Ashton Kutcher Hearts Gush Etzion

Celebrity US actor, Ashton Kutcher is visiting Israel these days, and he took time out of his busy schedule to visit...Gush Etzion!

Under the initiative of project "Mashiv HaRuach" which deals with strengthening the values of Zionism, Kutcher visited the community of Efrat, listened with great interest to a historical review of the community and the Gush Etzion area, dined at a Glatt Kosher restaurant, and even dipped in a local natural spring "Mikva" no less than 151 times! (151 is the numerical equivalent "gematriya" of "Mikva")

The project's director, Rafi Even D'aan briefed Kutcher and the history of settlement in Gush Etzion and spoke to him at length about the region's Jewish history. Rafi told Kutcher about the establishment of the new Jewish settlements after the Six Day War and explained the spiritual and historical significance of Gush Etzion.

"Mashiv HaRuach" is a project of the Israel Center of the OU (organization of Jewish communities) and hosts every year about 30 thousand IDF soldiers to help combine and strengthen the values of Zionism and the IDF.

Photos of Kutcher's visit to Gush Etzion:





Maybe next time, Kutcher's wife Demi Moore will visit us in the Shomron?

Update: From Kutcher's tweets about Israel:

tweet: Connecting with Joshua: http://yfrog.com/n8l5wdj

tweet: Love love love (@ Tomb of the Patriarchs) http://4sq.com/cKStRW

tweet: The morning light of mercy is washing over The Wholly Land. I only hope that I can deliver on it's promise. Wholly=1=love


Best comment heard about his tweets: "He's such a seminary girl..."
--The always funny stam! (who also gets a hat-tip for sending the tweets this way)

Story translated from: NRG/maariv, Photos from the OU.

Last Update: Who needs Richard Goldstone, when we have leftist Walla columnists who bash Kutcher for visiting Hevron (poor translation via google). According to Walla -- anyone visiting Hevron is another Baruch Goldstein...

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

The OU and you...minus Israel?

For an organization that routinely talks about Israel, has a huge office in Jerusalem and actively tries to involve itself in Israeli life, and has Nefesh B'Nefesh events on their website, I found it rather disappointing that the Orthodox Union kept Israeli communities off their list in their upcoming "Emerging Jewish Communities Showcase."

Thinking of relocating? Israel's off the list...doesn't even make the cut.

Looking for an affordable Jewish community? If affordable, means sky-high tuition, then this ad is for you!

Kosher Stores? We have a few of those.

Close Knit Communities? Perhaps

Rewarding Retirement Opportunities? What could be more rewarding that retiring to the amazing Jewish community of New Orleans, LA??? (sorry, I'm sure it's a lovely community, with Jewish roots going back to the time of Avraham Avinu)

The OU is pushing the following vibrant communities...

Bay Area: Oakland and San Francisco, CA, Charleston, SC, Columbus, OH, Dallas, TX, Denver, CO Edmonton, AB, Canada, Houston, TX, Indianapolis, IN, Memphis, TN, New Orleans, LA, Omaha, NE, San Diego, CA, Seattle, WA, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Using just a tiny bit of extra effort, they could have combined this with the Nefesh B'Nefesh event (or at least, reminded people that Israel is ALSO an option).

There are great vibrant communities here as well!

Modiin, Beit Shemesh, Hashmonaim, Raanana, Kedumim, Shilo, Eli, Jerusalem, Elazar, Neve Daniel, Alon Shvut, Givatayim, Ginot Shomron, Petach Tikva, Be'er Sheva, Karmiel, Maalot, and many, many others.

Hey OU -- if you want your Torah Tidbits circulation to rise, why not remind people that aliya and Israeli communities are also an option for Orthodox Jews.

hat-tip: The Beit Shemesh Burka Ninja Squad

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

Kashrut Alerts (in Israel)

How interesting... The Israeli Chief Rabbinate Kashrut division has issued the following Kashrut update.

1. Champaign Mushroom Pieces under the name "Kafri uBayti", barcode 7290003285129, imported to Israel by "Euro Standard" has an OU and Chief Rabbinate Hashgacha. This product does NOT have Chief Rabbinate hashgacha, and should be removed from all shelves and returned to the importer.

2. The "Neve Midbar" restaurant at the Dead Sea has a Kashrut Certificate (Teudat Kashrut) from the Badatz "NEzer HaHidur" organization, but no local rabbinate certification. In a check we performed, there were meats which were not Chalak, and meats with no certification at all. Be advised!

3. Iberian Airlines serves kosher meals from the "Mespool" company in Poland, which carries the Kashrut certification of the Badatz Johannesberg and "Nussbaum-Atlas Kosher". In a check with Rav Moshe Kurztag, head of the Johannesberg Beit Din, that this company in Poland is not under their certification since 2005. Be advised!

4. Imported Haagen Daaz ice cream products do not have the Chief Rabbinate Hashgacha because of "Cholov Akum". Mashgichim: Do not let these products onto premises you are responsible for.

5. Mentos fruit sucking candies, imported by "Parfetti Van Mila, Holand", importer license 4002-0722 claims to be "Kosher Lemehadrin" under the supervision of Rabbi Moshe Alon of France. Our investigation revealed that he did not give the hashgacha, nor is he authorized by the Chief Rabbinate to give Kashrut certification...

6. "Ginger" brand spices in Israel, claim to be under the supervision of the Rabbinical Municipal Council of Gan Rave, yet they are not.

7. After receving many complaints that the Isrotel hotel chain forces guests to leave on Shabbat, at 16:00. Be advised and check with the local Mashgiach that the Hotel respects the Shabbat; ie, mechanical locks, shabbat elevators, no electric eyes in bathrooms, etc.

8. Coffeeks instant coffee, barcode 7290003098996, claims to be Koshe under the hasgacha of R' Avraham Hochwald. It does not have his hasgacha. Be warned!

Also included is a list of restaurants in Israel that claim to be Kosher, but do not have certification...see the Hebrew document for all the details.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael