KOL NIDRE and its Misinterpretation

B"H

Kol Nidre is one of THE most Jewish prayers of the Yom Kippur service. The word "prayer" is a slightly out of place, as Kol Nidre is not really a prayer. People rather call it a chant or saying. However, Kol Nidre is an ancient text sung in an ancient heartbreaking melody. Usually it is said before sundown and Ma'ariv. 

With Kol Nidre we begin the very long Yom Kippur prayer service. The Aron (Ark) is opened and three Torah scrolls are being removed and put onto the Bimah. The Shaliach Zibur takes one of the scrolls into his arm and the other two are taken by two respected community members. There is the Minhag that the men wear at Tallit at this point. In most cases the Shaliach Zibur is a rabbi whose task is to sing the Kol Nidre three times. 

The history of the Kol Nidre goes back to the "Responsa of the Geonim" (approx. 800 – 1000 CE). The purpose of the Kol Nidre is to annul all our vows which we might do during the new year until Rosh HaShana. The famous Jerusalem Chabad rabbi, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, writes in his book "A Guide to Jewish Prayer" that this ceremony is an emotional release for all participants (Kehilah). The Kol Nidre has a deep emotional meaning; our soul rises to higher levels and, thus, gaining inner peace for Yom Kippur. 

As I was doing some research on this subject I found out that already in the Middle Ages the church was spreading rumours and hatred, as they misinterpreted the meaning Kol Nidre. Not, that this kind of causing hatred and anti – Semitism is anything new, however, until today these misinterpretations seem to be quite popular among Christian websites. Nothing has changed, so to say. Certain websites still keep the old claim alive that Christians are better business partners than Jews, as one can rely on a Christian promise. Jews never keep anything because they have their Kol Nidre which annuls all promises. Welcome back to the Middle Ages. 

Why do we say Kol Nidre ?
Many people especially like to make a vow when they are angry. "If you do not such and such, I will never speak to you again" – is one of the most popular and common vows. As soon as we overcome our anger we forget about our vows but G – d does not and could later accuse us of not keeping anything. The Kol Nidre annuls such kind of vows in advance and it has nothing to do with being a good or bad business partner. 

However, the Jews of the Middle Ages did use the Kol Nidre for something else. Many of them were forced by the church to convert to Christianity and many did so. The new "Christians" went to church and said whatever Christian things in public but as soon as they came home, they prayed Shacharit. The show was over. Let's get back to our real life. 

Whatever church forced them to vow, the Jews did but always keeping the Kol Nidre in mind which annuls everything right away. This was probably the reason why the church of the Middle Ages got fed up and invented some ground for more hatred.

Cantor Shalom Mendelson singing KOL NIDRE

FLYTILLA Activists leave Swastika at Ben Gurion Airport

The so - called peace activists who were storming Ben Gurion Airport at few days ago, left a special present at the wall of their detention cell. Finally those pro - Palestinians activists from Europe showed us their true anti - Semitic face !

More details HERE !

German anti - Semitism in Hebron

B"H

German diplomats visiting Hebron but ignoring Jews:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Blogs/Message.aspx/4935#.T1-xI112rZI

Why don't stay such German anti - Semitic diplomats in Germany where they belong to ? The group reminds me of a few SS men walking around in Hebron. Now we know where anti - Semitism comes from and Angela Merkel's point of view.

PURIM is the time for anti - Semitism

 View from Gan Sacher (Sacher Park) onto the Nachlaot neighbourhood in Jerusalem.

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H

Every single year anew, around Purim, something is coming up. No doubt, the world hates us. Whether it is Achmadinejad, all the other Arabs, Christian missionaries, Neonazis, liberals or the European Union. Jews have a long list of people hating them since the time of Avraham being hated by Nimrod. 

This upcoming Shabbat we are going to read Parashat Tetzaveh where it is telling us about Amalek attacking the Jews in the desert. Interstingly enough, the chassidic commentator "Shem MiShmuel" speaks about an "Amalek HaGashmi - A real material Amalek" who attacked the Jews without a reason. The same with the nations today. However, the "Shem MiShmuel" also mentions an "Amalek HaRuchani - a spiritual Amalek" who is inside all of us. 

"Amalek" is the symbol for anti - Semites and lots of Jews considered the Germans and their Third Reich as the real Amalek. On the other hand, "Amalek" can also stand for the "Yetzer HaRah - Evil Side" in all of us. When, for example, "Amalek" is telling us not to eat kosher because a cheeseburger is so tasty. Why not having it and enjoying life ?

When Amalek is telling us not to do this or that using all kinds of excuses. This tiny little "Amalek" is in all of us and the perfect way would be fighting our own laziness and excuses. Usually it is not an easy task, as I know myself but do you know when it is really easy: When an anti - Semite or anyone hating Jews makes a bad remark. Suddenly you feel proud to be Jewish and get the strength do to anything. 

What we should always remember: Not to give up but taking the Jews who lived under Achashverosh as an example that everything will change to the good !

Guest Post on Mel Gibson's new movie coming out

As a fellow Jew I am asking you to do the following for the reasons that I am going to state. Mel Gibson has a new movie coming out very soon It is named "The Edge Of Darkness". I am asking you to not only boycott the movie but to forward this message to every Jew and every Jewish support group that you know. If you have any contacts with the media that can put this to print, it would reach even more people then we can imagine. 

If you recall Mel's father denies that the Holocaust ever happened. Mel supports his fathers beliefs. On Ash Wednesday February 25th, 2004, the movie "Passion Of The Christ" opened in thousands of theaters. Mel Gibson co-wrote, directed,and co-produced the movie. Gibson also financed the $25 million it took to make the movie through his own company, Icon Productions. Hollywood's major studios all passed on offers to distribute the film. New market films agreed to distribute it for a fee. The movie has probably created more controversy than any other movie in recent years. 

Some commentators have charged that the movie is Anti-Semitic because it blames the Jews for the death of Christ. The film portrays Jews who adhere to their Jewish faith as enemies of God and the locus of evil.. The above 2 paragraphs were taken from the web site of http://www.religioustolerance.org/chrgibson.htm. Yes, there is a web site. 

In July of 2006 Mel Gibson was stopped and arrested for drunk driving near his house in Malibu by Deputy James Mee. In his initial report, Deputy Mee described how Gibson bolted from custody and how he chased the actor back to his car where he handcuffed him. The report detailed repeated threats against Mee made by Gibson, who said that he "owned Malibu" and "would get even" with the deputy. The report also detailed Gibson's "barrage of anti-Semitic remarks" in which he said, "The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world" before asking the deputy, who is Jewish: "Are you a Jew?" 

The article goes on to say that Gibson, because of his celebrity status received a $1300.00 fine and other minor consequences. He never apologized to the deputy or to the Jewish people. 

Can we support an individual who hates us? Please forward this to everyone you know that is Jewish

Anti - Semitism in Israel's and Germany's Media

B”H 

Israel's secular press just doesn't get it what kind of a new anti - Semitic wave their anti - haredi propaganda causes abroad. On the one hand, the Israeli government as well as the secular media is always upset and complaining about the rise of anti - Semitism all over the world; on the other hand, it is the Israeli press having a tremendous impact on this particular rise of anti - Semitism abroad. Just look at the present wave of hatred against Israel's haredi society. "Every Haredi is bad, a parasite and hates women !" This is the message being spread. Today it is the Haredim, tomorrow the press is running attacks against national religious settlers. Next week it will be the new Russian immigrants again who are, according to the media, all Mafiosi and the women are prostitutes. As soon as another Ethiopian immigrants kills his wife, Israel's media starts a new attack on all Ethiopian immigrants, as they are "all" primitive and criminals. 

However, what you don't find the secular media complaining about is, for instance, the 40,000 illegal Africans spreading in Tel Aviv . Our secular left - wing press considers those illegal Africans as the true future Israelis because they want to work and join the army. How sick can anyone be thinking that religious Jews are worth less than an illegal Muslim African coming to Israel because he wants to earn money and nothing else. The African has no ideology towards the State of Israel. Place him here today, and he will tell you that he loves Israel. Tomorrow, give him a plane ticket to Europe or the United States and he will claim to become a great American or European.

It is Israel's media having a great part in the rise of anti - Semitism as well as anti - Judaism worldwide. Lets look at the German left - wing magazine DER SPIEGEL. The magazine has always been anti - Semitic towards religious Jews and has been hating the guts out of them. The same with Israeli settlements and any right - wing Knesset member. Don't read what DER SPIEGEL has to say about haredi society these days and don't you ever read the German comments. I made the mistake and did read them and now I understand why Hitler had been so successful in Germany. 

Achmadinejad: "Zionists behind both World Wars !"

B"H

The Iranian President Achmadinejad has made a new historicla discovery.

“The Zionists started both World Wars !”

His latest statement is not that great and unique, as someone else was much faster than him.

Thanks to MONTY PYTHON

Mel Gibson and his obsession with the Jews

B"H 

Danielle Berrin brings an interesting perspective of Mel Gibson and his Jew - hatred. 

http://www.jewishjournal.com/hollywoodjew/item/mel_gibson_will_produce_movie_about_judah_maccabee_--_but_why_20110909/ 

I think the Maccabis would just chop off his head if they knew what kind of a movie he is going to make about them.

The "Silent Exodus"

B"H

Silent Exodus was selected at the International Human Rights Film Festival of Paris (2004) and presented at the UN Geneva Human Rights Annual Convention (2004)

In 1948 nearly one million Jews lived in Arab lands. But In barely twenty years, they have become forgotten fugitives, expelled from their native lands, forgotten by history and where the victims themselves have hidden their fate under a cloak of silence.

A people whom legend have always associated with "wandering" many of these Jews from Arab lands had lived there for thousands of years and accepted their fate, through good times and bad times.

But 1948, the beginning of their exodus, also saw the birth of the State of Israel.

And, while the Arab armies were preparing to invade the young refugee-country, the survivors of the Shoah were piling up in rickety boats. Meanwhile a few hundred thousand Arabs from Palestine were getting ready to flee their homes, convinced that they would return as winners and conquerors.

Soon - by a terrible twist of fate they, as well, began to fill up refugee camps and passed on their refugee status to new generations.

  

 Thanks to FRUMLIFE.

The Jews, however, did not receive refugee status.

They had just rediscovered the land of their birthright.

And if they came from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iraq or from Yemen, if they had lost everything, even their relatives and their cemeteries, they were ready to rebuild their lives in the West and for many - in Israel - and try to forget their past.

Without ever asking for compensation or the right of return, or even wishing that their story be told...

THE ARABS WITHOUT THE JEWS: ROOTS OF A TRAGEDY

by MAGDI ALLAM

(translated from Italian by Lyn and Lawrence Julius)

Israel is the keeper of a mutilated Arab identity, the repository for the guilty consciences of the Arab peoples, the living witness to a true history of the Arab countries, continuously denied, falsified and ignored.

The Egyptian Press and its anti - Semitism

B”H

The latest hate news from Egypt: Egyptian government press and its anti - Semitic publications. The hate content just reminds me of the German Nazi Julius Streicher, who once was the editor of "Der Stürmer".

"Jews are the descendants of apes and pigs !" 

Yesterday (Fritag), a demonstration took place in front of the Israeli embassy in Cairo. The message was clear. Just look at the photo on the right. 

Are there any reactions from the UN, the European Union or Angela Merkel ? Is Germany speaking out against Arab anti - Semitism ? We all know the answer but I am still asking ...

MEMRI on the anti - Semitic articles of Egypt's press.

Photo & and further details : The Vicious Babushka

Iranian Website displays cartoons about the Holocaust

Blood Libel before Pessach

Explanations HERE !

B"H

It is a very sad part of Jewish history that especially during the Middle Ages, European Jewry was accused of using blood of Christian children for healing purposes. By drinking Christian blood, Jewish males would raise their sexual desires.

Sick but extremely popular ideas in those days. Responsible for spreading such rumours was the church and countless Jews were killed. The worst times were around the Passover (Pessach) holiday because Jews were also accused of using Christian blood for baking their Pessach Mazzot. Any time a Christian child disappeared, the Jewish population was instantly accused of having killed the child.

The first time the blood libel appeared was in England during the 12th century. Afterwards, the blood libel spread in other European countries such as Spain, Italy, Poland or Russia. The Nazis of the Third Reich loved to take over all those ridiculous ideas from the Middle Ages, as we can see in Julius Streicher's anti - Semitic propaganda paper "Der Stürmer".

Officially the blood libel seems to have disappeared due to modern society. However, when I was still living and working in Germany in 1999, I used to have a Polish colleague who once told me that Jews like to drink Christian blood during Pessach. I was shocked when I heard that but didn't succeed in convincing her that this is all a lie.

Parashat Vayikra mostly deals with the sacrifices (Korbanot) in the Temple. In Vayikra 3:17 we read that G - d commanded the Jews NOT to eat any blood not forbidden fats (Chelev). Those of you dealing with Kashrut (kosher) laws know how careful meat has to be kashered in order to get all the blood out. There is even special salt we for this purpose.

The Talmud Tractate Kiddushin 37b teaches us that G - d gave us this commandment only for the times when there is a Temple. In case there was no Temple, the result would be that the law doesn’t apply anymore. However, the same Gemara further teaches and proves to us that the commandment does apply in times where there is no Temple. No matter where we live, we Jews have to refrain from consuming blood and forbidden fats. Even in the Diaspora (Galut).

Link:

Countering Anti - Semitism

"Crime Scene" - How the Church faked the Jewish Torah

Achmadinejad removes sign of Esther and Mordechai Tomb in Hamadan

 Photo: Jewish Journal

 B"H

Among many other news sources, MEMRI reports that the Iranian authorities removed the sign of the grave of Esther and Mordechai in Hamadan / Iran. The famous grave has been on Achmadinejad's hate list for quite a while and it doesn't surprise me that now he is taking action. I bet that soon we will face the destruction of the gravesite and then Achmadinejad may claim that actually the Mossad is responsible. 

Iran justifies itself saying that on Purim, the Jews still celebrate the death of thousands of Iranians. Yes, this is basically true but it also shows that Iran hasn't understood the hidden message behind the Purim story. The same as the Nazis. When the anti - Semite and editor of the Nazi paper "Der Stürmer", Julius Streicher, was executed by the Allies in Nuremberg in 1946, he screamed out "Purimspiel - Purim Game !" 
Meaning, Achmadinejad has got the best company.

The Catholic Church against Jews and G - d

B"H

Does this news surprise us ?

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/140226


For more than a thousand years, the church(es) have been trying to destroy Judaism and the Jews. Pogroms, Talmud burnings, the Inquisition. Martin Luther was one of the greatest anti - Semites ever, the Catholic church accepted Jewish children from desperate parents during the Holocaust but never returned them. And, last but not least, Pope Pius didn't do anything in order to protect the Jews from the Holocaust nor did he let the Jewish children leave the monastries after the war was over.

Now some bishops again conclude that the Jews are not the "chosen people" anymore and, instead, G - d has chosen the Christians. Or in other words: The Catholics, as Catholics only consider them as the true Christians and will go to hell paradise.

The concept of claiming that G - d left the Jews and chose the Christians instead was already the ideology of the Apostle Paul. Until today, the Catholic church has kept its anti - Semitism and you can hope for whatever you want, there will never be a change. By the way, can you imagine that G - d would choose a bunch of pedophile priests and bishops (including their protecting Nazi Pope) as the new chosen people and rulers over Israel ?

Source: Political Humor

Further links on how the churches manipulates:


Blood Libel before Pessach

Why the church rejects the Talmud

Why Christians believe that the Torah is invalid

Stealing Jewish children during the Holocaust

The Torah is not in Heaven

The Church and the Talmud

Anti - Semitism is making Jews

B"H

Theodor Herzl once said that anti - Semitism turned us into Jews !

As we all know, the Torah turned us into a real Jewish nation but someone can agree with Herzl or not, his statement does include reality. Just look back to the Middle Ages and all those centuries after. Jews suffered and the more they suffered, the more they stuck to their religion. Not always in a frum sense but at least a national sense. Jews intermarrying with Gentiles was almost unheard of.

I admit that there have been always Jews running away from Judaism, converting to Christianity or becoming atheists; nevertheless, the problems with secularism and intermarriage we are facing today have never ever been that vital before. With the beginning of the Haskalah in the 19th century, Jews enjoyed a better life and seem to have forgotten about the hatred of the world constantly reminding us who we really are. You may be as secular as you can but there is no way to escape the Gentile world reminding you of your Jewishness.

Sweden is not a good place for Jews

B"H

In particular, Sweden and Norway have become more and more anti - Semitic within the past ten years or so. Known as liberal countries, especially Scandinavia has been flooded with a huge amount of Muslims from the Middle East such as Palestinians, Lebanese and others. After France, Belgium and Holland, Sweden has become Europe's number four concerning the Muslim population. 502,000 Arabs live among a 9,3 million Swedish population; thus making up 5,6 percent of the entire population.

Malmoe has turned into an Arab paradise and most inhabitants are anti - Israel. 55,000 Arabs live in Malmoe. The entire population of Malmoe is 275,000 inhabitants.

Yelling anti - Semitic curses at Jews in Malmoe is nothing special anymore and more and more Jews leave for Stockholm, London or Israel.

The Israeli daily "Israel Hayom" was reporting about the 33 - year - old Jewish lawyer Markus Eilenberg last Friday. Born in Malmoe, Eilenberg and his wife had good jobs and a properous lifestyle. However, Markus Eilenberg didn't feel save anymore and doesn't see a way to raise his two children in a Jewish way. The Eilenberg family decided to leave Malmoe and make Aliyah to Israel. A month ago, they moved to Modi'in and are now facing the difficulties of Israeli Aliyah bureaucracy. Just as every other new immigrant as well. However, the Eilenberg's are happy to be here and see the Jewish community of Malmoe soon vanishing.

Malmoe will be left with a bunch of Arabs who then will turn over to terrorize the local Swedish population.

Just a Thought: "Israel and the World"

B"H

It doesn't come as a total surprise that the majority of the world is against Israel. Not only against Israel but also against Jews; in particular against religious Jews.

When I was still in Yeshiva, we were always taught that the Jews brought morality into the world and this is why we are hated. In ancient times and before the Torah, the Gentile nations did whatever they wanted. They killed, robbed and raped without any conscience. Comes along the Torah and talks about a creator and no more murdering and robbing. Later on, the Prophets kept on telling us that before Meshiach is coming, the world will be entirely against the Jews and Israel. Basically they will try to destroy us, fail and then Meshiach is coming. Of course, there are different commentaries on that but what we see (or have seen throughout history) that the world is against us. No matter what we do, we are wrong and the rest of the world is right.

Why can't we Jews just be like the other nations and always follow our own "strange" laws ? The answer is simple: Because Jews have a special G - dgiven mission in life. Everyone does; including the Gentiles. Still, Jews have special Tikkunim (soul rectifications) to fulfill in order to bring about Meshiach.

Weren't we told by the Prophets that the world will be against us no matter what we do ? Now you can think about whether the nations are doomed to be against us or whether they are still able to follow their own free will.

I am not at all surprised about all kinds of propaganda against Israel but I don't see Meshiach at the doorstep although we wish he may be.

Ancient Crusader Map of Jerusalem

B"H

The below Crusader map of Jerusalem was printed in the 12th century.
The anti - Semitic Crusader mob killed thousands of Jews on the way to the Holy Land and, as soon as the Crusaders arrived in Jerusalem, they killed even more Jews. 

Photo: Hebrew University National Library

Old / New anti - Semitism

Photo: Diaspora Museum Tel Aviv

B"H

For many years, the "Diaspora Museum" in Tel Aviv has been exhibiting these two statues. Statues from many centuries ago but still more than up - to- date. Christianity (left) is looking down on Judaism (right). The thought is that if Judaism would give itself up and only accept Christianity, it would be prosperous and succeeding. If not, it will always be somewhere on the bottom.

This is how various Christians think; especially now around Easter when they celebrate their false "Meshiach". They are not even ashamed of yelling at Jews passing through the Arab Quarter (on their way to the Western Wall, Kotel). Two years ago, me and some other Jews passed a church while doing a tour through the Arab Quarter in Jerusalem's Old City and some Christians got mad by seeing us.

What is different from the Middle Ages ? It looks like the Inquisition is still alive.

Nevertheless, Christianity and its false "Meshiach" will never win over Judaism and, in particular, not over the Torah and G - d.

Every Generation has its evil Gentile trying to destroy the Jews !

And who is the evil Gentile (Muslim) in this generation ? Besides Achmadinejad !

Photo: Sultan Knish