מה ישראל יכולה ללמוד מסרטון על ידי CNN? / What Can Israel Learn From A Video From CNN?

ראש החודש הראשון תשפ״ד 

English follows the Hebrew.

עשר אגורות (2¢):
רבים מכם ישאלו למה אני מפרסם סרטון מ-CNN, שאני מכנה את רשת החדשות סהר מאז 2007. אני חושב כדאי לצפות את הסרטון כדי לראות איך CNN מציגה את המתנחלים כביכול שבארצנו. כך למשל, ראש מועצת קדומים לשעבר דניאלה וייס אומרת: "נאבדה לערביי עזה הזכות להיות בעזה ב-7 באוקטובר".

הרבה היו חושבים שהשקפה כזו קיצונית. אבל זאת לא אפילו כל האמת כולה. אלא לערבים מעולם לא הייתה זכות להיות בעזה מלכתחילה. פשוט לא היה לנו סיכוי, גם לא יכולת, ובגלל השמאל גם לא הנטייה.

כדאי לזכור שאחר מלחמת העצמאות הרבה ערבים התחילו לברוח מארצנו לאחר שניצחנו במלחמת העצמאות. למרות זה אנשי השמאל רצו להתחנן להם להשאר.

הנה דוגמה של בטוי תרבות התבוללות במיטבה.

ואז בשנת תשס״ה/2005, ראש הממשלה הבוגד דאז, אריאל שרון, הציע את תכנית ההתנתקות הגרוש שלו. הוא חשב שמסירת כמה גושים של ארצנו היא רעיון טוב, גם בעזה (גוש קטיף ועוד) וגם בצפון השומרון, בעצם לא רחוק מביתה של דניאלה וייס בקדומים.

שרון אפילו ערך משאל עם בנוגע למצע מפלגת הליכוד בנושא. חברי מפלגת הליכוד הצביעו נגד לפינוי גירוש יהודים מעזה. אז שרון יצא מהליכוד, והקים את מפלגת קדימה החדשה עם נסיך ערב רב שמעון פרס, והם ביצעו את התוכנית שלו למרות רצון רוב חברי מפלגת הליכוד ואפילו רוב הישראלים.

תוכנית ההתנתקות נכשלה כישלון חרוץ, רצחה יהודים רבים ופגעה באחרים רבים. נתנו לערבים מעזה להמשיך להיכנס לגבולותיה הנוכחיים של ישראל כדי לעבוד, עם הפסקות מזדמנות וסמליות בלבד, בגלל פיגועי טרור. אז אחר לחודש או חודשיים חזרנו לשגרה והערבים התחילו להגיע לעבוד כרגיל. שום דבר לא נפתר, ורק העצים את הערבים לבצע עוד פגועי טרור, ממשלת ישראל תלויה מדי בארה"ב ובאיחוד האירופי עד כדי שאי אפשר לשנות מדיניות ללא אישור מהם.

בראיון דניאלה וייס נראת בעמדה די הגנתית, ולדעתי רוצה לחזור לכבוש את עזה בתגובה למטבח בשמיני עצרת (הציון הנכון בעברית ל-07.10) ולא בזכות המצווה לכבוש אותו מלכתחילה. ברור שוייס התנגדה לגירוש מעזה מלכתחילה, אבל בראיון חבל שהיא אף פעם לא מציעה שהחזרה לכבוש את עזה מחדש צריכה להיות יעד סופי בכל מקרה. היא יודעת הטיב מי צופה בסרטון הזה.

וַיְהִי רָעָב, בָּאָרֶץ, מִלְּבַד הָרָעָב הָרִאשׁוֹן, אֲשֶׁר הָיָה בִּימֵי אַבְרָהָם; וַיֵּלֶךְ יִצְחָק אֶל-אֲבִימֶלֶךְ מֶלֶךְ-פְּלִשְׁתִּים, גְּרָרָה. וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְהוָה, וַיֹּאמֶר אַל-תֵּרֵד מִצְרָיְמָה: שְׁכֹן בָּאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר אֹמַר אֵלֶיךָ.גּוּר בָּאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת, וְאֶהְיֶה עִמְּךָ וַאֲבָרְכֶךָּ: כִּי-לְךָ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ, אֶתֵּן אֶת-כָּל-הָאֲרָצֹת הָאֵל, וַהֲקִמֹתִי אֶת-הַשְּׁבֻעָה, אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִיךָ. וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אֶת-זַרְעֲךָ, כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְנָתַתִּי לְזַרְעֲךָ, אֵת כָּל-הָאֲרָצֹת הָאֵל; וְהִתְבָּרְכוּ בְזַרְעֲךָ, כֹּל גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ. (בראשית כו,א-ד)

יצחק נצטווה לא לצאת מארץ ישראל. גרר היה בארץ פלשתים בעזה. לכן כשיצחק הלך לגרר הוא לא ירד מהארץ. במילים אחרות, גרר הוא חלק מישראל; עזה, או לפחות חלק גדול ממנה הוא חלק מישראל.

לא להתבלבל. הערבים המזדהים כפליסטינאים הם לא צאצאי הפלשתים האלה של פעם. זה בא מסילוף שמות הארצות של אימפרית רומא במהלך כיבושה של ארץ ישראל. למשל, הרומאים קראו לעיר שכם פלאוויה ניאפוליס על שם הקיסר פלוויוס וספסיאנוס. אין ‏פּ בערבית ואז הערבים מבטאים את שם העיר נאבלוס (בראשית לז,יב-יד)

בפסוקים לעיל מספר בראשית רואים שהקב״ה נשבע את ארץ ישראל ליצחק ולצאצאיו, ולא לאחיו ישמעאל וצאצאיו. הערבים עצמם טוענים שהם צאצאי ישמעאל.

הרבנים שחושבים שוייס קיצונית מדי הם הבעיה הכי חמורה. הם מפחדים? הם תלוים מדי ביחסינו עם הגויים? הם מסורסים? הם ממלכתים (נאמני מדינת ישראל באותה הרמה של התורה). ראשיהם מחבורים לגלות המערבית (אדום),

הם צריכים לשים לב יותר לעולי מדינות ערב ולסיפוריהם. היהודים האלה מומחים על אויבינו הישמעאלים ועל אופן פעולתם. כדאי להקשיב להם. ואז לא יאמינו שיהודים כדניאלה וייס הם קיצוניים בכלל ואפילו לא ח״כ עמיחי אליהו.

הפסוקים האלה גם עונים על שאלתו של וורד. כשח"כ עמיחי אליהו מסביר שהחלטותיו נשמרות על ידי התורה, וורד שאולת אותו, "אבל האם יש משהו על גוש קטיף הנזכר כאן?" בסרטון זה העיתונאית קלריסה וורד מדברת אנגלית אבל רוב הישראלים בו עונים על שאלות בעברית דרך מתרגמן. רק דניאל וייס מדברית איתה באנגלית. הנה תרגום הקטע שלה (3:09 - 5:06).

*********

וייס: יש תמיכה מאוד חזקה, מ[אנשים] בולטים מאוד, כן, הייתי אומר אנשים עשירים, יהודים עשירים בארה"ב.

וורד: את יכולה להגיד שמות?

וייס: לא, אני לא יכול. לא.

(וורד: בביתה בהתנחלות קדומים, וייס מספרת לנו שהיא כבר רשמה 500 משפחות).

וייס: יש לי אפילו בנייד שלי שמות של אנשים שאומרים, ״לגייס אותי, לרשום אותי. אני רוצה להצטרף. אני רוצה להצטרף לקבוצות שהולכות ליישב את עזה״.

(קריאה לתפילה יוצאת מהמואזין)

וורד: אבל אני חייבת לשאול אותך, כי אנחנו יושבים כאן ומדברים ואנחנו מקשיבים...

וייס: אני מקשיב. אני מקווה שאתה מקשיב לזה.

וורד: היא תזכורת, אני חושב, לאנשים שחיים כאן, אבל גם לאנשים שחיים בעזה. מה קורה להם בחזון הזה של ההתיישבות החדשה הזו עם מתנחלים יהודים, אפילו בעיר עזה?

וייס: מה שאני חושב על עזה, נאבדה לערביי עזה הזכות להיות בעזה ב-7 באוקטובר. כן, אני שומע את המסגד. אני כן שומע את האות שדברי התפילה היו שונים עד ה-7 באוקטובר. בלי ערבית. (?) מדברים על יותר משני מיליון ערבים. הם לא יישארו שם. אנחנו היהודים נהיה בעזה.

וורד: זה נשמע כמו טיהור אתני.

וייס: הערבים רוצים להשמיד את מדינת ישראל. אז את יכולה לקרוא להם מפלצות. את יכולה לקרוא להם... תקראי להם מטהרים אתני של יהודים. אנחנו לא עושים להם. הם עושים לנו. אני לא יכולה להבהיר יותר כשאמרתי זאת בעצמי, כמי שעסוקה בהתישבות עד ה-07.10. לא היו לי תוכניות לחזור לעזה. ברור שאני לא מעוניינת בטיהור [אתני].

מפת חזון ״פליסטין״ בכל הארץ כולל תל-אביב
Map of Hamas's vision of a "Palestine," which has never existed, encompasses the entire Land of Israel, even Tel-Aviv.
How much longer do you need to realize this?

CNN: רשת החדשות סהר

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Many of you will be wondering why I am posting a video from CNN, which I have been calling the Crescent News Network since 2007. I think it is worth a watch, to see how CNN presents settlers of our own land. For example, former Mayor of Qedumim Daniella Weiss actually says on camera, "The Arabs of Gaza lost the right to be in Gaza on October 7."

Many will see this as "extreme." But it is not even the whole truth. The Arabs never had a right to be there in the first place. We just did not have the chance, nor capability, nor, thanks to the left, the majority with the inclination.

Remember it was the Left that begged Arabs to stay after Israel's War of Independence in 1948. Assimilation* at its finest.

Then, of course, in 2005, the traitorous prime minister at the time, Ariel Sharon thought it would be a good idea to give back the chunks of land Jews held in Gaza, along with some more land in Northern Samaria, not so far from Daniella Weiss's home in Qedumim.

Sharon even held a referendum regarding the Likud Party platform on the issue. Likud Party members voted again evacuating expelling Jews from Gaza. Sharon left the Likud Party, formed the new Kadima Party with Leftist extraordinaire Shimon Peres, and implemented the plan anyway.

The plan failed miserably, and cost the lives of many Jews. Arabs from Gaza continued to be allowed into the current borders of Israel to work, with only occasional and symbolic breaks, because of a terror attack. A month here, a month there, and then it was back to business as usual. Nothing was solved, and only emboldened the Arabs to commit more acts of terror, the Israeli Government too dependent on the U. S. and the EU to make any significant change in policy.

Daniella Weiss takes a rather defensive, and I must say reactionary, stance regarding any potential return to Gaza. Although I know that she was against leaving Gaza in the first place in 2005, she never suggests that the return re-conquering of Gaza should be an ultimate goal in any case.

And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, to Gerar. And the Lord appeared to him, and said: 'Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land which I will tell you of. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you; for to you, and to your seed, I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to Abraham your father; and I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and will give unto your seed all these lands; and by your seed shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves;' (Gen. 26:1-4)

Isaac was commanded not to leave the Land of Israel. Gerar was in the land of the Philistines, in Gaza. By going to Gerar, Isaac was not leaving Israel. In other words, Gerar is part of Israel; Gaza, or at least much of it is part of Israel.

Furthermore, the Land of Israel was promised to Isaac and his descendants, and not to his brother Ishmael and his descendants. Arabs themselves claim to be descended from Ishmael.

The above verses also answer Ward's question, "But is there anything about Gush Qatif mentioned in here?" when MK Amichai Eliyahu explains that his decisions are guarded by the Torah.

I certainly hope she knows that the Torah is the beginning of the Bible, more precisely identified as Tana"kh. I wonder if she would have behaved differently if she had been shown the Quran. You know? More respectfully. (5:50-6:05)

I certainly prefer Eliyahu's take over Weiss's, that the Land belongs to us in the first place. Of course, Weiss knows this. She knows her audience, as well. I hope she not simply focusing on hasbara (PR; explanations) to the international community, and other non-Jews, and remembering the importance of informing and educating our fellow Jews in exile.

The real problem is those rabbis who would consider Weiss too extreme. Call them fraidy cats. Call them co-dependent on the goyim. Call them castrated. I call them Mamlakhtim (diehard state loyalists). I call them too entrenched in Western (ie. non-Jewish) exilic mentality, not only "Oy vey! What will the goyim (non-Jews) say?!" But rather they are too much like the very goyim whose opinions they are so concerned about.

Many of these rabbis have no clue that this is the case, thanks to the Israeli public, religious educational system. But some do realize it, embrace it, believe it is not only acceptable but ideal. They are oblivious to the fact that they are alienating, excluding, even erasing the cultural sensitivities of those Jews from Arab countries who know from first-hand experience much better that they do about our Ishmaelite enemies and how they operate.

All rabbis need to pay close attention to these Jews from Arab countries and their experiences, and leave everything they know about dealing with non-Jewish nations in the West at the door. Then they will hardly see Jews like Daniella Weiss as extreme, nor even Jews like MK Amichai Elihayu.

*********
*Assimilation = detachment from Jewish culture, often desiring to like non-Jews, resulting in the disappearance of the lines of these Jews, indistinguishable them from non-Jews. Lack of Jewish education, poor Jewish education, and/or false Jewish education often has a hand in this. Intermarriage with non-Jews often plays a role in the disappearance of these Jews as well.

CNN: "10 Things To Say To Keep The Peace."

Mossa'ei Shabbath Qodesh Parshath Shemoth 5769

Jack tipped me off [via our new toy Twitter] to this CNN story by Laurie Puhn, "10 Things To Say To Keep The Peace." He suggested that he might have to play with this one. But maybe I beat him to it. In any event, I look forward to see what he does with it.

Laurie Puhn recommends the "use [of] these 10 go-to phrases to defuse potentially volatile conversations and help you get through the coming years -- in harmony." Even though she is talking about personal relationships, I would like to throw her advice back at her Arab-loving CNN, otherwise known as the Crescent News Network.



Let's see if they think the advice is still sound if Israel were to use these phrases in its work to "harmonize" its relationships with various Arabs (and one Persian)....

1. President Mubarik, thank you for your opinion. I'll think about it.
(Egypt)

2. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is this a good time for you?
(Iran)

3. Osama Bin Laden, would you like my thoughts?
(Al-Qaeda)

4. Mahmud Abbas, why don't we get the facts?
(Palestinian Authority)

5. King Abdul, I need your help. Can you please...?
(Saudi Arabia)

6. Mouamar Qadafi, let's wait on this until we have more information.
(Lybia)

7. Ismail Haniyah, what did you mean by that?
(Hamas)

8. Sa'eb Erakat, I don't like that, so why don't we do this instead?"
(Palestinian Authority)

9. Hassan Nasrallah, I'm sorry you're upset.
(Hezbollah)

10. Ahmed Tibi, let me get back to you.
("Israeli" Arab MK)

What do you think? Are there go-to phrases something you would be willing to try on Arab terrorists?

What Did I Tell You About The YeSh"A Council?

7 of the Eleventh Month 5768

Barak, Yesha Leaders Agree to Destroy Jewish Towns
7 Shevat 5768 / January 14, 2008 10:44 AM

(IsraelNN.com) Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Yesha leaders have reportedly reached an agreement for the non-violent eviction of hundreds of residents from their homes in 26 Jewish communities throughout Judea and Samaria.

According to the report in the Hebrew-language Haaretz daily, Barak has agreed to approve building and infrastructure permits frozen by the government in response to US pressure to drive Jews out of Yesha, as compensation for the non-violent abandonment of certain Jewish towns. In addition, victims of the eviction would be permitted to move to other Jewish communities in the area.

Sources in Barak's office said the Yesha Council "knows" that the Supreme Court deal is expected to order IDF soldiers to tear down the communities, and that the deal is intended to prevent violence between residents and eviction forces.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
How many more "deals" can the government come up with before they will have no choice but to resort to violence?

Of course, the original came from the leftist Ha'Aretz Newspaper. So who knows what, if anything, is true in their report. This newspaper has its own agenda, to demonize anyone living Yehudah and Shomron (Judea & Samaria).

In the past the powers that be have knocked an abandoned caravan or two. Years before the infamous police attack on protesters in Amona, an agreement was made by the shifty power players in YeSh"A to have a water tower taken down in front of the news cameras (CNN), only to be put up again the next day. There simply aren't enough abandoned caravans and mobile water towers around to foot the public relations bill anymore.

Such "deal-makers" are doing a great disservice to Am Yisrael, and to its struggle to retain control of its God-given Land. This is how we expect Jew-hating UN, EU, and Arabs to behave, in a sneaky and dishonest manner. Such strategies only serve to cheapen and discredit our Divine claims to the Land.

Fortunately, the YeSh"A Rabbinical Council, with such leaders as Rabbi Dov Lior (Qiriyath Arba-Hevron), does not act in such a way.

Unfortunately, the YeSh"A Council does not quite get it, continually displaying its hoser emunah (lack of faith), believing it must fear and thus negotiate with the human powers that be, ignoring the greater power in Universe. The YeSh"A Council justifies this by trying to pass off such sneaky approaches as our hishtadluth (require effort on Jews' part). As a whole it does not believe it possibly to retain control of all of Yehudah and Shomron, at least not without the will of the standing government. It will consider it a victory if we are able to hold on to those communities currently within the almighty security fence, failing to accept that the security fence can be picked up and moved at any time.

So, what's all this I have been hearing about a "New" YeSh"A Council? It looks like business as usual to me; Collaboration with the government.

Bush Doesn't Get It, But Does Rice?

Mossa'ei Shabbath Parshath Bo 5768

Debbie Schlussel cleared up some of my questions about what kind of coverage the protests against President Bush's visit received in the U. S. There wasn't much. There was some about the Arabs in Azza protesting, but nothing significant about the Jews who were protesting. I wonder just how much the President was allowed to see and to hear regarding our displeasure of his plans for us. My guess is that it was very hush-hush. I never can tell with this president. Is he seriously mislead by his "people?" Or is he given all of the facts first, and then mislead regarding the proper strategy to take. Is other words, is he just misled by the UN and Council on Foreign Relations allies like Condaleeza Rice and her State Department? Or is he in on it? Does Condaleeza Rice think that you can actually relate to [non-Western] Arabs as fellow Westerners? Or is she purposely leading the President down the path of no return? Is this only a temporary alliance with the Arabs to sacrifice Israel's viability for the sake of continued flow of oil into the U. S.? Or are they really all that stupid, thinking that one can actually "talk" with Arabs?

Where's John Bolton when you need him?

And where are all those Christian Zionists we keep hearing about in Israel? "They" say they are working behind the scenes. Obviously they have other priorities like fighting abortion, as important as that may be, which precludes their lobbying for the Holy Land's handover to Arab terrorists. Wait a minute. I thought Bush and Rice were Christians. Where on earth are they getting their scriptural and spiritual guidance?

Is anyone else as confused as I am?

Meanwhile, one of the comments on Debbie's piece linked above alludes to another problem Israel is facing, not just the proximity of the so-called "Palestinian" Arabs in Qalqiliyah and Tul-karem, 8 miles away from his house on the coast. There's something called the "Triangle" kind of between the Sharon and Gallil areas of Israel filled with so-called "Israeli" Arabs, who have never accepted Israel's control of the UN mandated Jewish State. There is more and more evidence that there will be an uprising from within the area Bush and Rice propose to "let" us keep.

There is the cheering in Natzeret (Nazareth) and Shfar'Am of Arabs whenever Israel gets missiled, and then there's Peqi'im, an ancient Jewish town, now mostly inhabited by Druze. Druze have served in the IDF since the 1950's, and have proven their loyalty to Israel time and time again. However, even they have been getting agitated recently.

I live in the Shomron (Samaria) near Shkhem (The Romans renamed it Napolis; Arabs and CNN call it Nablus.) and Josef's Tomb. Yet, I'd feel safer here than Tel-Aviv, if the government didn't start taking weapons and security away. They have begun replacing local . how much do you want to bet that this is in preparation of their next stage of Jewish expulsion? May God forbid.

Ashqelon used to be considered too far from Gaza to get hit by missiles. Now it's starting to get hit on a regular basis by Hamas. How did they get such misslies?

Although it was hushed up, missiles from Hizbollah did reach as far south as Netanyah in the summer, 2006. I wonder how many more missiles Hizbollah has, and how improved their equipment is, now that they have had time to regroup and rearm, without any fear of retribution from the UN or international forces in Lebanon. Is anyone surprised?

We really are sitting ducks. Is our country the only one whose government cares more about following Bush's orders than about protecting its people? One would think they would need to do at least something, even something symbolic in order to protect their seats in the Kenesset, considered very precious to them. The truth is that they have given up on that highly addictive drug called "power," and are gunning for the less popular drug called "money." Oh, they will get plenty, have it funneled into private foundations, and they will be set for life.

Who needs a seat in government, especially in a government whose country is heading toward nonexistence? I am sure that the Leftists will be highly rewarded for carrying out Israel's fire sale. No doubt this will include some foreign passports, residency papers, or even asylum, when Israel tries to extradite the criminals back to stand charges of treason.

Crescent News Network

10 of the Ninth Month 5768

I was reading Debbie Schlussel tonight, one of the few writers I read on a daily basis, when something caught my eye. Debbie wrote a piece on one of the, shall we say, extremely unhelpful people in the universe she's been tracking, Julie Meyers, nominee to head the U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE]. In the process she referenced CNN, referring to it as the "Crescent News Network."

For a minute there, I thought it was hysterically funny, and clever. Then I realized how frighteningly true it was. It's no hidush (nothing new) to us in Israel, who when flipping the channels catch CNN at their deceit. No, it's not laziness, but deceit, thus the popularity of the bumper sticker (left). I, myself, have literally watched CNN report on events in Israel inaccurately, events I experienced personally, painting an Islamic-friendly, Israeli-bashing picture of things. Well, "inaccurate" would be a profound understatement.

During the Second Lebanon War, I came up with another idea for a bumper sticker. Some of CNN's "errors" seemed to be just too convenient. I'm not accusing them of anything, of course. I'm only speaking hypothetically. (eyes rolling).

It's 3:00 in the morning, I'm unemployed, and the money is running out. I'm reading Debbie Schlussel. What else would I be doing? Getting some sleep, so that I can get up at a decent hour and pound the pavement?

No. Why should I do that? I'd rather doctor CNN's logo, using only Graphic Converter, Debbie's clever reference, and my imagination.

For all I know something like this has already been done. But, I had fun making it anyway. Feel free to spread it around the Web. And, please make sure to credit me with a link to this post.


Oh, and, by the way, it turns out that there already is a "Crescent News Network." But, that's OK. We can start calling IT CNN for short.

Haveil Havalim #137

9 of the Eighth Month 5768

Haveil Havalim is a carnival of Jewish blogs -- a weekly collection of Jewish & Israeli blog highlights, tidbits and points of interest collected from blogs all around the world. It's hosted by different bloggers each week and coordinated by Soccer Dad. 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.'

One of the big responsibilities I find hosting Haveil Havalim is my perceived necessity to compose some fabulous and unforgettable introduction.

I just finished writing a long, yet un-fabulous, and totally forgettable one. You cannot see it below, because I erased it. I did leave two, completely unrelated parts, the parts which I believe are the most reflective of the personality of your host this week:

1) ...I am currently "between jobs," and hosting Haveil Havalim helped me to feel like I was being productive....a side benefit, above and beyond the enjoyment of hosting)

2) ...I began trying to search for hidden meanings in the number 137. The first thought which popped into my mind was Psalm 137, recalling it to be highly politically incorrect.

I will leave you to ponder the possible meanings behind those two statements taken out of context from the introduction I wrote, and then quickly erased, believing it to be worthy only of deletion.

*Update: Thanks to Soccer Dad, and now have something significant to mention regarding Psalm 137, and thus the number 137. I was so focused on being politically-incorrect, that I completely spaced out on the true significance of this psalm for today.

Psalms 137:5-6

ה אִם-אֶשְׁכָּחֵךְ יְרוּשָׁלִָם-- תִּשְׁכַּח יְמִינִי.

5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.

ו תִּדְבַּק-לְשׁוֹנִי, לְחִכִּי-- אִם-לֹא אֶזְכְּרֵכִי:
אִם-לֹא אַעֲלֶה, אֶת-יְרוּשָׁלִַם-- עַל, רֹאשׁ שִׂמְחָתִי.

6 Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I remember thee not; {N}
if I set not Jerusalem above my chiefest joy.
Like I was going to say before (but deleted prematurely), spiritual meanings are revealed when they are supposed to be revealed, and not a second beforehand!

As you scroll down to the News section, I think you will be with me in understanding the significance of these p'suqim (verses).

I now present Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival, Edition 137.


Torah

Elie's Expositions opens this week's Carnival with a D'var Torah from last week's Parshath HaShavu'a, No'ah, in Half Lives.

Yitz at Heicahl HaNegina presents a collection of pieces in Let It Rain, Let It Pour!

Avrohom brings us his Daf Notes on the Babylonian Talmud: Kethubboth 48: Husband Imposing Stringencies on his Wife and 49: Supporting Your Children.

The Jewish Soul

Dixie Yid shares a nice story from the Alter of Slabodka ztz"l which suggests that where you are headed is more important than where you are, in Which Way Is Up?

In a similar post, helpful lessons can be learned from Akiva at Mystical Paths in Out Of Sync.

Rivkah Lambert Adler shares an overview of her studies of Rav Avraham Yitzhaq HaKohen Kook ztz"l, elaborating on how the Jewish soul is interwoven with the Land of Israel.

Conservative-Liberal Eric-Odessit gives us a compelling, and perhaps not so well-known, story in Jewish history with Two Flags: The untold story of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and its relevance today. The power of the Jewish spirit is also revealed in Soccer Dad's review of the Dreyfus Affair, in light of the Dreyfus Exhibit currently on display at the Yeshivah University Museum.

Mother In Israel at the Shalom Bayit blog brings us the story of a family challenge in One Woman's Story.

An unfortunately true challenge to us as a nation is revealed by Rafi at Life In Israel in Destruction Of Rabbanut is Almost Complete. This has been reported on and hinted to in the news here in Israel over a long period of time. But, I place it here, as rabbis serve as the spiritual, as well as religious guides to many of us. It also bridges this section with the news section.

News And Commentary


There has been a lot of chatter lately about the Israeli soldiers being held captive, Ron Arad, who has been held for 21 years (13 Tishrei/October 16) in Lebanon, and Gilad Shalit in Azza. Tom Gross at NRO reports on where Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev may now be, after they were captured last summer by Hizbollah YSh"W.

And speaking of Lebanon, Brian at Snapped Shot reveals some of the latest photographic spin from there. While Carl at Israel Matzav points to a disturbing development in US to Enter into 'Strategic Partnership' with Hezbullah-backed Group
.
Avi at Tel-Chai Nation is one of those bloggers who keeps his ear to the ground, keeping us all up to date on current events in Israel. This week he says, I think it should be obvious by now that Avigdor Liebermen is worthless. I have learned that Avi does not make such statements lightly. So I suggest you check out this post, and find out why he thinks this. Avi also brings us a report on the Three Criminal Probes into activities of the Israeli prime minister.

Whether one agrees or not with the intentions of U. S. Secretary of State Rice, Carl at Israel Matzav provides us with Condi Rice's Extraordinarily Bad Day, which even evokes some sympathy from me, in her attempts at dealing with the knuckleheads in the Israeli government, including the Delusional Prime Minister. But, Carl's eye-opening Rice's Puppet Government immediately quashes that sympathy, as it appears she is able to exercise quite a bit of control over them after all.

Speaking of the Israeli Government, do we yet know what was bombed in Syria? Snoopy The Goon at Simply Jews gives us the latest report in Syrian Officials Admit Site Attacked.

Batya at Shiloh Musings tells us about a radio interview she gave regarding the concessions currently up for discussion in It's Not About Shiloh. Then closer to home, gives us a first-hand report on this week's teachers' demonstration in Tel-Aviv in Another Amona?, as well as What Israeli Teachers Want.

I report on an annual ritual of violating the civil rights of Jews in Judea and Samaria in 'Tis The Season....

West Bank Mama honestly states that she does not know what the solution is during this season, yet acknowledges that we must remain On Our Guard.

Ezra HaLevi at the Kumah Blog reports on one possible solution, and the recent uproar it seems to have been causing in Avoda Ivrit Roundup.

No here is my requisite mention of issues which everyone seems to be concerned about but me: The Two Anns You want to know about it, so, as we say in Israel,...bevaqashah....

Ann Coulter:
One by A Town Crier and one by Debbie Schlussel.

Annapolis:
One by Carl and one by Schvach Yid.

Although any parallels suggested between ANNapolis and Oslo cannot go without mentioning, like in Dream Team by The Hasmonean.

The truth s that I really have to say Kol HaKavod to those who took the time to write about this issue, including Marty Peretz at The Spine who reminds us of some important historical background in The One Reality In Annapolis.

Now, what's all this I hear about the creation of yet another Arab state??!! Well, Yid With Lid has the Perfect Solution to the [so-called] Jerusalem Issue. Not far behind is Snoopy The Goon at Simply Jews with U. S. Wants Palestinian State Now.

Yisrael at My Right Word provides some background to Arab claims to the Kotel (Western Wall) in Why 1930 is Relevant to the Temple Mount Issue in 2007, with Elder Of Zion adding his commentary in The British and the Wall.

Meanwhile, Yid With Lid lets us know about Aliyah of 7,000 B'nei Menashe Not Allowed.

Now it's down to Virginia where Boker Tov, Boulder provides news of sanity amongst the insanity by introducing us to Rep. Eric Cantor fighting against Temple Mount Destruction.

Media Watch

News media sources are of great concern when it comes to Israel. ShrinkWrapped asks the question about MSM Bias and Pallywood: Incompetence or Malice?

While some news stories are distorted, others are buried, like the one Omri at Mere Rhetoric brings us, World Silent As....

The Ongoing War Blog presents another story which received only very limited media coverage, Voting with Their Mortars and with Their Feet.

Jules Crittenden gives us a glimpse into Hamas YSh"W television in Rage! Rage! Rage!

Back in the U. S., Schvah Yid has concerns about American television and Jewish Public Image, and Yid With Lid is concerned with something more than just a media bias in Fighting Back Against the "Jewish Lobby" Slander

Although I agree with The Hasmonean's post CNN’s Stature in Israel Approaches Irrelevant, I am surprised that Israelis are finally waking up. I guess that a private company like HOT has more leeway in the independent thinking department. But, still, were they, and the Jerusalem Post blind to the CNN bumper stickers I was already seeing in Jerusalem years ago?

Fortunately, we bloggers are quite to fill any media void with our commentary. Zionist Youngster's blog Our Children are Our Guarantors is one I would like to take the opportunity to recommend that you check out for commentary.


Israeli Slices Of Life


First of all, in order to experience an Israeli "slice of life," you have to come Israel. Batya, one of Arutz 7's featured bloggers tells you in galuth Come On! Lech, Go! I'm Talking Lecha, To You!

Yet, in getting here, AmEchad expresses concern over the Nefesh b'Nefesh organization.


Sukkot in the Old City from The Streets Of Jerusalem blog.

Batya shares photos of her first grandson in Night Before the Brit Milah and Yochai Aryeh's Brit Milah.

A Mother In Israel shares her personal, and heart-felt experience In Which her Son Gets Kicked Out of Yeshivah. Meanwhile, another one of her children adjusts to first grade in Shalom Kitah Alef.

One of the kinds of "slice of life" stories in Israel I can never get enough of is about "tremping" (hitchhiking). What it illegal in the U. S., is actually a necessity for many of us here in Israel. I have bumped into some of the most interesting people tremping. But, I have also had some of my most difficult experiences in Israel tremping. Here's one from Batya at Me-Ander.

One fun and fantastically descriptive slice of life blog from Israel is Doodle Head's. Doodle Head is a yeshiva student from the U. S. in his second year in Jerusalem. Not only does he manage to keep up with his learning, he seems to be making the most of is Israel experience, hiking the full length of Israel, spending Shabbatot in cities and towns across the country, and learning about the various causes in which residents are active. Get a first0hand account of a student's life in Israel from Doodle Head.

I will end this section with another mazal tov post, because I believe that's what life is all about, improving ourselves and improving the world, and then handing off to the next generation what we have learned, and what we have done, and let them take over. Now, please say hello to the latest addition to fellow blogger Rafi G's family. Mazal Tov!

Slices Of Life From Galuth

Dixie Yid provides us with photos and a video of Rav Tzvi Mayer Zilberberg's Visit to his schul in Woodmere, NY.

A Simple Jew shares how his family said goodbye to the television in American Idol Banished.

And, even though I am not from New York, I could relate to Maya saying Good Bye, Great Lawn.

This news item Diversity? by Ocean Guy, actually seems to have started out as a "slice of life" item. How many of you have ever brought a souvenir back from vacation for a friend?

Life for the Jews in the U. S. can be a struggle as the Jewish Blogmeister shows us in Chabad House in Trenton Under Fire. This is also true for the Jews Being Set Up in Turkey, as revealed by Mr. Bagel Blogger.

Mottel at Letters Of Thought gives us a photo essay The Industry of Wine. I am not sure where this is. I assume it is outside of Israel, as I know that Mottel would have called me, if he were in the country.

Finishing up the Slices Of Life Sections, I want to make mention of two bloggers whom most of you already know. They did not submit anything this week. But, if you are interested in the goings on in the lives of two Jewish students, check out Irina's The Ignoble Experiment and Tnspr569's How To Measure The Years.

Health

Yitzhak of Judeopundit suggests we re-examine our respective diets in Potato Kugel Greater Threat Than Global Warming.

From an alternative perspective, Rafi from Life In Israel brings us Two Health Segulahs.

From an increasingly mainstream perspective, Frumstepper gives us her take on how Humility Is Not Humiliation.

Linguistics

Here's a blog which may be new to you, so I will honor it with a place in its own section. Visit David the Hebrew Language Detective to find out the etymology of the Hebrew word Eqdah.

Humor

Pillage Idiot eve-drops on a conversation between U. S. presidential hopeful Ron Paul and his cocker spaniel. I don't really see how this is related to being Jewish nor Israel, but that last time I checked herring is kosher,...if that makes any sense.

We can always count on the Israeli Satire Laboratory to come up with something Israel-related to tickle our funny bones, yet, at the same time call attention to important issues. Check out It's News! It's Satire! No, It's the Palestinians - Claiming The Western Wall!, a lighter side to the news story mentioned above.

Rafael brings us this most excellent photo of Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's "true color:" HA! HA! HA! I'll get you my little settler!

And now, I must bid you adieu, and go out and find a job already....

Special thanks to Soccer Dad for helping me to scour the Internet for interesting posts, and to Mechon Mamre for its free, on-line library which includes Torah, Nevi'im, Kethuvim, Mishnah, Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmuds, the Ramba"m's Mishnah Torah, and more!

Also, check out the current editions of the Kosher Cooking Carnival hosted by Ted at Help! I Have A Fire In My Kitchen

...and the JPix Blog Carnival hosted by Baleboosteh.

Please send your posts for next week's edition of the Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival via the Blog Carnival Submission Form. I found this to be very helpful in organizing your posts this week. Plus, it doesn't look like we have a host for next week, so there wouldn't be any other place to send your links to. If you're interested in hosting please contact Soccer Dad at dhgerstman at hotmail dot com.

CNN Complicity? Or Parapraxisity?

Mossa'ei Shabbath Qodesh Parshath Ki Thesse 5766

So, there I was, minding my own busines,...well, sort of,...checking out something which Barry Zilberman suggested people check out, something about kids in Qiryath Sh'moneh collecting... and giving CNN an earfull about it, when I bumped into the following news item:


Israeli dies in rocket attack
A rocket attack near Nasariyah, Israel, killed one person. (August 2)


Is it me, or does Nasariyah sound just a little too much like Nasrallah YSh"W?

I mean, Netanyah was named for Natan (Strauss), right? And Hertzliyah was named for Hertzl, right?

Oh, I suppose some of you are worried about the missing "L"-sound from Nasariyah, and how that might poke a hole or two in my logic. So, let me remind you that the "allah" in Nasrallah simply means "God" or "of God" (leHavdil), just like, you guessed it, the Hebrew "yah." Get it now?

Now, of course, this simply could have been an innocent occurance of parapraxis (commonly referred to as a "Freudian slip"). It most definitely was not a typographical error, as we all know that CNN is incapable of such things. The only questions which remain are "Did CNN slip up in revealing the secret desires of Hizbollah YSh"W? Or did CNN slip up in revealing its own secret desires and interests?

Here in Israel, we are all familiar with those bumper stickers about CNN. So, I am sure it does not come as a surprise to any of us this latest "accident." But, are we now going to have to make new bumper stickers? And what should they say? "CNN slips?" "CNN routes for the Arabs?" Or how about "CNN Likes the Arabs?" That way we can do our part to protect the environment by reducing the amount of material produced. We'll just have to print the "K," cut the old bumper sticker, insert the the "K," and then add "the Arabs" at the bottom with a black marking pen.

Oh, and in case anyone wants to come after me with legal action for my hypothetical suggestions, please do. I could use the free publicity. Besides, I'll just say it was a [very extended] "Freudian slip."

All's fair in love and war,... and parapraxis.