Now We're Talkin'!

Zoth Hanukkah 5769

It is just passed the deadline for the submission of party candidate lists for the impending national elections.

The National Union is back, leaving the Jewish Home Party, nicknamed the National Religious Party home, in the dust!

Here are the first five candidates on its list (IsraelNN):

1. Ya'aqov Ka"tz
(Tequmah)
Arutz 7 Co-founder
Beth-El

2. MK Uri Ariel
(Tequmah)
K'far Adumim

3. Aryeh Eldad
(Moledet) - former IDF physician/commander
K'far Adumim

4. Micha'el Ben-Ari
(Eretz Yisrael Shelanu) - Professor, Bar-Ilan University

5. Uri Bank
(Moledet) - Party Chair

All of these candidates are strong on the issue of NO LAND GIVEAWAYS, and the religious candidates understand that the Torah must be involved with all aspects of a Jew's life, including governance, and not just to resolve kashrus shailos. They are also strong on the issue of Torah precedence over the deluded fantasies of mamlakhti (undying state loyalist) candidates such as:

Daniel "There are differing opinions on territorial concessions" Hershkowitz

Zevulun "What have rabbis got to do with governance?" Orlev

Uri "Soldiers can't refuse orders no matter what" Orbach

Oh, I have no doubt that the mamlakhtim will soon start crying "Purveyors of disunity, repent!" or their favorite "this is baseless hatred!" dividing the community up like this. (eyes rolling)

I've got some news for you. There isn't just one community calling itself religious Zionist. There are two, a real one and a fake one. Analyze the data above, and do the math yourself.

Unity is about unifying the Jewish People under strong and faithful leadership, not about mixing the tahor with the tamei. That's not unity; that's very poorly made shampoo.

The National Union and the Marzel/Wolpe Eretz Yisra'el Shelanu (Our Land of Israel) agreed on a compromise, and so have successfully joined forces.

The Jewish Home Party wouldn't have given Marzel or Wolpe a second glance, except to throw around fear-mongering, catch phrases like "extremist" and "fanatic." So, don't lecture ME on unity.

If preferring loyalty to HaShem and His Torah over undying loyalty to the State means you're an "extremist" and "fanatic," then I guess that makes me one, too. I'm in good company.

Anyway, now that I've given the mamlakhtim something to ponder for a while, that is, if it didn't go too far over their heads, let me get back to the Nation Union's list of candidates.

The list does raise some questions:

1. Where is MK Tzvi Hendel's (Tequmah) place on the list?
(Hendel has decided to remove himself from the Jewish Home Party list of candidates.)

2. Will Effie Eitam (Ach"i) come crawling back to the National Union?
(Apparently not,...yet)

3. Is this the last we've seen of Rabbi MK Yitzhaq Levy (Ach"i)?

4. Will the National Religious Party finally die that horribly painful death I have been hoping for?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Stay tuned....

*********

Nation Union Places 9 - 12:

6. Alon Davidi
S'derot Defense Task Force & former director, S'derot Hesder Yeshiva

7. Avi Rath
Journalist & Author

8. Prof. Ron Breiman
(HaTikvah)
former chair, Professors for a Strong Israel

9. Betzalel Smutrich
Movement to Preserve National Lands

10.Lior Kalfa (according to Arutz 7)
Gush Katif Residents Committee

10. Ilan Cohen (according to the HaTikvah Party website)
(HaTikvah)
Modi'in

11. Shabtai Weintraub (according to the HaTikvah Party website)

12. Shmu'el Hermesh (according to the HaTikvah Party website)

Gaza Round Up At Jack's Place

Zoth Hanukkah 5769

My buddy Jack has put together a Gaza Round Up of posts on his blog "Random Thoughts- Do they have any meaning?"

It's worth a look, for your one-stop attack on Gaza shopping.

What Took 'Em So Long?

Zoth Hanukkah 5769

Everyone else is jabbering on about the attacks in Azza, while I sit here in front of my computer screen in an area proving to be one of the safest places to be in Israel, b'il eyin hara: Efraim (Central Samaria), safe from rockets from Azza and Lebanon, safe from bomb attacks in Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv,...for now.

Funny how people are also asking ME if I am scared to live where I do, let alone travel around by tremp, and unarmed.

Don't worry, the gub'ment has plans for us, too. Then I'll start to get worried, and have to snap out of my complacency.

In the meantime, I'll also provide my 10ag on the current goings-on in Azza.

What I want to know is what took 'em so long to bomb Azza?

Sure. They've gone in beforehand, but it was always a half-ass job, going only into the limited areas allowed by big brother and sister George and Condi, followed by the requisite, quick retreat. OR it was those lovely targeted assassinations, carefully avoiding "innocent civilians" (Central Samaria), known to every other country as "collateral damage."

There are a few theories as to what took 'em so long....

1. Election Ploy This will get votes for Livni (Kadima), and for Baraq (Labor), showing the center that even though they want to continue "piece" negotiations with the Arabs, they can be tough like Netanyahu (Likud) says he will be, and not as wishy-washy like Olmert (Kadima). They can spin the incessant threats to strike Azza, and taking so damn long to do so, as a clever strategy, taking the Arabs by surprise.

Hey, even I'm beginning to believe that Ehud Baraq isn't such a buffoon after all. Tzippy Livni was actually pretty effective in her interview on Fox & Friends. I mean her Godless/Torahless approach is completely wrong, of course, but she certainly demonstrated that she knew her audience. Her biggest mistake was thinking that making a case to the American public was in the least bit important. (...and too bad they kept calling her "Zippy.")

Did I say that there were a few theories? Well, actually, I can only think of two.

But you're not gonna like this last one...

2. Fear The wealthy, Ashkinazi powers that be were not in such denial of the Arab threat after all. The rockets did not actually have to reach Tel-Aviv before they were able to snap out of it. They knew that it was only a matter of time before the rockets reached Ashdod, you know, where there are actually some of those "nice" neighborhoods. After all they had reached Qiriyath Gath. Even though no one cares about Qiriyath Gath, it was an indicator of just how close the rockets were getting to the Ashkinazi, leftist headquarters of North Tel-Aviv. (See the map below to see just how close.)

No one cares about Ashqelon either. But the rockets inching closer to the power station there was problematic to the powers that be. Losing one-third of the country's power, due to lack of inaction, will lose you votes, even from "piece" negotiation-pushing Leftists, addicted to electrical appliances. Translation into American terms: Rich, white people were going to start getting killed.

I told you, you weren't going to like it.

(Click the map to enlarge it)

Red dots indicate locations having been hit from the south or from the north during the Second Lebanon War (Summer, 2006). Half red indicates having been hit on the outskirts of the city. Netanyah's outskirts were hit, but publicity over this was hushed up.

Ashqelon, Qiriyath Gath, and S'deroth are indicated by red dots , but not labeled. Be'er Sheva has not been hit,...yet.

The map demonstrates how the rockets have been creeping closer to Tel-Aviv as well as to Ben-Gurion International Airport.

Haveil Havalim #197 Is Up!

Zoth Hanukkah 5769

Haveil Havalim #197 is up at Material Maidel.

MM Hearts Haveil Havalim

Kosher Cooking Carnival #37 Is Up!

Fourth Night of Hanukkah 5769

The December - "Greasy Story" Edition of the Kosher Cooking Carnival is up at Here In HP.

Hope you're not on a diet.

Haveil Havalim #196 Is Up!

Second Day of Hanukkah 5769

Haveil Havalim #196 is up at Jewlicious. I'd check it out just for CK's commentary.

Jewish Reality

Second Night of Hanukkah 5769

I recommend reading Carolyn Glick's "Netanyahu's Grand Coalition." It confirms our fears of the dangers an Obama administration poses to Israel. In fact, according to her sources, it's worse than we thought. Who still thinks I'm crazy for suggesting that U. S. troops are on their way to Israel,...or are already here?

But that's not what prompted me to write about "Jewish Reality." Nor is it [exactly] Glick's criticism of Moshe Feiglin, where I believe she goes a little too far, nor is it her criticism of Likud Party Leader Binyamin Netanyahu, where I believe she doesn't go far enough.

No. What prompted me to write about "Jewish Reality" was the following snippet which caught my eye:

Like the Left, Feiglin bases his strategic and economic notions on a complete denial of reality. Whereas the Left ignores the Arabs, Feiglin ignores the West. Feiglin's religious adherence to his views has made him few friends in Likud or elsewhere in Israeli politics.

What "reality" is she talking about? The proverbial "facts on the ground?"

I cannot speak for Moshe Feiglin. However, I can say that religious Jews are sometimes accused of "ignoring reality."

As Jews, one of our roles to make TORAH THE reality in this world.

If it is not compatible with Torah, we are supposed to weed it out of the world's so-called reality.

The many, but not all, modern orthodox Jews, who accept many Western concepts, and Western ideas of "progress," as [automatically] being compatible with Torah, do not get this.

The mamlachti [undying state loyalist] religious Jews, who are unable to see the conflict between halacha and several, if not many, Israeli laws, do not want to get this.

The Haredi Jews, who do get this, are prevented by their hashqafah from being involved fully in this process. Thus they only focus on limited aspects of making Torah the reality in this world.

We don't even have to get into classic, "centrist" debate over "who decides what is or isn't compatible with Torah?"

The farthest that most "religious Zionist" MK's are willing to go to include Torah in the Knesseth's reality is whether kosher food is served at an official event, and whether that event takes place on Shabbath or not.

The idea of considering Torah in how to run a government, deal with a sworn enemy, or whether a soldier should refuse an order contrary to halachah (Jewish Law) is completely beyond them.

Although I agree that it is important not to ignore the "reality on the ground," it is even more important not to neglect, let alone, ignore the ultimate goal, the transformation of the current "reality" into a Torah-based world. This is the real, all-encompassing Tiqqun Olam (reparation of the world).

Even though I do not agree with Moshe Feiglin on many points, I do not believe that he denies nor ignores this "reality," but neither does he ignore the ultimate goal, however selective he may be as to how he expresses this. He does not ignore the West; he simply keeps the West in perspective.

No, I am not deluded into thinking that democracy, let alone Israeli deMOCKracy, is in the least bit Jewish.

However, until we succeed in establishing a truly Jewish government, including a King and an accepted Sanhedrin, I will most likely vote in Israeli elections. However, my vote will be cast to help prevent leftists and Arabs from gaining additional Knesseth seats, not because I think that any revelations or solutions will result from any Knesseth deliberations or other actions.

As Jews, whether we believe it or not, our "reality" IS the Torah, and we have to make it such.

If this is going over your head, or worse, in one ear and out the other, then not only is it very likely that you and I live in very different, Jewish realities, but that we also choose to do so.

*********

For more on what Jewish government could like, in the not so distant future, see Machon Shilo: Rabbi David Bar-Hayim on Jewish Governance.

"Jewish Home" List Revealed

Mossa'ei Shabbath Qodesh Parshath Wayeshev 5769

Click here for the finalized list of the Jewish Home Party candidates for Knesseth while I sit here, and experience an "I told you so" moment. I shouldn't say finalized, though, as I am still hoping for a split back into NRP and National Union.

MK Uri Ariel, chair of the Tequmah Party was placed in the 3rd slot on the list. The second member of Tequmah, MK Tzvi Hendel was placed way down in slot no. 12.

Rabbi MK Benny Elon, chair of the Moledet Party was placed in the 17th slot. I mean, c'mon. How do you get away with putting the first and only member of a supposedly equal faction down in the 17th slot?

You don't. Moledet has joined up with HaTikvah, and Rabbi Elon is retiring from politics.

How long will it take for Tequmah to pick up and leave as well? We could find out as early as this Saturday night, when Tequmah rabbis meet to decide the faction's future with, or without, the Jewish Home Party.

The Israel National News Hebrew weekly b'Sheva described the "Jewish Home" Party list best with this week's headline.

"The National Religious Party Home"

Tequmah Poster Update

21 of the Ninth Month 5769

It looks like the sponsors of the Homesh event, having its publicity posters plastered over the Tequmah posters in the Shomron are:

1. Shomron Council - I see no reason why the current administration of Gershon Mesiqa would have authorized this.

2. Shomron Community Centers - ditto.

3. Homesh-Sanur Community - ditto.

So far, it seems like the work of an over-zealous poster crew, a not-so-bright poster crew, individuals on the crew with some crazy love for the NRP, or a crew "just following orders" from one of the above unbeknownst to me.

Guarding Over Our Home?

20 of the Ninth Month 5769

I saw some guy on the bus wearing a sweatshirt tonight...

שומרים על הבית שלנו
(Guarding over our home - NRP)

Guarding over our home, huh? Well, you didn't do a very good job guarding over the homes in Azza (Gaza), did you?

Oh, wait a minute,...maybe the slogan meant metaphorically or spiritually.

I have personally seen the "home" you guard annually, which hosts the convention of a certain co-ed, "religious" youth group [which shall remain nameless], where the boys and girls do more than play guitar, and sing "Kum-ba-ya."

I have taught in the "religious" schools you are guarding over, where the students are taught to revere dead rasha'im (evil people).

I have heard your Members of Knesseth [MK] claim that democracy should determine land concessions (Sha'ul Yahalom*) and that rabbis don't really have any business meddling in the running of a government (Zevulun Orlev).

Just now I read that the chairman of your re-invented Jewish "Home" Party, Rabbi Daniel Hershkowitz, finally stopped evading the question as to how he stands on further territorial concessions and evictions of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria....

(IsraelNN.com) ...[Hershkowitz] also said that the party's Knesset members would enjoy freedom to vote according to their conscience on matters pertaining to the diplomatic process and that the question of territorial concessions is a 'pragmatic' one on which people have differing opinions.

"Pragmatic?" "Differing opinions?" Hasn't anyone in your party ever heard of something called halachah?

Is this what you call guarding over our home?

Well, then please stay very far away from mine.

Maybe what you meant was "guarding over OUR home," in other words Elqanah, Ofrah, Alon Shvut, Giv'at Shmu'el, Qiriyat Ata,...but not anyone else's. I suppose you expect that Hevron, Yitzhar, and K'far Tapu'ah will just have to deal with your "pragmatic" and "diplomatic," "differing opinions...."

The HaTikvah Party advertisements you were complaining about, are right on. The National Religious Party is nothing more than...

"Kadima with a kippah."

*********

*Trying to get a copy of the video-taped interview with former MK Sha'ul Yahalom.