מה זה בית כנסת לא חוקי? / What is an Illegal Synagogue?

 ה׳ חול מועד סוכות תשפ״א

English follows the Hebrew.

אם טוענין שבית כנסת פלוני נבנה ללא אישור מועצה מקומית  או העירייה או משרד השיכון ובנייה, אז אפשר להגיד שבית כנסת זה לא נבנה באופן חוקי... לפי חוקי מדינת ישראל.

אם טוענין שבבית כנסת פלוני לא שומרים את הנחיות משרד הבריאות, אז אפשר להגיד שעוברים על חוקי מדינת ישראל.

אבל אי אפשר להגיד שבית כנסת או מניין תפילה עצמו הוא לא חוקי. איך יכול להיות קבוצת יהודים המתפללים להקב״ה היא לא חוקית? איך יכול להיות מקום תפילה הוא לא חוקי?

רק יהודי כתינוק שנשבה, או כדין יותר גרוע, מוכן לקרוא לבית כנסת או מניין תפילה ״לא חוקי.״

אפילו בית כנסת או מניין תפילה מלא באנשים פסולים להשלים מניין כגון כופרים, אפיקורסים, ומינים, לא קרואי ״לא חוקי.״ אלא פשוט לא מתייחסים אליו כבית כנסת אמיתי או מניין תפילה אמיתי.

יש ללשון כוח; יש לסילוף הלשון כוח גם-כן.

אתם חייבים להבין את זה טוב טוב. הביטוים "בית כנסת בלתי חוקי" ו"מניין לא חוקי "הם דוגמאות אמיתיים של המסר נגד התורה על ידי תקשורת החדשות בישראל.

בית הכנסת ״לא חוקי״ נהרס ע״י חיילי צה״ל לפי צו חתום ע״י רב צבאי ובסיוע משטרת ישראל

תפוח המערבי, תשס״ג/2003

"Illegal" synagogue destroyed the IDF, assisted by Israeli police with an order signed by a military rabbi, Tapu'ah West תפס״ג/2003

If someone claims a certain synagogue was built without the approval of the authority or the Ministry of Housing and Construction, then it can be said that this synagogue was not built legally ... according to the laws of the State of Israel.

If someone claims a certain synagogue does not follow the COVID-19 guidelines of the Ministry of Health, then it can be said that it is violating the law... the laws of the State of Israel.

But it is impossible to say that a synagogue or a minyan (prayer quorum of 10 Jewish men) itself is illegal. How can a group of Jews praying to the Holy One, Blessed Be He, be illegal? How can the place where these men are praying itself be illegal?

Only a Jew who doesn't know any better, or worse, is would call a synagogue or minyan itself "illegal."

Even a synagogue or minyan filled with people disqualified from being counted in a minyan, such as koferim (deniers of Torah, Written and/or Oral), apikoursim (distorters of Torah), and minim (heretics), is not called "illegal." Rather, it is simply not regarded as a real synagogue or a true minyan.

Language has power; language distortion also has power.

Make no mistake. "Illegal synagogue" and "illegal minyan" are indeed examples of the subtle, but effective, anti-Torah message carried by the mainstream, Israeli news media.

גירוש היהודים מתפוח מערב / The Expulsion of Jews from Tapu'ah West

ו' לחודש הרביעי תשע"ח

English follows the Hebrew. The video of the events of early yesterday morning was filmed by Binyamin Lehava.

מאת יקותיאל בן-יעקב, ד' תמוז תשע"ח/17.06.18:
הלן קישור חי לגירוש האלים שמתרחש עכשיו בתפוח מערב- להפיץ. אין תקשורת והשוטרים מנצלים את שה להרביץ למשפחות ולנוער שבאו להפגין.

הסרטון צולם ע״י בנימין להבה ביום א׳ מוקדם בבוקר.



עשר אגורות (2¢):
הבנייה על הגבעה הזאת אושר לפני כ-20 שנה, בממשך כהונתו של ראש הממשלה אהוד ברק. שכונת "האולפנה" בישוב בית אל נהרסה 13 שנים לאחר שהקימו את זה. כלומר, כל שנה מדינת ישראל נראת יותר מוכנה לבטל את התחייבות שלה לעם ישראל להגן עליו , להגן על הבתים שלו, ולהגן על הארץ המובטחת לו על ידי הקב"ה. פתאום איזה ערבי בא שנתיים, או 13 שנים, או 20 שנה, וטוען בעלות על שטח שהמדינה כבר כבשה ובנתה עליו. וכמעט כל פעם שערבי כזה מגיע, הוא נלחץ לעשות כך על ידי שמאלנים בעלי שנאה עצמית.

בסרטון אפשר לראות שיש תושבים ותומכים שומרי תורה שאינם מוכנים לקבל את הגירוש וחורבן השכונה שלהם ללא תגובה. עדיין יש כמה תלמידים מובהקים של הרב מאיר כהנא הי"ד המתגוררים בכפר תפוח, כולל האלה שהיו מאוד קרובים לבנו הרב בנימין הי"ד. אבל הם במיעוט של תושבי הישוב, ומכירים את חומרת המצב. ממשלת מדינת ישראל כל הזמן מוכנה לגרש יהודים מבתיהם בהרף עין, לוותר על שטחי ארץ ישראל ולמסור אותם לערבים הרוצים להשמיד אותנו. וגם נראה לי שאכפת לאנשי הממשלה על מה שהגויים חושבים ממש יותר ממה שאזרחי המדינה רוצים. זאת אומרת, יותר ממה שהמצביעים בבחירות רוצים. ואין צריך לומר איך הם מתיחסים לרצון הקדוש ברוך הוא.

אבל, היהודים, ובמיוחד היהודים המתגוררים בגולה, עדיין חושבים שכפר תפוח הוא ישוב מלא תושבים ימינים קיצונים המסוגלים למנוע פינוים על ידי חיילי צה"ל הצבא או שוטרי משטרה. היודים האלה גם לא מבינים את האופי של חברי מועצת הישוב.

מאז שנת תשס״א/2000 לפחות, אחרי הרב בנימין וטליה כהנא הי"ד נרצחו על ידי מחבלים ערבים, כפר תפוח נהפך להיות יותר ממלכתי כל יום. שכונת הגבעה תפוח מערבי הוקמה בזכרם, ונקראה בשם טל בנימין.

הנה המכתב הפתוח שנכתב על ידי מועצת כפר תפוח (ללחוץ כאן). ומהמכתב הזה אפשר להבין את היהודים הממלכתים, ואת ההסכמם ביהים לממשלה.

בשנת תשס"ה/2005, כוחות הממשלה גירשו את כמעט 10,000 יהודים מבתיהם בעזה ובצפון השומרון. הביתים עצמם נהרסו על ידי הערבים. והאמת היא תושבי רוב הישובים האלה היו נאמנים ממלכתיים עד הסוֹף. וכן, אתם קוראים נכון. הערבים העדיפו להרוס אתה בתים של היהודים האלה, מלהכנס להם לגור בם.

ארץ ישראל היא שלנו או לא שלנו? השאלה הזאת לא מעניינת את אנשי ממשלה. אלא, מעניינים אותם להמשיך את המדינה הדמוקרטית (כאילו דמוקרטית) בדיוק כמו רוב המדינות של הגויים, עם תוספת קצפת של סוכר וחומר משמר וטיפה של יהדות ודובדבן של כאילו-ציונות על הקצפת. הם לא מעוניינים בכלל בבניית מדינת יהודית אמיתית. זאת אומרת מדינה מבוססת על התורה. קל וחומר הם לא מעוניינים בהקמת מלכות ישראל מחודשת. אלא הם רוצים את ההפך. יש היהודים המאמינים שחוקי התורה קודמין לחוקי האדם. וכוחות השלטון מאמינים שהיהודים האלה מאיימים אותם יותר מהערבים. כוחות השלטון החליטו מזמן כבר על הגבולות הסופיות, פחות או יותר, של ארץ מדינת ישראל. ועם ישראל חייב להתעורר ולקבל את הזה.

לקרוא את ״אם זה נראה כמו מעבר הגבול...״ (באנגלית) כדי ללמוד את הפרטים.

From Yekutiel Ben-Yaakov, June 17, 2018:
The cops and troops are beating the youth badly without provocation on the side of the families and the young people that came to protest the violent expulsion. Please forward the link anywhere you can. They closed the area to the media so this is the only outlet to publish the desecration.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
This hilltop was approved almost 20 years ago, during Prime Minister Ehud Baraq's government. The Beth-El Ulpanah neighborhood was destroyed 13 years after it had been constructed, and the first residents had moved in. In other words, the Israeli Government is becoming increasingly bold when it comes to reneging on its commitments to the Jewish People to protect it, to its homes, and to protect its Divinely promised Land. An Arab pops up after 2 years, 13 years, and now 20 years, claiming ownership of almost always goaded into it by self-hating Leftist.

בית הכנסת תפוח מערב נהרס (טל בנימין) באישור רבנות צה"ל
The destruction of the Tapu'ah West (Tal Binyamin) Synagogue,
carried out with IDF Rabbinate approval, 2003/תשס"ג

From the video, you can see that there are residents and Torah observant supporters who are not willing to take their expulsion and destruction of their neighborhood lying down. There are also still some prominent students of Rav Meir Kahane hy"d residing in Kfar Tapu'ah, including those who were very close with his son Rav Binyamin hy"d. However, they are very much in the minority, and recognize the gravity of the situation. And that situation is not simply that the government will throw Jews out of their homes at the blink of an eye, give up land to Arabs who want to annihilate us, kowtow to the non-Jewish nations instead of listening to their own constituents, let alone to the Holy One, Blessed Be He.

Yet, Jews, particularly those residing outside of Israel, still seem to think that Kfar Tapu'ah is some fantastical place where the residents have the power will be able to overcome not only the force of the army and/or the police, but also their own neighbors. That's right. Their neighbors.

Kfar Tapu'ah has been turning increasingly mamlakhti (diehard State-loyalist) since at least 2000 when leading residents Rav Binyamin and Talia Kahane hy"d , in whose memory the Tapu'ah West hilltop neighborhood was established, were murdered by Arab terrorists.

Here is the open letter (Hebrew) written by the Kfar Tapu'ah council describing their position on the matter, as well as their agreement with the government. This is who they are up against. 

The truth is that most of the towns in Azza (Gaza/Gush Qatif) and in the northern Shomron (Samaria) whose Jews were expelled and the towns themselves destroyed by Arabs, back in תשס״ה/2005, were diehard State loyalists till the end. And, yes, you read correctly. The Arabs destroyed their homes, instead of just moving into them.

Either Israel is ours or its not ours. The Israeli Government is simply not interested in answering this question. Rather, it interested in a democratic (deMOCKratic) state just like the goyim, with a few Jewish sprinkles and quasi-Zionist cherry on top. It is not in the least bit interested in building a truly Jewish (ie. Torah) nation. Quite the opposite in fact. Jews who hold Torah above the State are believed to be its greatest ear threat. Not the Arabs. The State of Israel already decided upon its borders ages ago, more or less. Jews finally need to wake up to this fact.

Read If it Looks like a Border Crossing for the details.

Synagogue to be Destroyed with a Message to Efrat Residents

כ״ו לחודש החמישי תשע״ה

Yet another Jewish structure is slated for demolition, due to a claim by an Arab that the land it was built on is his.

Jews have documents proving the land's purchase, 20 years ago. Apparently, that is not important to the Israeli courts.

Did I mention that this structure is a synagogue? Israeli courts are in the business of destroying synagogues.

Why does this not surprise me?

Arutz 7: Givat Ze'ev Synagogue Evacuated, Worshipers in Tears
Security forces begin to remove equipment from the synagogue in Givat Ze'ev ahead of its planned demolition. 

Eliran Aharon, 8/10/2015 

Civil Administration forces on Sunday night began to evacuate the synagogue Ayelet HaShahar synagogue in the town of Givat Ze'ev. 

The Supreme Court earlier on Sunday postponed the demolition of the synagogue until August 17, following the intervention of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. While the demolition will be held off until that date, all the equipment in the synagogue will be removed for the time being.

On Monday, the worshipers will hold a special ceremony, following which the Torah scrolls will be removed from the synagogue.

The synagogue, which has been in use for over 20 years, was slated to be demolished after a far-left group filed a petition with the Court, claiming that the structure had been build on privately-owned Palestinian Arab land. 

The petition had been working its way through the courts for at least three years. Members of the congregation have offered the land's alleged owners a high price for the purchase or rental of the land, but they, and their lawyers, have insisted that the synagogue be torn down. It is not clear why the Palestinian claimants waited some two decades to make their claims, the congregants said.

The heads of the congregation are in possession of documents showing that they bought the land from its owners, which is the reason that the court has not yet finalized its decision, their attorneys said. The congregation's attorneys are hoping to make one final appeal to prevent the demolition.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Over 10 years ago, I remember "Yael," resident of Efrat, and at the time, member of Women In Green, tell Elisheva Federman, resident and activist from Hevron, that she knew that Efrat would never be evacuated, but that if Hevron needed to be evacuated for the sake of peace, then she would understand.

Shortly after this televised panel discussion, "Yael" parted ways with Women In Green.

Residents of Efrat, believe that their town is safe, as the well-behaved, suburban jewel, of the "settler movement," and Israeli Government itself.

Speaking of Efrat, former Gush Etzion mayor Shaul Goldstein moved to Azza 10 years ago, in alleged "solidarity" with those slated for expulsion from their homes. The YeSh"A (Judea, Samaria, and Gaza) Council collaborated with the Israeli Government in the expulsion of Jews from Azza.

Adding insult to injury, on that fateful day of the expulsion of Jews from Azza, Mayor Goldstein faked his own expulsion from his temporary home for the cameras.


Tomer Devorah also remembers similar incidents, of so-called "settlers" turning against each other, some of whom are the same "settlers" who tell us not to show "baseless hatred" toward Arabs. Like their "rabbis," they obviously ignorant of halakhah (Torah Law) on several levels.

Ten years ago, a friend of mine produced a T-Shirt with the phrase...

Tel-Aviv is a settlement.

...while in Tel-Aviv is is possible to see the graffiti, "The Settler is not my brother!" all over town.

Last year's Hamas rockets did not wake them up to the realities of being Jews. Now, it is clear that Hezbollah's missiles have the capability of reaching Tel-Aviv.

Neither have the thefts, assaults and rapes at the hands of Sudanese and Eritrean insurgents in the city's southern neighborhoods.

Aftermath of the destruction of the Tapu'ah West Synagogue.
The destruction was carried out with IDF Rabbinate approval.

Not a whole lot of "settlers" expressed concern when the Tapu'ah West Synagogue  was destroyed in 2003. Even though the land upon which it was built had been in Jewish hands for years, and with the approval of Prime Minister Ehud Baraq, 10 years previously.

Beth-El Ulpana Neighborhood apartment buildings, standing 13 years, before being destroyed.

Remember the Beit Ulpanah Neighborhood in Beth-El? It actually stood for 13 years, before the land upon which it stood was claimed, and the the neighborhood subsequently destroyed.

Quite a few Beth-El residents even joined in the expulsion of their own neighbors from this complex.

Now, we hear about a synagogue in Givat Ze'ev. Givat Ze'ev is a town just north of Jerusalem, with a population of around 15,000. Like Beitar, Ariel, Ma'aleh Adumim, Qedumim, Qiriyath Sefer, and Efrat, Givat Ze'ev is one of those towns in the medium to large range, which no one believes would ever be dismantled and expelled of its Jews, as it is within the "settlement blocks," the Israeli Government has stated that it intends to keep, even it hands over anymore lands at all to the Arabs in a final settlement agreement.

So-called "settlement blocks" viewed as "keepers" by the Israeli Government
(Click to enlarge map.)

Do you see the pattern that I see?

It seems that the Israeli Supreme Court is hellbent on ridding Yehudah and Shomron of every Jew, and handing the land over to Arabs who lay claim to it years after the fact, and often encouraged to do so by leftist "Jews."

Lucky for Tel-Aviv, though, I have yet to see any claims lodged against the affluent, leftist, Tel-Aviv neighborhood of Ramat Aviv or Tel-Aviv University, both built on the Arab village of Sheikh Munis.

This is post is not only a message, or rather a warning, to the residents of Efrat, who see themselves as Jerusalem suburbanites, but also to the residents of North Tel-Aviv, who often appear to be living in a bubble, identifying more as "progressive" Europeans than as Jews living in the Middle East.

No one is safe from expulsion, not a neighborhood standing for 13 years, not a synagogue standing for 20 years, not a Jerusalem suburb, and not even Tel-Aviv.

deMOCKratic Free Speech in Israel gets Chipped Away Even Further

י"ג לחודש האחד עשר תשע"ד

Life In Israel: Proposed Law: no more Nazis in Israel
January 13, 2014

Almost every hafgana ends having protesters calling members of the security forces "Nazi". Of course it is reprehensible, but it seems to happen over and over again. The protesters do it probably because they think it is a sure way of getting under their skin, with a sharp insult like that. Maybe a few of such protesters even believe it, in some demented way. Otherwise, why would some people hurl such an insult when it seems so obvious that this is a word or expression that should be kept from being abused like this? (cont.)

6 Comments:

1. 
   

   Esser Agaroth, January 13, 2014 4:23 PM

   Anyone who thinks that we EVER had free speech in Israel is gravely mistaken.

   
   
2. loshon hora, January 13, 2014 4:51 PM

   Anyone who thinks that the Torah and Halacha EVER allow free speech is gravely mistaken.
3. Esser Agaroth, January 13, 2014 5:05 PM

   LH, Of course, you are absolutely correct,...as is the Torah. I was addressing the deMOCKracy of Israel, whose gov't has Torah observance pretty the farthest down on its list of priorities.

   
   
4. 
   

   RBS resident, January 13, 2014 5:29 PM

   "Free speech" does not mean that you can shout "Fire!" in a crowded theater.
   Nor that you can use hate speech.
5. Esser Agaroth, January 13, 2014 5:47 PM

   RBS resident, Thank you for citing the Supreme Court of a foreign entity (eyes rolling). "Hate" is a subjective term. (I am suppose to hate my enemies.) 

   
   

   

   Former MK Effie Eitam
   (Renewed Religiou Zionism)

   Am allowed to call Hitler a Nazi? How? It seems that this law says no. In other words, no to the expression of a fact?

   
   

   Furthermore, can't you all see that this is just the beginning (Actually it's way after the beginning).
   
   Already, it is still against the law to call a gov't official a name. Remember Nadia Matar's case? (Allowed in the U. S., since you brought it up.)
   
   Incitement to racism is also illegal. (Also allowed in the U. S., since you brought it up.)
   
   Soon saying HaShem Yaqom damo (May HaShem avenge his blood) will be illegal, then next on the list for elimination will be Yemach shemo (May his name be blotted out).
   
   Soon after that, verses from the Torah.
   
   Anyone ever peeked inside an Eidoth HaMizrah Yom Kippur Mahzor? Many would call IT racist.
   
   Doesn't anyone else see the pattern here?

   
   
6. Esser Agaroth, January 13, 2014 5:50 PM

   

   Nili vs. Israeli Riot Police at the destruction of Amona, 2006/תשס"ו

   If you or any of your families "encountered" the lovely Israeli Police in Me'ah She'arim or in the Shomron (Samaria), I guarantee you that various adjectives and descriptive nouns which would not normally cross your mind, might just cross your mind.

   

   Tapu'ah West Synagogue
   Destroyed by the IDF, 2003/תשס"ג

Esser Agaroth (2¢) :

"Sheep" + "People" = "Sheeple"

The appropriateness or inappropriateness of the use of the term "Nazi" is irrelevant. Yet, who better than Jews, or Romani, or Jesuits, or Trade Unionists, or Homosexuals would know the most appropriate times to apply this term?

What is relevant is when the government begins to tell us what to do and to say, and begins with something the "sheeple" would easily agree with,...then starts to work its way outward.

More Proof that the Israeli Defense Forces [IDF] are Not a Jewish Army

כ"ו לחודש השביעי תשע"ד

כיפה: לראשונה: חיילת עלתה לתורה במניין בבית כנסת צבאי

פרסום ראשון: חיילת מחיל הים עלתה לתורה במסגרת מניין תפילה שהתקיים בשמחת תורה, בבסיס ההדרכה של חיל הים בחיפה. בני ישיבות ההסדר שנכחו במקום לא מחו כנגדה. דו"צ: התקיים בירור בנושא וחודדו הנהלים [לאירועים] לעתיד

נטעאל בנדל, כ"ה תשרי תשע"ד, 29/09/2013

Kippah: For the first time: Female Soldier went up to the Torah in a Minyan in an IDF Synagogue
A female sailor from the Israeli Navy went up (aliyah) to the Torah in a Simhath Torah minyan, on a naval training base in Haifa. The Hesder (yeshivah) soldiers who were present at the time did not put up any protest against this. IDF Spokesperson: An investigation into the matter is being made, and procedures will be clarified for [such events] in the future.

(Tip Credit: Rotter.net)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
The only reasons I can think of, as to why the Hesder soldiers did not protest include:

1. Every man was already afforded an aliyah, as is the custom in most communities on Simhath Torah, Thus, this misswah was not taken away from any of the men.

2. These Hesder soldiers have decided to choose their shots, and this was not one that they chose.

3. These Hesder soldiers fell for the Erev Rav sneakiness of "graduality."

Aditional problems are exposed in this report. For now, I will focus on only one: The hypocrisy of the IDF.

I predict that this incident will be brushed under the carpet, then later revisited, and used as a precedent. Even though it is possible that this was simply a mishap. The gabbay was, after all, a civilian employee, and who knows what he was thinking at the time.

So called "democratic religious freedom," which incidentally has nothing to do with Torah, will selectively applied. Female soldiers will be included, if not encouraged and falsely educated to participate, in an "egalitarian" structure (Read: "un-Jewish"), while male soldiers will not be allowed to excercise their "democratic religious freedom," by choosing to refrain from listening to women sing, or watching them dance, among other activities which go against their Torah sensibilities.

I have already shown in previous posts, that the IDF is not a Jewish army.

Jewish armies do not violate the Torah.

Jewish armies do not force their soldiers to violate the Torah.

Jewish armies do not blindly follow an "un-Jewish" government,...if at all.

Jewish armies do not collaborate with enemies of the Jewish People.

Jewish armies do not care more the protecting the lives are our enemies than their own soldiers.

Jewish armies do not condone, nor remain silent on issues of, promiscuity.

Jewish armies do not give up, Jewish land, pieces of Eretz Ysra'el, which The Almighty has returned to us.

Jewish armies do not throw Jews out of their homes.

Jewish armies do not place goyim over Jews in their ranks.
*There is an interesting story I heard from the Kalashnikover Rebbe about a Druze commander at the Kotel who ordered his Jewish soldiers to put on tefillin. This interesting twist, not withstanding, Jewish armies do not place goyim over Jews in their ranks.

Jewish armies do not insist on burying Jews with non-Jews.

Tapu'ah West Synagogue
destroyed at the hands of the IDF

Jewish armies do not destroy synagogues.

Jewish armies do not destroy their own Torah-loyalist yeshivoth.

Jewish armies do not battle against the Torah, nor allow themselves to be used as tools of the Erev Rav.

Migron Compromise Is A Disgrace!

27 of the Twelfth Month 5772

IsraelNN.com: Arabs Angered By Migron Agreement
Arabs who failed to prove that the community of Migron was built on private land say the compromise with the residents is "a disgrace."

Elad Benari, March 21, 2012

The Palestinian Authority Arabs who claimed, with the help of leftist Peace Now, that the community of Migron in Binyamin was built on private land but who have failed to prove that claim, are now complaining about the compromise that has been reached with the residents.

The residents of Migron recently signed an agreement, brokered by Minister Benny Begin, according to which residents will be uprooted from their homes at the current site and will be moved to a permanent neighborhood on state land nearby.

The agreement calls for the community to be relocated to its permanent location, near the Psagot Winery, in two years' time. The present site will be handed over to the Civil Administration. The existing structures at the site will be torn down but a "public site" may be established at the location instead of a residential community.

In any case, the location of the present Migron will remain Jewish and will not be handed over to Arab control. (Read the entire report)


What do you know? The Arabs were actually right about something this time. The so-called compromise between them and the residents of Migron IS a disgrace. Albeit they were right, for completely the wrong reasons.

It does not matter that Migron residents will be able to set up new town near the P'sagot Winery, which is literally a hop, skip, and a jump away from the current location of Migron.

It does not matter if the Israeli government claims that "the location of the present Migron will remain Jewish and will not be handed over to Arab control."

What does matter is that the rights of Jews to their eternal homeland is being decided by Erev Rav courts and organizations like Peace Now, which receive a significant percentage of its budget from the Norwegian government. The Israeli government and the residents of Migron are sitting back and allowing it.

That is the disgrace.

I predicted way back in 2008, that some sort of deal would be struck between the residents of Migron and the government, in A Likely Story. Even though the YeSh"A (Judea & Samaria) Council denied it up and down. I have been following this very annoying story ever since.

One of the options, at the time,was to move the residents of Migron into spanking, brand new houses in the town of Adam, which lies next to the northern city limits of Jerusalem, a reward for "good behavior." You see, the residents of Migron are known mamlakhtim, undying State loyalists, even when Israeli law stands in conflict with Torah Law, something which has been happening increasingly more often.

Years ago, two of my friends were thrown out of Migron for passing out fliers. The fliers were invitations to the celebration of bringing a Sefer Torah into the beth k'nesseth (synagogue) on the Tapu'ah West hill. My friends were thrown out to the "crime" of having the image of murdered Rabbi Me'ir Kahane hy"d on the fliers. How dare the beth k'nesseth be named after his murdered son and daughter-in-law, Rabbi Binyamin and Talia Kahane hy"d!

That synagogue was later torn down, by none other than the Israeli Defense Forces [IDF], with a permit signed by an IDF "rabbi."

'Nuff said.

Such is the nature of Migron.

• Refusal to to defy the Israeli government and its overly powerful courts in favor of God and His Torah.
• Refusal to do battle with evil friends of Yishma'el (Arabs) who forsake our God-given Homeland, and who are puppets of Esau (Europe/The West), because ...they are misguided brothers and sisters who need to be treated with unconditional LOVE.
• Disgusting treatment of kosher Jews who follow in the path of a ga'on (great scholar) and tzadiq (righteous Jew).

One thing about the mamlakhtim is that they have surprisingly good record on the opposing of Christians infiltrating the country. So, it will interesting to see how they deal with the Christian "volunteers," hosted by their new, next door neighbor, the P'sagot Winery.

We will have to wait and see. We will also have to wait and see what kind of fabulous home the residents of New Migron will receive, while Jews in towns just as old, and even older than Migron, continue to suffer in run down trailers.

Fire On Tapu'ah West!

Mossa'ei Shabbath Qodesh Parshath Shelah Lekha 5768

A fire broke out in the central Shomron Friday afternoon. The fire appeared to begin south of Highway 5 (Trans-Samaria Highway), and move up the hills toward Giv'ath Tapu'ah HaMa'aravith (Tapu'ah West), a community of 10 families located east of the City of Ariel. The fire came right up to at least two of the caravans, and damaged a large amount of grazing area for the community's flocks.

The Ariel fire brigade responded, yet there have been reports that the fire continued to rage after the brigade left the scene. It is unknown why the single fire engine left when it did.

The fire was fought, and eventually put out by residents of the community, along with a few volunteers from neighboring K'far Tapu'ah.

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is unknown.

Shabbath In Tapu'ah And Saturday Nights Live!

Erev Shabbath Qodesh Parshath Shelah Lekha 5768

Shabbath In Tapu'ah
Since the torching of the hilltop Beth Midrash of Elnaqam 4 three months ago, our traditionally guest-filled, Shabbath tables in K'far Tapu'ah have been pretty shvach.

But we will not be broken!

Last Shabbath marked the first in a long line of summer Shabbathoth to be capped off with a Malaweh Malkah concert.

As usual, and in the true spirit of Ahavath EfYisra'el, Shabbath in Tapu'ah always brings together guests from diverse backgrounds, Hassidish, Litvish, Religious Zionist, modern, all sorts.

Everyone came together Erev Shabbath, and was K'far Tapu'ah has one of the only man-made miqwah for men in the area, the next closest being in Eli. In the colder months, men come from all over the area to

After Tefillath Minhah and Qabballath Shabbath, we learned Mishnah Shabbath 2 "Bameh Madliqin" with the perush of the Ramba"m.

The temperature had gone significantly, so it was a pleasant walk back to the main town, especially with song and conversation of everyone getting acquainted and re-acquainted.

Dinner was traditional Yerushalmi, with bread and salads, and thick spicy soup. Ashkinazy hallah could be seen along side Iraqi lafah, chopped liver along side of matbuhah and zhug, and of course zucchini salad. Ezra's spicy soup capped off dinner, which was followed by schmoozing and singing, and jallah till late. Guard had to be kept over Yekutiel's chollent, so that there would be some for lunch the next morning.

Tefillath Shaharith, qiddush, and lunch, finally ending at around 2:30, was followed by a surprise trip to the miqwah. A great idea in this heat!

The guys got in a few Z's before the walk back up to the hill for Minhah. Then after a tour of the hill, and its livestock, and pointing out the sites in view mentioned in the Torah, we headed back for Se'udath Shlishith and Tefillah Aravith.

But the "Tapu'ah Experience" wasn't over yet!


Saturday Nights Live!
After Havdallah, it was time to set-up for the Melaweh Malkah concert, starring Rocky Ziegler from Jerusalem!

Some of you may already know Rocky from his 'hood in Jerusalem, Nahla'oth. Rocky also owns and operates Hilltop Studio. Check it out.

Also, Ben honored us with his original "There Ain't No Sex In Terrorist Heaven" (23:30).

And, what you've all been waiting for, the video of last Saturday night's concert!

Stay tuned, Dov Shurin, famous for his Biblical Revenge album, is expected this Shabbath. His concert tomorrow night is not to be missed!

Rocky, lead vocals and guitar, Ben, vocals and guitar; Gavriel, keyboard; Yitzi, straight flute; Meilich, harmonica and vocals; Eliyahu (from Tapu'ah), side flute.

Shabbat ba'Aretz

Mossa'ei Yom HaKippurim 5768



The various communities in Yehudah & Shomron (Judea & Samaria) are a lot more diverse than you might think. And, so there are diverse kinds of Shabbath experiences available to you, and all you need to do is pick up the phone.


"Shabbat ba'Aretz" (Shabbat In the Land) is a program connecting 18 - 35 year olds with families in Yehudah & Shomron for Shabbat. Learn about the Jewish People's Biblical connection to the land first hand, and meet the people who have returned to our ancient homeland.

Please call Jackie (02-9974030 or 054-6302174) by Tuesday to guarantee placement. First-come, first-serve. Please call between 9:00 AM and 10:00 PM. For your protection, Egged Buses have protective shields on their windows.

The Egged Bus schedule (English) provides you with easy and up-to-date, travel information from Jerusalem. Some buses are also available to Yehudah & Shomron from Tel-Aviv, Netanyah, K'far Saba, and Be'er Sheva. The Dan Bus Company provides many buses per day from Gush Dan (Greater Tel-Aviv Area) to the Shomron.

"Shabbat ba'Aretz" is also looking for families to host. At this point, families in which both the husband and wife speak English are being sought for hosting.


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My personal experiences hosting have been,... well,... unique. A lot of yeshivah students have been attracted to my town, K'far Tapu'ah, mainly by word of mouth.

I'd get the "call" from my neighbor, usually on a Friday afternoon, after the only store in town closed:

"Ya'aqov, a few extra guys showed up for Shabbos. Can you spare the room?"

I wish I could say that I acted like a tzaddiq about it. Last year, I was working nights, and tried to maintain my crazy nocturnal schedule even on Shabbath. We tried to limit the living room to two guys, and to very quiet ones at that. Last Shabbath Hanukkah (ner rishon), my roommate's friend, and fellow blogger, Doodle Head, came up with a couple of his friends, so I agreed to an exception.

As usual, all turned out well. The guys appreciated the warm place to sleep and snacks between meals, and conversation. Hint: Always have a spare, unopened bag of gar'inim (sunflower or other seeds) laying around. They can go along way with fruit, cake, and hot drinks.

Since then, I have been able to perform this simple, and particularly enjoyable misswah, simply by throwing a couple mattresses on the ground, and telling my guests a little about my town, starting with its Biblical history (Josh. 17), and the history of the surrounding area, the territory of Efraim to the south, and Mennasheh to the north, including Shkhem and Qever Yosef. Qever Yehoshu'a is just to our West near the City of Ariel.

Now a days, my friends Yekutiel and Ezra host meals for the 10 to 20 yeshivah students and families who come up for Shabbath on their half-year old hill, Elnaqam 4 (pictured above). Most of the guys do not want to miss out on the chance to sleep there, so my living room is bare nowadays. I shlep up past the town fence to the hill, passing olive groves and other fruit trees, the goats' barn, and the cemetery to join the fun. It is before the "Tapu'ah West" hill. Guests are so used to being within an eruv on Shabbath, they have to be reminded that there isn't one past the fence, nor on the hill.

Inside the big tent, equipped with electricity and running water, the atmosphere is very Shabbostik, to say the least with great food, divrei Torah, and lots of singing.

The morning includes davening on the "Tapu'ah West" hill, meals in the tent, and tours and talks about life in the Shomron.

A few weeks ago, guests were treated to helping a newly-wed couple celebrate, at one of their Sheva Brakhoth (wedding celebration) meals.

Men are not the only ones to enjoy Shabbath in Tapu'ah. When there is a request by women, the weekend is reserved for them, and the boys are told to come the following week. So far, a couple or groups of seminar and university students have enjoyed Shabbath here in Tapu'ah.

This is only one town's experience with Shabbat ba'Aretz. There are many experiences out there to be had in the diverse group of towns within Yehudah & Shomron.

So, whether you would like to host or be a guest, whether you live in Israel or are just visiting, just give our friend Jackie a call by Tuesday, between 9:00 AM and 10:00 PM, and see what is available (02-9974030 or 054-6302174).

Just think about what a great way such an experience would be to start off your new year!


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Those who like to donate money to promote and expand the program
should contact Menachem mengott@netvision.net.il.

*All money will be used for advertising the program.

Remembering Nahshon Walls z"l

Mossa'ei Shabbth Qodesh Hanukkah/Parshath Wayeshev 5767

This Shabbath, the first day of Hanukkah, marked one year after Nahshon Walls z"l, succumbed to cancer.

In his memory, Qiddush Rabbah was held on the Tapu'ah West Hill, a community with which he had a special relationship, and a Mellaweh Malkah was held in the Kibbutz Galuyoth Beth Beth K'nesseth.

Last year on Erev Shabbath Wayeshev, the Shabbath just before Hanukkah, a close friend of Nahshon's asked of him, "Please just make it until Hanukkah."

Defying doctors' prognoses, Nahshon only left when he was damn good and ready to leave. On the first night of Hanukkah, after "amen" was said to the last of the three brachoth, and the first Hanukkah light was lit, Nahshon expelled his last breath, and passed on into the next world.

My favorite anicdote about Nahshon, I heard from him directly.

Nahshon designed and sewed various flags and traditional, Jewish four-cornered garments. His flags included those with Kahanist themes as well as the Medinath Yehudah flag.

While Nahshon was in prison, he took advantage of the "vocational" equipment available to him, such as sewing machines. Believe it or not, he actually made and sold via mail-order, Kahanist-related flags,...mind you,...using the equipment of the Israeli prison system. In order words, Nahshon used government-owned facilities and equipment to produce and to sell, the very materials which the Israeli government had been running around, trying to brand and confiscate.

And he did it right under the government's nose.

Nahshon Walls is remembered for his mesiruth nefesh (self-sacrifice), among other reasons.

I also remember Nahshon for his creativity and his innovation, which included the design of the state of Judea flag, and bigei tzitzith (four-cornered garments requiring tzitzith).

Nahshon was also a guide and roll model for some of the "hilltop youth."



But, one of his most significant contributions was the building of the beth-k'nesseth (synagogue) on the Tapu'ah West Hill, replacing the one destroyed by the Israeli Army, three years ago.

Nahshon Walls, May his memory be for a blessing.