Israel Perspectives: Feeling 'Right' at Home

Only Israeli Judaism is Authentic!

2008-02-14T18:48:00.001+02:00

So said Israeli author A.B. Yehoshua in May 2006, at the American Jewish Committee's (AJC) Centennial Symposium.

He reiterated similar sentiments in the clip below.

Unsurprisingly, many both in Israel and the world Jewish community disagreed.

In response, the AJC complied a booklet of responses, both for and against what A.B. Yehoshua said, entitled: The A. B.Yehoshua Controversy: An Israel-Diaspora Dialogue on Jewishness, Israeliness, and Identity

It makes for a good read.

Are you a Zionist?

2008-02-14T09:43:00.004+02:00

Can a Jew who doesn't live in Israel be a Zionist?

Rabbi Avi Weiss says no.

I tend to agree.

There's no place like home...

2008-02-12T16:40:00.000+02:00

German Jewish leader: No need for aliyah agency like Nativ here

German Jewish leaders told visiting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday they were not interested in Israel's offers to expand the Nativ agency's operations to Germany.

Nativ, a semi-covert agency founded within the Prime Minister's Office in the 1950s, deals mainly with helping Jews from the former Soviet Union immigrate to Israel...

German Jews were satisfied with the help being given to them by the Jewish Agency and other sources, and saw no reason to employ other such agencies in Germany.

In fact, not only are Germany's Jews in no rush to leave, but Germany is the fastest growing Jewish community in the world today.

"Berlin is the place to be," Rabbi Walter Homolka, the principal of the Rabbinical Seminary in the German capital, said.

And it seems that many in Israel are expressing agreement with their feet.

It seems as if many of our Jewish brothers and sisters still prefer the free fish they ate under Egyptian bondage over Jewish freedom which only is possible in the Land of the Living - the Land of Israel.

The Comfort of Exile...

2008-02-12T14:21:00.000+02:00

Jewish tourist booted from Belgian cafe for wearing Kippa

An American tourist was kicked out of a cafe in Belgium for being Jewish.

Marcel Kalmann, a 64-year-old professor, told the Antwerp Jewish magazine Joods Actueel that he was ejected from the renowned restaurant Le Panier d'Or in Bruges after a waiter saw his yarmulke under his cap.

"We are not serving Jews, out of here," the magazine reported.

Kalmann also told Joods Actueel that he was mistreated at the police station where he went to file a report and was told the incident would not be considered anti-Semitic. He said he will file reports against both the restaurant and the police.

Kalmann was born in the Auschwitz concentration camp three days before its liberation.

The mayor of Bruges has ordered a police inquiry into the incident and apologized to Kalmann, the European Jewish Press reported.

Speaks for itself.

The Fine Art of Haggling...

2008-02-12T10:56:00.001+02:00

One of the things that all Americans learn upon making Aliyah, is that often times, the price given for a particular item is not final, but merely a starting point for negotiations.

Some of us relish the opportunity to bargain in the shuk, while others find the idea to be totally inconsistent with their upbringing - the equivalent of driving on Shabbat (l'havdil).

So, in order to help those of us who haven't yet mastered the fine art of the haggle, perhaps these two instructional videos can help.

For the second video, click here.

Take a (Virtual) Tour of the Temple Mount - Video

2008-02-11T08:43:00.000+02:00

Have you ever thought about visiting the Temple Mount, but, for whatever reason, have yet to do so?

Well, here's your chance to take a virtual tour (until you're ready for the real thing, of course).

Below is a video preview (8+ minutes) of a tour of the Temple Mount led by Rabbi Chaim Richman of The Temple Institute. The tour was led in August, 2005.

For the complete 90 minute tour, visit here.

What's Your Jew I.Q.?

2008-02-10T00:07:00.000+02:00

"A nation which does not know what it was yesterday, does not know what it is today, nor what it is trying to do."

--- Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the United States

A Case of Bad Gas - Revisited

2008-02-01T11:27:00.000+02:00

Back in May 2007, I posted about a billion dollar gas deal that Israel was contemplating entering into with the "Palestinian" Authority.

At the time, I raised the following concerns:

1)Would anyone care to guess what the Hamas led PA will buy with $1 billion? In short, this would not be the first time that the State of Israel would be funding our enemies efforts to destroy the Jewish State (See: The Oslo Accords / "Peace Process".)

The fact that there isn't a law forbidding such actions speaks volumes.

2) Equally troubling is why the State of Israel, which possesses very few natural resources, would give away a gas field off it's coast worth billions of dollars?

It seems that I was not the only one to express such concerns. I recently came across a position paper put out nearly 6 months after my post by the Jewish Center for Public Affairs (JCPA) written by former IDF Chief of Staff Moshe (Boogie) Ya'alon, entitled: Does the Prospective Purchase of British Gas from Gaza's Coastal Waters Threaten Israel's National Security?

For those who don't have the time for the full article, Ya'alon's answer is yes, it does.

Some highlights (lowlights?):

* Proceeds of a Palestinian gas sale to Israel would likely not trickle down to help an impoverished Palestinian public. Rather, based on Israel's past experience, the proceeds will likely serve to fund further terror attacks against Israel.

* It is possible that the prospect of an Israeli gas purchase may have played a role in influencing the Olmert cabinet to avoid ordering a major IDF ground operation in Gaza, despite at least 1,000 rocket and mortar attacks against southern Israel since the Hamas takeover of Gaza in June 2007.

* However, with Gaza currently a radical Islamic stronghold, and the West Bank in danger of becoming the next one, Israel's funneling a billion dollars into local or international bank accounts on behalf of the Palestinian Authority would be tantamount to Israel's bankrolling terror against itself. Therefore, an urgent review is required of the far-reaching security implications of an Israeli decision to purchase Gaza gas.

I wonder how I can get myself one of these cushy fellowship positions at a think tank?

Israel @ 60: A Jewish & Democratic State?

2008-01-31T15:20:00.000+02:00

In preparation for the upcoming 60th anniversary of the State of Israel, I was asked to participate in a written debate surrounding the character of the State of Israel.

I was given 300 words to comment on the section of Israel's Declaration of Independence
appearing below. (I will have another 200 words to respond to what one of the other participants in this exercise writes, which I will also post here).

THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

Having suffered in Exile like no other nation, the Jewish people are sensitive to the suffering of others and expect the Jewish State of Israel to serve as a model in how a nation-state can treat its minorities fairly.

It is for this reason that the founding fathers of the State of Israel took pains, in the very paragraph within Israel’s Declaration of Independence stating that the State of Israel will be open to every Jew in the world, to balance that with the assurance that despite being a Jewish state, “complete equality” will be assured to all.

However, does this accurately reflect the vision of the prophets of Israel?

In this paragraph, two distinct values are expressed. First, that Israel should be a Jewish State, and second, that there should be “complete equality” for everyone living in the State of Israel.

Did the Jewish people, for millennia, yearn for a return to Zion merely to create “the only democracy in the Middle East”? Did they dream of granting “complete equality” to strangers, enabling them to turn the Jewish State into a state of its citizens, or decide on issues such as “Who is a Jew?” or “Land for Peace?”

No.

Throughout the long Exile, the Jewish people were sustained by the “vision of the prophets” – of the eventual ingathering of the Exiles. Upon returning to their ancient Homeland the Jewish people would live as proud, strong and sovereign Jews," creating an “exemplary society” and serving as a "light unto the nations," thus sanctifying G-d’s name throughout the world.

Any non-Jew willing to accept Israel as a Jewish State without seeking to undermine that premise would be guaranteed full individual rights. Issues concerning the national character and policy of the Jewish State would be left exclusively to the Jewish people residing in Israel.

Treat the stranger kindly? Certainly, but the Bible didn’t intend this to be taken to the extreme of giving the stranger the keys to our national home.

A Non-Kosher Way to Think...

2007-06-12T14:40:00.000+03:00

This past week, Israeli (Russian) billionaire businessman, Arkadi Gaydamak, bought the Tiv Ta'am supermarket chain, which, until now, was one of the largest suppliers of pork products in Israel.

Gadamak has declared his intent to make the Tiv Ta'am supermarket chain kosher, dramatically reducing the number of places selling pork product in Israel.

So far so good.

Things get a bit complicated, however, when Gaydamak explain his reasoning for turning Tiv Ta'am kosher.

"I believe that in a Jewish state, in which there is a large Muslim minority, selling pork is a provocation."

If Israel is a Jewish State, then why does it matter how large or small the Muslim population is?

Simply put, what Gaydamak should have said was:

"I believe that in a Jewish State, selling pork is a provocation."

A provocation towards Jews!

If any animal serves as the symbol of all that is non-kosher and anti-Judaism, it is the pig.

However, there is an additional reason why we should be troubled by Gaydamak's remarks. Namely, his remarks serve as an indictment against the Jewish People.

Gaydamak knows that Muslims won't accept pork being sold in their community - and he is not interested in offending their sensibilities, as is made clear by his statement.

Gaydamak doesn't seem to be overly concerned of offending the majority of Jews living in the Jewish State of Israel, and that reflects shamefully both upon Gaydamak and all Jews who call the Jewish State home.

A Picture isn't Always Worth 1,000 Words...

2007-05-29T16:28:00.000+03:00

Take a moment to answer the following question:

When you picture Jerusalem, what is the first thing that comes to mind?

(Waiting...)

My guess is that whatever image popped into your mind, it wasn't the Tower of David.

All around Jerusalem, one finds the logo shown in the picture above (courtesy of Jonny Stein), commemorating 40 years since the reunification of Jerusalem, during the Six Day War in 1967.

Now, If someone asked me to suggest possible themes for a logo to commemorate 40 years since the liberation of Jerusalem, the Tower of David wouldn't appear anywhere on my list.

The Tower of David was a fortress built be Herod, and later used by the Romans, Crusaders, Muslims... and the list goes on and on - but as far as symbolizing the reunification of Jerusalem under Jewish sovereignty after 2,000 years of Exile?

Not quite.

My suggestions:

* The Temple (Beit HaMikdash) - Nothing says Jerusalem quite like the Temple.

* The Kotel - If the Beit HaMikdash is too controversial, this could work (although, nothing says Exile quite like the Kotel - but that's for another post.)

* The Hurva Synagouge - particularly, the single remaining arch - Symbolizing the return of the Jewish People to their ancient holy sites...

My sense is that the Tower of David was selected precisely because, unlike any of the above suggestions, it's not overly Jewish - serving as a symbol that the Jews, Muslims and Christians of Jerusalem can all, equally, dislike.

What a wasted opportunity.

Why should anyone care about Sderot?

2007-05-28T12:22:00.000+03:00

With no end in sight to the 6 year long rocket assault on Sderot, Ari Shavit of Ha'aretz elaborates upon why those in Israel should give a damn:

It should not have been like this. Sderot is not Gush Katif. There is no debate. On the contrary: Sderot is a "Green Line" city. Sderot is a post-withdrawal city. Sderot is the righteous Israeli city after the occupation. Sderot is the future

Which leads us to Shavit's main point. Why should Israelis care about Sderot?

The attack on Sderot is a strategic attack on peace. It is an attack on the two-state solution. If the attack succeeds, there will be no chance of any future withdrawal. If the attack succeeds, the occupation will be perpetuated.

In Shavit's world,, one should care about Sderot, not because of the responsibility one Jew has for another - or even that of one human being for another, nor is he driven by the pursuit of justice. The sole reason one should care about Sderot is because if Sderot falls, so does the "peace process".

While Shavit makes the distinction between Sderot and Gush Katif clear, he fails to grasp a major distinction existing between Israel and the Arab world, which serves as the root cause for the tragedy that is Sderot.

If one looks at the "Palestinian Authority" map above, there is no green line. No distinction is made between Gush Katif and Sderot. No distinctions are needed for the simple reason that the entire Land of Israel (Palestine) belongs to them - to Islam.

If one looks at the nobility of Israeli society, what does one find? As Shavit puts it:

Sderot should have been the apple of the eye of all those preaching withdrawal in the past, and of everyone who still believes in withdrawal. Sderot should have been the city of peace writers and peace singers and peace industrialists. A "peace now" city. A city of Israeli solidarity. A city of mutual responsibility. A city where strong Israelis stand together with Israelis who are less strong in the face of Islamic zealotry.

Yet, what one finds amongst the vast majority of Israels elite is a group who questions the very right of the Jewish People to a Jewish State in the Land of Israel. After all, can it be said that Gush Katif is really anymore "occupied territory" than Sderot? Certainly there's no difference in the eyes of the Arabs. Which is why, if, as Shavit puts it, Sderot is Israel's future, then it's clear that Israel's nobility has already abandoned ship.

When Ariel Sharon said that the fate of Netzarim is that of Tel Aviv (April, 2002), he was not mistaken. Until the Jewish People recognize their absolute right to the Land of Israel and show that they are willing and able to enforce that right, there will be no peace. Not in Gush Katif. Not in Sderot. Not in Jerusalem and not in Tel Aviv.

The time has come for us - those who still believe in this fundamental and historic truth - to assume the leadership and responsibility of this country and to do so before Sderot falls.

A Case of Bad Gas

2007-05-23T23:50:00.000+03:00

The Jerusalem Post reports that Israel is considering signing a 15-20 year contract to purchase gas from a British energy company that would earn the "Palestinians" $1 billion. The gas would be supplied from the Gaza marine field, off the coast of the Gaza strip, to which the "Palestinian Authority" has control over (as a e result of the "peace process"), thus earning them one quarter of the estimated $ billion deal.

Last month the cabinet approved continued negotiations with BG over purchase of the gas, a decision that necessitated a previous ban on buying natural gas from the PA. The change of heart, government officials said, was simply the product of economics, since buying the gas from Egypt, another option, would cost twice as much.

Now, there are many problematic aspects to this potential deal, but here are two of them:

1) Would anyone care to guess what the Hamas led PA will buy with $1 billion? In short, this would not be the first time that the State of Israel would be funding our enemies efforts to destroy the Jewish State (See: The Oslo Accords / "Peace Process".)

The fact that there isn't a law forbidding such actions speaks volumes.

2) Equally troubling is why the State of Israel, which possesses very few natural resources, would give away a gas field off it's coast worth billions of dollars?

Once again, this is not the first time Israel has made such a mistake.

Post Six Day War, after Israel had liberated the Sinai peninsula, it was discovered that there were was enough oil reserves in the Sinai to cover 100% of Israel's energy needs for a long time to come. As part of the "peace process" with Egypt, Israel gave away the Sinai and all her oil fields, leaving Israel with no peace and no oil.

Those on the left often speak of how much the "settlements" have cost Israel. Well, I think the time has come to begin asking how much "peace" has cost Israel, both in dollars, and in lives.

What a PA collapse would mean for Israel

2007-05-21T16:04:00.000+03:00

What a PA collapse would mean for Israel?

Herb Keinon of the Jerusalem Post, recently offered an analysis of this question.

Faced with the possibility that the PA could collapse, Israel is essentially faced with two unattractive choices: drop the three conditions established when Hamas came into power and deal with a Hamas-led PA, under the logic that some address is better than none at all, or side with Fatah in its battle with Hamas.

With these two options, I'm can't help but insist on seeing what's behind door #3, Let's Make a Deal style.

Keinon concedes that both Fatah and Hamas are enemies of the Jewish State, however, he lacks the courage to suggest the only viable, albeit unattractive, option that exists, namely, a declaration of war on the PA / PLO / Hamas.

No, it's won't be pretty, and yes, the international community will cry out in righteous indignation, but it sure beats the alternatives.

The time has come for the Jewish People to stand up for their rights and stop apologizing to the world for wanting to live as proud Jews in our Homeland.

Enough.

Look Mom, I'm on Google!!!

2007-05-21T11:15:00.000+03:00

Every now and again I like to Google myself. (Yes, Google can be used as both a verb and a noun.)

I know. It sounds terribly egotistical. But, frankly, I have an inquiring mind, and I want to know where I stand in cyberspace.

Depending on how I spell my name (Zev, Zeev, Ze'ev...) I come across thousands of entries.

Here are two of the more entertaining ones.

1) From a comment on Matthew Yglesias's The Atlantic Online blog:

The Michael Rubin policy wonk neocons know full well that they're lucky to have escaped the noose for what they've done to America's place in the world vis a vis the Iraqi debacle and are afraid to go on the record again. Their real agendas can be found in the ravings of louche neocons Michael Freund, Caroline Glick, and Zev Orenstein. In short- they want to drop thermonuclear bombs on Iran, Syria, and Mecca. This is their hot and sticky dream scenario.

To be totally honest, I haven't a clue as to what the guy is talking about. But, I am flattered to be put in the same company as Michael Freund and Caroline Glick. My only guess is that he might be referring to this article of mine.

And, as far as what might constitute my hot and sticky dream scenario... since this is a family oriented blog, something things are better left unsaid.

2) Recently, I was asked to write a d'var Torah for one of the many weekly Parsha sheets that are distributed in shuls throughout Israel.

Lo and behold... While I wasn't paid for doing so, it seems that I was given the title of Rabbi...

Kashrut
Rabbi Ze'ev Orenstein

Written by the rabbi...

Click here for more Shiurim by Rabbi Ze'ev Orenstein

I wonder if this makes me the first louche, neocon Rabbi?

-----

According to Dictionary.com, louche means:

Dubious; shady; disreputable.
Of questionable taste or morality; decadent.

And, neocon means:

"Neoconservatism is the first variant of American conservatism in the past century that is in the 'American grain.' It is hopeful, not lugubrious; forward-looking, not nostalgic; and its general tone is cheerful, not grim or dyspeptic. Its 20th-century heroes tend to be TR, FDR, and Ronald Reagan. Such Republican and conservative worthies as Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Dwight Eisenhower, and Barry Goldwater are politely overlooked." [Irving Kristol, "The Neoconservative Persuasion," in "The Weekly Standard," Aug. 25, 2003]

Jerusalem Day: Historic Video Footage of the Liberation of the Temple Mount

2007-05-15T21:46:00.000+03:00

Despite forces within Israel on both the right and to the left, who do everything in their power to distance the Jewish People from connecting to the Temple Mount and yearning for Temple Consciousness - the Jewish People will not be denied.

On that note, as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the liberation of the Temple Mount, take a moment to watch the historic video footage that captured the dramatic moment:

After you've watched the video, head on over to Israel National News, where a special site commemorating the 40 years since the liberation of much of the Land of Israel took place. You'll find photos, videos, audio clips, essays and many other exciting and inspiring tidbits all relating to the Six Day War.

Jewish & Israel blog Awards... I'm in the Finals!

2007-05-10T13:42:00.000+03:00

Thanks to the support of many of you, my blog, Israel Perspectives, has reached the final round of the Jewish & Israel Blog Awards for 2007 (JIBs for short) - within the Best Right-Wing Political blog category.

I'm up against some stiff competition, so I guess I need to do some campaigning in order to prove that my right-wing credentials are second to none.

Therefore, a vote for Israel Perspectives is...:

* A vote in favor of Jewish sovereignty over the Temple Mount (Temple Consciousness)
* A vote in favor of Israel being a truly Jewish State
* A vote in favor of all the Jewish People returning home (The Aliyah Revolution)
* A vote against any two / three / four state solutions
* A vote in favor of taking an active role in ensuring all of the above (Neo-Zionism)

Voting in the final round has already begun, and will be open until May 16th, 10pm, US EST.

Please take 20 seconds to vote for my blog, and if you really are generous, maybe another 20 seconds to encourage some other people to vote for me as well.

Thanks again for all your support.

A Neo-Zionist Challenge: Shmittah & The Living Torah

2007-05-10T10:20:00.000+03:00

Next year is going to a be a Shmittah year - the one year in every seven, where the Land of Israel must be left to lie fallow.

Since the destruction of the 1st Holy Temple in Jerusalem, until present times - over 2,500 years later - Shmittah has been only Rabbinically mandated. However, within the next 25 years, when the majority of the Jewish People will be living in the Land of Israel, Shmittah (along with all of the other Mitzvot HaTeluyot Ba'aretz - Land of Israel dependent commandments) will return to Biblically mandated status.

Below are two article presenting differing perspectives as to how modern Israeli society should be relating to Shmittah - each with their own set of pros and cons:

1) Chief Rabbinate to Reduce Use of Special 7th-Year Dispensation]

2) The ground beneath our feet

Equally important as the solution that will ultimately be agreed upon and implemented is the discussion in itself.

For 2,000+ years, this discussion did not take place - could not take place - in a manner that had any practical relevance. With the re-establishment of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel the Torah of Israel has returned to life.

Rabbi Yotav Eliach puts it best:

The Torah sets up a constitutional blueprint for the running of a Jewish society which is anchored in a Jewish state. Parashat Mishpatim, most of Vayikra and Bemidbar, and all of Sefer Devarim, make this point very clear. Judaism is not merely interested in the ritualistic aspects of our lives. It is rather a framework for running a Jewish republic, one complete with a court system, government, army, welfare and tax system. Finally, this constitutional blueprint is not meant for implementation in any piece of territory in which the Jewish nation may happen to be the majority, but primarily in the one country whose boundaries are clearly outlined geographically in the Torah: The Land of Israel.

One of the striking ways to reinforce these points is by showing that there are four basic areas of mitzvot in the Torah that are dependent upon the Land of Israel in one way or another:

a) All mitzvot connected to the Beit Hamikdash in any shape or form;
b) All mitzvot connected to having a Sanhedrin court system functioning;
c) All mitzvot connected to the soil of Israel;
d) All mitzvot connected to the running of the government, army, and taxes.

Taken together, these four areas make up approximately 50% of the 613 mitzvot. Another graphic way to make the point of Israel's centrality to Jewish life is by looking at the Shas. Two of the six sedarim of Shas, Kodashim and Taharot, are totally dependent upon the Land of Israel, as is Seder Zera'im (with the exception of Masekhet Berakhot).

The fourth, Seder Mo'ed, is also very dependent upon the Land of Israel. All the special sacrifices associated with each holiday are dependent upon the Beit Hamikdash in Israel, as is aliyah la'regel, bikkurim, and the bringing of the omer. The fifth, Seder Nezikin, is also connected, to a large extent, to the concept of a functioning Jewish legal system existing in the land of Israel, headed by the Sanhedrin. Only the sixth seder - Nashim - can be kept almost in its entirety (the exception being Sotah) outside the boundaries of Israel.

Thank G-d for the challenges that go along with living in the Land of Israel!

From Temple Consciousness to Temple Consensus?

2007-05-09T15:25:00.000+03:00

Ever since the liberation of the Temple Mount 40 years ago, those who have been pushing for the Jewish People to assume a greater connection with the Mount, as well as promoting Temple consciousness have been in the minority.

Until now, that is...

Increasing number of rabbis are allowing Jews to enter Temple Mount

An increasing number of religious Zionist rabbis are allowing their followers to enter the Temple Mount, contrary to the religious consensus on the matter.

This weekend, the rabbis Haim Druckman and Avraham Zukerman, of the Bnei Akiva youth movement, and Tzafania Drori, chief rabbi of Kiryat Shmona, are set to join this growing group with an ad in the Orthodox media. The rabbis, who are major figures in the religious Zionist movement, will call on Jews wishing to enter the Temple Mount "in purity, to ascend at this time to the to the places permitted for Jews to enter."

The three rabbis are known for their principle support for letting Jews on to the Temple Mount. But they had not yet expressed their stand formally, because of the religious sensitivity of the issue. Now, in honor of the 40th anniversary of Jerusalem's unification, with many right-wing movements placing the Temple Mount on their agenda, the rabbis have decided to call publicly on Jews to go to the Mount.

In publishing the ad, they will be joining dozens of other rabbis of the religious Zionist stream, among them rabbis in West Bank settlements, who in recent years have allowed Jews to go to the Temple Mount within the bounds of Jewish law.

It's taken forty years, but perhaps the relationship of the Jewish People to the Temple Mount is beginning to change for the better.

Additionally, let's not overlook the moral to this story.

For many years, there have been a handful of dedicated individuals and organizations who have devoted themselves to promoting Temple Consciousness. At first they were viewed as radicals or a fringe element, but over time, as can be seen from the above story, their efforts have begun to produce results, and their messages and ideology are slowly but surely working there way into the consensus.

Temple consciousness... Neo-Zionism... The Aliyah Revolution...

It's all just a matter of time.

Is every Jew really responsible for one another? (Kol Yisrael areivim zeh la'zeh?)

2007-05-08T13:48:00.000+03:00

Drivers ignore dying man on road

(Click here if video doesn't download.)

Shocking.

Disturbing.

Appalling.

These are just a few of the words that come to mind.

Can it be that Israeli society has become so cold, unforgiving and apathetic (as Avi Dichter, Israel's Internal Security minister, asserts)?

Before casting blame and making sweeping judgements, it's important to place this tragic event in the proper context.

On the morning of March 13th, 1964, 29 year old Kitty Genovese was brutally murdered just outside her New York apartment.

For over 30 minutes, 40 of Ms. Genovese's neighbors watched the brutal attack, doing absolutely nothing. Only 35 minutes after the attack had begun did someone finally call the police.

In order to determine if New Yorkers were in fact cold and heartless, or, if perhaps there was another explanation as to why no one responded to Ms. Genovese's cries for help, a series of experiments were conducted.

The researchers consistently found that as the number of bystanders increased, the likelihood that any one of them would help decreased.

This phenomenon is known as the "bystander effect".

If we are by ourselves when an emergency occurs, we perceive ourselves to be 100% responsible for taking action. However, when there are 10 bystanders, we each perceive ourselves to have only a tenth of the responsibility. The higher the number of bystanders, the less obligated each individual is likely to feel to intervene.

Another explanation given is...

If we are unsure of our own perceptions and interpretations, or if the situation is ambiguous, we look to others for help in defining what is going on. If others appear calm, we may decide that whatever is happening doesn't require our assistance.

When these findings are applied to Israel society, I believe that we can better understand why this tragic event occurred, and how similar occurrences can be prevented in the future..

Frankly, over the last two decades, as corruption and deceit infected many of the seats of power within Israeli society - particularly the government - average Israelis came to feel that they were no longer able to make a difference. Israeli society was now ruled by the law of the jungle - everyone for themselves and the survival of the fittest - and whoever didn't play by those rules would come to be viewed as friers / (suckers) - the absolute worst thing you can call an Israeli.

It is not a matter of Israeli society being populated by cold and heartless individuals, quite to the contrary. However, the foreign values that have consciously been imported from abroad (courtesy of Israel's ruling elites), such as individualism and materialism have come to replace the authentic Jewish values of self-sacrifice and of caring for the needs of the community.

We are taught in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of our Fathers, 5:22):

Whoever possesses these three qualities belongs to the disciples of Abraham our father: a generous eye, a humble spirit, and a meek soul.

But he who possesses the three opposite qualities--an evil eye, a proud spirit, and a haughty soul--is of the disciples of Bilam the wicked.

So, what is the solution?

I believe that each and every one of us needs to take upon themselves a sense of personal responsibility for making the Jewish State of Israel the best it can possibly be.

True, there are many challenges within Israeli society, and we can't possibly overcome all of them with our limited abilities and resources, but, returning once again to Pirkei Avot, 2:21:

It is not incumbent upon you to finish the task. Yet, you are not free to desist from it.

Sex in the Holy City - Part 4: Sluts R' Us

2007-03-22T15:40:00.000+02:00

It's been a long time coming, but the 4th installment of "Sex in the Holy City" has arrived!

(Click for Part I, Part II and Part III)

Israel to put its babes forward in Maxim-um PR effort

The beer 'n' babes magazine Maxim will send photographers to Israel next week for an Israeli women photo shoot that Foreign Ministry officials hope redefines what the magazine's hormone-charged readers think when they hear television reporters say "the situation in Israel is hot."

"All the surveys we have done shows that the biggest hasbara problem that Israel has is with males from the age of 18-35," said David Saranga, the consul for media and public affairs at Israel's consulate in New York... "In order to change their perception of Israel as only a land of conflict, we want to present to them an Israel that interests them..."

The Israeli models, Saranga said, "were a "Trojan horse" to present Israel as a modern country with nice beaches and pretty women. "Many Americans don't even know we have beaches," he said. "We want to show that we are a normal society like all others."

Is the reason why the State of Israel is hated by so many because, up until now, these people didn't realize that in Israel there are trashy looking women prancing around on our beaches?

For arguments sake, let's imagine that this marketing campaign could in fact sway some testosterone charged 18 - 35 year old men to have a more favorable impression of Israel - it's still wrong!

There is no goal that is so important as to merit the encouragement of young, Jewish girls in Israel to act like sluts - and all for the entire world to see, to boot.

Where is our sense of Jewish national pride? Of Jewish national shame?

The Jewish People, throughout our history, have never won any popularity contests, and we likely never will. However, despite all the harsh persecutions, we always maintained our self-respect and dignity, and remained true to our Heritage.

Remember! We are the Jewish People - sons of Prophets and Kings - let's start acting like it.

Hadar

Even in poverty a Jew is a prince
Whether slave or tramp
You have been created the son of kings
Crowned with the diadem of David
Whether in light or in darkness
Always remember the crown

Ze'ev Jabotinsky - The Song of Betar (Translated from Hebrew)

Israel Media Round-Up: Israeli Arab Edition

2007-03-21T10:13:00.000+02:00

Consider the following recent headlines about Israel's (loyal?) Arab citizens:

MK Sarsour calls Muslims to free J'lem

MK Ibrahim Sarsour (UAL-TA'AL), Speaking at the "Jerusalem First" conference in Ramallah, the lawmaker emphasized the importance of Jerusalem to Islam, and called on participants to "act together to become a torrent on the road to liberation."

"Just as the Muslims once liberated Jerusalem from the Crusaders, so must we today believe that we can liberate Jerusalem. It is not an impossible dream," he said.

Poll: Over 25% of Israeli Arabs say Holocaust never happened

In its most dramatic finding, the poll showed that 28 percent of Israeli Arabs did not believe the Holocaust happened, and that among high school and college graduates the figure was even higher - 33 percent...

While 89 percent said they view Israel's bombing of Lebanon as a war crime, only 44 percent said they see Hezbollah's attacks on Israel as such. Hezbollah pelted northern Israel with nearly 4,000 rockets.

Half of Israeli Arab respondents said Hezbollah's capture of Israel Defense Forces reserves soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev in a cross-border raid was justified.

Majadele refuses to sing national anthem

Israel's first Arab minister said in newspaper interview he would not sing anthem, because song was written 'only for Jews'...

In the interview, Majadele said, "Of course I would not sing the anthem in its current form. But before we talk about symbols, I want to talk about equal education for my children. It's more important that my son would be able to buy a house, live with dignity… the Arabs are not in a mood to sing right now."

MK a-Sanaa calls to boycott Israel

United Arab List MK Taleb a-Sanaa on Tuesday called on the international community to boycott Israel, after a large group of yeshiva students moved into a Hebron home formerly owned by a Palestinian who claimed not to have sold them the house.

The articles speak for themselves - and no, the solution is not to promote Jewish / Arab co-existence programming!)

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Hulk Hogan Knows Best: Jews in the Exile and Keeping Kosher

2007-03-20T13:31:00.000+02:00

It seems like everyone has their own reality TV show these days.

Even... Hulk Hogan.

Believe it or not, but VH1 has started a reality series about everyone's favorite professional wrestler, Hulk Hogan, entitled, Hogan Knows Best, featuring the exploits of Hulk Hogan and his family. The show has even devoted a number of episodes to Hulk Hogan (and family) learning about what it means to keep Kosher.

While the episodes are quite funny, I really don't know which is sadder - Hogan's attempts at keeping Kosher - or the many observant Jews who seem to be so at home in the Exile known as Miami Beach, enjoying their chance to be Hulkamaniacs (kind of like the Jews who had such a great time at Achashveirosh's party - of Purim fame - celebrating the end of Am Yisra'el, content to live merely as Persians of the Mosaic persuasion.)

Check it out for yourself here.

Each episode is about two minutes in length. If you can't watch them all, I recommend episodes 3 - 6, and 8.

WARNING: There are some immodestly dressed women in these episodes (namely, Hogan's wife and daughter.)

Israel
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On Helping Israel's Arabs: The Glass Half - Full Approach

2007-03-20T11:53:00.000+02:00

Over the last year, it seems that the most popular cause being championed by the Jewish Establishment organizations, both in Israel and abroad, is the cause of equality for Israel's Arabs (and here.)

While I have no doubt as to the harmfulness of these actions to both the Jewish People and State, I do believe that many of the Jews donating money to this cause (knowingly or not), are convinced that through providing financial assistance to Israel's Arab community they are strengthening the Jewish State of Israel. Well, perhaps, with a little creativity, we can help them do just that.

The Jewish Establishment has already displayed its willingness to turn to Jewish communities throughout the world and raise millions upon millions of dollars for Israel's Arabs. However, instead of this money being used to strengthen Israel's Arab communities, the money can be used to help Israel's Arabs relocate, under favorable financial terms, to a place where they can feel more at home.

In this way, the money being raised by the Jewish Establishment will not only be helping Israel's Arabs live a better life, but at the same time will be strengthening Israel as a Jewish State.

Of course, not all of Israel's Arabs will be interested in such an initiative, but I suspect that there will be many that will jump at the opportunity. Those Arabs that are hell-bent on remaining as a bone in the throat of the Jewish State need not look for handouts from the Jewish People - and for which other solutions will need to be developed.

As I see it, this is a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Israel
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So much for being a hardcore settler...

2007-03-14T19:05:00.000+02:00

Back in November 2006, Peace Now came out with a report which claimed, among other things, that Ma'aleh Adumim, the largest Jewish community in Judea and Samaria - just east of Jerusalem, with a population of 30,000+ (and growing), and where I happen to live, was in fact built (86%) on private "Palestinian" land.

In all honesty, I was elated.

Why, you might ask?

Simply put, even though Ma'aleh Adumim is techinically over the "Green Line", as far as "settlements" go, it's kind of lame, as Ma'aleh Adumim is unquestionably a part of the Israeli consensus regarding the future borders of the State of Israel.

However, that all changed once the Peace Now report came out, and overnight Ma'aleh Adumim went from being this nice, quiet city just outside of Jerusalem, in the hillside of the Judean desert, to being a bastion of ultra-nationalist, hardcore settlers, building their homes on the stolen land of peace-loving, innocent "Palestinians".

Finally!

Once and for all, I was able to walk with my head held high amongst my peers, many of whom are living in "outposts", caravans, and "settlements" far more "provocative" than Ma'aleh Adumim.

Until today, that is.

Unsurprisingly, the aforementioned Peace Now report has been debunked.

IDF data show flaws in Peace Now report

In November, Peace Now claimed that 86 percent of Ma'aleh Adumim was built on private Palestinian land. After successfully petitioning the court to see the database, the group reported Wednesday that data show that only 0.5% of the settlement is built on private land.

"The first report they released had major mistakes," said Capt. Zidki Maman, spokesman for the Civil Administration in the West Bank.

Well, it was fun while it lasted, but it seems like I must return to being the mild-mannered, "just outside of Jerusalem," consensus Ze'ev.

Eizeh basa!

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Israel's "Palestinian Arabs": What, me worry?

2007-03-14T13:11:00.000+02:00

It appears that not only do 70% of Israel's Jewish population view the Arabs of Israel as a threat to the continued existence of Israel as a Jewish State, but even Israel's General Security Service (GSS) - AKA the Shabak - have come to a similarly frightening conclusion.

GSS: Israeli-Arabs are Existential Danger to Israel

An internal General Security Service document says that Israel's Arab population is a "genuine long-range danger to the Jewish character and very existence of the State of Israel."

A recent meeting in the Prime Minister's office presented Prime Minister Ehud Olmert with worrisome data in various spheres, including increasing Israeli-Arab solidarity and identification with terrorist elements, Hizbullah and the Hamas government in the Palestinian Authority.

And yet, the country's leadership continue to turn a blind eye - including some otherwise well-educated and well-intentioned people, like former Defense Minister, Moshe Arens:

Equality of obligations

...The fact that the authors of these proposals insist on referring to Israel's Arab citizens as "Arab Palestinians" serves as a reminder that they see themselves as Palestinians who, by force of circumstance - in their parlance, as a result of the "disaster" of 1948 - are now citizens of Israel in "their own land..."

Are we destined to live with a large minority in our midst that feels dissatisfied with its lot and identifies with Israel's enemies rather than with Israel itself, whose citizenship they share with the country's Jewish citizens?

There is little reason to expect that even if and when an agreement to establish a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria and Gaza is signed, such an agreement would spell the end of the difficulties that characterize the relations between Israel and its Arab citizens. On the contrary, it may very well exacerbate them.

Arens asks the question that poses perhaps the greatest threat to the Jewish State of Israel today, namely, what to do with the large (and growing) percentage of non-Jewish citizens of Israel who are openly against Israel existing as a Jewish State.

Or, in other words, which takes precedence, Israel - the Jewish State, or Israel - the democratic state? And, do the Arabs of Israel have the right to full equality, including the right to become a majority and democratically vote to turn Israel into Palestine?

Let's see what Arens' solution to this vexing quandary is...

During my second tenure as defense minister I encouraged the formation of an infantry battalion made up largely of Bedouin youngsters who had volunteered for a three-year service in the IDF..., which I had hoped would lead in time to obligatory military service for all Arab youth...

In fact, it is difficult to foresee the integration of Israel's Arab citizens into society without them sharing equally in the obligations of citizenship. Without it, divisions will remain, and possibly widen, between those Israelis who are prepared to defend Israel and those who are not.

Is the reason for the lack of allegiance to the State of Israel on the part of Israel's Arab citizens a result of their not being invited to enlist in the IDF (where they would have the opportunity to fight against their Muslim brothers)?

Or, could it be that so long as Israel continues to exist as a Jewish State - thus eliminating the possibility of any true equality - these (Israeli) "Arab Palestinians" will, at best, remain coldly neutral, and at worst, act in an openly hostile manner against the interests of the Jewish State?

Have a little respect for the Arabs of Israel - they don't hate us because we haven't given them an M-16 or paratrooper wings, but because they believe that we have stolen their Homeland from them, and until this "disaster" is rectified we will have no peace!

Arens' question of what to do with Israel's Arabs still stands, any other suggestions?

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A News Headline from Chelm (Israel)

2007-03-14T12:09:00.000+02:00

Committees agree to skip word 'war' in naming war in Lebanon

On omitting the word "war" from the name, Minister Without Portfolio Jacob Edery (Kadima), who heads the ministerial committee on ceremonies and symbols explains "according to the cabinet decision, this was a campaign..."

"That decision outrages David Einhorn, whose son Yehonatan was killed in the fighting. "750,000 people fled their homes, 117 people were killed," he said. "If that isn't a war, what is a war?"

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Galut-Lovers Anonymous

2007-03-13T15:22:00.000+02:00

There are many people in this world who are caught within the tangled web of harmful addictions.

Some are addicted to drugs, others to alcohol, and yet others, it seems, are addicted to living in Galut - The Exile.

The lucky ones recognize their addiction early on and begin taking the necessary steps to fight and overcome it, while others live their lives ignorantly unaware of their addiction, bringing untold suffering upon themselves and their loved ones.

It seems as if some French Jews fall into the latter category.

French Jews flock to area: South Florida is experiencing an influx of Jews who fear persecution in France

Rod Kukurudz decided to uproot his family from a comfortable life in France to Surfside when his then 16-year-old daughter, Audrey, came home one night in 2005 -- upset and fearful.

''Dad,'' she told him, ''now even if it's hot I have to wear a scarf to hide my Star of David,'' while riding the Paris Metro...

In their hearts, many of the French Jews arriving in South Florida feel they are refugees, and there's a movement to press the U.S. government for such status. A group has posted a petition on the Internet -- www.petitiononline.com/ID22206/petition.html -- urging the U.S. Congress to approve a refugee program for French Jews.

Both Cohen and Kukurudz miss life in France, but they have no regrets about leaving. They did it for their children.

''So they can have a future,'' Cohen said.

Sad...

For them, their children, and for us here in Israel.

Rejecting the Will of the People in the "Only Democracy in the Middle East"

2007-03-13T12:52:00.000+02:00

Believe it or not, there are still a large number of Jews living in Israel who have not lost their sanity - unfortunately for the Jewish people and State, very few of them are presently sitting in positions of power that would allow them to shape the policies and character of the Jewish State of Israel.

New poll shows 68.4% of Israeli Jews fear Israeli Arab uprising

68.4 percent of Israeli Jews fear a civil uprising on behalf of Israeli Arabs and 63.3 percent say they won't enter Arab towns in Israel, according to the results of the 2006 index of Jewish-Arab relations released on Monday... Furthermore, 64.4 percent of Jews polled said they feel that Israeli Arabs pose a security risk to the state through their high birth rate, and 83.1 percent said Israeli Arabs are a security risk due to their support of the Palestinians.

These results are consistent with the results from the Index of Jewish-Arab Relations of previous years - with only one difference, namely, with each passing year, more and more Jewish in Israel realize the grave threat that the Israeli Arabs pose to the continued existence of Israel as a Jewish State.

One need not be a Talmudic scholar or brain surgeon to understand these results.

In truth, it is much more difficult to comprehend how anyone could believe that Israeli Arabs would feel at home in a Jewish State that has a Law of Return that only applies to Jews, a State Flag that is adorned by the Star of David, a Menorah as the State symbol, and in which the words "A Jewish soul yearns" are sung in the national anthem, and most importantly, who view this land to be rightfully theirs, and that we are, as such, unwanted occupiers.

No Arab, Israeli or otherwise, with even a shred of national pride and dignity is going to forsake the claim to his Homeland for HDTV and a car (even if, to my dismay, such an offer appeals to a great many Jews).

The Israeli Arabs themselves have made no secret of their true feelings regarding Israel continuing to exist as a Jewish State, and yet...

Ignoring the true will of the People of Israel, the government of Israel continues to plan future expulsions of Jews from their homes in the Land of Israel, and sits impotent in the face of the ongoing Arab war of destruction against the Jewish State.

On the bright side, when the time finally arrives, when the Jewish State will be blessed with true Jewish leadership, those leaders will find a nation prepared to support them in taking whatever steps are needed to ensure that the State of Israel flourishes as a Jewish State, as it was intended to be, and which the Nation of Israel clearly wants.

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On Being an Extremist: Revisited

2007-03-11T19:14:00.001+02:00

About a year-and-a-half ago, in response to feedback I had received to a number of posts I had written, I decided to layout many of my core beliefs as they related to Israel and the Jewish People, under the heading: On Being an Extremist, leaving it up to my readers to decide, if my beliefs, were, in fact, extreme.

Well, Bradley Burston of Ha'aretz, whose lone claim to fame is his now defunct "Talkback Policy" of forbidding the use of the phrase: "There are no Palestinians," has decided to pen a list of his own, which he entitles: Far-right and wrong, or how to ruin Judaism.

Burston lists 13 principles, to my 10, of which, 5 +/- made Burston's list. I am ashamed to note that #'s 12 & 13 on Burston's list, which relate to the Jewish People's yearning for the Temple Mount and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple, do not appear on my list, as I have only begun to fully appreciate the notion of "Temple Consciousness" over the last year+, and which I would include on my list today, in one variation or another.

Lastly, before re-revealing my list of beliefs, I found it rather ironic that when it comes to opposing Jews ascending to the Temple Mount (#12), Burston becomes an ardent follower of Rav Kook - who, in regards to many of the other points listed, would likely be viewed as an extremist by Burston and his ilk.

Without further ado...

The Top 10 Reasons... as to why people believe I am an extremist: (Nov. 30, 2005)

1) I believe that the borders of the Jewish State of Israel should encompass the entire area west of the Jordan River (I am not relinquishing the right of the Jewish People to other parts of its Homeland, namely: Jordan, Syria, Lebanon & the Sinai - I just do not believe that we should press our claim to them right now - so long as our neighbors behave).

2) I am against the creation of a "Palestinian State" anywhere west of the Jordan River, as I do not believe that anyone aside from the Jewish People has any right to sovereignty in the Land of Israel.

3) I am opposed to the "Peace Process" (as it is understood today - although I am very much in favor of peace), as I recognize that peace will not come through releasing terrorists from prison, arming these very terrorists, and making other "goodwill gestures" that all lead to the murder of innocent Jews.

4) I believe that Israel must come to the (painful) recognition that she is at war with the Arab world, and she must be committed to taking the required steps necessary to win that war (and not to suffice with defensive half-measures like the security fence and shelling open fields).

5) I believe that all Jews should live in the Land of Israel , as this is the only place that the Jew, both on an individual and national level, can live a complete Jewish life and it is the only place where the destiny and mission of the Jewish People can be actualized.

6) I believe that the State of Israel should be a Jewish State and not a State of the Jews (simply having a Jewish majority). I believe that the State of Israel should not strive to "fit-in" with the nations of the world and be a nation like all others, but should act to create a society that will be strongly rooted in Jewish tradition, history, identity and culture.

7) I believe that every Jewish child in Israel (and in the world) should receive a intensive Jewish education that will instill within them a sense of pride in their knowing what it means to be a Jew, where they have come from and where they are going, the reason for having a Jewish State in the Land of Israel, and a commitment to taking an active role in helping to fulfill the collective destiny of the Jewish People.

8) I believe that the ultimate values in the Jewish State of Israel should not be liberalism, pluralism and democracy (although each may have it's place within the Jewish State, under certain situations / conditions), rather values that are consistent with authentic Jewish tradition and beliefs should be given primacy above all others.

9) I believe that the Jewish State of Israel can create an exemplary society, one that is moral and just in all areas of private and public life, all while staying true to Jewish teachings and tradition, and not selling our birthright for a bowl of western, secular values.

10) I believe that if the Jewish State of Israel does all of the above, then Israel and her neighbors will be blessed with true and lasting peace, and the Jewish People and the Jewish State of Israel will earn the respect and admiration of the nations of the world, by serving as a true "Light unto the Nations" and on that day the world will recognize the Oneness of the G-d of Israel and His dominion over all.

So, you tell me... Does all that make me an extremist?

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Teach 'Em Who's Boss...

2007-03-08T21:15:00.000+02:00

Of late, two Israeli, non-profit organizations, Mossawa: The Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens in Israel, along with Adalah: The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel openly, and unabashedly called for the destruction of Israel as a Jewish State.

To make matters worse, it seems that these organizations receive plenty of Jewish support (read: $$$).

Mossawa was actively involved in the recently released "The Future Vision of Palestinian Arabs in Israel", and Adalah just released a proposal, entitled "The Democratic Constitution."

For a brief overview of what exactly these two organizations are calling for, click here.

It should therefore come as no surprise to discover that not only is the leadership of Israel unwilling to emphatically make clear, in word and deed, that Israel is in fact a Jewish State, but Israel Ministry of Education is aiding and abetting those who wish to destroy the Jewish State.

Arab students will no longer be tested on Zionism, Arab heritage

As for the Zionism section, the official said: "The concepts that were selected aren't suited for the needs of Arab students. Not only did the Arab students not learn about their own heritage, but the section on Zionism generated a great deal of criticism. It was therefore decided to reinforce the shared basis - that is, the section on democracy - and cut down on what separates the sectors."

Instead of demanding that all school children (Jewish, Muslim, Christian...) in Israel learn about the State of Israel being a Jewish State, and the right of the Jewish People to the Land of Israel - we instead choose to place the emphasis on teaching democracy, and thereby encourage every non-Jewish student to believe that it's only a matter of time before Israel ceases to exist as a Jewish State, and instead becomes a truly democratic state of its citizens (as Mossowa and Adalah call for).

Israeli Arabs to get greater school funding, settlements less

"The new budget formula will change the political-education map from A to Z," a senior ministry officials said, "and transfer money to the most disadvantaged communities, most of which are Arab."

Israel's Supreme Court has ruled that it is racist for the Jewish State of Israel to allocate greater resources towards the educational needs of Jews in Israel. Instead, the Supreme Court and Ministry of Education advocate for the exact opposite - whereby funding will be removed for Jewish communities and given to the very same "Palestinian Israelis" who call for the destruction of Israel as a Jewish State.

Go figure.

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Are you ready for some... Shmittah? (AUDIO)

2007-02-26T23:14:00.000+02:00

One of the most special things that comes along with living in the Land of Israel is the privilege of being able to keep many Mitzvot that are simply not relevant to the Jew of the Exile.

Many of these Mitzvot are known as Mitzvot HaTluyot Ba'Aretz - Torah commandments that are incumbent upon a Jew living in the Land of Israel.

This coming year, 5768, will be a Shmittah year - the one year, out of every seven, when the Jew in Israel must allow the Land of Israel to lay fallow, (it's actually much more complex that that, but we'll get to that a little later on) and more importantly, being that I made Aliyah only four years ago, this will represent my very first opportunity to fulfill the Mitzva of Shmittah.

Shmittah has additional significance, as being one of the Mitzvot that only becomes Biblically mandated once the majority of the Jewish People are living in the Land of Israel - something that has not happened since the destruction of the first Temple 2,500+ years ago, and which is scheduled to happen at some point in the next 25 years.

In preparation for the upcoming Shmittah year, I helped to organize a weekly, English language, Shmittah shiur in my community. The shiur is scheduled to run from now until the start of the Shmittah year, and I will be posting each installment of the shiur, along with the accompanying source sheets.

The first, weekly English Shmittah Shiur can be listened to by clicking here. (MP3 format)

The shiur is being given by Rabbi Gedalia Meyer of Ma'aleh Adumim, and he welcomes any questions that listeners might have (gsmeyer@netvision.net.il) .

Tizku l'mitzvot!

Israel
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Adam Sandler does the Temple Mount...

2007-02-12T17:02:00.000+02:00

One finds the motivation behind Adam Sandler's classic hit, The Hanukkah Song, (aside from $$$), in the opening lyrics of the song:

When you feel like the only kid in town without a x-mas tree, here's a list of people who are Jewish, just like you and me...

Well, after reading this article in the Jerusalem Post, one might get the feeling that there exists unanimous opposition amongst Rabbinic sages towards Jews ascending to the Temple Mount.

So, following in the footsteps of Adam Sandler...

When you feel like the only Jew in town who believes it's o.k. to ascend the (Temple) Mount, here's a list of Torah sages who agree with you, none of whom should anyone discount...

How 'Bout a Little Jewish Pride!

2007-02-04T16:36:00.000+02:00

IMPORTANT NOTE: I will be posting regularly at the revamped KUMAH - Mega-Blog. Many of the posts that I will be writing there will not be cross-posted here... (In other words, you'll have to visit both sites).

A recent survey, which sought to determine how "patriotic" Israelis felt towards their country, indicated a very frightening trend that calls the very future of the Jewish State of Israel into question.

Of the many survey questions, the responses to two of the questions in particular highlight the existential threat facing Jewish State.

Jews: To what extent do you consider yourself an Israeli patriot?

Very much: 36% Great: 31% To an extent: 26% Not at all: 7%

Pretty good. Among the Jewish citizens of the State of Israel, 93% consider themselves to be patriotic to the State of Israel to some degree.

However, when the responses to the above question were broken down by age, we find far fewer reasons for optimism:

60+ years old: 84%
50 - 59: 73%
40 - 49: 64%
30 - 39: 65%
18 - 29: 51%

These figures indicate that there exists a dramatic decline in patriotic feelings towards the State of Israel the younger one is. In other words, the present generation of Jewish Israeli young adults is the least patriotic towards the State of Israel.

Jews: Would you be willing to move and live in another country?

Certain no: 58% Think no: 19% Think yes: 17% Certain yes: 6%

Nearly 80% of the Jewish population in the Jewish State has no intention of ever leaving. Great news.

However, if we take a closer look at the 25% of Jewish population in the Jewish State who expressed a willingness to consider leaving Israel, broken down by age, we find a very troubling picture:

60+ years old: 13%
50 - 59: 17%
40 - 49: 23%
30 - 39: 27%
18 - 29: 33%

Consistent with the first question, where the older one was, the more patriotic they felt towards the State of Israel, here, the older one is, the less inclined they are to ever consider leaving Israel. At the other end of the spectrum, we find the very opposite. The younger one is, the less likely they are to have patriotic feelings towards the State of Israel, while they are the most likely to consider permanently leaving Israel.

At the recent Herzliya Conference, Nobel Prize Laureate, Prof. Israel Aumann warned that the Jewish State of Israel is presently facing an existential threat. He was not referring to the specter of a nuclear Iran, but of the sword hanging over the throat of the Jewish State, known as post-Zionism.

Without motivation, we will not endure. What are we doing here? Why are we here? What are we aspiring to here? We are here because we are Jewish, we are Zionist, because of our ancient bond to this land; we aspire to realize our 2,000-year-old hope of becoming a free nation in our land, the Land of Zion and Jerusalem. Without this profound understanding, we will not endure. We will simply no longer be here; post-Zionism will finish us off.

The gauntlet has been thrown down.

Do we have the motivation to take up this challenge and fight to restore the sense of national pride and purpose to the Jewish People and State?

Our future depends on it.

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Paying Lip Service to Jerusalem

2006-12-06T16:05:00.000+02:00

On July 30th, 1980, the State of Israel passed the Basic Law: Jerusalem, Capital of Israel, which legislated that,

Jerusalem, complete and united, is the capital of Israel.

As the State of Israel prepares, this coming year, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the liberation of Jerusalem, consider the following,

Costa Rica opens its embassy in Tel Aviv after closing Jerusalem mission

Costa Rica opened its embassy in Tel Aviv Friday, relocating its diplomatic mission after 24 years in Jerusalem, the foreign minister said in a statement...

Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its capital, but most nations don't formally recognize that claim. Since 1982, Costa Rica and El Salvador have been the only two countries with embassies there. In August, both countries announced their decisions to relocate to Tel Aviv.

"It's time to rectify a historical error that damages us on the international level and deprives us of any friendship with the Arab world," Arias said at the time.

Israel criticized the decision, saying it could be interpreted as a surrender to terrorism.

Why should anyone, Jew and non-Jew alike, take the State of Israel seriously in their repeated declarations that "Jerusalem, complete and united, is the capital of Israel" when the State of Israel doesn't seem to be overly concerned that by the end of 2006 not a single country with whom the State of Israel has diplomatic relations will have their embassies based in Jerusalem?

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On the Value of Mutli-Culturalism...

2006-11-22T17:44:00.000+02:00

What could be possibly be bad about Sesame Street?

What's not to love about a program dedicated to teaching children to read and write; to count and create - all by fun and friendly Muppets...

Well, Sesame Street (Rechov Sumsum) is scheduled to return to the air in Israel, and these aren't your mother's Muppets.

The new program will consist of 40 episodes and feature the first-ever Arab-Israeli Muppet character, 5-year-old Mahboub, who exhibits unstoppable curiosity and a musical talent. The program’s creators said his inclusion is designed to contribute to the show’s effort to model an inclusive Israel. Human characters will include a native Jewish Israeli, Tzachi, an Arab Israeli, Ibtisam, and Irina, a Russian Jewish immigrant who owns the street’s Magic Trick Shop.

If the goal is to educate about an inclusive Israel, why not have a Mizrachi, Chareidi or Ethiopian puppet, or perhaps a character that made Aliyah from an English speaking country?

Why not teach children growing up in the Jewish State of Israel that Israel is the home of the Jewish People throughout the world; of the modern day miracle of the ingathering of the Exiles? Jewish children could learn of the different languages, cultures and customs of Jews throughout the world who now call the Jewish State home.

Maybe, throughout the year, there could be a Muppet or human character visiting from overseas, who is coming to spend one of the holidays in Jerusalem, and the children could then learn about the various Jewish communities throughout the world.

Sadly, it seems, that these are not the educational values that Rechov Sumsum is seeking to impart to children growing up in the Jewish State.

“The original funders of ‘Rechov Sumsum’ came back to Sesame Workshop and said “Rechov Sumsum” did so much for Israeli children in helping them to appreciate the diversity in Israel’s multicultural society, wouldn’t it be great if ‘Rechov Sumsum’ could once again help prepare Israeli children for what was about to unfold — hopefully the opening of the doors in relations with our Palestinian neighbors,” Rosenfeld recalled.

Like the producers of Rechov Sumsum, I am all in favor of teaching children growing up in the Jewish State the value of multi-culturalism - Jewish multi-culturalism, that is. Let's teach our children to take pride in their Jewishness; to take pride in the many different faces that make up the Jewish people.

We, as Jews, don't need to run after Arab puppets to become multi-cultural when true Jewish multi-culturalism begins at home, with the Jewish People in the Land of Israel.

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Don't you dare "Talkback" to me!

2006-11-21T17:45:00.000+02:00

It seems that there's a bit of a "talkback" controversy brewing over at Ha'aretz.

"Talkback's" are, of course, the feature found on many websites (including blogs) that allow readers to offer their response on a particular article.

This is Ha'aretz's official "Talkback" policy:

The Talkback feature is intended to enable our readers to respond to articles, voice their opinions, and discuss them with other readers.

Political orientation will have absolutely no bearing on whether a comment is posted or rejected.

Comments containing the following will be automatically disqualified:

1. Personal attacks, vulgarities and profanities directed at other respondents.

2. Statements terming Israelis or Palestinians and their leaders Nazis, or accusing them of genocide or ethnic cleansing.

3. Statements which may be construed as urging attacks on Israeli or Palestinian leaders, officials, security forces or civilians.

4. Comments of an anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, anti-Arab or other racist nature.

It seems, however, that at least one writer on the Ha'aretz website has sought to offer his own set of "talkback" guidelines, which can be found at the end of this article.

The following "talkback" guidelines, set by Bradley Burston for his weekly "A special Place in Hell" column, are, for the most part, consistent with the original "talkback" guidelines set by Ha'aretz - with the glaring exception of guideline #5.

Actual Talkback Guidelines

The guiding principles of the talkback forum for this article will be mutual respect and openness to dialogue. Participants, even if they rule out, dismiss or oppose coexistence, must, within the confines of this forum, practice it.

Censorship will be unapologetic.

Political orientation will have absolutely no bearing on whether a comment is posted or rejected.

The following will be grounds for deletion:

1. Racist remarks, as well as slurs on the basis of religion, ethnicity and gender.

2. Use of the terms Nazi, Hitler, ethnic cleansing, to describe the actions and policies of Israelis, Palestinians or other parties to the Israel-Arab conflict.

3. Disparaging remarks, personal attacks, vulgarities and profanities directed at other participants in the forum.

4. Advocacy of violence against individuals or religious, ethnic or racial groups, including statements which may be construed as urging attacks on leaders, officials, security forces or civilians.

5.Use of the phrase: "There are no Palestinians" or derivatives thereof.

Based on Bradley Burston's guidelines, former Prime Minister of Israel, Golda Meir would have had this comment of hers about the "Palestinians" censored:

There were no such thing as Palestinians. When was there an independent Palestinian people with a Palestinian state? It was either southern Syria before the First World War, and then it was a Palestine including Jordan. It was not as though there was a Palestinian people in Palestine considering itself as a Palestinian people and we came and threw them out and took their country away from them. They did not exist.

Sunday Times, 15 June, 1969; The Washington Post (June 16, 1969)

Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee member Zahir Muhsein would have had his comments deleted, for the following remarks, issued on March 31, 1977 in an interview with the Dutch newspaper Trouw:

"The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct "Palestinian people" to oppose Zionism.

For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan."

On the whole, there are two basic problems with Burston's talkback guideline forbidding 'Use of the phrase: "There are no Palestinians" or derivatives thereof.'

The first problem with guideline #5 (the "Palestinian guideline) is that it seems to conflict with the opening line of the "talkback" guidelines that states: "Political orientation will have absolutely no bearing on whether a comment is posted or rejected".

One can only assume that when Burston wrote those words, he was only referring to the political orientations that he, himself, agrees with, and that he was not, in fact, interested in fostering genuine debate.

The second problem with Burston's "Palestinian" guideline, is that he is basically silencing the truth.

An inquiry seeking to clarify Ha'aretz's "Talkback" guidelines has been submitted, and as soon as a response is issued, I will publish it here.

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Two Sides of the Same Coin?

2006-11-21T13:10:00.000+02:00

Take a look at how differently Ha'aretz and The Jerusalem Post cover the following story.

Ha'aretz:

Poll: Third of Israelis see no common denominator with Diaspora

An opinion poll released on Monday showed that one out of three Israeli Jews believes that there is no common denominator between the Jews of Israel and those of the Diaspora, Israel Radio reported.

The Jerusalem Post:

Poll: Tradition holding Jews together

A survey by Market Watch carried out among a representative sample of the Israeli public shows that two thirds of the public believe that there exists a common denominator between Jews in the Diaspora and Jews in Israel.

The question that begs to be asked is why would Ha'aretz go out of their way to deliberately downplay the strong connection felt between Jews in Israel and Jews in the Diaspora?

Could it be that Ha'aretz has an interest in weakening the very foundations that unite the Jewish People - perhaps, as part of their overall effort for the State of Israel to exist, not as the Jewish State, but as a state of its citizens - a normal, western, liberal, progressive democracy (where homosexual marriages are recognized under state law); a State of Israel in which Jews and Judaism would hold no special standing?

Mark my words.

While today, Israel's Law of Return enjoys almost universal support amongst Israel's Jewish population, it is only a matter of time before this sacred cow of Zionism comes under attack (from Israel's Supreme Court and Media), as did the core Zionist principles of Jewish Settlement, Jewish Labor & an Undivided Jerusalem (among many others).

And like the others, the once sacred value of the Jewish State of Israel serving as the representative of and home for every single Jew in the world will have mutated into a source of shame, scorn and disdain - finding no place in the democratic State of Israel.

Unless, of course, there are those who still believe that the State of Israel is meant to exist as the Jewish State - for the Jewish People, and are willing to do something about it… and soon.

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Welcome Back, Blogger!

2006-11-21T11:42:00.000+02:00

It's been a long time coming, but Ze'ev has finally returned to the Jewish Blogsphere!

When we last saw our hero... Ze'ev was about to board a plane for N.Y., and the Jewish State was at war. Well, as traumatic as leaving Israel is for me, my 10 day trip to N.Y. can't be blamed for my lack of blogging over the last 3 months... and Israel is still at war, in one sense or another.

So, where have I been for the last 3 months?

The short story goes something like this:

I am now the International Director of the organization that I have been working for over the last 3+ years, and with my added work responsibilities, in addition to the ever-present familial obligations, it just didn't leave much time (or peace of mind) for blogging.

Since my last post I have changed political affiliations (a topic for a future post), and I am now the host of the weekly "Jewish Campus Radio" show (Click HERE to listen) on Israel National Radio.

As for this blog, I imagine that the second coming of "Israel Perspectives" might be a little different than the first incarnation, but not too different.

Also, I have a new e mail address: israelperspectives@gmail.com

Time will tell whether I missed the Jewish Blogsphere more than the Jewish Blogsphere missed me...

Either way, it's good to be back.

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ISRAEL @ WAR: By the Rivers of Babylon

2006-08-07T11:00:00.000+03:00

For the first time in nearly two years, I will be leaving the Land of Israel; visiting family and friends in the U.S.

While ideally, were it up to me, I would never leave (and my family would all be living in Israel), we do not yet live in the ideal world, and as such, I must say goodbye to my Home for 10+ days.

While having to leave Israel is bad enough, leaving now is terrible.

I booked my flight months ago.

Who knew that the Jewish State would be fighting a two-front war this summer - it wasn't scheduled.

While many of my friends and peers are being called up to the army to defend the Jewish People and State, I'm going on vacation.

I have found myself thinking of late about Psalm 137, which expresses the emotions of the Jewish People as they went into Exile after the destruction of the Holy Temple:

1 By the rivers of Babylon--
there we sat down and there we wept
when we remembered Zion.

2 On the willows there
we hung up our harps.

3 For there our captors
asked us for songs,
and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying,
"Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"

4 How could we sing the LORD's song
in a foreign land?

5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand wither!

6 Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth,
if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem
above my highest joy...

I feel as if I am in a catch 22.

If, on the one hand, I spend the very limited time that I will have on this trip brooding over what's happening back home, then I will be guilty of having wasted the chance to spend meaningful time with my family and loved ones.

If, on the other hand, I spend the next 10+ days living it up in the U.S., all the while my Jewish brothers and sisters are fighting and dying to defend the Jewish State and Homeland, then what does that say about me?

The only way out of this dilemma that I can see is for me to dedicate myself over the next 10+ days to instilling a love for the Jewish State and the Land of Israel in hearts of all those whom I come across while visiting the U.S. - a mini-shlichut, if you will.

For the next 10+ days, I will live the words of a poem by Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi:

My heart is in the east, and I in the uttermost west--

How can I find savour in food? How shall it be sweet to me?
How shall I render my vows and my bonds, while yet

Zion lieth beneath the fetter of Edom, and I in Arab chains?
A light thing would it seem to me to leave all the good things of Spain --

Seeing how precious in mine eyes to behold the dust of the desolate sanctuary.

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ISRAEL @ WAR: A Not So Happy Birthday

2006-08-07T07:51:00.000+03:00

Yesterday, the 12th day of the month of Av, was my birthday.

Yesterday, on my birthday, there was little rejoicing - for the second year in a row.

Yesterday, 15 of my brothers were killed in Hezbollah missile strikes against the Jewish State, in northern Israel, as the Jewish State finds herself fighting a two-front war against her enemies in the north and south.

Last year, on the 12th of Av, the destruction of the Jewish communities of Gush Katif began.

Last year, I took upon myself an oath not to fully celebrate my birthday until the Jewish People return to Gush Katif.

Unfortunately, it wasn't too difficult keeping that oath this year.

Maybe next year will be better year for the Jewish People; a year in which the Jewish People will dwell proudly and securely throughout the Land of Israel; a year in which the enemies of the Jewish People will have true fear of the Living G-d of Israel...

A year in which I will have something to truly celebrate on my birthday - together, with the rest of the Jewish People.

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ISRAEL @ WAR: We're losing this war

2006-08-06T05:33:00.000+03:00

With a UN resolotion calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah expected in the immediate future, slowly but surely, Israel finds itself falling short of achieving any of the objectives that it had hoped to achieve in this war.

1) The destruction of Hezbollah.

Not going to happen.

The upper echelon of Hezbollah remains very much intact, and there is no reason to beleive that they will change their stripes anytime soon, particulalry since it seems that in any ceasefire agreement that will be reached, Israel will agree to retreat from the Shaba Farms (Har Dov) region, which Hezbollah will most definitley point to as a victory.

2) The disarmament of Hezbollah.

Sorry.

To date, hezbollah has fired over 4,000 rockets / missles into the Jewish State, and they show no sign of letting up. Not to mention that there is no reason to expect Syria and Iran not to re-supply Hezbollah at the very first chance they have.

3) Eliminating the rocket / missle threat against the Jewish State.

See above.

We are in the 4th week of the war, and the IDF has not found a way to stop the rocket / missle attacks against the Jewish State. Hezbollah has fired over 4,000 rockets / missles into the Jewish State, of late, firing on average 200+ rockets a day, forcing the one million Israelis of the north to either flee their homes for the relative "safety" of central Israel, or to live in (or near) bomb shelters.

4) Israel's refusal to agree to the deployment of any peacekeeping force between Israel and Lebanon.

Not only is there going to be a peacekeeping force, but it is going to be made up of troops from Iran loving France, from Hezbollah loving Lebanon and from Jew loving Germany!

5) Israel's absolute refusual to accept any peacekeeping force that has anything to do with the UN.

Israel has lifted its demand for the deployment of a new multinational force in southern Lebanon and agreed that UNIFIL, the United Nations force already in place, would oversee the cease-fire...

Initially Israel opposed the expansion of UNIFIL's role and asked that it be replaced, arguing that to date its performance was poor and its troops did not prevent terrorist attacks.

Political sources in Jerusalem said Saturday night that Israel received assurances through diplomatic channels that UNIFIL will be bolstered by quality troops from France.

I guess the Israeli leadership has a short memory.

Maybe the UN isn't so bad after all.

Perhaps, it's all Israel's fault for not doing anything about Hezbollah's stockpiling of weapons over the last six years since they withdrew (retreated) from southern Lebanon. I mean, did we really expect the UN to disarm Hezbollah, as UN Resolotion 1559 called for?

And the French? C'mon, they were just joking about Iran being a "great country" and a "stabilizing force in the region".

5) Israel certainly will not give up on their demand for the release of the IDF soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.

Sorry boys. Really. It just doesn't seem to be in the cards right now.

But don't lose hope, sooner rather than later, the government of Israel will likely agree to release a bunch of terrorists with blood on their hands in order to secure their release.

True, the government of Israel has said that there would be no negotiations, but as we have seen, Israel has said lots of things that it didn't really mean.

6) Israel will not withdraw from the Shaba Farms (Har Dov) region - an area that, as part of UN Reslotion 1559, the UN confirmed that Lebanon had absolutley no legal claim to - as doing so could only be perceived as a victory for Hezbollah (and Iran) over Israel.

See above (#1).

It seems that the US, the EU, and just about everyone else who has a say on the matter says otherwise.

-----------------

On the bright side, perhaps it might be best for Israel to not "win" this war, since Israel's PM Ehud Olmert has made it clear that a victory in this war will only lead to the implementation of his "convergence" plan.

“I’ll surprise you. I genuinely believe that the outcome of the present [conflict] and the emergence of a new order that will provide more stability and will defeat the forces of terror will help create the necessary environment that will allow me… to create a new momentum between us and the Palestinians.”

Thank G-d for the small victories.

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ISRAEL @ WAR: The Time has come for Israel to Withdraw

2006-08-05T23:44:00.000+03:00

It has gone on for too long.

From this point on, every moment that the State of Israel does not withdraw itself is immoral, unjust and inexcusable.

If the State of Israel is interested in doing not only what is in her own best interest, but in also doing something that will earn it the respect of the nations of the world, then it will withdraw immediately.

No, I am not talking about the Jewish State of Israel withdrawing her forces from Lebanon or Gaza, and I am not talking about the Jewish State of Israel withdrawing from Judea and Samaria.

It's time for Israel to unilaterally withdraw itself from the United Nations.

Consider the following examples that not only clearly display the UN's virulent anti-Israel hostility, but the efforts on behalf of the UN to undermine its very charter, by openly and actively encouraging the ongoing war of destruction being waged against the Jewish State:

1) "Israel is the only UN member not permitted to stand for election to the full range of UN bodies. So while membership of the UN Human Rights Commission now includes Cuba, Libya, Sudan and Syria -- four of the seven states designated as state sponsors of international terrorism by the U.S. State Department -- Israel cannot even be a candidate."

2) "In an analysis of the Security Council's record up to 1989, of 175 total resolutions passed by the Council, 97 were directed against Israel, as contrasted with 4 against all Arab states combined. The Council expressed its 'concern,' 'grave concern,' 'regret,' 'deep regrets,' 'shock' etc. about Israeli actions 31 times. Regarding Arab actions, the Council never expressed negative sentiments."

3) The following is a sampling of direct quotes taken from the sites of U.N.-accredited NGOs:

* “That Star of David, which we are told is originally a religious symbol, symbolized hate and evil. Even today, I couldn’t imagine a more hateful sign.”

* “[M]any Americans and westerners, long misinformed by the Zionist-controlled media especially after the events of September 11, 2001…”

* “[A]nti-semitism has been taking place for 100 years in Palestine, against the Palestinian Arab Semites, by European Jewish colonialists. A mini-holocaust.”

* “Zionist apartheid, racism, and settler-colonialism in Palestine… is violative of the most basic human standards…Thus, the Palestinian resistance is justified…”

4) On November 29th, 2005, at a commemoration ceremony, attended by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, marking the "International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People", the official map of "Palestine" that was displayed made no reference to the existence of the Jewish State of Israel.

5) "The anniversary of the UN partition vote that survivors of the concentration camps celebrated, has been described by Secretary-General Annan as "a day of mourning and a day of grief." Palestinians, and Arab citizens more generally, refer to it as part of "Al-Nakba," meaning the "catastrophe" of the creation of the state of Israel."

6) "Among the most harmful UN anti-Israel resolutions was the notorious resolution equating Zionism with racism, passed in November 1975 by 72 to 35. It said that Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination... [and] is a threat to world peace and security."

7) The UN admitted its complicity in the Hezbollah kidnapping and murder of three Israeli soldiers in October, 2000.

(Click here and here for a partial list of UN resolutions against Israel).

(Click here for an article documenting the history of the anti-Israel bias at the UN).

For every passing day that the Jewish State of Israel chooses to retain its membership in such an evil organization she loses a little more of her justness, and morality.

For every passing day that the Jewish State of Israel retains her membership in the UN, she provides the organization and its sick resolutions a legitimacy that they are not worthy of.

Before the UN can pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Lebanon, and the installation of a new "Peacekeeping" force, the Jewish State of Israel must withdraw itself from the UN, and in doing so, make it clear that she is no longer bound by the lies, corruption and immorality of the UN, but to higher standard of truth, justice and morality, as handed down to the Nation of Israel - the Jewish People - by the G-d of Israel.

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ISRAEL @ WAR: Hey, brother, got any smokes?

2006-08-04T17:53:00.000+03:00

Yesterday, I had the distinct honor of traveling up north to bring our soldiers some relief supplies. (I won't go into the details of the trip in this post short of saying that I was fortunate that none of the 200+ katyusha rockets that Hezbollah fired into northern communities in Israel yesterday - killing 8 people - landed in our vicinity).

I am privileged to live in a community that has raised a lot of money and supplies that have been put towards making the lives of our soldiers up north just a little bit easier during these difficult times. Among the items that we were given to deliver to our soldiers yesterday were: junk food, deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, underwear, socks, undershirts... and cigarettes.

Over the course of the 3+ hour car ride up north, from my home to just south of Kiryat Shemonah, I had a lengthy discussion with my friend Josh, as to whether it was appropriate for us to be bringing our soldiers cigarettes.

Here are the two sides of the debate, as we saw it:

Pros:

* While smoking may not be good for you, it is socially / societally acceptable, and as such, it's not for us to decide whether a soldier should or shouldn't be smoking.

* While it may be a fact that smoking is unhealthy (in the long term), if smoking will help calm the nerves of our soldiers (those who smoke) and thus help them to carry out their duties more successfully, then by giving them cigarettes, we might be helping them (in the short term).

Cons:

* By giving our soldiers cigarettes, we are basically poisoning them - the very opposite of the purpose of our mission.

* It is highly problematic, according to Jewish Law.

What would you do?

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So much for the "Rule of Law"

2006-08-04T10:40:00.000+03:00

This past Tuesday, Israel's Supreme Court issued a ruling allowing Jews to ascend to the Temple Mount on the 9th of Av, the day on which the Jewish People commemorate the destruction of the two Holy Temples (among other tragedies).

The fact that within the State of Israel, which prides itself on being a democracy, that such a ruling was even needed for Jews to have access to their holiest site (not to pray mind you, just to visit) is intolerable. However, the violation of the right to freedom of worship of every Jew in Israel is not the theme of this post (read more about it here).

What was the response of the Arabs of Israel towards this Supreme Court decision?

Palestinians call for confronting Zionist attempts to invade Al-Aqsa Mosque

Israel's response?

Police chief: We'll use force... if needed

"The scenes we have witnessed throughout last week are very bad. There is something worse than using violence, and that is giving in to violence...".

"This is why we must not accept the phenomenon we have seen. These people are law breakers who do not recognize the state's authority, which is why we have no other choice but to enforce the law and do what needs to be done," Karadi, concluded.

Kadima's Bar-On: Era of restraint in dealing with protests is over

"We will not allow any law-breaker, even if he is a member of Knesset ... to harm the state of Israel as a state of law," Bar-On told Army Radio.

"We restrained ourselves... for a long time. That's finished. The era of restraint has come to an end. From now on, this will be a nation of law, which enforces the law."

"What is more traumatic than a country losing its ability to enforce the law, to carry out the decisions of a sovereign government in Israel?" The result of failure to act against law-breakers, he said, would be "anarchy... No one in the State of Israel will be above the law."

Actually, these quotes were in response to justifying the use of extreme police brutality against Jews who had come to protest the destruction of Amona, a hilltop community, and as a threat towards the Jews of Hebron who were told that if they would not leave their homes of their own accord, they would be forcibly expelled and beaten senseless.

What was the State of Israel's actual response towards Arab threats of violence should the Supreme Court ruling to allow Jews to enter the Temple Mount of the 9th of Av be enforced?

Fearing Violence, Jerusalem Police Close Temple Mount to Non-Muslims

Citing threats of violent Muslim protests at an already tense time, Jerusalem police announced that the Temple Mount would close to all non-Muslims on Thursday, the day Jews mark the destruction of the biblical temples and other historical calamities.

Police received intelligence information indicating that thousands of Muslims were preparing to go to the site to protest a planned visit by Jews, police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby was quoted as saying...

The head of the Waqf, Mufti of Jerusalem Mohammed Hussein, warned about the consequences of the court ruling, saying the Waqf alone had authority to intervene in the affairs of the site...

Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement called on Palestinians to take action and protect the mosque from a Jewish invasion,..

Talab El-Sana, an Israeli Arab lawmaker, warned that the visit would ignite a "third intifada,"

Police Bar Non-Muslims From Temple Mount Despite Court Order

In response, the head of the Islamic Movement's northern branch, Sheikh Raed Selah, told Israel Radio that the Supreme Court does not have the authority to rule on the matter, "because Israel does not have sovereignty over [the Temple Mount]..."

Following additional threats by Arab MKs Ibrahim Sarsour and Abbas Zkoor (Ra'am-Ta'al), Police barred not only members of the Temple Mount Faithful group – but all non-Muslims. They said the decision was due to a fear of violent clashes between Temple Mount Faithful activists and Muslim protesters.

Whatever happened to:

* upholding the sanctity of the "rule of law"?

* the only thing being worse than violence is giving in to violence?

* the recognition that "these people are law breakers who do not recognize the state's authority, which is why we have no other choice but to enforce the law and do what needs to be done"?

* the fear of the trauma that would come from "a country losing its ability to enforce the law, to carry out the decisions of a sovereign government in Israel?"

I guess all of that tough talk only applies when it comes to throwing Jews out of their homes and the destruction of Jewish communities throughout the Land of Israel!

But, in reality, this should not have come as much of a surprise, after all, why should one expect anything different if in the Jewish State of Israel a Jew is forbidden from visiting (let alone praying) at his holiest site, while Arab threats of violence and mockery of the law run rampant, unopposed?

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ISRAEL @ WAR: A Bad Time for "Morality"

2006-08-01T22:30:00.000+03:00

Our European friends are really racking up the "morality" points this week - and it's only Tuesday.

1st, there was the vocal European condemnation of the Israeli "massacre" in Qana. (The EU has always found it easier to blame Israel, than to check the facts - remember Jenin?).

2nd, Ireland refused to allow a plane carrying a U.S. shipment of arms to Israel to land within her territory.

3rd, France's Foreign Minister embraces Iran as "a great country", and a "stabilizing force in the region". (Just like Hitler and Nazi Germany were stabilizing forces in Europe during the 1930's and 1940's).

Not to be out done, at the conclusion of a meeting today of EU Foreign Ministers, the EU's Finnish presidency, represented by Finland's Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, declared that the EU is not presently ready to add Hezbollah to its list of terror organizations:

Given the sensitive situation where we are, I don't think this is something we will be acting on now."

I wonder if our European friends would be so kind as to inform us of when it might be a more convenient time for them to consider this pesky issue?

In addition, maybe our European friends, when they have a spare moment, of course, would care to enlighten the rest of us with an explanation as to what Hezbollah is exactly, if not a terrorist organization?

Perhaps Hezbollah is merely a misunderstood social-welfare organization that just happens to have taken up the hobby of rocket collecting?

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ISRAEL @ WAR: How do you say "Never Again" in French?

2006-08-01T12:32:00.000+03:00

One question that has been asked countless times throughout the last 60+ years has been how was it that the nations of the world stood idly by while Hitler and Nazi Germany exterminated six million Jews? Didn't they know what was happening? Didn't they care?

History has provided the answer to these questions. The nations of the world did know; and no, they didn't care.

Which is what the slogan "Never Again", in the eyes of the nations of the world, who so enjoy bandying it about, is supposed to be all about.

Never again will the nations of the world sit idly by in the face of such terrible atrocities.

Unsurprisingly, it took France to remind us, that in fact, "Never Again" is merely that, an empty slogan, which should not be taken too seriously.

Iran Foreign Minister meets with French counterpart in Beirut

Iran is a significant, respected player in the Middle East which is playing a stabilizing role, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said earlier Monday in Beirut.

"It was clear that we could never accept a destabilization of Lebanon, which could lead to a destabilization of the region," Douste-Blazy said in Beirut.

"In the region there is of course a country such as Iran - a great country, a great people and a great civilization which is respected and which plays a stabilizing role in the region," he told a news conference.

Now, consider that Iran is the ideological, military and financial sponsor of both Hezbollah and Hamas, two terror organizations with who Israel is presently at war, and who seek the destruction of the Jewish State, and has close to ties to Syria, another sponsor and base for Islamic terror.

Consider further, that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has openly called for the Jewish State to be wiped off the map (or at the very least, its relocation to somewhere in Europe) and is in the process of developing nuclear weapons to enable him to do just that.

But, in reality, this shouldn't come as a surprise.

Consider the following quotes from British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, in the wake of the Munich Agreement of 1938, who sought to appease Hitler and Nazi Germany, and thus avoid war, by forcing Czechoslovakia to cede to Hitler the Sudetenland region (the country's defensive frontier, thus leaving its industrial and economic core within a day's reach of Hitler's Nazi storm troopers) - all in the name of peace.

In reference to the Sudetenland and trenches being dug in a London central park, Chamberlain famously declared in a September 1938 radio broadcast:

How horrible, fantastic it is that we should be digging trenches and trying on gas-masks here because of a quarrel in a far away country between people of whom we know nothing. I am myself a man of peace from the depths of my soul.

Upon Chamberlain's return from signing the Munich Agreement, he had this to say about Hitler:

After everything that has been said about the German Chancellor today and in the past, I do feel that the House ought to recognize the difficulty for a man in that position to take back such emphatic declarations as he had already made amidst the enthusiastic cheers of his supporters, and to recognize that in consenting, even though it were only at the last moment, to discuss with the representatives of other Powers those things which he had declared he had already decided once for all, was a real and a substantial contribution on his part.

And the British Prime Minister had this to say about the significance of the Munich Agreement with Hitler:

My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honor. I believe it is peace for our time.

Of course, within the year, as could be expected, Hitler and Nazi Germany had invaded Czechoslovakia, thus negating the Munich Agreement and marking the start of World War II.

I imagine that France, as was the case with Britain, would like nothing more than to believe that if they throw Iran a bone (namely, Israel), as Britain did with Hitler (Czechoslovakia), then everything will be ok - Iran will no longer pose a threat to the Western world, and everyone will go on living their nice, peaceful lives. After all, why should France have to suffer over a country like Israel, that is so far away, and about whom they know nothing about?

Unfortunately for Czechoslovakia, much of Europe, and six million Jews, it didn't quite work out.

Hopefully, the Jewish State has learned that lesson, even if France hasn't.

And consider this last point:

It is France who has volunteered to provide the bulk of the troops that will make up the multi-national force that will be expected to ensure that Hezbollah does not deploy along Israel's northern border, as well ensuring that Hezbollah will not have the ability to re-arm itself through the aid of Syria and Iran - that great country and stabilizing force in the region.

What a comforting thought.

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ISRAEL @ WAR: Show our soldiers some love - send them a chocolate "Hug" - for FREE!!!

2006-07-31T14:30:00.000+03:00

HAS Advantage and Strauss Elite have joined forces to create the "Send a Hug" campaign.

They're there for us, be there for them.

Join us in showing support for the brave soldiers of the IDF. Please take a moment to write a message to our troops on the front line. Your letters will be delivered accompanied with chocolate, courtesy of HAS Advantage and Strauss Elite. Help us show them we care.

Send your "hug", and together we'll sweeten their day.

To take part in the "Send a Hug" (FREE) campaign, click here.

So far, over 50,000 "hugs" have been sent to our soldiers.

To see what other people have been writing to our soldiers, click here.

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ISRAEL @ WAR: Take your "morality" and shove it

2006-07-31T12:56:00.000+03:00

How nice it must be to live in the ivory tower that is Europe.

A world where there is never a need to resort to violence, and where peace, tolerance & respect rule the day.

And, how fortunate are we, those living in the Jewish State, to have our European friends to enlighten us and encourage us in how we may raise ourselves up from our primitive existence and approach to life.

Irish refused bombs sent to Prestwick airport

Bombs destined to be used by Israel are being flown via Scotland only because the Irish government refused to allow them to land on its soil. Scotland on Sunday can reveal that after the conflict in Lebanon began three weeks ago, Ireland turned down a United States request for planes carrying 600lb so-called bunker busters to refuel at Shannon airport in Co Clare...

One Irish official said that the bombs would never have been allowed on Irish soil.

The source said: "There is absolutely no way that we would allow munitions or weapons to be shipped through Shannon to a location where there is an actual war going on. We would not allow it. It is correct that we allow the US to transport troops to Shannon, but sending bombs to Israel is another matter and completely out of the question for us."

Opposition critics last night seized on the situation. Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond said: "It is highly significant that Shannon put its foot down and drew back from allowing the transport of bunker busters, which could become the tinder to escalate dramatically the Middle East conflict."

He added: "It is absolutely appalling that we should allow Prestwick to become a stopover to death and destruction."

Heaven forbid that Ireland (or any other European country) should be seen even remotely assisting the Jewish State's war on a terror organization; an organization that has been in flagrant violation of UN Resolution 1559; an organization that has fired over a thousand missiles into heavily populated areas within the Jewish State; and an organization that fortifies itself within Lebanese population centers, thus violating International Human Rights law.

How immoral it would be for Ireland or any other European country to assist Israel in their war against such terror organization!

But, in all honesty, it was to be expected.

In 1973, during the Yom Kippur War, when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack against the Jewish State, virtually every European country (with the exception of Denmark) refused to allow U.S. planes shipping vital arms to the Jewish State to land and refuel within their borders - with France and Britain leading this movement towards Arab appeasement - one must assume that this position came out of Europe's strong "moral" clarity, and had nothing to do with OPEC's threat to cut-off oil to any country who would not sell-out the Jewish State.

One must also presume that it was in the name of Europe's high "moral" convictions, that during WWII, the Allies refused to use their bombs to destroy Auschwitz or the railroad tracks leading to the death camp - having seemingly deemed it to be too unethical (whereas, in the name of "morality", the Allies (particularly the British) used their bombs to destroy the entire German city of Dresden, killing 25,000 German civilians).

Where would the world (and the Jewish State, in particualr) be without the beacon of "truth" and "morality" that is Europe?

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ISRAEL @ WAR: Attack Iran Now!!!

2006-07-30T19:02:00.000+03:00

No one in the Jewish State of Israel likes war.

No one in the Jewish State of Israel wants to send his or her sons off to fight (and possibly die).

No one in the Jewish State of Israel wanted this war.

Unfortunately, we do not yet live in a perfect world, and sometimes, one is forced to take actions that they would ideally prefer not to have to take.

The question that we must ask ourselves now is:

What steps can be taken to ensure the long-term security and viability of the Jewish State?

The answer:

Attack Iran NOW!

How could attacking Iran now possibly help improve the Jewish State's overall security?

Read on...

Does anyone truly believe that Israel declaring a ceasefire and retreating from Har Dov (Shaba Farms) is going to appease Hezbollah enough to make them stop attacking the Jewish State, or empower the Lebanese army to secure their southern border?

Does anyone really believe that Hezbollah started this whole conflict over the Shaba Farms?

Is it really that difficult for the world (as well as ourselves) to believe that this is about the desire of Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria and Iran to wipe the Jewish State off the map, and no amount of territorial concessions is going to change that?

Does anyone truly believe that an international force made up of Lebanese and French soldiers (with a UN mandate) is going to act against Hezbollah or prevent Syria from rearming arming Hezbollah? If the UN couldn't get it right 6 years ago, what makes anyone think that this time wil be any different?

Does anyone really believe that within the next few years the Jewish State of Israel won't find itself right back where she it is now - fighting (no less than) a two-front war against the "Palestinians" and Hezbollah?

It must be understood that the Jewish State of Israel is not at war with Hezbollah or Hamas. Hezbollah and Hamas are just pawns of Iran - who is responsible for the creation, funding and arming of both terrorist organizations. In order to defeat Hamas and Hezbollah, Israel must crush the head of the snake.

Now consider that neither Hezbollah, nor Hamas are going to stop their efforts to destroy the Jewish State in the near future, and Iran is not going to cease supporting their efforts.

Israel has a choice before her.

It can either take on Iran now, before it acquires nuclear weapons, or wait another 5 years (or less), until Iran has at its disposal the means to utterly destroy the Jewish State, and will not hesitate to do so?

True, waging war on Iran (and Syria) won't be pleasant. War never is. But if we truly want to eliminate the sword sitting at the throat of the Jewish State, it is a step that must be taken...

And taken now!

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ISRAEL @ WAR: It's a Little Bit Ironic...

2006-07-27T20:36:00.000+03:00

Consider the irony within the following two phenomena:

1) Throughout the duration of the Terror War, launched by the "Palestinians" in September 2000, Jerusalem, the ancient and eternal capitol of the Jewish People; the very same Jerusalem to which the Jewish People direct all of their prayers; and to which, for 2,000 years every Jew hoped and yearned to return to; was utterly abandoned by many Israelis, who would not even consider visiting Jerusalem, deeming it to be "too dangerous".

Isn't it ironic, that today, tens of thousands of Israelis, under threat from rocket attacks in the north, have finally rerurned to Jerusalem, designating the Jewish capitol as their safe haven.

If I forget thee O'Jerusalem...

(Hat Tip: Mike)

2) During the "disengagement" that took place a year ago, this past summer, the majority of Israelis went on with their normal, daily routine.

As 10,000+ Jews were being expelled from their homes; left jobless; homeless - forced to live in caravans; without access to many of the comforts of their former homes; separated from their communities - from friends and loved ones; left to suffer the emotional trauma of having their lives destroyed, not knowing what the future held in store for them - the daily routine of the average Israeli continued on, like clockwork.

Isn't it ironic that today, just one year later, nearly one million Israelis in the north of Israel are separated from their homes - either staying in bomb shelters (or near them), or having left their homes altogether seeking refuge in "safer" parts of the country; without access to many of the comforts of their homes; virtually unemployed, as many businesses in the north have been shutdown indefinitley; separated from their communities; suffering the emotional trauma of not knowing what tomorrow will bring or when they will be able to return to their homes.

Or maybe it's just another one of those funny coincidences...

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ISRAEL @ WAR: Jenin Redux

2006-07-27T11:45:00.000+03:00

On April 9th, 2002, the IDF placed the lives of the enemy over the lives of its own soldiers.

The Result: 13 soldiers were killed fighting in Jenin (known as Suicide City), during Operation Defensive Shield, after the IDF chose to use ground forces instead of using air strikes or tanks and heavy armor, out of concern for the wellbeing of the Jenin "civilians". (23 IDF soldiers were killed in total during operations in Jenin).

Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant Tabaat Mardawi, told CNN enthusiastically from his prison in Israel, that -- after learning the IDF was going to use troops, and not planes -- "It was like hunting ... like being given a prize. I've been waiting for a moment like that for years."

Mardawi told CNN that Palestinian fighters had spread "between 1000 and 2000 bombs and booby traps" throughout the camp. Time Magazine said that "some of the bombs were huge – as much as 250 lb. of explosives...compared with the usual 25 lb. a suicide bomber uses."

On July 26th, 2006, the IDF showed that it had not learned from its mistake.

The Result: 8 IDF soldiers were killed after being caught in an ambush in Hezbollah village stronghold, Bint Jbail.

As was the case with the "Palestinians" in Jenin, Hezbollah made use of a (strongly pro-Hezbollah) civilian population in their fight against the IDF - using homes, mosques and human shields to hamper the IDF's ability to fight a "fair fight".

As such, IDF soldiers are being put in a no-win situation:

Kill the enemy, with the risk of harming civilians, or don't kill the enemy - out of concern for the wellbeing of the civilians - and in return, place oneself into grave danger at the hands of an enemy that is not guided by any such "moral convictions".

The time has long since passed for the IDF to learn a number of lessons from its mistakes.

There is no reason to send IDF ground forces into ambushes, or send them to fight a battle that they can't possibly win because they are fighting with one arm tied behind their back.

If Hezbollah chooses to fight from mosques or from civilian populated areas, then those areas and individuals become legitimate targets.

The IDF has (or should have) 2 top priorities:

1) Win the war.
2) Do so with as few casualties to IDF soldiers as possible.

Danny Navon, Prof. at Haifa Univ., in an article in Ha'aretz, clarifies what, according to international law, should be the IDF's attitude towards Lebanese civilians:

Harming the civilian population in Lebanon constitutes a war crime. Untrue.

War ethics calls for abstention from an intentional harm of non-combatant populations, and to prevent as much as possible unintentional harm to those populations. But it is not always possible to prevent all unintentional harm. It is much harder when enemy troops systematically use the cover of a civilian population, in order to put the opposing side in a cruel dilemma between the achievement of its goals and an attempt to abstain as much as possible from violating war ethics.

In our case, Hezbollah intentionally operates from within a civilian population, often from house terraces and mosque courts. Furthermore, most of the civilians used for these ends do so in full consent and thus they cross the line from non-combatant to combatant.

It's time for the IDF to put the lives of our soldiers first.

It's time for the IDF to untie our soldiers’ hands.

It's time to let our soldiers fight.

It's time to let our soldiers win.

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ISRAEL @ WAR: Appeasement Inc.

2006-07-26T11:00:00.000+03:00

For a brief period, it seemed as if Appeasement Inc., with branches throughout the United States and Europe, as well as in Jerusalem, was in danger of being shut-down.

The Jewish State of Israel was fighting a two-front war against Hamas and Hezbollah - two terror organizations (that dabble as political parties on the side) - and both the U.S as well as many in Europe recognized that the IDF was not just fighting Israel's fight, but leading the fight against the threat posed by Islam to the western world (even if it was more difficult for some to admit than for others).

In that reality, which lasted about 7 - 10 days, there were no buyers for what Appeasement Inc. was selling. There was no talk of Israeli concessions, or international pressure to bring about an immediate cease-fire. It was recognized that nothing short of the elimination of Hezbollah and its Iranian / Syrian supplied arsenal could truly bring an end to the fighting in Lebanon - not to mention that there wasn't much pressure on Israel to make diplomatic "progress" on the "Palestinian" front, where the Hamas led government had started its own war against the Jewish State.

Well, times have changed, and Appeasement Inc. is back in business.

Consider the following:

Proposed international force would not disarm Hezbollah

The role of the international force that will be sent to Lebanon following a cease-fire will be to assist the Lebanese army to deploy in the south, ensure that Hezbollah does not rebuild its positions there and ensure that quiet is maintained along the Israeli-Lebanese border... this force will not be responsible for disarming Hezbollah nor will it be stationed at the border crossings between Lebanon and Syria in order to halt the flow of weapons from Syria to Hezbollah.

From the above we can draw two conclusions:

1st, the international community will not allow for Israel to destroy Hezbollah and its terror infrastructure (including its deadly arsenal of missiles).

2nd, the international force to be deployed will be as successful in stopping Hezbollah as was UN Resolution 1559, which called for disarming Hezbollah and deploying the Lebanese army in the south over six years ago.

If that weren't bad enough, the United Nations (branch of Appeasement Inc.) is not only calling upon the Jewish State to immediately cease its military operations in Lebanon, but to cede territory to Hezbollah, as well:

UN envoy Terje Roed-Larsen, at a press conference at the UN on Friday, touched on the issue and said, according to a UN communiqué , that "Much of Lebanon's support for Hezbollah was linked to the Shaba issue, so if that was resolved, that would hit hard at the justification for a resistance..."

Even though, Roed-Larsen himself, admitted that Lebanon has no legitimate claim to the area in question:

Last year Roed-Larsen, who is the UN special envoy on implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1559, issued a report saying that both he and the Security Council had said repeatedly that "the Shaba Farms area is not part of Lebanon. Therefore, any Lebanese 'resistance' to 'liberate' the area from continued Israeli occupation cannot be considered legitimate."

Appeasement Inc. is not limiting the scope of its operations to Lebanon only.

Rice says need to keep focus on Palestinian state

Not only should Israel allow Hezbollah to remain in southern Lebanon (with their deadly arsenal); not only should Israel consider making territorial concessions to Hezbollah, but Israel must make further concessions to the Hamas led "Palestinians", who seek nothing short of the destruction of the Jewish State - and whom the IDF is currently at war with in Gaza - with the goal of reviving the Oslo-esque "Land (, weapons and release of terroritsts) for Peace" process.

Sadly, Appeasement Inc. is not only based overseas, but it is also very active within the Jewish State itself.

Olmert: 'West Bank withdrawal still on'

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said yesterday Israel will forge ahead with his plan to pull out of Judea and Samaria.

"We will yet evacuate communities and it is important to me to complete this chapter as soon as possible so that we will be able to continue as a strong and united nation for the challenges that await us," Olmert told a group of Israelis evacuated last summer from the Gaza Strip.

Why should those who seek the destruction of the Jewish State, whether through military or diplomatic means, ever despair of their ability to succeed, when at the very moment that the IDF is fighting a two-front war against those who seek the destruction of Israel - in the very areas from which the Jewish State had retreated - the Prime Minister of Israel is promising to carry out even more retreats in the near future!?!

Appeasement Inc.: Why worry about tommorow today?

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ISRAEL @ WAR: GAY AWAY!!!

2006-07-23T13:37:00.000+03:00

Let me preface the following remarks by stating that I do not have any intimate knowledge of G-d's thoughts, or even a remote understanding of why He runs the world the way He does - aside from what's written in the Torah.

With that behind us...

Jerusalem 'gay' parade called off due to war

An international "gay pride" parade scheduled for next month in Jerusalem has been called off due to Israel's war with Hezbollah.

As WorldNetDaily reported, some rabbis who have urged that the World Pride parade to be cancelled see the war as God's judgment for the Israeli government's tacit support of the homosexual-activist celebration.

I don't know if these rabbis are right.

It is clear that the Torah speaks very critically of homosexuality, referring to it as an abomination (a term reserved for only the most serious of acts), but can it be said with absolute certainty that as a result of this parade the Jewish State is fighting a two front war today, with over a quarter of her citizens under immediate threat of missle attack, along with three of her soldiers being held captive by our enemies?

I honestly don't know.

There is something, however, that I do know with absolute certainty.

This was not the first time that the Gay Pride parade, scheduled to take place in Jerusalem, was cancelled.

The Gay Pride parade was originally scheduled - amid major protests - to take place in Jerusalem last summer.

It was cancelled.

Why?

Due to the "Disengagement" plan, where 10,000+ Jews expelled from their homes in Gaza and the northern Shomron, with the land being handed over to those who seek the destruction of the Jewish State.

Now, maybe it's purely coincidental that the Gay Pride parade has managed to conflict with these two rather traumatic events.

But, then again, maybe it's not such a coincidence.

Either way, whether as a result of Divine intervention or just plain bad luck, the Gay Pride parade, scheduled to take place in Jerusalem these past two summers, has been cancelled due to major calamities striking the Jewish State.

For that reason alone, next year, I urge the planners of the Gay Pride parade to do us all a favor by finding somewhere else - somewhere far, far away from Jerusalem to hold their parade.

Coincidence or not, I don't even want to begin to think about what might happen if the organizers try to hold the Gay pride parade in Jerusalem next summer.

Clearly, the odds aren't in their favor (or ours).

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ISRAEL @ WAR: When "I'm Sorry" isn't good enough...

2006-07-20T17:14:00.000+03:00

A mere couple of days before Hezbollah’s deadly attack on the Jewish State, which led to Israel finding itself fighting a two-front war, Aluf Benn of Ha'aretz, in an article entitled, "We need a Nasrallah", had nothing but words of praise for Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah (which I highlighted in this post).

"His behavior is rational and reasonably predictable. Under the present conditions, that's the best there is. Hezbollah is preserving quiet in the Galilee better than did the pro-Israeli South Lebanese Army."

Today, Aluf Benn owned up to his mistake.

The mistake in my assessment stemmed, as always, from the idee fixe that what was is what will be. I believed that if Israel and Hezbollah had learned to live according to the "rules of the game" that had developed along their common border, they would be interested in maintaining the balance of power rather than violating it.

Now, before I get to the crux of this post, I recognize that it must have taken a lot for Aluf Benn to come out and publicly admit that he made a mistake - an unfortunate rarity within the world of media and politics. However, as admirable as Benn's mea culpa might appear, frankly, it's not good enough, and the reason it's not good enough can be found in Benn's attempt to put his mistake in perspective.

...the responsibility for the mistake is entirely mine... But Nasrallah made a bigger mistake, and his mistakes are lethal.

Benn has failed to internalize that his mistakes, just like Nasrallah's, are, in fact, very lethal, indeed.

It was journalists such as Aluf Benn, working for media outlets such as Ha'aretz, who used their enormous influence to help shape public opinion to support (which ultimately led to the political support - or vice versa) of the following policies:

* Support for the Oslo Accords
* Support for providing the "Palestinians" with weapons

* Support for releasing terrorists from Israeli prisons - either as a good will gesture, or in negotiation with terrorists.
* Support for the IDF exercising a policy of restraint against the enemies of the Jewish State who actively seek her destruction.
* Support for the unilateral withdrawal from the buffer zone in Southern Lebanon - from where Hezbollah is currently firing rockets.
* Support for the expulsion of 10,000+ Jews from Gaza and the northern Shomron and the handing over of those areas to the enemies of the Jewish State who have used them to build terror bases and to fire thousands of rockets into Israel - not to mention the destruction of the lives of the 10,000+ Jews that were expelled.
* Support for Ehud Olmert's "Convergence" Plan, that will bring the rockets presently raining down in the north and south of Israel to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Each of these policies, individually, is responsible for attacks against the Jewish State and People. Collectively, they are responsible for the murder of over 1,000 Jews and Israelis, with thousands more wounded and scarred for life, as well as for the precarious situation that the Jewish State presently finds itself in.

Until Aluf Benn, and his counterparts throughout the Israeli mainstream media are able to internalize the fact that their mistakes are, in fact, deadly, and take the necessary steps to correct their mistakes, their apologies will carry little weight with me.

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ISRAEL @ WAR: What's G-d got to do with it???

2006-07-20T12:28:00.000+03:00

The Jewish State of Israel continues to defend itself (on 3 fronts) against enemies who seek nothing short of her destruction.

During this difficult period, questions are being asked with the aim of determining how the Jewish State came to find itself in this precarious situation; what steps could the Jewish State have taken that might have better prepared her to deal with this situation (or avoid it altogether); and what steps the Jewish State can be taking presently (and in the future) to ensure that the Jewish State never again finds herself in such a predicament.

(Un)Coincidentally enough, to find the answer to these questions, all one need do is take a look at this week's Torah portion (Parshat Matot - Mas'ei), where the Jewish People are preparing to cross the Jordan River and begin their conquest of the Land of Israel. At this moment, the G-d of Israel instructs the Jewish People as to what their policy should be towards the enemy nations that inhabit the Land of Israel, and what will befall the Jewish People (then and now), should they fail to heed the Word of G-d:

Hashem spoke to Moshe in the plains of Mo'av by the Jordan (river) at Yericho, saying - Speak to the Children of Israel and tell them, When you pass over the Jordan into the Land of Cana'an, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their idols, and destroy all their molten images and demolish all their high places. And you shall take possession of the land and dwell therein - for to you have I given the land to possess it...

But if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then shall those who you let remain of them be as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they shall torment you in the land in which you dwell. It shall happen that as I thought to do to them, so will I do to you. (Numbers 33: 50-53, 55-56)

These verses from the Torah - the Words of the Living G-d - speak for themselves, and they are, as is the case with the rest of the Torah, as relevant today as the day the Torah was first given at Mt. Sinai, over 3,000 years ago - when the Jewish People uttered the words "We will do, and we will listen".

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ISRAEL @ WAR: The Return of the Israeli Left

2006-07-19T17:15:00.000+03:00

For nearly a week, the (Jewish) citizens of the Jewish State of Israel have stood united - united against the common enemy threatening on two fronts, whose ultimate goal is the destruction of the Jewish State.

For nearly a week, the handful of Israeli Jews who chose to voice their dissent towards Israel's military action in Lebanon and Gaza (including the 1st case of a soldier refusing orders - whom Ha'aretz refers to as a "conscientious objector") were branded as being members of the "radical left" by Israel's mainstream media (the term "radical" is used almost exclusively in reference to religious or nationalist Jews on the policial right).

Well, slowly but surely, the Israeli left is beginning to rear its head once again.

So much for national unity.

Here are a few of the choice examples.

1) Sneh calls for negotiated withdrawal

(Labor MK and Brig.-Gen. (res.) Ephraim) Sneh, who was part of the government that oversaw the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, said he had always opposed unilateral withdrawals. Now more than ever, he said, Israel had to understand that only negotiated territorial withdrawals could lead to secure borders.

Two points:

1st, I don't recall Sneh, who has "always been opposed to unilateral withdrawals", opposing the unilateral expulsion ("Disengagement") of 10,000+ Jews from their homes in Gaza and the northern Shomron.

2nd, as for negotiated territorial withdrawals being the only option, that's exactly what the Oslo Peace Process was (a process that Sneh likely supported, as Oslo was the baby of his Labor party), and there too, we can plainly see how that has (not) worked out...

2) Perception and deception

The author of this article, Gershon Baskin, the Co-CEO of the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information, has the following to say:

I believe that, in the end, the only way to bring Shalit, Elad Regev and Ohad Goldwasser home alive to their families will be some kind of negotiations that will include the release of Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners...

The government has declared that there will be no negotiations with the terrorists. If this is the case, the government is going to have to explain to all the mothers and fathers who send their children to the front that if they are captured by the enemy they are as good as dead.

If I understand Mr. Baskin's point correctly, he is basically advocating that Israel capitulate to terrorist demands any time a soldier is kidnapped, a plane is hijacked, or when the Jewish State is threatened in some other way.

If I was a member of the government, I would explain to every soldier serving in the IDF; their parents; every citizen of the Jewish State - including Mr. Baskin - that the IDF does not and will not capitulate to the demands of our enemies. We will fight our enemies; fight them until they are no longer able to threaten the Jewish People and State; fight them with so much force and determination that our enemies will have absolutely no doubt that should they ever dare kidnap an IDF soldier, or threaten the Jewish State in any way, that they themselves, along with their loved ones are as good as dead - and this will be backed up with action, not empty words.

Perhaps I am mistaken, but I believe that most of those living in the Jewish State and fighting in the IDF would prefer my answer, to that of Mr. Baskin's, which calls for capitulating to the demands of our enemies and brings our destruction that much closer.

3) Start over - Ari Shavit - Ha'aretz

Israel is currently waging the most just war in its history. Not a war of occupation, but rather a war of defense. Not a settlements war, but rather a Green Line war. A war over the validity of an international border that was drawn, defined and recognized by the United Nations.

Forgive me for asking, but I wonder which of Israel's previous wars Mr. Shavit would consider to be unjust?

* Was Israel's War of Independence, fought in 1948 an unjust war - a war that stared as a result of 7 Arab countries rejecting the UN Partition Plan that called for the creation a Palestinian State, instead, choosing to try and wipe out the newly re-established Jewish State?

* Was Israel's Sinai Campaign in 1956 an unjust war - a war that sought to rectify that illegal nationalization of the Suez Canal by Egypt and the closure of the Straits of Tiran; two moves that had the power to cripple the then newly (re)established Jewish State's fledgling economy?

* Was the Six Day War or the Yom Kippur War unjust - two wars of self-defense, fought against enemies who sought to have the streets of Tel Aviv run red with Jewish blood?

* Perhaps Israel's war in Lebanon in 1982 (Operation Peace for the Galil) was the unjust war - a war in which the Jewish State sought to root out of southern Lebanon the PLO terrorists that were murdering innocent (Jewish) Israelis in the north of Israel?

If in the eyes of Shavit and Ha'aretz, the involvement of the Jewish State in the above wars was unjust, then not only is the current war equally unjust, but there is no justification (moral, legal, historical or otherwise) for the existence of the Jewish State in the first place...

Which might be the very point that Shavit and Ha'aretz were trying to get across?

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The Daily Grind - ISRAEL @ WAR EDITION - 21st of Tammuz / 17th of July

2006-07-17T12:08:00.000+03:00

As everyone is well aware by now, Israel is at war - on two fronts. Jameel at The Muqata has been doing an excellent job of providing up-to-the-minute coverage, and David from Treppinwitz has a great list of ways we all can be helping out, regardless of where one happens to be, as does Elder of Zion.

That being said, there have been a number of exceptional articles of late that highlight important (and perhaps overlooked) issues that supporters of the Jewish People and State should be considering during these difficult days.

On to the articles.

1) Column One: Israel's premeditated market failure - Caroline Glick - Jerusalem Post

This article was written on May 31st, 2006 (Hat Tip: IMRA)

On Monday, Ha'aretz reported darkly, "Iran has transferred to Lebanon rockets that reach Beersheba..."The first time that a shipment of Iranian Zelzal rockets to Hizbullah was reported was in early 2003. Just as this week it took the media one day to forget about this Zelzal shipment, in 2003, the reports received almost no attention. At the time the Israeli media and the government were busy convincing the Israeli public to support the road map which was then being written by Yossi Beilin and Tony Blair...

But the Israel media - which was the engine behind the Barak government's decision to retreat from south Lebanon six years ago - have no interest in informing the public of the magnitude of its error...

If the media had any interest in serving their primary function of informing the Israeli public about its current situation, they could ask why Israel is sitting back and allowing Hizbullah to acquire the means to attack all of Israel's major cities. If we know that the missiles were delivered, why didn't we blow them up at the airport or in their silos?

Excellent question, to which, Labor MK, Matan Vilani provides the answer, found in the next article...

2) MK Matan Vilnai: Israel could not deal with rockets until hit by them - Aaron Lerner - IMRA

Labor MK Matan Vilnai explained in a live interview on Channel Two Television this afternoon that Israel knew about the dangers of the rockets held by Hezbollah for years but was unable to act against them until they were used against Israel.

The program anchor did not ask Vilnai if this means that Israel will only be able to act against Iran after a successful nuclear attack on the Jewish State.

3) We need a Nasrallah - Aluf Benn - Ha'aretz

(This article was written just a few days prior to Hebollah's attack on Israel's northern border).

It is enough to see what is happening in Lebanon. The moment Hezbollah took control over the south of the country and armed itself with thousands of Katyushas and other rockets, a stable balance of deterrence was created on both sides of the border. The withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces from Lebanon in 2000 was made possible not only because of the daring of then prime minister Ehud Barak, but also thanks to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who conducts a policy of "one law and one weapon" on the other side.

Nasrallah hates Israel and Zionism no less than do the Hamas leaders, Shalit's kidnappers and the Qassam squads. But as opposed to them - he has authority and responsibility, and therefore his behavior is rational and reasonably predictable. Under the present conditions, that's the best possible situation. Hezbollah is doing a better job of maintaining quiet in the Galilee than did the pro-Israeli South Lebanese Army.

Ha'aretz is "on the money" once again, just as they were when they supported the Oslo Accords, the "Disengagement", giving the "Palestinians" guns...

4) Israel - Out of Control? - Joseph Farah - World Net Daily

If you rely on the Washington Post, the New York Times and the Associated Press for your news, it would be easy to get the impression that Israel is out of control – wantonly killing Lebanese and Palestinian civilians and provoking a larger conflict in the Middle East...

Of course, if striking directly at the terrorists who launched hundreds of rockets at Israeli civilians in the previous three days and who struck inside Israel's border, kidnapping two soldiers, means assaulting Beirut, I guess that would be accurate...

How should a civilized nation respond to terrorist attacks within its borders? How did the U.S. respond after Sept. 11, 2001? Should civilized nations respond with force only equal to that which was used by its enemies? Or is it legitimate and proper for civilized countries to respond with overwhelming force – to discourage future attacks, wipe out those responsible and deter future attacks?

Well worth reading the entire article.

5) We deserve the Qassams and the Katyushas - Nadav Shragai - Ha'aretz

The hundreds of Qassams and Katyushas that have landed in the south and north are a natural response coming from those who, over the years, have grown used to believing that Israel regards the thousands of mortars and Qassams on the inhabitants of Gush Katif as nothing more than rain.

The kidnapping of the soldiers was practically obligatory from someone who understands that "deterrence," a much-favored term used by many Israelis, was a kind of self-delusion, largely virtual, and that Israeli prisoners, for those who swore they would "not get down on the knees," are worth a few hundred terrorists.

Hezbollah and its Palestinian pupils internalized this and made note of it. After the wars against terror, like the one going on now, come the retreats, and then more wars, which lead to more retreats. Terror sows and then reaps. Fact: The blood of the dead and wounded had yet to dry and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was already making clear that... he will undertake another unilateral move - The "convergence" (plan)...

The truth? We earned it honestly as a nation of gullible fools, who over and over followed the illusions of quiet, peace and demography sold buy its leaders. We deserve it. However, the influence of the recent events has moved something, maybe temporarily, but something has moved. Suddenly, there's not enough room on board for all those who are disengagement opponents...

"We told you so" should be shouted out bitterly now, not to win medals but to prevent Olmert and his government from dragging us into another adventure with a foregone conclusion. The law of disengagement, as Uri Elitzur recently wrote, may say its goal is to lead to a better security reality, but reality is the devil's work; it behaves according to common sense and not the Knesset's decisions.

G-d, please save us from the madness and folly of our leaders - the Jewish People and State deserve better. Our eyes are turned to you.

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Heaven on Earth

2006-07-06T09:30:00.000+03:00

The view from my home, overlooking the hills of Jerusalem, as the setting sun brings another day in the Land of Israel to a close.

Going...

Going...

Priceless...

There's just no place like home - when your Home is in the Land of Israel.

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Matisyahu: The "King Without A Crown" finds his Home

2006-07-05T19:10:00.000+03:00

Guess which internationally-acclaimed Jewish rapper is making Aliyah?

In case there happens to be more than one internationally-acclaimed Jewish rapper, I'll tell you the answer:

MATISYAHU!

Matisyahu: Next year in Jerusalem

When asked what’s the most surprising thing that people don’t know about him, Matisyahu answered that he enjoys hockey and even used to play. He insists that he will immigrate within a year or two, despite the fact that ice-hockey is almost non-existent in Israel.

"If you hear of a nice house in Jerusalem, let me know," he told the reporter. "My move to Israel depends on a few things: If I make enough money to buy a good place to live in, if my family can come and visit me often and if it will work out as far as my career is concerned.”

This guy is a walking Kiddush Hashem.

But alongside the pounding vocals - sometimes in Yiddish - and foot-stomping rhythms, he maintains a lifestyle devoutly at odds with those in the music business around him.

He refuses to play on the Jewish Sabbath, eat non-kosher food, or compromise his religious ideals by playing alongside female artists. He has already turned down the chance to tour with Shakira, declined to advertise Burger King and refused to appear on shock-jock Howard Stern's show.

And we can now add to that rather impressive list that he will soon be making Aliyah to Jerusalem.

Looks like Nefesh B'Nefesh has a new poster boy for American Aliyah, because if anyone can make Aliyah cool, it's definitley Matisyahu.

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The Daily Grind - 9th of Tammuz / 5 of July

2006-07-05T17:26:00.000+03:00

Today's edition of The Daily grind highlights articles that will:

* Take us back in time 30 years to Entebbe
* Take us back in time 12 years, where a mother still grieves over the fate of his son who was kidnapped and murdered
* Show us who our "neighbors" truly are
* Inform us who is no longer welcome at the Western Wall
* and, of course, there's always the Qassams...

Without further ado...

1) ANALYSIS: Launching a rocket at Ashkelon is an invitation to war - Ze'ev Schiff - Ha'aretz

The firing of a rocket from the Gaza Strip to Ashkelon's center on Tuesday constitutes an unequivocal invitation by Hamas to war.

If that's the case, then what were the 1,200+ Qassam rockets that have been fired into Sderot over the last 4+ years? Chopped Liver? Is the blood of the residents of Ashkelon redder than the blood of those who live in Sderot?

2) Western Wall area cleared of beggars - Haim Levinson - Yediot Achronot

Owing to the steep rise in the number of visitors to the Wall over the past year, the presence of beggars at the site increased considerably. Some 300 beggars settled in the area and were hassling visiting tourists...

Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch responded to the move: “For the Jewish people, prayer and tzedaka come together. However, the way in which the beggars conducted themselves at the Wall was a desecration.”

3) PA seems poised to use kids as human shields - IMRA - Palestinian Media Watch

4) Muhammad Deif presents: Hamas' military academy - Roee Nahmias - Yediot Achronot

Muhammad Deif, head of Hamas' military wing and the senior Palestinian terror suspect wanted by Israel, said Sunday night that "all the land conquered in 1948 is Palestine's land. Every Muslim in the world has the right and duty to fight in order to liberate this land because it is Muslim land."

In case you missed it, he said that Israel (no matter how small) has no right to exist anywhere in the Middle East. He also happens to be affiliated with Hamas, which was elected to represent the "Palestinian" cause.

Lovely.

5) A government's flawed morality - Isi Lieber - Jerusalem Post

The extent to which the IDF has been conditioned to operate under terms of engagement that dramatically inhibit its ability to strike back at terrorists was exemplified by OC Air Force Maj.-Gen. Eliezer Shkedy, who told the Jerusalem Post: “If we know that a terrorist who is in the midst of firing a Kassam aimed to kill, is holding his son's hand, we will not fire."

If that is the approach of the IDF, we have truly lost the plot. To hold back from eliminating a terrorist directly engaged in a potentially lethal act of terror directed against civilians is not a manifestation of morality or humanity. It reflects utter confusion and the application of false values which violate the primary obligation of a government to defend the lives of its citizens.

Right on the money.

6) Our World: From Yoni to Gilad - Caroline Glick - Jerusalem Post

The legacy of Entebbe for the world couldn't be clearer. The message of the raid is that nations must never give in to the demands of terrorists. Through their war crime of taking over the Air France jet, the terrorists declared war not only on Israel but on all who abide by the norms of human decency and value freedom. If Israel is brought to its knees 30 years later, it will send the message throughout the world that the barbarians are the victors after all.

While the Entebbe raid is vested with deep significance for the entire world, its significance in shaping Israel's national psyche has been deeper still. This was apparent on Sunday evening on Mt. Herzl. As speakers stood at the foot of his (Yoni Netanyahu's) grave and one by one discussed the significance of Yoni's life and his death for Israelis today and for generations of Israelis to come, it was clear that Yoni - now immortal - is an embodiment of Israeli exceptionalism, Israeli morality, Israeli Judaism, the Israeli warrior ethos and the inherent justice of Zionism.

7) No strength for silence - Esther Wachsman - Ha'aretz

I don't know if we're living in George Orwell's "1984" - where good was bad, bad was good, peace was war and war was peace - in Chelm, the city fabled for its stupidity, or in evil Sodom. In any event, this is not the country I moved to 36 years ago out of Zionist enthusiasm, as the daughter of Holocaust survivors...

And then, in October 1994, our Nachshon was kidnapped by Hamas...

It's very difficult for me to understand the mentality of our leaders, on both the right and the left. It's difficult for me to understand the response given by then vice premier Shimon Peres - who announced that he had won the Nobel Peace Prize, along with Rabin and Arafat, on the same Friday on which the ultimatum was issued on my son's life. Peres was asked his opinion on the "peace" that he had achieved in Oslo in light of my son's abduction, and he responded that peace processes involve "calculated risks." When Peres came to comfort us after the funeral, I told him I felt he had come to comfort a family on the death of a son with no name - that he was simply a "calculated risk" in his dream of a new Middle East.

Until now, I have not spoken to the media... I am speaking up and writing to you now solely due to the inspiration of Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak Hacohen Kook, the first chief rabbi of Israel, who said: "I am not speaking because I have the strength to speak; I am speaking because I do not have the strength to be silent."

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The 4th of July vs. Yom Ha'Atzma'ut

2006-07-05T10:30:00.000+03:00

Yesterday, the United States of America celebrated her 230th Independence Day, generally referred to as The 4th of July. To mark the occasion, Joseph Farah, Editor of World Net Daily, wrote a column about what American Independence Day is really all about - I'll give you a hint, it's more than fireworks, BBQ's, baseball and beaches.

Ironically, much of what Farah wrote can be said about Independence Day - Yom HaAtzma’ut, here, in the State of Israel, as well.

Therefore, as Editor of Israel Perspectives, I am going to use a bit of journalistic license, and slightly adapt Farah's article to reflect the Independence Day reality, here, in Israel.

(Original text will appear in "blockquote" and italics).

The meaning of independence

independence: freedom from control or influence of another or others

Today is July 4, 2006.

It has been 230 years since the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence by America's founders...

independence: freedom from control or influence of another or others

Today is July 5, 2006 (9th of Tammuz, 5766).

It has been 58 years (and a few months) since the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence by Israel's founders.

It's not just the day we shoot off Chinese-made fireworks. It's not just the day we barbecue burgers. It's not just the day we go to the beach. It's Independence Day – so named because on or about this date in 1776, a group of courageous men risked their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor for a dream of freedom and sweet autonomy from an imperial power.

It's not just the day we shoot off Chinese-made fireworks. It's not just the day we barbecue burgers. It's not just the day we go to the beach. It's Yom HaAtzma’ut – so named because on May 14th, 1948 / 5th of Iyar, 5708, a group of courageous men risked their lives and their sacred honor for a 2,000 year old dream - that of the Jewish People returning (as sovereign) to their ancient and eternal Homeland, the Land of Israel, to (re)establish a Jewish State.

By the way, it wasn't just the birth date of American freedom. It was the birth date of freedom around the world. That's why the French called George Washington not just the founding father of the American Revolution, but "the father of freedom." He was truly the inspiration for freedom fighters everywhere.

By the way, it wasn't just the birth date of the (re)establishment of the Jewish State of Israel. It was the modern day birth date of the visions of the Prophets and words of the Bible coming to life. The ingathering of the Exiles from the four corners of the earth; military victories of the many in the hands of the few, the strong in the hands of the weak; the return of the Jewish people to their Homeland where they were able to make the desert bloom; the fulfillment of 2,000 years worth of prayers by the Jewish People, who never stopped yearning to return Home.

Unfortunately, too few Americans today put much value in independence. Most no longer celebrate, cherish or appreciate independence. Independence is not considered an ideal.

Unfortunately, too few Israelis (Jews) today put much value in Israel existing as a Jewish State. Most no longer celebrate, cherish or appreciate what it means to live in a Jewish State. To some, the State of Israel is merely a place of refuge, while for others, it is meant to exist as a state like all others. Living in a Jewish State is not considered an ideal. In its place now stand the values of "peace" and normalization, in the name of which everything (Jewish) must be sacrificed.

It's no accident. Our political and cultural elite don't want to see a nation full of independent-minded, self-governing citizens who will hold their leaders accountable to their will and the laws of the land. They would prefer sheep.

It's no accident. Our political and cultural elites don't want to see a nation full of independent-minded, self-governing Jews who will hold their leaders accountable not only to their will and the laws of the land, but also to Jewish Heritage and the traditions and teachings of our fathers, and who want to live their lives as jews and not Israelis. They would prefer sheep; sheep who will sit passively, while, in the name of the "rule of law" the army of the Jewish People and State will expel Jews from their homes in the Land of Israel and hand them over to those who seek their very destruction, and who will replace Jewish heritage and identity with that of Israeliness.

That's why you will hear so many of them preach about the value of living in an "interdependent" world. Have you heard that? " Interdependence" – this is considered a good thing. Keep in mind every time you hear that word "interdependence" glorified and revered that interdependence is simply a synonym for "dependence."

It has nothing to do with "independence" – that thing for which our founders risked their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.

That's why you will hear so many of them preach about the value of "peace". Have you heard that? Making peace with those who seek to destroy you? Providing our enemies with weapons and then retreating in the face of terror, this is considered a good thing - anything, so long as the nations of the world will accept us.

It ("peace") has nothing to do with a "Jewish State" - that thing for which our founders risked their lives - namely, to (re)establish a Jewish State in the Land of Israel, a place where the Jewish People could live as proud Jews, with honor and dignity, in a society that would exemplify all that the Jewish People had to offer the world.

The sad truth is the American dream of independence has been betrayed... In fact, take a look at the dictionary definition of "colony" and see if it doesn't apply to us today.

colony: 1) a group of people who settle in a distant land but remain under the political jurisdiction of their native land 2) a territory distant from the state having jurisdiction or control over it

Aren't Americans, in a sense, all colonists of the great imperial throne in the District of Columbia? We all pay tribute to this faraway empire. We are, in reality, little more than serfs doing the bidding of those in the federal corridors of power in Washington. We're taxed without real representation...

The sad truth is the Jewish dream of independence has been betrayed. In fact, take a look at the dictionary definition of "colony" and see if it doesn't apply to us today.

colony: 1) a group of people who settle in a distant land but remain under the political jurisdiction of their native land 2) a territory distant from the state having jurisdiction or control over it

Aren't Israelis (Jews), in a sense, all colonists of the great imperial throne in the District of Columbia, or of the United Nations and the European Union, as each of those powers (and many others) play a central role in determining the foreign and domestic policy of the Jewish State of Israel? It is they who determine where it is that a Jew may or may not live, where it is that a Jew may or may not build; and it is they who determine if, when and how the Jewish State of Israel may deal with it's enemies.

We are, in reality, little more than serfs doing the bidding of those in the federal corridors of power in Washington.

To make matters worse, within the State of Israel, there is taxation without representation, as those living in the Jewish State are taxed at a level known in few other countries, and in return they are given political leaders who do not know the meaning of the word accountability.

What do you think?...
Is American sovereignty and independence still worth a fight?

What are you willing to risk? What are you willing to sacrifice today in the name of freedom and independence?

What do you think?

Is a Jewish State in the Land of Israel still worth a fight?

Do you still dream of the Jewish State of Israel being a place where one can live proudly and securely as a Jew; a country that cherishes and embraces her Heritage and the teachings of her fathers instead of running from them; a country that is led by those who believe in the Divine, as well as historic right of the Jewish People to a Jewish State in the Land of Israel - a right that supercedes any other claims; a country that takes whatever steps needed to ensure that the Jewish People need not live in fear of her enemies. A country that would strive to fulfill the visions of the Prophets - that of creating an ideal Jewish society that serves as a Light unto the Nations.

What are you willing to risk? What are you willing to sacrifice today so that Israel will exist as a truly Jewish State?

Is a Jewish State still something worth fighting for? Worth dying for? Worth living for?

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A Creative Solution to Qassam Rocket Attacks

2006-07-04T14:02:00.000+03:00

It seems as if the government of the Jewish State has finally come up with the answer as to what to do about the daily barrage of Qassam rockets that are fired into the Jewish State. (As of Monday, 1,203 Qassam rockets had been fired into Sderot).

What's the magic solution?

The solution to the Qassam rocket problem is the same one that the government of Israel has come up with for nearly all its security related problems, namely, to build a wall, with which to hide behind, all the while failing to actually eliminate the source of the threat.

Rocket-proof wall a success

Security forces successfully tested a special wall designed to protect buildings from Qassam rockets on Thursday... A military source explained that the wall can be place at the front of the building and will repel a strike by a Qassam rocket...

Defense Minister Amir Peretz, who has dealing with the issue of protecting education institutions in Sderot, ordered the program to go ahead, and wants the city's schools to be fortified by the start of the next school year.

However, there are two problems with the above solution:

1) As mentioned above, this wall will not end the daily Qassam rocket attacks against the Jewish State, it will only help to protect schools from such attacks.

2) In light of above, this wall will do nothing to protect anyone who happens to not be inside a school during a Qassam rocket attack, leaving the majority of the population defenseless.

"Not every place can be protected with a concrete wall, but things can be done to minimize harm to civilians should a Qassam fall. We will continue to work in this direction and search for effective solutions," the source added.

It seems as if the government of Israel might be open to creative solutions as to how to best protect her citizens from Qassam rocket attacks (short of actually dealing with the problem itself, of course), and as such, I have decided to throw my hat into the ring and offer a solution of my own.

Since the government of the State of Israel is obsessed with building walls that they believe will provide security, I suggest that this "rocket-proof" wall be built right along the border of Gaza - straight up. This "rocket-proof" wall should be built high enough to ensure that no Qassam rocket will be able to fall within the borders of the Jewish State - hundreds of feet high, if need be.

Of course, this is not the ideal solution, which would be the elimination of those shooting the rockets, along with the infrastructure that provided them with the ability to do so, but short of that, I think that this solution has some potential.

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What the Lovers of the Land of Israel can learn from the International Gay Pride Parade

2006-07-03T16:29:00.000+03:00

This summer, the International Gay Pride Parade is scheduled to take place in Jerusalem. This Gay-fest was originally scheduled to take place last summer, but was delayed until this summer, as the "Disengagement" (expulsion) from Gush Katif and the northern Shomron was taking place at that time.

However, it seems that the International Gay Pride Parade, and all of the festivities that go along with it, may not happen this summer after all, and everyone who opposed Ariel Sharon's "Disnegagement" plan and who are now opposed to Ehud Olmert's "Convergence" plan should be paying close attention.

Police weigh banning J'lem gay parade

Jerusalem police are expected to decide this week whether to allow a controversial international gay pride parade to take place in the city this summer amidst growing international opposition to the event by an unusual coalition of religious Christians, Jews, and Muslims around the world.

The super-sensitive police decision, which will be taken by Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter in consultation with Jerusalem police chief Ilan Franco, comes after months of simmering tension over the planned August event, with concerns growing of a violent showdown between extremist opponents of the parade and its participants if it goes ahead as scheduled.

Why is the likelihood of this Gay-fest ever getting off the ground shrouded in doubt?

Simply because, the police recognize that there is such overwhelming opposition to this parade, regardless of what the Jerusalem Municipality or Supreme Court have to say about it. The police recognize that this parade has the potential to cause civil unrest, and frankly, they don't want any part of it.

After reading the above article, the failure of the struggle against Ariel Sharon's expulsion plan becomes even more apparent.

Simply put, had those who opposed the expulsion plan been successful in creating the impression that, should the expulsion plan go forward, the entire country would erupt, the plan would not have been carried out - regardless of how badly Ariel Sharon or Aharon Barak (Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) wanted it to happen.

Can one truly believe that a Gay-fest in the heart of Jerusalem is significantly worse than the destruction of over a dozen Jewish communities in the Land of Israel, handing those communities over to those who actively seek our very destruction, along with the expulsion of 10,000+ Jews from their homes, turning them into refugees within their very own Homeland?!?

Contrary to the response of those opposed to the International Gay Pride Parade, when it came to the expulsion of 10,000 Jews from their homes and the destruction of Jewish communities in the Land of Israel, many of the leaders of the "opposition" went out of their way to ensure that no such public fury would erupt, and this message was received loud and clear by the government, police and army.

Calls for soldiers to refuse orders were rejected out of hand, a coordinated campaign of non-violent civil disobedience was casually dismissed; all the while the leaders of the "opposition" to the expulsion plan stressed time and again the supreme importance of maintaining national unity, above all else.

Is it any wonder that the struggle against Sharon's expulsion plan failed so miserably?

The secret to success in future struggles over the Land of Israel is playing itself out before our very eyes.

Hopefully, the Lovers of the Land of Israel are paying attention.

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Can Blogs Kill People?

2006-06-28T20:29:00.000+03:00

Can blogs kill?

Well, if one holds by the old adage that "Guns don't kill people, rather people kill people", then the answer would be no, Blogs don't kill people, but bloggers do.

What am I talking about? Read on.

The Israeli / Jewish Blogsphere has recently suffered a tragic loss, in the form of a blog-icide or a blog-slaughter.

Blog of a death foretold

The suicide of Meirav Kanner, known online as Rapunzel, continues to resound through the Israeli blogosphere. Following her death on June 17, there have been calls to define the limits of online discourse in order to minimize harm to the people behind the blogs...

In the last few weeks of her life, Kanner's emotional state apparently deteriorated, and she hurled harsh accusations at various people, even mentioning their names on her blog...

The suicide sparked a flood of reactions, discussions and personal accountings in the blogosphere, starting with people who eulogized Kanner with great sadness and ending with others incapable of forgiving the woman who had hurt so many of them.

The most burning question among many of the writers, however, was, "Could we have prevented such a bitter ending?"

Perhaps it is somehow fitting that this article appeared on my one-year blog anniversary (according to the Gregorian calendar - the anniversary according to the Jewish calendar passed about 10 days ago without my having realized).

The byline of this blog states:

Perspectives on the challenges confronting the Jewish People and State through the eyes of one who finds himself taking an active role in the compelling drama that is the life of the Jewish People in the Land of Israel.

Over the past year, there has been no shortage of challenges that have confronted the Jewish People and State, and I don't foresee many of these challenges being overcome in the near future.

Blogging has provided me with an outlet to express my ideas, visions, hopes and dreams for the future of the Jewish People and State, and I do hope that those who have been reading my blog over the last year feel that the posts have been worthwhile, enlightening, and perhaps, at times, even inspiring.

I am well aware of the fact that not everyone agrees with my "unique" perspective. One of the aspects that I have enjoyed most about blogging has been the opportunity to interact with individuals who don't see things exactly the way I do; to discuss the issues with them; to try and understand where they are coming from, and perhaps go as far as to appreciate their point of view, even if at the end of the day, I still don't agree with it.

Yesterday, the Jewish People celebrated Rosh Chodesh Tammuz. In a little over 2 weeks, the Jewish People will be entering into the most difficult period within the Jewish calendar, namely, the three weeks, during which time the Jewish People commemorate and mourn the destruction of our two Batei Mikdash (along with a myriad of other tragedies), culminating with a day of fasting, mourning and reflection on the 9th of Av (Tisha B'Av).

Jewish tradition teaches us that the 2nd Beit HaMikdash was destroyed due to an atmosphere of baseless hatred that existed amongst the Jewish People. It is my utmost hope that within the daled amot (4 cubits) of this blog, regardless of whatever disagreements may arise, that at the end of the day, we recognize that we all belong to the same family - namely, the Jewish People; that we only have one, true place on this earth which we can call home - namely, the Land (& State) of Israel; and in spite of our differences, that we can only rely on ourselves (and G-d).

Maybe, just maybe, if we in the Jewish Blogsphere can learn to co-exist with those people with whom we disagree, and, dare I say, even come to respect them, then perhaps there might be hope for the "real" Jewish world, and through this we will merit to see the fulfillment of the verse:

Who is like Your nation, Israel, one nation in the Land? (I Samuel 15:19)

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The Daily Grind - 2nd of Tammuz / 28th of June

2006-06-28T13:00:00.000+03:00

Today's edition of The Daily Grind focuses on the political ramifications of the events of the last few days where two Israelis / Jews were abducted by the Hamas led "Palestinian Authority", and Israel's return to Gaza, as well as highlighting some other choice articles.

Before getting to any of the above, we'll open with one of the all-time greatest quotes ever uttered in the history of the State of Israel.

Let's get started.

1) Kidnapped by emotions - Akiva Eldar - Ha'aretz

In early June last year, not long before the evacuation of Gaza, an Israeli leader got up in front of a Jewish audience in New York and said the following brave words: "We are tired of fighting, we are tired of being courageous, we are tired of winning, we are tired of defeating our enemies. We want that we will be able to live in an entirely different environment of relations with our enemies. We want them to be our friends, our partners, our good neighbors."

He ended his emotional plea with the words, "this is not impossible. [I]t is within reach if we will be smart, if we will dare, if we will be prepared to take the risks, and if we will be able to convince our Palestinian partners to be able to do the same. So that together we will move forward in this direction of building up different relations, better understanding, and greater trust between us and them." The speaker was Ehud Olmert, then deputy prime minister.

I don't agree with the rest of the article, but I will repeat here what I wrote in an earlier post on this classic quote:

I do not know how anyone in Israel can sleep at night knowing that the man leading the country has given up hope; a man who no longer believes in the absolute right of the Jewish People to a Jewish State in the Land of Israel; a man who has lost the will to fight and stand strong for our rights and our lives.

2) MKs try to prevent outpost eviction - Rebecca Anna Stoil - Jerusalem Post

In response to the worsening security situation, MK Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism) on Tuesday called on Defense Minister Amir Peretz to reassess his plan to evacuate illegal outposts in the West Bank in another two weeks...

"After hundreds of Kassam rockets, why should we dismantle the outposts and give [the Palestinians] a prize? Why should we take them down at all?" Porush asked.

Good questions. Peretz' response? My guess is that it will be something about upholding the rule of law... international obligations... all of which seem to be of a higher priority than the government's providing even the most basic level of security for the citizens of the Jewish State of Israel - the primary obligation of any government.

3) No chance to win war - Batya Melamed - Yediot Achronot

It should be said that instead of a fierce military reaction – even if one seems necessary – we must do everything, absolutely everything, to bring about the release Corporal Gilad Shalit in the nicest way possible.

Palestinian prisoners should be released – men and women, young and old, those with blood on their hands and those without. Furthermore, the government must promise more disengagements, whatever they may be called – disengagement, convergence, realignment, running away, Jewish population shift. This is the time to punish them for their collective sin.

Just let us avoid this war. It is doomed to failure from the start.

Why will it be a failure?...

...no one measures the power of the most important weapon a country who wants to live, who is dedicated to defeating its enemies, can have: Faith in the justice of its cause and its actions. The ability to walk upright, and even the willingness "to die for one's country..."

The time has come to tell the truth, at least to ourselves: We've got no chance to win this battle. Not as long as we continue to pulverize all remnants of national pride, of our identity and of our faith that we have a right to life. Not as long as we, ourselves, do everything we can to call these things into question.

4) PMW: PA political leaders advocated kidnapping policy - IMRA - Palestinian Media Watch

No surprise here.

5) Labor MK: Israel Failed to Help Gush Katif Refugees - Scott Shiloh - Israel National News

Shelly Yechimovitch, a first term Labor MK, said in the Knesset on Tuesday that the Israeli government has failed in its efforts to resettle Israeli refugees from Gush Katif and northern Samaria...

“Their opposition…and their lack of cooperation does not derogate one bit from our responsibility towards them,” she said. “The bottom line is we failed.”

Yechimovitch, who is attempting to restore the Labor party to its core values based on social justice and equality, said the Gush Katif refugees “symbolize the loss of our values.”

A voice of reason coming from the Israeli Left?

6) Comptroller: Old boys' network rules foreign service - Aluf Benn - Ha'aretz

"For years, appointments have been made with no regard for standards, no transparency, and in violation of principles of good government," State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss wrote...

The picture of the Foreign Ministry that emerges from the report is of a primitive organization where senior positions, including ambassadorial postings to important countries, depend largely on connections and influence. In some of the cases examined by the comptroller, postings were filled before the appointments committee was convened.

And people wonder why Israel has such difficulties making its case to the world.

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The Daily Grind - 1st of Tammuz/ 27th of June

2006-06-27T15:30:00.000+03:00

Welcome back to The Daily Grind.

Today we'll be recapping some of the more interesting articles from the last few days, covering, among other things, the abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by Hamas, Qassam rockets falling on Sderot, and why there's no better place in the world than Israel to live.

Let's get started.

On the abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit:

1) Sidelining convergence - Aluf Benn - Ha'aretz

The political outcome of Hamas' raid on Israelis at Kerem Shalom yesterday is that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's convergence plan is being set aside for now...

Three elements have foiled Olmert's scheme. First, the government and the Israel Defense Forces failed to formulate a convincing security response to the continued attacks against Israel from the Gaza Strip...

Second, Olmert's leadership in the face of the escalation of violence in the south has been problematic...

Third, the convergence was greeted without enthusiasm abroad...

2) Deterrence: A precious commodity - Benjamin Netanyahu - Yediot Achronot

The Israeli government must immediately get back two precious commodities it has lost: Gilad Shalit, and its power of deterrence.

3) Analysis: Israel's hostage complex - Anshel Pfeifer - Jerusalem Post

While dozens of Kassam rockets fell daily on Sderot and the neighboring kibbutzim for months and, miraculously, casualties haven't been serious, the missiles haven't warranted a major operation in the Gaza Strip. If Sunday's raid on the IDF outpost had failed, the IDF would probably not be poised to strike now. But because the Palestinians have captured a soldier, the situation has changed completely...

Why does it take the abduction of an Israeli solder to compel the government of Israel to act against our enemies? Daily rocket attacks don't count?

4) Tie a blue ribbon for Gilad - Bradley Burston - Ha'aretz

When the missile hit his tank, Gilad Shalit was guarding our pre-1967 war border...

The border that Hamas has been talking about for months. The one to which, should we withdraw, they would make peace with us for generations...

When the missile hit, there was this kid, stationed at a quiet IDF position, not in the territories, nowhere near Palestinians...

Ignore the voices - you can hear them already - saying that he had it coming, as a member of a military that attacks Palestinians - the Palestinians that fire Qassams into homes, schools and medical clinics, the Palestinians that fire Qassams every single day, sometimes as many as seven times a day.

The world doesn't give a fallen fig.

5) State Department: US urges Israeli restraint - IMRA

With friends like these...

Qassams in Sderot

6) Morality requires: Hurt hostile population - Yisrael Rosen - Yediot Achronot

Jewish ethics are saturated with the ethical message "if someone comes to kill you, kill him first." The Torah and the prophets, Jewish law, rabbinic tales and Jewish thought all treat war as a struggle between two peoples, not between two individuals who happen to have guns...

And in war as in war. Civilians get hurt in war – including women, children and the elderly. Only a population that forcibly vomits out terrorists from its midst, that waves a white flag, that expresses strong protest against being dragged into violent conflict – only such a population will be protected, according to any measure of Jewish morality.

7) Terrorists want Israel to kill civilians - Alan Dershowitz - Jerusalem Post

The increasing number of Palestinian civilian casualties unintentionally inflicted by Israel in its effort to stop rocket attacks against its own civilians reflects the success of the terrorists' policy.

The goal of Palestinian terrorism is to increase the number of civilian deaths on both sides... Every time the Israeli military accidentally kills a Palestinian civilian, the Palestinian terrorists win a propaganda and political victory...

What then should Israel do? It cannot simply tolerate the killing of its civilian population...

Despite the risks of increased terrorism, every effort should be made to pursue the possibility of a two-state solution... If a negotiated two-state solution isn't possible with Hamas calling the shots, then Israel should go forward with the plan for unilateral withdrawal behind the security barrier.

It's amazing that even the smartest of individuals can be so clueless. Dershowitz recognizes that the Hamas led "Palestinian Authority" is committed to wiping out the Jewish State, but even so, he won't give up his dream of an Israel and "Palestine" living side by side, even if it comes at the price of expelling tens of thousands of Jews and endangering the very existence of the Jewish State.

Misc.

8) The Israel no one sees - Dr. Eugene Narrett - World Net Daily

The land is astonishingly beautiful, with a uniquely stark, colorful, eye-arresting mix of hills, ridges, winding valleys and stream beds. And, yes, wherever Jews have settled and worked the land it is green, from the tomato, mango, date palm and orange plantings in the sun-baked Dead Sea valley, to the wheat fields, vineyards, herbs and flowers of the Negev, to the olive, fig and almond orchards of the Golan and Samaria. Perhaps this is what the powers of the world don't want people to see: that the promises of the Creator are real; that His covenant is real and everlasting.

Here in the Jewish towns, vineyards, farms and orchards of Samaria are the true beautiful people so much sought since those times: balanced, simple, quietly glad. They know who they are; they know what they are doing and that it's right. They live free, simply and with faith. They have a lot to offer the world, though they would never say so and probably don't think about it.

A must read article.

9) Our World: Israel's rude awakening - Caroline Glick - Jerusalem Post

...Then there is the doctrine of the security fence. Olmert and his colleagues are big proponents of replacing defensive strategies with slogans and one of their favorite ones is "We'll be here and they will be there." Israel will build a fence and we'll never have to deal with the Palestinians again. But then those mean old Palestinians showed us on Sunday that they can dig beneath our fence. They show us daily that they can launch missiles and rockets and mortars above the fence. They can build ladders to climb over the fence. And of course, they can simply subcontract their killing to their collaborators on our side of the fence...

Caroline Glick shatters many of the myths of the Israeli left.

10) The Region: A review that speaks volumes - Barry Rubin - Jerusalem Post

In a shocking anti-Israel diatribe, the New York Times correspondent in Jerusalem has revealed both his profound personal bias and basic acceptance of Hamas's political claims.

Par for the course when it comes to coverage of Israel by "The Paper of Record" - the New York Times.

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THE Blog of Choice for World Leaders and Policy Makers

2006-06-27T11:34:00.000+03:00

It appears that included among the 80+ daily visitors to this blog are none other than Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and former "Palestinian" President and current head of Fatah, Mahmoud Abbas.

How can I be so sure of this?

Well, a look at today's headlines makes it clear that both leaders have given serious consideration to my 3-step plan for securing the release of abducted soldier, Gilad Shalit.

Here's a closer look.

STEP 1:

The government of the State of Israel announces that the "Palestinian Authority", led by Hamas, has one hour to return Gilad Shalit

From today's news:

Olmert Gives 48-Hour Ultimatum

48 hours is a bit much, especially considering that Gilad Shalit has already been in the hands of Hamas for nearly that long, and it's not as if Gaza is so far away from Israel that they should need more than an hour or so to return him.

However, that being said, Olmert's Step 2 is very similar to the 2nd step of my 3-Step plan.

STEP 2:

The government of Israel will immediately cut off the supply of electricity, gas and water to the Gaza Strip.

From today's news:

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced Tuesday that if IDF soldier Gilad Shalit is not released, Israel will prevent the entry of fuel and food to Gaza.

The threat originally included cutting electricity as well, though Army Radio reported that Olmert staffers said that that is no longer part of the ultimatum.

It seems that my readers are not only found within the upper echelon of the Israeli government, but within the "Palestinian Authority, as well, as Mahmoud Abbas seemed to be rather concerned that should Step 2 fail to bring about the release of Gilad Shalit, that Step 3 of my plan would be implemented.

STEP 3:

The government of Israel will announce that it holds the "Palestinian Authority", led by Hamas, directly responsible for the kidnapping, and as such, authority will be given to the IDF to begin targeting all "Palestinian Authority" officials until Gilad Shalit is safely returned to Israel.

From today's news:

Abbas to Haniyeh: Israel will target you if kidnapped soldier comes to harm

Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas warned Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh that Israel will strike out at him if harm comes to the Israel Defense Forces soldier... Abbas told Haniyeh that Israel would also strike out at his fellow Hamas members Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud a-Zahar and Interior Minister Said Sayam if anything happens to Cpl. Gilad Shalit.

Hopefully, my 3-Step plan, will be the first of the many ideas that are expressed on this blog, which the leaders of the Jewish State will implement, and thus bring about not only a more secure Israel, but a more Jewish one, as well.

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What's Jewish Law got to do with it? Qassams, Kidnappings and the War on Terror

2006-06-26T15:25:00.000+03:00

The State of Israel has never had a shortage of political leaders with significant military experience and expertise (Ariel Sharon, Ehud Barak, Bibi Netanyahu, Yitzchak Rabin...), and yet, all of this military expertise has not been able to stop the daily barrage of Qassam rockets into the Jewish State over the last 5 years (as part of the greater "Palestinian" war of destruction against the Jewish State), and it was not able to prevent yesterday's kidnapping of Gilad Shalit, in an attack led by Hamas, which also killed two Israeli soldiers.

One can only wonder how the situation might be different if only our "enlightened leaders" would have put aside their real politic considerations, and actually showed an interest in their Jewish heritage, they might have discovered that Jewish law has a very clear and relevant solution as to how to stop the Qassam rocket fire; a solution that would have prevented the unnecessary deaths of two young soldiers, and the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit.

What is this magical solution, you ask?

We can find the answer brought down in the Shulchan Aruch - Code of Jewish Law (Orach Chaim: 329, 6,7):

סימן שכט: על מי מחללין שבת

סעיף ו

עכו"ם שצרו על עיירות ישראל, אם באו על עסק ממון אין מחללין עליהם את השבת; באו על עסקי נפשות, ואפי' סתם, יוצאים עליהם בכלי זיין ומחללין עליהם את השבת; ובעיר הסמוכה לספר, אפילו לא באו אלא על עסקי תבן וקש מחללין עליהם את השבת. הגה: ואפילו לא באו עדיין אלא רוצים לבא - אור זרוע

סעיף ז

יש מי שאומר שבזמן הזה אפי' באו על עסקי ממון מחללין, שאם לא יניחנו ישראל לשלול ולבוז ממונו יהרגנו, והוי עסקי נפשות

Laws of when violating the Sabbath is Permitted:

Section 6:

Non-Jews who are oppressing a city within the borders of Israel, if they come over matters of money (to steal), we do not violate the Sabbath and mobilize against them. If they come over matters of life and death (to harm / kill Jews), we are obligated to violate the Sabbath and mobilize in order to defeat the attackers.

However, if the oppressed city is along the border, then, even if these enemies are only coming to steal a piece of grain, we are obligated to violate the Sabbath in order to mobilize and defeat the attackers. This is the case even if our enemies haven't attacked yet, but it is known that they are planning to attack - the Sabbath can be violated and the Jews can mobilize against their attackers.

Section 7:

There are those that say, that in our times, even if attackers come to steal (money) from a city within the borders of Israel, the Sabbath is to be violated and the Jews are to mobilize against their attackers, because if the Jews don't defend their property - this will ultimately embolden the attackers to murder Jews, as well.

If only the government of the State of Israel would have acted in accordance with Jewish Law in response to the very first Qassam rockets fired into the Jewish communities along the border of Israel - communities such as Sderot - the Jewish State would not have been forced to endure 5 years of daily missile barrages.

Furthermore, it is very likely, should our "enlightened leaders" have acted in accordance with Jewish Law on this matter, that our enemies would have never had the audacity to attempt such an attack as the one that resulted in the deaths of two of our soldiers and led to the abduction of a third. as they would have known that even the smallest of attacks against the Jewish State - particularly along the border, would be met with an overwhelming response.

There can be no doubt that Jewish Law can provide relevant solutions to many of the challenges facing the Jewish State. If only the "esteemed leaders" of the Jewish State would be open to learning the wisdom of their heritage.

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The Proper Response to the Kidnapping of Israeli Soldiers

2006-06-25T22:03:00.000+03:00

Today, Hamas, the terrorist organization that also happens to be the ruling party of the "Palestinians" (no coincidence there), raided an Israeli army post, killing two Israeli soldiers and kidnapping a third.

As of this moment, the government of the State of Israel has taken two approaches to securing the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit, 19, and I believe both have little chance of success.

1) Military Action

"The age of restraint has come to an end... We will respond forcefully, with an operation that will last more than a day or two." - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert

2) International Diplomacy

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni spoke with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to ask they urge Palestinian Authority Chair Mahmoud Abbas to secure Shilat's release... Livni also spoke with her European Union and Spanish counterparts, and is set to speak with foreign ministers from Great Britain, France, Russia and others.

Military action is destined to fail, because both Israel and Hamas know full well that time is not on Israel's side. With each passing day of an Israeli military presence in Gaza - particularly one that will involve a "forceful response" - the international pressure for Israel to withdraw its forces will grow exponentially, until the government of the State of Israel will believe that it has no choice but to withdraw - empty handed.

International diplomacy will fail, because, even were it to succeed, Israel would still find itself as a loss, in that it will have only emboldened Hamas and other terrorist organizations to kidnap more soldiers, as the State of Israel will surely have to give up some diplomatic bargaining chips in any deal to secure the release of Gilad Shalit.

So, what's the alternative you ask?

Here is my 3 step plan to securing the release of Gilad Shalit:

STEP 1:

The government of the State of Israel announces that the "Palestinian Authority", led by Hamas, has one hour to return Gilad Shalit, alive, to one of the crossings between Israel and Gaza - which will be determined by the IDF.

Should Hamas fail to comply...

STEP 2:

The government of Israel will immediately cut off the supply of electricity, gas and water to the Gaza Strip.

Additionally...

STEP 3:

The government of Israel will announce that it holds the "Palestinian Authority", led by Hamas, directly responsible for the kidnapping, and as such, authority will be given to the IDF to begin targeting all "Palestinian Authority" officials until Gilad Shalit is safely returned to Israel.

I have no doubt, that through the implementation of this 3 step plan, both the "Palestinians", as well as the "Palestinian Authority" will do everything in their power to ensure the speedy release of Gilad Shalit, and will refrain from attempting to abduct Israeli soldiers in the future, as the government of the State of Israel will have made it perfectly clear that terror just doesn't pay.

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The Daily Grind - 18th of Sivan / 14th of June

2006-06-14T11:34:00.000+03:00

Here is today's round-up of the most worthwhile Jewish State / Jewish People related articles on the web:

1) Al Aqsa official: Jewish temples existed - Aaron Klein - World Net Daily

The leader, who was dismissed from his Waqf position after he quietly made his beliefs known, said Al Aqsa custodians passed down stories for centuries from generation to generation indicating the mosque was built at the site of the former Jewish Temples.

He said the Muslim world's widespread denial of the existence of the Jewish temples is political in nature and is not rooted in facts.

2) Survey: Birthright achieves its goals - Yitzhak Benhorin - Yediot Achronot

Taking part in the Taglit-Birthright Israel program improves attitudes towards Israel and Judaism, a survey conducted by Brandeis University reveals.

3) Jewish Agency appoints ombudsman - Hilary Leila Krieger - Jerusalem Post

She described her mandate as cutting through bureaucracy on behalf of immigrants, improving the efficiency of the agency and providing replies within 24 hours to any query. The ombudsman can be reached by phone at 02-620-4443 or by email at pniyottzibor@jazo.org.il.

And that's good news both for current olim, as well as anyone considering Aliyah.

4) Nobel Prize winner salutes snubbing soldier - Efrat Weiss - Yediot Achronot

Who said that all academics in Israel were left-wingers?

5) This land is our land - Aryeh Eldad - Yediot Achronot

We cannot discuss solutions to the Jewish – Arab conflict in the Land of Israel without recognizing the past and answering basic questions about rights over this sliver of land... It wasn't the 20th century creation called Tel Aviv that inspired the world to recognize the Jewish rights to the entire Land of Israel, including both banks of the Jordan River. Rather, it was Jerusalem and Hebron and Bethlehem and Beit El.

Anyone wanting to understand the right of the Jewish People to a Jewish State in the Land of Israel MUST read this article - one written by a "non-religious" Jew.

6) Israel does not need Palestinian recognition - Yehuda Avner - Jerusalem Post

There is irony in the thought that were Menachem Begin alive today he would be saddened, indeed outraged, at Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's insistence - in consort with the US and the EU - that Hamas's political legitimacy be conditioned, inter alia, on its recognition of Israel's right to exist.

"Right to exist?" I can hear the late prime minister roundly chastising his younger successor who declares himself to be a Begin disciple. "Are you telling me, Ehud, that our right to exist in Eretz Yisrael has to be sanctioned for political purposes by an intrinsically anti-Semitic, murderous Palestinian Arab terrorist organization? Have you lost your Jewish self-respect? Where is your Jewish memory?"

7) Olmert Approves Strategy of Arming Abbas to Fight Hamas - Scott Shiloh - Israel National News

An aide to Olmert quoted by Reuters said, “He approved the delivery of a certain amount of weaponry to Abu Mazen's (Abbas's) presidential guard in order to bolster him so he can fulfill his obligations." The aide did not specify which obligations the weapons would help Abbas fulfill.

Just like the good old days, when Rabin gave weapons to Arafat for the very same reason. Some people never learn.

8) Annan: Results of IDF probe into Gaza beach deaths are 'strange' - Amos Harel - Ha'aretz

Amazing. Kofi Annan hasn't learned a single thing since the UN openly accused Israel of committing a massacre in Jenin during Operation Defensive Shield, only to have to backtrack when the facts came to light. (To read the UN report, click here).

9) UN Sec'y Gen.: Israel can't defend itself if Palestinians use human shields - IMRA

IMRA: "I have always maintained that there has to be proportional use of force, and governments have to be careful not to take action in areas where civilians are remotely likely to be put in harm's way" = if the Palestinians store, move, and launch rockets from within Palestinian civilian areas
Israel should not defend itself.

10) Sderot: Rocket siren used as ringtone - Shmulik Hadad - Yediot Achronot

Making the best of a bad situation. I wonder if Prime Minister Ehud Olmert or Defense Minister Amir Peretz might be interested in using that ring for their phones?

11) Foreign Ministry launches PR blitz - Herb Keinon - Jerusalem Post

In explaining the recent events, the (Foreign) ministry is instructing its representatives abroad to stress the following points:...

"Since Israel's disengagement from Gaza last August, more than 500 terrorist rockets have fallen on Israeli civilian targets, including kindergartens, schools, homes and factories... "The government of Israel bears the responsibility to protect the lives of its citizens, and to defend its territory and population from terrorist threat. Every other government would, in similar circumstances, act in a similar manner."

No, any other government would likely act much differently than the government of Israel. No other government in the world would tolerate missiles being fired upon her citizens on a daily basis for over the last four years. Any other government would have long ago wiped out the source of the threat.

It's because the government of the State of Israel has not fulfilled its obligation, that we have articles such as the following one...

12) Get the kids out of Sderot - Ariana Melamed - Yediot Achronot

Run away! Run away!

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Not another blog round-up...

2006-06-13T11:54:00.000+03:00

As Part of my daily routine, I make the rounds each morning through a number of different websites, catching up on the news and views of the day, all generally related to either the Jewish People or the Jewish State.

As is evident to my regular readers, I do not have the time or energy to write posts every single day, even though, generally speaking, there is no shortage of blog-worthy material that catches my eye on any given day.

As such, I hope to add a new feature to my blog. No, I am not starting yet another blog round-up, as between Soccer Dad, SerandEz and Daled Amos (and I am sure there are others out there), that niche within the J-Blogsphere has been adequately filled.

It is my hope, on a daily basis, to post a list of articles, which I have come across that I believe to be worth a read (if not a post) - a daily Jewish / Israel affairs article round-up, if you will - IMRA style.

(If anyone has a suggestion for a catchy name for these posts, I am open to ideas).

So, without further ado, here are the choice articles for the 17th of Sivan / 13th of June:

1) Israel's image - why the all-time low? - Evelyn Gordon - Jerusalem Post

Good question. Even better answers.

2) אסור להתפלל - Nahum Schnitzer - Makor Rishon - HEBREW

A story written about the discriminatory practices carried out against religious Jews who wish to visit the Temple Mount by the State of Israel.

3) Our World: Facing down our defeatist leaders - Caroline Glick - Jerusalem Post

Two words aptly describe the Bush administration and the Olmert government's responses to the escalating war. They are respectively: appeasement and capitulation.

4) Defining Judaism down - Avi Shafran - Jerusalem Post

Are Judaism and homosexuality compatible?

5) HU star researchers take Kaye Prizes for innovation - Judy Siegel-Itzkovich - Jerusalem Post

Good news from Israel. More success stories from Jews who made Aliyah.

6) Report: Chances slim that IDF shell killed Gazans on beach - Jerusalem Post

7) PA TV falsifies video of Gaza deaths - Palestinian Media Watch

Now, why would they go and do something like that? Perhaps, because as the next article shows, not only will the world buy it, but so will we...

8) CHORUS OF HYPOCRITES [reaction to Gaza Beach incident] - IMRA - (Article by Editor Amnon Dankner, Ma'ariv, 12.6.06, p. A1,18)
[Translation provided by Israel Government Press Office]

A must read article. We are our own worst enemy.

9) 15 Qassams hit Sderot area Monday, one person lightly hurt - Amos Harel - Ha'aretz

When will the IDF take the steps to end this madness? Or, more to the point, when will the government untie the IDF's hands?

10) Analysis: Without artillery, IDF at loss - Yaakov Katz - Jerusalem Post

...In the eyes of the Israeli public, the IDF has this week appeared incompetent and weak in face of the massive downpour of Qassam rockets on the western Negev... Stopped from using artillery fire by Peretz until the completion of the investigation, the IDF has found itself at a loss of how to combat the non-stop rocket attacks... Some officers even went as far as to blame Peretz's decision to suspend artillery fire on the Gaza Strip as one of the reasons for the drastic increase in the number of Qassam attacks, claiming that there was no longer any such deterrence.

Defense Minister Peretz's response...

11) Peretz: We can deliver painful answers to Qassams - Anshel Pfeifer - Jerusalem Post

Really? And when does Defense Minister Peretz plan on walking the walk and not just talking the talk? Qassams have been raining down on Jewish communities in Israel on a daily basis for well over 4 years, I think now might be a good time.

12) Sderot's children are suffering post-traumatic stress - Eli Ashkenazi - Ha'aretz

Go figure.

13) The Region: A disturbing poll - Barry Rubin - Jerusalem Post

As if more proof was needed to show that Abu Mazen (along with Fatah and the PLO) is just as committed to the destruction of the Jewish State as is Hamas. And yet...

14) PM drafting alternative to convergence plan - Akiva Eldar - Ha'aretz

In light of the international opposition to further unilateral steps by Israel, the government has begun to draft an alternative plan that would essentially convert Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's unilateral convergence plan into a bilateral move carried out in conjunction with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

Can you say "Oslo Accords" - take 2? Yikes. It seems that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, like his predecessor, Ariel Sharon, is willing to lead the Jewish State towards the brink of national suicide (in the footsteps of Rabin and Peres) in order to solidify his legacy and place in history.

In light of the above, the following story is not surprising...

15) Prime minister's daughter in anti-Israel rally - Aaron Klein - World Net Daily

Looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

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Israel: Home of the Nebs?

2006-06-11T12:31:00.000+03:00

Even though Faith in Nathan beat me to the punch, I believe that the following issue merits reiterating (and, in any case, I had been meaning to write this post last week, so, I ask for your indulgence).

Elie Wiesel calls upon Israel to take in Darfur refugees

Nobel Prize-winning author Elie Wiesel has called on Israel to take in refugees from Darfur. In an interview in the upcoming issue of Haaretz Magazine, Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, says, "We as Jews are obliged to help not only Jews. I was a refugee and therefore I am in favor of admitting refugees. I thought it was very laudable when Israel became the first country to admit the Vietnamese boat people. History constantly chooses a capital of human suffering, and Darfur is today the capital of human suffering. Israel should absorb refugees from Darfur, even a symbolic number."

Perhaps Elie Wiesel, in light of the above quote, can answer the following questions for me:

1) Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor, and self-declared refugee, decided long ago to make the United States of America his home, as such, if he is in favor of admitting refugees from Darfur, why not call upon the United States to open her borders? Could it be that Wiesel recalled the refusal of the United States to allow the Jews fleeing Europe during the Sho'ah to find refuge on her shores that lead him to turn to Israel?

2) Placing the merit of Wiesel's request aside, in choosing to make the United States his home, does Wiesel have the right to call upon the State of Israel to admit refugees from Darfur (or to implement any other policy)?

3) While Wiesel's request may be a just one, why do I get the impression that for Wiesel, the State of Israel exists merely to serve as home to refugees and others who are fleeing persecution?

Could it be, that there might actually be Jews (like myself) who have chosen to make Aliyah to the Jewish State of Israel for positive reasons, and who are proud to call Israel home?

4) Is it too difficult for Elie Wiesel to comprehend, that while he may be living a comfortable (Jewish?) life in the United States, and as such, the State of Israel exists for him solely as an option of last resort, that no amount of wishful thinking or blissful ignorance will change the fact the that today, the Jewish State of Israel is home to the single largest Jewish community in the world; is the only Jewish community in the world that can boast of a positive growth rate; is on the verge of having the majority of world Jewry living within her borders (something that has not occurred in over 2,500 years - not since the destruction of the 1st Temple), all the while, the American Jewish community continues its steady physical and spiritual decline?

I am proud to be living in the Jewish State of Israel, a state that was concerned for the well-being of the "Vietnamese boat people"; a state that, in her short history, has provided a home to hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of Jews who experienced various forms of distress and persecution throughout the world, whether from Arab countries, Ethiopia, the Former Soviet Union, France, or Argentina; a country that has reached out to nations in distress throughout the world, but do not misconstrue any of the above to believe that the State of Israel exists solely as a place of refuge for those who are persecuted or who have nowhere else to turn.

True, the Jewish State of Israel isn't quite yet the "Light unto the Nations" which our Torah and Prophets envisioned, but the challenges we face here are the challenges of the Jewish People, and by living here, I am proud to be doing my share to help the Jewish people and State overcome those challenges; proud to be living in the Land of my Forefathers, the physical, spiritual and cultural center of the Jewish world, and proud to be taking an active role in shaping the future of the Jewish State of Israel, working to ensure that it will be a place that will allow for the collective potnetial and destiny of the Jewish People to be realized...

and that's something that Elie Wiesel can only pay lip service to.

(For more on this topic, see With Friends Like You: What Israelis Really Think About American Jews by Matti Golan).

Israel
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Zionism

Making Headlines; Making Waves

2006-06-08T10:08:00.000+03:00

I've made the news once again.

Over the last few days, among activists and leaders of the National Union party, to which I am affiliated, there has been much discussion over the decision by the MK's of the NU-NRP faction to abstain from voting against Ehud Olmert's 2006 proposed budget (which was passed last night), in return for receiving an allocation of funds that would support causes and institutions affiliated with the parties. (Deals were also made with United Torah Judaism and Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party).

While it is unclear what percentage of the rank and file NU-NRP voters and supporters were in favor of such a move, 8 of the NU-NRP's 9 MK's chose to support this deal and abstain in the vote on the budget, with only Moledet (National Union) MK Aryeh Eldad voting against the budget.

Like Eldad, I too went against the decision of the leaders of the party, issuing a list of 7 problems I had with the decision for NU-NRP MK's to abstain in the budget vote, part of which was used as the featured quote in the following story by Arutz-7:

NU/NRP Plans to Abstain in Budget Vote

The NU/NRP faction has agreed not to vote against the government's budget proposal in tonight's Knesset vote, in return for NIS 122 million in funding for yeshivot & other religious-Zionist causes.

The decision by the right-wing religious party to cooperate with the Kadima-led government has caused a storm within religious-Zionist circles.

One member of the National Union, Ze'ev Orenstein, who ran for Knesset on behalf of the party in the last election, albeit in a slot considered to be not realistic, said, "Here is the perfect chance for the NU-NRP to establish itself as the true opposition in the Knesset; as faithful to the Nation, Land and Torah of Israel, and faithful to the State of Israel existing as a Jewish State - but instead, we are playing political games, showing ourselves to be no better than the MK’s in Likud, NRP, Yisrael Beiteinu, Shas and UTJ (and just as buyable) – and our voters will not let us forget that.
Where is our leadership? Where is our commitment to our principles? Is everything justifiable in the name of being pragmatic and real politik?"

For those interested in the complete list of the 7 problems I had with the deal, continue reading...

1) MK Benny Elon, head of the NU-NRP, has stressed many times that our only hope of stopping the next expulsion is through the Knesset - presumably by toppling Olmert's government before it can implement its expulsion plans. If we wait to topple the government until the day before the expulsion, when everything is in place, and a majority vote is assured, we will have been too late. The time to act is not 2 years from now, when the expulsion is on the verge of being implemented, but today, when it is still far from a done deal.

2) True, the votes of the NU-NRP MK's may not be the deciding votes, but even so, imagine if without our votes, the budget would only pass by a handful of votes. it would be a sign to everyone that Olmert's government is weak, and even his own coalition partners do not support him.

If Olmert were not concerned about this possibility, he would not be spending hundreds of millions of NIS to buy the support of NU-NRP and Yisrael Beiteinu (as well as UTJ). Olmert knows that passing the budget in a convincing manner is crucial, as this represents his first true test as PM, and we are giving him exactly what he needs to pass it.

It is through passing the budget today, something that seems trivial, that Olmert will gain the political support, capital and momentum that he will use to eventually implement the expulsion plan. We can't allow him to gain that momentum. Every opportunity we have, we need to show how weak Olmert is, how weak his coalition is, how even members of his own party do not support him, how he cant barely pass the budget.

Instead, the story will be how the budget was passed by a wide margin, including the religious and the right - making Olmert out to be a strong PM, with the support of all segments of country (both politically and religiously).

3) The argument that since the budget will pass without our votes, and therefore, our MK's may as well abstain, and get something out of it makes us out to be no better than Shas or Aguda, when they say that they will sit with Kadima, but will only support the next expulsion if their votes are not the deciding ones (or, will vote against it, even though they are sitting in the government, since their votes will be meaningless anyway - and they will have cashed in on all of the benefits that go along with being part of the government).

Based on the above logic, perhaps our MK's should have abstained on the vote against the destruction of Gush Katif, since there was an assured majority, and perhaps we could have cashed in on it. Perhaps we should join Olmert's government now, getting lots of money for our causes, on condition that NU-NRP votes will not be the deciding votes on any crucial issue?!?

4) As for there being nothing in the current budget towards expulsion, that makes absolutely no sense. 1st, there is money to keep building the fence - the future border of Israel. 2nd, there is funding to remove "illegal outposts", and 3rd, while one might not be able to point to a particular section of the budget and say that this money is geared towards the expulsion, the money is there in other places, whether in Defense, or elsewhere, just not officially marked for those purposes. (Every organization does that - it's called creative bookkeeping).

5) Based on numerous media reports, Of the 122 million NIS that the NU is receiving, only 2.5 million NIS is allocated for those expelled from Gush Katif. That's less than 2%!!! Frankly, that's insulting. The government has an obligation to those expelled from Gush Katif, and their receiving what is rightfully coming to them should not be contingent on the NU-NRP selling out, not to mention that 2.5 million NIS will not solve any of the problems facing the Jews of Gush Katif.

As for the rest of the money, it's being broken down as follows:

NIS 22 million for national service, NIS 37 million for high school yeshivas and ulpanot, NIS 50 million for other study programs, NIS 2.5 million for projects in Jerusalem .

Last I checked, NU had 6 MK's and NRP had 3. Why is it that 99% (without exaggeration) of the budget is going towards Mafdal institutions? This is a victory for the Mafdal and their voters, and makes the NU look not only like sell-outs, but of caving in not only to Olmert, but to Orlev.

At least Olmert is the PM, and he clearly has what to offer us to support the budget, but why are we taking a back seat to Mafdal? In the next elections, voters will turn to us and say that there is no reason to vote NU, if when we had control of the Mafdal, all we did was implement their policies - they may as well vote for Mafdal, and have there be 6 NRP MK's and only 3 from the NU.

At least, show that the 122 million NIS is being invested into building in Yesha...

Furthermore, what message are we sending to our children who attend these institutions, when we tell them that for 100 million NIS+ we were willing to undermine the very values that we are teaching them in these programs?

6) If we are agreeing to sell-out, at we should get our money's worth. How can we explain that between NU-NRP (122 million NIS) and Yisrael Be'iteinu (185 million NIS), who have a total of 20 MK's combined are only receiving a little over 300 million NIS, while UTJ, with their 6 MK's are getting 290 million NIS?!?

7) By NU-NRP, as well as Yisrael Be'iteinu making deals with Kadima, there is effectively no longer any opposition party in the Knesset. Lieberman has declared that he is in favor of territorial concessions and the establishment of a P-State west of the Jordan, and the same can be said for Bibi and the Likud.

Here is the perfect chance for the NU-NRP to establish itself as the true opposition in the Knesset; as faithful to Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael and Torah Yisrael; faithful to the State of Israel existing as a Jewish State, and instead, we are playing political games, and show ourselves to be no better than the MK's in Likud, Mafdal, Yisrael Be'iteinu, Shas and UTJ (and just as buyable) – and our voters will not let us forget that.

Where is our leadership? Where is our commitment to our principles? Is everything justifiable in the name of being pragmatic and real politik?

Israel
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Judaism
Zionism

I can't give up on Israel

2006-06-07T11:48:00.000+03:00

About a month ago, Joseph Farah, an American Christian Arab, and founder of World Net Daily wrote an article entitled, "I give up on Israel".

The gist of the article, for those who haven't read it, is that Farah, who has long been known as a staunch defender of the Jewish State, is calling it quits. No, he's not quitting his job as a journalist, but he is no longer going to devote his time and energy towards advocating on behalf of the Jewish State when its leaders seem to be hell-bent on committing national suicide. In short, he's giving up on Israel.

Since the article first came out, I have read it numerous times, and have devoted it much thought, and I have come to the conclusion that Joseph Farah is right. I don't blame him. If I were in his shoes, I would probably feel the same exact way.

However, there is one small difference between myself and Joseph Farah, and it is that difference which prevents me from giving up on Israel.

Before I elaborate upon the point of difference, it is important to understand how one of the Jewish State's strongest supporters in an otherwise hostile media has come to the point of giving up on Israel.

I am through defending Israel – at least the regime currently in power in Jerusalem, this useless coalition seemingly hell-bent on committing national suicide... I'm through trying to understand the incomprehensible moves of a self-flagellating nation. I'm through trying to point out the moral rightness of a state and a people who themselves fail to discern right from wrong...

I know I speak for many Jews and Christians throughout the world who see Israel's surrender as a cowardly betrayal, a sign that the Jewish state puts more faith in Washington and "international diplomacy" than in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob...

Enough of "land for peace." It has never worked – not in Israel's history, nor in any other nation's history. Enough of retreat. Enough of unilateral withdrawals. Enough of staged surrender. Enough of the appeasement with evil. Enough of the madness.

Compromise with evil is evil. And that's what Israel is doing. As for me and my house, I will not be a part of it. I will continue to serve the Lord and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

One thing is for certain. That peace will not come under the leadership of men like Ehud Olmert and Ariel Sharon. If the Israeli people want to disengage, it should be from so-called "leaders" like this...

The Truth is, I agree with just about 99.9% of what Joseph Farah writes in the above article (minus his reference to Jesus, of course), and yet, I can't agree with his conclusion. I can't give up on Israel.

Why you ask? What is it that allows Joseph Farah to walk away; to give up on Israel, but that does not allow me the same privilege?

I found the answer in a song.

I was recently at an event, at the close of which, the Israeli song, "Ein li Eretz Acheret" ("I have no other Homeland") was played, to the tune of which I walked down to my chuppah. (For the Hebrew lyrics, click here, and to listen to the song, click here). The words to the song are as follows:

Ein li eretz acheret
Gam im admati bo'eret
Rak mila be'ivrit
choderet el orkai el nishmati -
Beguf ko'ev, belev ra'ev
Kan hu beiti --

Lo eshtok
ki artzi shinta et paneha

Lo avater lehazkir la
Ve'ashir kan be'ozneha
Ad shetiftach et eineha

Ein li eretz acheret
Gam im admati boeret
Rak mila beivrit
hoderet el orkai el nishmati
Beguf koev, belev raev
Kan hu beiti --

Lo eshtok ki ertzi
shinta et paneha
Lo avater lehazkir la
Veashir kan beozneha
Ad shetiftah et eineha

Ein li eretz aheret
Ad shetihadesh yameha
Ad shetiftah et eineha

Ein li eretz aheret
Gam im admati boeret
Rak mila beivrit
hoderet el orkai el nishmati
Beguf koev, belev raev
Kan -- hu beiti

Beguf koev, belev raev
Kan -- hu beiti

I have no other Homeland
even if my land is burning.
Just one word ever turning
In my mind, into my soul.
Though wracked with pain,
I murmur again,
This is my home.

I must speak - for my homeland seems to be changing.
I will not give up reminding her,
Sing although my heart is breaking,
Until I see that it's waking.

I have no other Homeland
even if my land is burning.
Just one word ever turning
In my mind, into my soul.
Though wracked with pain,
I murmur again,
This is my home.

I must speak - for my Homeland seems to be changing.
I will not give up reminding her,
Sing although my heart is breaking,
Until I see that it's waking.

I have no other Homeland
until she will renew her glorious days
Until I see that it's waking

I have no other Homeland
even if my land is burning.
Just one word ever turning
In my mind, into my soul.
Though wracked with pain,
I murmur again,
This is my home.

Though wracked with pain,
I murmur again,
This is my home.

Joseph Farah, as he points out, is an "American journalist of Arabic heritage". Joseph Farah does not owe the Jewish State his loyalty. He does not owe the Jewish People his loyalty. This does not discount his support for the Jewish People and State, but at any moment, as Joseph Farah makes clear in his article, he is free to walk away, to give up on Israel.

I am afforded no such luxury. I see the same Israel the Joseph Farah sees. I see the same shortcomings and am pained by the same failures and weaknesses. I am troubled at the lack of Jewish leadership that exists within the leadership of the State, and the consequences that come as a result.

Yet, in spite of all of that, I do not have the luxury, as Joseph Farah does, as giving up on Israel.

At the end of the day, Israel is my (only) home, and the Jewish People are my family.

One does not give up on his family and one does not abandon his home - never, no matter what, no questions asked...

As painful as it may be, at times.

Israel
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Judaism
Zionism

A good American, but not a very good Jew

2006-05-28T16:38:00.000+03:00

Without a doubt, Henry Kissinger - the American - was a very accomplished man.

Kissinger played a dominant role in shaping U.S. foreign policy from 1969 - 1977, serving as Secretary of State under Presidents' Nixon and Ford, and winning a Nobel Peace Prize in 1973.

Kissinger - the Jew - is a different story, altogether.

One of Kissinger's trademarks was his steadfast belief in realpolitik (politics based on strictly practical rather than idealistic notions, and practiced without any sentimental illusions), and it seems that this philosophy was not only limited to shaping his worldview (and the foreign policy of the US) vis' a vis' the nations of the world, but towards his very own - the Jewish People & State - as well.

Kissinger sought 'small friendly' Israel

The United States reached out to hostile Arabs three decades ago with an offer to work toward making Israel a "small friendly country" of no threat to its neighbors and with an assurance to Iraq that the U.S. had stopped backing Kurdish rebels in the north.

"We can't negotiate about the existence of Israel," then Secretary of State Henry Kissinger told his Iraqi counterpart in a rare high-level meeting, "but we can reduce its size to historical proportions."

This is consistent with Kissinger's attitude towards the Jewish State leading into the Yom Kippur War in 1973, when he pressured Israel into not launching a pre-emptive strike against those preparing to attack her.

For six crucial days during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger reportedly delayed a much-needed airlift of weapons to Israel, even as Israelis were dying in their hundreds repelling the surprise attacks from Egypt and Syria. Sources other than Eban say that it was only when a desperate Israel showed a readiness to deploy nuclear weapons against its enemies that the airlift was allowed to go ahead. An unnamed source “close to former US Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger” confirmed an Israeli suspicion that the arms had been withheld to ensure Israel would be more pliable in America’s hands after the war. Kissinger's strategy was to "let Israel come out ahead, but bleed," the source said.

Israel, the Jewish State, paid with the lives of 3,000 of its soldiers.

Kissinger won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Dual loyalty was never a concern for Kissinger, a Jew serving as Secretary of State of the United States of America.

Good American. Poor Jew.

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Google and God

2006-05-28T09:46:00.000+03:00

Today, I created a G-Mail e mail account.

For some strange reason, I felt compelled to actually read through their Terms of Service before agreeing to create my account. (I had heard rumors that Google reserved the right to save every single e mail you ever receive or send for their own purposes - which, if they do, they don't make mention of in their Terms of Service).

In any case, within the terms of service, I came across something rather interesting:

Without limiting the foregoing, under no circumstances shall Google or its licensors be held liable for any delay or failure in performance resulting directly or indirectly from acts of nature, forces, or causes beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, Internet failures, computer equipment failures, telecommunication equipment failures, other equipment failures, electrical power failures, strikes, labor disputes, riots, insurrections, civil disturbances, shortages of labor or materials, fires, floods, storms, explosions, acts of God, war, governmental actions, orders of domestic or foreign courts or tribunals, non-performance of third parties, or loss of or fluctuations in heat, light, or air conditioning.

I found it interesting that buried in the middle of this all encompassing list was "acts of God", for which, after conducting a Google search, I found the following definition:

ACT OF GOD - A natural event, not preventable by any human agency, such as flood, storms, or lightning. Forces of nature that no one has control over, and therefore cannot be held accountable.

This phrase denotes those accidents which arise from physical causes, and which cannot be prevented.

What I found to be quite amusing, was that "acts of God" appeared on the list well after "acts of nature", as well as appearing after "fires, floods, storms, explosions".

I am left wondering, what exactly can be Google be referring to when they mention "acts of God", if they already individually listed just about everything that could have been considered an act of God well before listing "acts of God" itself.

I think we can find the answer at the very end of their list of natral and unnatural disasters:

...or loss of... air conditioning.

Hurricanes and earthquakes pale in comparisson to the power of the Almighty God who sends Google running for protection with His ability to giveth and taketh away air conditioning.

How divine.

Israel
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Judaism
Zionism

What do you stand for?

2006-05-26T08:30:00.000+03:00

Among my many Yom Yerushalayim experiences that I had yesterday, one in particular stood out, and unsurprisingly enough, it involved a conversation wtith an Israeli taxi driver.

I was in a taxi, on my way to the Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Nof, and as usual, I was talking it up with the driver, in this case a 22 year old from Katamon who shares the taxi with his father, and makes considerably more money a month than I do (and yet, for some reason, still has dreams of going to America for a few years to strike it rich - if only he could get a visa).

As we entered Har Nof, he mentioned to me that driving two cars ahead of us was the car of the former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel and the Shas party's (Israel's Sephardi political party) spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who lives in Har Nof.

Ze'ev: So are you as Shasnik? (Are you affiliated with the Shas party?)

Driver: No, I'm a right winger who's against Arabs.

Ze'ev: Ok, but what are you for?

Driver: What?

Ze'ev: You said that you're a right winger who is against Arabs, but what are you for?

Driver: You mean you want to know which party I voted for in the elections?

Ze'ev: No, I just want to know what you're for.

Driver; [Hesitating] I want this country to be Israeli... er... Jewish... [voice trailing off]

At that point, the driver received a reprieve of sorts, as we pulled up to the requested address, and the conversation came to an end.

It is often much easier for a person to know what he's against, but not what he's for. This is certainly the case among many of the members of the Jewish People and State.

For instance, all too often I hear from people (and political parties) that "I am against giving away land; I am against the fence; the government is corrupt; the media is biased; the Supreme Court has an anti-Jewish (or ultra-secular) agenda...

All those things may be true, but after hearing such an individual articulate all that it is that he is "against", I am no closer to understanding exactly what it is that he is for (and in many cases, neither is the individual himself any closer).

If we, as Jews do not understand why the Jewish People should continue to exist; if we, as Jews, can't articulate why it is that a Jewish State in the Land of Israel should exist and what our right to it is; If we, as Jews, are unable to understand what it is that we believe in and why it is that we believe in it, then we are nowhere and no one at the same time, and as such, stand for absolutely nothing, regardless of how many things we might stand against.

During the 2,000 year Exile, without fail, Jewish parents passed on to their children the essence of what it meant to be a Jew - what it was that being a Jew stood for, giving the next generation of Jews the inner (if not physical) strength to stand strong against their oppressors (be they of a physcal or spiritual nature). If the Jewish People and State are to have a future, we must do the same for our children. We owe all the generations who sacrificed so much to ensure that the Jewish Perople would endure at least that much.

In truth, we owe it to ourselves and our children so much more.

Israel
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Zionism

Yom Yerushalayim Thoughts: A Matter of Perspective

2006-05-25T14:14:00.000+03:00

Today (and tomorrow), the Jewish People will celebrate Yom Yerushalayim. To gain an appreciation of what we are celebrating on Yom Yerushalayim, click here).

Unfortunately, for a few different reasons, my heart is not full at the moment (although perhaps that will change as the day progresses), so instead of writing another "downer" of a post, I am going to share some words of Torah and inspiration from Rabbi Moshe Lichtman's new sefer entitled: "Eretz Yisrael in the Parashah" from the section devoted to Yom Yerushalayim that I found to be particularly meaningful (and hopefully you will, as well):

Before doing so, as this is my blog, I am going to take the liberty of endorsing this tremendous sefer, where Rabbi Lichtman has compiled every single source relating to Eretz Yisrael in the entire Torah, sharing with us both his own wisdom, and that of our sages, leaving no doubt of the centrality of the Land of Israel to the Jewish People and the necessity of the Jewish People living in the Land of Israel in order to fulfill our collective destiny.

"Eretz Yisrael in the Parashah" can be found in book stores in Israel for +/-95 NIS. It should be reaching the bookstores in Chu”l in the near future.

... When one reads accounts of the Six Day War, one cannot help but be awestruck by the magnitude of the events that took place in Eretz Yisrael just four decades ago. Whether we call our victory a miracle, Divine intervention, or Divine Providence, anyone who is not blinded by preconceived notions has to admit that what transpired here was of biblical proportions. Even enemy soldiers, foreign journalists, and secular Israelis admitted that G-d's hand was at work.

Therefore, one is completely dumbfounded when one encounters... people - often very religious Jews - who deny the extraordinary nature of the times in which we live. How can anyone fail to see the Divine Providence at work behind the scenes (and quite often in full view) in the Holy Land?...

...It is well known that the manna, the heavenly bread that B'nei Yisrael ate in the desert, tasted like anything a Jew wanted it to taste like. But what - asked the Chafetz Chayim - did the manna taste like to a person who did not think of anything in particular while eating it? One is forced to say that the manna did not taste heavenly at all to such a person. Only one who contemplated his actions and gave thought to what he was eating tasted the delicacies of the manna...

The same is true - concluded the Chafetz Chaim - of the advent of Mashiach. At that time, G-d will reveal His Shechinah to the entire world, but only those who contemplate the historical processes unfolding before their very eyes will sense the extraordinary nature of the times in which they live. "He who does not reflect upon the coming of the Mashiach will not feel anything at all." (Cited in HaTekufah HaGedolah, p. 20)

...Finally, the famed Nazir of Jerusalem, R. David Cohen zt"l, shed new light upon a prayer we say three times a day: "V'techazenah eineinu b'shuvchah l'Zion b'rachamim". on a simple level, we beseech G-d, "May our eyes behold your merciful return to Zion." That is, may we please be zocheh to witness Your eventual return to Jerusalem. However, the Nazir added another, more "updated" dimension to the prayer. He explained that when G-d returns to Zion there will be those who will not recognize the events for what they truly are. Therefore, we pray to G-d: "When You actually restore Your Shechinah to its proper place, please let us see what is taking place before our very eyes. Let us not be blinded by peripheral events, whose purpose is to conceal Your great light; and let us not be influenced by those who (willingly or not) fail to see beyond the superficial."

Over the past sixty years (and more) we have witnessed events of such great magnitude that it would not be presumptuous to say that G-d is clearly returning to Zion. Let us just open our eyes and enjoy the view; and let us show Hashem how much we truly appreciate all that He has done for us so far and all that He continues to do for the sake of out ultimate redemption."

Amen.

Israel
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Judaism
Zionism

It's all a matter of timing...

2006-05-24T13:03:00.000+03:00

Some amazing news was announced this past week in Israel, and it seems if hardly anyone took notice.

Israel's new Public Security Minister, former head of the Shin Bet and current Kadima MK, Avi Dichter, made a stunning announcement this week:

Dichter: We beat terror, now we must fight societal violence

Public Security Minister Avi Dichter said Monday that the burgeoning phenomenon of violence in Israeli society would be defeated just as Palestinian terrorism was defeated.

So, why has this piece of great news flown right under the radar?

I'm guessing that Avi Dichter's announcement of Israel's having defeated "Palestinian" terrorism a day after a Qassam rocket landed in a classroom in Sderot just might have had something to do with it.

But, it gets worse for Dichter. Since his remarks, the following headlines have appeared in the Israeli media:

1) Halutz: Terrorists smuggling tons of TNT from Sinai

While Israel spends billions to fortify its border with the Gaza Strip, terrorist groups have found a bypass route into Israel through Sinai...

Instead of risking the high-tech security checkpoints that Israel has designed between Gaza and Israel, terror groups are establishing routes through the largely unfenced Negev and Sinai deserts.

Although the IDF has increased patrols in the area, terrorists have already smuggled 6.5 tons of TNT, 15 rockets, and dozens of RPGs, said Halutz.

2) Minister Sheetrit: terror will continue after consolidation plan

"My problem with the consolidation [plan] is that you get a Palestinian
quasi-state without a peace agreement and the terror continues."

3) 'Schools can't be protected in time'

In a visit to his hometown of Sderot on Monday, Defense Minister Amir Peretz toured a school that had suffered a direct hit from a Kassam rocket and conceded that anti-Kassam protection measures for schools and kindergartens in the Western Negev won't be in place by September...

Approximately 400 Kassam rockets, launched from Northern Gaza, have landed in Israel since the Gaza disengagement, according to IDF sources.

There you have it.

I'm sure, as the former head of the Shin Bet, Dichter knows what he's talking about, so if he says that Israel has defeated "Palestinian" terrorism, then regardless of any facts showing otherwise, he must be right, and everyone else must be wrong.

He just should have waited another week before making the announcement.

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Should Jews not living in Israel have the right to express their opnion on affairs concerning the Jewish State?

2006-05-23T18:23:00.000+03:00

I have always been conflicted as to whether Jews not living in Israel should have a say in the decision making process within the Jewish State of Israel.

On the one hand, I believe that as The Home(land) of the Jewish People, the Jewish State of Israel has an obligation to place the overall interests of the Jewish People above all else. As such, it is essetnial for the Jewish State to have an open ear towards their considerations, as nearly every decision that is made in some way effects the greater Jewish People.

That being said, I do have trouble accepting the idea that Jews who do not live in Israel (whatever their reason may be) should have a meaningful say in determining the policies of the Jewish State, and an Op-Ed by the very successful and influential Rabbi Marc Schneier (who also just happens to be the President of Kadima USA) in today's Jerusalem Post makes it clear why that is the case.

Backing convergence - an American Jewish perspective

As Prime Minister Ehud Olmert makes his first state visit to the United States, it is time for Jews around the world to firmly support his efforts to set defensible borders for the State of Israel...

I have embraced the convergence policy of Kadima for two reasons: terrorism and the preservation of the Jewish majority in the Jewish state...

We hope that Hamas will sincerely denounce its terrorist proclivities and recognize the right of both Israel and Palestine to exist and flourish in the Middle East. Yet we must always retain a Jewish majority in the Jewish state. This is the promise left to us by our ancestors, and the legacy we in turn will leave for our children.

What bothers me most about this article is not Rabbi Schneier's support for Ehud Olmert's expulsion plan, but his reasoning for supporting it.

Yet we must always retain a Jewish majority in the Jewish state. This is the promise left to us by our ancestors, and the legacy we in turn will leave for our children.

I really do hate to be cynical, but Rabbi Schneier, by choosing for himself the "good life" of America over living in the Jewish State has made it perfectly clear that his driving concern is not ensuring a Jewish majority within the State of Israel, because if that was truly what concerned him, he would be actively encouraging American Aliyah, and would be packing his own bags, as well.

No, for Rabbi Schneier, the key to securing a Jewish majority in Israel is not through Aliyah (or other measures), but through the expulsion of tens of thousands of Jews from their homes, which of course, he will watch from the comfort of his own home, in either the Hamptons or New York City.

For better or worse, Rabbi Schneier is entitled to express his opinions as they relate to the Jewish State, but that does not give him the right, in stressing the imperative of securing a Jewish majority within the State of Israel, to pay empty lip service to "the promise left to us by our ancestors", or to speak of ensuring the "legacy" of a Jewish majority within the State of Israel "for our children", when in his words and actions he makes a mockery of both.

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Jerusalem Day: Broadcast of the Liberation of the Temple Mount and Western Wall by the Israel Defense Forces

2006-05-22T13:17:00.000+03:00

On the 28th of Iyar, which falls out this coming Thursday night, the Jewish People will give thank to G-d for the liberation and unification of Jerusalem, the eternal Jewish capitol, which took place on the 3rd day of the Six-Day War, June 7th, 1967.

In the historic live broadcast on Voice of Israel Radio (courtesy of IsraCast), one will hear arguably the three most significant words uttered in the last 2,000 years of Jewish History, and perhaps the most significant since the Jewish People uttered the words of "Na'aseh V'Nishma" ("We will do and we will listen") prior to their accepting of the Torah at Mt. Sinai, nearly 3,500 years ago.

Of course, I am referring to the words uttered by Colonel Motta Gur Z"L, "Har HaBayit B'Yadeinu!" ("The Temple Mount is in our hands!").

Below you will find the complete transcript of the historic live broadcast on Voice of Israel Radio, June 7th, 1967, of the Liberation of the Temple Mount and Western Wall by the Israel Defense Forces (courtesy of IsraCast):

This is Mordechai Twersky reporting from Jerusalem:

What you are now about to hear is perhaps one of the most riveting recordings in the modern-day history of Israel. I refer to the dramatic sounds of Israeli Defense Forces entering and liberating Jerusalem’s Old City and the Western Wall on June 7th, 1967. You hear the sounds of gunfire. You hear the footsteps of Israeli soldiers, as they draw closer and closer and as General Uzi Narkiss instructs them and asks to be shown where the Western Wall stands. We hear a triumphant Brigadier General Shlomo Goren, later to become the Chief Rabbi of Israel, as he recites the memorial prayer and sound the shofar, as Israeli soldiers weep with sorrow over their comrades killed in combat.

Listen closely to this piece of history, which is housed in the archives of the Avi Yaffe Recording Studio in Jerusalem.

Colonel Motta Gur [on loudspeaker]: All company commanders, we’re sitting right now on the ridge and we’re seeing the Old City. Shortly we’re going to go in to the Old City of Jerusalem, that all generations have dreamed about. We will be the first to enter the Old City. Eitan’s tanks will advance on the left and will enter the Lion’s Gate. The final rendezvous will be on the open square above.
[The open square of the Temple Mount.]

[Sound of applause by the soldiers.]

Yossi Ronen: We are now walking on one of the main streets of Jerusalem towards the Old City. The head of the force is about to enter the Old City.

[Gunfire.]

Yossi Ronen: There is still shooting from all directions; we’re advancing towards the entrance of the Old City.

[Sound of gunfire and soldiers’ footsteps.]

[Yelling of commands to soldiers.]

[More soldiers’ footsteps.]

The soldiers are keeping a distance of approximately 5 meters between them. It’s still dangerous to walk around here; there is still sniper shooting here and there.

[Gunfire.]

We’re all told to stop; we’re advancing towards the mountainside; on our left is the Mount of Olives; we’re now in the Old City opposite the Russian church. I’m right now lowering my head; we’re running next to the mountainside. We can see the stone walls. They’re still shooting at us. The Israeli tanks are at the entrance to the Old City, and ahead we go, through the Lion’s Gate. I’m with the first unit to break through into the Old City. There is a Jordanian bus next to me, totally burnt; it is very hot here. We’re about to enter the Old City itself. We’re standing below the Lion’s Gate, the Gate is about to come crashing down, probably because of the previous shelling. Soldiers are taking cover next to the palm trees; I’m also staying close to one of the trees. We’re getting further and further into the City.

[Gunfire.]

Colonel Motta Gur announces on the army wireless: The Temple Mount is in our hands! I repeat, the Temple Mount is in our hands!

All forces, stop firing! This is the David Operations Room. All forces, stop firing! I repeat, all forces, stop firing! Over.

Commander eight-nine here, is this Motta (Gur) talking? Over.

[Inaudible response on the army wireless by Motta Gur.]

Uzi Narkiss: Motta, there isn’t anybody like you. You’re next to the Mosque of Omar.

Yossi Ronen: I’m driving fast through the Lion’s Gate all the way inside the Old City.

Command on the army wireless: Search the area, destroy all pockets of resistance and make sure to enter every single house, especially the holy places.

[Lt.- Col. Uzi Eilam blows the Shofar. Soldiers are singing ‘Jerusalem of Gold’.]

Uzi Narkiss: Tell me, where is the Western Wall? How do we get there?

Yossi Ronen: I’m walking right now down the steps towards the Western Wall. I’m not a religious man, I never have been, but this is the Western Wall and I’m touching the stones of the Western Wall.

Soldiers: [reciting the ‘Shehechianu’ blessing]: Baruch ata Hashem, elokeinu melech haolam, she-hechianu ve-kiemanu ve-hegianu la-zman ha-zeh. [Translation: Blessed art Thou L-rd G-d King of the Universe who has sustained us and kept us and has brought us to this day]

Rabbi Shlomo Goren: Baruch ata Hashem, menachem tsion u-voneh Yerushalayim. [Translation: Blessed are thou, who comforts Zion and builds Jerusalem]

Soldiers: Amen!

[Soldiers sing ‘Hatikva’ next to the Western Wall.]

Rabbi Goren: We’re now going to recite the prayer for the fallen soldiers of this war against all of the enemies of Israel:

[Soldiers weeping]

El male rahamim, shohen ba-meromim. Hamtse menuha nahona al kanfei hashina, be-maalot kedoshim, giborim ve-tehorim, kezohar harakiya meirim u-mazhirim. Ve-nishmot halalei tsava hagana le-yisrael, she-naflu be-maaraha zot, neged oievei yisrael, ve-shnaflu al kedushat Hashem ha-am ve-ha’arets, ve-shichrur Beit Hamikdash, Har Habayit, Hakotel ha-ma’aravi veyerushalayim ir ha-elokim. Be-gan eden tehe menuhatam. Lahen ba’al ha-rahamim, yastirem beseter knafav le-olamim. Ve-yitsror be-tsror ha-hayim et nishmatam adoshem hu nahlatam, ve-yanuhu be-shalom al mishkavam [soldiers weeping loud]ve-ya’amdu le-goralam le-kets ha-yamim ve-nomar amen!

[Translation: Merciful G-d in heaven, may the heroes and the pure, be under thy Divine wings, among the holy and the pure who shine bright as the sky, and the souls of soldiers of the Israeli army who fell in this war against the enemies of Israel, who fell for their loyalty to G-d and the land of Israel, who fell for the liberation of the Temple, the Temple Mount, the Western Wall and Jerusalem the city of the Lord. May their place of rest be in paradise. Merciful One, O keep their souls forever alive under Thy protective wings. The Lord being their heritage, may they rest in peace, for they shalt rest and stand up for their allotted portion at the end of the days, and let us say, Amen.]

[Soldiers are weeping. Rabbi Goren sounds the shofar. Sound of gunfire in the background.]

Rabbi Goren: Le-shana HA-ZOT be-Yerushalayim ha-b’nuya, be-yerushalayim ha-atika! [Translation: This year in a rebuilt Jerusalem! In the Jerusalem of old!]

Mordechai Twersky, IsraCast.com

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The Poor of Your City Come First: The Kindness of Fools - Part III

2006-05-21T14:45:00.000+03:00

When it comes to giving charity, Jewish Law instructs us to give it in the following manner:

"When there will be a needy person from among your brethren, in one of your gates in your land that the Lord your God has given you, don't harden your heart and don't close your hand from your needy brother. Surely open your hand and lend him according to his need that is lacking to him" (Deuteronomy 15:7-8).

Rashi's commentary points out that the description of the poor person uses the relatively unusual word "needy," indicating that the neediest individuals come first. And the mention of "your gates" indicates that the poor of your city precede those from other cities.

Unfortunately, those leading the government of the State of Israel must have all skipped "Hebrew School" on the day that this lesson was taught, as is woefully evident from the two following articles that appeared in Israeli newspapers this past weekend.

Cabinet okays NIS 50 million medical aid to Palestinians

Now, let us put aside for a moment that the "Palestinians" are engaged in a war of destruction against the Jewish State of Israel. Let us pretend for a moment that we get along just swell with our "Palestinian" neighbors in Gaza.

Even in this fantasy world, there would still be absolutley no justification for the government of the State of Israel allocating a even single Shekel towards the "Palestinians" - not to buy medication nor to buy weapons, and here's why:

Save Ethiopian Jewry, again

...According to the Israel Association for Ethiopian Jews (www.iaej.co.il), 70 percent of Ethiopians have no salary income and the average Ethiopian salary is below the poverty line. About 40% of Ethiopian students in grades 1-9 are below the class level for reading. Ethiopians drop out of school between the ages of 14 and 17 at a rate twice the national average...

Unfortunately, the Jewish State of Israel has too many of its own citizens who are in dire need of financial (and other forms of) assistance, and as Jewish Law (and common sense) teach us, they must come first.

What message is the government of the State of Israel sending to the weakest elements of Israeli society when it allocates millions of Shekels to assist our enemy, while claiming to not have the means to help its very own; all the while, raising the price of bread and considering doing the same to the price of milk, harming 400,000 of the weakest families within the State of Israel?

What message is the State of Israel sending to the greater Israeli society when it shows that it cares more about the wellbeing of the enemies of the Jewish State than it does of its very own citizens?

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