SILENCE SURROUNDS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ’67 ISRAELI VICTORIES Helen Freed

 

HELEN FREEDMAN, 30 W. 63^rd Street, New York, NY 10023; ghfree@aol.com; 917-886-0729; March 24, 2007

 

SILENCE SURROUNDS THE 40^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE '67 ISRAELI VICTORIES

Helen Freedman

 

        Will there be any official government celebrations planned in Israel to recognize the 40^th Anniversary of the re-unification of Jerusalem, the return to Hebron, and the restoration of Judea, Samaria, Gaza and the Golan to the Jews of Israel – and the world? If so, we haven't heard of any. The reason for the silence from Israel is that the Olmert government is planning the reversal of the amazing 1967 victory by the Israeli army over the attacking Egyptians, Lebanese, Syrians, Iraqis, Saudis, and Jordanians, betraying all those who dreamt for centuries of the return to Zion. It is also, of course, a betrayal of the many thousands who gave their lives in order to create a whole Israel.

        Americans – ask your mainstream Jewish organizations, the UJA, UJC, JNF, what celebrations are planned for the 40^th Anniversary in America. You'll probably elicit a stony silence, or response about "disputed territories" from those who endorse the give-away plan and refuse to recognize the existence of a whole Israel.

         The give-away program was actually begun with the treacherous Oslo Accords of 1993, but swung into full force in August, 2005 when Gaza was emptied of its Jews by order of then PM Ariel Sharon. Wishing to distract the public from his pending indictment for a variety of criminal activities, Sharon pushed forward the expulsion of 10,000 Jews from the 21 communities of Gush Katif and Sanur and Homesh in Samaria. The area, as predicted by the opponents of expulsion, has now become a Hamas terrorist stronghold, threatening the Negev communities.

        Now we hear that Israel must talk to Syria. There are "diplomats" who insist that Israel's refusal to do so is stubborn intransigence. What could these talks possibly mean? Only the giveaway of the Golan Heights, Israel's absolutely necessary security position against the Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah. Anyone who has been to the Golan, and seen Damascus from the Israeli heights, can appreciate how dangerous it would be for Israel to give away this natural protection. And that goes without mentioning the vineyards, farms, homes, schools, cities and lives of the Jews of the Golan. And yet, the "diplomats" urge talk and "painful concessions."

        The Olmert government has been building a wall through Judea and Samaria that is cutting off Jewish communities from other Jews, placing them in what would be the "Palestinian" state, if that disaster should come to pass. The "Saudi initiative", from our "good friends" the Saudi Arabians, who were well represented in the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks, and who sponsor Wahabiism, the most virulent of the Islamic jihadist religions, requires Israel to return to its "Auschwitz" 1967 borders and requires the right of return for Arabs who fled in 1948. Although the number of Arabs was about 500,000 at the time, their descendants now claim to number in the millions, thanks to the careful protection of UNWRA, and it is these millions who are demanding the right to flood Israel with their return. All of this seems quite reasonable to Ehud Olmert, who is ready to empty out many of the 250,000 Jews of Judea and Samaria, in order to replace them with "Palestinian"/Hamas Arabs who are dedicated to Israel's destruction.

        And the jewel in the crown is Jerusalem - Yerushalayim – the holy city over which the Jews have cried for centuries. Jews continue to mourn the destruction of the First and Second Temples, and look forward to the day when the Third Temple will be rebuilt on the Temple Mount.  Unfortunately, the Israeli government doesn't reflect these yearnings.  

        In 1967, when Matti Gur ascended the Temple Mount with the victorious Israeli army, and planted the Israeli flag there, proclaiming "The Temple Mount is in our hands," he was ordered to take down the flag. Moshe Dayan gave the keys to the Temple Mount to the Arab Waqf, and since then, Israelis have been fighting to assert their rights to this holiest of places.

        And now, we hear that Olmert is considering re-dividing Jerusalem. The "Saudi" plan calls for the surrender of half of Jerusalem to the Arabs. Of course we know that surrendering part is in effect surrendering all. That is what the Arabs continue to tell us. They want to drive the Jews into the sea. They refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist, refuse to stop their terrorist activities, and expect to succeed in their goal to Islamize the world. Israel and Jerusalem are only the first step. Tomorrow, the world.

        So that is why we do not hear talk of celebrations, parades and special events to commemorate the 40^th anniversary of the restoration of the state of Israel to its immediate post-1967 state of wholeness. When the government of Israel is prepared to give away everything that was achieved in the miraculous 1967 victory, how can they celebrate the gains of that six-day war? What is clear is that what the Arabs lost militarily, they understand they can gain diplomatically. They merely have to use the language of "peace" and the western world becomes hostage to them.

        But there are those who will not accept the delusions, deceptions and betrayals of the "diplomats" and "leaders" who are only concerned with their personal power positions and are willing to sacrifice the welfare of the country for their own good. There are many remarkably brave and heroic Israelis who will fight against the perfidious ones. We Americans, who understand the nature of the fight, must join with them.

 

Helen Freedman is the former Executive Director of Americans For a Safe Israel/AFSI; 212-828-2424; afsi@rcn.com; ghfree@aol.com

---

AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.

---

AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.

Yom Chevron- Chance to make a Statement

I think it would be wonderful if there is a campaign to get as many Rabbanim (Chareidim and Datiyim Zionim etc in a show of unity) to visit Maaras Hamechpela in Chevron on Wednesday night Yom Chevron. (For starters, Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, Sadiger Rebbe, the Bostoner Rebbe etc.and of course a showing by Rav Shteinman and other prominent Rabbanim would be fabulous)-

Here in NY we (Shmuel Koenig and myself, are persistently calling the various local Rabbanim in Flatbush( Rabbi Reisman of Agudas Yisroel of Madison, and Rabbi Pinchus Breuer, Rav of Agudas Yisroel of Ave L and Rav Hillel David and others asking them to take a stand and a personal claim to Eretz Yisroel and begging them to speak out against Bush's Roadmap and also to personally convince Rabbanim that have perhaps higher recognized stature than themselves (Rabbanim such as Shmuel Kamenetsky advisor to Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation, and the Noveminsker Rebbe aka Rav Perlow, Rav Shmuel Berenbaum, Rav Matisyahu Salomon (Leaders of Agudath Yisroel of America )etc. to take a similar public stand) To be perfectly honest we are hitting stone. But as Rabbi Akiva noted, every drop of water collectively makes a dent in the stone. So we will persevere, with these phone calls urging others to call their Rabbanim as well hoping that hopefully sooner not later, our message will penetrate. Hadas also said that if a Mishlachat of these aforementioned Rabbanim (leaders from Agudath Yisroel of America) came from the States with their entourage it would also make a strong impression on Rav Eliashiv and Rav Shteinman to perhaps take such a public position. It seems to me that making a public statement takes the risk of a strong backlash from world opinion. The Torah Leaders would need much Chizuk from Hamonei Am that this position is accepted by Hamonei Am as well and it is not simply their personal imposition of their own agenda.

Kol Tuv and Chag Kasher Vesameach, Robin

---

AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.

Letter from Penina - Bereaved parent.

Friends,

Friends,

Sometimes list-members have so much to teach us all.  I
thank Penina- who lost her beautiful son in Jenin - for
allowing me to forward her e-mail.

Naomi



  _____ 

From: simcha and penina [mailto:simcham1@netvision.net.il]
Sent: 25 March, 2007 11:28 PM
To: Naomi Ragen


Dear Naomi, Shalom,

I  have often shared your concern, your deeply painful
feelings about  Israel in these very difficult times.

You might perhaps remember that we are a bereaved family.
Our son fell in  Chomat Magen, in  Jenin, after seven days
and nights in battle, with no relief forces coming in.

We will soon go to  Har  Herzl for his azkara  [memorial
service]   27   Nissan.   It has been five years of deep
introspection, a need to renew faith in HaShem, a need to
forgive Him for taking back our beautiful child.  This last
shabbos we  spent a  weekend at an army base, prepared for
bereaved families, who lost sons/daughters in the IDF

A very young man came to talk to us - he is a talmid of one
of the great rabbis of  Israel, and also serves as an
officer in the IDF.

I  can say that for the past five years, we have been
"waiting'' for an answer that will substantually relieve the
questions and the pain.  This young rabbi addressed
families, some of whom lost a child as far back as  67, or
73.   People came in wheel chairs, or with walkers, pitiful,
broken people.  They cannot forget their loss.   In one case
I know of, this elderly couple lost their only child.  They
have no relatives in  Israel.  They are veteran immigrants.
You would break apart to see the flow of tears mingled with
the glow and the smile in their faces as this rabbi talked.
It was a very deep experience.

What this young man had to say is pertinent to our
feelings, and a full mirror to what  Asher  Calingold's
sister  Esther felt and knew.
We are privileged to be living in an era of the greatest
miracles, but because we are inside, we don't see the
intensity of the light .
It is mostly those on the outside who have clarity of
vision.   We are caught up in our own personal time web, so
we feel impatience , but we are within the  time of
redemption already.  All the events we are undergoing so
painfully, are  meant to awaken the  Jewish people and to
bring us together as one unit.

The following story he told us illustrates  all the things
that are nagging at you (and me) so profoundly, and the
answer is contained within.

As an officer in the IDF, he found himself with a "shadow"
- an officer from a foreign (friendly) army was attached to
him, to learn about tactics, equipment, strategy,
organization, etc.   After a few months , the officier  said
to Rabbi M. :  " This is impossible.  I have been to
Finland, to other  European countries to study their army
and their military work, and  I have learned tremendously.
But from you  Israelis,  I  cannot learn a single thing.
Not one thing."  
  
Rabbi M .  asked : "How is that? "   And the man answered:
" Each rocket that fell last summer in the north contained
an average of 100 kilograms of explosives.  With over 4000
such rockets falling on  Northern Israel, we could expect
vast devastation, cities and towns in ruins, thousands of
casualties.  We are talking about 400,000 kilos  of
explosives, over 400 tons !!!   But no... and your life goes
on.  We just can't learn from you, because nothing here is
normal.   You guys are living on sheer, huge, obvious
miracles!!!"

I myself came to the conclusion that the sudden exposure of
almost every head of department - leader in government,
police, court system, some knesset leaders, the president,
etc.,  as touched by corruption, both financial and personal
,  moral-ethical situations, is no accident.     All those
who thought they could tear  Israel apart, by giving away or
condoning giving away parts of  Israel, are losing the legs
of dignity they stand upon.   They are being humiliated and
are losing their positions.  It is not just money.  They'll
have fat pensions.  It is their good name.   A just
punishment.   And all this is a big broom, sweeping away the
riff raff so that mashiach can step in.

And that will,  I believe, be very soon.

Penina
simcham1@netvision.net.il



---------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more articles,please visit my Web page at: http://www.NaomiRagen.com
To subscribe,   send a blank message to NaomiRagen-on@mail-list.com
To unsubscribe, send a blank message to NaomiRagen-off@mail-list.com
To change your email address, send a message to NaomiRagen-change@mail-list.com
    with your old address in the Subject: line
To contact the list owner, send your message to
   NaomiRagen-list-owner@mail-list.com



To unsubscribe, click on the following web page.
http://cgi.mail-list.com/u?ln=naomiragen&nm=faigerayzel@aol.com

This message was launched into cyberspace to faigerayzel@aol.com

This is a recurring email from a double opt-in mailing list.

Our records show you voluntarily signed up for this mailing list,
and also replied to our confirmation email.

You may leave at any time by following the instructions above.

If you have troubles getting off this mailing list, please print
a copy of this message, including the list name and your email
address, and mail it to

Listmaster
mail-list.com
1302 Waugh Dr. #438
Houston, TX

---

AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.

Letter to Penina and Simcha, bereaved Parents of Soldier killed at Jenin

 

bs"d

 

Dear Penina and Simcha, amv"sh

 

This is your good friend Robin (Stern)Ticker.  I wish I could help in some way to ease the pain.  I wish that I too had some wise words of counsel.  I believe that the only balm that can finally ease the pain is to validate the struggle of the settlers of Yesha and to publicly assert our rights to Eretz Yisroel and the delineated borders which include Shchem, Chevron, Gush Katif.  Each and every Jew, whether or not they have stepped foot in Eretz Yisroel  must claim their right to Eretz Yisroel.  Because of Areivus, when the majority of Am Yisroel is lacking in such a basic fundamental truth, the nation as a whole is undeserving. Each and every Jew has a Nachala but until Moshiach we don't know precisely where it is.  You spoke of the tragedies that have befallen the Israeli leaders that supported giving away parts of Eretz Yisroel.  My fear is for the Rabbinic Leaders that spoke in Silence and allowed it to happen basing their halacha on political considerations rather than on Torah. I believe that the mission of our generation is to be Metaken the Chait Hamiraglim who discouraged their fellow Jews from entering and conquering the Land.  The time has come sooner rather than later for the RAbbinic Leaders including Rav Shteinman, Rav Eliashiv, the Admor M'Gur etc to publicly speak out against Bush's Roadmap and instead speak out for the Torah Roadmap.  Their Silence is influening hundred's of thousands of caring Jews to be silent to claiming their rights to Eretz Yisroel.  Chaim Dovid Zwiebell, spokesperson of Agudath Yisroel of America told me that unless the Rabbanim of Eretz Yisroel (Rav Shteinman, Rav Eliashiv, Rav Kanievsky etc.) speak out publicly their hands are paralyzed.  The Chofetz Chaim Foundation, who is advised by Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky speak all about Lashon Hara except the Root cause.  They did not come out saying that the Disengagement was a mistake or that the Convergence Plan or Bush's Roadmap cannot coexist with Torah. They reach tens of thousands of caring Jews if not more.

 

Hashem has been patient. Hashem has been performing miracles for us.  He is waiting for our generation to speak out in a unified voice.  Each soul that was at Sinai must say I remember the Covenant you made with Yaakov and the Covanant you made with Yitzchok and the Covenant you made with Abraham and the Land I remember.  G-d want's us to say that we desire and yearn to keep the Mitvoth of the Land.  How can we keep Shemittah when we don't have the piece of property.  And if one answers that we can keep it in Bnei Brak and we don't really need Yesha, then our reply is, and what if my Nachala is in Yehuda or in the Nachala of Efraim that you wish to benevolently give to the Arabs.  Will a peace loving Palestinian keep the Mitzvoth as only I have been instructed to?

 

The time must come when even when it is politically incorrect to speak up.  We simply say that there is no alternative to Jewish Sovereignty.  In order to stay on our Land one must accept our Sovereignty and respect the fact that Am Yisroel are not coercing anyone by are simply fulfilling their mission on this earth to keep the Torah and Mitzvoth thereby bringing blessing upon the entire world.  Only Am Yisroel are the violinist that can play beautiful music for the entire world to enjoy. How can we agree to give the violin (Eretz Yisroel) to an entity that hates music (The Palestinians).  Torah is the notes and only Am Yisroel has the inherent talent and the notes and know how to produce beautiful music.

 

Chag Kasher Vesameah.

 

Love, Robin

---

AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.

Discussion with Yehoshua Friedman cont.

The gemara that I quoted is quoted extensively in sifrei emuna and is worthwhile for every Jew to be familiar with. I believe that we do have to make every effort to bring all rabbanim and all Jews who basically believe in the Torah, without a tsitsis check, to come together, stop fighting each other, stop pressing each other's buttons and strengthen one another. This is the idea behind Manhigut Yehudit. At all times and especially now, we Jews in EY receive appeals for tzedaka for fellow Jews in distress. A terrible disease, a widow with bli ayin hara lots of kids, etc. But the hareidi ones are signed by the hareidi rabbanim and the RZ ones by RZ rabbanim. Why does everything have to be political or tribal or whatever it is? Can't they all get together? Why do the secular politicians play them like a piano when building coalitions? It has to stop! By all means make any of this public. Make sure it is all in good English because the people who never learned in yeshiva or Bais Yaakov need to hear it as well.

May the true and complete Geula come soon.

Yehoshua Friedman

----- Original Message -----

From: FaigeRayzel@aol.com

To: friedy07@netvision.net.il

Cc: ybmedad@netvision.net.il ; avrason@netvision.net.il ; rb@rb.org.il ; simplefaith2002@yahoo.com

Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2007 9:13 AM

Subject: Chareidi Rabbanim - Can I make our discussion public?

In a message dated 3/24/2007 3:41:19 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, friedy07@netvision.net.il writes:

Ms. Ticker,

I generally agree with you on almost all points. The awful truth is that everybody is looking for someone else to solve the problem. The hareidi approach is that the geula is going to happen by the initiative of Hashem almost entirely alone.

Rabbi Friedman, amv"sh

 

Thank you so much for replying.  As for your opinion of the Chareidi approach that Geula is going to happen by the initiative of Hashem, I am not sure this is the case.  My last discussion with Hadas, Rav Eliashiv's secretary, did not seem to imply this.  I had the impression from Hadas who is someone that has insider perspective, was that the Rabbanim wanted more Chizuk from other Rabbanim (important names).  One of their considerations I gather was fear of a strong backlash including Kassam Rockets from the Arab Population.  When Moshe Rabbeinu confronted Pharaoh to let the Jews go, it got much worse for the Jews.  Moshe then went back to Hashem and said "Lama Hareiosa..." It is very likely that if the Jews finally have leadership that will confront Bush's Roadmap as being against the Bible it will be received with tremendous backlash.  Apparently this must be the case because every Jewish Leader of stature is afraid to state the obvious and this Fundamental Truth of Torah.   I gathered that Hadas  personally felt that we still should persevere.  She suggested Rav Mordechai Eliyahu as being the Rav that might be the most Mashpia and the Sadigerer and the Bostoner Rebbe to personally go to Rav Shteinman.  I would suggest that they join forces with the Rabbanim of Yesha like Rav Kamenetsky of Gush Katif, the Rabbanim of Yishuvim in Hevron (Rabbi Danny Cohen, Rav Levinger, Rav Waldman, etc.) as well as the Rabbanim of the Shomron.  She said that we need someone in Eretz Yisroel that will orchestrate this.  As you can see from my letter to Hadas I was not afraid to confront the Rabbanim in a very strong way.  And they did not reply that I was chutzpadik.  I clearly said that Silence is a Chillul Hashem. I implied that the Silence of the Rabbanim has its roots with the Miraglim. While this correspondence was happening the Rabbanim, Rav Eliashiv and Rav Shteinman, initiated a letter to President Bush regarding Jonathan Pollard.  I wonder whether they were testing the waters of how a public statement to the President of the US would be received.  I spoke to Sara Nachshon personally and she said that the only person that she knows that is trying to reach the Rabbanim is Baruch Merzel.  Perhaps he can be approached to find out other names of Rabbanim (Chasidish and LItvish) that have visited Chevron to add to the list of Rabbanim who will personally have the courage to speak out against Bush's Roadmap and for the Torah Roadmap.  I believe the disengagement happened because of Arevius.  Even though the people of Gush Katif were worthy,  until the rest of Am Yisroel is willing to claim Eretz Yisroel as their own, and desire Eretz Yisroel and yearn to keep the Mitvoth that are dependant on the Land, then  we as a Nation is Chayav.  Every Jew in Chutz Laaretz must share in the yearning.  Even if one has not stepped foot into Eretz Yisroel, or going on Aliya is too difficult from a practical or emotional level, every Jew must recognize that Eretz Yisroel is our Biblical Inheritance and that living elsewhere is temporary. The Rambam himself had a house in Egypt even though the Torah says not to go back to Egypt.  Rambam held that it's ok to live in Egypt as long as we recognize that it's a temporary dwelling.  If Yoveil was now in effect and each Jew knew which Shevet they were from, then it would be crystal clear that Eretz Yisroel is truly our inheritance and that this is the ideal reality and not some extreme ideology.  Every Jew would be displaced and return to their true Nachala which is a physical piece of property.  This piece of property may fall precisely in that section of Land that the gov't and/or JNF for example is very "generously" giving to the Arabs as a gesture of peace.  I was reading Midrash Says on Vayikra.  The introduction discusses that the Chofetz Chaim encouraged each and every Jew to learn the Mitzvoth of Karbanos and Tuma and Tahara since if Moshiach were to come today we would be ready for him and be knowledgeable.  True we don't have a Beis Hamikdash so we cannot sacrifice Karbanos.  However, why can't we keep SHemitta, Leqet, Shikcha and Peah, Maaser Rishon and Maaser Sheini to the best of our abilities given our limitations.  This is precisely the work of the Beit Medrash LeTorat Eretz Yisroel in Har Nof, the brainchild of Rav Efrati who is a close confidant and secretary of Rav Eliashiv.  Maybe this Beis Medrash are waiting for the people to bang down their doors begging them to speak up for Eretz Yisroel and end the dreadful Silence.  Rav Eliashiv shlita is 96 years old amv"sh and according to Hadas has not been feeling well or receiving visitors of any kind within the last few weeks.  Hadas said we should go to Rav Shteinman.  I personally did not focus on Rav Shteinman because I was told by Rav Karmel of Lev LAchim that Rav Shteinman when asked about the Disengagement from Gush Katif replied "Nisht Inzere Sugia" i.e. that it is not relevant to what we are presently engaged in.  I wonder sarcastically if he was referring to the Sugiot in Gemarra that relate to property ownership and Torts. Isn't stealing property from a fellow Jew related to more than one Sugia.  How about all the other Mitzvoth D'oraita that were violated as a result of the disengagement.  Not to mention the brutality of the police at Amona.  Why isn't anyone confronting these Gedoilim on these aspects of Torah.  How can the populace at large be duped that this is a matter of politics.  My take on what's happening is that the Halacha of UTJ and SHas has truly been based on politics rather than on Torah.  I suggested to Manhigut Yehudit to take up this challenge of addressing the Rabbanim and they too choose to address the secular Jew and unite with them as opposed to publicly address those that stand for Torah Values.  It won't be too long for the children to recognize that the Torah that the Emperor is wearing is bare.  Stating the truth is very scary.  Yet standing up for Torah is much scarier.

 

It is true that it the room for movement of our free will is pretty limited. A lot of us tried very hard a year and a half ago to stop the expulsion. It seems to have been decreed from above. 

 

When Yesurim happen one is obligated to be PishPesh Bemaasav and see why these Yesuriim Happened.  Even Iyov, the perfect Tzadik that accepted his Yisurim with love, apparently was Silent before Pharaoh. 

To the extent that we can fathom an incomplete process with our limited perception, it seems to me as though the secular leadership of the country is being forced to have its nose rubbed in the filth it has created.

 

This is no comfort to me.  The religious Zionist camp, of which I am, since Gush Katif, a former member, ultimately gave more value to national unity with the secular public than to Torah values. This is changing. Growth is painful. The hareidi politicians also spent more time in one-upmanship against the RZ camp than they did in supporting Torah values. This put the rabbanim in a difficult position. The expulsion also caused the country to see the failure of the sudden withdrawal from Lebanon under Barak. It also precipitated the internal Arab fighting in Gaza. Truth sprouts from the earth, but first it has to be buried in the ground and rot. That is hard.

The entire secular regime will have to be changed including not only the government but the courts, media, economic oligarchy, everything. As we come closer to being a majority, the opposition by the Sitra Achra will be greater. It is even possible that the secular leadership will call in foreign troops in support of the preservation of the Jewish Democratic People's Republic of Israel. The gemara in Sanhedrin does say that the Malchut (non-Jewish nations) will rule over EY for 9 months before Mashiach comes.

 

I personally don't learn Gemorrah and I'm unfamiliar with this.  But I believe that Hashem does not want us to suffer.  Hashem just wants us to do Teshuva.  What is decreed may happen but if we do Teshuva it will be w/o suffering and hardships.  Our Emunah will pull us through.  But we must be deserving.

The other possibility is that in the face of a nuclear holocaust those people without emuna will run away and the maaminim will take control. But they will take the money with them. Things will be difficult one way or another, but in the end Hashem's will will be done.

Pesach Kasher v'Sameach.

Yehoshua Friedman

---

AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.