Their miraculous rescue from capture at the Red Sea provides a unique opportunity for freedom and spiritual fulfillment, initially appreciated and embraced, but soon squandered.

The physical and spiritual integration needed to keep our inner fire burning for a holy way of life pre-supposes the act of being conceived and born into this world.

Our wise sages taught that Pikuach Nefesh includes saving unborn babies. This principle still applies despite later opinions and current beliefs that set it aside in order to destroy babies in the womb. This constitutes a serious breach of Jewish ethics and morals. Moreover, it enables ongoing spiritual and demographic suicide of the Jewish people.

We can remember the Amalekites as enemies of the Jews, pagans whose society was wholly corrupted with sin and evil and child sacrifice. A depraved culture disinterested, perhaps incapable of atoning for war waged against a new society of God centered people. The time has long passed when we can obliterate all of them in hopes of saving the world from their evil intentions and actions.

The story of Jacob demonstrates that positive participation in public life and God centered religious personal observance are the two keys to Jewish survival in a spiritually unfinished world.

Our Divine destiny of 100 million Jews seems as unreachable as an unreachable star. A history of genocide and a century of abortion practice have taken their toll.

Because Jewish children in the womb are part of God’s creation, they qualify for our protection and care no matter the cost to our personal, professional, or family position. Serving, respecting and pleasing God by assuming this responsibility brings deeper satisfaction, peace and pleasure than any worldly gain.

As military casualties mount and war escalates in the Middle East, secularism still pervades Israeli society and government. I read of celebrations in Israel after the IDF takes out a bad guy, but I read of no calls for national repentance for child slaughter and other state sanctioned practices antithetical to Torah.

These organizations have built partnerships with many Jewish groups and institutions and now yield tremendous influence over many Jews, young and old. These are the new high priests who 'atone' for Jewish lapses in upside down, inside out, anti-Torah morality and ethics.

This being the last book in the Torah, we ought to know the message by now. Life works only when God leads and we follow happily and faithfully. So simple but so elusive.