Israel, Look What They’ve Done to Your Torah: the Ralph Messer Story

Posted by Jewish Israel

Last month a video of popular Christian messianic missionary and Hebraic roots teacher "Rabbi" Ralph Messer, wrapping mega-church leader Eddie Long in a Torah scroll and crowning him as a king, caused an outrage and went viral. Jewish Israel promised our readership a full investigation. We have just released that report.

Messer is not marginal. Some of Israel's best friends and Christian Zionist leaders have joined him and actively participated in the desecration of Torah scrolls and the warping of Jewish symbolism.

Jewish Israel lifts the mask on this charade and covers all of the angles in an in-depth report which exposes the Jewish and Christian parties directly and indirectly responsible for this growing trend and travesty…more

Also...

Israeli Postal Service workers refusing to distribute missionary new testaments

It appears missionaries in Israel are stepping up campaigns to deliver the new testament and other Christian evangelizing materials into Jewish homes. The Israeli Postal Service is apparently caught in a legal bind and, until it is resolved, Jewish postal workers find themselves in the uncomfortable and impossible position of inadvertently serving as proxy proselytizers, unless, of course, they refuse to deliver the "good news" as in the case of the workers in Ramat Gan…more

Jewish Israel wishes our readership a meaningful Fast and Purim Sameach!

Watch That Body Language! Obama versus Bibi

I find this news film of the public Obama-Netanyahu meeting very disturbing:



I don't know if Obama is reading a teleprompter or just can't look at Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu. But without even listening to the sound, the message is terribly clear.  United States President Barack Hussein Obama isn't talking to his guest, the Prime Minister of Israel, Binyamin Netanyahu. 

There's also no human warmth or friendship in the encounter.

Emphasizing the Cracks in the Obama "Crown"

United States President Obama acts more like he's King of the World.  It's a very common syndrome in men from family backgrounds like his.  The big problem is that he was elected President of the United States of America and he loves to lecture and boss around others, especially Israel.

Yesterday wrote a critical piece about Obama's AIPAC speech, and I'm not surprised to see that two writers, whom I respect and admire greatly, did the same.

Let's start with Caroline Glick, who took a break from her maternity leave, to give us one of her typically well researched and presented articles explaining just how dangerous Obama is for Israel.

...But what we do know is that under Obama's leadership, senior US military and defense officials have made repeated statements that are openly hostile to Israel. Then defense secretary Robert Gates called Israel "an ungrateful ally." Current Defense Secretary Leon Panetta demanded that Israel "get back to the damned table" with the Palestinians. General Dempsey and his predecessor Michael Mullen have spoken disparagingly of Israel and its military capabilities and so, at a minimum gave comfort to its enemies...
...Under Obama, the US intervened in Egypt's internal politics to empower the Muslim Brotherhood and overthrow Hosni Mubarak. The transformation of Israel's border with Egypt from a peaceful border to a hostile one is the direct consequence of the US-supported overthrow of Mubarak and the US-supported rise of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafists. These are indisputable facts. Their military repercussions are enormous and entirely negative.
Then there is Syria. For more than six months, Obama effectively sided with Bashar Assad against his own people who rose up against him. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Assad a reformer. Now, as Assad butchers his people by the thousands, the US has still failed to send even humanitarian aid to the Syrian people. Almost unbelievably, Clinton said that Assad would have to agree to any US assistance to the people who seek his overthrow...
...As to Iran, while Obama touts the new anti-Iran sanctions that have been imposed since he took office as proof that he can be trusted to take action against Iran, the fact is that Obama has been forced to implement sanctions against his will by the US Congress and Europe. So too, Obama still refuses to implement the sanctions against Iran's Central Bank that Congress passed against his strong objections earlier in the year. As with the case of Syria - and Hezbollah in Lebanon - on the issue of sanctions, Obama's behavior has served to help rather than hinder Iran's pursuit of nuclear capabilities...
...Obama's self-congratulatory statements about US assistance to the development of Israel's missile defense systems ring depressingly hollow for two main reasons. First, the military cooperation agreement between Israel and the US for the development of the Iron Dome anti-mortar and rocket shield was concluded and financed under President George W. Bush due to the peripatetic actions of Senator Mark Kirk. Obama inherited the program. And in his 2012 budget, Obama reduced US funding of the project... So in both cases where Obama was compelled to defend Israel at the UN, Obama created the crisis that Israel was them compelled to beg him to defuse. And in both cases, he made Israel pay dearly for his protection...
...The fact is that Obama's actions and his words have made clear that Israel cannot trust him, not on Iran and not on anything. The only thing that has been consistent about his Israel policy has been its hostility. As a consequence, the only messages emanating from his administration we can trust are those telling us that if Obama is reelected, he will no longer feel constrained to hide his hatred for Israel...

Another important article to read re:Barack Hussein Obama is Ruthie Blum's latest in Israel Hayom.  She concentrates on Obama's interference in internal Israeli politics by favoring extreme Leftist Shimon Peres over the democratically elected Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.  For those who don't know, the President of Israel is supposed to be a totally ceremonial position, like the British Royal Family.  Israeli Presidents are not supposed to give policy advice or express political opinions.  But Nobody can shut-up Peres, one of the architect and supporter of the tragically dangerous Oslo Accords and his la la Leftist "New Middle East," which only brought us danger and death.

Addressing the annual AIPAC conference in Washington on Sunday, U.S. President Barack Obama made it clear which side of the Israeli-Jewish divide he was on – that of Israeli President Shimon Peres. Peres, who immediately preceded Obama on the podium, was given a glowing greeting by his partner in preferring diplomacy to all else, no matter what the circumstances...
To reward Israel’s chief figurehead for never keeping his mouth shut, even when what he says runs counter to the position of his own government, Obama announced that he was going to reward Peres with the Presidential Medal of Freedom...

Ruthie also brought up the holes in Obama's Iran "policy."

...Where the ostensible leader of the Free World gets the idea that there is still room for diplomacy with a bloodthirsty regime that makes no bones about its aspirations is not apparent. Nor did he attempt to make it so. Instead, he claimed that “we all prefer to resolve this issue diplomatically.”
We do? And who’s “we” – Peres? The Democratic Party? The AIPAC delegates?...
“...Already, there is too much loose talk of war,” he bemoaned. “Now is not the time for bluster. Now is the time to let our increased pressure sink in and to sustain the broad international coalition we have built. Now is the time to heed the timeless advice from Teddy Roosevelt: Speak softly; carry a big stick. And as we do, rest assured that the Iranian government will know our resolve and that our coordination with Israel will continue.”
While Peres beamed with joy, equal elation could be sensed emanating from the presidential palace in the Iranian capital. One could almost hear Ahmadinejad and his henchmen singing “Business as Usual” in Farsi. If anyone knows that Obama’s posturing is more like a cooked carrot than a stick, it’s the guys he helped stay put to pursue their goals.

The world is in danger, and the United States is being run by a man who thinks he's king of the world.

Obama's Wrong! Iran Isn't Just a Local *Israel's* Problem

Last night, I came home from work I managed to hear a bit of United States President Barack Hussein Obama's 2012 AIPAC speech on TV.  I didn't like what he said.

Again he repeated that he's the best friend Israel has ever had.  He said it without a warm smile nor a kind friendly voice.  The look and tone were more like:

agree with me or you die

But much worse was the way he framed the problem with Iran. It sounds more like he considers Iran's nuclear program to be Israel's problem and he stressed how he understands that Israel can't allow it to continue.  As "the leader of the free world," he is not leading.  Obama has thrown the responsibility of policing the world onto little Israel.   For the United States, diplomatic sanctions are still the weapon of choice.

And I must say, there was not a lot of applause. But it was the right thing to do. And as a result, today there is no doubt anywhere in the world that the United States will insist upon Israel's security and legitimacy. That will be true as we continue our efforts to pursue in the pursuit of peace. And that will be true when it comes to the issue that is such a focus for all of us today: Iran's nuclear program a threat that has the potential to bring together the worst rhetoric about Israel's destruction with the world's most dangerous weapons.
Let's begin with a basic truth that you all understand: no Israeli government can tolerate a nuclear weapon in the hands of a regime that denies the Holocaust, threatens to wipe Israel off the map and sponsors terrorist groups committed to Israel's destruction. And so I understand the profound historical obligation that weighs on the shoulders of Bibi Netanyahu and Ehud Barak and all of Israel's leaders.
A nuclear-armed Iran is completely counter to Israel's security interests. But it is also counter to the national security interests of the United States.
Indeed, the entire world has an interest in preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. A nuclear-armed Iran would thoroughly undermine the nonproliferation regime that we've done so much to build. There are risks that an Iranian nuclear weapon could fall into the hands of a terrorist organisation. It is almost certain that others in the region would feel compelled to get their own nuclear weapon, triggering an arms race in one of the world's most volatile regions. It would embolden a regime that has brutalised its own people, and it would embolden Iran's proxies, who have carried out terrorist attacks from the Levant to southwest Asia...
...Sanctions are continuing to increase, and this July thanks to our diplomatic coordination a European ban on Iranian oil imports will take hold. Faced with these increasingly dire consequences, Iran's leaders still have the opportunity to make the right decision.

Yes, he does follow with mentioning that Iran is a danger to the world, but it's secondary to Iran as Israel's problem. 

Remember that speeches are words, and United States Presidential speeches are the products of teams of professionals who take into account what impression they want their president to make.  They are not policy makers.  Their job is to construct a speech that will receive applause and please the audience.  Obama has a very good speech-writing staff, but it's still possible to see the holes in his agenda, at least when it comes to what I think is most important for Israel, the United States and for the world.

Pronoun Dilemma. Who did What to Whom?

As a high school English Teacher, I always taught my students to read and write carefully to make sure that it's clear to what or whom the pronouns are referring.  A favorite reading comprehension (in Israel, called "unseen") question is:

"What is they/them/he/she/it (etc.) on line - referring to?"

Incorrect reading changes the meaning completely.  The same goes for writing and speaking.  In the Jewish Bible, reams have been written about unclear pronouns.  One of my favorites is in this week's Haftara, (from Prophets/Writings) Zachor, which is taken from 1Samuel Chapter 15.  It's a very dramatic and disappointing ending to the Prophet Samuel's relationship with the first Jewish King, Saul.

כו וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל-שָׁאוּל, לֹא אָשׁוּב עִמָּךְ: כִּי מָאַסְתָּה, אֶת-דְּבַר יְהוָה, וַיִּמְאָסְךָ יְהוָה, מִהְיוֹת מֶלֶךְ עַל-יִשְׂרָאֵל. {ס} 26 And Samuel said unto Saul: 'I will not return with thee; for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.' {S} כז וַיִּסֹּב שְׁמוּאֵל, לָלֶכֶת; וַיַּחֲזֵק בִּכְנַף-מְעִילוֹ, וַיִּקָּרַע. {ס} 27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his robe, and it rent. {S} כח וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו, שְׁמוּאֵל, קָרַע יְהוָה אֶת-מַמְלְכוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵעָלֶיךָ, הַיּוֹם; וּנְתָנָהּ, לְרֵעֲךָ הַטּוֹב מִמֶּךָּ. {ס} 28 And Samuel said unto him: 'The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. {S}

I used to read it, vividly seeing it as King Saul grabbing the Prophet Samuel's coat, trying to prevent him from deserting him. That's because we hear what seems to be Saul saying:

ל וַיֹּאמֶר חָטָאתִי--עַתָּה כַּבְּדֵנִי נָא נֶגֶד זִקְנֵי-עַמִּי, וְנֶגֶד יִשְׂרָאֵל; וְשׁוּב עִמִּי, וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֵיתִי לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ. 30 Then he said: 'I have sinned; yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.'

But recently, the pronouns have my mind going in different directions.

• Could it be that Samuel ripped his own coat in mourning over Saul's sins and subsequently being forced to depose him has king?
• Or did Samuel rip Saul's royal coat to show that he is no longer king?
• Or did Saul, himself, ripped his royal coat as a sign of mourning and repentance for his sins?

How do you read/understand it?

Israel Attacked, Again! Nu?!?

I had something completely different to blog planned in my mind, but this is more important...

Again, for the umpteenth time, the Arab terrorists from Gaza attacked Israel.  Then we "tickled" and they launched more missiles at us.

This just can't go on, but it will.  The Israeli Government, those movers and shakers, is trying to make us consider the attacks "normal," something we can live with, like flies and mosquitoes in the summer.

We shouldn't "get used to it."  It doesn't matter, or make it better that the qassam "just hit an empty field," or that "nobody was injured."  Don't take for granted that G-d will skewer their aim and protect us.  G-d won't do it every time.

We're now in the week of Purim.  On Shabbat we read זכור! Zachor! Remember!  G-d commanded us to remember that we must destroy our enemies!  Amalek is still fighting us, and we must finish the job!

Shavua Tov!

Have a Good Week!

Arabs in Israel- A la Latma and More

Here's the latest Latma, which takes on a number of issues, finally former Justice Beinish and the Arabs in Israeli society such as MK Abdul Messit.



Ruthie Blum, in Israel Hayom, writes about Supreme Court Justice Salim Joubran.

This week, Supreme Court Justice Salim Joubran broke protocol. Following the swearing-in ceremony of incoming Supreme Court President Asher Grunis, the attendees did what is customary at public events such as these: They stood and sang the national anthem.

Sport as a Living Metaphor, The Young Jewish Basketball Heros of American Jewry

Earlier in the week I posted about religion in the United States from a different angle.  The story of the Jewish basketball team in Texas perfectly shows how the USA was founded for Christians, not other religions.

International news agencies looking for something special latched onto the David versus Goliath or Maccabees versus the Greeks story of the Orthodox Jewish day school basketball team that surprised everyone by getting into the semi-final playoff spot in the private/parochial school league and then refused to play, because the game would be on the Sabbath, Shabbat.  The league countered by saying that the school knew from the start when they joined the league that there were games on the Jewish Sabbath, but no doubt that the school never expected to succeed to the level that it would be a problem.

The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) was established to suit the needs of typical American private and parochial schools.  Now, what's a "parochial school?"

A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.[1]...

United States Historically, most American parochial schools have been Catholic schools (often elementary schools attached to a local parish), as well as schools run by Lutherans, Calvinists and Orthodox Jews...

Considering all, it's pretty clear why the Beren Academy in Houston Texas, an Orthodox Jewish school joined TAPPS.  Houston, Texas is too far from enough other Orthodox Jewish schools to make it's own Sabbath-observant sports league.  The USA has changed, and the concept of a "parochial school" is no longer all shades, denominations, of Christianity.

It reminds me of a true story from over a generation ago, when a young Jewish boy from New York had been sent to a "non-denomination" private school.  The family, being decades in Jewish neighborhoods in New York, understood that to mean "all religions."  The poor kid discovered that it meant "all types of Christians," and he was totally out of place.  He didn't come from a religiously observant Jewish family, so the problem wasn't kosher food and Shabbat.  But there was still  a big difference, and he didn't continue studying in that school for long.

So, what happened in the end to these loyal Jews of Texas?

TAPPS Adjusts Schedule So Beren Academy Can Play Semi-Finals Game! TAPPS announced that due to a court order, they will change the schedule.  America is being forced to change.

Happy to Be in Israel All These Years/Decades

We may have looked young and foolish all those decades ago, when my husband and I got on that boat to Israel two months after our wedding.  But it's one decision I don't regret, not for a second.  There are many reasons.  Among them:

• We don't have to make excuses, justifying why we're still in America.
• We have five children, who all got their educations in religious schools.  I doubt if we could have afforded it, or them, if we had stayed in America.
• Barack Hussein Obama isn't my President.  Bibi Netanyahu is dangerous enough, but at least he knows and cares about Jewish History and can quote the Bible better than most.  There's potential for good in him.
• The IDF has wonderful soldiers.  My sons still do reserve duty, so how can it be bad?
• Jewish Holidays are the national holidays and school vacations.
• Our climate and seasons suit Jewish Holidays.

What would you add?

I'm not saying that things here in Israel are perfect, but I'd rather work to perfect the State of Israel than the United States of America.  The Land of Israel is my home.  Yes, I distinguish between them.  Administration of by the Israeli Government, but my ties as a Jew are to the Land.

It's a wonderful feeling to be here where Jewish history happened and happens.

Dry Bones

Passion Play to be Performed at the Footsteps of the Temple Mount

Posted by Jewish Israel

Jewish Israel has learned that a Passion Play produced by JBS Theatricals, a production company under the auspices of Stivale Ministries, is scheduled to be performed at the Kotel’s Davidson Center in the spring of 2012.

Titled "The Kingdom", and billed as "the Passion in the Heart of Jerusalem", this production puts the nature and dignity of Jewish Jerusalem to shame. Jewish Israel has interviewed one of the producers and posted the promotional video clip as it appeared at the time of the interview.

We can only hope that some things are still sacred to us, the Jewish people, and that Israel’s Tourism Ministry, the Jerusalem Municipality and the Rabbi of the Kotel will uphold the integrity of the Jewish people and the holiness of Jerusalem on this matter.

Jewish Israel will keep our readership posted on this developing story.

This report is being translated to Hebrew and will be sent to the Israeli public bodies mentioned above, as well as to leading rabbis in Israel...more

Buying Peace With Land, Is Like Buying The Brooklyn Bridge and Other Scams

There's nobody like Dry Bones...

The Appease aka Peace sic Now and groupies keep insisting that if we give the Arabs enough of our HolyLand, we'll have peace.

If you believe that the Appease crowd is right, I can sell you a bridge, or you can pay my ransom in darkest Africa...

Americans Jews Have To Choose Between Pro-Jesus, Islam and Mormons

It's true that Sabbath observing Joe Lieberman was the Democratic candidate for Vice President, but the chance of a Jew being nominated for the United States Presidency is rather weak.  And just because someone is Jewish, doesn't mean that he'd be "good for Israel."

One of the reasons I had no problem accepting the concept of Zionism meaning that Jews should live in the Land of Israel, is because I recognized that the United States is a Christian country.  Official holidays and school vacations have always followed Christian holidays, Xmas and Easter.  Until very recent decades, no matter where you'd be in America, even a neighborhood that had less than 30% Christians, streets and schools would be decorated with religiously based Xmas decorations.  I went to public schools which were mostly Jewish and we had to fight for the right to show a menorah or dreidel next to the Xmas scene.

Unlike the post-World War Two America and the hippie sixties when following religion lost favor, nowadays finding G-d has "left the closet."  Presidential candidates don't hide their religiosity; it's not private.

Obama found himself between a rock and a hard place in terms of religion.  For some of his childhood at least he was Muslim, and he seems very comfortable with Muslims.  So to show that he isn't one, he and his wife stressed their close ties to a church, and that church ended up with a very controversial anti-Jewish preacher.  But, American Jews have a weakness when it comes to Blacks and they still support him financially.

It's still not 100% certain who will be running against Obama.  It just seems like whoever it is will be deeply religious.  Rick Santorum is considered the Jesus candidate.  And Mitt Romney is a Mormon.  I see that as very 21st Century America.  And I live in Israel and don't really care, because a candidate's private religion is his/her concern.

The United States is a country in financial difficulties.  It's no longer the world power it once was.  It does not use its potential for world peace.  It just wants to be ... Canada with warmer weather. 

Americans should vote for the candidate who will make America better and keep the world safer.  That would be good for Israel, too.  Supporting the Arabs who  practice terrorism and want to destroy Israel is bad for America and it's bad for the world.

Ruthie Blum, On Target!

There are many anglos here in Israel who miss Ruthie Blum's writing.  She gave us a few years of it in the Jerusalem Post and then sort of disappeared from the scene.  Ruthie has returned and now writes a couple of op-eds each week in Israel HaYom.  Her latest one is addressed more to Americans who don't want Barack Hussein Obama to be reelected President of the United States.

Ruthie is on target when she reminds the Republicans that they have to focus their attacks on Obama and not on each other!

Ruthie's basic point, focus your energies properly, is relevant to all of us and especially to the State of Israel.  Who and what are our enemies?  And another point that is important for us to remember, which the United States doesn't have to worry about is that Israel's enemies aim to destroy us.

Simply put is that:

Just like when nobody cared that Jews were being exterminated/slaughtered/murdered by the Nazis only a couple of generations ago, nobody today cares that the Pseudostinians aka Palestinians sic aim to replace/destroy us.  Terrorism is a tool, a double-edged sword. It kills and it lowers morale.

 

Many of these points are brought up in this interview I did recently. 

Shiloh, Connected to the Past, Looking to the Future

When I decided early in 1981 that we should move our growing brood from Jerusalem to Shiloh, I had no idea how much living in such a holy and historic place would affect me.  I credit many of the changes inside of me to the location where I live.  Shiloh was the first capital of the Jewish Nation.  This "temporary" position lasted 369 years, not something that historians of all stripes can or should ignore.  To give it some modern perspective, it's longer than the time between the discovery of the American Continents and the establishment of the United States.  It's much longer than the existence of the USA, also, and longer than the existence of most countries.

After the Cohanim, Priests, ruled from Shiloh assisted by various Judges, Samuel the Prophet transitioned the Jewish People into a Kingdom, first under King Saul and then anointed King David.  King David established the Capital in Jerusalem where his son, King Solomon, built the Holy Temple to G-d.  That's a very abridged version of the very complex Jewish History.

For the past few years I've been inviting women to join me to celebrate Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of each Jewish Month by praying together at Tel Shiloh, where Biblical Chana prayed for a son.  Each month I discover something new.

Shiloh was the place of pilgrimage, and as I stood admiring the late winter wild flowers and the beautiful view, I suddenly saw the ground differently.  I realized that I was standing on what was probably once a pilgrim's hostel.  I could see the walls underneath the greenery.

The Ancient Shiloh walls, weren't just outer walls.  In those days, the walls were complex buildings, with rooms, apartments, storage rooms and more.  A place like Shiloh would have dormitories for the student priests, apartments for the permanent residents and "hotel" rooms for the visitors who had come for Holidays and prayers.

Today hundreds of Jewish families live in Shiloh and the surrounding hillside in all directions.  We have schools, stores and some light industry.  And yes, there's building going on, because it's considered a desirable, pleasant and convenient place to live.

Next month's women's Rosh Chodesh Nissan Prayers will be:

The Rosh Chodesh Nissan Women's Prayers at Tel Shiloh

Friday, March 23, 2012 8:30am

Shiur Torah, Short Tour & Torah Lesson

Please come and invite family, friends and neighbors

תפילת נשים ראש חודש ניסן בתל שילה

יום ו' 23-3 8:30

יהיו סיור ודבר תורה קצרים

נא לבוא, לפרסם ולהזמין חברות, משפחה ושכנות

You're welcome to join our facebook page. Tel Shiloh is open to visitors daily. Tours can be arranged through the office. Email telshilo@gmail.com or phone 02-994-4019.
PS I was recently interviewed.  If you'd like to watch/listen, here it is:

The Rainbow is a Warning, a Reminder, Not a Comfort

Too many people consider the rainbow a good "sign" and think that it's a promise from G-d never to destroy the world, that there would never again be a flood that buries and drowns all.  It's not so simple.

Genesis Chapter 7 בְּרֵאשִׁית
יז וַיְהִי הַמַּבּוּל אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם, עַל-הָאָרֶץ; וַיִּרְבּוּ הַמַּיִם, וַיִּשְׂאוּ אֶת-הַתֵּבָה, וַתָּרָם, מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ. 17 And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth. יח וַיִּגְבְּרוּ הַמַּיִם וַיִּרְבּוּ מְאֹד, עַל-הָאָרֶץ; וַתֵּלֶךְ הַתֵּבָה, עַל-פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם. 18 And the waters prevailed, and increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. יט וְהַמַּיִם, גָּבְרוּ מְאֹד מְאֹד--עַל-הָאָרֶץ; וַיְכֻסּוּ, כָּל-הֶהָרִים הַגְּבֹהִים, אֲשֶׁר-תַּחַת, כָּל-הַשָּׁמָיִם. 19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high mountains that were under the whole heaven were covered. כ חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה מִלְמַעְלָה, גָּבְרוּ הַמָּיִם; וַיְכֻסּוּ, הֶהָרִים. 20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. כא וַיִּגְוַע כָּל-בָּשָׂר הָרֹמֵשׂ עַל-הָאָרֶץ, בָּעוֹף וּבַבְּהֵמָה וּבַחַיָּה, וּבְכָל-הַשֶּׁרֶץ, הַשֹּׁרֵץ עַל-הָאָרֶץ--וְכֹל, הָאָדָם. 21 And all flesh perished that moved upon the earth, both fowl, and cattle, and beast, and every swarming thing that swarmeth upon the earth, and every man; כב כֹּל אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁמַת-רוּחַ חַיִּים בְּאַפָּיו, מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר בֶּחָרָבָה--מֵתוּ. 22 all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, whatsoever was in the dry land, died. כג וַיִּמַח אֶת-כָּל-הַיְקוּם אֲשֶׁר עַל-פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה, מֵאָדָם עַד-בְּהֵמָה עַד-רֶמֶשׂ וְעַד-עוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם, וַיִּמָּחוּ, מִן-הָאָרֶץ; וַיִּשָּׁאֶר אַךְ-נֹחַ וַאֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ, בַּתֵּבָה. 23 And He blotted out every living substance which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and creeping thing, and fowl of the heaven; and they were blotted out from the earth; and Noah only was left, and they that were with him in the ark. כד וַיִּגְבְּרוּ הַמַּיִם, עַל-הָאָרֶץ, חֲמִשִּׁים וּמְאַת, יוֹם. 24 And the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days.

In Biblical times, G-d saved Noah and his family and a select group of animals and plants.  G-d has that power, and even though He then promised not to destroy us again, we're supposed to remember the lesson.

Genesis Chapter 9 בְּרֵאשִׁית
יא וַהֲקִמֹתִי אֶת-בְּרִיתִי אִתְּכֶם, וְלֹא-יִכָּרֵת כָּל-בָּשָׂר עוֹד מִמֵּי הַמַּבּוּל; וְלֹא-יִהְיֶה עוֹד מַבּוּל, לְשַׁחֵת הָאָרֶץ. 11 And I will establish My covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of the flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.' יב וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, זֹאת אוֹת-הַבְּרִית אֲשֶׁר-אֲנִי נֹתֵן בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם, וּבֵין כָּל-נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה, אֲשֶׁר אִתְּכֶם--לְדֹרֹת, עוֹלָם. 12 And God said: 'This is the token of the covenant which I make between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: יג אֶת-קַשְׁתִּי, נָתַתִּי בֶּעָנָן; וְהָיְתָה לְאוֹת בְּרִית, בֵּינִי וּבֵין הָאָרֶץ. 13 I have set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth. יד וְהָיָה, בְּעַנְנִי עָנָן עַל-הָאָרֶץ, וְנִרְאֲתָה הַקֶּשֶׁת, בֶּעָנָן. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow is seen in the cloud, טו וְזָכַרְתִּי אֶת-בְּרִיתִי, אֲשֶׁר בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם, וּבֵין כָּל-נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה, בְּכָל-בָּשָׂר; וְלֹא-יִהְיֶה עוֹד הַמַּיִם לְמַבּוּל, לְשַׁחֵת כָּל-בָּשָׂר. 15 that I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. טז וְהָיְתָה הַקֶּשֶׁת, בֶּעָנָן; וּרְאִיתִיהָ, לִזְכֹּר בְּרִית עוֹלָם, בֵּין אֱלֹהִים, וּבֵין כָּל-נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה בְּכָל-בָּשָׂר אֲשֶׁר עַל-הָאָרֶץ. 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.' יז וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, אֶל-נֹחַ: זֹאת אוֹת-הַבְּרִית, אֲשֶׁר הֲקִמֹתִי, בֵּינִי, וּבֵין כָּל-בָּשָׂר אֲשֶׁר עַל-הָאָרֶץ. {פ} 17 And God said unto Noah: 'This is the token of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is upon the earth.' {P}

Now, why am I writing about Noah, when it's not the Torah Portion for this time of the year?  One reason is that on Rosh Chodesh Adar, when I was walking to Tel Shiloh I photographed this rainbow, and I knew that there must be a reason why G-d put davka that "sign" on display for us.  Here's the headline I saw that answered my question:

J'lem construction frozen ahead of PM's US visit

Netanyahu said to be trying to avoid any move that might anger US in light of previous embarrassing incidents during Biden's visit to Israel...

It's obvious that we're governed by politicians, people who haven't a clue or are definitely ignoring G-d's power and G-d's authority.  Instead they are groveling to American and other foreign politicians who don't care about the dangers their proposing for the State of Israel.

This rainbow, on Rosh Chodesh Adar, was a reminder that we should be following G-d and not United States President Barack Hussein Obama.

Why Is The USA Afraid of MK Michael Ben-Arie?

Uchud Le'umi, National Union Knesset Member Michael Ben-Ari has been rejected by the United States when requesting a visa.  For some peculiar, totally inaccurate reason, they consider the Kach movement to have been a "terrorist organization."  And since MK Ben-Ari had been a member, he's black-listed by the United States.

To make things clear. I was never a Kahane supporter nor member of Kach or any other of his organizations.  But I know that it never was a terrorist organization. MK Michael Ben-Ari is certainly no terrorist.

On Thursday, Ben-Ari said, “The U.S. government, which welcomes with open arms Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who calls for the destruction of Israel; Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who planned the murder of children in Maalot; and MK Ahmed Tibi, who enthusiastically encourages shahids (Islamic martyrs), chose to prevent me from meeting with Jewish communities in the U.S. to encourage emigration to Israel, claiming that I am a terrorist. We can now understand how the American blindness, which renders them incapable of recognizing a true terrorist who threatens the world, was the cause of the horrific attacks of Sept. 11.”

The United States is discriminating against a religious, pro-Land of Israel, Right wing politician.  The United States is probably afraid that he'll just tell the truth about what is going on here.

Latma Gets A Laugh Out of Shaul Mofaz for Prime Minister and Iran's environmentally friendly atomic bomb plus

There's nothing like Latma to give us the Right news...




Yes, it's in Hebrew, but there are English subtitles.  Give it a try.

"Journey to Heaven," Is it The Next World?

It has taken me a long time to read Leila Leah Bronner's Journey to Heaven, but that's my fault, not hers.  Most of my weekday reading is either on the computer or for my Bible studies.

I was very anxious to get started on Bonner's book, because I'm very curious about The Next World,  our "life" after death.  It's not my specialty.  From my limited knowledge I've been under the impression that the next world is when we pay the real price for our sins and get proper rewards for our good.  I was looking for some confirmation.

Journey to Heaven isn't that sort of book.  Bronner's book is more academic than spiritual or emotional.  She brings all sorts of texts, not all are Jewish, to explain what happens after death according to Judaism.  I suggest watching these two youtube videos to hear what Bronner has to say.  She really is fascinating:





Bronner's book is very well researched.  The first part was less interesting for me, much too much like Biblical criticism and less Jewish.  I must admit that certain references, which contradicted traditional Jewish teaching almost had me put down the book and stop reading it. Bronner wrote about non-Jewish texts and sources, even offering the idea that Biblical books like Daniel were written well after Biblical times.  I understand that this is perfectly acceptable in the academic world, but it's not the type of studies I am interested in.

The second part of the book was much more Jewish, all about the Jewish Bible, prayers, books and personalities.  An important focus in the book is resurrection and its Jewish sources and definition, from the Bible, Kabbala and to recent rabbis.

I do consider "Journey to Heaven" to be a valuable book, and I'll have to read it a few more times to fully understand it.  The contents are very new to me.  That's my "fault" not Bronner's.  If you want to learn more about the Jewish concept of the "after life," that isn't preachy, then this is a good book for you.  It isn't an emotional book; it's academic.

Journey to Heaven, Urim Publications, by Leila Leah Bronner is a scholarly book because:

Leila Leah Bronner is a noted scholar who formerly served as Professor of Bible and Jewish History at Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, South Africa. She has also been a visiting scholar at Harvard University, Bar Ilan University in Israel, and Yeshiva University’s Institute of Adult Studies in New York. She is the author of numerous books, including Eve to Esther: Rabbinic Reconstructions of Biblical Women, Stories of Elijah and Elisha, Sects and Separatism During the Second Jewish Commonwealth, Biblical Personalities and Archaeology, and Stories of Biblical Mothers: Maternal Power in the Hebrew Bible. Dr. Bronner lives with her husband in Los Angeles, where she devotes much of her time to teaching and writing.

It's a book to read more than once.

Blogging on The Times of Israel

Maybe I'm selling myself too cheap, giving my writing away for free, yet again, but as soon as I saw that it was possible to blog on the new news site, The Times of Israel, I just had to apply.  I was accepted, sent in my picture and now I'm one of their bloggers.

Read my first blog post titled:

Shiloh, Why Not the Real Thing?

Nu, what do you think?

Resentful, Uppity Servants, Tanach, Bible Lesson

Yesterday at Matan, Dr. Yael Ziegler, King David: Unified Nation, Divided House,  taught us 2Samuel Chapter 9 which begins when King David asked if there were any survivors of the family of King Saul, his predecessor, the first King of the Jewish Nation. 

The representative of the House of King Saul was a servant named, צִיבָא Tziva, who told him about the lame Mephiboshet, son of Jonathan, with whom King David had pledged eternal alliance. King David basically adopts Mephiboshet, providing him with income. 

Then Yael gave us more information about what later on happens between King David, Mephiboshet and Tziva, which is mentioned in this Bible lesson, see part II, on the Herzog College site.  To quickly summarize, Tziva connives to make King David believe that Mephiboshet was disloyal.  David believes him and rewards his "loyalty" with Mephiboshet's property.  See 2Samuel Chapter 16.

Bells started "going off in my head."  Could this Tziva be the unnamed servant of the young Saul who directed him to Samuel The Prophet? See 1Samuel Chapter 9. 

ה הֵמָּה, בָּאוּ בְּאֶרֶץ צוּף, וְשָׁאוּל אָמַר לְנַעֲרוֹ אֲשֶׁר-עִמּוֹ, לְכָה וְנָשׁוּבָה--פֶּן-יֶחְדַּל אָבִי מִן-הָאֲתֹנוֹת, וְדָאַג לָנוּ. 5 When they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him: 'Come and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and become anxious concerning us.' ו וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ, הִנֵּה-נָא אִישׁ-אֱלֹהִים בָּעִיר הַזֹּאת, וְהָאִישׁ נִכְבָּד, כֹּל אֲשֶׁר-יְדַבֵּר בּוֹא יָבוֹא; עַתָּה, נֵלְכָה שָּׁם--אוּלַי יַגִּיד לָנוּ, אֶת-דַּרְכֵּנוּ אֲשֶׁר-הָלַכְנוּ עָלֶיהָ. 6 And he said unto him: 'Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man that is held in honour; all that he saith cometh surely to pass; now let us go thither; peradventure he can tell us concerning our journey whereon we go.' ז וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל לְנַעֲרוֹ, וְהִנֵּה נֵלֵךְ וּמַה-נָּבִיא לָאִישׁ--כִּי הַלֶּחֶם אָזַל מִכֵּלֵינוּ, וּתְשׁוּרָה אֵין-לְהָבִיא לְאִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים: מָה, אִתָּנוּ. 7 Then said Saul to his servant: 'But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God; what have we?' ח וַיֹּסֶף הַנַּעַר, לַעֲנוֹת אֶת-שָׁאוּל, וַיֹּאמֶר, הִנֵּה נִמְצָא בְיָדִי רֶבַע שֶׁקֶל כָּסֶף; וְנָתַתִּי לְאִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים, וְהִגִּיד לָנוּ אֶת-דַּרְכֵּנוּ. 8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said: 'Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver, that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.'-- ט לְפָנִים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, כֹּה-אָמַר הָאִישׁ בְּלֶכְתּוֹ לִדְרוֹשׁ אֱלֹהִים, לְכוּ וְנֵלְכָה, עַד-הָרֹאֶה: כִּי לַנָּבִיא הַיּוֹם, יִקָּרֵא לְפָנִים הָרֹאֶה. 9 Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he said: 'Come and let us go to the seer'; for he that is now called a prophet was beforetime called a seer.-- י וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל לְנַעֲרוֹ טוֹב דְּבָרְךָ, לְכָה נֵלֵכָה; וַיֵּלְכוּ, אֶל-הָעִיר, אֲשֶׁר-שָׁם, אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים. 10 Then said Saul to his servant: 'Well said; come, let us go.' So they went unto the city where the man of God was.

I've always found this event rather peculiar.  Saul seems so lacking in decision-making and leadership skills.  The servant leads him around, the reverse of what you would expect from a potential king.

Could that servant have been Tziva?  It would make sense.  If he is the old veteran servant from King Saul's time, then King David knew him well and Tziva was certainly comfortable as go-between.  He would be taking care of the fourth generation of the line and chafing at the lowly role by the time he deceived King David about Mephiboshet's loyalty.

I asked Dr. Ziegler and she thought for a moment.  She replied that she has never seen a commentary that says what I just said, but that does not mean that I was wrong.

She then quoted from our chapter, 2Samuel 9:

ט וַיִּקְרָא הַמֶּלֶךְ, אֶל-צִיבָא נַעַר שָׁאוּל--וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו: כֹּל אֲשֶׁר הָיָה לְשָׁאוּל וּלְכָל-בֵּיתוֹ, נָתַתִּי לְבֶן-אֲדֹנֶיךָ. 9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him: 'All that pertained to Saul and to all his house have I given unto thy master's son.

From the text, it does appear that Tziva was that old servant. Apparently after decades of work playing #2, he rebelled.

Double Rosh Chodesh Adar!

Just a reminder to spread the word to women to join us in Rosh Chodesh Prayers.

The Rosh Chodesh Adar Women's Prayers at Tel Shiloh

Friday, February 24, 2012 8:30am

Shiur Torah, Short Tour & Torah Lesson

Please come and invite family, friends and neighbors

תפילת נשים ראש חודש אדר בתל שילה

יום ו' 24-2 8:30

יהיו סיור ודבר תורה קצרים

נא לבוא, לפרסם ולהזמין חברות, משפחה ושכנות

You're welcome to join our facebook page. Tel Shiloh is open to visitors daily. Tours can be arranged through the office. Email telshilo@gmail.com or phone 02-994-4019.

Is Obama Just An American Problem, An Israeli Problem or a World Problem?

As you know, I'm not an Obama hassid, fan, but since he's the President of the United States, and I live and vote in Israel only, I try not to write all that much about him or credit him with any authority here.  I also refuse to repeat all of those "it's Obama's fault" type of articles concerning Israel.  I consider the Israeli Government and citizens responsible for Israel's policy and security.  Seraphic Secrets, a blog worth reading and following,  has a very interesting Obama article.  It begins with:

This morning, I was going to write about the unfortunate if not dangerous comments made by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey regarding Israel and Iran’s nuclear program. General Dempsey, it should be noted, has been drafted as a spokesman for Obama’s reelection campaign. His remarks are stunning in their strategic foolishness and make clear—as if further clarification were needed—that the Obama administration is actively hostile to the Jewish State.

And then it quotes The Wall Street Journal:

Is the Obama Administration more concerned that Iran may get a nuclear weapon, or that Israel may use military force to prevent Iran from doing so? The answer is the latter, judging from comments on Sunday by Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey.
Appearing on CNN, General Dempsey sent precisely the wrong message if the main U.S. strategic goal is convincing Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions. He said the U.S. is urging Israel not to attack Iran—because Iran hasn’t decided to build a bomb, because an Israeli attack probably wouldn’t set back Iran by more than a couple of years, and because it would invite retaliation and be “destabilizing” throughout the Middle East.
“That’s the question with which we all wrestle. And the reason we think that it’s not prudent at this point to decide to attack Iran,” the General said, referring to a possible Iranian response to an attack. “That’s been our counsel to our allies, the Israelis. And we also know or believe we know that the Iranian regime has not decided that they will embark on the capability—or the effort to weaponize their nuclear capability.”
In a single sound bite, General Dempsey managed to tell the Iranians they can breathe easier because Israel’s main ally is opposed to an attack on Iran, such attack isn’t likely to work in any case, and the U.S. fears Iran’s retaliation. It’s as if General Dempsey wanted to ratify Iran’s rhetoric that the regime is a fearsome global military threat.
If the U.S. really wanted its diplomacy to work in lieu of force, it would say and do whatever it can to increase Iran’s fear of an attack. It would say publicly that Israel must be able to protect itself and that it has the means to do so. America’s top military officer in particular should say that if Iran escalates in response to an Israeli attack, the U.S. would have no choice but to intervene on behalf of its ally. The point of coercive diplomacy is to make an adversary understand that the costs of its bad behavior will be very, very high.
The general is not a free-lancer, so his message was almost certainly guided by the White House. His remarks only make strategic sense if President Obama’s real priority is to contain Israel first—especially before the November election.
This might also explain General Dempsey’s comments that the U.S. doesn’t believe Iran’s regime has decided to build an atomic bomb and that it is a “rational” actor, like, say, the Dutch. This would be the same rational Iran that refuses to compromise on its nuclear plans despite increasingly damaging global sanctions, and the same prudent actor that has sent agents around the world to bomb Israeli and Saudi targets, allegedly including in a Washington, D.C. restaurant.
Iran doesn’t need to explode a bomb, or even declare that it has one, to win its nuclear standoff. All it needs to do is get to the brink and make everyone believe it can build a bomb when it wants to. Then the costs of deterring Iran go up exponentially, and the regime’s leverage multiplies in the Middle East and against American interests. General Dempsey’s assurances obscure that military and political reality.
Like most of Mr. Obama’s Iran policy, General Dempsey’s comments will have the effect of making war more likely, not less. They will increase Israel’s anxiety about U.S. support, especially if Mr. Obama is re-elected and he has a freer political hand. This may drive Israel’s leadership to strike sooner. Weakness invites war, and General Dempsey has helped the Administration send a message of weakness to Israel and Iran.

As a high school EFL English Teacher, I'd try very hard to help my students see the "main idea" in a reading passage.  As a Life Coach, I also try to listen very carefully to find out what a person's words really mean.  It's frequently far from what they perceive as their problem.  Words have multiple meanings.  Whether intentionally or not, we frequently mask our intentions with the wrong words. 

Political "spinners" are masters in confusing minds.  The Barack Hussein Obama team has been writing his "screenplay" masterfully, to give the intended impression to his audience/s.  When he speaks to Jewish groups he keeps on saying, mantra-style, that he, Obama, is the best friend Israel has ever had, even though the facts are the exact opposite.  Not only his attitude, but his policies are dangerous to the security of the State of Israel.  Unlike some other United States Presidents who didn't feel an affinity to Israel, he doesn't see Israel as a valuable ideological or defensive ally.

Americans shouldn't ignore the fact that their President seems more ideologically comfortable with the Muslim Brotherhood than with Israel.  Not only is this dangerous for the United States, it's dangerous for the entire world.

Should We "Land of Israel Loyalists" Be Hunger-Striking Like Khader Adnan?

Did  Khader Adnan's 66 day hunger strike get the Israeli Government to weaken?

Israel's state prosecution reaches deal with "Islamic Jihad operative (sic)" Khader Adnan, who is due to be released in April. (complete article)

 More...

Government spokesperson Mark Regev told CNN Monday that hospital officials are doing all they can to prevent any harm to Adnan, and pointed out that he is no longer shackled to his bed. After being asked by interviewer Hala Gorani about Adnan’s long detention without trial, Regev said that Adnan had already been allowed to appear before a judge and that his imprisonment is at par with measures that are in place in other Western democracies fighting terrorism. “When you deal with terrorists often what you have is confidential intelligence so you have to hold people as you collect more; it’s better to hold him than to have other people killed tomorrow.” “You have to protect the public against violence and extreme killers ... he has been arrested numerous times by the Palestinians themselves,” Regev said. (complete article)

Here's the official Israeli Government Statement:

Justice Ministry Statement Regarding Khader Adnan
Following is a translation of a request submitted by the State Attorney and the attorney of the appellant (Khader Adnan) to the Supreme Court:
"1. This petition regards the appellant's request for an order to revoke the administrative detention order that was issued against him, and is in force until 8.5.12.
2. The State would like to announce – after the issue had been brought before the Attorney General – that it agrees to offset the days in which the appellant was detained for the purpose of a criminal investigation prior to his administrative detention from the period of the current administrative detention order, and also announces that as long as no new significant and substantive material is added regarding the appellant, there is no intention to extend the administrative detention.
Therefore, as long as no new significant and substantive material is added regarding the appellant, his administrative detention will end on 17.4.12.
3. In light of State's foregoing announcement, the appellant states – via his attorney – that he is halting his hunger strike effective immediately.
4. In light of the foregoing, the State and the appellant ask that the honorable Court order that the petition be dismissed without an order regarding costs, and that the discussion scheduled for today (Tuesday), 21.2.12, be cancelled."

A photo I took in Migron over six years ago.

Now, if had some determined volunteers to hunger strike for Migron and other  Jewish communities endangered by Israeli Government policy, would Bibi and Barak change their stripes?

We don't want more Jewish homes destroyed!

We (Israel Doesn't) Don't Need Obama's Permission!

Dry Bones' classic cartoon hits the spot.  All I can think of is how badly we've done security-wise ever since we began asking and taking advice from America.

We defeated all of the Arab armies which attacked us and tried to prevent our independence in 1948.  That was without any outside help.  Ditto for 1967.  We would have ceased to exist as an independent State of Israel if we had had any "help."  G-d's help and the prayer of World Jewry were all we needed.  Our victory in six days is the greatest and most unexpected and illogical military victory in the history of the world.

When Menachem Begin was Israel's Prime Minister and had us bomb the Iraqi nuclear reactor, he didn't consult and publically yap about it for years beforehand.  That's why it was a successful operation.  The biggest reason I'm against Israel doing anything "similar" against Iran is that it can't be similar, because there is no secrecy and no surprise.  There has been much too much talk about how and why Israel should or shouldn't bomb Iran.

When it comes to security, loose lips are the biggest danger.  Too many of Israel's military leaders, including Defense Minister Ehud Barak, are too connected to the American government and military.  I'm sorry to say this; I just don't trust them.  And what's the "them" as is asked in many "reading comprehensions?"  All of those I just mentioned, the Americans and the Israeli officials.

I think I've written enough for now.  Your reactions are invited in the comments, thanks.

To Caroline Glick, Mazal Tov and Much More. The Root of Anti-Semitism

Caroline Glick, writer of all those great opinion pieces in the Jerusalem Post and founder of Latma gave birth to a baby recently.  That hasn't stopped her from writing, at least on her site.

Her latest article is about the anti-Israel/Semitism found in her old alma mater, Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and other esteemed universities.  I wrote a comment about her post, but, as usual, the comment company rejected it.  Here's the comment:

First of all, MAZALTOV! There's nothing more important than children. Considering the unabashed anti-Semitism/Israel nonsense being taught in all shades, sizes and "classes" of universities, it makes it easier to understand how the Nazis had no problems getting away with their anti-Jewish policies.

We must take very seriously that the ideology of anti-Semitism/Israel is strongly rooted in academic life and lore in the western, Christian world.  That's because the basic concept of Christianity is to replace Judaism.  It doesn't matter that today many some Christian theologians recognize that it's not "pc" to say things like that, so they coat it with more acceptable and incomprehensible phraseology.

Just by the Christians' calling their bible the "New Testament" as opposed to the Jewish "Old Testament" is simple proof. The original Bible which chronicles the creation of the world by G-d and man's discovery of G-d's powers, the development of the Jewish religion and People and History and attachment to the Holy Land, does not need revision.

G-d makes it very clear that no man can be G-d.

The very basis of Christianity that Jesus is G-d and should be worshipped is against G-d's commandments.

According to the Christian religion, non-believers, that is those who don't believe in Jesus, are cursed to rot in hell, so they will do anything to "save" us.  That includes lying.

IMHO, we really can't expect the Christian world, including the most elite and esteemed of the universities and academics to be objective concerning Israel and Jews.  Sorry, but you can't whitewash the truth.

Nu? What's New in the Jewish News Media?

There's a new guy on the Jewish news block called The Times of Israel.  It's mostly about Israel, though not exclusively.  It's all online, facebook and twitter, yes, very modern and up-to-date in that sense. 

It seems that David Horowitz, former Editor in Chief of The Jerusalem Post has taken along many of the best and brightest from that paper to staff his new one.  I remember his talk at the Second (and last) International Jewish Bloggers Convention when he complained that since the Jerusalem Post had gone internet, there was no quiet spell on the news desk, since the paper no longer "went to bed."  The internet had make journalism a 100% 24/7 job.  The only day the Jerusalem Post stopped the presses was on Yom Kippur.  He mentioned taking on more and more of Shabbat observance, just to get some peace and rest.  The mostly Torah observant audience clapped loudly for that.  I wonder what the policy and his work life is like on his new internet paper.

For me, this new paper isn't all that great, since I don't carry along the right sort of technology.  My cell phone is just used as a phone, and I don't have all those fancy electric media/book stuff in my bags.  I also don't spend the day on the computer.  I live a much more primitive f2f type of life.  It's going to be hard to fit all this new newspaper into my already busy computer time, but I'll try.

Good luck to Times of Israel!

Latma's "Anyone You Can Fool I Can Fool Better" in honor of the unity between Hamas and Fatah's conciliation. Sing Along!

Latma #133 with the song "Anyone You Can Fool I Can Fool Better" in honor of the unity between Hamas and Fatah's conciliation and healthy competition between them. Ilana Dayan strikes again with an especially courageous and surprising investigation. Latma, the Right way of looking at the news.

Too Easy to Target Israel

Israel is always held to different standards.  One of the latest anti-Israel anti-El Al "jabs" is by some Arab journalist complaining about security enforcement.  I had it on Delta flying out of Phoenix, Arizona. Wearing the same skirt I had worn flying out of Israel's Ben Gurion Airport and JFK, only the AZ airport demanded a "pat-down."

That's just the annoying stuff. 

Bank robbers no longer need to arm themselves with guns and other dangerous devices.  They hack into the bank via the internet, instead of blasting with explosives.

But there still are physical dangers, like the attack in India which seriously wounded the Israeli Ambassador's wife.

Has the United Nations called an emergency meeting of the Security Council?

Honenu News and More

You may have noticed that I've added something new to this blog, a Honenu news ticker.  It's on the right sidebar just above the Jewish Israel one.  For some strange reason, of late you have to be on/in a specific post/article on this blog to see the sidebars, so, just click a post title and the sidebars will appear, G-d and google willing.  And, also inexplicable, is that the lower portion of the right sidebar has been "eaten up" by some mysterious internet demons.

Honenu and Jewish Israel are two very important organizations and internet sites.  I support and agree with them both.  That's why I have them both on my blog and I help out however I can.

Honenu is a very needed, unfortunately, legal aid organization that assists those Jews who are arrested by the Israeli Government for defending Jewish Rights:

Honenu was established in 2001 by Shmuel Meidad {no relation.} Honenu in a non profit legal defense organization providing legal aid to our loyal citizens, who at times due to the security situation are being persecuted by government authorities and a court system heavily influenced and pressured by anti Israel “human rights” groups. These groups are heavily funded by the European Union and others.

Honenu is the only legal aid group that defends Jewish dissidents.  I know many people who have been helped by them.

Jewish Israel defends Judaism from Christian encroachment into our Jewish Land and People.

We at JewishIsrael understand that this is a time of existential danger and - for many - spiritual confusion. We acknowledge that there are certain rabbinic and community leaders in Israel and America who attribute the current outpouring of fundamentalist Christian support for Israel to a prophetic era of apocalyptic change. We must remind them that regardless of one’s worldview, we Jews are obligated to hold our spiritual and physical ground and there is no rationale for breaking halachic fences, blurring lines, and jeopardizing or compromising the Jewish faith by openly embracing and encouraging evangelical designs for Israel.

I highly recommend that you make a point of visiting and supporting both of these groups. Thank you