Israeli Stuxnet Cyberweapon Taking Over the World?

Last week, reports first surfaced that a software virus was wreaking havoc in Iran, possibly damaging the Iranian nuclear weapons program.

The virus, named "stuxnet" is also causing all sorts of damage to China as well.

A computer virus dubbed the world's "first cyber superweapon" by experts and which may have been designed to attack Iran's nuclear facilities has found a new target -- China.

The Stuxnet computer worm has wreaked havoc in China, infecting millions of computers around the country, state media reported this week.

Stuxnet is feared by experts around the globe as it can break into computers that control machinery at the heart of industry, allowing an attacker to assume control of critical systems like pumps, motors, alarms and valves.

It could, technically, make factory boilers explode, destroy gas pipelines or even cause a nuclear plant to malfunction.

The virus targets control systems made by German industrial giant Siemens commonly used to manage water supplies, oil rigs, power plants and other industrial facilities. [BreitBart]

Suspicious fingers are pointing towards a silent Israel, and that the super top secret 8200 unit was behind it. 8200 is so top secret, that writing any more about it than the above mention could get this blog deleted and turned into a Belgian Website selling waffles.

On Thursday the NY Times found an alleged smoking gun, that Israel might be behind the virus -- in that one of the modules in the malicious software is named "Myrtus" (Hadas).

That use of the word “Myrtus” — which can be read as an allusion to Esther — to name a file inside the code is one of several murky clues that have emerged as computer experts try to trace the origin and purpose of the rogue Stuxnet program, which seeks out a specific kind of command module for industrial equipment.

Not surprisingly, the Israelis are not saying whether Stuxnet has any connection to the secretive cyberwar unit it has built inside Israel’s intelligence service. Nor is the Obama administration, which while talking about cyberdefenses has also rapidly ramped up a broad covert program, inherited from the Bush administration, to undermine Iran’s nuclear program. In interviews in several countries, experts in both cyberwar and nuclear enrichment technology say the Stuxnet mystery may never be solved.

There are many competing explanations for myrtus, which could simply signify myrtle, a plant important to many cultures in the region. But some security experts see the reference as a signature allusion to Esther, a clear warning in a mounting technological and psychological battle as Israel and its allies try to breach Tehran’s most heavily guarded project. Others doubt the Israelis were involved and say the word could have been inserted as deliberate misinformation, to implicate Israel. (NYTimes)

Instead of focusing on the Purim-time message of Esther/Hadas/Myrtle, the NY Times could have chosen the much more timely message of the current Jewish festival of sukkot -- in which the myrtle branches, "Hadassim" are ceremoniously waved along with the etrog, lulav and aravot (as part of the 4 species)


Regardless, I'm glad my blog isn't hosted on a Siemens Control Host computer...and I proudly serve in the IDF reserves (I hope that will keep my blog safe for now).

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Chol HaMoed Roundup

Its now the evening of Hoshana Rabba, and here's a roundup of all the interesting news from sukkot...

- 8:15 PM this evening, Palestinians hurled multiple firebombs were thrown at cars on the highway 55 between Kfar Saba and Karnei Shomron. No injuries reported, but the police and IDF did close the highway for an hour, resulting in a car accident with lightly wounded motorists.

- I was supposed to go to Kever Yosef last night. Last night was the "Ushpizin" of Yosef, and over 1000 people were allowed in. A new tomb marker has been installed and the dome has been fixed -- both of these were destroyed by an Arab mob 10 years ago, and it took 10 years for them to be fixed.

- Delusional Israelis take part in yet another pro terrorist flotilla, which was intercepted by Israel's Navy today.

During their interrogation, the Israelis said they wanted to transfer humanitarian aid to Gaza as well as bring a message of peace. Yonatan Shapira, a former Israel Air Force pilot who took part in the sail, said soldiers resorted to violence while taking over the boat.

"There are no words to describe what we went through," he said. "The IDF Spokesperson's Unit is trying to paint a picture as though the takeover was not violent, but the soldiers' actions were violent and disgusting. I was tasered by a soldier. Our message is that the occupation in Gaza cannot continue."[ynetnews]

Oh no! He was "tasered"? How about all the lethal rockets being shot at Israel daily by Gaza?

Too bad these Israelis care more about Gaza and its terrorist government, than say, kidnapped IDF soldier, Gilad Shalit.

- It has now been revealed, in an investigative piece by the Washington Times, that J Street was brazenly lying every single time they repeatedly claimed that they have received no funding from George Soros.

It also turns out that the lion’s share of J Street’s funding has come not from small grassroots donations by American Jews as J Street claims, but from a mysterious, unknown wealthy woman from Hong Kong, who provided more than half of their funding in 2008/9.

Some more information on George Soros that I hadn’t known about before: During the Holocaust, he was a member of the Judenrat, who collaborated with the Nazis by assisting them in confiscating Jewish property. He does not deny having done this, and to this day, says that he feels no guilt whatsoever over it, since – in his words – “if I wasn’t doing it, somebody else would be taking it away anyhow” (PajamasMedia) [h/t: Lurker]

- Caroline Glick's eye opening analysis of what Israel's Left is really after.

Following the example of its counterparts in the West, for decades the Israeli Left has carefully cultivated its image as the fun side of the political divide.

In a thousand different ways, the public was told that the Left is on the side of tomorrow. It is the home of optimism. If you want a cheery future, if you want to party all night long and never get a hangover, the image-makers told us the Left is the place to be.

From the Left's perspective, the peace process between Israel and the PLO was the fulfillment of its promise. It was also its key to a permanent cultural monopoly and control of government.

Israelis who objected to handing control over the country's heartland and capital city to the PLO were nothing more than gloom and doom preaching, messianic extremists. The Right was angry. The Left was happy. The Right was the party of war. The Left was the party of peace. The Right was suspicious and tribal. The Left was optimistic and international.

Read it all here.

- The Jerusalem Post had a disturbing round of Op-Ed pieces starting with one from Israel's worst PM ever, Ehud Olmert, who brags about his idea for relinquishing Jewish soverignty over Har HaBayit.

- Right before Sukkot started, Israeli Arabs rioted in the City of David/Silwan neighborhood. Here are some photos of their peaceful demonstrations (from Palestinian websites, PANet and Palestine 48 and rotter.net)

















I doubt you saw these pictures in your local newspapers.

That's all for now. Have a Happy Sukkot...and my apologies to the Chabad readers who buy their etrogim from Eretz Yisrael.

Jameel.

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The Irony of it All

You've got to admit, this is all quite a bit ironic... and confusing.

On one hand you've got Im Tirtzu threatening BGU (Ben Gurion University) with bad publicity if it doesn't start reigning in its radical left (anti-Zionist, by definition) professors and instructors, threats which could ultimately result in a boycott.

You've then got BGU's radical left professors and staff calling for a boycott of not just Israel but also of their own university.

And now you've got the University of Johannesburg considering whether or not to boycott Ben Gurion University.

The only thing that isn't at all clear to me is for which reason do they want to boycott BGU.

Is it because they support Im Tirtzu and don't like the radical left-wing professors and administration?

Or is it because they are listening to BGU's radical leftwing professors and administration who are calling for a boycott of their own university?

Or is it because they don't care that BGU might be a hot-bed of anti-Zionism, and it just bothers them that its in occupied Israel?

Perhaps its because BGU is doing important research that will help South Africa deal with water contamination problems and they want to hurt South Africa.

I hope they clarify their reasoning.

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Jewish Holiday Season Craziness

And this is with only ONE day of Chag here in Israel!



hattip: DF, DryBonesBlog

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Why do some Chabadnikim shun Eretz Yisrael Etrogim?

Updates in this post...

I recently learned that there are some Chabad (Lubavitch) chassidim who insists on using "Yanover" etrogim from the Italian province of Calabria, despite the availability of Yanover etrogim from Eretz Yisrael which also have "Kedushat Eretz Yisrael"

Chabad's website states:

It is of utmost importance that you purchase your Four Kinds from a trustworthy, G‑d-fearing vendor, and that the etrog is rabbinically certified. An etrog that is harvested from a tree that was grafted together with another species – a practice that is unfortunately common, as the hybrid product is quite beautiful – is invalid for Sukkot use. Rabbinical certification guarantees that the etrog is from a tree that was inspected to ascertain that it is "purebred."

This is one of the reasons why many prefer to use an etrog that comes from the Italian province of Calabria, also known as "Yanover" etrogs. The etrog orchards in this region have been providing etrogs for centuries and are known to be of untainted pedigree.

Could anyone please enlighten me why Chabad still insists on using Etrogim from Chutz LaAretz, while there are now tens of thousands of "purebred" etrogim, grown in Eretz Yisrael?

The "Arba Minim Center" claims:

These Esrogim come from Calabria in Italy, are usually exceptionally clean and well shaped. The majority are grown without a Pitum. They are favoured by Chabad chassidim who have a tradition that Moshe Rabeinu used an Esrog from Italy.

The Baal Hatanya says that Moshe Rabbeinu used an Etrog from Italy.

This could explain the real reason Moshe didn't merit coming into Eretz Yisrael (and not for the hitting/speaking to the rock episode)

Some found the above overly insulting, so I struck it out. However, it's based on the pain felt by The Orech HaShulachan and R' Kook, who lament the fact that people prefer etrogim from Chutz Laaretz over those from Eretz Yisrael.

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World's Biggest Etrog (not for the faint of heart)

This etrog broke the Guinness record for the world's largest etrog -- weighing in at 7.5 kilo (16.5 lbs)...and this ain't no photoshop.


Source: Kikar Shabbat (there are many more photos there as well)

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Kol Nidrei Acapella

This takes your breath away...

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Fight the Freeze - Build a Shul

To make a long story short (because time is of the essence since no one knows what Bibi will really do after September 26), in the Zayit neighborhood of Efrat some of the neighbors have gathered together to build a shul – despite the freeze, or in other words, to fight the freeze.

After winning the municipal tender for a plot of land to build their shul (twice in fact), they decided that their 100 families could no longer wait for the freeze to end (or not to end) and permanently leave them in limbo and shuless (or is that shul-less).



They’re already digging out the mountain to prepare the foundation and need to raise money to complete that (they need another $5000 for that) as well as hire the architect and of course, build the shul.


If you want to fight the freeze, this is your chance to put your money where your mouth is:

You can donate online at: http://www.zayitjewishcenter.com/donations.htm

And you can see pictures here: http://www.zayitjewishcenter.com/pictures.htm

(A friend of mine is involved in this project, so I can vouch for it)


Gmar Chatima Tova,

Jameel.

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New Palestinian Hit Song: "Pull The Trigger"

USA taxdollars are now financing an ad campaign in Israel featuring huge billboards of Palestinian terrorists asking you to "accept" their "partnership" with Israel.


I saw a bunch of these in Kfar Saba last night, and found the corresponding UPI article:

"The campaign launched Sunday includes the faces of senior Palestinian Authority officials Saeb Erekat, Jibril Rajoub and Yasser Abed Rabo, and Riad Malki, Palestinian foreign affairs minister, Yedioth Aharonoth said.

The aim of the campaign is to persuade Israelis that peace partners on the Palestinian side truly exist, and calls for support of a two-state solution, the Tel Aviv newspaper said.

The U.S. government was approached to fund the campaign by the Geneva Initiative founders, who drew up an agreement in 2003 to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the newspaper said.

The U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, invested close to $250,000 toward the creation of the billboards, the newspaper said.

The campaign has raised a few eyebrows in Israel.

"We are talking about a Palestinian Authority campaign funded by the American government," an Israeli Foreign Ministry official was quoted saying."

The following is a much better representation of the "Geneva Initiative"


All kidding aside (though this is far from a laughing matter), PMW found the following video for us, which was paid for by the Palestinian Authority.

The following is a transcript and description of the performance:

Band member recites a poem:

"Fight, brother, the flag will never be lowered,
the torches will never die out."
On [Mt.] Carmel (in Israel) and in the [Jordan] Valley,
we are rocks and streams.
In Lod (Israeli city) we are poems, and in Ramle (Israeli city) - grenades.
We, my brother, shall remain the revolution of the fighting nation."

Vocalist sings:

"The Zionists went out from [their] homelands,
compounding damage and enmity.
But the Palestinian revolution awaits [them].
The orchard called us to the [armed] struggle.
We replaced bracelets with weapons.
We attacked the despicable [Zionists].
This invading enemy is on the battlefield.
This is the day of consolation of Jihad.
Pull the trigger.
We shall redeem Jerusalem, Nablus and the country."

[PA TV (Fatah), Sept. 12, 2010]

Or watch it here:



The US is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to convince Israelis to give away their homeland and security to this "partner."

Maybe this money would be better invested in the USA's economy?

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Demand Red Cross Visits for Shalit

An excellent initiative by Magen David Adom's UK chapter:


Demand Red Cross access to Gilad Shalit. Now.

On 25th June 2006 Gilad Shalid was kidnapped by Palestinian armed forces and taken in to captivity in Hamas controlled Gaza.

For over 4 years repeated efforts by the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit, or even make contact with, Gilad Shalit have been rebuffed.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), of which Magen David Adom is a part, acts in various ways to protect the victims of armed conflicts and, as a consequence, to work for the defense of human rights. It has been entrusted by the Geneva Conventions themselves with the task of contributing to and watching over their application; this is does mainly by its visits to prisoners of war and civilian internees.

By signing this petition you will be contributing to a worldwide movement to ensure that pressure is placed on Hamas to provide this access and to keep the issue of Gilad Shalit in the focus of all those who can influence events in that region.

Sign the petition, here



hattip: my manager and RZ via Facebook.

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Logical progression

by Lurker

• Last week:
  Abbas threatens to stop direct talks if Israel renews settlement
  
  
• Today:
  Abbas threatens to resign presidency if direct talks fail
  
  
• To continue the logical progression, perhaps this will be his announcment next week:
  Abbas threatens to commit suicide if his presidency ends

*snort*

---

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The Forgiveness Post

According to Jewish tradition, one should ask forgiveness who they may have wronged during the year -- how can we expect forgiveness from G-d, if we do not ask forgiveness from our fellow man?

Therefore, I would like to publicly ask forgiveness from this blog's readership. I will not post excuses...just apologies.

If you sent me email and I didn't reply, or didn't get back to you in a timely fashion -- I apologize.

If you sent me a story and I didn't publish it or worse, didn't acknowledge that you had sent me the story -- I'm sorry.

If you requested help from me and I wasn't able to provide it -- I'm sorry.

I apologize if I posted without the proper attribution, or without a source at all.

I apologize for not posting as often as I would have liked to over the past few months -- yet I hope to make more of an effort in the coming weeks.

However, most importantly, I apologize for posting a particular post of a photo showing the burning of DovBear's parsha book.

Obviously, I wasn't advocating the burning of his book. Since it bothered him tremendously, DovBear asked me privately to remove the post. Instead of honoring his request, my hubris kept me from removing it, and I continued to debate the legitimacy of the post.

The issue is not whether or not the post should have remained, but that he privately requested that I remove it, and I did not. Other mutual friends of ours requested that I remove it, and I did not remove the post. For this, I am sorry and I should have known better.

Therefore, I publicly ask DovBear's forgiveness, and hope that in the future, if someone finds a post so offensive that they ask that I remove it, that I exercise better judgement.

Wishing the Muqata readership a meaningful Yom Kippur fast, and may the Nation of Israel merit compassionate judgement and forgiveness.

Sincerely,

Jameel @ The Muqata

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Only in Israel: Gmar Chatima Tova

Photographed September 15, 2010 in Jerusalem by Jameel.

hat-tip for seeing the bus: Jameela the Cranio Sacral Doula

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Surrealism in Jerusalem

After being rejected by the US Embassy in Tel Aviv for submitting a request for a social security number for my son, I had to shlep my way to the US Consulate in an Eastern neighborhood of Jerusalem.

Google maps was wrong, and I couldn't go through an intersection I had planned on going through (road works, the lightrail train, etc.), yet I managed to get there only a few minutes late after my scheduled appointment time of 8:30 AM.

Not surprisingly, I knew the person on the line before me (we even work at the same company)...and met a few other people inside that I knew.

Rule number 1. I've been dealing with the US Embassy in Israel for years... My advice; speak in English to everyone, including the security guards. The only person I spoke Hebrew to, was the lady responsible for providing the "courier" service to get my US passport. She started speaking to me in Hebrew, so I replied that way as well. I spoke to everyone else in English, though I did say, "Shukran" (thank you) the the Arab security guard.

Rule number 2. No matter how bureaucratic things may get, always be polite, say "good morning", "please" and "thank you" as often as you can, and smile at the workers when you speak to them.

Rule number 3. Bring copies of everything document with you....and bring lots of documents. You never know what they might also ask for.

The clerk handling my social security form was very impressed with my copies. I told her they were even approved and notarized by the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, which impressed her even more. Then she stopped, looked up at me and said -- if you were already at the embassy, why didn't they process you?!

As my friend Lurker told me on the phone later, "she must not have gotten the memo, that residents of the "West Bank" aren't allowed to use US citizen services at the embassy in Tel-Aviv, and we have to shlep to Jerusalem."

She was shocked that I was refused service there...but gladly helped.

Then I needed to renew my US passport. While sitting in the waiting area, the following surrealistic scene played itself out before me.

A couple was there needing some sort of official document, and they were told they needed 2 witnesses to observe the signing of the document. The guy from the couple seemed like a real character and scanned the room for an "appropriate" pair of witnesses.

He ambled over to a middle aged, portly Arab man, and politely asked him, "Excuse me sir, are you a US citizen?" The man replied in heavily accented Arabic-English, "yes, I am US citizen."
"Would you be willing to witness the signing of an official document for me?"
"Yes...OK"

The guy then walked to the other end of the room, and approached a Chareidi-looking woman who was holding a baby, and asked her, "Excuse me miss, are you a US citizen, and would you be willing to wittiness the signing of a document for me?"

She replied, "I am a US citizen, but I can't be a witness"

He replied, "For the first time in your life, you can now be a 'kosher' witness, since this isn't anything Jewish related...you can be a 100% kosher witness..."

So the unlikely pair of witnesses observed the signing of the document, much to the amusement of the rest of us watching.

There was a bookshelf in the corner of the room, with the oddest collection of pleasure reading books...and Jewish religious texts.

Probably the only place in the world with such an odd collection, and the only place where the above scene could have played out.

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Disengagement Promises

In light of the rocket attacks against Israel today from the Gaza strip, and the phosphorus mortars fired at Israel [illegal according to the Geneva Convention], I thought it would be useful to remind us all what Israel's brilliant politicians promised us before the "Disengagement"



Note: Many of these politicians are still in the Knesset today doing irreparable damage to Israel.

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Videos: How to reduce traffic accidents

There have been some horrendous traffic accidents in Israel over the past few months.

As a medic for Magen David Adom and United Haztala, I unfortunately see them up close.

Israel's tax collectors think the best idea to reduce accidents is to litter the country with speed cameras. Speeding is not nearly as dangerous as poor driving habits, which result for the majority of Israel's accidents -- dangerous passing, going through red lights and stop signs, talking on cellphones while driving, etc.

Canada came up with the following idea which I think would be pretty decent here in Israel.



If only I could install this, I think life would be even better...(ignore the German, just watch the video)

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Spring Forward-Fall Back

Every year there is a religious battle in Israel. There shouldn’t be one anymore once the compromise was reached (and it was), but some people just can’t let go, just to score cheap points with their electorate in this populist war.

(And it is a religious battle, no matter what other claims and arguments are being sprung forward.)

I won’t deny that I like that Yom Kippur ends around 6 instead of after 7. While the fast may be the same 25 hours, we all count the hours when it ends from the time we wake up.


But changing the clock wreaks havoc. It’s easy enough for me to look at my watch and say “another hour, go back to sleep”, but go tell that to your kids who know what time it really is – and wake up (and stay up) accordingly.

And isn't that the worst?

And wouldn't it be nicer if the Chol Hamoed Sukkot day ended later so the day trips needn’t end in the dark.

Yet it’s nice that Shabbat and holidays starts earlier, while the kids are still awake.

And that brings us to Pesach.

Wouldn’t you rather the Seder started earlier, so the kids could stay awake “later” and enjoy it to the end?

But then, there are the Pesach day trips that would be affected negatively.

In short, changing the clock just messes everything up.

How about we compromise for one year and don't change the clocks at all.

That would be a twist in time.

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Reaffirming Faith in Israel

The past 3 weeks I've been blogging far less than usual...yet it was for a good cause. After years of blogging about Israel and aliya, I found myself in a situation where I had to "put my money where my mouth is" and help out someone with their absorption process.

Needless to say, the case was far more complex than I had ever imagined possible. I cannot blog about the specifics, but it was perhaps the worst aliya nightmare story I had ever heard of.

Regardless, this evening the nightmare has come to an end, and the situation has worked itself out in a nearly miraculous way.

I would like say that Nefesh bNefesh came through, and sincerely did everything possible to help this family of olim.

Many elected officials offered their help. Government officials offered their help.

Countless friends helped -- from recommendations to support for the family.

And a public official I spoke to this evening whose intervention was invaluable, said to me, "...with all the bureaucracy, there are actual people who can help behind the scenes. Despite this crazy situation, the State of Israel encourages aliya, and does not want new olim to be put into impossible situations...which is why I did everything I could to help."

And he helped!

Today's outcome of this nightmare truly reaffirms my faith in the people of Israel.

Wishing all our readers and friends a wonderful new year -- one of good health and happiness, and may G-d bestow upon us all the brachot of the Cohen Gadol's prayer.

יהי רצון מלפניך ה' אלוקינו ואלוקי אבותינו שתהא השנה הזאת הבאה
עלינו ועל כל עמך בית ישראל:

שנת אורה שנת ברכה שנת גילה שנת דיצה
שנת הוד שנת ועודה שנת זימרה שנת חיים
שנת טהרה שנת ישרה שנת כבודה שנת למודה
שנת מלוכה שנת נוה שנת שמחה שנת ענוה
שנת פריה ורביה שנת צהלה שנת קדושה
שנת רווחה שנת שבע שנת שלווה
שנה תמימה שנה שלא יקום צר ואויב עלינו
שנה שתוליכנו קוממיות לארצנו
שנה שתשיבנו לבית מאוויינו
שנת חיים טובים שנת עיבור תירוש ויצהר
שנה שימתיקו שיחים את תנובתם ושדות את תבואתם
שנה שתברך את לחמנו ואת מימנו
שנה שתמלא לנו את כל משאלות לבנו לטובה
שנה שלא תפיל אשה את פרי בטנה
שנה שתקרב את גאולתנו ותביא משיח במהרה בימנו ותשלח מבשר טוב לארצנו
שנה שלא יצטרכו עמך ישראל זה לזה ולא לעם אחר

Jameel & Co.

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Echoes of a Shofar in Jerusalem

80 years ago, at the end of Yom Kippur's Neilah (closing) service at the Kotel, 26 year old Moshe Segal blew the shofar. He was promptly arrested and taken to jail, still fasting. He was only released when Rav Kook, the Chief Rabbi, interceded later that night.

What was his crime?

In the aftermath of the Arab riots throughout Palestine in 1929, the British convened a commission of inquiry to investigate the cause of the unrest. The Shaw Commission's recommendations granted the Arabs absolute ownership of the Western Wall and adjacent property. Jews were forbidden to bring Torah scrolls to the Kotel, to pray loudly, or to blow the Shofar, so as not to offend the Arab population.

Despite this restriction, for the next seventeen years, the shofar was sounded at the Kotel every Yom Kippur. Shofars were smuggled in to the Kotel where brave teenagers defiantly blew them at the conclusion of the fast. Some managed to get away - others were captured and sent to jail for up to six months.

Six of these men are still alive.

Two weeks ago, these six men returned to the scene of their "crime". Armed with shofars, they recounted their individual stories and blew shofar again at the Kotel.

Their powerful and inspiring story is told in Echoes of a Shofar, the first installment in the "Eyewitness 1948" short film series produced by Toldot Yisrael and the History Channel. It is the centerpiece of an educational pilot program being developed with The iCenter and made possible through the generous support of the Jim Joseph Foundation.




Toldot Yisrael is a Jerusalem based nonprofit dedicated to recording and sharing the firsthand testimonies of the men and women who helped found the State of Israel. Over 300 video interviews have been conducted with those who were involved during the pre-State struggle and the momentous events of 1948. Our aim is to conduct hundreds more over the next several years – while it is still possible. The Eyewitness 1948 series will present stories that address the heroism of the era as well as the complex moral dilemmas confronted as the young nation battled for its existence. Toldot Yisrael’s footage will serve as primary source materials for the Israel Education curriculum, bringing to life the founding of the State of Israel for today’s young Jews.

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Oslo 3 - The Deja-Vu Terror War

This evening brought back all sorts of horrible memories.

I was talking on the phone to a cousin, when the Magen David Adom emergency dispatcher put out a priority message on my United Hatzala radio.

"First Responders: A terror attack has taken place on road 55, with people wounded by gunshot..."

1. Hang up the phone.
2. Make sure the kids stay in the house.
3. Notify dispatcher that I was responding.
4. Run out of the house to my car, turn on my flashing red strobe, drive in direction of the wounded.
5. Call my wife, tell her to stay off the road (she was driving home)
6. Responders all informing dispatcher they were on their way
7. I say I'll be there in 30 seconds...cars get out of my way.
8. Arrive at the scene -- no car, no wounded, I notify the dispatcher.
9. Responders line up car after car, as we put on emergency medical vests and bullet proof vests
10. Close the outgoing gate of our community to prevent additional cars from being on the road.

Conflicting reports reverberate for 15 minutes -- till the car is located at an IDF checkpoint. No wounded, but there is damage to the car.

The car was attacked on the main highway 55, alongside the Palestinian town of Nabi Alias, in front of the "Shayish HaShalom" store -- "the marble counter tops of peace".

Gullible Israelis think that shopping at Nabi Alias is a bonanza, and Haaretz has a field day reporting what a wonderful place it is.

They neglect to mention:

- Cars have been stolen from there with people still in them (kidnapping)
- The shin-bet routinely has active terrorist warnings for that village
- People have been held up at gunpoint while shopping for bargains
- Terror attacks have taken place there...including rock attacks on an almost daily basis.

After last week's deadly terror attacks, and tonight's attack, I feel like we're in a time warp, going back to the bad old days of the Oslo 2 "peace" accords, which didn't bring any peace, and only brought murdered and wounded Israelis.

Hoping the rest of the night will be quiet.

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History: Israeli Police Band Performs in Moscow's Red Square

This evening, history was made when Israel's Police Marching band performed in Moscow's red square.

Normally, I wouldn't bother posting this except for two reasons:

1. A close relative is performing (!!?!)

2. I thought it was hilarious what music they started playing at 3:35 into the video. Obviously someone in the band has a great sense of humor :-)



Shavua tov.

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Peace Process: Palestinians Creating Facts on the Ground

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Ending the Building Freeze

Despite the arm-twisted "denouncement" by the Palestinian Authority of yesterday's murderous terror attack that left 4 Israelis dead, the average Palestinian rejoiced.

While the Palestinians rejoice over the spilled blood of Jews, the Jews of Israel have had enough. We don't send out death squads to murder innocents like they do, but express our outrage in positive ways.

Instead, we are prematurely ending the building freeze, TODAY.

At 6:00 PM today in the community of Kedumim in the Shomron, there will be an unfreezing ceremony, as Jewish housing construction will be restarted in the Shomron.

Similar ceremonies will be taking place this evening throughout Yehuda and Shomron.


The freeze is over.

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