Every Single Word

On Purim we're supposed to hear the Megillah, the Scroll of Esther, twice. First at night, after fasting all day and then in the morning. In Jerusalem and the other "walled cities," there's a break of a day between The Fast of Ta'anit Ester and Purim.

The words of the Megillah aren't supposed to be "background," like what's played at a wedding during the main course, or elevator music. We are supposed to follow every single word.


That's easier said than done. The general technique is to look at the text while listening to the words. The Megillah is no short page or two. It's a short book of quite a few chapters. Just concentrating on such a long story is difficult, but in most synagogues, the noise is horrendous.

The custom is to make noise to blot out the evil Haman's name. Some people simply tap their foot on the floor or their fingers on the table or chair. It's supposed to be just as the name Haman is said. That's possible if you're actually reading the Megillah, but most people, especially children, don't. That's the cause of the "echo phenomena." That's the noise made by people who only start when others are finishing, and then others copy them, etc ad headache.

Some people, kids and those who must have already suffered nerve damage to their ears, so they haven't a clue, or don't care, that the bongs, cap guns and other very noisy and dangerous "noise makers" make it impossible to hear the Megillah properly.

I started going to the "women's reading" when I had children. Then I continued, since I prefer the dignified, easy to concentrate atmosphere. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I heard the Megillah in a regular synagogue reading. I like "home readings." They're quieter and easier for me to follow. I found that synagogue readings for women are also noisy. People behave best at home.

CHAG PURIM SAMECH!

Next Time in Joy - MUST READ!

Our slim chance for real Jewish unity seems to have grown, with the following article. I will only excerpt a tiny part, please follow the link and read the whole thing, thanks!!

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by Jonathan Rosenblum

The Torah community of Eretz Yisrael achieved a brief moment of unity this past week. Unfortunately, it took the tragic slaughter of eight young yeshiva students at Yeshivat Mercaz Harav to bring it about.
Who could have even imagined before the attack the circumstances that could bring the Belzer Rebbe, Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach, Rabbis Rafael Shmulevitz and Yitzchak Ezrachi of Mirrer Yeshiva, Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Farbstein of Hebron Yeshiva, Rabbi Asher Weiss, and Rabbi Shmuel Bloom, executve vice-president of Agudath Israel of America to the campus of Mercaz Harav?
Or that would provoke the fiercely anti-Zionist Satmar Rebbe to proclaim of the students of Mercaz Harav, the flagship institution of religious Zionism, “When a disaster like this occurs, murderers penetrating into a yeshiva, it is as painful to HaKadosh Baruch Hu as the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash. This is a overwhelming tragedy for all of us. They were learning at that moment the same Torah we learn. The Gemara is the same Gemara.” ....

THAT GREAT TRAGEDY has the power to unite us is, of course, not a new story. The Jews at the beginning of Megillas Esther are described by Haman, the master of evil speech, as a scattered and dispersed people. The commentators have seen in this description a hint to the disunity and internal divisions among the Jews of the Persian Empire.
Only with the threat of annihilation hanging over them do the Jews of the realm acquire a degree of unity. First, the Jews of Shushan fast for three days for Esther before she presents herself, uninvited, to Achashverosh. Later, the Jews of the provinces gather together, in each place, to take vengeance on their enemies, who had been preparing their destruction.
In commemoration of the new-found unity of the Jews of Persia, Mordechai and Esther decree the sending of mishloach manos ish l’reyahu [sending of gifts of food] – an expression of brotherhood amidst rejoicing.
If we ever hope to find a decree of unity in joy, and not in sadness, and to learn to appreciate the strengths of those whose approaches are not our own in their lifetimes and not just after they have been snatched away, perhaps the mitzva of mishloach manos would be a good place to start.
Let us each undertake this year to send mishloach manos to someone outside our close circle, someone who might be surprised by our gift or who may not even know of the mitzva at all.
Perhaps if we drew a little closer in happiness, we would not have to keep rediscovering one another in pain.

Again, the whole article is here.

Baruch Hashem!

Tziviya was finally freed from jail.
The "judge" fled the courtroom without even reading the decision.

Our youth are amazing.

McCain Sans Lieberman Would Be Better For Israel

John McCain, the US Republican Presidential front-runner is already in Israel. He has the nomination already sewn up, which gives him the leisure to travel/campaign abroad as he campaigns for the US Presidency. The Democrats, on the other hand, will be fighting tooth and well-polished nail until their party's national convention. It's a political Murphy sense of humor. The ironic first serious female candidate vs the first serious black one. If someone had written such a screenplay in the 1950's or 1960's, it would have been almost Science Fiction.

But back to McCain, who is as different from Hillary and Obama as a politician can be.

As a strong, experienced US Army veteran, I have no doubt that his gut reaction is good when it comes to Israel. My problem is more with his staff and supporters, especially Joe Lieberman, failed VP nominee, formerly Democrat, now Independent, who sounds Republican, at least most of the time. Yes, Lieberman is not only Jewish, he's the most prominent Jewish Sabbath observer in the United States. When he ran for Vice President, Al Gore proudly reminisced that he had been Lieberman's "Shabbos goy."

Lieberman is a Leftist when it comes to Israel. He supports and strong United States, which is why he likes McCain, but he's one of those in LaLa Land about the Arab danger to Israel.

McCain's trust in Lieberman about Israel's security just strengthens Peres et al.

Will They Or Won't They?

Yesterday it was announced that the 18 year old girl, Tzviya Sariel, will be released from jail today. The government lawyer persecuting prosecuting her stated that even if convicted they wouldn't demand more time than already served, so she should be released.

But the trouble has been with the judge, so I wouldn't celebrate until she's really out and free. If she had gotten the judge who tried the Jerusalem demonstrators Sunday night, she would have been released a while ago.

The luck of the draw.

Chag Purim Sameach!

Signs of Hope - III

I am overwhelmed by the tremendous outpouring of solidarity expressed towards Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav and its students during these days. Indeed, it’s impossible to include all the well-wishes that have been sent from all over the world. I would like to present, at least, a small sampling of some more of these, as the conclusion to my previous two articles.

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Bostoner Rebbe: The Makom of Torah will Comfort You
This past Shabbat, Parshat Zachor, the Bostoner Rebbe Shlita of Har Nof spoke of the tragedy that occurred at Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav. "How can we possibly find comfort for Klal Yisrael? What words of comfort can we possibly express, after such a heavy loss? After such a tragedy, how can we be of help to lighten this awesome burden?" the Rebbe asked.
"When we comfort mourners, our Sages gave us the formula, with the words, 'HaMakom yinachem et'chem, b'toch shaar avelei Zion v'Yerushalayim – May the Almighty [literally, the Place] comfort you, amongst the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.' These words themselves are what give us comfort. They have the power to comfort us, and give us the strength to continue our lives, despite the great loss. The word 'HaMakom' can be a source of comfort in and of itself. When we think about the great tragedy, and realize that despite it all, the 'place' of Torah remains, the Yeshiva where Torah is learned – that cannot be destroyed or taken away from us…
"In the holy City of Yerushalayim, despite the desire of our enemies to extinguish the light of Torah, the Yeshiva - Mercaz HaRav - still stands, and its boys continue to learn with great diligence, holiness and purity, and the voice of Torah resounds in its walls. 'The Place' gives and will give comfort to us, as it remains a Makom Torah… the fact that such a 'Place' exists, gives us comfort."
Those who read Hebrew can find

the entire article here.

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The Kaliver Rebbe Gives Chizuk to Yeshiva Merkaz HaRav
On Wednesday night, the Kaliver Rebbe Shlita visited and delivered words of encouragement [Chizuk] to a crowd of nearly 1,000 people in Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav, in memory of the Kedoshim HY"D [holy ones, may G-d avenge their blood] murdered last week in cold blood.
Speaking in Hebrew, the Rebbe spoke for nearly an hour, strengthening the students of the Yeshiva. With heavy sobs, the Rebbe concluded his speech by standing up together with the bachurim of the Yeshiva Ketana and Yeshiva Gedola, and reciting "Shema Yisrael."

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Yeshiva Marks One Week Since Massacre
The Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva held a memorial ceremony on Thursday night in honor of eight young students who were murdered in a terrorist shooting at the seminary last week. The gathering, attended by the families of the victims, marks the end of the traditional Jewish initial seven-day mourning period (Shiva).
Among the leading rabbinical figures in attendance were Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Rabbi Simcha HaCohen Kook, the Bostoner Rebbe - Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Horowitz, and others.

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'Become Giants of Torah Learning'
Former Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel and spiritual leader of the Shas party, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, assured the crowds that came to mourn the terror victims that the souls of the murdered boys are in the highest levels of Heaven, "and G-d is receiving them with happiness. G-d will yet fulfill 'G-d of vengeance is the L-rd; G-d of vengeance appear!' The vengeance of the L-rd is in the increasing strength of Israel...."
Turning to the students of the yeshiva, Rabbi Yosef said, "I love every one of you. Don't let your hands weaken, continue learning Torah with greater determination and greater strength, to become giants of Torah [with] awe of Heaven, to spread among the people the words of Torah and to bring everyone closer to their Father in Heaven."

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Hatzala Group Visits Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav and Gives Much-Needed Chizuk
A group of Hatzala paramedics and EMTs from Flatbush, Queens, Washington Heights and Lakewood have traveled to Eretz Yisrael to offer Chizuk, support and encouragement to the residents of Sderot and to the country at large. These veteran Hatzala members are part of the larger "HEART Team": Hatzala - Emergency - Ambulance - Response - Team; which has trained with and is ready to deploy to Israel in a time of war, Heaven forbid, if necessary on a moment’s notice.
The group paid a visit to Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav on Thursday night - the day that the families of the eight Kedoshim HY"D were getting up from Shiva. Eight pure Korbanot [victims] being mourned across the world…The Roshei Yeshiva, and senior Rabbeim, as well as dozens of students joined together with the Hatzala group to mourn and bring the yeshiva back to itself at a gathering in the Yeshiva…
The room came to a hush as Tehillim and "Acheinu" [a prayer for help in times of distress] was recited, followed by Divrei Chizuk delivered by the Hatzala members - including one very moving speech by Flatbush Hatzala member R. Chaskel Bennett. Afterwards, the Talmidim and Hatzala members began to sing "Acheinu", and held each other as the feeling in the room went from sadness to one of hope.
The group also inaugurated a new Sefer Torah to be written in memory of the eight Kedoshim. Talmidim and Rabbeim expressed tremendous appreciation for the outpouring of love and chizuk.

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Finally, the Sadigora Rebbe sent a special letter of Tanchumin [comfort] to the Yeshiva, saying, "Certainly, the boys who were killed ascended to the company of the Holy ones [Kedoshim] in Gan Eden, as our Sages say, 'No one can stand in the company of those slain by martyrdom.' "
And the Pinsk-Karlin Rebbe came to the Yeshiva to speak words of comfort to the boys there.

Olmert Sure Has a Way With Words

Olmert: Germany-Israel ties unparalleled in the world

Insanely unparalleled would be more like it. Israel is so quick to "forget" to try to pretend that everything's fine. That is when it comes to goyim, especially our enemies, those who have tried to destroy us.

At the same time a teenage girl is imprisoned for no reason. The original "complainant" isn't even pressing charges. Everyone admits that she was arrested for nothing, but the judge hasn't released her.

(IsraelNN.com) 18 former Prisoners of Zion are trying to get Tzivya Sariel freed from prison. The teenager has been imprisoned for three and a half months, because she refuses to recognize the right of a non-Torah legal system to prevent Jews from exercising their national rights in the Land of Israel.

Among the refuseniks who have come out publicly demanding 18-year-old Tzviyah's release are Ida Nudel, Yosef Mendlevitch, Silva Zalmanson, Natan Anatoly Altman,and Yosef Begun. In a letter to government ministers, they write that Tzviya's arrest is meant simply to humiliate her and deter others who agree with her. (complete article here)

Why can't the government be as friendly towards good Jews?

*I could be wrong* Jerusalem Post Goofs Again

*Read the coments

Yeshiva rabbi stabbed at Damascus Gate

49-year-old man in moderate condition in what police describe as a terror attack; suspect on loose.

Police stand guard at the scene of Tuesday's stabbing, in front of the Damascus Gate.
Photo: AP

This is not the Damascus Gate. The Damascus Gate has steps!!

Thanks to a friend.

Report: Ahrar al-Jalil Claims Stabbing Attack
(IsraelNN.com) The Israeli-Arab terrorist group Ahrar al-Jalil (Free People of the Galilee) has claimed responsibility for a stabbing attack in the Old City of Jerusalem on Tuesday morning. The group has claimed responsibility for several terrorist attacks, most of which were later proven to have been perpetrated by other groups.
Rabbi Yechezkel Greenwald of the Samaria town of Beit El was lightly wounded in the attack. A student managed to fend off the terrorist attacker before he could cause more serious harm.

So where was it?

Rosh Chodesh Nissan at Tel Shiloh

G-d willing, we'll celebrate Rosh Chodesh Nissan together at Tel Shiloh. I think we all need a dose of the Holy Ketoret considering all that has been going on. Yes, I know that Rosh Chodesh Nissan is less than two weeks before our homes must be Kosher for Pesach. Honestly, I believe that our hearts and minds also need to be cleaned of all the chametz. "Chametz" is from the same root as "chamutz," sour, spoiled. Tel Shiloh is the place. The clean air and the open space is just what we need to be energized in every sense of the word.

Rosh Chodesh Nissan is Sunday, April 6. Please mark the date in your calendar, and if the Friday before is better for you, please let me know. As far as I'm concerned there could and should be more than one women's day of prayer at Tel Shiloh.

To Keep Jerusalem Safe and Vibrant, The Communities in Judea and Samaria Must Grow

PM: There's no chance we'll give up a place like Har Homa
Olmert says Israel has stopped building in Judea, Samaria; Merkel says rockets, settlements obstacles to peace; urges pressure on Iran.

'US concerned over building in J'lem'
"Sometimes people have to move," US ambassador tells Post during tour of haredi neighborhood.

Does anyone really believe Olmert? I don't. But even more serious is the fact that without a vibrant, Jewish Judea surrounding and protecting Har Homa it won't be a safe place for Jews to live. And without a vibrant, Jewish Judea and Samaria, all of Jerusalem will cease to be a safe place for Jews to live.

Take a good look at the map. We're not talking major distances here.

The world isn't going to protect us. How many UN Security Council Resolutions have there been condemning the Arab terrorists in Gaza for launching missiles at innocent Israeli civilians in Sderot, Ashkelon and the Negev?

Dumb Dome and Bibi's Tail

Not that long ago, I mocked and satirized the two Ehuds, Olmert and Barak's trust in some dumb dome to protect Sderot.

I don't know if they read those articles, but they've been running expensive tests which prove that I'm right.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was surprised to learn last Sunday that the Iron Dome defense system, which was approved last year and was supposed to protect Israel's citizens against Qassam rockets, is not capable of alleviating the distress of Sderot inhabitants. "Recent tests found the system to be effective against rockets fired from more than four kilometers away, but not against those fired from closer range," Haaretz noted that same day in its lead story. Because Sderot is less than two kilometers from Beit Hanun, from which the rockets are being fired, Iron Dome will be helpless against them. (complete article here)

Next IAF chief: IDF's entry into Gaza will stop rocket manufacture
Nehushtan: IDF must have control on ground; Barak reviewing substitutes for Iron Dome to counter Qassams. (Click title for complete article.)

The government would save a lot of money if they just listened to me. I don't get paid for all my blogging, though I wouldn't mind being paid by some publication.

How dumb can all these politicians and "experts" really be? They endanger us with their plans. What really is behind them?

In the meantime, it looks like elections are getting closer, since the media is after Bibi. Honestly, I don't see him as a great improvement. That's because he's out to be "centrist." For me, that's falling between the cracks. By trying to be for everyone, he's selling out. We need a strong leader, not a cat chasing its tail.

A true leader leads, doesn't look for a popular niche in the "middle."