Whose Passover Is It Anyway?

י"ח לחודש הראשון תשע"ג

My friend Sam Sokol sent me this piece he wrote on the Obama's tradition of holding a Passover Seder. He did a great job of reporting in this piece.

My commentary, and criticism, is of the Obamas and others.

JPost: White House Seder Continuation Of Chicago Tradition

Sam Sokol, March 26, 2013

US president, family, friends celebrate Passover dinner with Seder, the “continuation of a longstanding custom” for the Obamas.

White House "Seder" 2013

Photo: Pete Souza/White House

The White House tradition of holding a Passover Seder, started by US President Barack Obama in 2009 during his first term, is the continuation of a longstanding Obama family tradition, according to interfaith advocate Rabbi Marc Schneier.*

Schneier is the president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and a vice president of the World Jewish Congress.

*Rabbi Schneier, a graduate of Yeshiva University, needs to go back and review Rabbi Yosef Soleveichik's teshuvoth (responsa) regarding "interfaith dialogue," and not just find ways to support doing what he wants, like his fellow YU alumus, Shlomo Riskin.

The White House Seders, he said, are the “continuation of a longstanding custom” by the Obamas who participated in Seders in their hometown of Chicago.

“In fact, Obama began observing Passover after moving in the mid 1980s to the mixed Jewish-African American Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, where he taught law at the University of Chicago, launched his political career and formed close personal relationships with a broad spectrum of Jewish academics, political professions and even rabbis.”

Last week in Jerusalem, Obama explained that Passover resonates with African Americans because to his community “the story of the Exodus was perhaps the central story, the most powerful image to emerge from the grip of bondage to reach liberty and human dignity – a tale that was carried from slavery through the Civil Rights movement into today."

The Obamas’ ceremony on Monday included a Seder plate given to first lady Michelle Obama by Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Before the holiday, the president issued a statement of hope. “As my family and I prepare to once again take part in this ancient and powerful tradition, I am hopeful that we can draw upon the best in ourselves to find the promise in the days that lie ahead, meet the challenges that will come, and continuing the hard work of repairing the world.

*********

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
I found several things in this piece interesting. Although this it is well-known that the African slaves drew inspiration from the story of Israel's exodus from Egypt, I always found it curious that these shared historical experiences did not bring African Americans and Jewish Americans closer together. Likewise, South African Jews who fought against the apartheid government were, for the most part, neither considered white by the whites, nor non-white by the non-whites, and were often

M. L. King, M. Eisendrath, A. J. Heschel

There was a small space in time, when African and Jewish Americans did seem to connect, and that was through Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Not only did Jews march with him and his cause.

So, did African Americans never appear to relate fully with Jewish Americans, through the common experience of having been slaves, and oppressed throughout history in various other ways?

Well, every time I broached this question with African American friends, the answer was always the same: Slavery for those of African decent was really not so long ago, still too fresh in their collective mind, in contrast to the 1,000's of years passed since Israel's exodus.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had it right. When approached by a student who attacked Zionism, Dr. King responded:

“When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews. You're talking anti-Semitism.”

Jews are meant to be in their homeland. Criticize our right to be here, and criticize us. That is what is supposed to be a crucial element to President Obama's above reference to "repairing the world," restoring the Jewish People to its homeland. And, no, there is no room here for those who would take all of it for themselves, and annihilate us.

PA "President" Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) wants ALL of Israel

Unfortunately, President Obama does not seem to understand this.

Do you want to use Passover as an inspiration for your own personal experiences?

Sabbabba**

Many Christians use the Seder has an educational tool. Yet, many other Christians have incorporated it into their liturgy for the purposes of laying claim to the inheritance of Israel or reaching out to Jews, targeting them for conversion, or both. This is unacceptable.

Also unacceptable are those like the Obamas, who make a so-called "Passover Seder," while at the same time collaborate in maintaining the current exile of the Jewish People. That includes funding Islamic, or soon to be Islamic, governments and pseudo-governments.

From Jews News

So-called "Palestinians" want a "freedom" in another people's homeland. Yet, this is what they do at a Passover Seder, a celebration of freedom.

Those who bless Israel will be blessed, those who curse Israel will be cursed. (based on Gen. 12:3)

President Obama has demonstrated time and time again which of these paths he is on (Hint: Not the former, but the latter).

Jews in America must also take a lesson from this. Obama's Jewish staffers should first take a look at what a real Passover Seder is all about.

Rabbis not encouraging an exit from the current galuth, the galuth of Edom (Esau/Rome/The West), rabbis who are finding new and innovative ways for Jews to become closer with their non-Jews in galuth for the same of making it more comfortable for Jews to remain in galuth, are part of the problem, not the solution.

We Jews our taught that during the Seder, we are reliving our own exodus from Egypt, for if the exodus had not taken place, then we, ourselves, would have been born into Egyptian slavery.

Yet, the exodus from Egypt is also directly relevant to today. Although many Jews cannot, or do not want to, realize it, they are again in galuth, and must make another exodus from it.

After all, whose Passover is it anyway?

It's yours.

*********

**Arabic and Hebrew (colloq.) - "cool"

MK Moshe Feiglin Hits The Nail On The Head!

י"ז לחודש הראשון תשע"ג

I had to careful, by not highlighting every word in bold, as that would have defeated the purpose. This report is well worth reading, and thus posting here in its entirety.

Moshe Feiglin, who I am proud to call Member of K'nesseth [MK] Moshe Feiglin makes some very important points regarding Har HaBayith (Temple Mount), and uses logic which even the biggest Leftist cannot deny, unless, of course, he is THAT brainwashed.

I wonder what would have happened if Meretz Party Head MK Zahava Gal-On would have wanted to ascent Har HaBayith. Would the police have acted differently toward her than MK Feiglin? The police most certainly would have, just as the Arabs most certainly would have.

In other words, it is the Arabs which dictate what Jews can or cannot do with and on Har HaBayith.

First Har HaBayith, next, Jerusalem, and soon after Tel-Aviv. Unfortunately, the average Israeli will not, cannot, or does not want to accept this as the fact that this is.

Arutz 7: Feiglin: State Buying Muslim Honor With Israeli Pride

MK Moshe Feiglin

MK: Giving up Israeli sovereignty to keep the peace will lead to war.

Maayana Miskin, March 27, 2013

Israel is sacrificing its sovereignty and national honor for the sake of Muslim quiet, MK Moshe Feiglin (Likud) said Wednesday, after he was barred from the Temple Mount over fears his visit would be met with a Muslim riot.

Feiglin warned that the current approach actually encourages Muslim violence.

“Like the apology over violence on the [Mavi] Marmara – this morning, on the Temple Mount, it was decided to buy Muslim silence with the coin of lost sovereignty and Israeli national pride,” he wrote on Facebook. “This approach always leads to a much more difficult war down the line.”

Feiglin noted that after his last visit to the Temple Mount led to the holy site being closed down due to a Muslim riot, he gave police plenty of advance notice that he planned to visit again. The visit was approved, he said, yet when he arrived at the site he was told he could not enter.

“The explanation given was that the Muslim mob is waiting for me to come in order to start protesting. I asked the commander why he isn’t ordering his people to remove the lawbreakers from the Mount, and instead is punishing the law-abiding party,” Feiglin said. “The answer was, ‘That’s the situation… ‘”

“This is very problematic for two reasons,” he continued. “First of all, this is exactly the same encouragement to violence that the Muslim world got when the lawbreakers from the Marmara got an Israeli apology. That is – removing me from the Mount is what will encourage violence.”

“But the more serious, more significant aspect of this is the fact that a Member of Knesset, a representative of Israel as a sovereign state, is prevented from ascending [the Mount] while any random tourist can go up with no problem,” Feiglin said.

“If, during my last visit, when an officer told me that the Temple Mount is under Muslim sovereignty there was room to hope that it was just an unfortunate slip of the tongue, the Israel Police have proved that it was not a slip of the tongue. Israeli authorities since 1967 have allowed the erosion of Israeli sovereignty on the Mount,” he warned.

“I will keep fighting with every means at my disposal, both in the public realm and in parliament, to restore Israeli sovereignty to the heart of the nation, the Temple Mount,” Feiglin declared.

See What Happens When Israel Apologizes?

 י"ז לחודש הראשון תשע"ג

PM Erdoğan shouting

Granted, this whole chapter started long before last week's co-dependent "apology" from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan. Nonetheless, several disturbing questions have arisen.

Even if YNET and the Turkish government cannot be trusted to have an accurate picture of reality (and they can't), important, albeit old and boring, information can be drawn from the following article.

My Esser Agaroth (2¢) analysis is interspersed within the article in blue italics.

YNET: Wide Gaps In Israel-Turkey Compensation Talks
Ankara, Jerusalem at odds over compensation to families of Turkish nationals killed during raid on Gaza-bound ship. Turkey wants Israel to pay $1M to each family; Israel willing to pay $100,000; joint committee to discuss issue in coming days

Israel and Turkey are in disagreement over the compensation the Jewish state is to pay to the families of the nine Turkish nationals who were killed during the IDF raid on the Gaza-bound ship in May 2010.

Israel wants to pay a total of $1 million to the families, while Turkey is demanding that each family receive $1 million.

A year ago Jerusalem and Ankara agreed that the money would not be transferred directly to the families. Rather, the money is to be transferred to a humanitarian fund headed by the Turkish government, which will distribute it.

Israel agreed to pay $100,000 to each family, while the Turks are demanding $1 million for each of the families of those killed during the commando raid on the Mavi Marmara. Israel refused, and suggested paying the same amount paid by the Turkish army to the families of its fallen soldiers – 125,000 Turkish liras, or some $70,000.

Considering these barbarous thugs anything even remotely like "fallen soldiers" is offensive. Where is the outrage?

PM Erdoğan shouting

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni discussed the compensation with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. The countries agreed to set up a joint committee to deal with the compensation issue. The committee will be headed by Feridun Sinirlioglu, undersecretary of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a former ambassador to Israel, as well as by Benjamin Netanyahu's National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror and Attorney Joseph Ciechanover, the prime minister's special envoy.

Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said Monday that officials delegated by the two sides will work on the compensation issue. "We gave the kickstart for it today," he told reporters after a weekly cabinet meeting. He called the negotiations "a big success of Turkish foreign policy."

Translation: We've got those Israelis by the proverbial family jewels!

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan clarified on Tuesday that the normalization of diplomatic ties between Israel and Turkey will occur only if Israel implemented its side of the deal with Turkey. "We are waiting to see what will happen on the ground soon. If they (Israelis) show positive and promising steps – we will do our part as well," he said.

Translation: When the Israelis cave, then we'll thrown them a bone, a very small bone, for which they should be VERY grateful.

Erdogan said Israel had agreed to lift the embargo on Gaza. Until now Turkey demanded that the "blockade" on Gaza be removed. It is estimated that Turkey changed its wording after realizing the Israel will not lift the blockade but will agree to allow more goods into the Hamas-ruled territory.

Translation: Israel is SO desperate for acceptance and validation from non-Jewish nations that it is willing to feed its enemies wanting to annihilate us. But, it's "OK," since Turkey changed the wording of the agreement. In the collective mind of the Israeli government, perhaps it believes that with that, it will successfully keep the Jewish People numbed out and in denial about what is really happening:

1. The Israeli government is failing miserably at protecting its citizens.

2.  It thinks that getting the non-Jewish nations to like and accept us will "make everything alright," even though that strategy has failed in the long run in each and every generation since the expulsion from Spain in 1492, in not earlier than that.

OR WORSE

3. The Israeli government doesn't care about its own people.

OR STILL WORSE

4. The Israeli government is actively trying to destroy itself.

Take your pick.

Erdogan said Tuesday that his government had rejected several Israeli proposals for reconciliation before the two countries agreed to normalize their relations.

According to Erdogan, Turkey insisted on three major conditions for the improvement of relations with Israel that included the use of the word "apology," Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper reported.

"$10,000,000!"

In a meeting with fellow party members Erdogan said, "We constantly gave them three conditions. An apology. They wanted to express sorrow, but we said no. We wanted the word apology.”

Translation: An apology indicates an acknowledgement of full responsibility; whereas, an expression of sorrow does not.

The Turkish prime minister claimed that Israeli officials had agreed to pay compensation to the Marmara victims' families but were reluctant to meet Ankara's two other demands: an apology and an end of the Gaza blockade. "“They said, ‘Isn’t it enough if we pay?’ We said no,” Erdogan told party members.

Translation: The Turkish want to make Israel look bad by suggesting that it believes that money will fix everything.

Mr. Netanyahu, would you please remember this rule of thumb from now on?

Give them a penny, and they'll take a pound,...one million dollars worth.

Oh, yeah, and why ARE you bothering with a country which, any day now, is going to fall into the hands of Islamic fundamentalists anyway?

For Men Only: Esser Agaroth's Miqwah (Mikveh) Guide

ט"ז לחודש הראשון תשע"ג

I am sure that there are women sneaking peeks at this post, even though it is only for men. And so, I will try to be modest careful with my wording. If you would like more detailed information about men and miqwa'oth (Jewish ritual baths), you may contact me personally by leaving a comment, which will only be published if you say so, or you may contact your local [Orthodox] rabbi.

Miqwah customs for men vary greatly. Many Hassidim tovel (immerse) everyday. Even though the gezirah of Ezra haSofer has not been in force for some time now. Some Jews tovel Erev (afternoon before) Shabbath and Erev Yom Tov. Others only before Yom Tov (holiday). Still others, only on Shavu'oth and Erev Yom Kippur, or just Erev Yom Kippur, which many consider to be a universal custom among Jews.

One of the first things I learned about the miqwah was the custom of not covering oneself with a towel or otherwise, so as not to show embarrassment over ones brith milah of Avraham Avinu. The are customs of specific groups related to tzni'uth (modesty), such as Satmar and Toldos Aharon/Avraham Yitzhaq Hassidim, and others. However, if you do not have these group specific customs, I would like to suggest that any issues with nudity in front of other men may stem from the values and sensibilities you grew up with in galuth (exile), and may want to look a look at those. Just a suggestion...

Below are my list of pet peeves, to help you lighten up about taking advantage of your local miqwah. But, the bottom line, in my opinion, is better to go to the miqwah, and do what is comfortable for yourself (ie. covering yourself with a towel), than not go at all.

After the pet peeves is a review of the miqwa'oth where I have been, followed by a couple of helpful miqwah links.

Esser Agaroth's (2¢) Miqwah Pet Peeves

10. Men who take up more bench space and wall hooks than they actually need.

9. Men who do not take responsibility for their children's behavior,...in OR outside of the miqwah.

8. Children who play around in the pools, and do not allow men room enough room to tovel. (*Children who do get out of the way, and only play when no one needs the space are fine, in my book, but should be supervised.)

7. Men who are super-duper uptight,...and think that everyone else should be,.

6. Men who want to impose their customs on everyone else.

5. Men who go into the miqwah without washing, either in the available showers there, or at home.

4. Men who splash all over the place when they tovel, and do so voraciously.

3. Men who doing cannonballs to enter the miqwah. (Yes! I have personally witnessed this!)

2. Men who tovel (dunk/immerse) a bazillion times, when there is a line, and room for for only one or two.

And Esser Agaroth's (2¢) No. 1 miqwah pet peeve is...

1. Men brushing up against me, when they have to yet to shower. That's not just inconsiderate; it's gross!

The Esser Agaroth (2¢) Miqwah Guide
(listed from north to south)

The Ariza"l's Miqwah, Tzfath

Tzfath:
Ariza"l's Miqwah - Freezing!! I was told that this feeling was due to the difference in temperature of the water vs. the air in the summer. Heimish (homey). Room for only one at time, so I hope that you don't get stuck in line behind someone with the custom of dunking over a hundred times!

The Kinnereth (Sea of Galilee) - I was here once with friends, and enjoyed it. Swimming out far enough provided plenty of privacy. Friends can guard each others bathing suits while toveling. See the notes below on The Mediterranean, as well.

The Mediterranean Sea - depends on where you go for your miqwah experience. I, myself, have only been to Tel-Aviv (religious beach - heimish), Netanyah (salty), and Nahariyah (very nice). The only advice I would give to you is to find an uncrowded, quiet place, not just for your privacy, but for kewannah (intention, thoughts). Please also do not go alone. The old, curmudgeony lifeguard in me insists on reminding you how dangerous the sea (and pools) can be, no matter how good of a swimmer you are. Anyone can bump his head by accident, or get sucked out by a particularly strong riptide and drown (לא עלינו).

Giv'ath Shmu'el:
Add this miqwah to the list of uptight communities. The advantage of this miqwah is that it is not very crowded, even though there are only four showers and one pool. Even Erev Yom Kippur I did not have to wait long to dunk. Everyone went in and out in an orderly fashion. Giv'ath Shmu'el is a Tel-Aviv suburb, surrounded by Petah Tiqwah, B'nei B'raq, and Bar-Ilan University

Har Berakhah:
On the way to the main town from the Hawarah Road, there is a natural miqwah on the left. There is willow tree conveniently located there, too, where many cut their "arvoth" for their lulavim an Hoshana Rabba bundles.


K'far Tapu'ah:
The now closed, old miqwah was very heimish. Once in a while we would dunk on hot Shabbath afternoons. The new miqwah, which is the old women's miqwah is nothing to write home about.

Eli:
B'nei David Yeshivah - Very small, not a lot of room in the entire space. Four men would feel crowded, six even if you're close friends.

Between Shilo and Eli there is a natural miqwah on the way to the Eli Cemetery. Many have told me that they like this miqwah. It's popular for kids to go down there.  But, be careful.  There has been at least one terrorist attack there.

Shiloh:
Old - Heimish, but is it still open? It is also down at the bottom of the hill.  Once you climb back up to the top of the town, you're already sweaty! The new miqwah in the Hesder Yeshivah, is extremely uptight! Individual changing rooms. A pain in the neck, having to knock and wait for someone to come and open the door. This is my least favorite miqwah.  Although, I have been told that is it kasher for ascending Har HaBayith, and those who tovel for that purpose are not required to pay.  So, that is on the plus side, being supportive of ascending Har HaBayith.

Beth El B'
Standard, heimish, not uptight. Plenty of private shower stalls. Private, one at a time, pool available.

Ofra:
Private showers and bath-rooms available. My guess is that it's the old women's miqwah.

Jerusalem:

Photo Credit: Lametayel

Batei Rand, Nahla'oth - Shy men be forewarned! There are no secrets in this miqwah! There are three pools, and it's very heimish. But, it can get very crowded Erev Shabbath in the afternoon. So arrive early. The kelim miqwah (shown left) is always open. I large rocks sits on top of the cover to prevent any hazards.

Lifta - Below the Giv'ath Sha'ul and Mattersdorf neighborhoods, at the entrance to the city, below the Ramot Road, Lifta is formed by the outpouring of a natural, underground spring. People can be seen bringing empty bottles to fill for drinking. I would make sure that no one is touring the cave with muddy shoes, before deciding to do the same. Lifta was once the name of the surrounding village, abandoned by Arabs during the Israeli War of Independence. The main problem is that it is crowed in the summer, including women and families, which makes toveling awkward.

Zupnik on Strauss St.

Zupnik, Strauss Street (Eidah Haredis) - One of, I believe, only two miqwa'oth in Jerusalem with steam rooms. The other one, I was told, is somewhere in the Ramath Shlomo neighborhood. I have heard that men are now required to wear a towel-skirt in order to go into the steam room. There are other restrictions, too. I recommend asking before entering. A long list of rules is on the wall inside. This miqwah installed automatic water shut-off nozzles long ago, for water conservation. I believe that all miqwa'oth should do the same.

Stern's, Me'ah She'arim - Refurbished, heimish, plenty of room. The men are know to share showers, military style, so you don't have to waste time waiting, when it is crowded. There are three good sized pools, hot, warm, and cold.

Zupnik, Giv'ath Sha'ul - Cleaner than most, never too crowded, except close to sheqi'ah. The Kelim Miqwah is always open. It's high enough and on an angle to prevent children from getting into it.

R' Hayim Vital Street, Giv'ath Sha'ul - Pretty standard, two pools, plenty of room, 9 or 10 showers. Friendly.

Beth HaKerem - Small, can get crowded later in the afternoon. The kelim miqwah is open on Erev Shabbath.

Erloi Yeshivah, corner of Rachel Imeni and Hizqiyahu HaMelekh, Old Qatamon - old school, very mixed, as in all kinds of men are seen there. Don't be afraid to ask "What do I do now that I'm here?" They're used to it.

Rehovoth
Rabbanuth - a few blocks south of the Central Bus Station - Nice, clean, multiple changing rooms, pools on both ends, cold on one side, hot on the other. They is at least one other miqwah in Rehovoth run by Vizhnitzer Hassidim.

Bat Ayin:
I have not been to this natural miqwah south of Jerusalem myself, but I have been told that it is the favorite of many. A man-made structure surrounds it.

Ein Gedi:
The Hidden Waterfall, up from to The Dead Sea - the "other" trail, which begins south of the main trail, is less crowded. The goal is to reach the "hidden waterfall," a great spot for toveling and picnicking alike. There is an entrance fee.

Eilat:
The Red Sea - I have been living in Israel for almost 16 years, and still haven't made it to Eilat! One of these days...

Miqwah Resources

Mikveh Net

Mikvah.org

With Apologies To Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan

ט"ז לחודש הראשון תשע"ג

Adele (bat Advah) Biton

People are reading about, thinking about, and talking about crap, and ignoring important things, like  This kind of thing used to bother me. It still does, but not for the same reasons.

Now, it bothers me, because my experience tells me that this has been in the press, and has dragged out way too much. In other words, just what exactly are "they" trying to distract us from?

Is this some sorry attempt at diverting the outraged news media over the due to an Arab rock attack, in what is supposed to be "safe" part of the Shomron (Samaria)?

I would not put it past "them."

So, here's all the crap which has recently transpired, and appears to be mesmerizing everyone. And by mesmerizing everyone, I mean distracting and confusing everyone.

PM Erdoğan shouting

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu expresses an apology over the deaths of a pack of thugs with iron bars and knives, who were killed in self-defense by the Israeli troops who had boarded the boat for inspection.

U. S. President Obama believes this crap about having the restoration of Israeli-Turkish ties in his pocket.

Supposedly symbolic Israeli President Peres thinks this crap about Israel and Turkey having 1,000 reasons to be friends.

PM Erdoğan shouting

And they both seem to be wrong, because in response, Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan has been talking crap about how Israel should not expect normal ties despite Netanyahu's apology, and then there is this crap about his planning a trip to Gaza. 

If you cannot connect the dots on your own here, then you are delusional.

There is nothing more that needs to be said.

Well, there is one thing I will say about Netanyahu's apology, which came about with some arm-twisting by Obama. Here is what I think of this apology.

PM Erdogan wondering

I have often said that "South Park" is one of the greatest commentaries (ie. accurate) on American society and culture.

Unfortunately, with or without knowing it, it appears that "South Park" is fast becoming one of the greatest commentaries on Israeli politics.

Whoever is in charge, Likud, Labor, Bennett, Lapid...None of it matters. The Israel government is more worried about crap, what outsiders think about it, than the life of one of its 3-year-old citizens hanging in the balance, due to terrorist thugs. They weren't armed with iron bars or knives, just rocks. It doesn't make a difference. A weapon is a weapon is a weapon, and by any other name, a weapon.

Where is Adele (bat Advah) Biton's apology?

The Qitniyoth (Kitniyot) Controversy Explained הסבר סכסוך של קטניות

ליל י"ד לחודש הראשון/לילבדיקת חמץ תשע"ג

Hametz-Checking Night

English text and video follows the Hebrew.

עכשיו לקראת פסח,חג המצות,  כל יהודי שואל את עצמו, "מה מותר לי לאכול במשך החג?"

בדרך כלל יש מסורת ליהודים אשכנזים כאילו ממוצא מזרח ארופאי לא לאכול קטניות במשך חג הפסח, אפילו שלפי כל הדעות, קטניות לא יכולות להחמיץ. רק חמשת מיני הדגנים יכולים להחמיץ, ואפילו . והדגנים האלו הם חיטה, כוסמין, שיפון, שעורה, ושיבולת שועל.

אז למה יש כל הסכסוך הזה בקשר לאכילת קטניות במשך חג הפסח?

 הרב דוד בר-חיים, ראש מכון שילה ,מסביר לנו את כל העניינים בקשר לאכילת  קטניות במשך החג בסרטון הזה - בעברית!

נא לצפות!

Well, it's that time of year again. As we approach the holiday of Pesah (Passover), the question arises, "What can I eat during Pesah?"

Traditionally, those of Ashkenazi, or Northern, Central, and Eastern European decent refrain from legumes during Pesah, even though they are clearly not able to become hametz (leavened grain product). Only the "5 Species" of grain can become hametz, not even rice. Those are wheat, spelt, rye, barley, and oats.

So, what's all of the controversy about qitniytoth?

Rabbi David Bar-Hayim, Rosh Machon Shilo explains it all in this video!

The "Women Of The Wall" Are Not The Problem

י"ג לחודש הראשון תשע"ג

Arutz 7: 'Armed with Tallits,' MKs Join Kotel Women, Prevent their Arrest
Leftist female MKs donned prayer shawls and joined Women of the Wall for provocation at Kotel.

Gil Ronen, March 12, 2013

Leftist female MKs donned prayer shawls Tuesday morning and joined the Women of the Wall for a prayer session at the Kotel. The MKs' presence prevented the arrest of the Women of the Wall by police.

MKs Stav Shafir (Labor), along with Tamar Zandberg and Michal Rozin (Meretz), joined the group, which regularly holds prayer sessions that challenge the traditional Jewish division of roles between the sexes, next to Judaism's most holy place. (cont.)

Why Gil Ronen (or his editor at Arutz 7) chose to call them "Kotel Women," I have absolutely no idea.  The honorific "Kotel" belongs to those righteous Jewish women whose prayers are disrupted by the so-called "Women Of The Wall."

My guess is it's the same ol' credo "Sometimes we're Torah flag wavers; sometimes we're 'objective' journalists." Whatever.

Anyway, as the title fo this piece states very clearly, the so-called "Women Of The Wall" are not the problem.

Let's take a look at who and what ARE the problems.

R' Yuval Cherlow

1. Mamlakhti (undying State loyalist) "Rabbis" like Yuval Cherlow of the Petah Tiqwah Hesder Yeshivah believes in accepting the so-called liberal movements of Judaism, as legitimate denomination of Judaism, it seems. Since when Judaism is supposed to be  "reformed," "reconstructed," or (only partly) "conserved," I have no idea. And maybe I should give Rabbi Cherlow the benefit of the doubt, by assuming that he knows NOTHING of these so-called "movements," let alone how they play with, ignore, or rip apart the Oral Torah. (Note: When I searched for images of R' Cherlow, several of the images which popped up were those of Shlomo Aviner, who was prohibited to rule on issues related to Tohorath HaMishpahah by the Beth Din, convened by R' Mordechai Eliyahu ztz"l, and included R' Avraham Shapira ztz"l, R' Dov Lior, and R' Ya'aqov Yosef. That alone should be enough to pasul Yuval Cherlow.)

R' David Stav

2. Rabbi David Stav, who is "...waging a public campaign to become the next Ashkenazi chief rabbi and wrest control of the institution from the ultra-Orthodox" (Daniel Estrin, Times Of Israel, February 13, 2013).

Yes, but what does that mean? Rabbi Stav's Tzohar organization is well-known for its undying State loyalism. If state loyalism is to replace the so-called "ultra-Orthodox," who at least claim to put Torah before the State, then I want nothing to do with it, nor him. Although, Rabbi Stav is against women being considered "rabbis," what roles will he be pressured into allowing them to enter? Will democracy enter into the picture when Rabbi Stav will be asked to look into a halakhic (Jewish legal) matter, perhaps a stand of the government? When Rabbi Stav becomes the next Chief Ashkenzi Rabbi of Israel, will the fact that his salary will be coming from the very Israeli government known for its lack of concern for halakhah influence his (or ANY "Chief Rabbi's") decisions? What happens when the Israeli government decides to give up MORE of God's Promised Land? Will he have the courage to stand up to the opposition like the previous Bostoner Rebbe ztz"l or Rabbi Herschel Schachter ztz"l?

Shimon Peres

Rabbi Stav believes in seeking out those non-Jews in the country for quickie conversions. This will do nothing but create more Erev Rav (false converts). Now, how exactly will THAT help Am Yisra'el? That brings us to No. 3 on the list, the King of the Erev Rav, Shimon Peres. The role of the the Erev Rav, among other things, is to battle against the Torah. 'Nuff said about King Shimon Peres.

PM Netanyahu

4. Prime Minister Binyamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is, of course, part of the problem. Or is he? After all, he's either misguided or just doesn't care or both, right? HaShem will take care of the likes of him. Nonetheless, we are required to point out the truth,...and the lies. Before that disgraceful "apology" to Turkey for the IDF's self-defense, and Obama tuchas-kissing, we saw Bibi's larger contribution to the problem, when he praised his Mamlakhti (undying "religious" State loyalist) lackeys.

R' Avi Weiss

5. Avi Weiss who makes a female "rabbi," calls it by another name, and then promises never to do it again. Sorry, Avi, but the damage has been done. Just look at the Kotel now! Of course, there are many other examples of Frankenstein's Bride which you helped to create. (See below)

Naftali "Where's my kippah?" Bennett

6. Naftali Bennett Keeping the Haredim out of the government was a popular (and strategic) move for now.  Sha"S may waver up and down with its mandates.  Amselam and Likud ...  But UTJ gained a seat, and they will gain one of two more in the next elections, slowly but surely showing that patience and we will end up with the Haredim being in control, just like everyone is so "afraid" of in the first place, why Meretz instills fear in the Religious Zionist communities to get them to vote for non-Haredi candidates, even if they have little to no connection to Torah in their lives at all. Now, it appears that Naftali Bennett will be the Minister of Religious Affairs. Looks like Rabbi David Stav got his wish. The so-called "ultra-Orthodox" (Haredim) will no longer have all that power he has been crying about. Now, he will have all that power, once he gets "elected" as Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel. He will have Minister Bennett and his entire ministry for minyons to collaborate in pushing his agenda.

7. The K'nesset (Israeli Parliament)

8. Israeli Supreme Court

This is democracy for you, or in Israel's case, deMOCKracy.

But, the real problem is that such individuals actually believe that democracy has anything to do with the running of a truly, Jewish government, in the long-term at least.

Other contributors to the problem include the late David Hartman,
his son Doniel Hartman,
women like "she who must not be named,"

Popeye's Sea Hag

and last but certainly not least,
the hags of Kolech.

And so, we all must decide, will we be part of the problem? Or will we be part of the solution?

Haveil Havalim #402 Is Up!

י"ג לחודש הראשון תשע"ג

Edition #402 of the Haveil Havalim, Jewish and Israel-related blog carnival is up at It's My Crisis, And I'll Cry If I Need To.

It's the KLP (Kosher lePesach) Edition.

Check it out!

President Obama, Ever Heard Of God? מר אובמה, שמעת פעם על הקדוש ברוך הוא?

מוצש"ק פר' צו/הגדול תשע"ג

From Tomer Devorah...

Re: Obama's Address To The Israeli People

20 Nissan 5773

President Barack Obama

Listening to the speech from Binyanei HaUma.  After pushing every patriotic Israeli button, he has finally come to the crux of it all - [He believes that] the poor Palestinians deserve a state of their own and we have a responsibility to give it to them from out of our own state.

He just referred to "settler violence that goes unpunished."  Well, you can imagine the rest.  It only gets worse and the clapping and hooting in approval from the audience is sickening. Of course, they were handpicked for that reason weren't they?

Now he is praising Abbas and his "achievements."

All I can say is THANK GOD! it's not up to Obama and his ilk.  HKB"H is still the Master of the World and how much more so in Eretz HaKodesh.

This is my response to Mr. Obama.  Read it loud and clear.

THERE WILL ONLY EVER BE ONE NATION BETWEEN THE RIVER AND THE SEA - THE NATION OF ISRAEL!!!!!!!!  AM YISRAEL CHAI LEOLAM!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Tomer Devorah for the report, and for your response.

Now I will give my response to the illustrious President of the United States [POTUS]. By the way, doesn't "Potus" sound Latin,...as in Roman? Of course, Rome is , as in Edom/Esau. In fact, potus DOES mean something in Latin.

potus - n. masc. drink/draught; something to drink; (action of) drinking (intoxicating drink)

Coincidence? I think not. After all, more and more it seems to me that it is the primary function of the President of the United States to get as many Americans and non-Americans "to drink the Kool-Aid."

But, I digress...

I am wondering if President Obama has ever heard of God. It is not clear to me that he does. After having attended a church for 20 years, and then distancing himself from that church and its spiritual leader, it is hard to know what President Obama has heard of, let alone believes in.

So, please allow me to give the President of the United States a Tana"kh (Bible) lesson, and we'll just how much of a believing Christian (or anything) President Obama really is.

The concept of The Holy One, Blessed Be He, promising the People of Israel the Land, now known as Israel, occurs in the Tana"kh countless times.

Not only that, but as every was created by The Holy One, Blessed Be He, He make give whatever He wants to whomever He pleases, take it away from whomever He pleases, and then give it to whomever else He pleases. Thus, we see Him give, take away, and give to the People of Israel, the Land of Cana'an, now named Israel. The Torah begins with Creation, instead of the first misswah (Torah commandment) incumbent upon the People of Israel, Qiddush HaHodesh (Sanctification of the Month) to demonstrate this very concept of The Holy One, Blessed Be He's ownership and ruler-ship (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaqi on Genesis).

Incidentally, Tana"kh is an acronym, which stands for Torah, Nevi'im, Kethuvim (Torah, Prophets, Writings). The written Bible contains nothing more. The Torah, of course, includes the Oral Torah.

But, yet again, I digress...

Since Pesah (Passover) is upon the Jewish People, I will keep to those references connecting our being brought out of Egypt with the promise of the Land of Israel.

שמות יג
 ג וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-הָעָם, זָכוֹר אֶת-הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר יְצָאתֶם מִמִּצְרַיִם מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים, כִּי בְּחֹזֶק יָד, הוֹצִיא יְהוָה אֶתְכֶם מִזֶּה; וְלֹא יֵאָכֵל, חָמֵץ. ד הַיּוֹם, אַתֶּם יֹצְאִים, בְּחֹדֶשׁ, הָאָבִיב. ה וְהָיָה כִי-יְבִיאֲךָ יְהוָה אֶל-אֶרֶץ הַכְּנַעֲנִי וְהַחִתִּי וְהָאֱמֹרִי וְהַחִוִּי וְהַיְבוּסִי, אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבֹתֶיךָ לָתֶת לָךְ, אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב, וּדְבָשׁ; וְעָבַדְתָּ אֶת-הָעֲבֹדָה הַזֹּאת, בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה. ו שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, תֹּאכַל מַצֹּת; וּבַיּוֹם, הַשְּׁבִיעִי, חַג, לַיהוָה. ז מַצּוֹת, יֵאָכֵל, אֵת, שִׁבְעַת הַיָּמִים; וְלֹא-יֵרָאֶה לְךָ חָמֵץ, וְלֹא-יֵרָאֶה לְךָ שְׂאֹר--בְּכָל-גְּבֻלֶךָ. ח וְהִגַּדְתָּ לְבִנְךָ, בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֵאמֹר: בַּעֲבוּר זֶה, עָשָׂה יְהוָה לִי, בְּצֵאתִי, מִמִּצְרָיִם. ט וְהָיָה לְךָ לְאוֹת עַל-יָדְךָ, וּלְזִכָּרוֹן בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ, לְמַעַן תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת יְהוָה, בְּפִיךָ: כִּי בְּיָד חֲזָקָה, הוֹצִאֲךָ יְהוָה מִמִּצְרָיִם. י וְשָׁמַרְתָּ אֶת-הַחֻקָּה הַזֹּאת, לְמוֹעֲדָהּ, מִיָּמִים, יָמִימָה. יא וְהָיָה כִּי-יְבִאֲךָ יְהוָה, אֶל-אֶרֶץ הַכְּנַעֲנִי, כַּאֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לְךָ, וְלַאֲבֹתֶיךָ; וּנְתָנָהּ, לָךְ.

Exodus 13
3 And Moses said unto the people: 'Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place; there shall no leavened bread be eaten. 4 This day ye go forth in the month Abib. 5 And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which He swore unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month. 6 Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee, in all thy borders. 8 And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying: It is because of that which the LORD did for me when I came forth out of Egypt. 9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thy hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in thy mouth; for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt. 10 Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year. 11 And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, as He swore unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,....

And for good measure...

 

ויקרא כה
 לח  אֲנִי, יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, אֲשֶׁר-הוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם, מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם--לָתֵת לָכֶם אֶת-אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן, לִהְיוֹת לָכֶם לֵאלֹהִים.

Leviticus 25
38 I am the LORD your God, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Cana'an, to be your God.

Who's "occupying" whom?
(Click to Enlarge)

You see, the eventual goal of the Holy One, Blessed Be He for the People of Israel, after taking them out of bondage in Egypt, and after giving them the Torah (including the Oral Torah), was to settle them in the Land of Cana'an, the Land of Israel, which in actuality extends all the way up to the Litani River in what is now called Southern Lebanon.

That's right: Settle the Land, as in settlers.

And so, I ask Mr. Obama, President of the United States of America, a powerful position, indeed, if he has ever heard of God.

If so, has he ever heard of the Bible? I suspect that he must, considering that he has been emphatic about his being a Christian (and not a Muslim).

I suppose that now is his people's cue to come up with a different interpretation of the above verses.

Sorry, Mr. President, there ARE no other interpretations. The Land of Israel belongs to the People of Israel.

Not, you, nor Prime Minister Netanyahu, nor President Peres, nor Naftali Bennett, nor Yair Lapid, nor the European Union, nor the United Nations, nor any other body of human beings have the authority to say otherwise.

What Do You Call A Person Who Speaks Only One Language?

י"א לחודש הראשון תשע"ג

The other night I was on Emeq Refa'im Street, in the trendy, Moshavah Germanith (German Colony) neighborhood of Jerusalem. I used to avoid this neighborhood like the plague. Too many Americans for my taste.

Although I have chilled out about it over the years, I still do not seek out opportunities to go there.

The reason for my going the other night was the birthday party of a friend. While in the restaurant, I saw a waiter ask a lady, in English, if she wanted a menu in English. She replied, in Hebrew, "No, in Hebrew." So, the waiter switched to Hebrew, and got her a menu in the same.

After dinner the birthday boy, another friend, and I went for ice cream. It was the first time I ever had ice cream from Aldo's, and I must say that it was pretty good. I was happy to find my favorites, too, French Vanilla and Belgian Chocolate.

Before I was able to get my ice cream to go, the birthday boy had to decide what he wanted, so he let the family which had just arrived to order before us. He spoke to them in English, but they understood the gesture, and smiled. One of the boys pointed to one of the flavors "Flan," and asked his grandmother what it was. She said, in Hebrew, to him, "It's flan."

Being from San Diego, I am no stranger to flan, a pudding or custard made with milk, sugar, and eggs, and topped, or bottomed, with caramel.

I invited myself to join in the conversation with these total strangers, as is considered totally acceptable in Israel. I told the children, in Hebrew, that flan is a Mexican dessert. Of course, it's found in other countries, but I decided to keep it simple.

One of the boys, probably around 10 years old, turned around toward me, and appear almost in a state of shock. He questioned me, "You speak Hebrew??"

"Yes," I replied.

"But you're American aren't you?

"I'm from America, yes. Why shouldn't I be able to speak Hebrew, even though I have really bad accent?"
The boy laughed, and his grandmother grinned. My friends had long since gotten their ice cream. The grandmother suddenly realized this, and insisted that I order next. So, I got and paid for my ice cream, said goodnight, and met my friends who were waiting and schmoozing outside.

I told them what I had happened with the family inside Aldo's. It reminded me of a joke I had heard long ago, which I told them.

Q: What do you call someone who speaks three languages?
A: Trilingual.

Q: What do you call someone who speaks two languages?
A: Bilingual.

Q: What do you call someone who speaks only one language?
A: American.

Sad, but true, the stereotype of the [not-so-]ugly, American tourist is well-known even in Israel, or rather, especially in Israel.

That night justified my feelings about this trendy neighborhood being too American for my taste. Even the native Israelis seem to view English as the neighborhood's default language.

Yet, everyone whom I encountered that night in this neighborhood was friendly to both Hebrew speakers and English speakers alike.

If it were not for the higher than average prices, I might start hanging out in Moshavah Germanith more often. My lousy American accent aside, my fluency in Hebrew seems to garner a certain status, above that of your typical American.

I don't think this is because we American Jews are THAT bad with languages, or or that we simply expect everyone else in the universe to speak English. I believe that it is more probable that we are embarrassed to speak a foreign language in front of native speakers of that language, either because of perfectionism or because of our generally less than superior accents.

Nonetheless,I encourage my fellow Jews from North America, my landsmen, to work on their Hebrew. As they say, "Use it, or lose it." Don't practice you Hebrew. USE your Hebrew.

Even saying hello to a totally stranger will not only aid your Hebrew skills' growth, you may make a new Hebrew-speaking friend,...even in the German Colony.

The Obama Has Landed; The Tuchas-Kissing Has Begun

י' לחודש הראשון תשע"ג

At Ben-Gurion International Airport, where U. S. President Barack Obama landed, his journey of surreal lies began. Let's take a peak...

President Obama

First, Obama uttered some token words of Hebrew for the sake of "moderate" Israelis. His ultra-leftist colleagues in crime don't need him to speak Hebrew. They would rather speak English, like any good Westerner would speak.  "Tov lehiot shoov ba'aretz (Hebrew: It's good to be again in Israel)," he said... "We stand together because peace must come to the Holy Land." Spell-check doesn't catch homonyms. Obama obviously meant "piece," not "peace."

Obama said that the US has an unwavering commitment to Israel's security, and added: "I am confident in declaring that our alliance is eternal."
Unwavering commitment to Israel's security? Security in its eventual death? (I't s God's.) Alliance toward what goals? Throwing Jews out of their homes, giving land away to those who want to annihilate us, even though it's not ours OR YOURS to give away? (I't s God's.)

PM Netanyahu

Greeting the President at the airport was recently re-elected, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who said, "Thank you for standing by Israel at this time of historic change." Standing by Israel??!! You mean standing by Israel, while we throw Jews out of their homes, give land away to those who want to annihilate us, even though it's not Netanyahu's OR YOURS to give away? (I't s God's.) I believe that Netanyahu also may have thanked Obama for the various opportunities he has provided for him to jump at each and every one of Obama's whims, and to grovel at his every command, and to kiss his טוכאס tuchas (Yiddish: rear end, backside, buttocks, colloq.: "ass").

Prez Peres

Israeli President Shimon Peres then greeted Obama: "Your visit here is a crown demonstration of the profound relationship between our two nations.

"From the depths of our hearts, toda raba. Thank you Mr. President, thank you for what you do." Peres ended his speech by saying: "Welcome home, Mr. President."

Peres also said that "America and Israel share a destiny," and then, "Your vision reflects the future as it should be." These statements of our illustrious President begs several questions:

1. What "profound relationship" between our two nations? That Prez Peres, who is SUPPOSED to be holding a purely symbolic position, can more easily fool us all by when Obama pushed Netanyahu around to further the goal to break apart Israel? It is still not clear to me if Peres is calling the shots, or if he and Obama receive their orders from the same source.

2. "...Thank you for what you do." What DOES he do? Make it easier for the Erev Rav-controlled, Israeli government to further it's aims to de-Jewify and to de-Judify the Land of Israel? (God forbid!)

3. "Shared destiny" What shared destiny? Is that horrid joke about Israel being the 51st state about to come true? Or is this just code for the finalization of the American imperialist takeover of Israel, already in progress?

Sec. of State Kerry

And, now we hear of recently sworn in U. S. Secretary of State John Kerry's "surprise visit." It seems that he's here to make us an offer we can't refuse.

My friend Tomer Devorah sums it all up, by connecting the dots...

No doubt the media will project a false image of this visit as one entirely welcomed by Israelis.  They're good at that.  But we've been around a lot longer than the 65 years of the modern state's history and we haven't survived as a people this long without learning a thing or two about what really lies behind the false faces of people like Obama.

Yossi Beilin

I am glad how she phrased that, "people like Obama." There are so many cooks here, spoiling the broth, and all of them fit this description.

She also brought our attention to the fact that one of those players is former Meretz-Yachad Party Chair Yossi Beilin. I should have suspected that he sneaking around in the background making deals, like the illegal (but no one seems to care) Oslo and Geneva Accords. Even the late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin dubbed Yossi Beilin "Shimon Peres's Poodle."

Obama's journey of lies brings him in contact with various liars, yet all of these liars have one thing in common. They all kissing up to whoever is in power, whoever can give them more power, whoever can maintain their power. And today, that seems to be U. S. President Barack Obama.