התעוררו! הערבים טוענים שכל יהודי ארץ ישראל הוא מתנחל! / Wake Up, Jews! The Arabs Claim that ALL Jews in Israel are Settlers!

ראש החודש השלישי תשפ״א

English follows the Hebrew.

YNET: תיעוד: מפגינים בלוד החליפו את דגל ישראל בדגל פלסטין

גל התפרעויות במגזר הערבי: עשרות צעירים ערבים הפגינו, חסמו כבישים והציתו חפצים. ברמלה הותקפו תושבים יהודים ואוטובוס אגד. בלוד הוצת עץ סמוך לנקודת משטרה. בשתי הערים נעצרו 16 חשודים 

רועי רובינשטיין: 11.05.21

עשרות צעירים ערבים הפגינו אמש (ב') ברחובות רמלה ולוד. המפגינים חסמו כבישים, יידו אבנים ואף תועדו מחליפים דגלי ישראל בדגלי פלסטין. 16 מהמפגינים בשתי הערים נעצרו על ידי המשטרה. זו ההתפתחות האחרונה בגל ההתפרעויות במגזר הערבי בישראל על רקע המהומות בירושלים והירי הבלתי פוסק מעזה.

ברמלה מספר צעירים ערבים יידו אבנים והציתו פחי אשפה ברחוב ביאליק בעיר. בין היתר הם רגמו באבנים אוטובוס של קו 249 לפתח תקווה, וכן יידו אבנים לעבר תושבים יהודים. אין נפגעים בשני האירועים, נזק נגרם לאוטובוס. (המשך...)

עשר אגורות (2¢):

ההתפרעויות האלה לא התקיימו בחיפה או בגליל, לא רהט, לא במזרח ירושלים ואפילו לא ביפו. אלה הערבים הפגינו ברמלה ובלוד ערים מעורבות של יהודים וערבים.

למה?

בגלל היהודים שעלו להר הבית אתמול בחגיגת "יום גאולת ירושלים ומקום המקדש" (יום ירושלים)?

בגלל הצו שיצא סוף סוף לגרש את הפולשים הערביים משכונת שמעון הצדיק שבירושלים הנרכשה על ידי יהודים בתקופת האימפריה העות'מאנית ב?

זה משנה בכלל?

הכי חשוב לשים לב לעניינים הכלליים האלה:

א) הערביים טוענים שכל ארץ ישראל שייכת להם חוץ מרמת הגולן שהם מוכנים למסור לסוריה (חו״ח). 

ב) כל יהודי חייב להכיר כבר טוב טוב את המפות של ״פלסטין״ שבולטים בסמלים של חמאס, פת״ח המפלגה של מחמוד אבאס, ואש״ף. (תראו למטה)

ג) לדעת הערבים האלה כל יהודי הוא מתנחל בשטחים שלהם.

ד) אנחנו חייבים לקלוט כבר שמניפי דגל אירגון הנלחמים למען כיבוש ארץ ישראל (כל ארץ ישראל כוללת תל-אביב וחיפה) הם אזרחי מדינת ישראל.

ולכן, מה אנחנו אמורים לעשות?

כפי שכתבתי שוב ושוב, הממשלה הממשיכה להשתמש באותן אסטרטגיות, וחסרה התלהבות או החלטתיות במשך שנים.

יהודים חייבים להחליט אחת ולתמיד שארץ ישראל, כל ארץ ישראל כולה, שייכת לנו, ...אשר ה׳ נשבע לנו , ולדחות כל דעה המנוגד לכך, בין אם זה מהאו"ם או האיחוד האירופי.

זאת אומרת דחיית כל מסירת שטחים המתוארות ב״תכנית המאה״ של הנשיא טראמפ.

זאת אומרת דחיית מסירת שטח, מתן אוטונומיה כמה ערבים רבים שביהודה ושומרון, ומתן אזרחות ישראלית לערבים רבים אחרים כמתואר בתכנית בנט, ערבים בעלי נאמנות לא לישראל, אלא לרשות הפלסטינית, אפילו יותר מאלה שנראים בסרטונים המשובצים.

The Bennett Plan vs. The Oslo (Death) Accords What's the difference?

אש״ף PLO

פת״ח Fata"h

חמאס Hamas

יש שאלות?

YNET: Arab rioters hurled rocks at Jewish passersby in the central city of Ramla
Ramla Roi Rubinstein 05.10.21

Arab rioters hurled rocks at Jewish passersby in the central city of Ramla Monday night
Police arrived at the scene. No casualties were reported.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):

Yep. That's all the English version of YNET had to say. No mention of Israel's flag being replaced by a Palestinian Pseudostinian one, and waving them during the demonstration in Lod. (video above) No mention of the fire in Ramla.(video below)

Both Lod and Ramla are located just outside of Tel-Aviv, and next to Ben Gurion International Airport.

YNET and other news sources have plenty of resources to publish everything in Hebrew and English. They do make decisions about priorities. However, I wonder if there are certain pieces they would prefer not to have out, at least immediately, for the English speaking Jewish communities (ie. donors) or the so-called international community. Food for thought.

And why are these Arabs rioting? Because Jews ascended the Temple Mount on Monday in celebration of Jerusalem Day, commemorating the re-unification of the Jerusalem as a result of winning the Six Day War in  1967? Because after over 50 years (73 years really) of squatting on Jewish owned land in the Shimon HaTzadiq neighborhood of Jerusalem, the Arab squatters may finally be evicted?

Beats me. Does it really matter?

So, what is the message supposed to be conveyed here by Israeli citizens waving the flag of foreign power laying claim to the Land of Israel? ALL of the Land of Israel. 

Don't believe me? Just look at the maps of Palestine Pseudostine embedded in the emblems of various terror organizations above. 

Fata"h, Mahmoud Abbas's party is not a terrorist organization you say? Is that because the weapons the Palestinian Pseudostinian Authority police force bears were given to them by Yitzhaq Rabin and Shimon Peres? Really?? 

יצחק רבין, שמעון פרס, ויאסר ערפאת מקבלי פרס נובל שלום
Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres, and Yitzhaq Rabin receiving the Nobel Peace Prize 

Plus, don't forget that Mahmoud Abbas himself was instrumental in the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, for which we still do not even get a moment of silence in subsequent Olympic Games.

The Fata"h emblem very clearly displays a map of what they claim belongs to them, and not to the Jewish People. That certainly sounds terrifying to me.

To these Arabs, ALL Jews are settlers, and that includes Haifa and Tel-Aviv.

Now what are we supposed to do about it?

As I have written again and again, the Israeli government keeps using the same half-hearted strategies it has been using for years.

Jews must decide once and for all that the Land of Israel, ALL of the Land of Israel, belongs to us, was Divinely promised to us, and reject any notion contrary to this, whether it be from the United Nations or the European Union or anyone else. 

This includes rejecting the land giveaways described in the Trump Plan. 

This includes rejecting the giveaways, autonomy, and granting of Israeli citizenship to even more Arabs as described in the Bennett Plan (see above graphic, then click on its link!), Arabs with loyalties NOT to Israel, but to the Palestinian Authority, even more than those seen in the embedded videos.

Any questions?

האם הכותל המערבי בישראל? / Is the Western Wall in Israel?

יום ירושלים תשע״ז
50th Anniversary of the Re-Unification of Jerusalem

הכותל המערבי
The Western Wall

YNET: שגרירת ארה"ב באו"ם: "מאמינה שהכותל הוא חלק מישראל" 17.05.17
בעוד שאנשי ממשל טראמפ התחמקו כשנשאלו אם ארה"ב מכירה בכותל כחלק מישראל, הבהירה השגרירה האמריקנית באו"ם: "תמיד חשבנו שהכותל הוא בישראל - וכך אנו צריכים להתייחס לכך גם היום"

בזמן שאנשי הנשיא דונלד טראמפ התחמקו ביממה האחרונה מהשאלה אם הבית הלבן מכיר בכותל המערבי כחלק מישראל, הביעה הלילה (יום ד') שגרירת ארה"ב באו"ם ניקי היילי עמדה נחרצת בסוגיה בראיון לרשת CBN. לקראת ביקורו של הנשיא בארץ, אמרה: "אני לא יודע מה המדיניות של הממשל, אבל אני מאמינה שהכותל המערבי הוא חלק מישראל. אני חושבת שכך התייחסנו לעניין בעבר וכך אנחנו צריכים להתייחס לכך גם היום. תמיד חשבנו שהכותל המערבי הוא חלק מישראל". (המשך...)

עשר אגורות (2¢):

Yellow Poster: The Kotel is the parking lot.

The Mount is the House [Temple].

Purple Flag: HaShem is The King.

כולם דואגים על השאלה: האם ממשלת ארה"ב מתייחסת לכותל המערבי כחלק ארץ ישראל או לא?

כולנו יודעים את הדעה של הממשל הקודם של ארה"ב. אבל, האם אני היחיד המבין שאף אחד לא מדבר על השייכות של הר הבית, ושלא מדבר על השייכות של העיר העתיקה של ירושלים, ושלא מדבר על השייכות של העיר ירושלים בכלל?

השאלה עדיין לא נענה אם ממשל טראמפ יעביר את שגרירות ארה"ב מתל-אביב לירושלים. ואם כן יעביר את זה, ייבנה בניין שגרירות חדש? עלותו של פרויקט כזה מספיק למנוע את זה. אתם שואלים, "למה הם צריכים לבנות בניין חדש? למה לא פשוט יכולים להפוך את הקונסוליה בירושלים הנוכחית להיות השגרירות?

העיין הויכוח תחת איזה רשות "הקונסוליה" הנוכחית שוכנת' מפני שהיא שוכנת על קו הסכם שביתת הנשק של בתום מלחמת העצמאות (תראה את המפה למטה). האם "הקונסוליה" יושבת בתוך מדינת ישראל או בתוך רשות הערבים המזדהים כ"פליסטינאים?" יהיה קשה ל"הקהילה הבינלאומית" לקבל מצב כזה, שגרירות ארה"ב שיושב בירולשים ושקוראים לשטח השה חלק של ארץ ישראל.

העניין הכי חשוב הוא לא הכותל אלא הוא מדוע ממשלת ישראללא עושה שום דבר בעניין זה, להדגיש שהכל שלנו, ואפילו לכבוש את הר הבית סוף סוף?

הערה: אישית אני לא הייתי מצפה שממשלת מדינת ישראל תעשה משהו בקשר לכך.

YNET: Trump's UN envoy: 'Western Wall is part of Israel' 
May 17, 2017 

Speaking in an interview with CBN, Nikki Haley stresses that while she is unaware of official US policy, she firmly believes Kotel to be 'part of Israel'; mixed signals continue to flow out of the White House on Trump administration’s position, with national security advisor McMaster refusing to directly answer questions on the matter, and Sean Spicer only acknowledging the Kotel’s religious significance and geographic location.

Amid prevailing uncertainty as to where the US Trump administration stands on the status of the Western Wall (the Kotel), US Envoy to the UN Nikki Haley sought to clarify Tuesday night her own stance, saying in an interview that “I believe that the Western Wall is part of Israel.” (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Everyone seems to be up in arms about whether the U. S. Government considers the Kotel HaMa'aravi (Western Wall) to be part of Israel or not.

We all know how the previous U. S. administration held on this issue. A-hem! But, am I the one who has noticed that no one is talking about Jerusalem's Old City, let alone not making any mention Har HaBayith (Temple Mount)?

(Click to Enlarge)

Sure, debate over whether the Trump administration will move the U. S. Embassy to Jerusalem, or not, continues. But, has anyone even bothered to ask if they will build a new Embassy building? The cost of such an endeavor could quash any hopes of the move in and of itself. But, why would they need to build a new building, you ask? Why can't they just wave a magic wand pen and turn the current "consulate" into an embassy?

You see, there is still debate over under whose authority the current "consulate," in Jerusalem's East Talpiot neighborhood, resides. Is it within Israel? Or is it in the make-believe Pseudostinian Territories? For the so-called "international community," it is hard to tell, as it lies on the 1949 Armistice Agreement Line,...as if that should matter.

The issue isn't the Kotel; The issue is why isn't the Israeli Government doing anything about this, like making it clear that all of the Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish People, and to take over Har HaBayith once and for all.

Note: I personally would never expect the Israeli Government to do anything about this, or about half a dozen other things.

50 Years of a "Liberated" Jerusalem? / חמישים שנה לשיחרור ירושלים?

י' לחודש השנים עשר תשע"ז

English follows the Hebrew.

"A United, Unifying Jerusalem"

YNET: "מאוחדת, מאחדת" - הלוגו הרשמי ל-50 שנה לשחרור ירושלים
השרה רגב הציגה בישיבת הממשלה את הסמל שיעטר בשנה הקרובה את נייר המכתבים של משרדי הממשלה השונים. "עובדת שחרורה של ירושלים חייבת להיות מעל המחלוקות הפוליטיות" 

מורן אזולאי, 05.03.17 

שרת התרבות מירי רגב הציגה היום (א') בישיבת הממשלה את הלוגו הרשמי החדש לציון 50 שנה לשחרור ירושלים. "אם אנחנו לא מסוגלים לומר לעצמנו ששחררנו את ירושלים מדורות של כיבוש זר, אז איך אנחנו יכולים לבוא בטענות כלפי העולם", אמרה רגב שהתעקשה על שילוב המילה "שחרור".

הלוגו החדש יעטר מעתה את נייר המכתבים של משרדי הממשלה השונים וילווה את אירועי חגיגות היובל לכל אורך השנה והפרסומים אודותם. "הלוגו הזה מספר את הסיפור האמיתי של ירושלים", אמרה רגב.

"הבסיס של הספרה 5 הוא הנבל שמזכיר לנו את דוד מלך ישראל שקבע את ירושלים כבירה הנצחית שלנו לפני למעלה מ-3,000 שנה. והראש של הספרה זהו האריה - סמלה של העיר ירושלים עד היום. הספרה 5 מייצגת באופן סמלי את ציר הזמן של תולדות ירושלים - מדוד המלך ועד חטיבה 55 של הצנחנים, שנכנסה דרך שער האריות ושחררה את ירושלים במלחמת ששת הימים". 

בתוך הספרה 0 הוכנס דגל ישראל המופיע מעל חומות העיר העתיקה, הכותל והר הבית. הצבע הנבחר של הלוגו הוא זהב, לדברי רגב "כמו בשיר הכמעט-נבואי, של נעמי שמר 'ירושלים של זהב' אמרה רגב.
רגב התייחס גם לסלוגן "50 שנה לשחרור ירושלים. ירושלים מאוחדת ומאחדת" שנבחר ללוות את הלוגו. "עובדת שחרורה של ירושלים חייבת להיות מעל המחלוקות הפוליטיות", אמרה השרה מהליכוד. "ראיתי את התגובות בנוגע להתעקשות שלי על הלוגו הזה ועל המילה 'שחרור' והצטערתי מאוד. אני מצטערת על כל ישראלי, מימין או משמאל שמערער על ההגדרה הזו של ירושלים משוחררת".

עשר אגורות (2¢):
אני כבר ציינתי לכם לפני 10 שנים את הכישלון (אחד מתוך המון) של הממשלה לגבי הסמל על הפנים של חגיגת 40 שנים לשחרור ירושלים. הוא נראה כעכברוש, נכון? (ראה שמאלה)

ועכשיו שרת התרבות מירי רגב מציגה לנו את הסמל הרשמי החדש לציון 50 שנה לשחרור ירושלים. מה אתם חושבים על זה? הוא לא נראה כעכברוש, ב״ה. אבל הסמל הזה ממש יותר טוב מהסמל לשעבר?

קצת.

השרה רגב מזכירה לנו שאנחנו באמת שיחררו את ירושלים מידי האנשים שהארץ לא שייכת להם בכלל. והיא מודה שהבחירה שלה להשתמש במילה הזאת מאוד מפריעה לשמאלנים ואפילו לימינים.

וגם היא משתמשת בביטוי ״מאוחדת, מאחדת ירושלים.״ וביטוי הזה מודה לנו שעיר הבירה לנצח של עם ישראל עדיין לא מאוחדת לגמרי, אפילו שהעובדה הזאת לא נזכרת במאמר הזה של YNET, ויש עוד הרבה לעשות כדי לאחד את ירושלים, כולל לקחת שליטה על הר הבית, אחרי שמשה דיין מסר את זה לוואקף לפני 50 שנים. וזה הכי חשוב.

אבל, לדעתי, הסמל הזה כן נראה כמו אריה; הוא נראה כמו אריה שדוחף עגלה במכולת. הסמל צריך להיראות כאריה שעובד לאחד את ירושלים באמת. מי שמבין יבין.

YNET: Miri Regev presents the official logo marking 50 years since the liberation of Jerusalem
Minister Miri Regev presents the symbol that will adorn the official stationery of the various government ministries in the upcoming year; 'The liberation of Jerusalem must be above political disputes.' 

Moran Azulay, 05.03.17 

Culture Minister Miri Regev (Likud) presented the new official logo to mark the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Jerusalem on Sunday at a cabinet meeting. "If we are unable to say to ourselves that we liberated Jerusalem from generations of foreign occupation, how can we complain about the world," said Regev, insisting on the use of the word "liberation." 

The new logo will now adorn the official letterhead of the various ministries and accompany the Jubilee events throughout the year. "This logo tells the true story of Jerusalem," Regev said. 

"The basis of the number 5 is the harp that reminds us of David, King of Israel, who determined Jerusalem as our eternal capital over 3,000 years ago. The top is a lion's head—Jerusalem's symbol to this day. The number 5 symbolically represents the timeline of the history of Jerusalem—from King David to the IDF's 55th Paratroopers Brigade that entered through the Lion's gate and liberated Jerusalem during the Six Day War." 

Inside the 'zero,' the Israeli flag appears above the Old City, the Western Wall and the Temple Mount. 

The logo's chosen color is gold, which according to Regev, represents the "near-prophetic Naomi Shemer lyrics depicting a 'Jerusalem of Gold.'" 

Regev also commented on the slogan—"50 years since the liberation of Jerusalem. A united and unifying Jerusalem"—chosen to accompany the logo. "The liberation of Jerusalem must be above political disputes," said Regev. 

"I saw the comments surrounding my insistence on this logo and the word 'liberation' and I was very sorry. I feel sorry for any Israeli, right-winger or left-winger, who undermines this definition of a liberated Jerusalem," she added.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
I already pointed out 10 years ago that the official symbol used to mark the 40th anniversary of the [beginning of the] liberation of Jerusalem,... looks like a rat. Doesn't it? (see above left)

And now, the Minister of Culture Miri Regev has presented us with the official symbol of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Jerusalem. (top center) What do you think about it? It doesn't look like a rat, B"H. But, is it really any better than the last one?

A little bit.

Minister Regev reminds us that that Jerusalem was, indeed, "liberated," as it was taken back from out of the hands of those it did not belong to. And she acknowledges that there are those on the left and ever the right who take issue with her choice of words.

She also employs the motto "Unified, Unifying Jerusalem," acknowledging that the eternal Capital of the Jewish People is still not unified completely, even though this fact is not mentioned in the YNET article, and that there is still much work to do, including the taking back of Har HaBayith (the Temple Mount), since then Gen. Moshe Dayan turned its control over to the Wakf (Muslim Authority). This is most important.

Minister Regev is far from perfect, but far better regarding many issues than her fellow Members of Knesseth [MK's].

However, in my opinion, the symbol itself may look like a lion alright; it looks like a lion pushing a cart in a supermarket. It should be a lion actively unifying the city. מי שמבין יבין.

Jews Allowed to March through Muslim Quarter. So What?

כ״ד לחודש השני תשע״ה

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

But, why should we care?

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

May 12, 2015 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Esser Agaroth (2¢):

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Har HaBayith-The Temple Mount is.

Israel And The Vatican: Give But No Take

מוצש"ק פר' ויגש תשע"ד

This was going around Facebook. Like many, I thought it was cute, differences between the nine-branched Hanukkah menorah and the seven-branched Beth HaMiqdash (Temple) Menorah aside.

Prime Minister Netanyahu presents Pope Francis with a Hanukkah menorah at their meeting, December, 2013
(Tip: Shuqi; Photo Credit: Israel Unseen)

The added sarcastic, yet excellent, caption refers to the belief that the Vatican has many of our Temple vessels hidden away someplace, having "acquired" them from the preceding empires and powers that be.

L: The Arch Of Titus; R: Relief on the Arch depicting the carrying off
captured booty from Israel, including the Menorah.

Jerusalem Rabbi Yonatan Shtencel has at least been making an effort to raise awareness about the issue of the missing Temple vessels, asking the ambassador from the Vatican to Israel, to hand a letter to the Pope, requesting their return. The Ambassador responded that the Vatican does not have them, and, in my humble opinion, appeared to scold Rabbi Shtencel for his suspicion.

Unfortunately, it does not appear that requesting the return of the Temple vessels will be in the forefront of Prime Minister Netanyahu's mind, during this meeting.

Raw Story: Netanyahu heads to Rome for first talks with Pope FrancisAgence France-Presse, December 1, 2013

...When the two meet on Monday, they are likely to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue and the ongoing peace talks with the Palestinians. 

And they are also expected to discuss the pope’s planned visit to the Holy Land early next year. 

Pope Francis has already been invited to visit the Christian holy sites by Israeli President Shimon Peres in April, and by Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas, who met him on October 17.
Israeli sources say the visit could take place before Peres ends his term as president in July. Although no date has been made official, sources on both sides say it is likely to take place on May 25-26. (...only a few days before Jerusalem Unification Day celebrations -- ironic)

The papal visit will reportedly begin in Jordan, a senior Vatican official said on Saturday, according to Jordanian state news agency Petra. 

“The pope’s visit to the Holy Land will begin in Jordan,” Vatican foreign affairs official Dominique Mamberti said in Amman after meeting Jordan’s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh. 

Israel and the Vatican first established full diplomatic relations in 1993, but have been engaged in years of thorny diplomatic negotiations over property rights and tax exemptions for the Catholic Church, which have yet to be fully resolved. 

The Holy See wants full recognition of the legal and patrimonial rights of Catholic communities in Israel and formal confirmation of tax exemptions enjoyed by the Church since the Jewish state’s emergence in 1948 and which the UN has asked Israel to honour. 

One of the most delicate questions involves access by Catholic worshipers to a site on Mount Zion in Jerusalem called the Cenacle, where Christians believe Jesus (יש"ו) held the Last Supper the night before he was crucified. 

In June, the sides agreed to step up negotiations over the outstanding issues.

Israeli President Shimon Peres beat Netanyahu to the Vatican, making it there a good seven months ago, soon after Francis's ascension.

President Peres receives a gift from Pope Francis
(avodah zarah blacked out) 
Vatican, April, 2013

Peres leaves office (for the time being) next summer. He has already been suspected of collusion with the Vatican in its chicanery. Is he the one forcing Netanyahu's hand to give into them even more, or is it someone else.

The Turner Diaries and Israel: Not Just a Book Review

ט"ו לחודש החמישי תשע"ג

This book contains racist propaganda.

The FBI said it was the blueprint for the Oklahoma City bombing.

Many would like it banned. It is being published to alert and warn America.

*********

Thus reads a tag line I found for The Turner Diaries by Andrew Macdonald.

Funny thing about goyim who want to "warn" the world about the Jews. It eventually ends up backfiring, just like with Bil'am (Num. 24) and Haman (Esther 8), and so on, and so on....

This book was well-written, and, yes, even inspiring. How could that possibly be, you ask?

Well, I immediately identified with the main character. Like I said, this book was well-written, and flowed very smoothly through effective descriptions, character development, and plot.

אם יאמר לך אדם, יש חכמה בגוים - תאמין; יש תורה בגוים - אל תאמין. (איכה רבה ב, יג)

If someone says to you there is wisdom among the goyim - believe [it]; [if someone says to you] there is Torah among the goyim - do not believe [it]. (Eichah Rabba 2:13)

With my strong identification with the main character, and his desire to do what he thought was just, my mind automatically projected my version of what is just onto the book.

The liberal, psychotic government officials, easily transformed into the wannabe goyim, leftist minority controlling Israel, right under our noses.

The "blacks," the unwitting pawns, became the Israeli and Pseudostinian Arabs.

The oppressed, white supremacists, caught in the maelstrom of wreckage caused by the liberal "do-gooders," were, of course, the Jews who were already awakened from their indoctrinated slumbering numbness,...the "real" settlers, as it were. By "real" settlers, I do not mean the hasbarah-addicted, publicity hounds, whose leaders are really just pawns of the State, nor those who encourage Christian interference in our affairs, but the "real" settlers.

In some distorted way, perhaps this book is hinting to the burgeoning rebirth of the authentic scholar-warrior Jews, unconcerned about what the goyim think, what so-called "international community thinks, but rather only what Holy One, Blessed Be He thinks. And, perhaps the nebachy, neurotics and , co-dependent, "I'm just like the goyim!" Jews will get it. And, those Jews who are embarrassed and fearful of asking questions about the heritage will no longer be embarrassed or afraid, though the revelation of this example.

*Spoiler Alert*

And the end of the book the white supremacist "heroes" "liberate" California. As a native Californian, this also hit home, for any number of reasons. One of recent memory was the lack of water for the Central Valley's massive agricultural industry, not because of lack of precipitation, but because of a Federally protected minnow, or some sort of small fish, at the mouths of the Bay Area rivers.

Food prices went up, jobs were lost, and I will hazard a guess that the banksters made out like bandits, either by foreclosing on farms and houses, or by "facilitating" the refinancing of properties by desperate Californians.

And, California's hands were tied, because this little fish was "federally" protected.

After this, I began wondering if September 9th (9/9) should be called California Nakba Day (Arabic: "tragedy"), instead of California Admission's Day.

It is kind of like how 1967 should have been a great victory for the Jewish People,...and it was. Yishma'elim (Arabs) from all directions were determined to wipe us out. But, they failed. Some say that it was the strategic brilliance and unwavering bravery of the Israeli Defense Forces [IDF]. However, they were only kelim of the Holy One, Blessed Be He, to implement His Will upon the Land.

Yet, over the years, that victory has been gradually losing its significance as our "leaders" carved up what was won only with intervention from The Almighty, and thrown to the dogs, as if it were table scraps, starting with Har HaBayith (Temple Mount) instead of the great, miraculous, and merciful gift which it truly was.

But, as they say, "power corrupts," and our leaders quickly forgot God, or pretended that they had a much better idea about what His Will was than He did,...and proceeded to did what they wanted.

If only they had remembered who they were, set apart from the goyim, and not meant to slobber over them for acceptance, and desperately try to be just like them, just as if we were still in galuth (exile), then maybe, just maybe, we would not be in this mess, and thousands of Jews were never have been brutally killed, for the sole reason that they were Jews.

I almost forgot. In my mind, California in The Turner Diaries was not just my native home of California, but was Yehudah and Shomron (Judea and Samaria). Apparently, settlers, the "real" settlers, may get their chance, now that they may be thrown to the dogs abandoned to a Pseudostinian State,...without weapons, of course.

The scholar-warrior Jews will find a way to victory, with HaShem's help!

What Jerusalem Reunification Day Means To Me

יום ירושלים תשע"ג
Jerusalem Reunification Day, 5773/2013

Times Of Israel: Not so blue and white: Pondering Jerusalem Day

Yehuda Lapian, May 6, 2013

Despite the fact that I wear a knitted circle on the top of my head, for years Jerusalem day elicited feelings of distaste and aversion in me. But given an unexpected two-hour break from classes last year, I decided to take advantage of my college’s great location on HaNevi’im Street, set aside my cynicism and snobbery, and join the by-now famous “flag parade.” Just be like everyone else.

I found myself walking alongside an enthusiastic 14-year-old boy from Givat Shmuel, thrilled about being in Jerusalem with his Bnei Akiva youth group. “We’re the troop that boosts morale most in Bnei Akiva. Without us it won’t be cheerful here.” Wow, this is one strange boy, I thought. I moved away and joined the parade at the King David Hotel. Ahead of me were dozens of boys and girls of various ages, all of them dressed in blue and white. The flag of Israel (made in China, of course) was everywhere, hundreds of them, it seemed. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
I have to appreciate Yehuda Lapian's honesty, if nothing else. His assessment of the naïveté of certain groups of Jews, the apparent apathy and/or disenfranchisement of others, and the ambivalence and confusion of still others.

The B'nei Akiva denial that anything is in the least bit wrong with their Holy State (...and their education, designed to make them the perfect loyalists, and later, cannon fodder for the Labor Zionist leadership). The Secular "What does the re-unification of Jerusalem mean to ME?" and the Haredi "Hmm...maybe HaShem gave us back the Kotel after all, and He used the Zionists as His tool. Just don't tell the Gedolim that I have always had Zionist friends." These stand out for me loud and clear from Lapian's piece. Whether that was his intent or not, I do not know. I am simply conveying to you what I got from his piece.

I also appreciate his self-awareness, his perceived need to lighten up, and then lightening up, and enjoying himself. After all, Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Reunification Day) IS Yom Tov, a day of celebration, Hallel, and for an increasing number of Jews, the inclusion of al-HaNissim in prayers and birkath hamazon, regardless of our respective moods on this day or our general cynicism.

However, I believe that Lapian misses one crucial point.

Jerusalem is in our hands, because it is HaShem's Will that it is in our hands. Most of Israel is in our hands, because it is HaShem's Will that it is in our hands. And the Torah is the only justification for the Jewish People to have any claim on either.

OK. So, I guess that's two points he misses.

Perhaps his current association with Ya'ir Lapid's Yesh Atid Party is a reflection, or perhaps a result, of the Western (ie. /non-Torah/non-Jewish) perspective with which he comes across. Could it be that Lapian's attitudes, and might I say, cognitive dissonance are reflected in that perspective, and may actually stem from his B'nei Akiva and Israeli religious educational experiences?

Here are a couple of clues, I found in Lapian's piece which I believe suggest this:

"All this leaves me wishing that the Religious Zionist public, of which I am maybe a part and maybe not a part, would grow up and get real. Enough with the excessive nationalism and outdated world-views. You are out of sync with the modern world, I think."

Excessive nationalism? Well, I would certainly agree that B'nei Akiva's "nationalism," if he insists on calling it that, is horribly misguided.

18 "In that day the Lord made a covenant with Avram, saying: 'To your seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.' 19 the Kenite, and the Kenizzite, and the Kadmonite, 20 and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Rephaim, 21 and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.'" - Genesis 15:18-21

But, "excessive" in my opinion, would be for a Religious Zionist youth group to go (unchaperoned) to Amman, Beruit, or Damascus, to start planting Israeli flags, and to claim these cities for Israel,...before the Melekh HaMashi'ah has arrived, to give the go ahead.

Now, THAT would be excessive.

"Unfortunately, the people in charge of the Western Wall and their attitude towards women remind me every time that there’s nothing Western about the Western Wall."

And why should there be anything in the least bit Western about the Western Wall, save for it being on the western side of the Temple Mount?

What does "being Western" have to do with being Jewish, with the exception of the wisdom you and I and our fellows brought with us to Israel?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Is Western Lapian's euphemism for "progressive" or for his perceived need "to be more like everyone else (ie. the goyim)?"

This is just the result of another one of those qelipoth, which seems to be difficult for him to shed. But, that's OK. We ALL have them. But, does Lapian recognize this as such?

B'nei Akiva, the "Religious Zionist" youth group was the youth group which students of the Merkaz HaRav Kook Yeshivah did not want their children to be a part of. It wasn't "religious" enough. (And, quite frankly, I do not find it "Zionist" enough.) And so, they founded a new Religious Zionist youth group, Ariel.

In addition, more and more independent and semi-independent Talmudei Torah and yeshivoth have been popping up for the same reasons. Some Religious Zionist parents, who did not have that luxury sent their children to Haredi schools, providing them with a strong Zionist hashqafah at home.

Likewise, it was students of the Merkaz HaRav Kook Yeshivah who were the first to block streets in protest of the impending expulsion of almost 10,000 Jews from their homes in Azza (Gaza), and the giveaway of their lands to the Yishma'elite enemy (Arabs).

Rb. Avraham Shapira ztz"l

And it was also their Rosh Yeshivah, Rabbi Avraham Shapira ztz"l who told soldiers of the Israeli Defense Forces [IDF] they had to refuse orders which violated the Torah, such as kicking these Jews out of their homes, and participating in the handing over of their lands to the Arabs (mesirah). Not only that, but soldiers should sit in jail, and be proud to sit in jail, rather than violating the Torah.

In other words, unlike B'nei Akiva and the Israeli, religious, public educational system, real (and awake) Religious Zionists may appreciate the State and its army, but do not view the State of Israel and its laws to the be all and end all. Rather, the Torah is the be all and end all.

The Government of the State of Israel makes mistakes; The Holy One, Blessed Be He does not.

So, as far as "growing up and get[ting] real" are concerned, please pardon my ideological idealism. But, I do not see it as ideological idealism. Rather I believe it to be my role as a Jew to participate with the greater Jewish Community's obligation to make Torah the reality in This World.

Part of that Torah reality is Am Yisra'el living in Eretz Yisra'el, not in New York...regardless of the dollar rate. 

יום ירושלים שמח!
Happy Jerusalem Reunification Day!

Where Are My Backstage Passess??!!

ד' לחודש השני תשע"ג

Ben Bresky

Last Thursday, I was at an engagement party. I speaking outside with a friend of mine, when local celebrity Ben Bresky arrived. Before going into the party, he came up to say hello.

Good, I thought to myself. I've been waiting for the opportunity to speak with him.

I finished up talking with my friend, and went inside. I quickly spotted Ben, host of Arutz 7's Israel Beat radio show, and then cornered him.

"Do you have an Israeli Press Pass?" I asked him innocently.

"Yes, of course," he calmly replied. Perhaps, he knew what was coming.

"How would you like to take me to the Depeche Mode Concert, in Tel-Aviv, May 7...and get us backstage passes?"

Martin Gore, Dave Gahan, Andy Fletcher
Depeche Mode, 2012

"Sure," he again calmly replied. He then proceeded to recount for me, in tedious detail, the various steps needed to be taken in order to get backstage passes. His rote explanation from memory of the intensely bureaucratic procedure was flawless, never missing a beat (no pun intended).

As he proceeded, my facial expression became increasingly revealing of my dismay and disappointment.

Usually, when I corner him about something or another, he can get a little freaked out by the confrontation. I thinks it's just me, though.

But, not this time. His calm and centered demeanor never wavered throughout his explanations of the various options which can be taken in order to obtain backstage passes, for big groups, for small groups, for jazz groups, and for rock groups.

This had obviously happened to Ben before, people noodging him about getting them backstage passes.
At the conclusion, all I could muster to say was, "It's so much easier in California. All you have to do is sleep with the right people."

Normally, I would have expected an awkward pause at this juncture.

But, not this time. Ben just gave me a shrug of his shoulders, then after the pause, said, "Ill see what I can do."

Overhearing our conversation, by accident, of course, was another friend. This one worked for the Jerusalem Post.

"Why didn't you just ask me?" he exclaimed. "I work with the guy who does the music reviews. He gets tickets and backstage passes all the time!"

Apparently, he had NOT overheard the part about how complicated it was to get backstage passes, let a lone concert tickets, in Israel.

"Yeah, sure," I said, desperately trying to hold up a smile, and not let it seem too fake. "Give it a shot. Let me know."

Meanwhile, somewhere in the back of my mind, a tiny little voice was whispering, "Maybe God doesn't want you to go to the Depeche Mode concert."

"Perish the thought!"

In 2006, they canceled their concert. In 2009, I couldn't go, no money and no time off from work besides.

The third time's the charm, as they say.

Will The Almighty allow me to hang on to this last bit of galuth (exile) enjoyment? Should I feel guilty about going, and paying enough money for two weeks of food, to sit in the crappiest seats possible? What about feeling guilty about going, while everyone else is celebrating the reunification of the City of Jerusalem in 1967?

Stay tuned.

More will be revealed. 

Depeche Mode Returns To Israel!

ו' לחודש האחד עשר תשע"ג

OK. So, I'm late in blogging about this.  I wanted to coordinate this with another post, which hasn't happened yet, so no matter.

David Gahan, Ramath Gan, May 2009 (Photo: Yaron Brener)

YNET: Depeche Mode Returning To Israel
Four years after rocking 50,000 fans in Ramat Gan, British band to perform at Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park in summer of 2013 

Or Barnea, October 15, 2012

British electronic music band Depeche Mode will be returning to Israel in the summer of 2013, four years after its first concert in the Holy Land. This time, the band will perform at Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park, most likely in May.

The concert, which will be held as part of a new international tour, will include the band's songs from all times. Full details about the show will be revealed in the coming weeks.

In May 2009, Depeche Mode performed at the Ramat Gan Stadium to an audience of some 50,000 people. (cont.)

Depeche Mode didn't quite make it to Israel in 2006, and I didn't make it to their concert in 2009.  I would really like to make it this year.  Interestingly enough, they will playing on Yom Yerushalayim, the 45the anniversary of the reunification of the Holy City.

I am not sure how that date was decided upon.  But, it wouldn't be the first "coincidence" for Depeche Mode and Israel.  In 2006, their concert was scheduled for the night immediately following Tisha b'Av fast, when it is still forbidden to listen to live music, as the Miqdash (Temple) burned throughout the night and into the morning.  In the end, that concert was cancelled, due to concerns from their crew over the Second Lebanon War, engaged in at the time.

According to an article on Reuters, Gahan said at a press conference, "To be making music for more than half our lives ... it's pretty incredible to still be able to do that."

Andy Fletcher, Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, 1981

I started listening to Depeche Mode in 1984.  but, the band's first album "Speak And Spell," was released in 1981.  That's over 30 years ago!

Martin Gore, Dave Gahan, Andy Fletcher, 2012

The band members are now 50 or 51 years old.  They are getting older,...and so am I.  

They keep on keeping on, developing and improving upon their work.

They have always inspired me, and continue to inspire me to do the same.

*********

This year will also see the release of another album from Depeche Mode.

Depeche Mode - New Album From Depeche Mode Confirmed For March 2013

11 December 2012

Depeche Mode have confirmed that they will be releasing a new album in 2013. It’s confirmed what we all suspected; the band have hardly been secretive about the fact that they’ve been busy writing and recording new music, but this is the first time they’ve given concrete details about the forthcoming longplayer.

The follow-up to 2009’s Sounds of the Universe will reportedly be released in March 2013. Martin Gore and Dave Gahan have done most of the songwriting for this one. Gore has commented “I am very happy with how the album turned out,” Gore commented. “The music has a similar vibe to Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion and I think there are a few songs on the album that are among some of the very best we’ve done” whilst Dave Gahan was equally positive about the new release, saying “The album has a very organic and direct feel to it. It's not a blues record, but it definitely has a soulful vibe. During the recording process we really tried to get the elements of performing and the live show into the album more.”

In a recent interview with Clash magazine, Dave Gahan explained the secret behind the band’s long-lasting success. “We've been through so much. My band has been through everything together for thirty years. It's the one relationship weirdly enough that's survived… I think it's because we have an understanding, myself, Martin and Fletch, We're like brothers. We have the same quibble fights and the same crap going on that we've had for years. It's definitely a sort of family relationship."(cont.)

Haveil Havalim #361: The Post-Shavu'oth 5772 Edition

8 of the Third Month 5772

Founded by Soccer Dad, Haveil Havalim is a carnival of Jewish blogs -- a weekly collection of Jewish & Israeli blog highlights, tidbits and points of interest collected from blogs all around the world. It's hosted by different bloggers each week and jointly coordinated through our Facebook Group.  The term 'Haveil Havalim,' which means"Vanity of Vanities," is from Qoheleth, (Ecclesiastes) which was written by King Solomon. King Solomon built the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and later on got all bogged down in materialism and other 'excesses' and realized that it was nothing but 'hevel,' or in English, 'vanity.'

Let's get right to this week's edition!

Shavu'oth

Shira Salamone at On The Fringe seems to think that the second day of Yom Tov in the diaspora has a different halakhic status that the first day.  Does it?  See what she has to say in Splitting Hairs, So To Speak: Shampooing on Yom Tov.  Personally, I believe that the easiest solution regarding this issue would be to move to Israel.

At Esser Agaroth, I ask "What Did Ruth 'Cling' To?"

The Shiloh Muse asks "Was Ruth A Contemporary Of Chana?"

Yom Yerushalayim

The Real Jerusalem Streets presents Jerusalem Day - 45 Years United.

The Shiloh Muse explains how The Door Was Slammed In The Moshiach's Face.

Anthony Reich at The Israel Situation tells us about Keeping Jerusalem Unified.

Israel

News

Sad news comes to us from Tomer Devorah, Pure Souls Have Ascended.  But, she also brings us some upbeat, Torah news in Mazel Tov to the OU and "TT."  For anyone who doesn't know, "TT" stands for "Torah Tidbits."

Tel-Chai Nation reports that the PLO has arrested more reporters and bloggers.

Rafi at Life In Israel reports on The Haredi "Draft Haredim" Plan.

Julie at Walkable Jerusalem reports on the anniversary of the Versailles wedding hall disaster in A Memorial To Bad Urbanism on Derech Beit Lechem.

Life In Israel

A Soldier's Mother gives Advice To New Army Mothers.

In 60 Days to Redemption And Genivat Daat..., An Aspiring Mekubal clarifies the positions of some rabbis, and defends them against the actions of [yet another] possible nut.

Ariel at The Torah Revolution celebrates Rosh Hodesh with Orwellian Language, Another Hostile Step, and Holy Torah Words, May The Rabbi Be Blessed!

Bat Aliyah brings us G-d Work., learning to feel closer to HaShem.

Trip'n Up Mommy tells us about her Home.

At Esser Agaroth, I ask "Does Rabbi Kahane Need Defending?"

Outside Of Israel

News

Tomer Devorah, thinks They'll blame it on the Jew(s), "it" being what Facebook could do to the U. S. economy.

An Aspiring Mekubal gives his Thoughts On Asifa.

Slice Of Life
Susan Esther Barnes, posting at TCJewFolk.com, shares her thoughts on a song in Eternity Utters.

Jennifer at Adventures In Mama-Land presents an Interview With A Jewish Homeschooler.


Wrap-Up
Well, that's a wrap!

Next week will be hosted by Northern Lights & Reflections.  You may submit your posts to her directly at kosherfrugal@gmail.com.  I recommend that you give our on-line submission form a shot first, so that we can get in the habit of using it.

Would you like to host?  Would you like to connect with fellow bloggers and fans?  Join our Haveil Havalim Facebook Group!