Haveil Havalim #147 Is Up!

22 of the Tenth Month 5768

Check out this week's edition of the world's leading Jewish and Israeli Blog Carnival, Haveil Havalim at Soccer Dad!

Christian Support: I'll Take Some (Updated)

18 of the Tenth Month 5768

I received an e-mail from a Christian supporter of Israel. Many of my fellow bloggers have received similar e-mails, and have responded in kind. This is nothing new. The e-mail received does not contain any new suggestions, either, but there is no harm in presenting them here as a reminder. The latter half of the e-mail includes a great deal of standard Christian criticism of Islam, and warnings of its threat to Christians and Jews. Various Christian texts are interspersed here. Thus I have excluded it here.

Here is the e-mail, followed by the response I chose to send, and some additional comments.

The E-Mail:

Dear Israel, I love you, but U let everyone kick U in the ass, when U should be kicken' ass.

I have spent sleepless nights of several months, researching and I have a long list of suggestions.

Warning ……..this does require 10 minutes of your time

ASAP……Please share this with Pro-Bible Jews of David.

Please, feel free to use this material on websites & forums, etc ( please omit my name )

RE: New suggestions for Israel & How to defeat defeatism & garner Christian support & save Israel Now

RE: Saving Bible-Israel & Saving David-Zionism & analyzing Islam

( King David would never be diplomatic. He would never concede any land )

1. Never apologize for David-Zionism, Demand David-Zionism.

2. Bible-Israel, love her or loose her. Write aggressively.

3. Please ask for help and beg for help, but don't wait for help.

4. Please write letters to various Christian & Jewish groups

5. Please write letters to the Jews of Israel to the Jewish Knesset Members. ( beg them not to shrink the Bible-land )

6. If King David and Moses and Judah Maccabeus & Deborah were in the Knesset,

7. They would keep all of Judea and Samaria and the Golan-Galilee and would deport the Neo-Nazi-Muslims to Saudi Arabia,

8. Even if Christians & Jews don't care about the proud Zion of David, even if they are atheist, they have a responsibly to save Israel, for the sake of millions of Jews murdered in the Holocaust, and murdered in the Muslim world.

9. Please take action and help write letters all over the world. Please write to politicians.

10. ASAP & NOW. Also please Create more websites with more links & more visuals.

11. Israel is the Bible, if you foolishly give away Bible-land for fake-peace, what future does the Bible have?

My Response:
As Rabbi Me'ir Kahane HY"D (May his blood be avenged) said on Christian Talk Radio years ago...

"If you want to support us, support us from afar. If you come here to Israel to missionize [and to preach your idolatrous distortions of the Almighty's Word], we'll have to cut your heads off."

As soon as Bush became president, the volume of Christian Zionist activists' voices was greatly reduced. I was told that they did not want to harm the president through public criticism. After all they were receiving the conservative, pro-life judicial appointments they had asked for, as well as several other items on their wish lists.

Not to worry, though, as they were "working behind the scenes."

I do not know how you personally identify a true Christian. But, it seems as though Bush and Rice's understanding of the People of Israel's Divinely given right to the Land, is highly distorted, and in fact, more of a misunderstanding. President Bush seems to be able rationalize his shameless placation of Arabs, much too easily for my comfort (Read: doing the bidding of the Saudi Royal Family without a second thought).

You warned us of our lack of action here in Israel. Yet, I think you may need to worry more about the fate of the U. S. than Israel right now. Clinton or Obama as president will only make things worse. I am not in the least bit impressed by any of the Republican candidates either.

If you want to help, then help us to continue the settling of the Land, as we Jews are commanded to do.

I am living out here in the Samarian Hills, just south of the Biblical city of Shkhem, the location of Josef's Tomb. Just to my west the tombs of Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Yefuneh are can be found.

I have been out of a job for months, do not owe regular shoes (let alone boots) nor a winter jacket. The bank is on my case about what I owe them, due to a misunderstanding of our agreement, and their sudden cancellation of my credit line. My phone will be turned off soon. I am happy to accept your donations.

וַאֲבָרְכָה, מְבָרְכֶיךָ, וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ, אָאֹר; וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ, כֹּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה. -בראשית יב:ג

And I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. -Genesis 12:3

You may send your checks to:

*****ADDRESS REMOVED******
(See the reason below)

I am also happy to give a portion of your "support" to others in need as well, from security and agricultural projects to orphans of Arab Terror. I, myself, am a victim of the French Hill suicide bombing of June, 2002. My hearing and right leg have not been the same since then.

Feel free to forward this e-mail.

In the meantime, here are two items for you:

1) For more on the non-Jew's obligations in this world, see this relevant section on the Sanhedrin's website: The Sanhedrin's Relationship With Non-Jews

2) An article from the J-Post written by a Christian. Please send this to any "liberal" or "centrist" identifying him/self as a Christian. It debunked some of the leftist media's presentation of Arab Muslims and Christians in Israel. I received it courtesy of Women In Green.

Bethlehem beyond the Christmas calm
LELA GILBERT, THE JERUSALEM POST
December 23, 2007

Sincerely,
Ya'aqov Ben-Yehudah

P. S. I jst found my boots from lash year. They are actually gollashes, and the both have huge holes in the souls.

Additional Comments:
The bottom line is that support is welcomed. However, we cannot put our faith in such support from the outside nor in any human force on the inside. Only in HaQodesh Barukh Hu (The Holy One, Blessed Be He) can we place our faith.

And, yes, taking action (hishtadluth) besides prayer, is most certainly necessary. Unfortunately, the same ol' protests and letter writing campaigns do not seem to be working.

Time for a new strategy, or maybe a review of some of the tried and true strategies which HAVE worked for us in the past.

And, finally, I have often been critical of the soliciting of Christian financial support. Perhaps some of you will say that I am eating my words, or that I am a hypocrite, or just being facetious. I am none of the above. I need the money.

I believe I have been quite clear in setting limits for the acceptance of Christian support.

And, by the way, support from comfortable North American Jews. I know that there are some who even realize the importance of having brothers like me living on the front lines.

Update (Mota"Sh Parashath Noach, 5780):
Nope. Not gonna take Christian support. It is imperative that we do not accept support from Esau (Edom/The West). For as long as we do they maintain Heavenly merit, and will not be able to fall.

As we learn in the TB Megillah, Israel and Esau may not be in power simultaneously.

Haveil Havalim Edition #146 Is Up

15 of the Tenth Month 5768

Haveil Havalim Edition #146 is up on the blog of this carnival's creator, Soccer Dad.

Please check out this week's edition of the world's leading Jewish and Israeli Blog Carnival!

It's your free, one-stop Jewish and Israeli Blog store!

Not Just Another Gush Katif Video

Erev Shabbath Qodesh Parshath Wayehi 5768

Lately there has been a video going around of the 5765/2005 Jewish Expulsion From Azza. I received the link from How To Measure The Years who received it from Batya who received it from Tamar Yonah. Like I said, it's been going around.

I believe all of the several videos connected to Azza, the expulsion, and to the on-going plight of the expel lees are important. I would like to share one video with you which I found to be particularly poignant and personal, as it documents the history of the Tashnady Family, from the beginning to the end of their residency in Neve Deqalim in Azza. Actually, it is more of a montage to music, than a video.

I obtained this video from a one of the sons of the family, Moshe, who was then a college student at the religious, science school Machon Lev. It was produced by his brother Pniel. I had the opportunity to meet the Tasnady brothers right after the Expulsion.

At the time, I was working at an Internet Cafe in Jerusalem. Some of you may remember it, the "Internet Shtiebel," the "frumest" Internet cafe in Israel, if there is such a thing. The owners, Yekutiel Ben-Ya'akov and Ezra Stein sent word to the Jerusalem hotels housing expellees that they could use our computers for free. The expellees were able to edit and print out resumes or just try to stay in touch with friends and family, their communities having been ripped apart. In the fall, some students from the Neve Deqalim Ulpana (Girls' Torah High School) would come and do their homework. Once in a while, a Neve Deqalilm resident, doing her second year of national service at a school in the U. S. would be called from our VOIP Phone, and receive updates, powerless herself to do anything but stay connected with her friends, including Pniel.

I do not believe I have seen a more depressed group of people in my life. Those in their teens and 20's looked the worst for wear. They talked as if they had failed because they were unable to prevent such a catastrophe. Only after the fact, well into their "anger" phase, could they begin to realize the full extent of the evil they were up against,...we were up against.

They also realized the full extent of the Yesh"a (Judea, Samaria, & Azza) Council's collaboration with the government. Pniel and Moshe's father Efraim seems to express his disappointment in the local authorities and "rabbis" in this Arutz 7 article in Hebrew from a year and a half ago.




Two years, and four months later, 85 percent of the expellees are still in temporary housing.

The Internet Shtiebel was shut down by the Erev Rav Israeli Police. I still do not fully understand why,...My analysis suggests it has something to do with the threat of those who hold Torah above the "almighty state."

But, I still end this post on a happy note. Pniel was recently married. He can be contacted via his YouTube page, where you can also find links to other related videos. You will not need to understand Hebrew in order to understand these videos.

Kosher Cooking Carnival #25 Is Up!

11 of the Tenth Month 5768

Kosher Cooking Carnival #25 is up on Batya's Me-Ander Blog.

It's the "Great Green One."

Get Ready For Festivus, 2007!

Festivus is less than a week away!
Are you ready?

Last year, of course, there were some serious halachic issues surrounding Festivus observance.

This year, you should all have begun getting ready for Festivus right after Hanukkah. For a detailed description of Festivus observances, click here.

Now, there have been some she'aloth (questions) brought to my attention. Please find my rulings below.

1. May one use a metallic-colored, non-metal pole as ones Festivus Pole?

No. Al pi ma'aseh HaRav, it is clear that one may not use a non-metallic pole, not even bli'avad.

2. Are there any restrictions on foods for the Festivus se'udah (meal)?

Yes. The rule of thumb is not to serve any foods which will result in additional grievances. Thus, one does not serve non-kosher food to a Jew, pork to a Muslim, meat to a vegetarian, eggs or cheese to a vegan, dairy to the dairy intolerant, gluten to the gluten-abstinent, nor alcohol to an alcoholic or recovering addict, etc.

Elaine's "Big Salad" with dairy and gluten items "on the side" (alla "When Harry Met Sally") should always be an option made available to your guests.

3. May one fulfill his obligation to air grievances via e-mail?

This raises a very interesting question. The answer is yes. However, there are conditions.

If one is in a different time zone, one must send the e-mails with enough time in advance of the se'udah of the intended target of your grievances, so that you can be sure that your e-mail will have been opened and read. The proper time for the se'udah is after sundown. One must be careful to check any time difference, and it is preferable to send the e-mails on December 23 if at all possible. If not, one must send the e-mails earlier than later.

Instances when e-mails cannot be sent on December 23 include Shabbath and Hanukkah for Jews. When you know that the intended target of your grievances will not be at home for the se'udah, and will not have access to e-mail, one must send the grievance e-mail before his time of departure. If you know that your intended target has a working laptop, one may assume that he will obsessively check his e-mail for grievances before the start of his se'udah.

Puposely contacting someone with a grievance after his se'udah is concluded is considered "Festivus grievance side-swiping," clearly flying in the face of the whole point of the Festivus "Airing of Grievance" ritual. If one is tardy, either b'mezid or b'shogeg, one must hold it in till next year.

4. Are their any restrictions on wrestling the head of household to the ground at the close of the se'udah?

Yes. Once again, the rule of thumb is not to do anything which would generate new grievances. One may be rough, but not violent, nor abusive. I recommend non-violent, non-abusive roughness.

5. Is it forbidden to bring gifts to the se'udah, even if the gifts are voluntary?

There are differing opinions on this issue. If you recall, the original catalyst to the creation of Festivus was the trauma surrounding ritualized, obligatory, gift-giving. One does not give gifts on Festivus in order to avoid such unpleasantness, during purchase, presentation, and receipt.

Some opinions hold that one may bring a gift to the se'udah, if it is for all of the guests to enjoy. However, one still risks the situation of the surprise guest or surprise aversion scenarios. Thus, some rule that such gifts are forbidden. Still others are more lenient, and say that one is allowed to take the risk that one may rack up additional grievances, since the year for grievance accumulation has technically not yet ended.

I tend toward the more lenient side. However, calling the hosts of the se'udah in advance to test the waters is advised.

One may also donate money to the "The Human Fund" if someone at the table is collecting for it,...and you are dumb enough to fall for that one.

It's Festivus for the rest-of-us!

Haveil Havalim #145 Is Up!

8 of the Tenth Month 5768

Haveil Havalim Edition #145 is up on the blog of this carnival's creator, Soccer Dad.

Please check out this week's edition of the world's leading Jewish and Israeli Blog Carnival on the occasion of its Third Anniversary!

יום הולדת שמח, אבא כדורגל,!

Please wish him a Happy Anniversary!

Rav Binyamin & Talia Kahane HY"D - Azkarah 5768

8 of the Tenth Month 5768

There will be an Azarah (memorial) to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the murders of Rav Binyamin & Talia Kahane HY"D in tents of Yeshivath Meginei Eretz on the new hilltop, Elnaqam 4, near K'far Tapu'ah.

It will begin at 4:00 pm, Thursday, 11 Teveth (December 20), with Tefillath Minhah and include the following speakers:

Rabbi Yehudah Richter
Elon More

Rabbi Shmu'el HaKohen
Rabbi of K'far Tapu'ah

Avraham Hertzlich
K'far Tapu'ah, father of Talia

A se'udah will be served, and will include the yeshiva's Yemenite, chicken soup.

(separate seating for men & women)

Seven years ago, the car carrying Rav Binyamin & Talia Kahane HY"D five of their children and a trempist was shot at by Arab terrorists just south of the town of Ofra. They had just dropped off their son at school.

At David's Request

It feels as though I have been doing a lot of memes lately. They are a great to procrastinate and to avoid doing all of those important things in life, like finding a job, finding a wife, growing spiritually. You know, important things....

When my friend David, one of my few friends left in the "old country" (San Diego), asking me to do this one, I could not refuse. You see, David has really never asked anything of me in the 12 years that I have known him, a good enough excuse to procrastinate. After all, I did my job-hunting for the day and fulfilled some additional obligations to other people.

Now, here's what you're supposed to do, and please do not spoil the fun.Hit forward, delete my answers and type in your answers. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know INCLUDING the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little known facts about those who know you. Remember to send it back to the person who sent it to you.

4 jobs I have had in my life:
(I'll list the ones most people don't know about.)

• Lifeguard, Swim Instructor, Coach


• Dance Club Door Man & Bar Back
  (I have no doubt that this one blew some of you away!)


• Shift Manager in an Internet Cafe


• AOL Customer Service Agent

4 places where I have lived:

• San Diego, CA
  (Mission Village, Middletown, Uptown. Lake Murray)


• Los Angeles County, CA
  (Westwood, Santa Monica)


• San Francisco Bay Area, CA
  (Oakland, Hayward)


• Israel
  (Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem, Binyamin, Efraim)

4 places I have been on vacation:

• Europe (age 4), (Father's Sabbatical Trip)


• South America (age 13), (Father's Sabbatical Trip)


• Las Vegas, NV, Phoenix, AZ, Palm Springs, CA (Fraternity Road Trips), Yuma, AZ (Padres Spring Training)


• Tiveriah, Tzfat, Gallil, Golan, Israel (chaperon on my 8th-graders school trip)

4 of my favorite foods

• Shwarmah


• Steak


• Chicken Soup - as it should be & when it's cold out


• Most Things with Coffee or Chocolate in them

4 places I would rather be right now:

• Jerusalem - in a quiet & warm apartment


• Eilat - I've never been, and would like to go


• Nahariyah - in the summer


• The Beach - in the summer

4 friends or relatives I think will respond first (possibly) :

You know what, David, I dunno. I'm not in the habit of "tagging" people anymore. i let people "tag" themselves. Hopefully they will come back to put a link to their responses in the comments section below.

Sorry, David, I guess that means I'm spoiling the fun.

Hanukkah 5768

Ramba"m - Laws of Hanukkah, Chap. 4 הלכות חנוכה פרק ד

א כַּמָּה נֵרוֹת הוּא מַדִליק בַּחֲנֻכָּה--מִצְוָתָהּ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה כָּל בַּיִת וּבַיִת מַדְלִיק נֵר אֶחָד, בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת מְרֻבִּין, בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה בּוֹ אֵלָא אָדָם אֶחָד. וְהַמְּהַדֵּר אֶת הַמִּצְוָה, מַדְלִיק נֵרוֹת כְּמִנְיַן אַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת, נֵר לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד, בֵּין אֲנָשִׁים בֵּין נָשִׁים. וְהַמְּהַדֵּר יוֹתֵר עַל זֶה וְעוֹשֶׂה מִצְוָה מִן הַמֻּבְחָר, מַדְלִיק נֵר לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בַּלַּיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן, וּמוֹסִיף וְהוֹלֵךְ בְּכָל לַיְלָה וְלַיְלָה, אֶחָד.

Summary of 4:1 - How many candles does one light on Hanukkah? -- The optimal way to fulfill this misswah is to light one candle per person, per night. However, one fulfills his obligation by lighting one candle per night for the entire household.

ז נֵר חֲנֻכָּה, מִצְוָה לְהַנִּיחוֹ עַל פֶּתַח בֵּיתוֹ מִבַּחוּץ, בְּטֶפַח הַסָּמוּךְ לַפֶּתַח, עַל שְׂמֹאל הַנִּכְנָס לַבַּיִת--כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּהְיֶה מְזוּזָה מִיָּמִין, וְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה מִשְּׂמֹאל....

From 4:7 - It is a misswah to place the Hanukkah candle(s) on the opening to ones house, on the outside, within the tefah next to the opening, on the left of the entrance to the house -- in order that the mezuzah will be on the right, and the Hanukkah candle(s) on the left....

ח בִּימֵי הַסַּכָּנָה, מַנִּיחַ נֵר חֲנֻכָּה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ מִבִּפְנִים; וְאַפִלּוּ הִנִּיחוֹ עַל שֻׁלְחָנוֹ, דַּיּוֹ....

From 4:8 In times of danger, one places the Hanukkah candle within ones house from the inside; even placing it on the table is enough....

Most of us from the U. S. remember lighting our Hanukkiyoth inside our houses. In present day Israel, we do not experience such times of danger, and proudly display our Hanukkiyoth outside, b'Firsuma Nissa, publicizing the Hanukkah miracles.