Vatican Synod: Jews Are Not 'Chosen' and Have No Promised Land

Today's JPost reports that a Vatican conference of Bishops this past Shabbat, they demanded that Israel accept UN resolutions calling for an end to its “occupation” of "Arab lands."

"The Holy Scriptures cannot be used to justify the return of Jews to Israel and the displacement of the Palestinians, to justify the occupation by Israel of Palestinian lands,” Monsignor Cyril Salim Bustros, Greek Melkite archbishop of Our Lady of the Annunciation in Boston, Massachusetts, and president of the “Commission for the Message,” said at Saturday’s Vatican press conference.

“We Christians cannot speak of the ‘promised land’ as an exclusive right for a privileged Jewish people. This promise was nullified by Christ. There is no longer a chosen people – all men and women of all countries have become the chosen people.

“Even if the head of the Israeli state is Jewish, the future is based on democracy."

So...the Jewish people aren't chosen, we don't have a "promised land"...and Israel cannot be a Jewish State, rather a "democratic one" (hint, read "State of all its Citizens").

In their “Appeal to the International Community” the bishops expressed “hopes that the two-state solution becomes a reality and not only a dream.”

And the "2 state solution" is a Palestinian State (which will not allow Jews in, as clearly stated by PA President Abbas), and a "democratic State of all its Citizens" [which means not really Jewish"]

The only things these bishops will get from Santa this year will be a lump of coal...

...and more disappointment, as the Jewish people return to their homeland, fulfilling millennium-old Biblical prophesies, as we witness the in-gathering of the exiles and the blooming of the desert.

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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Gush Katif and Tu Bishvat

R' Shmuel Eliyahu, the Town Rabbi of Tzfat has announced a halakhic ruling, forbidding the eating of dried fruits, imported from Turkey.

As Tu BiShvat approaches this coming Shabbat, many people traditionally eat from the 7 fruits of Eretz Yisrael, and Turkey is a key source of dried fruit in Israel.

R' Eliyahu said that since Turkey is a country that embarrasses us and is "at war" with Israel, we should not eat fruit from there. He added that one should try to eat fruit grown in Eretz Yisrael, especially for Tu BiShvat. (source; ynet)

If you're looking for an alternative, its not too late to contact the following:

Gush Katif Evacuee Becomes Dried-Fruits Entrepreneur -- Special for Tu B’Shvat

January 25, 2010

Twenty-six year old Michael Edri is a former resident of Netzer Hazani, one of the Jewish communities in Gaza that was evacuated in the Disengagement. He and his family have been struggling to rebuild and get settled ever since their community was destroyed.

In effort to help his family ‘get back on their feet’, Edri has launched a new business called “Tuv HaAretz” (Goodness of the Land), which sells packages of dried fruits and nuts that are grown and packed in Israel. All of the products are organically-treated and bug-free.

Edri’s business is still in its beginning stages, but Tu B’Shvat sales are putting him on the map. The only company that uses Israel-based produce, Tuv Ha’Aretz buys from Israeli farmers in Tzfat, the Galilee and the Negev. Edri also employs other Gush Katif evacuees to pack the fruits.

“I thought it was ironic that most of our fruits and nuts—products that come directly from the earth—are imported from abroad. Tu B’Shvat is about our connection to the Land of Israel; we should benefit from Israel’s bounty,” says Edri.

Edri, now married with a child, lives close to his family in the caravan community of Ein Tzurim. He was able to establish his business with significant guidance and assistance from JobKatif, the non-profit organization that offers employment services and support to the former residents of Gush Katif and Northern Samaria. JobKatif has been so successful in helping the evacuees that the Israeli government recently agreed to grant over $4.5 million to continue their work, contingent on the organization raising the equal funds.

“Now is the time to help us help them,” says Judy Lowy, Executive Director of JobKatif. Every shekel we raise is now worth double since the government is now partnering with us. We need more success stories like Michael.”

You can place orders at: 050-312-1112

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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Where is the Land of Israel?

The Land of Israel is anywhere where "Egged Buses" get to. (Egged Bus ad circa 1991).

See? Settlements used to be non-apologetically, part and parcel of the Zionist Dream.

Extra Points for anyone who can identify the location in the above poster.

hat-tip; Ora

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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Question for the readership

Why did the "yekke" tell his wife he would be late coming home from shul tonight?

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Jameel's Personal Rosh HaShana Message

Dear JBlogosphere and others, (**see below for special update)

I'm reminded of the "outatime" license plate from "Back to the Future" --

since it's Erev Rosh HaShana, and there are so many posts I wanted to write, emails to send, good wishes to convey, and yet, I found myself without enough time to do so.

Luckily, I did managed to accomplish a few important items over the past few days

- completed a pruzbul

- allocated loan money not to be affected by the pruzbul

- managed to get to the bank today so I can pay our HVAC installer before Rosh HaShana

- posted about the opportunity to help save a life.

- went on milluim.

- studied over shabbat with son #2 for his gemara test.

On the other hand, I didn't get to post about milluim, didn't post what I wanted to about Rosh HaShana, didn't post about Nefesh b"Befesh, didn't do a Treppenwitz-type post where he links to many friends of his, which is really a great idea (and I would do it if I had the time...) -- Treppenwitz even calls from time to time, "just to say hi" -- which is truly heart-warming that blog people call sometimes just to say hi.

And therefore, there's something I needed to say. This past year was rather amazing for me on a personal level -- as I managed to meet many of you in person (whether at the JBlogger convention, or in the US, or simply around Israel). Without a doubt, there's something to be learned from everyone, their take on life, their contribution to society, whatever it is that makes them unqiue -- and I appreciate meeting each and everyone one of you.

This past milluim, while sitting around in between exercises I took some pictures of our unit. To my surprise, someone said to me, "Are you going to put that on your blog?" And then another said, "don't put a smiley face on me...put a frowny face on me...", and yet another said, "make my face green"...and yet another said, "don't put anything on my face at all". I guess my blogger identity is quickly becoming the worst kept secret in the JBlogosphere. So I turned to the guy next to me, and said, you really read my blog? He replied that he and his wife read it religiously...

And with that comes responsibility. Not so much the pressure to post quality, informative, and entertaining content -- but that people are actually reading what goes up here. Blogs can ruin lives and have all sorts of negative consequences -- and I hope that this blog still manages to convey something positive.

Some people think that the virtual blogosphere means ignoring "reality" -- and I sincerely apologize if reality took second seat to the virtualness of the blog world.

Additionally, I would like to apologize if you sent me an email to which I didn't reply, to those who sent me links to publish and I didn't, to those I should have linked to...but didn't, and to those commenters who I should have acknowledged with followup comments -- but didn't. It was never malice -- just lack of time...or even a bit of laziness on my part, for which I'm sorry. Not any less important -- is that I'm sorry to those who were upset or offended by anything I may have written (what comes to mind is my posting about shabbat guests).

As we welcome the new year, may we all be inscribed in the books of health, well-being, repentance...and the book redemption. Redemption on a personal level and a national one. May this be a year of increased Jewish unity instead of divisiveness, and may the JBlogosphere bring about positive change.

Shana Tova -- a good year to all of us,

Jameel.

PS: Obligatory Srugim comment: I spoke to Laizy Shapiro for a minute today, and his message to you all is that he appreciates your comments and insights about the Srugim show (they put alot of thought into he writing of it, and many of your comments are spot on.). He also added, "its only a TV show".


Shana Tova!


** Special Update:


Thanks to everyones help & generousity, we managed to raise the full ammount to cover the costs of Gili's surgery.

Gili flew this morning to London, where she is supposed to undergo surgery on this comming Tuesday (first day rosh hashana).

Her name for tefilot is: גילי חיה צביה טובה בת רוית

Shana tova & ktiva vechatima tova



Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Murder in Hevron Hills

Even though I have some thoughts to share about my recent birthday, Israel, and blogging in general, I couldn't let this pass without mentioning it first.

 

A land flowing with milk and honey. 

 

This past Shabbat's Torah reading includes G-d promise to take the Jews out of Egypt, and lead them to Eretz Yisrael -- a land flowing with milk and honey.

 

Those of us fortunate to live here today, and those of us even more fortunate to realize what a beautiful land we live in -- take the opportunity to tour the land, seek it out, and appreciate the trails, rocks, streams, springs and landscape.

 

This past Friday 3 Jewish hikers went out to explore the land, Nachal Telem in the Hevron mountains.   Guilty of touring.  Palestinian terrorists neared to group and opened fire.  2 of the hikers were in elite IDF units and bravely returned fire, and a gun battle ensued.  Outnumbered and attacked first, the hikers bravely fought to the end...killing one terrorist, seriously wounding one, moderately wounding another, and another one or two got away.

 

The third Jewish hiker hid and managed to alert security services which evacuated her.

 

"Two IDF soldiers on leave were killed on Friday in an apparent drive-by shooting south of Hebron. Cpl. Ahikam Amihai (20) and Sgt. David Ruben (21), both residents of the neighboring settlement of Kiryat Arba, were hiking through the Telem Creek area with an unnamed female companion when a group of four Palestinians drove up towards them and opened fire.

 

The third hiker in the group managed to take cover as the first gunshots were heard and called the Kiryat Arba security headquarters to alert them of the incident. "We've been hit, there are two critically wounded Israelis here," she reported. However the female hiker had difficulty giving rescue services the party's exact location and the searches took over an hour.

 Amihai and Ruben were seriously injured and died of their wounds shortly afterwards, they were pronounced dead at the scene by a military doctor. They will be brought to rest Saturday evening, after Shabbat.

Eli Rosenberg, a volunteer with the regional MDA rescue services told Ynet that the third hiker was crying hysterically when the search party reached the scene after a 1.5 mile walk from the central path.

"She said they had been walking near the creek and noticed a car driving back and forth near them several times. At some point the car left the path and began driving towards them, as its occupants pulled out their weapons," said Rosenberg.  YNET

One of the 2 hikers killed, Achikam Amichai, is the son of the head of Machon HaTorah VeHa'aretz (which is responsible for Otzar Ha'Aretz -- a mehadrin shmita solution which I've blogged about before).

 

A healthy Jewish response would be reaffirming our commitment to the land.

 

Instead...

 

What Israel does: Ehud Olmert continues to release Palestinian terrorists and re-arm them with bullets, rifles and armored vehicles.  Olmert has  frozen all Jewish construction in the West Bank, and virtually stopped all new plans for Jewish construction in Eastern liberated Jerusalem.

 

What the EU does: Israel said on Saturday it had recently seized a truck carrying chemicals used to make explosives hidden in bags marked as EU aid for the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.  The army said 6.5 tons of potassium nitrate were in bags marked as sugar from the European Union for Palestinians in the coastal enclave.  EU officials in Jerusalem had no immediate comment.   The cargo in a Palestinian truck was traveling in the West Bank and seized several weeks ago at an Israeli checkpoint, the army said.

 

What Haaretz wants: (see below**) Israel needs to be raped. (After last week's story that IDF soldiers are racist and evil for not raping Palestinian women, it's only logical for the leftists to demand that Israel to get raped...?)

 

Don't worry - I'll post some good news later.

 

Shavua tov,

 

Jameel.

 

** Since the JPost link keeps breaking, here is the entire article before it's not available in the google cache.

Dec 27, 2007 21:45 | Updated Dec 28, 2007 9:25
Ha'aretz editor: Israel wants to be raped
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Ha'aretz editor David Landau told US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at a recent private dinner that Israel "wants to be raped by the US" and needed more vigorous American intervention to resolve Middle East conflicts, according to a report in the New York Jewish Week.

Landau made the remarks at a confidential gathering of Israeli guests at the home of US Ambassador to Israel Richard Jones on September 10, the Jewish Week reported on its Web site Thursday.

The paper said that Landau, who was seated next to Rice, reportedly referred to Israel as a "failed state" politically that needed a US-imposed settlement. It added that Landau reportedly "implored Rice to intervene, asserting that the Israeli government wanted 'to be raped' and that it would be like a 'wet dream' for him to see this happen."

In response, Landau told the New York weekly that this description was "inaccurate" and "a perversion of what I said," and that he had expressed his views with "much more sophistication."

But, he went on, "I did say that in general, Israel wants to be raped - I did use that word - by the US, and I myself have long felt Israel needed more vigorous US intervention in the affairs of the Middle East."

He explained to the paper that each of the participants at the dinner spoke of Israel's challenges, and he chose to point out that since 1967, Israel had failed to resolve its territorial conflicts with the Palestinians. "I told [Rice] that it had always been my wet dream to address the secretary of state" on this critical issue, Landau told the Jewish Week.

Rice was "fantastic" and "completely unfazed" by his comments, he said, and remained "urbane and diplomatic."

Landau said he had no regrets about what he had said, and that he was later congratulated by several professors in the room who felt "I articulated what many Israelis feel."

Other participants said Rice told the guests that the US had no intention of imposing a settlement on the Israelis and Palestinians.

Channel 2's Arab affairs expert Ehud Ya'ari briefly reported the incident some weeks ago, but did not name Landau. Ya'ari called the incident "embarrassing."

 

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael

An Elul Posting: !מקימי

If you want me to look at a book quickly, it's best to have it positively reviewed in Makor Rishon or BiSheva (the only 2 newspapers we allow in the house).

Chagai Segal wrote the following about the book, Mikimi (מקימי) in this past week's Makor Rishon:

Once, I read an article by Rav Sharlo against the Tefillin Stands of Chabad [where they offer men to put on tefillin and say Shma], and I was convinced. I thought it wasn't appropriate for Judaism to market itself this way...through "amulets." Today I think otherwise. The Chabad Tefillin stand is a saviour of Eretz Yisrael...as is the Shabbat Candle stands of "Maaynei HaYeshua."

If I were Moetzet Yehsa, I would put up a stand in the Azrieli Center [in the middle of Tel Aviv] and distribute for free to every chiloni [secular Israeli] with an earing, this sweet by Yaron. It will do more for Eretz Yisrael than all the right wing speeches in the Knesset and all the articles on security of your's truly. While Yaron did not write word against Olso, (and it's good she didn't), if she manages to turn 1/5th of Tel Aviv into Breslaver Chassidim, Dayeinu. [it would be enough]"

Similar to Segal, I was never a huge fan of Chassidut...and there are aspects of Breslav I believe are totally incongruous with Rabbi Nachman's thoughts. Specifically, I disdain those who abandon Eretz Yisrael and flock to R' Nachman's grave in Uman, even though it's clearly a mitzva to be oleh laregel to Eretz Yisrael for the chagim, and not to go to Uman.

However, Segal's review in my opinion was so captivating that I purchased the book the other day, and it's been a challenge to put it down.

מקימי מעפר דל -- Bring me up from the humble dust. מקימי is a book by Noa Yaron, one of Israel's secular superstars on the sleb social scene. Her smiling face graced popular children and adult TV shows, and had a huge audience of listeners as a radio show host on IDF radio.

Her captivating book describes the unbelievably shallow life of Israeli sleb lifestyle from a first person point of view -- refusing to acknowledge herself as Noa...rather as עלמה, Almah, the young heroine of the story.

"Bring me up" ... "Pull me up" ... Ascension ... Teshuva ... is the subtle theme as Almah searches for more to life than her hedonistic existence. Much of her journey is left unexplained -- it isn't hard logic of proof of G-d or theories of intelligent design that direct her towards teshuva...mysticism and Chassidut play a significant role.

Caught up in the Disengagement 2 years ago, I couldn't easily explain my deep connection to Eretz Yisrael -- it rose above logic of the mind; it was spiritual and mystical. I agree with Segal now -- logic and promises of security have little influence over much of secular Israel, yet a book like this could have much more impact than any discussion about how allowing Chomesh to fall into Palestinian hands would be a security catastrophe for Hadera. Just as I was wrong to assume I could convince people purely based on logic...I guess I was wrong about Chassidut, and that it can also be a valid way to approach G-d.

Noa Yaron now lives in Tzfat with her husband and 6 children, and the life she used to lead is far, far away -- and her delightfully honest, entertaining book is also uplifting and motivating.

Bring us up...Teshuva from the depths.

Aliya from the depths.

It's all interconnected.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael

Summertime in Eretz Yisrael!

What a day!

Guest posting at DovBear's

Being given the awesome title of "Da Man" over my good friend Jacob Da' Jew.

And spending the day rafting on the Hatzbani and Dan rivers in Northern Israel.

What could be better?

Life is good.

--Jameel


Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael

Elite Commandos Refuse to Evict Hevron Jews

Over 30 soldiers from the elite "duchifat" IDF commando unit, have informed their commander that they will refuse orders to participate in the upcoming expulsion of 2 Jewish families from their homes in Hevron. (Update @ 2:06 PM: the number has risen to almost SIXTY!)

One soldier's father said on the radio (Army Radio, Galei Tzahal) this morning; "My son was trained to be a sniper, he was trained to ambush the enemy. It is not his job to kick Jews out of their homes from Me'arat HaMachpelah. [in Hevron]"

After hearing it reported live, on the radio, I found it here on YNET:

Thirty yeshiva students serving in the IDF have announced that they will not take part in the evacuation of two Jewish families from the Hebron wholesale market after consulting their rabbis.

The story was first reported by Army Radio. The soldiers, from the Kfir Brigade's Duchifat battalion, were slated to replace a Border Guard force on Tuesday and take part in the forced evacuation.

Following their protest, their commanders sat with them and explained the importance of the mission. The potential "refusniks" were also told that those who will not carry out the mission will be treated severely by the army.

IDF officials clarified that the soldiers have so far not declared that they will not get on the buses to the Hebron market and are continuing their regular training.

Meanwhile, a special fund headed by an American millionaire has spread the word among troops in Hebron that a soldier who will refuse an evacuation order will receive a financial award of hundreds of dollars. If a soldier is tried over refusing an order he could receive $600.

UPDATE: Forget the above -- this is MUCH better (new comments from the families of the soldiers)

Meanwhile, however, family members of some of the soldiers arrived at the Bekaot army base and threatened to block the buses. One of the signs they prepared read, "My son, don't expel."

We came here to say: If they want to evacuate Jews they should send the police or the Yasam unit, rather than IDF soldiers," said Tomer, one of the soldiers' brother.

"My brother and his friends were sent to replace Border Guard officers to evacuate Jews, and this is definitely helping evacuation. This is not a suitable mission for an army which is supposed to defend the State of Israel. The army should not be a partner to the expulsion of Jews from the city of our forefathers, and we are here to help our brothers from Hebron," he told Ynet.

The brother, who fought in Lebanon last summer, explained, "I did not refuse an order then because it was defending the State of Israel. Then they also knew how to recruit yeshiva students because they needed manpower, because the other guys were sitting in Azrieli (Tel Aviv shopping mall) – those sons of important people, who don’t even know how to hold weapons."

He added angrily, "I did not see an Arab father or an Arab woman evacuated from a mosque, but I did see a Jew expel a Jews from a synagogue."

His father claimed that the army had lied to his son and their friends when it did not tell them about the mission's objective.

"They were told to prepare a field package. It wasn't real. The army is lying shamelessly. Our children did not take a snipers' course in order to evacuate Jews from Hebron," he said.

Shmuel, the father of another soldier, said, "All the soldiers did a big Kiddush Hashem (sanctifying the name of God). It's time they learn not to use the army for such things. An army should be run according to what is permitted. A Jewish army should be run according to the ways of the people of Israel and not of a political gang."

It's no wonder that the IDF performed so poorly last summer; instead of concentrating on training to win wars against our enemies, the political echelons are abusing the IDF to expel Jews from their homes in Gush Katif...and now in Hebron.

There's an Israeli police force that's trained to evict people from their homes...using the IDF is more proof of the idiocy of Israel's leadership. Our leaders are truly pathetic; instead of Defense Minister Ehud Barak using his head, and try to retain some level of unity in the IDF, he uses commando units from yeshivot to help further his political agenda of throwing Jews out of their homes in Hevron. The police is an option...but he uses the IDF.

Don't get me wrong; I think the wording of the prayer for the safety for IDF soldiers is perfect:

May Hashem who blessed our forefathers, bless the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our G-d.

It's the soldiers who deserve G-d's blessing and protection, when they are doing the job of protecting our land.

I will continue to stand for this prayer every week.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael

Welcome Home! (This could also be you)

I never get tired of plane-loads of olim arriving home in Israel -- and two hundred new olim joined us this morning!

In fact, every single time I see pictures like these, or actually attend one of these arrival ceremonies -- I get totally sentimental and choked up.

More and more immigrants from around the world, and specifically North America, are continuing to move home to Israel.

This could be you as well -- have you thought about aliya today?

Our heartfelt best wishes for a quick and easy klita (absorption) -- and make your new life here exceed your dreams.







On behalf of the nation of Israel -- we thank you for returning home; helping us build a better country for us all, together.

--Jameel.


Random Photos from Today's Nefesh BNefesh flight home, courtesy of Muqata blog friend, Jacob Richman (see them all here)

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael

Calling it like it is.

What better way to start off Tisha B'Av, then to be threatened with a law suit by the Wonkette blogger?

Personal friend of the Muqata, Yisrael Medad, wrote the following on his blog, "My Right Word"

"Wonkette" Antisemitic?

Wonkette, that foul-mouthed but titilating blogger of Washington foibles, seems to have gone anti-semitic. Editor Alex Pareene and Interns Nick Mueller and Lauren Spohrer may be responsible for this post which refers to someone they call "Rudy-Jew-liani " who gave an interview to the "Jew York Times".

He received the following in return:

You know, it's kind of poor manners to go accusing people of being antisemitic based on nothing more than you being too lazy to read the site and know any of the references.

But since you don't, and since you so thoughtlessly and wantonly libel our editors and the owners and stockholders of our company, I will direct you to the specific reference from the day before, which just happens to be a viral video on YouTube that everybody in politics is talking about:

http://wonkette.com/politics/jew_liani-dept%27/finally-a-campaign-ad-for-the-fascist-in-us-all-275420.php

You can go ahead and apologize on your site now. Send us the link when you do and I'll send that to our lawyers and that will be the end of that.

Read the rest of Yisrael's reply on his blog, here.

Orthomom: What do you think? Will Wonkette run for the school board in the 5 towns to complete with Pamela?

Free Speech, Tisha B'Av, Blogging...seems like a recipe for disaster.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael

The Plague of Publicity

Some people are desperate for publicity.

Andy Grove, the past CEO of Intel Corp proved via the Pentium bug fiasco, that there's no such thing as "bad" publicity.

Therefore, how do some religious Israelis get their name everywhere?

They write articles that bash...religious Israelis.

In this fashion, the spotlight is on today's idiot, "Efrat Shapira-Rosenberg"

I have no clue who she is, but her article in YNET entitled, "The Plague of Eretz Yisrael" is proof positive that she's an attention seeker, rather than someone who wants to honestly deal with facts.

Her opinion piece can be summarized as such: Religious Jews in Israel place an inordinant amount of focus on Eretz Yisrael and neglect everything else...and that is a "plague."

Her closing paragraph:

Yes, the Land of Israel is beloved, and it’s important, and it’s possible that for some people, there is no other issue. But the total focus on the struggle for the Land of Israel is not just a religious, social, and moral injustice. It’s also a plague.

Since Ms. Efrat Shapira hyphen Rosenberg is too busy mouthing-off via her YNETnews soapbox, let me tell you a single story from last week, which shows just how wrong she is.

Last week, Magen David Adom needed volunteer ambulance drivers and medics for night shifts in large cities in the Gush Dan (Tel Aviv) region. I answered their call, and did a night shift. What I found was the following: in this particular city, there were no local volunteers...at all!

Rather, all their volunteers in that (rather large city) were from settlements in the Shomron, and one volunteer from North America!

So the next time MS Efrat Shapira-Rosenberg has an epiphany about bashing religious Jews and settlers for caring "too much" about Eretz Yisrael, perhaps she should check out all the wonderful work they are doing around the country; including volunteering for MDA, Hatzala, Soup Kitchens, Aiding Developmentally challenged children, outreach, social service and welfare programs, and of course...IDF duty.

And if some people want to focus on Eretz Yisrael, that's their right, just as I know some people who focus on tzedakka, some who focus on learning and teaching Torah, and others who focus on saving lives.

Focus is a "religious, social, and moral injustice"???

I would advise that she be very cautious about using language such as "plague" and Eretz Yisrael in the same breath.

When the 10 spies spoke poorly about Israel, it didn't do them any good, nor the rest of our nation.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael

Re-Settling Chomesh?

For those of you who don't know, the Shomron has been buzzing the past few weeks about the upcoming resettlement march to Chomesh.

Chomesh, one of the 4 Shomron settlements forcibly evacuated and destroyed by the Disengagement is now on the drawing board for resettlement. Obviously, not by the Israeli government, but by grassroot Israelis who want to rebuild Chomesh. The IDF is in Chomesh routinely these days, as the IDF knows it's suicide for Israel at present to abandon Chomesh to the Palestinians.

Taking this cue from the IDF, many are hopeful that tomorrow (Monday) will be the start of a new campaign to rebuild the ruined yishuv.

I spent a few days there before it's destruction 2 summers ago, living in a tent with some of my kids, so I'm very familiar with it (it's not that far from the Muqata either).

In order to prevent people from trying to reach Chomesh "through all available means" (read: going through dangerous Arab villages), it appears the IDF is going to allow an organized march to Chomesh from the nearby Shavei Shomron settlement, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the marchers.

That means the standoff will not be on the way to Chomesh, but at Chomesh itself.

I certainly hope there won't be a repeat of Amona, where intentional police brutality shattered the bones and skulls of many...and I hope the Chomesh resettlers will continue to use passive disobedience (if challenged) to accomplish the resettlement goals.

The JPost talks about it here, but I'll have the full story on my blog tomorrow.






Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael

Muqatian Quality of Life in the Shomron

Comment posed to the Muqata by Dgesg (and he is a mentsch! This is obviously not a post against him, attacking him, or anything like that...this is just my explanation)

Dear Jameel, I agree with your response to my comment 100%. But if I recall correctly, my point at issue with you was the fact that you wrote "my quality of life is probably a lot higher than yours." I don't no your financial situation (mine is not great), but that aside,purely based on safety and the economy in Israel that cannot be true. Let me mention once again that I respect you and what you are doing so much. But making a blanket statement that the standard of living in the Shomron is equal to somwhere in America, I cannot accept. What you are doing IS worth it, but it takes a certain type of person to do it. With much respect, --Dgesg

So what is our quality of life? Let us put finances aside for the moment, since quality of life has so many aspects to it. For the following, please tell me if your life has these quality elements in your neighborhood...

Little kids can walk to and from kindergarten, unattended, without fear of abduction (Safety and security in the US? Can you let your kids do that?)

Bigger kids can stay out late (or later) in the neighborhood, away from home, and come home without worry.

Some of our schools are walking distance for kids (though you have that as well in some places)

Kids can ride their bikes all around the yishuv, and we don't think much about it, or worry when they go around the block.

All food sold anywhere around our yishuv is kosher.

Jewish education is part and parcel of life here; the Hebrew date is on every newspaper, and announced on radio every morning. You can write checks with the Hebrew date on it. Why is that quality of life? Because it makes Judaism integrated into kids lives...naturally. Everyone here KNOWS when the chagim are...kids have vacation for chagim. There is no "Christmas" craziness. The bus driver will wish you a Shabbat Shalom on Friday, as will the people packing your groceries in the supermarket. Is that quality of life? Of course it is.

Judaism integrated with your life everywhere is natural in Israel. Only in certain neighborhoods in the US can you find that, like Kiryas Joel or Williamsburg. Even in the 5-towns or Passaic, there is an acute realization that Judaism is not integrated everywhere, in everything.

If you wish, you could live somewhere in Israel where there are no cars driving on the street on shabbat, and your kids can walk to and from shul by themselves (even age 3!)

Except in bungalow colonies in update NY or camp, where can you get that quality of life?

Yes, our homes are smaller than the ones in Pico-Robertson or Teaneck, but is that "quality of life" compared to kids being able to walk around outside without a leash and GPS tracking device attached to them?

There are much nicer cars in the US...and gas is cheaper.

Yet can you go on tiyulim that bring the Tanach alive? That quality of life can only be found here. The reason I'm harping on Jewish education, is that everyone invests so much money on education, but when love for Eretz Yisrael and parts of Judaism can be absorbed through the osmosis of living here, I consider that to be quality of life of the utmost.

Safety and Security? I think if you ask people here, most will say they feel safe.

The floor is open for discussion.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael

Responding to a Comment: Why endanger your family?

Newtime commenter "nuch a chosid" left me the following comment:

I don't feel comfortable asking you this. But I don't really get the fact that you feel living in such areas, is your mitzva of protecting Eretz yisroel, we wouldn't live in Harlem and we would rather understand you making sure your family is in a safe place where you are not in constant danger, then chosing to live in the frontline I know you think different, but we Americans (or at least I as a yankee) can never understand it.

Dear Nuch a Chosid,

Although you felt uncomfortable asking, I'm glad you posted your comment.

Living in Eretz Yisrael is first and foremost a privilege to fulfill the mitzva of Yishuv Eretz Yisrael. Just as keeping Shabbat and observing the laws of Kashrut are not always simple, living in Israel can quite challenging as well.

Like you, I also grew up in the United States (and while I didn't live in Harlem, my junior high school yeshiva was surrounded by barbed wire at the time) and didn't live in a "war zone." I recall travelling on the NYC subways (and feeling less than secure), and I also experienced antisemitism. As a teenager riding on the subway, I was spat at by someone so frightening, it didn't even cross my mind to fight back or say anything. Riding my bike through suburbia, I had an occasional glass bottle thrown at me with an accompanying nasty epithet. Our shuls and mikva had swastikas spray painted on them as well.

However, the decision for me to move to Israel took place while I was learning in Yeshiva in Eretz Yisrael. Learning the mitzvot Teluyot Baaretz, combined with a new understanding of Jewish history made it obvious to me that one could live life as a Jew outside of Israel as an observer, a spectator of emerging Jewish history, or one could live in Israel and be a player, an active participant in modeling our future (hopefully, as a positive influence as well on Israeli society).

Living in the Shomron wasn't always "front line". Kiryat Shmona had it very bad in the 70's, Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv had a terrible spate of bus bombings and other terror attacks from the mid-90's, Southern Israel is still receiving almost-daily Qassam rocket attacks, and Northern Israel didn't have the easiest of summers.

Yet, when Palestinian terror came to the Shomron, I volunteered to actively participate in our community's defense through the IDF. There are 2 ways to deal with issues; you can sit back, complain, and worry. Or, you can be proactive and take an active role in your own defense.

I think the latter is a much healthier way to deal with problems, and it also has a positive educational effect on our children. They don't walk around scared that any second something can happen (and for the most part, things are quiet), because they know that in the event of an emergency, we have many dedicated people who train to neutralize terror threats quickly and effectively.

It can be "scary" at times, but there are plenty of scary situations all over the globe, all the time -- be it airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center buildings, biological, chemical or nuclear threats against the USA, terrible terrorist attacks in London and the rest of Europe, or just plain old targeting of Jews through antisemitism.

In the bigger scheme of things, I sincerely believe that the more Jews live in Israel, the better the situation will be for our people. Realizing that Israel is the land where Hashem constantly watches (more than any other place on the planet - ארץ אשר עיני ה' אלוקך בה), we have the opportunity to personally and positively influence our history, as individuals and as a community.

While we may have seemingly scary situations from time to time, we don't view ourselves as living in constant danger. My kids can safely stay out late and come home by themselves, my younger kids can walk to gan by themselves if they wish, and that's something you don't often find in Chutz Laaretz.

Bringing an M16 to shul on Shabbat may seem like a big deal, but in the grand scheme of things, my quality of life is probably a lot higher than yours.

And we merit to live in Eretz Yisrael.

Thanks again for dropping by to visit.

Jameel.

PS: For an amazing movie review of the new movie about the life of The Rav, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, please see Chana's blog, The Curious Jew, here.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael