The Joy of Doing Mitzvos

Why Should I Be Happy?

​ by Reb Gutman Locks

Why should I be happy when I do a mitzvah?

Well;

 It is what G-d wants me to do.

When I do a mitzvah, something changes in the upper worlds, even if I can’t see it.

When I do something good, it makes the world a better place.

My portion in the World to Comes increases when I do a mitzvah.

I become holy by doing a mitzvah, as the blessing says, “… Who has made us holy with His commandments….”

I and all of my people are more favorably judged because I did it.

Doing mitzvahs strengthens the Jewish people.

I’ll use the merit I receive for doing it, by praying for others.

I become a little more aware of Hashem’s Presence when I do a mitzvah.

Doing the mitzvah moves me toward fulfilling my purpose as a Jew.

When I do a mitzvah my animal inclination is being used to do good.

If I do the mitzvah right, it will make G-d smile.

All good reasons to be happy, and I bet you can come up with a few more, too.

From Mystical Paths, here.

השמש כבר לא ירוקה

התעשייה הסולארית בנבדה, ארה”ב קורסת

זה לא בנבדה, ארה”ב. השדה הסולארי הגדול בקיבוץ קטורה בנגב. 

התקנת לוחות השמש על הגגות הפרטיים במדינת נבדה בארה”ב עומדת להפסק לחלוטין בעקבות שינוי בתעריפי חשמל שאושרו ברשות החשמל של נבדה. נבדה היא מדינה מדברית ושטופת שמש. 17 אלף בעלי בתים פרטיים התקינו לוחות שמש.

עד כה התקינו אנשים לוחות שמש על גגות בתיהם בנבדה תחת תכנית ה”מונה נטו”. לפי התכנית, כל החשמל הסולארי ה”עודף” שהלוחות מייצרים במשך היום (בעצם – כל החשמל הסולארי) מוזן  לרשת, (כלומר נמכר לחברת החשמל). בעל הלוחות מקבל זיכוי על כמות הקוט”ש שהזין. בנבדה, כמו בכול מקום מדברי-דרומי, יש ייצור של חשמל סולארי בערך 20% מהזמן (בחישוב שנתי). ב- 80% מהזמן, הבית של הלוחות צורך חשמל רגיל מהרשת. הוא משלם עבור הקוט”שים שצרך מהרשת פחות אלו שסיפק – כלומר הקיזוז הוא לפי קוט”ש, והוא משלם חשבונות חשמל יותר קטנים. למעשה, חברת החשמל קנתה את החשמל הסולארי במחיר קמעונאי (מחיר לצרכן) שהוא 13 סנט של דולר לקוט”ש. זאת, בזמן שהיא רוכשת את שאר החשמל (מרבית החשמל) מיצרנים רגילים במחיר סיטונאי של 2.8 סנט לקוט”ש. המחיר לצרכן כולל גם את מחיר ההקמה והתחזוקה של רשת החלוקה של החשמל.

כעת שינתה רשות החשמל של נבדה, PUC, את הכללים. היא תרכוש את החשמל הסולארי במחיר שווה למחיר שהיא רוכשת את שאר החשמל ( מחיר סיטונאי של כ- 2.8 סנט לקוט”ש). בעלי הלוחות ישלמו על החשמל הרגיל שהם מקבלים מהרשת במשך 80% מהזמן, 13 סנט לקוט”ש כמו כולם. בנוסף ישלמו בעלי הלוחות תשלום קבוע מוגדל, המשקף את השירות המוגדל שהם מקבלים: חיבור להזנת חשמל סולארי לרשת.

חברת החשמל טענה (בצדק) שבעלי הלוחות שילמו עד כה חשבונות חשמל קטנים (בגלל הקיזוז של החשמל הסולארי בשיטת מונה נטו), שאינם משקפים את צריכת החשמל מהרשת שהם צרכו, ואת השירותים שקיבלו. הדבר יצר מעמסה גדולה יותר עם שאר הצרכנים, שלא התקינו לוחות שמש. למעשה הצרכנים הרגילים היו מסבסדים את בעלי הלוחות.

עם השינוי הזה בתעריפים – כלומר עם ביטול הסבסוד, התמוטט מקור ההכנסה של בעלי לוחות השמש והחברות שמוכרות ומתקינות לוחות. כך למשל, הודיעה “סולר סיטי” – החברה הגדולה ביותר להתקנות סולאריות בארה”ב, שהיא מפסיקה את פעילותה בנבדה, ומפטרת את 550 עובדיה. כזכור, סולר סיטי שייכת לחלוץ ולחסיד הסולארי (ולמיליארדר הסובסידיות) אלון מאסק, אבל אידיאולוגיה לחוד ועסקים לחוד.

אם אין סובסידיות כבדות – אין אנרגיה סולארית.

יעקב

מאתר קו ישר, כאן.

From Kav Yashar, here.

Ron Paul on Hezek Re’iyah (Privacy)

First They Came For the iPhones…

The FBI tells us that its demand for a back door into the iPhone is all about fighting terrorism and that it is essential to break in just this one time to find out more about the San Bernardino attack last December. But the truth is they had long sought a way to break Apple’s iPhone encryption and, like 9/11 and the PATRIOT Act, a mass murder provided just the pretext needed. After all, they say, if we are going to be protected from terrorism we have to give up a little of our privacy and liberty. Never mind that government spying on us has not prevented one terrorist attack.

Apple has so far stood up to a federal government’s demand that it force its employees to write a computer program to break into its own product. No doubt Apple CEO Tim Cook understands the damage it would do to his company for the world to know that the US government has a key to supposedly secure iPhones. But the principles at stake are even higher. We have a fundamental right to privacy. We have a fundamental right to go about our daily life without the threat of government surveillance of our activities. We are not East Germany.

Let’s not forget that this new, more secure iPhone was developed partly in response to Ed Snowden’s revelations that the federal government was illegally spying on us. The federal government was caught breaking the law but instead of ending its illegal spying is demanding that private companies make it easier for it to continue.

Last week we also learned that Congress is planning to join the fight against Apple — and us. Members are rushing to set up yet another governmental commission to study how our privacy can be violated for false promises of security. Of course, they won’t put it that way, but we can be sure that will be the result. Some in Congress are seeking to pass legislation regulating how companies can or cannot encrypt their products. This will suppress the development of new technology and will have a chilling effect on our right to be protected from an intrusive government. Any legislation Congress writes limiting encryption will likely be unconstitutional, but unfortunately, Congress seldom heeds the Constitution anyway.

When FBI Director James Comey demanded a back door into the San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone, he promised that it was only for this one, extraordinary situation. “The San Bernardino litigation isn’t about trying to set a precedent or send any kind of message,” he said in a statement last week. Testifying before Congress just days later, however, he quickly changed course, telling the Members of the House Intelligence Committee that the court order and Apple’s appeals, “will be instructive for other courts.” Does anyone really believe this will not be considered a precedent-setting case? Does anyone really believe the government will not use this technology again and again, with lower and lower thresholds?

According to press reports, Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. has 175 iPhones with passcodes that the City of New York wants to access. We can be sure that is only the beginning.

We should support Apple’s refusal to bow to the FBI’s dangerous demands, and we should join forces to defend our precious liberties without compromise. If the people lead, the leaders will follow.

From Lewrockwell.com, here.

Losing Judaism in the IDF

Furthermore, 16 years ago, I learned that of the “National Religious” men who enlisted in the IDF, 25% were no longer religious by the end of their service.

Who knows what the statistic is today?

Let us hope that this will also be a consideration for “National Religious” parents to reconsider the carrying on of this custom, until significant changes are made in IDF policy toward religious soldiers, being allowed to grow a beard, being minor in comparison to the many other gross violations of the Torah.

An excerpt from Esser Aggaroth, here.

The Current War on Jews

One Jew was murdered and eight were injured in over 140 attacks this week.

This week as almost every week there were dozens of terror attacks of varying severity not reported in most major media outlets. We report on these silenced events to present a fuller picture of the reality in Israel and balance the picture presented to innocent readers abroad. We hope that by reporting these incidents we can raise awareness so that actions can be taken to rectify this problem and improve reality in the Jewish State.

This past week (Feb. 19th- Feb. 25th) there were over 140 terror attacks recorded in the ‘Silent Intifada’ updates on Hakol Hayehudi. Among these were shootings, three stabbings, an attempted vehicular attack, and six attempted stabbings. In addition, there were a number of incidents of arson and throwing of stones and firebombs at individuals and property.

Eliav Gelman HY”D, a 31 year old father of two from Karmei Tzur, was murdered during a stabbing at Gush Etzion Junction. He was hit by gunfire targeting a terrorist who was stabbing him and he later passed away from his injuries.

In a stabbing at the Shechem Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem, two border police officers were injured and in Sde Kalev an IDF soldier was injured. Several other Jews were injured in stone throwing attacks on the roads.

In the beginning of the week, Arabs fired shots at several homes in Beit El, but thank G-d, no one was injured.

Attempted stabbings took place in Hevron, at the Shechem Gate of the Old City, near Beitar, at Tapuach Junction, and in Hawara. In addition, at the Shechem Gate, several Arabs were caught with explosives and pistols.

Full list of attacks:

Thursday Feb. 25th

Arabs throw stones in Al-Dich.

Arabs throw stones in Shukba.

Arabs throw stones in Abu Dis.

Arabs throw stones in Nachal Kfira.

Arabs throw stones in Hizme.

Arabs throw stones in Silwan.

Arabs throw stones in Ras Al Amud.

Arabs throw stones in Abu Tor.

Arabs throw stones near Rachel’s Tomb.

Arabs throw stones at vehicles near Halhul.

Arabs throw stones at vehicles near Al-Hadr in Gush Etzion.

Arabs throw stones in Hevron.

22:37- Arabs riot in Abu Dis.

21:59- Arabs throw an IED at IDF forces in Azariya.

21:35- Arabs throw stones at a bus in Beit Tzefafa in Jerusalem.

20:46- A rider is injured from stone throwing by Arabs near the 300 checkpoint in Hevron. Also a bus is damaged.

20:38- Arabs throw firebombs at vehicles on Route 55 near the Eliyahu Crossing in the Shomron.

19:51- Arabs throw stones at paint bombs at the light rail in Shuafat in Jerusalem.

18:25- Arabs throw stones near the British Police Junction in Binyamin.

16:42- A driver is injured from stone throwing by Arabs near Avnei Hefetz in the Shomron.

14:19- Arabs throw stones at vehicles near Peduel.

11:39- Arabs throw stones at vehicles near Migdalim.

Continue reading here…

From Hakol Hayehudi, here.