A Reason I Made Aliyah, Moved to Israel

I'm public school educated, New York City, then Great Neck. At some point it was made very clear to me that the United States is a Christian country. Yes, other religions are permitted, but the religious freedom in the early days was specifically for various Christian denominations, not for Judaism, Hinduism, Islam etc.

Being "tolerated" just wasn't good enough for me, so when I discovered Zionism and Betar, I had a solution to my problem. So, it's rather ironic that 40 years later, the basic issue is big news today in the states.

The Key Problem

Just before I turn off the computer for awhile, I want to leave you with this thought.

So many people, more and more, are worried, horrified, terrified by what's happening here in Israel. The politicians, media and ordinary citizens are promoting the destruction of the state, G-d forbid. I, too, have been wracking my brain to try to understand what is wrong in our communal psyche.

The key problem is that instead of doing everything to
build the nation, our people have just searched for "peace."

Remember that we can neither make peace nor buy it. Only G-d can. Our job is to build our country in all of Eretz Yisrael.

Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom

What happened to the old landmarks?

There's so much building going on in Israel, bli eyin haraa. It's hard to find your way when the landmarks have disappeared--yes, it's called progress!

But the truth is, at least for some people, it's disorienting to say the least.


Also, so many people in the states, and other places, are used to being guided by their trusty GPS. Well, good news, dady-GPS, special for Israel, is available to guide you. Special discount if you contact them by clicking here and tell them that you heard of them from webads.

Travel safely! It helps when you know how to get to where you're going.

Doing the right thing

I can't take thanks or credit from people who act like I'm doing something so extraordinary living here in Shiloh. So many friends have wanted to make aliyah for decades, have wanted to live in YESHA, and they don't. It's 37 years since we docked in Haifa Port as new immigrants and 26 years since we took our family from Bayit V'Gan, Jerusalem to Shiloh.

The Holiday period is almost over. It's never too late to do what's right. Here's the message I sent to a friend:

Honestly, it's not all that hard once you decide you can't live with
yourself if you don't do what's right.

Freedom of Movement-- for Arabs

The Anti-Israeli/Leftists (one and the same, no?) like to portray Israel as an apartheid state where Arabs are kept in "Arab-only enclaves, and they're not allowed in Jewish areas and roads." It's not the case. Closer to reality would be to say that if there's apartheid here, we Jews are kept away from areas, even within the "greenline," which are considered Arab-only.

Arabs have full freedom of movement, not only in employment, but go into any mall or shopping area, and you'll find lots of Arab shoppers. When Jews want to shop in Arab stores, their lives are endangered, and if they're killed or injured, they're blamed for being "reckless."

Even more. There are Jewish neighborhoods which are filling up with Arabs. You hear as much if not more Arabic in French Hill than Hebrew. Pisgat Zeev and Neve Yaakov buildings are also beginning to get more and more Arab residents.

I took this picture when waiting for a bus in Pisgat Zeev, the main street, just down from the mall. I was sitting at the bus stop and held the camera close to the metal "grill," and my trusty Canon 620 caught them through one of the tiny holes.

A Bissel Politics

I know it's after 1am, hours after my bedtime.

I just got back from a "Simchat Beit Shoeva," Succah "Party," cum political meeting.

Our regional council is having elections pretty soon. There are two candidates, Avi Ro'eh and Adi Mintz. Until tonight I didn't know too much about them. Actually I referred to them as "pretty much the same, Tweedle dum and Tweedle dee." Ro'eh works in the council, and Mintz used to head Moetzet YESHA. That means a black strike for both.

Tonight Adi Mintz came to Shiloh. He does have some good ideas and stressed that he hasn't worked for Moetzet YESHA for a few years. He's also willing to listen and kept telling his assistant to write down things I said. I wish my students would do that.

Of course, I "argued" with him over a few things and suggested lots of other things and informed him of things he wasn't yet aware...

And I no longer consider the two candidates "the same."

Read the fine print--that word UNTIL

'IDF chief called prisoner release unethical until Schalit returned'

Take a good look at that headline. It means that the IDF chief is actually in favor, thinks ethical the releasing of terrorist prisoners. It's just that he puts conditions on it.

Many Israeli politicians play that same game, trying to "sound tough" and almost "right wing," but not quite. Listen/read carefully to Sharansky and Bibi.

Bad feeling in the kishkes

My gut feeling about this guy is "bad news."

Harel To Replace Kaplinsky as Aide to Ashkenazi

(IsraelNN.com)
Dan Harel has been appointed to replace Moshe Kaplinsky as
Deputy IDF Chief Staff. Kaplinsky served in the post for more than two years
and also served as coordinator with the Northern Command during the Second
Lebanon War.
Harel recently completed a term as military attaché in Washington after serving as head of the Southern Command during the expulsion of Jews from the Gaza region two years ago.

Am I crazy? Usually, my guesses are unpleasant, but on the mark.

There's a more detailed article in the Jerusalem Post. I really don't like all these top IDF guys going to the states for "studies" and whatnot, and then they return to "bigger and better" jobs.

I don't trust it at all.

It reminds me of the halacha about guarding food at all times for it to be considered kosher.

Jewish Pioneer Dissidents Arrested while Arab Terrorists Freed

It's not easy to be Jewish, but to think that here in Israel, during חג שימחתינו Chag Simchatenu, the Holiday of our Joyfulness, Jews would be arrested while Arab terrorists are freed by the Israeli Government...




This terrible confusion between good and bad, morality and immorality, must be a sign that the Moshiach is certainly on his way, במהירה בימינו bimhaira b'yamainu, speedily in our days.

While I was with my neighbors marching from Shiloh to Jerusalem, other Jewish patriots were attempting to settle five new communities in ארץ ישראל Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel. This week's battle may have been lost, but in the end, we will win, G-d willing.

Hit the road, from Shiloh to Jerusalem!

There was a time, in the first two decades after the 1967 Six Days War, when Jews walked freely, fearlessly and safely on the roads of Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel, our Ancient, well-documented in the Bible Homeland. Unfortunately, the unrelenting series of concessions/gifts successive Israeli Governments have offered the Arabs for "peace" have only brought us terrorism and fear.

Four years ago, on the Eve of Rosh Hashannah, our neighbor, Avihu Keinan, was killed in a badly planned army action. During the very much shortened shiva, usually a week's mourning period, his father, Moshe, pledged to march from Shiloh to the President's Residence in Jerusalem during Succot. That he did, accompanied by over a hundred neighbors of all ages. Now it is a Shiloh custom. Many of us plan our Succot holiday around the march.

The marching, walking, unencumbered by shields and weapons is what we should be doing all the time. It is a sign of ownership, and we are the true owners of the Land. The army insists on accompanying us, as you'll see in some pictures. The first march was entirely by foot to Jerusalem, but since then, due to pressure from the security forces, and the simple fact that marching the distance by such a disparate group takes takes until after nightfall, sections of the route are by bus. That doesn't detract from the significance of the march, itself. Remember that many Israelis won't even travel our roads in bullet-proof vehicles. What is obvious is that the taller we stand and the more confident we act, the more frightened the Arabs are. They pay no attention to those who march the roads proudly. Like the Biblical Amalek, they prey on weakness.



Marching the roads of Eretz Yisrael make us safe and secure!


This year I was with the marchers from Shiloh to Givat Asaf, the Beit El Junction, aka Tzomet HaTee. After that I went to Jerusalem to see my visiting parents. The march continued to Givat Hatachmoshet, Ammunition Hill, a major battleground of the Six Days War. To prepare the group of marcher for it, we heard one of the soldiers speak about the battle for Jerusalem, when we had a rest stop in Ofra.

Here are a few of the pictures. The rest will be posted on me-ander.

The Freedom to Speak at Columbia U

Yes, terrorism has cut down on civil rights.

thanks ck, who sent me this