Mark the DATE for RachelsChildren... (RCRF) in Bkyln, send Journal Ads! Fwd: 11 Chesvan Thursday Evening October 29, 2009, 6:30 P.M." YAHRZEIT OF RACHEL IMEINU" Please RSVP Now. Rush Journal ADs

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This is a great event for Singles as well as couples or individuals that can get out at night in Brooklyn  for an educational evening with great food, smorg  and be in the company of the most authentic lovers of Eretz Yisroel who spend their free time as activists for Eretz Yisroel.

You are all aware that the gov't of Israel is harrassing the settlers in Judea and Samaria in order to please American Foreign Policy to establish a Palestinian State (G-d forbid) in the heartland of Israel.

Rachel Imeinu is crying for her children for the day they return to their borders!  Evelyn Haze is a woman of Valor who has put her life's efforts, time and money, heart and soul  to build up a Jewish Presence by Rachel's tomb.   She and partners have acquired actual real estate adjacent to Racel's tomb which serves as  a learning center (Beit Medrash) and classes for Men (Yeshiva)  and women, a hall for Bat Mitzvah's and the future home to a Museum of Aliya to Israel also known as Beit Bnei Rachel.

If you are near Brooklyn, please come!  Invite your friends, Post on Single Sites and send out to your email lists.  If you can not make it for some reason please send Evelyn a check to support her efforts and be a partner in the Mitzvah of Yishuv Haaret and her holy work. 

And let us be worthy of the prophesy, "Miney Kolech Mebechi Veeynayich min Dimah Ki Yesh Sechar Lefeulasech, Veshavu Meeretz Oyev", Refrain your voice from crying and  your eyes from weeping, Because there is a reward for your activism, and you will return from the Land of Your enemies".

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Evelyn Hayes <rachelschildren@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Oct 16, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Subject: Thursday Evening October 29, 2009, 6:30 P.M." YAHRZEIT OF RAmCHEL IMEINU" Please RSVP Now. Rush Journal ADs
To:

Please post and forward to all calendars and lists; Bring friends:
Your early reservations and ads help expedite our work
 
Rachel's Children Reclamation Foundation
  60 West End Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11235
tiheracheltearblogspot.com       718-648-2610      054-224-2649       www.rachelschildren.org
BEIT BNEI RACHEL
rachelschildren@gmail.com,
cordiallly invites you to
          The Fifteenth Annual NY Citywide
Commemoration of the
YAHRZEIT OF RACHEL IMEINU
 JEWISH MOTHER'S DAY
     11 MarCheshvan 5770
       GALA BUFFET JOURNAL DINNER
New Star Caterers, Kehilit Kashrut
    Manhattan Beach Jewish Center
    60 West End Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Thursday Evening
October 29, 2009, 6:30 P.M.
Keynote Speaker
RABBI RAYMOND BEYDA
Community Activist Award
MRS. MYRNA ZISMAN
Presentation of Actualist Awards By
MALKY GRUNWALD,
First Bas Mitzvah at Beit Bnei Rachel
Community Chessed Award
MRS. MOZELLE SAMMELL
Special Guest Speaker
RABBI MOSHE SNOW

 
Exciting News: RCRF is initiating this New Learning and Lecture Series
"Derech Eretz in the Merit of Rachel Imeinu"
at Beit Bnei Rachel 
our majority owned property in the walled Kever Rachel Complex
RSVP to RCRF:   $180 per person; $1800 per table; Call for group discounts
Donors: $5000 per table; $10,000 per table; Journal Ads

Your donations will help support all our efforts for Klal Yisral and Beit Bnei Rachel
Medreshet Chaya Rachel and Ruth,     Museum of Jewish Aliyah,     Simcha Center

Biblical Garden with Replica of Ancient Four Columns and Domed Kever Rachel as Chupah
 
"Remember, A visit to Israel without visiting Kever Rachel is like going home and not seeing your mother."

Evelyn Haies, Founder and President, RCRF and  Beit Bnei Rachel

 
In Israel, inquire about continuous classes on Tuesdays with Rabbi Yakov Gurwitz
and Wednesdays with our Rachel Imeinu Scholar, Atara Gur.
 
We will schedule events, simchas and shiurim for you.

Fwd: AFSI'S LETTER TO ISRAELI MINISTERS AND THE ISRAELI EMBASSY RE: 3 MEN EXPELLED FROM YITZHAR

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What a fantastic letter from Helen Freedman of Afsi a real Jewish Heroine in her own right! 

Dear Activist List,

Please note that I sent  this letter to Jewish newspapers in USA and CC'd to Israeli Ministers. Perhaps if they get multiple  letters they will get the message that people are not happy with lack of due process in the Israeli "democracy".

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: afsi <afsi@rcn.com>
Date: Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Subject: AFSI'S LETTER TO ISRAELI MINISTERS AND THE ISRAELI EMBASSY RE: 3 MEN EXPELLED FROM YITZHAR
To: AFSI <afsi@rcn.com>

1751 Second Ave, New York, NY 10128

Tel: 212-828-2424; Fax: 212-828-1717; afsi@rcn.com; www.afsi.org

Contact: Helen Freedman, Executive Director

October 15, 2009

 

Gentlemen,

          We are appalled to learn that AKIVA HACOHEN, ARIEL GRUNER and ELIAV ELIYAHU, all residents of Yitzhar, have been given orders, signed by Maj-Gen Gadi Shamni, expelling them from their homes for a minimum of six months. Each young man has a wife, children, or is expecting a child, and earns his living working in the community.

          Shockingly, there were no specific charges to the expulsion orders and the only explanation given was that the men "are a danger for the public order." Is this the thought police in action? What danger is expected? Why are these young men singled out for what is thought their intentions might be? Doesn't this sound more like it is happening in Orwell's 1984 than in democratic Israel? Where are the instruments of justice?

          In addition to these intolerable expulsion orders is the fact that during the period of forced expulsion there are no provisions made to compensate the expellees for the cost of an apartment, the move which must take place in a few days time, and for the loss of their income from employment. How cruel and inhumane can a government order be? Even prisoners are given more consideration. This is outrageous.

          As Americans who are very aware and concerned about events in Israel, and who spend a great deal of time and energy working to ensure a safe Israel, we plead with those in charge to cancel the expulsion orders against Akiva, Ariel and Eliav.  

          Please contact us at afsi@rcn.com or 212-828-2424 to inform us of positive action in this urgent matter.

Thank you

Helen Freedman

 

 

Fwd: HOW DO YOU TREAT YOUR FELLOW JEW

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Israel Kaplan <israelkaplan@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 7:58 PM
Subject: HOW DO YOU TREAT YOUR FELLOW JEW
To: Izzy Kaplan <israelkaplan@yahoo.com>

Israeli gov't denial of due process to jews Read the following news stories about the Israeli gov't  wisking away Jews from their families in Samaria, without indictments and without trial. Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria do not yet have civil liberties and human rights since these areas have not been annexed by Israel. The gov't acts as if Israel's basic law, which protects civil liberties and human rights, simply does not apply beyond the green line. Such a precendent was established in August 2005, with the Israeli government demolition of all of Katif and four communities in the Shomron. Orders in this regard are issued by the office of the Prime Minister. Orders in this regard are carried out by the Defense Minister. If you object to the orders of the PM to expel Jews from their homes, without trial, express your feedback to the PM cabinet sec'y, Atty. Zvi Hauser, 02-6705532 (dir.)02-5632580 (fax)or e-mail memshala@it.pmo.gov.il The Israeli gov't is particularly sensitive about bad feedback from outside of the country. That is why the lobbyists for foreign workers are working the international media to stop their expulsions. Get friends and relatives to send in letters to the PM office and to local consulates and embassies abroad to protest the Israeli gov't denial of due process to Israeli citizens. The Israeli government assumes that you will act with passivity and turn the other cheek. You have a choice. 1. Make sure that the Prime Minister of Israel hears strong feedback or wait until it is your turn to have your human rights and civil liberties abused. 2. Go into denial and live a normal life. ================================================= ISRAELI MILITARY EXPELS THREE JEWS FROM WEST BANK HOMES Israeljustice.com Date added: 10/12/2009 www.israeljustice.com/news2.asp?key=173   JERUSALEM -- Israel's military has served administrative expulsion orders to three Jewish residents of the West Bank community of Yitzhar.     Israeli Army Central District Commander Maj.-Gen. Gadi Shamni signed administrative orders to evict three Jews from their homes in the northern Samarian community of Yitzhar and to distance them from Judea and Samaria for six months.     The three, Akiva HaCohen, 25, Ariel Groner, 24 and Eliav Eliyahu, 19, haven't been charged with any crime.     Army officials said the administrative orders were issued after "information was received of their involvement in violent and illegal activity and in light of the genuine danger foreseen from them to security and the public order.     "This is not connected to the olive harvest," HaCohen said. "They [the police] said this is connected to confrontations between Jews and Arabs and the eviction from and destruction of outposts."     HaCohen, a father of four together with his wife, Ayelet Hashachar, who is in her ninth month, said that he had not yet decided how he was going to respond to the order.     HaCohen said he drove to the central Israeli city of Petah Tikva on the morning of October 11 to purchase building materials. As he got out of his car to pay the parking, he was surrounded by four police officers who served him the administrative expulsion order. Another eight police officers remained in the police vehicles.     The order allows three days for HaCohen to appeal and one week to leave his home for six months or face imprisonment.     "This is anti-democratic and is discrimination against Jews," HaCohen said. "What about the left-wing and the Arabs?"      HaCohen and Groner, also a father of four with a newborn, are not newcomers to this scenario. HaCohen was expelled from his home in Yitzhar in October 2006 for over three months after sitting in jail for attempting to enter the now destroyed Gush Katif in the Gaza Strip in August 2005.     In August 2007, Groner was jailed for two months for breaking an administrative expulsion order from Yitzhar and was then ordered to live under house arrest in a mobile home in the scorching Beit Shean valley without air conditioning for three months. He was then forbidden from returning to Judea and Samaria for another three months.     In previous years, security forces said they served the administrative orders during the Palestinian olive harvest to prevent confrontations between Jews and Arabs but by October, the harvest is almost complete.     "It's not connected to the olives," Daniella Weiss, one of the leaders of the Land of Israel Faithful Movement said. "It's connected to the eviction of outposts and to [Defense Minister Ehud Barak] who wants to destroy them."     The Land of Israel Faithful Movement issued a statement criticizing the government for its use of undemocratic tools and for failing to tell HaCohen, Groner or Eliyahu why they were expelled from their homes.     "We sharply and unambiguously condemn these expulsion orders," the statement said. "We demand that the Government of Israel, a nationalist government, immediately stop the erroneous use of these undemocratic tools that are reminiscent of dark periods in our history." ISRAELI STATE PROSECUTION RELENTLESS IN PURSUING JEWISH DISSIDENTS Israeljustice.com Date added: 10/14/2009     JERUSALEM -- An Israeli court reversed a decision to release a Jewish dissident after the state prosecution petitioned to appeal the release in a higher court.      On October 14, Jerusalem Magistrate Ram Vinograd ordered Elhanan Groner distanced from the home of Deputy State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan until the end of judicial proceedings against him. Immediately, the state prosecution requested an order delaying the judge's decision and asked that Groner remain in custody pending an appeal to the Jerusalem District Court.      Several hours later, the state prosecution rushed through an indictment for offending a civil servant, punishable by six months in prison. The law, introduced by the British Mandate before the founding of the Jewish state, was reintroduced prior to the government's destruction of the Gush Katif block in Gaza in August 2005. Nitzan, who was instrumental in devising and implementing special guidelines to prosecute opponents of the government's policy in 2005, including minors who were first-time offenders, has relentlessly appealed all acquittals of anti-government protesters.      Groner, 19, is the younger brother of Ariel Groner who, on October 11, was served an administrative expulsion order from his home in the Jewish community in Yitzhar in northern Samaria and from the West Bank for six months. Groner is charged with insulting Nitzan on the evening of October 13. Groner, who is married and lives in Yitzhar, was visiting his parents who are neighbors of Nitzan in a Jerusalem neighborhood. He allegedly went to the state prosecutor's home and told him he should be ashamed of himself for the latest administrative expulsion orders. Groner is also charged with telling Nitzan's childen, aged eight and 11 that they should be ashamed of their father. Groner has denied the charges.      Groner was immediately arrested and investigated by police in Nitzan's home. He was then taken to Jerusalem's Russian Compound jail where he remains in custody despite the magistrate's decision to release him.      "This was a good decision for them [the state prosecution]," Shmuel Meidad, head of the Honenu Legal Aid Organization, said. "But they want him held until the end of judicial proceedings. They also arrested his wife and she is being investigated."      Groner, then 18, was distanced from Judea and Samaria in November 2008 for three months on the eve of the army's eviction of Jews from the peace house in Hebron also by an administrative expulsion order signed by Israeli Army Central District Commander Maj.-Gen.. Gadi Shamni. Meidad said that the three young men, Ariel Groner, Akiva HaCohen and Eliav Eliahu, who just received administrative expulsion orders from Judea and Samaria for six months have not yet decided how they will respond. Non-compliance with the order results in imprisonment.   IZZY KAPLAN 416 824 2858 CELL 416 256 2858 OFFICE Check out my new blog http://israelonisrael.blogspot.com

Which Story is more News Worthy? Jewish Press JTA article about Iran or Women In Green article about Harassment of Jewish Settlers?

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Why doesn't the Jewish Press put INN on the front page?

Which news is more newsworthy?

The fact that Europe and the  US are showing 'Unified Stance on Iran" - This weeks Front page news of Jewish Press (JTA) Friday October 16, 2009

or ...

that the government of Israel is expelling 3 innocent Jewish men with families from Yitzhar from their homes with no charges and without compensation for loss of livelihood....another clear example of settler harassment.

(Let's analyze...Tachlis, what real difference will it make  to know that in tone, America and Europe show a unified stance regarding Iran, especially when we read that these world powers are frustrated that they have been unable to stop nuclear proliferation in Iran,  and that there is strong skepticism in Europe that strong sanctions on Iran are not effective  and there is fear that sanctions will create security problems word wide.  In my opinion, this JTA article does nothing except create anxiety on the part of the reader.  After all there is not much a typical reader can do about nuclear weapons buildup in a country that espouses Terror.  What point is this knowledge when it merely serves to make us nervous.

On the other hand, reporting about 3 religious family men who for no apparent reason except perhaps political are being expelled from their homes serves to raise awareness that will hopefully stop a miscarriage of justice.

Please read the kind of story that usually does not get  prominence in the Jewish press.  Giving it the prominence it deserves is responsible reporting and also a Mitzva not to stand by idly when evil is happening when we are witness to it.

For the Arutz 7 story:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/133807

You got a few days to pack and leave your house!!

By Nadia Matar and Yehudit Katzover

 

Imagine the following scene:

You are a building contractor on your way to work. You have been asked to deliver some building material to a client. You park your car, and out of the blue, 10 to 12 detectives and policemen run towards you, surround you and hand you a piece of paper telling you: "This is an expulsion order. You are being expelled from your home and community and area for the next 6 months. You got  5 days to pack. If we find you in your home after that, you will be arrested and jailed". Not sure yet whether this is true or just a bad joke, you ask the police: "But why? What did I do? What are the charges?".

 The police answers: "No comment. That's the way it is."

 

Sounds like a scene from Kafka? Well, this is what happened this past Sunday to Akiva Hacohen, 25 year old resident of Yitzhar, building contractor, when he delivered some building material to a client.

 

On Sunday October 11 Akiva was given orders expelling him from his home and  from Judea and Samaria for 6 months at least. Akiva is married to Ayelet and they have 3 children. Ayelet is pregnant with number four please G-d.. Two other residents of Yitzhar were given similar expulsion orders. Ariel Gruner, 27 year old, married and father of 3 children and  Eliav Eliyahu, 20 year old, recently married and they are expecting their first child.

 

Like in previous times when this has happened, here too it is IDF Central District Commander Maj.-Gen. Gadi Shamni, known for his animosity towards Land of Israel lovers, who has signed the expulsion orders. For the entire story you can click on the link to the Arutz 7 report about it at the end of this article.

 

As usual, there were no specific charges to the expulsion orders.

 

 During the period of forced expulsion the government does not provide the expellees with any compensation or help to find alternative arrangements. The expellees have to find and pay for a place to live, and employment. At the present time, Akiva is working as a contractor building homes in the area of Yitzhar, where they live, and grinding wheat and selling the flour. This will no longer be possible. Likewise for Ariel and Eliav who will also lose their job.

 

Women in Green call upon all of us, friends of Israel in Israel and abroad, to express our outrage at this persecution of these wonderful Jews, lovers of the Land of Israel. The more noise we make about this, the more the authorities will reconsider and think twice about ever doing this again. See below for WHAT WE CAN DO.

 

The official, ridiculous, explanation given is that those Jewish fathers " are a danger for the public order". Our message is: If Akiva, Ariel and Eliav have violated the law, why aren't they charged and brought into court? Why are the reasons for their expulsion secret? The answer is clear: Because those expulsion orders have nothing to do with law and order. In fact they are a violation of basic norms of all enlightened democratic systems when one is only accused with due process. We know those great Jewish men. The only so-called "crime" they can be accused of is that they are proud Jews and loyal to the land of Israel. The expulsion orders are political tools meant to demoralize the national camp ; who knows, maybe before what might soon come G-d forbid, a new wave of destruction of outposts and communities. We protest this and demand that the expulsion orders against  Akiva Hacohen, Ariel Gruner and Eliav Eliyahu  be cancelled immediately.The more noise we make about this, the more the authorities will reconsider not only the expulsion decrees, but any other decrees they might be planning for the next few weeks.

 

SO WHAT CAN WE DO?

1) Maj-Gen Gadi Shamni, who signed the expulsion orders and is known for his animosity to the national camp,  is leaving Israel next week to become the IDF's military attaché in Washington. If he thinks he could sign those expulsion orders and then go to Washington where nobody will remind him of the shameful expulsion orders, he should reconsider. Women in Green call upon all Washington friends of Israel to find out where exactly Gadi Shamni will be located  and organize lawful vigils in front of his home and work with a clear message: Shame on you for expelling Akiva, Ariel and Eliav. Cancel the expulsion orders and let these 3 Jewish fathers go back home!

Vigils like these are very effective and important.

 

2) For those living abroad: Please contact the Israeli Embassy or consulate  in your country to protest these expulsion orders

For the link to the Israel Embassy and consulate Directory: http://www.science.co.il/embassy.asp

Let Israeli embassies in Holland, France, belgium, Australia, Canada etc...receive emails, calls and faxes in support of Akiva, Ariel and Eliav.

 

 

 Same for  US Citizens: please contact the Israeli embassy in Washington, Ambassador Michael Oren, and your local Israeli consul  

        Israeli embassy in Washington:      Tel: 202-364-5500               Deputy Chief of Mission: Mr. Dan Arbell Fax: (202) 364-5560

Defense and Armed Forces Attaché  Major General Benjamin Gantz  Tel: (202) 364-5403   Fax: (202) 364-5503

link to all other departments in the Embassy in Washington: http://www.israelemb.org/about_us.html

 

3) Obviously we must also contact the Israeli politicians. Emails are ok but phonecalls and  faxes are better.

For all contact info (telephone and fax) for Israeli ministers please click on:

http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Government/Offices/

Emails of Israeli ministers (thank you to Suzy Dym):

sar@moch.gov.il ; roeil@moin.gov.il ; minister@most.gov.il ; ministerts@most.gov.il ; sar@tourism.gov.il ; sar@mfa.gov.il ; sar@mof.gov.il ; sar@mops.gov.il ; yedelstein@knesset.gov.il ; gerdan@knesset.gov.il ; bbegin@knesset.gov.il ; myaalon@knesset.gov.il ; mcachlon@knesset.gov.il ; yiskatz@knesset.gov.il ; llivnat@knesset.gov.il ; gsaar@knesset.gov.il ; ypeled@knesset.gov.il ; ysteinitz@knesset.gov.il ; sshalom@knesset.gov.il ; iaharon@knesset.gov.il ; aliberman@knesset.gov.il ; ulandau@knesset.gov.il ; slandver@knesset.gov.il ; smiseznikov@knesset.gov.il ; dhershkovitz@knesset.gov.il ; mnahari@knesset.gov.il ; aatias@knesset.gov.il ; eyishay@knesset.gov.il ; ymargi@knesset.gov.il ; yakovm@dat.gov.il ; sar@sviva.gov.il ; sar@moc.gov.il ; sar@moia.gov.il ; sar@environment.gov.il ; sar@mni.gov.il ; zelkin@knesset.gov.il

 

Please ask others to join this effort, especially prominent community leaders and rabbis.

 

4) Lastly, the families to be expelledfrom Yitzhar need apartments for 6 months.

 If anyone can help, or knows of someone who has an empty apartment,

 please let them know: Akiva: 054 765 7556, Ayelet: 054 638 2106,Zangy (Honenu): 052 566 5975

 

The police have given Akiva, Ariel and Eliav a few days to comply, after which time they will be arrested, so time is of the essence.

The families have hired lawyers, but so far they have not been able to stop the proceedings. 

 

As the famous quote goes: "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing "

We are doing! For Jerusalem's sake we will not be silent!

 

With love for Israel,

 

Nadia Matar, Women in Green

Yehudit Katzover, the committee for a Jewish Shdema

 

For the Arutz 7 story:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/133807

 

will JTA and others report this? Fwd: Haraisha-the Battle against the Silent Expulsion - Report as Jews

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JTA claims to be the source for Jewish News.  Will they disregard very blatant biased Supreme Court decisions that favors Arab Building in Judea and Samaria over Jewish Building?  Read Timna Katz's excellent report (below) about how Peace Now took advantage of legal bureaucracy in Israel  in order to push for a Silent Expulsion in Judea and Samaria and about subsequent political rulings of the Israeli Supreme Court that make a mockery of justice.  Please also investigate where Peace Now is getting it's funding to pay for their hefty legal fees as compared to the way the Jews of Haraisha are funding their legal fees.   

Please report  Timna Katz's story as sent out by Women In Green.   Hopefully the media NOISE generated regarding this mockery of justice by the Israeli Supreme Court  will be the key to stop expulsion from Haraisha.

As reporters you carry a heavy burden.  The way you choose to present the News actually creates News and facts on the ground.    (Today, in modern times, there is a media war of Public Relations that has direct  influence on the way physical wars are fought. Case in point is the War of Lebanon vs Operation Cast Lead.)

Will JTA and other Jewish media report on the grassroots efforts of on line activists to help Haraisha.  Below is a copy of  Ted Belman's letter forwarded by  other activists with impressive email lists.  By doing so you might actually save the property of your fellow Jew and stop further Jewish expulsions.

Can't we learn from Gush Katif how such expulsions wreck havoc to the lives of wonderful caring Jewish families expelled from their homes and communities and wrecks havoc as well to neighboring settlement now in the reach of rockets and missiles..

There is no such thing as objectivity in reporting.  What you choose to report or fail to report -  brings a certain slant.

Therefore, please report as Jews rather than as objective reporters as if there was no difference between being a Jewish reporter and being Kechol HaGoyim (like all other nations). Even if Jews choose not to differentiate, Hitler Yemach Shemo did choose to differentiate between a Jew and a Non Jew.  Religious observance did not seem to matter.

The Jewish Perspective:

Even if the Supreme Court would treat Jewish and Arab building as equal, we know from reading the Torah that Jews have entitlement and Arabs that reject Jewish Sovereignty do not. Our claim to the Land is based on the Torah.   Palestinians have no religious or historic claim!

The law of Medinat  Yisroel can not override Divine Law and can not give away that which is not theirs to give.  The Land belongs to G-d as is written in the Holy Torah. (Ki li kol Haaretz)  G-d has chosen the Land of Israel for the Nation of Israel in order that we observe the commandments.  We are a Holy Nation and the Land of Israel is referred to by the entire world as The Holyland. For the sake of World Peace and Prosperity, the Land of Israel actualizes it's raison d'etre only when the Nation of Israel have sovereignty in the Land and are observing the commandments in the Land which are spelled out in the Book of Deuteronomy also called Mishneh Torah. ( Deuteronomy, Sefer Devarim is read on the night of Hoshana Rabba and parts are read in the Hakhel ceremony on Sukkot following a Shemittah year and on weekly Parsha Torah readings in the summer months up to Sukkot)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: eli7 <eli7@womeningreen.org.il>
Date: Wed, Sep 30, 2009 at 5:01 PM
Subject: Haraisha-the Battle against the Silent Expulsion
To: eli7 <eli7@womeningreen.org.il>

From: Nadia Matar [mailto:nmatar@netvision.net.il]
Subject: Haraisha-the Battle against the Silent Expulsion

 

 

Dear Friends

 

Last week,on our Women in Green chizuk trip to the Shomron and Binyamin outposts ,we went, among other places, to Hareisha and heard the mind boggling story of this great community in danger of having its houses demolished because of "Peace Now".

 

Thank you to our dear friend Timna Katz for writing the story of Haraisha in English.

 

With love for Israel,

 

Nadia Matar - Yehudit Katzover

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

 

 

Haraisha

The Battle Against the Silent Expulsion

 

Background

 

Haraisha was established in 5749 (1999) during the last days of Netanyahu's first tenure as prime minister.  With the help of the Binyamin Local Council under the leadership of Pinchas Wallerstein and his successor Avi Roeh as well as residents of the nearby yishuvim of Talmon and Neria under the leadership of Rav Daniel Hershkovitz, the initial garin of Mercaz HaRav graduates struck roots.  Today the community numbers over 40 families.

 

The families were originally housed in caravans.  After some years the Housing Ministry began developing the permanent infrustructure for the yishuv, including laying the groundwork for permanent housing.  The investment of the Housing Ministry was supplemented by the support of other governmental offices and ministries, including the Defense Ministry, who appreciated Haraisha's strategic importance overlooking Ramallah to the south and east and all of Gush Dan to the west.

 

Once the Housing Ministry had laid the groundwork for the permanent housing, the families invested their private funds to build their homes.  Like almost everywhere in the country where ownership of land is not private, the final permits weren't obtained before construction began.  As is typical throughout Israel, the eight houses were built with the expectation that the final permits would be granted at the end of the long bureaucratic process.  As is also typical, the Civil Administration automatically issued destruction orders on the buildings, which are then retroactively cancelled once the approval process is completed.

 

 

Peace Now Gets Involved

 

Peace Now discovered this technicality and turned it into a weapon in its war against the Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria.  It initiated a continual and ongoing campaign to have the "illegal dwellings" throughout Judea and Samaria destroyed.  And it found an eager and willing partner in the Israeli Supreme Court.  About four years ago, Peace Now filed a petition to force the state to execute the destruction orders pending on the permanent houses in Haraisha.  The State responded to Peace Now's appeal with weak equivocation.  True, it asserted, the houses are illegal, but it isn't high on the State's list of priorities to destroy them for many and varied reasons.  . . . It was the same answer that the State gave to Haraisha's identical appeal against illegal Arab building in the neighboring village.

 

And wonder of wonders, the Supreme Court accepted the State's position regarding the Arab building, but not the Jewish building.  On July 7, 2009, the Supreme Court issued a precedential decision to intervene in the State's manangment of state-owned lands by ordering it to set a time for the evacuation of the families and the destruction of their homes within four months.

 

The decision's blatant discrimination in favor of Arab defendants and against Jewish ones is yet another stone in the long road the Supreme Court and its Leftist collaborators have paved leading the State along their preferred political path against the will of the people and their elected representatives.

 

 

A Simple Solution

 

There is a simple solution that would frustrate the fond wishes of Peace Now: the signature of the Defense Minister as the final remaining step in the long approval process for the yishuv.  This is a simple procedural step since the land on which the yishuv is built is "adamot sekker", 'surveyed' land that becomes state land when there are no private claimants to ownership.  The land upon which Haraisha sits is indeed uncontested.  Unfortunately, Defense Minister Ehud Barak shares the goals of Peace Now and is unwilling to affix his signature due to political considerations.

 

Ma Nishtana?

 

How is this struggle different from other struggles?  The nationalist public has become very familiar with this drama and its unchanging cast of characters: the vicious and dishonest leftist organizations, the hostile and hypocritical Supreme Court, the dissembling government issuing its doublespeak, the hostile and hypocritical media, and the embattled and noble settlers.  The public has also grown weary of the spectacle: because the ending doesn't vary, it has started to seem like the characters are just going through the motions.  Once again, the weak are overcome by the mighty because everyone realizes – especially after Gush Katif – that this is a battle that can't be won.  So the settlers are put in their place by the establishment, but leave the field vowing to fight another day – a cry that rings more and more hollow as the days pass.

 

Here in Haraisha, we are not weary.  We are not shrugging our shoulders and saying, 'well, what do you expect from the Supreme Court?'  We recognize that the cooperative venture between Peace Now and the Supreme Court will turn into a stealth "disengagement" if left unchallenged and unchecked.  We recognize that the small fissure made by the Supreme Court's decision will turn into a wide canyon through which the heavy bulldozers will roll to dismantle settlement after settlement.  We are treating our houses as the House of Israel, Beit Yisrael, and our struggle as the struggle of the Jewish People's right to their homeland.

 

Every single member of Haraisha is committed to wage this battle with total determination.  We are well organized and we are serious.  We will not back down, we will not make deals, and we will not compromise since we will not be on the defensive.  While we will use all the tools at our disposal, including traditional lobbying and political pressure tactics, our strategy will be different.

 

 

 

 

 

Preventing the Destruction by Attacking the Root Cause

 

Haraisha has joined hands with the Regavim organization to attack the problem at its root: the hijacking of the Israeli justice system to serve the ends of the Far Left political elite, effectively bypassing the democractic process.

 

Though the financial cost is onerous (a mere pittance for Peace Now but a staggering sum for us), we intend to file petition after petition demanding that the Supreme Court treat illegal Arab building the same way as "illegal Jewish building."  (In truth, the two are not the same as the Arabs rarely take steps to comply with the law, whereas the Jews do everything in their power to comply.)  While the Supreme Court and the media can sweep one or two such cases under the carpet, if the double standard becomes too flagrant and too stark and too public, the matter will come to a head.  The Court will either have to stop playing ball with Peace Now or it will lose so much of its legitimacy that the government will be forced to step in and act.

 

For our legal strategy to be effective, we will need to inform the public about our campaign and to arouse their active support. To this end, we will and are employing traditional lobbying and public relations tactics.

 

 

We Need Your Help

 

1.      By being politically active – Anyone with access to people with political influence can help by contacting those people on behalf of Haraisha.

2.      Creating a public storm – Pass on the word in whatever way you can: by contacting the media, spreading the message on email lists and internet forums, etc.  Even a simple conversation with the people you come in contact with on a daily basis can make a big impact in unexpected ways.  Also, please participate in the public events that we will be holding.  The perception of widespread public support for our cause has a big influence on politicians.

3.      Fundraising – Please contribute to this cause that is the cause of all of us.  Ask your families and friends to contribute.  If you know of philanthropists who might be willing to help us, please pass on their names.  The legal war that we're embarking on entails significant sums.

4.      Share your ideas with us – If you have new ideas or a different angle on how to conduct this struggle, we are happy to hear from you.

 

Aloh na'aleh . . . ki yachol nuchal la. 

With G-d's help – and united – we can do this!

 

 The Residents of Haraisha

 

For Contributions, call 054 6235818

To contact the Residents' Committee: cellphones:

 El-Ad 052 6071277    Nachum 052 8119726

email: zimra@neto.co.il

from vegibud@gmail.com to faigerayzel@gmail.com date Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 5:11 PM subject 40 Israeli children and babies in Harasha need help!

hide details 5:11 PM (6 hours ago)

Grassroots efforts to help the community of Harasha, sent by Ted Belman and forwarded by other activists.

40 Israeli Children and Babies in Harasha Need Help! 

Peace Now has asked the Israel High Court (Bagatz) to order 8 Israeli homes  to be razed in a small Shomron community called Harasha. These are the first 8 stone houses (as opposed to caravans) to be built in Harasha. Haresha is an Israeli outpost, which was recognized as legal by the Prime Minister's office years ago -- here's the actual document:http://mattotarim1.blogspot.com/2009/10/haresha-ishur-roham1.html

More than 40 children and babies will be homeless and penniless if these 8 homes are razed. Worse,  Peace Now will use this as a precedent to try to deport the 7000 Israelis - almost as many as resided in Gush Katif! – residing in outposts today.

Kindly write to Israel's cabinet ministers, and to Coalition Chairman MK Zeev Elkin. For example (feel free to change this -- or write your own!!):

Subject line: 40 Israeli children and babies in Harasha need help!

Email message: Dear Gentlemen,

I was so sorry to learn that Peace Now is yet again harassing 8 Israeli families, totaling more than 40 children and babies, for no reason. Please, Mr. Minister, can you take charge  by  contacting Prime Minister Netanyahu, Cabinet Secretary Gidon Hauser and Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman and urging them to deal with this vital issue immediately. Enough of the "legal" attacks on any Israeli or Jew who dares to do anything (build a home, defend his children) that some terror group somewhere does not like.

Please notify ZIMRA, a woman who was expelled with her family from Gush Katif, set up residence in Harasha, and now is faced with the destruction of the homes there, at– Zimra@neto.net.il - that you have responded to her plea.  She and AFSI would also love to see you raise this issue in the media, defending the brave, tiny, peaceable community of Harasha and urging more neighborhoods to be built there. Send us copies of anything you send out.

Here are the  email Addresses for the Ministers - copy all these email addresses into the "to" field and send the same email to all ministers at once:

sar@moch.gov.il; roeil@moin.gov.il; minister@most.gov.il;  ministerts@most.gov.il;  sar@tourism.gov.il; sar@mfa.gov.il; sar@mof.gov.il; sar@mot.gov.il; sar@mops.gov.il; yedelstein@knesset.gov.il; gerdan@knesset.gov.il;bbegin@knesset.gov.il; myaalon@knesset.gov.il; mcachlon@knesset.gov.il; yiskatz@knesset.gov.il;llivnat@knesset.gov.il; gsaar@knesset.gov.il; ypeled@knesset.gov.il;ysteinitz@knesset.gov.il; sshalom@knesset.gov.il; iaharon@knesset.gov.il; aliberman@knesset.gov.il;ulandau@KNESSET.GOV.IL; slandver@knesset.gov.il; smiseznikov@knesset.gov.il; dhershkovitz@KNESSET.GOV.IL; mnahari@knesset.gov.il; aatias@knesset.gov.il; eyishay@knesset.gov.il; ymargi@knesset.gov.il; yakovm@dat.gov.il; sar@sviva.gov.il; sar@moc.gov.il;sar@moia.gov.il;sar@environment.gov.il;sar@mni.gov.il; zelkin@knesset.gov.il 

 

Ted Belman
Jerusalem
054 441 3252