Cleaning Up

B"H

Lately, some people keep on telling me that all the information about chassidic groups are sometimes hard to find or access. Although I labeled most of the articles, the flow of information is, in some cases, far too much.

I have been aware of the problem for quite a while and thus, have been trying to think of a solution.
For people only interested in plain details about chassidic groups, I am planning a separate blog only with such information. A blog only listing the basic information about the groups.

I hope that this way it will be a little easier.
In case you have any better ideas, please let me know !

Porush versus Barkat

B"H

Tomorrow, Tuesday, is election day in several places such as Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.

In Jerusalem it is going to be extremely interesting, as the secular Kadima candidate Nir Barkat is running to become the new mayor. His competitor is the haredi Knesset member Me'ir Porush.

Now people may think that all the Haredim are running to vote for Me'ir Porush, as he is one of them. But people thinking this way are very much mistaken.

In haredi society many different directions are arguing with each other and therefore, Porush is having a tremendous hard time.
The Gerrer Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter, doesn't want Porush at all and ordered his Chassidim to vote for the secular Nir Barkat.
Order from the Gerrer Rebbe:
His Chassidim in Jerusalem have to participate in the municipality elections and vote for Barkat.

I am not sure where Rabbi Eliyashiv and his Litvaks are standing. The latest news was also against Porush, but who knows.

The Belzer Rebbe, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, obviously confirmed Porush his assistance. No one knows if the Belzer Chassidim are really going to vote for Porush or if just everything is another big show (as a Chassid from a different chassidic group gossiped me).

Here we have a chance to get another religious mayor (after Uri Lupolianski) in Jerusalem but due to all the personal quarrels, the secular candidate Nir Barkat might win.

Maybe I am too stupid but I am unable to understand this !

Chaseneh in Vishnitz / Satmar

B"H

A great Chaseneh (wedding) is going to take place in Bnei Brak tomorrow (Tuesday).

The daughter of the Vishnitzer Rebbe Israel Hager is getting married to someone from Satmar. The wedding itself is apparently taking place in the Satmarer neighbourhood near Chazon Ish Street.

חוזרים לכיכר

Last night: Kikar Rabin shortly before the event started.


B"H

Thirteen years ago, on a Saturday night in November 1995, the former Israelis Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin was shot in front of the stairs of the Tel Aviv Municipality (at the backside of the building). His murderer Yigal Amir then was a law student at Bar Ilan University.

Every year, different organizations hold a memorial service for the assassinated Prime Minister. Usually on the Mozzaei Shabbat after the 4th November. Location: Kikar Rabin in Tel Aviv.
The huge square in front of the municipality building where everything happened 13 years.

The Hebrew date is going to be tomorrow (Monday) and Rabin's family is having a private memorial service, including Kaddish, at the Rabin grave on Har Herzl in Jerusalem.

When Rabin was killed in 1995, it was also a Mozzaei Shabbat and I was in Israel at that time. No one not having been here and facing the murder cannot imagine what was going on in our country during the time after. It was a terrible disaster and an awful feeling. A feeling of "What now ? Such things happen in Dallas / Texas but not in downtown Tel Aviv.
Or do they ?
Things got even worse when the police announce shortly after that the killer had been a Jew and not an Arab. Even a religious Jew from Herzliya.

Someone told me yesterday afternoon that all kinds of people will be there at night. I had made the remark that it is probably only the Leftists going but who knows. I went, more or less, on time. The event was due to start at 7.30pm and when I arrived, all my worst expectations came true. The left – wing youth organization "Noar Lomed ve'Oved" was all over the place. A "Meretz" stand (extreme left – wing party) and even "Chadash" (the Arab Knesset party) had opened up a stand. When I passed, I overheard the word "Kivush – Occupation" and everyone can surely imagine how excited I was. Okay, Tel Aviv's municipality is in the middle of an election campaign but letting the Arabs making propaganda at a memorial event ?

Furthermore, the "Shalom Achshaf – Peace Now" movement was there. Nevertheless, many many "normal" participants were there as well, and in the end, we were about 70.000 – 100.000 people.
"Meretz" and "Peace Now" can make as much propaganda in Tel Aviv as they like, in Jerusalem their stands would get stoned after a few minutes. Almost everyone in Jerusalem has either been a victim in a terror attack, witnessed one (as I did) or knows people who were involved. No chance for dreamers and the illusionary left - wingers.

The square was already filled up when I arrived. Thousands of people were there. Mostly the younger ones and young couples or families. The weather was perfect and warm.
I made my round and overheard a few conversations. "Peace Now" handed out stickers, T – shirts and huge signs / posters. There, you could get anything against the settler movement. As if the settlers had killed Rabin.
I found a great spot to stand near the stage; right in front of the VIP entrance. This time, no one took a chance and everyone getting near the stage was checked just like at the airport. We visitors outside just underwent a brief security check.
A screen showed the last speech Rabin made before he was shot. At the same location where we were standing now. Then the Israeli "Superstar – A Star is born" Harel Skadd sang the first song.

It was a nice mixture – Someone made a speech and right afterwards there was music from different Israeli singers and artists. Ran Danker sang and later on, we had to suffer through a song presented by Efrat Gosh. She must have been doped or something, as she was completely in Lala – Land.

The speakers were President Shimon Peres, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Tel Aviv's mayor Ron Chulda'i and Foreign Minister Zipi Livni. Further screens were set up for the spectators standing far away from the stage. However, I stood very close and I was able to see everyone without the help of a screen.

Shimon Peres claimed that he and all of us miss Rabin. (During his life time, Rabin was Peres' greatest competitor).
And it was only Ehud Barak who got to the point. Reality is that today, we are more far away from peace than ever before. Iran and the Hizbollah want to destroy us and the Hamas has similar plans. Not to forget Gilad Shalit who is still a hostage in Gaza.
Someone standing behind me yelled at Barak: "So, why don't you get him out !"
No response but Barak continued gossiping and cursing the settler movement.
As soon as the name Gilad Shalit was heard, people gave a big applause. In fact, not anyone neither mentioned the real present security situation nor Gilad Shalit at all. Ehud Barak was the only one although he continued with a hateful speech about the religious movements.

Fact is, that Rabin and his Oslo Agreement totally failed. Shimon Peres had left that out of his speech.
The Arab terrorist shooting the students at the Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva in Jerusalem last March, used a weapon handed over from the Israelis to the Palestinian Authority. Thanks to Rabin's agreements.

Who really believes in a mutual peace in Israel ? Haven't we already given up hope a long time ago ? How can you make peace with Palestinians whose only goal it is to get rid of the Jews and occupy all the land by themselves.
Get rid of the Jews, no matter how.

And what would Rabin say if he saw an Ehud Olmert or a Zipi Livni today ? He would turn around in his grave in anger how people misused his peace ideas. Rabin never spoke about dividing Jerusalem or returning the Golan Heights to Syria. He was obsessed with security and as a soldier, he knew what would happen.
And what about Sderot ? Did anyone talk about Kassam rockets at the Kikar last night ?
No, of course not because they were too busy yelling against the Jewish settlers.

Lot's of criticism was spread because the religious population entirely stayed away from the event. Hardly anyone has ever shown up before and won't do so next year. The reason is not that all religious love or identify with the killer Yigal Amir. The reason is that there will never be a peace. Nor the Hamas or Abu Mazen, nor the Hizbollah or anyone else wants peace with Israel. The only thing they want is to destroy us and if we think that we can get a peace through handing them over more and more land, then we are mistaken, stupid and unrealistic. Silly dreamers who will loose everything in the end. Only Meretz & Co. may follow their crazy ideologies and will find themselves without a country one day.

Zipi Livni started her speech with an apology.
She apologized for not having attended the events earlier. When Rabin was killed, she was still a member of the Likud and in those days, the head of the Likud was Benjamin Netanyahu. And it is Netanyahu being accused by the Rabin daughter, Daliah Rabin Pelosoff, of having killed her father.
It was Netanyahu who let his followers swing the posters where Rabin was shown as Hitler or a Nazi.
A crazy accusation but Daliah as well as her mother Leah, stuck to their opinion.

Furthermore, Livni announced that she wants a free democratic country just as everyone else in the world. No religious influence and any rabbis telling the people what to do.
Well, well, she must have completely forgotten that just a few days ago, she went to see the spiritual leader of the Sephardic haredi SHASS party, Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef. And at the meeting, Zipi covered her hair with a kind of curtain. Just according to the Halacha.
She can announce whatever she likes; fact is that she needs SHASS in her coalition.

None of the leading politicians making a speech referred to today's tense security situation. It was as if everyone lived in the past, 13 years ago.

The worst was a representative from Barak Hussein Obama.
"Who the hell invited this idiot ?"
He told us in his southern American accent that Obama would be Rabin's best friend.
Well, Mister Obama representative, you have no idea what your are claiming. Especially Rabin would never make an Iran deal without any conditions, accept money from the Hamas or divide Jerusalem.
Why was this guy invited at all ? To get some Obama feeling ? The guy just made a fool of himself.

And this was the moment, when many people started going home. Me too, by the way.

Remark:
About two weeks ago, Yigal Amir gave interviews to the Israeli TV channels Arutz 10 and the Second Israel Channel. The interviews were never broadcasted and now it came out why.
In his interviews, Amir claimed to have shot Rabin only once. The second bullet came from a totally different direction.
The famous conspiracy theory would have reawaken if the interview was shown on TV. According to many people, Rabin wasn't shot by Yigal Amir but only injured. The final shot happened inside his car on the way to Ichilov Hospital. The killer: A Shabak (secret service) agent.

Shabbat in Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv (in the background) and Yaffo in the front.


B"H

There was hardly anything worse for me than getting on the bus to Jerusalem this morning. However, I have to work in the evening and things to arrange during the day. The positive side is that I am going back to Tel Aviv on the first bus tomorrow morning.

As you realize, I love it in Tel Aviv and I have to admit that I really enjoyed my Shabbat there. Of course, a Tel Aviv Shabbat is not a Jerusalem one and you should make arrangements beforehand. But who cares ?
I went to a Chabad Synagogue where I already know some people. Friday night (Erev Shabbat) I went to sleep early but happy.
For lunch I was with a friend in one of the worst secular areas in Tel Aviv. She lives in Sheinkin Street and we had lunch with her flatmates. The weather was great and we were sitting outside on the balcony.

Afterwards I went to the beach and even made it over to Yaffo. The promenade to the old town of Yaffo is brand new and it is just terrific to walk along the Mediterranean. Hundreds of people had the same idea and it was quite crowded. First I thought about going, as I don't know if there is an Eruv between Tel Aviv and Yaffo. However, I saw many religious people walking and sitting on the promenade benches as well, so I did the same.
Old Yaffo is beautiful and I ended up in a park with plenty of Egyptians excavations. Let alone a fantastic view over the sea. And then I knew what I had missed so much: being outside and just enjoying nature.

For too long, I have been stuck in Jerusalem. With the religious, Mitzwot and all the Halachot. Don't get me wrong - I have nothing against Halachot or anything; however, yesterday I felt that too many religious Jews concentrate on all the laws, Shabbat, take a rest, Se'udat Shlishit (third meal), etc. There is no real time to enjoy or think about yourself, about life. Just run and fulfill the laws. Eat you chicken soup and your Cholent and light the Havdalah candle. Too many religious Jews seem to have forgotten to enjoy G - d's creation. Sit at the beach, look at the sea, just walk along the streets, or in other words: enjoy being alive.

No, I didn't miss Jerusalem and all the long faces from people with all their worries. Worry here and there but without any solution in the end. It is worth taking some time off; only from oneself. Find back to the pleasure G - d wants us to have in this world. It doesn't mean to abandon religion but it does mean to find you inner meaning in this world.

In the evening after Shabbat, I did what almost 100.000 other people did as well: I went to the Yitzchak Rabin Memorial event on Kikar Rabin.

However, I am soon publishing a separate article about my experiences there.

Cain und Abel (Hevel)

B"H

Someone once asked me why G – d accepted Abel's sacrifice and refused Cain's.


The two characters of Cain and Abel (Hebrew: Hevel) are not easy to understand. There are already different opinions about their origin. The kabbalistic ZOHAR (Book of Splendor) says that Eve (Chava) had sexual relations with the snake. This happened when she ate from the "Tree of Knowledge – Etz HaDa'at Tov veRah".

It goes without saying that no human being has ever been able to explain the real meaning of what it means to eat from this tree. And what or whom does the snake represent ? What exactly was the tree and what does it mean having sexual relations with the snake ?
As we know, many times the Torah uses a symbolic kind of language. Let's stick to the ZOHAR where it says that the snake wasn't really a living animal but rather an inner voice convincing Chava to eat from the tree. The "Yetzer Harah – one's evil inclination", our own negative disposition trying us to persuade following our own desires instead of our intellect. When we do something wrong we know exactly that something negative is due to follow but we still keep on sinning.

The snake represents a inner persuasion to act against G – d's will. "Well, it won't be too bad", Chava may have thought.
At the moment, she and her husband Adam ate from the tree, both awakened the "Yetzer HaRah" in humanity. The difference between good and evil came into existence. Until then, there was only Good although the two of them always had the Yetzer inside of themselves. It was G – d Himself who had created the "Yetzer HaRah" in order to bring the concept of "Free Will" into this world. Without "Free Will" we would be puppets and couldn't do any Tikunim (soul rectifications). When Adam and Chava finally ate, they awakened the Yetzer and since, we are commanded to fight the Yetzer. An act, Adam and Chava regretted later on in life. Kabbalistic literature tells us that Avraham rectified Adam's act and did a Tikun for his soul, as Adam's Nefesh (lowest soul level / animal soul) was reincarnated in Avraham.

After the sin with the tree, the first child was conceived and born with an exposed Yetzer. And this was Cain, as he was the oldest of the two brothers. And as Cain was the first one, he received the full doses of the new Yetzer and Abel (Hevel) received a little less. Thus, both of them had very different character traits and didn't get along too well.

We usually see Cain as the evil brother and Hevel as his victim. But not only Cain got the Yetzer Harah but also Hevel. And, therefore, Hevel was not such as great guy as we seem to believe. He was not that innocent at all. The Midrashim "Sefer Adam HaRishon" as well as "Sefer Seder HaDorot" teach that Cain was the first bringing his sacrifice. According to the "Midrash Tanchuma" he did so at the same spot where once Adam HaRishon had brought his sacrifice after he was thrown out of Gan Eden (Paradise). The famous spot was the Temple Mount (Har HaMoriah) in Jerusalem.

The Torah describes Cain as someone working the fields and therefore, he sacrificed fruit or vegetables. According to Rashi, Cain only sacrificed fruit which fell of the tree or was of a bad quality anyway. Cain simply didn't care although G – d deserves only the best. Hevel saw his brother bringing the sacrifices and became jealous. "What he can do, I can do much better ". And thus, Hevel brought his own sacrifice. As he worked with animals, he took one of his animals and sacrificed it. An animal of good quality and this is why his sacrifice was accepted; at least according to most commentaries. But what about Hevel's envy ? Didn't he just bring the sacrifice because he saw Cain ?

The commentator Kli Yakar makes an amazing statement which is widely accepted. When Hevel became jealous, it was in a positive way of being jealous.
And what is "positive jealousy" ?
Everything negative in this world can be turned around into something positive and this also concerns the envy of a person. Let's assume that I am too lazy to walk to the Synagogue but see someone else running there. Then it can happen that I become jealous in a positive sense. Envy showing that I have the desire to serve G – d. Why only someone else and not me ?

This is exactly what happened to Hevel when he saw his brother bringing his sacrifice. Cain didn't care that much but he sacrificed. That's very nice. But Hevel, first of all, sacrificed a great quality animal and secondly, Cain had aroused his positive envy. Therefore, Hevel had the greatest Kavanah (intention). And these are the reasons why his sacrifice was accepted by G – d.

Onkelos has the same opinion.
But why is it still hard to understand that everything depended on the envy ?
Because both brothers were equipped with extremely high souls from their father Adam and, therefore, should have been able to act differently. Hevel shouldn't have waited until he becomes envious but instead brought his sacrifice without the passive help of his brother.
And why did Hevel have to die ?
The easiest solution would be to say that Cain was jealous and upset. However, there are also different statements in the Midrashim. The Midrash Tanchuma states that both brothers had been already fighting for a long time and Cain just finally lost his temper. In kabbalistic literature we find a further reason:
The two brothers were born with twin sisters. Cain had one sister and Hevel had two. And this is the actual reason why Cain was jealous. He wanted Hevel's second twin sister but his brother didn't want to give her to him. And this is why Cain killed his brother. But the Kabbalah goes much further. The souls of the two participants in this incident as well as the soul of the twin sister in question were reincarnated. Later on, Moshe included a part of Hevel and when he killed the Egyptian taskmaster, he actually killed Cain. Again the reason was a woman. The Egyptian had a affair with a Jewish woman and Kabbalah sees a connection between the struggle between Cain and Hevel who were originally fighting about Hevel's second twin sister. First, Hevel lost and now, due to Moshe, Cain lost. Thus, Hevel's soul underwent a Tikun. One could also sarcastically call it "revenge".

Some generations later, after Cain had killed Hevel, his descendants killed him with an arrow. The incident was actually an accident and not at all intended. Cain was shot when he went out hunting and some parts of his family mistakenly thought that he is an animal. He was shot and died.

It is said that all his descendants were of bad character traits and that all of them died in Noach's Flood. This is why Cain has no descendants. However, there are claims on the Internet that the descendants of Cain once built Atlantis which was eventually destroyed because the people were only evil. This is just a theory and nothing has been proven but it does sound like an interesting idea.

Moreover, the Midrashim state that neither Cain nor Hevel really looked like a human being. At least not the way their father Adam did. Only Adam's third son Seth (Shet) was born according to Adam and only Shet became the father of humankind.

Shabbat Shalom !

B"H

Back in Tel Aviv and I am unbelievable happy about it. The timing this morning was perfect, as downtown Tel Aviv, many roads were closed off due to the city marathon.

I had to run to prepare for Shabbat and I am not sure if I am going to do much tonight or tomorrow. If so, I am going to a Chabad Synagogue nearby. For lunch I am invited by a friend of mine from Bar Ilan University.

It just looks like a quiet enjoyable Shabbat with Synagogue and beach. Just the opposite to last weeks Shabbat at the Toldot Aharon in Jerusalem. But, as I said, sometimes it is really good having a break and seeing something else. Meeting new people and finally going to the gym at the beach.

Git Shabbes - Shabbat Shalom - to everyone. And hopefully you have such nice and warm weather as we have in Tel Aviv !!!

"Glorious" Heros

The "Kastner - Train" in 1944


B"H

What haven't we learned at history classes in school about the foundation of the State of Israel ? The underground Haganah / Palmach as well as those from the Irgun / Lechi / Etzel troups. And when we then hear about the brave acts of all those underground fighters, many times they start becoming our heros.

European Jewry surviving the Holocaust wanted to live in a Jewish country, as they had enough of all the anti - Semitism going on for the past 2000 years. However, the British occupied Palestine and they were anything but happy about all the Jews. The Brits made countless deals with the Arabs and in order not to cause any further tension between Arabs and Jews, they refused to let the Jews settle the country. Jewish resistance fighters, especially those from the Irgun, were put into jail or were excuted. During their occupation in Palestine, the British were anything but heros. Those of you who would like to know more are free to visit the former British prison in Jerusalem (Shivtei Israel Street, behind the Municipality). The building is a museum today and it is worth visiting it.

"All underground fighters only fought against the British" but if you think this way your are proven the opposite. Ben Guron's Haganah fought against the Menachem Begin's Irgun as well, and it was David Ben Gurion who stated that the Jews in Palestine should not fight the British but rather work together with them. The way he used to work together with them was turning in Irgun members knowing what the British would do to them. For this purpose, Haganah soldiers even kidnapped Irgun members.

Are these facts just results of the circumstances of the times ? Not really.
At the moment, I am researching about the "Kastner Train". A train with almost 1700 Jews leaving the Nazi occupied Hungary for Switzerland. The train first went to Bergen Belsen and then set off for Switzerland. A special deal reached between the Hungarian Jew Dr. Rudolf Kastner and the Nazi Adolf Eichmann. Already during the war, Kastner worked as a representative for the Jewish Agency in Budapest and later on became a member of David Ben Gurion's MAPAI - Party.

There is so much material on the "Kastner issue". Why were those 1700 Jews allowed to leave Hungary and another 400,000 Jews were deported to Auschwitz and gased ? Why did the Nazis at all bother with Kastner after they invaded Hungary in March 1944 ? They had already killed Millions of Jews and now why not just killing Hungarian Jewry as well ? Why suddenly start negotiations ? And why was the Jews Kastner allowed to have a car, a telephone and why could he see Eichmann all the time ?

So far, I have already found plenty of material where some founders of the State of Israel, in particular David Ben Gurion and Moshe Sharett, appear to be anything but brave and loyal. During his trial in 1954, Kastner was accused of collaboration with the Nazis and causing the death of 400,000 Hungarian Jews by not having them warned about their upcoming fate. And during the trial we see a Ben Gurion government constantly protecting Rudolf Kastner. He himself was then the spokesman of the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Kastner lied in court and he was caught. He lied about his voluntary Affidavit for the SS - murderer Kurt Becher. Due to this Affidavit, Becher wasn't accused in Nuremberg. But Kastner was even in touch with Becher after the Second World War. In the meantime, the former SS - member Kurt Becher had become a friend of the German chancellor Konrad Adenauer who, on the other hand, was also very friendly with David Ben Gurion. No wonder that Ben Gurion tried to keep Kastner clean. What would have become of Adenauer and his Nazi friend if this haden't been the case ?

The victims were 800,000 Hungarian Jews who were left allone and betrayed by Kastner. Of course, there are various opinions about Kastner if he was a hero or a collaborator. He obviously saw himself as someone helping the Jews out. At least some of them.
After their invasion in March 1944, the Nazis didn't loose any time and set up Jewish ghettos immediately. And immediately the deportation to Auschwitz began. The whole matter only took 2 - 3 months and most members of Hungarian Jewry were gased. A handful Nazi officers agaist thousands of Hungarian Jews. How was this possible ? And who is bothered by that today ?

In Israel, the name "Kastner" still has a meaning. These days, I have been reading Ben Hecht's book "Perfidy". It is a book about the Kastner trial and there is no doubt about it that Ben Hecht hated Kastner, Ben Gurion and the Germans. For Hecht, Kastner is a demon and even Hannah Arendt sees Kastner later on (during the Eichmann Trial) as the personification of evil. A Jew who helped the Nazis deporting and killing 400,000 Hungarian Jews. Kastner made the whole machinery possible in a fast an unproblematic way although he saved 1700 Jews.

What shocked me most was the role of the Jewish Agency because you always consider this organization as something Jewish and helping everyone as much as it can. Another negative role plays David Ben Gurion who, many times, seems to me being a traitor to his own people. For the next coming weeks, I am planning many articles on the Kastner case. From different points of view although it is shocking to find out the other side, the bad side, about heroic politicians from the times of the foundation of the State of Israel.

Simchat Torah Pictures

B"H



Simchat Torah in Chassidut Belz.
Right: The Belzer Rebbe Yissachar Dov Rokeach



Belzer Chassidim on Simchat Torah



Simchat Torah celebrations in Chassidut Dushinsky in Jerusalem



Chassidut Dushinsky in Jerusalem


The Dushinsky Rebbe





Simchat Torah in Chassidut Zhvil





Simchat Torah in the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak





Simchat Torah in the Shomrei Emunim





Simchat Torah in Pinsk - Karlin


All pictures can be seen here:
http://www.bhol.co.il/forum/topic.asp?topic_id=2502526&forum_id=20293

Participation is Forbidden !

B"H

With a new Pakshivilim (news posters) hanging on the walls of Mea Shearim, the anti - Zionist umbrella organization "Edah HaCharedit" is announcing to its members and supporters:

"A participation in the local elections on November 11, 2008, is absolutely forbidden. We (the Edah) do not support a Zionist mayor of Jerusalem !"

Next Tuesday, the inhabitants of Jerusalem are electing a new mayor for their city. For the past few years, the litvishe Haredi Uri Lupolianski had been the mayor. He was a quiet mayor and we hardly heard about his decisions. Some say that he was too quiet. His predecessor Ehud Olmert was different, as we all know. He was famous for the tax waste for his own purposes and, most of the time, he travel to New York instead of ruling our city.

The most famous candidates for the upcoming elections are:

1. Nir Barkat - A secular politician and businessman.

2. Me'ir Porush - A Knesset member of the haredi party "Yahadut HaTorah".

3. Arcadi Gaydamak - An Russian - Israeli Billionaire who doesn't even live in Jerusalem and doesn’t know any Hebrew.

Gaydamak has almost no chance of being elected and this is why he is looking for his vote among the Palestinians in East Jerusalem. Abroad (e.g. in France), Gaydamak is a wanted figure, as he is accused of illegal deals with arms. In Israeli, the police is after him and accusing him of money laundering.

The best chances of getting elected has the secular Nir Barkat. People see him as an experienced person. He is a businessman and thus, would know how to run the city. And - he could be a mayor for all inhabitants. Even the Gerrer Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter, is said to have met with Barkat and may have promised the support of Chassidut Gur. Only because Gur refuses to support the third candidate Me'ir Porush.

Yesterday, haredi Internet forums claimed that Barkat would be anything but positive for the haredi population, as Nir Barkat hates the religious. He has proven so in the past and always was the first one in limiting the influence of the religious. Furthermore, he supports the Kadima party and therefore would agree with Zipi Livni dividing our capital.

As mentioned, the third candidate is Me'ir Porush. A Haredi and people see in him too much religion. Can a guy like this with a long white beard and long coat be a mayor for everybody ? Wouldn't he instantly close all clubs and shops which are open on Shabbat ? Can he be a mayor for the secular and the Palestinians as well ?
For the past few weeks, Porush has been running a big campaign but the Jerusalemites don't trust him too much. "Too haredi" - that's their opinion. On his election posters Porush promises thousands of new affordable apartments for young couples. He doesn't say how and for which young couples ? Only for the haredi population ?

And it is Me'ir Porush being THE most controversial figure. Not among the secular population but rather among his own society. The Gerrer Rebbe doesn't want him and so does the litvishe Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliyashiv. Porush tried to apologize for old disputes between them but hasn't succeeded. However, he does have the national religious, the Sephardi Haredim and Chassidut Belz behind him. Apparently the Belzer Rebbe Yissachar Dov Rokeach has signed an agreement with Porush and Belz will vote for him.

As usual, the members of the Edah HaCharedit are not participating in the elections. The Edah banned any participation in Zionist elections

There is a chance of getting a total haredi mayor and due to all kinds of personal disputes, chances are ruined at the same time. It looks like we have to put up with Nir Barkat who is even prepared to divide Jerusalem.

Why can't the Haredim just forget about their little quarrels, at least once, and do something together ?

The "Obama Gematria" in Parashat Lech Lecha

B"H

Some people love to do Gematria and here is the latest example concerning the elections in the US.

I still cannot believe that American voted for a "Hussein" just seven years after September 11.

The Kotel Rabbi and the Avraham Yitzchak Rebbe

B"H

Nothing is secret anymore. Just have a look into the haredi Internet forums and you know what I mean.

Yesterday, the Kotel (Western Wall) Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch was seen leaving the house of the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak Rebbe in Beit Shemesh in the middle of the night.

This is great news, as the Kotel Rabbi Rabinovitch is "unwanted" in Mea Shearim. The Sikarikim published Pakshivilim where they libel Rabinovitch as a traitor, Shababnik and by any other bad name you can imagine.

More Violent

Who is a "PIG" ?

Kidnapped by the Zionist Police

The Toldot Aharon split off, the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak, are part of the Edah HaCharedit but, as it is well - known, Rebbe Shmuel Yaakov Kahn likes to go his own ways, and I am not surprised that he met with Rabinovitch.

I once asked a Chassid from a different group why Rebbe Shmuel Yaakov Kahn doesn't leave the Edah, and the Chassid responded that the Rebbe wouldn't want to risk a scandal. Nor a scandal within the Edah neither a riot within his own group. He still has Chassidim who are very much in favour of the Edah and the Rebbe wouldn't risk upsetting his group. But why are those members not upset now ?