Showing posts with label Cyprus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cyprus. Show all posts

Friday, October 31, 2025

פרשת לך לך: ארץ ישראל השלמה והציונות / Parashat Lech-Lecha: Greater Israel and Zionism

ערב שבת קודש פר׳ לך-לך תשפ״ו
English follows the Hebrew.
Brilliant Maps, 29.10.2025

מפת "ישראל הגדולה" מויקימדיה.

הסיפור המעשה של "ישראל הגדולה" הוא מערכת הנחות מזימה של היום הטוענת באופן שקרי שישראל מבקשת להרחיב את גבולותיה כך שיכללו חלקים נרחבים מהמזרח התיכון, מנהר הנילוס במצרים ועד נהר פרת בעיראק.

רעיון זה מיוחס לעתים קרובות באופן שגוי לקטעים מקראיים או לכתבים ציוניים ראשונים, אך שום מדיניות ישראלית רשמית או תוכנית היסטורית אמינה מעולם לא תמכו בשאיפות טריטוריאליות כאלה.

פירסום האגדה הוגדל לאחר מלחמת ששת הימים של ישראל ב-1967, כאשר היא כבשה כמה שטחים צמודיה, מה שהוביל כמה מבקרים לטעון לכוונות התפשטות.

במציאות, ישראל החזירה חלק ניכר מאדמה זו (כגון סיני למצרים ב-1982) וניהלה שוב ושוב משא ומתן על גבולות.

סיפור "ישראל הגדולה" משמש רבות על ידי תועמלים אנטי-ישראליים כדי להציג את ישראל כפרויקט אימפריאליסטי, למרות היעדר ראיות או תמיכה פוליטית בסדר יום כזה בתוך ישראל עצמה.
הגבולות הכחולים מציינים את מדינת ישראל המוכרת ע״י הקהילה הבינלאומית, יהודה ושומרון (שטחי השבטים חצי מנשה, אפרים, בנימין, ויהודה), דרום לבנון (שטחי השבטים נפתלי ואשר), וחלק מערב של מלכות ירדן (שטחי השבטים חצי מנשה השני, גד, וראובן).

The blue borders indicate the internationally recognized State of Israel, Judea and Samaria (territories of the tribes of half of Manasseh, Ephraim, Benjamin, and Judah), southern Lebanon (territories of the tribes of Naphtali and Asher), and the western part of the Kingdom of Jordan (territories of the tribes of the other half of Manasseh, Gad, and Reuben).
Brilliant Maps, October 29, 2025

A "Greater Israel" Map From Wikimedia.

The “Greater Israel” narrative is a modern conspiracy theory that falsely claims Israel seeks to expand its borders to encompass large parts of the Middle East, from the Nile River in Egypt to the Euphrates River in Iraq.

This idea is often misattributed to biblical passages or early Zionist writings, but no official Israeli policy or credible historical plan has ever endorsed such territorial ambitions.

The myth gained traction after Israel’s 1967 Six-Day War, when it occupied some neighbouring territories, leading some critics to allege expansionist intent.

In reality, Israel has returned much of that land (such as Sinai to Egypt in 1982) and has repeatedly engaged in negotiations over borders.

The “Greater Israel” story is largely used by anti-Israel propagandists to portray Israel as an imperialist project, despite the lack of evidence or political support for such an agenda within Israel itself.
מהנהר עד לים שלנו...  ועוד.
From the river to the sea is ours... and more.

עשר אגורות (2¢):
למרות שאני תמיד מעריך את הניסיון להפריך מערכות קמזימות שקרים המתמקדים בישראל, Brilliant Maps לא מדויק בטעונות בדף פייסבוק שלו.
בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, כָּרַת יְהוָה אֶת-אַבְרָם--בְּרִית לֵאמֹר: לְזַרְעֲךָ, נָתַתִּי אֶת-הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת, מִנְּהַר מִצְרַיִם, עַד-הַנָּהָר הַגָּדֹל נְהַר-פְּרָת. (בראשית טו,יח)
מצד אחד, פסוק זה מחלומו הנבואי של אבר[ה]ם אבינו בפרשת השבוע מזכירים את שטחה הסופי של ישראל, אך רוב היהודים המזהים את עצמם כציונים לא מתרכזים בשטח זה כמטרה סופית.

לצערנו, השטח שניתן לעם ישראל בימות יהושע בן נון, גם אינו נמצא ברשימת המשאלות של רוב הציונים כביכול.

יש כאלה שמדברים על ריבונות ביהודה, שומרון, ועזה. עם זאת, נראה שהם חיים בסרט שבו נשיא ארה"ב דונלד טראמפ, קיסר אימפרית רומא הנוכחי, יעזור לעם ישראל להשיג זאת. עם חיילים קטארים, חיילים טורקיים וחיילים אמריקאים נוצרים? רבים מאלה שהואשמו בהיותם ציונים אינם ציונים כל-כך, וכנראה שאין להם מושג מה הפירוש של המילה והזהות, קל וחומר שמקורה הוא התורה.

פסוקים בתורה: ארץ ישראל שייכת לעם ישראל by עשר אגורות


קבלת פליטים המאמינים בדתות זרות, בעוד שמדינות אחרות של עמם לא מקבלות אותם בברכה, פעילים למען זכות המגורים של עובדים זרים כי נולדו להם ילדים כאן, קיום משותף עם כל האמור לעיל, מודעה לכל מוסלמים בעולם שהם מוזמנים לעלות למסגד אל-אקצא הר הבית אם רוצים, וחופש ביטוי דתי ליהודים ולא יהודים כאחד, אין לאלה שום קשר לציונות אמיתית.

ציונות עבודה (סוציאליסטית) וציונות חילונית אינן באמת ציונות. האם אתם חושבים שמישהו מהיהודים האלה באמת מאמין במדינה יהודית אמיתית? ממלכה יהודית?

ציונים דתיים שמבלבלים בין שמירת החוקים הדמוקרטיים של מדינת ישראל לבין שמירת תורה ומצוות גם אינם באמת ציונים. קוראים להם בכינוי ״הממלכתיים״. הכינוי הזה ידוע יותר בירושלים, יהודה ושומרון.

ח״כ לשעבר דתי אחד האמין שאם הכנסת אי פעם תבטל את אופיה היהודי של המדינה, יהיה צורך לכבד את ההצבעה.* למה? בזכות הדמוקרטיה. האם הוא ציוני?
*אין לי שום כוונה לחשוף את שמו של ח״כ הזה עד שיהיה לי קובץ הווידאו של הראיונו בידי.
ציונות = ארץ ציון (ישראל) שייכת לעם ישראל...
...ולא לשום עם אחר, לא לישמעאל (ערבים/מוסלמים), לא לעשו (המערב, כולל נוצרים ומתקדמים כאחד). העובדה שישמעאל מאמין שניתן להם סמכות לפעול לכבוש את העולם, ועשו מאמין שירש את חסד האלוהים (חו״ח), ולכן גם ארץ ישראל, איתנו או בלעדינו, לא משנה ולא שייכת לעניין בכלל.

אחד התנאים עלינו לשמירת החזקה בארץ ישראל על ידי עם ישראל הוא שמירת תורה ומצוות. הזאת כוללת מניעת מלתת לגוים חניה בקרקע שנ׳ ״לא תחנם״ (דברים ז,ב).

אחת הסיבות למה הכנענים היו נועדו להגרש היא שהם כופרים בתורה שנ׳...
לֹא יֵשְׁבוּ בְּאַרְצְךָ, פֶּן-יַחֲטִיאוּ אֹתְךָ לִי: כִּי תַעֲבֹד אֶת-אֱלֹהֵיהֶם, כִּי-יִהְיֶה לְךָ לְמוֹקֵשׁ. (שמות כג,לג)
גם הנוצרים וגם המוסלמים כופרים בתורה, בין אם בחלקה ובין אם בכל התורה כולה (משנה תורה, הל׳ תשובה ג,יז).

ועכשיו חשבו על כל המצוות האחרות הלא תקינות מבחינה פוליטית הנמצאות בתורה, אותן גם אנחנו חייבים לשמור כחלק מהעסקה מהברית. חשבו על הזמנים שבהם לא שמרנו את המצוות האלה, וכאשר מנהיגינו (מלכינו) לא שמרנו את המצוות האלה. מה קרה לנו כתוצאה מכך? הסתלקנו מן הארץ, והוגלנו בתוך הגויים.

יהודים רבים שוכחים שהגלויות - ובמיוחד גלות אדום הנוכחית (רומא/המערב) - הן עונשים.

לפיכך, לפני שעם ישראל יכול לחשוב על "ישראל השלמה", עלינו לחשוב על מה שניתן לנו ממערב לנהר הירדן, אותו כבשנו, ובכל זאת ממשיכים להתלבט לגביו.

יש הציונים כביכול היושבים בנחות בכורסה שבסלון מאמינה בתמיכה בישראל, שולחים אלינו כסף, ואפילו מבקרים ו/או לומדים בארץ זמנית, אך לעולם לא יחשבו לגור בארץ ישראל באופן קבוע. רבים מהיהודים האלה הם דתיים. האם עלינו לזהות את היהודים שומרי התורה האלה כציונים אמיתיים? ואז כשהם רוצים להגיד לנו מה לעשות בארצני, האם עלינו להקשיב להם?

וגם עלינו להתאמץ על החזרת אחינו הביתה מהגולה. אנחנו צריכים לשכנע אותם שארצות המקלט של הגויים אמורות להיות זמניות. הן לא שייכות לנו, לא בורו פארק, לא פיקו-רוברטסון, לא ווסט רוג'רס פארק, ולא בוקה רטון.

הן לא שלנו.

ומה לגבי החזקת מה שמוכר פחות או יותר ע״י הקהילה הבינלאומית, כאילו שאנחנו צריכים להתעניין בהכרה בינלאומית? משמעות הדבר היא שמירה על חלקנו בברית שבינינו להקב״ה.

ואז אולי נוכל להתיחס שוב לדרום לבנון - החלקים הצפוניים של שטחי אשר ונפתלי - שנפלו שוב ושוב לידינו. ובכל זאת אנו ממשיכים להתעקש על דחיית המתנה הזו של חלק ארצנו.

אכן עניין קיום "ישראל השלמה" נראית רחוקה מאוד. שלא לדבר על הישראלים שכבר מקימים בתים ועסקים בקפריסין.

המבין יבין.


Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Although I always appreciate the attempted quashing of conspiracy theories lies focused on Israel, the Brilliant Maps Facebook post misses the boat.
In that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: 'To your seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates; (Gen. 15:18)
On one hand these verses from our forefather Abra[ha]m's prophetic dream in this week's parashah (Torah portion) do mention the eventual territory of Israel, this not on the radar of most Jews identifying themselves as Zionists.

Unfortunately, the territory originally granted to the People of Israel, the conquest of which as initiated by Joshua son of Nun, is also not on most so-called Zionists' wish lists.

Some do have their sights on the annexation of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. Yet, for some delusional reason they believe that U. S. President Donald Trump, the current Emperor of Rome, is going to help the Jewish People to attain this. With Qatari troops, Turkish troops, and American Christian troops?

Many of those accused of being Zionists are not even close to being Zionists, and probably have no idea what the term means, let alone its original source, the Torah.

Torah Verses: The Land of Israel Belongs to the Jewish People by Esser Agaroth


Welcoming refugees who believers in foreign religions, while their own people's will not welcome them, believing in the right of residency of foreign workers simply because they have children who were born here, coexistence with all of the above, and announcing to Muslims around the world that they are all welcome to visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque the Temple Mount if they want, and freedom of religious expression for Jews and non-Jews alike have no connection to true Zionism whatsoever.

Labor (Socialist) Zionism and Secular Zionism are not really Zionism. Do you really believe any of these Jews believe in an actual Jewish State? A Jewish Kingdom?

Religious Zionists who confuse adhering to the Democratic laws of the State of Israel with adhering to Torah are not really Zionists.These are referred to as the Mamlakhtim.

One religious (orthodox) former Member of Knesset  [MK] actually believed that if the Knesset ever voted out the Jewish character of the State, the vote would have to be respected.* Why? Because of Democracy. Is he a Zionist?

*I have no intention of revealing this MK's name until I have the video file of the interview in my hand.

Zionism = The Land of Zion (Israel) belongs to the People of Israel (Jews)...
...and to no other people, not Ishmael (Arabs / Muslims), not Esau (The West, including Christians and progressives alike). The fact that Ishmael now believes in their mandate to conquer the world, and Christians believe that they have inherited The Almighty's favor, and with that, the Land of Israel, with or without us, is neither here nor there.

One of the conditions for maintaining possession of the Land of Israel by the Jewish People is the keeping of the Torah. This includes the prevention of people from those nations denying the Torah to reside here. This was one of the reasons the Canaanites were destined to be expelled.
They shall not reside in your land -- lest they make you sin against Me, for you will serve their gods -- for they will be a snare to you. (Ex. 23:33)
Both Christians and Muslims are deniers of the Torah (koferim), either in part or in its entirety (Mishneh Torah, Law of Repentance 3:17).

Now think of all the other politically-incorrect mitzvoth (commandments) found in the Torah which we also must keep as part of the deal. Now think back to the times when we did not keep these mitzvoth, when our kings did not keep these mitzvoth, and what happened as a result. We were thrown out of the Land, exiled among the nations.

Many Jews have forgotten that the exiles -- most especially the current exile of Edom (Rome / The West) -- are punishments.

Are the Armchair Zionists who believe in supporting Israel, even visiting or studying in Israel temporarily, yet would never consider relocating to Israel. Many of these Jews are Modern Orthodox. Should these Torah-observant Jews be considered Zionists? And when they want to tell us what we should do, should we listen?

So, before the Jewish People can even think about a "Greater Israel," we need to think about what was granted to us west of the Jordan River, which we have conquered, and yet have been wishy-washy about it.

We also need to work on bringing our fellow Jews home, convincing them the lands of refuge of the nations are supposed to be temporary. They do not belong to us, not Borough Park, not Pico-Robertson, not West Rogers Park, and not Boca Raton.

Not ours.

And what about holding onto what more or less internationally recognized, as if we should care about international recognition? That means holding up our end of our deal covenant with HaShem.

Then maybe we can revisit Southern Lebanon -- the northern sections of Asher and Naphtali territory -- which has repeatedly fallen into our hands. Yet we continue to insist on rejecting this gift.

A Greater Israel, or in Hebrew, "Complete Israel," seems to be eons away. Never mind the Israelis who have already been setting up homes and businesses in Cyprus.

Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

חיסון לקורונה שווה הנחה לחופשה ובדיקת קורונה היא המחיר לנסיעת חזור / COVID Vaccination is Worth a Vacation Discount and Testing Negative is the Price of Return to Israel

ז׳ לחודש האחד עשר תשפ״א
English follows the Hebrew.
YNET: חיסון לקורונה שווה הנחה לחופשה: האם זה חוקי ולמה כדאי לשים לב?
סיישל הודיעה על פתיחת שעריה לכל אדם שעבר שתי מנות חיסון לקורונה וישראייר יוצאת במבצע שמקנה הנחות למתחסנים שיזמינו דרכה כרטיסי טיסה לפסח ולקיץ: טיסות לקפריסין ב-130 דולר. המועצה לצרכנות: "מומלץ לבדוק את מדיניות מדינת היעד לפני רכישת כרטיס"

שירי הדר: 18.01.21
עשר אגורות (2¢):
אנשי הממשלה במהלך דיון להחליט לסגור את נתב״ג או להשאיר את זה פתוח. למרות זאתֿ, בזמן שנתב״ג כן פתוח כל מי שלא רוצה להתחסן או אפילו להבדק לנגיף קורונה יכול לצפות עליהם את ההגבלות האפשריות הרשומות בכתבה לעיל.

ועכשיו מפרסמים...
במסגרת ההגבלות שאותן צפויה הממשלה לאשר, נתב"ג ייסגר לחלוטין, למעט עבור טיסות חיוניות. בצל הביקורת העזה על מה שהסתמן כמחדל, בשל עיכוב בחודשים בקבלת ההחלטה, הממשלה תאשר גם חובת הצגת תוצאה שלילית לבדיקת קורונה לפני עלייה למטוס לישראל. (YNET)
מצד אחד אם סוגרים את נתב״ג, תוצאות הסגירה יכולות לכלול שרוב היהודים נשארים בארץ. ואולי האנשים שצריכים לעזוב את הארץ (מי שמבין יבין) יזדרזו לעזוב את הארץ. מצד שני, סגירת נתב״ג היא עוד מכשול לכל היהודים הרוצים לעלות ארצה או פשוט לבקר. הסגירה אפילו תגביל את בעלי אזרחות ישראלית.

האם כולנו לא נדאג על הסגירה הזו, ונגיד שהיא פשוט זמנית בלבד? או הסגירה הזו תעורר את היהודים שעדיין נמצאים בגולה ולעודד אותם לארוז את המזוודות ולעלות למטוס?

אַתֶּם רְאִיתֶם, אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי לְמִצְרָיִם; וָאֶשָּׂא אֶתְכֶם עַל-כַּנְפֵי נְשָׁרִים, וָאָבִא אֶתְכֶם אֵלָי. (שמות יט,ד)
You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to Me (Ex. 19:4).
YNET: Vaccine for Corona is worth a holiday discount: Is it legal and why should you pay attention? (Translation from Hebrew above) 
Seychelles has announced the opening of its gates to anyone who has undergone two doses of vaccine to Corona and Israir is launching a campaign that gives discounts to those vaccinated who book Passover and summer flights through it: Flights to Cyprus for $130. Consumers Council: "It is recommended to check the destination country's policy before purchasing a ticket"
Shiri Hadar, January 18, 2021
Esser Agaroth (2¢):
The government is debating whether to shut down Ben-Gurion International Airport anyway. Nevertheless, the above piece lists examples of some of the restrictions which can be expected by those who choose not to be vaccinated and/or tested for the corona virus.

And, this just in...
Ministers also approved the measure that would see anyone boarding a flight to Israel be forced to present a negative coronavirus test, done no more than 72 hours prior to departure. (YNET)
On one hand if there is a shutdown, one result of this policy, is that most Jews will be staying in Israel. And perhaps those individuals who need to leave Israel (מי שמבין יבין) will be ruching to leave. On the other hand, this is yet another obstacle for any Jews who do want to move to Israel or even visit, even for those who are already Israeli citizens.

Will we all just blow this closure off, and tell ourselves it will only be temporary? Or will this shut finally help to wake Jews up who are still in the golah (diaspora) and encourage them to finally pack their bags and get on the plane?

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Can Israel Winning Eurovision Stop BDS? / הניצחון בארוויזיון מספיק להפסיק את תנועת BDS?

ראש החודש השלישי תשע״ח
English follows the Hebrew.


YNET: אירוויזיון 2018: ישראל זכתה במקום הראשון
שנה הבאה אצלנו! ישראל היא הזוכה באירוויזיון 2018. נטע ברזילי הגיעה למקום הראשון בגמר האירוויזיון בפורטוגל עם השיר Toy. ברזילי העניקה את הביצוע הטוב ביותר לערב זה מתוך 26 מדינות שהתחרו. ראש הממשלה בשיחה טלפונית עם ברזילי: "את השגרירה הכי טובה של ישראל. ישבנו אני ורעייתי שרה והילדים ואמרנו 'נטע נטע נטע'. אוהבים אותך"

רועי אלמן, ליסבון, עמי פרידמן, רן בוקר: 12.05.18

ישראל היא הזוכה באירוויזיון 2018! נטע ברזילי הגיעה למקום הראשון בגמר האירוויזיון עם השיר Toy. אירוויזיון 2018 התקיים אמש (שבת) בליסבון בירת פורטוגל, עם שירים של 26 מדינות שהתחרו על הזכייה במקום הראשון. נטע ברזילי העניקה (אובייקטיבית) את הביצוע הטוב ביותר לערב זה. ישראל סיימה במקום הראשון עם 529 נקודות. "אני כל כך מאושרת. תודה רבה לכם שבחרתם בנו, תודה רבה, אני אוהבת את ישראל, בשנה הבאה בירושלים", אמרה על הבמה לאחר הזכייה. למקום השני הגיעה קפריסין ולמקום השלישי אוסטריה.

ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו אמר לברזילי בשיחת טלפון לאחר הזכייה: "יש לי שתי מילים בשבילך: 'כפרה עלייך'. את השגרירה הכי טובה של ישראל. ישבנו אני ורעייתי שרה והילדים ואמרנו 'נטע נטע נטע'. אוהבים אותך". (המשך...)
ואפילו לפני הגמר של ארוויזיון התחיל, הגוים הראו לנו את כמה הם אוהבים אותנו! (בציניות)

YNET: פרגון לישראל לצד מודעות של ה-BDS: רגע לפני האירוויזיון - ככה נראית ליסבון
נציג צ'כיה מחמיא לנטע ברזילי ומכנה אותה "Killer", האוסטרלים שרים את Toy, מעריץ של ישראל מרוסיה וכן - אי אפשר בלי כמה מודעות של ה-BDS שקוראות להחרמת ישראל באירוויזיון. רגע לפני הגמר הגדול של האירוויזיון - ערב יורד על ליסבון, והאדרנלין רק עולה
רועי אלמן: 12.05.18

שעה קלה לפני שאירוויזיון 2018 יוצא לדרך - התורים מתארכים, האדרנלין בעיצומו, חולצות ודגלים בשלל צבעים ממלאים את הסביבה וההתרגשות בעיצומה. גם נטע ברזילי שומרת על הומור והעלתה תמונה לחשבון האינסטגרם שלה קצת לפני תחילת התחרות. אז מהאוסטרלים ששרים TOY ועד נציג צ'כיה שמפרגן לברזילי ומכנה אותה "A Killer", וכן, גם כמה מודעות של ה-BDS שקוראות להחרים את ישראל באירוויזיון, אבל לא מצליחות להשבית את השמחה. ככה נראית ליסבון הערב (שבת) רגע לפני שהשמש שוקעת והווליום עולה. (המשך...)
עשר אגורות (2¢):
אז עכשיו כל אנשי העולם יפסיקו לשנוא אותנו ו יתחילו לאהוב אותנו, אחרי שישראל זכתה במקום הראשון בארוויזיון? למה? מפני שסוף סוף הצלחנו להראות לכל העולם שאנחנו ממש כמוהם ושאין הבדל בינינו לגוים? ומפני שסוף סוף הצלחנו להוכיח לכל אנשי העולם שהתבוללנו לגמרי לתוך הקהילה הגלובליסטי? באמת?
אמר ר' שמעון בר יוחאי הלכה היא בידוע שעשו שונא ליעקב.
אני אשמח אם אחי ואחיותי יתעוררו כבר.

אנחנו צריכים להפסיק לדאוג על מה שאחרים חושבים עלינו, ומתחילים לדאוג על מה שאנחנו חושבים על עצמנו,... ואפילו לדאוג על מה שהקב"ה חושב עלינו??

YNET: Netta Barzilai brings Eurovision win to Israel
Israeli songstress broke barriers, brought Israel its fourth Eurovision Song Contest win; 26 countries competed in this year's finals, with Israel widely considered a frontrunner to win from the outset; 'I've given all my heart and soul to Eurovision, and now it's your turn,' Barzilai tweets after her performance; PM Netanyahu tweets his greeting, Gal Gadot calls on her 19.5 million Instagram followers to vote 22 for Israel's entry. 
Roi Alman and Ami Friedman: 05.13.18 
Israel's Netta Barzilai won the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest Saturday night in a photo finish against Cyprus, netting the country its fourth ever win and the right to host next year's contest. "Next time in Jerusalem!" Netta shouted in her post-win interview. (cont.)
Even before the Eurovision final began, the nations were showering their love upon us! (eyes rolling)
YNET: Israel’s Eurovision contestant highly popular despite BDS efforts
Anti-Israel BDS flyers unable to stem palpable excitement among Eurovision 2018 crowds in Lisbon moments before grand finale; fans from all over the world shout encouragement to Israel's Netta Barzilai.

Roi Alman: 05.12.18
Shortly before the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 began, the adrenaline was pumping, shirts and flags in a variety of colors filled the surroundings and excitement was in full swing—and not even a local protest of Israeli contestant Netta Barzilai could put a damper on the proceedings.

Israel’s Netta Barzilai, in fact, maintained her sense of humor and uploaded a picture to her Instagram account just before the start of the competition.

This is what Lisbon looked like Saturday night, moments before the sun set and the singing began:

Australian fans sang Netta’s song TOY, while an admirer from the the Czech Republic praised Barzilai by calling her "a killer."

Despite widespread enthusiasm from fans, flyers for a local Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign called for boycotting Israel at the Eurovision.
Barzilai is set to perform in the competition's final Saturday night.
Esser Agaroth (2¢):
So now all the peoples of the world will stop hating us and will love us, after Israel won Eurovision? Why? Because at last we have succeeded in showing the whole world that we are just like them and that there is no difference between us and the rest of the world? And because we finally proved to all that we have been completely assimilated into the globalist community? Really?
Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai said that the known halakhah is [that] Esau hates Ya'aqov.
I would be very happy if my brothers and sisters were to wake up already.

We have to stop worrying about other people think of us, and start being concerned with what we think of ourselves,...and even what God thinks of us, perhaps??

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Jews in America! Get on the Next Plane while you still Can!

כ״ה לחודש הרביעי תשע״ד
ABC News: FAA Orders US Air Carriers to Suspend All Flights to Israel
Genvieve Shaw Brown and Matt Hosford 
via "Good Morning America," July 22, 2014

American air carriers have suspended flights from the United Stated to Israel "for a period of up to 24 hours" after the FAA issued a warning in response to a rocket strike this morning near Tel Aviv's main airport, officials said.

In a statement, the FAA said, "The notice was issued in response to a rocket strike which landed approximately one mile from Ben Gurion International Airport on the morning ... [and] applies only to U.S. operators, and has no authority over foreign airlines operating to or from the airport," according to the statement.

Earlier today, Delta Air Lines Flight 468, which was flying over the Mediterranean at the time, was en route from New York's John F. Kennedy Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv when a rocket fired from Gaza hit Yahood, a Tel Aviv suburb close to the airport.

The rocket escaped interception by the Iron Dome, which Israel has used to intercept missiles launched by Hamas.

The flight was eventually diverted to Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris.

On Monday, the State Department updated it's warning for Americans traveling to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza due to ongoing hostilities. The Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens consider the deferral of non-essential travel to Israel and the West Bank.

Passengers have also been jittery about travel safety since last Thursday, when a Malaysia Airlines plane was shot down over Ukraine by a missile, killing all 298 people.

Delta and other airlines had already issued a travel waiver for customers holding tickets to Tel Aviv.

The waiver is good through July 31 and allows customers to make a one-time change to their ticket. The other U.S.-based carriers not allowed to fly to Israel -- United and U.S. Airways -- have a similar policy.

I have warned you, Jews in the U. S., that this might happen. Whether due to the cost and availability of fuel or a natural disaster damaging airfield infrastructure and planes, or volcano, like the one in Iceland, preventing planes from landing in Israel or even in neighboring Europe.

Yet, all it took to shut down air travel in and out of Israel's main airport, were just a few rockets.

"Fly El Al - most of the pilots are former Israeli air force pilots who aren't afraid..." @ASoldiersMother

Ben-Gurion Internation Airport, just outside of Tel-Aviv, has been shut down anyway. One rocket hitting a plane taking off, landing, or in the vicinity could lead to fatalities in the hundreds on board, not to mention all those killed, resulting from a hit jumbo jet crashing into a residential area. (God Forbid!)

Perhaps now the Israeli Government will step things up in Gaza, if for no other reason than all of the money the country is losing because of the reduced air travel. No planes, no tourists, no business men, no trade, no income....

After my initial warnings, several years ago, one reader called me "Chicken Little," for declaring that the sky was falling,...in an apocalyptic sense, no less.

Well, guess what. The sky does, indeed, appear to be falling, and not just in the form of rockets. Jew-hating riots and violence in France, threats on Jews in Chicago, Jew-hating rhetoric and violence in countless other countries, are only a few pieces of the falling sky.

Yet, most of you still just want to say, "Don't Panic!"

Sure. It is still possible to get to Israel, right now, by flying into Jordan or Egypt, and the hop on a bus. From Cairo, that bus ride is about 14 hours. And do you really want to risk flying into an Arab country, albeit one which technically has a peace agreement in place with Israel? Such peace agreements have not prevented missiles from being fired into Eilat, at the southern tip of Israel, nor attacks on Israeli tourists in the Sinai Desert. Nevertheless, such agreements exist,...on paper anyway.

It is also possible to fly into Cyprus, and perhaps other Mediterranean counties, and then hop on a boat to Haifa. I will assume that you would prefer to avoid the southern port of Ashdod, do to rocket fire from Gaza, the same reason why flights to Israel from the U. S. were cancelled in the first place.

But, you are still not even thinking about packing your bags, and getting on the next possible flight, are you?

Nope. You just think that this will pass, and everything will be back to normal. And, quite possibly, it will.

But, what if it doesn't?

Friday, May 23, 2014

The Falafel Economic Index: Not as Silly as You Think.

כ"ג לחודש השני תשע"ד

Forbes: The Falafel Index: A Way To Assess Purchasing Power In The Middle EastComment Now

Adam Heffez, April 28, 2014 —The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

The Arab Spring brought into focus the economic underpinnings of instability in the Middle East. In a region where over one in four youth is unemployed, how well people can afford a basic meal is a primary consideration.
...

The Falafel Index, first floated by The Majalla, an Arab magazine, in 2011. As a staple meal across the Middle East, falafel (crispy, golden balls of chickpeas) sandwiches provide a more region-specific, and thereby more accurate, basis for an index [than the "BigMac Index"]. The Falafel Index is culturally fitting, and based on the actual purchasing preferences that everyday citizens bring to the market. (cont.)

"The Falafel Index"

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Falafel in a Pita w/Tehinah
*often w/tomatoes and cucumbers
OK. I get it. Falafel instead of BigMacs.

Makes total sense.

But, the main reason this index is not just another clever gimmick, is because falafel is edible.

Don't forget that the so-called "Arab Spring" (2011) was not just about ideology; it was also about food. Inflation in Egypt alone had skyrocketed! Riots in Tunisia and Algeria were also motivated by rising food prices.

This is why Hamas, which is in control of Azza, is clever,...evil, but clever. It uses at least some of the funding it receives from Iran and other terrorism-supporting nations and organizations to build hospitals and schools, and to provide food. The food Hamas provides is just enough to maintain its status as the "hero," keeping the support of the people, and just little enough to sustain the people's anger against whoever Hamas tells them to be angry.

Let us also not forget that Arab countries were not the only countries rioting, albeit with different "styles" of rioting. Economically related concerns were said to be the root of riots in Spain and Greece. Strangely enough, not much can be heard about what has been happening in Cyprus, over the past year. (Do you know what has been happening in Cyprus over the past year?)

Soon,"Economics" will soon be the accepted euphemistic code for "food."

"Sheeple"
Led around by the powers that be
Around the world, those who are at least somewhat awake from the numb-out state of being "sheeple, have been talking about gold, silver, even copper, as sound investments, even saving as alternatives to the currencies which will eventually be worthless.

They are not wrong to do so. On the other hand, the last time I checked, gold, silver, and copper were not life sustaining; whereas falafel is. In other words, gold and other precious metals may have a value which is tangible, in contrast to U. S. Federal Reserve Notes, and other paper and plastic currencies. However, metals and the like still only have a value because we project onto it. "Supply and demand," remember?

The bottom line is that you cannot eat gold; you can eat deep-fried chick peas. When food becomes rarer than gold, which would you prefer to be in possession of, gold or falafel?

May The Almighty have mercy on us!

I will be expanding upon this post, and in particular, elaborating on its cryptic foreshadowing of an ending soon in The Falafel Index: A Practical Application.

Be sure to keep up with similar posts, related to "prepping," which I expect will become an increasingly more prominent theme here at Esser Agaroth (2¢).

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Where did Jews Spend their Passover Vacations?

כ"ה לחודש הראשון תשע"ד
YNET: Tens of thousands of Jews living abroad come to Israel for Passover
Tourism ministry estimates about 125,000 visitors will arrive in Israel for Jewish holiday.

Noam (Dabul) Dvir, April 14, 2014

Tens of thousands of Jews living abroad arrived in Israel this week to share the Passover Seder with family members in the Holy Land.

"It's good to come here for Passover; the weather here is excellent and in Denmark it's cold," said Emil Denino who arrived from Copenhagen with his daughter for a Seder in Haifa.

"It's not my first time," he said, "but it's my daughter's first time in Israel as an adult. Last time we came she was just three-years-old. It's very exciting for us to be here for Passover." (cont.)

Well, that's nice. Maybe they will stay, or at least have a nice experience, encouraging them to return someday soon. Meanwhile,...

YNET: Israelis flock to Turkey for Passover
Some 24,000 Israelis to spend Jewish holiday in resort city of Antalya, a 150% increase in number of passengers from last year.

Danny Sadeh, April 12, 2014

Thousands of Israelis are heading to the Turkish resort city of Antalya for the Passover holiday, after years of avoiding Turkey's "all-inclusive" clubs due to the country's strained diplomatic relations with Israel.

The reason is mainly economical. "At these prices, one doesn't think twice," one of the Israeli tourists explains. (cont.)
According to what I saw on Ynet.co.il, the most popular destination out of Ben-Gurion International Airport this Pesah was Turkey, more specifically, Antalya.
Turkish PM Erdoğan

Such short memories we have.

We apologized to Turkey for defending our borders against hostile, invading thugs, armed with knives and iron bars, and losing one of our soldiers in the process.

Then history repeats itself, when the apology is not considered to be good enough.

Yet, all the Israeli tourist mentioned above can continue saying is...
"I'm not in favor of boycotts anywhere. I have a vacation package here with a price no one can compete with. Apart from that, I know the Turks are yearning for tourists from Israel."
We are indeed a "stiff-necked people" (Ex. 32:9). But I am not entirely sure that the Torah was referring to our self-destructive tendencies of today.

Actually, now that I think about it, it quite possible was.

Friday, September 27, 2013

World Trend: Countries Protecting their Systems of Indoctrination

אסרו חג העצרת תשע"ד

I frightening trend has been manifesting itself on the world scene. However, it is far from being a new trend. World Net Daily [WND] reports on it. Here are some of the highlights:
WND: Frightening new assault on homeschooling
[Dutch] Education chief: Parents should not be allowed to teach

Bob Unruh, September 25, 2013

1. Among major democratic nations, homeschooling already is banned in Germany, under a Hitler-era law, and in Sweden, where authorities have taken offspring out of their family’s arms to crack down on the educational method.

2. Scotland is taking a different approach, demanding that all children be assigned a “nanny” at birth to make sure they get educated. [This means that] the government is proposing a plan that  “would assign a government social worker to ‘promote, support or safeguard the wellbeing’ of every child from birth.” That “named person” would have great authority to order what the child – and parents – must do throughout life, regarding schooling, health, social activities and the like.

3. Now officials in the Netherlands are looking to join the crackdown on parents.

4. A report from the Examiner has listed nations where homeschooling also is illegal, including mostly socialist-leaning or former communist territories. They include Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Brazil, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, El Salvador, Georgia, Greece, Greenland, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Trinidad and Tobago and Turkey.

5. The Obama administration has argued in court that parents essentially have no right to determine how and what their children are taught, leaving the authority with the government.

6. “I want the American homeschool community and other friends of liberty to take note – this mindset isn’t limited to Germany. Many U.S. policymakers and academics agree. … They are even working to see them realized here. So far, thankfully, homeschooling isn’t a legitimate reason (anymore) for the government to kidnap your children if they don’t go to state approved schools,”
- Michael Farris, Chairman, Home School Legal Defense Association [HSLDA]

7. [There are] “already too many voices in the United States that want to advance the idea that the state must control education for the safety of the state or other reasons.”
- Michael Donnelly, director of international relations, HSLDA

8. “And this is the same rationale of the German government in perpetrating deplorable acts like this,” he said. “Why should we think it couldn’t or won’t happen here?”
- Michael Farris

9. “Can’t a government that can order you to get health care tell you that you don’t qualify for certain life-saving treatments, tell parents they can’t allow their children to get certain kinds of counseling or that they must have a particular kind of medical treatments or that certain religious speech is intolerant and may not be permitted or must be punished, or that only national curricular standards are acceptable for all children, etc. – can’t a government like that order you to send your children to school? And then punish you if you don’t?”
- Michael Donnelly

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
I believe that this piece really speaks for itself. I will add only a few personal observations and professional experiences.

As a school psychologist in the California public schools, I saw first hand how children were expected to fit into a box. I'll never forget when I when I asked to observe a child in his Kindergarten classroom, because while standing with the other children, singing the ABC song, he was double tapping his feet. The teacher found this quite disturbing, and was almost ready to cry "ADD." I, on the other hand, was almost ready to cry, "So what if he's tapping his feet. Get over it!" I knew that this teacher would simply not hear it. Even after only a couple of hours in the classroom, I was pretty sure that this kid was a kinesthetic learner, and not the disruptive student and burgeoning sociopath this Kindergarten teacher was making him out to be.

"Sheeple" (Sheep + People)
But, fitting children in neat little boxes was from the worst thing that could have been done to them. Sitting still, absorbing information fed to them, and refraining from questioning authority are only a few which I personally recall. Being kept in numbed out, within the illusion of having "freedom" and a "say in government policy" through elections were the masterpieces I can now see in retrospect.

To get a better picture of children's learning styles, and how they fit in, or rather, how they are not allowed to fit into the "traditional" American classroom, I recommend reading the very short story Animal School, attributed to George H. Reavis, Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Cincinnati, Ohio (1940's).

This brings me to Israel. In a nutshell, those of us in Israel need to be aware, and to keep watch over government crackdowns on homeschooling, independent, alternative, and semi-private educational institutions. As a teacher in Israel's public religious and secular schools, I saw that the indoctrination process simply has different appearance than that in the U. S. The goals are the similar, though:
1) Increase and maintain citizens' trust in the State.

2) Increase and maintain citizens' loyalty to the State, through reward, as well punishment.

3) Discourage independent thinking, and loyalty to anything else besides the State and its laws, including The Almighty, and His Torah.
Sitting still and absorbing information is not the Israeli focus, when it comes to indoctrination into a loyalist society. In the religious schools, students ask questions, and are encouraged to do so. But, the answers are all in line with government policy, or else that teacher does not last very long. In high schools, the government is sometimes presented as correct. This is when any mass opposition is expected. When the government is presented as being flawed, this is immediately followed with the need to respond with patience and love, and to remember that The Almighty's hand was in the forming of the State. The fact that the State's constant battle against the Torah is staring these teachers and students right in the face simply falls by the waste side, and parents allow it to remain so.

The State is to be held in such high regard, even if it appears to be leading Am Yisra'el down a path toward communal suicide. Civil disobedience is out of the question, and an soldier can never refuse to carry out an order which violates the Torah, because the students and future soldiers are that there is just no such thing. They are taught that it is all just "part of the path toward ge'ulah (final redemption)." (sigh)

In the secular schools, attempts at removing all Holiness from the Tana"kh (Bible) is the order of the day.

Now you know why Haredim are so protective of their school systems. Whether they are not simply doing the same thing with their communities, to "keep them in line," and whether they should be taking any money from the State of Israel in order to fund them are discussions for future posts.

Of course, there are parents, those who can afford it, who send their children to private schools, semi-private schools, even Haredi schools, not to mention those who go to battle with the Ministry of Education for the "right" to home school their children. The harassment some of these parents receive is truly unbelievable.

Threats from the Ministry, threats from the front line soldiers, the State's social workers are regular occurrences, all in the name of making certain that Israeli children receive a "proper" education, emphasis on the word "proper." What "proper" means, is determined by the government, not the parents, and certainly not by rabbis, who have been demonized for their "disloyalty" to the State.

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

Jewish Women, Arab Men, and Teaneck, New Jersey

כ"ח לחודש השלישי תשע"ג

I saw this article from a year ago. Yet, I still appalled, and could not let it without reply.

Times Of Israel: Jewish Women, Arab Men

Lori Zilberman Brauner, August 27, 2012

he recent near-death beating of an Arab teenager in the heart of Jerusalem is disturbing on so many levels. That a gang of Jewish youths could attack another youth for reasons other than self-defense. That it could happen in a public square, watched by dozens of people who did not apparently intervene on his behalf. That even a policeman reportedly stood by as it was taking place.  (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢): 
Lori, you need to get out of Teaneck galuth (exile), both physically AND spiritually.

Photoshopped, but true?
(Obtained via Treppenwitz)
It is also certainly not about searching all over for a "rabbi" who will give a "heter" for birth control, or one who will have the decency to turn away when he rolls his eyes at the $4,000 shoulder-length sheitel-miniskirt combination, hyphenated name, and other disgusting signs of influence, and further entrenchment in Western galuth.

Jews are supposed to live by Halakhah (Jewish Law), not according to projections of our hashqafah onto our already distorted misconceptions of it.

Halakhah is also not just about "Shabbos and Kashrus shailos." Rather, if we were to bother to do our homework, we would see that halakhah instructs us how to run an authentically Jewish government, how to run an authentically Jewish military bodies and the wars in which they must engage, and how to relate to the goyim (no-Jews) in all situations.

Halakhoth, in particular those related to goyim, are often  manifested outside of Israel, only bedi'avad, because after all, Jews are only living in Teaneck, and in other communities outside of Eretz Yisra'el,...bedi'avah.

For example, several of the pisqei din (rulings) of the gadol Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ztz"l, regarding goyim, in other words, surviving within the goyshe establishment, are just that, about surviving in the goyshe-controlled environment, which is our galuth, and which restricts our choices as to how we may live a fully authentic Jewish life. Of course, living a fully authentic Jewish life is impossible living outside of Eretz Yisra'el. Nonetheless, we are suppose to attempt it.

For example, he ruled that one must be mehallel Shabbath, in order to save the life of a goy.

But, what is the halakhah, leKhathillah?
רמב"ם הל' עבודה זרה י,א
 ...לפיכך אם ראה גוי עובד עבודה זרה אובד או טובע בנהר, לא יעלנו; ראהו לקוח למות, לא יצילנו....

Ramba"m Hil. Avodah Zarah 10:1
...therefore if one sees a goy, a practitioner of foreign worship, lost or drowning in a river, one does not hoist him out; one sees him being taken to his death, one does not save him.
So, was Rabbi Feinstein wrong to make that ruling? No, of course not! He loved Jews, and did not want us getting harassed, beaten up, or killed while in galuth, which we certainly would have been, if we had allowed goyim to die right in front of us.

And, did you notice the absence of "Shabbat" in this halakhah? That's right. This issue is so often misunderstood, because of the complete ignorance of the context of Rabbi Feinstein's pisqei din on this issue. In Eretz Yisra'el, under ideal conditions, Shabbath only comes into play with Jews, for whom we do whatever we need in order to save them. (...and, I believe that we may break Shabbath mid'Rabbanan in order to save a ger toshav. I have to find the exact source to be certain.)

You, on the other hand, appear to be reacting from the perspective of a galuth mentality, operating based only on your Western-constructed "feelings," instead of according to the facts. The police officer you mentioned appears to know more of the facts that you do.

Now, since I have no doubt that you and/or your "rabbi" will be able to wriggle your way out of all of the above, please allow to get even more in your face.

Let's say that your daughter wants to date an Arab. Let's say she secretly dates and Arab, and then wants to marry him.

Let's say she is in Israel, and is over 18, and after her wedding in Cyprus, which is recognized by the Israeli government, she is swiftly takeaway to her "husband's" relatives, deep inside the Shomron (Samaria).

Let's then say, she has children. And, then, let's say, you lose contact with her. Maybe she gets beaten up on a daily basis; maybe she does not.

Let's say, you go looking for her, and quickly find that the Israeli government will not do anything to help you, and informs you directly that it cannot. They won't. After all, Israel is a "democracy." And even though democracy, or in Israel's case, deMOCKracy has almost nothing to do with the authentic Jewish governance of an authentic Jewish country kingdom, your daughter was a consenting adult.

After all, Erev Rav-controlled, Israel government is leading its citizens on its desired path to be just like the goyim, so-called "freedom of religious expression" included.

So, as far as the un-Jewish, Israel government is concerned, you're out a' luck, baby!

What would YOU do? Sit idly by? I think not.

Then when why should the concern and care and protection of any other Jewish daughter be any different.

The Jews protecting their "sisters" on Kikar Tzion (Zion Square) were simply doing some prevention. A the saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!"

If the Israeli government continues to moves us backwards, away from an authentically Torah observant life, and even passively encourages intermarriage, then what do you expect? Jews in Israel are fed up, and are not going to take it anymore.

Furthermore, these are Yishma'elim (Arabs) we are talking about! This is their culture; this is what they understand! They are not some sort of square peg to be pounded into a round (Western) hole, by remaining in denial about how dangerous they are.

And, please do not bring the Western, liberal concept of "innocent civilians," otherwise known in the Middle East as "human shields." We are in the midst of a war here. Open your eyes, and you would see it.

A goy who dares to touch a Bath Yisra'el, and is also "held accountable" under Jewish Law, yet another politically-incorrect halakhah which has no room in your world. ("Held accountable" here is a euphemism. Ask a rav what I mean.)

If you were living where you were supposed to be living, NOT in Teaneck, New Jersey, you could certainly still keep your head stuck in the ground, but I think that it would be more difficult to keep it there, especially if you are blessed with a daughter.

May The Almighty forbid that your daughters (or sons) ever even come close to being in such a situation!

Friday, May 03, 2013

Is Sari Raz A Racist? Or Is She Just Stupid?

כ"ג לחודש השני תשע"ג

YNET: Banknote Committee Member: Can't Think Of Any Mizrahi Poets

Sari Raz says she's 'unfamiliar with prominent 20th century Mizrahi poets'; adds: 'We thought about Yehuda Halevi, but were told there was no picture of him'

April 29, 2013

Sari Raz, a former Channel 1 anchorwoman said on Sunday, "I am really not familiar with prominent Mizrahi poets in the 20th century."

Raz is a member of the committee headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Yaakov Tirkel tasked with choosing Israeli figures to be commemorated on the new Bank of Israel bills.

The committee chose four poets - Rachel, Shaul Tchernichovsky, Leah Goldberg and Natan Alterman to appear on the new banknotes incurring the wrath of Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri, who lashed out at the absence of iconic figures of Mizrahi extraction.

Asked why a Sephardic figure was not chosen to appear on the new bills, Raz replied, "If there was someone predominant figure they would have definitely been added to the list. I am simply not familiar (with anyone), you could say that this committee is ignorant, but I don't really know any outstanding Mizrahi poets from the 20th century who are studied in schools, who youngsters write and learn about or whose words are composed into melodies and sung.

"I am not familiar (with anyone like that) if you are – give me a suggestion. If anybody else knows (of someone) – they should give me suggestions." (cont.)

(Tip Credit: "Bond")

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Oh, please! Gimme a break!


I have a few questions for Sari, and her fellow "committee" members.

1. So, is it that you could not think of any non-Ashkenazi poets, you were taught about any in your Israeli public school education, or you're just too stupid to think of any? Well, I guess you already answered that one for us above. But, the bottom line is that she does not seem to know of any Mizrahi (Eastern Jewish), religious poets either, from any century!

2. And, it certainly does not seem like the works of any such poets are taught in Israeli public schools. What does THAT tell you about the Westernized Israel we live in?? You know, where non-Ashkenazi children are trained early on

3. Why poets? Were poets decided upon, as a way of keeping out non-Ashkenazi role models, without raising any eyebrows, because people will buy the "there aren't any" line?

4. Why from the 20th Century? Could it be that you wanted to stick with contemporary, secular poets, lest even one child in the Israeli public school system gets some crazy idea to look up a religious poet, and then possibly become influenced by him?? Oy gevalt! A poet from 300 years ago (or 3,000 years ago) influenced my child to learn Torah!

I will tell you why there will not be anyone other than a token, Sepharadi or Teimani Jew on an Israeli banknote anytime soon. Just look at how the secular, Ashkenazi, Labor (non-) Zionists have treated the  and Sepharadi and Teimani Jews  over the years, and that should answer your question. (Click on the link.)


5. Why are the new banknotes so butt-ugly? (Although, I must admit that the combination of blue hues looks kind of cool. But, I digress...)

6. Why isn't even a smiggen of Jewish or Israeli symbolism completely absent from the new bank notes? (Ah! Didn't notice that, did you?) No Star of David, no Menorah, no map (Of course not. Too controversial.), no nothing.

Here's my vote for a new, Israeli banknote:

Back: "Kahane was right;" Front: Rabbi Me'ir David Kahane HY"D
(If you designed this banknote, please let me know, so that I can credit you.)
What do you think, Sari? Does my pick have any chance whatsoever making the final five choices?

Now, let's leave Sari Raz and her "committee" to the side, for a moment. Sari, don't go away. Esser Agaroth has some more words for you!

Why hasn't anyone asked about who designed these butt-ugly monetary notes?! For goodness sakes!

More importantly, why isn't anyone talking about how worthless the New Sheqqel will be soon? The propped up illusion of a strong Bank Of Israel, cleverly propped up by former bank president Stanley Fischer, is only delaying the inevitable. Sure, Israel has all those high tech. parts everyone talks and raves about. And even most Leftists are not willing to boycott (or are in very deep denial that many of their computer and cellular phone parts originated in Israel, in some way, shape or form.)

And, by the way, why isn't anyone talking about how worthless paper or plastic money around the rest of the world as well? Greece, Spain, Portugal, and now Cyprus,...  It's only a matter of time.

10 Ag' Coin
Apparently the 10 Agaroth coin (about 2.8¢), after which this site was named, actually costs 12 Ag' to produce. So, it will be of no surprise to you that there has been talk of phasing it out. But, don't thrown them out just yet. Save them! Just think about the copper content. Who knows it may soon be worth more than 10 Ag'. (Israeli Fun Fact courtesy of Rafi at Settlers Of Samaria)

I also suggest to stock up on what is really valuable: food, mainly dried and canned goods, and make sure to have a way to cook them. I know that the one community garden in my neighborhood, along with the "hidden in plain sight" edible plants are not going to be enough to support my neighborhood. What about yours?

Think I'm a nut? A conspiracy theorist? No problem. Just don't come crying to me, when you're hungry, and food is not as accessible as you thought it would be. You'll have to agree with me on at least one thing: You cannot EAT money.

Sorry to write so harshly. Just consider it "tough love."

And now, back to our show "Sari Raz And Friends!"

Sari Raz's score, according to the new and improved, individualized, Esser Agaroth (2¢) scoring system is...

2 1/2 Bozos, because she IS a Bozo, plus one nose-picking Shimon Peres for secular, Ashkenazi elitism.

Monday, April 08, 2013

A Look At Israel's Neighbors: Cyprus

כ"ט לחודש הראון תשע"ג

Some remember our neighbor Cyprus as a highly unpleasant layover on the way to Israel, after surviving the horrors of the Holocaust.

Some see our neighbor Cyprus as a popular vacation destination, the perfect alternative to Greece and Turkey, whenever they remember that they hate Jews, in spite of the tourism money they bring to their respective countries.

Still others see Cyprus as justification for our hanging on to Yehudah and Shomron (Judea and Samaria). Either way you look at it, someone IS occupying part of Cyprus. On the contrary, Israel is simply taking what The Almighty promise it, and granted us another chance to hold onto it in 1948, and again in 1967.

However, very few in Israel appear to be terribly concerned, let alone talking about the current financial crisis in Cyprus. The Cypriots have got it worse than the Greeks, Spanish, or Portuguese ever did.

In other words, it's bad. The Banksters* took their money.

Not so coincidentally, and not so funny, this ad popped up in my Google Ads the other day. Anyway, want to go to Cyprus?

No thanks.

I have heard that the Cypriots are not armed. But, if they were, then there already would have been quite a few deaths from riots and targeted assassinations.

So, everyone thinks it couldn't happen to us? Not in Israel, with its propped-up illusion of an economy?

Time to start storing water, everyone. Lifta is just too far away to be schlepping re-filled bottles of water back home.

Call me crazy, but I said its high time I got prepared. What about you?

*********

*Bankster = Banker + Ganster