Stop Raping Israel

Palestinian Sympathy Fatigue II

noreply@blogger.com (GrEaT sAtAn'S gIrLfRiEnD) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:24:00 +0000

Well, well -- wail! News that the so nice - he be nom d'guerr'd twice! Abu Mazen/M'Moud Abbas -- the President of the West Bank and the rocket rich Strip turf (collectively called Palestine) is ready to jettison the escape pod and high tail it for his super swanky beach front villa in Q'Tar.

Saw that one a mile away. Just like the happy happy fact that HAMAS couldn't get re elected as grave diggers in the Strip now.

What a dang shame.

Both Satans' seem to look at the fast creation of a magical Nakbah free nation state of Palestine regardless of the Palestinians’ unwillingness to accept Little Satan's right to exist as the primary aim of their Palestinian policies.

Hip and haunch with calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state seem to actually increase in direct proportion to the radicalization of Palestinian society:

The more radical Palestinian society becomes, the hotter the hot wicked desire to grant it sovereign statehood.

Sovereign statehood and Palestinians have never really seemed to hook up. Like their Arab brethern, Palestinians have consistently sour mouthed that Little Satan's property posse that 'occupied' precious Palestinian turf with an amazing immodestly, lack of restraint and blitzkrieg tactics is the main problem.

Yet - predictably enough -- Palestinian Sympathy Fatigue may be the new (same as the old) thang:

"There is no romance, no sex, no excitement, no urgency — not even a sense of importance anymore."

Essentially because -- there is precious little in it for Great Satan. Would creating the world's 58th and 59th mohammedist or Arab League's 23rd and 24th nation state sweetly usher in a new error free era of peace, tolerance and get with it ness?

Would Little Satan be able to host Great Satan's Air Force or Teufel Hunden at state of the art bases, kassernes or cantonments? Would Palestine? And what would a future Palestine look like anyway? Yet another tribalistic kleptocracy or a really cool version of an Arabic Little Satan - complete with real elections, free press, consenual gov, indy judiciaries and egalitarian concerns?

"The way for the Palestinians to get a state is to go ahead and build it. If and when the institutions are there and functioning, from police and courts to a parliament, negotiations will reflect that fact.

"The argument that settling the borders and removing Little Satan's troops must come first is a path to failure. For one thing, Little Satan will not and should not leave until it is clear that the West Bank can be policed by Palestinians and that the region will not be a source of terrorism, as Gaza and South Lebanon became when Little Satan left there.

"No conference and no treaty can provide such a guarantee; only functioning Palestinian police forces that are already fighting and defeating terror can do so.

"It would press the Arab states to help real live Palestinians in the West Bank, rather than the imaginary Palestinians--all either bold jihadists or desperate widows and orphans--whom they see on Al Jazeera.

"In fact, except for occasional visits by Jordanians and Egyptians (who have peace treaties with Little Satan already), top Arab officials haven't a clue what's going on in the West Bank, for they've never been there. Not one head of state or government or foreign minister, not once.

"Organize a tour; take a few princes and foreign ministers to Ramallah, Jenin and Jericho where they would find that they are neither in Somalia nor some heroic battle scene against Zionist oppressors.

As Palestine's dual d'nom'd daddy says: "In West Bank we have a good reality… the people are living a normal life.”

Despite Goldstone Report, Willie P or rowdy rocketeers -- nearly everyone in free societies (except for maybe the MOST depraved Realist on the planet) is suffering from Palestinian Sympathy Fatigue.

Sweet!

Pic - "Don't wanna be accursed! Won't the last girl or the 1st to tell me i should go str8 2 Hale"

Can There Be Any Doubt About The YeSh"A Council?

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:57:00 +0000

8 Marheshwan 5770

This article from Israel National News (italics) is interspersed with my comments.

Barak Lauds Wallerstein on Mutiny
Gil Ronen, October 25, 2009

(IsraelNN.com) Defense Minister Ehud Barak reacted Sunday to the “Kotel mutiny” in which soldiers at a swearing-in ceremony protested the IDF's eviction policy, saying that he viewed it “very gravely.”

"However,” he added, “Yesh"a Council Director Pinchas Wallerstein's sharp reaction against the deed was in my eyes the right voice of the settlers in Yehudah (Judea) and Shomron (Samaria).”

One compliment from Ehud Barak says it all....

In an interview on Voice of Israel government radio, Wallerstein called the soldiers' action “unforgivable.”

Can there now be any doubt in anyone's minds where Wallerstein's priorities are? Can there be any doubt about his conflicts of interest? Can there be any doubt about his being a government collaborator?

The so-called YeSh"A Council is suppose to encourage the settlement of Yehudah and Shomron, not discourage it, and certainly not support any enterprise which discourages it or, worse, destroys it.

Because of such soldiers, some Jewish strongholds still stand. Why would Wallerstein want to put them down? If he secretly supports them, why would this want to bury the truth? The truth is that Pinhas Wallerstein cares first and foremost for Pinhas Wallerstein, second for Pinhas Wallerstein, and third for Ofra, the town in which he resides.

Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, Head of the Hesder Yeshiva at Elon Moreh and a member of the Judea and Samaria Council, voiced support Saturday for the soldiers and demanded that Wallerstein resign his post.

Rabbi Levanon is one of the rabbis who knows which takes precedence, Torah Law or man-made laws, and is not ashamed to express it. Barukh HaShem we have [real] rabbis like him.

"I call upon every soldier to reveal his views in public,” Levanon urged. “Clear value-oriented statements by soldiers are a clear sign of the general public feeling against the eviction of any Jews from their home.”

Encouraging freedom of speech? See how dangerous such truth-bearing rabbis are?

The Yesh"a Council is made up of local government chiefs in Yehudah and Shomron and claims to represent the Jewish population in those regions.

So true is the manner in which Gil Ronen phrases this last sentence. The YeSh"A Council is self-chartered, self-perpetuating, and self-serving. The rare, decent members, like Rabbi Levanon, stick around only in an attempt to facilitate positive change. Unfortunately, they spend most of their time doing damage control.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

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Don't forget to watch the documentary "Meraglim" (Spies) if you haven't already done so. This 40 minute video exposes the collaboration of the YeSh"A Council with the Israeli government during the Expulsion from Azza in the summer, 2005.

The Price Of "Arab" Olives

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:19:00 +0000

7 Marheshwan 5770

I have written about Jews getting pushed around over the masiq (olive harvest) so many times, I have decided to add an "Olive Harvest" label to Esser Agaroth.

Each fall, Jews are kicked out of their homes, have their movements restricted, separated from their families and jobs, for fear of interference in the Yishma'eli (Arab) harvest of olives on Land which is not even theirs.

Army Bans Land of Israel Activists From Home
Hillel Fendel 24 Tishrei 5770/12 October 09 04:41

(IsraelNN.com) In response to the abrupt announcement that three activists may not return to their homes in Samaria for six months, residents say leftists have taken over the army’s Central Command.

Early Monday morning, IDF Central District Commander Maj.-Gen. Gadi Shamni issued orders banning two prominent Land of Israel activists from returning to their homes, or anywhere in the Shomron (Samaria), for the next six months. The two are Ariel Gruner and Akiva HaCohen, both fathers of four children and residents of Yitzhar in the Shomron.

This is not the first time for either of them: In July 2006, Gruner - whose youngest son is now ten days old - was placed in prison for seven weeks under administrative detention orders generally employed against Arab terrorists. He was then placed under “caravan arrest” in a small Jordan Valley community for three months, followed by a three-month ban on entering Judea and Samaria. In August 2008, HaCohen was banned from the Shomron, where he lives, for four months.

A Third Expellee
Several hours later, Shamni issued similar orders against a third Yitzhar resident, Eliav Eliyahu, 19, who has been married for less than a year.

The official explanation for the latest orders: “Information has been received of their involvement in violent and illegal activity… and in light of the genuine danger foreseen from them to security and public order.” (Read more...)

"Information?" What the hell is THAT supposed to mean?! Where's the "evidence?" Oh, that's right they don't have any, and they don't need any.

MK Michael Ben-Ari (National Union) criticized what he called the “thought police,” and asked why it is that pro-Arab activists and anarchists in the Bil’in and Naalin protests “who throw rocks at soldiers” never receive such orders.

MK Ben-Ari, I believe have the answer to that. "They" (the Israeli Government) side with Yishme'el (Arabs) and Esau (The West/Christians), and have forsaken the Land of Israel, for they have no connection to it. "They" are Erev Rav.

"They" have no clue and no connection with the Torah, which clearly predicts...

דברים ו
י וְהָיָה כִּי יְבִיאֲךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבֹתֶיךָ לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב--לָתֶת לָךְ: עָרִים גְּדֹלֹת וְטֹבֹת, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-בָנִיתָ. יא וּבָתִּים מְלֵאִים כָּל-טוּב, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-מִלֵּאתָ, וּבֹרֹת חֲצוּבִים אֲשֶׁר לֹא-חָצַבְתָּ, כְּרָמִים וְזֵיתִים אֲשֶׁר לֹא-נָטָעְתָּ; וְאָכַלְתָּ, וְשָׂבָעְתָּ.

Deuteronomy 6
10 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land which He swore unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee--great and goodly cities, which thou didst not build, 11 and houses full of all good things, which thou didst not fill, and cisterns hewn out, which thou didst not hew, vineyards and olive-trees, which thou didst not plant, and thou shalt eat and be satisfied--

No, we are prevented from fulfilling our destiny, not only to take full possession of the heart of our homeland, but also to reap its benefits.

After living in Binyamin and the Shomron, I can attest to the fact that 100 percent of the olives never get picked. Even if I approved of sharing with the Yishma'elim, which I most certainly do not, there are plenty of olives to go around.

Ideally, Jews would go into the groves in full force, harvest everything, and have an amazing stockpile of organic olive oil for food, medicinal purposes, cosmetics, and for export.

Instead Jews are removed from their homes, families, land, and jobs, while Yishma'elim are given free reign to harvest the olives on our Land, in contradiction to countless sources in Jewish Law.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

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Ariel at The Torah Revolution has this to say: Just Look At Him.

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It has been suggested that if you think there's something wrong here, then contact every Israeli politician you know, including Ehud Barak, Minister of Defense: (dover@mod.gov.il) fax: 011 972- 2-649-6545; Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu: memshala@it.pmo.gov.il, Fax: 011 972 -2- 563-2580; the Israeli Embassy in Washington: Tel: 202-364-5500; Deputy Chief of Mission: Dan Arbell, Fax: (202) 364-5560; Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Major General Benjamin Gantz Tel: (202) 364-5403 Fax: (202) 364-5503.

Jew Encouraging Ascension To The Temple Mount Incurs Intimidation From Police

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:52:00 +0000

23 of the Seventh Month/Isru Hag 5770

From Yosef Meir, Hoshana Rabba, 7:46 AM (edited)

Before dawn I was standing outside the entrance to the Kotel
(Western Wall) area calling upon the masses of Jews flowing into the are, to go up in purity to the Temple Mount. As I prepared to enter the security checkpoint to get into the Kotel to daven shachrit (pray the morning prayers), I was detained by the police for about 20 minutes and they only let me enter the Kotel plaza on condition that I not speak about the Temple Mount to anyone. They told me if I was caught speaking about Jewish ascent to the Mount I would be immediately arrested.

During the detention the police told me that if masses of Jews would be attempting to go up to the Temple Mount it would change the situation in our favor. The greater the pressure on police to open the Temple Mount to Jews, the greater the chance it will be open. Facts on the ground.

We must start a worldwide pressure campaign. We need serious activists from all over the world to come forward and help.

Let me know if you want to help and what area you are in.

Double standards on free speech, double standards on the Holiest site to the Jewish People, police intimidation... Still think Israel is a democracy?

It's a deMOCKracy.

Join the תפילת יהודית על הר הבית - עצומה- Jewish Prayer on Temple Mount Petition group on Facebook.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Beware Of Governments Bearing Gifts: Israeli GPO To Begin Issuing Press Credentials To Bloggers

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:19:00 +0000

Erev Rosh HaShanah 5770

Tomer Devorah alerted me to the following:

Media Credentials for Top Israeli Bloggers

Erev Rosh HaShanah 5770/September 18, 2009, 10:49 AM

(IsraelNN.com) Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's office will acknowledge the growing power of bloggers by providing writers of the most popular blogs with media credentials, according to Maariv. The credentials would allow the bloggers to enter news conferences and similar events.

The initiative was first revealed at the Second International Jewish Bloggers Convention this week by Ron Dermer of the Prime Minister's Office, who said it will take some time to implement the program. PMO officials will first spend months investigating various blogs and determining which of Israel's popular bloggers should be offered credentials.

Full story

As I understand it, this parashah was initiated by Jameel Rasheed @ The Muqata blog, when he made a public request for press credentials at the aforementioned convention:

"...Therefore, the logical question I asked was if the Israeli government wants our help to "Defend Israel" through the JBlogosphere (and we gladly help), why can't we get [Government Press Office] GPO Press Credentials? I was surprised that so many people applauded the question. Dermer promised he would take care of it. To help him with his promise -- if you are a serious blogger, drop me an email and I'll put together a request list to him....."

The way I see it, the key word in the above news report is "investigating." Call it K'far Tapu'ah Paranoia, if you must. I choose to call it necessary suspicion of the government.

I have no problem with Jameel's request. If he receives press credentials, then more power to him. However, I believe we must keep this policy in perspective.

The Erev Rav controlled, Israeli government is running scared. The ratio of Haredim in the Israeli population continues to increase, as is that of religious Jews, in general. The majority of second-graders who started school this year are religious. The percentage of officers in the IDF who identify as religious is the greatest it has ever been, and continues to increase each year.

Yet, every time the Torah world attempts to assert its influence, the Israeli Supreme Court immediately shoots it down.

The government knows that it's only a matter of time before they will no longer be able to keep up the resistance.

Eventually they will have no choice but to take increasingly drastic measures, in a futile attempt to prevent the inevitable.

The Erev Rav controls the mainstream Israeli media. The center-right Jerusalem Post is sometimes critical of the government, but does sufficient bashing of Haredim and settlers to keep it off its back.

The last thing the Israeli government needs is a set of independent critics with access to government officials. They know what we have in mind, and they don't like it one bit.

If granted access to press conferences and other assorted events, we will do the one thing of which the Israeli goverment is terrified.

We will be asking questions, and not just any questions, but the questions they don't want to be asked, let alone answer in public. We will be asking the questions to which they do not even know the answers, causing them great public embarrassment. We will be asking "them" to justify their actions. We will be putting "them" under the microscope, and adding the information we gather to our posts publicizing the truth to Jews outside of Israel, keeping them informed as to what is really taking place here.

There is no question that not just any blogger will be granted press credentials. Oh sure, there may be one token they will be able to brand as a nut job in an attempt to discredit other bloggers they do not like. But don't expect any great revelations in freedom for the press with this new policy. No, the powers that be will be using this as an opportunity to "investigate" us.

Fellow blogger Nati of Mystical Paths has already been "visited" by the Shabba"k (General Security Service AKA: "Secret Police") over his writings.

There was a time when I figured that the powers that be did not take English speaking blogs seriously. We're just a bunch of ideological nuts,...regardless of ideological flavor.

Well, there is no doubt that "they" know we're on the map. Whether "they" think we are a threat to them, only time will tell. What we do know is that instead of flying under the radar, the radar will, at least periodically, be focused on us.

Beware of governments bearing gifts.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Bride Of Palestine

noreply@blogger.com (GrEaT sAtAn'S gIrLfRiEnD) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:46:00 +0000

“Unfeeling, heartless creator! You had endowed me with perceptions and passions, and then cast me abroad, an object for the scorn and horror of mankind”

At the fateful glacier meeting betwixt Dr F and his handbuilt critter, commissions are engaged to create a helpmate for it. Later, Viktor recants - fearing that unsafe sex may in fact create “a race of devils . . . on the earth.”

Kinda like "Ye Olde Land For Peace" con that hath reared it's pointy little head yet again.

HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal of Wahabbi Arabia summons shades and specters with an interesting bit that pretty much says the heck with Palestine and Little Satan

"Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Mohammedism the custodian of its two holy mosques, the world’s energy superpower and the de facto leader of the Arab and Muslim worlds — that is why our recognition is greatly prized by Little Satan. However, for all those same reasons, the kingdom holds itself to higher standards of justice and law.

"It must therefore refuse to engage Little Satan until she ends her illegal occupation of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights as well as Shabaa Farms in Lebanon.

"For Saudis to take steps toward diplomatic normalization before this land is returned to its rightful owners would undermine international law and turn a blind eye to immorality."

This is significant - and brazenly hollow. After all, Little Satan split the Strip way back in 2005. Where were the Kingdom's Higher Standards then? What tactical and strategic designs did this ME powerhouse exude then?

HRH Turki goes on to point out how awesome Land For Peace was betwixt Little Satan and Pyramidland yet only after Little Satan repented for siezing Egyptian turf in a series of desperate counter attacks in response to a secret attack by several Arab Leaguers against a democratic member of UN and promised to return every inch of sweetly acquired real estate booty.

Listing Gaza along with West Bank and the petite Shee Bah Farms (Har Dov in Little Satan speak) is suspect.

Land first -- then Peace.

YAWN

That faux school idea is sooo played.

Look -- since Nazi time Deutschland and Imperial Nippon screamed "God! Please! Stop!" over a 100 borders have been moved, dreamed up and established - and they didn't satisfy everybody -- yet -- an agreed upon border is way more better than generations of blood shed over turf.

Basing more polices RE: Palestine around mythic narratives of Little Satan's hedonistic appropriations for the Arab World's problems is retarded and are based on incorrect conclusions. So far, the redux'd land for peace has not only totally failed to resolve the problem - it has made it worse.

Everywhere Little Satan splits - intolerant (and currently Iranian fed and funded) rocket rich rejectionists tend to move in like HAMAS in the Strip and Hiz'B'Allah beyond Lebanon's 'Blue Line'.

High time to reassess, redress and stress that Little Satan ain't the problem.

Palestinian and Arab rejection of Little Satan's right to exist is.

Art "Bride of Palestine"

Mad Scientists

noreply@blogger.com (GrEaT sAtAn'S gIrLfRiEnD) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:05:00 +0000

'The time has come,' the Walrus said, 'To talk of many things:"

In the crunk and disorderly world of academia -- the 'Cult of Irrelevance" -- there is a particular field called IR. Meaning Internat'l Relations, IR exists counterminously with real time - historical and current events sweetly mingle with future projections and the foreign policy theories theoretically theorized therein can actually drive one batty.

As in mad.

While decorum prohibits (think a thong at church) listing all the wicked, weak minded warping tomes, scrolls and syllabi that defeatist succubi and incubi imbibe -- here's one of several Mad Scientists to be on the lookout for.

Palestinian fanboy Columbia University professor Rashid Khalidi is a down right mean Little Satan hating agent.

Dr K routinely enjoyed sucking up to the old school Palestinian terror cats like the Palestine Loseration Organization at the same incredible instant PLO was doing anti-Western terrorism and earned an especial place on Great Satan's Official Enemies List.

Specifically -- rowdy revisionist Rashid doubled as director of the official PLO press agency WAFA in Beirut from 1976 to 1982

Despite Palestinian Sympathy Fatigue

"Although the Palestinians have no state, they have two toothless governments. The behavior of both sides has been disgraceful."

The real cause of all the world's ills are in fact Great and Little Satan's fault.

Such bass ackwardsness is risible in extremis

"It is high time that we speak out against the immoral and undemocratic policies of our government in the Middle East. U.S. policy in the Middle East will never be successful if it does not base itself on universally respected principles of international law and universally recognized values."

Dr Rashid Khaladi's work -- which is actually a study in Dual Loyalties -- to be on the look out for include:

British Policy towards Syria and Palestine, 1906-1914. Ithaca Press for St. Antony's College, 1980.

Palestine and the Gulf (Co-editor), Institute for Palestine Studies, 1982.
Under Siege: PLO Decision-making during the 1982 War. Columbia University Press, 1986.
The Origins of Arab Nationalism (Co-editor), Columbia University Press, 1991.
Palestinian Identity: The Construction of Modern National Consciousness, Columbia University Press, 1997.
Eugene L. Rogan & Avi Shlaim, ed (2007) [1st ed. 2001].
"The Palestinians and 1948: the underlying causes of failure".
The War for Palestine: Rewriting the History of 1948 (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521699341..
Resurrecting Empire: Western Footprints and America's Perilous Path in the Middle East, Beacon Press, 2004.
The Iron Cage: The Story of the Palestinian Struggle for Statehood. Beacon Press. 2006.
Sowing Crisis: The Cold War and American Dominance in the Middle East, Beacon Press, 2009.

Pic - "If there is to be a resolution of the Palestine problem, it depends on the Palestinians' understanding the massive disadvantages they labor under in fighting a struggle for liberation against the heirs of the victims of the Holocaust, in the growing shadow of worldwide mohammedismphobia."

BBC 4 Interview: Shira and Daniel Gil'ad, Ramath Migron

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:22:00 +0000

11 Ellul 5769

Tipped off by Rafi at Life In Israel, I feel this video is well-worth re-posting.

BBC Channel 4 News interviews newlyweds Shira and Daniel Gil'ad of Ramath Migron, north of Jerusalem. Shira and Daniel actually met on Ramath Migron, and have returned as a married couple to continued their important work.

Shira is a daughter of fellow blogger David Morris of Ramath Beth Shemesh, who brought this interview to our attention on his Tzedek-Tzedek blog.

Shira did all of the speaking, being the the native English speaker of the two. I thought that she came off very well.

As most of you know I am against PR/Hasbarah. (Who cares what the goyim think?!) That being said, I thought that the content of what Shirah said was clear and informative to those who don't have a clue as to the truth of what actually goes on in Israel. Shira was successful in conveying important messages, even in spite of the biased comments of the news reporter and anchor.

I especially like how it was mentioned that Shira was proud of her grandparents being decorated by the Queen for their charity work. However, when she was in England a few years ago, she felt as if something was missing, and that she belonged in Israel.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Hello?! There Already Is A Ban On Land Sales To Arabs!

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:18:00 +0000

11 Ellul 5769

Rabbis Meeting to Consider a Ban on Selling Houses to Arabs
Gil Ronen, 10 Ellul 5769/August 30, 2009, 7:40 PM

(IsraelNN.com) Hareidi and national-religious rabbis will meet Monday in Jerusalem to discuss ways of dealing with the Arab influx into Jewish neighborhoods in northern Jerusalem, as well as the purchasing of agricultural land in the Galilee by wealthy foreign Arabs.
The rabbis are expected to call for an end to the phenomenon of sale of land and houses by Jews to Arabs. The organizer, Aryeh King, who heads the Israel Lands Fund, told Arutz Sheva's Hebrew service that he is hoping to see the rabbis issue a pronouncement that sale of land and houses to Arabs is forbidden....

This is awfully frustrating, as we already have such a law (see sources below). It is a shame such a meeting even needs to take place.

However, since Rabbi Ya'aqov Yosef and Rabbi Shmu'el Eliyahu, legitimate halachic authorities, are said to be involved, I have confidence that this meeting will be used as a some sort of strategy to publicize the 3,300 year old halacha mid'Oraitha.

Unfortunately, I must offer the prediction that this will be on the first stage in the next set of battles between Torah and anti-Torah Israeli laws. The Israeli Supreme Court will undoubtedly decry "racism."

In recent years, we have already seen the Israeli Supreme Court order the Chief Rabbinate around with regard to kashruth (dietary laws) certification. We have also seen prominent rabbis, such as Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, arrested for daring to discuss halachoth (Jewish laws) which appear to be in contradiction of Israeli law.

Stay tuned...

רמב"ם הלכות עבודה זרה פרק י
ד [ג] אין מוכרין להם בתים ושדות, בארץ ישראל; ובסוריה, מוכרין להם בתים, אבל לא שדות. ומשכירין להם בתים בארץ ישראל, ובלבד שלא יעשם שכונה--ואין שכונה, פחותה משלושה. ואין משכירין להם שדות; ובסוריה, משכירין להם שדות. ומפני מה החמירו בשדה: מפני שיש בה שתיים--מפקיעה מן המעשרות, ונותן להם חניה בקרקע

Ramba"m: Laws of Foreign Worship 10
4 [3] One does not sell them houses or fields in Eretz Yisrael; but in Suriyah one may sell them houses, but not fields. One may rent them houses in Eretz Yisrael, provided that one does not make them a neighborhood -- and there is no neighborhood with less than three [households]. One does not rent them fields; but in Suriyah one rents them fields. And why were they strict regarding fields? For two reasons -- [because they would] expropriate the tithes and be allowed to settle the land.

The negative commandments "do not make a covenant with foreign worshipers" and "do not have mercy on them" come directly from Deuteronomy.

דברים ז,ב ונתנם יהוה אלהיך, לפניך--והכיתם: החרם תחרים אתם, לא-תכרת להם ברית ולא תחנם

Deuteronomy 7:2 and when the LORD thy God shall deliver them up before thee, and thou shalt smite them; then thou shalt utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them.

For additional information on these negative commandments, you can download the shi'urim (audio) given by Rabbi David Bar-Hayim, part 1 and part 2.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

With "Zionist" Rabbis Like This, Who Needs Neturei Karta?

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:15:00 +0000

28 b'Av 5769

Tensions at Bnei Adam; Waiting for Rabbi Levinger
Hillel Fendel, 23 b'Av/August 13, 2009, 5:16 PM

(IsraelNN.com) Despite reports to the contrary, former Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu has not issued an opinion on whether the residents of Bnei Adam should go along with the decision to remove three caravans from their outpost.
On the other hand, Rabbi Chaim Druckman, one of the leading rabbis of the religious-Zionist camp for over 40 years, has ruled that they should.

The residents themselves do not feel bound by this decision (GOOD!), however, and have gone to consult with Rabbi Moshe Levinger of Hevron instead. “I don’t believe he will say that we should leave,” said long-time Yesha activist and settlement pioneer Daniella Weiss, “as it is clear what this would mean in terms of [Prime Minister Binyamin] Netanyahu’s plan to allow a Palestinian state to be established here.” (Read more....)

Everyone is now waiting with baited breath for Rabbi Levinger's ruling.

C'mon! It's not rocket science. Our own Rabbeinu Tzvi Yehudah [Kook] ztz"l sure didn't think it was.

One must do everything in order to delay and prevent the evacuation of Jewish strongholds.
- Rabbi Tzvi Yehudah Kook ztz"l

When I little known rabbi in Ofra, Rabbi Elitzur HaLevy Seg"el, quoted this back in 2002 in response to the IDF's expulsion of Jews from Havath Gil'ad on Shabbath, there was great outrage. Even though Rabbi Sege"l, too was a student at Merkaz HaRav Yeshivah, while Rabbenu Tzvi Yehudah was the rosh yeshivah in the 1980's.

Who the heck is he?
I've never heard of him?
Of course, one may only learn the teachings of Rabbeinu Tzvi Yehudah from Rabbi Tau, Rabbi Aviner, or Rabbi Druckman.

Who the hell made up that rule? I'll tell you who: The students of Rabbi Tau, Rabbi Aviner, and Rabbi Druckman, selectively leaving out Rabbi Dov Lior, Rabbi Zalman Melamed, and Rabbi Moshe Tzuri'el.

How convenient. But it gets worse. They have also attempted to hijack the works of Rabbi Avraham Yitzhaq Kook ztz"l by stating that one may only learn his Torah from his son, and thus only from the rabbis mentioned above. Some of Rav Kook's work was suddenly discovered in the Merkaz HaRav Yeshivah, after certain rabbis had left the yeshivah. It is no coinsidence that some of this work appears to contracict much of comes out of the Mamlakhti camp.

When Rabbi Dov Lior (Hevron-Qiriyath Arba) and Rabbi Zalman Melamed (Beth-El) four full years later, no one was as courageous to shoot down the statements of two of Rabbeinu Tzvi Yehudah's very prominent students. Then Shlomo Aviner came along, and insisted on declaring that Rabbeinu Tzvi Yehudah never explicitly said "to refuse orders."

Although Rabbi Melamed walks a very careful line Beth-El for the sake of "shalom" in that town, he could not stand idly by after this statement of Aviner's. In the b'Sheva Hebrew weekly, he made the following statement, without mentioning any names.

"Rabbeinu Tzvi Yehudah did not have to say 'refuse orders,' as he said 'everything.' Anyone who ever learned by him and knew him should know that." (paraphrase)

During the last days in Azza, Rabbi Aviner and other like-minded rabbis were stationed in Neveh Deqalim synagogues keeping an eye on residents who were unknowingly being prepared for their final expulsion (Deep inside, Neveh Deqalim residents could probably feel what was coming). It is crucial to keep this fresh in all of our minds.

Rabbis Lior and Melamed, on the other hand, were barricaded on the roof of the synagogue in K'far Darom. Only when they heard that they were the last ones standing. I believe this was not a caving into the government, but rather like the decision of Rabbi Yohanan, who, acknowledging the reality of the situation, knew that Jerusalem had fallen and the there was nothing left to be done, save for damage control (Avoth d'Rabbi Nathan).

Some have suggested that we all have "our own rabbis."

So, then which rabbis would you follow?

The ones with the money, the publicity machine, and the cameras and microphones constantly at their heels, who see no contradiction between Torah and Israeli Law?

Or ones who place Torah Law before all else, contradiction or not, the ones whose "rulings" are supported by halachic sources, and hold up to scrutiny?

Here is a final note, regarding the B'nei Adam stronghold itself. In this video, Zambish Hever, head of Amana, encouraging the residents to leave B'nei Adam, instead of encouraging them to stay, like you would expect those connected with the Yesh"a Council to do.

Those hold up in the structure slated for removal are yelling various things at him, including, "You destroyed Gush Qatif!" "Put your head down!" and "Take off your kippah!"

Could the tide be changing? Could Jews be waking up, seeing who is a traitor, and fighting back? Or is this attitude still limited to the outposts surrounding Hevron and Shchem?

Update:

Bnei Adam Clash Dissipates – For Now
Hillel Fendel, 26 b'Av/August 16, 2009, 1:33 PM

(IsraelNN.com) Rabbi Moshe Levinger of Hevron ruled that a fight for an outpost can’t be waged without the agreement of the residents – who haven’t decided yet. (Read more...)

I suppose that is a reasonable ruling,... on the surface. Now we will have to see who appears on the seen to try to influence the decisions of the residents.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Spy Wars II

noreply@blogger.com (GrEaT sAtAn'S gIrLfRiEnD) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 01:35:00 +0000

As Natan Sharansky pointed out in the essential "Case For Democracy," unfree regimes and (by dangerous extrapolation) non state and semi state intolerant militias and rocket rich 'Resistance Movements' (with an amazing ability to resist their own legit govs way more than any foreign hanky panky) need 2 things to hang on and hope for the best:

External Enemies - Like o, say - Great Satan - and her democrazy little sister - Little Satan.

And - Internal Enemies. Like girls, facebook, free choice, human rights - and spies -- real or imagined.

Like the rocket rich rejectionist control freaks in Hiz'B'Allah. Led by the creepy Body Part Collector General, HBA -- the most proficient killers and serial tormentors of Americans in history til 911 time -- recently stymied in Lebanon's electile dysfunction with yet another attempt to gain legitimacy while seducing a segue fusing a real nation state with an operational terrorist group.

So -- HBA is doing the deal about spies. Spies here -- spies there -- all working for Little Satan of course.

"Lebanese OTV network, owned by politician Michel Aoun, reported that the army had broken into a structure in Jabal al-Baruch in April and found equipment suspected of serving Israeli intelligence.

"The report said the army had intervened after receiving intelligence regarding an “illegal internet company” operating within its borders.

"The alleged discovery is the most recent victory claimed by Hezbollah in its current battle against what it claims are Israeli espionage rings operating in Lebanon.

"The organization also boasts the arrest of dozens of alleged spies, one of whom was recently sentenced to life in prison by a Lebanese military court.

Oh Snap! Illegal Internet Activities?

While it's true Little Satan recently used some kind of cyber chicanery to strike Syria's not so secret tender portions -- and the nigh instant severing of Internet landlines in Syria even outlawing Face Book made a good case -- most likely this is a fake believe incident designed to bolster slagging support for HBA at home.

Like General Sec's own facebook account.

Using Har Dov (Shee Bah Farms in Arabic) -- an after the show ho taken as righteous real estate booty back in the day -- as a very unconvincing raison d'etre for HBA's continued 'resistance,' collection of weaponry stocks and continued defiance of UN Reso#1701 (PDF).

8 square miles of contested turf (22 kilometers squared - 'bout the size of 4 Super Walmarts with attendent periphery retail spots) anywhere else on earth could be negotiated without militias -- though in a hood where 'honor' is often found betwixt a girl's legs - all bets are off.

Art - "Nasrallah is the cedar in our Lebanese flag, the master of us all" by Disturbingly Yellow

Most Dangerous

noreply@blogger.com (GrEaT sAtAn'S gIrLfRiEnD) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:49:00 +0000

Pyramidland's state controlled semi unfree media alledgedly cries out that Little Satan's kindred spirit rep to Great Satan "is very active in the American arena and has very good ties, which may strengthen the strategic relations between the US and Israel."

Oh Snap!

Ambassador Michael Oren is "the most dangerous man in Washington."

"The American born Oren, who earned a PhD from Princeton University, emigrated from Great to Little Satan way back in the '70's, and has written a best selling book -- essential in any library -- "Six Days of War". His fully crunk follow up "Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present, " is likewise likable.

"Essentially - Dr Oren's appointment is an incredible advantage for Little Satan over any other ME regional actors.

"Little Satan can field a good looking, savvy cat on all the American TV and Radio Shows that isn't foreign sounding (way more than accents - but in outlooks too)
to the average American viewer.

"Totally slant public opinion in Little Satan's favor. Any American-turned Israeli or chatting with a British accent seemingly automatically implies honesty/trustworthiness/intelligence and a whole host of positive characteristics.

"Meanwhile Iran and Arab states put on a cat who may be highly educated but has broken English. Boring on a nigh unsustainable mind numbing scale."

Actually, Pres For Life Hosni and the nepotistic regime in Pyramid land DO need to be concerned.

Until recently, Egypt led the world in 2 things - Foreign Aid from Great Satan and horrific gender apartheid on their own sweet girls.

Cutting Democracy promotion funds took Cairo down to 2nd place in Foreign Aid

Might be high time to change that.

Pic "Most Dangerous Cat In DC"

Festival HaMiqdash - The Temple Festival (Updated)

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:03:00 +0000

13 b'Av 5769

This past Mossa'ei Shabbath (Saturday night), the weekly concert series and melaweh malkah tradition returned to K'far Tapu'ah in full force with "Festival HaMiqdash" (The Temple Festival).

Videos of previous concerts, which have included such artists as Aharon Razel, Dov Shurin, Bini Landau, Ehud Avraham, and Aharit HaYamim can be viewed on the concert series YouTube Channel.

Below is a video recap by Israel National News of the Festival.

Please pay careful attention to Yekutiel Ben-Ya'akov's words on the Miqdash, the issue of "where Jews may live," and his message to U. S. President Obama. But also, please take note of what I believe to be the most important aspect of this video.

It's what the secular leftists do not want you to see...

It's what the Ashkinazy Haredi leadership does not want you to see...

It's what even the mamlakhati "all you need is love for your fellow Jews (except for Haredim)" leadership does not want you to see...

Hilltop and Haredi youth dancing together, getting to know one another, enjoying each others company, and learning how similar they are to one another.

For years, Ben-Ya'akov has been performing misswoth related to yishuv ha'aretz (settling of the Land), hakhnasath orhim (hospitality for guests), and Talmud Torah.

But, according all of th0se listed above, the most "dangerous" misswah Ben-Ya'akov has been performing has been working toward true Ahduth Yisra'el (Jewish Unity).

After staying up all night, praying the morning prayers, participants made their way to Jerusalem to ascend the Har HaBayith (the Temple Mount), after immersing in a miqwah, and scrictly adhering to all other laws related to the ascent .

(IsraelNN.com) Two Jews were detained by police and held for hours on Sunday morning for the simple act of kneeling while on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The two, Yosef Ben-Avraham (a former student of mine) of Shilo and Yekutiel ben-Yaakov of Kfar Tapuach, were on the Mount as part of the Holy Temple Festival held in Samaria beginning on Saturday night. (Read more...)

(Arrested for kneeling?? For goodness sakes!)

Add mesiruth nefesh (self-sacrifice) to Ben-Ya'akov's long list of Holy accomplishments.

Update:
Here is Ben-Ya'akov talking about his arrest.

For more information about the concerts, as well as Shabbath hospitality, call 054-4876709 (in Israel). For Shabbath hospitality, please call by Wednesday.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Return To French Hill, part 2

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:32:00 +0000

Erev Shabbath Qodesh Parshath Wa'Ethhanan-"Nahamu" 5769

Here is the continuation of my story of the bomb attack I survived seven years ago.

Return To French Hill, part 1

Ensuing Aftermath
I got onto the bus in Jerusalem wearing the electric company clothes I was given that morning. More like pajamas than clothes, I did not understand the nurse's concern about my leaving the hospital in hospital clothes. I was grateful for them nonetheless.

I arrived in Ofra, getting off the bus with groceries in one hand, and a sack full of blood and guts infused clothes in the other. I walked the short distance home to my meguron (half a trailer). I had to change clothes; I needed to go to some funerals. I ended up going to only two, the ones held in Ofra for Kindergarten teacher No'a Alon hy"d and her five-year-old granddaughter Gal Eisenman hy"d (Ma'aleh Adumim). They were buried side by side.

I felt compeled to go to more funerals. I wanted to go to all seven of those who murdered. I especially wanted to go to Shmu'el Efraim Yerushalmi's hy"d funeral in Shilo. I taught school with his father Rav Avraham, and knew him well. I had to settle for a shiva' call the next week. I do not know what I was thinking. I did not have the energy to do anything, let alone travel around the country attending funerals.

That afternoon, I called my rav about my clothes. Should they be buried? Yes, he said. Call Ofra's rabbi for specific instructions. As instructed, I wrote a note on the plastic bag filled with my clothes, and left it on one of the benches at the town's cemetery, for the Hevrah Qadishah to deal with.

My friends the Levs in Ofra took care of me that weekend, to the degree that I was willing to let them. I went to the funerals with them, and then they gave me a ride back to Jerusalem that evening so that I could complete some errands which could not wait.

The next day was Friday. I went to work, but have no clue as to what I was thinking. In retrospect, I now see all of the subtle effects the trauma had on me, the effects on the quality and progression of thinking included.

I justified teaching my two Friday morning classes, even though I still could not hear a thing with the normal chatter of 12 year old boys running in the background. Showing them the shrapnel extracted from my buttock, which was so obviously a screw in its original construction, quieted the boys down quite effectively.

My justification for going into work was to show my students how "not to let the Yishma'eli (Arab) enemy win" by interrupting the normal routine of our lives. I had forgotten to show them that it was perfectly acceptable to take care of ones own health as well. Yet, it was not a mistake for me, going in to teach.

One of my 6th graders said that we should have faith that the attack I was in was the last terrorist attack. We already knew that was not true. The day after the French Hill attack, a sniper infiltrated the town of Itamar near Shchem and shot and killed four members of the Shabo Family, the mother and three sons and Yosef Twito, a neighbor who had come to their aid. Another one of the Shabo sons lost his leg, as a result of his bullet wounds.

This same student's brother had escaped another sniper attack in Itamar, only a month beforehand. Shmu'el Efraim Yerushalmi hy"d was there as well. He escaped then, only to be killed a month later.

There seemed to be so much killing going around us. No one had been left unscathed by terror from the Yishma'eli enemy. Every time I began to talk about the attack, because I knew I needed to talk about the attack, I was met with, "When I was in an attack,..." or "When I was shot at,..."

Back home, the Levs had me over for all three Shabbath meals. Mrs. Lev made me promise to make it to "schul" to "bench gomel," and friend Pinny took my mind off of the attack. I lived along the northern fence of the town; they lived a good 25 minute walk away. Surprisingly, my wound did not hurt, walking back and forth all Shabbath.

I taught 3rd - 6th, and 9th grades that year. I only had to get through I week more of school, and submit grades. I finally figured out that I needed to take it easy, and I did.

I made that shiva call to the Yerushalmi Family. Rav Avraham pressed me for details of the attack. Did you see Shmu'el? What was he doing? Did he look happy?

I don't know.

Rav Avraham told me something I never realized until then. I was the last to see Shmu'el alive. He wanted me to tell him about the last moments in his son's life. I did my best to describe what happened. However, I don't think it was exactly what he was expecting.

Rav Avraham and his wife spoke with such great emunah (faith). His next son Yosef wore a photo of his brother in a makeshift locket around his neck.

One story which was recounted was Shmu'el's desire to change yeshiva's. He wanted to transfer to the prestigious Yeshivath HaTze'irim liY'rushalayim (Yashla"tz), the high school on the campus of the Merkaz HaRav Kook Yeshivah, the site of yet another terrorist attack a year and a half ago. (When will it end?!) The assignment was to make a notebook, writing on the entire Sefer Sh'moth (Book of Exodus) with RaSh"I's commentary. He showed us the notebook, thick, complete, and thorough. He will be in another yeshiva from now on.

His next door neighbor Yonatan Eldad hy"d would killed at Merkaz HaRav several years later. The neighbors on the other side of the Yerushuslamis are the Kesslers, the grandparents of another one of the seven Jews killed in French Hill with Shmu'el, Gila Sarah Kessler (Eli). This street knows great sadness, yet it is not the only street in Shilo knowing such sadness. Shilo is not the only town knowing such sadness,...and anger.

This post may seem a bit "all over the place," or at least it does to me. That is because, at the time, I was all over the place, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. So, this post is a pretty good reflection of where I "was at" at the time.

It did not take too long for me to start bouncing back forth for between "denial" and "anger." I was beginning to experience a taste of guilt, specifically what is often referred to as "survivor's guilt." yet several teenagers, and a five year old were killed. I had additional reasons why the others should have survived instead of me as well. I desperately wanted to know the answer to this question.

I sought out my rav, Rabbi David Bar-Hayim. I must qualify this before I continue, that I cannot repeat the eloquence of his etzah (counsel) here in this post. I will do my best to reflect what was key in what he relayed to me, its simplicity.

I told him that I thought about going up to Shmu'el Yerushalmi to say hello. Maybe if I had done that, he would have been in a different place, and so would not have been killed.

"Did you know him?" he asked. No. Then why would you have to go up to him? I could see his point.

"Furthermore, how do you know that the same outcome would not have occurred, even if you had gone up to him to say hello?" I didn't.

"We simply do not know the heshbonoth sheba'shamayim (accounting in Heaven). You don't know what would have happened, and we do not know why."

Many would have balked at these comments. But, they were just what I needed to hear. I felt an immediate calm. However, this would not be the last time I talked about the attack. I was certainly not finished working though it, nor could I have expected to be. It had only been a couple of weeks since having a suicide bomber blow himself up, only a few feet away from me.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

"Home Game" (Film Recommendation)

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 11:53:00 +0000

5 Av 5769

This 12Tribe Films presentation about the expulsion of Jews from Netzer-Hazani was compiled mostly from video footage shot by the town's youth. It focuses on the basketball game played in Azza (Gaza) before the expulsion of Jews from their homes, and the handing over of their lands to the Yishma'eli (Arab) enemies.

(12TribeFilms.org) “Home Game” is a captivating new film that encapsulates the surreal story of normal teenagers trying to continue an annual basketball tournament during a very abnormal summer in Israel -- the summer of 2005 during the disengagement from Gaza. This powerful film emphasizes the journey of these teenagers and their determination to win against all odds, both on and off the court. "Home Game" tells part of the untold human story to a piece of Jewish history that was overshadowed by politics.

This week only, you can view "Home Game" for free on the up and coming media sharing site WeJew.com. Check it out for all of your media sharing needs. Bloggers, make sure to check out WeJew.com's special blogging tools and promotions page.

Friday, 10 of the Fifth Month (Av) marks the fourth anniversary of the expulsion of Jews from Azza and the Northern Shomron (Samaria). This film is important to see during this week of the Fast of the Fifth Month (Tisha b'Av), setting the tone for the commemoration the Destruction of the Miqdash (Temple) with an all too recent Jewish tragedy falling on the same day.

The film is in Hebrew with English subtitles.

Additional Expulsion-related Videos:

Meraglilm: YeSh"A Council Collaboration in the Expulsion

Remembering the Expulsion of the Tashnady Family (bring tissue)

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

YeSh"A Council: Modern Day Spies (Film Review)

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:33:00 +0000

27 Tammuz 5769

"Instead of expelling Arabs, you're expelling me?! What have I done to you?!"
- Mrs. Luber, Qatif, Av 5765 (part 3, 6:10)

Pretty much sums up the expulsion of Jews from Azza, doesn't it?

Finally, a documentary has been produced, exposing the collaborators who were behind the expulsion of Jews from Azza, and the mesirah (handing over) of their property over to goyim (non-Jews), even more so, to bitter enemies of the Jewish People.

The documentary is entitled "Meraglim," after the spies who delayed B'nei Yisrael's settlement of Eretz Yisrael by 38 years, through their lack of faith in HaQadosh Barukh Hu (The Holy One, Blessed Be He), and their lashon hara (See Numbers 13-14).

(Meraglim22) Explanation and evidence of the participation of the "Yesha Council" in the expulsion process.

The video is in Hebrew with English subtitles and English narration.

Part 1
This first part of the series introduces us to the lying liars of the Yehudah, Shomron, and Azza [YeSh"A] Council, and to the activists who regret having listened to them.

I know Rabbi Moshe Cohen of Beth El personally. We taught junior high school together years ago. He's an amazing Jew, and an amazing teacher, now teaching at the Beth El Yeshivah. He's a Jew with his priorities straight. That's for sure.

When meetings of the YeSh"A Council are shown, they include some rabbis, who are not actually members of the council. They are members of the YeSh"A Rabbinical Council, a completely different entity, often disagreeing publicly with the YeSh"A Council.

The lying YeSh"A Council members were honest about one thing. They were concerned about their public image.

Part 2
This part begins with the real manner in which YeSh"A Council members regard rabbinical ruling it does not like. It ignores them, or worse. (We have seen this approach before, among the members of the National Religious/Jewish Home Party.)

This part also brings forth the truth about then Rosh Yeshivath Merkaz HaRav Rabbi Avraham Shapira ztz"l's opinion regarding which takes precedence, Torah or Israeli law, when there is a conflict between the two. Mamlakhtim (religious, yet undying state loyalists) have tried to distort the presentation of Rabbi Shapira's views.

The YeSh"A Council found "other rabbis," who agreed with them, Hayim Druckman and Shlomo Aviner, emphasized their presence, and then yelled to "listen to the rabbis!" Pure hypocrisy!

The YeSh"A Council's imprisonment of activists at K'far Maimon is the focus of this part, as well as its collaboration with police.

Take note of then MK Effie Eitam hugging the police commander. One year later, he would incur a head injury at the Amona Pogram. Let's hope he has learned his lesson.

Part 3
Rabbi Avraham Shapira ztz"l did NOT care about public image (ie. PR). The YeSh"A Council distorted the presentation of the plan to enter Southern Azza (Gush Qatif) through its "military expert." This convinced Rabbi Shapira to withdraw his support for the plan.

In actuality, the YeSh"A Council's military expert Ami Shaqed provided activists with a different story, than that which was presented to Rabbi Shapira.

The YeSh"A Council continued to sabotage the protest efforts through the sneaky activities of Pinhas Wallerstein (Ofra, Binyamin Counil Head) and newly appointed member Rafi Ben-Bassad (Neweh Tzuf), including the dispersion of activists and more staged arrests.

Rabbinical collaboration is also exposed in this part.

Some IDF rabbis actually claimed it was permissible according to the Torah to expel all of these Jews from their homes, and to hand over the land to our most deadly enemies.

Shlomo Aviner is shown convincing the residents of Gan-Or to allow the IDF soldiers into their town. Until he arrived, Gan-Or residents had been preventing their entry successfully.

Rabbi Mordechai Elon uses his rhetorical skills to convince Netzer-Hazani residents to leave quietly.

Meanwhile, everyone seems to be ignoring the greatest poseq and dayan of them all, Rabbi Shapira.*

The end of this part exposes the collaboration of YeSh"A Council Head Bentzi Lieberman with police, putting the nail in the coffin of Newe Deqalim, the largest Jewish town in Azza.

Part 4
This part begins with more collaboration on the part of Bentzi Lieberman, followed by the staged removal of Tzviki Bar-Hai and Ze'ev "Zambish" Hever, who then directs the violent expulsion from the Neweh Deqalim synagogue. (You've got to see this! It's so blatant and ridiculous that they thought they could hide it.)

The last two minutes provides a conclusion of not only this particular blot on Jewish history, but of the deeper issues facing the Jewish People:

We will let this happen again? Will we let the meraglim fool us again?

Will we again hold Israeli law above the Torah?

*********

*Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ztz"l showed his praise of Rabbi Shapira ztz"l by calling him "Dayan Eretz Yisrael" (The Judge of the Land of Israel).

Video Extras:

1. Staged expulsion of Sha'ul Goldstein, Mayor of Efrat.

2. Shlomo Wollins eyewitness account of Shlomo Aviner attacking a rabbi and Jewish children.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Shai Dromi Acquitted

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:33:00 +0000

23 Tammuz 5769

Famous Case Ends: Shai Dromi Acquitted of Manslaughter
Hillel Fendel, 23 Tammuz 5769/July 15, 2009

(IsraelNN.com) Shai Dromi, a Negev farmer who shot and killed a Bedouin thief in January 2007, has been acquitted of manslaughter charges.

The ruling was handed down Wednesday morning in the Be’er Sheva District Court by a majority vote. He was convicted, however, on charges of illegal possession of weapons...

...At his trial, Dromi, who had had a horse and tractor stolen and several dogs killed in the few months prior to the incident, testified as follows: “I awoke at 3 AM to the barking of the guard dog that I acquired after my dogs were poisoned. Even though I was incredibly tired, I got out of bed and walked around the house. After I went back to bed, I again heard the dog barking irregularly. I went out with my weapon and didn’t see anything. I kept walking around [the perimeter of my] sheep pen, and noticed large metal wire-cutters. I panicked. I realized there were men around me."

“I heard a crash from the direction of the sheep pen. I saw four men in front of me all of a sudden. I called out to them and tried to shoot in the air, but my gun did not fire. They yelled something at me, I didn’t understand what. I felt them closing in on me. I tried to see what was wrong with my weapon and then the bullet fired… One of the four was holding a large knife or pruning shears over his head. After the first shot, I fired five more shots at the lower parts of their bodies. My life was in danger and I shot in order to chase them away.”

Dromi was kept in prison for a month immediately following the incident, and was prevented from returning to his farm for a long while after wards.

What would you have done?

The good news is that Dromi was released. The bad news is that, in some cases, the prosecution in Israel has the right to appeal the decision to a higher court. (I do not know if this case falls into this category.)

Do not expect that this will be the last case in which a Jew is accused of manslaughter or even of murder, when he was acting in self-defense. It certainly was not the first.

Look for such cases to start popping up among residents of Yehudah and Shomron (Judea and Samaria).

Police-Arab collaborative set-ups, and subsequent arrests will be (already is!*) one of the strategies employed to remove residents from their homes, easing the way for expulsions.

In the meantime, I would like to wish Shai Dromi and his family well.

Unfortunately, you should not expect to see him receive any compensation for his losses of time, money, and property.

*********

*This strategy has been used to remove or detain Jews in Ma'oz Esther near Kokhav HaShahar and in Adei Ad near Shilo.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Good Zionists, Bad Zionists

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:46:00 +0000

Erev Shabbath Qodesh Parshath Pinhas 5769

Actually written seven years ago, this article is still relevant today.

Good Zionists, Bad Zionists
Yoel Meltzer, 18 Tammuz 5769/July 10, 2009

"Arabs don't make such trivial distinctions."

One of the unwritten laws of war is that the winning side is allowed to do as it pleases after the cessation of hostilities. This law is even more relevant when the victor turns out to be the side that didn't initiate the war, or didn't want the war to occur in the first place.

Thus we find Israel, after its victory in a war that it initially tried to avoid in 1948, utilizing its victory to expand its territory. For several years after this war, new communities started to appear on the map, such as Ashdod in 1956, Karmiel in 1964, Dimona in 1955 and Arad in 1962 (to name just a few).

Then, nearly 20 years later, and faced with the prospect of an Arab onslaught, Israel was forced to fight another war in 1967. Like the war in 1948, that war resulted in a decisive victory for Israel. Then, once again, as it had done after its 1948 victory, Israel utilized this victory to embark on a campaign of expanding its territory. New communities started to dot the map, such as Kiryat Arba in 1972, Kedumim in 1975, Karnei Shomron in 1977 and Efrat in 1983 (to name just a few).

However, this is where the similarities stop. For some reason, the communities that were founded after 1948 have always been considered legitimate by the Israeli public, while the communities that were established after 1967 never quite managed to gain the same degree of legitimacy in the eyes of some sections of the Israeli public. They are, in fact, considered illegitimate by some here in Israel.

Of course, the argument that the latter communities were established in the midst of, or near, large Arab population centers, or "on Arab lands", doesn't hold much sway. This is so especially since the same can be said of many "more legitimate" communities started after 1948, and even of some communities started before 1948. If this is the case, then what is the reason for the different treatment of post-1967 communities as compared to that of their pre-1967 counterparts?

It seems that the only logical answer is that the earlier communities were founded by the Good Zionists (David Ben-Gurion and friends), while many of the latter, post-1967 communities were founded by a different type of Zionist; namely, by the type that believes settling Eretz Yisrael is a mitzvah, and who draws his inspiration and motivation for such ideals straight from Judaism. This is the only plausible answer as to why this second group of Zionists and the communities they have built have become stigmatized and deemed illegitimate by so many here in Israel.

Unfortunately, what many here in Israel who deem such post-1967 communities as illegitimate fail, or perhaps refuse, to understand is that in the eyes of the Arabs, all of the communities (pre-1948, post-1948, post-1967) are illegitimate. The Arabs don't make such trivial distinctions. Only we, the silly Jews, make such distinctions.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Yitzhar: The Israeli Government's Jewish Expulsion Laboratory

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:12:00 +0000

15 Tammuz 5769

Teen Wounded in Arson-Rock Terror Attack on Yitzhar Jews
Nissan Ratzlav-Katz, 8 Tammuz 5769/June 29

(IsraelNN.com) In what appears to have been a coordinated attack on Jews from Yitzhar, in Samaria, a group of Arabs set fire to agricultural fields on Monday evening and then released a barrage of rocks at people responding to the arson. IDF forces responded to the incident and dispersed the attackers. (Read more...)

Over the years, there quite a bit of attention has been on Yitzhar.

Why Yitzhar?

I'll tell you why. It's really quite simple.

Yitzhar is by far the most ideologically-loyal town in the Shomron, and thus the biggest threat to the Israeli government.

Take down Yitzhar, and most everyone else in the Shomron (Samaria) will get up and go quietly.

Thus, Yitzhar has been one of the government's main [what I like to call] "Jewish Expulsion Laboratories," (That's expulsion, not propulsion.) experimenting with a variety of strategies to remove Jews from their towns and homes.

1. Torah-hating Jews and Yishma'elim (Arabs) have been given free reign to burn and destroy everything in their path. They have systematically burn fields, uprooted vineyards, including just before and during the Shmitah (Sabbatical) year, when Jews were powerless to do anything to repair most of the damage.

2. They even accuse Jews of doing some of the damage, sometimes even when trees have been properly pruned.

...said that left-wing activists look for trees that have been pruned, and then blame the Jews for cutting them. "They have even admitted to the police that they do this," he said, "such as in the case of Ein Avus near Hawara [south of Shechem]. In that incident, they blamed the people of [nearby] Yitzhar, because Yitzhar was a convenient media target. (Read more...)

3. IDF guards have, at the very least, not been given proper training regarding true, Torah Zionist culture. One soldier ignored an Arab entering the town on Shabbath because he assumed that it was a Yishma'eli worker. Of course, unlike other towns, the residents of Yitzhar would not allow any "work" to be done on Shabbath; they would not allow any Yishma'elim into Yitzhar at all! That "misunderstanding" resulted in the stabbing of a nine-year old boy.

4. Rabbis are arrested for teaching Torah and halachah, (Sabbatical) which happen to be contrary to Israeli Law.

5. So-called "Administrative Detention" orders have been given out by the IDF Central Command, resulting in the expulsion of Jews from towns, placing unimaginable financial and marital stress on residents.

Even un-Jewish [former] MK Zahava Gal-On (Mere"tz) has raised her objections to the use of this strategy:

"Noam Federman should be put on trial or released. Circumventing the law rather than upholding it points to hysteria and bewilderment and does not achieve its purpose." (Rosh HaShannah 5764/Sept. 30, 2003)

6. Recruitment of die-hard mamlakhtim (undying state loyalists) to relocate to ideological towns, thus changing the electorate. This has been done quite successfully just south of Yitzhar in K'far Tapu'ah, by the previous mazkir (town manager), who was believed to have been a plant. Reports of such a strategy being implemented in Yitzhar have been reported to me as well.

7. Of course, there are the [generally] biannual Shabba"k (General Security Service) "sweeps." Last fall, the investigations were supposedly about the alleged attack on Prof. Sternhell. A month ago, 15 residents of K'far Tapu'ah were dragged in, for I don't know what. It has been suggested that Shabba"k agents must justify there hours, by keeping logs of their activities, much like police officers have been accused of giving out large numbers of tickets at the end of each month to meet their quotas.

I am not so sure of that. Personally, I believe that the government has more devious motives, than its departments having to justify their budgets. Since when has the Israeli government garnered a reputation for financial responsibility? Besides, while Jews are building Sukkoth or cleaning for Pesah (Passover), what else does the Shabba"k have to do?

Yitzhar is not alone. Bat-Ayin, southwest of Efrat, has seen an increase in harassment on Shabbath in recent weeks, with Torah-hating Jews arriving on the scene to "help" the Yishma'elim (Arabs) work their fields. Only two months ago, Bat-Ayin suffered yet another horrible tragedy, the murder of a 13-year-old boy, and the wounding of a 7-year-old boy.

The Israeli government's experiments with how to expel thousands of Jews from their homes, in order to hand it over to our Yishma'eli enemies have also been taking place in Homesh, Havath Gil'ad, Shvuth Ami, and Adei Ad in the Shomron, and Hevron and Ma'on in Yehudah (Judea).

And who can forget Amona?

But, you ain't seen nuthin' yet...

When ~~Lord King Emperor~~ President B. Hussein Obama issues his command to ~~vassal serf plebeian~~ Prime Minister Netanyahu to kick Jews out of our Holy Land, there won't just be scrapes and scratches, and a few broken bones.

The Israeli government will have to send a real message to the settlers that they mean business.

Of course, many settlers are like those in Migron, who seem to be getting ready to get up and move. Once in Ofra, it was decided to take down a satellite neighborhood, before the IDF had a chance to. Gee! That really showed 'em!

Most everyone else will have their eyes on Yitzhar. The prevailing attitude will be, if they can take down Yitzhar, they can take down any town.

There is no need to say that they will come at night.

The efforts of Yitzhar's residents to reduce the IDF presence in their town, and to do their own guard duty will have been fruitless.

Cameras will be destroyed. Cellular phone and Internet communications will be jammed. But just for good measure, police name tags will be nonexistent. The government will have learned from the mistakes it made before and during the expulsion of Jews from Azza (Gaza).

Escape routes will be blocked off, and no child's cave or makeshift fort will be unturned. No warning will be given. No bags will be packed. Nothing will be spared, not a single pair of tefillin, not a single teddybear.

Everything will be burned to the ground.

The government will proclaim large amounts of compensation,...which Yitzhar's expelled residents will never see.

Photographs of the aftermath, along with a few of men with long payos striking a soldier and a police officer or two, will be carefully chosen and leaked to the right media outlets. Fear will be the result, not outrage. The media will already have succeeded in demonizing the settlers enough, so that everyone will think, "They got what was coming to them." Although, this will never be heard out loud, except for maybe in a house or two in K'far Shmaryahu, Ramat Aviv Gimmel, and yes, even Giv'ath Shmu'el.

All of this will surely come to pass, unless...

...unless we cast away our rose-colored glasses and naivete, and acknowledge what the government is trying to do.

...unless we cast away silly notions that the government is "holy."

...unless we cast away the idiocy that the government and the Torah are never in conflict.

...unless we finally stop whining that, "There's nothing we can do. We must accept that ge'ulah (redemption) will come qimah qimah (slowly, slowly),* sometimes takes a step backwards, and there's nothing more important than loving our fellow Jews...(even though that's not the halachah and even though these "Jews" are throwing you out of your homes and giving your land to our Yishma'eli enemies)."

Unless we stand up and do our part, Yitzhar and towns like it will be history.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

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*Talmud Yerushalmi 4b, 1:1; funny that this is the only two words in the entire Talmud Yerushalmi, the average mamlakhti on the street knows by heart. They conveniently forget the part about ge'ulah coming slowly in the beginning. But, hey, what do I know?

Return To French Hill, part 1

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:18:00 +0000

Erev Shabbath Balaq 5769

When I tell people I was a victim of a terrorist attack in Jerusalem in Giv'ath Tzarfatith (French Hill), people always have to ask me, "Which one?"

There have been so many.

It was seven years ago. On 9 of the Fourth Month (Tammuz)/June 19, at around 7:00 pm, a Yishma'eli (Arab) blew himself up at the trempiada. Seven Jews were murdered as a result. Many Jews were also injured. I was one of them.

For seven years, I have wanted to write about this experience. For seven years I haven't. Shifra Hoffman of Victims OF Arab Terror [VAT] and SHUVA, and Gila of the My Shrapnel Blog have encouraged me to do so.

So, here I am,...finally....

The Attack
I was waiting for a "tremp" (ride) back home to Ofra, where I was living at that time. People waiting look for stickers on windshields, indicating the hometown of the driver, and probable destination. Everyone is focused on getting a ride, and holding on to their places in line, pretty much oblivious to anything else, including suspicious-looking individuals and activities.

All of a sudden there was a blast and clouds of smoke. A glance behind me revealed a chunk of something flying toward me. I felt the force of impact on my hip.

All of a sudden I could not hear anything, but a buzzing in my ears.

As a former lifeguard, my instinct was to see what I could do to help the injured. That was only after coming out of minutes of being frozen on the spot, not understanding how I ended up in this "movie," albeit with very realistic special effects. That was what it was like,...like being in a movie. Then countless news reports of previous terrorist attacks came back to me,...interviews of paramedics being interviewed, reminding people what to do:

Get out of the way! Allow the professionals easy access to the attack site, and let them do their jobs. Only afterwards, see what you can do to help.

After looking around at the dead bodies, and unrecognizable pieces of dead bodies, I knew that there was not anything that I could do to help anyone. I did not even have a spare piece of clothing to offer the screaming young lady, whose skirt seemed to have been blown off by the blast.

I left the trempiada, and started walking south in the direction of town, although I had absolutely no idea as to where I was going. I am not sure why, but I called a friend, let him know what had happened, and told him that I would call him later. I was surprised that I got through. The bump in cellular phone usage after terrorist attacks usually causes network overloads, and then it's impossible to get through to anyone. My friend told me to go to the hospital and get checked out. I told him not to worry, that I was OK, and did not need to go to the hospital. He reiterated his advices once more, then let it go, knowing how stubborn I can be.

My walk southward turned into a circular wander. A paramedic approached me, asking me how I was. I said I was OK, yet to him it was obvious that I was not. He began insisting that I take my pants down, which threw me. He was religious, and thus must know that would not be the most tzanu'a (modest) thing for me to do in the middle of the street. He said that he had to check to see if I had been injured, and that if I did not take my pants down, then I would have to go in an ambulance to the hospital. I thought he was crazy, until he showed the gaping hole in back of my pants with blood seeping though.

"I'll go in the ambulance," I said, figuring I needed a ride back to town, yet not knowing why needed to go back to town. In retrospect, I still cannot believe just how clouded me thinking was at the time.

In the ambulance, I was met by three young female volunteers, all very nice. I insisted on speaking Hebrew. Part of me may have been injured, but the Hebrew chip on my shoulder was still there. Then the one in the skirt mentioned that she was actually from Chicago. I had not been in the U. S. for years, and had no interest in an American identity, yet suddenly, I felt less alone. I do not remember what we talked about, probably nothing. But I remember beginning to feel better. I remember the kindness of all three of them. I remember thinking that Chicago was just around the block from my hometown of San Diego, even though it's not. I remember thinking that young lady from Chicago was my neighbor's daughter or even my neice I hadn't seen in a long time, even though she's neither, and I don't even have a niece.

As I later learned, she was not the only special person HaQadosh Barukh Hu (The Holy One, Blessed Be He) would be placed in my path that day, that week, and that first year afterward.

The Hospital
I was taken to Biqur Holim Hospital in the center of town. I given a bed in the emergency room, and a place where I could put my things. I remembered that I had done my Shabbath shopping that day. The nurses let me put my groceries and chicken into their tiny refrigerator, so they would not spoil.

Then, almost immediately, doctors and nurses started poking and prodding. I was take for x-rays, brought back, and given hospital clothes. I saw that the backsides of my clothes were soaked and caked with blood and guts (I am afraid I did not know how to be any more delicate about this.).

The nurses, Sefardi Chen and Russian Svetlana were the next "angels" sent to me.

I mention the their backgrounds to emphasize how diverse the involved with my treatment were. Later the American sonogram technician and French, haredi psychiatrist were to enter the scene. Many were visiblly religious; quite a few were not. See what I mean? In addition, at least half of the staff I was to encounter was made up of olim (immigrants), just like myself.

My initial emotional reactions to the attack were that I was worthless and undeserving of anything. Literally, I felt damaged and no good. For some reason, the nurses were able to relieve me of these feelings temporarily (I am tearing up as I write this. It's been seven years already, yet I still tear up when I think of those nurses and what they did for me.)

Chen held my face, encouraging me to look at her, and not satisfy my curiosity by looking at the procedure to remove the shrapnel. With every "ow" that came out of my mouth, she insisted that the surgeon shoot me up with more anesthetic. It's OK, I said. It felt more weird than painful, even though it was definitely painful. The amazing thing was that after the local anesthetic wore off, I did not need anything more than Acamol (similar to Tylenol) to get relief from the pain. Meanwhile, Svetlana was careful not to startle me as she aided the surgeon by maneuvering my hip and leg to his specifications. She had a pleasant face.

I will spare you the details as to how long it took to dig around the tissue of my gluteus maximus to find and remove the elusive of shrapnel implanted there. When it finally was removed, it was clearly recognizable as a mangled screw. The Yishma'elim pack their bombs with screws, ball bearings, and other assorted for maximum destructive effect. The surgeon washed it off, placed it in a corked test tube, and presented it to me, almost as if it was a souvenir from a very bad vacation. Actually, it was a souvenir of sorts, a souvenir which which I could showed to others, and to look upon myself, as proof that what happened to me, actually did happen. I have since lost that "souvenir." But, I don't really need it anymore.

At this point, I received a few phone calls of support, and two visitors from Ofra. They were strangers to me. I also had a couple of friends visit, my former roommate and former neighbors from Jerusalem.

Several hours after my arrival, things began to calm down. As is standard procedure, I met with the psychiatrist on duty. I just wanted to go home. But the decision was his, and his decision was no. I had no choice but to stay overnight.

I opened a siddur to say Qeri'ath Shema'. When I looked down at the page to find my place, I saw that I had opened the siddur to a song many Jews sing on Moss'ei Shabbath.

אל תירא, עבדי יעקב
(Do not fear, My servant Ya'aqov)

I could not sleep that night, but only because of lights that were on. After seeing the above song in my hands, though, I felt at ease.

When I woke up the next morning, as you could imagine, I was still sort of just moving through time, less like the movie that was the attack itself, but similar. The night before, I saw the blood all over my sandals, and washed them off. I only had one pair. Although I prefer to go barefoot anyway, I doubted I would be allowed on the bus without shoes.

Before I could think about going home, I had an early appointment with an ear, nose, & throat [ENT] doctor across the street. Everything was arranged for me, and I wasn't really given a choice. That was probably a good thing, as I was not in a position to make these kinds of decisions for myself. Several of us entered the ENT clinic. An announcement was made to those waiting that the victims of last night's attack would have priority in receiving appointments that morning. Everyone else would have to wait. Entering the waiting room, I could see from the Arabs' faces that they were none to pleased. The Jews maintained pleasant faces, yet faces of curiosity. Focusing on the Arabs, a leer and a grimace were all that I could muster up against the cousins of the Yishma'eli who killed seven Jews, not to mention shooting a piece of metal in my backside, and taking away my hearing.

The ENT was patient and gentle. She told me that my right eardrum had been blown out. Actually, there nothing left to speak of. Her instructions were simple. Don't get it wet, and it should grow back within nine months. If it didn't, then grafts were in order. She was optimistic that those would not be necessary.

Rather than get angry at HaQadosh Barukh Hu, I thanked Him for not taking away my eyesight instead. I have always been more visual than auditory, depending much more on my eyes than ears. I do not care to think what it would have been like the other way around.

I am not a terribly grateful nor spiritual person, or at least I wasn't at the time, but that thought just came to me. From where? I don't know. It just came to me.

Waiting IMPATIENTLY for the resident surgeon's final OK to be released, I received another visit from my former roommate. Upon hearing what had happened to my beged tzitzith, which was rolled up with my other bloodied clothes, he told me he would "be right back." Ten minutes later, he returned with a brand new talith qetanah. He knew me well enough to know that I did not like receiving gifts. So, he did not bother to mention what he was doing. He presented me with the new garment, saying that I had no choice but to accept it, as I had to perform this misswah. I begrudgingly accepted it with a half-smile on my face, and said thank you. He could tell I was grateful nonetheless.

After my friend left, a nurse asked me a how I was getting home, anticipating my imminent release. I said by bus. She pressed me to think of someone I could call to give me a ride. There was no one. I was getting back by bus or tremp. Not yet ready to go back to the trempiada, I chose the bus. Although uncomfortable, she knew she could not stop me. I would soon be released unconditionally. She had one last card to play. "You are NOT going on the bus in hospital clothes," she said, and picked up the phone to make call. I couldn't hear her. She explained that a man from the Electric Company would be coming shortly. Huh? What did the Electric Company have to do with anything? Was I that out of it?

The nurse explained that the Electric Company had a special charity which provided clothes to victims of terror attacks. Did I actually think I was the first to get my clothes plastered with blood and guts of murdered Jews?

The tall, curly-headed, headband-clad man in his 20's came bouncing into the hospital, smiling with a package to present me. It was an Electric Company uniform. Almost in tears, I asked him where I should return it. He said, no, it's yours. (Thinking and writing about the guy from the Electric Company is the other memory which never fails to make me tear up.) You don't return it; it's yours. He shook my hand and said refu'ah shlemah (complete recovery). It was obvious he had done this before. I took the clothes.

I was released shortly after noon. I picked my groceries, a plastic bag filled with my bloodied clothes, and made my way through the corridors to the exit.

I knew deep inside that this was only the first stage in a journey I would not recommend to anyone. But I was not thinking about this at the time.

To be continued...

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

New Film - Israel: Rise of the Right

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:23:00 +0000

7 Tammuz 5769

Tonight, a couple of friends began alerting me about a film just released by Ilan Mizrahi, "Israel: Rise of the Right."

(AlJazeeraEnglish YouTube) Ilan Mizrahi has spent 16 years photographing and filming right wing Israeli settlers in the West Bank city of Hebron. His film, Israel: Rise of the Right, looks at the followers of Rabbi Meir Kahane, an American-born rabbi and politician who proposed the mass expulsion of Arabs from Israel before he was assassinated in 1990.

I immediately began asking around who this guy was, whether it was a hack job, or worth watching because [as has been said in Rabbi Binyamin Kahane's HY"D name] "We want everyone to think we are crazy. Then maybe they will leave us alone."

The answer I got from my friend, political activist, the "Kalashnikover Rebbe" was quite surprising:

There are a few facts wrong here and there, but it wasn't biased at all, shockingly so. He focused all on Baruch Marzel and Itamar Ben-Gvir. He did not acknowledge the other factions and Kahanists, but not to anyone's detriment.

Ilan Mizrahi has even given over footage which served to exonerate Jews in court. So, so it is clear he is not out to get us.

I think it was a nice job. He filmed us for years. He has even become a "part of the community," and a regular presence at all our "events."

The four parts of the film are embedded below, together totaling 46 minutes. The film is mostly in Hebrew with English subtitles, with narration in English.

Part 1 includes scenes of police treatment of protesters, the court battle to march in the Israeli Arab city of Um Al-Fahm, and the ironic appointment of Baruch Marzel to supervise the balloting in that cities during the Shevat 5769/February, 2009 Israeli Elections.

What I found interesting about Part 2 was that the accusations shouted by Arabs regarding a fascist [Israeli] state are much the same as I would hear [and sometimes say myself] in the [minority] Torah-loyal towns in the Shomron (Samaria). Also,...

1. Many of the "600 extremists" living in Hevron are actually somewhat mamlakhi (state-loyal) with a lot of cognitive dissonance. But, as the local saying goes, "A Hevron mamlakhi is nothing like an Ofra mamlakhi." Hardly extremists, they are simply pushed farther and more often than most other towns.

2. Purim is NOT the "Jewish Halloween." OY!

3. Like in Part 1, I got to see a lot of friends and acquaintances, like Gil'ad Pollack, who once described for me being [completely] strip-searched on the street and in front of female officers. Now, B"H, Gil'ad is married with children, but continues to be moser nefesh (self-sacrificing). Many "hilltop youth" get married young, like in many Haredi communities. Rabbi Meir Kahane HY"D once said that the greatest weapon the Arabs had was,...babies. His followers got the message. Fortunately, leftist and "post-Zionist" secularists did not. The birthrates of religious communities continues to be greater than nonreligious communities.

Part 3 mentions Eden Natan-Zada HY"D. I, myself, did not get to go to Eden's funeral. I knew him, though, I remember him as a sensitive and kind, young man.

This part then shifts to singer Dov Shurin. Apparently, the courts cannot touch him for any "incitement," as he only uses p'suqim (verses) from Tana"kh (Bible). However, we must not get complacent. I believe that it is only a matter of time before the Erev Rav-controlled government of Israel (GOI) attempts to censor Holy texts. Think I am crazy? Former MK Yossi Sarid (Mere"tz) already proposed such a measure back in 1998, to cancel the reading of Megillath Esther on Purim, due to its "racism."

There is mention of the pogrom at Amona. Sultan Knish provides a comprehensive set of Amona videos, I recommend over the limited footage included in this film.

Later, Gil'ad (8:20) provides his perspective on the "Arab-Israeli Conflict."

Part 4 begins with the situation of those Jews who were forcibly removed from their homes in Azza, back in 5765/2005. The film shows their makeshift bomb shelters they have been having to depend on to protect them from the barrage of rockets fired from Hamas in Azza.

This part goes onto the elections, including the election of Dr. Micha'el Ben-Ari (National Union) to Knesseth. (By the way, the Likud Party is not, I repeat not, a right-wing party.*)

The film culminates with the "Flag March" in Um Al-Fahm, the court battle of which was presented in the beginning of Part 1.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

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*There is no such thing as "right" or "left," only Jewish and un-Jewish.

The Silly Case Of Nadia The Name-Caller

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:41:00 +0000

30 Sivan 5769

Nadia Matar of Women In Green is on trial for calling Yonatan Bassi, the coordinator of the Azza Expulsion, a name. That's right. She is on trial for calling a public official a name.

This idiotic concept became law around the time the Sharon government was preparing to expel 8,000 Jews from their homes in Azza and the Northern Shomron (5765/2005), hand their land over to our enemies, and open up the southern coast of Israel and Upper Negev Desert to an increased barrage of Qassam rockets.

Actually, Nadia was originally acquitted. If I remember correctly, the judge on the case also happened to think the law to be silly. However, the prosecution decided to appeal the decision (Yes, the prosecution can do that here in Israel!), as is its right, wasting thousands of sheqqels which could be used instead to help those who were expelled, and still without adequate and permanent housing.

Still think Israel is a democracy with protected free speech?

Here is a summary of the latest court session, with a few sections I felt important to highlight. The trial will continue on Thursday, 27 Tishrei 5770/October 15, 2009.

If you would like to join Women In Green's e-mail list, please send a blank email message to:
list4-subscribe@womeningreen.org. Check your spam filter for confirmation instructions.

For more information about Women In Green, and to show your support for Nadia, click on the link.

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Summary of Court Session
State of Israel v. Nadia Matar
Criminal proceedings 001470/06 before Justice David Mintz

June 16, 2009

On Tuesday, Yonatan Bassi testified at the trial of Nadia Matar, who is on trial for having compared his activity within the context of the expulsion initiative of the settlers of Gush Katif and northern Samaria to the activity of the Judenrat in Berlin, as regards the deportation of the Jews of Berlin in the Holocaust.

It became clear from his testimony that Yonatan Bassi did not file a complaint with the police, nor did any member of the public complain about this statement by Nadia Matar. Furthermore, when Yonatan Bassi was summoned by the police and the Deputy Attorney General Mr. Mike Blass, Bassi urged them not to initiate criminal proceedings against Nadia Matar. Furthermore, Yonatan Bassi emphasized in his testimony that he was not hurt by Nadia Matar's letter and statements in the media, which are at the basis of the charge sheet against her, Obviously, the prosecutor strenuously objected to revealing details in regard to the 59 defendants who were convicted of crimes that they committed in the context of opposition to the expulsion initiative. All those instances consist of transgressions more serious than that with which the defendant is charged in the charge sheet, arguing that these are not relevant. The court accepted the position of the defense attorney that these comprise evidence relevant for proving the central defense claim of the defendant, namely, selective enforcement of the law against Nadia Matar resulting from political persecution.

The courtroom was filled with dozens of supporters who came from near and far in support of Nadia Matar, and to protest against the continued persecution of Matar by the State Attorney's Office.

Adv. Yoram Sheftel brought those present to tears with the difficult and trenchant questions that he directed to Yonatan Bassi.

Adv. Sheftel reminded those in attendance that, for example, Kibbutz Sedeh Eliyahu, where Bassi lived, evicted him because a considerable portion of the people in Sedeh Eliyahu, as well, thought that Bassi resembled a Judenrat. Adv. Sheftel quoted from a letter written by Col. Gabbi Durlacher (Res.), a member of Kibbutz Sedeh Eliyahu, in which he wrote explicitly that the letter that Bassi wrote to the inhabitants of Gush Katif is reminiscent of the Judenrat.

Bassi definitely felt uncomfortable with Sheftel's trenchant and important questions, but, on the other hand, it did not appear that he was remorseful. He admitted that, unlike others who refused to accept the position of head of the Sela Administration, he agreed to Sharon's request. Apparently, as Adv. Sheftel hinted, that Yonatan Bassi agreed, politically and ideologically, with the very idea of the expulsion of 8,000 people from their homes and land.

The trial will continue on October 15.

Women in Green

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Speaking The Truth

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:36:00 +0000

30 Sivan 5769

YNET: Speaking The Truth

"Various parts of Land of Israel are more than just strategic security assets."

The original title was "Confusing Means and Goals." YNET also edited out a few sentences, found below in blue italics.

Yoel Meltzer
24 Sivan 5769/June 16, 2009

It is occasionally said that keeping the Shabbat is a good way to strengthen family unity and closeness. Since parents and children are together for a day without the usual weekly distractions, they are forced to spend quality time together. The problem is that this assumption reduces the Shabbat to a means for fostering better family ties. If it is only a means for nurturing better family ties, then someone else can rightly claim that a Shabbat barbecue on the beach with the whole family also fosters family unity. If so, what need is there to observe the Shabbat? The point is that the Sabbath has tremendous value in and of itself, regardless of what benefits one may or may not receive from observing it. Of course to make Sabbath observance a goal rather than a means and also to appreciate its true value, it must be concomitantly practiced and understood in its fullness. Otherwise it can turn into an external empty act devoid of any meaning.

The same can be said regarding the Land of Israel. Many good intentioned people state that the only reason Israel cannot relinquish any territory in Judea and Samaria is because these lands are vital for the strategic depth they provide to Israel. Once again, the problem with this approach is that it conveys the message that an Israeli presence in certain areas in the Land of Israel is only important as a means for acquiring security.

However, if this is true, then other means can be found to supposedly provide security, such as a 20 meter-high security fence, international observers, electronic surveillance equipment, etc, etc. The point is that the Land of Israel - be it in Tel Aviv, Shiloh, Karmiel, The Jordan Valley or Arad - has tremendous value and meaning in and of itself, regardless of what benefits settling it might provide. Yet to make settling the land and establishing Jewish sovereignty a goal rather than a means and also to appreciate the real significance of the Land of Israel, the subject must be seriously studied and internalized.

In light of Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent Bar Ilan speech, this point should be kept in mind. The "taboo" has finally been broken and now every major Israeli political party officially endorses the "two-state solution." Moreover, the prime minister's stated conditions for the establishment of such a state – Arab recognition of Israel as Jewish state and an eventual demilitarized Palestinian state – will quickly be sidestepped or forgotten. Unless something miraculous happens we will be staring at a new Arab state in our midst within the coming years.

Security Argument Will Be Defeated
Of course this new entity, which in all probability will be quite hostile towards Israel, will require the forced removal of tens of thousands of Jews from their homes in Judea and Samaria. In such an environment, all that remains is to speak the truth. Therefore, anyone with influence who really cares about the Jewish people and the divine mission they've been entrusted with, a mission which is integrally related to establishing Jewish sovereignty throughout the Land of Israel, needs to speak up.

However, if their defense of the Land of Israel is based solely upon security issues, they will eventually be defeated. Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow but with time they will be defeated since other means, no matter how problematic or controversial, will be adopted to allegedly provide security.

As appealing as the security argument might be, the truth is that various parts of the Land of Israel are not simply strategic assets that must be held on to for security reasons, any more than the entire land itself is merely a safe haven for Jews to escape pogroms and anti-Semitism. At this point in time, anything other than the truth will not hold up.

Yoel Meltzer has an MA in Middle Eastern Studies and lives in Israel.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

I'm No Terrorist

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:54:00 +0000

15 Sivan 5769

Below is a link to my neighbor Yekutiel's response to being Banned From Britain!. The report is just "OK," but still worth reading this summary of Torah Zionist beliefs. Unfortunately, the article contains some careless mistakes like reporting the K'far Tapu'ah was close to Hevron geographically, when they are actually quite far away from each other.

One would hope that a "Jewish" newspaper would take the time to check it's Jewish facts about Jewish geography, not mention taking the time to proof for Jewish spelling.

That's K'far Tapu'ah, not K'far Pitu'ah

The page is too large to embed here for comfortable reading, so please click the image to read the article on-line or to download it.

Thanks to Rafi and Shmu'el for introducing me to Scribd.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Towards A Jewish Mindset

yaaqov.ben.yehudah@gmail.com (Ben-Yehudah) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:49:00 +0000

13 Sivan 5769

Towards a Jewish Mindset

There are no shortcuts.

Yoel Meltzer
11 Sivan 5769/June 3, 2009

For more than 15 years Israel has been plagued by the "Oslo mindset". This way of thinking, which did not appear out of a vacuum but slowly evolved over the course of years, is still alive and kicking despite all that has transpired. Its current outward manifestation, the much talked about "two-state solution", is gaining momentum every day despite the obvious danger that undertaking such a measure would entail to the state of Israel.

Although the "Oslo mindset" has had many opponents, most have invested their energy in opposing the various outward manifestations of the mindset, rather than focusing on the faulty mindset itself. The result of this has been that Oslo opponents simply gained a reputation of always "opposing", like a group of pessimistic naysayers, without ever proffering any alternative of their own. Moreover, by constantly focusing on the outward manifestation, they repeatedly engaged the Oslo proponents in a battle they were sure to lose, since who can appear victorious when arguing against measures allegedly designed to bring "peace" or "improved security"?

Unfortunately, the Oslo opponents continue to make the same mistake. The real battle should have been, and still needs to be, against the mindset. Moreover, rather than simply wasting negative energy attacking a certain way of thinking, positive energy should be invested in promulgating a different way of thinking. This point is crucial, since changes in the way one thinks, be it as an individual or a nation, are frequently the catalyst for changes in the physical realm. Obviously, it would have been preferable if such an approach had begun 15 years ago, but nonetheless it's never too late to start. Therefore, I would like to briefly present some key points of what can hopefully become the cornerstone of a proper and healthy "Jewish mindset".

Although the following is certainly not an all-encompassing list and many of the points are not new, it is my firm belief that these ideas need to first be outlined in a clear and concise manner in order for them to be easily disseminated, discussed and internalized by as many Jews as possible.

The 18-point list, the basics for a healthy "Jewish mindset", is as follows:

1. There is a purpose to the unfolding events of history and there is a purpose to life. It's not all random.

2. Real, authentic Judaism is much more than what it has been reduced to, to a black and white system of "do's and don'ts". The halachic side, although very important, is only part of the picture.

3. The Jewish people have been chosen for a special role in the world.

4. This role can only be fulfilled by the collective Jewish nation living in the Land of Israel.

5. Establishing complete sovereignty in the Land of Israel and creating a model society, from top to bottom, according to the ideals and morality of Judaism, is essential for fulfilling this role. However, the nationalistic aspect of Judaism is not an end-goal in and of itself, but rather a platform that will enable us fulfill our lofty "international role" of being a "light unto nations".

6. Israel must interact with the world in order to have an influence, but at the same time must remain separate and independent, in order not to be further confused and fragmented by the assimilation of non-Jewish ideas and values.

7. Israel can and must sever the dependency on US economic aid.

8. The real goal of the Jewish state must be alive in our hearts and minds in order to affect our daily lives.

9. Without internalizing these ideas and changing our mindset, and eventually our lives, the endless killing in this region, as well as in the world, will continue.

10. The future of the world is dependent on the Jewish people getting their act together.

11. Properly understood, the real goal of the Jewish state is the most idealistic undertaking in the history of mankind.

12. Continuing along on the same path, functioning within our individual and collective "comfort zones", will not lead us out of the mess. We must, as individuals and as a nation, constantly strive to expand and stretch our comfort zones.

13. Every Jew should feel proud, yet humbled, in the role he has been given, and totally motivated and inspired to do his part.

14. Complaining will not change a thing and it is a waste of precious energy.

15. A positive, vision-oriented way of thinking is essential.

16. The Arab and Iranian threat are serious problems facing the Jewish state and, like any problem, they must certainly be dealt with. However, they are not the source of our problems, but the outward manifestation of our own internal problems. Thus, dealing with them alone will not bring us the desired harmony and salvation. The real problem is internally, within the Jewish people themselves, and stems from a lack of clarity as to our true purpose in the world. This problem, which is largely the result of a non-Jewish mindset prevalent amongst the Jewish people, is the real obstacle that stands in the way of ultimate salvation.

17. There are no shortcuts.

18. The world is waiting.

Yoel Meltzer has an MA in Middle Eastern Studies and lives in Israel.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.