Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Re: Moshe Belogorodsky Coming From Shilo to U.S.

bs"d

The civil rights abuses of those that are jailed including minors, unfortunately did not suprise me. It it for this reason I didn't agree with civil disobedience approach of Pinchus Wallerstein and Manhigut Yehudit. These civil rights abuses are sadly to be expected in Sharon's gov't. The reason I raise this is because it's important to know what we are up against.

The following scenario is for sure a possibility:

I would not be surprised if Shabak would pick (or plant) a few settlers ( and make sure they receive adequate compensation for the expulsion). Then show these settlers complaining that they did not have pocket money for basic necessities. The media will then portray the refugees as doing whatever they can to take advantage of the gov't and as exploiters.

Comments to video "Torn Together" and Moshe Gelogrorodsky Coming From Shilo to U.S.

I received this email:

Friends,>> Something truly heartrending and beautiful. I highly> recommend you watch this.>> My thanks and my congratulations to> Tzvi Freeman for his touching photo> essay and to Chabad.org for trying to> bring the people of Israel together.>> You can view it by visiting> http://tinyurl.com/csn7k>> Naomi>


Here are my comments about this video.

I think that there were mistakes that were made initially by Yesha that allowed the disengagement to eventually occur. These mistakes need tikkun. The desire for unity was fed by a legitimate fear of acting independently. The fear was that Gush Katif would never survive Arab agression without support of the Gov't of Israel and Zahal. This fear led to the decisions of Yesha not to take a stand with backbone (peaceful resistance). The video Torn Together allows us to feel good about ourselves which we deserve to feel. However, it does not confront the root of the expulsion.

I would not be surprised if the teenagers who have been in jail (especially the ones that suffered civil right abuses) are resentful of their parents for allowing them to fight a battle that adults should have fought and in fact actually encouraging them (under Pinchus Wallerstein's direction as well as others) to be put in jail.

The pain is too raw. However, this call for unity with a heretical gov't is bringing us to Moshiach through much pain and suffering. (We will all be redeemed but be Chayav as opposed to we will all be redeemed because we are Zakai). I believe separating ourselves as did Avraham from Lot is the temporary solution. After the separation Hashem spoke to Avraham because while Lot was behaving as a Rasha in Avraham's company (greedy, stealing etc), Hashem was unable to reveal Himself. It is important to note that Moshiach comes from both Avraham"s seed Yehudah, and Lot's seed Ruth. The ultimate goal is unity among all of Am Yisroel and no Jew will be left behind.

Initially it is simply too difficult for most of the nation to have a gov't based on Torah. It will be plenty difficult and revolutionary for the Gush Emunim to follow laws that are rediscovered. Most of the nation will say that they do not wish to be coerced.


Another forwarded message I received:
-----------------Forwarded Message:
Moshe Belogorodsky Coming From Shilo to U.S.
Date:
9/4/05 11:44:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:
HavaNehama
Miriam Adahan has sent the following plea to the American Jewish community: PLEASE INVITE Chaya and Moshe to speak in your shul or community center. The situation is very desperate in terms of civil rights here. Signed: Dr. Miriam Adahan. Email: Emett@netvision.net.il. For those not familiar with the case, Chaya, a 14 year old, was arrested in Kfar Darom during a demonstration against the expulsion, for speaking with chutzpah to a soldier. Her father Moshe had to publicize the case, full of atrocities, in order to get her out of jail after 50 days. Moshe will be coming from Shilo on a speaking tour from Sept. 15 to October 6. The purpose of his trip is twofold: A. Raise the awareness of the American Jewish community regarding the civil rights abuses that have been and still are going on in Israel, with tens of teens languishing in jail. B. Raise funds for Honeinu, and organization which provides political prisoners with legal help. Today's "BeSheva" newspaper finally reported about the forced strip searches being performed on female anti-disengagement protesters, some of who are minors, by the Maasiyahu prison authorities. Honeinu is the only organization standing up to protect these peoples' civil liberties in court, as well as bringing their plight to public attention. For example, Etti Meidad and her 8-month-old baby have spent the past 3 weeks in jail on trumped up charges. It was the Special Prosecutor Shai Nitzan himself who gave a personal order, immediately after Etti's arrest, to place Zangi's 2 youngest boys in forced adoption. Please help make this trip a success by helping us arrange speaking engagements, parlor meetings, and meetings with prominent figures who can warn the authorities that their activities are under public scrutiny. To help, please contact: HavaNehama@aol.com. I will pass on your message to Moshe. Or you can email him directly at ydf@013.net.ilThank you for caring. (posted Haya Hava Shulman)

Lettter I sent to Hebron@hebron.org December 2004

I wrote to David Wilder suggesting that the Yesha Leaders seriously consider the possibility of refusing to accept this gov't authority over them if this gov't chooses to abandon them. This means that they seriously start thinking about setting up a governing authority in line with the Torah. David's response was that this course would cause divisiveness and would possibly be a fatal mistake. My response to his response is that choosing not to adhere to the Torah would be a fatal mistake. I refuse to be subservient to a gov't that defies G-d's Law in the Land of Israel. I will be subservient to a governing body who accepts G-d's Law of the Torah and the fundamental precept that The Land of Israel was given to the seed of Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov and the Nation of Israel who in turn are obligated in adhering to the Mitzvot specified in the Torah regarding the Land for the benefit of mankind. The Truth when spoken will be heard and respected.

Subj:
Standing up for the Torah can only bring Shalom.
Date:
12/24/04 12:41:57 AM Eastern Standard Time
From:
FaigeRayzel
To:
hebron@hebron.org.il
bs"d

Dear David, amv"sh

I believe my position will bring peace and not chas Veshalom divisiveness. It's a case of Mi LaHashem Elai. The Leviim obeyed Hashem's command. If one desires to do the Mitzvot Teluyot Baaretz with all his heart and soul there is no alternative but to say very simply that the Land is Fundamental to the Torah. There is no discussion. The Torah is quite explicit about the curses awaiting us when we fail to do the Mitzvot specifically like Shemita. It doesn't make a difference to me whether the Yesha Council is against civil disobedience or not and that your position is somewhat of a compromise. On the position of Eretz Yisroel there is simply no discussion. I can not support a gov't that does not agree on this fundamental truth. It is equivalent to be being Kofer BeIkar. I do not believe that G-d brought us back to the Land after 2000 years so that we can give it away or compromise. The split or division among the Jews is a result of not standing up strongly for our beliefs. Why not suggest to the world that within Israel there are 2 fundamentally different camps. The fundamental Jews wish to keep the Law of the Torah which is quite explicit. The Land belongs to G-d. G-d in turn chose the Nation of Israel to keep it's commandments. These commandments such as Shmita require us to let the Land go fallow in the Seventh Year as well as Teruman, Maaser, Leket Shikcha UPeah to name a few. This in turn makes the Land H-ly. (It is called the HolyLand for a reason). Keeping these commandments is what gives us the right to the Land of Israel. When the Nation of Israel abide by the Torah, the entire world benefits. They are the violinists. When they play, beautiful music is heard. There is no discussion because if you wish to hear music it can only be through the Commandments of the Torah. Palestinians know nothing about this. In fact they hate the music and wish to destroy. Even a democracy will not play the music. When the desire to truly keep the Mitzvot of the Torah is so strong, there is the knowledge that it can only result in good and not Chas Veshalom in divisiveness.

Sincerely,
Robin

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

How it began... How I became interested in shemittah.

My discussion about Shemittah began in the year 5747. But my personal story that brought me to focus on Shemittah began years before. I remember as a young girl how my parents would consistently send packages to Israel for my Aunt and her family. Any time we heard that someone was leaving to Israel my mother would shop and prepare a care package. My aunt would gratefully receive all the care packages and would value every item as if it was the greatest gift. It felt good to be on the giving end. I was in my 20's, single and was working as a computer programmer in Young and Rubicam. I had joined a Bnei Akiva Garin called Moreshet Avot and the plan was to eventually make Aliya to Kiryat Arba. In the summer of 1980 I decided to take an extended vacation leave and went to Kiryat Arba as a volunteer for the Social Services Dept. of Kiryat Arba. I lived in an available studio apt. in Kiryat Arba. I helped in the Maon Keshishim, and befriended an elderly Yemenite women in her 80's, helped take care of 2 adopted Downe Syndrome babies whose adopted mother was pregnant and on bed rest and I tutored a young girl who had epileptic seizures. It was a very productive summer and at the end of the summer one of the families of the Garin mentioned that an apt in their building was for sale and perhaps I was interested. Being that the apt cost $16,000 and with the lawyers fee would amount to no more than $17,000, I bought it with the agreement that I would work the following year in the States and pay it off in installments. It took a year and then I was ready to make aliyah. I had an apt and decided not to use my zechuyot because I had what I needed b"h. In December 1981 I made aliyah. I was determined to be independent and not be a "shnorrer". I was going to work, and not live off of handouts. It hurt me that people of Israel had the reputation of being shnorrers.

Soon my parents began to send me care packages. My nature did not allow me to be on the receiving end. It seemed to me that in America they considered themselves as rich and if you lived in Israel it meant you were poor. I still preferred to be the giver and not the receiver. I didn't like the attitude of Magia Li, it's coming to me because I live in Israel. I was a proud human being and felt that Israel should be a proud State. Within time I made a vow to myself not to accept gifts from others even if it meant rejecting gifts from my own parents. In retrospect the vow was a mistake but I only came to that realization through a very long and agonizing process. I did understand the seriousness of breaking a vow. Therefore even though my parents were heartbroken on my decision not to accept gifts from them, I persisted. My life became unbearable. Because not only wasn't I not accepting gifts from my parents in America, I felt that it would be an insult to them if I did accept from others in Israel. By the end of 1986 I was in a terrible bind. I could not continue living this austere lifestyle and yet I was very afraid to break this vow. Because the purpose of the vow was leshem shamayim, to correct what I perceived to be an a Chillul Hashem. The Chillul Hashem was the fact that many in America and all over the world thought we were "the poor people in Israel", Aniyee Eretz Yisroel and they felt sorry for us and therefore wanted to help us. In reality we were the opposite and should be perceived to be the opposite.

Then I started to read about Shemittah. It was a year that everything belonged to Hashem and we relinquished all our loans and the Land was "returned" to its rightful owner. I saw a way out of my Neder. The produce did not belong to anyone and it had special Kedusha. Farmers declared their fields Hefker and the produce had Kedushas Shviis. What I was eating belonged to what another designated as their Mitzva. So others were returning what they had to Hashem. The Mitzva gave me the right to eat from this produce which had special sanctity. It was then that I perceived a key to the Tikkun of the Chillul Hashem. The Tikkun was the way one gave and the way one received. If one gives in the spirit that I am doing a Mitzva and giving to Hashem than that is the right way to give. The person receiving was not receiving directly from the one that gave. The person receiving was receiving directly from Hashem. Hashem created a Mitzvah which gave him the opportunity for his sustenance. The receiver would desire that Am Yisroel do the Mitzvoth of the Torah and thank Hashem for his livelihood. Others examples of this besides Shemittah are the Mitzvoth of Leket, Shikcha and Peeah. The landowner would do these Mitzvoth and the poor person thanked G-d for his livelihood and be grateful that the landowner was a righteous human being that fulfilled the Mitzvoth. The Kohanim and Leviim are other examples. The Nation is obligated to give Terumot and Maaserot. The proper attitude in performing these Mitzvoth is to say I am fulfilling Mitzvoth. One is not chas veshalom allowed to think I am giving you the Kohen a personal gift and you in turn owe me something. Because if the Kohen took this as a personal gift and even tried to pay it back in some way it was an insult to his Kehuna. The correct way to give is that I am performing a Mitzvah of Terumah and Maasrot. The Kohein and Levi are recipients of other peoples Mitzvoth. They in turn would pray that the people keep the Mitzvoth of the Torah because their sustenance depended on it. This was a tremendous revelation to me and one of many. I understood that I misjudged how people were giving and misjudged how people were receiving. Or perhaps there were flaws in the way people were giving and receiving. If one was embarrassed from receiving that indicates that the giver perhaps had the wrong intention or perhaps the receiver had the wrong intention.

The Shemittah year was a personal tikkun of my character traits. I by nature was a giver. In the Shemittah year I learned how to receive. I by nature did not like to borrow money. In the shemittah year I learned how to borrow. Prior to the Shemittah year I was fasting on a regular basis in order to come closer to Hashem. In the Shemittah year I ate. The list goes on and on...

I cannot describe to you the resistance however to this years experience. If this experienced would be implemented large scale it was no less than a political, social and economic upheaval. The reaction was totally unified agreement against these ideas. I reached the summit but I was alone. At the end of the Shemittah year I went to Hakhel and was thrilled to start anew with the beautiful Mitzvoth of ownership, the laws of tithes, etc. But I was emotionally drained and very alone. I borrowed money from my family in America to pay my overdraft (in retrospect a mistake). I came to America for family Simchas and was unable to withstand family pressure not to return to Israel especially because in Israel these ideas of shemittah were met with such resistance alienating me from almost everyone I held dear, friend, family and rabbinic leaders.

So I was in Golus and the pain was unbearable. But recognizing that perhaps the world was not ready for these ideas about Shemittah I was quiet. It was only after September 11, 2001, 14 years later, which occurred immediately following a shemittah year did I begin to once again speak about shemittah. I saw the nuclear, biological and chemical threat against mankind and thought to myself that no matter how scary implementing shemittah might be, these alternatives were way scarier.

I started writing about Shemittah and my article was eventually posted by Arutz7 in 2004.

Dear Robin, We posted your article on Shmitta under the above title on our Torah page. The URL is http://www.israelnationalnews.com/article.php3?id=3743 Thanks, again (after a few years, no?), Nissan Ratzlav-Katz

18 years later I am still focused about Shemittah. When Shemittah is kept, we declare the Land belongs to G-d. Only the Nation of Israel has the obligations to keep the commandments thereby bringing sanctity to the Land. No other nation even a nice "democratic PA" has the inclination to keep the commandments. If we truly had the desire to keep the commandments in the Torah we would simply say "Sorry, but only we are the violinists that can bring out the music of the Land for all to enjoy. G-d promised the Land of Israel to the Nation of Israel, via His Covenant with our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their seed thereafter. We in turn have obligations. Every seven years and every 50 years we return the Land to G-d declaring that all that we have is His. (The Yovel year can only be observed when the 12 tribes are back in the Land of Israel.)

I am convinced that the moment we declare that we wish to stay on the Land and keep the commandments of the Torah, such as Shemittah, G-d will come to our rescue.

Sunday, September 04, 2005

Shemittah Rediscovered by Faigerayzel

bs'd

70 years of exile following the destruction of the First Temple were for the 70 years Shemittah was not observed properly.

What does Hashem expect from us when the Torah says that debts are cancelled after seven years in the Shemittah year? (Shemitath Kesafim)

Learn about the adventure of Faigerayzel as she ventured into frontier territory uncharted for thousands of years. A year of Shemittah without Pruzbul and without Heter Mechirah. The year was 5747 in the Jewish Calendar 1987 C.E. The journey began several year before...