Hamas War

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

וַיְהִי הָעָם כְּמִתְאֹנְנִים And the people were agitators, speaking evil

I have a new name for the Korach faux social justice crowd.  I've been learning the Torah Book במדבר Bamidbar, In The Desert aka Numbers in Matan with Atara Snowbell.  Some of you may remember that last year she taught us Megillat Ester, which inspired quite a few posts.  Now we're delving deeply into  Numbers Chapter 11 בְּמִדְבַּר, and I've learned a new word, כְּמִתְאֹנְנִים kimit'oninim,  like "murmurers" is the way most English bibles have it translated, but it would be more accurate to say "agitators."
א וַיְהִי הָעָם כְּמִתְאֹנְנִים, רַע בְּאָזְנֵי יְהוָה; וַיִּשְׁמַע יְהוָה, וַיִּחַר אַפּוֹ, וַתִּבְעַר-בָּם אֵשׁ יְהוָה, וַתֹּאכַל בִּקְצֵה הַמַּחֲנֶה. 1 And the people were as murmurers, speaking evil in the ears of the LORD; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and devoured in the uttermost part of the camp.
ב וַיִּצְעַק הָעָם, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה; וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל מֹשֶׁה אֶל-יְהוָה, וַתִּשְׁקַע הָאֵשׁ. 2 And the people cried unto Moses; and Moses prayed unto the LORD, and the fire abated.
ג וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם-הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא, תַּבְעֵרָה: כִּי-בָעֲרָה בָם, אֵשׁ יְהוָה. 3 And the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.
ד וְהָאסַפְסֻף אֲשֶׁר בְּקִרְבּוֹ, הִתְאַוּוּ תַּאֲוָה; וַיָּשֻׁבוּ וַיִּבְכּוּ, גַּם בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וַיֹּאמְרוּ, מִי יַאֲכִלֵנוּ בָּשָׂר. 4 And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting; and the children of Israel also wept on their part, and said: 'Would that we were given flesh to eat!
ה זָכַרְנוּ, אֶת-הַדָּגָה, אֲשֶׁר-נֹאכַל בְּמִצְרַיִם, חִנָּם; אֵת הַקִּשֻּׁאִים, וְאֵת הָאֲבַטִּחִים, וְאֶת-הֶחָצִיר וְאֶת-הַבְּצָלִים, וְאֶת-הַשּׁוּמִים. 5 We remember the fish, which we were wont to eat in Egypt for nought; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic;
Those Biblical characters were on a mission, and it wasn't a holy one.  They  had an agenda to destroy morale of the people.  Their words were aimed to make the Jews unhappy and lose their trust and faith in G-d.

I'm not happy with Bibi's humongous coalition, but I accept that it's legal and the price of democracy.  Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is a brilliant politician.  Unfortunately he isn't a man of faith in G-d and he isn't strongly committed to Judaism.  I disagree with many of his policies.  But I don't consider these demonstrators as more representative than the government.

Protesters hit streets again: 'The entire nation is the opposition'

In protest of new Likud–Kadima unity government, hundreds demonstrate in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beersheba • Seven protesters arrested in Tel Aviv • "Like thieves in the night, the prime minister and opposition leader met last night to steal our country," protest organizer says.
Yehuda Shlezinger, Yori Yalon, Gadi Golan and Mati Tuchfeld

Hundreds protest the establishment of the Likud-Kadima unity government, Tuesday night.
|
Photo credit: Roni Shutzer

Hundreds protest the establishment of the Likud-Kadima unity government, Tuesday night.
|
Photo credit: Roni Shutzer

They and the media here in Israel would have been celebrating if Tsippi Livni had pulled it off.  They still haven't forgiven Bibi for successfully negotiated his ruling coalition.  No doubt they are sore losers.  And davka Bibi's policies are more to their taste than mine...

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

several hundred? hah! the rz or hareidi communities could assemble that in half an hour!

somehow, a protest of several hundred is hardly disturbing, or even indicative.

[hey batya, since you too oppose the unity govt, you should have joined the protest!]

Batya said...

a, you haven't read me carefully. I don't oppose it, just don't like it. I see behind these protesters, what's their real agenda, and I don't like that.