Tuesday, August 05, 2008
5768.11.04 Israel the Land of My Possession, Failure of Orthodox Jewry, OU's Tisha B'av Programming, Women in Green, Israel Police use Arav Provocateu
4 Av 5768
Tuesday, 5 August 2008
1. THE FAILURE OF ORTHODOX JEWRY Israel Kaplan
2. Hypocracy of the OU
3. Women in Green Activities Update
4. ISRAELI POLICE USE ARAB PROVOCATEURS IN AMBUSH OF JEWISH HIKERS
5. Tisha Baav Flier to be posted in your shul
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1. THE FAILURE OF ORTHODOX JEWRY Israel Kaplan
According to Rav Yisachar Shiomo Teichtal, a Torah giant, the Holocaust, to which he himself fell victim, was very much a consequence of the failure of Europe's orthodox Jewish leaders to heed the teachings of the Prophets and the Sages to redeem Eretz Yisrael when even Gentiles—recall the Balfour Declaration and the League of Nations—supported the return of the Jews to their ancient homeland. He blames rabbis who, by denouncing secular Zionism and opposing immigration to Israel—aliya—discouraged Jews from fulfilling their sacred obligation to return to and rebuild the Land of Israel and thereby sanctify God's Name.
Fleeing from the Nazis, and writing in 1943 without books and while Jews were perishing around him, Rav Teichtal composed an extraordinary work entitled Eim Habanim Semeichah (A Joyous Mother of Children)2 There he cites an incredible number of Torah, Talmudic, and post-Talmudic sources showing that "the purpose of our afflictions is to arouse us to return to Eretz Yisrael." These sources all speak of the crucial importance of the Holy Land. They show that the redemption of the Jewish people can only take place in the Land of Israel.
Rav Teichtal goes further. Contrary to what he had learned from contemporary rabbis and had himself believed prior to the Holocaust, he shows that the secular Zionists were deserving of great praise; for even though they denied the Torah, they were fulfilling the commandment to return to and rebuild the Land of Israel. What is more, further research on his part revealed that many of the great halachic authorities—experts in Jewish law— predicted that secularists would restore the Holy Land! How is it possible, therefore, that learned orthodox rabbis failed to heed the teachings of Torah masters—Rav Teichtal cites Maimonides (the Rambam) and Nachmanides (the Ramban)—regarding the mitzvah of settling in and rebuilding Eretz Yisrael?
To begin with, let us be fair and recall that, in the closing years of the nineteenth century and the early years of the twentieth, the venerable beliefs and customs of the Jewish people had come under the ideological assault of the Socialist and Communist movements along with that of secular Zionism. The defections from tradition, especially in urban areas, were massive. On the surface, therefore, orthodox rabbis had good reasons to oppose the shallow secular Zionism initiated by Theodore Herzl's The Jewish State. They saw in this Zionism the denial of the Sinai Covenant and the chosenness of the Jewish People. Secular Zionists, influenced by the egalitarianism of the Enlightenment, regarded all nations as equal. They rejected the idea that the Jews were "a nation apart." And yet, had not Jews lived and died for their apartness? Did not the deepest instincts of the Jews call for difference and distance? In contrast, the Zionists envisioned a state in which the Jews would become a "normal" people. No longer would they suffer the scourge of anti- Semitism, of pogroms and humiliation. The dignity of the despised Chosen. People would be restored—note the paradox—and at last they would live in peace and security.
To become a "normal" people, however, the Torah, which had sustained and inspired the Jews for thousands of years, would have to be relegated to the home and the synagogue. Jews would then have a new national identity. Judaism would be divorced from public law, would cease to be an all- comprehensive way of life. This was anathema to the rabbis. Besides, they believed that a Zionist state based on non-Torah law could not possibly succeed or endure.
Now it so happens that, three decades before Herzl's pioneering work, certain rabbis did in fact encourage aliya. In 1864, Rabbi Tzvi Kalischer published a book, Derishat Tzion, which was praised by various halachic authorities for its proposed "Organization for the Settlement of Eretz Yisrael." Mention should also be made of the Chofetz Chaim, Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaCohen, one of the greatest Torah scholars of modem times. (His unparalleled halachic work, the Mishnah Berura, is the definitive compendium of Jewish law.) Even in the aftermath of the 1929 Hebron massacre, the Chofetz Chaim encouraged aliya. He held that "there is no Torah like the Torah of Eretz Yisrael, and there is no wisdom like the wisdom of Eretz Yisrael" (Bereisheet Rabbah, Numbers 16:7). Nevertheless, when Rav Teichtal wrote Eim Habanim Semeichah, so prevalent was anti-Zionism among European rabbis that he was compelled to cite the halachic authorities that had endorsed Kalischer's work in the hope of persuading other rabbis to encourage aliya and thereby save as many Jews as possible from the Nazi inferno.
Without wishing to malign these rabbis and thereby arm the wicked, Rav Teichtal nonetheless compared them to the Ten Spies, about whom it says in Psalms 106:24-25: "They murmured in their tents... They despised the desirable Land" and thus discouraged the Children of Israel from entering the Land promised to the Patriarchs. Although the spies were princes of Israel, Rav Teichtal cites various sources that explain their behavior as motivated by self-interest: they were afraid that in Eretz Yisrael they would lose the positions of leadership they held in the desert! (See the Zohar 3:158a.) "The same holds true in our times," says Rav Teichtal "even of rabbis, rebbes, and chassidim. This one has a good rabbinical position; this one is an established Admor [a prominent Torah master]; and this one has a profitable business or factory or a prestigious job which provides great satisfaction. They are afraid that their status will decline if they go to Eretz Yisrael. People of this sort [though otherwise meritorious] are influenced by their deep-rooted, selfish motives to such an extent that they themselves do not realize that their prejudice speaks on their behalf."
Rav Teichtal quotes numerous sources that extol the great merit of Eretz Yisrael. The Talmud: "He who dwells in Eretz Yisrael is like one who has a God, and he who dwells outside the Land is like one who does not have a God" (Ketuvot llOb). The Midrash: "It is preferable to dwell in the deserts of Eretz Yisrael than the palaces of Chutz LaAretz" (Bereisheet Rabbah, Genesis 39:8). The Zohar. "I will return in peace to my father's home, for there lays the Holy Land, there I will be perfected . . ." (l:150b).
Does it not say in Genesis 15:7: "I am the Lord who brought you [Abraham] out of Ur-Kasdim to give you this Land to inherit it"? The Talmud expresses this as follows: "The Land of Israel is an inheritance from our forefathers" (Avodah Zara 53b). Therein is the basis of the Jewish claim to Eretz Yisrael. Now, if Rav Teichtal, a man of extraordinary learning, courage, and love of the Jewish people, could question the motives of prominent rabbis who denounced secular Zionism and thereby discouraged Jews from leaving the fleshpots of Europe for Eretz Yisrael, what shall we say of the descendants of those who established the State of Israel and who now wish to abandon Judea and Samaria, the heartland of the Jewish people? Are their motives any purer?
2. HYPOCRACY OF THE OU - Tisha B'Av Webcast WITH
Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb Executive Vice President, Orthodox Union
Why is the Tisha B'av Webcast sponsored by the OU hypocritical?
Is the expulsion of Gush Katif on Tisha Baav included?
Olmert was OU's Honored guest speaker at their convention in Yerushalyaim. Olmert's policies include "Unilateral Disengagement" from Gush Katif, negotiations towards the establishment of a Palestinian State which translates to the destruction of many settlements in Judea and Samaria, and giving away parts of Jerusalem and access or control over Har Habayit. Olmert and his corrupt administration is responsible for releasing live terrorists for dead bodies. Olmerts and his administration were responsible for Amona, the progrom on unarmed kids by Yassamnicks who went after unarmed kids and adults skulls and reproductive organs. ( I wish I didn't have to be so graphic). Under Olmert's administration the IDF turns a blind eye to the Kassam rockets of Sderot, turns a blind eye to the Arabs that throw stones at settlers and even collaborates with them (see below), http://www.israeljustice.com:80/news2.asp?key=143 , they harass the settlers and imprison those that attempt self defense. Rather than condemning these policies, the OU USA condemns Rabbi Wolpe for speaking out against Olmert's policies by twisting Rabbi Wolpe's words and unsuccessfully portrayed him as extreme. This backfired since the OU received hundreds of calls and emails yelling at the OU for tolerating Olmert and his evil policies. This fancy Tisha Baav programming reminds me of a pig that outwardly shows how Kosher he is by showing off his split hooves but is really treif. The OU show an expertise in memorializing the dead, like the dead of the Holocaust and the dead of Mercaz Harav Kook HY"D. Why haven't they been more proactive so that more dead need not be memorialized. Is memorializing the dead an end onto itself? Excuse the sarcasm but I suppose we should be reassured that if G-d forbid there are more terror attacks at least we'll get a fine memorial.
Maybe the forgotten souls are the ones that forgot our Covenant between G-d and the Jewish People and our entitlement to Eretz Yisroel. OU USA have missed the point of the lessons of Tisha Baav though they provide their audience with entertaining Tisha Baav programming..
________________________________
From: Orthodox Union [mailto:alerts@ou.org]
Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 1
Subject: Register for the Tisha B'Av Webcast with Rabbi Weinreb - "Forgotten Souls"
Tisha B'Av Kinot on Sunday, August 10, 8:45 am.
WITH
Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb
Executive Vice President, Orthodox Union
Originating from the Orthodox Union main office, New York, NY.
"Forgotten Souls"
Rabbi Weinreb will recapture from anonymity heroes and victims of a variety of Jewish catastrophes including the Temple destructions, Pogroms of 1648-49, French Revolution and Napoleonic wars, and the Shoah.
Focusing on various aspects of the soul with song, poetry and explanations of the Kinot, he will also tell stories of very "soulful" men and women from Biblical times to the present, who have all but been forgotten, as well as reflections on forgotten facets of our own souls and how we can reclaim them.
In contrast to the OU, Bizchut Nashim Tzidkaniyot.....
3. Women in Green Activities Update
Dear Friends,
On this first week of the month of Av, entering the Nine Days of mourning until Tisha b'Av, lots of activities for the Land of Israel are taking place.
Open your calendar, write it all down and join.
Now more than ever we must act to protect the Land of Israel. Olmert's announcement that he is not running again does not necessarily mean he can do no harm. On the contrary. Some political analysts say that davka now, when Olmert has nothing to lose, he can be more dangerous than ever. It is our duty, as loyalists and lovers of the Land of Israel to make sure we safeguard our Biblical Homeland.
With Love of Israel,
Ruth and Nadia Matar
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1) SUNDAY, August 3, 2008 at 7:30pm
DEMONSTRATION remembering 30 days to the tractor terror attack.
Where: close to the place where the first tractor terror attack took place,
Jaffa street 208, at the parking lot of the old temporary Central Bus Station
Title:
We will not give them guns.
We will not give them tractors.
We will not give them jobs (parnassa)
Organized by: Komemiyut, Halev HaYehudi, Chomesh Tehilla, Virashtem Ota
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2) MONDAY, August 4, 2008, MARCH TO KEVER RACHEL
organized by the Youth of the Ichud Haleumi and others
5:00pm meet at Tsomet Gilo
For details call Simcha 054-816-0132
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3) WEDNESDAY, August 6, 2008 EVENING OF LECTURES in SHDEMA
organized by the Committee for a Jewish Shdema and Women in Green
The struggle to keep Shdema in Jewish hands continues.
Almost every day members of the committee for a Jewish Shdema and Women in Green go to Shdema to show a Jewish presence and to make sure the Arabs and anarchists do not take over.
Last week 150 youth for the Land of Israel spent the night in Shdema while residents of the area welcomed them with food and drinks.
This past Friday two full buses of Jerusalemites, mainly from Har Nof but also from other neighborhoods in Jerusalem came to Shdema to see the place, hear the story and join the struggle.
We call upon all to come this coming Wednesday to a fascinating evening of lectures (in Hebrew) "FROM DESTRUCTION TO REDEMPTION"
Program :
7:00 pm Arrival in Shdema
7:15 pm Minha
7:30 - 8:15 pm Mrs Geula Cohen, Israel Prize winner will answer
questions by Mrs Malka Pyotrokovsky
8:15 - 8:45pm David Nativ, famous teacher of Tanach will talk about
Yirmiyahu chapter 32 "Insane pre-destruction reality"
8:45 - 9:00pm Aharon Yukel, actor in the TAIR theatre will read from
Uri Tzvi Greenbergs songs
9:00 - 9:30 pm Rabbi Dov Zinger- head of the Makor Chaim yeshiva
'From destruction to Redemption, on a personal level
and on a national level"
9:30 pm Maariv
Buses will leave after Maariv, around 10:00pm
Transportation - Please order seats on the bus by calling 050-5500834 or 02-9961292
From Har Choma at 6:30pm
From Kiryat Arba Hevron at 6:00 pm
from Tsomet Gush Etzion at 6:30pm
from Efrat southern gate at 6:40pm
from Tekoa- Nokdim at 6:50pm
A Jewish presence in Shdema is of utmost importance! Please forward this email to all friends and family and join us
Thank you, the Committee for a Jewish Shdema
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4) TISHA B'AV EVENING, MOTSAEI SHABBAT CHAZON, AUGUST 9,2008
join the ANNUAL WOMEN IN GREEN MARCH AROUND THE WALLS OF THE OLD CITY
The Women in Green Tisha b'Av March around the Walls of Jerusalem's Old City in which thousands of Jews participate, religious and secular, young and old, both new olim and natives, all united in their love for our homeland.
This year, more than ever, when there is talk about giving away parts of our G-d given Biblical Homeland and our Capital, we must show the world and our own government that "For Jerusalem's Sake we will not be silent"! The Jewish People must continually defend the Land of Israel and Jerusalem.
For those who have not yet been part of this exciting Tisha B'Av event, we put up on our website a short movie about last year's March, to give you a feeling of the importance of this moving event. Click on http://www.womeningreen.org and then click on the movie to see it. On that same page you will see a copy of this years flyer.
We hope you can join us this year in person to take part in this unforgettable uplifting experience.
This year Tisha b'Av falls on Motsaei Shabbat, August 9th, 2008.
The flyer reads as follows:
Walking around the Walls
of Jerusalem's Old City
Protecting the Land of Israel! Protecting Jerusalem!
Commemorating 2594 years since the destruction of the First Temple; 1938 years since the destruction of the Second Temple, 26 years since the destruction of Yamit and 3 years since the destruction of Gush Katif and Northern Samaria.
TISHA B'AV EVENING
Motsaei Shabbat Chazon, August 9th, 2008
EICHA READING & MARCH AROUND THE WALLS
At 21:45 pm Eicha reading at Safra Square. Bring a Megilat Eicha, a flag and a flashlight.
At 22:30 pm Our Walk begins, led by Rabbi Israel Ariel from Machon Hamikdash, MK Prof. Arieh Eldad, Atty Elyakim Haetzni and Dudu Elharar.
We will pass the New Gate, Damascus Gate and the Flower gate. At the Lion's Gate we will assemble to proclaim, in the words of Eicha, that we will not allow "our inheritance to be turned over to strangers" and pray "to renew our days as of old". We will end our Walk at the Dung gate near the Kotel.
We have a police permit. Come with your family and friends and take part in a Tisha B'Av evening to be remembered!
Women For Israel's Tomorrow (Women in Green)
POB 7352 Jerusalem 91072
http://www.womeningreen.org/ wfit2@womeningreen.org
* * *
4. ISRAELI POLICE USE ARAB PROVOCATEURS IN AMBUSH OF JEWISH HIKERS
Sunday, August 03, 2008
http://www.israeljustice.com:80/news2.asp?key=143
JERUSALEM -- Israeli police, in what appears to be a new tactic to quell
Jewish nationalists, have begun to use Arab provocateurs in the West Bank.
Police have acknowledged that they used Arab stone throwers to stop
young Jews from hiking through the West Bank on July 29.
Police detective Aharon Yair told a Jerusalem magistrate that Israeli
security forces colluded with Arab provocateurs as part of an ambush to
arrest the hikers.
Yair, when questioned by defense attorney Naftali Wurtzburger, admitted
that special police forces, disguised in civilian clothes but wearing police
hats, hid in an ambush together with Palestinian Bedouin waiting for the
Jewish hikers to arrive.
W."I am telling you that most of these hikes end quietly."
Y. "The fact is that were police forces there. We understood that like last
week, when there was a violent incident when they [the hikers] came to them
[the Bedouin] with weapons, we were ready because we knew that this was a
place of confrontation. They [Bedouin] set up cameras and therefore the
police were there."
W. "If the police were there and watched the confrontation, what was the
problem of the police to stand openly and prevent them [the hikers] from
passing and if it was not permitted, to stop them. The situation, as I see
it, looks like an ambush. Somebody hides out like thieves in the night."
Y. "I'm not the one who decides. There are officers above me who decide what
is overt and what is concealed."
W. "You agree that special police forces were in the area at that time?
Y. "That's what I said."
W. "You said that they were in disguised civilian clothes?"
Y. "They wore a police hat and they shouted that they are police and
identified themselves as police. Some were in a hiding place and some waited
on alert."
Police arrested five Jewish hikers near the Jewish community of Kockav
Hashachar, including three adults, Netanel Kaufman, David Hai and Yitzhak
Yisrael Hai and two minors, as they passed by a Bedouin encampment, close to
the Jewish outpost of Maoz Esther. One of the armed escorts of the group of
about 100 hikers shot in the air to disband the Bedouin, whom they said had
thrown rocks at them, causing a rock-throwing melee. At least three settlers
were injured, including one who had to be hospitalized, after a Bedouin hit
him over the head with a stick.
Yair said that three Bedouin were arrested but were handed over to the
military prosecutor who had released them. None of the Bedouin were injured.
Leaders of the "Land of Israel Faithful" said the young hikers were
undeterred by the police ambush and continued on their four-day walk.
"All of sudden policemen disguised as civilians but with police hats
suddenly came out from behind a small hill and arrested the person who shot
in the air and some of the armed escorts," Daniella Weiss, a Jewish
dissident and one of the organizers of the hike," said.
Weiss said that the police intended to arrest the armed escorts so that
the group would have to abandon the hike but the youth continued and later
succeeded in circumventing police cordons outside Jerusalem.
"Police were surprised that to see how we managed to break through their
barriers and we appeared, 200 youths, under their noses," Weiss said. "After
that they let us continue."
Wurtzburger said that police knew of the hiker's route and hid near the
Bedouin encampment to ambush the young Jews.
"This incident is the direct result of a police provocation,"
Wurtzburger, said. "There is an outpost next to Kochav Hashachar where tens
or hundreds of people intended to pass by openly. The police were hiding out
in the place in collusion with the Bedouin when the Bedouin, at least that's
the version we have, began to attack verbally and physically the hikers
until they withdrew and defended themselves."
Despite the lack of formal charges or evidence, [Kaufman, a heart
patient is shown standing on the side in video footage], Jerusalem
Magistrate Shirli Rener sentenced all five to expulsion from Judea and
Samaria, apart from the area of their own homes.
"The respondents do not have any criminal past but we are talking about
a serious incident which could have ended differently," Rener said on July
30. "After I have considered all the actions that are attributed to the
respondents in the incident, I am heeding the words of the petitioner's
representative that other such incidents can be expected in the near
future."
Rener sentenced Kaufman and Hazut to expulsion from Judea and Samraria
for 20 days and Hai to 40 days and she imposed a 3,000 shekels [$882] on
each of them as well as on a third party guarantor. The two youths received
sentences of 20 days and five days expulsion plus a bond of 3,000 shekels
respectively.
On July 23, police arrested three Jewish hikers and a minor near the
Jewish community of Maalei Michmas in the West Bank. They were suspected of
vandalizing Bedoiun property. The three adults, Efrion Oppenheimer, Arieh
Davis and Alexander Ostrovsky, were sentenced to 90 days expulsion from
Judea and Samaria and a personal bond and the third party guarantee of
10,000 shekels [$2,942], despite the lack of a complainant or formal charges
and police testimony that the suspects did not perpetuate the vandalism but
were in the place at the time and were therefore responsible.
During the hearing before Jerusalem Magistrate Ilta Siskind, Yair
testified that the police did not have a complainant or any physical
evidence of charges of suspected vandalism of Bedouin property. The police
also failed to conduct identification procedures.
Over the last year, police and prosecutors have acknowledged in court
hearings human rights violations against Jewish nationalists.
However, Israeli courts have generally ignored these violations which
included arbitrary arrests, unprovoked assault of minors at peaceful
demonstrations and detention for long periods of time without formal
charges.
Israeli mainstream human rights groups refused to intervene in the
violation of rights of those deemed Jewish nationalists.
"As far as we know they haven't turned to us," Nirit Moskowitz,
spokeswoman for Association of Civil Rights in Israel, said.
The lions share of funding for most of these organizations has come from
the European Union and from the United States.
5. Tisha B'av Flier to be posted in your shul. Please cut and paste into a flier, make copies and distribute
THE TWO-STATE SOLUTION IS THE FINAL SOLUTION.
G-d gave the entire Land of Israel to the Jews. We have no right to cede any part of Eretz Yisrael. Do not follow in the footsteps of the Miraglim. Do not follow in the footsteps of mainstream American Jewry during the Holocaust.
SPEAK OUT!
ERETZ YISRAEL IS NOT FOR SALE!
This Tisha B'Av marks the 3rd Yarhtzeit for Gush Katif. The Disengagement destroyed Gush Katif and expelled its Jews, who had volunteered to live in Israel's buffer zone. Now Sderot, Ashkelon and the surrounding areas have become the latest war zone. Kassams have terrorized the region and have taken the lives of too many Jews.
WHERE WERE YOU WHEN GUSH KATIF WAS DESTROYED?
Do not stand idly by while more than 200,000 of your brothers and sisters in Yerushalayim, Yehudah and Shomron are currently threatened with eviction. Do not allow Netanya, Tel-Aviv, Haifa, Bnei Brak, and Yerushalayaim to become the next targets.
DO NOT REMAIN SILENT.
Let your voice be heard. Contact Jewish organizations, rabbinical leaders and Washington officials because simply lighting a Yahrzeit candle for Gush Katif won't do the job.
Say NO to Land for Peace initiatives!
Say NO to a Two-State solution!
Say NO to terror and releasing of terrorists!
CALL NOW:
* Agudath Yisroel of America
42 Broadway Suite 1400 New York, NY 10004
Tel 212-797-9000 Fax: (212) 254-1600
* The Council of Young Israel Rabbis USA: - CYIR,
111 John Street, Suite 450, New York, New York 10038
Tel: 212-929-1525 Fax: 212-727-9526
* The Orthodox Union
11 Broadway,
New York, NY 10004
Tel:: (212) 563-4000 ♦ Fax: (212) 564-9058
* Chabad Headquarters
770 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11213
Tel: 718 774.4000 / fax 718 774.2718
MAIL President USA
president@whitehouse.gov
first.lady@whitehouse.gov
FAX: (202) 456-2461
PHONE: (leave a message for the President) (202) 456-1414
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Israel the Land of My Possession is also posted on
http://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/
Friday, August 01, 2008
5768.10.27 Israel the Land of My Possession Sellout of Yesha Council and Rabbanim prior to Gush Katif, Rabbi Algaze speaks with clarity
bs"d
27 Tamuz 5768
Friday, August 1, 2008
1. Sellout of Yesha Council and the Rabbanim prior to Gush Katif. Will the same thing happen for Yehudah and the Shomron? A must see raw filmage video (in Hebrew with Hebrew subtitles)
2. Rabbi Algaze speaks out with clarity regarding the Halachic obligation to speak out for Eretz Yisroel. Please distribute!!! Robin Ticker's comments follow.
Shabbat Shalom!
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1. Sellout of Yesha Council and the Rabbanim prior to Gush Katif. Will the same thing happen for Yehudah and the Shomron?
<pashra@netvision.net.il>, writes (abbrev)
What you have written about is the real tragedy of the Jewish Nation. From my days at Gush Katif I recall the sellout of the Yesha council ( THREE YEARS TO GUSH KATIF JEWS' EXPULSION Must See - Watch and Cry - "Trapped Leadership"
(H) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5590102746285413294
PS. In Memory of Katif (H) http://www.inn.co.il/News/News.aspx/178
<pashra@netvision.net.il>, continues
We are in most difficult times as the religious leaders and ultraorthodox and hareidim wait for Mashiach to declare that Israel exists and in the meantime be on the payroll of ANY government coalition so they can study Torah and learn how precious the State/Nation of Israel is. I discovered something very interesting in some reading. There is the 'GREEN LINE' expression that is used over and over again by everyone. Where did it come from. It comes from the Torah in that the Land Of Israel will only prosper when it is occupied by Jews otherwise it is barren. Witness Mark Twain's declaration in the late 1800's that he has never seen such a desolate land in all his travels. Then the Aliyah began and today we have a flourishing green country. But the British before the modern State of Israel was declared adopted the torah expression and declared the borders to be the 'green line' which today refers mostly to the pre-1967 borders. Thus even our enemy the British have based their statements and observations on the Torah recognizing the truth of the Torah by declaring that on the other side of the 'green line' where at that time it was mostly Arabs, it was still barren whereas those areas with the halutzim, Jews from all walks of life were, was green and flourishing with produce orchards etc and able to sustain the people.
BUT OUR RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL LEADERS OF TODAY ARE SILENT AND IGNORE THE TEACHINGS OF TORAH. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE GREATEST SIN OF TODAY. YET HOW EASILY WILL THEY SIT ON TISHA B'AV AND RECITE KINOT AND PRAYERS . SUCH HYPOCRISY IS LEADING US TO HAVE ROTTEN GOVERNMENTS AND AS THE MOVIE ABOVE NOTES, GUSH KATIF WAS A SELLOUT BY THE SO CALLED LEADERS.
We must pray for the welfare of the Nation.
pesach
פסח
Bekavod rav,
Regarding my sentence "no posek ever allowed this (the giving away of land of Israel)" I agree that it was imprecise. I appreciate your filling me in on the symposium at Mosad Rav Kook and would like to hear more about it. I doubt, however, that they made an actual psak that contradicts the clear indications of the Shulchan Aruch and the Ramban. I personally spoke to Rav Yosef in September 1993, after the Oslo agreements and it was very clear that his decision to support the Oslo accords was not based on any specific psak but rather on a military judgment that the agreements would save lives. You well know that after Oslo we had thousands of deaths and many more wounded for life. Can anyone think that that decision still stand today? When I said that there is no psak that allows giving away the land to others, especially sworn enemies, I meant that that was the halacha. There may be situations when a posek or a beth din may decide, letzorech sha'a, to choose not to enforce the application of that halacha, but this would not mean that the basic principle is canceled. That is what I meant. Regarding the decision to temporarily suspend the application of the halacha, I imagine that there are some criteria. For instance, is the agreement working? Do we think that giving away Judea and Samaria to the Fatah forces (which include the Al Aqsa martyrs and other terrorist organizations) would save lives today or encourage another front similar to Hezbollah in the north and Hamas on the south? These are questions that should concern the same rabbis who at one time or another lent their support to similar agreements in the past. I do not think that it is proper to simply rely on old opinions that were given with very specific parameters which may not be applicable or correct today. While we discuss these matters, our people suffer and die. Should our rabbis stand aside while tragedies occur? Can we really trust Olmert and his ilk to make the correct decisions for the Jewish people? Did they save the lives of the kidnapped soldiers? Did they save Sderot? I cannot believe that minds like Rav Steinsaltz and Nebentzahl can admit that the problems facing Israel today are better resolved by Olmert and his cabinet than by high intelligent minds such as the rabbis of Israel in consultation with military and intelligence leaders. At least, they should provide some guidance to the process.The real question is: will these rabbis support the heroic work of our settlers or the negotiating positions of the current government? Can we admit that decisions affecting Jewish lives should be shared with members of Knesset that either oppose the Jewishness of the State or are more concerned with humanistic values than with the mission of Am Israel as prescribed by our Torah? This is the "government" of which you speak. The people of Israel today is leaderless and without vision. If the leaders of Israel, the Rabbis, remain silent, what hope do we have?We need rabbis in Israel, preferably led by the Sanhedrin but not necessarily, to gather together and hold consultations with military and intelligence experts to assess the situation correctly. The US may pressure Israel in countless ways but it would never impose an obligation to give up territory unless Israel itself acquiesces voluntarily. The threat of Iran notwithstanding, Israel faces a terrible threat if it continues to allow the Arabs in its midst to fight. In fact, we may be more able to stop Iran than Arabs in our midst. (witness the case of Sderot and the probable tragedies that may soon come upon the citizens of Israel). Don't worry about US response to Iran. Israel is sure to defend itself. I am not so sure that it will act to protect itself from the more familiar and mundane threats that lurk in its midst.In the 15 years since Oslo, the position of Israel in the world has weakened, not become stronger. Our enemies have become stronger and more lethal. When Hamas, Hezbollah and a Fatah led "Palestine" decide to attack Israel, with the support of all Arab countries, G-d save us. The greatest threat to Israel is not war, it is "peace." Rav Yosef told me that we have to wait for Meshiach to have full rights over our land. I would suggest we use the same logic with regard to peace making. Let us wait for Mashiach to have peace or until our enemies beg us for peace. Until then, let us strengthen our people with clarity of thought--this land is our land, period--and not with vain and false positions that allow Israel to give up its land and its right.David Algaze
One of the tragedies of Gush Katif is that the youth were betrayed by their Rabbincial Leaders that taught them the Torah and to love Eretz Yisroel and to believe that this Land is ours yet when push came to shove the kids were/are left alone to defend the Land, a bunch of kids unarmed, facing an armed army with clubs and riot gear as in Amona, in isolation in the corrupt Israeli court systems etc. and the Rabbinical Leaders, those that teach words of Torah do not show that they are willing to stand up forcefully for what they believe in. Perhaps as the above writer suggests, the fact that they are under the gov't payroll directly or indirectly has something to do with it. Even today as I right these words, the IDF turns a blind eye to Arab provocation such as rock throwing and then arrests the person that shoots in the air in self defense. Ever since 2002 there has been talk of a 2 State Solution. How many Rabbanim made a statement of clarity that the 2 State Solution (suggested since 2002) is clearly against the fundamental teachings of the Torah. This at the very least would validate the struggle of the youth. Instead Rabbanim will collect money for psychological counseling in the hundreds of thousands of dollars for the kids rather than admit their failure to stand up for the Torah thereby causing great emotional anguish to these young innocent trusting souls. Many involved in the struggle for Eretz Yisroel (a lot of them kids) actually had criminal records until the recent vote in the Knesset (some still do) . Rabbi Algaze writes with strength and with clarity. This is the voice of Calev Ben Yefuneh and Yehoshua ben Nun. it will hopefully be a catalyst for change, and thereby do much to start the healing process and bring emotional balm to the pained but righteous souls whose only crime is a love for Eretz Yisroel and our Holy Torah.
Israel the Land of My Possession. A digest of articles in the spirit of Calev Ben Yefunah and Yehoshua Ben Nun! Oloh Naaleh Veyarashnu Osah Ki Yachol Nuchal La! Bamidbar 13:30. Please feel free to distribute!
Barry Chamish post was not put on by me. It was sent by mistake. I deleted it. Sorry.
As you know, bloggers send their posts by email to their blog. Only authorized people of the blog know the correct email . At the moment only I am the only one authorised to post on my blog. Accidentally, (my slip up) Barry Chamish got the email address for posting on my blog and w/o realizing it was a blog email, sent his email to my blog. I have since deleted it from my blog. I never had any intention of posting his article on my blog and I am sure he did not have any intention of posting his article on my blog as well. In the meanwhile I wish to apologize for this mistake. I have changed the email address to my blog so that hopefully this will not occur in the future.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
5768.10.28 Israel the Land of My Possession., Rabbi Algaze, Today we are Sheep w/o Leaders. Shdema, Temple Mount
Israel the Land of My Possession. A digest of articles in the spirit of Calev Ben Yefunah and Yehoshua Ben Nun! Oloh Naaleh Veyarashnu Osah Ki Yachol Nuchal La! Bamidbar 13:30. Please feel free to distribute!
28 Tamuz 5768
Tuesday, 31 July 2008
1. Rabbi Shteinsaltz, Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky. Where R our Rabbinic Leaders leading us? An expose.
2. Update on Shdema - Women in Green
3. Petition for Temple Mount Over 2,000 Signatures. Pass it on!
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1. Where are OUR Rabbinic Leaders leading us? An expose.
Rabbi Yeshayahu Hollander, a member of the Sanhedrin recently came to the United States and met with concerned Jews who love Eretz Yisroel and would like to see the Rabbanim speak with clarity for our Torah and our entitlement of Eretz Yisroel Hashleima. Rabbi Steinsaltz is the Rosh Hanasi of the nascent Sanhedrin so his response and willingness to lead was expected. Unfortunately, this was not the case. We are publicizing Rav Steinsaltz's position so that those that follow him, including the members of the Sanhedrin will take note of his non position and his SILENCE and his unwillingness to lead.
We also have been in contact with Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, Rosh Yeshiva in Philadelphia and Rabbinical adviser and mentor of the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation and we are equally disappointed in his lack of desire to lead. We are publicizing Rav Kamenetsky's response to our inquiries regarding Eretz Yisroel and leave it up to you to come to your own conclusions. These Rabbanim have unquestioned loyalty among their chasidim. Our concern is that there is more loyalty to the Rav then there is to the Torah and this is dangerous. We hear you ask, "Doesn't it say
You shall come to the Kohanim, the Levites, and to the judge who will be in those days; you shall inquire and they will tell you the word of the judgment. You shall do according to the word that they will tell you, from that place that HASHEM will choose, and you should be careful to do according to everything they will teach you. According to the teaching of the Torah (al Pi Hatorah) that they teach you and the judgment that they will say to you, shall you do; you shall not deviate from the word that they will tell you, right or left. (Devarim 17:9-11)
That is surely true when their words are words based on Torah. But when their words are based on politics we have no obligations to follow these Leaders. Doesn't the Torah also say in the Aseret Hadibrot "Lo Yehiyeh Lecha Elokim Acheirum Al Panai"? Shemos 20:3. There is only one G-d and we are not allowed to have an intermediary.
Rabbi Algaze's response to Rabbi Hollander.
My (Robin Ticker's) reaction:
Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah re: Jewish State, Oct. 1937
Taken from the journal HaPardes (volume 11, Issue 7, October 1937), 70 years ago, reprinted in Mishpacha Issue 179, 6 Cheshvan 5768, October 17,2007 Page 26)————————————————————————————————————-
"On Sunday, 16 Elul, the great Torah leaders discussed the question of a Jewish State, and reached the greatly anticipated decision of the congress. It was a stormy assembly, attended by the Rebbes of Gur, Ghorkov, Boyan, Sadigura, and the great Torah scholars members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah (Rabbinical Council). A great battle took place, over seven hours, with struggles about every minute detail of the decision.
"Rabbi Wasserman, Rabbi Kotler, Rabbi Rottenberg of Antwerp, and rabbis from Czechoslovakia and Hungary were unanimous in rejecting any proposal for a Jewish State on either side of the Jordan River even if it were established as a religious state, because such a regime would be a form of heresy in our faith in the belief in the coming of the Mashiach and especially since this little Jewish State would be built on heresy and desecration of the Name of G-d.
"Arguing against them were the Rebbes of Boyan and Sadigura. Rabbi Tzirelson, the president of the congress, Rabbi [Aharon] Lewin of Reisha [the head of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah] and Rabbi Sorotzkin, [who said that] it is possible to agree, according to the laws of the Torah, to the establishment of a Jewish State in a portion of the Eretz Yisael without denying the belief in the coming of redeemer. There is no need to be concerned that the nonreligious would use the Jewish State to attack our religion. therefore, it is forbidden to reject entirely the matter of the Jewish State; rather we must pursue expanding its borders and ensuring that the laws of a Jewish State will be founded on religion and tradition, and we must protest that they did not consult frum Judaism and did not include its leaders in this discussion.
"Those in favor won the vote! All the decisions were accepted affirmatively.
Although the majority of the congress seemed to be in favor of the partition plan, the text of the resolution of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah contains the statements. " The foundation of the Jewish peoples right to the Holy Land is based on the Torah and the prophets…A Jewish State not based on the principles of Torah is a denial of Jewish origin, is opposed to the identity and to the true stature of our people, and undermines the basis of existence of our people…Any relinquishment of the Holy Land given to the Jewish people by G-d has no validity" (HaPardes 11:6)
If this man George Klein, recommended by Rav Kamenetzky as the one to help us, sends us to Malcolm Hoenlein, what does it say about the position of the sender (Rav Kamenetzky) himself? This is totally crazy!
Letter written to Mr. George Klein:
Bs"d
George Klein
Park Tower Realty
499 Park Ave. #27
New York, NY 10022
Dear Mr. Klein, amv"sh
My name is Mrs. Robin Ticker. I am writing to you because Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky suggested to a fellow activist by the name of Shmuel Koenig that we contact you. We are a group of individuals that are activists for the settlement of the entire Israel.
We understand that your focus is the development of New York and not Eretz Yisroel. Apparently Rabbi Kamenetsky believes that you are influential in the Republican circles and would have some influence in the sphere of foreign policy.
This is not an appeal for money or an appeal to use your political connections within the Republican Party. It is an appeal for something much more than that. It is an appeal for your heart and soul to do the right thing in whatever capacity you have to help the people of Israel in this time. We are of the opinion that Rav Kamenetsky is passing the buck. We are hoping that perhaps you have influence with the Moetzet Gedolei Hatorah and somehow convince them that it is really their responsibility to make a Statement regarding our entitlement of Eretz Yisroel based on the Torah. We believe that this is an ideological war and that only a message of clarity based on Torah can make us worthy of G-d's intervention to save us from our enemies.
Many feel that these times are Pre Nazi Germany. Every day I get emails upon emails that seem to validate these premonitions. Since I will be in Manhattan today, I will try to stop by your office with printed material that I have received off the internet within the last few days alone. We would like to get this material or similar material to 50 or so religious leaders who do not go on the internet for religious reasons.
From the little research I have done about you it is quite apparent that your time is valuable and are accustomed with associating with others of greater prominence. I do not have the credentials. But I do believe that G-d is on our side and that the cause is convincing enough to realize the urgency of the matter so that you will be compelled not to stand idly by. Please be in contact with me. I can be reached at faigerayzel@gmail.com.
Shabbat Shalom,
Sincerely,
Robin (Stern) Ticker
2. Update on Shdema - Women in Green
Tens of residents of the area came to Shdema to welcome the youth and give them food, drinks and chizuk (strength).
Rabbi Yaron Durani, Rabbi of Nokdim and Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpe from the "Vaad leHatzalat Ha'Am ve'Haarets" strengthened the youth with divrei Torah.
Attached is a picture of one of the youth hanging two flags on the high water tower in Shdema: the Israeli flag and the orange flag on which it says "The Land of Israel belongs to the People of Israel". This orange flag has been produced three years ago by "Women in Green" after the expulsion from GK and NS and handed out by members of Women in Green in all activities connected to the struggle for the Land of Israel.
In addition activists also painted Zionist slogans on the buildings .
This morning the youth will continue their hike from Shdema to Kiryat Arba Hevron.
Reminder: next week, Wednesday August 6th, there will be a fascinating evening in Shdema with speeches (in Hebrew) on the topic "From destruction to Redemption". Details will be posted soon on email and will be in tomorrows Besheva newspaper.
Below is Nadav Shragai's article about Shdema posted in yesterdays Haarets paper. This article makes it clear how important the struggle for Shdema is and how we must keep up with our continued activities there.
The Comittee for a Jewish Shdema
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3. Petition for Temple Mount Over 2,000 Signatures. Pass it on! go up to Har HaBayit it is permitted to go up to Har HaBayit Igros Moshe Orach Chiam, Chelek 2, Siman 113
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Tuesday, July 29, 2008
5768.10.26 cont Israel Land of My Possession. retractions, Residents Judea and Samaria expelled,funds needed for Gush Katif youth book,Pidyon Shvuyim Rivka Meirchik, Halamish brothers,Shdema and Women in Green, Nestles Brazil doesnt recognize Israel?
Israel the Land of My Possession corrections and cont. Please excuse this very long digest. This is what happens when I don't go on line for 2 days. I wish I wouldn't have so much to report!
26 Tammuz 5768
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
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1. OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN: WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM?
Correction. Post not true.
7. ISRAELI COURT EXPELS THREE JEWS FROM WEST BANK WITHOUT TRIAL
8. Appeal for funding for a personal book from the youth of Gush Katif, from Dror Vanunu sent by Helen Freedman
9. Pidyon Shvuyim - Rivka Meirchik languishing in Prison 4 months. Much in solitary confinement. No case. Do not stand idly by! Call Israel Embassy and State Dept and your Congressmen.
10. Pidyon Shvuyim - Halamish Brothers languishing in prison for their willingness to defend. IDF turns blind eye and attempts of self defense met with arrest. Call Israel Embassy and State Dept.
11. Update on Shdema and Women in Green Activities
12. Nestle in Brazil not recognize Israel???? Just Palestine ? Sent by Rafi Rabinowitz
13. ITAMAR Kids van attacked with stones. IDF stands by as cars are attacked. Resident shoots in air and is arrested. Also, sending money to Friends of Itamar without spending money.
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1. OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN: WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM?
Correction. Post apparently not true. Refer to #1 in previous email.(I still don't like many key Obama advisors. However, I also don't believe in spreading falsehoods. If Huckabee was running, he'd get my vote. )
5. Side note revised
In the previous digest of today, Israel the Land of My Possession, some of the text of my note on #5 was deleted by accident. Please refer to that post for the full story. I am resending my note. I hope it now sounds somewhat better and makes more sense.
Side Note from Robin Ticker: I once asked Herb Zweibon Chairman of Afsi why his allies seem to be the Xtian Community in speaking out for our entitlement of Israel, rather than the established Jewish Organizations. Why doesn't he try to convince the Jewish organizations to speak out with clarity regarding our entitlement.. He answered "it is very satisfying dealing with the Non Jewish Community". I understood from his answer the unspoken.
I asked him to please not give up on the Jews. I added that unless all of Am Yisroel is worthy of the Land of Israel, it doesn't really matter if we manage to convince the Non Jewish world and all the members of Congress of our entitlement. If we as a nation reject our precious gift of Israel by giving her away without a protest, and if we act as if we do not desire the Land and the commandments that require the Land of Israel, than are we worthy of keeping her?
Why wasn't Sondra video directed to the Jews?
Handing over Judea & Samaria means the certain demise of Israel!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGZHlKapdmEThe Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah, the OU, the Young Israel and Chabad International have yet to make a public statement protesting a 2 State Solution proposed in 2002?
The Xtians believe in JC. We do not. That could be a major problem if they partner with funding significantly with the Israel Communities. After all, we really do not wish to partner with JC. Jews living in the Diaspora and in the Land of Israel should partner with Israel communities with strength in numbers, PR and money. After all, it is our birthright. no different than those who are Israeli citizens. In the time of the redemption, the Nations of the World will bring their gifts to Israel on the feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth).However, it seems to me that first Jews must unite in our desire to keep the Land of Israel, accept our status as a Mamlechet Cohanim and strive with all our heart and soul to keep the H-ly Commandments in the Torah.
7. ISRAELI COURT EXPELS THREE JEWS FROM WEST BANK WITHOUT TRIAL
http://www.israeljustice.com:80/news2.asp?key=142
Monday, July 28, 2008
JERUSALEM -- An Israeli court has ordered three Jews expelled from the
West Bank without a trial or evidence as part of a military clampdown on
Jewish movement in the region.
Jerusalem Magistrate Ilta Siskind ordered the three who live in West
Bank Jewish communities, Efrion Oppenheimer, Arieh Davis and Alexander
Ostrovsky, expelled from the region for 90 days despite the lack of a
complainant or evidence or correct identification procedures.
"Before me is a request to release the suspects on the condition that
they are expelled from Judea and Samaria for the period of 90 days, a bond
and a third party guarantee and that they will appear before the police when
called," Siskind said on July 24. "The expulsion from Judea and Samaria is
until Oct. 10, 2008, except for the area of their homes. The personal bond
and the third party guarantee is set at 10,000 [$2,942] shekels each to
ensure the conditions for their release and they will appear before police
when requested."
The three and a 17 year-old were arrested on July 23 as they reached the
Jewish community of Maalei Michmas, after they set out for a hike with at
least another six youths from Kochav HaShachar in Samaria. Police said the
other six youths fled and escaped arrest.
According to the police charge sheet, based on reports from Bedouins and
Palestinians, at least 10 youths in the group were involved in piercing
tractor tires and a water pipe along the way between Kochav Hashachar and
Maalei Michmas. But the first complainant cited on the charge sheet hadn't
made a complaint.
"The complainant hasn't yet come to complain," police detective Yair
Aharon told Siskind. "But we have his details and he will reach us through
the sheikh."
Aharon said that the group continued on the hike and vandalized other
tractor wheels and water pipes although, police said, they didn't have any
physical evidence of the damage and had failed to investigate the
complaints.
"The evidence that we have is that of the complainants themselves who
pointed to the [Jewish] residents," Aharon said. "For example, Ostrovsky was
in the area with his big mixed breed [canani] dog. He was with al the group
but they [Bedoiun] didn't say that he caused any damage but he was with the
others on this 'hike'. Regarding the suspect Davis, he said he didn't do
anything but afterwards, he refused to cooperate [with the investigation]."
Davis said that the police did not conduct a live identity line-up, or a
photographic identity procedure.
"They brought a [Bedouin] into the investigation room and he pointed,"
Davis said. "They [police] said because I was part of the group so I was
responsible for what happened."
The Bedoiun also failed to identify the third suspect as someone who
participated in the alleged vandalism.
"About Efrion, they said that he was with the others and he had an M-16
[rifle]," Aharon said.
Defense Attorney Reuven Hamburger asked whether [Efrion] Oppenheimer had
threatened anyone.
"None of them was identified as someone who punctured tires or
threatened with weapons but everyone said they were in the area," Aharon
said.
The police detective then advised the magistrate to accept police
recommendations for punishment to deter other young Jews from hiking in
Judea and Samaria, between the Jewish communities and disturbing the
Palestinians and Bedouin.
"We are speaking about a hike that is organized for the purpose of
causing damage and destruction," Aharon said. "I know that next week there
is going to a similiar exhibition [hike]. I believe that the decision of the
court will have consequences and an influence and they will learn how to
behave because of this decision and if the court will agree to our request,
this will prevent phenomenon like these," Aharon said.
Israeli civil rights organizations have criticized the police and the
court for not investigating before punishing the suspects.
"We haven't received a complaint but on the face of it, it appears that
there is a lack of justice," Nirit Moskowitz, spokesperson for the
Association for Civil Rights in Israel, said. "They should investigate
first."
Left-wing activists also criticized the hastiness with which the army
has recently issued closed military zone orders in an effort to clamp down
on the movement of Jews within Judea and Samaria.
On July 24, buses carrying young hikers to the march through Judea and
Samaria were stopped at roadblocks by a military order restricting entrance
of Jews who were not residents of Samaria.
"No person shall pass the roadblock unless he has permission from me or
from someone whom I have authorized," the order issued by Samaria Brigade
Commander, Col.Yitzhak Bar, on his third day in the position, said. "This is
required for security purposes and for maintaining public order."
The office of Maj. Gen. Gadi Shamni, head of central command, denied the
existence of the order but the closure was heavily criticized.
"It's good that an extreme officer has reduced to the absurd the legal
status that exists in Judea and Samaria whereby hundreds of thousands of
Jews are living under military rule and are subject to his impulsive mood
swings," National Union parliamentarian Benny Elon said.
The army has recently issued an abundance of closed military zone orders
that has also angered left-wing activists.
"The army rushes too quickly to issue 'closed military zone orders' and
to prevent the entrance of Israelis into the area," Yariv Oppeneheimer, head
of Peace Now, said.
8. Appeal for funding for a personal book from the youth of Gush Katif, from Dror Vanunu sent by Helen Freedman
9. Pidyon Shvuyim - Rivka Meirchik languishing in Prison 4 months. Much in solitary confinement. Do not stand idly by! Call Israel Embassy and State Dept and your Congressmen.
Pidion Shvuim Alert:
No. 18
Police Prosecutors Use The Trial Of Rivka Meirchik To Prove Land Ownership Of Shvut Ami By An Arab
Police prosecutors in the trial of Rivka Meirchik, languishing for a
fourth month in jail, have used the case to prove Arab land ownership of the Jewish community of Shvut Ami despite the ruling by Kfar Saba Magistrate Clara Rejiniano that the indictment does not include trespassing.
In the latest development, the army reportedly fenced off the area of
Shvut Ami in mid-July and declared it a closed military zone. Eye witnesses told Israeljustice.com that signs outside the fence read "Private Property," and "Closed Military Zone." Eyewitnesses also said that the army had burnt all the furnishings of the house and the synagogue belonging to the Jewish
residents.
Police prosecutor Nili Dayan brought witnesses during Meirchik's trial to prove that Shvut Ami belongs to Badria Amar, who testified that neither she nor her family have lived in the structure on the land for four decades. She also testfied that they had not tended the land, include olive and pomegranate trees, for more than 11 years. Amar is the complainant against Meirchik, who was arrested by the police
on April 2 in Shvut Ami. But Amar testified that she last visited the land
in October 2007. "She's [Amar] the complainant," Dayan said on July 9. "We're talking about land that is not registered. In order to prove trespassing, we need to prove ownership and the physical presence [of Amar] or not does not affect this. I don't want it to come to that [to a Supreme Court hearing on ownership]."
During the trial, the prosecution tried to prove Amar's ownership of the land with Jordanian maps dated to the early 1930's and Jordanian possession tax documents presented by an expert witness from the military prosecutor's office, Rinat Levine.
"I have no complaints [against Meirchik]," Amar said in
cross-examination. "If there's a trial, why do I need complaints?"
The defense has said that the prosecution used the trial of Ms. Meirchik to set a precedent to indict Jews living in Shvut Ami for trespassing.
"They took this complainant [Amar] and tried to wrap her in this
incident that she knew nothing about," Public Defender Aliza Kashkash, said. "All her complaints to the authorities were previous complaints [against other people]."
"Find a way to bring all these people to trial," Kashkash told Dayan.
Dayan responded that she was using Ms. Meirchik's trial to pave the way for multiple indictments.
"This is exactly the way," Dayan said.
Police have also charged Meirchik with assaulting a police officer and disturbing the police after officers ordered Meirchik and four other young women to leave Shvut Ami.
Police Commander Shmuel Hirshler testified that he announced to the girls that this was a closed military zone and that they were in violation of a military order. But Kashkash said that the order was invalid because it was dated Feb. 21 and the fact that it was not presented to the girls.
"At any stage, they never presented the order and there's a problem with this because of the date," Kashkash said. "So it [the eviction] was
illegal."
The prosecution concurred that there were problems with the legality of the eviction order.
"That's why we didn't indict on violating the order," Dayan said.
With regard to the assault charges, Kashkash said that the police
officers gave conflicting testimony as to where and how the alleged assault occurred..
Ms. Meirchik is also charged with refusing to cooperate with police
identification procedures including fingerprinting and photographing.
"The defendant chose not to testify, to remain silent and to ignore the authority of the court for ideological reasons," Kashkash said. "This must be taken into account."
Ms. Meirchik, who refused to cooperate with police conditions for her release and is being held until the conclusion of judicial proceedings, has already spent close to four months in the Neve Tirza prison, most of it in solitary confinement.
The next hearing is scheduled for August 6.
As a first step, we request that you telephone -- rather than e-mail --
the Israeli Embassy or the Israeli consulate nearest you and demand to know why Rivka is still in prison.
The embassy's phone number is 202-364-5500. Stress, that as an American citizen, you can ask the State Department to investigate what you feel is clearly a human rights violation.
Now, we are asking you to call your member of Congress and raise the issue of Rivka Meirchik. We also ask you to call the
State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor and inform them of Rivka and demand an investigation. Tell the
department officer you have also raised these cases with your member of Congress. The State Department's main numbers are 202-647-4000 or 1-800-877-8339.
The Olmert government, with an approval rating of near zero, has refused any accountability to the Israeli people and fears only the Bush
administration. Unless we act now, there will be many more Rivkas in jail.
If you agree with this, please act quickly. What could be more important than winning the release of a Jewish child imprisoned for loving her country
and people?
With Love of Israel ,
Datya Itzhaki
10. Pidyon Shvuyim - Halamish Brothers languishing in prison for their willingness to defend. IDF turns blind eye and any attempts of self defense met with arrest. Call Israel Embassy and State Dept.
Pidion Shvuim Alert:
No. 17
Halamish Brothers Petition Supreme Court Against President Peres
The two Jewish security guards, imprisoned for shooting in the air to
disperse a group of Bedouins who had infiltrated their community, have
petitioned the president to decide immediately on their request for a
pardon.
Over two months ago, the Justice Ministry approved the pardon request
for Dan and Yitzhak Halamish, two brothers sentenced to seven and eight
months respectively and sent the request to the office of President Shimon
Peres.
On June 1, the president's office sent a letter to attorney Dov Even-Or
confirming that the pardon request had reached an advanced stage.
"Your clients' request is being dealt with in the advanced stages,"
presidential aide on pardons, Ms. Talia Sukari-Lina, said.
Even-Or said his petition includes a request that the president be
forced to answer all pardon requests within 30 days.
"50 days have passed since this letter [from the president]," Even-Or
said, "and still the president hasn't announced his decision."
In his petition, Even-Or stressed that the president should be limited
to 90 days and if he still hasn't decided, the pardon should be
automatically approved, especially in the case of the Halamish
Even-Or said. "It's not reasonable that that they are sitting in jail while
the president struggles with a decision on their request."
On May 4, Supreme Court Judge Salim Jubran rejected the previous appeal
by the Halamish brothers to postpone judicial proceedings until the
president considered their application for a pardon and ordered them
immediately to jail on May 5. Jubran is the same judge who rejected their
original right to appeal the conviction. The Supreme Court then extended the
beginning of the sentence to May 20.
The brothers appealed to the Supreme Court after the president's office
advised the brothers to apply for a stay of proceedings, granted to a third
defendant, Baruch Feldbaum.
The Halamish brothers, as part of their reserve military service, were
members of a security response team organized, equipped and trained by the
Israeli Army to help protect their community and surrounding region from
Arab attack. On Feb. 21, 2004, the brothers were summoned by another
security officer, Feldbaum, to help expel Bedouins who trespassed into the
Jewish community of Sdei Bar and were encamped near a student dormitory.
Bedouin tribes in the area had been deemed responsible for the killing of
several Jews in the area in previous years.
Under the direction of Feldbaum, the Halamish brothers ordered the
bedouin squatters to leave. The Bedouins refused, and about 20 of them
approached the Jewish security officers with sticks and rocks. Feldbaum shot
toward the ground when the Bedouins continued to move closer.
The response team later said that it shot in self-defense. An army medic
who arrived at the scene determined that nobody was struck by the gunfire,
an assertion disputed by the Bedouins.
At that point, the military abandoned its own security team and allowed
a police investigation. Although police refused to conduct ballistic tests
or even a lineup of suspects, the brothers were convicted of shooting toward
the Bedouins. Dan was sentenced to seven months in prison; Yitzhak, to eight
months.
An Israeli appeals court said ballistic tests or a lineup weren't
necessary. The word of the Bedouins -- who refused to show up to police
headquarters to identify their purported assailants -- was enough.
The court also rejected a recommendation by the probation officer for
community service. The three-judge panel said it wanted the Halamish
brothers to go to jail to serve as a lesson to others.
As a first step, we request that you telephone -- rather than e-mail --
the Israeli Embassy or the Israeli consulate nearest you and demand to know
why the Halamish brother are still in prison.
The embassy's phone number is 202-364-5500.
Stress, that as an American citizen, you can ask the State Department to
investigate what you feel is clearly a human rights violation.
Now, we are asking you to call your member of Congress and raise the
issue of Dan and Yitzhak Halamish. We also ask you to call the
State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor and
inform them of the brothers and demand an investigation. Tell the
department officer you have also raised these cases with your member of
Congress. The State Department's main numbers are 202-647-4000 or
1-800-877-8339.
The Olmert government, with an approval rating of near zero, has refused
any accountability to the Israeli people and fears only the Bush
administration. Unless we act now, there will be many more Dani and Itziks
in jail.
If you agree with this, please act quickly. What could be more important
than winning the release of a Jewish child imprisoned for loving her country
and people?
With Love of Israel ,
Datya Itzhaki
11. Update on Shdema and Women in Green Activities
July 2008
Dear Friends,
This email is to update you on our latest activities.
Women in Green have never been as active as in the past year.
Among many other struggles, we are at the forefront of the battle for a Jewish Shdema. Shdema is an abandoned Israel Defense Forces Army Camp, located on Israeli land, close to Har Choma on the Jerusalem - Eastern Gush Etzion Highway. To our shock we found out that the Olmert-Livni government is planning to hand over this strategic area to the Palestinian Authority to build an Arab neighborhood, thus endangering both Jerusalem and strangling Gush Etzion.
Women in Green initiated the struggle for a Jewish Shdema, organizing both the local Action Committees and our wonderful youth, both leading them into continued action and financing the entire struggle.
Our efforts have born fruit. Members of Knesset and other public figures have joined in the opposition to hand over Shdema to the Arab enemy.
Over the past week we have come, in small groups, to Shdema on a daily basis only to find out that the area had been declared to be a "closed military zone". This did not deter us, at the contrary. Ironically, thanks to the order calling the area a "closed military zone", no Arabs or anarchists were allowed up there and thus Shdema has basically been in Jewish hands for a week.
On Friday we organized a more massive arrival in Shdema.
Despite the order declaring the area a "closed military zone", tens of lovers of Israel, men, women, youth and children managed to arrive to Shdema this past Friday morning making it clear to all that nobody will tell us where we can and where we cant go and walk in the Land of Israel. No doubt the authorities did not expect such a large turn-out. After a nice Israeli brunch we listened to a shiur (lecture) on parashat shavua.
In addition, an athletic youth managed one again to climb onto the high water tower and raise the Israeli flag, proudly declaring to the Arab enemy in the area: the Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people and we will not allow anyone to take it from us.
Thank G-d we see that the struggle for a Jewish Shdema is growing with more and more people joining.
Until we succeed to settle Shdema permanently, we have to continually return to prevent the Arabs, with the help of Israeli leftists and international anarchists, from once again taking over.
Parallel to the struggle for a Jewish Shdema, Women in Green continue with its chizuk (strengthening) trips to the outposts, and many other related activities connected to fighting for the survival of the Jewish People in the Land of Israel.
In addition, our major yearly event is approaching:
The Women in Green Tisha b'Av March around the Walls of Jerusalem's Old City in which thousands of Jews participate, religious and secular, young and old, both new olim and natives, all united in their love for our homeland.
This year, more than ever, when there is talk about giving away parts of our G-d given Biblical Homeland and our Capital, we must show the world and our own government that "For Jerusalem's Sake we will not be silent"! The Jewish People must continually defend the Land of Israel and Jerusalem.
For those who have not yet been part of this exciting Tisha B'Av event, we put up on our website a short movie about last year's March, to give you a feeling of the importance of this moving event. Click on http://www.womeningreen.org and then click on the movie to see it. On that same page you will see a copy of this years flyer.
We hope you can join us this year in person to take part in this unforgettable uplifting experience.
This year Tisha b'Av falls on Motsaei Shabbat, August 9th, 2008.
The flyer reads as follows:
of Jerusalem's Old City
Protecting the Land of Israel! Protecting Jerusalem!
Commemorating 2594 years since the destruction of the First Temple; 1938 years since the destruction of the Second Temple, 26 years since the destruction of Yamit and 3 years since the destruction of Gush Katif and Northern Samaria.
TISHA B'AV EVENING
Motsaei Shabbat Chazon, August 9th, 2008
EICHA READING & MARCH AROUND THE WALLS
At 22:30 pm Our Walk begins, led by Rabbi Israel Ariel from Machon Hamikdash, MK Prof. Arieh Eldad, Atty Elyakim Haetzni and Dudu Elharar. We will pass the New Gate, Damascus Gate and the Flower gate. At the Lion's Gate we will assemble to proclaim, in the words of Eicha, that we will not allow "our inheritance to be turned over to strangers" and pray "to renew our days as of old". We will end our Walk at the Dung gate near the Kotel. We have a police permit. Come with your family and friends and take part in a Tisha' B'Av evening to be remembered!
POB 7352 Jerusalem 91072
http://www.womeningreen.org/ wfit2@womeningreen.org
Dear friends, we turn to you again to help us continue our activities. You are the ones who realize how important our struggle is. Not enough people understand that "activism" costs money on a constant basis. Unlike the anti-Jewish and anti-Zionistic leftist organizations in Israel who are constantly funded by the European Union and other Israel-haters, we only have you, our loyal friends, to count on.
The struggle for Shdema is a microcosm of all that is wrong in Israel with a government which hands over its own land to the enemy. Please help us continue the struggle for a Jewish Shdema!
The yearly March around the Walls is a vow of loyalty of the People of Israel to the Land of Israel and to Jerusalem as its undivided united capital. Help us repeat this march again this year.
Please send your donation (all currencies accepted) to:
WOMEN IN GREEN, POB 7352, Jerusalem 91072 ISRAEL
US citizens only: For tax deductible donations please write your U.S. dollar donation to THE CENTRAL FUND FOR ISRAEL. You must indicate that the donation is for Women in Green and send it to:
Women in Green, POB 7352, Jerusalem, 91072.
To make a contribution through Paypal please go to our website http://www.womeningreen.org and click on the Paypal logo
With Love for Israel,
Ruth and Nadia Matar
Women in Green
=============================================
Women For Israel's Tomorrow (Women in Green)
POB 7352, Jerusalem 91072, Israel
Tel: 972-2-624-9887 Fax: 972-2-624-5380
mailto:wfit2@womeningreen.org
http://www.womeningreen.org
To make a contribution through Paypal, go to: http://www.womeningreen.org
and click on the Paypal button
12. Nestle in Brazil not recognize Israel???? Just Palestine ? Sent by Rafi Rabinowitz
Rafi Rabinowits sent me an email in Spanish that tells the story of a South American Jew who wanted to send Brazilian chocolates from the Nestlé Corp. to a relative in Israel. Kashrut not withstanding (as far as I know the Garoto chocolates and all Nestlé products made in Brazil do not have a hechsher!), "Israel" was not listed in the company's directory for direct shipment, but rather they had "Palestine" -- and shipped to Ashdod, in the "Israel" section of "Palestine".
Nestlé is a major international food corporation.
13. ITAMAR Kids van attacked with stones. IDF stands by as cars are attacked. Resident shoots in air and is arrested.
Dearest friends how are you all. Here is a short Itamar update I also posted it on our web site. http://www.shechem.org/itamar/eindex.html Shabbat Shalom Moshe Goldsmith.
This week the Itamar campers were returning from their welding course on the Gilad road and were attacked by a mob of Arabs that were rioting. The Itamar youth director who was driving his van and had his windows smashed. Thank G-d he managed to back up and get the teenagers out of danger. One camper was hit with a boulder in his arm. By the way the camper happened to be my son Efrayim. Lucky he is pretty tough! Thank G-d he was only bruised. The army was there and was hesitant about responding. Unfortunately, they did not stop the Jewish cars from getting attacked. Many other cars were hit as well, in one instance the Arab mob tried to pull the driver out of his car. Finally, one brave man shot in the air with his pistol and was later arrested by the Israeli police. Is this not absurdity? See picture of broken windshield on website.
ONE SMALL REQUEST THE IS SOMETHING A FRIEND OF MINE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION IT IS CALLED GOOD SEARCH. IF YOU REGISTER FRIENDS OF ITAMAR EVERY TIME YOU USE THEIR SEARCH ENGINE A SMALL AMOUNT WILL BE DONATED TO ITAMAR. SO PLEASE SIGN UP THERE ARE NO STRINGS ATTACHED IT IS A GREAT THING TO DO FOR US PASS THE WORD AROUND. HERE ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT A FRIEND OF MINE SENT ME:
Hi, guys! Go to Goodsearch.com and your web searches will earn money for Friends Of Itamar. It's easy! Just type your search words into the search box, then type friends of Itamar into the box designating the nonprofit of your choice and click the verify button. You'll see a line of words in red telling you can now search and make money for your organization. Then click on the search engine button and off you go! Make sure you always search this way and you will be creating Tzaddaka for Itamar.
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