Fantastic New Developments

Israel Matzav analyses: Lebanese Army Reserves called up. the hope is really that the war will end within the ten-day period. HAHAHAHAHAHA... what hope does Peretz have?

Well, 'We'll strike anywhere' pretty much covers it. Looks like Olmert agrees.

Carl in Jerusalem also notes that the media war rages on. (P.S. We're winning on this front, too.)

I was amused at CNN's new graphic that premiered last night. It's a Body Count Chart, detailing the total number of dead and wounded since fighting began on both the Lebanese and Israeli sides, as if the two were competing in some sort of World Championship sporting match. That's not in bad taste at all. While Lebanese statistics are totally inflated (for two reasons: One, they count Hizbollah fighters as "civilians" and, Two, they lie) I have to say this-- the lack of an overwhelming number of Israeli casualties, both civilian and military, is a blessing.

Now, don't get me wrong-- I don't like the idea of any Israeli (Jew or Arab) dying. But when a rocket lands on an apartment building filled with people in Israel's third largest city, and leaves only three dead and the majority of the wounded are only hospitalized for shock, that's amazing. Shock, while horrible, is something that can be healed. Being smashed to bits by a rocket isn't exactly curable. To have so many thousands of rockets fired into Israel, only to have the majority land in fields or empty areas and not take lives is nothing short of the miraculous. So far, the greatest impact the enemy has had has been a psychological one-- we can confront this and combat it as a nation. We can handle and win that fight very easily as long as the minyan sticks together.

Militarily, when thousands of troops can go into battle and only tens are reported killed in action, that is miraculous. These Hizbollah guerillas are animals, disgusting, putrid animals. When our soldiers can confront these lunatics and come out alive, it is a miracle from Adonai. I mourn the dead as much as any other Jew and can only achieve some level of comfort in trusting the promise of Isaiah 26:19. I don't want any soldier to die. But I do know that they know and understand that death is something a soldier must confront, and in my respect for them, I can not mourn the passing of such heroes; I can only rejoice that such great people lived and dared to be so willing to sacrifice their lives for the lives of others-- for that is the ultimate sign of love.

Rafi G. issues the battle cry of the week: T’nu L’Tzahal L’Natzeach/Let the IDF Win!

Hey, what's going on with Syria, btw? I mean, besides their giving rockets to Hizbollah, complaining about Sheba Farms, and lining up troops along the borders. Seriously, are Amadinnerjacket and the "slack-chinned opthamologist" dating, or what? /specious instigating

So, now that Tisha B'Av has past, we're in the Seven Weeks of consolation, to culminate in Rosh haShanah, Biblically known as Yom haZikkaron (Day of Remembrance) or Yom Teruah (Day of Sounding the Shofar). It is said that on Rosh haShanah we proclaim and reaffirm our faith in Adonai as our one true King. We also begin the period of repentance and reflection, the Ten Days of Awe, that will take us up to Yom Kippur, where HaShem will decide whether or not we are worthy to be written into the Book of Life for another year. Look for commentary tying this season together with current events as they progress-- there is no doubt we are seeing prophecy unfold before us. As Jews, we should seek to understand where we are at in time, and what our role is in these events. This will not only ensure our success on the battlefield; it will also ensure our successful completion of our role as a Light Unto the Nations.


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