A Rabbi’s Assessment
TimeWatch Editorial
September 02, 2016
I recently came across an article that was published on the Breaking Israeli News Website on June 10, 2016, written by Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz . The subtitle of the website is “Latest New Biblical Perspective.” The title, even though compelling was not unusual, given the times in which we live, but the question asked at the end of the title, made ignoring the article impossible. The title was “Thousands Hit By Extreme Global Flooding, Lightning, and Tornadoes. What Does it Mean?” The author opened the article with a text taken from Genesis 9: 16 “And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.’ Then he gets straight to the point.
“The world is undergoing a global plague of flooding that many are trying to shrug off as a passing anomaly. However, one rabbi thinks the widespread meteorological disasters hold a clear message to the Jewish people. Last Thursday, politicians in Paris packed up their briefcases and left a conference that was a prelude to forcing Israel to accept an internationally imposed two-state solution. Just a few hours after the conference ended, the Seine river rose over 6 meters, levels that have not been seen in over 100 years. Sections of the Metro shut down and workers scrambled to save over 250,000 priceless pieces of art stored in the basement of the Louvre, the world’s largest museum. Thousands were forced from the homes into shelters.” Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz, “Thousands Hit By Extreme Global Flooding, Lightning, and Tornadoes. What Does it Mean?” June 10, 2016
Berkowitz continues to describe the intensity of the weather’s impact as it spreads across Europe.
“The storm in Paris was only the beginning. The rains that hit Paris spread across Europe over the weekend, causing massive flooding throughout the continent. Southern and Central Germany were hit with heavy storms, raising river less by as much as four meters within minutes, killing 14 people. Perhaps the strangest aspect of this natural disaster was the human element. Despite meteorology being an advanced science, scientists were caught off guard. Inexplicably, there were virtually no preemptive warnings from the government and scientific institutions constantly on the watch to protect people from these natural disasters.” Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz, “Thousands Hit By Extreme Global Flooding, Lightning, and Tornadoes. What Does it Mean?” June 10, 2016
One of the things worthy of note here is the quote from the above paragraph which says: “Perhaps the strangest aspect of this natural disaster was the human element. Despite meteorology being an advanced science, scientists were caught off guard.” The fact that meteorologist were caught off guard is extremely frequent today. The measured patterns that have been used in the past as a warning have changed significantly. Berkowitz continues to describe the danger and how it has spread.
“Two people were killed by flooding in Romania and hundreds were made homeless as rising waters flooded roadways, cutting off thousands more people. The flooding was not a local meteorological phenomenon limited to Europe. Last Friday, while Parisians were swimming home, Krasnodar, Russia got hit in three hours with almost 3.5 inches of precipitation, what is normally a full month of rain. No populated continent was spared. In America, extreme flooding hit the Gulf Coast of Texas, threatening 31 counties. Tragedy struck in Fort Hood when a military vehicle was swept away during a training exercise. Nine soldiers were killed in the accident. Nine more people were killed as at least six tornadoes struck in the state and record levels of precipitation fell in some areas. Water levels are still rising in South Texas. Right across the border, Iztapalapa, one of the most densely populated areas of Mexico, was hit by flooding that forced hundreds of families from their homes. In Asia, heavy floods hit the east and central provinces of China, rendering thousands homeless. Parts of that storm flooded India as well. The Eastern Australia coast was pounded by storms on Sunday while flooding hit the southeastern side of the continent, killing three.” Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz, “Thousands Hit By Extreme Global Flooding, Lightning, and Tornadoes. What Does it Mean?” June 10, 2016
As engaging as the weather patterns described might be, the explanation given by Rabbi Apisdorf should grab your attention.
Rabbi Apisdorf explained that the unusual weather patterns were not mere freaks of nature, but held a vital message which no one can afford to ignore. “The greatest insanity is to sleepwalk through reality and completely miss what is right in front of us,” he said. “Whether it is a tsunami, earthquake, flood, or hurricane, when these things happen they grab our attention and force us to look, shaking us from the slumber of our everyday lives.” The connection to Israel and the Jewish people is clear, he continued. “One underlying message they are saying is ‘wake-up’. If there is a connection to the process that is affecting the Jewish people, then these events are telling us to wake up to what is happening to the Jewish people and the land of Israel.” Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz, “Thousands Hit By Extreme Global Flooding, Lightning, and Tornadoes. What Does it Mean?” June 10, 2016
I would certainly like to add, not just the land of Israel, but the entire world is being warned. It truly is time to be awake!
Cameron A. Bowen
