The Plight of the French Jew

ערב שבת קודש פר׳ בא תשע״ו

YNET: French olim despair over work barriers in Israel
Prime Minister Netanyahu promised to welcome them with open arms, but French doctors and dentists are hardpressed to have their diplomas recognized and so have soured on making aliyah.

Yifat Erlich, 01.11.16

Until two years ago, David Tibi, 46, was a very in-demand dentist in Paris. So much so that even former Absorption Minister Ze'ev Boim flew to France to entrust his teeth in Tibi's capable hands. But the wheel of fortune has turned and now Tibi is sitting at home. Not because he made a professional mistake, but because he made a different mistake: making aliyah.

Saturday marked exactly a year since the attack on the Hypercacher after which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on French Jews to immigrate to Israel, promising to receive them with open arms. Miraculously, the Health Ministry has still not heard of Netanyahu's promise. The ministry responsible for licensing health care professionals and paramedical has become a barrier to making aliyah. Thousands of French Jews - doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, physiotherapists, speech therapists and dieticians - do not come to Israel due to the difficulties their profession's registration office give them. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Leave it YNET to suggest that aliyah can ever be a mistake. (sigh) No surprises there.


Besides that, it is important to point out that the dilemmas and concerns of the Jews currently stuck in France are not like the whining often heard from North American olim (immigrants to Israel). The French are usually not tripped up like North Americans by any new and different, cultural norms they encounter here. They are genuinely stuck between a rock and a hard place. Not only do they recognize that they need to leave France; they want to leave France, and they want to come to Israel.

On one hand, they have a chief rabbi with an interest in keeping the Jews in France, insisting on their right to wear kippoth on the streets, soon to be completely overrun by Muslims. On the other hand, they have an Israeli bureaucracy which is being anything but helpful. Eyebrow raising speeches by Prime Minister Netanyahu, and even the late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, encouraging French Jews to make aliyah have been any match against the State of Israel's bureaucratic, front line soldiers. French Jews are really feeling just how stuck they are.

Alternative destinations for immigration, such as Canada, and in particular predominantly French speaking Quebec, thus seem more attractive than Israel.

I believe that somewhere, somehow, a stumbling block is being placed before them. At first, I thought it was just the French Jews' own particular test, their spiritual challenge, and need to jump through hoops, before being able to settle in the Land of Israel. Now, I am not so sure.

There are many in the government, as well as those who are really calling the shots, who do not want anymore religious Jews to enter the country. Not all French Jews are religious. But, most are traditional, exuding a right-wing, reactionary stance, and Sepharadi/North African, with practical experience with Muslims. These Jews are considered dangerous, being a great challenge and taking up too many resources, to indoctrinate them into die-hard State loyalty.

Too many of these French Jews have woken up to the concept of states being unreliable, in protecting its citizens. So, their naive idealism over the State of Israel as a refuge will hopefully only go so far, in service of the State. That is, if most of them succeed in making it here, in the first place.

I do not believe it is any coincidence that the above news report from YNET was published during this week's Torah portion "Bo." In this Torah portion, from the Book of Exodus, we learn of the very unhelpful people, those who have no connection to Eretz Yisra'el (the Land of Israel), who join Am Yisra'el (the Jewish People) in our exodus from Egypt. Haza"l, Rishonim, and other gedolim have been warning us since of the great harm that they have done, and will continue to do us.

וְגַם-עֵרֶב רַב, עָלָה אִתָּם, וְצֹאן וּבָקָר, מִקְנֶה כָּבֵד מְאֹד.... (שמות יב,לח)

And a mixed multitude went up also with them;... (Ex. 12:38)

Our tradition teaches us not to end words of Torah on a negative note. And so, I will do just that.

Using the lashon of Haza"l, while in hiding during the Holocaust, Rabbi Yissachar Shlomo Teichtel hy"d wrote that treif birds will be in control of Eretz Yisra'el. But, not to worry! Because this situation will only be temporary!

May Rabbi Teichtel's words come to fruition, speedily in our days.

The True Dangers of a General Strike in Israel

ג׳ לחודש האחד עשר תשע"ו

There is a joke among "preppers" and other survivalists...

Q: What do you call a power outage? 

A: Practice

If you do not get the joke, then I highly recommend that you read on.

A few weeks ago, a general strike was averted at the last minute. I checked the news in the morning, like everyone else, to check if buses were running, of if I would have to track down a cab, and then when I found one, probably have to fight over it with 10 other people.

But, it was averted. So, no big deal. Right?

Histadrut Chairman Avi Nissenkorn and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (Kulanu)
(Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

Guess again. The only things which were accomplished by this threat of a strike, real or orchestrated, had nothing to do with whether union workers were getting paid fairly or not.

The Finance Minister looked good, if not heroic, thus strengthening his political influence.

The union leader looked good, and maintains his seat of power, until he can position himself for an even better position in the future, perhaps in the private business sector.

And whether or not the workers actually got what they wanted in the deal, both the government and the union can say to their constituents, "Look at us. We sure showed them!"

But, most importantly, the masses have been reminded of their vulnerability, and dependence upon the establishment. 

I remember the general strike of תשנ"ז/1997, as if it was yesterday. I was living in Tel-Aviv at the time, and had only been in Israel for a few months. In fact, the strike ended up lasting for almost as much time as I had been in the country.

Although transportation services were still operating, government, banking, postal, and several other services were at a stand still. Garbage seemed to pile up over night, and then keep piling up. I do not know if you could possibly imagine the smell we had to endure. Needless to say, there were concerns over the health hazard of it all.

It also did not matter if you had money in the bank. It the Caspomat (ATM) ran out of cash, then you did not get any cash. Checks were useless, unless you went to cash them at a money changer for a higher than usual fee. The worldwide goal of a cash free economy had gotten a booster shot.

Fortunately, the religious accountants, knowing, and interested in adhering to, the halakhah (Torah law) necessitating the payment of employees on time, broke the picket line, went into work, and deposited salaries into people's accounts.

How about that? Predominantly secular Tel-Aviv was saved by Torah observant employees of its municipality. Who would have thought? Don't worry. Tel-Aviv residents have long since forgotten the event, assuming they even knew about this, in the first place.

Furthermore, bank managers also crossed the picket line, refilling the Caspomats with cash.

The dispute was eventually resolved, the general strike stopped, and everything went back to normal, right? Wrong.

Even though the general strike affecting the entire country stopped, the strike continued in Tel-Aviv, by its city employees. The trash still was not getting picked up, and continued to pile up.

But, then as you might have guessed, this dispute was also eventually resolved, and we all rejoiced, and proceeded to go back into denial of the situation. "Nah! That could never happen again!" Could it?

Now imagine this...

Truck drivers stop working. Or better yet, the Arabs we are so dependent on hold a general strike. It does not matter if there is enough food, if it does not get to you, and perhaps does not even get picked!

What would do you do? Are you prepared? Do you have cash on you? Will your cash even be accepted? If so, are you prepared for the inflation which will certainly ensue?

Do you have any food and water stored? What about an extra gas balloon, in order to cook your food? Do you know where to find free food? Do know which plants are edible?

Have you decided that I am just one of those "nuts," yet, you hear about on reality television shows?

Just stop and think about it, for a minute.

How many of you even thought about carrying pepper spray, knife, baseball bat, or any other weapon for that matter, five months ago? And now? Most of you have at least thought about it.

So far, here in Jerusalem, we have not been shut down by any snow storms, as in previous years. But, the winter is not over yet. Can you imagine that while there was a pile of snow outside, people were actually worried about their food going bad, because the power was down? The thought to store food in a a bucket of snow, never even occurred to them.

In a crisis, most people get injured, or even die, not because of the crisis itself, but from panic and lack of preparation.

Do the scenarios above seem too far-fetched for you? Do you really feel safe in your Katamon or Ramat Aviv bubbles?

After all, things have "calmed down," and the Prime Minister has promised to protect us. So, everything is A-Okay, right?

I guess that only time will tell.

Mordechai Mayer Released by Shabbak (ISA). Now What?

ב׳ לחודש האחד עשר תשע״ו

YNET: Released Shin Bet detainee: they wasted five months of my life
Mordechai Mayer, placed in administrative detention for five months on suspicion of belonging to the Jewish "Revolt" terror group, released to nighttime house detention and barred from West Bank.

Elisha Ben Kimon, 01.06.16

Mordechai Mayer, 18, from Ma'ale Adumim in the West Bank, arrested five months ago on an administrative detention order on suspicion of belonging to a Jewish terrorist organization was released last Sunday without being charged but was given a restraining order barring him from the West Bank.

Mayer was released the day the indictments were filed in the Dawabsheh murder case. He was arrested a few days after the attack on the Dawabsheh family home in Duma. "It was all a big lie from beginning to end," he told Ynet on Tuesday. "They just harassed me, just as they did to all the others who were detained."

Mayer was taken initially to Rimonim prison for two months and was then moved to Eshel prison. Also detained at the same time were Evyatar Slonim and Meir Ettinger, considered one of the main targets of the Shabak's Judea Brigade and the leader of the "Revolt" group. Ettinger is still in detention, and in the coming days it will be decided whether he will be released. As of now there is no knowledge of an indictment being prepared against him.

Mayer recounted that "six or seven policemen came for me in the morning, issued me with an administrative order and told me I was going to administrative detention. They did not let me take anything. They threw me right away into a cell without explanations. They hurled false accusations at me and did not let me speak at all. I feel that they have stolen five months of my life for nothing. There is a sense that they are hunting after those who wear a kippah and have peyot."

Mayer spent some of his time in detention with Slonim: "We mainly learned Torah together and strengthened our love of the Torah and the country", he said. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Mordechai Mayer has been released, after five months of incarceration, with limited access to counsel. The Shabbak, with support of the Israeli "justice" system, was able to keep him, and other boys, locked up, under the auspices "administrative detention," something left over from the British Mandate, which allowed the British to hold Jewish freedom fighters, whom they thought were threats to their maintenance of control over Israel, pretty much indefinitely.

Often these Jewish freedom fighters from organizations like Etze"l and Lech"i were turned over to the British by their fellow Jews from Ben-Gurion and Rabin's Haganah/Mapai.

The administrative detention and probable torture of these boys was even supported after the fact by the Defense Minister, the Justice Minister, and the head of the so-called "Jewish" Home Party himself, Naftali Bennett.

Anyone else see that history is repeating itself?

I am guessing the Shabbak actually does have a plan. Maybe the goal here was simply to crush them, and to scare anyone else who holds The Almighty and His Torah in higher authority than the deMOCKratic State. Maybe they actually think this was enough to scare the hilltop youth and stop them, at least temporarily. But, from doing what? I have no idea. Goatherding?

Better yet, perhaps they will simply wait, and observe, and monitor the chatter, and then decide upon their next step. The Israeli Government has a pattern of gathering data from its operations, large, and small, as well as orchestrated.

Moshe "Bogie" Ya'alon
Minister of Defense

On the other hand, "Bogie,...I am not so sure. All we know about him, is that he thinks that a "Torah State" is not something to work toward, and that those who do choose to work toward such a thing, are dangerous.

Or maybe, the Government intended to kill two birds with one stone. The State's representatives can now declare that they are perfectly ready to "do what needs to be done" to Jews, in an attempt to justify "doing what needs to be done" to Arabs.

Naftali Bennett

Of course, everyone involved on the State's side of this conflict, including "Jewish" Home Party head Bennett, has failed to consider one important factor: emumah (faith). This is what they are ultimately afraid of, and what they see as the ultimate threat to the existence of a secular, "democratic," State, a State which is increasingly unable to call itself even cosmetically Jewish.

"Bogie," the Minister of Defense himself, declared his belief that desiring a Torah State was a disastrous thing, and that those working toward such a goal were dangerous. So, what would he say to a Torah Kingdom instead of a State?

Ya'alon vs. Shaked: The Illusion of an Adversarial Relationship

ט"ו לחודש עשירי תשע"ו

Arutz 7: Ya'alon, Shaked exchange words over Duma
Defense Minister hints Jewish Home members should do some soul-searching after attacking the ISA over Duma. Shaked responds.

Uzi Baruch and Hezki Ezra: 12/27/2015

The Likud and the Jewish Home engaged in a war of words on Saturday, which began when Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon (Likud) criticized the Jewish Home by linking statements some of its MKs had made with the arson attack in Duma, and also accusing Jewish Home members of rushing to make false accusations against the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) with regards to the investigation into the arson.

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Jewish Home) later responded by accusing Ya’alon of trying to make a political gain from the Duma affair.

"Unfortunately, the terrorists are Jews," Yaalon told Channel 2’s “Meet the Press” program in reference to the culprits behind the Duma arson. He urged Israelis not to stain all the Jewish residents in Judea and Samaria nor the entire religious Zionist movement, but said that "certainly someone needs to do some soul-searching." (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):

Defense Minister Moshe "Bogie" Ya'alon

The Defense Minister Moshe "Bogie" Ya'alon (Likud) said...

"He urged Israelis not to stain all the Jewish residents in Judea and Samaria nor the entire religious Zionist movement."

In other words, it is OK to live in Yehudah and Shomron. This is just the same old rhetoric designed to convince the masses that Zionism can be separated from Torah. This has been going on for hundreds of years already. It's boring, but insideous, and very frustrating that Jews fail to see this. In fact, at least 80 percent of us, the same percentage the midrash suggests never made it out of Egypt (See Rashi on Parashath Beshalah). Coincidence?

Now look at what Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Jewish Home) said...

"Do not try to stain the religious Zionist movement, an entire community that serves and contributes to society, because of a group of terrorist anarchists who Bogie knows are outlaws who do not listen to rabbinical and educational authority,"

See any difference between what the two ministers said? I sure don't. Both cabinet ministers also agree that the actions of the ISA/Shabba"k were acceptable. Plus, neither of them have mentioned any evidence than any of the boys currently held in administrative detention, have done anything, let alone burn an Arab house down.

Claiming that criticism of government officials and agencies constitute "attacks" is simply code for "you don't really have freedom of speech."

Plus, once again, loyalty to the State is used as a litmus test for demonization. Failure to accept indoctrination from the State's education system appears to be tantamount to committing a crime against the State.

This type of "argument" is an old trick governments use in order to trick the masses into believing that they actually have a choice, when the go to the poles.

Here in Israel we do have a choice: Slow and steady battle against the Torah and annexation of Yehudah and Shomron or a quick and dirty one.

Ya'alon and Shaked are only "arguing" over the irrelevant nuances of the somewhat slow and steady battle against the Torah and true Zionism, which appears to be building up increasingly faster.

It looks like the State's government is getting increasingly scared.

Torture is Acceptable When it is Against Jewish Dissidents

י״א לחודש העשירי תשע״ו

Arutz 7: ISA 'sexually harassed' Duma suspect
Attorney Itamar Ben-Gvir demands immediate end to investigation after suspect confesses under duress, calls for investigation into ISA.

Yoni Kempinski, 12/22/2015

Attorney Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is representing Jewish suspects arrested over the Duma arson attack in July, announced Tuesday morning that the main suspect provided evidence that the Israel Security Agency (ISA or Shin Bet) sexually harassed him during the course of their interrogations.

"The sexual harassment against my client damages all that is sacred to him, his values of Torah observance and the commandments," Ben-Gvir stated, adding that his client had been sleep-deprived for an extended period of time.

"After the interrogators passed the initial stages of interrogation and my client stuck to the truth, they simply received a license to kill," he continued, adding that the interrogators may have sodomized him. "At some point four thugs entered his room, beat him, and tied him to his bed."

"The descriptions are shocking and appalling: they tied him upside down and beat him again and again, until he screamed 'Enough! Leave me alone, let me go, I didn't do anything!'" Ben-Gvir said. "They broke him. I believe very much that there are doubts that any confession he made are usable in court. They beat him into a shadow of a person." 

"The things my client said have no weight, because any person in this situation would admit to anything," he added. "I think that each and every citizen of Israel would admit the charges against him in this case."(cont.)

What does the Prime Minister say to this?

PM Binyamin Netanyahu

YNET: Netanyahu backs Shin Bet as right-wing protests continue
Ministers Bennett, Shaked and Ya'alon also come out in defense of the Israel Security Agency amid allegations of torture of Jewish suspects in Duma arson; 15 protesters arrested during demonstrations against Shin Bet. 

YNET reporters, new agencies: 12.22.15

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement of support on Tuesday to the Shin Bet, condemning criticism of the agency surrounding allegations of torture used against the Jewish suspects arrested in connection with the arson in Duma that claimed the lives of three members of the Dawabsheh family. 

Yoram Cohen, ISA Head
Is that a kippah on his head?

"Director Yoram Cohen and his personnel are doing important and excellent work for the people of Israel and for the security of Israel. I find the attacks on them to be unacceptable," Netanyahu said. 

Jewish extremists have for years vandalized or set fire to Palestinian property, as well as mosques, churches, the offices of left-wing Israeli groups and even Israeli military bases. The so-called "price tag" attacks seek to exact a cost for Israeli steps seen as favoring the Palestinians. (cont.)

Well, YNET has certainly gotten that wrong. Jews want a Torah State Kingdom, not an assimilationist, Erev Rav-controled State, hellbent on battling against the Torah, destroying anything even remotely recognizeable as Jewish within the Divinely Promised Land of Israel.

Palestinians Arabs are only a small part of it.

The Prime Minister continued...

He called for the end of the "cynical political incitement against the Shin Bet and its people, who are acting in accordance with the law, with a close and strict legal guidance, and the investigation they are conducting is meant to bring uncurbed terrorists to justice."

Acting in accordance with the law? Which "law" would that be?

Here is a photo of a segment of a court transcript from the December 16, 2015 hearing of one of the imprisoned boys...

@AriWaxman

Translation:
Q: Do you need any medical treatment?
A: For my back, maybe.
Q: What is going to happen now, is that your lawyer will come in and ask questions!
A: I can't anymore (cries).
Q: They have requested an additional extension of detention a few more days. I should hear from your parents and your lawyer?
A: But they don't know what they're doing to me there, and entire night of abuse. I said to them they will kill me, and don't do that to me. Give me poison. I beg your honor, [I] can't anymore. (suspect cries)Q: I will hear the lawyer and the investigative unit's representative, and before I decide, I will call you. 

Now, watch this video demonstration video from HaKol HaYehudi (The Jewish Voice), and see if you agree if these practices are "in accordance with the law."



Previous news reports indicated that the torture included being kicked in the genitals, until one of the boys could not feel anything. The message here is clear. The Erev Rav not only wants to castrate the power of their emunah (faith), but wants to stop them from procreating,...literally. This is what following the Torah, and giving it precedence of State law, will get you!

If the victims of ISA abuse had been Arabs, we were never hear the end of it. In fact, the ISA recently came out bragging at how well it treated, the now dead, Hezbollah leader Samir Kuntar while he was in custody.

And speaking of Minister Naftali Bennett...

Naftali Bennett losing his kippah and working his magic!

כיפה: בנט על חקירת עצורי דומא: הכל במסגרת החוק

שר החינוך תוקף את אנשי תג מחיר: "זה טרור שמטרתו לקעקע את יסודות המדינה. הם מנסים לחולל מלחמת גוג ומגוג. צריכים להפעיל נגדם יד קשה"

אפרת קרסנר, כיפה י טבת תשע"ו, 22/12/2015 

שר החינוך התייחס גם לעדויות על התנהלות החקירות בשב"כ ואמר כי כל החקירה מפוקחת ומבוקרת "שמענו המון דברים ואני יכול לומר שהפעולות שמבוצעות הן פעולות בבקרה ובפיקוח משפטי צמוד ובמטרה למנוע את הפיגוע הבא. אנחנו יודעים לסמוך על השב"כ, השב"כ מגן עלינו יום יום מפני אלפי פיגועים פוטנציאליים וצריך לסמוך עליו גם בפעולה הזאת".

Kippah: Bennett concerning the investigation of the Duma detainees: Everything is within the law
The Education Minister attacked those with "price tag:" "This is terror which aims to destroy the foundations of the state. They are trying to bring about the War of Gog and Magog. [We] need to work against them harshly.

Efrat Krasner, 10 Teveth 5776, 22/12/15 

...The Minister of Education also addressed to evidence of the handling of the interrogations by the ISA and said that the investigation is monitored and controlled, "We have heard a lot of things and I can say that the actions implemented are actions under tight legal control and supervision to prevent the next attack. We know [we can] trust the ISA, the ISA protects us every day from thousands of potential attacks and [you] need to trust it on this [course] of action as well...."

(Tip: The Jewish Libertarian)

Bennett, who just approved the building of a new Arab College (as if that's going to appease them) uses the most ridiculous, circular reasoning here.

Defense Minister Moshe "Bogie" Ya'alon

Defense Minister Moshe "Bogie" Ya'alon has already criticized Jews protesting the, now cancelled, destruction of a synagogue in Giv'ath Ze'ev, for wanting a Torah state. Apparently, he believes to be a bad thing.

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked seems to think she knows some about Torah by randomly citing דרך ארץ קדמה לתורה "Appropriate behavior takes precedence over Torah." And I suppose that she thinks that it is OK not to keep Shabbath, too, as long as she behaves appropriately. Guess what. A Jew keeping Shabbath IS appropriate behavior. Food for thought.

And speaking of Torah, there is story regarding the outlawing of Rabbi Kahane's Kach Party in the 1980's. Then Supreme Court Justice Menachem Elon, father of Christian-loving, former MK Rabbi Benny Elon, and Beth Din convicted, sexual manipulator Moti Elon, told Rabbi Kahane hy"d that he did not know what Torah he followed, and that they followed different Torahs.

Israeli Supreme Court Justices

I wonder what "Torah" Bennett and Cohen follow. Honesty, it seems more and more, that they are just making up as they go along, meticulously replacing the Land of Israel with the State, the Torah with Israeli State Law, and the Supreme Court as the Sanhedrin, most of the justices disqualified from serving on a proper, Jewish court.

The Israeli Supreme Court, which supposedly has oversight over the ISA's treatment of those in its custody, is to blame. Just another battle in its anti-Torah agenda for Jewish People.

Actually, I take that back. They're all culpable, standing so proudly next to the flag of the State of Israel, none of them appearing to be experiencing any shame over this. What does that tell you about the "holy" State of Israel? Or worse, what does this tell you of the current spiritual state of the Jews allowing this to happen, even supporting it?

Please pray for the safety, recovery, and freedom of the following Jewish political dissidents being held prisoners:

Meir David Chai Ettinger

Mordechai Eliyahu Meyer

Evyatar Slonim

Binyamin Richter

Yehudah Savir

Nachman Tuito

Shlomo Tuito

Moshe Orbach

Yinon Reuveni

Merry Xmas! A Side Benefit of Arab Terror

י״א לחודש העשירי תשע״ו

YNET: Unrest puts damper on Bethlehem Christmas festivities
The West Bank town that tradition considers [Jeezer]'s birthplace is seeing fewer Christmas pilgrims this year following months of violence and riots.

AFP: 12.21.15

 Near the church in Bethlehem's Manger Square, built over the site where Christians believe [Jeezer] was born, tour guides pace back and forth, waiting in vain for tourist buses that fail to show.

Hisham Khamis, a guide for 10 years, stands forlorn under a huge Christmas tree decorated in the black, white, red and green colors of the Palestinian flag.

Avodah Zarah tree, decorated in red, green, white, and black, near a mosque in Beth-Lehem

In recent years "at least 60-70 buses would arrive every morning," he said. "These days... there are four or five, occasionally 10..."

...clashes between stone-throwing young Palestinians and Israeli troops have raged outside Bethlehem hotels. Palestinian officials say Bethlehem hotels that are usually 80-90 percent full at this time of year have not reached even half that level. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Well, even if the Israeli Government does not command the IDF to do what needs to be done to defeat Arab terrorism once and for all, it appears that the IDF halfhearted efforts have produced at least some side benefits.

The Arab economy under the PA has been hit hard, with the expected Christian Pilgrims being a no-show. Maybe their faith in their false deity-messiah is not as strong as everyone purports it to be. Or maybe they are just not as stupid as I thought they were, refraining walking blindly into a war zone.

Of course, the Arabs blame Israeli tour guides, the lack of an airport, the IDF, blah, blah, blah...., refusing to take responsibility for their terrorist friends and neighbors, and their goal to annihilate the Jewish People.

Perhaps even more importantly, the number of Christians bringing in their filthy beliefs and practices of false deity worship has been significantly reduced. Thus the pollution of our Land with it is reduced.

One would think that the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem would know something of the Bible, including what it specifically says about to whom the Land of Israel belongs. But, he does not, and neither does his boss, the Poop in the Vatican. Yet as one of the most virulent opponents of Israel, the Patriarch said in his Christmas message for this year...

"Pilgrims should not be afraid to come. Despite the tense situation in this land, the pilgrim route is safe and they are respected and appreciated by all sectors in the Holy Land."

Wouldn't it be a hoot if Christians accepted his counsel, and the pilgrim route turned out not to be as safe as his claim suggests?

Of course, then he would just have another excuse to blame the Jews.

"Star Wars II: The Jewish Press Fails"

יום צום החודש העשירי תשע״ו

I have mixed feelings about posting this comic here, which was supposedly inspired by last week's Torah portion, and compares it to a famous scene from Star Wars film franchise. Do I really want to give the author the free publicity? Furthermore, someone will probably even want to sue me for giving him the free publicity. (Let him try.)

I Am Your Brother – Parshat Vayigash
Asher Schwartz, The [Non-]Jewish Press, December 18th, 2015

(Tip: Daled Amos)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
I do not think this is in the least bit funny. It is just your typical assimilationist humor, one of the many consequences of almost two millennia in galuth (exile).

Comparing Yosef HaTzadiq to a villain? Suggesting that the revealing of Darth Vader's relationship to Luke Skywalker is the same or similar as the revealing of Yosef's true identity to his brothers?

This is what I find offensive.

"Star Wars" vs. Torah

ח' לחודש האחד עשר תשע"ו

On December 16, the long-awaited seventh film installment of the Star Wars franchise opened in Israel. Tickets were put on sale over a month in advance. The “merch,” associated merchandise soon followed, shirts, bags, dolls, action figures, and other toys.

Someone I know was one of the first in Israel to secure his tickets, calling in his order at 12:01 AM, on the first date of availability. He is your typical “frum modern orthodox” Jew, who grew up in a very large Jewish community in North America. To his credit, he came to Israel at the age of 18, not only studied in yeshivah here, but intends to make his life here. He has put his money where his mouth is.

This person actually knows halakhah, and if he does not know the answer to a particular question, he knows where to look it up. However, he seems to have a robotic attitude to it. In all fairness to him, it seems to me that most Jews do.

I am not going to criticize his fascination with “Star Wars.” Many, if not most, of us these days all have our diversions. I certainly have mine.

Nevertheless, I was surprised at his reaction, when I pointed out to him that the movie theater where he was planning to see “Star Wars” operates on Shabboth.

Yes Planet - Jerusalem

“But it’s the only place where it’s playing, and 3-D I-Max….”

“Other theaters are opened on Shabbos.…”

and the one which really disappointed me was…

“But, I’m not going there on Shabbos., and it's mutar (permissible).”

I simply responded with the obvious, that he was supporting a business which operates on Shabboth.

He could not really respond to this, because he knew that he was. The subject was changed, or he had to go, or something like that. I don’t remember.

The worst part of this story is that his response was not even the worst of them all.

I wonder where “Who cares?” fits in. Is that any better or worse than, “Israel is a democracy?”

“Whatevah! I’ll do what I want!” is even more intellectually honest than either of these responses. In my opinion, this is even better than searching for the right rabbi to give you the answer you want to hear to your question, instead of searching for the correct answer, ie. the truth, whether you like it or not. Of course, none of these is an “orthodox” one.

Well, with the continuous increase in the hijacking of terminology, maybe anything can be considered “orthodox” these days. But, that certainly does not make it Torah.

Exclusive! Yad veShem Department Planned to Take Staff to Restaurant on a Fast Day

ערב שבת קודש פר׳ ויגש תשע״ו

About Yad Vashem

"And to them will I give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name (a "yad vashem")... that shall not be cut off."

(Isaiah, chapter 56, verse 5)

As the Jewish people’s living memorial to the Holocaust, Yad Vashem safeguards the memory of the past and imparts its meaning for future generations. Established in 1953, as the world center for documentation, research, education and commemoration of the Holocaust, Yad Vashem is today a dynamic and vital place of intergenerational and international encounter.

For over half a century, Yad Vashem has been committed to four pillars of remembrance:

• Commemoration
• Documentation
• Research
• Education

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
An anonymous source tipped me off this morning to a planned trip for some of the employees at Yad veShem, Israel's Holocaust memorial and museum.

The trip was planned for the staff at the archives department (and others?) Lunch at a restaurant was to follow an extensive tour of Israel's Channel 2 television station.

It was to take place this coming Tuesday, Asereth b'Teveth, the 10th of the Hebrew month of Teveth, the "Fast of the Fourth Month" (Zech. 8:19).

In all fairness to the planners of the event, it was changed after having the problem of planning such an event on this date was called to their attention.

But, I must ask why a "Jewish" organization would plan something like this on a fast day in the first place? And even more so, on a date significant to even many secular survivors of the Holocaust and the child of those who perished?

Wikipedia: 
The Chief Rabbinate of Israel chose to observe the Tenth of Tevet as a "general kaddish day" (yom hakaddish ha'klalli) to allow the relatives of victims of the Holocaust, and whose yahrtzeits (anniversaries of their deaths) is unknown, to observe the traditional yahrtzeit practices for the deceased, including lighting a memorial candle, learning mishnayoth and reciting the kaddish. According to the policy of the Chief Rabbinate in Israel, the memorial prayer is also recited in synagogues, after the reading of the Torah at the morning services. To some religious Jews, this day is preferable as a remembrance day to Yom HaShoah (28 Nissan), since the latter occurs in the month of Nissan, in which mourning is traditionally prohibited.

Meanwhile, Yad veShem itself has planned a full day of more appropriate activities for this day.

Is this just a simple matter of the right hand not talking to the left? Does Yad veShem need to do heshbon nefesh (personal inventory) on the inside before criticizing anyone else on the outside? Or is this just another example of a State which is Jewish on the outside, but just bacon on the inside?

"The Blacklist:" Evidence of a Global Conspiracy?

ג׳ לחודש האחד עשר תשע״ו

Asking around for recommendations for a television series to waste some time on watch, just in case there was actually one out there worth watching, the NBC spy drama “The Blacklist” (2013) came up.

While binge watching to catch up to the current season, I picked up on the arc of the battle against the secret world government, and the attempts to demonize the professional criminal, who is the show’s hero, or perhaps its anti-hero. Season 1 introduces the notion of a shadow government, comprised of political and economic leaders from nations around the world. Episodes reveal their secret strategies and short-term goals, they expect will lead them to their primary objective of global domination.

Season 3 Episode 1 focuses on the use and manipulation of social media to further secret agendas, including invention of events, photoshopping, falsifying sitings, you name it.

Season 3 Episode 3 addresses the conspiracy related to genetically modified organism [GMO] based foods. (Can you spell M-O-N-S-A-N-T-O?) The “cabal” is portrayed as the enemy of the masses. However, the populace (that’s us) is warned not to attempt any sabotage of GMO’s. True or not, the powers that be [PTB] want to scare us into believing that we would just be harming ourselves, if we were to attempt. Crackdowns on private water collection in Colorado to difficulties avoiding GMO’s in New Zealand immediately came to mind while watching.

Of course, enemies turning out to be allies, and allies turning out to be enemies, is a running plot device in "The Blacklist." What better to way than to keep the masses guessing, and then second guessing their own theories?

False flag events designed to reignite animosity between the U. S. and Russia, even restart the “Cold War,” and assassinations made to look like accidents to eliminate human obstacles, are more examples of So, what exactly are we seeing in “The Blacklist?”

Are we seeing honest TV producers in Hollywood using their professional rolls to reveal what they believe to be a genuine threat to the global populace? I doubt it.

Are we seeing the PTB reveal bits and pieces of what they are doing, or are going to do, to us, as part of their strategy to maintain control over us? Maybe.

Are we seeing a distorted version of the PTB, in order to distract us, and throw us off the trail of the real global powers? Is part of their strategy to use a television show to emphasize that such a notion of is purely fiction, just like this show is being presented as? Perhaps.

Are we just seeing a very good television show? Well, that is definitely part of it. It is a good show.

My personal belief is that “The Blacklist” is putting out the notion of a shadow government or a cabal running the world as a way of putting the discussion out there, so that they can find out what exactly is and is not known about their operations, so that they can make more informed decisions about how to proceed.

The PTB are aware that we are onto them, and has long since moved onto the next step in damage control, and this step appears to include the creating, writing, and airing of “The Blacklist.”

Then those of us, baited into writing posts like this, because we just could not help it, can be exposed, not to mention be demonized as “nut jobs.”

I plead guilty. The underlying plot of this show simply begs to be discussed.