Open Letter to All Rabbanim - Take a Biblical Stand!

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Conference of Authentic Jewish Leadership (CAJL)
P.O.B.340149 Brooklyn, NY 11234-0149
Or c/o Shmuel Koenig
1530 E. 19th St. Apt. 6K
Brooklyn, NY 11230

Chodesh Adar 5767

Dear Esteemed Rav, amv”sh

We are an organization working to unite all Torah believing Jews to make a claim to our rights to Eretz Yisroel and to our Biblical Inheritance. Our goal is to publicly denounce any talk of a two State Solution as proposed by President George Bush because it is a direct negation of the Torah’s Covenant between G-d and the Jewish people. We call upon each and every Jew to join with us and be active in whatever capacity that they are capable. We are especially writing to the Rabbinical and Spiritual Leaders of Am Yisroel since they have an extra dose of Achraius (obligation) according to their influence, to guide the population to speak out in a public and strong voice.

Attached please find a statement for you to fill out. We are asking you to state your protest regarding a 2 State Solution as proposed by President Bush. Being silent implies implicit agreement with Bush’s Roadmap or complacency meaning that even though you would prefer it not happen it doesn’t bother you enough to protest it. Remember that the greater influence you have over Hamonei Am the greater the impact of your statement or non statement. Collectively we can certainly make a difference. Individually, we will have to answer to our Creator whether we made an effort even at personal risk to our job, prestige, source of income, or popularity

Every Jewish soul was as Sinai. Atem Nitazvim … You are standing today, all of you, before G-d, the heads of your tribes, your elders…..your small children, your women….for you to pass into the Covenant of Hashem , your G-d and into the imprecation that Hashem , Your G-d seals with you today…..Not with you alone do I seal this covenant and this imprecation, but with whoever is here, standing with us today before Hashem, our G-d, and with whoever is not here with us today. Devarim 29:9 Parshas Nitzavim.

Please fill out and return the attached form. Ask others to do as well. The personal contact info is for our organization’s private use in order to contact you for further activism. Others will have access to the Public Statement and public contact information you provide. We thank you in advance for your concern and love for Hashem, Am Yisroel, Eretz Yisroel and Torat Yisroel.

Sincerely, Coordinators CAJL

Robin Ticker faigerayzel@aol.com ,

Tova Abadi simplefaith2002@yahoo.com
Shmuel Koenig 1530 E. 19th Street Apt 6K Brooklyn, NY 11230

Dear Honorable Rav, amv"sh

We are not only asking, but actually begging you to take a few minutes to print out the following pages and fill them out and return them to one of the addresses listed above. Thank you.

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Contact information for CAJL use only:
Rabbi ________________________
Home Address: _____________________________
Home Telephone:_______________ Mobile:_________________
Email Address: ______________________
Fax:______________

Shul Yeshiva and/or Organization Affilliation:
______________________________________
Work Address:______________________________
Work Telephone:________________
Work Email Address:_____________________
Work Fax: _____________________________

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Rabbinic Public Statement Protesting Bush’s Roadmap:

I protest the formation of a Palestinian State within the borders of Judea and Samaria. Our Biblical borders have been given to us by G-d and there is no other answer. A Two State Solution as proposed by Bush’s Roadmap cannot coexist with Torah. (my additional comments are…)
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Name________________________________________________________
Signature:______________________________ Date:__________________
Shul: or Organization: __________________________________________
I can be reached at :____________________________________________

A Tribute To Ilan Ramon on his Yahrzeit - Sinai Revelation

Please visit

http://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2006/03/yahrzeit-ilan-ramon.html

Re: My comments a leader of Neturei Karta

In a message dated 12/27/2006 5:30:02 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, yoelish_weiss@yahoo.com writes:

here you can read the true reality that natire karte presented in Iran http://www.nkusa.org/activities/Conferences/2006Dec12Iran.cfm

Below are my comments highlighted in orange The following is the speech written by Yisroel Feldman irepresenting Neturei Karta at the Conference in Iran with my commentary..

also look on this web site

http://www.israelversusjudaism.org/comparison/index2.cfm

Orthodox Jewish Attitude to the Holocaust (This is not the Orthodox Jewish Attitude. It is the attitude of a fringe minority.)

Talk prepared by Rabbi Yisroel Feldman of Neturei Karta International to be delivered at the International Conference to review the Holocaust, December 11-12, in Tehran, Iran With praise to the Almighty may my words find favor in His eyes. Nice beginning I want to begin with gratitude and great respect to the Iranian government in general and to the Honorable Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei and to His Excellency, President Mahmoud Ahmadinegad. Lo Sichanem Much has and will be said at this conference concerning the debate of European Jewry during the Second World War. I am neither a scientist nor a professional historian and am not capable of responding to many of the questions discussed here. What I propose to do though, is to speak about the morality of what happened to European Jewry and the morality of using their fate as an explanation for other political and cultural activities. No matter how we may debate some of the details of what was done to the Jews of Europe there is no doubt that they were treated brutally and that this brutality included all men, women and children. The Jews were physically attacked and murdered. Their possessions and homes were taken. They were shipped across Europe like animals jammed into cattle cars with little or no food and water. Millions died. And many of these were defenseless women and children. These are facts. The worldwide Jewish community is by and large descendents of those who survived this horrible hell. It would probably lend much credibility to those who wish to study the destruction of European Jewry if they would clearly condemn these actions committed during the holocaust. There is no moral justification for what was done. Fine so far However, there is also no moral justification for using these events to dispossess and occupy Look at the first Rashi of Beraishis. Hashem gave the Land of Israel first to the Canaanites. He then took it away and gave it to the seed of Avraham Yitzchok and Yaakov. The Canaanites are descendant of CHam who was cursed to be the slave of Shem. The ownership of a slave belongs to its Master. So G-d had a Master Plan all along. another people who have nothing whatsoever to do with what was done in Europe. Let Europe make amends for what took place if they so desire, not the Palestinians. The Palestinians express kinship and admiration for the atrocities and the Nazi regime. How can you ignore this minor detail? Plus, it is our belief that it is not the appropriate role for Jews when they live in exile amongst the nations to adopt any position of antagonism towards any other peoples or nations. Why is desiring to keep Mitzvot Teluyot Baaretz a position of antagonism to other people. Ki Ner Mitzva VeTorah Ohr. To get light you need a candle. You would be foolish to destroy the candle or the lanturn if you wished to create light. One can only keep the Mitzvoth Teluyot Baaretz such as Leqet, Shikcha, Peah, Teruma, Shemittah etc if they have the material, the actual parcel of Land. My husbands family is secular. They had a weekend Bar Mitzva in a Hotel. We didn't attend because even with Kosher food there was no way we could keep Shabbos. We weren't being hostile as they interpreted our actions but simply attempting to keep the sanctity of the Shabbos. We believe that Jews are called upon to lead by example by serving as a positive role model for all of mankind, not as dictators of public policy. Why is claiming something that is in your stewardship, what is entrusted to you in order that you follow the precepts and keep its laws interpreted as being dictators of public policy? Zionism violated many tenets of the Jewish faith. Are you referring to the State of Israel established in 1948. If so then be more specific. I define Zionism as the desire to live in Eretz Yisroel and keep the Mitzvoth. This has been our yearning for 2000 years. I would not use the terminology Zionism because according to my definition of Zionism I imagine you would be included. And It sought to deny the metaphysical reality of Jewish exile and the Divine command that we live at peace with other peoples. According to your opinion the metaphysical reality is that we are in Galus forever or until Moshiach is revealed. The reality is, that we are in Galus a Jewish exile. You seem to believe that Jewish Sovereignty is not allowed until the Moshiach is revealed. Does that mean also that we are not allowed to keep certain Mitzvoth until Moshiach is revealed. Does it mean that we take away Mitzvoth of the Torah because Moshiach hasn't been revealed? Where does it say in the Torah that choosing and picking Mitzvoth are allowed? Of course if we are physically unable then we have no choice. If we don't have a right hand we will put on Tefillin on the left hand. Would we purposely cut off our right hand so that we can observe Tefillin on the Left Hand? Its cruelty towards the Palestinian was and is notorious. The Torah doesn't always sound very diplomatic and peaceful. In fact there are many instances where is sounds downright cruel. One of the places that this is so is with some of the Canaanite Nations. G-d commands that they be wiped out, men women and children and the spoils are cherem. The Zionists were not cruel enough. They had to expel the Palestinians and cut down their places of worship and Idolatry. When the Nation of Israel continued to disobey G-ds commands, the curses happened and the Nations oppressed them and did to the people of Israel what the people of Israel should have done first to them. The Torah is not democracy.The founder of Zionism, Theodore Herzl, wrote in his diary that he felt the existence of anti-Semitism was a healthy thing because this would make Jews mistrust the other nations of the world and come running to the state he wanted to create for them.This was the unfortunate reality. I wouldn't call it healthy however. It is unfortunate that they don't cometo Eretz Yisroel for the purpose to keep the Mitzvoth Teluyot Baaretz w/o progroms and antisemitism. I agree that the secular aspect of the establishment of the State of Israel is a deep flaw that is causing a crack in the foundations of the State of Israel. I see that to replace the void of the State, can only be a Jewish Sovereignty that used Torah and Mitzvoth as its modus operandes. Until Dovid Hamelech there was no King that Hashem really annointed happily. Shaul was not the ideal. Yet, Bnei Yisroel were supposed to live on the Land and keep the Mitzvoth. He saw fit to even cultivate this anti-Semitism and some of the Zionist leaders refused to participate in attempts to rescue European Jews from the horrors of the inferno of Europe because it suited their own purposes to do so. If this is true it is a crime of the highest degree. The advent of Zionist ideology, even before the creation of the state, met with tremendous opposition from great Jewish leaders who saw in Zionism two major problems: One, that the Jewish people had been commanded not to try and leave exile by force, but rather to live peacefully as subservient loyal citizens wherever they would reside. Can you quote reference to this commandment? Does Rambam mention it in Sefer Hamitzvoth? And secondly, that we had similarly been forbidden from assuming ownership of the land. That's easily resolved. Simply keep the Mitzvah of Shemittah. By allowing the fields to lie fallow, you declare that the Land returns to its rightful owner G-D. But in order to keep Shemittah you still need sovereingty on parcels of Land. That these things have come to pass and that they have been achieved through the wide scale oppression of another nation is absolutely in dissonance with Jewish faith and law. But that is Torah and the problem is that we didn't kick out and destroy the other nations when they refuse to accept the Sovereignty of Am Yisroel and accept the Torah and our Biblical Mandate. The great Rabbis who witnessed the birth of Zionism predicted that this movement would bring terrible catastrophes upon the Holy Land and upon the world, and many refer to this development as the foremost reason for the holocaust itself. Did they predict the tremendous Baal Teshuva Movement as well especially in the Yeshivoth established in Eretz Yisroel?. The Rabbis saw Zionism as a horribly rebellious phenomenon and felt that by embracing Zionism the Jewish people was invoking the Divine wrath Maybe they were simply referring to the secular aspect of Zionism that rejected parts of the Torah e.g. Kashrus, Shabbos etc.. However, the Neturei Karta is rejecting Eretz Yisroel specifically the Mitzvoth that are dependant on the Land which also in my opinion may invoke Divine wrath since that too is rejecting Mitzvoth of the Torah albeit different Mitzvoth then the secular Jews., and in fact, in our time, it is clear that Zionism has created untold tragedy. It first and firstmost created a working infastructurefffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffThroughout the centuries Jew and Muslim lived side by side amicably, but those times predated the Zionist era. The situation is such that we need a miraculous salvation from what Zionism has wrought. What is most important, though, is that when approaching the all-important topics of Zionism and the holocaust that we keep our balance and moral clarity. What was done to the Jews and to other European peoples, such as the Poles and Gypsies, was a great evil. If its parameters need to be explored, let them be freely explored, but all the while realizing that we are exploring the reality of an evil deed. This is the delicate clarity that is so needed when approaching this sensitive issue. Similarly, when studying Zionism we need to always distinguish between Zionism and Judaism. Between those caught in its grasps and those actively committing acts of Zionist aggression; If Judaism includes Mitzvoth Teluyot Baaretz, then. Zionism in its proper form is yearning and desire to keep these Mitzvoth that are dependant on the land. Between Torah True Jews and those who have strayed from our faith and traditions; These are the distinctions that need go forth from this conference. They will lend its deliberations credibility and add to the ultimate goal of peace between peoples, the eradication of all cruelty, and the overall moral and Divine agenda of all mankind. Your agenda, is in direct conflict with the agenda of the Almighty Who at times advocates cruelty. If you,those that support Ahmad....and are kind to the cruel then one day you will be cruel to the kind. May G-d be with you.Thank you. I took that blessing personally. It's mutually exclusive for you to talk both to me as well as to ahmedinojad. If G-d is with him then G-d is against me and my fellow Jew. You can not have it both ways.

Uptodate Shemittah Information - Beth Medrash LeToras Eretz Yisroel - Rav Efrati

Bat Zion from self sustaining Shokeda asks FaigeRayzel

If you wish, please tell the group about Shmitta and the people and organizations that are promoting and supporting this mitzvah.

Do you know of any English-language seforim or pamphlets on the subject "How to Keep Shmitta?"

I would like to understand the basic halachot before I would start asking questions.

 

What other resources are you aware of for farmers and gardeners who want to keep Shmitta?

 

Thank you!

Bat-Tzion

 

bs"d

 

The Shemittah year is a year that is a Taste of the World to come.  Hebrew it is called Shabbat Haaretz.  It is a year that the Land rests.  It is a Sabbatical year that one is not allowed to work the Land.  The Land returns to G-d as it says Ki Li Kol Haaretz, The whole Land belongs to Me. (Exodus 19: 5) and we are to be a Mamlechet Kohanim Vegoy Kadosh, a Nation of Priests and a H-ly Nation.  It says Ki li Haaretz again in Leviticus 25:23 following the Laws of Shemittah and Yovel.  "The Land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is Mine; for you are sojourners and residents with Me.  In verse 18 in Chapter 23 it says "You shall perform My decrees, and observe My ordinances and perform them; then you shall dwell securely on the Land.

 

So from these Pesukim, the Torah states a direct connection between keeping the Mitzvah of Shemittah and dwelling securely in the Land. 

 

There are two parts to the Mitzvah of Shemittah.  On part is called Shemittah Karka  (the laws are discussed in Parshas Behar in Leviticus) and the other part is called Shemittas Kesafim (the laws are discussed in Parshas Reeh in Devarim). 

 

My discussion here will not be specific about the kind of work one may or may not do in the Shemittah year if you are a farmer.  I will focus on the proper spirit that I believe is inherent in keeping of the Mitzvah of Shemittah.  It is the spirit of Shabbat, a taste of the world to come.  It is a Sabbatical year a time to rejuvenate.  I believe that this year is a year of community.  It is a year where what's mine is subjugated to whatever I/we possess comes from our Creator. This spirit manifests itself both in Shemitas Karka as well as Shemitas Kesafim.  Therefore I believe this Mitzvah affects the entire nation whether or not one is a farmer.

 

The Shemittah year starts next Rosh Hashana in the Hebrew Calendar 5768.  From that time on the farmer must not work the Land.  He/she must allow his/her field to lie fallow. The fields are open to all.  One is obligated to loan to needy people whatever they may need and is not allowed to demand retribution at the end of the Shemittah year.  One must forego their loans. 

 

This Mitzva is considered one of the most difficult to keep and only the most faithful are able to keep it.  Much blessings are promised in the 6th year, enough to last for 3 years.

 

In the time of Hillel (after the destruction of the 2nd Temple, people were unwilling to give out loans.  Hillel instituted a Takana called the Pruzbul.  It is a way to get around foregoing loans).  Heter Mechira, selling the Land to Arabs for the Shemittah year was another loophole.

 

I am convinced that we should try to keep the Mitzvoth of Shemittah w/o loopholes in order to grow in faith and fear of G-d and we will be showered with blessings.  To do so is truly revolutionary and hasn't been attempted since the time prior to the 1st Temple.   It is written that there were 70 years of Galus between the first and 2nd Temple to represent  70 years of Shemitta not observed.  Since Shemittah is every 7 years does that mean that Shemittah was not observed properly the 490 years prior to the destruction of the 1st Temple?  If that is so,that brings us back to the time of the Judges even before the time of King David! Was Shemittah never really observed properly!?!? In the year 5747 I tried an experiment regarding Shemittah.  You can read about it http://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2005/09/how-it-began-how-i-became-interested.html

 

I have a pamphelet in English written by Rabbi Kalman Kahana z"l Rabbi of Kibbutz Chofetz Chaim, an authority on the laws of Shemittah and a pioneer activist for Shemittah observance in modern day Israel, called "A guide for the year of Sh'mittah.  My copy was printed in 1979 by the "Institute for Agricultural Research according to the Torah of Poalei Agudath Israel".  The publishers of this pamphlet is Feldheim Publishers, J-M 

Feldheim Publishers Israel Office:
POB 46163
Jerusalem, Israel 91431

Phone: (02) 651-3947
Fax: (02) 653-6061

 Another pamphlet that I have is called Shemittah What It's All About, Compiled by Rabbi Eleizer Gevirtz byTorah Umesorah Publications Copyright 1983.  5723 Eighteenth Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11204 718-259-1223  publications@tupublications.com

 

I know that there was a Keren Shviis where farmers were being paid not to work on the Shemittah year.    The Torah Umesorah publication mentions National Center for  Shemittah Observing Farmers originating in Moshav Komemiyus.  Other communities mentioned are Beit Chilkiya, Kfar Gideon and Yesodot.

 

 

In Mishpacha Magazine this past week it mentions that Rabbi Efrati, confidant of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv and world expert on the mitzvos of Eretz Yisroel,  has dedicated a Center called Beis Medrash Toras Eretz Yisroel in Har Nof Jerusalem.  His own great mission is a campaign to bring the special mitzvos of Eretz Yisroel to all sectors of the Jewish Nation. Financial backing came from a Poalei Agudas Yisrael municipality member, Reb Shlomo Druk z"l.   He also bought land on the outskirts of Har Nof. Three years ago the cornerstone was laid, this past Sukkos the dedication ceremony was held.  Other donors from NY and others contributed but the building is not yet finished and they are heavily in debt.

 

At this years Agudah Convention in Ct. I picked up a brochure for Kinyan Ha'aretz who mentions Rav Shaul Reichenberg known for his expertise particularly regarding seder Zeraim.  Rav Reichenberg is mentioned in the Mishpacha Magazine article Issue 136 December 6th, 2006.  "The new center is yet another accomplishment in Rav Efrati's continued campaign to elevate the halachos of Eretz Yisrael to their deserved place.  Plans to further that goal include learning the specific halachos, delivering lectures, and imparting the message to the greater public via the Keren Maasros headed by Rav Shaul Reichenberg, and the new halachic literature published by the Beis Medrash.....

 

In 1978, when talk spread of a new Beis Medrash in Jerusalem devoted to these halachos, many eyebrows were raised.  The initiative took off when Kollel Avreichim was transplanted from Shaalavim to Jerusalem.   Rav Kalman Kahane, zt"l then appealed to Rav Efrati, who at the time was a young Avreich and Maggid Shiur in a yeshivah in central Israel, to serve in the Kollel."

 

So this is the info that I have.  It seems that this Beis Medrash has it's roots from Rav Kalman Kahane zt"l from Kibbutz Chofetz Chaim. 

 

If anyone has any more info please email me.   I will post this on my blog http://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/

 

I hope this was helpful.

Agudah's reflection on the demonstration

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What was Avi Shafran's of Agudath Yisroel's take on the demonstration? Please read A ‘successful’ rally that forgot to invite the One who can actually make a difference
By Rabbi Avi Shafran

Rabbi Shafran was not impressed. He says that they emphasized "Kochi VeOtsem Yadi", my strength and my might instead of the Creator of the World.

I am glad that Rabbi Shafran saw that the organizers were not on the mark. Let me suggest to Rabbi Shafran that Shemittah is the antidote of Kochi VeOtsem Yadi. I suggest that he subscribe to this blog and read it from the beginning. If you know him directly please recommend this blog to him.

Thank you very much!