תפילות יום הכיפור ציבוריות אמורות להתקיים בתל אביב עם מחיצה / Public Yom Kippur Prayers Expected to Take Place in Tel Aviv: Men and Women Separated

ערב שבת קודש / יום כיפור תשפ״ה

English follows the Hebrew.

YNET: בית המשפט העליון פסק: תהיה תפילה ציבורית בהפרדה בתל אביב – בגן מאיר
בעקבות הערעור של ארגון "ראש יהודי", שופטי בית המשפט העליון החליטו לחייב את עיריית תל אביב לאפשר תפילה עם מחיצה בעיר – בגן מאיר במקום בכיכר דיזנגוף, כמו שהוצע כפשרה. מוקדם יותר דחתה העירייה את הצעת הפשרה. השופטים אמרו בדיון כי "העירייה מבקשת להפלות מתפללים אורתודוקסים", והשופט יחיאל כשר העיר: "לומר 'אני רק נגד המחיצה' זה כמו שתגיד 'יש לי רק בעיה עם הכיפה'"
נטעאל בנדל, שילֹה פריד | 10.10.2024

בית המשפט העליון פסק היום (ד') שארגון "ראש יהודי" יוכל לקיים תפילה בהפרדה מגדרית במרחב הציבורי בתל אביב, ביום כיפור הקרוב, כולל הצבת מחיצה בין גברים לנשים – אך התפילה תתקיים בגן מאיר ולא בכיכר דיזנגוף, מיקום פחות מרכזי בעיר, בהתאם לפשרה שהציעו השופטים. למעשה מדובר בשתי תפילות: תפילת "כל נדרי" בתחילת הצום ותפילת נעילה בסיומו. במהלך דיון בערעור של "ראש יהודי", עיריית תל אביב דחתה את ההצעה שהעלו השופטים דוד מינץ, עופר גרוסקופף ויחיאל כשר – אך בסופו של דבר הם החליטו לחייב אותה לקיים את מתווה הפשרה.

בית המשפט המחוזי בתל אביב, שדן בעתירת הארגון נגד עיריית תל אביב, לא מצא לנכון להתערב בהחלטת העירייה האוסרת על קיום תפילות ואירועים בהפרדה מגדרית במרחב הציבורי – ועל כן פנו העותרים לעליון. את המערערים, "ראש יהודי" ותושבות בתל אביב שהצטרפו לעתירה, ייצגו עורכי הדין אורי פז והראל ארנון...

עשר אגורות (2¢):
בשנה שעברה היו עימותים בתל אביב בגלל תפילות יום הכיפור מתקיימות במרחב ציבור.   

לא נזכר בכתבה שגן מאיר גם המיקום של מרכז הלהט"ב (בניין לבן, מרכז תחתון בתמונה), כולל משרדים ארציים של ארגוני להט"ב שונים כמו האגודה למען להט"ב בישראל. קהילת הלהט"ב בישראל אינה ידועה בסובלנותה להפרדה מגדרית

גם לא נזכר בכתבה שגן מאיר הוא שטח מגודר, עם כמה כניסות. גן מאיר שימש בעבר כמקום לאירועים רבים בהם כרוכה בתשלום כניסה, או צורך בהגבלת קיבולת. יש למצב הזה יתרונות וחסרונות.

כיצד יידעו המוצבים בנקודות הגישה מי נמצא שם לתפילות, ומי שם למחות? האם המפגינים פשוט יתקיימו בחוץ, ויאפשרו להם להפגין עם מגפונים ורמקולים, תוך שיבוש התפילות?

האם שטח סגור לכלבים המקומי יהיה סגור לבעלי כלבים? אם כן, אז אין ספק שיהיה אנשים מתעצבנים. אם לא, זה יכול בקלות להפריע לאירוע, אם אפילו כלב אחד "בטעות" ישתחרר, או אם ריבים בין כלבים יוצרים מספיק רעש "במקרה" ברגע הנכון.

למרות שמקום התפילה שמור רק לכל נדרי וככל הנראה גם תפילת ערבית, ולתפילת נעילה (תפילה מיוחדת לסיום יום כיפור). יהיו צרות. אני מקווה שלא. אתם קראתם על זה באתר זה עשר אגורות (2¢).

השופטים הטיחו בעיריית תל אביב: "מה שעולה הוא שעירייה במדינת ישראל מבקשת להפלות מתפללים אורתודוקסים". נציג העייריה אמר: "לא מפלים", והשופטים השיבו: "בוודאי שכן". השופט גרוסקופף הוסיף: "עיריית תל אביב תקבע איזו תפילה היא לגיטימית? את זה הציבור יחליט בעצמו".

השופט כשר אמר לנציג העירייה: "עיריית תל אביב אומרת – 'אורתודוקסי לא, כל השאר כן', בעוד יש 'שונות רלוונטית' שמאפשרת הפרדה מגדרית בתפילה. אדוני אומר: 'אני לא נגד התפילה, רק נגד המחיצה' – זה כמו שתגיד, 'יש לי רק בעיה עם הכיפה'".

אפילו שהשופטים אמרו כמה דברים יפים והגיוניים בבית המשפטון העליון, בכל מקרה התוצאה היתה פשרה. השופט יחיאל כשר אף הציע שהגישה של תל אביב עשויה להיות 'אורתודוקסי לא, כל השאר כן'.

עיריית תל אביב כן קובעת איזו תפילה לגיטימית. בחודש יוני הורשו למוסלמים אירוע תפילה בהפרדה מגדרית בתל אביב.

הציבור יחליט בעצמו? והנה, הציבור יחליט, ולא התורה. עכשיו הסתירה בין תורה לדמוקרטיה היא גלויה.

עם זאת, כפי שאני כתבתי הרבה פעמים בעבר, השמאלנים אינם מתעניינים בדמוקרטיה אלא הם מעוניינים להשיג את רצונם החשוב להם ביותר, מדינה בלי תורה. הם רוצים שישראל תהיה עם כמו כל שאר העמים, הטמעה בחברה גלובלית של כל אומות העולם. דמוקרטיה כביכול של מדינת ישראל היא פשוט האמצעי שלהם כדי להשיג את מטרתם הסופית.

אני מקווה שהקהילות הדתיות לא טוענות שפסק דין בית המשפט הזה ניצחון.ברור שזה בכלל לא ניצחון. זהו פשוט טיפת התורה שהם הצליחו לבטל של אופייה של מדינההיהודית כביכול.

מה תהיה הטיפה הבאה שינסו לבטל? כיצד יפסוק בית המשפט העליון בנושא זה בשנה הבאה?

מה אנחנו נעשה על זה?

גן מאיר תל אביב; צילום: מיכאל יעקבסון
Gan Meir, Tel Aviv; photo: Michael Yaakovson

YNET: High Court strikes down Tel Aviv ban on segregated public Yom Kippur prayer
Top court responds to petition by Jewish outreach organization and orders Tel Aviv municipality to allow outdoor, public service to be held in Meir Garden instead of more central, secular Dizengoff Square - a compromise the city had rejected
Netael Bandel, Shilo Freid | October 10, 2024

The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday in favor of a religious outreach organization wishing to hold a gender-segregated prayer in the public space in Tel Aviv for the upcoming Yom Kippur holiday, reversing a ban on the practice by the municipality.

In a compromise proposal, the judges ordered the Rosh Yehudi organization to set up its prayer service in Meir Garden, a less central location in the city, and not in Dizengoff Square where it had requested. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
If you recall, last year there were clashes during Yom Kippur prayers in Tel Aviv.

What the article does not mention is that Gan Meir (Meir Garden) is the home of the LGBT Center (white building, bottom center), including national offices of various LGBT organizations such as the Agudah, the Association for LGBTs in Israel. The LGBT community in Israel is not known for its tolerance of gender segregation

The report also neglected to mention that Gan Meir is a fenced in area, with a limited number of entrance points. Gan Meir has been used as a venue for many events in the past, in which there is an entrance fee, or a need to limit capacity. This has its advantages and disadvantages. How will those posted at the access points know who is there for prayers, and who is there to protest? Will protesters simply be held outside, and allowed to protest with megaphones and speakers, disrupting the prayers?

Will the local dog park be closed off to dog owners? If so, this will definitely ruffle some feathers. If not, this could easily make the event go south, if even one dog "accidentally" gets loose, or if fights between dogs create enough noise "conveniently" at the right moment.

Even though the prayer space is reserved only for Kol Nidrei, and presumably Aravith (evening prayer), and Ne'ilah (special Yom Kippur closing prayer) Saturday evening. There is going to be trouble. I hope not. But you read it here first.

The judges slammed the Tel Aviv municipality: "What is emerging is that a municipality in the State of Israel seeks to discriminate against Orthodox worshippers." The representative of the township said: "We do not discriminate", and the judges replied: "Certainly yes." [Ofer] Grosskopf added: "The Tel Aviv Municipality will determine which prayer is legitimate? The public will decide that for itself."

Although some supportive and reasonable statements were heard in court, nevertheless an ordered compromise was the result. Justice Yechiel Kasher even suggested that Tel Aviv's attitude might be 'Orthodoxy no, everything else yes.' (YNET Hebrw above)

The Tel Aviv Municipality is determining which prayer is legitimate. In June, Muslims were allowed a gender-segregarted prayer event in Tel-Aviv.

The public will decide that for itself? And there you have it, the public will decide, and not the Torah, the conflict between Torah and democracy out in the open.

Yet, as I have pointed out many times before, Leftists are not interested in democracy; they are interested in obtaining their ultimate desire, a State without Torah. They want nothing less than a nation like all other nations, assimilation into a global society of nations. Quasi-democracy is simply their means to an end.

I certainly hope that this will be not hailed as a victory by the religious community, as it is clearly not. This is the next fragment of Torah to be chipped away from the character of the supposedly Jewish State of Israel.

What will the next fragment be to be chipped away? How will the High Court rule on this issue next next year?

What are we going to do about it?

עימותים בתל אביב ביום הכיפור / Clashes During Yom Kippur Prayers in Tel Aviv

י״ג לחודש השביעי תשפ״ד

English follows the Hebrew.

YNET: עימותים בת"א בכיפור: תושבים מנעו ניסיון לתפילה בהפרדה בכיכר דיזנגוף
בניגוד לפסיקת בית המשפט, בארגון "ראש יהודי" ניסו לחצוץ בין גברים לנשים באמצעות דגלי ישראל. המשטרה לא מנעה זאת והחלה מהומה: "התושבים אמרו - עד כאן. הייתה תחושה שנפתחה מלחמת אזרחים". מפגין שהסיר דגלים נעצר. לבסוף, נערכה התפילה בבית כנסת סמוך. עימותים על רקע דומה בעוד מוקדים
יעל צ'כנובר, אדם קוטב | 25.09.2023

עימותים התפתחו בכיכר דיזנגוף אמש (ראשון), ערב יום הכיפורים, בין מאות תושבי תל אביב למארגני התפילה מארגון "ראש יהודי". מארגני התפילה ניסו לחצוץ בין גברים לנשים, בניגוד לפסיקת בית המשפט שדחה את ערעורם על החלטת עיריית תל אביב-יפו שלא לאפשר את התפילה בכיכר המרכזית בעיר בהפרדה מגדרית. ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו תקף את התושבים, ואמר: "לקיצונים משמאל אין גבולות".

YNET: יו"ר הארגון "ראש יהודי" שיזם את התפילה בכיכר דיזנגוף: "הם חושבים שתל אביב שייכת לאבא שלהם"
על המאבק נגדם שהגיע לנקודת רתיחה: "לצערנו הבריונות ניצחה". על ההפרדה למרות האיסור של העירייה ופסיקת בית המשפט: "הדגלים היו סמליים, היה רווח ביניהם והם לא מנעו מעבר". על הסערה בשל הזמנת הרב לוינשטיין לאירוע: "סביב שולחן השבת שלי מתארחים בכל שבוע להט"בים". ישראל זעירא, יו"ר ארגון "ראש יהודי", לא מתחרט על כלום | ריאיון
שמואל מוניץ | 26.09.2023

עשר אגורות (2¢):
ביטוי הכי חשוב במבוא לעיל הוא "פסיקת בית המשפט". בית המשפט פסק דין בעד החלטת עיריית תל אביב.

כנראה החלטת העירייה לא מפתיע את אף אחד. דעותו הפוליטיות של ראש העיר רון חולדאי נמצאו במרכז ואז במהלך ראשותו העיר עוברות שמאלה מאז שנבחר לראשונה ב-1998.

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Minister of Transportation Miri Regev: "The sights we saw on Yom Kippur remind us of the difficult times that the People of Israel have gone through."

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A post shared by May Golan - מאי גולן (@maygolan8)

MK May Golan: "After 2000 years of exile in the Jewish state - 2023, on the eve of Yom Kippur women and men who dared to observe the mitzvah (commandment) of the holiday and pray according to their faith are persecuted in the state of Tel Aviv. Pure gratuitous hatred!"

אם תרצו: בקשה לעזור להם לזהות את העוכרים אנו קוראים לציבור לעזור לנו בזיהוי העוכרים והאנרכיסטים שלקחו חלק בשיבוש תפילות יום הכיפורים. צפו בסרטונים הקצרים 1, 2, 3.

Im Tirtzu: "We call on the public to help us identify the troublemakers and anarchists who took part in disrupting the Yom Kippur prayers. Watch the brief videos 1, 2, 3."

YNET: Protesters disrupt gender-segregated Yom Kippur prayer in Tel Aviv
Organizers use Israeli flags as makeshift partition, despite court ruling and municipality decision to disallow such prayers; One protester arrested after removing flags from stage; Netanyahu condemns 'violent behavior' of protesters
Yael Ciechanover, Adam Kutub | September 25, 2023

Clashes erupted at Dizengoff Square on Yom Kippur Eve Sunday evening between hundreds of Tel Aviv residents and the organizers of a gender-segregated prayer in the city. (cont.)

Essser Agaroth (2¢):
The key phrase in the above introduction is "court ruling." The court sided with the City of Tel Aviv's decision.

The city's decision should come as no surprise to anyone. Mayor Ron Huldai's center, even center-right political stance has been drifting to the left ever since he was first elected in 1998.

כתבה ע״י אורח: על שיבוש תפילת יום הכיפור הציבורית בתל אביב / Guest Post: The Disruption of Public Yom Kippur Prayers in Tel Aviv

י״ב לחודש השביעי תשפ״ד

English follows the Hebrew.

על שיבוש תפילת יום הכיפור הציבורית בתל אביב
יקוטיאל בן יעקב

תורגם ע״י עשר אגורות (2¢)

איזה סמלי שהיהודים הוכו ואסרו להם להתפלל במקום ציבורי בתל אביב ארבעה ימים לפני חג הסוכות.

הקפאת בניית התנחלויות לא תביא את השלום, כשם שהקפאת הרפורמה השיפוטית לא גורמת לשמאל הישראלי הקיצוני לאהוב את היהדות וההלכה. בג״ץ פוסק דין שוב ושוב נגד היהדות ופועל למען דילול את האופי היהודי של המדינה. הקפאות כאלה רק מעודדות את שונאי ישראל והתורה. אותם המנהיגים והשופטים הישראלים ביישנים שקופאים מחשש להרגיז את הגויים באמצעות מתן אפשרות לצה"ל לפעול חופשי או באמצעות מתן אפשרות ליהודים להתפלל בהר הבית הם גם בית הדין שאסר כעת על תפילת יום כיפור ברחובות תל אביב. הם נכנעים לציפיות עולם המערב ולעקרונות הנוגדים למוסר יהודי. ההפגנות האלימות המחפירות פירקו את המחיצות ומשבשות את תפילות יום הכיפורים היום הקדוש ביותר לישראל בתל אביב. נראה להם שקיבלו התר על ידי בג"ץ לעשות כך בשם "דמוקרטיה" ופלורליזם עיוות.

אם ערבים יכולים לקיים תפילות עם מקומות ישיבה נפרדים לגברים ולנשים בתל אביב, באישור בג"ץ, אז למה יהודים לא יכולים לעשות זאת בתל אביב? חוֹלֶה. מי מונע משונאי ישראל מלקיים תפילות עם מקומות ישיבה מעורבים?

איזה סמלי שעשו את זה במהלך התפילה הקדושה ביותר ביום הקדוש בשנה, ארבעה ימים לפני חג הסוכות. האם אפשר לדמיין שיורקים על יהודים במהלך תפילות בניו יורק, בזמן שהשונאים זועקים ״דמוקרטיה״, האלים המזויף החדש שלהם?

הגיע הזמן למצוא את האומץ בכדי לשאול, ״האם יש סתירה בין הדמוקרטיה בסגנון מערבי מודרני לבין היהדות? ואם הדמוקרטיה כפי שפורשה על ידי בג"ץ אוסרת על יהודים להתפלל בכיכר דיזנגוף, אז באיזה צד תבחרו? הרב מאיר כהנא הי"ד הושמץ על כך שהציג את השאלה הזו לפני 40 שנה. הם לא אהבו את המסר שלו, אז הם פסלו אותו. לא משנה מה אתם חושבים על "כהנא", כבר אי אפשר להתעלם מהשאלה שהוא שאל.

בנייה בכל רחבי הארץ, גירוש אויבינו ובניית בית המקדש ככתוב בתורה עלולים להכעיס את אויבי ישראל או את היהודים השונאים את עצמם היושבים בבית דין "הגבוה" של ישראל. כנראה הם חושבים שהפעולות האלו יגרמו לבידוד ישראל ואז ישראל לא תוכל לשרוד לבדה. אולם ה' כבר הבטיח שישראל תהיה עם העומד לבדו ועם ישראל ישגשג בזמן כזה ויזכה לגאולה.התקשורת המערבית המתקדמת המתנגדת לישראל וליהדות מדברת לשון הרע על הפעולות האלה שאינן מסתדרות בתקינות פוליטית, למרות שלבסוף הפעולות כאלה יביאו לנו שלום וביטחון. באופן דומה, ניפוץ איראן כעת, לא יביא מלחמה אלא ירחיק מלחמה מישראל, וישמור על הישרדותה ארוכת הטווח של המדינה היהודית.

סידור מניינים ברחובות תל אביב עלולה להרגיז קומץ יהודים ששונאים את עצמם. אולם, הריסת בתי הכנסת לא תקרב את שונאי עצמם לאלוהים.

בג"ץ שתמיד נראה מעדיף את חייהם של ערבים "תמימים", מונע מצה"ל מלהשיג ניצחון מהיר, הוא גם בג"ץ שמתיר את הפורעים האפריקאים הבלתי חוקיים בתל אביב, כמו שונאי עצמם הפעילים נגד תפילות יום כיפור, וזה ממשיך לתמוך בעתירות שמדללות את האופי היהודי של המדינה.

חג שמח!

יקוטיאל

חלק של הקשר בין איסור התפילות בהר הבית ובתל אביב והקשר לכבילת ידי החיילים ןניטרול איראן וגירוש אויבנו ועוד

רוצים שלום ושלוה וגאולה? בדרך של אמונה ובטחון בהשם סלולה הדרך לניצחון! אמונה מביאה גאולה, ופחד מתגובות העולם מביאים רק תבוסה וגלות.

בשם הדמוקרטיה ואימוץ תרבות המערב בית המשפט מורה לפרק את המחיצות ולבטל תפילה ביום המקודש ביותר בתל אביב, כשם שבית המשפט כובל את ידיו של צה"ל במלחמה נגד אויבנו. אותו בית המשפט שמשתחווה לאומות העולם ולתרבות המערב אוסר תפילה בהר הבית כמו בתל אביב.

אכן זו מלחמת תרבות בן היהדות לבין העבודה הזרה המודרנית שנקראת ד-מ-ו-ק-ר-ט-י-ה. בין אלו שרוצים לתקוע בשופר הגדול למען חרותנו ולבין אלו שרוצים להשאר משועבדים למלכויות הזרות.

וכידוע הרמב"ם פוסק כדעת שמואל, במחלוקת בין רב לשמואל במסכת שבת דף סג (הלכות תשובה, ט, ב) שאין בן העולם הזה לימות המשיח אלא שעבוד מלכויות בלבד.

המוח הגלותי והפחד מהאומות מונעים את ימות המשיח. הכל תלוי בתפיסה המחשבתית שלנו. תפיסת הבג"ץ מול תפיסת היהדות. פחד והתחשבות באומות או יראת שמים והתחשבות ברצון הקב"ה?

זו השאלה? וכבר לא ניתן להתחמק מהכרעה. ואם יהיה לנו את האומץ לנטרל את איראן, להתיר חופש פולחן ודת ליהודים בהר, וחופש דת בכיכר דיזנגוף אזי נזכה לימות המשיח. שעבוד מלכויות או ימות המשיח? מה אתה חושב? כדברי רבי נחמן, אתה נמצא היכן שמחשבותך נמצאת, תדאג שמחשבותך נמצאת היכן שאתה רוצה להיות.

אתה נמצא במקום בו נמצאות מחשבותיך. ודא שמחשבותיך נמצאות במקום בו אתה רוצה להיות.

יקוטיאל בן יעקב הוא מייסד וראש יכ"ל - יחידת הכלבנים לישראל

The Disruption of Public Yom Kippur Prayers in Tel Aviv

Yekutiel Ben Yaakov

How symbolic that Jews were beaten and prohibited from praying publicly in Tel Aviv 4 days prior to Sukkot.

Freezing “settlements” will not bring peace, just as freezing judicial reform-that seeks to curb a High Court that has repeatedly ruled against Judaism and that aims to dilute the Jewish character of the state will not bring the extremist Israeli left to love Judaism and Jewish law, but only embolden the haters of Jews and Judaism.

The same timid Israeli leaders and judges who freeze in fear of upsetting the gentiles by allowing the IDF to operate freely or by allowing the Jews to pray on the Temple Mount is the same court which has now prohibited Yom Kippur prayers on the streets of Tel Aviv. They bow to western dictates and to anti-Jewish values. The disgraceful violent protests tearing down mechitzot and disrupting Yom Kippur services in Tel Aviv on Israel's holiest day was given a green light by the Israeli High Court in the name of misplaced "democracy" and pluralism. If Arabs can hold prayers with separate seating for men and women in Tel Aviv, sanctioned by the High Court of Israel, then why can't Jews do so in Tel Aviv? Sick. Who is stopping the haters of Judaism from holding mixed services? How symbolic that this was done during the holiest prayer on the holiest day of the year, 4 days before Sukkot. Could you imagine Jews being spat upon during prayer services in NY, as the haters shout democracy, their new fake G-d. Time to have the courage to ask, is there a contradiction between modern western style democracy and Judaism? And if democracy as interpreted by the High Court of Israel prohibits Jews from praying on Dizengoff Square, then which side will we choose? Rabbi Meir Kahane HY"D was vilified for presenting this question 40 years ago. They did not like the message, so they shot the messenger. Regardless what you think about "Kahane," The question he raised can no longer be ignored.

Building anywhere in Israel, expelling our enemies and building the Temple as prescribed in the Torah may anger the enemies of Israel or the self-hating Jews who sit on the bench of the "High" court of Israel. They may think that these actions will bring about the isolation of Israel and that Israel can not survive ALONE. However, G-d has already promised that Israel shall be a nation that stands alone and that Israel will thrive at such time and merit redemption. It is these non-politically correct actions that are demonized by the progressive western anti-Israel, anti-Jewish media that will inevitably bring us peace and security. Similarly, smashing Iran now, will not bring war but distance war from Israel, and preserve the long-term survival of the Jewish state.

Holding Minyanim on the streets of Tel Aviv may upset a handful of self-hating Jews. However, tearing down the synagogues will not bring the anti-Jewish haters any closer to G-d.

The same High Court that always seems to favor the lives of "innocent" Arabs, tying the hands of the IDF from achieving swift victory, is the same High Court that empowers the illegal African rioters in Tel Aviv, as well as the anti-Yom Kippur self hating Jews, and that supports petition after petition that erode the Jewish character of the state.

Chag Sameach!

Yekutiel

Yekutiel Ben Yaakov is the founder and head of IDU - The Israel Dog Unit.

התשובה של רה״מ נפתלי בנט / Israeli Prime Minister Bennett's Repentance

ערב יום הכיפורים תשפ״ב

English follows the Hebrew.

בראל חדריה שמואלי הי״ד
Barel Hadaria Shmu'eli hy"d

YNET: בנט ביקש סליחה מהורי בראל: "הוא לא נרצח". אמו: "תתבייש"
בריאיון ל-ynet התנצל פעמיים ראש הממשלה בפני משפחתו של לוחם מג"ב שנהרג בגבול עזה. "הוא לא נרצח, הוא נפל בקרב בעת מילוי תפקידו", אמר הערב - והאם שאמרה כי בראל נרצח הגיבה במילים קשות בפייסבוק. אחר כך הפוסטים נמחקו, ובהמשך היא הבהירה: "כאב ותסכול גרמו לי לכתוב דברים קשים שנכון היה לכתוב אותם אחרת"

רועי רובינשטיין | 14.09.21

עשר אגורות (2¢):

אין לי מושג למה אמו של בראל הי״ד חושבת שיהוא צריכה להתחרט מילותה.

משנה תורה, הל׳ תשובה פרק א,ד [א]

...וכן החובל בחברו או המזיק ממונו--אף על פי ששילם לו מה שהוא חייב לו--אין מתכפר לו, עד שיתוודה וישוב מלעשות כזה לעולם: שנאמר "מכל חטאות האדם" (במדבר ה,ו).

רה״מ לא עשה שום דבר לא בסדר? אז אין לו על מה להתנצל.

אני יכול להגיד לכם כמה דברים על מה שהוא צריך להתנצל ולעשות תשובה.

סגן ראש העיר ירושלים אריה קינג , ששם בפייסבוק סרטון שבו רה״מ בנט טוען שהוא ״איש ימין,״ שואל: ״מה דעתכם ותחושתכם, האם נפתלי בנט יבקש סליחה ממצביעיו עד לכניסת החג?״

בנט: "לא רואה היגיון בפגישה עם אבו מאזן. גנץ ביקש הרבה זמן אז אישרתי לו" (YNET: 14.09.21)

וזה כן הגיוני? מי רה״מ? בנט או גנץ?

Ya'ir Lapid / יאיר לפיד

שר החוץ יאיר לפיד מסתובב בכל רחבי העולם להפגש עם שרי החוץ של מדינות אחרות. במשך חצי שנה הוא כבר הגיע למצרים, מרוקו, האיחוד האמירויות, ורוסיה. תקשורת החדשות השמאלנית משבח אותו. אבל אנחנו באמת יודעים על מה השרים דיברו?

בנט כן הגיע לביקור עם ג׳ו ביידן (יש אומרים שהיא נשיא ארה״ב) כרנאה למטרת חיזוק הקשר בינו לקהילת היהודית האמריקאית השמאלנית, להזדמניות להצטלם, ולקבל את צווים שלו באופן ישיר באנשי השלטון האמיתיים של ארה״ב: האלה ששולטים את ביידן.

מה? אתם לא מאמינים? נו באמת! האם אתם לא עוקבים אחר הזרם המתמשך של השטויות שלו, גם בנאומיו וגם בהתנהגות אחרת שלו? אין סיכוי שהוא כשר לנהל שום דבר.

לפיד חכם שהוא נתן לבנט להנהיג את הממשלה תחילה. לתת לו לעשות את כל הטעויות כראש ממשלה חסר ניסיון, ואז לפיד יבוא להציל את היום. נראה שזאת גם האסטרטגיה של סגנית נשיא ארה"ב, קמלה האריס.

התקווה היחידה של בנט היא שממשלתו תיפול בתוך שנה וחצי הקרובות לפני שלפיד אמור לעלות לשבת על הכס שלו, כדי שהוא יוכל לצאת התפקידו בחינניות.

בינתיים, כדאי לכם לקרוא על מי שיכול להיות רה״מ האמיתי של מדינת ישראל מנסור עבאס.

יש יגידו לי שלא יפה או אפילו "שנאת חינם" שאני הוצאתי כתבה כזו בערב יום הכיפורים. אבל זה בכלל לא נכון. כפי שכתבתי בעבר, אני בהחלט לא שונא את נפתלי בנט, וטענותיי נגדו בהחלט לא בלי סיבות.

אני פשוט רוצה לעודד את רה״מ של המדינה היהודית כביכול להתעורר ולהתחיל להאמין ולהתנהג כציוני דתי אמיתי, שככה הוא טוען להיות. ואני לא רוצה לשמוע שום תירוץ שיותר ימין ממנו ייחשב כקיצוני.

ארץ ישראל כולה שייכת לעם ישראל, כוללת הר הבית. זה קיצוני? אני רוצה לשמוע אותו להצהיר את זה. האם אתם גם רוצים לשמוע את זה?

YNET: Bennett apologized to Barel's parents: "He was not murdered." Barel's mother: "Shame on you"

In an interview with Ynet, the prime minister twice apologized to the family of a border fighter [Barel Hadaria Shmueli hy"d] who was killed on the Gaza border. "He was not killed, he fell in battle while on duty," he said this evening. And later she clarified: "Pain and frustration made me write difficult things that it would have been right to write otherwise"

Roi Rubinstein, September 14, 2021

(computerized translation of the above in Hebrew)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
I see no reason with Barel's hy"d mother should have regretted her words.

Mishneh Torah, Laws of Repentance 1:4 [1]
Likewise, one injures his fellow or damages his property--even though he has compensated him for that which he was obligated--he has not achieved atonement until he has confessed and has repented from doing such ever again: as it is said "from any sins of men" (Num. 5:6)

Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Aryeh King, who posted a video on facebook of Bennett claiming to be "right-wing," asks: "What is your opinion and feeling, will Naftali Bennett apologize to his voters until the holiday?" 

Bennett: "I do not see any point in meeting with Abu Mazen. Ganz asked for a long time so I approved it" (YNET: 14.09.21)

And does that make sense either? Who is the Prime Minister? Bennett or Ganz? 

It is very important to note that YNET's English version of this report conspicuously left out this small, but crucial, piece of information, simply saying that Gantz had met with Abbas. Food for thought.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has been traveling all over the world, meeting with the foreign ministers of various other countries. During the last six months, he has gone to Egypt, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia. While the leftist news media praises him, do we really know all of what was being discussed?

Bennett did pay a visit to Joe Biden, who is supposedly the President of the United States, probably with the intention of strengthening ties with the leftist segment of the American Jewish community, not to mention the photo opps, the public relations, as well as to receive his orders directly from those really in  control of the U. S. Government: Biden's handlers.

Oh c'mon! Haven't you been following the continuous stream of his flubs, both in his speeches and in his other behaviors? There is no way he is competent to run anything.

Lapid was smart to let Bennett take the government's reins first. Let him make all the mistakes as an inexperienced prime minister, then come into to save the day. This seems to be U. S. Vice-President Kamala Harris' very strategy.

Bennett's only hope is that his government will fall within the next year and a half before Lapid is set to ascend his throne, so that he can bow out somewhat gracefully.

In the meantime, you should read more about who also might be Israel's real prime minister Mansour Abbas.

Some will say it is "mean" or "baseless hatred" to post such a thing the day before Yom Kippur, or all days. Not at all. As I have said previously, I certainly do not hate Naftali Bennett, and my claims against him are certainly not baseless.

I simply want to encourage the Prime Minister of the so-called Jewish State to wake up, and start believing and acting like the Religious Zionist he claims to be, without any excuses that anything more right of him, which wouldn't even have to be that right, would be considered extremist.

The entire Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish People. This includes the Temple Mount. Is that extremist? I want to hear him say it. Don't you? 

הסיבה האמיתית לסגר במשך החגים / The Real Reason for Israel's Holiday Lock Down

כ"ה לחודש השישי תש"פ

English follows the Hebrew.

 

(תרגום) YNET מבזקים: אדלשטיין: מנגנון מעקב אחר קשר יהיה מוכן לחלוטין, יפעל לאחר סגר, 13.09.20

שר הבריאו יולי אדלשטיין (בתמונה) אמר ביום ראשון כי בעקבות סגר בן שלוש שבועות בגלל הנגיף קורונה, ייכנס לתוקף מנגנון מעקב אחר קשר.

עשר אגורות (2¢):

ועכשיו אנו יודעים באמת למה יש סגר...

ולמרות מנהלי בתי חולים  אומרו בישיבת הממשלה: "לא נדרש סגר מלא, החרדה מיותרת..."

וגם בכדי להכעיס את קהילה החרדית...

וגם בכדי לעודד לקהילות האחרות להתעצבן על לשנוא יותר את הקהילה החרדית...

ובכדי למנוע מאחדות ישראל...

ובינתיים המסתננים מאריתראיה וסודן ממשיכים להסתובב חופשי בדרום תל אביב ללא פיקוח בכלל...

שנה טובה יהודים.

YNET: Edelstein: Contact tracing apparatus will be fully prepared, operational after lockdown 09.13.20

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein (above) said Sunday that following a government-mandated three-week-long coronavirus lockdown, a fully prepared and operational contact tracing apparatus will go into effect. 

Esser Agaroth (2¢):

Well, now we really know why there's a lock down during the autumn, Jewish holiday season...

And in spite of hospital administrators stating in a government meeting that a general lock down is not required; there is unnecessary anxiety (HaModia)...

And with the objective of setting off the Haredi community...

As well as the objective of encouraging other communities to be aggravated hate Haredim...

In order to prevent our ultimate goal of Ahduth Yisra'el (Jewish Unity).

Meanwhile, infiltrators/illegal aliens from Eritrea and the Sudan continue to roam the streets with  only minimal if any police intervention.

Happy New Year, Jews.

The Night the Jewish Lights Went Out in Georgia!

ל׳ לחודש השבעי תשע״ז

JTA: University of Georgia Jewish students riled by homecoming concert set for Yom Kippur
September 21, 2016

(JTA) — Jewish students at the University of Georgia have objected to a homecoming concert because it was scheduled for Yom Kippur eve and the band is known for its Christian rock music.

The concert featuring Needtobreathe was set for Oct. 11, the university announced Monday.

Two years ago, hundreds of students petitioned the university to change the annual homecoming football game from Yom Kippur.

Stan Jackson, director of student affairs communications and marketing initiatives, said in a statement emailed Tuesday to the student newspaper, The Red and Black, that the date chosen for the concert was the only day that the Stegeman Coliseum, the event venue, was available.

“Some students who observe Yom Kippur may be disappointed with the date chosen,” Jackson said in the statement. “Representatives from University Union and UGA Homecoming are in correspondence with Jewish student organizations such as Hillel at UGA and Chabad at UGA to explain the logistics that required that date to be selected.”

Delaney Fox, a junior who is Jewish, told WSB-TV Atlanta, “It’s upsetting that they don’t take into account that there’s going to be a large number of students that can’t attend.”

Needtobreathe was selected for its popularity, not its religious affiliation, according to Jackson.

“The student groups compare several performers each year in terms of popularity, not content, and strive to select an artist that will appeal to as many students and community members as possible,” the statement said.

Homecoming activities will take place during the entire week.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
This report on the University of Georgia's Homecoming Week is old, but I still cannot let it go. It is an example of just how hopelessly stuck Jews are in their exile.

I cannot decide which part of the report is sadder, that Jews are so concerned about missing one day in a full week of Homecoming celebrations, or believing that a Southern university was going to consider cancelling a performance, because it was by Christian group,...and because the Jewish students didn't like it. Some reports seemed to suggest that Jewish students were upset that they would be excluded from attending the concert,...the concert with a Christian Rock band. That would be very sad, indeed.

When I was in college, I too wanted to be attend university events. I cannot fault them for that. But, I suppose I had it easier, having gone to UCLA. There was no way that the Homecoming, nor the UCLA vs. USC game was ever going to conflict with a Jewish holiday,...not in Los Angeles.

Weeding through the various, sloppy reports, floating around the internet in one form or another, finally revealed that the Homecoming game was not actually held on Yom Kippur.

No one raises an eyebrow about University of Georgia games being held on Shabboth, and with the well-known, Jewish player's participation, no less. Nor would I expect them, too. They're just not there, yet.

I suppose we should be grateful that at least these Jewish students still care enough to know they need to stay away from Christian events, and that Yom Kippur is important. Unfortunately, some, if not more than some, believe that starving for a full day, accompanied by utter boredom, not knowing what is going on in a place they frequent a handful of times a year, is what this day called Yom Kippur is all about. And, of course, this is not what Yom Kippur is about at all.


Two years ago, right after Yom Kippur, Jewish students felt the brunt of southern hospitality at Emory University, just around the corner from the University of Georgia. I can only imagine the incidents which have unreported. Yet, these Jews insist on calling Georgia,...and the U. S. in general their home.

The night the lights went out in Georgia was long ago. But, Jewish lights there are still out.

I pray that they will be turned back on soon.

*********

Note: I am aware that Atlanta has a strong and growing Jewish community. I am happy to write that I have met quite a few Jews, students, families, and lone IDF soldiers, here in Israel, whose lights turned on long ago.

You Are Not A Therapist!

י״א לחודש השביעי תשע״ה

This post offers some of my personal experience to English-speaking psychotherapists immigrating to Israel, or already here, and who intend to work with English speaking clients. Let this serve as a warning as to what you will be up against.

To those therapists operating with some of the "odd" and unethical practices I list and describe below, and to those individuals believing themselves to be therapists, when they are actually not, perhaps this piece will inspire you to do teshuvah (repentance), particularly during this week right after Yom Kippur.

For the purposes of this piece "qualified psychotherapist," will be defined by the following standards:

1. The minimum of a Master's degree in a mental health related field.
2. The minimum of a Master's degree from a school's program, recognized by at least one professional organization, in or even outside of Israel (eg. אגודת פסיכולוגים קליניים, האיגוד הישראלי לפסיכותרפיה, איגוד העובדים הסוציאליים, APA, AAMFT, NASW, NASP, etc.).
3. One who is licensed, credentialed, or certified, or eligible to become one of the above, based on coursework and supervised training.

I believe these standards to be minimal, and have stated them to be as lenient as possible.

Coaches are coaches. Laypeople are laypeople.

Counselors are counselors, and not necessarily psychotherapists. Counselors put on bandages, replace bandages, sometimes even provide alternatives to bandages. They only irrigate the wounds if it is within their training and scope of their practice.

Psychotherapists do surgery, minor or major, according to that which is within their training and scope of their practice.  

This is not to say that counselors, coaches, and even laypeople cannot be "therapeutic." They are simply not therapists.

Buy My Book!
I saw an episode of a television show once, in which a therapist, before beginning her session with a couple, suggested that the couple buy her book.

The sad part was that except for the obligatory comedic punchline at the end of the therapy session, the fictional therapist wasn't half bad.

But, the main point here is the potential conflict of interest in encouraging clients to buy your book. Would they feeling intimidated, guilted, manipulated into buying it? Is the book absolutely necessary to their treatment? Sure, I suppose a therapist could give clients "homework," and sure that homework could be based on the therapist's book. But, there is a slippery slope here, one to be navigated with caution.

Well,...I'm a Rabbi...
Regarding the many members of the clergy who serve in counseling roles. Some are particularly good at it, and some are not. Still, those members of the clergy who seem to have a knack for counseling, are good at, because they recognize not only their own personal strengths, but their limitations as well.

During my graduate studies, I had some contact with two fellow students, one, a Catholic nun, a year ahead of me in her studies, and another, a Christian minister in a parallel program. Both seemed to be very sharp, and had strong theoretical backing to support their approach to treatment, something which I strongly believe to be problematic when absent.

This is most certainly not meant to be an attack, nor even a criticism on members of the clergy, as long as they are working within their role/assigned position, and have been properly trained for role/assigned position.

Once I entered a crowded cafe. I had to ask to share a total stranger's table, not uncommon in Israel. We introduced ourselves to one another, and chatted briefly. When he said that he was a therapist, I immediately asked him where he studied. His response, though, was, "Well, I'm a rabbi...."

I was taken aback. I pursued the issue with, "Well, what's your training?"

His response to this query was, "Both of my parents are therapists."

At that point, I did what I could to close the conversation politely.

Now, in all fairness to this individual, he may actually be a qualified psychotherapist. Perhaps his his degrees, training and experience far surpass my own. Yet, for some reason. But, my experience warns me not to be optimistic. However, based only on the information I received within the span of our brief conversation, I would certainly not consider him to be a psychotherapist.

You should only be treated with MY therapeutic approach. All others are useless.
Funny, I was always taught that "should" statements were irrational beliefs. But, what do I know, right?

Talk about a conflict of interest!

(See also "Referrals? What are those?" below.)

All you need is MY six month course to be a therapist.
I was so shocked to hear that such a statement was made, I cannot even begin to write about this practice with a high level of potential for damage to the mental health of the English speaking public, here in Jerusalem and surrounds...

Would someone please tell me what the heck Clinical Sociology is?
"A subfield of public sociology is applied sociology, also known as clinical sociology or sociological practice, which applies knowledge derived from sociological research to solve societal problems."

OK. So, how does this qualify clinical sociologists as psychotherapists? Counselors, maybe. But, psychotherapists? Unless, of course, this degree could be used as some sort of front for getting around professional scrutiny? Just a thought...

I will leave this one as it is,...for now.

Referrals? What are those?
If I am unable to treat a client, either because I know that I will not be effective in doing so, not probably trained in the particular area of mental health practice required, or even if I am simply not taking on any new clients, I will refer the client to another therapist. My rule of thumb is to provide a list of at least three therapists. I will not just include those who share my theoretical orientation on this list of referrals, either, especially if I am uncertain as to this prospective clients present issue, or for that matter, the real issue or issues requiring attention.

Some people believing themselves to be therapists will unconsciously, or not so unconsciously, miss the boat when it comes to differentiating between genuine "resistance" and the caregiver's own inability to help the client effectively, if at at.

Unfortunately, parnassah (financial support) can be the culprit, blinding them from the truth (See Deut. 16:19). Yet, parnassah is the worst excuse of them all, and not to be tolerated. This care provider will at best, get lucky, and help someone solve a minor problem, or at worst, cause major, even potentially irreparable damage.

When I had finished graduate school, and moved back to my hometown of San Diego, I wanted to continue my own psychotherapy, I had begun inup north, I called the San Diego Association of Psychologists' [SDAP] referral line. The volunteer on the phone asked me to tell her about my interest in finding a therapist. I told her that I wanted to continue my therapy, and added that I was looking for a therapist with a particular theoretical orientation, and who specialized in working with other therapists.

She tentatively included her name on the list. I write tentatively, as she was concerned with even the appearance of a conflict of interest, serving on the referral line in order to add to her own client base. Yet, when I looked her up in the SDAP's members list, I found that she did, indeed, foot the bill of the requirements I stated to her. Nevertheless, she included a fourth referral, and put her name last on the list. I am not sure how better one could have handled the situation, save for silence regarding her practice. However, what if she did turn out to be the best therapist for me? I would have missed out on the opportunity, if she had been silent.

And probably these most insidious, most dangerous, and and most confusing issue facing therapists, both real and fake....

Profession Competence
The topic heading thus far could also be place under this one, "professional competence."

My favorite pet peeve has yet to be listed, and so it will be stated now. It is one in which even well-meaning, really therapists and counselors cross the line, and that is interpreting assessment results, for assessment devices for which he or she has not had the proper training to do so. And quite frankly one graduate course in assessment in simply not sufficient to interpret the Stanford-Binet or Wechsler scales, let alone the Thematic Apperception Test [TAT] or Rorschach. Of the Rorschach test, some have suggested said that it be applied only under supervision for five years. That may sound a bit extreme to some. But, it will hopefully send home the message that assessment devices are not things which can be picked up and used by anyone. And they are most certainly not toys.

Are you an "addictions counselor?" I know several, and some of them are excellent! I believe that is mainly because they deal with "addictions," and they recognize that they are "counselors." They are not marriage therapists, educational psychologists, nor psychiatrists; they are "addictions counselors."

The same goes for "coaches," probably the most out of control, unmonitored profession there is today. Some coaches are excellent. Here is one of my favorites, Dawna Walter from the BBC reality show "Life Laundry," in which she not only helps people declutter their homes, teaches them strategies to stay declutter, and helps them deal with the emotional issues surrounding their clutter and cluttering behavior. In my opinion, her work is definitely therapeutic, but she is not a therapist, and does not try to be one. She stays within her training, experience, and scope of practice.


Unfortunately, not all coaches maintain the same professional ethics that Dawna Walter does, and end up doing a great deal of damage, without having a clue that they have done so.

Dual Role Relationships
You would be amazed, and perhaps even as disgusted as I am, at just how many "therapists" I have encountered, who are completely ignorant of this concept.

Dual relationship 
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the mental health field, a dual relationship is a situation where multiple roles exist between a therapist, or other mental health practitioner, and a client.^[1] Dual relationships are also referred to as multiple relationships, and these two terms are used interchangeably in the research literature.^[1][2] The American Psychological Association (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (also referred to as the APA ethics code^[3]) is a resource that outlines ethical standards and principles to which practitioners are expected to adhere. Standard 3.05 of the APA ethics code outlines the definition of multiple relationships. Dual or multiple relationships occur when:

• a professional and personal relationship take place simultaneously between the psychologist and the client
• the psychologist has a relationship with a person closely related to or connected to their client
• the psychologist has intentions to enter into a future relationship with the client or someone closely related to the client

In addition, the standard provides a description of when to avoid multiple relationships (e.g., when the relationship causes harm to the client or impairs the psychologist's competence) and when these relationships are not considered unethical (e.g., when the relationship does not exploit the client or impair competence).^[4][5][6]

Before you get too excited about those instances when a duel role relationships are not considered unethical, the citations above lead to professional journal articles related to practice in RURAL areas, in order words, when the duty to treat may override a dual role relationship, which has minor implications regarding the impairment of the service providers effectiveness. Last time I checked, Jerusalem was not considered "rural," just loaded with English-speakers calling themselves therapists, who are hard up for work, and who lack the sophisticated level of language skills necessary to work with native Hebrew speakers.

Informed Consent
That's right! Not only must a therapist receive consent from a prospective client, before assessing and/or treating that client. But, the therapist must provide information related to the structure of the assessment and treatment, such as confidentiality. The prospective client [in the State of California, for example] is entitled to know the therapist's education and training, licenses and certifications, and theoretical orientation. So, don't be surprised if a prospective client asks such questions. It is his right.

If you do not have the answers, then you have no business doing what you are doing.

Not only that, but "informed consent" does NOT mean checking out, what you might think to be "analyzing," friends' prospective dates or roommates or employees WITHOUT their knowledge.

Client Endorsement
Ethical or not, I believe this practice to be damnable.

Imagine a therapist who advertises, and has endorsements from clients listed, even anonymously, on his advertisement or brochure. In fact, let's assume, for the sake of argument, that these clients volunteered to provide their therapist with an endorsement, without being solicited.

Let us go a step further, and say that said therapist announces such endorsements at a speaking engagement

What? At the very least, this "therapist" never thought of the implications this would have in the client's therapy? What about the conflict of interest?

Anna Freud might call this a form of "acting-out" of therapy, on the part of the client. I hate to ask what she might say that the therapist was doing.

Of course, if you are not really a therapist, then you have nothing to worry about, do you? All you have to do is to stop calling yourself a therapist.

The Israeli Ministry of Health is overwhelmed, and for the most part, lacks the necessary resources to monitor such individuals, real therapists crossing ethical lines, and fake therapists, leaving a trail of damage, often untraceable and unprovable.

You can see that this list of headings of potential problems here is endless.

I will assume that many of the fake psychotherapists out there have good intentions. However, this reminds me of the proverb...

"The road to hell was paved with good intentions."

Of those real psychotherapists out there, doing one or more of the above, you have absolutely no excuse.

*********

A note on gishur:

After posting the above, I had an afterthought of sorts. What about Gishur?

Roughly translated, gishur is bridge-building, and is used to describe work often done with couples, to assist them with communication.

I have met both members of clergy and attorneys who are very skilled in this work, even though they are trained in gishur, and not in any other type of counseling. Of course, like any in profession, there is always the potential for the appearance of bad apples.

Those I have met also acknowledge that they are not therapists, nor try to be, and would refer couples to qualified therapists when the need arises. I hope that this includes sexual issues, which are often overlooked, even though marital relations are integral part of a couple's communication, not to mention a deep component of their relationship. I do not know the extent of the training these professionals receive regarding sexual issues, hopefully enough to pick up on the subtle hints members of a couple may reveal that something needs to be addressed in this area.

Sexual therapy is a specialty often underrated, one in which not all psychotherapists have been sufficiently trained work with clients with sexual dysfunction.

Post-Yom Kippur 5774 Jewish/Israel Round-Up (Haveil Havalim)

מוצש"ק ויום הכפורים תשע"ד

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

Torah

Masechet Rosh HaShannah: Disappearing Midwives and Individual Shofar Blowing during the Silent Amidah

The Book of Isaiah and the Unintended History of Israel, Part 3

Dislocation and Insecurity during the Year of Mourning

Ellul, Rosh HaShannah, and Yom Kippur

#Blog Ellul Series

The Annual Ellul Pilgrimage to Shiloh

As The Rosh HaShannah Deadline Approaches

Our Last Journey

A Question Of Sovereignty

Rabbi Yonah Bookstein can't find the worst thing about Kapparos 

Israel and its Neighbors

The Yom Kippur War was Israel's Greatest Moment
 
Is the Attack on Syria Simply a Distraction?

Living on the Edge of War

It Was Predictable

Neve Daniel to the Rescue!

A Pioneer Of Israel

Abbas Continues To Lie

A Coffee Shop in a Slaughterhouse

Israel on the Inside

The Struggle for the Land of Israel -- Don't Wait!

At Least One Rabbi Knows that the Torah Comes First

There's a Christian in my Soup

Do you know where your children are? 

What is Messianic Judaism?

Millions and Millions Lost to the Xians!

Left Wing gives Platform to Christian Missionaries

Illegal Africans Don't Care about the Jewish Holidays

What's up in Exile?

John Kerry's Most Worrisome Testimony

The Weiner Incident in the Kosher Bakery

Can a Drug Dealer be Orthodox?


The next edition of this Jewish/Israel Round-Up will be hosted by Yael Shahar at A Damaged Mirror.

"Kosher" Media Network

 כ' לחודש השישי תשע"ג

Kosher Media Network

I received a message from jblast.com, due to my subscription to Kosher Media Network. It included the following lines about Yom Kippur tefilloth (prayers):

Click on the image to enlarge.

How is this "kosher?"

Clarification: In case you have no clue what I'm talking about, I mean the female "rabbis."

Apparently, there will be a "livecast" of the "services," as well.

Click on the image to enlarge.

Well, over 10 business days ago, I wrote the following in response to receiving this utterly offensive, and galuth (exile) mentality-oriented, e-mail:

Don't you think it's misleading when the "kosher media network" lends its name to associates such as these?

After all, being "kosher" has to do with a heck of a lot more than just what goes into a Jew's mouth.

Thank you in advance for your response.

P. S. I do love your book Quick And Kosher!

What are your thoughts on this? I think this either about compromising principles for the sake of money, or just plain ol' feminism, sneaking into where it does not belong, Kosher Judaism.

Rabbi Druckman Throws Students to the Dogs

ערב שבת קודש פר' כי תבא תשע"ג

YNET: Top Rabbi Backs Elon Despite Conviction

Rabbi Chaim Druckman

Shortly after Rabbi Mordechai Elon is found guilty of indecent acts, prominent religious Zionist Rabbi Chaim Druckman invites him to deliver weekly Torah lesson at his yeshiva. 'Rabbi Druckman is throwing students to the dogs,' says former member of Takana forum

Kobi Nachshoni, August 14, 2013

Less a week after he was found guilty of indecent assault by force on a minor, Rabbi Mordechai Elon is receiving significant support from one of the most prominent religious Zionist rabbis. Ynet has learned that Rabbi Chaim Druckman, one of the leaders of the national-religious public, invited the convicted rabbi to deliver his weekly Torah lesson at his yeshiva of Or Etzion.

In the past few days, Rabbi Druckman has avoided voicing a public opinion in regards to Rabbi Elon or repeating his past statements in favor of the man or against those who accused him of committing sex offenses – likely for fear of creating a public row.

Druckman has been criticized in the past for innocently backing Ze'ev Kopolevitch, the former head of Jerusalem's Netiv Meir Yeshiva, who was convicted of indecent acts against his students, thus hurting the victims once again.(cont.)

(Tip Credit: Tomer Devorah)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
I am not sure how much I need to add to this self-explanatory report.

I am usually suspicious of the objectivity of any State-controlled leftist newspaper, or Christian-collaboating, right of center or so-called right-wing news source, such as the Jerusalem Post or Arutz 7.

And this report is no exception. Clearly Yedioth Aharonoth [YNET]'s mouth waters over every opportunity to condemn a rabbi, or bend over backwards in an attempt to make him look bad.

Yet, try as I may, I cannot find anything in this report with which I am able to disagree. This report does mention the feminist "orthodox" organization Kolech ("Your Voice"). And, although I cannot disagree with this organizations comments either. Even a broken clock is right once or twice a day, depending on the kind of clock, and in which country you happen to be at the time. I absolutely no reason why Kolech was quoted over another organization, other than YNET's agenda to provide it with publicity at any and every possible opportunity.

In conclusion, I would like to suggest to Rabbi Druckman that during this month of Ellul, the month before Rosh HaShannah and Yom HaKippurim, he reflect upon his public statements and actions, and do teshuvah (penance) for them,...publicly.

Esser Agaroth on the Maccabiah Games

כ"ג לחודש החמישי תשע"ג

Ironic, is it not, that the Maccabiah Games, an imitation of the Greek Olympics, are named for the Maccabim, who fought off the Greeks, their Jewish, Greek-wannabes, and their assimilation oriented influences?

And, here we are, holding our own version of the Hellenist Olympics, because they "used to laugh and call us names," and never allowed us to "join in any [of their] reindeer games." 

Our bright, red noses lit up the sky with Nobel Prizes, and medical and high tech innovations. But these acknowledgements from the goyim were not good enough.

The lack of a bit of skin got in the way for most of us. Some of us found ways to "cover up" enough to participate.

Mark Spitz, then and now.

Gal Fridman, Athens, 2004

I remember the excitement as a kid, when Mark Spitz won an unprecedented seven gold medals in Olympic swimming. I had been living in Israel for some time already when Gal Fridman won the gold medal in windsurfing, Israel's first gold medal ever.

An acquaintance of mine, Effie Kivelevitch, a "nice Jewish boy," and and former yeshiva student from New York, became Mr. Israel 2009 for his weight class in bodybuilding. What could be more Greco-Roman body conscious than body building?? But, how could his fellow America Jews not cheer and whoop-whoop in excitement??!! Furthermore, Kivelevitch's hard work reinforces the very important important message that Jews do not have to remain locked into a wimpy, neurotic, and nebachy stereotype. We can once again become physically strong, as well as scholarly, like the Jews of old.

There have been other athletes who had to face the challenge of being both Jewish and an athlete head on.

Who does NOT recall his father or grandfather telling him the story of how Los Angeles Dodgers' Sandy Koufax refused to pitch on Yom Kippur? That might not impress too many religious Jews now. But, in during the assimilation of the 1960's, his action made a significant impression for its time. This video about this story is well worth its 2 minutes length.

The teenaged son of friends of mine once told me about Tamir Goodman.

Tamir Goodman (Wikipedia) was dubbed by Sports Illustrated magazine as the "Jewish Jordan", is an American-born Israeli retired Orthodox Jewish basketball player.

Goodman received a scholarship to the University of Maryland, which had one of the top-ranked basketball teams in the country. He said that the news of his plans to go to Maryland attracted over 700 media requests that week. The team's schedule of practices and games meant having to play on Friday nights and Saturdays, against the rules of Orthodox Judaism, so he declined Maryland's offer.
Goodman then accepted a scholarship from nearby Towson University....He eventually fulfilled his dream by signing with the Maccabi Tel-Aviv professional basketball team.

Just last winter, 18-year-old Akiva Finkelstein from Beth-El chose to withdraw from an international boxing tournament in Armenia, rather than violating Shabbath, by being weighed on an electric scale.

Ofir Kriaf

Last month, I saw a short video bio of Beitar Yerushalayim's star midfielder Ofir Kriaf. It included a spot of him in tallith and tefillin, praying at the Kothel (Western Wall), and talking about the importance of his family. Doesn't sound like a big deal in Jerusalem, in this day and age? It's done all the time, and may have been done for publicity? I don't think so, not in the least. And, don't forget. Fans young and old, pay attention to these things. It makes an impression on them, especially the highly impassioned, and sometimes disenfranchised, fans of the Beitar Yerushalayim team. At the tender age of 22, when Kriaf's career is just taking off (בע"ה), he is truly not just a role model, but a Jewish role model.

Just the other day, I heard that the members of the Israeli women's lacrosse would rather give up their chances at winning the gold medal in their tournament in England, than play on Shabbath. (Tip: Jew In The City)

Sports have provided us with a history of events to rally around those of us who are "like us," to have role models, and to feel better about who we are.

But, are athletics an authentically Jewish conduit for achieving collective self-esteem?

I certainly do not agree with those rabbis who mock athletics in their entirety. Rather, I believe that there are appropriate times situations for athletics.

The examples set by all of the athletes above are commendable, even Qedushei HaShem to an extent.

And in this day and age, of taking pride in assimilation, and of being more goyshe than the goyim, I am willing to accept almost anything which has the power to raise the confidence and self-image of Jews. Even the often disenfranchised Beitar Yerushalayim soccer team fans receive more in the way of a boost to their Jewish identities from being a fan and member of a proud Jewish group, then they would ever receive from the Israeli public education system. Sad and pathetic, but true.

What do Jewish sources say about athletic prowess?

It seems to me that it has always been mentioned and praised in the context of war, and in the defeat of our enemies.

So, let us continue to route for our Jewish sports stars, and follow those examples which are positive. But let us also keep athletics in perspective, and ask ourselves, what should the final goal of building muscle, strength, endurance, and skill really be?

I guarantee you that it not to be just like the goyim, with our own athletics teams, and our own athletic competitions.

Rather, it is to prepare ourselves physically and mentally to do what will eventually need to be done. Defending fellow Jews from attacks, hiking in the Shomron, shopping in Downtown Jerusalem, or just trying to live normal lives in South Tel-Aviv, are only a few of today's necessities for such abilities.

Who knows how else they will come in handy, this fall, next year, or in five years.

Best be prepared.