Rosh Chodesh Av, This Coming Friday

ראש חודש אב נתפלל ביחד בע"ה בתל שילה

א' אב, יום ו', 8:30 13-07-2018

הלל בשירה ומוסף

סיור קצר בשילה הקדומה

דבר תורה

בואו ולהזמין קרובות, חברות ושכנות

Women's Prayers at Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh
Rosh Chodesh Av 5778
Friday, July 13, 2018
1st of Av, 5778, 8:30am
Hallel and Musaf for Rosh Chodesh
Tour of Tel Shiloh
Dvar Torah, Short Torah Lesson
Please come and invite family, friends and neighbors.

Shiloh Hakeduma, Ancient Shiloh, is an active archaeological site. We never know what we'll discover when we show up to pray. One month, the excited archaeologists showed us this gorgeous discovery:

לפרטים נוספים For more information about our Rosh Chodesh Prayer Group, please email shilohmuse@gmail.com with Rosh Chodesh Prayer Group as subject, thanks.

לכתוב ל SHILOHMUSE@GMAIL.COM, לציין שזה בקשר לתפילת ראש חודש.

Kenes Shiloh Conference #7, 5778, 2018, Sign Up!

Next week will be the next Kenes Shiloh Conference. I highly recommend it for anyone with oral Hebrew comprehension.

Kenes Shiloh is where you'll see and hear all about the latest discoveries at Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh plus lots more. Be prepared for a long afternoon evening of activities. It's definitely an event you shouldn't miss.  I greatly enjoyed all the previous ones I've attended.

Bring a sunhat, walking shoes, water, snacks optional, since they do have some things on sale and set on tables during the lectures. Of course, you may want to take notes, too, so bring a pad and paper.

כנס שילה ה-7 יערך בתאריך ה' אב התשע"ח 17.7.2018 מה בתכנית?13:30 צעדה בעקבות 100 שנה למסע הגדודים העבריים בבנימין: מפגש בחניון נחל שילה. סיום משוער בשעה 17:3016:00 ו-16:30 יציאה לסיור מודרכים באתר בשתי קבוצות: (הסיורים בתשלום ובהרשמה מראש)סיור חידושים בארכיאולוגיה: הסיור יועבר על ידי מורה דרך מקצועי מבית שילה הקדומה ויציג את החידושים האחרונים מהחפירות באתר.
סיור הכרות עם האתר: הסיור יועבר על ידי מורה דרך מקצועי מבית שילה הקדומה, ויגולל את סיפורי המקראי והארכיאולוגי המרתק של שילה הקדומה. הסיור כולל כניסה למיצג מגדל הרואה
18:15 אירוע הוקרה למורי הדרך  עם שר התיירות יריב לוין, ב"בית קדם" במקביל לתערוכת ז'בוטנסקי. 18:45 פתיחת כנס שילה - במעמד שר התיירות וראש מועצת בנימיןמושב ראשון: תנך וארכיאולוגיהיושב ראש המושב - חנניה היזמי, קמ"ט ארכיאולוגיה
ד"ר יפה גיסר - מתפילת חנה לתפילת האדם | ד"ר גלית רגב - דרכי מסחר קדומות, מתכות, קטורת ושילה | הארכיאולוג יודן פלייטמן - חידת המבנה הציבורי למרגלות תל שילה
מושב שני: אתגרי הבטחון של ישראל בסימן 100 שנה ללחימת הגדודים העבריים בארץ ישראליושב ראש המושב יוסי אחימאיר - יו"ר מכון ז'בוטינסקי
גדעון מיטשניק, מנכל מכון ז'בוטינסקי - "השלשלת נמשכת: מהגדודים העבריים דרך ההגנה ועד לצה"ל, חזון ומעשה" | אלוף במיל גרשון כהן - חיוניות ההתישבות לשיווי המשקל הבטחוני
בהנחיית יוסי אחימאיר, ובהשתתפות הדוברים גדעון מיטשניק – מנכ"ל בית ז'בוטינסקי ןאלוף במיל' – גרשון הכהן

בכנס נערך מדי שנה בחודשי הקיץ, לזכרה של רחל ארליך ז"ל.
הכנסו לערוץ היוטיוב שלנו להנות מהרצאות של שנים קודמות 

Maybe I'll see you there!

"Palestine," sic, is a "Toy!"

The Jerusalem Post had a feature article in its Friday edition titled:

ARE PALESTINIANS READY TO TELL ‘SUPPORTERS’: ‘WE'RE NOT YOUR TOY’?

No surprise, but the writer got the whole "Palestinian thing" all wrong, because it didn't get to the gut/history of the issue.

"Palestine" is the Barbie Doll, the toy invented by anti-Semitic Europeans and British who were determined to sabotage the Zionist efforts to promote Jewish Nationalism and its aim of re-establishing a Jewish State in the Biblical Holyland.

There is absolutely no history of a Palestine, people, nation, culture. And the so-called Kingdom of Jordan is even a bigger fake, invention. The British moved the Hashemites in, even though the land east of the Jordan River was supposed to be part of the Jewish state, and anointed them rulers over the nomads residing there. This was in direct contravention of the Mandate, the assignment the British had been given by the League of Nations.

But as you most probably have noticed, the world didn't care. It's very similar to the way the world powers, at the same basic time, reacted to the rising antisemitism and violence against Jews in Nazi Germany.

And after World War Two, the British did everything in their power to keep Europe's surviving Jews out of the Holyland, while simultaneously helping to strengthen the Arabs.

Yes, there was a United Nations vote November 29, 1947, supporting the establishment of a Jewish State, but it had no "teeth." The Jews would have to survive a "fire test," a war during which surrounding Arabs, armed and trained by the British, would attack them. The UN suggested a further division of land between Jews and Arabs for another new Arab state. They drew a map assigning small amounts of land in various disconnected locations for the "Jewish State." The Jewish Agency accepted it, despite the dangerous borders, but the Arabs refused insisting on more.

After the ceasefire in 1949, Jordan illegally occupied the land not in Jewish hands, including half of Jerusalem. No surprise, that there were no formal complaints by the world powers of the time or from the United Nations.

In the decades since, these same countries, diplomats and NGOs have been creating their Barbie doll, financing "her" every whim, paying for everything and turning a blind eye when their toy literally terrorizes Israel. And in 1967 when the Arab countries surrounding Israel gathered their forces and threatened destruction of the Jewish State, nobody cared or tried to stop them. The State of Israel fought a brilliant and miraculous war in which not only did it survive but it liberated all the land to the Jordan River, the Sinai and the Golan Heights. Only then did the world get angry. World powers, NGOs etc got angry with the State of Israel. And then their toy, the so-called "Palestinians" were given a makeover to look moderate and deserving.

The  so-called "Palestinians" are a toy. It never would have existed if other countries hadn't invented it. It's no more than a bloody Barbie doll.

We're Burning With Anger!

Here in Israel, we're burning.

Southern Israel is suffering from a burning plague of Arab terrorism. Cheered on by various NGOs and supportive countries, the Hamas terrorist Gazans have been launching incendiary kites, balloons and other devices at Israel.

The clips and photo are from מחאת הדרום - "דין עוטף עזה כדין תל אביב"

The international media has been ignoring the terror here, but they publicize the death of rioters and terrorists as if they were innocent bystanders. Nobody cares about Israel.

Arab terrorists are burning our land, fields, orchards and more. It's only due to Gd's mercy and love for us that the fire weapons launched by the Gazan terrorists at us haven't burnt up homes, schools, clinics etc. The fact that numerous Israelis haven't been killed isn't because these weapons aren't dangerous. The Arabs want to kill us. And the world doesn't care. For that I am burning with anger!

If they Arabs cared about the Land, they'd treasure it and not burn it.

I'm burning with anger that the world sympathizes with the terrorists and not the victims.

Deja vu, so much like the 1930's and the rise of the Nazis in Germany, then Europe. Nobody cared about the discrimination and then systematic murder of the Jews living there. Nothing's new, and I'm burning with anger!

Two 2 State "Solution" Oxymoron

The meaning of the word Oxymoron:

a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect

Since two states aren't a solution to the violence here between the Arabs and Israel, the "Two 2 State Solution is an Oxymoron for sure.

Our Arab enemies, the terrorists, the PA-Palestinian Authority etcetera all reject the continued viable existence of the State of Israel, it's clear that giving them a state will only cause more wars, terrorism and bloodshed. Taking that simple basic fact into account, then it's clear that according to the basic Arab aim, there can never be peace, a solution, with two states, one Israel and one Palestine. I don't even think that there can be two peaceful states if they are Jordan and Palestine. And don't forget that Jordan practices ethnic cleansing, apartheid against Jews. Besides Israeli tourists, who are very restricted, foreigners who don't admit to be Jewish and the Israeli diplomats, you're not going to find many or any Jews in Jordan.

And the Hashemite rulers/occupiers of Transjordan aka Jordan aren't at all enthusiastic about giving the so-called Palestinians more authority, weapons, recognition a "state," because that struggling kingdom has been threatened by the same Arab terrorists who terrorize Israel.

For decades, various international leaders, NGOs etc have been trying to succeed in facilitating a negotiated "peace deal" between Israel and the so-called Palestinians. Sometimes they "help" by offering very detailed suggestions. Various Israeli leaders have even offered to endanger the State of Israel for the "chance" of "peace." But the Arabs just up their demands.

That's because the Arabs prefer their cushy well-paid terrorism. The UN, EU and number NGOs and foreign countries support them very generously. Those Arabs aren't a people nor a nation; they're just in it for the money.

Let the Flag of the State of Israel wave in freedom and security, Gd willing!

Wonderful Learning at Matan

I had an offer I couldn't refuse yesterday.  A neighbor said that she'd be going to Matan for their Fast of the 17th of Tamuz program. Now, even though I prefer spending my fast days dozing and lounging around... I just had to go, especially since some of my favorite Tanach, Bible teachers were teaching.

Yael Liebowitz teaching in a packed classroom

There were three sessions of classes from 8:45 until 1pm, with a choice of Hebrew or English. The Hebrew classes were in the auditorium, and the English were in a large classroom. But the classroom wasn't large enough.

We squeezed in for Yael Liebowitz, who is one of my favorite Matan teachers. I have been taking her courses for a few years.

Rabbi Menachem Leibtag

Afterwards we moved to the larger Beit Medrash, Study Hall to hear Rabbi Menachem Leibtag, and that, too, filled completely. Matan definitely needs more space!

Leibtag spoke the same time that very popular speaker Racheli Fraenkel was lecturing in Hebrew. Some of those who attended Leibowitz's talk went down to the auditorium, but many more started their day at 10:15 with Leibtag. That's why the Beit Medrash was so full.

I am glad that I stayed upstairs to hear Leibtag, because he filled in many of the gaps in my basic knowledge of the history that parallels the Tanach narrative.

Every teacher has a different way of presenting the same material. I really didn't mind that both those lectures discussed and clarified the almost "mantra" which says that the First Holy Temple was destroyed because of "idol worship," and the Second Temple was destroyed because of "baseless hatred."  Apparently, both types of sins were rampant before both Temples were destroyed. Things weren't so simple. During Leibowiz's lecture, she mentioned that עבודה זרה avodah zarah, isn't really idol worship. It's more an incorrect attitude towards Gd and other religions. Even giving legitimacy to another religion, equating it as a legitimate/equal choice is forbidden. Also claiming non-Jewish values as Jewish is forbidden. That reminded me of how Gd punished/killed the sons of Aaron the Priest, because they worshiped in the Holy Tabernacle with an אש זרה aish zarah, strange/foreign fire.

For the third lecture I went down to the auditorium to hear Taphat Halperin in Hebrew. I've been studying with Taphat this past year in the Senior Citizens Program in Ofra Girls High School. She, davka, quoted from many of the same bible verses as Leibtag.

By then I was pretty tired, due to the fast and not sleeping all that much the night before. So I must admit that I wasn't up to taking notes. Gd willing my mind will find a way to process it all. Some of what she said was familiar, since the course in Ofra is also about the period between the two Temples, the exile and return.

From when I first started taking Tanach courses, here in Shiloh, I've said that it's like trying to assemble a puzzle that has thousands and thousands of pieces. Just connected a couple here and there is a great accomplishment.

I must thank everyone, Matan, the lecturers and my neighbor who took me, for a wonderful morning of learning.

PS Yes, I highly recommend studying in Matan, and if you're too far away, sign up for their online lectures.

Parshat Balak: We are Our Own Worst Enemy

This week's Torah Portion of the Week, Balak, like many in במדבר Bamidbar, Numbers, is rather depressing. How could it be that the Jewish People could have so quickly forgotten the great miracles Gd did to enable our escape from slavery to Pharaoh in Egypt?

In the past few weeks we've read about how the tribal leaders chickened out of immediately entering the Promised Land, claiming that the locals were too strong. We also read how they missed the Egyptian slave food. After years of slavery, which had an advantage of being fed and cared for, they found responsibility a drag.

And this week's Torah Portion, since the Moabite King Balak was in awe of Gd's protective powers over the Jewish People, he hires the famous sorcerer Balaam to curse and weaken them. It doesn't seem to work, because Balaam ends up blessing them.

Then the Parsha ends rather ironically, or tragically, because the Jewish take up with non-Jewish women causing a terrible epidemic killing 24,000, until Pinchas executes one of the leaders in the act with his lady friend. With that the plague ends, as does the week's Torah Portion.

And the Three Weeks mourning and restrictions begin for the invasion of Jerusalem and destruction of our two Holy Temples. Jewish People have been observing this mourning period for two thousand years. And today, even after experiencing so many miracles from Gd to facilitate the establishment of the State of Israel and our miraculous military victories over vicious enemies, we again hear Jews claiming we aren't strong enough to be fully sovereign in our Land. Also, the plague of intermarriage is  growing. There are even Jews who promote replacing Jewish Israel with Arab Palestine sic. The Israeli Supreme Court has been ordering the destruction of Jewish homes, and Israeli Leftists sympathize with terrorists rather than Jewish victims. In addition, our tax money goes to giving food and medical care to our enemies. All this does is make our enemies more confident, so they attack us more and more.

Where is our Pinchas?

Prince William and "Palestinian Culture," Gets Wish, Stoned

By clicking these you should be able to hear Britain's Prince William's statement in Ramalla, in which he says that he wants to learn more "Palestinian culture," sic.

https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/1012055466115907584

https://t.co/WaJfmcaSpv

While driving by Jalazon, (west of Beit El,) he did according to the Arab Press, translation click here. His vehicle was stoned by Arabs.

As Prince William’s convoy was driving through the Jelazun refugee camp north of Ramallah, Arab children threw rocks at his car. This was a very embarrassing event for Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority. The official excuse for the stoning of Prince William was that they didn’t “prepare” the residents of the refugee camp for the Prince’s arrival... for complete article in Israel Unwired click here.

War, Surreal

Occasionally, we get a series of phone messages to tell us that there's a security drill going on here in Shiloh. Sometimes it's just to warn us not to panic when a siren goes off. They describe the drill siren versus a Gd forbid real one. Other times we have to lock up, turn off inside lights, get off the streets and even call in to a certain number to say we're fine. It's important that our security crew practices, and we all pray that they never have to deal with the real thing, an attack by Arab terrorists, dangerous rockets or finding our pastoral community a war zone.

Israel, even if you ignore that pesky "green line" and consider the June, 1967 ceasefire lines, is a very tiny country. At some point, I think it was post-Nixon, an American general suggested serious security buffer zones between Israel and the Arabs. In theory, maybe, he had a good idea, but his so-called buffer zones to go north-south were wider than  pre-1967 Israel.

TORAH AURA Map of Israel

Even though the State of Israel is very small by international standards, I only hear about the Arab attacks from Gaza on southern Israel from the internet news and Israeli media. They don't directly affect us. We in Shiloh aren't awakened by sirens, alarms, rockets, jets or raging fires the way my friends in the south of Israel are. It's surreal, and the dangers are just too easy to ignore.

Rocket barrage on southern Israel, IDF attacks in Gaza
Series of sirens heard in Gaza Belt region. IDF says 12 rockets fired, three of them intercepted by Iron Dome

I have friends who, like me, live far from the south, but they have signed up to get real time alerts on their phones, as if they lived in Ashkelon or one of the small communities that are constantly suffering from Gaza launched rockets, fire bombs etc. They wake up in a panic just like our friends in Netivot. The only difference is that they don't have to run within seconds to a shelter, and they can stay safely in bed in pajamas.

Israeli news media tries to "comfort" readers/listeners by relating the successes of the Iron Dome in intercepting dangerous rockets which had been launched at Israeli civilians. Instead of using military might to destroy our enemies, we just try to render their attacks harmless. That just encourages to increase the violence against us. The State of Israel must take off the kid gloves and defend us by destroying our enemies, not just deflecting the rockets.

Also, in the long run we here in the center of the country, far from Gaza, are also in danger, since local terrorists are encouraged by those in the south. Gd willing we will get a government that isn't afraid to truly defend us by destroying our enemies!

Stunning Old City Renovations Masks Jordan's Destruction

Yesterday when I was wandering around Jerusalem's Old City, there was more than music on Mount Zion. I found myself walking into the very old Ramban Synagogue, which is in the center of what today is called the Jewish Quarter. I don't think I had been there for almost half a century.

My memories of the Ramban Synagogue in the Old City of Jerusalem is of a ruin, walking down and although there was no artificial light, still seeing the old pillars. There was just dirt on the floor. If it had been paved in stones, I didn't notice or remember. Those are my memories of the place.

As you can see from the above photos, the synagogue has been reconstructed, and those pillars are in use. The floor now has well-kept tiles. There's furniture, and the Ramban Synagogue is in use for prayer. That's rather bittersweet for me. I'm glad that there's a Jewish community using that ancient location/building for what it was constructed, but it's one of the buildings, holy sites, the Jordanians had defiled and destructed during their nineteen 19 year illegal occupation of the Old City, from 1948 until the miraculous 1967 Six Days War.

When it was announced that the "Churba "Hurva" Synagogue" would be reconstructed, many people protested the decision. The reason was that it was/is important not to hide the immoral actions of the Jordanians during their illegal occupation. 

During yesterday's walk, everything looked "too pretty." There are museums depicting very ancient Jerusalem and Jewish History, but I didn't see anything to remind us of the cruelty of the Jordanians.

Trump/Kushner Falling Into "Palestine Peace" Trap

As disappointed as I am in the Trump/Kushner attempts to describe the Arab terrorist instigator and supporter Mahmoud Abbas as a peace sic partner, we mustn't forget that US President Trump did recognize Jerusalem as Israel's Capital City and moved the American Embassy to there, even if it wasn't much more than a sign change.

KUSHNER: U.S. PLAN WILL BE PUBLIC IF ABBAS DOESN'T ‘COME BACK TO THE TABLE'
US envoy’s message to Palestinians: ‘Don’t allow your grandfather’s conflict to determine your children’s future’.

This talk reminds me too much of modern child-raising instructions. When a child's behavior is cruel nowadays you're not supposed to tell the kid that he/she is bad when he does it. You're supposed to tell him/her that he/she is good but "confused" or made a "mistake."

At no point has Mahmoud Abbas shown any sign that he wants peace with Israel. His administration of the PA-Palestinian Authority supports Arab terror by giving salaries/pensions to convicted terrorists and their families. Relations between Israel and the Arabs have only gotten worse under his administration. I saw that very clearly during the six years I worked in Yafiz, Sha'ar Binyamin. During the first few years, Arabs came in great numbers to shop in Yafiz Clothing Store. There were even group shopping trips during which the Arabs bought lots of products in Yafiz and Rami Levi. Arab tourists, businessmen and visiting family members would stock up on our clothes. We had very friendly relations with Arab customers, especially the wives of UN and NGO officials based in Ramalla. But that ended about four years ago when PA Police began threatening our customers and confiscating their purchases.

Much earlier on Trump said that he wouldn't impose a "peace" agreement on Israel and the Arabs, but now he's planning something of the sort. This is a major error. Trump should stop the project, because it won't be successful. It won't bring peace. It will just encourage more terrorism against Israel and Jews.

Jerusaslem's String Bridge