"Various parts of Land of Israel are more than just strategic security assets."
The original title was "Confusing Means and Goals." YNET also edited out a few sentences, found below in blue italics.
Yoel Meltzer 24 Sivan 5769/June 16, 2009
It is occasionally said that keeping the Shabbat is a good way to strengthen family unity and closeness. Since parents and children are together for a day without the usual weekly distractions, they are forced to spend quality time together. The problem is that this assumption reduces the Shabbat to a means for fostering better family ties. If it is only a means for nurturing better family ties, then someone else can rightly claim that a Shabbat barbecue on the beach with the whole family also fosters family unity. If so, what need is there to observe the Shabbat? The point is that the Sabbath has tremendous value in and of itself, regardless of what benefits one may or may not receive from observing it. Of course to make Sabbath observance a goal rather than a means and also to appreciate its true value, it must be concomitantly practiced and understood in its fullness. Otherwise it can turn into an external empty act devoid of any meaning.
The same can be said regarding the Land of Israel. Many good intentioned people state that the only reason Israel cannot relinquish any territory in Judea and Samaria is because these lands are vital for the strategic depth they provide to Israel. Once again, the problem with this approach is that it conveys the message that an Israeli presence in certain areas in the Land of Israel is only important as a means for acquiring security.
However, if this is true, then other means can be found to supposedly provide security, such as a 20 meter-high security fence, international observers, electronic surveillance equipment, etc, etc. The point is that the Land of Israel - be it in Tel Aviv, Shiloh, Karmiel, The Jordan Valley or Arad - has tremendous value and meaning in and of itself, regardless of what benefits settling it might provide. Yet to make settling the land and establishing Jewish sovereignty a goal rather than a means and also to appreciate the real significance of the Land of Israel, the subject must be seriously studied and internalized.
In light of Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent Bar Ilan speech, this point should be kept in mind. The "taboo" has finally been broken and now every major Israeli political party officially endorses the "two-state solution." Moreover, the prime minister's stated conditions for the establishment of such a state – Arab recognition of Israel as Jewish state and an eventual demilitarized Palestinian state – will quickly be sidestepped or forgotten. Unless something miraculous happens we will be staring at a new Arab state in our midst within the coming years.
Security Argument Will Be Defeated Of course this new entity, which in all probability will be quite hostile towards Israel, will require the forced removal of tens of thousands of Jews from their homes in Judea and Samaria. In such an environment, all that remains is to speak the truth. Therefore, anyone with influence who really cares about the Jewish people and the divine mission they've been entrusted with, a mission which is integrally related to establishing Jewish sovereignty throughout the Land of Israel, needs to speak up.
However, if their defense of the Land of Israel is based solely upon security issues, they will eventually be defeated. Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow but with time they will be defeated since other means, no matter how problematic or controversial, will be adopted to allegedly provide security.
As appealing as the security argument might be, the truth is that various parts of the Land of Israel are not simply strategic assets that must be held on to for security reasons, any more than the entire land itself is merely a safe haven for Jews to escape pogroms and anti-Semitism. At this point in time, anything other than the truth will not hold up.
Yoel Meltzer has an MA in Middle Eastern Studies and lives in Israel.
I am definitely late in jumping on the band wagon with this one.
As a long-time member of the Manhiguth Yehudith (Jewish Leadership) faction of the Likud Party, I have been critical of its leader Moshe Feiglin several times in the past. (Who was it who said that those who agree 85% of the time are called allies? Ronald Reagan?)
I have to say, though, that I thought his response to President Obama's "Big Speech" in Cairo was pretty good, and the most "Jewish" response I have seen yet.
Well, there I was in Tel-Aviv, minding my own business, my only desire to exercise my unalienable right to go to the beach, have sand kicked in my face, matkot balls fly at my head, buy overpriced junk food and drinks, and have obnoxious things yelled at me by notoriously anti-religious lifeguards, who seem to think that each and everyone of us is named "Yankiv."
Then I encountered it, the wall. There was a wall blocking the pass over to the separated beach (See the notes below) from HaYarqon and Nordau Streets. I turned south, believing that I would eventually be able to cross over to the beach through Independence Park, or so I thought.
A blaring sign near the Hilton Hotel read that the park was closed for renovations. The entire park was sealed off. So, I returned northward, turned left on Havaquq HaNavi Street, and finally arrived. It was 4:30 already. I like going this late. The crowds have thinned, and the sun is a bit less intense.
I laid down to relax. I saw two business men chilling out over drinks, two men doing yoga, a man and his 20 something son enjoying each others company, and a Hassidishe man doing an effective job of relieving his young boys' fear of the water. All of the matkot games were located far away from me. I only had sand kicked in my face once, and only had to block one oncoming beach ball.
The lifeguards were not in the least bit obnoxious, and even mentioned a pasuq or two through the loudspeakers. It came from a religious guard, and was not said sarcastically.
As I prepared to leave, I encountered another "only in Israel" moment. There were not one, but two minyanim, one after the other, for tefillath minhah.
My afternoon at the beach was capped off with the typically beautiful Israeli sunset on the Mediterranean.
I had nothing over which to be agrieved, and could no longer complain about the minor, necesary detour.
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Some beaches, like Tel-Aviv, divide up the days: Men - M, W, F; Women - S, T, Th. (Dan Buses #1, 2, 4, 9; Qavim Buses #55, 56 stop here, on one block away on Ben-Yehudah Street. Dan Bus #5 stops on Nordau and Dizengoff.)
Others, like Ashdod and Netanyah, divide up the days, and alternate mornings and afternoons: Men - S, T, Th mornings and M, W, F afternoons Women - S, T, Th afternoons and M, W, F mornings.
The break between morning and afternoon for Ashdod is 12:30 - 1:30pm; for Netanyah it is 1:00 - 1:30pm.
A complete schedule for the 17 separated beaches (of a total of 135 recognized beaches) can be found in Hebrew at InfoTravel.co.il. If you find a schedule in English, please leave a link to it if the comments section.
Some of the locations include Ashqelon, Haderah, Nahariyah, four on the Kinnereth, and two on the Dead Sea. Some of the beaches have an entrance fee.
Rabbi Michael Lemming is, in his own words, "a left-wing orthodox rabbi living in Haifa, Israel." He heads the prestigious Yeshiva, "Har Shalom," where he teaches a message of peace, social justice, and love for the world. He also currently hosts the famous "Rabbi Lemming Show" (embedded below).
Episode #1: The first episode ever of the famous "Rabbi Lemming Show"
...a parody of the sissy, pacifist, left-wing segment of the so-called datti-tzioni (Religious Zionist) community... (Go to time markers 2:43 and 3:57, in case you begin to get concerned that this really is not a parody.) Here are links to additional episodes:
Episode #2: "Reflections On Tshuvah" Rabbi Lemming gets a big surprise after inviting his nine-year Arab friend into his home to give him cookies. (highlights: 4:27, 6:45, 9:50)
Episode #3: "Back From The Dead" Rabbi Lemming won't even let a near-death beating deter him from spreading his message of shalom. Episode #4: Part 1 - "I'm An Apple," Part 2 - "Songs For The Chag" Rabbi Lemming experiences a miracle before the chag, when his painkillers kick in. Episode #5: "A Special Shabbat Guest" Special Shabbat guest Ezra gets "cured" of his right-wing extremism after being zapped by Rabbi Lemming's new invention, the "Lemminator."
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You can also find Rabbi Lemming on Facebook, and become his friend!
I, on the other hand, refuse to be a racist. I refuse to use double standards. I refuse to treat the Arabs in a different way than I would treat others. I refuse to expect less. When the Arab countries attack Israel, I will demand a strong response. When the Palestinians send rockets, I will want those who send rockets to be rooted out. When the Arabs refuse to cooperate towards peace, I will work towards solutions which ensure Israel's continue security, rather than demand constant Israeli concessions because "we shouldn't expect anything more from Arabs." (Read more...)
Comment #32: Dan, You and I often disagree, either on content or logic, usually both. This was kind of clever, though, not really new, I'm afraid, but clever. Maybe someone will get the message.
The West, goyim and assimilated Jews, have also often disrespected Arab culture. They claim that we should respect the Arab culture, yet don't understand what that is, and deep down believe in the superiority of Western/European culture. This is the root of their hypocrisy regarding Arabs.
Anyone reading Tana"kh can see the culture of the Yishma'elim is that of thievery and absolutely no interest in Eretz Yisrael, except for when Am Yisrael is weak. Then they can come to rape, pillage, and kill more easily.
DACON9 (comment #3) is right, though. There is no such thing as a "Palestinian." I am sure you were just using this term for clarification. Try using parentheses ( ) or quotes " " next time.
I keep trying to get Arutz 7 (Israel National News) to do the same when referring to charlatans like Michael Lerner as "rabbis." They still don't seem to get it.
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Dan Illouz is a recent oleh (immigrant to Israel) from Canada, and founder of the Tzipiyah Blog.
So, my first Shabbath back in Jerusalem, and I get to see Christians on the Midrahov(Ben-Yehudah/Mordechai Ben-Hillel) musically welcoming me into the new week. Just great!
I did my best to let Hebrew speakers know who they are, and what they are doing there. Some haredi kids moved along, yet another religious man was not in the least bit interested in hearing about misswoth (commandments) related to avodah zarah (foreign worship). At least I got this lovely reaction from the group's leader, who, as you can see, was none to happy to hear the word "police," not that they would do anything, let alone come.
Unfortunately, I only had the B'nei Braq number for Yad leAchim (anti-missionary) and not the Jerusalem one with me. They are pretty on top of these things, but still, it never hurts to report in. The worst thing that will happen is that they will tell you thank you, and that they already know about it.
I encourage you to keep these phone numbers handy, and do the same:
Christians Are Everywhere! (Click on each of the images to view an enlarged version.) Here they are, between Bilu and Eqron, on the way to Rehovoth. Hopefully, they now know better than to enter Rehovoth, after they were beaten up by both haredi and secular residents a month ago. It's good to know there are some sparks of Ahduth Yisrael (Jewish unity), and that even Israrli media outlets are willing to report them occasionally. This photo was taken two days after their nighttime infiltration into Rehovoth. This group's motto is the lie that their false deity/messiah equals the King of the Jews (yamah shemam!).
Out of nowhere, I saw this sign in the Bukharan Quarter in Jerusalem. We can debate the merits or hurtfulness of the International Federation of Christians and Jews [IFCJ] another time. (See for yourself a record of donations the IFCJ has made to Christian missionaries on the Esav Exposed Blog.)Notice the translation? Any particular reason the IFCJ needs to hide the "C" in IFCJ? (Sorry for the poor quality. You'll just have to trust me, or go see for yourself.). It just says yediduth (friendship), without any mention of Christian participation. Do you think that's just a one off?
I am truly embarrassed to ask to you to check out this plaque in my very own town of K'far Tapu'ah, in the Shomron (Samaria). There is no mention of Christian involvement here either. What, pray tell, is CFOIC? It's the abbreviation for Christian Friends of Israeli Communities. What are they trying to hide?
K'far Tapu'ah's recently completed, $180,000 playground was set to receive a final donation of $30,000 from a Christian organization. (How it cost, I do not know. Ask David HaIvri. Maybe he knows.) When Shomron Regional Head Gershon Mesiqa was asked by K'far Tapu'ah's mayor for a letter on stationary needed to finalize the donation, he refused. Fortunately, someone in the Shomron has some sense.
Finally, here is a man who was distributing fliers next to Shuq HaKarmel for a gospel concert in Tel-Aviv. When I asked him if these people were Christians, he said no. I replied with, "We'll see." Maybe he was just some dupe hired to pass out the fliers, and I did not know the implication of the word "gospel." I don't know.
That does not change the fact that they working around the clock!
The minute Jews begin to question Chritian activities in Israel, they get attacked. Check out Ellen Horowitz's coverage of Christian "legal defense" in Israel at Jewish Israel.
Christians Are Everywhere!
This morning I found myself in line at the Israeli Police Traffic Unit in Jerusalem (Binyan Klal, 5th Floor, M - Th 8:00 - 12:00). It was the last day for me to pay a jaywalking ticket, before the fine went up. Some of you will think I am stupid for jaywalking. Some will say I am a sucker for not trying to get out of it. Some of you will think I am a sucker for paying the fine.
Well, I'll just say this. At the time, I tried to keep walking, but the traffic cop blocked my path. I couldn't play the "I don't understand Hebrew" card, which Americans are often told to play. One look at the aliyah date on my highly worn te'udath zehuth (ID card), and I'm toast!
I decided that honesty is the best policy, took the ticket, and now needed to pay the fine.
Generally, the fine can be paid at the Postal Bank. Unfortunately, the Postal Bank would not accept payment, as the ticket number was partially erased. There would not have been any way guarantee would actually make it out of electronic limbo into the right place to cover my "traffic violation." Thus, I ended up at the Traffic Unit, in order to find out what I needed to do.
The wait was only a half an hour, and the numbers were color-coded: Blue for tickets and fines, Red for accidents, Yellow for an Arabic-speaking officer.
"No problem," the clerk told me. She has ordered another ticket sent to me by registered mail, and has given me an additional 90 days to procrastinate to pay the original amount of the fine.
In the meantime, let's hope I don't get another ticket....
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Jerusalem Jaywalking traps:
Yaffo and Shamgar Streets - the officer hides behind the building columns next to Bank HaPo'alim
Crossing Yaffo Street to and from the Central Bus Station.
I was going to introduce this week's edition of Haveil Havalim with some summer safety tips from yours truly, a former Southern California lifeguard and swimming instructor. If you want you can check them out here.
There is an expression: "We plan, and God laughs."
I am truly nuts. I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off.
I haven't been at home for Shabbath for four months, and now all of a sudden I have three guests coming. Thank goodness they'll eat our meat (or else!). They want to know why I don't have a gun (that's the last thing I need to worry about! Besides, they'll get to see plenty of guns on Shabbath). They (Vizhnitz, Tzanz, & Belz - sssshhh! Don't tell! I don't want anyone getting kicked out of yeshivah.) don't quite understand that we will be praying in close proximity to three Arab villages, and will probably flip out. I have to do lots of laundry (no machine, so by hand) so they'll have sheets, which are going on 3 mattresses in the tiny living room (let's hope no one gets injure when someone has to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom). I'm hoping they won't mind the light on in the kitchen (No luxury full-house Shabbath clocks for us hicks. Oh, well.),... cooking extra food in case they feel like staying home, instead of going to a place where we're invited with 40 others (I just found out). My landlady, whom I have never met, from the U. S. is staying next door. The last thing I need is for her to want to do an inspection of the house (OY!).
I also hope my guests will want hot water in the morning. The plata heats up the tiny house too much in the summer (It's ice coffee or NO coffee).
I haven't had computer access for the last few days, so there are 30 more submissions which require my attention.
I went to a brith milah today. It was crazy mix of Haredim and Kahahistim, a lethal combination, figuratively, not literally. Although everyone almost killed the lone Chabbad messianic. I will get hassled for the next week for not making to an important wedding in Hevron. What can I say? Duty calls. I had to shop and work on this week's HH.
Oh, yeah, and I am moving on Monday, and haven't started packing (Sssshhh! The landlady nextdoor doesn't know yet).
Thank God for "luxury problems."
(sigh)
Never a dull moment in Shomron & Yehudah.... And you thought LA was exciting.
You get the picture.
Ya'aqov
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 and coordinated by Jack. 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.'
Now, without further adieu, I would like to present the Shechted Chicken Edition of Haveil Havalim.... (Yeah, I did it again. It's a bit long. Hopefully, my annotations will save you some time...and, don't worry. Photos of shechted chickens will not be found here.)
Velveteen Rabbi provides her poem on the parsha, Nazir, which reminds us that Jews outside of Israel are behind those of us in Israel in Torah reading, due to the second day of Shavu'oth in hutz la'Aretz falling on Shabbath this year. We read B'ha'aloth'kha, while you read Naso.
The Rebbetzin's Husband makes a connection between Parshath Naso with the "Big Speech." (The meaning of "Big Speech" is revealed below.)
The Jewish Fist expresses his outrage over the government's actions and the subsequent media coverage with May They Be Strengthened! Watch out for The Jewish Fist!
I wonder what Joel Katz thinks of settlers. Our head cheerleader for the probagation of non-orthodox Judaism in Israel presents his coverage of Religion And State in Israel here and here.
Joe Settler , posting at The Muqata, has an interesting take on activism, reporting on the recent vigil outside of the U. S. Consulate in Jerusalem with The Left Is Furious.
The story of the false "Ephraimites" (Christians in disguise) being "welcomed home" in Israel seemed to fly under the Israeli news media's radar. Geulah Girl at The Key To Redemption has the full story, as well as background information here. Where is the outrage?
Shmu'el Sokol as the Torat Yisrael Blog wants to know where the outrage is over MK Zoabi's Support For Terror.
Rachel Neiman at Israelity eulogizes Israel's Fourth President Ephraim Katzir. Did anyone even know that he died? Where was the coverage?
Occidental Israeli gives his take on IDF operations in his report on two, new immigrant brothers from the U.S., and model soldiers, in Every Hebrew Mother.
Finally, my neighbor responds to being banned from entering the United Kingdom in I'm No Terrorist.
Rafi provides us with a regular Life In Israel feature "Interesting Posts." It's a wrap-up the posts which succeed in catching Rafi's eye. He also gives us Are You Ready For Nuclear War? about last week's drill. Oy! You'd better read it.
Mrs. S. at Our Shiputzim reveals what the "drill" was really about in Yisrabluff?
More culture is found at How To Be Israeli, where Maya reports on Pride And Prejudice In Israel??(...as in the book by Jane Austen)
Toby at A Time Of The Signs never fails to make me laugh. Check out Anyone Need A Steticist?(By the way, she doesn't know this but a bizillion years ago, her brother-in-law and I were hevrutha (study partners) for a couple of weeks. Small world, no?)
I invite people to join an Israeli English Book Exchange, and In The Middle, On The Right'sPesky Settler describes what she and her family were able to do for an outing in her neighborhood in Visiting Yehoshua.
Russell at BaLev V'Nefesh, none too happy with where the Obama administration is taking the U. S., brings us Here Comes the Pain Again. I wonder if he thinks that Jews should get out?
Occidental Israeli gives us a peek behind the scenes in Washington with Bad News, Rahm. More on the Obama Administration and it's reliationship with Israel comes from Marty Peretz at The Spine with An Inconvenient Truth.
Elder Of Ziyon reminds us that They Just Don't Get It, that is the U. S. doesn't get the point of Hizbollah.
"The Big Speech"
The "Big News" this week seemed to be Obama's "Big Speech." The news was a flurry with the "Big Speech." Of course, the first thing that came to MY mind was the "Big Meeting." Check out the video, if you don't remember, or are too young to recognize the reference. You will see someone talking about "something very important," like Obama, yet a lot more knowledgeable about his chosen topic than the U. S. President is about his.
However, if you are actually interested in the JBlogging World's take on the "Big Speech," Tomer Devorah preps us before the "Big Speech" in A New King Arose, part 2. You'll see how is Obama like Pharoah. Soccer Dad also preps us beforehand with The Questionable Centrality Of Palestine. You'll be surprised to found out what Muslims think President Obama's message to the Muslim world should be.
Sultan Knish, also before the "Big Speech" gives us Israeli To Obama: "No, You Can't!" in which he expresses a more optimistic attitude than mine about my fellow "settlers" and "Israelis." Don't forget to read what the Sultan says after the "Big Speech" in The Evil That Obama Speaks.
DovBear says that Right Wing Jews Were Wrong about the "Big Speech." The other side of the coin can be found at Yeshiva World's More Hussein Than Obama. The full text is here. You be the judge. Personally, I think they're both off the mark. DB, IMHO, you and the rest of the JBlogosphere, are being imprecise with the use of the terms "right" and "left." YW, the Yesha Council is more accurately described when calling it the Pesha Council or Resha Council, or, yes, even the YeSh"W Council.
Last, but definitely not least, comes Lady-Light at Tikkun Olam with We Were All Duped..., a very good overall analysis of Obama's approach juxopposed to the history and reality in Israel.
Education & Other Personal Experiences
Robert at Seraphic Secret's lovely post in honor of his Father's 90th Birthday(Ad Me'ah we'Esrim) not only acts upon the misswah of kibud av (honoring ones father), but also provides a bit of interesting Jewish American history.
Maya from How To Be Israeli in Israel but comments on ex-pat Israelis in the U. S. and the similarities of their experiences to those of U. S. olim in For some balance... "What's Missing in America."
Toby at A Time Of The Signs explains Those Funky Hebrew Signs At The Top Of Her Blog, now featured in her blog's title banner. Toby, trust me, there are no such things as coincidences. Check it out to see what I am talking about.
The Israel Situation is Looking For A Blogger Or Two to help out the team.
Last, but certainly not least, it looks like we have the makings of an all-out blog war on our hands in the JBlogosphere. Jack does not like that Benji gets top ranking on searches for "Chumus" (AKA: Humous), and so has started the all-important, not in the least bit petty nor envious, Chumus Wars. Watch out, Benji! You do not want to cross Fearless Leader Jack!
Wrap-Up
Well, that's a wrap for Edition #220! Don't forget that you can already begin submitting your posts for next week's edition which will be hosted by Ima On And Off The Bima. For your convenience, bookmark this link to Haveil Havalim's on-line submission form. See past editions and who is hosting future editions by clicking here. If you would like to host, contact Jack at talktojacknow (at) sbcglobal (dot) net.
...and, by the way, my guests said they had an awesome time this Shabbath in the heart of the Jewish Homeland, K'far Tapu'ah (See Joshua 17:8-9), thanks to my friends and neighbors!
