored by becoming second in command to the kingin place of Haman who was soon to be exposed for who he was. Howincredible is it that one man’s sleepless night changed the course of historyand led to the events that followed resulting in an entire nation being savedfrom destruction.

Rabbi Yaakov-Halevi (1360-1437) referred to as the Maharil notes the majorsignificance of this twofold event when he points out that on Purim thereader of the Megillah raises his voice when he begins to read the words,“On that night the king’s sleep was disturbed.” What if the king had sleptpeacefully? Rabbi Jacobson in his writing for the Meaningful Life Centerpoints out that the “Purim story –and the story behind the story teaches ushow to look at our lives in a completely new and revolutionary way.” Toillustrate he quotes the Talmud: “One who reads the Megillah backwardshas not fulfilled the mitzvah, “and he asks a question as to why anyonewould want to read the story backwards? He continues by saying, giving theexplanation of the Baal-Shem-Tov. “Anyone who reads the Purim narrativeas if it happened back when in the past (in effect, reading the story with theend being closer to us than the beginning), has not fulfilled the mitzvah,which demands of us to read and see the story as if it is unfolding andplaying itself out today, from the beginning of the story till its conclusion.”

Our Challenge

Rabbi Jacobson continues, “The story of Purim is the story of our lives. Ourlives, just like the Purim narrative, are driven by a hidden script, which ishard to recognize at the time, but in retrospect patterns emerge as wediscover the underlying narrative that leads to salvation. A bigger picture

discover the underlying narrative that leads to salvation. A bigger picturetakes shape from the connecting dots of seemingly disconnected events,including the smallest details that we may completely ignore and disregarddue to their triviality. Imagine: A man can’t fall asleep and the destiny of apeople is changed forever! How many other quirky details in existence areaffecting our very lives as we speak?”

This is definitely something to think about. The story of Purim where thename of HaShem is never mentioned illustrates the idea that we only seethe Providence of G-d in our lives by looking backwards, but we mustcontinue to live our lives forward. This takes courage for we must transcendthe moment to get a bird’s eye view, one that will enable us to see theconnecting thread…the thread that binds all of the fragments of ourindividual journeys together…what is hidden is then gradually revealed,but all in HaShem’s perfect timing!

The story of Purim is a lesson in emunah, in faith. In the Kabbalisticcommentary on the Book of Eichah or Lamentations, Bochim and TheCrying Voice, we find these incredibly encouraging words that we needto let sink deeply into our hearts, “Everything, no matter how seeminglybad, has the ability to turn around.”

We each have our own set of fears and challenges, yet within those fears andchallenges, we have a G-d given purpose, one that belongs solely to us. Ourindividual purposes may not appear on the surface to be as grandiose as thatof Queen Esther, but nevertheless, we can learn from her and the storypresented here in the Megillah because we are often not aware of thesignificance that our seemingly small part will play into His grand schemeof things.

Purim, says Rabbi Jacobson is “the celebration of our inner child” It is a dayof what he calls “joyous abandon,” a day we are to celebrate ad de lo yado,which means to be joyous until you reach a place beyond the doors ofperception.” Joy is contagious…on Purim we wear masks, dress up incostumes listen to the Megillah, dance and sing and participate in a festivePurim meal, send food gifts to friends, and give charity to the needy. (Esther9:26)

All these things are for the purpose of bringing forth joy from our ownhearts and spreading it to others…and inherent in the joy we find strength(Nehemiah 8:10)

May HaShem give you the strength to see your inner child, the strength toaccess that inner joy, and to celebrate knowing that His Presence is alwayswith you! It is as if He is saying, “I am here now in your presentcircumstance as I have been all along, and I will always be here for you…notjust when the sea splits, or when My presence overwhelms you, but whenyou choose to see me.”

So open your eyes and choose to see Him every day! Go into the secret place,into the chambers of your heart, enter into the Torah, enter into the serenityand the joy of feasting and loving friends and family…enter into the JOY ofPURIM and release those hidden sparks that lie just beneath the surface!

”The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor” (Ester 8:16)

So may it be for us.

“Earth’s crammed with heaven,“Earth’s crammed with heaven,And every common bush afire with God:And every common bush afire with God:

But only he who sees, takes off his shoes...”But only he who sees, takes off his shoes...”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

From the TorahThe Torah reading this week, according to the annual cycle of readings is KiTissa (Exodus 30:11-34:35). The associated prophet reading is I Kings 18:20-39.

"Remember the Torah of my servant Moses, the statutes and judgments thatI commanded him at Horeb for all Israel" (Malachi 4:4 English / Malachi3:22 Hebrew).

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