ערבים באוטובוסים ועוד בעיות / Arabs on Buses and Other Problems

י"ז לחודש התשיעי תשע״ט

English follows the Hebrew.

Afikim Bus Company logo

במקרה הבוקר אני קראתי את Arabs on Ariel Buses, Another Problem (״הערבים הנוסעים באוטובוסים לאריאל, עוד בעיה״) ע״י בתיה מידד Shilo Muse (מחשבות משילה), לפני אני התחלתי את הדרך שלי לשומרון בערב שבת. אני שיתפתי את ההערה הזו בכתבה:

אני יודע שבדרך מגוש דן לשומרון או אני צריך לצאת בדרך די מוקדם [בערב שבת] או לנסוע בכיוון ההפוך לתוך תל אביב לפני עליה לאוטובוס לאריאל כדי להשיג מקום אפילו מקום לעמוד. תודה שאת ממשיכה לפרסם את המצב המגוחך הזה.

בערב שבת הזה אני יצאתי מוקדם לפני העובדים הערבים אמורים להשתחרר מעבודה. זה מה שאני חשבתי. הצלחתי להשיג את vמקום האחרון לשבת אפילו שהייתי צריך לשכנע את הערבי היושב לידי לתת לי את המקום שמגיע לי.

כבר הייתה בחורה אחת בעמידה שלא רצתה לשבת ליד ערבי או כנראה לא רצתה לשבת ליד גבר בכלל. הנהג יצא מהתחנה הזו עם שישה או שבעה נוסעים בעמידה. מותר לאוטובוס הזה לנסוע עם עשרה נוסעים בעמידה בלבד. (תראו שמאלה)

הופתעתי שהנהג לא עצר במחלף מורשה (16) או במלחף ירקון (17). אולי הוא דילג את התחנות האלה מפני שהוא חשב שהיו כבר עשרה נוסעים בעמידה. הנהג הוא יהודי. אתם צריכים להחליט לבדכם האם העובדה שהנהג היה יהודי שייך למניעת האוטובוס מלהיות צפוף מדי.

סוף סוף הגענו לצומת אריאל איפה אני ירדתי והלכתי ברגל לטרמפיאדה להמשיך בדרך. ובטרמפיאדה מצאתי את מצבת זכרון הרב איתמר בן-גל הי"ד, שנרצח במקום הזה לפני תשעה חודשים, סימן נוסף של הבעיות שלנו בגלל הערבים.

צילום מסך מ-bus.co.il

This morning, I happened to read Arabs on Ariel Buses, Another Problem by Shilo Muse Batya Medad, before I left on my way to the Shomron (Samaria) to spend Shabbat. I shared this comment on her blog post:

 מצבת זכרון הרב איתמר בן-גל הי"ד
Memorial for Rabbi Itamar Ben-Gal hy"d

This Friday I left early before Arab workers are supposed to get off from work. Or at least that's what I thought. I managed to get the last seat. Even though I had to convince the Arab sitting next to me to give me the entire seat, and not just the edge.

There was already one religious, young woman standing,who did not want to sit next to an Arab or next to any man at all. The driver left the station where I got on with six or seven passengers standing up. This bus is permitted to travel with a maximum of ten standing passengers.

הרב איתמר בן-גל הי"ד
Rabbi Itamar Ben-Gal hy"d

I was surprised that the driver did not stop at the Morasha Interchange (16) or the Yarkon Wharf (17). Perhaps this was because he thought there were already ten passengers standing. The driver was Jewish. You'll have to decide for yourselves if that made any difference in preventing the bus from being overcrowded.

Finally, we reached the Ariel junction, where I got off and walked to the trempiada (hitchhiking spot) to continue my journey. At the trempiada, I saw a memorial to Rabbi Itamar Ben-Gal hy "d, who was murdered at this very spot nine months ago, yet another reminder of our problems with Arabs.

Should Jewish Children Learn Arabic?

י״ג לחודש השלישי תשע״ה

Freshman MK Oren Hazan (Likud) seems to think so...

Arutz 7: Bill: Compulsory Arabic Classes from First Grade
MK Oren Hazan (Likud) thinks all Israeli kids should know Arabic – to lessen fear. Support from Left and Right.

Gil Ronen, May 27, 2015

MK Oren Hazan

Freshman MK Oren Hazan (Likud) has sponsored a bill that would make it mandatory for all Israeli schoolchildren to study spoken Arabic, from first to 12th grade.

The trigger for Hazan's decision is apparently the Defense Ministry's announcement that it has frozen plans to offer separate buses for Jews and Arabs in Samaria.

"In our daily reality, with Jews riding the buses in Judea and Samaria and hearing the Palestinians – they are usually afraid,” Hazan said. “With global terrorism and radical Islam on the rise, the lack of knowledge and understanding leads to fear.”

Army Radio reported that the bill has been received with enthusiasm by both Left and Right. MK Meretz's Issawi Frej signed the bill in support, and said: “This bill is a process that I have been accompanying for a year. I can only hope. Everything has a chance, it depends on who's behind it. Since Oren Hazan is a Coalition man and knows how to work and dig – there's a chance that it'll pass.”

Other MKs who signed the bill include Yinon Magal (Jewish Home), Anat Berko (Likud) and Merav Ben Ari (Kulanu).

(Tip: Life In Israel)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
I'm not against the idea of students learning Arabic in school, nor even for them to learn it for several years, or for it to be a requirement. After all, the more we know Arabic the more the people will be able to hear for themselves just exactly what the Arabs think and feel, with their own ears.

Although, I do believe that pedagogically, the first grade is too young to begin studying Arabic, when students are still making regular mistakes in Hebrew, and in an increasing number of schools, expected to begin studying English as well.

I also do not buy the "to lessen fear" argument. Although most Jews make their way around Yehudah and Shomron (Judea and Samaria) on buses for convenience sake, many do ride the buses or safety reasons. They ride bulletproof buses to protect themselves from the Arabs. So, actually inviting the Arabs to join us on the bus, completely defeats the purpose of the bulletproofing, don't you think?

Furthermore, the kids getting around by tremping (hitchhiking), the Jews who are not afraid of Arabs, have been demonized for not being afraid of Arabs, and for daring to defend themselves from their "neighbors."

Do you really think that the government wants "to lessen [our] fear?"

And speaking of our "neighbors," Jews learning Arabic will also make it easier for Arabs and Jews to get together socially. Even more so, the Arabs connecting with these Arabic-learning Jews would be those non-Hebrew-speaking Arabs, who despise everything about Israel, such as Hebrew being its official language.

Social interaction leads to dating, which leads to a romantic connection. How many more cases of abusive Arab husbands battering their Jewish wives will result from MK Hazan's proposal? And what about the increase in cases of young, Jewish men being seduced into meeting their prospective Arab girlfriends in Ramallah, only to meet with a torturous death?

As one who grew up in the U. S., very close to the Mexican border, and in the bilingual city in denial, San Diego, I know first-hand just how practical it is to learn the language of a neighboring country.

But where do we fit it in? Who's gonna pay for it? How will students cope with learning two foreign languages simultaneously?

And just who do you think will be hired to teach our children? Arabs?

Jerusalem parents of special needs kids have already been expressing concerns over their children being driven to and from school by Arabs from East Jerusalem neighborhoods. "Expressing concerns" is an understatement.

What about the Arab employees caught trying to poison customers at restaurants in Jerusalem and Ramat Gan?

What about the Arab employee who blew up the cafeteria at Hebrew University in 2002?

What about the Arab employee who shot up the Merkaz HaRav Kook Yeshiva High School in 2008?

Will you trust these new, Arab teachers of Arabic? Will they go through background checks? Will that matter? Do you really want to take that chance?

I do not know about you, but this proposal does not lessen my fear of Arabs. It only makes it worse.

Two Stories From Ofra, One Funny, One Not Funny

Erev Rosh Hodesh HaHamishi 5769

While commenting on Shiloh Musing's post That Doctored or Miss-identified Picture of Ofra in The Jerusalem Post, I remembered the following two stories I heard while living in Ofra.

"Silwad"
There are apparently more than a few U. S. citizens in Silwad, the Yishma'eli (Arab) village bordering Ofra on the north.

A young neighbor of mine recounted the story, that while visiting his grandmother, in a post IDF trip to the U. S., he met a Yishma'eli who said that he was from Israel [or "palestine," I don't remember]. Fulfilling their obligation to play "Mid-East Geography," they each asked the other to be more specific about where he from.

As it turns out, the Yishma'eli was from Silwad. As the Jew was from Ofra, they joked about being "neighbors," which they essentially are.

You see this neighbor of mine and I lived right next to Ofra's northern fence. I would not be surprised if we could have seen this Yishma'eli's house from our caravanim (trailers).

This said that he was not the only U. S. citizen inhabiting Silwad.


"Don't Tread On Me"
One of the houses across from the entrance to Ofra is also inhabited by U. S. citizens.

How do I know?

Well, after a sniper fired from the roof of the house in question, wounding a Jewish girl was waiting for a northbound tremp (ride), the Israeli government wanted to demolish it, as punishment for collaboration with terrorists.

The reason the house was not demolished was the home owner's U. S. citizenship. I am not sure if the U. S. government intervened or not. But, surely, the Israeli government did not want any hassle from big brother U. S. A.

Tremping: "The Hours Of Mercy"

Erev Hag HaShavu'oth 5769

There is an expression in the tremping (Israeli hitchhiking) world, שעות הרחמים (The Hours Of Mercy). It refers to the hours just before the onset of Shabbath, when it is generally considered not a good idea to set out on a journey, lest one should get stuck in some town unexpectedly, or worse, in the middle of nowhere, and then "poof," it's Shabbath.

Yet, Jews set out a couple hours before Shabbath anyway. We do not do this intentionally. I have only done this if I am traveling to the next town or two. Even though Shabbath has been coming in later and later, I will sometimes glance at the clock on Erev Shabbath, and wonder where the time has gone. I have a shower, assuming I won't make it to the miqweh when I get to where I'm going, dress in my Shabbath clothes, throw a few essentials into a shopping bag, and then it's out the door!

Generally speaking, we also have contingency plans. Boys can crash at a yeshiva, if they get stuck along the way. From Elon Moreh and Shavei Shomron in the north, to Jerusalem, all the way down to Susya, south of Hevron, there are many yeshivoth in Yehudah and Shomron (Judea and Samaria). Likewise, girls know where the girls' schools are along the way. Teen-aged men and women from Yehudah and Shomron, generally seasoned trempistim, after their first couple of years of high school, have a networking system all their own. They can also call their parents for suggestions of who they know in particular towns where they've gotten stuck, so that they can show up to their houses as a "surprise Shabbath guest."

If I am on my way to Jerusalem, for example, I happen to know people in Eli, Shiloh, and Ofra where I could theoretically crash, if it didn't look like I was going to make it to my intended destination. If I am still stuck at Tapu'ah Junction, I can always just walk back up the hill, and spend Shabbath at home.

For some reason, though, there always seem to be tremps. Once, on my way to Shiloh, I got a ride from someone from Beth El, an hour and half before sheqi'ah (sunset). Another time, I received a ride to Eli with about the same time to spare.

The reason this time period shortly before Shabbath is called "The Hours Of Mercy" is actually two-fold. I have reports of tremps appearing out of nowhere, as well as drivers stopping for trempistim when they, themselves are in a hurry, and may not even have any room. They find a way to make room, knowing the urgency of the situation, whether the trempist was acting irresponsibly or not.

I have heard various stories of Jews who have not been so fortunate. One man who was waiting for a tremp in front of a town in the Shomron. He realized he was not going to make it to his destination. So he started walkin up the hill to the town, stowed away his muqtze (items forbidden on Shabbath) at the guarding booth, and found a family to take him in after tefillath aravith (evening prayer).

There is also the story of a certain, fellow blogger, who shall remain nameless, who just showed up in Yitzhar one Erev Shabbath. Sounds kind of hutzpadik [AND intentional], huh? Well, apparently not everyone in Yitzhar thought so, as this fellow blogger claimed he had a great time there.

So, yet another reason why the hours just before Shabbath are known as "The Hours Of Mercy," to those of us who travel the roads by the hesed (kindness) of strangers is the mercy shown by the Jews who open up their homes to their fellow, unexpectedly "stuck" Jews, perhaps doubling the power of their misswah of Hakhnasath Orhim (the taking in of guests).

*********

Photos taken from my bedroom window in K'far Tapu'ah, NOT on Shabbath.

Don't forget to check out my comprehensive guide to Tremping.

Tremping Update - Ariel

26 of Eighth Month 5769

The northern entrance into Ariel from Road No. 5 now has a kikar of sorts (roundabout, glorieta, circular thingy in the middle of the street). This junction seems to be tremping friendly, at least for now, while work is still being done.

For tremps (rides) westbound toward Morasha Junction, B'nei Braq and Tel-Aviv, stand at the bus shelter before the kikar. The road going north out of Ariel has thinned. It is a lot more common now for rides to stop at the bus shelter. Previously, the other option was to stand at the destroyed bus shelter on the westbound side of Road No. 5, where cars turning left out of Ariel could not usually make it over the right side of the road, even if they wanted to, making it very frustrating to wait there, while watching the countless cares pass you by.

The kikar also seems to help trempistim in all directions, as it forces cars to slow down.

There is another trempiada near the southern entrance into Ariel, near the Judea and Samaria University Center, and used mostly by students. It is usually very crowded, and I do not know how efficient it is to wait there at night, unless you don't mind hopping on the bus if it comes first.

For tremps eastbound toward Tapu'ah, the Jordan Valley, and Elon Moreh, stand in the usual place, on the eastbound side of Road No. 5, catching cars as they exit the kikar at a reduced speed. The bus shelter is still there, and it is now more logical to wait there.

Reminder:
If you're tremping southbound to Rehelim, Eli, Shilo, or Jerusalem, many people wait on the road into Ariel, at the bus shelter just after entering from the kikar. This is instead of tremping to Tapu'ah first, and continuing on from there. People coming home to the towns listed mostly make their way along the shortcut through Ariel these days.

Of course, there is the other trempiada at the southern exit from Ariel. People like to catch tremps from the bottom of the hill, at the northern entrance, for the increased likelihood of the availability of space.

Please add your tremping updates for this area in the comments section.

Also, don't forget to check out my comprehensive Tremping Guide for the major travel routes in Israel.

Crazy Settlers?

25 of the Eighth Month 5769

Thursday night I got off the bus at Tapu'ah Junction with my big bags of Shabbath shopping. As I was crossing through the make-shift border crossing area, I was debating whether to wait for a tremp (ride) up the hill to Tapu'ah, or to schlep up the hill on foot. Almost to the tremping post, I saw a neighbor of mine (I'll call him "David.") who had also just arrived, and was just getting out of his tremp.

That made up my mind for me. I would wait for a tremp, while I chatted with David, whom I hadn't seen for a while. I met up with him, and we continued on to the tremping area together.

As we were walking the short distance to the bus shelter, David pointed out the three Arab men standing nearby, waiting for their own ride,...to Yasuf or Salfit. They were standing more in the street than at the bus shelter, so I didn't think anything of it.

David said that we needed to do "something" about this. I'm thinking to myself, "Do what? The most important thing to do is to go about our own business, sending the message that we're not afraid of them. After all, they're already afraid of US. We're 'crazy settlers' from Tapuah. Warranted or or not, Tapu'ah has a reputation. They're not going to mess with us."

Out loud I only said the "Do what?" part.

"Well, something needs to be done about this," David said, beginning to show signs of frustration.

At this point we had almost arrived. Ignoring the Arabs, I sped up to the bus shelter, and plopped all of my bags down on the bench, and declared, "There. I have now conquered this bus shelter, and am occupying it."

David laughed. He has a good sense of humor. I knew that he would appreciate that. Still, he looked back and forth between me and the Arabs, and repeated his insistence that "something" must be done [about the Arab incursion into our sovereignty over the bus shelter]. The whole time, I'm sure he asking himself, "If I start 'something,' will Ya'aqov back me up?"

I looked at him, with a face that clearly said, "אין לי כוח" (I do NOT have the energy for this). It was a long day; it was a long week.

David is one of those Jews who chooses his shots,...wisely. I doubt he would have done anything more than point out the more convenient tremping location for Arabs up the road. (*grin*)

Fortunately, it never came to that. An Arab taxi pulled up, and the three Yishma'elim got in. Just when it started off, I ran toward it yelling [in English], "Yeah, go ahead! Run away, scaredy cats!...just when I was about to...."

I walked back toward David, wiping the palms of my hands off, in classic Daffy Duck fashion, saying, "There. All taken care of...."

David laughed and rolled his eyes.

Yep. We're crazy settlers alright. Crazy, with a capital "T."

*********

P. S. This post is not an attempt to try get you like us "crazy settlers" by portraying our"human side." I couldn't care less if you like us. It's better you should think that we're nuts. Maybe then, you'll leave us alone (based on an opinion of Rav Binyamin Kahane HY"D).

I'm just giving you a peek into the day to day life of settler, which sometimes includes silly "only in Judea and Samaria" incidents.

P. P. S. This post contains no intention of diminishing the threat of the Yishma'elim, their lack of any right to be here, and the need for them to go, nor is it intended to diminish the seriousness of what is currently taking place in Hevron, Yitzhar, Adei Ad, and other places where heroic Jews reside.

Tremping

8 of the Sixth Month 5768

Ever since I first started tremping (hitchhiking) eight years ago, it has gradually become a staple of my getting around Israel. Nowadays, I mostly just tremp to work in Jerusalem, but take the bus home. I also tremp westward toward Tel-Aviv and to the beach, but take buses back at least part of the way. There isn't any bus service after 9pm-ish from Ariel to Tapu'ah. So I'm careful not to come back too late. The later it gets, the lower the chances are that there will be tremps.

Over the years, I have made some observations about tremping. Hopefully, the will be of help to some of you. Please feel free to leave links to your favorite trempings posts and tips in the comments.

I have met some interesting people, including at least one fellow blogger through tremping. Of course, I bump into Batya periodically on the road. She has written about some of her tremping experiences as well. Several years ago, Treppenwitz wrote his own guide to hitchhiking in Israel. I purposely haven't read it yet. (But, now that I have finished writing this post, I want to see what he came up with.)

I have also had some of very interesting conversations tremping, Torah, political, cultural, you name it. Usually, I bring something to learn, these days, the Mishnah Torah. I have been in tremps where everyone was learning, sometimes together, sometimes individually. I have been in many tremps when the driver is listening to someone else read, or to a recorded shi'ur or text.

I have certainly bumped into more than a few, fellow North Americans. Often we stick with Hebrew when we talk. Sometimes we switch to English.

I met my dog's future veterinarian tremping. Some of you know "Dr. Donny." How many frum vets from New York could there possibly be in Israel? Now, that's networking for you!

Twice, I even received a tremp from Rabbi Gen. Avihai Ronski, Chief Rabbi of the IDF. I addressed him as "HaRav." He asked if I knew him, to which I responded, "Um, no, not personally." I think he got the message. He was even in uniform. Say what you will about "rabbis," but I am always pleased to see them "not above" doing misswoth, in other words, practicing what they preach.

Tremping Priority Rules:
There are certainly a few mahloqoth (disagreements) regarding the following rules of who has priority over whom, when a ride arrives, and there are several people in line. Consult the map for clarification of location terms.

1. All things being equal, whoever is first, gets in first. It is possible that someone will politely ask, "I know you're first but I'm late for work. Do you mind if I get into this tremp?" Then you have to decide.

2. The exception to this is a parent with a baby waiting in the freezing cold, late at night. Most people agree that this person is given precedence.

3. The other exception is [in my not so humble opinion] that with people leaving Jerusalem (Giv'ath Tzarfatith), the person traveling farthest has priority when the ride in question is continuing past the destination of those trempistim fighting to get in, no matter how long they have been waiting. Did you get that? In other words, if there is a tremp from Jerusalem to Yitzhar, the person going to Tapu'ah (like me) has precedence over someone going only to Ofra. Tremps to Ofra are a dime a dozen. Tremps farther north are not so common.

I have had to fight more than once over such a tremp, with the residents of one particular town [which shall remain nameless, but you can look at the map] only a hop skip and a jump away from Jerusalem. This is one of the reasons I now try to avoid tremping out of Jerusalem. Giv'ath Tzarfatith can be a real mad house. Although now that school has started, things have probably calmed down, except for Thursday nights.

Rabbi Ronski seemed to hold by the distance rule, so that's good enough for me.

4. However, if the is a tremp, say, to Shilo or Eli, people who are going to Eli itself have precedence, even over those going farther. This is what we call a tremp yashar (direct ride).

5. Whatever the driver says, goes. You have a right to scream and yell about it, but I doubt it will help. Once I was getting into tremp, when a young lady arrived to wait for a tremp. The driver then told me that he preferred to give a girl a ride instead. I was dumbfounded. It was because of kidnapping attempts. I responded with something like, "Then why do her parents let her take the risk and tremp?" Well, I didn't exactly "respond." It was more like,...yelling. I recognized where this girl was from. She almost didn't get in, because she wanted to be fair....which brings me to the next rule...

6. Tremps should never go to waste. If people before you don't want to get in, and hopefully do not try to read your mind and wave the driver on, then get it, if you believe the ride to be beneficial to you. This girl obviously knew rule #5, and got in. The driver's decision wasn't her fault.

7. Back to the driver's choice, if s/he sees friends at the trempiada, tough luck. Get some new friends with cars, is my only advice to you in this situation.

Tremping Etiquette:
The following rules are pretty standard. Some trempistim are stricter than others; some drivers are also stricter than others.

1. Be careful with your bags, that they do not scratch the vehicle, or bump into the heads of other trempistim.

2. Ask if there's room first, before getting in. Some backseats may look like they have enough room for three, but the driver doesn't want the extra weight, or perhaps a friend will be picked up on the way, etc.

3. Make sure the vehicle is going to where you want to go, AND is willing to stop where you want to get off. Remember, whether you agree with how the driver does things, the car belongs to the driver, not you. S/he can do whatever he wants.

Beware. Sometimes a driver will make a stop

4. Be careful not to slam doors, spill food and drink, etc.

5. Ask permission before making a phone call. Most people don't care, and will look at you like you're being silly. I ask anyway, but I guess I'm just stricter than others about this. I have been asked by a few drivers to turn my pelaphone (cellphone) off for the duration of the trip. One man was learning, while his wife drove. Another man likes to chill to classical music on his way home from work. So, respect drivers' requests.

6. I have almost never seen anyone offer to contribute gas money to the driver. The exceptions seem to be if it's your neighbor, or a regular or pre-arranged ride.

7. If someone of the opposite gender is waiting a long time before you, and a tremp with a couple of places next to each other comes along, and you see that person waiting does not sit next to someone of the opposite gender, please consider giving that person a break, and wait for the next ride. This is not a hard and fast rule. It is my rule. Althoug it is true that residents of many towns do not care about this issue, one way or another, this post focuses on the Efraim and (West) Menasheh, home to some of the most observant "Zionist" towns.

You will also invariably come across someone offering a ride who is from Yitzhar, Giv'ath Ronen, and even perhaps Elon Moreh and Beth El Beth who will choose to arrange the seating in this manner. His car; his rules. If you don't like it, you don't have to get in. Likewise, if someone doesn't like a mixed seating arrangement s/he doesn't have to get in either.

Tremping Laws:

1. Where a seat belt. Whatever you think of seat belts, Israel has strict seat belt laws and FINES for not wearing seat belts.

2. Crossing back and forth between Yehudah and Shomron and the defacto border crossings (which Ariel Sharon denied he was creating with that dumb "security fence") you are required to have a te'udath mishlo'ah in the event you are conducting commerce. You do not have a right to do any harm to your host/driver. So, if you are conducting commerce, you had better have your papers in order, so that you don't cause problems for innocent by-standards.

3. It is illegal for a soldier to tremp. I believe this is for safety and security reasons. S/he gets free bus fair while in uniform. So, it is not necessarily a hardship. It depends on how long you have to wait for the bus. Buses can take a lot longer to get you where you're going than tremps, too. Soldiers have told me that if a soldier is seen in a car by Military Police, you probably will not be stopped. The driver can always say that the soldier is a friend, and after a ride together may even be telling the truth. However, if a soldier is spotted getting into a car at a trempiada, s/he may get stopped for questioning.

4. Once while walking over to wait for a tremp at Tapu'ah Junction, I saw some kids yelling for an Arab to move along, and wait a distance away from the designated area. A cop pulled up, and asked to see ID's from everyone involved. The Arab produced a blue, "Israeli" ID. So, the cop said he had a right to stand there, too. The reservist [with the earring, long ponytail, and Russian accent - not that there's anything wrong with that], trying to intervene was asked what it mattered that Arab "citizens" waited next to them. The kids started giving him reasons why. I interrupted and said that "even leftists don't like getting blown up." The reservist, and everyone else, was quiet, and he walked away.

5. Although I'm all for "free speech," [if we were in a real democracy and were not obligated to follow the Torah, which does not allow for saying anything we want], and "freedom of assembly," I am against the incitement and the endangerment of our soldiers' lives for the hell of it. Thus, I ask that you be on the look out for that evil group of mostly women, calling themselves "Machsom Watch." A hot line has been set up, to combat the danger they put our soldiers and citizens in, on a regular basis, through intimidation and harassment. So if you see these people, please call the hot line at 050-5580822 to report them.

Tremping Tips - Jerusalem Northbound:
My general rule of thumb is that it's always good to progress. There are a few exceptions.

Northbound:
1. I wouldn't bother with Hizma anymore. No one seems to stop.

2. Standing on the street at Me'ever Mikhmash (the gas station) or Giv'ath Asaf and 10 sheqqels won't even buy you an ice cream. Oh, I've done it, especially early in the morning. But it's hit or miss.

3. A lot of people don't like to stand a the Shilo Junction, especially at night, and would rather stay back in Ofra. The same thing goes for Rehelim. I disagree. You always have the added possibility of tremps coming from Shilo and Neve Tzuf (not pictured)

4. Most people tremping to Qedumim and Qarnei Shomron travel through Yitzhar now, and not through Ariel - Barqan - Immanuel Junction. From Qarnei Shomron, you can get tremps to K'far Sava and Netanyah,...so I'm told.

Southbound:
1. Many do not like to stand at Rehalim, and prefer to stand at Tapu'ah. Of course, I disagree. There are several tremps coming down from Ariel. Many of them do not stop, for any number of reasons. But I still say it's worth moving forward, especially if there's a long line at Tapu'ah.

2. I have been told by several people that the rabbi of Ofra does not approve of people waiting on the southbound side of the street, across from town. I received many a nasty face, interspersed among the "I'm just going to ignore you" looks from Ofra residents. I still have to confirm this, though. I'd like to see someone from Ofra try to order me off that side of the street. If the town's rabbi did not allow the picking of olives from a grove within the town he claimed did not actually belong to the town, then he certainly cannot lay any claim to the other side of the street.

3. I do not recommend standing at Giv'ath Asaf. It is my primary exception to the "always move forward" rule. Most drivers feel it is too dangerous to stop. Better wait for a tremp at Ofra.

4. Standing at the Mikhmash/Pesagoth gas station is sometimes a pain. However, there are fairly frequent buses coming in from all over into Jerusalem, AND it's only 3 sheqqels, an amount that many are willing to compromise their tremping principles for.

5. Between the gas station and Jerusalem is the Sha'ar Binyamin Industrial Park (not pictured), which includes a police station, a Leumit Medical Center, [an Arab-filled] Rami Levi supermarket, Shifon Bakery, and mini strip mall. I have seen some stand on the street across from it. Let me know how that goes. I doubt I'll try that anytime soon.

Tremping Possibilities:
A buddy of mine is know for tremping everywhere you can image, including in the middle of Tel-Aviv. Now, believe it or not, tremping from Tel-Aviv is not uncommon. On the northbound side of Derekh Namir (Haifa/Coastal Road) across from the Kibbutzim Teachers' College, it is common to find trempistim traveling to Netanyah, Haifa, and beyond. The entrances to freeways are also common tremping points. I always see several trempistim waiting both northbound and southbound at the entrances to the Ayalon Highway (#2).

On Highway #4, across from Bar-Ilan University, the popular tremping point there is affectionately known as Tzomet Coca-Cola, as it is next to the B'nei Braq Coca Cola plant. People wait for rides to Jerusalem, the Negev, and everywhere in between. It is also conveniently located next to a Mehadrin Burger Ranch and Hallo Teiman, one of the best shwarma places in Israel. So, there are plenty of people going in and out of there. Some desperate trempistim will actually block the gas station exit, so that you are forced to acknowledge a tremp request one way or another. Pretty chutzpadiq, huh?

Many people wait for tremps at the main entrance to Jerusalem. Apparently, they're waiting to go all over the country, not just Beth Shemesh, Beth Me'ir, Telshtone, and B'nei Braq.

The Giv'ath Tzarfatith trempiada is where to wait for rides north to Efraim, Menashe, Biq'ath HaYarden (Jordan Valley), Beth Sha'an and farther, east within Binyamin, like Ma'aleh Adumim and Mitzpeh Yeriho, and to the Dead Sea, and even to Eilath.

The trempiada in the south of Jerusalem is where to wait for tremps to destinations within Yehudah, like Efratha, Bat Ayin, Sde Bo'az, and surrounds, and farther south to Hevron and Susyah.

There are a few places where people tremp within Jerusalem, like the corner of Hertzl Blvd. & Rav Tzvi Yehudah St. to get to either the Bayith weGan or Har-Nof neighborhoods. Both ends of the Ramoth road serve as tremping points, to travel between the city's entrance, Ramoth, Giv'ath Tzarfatith and continuing outside of the city.

Tremping to and from towns across Israel is common place. The above is just to give you a few examples of tremping in and around Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv areas. Next time you're in a small town, or even a larger town like Modi'im or Beth Shemesh, just ask where the "trempiada" is. Or if you're in your own car, pay attention when you enter and when you leave. It should be easy to find. Major intersections also serve as tremping points, Tzometh HaNegev, Tzometh Golani, Shilath, Yarkon, or Morashah.

Personal Goals:
I think I would like to tremp to Tiveriyah, Tzfath, or farther The other day, I caught a tremp to Tapu'ah. The driver was on his way to a wedding in the Golan. Tremps like these do come around once in a while. I have had a couple people drive by over the years saying that the were on the way to Tiveriyah. At Giva'th Tzarfatith once a car came by on the way to Eilath.

I'm counting on having to make it in several rides, but you never know.

More Soldiers

Mossa'ei Shabbath Qodesh Parshath Mass'ei 5768

Early last week, while tremping into work, I bumped into two more soldiers.

One was only just released from the army a couple of hours beforehand and was on his way home to shower and sleep for a very long time. Next on his agenda is to travel. I encouraged him to travel throughout Israel, instead of leaving for destinations unknown, like the popular avodah zarah-filled India. He agreed, and has planned to hike the Shvil Yisrael from Metulah in the north to Eilat in the south. He seemed intrigued by leaving for adventures outside of Israel after that, but hopefully not. I suggested that no one can escape from places of avodah zarah completely unscathed.

He eventually wants to go to college to study biology.

Just before he and I got into a tremp, another soldier appeared on the scene, a former student of mine, taking eighth-grade English with me seven years ago. I had just mentioned him, too, in the context of who I knew in his yishuv (town), Kokhav Ya'aqov.

He didn't have the greatest time in my class, but apparently I made up for it in the end. I came with his class on its end of the year trip to the Gallil and Golan. I was one of the few people who thought to bring a camera, before the prevalence of digital everything. I took photos of everyone and sent copies to those who were in each of them.

He smiled, and said he still had that photo from seven years ago. I haven't traveled much in Israel, but that trip was one of the best I've taken. Let's hope this soldier makes it through the next few months, the last of his service.

That night, I bumped into another former student. This one has been in yeshivah for the last four years, and expects to begin his IDF service shortly. In order to do so, he will have to leave his current yeshivah, and transfer to a yeshivath hesder. He will be leaving, albeit temporarily, his mamlachti yeshivah, and probably be going to Merkaz HaRav Kook. I told him that I approved of the change. Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to list the books he will be able to read at "Merkaz," "unwelcome" at his current yeshivah, like Rav Moshe Tzuriel's shlit"a Mafte'ah to the Torah of Rav Kook ztz"l, and the compilation of Rav Kook's writings found in the Merkaz HaRav Kook genizah.

(Gee! I wonder how they ended up there? Could it be that someone, or some people, didn't want us to read certain writings of Rav Kook?)

It is crucial to protect our soldiers spiritually, as well as physically, something which the IDF does not do, rather the opposite.

My soldier friend who came to visit last Shabbath told me about the educational trip he was forced to take to the Kotel, the Western Wall. His unit was lectured on Islam and Christianity, not the two items highest on a Jew's list of topics he associates with an "educational" trip to the Kotel. The two topics were taught as fact, not within the context of the history of Israel's occupation by foreign forces.

One of the soldiers questioned the lecturer's take on Islam as one of the "truths" in the world.

He was "written up" for that.

So, where is this blog post going? I'm not sure. I suppose this is what some bloggers, and others, call a rant. Although, I always thought that "rant" had a negative connotation.

There are some yishuvim (towns) and many hill top communities whose residents would prefer to guard their own neighborhoods, rather that allow soldiers to do so. I agree. Not only will it make things less complicated, when "they" come to throw us out of our homes, it is an important act of taking responsibility for our own security, a move toward increased autonomy. (Did I say "autonomy?" I meant independence, of course.)

I am just exploring my own relationships with soldiers, the sons, and brothers, and fathers, and friends. Yet, I will also have to explore my relationships with the Jews who have to make decisions, decisions to follow orders contrary to Torah, or to refuse them.

Many soldiers avoided participation in the expulsion of Azza Jews three years ago. Golani and Nahal Haredi Brigades were kept far away from Azza, for fear of mass refusals to carry out orders. Yet, the IDF only wants you to know about the 62 soldiers who actually sat in jail for refusing orders.

If you're a soldier, and you're reading this, ask yourself this question: Which soldier will you be?

There's no shirking responsibility this time, no saying...

"I'm just 18 years old, and I'm confused by conflicting rabbinical opinions."

You had better do your research, and talk to your rabbis now, asking for hallachic sources, and rejecting "feeling" and hashqafic ones.

You are going to have to face this decision sooner than you think.

In the meantime, you'll have Jews like me on your back, pressuring you to think for yourselves and hallachicly so, and hopefully encouraging you as well.

Protesting Near Shilo And New Police Strategy

Erev Shabbath Qodesh Matoth 5768

100 Jews Throw Rocks, Burn Tires in Bourin

21 Tammuz 5768, 24 July 08 4:38 PM

(IsraelNN.com) About 100 Jews entered the Arab village of Bourin, threw rocks and burned tires Thursday, in response to a security forces sweep on Adei Ad near Shiloh. One of the activists reportedly took a gun from a soldier and fired in the air.

Also in response to the police raid, Jewish residents from the Shiloh area demonstrated at the Shiloh Junction and other activists from Samaria said they intend to carry out protests later today.

This afternoon at around 12:45 PM I arrived at Shiloh Junction, and saw six Yassa"mniqim [riot police] cleaning up the last vestiges of [unscathed] tires and rock from the road which blocked the northern end of the junction.

After completing their task, I saw them wash their hands from their drinking water supply, get into their police van and leave.

The "action" as it were, was over. I asked one of the three reserve duty soldiers what had happened. He replied that "youths" blocked the road, in protest of the removal of a caravan (trailer) from one the hills yesterday. He did not know which one.

Two Birds With One Stone?
This soldier then started asking me questions,...lots of questions, about living in the area. I asked him why he wanted to live in this area. He said because it was cheap.

I explained about some yishuvim preferring married couples over singles, that like kibbutzim, yishuvim had the right to grant entrance to residents, etc. until they reach certain a status, blah, blah, blah.

That's right. I didn't have any issue with answering his questions, and acting like it wasn't in the least bit suspicious, which it definitely was.

Everything I said is a matter of public record, or the Shabba"k (General Security Service, AKA Secret Police) probably knows already, like how I rent [legally] from a private home owner [and could give a rat's behind about va'ad haqelitah (absorption committee)].

Sound like a tangent?

It wasn't to the soldier. It sounds to me like he was doing his job, and I'm not talking about reserve duty....

By the way, for those of you not familiar with the area, the Shiloh Junction with Road No. 60 (Ramallah Bypass) is the gateway east to Shilo, Shvuth Rahel, and several hilltop communities, a couple miles from where I was standing.

This means that the protesters got around.

New Police Strategy
This is not the first anti-Jewish incident in this the Shilo area in recent weeks. A few young men have been camping out, trying to build another new stronghold in an area claimed by Arabs.

There have been arrests, and refusals to sign release agreements, thus these young Jews were held over at the Sha'ar Binyamin police station.

A source of mine, close to the youths reported to me that the police, or other officials, go to local Arabs and encourage them to file complaints against the Jews, as an additional way to discourage what they call "settlement activity," and which I call a misswah.

I Can't Believe I Did This!

Erev Shabbath Qodesh Parshath Behuqothai 5768

Last Sunday night after a shi'ur in Jerusalem, I was offered a tremp (ride) home on the back of my neighbor Ariel's motor scooter (model pictured).

Someone else who was at the shi'ur wanted to know what the big deal was. I explained to him that I lived near Shchem, and that the route sometimes entails the dodging of rocks, bullets, and Molotov Coctails. He understood. Ariel reassured me that Arabs tended not to throw rocks at night. How reassuring.

Batya will tell you how she has walked from Shilo to Jerusalem. Shilo residents hold an annual march in memory of Avihu Keinan HY"D who was killed in action. But this march is held during the day, and I believe with some kind of IDF protection,...along with several Shilonim who would not hesitate to after any Arab who tried anything.


I myself have walked from Tapu'ah to Rehlim several times, and from Eli to Shilo. (Click map to enlarge.)

But, I digress....

I don't know what I was thinking, but I said yes to Ariel's offer. I figured that I could always change my mind along the way, and continue the journey by catching regular tremps. My main concern turned out to be the cross winds, which I am still not sure were there, or just my perception of them. Not only were they cold, but I was also worried that we would be blown over. I was also concerned about some Arab running us off the road, especially in Vadi Kharamiah, the valley between Ofra and Shilo where cell phone reception is minimal at best, preventing any calls for assistance.

Needless to say, I survived the trip. (Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to be writing this right now.) I'm glad I made the trip, for the experience. Although I can't promise I'd do it again. I don't know how many Jews can say that they have ridden through the Lands of Binyamin and Efraim on a motor scooter.

It was an opportunity to face my some of irrational fears, and assert a Jewish presence in these parts of the Land of Israel,...in my own personal way.

Meanwhile....

* The YeSh"A Council is selling out the very Judea and Samaria it created itself to protect. One of its members attacked teenage boys last week for exercising their free-speech, then LIE about it to rabbis like Rabbi Dov Lior so that they can sneakily put his signature on one of their posters condemning the same boys that were attacked.

* Israeli Prime Minister Sm-Olmert wants to give the Golan Heights to Syria, even though he said he would never do such a thing two years ago.

* The burning of New Testaments distributed by missionaries caused an uproar amongst leftists, comparing it to activities in 1930's Germany. A platform was given to missionary lawyers to further their message of encouraging Jews to practice avodah zarah. This goes fight along with their special, five-year evil program in Israel.

The troubles we are experiencing can be so overwhelming at times. I often feel like "I am not doing enough." Once in a while I have to focus on the positive experiences in our troubled Land, even if it's just a [not so] simple ride on a motor bike.

Arab Drive By

13 of the Eighth Month 5768

Usually when you hear the word "drive by" shooting, you think of Los Angeles gangs.

Well, today there was a "drive by" in my 'hood, near Shkhem (often identified as Nablus by the international news media).

The shooting took place at the northern entrance to Ariel, a city in Samaria which site midway between Tel-Aviv and the the Jordanian border. In order to catch the shooter, the road was blocked between Ariel and Tapu'ah Junction.

I arrived to catch the bus to Jerusalem about an hour after the shooting. Tapu'ah Junction, the main crossroads in the area, which joins the Jerusalem road with northern Samaria, and the coast with the Jordanian border, was packed with cars and trucks coming in from all directions, and trying to move on in all directions. Needless to say it was a mess! (Click map to enlarge)

I knew that there was no way that the bus was going to get through, and most likely had already decided to skip my bus stop. So I did something which many of you may is crazy. I started walking south,...unarmed. My goal was to get out of the mess, and get to the next town, Rehelim, where the main highway is joined by road from Ariel's southern entrance. Once there, it would be possible for me to catch a ride toward Jerusalem. I have walked this road before, and was not concerned.

I was joined by a former student. We exchanged news about Havath Gil'ad, where he was headed to help defend its residents from the continual plague of Arab harassment and by the self-hating Jews who come along to egg the Arabs on. The Israeli government is supposed to call that kind of activity "incitement," but doesn't because religious Jews are not involved.

Shortly before we reached Rehelim, we could tell that the roadblock had been lifted, by the renewed flow of traffic.

I later learned that the terrorists had still not been caught.

But, I digress...

Various organizations like the UN, EU, and any number of NGO's constantly criticize Israel for the "great hardship" it causes the Arabs through the roadblocks it sets up in Judea and Samaria.

Well, this is why. The roadblocks are set up to prevent such attacks, by hindering the movement of arms and of the terrorists themselves. Critics have also come down on the IDF for the searching of ambulances, even though incidents of ambulances smuggling arms are well-documented.

It is clear that the so-called "international community" cares more about the occasional inconvenience to Arabs' than actual Jewish lives. I wish that fact were clear to my Jewish brothers and sisters in the U. S. and elsewhere.

Meanwhile, just where did the Arabs get their weapons from?

A certain former, Israeli prime minister authorized the arming of the Arabs about 13 years ago.

A certain, current president of Israel has repeatedly reassured us that those authorized firearms have never been behind the killing of Jews. (???!!!)

Funny. I don't feel very reassured. There was just a "drive by" in my 'hood.

Since the system of roadblocks is not 100 percent effective. So there really is only one solution... But we are not allowed to talk about it. For if we do, we are accused of "incitement."