Sunday, November 25, 2007

Here's a new attraction I've created at MyStuDIYo

Friday, May 4, 2007

Help a family save their son's life:

Welcome to post this with link to this blog anywhere.

I don't often ask for money at this blog, there is usually a link to help needy children to receive educational enrichment, but I seldom mention it.
Now I am asking for help because a whole family is at stake. I know my readers, and I know that we will make this happen!

In addition to my busines, I am coordinator for community outreach for The Hasdey Avot Service organization in Israel.

Pinhas Tourgeman, a member of our community has experienced failure of his transplanted Kidney (from a living donor, family member).
This young man was diagnosed with Kidney failure three days after the senseless murder by terrorists of his brother, Yair, at Mevo Dotan, Israel in 2004.

For his parents wellbeing, we must do everything possible to save their surviving son.

Rabbi Dov Lior, Rabinnic court head for K. Arba has given his personal blessing to this campaign and all who support the effort.

We will be seeking money to enter rotation and have the operation performed privately in the U.S or Europe. This is costly, because he cannot travel without, medical accompaniment, family, living arrangements, etc. All told, the family needs over 100,000 dollars, a daunting sum, but if we all give what we can, we can make this happen

If you can help in any way, contact me here, or at hasdeyavot@gmail.com . More information will be available at www.hasdeyavot.org soon.

Any help (money, help spreading the word, contact with others who might be able to help, most of all, prayers, and positive energy) are greatly appreciated.

Donations can be made with a credit card or PayPal using the link here.

Thursday, May 3, 2007

The Beat goes on in Sderot

I had to post this, It shows the hope and perseverance of the Israeli.

These exceptional qualities are indicative of the Israeli persona, despite the fact that our leaders don't seem to have them. Read on see what you think.

An Israeli town fights rockets with

rock 'n' roll

By Jennifer Medina

Published: April 27, 2007

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SDEROT, Israel: The underground Israeli pop-rock music scene seems to start here, in a bomb shelter set in the center of town.

No matter how loudly the teenagers hammer at their drums or pluck at their guitars, the green tin that is meant to protect residents from incoming rockets also works as a sound barrier for the funky music.

It is not unusual for Israeli towns to turn shelters into community centers of some sort. But Sderot, just outside the Gaza Strip, is one of the few cities where such shelters are still used frequently.

And in Sderock, as the shelter-turned-music studio is called, the teenagers grapple with the dueling realities that have made the city famous: the music that comes out of it and the rockets that come into it.

"This is the safest fun place in the city," said Nir Oliel, 21, who has played guitar for several years. "It is also where everyone great came from."

Today in Africa & Middle East

Iraqi blocs oppose draft oil bill

Concern is high and unity hopes are nil at talks on Iraq

Israeli foreign minister says Olmert should resign

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In the Israeli public consciousness, Sderot is a place of poverty and danger. It has been barraged by more than 4,000 rockets in the last six years, including nearly 200 since the shaky cease-fire that began in November. Six people have died in the attacks and dozens of homes have been damaged.

And yet Sderot is also the hometown of a pop culture hero of the moment: Kobi Oz, the lead singer of the Teapacks, the Israeli pick for the popular Eurovision song contest. Oz made headlines in March when organizers of the contest suggested that his song "Push the Button" might be disqualified for carrying an inappropriate political message.

The song riffs on the Israeli fear of being obliterated by an atomic bomb. Oz, who is also the host of a weekday morning news program, makes no apologies for the lyrics, which he says are meant to reflect the "hot politics" of the region.

"There are not sweet love songs to play," he said in a telephone interview. "If you are here, you have to have all kinds of conflict inside the music. Our way to deal with it is to laugh in the face or terror and make rock 'n' roll for the craziness."

Oz, with two platinum albums in Israel, is by far the most successful musician to come out of Sderot, but he is hardly alone. He got his start with Sfatayim, which means Lips, a band made up of young artists from Sderot who played Moroccan music. On Israeli radio it is possible to hear more than half a dozen bands from this city, quite a feat for a place with a population of about 25,000.

The musicians who grew up in the 1980s are the children of immigrants from North Africa and other parts of the Middle East. They blended their New World guitar and drum with their Old World counterparts - an oud and a goatskin-covered drum called a darbukah - to create what critics called ethnic-pop. Those who perform it say it is "pashut Yisraeli," simply Israeli.

When the Qassam rockets - 31 kilograms, or about 70 pounds, of steel each - began landing here, much of the Israeli mainstream seemed unperturbed, favoring a less aggressive military stance. After the rockets started landing on schools and houses, the residents grew increasingly frustrated with the government.

Encouraged by their hawkish mayor, Eli Moyal, they set up protest tents, crying out, "Conquer Gaza now," and demanded that the Israeli military take action. When Israel did take action, it did not help much: After a lull, the rockets returned.

The teenagers in Sderock seem less convinced than their elders that more force will calm their lives down. Their music captures their angst.

"Don't Break," a song one group recorded for Independence Day celebrations, focuses on their sense of defiance and fear:

"We won't break, we won't be afraid," the chorus goes.

And then:

"How does the state abandon

This war, who is extending his hand?

They do nothing, when it comes to you."

The verse ends with "Shma Yisrael," which translated literally is a command: "Hear, O Israel." It is also a reference to the Jewish prayer that is said during daily worship and on one's deathbed.

With the success of so many musicians in the last decade, the city has poured considerable resources into cultivating more talent. The city estimates that it spends $30,000, a considerable portion of its budget, on music.

Chaim Uliel and Micha Biton, native sons who became successful performers and producers, teach classes here.

Monday, April 30, 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHDYdg3X_BE

Sunday, April 1, 2007

A Thought Before the Pesach Holiday

A
Thought Before the Pesach Holiday

The
Ben Ish Hai Quotes the Gemara Brachot Daf ה
Amud
ב a
story of a king who had two advisors, one a Jew and one a gentile.
The king wanted to be certain that these two trusted aids would
continue to be around to give him good council.

One
day, the king seized the infant sons of both advisors. The king
ordered the gentile baby circumcised so that no one would be able to
tell the children apart. He told the advisors that the babies would
be raised personally in the palace by himself and the queen, and that
thy would be returned in six years.

The
Jewish advisor protested, using as a pretense that his son must eat
only kosher food. The king responded that both children would be fed
only kosher food. There was nothing that the poor father could do. He
told himself and his family that at least the child would be returned
in six years.

At
the end of 6 years, true to his word the king summoned his two
advisors to retrieve their children. The king pointed to two young
boys resplendent in royal robes. The Gentile went and took one boy
at random.

The
Jewish advisor sat down and began to weep. The king, concerned, asked
what was the matter. The Jewish advisor told his king that he cannot
choose at random as the gentile did, he requested that his child be
returned to him.

The
king, not understanding, said that the two boys had been raised
together as brothers, and were the same. No one could differentiate
between them (remember: this was in the time before anything was
known about genetics or DNA testing).

The
Jewish advisor was adamant, and told the king that he had a plan to
determine which boy was his son. The king was intrigued and allowed
the Jew to arrange his experiment.

First,
with force of the kings law, he ordered the gentile advisor to return
the child he had taken.

Next,
two rooms were set up, each containing one gold plate full of
separate grapes and one containing a large cluster of grapes.

The
Jewish advisor explained that the his son would take from the cluster
while the gentile child would take from the plate of individual
grapes. The boys were led into their respective rooms, and observed.

As
the advisor had predicted, one boy took from the grapes, one from the
cluster.

The
king was surprised and demanded an explanation. The Jewish advisor
explained that inherent in the Jewish psyche is the reality of being
part of the group. The nations revel in individualism, as the
individual fruits in the bowl, without any group consciousness.

Jews
are different in that, although we are individuals, there is also
the experience of being part of a larger entity, Am Yisrael.

In
this Spirit, Hasdey Avot has distributed Kimhe D'Pischa packages
including Shmura Matza, Meat, Chicken, eggs, and other items
necessary for the Seder and Hag to nearly 2000 deserving families.

Our
recipients include large families living at or below the poverty
line, Single parent families, and families struggling to pick
themselves up after tragic loss, or, the dislocation brought about by
Israel's abandonment of Gush Katif and Northern Shomron.

To
fulfil this Mitzva, without leaving anyone out, Hasdey Avot, has
taken on considerable debt.

These
debts must be repaid so as not to hinder our many other charitable
works.

We
are appealing to you to give generously, to help us to help those in
need living in and around the holy city of Kiriat Arba/ Hevron.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Palastinian Land grab continues

On march 18, Arabs from Yata, entered area declared closed military zone, on The Talliah farm, with flocks of sheep and goats, destroying growing grain and fodder crops. This is a violation, already, however, the Arabs further encroached, driving their sheep and goats into land legally apportioned to Talliah and closed to other's flocks and right up to the fenced habitation area of the Talliah Farm.

Wishing to avoid a confrontation, Yaakov Talliah called the Police and Army. The police did not even bother to show up. This sends the message that Lawlessness will be tolerated if it is by Arabs against Jewish settlers.

The army sent a patrol, who just observed the situation, only telling the trespassers to leave when the threatened the actual houses of the farm.

Yaakov Talliah and Jochanan Shareth's Farms have been repeatedly burgled and vandalized by local Arabs, making this current situation different because of the political climate of appeasement, which can only lead to more bloodshed.

Yaakov Gelobter

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Arabs continue to attack Israeli farmers

Beginning a week ago (on March 6) and continuing, Arab Provocateurs have been hard at work testing the extent of the gift they were given by the Israeli civil administration.

One month ago, that body, following our government's general weakness, declared Yaakov Talliah's grain field which he has been farming for three years, a closed military zone.

Yaakov and Jochanan Shareth at his neighboring farm have been plagued with Arabs coming armed with clubs, on missions to graze sheep, 2-3 at a time, and to uproot endangered wild plants.

It is only thanks to these farmers vigilance and patience that no one has been injured or killed.

A new and sinister element has been recently added when anarchist Israelis Ezra Naui and Arik Asherman began bringing volunteers to help the Arabs to plant olive trees in the area. Not only is this a violation on the disputed land where the courts have not yet rendered the final verdict, but these raids involve destruction of property clearly under Yaakov and Yochanan's jurisdiction.

Since then the situation has deteriorated, including Arabs from Yata treating Jochanan's Property as a landfill site.
Here are pictures take at the farm Sunday morning following Saturday's Jewish sabbath.

(Photos not available now)

Note the amount of trash spilling from the sacks. Only our concerted efforts on behalf of these people can save them from eviction by the government and harassment by local Arabs and their Anarchist co-conspiritors.

Following is an article from Jihad Watch showing how the Palestinian Moslems treat potential voices of dissent. Note the fact that the Palestinian authority, Now under control of conservative muslins Hamas leaders notes but does nothing to stop clerics from preaching against the internet or gangs from firebombing internet cafes.

Reported by Yaakov (Jay) Gelobter

45 internet café bombings in Gaza since December 1

On the grounds that those cafés are "trying to make a whole generation preoccupied with matters other than jihad and worship." An update on . "In chaotic Gaza, the Internet is a target," from

CAIRO — Soon after a firebomb exploded at 3 a.m. and destroyed four computers in the Al-Shawa Online Internet Cafe in Gaza, owner Alaa al-Shawa clicked onto his e-mail at an undamaged machine.

The first message surprised him: It was from the bombers themselves, explaining that establishments such as his were keeping Muslims away from prayer and providing pornography. That’s why it was hit.

“This just shows how confused these fanatics are,” said Al-Shawa, 27. “Even they use the Internet to circulate their statements, but they think everyone else uses it for porno.”

About 45 Internet outlets have been bombed since Dec. 1, according to figures from Gaza’s Central Police Office. The attacks are occurring against a backdrop of intense infighting between Fatah, the main faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and Hamas, the Islamist party and militia that has grown into the Palestinians’ dominant political force. The street clashes have led to general lawlessness.

“Gaza society tends toward conservatism, and some people are suspicious of the Internet, but the attacks on Internet cafes come in the context of general chaos,” said Isam Younis, director of Gaza’s independent Al-Mizan Center for Human Rights. “Simply, there’s an absence of law.”

A group called the Swords of Islamic Righteousness has claimed responsibility for the attacks. In a leaflet distributed at Al-Azhar University last month, it said it attacked Internet cafes “which are trying to make a whole generation preoccupied with matters other than jihad and worship.”

The group also claimed to have blown up the car of someone who played his stereo loudly. And it has firebombed pharmacies it suspects of peddling narcotics and recreational drugs, police say.

The Internet is a means for some 1.4 million residents to break out of the isolation of the Gaza Strip, where there is no functioning airport or seaport and where crossing the borders into Israel or Egypt is subject to tight control.

The bomb placed above the door at Al-Shawa’s store did $4,000 damage. “The cafe is my only source of income,” he said.

He invested $30,000 to start the business in September 2001, he said. “My cafe has a good reputation,” he added. “I have a filter to block out porno.”

Muhammed Shpeir, a 19-year-old psychology student at Azhar University, said he came to the cafe to chat, e-mail friends and do school research. “I’ve never traveled outside Gaza, so this is the only place I can communicate with people far away,” he said. “Morocco, Algeria? It’s a good way to pass time. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.”

Shukri Jubri, 15, a high-school student, noted that there are no cinemas or discos. “Except for television, there’s not much amusement,” he said. “Also, I do my homework with Interne t help,” he said.

“The funny thing is, people have Internet at home now,” Al-Shawa said. “So what are the bombers going to do? Attack the houses, too? Believe me, if anyone is watching porno, it’s at home.”

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Minister Peretz In The News

Remember this photo?

Congratulations to Cheri Goldman (Los Angeles) and Yosef Baum (Ra'anana)

Answer: The lens caps are on Minister Peretz's field glasses!

extra credit: This has gotten him more International press then anything he has ever done.

Baruch Nachshon, Mystical Artist of Hevron

Hi again,

Baruch Nachshon, as well as his son Yitzchak, and everyone at NACHSHONART are good friends of CARMELVIEWS, who offer every support and aid. Please visit their site, where you can see his work and purchase prints of many of his paintings in various sizes. Following is the Bio of the artist.

Regards,

Yaakov Gelobter, Editor

Baruch Nachshon was born in Haifa in Mandatory Palestine (Israel) in 1939.

Nachshon began painting at an earlyage, He developed his relationship to art
and to artists throughout his youth. During his military service Nachshon herded
flocks for the IDF, filling his life with a love and appreciation for nature. His
work work is filled with the life and imagery he received then. Upon
completing his military service Nachshon was torn between temptation
of an artists life in Paris and his deep love for the land of Israel.
Nachshon Chose Israel, his spiritual home. He continued his art
training with Shlomo Nerani, Cezanne's only pupil, his mentor from
childhood.Nachshon, whom Nerani viewed as his spiritual heir,
was his only student allowed to see the master at work.

Nachshon is a devoted Lubavitch Hassid since being drawn
to the movement by its evocative, spiritual melodies.

In 1965, Nachshon met with his Rebbe, Menachem Mendel
Schneerson in a private session, lasting three hours. The
young artist was able to share with the Rebbe his concerns and
misgivings about his role as a Jewish artist and the conflicts which
confront him. The Rebbe advised Nachshon that for many generations
the art of painting had failed to find its ultimate rectification in holiness,
but that with the help of God he might come to bring about that long
anticipated rectification. The Rebbe then offered to fund Nachshon's
studies in New York on the condition that he would find a program of
study acceptable to Jewish religious values. Despite the difficulty
inherent in such a task, Nachshon gladly received the Rebbe's offer
and devoted himself fully to the celebration of the wisdom of the
Creator through visual art.

Yaakov (Jay) Gelobter

Monday, March 5, 2007

Pommygranate: Teapacks - Push the button (Eurovision 2007 Song)

If you haven't heard Israel is slated to be represented at the 2007 Eurovision contest by Teapacs (formerly known as Tipex) singing a song against terror, bombs, and the big one-- the Iranian Nuclear program. The band hales from S'derot in the negev near the Gaza strip, the area has been under frequent attack from rockets from Gaza, since the abandonment of Gush Katif (and its Jewish residents.
The following is a link to an excellent post by a Canadian-Brit living in Australia about the issue, please look at it,
Pommygranate: Teapacks - Push the button (Eurovision 2007 Song)

Thursday, March 1, 2007

European friends help fight expulsion of jews from their land

60+ German Christians, Lovers of Zion and friends of the Jewish people came to Har Hevron on February 22 to show support for the embattled family farms of Hebron Hills. The group, accompanied by their pastor, arrived at Jochanan Shareth's "Magen David Farm at 12:30. Jochanan provided his visitors with a light lunch, while explaining the historical and natural significance of the Hevron hills region, and the dispute with arab encroachment from the village of Yata.

After lunch, I showed the visitors my unique GENESIS NATURE line of Natural, Vegan soaps and cosmetic products. I explained that we have developed these effective, safe, non-allergenic products using products extracted from local plant species growing on Har Hevron's Farms and ranches.

The group then took a short hike across land claimed (with no documents) by Yata Arabs to Yaakov Talliah's Eagle's Flight ranch.

The agricultural land the group visited has been farmed by Yaakov since 2001,and has not been farmed or occupied by Arabs for at least twenty years (documented).

Yaakov and Jochanan farm the land naturally and bio-organically to maintain its health. They also raise sheep, goats, horses, and poultry: all using healthy, ecology friendly practices.

Reported By Yaakov (Jay) Gelobter

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

href="http://technorati.com/claim/ebpuzzgcb" rel="me" Profile />

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

This is going to be a really heavy post. So let's start with something which would be funny, if it wasn't pathetic.

Tell me what's wrong with this photo (hint:Amir Peretz) to win an E-book write me at innovativemarketting@gmail.com (Answers in a post next week)

Two of our friends were targeted by murderous gangs yesterday.

In the first attack, Erez Levanon, a 42 year-old father of three, a farmer and Torah Scholar from Bat Ayin, in Gush Etzion, was stabbed to death not far from his vehicle.

The second attack ended, thank god, safely for our friend, Yaakov Talia, who Arabs from Yata have been trying to uproot from his farm near Bet Yatir.
To Placate Arab demands, the civil administration has prevented Yaakov from entering his fields to plant crops he needs to feed his livestock.

He approached a group of arabs to ask what they are on his property. Yaakov is not usually armed on his property, however, he brought his weapon today in light of the previous night's murder of Erez
It is fortunate that he brought his M16 rifle along because other Arabs attacked him from behind; he fired in the air frightening them away.
He called the army and police, who came but didn't take any action to either follow or find the attackers.
Yaakov feels that the government and authorities are turning a blind eye to attacks and groundless arab land claims which endanger citizens, to appease the Arabs. This encourages the enemy to carry out these murderous attacks with impunity.

Beit Umar residents found Erez's body, between Bat Ayin and Beir Umar,and reported it to the Palestinian security authorities.

Security searches for suspects focused on Beit Umar and Hirbat Sapa near the wadi.
Security forces arrested two suspects identified as Khader Abu Daya and Moussa Khalil.

With their usual alacrity, and lack of insight, defense establishment sources reported, "no official Palestinian organization was behind the attack, which was initiated by the two suspects".
Is that So?????

However, within hours, the following news story was posted on the left leaning, slavishly pro- government news site YNET...

Islamic Jihad claims responsibility for settler's murder

In statement released on its website, group says two members of its al-Quds Brigades were 'able to lure settler into an agricultural area, and fatally stab him several times.' Organization also warns of 'more operations against Israeli soldiers and settlers'

Yaakov Lappin

Published:

02.26.07, 20:14 / Israel News

The Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for a stabbing attack which left an Israeli man dead on Sunday night.

The body of 42-year old Erez Levanon, of Gush Etzion, was found in an alleyway in the Palestinian village of Beit Omar, north of Hebron .

On Monday, the IDF arrested two Palestinians for the murder.

In a statement released on Islamic Jihad's website on Monday evening, the group said two members of its al-Quds Brigades were "able to lure a settler into an agricultural area, and fatally stab him several times."

A spokesman for the Muhammad Sidr Shahid group, part of Islamic Jihad's al-Quds Brigades, was quoted as taking responsibility for the attack by the group's website.

The statement also threatened further "operations against Israeli soldiers and settlers who continue to operate in a criminal manner against the people of Hebron," and added that the murder was "in retaliation for the continued Zionist aggression against the steadfast city of Nablus."

In the past five years, Islamic Jihad has carried out a series of deadly suicide bombings, including a 2005 bomb attack in Tel Aviv, in which four Israelis were murdered. In 2003, an Islamic Jihad suicide bomber killed 21 and injured 60 people in an attack on the Maxim restaurant in Haifa.

In the we told you so department:

Again quoted from www.ynetnews.com.
See how our "peace partners" ????? return our confidence building measures.

Synagogues now terror firing zone

Ruins of two large synagogues in Gush Katif transformed into military base used to fire rockets at Israeli cities and train for attacks against the Jewish state, senior terror group member says

Aaron Klein, WND

Published:

02.27.07, 13:28 / Israel News

The ruins of two large synagogues in Gush Katif, the evacuated Jewish communities of the Gaza Strip, have been transformed into a military base used by Palestinian groups to fire rockets at Israeli cities and train for attacks against the Jewish state, according to a senior terror leader in Gaza.

When Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in August 2005, it left intact 20 synagogues of the Gush Katif Jewish communities following an Israeli Cabinet decision against demolishing the structures.

Immediately after the Israeli evacuation was completed, Palestinians mobs destroyed most of the Gaza synagogues, including two major synagogues which were situated in Neve Dekalim, the largest Gush Katif community.

In front of international camera crews, the Palestinians ripped off aluminum window frames and metal ceiling fixtures from the Neve Dekalim synagogues, which were situation close to each other in the center of town. Militants flew the Palestinian and Hamas flags from the structures before mobs burned down the synagogues.

Speaking to WND from Gaza, Abu Abir, spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees terrorist organization, said the area where the synagogues once stood now is used to fire rockets at Israel.

"We are proud to turn these lands, especially these parts that were for long time the symbol of occupation and injustice, like the synagogue, into a military base and source of fire against the Zionists and the Zionist entity," Abu Abir said.

"The liberated lands of the destroyed ugly and Nazi settlements (Gush Katif) is our property, and we have the right to do whatever we feel is suitable for the struggle against the occupation and for the general interest of the Palestinian people," the Committees leader said.

The Committees is a coalition of terrorist organizations operating in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank responsible for launching hundreds of rockets from Gaza aimed at nearby Jewish towns. The group is accused of bombing a US convoy in Gaza in 2003 in which three American government contractors were killed.

Abu Abir blamed the Palestinian desecration of the Gaza synagogues on the Jewish state, claiming the decision to leave the structures intact was part of an Israeli conspiracy.

"The Zionists left these so called synagogues in order to make that one day media outlets like WorldNetDaily would raise the pathetic and rude argument about what we have done to the poor Zionists holy places. (Israel) left the synagogues behind so the world would see the Palestinians destroying them," Abu Abir said.

'It sends pain straight to my heart'

The terrorist leader claimed the mob destruction of the synagogues was not planned but was a spontaneous outburst of "happiness."

"The looting and burning of the synagogues was a great joy. There was no intention to desecrate them but this was part of the great joy the young men had when they destroyed everything that could remind us of the occupation. It was in an unplanned expression of happiness that these synagogues were destroyed."

Prior to the Gaza withdrawal, Israel's Supreme Court ruled the Gaza synagogues should be bulldozed by the Israeli army, citing what it said was previous Palestinian desecrations of other religions' holy sites as justification for the synagogue demolitions. But then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who said he opposed the demolitions, put the decision to Cabinet vote. The Cabinet decided against destroying the structures.

Israel's chief rabbinate had petitioned the Supreme Court to halt the synagogue destructions, arguing the demolitions contravene Jewish

law. Rabbi Shear-Yashuv Cohen, a member of the chief rabbinate, explained to WND at the time: "According to Jewish law, synagogues cannot be destroyed unless new ones are already built, and even then, the issues are complicated. Here, the former Gaza residents don't have homes yet to live in, new synagogues have not been built, so there isn't even a question."

The senior rabbis also expressed fear Jews in other parts of the world may use bulldozings of the Gaza synagogues as precedent to destroy other abandoned synagogues.

Upon being informed of the current status of the synagogue ruins, Dror Venunu, a former Gush Katif resident who said he prayed daily at the Neve Dekalim synagogues, told WND he was "sick to his stomach."

"It sends pain straight to my heart and makes me sick to my stomach. In any other part of world this would be unacceptable, but where is the media? Where is the international outcry condemning use of a holy site for terrorism?" commented Venunu, who is the international coordinator for the Gush Katif Committee, a major charity organization representing Gaza's former Jewish residents, most of whom are living in temporary housing units.

Yaakov Gelobter- Editor

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Purim is coming SIMCHA TIME!

I am back in control here, what follows is some things to do in and around Jerusalem, for those who will be in Israel for Purim or Pesach. I will be following up soon with more specifics for the holidays.

There will be lot's of fun links for Purim in the comming days.

A little tag here. The best Mitzva observance for Matanos l'evyonim is to give the money through an intermediary to Torah Scholars in need in Israel. I will be doing this mitzva in keriat arba and har Hevron (a Pay-Pal link will go up tomorrow) US residents don't need a PayPal account just a credit card-- click on the link and follow directions.

Check back in coming days for more and better content.

GENERAL, ON-GOING PROGRAMS:

For events at The Israel Museum, ,Call 02-6708811 or open www.imj.org.il The model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple period is now at the Museum, near the Shrine of the Book. But the Museum is problematic, for those sensitive folks, who do not want their children exposed to perversity, idolatry, and pornography- their art and archeology departments have much such material.

FOR EDUATIONAL TOURS, CONFERENCES AND TRAVEL, MOSTLY HEBREW, CONTACT MAKOM, WWW.MAKON-TOUR.CO.IL, 02-679-4412: CONNECTED TO BIU

BLOOMFIELD SCIENCE MUSEUM, GIVAT RAM, HAS A NEW EXHIBIT: “BLOWING IN THE WIND”, AND A SHOW, “ALUMINUM”. M-SAT. WWW.MADA.ORG.IL

THE TOWER OF DAVID JERUSALEM MUSEUM, JAFFA GATE: INFO AT 626-5333, WWW.TOWEROFDAVID.ORG.IL

The Municipal Cultural Center, 27 Hillel, has many events- call 621-1777 for info; nearby Tmol Shilshom too, 5 Yoel Solomon (off Zion Sq.), 623-2758.

MINI-ISRAEL MODEL, NEAR LATRUN: 08-9222444, WWW.MINISRAEL.CO.IL

For information ON H.U. EVENTS, CONTACT: Rebecca Zeffert, tel: 02-588-1641, or Orit Sulitzeanu,. 02-5882910 or 052-2608016. http://media.huji.ac.il

Technorati Tags: PURIM, GIFTS, COSTUME

Thursday, February 15, 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1oTJAXf300

Friday, February 9, 2007

PARASHAT YITRO--22nd of Shvat, 5767 10/2/07

This one is a cheat-- But it is a good one.

I haven't time to write before shabbat, so here are excerpts from Machon Meir's B'ahava uB'emuna.

SHABBAT SHALOM

PARASHAT YITRO

22nd of Shvat, 5767 10/2/07

From the World of Rabbi Avraham
Kook

“When the intellect shines in its full splendor, there
is no need for any special guidance of laws and judgments. Absolute goodness
follows the light of the intellect, and all the obstacles of life are
straightened out by themselves.”

Rabbi Dov Begon – Rosh Yeshiva of Machon Meir

Message for Today: “I Shall
Restore Your Judges as at First, and Your Counselors as at the Beginning”

Yitro, Moses’s father-in-law, advised Moses on who should be the leaders
and judges of Israel, telling him to appoint “capable, G-d-fearing men, men of
truth, who hate injustice” (Exodus 18:21). Who are these “men of truth”? Rashi
comments, “These are the men who are trustworthy and reliable. Their being so
makes people listen to them. If someone does not keep his word, the people will
not heed him.” Isaiah, as well, seeing the moral decline and the corruption in
his generation, attributed the problem to the leaders and judges, saying, “Your
princes are rebellious, the companions of thieves. Every one of them loves
bribes and seeks rewards” (Isaiah 1:23).

Yet at the same time, he
consoles the nation, telling them that this leadership will pass on out of the
world and in its place will come a leadership of capable, G-d-fearing men, men
of truth, who hate injustice: “I shall restore Your judges as at first, and your
counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of
righteousness, the faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and they
that return of her with righteousness” (Isaiah 1:26-27).

Today, we bear
witness to the moral decline and corruption being uncovered among some of our
government leaders, as well as in the governmental infrastructure and the
courts. To borrow a phrase from Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook, the government has
turned into “one big insurance company… devoid of giant men of spirit. Instead,
it is full of cowardly, do-nothing politicos, wallowing in the morass of small
ideas in both the spiritual and material plane.” (Orot 114). “The material
tranquility that will come to part of the nation who will think that they have
already arrived at their full destination will diminish their spirituality… the
longing for lofty, holy ideals will cease, leading to a waning of the spirit.”

Yet let us not despair. This will be a descent for the sake of an
ascent, as Rav Kook writes further down: “Ultimately a storm will result, and
there will be a revolution. It will then be clearly seen that Israel’s strength
lies in the eternally holy, in the light of G-d and His Torah, in the longing
for the spiritual light, which is the absolute valor that directs all worlds and
all their forces.” (Orot 84) Through us will be fulfilled the words: “You show
faithfulness to Jacob, mercy to Abraham, as You swore to our fathers from the
days of old” (Micha 7:20) Looking forward to complete salvation,

Shabbat
Shalom!

If you want more here is a link to another Blog I edit: top.blog-city.com

Lots of Torah Study and views from Yaakov Fogelman

Thursday, February 8, 2007

Someone needs our Prayers

Sorry for the lack of new posts. I've been thinking about a friend in the new media community JOE MURPHY of Far Point Media, suffering from an inoperable cancer.

He needs our prayers, Messages of support can be left at www.michaelandevo.com.

Technorati Tags: Joe Murphy, Far Point Media

Sunday, January 21, 2007

The fight against Terrorism

In the interest of explaining the part Israel plays in the Fight against Islamic Terrorism, I present a video leak filmed by IDF unit. In video, A terrorist is wounded in fighting in Gaza. Afterwards the wounded Terrorist is evacuated from the scene protected by a UN ambulance. Watch how the UN personal are even thoughtful enough to rescue the terrorist's weapon-- An AK 47 (Kalashnikov) Correspondent: Yaakov Gelobter

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Back Again

I don't know if I am actually communicating with anyone. I'm calling out a "Shalom all" to anyone who reads this blog please, post a comment or E-mail.

Updates

Jews all over the world have been studying the Pentateuch (the Torah) in weekly portions for thousands of years. In modern times, tapes, videos, radio shows and, especially, weekly study sheets have enhanced what is probably the world's largest public study program.

We will be publishing weekly torah commentary from local scholars in addition to my own world view.

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Weekly Parsha

In addition to my own commentary and local events and good news I will publish weekly Divrei Torah and learning insights from local guest scholars. Come back often to see.
Your input is welcome, comments are enabled (I will post anything proper).

This week's Torah commentary for Parshat Shmot is My own with the help of Aishdat and virtual bet Medrash.
Last week, we completed Sefer Bereshit (the Book of Genesis) and this week we begin Sefer Sh’mot (the Book of Exodus). The second book of the torah is called “sh’mot” which means “names.” The first parsha has nothing to do with the story that will be related further on about B’nei Yisrael (the Children of Israel) leaving Mitzrayim (Egypt). Rather, it has to do with the names of those who came to Mitzrayim. In the psukim (verses) that will be quoted this week, you will see the number “70” as in “all the souls that descended from Yaakov (Jacob) were seventy souls.” Parashat Sh’mot begins with the first word of Sefer Sh’mot and continues through and includes Perek Vav (Chapter Six), pasuk aleph (verse 1).
This week, our focus is on the very beginning of this Parashah. The The following translation and comments are from The Pentateuch, Translation and Commentary by Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch :
1. And these are the names of the sons of Yisrael (Israel) which came to Mitzrayim (Egypt), every man and his household with Yaakov (Jacob).
2. Reuven, Shimon, Levi, and Yehudah.
3. Issachar, Zebulun, and Binyahim.
4. Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
5. And all the souls that descended from Yaakov were seventy souls, and Yosef (Joseph) was already in Egypt.
6. And Yosef died and all his brethren and all that generation.
7. And the children of Yisrael were fruitful by multiple births, they increased abundantly and were exceedingly strong; and the land was filled with them.
8. Now a new King raised himself over Egypt which knew not Yosef.
9. And he said unto his people: Behold, the children of Yisrael are a nation, too numerous and too mighty for us.
10. Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and then when there falleth out any war, they also join themselves to our enemies or fight against us, and get them up out of their land.
11. They set over them fiscal officers in order to afflict them with their burdens, and so they built store cities for Paro (Pharaoh), Pithom, and Raamses.
Rav Hirsch says the following:
The first causes of the oldest anti-Semitism can unfortunately not be definitely established from these first sentences. “Now a new King raised himself over . . .” by no means designates an ordinary lawful change of dynasty. The Hebrew language used always represents an overthrow by force. So it seems that the old dynasty was overthrown and Egypt fell under the power of an invading dynasty from outside, hence also “which knew not Yosef.” To a fresh native dynasty Yosef would not be unknown. It is quite characteristic that the motive given for the whole subsequent enmity against the Jews is that the new King did not know about Yosef. The people did know of him and did not look askance at the Jewish province and at the Jewish people growing in it. They considered the Jews as benefactors and not as intruders, and did not feel their own security threatened by their growth.

This is my son's birthday party at Preschool. Carmel views is not for profit but through a trust organization (Gemach) supports educational enrichment for local children

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