July 27, 2005
Here you go - straight from the horse's (ass) mouth
From Arutz Sheva
"We say to the entire world: Today Gaza, tomorrow Jerusalem. Today Gaza, and tomorrow the independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital."
-- Ahmed Qurei, known as Abu Ala, the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority.
He said this on Wednesday while visiting with PA forces in the Gaza Strip, less than three weeks before Israel's scheduled withdrawal from Gaza.
"We say to the entire world: Today Gaza, tomorrow Jerusalem. Today Gaza, and tomorrow the independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital."
-- Ahmed Qurei, known as Abu Ala, the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority.
He said this on Wednesday while visiting with PA forces in the Gaza Strip, less than three weeks before Israel's scheduled withdrawal from Gaza.
Please take time to read this
Just Before Communications Are Cut by Nadia Matar
If you were waiting to speak up, now is the time. My heart and blessings go out to my brothers and sisters in Gaza who are being torn from their homes, their land and their heritage.
If you were waiting to speak up, now is the time. My heart and blessings go out to my brothers and sisters in Gaza who are being torn from their homes, their land and their heritage.
July 26, 2005
July 25, 2005
Walking Humbly With Our God
Excellent article written by Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen
If we, the People of Israel, were given the unifying truth of the Torah, then why do we not try to persuade the peoples of the earth to accept the Torah? As an Evangelical Christian once asked me: "If your People indeed have the truth, then why don't you actively missionize like we do?"
The beginning of the answer to these questions can be found in a teaching of the prophet Micah regarding the underlying principles of the path given to us by the Unifying One: "What does HaShem require of you but to do justice, love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)
It is not enough to follow a path of justice and love; one must also walk on that path with humility. It is a principle that can apply to both an individual and a people. If we, the People of Israel, have something to offer humanity, then the most humble way to make that contribution is not through preaching to others, but through the power of our own example. In this spirit, the Compassionate One proclaimed to us at Mount Sinai: "And you shall be to Me a kingdom of kohanim and a holy nation." (Shemot/Exodus 19:6)
What does it mean to be a "kingdom of kohanim"? The root meaning of the word "kohen" is "to serve". For example, this word appears as a verb in a divine command that was conveyed to Moses: "They shall make vestments of sanctity for Aaron your brother and his sons, le-kahan li [to serve Me]." (Shemot/Exodus 28:4) A kohen is, therefore, a person who dedicates every aspect of life to the service of the Compassionate One. In this way, people will view him as a messenger of the Compassionate One and they will be attracted to his teachings.
This idea is expressed in the following statement of the prophet Malachi: "For the lips of the kohen should safeguard knowledge, and people should seek Torah from his mouth; for he is a messenger of HaShem, God of all the hosts of creation." (Malachi 2:7) Just as people will seek Torah from the mouth of the kohen who serves as a living example of the divine teaching, so too, the nations of the world will seek Torah from the "kingdom of kohanim", when they see that this society has become a living example of the divine teaching. The People of Israel must, therefore, strive to become a "light to the nations". (Yeshayahu/Isaiah 42:6) When they achieve this goal, they will merit the fulfillment of the Divine promise that "nations will walk to your light, and sovereigns to the glow of your dawn." (Yesheyhau/Isaiah 60:3)
READ THE REST HERE
If we, the People of Israel, were given the unifying truth of the Torah, then why do we not try to persuade the peoples of the earth to accept the Torah? As an Evangelical Christian once asked me: "If your People indeed have the truth, then why don't you actively missionize like we do?"
The beginning of the answer to these questions can be found in a teaching of the prophet Micah regarding the underlying principles of the path given to us by the Unifying One: "What does HaShem require of you but to do justice, love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)
It is not enough to follow a path of justice and love; one must also walk on that path with humility. It is a principle that can apply to both an individual and a people. If we, the People of Israel, have something to offer humanity, then the most humble way to make that contribution is not through preaching to others, but through the power of our own example. In this spirit, the Compassionate One proclaimed to us at Mount Sinai: "And you shall be to Me a kingdom of kohanim and a holy nation." (Shemot/Exodus 19:6)
What does it mean to be a "kingdom of kohanim"? The root meaning of the word "kohen" is "to serve". For example, this word appears as a verb in a divine command that was conveyed to Moses: "They shall make vestments of sanctity for Aaron your brother and his sons, le-kahan li [to serve Me]." (Shemot/Exodus 28:4) A kohen is, therefore, a person who dedicates every aspect of life to the service of the Compassionate One. In this way, people will view him as a messenger of the Compassionate One and they will be attracted to his teachings.
This idea is expressed in the following statement of the prophet Malachi: "For the lips of the kohen should safeguard knowledge, and people should seek Torah from his mouth; for he is a messenger of HaShem, God of all the hosts of creation." (Malachi 2:7) Just as people will seek Torah from the mouth of the kohen who serves as a living example of the divine teaching, so too, the nations of the world will seek Torah from the "kingdom of kohanim", when they see that this society has become a living example of the divine teaching. The People of Israel must, therefore, strive to become a "light to the nations". (Yeshayahu/Isaiah 42:6) When they achieve this goal, they will merit the fulfillment of the Divine promise that "nations will walk to your light, and sovereigns to the glow of your dawn." (Yesheyhau/Isaiah 60:3)
READ THE REST HERE
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Sharon´s Friend to Build Casino in Gaza
Cyril Kern, whose donations to the Sharon family have been the subject of police investigation, is one of the financial partners in a casino-to-be-built in northern Gaza if Israel withdraws.
Read the full article HERE
Cyril Kern, whose donations to the Sharon family have been the subject of police investigation, is one of the financial partners in a casino-to-be-built in northern Gaza if Israel withdraws.
Read the full article HERE
July 22, 2005
Is this what we prayed for for two thousand years?
Army Likely to Blow up Katif Synagogues
The Defense Ministry acknowledges that one of the possibilities under consideration for the synagogues and yeshivot in Gush Katif is to blow them up. Army officials say this is the likely choice.
Me: (click below for the sources)
Jews are being forced out of their homes
forced to desecrate Shabbos
children are being arrested
IN ISRAEL! If this happened in Europe, people would be taking to the streets.
Is this a "Jewish State?" Not by a long shot.
The Defense Ministry acknowledges that one of the possibilities under consideration for the synagogues and yeshivot in Gush Katif is to blow them up. Army officials say this is the likely choice.
Me: (click below for the sources)
Jews are being forced out of their homes
forced to desecrate Shabbos
children are being arrested
IN ISRAEL! If this happened in Europe, people would be taking to the streets.
Is this a "Jewish State?" Not by a long shot.
What I am Reading
Thanks to my good friend R. B. for buying this for me. An excellent book.
Secrets of the Future Temple
by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato - mystical genius of the 18th century. Translated by Avraham Greenbaum
An English translation of the classic kabbalistic work titled Mishkney Elyon, "Dwellings of the Supreme". The inner meaning and purpose of the Future Temple, as described in Ezekiel, are elucidated in great depth.
Buy the book HERE
Secrets of the Future Temple
by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato - mystical genius of the 18th century. Translated by Avraham Greenbaum
An English translation of the classic kabbalistic work titled Mishkney Elyon, "Dwellings of the Supreme". The inner meaning and purpose of the Future Temple, as described in Ezekiel, are elucidated in great depth.
Buy the book HERE
Torah audio - Learn about the 3 Weeks and Tisha B'Av
Spend this Sunday fasting, praying and learning Torah. Visit 613.org for great audio lectures about this troubling time of year.
The Three Weeks - an important Message
From OU.org
A Message for Shiva Asar B’Tamuz
This Sunday, July 24th is Shiva Asar B’Tamuz, a fast day which begins the period of the three weeks of mourning which culminate in Tisha B’Av.
It is especially important this year, as the world and the Jewish people face unusually difficult challenges of terrorism across the world and of strife and tension in the Land of Israel that we devote this coming fast day to prayers and Torah study.
It is appropriate, indeed, to include in our prayers the victims of terror in the recent series of bombings in London, and to pray for the well being of those wounded and for the consolation of the bereaved. We also pray that the scourge of terrorism be removed from the world and applaud all of those people of good will who are devoted to protecting the security and well being of decent human beings throughout the world.
In the Land of Israel we are viewing a situation in which thousands of Jews are being asked to leave their homes and communities. As none other than Ambassador Danny Ayalon has written, there is the prospect that “living, breathing communities, some more than thirty years old, will simply vanish.” While the government of Israel advocates this disengagement, and many believe that it is inappropriate for Jews living in the Diaspora to publicly protest this policy, certainly many Israelis deeply oppose it on moral, religious, and security grounds. Those people, as citizens in any free society, deserve the right of open public dissent. We are viewing scenes of great conflict and are anxious that no one be hurt in the process. We must pray on Shiva Asar B’Tamuz that the Ribono Shel Olam hear our prayers and bring about a proper resolution to these difficulties and challenges. We must ask in our prayers for the “geulah shelemah”, in which the Land and its people will be totally redeemed. We pray that if we are not worthy of a total geulah, that at the very least the life and safety of all Jewish people, and all the citizens of Israel, be protected.
In our prayers we must share along in the pain of those who are being asked to leave their homes. We must “join them in carrying their burden.” These sentiments should pervade our tefilos during this coming fast day.As always, we must increase and intensify our contributions to tzedakah during this fast day.
The Orthodox Union has now established a special fund which will be dedicated to the support of individuals of those communities which are now being uprooted. This fund will be channeled through our Israel Center and will be dedicated to assisting these noble heroes in every way possible, no matter what the outcome of disengagement. Checks can be mailed to the Orthodox Union and marked “Special Israel Center Fund.”
Tzedakah to the poor and to Torah institutions of all types is also most appropriate on this day.
Since Shiva Asar B’Tamuz this year falls on a Sunday and most of us are free from our weekday work obligations, it is especially appropriate to devote time to Torah study above and beyond the Torah one studies regularly. We urge all of our synagogues and individual members to dedicate this Shiva Asar B’Tamuz, its prayers, its charity and its Torah study toward the successful resolution of the difficulties which we are now facing in our Holy Land.
Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, Ph.D. Executive Vice President Orthodox Union
Stephen SavitskyPresident Orthodox Union
To learn more about the the 17th of Tamuz, please visit HERE
A Message for Shiva Asar B’Tamuz
This Sunday, July 24th is Shiva Asar B’Tamuz, a fast day which begins the period of the three weeks of mourning which culminate in Tisha B’Av.
It is especially important this year, as the world and the Jewish people face unusually difficult challenges of terrorism across the world and of strife and tension in the Land of Israel that we devote this coming fast day to prayers and Torah study.
It is appropriate, indeed, to include in our prayers the victims of terror in the recent series of bombings in London, and to pray for the well being of those wounded and for the consolation of the bereaved. We also pray that the scourge of terrorism be removed from the world and applaud all of those people of good will who are devoted to protecting the security and well being of decent human beings throughout the world.
In the Land of Israel we are viewing a situation in which thousands of Jews are being asked to leave their homes and communities. As none other than Ambassador Danny Ayalon has written, there is the prospect that “living, breathing communities, some more than thirty years old, will simply vanish.” While the government of Israel advocates this disengagement, and many believe that it is inappropriate for Jews living in the Diaspora to publicly protest this policy, certainly many Israelis deeply oppose it on moral, religious, and security grounds. Those people, as citizens in any free society, deserve the right of open public dissent. We are viewing scenes of great conflict and are anxious that no one be hurt in the process. We must pray on Shiva Asar B’Tamuz that the Ribono Shel Olam hear our prayers and bring about a proper resolution to these difficulties and challenges. We must ask in our prayers for the “geulah shelemah”, in which the Land and its people will be totally redeemed. We pray that if we are not worthy of a total geulah, that at the very least the life and safety of all Jewish people, and all the citizens of Israel, be protected.
In our prayers we must share along in the pain of those who are being asked to leave their homes. We must “join them in carrying their burden.” These sentiments should pervade our tefilos during this coming fast day.As always, we must increase and intensify our contributions to tzedakah during this fast day.
The Orthodox Union has now established a special fund which will be dedicated to the support of individuals of those communities which are now being uprooted. This fund will be channeled through our Israel Center and will be dedicated to assisting these noble heroes in every way possible, no matter what the outcome of disengagement. Checks can be mailed to the Orthodox Union and marked “Special Israel Center Fund.”
Tzedakah to the poor and to Torah institutions of all types is also most appropriate on this day.
Since Shiva Asar B’Tamuz this year falls on a Sunday and most of us are free from our weekday work obligations, it is especially appropriate to devote time to Torah study above and beyond the Torah one studies regularly. We urge all of our synagogues and individual members to dedicate this Shiva Asar B’Tamuz, its prayers, its charity and its Torah study toward the successful resolution of the difficulties which we are now facing in our Holy Land.
Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, Ph.D. Executive Vice President Orthodox Union
Stephen SavitskyPresident Orthodox Union
To learn more about the the 17th of Tamuz, please visit HERE
July 20, 2005
Judah is back!
Vacation is over. Time to get to work.
First of all, I humbly ask you all to SIGN THE PETITION. Register your vote against the transfer of Jews from their homes in Israel and then forward to friends and family.
Secvondly, visit the following: www.itsourland.com
More to come.
First of all, I humbly ask you all to SIGN THE PETITION. Register your vote against the transfer of Jews from their homes in Israel and then forward to friends and family.
Secvondly, visit the following: www.itsourland.com
More to come.
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