Avodah Ivrit עבודה עברית

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2009-01-18T10:00:00.005-05:00

22 Tevet 5769

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Rabbi Steinman's Decision

2009-01-18T09:21:00.003-05:00

22 Tevet 5769

It has come to our attention by way of the Life In Israel blog that Rabbi Steinman has approval to begin allowing workers back into Modi'in Elite, the site of the terrorist acts committed almost three weeks ago.

Click here for the background behind Rabbi Steinman's decision.

We at Avodah Ivrit blog respect Rabbi Steinman, but would like to express our disappointment in his decision, and encourage him to reconsider his decision.

There is not only the issue of piqu'ah nefesh to consider, but there is also the issue as to whether we are in a current state of war with the people in question.

Even if Rabbi Steinman were not to hold this way, there is also the general concern of not violating the negative commandment of Lo Tehohem, something we would like all rabbis in Israel to consider.

We are not to make easy for goyim to remain in the Land, and to assist them in supporting themselves, save for gerei toshav.

We also recommend that the rulings of Rabbi Chaim Kansky and Rabbi Dov Lior be reviewed for additional information and guidance.

Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival #200

2009-01-11T09:58:00.003-05:00

15 Tevet 5769

Haveil Havalim #200 can be found at Random Thoughts this week.

Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival #199 & Gaza Round-Ups

2009-01-05T13:06:00.004-05:00

10 Tevet 5769

Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival #199 can be found at Ima On The Bima, in which two Avodah Ivrit Blog posts are included.

Also, the Random Thoughts blog has been posting Gaza War Round-Ups. He is up to #9 at this point.

Qiriyat Sefer Stops Arab Workers From Entering

2009-01-03T19:36:00.001-05:00

8 Tevet 5769

According to Haredi news site Lada'at.net, Modi'in Elite (Qiriyat Sefer) will not be allowing Arab workers into the town until further notice. The decision was the result of the meeting between the mayor and the community council.

Apparently, the decision has the blessing of the city's rabbi, Rabbi Guterman.

The Avodah Ivrit Blog wishes them success, yet also reminds them that the community council of the town of Ofra tried to do the same thing. The council backed down from its decision, though, when one Ofra resident threatened to sue the town for discriminating against his Arab contractor who held Israeli citizenship,...and who also happened to employ Arabs with residency under the Palestinian Authority.

Aside from that, it will be interesting to monitor additional "incidents" which on the surface, are claimed to be a result of Israel's action in Gaza.

Please send in your news and personal reports via e-mail.

Common Sense

2009-01-02T05:24:00.003-05:00

6 Tevet 5769

"We Do Not Support Enemies"

Someone has some sense in Modi'in Elite (Qiriyat Sefer), where this and other, similar graffiti can now be found.

Modi'in Elite, the mostly Haredi town between Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv was the site of terrorist attacks at the hands of Arabs employees last week.

The graffiti above was painted between a store and a building site.

Insanity

2008-12-29T12:32:00.004-05:00

3 Tevet 5769

This morning's terror attack by Arab workers in Qiriyat Sefer was no surprise. When business as usual continues tomorrow, that will not be a surprise either.

The following was a surprise...a surprise that the victims were so surprised.

מעריב: צביקה דויטש, אחיו של אריה דויטש שנפצע קשה מדקירה בראשו, סיפר: "אני כבר ארבע שנים מכיר את הפועל שדקר. הוא עובד כבר 13 שנים כמנהל עבודה באתרי בניה בקרית ספר. הוא היה חבר של כולם". לדבריו, "היינו הולכים אחד לבית של השני ואוכלים יחד, אבל כנראה שמשהו בזמן האחרון התערער אצלו בעקבות האירועים".

Ma'ariv: Tzvika Deutch, brother of Aryeh Deutch who was seriously wounded from a stabbing in the head, said, "I have known the worker who stabbed him already for four years. He has worked for 13 years as the work manager on building sites in Qiriyat Sefer. He was a friend of everyone." According to him, "We were going to one of our houses to eat together, but probably something undermined him as a result of the [current] events [in Gaza]."

Are they going to chalk this up to post-traumatic stress, and rehire him next week?

He goes on to report that the worker came into ask his wife what needed to be done, and then preceded to stab her. Nothing just snapped. That was planned.

Another terrorist may still be at large.

Stop the insanity already.

Please recite prayers for Aryeh ben Vardah's complete recovery.

Volunteers Needed For Building In Eretz Yisrael!

2008-09-13T15:27:00.003-04:00

Motza'ei Shabbat Ki Tetze 5768

This just in:
Today (Thursday), a new house is being build throughout the day in Sde Bo'az. It all has to come up in one day, so it's all hands on deck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Skilled and unskilled laborers needed. Please call Uria 052-6325000

Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival #176

2008-08-04T17:24:00.003-04:00

5 Menahem Av 5768

Little Frum House on the Prairie was kind enough to include our More Avodah Aravit post in this week's edition.

More Avodah Aravrit

2008-07-27T08:25:00.007-04:00

24 Tammuz 5768

It is no coincidence that last week's bulldozer terrorist attack (link includes photos) took place a block from the Israel Center, the Orthodox Union of Hebrew Congregations [OU] headquarters in Israel.

No, the Arabs did not plan this around the OU.

However, the Vice-President of the OU David Luchins, Ph.D. was visiting from the U. S.

A group from the National Council of Synagogue Youth [NCSY], the OU's youth branch, was also in Jerusalem at the time, as part of its summer educational tour of Israel.

It is not a coincidence that all of these people, places, and events came together.

These visitors now have an opportunity to serve as shlichim, as messengers to the Jews in the U. S.

But, what message will they bear?

Will they spin the terrorist attack into the "copycat" attack of another crazy person, as the Israeli government has?

Will they downplay it, or even ignore it?

Will parents of NCSY members tell the kids that they "don't understand such complicated matters," and shouldn't get involved?

Or will OU officials, members, and youth recognize this profound occurrence, step up to the plate, and share the horror of the experience of being in Jerusalem while a terrorist attack was in progress?

Will they avoid the mincing of words, and political-correctness, and put two and two together to come up with four?

Only time will tell.

Meanwhile, on the same day of the second bulldozer attack by an "Israeli Arab" in two weeks, a rather telling article by Nathan J. Diament, the OU's Director of Public Policy was published on the website Real Clear Politics. (thanks to the Torat Yisrael Blog for the reference).

In this article, focusing on Sen. Barak Obama's (D-IL) visit to Israel, Diament praises two U. S. presidents, one whom supported the transfer of 95 percent of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza to Arabs, and the other, a vocal supporter of the formation of yet another Arab terrorist state.

We look forward to the OU's message(s) it conveys to our fellow Jews in the U. S. After having read Diament's article, we are not optimistic.

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See more first hand information on the attack and on another recent incident of "avodah aravit" posted at Tomer Devorah.

The Orthodox Union did not authorize the use of its logo. It is placed here, only as the highly recognizable symbol of kosher food, to assist our readers in identifying the OU organization.

Avodah Ivrit - CLEANING

2008-07-22T17:54:00.003-04:00

B"H

What:

Avodah Ivrit - CLEANING

Who:

Ariel Ben Yohanan

Note:

For CLEANING of your offices, condos, shops, shuls, apartments, etc.

Call 054 681 4640

Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival #173

2008-07-13T18:01:00.002-04:00

11 Tammuz 5768

Haveil Havalim 173 is now up at Random Thoughts, and includes our Avodah Aravit post.

Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival #172

2008-07-06T18:21:00.004-04:00

4 Tammuz 5768

This week's edition of the Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival is being hosted at the Daled Amos Blog, and includes one of our posts.

Avodah Aravit

2008-07-05T18:21:00.007-04:00

3 Tammuz 5768

This headline from "b'Sheva," the Hebrew weekly published by Arutz Sheva, sums up last Wednesday's terrorist attack in Jerusalem perfectly.

"Avodah Aravit"
(Arab Labor)

We wonder what Rabbi Yuval Cherlow says Avodah Ivrit now. Last year it was reported that he compared it to Nazism.

We at the Avodah Ivrit Blog mourn the lost of those murdered last week:

Lili Goren-Friedman
Bat-Sheva Unterman
Jean Relevy

May their families and loved ones be comforted with all the mourners in Zion and Jerusalem.

Palestinian Truck Seen Leaving Eli

2008-07-02T18:29:00.003-04:00

Alef d'Rosh Hodesh Tammuz 5768

This afternoon a black truck with a yellow cab and Palestinian Authority license plates was seen leaving Eli at 1:00 PM. Eli is mostly religious town near Shilo in Samaria, and under the authority of the Binyamin Regional Council.

Eli can be added to the list of towns, including Ofra, which even allows Palestinian Authority vehicles to enter. Such vehicles can also be seen periodically parked just within the main security gate to Shilo and Shvut Rachel.

Please click the link to the Binyamin Regional Council and demand to know why Palestinian workers are still allowed into YOUR towns.

You have a right to know why you lives are being endangered, and why any business in your town has been awarded to Palestinians and not to residents of your local area.

You may also e-mail Eli's Ravsha"tz (Secrity Chief) bitachon@eli.co.il, or call him 052-4201402.

Make sure to e-mail the town council head Kobi Eliraz eli@eli.co.il or call him 054-2339002.

Rabbi Lior: No Hiring, Renting Out Homes to Arabs

2008-03-19T01:18:00.001-04:00

12 Adar Bet 5768, March 19, '08

(IsraelNN.com) Rabbi Dov Lior of Hevron and Kiryat Arba, who heads the Yesha Rabbis' Council, is quoted as giving a religious opinion opposing the employment of Arabs. In an interview for the pamphlet "Our Land of Israel" which will be distributed in synagogues Saturday, Lior said: "Since there is mortal danger here, it is obvious that it is strictly forbidden to employ [Arabs] or to rent out houses to them in the Land of Israel.

"It is forbidden to employ them, not just in yeshivas but also in factories and hotels and everywhere," he reportedly decided. Lior justified Mercaz HaRav yeshiva's refusal to host Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, asking: "How can they accept a man who operates against our holy Torah and continues to lead the Nation of Israel to new dangers?"

Shilo Fires Arab Workers

2008-03-16T07:28:00.008-04:00

9 Adar Bet 5768

This report was received just before Shabbat:

Shilo fired its arab builder and they desperately need 2-3 Jews to work in building now for the next few weeks, full time...anyone interested or know anyone interested....

You may e-mail us at AvodahIvrit@gmail.com, and we will connect you with the appropriate contact.

By the way, what is it that these workers building?

What is interesting is that Shilo's rabbi, Rabbi Elhanan Bin-Nun was ask about Arab labor four years ago. He said that the official policy of the yishuv was that Arabs were not allowed into the yishuv.

At this same time there was an incident of a Jewish contractor using Arabs to build a new walkway. The resident who had hired the contractor admitted that he was in error, and committed to being more thorough in his investigations in the future.

One or two Palestinian Authority tags could still be seen parked at the new yishuv entrance. The owner of the vineyard and the hen house next to the yishuv, now inside the moved, main gate had been using Arab labor.

He complained that he could not find Jews willing to work for him in the vineyard. et the vineyard across the main road (#60), uses only Jewish labor.

Will he now finally stop using Arab labor?

The truth is that Shilo is one of the best yishuvim in this area. Very few yishuvim in Judea and Samaria forbid Arab workers.

We at the Avodah Ivrit Blog believe this is a matter of life and death. This is not a religious issue nor a political issue. It is a practical issue.

Will Ofra follow suit, and fire their Arabs finally? What about Sha'ar Binyamin and its main business, Rami Levy? Will it continue to keep its Arab workers? Is concerned with offending its Arab clientele from Ramallah?

Whether the Arab terrorist murderer of eight Merkaz Harav Yeshivah and Yeshivah High School students worked there or not is irrelevant. There is an increase of terror attacks perpetrated by Arabs with Israeli ID cards. The Hebrew University bombing of five and a half years ago and the attempting poisoning of customers at Cafe Rimon in Jerusalem are only two examples.

Why must we wait for more Arabs from within Israel's pre-1967 boundaries to strike? Why not prevent these attacks before they happen?

Please join the discussion by leaving your comments below.

Arab Labor Ban

2008-03-16T07:14:00.004-04:00

9 Adar Bet 5768

Top Hareidi Rabbi Bans Arab Labor Following Merkaz HaRav Attack

by Ezra HaLevi

(IsraelNN.com) Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, considered a top Torah sage of the generation in the Hareidi-Religious community, issued a Jewish legal decision banning the employment of Arab workers by Jews according to the Yom Chadash daily.

The rabbi issued the decision at a meeting with several administrators of yeshivas in B’nei Brak. The administrators told the rabbi that they had under they employ an older Arab man who they do not suspect of any involvement in terrorism. The administrators decided, nonetheless to seek halachic (Jewish legal) guidance following reports that the terrorist who carried out the massacre at Jerusalem’s Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva had been hired as a driver on occasion.

“According to Jewish law, it is completely forbidden to hire Arabs, especially in yeshivas,” Rabbi Kanievsky said. “There is a concern of endangering lives.”

The rabbi continued, explaining, “After all, we are at war with them…and are there not Jews that can work and make a living?”

Asked later on if his words should be publicized, Rabbi Kanievsky said: “Certainly,” according to News First Class, investigative journalist Yoav Yitzchak's news site.

Rabbi Kanievsky went even further, saying that Jews should refrain from employing any non-Jews, not just Muslim Arabs, and instead grant livelihood to Jews, unless there exist huge disparity between the costs of the labor.

Rabbi Kanievsky is one of the most recognized authorities in Hareidi-religious society. He is the son of the Steipler Rebbe, Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov Kanievsky, and the son-in-law of Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, the leader of Lithuanian Hareidi Jewry.

Avoda Ivrit Hotline Set Up
For several years a revival of the concept of Avoda Ivrit – Jewish labor – has been taking place in the Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria regions – particularly in hilltop communities. Though a web site listing Jewish labor businesses was closed down after a law-suit from an Arab advocacy group funded by the New Israel Fund, a new hotline and email account has been set up to provide Avoda Ivrit solutions.

The hotline, for everything from gardeners, heavy equipment operators, painters, cement mixers and handymen to catering and restaurants, can be reached at: 1 599 588 588 or by emailing: mokedai@gmail.com.

Happening At Ma'aleh Rechavam

2007-11-18T08:31:00.000-05:00

8 Kislev 5768

Named for the murdered Minister of Tourism, Rechavam Ze'evi, Maaleh Rehavam, a wonderful community close to Tekoa and Nokdim in the Judean Desert is organizing a happening- Come one, Come all:

A HAPPENING IN MA'ALEH REHAVAM - a blooming community in the desert

With the coming of the winter rains an amazing natural phenomenon takes place near Ma'aleh Rehavam. In the river bed at the foot of the settlement, between the desert rocks, thousands of autumn crocuses appear, egg-yolk in color (the source of their Hebrew name - Helmoniot).

They are amongst the most beautiful of the flowers of Eretz Yisrael. The largest concentration of this rare, attractive flower is found here.

Come on Friday, November 23 or November 30, between 10:00 and 14:00, for a free tour to the beautiful flowers. There are signs for those who wish to go by themselves.

On both these Fridays a fair and an open market will be held in the center of Ma'aleh Rehavam,

* Activities for children

* Camel rides

* Home-made pitot and lemonade

* Goat cheese and olive oil

* Cakes and bread with natural ingredients

* Arts and crafts

For more details please call Limor 054-4842307.

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Special Thanks to Women In Green for the Happening information!

Burger Deli

2007-10-19T01:39:00.000-04:00

7 Marheshvan 5768

Burger Deli (Mehadrin, Glatt/Halaq) serves up a great burger, and is located at...

Shamgar Street 16, Shamgar/Romemah, Jerusalem

Opening Hours: Sun - Wed 11:00 to 12 mid, Thurs 11:00 to 1:00 am

Delivery: 02-5003070

The owner recognizes that his customers prefer avodah ivrit, so that is what he provides. Unfortunately, he has come under criticism for his decision. We will refer you to those who morst qualified to present news and commentary on such issues, and simply encourage our readers to show their support for Burger Deli by patronizing their business, and letting them know they have your vote of confidence.

For a summary and commentary on Burger Deli in the news, please visit Ezra HaLevi's report, linked here on the Kumah.org Blog

Gush Etzion

2007-10-12T13:30:00.000-04:00

Rosh Hodesh Marheshvan 5768

Thank you to a contributor from Northern Judea, often called (Gush Etzion or the Etzion Block), provides additions to our constantly growing list of avodah ivrit businesses:

Restaurants:
Gavna - Massuot Yitzchak, Gush Etzion

Builders:
Baruch Brenner - Binyan Olam

Mechanics:
Kfar Etzion Auto Shop

Also, Bat Ayin must added to our list of avodah ivrit towns in Judea, which includes the previously mentioned Sde Boaz and Ma'aleh Rechavam.

Ma'aleh Rechavam Celebrates 6th Anniversary

2007-10-03T14:28:00.000-04:00

Hoshana Rabba 5768

From Israel National News:

Ma'aleh Rechavam Celebrates 6th Anniversary

(IsraelNN.com) The hilltop community of Maaleh Rechavam, located near the Herodion in eastern Gush Etzion and just south of Jerusalem, will be celebrating the sixth anniversary of its founding Tuesday evening.

At 5:30 PM, a sunset tour of the area is being offered, at 6:30 PM the inauguration of a new central square is taking place and from 7:30 PM onward a barbecue and music will last "to the wee hours," according to residents.

Maaleh Rechavam is currently threatened with destruction by the Olmert government.

Ma'aleh Rechavam is an Avodah Ivrit community in the Gush Etzion area of Judea. It is named for the murdered Minister of Tourism Rechavam Ze'evi (Moledet Party).

Like many towns in Judea and Samaria, Ma'aleh Rechavam incurs continued harassment from anti-Israel organizations.

Avodah Ivrit Supportive Towns

2007-10-01T17:52:00.000-04:00

Sukkot 5768

There are some towns in Israel which encourage businesses to be Avodah Ivrit, some which only allow Avodah Ivrit into their towns.

Such towns include Yitzhar, K'far Tapu'ah, and the community of G'vaot Olam near Itamar in Samaria, and Sde Bo'az in the Gush Etzion area of Judea.

Building and agriculture are only two of the prospering local industries.

It is important to note that Sde Bo'az is a mixed religious and secular town which sets a great example for such cooperation and unity.

Unfortunately, Sde Bo'az is also one of the communities which has been under attack by neighboring Arabs and Israeli Leftists, who come to uproot Sde Bo'az's newly planted trees,...even on Tu b'Shevat, the Jewish New Year for the Trees.

Shilo has several residents who run Avodah Ivrit businesses, including some, but not all of the local vineyards. Shilo, like Hevron, is known for its artists as well. The attached communities surrounding Shilo, such as Ahiyah and Adei Ad are Avodah Ivrit oriented.

Surprisingly, not all communities within Judea and Samaria, for example, support and encourage Avodah Ivrit.

A few years ago, the town council of Ofra, to its credit, tried to encourage Avodah Ivrit within its community. Unfortunately, one of the residents who was renovating his house at the time, threatened to sue the town through the Israeli court system, and the Ofra Town Council decided to back down.

Several Ofra residents, and residents of neighboring Amona are involved with Avodah Ivrit-based businesses. We recommend that you support these businesses.

*********************

None of the above communities gave their permission to be included in this blog report.

Please submit any corrections and updates to the above report, as well as information above additional communities in Israel, via e-mail at avodahivrit@gmail.com.

Kalba Savu'a Update

2007-10-01T16:30:00.000-04:00

Sukkot 5768

כלבא שבוע

Kalba Savu'a, the mehadrin, meat restaurant, we reported on in the fall, 2005, moved about year and half ago.

It was embroiled in a challenge to its right to free speech, something which really does not exist in Israel anyway.

It used to be located on Yaffo Street, at the corner of Moriah Street, a half of a block up from Jerusalem's Central Bus Station.

It can now be found on Aggrippas Street 34, still serving its famous, reasonably-priced shawarmah. But they have added much to their menu, including traditional Bukhari Jewish dishes.

(Bet Yosef Mehadrin Kashrut Certification)

To Your Health!

2007-09-24T11:24:00.000-04:00

12 Tishrei 5768

To get our new year off to a good start physically, we bring you two health oriented stores. Both are found on the highly under-rated Aggrippas Street Shopping Area, adjacent to the Mahane Yehudah Open Market. We hope to be able to provide you with more information about this very reasonably priced shopping district as it becomes available.

The first is a health food store called Olam Hatevah, "The World Of Nature."

All different kinds of hard to find products with strict standards of Kashrut, can be found here on Aggrippas Street 65.

Spelt flour, rye flour, soy flour, linseed oil, and various gluten-free items are only some of the products you will find at Olam Hatevah, with mehadrin heksherim (Kashrut cerification) by Rav Landa, Eidah Hareidis, Belz, and Hatam Sofer - Petah Tikvah, among others.

Other health food stores along Aggippras Street were surveyed, yet did not meet out stringent standards of avodah ivrit. Please let us know if things have change and/or if we missed anyone.

On the other side of Mahaneh Yehdudah, toward the Central Bus Station, we come to Habichirah Hativit Bakery (Natural Choice). Here you will find only organic, whole wheat and non-wheat breads and baked goods, including spelt, rye, 1/2 spelt-1/2 rye, and oat, with or without yeast. Some sprouted grain products are available, as well as items without any processed sugar. Hallah, pita, cookies, cakes, crackers, and mini-pizzas are some of the items you will find at Natural Choice Bakery. They are open Sunday through Thursday until 8:00 PM, and on Fridays and before Holidays until a couple of hours before candle-lighting, and are under the supervision of Mehzikei Dat (Belz) kashrut.

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Note: Neither of these businesses asked to be included in this blog.