T'filat Chana, An Original Dvar Torah

Before writing this, I had to check my Hebrew spelling, because the ambiguous nature of Hebrew writing is the key...

ה שְׂבֵעִים בַּלֶּחֶם נִשְׂכָּרוּ, וּרְעֵבִים חָדֵלּוּ, עַד-עֲקָרָה יָלְדָה שִׁבְעָה, וְרַבַּת בָּנִים אֻמְלָלָה.
5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry have ceased; while the barren hath borne seven, she that had many children hath languished.
Samuel, Chapter 2

Chazal, our sages, say that Chana was barren for almost twenty years. They and the Biblical text also say that she only brought her beloved and much prayed for son Samuel to Eli, the High Priest, at Shiloh when he was weaned. He was probably five years old, since that's also the traditional gil chinuch, age to educate.

At my neighborhood, Women's Shabbat Shiur, Torah Class, we tried to figure out how old she was when she finally has Samuel and how she then managed seven children.

My mind started going in a very different direction. The word "seven" in Hebrew, שבע sheva. I didn't have the actual text in front of me, but now that I've copied it to the post, I realize that I didn't need to ask my neighbor for spelling information.

שבע sheva, un-voweled has a number of meanings, besides 7. It can be an oath, to swear, or if you use the ש shin, as sin, sove'a, it means to be satiated, satisfied. That same meaning for the root, שבע sheva, is actually used in the beginning of the line. You don't need to know Hebrew to recognize the letters.

We can now reinterpret the line to mean that "the barren mother is now satisfied." In other words, she has enough children, she no longer suffers, yearns for children. We now don't know how many siblings Samuel had via his mother. I'm not enough a Biblical expert to know if any maternal siblings are mentioned in other places in the Bible.

Gmar Chatimah Tovah

The Politicians Should Go By This Poll

Israeli Jews Would Rather Live in the Jewish State

Here's a selection from the poll:

According to the survey, 92 percent of the respondents answered affirmatively to the question as to whether they would actively engage in a military battle for Israel. The same number expressed pride in their Jewishness.

Ninety percent characterized themselves as "patriotic," and 85 percent said they were opposed to dividing Jerusalem in order to gain peace with the Palestinian Authority.

Eighty-three percent of those who answered the survey supported raising the Israeli flag on Independence Day – and a higher number, 90 percent, expressed outrage when people act "contemptuously" during the sounding of the siren on Memorial Day.

An overwhelming majority of Israel's Jews also prefer to live in the Jewish State than anywhere else: 87 percent said they would rather be Israeli citizens than citizens of any other country.

Bailout, What About...?

I understand that parallel to the US Elections is the controversy about the bailout program. Here in Israel, I have different problems and priorities, like the survival of my town and country, but it seems against standard American operating procedure to subsidize, cushion the financial foul-ups in private enterprise.

Wouldn't it make more sense for the American Government to provide special welfare payment deals to people who are losing their homes? That money would go indirectly into some of these big financial institutions and rescue those people really suffering.

OK, I admit that I don't keep up with all aspects of the American economy, but I don't see the point of helping the rich and ignoring the poor.

I Shouldn't Complain

I've just spent hours in front of this computer posting, correcting, deleting slashes etc on the 19th edition of JPIX--the Jewish Picture Blogger Carnival.

No pretensions of modesty. It is worth looking at, and I hope you do. There was a problem with the "template" I used for pictures to link to their original posts, so instead of being able to finish it off easily, I had to redo all sorts of codes. Now G-d willing it should work.

There are more serious things I've done this week. I started the week at Avihu Keinan's Azkara in the Shiloh Cemetery, and I ended it at Harry Hurwitz's funeral in the Har Menuchot Cemetery in Jerusalem. Two very different events. One was young man killed in army service, because of the faulty perverse morality which has damaged our nation and army. Avihu never had time to marry, raise a family etc. He left grandmothers, parents, sisters, nieces, nephews and friends.

And the other was a great-grandfather, grandfather, father, husband, friend and someone who accomplished many of his dreams.

So whatever aggravation I've had this evening, I really can't complain.

Shavua Tov u'Mevorach

Have a Good and Blessed Week

i

The New York Times--such a way with words

First I saw the New York Post, and they were full of praise for Palin after the VP debate with Biden. But that was expected. Then I read the New York Times:

...Ms. Palin exceeded expectations in this highly anticipated face-off, though those expectations were low after she had stumbled in recent television interviews. She succeeded by not failing in any obvious way. She mostly reverted to and repeated talking points, like referring to Mr. McCain as a “maverick” and the Republican ticket as a “team of mavericks,” while not necessarily quelling doubts among voters about her depth of knowledge.

Obviously it hurt them to say that Alaskan hicks may be smarter than NYers like to admit.

I'm finding this campaign very amusing, not that I'm planning on voting.

You Can't Expect McCain-Palin To "Out-Pope The Pope"

Yes, I can agree with The Veep Debate: That's Entertainment! We really shouldn't take these things so seriously.

And the same goes for Palin's Palin: A two state solution is the solution statement. When the Israeli Government has been negotiating in that direction for years, how could we expect foreign politicians to project anything else, even if they think we're nuts?

That policy is both he Republican's and Democrat's. To change it we must change the Israeli Government, Israeli Policy and the Israeli media. It is hard work. And it's up to us Israelis and Jews all over the world. We can't expect any American politician to do it.

Eretz Yisrael L'Am Yisrael

The Land of Israel for the People of Israel (Jews)!

Before We Choke On The Tar and Feathers

Let's sue them!

I'm no faux christian, no serving other cheeks for me! I'm sick and tired of being maligned--that's being lied about!

Now long after the name "Arlosoroff" has meant nothing to Israelis, and the Rabin Roads are potholed, the media is full of the Sternhell festival, to besmirch the name of anyone who isn't a follower/supporter of the extreme Left. Of course, those who say: "Ouch" are condemned.

That Prof. Sternhell has a hell of a way with words, and he has been given more time in the Israeli media than the Moshiach would be given and the Opposition Leader is given. His incitement against all Jews in Judea and Samaria predate his recent attack. Sternhell blames us and accuses us all of endangering the State of Israel and recommends tough measures against us. He has no proof; we just don't agree with his philosophy. That doesn't make us criminals. His words are the illegal ones, and I'm glad that The Land of Israel Task Force is suing him.

Another prominent Israeli who should be sued is Majr-Gen Gadi Shamni. Thanks to Hadassa DeYoung for sending me the article. Shamni's interview with the BBC is also vicious incitement against the Jews in Judea and Samaria.

Try as they may, the tar and feathers won't stick to me and my neighbors. Sternhell, Shamni, the Israeli media, politicians and fellow travelers will end up choking on the tar and feathers.

Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach

May you have a peaceful and blessed Shabbat

Onward Christian Missionaries

Posted by Ellen W. Horowitz

In the mad pre-Rosh Hashanah rush, I neglected to send out a missionary update. So below is the last update on evangelical missionary activity for the year 5768 – and it’s a long one.

Let’s hope that this New Year brings shorter and sweeter news, as we make progress in our efforts to upset the designs of those who are determined to take the Jewish people away from their faith.

With the U'netaneh Tokef prayer being such an integral part of the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur service, we might as well begin in Germany where more than 800 years ago the martyred Rabbi Amnon of Mainz left us a very painful and eternal lesson on an interfaith friendship gone awry…

The WEA issues the 2008 Berlin Declaration: a decree to convert European Jewry:

YNET reports that the World Evangelical Alliance ended their conference in Berlin with a statement calling for the mass conversion of Jews (in the spirit of friendship, of course)

The statement issued by the WEA Theological Commission entitled "The Berlin Declaration on the Uniqueness of Christ and Jewish Evangelism in Europe Today" was developed by a task force at a consultation in Berlin, Germany which took place on August 18-22, 2008.

The ADL was quick to denounce the World Evangelical Alliance for targeting European Jews for conversion. It was not unlike Foxman’s statement issued at the end of March which censured the very same WEA for launching a campaign targeting Jews for conversion via full page ads in the New York Times and other major papers.

The WEA is no fringe group. It “ is a network of churches in 128 nations that have each formed an evangelical alliance and over 100 international organizations joining together to give a worldwide identity, voice and platform to more than 420 million evangelical Christians.” And it enjoys the endorsement of some heavy hitters among so-called “Christian Zionists”. As you may recall CUFI regional director and publisher Stephen Strang was among the endorsers of that WEA statement, as was radio-show host Janet Parshall - who was instrumental in launching and establishing the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus.


[It should be noted that the “prophetic” Parshall withdrew from the Caucus as she sensed a time when Israel would soon essentially say, "We'll take your aid, your support and your tourist dollars, but we won't take your Jesus."] Damn straight, Janet !

Ironically it was Abe Foxman of the ADL who played a role in preventing Israel from passing badly needed anti-missionary legislation back in 1998. Something about “the bill’s implications on civil liberties and religious freedom in Israel”.. What goes around comes around, Abe.

Messianic Jews Promote Ethiopian Aliya:

The Jerusalem Post is reporting that Messianic Jewish missionaries from the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (MJAA) are busy convincing 50,000-70,000 Ethiopian Christians from far-flung villages in Ethiopia that they are really Jewish believers in Jesus and entitled to aliyah.

The following are excerpts from the article:
“Operation Tikva is contravening the Israeli government's attempts over the last year to wind down official aliya operations in Ethiopia, and the project is being viewed in Jerusalem with alarm.”

...."These people are clearly not Jewish and they are working in areas where none of the people are Jews either; everything they are telling these people are lies," said Rabbi Menachem Waldman, a member of the Public Council for Ethiopian Jews, which has successfully persuaded the Israeli government to continue checking the eligibility for immigration of a further 3,000 Falash Mura (Ethiopian Jews whose ancestors converted to Christianity more than a century ago) from the same region of Ethiopia...

Aveje Manhanei, who runs an Israeli-based Web community dedicated to preserving the traditions and culture of Ethiopian Jewry, told the Post, "If Israel does not put a stop to this activity as soon as possible then there will eventually be another 75 million Ethiopians demanding to make aliya."

Kidnapping the Kotel:

Missionaries continue their “love affair” with Jewish symbols with the intent of drawing Jews closer. Well here’s one kotel we Jews won’t be kissing…

Every Home for Christ located in Colorado Springs, will be spending $2.3 million on a replica of the Western Wall which will be housed in the Jericho Center for Global Evangelism – a missionary training center

The replica will fill 2,500 square feet of an 8,000-square-foot, 300-seat auditorium. About 50 tons of stone will be used to construct the mini two-story wall and auditorium. Stones will be cut from an ancient mine outside of Jerusalem. The wall will be free and open to the public 24 hours a day. The hope is to have Christians and Jews praying together.

1 Million Christians to Claim Inheritance of Eretz Yisrael…

…if Joel Bell gets his way. The Israeli citizen and Christian missionary (how did he make aliyah?)
who sends out Hannukah greetings praising Jesus, has unveiled ambitious building designs in Israel, as well as plans to bring 1,000,000 Christians on aliyah. Joel figures that the time has come for Christians to claim their eternal inheritance to Israel – and he’s got Likud cooperation.

Joel, knows how to put a slick presentation together for his Christian brethren, and WORLDWIDE BIBLICAL ZIONISTS "actively develop opportunities through partnership for your participation here in Israel. Investments, jobs, housing, education, military training, community, and tools you'll need to make Israel your home. “

Joel Bell has his eyes set on Judea and Shomron, and he will be bringing a large group to Israel in November to seek out opportunities – so heads up, Jews.

IDF Officers “hook-up”with Southern Baptist Missionaries:

According to a series of letters sent to 11,000 Christian clergy, Southern Baptist Pastor Jim Vineyard “hooked up” with 80 IDF officers at a “War College” in France in late September. Vineyard stayed at the same hotel with “these 80 Hebrews to study primarily, the Normandy Invasion”.

One of the sponsors of the program is Colonel J. Tyler Ryberg, USMC (Retired). Ryberg is the Director of the missionary agency and local church ministry of Faith Baptist Church, Belleville, IL , where his mission is to “evangelize and disciple military men and women around the world through Worldwide Military Baptist Missions”.

In all fairness, Colonel Ryberg has a wealth of battle experience and appears to have great admiration for Pastor Vineyard and his efforts. But he is first and foremost a missionary with a vision for U.S. military men and women “ to be saved, baptized, discipled and serving the Lord Jesus Christ.” So one wonders why our IDF officers need this kind of program which appears to have been – to a large extent - coordinated and sponsored by Baptist pastors like Vineyard and Ryberg.

According to one of Vineyard’s letters, packages were distributed to the IDF officers… “when we put that package of books and DVDs into their hands. They would ask, “For Me?” Then they would walk away amazed.” According to the letter, most of the material was related to the subject matter at hand (the Normandy Invasion). But you gotta wonder…

The State Department has an Orthodox Jewish Problem:

The International Religious Freedom Report of 2008 was recently released, and the State Department leveled some unwarranted charges against the Jews. Seems we’ve been persecuting the church here in Israel and denying Christians their right to pretend to be Jews.

The Jerusalem Post reports that the State Depatment “put blame for the "tensions" on "certain Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities."

But except in one case, the report, which noted numerous incidents of discrimination or violence against Christian or Messianic Jewish communities or individuals, failed to prove that the perpetrators were Orthodox or ultra-Orthodox.

The biased and shoddy State Department reporting seemed to rely heavily on the spin given by CBN (the Christian Broadcasting Network) and the ACLJ (The American Center for Law and Justice) – both Pat Robertson productions. As expected they covered items like the Ariel Purim explosion (“bombing”), the Narkiss Church fire (“arson”), and the incineration of missionary materials (“bible burnings”). Of course Pastor/Lawyer Calev Myer’s Jerusalem Institute of Justice was one of the messianic sources which the State Department used in their hatchet job.

Pat Boone “sings” at Eckstein’s anniversary Bash

Pat Roberston was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for support of Israel at Yechiel Eckstein’s 25th anniversary banquet for the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ).

As already pointed out, Robertson’s institutions like CBN and ACLJ are giving Israel a messianic migraine. But it was Pat Boone who MC’d the Eckstein event, and Pat “sang” about his hopes for the Jews on Chicago’s news station WBBM 780.
You can hear that clip here or just read it:

“…one of the early leaders of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, 74-year-old singer Pat Boone, who is Christian but says, with a smile, that he represents the Messianic branch of Judaism.

"The time will come when Jews themselves will say, 'What do you know? The messiah has been here all this time.' So that's what we believe, and we long for. Not that we try to force it on anybody. And we understand why they don't see that yet. Maybe some never will."

The Israeli daily Ma'ariv reported that Eckstein's organization (IFCJ) gave $10,000 in 2007 to an evangelical group in Jerusalem that proselytizes Israeli Jews. " That organization would be Kings of Kings Assemblies in Jerusalem.

"King of Kings Community is called to be a compelling, Messiah-centered, Spirit-empowered, disciple-making community that reveals the true face of Yeshua (Jesus) to Israel and to the nations. "

Yep. That sounds pretty missionary to me.

Is There a Rabbi in the House?

While Rabbi Eckstein may have distributed funds to missionaries, it appears that Rabbi Riskin has accepted missionary related funds.

A CUFI sponsored event at the Harvest Training Center - a missionary organization - raised $12,600 for Rabbi Riskin's Ohr Torah Loving Kindness Fund in Efrat.

The Calvary Tabernacle Harvest Training Center of Cranford New Jersey is affiliated with Dugit Messianic Outreach Center in Tel Aviv ( a very active missionary organization)

ICEJ Crowns Jesus as the Lion King and Ruler of Jerusalem:

Once again the annual ICEJ (International Christian Embassy, Jerusalem) Feast of the Tabernacles pilgrimage will soon descend upon Jerusalem. As you may recall, last year the Chief Rabbinate proscribed Jewish participation in the Feast events, as well the Jerusalem March due to a missionary presence and activity. As I pointed out in a recent report, the rabbinic decision was more than vindicated.

The Lion of Judah is the theme of this year’s Feast and this is what Chuck King has this to say about this year's feast:

From the tribe of Judah came King David, and from the House of David the true “Lion King” – Jesus – appeared. Jesus’ identity as the triumphal Lion of Judah is revealed in Revelation 5, where He is described as the only one worthy to open Heaven’s scroll.

This year’s Feast of Tabernacles celebration raises a banner bearing the symbol of the Lion of Judah. By lifting up His tribal ensign, we proclaim in this 60th year anniversary of Israel’s national rebirth, that the coming Lion of the Tribe of Judah will soon establish His rightful inheritance and establish His throne to rule over His city and the nations.

the lion of Jesus theme is prominently featured throughout the week long pilgrimage with events proclaiming THE INHERITANCE OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, THE ROAR OF THE LION OF JUDAH, THE LION OF JUDAH AS JUDGE, THE TRIUMPHANT LION OF JUDAH, etc…

Some people will simply dismiss this as a Christian event about Christian beliefs. But as Jews living in Eretz Yisrael, we do have the following issues:
a) The event - the largest tourist event of the year in Israel - is fully endorsed by the government of a Jewish state.
b) the Prime Minister as well as Knesset members and "rabbis" and Jewish/Israeli diplomats and dignitaries attend the events of Feast pilgrimage and/or give it their blessing.
c) A Jewish convention center that enjoys a kashrut certificate hosts the pilgrimage
d) there is a heavy messianic and missionary presence at the Feast (it is essentially an evangelical/missionary event)
e) The Jerusalem March will certainly feature large banners of the Lion of Judah - symbolic of their Jesus, and Jewish bystanders and participants will inadvertently be paying homage to and acknowledging the Christian participants and their symbols (this may pose a serious halachic issue)

Honestly I haven’t been so disgusted since Jerusalem’s emblem of the lion of Judah was morphed into two lions mating to promote a gay pride parade in the streets of Jerusalem .

So if I could be so bold as to momentarily reclaim the Lion King from the Christian Embassy, and borrow a line from Walt Disney….

“Remember who you are”

As we Jews stand before Hashem during these awesome days, we should try and remember just who we are and where we are standing.

And I think we can and should restore the symbol of the lion of Judah to its proper place by politely, but firmly, telling the Christian Embassy where they can put their jesus.

Shana Tova and G’mar Chatima Tova.

Veteran Chalutza, Pioneer Arrested

This morning Daniella Weiss, ex-mayor of Kedumim and one of the leaders of the loyalists of Erets Israel was arrested at the entrance to her house in Kedumim when policemen tried to confiscate a car that was parked in her street.

Daniella was brutally arrested and so was another Kedumim lady.During the day other activists of the movement were arrested too. Even Daniella's husband was arrested and released a couple hours later.

for details of the story see arutz 7 news report
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/127828

Daniella and her friend Shosh were sent overnight to the Neve Tirza prison and tomorrow morning will be brought to court at 10:30 probably to the kfar saba Shalom Court house.

Whoever lives in the area- whoever can come to Court- it is very important to come and show support. Make sure the case will really be brought to Kfar Saba by calling Honenu 1599504020 around 8:30 am .

Protest this insane arrest by calling and faxing the different ministers.
All government ministries can be found here:
http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Government/Offices/

We are at the height of a renewed wave of arrests and witch hunt by the fanatical Left against the camp of the lovers of Israel . We will make it clear to them that the more they try to persecute and oppress us, the more we will be determined to fight for Erets Israel .

Nadia Matar, Women in Green

BDE, Harry Hurwitz, ZaTz"L

The legendary Harry Hurwitz has died. In recent years, my husband worked for him and with him in the Menachem Begin Heritage Center. Working for Harry included the bonus of becoming "family" with Harry and his wonderful wife Freida.



I last saw them when we traveled together to a wedding.

Here's the Jerusalem Post's announcement:

Begin aide Harry Hurwitz dies

Harry Hurwitz, the founder of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center and a trusted adviser to the former prime minister, died Wednesday after suffering a heart attack on Monday evening.
Described as a "living Zionist" and a stalwart of the Anglo community in Israel, Hurwitz, 84, had worked at the center daily. Co-workers who wished him a happy New Year on Sunday could not imagine that they were seeing him for the last time.
"He gave a speech before Rosh Hashana at the gathering of the staff," his son Hillel told The Jerusalem Post.
"He worked a full day, every day. He continued to be involved in all of the activities of the Begin Center and its future planning," he said.
Hurwitz was already a member of the Betar movement when he arrived in South Africa in 1934, having heard its founder, Ze'ev Jabotinsky, speak the previous year in his native Latvia.
He once told The Jerusalem Post, "When I arrived in Johannesburg, there was very little Betar activity for the youngsters. This we set about remedying and by the time I was well into high school, I was head of Betar in Johannesburg and running new groups in the smaller satellite towns outside Johannesburg, where I used to travel by train each week."
For many years in Johannesburg, he edited the weekly Jewish Herald and was one of the pillars of the city's Jewish community.
But one of the most fateful meetings of his life occurred in 1946 in Basil, Switzerland, where he met Begin at a Zionist Congress.
Begin made an indelible impression on him, and a visit by Begin to South Africa several years later deepened the relationship.
The two remained in contact and were so close that in 1977, when Begin became prime minister, he asked him to come to work as his adviser.
Hurwitz served as information attache at the Israel Embassy in Washington, under then-ambassador to the US Moshe Arens, during the years Israel bombed Iraq's nuclear reactor in Osirak (1981) and invaded Lebanon (1982).
He was called back to Israel two months before Begin's resignation and was appointed his adviser on world Jewish communities.
Hurwitz was in South Africa on a lecture tour when Begin died in 1992, and immediately pushed for the creation of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center to document the history and legacy of the sixth prime minister of Israel.
He also wrote a book called, Begin: A Portrait and served as an adviser to former prime minister Yitzhak Shamir.
But it is for his work at the Begin Center for which he has been most known in the last years.
In 2001, The Jerusalem Post mistakenly published his obituary, after confusing him with someone else who had died who had the same name. Upon reading the obituary, he quipped, "You can't remove me from the scene with the stroke of a pen."
"The first thing I did after reading my own obituary [yesterday] was call up my friend Shmuel Katz who wrote it [at the paper's request] and thank him for all the lovely things he said about me," said Hurwitz. "Not everyone has the privilege of reading their own obituary, and it was a lovely one."
Hurwitz said at the time he had heard that premature obituaries are considered a sign of a long life, and added, "I still have a lot of work to do."
He is survived by his wife Frieda, their son Hillel, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The funeral is planned for Friday at 11 a.m. at the capital's Har Hamenuchot Cemetery.
Shiva is at Hanahliel 4/2 in Jerusalem. For more details, call the Heritage Center at (02) 565-2020.

Harry was a very special man. I feel truly privileged to have been welcomed by him and Freida into their family.

HaMakom y'nachem...

I Sang in Our Synagogue Choir On Rosh Hashannah

No, I'm not a member of a Conservative, Reconstructionist, Reform, Nouveau, Post or one of those Modern Orthodox shuls which stretch Halacha, Jewish Law, into yoga-like visions.

In our small neighborhood shul, in Ramat Shmuel, Shiloh, neighbors lead the prayers and we all join in. Yes, even the women from our perches in the balcony sing along. Our prayers aren't performances. We all participate; that's why I said that I was in the choir.

Those who lead the prayers aren't supposed to wow us into awed silence. They're supposed to enthuse us into joining. And that's what happens most of the time. Don't think of it as anarchy. Think of it as a jam session dedicated to G-d. There was nothing boring about it. If I had more space, I probably would have danced a bit. Some people clap and tap, a spiritual percussion. I like to move, since standing and sitting for long aren't comfortable.

My neighbors understand the prayers, and that adds to the spirit of the Holiday. Sometimes that can cause difficulties, as when the man reading the Torah portion about Abraham taking his only son, Issac to be sacrificed was a bereaved father, and it was hard for him to get the words out.

I have no doubt that prayers are supposed to be participatory and not a performance. Baruch Hashem, Thank G-d, it was a good way to start the year.

Gmar Chatimah Tovah
May You Be Sealed in the Book of Life