Tuesday, October 28, 2008

URGENT! URGENT! CHAS VESHALOM HOW WILL WE IN THE DIASPORA BE WORTHY IF WE REMAIN SILENT

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WATCH THIS UTUBE! PLEASE!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eboT9yPVSo&eurl=http://www.hebron.com/english/

Chasdei Hashem that this family was not brutally murdered like in Nazi Germany.  Thank G-d  we are still under Israeli Sovereignty.  It could have been much worse under a State of Palestine.....There is still time to do something before worse things happen....

Yet, Hashem is giving us some time to prove to Him that we do not deserve another Holocaust. 

But there is not much time to act.

Be aware that Article 12 in the FATAH Charter is the complete liberation of Palestine and eradication of Zionist economic, political, military and cultural existence.  

The forefather of FATAH is non other than the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem who alligned himself with Hitler Yemach Shemo. The Palestinians,who Obama, McCain and the Bush Administration including Condeeza Rice and even Malcolm Hoenlein, wish to empower and made a Sovereign State, are simply Amalek dressed in moderate clothes.

It is very conceivable that a Palestinian Authority who has the extinction of Israel in their Charter and glorifies Jihad, would find justification to actually murder Jews (as long as it wouldn't affect their PR) and very possibly would have gone much further than the Gov't of Israel on their attack on the "settlers" who are demonized and represented in the leftist media as being terrorists themselves..

Politically the Palestinians will not publicly speak like Hamas since they feel that such tactics are not as effective but they glorify those that commit Jihad.   

The Federman case is a test.  The gov't of Israel wants to see how we Jews will respond to this provocation and whether the expulsion of Yesha will be met with serious resistance or whether it will proceed relatively peacefully as was seen in Gush Katif.

Send this to your contacts and family and let them know what's happening! Especially show it to influential Rabbanim like Rav Yaakov Perlow, Rosh Agudath Yisroel and Rosh Moetzet Gedolei Hatorah in America  and Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Philadelphia and spiritual mentor of the Chofets Chaim Heritage Foundation who can mobilize and influence hundreds of thousands of caring Jews within days to scream out with pain and have yet not done so.  Will they simply organize tefilla rallies that don't speak with clarity regarding our entitlement to Eretz Yisroel and continue to refuse to validate the struggle of the righteous Jews in YESHA?.

These Torah organizations, who at the moment are acting politicaly, have the contacts, Yeshivahs, Rabbanim,  databases and resources and Washington offices that can make a difference.

When it comes to Pikuach Nefesh our job is to act and protest whether or not we know if we will be effective says the Lubavitch Rebbe and we don't wait for others to speak out first.

Let everyone know that we are not willing to stand by silently when this horrific action of the Israeli gov't takes place unprotested. If we do not protest it will happen again and again chas veshalam.   Let us proclaim our entitlement to all of  Eretz Yisroel especially in Yehuda and Shomron the heart of Eretz Yisroel. .

We can see what is being born. We are very worried for our own lives and homes and families within the very near future.  In America, with the precarious economic situation as it is, is a precurser for antisemitism just like in 1929.  Just ask Rebbetzin Esther Jungreiss.

If we stand by idly while our fellow brothers are brutally attacked what zechut will we have for ourselves?

Will we refuse to act and instead  cry a senseless cry like the generation of the Miraglim of our weaknesses and our inablilities to effect change or will we take the cry of Calev and Yehoshua and put our faith in Hashem and go up to conquer the Land.?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Israel Kaplan <israelkaplan@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, Oct 28, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Subject: ELISHEVA FEDERMAN DESCRIBES THE EVENTS
To: IZZY <israelkaplan@yahoo.com>



Dear List:
 
What you are about to view is extremely disturbing.   What is even more disturbing is who was responsible for the destruction of the Federman home and the psychological damage that these children will have throughout their lives.
We will do a great service to the State of Israel and to the Jewish world as a whole by forwarding this film to as many individuals and lists as possible.   Why you ask?   The only way in which we are able to put an end to the EVIL that has locked on to those who run Eretz Yisrael is by publicizing what they are doing to us.   To be silent gives this evil the opportunity to continue doing it to many others.   Don't be one of this generations silent Jews.    Treat Elisheva Federman and her family as you would your very own.
 
 
 
----------------------------------------------------------



----------------------------------------------------------
IZZY KAPLAN
416 824 2858
416 256 2858
Check out my new blog http://israelonisrael.blogspot.com


Sunday, October 19, 2008

Breaking NEWS! YEHUDAH GLICK Executive Director of Temple Institute arrested today. RAISE AWARENESS. See Top story A7

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Police Arrest Temple Institute Director
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/128004


As you can see in the article, they arrested him for provocation etc.  I just spoke to Rabbi Richman of Temple Institute who said that they had clearly coordinated with the Police beforehand giving them all the names and address of the people that wished to go on Temple Institute in order for things to go smoothly.  In return for being so cooperative, they sent in the Yassam, Riot police.  It is obvious that the provocoteurs are the Police and not Yehuda Glick and company!

The police should be arrested for sending the Yassam police on innocent Jews and provoking them.   A G-d fearing Jew who merely coordinated those that wish to pray on Temple Mount in places where their Rabbanim have determined is permissable to pray, cooperated with the police, and got arrested. Why were the riot police called?????The names and identity of 500 people that wished to daven on Temple Mount have been given to the Police.  Now what is stopping the police to use this information to harrass them? 

And if they hadn't cooperate then of course they will be accused of provocation etc.


Thursday, October 16, 2008

Educating McCain and Obama about our Birthright and against Land for Peace Solutions

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Let us join forces and put our efforts into educating McCain about the The 2 State Solution and how it's equiv. to supporting  Nazi ideology in the heart of Israel. 

* As an introduction, I would clearly state our position which is that we want a new USA/Israel Foreign Policy that is in sync with G-d's Covenant with Israel. (see below New USA/Israel Policy sent to McCain by Non Jewish groups)

* The Torah clearly states that entire  Israel including Judea and Samaria is our birthright and the birthright of the People of Israel.

* As clear as the sun shines in the morning, Israel from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River was given to the Jewish people world wide in 3 legally- binding international treaties - the 1920 San Remo Conference treaty, the  Mandate for Palestine1922,  and The British American covenant regarding Palestine 1924 -  all of which stated unambiguously that Palestine would be reconstituted as a "National homeland for the Jewish people worldwide" based on the recognition of the " Jewish historical ties to that land." Even for the ethically deaf and blind world it's a pretty simple mission to understand.


* The Palestinian Authority is a Palestinian Terror Authority.  Here is some very strong evidence! 
 
How did the did the Palestinians respond with the lynching of the 2 Israeli soldiers and the massacre of the 8 Mercaz Yeshiva students? Perhaps we should pass on video clips to them distributed free of charge by PMW.

El-Husseini, the forefather of a Palestinian State, the mufti of Jerusalem was a partner with Hitler (may his name be erased). In  Camera Media Report Fall 2008 Issue Page 25, there is a book review of "the Mufti of Jerusalem: Haj-Amin el-Husseini and National Socialism by Jennie Lebel, Cigoja Stampa, Belgrade 2007, Translated from Serbian by Paul Munch.

He was Arafat's uncle.

 I personally saw a video of Arafat addressing women and being entertained by a group of young girls speaking with yearning to be a shahida chanting "with blood and tears..."  This video was distributed on Capital Hill. If anyone is interested I believe we can get copies made bli neder, G-d willing.

See Camera Media Report   Spring 2008 by Rikki Hollander Page 28 "Is Fatah Moderate?"

Also in the Fall 2008 Camera Media Report there is an article entitled "New York Times Discovers Palestinian Incitement.  After years ignoring this key topic, Steven Erlanger covers it only after leaving his Jerusalem post for Paris."  While Camera praises the Times for shedding important light on the Palestinian hate indoctrination, they are also clear to bring proof that it is not only Hamas as Erlanger has shown,  but also the Palestinian Authority that are clearly responsible of hate indoctrination...
.
More proof that the PA is a terrorist haven:

PM's Office: Money-Transfers to Hamas Is Policy

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/126643

PM's Office: Money-Transfers to Hamas Is Policy

 
by Hillel Fendel

(IsraelNN.com) The Prime Minister's office has admitted, in a letter to the Shurat Hadin Israel Law Center, that it is enabling the transfer of huge amounts of shekels into Hamas-run Gaza.

Asked about this issue by Attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, director of human rights organization Shurat HaDin Israel Law Center, the PM's office replied, "The transfer of funds to the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip takes place with the knowledge of the Israeli government, for diplomatic reasons."

Notably, the letter states that the money is transferred to the PA, when in actuality, Hamas - not the PA - runs Gaza.

The PM's Bureau letter continues, "The money transfer takes place after consultations on the matter with the relevant elements, in which are taken into consideration various possibilities and ramifications of the stoppage of the transfers. At this stage, in light of the conclusion that was reached that it was an Israeli interest that the money transfers continue, it was decided to continue to transfer certain sums to Gaza."

Law Centers Demands Stop to Money Transfers
Shurat HaDin, an organization representing hundreds of terror victims in ongoing global battles against terror funding, had sent letters to the Prime Minister, the Bank of Israel and the Israel Postal Bank, demanding an immediate cessation to the transfer of funds to Hamas.

Israel Launders Hamas Money
A Law Center representative explained that the funds are transferred in two ways: "For one thing, trucks from Arab banks in Judea and Samaria bring new banknotes and shekels issued by the Bank of Israel to the Gaza crossings, where the money is exchanged for dollars and euros smuggled into Hamas under the Philadelphi Corridor from Iran and elsewhere.  This means that Israel is essentially laundering Hamas's smuggled money."

Replacing Old With New
"In addition, the Bank of Israel sends Brinks trucks to the Gaza crossings to replace old, unusable shekel banknotes.  It replaces the old ones with shiny new ones - and last November, just days after such an exchange took place, the whole world saw pictures of Hamas terrorists holding their Kalachnikov rifles kissing Israeli banknotes with pictures of Yitzchak Ben-Tzvi and Shmuel Yosef Agnon that they had just received as their salaries; they had not been paid in months, and the Hamas government appeared to be on the verge of collapse, when Israel stepped in with this delivery." 

"Without these criminal acts," the Law Center writes, "Hamas' financial hold on the Strip would collapse, and thus these measures are directly responsible for shoring up the Hamas control over Gaza and its continued terrorist activity launched from the region."

Shurat HaDin director Darshan-Leitner had sharp words for the government of Israel, saying it "cannot fight against the Hamas terrorist organization  with one hand, and continue to secretly finance it with the other. Hypocritically, the Prime Minister demands that governments around the world isolate and and embargo the Hamas terrorists in Gaza, and stop transferring funds to them, while at the same time he authorizes the transfer of  Israeli currency into the hands of the enemy. "

"There can be no doubt," Darshan-Leitner said, "that the  Israeli government's policy of transferring shekels is assisting the  Hamas terrorists with their missile attacks on the Negev communities.  If the Prime Minister does not immediately halt the currency transfers to Gaza, Shurat HaDin will take all legal means available against the government to bring this terror financing to a close."


Abu Abbas and his role in Terror.  Is this our "Peace Partner?" And Kuntar is released in the name of "PEACE?"


Smadar Haran Kaiser: The World Should Know What Samir Kuntar Did to My Family.


From: imra@netvision.net.il
Date: 27 June 2008 02:03:55 GMT+03:00
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Smadar Haran Kaiser: The World Should Know What Samir Kuntar Did to My Family
Reply-To: imra@netvision.net.il

The World Should Know What He Did to My Family
By Smadar Haran Kaiser
The Washington Post Sunday, May 18, 2003; Page B02
NAHARIYA, Israel
www.washingtonpost.

com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A2740-2003May17

Abu Abbas, the former head of a Palestinian terrorist group who was captured
in Iraq on April 15, is infamous for masterminding the 1985 hijacking of the
Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro. But there are probably few who remember
why Abbas's terrorists held the ship and its 400-plus passengers hostage for
two days. It was to gain the release of a Lebanese terrorist named Samir
Kuntar, who is locked up in an Israeli prison for life. Kuntar's name is all
but unknown to the world. But I know it well. Because almost a quarter of a
century ago, Kuntar murdered my family.

It was a murder of unimaginable cruelty, crueler even than the murder of
Leon Klinghoffer, the American tourist who was shot on the Achille Lauro and
dumped overboard in his wheelchair. Kuntar's mission against my family,
which never made world headlines, was also masterminded by Abu Abbas. And my
wish now is that this terrorist leader should be prosecuted in the United
States, so that the world may know of all his terrorist acts, not the least
of which is what he did to my family on April 22, 1979.

It had been a peaceful Sabbath day. My husband, Danny, and I had picnicked
with our little girls, Einat, 4, and Yael, 2, on the beach not far from our
home in Nahariya, a city on the northern coast of Israel, about six miles
south of the Lebanese border. Around midnight, we were asleep in our
apartment when four terrorists, sent by Abu Abbas from Lebanon, landed in a
rubber boat on the beach two blocks away. Gunfire and exploding grenades
awakened us as the terrorists burst into our building. They had already
killed a police officer. As they charged up to the floor above ours, I
opened the door to our apartment. In the moment before the hall light went
off, they turned and saw me. As they moved on, our neighbor from the upper
floor came running down the stairs. I grabbed her and pushed her inside our
apartment and slammed the door.

Outside, we could hear the men storming about. Desperately, we sought to
hide. Danny helped our neighbor climb into a crawl space above our bedroom;
I went in behind her with Yael in my arms. Then Danny grabbed Einat and was
dashing out the front door to take refuge in an underground shelter when the
terrorists came crashing into our flat. They held Danny and Einat while they
searched for me and Yael, knowing there were more people in the apartment. I
will never forget the joy and the hatred in their voices as they swaggered
about hunting for us, firing their guns and throwing grenades. I knew that
if Yael cried out, the terrorists would toss a grenade into the crawl space
and we would be killed. So I kept my hand over her mouth, hoping she could
breathe. As I lay there, I remembered my mother telling me how she had
hidden from the Nazis during the Holocaust. "This is just like what happened
to my mother," I thought.

As police began to arrive, the terrorists took Danny and Einat down to the
beach. There, according to eyewitnesses, one of them shot Danny in front of
Einat so that his death would be the last sight she would ever see. Then he
smashed my little girl's skull in against a rock with his rifle butt. That
terrorist was Samir Kuntar.
By the time we were rescued from the crawl space, hours later, Yael, too,
was dead. In trying to save all our lives, I had smothered her.

The next day, Abu Abbas announced from Beirut that the terrorist attack in
Nahariya had been carried out "to protest the signing of the
Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty" at Camp David the previous year. Abbas seems
to have a gift for charming journalists, but imagine the character of a man
who protests an act of peace by committing an act of slaughter.

Two of Abbas's terrorists had been killed by police on the beach. The other
two were captured, convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Despite my
protests, one was released in a prisoner exchange for Israeli POWs several
months before the Achille Lauro hijacking. Abu Abbas was determined to find
a way to free Kuntar as well. So he engineered the hijacking of the Achille
Lauro off the coast of Egypt and demanded the release of 50 Arab terrorists
from Israeli jails. The only one of those prisoners actually named was Samir
Kuntar. The plight of hundreds held hostage on a cruise ship for two days at
sea lent itself to massive international media coverage. The attack on
Nahariya, by contrast, had taken less than an hour in the middle of the
night. So what happened then was hardly noticed outside of Israel.

One hears the terrorists and their excusers say that they are driven to kill
out of desperation. But there is always a choice. Even when you have
suffered, you can choose whether to kill and ruin another's life, or whether
to go on and rebuild. Even after my family was murdered, I never dreamed of
taking revenge on any Arab. But I am determined that Samir Kuntar should
never be released from prison. In 1984, I had to fight my own government not
to release him as part of an exchange for several Israeli soldiers who were
POWs in Lebanon. I understood, of course, that the families of those POWs
would gladly have agreed to the release of an Arab terrorist to get their
sons back. But I told Yitzhak Rabin, then defense minister, that the blood
of my family was as red as that of the POWs. Israel had always taken a
position of refusing to negotiate with terrorists. If they were going to
make an exception, let it be for a terrorist who was not as cruel as Kuntar.
"Your job is not to be emotional," I told Rabin, "but to act rationally."
And he did.

So Kuntar remains in prison. I have been shocked to learn that he has
married an Israeli Arab woman who is an activist on behalf of terrorist
prisoners. As the wife of a prisoner, she gets a monthly stipend from the
government. I'm not too happy about that.

In recent years, Abu Abbas started telling journalists that he had renounced
terrorism and that killing Leon Klinghoffer had been a mistake. But he has
never said that killing my family was a mistake. He was a terrorist once,
and a terrorist, I believe, he remains. Why else did he spend these last
years, as the Israeli press has reported, free as a bird in Baghdad, passing
rewards of $25,000 from Saddam Hussein to families of Palestinian suicide
bombers? More than words, that kind of cash prize, which is a fortune to
poor families, was a way of urging more suicide bombers. The fortunate thing
about Abbas's attaching himself to Hussein is that it set him up for
capture.

Some say that Italy should have first crack at Abbas. It had already
convicted him of the Achille Lauro hijacking in absentia in 1986. Prime
Minister Silvio Berlusconi now wants Abbas handed over so that he can begin
serving his life sentence. But it's also true that in 1985, the Italians had
Abbas in their hands after U.S. fighter jets forced his plane to land in
Sicily. And yet they let him go. So while I trust Berlusconi, who knows if a
future Italian government might not again wash its hands of Abbas?

In 1995, Rabin, then our prime minister, asked me to join him on his trip to
the White House, where he was to sign a peace agreement with Yasser Arafat,
which I supported. I believe that he wanted me to represent all Israeli
victims of terrorism. Rabin dreaded shaking hands with Arafat, knowing that
those hands were bloody. At first, I agreed to make the trip, but at the
last minute, I declined. As prime minister, Rabin had to shake hands with
Arafat for political reasons. As a private person, I did not. So I stayed
here.

Now I am ready and willing to come to the United States to testify against
Abu Abbas if he is tried for terrorism. The daughters of Leon Klinghoffer
have said they are ready to do the same. Unlike Klinghoffer, Danny, Einat
and Yael were not American citizens. But Klinghoffer was killed on an
Italian ship in Abbas's attempt to free the killer of my family in Israel.
We are all connected by the international web of terrorism woven by Abbas.
Let the truth come out in a new and public trial.
And let it be in the United States, the leader in the struggle against
terrorism.
---------------
Smadar Haran Kaiser is a social worker. She is remarried and has two
daughters.

4. CJHSLA Calls on Congress to Investigate Why State Department's Arabic TV Network is Spreading Pro-Terrorist Propaganda

Hollywood, CA  90028 June 24, 2008


LA-based activist group highlights years of corruption and misuse of taxpayer finances at US-funded Al Hurra

Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors Los Angeles (CJHSLA) is calling upon Congress to immediately investigate why the State Department is using the money of US taxpayers to spread hateful pro-terrorist and anti-Israel propaganda. This demand comes in response to a CBS-ProPublica report exposing how the State Department's Arabic TV station, Al Hurra, is being used to smear United States allies and to accuse Israel of conducting a modern-day "Holocaust."

The investigation, the results of which aired last weekend, echoed similar accusations stretching back over a year. A 2007 Wall Street Journal investigation of then-news director Larry Register revealed that he "bragged about his close relationships" with Palestinian terrorists, proudly hung a portrait of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in his office, and "harbored deep biases" against Israel. A subsequent House investigation accused Al Hurra of sympathetically airing Hamas and Hezbollah's "hateful, anti-American, and anti-Israel" and of uncritically broadcasting Iran's December 2006 Holocaust Denial Conference.

At that time Congress correctly demanded Register's removal and called on the State Department to implement genuine and effective oversight over its Middle East public diplomacy efforts. But, according to CJHSLA founder and President Doris Wise Montrose, "this report proves that Al Hurra is still putting US money and US legitimacy to work for terrorist sympathizers."

"The State Department needs to figure out how to reach Arab hearts and minds without wallowing in anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and propaganda. The State Department should be providing a competitor to Al Jazeera, not a clone," she added.

Children Of Jewish Holocaust Survivors Los Angeles (CJHSLA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization raising awareness about the network of anti-Western and antisemitic religious extremists who march under the banner of global jihad. We insist that the last Holocaust imposes upon all people of good will an active political obligation to prevent the next one.

Contact: Omri Ceren, Political Director CJHSLA, omri@cjhsla.org 


New USA/Israel Policy.  Non Jews speaking out for G-d's Covenant with Israel. Herb Zwiebon, AFSI
Let us take our cue from Non Jews who speak up for G-d's Covenant with Israel. Governor Mike Huckabee came out clearly against the 2 State Solution and for Jewish Entitlement.  Why can't us Jews do the same?

Toward A New US/Israel Policy

Herbert Zweibon

A "Resolution regarding Israel from Pro-Israel Christian Leaders" signed by over a thousand Christian leaders and urging a new U.S. policy toward Israel is being submitted to Senator John McCain with a request for a meeting with the candidate. AFSI has been working on this project with Rev. James Hutchens, Chaplain and Brigadier General of the U.S. Army (Ret.) and chairman of the Jerusalem Connection, Richard Hellman of CIPAC (Christians' Israel Public Action Campaign), Rev. James Vineyand, whose Oklahoma City church has 3,500 members and Rev. David Welch, who heads up a group of pastors in the Texas region.

To give an idea of the wide geographic range of supportive churches, among those who have signed on are the pastors of the Bible Baptist Church in Fairbanks Arkansas with 525 members, the Northwest Baptist Church in Toledo, Ohio, with 700 members and the Clays Mill Road Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky with 2,000 members.

The resolution reads:

WHEREAS, Christian Zionism supports the modern State of Israel as a partial fulfillment of God's covenant promise to provide a national homeland for the Jewish people in anticipation of their ultimate redemption when Messiah comes; and

WHEREAS, These God-decreed covenants have an everlasting validity and relevance for the modern State of Israel; and

WHEREAS, The legal validity of the modern State of Israel has been established by international law in the Balfour Declaration of November 1917, and the British Mandate formalized at the League of Nations in July 1922, the United Nations partition resolution of 1947, the official recognition of the State of Israel by the United States in May of 1948 and Israel's admission to the United Nations in 1949; and

WHEREAS, Since its birth as a nation Israel has been under relentless attack by Arabs and Palestinians whose goal is not peace with Israel but its total annihilation; and

WHEREAS, The various peace proposals advanced by the United States, including the administration's "Land for Peace" to be implemented by a "Two-State Solution," have been historically and factually verifiable failures; and

WHEREAS, These failures have been a result of a dysfunctional denial of the stated goals of Palestinian Jihadists and other Iran sponsored terrorist groups such as Hezbollah to destroy Israel, including the continuing efforts to appease Israel's enemies by requiring Israel to give up land for peace; and

WHEREAS, There can be no realistic expectation of regional peace until Palestinian Jihadists are defeated, disarmed and their terrorist infrastructure dismantled; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the administration's "Road Map to Peace" with its "Land for Peace" and "Two-State Solution" be deemed unworkable and allowed to lapse; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a serious and engaged consideration be given to a new US/Israel policy that would be comprehensive and practical in dealing with the realities on the ground as well as honoring of God's covenant promises to Israel. (e.g. Please see "The Israeli Initiative").

Submitted by Petitioners, coordinated by Jerusalem Connection.

Like a bird that repetitively bangs against a glass window, administrations for the last forty years have stubbornly pursued the same failed and bound-to-fail policy of "retreat-for-peace." For a core constituency to confront a Presidential candidate with a challenge to the folly that is "received wisdom" is a vitally important first step.


David Wilder of the Hebron Fund writes:

As we approach Yom Kippur, we have received solid information that Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Central Command General Gadi Shamni want to do it again. Give it another chance. 'Return' the 'other side' of Hebron to PA terrorists in uniform. They believe that Fatah forces are preferable to Hamas. (Achikam Amichai and David Rubin from Kiryat Arba were killed just over a half a year ago by Fatah 'palestinian police.)


Invitations to the following meetings between the candidates surrogates:

received from hrpromotions@honestreporting.com


Invites You to Join
Top Official McCain and Obama Surrogates for a forum on
Israel, the threat of Iran and other key issues.


You can join in person, listen by phone or watch online.
RSVP to Attend In PersonRSVP to Listen by Phone or Watch Online
Featured Cities: 
October 16th - New York City
7pm
Park East Synagogue
163 East 67th Street
New York, NY 10021
______________________________
_______________________
October 19th - Boston, MA with the Jewish  Community Relations Council
of Greater Boston and Combined Jewish Philanthropies
4pm (doors open at 3:30pm)
Congregation Kehillath Israel
384 Harvard Street
Brookline, MA 02446
______________________________________________________
October 23rd - Chevy Chase, MD with Jewish Community Relations Council
of Greater Washington, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, Greater
Washington Area Chapter of Hadassah and Ohr Kodesh Congregation
Moderated by:
Washington Post Editorial writer and columnist- Ruth Marcus

7:30pm (doors open at 7pm)
Ohr Kodesh Congregation
8300 Meadowbrook Lane
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
______________________________________________________
October 26th - Boca Raton, FL with Jewish Community Relations Council
of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County

3pm (doors open at 2:30pm)
Olympic Heights High School
20101 Lyons Road
Boca Raton, FL 33434
______________________________________________________
October 27th - Miami, FL with Jewish Community Relations Council of the
Greater Miami Jewish Federation
in partnership with the American Jewish Committee, Greater Miami &
Broward Chapter, the American Jewish Congress; and the Anti-Defamation
League

7pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
Temple Emanu-El the South Beach Synagogue
1701 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Valet parking will be provided
______________________________________________________
October 30th - Cleveland, OH with The Cleveland Jewish News

7pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
Location TBA

RSVP HERE to Join Us In PersonCan't Attend in Person? RSVP to Listen by
Phone or Watch OnlineSpace is limited; please respond early to ensure
your seat.For more information, please conact Sarah Marcus at
sarahm@theisraelproject.org

* Please continually check www.theisraelproject.org/forums for updated
information on locations, times and sponsors.The Israel Project is an
international non-profit organization devoted to educating the press and
the public about Israel while promoting security, freedom and peace. The
Israel Project provides journalists, leaders and opinion-makers accurate
information about Israel. The Israel Project is not related to any
government or government agency and does not rate or endorse candidates.

Board of Advisors: Sen. Evan Bayh (IN), Sen. Ben Cardin (MD), Sen.
Saxby Chambliss (GA), Sen. Tom Coburn (OK), Sen. Norm Coleman (MN), Sen.
Susan Collins (ME), Sen. Judd Gregg (NH), Sen. Joe Lieberman (CT), Sen.
Ben Nelson (NE), Sen. Gordon Smith (OR), Sen. Arlen Specter (PA), Sen.
Ron Wyden (OR), Rep. Rob Andrews (NJ), Rep. Shelley Berkley (NV), Rep.
Tom Davis (VA), Rep. Eliot Engel (NY), Rep. Frank Pallone (NJ), Rep. Jon
Porter (NV), Rep. John Sarbanes (MD), Rep. Jim Saxton (NJ), Rep. Brad
Sherman (CA), Rep. Joe Wilson (SC), Actor and Director Ron Silver

Sunday, October 12, 2008

In Response to Teshuva by David Wilder, Teshuva that includes Hebron as well

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The following is posted on Shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com

Dovid Wilder is a wonderful spokesperson for Hebron BUT it seems to me that Teshuva does not only lie with those that don't go on aliya as he suggests.  Teshuva is far more encompassing and includes Hebron.   I will elaborate this point.

Dovid Wilder and other leaders in Hebron have a mistaken notion that in order for things to change for the better, Jews must come on Aliya. In other words, Dovid Wilder is saying, let's put the blame on the Jews in the Diaspora.  We in Hebron are doing our part. 

Of one thing I am certain.   One need not go on Aliya in order to claim entitlement of EY. 

Does David Wilder feel that Jews in the Diaspora have no real clout unless they actually live and are citizens of Israel?

While I agree that it's ideal to have more Jews physically in EY,  I am convinced that the Disengagement  from Gush Katif could and should have been stopped with much fewer people actually residing there. 

What IS necessary is the acknowledgment of all Jews in the Diaspora that our entitlement of EY is equal to Israeli citizens.  It is each and every Jews obligation to SPEAK OUT and defend EY whether or not they are physically residing in EY and whether or not they recognize Medinat Yisroel or are Israeli citizens.

Furthermore, it is my conclusion that because the majority of Am Yisroel is not claiming  entitlement to EY, and because of Areivus, mutual responsibility and accountability, we as a Nation are lacking and undeserving of EY.  

The root of our point of difference and the point from where our positions diverge is as follows.  The leaders in Hebron still equate EY with the State of Israel and put too much emphasis on the State of Israel,  while it is this writers position that the establishment of the State in 1948 should not be our main focus. .

For this year's Hebron Dinner invitation to take place on November 17th, 2008  celebrating the 20-40-60 years of the establishment of Hebron Community, the Reunification of Jerusalem and establishment of the State of Israel, there is no mention that our beloved Medina (State) is working proactively to destroy all  that they have worked so hard to accomplish.

Actually, I don't believe that the organizers of the Hebron Dnner have blinders on but rather they have a mistaken notion that if they play the game right, and act as if the Medina is still viable with proud pictures of the Israeli flag, singing the Hatikvah etc, they can raise lots of money. After all, the Medina can boast of miraculous accomplishments regarding Kibbutz Goliyot and Harbatzas Torah (in gathering of the exiles and spreading Torah). They are counting on nostalgia.

But frankly speaking, who would want to celebrate an anniversary with a spouse that is trying to commit homicide or suicide and is taking the entire family along on this sick mission 

Let us examine from where the sickness plaguing Medinat Yisroel originate?

It began with the inception of the State of Israel.  It started with the rejection of Torah by the founding fathers of the State of Israel.  If we can correct the root of the problem, by returning to the founding fathers of the Nation of Israel,  we can hopefully save the marriage between the Jewish Nation and Hashem that began at Har Sinai.long before 1948. 

The time has come for the people in Hebron to take the leadership role that they are capable of doing. They must raise the status of YESHA and in this way be the defenders of the entire EY.  But if their focus is on their staff and their budget and on building Hebron alone, then the entire enterprise in Hebron is in real danger of falling apart chas veshalom as current events have shown.  

The Jews in the Diaspora and in EY need to be worthy of EY.  At the present time the major Jewish organizations who influence hundreds of thousands of Jews in the Diaspora and in Israel do not see why speaking out against a Palestinian State is necessary. It is up to the Leaders in Hebron to reach out to their brothers and demand that they SPEAK OUT.  Your response in Hebron has been, "We will do our little part.  We will focus on building up Hebron. We have given up on them."


So my dear brothers of Hebron....Will it satisfy you that the uncaring Jews in the Diaspora will get their DIVINE RETRIBUTiON?  And if they go off the cliff do you really believe that they won't take you down with them?

What have we been doing to be Mekarev them, begging and pleading with them to take their chelek, their heritage in EY as you have done?

Practically, asking people to come on ALIYA is too drastic a step for most of the Jews in the Diaspora. 

Let us assume that our hearts are in Eretz Yisroel. People need to take baby steps.  A simple protest call or letter of any of the intolerable acts of the gov't in Israel against settlers (even settlers not from Hebron) or  letters or calls of protest to the White House from all men, women and children that are supporters of Jewish sovereignty and against the 2 State Solution,  doesn't add up to lots of money per person but does add up to a strong voice of protest for YESHA..

Also, YESHA has to be a  united force.   That will only happen when the settlements and organizations join as a unit.

This was the strategy of the 13 colonies. For example,  the Stamp Act Congress  gave them representatives that were able to make decisions that repealed the Stamp Act.  The Committees of Correspondence were formed throughout the colonies as a means of coordinating action against Gr. Britain. Many were formed by the legislatures of the respective colonies, others by extra-governmental associations such as the Sons of Liberty in the various colonies. In any case, the members of these organizations represented the leading men of each colony. It took some time, and finally an act as dramatic as the Boston Port Bill, to coordinate the colonies in action against Gr. Britain.  (http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/coc.htm). Remember in those days they didn't have mail service to communicate or coordinate. Today, b"h we have internet and Moetzet Gedolei Hatorah can reach those that don't go on the internet.  They organized minutemen men for their defense.

They formed the Continental Congress in which leaders of each of the colonies other than Georgia were represented. The First Continental Congress, which met briefly in Philadelphia in 1774, consisted of 56 delegates from twelve of the Thirteen Colonies . (wikipedia)

Only a strong united force  originating from Yesha will deter the Medina from taking action against Yesha and their policy of isolating settlers and communities who are the biggest "troublemakers".. It is our conviction that only a strong show of force from Yesha  will deter any policies by the gov't that will generate animosity between brothers. Animosity generated from justified grievences can actually trigger a civil war chas veshalom. 

Collectively all the A/F (American Friends) of the Yesha organizations have the  PR capability via networking and sharing of donor databases to win the support and backing of the Jews in the Diaspora.

 A majority of people in Israel do not believe in Land for Peace concessions.  The majority of Israelis want a complete Israel including YESHA..  Yet many people have been brainwashed to believe that they are not entitled to this Land or that keeping the Land is an obstacle to peace.

The leftist media has given the allusion of strength to the Medina.


In conclusion, SPEAKING OUT for YESHA and our entitlement based on the Torah is our primary concern before any other. For our collective survival, the Jews in EY have no choice but to be in partnership with the Jews in the Diaspora.   Collectively, because of Areivus, each of us  must prove worthy of EY and at the very minimum protest giving away parts of EY. In addition, each and every Jew must be a partner in building EY be it Hebron or elsewhere.   Our collective goal is to live in EY and observe the Mitzoth in EY.  Let us learn from effective partnerships between the tribes of Reuvein Gad and 1/2 tribe of  Menasheh with the rest of the tribes of Israel and from the partnership of tribes Yissachar and Zevulun to each other.

That is the Teshuva that is required from all of us and nothing less.

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/16248/jewish/Chapter-27.htm

Tehillim - Chapter 27


1. Of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; from whom shall I be frightened?
2. When evildoers draw near to me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies against me-they stumbled and fell.
3. If a camp encamps against me, my heart shall not fear; if a war should rise up against me, in this I trust.
4. One [thing] I ask of the Lord, that I seek-that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to see the pleasantness of the Lord and to visit His Temple every morning.
5. That He will hide me in His tabernacle on the day of calamity; He will conceal me in the secrecy of His tent; He will lift me up on a rock.
6. And now, my head will be raised over my enemies around me, and I will sacrifice in His tent sacrifices with joyous song; I will sing and chant praise to the Lord.
7. Hearken, O Lord, to my voice [which] I call out, and be gracious to me and answer me.
8. On Your behalf, my heart says, "Seek My presence." Your presence, O Lord, I will seek.
9. Do not hide Your presence from me; do not turn Your servant away with anger. You were my help; do not forsake me and do not abandon me, O God of my salvation.
10. For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord gathers me in.
11. Instruct me, O Lord, in Your way, and lead me in the straight path because of those who lie in wait for me.
12. Do not deliver me to the desires of my adversaries, for false witnesses and speakers of evil have risen against me.
13. Had I not believed in seeing the good of the Lord in the land of the living!
14. Hope for the Lord, be strong and He will give your heart courage, and hope for the Lord.







From: hebron@hebron.org.il
To: hebron.mail@hebron.org.il
Date: Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:11:52 +0300
Subject: Tshuva by David Wilder


 

Tshuva

David Wilder
October 08, 2008

For the past month and a half, lives of observant Jews have revolved around one particular expression – that being tshuva, meaning, in broad terms, repentance. For an entire month prior to the New Year, Rosh HaShana, special prayers are recited, Torah classes are held, and personal acts of introspection permeate our existence. This, of course, culminates on the holiest day of the year, that being tomorrow, Yom Kippur. On this day we beseech G-d to forgive our wrongdoings, be they between man and the Good L-rd, or between man and his fellowman.

 

It's much easier to face G-d and ask for forgiveness from Him. In our silent prayers, be they formal or informal, we can confess to our human errors and plead for Divine clemency. G-d doesn't wait for once in four years to sign executive orders granting pardons. It's something that can be done every day, every minute or every second of every day. And especially on Yom Kippur when we forgo just about all elements of our physical lives, abstaining from food and other earthly pleasures, to immerse ourselves in total spirituality, as much as we humanly can.

 

It's much more difficult to ask forgiveness from our fellow man. Admitting mistakes to a friend, co-worker, boss or employee, or to a close family member isn't always easy. Sometimes, actually, it's very hard. But that's what this day's all about. G-d cannot grant forgiveness for issues between two people until they settle the problem themselves.

 

However this is just one aspect of tshuva and forgiveness. There's at least one other side (probably more).

 

The ideal of forgiving is not only a personal commitment. It is also a national obligation. Keep in mind that the word 'tshuva' literally means 'return.' In a religious sense, 'returning' from the wrong paths we've taken, and this time around, turning down the right road of holiness and purity.


Exactly fourteen years ago, following election of Yitzhak Rabin, Israel began formally negotiating with Yassir Arafat and the PLO. Those talks led to Oslo. That curse, still with us today, has led to the murders of almost 2,000 people, in cold blood.

 

Oslo led to the Hebron Accords, which divided the city, abandoning over 80% of Hebron to the Palestinian authority. Exactly eight years ago, these accords led to shooting attacks on Hebron from the hills Israel 'gave' to our enemy. The shooting continued for two years. Dozens of people in the Hebron region and over a thousand Jews throughout Israel were killed during this war.

 

Oslo and Hebron led to Gush Katif. Almost 10,000 people expelled from their homes, and countless rockets fired into Israel from the land Israel abandoned to our enemies.

 

A short time after the 'other side' of Hebron was vacated by Israeli security forces in favor of armed terrorists in uniform by then Defense Minister Fuad ben Eliezer in the fall of 2002, then Hebron Brigade commander, Col. Dror Weinberg held a meeting with a group of local civilian security leaders. During that meeting, on a Friday morning in November, Col. Weinberg warned that terrorists were planning a major attack, but that little more information was available. That night, Col. Dror Weinberg and eleven other men were killed during the attack he had discussed earlier that same day.

 

Yesterday, speaking to a group of mostly Swedish youth at the 1929 memorial room in Beit Hadassah, I told them that history has to be learned from. In August, 1929 the Jewish leadership in Hebron believed that their Arab neighbors would shield them from any attacks, protecting them from harm's way. That leadership was wrong. That mistake cost 67 lives and the expulsion of Hebron's surviving Jewish population from the city.

 

When the Hebron accords were signed, Israeli military officers said straight out that 'our security is dependent on cooperation from the PA.' We know exactly where that cooperation led; to Jewish cemeteries, widows and orphans. And national disgrace.

 

A week ago outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, once mayor of Jerusalem, in a broad newspaper interview, expressed his opinion that Israel must 'give back' just about all of Judea and Samaria, including East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights, in exchange for peace.

 

As we approach Yom Kippur, we have received solid information that Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Central Command General Gadi Shamni want to do it again. Give it another chance. 'Return' the 'other side' of Hebron to PA terrorists in uniform. They believe that Fatah forces are preferable to Hamas. (Achikam Amichai and David Rubin from Kiryat Arba were killed just over a half a year ago by Fatah 'palestinian police.)

 

According to the information we have, some of which was published yesterday on ynet and more today in the Jerusalem Post, a meeting is to take place on October 15,  a week from today, between very high ranking Israeli security officers, including the head of the Civil Administration and also possibly General Noam Tivon (former Hebron military commander, serving in Hebron at the beginning of the 'Olso War' aka the Second Intifada), presently commander of forces in Judea and Samaria. During this meeting it is quite likely that details of transfer of security responsibility from Israel to the PA in over 80% of Hebron will be discussed and finalized.

 

This is, I guess, in their opinion, Tshuva – returning. Not returning to G-d's ways, not returning to Eretz Yisrael and Israeli national pride. Rather, returning to the same mistakes made time and time again, leading to Israel blood being shed, to cemeteries and mourning.

 

I also believe in the necessity to 'do Tshuva.' And this is what I try to express to groups I meet here in Hebron, especially when they are youth. I tell them that must do Tshuva – no, not necessarily 'religious' tshuva, keeping Shabbat and Kashrut. Rather I encourage them to fulfill another kind of tshuva – of coming home, of making Aliyah, of returning to their Homeland, coming to live here in Eretz Yisrael, in the State of Israel.

 

I firmly believe that there is no more significant act that a Jew can do today than such tshuva, returning home to our Land. This is real Tshuva – not the kind espoused by Barak and Olmert, Shamni and Tivon. Keep in mind that had Gush Katif been filled with 50,000 people,  that process of expulsion could never have begun. So too in all of Judea and Samaria. The secret to our remaining in these regions is dependent on Tshuva, on Jews coming back, from all over the world, coming home to our ancient homeland. When there are a half a million Jews in Yesha, there won't be anything to talk about. This should be our number one goal: Tshuva – not only for a month and half of the year, but every day of the entire year. This is what Am Yisrael needs today, more than anything else.

 

On behalf of the entire Hebron extended family, please accept our wishes for a Shana Tova, a good and happy New Year, for a 'Gmar Chatima Tova, for an easy fast, and for a quick and successful fulfillment of the mitzvah of Tshuva, coming home to Eretz Yisrael.

 

                


Sunday, October 05, 2008

To MGH - Letter to Moetzet Gedolei Hatorah - by Yosef Rabin

Pbs"d


Please read this well thought out discourse and  entire addendum until the end!


Strengthening the Border Communities of

Eretz Yisrael!


From: Yosef Rabin

 

To the Moetzet Gedolei Hatorah:

 

I have seen the unofficial response of the Moeztet Gedolei Hatorah  http://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2008/10/5760014-israel-land-of-my-possession.html and remain very perplexed. Were it not for the importance and urgency of the matter – the honor of God's name and life and death for the nation of Israel – I would have remained silent.

 

One of the greatest issues facing the Jewish Nation today is if we have the right to hold on to certain parts of Eretz Israel, even if it will cost Jewish lives. Before we can start tackling this issue, we must first understand that Pikuach and Mesirut Nefesh is part of war; there is no war in which life is not endangered. With every other Mitzvah, which the Torah commands, "Allow yourself to be killed rather than transgress", there is no justification to put yourself in a situation, which would warrant this self-sacrifice. Only a Milchemet Mitzvah, a war commanded by the Torah, is a Mitzvah where you must endanger your life from the outset. But who every said that we were fighting an obligatory war and what does it have to do with the communities of Yehuda v Shomron?

 

The Torah commands us that Eretz Yisrael, be under Jewish control, as the Ramban writes, "Behold we were commanded with conquest in ever generation" (Supplement to the Rambam, Sefer HaMitzvot, positive commandment #4).   Assuming that the Ramban is not correct, and there is no Mitzvah to conquer the Land, is there a justification to continue living and fighting in the Yehuda and Shomron? Can Jews continue to live in Chevron and other dangerous places? If one looks at the definitions that the Rambam gives to a Milchemet Mitzvah, one of his definitions is, "To save Israel from the hand of the enemy"(Rambam, Mishna Torah, Hilchot Milachim, 5:1).  Do to the fact that today; our main enemy sits in Yehuda and Shomorn, there is a need to control that area. But what does that have to do with Jews living in those areas? To fulfill the Rambam's definition of Milchemet Mitzvah, it should be enough just having army bases in those areas.

 

Speaking as a former soldier, it is much easier to control an area, when there is a friendly population living there. Second, we all know that, the best defense is a good offense and the Halacha clearly understands this. " When it is a city close to the border, then, even if they want to come only for the purpose of (stealing) straw and stubble, we desecrate the Shabbos because of them; for they may conquer the city and from there, the rest of the land will be easy for them to conquer." (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 329:6) Even the smallest threat against the country must be taken seriously; you do not allow your enemy to even to move a piece of straw from Eretz Yisrael. Because the Communities of the Yehuda and Shomron are the border communities of the State of Israel there is even a higher obligation to guard them. If the Jews living in these communities would all leave, it would bring the enemies of Israel even closer to the major population centers, thus endangering the entire Jewish Nation.

 

What specific dangers will a expulsion  pose?

 

1. The expulsion of nearly 300,000 Jews

 

The lives of 300,000 Jews will be ruined as will Yeshivot, Shuls, Kollelim and the beautiful communities will be handed over to the enemy.

 

2. Surrendering the entire Samarian and Judean mountain range to the enemy (Hamas, Fatah, Islamic Jihad…)

 

Rockets from Hebron will hit Beersheba and Kiryat Gat; Bethlehem will hit Jerusalem; Bodrus will hit Ben Gurion Airport; Rantis will hit Tel Aviv; Kalkilya will hit Kfar Saba and Ranana; Tulkarem will hit Netanya; Jenin will hit Afula and Nazareth.

 

3. The Surrender of East Jerusalem and the Temple Mount

 

No more visits to the Kotel. Even with Israeli control over east Jeruslaem and the Temple Mount the army has shut down the Kotel for hours at a time due to security concerns. In addition the Jews in West Jerusalem will have to deal with constant rocket and mortar attacks, as did their parents and grandparent up till 1967.

 

4. The Surrender of over 1/3 of Israel's water supply

 

Israel already faces a severe water crisis. The aquifers of Judea and Samaria are of the highest quality and supplies the domestic needs of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Beer Sheva and most of the cities in the center of the country; it is also used for irrigation of large agricultural areas along the coastal plain, the piedmont, the Beer Sheva valley and the Jezreel Valley.

 

5. The release of thousands (perhaps tens of thousands) of Arab murders

 

This will strengthen the armies of Hamas and Fatah and destroy the morale of Israeli army as it watches years of work unravel. Jewish soldiers will understand that they endanger their lives for nothing and draft dodging will increase. In addition the release will cause grave mental stress to all victims of terror and put the rest the population in harms way.

 

There is also another issue involved in the Mitzvah to conquering the Land. We learn from Sanhedrin 74a-b, "When Rabin arrived, he taught: R' Yochanan said… in public, even for a minor commandment one should be killed rather than transgress. What is a minor commandment? Rava bar R' Yitzhak said in the name of Rav: Even to change the lace of one's shoe." When goyim come and decree that the Jews transgress a Mitzvah for the sake of humiliating the Jewish People and the Torah, there is in fact a Mitzvah to give up your life and not transgress. The Gemara even applies this rule to a minhag as insignificant as changing shoelaces. Today, because the goyim have made numerous decrees and resolutions (UN, EU...) that prohibit the Jewish People from conquering and settling Eretz Yisrael, we have even another reason for self-sacrifice. Even if one could argue that the mitzvah of Yishuv/Kibbush Eretz Yisrael does not apply in our time, I would certainly hope that Eretz Yisrael would rank higher than a shoelace.  

 

To sum up, we are fighting at least one and even possibly two simultaneous Milchemot Mitzva. The first being the Rambam,  "To save Israel from the hand of the enemy" and the second by the Ramban, "Behold we were commanded with conquest in ever generation". Either way, the communities of the Yehuda and Shomron play a vital role in the fulfillment of these two Mitzvot. The Jews living in the communities of the Yehuda and Shomron, the Jews who are sacrificing themselves for the security of the nation, should be aided and applauded. The communities of Galut must do everything in their power to aid and strengthen the border communities of Eretz Yisrael.  

 

Awaiting your reply,

Yosef Rabin

 

 

Addendum:  In response to the official response from Rav Shafran http://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2008/10/5769016-israel-land-of-my-possession.html


Here I will address the question posed by Rav Avi Shafran, "Whether or not we have been zocheh at this point in history to be able to exercise that right, however, is a different, and open, question."

 

I have already dealt with the issue surrounding Yishuv/Kibush Haaretz in the original letter.  It is very clear that the Torah's command of "Thou shall not stand by thy brothers blood" (Vayikra, 19:17), applies in this case. Even if the expulsion does occur, G-d forbid, and a strong Palestinian terror state is created, do we not have the obligation to be able to declare in loud and clear voice, "Our hands have not shed this blood, nor have our eyes seen it" (Devarim 21:8)?

 

The question of our right to Eretz Yisrael in our times is based on two main points. The first point is a passage from Gemara Kesubot,111a, God made the Jews take two oaths and the world take one. To the Jews "Not to ascend to the Holy Land as a group using force, not to rebel against the governments of countries in which we live," and   "Not to push the end away with our sins ", see Rashi.   For some this means that the State of Israel is a sin, we came back in force and rebelled against the nations.

 

This is easily answered; there was no rebellion against the nations. We were granted permission by Britain, League of Nations and the United Nations to recreate our homeland in the Land of Israel. Second the first two oaths might be contingent on the third, if the non-Jews treat us harshly, which they did, then we can rebel and go up to the land. Even if the oaths are not connected, we saw clear signs of redemption, which nullified the oaths themselves. This is similar to the Halacha where one swears not to enter his house. If the walls of his house collapse, he is freed from his oath and may step on the remains of the house.  

 

The second point is that redemption can not come about through non-believers, furthermore some believe that man can not play a role in bringing the Redemption and must completely rely on God to do all the work.

 

I will now come to show that we indeed did see the signs of Redemption and that we were certainly justified in taking an active role in the process of Redemption. Furthermore I prove that God cherished the original Secular Jews who restored His land and why we should continue to respect the State of Israel even though it does not always go in the path of the Torah.

 

There is a Halacha that we only follow the majority opinion when it is coupled with clear reasoning; furthermore Tosfot in Yevamot explains that we follow the minority if the minority is sharper in Torah than the majority.

 

I would like to begin by discussing what constitutes the beginning of redemption. I would like to bring several gemara's which expound on this very issue.

 

The first Gemara I would like to mention is a Gemara in Sanhedrin 98: a "Rabbi Abba said, 'There is no greater sign of redemption than this, as it is written in Yechezkel, 'You O mountains of Israel will give forth your branches and give forth your fruit for My People Israel will soon return'. " (Yechezkel 36)    One could argue that this Gemara is of an Aggadic nature and therefore cannot be used as a proof, but there are two other gemarot that bring this gemara into the realm of Halacha.

 

In Gemara Migilah 17: b, "Why do we recite the blessing of the re-gathering of the exiles after the blessing of the year, because it is written in Yechezkel, 'You O mountains of Israel will give forth your branches and give forth your fruit for My People Israel will soon return " (Yechezkel 36) This exact Gemara is also repeated in Gemara - Brachot Yerushalmi, I do not remember the exact page, but I remember that it is in the first perek. The copy that I saw was on my old army base in the Jordan valley, which I no longer have access to. The Tur and the Beit Yosef accept these gemara's as halacha, see Orach Chaim 115-121.

 

It is clear that, not only do chazal agree that redemption will begin with the restoration of the Land, but they enshrined this concept by incorporating it into the Shmona Esrai. This could also be the reason why chazal used the phrase towards the end of the second blessing "Makes salvation sprout". The first sign of the redemption will be with the sprouting of the Land. So now that we understand how the redemption will begin, we must make the connection to the State of Israel.

 

In Parshat Bichukoti, one of the many infamous curses is the one on the Land of Israel. " I will make the Land desolate, and the enemies who dwell within will be desolate. "(26:32)

The Ramban explains this to be a blessing and promise for the Jewish People. That the Land will never grow for anyone but the Jewish People. Rabbenu Bachya also explains, BeReshit 17:8, " This is a great sign for the Jewish People, since they were exiled from their Land no nation was able to settle there. Rather it sits is desolation until its children return. " Also, may there be a thousand separations, the famous non-Jewish author, Mark Twain visited the Land of Israel in 1867. He wrote, " The hills are barren, they are dull of color, they are un-picturesque in shape. The valleys are unsightly desert fringed with feeble vegetation that has an expression about it of being sorrowful and despondent… The Land sits in sackcloth and ashes… This Land is no more of this work-day world. It is sacred to poetry and tradition-it is a dream-land. " (Innocent Abroad end of chapter 56)

 

It is clear that Hashem has kept his promise, up until the Jewish People decided to return to the Land of their forefather's, the Land did not grow. It is interesting that he wrote this in 1867, just a few short years before the Children of Israel although mainly secular returned. Even though they were secular, did not keep Shabbat or Kashrut, the Land accepted them and she grew accordingly. The Land allowed them to drain her swamps, grow her fields, raise cattle and build beautiful towns and cities. This was all barely 30 years after Twain visited.

 

This is very much reminiscent of the day of Ezra and Nechemya, the vast majority who returned with them were not only unobservant, but immoral as well, as it says in Kiddushin 69-70, they were bastards, foundlings and committed sexual misconducts like the people of Sodom and Amora. And yet they were the tools, which Hashem used to bring about that Geulah. Certainly, the secular Jews who started returning in the late 1800s, and who remained the main builders of the land until the State was re-declared in 1948, could not have been much worse.  

 

To better understand that the Mashiach does not need to come about through the most pleasant means we must look at the father of Mashiach, David Hamelech - King David.

When we look at Davids ancestry one becomes quickly disturbed. On his fathers side came about through the illicit relations between Yehuda and Tamar. Does not sound like the proper Yichus for the Mashiach! Even though this was an abomination Chazal tell us, "Hashem was busy creating the light of the King Mashiach." (Bareshit Rabba 85:1)

 

Now going from bad to worse, we look at Davids mother side. Davids grandmother Ruth came from the Nation of Moav. Number one it was the nation of Moav that seduced the men of Israel to sin in the Midbar bringing a great plague upon them. Second, Moav's founding father was an illegitimate of the worst sort; he was from the illicit relations between Lot and his Daughter Habichira. Habachira called her son Moav, which means, from my father, she was not even embarrassed that she had relations with her father.

 

But even if one admits that Hashem began our Geulah through the secular Zionist can we continue to recognize the importance of such a state?

 

I would like to talk about Omri the King of Israel was more evil than any other king before him, read Malachim 16:25, but yet, he merited his kingship to last 3 generations.  

Why? R Yochanan said, "Why did Omri deserve Kingship? He added one city to the Land of Israel. " (Sanhdrin 102b)  Chazal tell us that he added that city to undermine the people loyalty to Jerusalem, and even so he merited 3 generations.

 

Omri's successor, his son Achav was even worse than his father, he allowed his wife to murder all the Torah Scholars, but Hashem still allowed Achav to win wars for His people. Why because Achav and his generation was careful not to speak gossip and Achav fought with all his might for the Jewish People. Achav successor Yehoram, was also just as evil, but he shared the suffering of the Jewish People when Hashem punished them with a drought, by sitting in sackcloth.

 

We see that Hashem allowed these men to rule because of their love for the Jewish People and the Land of Israel.

 

Also Yeravam the son of Yoash was given great help by Hashem, even though it says, "He did evil in the eyes of Hashem." Why? "He restored the boarder of Israel from Milvo Chamas until the sea of Arava like the word of Hashem, as he spoke unto the prophet Yona the son of Amitai." (Malachim2: 14: 24-26)

 

The problems in the State of Israel cannot be compared to the evils perpetrated by the Kings of Israel. After all the State gives incredible amount of money to Yeshivot, builds mikvot and shuls for every community even ones that are dominantly secular, all marriages, divorces and funerals are conducted by the Orthodox State Rabbinate, Shabbat and Chagim are the official holidays of the State, No buses may run from an hour before Shabbat and Chagim until after the holy days, The Army and all official state institutions must keep Kosher by law, all places of public entertainment must be closed until half day on TishaBav.

 

Can you honestly tell me that I should give fewer honors to this State, than Eliyahu the Prophet gave to King Achav when he ran before his chariot after the incident at Mount Carmel. (Kings 1, 18:46) Chazal say, Achav took all the Torah Scrolls in the Land of Israel and erased the name of Hashem replacing it with the names of all the idols. But yet he was the King of Israel and thus the honor of the People of Israel was upon him.

 

In our times that the state of Israel wants to do terrible things and put the nation in danger, we must follow the path of Eliyahu. We must oppose the expulsion in such a manner that will still uphold respect for this "Malchut Yisrael" of our time.

 

Rav Tzvi Yehuda Hakohen Koon taught that Malchut is understood as any Jewish leadership, which governs the nation with the consent of the people. He brings down Meiri on Sanhedrin 52b, "And in every place the laws of the kingdom apply in all time, and in every generation, the leader of the generation…have the power of enforcement. He brings down the Drashot Haran, 11 "When there isn't a king in Israel, the judge takes on two powers, the power of judge and the power of King." The Maharal in Netzach Yehuda, Chapter 1 also indicates this idea of sovereignty in Eretz Yisrael. Lastly the Rambam in Hilchot Chanukah, stresses the importance of sovereignty being returned to Eretz Yisrael during the reign of the Chashmanayim. Yes the Chashmanayim turned against the Torah, but that sovereignty is one of the primary reasons why we celebrate Chanukah for all time.     

 

One may ask that if Hashem has started the redemption than why all the suffering? Why is Lebanon bombing us? Why can't we fight back properly? Why is there still so much suffering? Isn't the redemption supposed to stop this?

I saw a beautiful idea.

 

In Gemara Sanhedrin 98:b, Three scholars, Ullah, Rabbah and R. Yochanan prayed, "Let him come, but let me not see him ", they were afraid of the birth pangs of Mashiach and therefore did not want to be there. Only Rav Yosef disagreed and said, "Let him come and may I be privileged to sit in his donkeys feces". Rav Kook tzl, gives a beautiful explanation, Ullah, Rabbah and R. Yochanan, its not they did not want to see Mashiach, but they would not be able to handle the spiritual downfall immediately before his coming, as it says in Gemara Sota 49:b, " Youngsters will insult their elders, the kingdom will turn heretical". According to Rav Kook, they did not say "let me not be there", but rather, I do not want to see it, I will not be able to handle to great spiritual decline that will occur before Mashiachs arrival. Rav Kook says that Rav Yosef was different. Even if the time before redemption would smell like feces, he still wanted it. Rav Kook adds, the donkey is the only unclean animal that its first born is holy. That is why Rav Yosef used the Donkey, just like the impure donkey brings out something holy so too the geulah can come about from something non-holy, like the secular Zionists.

 

Yosef Rabin