In a period of great darkness‚ Jews worldwide are preparing to celebrate Hanukkah‚ the eight-day Festival of Lights that begins Thursday night. Yet some are trying to extinguish those lights. In Williamsburg‚ Virginia‚ the organizers of the Second Sundays Art and Music Festival‚ LoveLight Placemaking‚ canceled a scheduled menorah-lighting ceremony‚ citing the Israel-Hamas war. As National Review reported: Shirley Vermillion‚ the festival’s founder‚ cited logistical challenges and sensitivity to the ongoing Israel–Hamas conflict as reasons for the cancellation. ‘The concern is of folks feeling like we are siding with a group over the other …. not a direction we ever decide to head‚’ Vermillion said. She emphasized the festival’s inclusive nature and mentioned scheduling conflicts as well as a reluctance to have the festival engage in religious activities. After an outcry‚ the organizers made matters worse when they suggested “that the lighting could go forward only if they could get an Islamic group to participate‚ or if they could hold it under a banner calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.” This is like telling Irish Catholics that they couldn’t hold a St. Patrick’s Day parade unless they first issued a statement regarding the Irish Republican Army‚ or arranged to have Anglicans participate. No religious group should face a political test before being permitted to publicly celebrate its faith. Nor should the public celebration of one faith be dependent on the participation of practitioners of a different faith. As the United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula stated: “We should be very clear: It is antisemitic to hold Jews collectively responsible for Israel’s policies and actions‚ and to require a political litmus test for Jews’ participation in community events that have nothing to do with Israel.” Sadly‚ the incident in Virginia isn’t a one-off occurrence. In Great Britain‚ a London suburb canceled a Hanukkah menorah-lighting ceremony‚ supposedly to avoid “inflaming tensions” related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. A Canadian town decided not to display a menorah for the first time in 20 years. In a town in Maine‚ a Star of David in a holiday display was replaced with a dreidel. Then again‚ maybe those who are uncomfortable with Hanukkah in the context of the Israel-Hamas war have a point. After all‚ the menorah doesn’t celebrate religious liberty only in the abstract—it celebrates a particular military victory in the battle of Israel’s indigenous Jews against the “settler-colonialist” Seleucid Greeks‚ who sought to eradicate Judaism. Hamas denies any Jewish connection to the Jewish homeland. The light of the menorah celebrates Jewish sovereignty in the Promised Land. The First Book of Maccabees records that when the Seleucid King Antiochus VII demanded that the Jews hand over Jerusalem and other cities they had liberated‚ Simon the Hasmonean sent back this apt reply: We have neither taken foreign land nor seized foreign property‚ but only the inheritance of our fathers‚ which at one time had been unjustly taken by our enemies. Now that we have the opportunity‚ we are firmly holding the inheritance of our fathers. (I Maccabees 15:33-34) But more than a military victory‚ Hanukkah celebrates a victory in the war of ideas between the Greeks’ pagan worldview and those who believed in the God of Abraham‚ Isaac‚ and Jacob. The Greeks imagined gods in the image of man‚ whereas the Jews believe God created man in His image‚ meaning that all humans are created equal and that life is sacred. The pagan gods were capricious and generally indifferent to human affairs. The Jews believe that God loves us and loves justice‚ that history has a purpose‚ and that God intervenes in history on the side of justice. The Talmud records that when the Jews drove back the Greek forces and rededicated the Holy Temple that the Greeks had defiled‚ they could find only one pure jar of oil to kindle the menorah‚ enough for only one day. But miraculously‚ the oil provided light for eight days—a sign of God’s providence—and hence Jews annually celebrate an eight-day festival during which they kindle an additional light each night. Originally‚ the menorah was supposed to be kindled outside one’s home‚ to publicize the miracle of the oil. Later‚ after Jews were expelled from their land and often lived among a hostile population‚ the menorah lights were kindled indoors. Fifty years ago‚ after another surprise attack on Israel on a Jewish holy day‚ Yom Kippur‚ the Lubavitcher Rebbe‚ Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson‚ launched a campaign to host public menorah lightings worldwide. The Hanukkah lights “demonstrate at once even to the physical eye … that the light goes on in the Jewish home even when it is dark and gloomy in the outside world‚” the Rebbe wrote. Even‚ and perhaps especially‚ when under attack‚ he added‚ a “Jew must not permit himself to be overawed by the darkness outside‚ but must illuminate his home‚” not resting there but letting “the light shine forth ‘outside.’” As the Rebbe often reminded us‚ even a little light expels a lot of darkness. Since then‚ public menorah lightings at city halls and public monuments—including the White House—have become a regular feature of Hanukkah celebrations in America and worldwide. In a 1790 letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport‚ Rhode Island‚ President George Washington famously assured the “Stock of Abraham” that the United States “gives to bigotry no sanction‚ to persecution no assistance.” Washington concluded his letter by beseeching the Father of All Mercies to “scatter light and not darkness in our paths.” Although bigotry again is rearing its ugly head‚ producing cracks in America’s commitment to religious liberty‚ the United States remains a shining city on a hill and a beacon of freedom to other nations. So long as religious liberty in America is protected and cherished‚ Jews will continue to illuminate the streets with the light of the menorah. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state.   The post Why We Should Continue to Shine the Menorah’s Light Amid Darkness appeared first on The Daily Signal.

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When disaster strikes‚ FEMA turns to something called the Waffle House index. And here's the fascinating reason why! In the unpredictable dance of nature‚ where hurricanes twirl and whirl their destructive force‚ there emerges an unlikely hero-a beacon of comfort with the best breakfast food amidst the chaos. Enter the Waffle House‚ an unassuming haven that transcends its pancake-laden menu to become a symbol of stability in the face of adversity with a tool dubbed the ‘Waffle House Index.' RELATED: 8-Year-Old Learns His Favorite Waiter At Waffle House Is Struggling‚ So He Raises Over $100k The index isn't about waffle goodness but rather it's about damage in the area or neighborhood. Waffle House Index Explained Here's the deal. According to FEMA‚ "If a Waffle House can serve a full menu‚ they've likely got power (or are running on a generator). A limited menu means an area may not have running water or electricity‚ but there's gas for the stove to make bacon‚ eggs‚ and coffee: exactly what hungry‚ weary people need." The Waffle House blog says‚ "This index‚ with its color-coded signals‚ serves as a unique barometer of the storm’s severity. Green means all is well‚ yellow suggests limited resources‚ and red warns of severe damage." The Waffle House playbook for disaster response is a meticulous guide on how to reopen a restaurant when faced with challenges like gas without electricity or a generator without ice. The strategy involves limiting the menu to focus on key items‚ ensuring a streamlined supply chain that can cope with the demands of a post-disaster environment. Waffle House‚ with its 1‚600 restaurants stretching across hurricane-prone regions‚ has perfected the art of post-disaster recovery. The company’s commitment to reopening quickly after a storm is not just about profits; it’s a testament to a carefully crafted crisis-management strategy and a dedication to serving communities when they need it most. "If you get there and the Waffle House is closed? That's really bad. That's where you go to work‚" said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. A Shelter In The Storm In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene‚ while other businesses struggled to regain their footing‚ Waffle House emerged as a shining example of resilience. Despite losing power in multiple locations‚ the majority of its restaurants were back in business within days. The familiar yellow-and-black sign stood as a reassuring respite‚ promising warm meals and a semblance of normalcy to communities grappling with the aftermath of the storm. RELATED: He Tried Skipping Graduation for Work But His Waffle House Employees Weren't Having It Despite power outages in Weldon‚ N.C.‚ the local Waffle House was open by 6:30 in the morning‚ serving a limited menu of scrambled eggs and sausage biscuits. Resident Nicole Gainy made it to the restaurant for a hot meal. "I hadn't had a hot meal in two days‚ and I knew they'd be open‚" she said. In the eyes of patrons like Nicole Gainey‚ who sought solace in a warm breakfast after days without power‚ Waffle House becomes more than just a restaurant-it becomes a brief return to normalcy in the midst of life’s disruptions. In the aftermath of any type of storm‚ it's the little things like a cup of coffee that can make all the difference in life's unexpected storms. FEMA’s Waffle House index also caught the interest of comedian Jaron Myers. To hear his funny commentary where he pokes some fun at this took‚ check out the video below! WATCH: Comedian Pokes Fun At The Waffle House Index  What a blessing it is to have such smart people who know how to use even the most unassuming events like whether a restaurant opens its doors or not‚ as a clue to inform them about how they should best prepare to help others in the aftermath of an emergency. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: God Turns Stranger's $40 Tip for Pregnant Waitress at Waffle House Into So Much More "Let each of you look not only to his own interests‚ but also to the interests of others‚" Philippians 2:4. LISTEN: Bride Gets Letter From Dad 20 Years After Death | Wynonna Judd Addresses Fans' Concerns Over Her Performance h/t: FEMA Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Alan Beaubien The post When Disaster Strikes‚ FEMA calls Waffle House and Here’s the Fascinating Reason Why appeared first on GodUpdates.

What do the Central Bankers know that you don’t? A lot. Oh‚ I don’t mean they’re any smarter than you‚ but what’s the best way to predict the future?  To plan it out and control it! And make no mistake‚ these are the shadowy people pulling the strings of world affairs behind the scenes….and they rarely lose. So I always say don’t listen to what they say (because they always “talk their book” and lie to your face) but watch what they do! The beautiful thing is we live in a time where it’s hard to hide real data‚ especially when you have people like us researching it and posting it for all to see. And what is it that they’re doing? Simply put — they’re on a GOLD buying spree! Take a look at this: Central banks are on a $GOLD buying spree… This says a lot about fiat and debt pic.twitter.com/6kSxEMvCZv — Make Money with Stocks (@FinFluentialx) December 6‚ 2023 42 tons in October alone‚ that is staggering! Central banks added a net 42 tonnes to global official gold reserves in October. Central banks continue to stockpile #gold. pic.twitter.com/BnlNtqATlG — Gold Telegraph (@GoldTelegraph_) December 5‚ 2023 For the second year in a row‚ these are the HIGHEST purchases by Central Banks since 2010: Central Banks are on pace to buy more than 1‚000 tons of gold for the 2nd straight year and possibly reach the highest level purchased since 2010 pic.twitter.com/UXkLPx8DY8 — Barchart (@Barchart) December 7‚ 2023 Here’s more from Peter Schiff: Central banks gobbled up gold over the summer and the buying spree has continued into the fall. Globally‚ central banks added another net 42 tons of gold to their reserves in October. China continues to be the biggest gold purchaser. The People’s Bank of China added another 23 tons of gold to its hoard in October as it expanded its official reserves for the 12th straight month. Since the beginning of the year‚ the People’s Bank of China increased its reserves by 204 tons‚ and it has added 255 tons since it resumed official purchases in November 2022. As of the end of October‚ China officially held 2‚215 tons of gold‚ making up 4% of its total reserves. Most people believe the Chinese hold even more gold than that off the books. There has always been speculation that China holds far more gold than it officially reveals. As Jim Rickards pointed out on Mises Daily back in 2015‚ many people speculate that China keeps several thousand tons of gold “off the books” in a separate entity called the State Administration for Foreign Exchange (SAFE). Last year‚ there were large unreported increases in central bank gold holdings.  Central banks that often fail to report purchases include China and Russia. Many analysts believe China is the mystery buyer stockpiling gold to minimize exposure to the dollar. The Central Bank of Turkey also made another big gold buy in October‚ expanding its holdings by 19 tons. Even with big purchases over the last several months‚ Turkey is still a net seller on the year. The Turkish central bank sold 160 tons of gold last spring but returned to buying in the third quarter. According to the World Gold Council‚ the big gold sale earlier this year was a specific response to local market dynamics and didn’t likely reflect a change in the Turkish central bank’s long-term gold strategy. It sold gold into the local market to satisfy demand after the government imposed import quotas in an attempt to improve its current account balance. The country is running a significant trade deficit. Although the Turkish government reinstated gold import quotas in early August‚ so far we haven’t seen a repeat of sales into the local market to meet elevated demand. The National Bank of Poland also continued its recent gold-buying spree‚ expanding its reserves by another 6 tons. Its gold holdings have now risen by over 100 tons this year. In 2021‚ Bank of Poland President Adam GlapiÅ„ski announced a plan to expand the country’s gold reserves by 100 tons. Now that it’s reached that gold‚ GlapiÅ„ski indicated it will continue to add gold to its holdings. This makes Poland a more credible country‚ we have a better standing in all ratings‚ we are a very serious partner and we will continue to buy gold. The dream is to reach 20 percent.” When he announced the plan to expand its gold reserves‚ GlapiÅ„ski said holding gold was a matter of financial security and stability. Gold will retain its value even when someone cuts off the power to the global financial system‚ destroying traditional assets based on electronic accounting records. Of course‚ we do not assume that this will happen. But as the saying goes – forewarned is always insured. And the central bank is required to be prepared for even the most unfavorable circumstances. That is why we see a special place for gold in our foreign exchange management process.” Other significant gold buyers in October included: India — 3 tons The Czech Republic — 2 tons The Kyrgyz Republic — 1 ton Qatar — 1 ton So….what can YOU do about it? I’ve been telling you for a while now‚ and perhaps this is the “sign” you need to finally take action! First‚ you need to watch what the big boys are doing and understand it’s smart to ride their coattails. I think we accomplished that above. Second‚ here’s my preferred solution for owning gold. Why preferred? A couple reasons…. I’m not a CPA or tax advisor or even an investment advisor of any kind‚ but the folks I’m about to tell you about are experts at this. They’re patriots… They’ll give you personalized‚ one-on-one attention by phone…. And they’ll show you how you can do this with NO MONEY OUT OF POCKET — all in a retirement account and usually tax free! How’s that for a win-win-win? So what can you do? THIS!  Here’s Why Central Banks Are Buying All the Gold They Can — And What YOU Can Do! For the last two years‚ central banks across the globe have been buying up as much gold (and often silver) as they can acquire without raising alarm bells. Now‚ we see why. The recent bank runs and ongoing collapse of the U.S. banking system was anticipated by the “elites” and the central bankers who run things behind the scenes. They saw it coming and knew the best way to protect their assets was through physical precious metals. If you’ve been waiting for me to bring you a solution about what YOU can do to protect yourself and you’re family‚ I’m happy to introduce you to something I absolutely love! Precious metals. I just talked about precious metals this week with Bo Polny and now I’m bringing you a solution that you can utilize right away if you’re so inclined… A faith-driven‚ conservative precious metals company is currently helping Americans tap into the rising precious metals market through self-directed IRAs backed by physical precious metals. And while this service is not unique to Genesis‚ their adherence to Biblical stewardship of money makes them singularly qualified to receive a sponsored recommendation from this site. Unlike most companies offering similar services‚ Genesis deals only with physical precious metals. They do not offer “virtual” or “paper” gold or silver. With Genesis and their depositories‚ customers can see and touch the precious metals that back their retirement accounts. When it comes time to take distributions‚ Genesis customers can cash in some or all of their precious metals or have them delivered to their door. Central bankers aren’t slowing down. In fact‚ nations like China and even U.S. states like Tennessee are quickly but quietly buying up gold to back their own treasuries. When the writing on the wall is this clear‚ it’s understandable why these governments are moving quickly to get ahead of any potential economic catastrophes in store. Working with Genesis is the best way our readers can explore the physical precious metals market through self-directed IRAs. It benefits us as well when our readers work with this America-First company. Visit genesiswlt.com or call 866-292-0443 today. Don’t wait too long‚ we might have more bank failures right around the corner. You know what has NEVER “failed”? Gold.  Precious metals.  Indestructible. There’s a reason they call it “God’s money”. Watch this for more: Or….I guess you could buy Gold at Costco? If you can find any? Oh‚ and you’ll pay a huge markup and you’ll be limited to two bars. A “Gold Rush” Hits Costco With Demand For Gold Bars – Here’s One Way To Own Gold if Your Money Is In a Retirement Account The demand for physical precious metals has been rising since before the pandemic.  Central banks have been buying ton after ton for two years. Even some U.S. states — like Tennessee — are filling their coffers with physical precious metals. Now‚ Costco is offering gold bars to their members — and some observers are saying there is a “gold rush” on Costco’s gold: Mike Cernovich reported: “People buying them but bars sold out fast. One disappointed customer had paid but the membership pick-up said it was out.” Others had no idea Costco sold gold: Buying gold at Costco is great for those who have extra cash on hand — but what about those of us with money tied up in retirement accounts? Can we rollover or transfer retirement accounts into physical precious metals and keep it tax-deferred? Genesis Gold Group says “Yes!” Genesis Gold Group specializes in self-directed IRAs backed by gold and silver. As a Christian company‚ they believe this is an appropriate form of financial stewardship that puts Americans’ money on the fiscal high ground. This isn’t “paper” or “virtual” gold or silver; Genesis Gold Group customers can physically see their precious metals at their convenience. And when it comes time to take a disbursement‚ they can convert to cash or have their precious metals shipped directly to their homes. Click here to reach out today through genesiswlt.com. Genesis Gold Group was given 5 stars by reviewers on the Better Business Bureau website. Here is what some of them say: “Genesis Gold Group has been very helpful to me as a first time customer. They were very patient with me and answered every question I had. The process of moving my funds from my former account to Genesis Gold Group was straightforward and easy. I highly recommend their services.” — Brian B. “Recently‚ I had two experiences with Genesis Gold Group and both were very easy transactions. My agent was very knowledgeable and informative about the products that I was interested in. I suggest that for anyone looking to move their retirement into tangible materials‚ Genesis Gold Group is the company to choose.” — Joyce R. “Genesis Gold Group is a wonderful company to do business with. The staff are knowledgeable‚ courteous‚ and patient. They know I’ve had many questions before‚ during‚ and even after opening my Self-Directed IRA and everyone has been very kind and open. Start your Gold IRA with Genesis Gold Group without reservation!” — Gerald C. To work with Genesis Gold Group to own precious metals via your retirement accounts‚ click here to reach out today. Oh‚ and did you know SUPERMAN loves them too? Yup! Here is what conservative star Dean Cain (Superman) says about working with Genesis Gold Group: When Genesis Gold Group was first built‚ co-founder Jonathan Rose knew two things were necessary in order to thrive in the extremely competitive precious metals industry. First‚ he knew they wouldn’t repeat the same deceptive marketing tactics “Big Gold” companies use to entice customers. Second‚ he knew they needed spiritual guidance if they were going to succeed in reaching Americans who want their life’s savings protected from the tumultuous markets. “If we are going to live up to our namesake‚ we have to be truly driven by Biblical principles… not only as individuals but as a company‚” Rose said. Millions of Americans have grown increasingly concerned about the trajectory of our nation. It made sense for Genesis Gold Group to launch by combining over 50-years of experience in gold and silver with proper guidance from faith leaders. This is why Director of Philanthropy David Holland‚ was one of the first people they hired. “As a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ‚ I firmly believe good stewardship of a believer’s resources is important and a foundation for a close walk with Him‚” Holland said. “It is not difficult to see‚ based on the lack of biblical values in both our government and financial system‚ that we are swiftly heading into unstable times.” The challenges aren’t just coming from the economy or government. The precious metals industry itself is rife with “Big Gold” companies who are willing to use sketchy marketing tactics and over-the-top sales pressure to get Americans into overpriced products. Self-directed IRAs backed by physical precious metals are becoming more popular for mature Americans who are concerned about inflation‚ unsustainable debt‚ the ongoing banking crisis‚ and “woke” ESG funds filling their retirement portfolios. Click here to reach out to Genesis Gold Group today. The challenge‚ as Rose noted‚ is that the vast majority of self-directed IRA products being pushed by “Big Gold” are not built with the customers’ best interests in mind. “The process appears to be the same from one gold company to another but there’s a huge gap between how secular gold companies do business versus how we do it‚” Rose said. “We guide our clients to back their retirement accounts with metals that are priced right and have the greatest opportunity for growth. Most gold companies look only at their own margins when filling their customers’ depositories.” ==>;Click here to contact Genesis Gold Group today and receive a free Definitive Gold Guide and learn more about protecting your life’s savings from the various threats we’re facing today. (Note: Thank you for supporting American businesses like the one presenting a sponsored message in this article and working with them through the links in this article which benefit WLTReport. We appreciate your support and the opportunity to tell you about Genesis Gold!  The information provided by WLTReport or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment‚ financial‚ or legal advice.) 

The Welsh festival up a mountain has announced its first big headliner for 2024