Thursday, August 1, 2013

BENADOR: TIME TO MARCH FOR LIBERTY

“Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God.” Thomas Jefferson


“In commenting on the resistance he experienced to his own unorthodox views on health, Yale surgeon Dr. Bernie S. Siegel, author of the best-selling book “Love, Medicine, and Miracles,” asserts that it is because people are addicted to their beliefs.  Siegel says this is why when you try to change someone’s belief they act like an addict.
There seems to be a good deal of truth to Siegel’s observation, which perhaps is why so many of civilization’s greatest insights, and advances have at first been greeted with such passionate denial.  We are addicted to our beliefs and we *do* act like addicts when someone tries to wrest from us the powerful opium of our dogmas.”  Michael Talbot


”If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?”  Pirke Avot / Ethics of the Fathers 1:14


“United we stand; divided we fall”


"I dedicate this article to my son and to future generations of innocent Americans whose voice cannot be heard but who will inherit the decision this generation of Americans will make." Eliana Benador


Abroad, one can feel the influence America has had and still has in the world.  Whether it is the wide array of American hotel chains or Starbucks, Gap, including the decadent rap music; and one can be surprised by the incredible attention a Swiss newspaper gives, of all people, to someone like Kim Kardashian and her choice of her daughter’s name.  That is how influential America is, for better or for worse, in the everyday life of billions and billions around the planet.


Meanwhile, in mainland, Americans who have throughout the years gotten used to live a life of comfort, slowly became more inclined to worry about the outer world by sending their sons and daughters in military uniform, resigned to give their lives for causes in faraway countries, whose name sometimes American-English speakers cannot even pronounce them.


In other words, Americans have fought tyrannies, but never lived them.  Thus, under such circumstances, they overlook the embryos that are evolving in their midst and are prone to ignore the signs of tyranny that are about to push their doors down.


After a first term, a majority of the American people renewed Mr. Obama’s lease to the White House, but the love affair between the American democrats and their president has not fair well for the conservative minority who were not willing to elect him or his anti-American agenda, but were factually unable to stop the democratic tsunami.  


DESTROYING THE AMERICAN FAMILY


For over a century now, liberals have understood that they must destroy the family nucleus if they want not only to takeover a country, but to control it completely and turn it into a socialist entity at least, or communist at worst.


For that, they knew that the first goal was to promote feminism, in the name of so-called equal rights for women. Abortion followed, as did the legalization of homosexual marriage, and the subsequent total overhaul of sexual values.  As follow-up, in Chicago they have programmed a course to teach kindergartners “one can marry anyone,” thus proving how unnatural their policies and positions are.


BLACK & WHITE


Obama ran as the “black” candidate thus setting the tone of his behavior throughout his terms.  He was quick to run to Florida when a white American Latino killed a black man in self-defense.  “Trayvon could have been my son,” was his heavy loaded message. “Trayvon could have been me,” he said, when he failed to manipulate the jurors whose verdict innocent the accused.




Zimmermann’s parents went in hiding due to threats they received, and when Zimmermann helped take some people out of their accident car, that family instead of being thankful to him, they cancelled a TV appearance out of fear.


Recently, Larry Elder went off on Piers Morgan during an explosive race debate:  “You’re making black people feel as if they are under siege... It’s an outrage!”  He went on to say: “...that there were 7,000 murders last year of black people, almost all of which were committed by blacks.


There are real problems within the black community in America.  If Barack Obama really cared about them, he could have rather focused on fixing a real problem, such as the murders on black people, of which 93% are perpetrated by blacks.  


What Obama wants to promote and advance, is his agenda. He is obviously pushing for unrest to indirectly maybe cause a beginning of a civil war so he and his people can have the excuse they need to impose martial law and takeover America.



OBAMA’s MUSLIM AGENDA





Not enough has been said in the media about this:


The trial of U.S. Army major Nidal Hassan finally began on July 9th, four years after he carried out an Islamic terror attack that he is actually continuing. That is largely because he is representing himself at his trial, apparently so he can further publicize his belief that he was acting to defend Islam. In response, the U.S. government continues to insist that the Hasan attack had nothing to do with religion but was simply a case of workplace violence. Many of the 32 surviving victims of the 2009 attack in Ft. Hood are complaining, without success, that they are receiving less attention (and money) for their injuries because they did not get a Purple Heart medal because of the incident. The Purple Heart medal is the U.S. military award for combat wounds and it entitles soldiers to higher compensation and more prompt medical attention. The decision not to award Purple Hearts to the Ft. Hood victims is at the center of a controversy between politicians who are trying to play down the presence of Islamic radicalism in the United States and military leaders who want recognition for American troops killed or wounded by Islamic terrorism. While victims of domestic terrorism can receive the Purple Heart, the U.S. government has several times refused to categorize the November 5, 2009 attack in Ft. Hood as a terrorist action. It is expected that this will become even more difficult to defend as the Hasan trial proceeds.”


The Nidal Malik Hassan case is the most infamous among Islam and Muslim-related abuses from the Obama Administration, committed so far, with total impunity, but it is far from being the last one.


It was during president Hosni Mubarak’s time that Obama gave his 2009 Cairo speech and the result was dramatic. Muslim Brotherhood got the green light and in time, removed the dictator who nevertheless had been an American ally for years.  Such move initiated a row of dark moves by the Brothers throughout the Muslim Middle East, where the world benevolently has watched the rise of terrorists keen to push their sharia agenda.


There is a litany of examples of the infiltration of Muslim Brotherhood members within the administration, facilitated by Barack Obama, who has legitimized their presence.  Muslim Brotherhood is the Egyptian organization for the advancement of Islam and its Jihad for Muslim world domination happens via its tool of choice: terrorism in its various nasty shapes and forms.


We would be remiss if we did not mention the other Muslim style of invasion, the silent one.  The latter is even more aggressive and more efficient.  Liberal governments worldwide are intent in facilitating Muslim immigration, which will result in a demographic explosion in America, Europe and the West in general, given that their birth rate is among the highest on the planet.


With so many children per family, Muslims are now receiving government aid of all sorts, in America, but also in Europe, Australia and other countries.  It is not surprising that in Michigan, for instance, the city of Detroit has become the first case of a city bankruptcy in 21st century America.  


Some consider Michigan the “Islamic capital of the United States,” due to the heavy Muslim presence throughout its cities.  The situation in Detroit is dramatic. Muslims have basically taken over the city.  They  may well have been a contributing factor that has driven it to bankruptcy.  Dearborn, another predominantly Muslim city almost inside Detroit, outright promotes sharia law.


All this is happening silently, while Americans have no jobs and are been asked to abort their children.


To those who will want to accuse me of Islamophobe, I say:


I have been in your countries and know for a fact that you do not even accept a synagogue or a church.  So, do not be surprised that we cannot and will not accept that you take over our civilization, our country and our lives.


BENGHAZI


Last September 11, in another masterful but tragically successful Islamist move, Muslim terrorists attacked the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya and caught Ambassador Stevens.  Now we know that the Obama Administration gave orders NOT to send any help to save the Ambassador, who left to be murdered by terrorists who also murdered the security, former navy seals Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, as well as a computer expert Sean Smith.  All that, while Obama and his Secretary of State and staff were watching from their plush offices in the White House.


In order to secure their positions, the Obama Administration have gone much further:  Recently, the Benghazi survivors have had to sign a nondisclosure agreement that forbids them to testify, even in case of subpoena.  Some in Congress are reacting.




On July 22nd, Senator Rand Paul via his Twitter handle @SenRandPaul asked: Ambassador Stephens pleaded for more security before the attacks yet the marines were ordered to stand down.  Who gave that order?


The fact that Rand Paul is making his questions via Twitter shows Congress impotency vis-à-vis a rogue president and his deceptive administration.



IMMIGRATION


Reviewing the immigration bill one can find buried in the text that “hidden multimillion-dollar slush funds for left-wing nonprofit groups to provide services to the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants now in the U.S. Once enacted, the slush funds would total almost $300 million over three years and grow over time....   it's obvious that lawyering would be needed. The 1,100-page proposal is a network of legal requirements and protections, waivers and exceptions, including a new "provisional immigrant" status (the first phase of legalization for illegals), appeals of adverse rulings, stays of deportation, applications for work visas, and countless other such guarantees... Within this thicket of new rights are features that would vastly increase the flow of immigrants to perhaps 30 million or 40 million over the next decade. One is a set of "chain immigration" clauses, legalizing the spouses and children of illegals.




That said, if Obama signs the bill over the summer recess, the heavily distressed population of 102 million unemployed and 12 million jobless Americans -many among them may have undoubtedly voted for him- will have a certain future with not a glimmer of a hope of ever getting a job, with all that implies for them and their families for many generations to come.


Regarding American values, they will simply be gone and lost if Obama has his way and brings in his immigrant mercenaries, whom, as Congresswoman Bachmann says, he will soon enough make sure to give vote rights.


Instead of establishing programs to promote American birth rate, the Obama administration’s first concern is to secure a democratic rule for at least the next century.


One thing is sure, if unemployed and jobless Americans had no jobs until now, the chances that they will ever get one will go below zero once the immigration bill is passed by this president.


BILLION A YEAR FIRST FAMILY


Brits are having a field day.  A new book “Presidential Perks gone Royal” by author Richard Gray, and which sheds light on the Obama's family cost to the nation last year alone:  U.S. taxpayers have paid the Obamas a whopping $1.4 billion.  That is 20 times more than the royal family which .merely cost the U.K., $57.8 million.  Obama's expenditures include the salaries of his staff and Secret Service, plus doctors, as well as Bo, his dog and acronym, and his doggy-nanny at a rate of over 100,000 per year.  Those expenses also include the maintenance of Air Force One, which presidents must take and which he has used and abused for his personal campaign purposes last year.




Given that the current number of taxpayers is approximately 216 million, it means that each must contribute $6.48 for the First Family over-the-board indulging.


ILLEGAL WAR AGAINST LIBYA


Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war.




For two years now, Obama is intent in “helping” depose president Assad, the ‘known’ of two evils but nevertheless a former ally.  Now it seems that he has taken another step as he has begun arming the terrorists who are intent in removing the president.  In this case, even Russia is in disagreement with the American president.
NAVY SEAL TEAM SIX


Back in May 2011, as Obama victoriously announced the capture of Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan, the president unhesitatingly proceeded to give away highly classified information unveiling who de facto materialized the operation.  Thus, the authors of the extraordinary feat were uncovered by their own president and gone was the protective secrecy that surrounded their existence as the special warfare elite group within the Navy Seals:  Team six.


Barely three months later, 23 real men of the same Seal Team Six, flew to their death in highly questionable circumstances:  Instead of leaving on their usual state-of-the-art helicopter, at the last minute they received orders to board an old Chinook.  The Afghan party accompanying  them was pulled out at the last minute.  As they arrived to destination, they were murdered -their usual back up team was not in tow.


How did the Taliban know how they were going to fly, when they were going to fly, what precise time they were going to fly?  Undoubtedly, the responsibility comes from high above in the American Administration.


So were murdered 23 highly trained, highly specialized operatives from the elite Navy Seal Team Six, ambushed in a trap that now the American tyranny is desperate to cover up.


Once again, Obama and his administration continue eliminating, in one way or another, real men in our military who have gone through sweat and tears to defend the country, while the president has gotten rid of the DADT policy and opened doors to homosexuals.


And, so, more widows and widowers, orphans and children, continue losing their loved ones who sacrificed all to keep you and I safe.  


May their deaths not be in vain.


UNEMPLOYED AND JOBLESS


Obama was elected by a democratic majority.  


Whether republicans or democrats, Americans at large are being an increasing part of the 102 million unemployed and the 12 million  jobless, and one must add to the equation as well,  their affected families and children.


Given that this president’s agenda has twisted priorities, democrats and republicans unemployed and jobless know that job creation is far from the top of his list.  He rather stresses the “widening income inequality,” rather than concentrate in job creation, stop outsourcing and stopping his greatly damaging immigration bill that will stab in the back our working class.


Unavoidably, this situation will result in 4 out of 5 Americans will face near-poverty and have no jobs under Obama.  An excerpt of a NewsMax report:


Survey data exclusive to The Associated Press point to an increasingly globalized U.S. economy, the widening gap between rich and poor, and the loss of good-paying manufacturing jobs as reasons for the trend...  “There is the real possibility that white alienation will increase if steps are not taken to highlight and address inequality on a broad front," Wilson said....  Nationwide, the count of America's poor remains stuck at a record number: 46.2 million, or 15 percent of the population, due in part to lingering high unemployment following the recession. While poverty rates for blacks and Hispanics are nearly three times higher, by absolute numbers the predominant face of the poor is white.
More than 19 million whites fall below the poverty line of $23,021 for a family of four, accounting for more than 41 percent of the nation's destitute, nearly double the number of poor blacks....  Sometimes termed "the invisible poor" by demographers, lower-income whites generally are dispersed in suburbs as well as small rural towns, where more than 60 percent of the poor are white.”




This nasty trend has pulled the rug from under the feet of our teenagers who used to get jobs at their tender age. Now, their future is in limbo as well.


PHONY SCANDALS?


In yet another one of his disgraceful tirades, two days ago, Barack Obama disrespected the seriousness of Americans tribulations caused by him:, such as Obamacare, his attacks on DOMA, the overhauling of DADT, from Fast and Furious to the NSA and the IRS, from Solyndra to attacks on the Second Amendment, Free Speech and Religious Freedom, and many more.  


By calling them “phony scandals” Mr. Obama wants once again to manipulate whoever is still believing in him and most certainly he can count on mainstream media, to continue hammering his sickening position with the last credulous left within his ranks who have faith in him and his anti-American agenda.  


WHY OBAMA CANNOT BE IMPEACHED




Congress looked on mute when the president crossed the line and illegally began the war against Libya, thus indirectly preparing the terrain for the Benghazi tragedy. Though representatives of the people, many times they seem aloof to the interests of those who have elected them.


As a matter of fact, a new national poll has found that an all-time high of 57% of Americans would vote to throw out every member of Congress if given the option in the 2014 elections.


WHY OBAMA SHOULD NOT BE IMPEACHED


History shows us a few examples of aborted impeachment procedures.


President Andrew Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives for violating the Terms of Office Act during the 1860s.  For his part, President Bill Clinton was also impeached by the House of Representatives for lying in regards to the Monica Lewinsky scandal.


In hindsight, however, those cases appear so mild compared to the present one.


That said, neither Johnson nor Clinton were removed from office as there was no Senate majority necessary to boot either of them out.


As for President, Nixon, he would have been impeached and probably even removed from office, but he simply resigned before tempting his luck.


It is questionable if the current Congress would impeach Obama, but it is sure the democratic majority in the Senate would fail to finish the job.


TIME TO SAVE AMERICA


Unfortunately, the above list is by no means exhaustive. But it has been done in an effort to show in one place how current America’s horizon looks like.


The fact that Egypt’s president Morsi  has been deposed by the military of his country on the eve of  this year’s American Independence Day, came as an omen for the American people, who need to be inspired and gather the necessary strength to defend their Constitution and their country.


The anti-Americanism of this president and his repeated violations of the American Constitution, are setting the path for the establishment of tyranny on American soil.  They are constantly purging the kind of information to be kept in official archives to fit their interests and hide or distort the truth, adulterating History forever.


The constant attacks on the American Constitution, with total impunity, and the increasing intrusion in the private lives of Americans, cannot continue.


PEACEFUL MARCH FOR LIBERTY


It is time that Americans wake up, stop the nightmare and bring the American Dream back to their hearts and their lives as well as to the lives of their children, their children’s children and generations to come.


It is time that the American people march peacefully, by the millions, from all corners of America to Washington, D.C. and, as one man, stand in front of the White House and Congress, until they have all surrendered power.


Obama, his administration, Congress, all of must go.  And a transitional power must be set to facilitate immediate early elections.


The entirety of the government must be prosecuted and Justice must be served.


The agenda could include abolishing the IRS.  Americans do not need to pay three kinds of taxes.  Representing the generation of young professionals, Gabriel Benador has proposed that “The country should be governed as a gigantic business.”  The IRS is gargantuan and its power have gone overboard.  They must be replaced by states tax entities. Only one small central organization should suffice for a minimum national “allegiance tax.”  This is naturally to be developed by professional economists.  


The Supreme Court should be replaced by a potentially unbiased set of pro-American, pro-Constitution judges with different backgrounds, as soon as possible.  


There should be a total cleansing of needless government agencies and the media, and those who survive should have the least personnel possible.


Regarding the defense of the traditional American family, a totally revolutionary and avant-garde initiative: It is time to promote the concept of paying a salary to mothers who work at home. From experience, women know that a stay at home mother probably works 5 times more than any lady working at the office. And, you can add two times more for each added children. Mothers do not need to leave home to help with family finances. They already do so when they work at home, as no one can replace the job she does with her children.


It is imperative to reinforce values of G-d, patriotism and family.  And that should be reflected in an overhaul of the education system.


Overturning Obamacare is a must.

The immigration bill must be aborted, Americans demographics must receive a stimulus to national birth rate, and a bonus for each American child should be established.  


HOW TO DO IT


Seems that community organization has been successful, so it could be a tool to get started in a serious way.  No social networking can be used to ‘organize’ the march.  However, the coordination could well use Twitter and/or Facebook.


That said, another possibility is to spontaneously begin by one courageous town and others will follow.  The sociological path to change is based on the “match-effect.”  Once you light the match, the rest will follow.  


Many organized groups, including the military and others, will certainly follow inspired by seeing how the people are united behind Country and the American Constitution.  


Then, all will know where their allegiance is.


A DATE?


My readers may be expecting a date.  What about Labor Day 2013?  


To those who have qualms, here an important question:


What is unconstitutional:


A president and government that increasingly violate the Constitution, with total impunity?


Or,


Those who defend that Constitution from being viciously violated, with absolute impunity, especially when all indicates the enemy might at one point declare it obsolete?


A peaceful march of millions of Americans towards Washington D.C., will set the tone and send the message also to the world, that the American people will no longer put up with attacks against the Constitution and their Rights.


If the trend continues unstopped, it is easy to see that 2016 instead of looking like a year of hope, will rather seal the death of the American Dream.


Fear nothing.  As Thomas Jefferson said: “Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God.”


And, if you must fear something, then fear to death doing nothing.  


FOR GOD AND COUNTRY


Americans must choose to do this, for themselves but also for the many generations who will either inherit the courage of their actions or the cowardice that stopped them.


EARLY ELECTIONS ARE A MUST.


God bless America.

Copyright ©Eliana Benador





Eliana Benador is a global strategist, a political operative and a human rights activist. She has been the founder of Benador Associates. She has represented dissidents abroad from Iraq, Iran, the Copts and others. Her blog is Eliana’s Choice.  You may follow her on Twitter and join her fan page on Facebook.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

BENADOR: POPE SHOULD ACCEPT MARRIED PRIESTS

In an unprecedented turn, the new Pope says he accepts gay priests. 

Astonishing decision.  He should much rather open his church to married priests and families, thus giving the good example to his population of believers.  But, instead, his 'sanctity' has broken with the word of G-d that is definitely against such kind of inclusion.  

True, modern times have imposed a change but that doesn't mean that those who guide the spiritual lives and morals of others, especially religious leaders, should follow like sheep.  Instead, they should lead and stay on the straight path. 

May G-d's Justice be done. 

Copyright Eliana Benador 2013-2020

http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2013/07/29/pope/7GnHjDXcZA6OkHyiTgWpnM/story.html

Friday, July 26, 2013

BENADOR: "Obama: Rest of my presidency is for working-class America"

B"H

CNN headline: "Obama: Rest of my presidency is for working-class America" 


Which working class? 


The one that's going to loose even more jobs or the 102 Million Unemployed with the 12 Million Jobless who after immigration bill will be approved by him, most likely during summer recess, will not even have a glimmer of hope of ever getting a job. 

Or is he speaking about the new mercenary immigrant working class?


The current president's nasty tendency to forget  job creation for the American worker, unemployed and jobless, makes him a bad advocate for what he calls the "working class," which would do well to mistrust the man and instead look at a brighter future without him where jobs and self-sufficiency could bring us back to a better place for our families and in the world.  

©ElianaBenador  


Friday, July 19, 2013

BENADOR: SHABBAT NAHAMU, SHABBAT SHALOM U'MEVORACH

B"H
This week we read how Moshe learns from HaShem he will not get to see or enter the Land of Israel. After all his efforts and devotion, HaShem punished him. Why? Moshe got angry. Three times. 
And anger, for whatever reason, is not a friend of us or of our souls. 


Now, we are so easily angered by any and everything. Maybe it is a fault of the liberal approach to psychology, which encourages people to think we have a right to "vent". Yet, the more a person vents, the easier the person will get angry and the more often as well. No. Venting is *not* the answer. 
Many Torah sages teach one should never speak in anger and wait until the storm passed to say anything. After all, we can always say what we want, especially with a composed attitude, either before or after. Preferably after, though.
The Gemara (Pesachim 66b) says, “When a person becomes angry, 
wisdom leaves him.”
May we get hold of ourselves, for when anyone is angry, is as if his whole being is taken over by evil inclinations -and that should scare us so much that we really should prefer to control ourselves. 
Speaking of "control", you need not worry. Everything in this existence is "controlled", "limited", even us. And we can either limit ourselves and accept those limitations, or they will be forced upon us in time because of "circumstances". Remember, G-d is watching each of us. No one escapes Him. 
I wish you an inspiring Shabbat, may you be in a nurturing congregation, where the soul of Shabbat will roam among all of you. 
May HaShem bless you and this world with His Blessings, His Protection and His Eternal Love. 


Shabbat shalom u'mevorach


Fondly,

©Eliana Benador

BENADOR: SHABBAT...!!!!!

B"H

We are finishing a week of mourning.  


From Monday night until Wednesday noontime, was Tisha B'Av, a fast day to remember the destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem by the Babylons in 586 Before the Common Era, and also the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans, the year 70 of the Common Era. 


We are to begin Shabbat in a few hours. 


This time, Shabbat has a name per se: SHABBAT NAHAMU


"Nahamu" comes from the Haftarah with the same name, and it means  "Comfort ye," which is read on every Shabbat after Tisha B'Av.


May we be comforted. 


May we be worthy that the Third Temple be built in our lifetime. 


May we only know joys from now on. 


©Eliana Benador



Monday, July 15, 2013

BENADOR: TISHA B'AV 2013 - Eicha


B"H

As we will pray tonight the EICHA, the Lamentations, written by Jeremiah, who spent his life warning Jews in his time of their excesses and of the calamities that would ensue from that uncontrolled behaviour, I know we will all shed tears, from re-living how our temples were destroyed and profaned, how our different generations caused their own demise,.  It is then that we must hope that those tears, will, one day and for good, be replaced by tears of joy and happiness. 

May we deserve in our lifetime to see our faith and Emunah reinvigorated, renewed and reenergised.

May we show HaShem we WANT so badly to have our Third Temple up in its rightful place.  Forever and ever. 

To you, my mishpocha, I wish you a meaningful fast, may we come out of it stronger and ready to fight for the cause of G-d.  

G-d bless you all 

Friday, July 12, 2013

RABBI MEIR KAHANE: Parashat Devarim - The Foundation of Torah: Emunah and Bitachon



And in the wilderness, as you have seen, Hashem bore you , as a man carries his son, on the entire way that you traveled, until you arrived at this place. Yet in this matter you do not have faith in Hashem, your G-d, Who goes before you on the way to seek out for you a place for you to encamp... (Deut. 1: 29-33)

                        
Faith and trust (emunah ve'bitachon) in G-d are the foundation of the Torah. Our sages said (Makot 23b-24a): Six hundred thirteen mitzvot were given to Moses... David emphasized eleven of them... Isaiah emphasized six... Micah emphasized three... Isaiah returned and emphasized two... Habakuk emphasized one, as it says (Habakuk 2:4), “The righteous man shall live by his faith.”
Emunah, faith, means accepting and knowing clearly that G-d truly exists, that He created everything, and that He performed great miracles for Israel's sake. In other words, it is decisive knowledge regarding something in the past, i.e., that G-d indeed created the world and performed miracles for our ancestors in Egypt and at the Sea of Reeds, and everywhere else described in Scripture. Bitachon, on the other hand, is the direct result of emunah, and points to the future. It is the conviction that just as in the past G-d performed miracles and wonders, He will do so for us in the future, as well, as shall be discussed below.

[...] Faith, emunah, relates to the creation of the world and everything in it ; the other aspect of faith is the belief that G-d performed great signs and wonders for our ancestors. Neither aspect is based on blind or theoretical faith, but on seeing, on real testimony. In Egypt and the desert, the Jewish People were direct witnesses, because G-d's miracles were performed before the eyes of all Israel. The Torah instructs us that throughout the Exodus, the plagues that broke Egypt were performed openly, so that Israel would see the reality of G-d, would believe in Him, revere Him and cling to His attributes and commandments. The connection between the signs Israel saw and faith in G-d as Creator of the universe is alluded to in the Torah's starting out with Creation - “In the beginning G-d created the heaven and the earth” - and ending with the phrase, “all the mighty acts and great signs that Moses displayed before the eyes of all Israel” (Deut. 34:12)The mighty acts and the miracles and wonders performed before the eyes of Israel imbued them with the belief that G-d created heaven and earth, and that He is the One Supreme Power. The Torah's conclusion attests to its beginning. Such is faith.

Bitachon, trust, on the other hand, is the result of emunah. Since we believe that in the past G-d performed the things I have enumerated, we are certain that He is capable of doing so in the future as well, and that He will fulfill what He promised us. Whoever does not trust in G-d shows that he does not believe in G-d's power and ability, a sign that he does not really believe in G-d's existence. Bitachon, trust, includes also the idea that G-d is all-powerful and in charge of everything, as well as the central idea that we, lowly, weak and finite, are incapable of dealing alone with our adversaries and our troubles. Trusting in G-d means admitting that we are few and weak, that we need to raise our eyes to G-d for help. “Keep my soul and deliver me. Let me not be ashamed, for I have taken refuge in You” (Ps. 25:20); “Place your hope in the L-rd. Be strong and let your heart take courage. Yeah, place your hope in the L-rd” (27:14); and, “Be strong, and take courage, all ye that place your hope in the L-rd” (31:25). From the last two verses, we learn the secret of true bitachon: it is exceedingly hard to withstand crushing misfortune, to stand on the brink of despair, and to trust in G-d all the same. This requires enormous strengthening, and it was for this reason that King David said “Place your hope in the L-rd.” Beset by misfortune, place your hope in the L-rd and trust in Him. If you try and it is hard, then “Be strong and take courage.”Fortify yourself and you will find the strength to trust in Him, and then your trust will strengthen you on its own. The rule is this: Bitachon means a Jew's recognizing and acknowledging that he is a worm and not a man, dirt and dust, like a broken potsherd, weak and finite, and that only G-d can help him in times of trouble, because G-d is omnipotent and infinite, and none can stand against Him. The worse the situation looks, the greater the despair, the more one must strengthen himself with bitachon: “Many are the ills of the righteous man, but the L-rd delivers him from them all” (Ps. 34:20).

Rabbenu Bechaye says (Kad haKemach, entry: Bitachon), “Bitachon must not be tinged with doubt. Even if many evils befall a righteous man, he should serve G-d valiantly and truly trust in Him.” Rabbenu Bechaye adds (Ibid.): If someone has bitachon, then we know that he has emunah as well. Bitachon is like the fruit of a tree, and emunah is like the tree. Just as the fruit's existence signifies the existence of a tree or plant on which it grew, but a tree' s existence does not signify the existence of fruit, as some trees, such as shade trees, produce no fruit, so too does the presence of bitachon guarantee the presence of emunah, but not vice versa.

We should reflect well on this holy man's ostensibly puzzling comment that “emunah is no guarantee of bitachon.” Surely, someone who believes that G-d performed miracles for our ancestors, created the world and everything in it, and controls, manages and directs everything, will be certain that G-d will fulfill what He promised us if we follow His path and keep His mitzvot. Surely such a person will act accordingly, despite all the difficulties. What then is the meaning of Rabbenu Bechaye's comment that emunah is no guarantee of bitachon? Is not bitachon a logical, necessary result of emunah? To our chagrin, it is not. Many fine Jews cry out heartfelt declarations of faith in G-d and in His omnipotence, yet few trust in Him and endanger themselves for the sake of His commandments and for the sake of sanctifying His name. How easy and pleasant is it to declare one's faith, to make loud speeches about G-d's power and might in the days of old! Who among the Torah-observant does not declare his faith that G-d performed miracles and wonders in Egypt, or that He appeared from Mount Paran to give Israel the Torah? Who does not recite in synagogue the psalms in morning prayers, which state (Ps. 146:3,5), “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, through whom there is no salvation... Happy is he whose help is the G-d of Jacob.” Yet how many of all those who are proud of their daily recitation immediately before the morning Shemoneh Esreh, that “G-d redeemed us from Egypt... delivered us from the house of slavery, slayed all their firstborn... divided the Sea of Reeds, drowned the arrogant but took His beloved ones across,” carry through on their faith in the past with trust in the future?

The prime blight of our day is lack of bitachon, hesitating to trust in G-d, whether due to uncertainty over His true ability to help, fear of mortal man, or fear of “reality” which destroys fear of G-d and our trust in Him. This is so both regarding the individual Jew and the whole Jewish People. It applies both as far as our fears and worries regarding our personal future and private troubles and our fear of enemies threatening the Jewish People. The same Jew who mumbles in his prayers, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we call upon the name of the L-rd our G-d” (Ps. 20:8), cannot understand how the Jewish People and their state will be able to hold out without chariots and horses. The banner of emunah, faith, which is so easy to wave and answer Amen to, demands nothing of a person. Not so, however, bitachon, trust in G-d. Bitachon demands of a person that he act, accomplish, give, sacrifice, risk his life, he, himself, right now, all the while trusting that ultimately things will turn out well. Not every believer has bitachon. A person's lack of trust in G-d ultimately proves the weakness of his faith, or , G-d forbid, its falsehood.

[Tracing this back to our Parasha, we know that] both Joshua and Caleb demonstrated [...] trust in G-d. Even so, when G-d swore that Israel would not enter the Land, it says, “The only exception will be My servant Caleb, since he showed a different spirit and followed Me wholeheartedly. I will bring him to the land that he explored.” Why was Joshua's name not mentioned here, when he, too, stood firm in his bitachon? It also says, “only Caleb son of Yefuneh will see the land... since he followed the L-rd wholeheartedly” (Deut. 1:36). Why, again, was Joshua omitted? The answer is inherent in G-d's comment, in both Num. 14:24 and Deut. 1:36, that Caleb “followed him wholeheartedly.” Here we learn once more the need to have full bitachon. Our bitachon must express itself in readiness to sacrifice our lives to sanctify G-d's name, and this was evinced by Caleb but not Joshua. After the ten spies issued their bad report about Eretz Yisrael and incited the people, it says, “Caleb quieted the people for Moses and said, 'We shall surely go up and inherit it'” (Num. 13:30). He silenced them and began to express ideas which ultimately opposed those of the majority. He did not hesitate, although he knew the people's mentality and was aware of their stubbornness and what they had done to Chur [who had been killed]. He – not Joshua – was the first to rise up and try to blot out the chilul Hashem, and in doing so, he took a risk and was ready to sacrifice his life. Caleb “followed G-d wholeheartedly", thereby surpassing Joshua and meriting to be mentioned alone by G-d.