Showing posts with label Jewish Labor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jewish Labor. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

כמה קרוב עלינו לשמור על אויבינו? / How Close Should Israel Keep Its Enemies?

כ׳ לחודש הרביעי תשפ״ה
English follows the Hebrew.
עשר אגורות (2¢):
"שמור את חבריך קרוב; שמור את אויביך קרוב יותר."
- סון דזה
אבל, עד כמה קרובים אנו צריכים לשמור את אויבינו?

הכוונה של הכבה הזו לא לתקוף על הלל פולד. זוהי פשוט תגובה הלכתית לרשומה בתקשורת חברתית מלאת הערות שאינן מבוססות בהלכה אלא ברגשות של התרבות המערבית, שאי אפשר להתעלם מהן.

כמובן, רבים מכם מתעקשים שזו כן התקפה אישית כי אתם רואים את מה שאתם רוצים לרואות, ומבינים את מה שקוראים כפי הרגשות ולא לפי לימודי הלכה עצמה.

(מדובר על היהודים. כמובן הנוצרים והפרוגרסיביים נוהגים לפי רגשותיהם. ככה זה בלי תורה שבעל פה. הם מערביים וצאצאי עשו אחיו של יעקב אבינו. עשו נוהג לפי הרגשות)

אחרי דעתי להלן תראו דעה נוגדת את דעתי על פי ההלכה. אבל אתם לא תמצאו שום הבעת רגשות כאן.

הרבה שמן אני חשבתי על הפסקת כתיבה באתר הזה. אבל עמיתתי תומר דבורה מזכירה לי על מצוות עשה ״לא תעמד על דם רעיך״- (ויקרא יט, טז). כלומר יש מצווה לא לוותר על האחים שלנו אלא להשתדל להציג להם את האמת של התורה.

כרגיל, אני מרגיש כך וכך על כתיבת כתבה כזו. מצד אחד, זוהי הזדמנות מושלמת לנסות להעיר יהודים, ואולי להציל את חייהם וליידע אותם על איזושהי הלכה לא תקינה מבחינה פוליטית. מצד שני, אני מעדיף להמנע מלתת להסברניקים (אנשי הסברה) כמו הלל פולד יותר זמן, אנרגיה ופרסום ממה שמגיע להם.

יש יתרונות וחסרונות.

ולא תחנם
(דברים ז,ב; משנה תורה, הל׳ עבודה זרה י,א-ט)


הרמב"ם מסביר את שלושת חלקיה של מצוות לא תעשה הזו: שלא לתת לגוים חניה בקרקע [בארץ ישראל], יש הגבלות על מתנות לגוי, והימנעות מלספר בשבחם.

חשוב להדגיש שהכוונה של הרמב"ם בישום "עובד עבודה זרה" היא כל גוי שלא גר תושב.

בעל הטורים כותב...
אסור ליתן מתנת חנם לעובד עבודה זרה אבל מותר ליתן לגר תושב שהרי מצווה להחיותו (חושן משפט רמט).
רבים לא חולקים מקביעה זו, שהיא למעשה חוזרת על דברי הרמב"ם.

עם זאת, בהערותיו של הבית יוסף על הדעה של הטור, הוא תומך בהבנתנו לגבי יישום הרמב"ם למונח עובד עבודה זרה.
רבינו: אסור ליתן מתנת חנם לעובד עבודה זרה. לאו לאפוקי ישמעאלים אלא לאפוקי גר תושב דהיינו שקיבל עליו שבע מצוות בני נח וזהו שאנו מצווים להחיותו אבל שאר הגוים כולם דין אחד להם.
כלומר האם מאמינים שמוסלמים עובדים לאותה אלוהות כמו היהודים או לא, והאם הם עובדים לו בשיטה כשרה או לא, בכלל לא חשוב או שייך לעניין.

הבית חדש [ב״ח] מסכים עם הבית יוסף.
כתב בית יוסף לאו לאפוקי ישמעאלים אלא לאפוקי גר תושב דהיינו מקבל עליו שבע מצוות בני נח וזהו שאנו מצווים להחיותו אבל שאר הגוים כולם דין אחד להם עכ״ל ולפי דבריו קשה למה לו לרבינו לכתוב לעובד עבודה זרה ולתת מכשול שיבינו למעט ישמעאלים.
הפסגה הבאה של הערות הב״ח נעדר מכמה גרסאות של של הטור. כנראה זה בגלל צנזורה.
ולפע״ד נראה דלפי שהמלכיות מקפידים אם יזכירו שם גוי בספרינו במקום שאיננו לכבוד על כן הסירו מלת גוי וכתבו במקומו לעובדי עבודה זרה אבל עיקר הנוסחא בספרי רבינו היא אסור ליתן מתנת חינם לגוי וכו׳ וכדאיתא סוף פרק קמא דעבודה זרה.
מכאן ברור. כשהרמב"ם כותב "עובד עבודה זרה" בהקשר של הלכות "עבודה זרה וחוקות הגויים", הוא מתכוון לכל מי שלא גר תושב, כלומר כל גוי שאינו קיבל את שבע מצוות בני נוח וגם כל התורה כולה כהאמת ולא התקבל על ידי בית דין, כגון מוסלמים ונוצרים.

לכן, לפי פוסקים כמו הרמב"ם, הטור, בית יוסף והב"ח, אסור לכתחילה לתת למוסלמים חניה בקרקע בארץ ישראל. קל וחומר, גם אסור לתת לנוצרים.

לא משנה מה אתם חושבים על נוצרים. לא משנה אם אתם מאמינים שהם מתפללים לאותו אלוהים שהיהודים מתפללים "בשיתוף״ או שהם מתפללים ישירות לאל כוזב.

על פי הפוסקים הרשומים לעיל, לא מעודדים נוצרים להתיישב בארץ ישראל למרות הדעות של כמה רבנים.

טוב, אז בואו נחזור לערבים...

עובדים ערבים, קוראים להם פיגועים על ידי מחבלים עצמאיים, או מקרים חד פעמיים, ואז זה קורה שוב. אנחנו מפחדים מנקמה אפשרית מצדם. לכן, אנחנו לא מפטרים אותם. אנחנו גם לא רוצים להעסיק יהודים כדי להחליף אותם מכוון שנצטרך לשלם להם שכר הוגן.

זה תומך בטענה שאנחנו במצב של יד הגוים תקיפה (פחות משליטה יהודית מוחלטת על מולדתנו), וחייבים ללכת על ביצים בתוך מולדתנו.

אני מבין. צריכים להתיחס לערבים יפה, לא למענם, אלא למעננו, ולמען ילדינו.

טיעון התומך בתצפיתו של חברו של הלל פולד במילים פשוטות, איננו במצב של "יד ישראל תקיפה", ארץ ישראל לא בשליטה יהודית מלאה. לכן איננו מסוגלים ליישם את ההלכות המבוססות במצווה לא תחנם לכתחילה.

עם זאת, נראה שהרבנים הציוניים כביכול ממלכתיים (נאמני מדינה למרות סתירותה עם התורה) איננם יכילים להודות בדבר כזה. הצהרה כזו היא לא פחות הודאה בכישלון היוזמה הציונות המודרנית. לכן, הרבנים האלה מעדיפים להשתמש בהרבה מילים, יותר מהנדרש, כדי להמנע מלדבר על העניין ישירות. הם נמנעים מלהתייחס לסוגיה בפועל.

לפעמים הם אף מצטטים מקורות הלכתיים, אך לעתים קרובות כאלה שאינם שייכיים לעניין, כגון פסקי דין שהתירו ליהודים להשתתף בעסקים עם לא יהודים בגולה, כלומר לא בארץ ישראל.

הרבנים הציונים הלא ממלכתיים שמעריכים -- אך גם מבינים את המגבלות של -- המדינה נותנים תשובות ישירות הרבה יותר, כגון...
  • אסור לנו להעסיק עובדים ערבים.
  • אסור לנו להשכיר דירות לערבים.
  • אסור לנו ללמד את ילדינו לעזור לערבים עם בעיות ברכב.

ייתכן שיותר מכמה מילדינו עדיין יהיו איתנו, אם היינו מלמדים אותם את השיעורים הנ"ל.

יותר מכמה מחברינו ובני משפחתנו הבוגרים היו עדיין איתנו, אם היינו הולכים לפי שיעורי התורה הללו, ואם היו לנו יותר רבנים עם האומץ ללמד אותנו אותם.

קיבלתי את ההודעה הזו מחבר.

״רק בישראל... כשמשלוח מרמי לוי מגיע ויש אזעקה... אתה רץ החוצה כדי לוודא שהנהגים הערביים נכנסים לממ״ד שלך.

כי זה מי שאנחנו.
Esser Agaroth (2¢):
"Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer."
- Sun Tzu
But, just how close are we expected to keep our enemies?

No, this is not meant to be an attack on Hillel Fuld. It is a halakhic (Torah legal) response to a post filled with non-halakhically-based, ie. Western feeling comments, which cannot go ignored.

Of course, many of you will insist that this is a personal attack anyway, because you read what you want to read, and understand things the way you want to understand things, just like how you still use your Western feelings to understand halakhah.

I'm talking to the Jews here. The Christians and progressives, of course, operate according to their feelings. That is how it is, when you lack Oral Torah. These Westerners are descendants of Jacob's brother Esau. Feelings are how Esau operates.)

After I state my position below, you will even find the opposite halakhic position. You will not find any feelings present.

I have wanted to finish writing on this blog for a while now. But my colleague Tomer Devorah reminded me of the positive commandment לא תעמוד על דם רעך - (ויקרא יט,טז) Do not stand idly by, literally translated from the Hebrew Do not stand on the blood of your fellow (Lev. 19:16).

As always, I have mixed feelings about such a post. On one hand, this is a perfect opportunity to try to wake Jews up, and possibly save their lives, not to mention informing them of some politically-incorrect halakhah (Torah law). On the other hand, I would rather not give Hasbarites (Israel public relations activists) such as Hillel Fuld any more time, energy, and publicity than they deserve.

It's a trade off.

"...and do not show mercy to them."
(Deut. 7:2; Mishneh Torah, Laws of Avodah Zarah and Non-Jews 10:1-9)


The Rambam explains the three components of this negative commandment: not allowing any non-Jews to gain a foothold in the Land, limitations on gifts to non-Jews, and refraining from saying anything nice about them.

It is important to emphasize that when the Rambam uses the term oved avodah zarah practitioner of foreign worship, often mistranslated as idolatry, he refers to any non-ger toshav (legal non-Jewish resident), in other words any regular non-Jew.

And before any starts screaming they do not hold by the Rambam, the Tur states...
"It is forbidden to give a free gift to a practitioner of foreign worship. But is is permissible to give to a ger toshav, for it is a mitzvah to sustain his life" (Hoshen Mishpat 249).
Many will not debate this statement, which is essentially a restatement of the Rambam.

However, in the Beth Yosef's comments on the Tur, he supports our understand of the Rambam's application of this term.
"This [status of practitioner of foreign worship] does not exclude the Ishmaelites (Arabs / Muslims), rather it excludes a ger toshav, in other words one who has accepted upon himself the seven mitzvoth of B'nei Noah, whom we have a mitzvah to sustain. But the rest of the non-Jews in their entirety have a single status [practitioner of foreign worship]."
In other words, whether you believe that Muslims pray to the same God as Jews, and whether they do so in an appropriate manner or not, is completely irrelevant.

The [uncensored] Bayit Hadash [Bach] concurs with the Beth Yosef.
The Beth Yosef wrote not for the Ishmaelites, but for the resident alien, meaning that he accepts upon himself the seven commandments of the sons of Noah, and this is what we are commanded to revive, but the rest of the Gentiles have the same law for them, and according to his words, it is difficult for our Rabbi to write for a person who worships idols and to provide an obstacle for them to understand except for the Ishmaelites.
This next section of the Bach is often absent from versions of the Tur's work. It is believed that this is due to censorship.
[And according to my humble opinion, it seems that since the "rulers" are careful not to mention the name of a gentile in our books where it is not honorable, they removed the word gentile and wrote in its place for "worshipers of idols," but the main point of the text in our Rabbi's books is that it is forbidden to give a free gift to a non-Jew, etc., and of course the end of the first chapter of avodah zarah (foreign worship).]
From this it is clear that when the Rambam uses the term oved avodah zarah (practitioner of foreign worship) in the context of his Laws of Avodah Zarah and Non-Jews, he is referring to all non-gerei toshav, all non-Jews, who are not accepted as resident aliens of the Land of Israel, such as Muslims, and Christians, and anyone else who does not accept the full truth of the Torah.

So, according to authorities such as the Rambam, the Tur, the Beth Yosef and the Bach, in an ideal world, Muslims would not be allowed a foothold in the Land of Israel. All the more so, neither would Christians.

Remember? Is does not matter how you feel about Christians. It does not matter whether you believe they are praying to the same God that Jews do, but through an intercessor, or if they are praying directly to a false deity.

Under ideal circumstances, according to the halakhic authorities cited above, Christians would not be encouraged to take up residency in the Land of Israel, as some rabbis apparently do not have a problem with.

Now, let's get back to the issue of Arabs...

We would never have ended up in this situation if... simply would not have happened if we had no become so dependent on them. We have suffered terror attacks from Arab workers, call them lone wolves, or one-offs, and then it happens again. We worry about possible retribution from them. So, we don't fire them. We also do not want to hire Jews to take their places, because then we will have to pay workers a decent wage.

I guess this supports the argument that we are in a state of יד הגוים תקיפה (less than total Jewish control over our homeland), and must walk on eggshells within our own homeland.

I get it. Be nice to these Arabs, not for their sakes, but for our own, and for our children's sakes.

Argument in support of the observation made by Hillel Fuld's friend
Simply put, we are not in a state of יד ישראל תקיפה, not in full Jewish control over the Land, thus בדיעבד under the current, less than ideal circumstances, we are unable to implement the halakhoth stemming from the negative commandment לא תחנם lo techonem to the fullest degree.

However, so-called Zionist mamlakhti (diehard state loyalist) rabbis could not possibly bring themselves to admit such a thing, since it would be an admission of the failure of the modern Zionist enterprise. So instead they use a lot words, many more than necessary, and talk around the subject, instead of actually addressing the issue.

Sometimes they will even cite halakhic sources, but often ones which are not relevant, such as those on how Jews were allowed to interact with non-Jews in the golah (exile), ie. not within the Land of Israel. Then when this half-hearted attempt is pointed out to them, their only response to accuse their critics of "picking and choosing," like the Reform Movement, instead of offering a halakhically based counter argument.

Those rabbis who appreciate, yet also understand the limits of, the state (the Religious Zionist Toranim) tend to give much more straightforward answers, such as....
  • No, we should not hire Arab workers.
  • No, we should not rent apartments out to Arabs.
  • No, we should not teach our children to help Arabs out with car trouble.
More than a few of our children might still be with us, if we had taught them the lessons above.

More than a few of our adults friends and family would still be with us, if we had been following these Torah lessons, and had more rabbis with the courage to teach them to us.

Wednesday, March 02, 2016

מי גרם את פיגוע האיבה הזה?/Who is Really to Blame for the Latest Terror Attack?

כ״ג לחודש השנים עשר תשע״ו

English follows the Hebrew.
YNET: יצא למילואים ונתקל במחבלים בפתח ביתו: "לא רציתי שיחזור מקרה משפחת פוגל"
רועי הראל עמד לצאת מביתו בהתנחלות עלי בדרך למילואים וכשפתח את הדלת ראה שני מחבלים מחוץ לביתו עם אלות: "הצלחתי להדוף אותם ולנעול את הבית כשאשתי וחמשת ילדיי בפנים". המחבלים נמלטו לאחר שפצעו את הראל קל וחוסלו זמן קצר לאחר מכן

אלישע בן קימון, יעל פרידסון ואליאור לויעדכון אחרון: 02.03.16

חשד לפיגוע דקירה: שני מחבלים חדרו הלילה (יום ד') להתנחלות עלי בשומרון. הם המתינו מחוץ לבית של תושב המקום, רועי הראל, עם אלות, וכשפתח את הדלת תקפו אותו ונמלטו. מאוחר יותר הם חוסלו וסמוך לזירה נמצאו גם סכין ואקדח מאולתר. המחבלים הם שני נערים בני 17 מהכפר קריות שליד שכם. מדובר בצמד המחבלים ה-12 שיוצא לפיגוע מאז תחילת ההסלמה...
עשר אגורות (2¢):
בטח שאני מתפלל לרפואה שלימה של רועי הראל.

אבל, אני באמת צריך להגיד לכם שהישוב עלי הביא את זה על עצמו?

כן, נראה לי שאני כן צריך. ואז...

הישוב עלי הביא את זה על עצמו.

בשנת 2008, שנה של שפיכות דמים ע״י הערבים דומה לשנה הנוכחית, האתר ״עברית עבודה״ דיווח עובדים ערבים נכנסים לעלי. זאת לא היתה הפעם הראשונה, ולא הפעם האחרונה.

ממש מבהיל אותי שיהודים, ודוקא יהודים שמגוררים ביהודה ושומרון, מתעקשים להאמין ש"הערבים שלנו הם שונים מהערבים ההם." הם גם מסרבים להאמין שהערבים "שלהם" מוכנים לעשות סיור פשוט ולשרטט מפת הישוב למסור טרוריסט שמאיימים אותם. היית מאמין שרק כמה הישובים ביהודה ושומרון מקפיד על מניעת כניסה לערבים?

כמה יהודים נוספים להפצע ולההרג עד שהם יקבלו את העובדה שעבודה ערבית גורמת טרור ערבי?

בוא נקווה ונתפלל שלא יקח הרבה זמן.
YNET: Reserve soldier attacked outside home
Roi Harel stepped outside his home in the West Bank settlement of Eli on his way to reserve duty, when he saw two terrorists outside his home, carrying clubs. They managed to lightly wound Harel, who fought back and then locked himself and his family inside their home. The attackers were found and killed a short while later by IDF soldiers.


Elisha Ben Kimon, 03.02.16

Two terrorists infiltrated the settlement of Eli in the West Bank early Wednesday morning, and attacked a local resident at his doorstep with clubs. They ran away but were killed by security forces soon after. (cont.)
Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Certainly, I pray that Roi Harel will have a complete and speedy recovering from his attack.

But, do I really have to tell you that the town of Eli brought this upon itself?

Yes, I suppose I do.

The town of Eli brought this upon itself.


In 2008, a particular bloody year, the Avodah Ivrit (Jewish Labor) website reported on Arab workers entering Eli. This was not the first sighting, nor by far the last.

It astounds me just how stuck Jews are in this "our Arabs are different," even Jews living in Yehudah and Shomron (Judea and Samaria). They also refuse to believe that "their" Arabs would ever do even simple reconnaissance and draw a map, for a terrorist. Would you believe that only a handful of towns in Yehudah and Shomron are strict about refusing entrance to Arabs?

How many more Jews have to be wounded and killed for them to get it through their thick skulls that Arab labor equals Arab terror?

Hopefully, not too many more.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Jewish BDS

י״א לחודש השישי תשע״ה

In answer to BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) against Israel, which Jews around the world seem to be freaking out about, and begging the goyim to love us, through Hasbarah nonsense, I suggest that we just give them as taste of their own medicine.

We could be more self-sufficient than we think, if we would only stop exporting what we need, such as food from the southern end of Israel, exempt from shemitah (sabbatical year), and other agricultural laws.

Instead of selling telephone and computer parts, desert irrigation and solar power technologies and products for cash or credit, we could get guarantees of sales of food and other things which really need. They reneg on their agreements with us, then they do not get their technologically wondrous, adult toys and toy parts.

Of course, this is all just a pipe dream, as the Israeli Government seems to have other, totally co-dependent and otherwise ridiculous, strategies in mind.

So, if the government is not going to help us do something productive, then why don't we just implement our own Jewish BDS (ie. Torah BDS) against those who are the real problem, those who pander to the non-Torah standards of the "international community?" This includes many Jews in Israel who do not realize that BDS is actually doing the Jewish People a favor, as well as the "Jewish" supporters of BDS against Israel, who are doing so for completely the wrong reasons.

So, who should Jews Boycott, Divest, and Sanction?

Lo Techonem - Do not have mercy (Deut. 7:2)
I have two, local choices for health food: Olam HaTeva (Nature World), owned by a religious family, or the store which employs an Arab, both on Agrippas Street near the Shuq. Which do you suppose I patronize?

You see, if Jews believe that Israel is now in a position of power (יד ישראל תקיפה), within its own Land, then we are not to make it easy for any non-Jews to reside here, save for gerei toshav (resident aliens). This is the position of the Ramba"m (Mishneh Torah, Hil. A"Z, ch. 10).

How anyone identifying himself as a "Religious Zionist" could possible think the Israel is not in such a position of power, I have no idea.

Israel's Chief Rabbinate recently demonstrated its understanding of this halakhah (Torah Law) by granting one non-Jew the status of ger toshav (דעת הראב״ד), desiring someone non Jewish to whom it would be permissible halakhically (according to Torah Law) to sell parts of Eretz Yisra'el (Land of Israel), in order to exempt these Lands from keeping the Laws of Shemitah, the Sabbatical Year (ie. Heter Mekhirah).

Even from a Western perspective, it seems that Jews have bought in to the same old double standards the goyim continue to preach.

LGBTQ's support LGBTQ businesses.

African Americans support African American businesses as a form of self-empowerment.

So do women, and in particular feminists.

But, when a Jew wants to support a Jewish-owned business, then all of a sudden, it's racist.

And, when Muslims and Arabs support Muslim and Arab businesses, it is somehow justified, and we are not allowed to call it discriminatory?

Tura Winery and the P'sagot Winery benefit from Christian "volunteers." Of course, they say that they are committed not to missionize Jews. When they praise God while picking grapes and olives, just exactly who do you think they have in mind? Why, their false deity (and/or messiah and/or intercessor and/or rebbe) of course! Take your pick. It doesn't matter. That's because they have changed their strategies,...for now.

They want a foothold on our Land, believing that they are the true inheritors of The Almighty's favor, and thus Eretz Yisr'ael (Land of Israel). Some believe this inheritance comes with the Jews; some believe it comes without. ( They just a foothold in our Land, and to get some pieces for themselves. Boy do they have a rude awakening coming! LOL!

More and more, Christian missionaries are being protected by the spirit of the State of Israel's spirit of democratic, "freedom of religious expression."

Of course, this deMOCKratic protection applies to everyone, except for those Jews the government feels threatened by, and thus calls "extremists," as they dare to hold Torah Law above that of the man-made mishmash of laws from the Ottoman Empire and British Mandate.

No one, however, is protected from the choices we make as to where we spending our hard earned sheqqels.

Do your own Internet search for "Jewish Labor Israel" and you will see just how scathing the opposition is against this one time source of Jewish national pride.

Although demonized as racist, Avodah Ivrith (Jewish Labor) is a highly effective form of BDS.

For referrals of Jewish owned businesses providing the products and services you need in your area of Israel, visit the Moqed Avodah Ivrith website in Hebrew or contact them in English or Hebrew by phone 1-599-588-588 or by e-mail mokedai@gmail.com.

Treif Sellers
In Jerusalem, there are more stores on Agrippas Street in the area of the Shuq, selling treif (non-kosher food) than ever, not to mention those butcher shops in the center of town!

Need something kosher, an imported product perhaps, which they happen to sell there? Don't think that you can get anywhere else? Well, then take the extra time, and the extra money to buy it at a store which does not sell treif, and which is not open on Shabbath!

Can't find one? Then live without it.

I mean, why on earth would any Religious Jew patronize a store which sells treif ??!!

Why don't you ask the Religious Jew who posted his excitement about "Tel-Aviv's newest hot spot" via Twitter. You can also ask him why he would give them the free publicity.

Prosciutto and shellfish,...but also a selection of kosher products!

Shabbath Violators
I obtained the following list of restaurants opened on Shabbath in Jerusalem from TimeOut טיים אאוט which we should also boycott, except for using it to keep an eye on these issues, I suppose.
...not everything is closed for the Sabbath.

Café Bezalel, Bezalel St. 12
Bezalel is a new entry to the list of Jerusalem businesses which are open Saturdays, and we're already asking ourselves how we ever managed without it. The café, located opposite the building that used to house the founder of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, is a young and vibrant coffee house. Its menu changes throughout the day and fits any and all meals. On Fridays the external seating area becomes part of the Bezalel arts and crafts fair, filling the street with people and colors.

Talbiya, Chopin St. 3
Israeli top chefs Assaf Granit, Yossi Elad and Uri Navon long ago established the famous Machne Yuda group, which operates restaurants all over the city. Though the eponymous flagship restaurant is not open on weekends, the group's Mona and Hasadna certainly are. Now the two are joined by a third sister, Talbiya. Talbiya is defined as a wine bar and functions during the day as a café. Next to your coffee you can enjoy freshly made baked goods, while next to your wine you can choose from various elegant dishes by chef Nir Levi. The meticulously designed space and selection of seating options make Talbiya the perfect host for your weekend.

Zoni, Yoel Moshe Salomon St. 15
Zoni is your regular around-the-clock brasserie, except for the view out the windows: instead of Paris you get to look out at the picturesque back streets of Nahalat Shiv'a. The atmosphere inside, however, still maintains a certain European air, with black leather seats, dark hardwood floors, a wide bar and waiters in fine uniform. The menu, which changes between breakfast, lunch and dinner, is similarly full of treats from far away lands. Recommendations are endless but you will be wise to keep one thing in mind: the french toast – available in all three menus – is by itself reason enough for pilgrimage.

Uganda Bar, Aristobulus St. 4
...Uganda is simultaneously a bar, a café, a hummus joint, a music venue and a CD, vinyl and comic book store. Its different parts all fit in harmoniously under a single roof while still making you feel right at home. Tourists, students, youth and adults all fill the space from noon to the following morning, with the atmosphere constantly changing.

Beit HaKava, Yanay St. 3
“Every drink has its place,” wrote S. Y. Agnon, nearly prophesying this unique café, which in turn is named in an appropriately Agnonesque fashion. Decorating the walls are items as carefully chosen as the dishes on the menu. Some of the dishes are regular while others change daily, and all are written casually on the chalkboard. The small café is located in the renovated Yanai street, hiding from the ever noisy Shlomzion street like a well kept secret. Beit HaKava is slowly turning into a true weekend gem and was recently joined by another weekend-strong café, Etz Cafe.

Adom, David Remez St. 4
The opening of the First Station Plaza is great news for Jerusalem weekenders, as it does not entirely shut down for Shabbath. Adom, which became a serious establishment since its opening in 2001, relocated to First Station from its previous location at Feingold Yard. Here it continues to host guests even – or maybe especially – on weekends. You will feel truly privileged to sit in Adom's sleek space and glance at their menu, which specializes in fresh seafood and fish. Completing the culinary experience is a selection of meats, pastas, salads and a wide array of wines.

Cafe Smadar, Lloyd George St. 4
On weekends the German Colony gets to show its quiet side, as the businesses on Emek Refaim street close shop and all that's left is a green and peaceful residence area. One who seeks carefully will be reworded with finding Cade Smadar...

Link, HaMa'alot St. 3
...Surrounded by a green yard and with plenty of seating arrangements, this bar-restaurant offers a lovely pastime option for the whole family...
Aroma Espresso Bar
Notice some of the words I highlighted, some probable code for treif, as well as suggestions of being in a hidden away location. Good! These restaurants should be embarrassed, as should be their customers!

Personally, I would add Aroma to this list. The Aroma in town on Hillel Street and the one on Hebrew University, Mt. Scopus are also open on Shabbath, not to mention countless other branches.

I was pretty surprised that Aroma, with its crappy coffee, and even worse service, but which everyone slobbers over anyway, did not make the top ten favorite Shabbath hangouts.

Besides boycotting such places, operating on Shabbath, some have suggested more active protesting as well.

Many have heard of Haredi protests against businesses open on Shabbath. But, Haredim are not the only ones organizing protesting. There have been public tefilloth Shabbath (Shabbath prayers) outside of a restaurants on Azza Street and Betzalel Street.

By the way, do you want to see a movie? Well, don't see it at Yes Planet. No doubt you have heard of the complex's recent, grand opening, and commitment to operating on Shabbath.

What's the problem if you see a movie during the week? The problem is that you are supporting a business which is open on Shabbath., and thus encouraging countless Jews to violate Shabbath.

Yes Planet - Jerusalem
Nir Barakat
Mayor of Jerusalem
Last, but definitely not least on the Jewish BDS list is the Mayor of Jerusalem himself, Nir Barakat.

How was this Kadima Party, and now independent, mayor was able to get elected in a city with a majority of voters registered with United Torah Judaism, Likud, and Jewish Home parties?

...An internal, Haredi squabble and left-wing, anti-Haredi fear mongering targeting the Religious Zionist voters in the city.

And, now, we see even see Haredi politicians willing to settle for a compromise on the Yes Planet Shabbath debacle!


Mayor Barakat does not just support the Yes Planet Mall, and its operation on Shabbath, he supports more than a few initiatives which contradict the Torah.

You see, it is crucial to keep in mind that the Torah is not just about "Shabbos and Kashrus shailos;" it concerns every facet of a Jew's life.

Do you want Torah or democracy? You do not honestly believe that you can have both, do you?

Saturday, October 28, 2006

On Jewish Labor

Mossa'ei Shabbath Parshath No'ah 5767

Over the past month or so, I have been following the posts on Blogs Of Zion related to the relationship between Jews and non-Jews in Eress Yisrael:

Racism In Israel?
by Zachary Katowitz, 25 Oct., 2006

"All Citizens of Israel Deserve Our Support"
by Ariel Beery, 16 Oct., 2006

Helping Those Who Live Amongst Us - The Ger, along with the Widow and Orphan
by Ariel Beery, 12 Sept., 2006

Below I provide my "Esser Agaroth" on what is presented there, the original, primary purpose of this blog. I highly recommend that you check out Blogs Of Zion, and chime in....

It is true that Jews have always fought for the rights of others. It is ashame that we have not, fought for Jewish rights, not in a long, time. We all seem to be concerned about what the goyim think, than what we think of our own self-worth, let about what HaShem thinks. (Sure, there are those "hallacha according to feelings" types. But they will be addressed in the future.)

Rabbi Me'ir David Kahane ZTz-LFew remember that it was the [politically-incorrect] Rabbi Meir Kahane ZTz"L HY"D who raised the issue of the Jews in the Soviet Union, their oppression and suffering, while the prim and proper Jewish rganizations in the U. S. sat by and did nothing, because they didn't want to rock the boat. In fact they did worse than nothing. They fought against his efforts.

Then when I was in college in the mid-80's, it was acceptable for us fight for the release of our brothers and sisters in the former Soviet Union. Rabbi Kahane didn't care about the credit; he cared about saving Jewish lives. It just gets me how easily, and "conveniently" people forget....

In a nutshell, Jews recall the pasuq in Parshath Shoftim:

"צדק צדק תרדוף"

"Justice, justice, you shall pursue..."


But, they always forget the continuation:

למען תחיה וירשת את-הארץ אשר ה' אלוהך נותן לך - דברים טז:כ

"...so that you may live and inherit the land that HaShem your God gave to you." - Deuteronomy 16:20


Bottom line, HaShem gave it to us (See RaSh"I on Genesis 1:1), and not to the Yishma'eim (Arabs) nor Edomim (Rome).

We pursue justice not so that we can get along with the goyim, in or out of the Land, but because HaShem commands us to do so. Incidentally, the goyim are also required to set up courts, and to pursue justice (Genesis 9, Mishnah Torah). Everyday that goes by when we refuse to accept the gift which can be so easily accepted, we are spitting in HaShem's face, Has we'Hallilah!

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Zachary has stated that he does not believe in justice for non-Jews for the above reasons, but because he believes it is the right thing to do. For this, I have to respect Zachary, not because I agree, or disagree, with him. But because he does not seem to make any bones about where he is coming from. He does not try to pretend that he believes this to be the Hallachah. At least he hasn't said so. I want to be careful not to put words in his mouth. But, so far he really seems to be consistent in his reasoning. So, I can't really argue with him, unless I get into "the Hallachic way of life is the proper way of life for all Jews" mode. And, although I do believe that, I do not believe it's always the best course of action. Call me selfish, but I am interested in meeting Jews from diverse backgrounds, as long as they (we) are willing to listen.

Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon ZTz-LAnother Blogger Of Zion is still searching for a non-existent source from the Ramba"m claiming that "ger" refers to a non-Jew. I have a "feeling" I know where that argument will lead...to "feelings."

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I responded to Zachary's response to my response to his piece (did that make any sense?) thusly...

I was providing you with my preception of the actions of the Jewish People. I have no doubt that their are many like you who believe that this is the proper course of action. However, I believe that as a people this is part of our cycle of attempting to assimilate, 2) not getting acceptance anyway, 3) then repeating the same mistake over again expecting different results.

I do not believe for a minute that this (the above) is the Torah (Read: Hallachic) perspective, but rather a Western (Edomi, New Roman Empire, European) one.

The hallachah regarding the status of Yishma'elim, or any group of people which lays claim to the land of Israel, is that they are to be treating as a threat, and are obligated to the punishment.

Now here's the REALLY politically-incorrect (Read: what "feels" weird to many because we've [Ashkinazim, anyway] been influenced by the Edomi/Roman/European mentality and culture for roughly 1,700-2,000 yrs.) part:

The common people have this same status as their leadership. This, I believe, many, if not most Jews in the World find problematic. I can't repeat enough the dictate that "feelings" do not [for the most part] play a role in determining the hallacha.

Now, in regard to Avodah Ivrith (Jewish Labor), there is another component to my personal perscetive with which you may even agree.

I happen to believe that we, Jews, need to take full responsibility for ourselves, and that includes cleaning up our own trash, building our own houses and streets, shepherding our own herds, and otherwise growing and raising our own food. So, my attitude anyway, is not just an anti-Arab attitude; it is a pro-Jewish, getting up off our proverbial tuchuses and doing for ourselves attitude. Our dependence on the Yishma'elim and other foreign workers is another component of our social psychological malaise.

Another component if the "if you're not a doctor, lawyer, or accountant, then you're nothing" attitude in much of American Jewish society, has filtered its way into Israel, too. Now the big thing is "high tech." I believe that is also a maskili/Western Jewish (& not terribly old) attitude which is unhealthy. (BTW, yes, I am willing to do these various jobs, and DO get my hands dirty in the fields when I can. For some reason, people in the comunity felt that I would be better suited to being an English teach. Go figure....)

This attitude put forth by the (mostly non-religious) Ashkinazy Jews in the 5700-5720's (40's & 50's) was responsible for the horrendous treatment of Sephardim, Iraqim and Temanim, as their cultures were not considered to be on par with their Ashkinazy counterparts.

Do you detect a little socialism? I hope so,...but no that much.

There is, also, a practical, hallachic matter here:

פיקוח נפש דוחה את כל המצוות כולן חוץ משלוש

The saving/protecting of Jewish life takes precedence over all other misswoth save for three (murder, forbidden sexual relations, and avodah zarah).

It only takes one Arab to kill one time, say by attempting to poison customers at Cafe Rimon. It doesn't matter [hallachicly] how many Arabs are inconvenienced or as you say "oppressed," as long as even one Jewish life is saved or protected from harm.

Politically incorrect? Perhaps. But, that is the perspective from where I am coming. Once again I realize that's not the perspective from which everyone approaches such issues on this blog (Blogs Of Zion).

Would you be pleased to hear that Adi Ginsburg, the big moser nefesh (self-sacraficer) behind much of the effort to get Jonathan Pollard released, was arrested and harrassed by the ,the universalist, globalizationist, Israeli [Erev Rav] police for a website encouraging support for Avodah Ivrith. Well, he was, and he was forced to take it down after threats, unrepeatable here.

You may not like the so-called "racial" implications here, but what about the additional clear evidence that rights to freedom of speech is not distributed equally in Israel? And all he was doing was to say "support such-and-such business...."

But, of course, that does not make the news like a goyah in the north supposedly not getting a job because she was not Jewish.

I'll end with some good news:

Arab Interest in Emigration Soars
by Gil Zohar, 4 Marheshwan 5767/26 Oct., 2006

The percentage of Arabs in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza (Yesha) willing to relocate abroad jumped to 32%, according to a Birzeit University survey last month....(click here for more)

Let's hope the leftist pons of the Erev Rav Israeli government do not block the emmigration lines, begging the Yishma'elim to stay,...like they did back in 5709 (1949).

Talk about trying to undo the work of HaShem!

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Notes:

1) A memorial event for Rabbbi Me'ir David be Yehezqail HaKohen Kahane ZTz"L HY"D will be held this Wednesday, 10 Marheshwan 5767/Nov. 1, 2006, 5:00pm at the Caesar Hotel in Jerusalem. A Hebrew shi'ur at 5:00pm will be followed by a brief concert by Dov Shurin at 6:00pm, and by speakers Yequti'el Ben-Ya'aqov, Shifrah Hoffman, and Atty. Barukh Ben-Yosef, and Shmu'el Cytryn in English at 7:00pm. Space is limited, please RSVP to mishallyisrael@yahoo.com.

2) I have it on high authority that the Avodah Ivrith blog will shortly be back up and running after a long hiatus.