Who is ELI YISHAI ?

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An Israeli documentary on the Israeli Sephardi - haredi SHASS politician ELI YISHAI.

The documentary is in Hebrew only !

http://www.bhol.co.il/article.aspx?id=37018

President Shimon Peres against anti - haredi Propaganda

President Shimon Peres with a journalist of the haredi news site "Kikar Shabbat".

B”H  

Even Israel's President Shimon Peres seems to have enough of our media constantly picking on the entire haredi society. 

The majority of Haredim doesn't share such fanatic points of view and would not insist on a gender separation on buses or sidewalks. Those fanatics (Sikarikim) are a small minority and because it is them causing trouble, the entire haredi society is being doomed.

Those causing the most damage due to their anti - haredi hatred reports are the newspaper “Yediot Acharonot” and the TV channel “Arutz 2”. 

I am just asking myself why YEDIOT is now spreading its wild propaganda. First, Tanya Rosenblit is seen as a new feminist "Meshiach" and afterwards, the left - wing media re - discovered the subject "Beit Shemesh".

The Halacha on the "Shalit Deal"

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A reader of this blog sent me a very interesting link to an article describing the pros and cons of the "Shalit Deal" in a Jewish religious manner. 

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/captives.html

Shimon Peres at the UN - Security Council yesterday

Menachem Porush died at the age of 94

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Some people may have got confused when they heard that Menachem Porush passed away. When we hear the name "Porush" today, everyone thinks of Me'ir Porush who is the son of Menachem Porush.

I wasn't planning to write about Menachem Porush, as I hardly know him. In the middle of the research concerning Purim and Parashat Tetzaveh / Zachor came the request to post something.

Most details about Menachem Porush are on Wikipedia, however, one incident is not mentioned there. One usually doesn't write this in order to commemorate a person; nevertheless, when you start reading Amnon Levi's book "HaCharedim - The Haredim", you find one famous story about Menachem Porush right on the first page:

I think it was in the 70ies or very early 80ies. At the time when Menachem Porush was still a Knesset member. He said something against the Gerrer (Gur) Rebbe in those days. Only a day or so before Shabbat. It wasn't really against the Gerrer Rebbe but rather a certain remark which Chassidut Gur took too seriously.

Menachem Porush said something like "the Gerrer Rebbe is so old and, therefore, it is not certain how much longer he would live".

Chassidut Gur saw this remark as a total offense and went berserk.

Menachem Porush spent the following Shabbat in one of the hotels near Jerusalem's Central Bus Station. When the hotel guests where still praying downstairs, some Gerrer Chassidim stormed into the hotel, pushed away the Arab receptionist and jumped onto Menachem Porush. They broke some of his rips and I don't know what else.

Just note that at that time, Menachem Porush was not the youngest guy himself but this didn't bother the Gerrers.

The result was that Menachem Porush had to stay in hospital for several weeks and I don't know if the whole fight between his son Me'ir the the present Gerrer Rebbe doesn't have its roots in the beating more than twenty years ago.

Achmadinejad can go to Hell

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Former Sephardi Chief Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef gave his Purim speech and compared the Purim story to Iran's dictator Achmadinejad. Actually Achmadinejad is the perfect Haman comparison !
Rabbi Yosef thinks the same way and calls Mahmoud Achmadinejad the "Haman of our generation and he can go to hell".

Furthermore Rabbi Yosef mocked the Ashkenazi way of reading the Torah. Israeli Sepharadim love to call Ashkenazi Jews "Ashkentoizim"; referring to the pronouncation of "oi, oi". I see that as rather funny and I am sure that the Rabbi is right by saying that the Ashkenazi way is wrong. Nevertheless, I am not sure if the Sephardi pronounciation is so perfect either.

I avoid using the words "Shvuos", "Sha'alei Shudos" or "Sukkot".
This pronounciation drives me nuts and, as an Israeli, I consider it as stupid. It just sounds wrong !

Where Palestinians live

Source: Facebook

Jerusalem / Israel Stuff

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In the end, Chanukkah in mostly secular Tel Aviv is more present and spiritual as I had first thought. People light their candles, even in shops and restaurants.

Usually many shops are full of Xmas stuff. Officially for Gentile tourists but the sad fact is that countless Jewish Israelis do celebrate Xmas. "For fun and a cozy atmosphere and for strange religious purposes", they claim. Nevertheless, Talmud Avodah Zarah forbids us to participate in any strange religious idol - worship traditions / celebrations. Literally, we are not even allowed to speak out a name of a non - Jewish holiday.

Hopefully Tel Aviv will remain in a more Jewish style and not get carried away by Xtian tourists and their holiday. Are too many Jews just after the money those tourists spend in Israel and don't look at their own traditions ? A Muslim would hardly do so and sometimes I wish that Jews would be at least more traditional.

The kids don't go to school this week and many people seem to be on holiday. Israelis love to tarvel and places like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are full of visitors from all over the country. Cafes and shops in downtown Tel Aviv are packed and forget about cafes: Too crowded and the line ups in front of the restrooms are unbelievable.

The same in Jerusalem: In the evenings, the Nachlaot neighbourhood as well as the entire area around the Machane Yehudah Market is attrackting many Israeli visitors. Old little cozy Synagogues, the atmosphere and the famous Israeli musician family "Bannai" comes from Nachlaot. Various groups push themselves through Nachlaot in the evening and afterwards onto the Machane Yehudah Market.

Watch out ! The municipalities are sending out the Arnona (real estate) tax bills for the upcoming year 2010. Many cities such as Givatayim (9,63 %), Beersheva (3,63 %), Kfar Saba (4,63 %), Raanana (7,13 %) or Ramat Gan (6,13 %) raise their Arnona drastically. The only place where it is going down is Rishon LeZion.

Other places like Jerusalem, Netanya, Eilat, Petach Tikvah, Ariel or Herzliya raise the city tax by 1,63 %. In Haifa, Modi'in, Ashdod or Ashkelon, the Arnona still remains the same amount as in 2009.

Believe it or not: Even anti - Zionist organisations (Neturei Karta) and other groups (Mishkenot HaRoim or Toldot Aharon) are forced by the local municipality to pay the city tax Arnona. The question is how can you, as a strict anti - Zionist, keep away from the laws and daily life of and in the State of Israel ? You cannot because you have to face real life as soon as you life in Israel.

You can refuse your Israeli ID card (Teudat Zehut), as Rabbi Yoelish Kroisz from the Neturei Karta does. However, as soon as you want to leave the country (go on a trip abroad), you have to leave Israel with your Israeli passport (when you are a citizen). And this means that you have to have a Zionist passport from the Zionist Ministry of the Interior run by the Zionist Israeli government. Yoelish Kroisz is not leaving anywhere and thus, he doesn't need a passport. Sometimes he is getting arrested as just recently when a woman accused him of attacking her during Sukkot but I assume that he is well - known to the police and therefore there is no need for an ID. :-)

Enjoy the last days of Chanukkah and be proud to be a Jew ! No matter if you are a Zionist, a Benoni or an anti - Zionist.

Yahrzeit of Rachel Imenu

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The Yahrzeit of Rachel Imenu (our foremother Rachel) today causes thousands of Jews to visit her grave near Bethlem.

Another Yahrzeit being celebrated in Israel today is the one of former Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin who was assassinated 14 years ago. 
I am not at all in favour of the killer Yigal Amir nor to I believe that anything can justify the killing. Although it is sad that Rabin was murdered, we shouldn't forget that Rachel Imenu is slightly more important than the one of a policitian who, in the end, cause Israel severe damages in regard of its own security. Giving up land and handing over weapons to our Palestinian enemy is anything but a peace solution.


Link:

Yahrzeit Pictures from Kever Rachel

Picture of the Day

Stolen from: Etrog

Picture of the Day

Mr. Secretary of State: Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton - The Desperate Housewife

The Cartoon that is driving SHASS mad

Cartoon: Chadrei HaCharedim

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Haredim, and in particular the Sephardic haredi SHASS - Party, are not at all in love with the latest cartoon drawn by Amos Biderman (Haaretz).
"Biderman, the anti - Semite", many Haredim complain.

The cartoon shows leading SHASS politicians sitting at a table together with the Iranian dictator Achmadinejad. All of them discuss the "sick" homosexuals and Achmadinejad states that Iran doesn't have such a problem anymore. The person wearing a prison suit is the former Knesset member Shlomo Benizri who was sentenced to jail because of accepting bribery.

The background of the cartoon is the killing of two people in a Tel Aviv gay center. Immediately after the attack, gays and Israel's left - wing party Meretz accused SHASS of adding fuel to the gay hatred in Israel.

The cartoon is totally exaggerated and unnecessary but maybe this is what the public and the cartoonist want: Excitement and attention, no matter what the facts are. The only one adding more fuel is Amos Biderman himself.

Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef (front row, left) together with Eli Yishai (front row, right), the head of the SHASS party.

Is Hillary that BIG ?

I had always thought that Hillary Clinton is slim !

Reality is shocking.

Photo: Daylife

... what about Gilad ?

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The whole world is talking about Obama, Netanyahu or Achmadinejad.
Hamas, Hizbollah, Fatach, Israeli settlements.

But what about Gilad Shalit ? Any improvements or forgotten ?




More than a 1000 days, Gilad Shalit has been sitting in the Hamas dungeon.
Picture below: His father Noam at a demonstration.


Photo: Daylife

Worldwide Protests against Achmadinejad

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Worldwide protests against the apparently faked results of the Iranian elections are taking place. Here is a site with further details:

"Where is my Vote ?"

Israeli secret service officials, however, don't see Achmadinejad's government overthrown. Eventually, so the secret guys, the Iranian demonstrations will calm down.

I think so too but I still hope that the Iranians are gaining back their democracy.

Clashes in Iran

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Iranian is convinced that it was not President Achmadinejad winning the latest elections and is demonstrating:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3730786,00.html


Demonstration against Achmadinejad in Teheran



I tried to get into some English spreaking blogs from Iran but didn't succeed. It says the the Iranian government is blocking any political blogs originating in Iran.

However, I did succeed in getting into the blog of Achmadinejad:

http://www.ahmadinejad.ir/

Shabbat Shalom

B"H

Escaping to Jerusalem today - what can I say.
The Tel Aviv gay parade is starting soon and I already saw people dressed in clothes, a normal person wouldn't even imagine.

In Jerusalem, things may be a little more relaxt today, as the police announced that the Safra parking lot is not opening this and next Shabbat. The announcement took place in order to avoid further confrontations with the haredi population. Maybe also because eventually the Gerrer Rebbe took into consideration arriving at the special prayer service in Bar Ilan Street tonight.
Chassidut Gur has a tremendous political influence and, furthermore, Gur is also the leading group within the Knesset party "Yahadut HaTorah".

But even if the Haredim may win over Mayor Nir Barkat, they are already preparing for the next war. Demonstrations against the Jerusalem gay parade.

Nevertheless, have a great Shabbat, Shabbat Shalom and Gut Schabbes !

I am going to spend my Shabbat mostly in Mea Shearim and hope not to face any burning demonstration garbage.

The Pope at the Kotel (Western Wall)

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It doesn't happen too often that a Jewish site is closed due to a visit of an idol - worshiper and anti - Semite. Especially on Lag Ba'omer, the Israeli government and, in particular, President Shimon Peres, should have been aware of the Roman occupation, the Temple destruction and Jewish heros such as Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.

The following pictures were published in the "Chadrei HaCharedim - Forum".

Yesterday: The Pope's visit at the Kotel

Due to the Pope's visit: The Kotel (Western Wall) was closed


Thanks to the Kotel Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, Jews were, at least, allowed to enter the Kotel through this alleyway.

Not too many Jews arrived for the morning prayer Shacharit


Even the DAF YOMI (daily study page from the Talmud) section remained mostly empty.


The security guard chasing the Jews away

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister's wife is an Evangelical Christian

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I found this on "Shilo Musings" and I am still in shock. How can it be that the wife of the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon is an Evangelical Christian ? Where has the Israeli press been so far ?


Anne & Daniel Ayalon
Source:Washington Life




Posted by Ellen Horowitz (Jewish Israel)

She may be "born again", but this
“Judeo-Christian union” could be the death of us all (G-d forbid)…

Evangelical Christian Anne Ayalon, the wife of Israel’s Deputy Foreign
Minister Daniel Ayalon, can be seen and heard on Daystar Television kvelling (sic!) about Jesus’s ministry in Israel (see
8 minutes into the video).

Daystar is a premier missionary network with “a singular goal—to reach souls with the good news of Jesus Christ”, and I guess Mrs. Ayalon considers it good news that, "Eighty percent of Jesus' ministry is up in the Galilee. You walk there and you just feel god's love!"

It’s reportedly not the first time that Anne has used her position as the wife of a
Jewish Israeli leader to “share her testimony about Jesus “ . As the wife of
the former Ambassador of Israel to the United States, it appears Mrs. Ayalon
witnessed on the banquet circuit…

Here’s a choice excerpt from Charles Carrin Ministries:

"While I was surprised by the Ambassador and his wife’s youthfulness, I was more astounded that Anne Ayalon used the Banquet-occasion to share her testimony about Jesus. She is a born-again believer. Speaking before high-ranking Jewish delegates, Washington’s media-reporters, and other international figures, she told of her love for Jesus and even gave a capable explanation of God’s Trinitarian nature. I sat there astonished. Never have I witnessed more graciousness, more spiritual beauty, or more gentleness than she displayed. No one could have criticized her loveliness. The incoming Ambassador’s wife, Noa Meridor, listened attentively as she spoke. More so, I was overwhelmed, wondering about the effects of such a woman becoming Israel’s First Lady. Pray for this couple!"

Israel better pray long and hard that its Jewish leaders come back to themselves and to their people.

No wonder that the Netanyahu government receives millions of donation Dollars from the American Evangelical Movement.