The Pope has landed in the Promised Land.
The Ministers from the Ultra Orthodox Sephardic Shas party did not show up at the Pope's official greeting ceremony at the Ben-Gurion airport (reported on Galei Tzahal news), but then again, the same Shas ministers didn't show up on time to yesterday's cabinet meeting on-time either.
Apparently, they have a late morning prayer service, and the government's cabinet meeting was moved to an earlier slot (9:30 AM) and so the Shas Ministers came late. Aguda MK and Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman arrived on time to yesterday's cabinet meeting, as he goes to an early morning daily prayer service. (source in Hebrew)
Back to the Pope: Freedom of Speech and Expression is alive and well in the State of Israel...
1:03 PM Two Ultra Orthodox Jews were arrested by the Israeli Police near the Augusta Victoria Hospital for carrying signs against the Pope's visit to Israel. (ynet)
Israel's President, Shimon Peres has been doing his best toforce convince Interior Minister Eli Yishai (Shas) to transfer sovereignty over 6 sites in Israel to the Vatican...
The mountain is mentioned in Joshua 19:22, as border of three tribes: Zevulun, Issachar and Naphtali. Deborah the prophetess and judge of the children of Israel, summoned Barak (from the tribe of Naphtali), giving him G-d's command, "Go toward mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men from the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zevulun" (Judges 4:6). Descending from the mountain, the Jews attacked and vanquished Sisera and the Canaanites...
Has President Peres no shame?
The "Sack of Jerusalem", pictured on the right is located on the "Arch of Titus" in Rome, and depicts the exile of the Children of Israel as they were brought to Rome after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem 2000 years ago.
For years, many have alleged that the Golden Menorah from the Temple are now in the Vatican...
Therefore, 2 activists, Baruch Marzel and Itamar Ben-Gvir filed a criminal complaint, listing Pope Benedict XVI on the list of defendants. The criminal complaint details a record of treasures and possessions that belong to the Jewish People that are being held in the Vatican in Rome, including various volumes of the Talmud, books of Maimonides, and around 7,500 works on Jewish philosophy and science that were stolen and remain in the Vatican library. (source)
Another important item that Israel should be demanding is the list of Jewish children who were housed by Christian families during the Holocaust, and converted to Christianity. These children are Jews. The Vatican's refusal to hand over this list so that these people can now be made aware of their true heritage, is a crime worthy of the Church that burned people alive during the Spanish Inquisition, for refusing to convert to Christianity.
Despite the Vatican's refusal, where is the Rome of two thousand years ago and the heritage of Titus? We're here -- and they aren't.
The famous Arch of Titus gained a new addition a few decades ago, as the Hebrew words, "Am Yisrael Chai" [The Nation of Israel Lives] were added to the base of the arch.
Last but not least - Jerusalem is now ensnarled in traffic, as streets throughout the city have been closed off in honor of the Pope's visit. A word to the wise: your car will be towed at your own expense if you parked it on the "wrong" street.
Update: Special Mention to R' Rabinowitz, the administrative official in charge at the Kotel and Jewish holy sites in JerusalemRabbi of the "Kotel" (Western Wall) and Jewish holy cites in Jerusalem, for refusing to allow the police to close the Kotel to Jewish worshipers during the Pope's visit to the Wall. That's Backbone.
The Ministers from the Ultra Orthodox Sephardic Shas party did not show up at the Pope's official greeting ceremony at the Ben-Gurion airport (reported on Galei Tzahal news), but then again, the same Shas ministers didn't show up on time to yesterday's cabinet meeting on-time either.
Apparently, they have a late morning prayer service, and the government's cabinet meeting was moved to an earlier slot (9:30 AM) and so the Shas Ministers came late. Aguda MK and Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman arrived on time to yesterday's cabinet meeting, as he goes to an early morning daily prayer service. (source in Hebrew)
Back to the Pope: Freedom of Speech and Expression is alive and well in the State of Israel...
1:03 PM Two Ultra Orthodox Jews were arrested by the Israeli Police near the Augusta Victoria Hospital for carrying signs against the Pope's visit to Israel. (ynet)
Israel's President, Shimon Peres has been doing his best to
Peres is pressing the government to agree to the Vatican's request that Israel surrender control of six religious sites, among them the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth; the Coenaculum on Mount Zion in Jerusalem; the Gethsemane, which sits at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem; Mount Tabor; and the Church of the Multiplication, which hugs the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee. (Haaretz)Transfer Sovereignty from Israel to the Vatican? Is Shimon Peres the President of Israel, or the official emissary from the Vatican to Israel? I think now would be a great time for "settler youth" to erect a new "outpost" atop Mount Tabor.
The mountain is mentioned in Joshua 19:22, as border of three tribes: Zevulun, Issachar and Naphtali. Deborah the prophetess and judge of the children of Israel, summoned Barak (from the tribe of Naphtali), giving him G-d's command, "Go toward mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men from the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zevulun" (Judges 4:6). Descending from the mountain, the Jews attacked and vanquished Sisera and the Canaanites...
Has President Peres no shame?
The "Sack of Jerusalem", pictured on the right is located on the "Arch of Titus" in Rome, and depicts the exile of the Children of Israel as they were brought to Rome after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem 2000 years ago.For years, many have alleged that the Golden Menorah from the Temple are now in the Vatican...
Therefore, 2 activists, Baruch Marzel and Itamar Ben-Gvir filed a criminal complaint, listing Pope Benedict XVI on the list of defendants. The criminal complaint details a record of treasures and possessions that belong to the Jewish People that are being held in the Vatican in Rome, including various volumes of the Talmud, books of Maimonides, and around 7,500 works on Jewish philosophy and science that were stolen and remain in the Vatican library. (source)
At least one archaeological researcher claims that the Temple Treasures are not being held by the Vatican. Dr. Sean Kingsley, author of God's Gold: The Quest for the Lost Temple Treasure of Jerusalem, has stated that the looted treasures are somewhere in the Holy Land. “One thing is for sure – it is not imprisoned deep in Vatican City,” Dr. Kingsley told the British Sunday Times in 2006.While its doubtful that the Temple Treasures are in the basement of the Vatican, its an undisputed fact that these stolen Jewish books are in fact, in the possession of the Catholic Church.
Another important item that Israel should be demanding is the list of Jewish children who were housed by Christian families during the Holocaust, and converted to Christianity. These children are Jews. The Vatican's refusal to hand over this list so that these people can now be made aware of their true heritage, is a crime worthy of the Church that burned people alive during the Spanish Inquisition, for refusing to convert to Christianity.
Despite the Vatican's refusal, where is the Rome of two thousand years ago and the heritage of Titus? We're here -- and they aren't.
The famous Arch of Titus gained a new addition a few decades ago, as the Hebrew words, "Am Yisrael Chai" [The Nation of Israel Lives] were added to the base of the arch.
The Roman Forum's Arch of Titus, which commemorates the sack of Jerusalem, has become one of the most powerful symbols of the diaspora. Its carvings depict the emperor's triumphant procession carrying loot from the Temple, including a large, seven-branched menorah.Shimon Peres would be well advised to remember which country and religion he comes from.
The arch became such a powerful symbol that Roman Jews refused to walk under it.
It was only in 1948, with the founding of the state of Israel, that they passed through it in a solemn procession -- in the direction opposite to that taken by the triumphant ancient processions. (source)
Last but not least - Jerusalem is now ensnarled in traffic, as streets throughout the city have been closed off in honor of the Pope's visit. A word to the wise: your car will be towed at your own expense if you parked it on the "wrong" street.
Update: Special Mention to R' Rabinowitz, the administrative official in charge at the Kotel and Jewish holy sites in Jerusalem
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
9 comments:
For the sake of accuracy, R. Rabinowitz is not the rabbi of the Kotel. He is the memuneh of the Kotel -- the administrative official in charge at the site. There is a difference.
Rahel: Updated :)
Jameel, I am a big supporter of your blog and I typically agree with you.
During the Gaza Incursion, I cited your blog many of times in terms of keeping the world apprised of what was truly going on, as opposed to the pro-Palestinian spin of the MSM/Net Roots, etc.
I am, however, a Roman Catholic, albeit a stauch supporter of the great state of Israel.
Here in South Florida I grew up with many Jews, some of my best friends are Jews and the vast majority of my fathers business partners/associates were Jews.
As for Pres. Peres, there was a later clarification after the initial Army Radio report.
However, in terms of the Christian Holy Sites the belief is the Vatican can better administer these sites, in light of the fact some could fall into the hands of the PA in a hypothetical, future agreement. (in others worlds Islamo Fascists controlling the most sacred holy places for Christians)
Either way, I comprehend the sensitivity & historical aspects involved from your side of the divide.
Take care and G-d Bless!
Hi Carlos! Thanks for taking the time to comment. To be honest, I understood when writing my post that Roman Catholic readers of my blog could disagree with me.
A few important points to consider:
1. The 6 locations in question which I pointed out are not in the "West Bank" but in pre-67 Israel, so it would take a real stretch of the imagination to believe these sites would eventually fall under Palestinian control (though I guess anything's possible...and that's a very scary thought).
2. There's also a difference between the sites being transferred to the Vatican from a ownership perspective (which I really have no qualms about), to the issue of transfer to actual "sovereignty" which has been the Vatican's position.
A tremendous goodwill gesture on behalf of the Vatican would be the 2 issues I raised in my post; that of the Judaica in the Vatican library, or even more importantly, the list of children who were converted to Christianity during the Holocaust.
No one is denying the importance of the act of hiding these children from certain slaughter by the Nazis, but to deny these children their religious heritage is unfair (to say the least).
I understand that this could be difficult to accept from a Roman Catholic religious standpoint, and you don't have to agree with me either -- and I appreciate your comprehension of sensitive and historical aspects involved.
Regards from Israel -- and again, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Jameel
Great information.
Your site is always #1
As Israel is constantly under threat of invasion, or a nuclear attack from Iran, I think those books may be safer in the Vatican.
I'm spanish and I was in Israel a few weeks ago. I visited all of the mentioned places, plus all christian holy places in Belem metting some catholic custodians in Holy Land, many of them spaniards. I can tell they are rabid antisemites and absolutley pro palestinian, their speeches to the pilgrims were really drepressing and rancids. I really was shocked as I always was a supporter of the catholic church in Spain. First of all, those are christian places, not Catholic so Israel has no right to give them to a determined confession, and belive me that the chistian confessions have really bad relations there in holy land. Most of the palestinian christian are greek christian. The only true christian friends of Israel are american protestants .If Israel has to give up some day all the west bank, as the Pope and the Vatican support strong and publicly, I really hope Israel tranfer all the land to their beloved Palestinian state, so they would have to deal with them. Let's see if the Pope give more sermons about security while all the city as you say looks like a bunker to garantize the Pope security.
Israel, sooner or later, the international community will force you to leave the west bank, dont be so NERD please
The Rebbe of Lubavitch told us (that this very arch
is the source of) regarding the misappropriate form that so permeates Judaica today, namely, the semi-circular shape of the menorah's branches. The Rambam and Rashi state clearly, the former also with a picture, that the branches of the menora were straight, not rounded. Similarly with the omnipresent circular "tablets" - which talmud tells us were square - not rounded at the top. Let your local shuls know!
The Rebbe's talks on these issues should be real easy to locate, and, of course, well worth the reading.
That list is of critical importance, but I am highly skeptical that they will pass it along.
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