TO MOURN , TO HEAL, TO GO FOWARD

Please Pray for the following Persons wounded in the Attack

Nadav Eliyahu ben Hadassah,

Naftali ben Gila Rachel,

Shimon Yechiel ben Tirza, bsoch sh’ar cholei Yisrael.




MAY THEY BE HEALED IN BODY AND KLAL YISRAEL IN SPIRIT BY THE SOURCE OF ALL HEALING AND BLESSING
MAY THE WORDS OF THE MEGILA BE REALIZED ONCE AGAIN THAT THE JEWS SHALL RULE OVER THEIR ENEMIES

A DEMAND FOR POSSESSION

Just before Shabbat an Earthquake struck Eretz Yisrael. Evidently there were no injuries. However, there was property damage in Two places. A rather large hole opened up on top of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Also there was damage in Shechem known as Nablus where the grave of Yossef which had been badly damaged just this past week is located.

Jewish tradition asserts that the Temple Mount is mostly situated within the tribal boundaries of Benjamin; The Burial Place of Joseph obviously is connected to its namesake. Joseph and his younger brother Benjamin were the sons of Rachel

When Essav encountered Yaakov upon his return form Lavan's house it was Joseph who put himself in front of his mother to protect her from his uncle. Benjamin was not yet born and therefore of the tribes was the one who relative to Essav remains unbowed.

Jewish tradition further teaches that the Messianic redemption will begin with the children of Rachel.

While all the foregoing are facts that fit current events to say this is definitely one way or the other would be arrogant and irresponsible, however it cannot be ignored either.

Indeed in a few very few days comes the little Purim. Today the ownership of Eretz Yisrael especially the Holy sites is under attack it would appear that the ultimate Landlord has weighed in.

Events of such importance if ignored represent an opportunity lost. The future, and apparently the End of Days is near let it be humanity’s prayer that the signs not be misread.

PULLING THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER ONESELF

The announcement of the Government’s intention to evacuate Migron community within Six Months is disturbing.

Migron, from the news reports, is not a few tents and crude structures like Homesh or other recently established communities, but a functioning community.

Labeling Migron as an Illegal outpost based on Peace Now's claims alone is suspect. After Peace Now’s cover as a surrogate for Foreign powers was exposed what credibility do their claims hold? That the professed humanitarian concerns of Peace Now were antithetical to Judaism’s beliefs, aspirations and values regarding the national affinity and claim to all Eretz Yisrael which includes the principles of return and settlement of Diaspora Jewry within Eretz Yisrael. However, when Peace Now’s activities include aerial reconnaissance and other acts that approach espionage seriously call in to question whether the foreign contributors are more than mere expressions of support.

It sounds reasonable that a litigant’s motivation be called in to question Especially when the Plaintiff’s intentions appear to serve an agenda hostile to the very system within which claim is being pursued. Multiply, the erosion of credibility factor when the Plaintiff organization is serving an agenda bought and paid for by hostile foreign governments. After all, could one imagine France suing the US over the status of the Lakota or Cherokee nations? Or if the Japanese funded the tribes in their legal battles for independence as a means of advancing an element of foreign policy?


How could Peace Now enjoy any credibility in the circles of government or in the courts cast doubt on these sectors very commitment to the existence of the State. Especially when the Judges could have a way out by finding that Migron was founded before MARCH 21, 2001 thereby rendering the question moot

By deciding against Migron and in effect ruling against the Zionist and Jewish heritage the Court and government are doing the unthinkable, delegitimizing the ideological, moral and legal basis the State’s existence

IF YOU CAN'T SAY SOMETHING NICE

A few days’ distance gives perspective. President Bush’s recent visit to Jerusalem deserves comment. The streets were empty, certainly in a post 9/11 world security demands departures from what was the norm on 9/10. Yet was security the only concern in emptying Jerusalem’s streets?

After all the government could have assigned civil servants, soldiers in civilian clothes to line the streets waving Israeli and American flags, that did not happen. Maybe Mr. Bush was being insulated from what people really think and little support Olmert really has.

The control of information went further when persons were situated near the foreign press’ lodgings to distribute Fatah as “Moderate”, A Hard Look Post-Annapolis by Arlene Kushner published by THE CENTER FOR NEAR EAST POLICY RESEARCH were taken in custody for a couple of hours and their copies of the report were seized as seditious.

As disturbing as this sounds Olmert’s apparent need to suppress alternative points of view or the depth of popular dissent against the ruling regime’s actions is amazingly positive. If Olmert fears the nationalist voice that means he knows its depth within the collective national consciousness. Olmert realizes the nation knows that any agreement will be solely between himself and Abu Mazen, each leader being detached from the citizenry they officially lead. Olmert realizes the nation knows land concessions means Gush Katif 2, 3, 4 etc. . . . with the accompanying social displacement and with withdrawal comes the announcement ZEVA ADOM, ZEVA ADOM. Olmert knows the dividing of Jerusalem is beyond a painfull concession but strikes at the focal point of Jewish consciousness spanning generations Olmert knows the people know and he is running scared.

That Bush is endorsing the 23 Arab state is inexcusable as it represents the rewarding of Terrorists. As to the rest of the President’s remarks can any American President be more a Zionist than Israel’s Prime Minister?

The eternal nature of the Jewish People cannot be denyed Netzach Yisrael Lo Yishaker

WE WILL SURVIVE . . .EVEN THIS

A student's paper critical of the lack of Military rapes by IDF personal won a Hebrew University Teachers' Committee prize. The author asserts the lack of military rape is politically motivated. The lack of such behavior is not rooted in the soliders' sense of morality, humanity or decency, rather to reinforce a dehumanized image of Arabs. True media has a way of distorting a story but academics granting a prize for a paper that takes the ostensible position sexual violence is a good thing? The student may have come to certain conclusions based on raw data and the like but the implication of self loathing overrides the outrage a crime of gender based violence should kindle. Now it is unclear whether the faculty who granted the prize are of high enough rank to be on strike of not either way if this is what passes as serious scholarship maybe the professors should all stay out on strike.

Further this week it was reported that a job applicant was turned down because the prospective hire was Shabbat observant. A shameful episode of discrimination no doubt, but that is only half the story. The job is located in Eretz Yisrael and the position was with the Jewish National Fund. Which Jewish person of a certain age cannot recall the JNF blue box charity box being every Jewish except Shabbat services.To think that not only did the JNF turn down an observant person the hiring executive could not understand what all the fuss was about.

The insensitivity to Jewish values is so profound one almost gets the sense that values and sensibilities have been replaced an absense of common sense and moral vision.

The comfort to take is even if there are real deep divisions within Jewry the nation survives inspite of itself, AMYISRAEL CHAI

History Lesson

Hoping you and your family are having a most enlighting Hanukah

Prime Minister Olmert recently declared that Ben Gurion was correct to accept partition. But the question is was the acceptance of partition done as an affirmative act acquiescing to and acknowledging an Arab right within Eretz Yirael. Or was the acceptance of partiton the best deal available at the time but without relinquishing the vision of a whole Eretz Yisrael.

This most amazing story about the beginings of the post 67' return to Hevron may shed some light on Ben Gurion’s thinking. Rav Levinger Shlita, may he be returned to full health soon wrote in honor of Kiryat Arba's 10TH anniversary. (this was a commererative book published for the celebration during Chol Hamoed Pesach 5738)

Eliyakim Haezni told Rav Levinger that during Succot 5728 Rav Yechezkel Sarna ZT'L was asked whether he was willing to return his Yeshiva-the Hevron Yeshiva back to Hevron after having to leave in the wake of the 1929/5689 riots. Rav Sarna said he had this conversation with Ben Gurion just before the holiday Ben Gurion was surprised nothing had been done to date to renew the Jewish presence in Hevron.

Ben Gurion who accepted the partition in 1947-49 wanted Jews back in Hevron-that would lead one to believe Ben Gurioon's acceptance of the partition was a default and not an affirmative endorsement of a two state configuration.

Does Mr. Olmert know this story? Or did he forget while losing any shard of dignity while going through side entrances, staying outdoors in the rain and otherwise having himself and the Israeli delegation being treated like sug bet by the other participants at Annapolis?

Wasn't establishing a state supposed to create a Jew the world would respect as a peer?

Chag Sameach

A PRAYER FOR EHUD OLMERT

May Hashem grant you the blessing of sleep



May Hashem grant the blessing to sleep deeply



May Hashem allow you the blessing to dream



As you dream Mr. Prime Minister May Hashem bless you to see a vision of your Savta and Saba.



As you dream Mr. Prime Minister May Hashem bless you to see a vision of your Savta and Saba’s all the Sabaim and Savtot, Bubbies and Zaydehs of the entire Olmert family as far back as it goes.



As you dream Mr. Prime Minister May Hashem bless you to see a vision of your Grand mothers putting coins in the Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes charity box to support the Yishuv Shabbat Eve.



As you dream Mr. Prime Minister May Hashem bless you to see a vision of your Grandfathers praying to rebuild the Jerusalem, Beit HaMikdash, the ingathering of the exiles and arrival of Mashiach. The declaration “Next Year in Jerusalem” the punctuates the observance of the Seder and Yom Kippur observances.



As you dream Mr. Prime Minister May Hashem bless you to hear these sounds and see these images night after night until they consume your waking hours as well.



May Hahsem bless you Mr. Prime Minister to see your place in the context of Jewish history and heir of a legacy that no human has a right to relinquish.

May Hahsem bless you Mr. Prime Minister to fulfill destiny and embrace G-D’s gift of the land and emerge from the isolation that is faithlessness to join with generations past and yet to welcome the rule to David’s scion Mashiach

FAIRNESS

Prime Minister Olmert insisted on the Arab side accept Israel as a Jewish State. FM Livni stated further that a new Arab state would be a solution not just for Arabs living in Judea and Samaria but even Israeli Arabs could call the new State home. Arab MK Ahmed Tbibi termed this Chutzpa PA negotiator Yasser Abed Rabbo refused this as well as that would frustrate Arab demands to flood Israel with Arabs claiming a right to return to Israel.


The refusal of Arab negotiators to acknowledge Israel as a Jewish State only underscores the absurd nature of the Annapolis conference.

If the Arabs want a Jew free Palestine then why should Arabs be allowed to remain within Israel?

Certain things are not the subject of negotiation. Just as civility precedes Torah (Drech Eretz Kadma L'Torah)a certain degree of comity must exist to facilitate any type of dialogue .

Failing to recognize Israel as the national homeland of Jewry would be as absurd as insisting the United States was still rightfully a British colony or merely usurped Native American lands with no rightful sovereignty of its own.

Demanding the establishment of yet another Arab State in the region Along with demanding the right to populate Israel with Arabs and deny The State of Israel its National character as a Jewish State -that sets a bold new frontier for Chutzpah.

However positive FM LIVNI's words are positive suggesting that a new state would serve as a solution for Arab Israelis, MK Eldad has it 100% correct. Why create an additional state, Jordon already exists as a state with a majority identifying itself as Palestine?

If the State of Israel is indeed the Jewish people's national home it must without equivocation occupy all of the Historic -Biblical borders.That is Jewry's heritage and no one person or cabal have a right to give it away.

NOT YOUR PARENTS' ISRAEL

,

The Prime Minister’s remarks at the Saban Conference call to memory Rav Chaim Zanzer’s pre Passover appeal. As tradition dictates the Rav gave his major pre-Pesach address focusing on the laws requiring residents of a city to contribute for supplying the holiday needs of the less fortunate.
When he returned home the Rebbe’s wife asked how did it go?
The Holy Zanzer said he was only half successful.
What? Asked the Rebbitzen
“Yes”, replied the Rav I convinced the poor to accept charity.

Two States for two peoples sounds good, even makes some sense in some hypothetical construct but if only Israel acknowledges compromise and not the Arabs why go forward? Olmert’s position becomes delusional and Secretary Rice if she believes Mr. Abbas is a real partner for peace such naïveté calls in to question whether her distinguished list of accomplishments was earned or merely a function of promoting diversity.

As if it needs saying, but agreeing not to try to kill you today is not a compromise!! Aside from being a territorial retreat to return to the 1949 boundaries, relinquishing Yehudah Shomron and any part of Jerusalem is a retreat from national identity.

Creating two states out of one Eretz Yisrael estranges the State from its status as the national home for the Jewish people in the national homeland. The State becomes little more than a Uganda, a state with a Jewish majority but without the history or heritage.

In this type of Zeitgeist does the recent call by Minister Shetrit to do away with the law of return seem so strange? Israel as haven means, the State of Israel is indeed the national homeland of Jewry and how could that exist independent of a Medinat Yisrael completely occupying Eretz Yisrael?

Similarly, anyone with the ideological basis of faith, belief, a sense of personal and national history become the antithesis of current government’s agenda. This why Nefesh B’ Nefesh, Shuvai Yisrael, and each child born to a religious family are seen as public enemies. A child born to a religious family is more of a threat to the Olmerts, Livnis, Pereses than Iran and even Hamas and Fatah

Rav Lazer Brody Shilita observed that Lot preferred to live in a cave than live in civilization with Avraham. Because living with Avraham means one must abandon materialism and hedonism.

A choice to be who we really are, is the pre-condition for any conference One can only be a participant when one is genuine and not a compromised lie.

UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE'RE DYSFUNCTIONAL

Last week something happened that only underscores the fractious nature of Israeli politics. The proposed Israeli budget for 2008 contains dramatic budget cuts for Torah study in Yeshivoth and Kolellim{advanced institutions of Torah study leading to ordination }. Whether this is necessary or not is not what is interesting, how Torah political parties reacted.

The newspaper affiliated with Degel HaTorah depicted Shas as a willing partner with the secular parties in the coalition in making these cuts which ostensibly targets Degel HaTorah supporters drowning them in poverty. Shas the Sephardim Torah party denounced the cartoon as an ethnic slur by European Jews to Jews of Middle Eastern and North African origin.

The cartoon is not ethnic but political, however unlike the US, political affiliation elsewhere is ideological and includes youth groups social benefits etc. The ideological diversity in Israel’s society made parliamentary representation based on party affiliation through the population seem like a good idea to protect the points of view representing a cross-section of the country.

Maybe the system worked as long as there was an overall agreement to the State’s survival and security. Instead, the breakdown of nationalism in favor of individualism has lead each party and its Keenest Members in particular. Instead of being part of a national body with specific interests, advancing its interests to the exclusion of others’ is the guiding principle. How to serve the nation is replaced by how to retain power as well as how to keep the prestige and privilege that come with being in office.

Budgets then become nothing more than gathering of vultures fighting over a carcass. Therefore, taking money from the UTJ sphere when it is perceived that Shas has kindred values is seen as betrayal.

One of the Chassidic greats pointed out when holding even a small coin against one’s eye so that is all one can see it can even blot out the Sun . . . .

If the nation needs to come together to survive it must start with those who lives revolve around Torah and its values unite under Torah and fraternal love [Ahavas Yisrael