Bet-El Ulpana

Erev Shabbath Qodesh Parashath Huqath 5772

Did anyone notice how quickly after the Holy Israeli Supreme Court, eviction notices were issued to the residents of the so-called "Ulpana" neighborhood?  "Ulpana" by the way, is simply a system of Religious Zionist, girls' high schools.

Next time, and there WILL BE a next time, the notices will be issued even more quickly.

The time after that?

I guarantee you that there WILL come a time when there WILL NOT be any eviction notices.  They'll just come.

They?

Whether it be the IDF, the hand picked non-Jews, and self-hating Jews of the IDF, the Israeli Police Force, which includes plenty of Arabs, or foreign military forces, "they" will come.

They will come in the night.  Families will lose all of their possessions, and they will be compensated for their pain and suffering with more pain and suffering.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has done it before, and he'll do it again.  Fifteen years ago, he turned Hevron over to the Arabs.  Now he is making concessions to the goyim, left and right.

Those who forsake the Land, like Shimon Peres, Yossi Beilin, and even "right-wing" Netanyahu, are like the Erev Rav who cried, when informed that they were coming to Israel.  Their connection to the Land is weak, if they have any at all.  They have no clue that it is not theirs to sell, bargain, or give away.

It is their pride which tells them otherwise.  It is their pride which will eventually bring them down (Em HaBanim Smeicha).

And what of those who bow down to a regime which spits on the Torah?  Granted, the Israeli educational system is nothing more than a system of indoctrination into State loyalty.  Do they have any change of breaking free?

There are also men, who call themselves "rabbis," who claim that we must be patient, that we must follow the State, no matter what, that if we believe that there is a conflict between the Torah and Israeli Law, then we obviously do not understand.

And the fact that many of these "rabbis" receive their salaries from their Almighty State is irrelevant?

They told us not lift up a hand to an IDF soldier.  They told us to hug the soldiers and to cry with them, and then leave quietly.  They told the soldiers to follow their orders to throw Jews out of their homes, and to allow the regime to hand over land to the Arab enemy (ie. mesirah).  Our own YeSh"A Coucil was also complicit in the expulsion of Jews from Azza.

And what did we receive in return?

תלמוד בבלי, מסכת סנהדרין צז,א
תניא ר' יהודה אומר דור שבן דוד בא בו בית הוועד יהיה לזנות והגליל יחרב והגבלן יאשם ואנשי גבול יסובבו מעיר לעיר ולא יחוננו וחכמת הסופרים תסרח ויראי חטא ימאסו ופני הדור כפני כלב והאמת נעדרת שנאמר (ישעיהו נט,טו) ותהי האמת נעדרת וסר מרע משתולל

Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 97a
It was taught, Rabbi Yehudah said: In the generation when the son of David comes, the house of assembly will be for harlots, the Galilee will be in ruins, Gablan will lie desolate, the residents from the border towns will wander about from city to city, receiving no comfort (hospitality), the wisdom of scribes will be in disfavor, God-fearing men will be despised, people will be dog-faced, and the truth will be absent, as it is said, "And the truth is absent, and he who withdraws from evil makes himself prey." (Isaiah 59:15)

Many of the former residents of Azza still do not have permanent housing.  But, the truth is that most of those residents were unwilling to fight for their homes.  Most of those residents never believed that their Almighty State would actually go through with throwing them out of them homes onto the street.  Actually, those who actually made it to the streets of "Limosine Liberal," North Tel-Aviv were throw out of there, too.

Rabbis, like Rabbi Avraham Shapira ztz"l, the late Rosh Yeshivah of the Merkaz HaRav Kook Yeshivah, who told soldiers to refuse orders, and to be proud to sit in jail for doing so, had their words suppressed.  Many of the mamlakhtim (undying State-loyalists) even claimed that Actually, the only "crime" of these rabbis was not having the right PR, and the money to pay for it.

Faith in the Almighty, faith that one is doing the right thing is not so easy, I admit.  But, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

Are you going to be fooled by them again?  The Erev Rav controlled, Israeli government?  Their court rabbis?  The YeSh"A Council?

Or are you going to follow halakhah?

K'far HaYarok (כפר הירוק)

7 of the Fourth Month 5772

I was in K'far HaYarok yesterday for work.  K'far HaYarok is just northeast of Tel-Aviv.

As you might guess, K'far HaYarok (Heb.: "The Green Village") has a vision connected with the environment.  It is a "youth village for environmental leadership."

However, it did not start out that way.  Founded on Zionist and socialist principles, and the pioneer spirit, the town's name actually came from David Ben-Gurion, whose birth name was David Green, thus "The Green Village."

For many years, people did not automatically make the connection between "Green" and the founding prime minister of Israel.  After the death of the third prime minister of Israel, Levi Eshkol, the name of the town was officially changed to "The Green Village, named for Levi Eshkol."

I guess they gave up.

What K'far HaYarok is know for are the peacocks which roam freely around the town.

Throughout the time I was there, the peacocks' calls were prominent features in the background.  It felt as if I was in a jungle.  After a while, though, I habituated, I got used to them, so they were no longer terribly distracting.   

K'far HaYarok also has a small pen filled with yaelim (wild goats) and chickens.

Penned in animals, milk-giving and egg-laying animals, no less!

For a "youth village for environmental leadership," there must not be too many vegans involved in its leadership. 

Why Y-Love?! Why?!

5 of the Fourth Month 5772

Well, now that things have calmed a bit, after the heavy fallout from Afro-Ortho-Jewish entertainer Yitz Jordan (AKA Y-Love)'s "coming out of the closet," I believe I will now take the opportunity to chime in with my Esser Agaroth (2₵).

Wait a minute.  Did I actually say heavy fallout?  My mistake.

A handful of people chatted about it on Facebook, and then that was it.  Maybe there was some discussion on gay forums.  I wouldn't know.

I mean,...seriously. As my friends from Hollywood, and surrounds, might say,

"Coming out as a gay, Orthodox Jewish man?  It's SO '90's!"

So, Y-Love, why did you come out?

Was it to prevent teen suicides, letting religious, Jewish teens that they are not alone?  That would, indeed, be an honorable intention.  One third of teen suicides are believed to be related to struggles with sexual issues.

Are you also taking the opportunity to publicize the importance of keeping Torah and misswoth, even though you are gay?  Keeping Shabbath, Kashruth, Tefillin, Tefillah...  all are important misswoth.

Are you also publicizing the importance of refraining from engaging in the serious averah (transgression) of anal sex with other men?

Or maybe, you just needed some publicity to jump-start your career?

"Publicity, darling. Just publicity. Any kind is better than none at all." 

-Rhonda Far, 1933

“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” 

-Oscar Wilde, 19th C., GAY novelist

So,...what am I doing, writing about this, adding to the publicity?

Why to חאפ אריין, of course!  I want some o' that publicity, too!

Haveil Havalim: The 365th Edition!

5 of the Fourth Month 5772

The 365th Edition!  Yep!  That's the name, or subtitle, or what have you.  Why should I have to have an edition name or subtitle?  Well, I don't.  I'm taking last week's hos, Susant's idea, and just numbering it.  It works for me.

Some of you may be expecting this edition to be dedicated to a person or an event.  Well, I didn't feel there were any people or events worth noting here, in an edition of a blog carnival.

So, this edition will not be dedicated to any Rebbes, dead or undead alive, nor any Israeli Presidents, dead or undead. (Those who understand will understand.)


New and Improved Introduction!

Founded by Soccer Dad, Haveil Havalim is a carnival of Jewish blogs -- a weekly collection of Jewish & Israeli blog highlights, tidbits and points of interest collected from blogs all around the world. It's hosted by different bloggers each week, and jointly coordinated through our Facebook Group.  The term 'Haveil Havalim,' which means"Vanity of Vanities," is from Qoheleth, (Ecclesiastes) which was written by King Solomon. King Solomon built the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and later on got all bogged down in materialism and other 'excesses' and realized that it was nothing but 'hevel,' or in English, 'vanity.'

And, now, it's on with the show!

Torah

Did anyone recite a special blessing this Rosh Hodesh?  Rabbi David Bar-Hayim at Machon Shilo teaches us what that berakhah is in his Response To Birkath HaHamah.

Aharon Hai at Jewish Teachings tells us why living in the Land of Israel places ones soul on a Higher Level than those who do not.

Tomer Devorah teaches us about The Fourth Month.

Judaism

Rabbi Natan Slifkin at Rationalist Judaism brings us Choosing For Oneself, Choosing For Ones Children and the future Of The New Charedim.


Leah Aharoni at Ingathered presents Why Modern Orthodoxy Shortchanges Women.

My Esser Agaroth also includes a post on Modern Orthodoxy, albeit a rather different one, Whateva'!  I Do What I Want!

Israel

News & Current Events
Regarding recent events related to the Temple Mount, Tomer Devorah believes It's A Sign.  And, did anyone else know that The Biggest War Games In The Middle East are taking place?

Elder Of Ziyon brings us More Proof That BDS Represents No One .  Or Barkan also comments on the BDS in A circus Of Fake Characters, Courtesy Of Zeina Abu-Inhab.

Elder Of Ziyon then reports on the Victim Of Terror At The Egyptian Border and updates us on the Two-Year Girl Who Was Killed In Gaza.  Or Barkan gives her take on the latter as well in The Evolution Of A News Report.

Ariel at The Torah Revolution talks back regarding the Bet El Ulpana neighborhood.  He also posts a must-see video from one of this neighborhood's residents, whose life had been filled with tragedy, yet continues on, in Pogroms In The Air.

Batya the Shiloh Muse reports on Israel's Iron Dome And The Bet El Ulpana Cave In.


Life In Israel
Yoel Meltzer interviews Rabbi Yosef Mendelevitch, one of the leaders in the struggle of Soviet Jewry back in the late 60s and early 70s.

Rafi at Life In Israel reports on the Religious Cyclist Not Allowed To Compete. 


Leah at Ingathered Reflects On Israeli Innovations For The Handicapped.

Outside Of Israel 

Batya the Shiloh Muse writes about how Israel Isn't Alone In Under-Reacting To The Arab/Muslim Threat.

Zalman Stern doesn't seem to like America's Self-Proclaimed Rabbi. 

Food

Yosef at This American Bite brings us his recipe for Grilled Brisket with Mexican Inspired Rub and Mopping Sauce.

JBlogging

Last, but definitely not least, I would be remiss, if I did not include posts from bloggers who attended last week's Israeli President's Conference:

Rafi at Life In Israel: Shimon Peres And The Bloggers
Batya at Shiloh Musings: Bloggers As Legitimate Journalists and Jewish Leadership, Why Not From Zion?
Aussie Dave at Israellycool: Israeli Presidential Conference Liveblogging Day 1 and Day 2, and Separated At Birth: Shimon Feline (LOL!)
A Soldier's Mother:  Peter Beinart And Zionism (...and why he's wrong)


So, what I'd to know is if anyone had the courage to ask Prez Peres how he gets away with being political in a symbolic and a-political role, when his predecessors would have been castigated for doing the same. 

I have yet to receive any answer.  Although I know that there was plenty of courage in attendance.  I also know that there must've been plenty of kushen tuchus there as well.  (I saw the group photo.)

I am actually glad that these bloggers attended, and I will no doubt get on my friend Yoel Meltzer for not having attended.  But, I am also glad that I decided not to waste take a day off from work to attend.

Wrap-Up:
OK.  That's a wrap!  Everything submitted was included.  How 'bout that?  In other words, no spam nor missionary crap was submitted.  Cool.

Michael Tzdok Elkohen, An Aspiring Mekubal, will be hosting next week!  You can send him a Facebook personal message, or submit through our on-line submission site.

Don't forget to join our Facebook Group, now accepting commenters and fans, in addition to bloggers.  This is where you want to be, if you want to be considered for a hosting position!


You may submit your blog posts via the Haveil Havalim On-line Submission Site!

 

Haveil Havalim #364 Is Up!

29 of the Third Month 5772

This week's edition of Haveil Havalim is being hosted by Susan at To Kiss A Mezuzah.

I'll be hosting next week's edition.  To submit a post, visit our on-line submission page.

Don't forget to join our Facebook Group, especially if you would be interested in hosting!

Whateva'! I Do What I Want!

28 of the Third Month 5772

Those of you who identify as "Reform," "Conservative," "Reconstructionist," and "Jewish Renewal" know that I have often been critical of your approaches as to what it means to "live Jewishly." Yet, many of the times in which I criticize you, I still recognize the consistency in your reasoning, even though I strongly disagree with it. This blog post is NOT meant to be a criticism of you (this time). Rather, it is a criticism of a segment (just a segment) of the so-called "Modern Orthodox" world.  

But, this post is also NOT a criticism of the observances of those who are new to Torah-based lifestyle.  Taking on the observance of misswoth gradually can often be positive.  I also find it a bit problematic to expect others to take upon themselves overnight, behaviors which are newly learned and not fully understood.  I believe that these individuals are entitled, more than most, to our patience and tolerance, and to some unusual behaviors, who may need to take on misswoth gradually.

This post is supposed to be a criticism of those Jews who call themselves "Orthodox," yet do what they want, and have no qualms about the complete lack of justification of their actions according to halakhah (Jewish Law).  In other words, they just do whatever they want.

In the episode entitled "Freak Strike," from Season 6 of one of the greatest commentaries on American society, "South Park," the creators go after the cheap TV talk show circuit, criticizing those who debase themselves in order to achieve their "15 Minutes" of fame, which Andy Warhol said that everyone should have. Of course, most of the guests on these talk shows never even heard of this saying, let alone Andy Warhol.

While the character of Butters is duped into posing as a boy with a gross disfigurement, Eric Cartman appears with his mother as a child "out of control," which he really is.

It is not clear whether he is posing as a boy in drag, or a girl. I suppose I missed something there. But, I digress...

Cartman's response to criticism and attacks from members of the audience and from the hosts themselves, is always the same: "Whateva'! I do what I want!"

Little does Eric Cartman know, but his flippant response is exactly many in the so-called Modern Orthodox community truly justify their deviations from halakhah (Jewish Law)

Here are some examples:

1. No. I don't have to cover my hair!  

"My grandfather was a rabbi. Don't tell ME the halakhah! Plenty of raaaabbis say that a woman doesn't have to cover her hair if she doesn't want to! It's no longer relevant in our modern, Western society!"

Translation:

Whateva'! I Do What I Want!

2. Ever hear of a "Tefillin Date?"


"Well, I'm just being responsible bringing my tefillin.  Some say it's even the halakhah to keep them with you.  I mean, I'm not INTENDING to sleep with my girlfriend tonight.  I don't even INTEND to enter her apartment, nor do I INTEND to touch her.  But, it's always important to bring my tefillin with me, just in case I end up sleeping in a place where I hadn't INTENDED to sleep, right?"

Translation:

Whateva'! I Do What I Want!

3. We are collecting food for the needy amongst the Arabs in Israel,...even though they want to annihilate us. If we give them food, and show them enough love, then they will stop wanting to kill us.  And, besides, such acts of kindness will certain defeat anti-Semitism.  We just have to do enough of them, and then everyone will like us!  

(Even though there absolutely NO support for this in halakha (Jewish Law), and even though we have already tried that strategy countless times, yet it has always failed. The Arabs always lie, and say they'll stop, and they don't.  Regarding the goyim from the West...  Esau hates Ya'aqov. -RaShB"I.  Oh, and by the way, anyone ever hear of the negative commandment "לא תחונם"?  See Ramba"m, Hil. A"Z Ch. 10)

Translation:

Whateva'! I Do What I Want!

(...and I am in complete denial about how Western values do not equal Torah values.)

4. My husband and I found a rabbi to give us a heter for me to use birth control.  You see, we feel it's important in our marriage for us to get to know each better, and children early in the marriage would get in the way of that.

(You should know, even if you don't care, Rav Soloveitchik said mefurash that there is NO such heter for birth control.  Wanna "get to know each other better?"  Have a long engagement.)

Translation:

Whateva'! I Do What I Want!

 
5. Gay Man: "When I lie with a man, I lie with him as a man, not as a woman, and so when I have anal sex with my boyfriend, I'm not really violating a Torah prohibition at all!"

(Um,...hello?!  Ever heard of RaSh"I?  What about HaZa"L?)

Translation:

Whateva'! I Do What I Want!

6. "I feel SO connected with my wife, I believe in total equality, and we have fully democratic household.  My wife is very learned in halakhah, so I let her paskin shailos in our egalitarian household.  We take turns saying kiddush and making motzi, believing that in this day and age, a woman can certainly Wee are proud members of our local, Modern Orthodox community, where there there is mehitzah, but where women also lead pesukei d'zimra, give divrei Torah, and get aliyos.  We send our children to a pluralistic school where they can learn to make their own decisions based on how they feel, in an egalitarian environment."

Translation:

Whateva'! I Do What I Want!

(...and I also seem to have misplaced my testicles.)

OK, so I guess I did end up taking a jab or two at those of you in the so-called "movements."

But,...

Whateva'! I Do What I Want!

Guest Post: America's Self-Proclaimed Rabbi

I don't know what I'm doing posting this from my good friend "Zalman Stern."  I'm sure I'm crossing any number of lines here.   But, what the hell.  Worse comes to worse, I'll have a little extra drama in my life.  OK.  So, here it goes.  Please, don't shoot the messenger,...too much.

Guest Post: America's Self-Proclaimed Rabbi

"Zalman Stern"

. 

When I lived in the U.S. he sure as hell wasn't my Rabbi. In fact, the vast majority of religious Jews across the spectrum have no interest in this dangerous buffoon. In the more committed circles of yahadut, he is understandingly viewed as a type of virus. Anyone committed to authentic torah immediately sees through the veneer of this self-promoting, egotistical, self-indulgent, Torah distorting hellenist. I got to thinking about the kinds of titles we might very well see from this man, who churns out his recycled, tired filth with the efficiency of a horse.

• Kosher Buddha
• Kosher Ba'al: Releasing The Holy Sparks Within Ancient Idolatry
• Kosher Ganush: 
• Kosher Muhammed
• Kosher Jesus: Book II & III
• Kosher Sodomy- Why Orthodox Judaism Should Embrace Gay Relationships
• Kosher Cunnilingus
• Kosher Kinky
• Kosher Viagra-How Modern Medicine Saved Elder Intimacy
• Sex Positions of the Chasidic Masters
• Erotic Games From the Shtetl
• The Rabbi's Guide To Beavers
• Foreplay of the Chasidic Masters
• Rosie and I: Reflections on Narcissism and Self-Indulgence
• Shabbos with Peter Pan: Shabbos with the King of Pop
• The Michael Jackson Tapes: Part II-The Secret Interviews
• Top Ten Conversations You Need To Have With Rosie O'Donnell
• Breaking Bread With Missionaries
• How I Saved Rwanda From A Second Genocide
• Healing The World: The Holiness of Pop Celebrities
• Dating Secrets of the Tanya
• Tantalizing Tanya: How Studying the Tanya Can Put The Spark Back In the Bedroom
• Secrets Of The Beard: How To Use Your Beard in Intimate Encounters
• Mitnagdic Frigidity: How Cold Litvaks Can Jumpstart their Sex Lives
• Saving Michael: MyTireless Efforts To Save The King Of Pop from Self-Destruction.
• Free Willy-The Torah's Approach To Spontaneous Intimacy
• My Pal, Al: Conversations with Al Sharpton in Manhattan's Prime Grill Restaurant
• Don't Fear The Cross- Why Missionaries Are Our Friends
• The Rabbi and the Cross
• Shabbos For Gentiles: Why Gentiles Need To Accept The Jewish Sabbath
• The Pope's Rabbi: How I Became the Pope's Rabbi in 15 Minutes
• The Wisdom Of Islam: A Rabbi's Study Of The True Koran
• Not In My Yard: How I Saved the town of Englewood (and the world) from Ghaddafi
• King of Oxford: How My Time At Oxford Saved British Jewry
• Top Ten Reasons I Should Become The Next Chief Rabbi Of England
• Chanukah In Neverland
• Horny For The Holidays- Sex Secrets of the High Holidays
• Horny& Heilig
• I Am Shmuley
• How I Became Shmuley
• The Holiness of Shtup Nacht
• Sex Secrets of the Shtetl
• How To Obtain Devekos With Dildos
• Spontaneous Erections: Secrets To A Kosher Marriage
• Handcuffs, Lace, and Gartels
• Lessons From An Upright Lulav

Was The Expulsion From Gaza Prophesized?

22 of the Third Month 5772

Arutz 7: Katif Expelees Stuck as Caravans Taken for Expulsion  

Expelee families have new jobs, new schools, but nowhere to live as government reassigns their new caravan homes to Beit El.  

Maayana Miskin, June 8, 2012

The government’s plan to demolish homes in Beit El’s Ulpana neighborhood threatens to leave more than one set of families homeless. In addition to the 30 families facing eviction in Beit El, 40 young families of Gush Katif expellees are facing the prospect of another year in the temporary caravan sites that have become long-term homes.

The young families were told they could start a long-awaited mass relocation to the Lachish region and would be given 40 mobile homes to stay in while they wait for construction of permanent homes. The families underwent the complicated process of finding work in the Lachish region and registering their children to local schools.

Then, just weeks before the move was to take place, government officials informed them that the mobile homes they had been promised would be taken to Beit El instead, to be used as housing for the more than 140 people facing eviction.

 “It’s adding insult to injury,” said Eitan Ben-Hor, a member of the administrative committee for the planned Lachish-region town Bnei Dekalim.

 “We’re families who want to move forward to permanent communities – not to have things easy, but to sacrifice in order to push things forward,” he said. “Suddenly at the last second they take the caravans in order to expel other people.”

“I’m not disappointed,” he added. “As someone from Gush Katif I don’t expect too much from the state. But I’m shocked by the lack of compassion. There are really no words to describe it.” 

Let's take a look at the big picture, the picture of what is really going on here.

תלמוד בבלי, מסכת סנהדרין צז,א
תניא ר' יהודה אומר דור שבן דוד בא בו בית הוועד יהיה לזנות והגליל יחרב והגבלן יאשם ואנשי גבול יסובבו מעיר לעיר ולא יחוננו וחכמת הסופרים תסרח ויראי חטא ימאסו ופני הדור כפני כלב והאמת נעדרת שנאמר (ישעיהו נט,טו) ותהי האמת נעדרת וסר מרע משתולל

Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 97a
It was taught, Rabbi Yehudah said: In the generation when the son of David comes, the house of assembly will be for harlots, the Galilee will be in ruins, Gablan will lie desolate, the residents from the border towns will wander about from city to city, receiving no comfort (hospitality), the wisdom of scribes will be in disfavor, God-fearing men will be despised, people will be dog-faced, and the truth will be absent, as it is said, "And the truth is absent, and he who withdraws from evil makes himself prey." (Isaiah 59:15)

Is the Galilee in ruins, from Hizbollah's missiles?  Does the Gablan lie desolate from the same?  Has the wisdom of the sages of today been rejected?  Are God-fearing men despised?  Has the truth disappeared (into spread out sections)?

I believe that I discussed this originally with Tomer Devorah, a long time ago.

We can debate this passage, and its relevance, to our day another time.

For now, I will simply point out the eerie parallel between the fate of the former residents of Azza (Gaza) and the portion marked in red.

Clearly they have not found rest or comfort over the seven years.  Furthermore, many of the residents of Elei Sinai were already expelled once, from Yamit in the Sinai.

Our "rule of thumb," so to speak, is that negative prophecies do not have to be fulfilled, not if we do teshuvah (repentance).  But, teshuvah is not just saying we're sorry.  It's not just asking for forgiveness.  It's not just having regret.

It's also about changing our behavior, and making a commitment to do our best not to repeat our same mistakes again.

In order to do this, we must first determine what those mistakes are.

Let's think back seven years in Azza.  There was very little resistance, and the little resistance was undermined by the YeSh"A (AKA Pesha, AKA Resha) Council.

Now, let's look at Beth-El, where even one of it's own "rabbis" says that he won't participate in any protests against the destruction of several (not at all small) apartment buildings.  No doubt, many will follow him, due to his "charisma," not his halakhic support for what he proclaims.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here (not really), and suggest that trusting in the government is one of those mistakes.

When will we finally learn?

If we do not learn from our mistakes, and continue to repeat them, I have no doubt that the fulfillment of negative prophecies will become an regular part of our lives in Israel.  May God forbid!

Former K'nesseth Speaker Avraham Burg's Opinion,...As If I Care.

21 of the Third Month 5772

Arutz 7: Former Knesset Speaker Supports Yesha Labeling 
Former Knesset Speaker Burg supports recent decisions by several countries to label products that from Judea and Samaria.


Elad Benari, June 8, 2012

Former Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg has expressed support for recent decisions by several countries to label products that were produced in Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria (Yehuda and Shomron).

Avraham! What big glasses you have!  All the more to look down upon you condescendingly with!

In an opinion piece published in the British Independent on Thursday, Burg wrote, “Since 2009, the United Kingdom has been taking measures, in accordance with European consumer protection rules, to ensure that settlement products – goods you might find on your supermarket shelves that have been produced in the occupied Palestinian territories – are no longer labelled as ‘made in Israel’.

“Contrary to what you may think,” wrote the former Knesset Speaker, “EU member states which take these measures act in Israel's interest. They do so because they take steps that defend and reinforce the Green Line, the pre-1967 border between Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. “The Green Line is of decisive importance to achieving Middle East peace. It is the line that was drawn in green pencil on the maps that were on the table at the time of the cease-fire agreements between Israel and the Arab states, signed in 1949. Regrettably, this line survived only until the 1967 war."

Burg claimed, “The large-scale and expansionist settlement enterprise erodes the Green Line every day. Residential communities, now housing more than 500,000 settlers, were established within occupied Palestinian territory in order to make us forget the Green Line's existence and prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. It should long have been clear to every Israeli that anything located inside the Green Line is the democratic, legal, normative Israel, and anything beyond the line is something else: undemocratic, illegal, not normative. Not ours. “But the Israeli people's eyes are blind, their ears are deaf and their leaders are flaccid and weak. This is precisely the situation in which civilized societies urgently need feedback and intervention from the outside....”

Look!  I can see the Jewish homeland!  ...France.

Deaf? You mean to the goyim? Maybe. Who cares what cares what THEY think? Ok...except for maybe you.

Flaccid and weak? Well, you may be right about that, about our human "leaders" anyway. HaShem is the ultimate a of authority, though. So when what the government wants, even more so, what the goyim want, contradicts what HaShem wants, the Jewish People is supposed to do what He wants (Ramba"m, Hil. M'lakhim u'Milhamoth 3:9)

How do I know what He wants? Simple. The Torah. How do we know which "interpretation" of it to follow? Also, simple. It's called halakhah. These matters are so clear, that when they studied by those not receiving a salary from the Israeli Government (talk about a conflict of interest!), the lack of rocket science involved is clear to all.

Apparently, Avraham, you are not concerned with any of these. Your co-dependence on the goyim, validate your existence is exactly what we do not need.

Legal?  According to whom?  According to what?

חוקי התורה קודמין לחוקי האדם.

Torah Law takes precedence over man-made laws.

Intervention from the outside?  Just exactly what do you mean by that?  What would your precious "homeland," the European Union say if intervention came in from the outside?  Europeans would never heard of such a thing.  But, apparently, in your opinion, it is perfectly ok to violate Israel's sovereignty right?

Hey, Avraham!  You chose France over Israel.  You even told Israelis to leave, and to get themselves citizenship in other countries.  

You can't have it both ways.

Mind your own business, before you do harm to fellow Jews.  

That's not what you had in mind, is it?

Haveil Havalim #363 Is Up!

21 of the Third Month 5772

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How Can Anything In Israel Be Unconstitutional?

Erev Shabbath Qodesh Parashath B'ha'alotekha 5772

Arutz 7: Expert: Netanyahu's Actions 'Unconstitutional' 

Attorney Dr. Haim Misgav: Netanyahu’s threatening to fire ministers over a vote in favor of the Regulation Law was unconstitutional. 

Elad Benari, June 7, 2012

Attorney Dr. Haim Misgav, a senior lecturer in criminal law at the Netanya Academic College, told Arutz Sheva on Wednesday that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s threatening to fire ministers over a vote in favor of the Regulation Law was unconstitutional.

“It was not right, it did not make sense, it was unconstitutional and improper in a democratic government and a free country,” said Misgav....

OK, so I have just one question.

How can anything be unconstitutional in a country which does not have a constitution?

Doesn't anyone wonder about this?  Am I really the only one who has ever asked this question?

OK, so maybe everyone is pretending that Israel's so-called Basic Law is really a constitution, since efforts to create a real one have yet to pan out.  Israel's Basic Law is a mish-mash of British Mandate and Ottoman Empire laws, plus whatever Ben-Gurion managed to sneak into it, hardly what any self-respecting Hellenist would call a constitution.

OK, so that was a lot more than just one question.  But, at least I am intellectually honest about it.

Will anyone in the Israeli government ever be intellectually honest about the form of deMOCKracy who currently have in place here?

Jews Attacked For Wearing "Povocative Hats"

16 of the Third Month 5772

IsraelNN.com: Jewish Tourists Stoned in Jordan over 'Provocative Hats'
Arabic websites say religious Jewish visitors to Kerak were attacked with shoes and rocks.

Gil Ronen, June 5, 2012

Arabs in Kerak, Jordan, attacked Jewish tourists because they wore "provocative hats" and other items of clothing worn by religious Jews, according to Arab websites.

The incident took place Sunday afternoon, when a group of Jews visited the Jordanian tourist site, where a Crusader castle is located along with other attractions.

According to Al Jazeera, as translated by bloggers, "Salem Jeradat – who owns a grocery in the town – was surprised Sunday afternoon by a delegation of Jewish men and women who were wearing the clothing of religious Jews, which led him to throw his shoes at them."

"'Then the people of the town immediately approached the group, threw shoes and stones, and kicked them out of town,' Jeradat said. 'The people of Jordan do not accept the Jews entering their homeland, and the Araba Valley treaty between Jordan and the Zionist entity does not represent us.'"

Al Jazeera explained, "The idea is that those who occupy Palestine and desecrate holy places should not be allowed to roam freely in Jordan. Citizens of the town gathered in the evening in a grocery and committed themselves to prevent Jews from returning to their town."

Elder of Zion blog noted that another Jordanian website added that the Jewish tourists were wearing "provocative hats."

(Tip Credit: Jews News and Elder Of Ziyon)

"Provocative hats?"

Did those "hats" have profanity or epitaphs written on them?  Did they have pictures of weapons printed on them?

I'll tell you what's provocative.  Being Jewish is what's provocative.

No one ever wants to bring up that Jews are banned from Saudi Arabia.  Are there any Jews who live in Jordan?

Let's face it.  Jordanians know and fear the truth.  Jordan, their make-believe country, with its artificial borders, was born into existence by the UN and the British Mandate, who were worried that the Hashamites (currently the Jordanian royal family) would be jealous of their cousins in Saudi Arabia, and have a tantrum, if they didn't get a country of their own.

And so, the made-up country of Jordan was born, and named after the real river Jordan, in an attempt to give it legitimacy.

Recently, it has been reported (finally) that many, including Jordanians, have said that "Jordan is Palestine."

That's all very well and good, except for one minor issue.  Palestine is also a made up concept just like Jordan, with a made up people, pining for yet another make-believe country with yet more, man made, artificial borders.

The truth is that Jordan is just another part of Israel, the tribal territories of Re'uven and Gad, to be precise.

Thus, the term "West Bank" used to identify Yehudah and the Shomron (Judea & Samaria), is actually not such an imprecise term as I once thought, since the "East Bank" of the Jordan River (ie. Jordan) belongs to Israel as well.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, those (incredible naive) Jews visiting the tourist sites in "Jordan," wearing those "provocative hats," and having the nerve to spend money as local businesses, supporting the economy of our so-called "partners in peace," were indeed being provocative.

They had the nerve to exist, and to dare buy into the lies that Jordan is a free and safe country for people of all walks of life.

My only concern is that these Jews, or their family members or neighbors, will eventually return to Jordan, in the interest of peace, unknowingly repeating the same mistakes, expecting different results.

And we all know what that is, don't we?

Insanity.

Jordan is not the first country, not by a long shot, in which it is considered provocative to be Jewish.  But, what my fellow Jews need to get their heads around (if they have any chance of surviving) is that it's not going to be the last, and as farfetched as it may seem, it may eventually be considered provocative existing as a Jew in the country where you are sitting right now.

Haveil Havalim #362 Is Up!

14 of the Third Month 5772

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Dear Itamar Gelbman, Israel Is Your Homeland!

14 of the Third Month 5772

The Jewish Reporter: Israeli Running For Congress Pledges To Stop 'Islamization' Of America

June 3, 2012

Itamar Gelbman says he was born in New York, raised in Israel, and now wants to be the next congressman from the Texas 6th District.

He’s stirred up emotions and debate by saying he wants to stop what he calls the “Islamization” of America.

(Tip Credit: Jews News)

Dear Itamar (אח שלי!),

I have said pretty much the same thing to Joe Straus and to Rb. Shmuley Boteach and to Rb. Nachum Shifrin.

Now, I'm going to say it to you.

What the hell are you doing running for office in the U. S.?!

Israel is the only true homeland of the Jewish People.  It doesn't matter what kind of experiences you had while growing up here, positive, negative, or both.  This is where you belong.

One of the greatest errors of our fellow Jews, both now and in times past, has been to become comfortable, dwelling permanently in a land not our own, a land foreign to us.

We did it in Egypt.  We did it in Spain.  We did it in Germany.  And we continue to do it in the U. S.  After all, it's not only safe for Jews in the U. S., it's fantastic for Jews in the U. S.!  Look at how successful we can be there.

But, what kind of success?  Money, money, money...  We can now "pass."  We're no longer even considered Jewish Americans (unless we want to be).  We're just plain ol' Americans.

Israel is not only where you belong, regardless of any "problems," you believe we may have here.  We have plenty.  There is no doubt about that.  Here is where you need to be investing your energies.  Even more so, we could always use someone who is interested in preventing 'Islamization.'  Even though it's Israel, I believe that we are severely lacking in this area.

Run for K'nesseth.  You certainly couldn't worse than any current MK.  Better yet, forget the K'nesseth.  Do something more useful, like grassroots activism, help prevent our children from marrying Arabs, or help English speakers here gain access to the real world taking place in Hebrew, or even open up a shwarmah shop, and convince one Israeli at a time of the dangers of its government sitting motionless on its proverbial tuchus, until non-Jews (ie. U. S., UN, EU) say jump, and give up more of our land.

I'm not even going to try to convince of the physical and spiritual dangers of remaining in the U. S.  My guess is that wouldn't do one damn bit of good.

Unlike like most non-Texans, I am aware of the rich, Jewish history of Texas.  Families struggling and then prospering for generations in Houston, and even in El Paso, of all places!

But, so what?!  Texas is no different than Egypt, or Spain, or Germany.  It's not where we belong.

Israel is our natural environment.  No one said it would be easy, quite the opposite, in fact. (See TB Berakhoth 5a).

But, Israel belongs to us, and we belong to Israel.

Come home!

Nazareth

י"ג לחודש השלישי תשע"ג

I was in Nazareth for the first time a few weeks ago, on business.  It appeared to be a quaint town, tucked away in the hills, overlooking the Ye'ezri'el Valley.  The view was amazing.

My work is associated with English language education, a field considered to be neutral, if not positive by Arabs.  We were not a threat to them, or they to us.  Business is business.  The staff of the school where we were operating was very helpful, and our fellow teachers all very nice.

My experiences dealing with Arabs in Yaffo and in the Shomron (Samaria) kicked in.  I was never the first to break eye contact.  I held myself confidently.  I presented a pleasant attitude, though, because,…you know, it's business.  But, I also I carried a knife, because you never know.

Remember the summer, 2006, when Hizbollah was raining rockets on Israel, the residents of Nazareth cheered, even when they hit targets within Nazareth itself.  That was more than enough for me to take precautions. 

All I have ever heard about Nazareth is that it is filled with churches.  Well, I saw quite a few mosques, but I do not remember seeing any churches.  When I heard the chiming of church bells later that afternoon, only then did I experience the presence of churches.  I saw quite of few priests and nuns in Jerusalem this week; whereas, I did not see any today in Nazareth, none who were recognizable anyway.

Two huge banners hung in the middle of Nazareth's tourist section, quoting a statement from the Quran declaring Yesh"u's divine origin to be false.  On one hand, I do not have a problem with Muslims fighting avodah zarah (foreign worship).  We can learn a lot from them, in this regard.  Who doesn't remember video footage of the Taliban controlled, Afghani government blowing up huge stone Buddhas of Bamiyan?  People from around the world were appalled.  But, the Taliban stuck to their guns; they did what they believed was right.  The opinions of outsiders did not affect them.

Likewise, the Muslims of Nazareth did not appear to be concerned with what such banners could do to the town's tourism industry, not to mention its public image, something on which co-dependent Jews place quite a bit of emphasis.

If Jews were to put up similar banners, decrying the identical message, shouts of bigotry and the oppression of "freedom of religious expression" drown out the citation of religious sources. 

In one of the classrooms, there was a drawing which incorporated the flag of the Palestinian Liberation Organization [PLO], with the English words "Palestine will be free!" interspersed amongst the Arabic.

This is a Nazareth Municipality school, which recently won an award for the teaching of "coexistence."

Apparently, something went wrong somewhere, and was either missed, or more likely, ignored, by the "coexistence" education judges.

When Jews have expressed similar hopes and beliefs for Yehudah and the Shomron (Judea & Samaria), they have been arrested for hasatah, incitement of racism or violence.  Often these Jews were simply quoting prophetic sources, just like the Muslims with their banner (להבדיל).

But, what do fearful co-dependent Jews care about prophetic, or halakhic, sources, when such sources might upset the goyim?