Shearim

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Spring is right Ahead

B"H

Two days ago, it finally rained. Just for one day but we even have to be grateful for that. The Kinneret rose by 3 cm and this is at least something.

However, spring is right ahead although the rain period is not over yet. Today, Tel Aviv is sunny by 20 degrees Celsius. Too warm for the season but many plants have started blossoming already.

"Yahadut HaTorah" reached Goal

Anti - Litzman pamphlet found in the streets of Ge'ulah / Mea Shearim last Friday night. "Don't vote for Litzman, as he wants to rule over all of us (all Haredim). This time, vote for someone else."

B"H

Despite all kinds of anti - Litzman campaigns, the "Yahadut HaTorah" party again made it to five Knesset seats. I read in Israeli haredi forums that the Haredim themselves estimate that approx. 40.000 Haredim eventually refused to vote for the "Yahadut HaTorah". The party is mainly run by Chassidut Gur which opposed the Jerusalem's mayor candidate Me'ir Porush last November and thus, made itself plenty of enemies among Haredim.

A week ago, I spoke to a Belzer Chassid and he said that if the Belzer Rebbe was not deciding in favour of the "Yahadut HaTorah", he would prefer voting for the Sephardi - haredi SHASS party. As a matter of fact, many Chassidim and Litvishe seemed to have voted for SHASS and not for the "Yahadut HaTorah". However, Yaakov Litzman and his Gerrer followers succeeded again and reached five Knesset seats.

I don't know for whom the Belzer voted in the end, as he also said that if the Belzer Rebbe decides, he has to vote for the "Yahadut HaTorah". I, on the other hand told him, that he should vote for whoever he likes because only G - d and him know about his choice. "Yes, but you have to understand, our Rebbe is like a King", he responded.

A few days later, the Belzer Rebbe decided in favour of the "Yahadut HaTorah" !

Today, SHASS is thanking all Haredim (and other people) who voted for them. Altogether they received 11 seats in the Knesset. And, by the way, SHASS is not the worst choice, as they actually do a lot for people in financial and social despair.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef and the Women

B"H

Years ago, Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef used to be the Sephardi Chief Rabbi and now he is the spiritual leader of the Sephardi - haredi SHASS party which just received 11 seats in the Knesset. For the past few years, SHASS had been a coalition partner of Kadima and now, after the recent elections, they try to avoid anything but returning to Kadima.
Why ?

The difference is that now Kadima is run by Zipi Livni and not by Ehud Olmert anymore.
And Zipi (Zipora) is a woman. Rabbi Yosef is not too excited about women and has made some anti - female quotations in the past. "A man going between two woman would be like a dog (or was it a donkey ?) !" Of course, this quotation is from the Talmud but, nevertheless, a wise rabbi doesn't just say anything out loud in order to say something.

Although I am anyhing but a Livni fan, not talking to a woman if she may be the next prime minister is out of place. Being involved in politics means being in touch with the outside world and I have to take into consideration that this job involves talking to woman or Gentiles. Politics and especially the outside world are not my little backyard and G - d created us all to do Tikunim (soul reparation).

On the other hand, I would like to know how haredi women see a female prime minister ?
Maybe it helps them getting more self - confidence. I am going to ask some haredi women but already know what many of them are going to tell me: "Why bother with all that? Isn't having a family enough ?"

Election Results

B"H

The results of the elections in Israel are probably known to everyone already. I couldn't believe when they announced last night that Zipi Livni has one seat more than Benjamin Netanyahu. Who could be that crazy and vote for Kadima after all the Olmert scandals and wheelings and dealings ?
However, this is our new reality and both candidates, Zipi Livni and Netanyahu are now searching wildly for coalition partners. Whoever makes it, can become the new prime minister.

Today, Netanyahu met the head of the Sephardi haredi SHASS party, Eli Yishai, and Zipi Livni met Avigdor Lieberman. Livni and Lieberman would fit, as both hate the religious and in particular the Haredim. Lieberman wants non - kosher food, civil marriages and any non - Jewish Russian immigrant to be Jewish. Jewish by an easy reform Giur or something similar.

A colleague of mine who is also not too much pro - Haredi claimed that now the Haredim would take over and force secular Israelis to keep the Mitzwot. Just like the Muslims in Iran, the Jews do now start the same in Israel. I told her that SHASS has been a Kadima coalition partner for quite a while and we are still in Israel and not in Iran. I cannot really relate to the fear of the secular any religious politicians may introduce a haredi dictatorship. Those Haredim who are into politics have, first of all, to deal with all kinds of Jews and secondly, I don't consider them as so holy anyway. As I said before, politics are a dirty business and how do you think those haredi politicians climbed up all the ladder of success ?

Help for Kallah (Bride)

B"H

I know this family personally and if anyone wants to help, I know that the family would highly appreciate it. Their story is a real interesting on anyway.

http://eastonwedding.wordpress.com/

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Elections 2009

http://www.leumi.org.il/english/

B"H

Israel is electing a new Knesset today. The polling stations are open until 10pm and in smaller settlements until 8pm. I already went to vote this morning and on top of the page, you can see who I voted for. For the right - wing Zionist party "Ichud HaLe'umi" - standing for a State if Israel with a Jewish identity. Jews should settle wherever they want, as it is our land.

I voted in a right - wing Zionist neighbourhood in Jerusalem and at that particular polling station, they were almost running out of the first set of the small notes with the Hebrew letter TED, standing for the "Ichud HaLe'umi". People vote by taking a small note with the letter of the party and putting it into an envelope.

It took me two minutes and I was done. I noticed more people at the polling station than three years ago. Hopefully we are getting rid of all the left - wingers such as Kadima and the Labour Party. I don't care if Benjamin Netanyahu is becoming prime minister but the main concern is that it won't be Zipi Livni.

Internet Problems

B"H

Those of you having trouble opening this or other Internet sites properly should check their Internet Explorer. I heard that Explorer contains many bugs at the moment and therefore you should rather use MOZILLA FIREFOX !!!

Monday, February 9, 2009

The Personality of the Baal Shem Tov

B"H

I already mentioned before that after all the time passing by, many original teachings of the Baal Shem Tov (approx. 1700 – 1760) either got lost or were changed / interpreted differently by his followers. Thus today, we don't know many of the Baal Shem Tov's (Besht) teaching anymore. He himself never wrote down anything and all literature we have was written by his followers. Mostly by the Besht's favourite student, Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Polonnoye (Polna). It was Rabbi Yaakov Yosef (died in 1782) collecting all the teachings and thesis of the Besht and publish them afterwards in several books. The same with the famous "Stories of the Baal Shem Tov – The Shivtei HaBesht".

According to the Israeli Chassidut researcher Gedaliah Nigal, many other Chassidut researcher always make the same mistake:
Claiming that in order to get to know the personality of the Besht or analyze his character, you need to study the "Shivtei HaBesht". Hardly anyone is taking into consideration that these stories were told by different people and thus are mostly not too reliable. At least not regarding the Besht's character.

Furthermore, the author Tzvi M. Rabinowicz expresses his doubts in his book "Encyclopedia of Hasidism": Did the Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite really transmit the Oral Law to the Besht, as Rabbi Yaakov Yosef claimed ? When Rabbi Yaakov Yosef once wrote to his brother – in – law that the Besht referred to Ahijah as his mentor who taught him the way of moderating Heavenly judgments. This particular statement was only made after the death of the Baal Shem Tov and Rabinowicz suspects that Rabbi Yaakov Yosef introduced Ahijah into chassidic mythology in order to enhance the reputation of the Besht.

The Yemenites want to Leave

B"H

For the past years, life for the few Jews remaining in Yemen (Te'iman) hasn't been easy. The top of the iceberg was the murder of their Rabbi Moshe Yaish Nahari. He was shot by radical Muslims and since then, life has been unbearable. Even while shopping at the local market, the Yemenite Jews are forced to hide their identity.

Now they announced that they want to leave Yemen, as the local government doesn't do / or cannot do enough for their safety. A final destination hasn't been announced but I assume that those Jews are going to make Aliyah to Israel.

Links:

Website of the Yemenite Jews

MiTaiman (In Hebrew ONLY !)

The History of the Yemenite Jews

Chabad in favour of "Ichud Le'umi"

B"H

Although Chabad doesn't bother too much with getting involved in Israeli politics, leading Chabad rabbis announced that Chassidut Chabad is supporting the "Ichud HaLe'umi" at the Knesset elections this Tuesday.

And although the head of the "Ichud Le'umi", Aryeh Eldad, doesn't wear a Kipa, he still stands for religious Zionist Judaism and Jewish identity.

More to Chabad and the elections here !