Nos frères et sœurs juifs français doivent immigrer en Israël! (Our French Brothers and Sisters Must Move to Israel!)

כ׳ לחודש העשירי תשע״ה
Anniversary of the death of Rabbi Moshe ben-Maimon
over 800 years ago

JPost.com: Twelve dead, four wounded critically in shooting at headquarters of French satirical newspaper

Reuters, January 7, 2015

Shooters reportedly say, "We have avenged the Prophet," as they enter offices of Charlie Hebdo with Kalashnikov guns.

PARIS - Hooded gunmen stormed the Paris offices of a weekly satirical magazine renowned for lampooning radical Islam, killing at least 12 people, including two police officers in the worst militant attack on French soil in recent decades.

One of the men was captured on video shouting "Allah!" as four shots rang out. Two assailants are then seen calmly leaving the scene and remain at large.

Charlie Hebdo (Charlie Weekly) is renowned for courting controversy with satirical attacks on political and religious leaders and has published numerous cartoons lampooning the Prophet Mohammad. The last tweet on its account mocked Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the militant Islamic State, which has taken control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria.

"This is a terrorist attack, there is no doubt about it," President Francois Hollande told reporters after rushing to the scene of the attack. His government raised France's security level to the highest notch and scheduled an emergency cabinet meeting...

...Another 20 people were injured in the attack, including four or five critically. (cont.)

At least two of those murdered, Georges Wolinski and Dr. Elsa Cayat, were Jewish. May God avenge their blood!

Interestingly enough, Charlie Hebdo is a left-wing magazine, and is not unknown for poking fun at Jews and Christians, as well as Muslims. Read Debbie Schlussel's full report.

JPost.com: Four dead at Paris kosher market after raid; one hostage taker on the run, Hebdo gunman killed

JPost.com Staff, Reuters, January 9, 2014

Report: the hostage taker said he belonged to ISIS and his female accomplice is still on the run, according to CNN.

PARIS - Four hostages were killed and four others were critically wounded as a result of a hostage standoff in a kosher supermarket in eastern Paris on Friday.

One hostage taker, Amedy Coulibaly, was killed during the police raid, but it is believed he had a female accomplice, 27-year-old Hayat Boumeddiene -- who remains at large, according to a CNN report. The report says that Coulibaly and Boumeddiene have been in a relationship since 2010.

During a conversation with local French media during the hostage crisis, Coulibaly claimed to choose the supermarket because it was Jewish and said he was part of ISIS, according to CNN .

French media reported on Friday that the police raided the kosher supermarket where a gunman took at least five people hostage. At least 14 hostages were freed in the raid, press has reported. (cont.)

As a result,...

JPost.com: Landmark Paris synagogue closes on Shabbat for first time since World War II

The synagogue was evacuated during the kosher market siege, Le Monde reported on Friday, and did not reopen for services on Friday night. (cont.)

Paris, France
Northeastern Quarter

So, the Grande Synagogue de Paris, a good 5km (3mi) away from the besieged kosher market, was evacuated and closed during and after the attack on the Charlie Hedbo satirical weekly.

Why wasn't the Synagogue de Tournelles? Not only does it lie within closer proximity to the kosher market which was under siege, and it is also no stranger to sieges itself. During the anti-Israel, pro-Gaza (AKA: "Israel should lay down and die, and not defend itself.") protests last July, hundreds of Jews were trapped inside, until police arrived to "rescue" them.

And the Synagogue de Nazareth? I could not find any reports on this synagogue either.

Odd, to say the least.

It seems to me the French Jews were doomed long ago...  

Washington Times: Muslims segregated from French society in growing Islamist mini-states

Rowan Scarborough, January 7, 2015

A backdrop to the massacre in Paris on Wednesday by self-professed al Qaeda terrorists is that city officials have increasingly ceded control of heavily Muslim neighborhoods to Islamists, block by block.

France has Europe’s largest population of Muslims, some of whom talk openly of ruling the country one day and casting aside Western legal systems for harsh, Islam-based Shariah law. (cont.) 

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
French Jews are still not out of danger. As Yishma'el (Arabs/Muslims) slaughters us, and whoever else gets in the way of slaughtering us, Esau (The West - Progressives and Christians) comes at us with with hugs, reassuring words, and money.

Will all of the French Jews actually leave France? Will they move to Israel? Will some be taken in by the trappings of North America? Many French Jews of North African origin have already ended up in Montreal, yet another bastion of growing Jew-hatred.

How many French Jews, sitting on the fence of self-identification, choose to identify themselves as French, and not as Jews? How many French Jews will respond to the recent, horrifying events, by staying away from all things Jewish, instead of moving closer to their communities?

And worst of all, how many French Jews will heed the words of so-called, European Jewish "leaders" who tell them "not to give up," but to "stay and fight?"

After all,...

VOA: Charlie Hebdo continues
Also Friday, the French newspaper Liberation made room for the surviving Charlie Hebdo journalists to prepare the satirical weekly’s next edition. The newspaper plans to print 1 million copies, 30 times its regular run.

Charlie Hebdo journalists and cartoonists have returned under heavy police protection, Reuters said.

"Since a long time, Charlie Hebdo and Liberation are seen, are like brothers. It's like a fraternity," Liberation editor Pierre Fraidenraich said. His paper had welcomed Charlie Hebdo staff after the newspaper was firebombed in 2011.

Fraidenraich said his newspaper would host the Charlie Hebdo team for "all the time they want."

Who knows how many Jews are still involved. Nevertheless, if there are any, why on earth would they stick around? Probably, because within their ideological minds, they do not have any choice.

Yishma'el is dangerous. Except to those of us in deep, delusional denial, this is not a secret.

Esau is dangerous, but many cannot, or will not, see this, because of how sneaky they are about it, about seductive, with physical pleasures, avodah zarah, or money.

The Erev Rav, descendants of the false converts who came with us out of Egyptian exile, and their pawns, are still very much around, causing problems from within, and discouraging.

Israeli Government officials appear to be supportive of French Jews, and encouraging their immigration to Israel. Yet, I do hope that nos frères et sœurs juifs français, our French Jewish brothers and sisters, get over their honeymoon period quickly, and do not expect anything from the Israeli Government.

There are well-established French-speaking communities, especially in Jerusalem and in Netanyah, not mention significant numbers of French-speaking families, living in small towns, such as Kokhav Ya'aqov, Eli, Ofra, Kokhav HaShahar, and Alon Shevuth.

I hope that these new immigrants from France listen to these veterans, and glean from their experience, strength, and hope, rather than depending on the government.

But, that can all be worked out later. The time has long passed for French Jews to get on the plane already.  

Embarquer dans l'avion pour Israël!

In contrast to the spin on Jewish emigration in the mainstream news, Jews leaving France and the rest of Europe is a good thing, albeit it is happening in a more painful way than necessary. Although the plans of quite a few Jews to relocate to Israel are simply being expediated, many are leaving France not for purely ideological reasons, because Israel is the Jewish People's only true homeland (not France, not the U. S., not the UK, etc.). Rather, they are running for their lives.

Nevertheless, the ends are the same, as they should be, Jews returning to, and re-settlling our Promised Land.

Isn't it ironic how the same Muslims who demand that Jews remove themselves from parts, and eventually all, of our Homeland, are actually causing more and more Jews to come back to it, due to their threats of annihilation.

Their plan will, of course, backfire in the end. The Almighty is on our side, and appears to have had enough taunting of His People. (Ezeq. 36)

For Men Only: Esser Agaroth's Miqwah (Mikveh) Guide

ט"ז לחודש הראשון תשע"ג

I am sure that there are women sneaking peeks at this post, even though it is only for men. And so, I will try to be modest careful with my wording. If you would like more detailed information about men and miqwa'oth (Jewish ritual baths), you may contact me personally by leaving a comment, which will only be published if you say so, or you may contact your local [Orthodox] rabbi.

Miqwah customs for men vary greatly. Many Hassidim tovel (immerse) everyday. Even though the gezirah of Ezra haSofer has not been in force for some time now. Some Jews tovel Erev (afternoon before) Shabbath and Erev Yom Tov. Others only before Yom Tov (holiday). Still others, only on Shavu'oth and Erev Yom Kippur, or just Erev Yom Kippur, which many consider to be a universal custom among Jews.

One of the first things I learned about the miqwah was the custom of not covering oneself with a towel or otherwise, so as not to show embarrassment over ones brith milah of Avraham Avinu. The are customs of specific groups related to tzni'uth (modesty), such as Satmar and Toldos Aharon/Avraham Yitzhaq Hassidim, and others. However, if you do not have these group specific customs, I would like to suggest that any issues with nudity in front of other men may stem from the values and sensibilities you grew up with in galuth (exile), and may want to look a look at those. Just a suggestion...

Below are my list of pet peeves, to help you lighten up about taking advantage of your local miqwah. But, the bottom line, in my opinion, is better to go to the miqwah, and do what is comfortable for yourself (ie. covering yourself with a towel), than not go at all.

After the pet peeves is a review of the miqwa'oth where I have been, followed by a couple of helpful miqwah links.

Esser Agaroth's (2¢) Miqwah Pet Peeves

10. Men who take up more bench space and wall hooks than they actually need.

9. Men who do not take responsibility for their children's behavior,...in OR outside of the miqwah.

8. Children who play around in the pools, and do not allow men room enough room to tovel. (*Children who do get out of the way, and only play when no one needs the space are fine, in my book, but should be supervised.)

7. Men who are super-duper uptight,...and think that everyone else should be,.

6. Men who want to impose their customs on everyone else.

5. Men who go into the miqwah without washing, either in the available showers there, or at home.

4. Men who splash all over the place when they tovel, and do so voraciously.

3. Men who doing cannonballs to enter the miqwah. (Yes! I have personally witnessed this!)

2. Men who tovel (dunk/immerse) a bazillion times, when there is a line, and room for for only one or two.

And Esser Agaroth's (2¢) No. 1 miqwah pet peeve is...

1. Men brushing up against me, when they have to yet to shower. That's not just inconsiderate; it's gross!

The Esser Agaroth (2¢) Miqwah Guide
(listed from north to south)

The Ariza"l's Miqwah, Tzfath

Tzfath:
Ariza"l's Miqwah - Freezing!! I was told that this feeling was due to the difference in temperature of the water vs. the air in the summer. Heimish (homey). Room for only one at time, so I hope that you don't get stuck in line behind someone with the custom of dunking over a hundred times!

The Kinnereth (Sea of Galilee) - I was here once with friends, and enjoyed it. Swimming out far enough provided plenty of privacy. Friends can guard each others bathing suits while toveling. See the notes below on The Mediterranean, as well.

The Mediterranean Sea - depends on where you go for your miqwah experience. I, myself, have only been to Tel-Aviv (religious beach - heimish), Netanyah (salty), and Nahariyah (very nice). The only advice I would give to you is to find an uncrowded, quiet place, not just for your privacy, but for kewannah (intention, thoughts). Please also do not go alone. The old, curmudgeony lifeguard in me insists on reminding you how dangerous the sea (and pools) can be, no matter how good of a swimmer you are. Anyone can bump his head by accident, or get sucked out by a particularly strong riptide and drown (לא עלינו).

Giv'ath Shmu'el:
Add this miqwah to the list of uptight communities. The advantage of this miqwah is that it is not very crowded, even though there are only four showers and one pool. Even Erev Yom Kippur I did not have to wait long to dunk. Everyone went in and out in an orderly fashion. Giv'ath Shmu'el is a Tel-Aviv suburb, surrounded by Petah Tiqwah, B'nei B'raq, and Bar-Ilan University

Har Berakhah:
On the way to the main town from the Hawarah Road, there is a natural miqwah on the left. There is willow tree conveniently located there, too, where many cut their "arvoth" for their lulavim an Hoshana Rabba bundles.


K'far Tapu'ah:
The now closed, old miqwah was very heimish. Once in a while we would dunk on hot Shabbath afternoons. The new miqwah, which is the old women's miqwah is nothing to write home about.

Eli:
B'nei David Yeshivah - Very small, not a lot of room in the entire space. Four men would feel crowded, six even if you're close friends.

Between Shilo and Eli there is a natural miqwah on the way to the Eli Cemetery. Many have told me that they like this miqwah. It's popular for kids to go down there.  But, be careful.  There has been at least one terrorist attack there.

Shiloh:
Old - Heimish, but is it still open? It is also down at the bottom of the hill.  Once you climb back up to the top of the town, you're already sweaty! The new miqwah in the Hesder Yeshivah, is extremely uptight! Individual changing rooms. A pain in the neck, having to knock and wait for someone to come and open the door. This is my least favorite miqwah.  Although, I have been told that is it kasher for ascending Har HaBayith, and those who tovel for that purpose are not required to pay.  So, that is on the plus side, being supportive of ascending Har HaBayith.

Beth El B'
Standard, heimish, not uptight. Plenty of private shower stalls. Private, one at a time, pool available.

Ofra:
Private showers and bath-rooms available. My guess is that it's the old women's miqwah.

Jerusalem:

Photo Credit: Lametayel

Batei Rand, Nahla'oth - Shy men be forewarned! There are no secrets in this miqwah! There are three pools, and it's very heimish. But, it can get very crowded Erev Shabbath in the afternoon. So arrive early. The kelim miqwah (shown left) is always open. I large rocks sits on top of the cover to prevent any hazards.

Lifta - Below the Giv'ath Sha'ul and Mattersdorf neighborhoods, at the entrance to the city, below the Ramot Road, Lifta is formed by the outpouring of a natural, underground spring. People can be seen bringing empty bottles to fill for drinking. I would make sure that no one is touring the cave with muddy shoes, before deciding to do the same. Lifta was once the name of the surrounding village, abandoned by Arabs during the Israeli War of Independence. The main problem is that it is crowed in the summer, including women and families, which makes toveling awkward.

Zupnik on Strauss St.

Zupnik, Strauss Street (Eidah Haredis) - One of, I believe, only two miqwa'oth in Jerusalem with steam rooms. The other one, I was told, is somewhere in the Ramath Shlomo neighborhood. I have heard that men are now required to wear a towel-skirt in order to go into the steam room. There are other restrictions, too. I recommend asking before entering. A long list of rules is on the wall inside. This miqwah installed automatic water shut-off nozzles long ago, for water conservation. I believe that all miqwa'oth should do the same.

Stern's, Me'ah She'arim - Refurbished, heimish, plenty of room. The men are know to share showers, military style, so you don't have to waste time waiting, when it is crowded. There are three good sized pools, hot, warm, and cold.

Zupnik, Giv'ath Sha'ul - Cleaner than most, never too crowded, except close to sheqi'ah. The Kelim Miqwah is always open. It's high enough and on an angle to prevent children from getting into it.

R' Hayim Vital Street, Giv'ath Sha'ul - Pretty standard, two pools, plenty of room, 9 or 10 showers. Friendly.

Beth HaKerem - Small, can get crowded later in the afternoon. The kelim miqwah is open on Erev Shabbath.

Erloi Yeshivah, corner of Rachel Imeni and Hizqiyahu HaMelekh, Old Qatamon - old school, very mixed, as in all kinds of men are seen there. Don't be afraid to ask "What do I do now that I'm here?" They're used to it.

Rehovoth
Rabbanuth - a few blocks south of the Central Bus Station - Nice, clean, multiple changing rooms, pools on both ends, cold on one side, hot on the other. They is at least one other miqwah in Rehovoth run by Vizhnitzer Hassidim.

Bat Ayin:
I have not been to this natural miqwah south of Jerusalem myself, but I have been told that it is the favorite of many. A man-made structure surrounds it.

Ein Gedi:
The Hidden Waterfall, up from to The Dead Sea - the "other" trail, which begins south of the main trail, is less crowded. The goal is to reach the "hidden waterfall," a great spot for toveling and picnicking alike. There is an entrance fee.

Eilat:
The Red Sea - I have been living in Israel for almost 16 years, and still haven't made it to Eilat! One of these days...

Miqwah Resources

Mikveh Net

Mikvah.org

Yahoo!'s GeoCities To Close October 26, 2009

Mossa'ei Shabbath Qodesh Parshath Pinhas 5769

Back in May of this year, I passed on the message that Yahoo!'s GeoCities To Close Later This Year. I only mentioned this, as I have been using GeoCities to host the images presented on my blog, and thought that some of you might be doing the same.

Well, after receiving the following e-mail message, I see that the date has now been set.

My comments can be found below in blue italics.

*********

Important notice: GeoCities is closing.
Dear Yahoo! GeoCities customer,

We're writing to let you know that Yahoo! GeoCities, our free web site building service and community, is closing on October 26, 2009 (8 of the Eighth Month 5770).

On October 26, 2009, your GeoCities site will no longer appear on the Web, and you will no longer be able to access your GeoCities account and files.

What You Need to Do
If you'd like to move your web site, or save the images and other files you've posted online, you need to act now by choosing one of the following options:

Move your site to Yahoo! Web Hosting.
We know your files are important to you, and we want to make moving to Web Hosting as easy and affordable as we can. For a limited time, you can move your files automatically, take advantage of terrific features like a personalized domain name and email, even redirect your GeoCities web address to your new site — all for only $4.99 a month for a full year.

For more information and complete terms, please see our special offer now.
(Yeah, right, and have that close down, too? I'll be looking into Picassa, Flicker, and other options instead.)


Download your files to your own computer.
With your pages and images saved offline, you can re-create your site with any hosting provider.

To quickly download your published files, visit your GeoCities web site, right-click on each page, and choose Save Page As... from the menu that appears. Choose a location on your computer to save your files, then click OK or Save. Learn more about downloading your files.

Don't Wait
Please be aware that after October 26, your GeoCities files will be deleted from our servers, and will not be recoverable. If you'd like to save your files, you must download them now or move to Yahoo! Web Hosting. If you need assistance, please visit the help center.

We want to thank you for being a GeoCities customer, and hope you continue to enjoy our other Yahoo! services.

Best regards,

The Yahoo! GeoCities team

Beach Grievance

24 of the Third Month 5769

Well, there I was in Tel-Aviv, minding my own business, my only desire to exercise my unalienable right to go to the beach, have sand kicked in my face, matkot balls fly at my head, buy overpriced junk food and drinks, and have obnoxious things yelled at me by notoriously anti-religious lifeguards, who seem to think that each and everyone of us is named "Yankiv."

Then I encountered it, the wall. There was a wall blocking the pass over to the separated beach (See the notes below) from HaYarqon and Nordau Streets. I turned south, believing that I would eventually be able to cross over to the beach through Independence Park, or so I thought.

A blaring sign near the Hilton Hotel read that the park was closed for renovations. The entire park was sealed off. So, I returned northward, turned left on Havaquq HaNavi Street, and finally arrived. It was 4:30 already. I like going this late. The crowds have thinned, and the sun is a bit less intense.

I laid down to relax. I saw two business men chilling out over drinks, two men doing yoga, a man and his 20 something son enjoying each others company, and a Hassidishe man doing an effective job of relieving his young boys' fear of the water. All of the matkot games were located far away from me. I only had sand kicked in my face once, and only had to block one oncoming beach ball.

The lifeguards were not in the least bit obnoxious, and even mentioned a pasuq or two through the loudspeakers. It came from a religious guard, and was not said sarcastically.

As I prepared to leave, I encountered another "only in Israel" moment. There were not one, but two minyanim, one after the other, for tefillath minhah.

My afternoon at the beach was capped off with the typically beautiful Israeli sunset on the Mediterranean.

I had nothing over which to be agrieved, and could no longer complain about the minor, necesary detour.

*********

Some beaches, like Tel-Aviv, divide up the days:
Men - M, W, F; Women - S, T, Th.
(Dan Buses #1, 2, 4, 9; Qavim Buses #55, 56 stop here, on one block away on Ben-Yehudah Street. Dan Bus #5 stops on Nordau and Dizengoff.)

Others, like Ashdod and Netanyah, divide up the days, and alternate mornings and afternoons:
Men - S, T, Th mornings and M, W, F afternoons
Women - S, T, Th afternoons and M, W, F mornings.

The break between morning and afternoon for Ashdod is 12:30 - 1:30pm; for Netanyah it is 1:00 - 1:30pm.

A complete schedule for the 17 separated beaches (of a total of 135 recognized beaches) can be found in Hebrew at InfoTravel.co.il. If you find a schedule in English, please leave a link to it if the comments section.

Some of the locations include Ashqelon, Haderah, Nahariyah, four on the Kinnereth, and two on the Dead Sea. Some of the beaches have an entrance fee.

Competition Creeping Into Israel?

9 of the Third Month 5769

Yesterday at the Tel-Aviv central bus station, I noticed that my transportation to Netanyah would be handled by a company other than Egged, Netiv Express (Hebrew). It seems that this company is now handling traffic in and out of Tzfat, Nahariah, Ma'aloth, Haderah and Karmi'el, among others. It has been handling the Tel-Aviv - Netanyah traffic since March 15, but has actually been in operation since 2001, beginning with Tzfat - Netanyah and Haderah - Netanyah routes.

Does the added competition make a difference? Are these other companies any better? Is Egged shaping up its service, so that it does not lose anymore tenders, or are all of the bus companies just wheeling and dealing, and conducting business as usual?

Rafi at Life In Israel has already told us about the handling of much of the traffic in and out of Beth Shemesh by Superbus, and the service it provides.

The first thing I noticed about Netiv Express was that it was early. Well, my regular 148 Egged bus also arrives consistently early. But, the next thing I noticed was that my trip was cheaper than before, four sheqqels ($1.00) cheaper. Everything else seemed about the same as Egged, except that I have yet to see an old Netiv Express bus. The lower price seemed to be the only difference.

Cellular phone companies have had competition for years. Have you found that to make a difference in service? Some of the companies have tried to reach out to specific communities, such as Cellcom to Haredim, and Orange and MIRS to "settlers." Now that we Israelis are able to keep our phone numbers, even if we change companies, we have one less obstacle to change cell phone companies. For my part, I am just too lazy. But, plenty of friends have already gone back and forth between companies, doing research and trying to get their current companies to beat competing offers. (Of course, some will tell you that there is secret regulation among the various companies. I don't have proof of that one way or another.)

With the HOT cable company offering ground line phone and Internet services, in addition to cable TV, some have reported improved service,... when they have switched over from Bezeq, that is. The Bezeq phone company still does not seem to have its capitalistic act together. Although it is running around trying to do so. With HOT half-way through the Shomron, several of my neighbors have received calls from Bezeq offering them special rates if they sign a commitment plan of a year and a half to three years. The smart ones have said no to Bezeq's crappy antenna-based service, and waiting for HOT which should arrive to Tapu'ah within a year. (Additional towns? I don't know.)

When I bought fan at a factory style store, a couple of years ago in Jerusalem, I noticed something odd. The saleslady, who had excellent product knowledge, gave her employee number to the cashier. I asked her if she got a commission on my fan. She said yes, to which I responded that it was about time. She told me that it was about year since she had heard about such a thing, elaborating that it boosts employee motivation by offering an incentive. She was acting as if this was some great new economic invention. I didn't have the heart to tell her that it was nothing new, and that any American "fresh off the plane" could have have explained the benefits of offering commissions.

So, there is competition among the phone companies, between some workers, and increasingly more competition among the bus companies. Does it really make much of a difference in price or in service?