Fwd: Women of the Wall: “Kotel's not our purview”

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "sddym" <sddym@bezeqint.net>
Date: Jan 9, 2017 5:25 PM
Subject: Women of the Wall: "Kotel's not our purview"
To: <&lt;@bezeqint.net>
Cc:

Women of the Wall: "Kotel's not our purview"

 

Mattot Arim, an Israeli NGO, reached out to Women of the Wall leadership in the aftermath of UNSC 2344 in the hopes of encouraging Women of the Wall to take a stance, together with other Israeli NGOs, against the strongly anti-Kotel resolution which brands the Western Wall as illegally occupied territory. Mattot Arim said they were disappointed to be turned down by WoW on the grounds that the Kotel is "not their purview".

 

Citing the WoW website (http://www.womenofthewall.org.il/who-we-are/   according to which the Western Wall is "the principal symbol of Jewish peoplehood and sovereignty" and the WoW website's reference to "the Jewish people's return to Jerusalem in 1967", Mattot Arim pointed out that "the new UNSC Resolution https://www.un.org/press/en/2016/sc12657.doc.htm   states that the Security Council does not "recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem" thus effectively treating the Western Wall, as territory "illegally occupied" by Israel.

 

Mattot Arim then invited Women of the Wall to oppose the new UNSC Resolution and join the effort to rescind the resolution.

 

But responsive to the Mattot Arim query, Women of the Wall responded only that their struggle is "to achieve equality for women" at the Western Wall and added that  they "choose not to comment on issues that are outside the purview of our struggle" because "Our group comprises women of many different political persuasions".

 

In a follow-up email, Mattot Arim requested to "expand its understanding" of WoW's reply by asking, "Don't all your members believe that the Kotel is the principal symbol of Jewish sovereignty? That is what your website says.

Doesn't the organization have a problem with UNSC 2334's  call to end the Israeli occupation of the Kotel that began in 1967?" Mattot Arim also noted that the WoW website says that Women of the Wall works to make the Kotel "a holy site where women can pray freely" whereas UNSC 2334 "calls to revoke the Jewish state's sovereignty over the Kotel and to make the Kotel a site where no Israelis or visitors to Israel can pray freely – women or men. Is this no cause of concern for your organization?"

 

Repsonsively, WoW again reiterated that "As individuals we have many deep concerns and a wide range of opinions. As an organization we do not comment outside the immediate purview of our cause".

 

Mattot Arim expressed disappointment at the reply of Women of the Wall. "If Wow is purely a feminist organization with no interest in the Kotel per se which is what they are now saying, although not what they have presented in the past,  then their feminist proclivities, legitimate as they are,  can receive satisfaction in many less sensitive locations than the Western Wall. If on the other hand, the WoW rank and file are truly attached to the Kotel, then we would like to see the struggle against UNSC 2334 as one of Women of the Wall's major focus points for 2017.  The organization has to decide – are you pro-Kotel and pro-feminist, or just pro-feminist. If the former, let's see it and hear it. Why have there been no statements, no activity,  by WoW against UNSC 2334? Women of the Wall does not deserve the extraordinary governmental consideration they have been benefiting from for some time, if the Western Wall is "outside their purview". 

 

Last January, the government of Israel decided to augment the Western Wall's men and women's prayer areas, and back general area, all under the management of the Chief Rabbinate and Western Wall Heritage Foundation, with a separate, "easily accessible and visible space", to be governed by representatives of non-Orthodox movements, Jewish Federations, the Israeli government -- and the "Women of the Wall" organization.

 

 

 

 

From: Media Women of the Wall

Sent: Wednesday, January 4, 2017 5:47 PM

To: sddym

Subject: Re: attn "Neshot haKotel" re new UNSC Resolution that treats the Western Wall as illegally occupied territory

 

As individuals we have many deep concerns and a wide range of opinions.

 

Our website speaks for itself and I am glad you found it informative. 

 

As an organization we do not comment outside the immediate purview of our cause.

 

 

 

 

On Wed, Jan 4, 2017 at 5:43 PM, sddym <sddym@bezeqint.net> wrote:

 

Thank you for your email reproduced below. May we expand our understanding of your reply by asking --

 

Don't all your members believe that the Kotel is the principal symbol of Jewish sovereignty? That is what your website says.

 

Doesn't the organization have a problem with UNSC 2334's  call to end the Israeli occupation of the Kotel that began in 1967?

 

Your website says that "The Western Wall is Judaism's most sacred holy site and the principal symbol of Jewish peoplehood and sovereignty, and Women of the Wall works to make it a holy site where women can pray freely".

But UNSC 2334 calls to revoke the Jewish state's sovereignty over the Kotel and to make the Kotel a site where no Israelis or visitors to Israel can pray freely – women or men. Is this no cause of concern for your organization?

 

 

 

 

 

 

From: Media Women of the Wall

Sent: Wednesday, January 4, 2017 5:12 PM

To: sddym

Subject: Re: attn "Neshot haKotel" re new UNSC Resolution that treats the Western Wall as illegally occupied territory

 

Women of the Wall is engaged in a 30-year-long struggle to achieve equality for women at the Western Wall. Our group comprises women of many different political persuasions. We respect these differences, and choose not to comment on issues that are outside the purview of our struggle.

 

 

 

On Wed, Jan 4, 2017 at 4:57 PM, sddym wrote:

Kind reminder

 

Dear WoW leadership,

 

We note that your website ( http://www.womenofthewall.org.il/who-we-are/) states that the Western Wall is "the principal symbol of Jewish peoplehood and sovereignty" and refers to "the Jewish people's return to Jerusalem in 1967". In contrast, the new UNSC Resolution

https://www.un.org/press/en/2016/sc12657.doc.htm 

states that the Security Council does not

"recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem" thus effectively treating the entire area to which Israel returned in 1967, including of course the Western Wall, as territory "illegally occupied" by Israel.

 

Please indicate whether your group opposes the new UNSC Resolution and intends to join the effort to rescind same.

 

 

 

---

הודעת דוא"ל זו נבדקה לאיתור וירוסים על ידי תוכנת האנטי-וירוס של avast. www.avast.com

Fwd:Arlene Kushner on Flatbed Truck ramming and Elor Azarya and Mike Huckabees visit and msg with Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce.. From Israel: Heading Forward

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Arlene Kushner" <akushner18@gmail.com>
Date: Jan 9, 2017 12:19 PM
Subject: From Israel: Heading Forward
To: "A Kushner" <akushner18@gmail.com>
Cc:

January 8, 2017

 

"Heading Forward"

 

Were that I had only good news to report.  But painfully this is not the case.  And in a situation such as we are facing now, the good news, which does exist, must wait. 

 

There seems no end to this:

 

In the Armon Hanatziv neighborhood of Jerusalem today (Sunday) a flatbed truck rammed into members of the IDF who had alighted from a bus.  Four young soldiers, all in their 20s, three women and a man, were killed.  Sixteen others were wounded to varying degrees, some seriously.

 

\

Credit: Indianexpress

 

After the first ramming, the terrorist went into reverse in order to return and ram the soldiers again; some ended up under the truck and had to be rescued. 

 

The soldiers, members of the IDF's officer's training course, were participating in the army's "Culture Sundays" program, in which troops are taken to important historical and national sites.  They were at the Promenade, the Tayelet, a walkway with magnificent views of the Old City and the City of David below.

 

The terrorist, a resident of eastern Jerusalem's Jabel Mukaber neighborhood, was shot dead at the scene.  The truck had an Israeli license plate and he had an Israeli driver's license.

 

http://www.timesofisrael.com/3-dead-as-truck-plows-into-troops-in-jerusalem/

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

We do not become inured to such incidents, nor – Heaven forbid – should we.  That would mean a loss of our humanity. 

 

But what I see as clear as anything is that we cannot back off in fear.  It falls to us (and I speak as a resident of Jerusalem) to indeed head forward with full determination to speak out for who we are and what our rights are, especially during this time of political transition and historical anniversaries (about which more below).  Those who wish us dead would not be content in any event unless we all leaped into the sea. 

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

There is a  bitter irony inherent in this situation that must not escape us.  For this incident has happened as our nation is embroiled in tensions over the military court finding that Sgt. Elor Azariya is guilty of manslaughter for shooting dead a wounded terrorist.  I had wanted to write about Azariya today, but will defer in some part to Caroline Glick, who wrote a very powerful article on the subject:

 

http://carolineglick.com/the-idfs-new-social-contract/

 

Credit: carolineglick

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

Here we are, discussing whether it is "legal" according to IDF rules and "moral" to shoot dead a terrorist who had been taken down.  And worrying about what the world will think of us if our soldiers are too prone to shooting terrorists - thereby putting our soldiers at a disadvantage.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

The first person to shoot at the terrorist today was a civilian, tour guide Ethan Rond, because the soldiers hesitated.  "Purity of arms" it is called: great moral care as to when to shoot.  This had been inculcated into the soldiers, especially at present.

 

"The IDF announced that it is investigating why so many soldiers fled the scene of the terror attack in Jerusalem Sunday afternoon and did not try to eliminate or apprehend the terrorist."

 

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/222944

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

Moshe Feiglin wrote an opinion piece declaring that Azariya was the only moral one on the scene that day, because terrorists should be killed. 

 

http://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/opinions/killing-a-terrorist-is-moral/2017/01/05/

 

There is a valid case to be made for this – no, a strong case.  What is certain is that – even beyond the issue of whether terrorists deserve to live - they must be afraid of us, and now they are not.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

They celebrated today's terrorist atrocity in Gaza, which is to be expected. But there are reports that Arabs on the scene also applauded.  Make note of this, please, when you read about efforts to negotiate "peace."

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

In pain, and in celebration, we must head forward.  And so here I pick up on what I had intended to write before the attack:

 

Less than two weeks to go and counting...

 

Credit: ticotimes

 

Until Donald Trump is sworn in on January 20th, there will be unease about what else Obama might yet pull.  But my best guess is that he's done.  Not because he's suddenly developed a soft spot for Israel, but because his last gambit at the UN was not well received.  Obama cares about his legacy, such as he imagines it to be.  And indication that he plans nothing more is coming from such White House advisors as Ben Rhodes.

 

Of course, we do have that insane "peace conference"' in Paris on the 15th, a mere five days before Obama leaves office.

 

But let's hold tight.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

Last Tuesday, former Governor Mike Huckabee spoke at a Knesset session arranged by MK Miki Zohar (Likud – pictured immediately below). 

 

Credit: s1.kikar

 

Governor Huckabee was brought to Israel by the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce. 

 

I was there in the conference room where he spoke and was delighted.  A number of right-wing/nationalist MKs gathered to welcome him: Bezalel Smotrich (Habayit Hayehudi); Shuli Moalem-Refaeli (Habayit Heyudi); Yehuda Glick (Likud); etc. etc.  Each spoke about our rights to the land, and it was lovely to hear.

 

Governor Huckabee's talk provided both inspiration and solid, tough advice. 

 

Credit: Hamodia

 

He tore apart both Kerry's speech, and the UN resolution.  And he spoke with great conviction about our rights to our land.  "There is a saying: Do it big or go home," he told the MKs gathered about him. "You need to do it big, and you are already home."

 

See here for both a link to his full statement and pictures of the gathering:

 

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/222698

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

And there is other encouraging news, as well:

 

As most of my readers are undoubtedly aware, we are approaching the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War, when we liberated Judea, Samaria, and eastern Jerusalem.  A good part of the world, ignoring or distorting international law, and embracing the Palestinian Arab narrative, has consistently referred to Israel as an "occupier" of these areas.

 

Now, Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely has declared her intention of marking this year as a time of celebration: a time for highlighting the legal and moral rights to the Land of Israel and combatting the notion that Israeli is in these areas "illegally."

 

"I want the State of Israel to be proud of the fact that 50 years after the Six Day War, we achieved such amazing milestones in so many areas," she told The Times of Israel. "This should be a year not only of showcasing the beauty of our history and our past, but also a year of looking toward the future."

 

http://www.timesofisrael.com/fete-or-fight-in-upcoming-jubilee-deputy-fm-aims-to-redefine-six-day-war/

 

Credit: Texasscribbler

 

Hotovely envisions a huge permanent exhibition, utilizing virtual reality technologies, that would be entitled something like "Coming Home." It would celebrate the Jews as the indigenous people of the Land:

 

"We're often seen as a country without roots, a new country that represents an ancient people but whose roots in this land are very short. The idea is to bring us back to the bigger picture. There is a terribly beautiful story of a nation that all these years remained connected to this land and we want to tell it with innovative visual means and open it for the greater public....

 

"What is occupation? Who did we occupy [Judea and Samaria] from? It was not under Palestinian sovereignty. It is in no way possible to say it is a occupation in the regular sense of one country occupying another country." (Emphasis added)

 

Unfortunately, at present the funds for this exhibit are not yet available, but hopefully will be in due course.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

Coincidentally, November 2017 also marks the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration – which recognized all of Palestine from the river to the sea as a Jewish homeland and served as the basis for the Mandate, which followed. 

 

Mahmoud Abbas has already declared this year of the Balfour Declaration as a year for publicizing the "wrong" it did to the "Palestinian people." And so Israel officially, and all of us who care about Israel's rights unofficially, have our work cut out for us in publicizing the truth. 

 

Become pro-active: Put information on your Facebook pages, write letters to the editor.

 

Journalist Yisrael Medad has proposed substituting "land redemption activity" for "settlement activity" wherever possible.  He's on the right track: we must use terminology that reflects the reality, while rejecting those expressions – such as "occupation" – that give credence to the Palestinian Arab narrative. They have been very clever in inserting these pejorative terms into the dialogue, and it's past due for us to undo this.  Not "settlements" – which has taken on a negative connotation – but "Jewish communities" or "Jewish towns and cities."  "Residents of the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria," not "settlers."

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

It irritates me more than a little that much is also being made of the fact this this year marks the 70th anniversary of UN Resolution 181, which called for the partition of Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state.  Kerry referred to this in his horrendous speech. 

 

And so, it also must be emphasized at every turn that:

 

1) This was a General Assembly resolution, which was just a recommendation and carries no weight in international law, and

 

2) The Arabs rejected it, thereby rendering it null and void in any event.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

All else that I had hoped to address today will wait until a future posting.  We have some interesting times ahead. 

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by Arlene Kushner, functioning as an independent journalist. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.   

If it is reproduced and emphasis is added, the fact that it has been added must be noted.

 

See my website at www.arlenefromisrael.info  Contact Arlene at akushner18@gmail.com

 

This material is transmitted by Arlene only to persons who have requested it or agreed to receive it.  If you are on the list and wish to be removed, contact Arlene and include your name in the text of the message.

Fwd: the murders of our soldiers z''l has an AFSI connection Erez Orbach HY"D

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Cheryl Jacobs Lewin" <cjlpr1@gmail.com>
Date: Jan 9, 2017 8:14 AM
Subject: Fwd: the murders of our soldiers z''l has an AFSI connection
To: "Cheryl Jacobs Lewin" <cjlpr1@gmail.com>
Cc:

My dear AFSI friends -

The senseless murders yesterday of our beautiful soldiers - they are all our children - is beyond painful.

I am having an extremely hard time seeing thru my tears as I write this.

Erez Orbach z'l, May G-d avenge his blood, is the grandson of our friend Mimi Tsadok who many of you met when you went to Dolev homes. AFSI has spent time with Mimi on a few trips. She is the director of Development at Dolev.

If you want to reach out to Mimi, her email is mtsadok2@gmail.com

You may wish to make a donation to Dolev in Erez' memory. 

http://dolev4u.org/how-to-donate

https://oneisraelfund.org/oif-projects/dolev-homes-for-at-risk-youth/

Mimi posted this on her facebook page:

How can I express in mere words the pain and agony of losing a wonderful grandson, son and symbol to so many friends and family of dedication, strength of spirit to overcome life's challenges with optimism and courage. Despite all odds our Erez volunteered to serve in the Air Force and was on his way to becoming a great officer. 
Such a tragic loss to our family and community and Am Yisrael. May HaShem grant our daughter Caryn and family to continue his memory with strength and fortitide.
Thank you to our family and friends all over the world who have expressed their sympathy.
Baruch Dayan Emet

This is from Artuz 7 today.

One of the soldiers murdered in the ramming attack which occurred today in Jerusalem has been identified as 20-year-old Erez Orbach of Alon Shvut in the Etzion Bloc (Gush Etzion) south of Jerusalem, a cadet at the officer's training school.

Corporal Erez Orbach Hy"d (may G-d avenge his blood) is the son of Keren and Uri Orbach, the oldest of six children. After studying at the Neve Shmuel Yeshiva High School in Efrat, part of the Ohr Torah Network headed by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, he went to study at the Hesder Yeshiva in Maalot and enlisted for his army service.

After his death his rank was raised posthumously to Second Lieutenant. He will be laid to rest Monday at 11 A.M. at the Kfar Etzion cemetery.

Fwd: [Americans For a Safe Israel - AFSI] Thank you Ezri Tubi. Alor Azarias conviction of manslaughter weakens and ties the hands of the IDF. Video..Let The IDF Fight Back!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Judy Freedman Kadish" <notification+z9=aj0s6@facebookmail.com>
Date: Jan 9, 2017 9:06 AM
Subject: [Americans For a Safe Israel - AFSI] Thank you Ezri Tubi. Your group Boomerang has...
To: "Americans For a Safe Israel - AFSI" <893527364072852@groups.facebook.com>
Cc:

Judy Freedman Kadish , JanSuzanne Krasner and 8 others posted in Americans For a Safe Israel - AFSI .       Judy Freedman Kadish January 9 at 9:06am   Thank you Ezri Tubi. Your group Boomerang has become a clear voice for the realists in Israel and among those who love her. Let the IDF Fight Back Let the IDF fight back Only four days after Sergeant Elor Azaria's conviction IDF soldiers hesitate ...   Like Comment               Facebook             Judy Freedman Kadish, JanSuzanne Krasner and 8 others posted in Americans For a Safe Israel - AFSI.       Judy Freedman Kadish January 9 at 9:06am   Thank you Ezri Tubi. Your group Boomerang has become a clear voice for the realists in Israel and among those who love her. Let the IDF Fight Back Let the IDF fight back Only four days after Sergeant Elor Azaria's conviction IDF soldiers hesitate ...   Like Comment               View on Facebook     Edit Email Settings           Reply to this email to comment on this post.             This message was sent to faigerayzel@gmail.com. If you don't want to receive these emails from Facebook in the future, please unsubscribe. Facebook, Inc., Attention: Community Support, 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025

Fwd: [Americans For a Safe Israel - AFSI] My dear AFSI friends -

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Cheryl Jacobs Lewin" <notification+z9=aj0s6@facebookmail.com>
Date: Jan 9, 2017 9:11 AM
Subject: [Americans For a Safe Israel - AFSI] My dear AFSI friends -
To: "Americans For a Safe Israel - AFSI" <893527364072852@groups.facebook.com>
Cc:

Cheryl Jacobs Lewin , Judy Freedman Kadish and 8 others posted in Americans For a Safe Israel - AFSI .       Cheryl Jacobs Lewin January 9 at 9:11am   My dear AFSI friends - I am having an extremely hard time seeing thru my tears as I write this.The senseless murders yesterday of our beautiful soldiers - they are all our children - is beyond painful. And the Msem - damn them - are celebrating. Erez Orbach z'l, May G-d avenge his blood, is the grandson of our friend Mimi Tsadok who many of you met when you went to Dolev homes. AFSI has spent time with Mimi on a few trips. She is the director of Development at Dolev. You may wish to make a donation to Dolev in Erez' memory. http://dolev4u.org/how-to-donate https://oneisraelfund.org/oif-projects/dolev-homes-for-at-risk-youth/ Mimi posted this on her facebook page: How can I express in mere words the pain and agony of losing a wonderful grandson, son and symbol to so many friends and family of dedication, strength of spirit to overcome life's challenges with optimism and courage. Despite all odds our Erez volunteered to serve in the Air Force and was on his way to becoming a great officer. Such a tragic loss to our family and community and Am Yisrael. May HaShem grant our daughter Caryn and family to continue his memory with strength and fortitide. Thank you to our family and friends all over the world who have expressed their sympathy. Baruch Dayan Emet This is from Artuz 7 today. One of the soldiers murdered in the ramming attack which occurred today in Jerusalem has been identified as 20-year-old Erez Orbach of Alon Shvut in the Etzion Bloc (Gush Etzion) south of Jerusalem, a cadet at the officer's training school. Corporal Erez Orbach Hy"d (may G-d avenge his blood) is the son of Keren and Uri Orbach, the oldest of six children. After studying at the Neve Shmuel Yeshiva High School in Efrat, part of the Ohr Torah Network headed by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, he went to study at the Hesder Yeshiva in Maalot and enlisted for his army service. After his death his rank was raised posthumously to Second Lieutenant. He will be laid to rest Monday at 11 A.M. at the Kfar Etzion cemetery. How to Donate   Like Comment Share               Facebook             Cheryl Jacobs Lewin, Judy Freedman Kadish and 8 others posted in Americans For a Safe Israel - AFSI.       Cheryl Jacobs Lewin January 9 at 9:11am   My dear AFSI friends - I am having an extremely hard time seeing thru my tears as I write this.The senseless murders yesterday of our beautiful soldiers - they are all our children - is beyond painful. And the Msem - damn them - are celebrating. Erez Orbach z'l, May G-d avenge his blood, is the grandson of our friend Mimi Tsadok who many of you met when you went to Dolev homes. AFSI has spent time with Mimi on a few trips. She is the director of Development at Dolev. You may wish to make a donation to Dolev in Erez' memory. http://dolev4u.org/how-to-donate https://oneisraelfund.org/oif-projects/dolev-homes-for-at-risk-youth/ Mimi posted this on her facebook page: How can I express in mere words the pain and agony of losing a wonderful grandson, son and symbol to so many friends and family of dedication, strength of spirit to overcome life's challenges with optimism and courage. Despite all odds our Erez volunteered to serve in the Air Force and was on his way to becoming a great officer. Such a tragic loss to our family and community and Am Yisrael. May HaShem grant our daughter Caryn and family to continue his memory with strength and fortitide. Thank you to our family and friends all over the world who have expressed their sympathy. Baruch Dayan Emet This is from Artuz 7 today. One of the soldiers murdered in the ramming attack which occurred today in Jerusalem has been identified as 20-year-old Erez Orbach of Alon Shvut in the Etzion Bloc (Gush Etzion) south of Jerusalem, a cadet at the officer's training school. Corporal Erez Orbach Hy"d (may G-d avenge his blood) is the son of Keren and Uri Orbach, the oldest of six children. After studying at the Neve Shmuel Yeshiva High School in Efrat, part of the Ohr Torah Network headed by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, he went to study at the Hesder Yeshiva in Maalot and enlisted for his army service. After his death his rank was raised posthumously to Second Lieutenant. He will be laid to rest Monday at 11 A.M. at the Kfar Etzion cemetery. How to Donate   Like Comment Share               View on Facebook     Edit Email Settings           Reply to this email to comment on this post.             This message was sent to faigerayzel@gmail.com. If you don't want to receive these emails from Facebook in the future, please unsubscribe. Facebook, Inc., Attention: Community Support, 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025