As much as I love living in rural-suburban Shiloh, I know that it's not for everyone. If you want more of the advantages of a city without the pollution, check out Ariel. Pesky posted details.
Due to the large proportion of immigrants from the Former Soviet Union, there are many cultural activities in Ariel. It's a very modern city near Israel's major highways.
Shiloh isn't far from the college entrance of Ariel. We have a large religious elementary school, up to the Eighth Grade. It's a district school (actually separate administration and classes for boys and girls.) There are many different living options in the Shomron, Samaria.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Gilad Shalit is Still in Arab Prison, But The Israeli Government Allows Privileges to Its Arab Prisoners
Hat tip: IMRA
Our foolish Israeli politicians are using the wrong methods to get Gilad Shalit released from his Arab terrorist jail. Families of the Pseudostinians, aka Palestinians sic, in Israeli jails are being permitted to bring them personal possessions, such as personal clothing and family photos.
Kindness doesn't work against Arab terrorists. It just reinforces the image of Israeli weakness and stupidity.
The Arab prisoners should be kept in total isolation, like the conditions Gilad Shalit endures, until the Arab terrorists release him.
Our foolish Israeli politicians are using the wrong methods to get Gilad Shalit released from his Arab terrorist jail. Families of the Pseudostinians, aka Palestinians sic, in Israeli jails are being permitted to bring them personal possessions, such as personal clothing and family photos.
Kindness doesn't work against Arab terrorists. It just reinforces the image of Israeli weakness and stupidity.
The Arab prisoners should be kept in total isolation, like the conditions Gilad Shalit endures, until the Arab terrorists release him.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Social Media, Facebook and Security Breaches
I hope that the IDF soldier who posted military plans on his facebook page is jailed and held incommunicado for a long time.
The punishment for such internet social media security breaches should be so severe as to make it clear to all soldiers and their families and friends that even stupidity is sedition.
That would include girlfriends, boyfriends, parents, siblings and cousins reporting plans and schedules of IDF soldiers.
Ignorance and foolishness should never be accepted legal excuses.
It's not that Israel is a country at war, it's that Israel is a country under attack every minute, every second of the day. We have enemies who want to destroy us, all of us Right, Left and Center, young and old. It doesn't matter if we live in Tel Aviv or Tel Zion, Raanana or Revava.
The punishment for such internet social media security breaches should be so severe as to make it clear to all soldiers and their families and friends that even stupidity is sedition.
That would include girlfriends, boyfriends, parents, siblings and cousins reporting plans and schedules of IDF soldiers.
Ignorance and foolishness should never be accepted legal excuses.
It's not that Israel is a country at war, it's that Israel is a country under attack every minute, every second of the day. We have enemies who want to destroy us, all of us Right, Left and Center, young and old. It doesn't matter if we live in Tel Aviv or Tel Zion, Raanana or Revava.
That's the lesson of Purim and Shabbat Zachor!
Seen In Jerusalem
If I had the time, I'd spend my days just taking pictures.
When I'm in Jerusalem, I'm generally in the same places each time, downtown, the "center" and then walking to the Central Bus Station. I'm never bored, maybe in a rush, but it's rare for me to make it the distance without taking out my camera and shooting.
As impressive and artistic as the Jerusalem String Bridge, designed by Calatrava is, those building cranes (or whatever the equipment is) definitely compete. And they're dynamic, always changing while the bridge just becomes the "straight man," almost boring backdrop, (background.)
The Jerusalem light-rail is weighing heavily on daily life. I hope the changes I see each time are progress and not just repairs and corrections. It is taking much too long to complete the job.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Ladies, You Deserve A Rosh Chodesh Vacation
The busiest time of the year for most Jewish women is from before Purim until after Passover. Cooking, cleaning and more cooking. Jewish tradition provides a female only holiday, Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Actually every Rosh Chodesh is supposed to be a holiday for women, but most of us rarely take advantage.
Tuesday, March 16th is the First of the Jewish Month of Nissan, the miraculous Month, the month of the Passover Holiday. The perfect time to take a breath of the holy Ketoret in Shiloh. During the 369 years when Shiloh was the Spiritual Capital of the Jewish Nation, where the Mishkan, Tabernacle rested, Ketoret was used and our Sages tell us that the fragrance can still be found here.
Please remember that Tel Shiloh can be visited any time. For more information about tours and special activities contact telshilo@gmail.com
Tuesday, March 16th is the First of the Jewish Month of Nissan, the miraculous Month, the month of the Passover Holiday. The perfect time to take a breath of the holy Ketoret in Shiloh. During the 369 years when Shiloh was the Spiritual Capital of the Jewish Nation, where the Mishkan, Tabernacle rested, Ketoret was used and our Sages tell us that the fragrance can still be found here.
So come to the spot where Chana prayed for a son, Samuel.
Women's Prayers תפילת נשים
Rosh Chodesh Nissan ראש חודש ניסן
Tuesday March 16, 2010 יום ג' 16-3
9:30am
Please remember that Tel Shiloh can be visited any time. For more information about tours and special activities contact telshilo@gmail.com
Catholic father baptizes Jewish daughter and defies court order
Posted by Jewish Israel
Joseph Reyes and Rebecca Shapiro Reyes of Chicago are embroiled in a highly charged divorce and custody battle which has opened the ultimate interfaith can of worms.
The US media spotlight is focused on a plethora of divisive issues involving faith, freedom of religion, and parental rights.
Reyes, an alleged convert to Judaism, reverted back to Catholicism in the wake of a failing marriage. He had his 3-year old Jewish daughter baptized in a Catholic church without consulting his estranged Jewish wife, and then proceeded to invite the media to watch him parade his daughter to church in defiance of a court restraining order.
He now faces a possible prison sentence.
Some of the twisted concepts being used by Joseph Reyes to justify his actions are made of the same ambiguous interfaith stuff which concerns Jewish Israel and has been the focus of our reports...more
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Not My Kind of Mechitza, Separation
I have no problem with separate seating in synagogue for prayers. Actually I prefer it. I like the "isolation." It helps me concentrate. I don't go for socializing. I always look for a seat that's by the wall, an aisle or the front row. I'm sensitive to noise and movement. But I also like to know what's going on. It helps me concentrate.
In my regular shul there's a lacy curtain, and we sit in a balcony. Yes, we have a classic Ezrat Nashim, Women's Section. Depending on where you sit, you can see through the lace, the holes. It's important to know what's happening, when to sit, when to stand, when the Aron Kodesh, Holy Closet where the Torah Scrolls are is open and when the Torah Scrolls are being carried and held.
I don't like those modern, OK very twentieth century, Orthodox synagogues which are set up in the round, men and women staring at each other. That's sometimes more problematic than sitting together.
Even worse for me are the curtains which can't be seen through. I took this picture in a small local shul where I heard the megillah, reading #2 out of 4.
In my regular shul there's a lacy curtain, and we sit in a balcony. Yes, we have a classic Ezrat Nashim, Women's Section. Depending on where you sit, you can see through the lace, the holes. It's important to know what's happening, when to sit, when to stand, when the Aron Kodesh, Holy Closet where the Torah Scrolls are is open and when the Torah Scrolls are being carried and held.
I don't like those modern, OK very twentieth century, Orthodox synagogues which are set up in the round, men and women staring at each other. That's sometimes more problematic than sitting together.
Even worse for me are the curtains which can't be seen through. I took this picture in a small local shul where I heard the megillah, reading #2 out of 4.
I don't go there to pray.
I really like the shul which is in my "backyard." Really, from the back of my house, you pass a playground and then the shul. It's that close. Thank G-d!
West Bank Mama Counters With "Israel Pride Week"
While the rest of the world is distorting the facts to invent ammunition to attack Israel, West Bank Mama has posted Israel Pride Week, a number of excellent blog posts from a wide variety of blogs showing the best of Israel.
It includes an impressive collection of posts. Highly recommended; take a look, please.
It includes an impressive collection of posts. Highly recommended; take a look, please.
Simply Put, Shiloh Wasn't Found in The Data Base of Active Jewish Communities
Second night Purim, when we were waiting to hear the Megillat Esther for the third out of four times, we were discussing the "Situation." No, that that "situation;" we were talking about the Purim versus Shushan Purim for Shiloh.
Why do we have to celebrate two days instead of one? Remains of the ancient Shiloh wall are easy to see at Tel Shiloh, so that should place us in the ancient walled cities category, like Jerusalem.
There are two problems, and they're related. One is called רצף דייור retzeff diyyur, "continuity of residence," meaning that for many years, a couple of thousand for sure, there wasn't a Jewish community living in Shiloh.
Problem number two: Shiloh isn't listed in the list of cities that the Gemorrah (Jewish law books) states as those which celebrate Purim on Shushan Purim. Why was Shiloh left out of that list? Couldn't they just do a web check on the data base of Jewish cities with walls at the time of Mordechai and Esther? Weren't those learned men knowledgeable about the Bible? Shiloh certainly has a very prominent place in our history, being the first capital, a position held for 369 years.
The chances are that since there wasn't a Jewish community in Shiloh at the time the list was made up, it was left out. How sad that it never occurred to those learned men that Jews would return to Shiloh.
Baruch Hashem, Thank G-d, we're here in Shiloh and here to stay!
Today's rabbis should have the courage to revise the list.
Why do we have to celebrate two days instead of one? Remains of the ancient Shiloh wall are easy to see at Tel Shiloh, so that should place us in the ancient walled cities category, like Jerusalem.
There are two problems, and they're related. One is called רצף דייור retzeff diyyur, "continuity of residence," meaning that for many years, a couple of thousand for sure, there wasn't a Jewish community living in Shiloh.
Problem number two: Shiloh isn't listed in the list of cities that the Gemorrah (Jewish law books) states as those which celebrate Purim on Shushan Purim. Why was Shiloh left out of that list? Couldn't they just do a web check on the data base of Jewish cities with walls at the time of Mordechai and Esther? Weren't those learned men knowledgeable about the Bible? Shiloh certainly has a very prominent place in our history, being the first capital, a position held for 369 years.
The chances are that since there wasn't a Jewish community in Shiloh at the time the list was made up, it was left out. How sad that it never occurred to those learned men that Jews would return to Shiloh.
Baruch Hashem, Thank G-d, we're here in Shiloh and here to stay!
Today's rabbis should have the courage to revise the list.
Monday, March 1, 2010
The New Israel Fund, In The News Again, Israeli Apartheid Week 2010
I'm taking this from NGO Monitor, which is a professional group. It seems silly and wasteful for me to try to paraphrase their report. So, here it is:
Israeli Apartheid Week: NGO Connections and their EU/NIF Funders
Pro-Palestinian activists have organized events for “Israeli Apartheid Week” (IAW -- March 1-14) on college campuses and in major cities in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Since 2005, IAW has been a powerful forum for exploiting “apartheid” allegations to demonize and delegitimize Israel, and to advance the boycotts, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaign. BDS is the core of the “Durban strategy,” formulated at the NGO Forum of the UN’s 2001 Durban Conference.
NGO Monitor’s research reveals that many of the speakers listed for the 2010 events are officials of NGOs funded by European governments, including the European Commission and the New Israel Fund.
for complete article click
Israeli Apartheid Week: NGO Connections and their EU/NIF Funders
Pro-Palestinian activists have organized events for “Israeli Apartheid Week” (IAW -- March 1-14) on college campuses and in major cities in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Since 2005, IAW has been a powerful forum for exploiting “apartheid” allegations to demonize and delegitimize Israel, and to advance the boycotts, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaign. BDS is the core of the “Durban strategy,” formulated at the NGO Forum of the UN’s 2001 Durban Conference.
NGO Monitor’s research reveals that many of the speakers listed for the 2010 events are officials of NGOs funded by European governments, including the European Commission and the New Israel Fund.
for complete article click
NGO Monitor
February 25, 2010
Overview (more details below):
NGO speakers include officials from:
Adalah (Funded by New Israel Fund and the European Union)
Alternative Information Center (Funded by the Sweden via Diakonia, and Christian Aid)
Palestinian Center for Human Rights (Funded by the European Union, Oxfam NOVIB, the Open Society Institute, Christian Aid, Dan Church Aid, Trocaire, Norway, Ireland, Denmark)
Addameer
Badil
Screening of NGO videos:
Breaking the Silence’s “Israeli Soldiers talk about Hebron”
“Occupation 101” video, with interviews with Human Rights Watch, Rabbis for Human Rights, ICAHD, B’Tselem, Gaza Community Mental Health Programme
NGO endorsers and funders include:
Canadian Arab Federation
Independent Jewish Voices
CODEPINK
Adalah-NY
National Lawyers Guild – NY Chapter
WESPAC, a Westchester, NY-based pro-Palestinian group
The Sin of Being Merciful to One's Enemies
Just two days ago was Shabbat Zachor, when we're reminded to remember what Amalek did to us. All Jews are supposed to listen to the words in the Torah that tell us what happened to the Children of Israel soon after leaving Egypt:
The Haftara, additional Bible portion read afterwards, tells how our first king, Saul, was fired by G-d for "tweaking" the very clear orders to destroy all of Amalek's descendants and livestock. King Saul delayed executing Agag and reserved some of the livestock for a ceremony he "composed." When confronted by Samuel the Prophet, who was the go-between between him and G-d, Saul blamed "the people" for pressuring him to add these "innovations." But if you read the Bible, you'll see that it's written "Saul and the people" showing that it was his decision and the people followed their king, not as he claimed.
What's recorded does not support Saul. And even if his claim was true, he was the king, chosen by G-d, and as a leader, it was his responsibility to control the situation by influencing the nation to follow G-d's orders.
I also have a problem with Samuel's behavior here. It is said that Agag used his last night of living to impregnate his wife, and a descendant of that child was Haman. It's written that "Samuel cried... all night." If instead of crying he had rushed to the scene couldn't he have executed Agog before that final act? Samuel was too attached to his protege`which paralysed him when he needed to act quickly.
Because of King Saul's sins, we're still suffering from Amalek. And our politicians are no better than King Saul. That's all I can think of when reading the pathetically perverse, misguided apologies by our Israeli government for injuring civilian Arabs and our allowing fuel to be pumped to Gaza despite the closure.
יז זָכוֹר, אֵת אֲשֶׁר-עָשָׂה לְךָ עֲמָלֵק, בַּדֶּרֶךְ, בְּצֵאתְכֶם מִמִּצְרָיִם. 17 Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way as ye came forth out of Egypt;
יח אֲשֶׁר קָרְךָ בַּדֶּרֶךְ, וַיְזַנֵּב בְּךָ כָּל-הַנֶּחֱשָׁלִים אַחֲרֶיךָ--וְאַתָּה, עָיֵף וְיָגֵעַ; וְלֹא יָרֵא, אֱלֹהִים. 18 how he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, all that were enfeebled in thy rear, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God.
יט וְהָיָה בְּהָנִיחַ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְךָ מִכָּל-אֹיְבֶיךָ מִסָּבִיב, בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה-אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ נַחֲלָה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ--תִּמְחֶה אֶת-זֵכֶר עֲמָלֵק, מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמָיִם; לֹא, תִּשְׁכָּח. {פ} 19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget. {P}
The Haftara, additional Bible portion read afterwards, tells how our first king, Saul, was fired by G-d for "tweaking" the very clear orders to destroy all of Amalek's descendants and livestock. King Saul delayed executing Agag and reserved some of the livestock for a ceremony he "composed." When confronted by Samuel the Prophet, who was the go-between between him and G-d, Saul blamed "the people" for pressuring him to add these "innovations." But if you read the Bible, you'll see that it's written "Saul and the people" showing that it was his decision and the people followed their king, not as he claimed.
What's recorded does not support Saul. And even if his claim was true, he was the king, chosen by G-d, and as a leader, it was his responsibility to control the situation by influencing the nation to follow G-d's orders.
ב כֹּה אָמַר, יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, פָּקַדְתִּי, אֵת אֲשֶׁר-עָשָׂה עֲמָלֵק לְיִשְׂרָאֵל--אֲשֶׁר-שָׂם לוֹ בַּדֶּרֶךְ, בַּעֲלֹתוֹ מִמִּצְרָיִם. 2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts: I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way, when he came up out of Egypt.
ג עַתָּה לֵךְ וְהִכִּיתָה אֶת-עֲמָלֵק, וְהַחֲרַמְתֶּם אֶת-כָּל-אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ, וְלֹא תַחְמֹל, עָלָיו; וְהֵמַתָּה מֵאִישׁ עַד-אִשָּׁה, מֵעֹלֵל וְעַד-יוֹנֵק, מִשּׁוֹר וְעַד-שֶׂה, מִגָּמָל וְעַד-חֲמוֹר. {ס} 3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.' {S}
ח וַיִּתְפֹּשׂ אֶת-אֲגַג מֶלֶךְ-עֲמָלֵק, חָי; וְאֶת-כָּל-הָעָם, הֶחֱרִים לְפִי-חָרֶב. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
ט וַיַּחְמֹל שָׁאוּל וְהָעָם עַל-אֲגָג, וְעַל-מֵיטַב הַצֹּאן וְהַבָּקָר וְהַמִּשְׁנִים וְעַל-הַכָּרִים וְעַל-כָּל-הַטּוֹב, וְלֹא אָבוּ, הַחֲרִימָם; וְכָל-הַמְּלָאכָה נְמִבְזָה וְנָמֵס, אֹתָהּ הֶחֱרִימוּ. {פ} 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, even the young of the second birth, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them; but every thing that was of no account and feeble, that they destroyed utterly. {P}
י וַיְהִי, דְּבַר-יְהוָה, אֶל-שְׁמוּאֵל, לֵאמֹר. 10 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying:
יא נִחַמְתִּי, כִּי-הִמְלַכְתִּי אֶת-שָׁאוּל לְמֶלֶךְ--כִּי-שָׁב מֵאַחֲרַי, וְאֶת-דְּבָרַי לֹא הֵקִים; וַיִּחַר, לִשְׁמוּאֵל, וַיִּזְעַק אֶל-יְהוָה, כָּל-הַלָּיְלָה. 11 'It repenteth Me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned back from following Me, and hath not performed My commandments.' And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night
I also have a problem with Samuel's behavior here. It is said that Agag used his last night of living to impregnate his wife, and a descendant of that child was Haman. It's written that "Samuel cried... all night." If instead of crying he had rushed to the scene couldn't he have executed Agog before that final act? Samuel was too attached to his protege`which paralysed him when he needed to act quickly.
Because of King Saul's sins, we're still suffering from Amalek. And our politicians are no better than King Saul. That's all I can think of when reading the pathetically perverse, misguided apologies by our Israeli government for injuring civilian Arabs and our allowing fuel to be pumped to Gaza despite the closure.
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