Take That Sukkah Down Already!

B' d'Rosh Hodesh Ha'Asiri/Ner Shvi'i shel Hanukkah 5767

In the US, I recall many non-Jews complain to their spouses... "When ARE you going to take the X-mas tree down?! It's already mid-January!" Usually, it was the wives complaining to the husbands, and usually that X-mas tree wouldn't get taken out for trash pick up* until Valentine's Day. By then the Fire Marshall had already started snooping around for the evil fire hazards that are those dried-out pine trees....

So, my question is... By when should the sukkah be taken down? Immediately after Shmini Assereth? Rosh Hodesh Marheshwan? Surely by Hanukkah, right?

Well, it was touch and go there for a while. My housemate, the one who bought and constructed the sukkah [so I wasn't going to complain], took it down just before Hanukkah. His custom is to keep his Hanukkiyah inside the house, and the sukkah was blocking the window. Personally, I wasn't so concerned with keeping the sukkah, as I'm not one to be concerned with the opinions of my neighbors. I was concerned about the wind and storm reports, and the potential damage the sukkah would incur.

Nowadays, people have permanent metal frames, usually on their balconies, so that only the walls and skhakh (sukkah roof) need to be taken down. Others have built a sukkah frame of vanished wood, which double for a patio area during the rest of the year.

So, other than those special, and easily disguised sukkoth, I wonder how many can be found still up on Tu biShvat or Purim.

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*As a[n environmentally-correct] Californian, many of my Irish, Italian, and Mexican (I'm allowed to say "Mexican," as they really were Mexican, and not Guatemalan, Panamanian, Colombian, etc.) neighbors would often have their trees reused (eg. firewood, sawdust, etc.), or they had potted trees which were later planted in their yards or at a park.

Remembering Nahshon Walls z"l

Mossa'ei Shabbth Qodesh Hanukkah/Parshath Wayeshev 5767

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

Nahshon Walls, May his memory be for a blessing.

Hilchoth Festivus: Festivus shehal b'Shabbath Hanukkah

ב׳ לחודש התשיעי תשס״ו

Thirty days before a festival, it is traditional to review the associated hallachoth, in order to observe it properly. Festivus falls on Shabbath Hanukkah this year. The last time Festivus fell during Hanukkah was 5763, and the last time it fell on Shabbath Hanukkah was 5760, seven years ago! So, it is particularly crucial to review the hallachoth associated with this special occurrence. 

For those of you unfamiliar with this Jerry Seinfeld Show created holiday, I will refer you to the Wikipedia entry for some introductory information, and to the Festivus Book with a forward by Jerry Stiller (Festivus founder and patron Frank Costanza), for more detailed information. Now, I was originally concerned when I saw that Festivus, held on December 23, coincided with both Shabbath and Hanukkah this year. But, then I realized that the calculation of the beginning and end of Festivus is according to the lu'azi (goyshe) calendar. When Shabbath and Hanukkah go out on Saturday night, it is still December 23, and still Festivus. The Festivus Se'udah is traditionally held at night anyway. Thus, there are no immediately apparent conflicts between nor amongst these holiday observances. 

Airing Of Grievances 

The airing of grievances takes places during the se'udah, the Festivus meal. Now, it is very important that one keeps oneself occupied during the Shabbath preceding, so as not to interfere with the Shabbath atmosphere, and its joyous nature. One may also not make not of grievances during Hanukkah, for similar reasons. There is a mahloqeth as to whether one may write the grievances down, at all, even before Hanukkah. I hold to the opinion of the Kalashnokover Rebbe, who rules that if one must write a grievance down, then it is not a "real" grievance. 

Festivus Se'udah Recently a question came up as to what actually must be served at the se'udah. According to Seinfeld-fan.net the answer to this question is "whatever you want." However, there are those who follow the minhag of eating Paella, the kosher-adaption, of course, as this is both festive and Estelle Costanza's specialty. It is believed that this minhag is derived from the remez in Season 5, Episodes 82-83 when the Seinfelds avoid going to the Costanzas for Paella. A small minority hold to the minhag of including of a "big salad" at the table (Season 7, episode 116), in honor of Elaine. Although, these are mostly feminists who want to aggravate the situation by bring up one of George's biggest grievances, the one against the big-hairdoed, physical therapist character played by Michelle Forbes (That's Ens. Ro to you Star Trek: TNG fans.) who took credit for bringing Elaine the big salad, even though it was George who bought it for her. Others still, hold that soup is forbidden at the se'udah as it brings up images of George's traumatic experience with the Soup Nazi (Season 7, episode 116). There is no issue with the Festivus Se'udah serving additionally as Malaweh Malkah (lemavdil), as long as one has the appropriate kawannah (intent). 

  

Feats Of Strength The feats of strength may certainly NOT be performed on Shabbath (p'shita). This is not an issue this year. As previously stated, the night of December 23 falls on Mossa'ei Shabbath.

Festivus Pole One may not set up the Festivus Pole neither on Shabbath nor during the entire eight days of Hanukkah. Since the Festivus Pole is, according to patron Frank Costanza, "very low-maintenance," it should be easy to set up soon after Havdallah. It is assur to decorate the Festivus Pole. One who does so b'shogeg (mistakenly) must participate in the attempts to pin the ba'al habayith down. One who does decorates b'meizid (purposefully) is hayav to lashes. And, one who decorates the Festivus Pole with tinsel, which patron Frank "finds distracting,"...well,...let's just say, I'd watch my back if I were you! 

And with that Happy Festivus to all! And to all a good night!

Macho Settler Sandal Shitah

Mossa'ei Shabbath Parshath Hayyei Sarah 5767

It is the middle of fall. I have not seen any seasonal forecasts, yet, but it certainly feels like it's gonna be a much colder winter than last year. Last year, IMHO, was actually pretty mild, so much so that I wore sandals throughout the entire winter. The question is, will I be able to make through this year?

Recently at work, in Jerusalem, I was greeted with raised eyebrows when I mentioned that I only owned sandals. I do have a pair of slippers, as well as a pair of rain boots with a hole in one of the soles, but my primary footwear are sandals. I have a regular pair for the week and a nicer pair for Shabbath and Haggim. As my regular pair has pretty much fallen apart, my Shabbath pair has defaulted to my only pair. But, they're also falling apart.

So, the next question is, now that winter approaches, and I need some new shoes, will I break down and buy a pair of "real" shoes, as my colleagues might call them, or will I buy another pair of sandals?

My colleagues continued the now escalating confrontation, "What do mean you only own sandals?!"

Beginning to get a little annoyed, as work ended for the week, and I needed some serious sleep catch-up, I replied in a very sarcastic manner, "We 'settlers' wear sandals even in the winter."

I hate that word "settler," not because we're doing a misswah (ie. what we're supposed to be doing), but because our name-calling "brethren" in illustrious, limousine leftist communities like Ramath Aviv and K'far Shmaryahu refuse to wake up to the fact that they, too, are view as "settlers" by an increasing number of so-called, "international community" members, such as Muslims, their brainwashed, European lackeys, self-hating Jews, and other assorted self-destructive fools.

But, I digress....

My colleagues: "Oh, c'mon! Every one knows that all settlers own at least one pair of work boots! You can wear boots in the winter!"

This is obviously not true, as at least one "settler," myself, does not. However, his stereotype does have basis in truth. Work boots really are a necessity as a protection against nails, broken glass, and scorpions. That doesn't stop the kids in my neighborhood from running around with bare feet, though. Most every one involved in the building industry does own a pair of work boots.

Back to the set of questions at hand, to sandal, or not to sandal?

Certainly, it would assur (prohibited) to do anything which would be of detriment to my health. According to many, if not most, opinions, "Fashion Hallachah" dictates that I have reached an age at which it is mutar (permissible) for me to wear socks with my sandals. But, still....

Well, today, I suppose I was let off the hook from playing "macho sandalled-settler" this winter, as I saw my teen-aged, "Hilltop Youth" neighbors all wearing boots and other assorted close-toed footwear. Things change....

But, the bottom line is that between work, commuting back and forth from the Shomron to Jerusalem, and finding time to sleep a few measly hours per day, I have to find the time even to get to a shoe shore, regardless of my ultimate decision.

So, when it gets cold enough, and I can't take it anymore, I'll probably make the time to get to a shoe store.

I'll let you know....

The New Eged Schedule: A sign of the next expulsion

21 of the Eighth Month 5767

Last Sunday, 15 Marheshwan (Nov. 5), the new Eged bus schedule for the Shomron went into effect. Some buses were added; some service was cancelled. But, the main feature of the new schedule was the radical change in bus routes. Buses no longer travel the an unbroken trek from Jerusalem to the northern end of the Shomron, as previously covered by Line 473, ending in Netanyah and Line 474, ending in K'far Sabba. There is still one bus of the new Line 148 which makes the trek from Jerusalem to Immanuel at 6:30am, and Line 465 still connects Jerusalem with Qidumim, Karnei Shomron, and Immanu'el. However, the latter exits Jerusalem to the west, and travels north along the relatively new No. 6 expressway, avoiding the Binyamin Area and the heart of the Shomron entirely.

The new, Line 148 from Jerusalem to the various towns in the Shomron, such as Shilo, Eli, and Ma'aleh Levona, now ends in Ariel, instead of continuing on to Netanyah or K'far Sabba. Those desiring to arrive in Revava, Yaqir, Immanu'el, Etz Hayim, Einav, Karnei Shomron, and Qidumim must get on another bus, either the new, Line 73 to Netanyah or the new, Line 74 to K'far Sabba. There have already been reports of passengers to Qidumim missing their connecting 73 bus in Ariel by a few minutes, thus causing them an additional 1 1/2 wait.

So, what's the big deal you ask?

While strengthing the University of Yehudah and Shomron, recently upgraded in status from "college," the new bus routes are also in preparation for the the next expulsion of Jews from the Shomron, may God forbid. With a simple snap of the fingers, the new, Line 148 can disappear, cutting Shilo, Eli, Ma'aleh Levona, Rehalim, and K'far Tapu'ah off from public transpotation. A simple change in route along Expressay, No. 6 will facilitate transportation of students from Jerusalem to the university in Ariel, who now appear to make up a substantial percentage of morning passengers on the 148.

Service will then continue north from Ariel via the 73 and 74, which "conveniently" and "coincidentally" travel within that idiotic, so-called security fence. (I call it the Hillul HaShem Fence.)

I predict that the first victim, though, will be the still existing, Line 477 from Jerusalem to Elon Moreh, stopping in Itamar and at Tzometh Tapu'ah. It used to go to Ma'aleh Levonah, but not anymore. This will be the first step, to cut off Elon Moreh, Itamar, Yitzhar, Har Brachah, and then K'far Tapu'ah, preparing for the next round of expulsions, may God forbid.

Service to towns in Binyamin, such as Ofra and Beth-El will continue uninterrupted, until such time the government decides to pull the plug.

This is one of those damned if you do, damned if you don't situations. The Eged bus company is subsidized by the government. Many of us pay only 50% percent of what the fare is reported to cost. Yet, do due to our "grand discount," our precious, bullet-proof transportation is at the mercy of the government.

Far be it from the YeSh"A (AKA: Pesha or Resha) Council to intervene and continue its bus serivce, which just stopped, even for a price. These collaborators without any mandate from the people, and who receive their budgets from the Office of the Prime Minister (How many of you actually knew that?) can not be expected to compete with their fellow government lackies over at Eged.

I say let's contract with a religious bus service (You may call them "Haredi;" I call them religious). But no doubt, the mamlachtim from Ofra and other towns would make a stink about that, in an attempt to cover up the collaboration with the government in the area of education, as well as transportation. But, that's the topic for another blog entry....

The question remains: When we say bye-bye Eged, will it be because we will have found alternative transportation? Or because Eged has left us in the dust.

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Read more on ths issue from Batya at Me-Ander:

The Public Be Damned!
In Suspense -- The First Day

On Jewish Labor

Mossa'ei Shabbath Parshath No'ah 5767

Over the past month or so, I have been following the posts on Blogs Of Zion related to the relationship between Jews and non-Jews in Eress Yisrael:

Racism In Israel?
by Zachary Katowitz, 25 Oct., 2006

"All Citizens of Israel Deserve Our Support"
by Ariel Beery, 16 Oct., 2006

Helping Those Who Live Amongst Us - The Ger, along with the Widow and Orphan
by Ariel Beery, 12 Sept., 2006

Below I provide my "Esser Agaroth" on what is presented there, the original, primary purpose of this blog. I highly recommend that you check out Blogs Of Zion, and chime in....

It is true that Jews have always fought for the rights of others. It is ashame that we have not, fought for Jewish rights, not in a long, time. We all seem to be concerned about what the goyim think, than what we think of our own self-worth, let about what HaShem thinks. (Sure, there are those "hallacha according to feelings" types. But they will be addressed in the future.)

Few remember that it was the [politically-incorrect] Rabbi Meir Kahane ZTz"L HY"D who raised the issue of the Jews in the Soviet Union, their oppression and suffering, while the prim and proper Jewish rganizations in the U. S. sat by and did nothing, because they didn't want to rock the boat. In fact they did worse than nothing. They fought against his efforts.

Then when I was in college in the mid-80's, it was acceptable for us fight for the release of our brothers and sisters in the former Soviet Union. Rabbi Kahane didn't care about the credit; he cared about saving Jewish lives. It just gets me how easily, and "conveniently" people forget....

In a nutshell, Jews recall the pasuq in Parshath Shoftim:

"צדק צדק תרדוף"

"Justice, justice, you shall pursue..."

But, they always forget the continuation:

למען תחיה וירשת את-הארץ אשר ה' אלוהך נותן לך - דברים טז:כ

"...so that you may live and inherit the land that HaShem your God gave to you." - Deuteronomy 16:20

Bottom line, HaShem gave it to us (See RaSh"I on Genesis 1:1), and not to the Yishma'eim (Arabs) nor Edomim (Rome).

We pursue justice not so that we can get along with the goyim, in or out of the Land, but because HaShem commands us to do so. Incidentally, the goyim are also required to set up courts, and to pursue justice (Genesis 9, Mishnah Torah). Everyday that goes by when we refuse to accept the gift which can be so easily accepted, we are spitting in HaShem's face, Has we'Hallilah!

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Zachary has stated that he does not believe in justice for non-Jews for the above reasons, but because he believes it is the right thing to do. For this, I have to respect Zachary, not because I agree, or disagree, with him. But because he does not seem to make any bones about where he is coming from. He does not try to pretend that he believes this to be the Hallachah. At least he hasn't said so. I want to be careful not to put words in his mouth. But, so far he really seems to be consistent in his reasoning. So, I can't really argue with him, unless I get into "the Hallachic way of life is the proper way of life for all Jews" mode. And, although I do believe that, I do not believe it's always the best course of action. Call me selfish, but I am interested in meeting Jews from diverse backgrounds, as long as they (we) are willing to listen.

Another Blogger Of Zion is still searching for a non-existent source from the Ramba"m claiming that "ger" refers to a non-Jew. I have a "feeling" I know where that argument will lead...to "feelings."

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I responded to Zachary's response to my response to his piece (did that make any sense?) thusly...

I was providing you with my preception of the actions of the Jewish People. I have no doubt that their are many like you who believe that this is the proper course of action. However, I believe that as a people this is part of our cycle of attempting to assimilate, 2) not getting acceptance anyway, 3) then repeating the same mistake over again expecting different results.

I do not believe for a minute that this (the above) is the Torah (Read: Hallachic) perspective, but rather a Western (Edomi, New Roman Empire, European) one.

The hallachah regarding the status of Yishma'elim, or any group of people which lays claim to the land of Israel, is that they are to be treating as a threat, and are obligated to the punishment.

Now here's the REALLY politically-incorrect (Read: what "feels" weird to many because we've [Ashkinazim, anyway] been influenced by the Edomi/Roman/European mentality and culture for roughly 1,700-2,000 yrs.) part:

The common people have this same status as their leadership. This, I believe, many, if not most Jews in the World find problematic. I can't repeat enough the dictate that "feelings" do not [for the most part] play a role in determining the hallacha.

Now, in regard to Avodah Ivrith (Jewish Labor), there is another component to my personal perscetive with which you may even agree.

I happen to believe that we, Jews, need to take full responsibility for ourselves, and that includes cleaning up our own trash, building our own houses and streets, shepherding our own herds, and otherwise growing and raising our own food. So, my attitude anyway, is not just an anti-Arab attitude; it is a pro-Jewish, getting up off our proverbial tuchuses and doing for ourselves attitude. Our dependence on the Yishma'elim and other foreign workers is another component of our social psychological malaise.

Another component if the "if you're not a doctor, lawyer, or accountant, then you're nothing" attitude in much of American Jewish society, has filtered its way into Israel, too. Now the big thing is "high tech." I believe that is also a maskili/Western Jewish (& not terribly old) attitude which is unhealthy. (BTW, yes, I am willing to do these various jobs, and DO get my hands dirty in the fields when I can. For some reason, people in the comunity felt that I would be better suited to being an English teach. Go figure....)

This attitude put forth by the (mostly non-religious) Ashkinazy Jews in the 5700-5720's (40's & 50's) was responsible for the horrendous treatment of Sephardim, Iraqim and Temanim, as their cultures were not considered to be on par with their Ashkinazy counterparts.

Do you detect a little socialism? I hope so,...but no that much.

There is, also, a practical, hallachic matter here:

פיקוח נפש דוחה את כל המצוות כולן חוץ משלוש

The saving/protecting of Jewish life takes precedence over all other misswoth save for three (murder, forbidden sexual relations, and avodah zarah).

It only takes one Arab to kill one time, say by attempting to poison customers at Cafe Rimon. It doesn't matter [hallachicly] how many Arabs are inconvenienced or as you say "oppressed," as long as even one Jewish life is saved or protected from harm.

Politically incorrect? Perhaps. But, that is the perspective from where I am coming. Once again I realize that's not the perspective from which everyone approaches such issues on this blog (Blogs Of Zion).

Would you be pleased to hear that Adi Ginsburg, the big moser nefesh (self-sacraficer) behind much of the effort to get Jonathan Pollard released, was arrested and harrassed by the ,the universalist, globalizationist, Israeli [Erev Rav] police for a website encouraging support for Avodah Ivrith. Well, he was, and he was forced to take it down after threats, unrepeatable here.

You may not like the so-called "racial" implications here, but what about the additional clear evidence that rights to freedom of speech is not distributed equally in Israel? And all he was doing was to say "support such-and-such business...."

But, of course, that does not make the news like a goyah in the north supposedly not getting a job because she was not Jewish.

I'll end with some good news:

Arab Interest in Emigration Soars
by Gil Zohar, 4 Marheshwan 5767/26 Oct., 2006

The percentage of Arabs in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza (Yesha) willing to relocate abroad jumped to 32%, according to a Birzeit University survey last month....(click here for more)

Let's hope the leftist pons of the Erev Rav Israeli government do not block the emmigration lines, begging the Yishma'elim to stay,...like they did back in 5709 (1949).

Talk about trying to undo the work of HaShem!

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Notes:

1) A memorial event for Rabbbi Me'ir David be Yehezqail HaKohen Kahane ZTz"L HY"D will be held this Wednesday, 10 Marheshwan 5767/Nov. 1, 2006, 5:00pm at the Caesar Hotel in Jerusalem. A Hebrew shi'ur at 5:00pm will be followed by a brief concert by Dov Shurin at 6:00pm, and by speakers Yequti'el Ben-Ya'aqov, Shifrah Hoffman, and Atty. Barukh Ben-Yosef, and Shmu'el Cytryn in English at 7:00pm. Space is limited, please RSVP to mishallyisrael@yahoo.com.

2) I have it on high authority that the Avodah Ivrith blog will shortly be back up and running after a long hiatus.

Top Ten Words and Phrases of תשס"ו/5766

6 of the Seventh Month

The following is the long-awaited list of Top Ten Words and Phrases of תשס"ו/5766. This is an annual tradition. Yet, this is also the first time I am posting the list to my blog.

Most of you will have no clue what this is about; it's one of those inside jobs. You may surprise yourself, though, by understanding some of the items on the list. And so, you may laugh [& cry] along with us....

Shannah Tovah.

10. (tie) "That's offensive!"

10. (tie) Big Salad "It's like a small salad with lots of STUFF in it." - Elaine Benes

9. How did those Arabic posters ever get put up in Yaffo?

8. South Park (self-explanatory)

7. The Gedud (pronounced "juh-DUDE")

6. Liberated Olives (from SBD)

5. Ghettolicious (from DMR)

4. Blame Canada

3. Giv'ah (pronounced "jeev-AH")

2. Shfar'am (in honor of E HY"D, E, Y, & Y)

And the top word or phrase of תשס"ו/5766 is...

1. The Dirah (pronounced "DEE-rah")

Rosh HaShannah 5767: The Erev Rav is at it again....

4 of the Seventh Month 5767

Can you guess from where and from when the following news headlines came?

"Man Arrested for Blowing Shofar"

"Jews Told Not to Leave their Homes during Certain Hours"

Your first guess might be Germany of the 1930's.

Nope.

Perhaps present day Saudi Arabia or Iran.

Nope. Don't you remember? Saudi Arabia does not even allow Jews within its borders. And, former Iranian President Katami once even took the time to stage a visit to a synagogue at the end of Shabbath.

Perhaps Israel during the British Mandate.

Nope.

How about yesterday in Israel? Hard to believe? Not really.

I'll refer you to the following articles by Arutz 7's Hillel Fendel, Fast of the Seventh Month 5767/Sept. 25, 2006, for the background information:

Man Arrested for Blowing Shofar at Western Wall
Restrictions On Old City Jews During Ramadan

A student of Zilberman's Yeshivah in Jerusalem's Old City was attacked by police yesterday at the "Kotel HaQatan"for blowing the shofar (horn of a kosher animal other than a cow) and for not stopping his prayers at their command. Jewish Law forbids a Jew from interrupting his central shmonah esrei prayer except for reasons related to saving his or another Jew's life. One would think that a praying Jew does not have to fear death from the Israeli police. One would think.... Apparently, that was also one of the thoughts on the mind of Eliyahu Kleiman, while he ignored police demands, and continued to focus on his prayers on Rosh HaShannah.

One would also think that someone in the Israeli police force, especially in the Old City of Jerusalem would know this law. One would think....

My sources indicate that Eliyahu blew shofar during the musaf prayer, as is the custom. The police wanted him to stop. They attacked Eliyahu when they saw that he would not cease. They dragged him away, released him as they did not see him to be a threat, at which point Eliyahu returned to his prayer. The musaf prayer for Rosh HaShannah encompasses acknowledging the Sovereignty of the Almighty, asking the Almighty to recall his covenant with our ancestors, and the Shofar, calling upon the Jewish People to repent.

It is incumbent upon all Jews to hear the Shofar blown on Rosh HaShannah. Eliyahu was helping Jews to do that misswah (Torah commandment). The police were doing the opposite, preventing Jews from doing misswoth.

Why? My sources report that the police were concerned about upsetting the Arabs, thus plopping a riot into their hands.

The Erev Rav, the descendants of the false converts who came out of Egypt with us, strike again, preventing Jews from praying and blowing the Shofar, in the name of not wanting to anger the Yishma'elim (Arabs).

I thought that's one of the reasons we Jews fought to come to Israel in the first place, to have the freedom to be and act Jewish in a Jewish Homeland, and to have the relief of no longer fearing the oppression and cruelty of the goyim (non-Jew's). One would think....

Meanwhile,...

Elsewhere in the Old City, Jewish residents were instructed to stay inside their homes during certain evening hours. Once again this was to lessen any chance that Islamic extremists would get upset by the Jewish presence during their holy month of Ramadan, and "start something."

Where else have Jews had their movements restricted in their own cities of residence?

During Jewish holidays, in particular the one-day [in Israel, two outside of Israel] holiday of Shavu'oth, Jews make their way en masse to the Old City. Just like this Rosh HaShannah, Jews are prevented from entering through the Shkhem (Damascus) Gate on the north wall, yet Arab movements are not restricted. They open up shop as usual, conveniently placing piles of melon in the middle of the thoroughfare, or conveniently deciding to wash down the already slippery stone walk ways just when Jews are arriving for the early morning prayers.

Freedom of movement within the Jewish Homeland without fear of being forced back into ghettos,...and certainly not by others claiming to be Jewish. One would think....

More headlines:

ADL Slams MK Effie Eitam's Statements on Transfer of Arabs

The self-hating, ghetto-Jew words of the ADL are so abhorrent to me I find it difficult to place them on my blog. However, it is more important for these words to be in your face, thus I will place a few here. I'll refer you to the Arutz 7 article above for more.

ADL: "Such inflammatory statements are irresponsible and display an ugly and abhorrent bigotry against other peoples and leads to incitement...."

Although there is certainly hallachic precedent for trying to "get along" with the goyim outside of Eress Yisrael (See works by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ZTz"L), the ADL obviously knows nothing really substantial of Torah and its application in within Eress Yisrael (See Mishnah Torah Hil. Avodah Zarah & Hil. Melechim u'Milhamotheha).

The ADL would seem to have Jews in Eress Yisrael just sit by an be slaughtered, all in the name of "peace" with our neighbors.

The ADL's "write a letter, make it better" policy does exactly the opposite here. Either they have no clue as to the damage they are doing,...or they do. You be the judge.

MK Effie Eitam, I applaud your efforts. You have certainly woken up a bit to the current reality in Israel. May you soon merit the full understanding that Torah Law supersedes the Israeli secular law in Eress Yisrael, whenever they are in conflict.

But, so far, you seem to have gotten it only half right. You have finally woken up to the need [and hallachah] to throw out the non-Jewish hostile element from the Land. But, what about our [apparently] Jewish enemies, the Erev Rav?

Said in the name the name of the Vilna Gaon, he who does not fight against the Erev Rav, defends them (Kol HaTor).

May this year bring the completion of the Ge'ulah (Redemption),...however politically-incorrect it may seem.

An Israel South Park Moment

Mossa'ei Shabbath Qodesh Parshath Ki Thavo 5766

There I was on a Friday, sitting in a park in the neighborhood of Nahla'oth, a Jerusalem neighborhood where I can rarely be seen (long story for another time), when I was disturbed from my relatively pleasant, Nahla'oth experience.

In Israel, we do not have annoying, semi-tame squirrels and pigeons which harrass the humans for their scraps. No. We have annoying cats and doves. Even though I am a cat-lover, I must admit that I, too, am annoyed by the wild cats. I am even very careful not to touch them for fear of ring-worm or other such FTD's (Feline Transmitted Diseases).

So, while I was eating my not so Mid-Eastern breakfast and trying to read, this little, black kitten, which could not have been more than six weeks old, started to rub up against my leg, and me'ow.

Almost without thinking, and I say almost because I could see this coming, I started to raise my voice at the kitten:

"No, Kitty! Those are my borekkas!"

That did not deter him, so a little louder, I repeated:

"NO, KITTY! Those are MY borekkas!"

But he just continued to me'ow,...just like Eric Cartman's Kitty on the hit cartoon show "South Park."

I started to laugh, because of the absurdity of what happening. People passing by surely thought I crazy, both for laughing and for not chasing away the kitten more effectively. Nonetheless, I didn't want the episode to end. Afterall, we fans have been having to wait many moons for the next, new episode of "South Park" (Uh-hum), due to this bizarre break in the middle of the season (hint, hint). Go figure....

Thus, the episode continued....

"NO, KITTY! Those are MY borekkas and ice mocha!" "NO, KITTY!

But, this tiny kitten had such hutzpah (nerve/gaul), it started to climb onto the park bench where I was sitting. Imagine!

Soon after I scared the kitten away from its fifth attempt at climbing up onto the park bench, I got up to leave, believing that I had something more important to do.

Then it really hit me. There are two parks in Nahla'oth, one in the north, and one in the south.

You guessed it. I was in the park in the south, the "south park."

CNN Complicity? Or Parapraxisity?

Mossa'ei Shabbath Qodesh Parshath Ki Thesse 5766

So, there I was, minding my own busines,...well, sort of,...checking out something which Barry Zilberman suggested people check out, something about kids in Qiryath Sh'moneh collecting... and giving CNN an earfull about it, when I bumped into the following news item:


Israeli dies in rocket attack
A rocket attack near Nasariyah, Israel, killed one person. (August 2)


Is it me, or does Nasariyah sound just a little too much like Nasrallah YSh"W?

I mean, Netanyah was named for Natan (Strauss), right? And Hertzliyah was named for Hertzl, right?

Oh, I suppose some of you are worried about the missing "L"-sound from Nasariyah, and how that might poke a hole or two in my logic. So, let me remind you that the "allah" in Nasrallah simply means "God" or "of God" (leHavdil), just like, you guessed it, the Hebrew "yah." Get it now?

Now, of course, this simply could have been an innocent occurance of parapraxis (commonly referred to as a "Freudian slip"). It most definitely was not a typographical error, as we all know that CNN is incapable of such things. The only questions which remain are "Did CNN slip up in revealing the secret desires of Hizbollah YSh"W? Or did CNN slip up in revealing its own secret desires and interests?

Here in Israel, we are all familiar with those bumper stickers about CNN. So, I am sure it does not come as a surprise to any of us this latest "accident." But, are we now going to have to make new bumper stickers? And what should they say? "CNN slips?" "CNN routes for the Arabs?" Or how about "CNN Likes the Arabs?" That way we can do our part to protect the environment by reducing the amount of material produced. We'll just have to print the "K," cut the old bumper sticker, insert the the "K," and then add "the Arabs" at the bottom with a black marking pen.

Oh, and in case anyone wants to come after me with legal action for my hypothetical suggestions, please do. I could use the free publicity. Besides, I'll just say it was a [very extended] "Freudian slip."

All's fair in love and war,... and parapraxis.