Wednesday, August 01, 2007

In Response to Helen F. ISRAEL'S JEWISH CITIZENS vs. ISRAEL'S LUNATIC LEADERSHIP

bs"d
 
Dear Helen, amv"sh
 
Thank you so much for your report!  I am awed by your contacts and packed days where each moment was utilized to the fullest.  May you go from strength to strength! 
 
Of course let me know what Afsi is involved with. 
 
My personal strengths are in ideas which I hope and pray,G-d willing, will be a building stone for the future  -  but only for the good.  If these ideas are bad for the Nation of Israel than I pray to G-d that they never come to fruition  or even considered and as if never written. 
 
You mention the IZS and the work of Dr. Yitzchok Klein.  I believe that we have no option but to brainstorm about the legitimacy of having 2 Sovereign Jewish entities.  The Jewish Idea (Mike Guzofsky's group) suggested this(  I came to this logical conclusion independently prior to this as the expulsion of Gush Katif was happening. I am not a Kahana member or loyalist or ever studied his writings or read  Kahana's books) and their internet cafe was ransacked, the computers and chairs were confiscated and I'm not sure about what happened to the dogs they were training for security purposes.  The reality, as I see it,  is that the majority of people of Israel are not ready for the necessary changes  in government that would be required in order for a Constitution  based on our Jewish Heritage  to evolve.  Perhaps, secular Israelis and many Orthodox Jews are afraid that the ultra religious will take over and coerce them to wear long sleeves and put on sheitels and not ride their car on Shabbat.  This is what they mistakenly believe or have been brainwashed to believe that a Jewish State based on Jewish Values and Heritage will have on the top of their agenda.  They are very afraid of being forced to change their lifestyle. 
 
Most Israelis are against the corruption and evil policies of the government.  The people have been brainwashed by the media that the right wing Jews are mentally unstable, coercive etc.    By being splintered (Manhigut with Likud,  and National Union with NRP, and SHAS and UTJ disregarding the Torah altogether in exchange for subsidies, and Tsafrir Ronen and Uriel and Effie Eitam and Eldad starting a new party and Yaalon also working independantly, how can we be a force? Let's not forget Yamin with Baruch Merzl and Paul Eidelberg. These like minded parties/individuals need to pool resources and strengths putting ego and honor temporarily on hold.   Much of our energies are wasted trying to individually overcome our local inner opponents rather than working as a unit  with the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.  
 
Practically it seems, that having a small trial model sovereign Jewish entity that is free to produce its own Constitution and Leaders and willingness and ability to defend itself is the best solution for everyone.  In fact such a government will run into many kinks or call them bugs that need to be worked through, first on a small scale.  I believe that this sovereign entity will show our brothers that we can win the respect of the world by being true to our Heritage.  We will be a model and this model will G-d willing be adopted  by choice and not by coercion.  
 
Abraham and Lot needed to separate.  G-d can not coexist with the corruption  and lack of G-dliness.  I am all for a united country but it has to be on our terms which represents an effort to please our Creator and to go by His word.  And I am not referring to the pros and cons of wearing sleeves that cover the elbow or not. In fact there is no direct reference to this detail of Tzniut in the Torah. Let's  focus on what's written in the Torah our common denominator and not on the details of the laws that can be interpreted by our Rabbinic leaders each guiding his specific constituency.  There is room in Judaism for many paths of Torah each Derech (path) being legitimate. (Shivim panim LaTorah)
 
Once, good has an upper hand we can work toward reconciliation. Otherwise the Evil puts down what's good and evil has the upper hand and succeeds.  The people of Gush Katif  and the youth must not forget the legitimacy of their struggle.  Their struggle is our struggle and it is the struggle of Am Yisroel.  All of us including the refugees from Gush Katif need to believe that our sustenance comes from G-d  (via fellow Jews).  We must not delude ourselves that it will come from the evil government and her agencies  .  Please read my last post in my blog to Dovid Wilder. http://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2007/07/in-response-to-eretz-yisrael-or-soviet.html
 
Thank you for listening.  Feel free to circulate. Sincerely, Robin Ticker.
 
In a message dated 7/31/2007 6:57:04 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, GHFree writes:

HELEN FREEDMAN, 30 W. 63rd St., New York, NY 10023; July, 2007; ghfree@aol.com; 908-217-1358

 

 

 ISRAEL'S JEWISH CITIZENS vs. ISRAEL'S LUNATIC LEADERSHIP

By: Helen Freedman

 

            Having just returned from a three week trip to Israel, I'm sorting out the information and impressions gathered from traveling throughout the country and meeting with many good friends, all dedicated to preserving Am Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael.

            Viewed from the U.S., one sees the enormity of the problems, mostly caused by the fecklessness and ineptitude of Israel's leaders, who seemed determined to lead Israel off the cliff. There's no need to itemize the list of abominations promoted by the government, nor its abandonment of the security and welfare of its Jewish citizens. And the Olmert government seems to be aided in its suicidal efforts by incomprehensible decisions by the Bush administration.  Suffice it to say,  Israelis are very well aware of the threats to their existence, which come from their enemies in the Muslim Arab world, in the western world, and most tragically, from their Jewish leaders. The question then is, "How do ordinary people survive in such toxic surroundings?" The answer is, "They can't save the forest without first saving the trees." The "trees" all have different names and locations.

            I found that the people in Tsfat are still suffering from the after-effects of last summer's Lebanon war. The shelters are still not prepared, nor are they adequate for the numbers of people who would need to use them should war break out once again in Lebanon, as was/is predicted for this summer. The government just hasn't come through on its promises to protect the citizens of Tsfat.

           In Jerusalem I found ordinary citizens struggling to keep their businesses going. Government taxes and restrictions cause great hardships for the average shop-keeper. I was commiserating with my restaurant-owner friend, when I realized that hard as her situation was, of course, there were people who had no work at all.

           I went to the demonstration tent that had been set up by the unemployed farmers of the former Gush Katif communities. It was located near the Jerusalem Supreme Court. The plan was to keep it there for two weeks, with men and women who had turned the sands of Gush Katif into flourishing farms and hothouses, now demanding that the government fulfill its promises to find a "solution for every person." Residents from the former Gush Katif arrived, along with many supporters and Members of Knesset, who came and went throughout the two weeks. The farmers wore green and white shirts, rather than the familiar orange, because they wished to de-politicize their plight. Their signs asked for people to simply empathize and understand what it was like to be approximately fifty years old, to lose your home and farm and livelihood, and wonder how your life can ever be restored. I met many friends at the tent, and we agreed that not much had changed over the two years since the expulsion. Instead of the refugees being in hotel rooms, they are now in cardboard caravans, still waiting for their permanent homes, schools, synagogues, youth centers, and jobs.

             Among the Members of Knesset who spoke at the Wednesday, July 18 demonstration were Arieh Eldad, Effie Eitam, and Uri Ariel. The need to change the compensation laws so that realistic numbers could be offered to the Gush Katif refugees, was one of the ongoing themes. It is unlikely that these problems will ever be properly addressed by the present Olmert/Ramon/Peres government. It was interesting to note that the press was at the demonstration in large numbers as Bibi Netanyahu, Israel Katz, and Limor Livnat arrived to listen to the arguments of the farmers. As soon as they left, the press left also. The entire demonstration, with all the speakers strongly supporting the farmers, and with the large crowd that had gathered to lend its support, received little press attention.

       Still in Jerusalem, I met with Joel Golovensky of the Institute for Zionist Strategies (www.izs.org.il). He presented me with a wonderful booklet his organization had produced: CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL. It was written in response to the constitution proposal of the Israel Democracy Institute, which the IZS believes "does not look after the essential interests of the Jewish people and is based on illusions." In addition to working on a constitution, the IZS is trying to halt illegal Arab construction "which continues unabated because the government lacks the Zionist vision and political courage to stop it." They are also attempting to develop a generation of public leaders who will be diametrically opposite from the present leadership, who will put the interests of the Jewish state ahead of their own personal greed and self-interests.

        The IZS also prepared a lengthy presentation regarding the instruction of the Supreme Court that JNF/KKL land, purchased by Jews for the express purpose of buying and developing land in Israel for the benefit of Jews, should now be available to Arabs and all non-Jews. This is an issue being exposed and fought by Arieh King in Jerusalem, and Aaron Klein of World Net Daily and the John Batchelor and Mike Savage talk shows. Based on the research done by Arieh and Aaron, I, along with others, have been demanding answers of the JNF in New York as to why JNF donors are being deceived.

            Dr. Daniel Doron, a famous Israeli economist, also met with me to discuss the disgraceful activities of the New Israel Fund. Disguised under seemingly altruistic goals such as Civil and Human Rights, Social and Economic Justice, and Religious Pluralism and Tolerance, the New Israel Fund, with millions of dollars received from donors who include the Ford Foundation, has a strong left-wing program designed to undermine the Jewish character of the Jewish State. It is necessary to expose the true pro-Arab nature of their activities so that unwitting donors can direct their philanthropy elsewhere.

            I took the 160 Egged bus to Hebron to meet with David Wilder, a well-known spokesman for the community. I saw that the homes in the market place that had been forcibly emptied of Jews by the Israeli police and soldiers, were still primarily unoccupied. I understand that the few families who are living there were told to evacuate or they would have to pay the hefty costs of their forced evacuation. The scenario is definitely one reminiscent of George Orwell's 1984.

            David Wilder took me to Beit HaShalom, the large building that the Jewish community bought for $700,000, and for which they are now fighting in the courts.  It is on the path between Kiryat Arba and Hebron. When the building was purchased, it was in terrible disrepair. The Jewish workers put in plumbing, a community kitchen, and partitions so that individual families could have a bit of privacy. One of our good friends, Yifat Akobi, is living there with her husband, Shalom, and their six children, the youngest just a few weeks old. Yifat is always an inspiration, and because she is such a heroic figure, she is constantly being harassed by the Israeli police. She, and probably all of her young children, have police records based on absurd accusations by Arabs. Nevertheless, responding to the court on the various charges against her takes up valuable time and money which the family does not have. Yifat, however, continues to feel that she is blessed in being able to live in the holy city of Hebron.

            David then drove me up to Tel Rumeida, the highest point overlooking Hebron. He showed me a home adjacent to the Jewish homes and caravans on the Tel, which belongs to a Hamas terrorist. Left-wingers from Israel and around the world have come to the Hamas home to "protect" it from the Jews, preserving it for the Hamas owner. While on the premises, they harass the Jews at every opportunity. A soldier stood near us while we were talking, to protect us from being stoned, or worse.

            We drove to Kiryat Arba, where I visited Rav Waldman of the Nir Yeshiva, along with his long-time assistant, Celia Ofer. The Rabbi was very upset over President Bush's speech of July 16. In response to Bush's comments about removing the Jews of Judea and Samaria and promoting "settlement" in the Galilee and the Negev, Rav Waldman wanted it made clear that no one, not even the President of the U.S., has the right to dictate to Israel, a sovereign country, where it may settle its people. The Rabbi also made it very clear that we don't need terrorists like Mahmoud Abbas to "recognize Israel's right to exist." He said, "The State of Israel is a divine creation of the G-d of Israel, and only He determines its destiny."

            The most optimistic person I met with was Dr.Yitzchak Klein of the Israel Policy Center (info@merkazmedini.org). He believes that most Israelis are tired of the old give-away, appeasement policies and see the need to change the government, the media, and the courts. Dr. Klein, along with Attorney Noga Cooper and Shilat Edri, have produced publications citing the Constraints on Political Expression in Israel, and an Interim Report on Political Interrogation and Non-Induction of Candidates for Military Service into the IDF. Detailed case histories are given wherein the evils of the government are described. In the case of the IDF interrogations, candidates for the IDF, who were labeled as demonstrating against the Gush Katif expulsion, are interrogated and in many cases marked as mentally unsuited for the army. This label of having a "psychiatric disorder" which makes them unfit for military service, brands the young people for life as unfit for other pursuits. The work that the Israel Policy Center does in exposing the anti-Jewish,  anti-humanitarian, and anti-democratic actions of the Israeli government against its Jewish citizens is extremely important. They also work with Honenu, an organization that fights for the civil rights of Jews unfairly treated in the Israeli courts. Their website is: www.honenu.org.il.

            My next destination was Mitzpe Ramon, in the Negev. The bus to Be'er Sheva from the Jerusalem central bus station took me through Kiryat Gat, an old town with a very new, modern section boasting attractive apartment building complexes. Be'er Sheva itself has grown dramatically, with the very beautiful Ben Gurion University, and large, modern buildings. Threading my way through all the soldiers who seem to be present in large numbers at every bus station, I got on the bus to Mitzpe Ramon. As soon as we were on the outskirts of Be'ersheva, I saw the Bedouin houses and tents sprawling in the now sandy landscape, featuring an occasional palm tree. As we traveled deeper into the Negev, the surroundings became more and more dramatic. The scenery of the desert landscape has a mysterious beauty all its own, and it was spread out before me in all its splendor. My friends greeted me in Mitzpe and took me to their home which boasts  Green Build technology. Both Stephanie and Philippe Frydman are consultants in building homes so that they maximize environmentally friendly resources. They also bake wonderful organic sourdough bread and muffins. What a treat! There was a wonderful evening concert at Avdat, a Nabatean and Roman ruin, high on a mountain top. It was a welcome respite from all the political mayhem. Of course, the Negev is not free of problems. The Bedouins are being mobilized by leftist groups such as the New Israel Fund to demand land from the government, and as in all of Israel, Jews are being crowded out of their land.

            I returned to Jerusalem and met Chaim Silberstein of Uvneh Yerushalyim, (Rebuild Jerusalem),  for a late afternoon tour of Kever Rachel, the grave of Mother Rachel in Bethlehem. The bus had to pass through the 25ft. high walls which flank the approach to Rachel's tomb. The fortifications necessary around the tomb strongly display the intolerable need to have a strong military presence at Jewish holy sites. Despite this ugliness, Chaim is very excited about his plans for a Bat Mitzvah center at the Kever, as well as a woman's learning center. Evelyn Haies, strongly devoted to Kever Rachel, was with us also, and enthusiastically reinforced Chaim's words. The image of Mother Rachel crying for her children, and HaShem's promise to Rachel that "your children will return to their borders," seemed especially timely as we prepared for Tisha B'Av.

            The night before the Ninth of Av, the day associated with the sin of the spies, and the destruction of both Temples, Women In Green was holding their traditional walk around the Old City walls, led by MK Arieh Eldad.  We met the group at Safra Square, for the reading of Eicha. The mood was somber as was befitting on this sad occasion of remembrance. However, one could not help but enjoy meeting so many old friends. It was a pleasure seeing Nadia Matar, Tuvia Singer, Aaron Klein, Shifra Hoffman, Yehudit Tayar, and so many people from the former Gush Katif communities. The black helmeted Yassamnakim, on their black motorcycles, rode alongside the crowd. It was hard to tell whether they were meant to protect or intimidate the thousands of Jewish walkers. The mounted police were in attendance, riding the German horses which had played such a cruel part in the Amona expulsion. We finished our walk at the Kotel. The plaza was packed with people, talking, praying, and crying. It was an incredible sight.

            On Tisha B'av, I walked with a friend to the Christian Quarter of the Old City to visit Matti Dan, head of Ateret Cohanim, and his wife Etti. Matti told us of the great struggle he and his organization are undergoing in their efforts to hold onto homes purchased at great expense in the Silwan area of Jerusalem. Again, the Israeli court system seems bent on making life as difficult as possible for Jews, while being negligently and dangerously lenient with Arabs.

            That evening, I made my way back to the protest tent of the former farmers of Gush Katif. When evening services were concluded, the fast was over, and watermelon, cookies, and drinks were brought out and gratefully devoured. Then I joined the travelers to Nitzan, the caravan community near Ashkelon where hundreds of Gush Katif refugees are now living in temporary homes. I was a guest in the home of Keren and Dror Vanunu and their children, just as I had been their guest two years prior in August, 2005, in their beautiful home in Nevei Dekalim. My intention was to participate the next day, July 25, in the special commemorative activities marking two years since the expulsion.

            I have written elsewhere in detail about this remarkable day. Suffice it to say, the day was organized by a small group of people volunteering their time, efforts, and creative skills to make it work. We started in Kissufim junction with the dedication of a special Gush Katif Sefer Torah, where people stood silently, weeping, as the speakers talked about remembering and returning. We then drove to Netivot, a very successful city of 30,000 people, for a full day of movies, speakers, and activities. That was followed by a march to the grave of Babba Sallie with the Sefer Torah, amidst much singing and dancing. The day concluded with a joyous celebration in Sderot when the Sefer Torah was brought in by thousands of marchers. The survivors of the destroyed communities of Gush Katif demonstrated their solidarity with the besieged city of Sderot by choosing to house their Sefer Torah in Sderot until the scroll could be brought to its permanent home back in Gush Katif. How "coincidental" that both the former Gush Katif and the present Sderot suffered and are suffering because of the perfidy of Olmert and his government.

            Seeing our good friends, Anita Tucker, Rachel and Moshe Saperstein, Laurence Beziz, Debbie Rosen, Rivka and Michael Goldschmidt, and so many more, awakened  many emotions. We had all cried together in disbelief that August, 2005, watching the residents of Gush Katif being forcibly evicted from their homes. Even as it was happening, we couldn't believe that an Israeli government would order such a cruel, meaningless and dangerous destruction of communities. It did happen, however, and today we are concerned that even more expulsions from the Golan, Judea, and Samaria are being planned. Is it possible that a government would proceed on such a self-destructive path, knowing what the outcome must be? Would the Knesset allow it to happen? Would Israel's citizens rise up in revolution against such suicidal plans? The "cuckoo's nest" is becoming clearer than ever.

            The following morning I walked around Nitzan, viewing the caravan homes in the dry, hot, barren area. Many people still had their containers adjacent to their homes. The containers had to be filled with totally unusable furniture and clothing, having weathered the cold weather and the extreme heat. Only mildew and mold could survive in that setting.

            That afternoon, Dror and I drove to Yad Binyamin where the Ganei Tal farmers had a beautiful exhibit of their former lives. It was heartbreaking to view the beautiful gardens and hothouses and homes that had once existed and then were turned to rubble by order of the cruel, lunatic leaders of Israel.

            My trip ended in Tel Aviv, where the beaches were filled with people enjoying the wonderful waters of the Mediterranean, along with the hot sunshine and cool cafes.

What an amazing country is this land of Israel. It is the most modern, most highly developed, most democratic and opportunity laden country in the entire Middle East, and yet, it carries vestiges of the ancient, and recent, painful history of the Jewish people. The hatred that exists within the Israeli society, that causes Israel's leaders to permit the destruction of its own Jews, is incomprehensible, but real. We therefore have to do everything in our power to prevent the evil forces from being successful. Readers of this report, who wish to be part of the program to prevent Israel's destruction, are requested to contact Americans For a Safe Israel/AFSI – 212-828-2424, www.afsi.org; afsi@rcn.com to learn what can be done to help. I can be reached at: ghfree@aol.com. We hope to hear from you.

             

           

          

 

 




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Thursday, July 26, 2007

in Response to Eretz Yisrael or Soviet Israel - Letter to David Wilder.

bs"d
 
David, amv"sh
 
You say that this time the Settlers of Hebron in the Jewish Shuk will not go voluntarily.  David, you know what you are up against.  Amona etc.  Unless you have a fighting army with a General and a working army behind you, you are still naive.
 
They will send armed soldiers, approximately 1000 as in past experiences, for each family consisting of a father, a mother and a bunch of kids all unarmed of course.  They want to show how strong they are to the population who might consider coming to the support of these courageous and stupid families who dare defy the Government of Israel.
 
What is different now then Amona?  Is bashed heads something you are literally asking for? 
 
Am I supporting a civil war!  Absolutely not!  It need not come to that and G-d willing it never will. 
 
However, I don't see any way out besides seeing the legitimacy of a willingness to fight any aggression be it Kassam or Yassam in a fair manner.  An army of soldiers vs an army of soldiers.  It's cowardly to send an armed force with clubs and riot gear and riot horses and water canons, trained in martial arts and psychological warfare against a bunch of unarmed kids, women and even adults in order to subdue their passion for the Land of Israel. Those Kassam guys are a bunch of cowards.  The army guys who don't protest this rotten assignment don't impress me either.  They are not that macho as was proven by the War in Lebanon (A War that they never officially lost because it was never officially declared a War). 
 
We have a legitimate claim to settling the Land.  They claim that they are in charge.  Let's talk about a fight that's fair and square.  If we are not strong enough as a working unit at the moment then choose to delay the  fight for now but at least let's not be afraid to speak out what is being said behind closed doors.  Let us say that this is a situation of taxation w/o representation.  Gush Katif residents were taxed w/o receiving fair representation and many times worse.  Having to pay an unfair tax was reason enough for the colonists to start the American Revolution.  Here the people of Gush Katif were expelled, their property and source of livelihood destroyed, their families endured much physical and psychological damage. Being taxed unfairly is a piece of cake. Enough is enough. 
 
Bombard everyone on the Internet with chat rooms and discussions, forums and blogs about setting up an independent governing entity where there are two autonomous Jewish governments.  One government has it's basis in Torah.  The other government is not quite ready for such a drastic step. This is not sedition.  This is simply a logical, sane, peaceful way to resolve the difference of loving brothers.  One side does not wish to coerce the other.  The two sides can not coexist w/o a clear separation because they are mutually exclusive positions.  Either it's ok to have territorial concessions or it is not.  Either the Orange Camps position exists or it must disintegrate.  There is no possibility of mutual coexistence because case of point, Gush Katif was destroyed.
 
The existing government of the State of Israel has close ties with Western democracies.  They will remain more secular.  Call the new entity  the Judean Authority rather than a Palestinian Authority.  We will be at peace with our brother Israel and will not choose to fight them unless to defend ourselves.  We are not like the PA who educates their children to destroy Israel.  The "Judean Authority", now let's have our imaginations run wild,  loves Israel and all the people of Israel and would do whatever they could while seeing to their own survival not to hurt a fellow Jew. Their love for their fellow Israeli was clearly shown during the Disengagment.   However, when their own survival and the honor of G-d's Torah is at stake, the Judean Authority has no choice but to do what it must to defend their G-d given rights of the Land of Israel.  The Judean Authority will have it's own governing authority, an army, a Constitution based on the Torah and will have an independent way to sustain themselves with a thriving economy with G-d's help of course.  The Judean Authority will try to the best of their ability to keep the commandments pertaining to the Land of Israel.  The Land is G-d's  (Ki Li Kol Haaretz) but the rightful stewards can only be the people who are descendant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and Ger Toshavim that accept the sovereignty of  G-d and the special status of the Nation of Israel and their obligation to keep the Torah.  Let us brainstorm how a Judean Authority and Israel can coexist in peace and democracy (as long at it doesn't supercede the Torah) and harmony.  There will be mutual cooperation and sharing of resources.  Rather than fight our brothers with weapons, let us fight with ideas that are true to our Torah and cannot in our day of Internet, be easily silenced.  If the Jewish Idea, and Kahana's followers were silenced it was because they were labeled or shall we say mislabeled, as "religious extremists, fanatics, Messianists, crazy and dangerous".  Did I miss some nice choice labels?  This labeling was the psychological weapon that was sent their way.  However, if a respectable amount of people would contribute to this discussion about "How different is the legitimate cause of the American Revolution to the cause of the Orange camp", then it would be impossible to silence such talk.  If the government of Israel, the Shabak, the courts of "justice" or whomever  chooses to silence, let's raise the discussion in ten times as many forums.  How many computers can they physically make inoperable.   How many virus's can they infect the population with. Once the idea is out let there be freedom of expression.  The more attempts that are made to silence these ideas the stronger these ideas will be voiced!!
 
-----------------------------------------------
 
David Wilder
July 25, 2007


Eretz Yisrael or Soviet Israel
by David Wilder
The Jewish Community of Hebron
July 25, 2007
 
Yesterday the Jewish people marked the fast day, Tisha b'Av – the ninth day of Av. Exactly 1938 years ago the heart of Israel went up in flames. On the 9th day of Av the Second Temple was destroyed by the Roman army. Some 650 years previously, on the exact same day, the First Temple was razed by the Babylonians. That day, Tisha b'Av, the 9th day of the month of Av, is commemorated each year as a fast day, from sunset to sunset.
 
Other inauspicious also occurred on the same date. Most well known was the expulsion from Spain in 1492. The decree ordering Jews to leave Spain was issued on March 31, 1492. The expulsion was to be completed by July 31 of that year. July 31 was the 9th of Av. [ http://www.jewfaq.org/holidayd.htm]
 
However, most significant was the first Tisha b'Av, marked by the rejection of Eretz Yisrael, the land of Israel, by the Israelites, who had been liberated from Egypt only months earlier. Moses sent 12 men to spy the Land. Those men were the leaders of the people, the 'president' of each of the 12 tribes. The best of the best. According to Jewish sources, they realized that upon entrance into the Land of Israel they would be replaced, they would no longer be 'leaders.' As a result, upon their return to Moses and the rest of the Israelites, ten of them slandered the Land, calling it a land of giants that devours it inhabitants. Only two of the spies rejected this slander, Joshua and Kalev, exclaiming that Israel is a 'very very good land.' But they were not able to convince the majority who tore their clothes, wailed and demanded to return to Egypt. As a result, G-d decreed this day to be a day of hardship and mourning, and so it has remained over the centuries.
 
In other words, the root of Tisha b'Av, the ninth day of Av, is the rejection of our G-d-given Land, of Eretz Yisrael.
 
The mourning period, prior to Tisha b'Av is quite intense and, in many respects, difficult. With the advent of  the month of Av, many religious Jews refrained from eating meat or drinking wine until after the fast. In addition, they did not wear freshly laundered clothing or bathe for 10 days. It would be expected that following the path of thousands of years of history, thousands of years of calamity, destruction and mourning, our people would have learned the lesson of Tisha b'Av. Unfortunately it seems that this has yet to be learned and internalized.
 
Just 10 days ago, as the grief of the month of Av began, the state of Israel 'celebrated' the inauguration of the state's ninth president. The commencement of Shimon Peres' reign as president is another reason to mourn. Shimon Peres is the embodiment of the vile spies, who, thousands of years ago, maligned and rejected Eretz Yisrael.
 
Peres was the driving force behind Oslo over 13 years ago. As was then, still today. On the day of his inauguration the eleventh spy proclaimed, "We have to rid ourselves of the 'territories'".
 
The Prime Minister has mouthed the same thoughts: we shouldn't fool ourselves – we won't be able to hold on to the 'territories.' He has ordered the notorious minister Haim Ramon, recently convicted of a 'sex crime' to head up expulsion from and destruction of 'hilltop communities.' Ramon recently suggested a 'toned-down' disengagement: rather than abandon some 90% of Yesha, as Olmert proposed following the last elections, Ramon called for an abandonment of 'only' 70% of Yesha.
 
The Churban – the destruction of 1938 years ago continues.
 
One of the most difficult and emotional episodes faced during these days of mourning began today, exactly two years ago, when Gush Katif was deleted from the face of the earth. Not only is the memory heartbreaking. It is also nauseating. Last week a number of programs on radio, and articles in the press 'questioned' the wisdom of Sharon's 'vision,' bringing about the churan of Gush Katif and the northern Shomron. Hundreds and thousands have been left without employment or permanent housing. Homes have been broken; students who once excelled in their studies lost all motivation to continue. People who were 'temporarily housed' at certain Kibbutzim find themselves again about to be expelled from their homes due to disagreements between the government and the kibbutz administration concerning the cost of rent. The state of Israel has, for all intensive purposes, abandoned these people, who gave their entire lives to the 'greening of the desert,' who suffered mortar attacks and terror killings for years and years, yet refused to give up.
 
And of course, the result of Israel's abandonment of Gush Katif was readily known long before the expulsion. That land would be utilized as a base from which to attack Israel. Now, two years later, the Israeli media, one of the main stalwarts of Sharon's madness, is 'starting to ask questions.' Maybe, just maybe Israel made a mistake?! It really is nauseating.
 
Over the past week hundreds and thousands of youth have attempted to return to Homesh, one of the two communities destroyed in the northern Shomron. From the highest point in Homesh you can view the Israeli coast, from Netanya to Ashdod and Ashkelon. This land, now cleared of all Jews, is still under Israeli control. But Israelis are forbidden from being there, in accordance with the expulsion law passed some two and a half years ago, legalizing the uprooting of 10,000 Jews from their homes.

Of course those brave souls, walking for hours to reach their destination because roads were closed off by security forces, we 'greeted' by baton-wielding police who beat them and dragged them away. However, these people never give up and have sworn to return again and again, until the Homesh community is rebuilt on the ruins of the destroyed town.
 
And what about Hebron? The craziness continues here too. The story of the Shalhevet neighborhood – the 'shuk' is well known. The 'shuk' - the area of the old Arab market, was built on Jewish property purchased in 1807. The market was closed years ago and the buildings left vacant. Following the murder of the 10-month old infant, Shalhevet Pass, in March 2001, we moved into those buildings and renovated them, transforming them into apartments for 9 families and a study hall in Shalhevet's memory.

Following the expulsion from Gush Katif, the government decided to expel us from those apartments too. The day before their ultimatum expired, ordering us out, they offered us a deal: we leave voluntarily, and the government would work out an arrangement allowing us to move back in 'legally' in a short period of time.

We had a 'town meeting' about this in the middle of the night and took a vote, and it was decided to opt for the deal. The next day the families moved out. That was over a year and a half ago, and we still aren't back in. The attorney general first denied a deal had been made and then later, admitted it had been agreed upon, but voided it.

Some months ago two of the families who had moved out of the "Shalhevet neighborhood"  moved back in for lack of any other place to live. When the authorities discovered them this too started bouncing around in the courts. Last week they were presented with eviction notices, demanding they move out by this Friday at 12 noon or be forcibly expelled.

We have decided not to move out willingly this time around. The families won't leave voluntarily. The Israeli government has a moral obligation to allow Jews to live on Jewish land in Hebron, especially at this site, having been evicted with the promise of return. Enough expulsions, enough abandonment of Jewish land, enough broken promises. This time we will not give up easily!
 
In a few days we will mark the 78th anniversary of the 1929 Hebron massacre which left 67 dead, 70 wounded and hundreds expelled from their homes in Hebron. Is the Israeli government going to follow in the footsteps of our Forefather Abraham, who settled the land, who settled Hebron, or in the footsteps of Haj Amin el Husseini, whose murderous incitement led to the riots, slaughter and expulsion? Do we live in Eretz Yisrael or Soviet Israel?
 
 
The following letter was sent today to Defense Minister Ehud Barak by Chairman of seven Knesset factions:

To Defense Minister Ehud Barak:
 
At the present time, when we are marking 78 years since the 1929 riots, you are faced with a fateful decision concerning one of the sites which represents, more than anything else, the murder and the thievery of the Hebron Jewish community of those days: the site of the 'shuk' in Hebron, where presently several families are living.
 
We the undersigned, chairmen of various parties in the Knesset, turn to you with this request to refrain from expelling these Jewish families living in the 'shuk' and to study alternative ways to resolve Jewish quarters at this site, legally.
 
Before our eyes are the following factors:
  1. We are dealing with Jewish-owned land, which was stolen as a result of the terrible slaughter. It is incumbent on the government to act to return the stolen property as would be expected in relationship to stolen Jewish property anywhere in the world.
  2. The preset time is a time of reconciliation, during which we are attempting to refrain from conflicts which are avoidable. A solution to this issue, was suggested by a highly respected attorney, former Justice minister Dr. Ya'akov Ne'eman. This should be seriously studied prior to physical conflicts which would almost inevitably occur.
  3. The residents of Hebron prevented violence and conflict similar to the occurrences in "Amona" when they voluntarily moved out of these homes, based upon promises that they would be allowed to return, honoring and respecting promises of representatives of the state, IDF officers. This type of approach is to be encouraged and rewarded, not discouraged.
  4. The continued residency of Jews in the shuk does not harm Hebron's Arabs, who have enjoyed an alternative modern market place in the Palestinian side of the city. The site also does not expand the Jewish community of Hebron at all. We are speaking of maintaining the status quo and preventing actions which could cause instability in this sensitive area.
 
For all the above reasons, we request, that you order that the issue of Jewish residency in the shuk be studied seriously, and that in any case, you prevent, for the time being, any eviction of Jewish residents from the site.
 
Sincerely,
Knesset party chairmen:
Yoel Hasson, Kadima
Meir Porush, Yahadut HaTorah
Uri Ariel, National Union-NRP
Gideon Saar – Likud
Robert Ilatov – Yisrael Beitanu
Ya'akov Margi – Shas
Moshe Sharoni – Retirees
 
 
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Shemittah Rediscovered




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Monday, July 23, 2007

A video for Tisha Baav. kiruv.com/fromtheashes. You will be a changed person!

 
bs"d
 
Watch it even before Tisha Baav so you'll spread the word. 
 
 
Thank you Caren May for sending me the link.
 
If you wish to visit my blog click on:
Shemittah Rediscovered
Title of Last Post is called On Aish Hatorah, C-tians talking Torah, Shemittah and Sham 



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On Aish Hatorah, C-tians talking Torah and Shemittah and Sham

bs"d
 
Tonight I watched a powerful video of Rabbi Noah Weinberg and 60 of Aish Hatorah's educators go to Poland and see the reality of what happened there. http://www.kiruv.com/FromTheAshes/    This is a must see video and one can not walk away from this video unchanged.  This video is a wake up call to what a patient G-d is willing to do to his precious children, Jew and non Jew alike, when we lose sight of our purpose for being in this world.  G-d is very patient.  He waits generations before he strikes.  But, yes he does strike at times when there is no other choice because the world is simply too corrupt and incapable of return.  Rabbi Weinberg's message was that even though we (all the organizations that are involved with reuniting Jews with their heritage) are making in ways, we are still losing the battle.  Perhaps Rabbi Weinberg is being metaken (correcting) the fault of the Biblical Noah who did not yell and scream to his generation WAKE UP.  The Deluge is coming!
 
Then thanks to links from Batya Medad in her blog http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/ I saw video clips of Danny Danon Likud Chairman and the World Likud alliance with World Evangelical C-tians.  see wezion.org. These C-tians apparently wish to be more active in promoting World Likud's platform and become working active partners and not just spectators from afar.   I listened to Joel Bell speak very eloquently about C-tians support for World Likud that will enable them to play a part in a shared vision of a Strong Israel and an Israel that has a Covenant with G-d as is specified in the Torah.  Danny Danon was equally eloquent calling on C-tians Evangelical Groups  to be supportive of World Likud and support World Likud's platform which has a shared vision.
 
I listened recently as well to John Hagee's  speech to AIPAC and was mesmerized by his overt Torah references.   Thank you Sara Lehman for that link.  Benny Elon of National Union has strong connections with Evangelical Christians.  
 
So the C-tians are taking a Biblical stand and with money are influencing Israeli politics.  I will not at this point discuss whether their support for a Complete Israel is pure or comes with an agenda.
 
Is this connection to Christians a good or bad thing?  In my opinion it is only good if the Nation of Israel are the true Kohanim and recognize together with the rest of the world, that the essence of Israel is to be Metaken Olam Bimalchut Shakai, to correct the world in the Kingdom of Heaven and to be a Mamlechet Kohanim VeGoy Kadosh.  How is this accomplished.  Only through proclaiming the Sovereignty of G-d and then through the observance of Mitzvoth which we learn and teach and keep and whose source is our H-ly Torah.  Yet when the majority of Orthodox Jews, the Torah Leaders refuse to overtly talk about any Biblical references that might have any connections with world events and ignore any focus on those commandments read in Sefer Devarim, the commandments that are necessary in the Land of Israel, the commandments taught by Moshe Rabbeinu in the last 36 days of his life, knowing that he will not lead the Nation into the Land of Israel and only the performance and the observance of these Mitzvot will bring the Roadmap to peace and security and prosperity, I agree with Rav Noah Weinberg that we are indeed losing our battle.  How can one teach Torah to the millions of lost Jews and with the threat of weapons of mass destruction in every corner and the threats of Natural Disasters coming from both Heaven and Earth and remain apathetic to the Commandments that are spelled out in Sefer Devarim (Deuteronomy) and reiterated many times and act that there is nothing that actually correlates our failures in observing these Mitzvoth and the dangers facing our generation from every direction.  If we go with happenstance then G-d will as well.  The Blessings and Curses are clearly pointing to observances of specific Mitzvoth and on the top of the list is Shemittah. 
 
I put an alert on Google to any posts about Shemittah.  What came up was an article in the TIMES.  It is clear that all the loopholes the Takanos of the Rabbanim of the Mitzva D'araita of Shemittah did not escape the writer of the article.  The title of the article is Shemittah and Sham.
 
 
The purpose of this blog is to brainstorm how to rediscover the Mitzvah of Shemittah without the Rabbinic loopholes.  The dream is to experience Shemittah in the spirit of Shabbos, Shabbat where the Halachoth reflect that the entire Land belongs to G-d and it is truly a year of partying and eating and sharing what one has.  There is the utopian vision of no poor person among my brothers and of equality and of sanctity and h-lyness since there is the recognition and knowledge that all truly comes and belongs to G-d.  Shemittah as practiced in our times practically means buying Arab produce or doing without. Even putting a plastic divider doesn't quite bring in the proper spirit and neither does not having any vegetables to eat that is grown in Israel proper.  What about foregoing loans?  That is totally not addressed out of the halachic loophole of Pruzbul.
 
Coming up with Halacha that reflects the utopian vision of all the above has not been addressed since the time of the 1st Temple.  And even in the time of the first Temple there were 70 Shemittoth  that were not observed properly Keneged, represented by, the 70 years between the destruction of the 1st temple and the building of the 2nd Temple.  Each Shemittah is a 7 year cycle.  Simple multiplication of 7 times 70 brings one to 490 years.  The duration of the 1st Temple was only 850 years.  That means that even in the time of the first Temple Shemittah was not kept properly for 490 years.  And if these were the last 490 consecutive years of the 850 years that the 1st Temple stood, that would bring us back to even before the rule of King David to the times of the Judges.   
 
Rediscovering the Halachot of Shemittah is truly revolutionary.  Very scary let me add.  Yet the threats that hover our generation having witnessed and having extensive documentation, first hand of the Holocaust, is way scarier. 
 
It's time to get down to business and as Rav Noah Weinberg states, let us learn from our enemies the monsters, the Nazi's what the meaning of dedication and determination and professionalism and efficiency and let us learn from our enemies the Hamas and the PA, the meaning of self sacrifice (G-d does not desire the sacrifice of the Molech) but perhaps the monetary sacrifices where Ani CHashuv Kemais (a poor person is considered as dead)  can replace human sacrifice, we will once again rediscover only with G-d's help and our yearning, what the Torah really meant by the Mitzvoth of Shemittah.
 
 
 
 
 
 



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Sunday, July 22, 2007

Manhigut's Slogan "Feiglin Yesh Lo Elokim" Proclaiming G-d's Sovereignty

 
bs"d
 
Yasher Koach to Manhigut Yehudit and Moshe Feiglin for choosing a slogan that is a precondition to everything else.  In fact such a statement comes before speaking about doing Mitzvoth.
 
The following will back up this point. I was learning Mishnayot with my son, and a particular Mishneh seems to indicate that Manhigut/Moshe Feiglin with this slogan is sending the right message.  (I wish that they would break from Likud but that is a side issue)  
 
It was Berakhot Chapter 2 the Second Mishnah.  (in the middle of the mishnah)
 
R.Yehoshua b. Karha said:  Why does Shema precede Vehaya?  Why in arranging the sections of the Shema, did the Rabbis place the section beginning with Shema before the paragraph beginning "And it shall come to pass if you will hearken diligently"? (Vehayah im Shamoa)
 
Ela Kedei So that one should first accept upon himself the Yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven - Shema was placed before: "And it shall come to pass." so that man should first accept the Yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven, the belief in and the submission to the Sovereignty of G-d, which is included in the Shema paragraph, which contains the affirmation of our belief in the existence of G-d and His unity and uniqueness.  This affirmation is the essential precondition for the observance of the Torah. 
 
Veacher Kach And afterwards take upon himself to observe Mitzvot, as is explicitly stated in the second section: "And it shall come to pass if you will hearken diligently to My commandments... to love the L-rd your G-d and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul." (taken from  Elucidated Mishnah Series Berakhot with commentary by R. Pinhas Kehati)
 
Let me commend Moshe Feiglin and the Manhigut Team on the choice of their slogan. This affirmation of our belief in the existence of G-d and His unity and uniqueness is the essential precondition for the observance of the Torah.  Just hearing the slogan brings great strength to Am Yisroel.
 
(one additional  constructive comment. I  think a concern some Jews (especially from the Chareidi camp)  may have with the slogan is whether  it's ok to spell the word Elokim with a heh rather than with a kof.  When Moshe Feiglin speaks, he says Elokim. Being that the slogan will be on posters on busses some might get the wrong impression that Manhigut Yehudit has irreverence to G-d's name for spelling it out). 
 
May all the endeavors of Manhigut be to Glorify G-d's name in this world and be pleasing to G-d and in this direction may Manhigut Yehudit under the leadership of Moshe Feiglin go from strength to strength.
 
Sincerely, Robin Ticker
 





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