Should Jewish Children Learn Arabic?

י״ג לחודש השלישי תשע״ה

Freshman MK Oren Hazan (Likud) seems to think so...

Arutz 7: Bill: Compulsory Arabic Classes from First Grade
MK Oren Hazan (Likud) thinks all Israeli kids should know Arabic – to lessen fear. Support from Left and Right.

Gil Ronen, May 27, 2015

MK Oren Hazan

Freshman MK Oren Hazan (Likud) has sponsored a bill that would make it mandatory for all Israeli schoolchildren to study spoken Arabic, from first to 12th grade.

The trigger for Hazan's decision is apparently the Defense Ministry's announcement that it has frozen plans to offer separate buses for Jews and Arabs in Samaria.

"In our daily reality, with Jews riding the buses in Judea and Samaria and hearing the Palestinians – they are usually afraid,” Hazan said. “With global terrorism and radical Islam on the rise, the lack of knowledge and understanding leads to fear.”

Army Radio reported that the bill has been received with enthusiasm by both Left and Right. MK Meretz's Issawi Frej signed the bill in support, and said: “This bill is a process that I have been accompanying for a year. I can only hope. Everything has a chance, it depends on who's behind it. Since Oren Hazan is a Coalition man and knows how to work and dig – there's a chance that it'll pass.”

Other MKs who signed the bill include Yinon Magal (Jewish Home), Anat Berko (Likud) and Merav Ben Ari (Kulanu).

(Tip: Life In Israel)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
I'm not against the idea of students learning Arabic in school, nor even for them to learn it for several years, or for it to be a requirement. After all, the more we know Arabic the more the people will be able to hear for themselves just exactly what the Arabs think and feel, with their own ears.

Although, I do believe that pedagogically, the first grade is too young to begin studying Arabic, when students are still making regular mistakes in Hebrew, and in an increasing number of schools, expected to begin studying English as well.

I also do not buy the "to lessen fear" argument. Although most Jews make their way around Yehudah and Shomron (Judea and Samaria) on buses for convenience sake, many do ride the buses or safety reasons. They ride bulletproof buses to protect themselves from the Arabs. So, actually inviting the Arabs to join us on the bus, completely defeats the purpose of the bulletproofing, don't you think?

Furthermore, the kids getting around by tremping (hitchhiking), the Jews who are not afraid of Arabs, have been demonized for not being afraid of Arabs, and for daring to defend themselves from their "neighbors."

Do you really think that the government wants "to lessen [our] fear?"

And speaking of our "neighbors," Jews learning Arabic will also make it easier for Arabs and Jews to get together socially. Even more so, the Arabs connecting with these Arabic-learning Jews would be those non-Hebrew-speaking Arabs, who despise everything about Israel, such as Hebrew being its official language.

Social interaction leads to dating, which leads to a romantic connection. How many more cases of abusive Arab husbands battering their Jewish wives will result from MK Hazan's proposal? And what about the increase in cases of young, Jewish men being seduced into meeting their prospective Arab girlfriends in Ramallah, only to meet with a torturous death?

As one who grew up in the U. S., very close to the Mexican border, and in the bilingual city in denial, San Diego, I know first-hand just how practical it is to learn the language of a neighboring country.

But where do we fit it in? Who's gonna pay for it? How will students cope with learning two foreign languages simultaneously?

And just who do you think will be hired to teach our children? Arabs?

Jerusalem parents of special needs kids have already been expressing concerns over their children being driven to and from school by Arabs from East Jerusalem neighborhoods. "Expressing concerns" is an understatement.

What about the Arab employees caught trying to poison customers at restaurants in Jerusalem and Ramat Gan?

What about the Arab employee who blew up the cafeteria at Hebrew University in 2002?

What about the Arab employee who shot up the Merkaz HaRav Kook Yeshiva High School in 2008?

Will you trust these new, Arab teachers of Arabic? Will they go through background checks? Will that matter? Do you really want to take that chance?

I do not know about you, but this proposal does not lessen my fear of Arabs. It only makes it worse.

The Plight of the Israeli Arabs of Yaffo

ט׳ לחודש השלישי תשע״ה

Arutz 7: Arabs in Yafo Tell Hamas They'll Fight Housing Plan
Popular council head gives interview to Hamas in which he blasts much needed construction plan as attempt to 'Judaize' city. 

Dalit Halevy, Ari Yashar, May 27, 2015 

The building plan to construct thousands of new housing units in Yafo (Jaffa), a welcome development as Israel suffers in the grip of a nationwide housing crisis, is being met with condemnation among radical leaders of the city's Arab population. 

The plan, which was passed by the Israel Land Authority and the building council of the Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality, was denounced by Abd al-Kadr Satal, chairman of the Popular Committee of Yafo.

Despite being an Israeli citizen and holding a post in the city, Satal on Tuesday gave an interview to Palestine, the newspaper of the Hamas terrorist organization.

In it, he called the new and much needed construction plan "a stage in the policy of the occupation government to Judaize the city." 

Satal said leaders of the Arab community demanded that a portion of the new apartments be specifically designated for Arab residents of Yafo, and claims the authorities opposed that demanded, insisting on "expelling" the Arab residents. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Why the Arab granting interviews to sworn enemies of the Jewish People, and talking about the Israeli Government as the "occupation government," is not being investigated, I have no idea. It is probably for the same reason, we have been sitting around picking our noises, pretending that the threat of "Israeli Arabs" will simply go away somehow, someday.

The Arab residents of Yaffo have been whining about the same thing for years, ever since the opening of the religious Zionist yeshivah there. Before that, it was the general concern over the increasing number of Jews moving into the area.

In 1991, during the First Gulf War, when many Tel-Aviv residents were evacuated to hotels, which even set aside space for children's classrooms, attempts were made to bring Jewish and Arab children together in unity through a youth program in Yaffo. Unfortunately, the group had to be disbanded, as the cheering of the Arab children each time an Iraqi Scud missile made contact with Israeli soil, scaring the Jewish children.

Meanwhile, the Arabs in the northern section of Yaffo, both Muslim and Christian, have been quite happy to send their children to the public schools in which the language of instruction is Hebrew. Both Jewish and Arabs students begin Arabic language instruction in the third grade, at least as of 1999 when I taught there.

My star sixth-grader "Mustafa" identified his mother as Arab, but his father as "Palestinian." If a ever see "Mustafa" again, and he is confronting me with a rock or knife, will he still be my star student? I seriously doubt that he will think so.

Two years later, Yaffo Arabs cheered when the Twin Towers were hit by jet planes on 9/11 killing over three thousand Americans.

These are only a few examples of the "loyal Israeli Arab citizens" of Yaffo.

We Jews are so concerned about those Arabs calling themselves "Palestinians" in Yehudah and Shomron (Judea and Samaria), yet forget about the threat of those Arabs with Israeli ID cards, living in our own backyards.

Either we are still in gross denial of this danger, or we just do not like the idea of being called a racist.

Well, to that, I say it's better to be a racist who is alive, than a politically-correct corpse.

The IDF Soldier and the Valley Girl

ח׳ לחודש השלישי תשע״ה

Israeli Defense Forces Emblem

So, there I was on the bus home from work, minding my own business, when a female, Israeli Defense Forces [IDF] soldier, cam and ask me if she could sit down. Normally, I would get up [without making a drama out of it], and let her sit down. But, since I was exhausted, busy typing on my laptop, and she did not fit the profile of a woman for whom I would normally get up and move for, I just sat there, and said, "Sure."

Later as I was fumbling around getting ready to get off the bus, the soldier sitting next to me asked me if I was getting off of the bus. It was a logically question, but she asked it in English.

Apparently, this soldier happened to notice that I was typing in English. So, I switched to English, too, and we had the following, very brief conversation.

Y: Oh, I guess you noticed that I was typing in English.

IDF: Yeah. Plus I'm American.

Y: Where are you from?

IDF: California.

Y: Really? (smile) Where?

IDF: Los Angeles.

Y: (bigger smile) Where?

IDF: (smile) The Valley.

Y: (even bigger smile) Where?

IDF: (bigger smile) Tarzana.

Y: (even bigger smile) Where did you go to high school? Taft?

IDF: (smile disappears, Israeli tongue-clicking sound meaning "no") El Camino. (smile returns)

Y: (apologetically) Oh. OK. (smile) ה׳ ישמור אותך! ("May God watch over you!")

IDF: (smiles back)

Now, the point of my sharing this personal experience is not just to demonstrate that Israel, and in particular Jerusalem, is such a small world.

It is not just about how one cannot judge a book by its cover.

This is about an IDF soldier, who is also technically a "Valley Girl," as she is from the northern part of Los Angeles, known as "The Valley," and is female.

The title of this post is somewhat misleading, as the Valley Girl and the IDF soldier here are one and the same.

The stereotype of the Valley Girl, you have probably already heard about. She is concerned about what she looks like, what she is wearing, and what she is driving, who her friends are, who she is dating, and who else she knows, and which parties she gets invited to.

Of course, not all women from the Valley are like this. This is only a stereotype. And the soldier with whom I was speaking certainly does not fit this stereotype, at least not for now anyway.

Whether serving in the IDF, advocating for the People and Land of Israel, or just learning a little more about your heritage than you already knew, you, too, can find meaning the non-material realm.

This Valley Girl and IDF soldier certainly has.

Yitzhak Eldan Should Read ALL of the Writing on the Wall

ערב ראש החודש השלישי תשע״ה

YNET: Anti-Semitism in a liberal disguise
Op-ed: 'Liberal' activists from Europe's political center are leading efforts to outlaw key elements in Jewish life, demonizing circumcision and kosher slaughter and igniting hatred.

Yitzhak Eldan, May 13, 2015

The fifth Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism (GFCA) opened in Israel on Tuesday evening in the presence of senior statesmen, parliament members, diplomats, research bodies, Jewish community heads, religious leaders and international organizations from dozens of countries, led by the Foreign Ministry.

The state of anti-Semitism has never been as serious as on the eve of this forum. Seventy years since the darkest chapter in the history of Europe, anti-Semitism is reaching levels which have yet to be seen, and there is barely a single area in Europe which is free of hatred towards Jews. There are thousands of cases of anti-Jewish violence, anti-Semitic incitement and Holocaust denial.

One of the reasons is the export of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to European countries through extreme propaganda led by radical Muslim immigrants, who are intentionally blurring the distinction between Israel and the Jews. In addition, Jews in Europe have become the target of the radical and communist left, and at the same time we are witnessing the rise of neo-Nazi and radical right-wing parties.

The "liberal" or "institutional" anti-Semitism, which has developed from the political center, is also growing stronger in recent years, and it may be the most alarming type of anti-Semitism: "Liberal" activists are leading efforts to outlaw key elements in the Jewish life, presenting circumcision and kosher slaughter in a demonic way, thereby igniting the winds of hatred.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
This op-ed is really not much different than any previous piece on anti-Semitism.

Yitzhak Eldan reaches out to Jews and non-Jews alike, in quintessential hasbarah (Israel PR) fashion. Being an "ambassador," I suppose that he believes that he has to.

But, I say forget the opinions of the non-Jews already, and any reaching out to Jews should be only bring them back to our heritages, Torah and Israel.

There are only two things for which I believe Eldan can be commended: The mention of Jew-hatred and the delegitimization of Israel, albeit he is not the first to do so, and the mention of current level of anti-Semitism being comparable, if not greater than that leading up to the Holocaust.

There is no mention of the collaborative roll Jewish liberals play, and have always played, in the scheme of things. For the most part, it is not their fault, but simply a result of the influence galuth (exile) has had on our people over the past two thousand years.

We have striven to "fit in," to become the best Americans, French, British, even Germans and Russians, we could possibly be. Yes, even orthodox Jews have succumb to this influence, and I am not referring to seeing a movie once in a while, using the Internet, nor wearing fashionable clothing. I am referring to the galuth mentality, which has caused to us to despair over, in not forget, where our only true homeland is located. The homeland of the Jewish People is Israel. North North America and Europe are temporary dwelling places alone, just like Egypt was supposed to be.

And, of course, there is no mention of aliyah (Jewish immigration to Israel) as the only solution, let alone a solution at all, to protect Jews from the rising levels of hatred and violence.

Instead, Eldan states that...

"Hatred of Jews is not a "Jewish" matter. It threatens the values of democracy, freedom, equality and harmony – all the things Europe sought to be after recovering from its destruction."

Although he is correct in pointing out European hypocrisy, it does not appear that he sees that he is just wasting his time.

Legislation against circumcision and kosher slaughter, hatred and violence, are only the beginning.

Non-Jews are simply pointing out to us Jews what many of us have forgotten, and now need to be reminded of.

We are not like them, and we do not belong in their lands, with emphasis on the word "their."

We are a people, separate and distinct from all other peoples, and have our own heritage to keep and to cherish. But, before we can do so, we must take full possession of it, our Land, all of us.

Only 20 percent of us made it out of Egypt, while 80 percent were lost. Let us not repeat the same mistakes of the generation of the Egyptian exile; let us not repeat the same mistakes of the 1930's European exile.

New Phone App: The Ultimate in the Destruction of the Jewish People!

יום ירושלים תשע"ה
48th Anniversary of the Reunification of Jerusalem
"Jerusalem Day" 5775

This article from last week about a dating app., designed to bring together Israelis and Arabs romantically, made me want to vomit. When you read it, will make you want to vomit, too.

YNET: New dating app seeks to connect Israelis and PalestiniansVerona, a Tinder-style app, inspired by a romance between a Palestinian and Israeli in New York. 

Omer Barak, May 10, 2015 

The post-election atmosphere in Israel has had many abandon their hope for peace in the region in the near future, but one new application is giving peace a fighting chance with a Tinder-style model aimed to connect Israelis and Palestinians.

The idea for the app, named Verona after the city in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" where lovers from feuding families meet, was inspired by founder Matthew Nolan's Palestinian friend who met an Israeli girl in New York and fell in love.

Verona, which has the tagline "World peace, one swipe at a time," is almost identical to Tinder – accept for the Israeli/Palestinian catch. 

Users first log into Facebook and create a profile where they identify themselves as either Israeli or Palestinian. They then upload a photo of themselves and are then shown photos of people in their area who identified as the opposite group.

Users then swipe right if they like someone or left if they don't. If the two match, if both swipe right, they can start matching and potentially meet. 

"The idea for the application came to me while I was looking for a final project application for my art school studies," says Nolan during a phone interview from his Manhattan apartment. 

"I have a close Palestinian friend named Khaled, and he told me he met this amazing Israeli girl who came to live here in New York, and now they're together and in love.

"We started joking and saying that there needs to be an application that would set up Israelis and Palestinians and then left the subject alone. But I couldn’t get the idea out of my mind," says Nolan. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Even the assimilationist extraordinaire, "Reform Movement" in Israel has [sort of] come out against intermarriage, and specifically against dating Arabs,...sort of.

Arabs using a marriage to a Jew to obtain Israeli citizenship, their kidnapping and battering of their Jewish wives, their Jewish children brought up not knowing anything of their origins and heritage, except possibly for lies are only a few of the reasons why such a dating app. is destructive for the Jewish People.

Jewish men being seduced into marriages to Arab women, their lines and potential to have Jewish children lost in oblivion, may not be the physical perils which Jewish women have had to endure from their Arab "husbands." But, the spiritual death of such men should not be minimized.

And, of course, it is only a matter of time before Christians try to get in on the act, make their own "interfaith" application, and start trying to drag Jews into their own version of destruction.

Verona Application via Facebook

The bottom line here is that Verona's founder Matthew Nolan's definition of "peace" appears to include the following elements:

Jews remaining ignorance of Torah, their heritage
Jews rejecting Torah observance
Jews forsaking The Almighy's gift of their Land, their heritage
Jews marrying non-Jews
...which can only mean the total assimilation of the Jewish People into non-Jewish culture and society
...in others words, the disappearance annihilation of the Jewish People.

Make sure you let Matthew Nolan how you feel about this, by contacting him through one of his websites, Matthew Nolan, Red Button (scroll down), or Twitter.

The 2015 Conference of European Rabbis

ערב שבת קודש פר׳ בחקתי תשע״ה

A past Conference of European Rabbis gathering in Berlin, Germany

Arutz 7: European Leaders to Take Part in Major Rabbinical Conference
Conference of European Rabbis to hold massive conference next week, attended by leading rabbis, politicians from Europe and Israel.

Ari Yashar, 5/8/2015

The Conference of European Rabbis (CER) has finalized preparations for its 29th conference to be held next Tuesday in Toulouse, France, timed to mark 70 years since the Nazi Third Reich surrendered in France.

Attending the conference will be around 200 of the leading rabbis and dayanim (rabbinical judges) in Europe, led by the Head of the European Beit Din (EBD), Rabbi Chanoch Hacohen Ehrentreu, as well as Jewish organization heads from 32 countries.

EBD President Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt said topics to be discussed at the event include fighting assimilation, Judaism among the younger generation, Jewish education and ensuring the safety and future of the Jewish people.

The conference is to last three days, with various discussions and lectures lasting until next Thursday.

It will start with Rabbi Goldshmidt and CER Vice-President Rabbi Haim Korsia, who is the chief rabbi of France, presenting French Prime Minister Manuel Valls with the Lord Jakobovits Prize for his warm relations with the Jewish community in his country - which is the largest Jewish community in Europe.

Another CER Vice-President, Rabbi Ya'akov Dov Bleich, who is the chief rabbi of Ukraine, will lead an event on preserving Jewish identity and fighting anti-Semitism on the first day of the conference.

It will be attended by Antonio Tajani, one of the vice-presidents of the European Parliament, as well as numerous EU dignitaries and politicians, and ambassadors of European nations.

Also speaking at the event will be Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (Likud).

In an event Wednesday honoring the Jewish soldiers who fought in World War Two, Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi David Lau is to deliver an address.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
This conference took place yesterday.

Did the Conference of European Rabbis tell Jews in Europe that fleeing from France to England doesn't make one damn bit of difference, because if Britain is not as dangerous as France is now, then it will be soon? So much for the French Prime Minister's "warm relations with the Jewish community in his country." A lot of good that has done them!

But, I digress...

Did the Conference of European Rabbis tell Jews in Europe that Israel is their only true homeland, and that Europe is only a temporary dwelling place for them, just like Egypt was supposed to be?

I tend to doubt it. But, if I am wrong, then by all means leave a comment, correcting my belief. If anything, this certainly does not appear to be the Conference of European Rabbis policy.

I can only hope that Ashkenazy Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi David Lau, whose father Former Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau survived the Holocaust, will delivery these messages, and that Prime Minister Netanyahu will repeat his previous call for Jews to make aliyah.

The fifth Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism [GFCA] opened in Israel the day before the Conference of European Rabbis.

The state of anti-Semitism has never been as serious as on the eve of this forum. Seventy years since the darkest chapter in the history of Europe, anti-Semitism is reaching levels which have yet to be seen, and there is barely a single area in Europe which is free of hatred towards Jews. There are thousands of cases of anti-Jewish violence, anti-Semitic incitement and Holocaust denial.

Yitzhak Eldan, YNET Op-Ed, May 13, 2015

But, have any of these European rabbis learned their lessons?

Jews Allowed to March through Muslim Quarter. So What?

כ״ד לחודש השני תשע״ה

The Israeli Supreme Court is allowing Jews to march through the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City.

But, why should we care?

YNET:High Court rejects petition to change Jerusalem parade routeJerusalem Day march will pass through Old City's Muslim Quarter as planned, despite argument by NGOs that route change would help prevent violence and incitement. 

May 12, 2015 

The High Court on Monday rejected a petition to change the route of the annual Jerusalem Day march and prevent it from passing through the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, according to local media outlets. 

Two NGOs had argued that previous marches had led to calls for violence and provocations. 

The justices reportedly said they were committed to combating incitement and would take a zero-tolerance policy towards those shouting racist slogans. 

A police representative assured the court that law enforcement personnel were prepared to document instances of incitement and make arrests, said news sources. 

Petitioners said the parade would unfairly disrupt local residents' lives, as it would force them to stay in their homes and close their businesses. 

The march is scheduled for Jerusalem Day on May 17, a national holiday commemorating the reunification of Jerusalem after the Six Day War in 1967.  

Last year's march was marred by nationalistic violence. Masked Palestinian youths attacked police officers with stones and then barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque. One officers sustained light injuries.

Elsewhere, two young Jewish men were attacked in Jerusalem's Old City, they sustained light injuries and did not require medical attention. A young Arab man was also attacked, and said he was accosted by a group of Jewish youths.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):

Let's take a look at this report on the Israeli Supreme Court's decision.

The justices reportedly said they were committed to combating incitement and would take a zero-tolerance policy towards those shouting racist slogans.

Oh, really? The differential treatment of Jews and Arabs is a consistent pattern of the High Court. Whether we are talking about soccer fans of religious leaders, Jews have clearly been treated more harshly than Arabs, who often do not receive any punishment at all.

A police representative assured the court that law enforcement personnel were prepared to document instances of incitement and make arrests, said news sources.

Just like the deMOCKratic, Israeli Justice system, the Israeli Police seem to be more interested in Jewish offenders than Arab ones.

Special riot police presence on the Temple Mount:
They are there for the Jews, not the Arabs.

As far as NGO's are concerned, most are simply fronts for either leftist assimilationist groups, or Jew-hating groups who want our Land, or both. No there should no surprise as to the opinions of the two nameless NGO's mentioned above.

Petitioners said the parade would unfairly disrupt local residents' lives, as it would force them to stay in their homes and close their businesses.

The disruption local, Jewish residents' lives has never been a consideration, when allowing Muslims and Christians to celebrate their holidays. Just recently, the Jerusalem light rail was out of service in the evening for Palm Sunday observances, and a Christian sect was allowed to perform Baptisms on Shabbath, in a public facility.

Former MK Moshe Feiglin (3rd from left) and other Jews on the Temple Mount.

Jews are unable to ascend Har HaBayith (Temple Mount) on Muslim holidays, including every Friday during Ramadan, if not the entire month. Jews are prevented from praying on Har HaBayith ever.

All of these events have very much disrupted the lives of local, Jewish residents lives.

And speaking of Har HaBayith, I believe that this is the real basis for the Supreme Court's decision.

Either the Supreme Court wants to appease activists by causing them to believe that they are gaining ground in the battle for Jewish, religious rights, in an attempt to take away the focus from Har HaBayith.

In other words, the Court's ruling, allowing Jews to march through the Muslim Quarter is really not the big deal you might have thought that it was.

Har HaBayith-The Temple Mount is.

A Tale of Two Arab Cousins

כ"ג לחודש השני תשע"ה

Mohamed Abu Khdeir

Most of you have heard about the Israeli Government's attempt to include Mohamed Abu Khdeir on its list of victims of terrorism, whom were memorialized on Israel's recent Memorial Day (ג' אייר תשע"ה/April 22, 2015).

Mohamed Abu Khdeir was killed last year. According to Israeli authorities, his murder was carried out by "settler boys," in retaliation for last year's kidnapping and murder of Eyal Yifrah (19), Naftali Frenkel (16), Gil'ad Sha'ar (16) hy"d. Anyway, that is the claim.

The suspicion that Abu Khdeir was actually killed by those from his own community for being gay, was never fully investigated to my satisfaction. There are additional theories behind his murder as well.

And, of course, photo of Abu Khdeir giving the "three finger salute," the disgusting sign of support for whoever kidnapped, and then murdered Jewish teenagers Eyal Yifrah, Naftali Frenkel, Gil'ad Sha'ar hy"d, was almost impossible for me to find (Rotter.net?). Last year, the "three finger salute" could be seen all over the social media accounts of Arabs.

The religious, Jewish boys were enticed into a car in the Gush Etzion area, south of Jerusalem, when the Arab owner of the car asked for help to get it started. The Arab was then seen driving the boys away in the opposite direction of where they were headed.

Mohamed Abu Khdeir was removed from the list of terrorists victims at the request of his parents.

NY Times: Israel to remove Palestinian teen's name from memorial after protestsIsabel Kershner, April 21, 2015 

“...The occupation authorities are trying to improve their image in the world,” Mr. Abu Khdeir told Maan, an independent Palestinian news agency. Including Muhammad’s name on the state memorial, he said, “would not change the racist reality of the Israeli occupation.” 

The Abu Khdeirs are not citizens of Israel. Like most Palestinians living in East Jerusalem, they have permanent resident status, which affords them social welfare benefits and the right to work in Israel, but not an Israeli passport or the right to vote in national elections....

Well, they identify themselves as "palestinians," so why should they be allowed to vote? For that matter, why should they receive social welfare benefits or the right to work?

Reuters: Palestinian teen's name added to Israeli memorial, riling families on both sidesJeffrey Heller, April 22, 2015 

"...We can't accept that his name be included among soldiers who killed his relatives in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank," said Khudair's father, Hussein.
His mother, Suha, said her son was "a Palestinian martyr, and not Israeli," and their family felt shamed....

It is clear as to whom their loyalties lie.

Meanwhile, in the United States...

Times of Israel: White House hosts US-Palestinian teen beaten by Israeli cops
Abu Khdeir family seeks assurances from US officials that son Tariq, 16, won’t be detained during upcoming visit to Israel 

Stuart Winer, May 11, 2015 

Tariq Abu Khdeir
(screen shot: CAIRtv)

White House National Security Council staffers recently hosted a US-Palestinian teenager who was beaten by Israeli riot police last year to review “pending issues related to his case,” CNN reported on Monday.

Tariq Abu Khdeir, 16, met with officials at the White House on April 15 to discuss matters related to his family’s planned visit to Jerusalem later this year. 

“The US government has remained closely engaged with Tariq and his family since his return from Jerusalem,” a White House official told CNN. “As part of the follow-up on pending issues related to his case, National Security Council staff met with the Abu Khdeirs recently.” 

The Tampa teenager — of Palestinian descent — and his family plan to return to Jerusalem in the summer to visit relatives in the Shuafat neighborhood of the capital.
Abu Khdeir’s family sought assurances from the White House that it would not suffer any retaliation for the events following the teen’s beating in July 2014. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
So, what I would like to know is why all the hubbub about poor little Tariq Abu Khdeir? Because he is an American citizen?

What about Naftali Frenkel hy"d, and the countless other American citizens killed or injured by Arab terrorists? Where has all the fuss been about them?

Why doesn't the above report mention the claim that Tariq Abu Khdeir was carrying a sling shot?These days, a sling shot can be used not only just to injure someone, say damage his eye beyond repair. But can also be used to launch small explosives at someone, blowing out even more than an eye.


The video, obviously taken by an Arab overlooking the scene, begins only after Abi Khdeir might have been disarmed. How convenient.

I would also like to know how Tariq Abu Khdeir was identified as the suspect in this video. The officers confessed? They were under pressure from other officers looking on? If the Israeli Police Force is so corrupt and heavily weighted against Arabs, then why no attempts at a cover-up?

Stay tuned to see if Abu Khdeir gets involved in another riot, or even gets used as a puppet to be some sort of symbol for the false "Pseudostinian" cause.

Are you Happy about Ayelet Shaked as Israeli Justice Minister?

כ"ג לחודש השני תשע"ה

PM Bibi Netanyahu

Ayelet Shaked (Jewish Home Party) was appointed to be the new Minister of Justice as part of the coalition agreement between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Jewish Home Party Head Naftali Bennet.

To those of you who are all excited about Ayelet Shaked ascending to this position, I have a question for you. But, first, read the following news report from this afternoon.

YNET: ח"כ שקד: "גאה בבית המשפט העליון; הוא מהמובילים בעולם ושופטיו מצוינים"12.05.15 

שרת המשפטים המיועדת איילת שקד נפגשה עם שר המשפטים של רומניה רוברט קזנצ'וק. במסגרת הפגישה אמרה: "אצלנו, בניגוד אליכם ולמדינות אחרות, אין בית משפט חוקתי, אלא בית משפט עליון בלבד. אנחנו גאים בבית המשפט העליון שלנו, הוא מהמובילים בעולם ושופטיו מצוינים".

היא הוסיפה: "כרגע ניטש ויכוח בין המצדדים באסכולה הקונסרבטיבית לזו האקטיביסטית, בכל הקשור להתערבות בית המשפט העליון בהחלטות הכנסת. כשרת משפטים וראשת הוועדה למינויי שופטים, אעדיף את הגישה הקונסרבטיבית". 

(מורן אזולאי)

Esser Agaroth (2¢) Translation:
YNET: MK Shaked: "proud of our Supreme Court, it is one of leading [courts] in the world and its judges are excellent."

May 12, 2015 

Minister of Justice designate Ayelet Shaked met with the Minister of Justice of Romania Robert Kazenchok. Within the framework of the meeting, she said: "For us, as opposed to you and to other countries, there is no Constitutional Court, but only the Supreme Court. We are proud of our Supreme Court, it is one of leading [courts] in the world and its judges are excellent." 

She added: "Currently there has been a debate between the proponents of the conservative school and the activist school, regarding the intervention of the Supreme Court in the decisions of the Knesset. As Justice minister and head of a committee appointments of judges, I prefer the Conservative approach." 

(Moran Azulay)

Translation corrected with the help of DC and Washington (comment below)

Esser Agaroth (2¢): 

MK Naftali Bennett

So, now that you have read the above news report, here's my question:

Are you still happy about MK Shaked's appointment?

Although Shaked seems to have the right idea about the Israeli Supreme Court's notorious legislation from the Bench, how on earth could she say that she is proud of it?

How could she call its leftist, interventionist judges "excellent?"

Seriously?

And, now, it looks like Prime Minister Netanayu is interested in "expanding" the government's coalition.

But, with whom?

Leftist Lieberman (Yisra'el Beteinu)?

Leftist Lapid (Yesh Atid)?

Leftists Livni and Herzog (Zionist Camp)?

You are all well on the way to getting what you voted for: A left-wing government.

Don't try to fool yourselves. It's the same as we always get.

Arabs Leak Israeli High School Final Exams,...AGAIN!

כ"ג לחודש השני תשע"ה

Israeli public school students are required to take a minimum of six years of English as a Foreign Language, just like Americans must take a minimum number of years of a foreign language, either as a high school requirement or in order to be accepted to a university.

Yesterday was the scheduled, national, Bagrut (final) examination in English, which students from around the country take at the same time. The examinations include a listen comprehension component, which students receive via radio.

The examinations were disrupted, when it was discovered that the exams had been leaked on social media.

According to  Zalmy Kinn, a friend of mine taking the exams, students found out very quickly what was going on from a Israeli Channel 2 News report.

JPost.com: Education Ministry director comes under after two more matriculation exams leaked
Hayah Goldist-Eichler, May 11, 2015 

The education ministry decided to move forward with the exam and use alternate questionnaires. 

Two English-language matriculation exams were leaked onto social media on Monday, hours before the exam was due to begin. 

The Education Ministry decided to move forward with the exam and use alternate questionnaires. 

It later announced it was extending the allotted time for the exam by half an hour. 

The leak is thought to have come from an Arab village in the north of Israel. 

This comes just days after two Hebrew-language exams for the Arab sector were found leaked onto social media. Those two exams were postponed to a future date. 

Education Ministry director-general Michal Cohen said last week upon learning of the leaked exams that it is unfortunate that a small group of lawbreakers is hurting everyone in the system. 

“These offenders are not just harming the students but the education system and society as a whole,” she said. Cohen instructed the department of examinations to hand last week’s case over to the police for investigation. 

Meretz MK Esawi Frej called upon Cohen to immediately resign from her position “in view of her responsibility for the failure of the matriculation exams that is becoming more serious and widespread every day.” 

Frej went on to accuse Cohen and the ministry of systemic failure to “protect the integrity of the exams.” He added that if Cohen herself does not resign, it will be Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s responsibility, in his role as current education minister, to remove her from her position and to take the necessary steps “to return the confidence of Arab society in the Education Ministry, first and foremost by investing all the necessary resources to catch the criminals and to prevent the recurrence of these incidences in the future.”

Rabbi Shai Piron
(Yesh Atid)
Ex-Minister of Education

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Although criticism of director-general Michal Cohen is certainly justified, and the attempt by a Meretz MK to detract the blame from Arabs is no surprise, I would like to know why outgoing Minister of Education Rabbi Shai Piron is escaping any blame for the poor state of affairs.

This is not the first in which Arabs have been caught cheating. In a previous year, an Arab teacher was involved in leak of examinations.

Meanwhile, English teachers, on the ETNI - English Teachers Network in Israel Facebook group, have been venting the hell they had to suffer, calling it everything from "crazy" to a "nightmare and a scandal."

"So was this day crazy or what??"

"Yesterday's exam was a farce..."

"I am furious!!!!!! Today was a nightmare and a scandal! Making us fotocopy 100 exams just in order to switch the order of the questions is outrageous!!!!!"

"How pathetic was it today? T.G. we are an organised school with an amazing English staff. Our kids got the new forms within 15 minutes of being sent to us and all went smoothly with the exception of a few hiccups of C students, who understandably did not realize that question 5 did, in fact, exist. The whole thing was a total disgrace."

I was also informed that many schools never even received the e-mailed replacement examinations.

The U. S. Sells Israel Down the River,...and Admits It!

כ"ב לחודש השני תשע"ה

The DEBKAfile has put out an extensive analysis of the United States' so-called "Iran Deal," vis-à-vis its relationship with Israel.

But, the following snippet was what really stuck out to me. It seems to me to be the most significant element of this report, an open admission from Vice-President Joe Biden.

DEBKAfile: Obama turns a smiling face to Israel. Biden: Iran has enough material for 8 nuclear bombs
Exclusive Report May 2, 2015

Vice-Pres. Joe Biden

...Israel is absolutely right to be worried about the world’s most dangerous weapons falling in the hands of a nation, whose leaders dream openly of a world without Israel.... 

Joe Biden: ...“Let’s not kid each other. They already have paved a path to a bomb’s worth of material. Iran could get there now if they walked away in two to three months without a deal.” He went on to say: “Without this deal, they already have enough material if further enriched for as many as eight nuclear bombs. Already, right now, as I speak to you." (cont.)

Am I the only one who is concerned about this? Fortunately, I am not the only one.

‏The Algemeiner: Iran is Lying, and We Know It
Harold Rhode and Joseph Raskas, May 10, 2015 

The most frustrating part for a rational observer of the P5+1 (the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council: China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US, plus Germany) negotiations with Iran is this: There is little doubt that Iran is lying, and will continue to lie, but that doesn’t seem to matter to those negotiating with it. (cont.)

It makes sense that this is not the only thing they are lying about.

DEBKAfile: An Iranian cargo ship due in Yemen during ceasefire
May 10, 2015 

In a move in defiance of the Saudi blockade of Yemen, an Iranian cargo ship was due to set sail Sunday night for the Yemeni port of Hodeida, hours after Iran-backed Houthi rebels accepted a Saudi-proposed five-day humanitarian ceasefire starting Tuesday. Iran’s Tasnim news agency reports the ship would carry 2,500 tonnes of humanitarian aid including food staples and medicines. The Saudis have accused Iran of trying to smuggle weapons and ammunition to the Houthis and imposed a sea and air blockade on Yemen.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
I wonder who persuaded the Saudis to let the Iranians through. Surely, they are not influenced by international pressure, like Israel is, and to a slight degree, the United States?

Who is holding what over the Saudis?

But, I digress...

Is President Obama and his government really so naive to believe the the Iranians, or any Muslim, can change? Or are the nutty, conspiracy theorists right about the U. S. President being a Muslim plant?

The American people need to wake up to the fact that threats against the West by Iran, ISIS, Wahabis, Hamas, etc. should be taken seriously, and that the Muslim, square peg will never fit into a Western, circular hole.

Better yet, Israel needs to wake up to the fact that being thrown the occasional bone by the U. S. government does not make it the reliable ally is fantasizes about, and needs to stand on its own.

Arabs Attempting Forgeries: Do Your Homework!

כ"ב לחודש השני תשע"ה

This photo of a forged Israeli ID card,...a VERY POORLY FORGED Israeli ID card, was going around Facebook.

I have grayed out the photo, and even the fingers holding the ID card up. Knowing my luck, I would get sued, if I don't.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Where do I begin with the problems with this attempted forgery?

His own name Amjad should have chipchik/geresh (') after the gimmel (ג) for the "j" sound.

There are countless misspellings, due to too many alefs (א), such as in the month of Adar.

The month of May is also spelled "Mayo" or "Mayov."

"Ezrahut Yisra'elit" (Israeli Citizenship) is spelled with a heh (ה) instead of an alef (א).

The Hebrew date for March 10, 2015 is off by a year.

The extra date at the bottom is also off. It does not appear on my Israeli ID card. Could it be an expiration date? Do Arabs have expiration dates?

Can you find any additional errors here?

I mean, seriously, Arabs should do their homework.

And, before anyone criticizes me for "helping" the Arabs to get it right next time, I will simply say that I wouldn't worry about that. Even though I do get one or two readers from Riyyad, Saudi Arabia and from Qatar, per month.

"To the Detriment of the Religious Zionist Sector?" I Think Not.

י"ז לחודש השני תשע"ה

YNET: Time running out for Netanyahu as coalition talks stall again
With departure of Lieberman and his six seats, the prime minister is dependent on winning over Bayit Yehudi [Jewish Home] to form even the narrowest of coalitions; Lapid: 'PM decided to do anything to stay in power'.

Moran Azulay, May 5, 2015

With less than 48 hours to present his new government to President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once again ran into difficulties Tuesday as negotiations with key coalition partner Bayit Yehudi stalled over the allocation of portfolios.

On Tuesday, senior Likud MK Miri Regev accused Bayit Yehudi of intransigence and scuppering the chances for a "right-wing nationalist government."

The prime minister has already asked Rivlin for an extension to the period allocated for forming a government. The Wednesday night deadline cannot be extended in this round of coalition negotiations.Netanyahu has summonded Likud's negotiating team to discuss the crisis in negotiations with Bayit Yehudi, but has yet to arrange a meeting with Bayit Yehudi leader and former protege Naftali Bennett.

Bayit Yehudi is fuming over the Likud coalition agreement with Shas, which gives the Sephardi Orthodox party control over the Ministry of Religious Services. Bayit Yehudi is concerned that this will mean the reforms it has made in the ministry will be overturned, to the detriment of religious Zionist sector.

When the issue of Shas receiving the ministry was first raised, Bennett stated on Twitter that giving them the ministry would put an end to negotiations with Bayit Yehudi. Now that Shas has indeed been given this portfolio, Bayit Yehudi is trying to decide how to respond.

The departure of Avigdor Leiberman and his six-seat Yisrael Beytenu party on Monday has left Netanyahu with what looks likely to be a narrow 61-member government, if he can in fact put a coalition together. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):

PM Bibi Netanyahu

"Bayit Yehudi [Jewish Home Party] is concerned that this will mean the reforms it has made in the ministry will be overturned, to the detriment of religious Zionist sector."

To which reforms is Bayit Yehudi referring?

Opening up the marriage market to the likes of Tzohar, mamlakhti (diehard state loyalist) rabbis?

Granting the authority over conversions to local rabbinical courts, and thus reducing the scrutiny of those expressing a desire to convert? Pseudo-conversions by the various "movements," will be only one Supreme Court legislation from the Bench, instead of two.

Even with all of Sha"S's flaws, and there are many, including the Oslo "Death" Accords, let us not forget that it was Interior Minister Eli Yishai who stood up to the Israeli Supreme Court's decision to accept a pseudo-conversion not only for the purpose of religious identity, but for the purpose of nationality as well.

Let us not forget that it was MK Nissim Ze'ev (Sha"S) moved into a housing structure in Hevron set for expulsion of its Jews, while Jewish Home Party Head Naftali Bennett proposes autonomy for some Pseudostinian Arabs, and Israeli citizenship for others.

Bennett's Plan vs. Arafat's Plan
Can you see the difference? Neither can I.

MK Naftali Bennett

This conversion situation will become even more disastrous with the increasing numbers of Christians sneaking their way into Israeli citizenship through false conversions, in other words outright lying to the Israeli Chief Rabbinate.

The Sha"S Party has led protests against Christian missionaries, as have the Gerer Hassidim, who are part of Agudas Yisroel (half of UTJ). Whereas, aside from a handful of rabbis, the "religious Zionist sector" is not known for its stance against missionaries. Nor have they come out against the Christians with eyes on our Land, quite the opposite, in fact.

And so, I ask you, how exactly is it that overturning of the reforms, which Bayit Yehudi has made in the Religious Affairs Ministry, to the detriment of religious Zionist sector?

Answer? It's not.

Scandinavian Jews Seem to be Getting the Message

פסח שני תשע״ה

YNET: Scandinavian Jews move into Israeli real estate market
As in France, anti-Semitic attacks in Sweden and Denmark are leading members of the Jewish communities there to invest in Israeli bolt hole.

Norway, Sweden, and Finland

Yael Darel, May 3, 2015

Foreigners purchasing real estate in the center of Israel is nothing new. Over the past year, however, the familiar buyers, from France, Belgium and England, have been joined by new players in the market – Scandinavian Jews, primarily from Sweden and Denmark, who have conducted dozens of real-estate deals in the country of late, focusing on apartments in high-rise buildings in Tel Aviv and Herzliya.

Some of the buyers have moved into their new apartments, and some are buying for investment purposes or in preparation for a possible move to Israel in the future. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Well, it looks like there are some Scandinavian Jews who are finally getting the message, and who are looking toward Israel as at least an option.

With Muslim violence on the rise in Scandinavia, and cities like Malmo, in Sweden, falling to increasing Muslim influence and control, let us pray that the trend of Scandinavian Jews looking toward Israel continues, and that they do not delay too long in finally packing up, and getting on the plane, to relocate to Israel permanently.

ערב שבת קודש פר׳ אמור תשע״ה

The following proposed project was pointed out to me by The Torah Revolution.

The Menorah Islands Project is more than just an idea.

It’s an ambitious vision for the future of the Middle East. A center for innovation and collaboration, the Menorah Islands Project has the potential to bring the greatest and most committed minds together to build a place where ethnic origin and political alliance no longer matter. A beautiful place to live, work, and vacation, these artificial islands in the Mediterranean Sea would enhance the entire Middle East through education, scientific advancements, and environmentally-friendly practices. They would serve as a forum for collaboration and dialogue between peoples of all Middle Eastern nations, a place to concentrate on growth that could occur when people of all backgrounds collaborate.

Nine islands, one vision

The Menorah Islands Project is an idea for a complex of nine artificial islands and several causeways off the coast of Israel. These islands and causeways would be laid out in the shape of a candelabra, representing the object for which the complex is named. Seven of these artificial islands are permanent, with residential areas, retail, and institutes of higher learning. The outermost islands on either side emerge from the water at different points throughout the year.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
This is not the first suggestion of the creation of artificial islands off the Mediterranean coast of Israel.

In 2007/תשע״ה , then Vice-Premier Shimon Peres suggested that we stop investing in Yehudah and Shomron (Judea and Samaria), the heartland of Israel, and instead invest in the sea.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that this project has an organization behind it, set on unifying Yishma'el (Arabs/Muslims) and Esau (West/Christians).

About TUAFI
The United Abrahamic Family Incorporated, or TUAFI, is a group of peace-loving people who believe that conflicts between Christians, Muslims and Jews are not only destructive, but also personally painful to the mutual descendants of Abraham. TUAFI believes that we should all focus on our common ancestry and heritage as a way to bridge the divide between religions.

Such attempts at unification are pointed out by the Kol HaTor as a sign of the Erev Rav (descendants of the "mixed multitude"), and an act which prevents the arrival of Mashi'ah Ben Yosef.

Here are some examples from the video:

"Each island would house a multi-denominational chapel, where members of all faiths can worship." (2:46)

Do I really need to add anything to this? It's pretty self-explanatory. OK, I will add one thing. "Denomination" = streams of pseudo-Judaism, in addition to "all faiths."

"Each campus, seven in total, would concentrate on a particular field of scientific study. "(3:00)

Two of these are "human science" and "yeshiva and language." What is "human science?" Just a guess here, but this could simply be social sciences and/or humanities, nothing terribly surprising. But, I also guess that field of study will likely employ a Tel-Aviv University approach, than anything even remotely Torah-based, ie. Jewishly-based.

What concerns me much more is the field called "Yeshiva and Language." I really hated to ask the kind of learning which would take place at such a "yeshiva." Pseudo-Jewish streams of thought? Biblical criticism? Interfaith dialogue? Avodah Zarah? Talmud with a twist?


Well, I'm not too worried. Surely, such a plan is doomed to failure, and if it ever gets build, it will eventually be swallowed up into the Mediterranean Sea.

It would be a shame, though, to waste all of these resources, which could be used to support and develop Israel's heartland, not to mention to educate our children (and their parents) against assimilation, instead of encouraging it. After all, the nine-branched (eight plus shamash) menorah stems from Jewish observance of the holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the victory over the Seleucid Greeks, their assimilated Jewish lackies, and their attempts to assimilate the rest of the Jewish People into Hellenist society and culture.

But, what else should we expect from the Erev Rav, in its battle against Torah, and from the Nations, in their battle to obtain pieces of the Jewish Homeland?

The video concludes with...

"We invite you to be part of The Menorah Islands Project, to be part of something wonderful, to be part of the future." (3:54)

Well, this is a future I want absolutely no part of.

#ThisIsAntiSemitism?

ערב שבת קודש פר׳ אמור תשע״ה

The following graphic was going around Facebook.

From Coalition Against Anti-Semitism in Europe - CAASE Facebook Page

What exactly is CAASE? According to its own website...

The Coalition Against Anti-Semitism in Europe is the American movement that defends the right of European Jewry to live proudly and free from fear. The recent targeted attacks against European Jews are not aberrations, but rather manifestations of the deteriorating conditions. Founded at Brandeis University, CAASE seeks to rouse Europe’s conscience. Our grassroots campaign demands accountability on behalf of European institutions.

We call on regional, national, and European Union institutions to:

1. Acknowledge the adverse circumstances of the European Jewish community;
2. Ensure the security well-being of European Jewish communities and prevent further desecration of Jewish sites;
3. Establish a ‘working definition’ of anti-Semitism;
4. Increase the scope and scale of Holocaust awareness in educational institutions;
5. Hold accountable those who perpetuate or incite anti-Semitism.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
I agree with most of the above. What I do not agree with is the conspicuously absent reference to aliyah (Jewish immigration to Israel) as a solution.

CAASE was founded at left-wing, Brandeis University, so no surprises here.

Holding authorities accountable is a fruitless endeavor, a complete waste of time and resources. The increasing violence against Jews is only a reflection of the increasingly revealed Jew-hatred inherently rampant across Europe.

The only solution is to wake up, and see the writing on the wall. Europe is not the home of the Jewish People, and for that matter, neither is America.

Leaving Europe for Israel is neither quitting nor giving up. Leaving Europe for Israel means relocating to the only place on earth entitled to the investment of our blood, sweat, and tears, in Eretz Yisra'el, the Land of Israel.

Now that the gates to our homeland have been opened, there is really no excuse.

The only reason this is so difficult for Jews to get their heads around is due to 2,000 years of living in galuth (exile), contributing to Jews seeing themselves as Europeans or Americans, instead of Jews temporarily residing away from home.

Instead of the Coalition Against Anti-Semitism in Europe, CAASE sounds more like the Coalition Against Aliyah of Semitic Europeans, if you ask me.

And, how did I find the above graphic in the first place?

It was shared by the World Zionist Organization - Israel, an organization which should be encouraging aliyah.