Prime Minister Netanyahu speaks!

Statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

„My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel.

We are in a fateful campaign for our very existence. A week has passed since the start of Operation Roaring Lion and I want to salute our heroic pilots, the ground crews that are working around the clock, and our courageous fighters in Lebanon and on all fronts.

I wish to express my deepest appreciation to you, the citizens of Israel, for your steadfastness, for the way you are conducting yourselves in this emergency, understanding the gravity of the hour and following Home Front Command instructions which truly save lives.

In the secure rooms and protected spaces, you are demonstrating a powerful spirit. You tell me, the Government, and our heroic soldiers and commanders: ‚Continue until the end, until victory!‘

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your backing, and I inform you: We are continuing with full force!

Wars are won with initiative and stratagems but the first foundation of success is determination.

I am not just talking about the determination of leaders; I am talking about the determination of the people. I am talking about the determination that you, the citizens of Israel, have shown until today and the determination that will yet be required of us together.

Together we rose from the terrible massacre of October 7. Together we repelled our enemies step by step in the War of Redemption, and we struck them hip and thigh.

In Gaza, Sinwar and his murderers.

In Lebanon – Nasrallah and his terrorists.

In Syria – we brought about the fall of the bloody regime.

And in Iran, in Iran we struck the murderous regime of the ayatollahs in Operation Rising Lion, and now, we are doing so with even greater vigor in Operation Roaring Lion.

At the same time, we brought all of our hostages home, struck the centers of terrorism in Judea and Samaria, climbed to the peak of Mount Hermon, and created buffer zones in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza. As I promised you two days after October 7, we are changing the face of the Middle East.
But we didn’t just change the Middle East. First and foremost, we changed ourselves. Because after the great disaster of October 7, I decided to lead a polar shift: Powerful actions one after another, proactive and surprising actions, actions that dramatically change the balance of power between us and our enemies.

Through these methods, we turned Israel into a regional power that deters and defeats its enemies. All of this requires initiative, daring, and risk-taking. In the General Staff Reconnaissance unit in which I served as a fighter and commander, a large poster hung in the dining hall with two words, only two words: ‚Who Dares Wins!‘ If you do not dare, if you are constantly afraid of failure, you will lose. But if you do dare, if you take calculated risks, knocking the enemy off balance, you break his spirit.

Now I will describe to you why we embarked on Operation Roaring Lion, what we have done so far, and what we will do as the campaign continues.

Standing before us is an extremist, evil regime that for 47 years has called for ‚Death to Israel,‘ ‚Death to America‘ and which plots to destroy us with atomic bombs and tens of thousands of ballistic missiles.

President Trump understood the magnitude of the danger to the US and the entire world long ago. I will tell you that when I met him in Florida, a few months before he was elected to his second term, the first thing he said to me was: ‚Bibi, we must at all costs prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

I would like to thank my friend, President Trump, for the historic leadership he is demonstrating, for the brave friendship between us, and for the alliance, which is stronger than ever, between the US and Israel that we are both leading.

In Operation Rising Lion, we joined forces to remove the immediate danger from Israel and the US. But the tyrant from Tehran, Khamenei, did not heed President Trump’s warnings, nor did he heed mine.

He ordered the restoration of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic capabilities, and even buried them deep, deep underground, beneath high mountains, so that they would be completely immune to any strike.

There is no doubt that after achieving this underground immunity, the ayatollahs’ regime would have used these terrible tools to destroy us, Israel, and threaten the US, Europe, the countries of the region, and the entire world with nuclear weapons.

After all, this is exactly what this terrorist regime is doing now, even without weapons of mass destruction. Imagine what it would do if it had nuclear weapons.

Based on this foresight, we set out together, the US and Israel, on an action that would thwart these terrible threats, an action that would create the conditions to allow the Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands.

There was an additional danger here. There was the danger that Iran would preempt us, that Iran would strike first at American targets in the region as well as at Israel.

For all these reasons, we acted at the appointed time.

As for what we have done so far: In the first week of the war, we eliminated the tyrant Khamenei, neutralized dozens of senior Revolutionary Guard officials and hundreds of terrorist operatives, destroyed government facilities, nuclear infrastructure, headquarters and military bases, weapon factories, missile and drone warehouses, and hundreds of ballistic missile launchers, which reduces the threat to the State of Israel.

Through our daring pilots and those of the US, we achieved almost total control of Iranian skies.

With each passing day, we are peeling away more and more of the Iranian regime’s capabilities.

We are doing the same in Lebanon, with crushing attacks on Hezbollah terrorists, Iran’s puppets. I say again to the Lebanese government: It is your responsibility to enforce the ceasefire agreement and it is your responsibility to disarm Hezbollah. If you do not do so, Hezbollah’s aggression will bring catastrophic consequences upon Lebanon. It is time for you, too, to take your destiny into your hands. We will, in any case, do everything necessary to protect our communities and our citizens.

Regarding what we will do next in Iran: We have an organized plan with many surprises to destabilize the regime and enable change. We have many more targets, and I will not detail them here. But to the Revolutionary Guard operatives, those who tyrannize the Iranian people in the streets, I say only this: You, too, are in the crosshairs. Whoever lays down his weapon, no harm will come to him. He who does not will pay the price.

And to the Iranian people I say: I have been speaking to you and for you for decades. The moment of truth is approaching. For we do not seek to divide Iran. We seek to liberate Iran and live in peace with it. But at the end of the day, liberation from the yoke of tyranny, this liberation will depend on you, the brave and long-suffering Iranian people. I believe that if you stand up at the moment of truth, the day will not be far off when Israel and Iran return to being brave friends.

Whoever sees the joint waving of flags in Western capitals, the Iranian ‚Lion and Sun‘ flag and the Israeli ‚Star of David‘ flag; whoever sees the dancing and warm embraces between exiled Iranians and Jews; whoever sees all this is deeply moved. This gives immense hope for the future. Our success will bring not only the removal of a nuclear threat from the entire world, and not only peace between Israel and Iran. It will also bring a dramatic expansion of the circle of peace around us.

Today everyone understands that the ayatollahs’ regime endangers the entire world. In recent days, Iran has attacked 12 countries around it. We stand by them. All these countries see the immense power of Israel, our willingness to fight the tyrants in Tehran, the heroism of the army and the heroism of the people, and our vast military and technological capabilities. Many countries are turning to us now for cooperation. And why are they doing so? Why are they turning to us specifically now? Because we are strong, because we are right, because we are fighting!

The countries around us see the hypocrisy of the UN, which condemned us without reason in our just war against Iran’s murderous proxies in Gaza, yet that same UN did nothing in the face of the mass slaughter in Iran. These countries, which were attacked by Iran, see the weakness and feebleness of leaders in the West who simply abandoned them. While Khamenei and his murderers slaughtered tens of thousands of Iranian citizens, where was the UN?! Where were many countries in the West? And where was the international media that constantly condemns us with fake news? They were nowhere; they simply vanished.

Many countries see today exactly who can be trusted. Israel serves as a beacon of strength and hope. Thanks to this strength, we will be able to expand the circle of security, peace, and prosperity in the future on a scale we have never known.

Citizens of Israel, at this moment we are still in the midst of a difficult campaign. We will not cease to struggle against the tyrants in Iran. We will strike them without mercy. Operation Roaring Lion will continue with uncompromising momentum.

Together we will continue to stand firm, together we will roar like a lion, and with G-d’s help, together we will ensure the eternity of Israel.“

Joint-IDF-Statement to the people of Israel

IDF Chief of Staff:

Any enemy who threatens Israel’s security will pay a heavy price. Trust us and rely on the strength of the Israel Defense Forces to act decisively in all areas.“

„When I assumed this office, I said that before our eyes lay the victory and defeat of the enemy.

Attached is a video statement from Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir:

https://bit.ly/4cSy3pU

Full speech by the Chief of Staff LTG. Eyal Zamir:

„Citizens of Israel,

We recently launched Operation Roaring Lion. The Israeli Defense Forces, in coordination with the U.S. Army, have begun striking strategic targets in Iran. We are operating at a high level of readiness, both defensively and offensively.

We are now facing a major, decisive, and unprecedented operation aimed at dismantling the capabilities of the Iranian regime of terror—capabilities that pose a continuing existential threat to the security of the State of Israel. It is an operation to secure our existence and future here in the land of our ancestors for generations to come.

Last June, we completed Operation Rising Lion, in which we disrupted and delayed the nuclear program, struck the ballistic missile system, and undermined the plan conceived and executed by the Iranian regime and its regional partners to destroy the State of Israel. Operation Rising Lion demonstrated the vulnerability of this regime.“ We broke its internal stability and, for the first time, established historic cooperation with the U.S. military during Operation Midnight Hammer, in which U.S. aircraft delivered a powerful blow to Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Since then, we have continued to monitor developments in Iran. Despite the significant damage, the radical Iranian regime has not abandoned its vision or hostile intentions to advance its plan to destroy Israel. It has continued to promote its nuclear program, resumed and accelerated the production of ballistic missiles, and destabilized the region by funding and arming terrorist proxies.

In recent months, under political leadership—in coordination with my colleagues, the President of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Commander of CENTCOM—I have led a profound and comprehensive joint operational planning process. This reflects unprecedented cooperation between the Israel Defense Forces and the U.S. military.

The Israel Defense Forces are prepared and on high alert for a wide range of scenarios. Right now, Israeli Air Force pilots are striking hundreds of targets across Iran, at great personal risk and in coordination with US attacks. Air defense systems and the navy are being deployed to defend Israel’s skies and coastline against missile barrages and threats from the air and sea. Our ground forces are positioned along the borders to thwart and repel any attempt to enter Israeli territory. Forces of the Internal Front Command, along with the Israeli police and emergency medical services, are ready to protect and save civilian lives.

As we all know, there is no such thing as a hermetic defense. We must not underestimate the enemy’s ability to harm us. We face difficult trials in the coming period.

We surpass our adversaries with courage, the determination of our fighters, and the justice of our cause. Our resilience is our strength. Time and again, our enemies learn that the resilience of the Israeli Internal Front cannot be broken. We share a common destiny.

We will stand together like a fortified wall against every challenge, with confidence in the strength of Israel.

Citizens of Israel—my brothers and sisters—I call upon you to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command. Strict adherence to these instructions will save lives.

In recent weeks, I have met with our forces on the front lines and on the home front. I have closely examined their readiness and availability—soldiers, intelligence personnel, logistics units, headquarters, and operations centers—all working under strict secrecy.

Verified Truth about Israel

We were expelled from Spain.

We were murdered in Poland.

Hanged in Iran.

Forgotten in Germany.

And yet we survived.

We learned. We remembered.

In 1948, the world watched as nearly a million Jews were expelled or forced to flee Arab countries.

Their homes, businesses, and synagogues were confiscated or burned.

There were no refugee camps, no UN organizations, no global calls for justice.

No „right of return“ for Jews in Baghdad, Aleppo, or Tripoli.

They say we are tribal.

But we tried to fit in.

We changed our names.

We straightened our hair.

We abandoned our faith.

But every time we wanted to disappear, you reminded us who we were.

So we turned to ourselves.

We supported each other.

We built synagogues when your places of worship excluded us.

We built hospitals when we weren’t welcome in yours.

We founded organizations to defend ourselves when no one else would.

And when no country wanted us, we built our own.

Then came October 7, 2023.

You say you hate Israel because of its policies.

But on October 7, 2023, Hamas didn’t attack soldiers.

It didn’t storm checkpoints or military bases.

It raped women.

Beheaded babies.
Burned living families.
Slaughtered civilians in their homes, bombed accommodations, and murdered young people at a music festival.

This was the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

And while our dead weren’t even buried, the world didn’t mourn us—it turned against us.

Students waved „Glory to the Martyrs“ signs.

Demonstrators shook swastikas in Sydney.

„Gas the Jews“ was scrawled on walls in Berlin.

Jewish students were locked in libraries in New York.

MIT students were prevented from attending classes.

At Harvard, they were told to remove their Stars of David for their safety.

While our hostages were still bleeding in tunnels.

So no—it’s not about borders.

You hated us before 1948.
Before the State of Israel existed.
Before a single border was drawn.

What you hate is that the Jew has power today.

A flag.

An army.

A government.

A home.

You preferred to make us weak. Strays. Beggars. Dependent on your pity or your permission to exist.

Israel is not a gift.

This is a necessity.

We didn’t colonize this land—we returned.

Jews have lived in Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed, and Tiberias for over 3,000 years.

For centuries, we prayed toward Zion.

We spoke Hebrew while the world told us to forget.

We made the desert bloom.

We drained swamps, planted forests, and revived a lost language.

We welcomed Holocaust survivors, Russian dissidents, and Ethiopian Jews fleeing famine.

We built a nation surrounded by enemies, boycotted by the world, haunted by the shadow of Auschwitz.

Israel wasn’t created because of the Holocaust, but in spite of 2,000 years of exile, genocide, and betrayal—and it is the only insurance against the next one.

„Never again“ is not a slogan.

This is the Iron Dome. This is the F-35.

The 18-year-old in khaki uniform is on guard duty so Sderot’s children can sleep.

Why this double standard?

When Russia invaded Ukraine, the world was outraged.

Blue and yellow flags everywhere.

Weapons, aid, solidarity—rightfully so.

But when Hamas burned Israeli children alive, we were told to „de-escalate.“

When we defend our cities, you call us monsters.

When we bury our dead, you protest our grief.

Why?

Peace is possible. We have proven it.

They say Jews are strangers in the Middle East.

But the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan say otherwise.

The Abraham Accords have shown that peace is not only possible—it is real.

Israel is sending aid to Syrian earthquake victims.

Arab doctors and members of parliament sit in the Israeli Knesset.

We seek coexistence.

You call out: „From the river to the sea.“

We choose life.

You call for death.

Yes – Israel is strong today. Baruch HaShem.

For a Jew without power is a dead Jew.

And history has taught us: No king, no pope, no president will save us.

We do not want to dominate.
We simply want to live.
Free. Proud. Without apologizing.

You don’t have to like us.
You don’t have to agree.

But you will never again decide whether we have the right to exist.

Am Israel 🇮🇱 Chai ❤️

What is a Zionist!

„What exactly is a #Zionist?

A Zionist is anyone, Jew or non-Jew, who considers the restoration of a Jewish state legitimate, having recognized the Jewish situation as one of oppression. The aim is to end this oppression so that Jews, like any other people, can regain their essence as free human beings. Or, put another way: anyone who welcomes the liberation of the Jew as a Jew.

Of course, no one is forced to be a Zionist. A non-Jew may consider something else more important or see it as contradictory. A Jew may think there is no obligation to feel a sense of belonging to one’s people, even if their people are in danger. Some may wish not to be Jewish and are slowly preparing for the assimilation of their children. Some may even care little for freedom itself, content in a state of semi-servitude, and only confront threats when they arise. Ultimately, it depends on what one can bear.

My readers already know that I never I have utterly condemned it. I don’t believe that nations are eternal, and the Jewish people may one day disappear. For me, belonging to a people doesn’t signify some mythical bond. And everyone’s freedom of choice is important to me, even if it often proves illusory.

But if someone believes, as I do, that it is important for the oppressed to regain control over their lives, if someone believes that this person must first recognize what they are and what their precise place is among humanity, and believes that, based on this recognition, they must then change their circumstances, then, as far as Jews are concerned, this person is a Zionist.

Of course, by being this way, one doesn’t abandon the great contemporary ideals of social justice and the equality of all people; on the contrary, one reinforces them.

However, by being this way, one doesn’t abandon the great contemporary ideals of social justice and the equality of all people; no, rather, one reinforces them. – Albert Memmi, Tunisian-Jewish left-wing Zionist, 1975.

As a Tunisian, a colonialist, a Jew, and a Frenchman, Albert Memmi is a hybrid, belonging to no one. Therefore, he felt called upon to examine racism and oppression in all their facets.

Albert Memmi, Tunisian-Jewish left-wing Zionist, born 1975.

As a Tunisian, colonialist, Jew, and Frenchman, Albert Memmi is a person of mixed heritage, belonging to no one. This is why he felt called upon to illuminate racism and oppression in all their facets.

… —–

Zionism is Jewish Self-Defense ⚠️

„There are people who never tire of saying that we should open our doors, immediately return all territories occupied since the 1967 war, or even those occupied since 1947, and simply stop believing in Arab enmity. These people either don’t have much to lose by following their advice, or they are simply fools. Because it is a fact that many Arabs around the world, many of their leaders, are practically obsessed with Israel’s existence and quite seriously wish that Israel would be wiped off the map. Off the map they consider the foundation of a united, Greater Arab nation.

Many Arabs, however politically sincere they may be, have not grasped the significance and necessity of Zionism, i.e., a Jewish nation, as a fact. The same mistake that many people on the political left around the world make. If those Arabs and those leftists had…“ If they understood that Zionism is the expression of an entire people, the same expression that speaks from their own young nations, they would not talk such nonsense and would not stoke the hope of burning Israel to the ground. One cannot destroy the intentions of an entire people without striking at its very core.

I realize that this unambiguous aggression, this new Final Solution, would appeal to some. Others, however much they may consider themselves less radical and less hostile, argue in the same absurd way. They say: Israel exists, fine. But it should cease to be Zionist. This shows that they have understood the meaning of Zionism no more than the others. For if one wants to separate the Jewish Diaspora from Israel, one deprives Israel of all meaning. For Israel was created by and for the Jews in the Diaspora.

—Albert Memmi, Arab-Jewish left-wing Zionist, 1975.

President Trump, Iran and Israel

The US president commented again on the unrest in Iran and reiterated his threat: „If they kill protesters, we will take strong action against them.“ However, he clarified: „That does not mean we will deploy soldiers on the ground.“ In Israel, demonstrations are escalating, manifesting themselves in increasing violence. One indication of this is the Revolutionary Guard’s attempt to suppress the protests. Israel is closely monitoring the situation and is careful not to be drawn into a conflict – preferring to leave the leadership to the US.

https://n12.pro/49waIXI

Photo: AP, Reuters

No politics by me, but a Look into our Torah…

I am referring to the Parasha Toldot, which was only recently read publicly.

In the Parasha Toldot, we are introduced to Jakow and, with him, to the first biography in world literature. Even before his conception and birth, we are told about our ancestor Jakow (Bereshit/Genesis 25:22), and we then follow his life through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, all the way to old age. The narrative focuses on Jakow and provides a comprehensive picture of a human life with all its human struggles, achievements, failures, and successes. We learn much about his suffering and pain, about jealousy and competition, about disputes over property, and the difficulties of raising children. We follow Jakow on his journey, facing these various challenges with which we, as average people, can easily identify. Unlike his grandfather Awraham, Jakow did not have to endure divine trials, nor was he subjected to the profound trauma that his father Jitzchak suffered at the Akedah (Binding of Jitzchak).

Jakow attained everything through a circuitous path. His birthright and paternal blessing, his wife, his wealth, and his new name were achieved only after arduous efforts and numerous setbacks. And yet, he received the privilege of receiving divine visions, and G-d appeared to him three times. It is Iesahayahu Leibowitz who points out that it was Jakow who wrestled with humanity and G-d and became Israel. We are all named after him and bear his responsibility and duty.

Shalom

Explaining my Soul…

I am simply grateful for a good, loving relationship with my true self. This is the prerequisite for recognizing the light within myself and in the people around me. Sometimes—actually, almost always—I am respected as a Jew when I remain true to myself and can say, as I have always:

Yes, I am Jewish.

Yes, I am a Torah-observant.

Yes, I love Hashem.

Yes, I enjoy working.

Yes, I am loved.

Yes, I prefer writing to talking.

Yes, I talk more than I used to, and that makes me happy.

Yes, I am happy.

Yes, I think positively.

Yes, life is beautiful.

Yes, I miss my Jewish friends and family who still remember me from my time in Stuttgart.

Yes, my path leads back to Stuttgart, even though I spent my most important years in Esslingen.
… And yes, I will never give up on my dreams, because they lead me to Israel.

Gaza in the „Pax Americana“

Text: Prof. Moshe Hakohen-Eliya

Gaza in the „Pax Americana“

Gaza has always been a lump in Israel’s throat. It all began at the end of the 13th and beginning of the 12th centuries BCE, when a major climate crisis hit the eastern Mediterranean. Drought, famine, and the collapse of trade led many peoples to migrate – in Egyptian sources, they are called the „Sea Peoples.“ One of these groups was the Philistines, who came from the Aegean region – that is, from Crete („Caftor“ in the Bible) and southern Greece.

After they were defeated by Pharaoh Ramses III in major sea and land battles around 1177 BCE, some of them were allowed to settle in the southern coastal region of Canaan. There they founded five major cities: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath.

Archaeological excavations in these cities reveal a mixture of cultures: the Philistines brought Mycenaean-style pottery and combined it with Canaanite culture. Thus, a new, mixed culture emerged in the heart of Canaan. The difference was also evident in the food: many pig bones were found in Philistine towns, but almost none in Israelite towns.

The Philistines became Israel’s constant enemies – from Goliath against David to Samson the Warrior. In the 8th century BC, their influence weakened: the Assyrian king Sennacherib conquered the Land of Judah, and the Philistines became his subjects. Later, the Babylonians completely destroyed their independence. With that, the Philistine people disappeared – but Gaza remained. Since then, this city has repeatedly played the same role: a problem at the heart of the history of the Land of Israel.

After the Bar Kokhba Revolt (135 AD), the Roman Emperor Hadrian wanted to punish the Jewish people. He changed the name of the province from „Judea“ to „Syria Palaestina“—after Israel’s old enemies, the Philistines—in order to erase the connection between the Jewish people and their land.

In the 19th century, when Jewish settlement in Israel resumed and brought economic growth, many immigrants arrived from Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula. Many of them settled in Gaza and on the southern coast. This gave rise to Gaza’s current population—not descendants of the old Philistines, but descendants of Arab immigrants of the 19th and 20th centuries.

The 2023-2025 war („War of Renewal“) is fundamentally changing Gaza. After destroying approximately 70% of the buildings, the United States is now taking control. Its goal is to create a major trade route—from India via Saudi Arabia and Israel to Italy. This route is intended to equalize or surpass China’s „New Silk Road.“ To this end, the US is jointly building a base in Kiryat Gat with Israel to monitor Gaza from.

At the same time, America is also constructing a massive diplomatic complex (“embassy”) north of Beirut – 44 dunams in size, with 130,000 square meters of building space. For President Trump, success in the Middle East is crucial, especially because he has so far been unable to end the war in Ukraine. Therefore, he is personally leading this project.

Israel remains a regional power. It has persuaded the US to attack Iranian nuclear targets and to support Israel militarily and diplomatically in the war against Hamas. Nevertheless, Israel must learn to deal wisely with the “American giant”: to cooperate with it where possible and to seize opportunities – for example, when Hamas refuses to surrender its weapons and then comes into direct conflict with the US.

The question of Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) remains open. But one thing is clear: There must be no Palestinian state. Israel needs territorial depth along the historic mountain range that formed the heart of the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah as early as the 11th and 10th centuries BC—with Jerusalem to the south and Shiloh, Tirzah, Shomron, and Shechem to the north.

This mountain range is the historical and strategic heart of Israel—the backbone of its history and culture. Therefore, it must remain under stable Israeli control, as part of the historical and security depth of the Jewish state.

Agreed?

The Press, the Terror and Israel

Anyone who believes Hamas and its propaganda makers is an accomplice to terror.

It has long been known that Hamas is guilty of the described and documented atrocities of the October massacre in Israel. While the world’s woke press is happy to be instrumentalized and actively advocates and supports the narrative of a seemingly legitimate action, it is Israel alone that, on the one hand, refutes this movement of lies, ignorance, and valuelessness – daily. On the other hand, the problem is now being tackled at its root and Hamas is being eliminated, so that the above-described events can never happen again… and the world can once again focus on its own problems.

Those who are with Israel are on the right side of history. From everyone else, I expect a great silence of shame and dismay in a few years. The entire development and events will be documented, evaluated, and categorized by historians, so that this phase in which we live will go down in history as the most anti-Jewish in modern history. It is worth confronting the past, and this has already begun. The Israeli army will (have to) restore order and security there, something no one else is willing or able to do.

Continue in thinking about Parasha Ekew…

I’m currently studying Parasha Ekev—for the second time this week. In verses 7:12 to 8:10, Hashem promises that He will protect the people of Israel and bless them many times over for keeping His commandments. They need not fear, because He will help them to victory over their enemies. However, they must eliminate all traces of idolatry. The people should remember their wanderings in the desert, during which they were entirely dependent on G-d. This leads to the conclusion that in the Holy Land, the Jewish people must face the responsibility of trusting in Hashem’s words and putting them into practice. What applies to Eretz Yisrael is not fully valid for the Diaspora; after all, the entire Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) is a single reference to Israel and all Jews—including those in the Diaspora. In the land to which He brings us, nothing will be lacking. Moshe Rabbeinu therefore lists the seven species that distinguish Israel—wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olive oil, and date honey. He also mentions that one is obligated to thank G-d when one has eaten enough. This is known as „benschen“ (blessing) during Kiddush in synagogues or at home. Moshe Rabbeinu warns against taking credit for prosperity or victories. Hashem alone is responsible for them and the power that makes them possible. Moshe then recalls (8:11–10:11) that the people repeatedly provoked G-d in the desert. And Moshe describes how he interceded for the people after the incident with the Golden Calf. Then the people received the Tablets of the Covenant for the second time. I noticed that this second pair of Tablets differs slightly from the first pair, because I am convinced that the entire nation deserves a second chance, and we must continually reexamine the statements of the Aseret Hadibrot. You, too, are the eternal heritage of the people and begin with Hashem introducing Himself and proclaiming liberation from Mizraim. It is a twofold liberation. For we are truly free, firstly, in our consciousness, and only then when we have arrived in Eretz Israel.