Response To Stern's Arabs YES! Zionists NO!

18 of the Fourth Month 5770

Arabs YES! Zionists NO!
Paula R. Stern, 13 Tammuz 5770/June 25, 2010

There was no respect last week in the streets of Jerusalem as tens of thousands of protesters caused massive delays, littered the ground, trampled the cemetery walls, and cursed the Zionist hand that helps make their lives tolerable here.

Okay, now that I have your attention with that horrible title - imagine seeing it plastered to a street sign in Jerusalem, our holy city, the capital of our Jewish nation. That's right...there it was (picture coming soon). So the Hareidim (Ultra-Orthodox) protested again today. To emphasize their opinions, they dumped garbage on the streets of Jerusalem and burned those garbage cans again.

I had a meeting near one of these neighborhoods. My first impression as we drove through the streets was of the garbage, strewn on the sides, piled on the sides and even sometimes in the middle. Then I saw the "carcasses" of the garbage cans...all that remains is the twisted metal, the plastic having melted away completely and the garbage left to be scattered. What disrespect, I thought to myself - of our beautiful city, our holy land.

Last week, they had a demonstration. I walked through the crowd on my way to make some purchases. There they stood on the high wall that surrounds the cemetery. There they congregated to watch the huge protest rally...what disrespect, I thought to myself. Of the dead who lie there in eternal rest, here in the holiest of holy cities.

They are saying it isn't about racism, but rather a battle between the arrogance of a judge who dared to declare the law was above man, or at least their rabbis. There are those who say this began as racism and certainly the words of one mother, saying "In any case, we won't agree to unite the (Ashkenazi and Sephardic) classes" implies that it remains an issue of racism.

When the demonstration was over last week, massive crowds drifted away...many taking buses to get home. Buses...of the Zionist state they condemn, on the roads built by the Zionist state. They paid for the buses with the Zionist money and when they got home, as evening arrived, they turned on the lights in their homes - powered by electricity from the Zionist state.

From outside our borders, they send flotillas filled with those who hate this land. But worse, so much worse, are those who dare, in our holy city, to put up a sign that says, "Arabs YES, Zionists, NO!." Not so many years ago, there were Arabs who tried to blow up those very buses they took from the demonstration. I was filled with fury when I saw the sign. I was filled with disgust.

(Read more....)

Paula, you know very well that the expression "Arabs YES! Zionists NO!" comes from only a segment of the Haredi community.

Feel free to criticize the Haredi leadership. I am certainly with you on pointing out the blatant hypocrisy here. But be careful not to demonize the entire Haredi community. Perhaps it was not your intention, but you came off as way too "us and them," playing into the hands of ultra-leftists who cheer on an disagreement between groups of religous Jews. Divide and conquer, as it were.

The racism which exists within the Haredi community is repugnant (... as if the Religious Zionist and secular communities are innocent? I think not.)

Yet, how do you explain the large number of Sefardim at the protests?

How do you explain Rabbi Zalman Melamed's (Beth-El) call for Religious Zionists to join the protests?

You see, Paula, there IS a greater issue involved here.

Justice Edmond Levy's statements regaring the court's authority were most definitely arrogant, if not rebellious against HaQadosh Barukh Hu (The Holy One, Blessed Be He) and His Torah!

On the other hand, the Slonimer Rebbe was absolutely right, irregardless of how right or wrong his community's leaders were:

In a conflict between the laws of Torah and those of men, the divine decrees must prevail.

Unfortunately, those such as the religious mamlakhtim (undying State-worshipers), perhaps like Justice Levy, fail to acknowledge the existence of this increasingly prevalent conflict.

Thus, the future of a sovereign, Jewish Homeland rests in the hands of the Haredi youth,...unified with the settler youth.

Those with undying loyalty to the State, and its courts, over the authority of "Divine decrees," will be sitting on the sidelines, not knowing what hit them, when their Erev Rav controlled, Golden Calf fails them again.

It was their Golden Calf threw them out of their homes in Azza (Gaza) and the Northern Shomron (Samaria), and before that, Yamit. They did not know what hit them then either.

So, my suggestion to you,m Paula, is that the next time you employ the phrase "us and them," you make sure that the "us" is Torah observant Jews like ourselves, as flawed as we may be, along with the secular Jews who love the Land, and are invested in building it up, and the that the "them" is the Erev Rav, our real enemy.

Overcoming The Rift

16 of the Fourth Month 5770

"Leftists, rightists must gain full understanding of Jewish nationalism"

Yoel Meltzer

12 Tammuz 5770/June 24, 2010

Israel today is facing a growing military threat, the likes of which it hasn’t seen for years. The Syrians and Iranians, together with their proxies Hezbollah and Hamas, are becoming increasingly more bellicose in their threats to use large and accurate long-range missiles against Israel. Considering that such a threat places nearly all of Israel within missile range, it should come as no surprise that the Israeli government recently began distributing gas masks to its citizens. Moreover, the addition of a belligerent Turkey to the above axis only heightens the tension in the region.

As pressing as this external threat is, internally Israel faces a challenge of a different nature. Amongst its populace there exists a great divide in understanding and relating to the subject of Jewish nationalism. More than just a difference of opinion, this division has been particularly destabilizing for years, preventing Israel from forming a unified consensus. However, if Israel wishes to survive, especially in the dangerous neighborhood where it is situated, it is incumbent that this rift starts to be mended. A nation internally divided, constantly facing external threats, can only hold on for so long.

Unfortunately, since two seemingly irreconcilable worldviews are involved, little attempt is usually made to understand the other with attacks frequently replacing dialogue. Nonetheless, with the current external threats rapidly mounting, Israel can no longer afford to sweep the issue under the carpet. The time has come to finally deal with and overcome this problem as a precursor for building a much-needed consensus.

For those who view Jewish nationalism positively, it is seen as the continuation of the never-ending Jewish dream, the return to Zion. This strong identification with Jewish nationalism is often expressed by ardent support for Jewish settlement in all of the land of Israel. Moreover, it holds the belief that Israel needs to firmly stand its ground and not capitulate to any external pressure that they consider anti-Israel. First and foremost, Israel must do what is good for Israel regardless of what anyone, even America, might say.

Opposing this view is a group that loathes the term Jewish nationalism. For them nationalism of any type, Jewish or not Jewish, is inherently bad. One only needs to look at history, they claim, to see how much blood has been shed as a result of nationalism. Moreover, since nationalism causes one to primarily focus on what is best for one's own people and country, it usually leads to distrust or hatred of the “other”. Thus, left unchecked nationalism can conceivably turn into chauvinism or even devolve, in its extreme form, into fascism. Not surprisingly, this group seeks to downplay the solely Jewish nature of the country and rather aspires to be more “human” or "international", finding commonalities that connect Israel and its citizens to the rest of humanity.

Light Unto Nations
The key to overcoming the rift is the understanding that both worldviews possess aspects of truth, yet both are also lacking. Since according to Judaism settling the land and building a sovereign state in the land of Israel is a central tenet for normative Jewish living, the nationalists are clearly on the right path. However, the same Judaism also makes it clear that this nationalistic aspect of Judaism is not an end-goal in and of itself but rather a platform that will enable us to fulfill our lofty "international role" of being a light unto nations. Many in the nationalist camp unfortunately forget this "international" aspect of Judaism.

Switching over to members of the internationalist camp, based on their worldview they seem to be concerned that many in the nationalist camp might be taking Jewish nationalism in a dangerous direction. Thus they recoil for what they perceive as overly aggressive tendencies when dealing with the "other." However, by rejecting the uniquely Jewish component altogether, they are shooting themselves in the foot since the modern state of Israel has little chance of surviving in a predominately Muslim neighborhood without it retaining its uniquely Jewish nature.

Like in any sporting event where one needs to focus on the present moment while simultaneously having an eye towards the ultimate goal of winning the championship, so too here. The nationalists need to continue focusing on the immediate goal of strengthening Israeli's sovereignty and its Jewish nature but at the same time they also need to have an eye towards the long-term goal of helping to elevate the rest of humanity.

The internationalists, however, need to realize that in order to have a meaningful interaction with the rest of humanity based upon a genuine respect of the fact that they are Jewish, they first need to strengthen the uniquely Jewish aspect of the country. Otherwise they will just blend in with the rest of the world and be exploited in order to damage, and not help, Israel. Quite simply, both positive aspects of the two opposing camps need to be merged.

A proper understanding of this dual aspect of Jewish nationalism is sorely lacking from the public discourse in Israel. Not surprisingly, the internal division continues to paralyze Israel. Moreover, "standard nationalism", the type that exists throughout the world and that most people continue to mistakenly attribute to Jewish nationalism, cannot succeed in uniting or inspiring the nation. For this reason it is essential that the real meaning and goal of Jewish nationalism is quickly brought to the forefront of public knowledge.

Cross-posted on YNET.

Haveil Havalim #273 Is Up!

15 of the Fourth Month 5770

This week's edition of the Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival is up at A Time Of The Signs.

It's the Almost Summer Vacation Edition!

Some Thoughts On The Fast Of The Fourth Month (17 Tammuz)

Erev Shabbath Qodesh Parshath Balaq 5770

משנה תענית
ד,ו חמישה דברים אירעו את אבותינו בשבעה עשר בתמוז, וחמישה בתשעה באב. בשבעה עשר בתמוז--נשתברו הלוחות, ובטל התמיד, והובקעה העיר, ושרף אפסטמוס את התורה, והעמיד צלם בהיכל...;

Mishnah Ta'anith
4:6 "Five things happened to our 'forefathers' on 17 b'Tammuz, and five on 9 b'Av. On 17 b'Tammuz--the tablets were broken, and the Tamid [offering] ceased, and the city [of Jerusalem] was breached, and Apastimos burned the Torah [scroll], and he set up an image (statue) in the Temple....."

A few years ago, I wrote about how significant I thought it was that 234 years ago, the Fast of the Fourth Month fell on July 4. It was in 1776, the day the United States of America declared its independence from England, its birthday as it were.

In a nutshell, I wrote that the founding of the U. S. A. was bad for the Jews. Even with the countless times the U. S. provided a haven for Jews, and to a degree, religious freedom, I concluded that the U. S. A. was not a good place for us,...spiritually. Eretz Yisra'el is the homeland of Am Yisra'el, not the U. S.

Recently, I mentioned this coinciding of dates to the friend of a friend. This friend of a friend happens to be a Chabbad Messianic, and you all must know by now how I feel about them!

Nevertheless, I mentioned this coinciding of dates specifically to him, as he is one of these Jews who seems to know everything there is about the Hebrew calendar. Mention any Hebrew date to him, and he will tell you whose death or birth or brith milah, or other significant event occurred on that date, whether it be from Biblical times, Modern times, or any date in between.

His take on the birth of the U. S. falling on the Fast of the Fourth Month was that it does not indicate an inherent "bad thing for the Jews." Rather, we Jews made it a bad thing for ourselves, and in particular, through assimilation.

His argument was based on the lack of free choice amongst the goyim. The goyim are just "doing their job," so to speak, and everything is dependent upon Jews and Torah observance.

I don't have much argument with this. I am all for us Jews accepting responsibility for our actions, and moving as far away as possible from our communal mentality of victimization.

However, Jews¹ who not only take on customs, names, clothing, and mentality of the goyim, and actually believe that these are Jewish or at least compatible with being Jewish are one thing. But Jews who go above and beyond the call of assimilation by accepting a foreign land as their own?

This Chabbabnik leaves this out of his argument. Even though Chabbadniks are referred to in Me'ah She'arim, for example, as being "more Zionist than the Zionists," they are still quick to make excuses for Jews to continue to reside outside of Eretz Yisra'el.

Hey, wait a minute! So do many Mamlakhtim (undying State-loyalists, yet "Zionist")!

At least Chabbad has a consistent hashqafah to rely upon, and thus, are at least being consistent.

But, I digress....

To emphasize the severity of the rejection of our Promised Homeland, I will mention some words of HaZa"L: A Jew living outside of Israel is likened to one who is doing avodah zarah (foreign worship) or to one who is God-less. Certainly, then, Jews who have the power to come and reside in Israel, yet do not, are rejecting a fundamental principle of Jewish identity, and are some of the guiltiest of assimilation.

The Yossi Beilins² of the world go as far as proclaiming to us that we no longer need a Jewish State. After all, things are so good for us throughout the world! Yeah, right! Just look at England, France, Belgium, and Germany! Of course, what does Yossi Beilin care about the spiritual effects of Galuth (exile), let alone Torah? Or perhaps his belief is that the ideal state of the Jewish People IS to be fully assimilated amongst the goyim. Ya' think?

The Avraham Burgs³ of the world tell us to acquire a foreign passport. He got out while he could. He now proudly resides in his eternal Homeland of Am Yisra'el,...France. Don't let the kippah fool you! He is not, I repeat, not living the Homeland of the Jewish People!

Money, cars, a high standard of living, they have really got you hooked, don't they?

Can't handle it in Israel?

Three things are acquired through suffering: Torah, Eretz Yisra'el, and Ha'Olam Ha Ba (Bereshit Rabba).

It's not supposed to be a picnic. We are supposed to work at it, to show that we are worthy. It is only through such an investment that we truly learn to care for not only this Land of ours, but for the truly Holy gift of HaQadosh Barukh Hu, that it truly is.

*********

¹I leave out the super-assimilated Jews here, the intermarried, the ones who do not care to investigate their heritage, deny or are ashamed of it. It's mostly not their fault; as condescending as it may seem, they just don't know any better.

²Yossi Beilin (Meretz-Yachad) is a former minister in the Israeli government, and self-identified "post-Zionist."

³Avraham Burg is a kippah-wearing (still?), former Speaker of the K'nesseth (Labor), as well as former head of the Jewish Agency. His father Yosef was a leader in the National Religious Party [NRP], famous for leaving Torah out, when asked about his vision for the state of Israel. Thus, how "religious" could the NRP have been?

Response To Israel Online Ambassadors' "3 Minutes To Israel"

10 of the Fourth Month 5770

Recently, and like many of you, I received the following e-mail from fellow blogger, Dan Illouz:

Dear Friends,

While it is not my habit to email all my friends like this, in the past two weeks, we have witnessed a lot of unfriendly, biased reporting with respect to Israel. Many of us have been frustrated with the lack of accuracy we found in traditional media outlets.

http://www.facebook.com/israelonline

However, in the past few years, there has been a shift in the way the average individual gets his information. While people used to get information from Newspapers and Television, we now see individuals seeking information on Youtube, Twitter and Facebook. This gives us a great opportunity to counter the bias often faced in mainstream media. Still, for our approach to be successful, it must be organized and powerful.

http://www.facebook.com/israelonline

I have started recruiting “online ambassadors for Israel” with the first goal of recruiting 10 000 ambassadors by June 20th. The role of the ambassadors will be to use his online presence to communicate accurate information to his friends whenever Israel is under attack.

To become an ambassador, one must simply join up at http://www.facebook.com/israelonline . Those of you not on facebook can email israelonlineambassadors@gmail.com .

Our goal is for these ambassadors to provide an organized response whenever Israel is attacked. We are not affiliated with any political party – we are just pro-Israel. We are also preparing many programs to maximize the influence of those ambassadors.

On top of joining, we ask that each of you complete the following task. It will take you no more than 3 minutes....

Here is my response:

B"H

Dear Dan,

Your intentions are commendable, but are totally misguided. Here is why I object to the details of your project:

1. I am wholeheartedly against any so-called "Hasbara" (PR) activities aimed at goyim or even Jews and goyim combined.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but these are exactly the kinds of goals you appear to be including in your project.

We must stop this co-dependent mentality and associated behaviors immediately. Such mentality and behavior have existed, at least, since, our expulsion from Spain. We must stop this for the sake of our People's psychological and spiritual health.

Give me one good reason why we should give a darn what the goyim think of us?

There aren't any.

2. I give more than 3 minutes a day for Eretz Yisra'el and for Am Yisra'el. Yet, and please correct me if I am wrong, what you seem to be asking is for me to give three minutes to the State of Israel.

Eretz Yisra'el and Am Yisra'el are NOT synonymous with the State of Israel.

The State of Israel provides me with many services for which I am grateful, and for which I pay taxes, not the least of which is protecting me from foreign attack,...sometimes, and when it is convenient.

However, I refuse to defend those of its actions which are becoming increasingly anti-Torah and otherwise anti-Jewish.

You religious Mamlachtim (undying State loyalists) are going to have to make up your minds already: Follow the Torah OR follow the Laws of the State, because more and more the two are in conflict. Pretty soon, they will be in total conflict, due to the [temporary] control over the Land by the "treif birds" (lashon of the Em HaBanim HaSmeicha).

[As far-fetched as it may seem] If the State of Israel ever passed a law requiring Jews to eat pork in public, even once per year, most of you would gladly sit in jail, yet it would NEVER cross your minds to refuse an order from an IDF commander which goes against the Torah, such as kicking Jews out of their homes in Azza,...or, for that matter, anywhere else.

There is a mahloqeth leShem Shamayim (respectful disagreement) between two Religious Zionist rabbis I would like to share with you:

One of the rabbis says that mamlachtiyuth (undying/unquestioning State loyalism) amongst religious Jews is avodah zarah (forbidden worship), like the worship of the Golden Calf.

The other rabbi disagrees, and says that it is more precise to call mamlachtiyuth fascism.

I do not know which opinion is correct, especially as there does not seem to be much difference between the two. They both replace the centrality of HaShem and His Torah with man-made constructions.

(Click to enlarge)

Dan, we are all frustrated by the lies told about Eretz Yisra'el and Am Yisra'el. However, we cannot let it get to us, and we must let go of our quest for external validation for our existence from the goyim, both as a sovereign land and as a people.

We must look only to HaQadosh Baruch Hu, (The Holy One, Blessed Be He) and to ourselves for such validation of our existence and, for that matter, our self-esteem.

Since I believe very strongly that any criticism of a problem should be accompanied by talk of a solution, I would like to provide you with some recommendations for an alternative approach:

1. Instead of reaching out to the goyim, I recommend that you e-mail/blog to you Jewish contacts abroad, report to them your first-hand experiences as to what it is like to live in Israel, encourage them to make aliyah, and recommend to them resources to help them to do so. E-mail/blog to them the truth about what is taking place here in Israel, and that although life can be challenging here, it is the ONLY place in this world for Jews to live.

2. Shift your focus away from the State, and move it toward the positive things that we are doing here in Israel as a People building up our Homeland, such as the agricultural innovations and commits to environmental protection by leftists and settlers alike, interests in organic food and alternative medicine across the spectrum of Jews, Haredi, Religious Zionist, and secular together, regular Shabbathoth experiences in the Shomron (Samaria) which including Haredi, Religious Zionist, and secular Jews together, and Haredi, Religious Zionist, and secular Jews working together in a soup kitchen,...you know, the real Ahduth Yisra'el (Jewish unity) that the Israeli, mainstream media does not want you to know about.

In any event, if this just goes in one ear and out the other, then please, at least, enjoy the free publicity from my not [currently] terribly active blog.

Haveil Havalim #272 Is Up!

9 of the Fourth Month 5770

This week's edition of the Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival is up at Frume Sarah's World.

It's the Tammuz Tidings Edition!

The Real Issue Behind The Emmanuel School Protests

Erev Shabbath Qodesh Parshath Huqath 5770

Thursday was marked by massive protests against the recent Israeli Supreme Court ruling forcing the integration of Askenazy and Sefardi students in a religious school in the town of Emmanuel in the Shomron (Samaria).

Israel National News: 100,000 Accompany Hassidim To Jail
Hillel Fendel, 6 Tammuz 5770, June 17, 2010

...Though the Supreme Court based its ruling forcing school integration in the Shomron town of Emanuel on the principle of opposition to racist segregation, many say that the separation is not rooted in ethnic differences at all. Rather, they say, the Slonim Hassidim wish to continue the religious traditions of their fathers and rabbis, and educate their children in a school that adheres to particularly stringent religious standards.

I have been confused about this issue since it began, years ago.

I have heard compelling arguments on both sides. Most recently, I have heard that Sefardi Rabbis Ya'aqov Yosef and David Batzri were now involved, suggesting that the Ashkenazy arguments regarding religiosity and minhagim (customs) were weak. Rabbi Batzri's grandchildren weren't religious enough to attend the school in question? I think not.

On the other hand, I have heard that Sefardi parents themselves wanted their children to remain in a homogeneous, cultural environment, and thus supported the so-called "segregation." Irregardless, I do not think most people realize just many Sefardim participated in the protests: A lot!

So, which side is right? They both are.

Sound like a cop out? I'll explain.

The real conflict here is not between Sefardim and [Slonimer] Hassidim. We have seen this countless times before. The anti-Torah Erev Rav*, including judges and other government officials relish in any conflict between groups of religious Jews, be they Sefardi and Askenazy, or Haredi and Zionist.

Divide and conquer. It's quite simple, and it's all part of their desperate strategy to maintain its control.

They actively search out such conflicts, and feed their fires by any means necessary.

At the bottom of all this, the real issue was revealed by Justice Edmond Levy himself:

JPost: Emmanuel Parents Ordered To Jail
Jonah Mandel, 5 Tammuz 5770/June 16, 2010

...The parents’ attorney, Mordechai Green, then consulted with rabbis, presumably including Barazovsky (The Slonimer Rebbe), and told the court that in a conflict between the laws of Torah and those of men, the divine decrees must prevail.

The response raised Levy’s ire.

“I don’t know of any legal obligation for court rulings to receive the approval of some rabbi or another,” said Levy, who is himself religious. “I’m terrified by the fact that a rabbi instructs his community to act against a court verdict.”

In the ruling on imprisonment later in the day, the justices alluded to the fact that the parents gave precedence to their rabbis over the court, and repeated what they had said more than once during the hearing: “There is no need to note that our verdict is not subject to, or stipulated by, the approval of any exterior factor.”

In other words, not even the Almighty himself can overrule Justice Levy?

This conflict between Torah and the State is the real issue.

We had to confront it before the expulsion from Azza. Rabbi Avraham Shapira ztz"l, Rosh Yeshivath Merkaz HaRav Kook told soldiers to refuse orders which were in contradiction to the halacha, such as orders to remove Jews from their homes and land and hand their land over to goyim. Other rabbis disagreed, failing to acknowledge that such a conflict even existed.

But this was not the first conflict between Torah and State.

Not too long ago, the Israeli Supreme Court attempted to order the Chief Rabbinate to certify various products kasher, even though the Rabbinate had ruled otherwise. One of the issues was regarding a particular frozen meat, and another was a bakery owned by an apostate in Ashdod.

Even though I still do not know all of the details of the case in Emmanuel, I don't have to in order to know that the real issue isn't in Emmanuel.

Many have cried warnings to avoid a mihemeth ahim (civil war). Yet, do these same individuals know what the sides to the conflict even are?

It's not Sefardi vs. Ashkenazy, not Haredi vs. Zionist, nor even religious vs. secular.

It is Jew vs. Erev Rav.

In the words of the Kol HaTor (2:2)...

Anyone who does not participate in the war against the Erev Rav, is actually becoming a partner of the “layer” of the Erev Rav. Whoever he is, he would have been better off had he not been born.

The mamlachtim (Religious, un-dying State loyalists) are going to have to acknowledge the increasing number of conflicts between the Torah and State, and make up their minds as to which side they are on.

It seems that non-mamlachti Rabbi Zalman Melamed of Beth El has.

Sefardim standing with Ashkenazim...

Zionists standing with Haredim...
Chalk one up for Jewish unity (Ahduth Yisra'el),...real Jewish unity...

...against the Erev Rav.

*********

Erev Rav - descendants of the mixed multitude/false converts who accompanied us out of Egypt.

Worshippers Of The Wooden Stick God, Repent!

5 of the Fourth Month 5770

Six Story Jesus Statue In Ohio Struck By Lightning (via The Drudge Report)
Associated Press, June 15, 2010

MONROE, Ohio – A six-story statue of Yoshke (YeSh"U) was struck by lightning and burned to the ground, leaving only a blackened steel skeleton and pieces of foam that were scooped up by curious onlookers Tuesday.

Boo-Hoo!

The "King of Kings" statue, one of southwest Ohio's most familiar landmarks, had stood since 2004 at the evangelical Solid Rock Church along Interstate 75 in Monroe, just north of Cincinnati.

If that's one of Ohio's most familiar landmarks, then Ohio isn't doing so well, is it?

The lightning strike set the statue ablaze around 11:15 p.m. Monday, Monroe police dispatchers said.

The sculpture, about 62 feet tall and 40 feet wide at the base, showed Yoshke (YeSh"U) from the torso up and was nicknamed Touchdown Yoshke because of the way the arms were raised, similar to a referee signaling a touchdown. It was made of plastic foam and fiberglass over a steel frame, which is all that remained Tuesday.

Protestants: Don't be fooled! They are very much wooden stick god worshippers, but without the props. Football, Mom, and Apple Pie, how quaint! Does this feel like a white trash moment to you, too?

The nickname is the same used for a famous mural of the resurrected Yoshke (YeSh"U) that overlooks the Notre Dame football stadium.

Catholics: The original wooden stick god worshippers....

The fire spread from the statue to an adjacent amphitheater but was confined to the attic area, and no one was injured, police Chief Mark Neu said....

The fire was confined.... No one was injured.... Curious....

Let me guess. You just think it's a coincidence, don't you? Yeah, right, and so was Hurricane Katrina, which occurred with the expulsion of Jews from Azza (Gaza), and was the earthquake in avodah zarah ridden Haiti, etc.

Food for thought....

Haveil Havalim #271 Is Up!

3 of the Fourth Month 5770

This week's edition of the Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival is up at Ima's.

It's the Catchy Title Goes Here Edition!

Israeli Book Exchange Group & Future Book Swap

26 of the Third Month 5770

A couple of years ago, I started the Israeli Book Exchange on GoodReads.com.

Israeli Book Exchange

Description: Exchange books with fellow English-speakers in Israel. Recommend books, recommend bookstores, lend and borrow books, and meet new friends with common literary interests near you! Exchange books with fellow English-speakers in Israel. Recommend books, recommend bookstores, lend and borrow books, and meet new friends with common literary interests near you!

Category: Friends & Common Interest -> Hobbies & Crafts

Location: Israel

Group type: This is a public group. Anyone can join and invite others to join.

The focus of this group is for those of us in Israel, reading books in English to help help one another find, borrow, lend, exchange, and discuss what we realy love...

Books! Books! And More Books!

The history of this group can be found by clicking here.

Recently, fellow book lover and blogger, Ya'el took the initiative to increase our group's membership, and to beginning planning a book swap in Tel-Aviv. She hopes to get it off the ground this month. Read all about it on her blog Ritalin & Cigarettes.

Ya'el also created a Facebook group. So, now we can be found on GoodReads and Facebook. GoodReads has the tools to organize and discuss books. Facebook helps us to get more exposure. Please join both groups, and help spread the word!

Don't forget, you can also get one of these cool, auto-updating widgets from GoodReads for your blog or other website!

Neriyah Ofan, The Real Story

24 of the Third Month 5770

It's just like posters around town are saying...

Neriyah Ofan received a “Stay Away” order from the Jerusalem neighborhood of Pisgath Ze'ev for preventing Arabs from harrassing girls from the neighborhood.

According to Israel National News, the idiocy of this action seems much worse....

Arab Influx to Northern Jerusalem Blocked by Building Freeze
Gil Ronen, 13 Sivan 5770/May 26, 2010

Another prominent activist for maintaining the Jewish nature of northwestern Jerusalem, Nerya Ofan, was arrested Tuesday and slapped with a military distancing order that forbids him from entering Pisgat Ze'ev and Neveh Yaakov, also in northwestern Jerusalem. Ofan had already been distanced from Judea and Samaria by an administrative order.

The order which prevents his entry to Judea and Samaria was extended and a new order – probably the first of its kind ever issued to a Jew – also forbids him from entering parts of Jerusalem. That order was signed by Home Front Commander, Major General Yair Golan.

According to King, Ofan's activities centered on attempts to convince Jews not to sell their apartments to Arabs, and to employ fellow Jews in their businesses.

To receive more information and to support Neryiah Ofan:
Israel: 052-4295771
Outside of Israel: 972-52-4295771