Sunday, February 05, 2006

Contempt for fundraising efforts for Gush Katif

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I never would have believed that I would be posting a blog that shows contempt for fundraising efforts for expellees of Gush Katif... but that is how I feel.

I heard today, that the Agudas Yisroel of Madison, Rabbi Reisman's shul in Brooklyn is doing fundraising to benefit the youth from Gush Katif that are currently in Yad Binyamin. What I heard (and I have yet to verify) is that they are looking to raise $100,000 to help the troubled youth formerly of Gush Katif, now in Yad Binyamin, to help pay for psychological counseling among other things.

I feel contempt because Rabbi Reisman, following the lead of Agudas Yisroel of America, chose not to speak out publicly against the disengagement. I have no doubt that they "shared" the pain of their brethren at the time but did nothing publicly to prevent it from happening. Their excuse was that they do not make political statements.

Is this politics? Is their study of Torah purely academic?


American frum Jews are comfortable collecting money for the poor. This is a cause that is close to their heart. So collecting money for troubled youth fits their comfort level.

A Torah Statement (Kol Korei) about our claim to Eretz Yisroel is still forthcoming.

Rabbi Reisman can include in his Torah Lectures that Eretz Yisroel was promised to the seed of Avraham Yitzchok and Yaakov and therefore the Roadmap is in direct contradiction to the Covenant since they are mutually exlusive. Did Rabbi Reisman lobby Agudas Yisroel to make such a statement? Did they send out a Mischlachat to Eretz Yisroel asking Rav Shteinman, Rav Eliashiv and Rav Kanievsky and other important Rabbanim how come no such proclamation was forthcoming.

I can't help but wonder what kind of Kavana these Rabbanim have each morning when they put on Tefillin and say the two portions of the Torah that is in Parshas Bo "Vehaya Chi Yeviacha Hashem el Eretz Haknaani...Asher Nishba Laavosecho Lases Lach Eretz Zavas Chalav Udevash" (the portion pertaining to eating Matzoh on Pesach, no chametz, etc) and "Vehaya Ki Yeviacho Hashem el Eretz Haknaani Kaasher Nishba Lecho Velavosecha Unesanah Lach" (portions pertaining to Peter Rechem).

Translated (from Stone Chumash) these portions are Exodus 13/4 "And it shall come to pass when Hashem shall bring you to the land of the Canaanite....which He swore to your forefathers to give you - land flowing with milk and honey..." and Exodus 13/11 It shall come to pass, when Hashem will bring you to the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and your forefathers and He will have given it to you..."

How many times does the Torah have to repeat that He swore the Land to our forefathers to give to us? Is this only relevant to the generation entering Eretz Yisroel and not relevant to our generation? Why then do the men say it every day when they put on Tefillin.

It must be extremely fundamental because the Torah repeats these or similar words again and again.

If I was one of the youth expelled from Gush Katif I would send a letter back to the Agudas Yisroel of Madison to please keep their money for psychological counsel. It's a waste of their money. I would ask Rav Reisman to instead make a public statement along with the Agudas Yisroel of America about our Covenant and that the Covenant is in direct conflict (Soter in Hebrew) with the Roadmap plan.

Eidus Hashem Meishivas Nafesh. That would be the best Refuah for the youth expelled from their Land.

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Satmar vindicated. Medinat Yisroel today is an evil State.

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Shavua Tov!

Well there is now a common thread of what Satmar Chassidim have claimed over the years and what many Religious Zionists (myself included) are saying. We are now both saying that the gov't of Israel is a Midinat Resha, an evil government.

In previous blogs I have called for a separation of Jews from the State of Israel since it didn't seem to me that the State of Israel was ready for a government based on Torah. I now feel even stronger than that. The present gov't is evil.

I never called the State of Israel evil before.

If Religious Zionism and Satmar Chasidim take this opportunity to show an expression of unity I see hope for total unity among Am Yisroel.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Videos of Brutal Police attacks in Amona

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You have to see it to believe it's true.

Brutality...Col. (Res.) Moshe Givati, former army brigade commander and adviser to Minister of Police  reported that "Police told the girls, "you whore, we're going to rape you because you don't want to evacuate...".
http://wejew.com/media/5160/Amona_Expose_Film_Claims_Government_Ordered_Police_Violence/
..Girl who was attacked at Amona:  I hate to say this but looking back all I can think about is the movies we saw about the Shoah.. how the Nazi's treated the Jews there and how they pulled people out of their houses when they wanted to move them into the ghetto and they would smash the glass of people on peoples heads"

 Please go to Shlomo Wollins website
http://wejew.com/search/amona/

On Feb. 1, 2006, the Israel Police were ordered to demolish nine Jewish homes in Amona, near Ofrah, 12 miles north of Jerusalem. In the video documentary below, police were filmed using excessive force against hundreds of youthful protestors, over 200 of whom were injured and taken to hospitals for treatment.
The brief documentary film above was produced by Tzvi Fishman, who authors a popular blog on IsraelNationalNews.com.

(The following repeats many of the points addressed to the Leadership of Hebron in the preceding post of my blog. This however is addressed to everyone.)


The concept of the State of Israel is now under scrutiny. Our priority is to gather a consensus among all Jews all over the world that Israel is the inheritance of the Nation of Israel. Simply a declaration. Each and every Jew could participate.

The sad truth is that the State of Israel was formed in 1948 with a flaw. That flaw was recognized by the Chareidi population. Satmer to the extreme, refused to recognize the State because the State left out Torah in its formation. The other Chareidi groups opposed the State to a lesser degree. The State, in their defense, actively supported Torah Institutions and under the State, unprecedented growth of Torah and Mitzvos mushroomed to unbelievable proportions. Judaism flourished and Jews were able to practice Judaism without major hindrances. That is until recently...

Now that original flaw in the formation of the State is turning into a real crack.

Jewish Leadership must acknowledge that the Formation and Foundation of the State of Israel is seriously flawed as the Chareidi population has repeatedly stated over the years. Until recently, Torah believing Jews were able to live in the State of Israel and practice their religion. Now they are unable to do so and the entire foundation of the State is breaking apart. The Lubavitch Rebbe in a letter to Geula Cohen was against using the terminology of the State of Israel but rather uses terms such as the Land of Israel and the Nation of Israel. The Modern day State of Israel is not eternal. The Covenant of the Land of Israel to the Nation of Israel is.

Religious Zionism has shown unwavering, continuous, loyal support for the State of Israel. It is quite understandable since the settlements were established under the State of Israel. (roads, water, electricity, local gov't, etc). One is hesitant to spit at the water they drank from.

The Torah Institutions including chareidi Institutions as well as my own alma mater Michlala, have recently had their funding severely cut by the gov't so that their day to day operations are severely threatened.

The time has come to finally speak out against the original flaw of the State of Israel and to speak up for the Land of Israel, the Nation of Israel and Torath Yisroel.

The time has come to demand that each and every Rabbinic Leader in Israel as well as in Chutz Laaretz claim the Land of Israel for the people of Israel.

The Land of Israel is a Divine Decree for the people of Israel. Even if the Jews in the Diaspora would forego their rights to the Land they can not. In monetary transactions if one person loans another money and then foregoes the loan, that's legitimate.

But the Land of Israel belongs to the Creator of the Earth. The Jews in the Diaspora may not relinquish their rights to the Land simply because they are not living there. The Jews in Israel may not allow or encourage Jews in the Diaspora to do so either.

Rabbinic Leaders wherever they may be, must be put in the spotlight and claim the Land of Israel as their own. Rabbinic Leaders and the Nation of Israel must publicly make a statement for the Torah (purposely given at Sinai and not in the Land of Israel) for the Covenant and against the Roadmap. We must question the value of a religion that is simply academic but not put into practice. (How can we study that the Land of Israel was promised as an eternal inheritance to the people of Israel and not speak out against the Roadmap?) We must ask Rabbinic Leaders "Is the Torah relevant to our time?" If it's relevant then why isn't there a public outcry against the Roadmap?

If they reply it's politics and we don't want to take away time from our learning then ask them "Is it proper to study the laws of how to give charity to a poor person and then when a poor person comes knocking on our door we tell him please don't disturb my learning?"

The status of the Land of Israel is Torah and is fundamental to Torah. One can not remove the status of the Land of Israel from Torah just like one can not remove the heart of the Land of Israel from the Land of Israel.

Imagine if Rav Shteinman and Rav Eliashiv and Rav Kanievsky would make a statement. They have fabulous PR with Kupat Hair and the organization for Aniyei Eretz Yisroel. One statement from them would bring statements from hundreds of thousands of Jews many chareidim who love Eretz Yisroel. Kupat Hair has inserts in the Jewish Press and perhaps Hamodia and Yated not to mention all streets in Boro Park and Flatbush plastered.

Chaim Dovid Zwiebel of Agudas Yisroel told me personally that their hands are paralyzed unless some statement comes from Eretz Yisroel. I have no doubt that Agudas Yisroel in America has tremendous influence over a very large religious population of Jews,Yeshivas and shuls in America.


Standing up for the Covenant and the Torah and against the Roadmap is our only hope for Eretz Yisroel.

What is Aliya to Eretz Yisroel without Torath Yisroel?

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Hebron Settlement and Amona Expulsion

Open Letter to David Wilder and the Leadership in Hebron:

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Dear David Wilder and the Hebron Leadership, amv"sh

While I admire your ability to remain calm, cool and collected under severe provocation including the eviction of your daughter and her family from their home and was successful in coming to an agreement with the State I wish to impress upon you that Hebron has to take a more active stand regarding our right to the entire Land of Israel.

The compromise of the residents in the former Arab Marketplace in Hebron was based on the fact that the marketplace has a deed of Jewish owners going back to 1929 prior to the massacres.

Hebron has been relatively silent about the Bible and the Covenant Though I have no doubt that you in Hebron deeply believe in the Covenant, you have continuously refrained to publicly stand up for the Covenant. Security considerations was your position in your fight to keep Gush Katif and the settlements. Now you claim Hebron marketplace to Jewish ownership from 1929.

President Bush in his State of the Union address stated that America must take the initiative to speak up for our right of freedom and lead. Hebron is not leading. They are reacting to each incident but they are not going back to the roots which is the Torah and our Covenant.

The sad truth is that the State of Israel was formed in 1948 with a flaw. That flaw was recognized by the Chareidi population. Satmer to the extreme, refused to recognize the State because the State left out Torah in its formation. The other Chareidi groups opposed the State to a lesser degree. The State, in their defense, actively supported Torah Institutions and under the State, unprecedented growth of the Teshuva movement back to Torah and Mitzvos mushroomed to unbelievable proportions. Judaism flourished and Jews were able to practice Judaism without major hindrances. That is until recently...

Now that original flaw in the formation of the State is turning into a real crack.

In Amona, one can not allow the youth to act unilaterally. They will be brutally attacked by the State. It is not their place. The Leadership must acknowledge that the Formation and Foundation of the State of Israel is seriously flawed as the Chareidi population has repeatedly stated over the years. Until recently, Torah believing Jews were able to live in the State of Israel and practice their religion. Now they are unable to do so and the entire foundation of the State is breaking apart. The Lubavitch Rebbe in a letter to Geula Cohen was against using the terminology of the State of Israel but rather uses terms such as the Land of Israel and the Nation of Israel. The Modern day State of Israel is not eternal. The Covenant of the Land of Israel to the Nation of Israel is.

Hebron's leadership has shown unwavering, continuous, loyal support for the State of Israel. It is quite understandable since Hebron as well as the rest of the settlements were established under the State of Israel. (roads, water, electricity, local gov't, etc). One is hesitant to spit at the water they drank from.

The Torah Institutions including chareidi Institutions as well as my own alma mater Michlala, have recently had their funding severely cut by the gov't so that their day to day operations are severely threatened.

The time has come to finally speak out against the original flaw of the State of Israel and to speak up for the Land of Israel, the Nation of Israel and Torath Yisroel.

Uri Ariel is speaking up for the Torah and the Covenant of Abraham. Hebron must show strong leadership in this point in time as well. They must speak up for the Covenant. They must demand that each and every Rabbinic Leader in Israel as well as in Chutz Laaretz claim the Land of Israel for the people of Israel.

The Land of Israel is a Divine Decree for the people of Israel. Even if the Jews in the Diaspora would forego their rights to the Land they can not. In monetary transactions if one person loans another money and then foregoes the loan, that's legitimate.

But the Land of Israel belongs to the Creator of the Earth. The Jews in the Diaspora may not relinquish their rights to the Land simply because they are not living there. The Jews in Israel may not allow or encourage Jews in the Diaspora to do so either.

Therefore, the Leadership from Hebron must call upon all Rabbinic Leaders wherever they may be, and put them in the spotlight and demand that they claim the Land of Israel as their own. Rabbinic Leaders and the Nation of Israel must publicly make a statement for the Torah (purposely given at Sinai and not in the Land of Israel) for the Covenant and against the Roadmap. We must question the value of a religion that is simply academic but not put into practice. (How can we study that the Land of Israel was promised as an eternal inheritance to the people of Israel and not speak out against the Roadmap?) We must ask Rabbinic Leaders "Is the Torah relevant to our time?" If it's relevant then why isn't there a public outcry against the Roadmap?

If they reply it's politics and we don't want to take away time from our learning then ask them "Is it proper to study the laws of how to give charity to a poor person and then when a poor person comes knocking on our door we tell him please don't disturb my learning?"

The status of the Land of Israel is Torah and is fundamental to Torah. One can not remove the status of the Land of Israel from Torah just like one can not remove the heart of the Land of Israel from the Land of Israel.


Speaking up for the Covenant and the Torah and against the Roadmap is our only hope for Amona and all other settlements in Judea and Samaria.

Sincerely

Robin Ticker

This will be posted G-d willing to my blog http://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/

Friday, January 27, 2006

After careful consideration Yoelba has asked to be removed from being coeditor of Shemittah Rediscovered

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In response to my request in a previous post to keep focus of this blog on Shemittah and the other various Mitzvoth pertaining to the Land of Israel, Yoelba has requested to be removed as coediter of this blog.

Blogger Yoel Ben-Avraham has several blogs and his posts can be viewed there. I of course continue to welcome comments to any posts published on this blog and links to other blogs can be posted via comments.

Sincerely,

Robin Ticker