"Tzohar Law:" Torah vs. State Under the Chuppah

כ"ו לחודש השמיני תשע"ד 

Arutz 7: 'Revolution'? New Law Lets Marrying Couples Pick Their Rabbi

Naftali Bennett
Bayit Yehudi Party Chief  and Minister of Religious Services

Couples can now marry in any city or town in the country, select rabbi they feel comfortable with, making Jewish marriage easier.

David Lev, October 28, 2013

The Knesset on Monday night passed on its second and third reading a law that will allow couples to marry in any city or town in the country. The law, popularly known as the "Tzohar Law," was sponsored by Bayit Yehudi (Jewish Home Party), and was designed to allow couples to more easily choose rabbis they feel comfortable with.

Tzohar Rabbis

The law was passed by a large majority, with 57 MKs in favor and 14 against. All opposed were MKs were from hareidi parties, who have been vehemently opposed to the legislation.

With the marriage “market” now becoming competitive, local authorities will have to ensure that the experience – including registration, procedures, and rituals – is pleasant for couples, Bayit Yehudi said. A spokesperson for the party said that the law would assist some 35,000 couples that get married in Israel annually.(cont.)

(Tip Credit: Sharkskin)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):

R' David Stav
Tzohar

BOLOGNA!

This law was NOT "designed to allow couples to more easily choose rabbis they feel comfortable with."*

This law was designed to give more control to the Mamlakhti (undying State loyalist) rabbis, under the guise of "more freedom of choice."

Many were cheering the passage of this law. The Rabbanuth, they said has been controlled by "Haredim." So, now they have Statists instead of rabbis.

MK Shai Piron (Yesh Arid) already has control of the Ministry of Re-Education, and MK Elazar Stern (HaT'nu'ah) is crying for Jews and non-Jews to be buried together.

What's next?

I'll tell you what;s next. Non-Orthodox "rabbis" will be included. The law says that a rabbi must undergo training, and become "licensed" to conduct weddings. But, does the law say what being a "rabbi" means?

It doesn't matter what the law says; it will be contest and handed over to the State of Israel's illustrious justice system.

And, what do you suppose that the Israeli Supreme Court will say?...

There goes the Torah out the window. The Erev-Rav controlled State wins.

Stay tuned!

These newly included "rabbis" will create Batei Din (rabbinical courts) with dayanim pesulim (judges disqualified from being judges) and will produce treif divorce documents, which will invariably be followed by the production of mamzerim - halakhic bastards, who have limited rights in the community, including who they may marry.

Then, what's next?

 ???

WAKE UP!

Tzohar Law? More like Tzo'ah Law.

*********

*"...was designed to allow couples to more easily choose rabbis they feel comfortable with."

David, must you continue to split your infinitives???

Chanan HaChatan (2 Quick Shabbos Recipes)

כ"ד לחודש השמיני תשע"ד

"Chanan HaGanan"

A friend of mine, Chanan, is a professional gardener, thus he is "Chanan HaGanan," which rhymes, of course, and also happens to be the title of a children's book by Rinat Hofer. Last Monday night, Chanan got married, so now he is also "Chanan HaChatan," thus the title of this post.

Chanan and I were roommates for a while, WAY back when. We would often host Shabbath meals, inviting men from the various yeshivoth in the neighborhood. Often these guys were new to Torah and, in particular, Shabbath. So, we would show them that yes, Shabbath can be a lot of fun without bars, nightclubs, movies, road trips, or whatever else they had always associated Friday nights and Saturdays with.

I remember when one guest accidentally bumped into a light switch, shutting it off. He started to freak-out, and get all apologetic on us. I do not mind saying that I am glad we were both there to be chilled-out about it, and simply say, "It happens. Don't worry about it. Let's eat."

Along with my soup, there are two items I remember making, in particular. I intend to include them in The Yeshivah Bochur's Cookbook, if I ever finish putting it together. So, like all of the recipes I intend to included, try them out, and distribute them, but please include a link back here.

Running around, getting ready for Shabbath can be fun, and make the relief feel even greater, when you're done! You have little candles, and are off to minhah, settle into your seat at schul, and WHEW!

But, what do you before hand, when you realize that you might not have enough food, or the barbecue failed on you, and you only have an hour to do anything about it?

"An Hour Before Sheqi'ah Chicken Wings"

Ingredients:
chicken wings, 1 package (12-14 wings)
1 medium brown onion
3 cloves of garlic
paprika
soy sauce (optional)

Throw (literally, because it's almost sheqi'ah) the chicken wings into a pan, and into a toaster oven (without any light that goes on when you open it) with a timer. Broil for 20 minutes. Set aside the melted off fat for this Shabbos's or a future chicken soup. Flip the wings over.

Add the onion, which has been chopped into eighths, and the coarsely chopped garlic. Sprinkle the paprika over the wings, according to taste. As you should know by now, I use way too much soy sauce, but add tablespoon or two if you like.

Reset the timer on the oven, before you leave for schul. Forget about it.

Come home, take out of the oven, and enjoy!

One Shabbath, I was running particularly late, and did not make it to schul. It was after sheqi'ath hahamah (sunset) when I picked up the lettuce to make a salad. When I opened the package, I saw that it was teeming with ants!

No, this should not suggest anything about how clean (or not) my kitchen is kept. So, while it was in my hand, I put in the mahsan. Perhaps after Shabbath, it could be salvaged,...after the ants had their fill.

In the meantime, I had to rifle through the refrigerator and cupboards to see what I had on hand to throw together to make a salad. This is what I found, and the recipe which Chanan and I came up with, when he came back from schul.

"I Ran Out of Lettuce, Salad"

Ingredients:
cucumbers
mushrooms
garlic
garlic power
salt
paprika 

Chunk the cucumbers and mushrooms. Coarsely chop* the garlic. Add the spices to taste and toss together. Preparation time: 5 minutes.

*Chopping something too finely could be one of the melakhoth (particular labor), forbidden on Shabbath: Tehinah (grinding). Consult your local rabbinic authority.

In conclusion, from my experience, the more practice you have with both the fundamentals in the kitchen, as well as attempts at being creative, including the failures, the quicker you will be able to problem-solve when necessary. And these normally panicky situations will no longer be panicky situations.

Mazal Tov, Chanan and Zoe!

Which Country is More anti-Jewish, Qatar or Israel?

כ"ד לחודש השמיני תשע"ד

This was a disturbing report from the sports world....

Debbie Schlussel.com: NBC FINA World Cup Swimming Broadcast Censors Out Israeli Flag to Appease Muslims, Flag Also Pulled @ Facility

October 22, 2013

The FINA World Cup swimming competition video feed censored out the Israeli flag to appease the host country of the games, Qatar. The Israeli flag was also pulled from outside the swimming facility. Don’t blame the Muslim Nazis in Qatar. Blame the FINA co-conspirators who obeyed the demands of Qatar. FINA is the international governing body of swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming and open water swimming. And if today’s FINA officials had been around in 1930s and ’40s Europe, they’d have fit in perfectly. Sieg Heil! So would the Jew-hating aholes at NBC Universal who did the, um, videography and “wipe the Israeli flag off the screen” graphics. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):

Lionel "Leo" Messi

Check out Debbie's full report, including examples of censored photos and videos.

What is particularly disturbing is that even though Qatar pulls this kind of shenanigans, it has not seemed to affect the popularity in Israel of wearing Qatar Foundation/Barcelona gear, in homage to the Argentine, Qatar Foundation-partnered FCB Barcelona team footballer Leo Messi. The [privatized] Israeli Postal Service even put out a commemorative set of stamps and soccer ball for sale. Most every branch had a manikin baring Messi's "Qatar Foundation" jersey.

"Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), headquartered in Qatar's capital city of Doha, is an independent, private, non-profit organization established in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar...

Qatar Foundation logo/IDF Golani Brigade logo
Any resemblance?

"Qatar Foundation is proud to have been selected to place its logo on the FC Barcelona jersey as part of a long–term partnership between Qatar and one of the most successful football clubs in the world [FCB Barcelona]...."

Life In Israel: The Dayan Kippah Draws a Penalty

October 21, 2013

Guy Dayan, footballer (or soccer player) for Hapoel Acco, has devised his own version of the Icke Shuffle, and he too has upset the sports authorities. Dayan's celebration after he scores a goal has recently been updated to include pulling a kippa out of his sock and donning it atop his head.

Maybe it would be better to compare Dayan's celebration to Tim Tebow than Ickey Woods.

Guy Dayan celebrating with a kippah
(Photo credit: Madag Gozani)

Dayan first did the "Dayan Kippa" in a game against Maccabi Petach Tikva, and the referee ignored it. Then he did it again while playing against HaPoel Ranaana, and caught a penalty for it.

The refs association has decided to put an end to the uncertainty and issue a statement clarifying the rules. The statement reads:

In our region, due to the multitude of religions and sensitivities among the variety of populations, and in order to prevent any provocation and and unnecessarily inflaming passions, the donning of a kippa by a player who scores a goal will result in a yellow flag thrown. The referees will act accordingly.

No more Dayan Kippa in Israeli sports...

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Can you believe these self-loathing, goy-pandering, "Jewish" referees?

It seems to me what they are trying to say is...

How dare Israel identify itself as a Jewish State.

How dare Israel allow for the freedom of religious expression,...for Jews.

How dare Jews in Israel stand out from the goyim, even in their own land, and even if it is not their intentions.

Normally, I would say that this is just like in galuth (exile): Wouldn't want to upset the goyim!

Unfortunately, there is something much more nefarious going on here. Israeli sports politics is only a drop in the bucket of the systematic de-Judaisation of the Land of Israel.

And so, I ask you, which country is more anti-Jewish, Qatar or Israel?

Qatar is simply behaving like it supposed to...

ישמעאל שונא ליעקב.

Yishma'el hates Ya'aqov

The West is going along with it,...for the oil, for the "cultural experience" of it all, or for whatever.

עשו שונא ליעקב.

Esau hates Ya'aqov

What's Israel's excuse?

What does Former Israeli President Katsav have up his sleeve?

י"ט לחודש השמיני תשע"ד

YNET: Katsav requests retrial from Supreme Court
Former president and convicted rapist claims he found 'distortion of judgment' in original ruling

Aviel Magnezi, October 14, 2013

Moshe Katzav

Former president Moshe Katsav, who is two years into a seven year prison sentence for rape and other sexual offenses, appealed to the Supreme Court on Monday for a new trial.

In the appeal, Katsav's attorneys Yehoshua Resnik and Zion Saharay claim there was a "distortion of judgment" in the Tel Aviv District Court's original ruling.

In the appeal, Katsav complained that his rape conviction was based solely on the testimony of complainant 'A' from the Tourism Ministry and was not supported by any other piece of evidence.

The former president claims phone calls he made from his car prove he was not with complainant 'A' when the rape he was convicted of took place.

The former president was convicted in 2011 of rape, sexual assault and harassment of a number of female employees while he served as tourism minister and president.

Last month Katsav, who never admitted to or expressed remorse for the offenses of which he was convicted, received his first 24-hour furlough, which he spend in his home in Kiryat Malachi. His brother Lior greeted him outside the Maasiyahu Prison in Ramla along with a small group of relatives including Katsav's son, Yisrael.

Lior told reporters that his brother is a victim of "a great injustice" and that he was "convicted of crimes that never took place."

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
I am still not sure whether Katzav is really guilty, of some or of any of the things he was accused of. If he is, then, of course, he should be punished. But, that's not the issue here, and it never was.

In Israel, as the saying goes, most politicians are guilty of something, but get "caught" (...and tried, and convicted) when they succeed in angering the wrong people.

Another theory as to the push for Katzav's conviction is that of racism. Non-Ashkenazi Aryeh Deri and Moshe Katzav, served time in jail, but Ashkenazy former President Ezer Weitzman and Prime Minister Ehud Baraq were never even called on the carpet.

But then, the arrest and conviction of Ashkenazy Omri Sharon and Ehud Olmert. appeared to debunk. Nevertheless, I wouldn't put anything, certainly not racism, passed this government.

Still one more theory which suggests a contribution to Katzav's elimination from the political scene was his election to the presidency itself.

Who remembers who Katzav defeated? That's right! He defeated Shimon Peres, and by only one vote, to receive a basic majority of the K'nesseth!

Now, I am not sure that Peres is THAT petty, that he would take revenge on someone. To Peres, it all seems like a game. After all, no matter which parties are elected to form a government or who gets elected prime minister, Peres is the one with the real in power in Israel, .

Nonetheless, I am willing to bet that he was caught off guard when lost the election, and was, shall we say, far from pleased.

I would like to propose just one more theory behind Katzav's arrest and conviction: He knows too much. What will happen after his seven year sentence when he gets released, we will just have to wait an see.

Yet, in spite of all these theories, one question still gnaws at me:

What makes former President Moshe Katzav think that he could an early release?

The prosecution must have really messed up, if Katzav's attorney thinks that a conflict between phone records and one witness's testimony is enough.

And so, the Saga of Moshe Katzav continues.

Stay tuned!

President Shimon Peres Question and Answer Time!

ח"י לחודש השמיני תשע"ד

23rd Anniversary of the murder of Rabbi Me'ir Kahane hy"d

Check it out!

The President of Israel, Shimon Peres, wants YOU to ask him questions on Facebook!

Those questions submitted, receiving the most likes will actually be answered by the President!

Gee! Do you think that mine have any chance of being "liked" by those following the President's website??

Top: Avraham David Moses, 16; Ro'i Roth, 18; Neria Cohen, 15; Yonatan Eldar, 16
Bottom: Yochai Lifshitz, 18; Segev Peniel Avihail, 15; Yehonadav Hirschfeld, 19; Doron Meherete, 26.
Murdered in the Beth Midrash of the Merkaz HaRav Kook Yeshiva by an "Israeli Arab," but not one of "those" guns, HY"D
Rosh Hodesh Adar II 5768 (March, 2008)

1) In your own words, the guns you and Rabin gave to the Palestinian Authority did not kill Jews. If this is true, then which guns DID kill Jews during the Oslo War? How did they get there? Smuggling?? Whose fault was it, that the smuggling wasn't stopped?

Altalena
L: Stunned Jews look on; R: Jews being shot in the water, not allowed to come ashore
(Click image to enlarge)

2) Who is responsible for the death of the Jews on the Altalena?

a) Rabin, who gave the order to shoot?
b) Ben-Gurion, who fave Rabin the orders?
c) They had it coming?

3) What did you mean when you said that "Israel no longer needs borders?"

4) You recently condemned Yigal Amir yb"b for violating a great misswah, and that for this he should never be forgiven:

Yigal Amir

The scoundrel who murdered Yitzhak [Rabin] desecrated a holy commandment of the Torah of Israel: 'Thou shalt not kill'. No Jew may delete a commandment of the Ten Commandments. No one is authorized to forgive him for that.

What are your thoughts on Shabbath, also one of the Ten Commandments? (Tip Credit: Life In Israel) What about giving Land away to our enemies, cutting secret deals, which go against your own precious "deMOCKracy," not mention making secret and not so secret deals with the Vatican, Palace of avodah zarah, another one of the Ten Commandments, to give away yet more Land? Should those desecrations also never be forgiven?

5) Who orchestrated the kidnapping of Yemenite children 60 years ago? How did many of them later show up adopted into American Jewish homes?

6) Did the technicians who irradiated countless Sepharadi children really believe that they were using an experimental treatment for ringworm? Or were they just lied to?

7) Why are the living standards for Ethiopian Jewish (the real Jewish ones) immigrants significantly lower that than those of Ukrainian immigrants, most of who are goyim?

Jonathan Pollard

8) What was the real reason behind former Interior Minister Avraham Poraz's freeze on immigration from Peru and India? Was it because most immigrants from Peru and India are religious, live in Yehudah and Shomron (Judea and Samaria), and don't vote the "correct" way?

9) Who gave the order to deliver Jonathan Pollard to the FBI?


10) Who Killed Yitzhaq Rabin? In other words, who was really behind bumping him off?After two guns shots, he walked to his car. Yet, his autopsy report says his cause of death was from a third gun shot wound. The discrepancies between the Israeli Government's official report and the evidence are too numerous to list here.

I await the President's responses with baited breath.

Jewish and Israeli Blog Round-Up: Heshvan Full-Moon Edition

 י"ז לחודש השמיני תשע"ד

First off, please check out last week's edition of the round-up at Shiloh Musings: Get yourself going Edition,...which I neglected to blog last week, when I should have. Sorry, Batya.

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, 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.' Submissions may be may through our on-line submission form on BlogCarnival.com, which requires you to log-in first.

So, during Shabbath dinner, which I often host at my Downtown Jerusalem apartment, I brought a hammer upstairs, along with something else hidden in my hand...

Esser Agaroth: So. Do you supposed that this (the hammer) is muqseh?

Daniel: (calmly) I would say that it is the epitome of muqseh.

Esser Agaroth: Except?

Daniel: Except for when it is used for a permissible Shabbat purpose.

...as which point I take the hidden pistachio nut out of my other hand, and attempt to crack it open with the hammer. The nut went flying, bounced on the floor, and then buried itself deep underneath my living room couch.

Albeit "permissible," I was apparently not to eat that pistachio nut that evening.

Why am I sharing this with you?

Why not?


On with the show...


Torah

Parashat Vayeira: A tale of two brothers

Yitzchak's Compliance

Rav Ovadiah Yosef ztz"l

Discussion With Moshe'la: Now We Are Orphans

Rabinfest 2013!

Rabinfest 2013 

Shimon Peres at Rabinfest 2013

The Land of Israel

Judaism Made Simple

The Struggle for the Land of Israel - Don't Wait!

Jewish "Rights" to Har HaBayit (Temple Mount)

The Latest Pogrom against Jews,...by the State of Israel!

Israeli Appelate Court Releases Yitzhar Resident

Yitzhar Residents Released after Refusing to Pay a Fine

The IDF is a Joke

Rally Against Arabs Attacks in Bet El

Israeli Municipal Elections

Jerusalem Municipal Elections for Dummies

Beth Shemesh Mayor's Race: An On-Line Debate,...sort of 

Life In Israel

Torah Revolution vs. Dry Bones Continues
 
Things that are Weird in Israel #3: Fireworks

Spiritual Ladies' Room

Our Neighbors

Think About It 

 
Christian Threat

Sacrificing Sacred Cows - Exchanging Gentile Christianity for "Jewish" Christianity

Jumping The Geula Gun 

A Response to Jumping the Geula Gun

The Exile

Portrait of Jewish Americans 2013

What's Wrong with Hamas's Tunnel Making? 

Why is the Price of Tuna Really Decreasing?

מוצש"ק פר' וירא תשע"ד

Northern Bluefin Tuna in real life
(Credit: Gavin Newman/Greenpeace, via Zuma Press)

Life In Israel: Price of Tuna Set to Decrease
October 16, 2013

Yes! Thank you Yair Lapid. Everything was worth it just for this!

We have watched the price of tuna fish consistently rise... I remember the good old days when 4 packs of tuna (Starkist and other brands) sold for about 16 NIS. In the past few months, the price for the same four-pack has been sitting at 26 NIS. Sometimes you can get some on sale for less, but that's the regular price.

Finance Minister Yair Lapid signed an order lowering import tariffs on canned tuna fish. Lapid signed the order and constructed the decrease so that the final price will be lower for the consumer.

The decrease in price will be staggered between 2013 through 2016.

The tax rate currently paid is 12% + 3.51 NIS per kg.
From November it will drop to 12% + 3 NIS per kg until the end of the year. .
For the entire 2014 it will decrease to 12% + 2 NIS per kg.
For the entire 2015 it will decrease to 12% + 1 NIS per kg.
Starting 2016 it will be taxed at just 12%.

So, with each can being 160grams or so (I dont know if they include the water or oil in the weight for taxes, or just the 112 grams of filtered tuna), I think the four-pack of tuna will drop in price, at the end of the 3 year process, by 2.25 NIS - if I did the math right.

Thank you Yair Lapid. Those are some amazing savings!

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Um,...yeah. Hurray for Yair Lapid. 

Ya'ir Lapid
Yesh Atid (There is s future) Party Founder and Head

Now, let's check out the real reason is for proclaimed decrease in tax on tuna.

R-A-D-I-O-A-C-T-I-V-I-T-Y

Yum! Where are my
chopsticks?!

That's right. Thanks to the Fukushima Nuclear Reactor Disaster, which, by the way, is FAR from being over, and could still blow another reactor, the radioactive levels in tuna have been going up worldwide.

That's right, worldwide, not just in the California/Mexico fishing waters. The Pacific Ocean currents from Japan northward, turn east following Alaska, then down the North American coast (See "Coreolis Effect"). Still pretty frightening, though, when you take a look at just how much those levels have gone up in these waters alone, how many thousands of miles away from Japan?

Tuna: Now with Mercury
AND Radiation!

The four major industries behind my hometown of San Diego's economy include the military, tourism, algae (for ice cream, margarine, shampoo, etc.), and tuna. So, so you can say goodbye to San Diego.

In conclusion, Esser Agaroth (2¢): is unable to get excited about the impending decrease in the cost of tuna in Israel as Life In Israel is.

I prefer my fish to be radioactivity-free, not to mention free of all of the other toxins this large fish picks up during its relatively long lifetime.

Boost Settlements After Attack? That's what they all say....

מוש"ק פר' וירא תשע"ד

Times Of Israel: Minister says he will boost settlement in wake of Jordan Valley attack
Politicians also call to stop freeing Palestinian prisoners after retired colonel murdered outside home in possible terror attack

Joshua Davidovich, October 11, 2013

Uri Ariel
Housing Minister

Israel’s minister in charge of housing said he would bolster settlement building in the Jordan Valley Friday in the wake of an apparent terror attack the night before in which a retired IDF colonel was killed.

Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel, from the nationalist Jewish Home party, said in a statement Friday morning he would work to “enlarge and strengthen” settlement in the area where Seraiah Ofer, 50, was killed early Friday morning.

The murder occurred at about 1 a.m. at the Brosh Habika vacation village, where Ofer and his wife Monique Mor were living.

The area is about five kilometers south of the settlement of Shadmot Mechola, in the northern Jordan Valley, a sparsely populated desert wilderness on the eastern edge of the West Bank.

There were no other guests at the site at the time. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Nationalist?? No, I don't think so.

Arutz 7: Housing Minister: No Building In Jerusalem, Blame My Boss
Uri Ariel says it is outrageous that there has been no building in the capital authorized for years.

Adam Ross, October 18,2013

Uri Ariel
Housing Minister

At a Bayit Yehudi (Jewish Home) meeting ahead of the Jerusalem municipal elections MK Uri Ariel, Israel's Housing Minister, said there is no reason to bow to international pressure to halt building in the capital.

At the meeting last Monday, Ariel told the crowd that there had been no new building authorized in years and that the prime minister was to blame.

The minister repeated several times that across the whole city there was no new building. "Everything that you see being built today is what was authorized two years ago" he said....

...Ariel was asked who was to blame for the lack of building, and said decisively, "My boss is to blame for this… who won't allow us to build." (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Setting aside the odd details of this "maybe/maybe not" terrorist attack, like the coincident date, the absence of any neighbors, the murder victim's military connection, let's focus on Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel's (Jewish Home) response.

I used to call MK Uri Ariel the one of the only men of Torah and integrity in the K'nesseth.

I am now officially rescinded that comment.

I do not deny that Uriel Ariel makes some good points in his criticism of both Prime Minister Netanyahu and Jerusalem's incumbent Mayor Nir Barakat, who happens to be standing for re-election this coming Tuesday. However, the blame game just doesn't cut it anymore.

If "your boss" won't let you build, then maybe you should least stop making promises which you apparently will not be able to keep.

What a minute. Do forgive me.

According to the above article, you didn't make any promises to build. You just said that you would "work toward" that aim.

Well, I am far from optimistic, because lately, your "work toward" anything hasn't made much of an impression on me.

Israeli Police Officers Don't Want to wear Name Tags?

י"ב לחודש השמיני תשע"ד

Arutz 7: About-Face on ID: Police Want Right to Avoid Nametags
Police sources say mandatory nametags ‘operationally difficult,’ cannot be implemented. Knesset cttee to vote.

Maayana Miskin, October 13, 2013

A Knesset committee is to vote Sunday on a bill, left over from last Knesset, that would mean harsher punishments for police officers who fail to wear name tags.

The bill is meant to prevent police violence, particularly at demonstrations, by making officers aware that they can be held personally responsible for any unwarranted use of force.

It passed an initial reading in the last Knesset, where it was put forth by MKs Uri Ariel, Dov Henin and Nitzan Horowitz, but its progress was frozen when the Knesset’s mandate ended.

At the time, the bill had support from Minister of Internal Security Yitzchak Aharonovich, whose duties include oversight of the Israel Police. However, Aharonovich has informed the bill’s supporters in the current Knesset that the Israel Police no longer supports the law.

“Professional sources in the Israel Police maintain that from an operative perspective, the proposal cannot be implemented, and is likely to create difficulty and complications,” he explained.

“It could even lead protesters to demand ID cards when there is no need, and by doing so to thwart officers’ attempts to restore order when protesters riot,” he warned.

MK Orit Struk, one of the bill’s backers in the current Knesset, expressed surprise at Aharonovich’s about-face. “The fact that [officers] wear ID tags will actually ensure that people do not bother them by asking for ID,” she argued.

“The Police Commissioner and Minister of Internal Security, who repeatedly declare that the struggle against police violence is a top priority, are thwarting a bill which is intended solely to prevent such violence,” she accused.

Dozens of complaints against violent police officers have led nowhere due to the fact that those filing the complaint did not know the name of the officer who had assaulted them, she noted.

Struk expressed hope that the other ministers on the committee that has convened to deliberate on the bill will vote in favor despite Aharonovich’s change of heart. “I very much hope that the ministers will understand what the Police Commissioner and Minister [Aharonovich] do not – that protesters are not criminals, and there is no need to treat them as such,” she said.

(Tip Credit: Sun Lion)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
I have no idea why this bill would not pass.

Well, actually,...yes I do: The Israeli government's desire for increased control over the "sheeple." You see, it is getting a little nervous....

"...from an operative perspective, the proposal cannot be implemented, and is likely to create difficulty and complications."

What a load of crap! ...unless, of course, you believe that being held accountable for your actions, as a police officer, is a "difficulty" and/or a "complication." 

Everyone would benefit from this bill becoming law. Everyone. That means...

Settlers -  who protest against getting thrown out of the homes, and off of their lands.
Arabs - who protest over whatever they want to protest over (...as if I care.)
Haredim - who protest an unnecessary autopsy from being performed.
Anarchists and Ultra-Leftists - who protest the presence of the so-called "security fence.) (...so that the settlers don't have to, I suppose.)

You name it. Everyone would be able to gain piece of mind from the passage of this bill,...while they are getting pummeled by the Israeli Police, because at least they could identity, and later report those responsible for their possibly life-altering injuring,...assuming, of course, that they still have some eyesight left to read name tags, and the cameras of in possession of the nearby witnesses aren't destroyed.

Probably only your standard government line, left-wingers would neither benefit nor be hurt whether this bill passes or not. They fulfill the will of the "almighty" government, so why would the police feel the need to scrutinize them? Why would the government see the need to sick its minyons on them? They wouldn't.

When I was a kid, we were all taught how police officers were "our friends" and are they to "help us."

When I lived in the Shomron (Samaria), in an ideologically and Torah-based "real" settlement, the children there learned early on that the police were not their friends, and were not there to help us; they were there to...

1. Beat up their parents
2. Push around their mothers (sometimes pregnant at the time)
3. Kick their families out of their houses
4. Give their brothers restraining orders preventing them from entering the Shomron during olive picking season
5. Keep their sisters in jail for participating in civil disobedience actions, while alleged murders of Jews, awaiting trial, laid around at home in front of the television on "house arrest."
6. Raid their junior high schools, and interrogate their friends without a parent or attorney present.

The list goes on....

So, it is no wonder why these children, often demonized as "out of control" hilltop youth in need of "Re-Education," learn at a very young age to lie to the police, AND to become very good at it.

Police officer: Where's Avi?
Child: Oh, he's out in the fields over there with the goats.

(He then runs to tell Avi, who is inside his house that the police are after him.)

Police officer: Where's Sarah? I need to talk to her.
Child: It's Tuesday. She's at B'nei Akiva.*

*B'nei Akiva was kicked out of this kid's town, which the cop did not know.

Anyone still want to argue that Israel is not turning into a police state,...or rather MORE of a police state?

What police force of a country claiming to be "democratic," would have the hutzpah (gall) to claim that name tags are "operationally difficult???"

Gimme a break!

Below is a video by the popular, Israeli group "Teapecks" (white out). The lyrics reflect the attitude of Israeli youth toward its local police officers, who always seem to ruin their fun...

...דיסקו מנאייק מגיע לשכונה.

...[when] the "disco manayak" arrives in the neighborhood.

Manayak is much worse than the Hebrew Maniak, which does simply mean "crazy," as maniac does in American English.

This song does not depict anything different than the youth hanging around the "'hood" in most other countries, making fun of their cops. It does show that settlers, and all of the other ideologically motivated groups listed above, are not the only ones in Israel who view the Israeli police force as government lackeys who are supposed to keep the "citizens" in line.

Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef's Passing: This is a test; this is only a test....

ערב שבת קודש פר' לך-לך תשע"ד

Rabbi Ovadiah
Yosef ztz"l

Some of you will be critical of me for writing such a post so soon after the passing of Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef ztz"l, Chief Sepharadi Rabbi of Israel (5733-5743), and major spiritual leader and adjudicator of halakhah (Torah Law) within the Sephardi and Mizrahi communities until this day.

However, if you actually pay attention while reading this post, you will notice that it does not contain anything even remotely negative about Rav Ovadiah. In fact, other than the mention of his passing, it does not contain anything about him at all.

In anticipation of the potential chaos and traffic jams due to the funeral of Rav Ovadiah at 6:00 PM, it was announced that public transportation would be shut down by 3:00 PM.
That made absolutely no sense to me at all. Why not simply clear the streets needs for the funeral procession? In fact, the procession was apparently shortened in order to lessen the inconvenience to the City and it residents. The procession could have started at Rav Ovadiah's home in Har Nof, a neighborhood in the far west of Jerusalem. But, it did not. Rather it began not so far away at all from his final resting place in Sanhdria (Bar-Ilan Junction), in the Center-North of the City.

So, why was there a need to shut down public transportation in the South or West coming into the Center and Central Bus Station? There wasn't any at all. This was announced on various news site, but neither on the local bus and light rail websites, which are usually pretty good about posting this kind of news flash, change in service information. It is certainly possible that they posted their changes in services not so much later than when I checked them between 3:30 and 4:00 PM.

Jerusalem is no stranger to traffic inconveniences, with this Head of State or that Envoy arriving to tell the Israeli government what it should or should not do. New blockades pop up, buses are rerouted, and that's the end of it. The same has for demonstrations, even those which have whole chunks of the City, like the Beis Yisro'el, Shmu'el HaNavi, and Meah She'arim neighborhoods, and the Bukharim Quarter all at once!

Granted there was an unprecedented attendance of an estimated 850,000 people. But was the government really able to foresee this? Was the government simply be cautious?

Nonetheless, some businesses were closing early, either because owners and their employees wanted to attend the funeral, or because of concerns about getting home themselves.

Meanwhile the Egged Bus Company announced providing extra intercity buses to Jerusalem from Ashdod, B'nei B'raq and Beth Shemesh, to handle the anticipated number of out of town attendees. This did make sense.

By around 5:00 PM, intra-city transportation was back in business, if it was ever out of service in the first place. Service was limited, and trains and buses were packed to capacity. Again, this simply did not make sense. Why limited? Operators and drivers had already gone home, and could not be recalled? Odd....

Twitter was all a buzz about the funeral.

And then I saw...

Unlike in the U. S. where it is supposed to be against the law [usually] to use the military as a police force (Posse Comitatus), the Israeli government does not have that "inconvenience."

Now Imagine This:
How does a government get 850,000 people, in Israel's case, one seventh (1/7) of its population, into a confined area in a matter of hours, including having them get on buses of their own accord, and even get there on their own dime (ie. sheqqel)?

...in particular, 850,000 of the great threat to said government: Religious Jews, who hold The Almighty and His Torah to be on a much higher level of authority than the government.

Pack trains and buses to the brim. Throw in a little panick for good measure, like a gas leak, for example, and every will simply do what they are told to do, by the almighty government which "protects and takes care of us."

If big rabbi or popular political figure wasn't available for "dying," then all the "powers that be" [PTB] would have to do is kidnap one, assuming he would not be willing to collaborate of his own accord, course, in theory this kind of lie would only work once.

Of course, such a big fat lie would only work once,...theoretically. But, it would only have to work once.

In a country where the mainstream (Read: Left-wing controlled) news media is filled with...

1. Fear Iran
2. Fear the situation in Syria, (Read: Israelis must unify and avoid dissent) 
3. Do not worry about the situation in Egypt (because it's too far away and they'll always be our "friends," right?)
4. Ignore any turmoil in Jordan and Turkey (We wouldn't want to frighten the "sheeple!")
5. And that the U. S. will always be there to protect us.

...we are too distracted to see the real threat: The Israeli Government, which only eight years ago threw out almost 10,000 Jews from their homes, gave their lands to Hamas, which has simply continued firing rockets at us ever since.

(Click for links to individual memorial pages.)

Twelve years before that, it gave weapons to the Pseudostinian Authority, which has been using them to kill Jews.

Now, the Israeli Government has its eyes peered at the over 200,000 thousand Jews living in Yehudah and Shomron (Judea and Samaria).

"sheeple" = sheep + people

The Oslo "Death" Accords (1993) did not die with the death of Oslo supporter Rabbi Ovadiah ztz"l. No doubt, his death and message with be used, manipulated, and invoked in order to surrender more land, and to kick more Jews out of their homes in the heartland of the Divinely Promised Land of Israel.

In the meantime, plenty of data was gathered during his funeral, to be used to devise ways and means to keep the "sheeple" quietly tucked away in their pens, while the Israeli Government carries out,...well,...whatever it chooses to carry out.

Council Of Europe: Male Ritual Circumcision - "violation of the physical integrity of children"

ז' לחודש השמיני תשע"ד

My comments are interspersed within this article in blue italics, with a conclusion following it.

YNET: Europe Council Votes Against Circumcision
Parliamentary Assembly of Pan-European intergovernmental organization passes resolution calling male circumcision, female genital mutilation 'a violation of the physical integrity of children.' Jewish leader: War against circumcision, ritual slaughter conceals new anti-Semitism

Kobi Nachshoni, October 3, 2013

Are Europe's Jews about to launch a new struggle for the observance of the circumcision ritual across the continent? The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which represents most of the continent's states, has passed a resolution calling male ritual circumcision a "violation of the physical integrity of children according to human rights standards."

This is code for "In Europe, human rights and Torah are not believed to be compatible."

At the end of a debate in Strasbourg, the Parliamentary Assembly ruled overwhelmingly that male circumcision and female genital mutilation are forbidden, unless the child is over the age of 15 and has given his or her consent to the practice.

The council passed the resolution based on a report by the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, by a vote of 78 in favor and 13 against, with 15 abstentions.

It calls on the council's member states to "clearly define the medical, sanitary and other conditions to be ensured for practices such as the non-medically justified circumcision of young boys," the JTA reported Wednesday.

Gee. I wonder why the Muslims do not riot over this. Well, their forefather Yishma'el was circumcised at the age of 13 (Gen. 17:23-26). So, I suppose that 15 is close enough. That still does not explain how they are just going to let any laws against "ritual slaughter" slide by. I suppose that the riots will not start until reality sets in for them,...when individual countries make it so.

Fear of wave of legislation
The council further called on states to "initiate a public debate, including intercultural and interreligious dialogue, aimed at reaching a large consensus on the rights of children to protection against violations of their physical integrity according to human rights standards" and to "adopt specific legal provisions to ensure that certain operations and practices will not be carried out before a child is old enough to be consulted."

This is just code for "You are not allowed to follow the Torah."

According to the JTA, large majorities rejected five amendments that sought to remove or alter references to the circumcision of boys. For example, many of the members supported an amendment that removed a reference to the "religious rights of parents and families."

The Council of Europe is a pan-European intergovernmental organization whose resolutions have no legal force and do not bind its member states, but European organizations fear that this declarative move will be perceived as a professional recommendation by the most important body in the continent on democracy and human rights issues, which may lead to a wave of legislation banning circumcision across Europe.

See? Democracy is NOT the Jews' friend! Human rights? Human rights, but not Jewish rights.

The Jewish groups are mainly protesting the failure to distinguish between male circumcision, which is seen as legitimate not just among Jews, and female genital mutilation, which is considered in nearly every culture as a violation of a woman's body and dignity and is strongly opposed by human rights organizations.

A reasonable premise, but these "Jewish groups" are in big time denial that Jew-haters are not reasonable.

'Violation of freedom of religion'
Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the Conference of European Rabbis, told Ynet that in the short time since the resolution was passed, he and his associates had managed to appeal to many of the council members on the issue, and that these members plan to demand a new debate which will consider allowing male circumcision.

"The war against circumcision and ritual slaughter conceals the new anti-Semitism, which is a violation of the freedom of religion all EU countries have signed," said Rabbi Goldschmidt. "Although this is not a binding resolution, it encourages the dark forces which seek to see Europe clean of Jews."

The struggle for the right to practice circumcision has been held in several countries, and in the past year Jewish and Muslim organization scored a significant victory in Germany, where circumcision was permitted after five months of uncertainty since a court in Cologne defined the ritual as "a serious and irreversible interference in the integrity of the human body."

The German parliament passed a law protecting the right to circumcise infant boys and granting parents the right to circumcise their sons using a certified circumciser. Meanwhile, in Scandinavian countries there have been increased calls to ban the ritual.

(Tip Credit: The Torah Revolution)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Well, well, well...

Is anyone surprised? If so, then you've got sand in your ears. You know, from having your head buried in the sand all this time!

With all due respect to Rabbi Goldschmidt, who is doing the galuth (exile) rabbi's job of protecting Jews and Judaism in galuth,...could this act of the EU be just more writing on the wall that European (and North American) Jews simply refuse to see?

New anti-Semitism? This is most certainly not the first time that the practices of brith milah (Jewish circumcision) and shehitah (kosher slaughter) have been fought through legislation. Did no one learn about the Roman Empire in school???

And so, the New and definitely UN-holy, Roman Empire/Edom (B'reishith Rabba) strikes again in its war on The Almighty's Will and His Holy Torah!

Just as Esau reveals his many different faces in the Torah, when going up against his Ya'aqov, so his descendants, whether European "progressive" elite or the Christian Crusaders of today or 1,000 years ago, have always worked toward the same goal,...his (Israel's) destruction.

And, of course,...Esau was never circumcised; he never had a brith milah (ie. not a part of the "covenant")

I cannot emphasis enough, that this is not about giving up the fight for the freedom to be Jewish, and have that protected in galuth (exile). This is about reading the writing on the wall, and moving back to only place where ones Jewish identity can be expressed to its fullest extent.

In this week's parasha Lech-L'cha, Avraham Avinu, then still Avram, was commanded by The Almighty to get up and move out his native land, away from all that he knew, and travel to a Land foreign to him (...to the land that I will show you. - Gen. 12:1), where he and his descendants were to settle.

Rabb Yehudah HaLevy, the author of Sefer HaKuzari teaches that as high a level which Avraham Avinu was on, the only place where he could reach perfection was Eretz Yisrael (The Land of Israel).*

That perfection, of course, also included brith milah, now on its way to be legislated out of the European Union. The two go together, brith milah and Eretz Ysira'el, along with a third, the Torah, and its various other "signs," such as Shabbath observance.

How long will Jews wait, before they finally realize that Eretz Yisra'el is the ONLY Land for them?

How long will it take for Jews to wake up and realize that they are not truly a part of their nations of temporary residence in galuth?

How long will it take for Jews to remember that galuth?is the punishment? The punishment is NOT having to pack up, leave many of your belongings behind, and travel to a Land foreign to you (...to the land that I will show you. - ibid.), where you and your descendants are to settle.

wait, before they finally realize that Eretz Yisra'el is the ONLY Land for them?

********

*as cited in Eretz Yisrael in the Parashah (2006) by Rabbi Moshe Lichtman

Rabbi Ovadiah ztz"l and the Arabs

ה' לחודש השמיני תשע"ד

Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef ztz"l

YNET: אבו מאזן הביע את תנחומיו על פטירתו של הרב עובדיה יוסף

אליאור לוי, 07.10.13
הנשיא הפלסטיני אבו מאזן הביע את תנחומיו על פטירתו של הרב עובדיה יוסף. "נפגשתי עם בני משפחתו של הרב במוקטעה ברמאללה בעבר ואני רוצה להעביר את תנחומיי ואת תנחומי העם הפלסטיני על מותו", אמר אבו מאזן.

הנשיא הפלסטיני אמר את הדברים במהלך מפגש במוקטעה ברמאללה עם חברי שדולת פתרון שתי המדינות בראשות חבר הכנסת חיליק בר ממפלגת העבודה.

YNET: Abu Mazen expressed his condolences over the passing of Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef

Elior Levy, October 7, 2013

The Palestinian President Abu Mazen expressed his condolences over the passing of Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef. "I have met with members of the Rabbi's family at the Muqatah in Ramallah in the past, and I would like to pass on my condolences and the condolences of the Palestinian People over his passing," said Abu Mazen.

The Palestinian President said these during a meeting at the Muqatah in Ramallah with the members of a Two-State Solution lobby led by MK Hiliq Bar of the Labor Party.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
When I first heard the Rav Ovadiah died, the first thing I search for on the Internet was news as to how the Arabs were reacting. I thought for sure that I would find photos of Pseudostinian Arabs cheering over his death, just like during the First Gulf War when the scuds from Iraq hit Tel-Aviv, on 9/11, and during the Second Lebanon War, even when Hezbollah Qetusha rockets killed their own in Nazareth.

Obviously, I searched too soon,...and I didn't search in Arabic.

What I did find was the above newsflash from YNET.

If nothing else, it reveals just how complex Rav Ovadiah was. He threatened former Prime Minister Menahem Begin with a withdrawal of support in government if he carried out a his promised withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula. On the other hand, Rav Ovadiah supported the Oslo Accords, and ruled that it was acceptable to give up land for the sake of piqu'ah nefesh (saving/protecting life). His Sha"S Party could easily have killed the Oslo Accords, but instead, abstained from the vote.

They want it all!

But, the biggest puzzle seems to be Abu Mazen's comments, considering just how much Rav Ovadiah did not care for Arabs. Even if he had differentiated between these Arabs and those Arabs, I doubt that would please Abu Mazen.

So, what motivated Abu Mazen to make the comments he did? Appreciation for Rav Ovadiah's role in the passage of the Oslo Accords? Or just pure politics?

Gil Hoffman: All in Good Fun? Or Just a "Crass" Act?

ד' לחודש השמיני תשע"ד

Gil Hoffman Tweet, October 6, 2013, 11:35 PM

Esser Agaroth (2¢):

Hey, Gil! I don't know which Jewish Universe you grew up in. But, where I grew up, one did not stare at married women and speculate on future parental status. In fact, one did not stare at married women, or at women, or even stare period. It was considered rude, not to mention immodest.

Yeah, I know. YOU didn't do the staring. You're only upset because you "missed the scoop!"

I know you have a kippah hidden back there somewhere. Maybe you should risk the occasional snicker from a goy or a leftist, and pull it forward a bit. It may help keep your attitudes in check. You know, remembering that you are a Jew, and how inappropriate it is to objectify a Bath-Yisrael. (There never seems to be a radical feminist around when you need one, is there?)

Just because the British, and probably even more gossipy than American, press does it with their future King's consort, does not mean that we must follow suit, and do it, too.

In fact, we are not supposed to carry and cherish these silly attitudes from our Western exile, from which we supposedly escaped. We are supposed to get rid of them!

Oh, and pul-eaze do not give me any of that "we're living in the modern era" crap, or that it's all in good fun and MK Hotovely wouldn't care anyway. All of that is irrelevant.

You're not a class act; you're a crass act.