Eternity in an Instant

My good friend Lurker pointed me to a post on DovBear. It's not political or hashkafa related as some of his posts are...it's pure education (yes, some of his Dvar Torah posts are educational as well, but this one is truly exceptional)

This post is so eye opening and educational, it's one of the best reasons the blogosphere exists -- to spread important knowledge around. DovBear read a fabulous article in the current print edition of The New Republic about the Oyneg Shabes archive -- "a collection of some 35,000 pages of documents written in Polish and Yiddish about life in the Warsaw Ghetto. The archive was hidden in tin boxes and milk cans before the ghetto was liquidated, and uncovered after the war."

The quote from his post that understandably grabbed me was:

On August 3, 1942, with the Germans only a block away from the building at 68 Nowolipki Street, under which he was to bury the first cache of the archive, Israel Lichtenstein hurriedly deposited his testament -- and in that instant gained his eternity. "I do not ask for any thanks, for any memorial, for any praise. I only wish to be remembered.... I wish my wife to be remembered, Gele Sekstein.... I wish my little daughter to be remembered. Margalit is 20 months old today.... She too deserves to be remembered." Working with him were two teenagers, David Graber and Nahum Grzywacz. They, too, left little reminders of themselves in the archive that they were burying. Grzywacz was eighteen years old, and when he heard that the Germans had blockaded his parents' building, he wrote, "I am going to run to my parents and see if they are all right. I don't know what's going to happen to me. Remember, my name is Nahum Grzywacz." The emphasis is in the original.

Set aside some time to read it here and it's accompanying links; you won't be disappointed.

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

The Korban Pesach, today.

Learn more about it here.

I like it a lot.

Who doesn't?

The Temple movements' intention to hold a public slaughter of the Passover sacrifice was slammed by the animal rights movement, Let Animals Live.

The activists demanded that the event's coordinators cancel their plans, and sent letters to Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski, and to the Director of the Temple Institute, Yehuda Glick, threatening to sue if their demands were not met within 24 hours.

According to Let Animals Live director, Reuben Ladianski, the law states that it is prohibited to abuse or torture animals, including slaughtering them in a cruel manner.

"Any use of animals for educational purposes must be approved by the committee for animal experimentation," Ladianski said. "And the law states that permission will not be granted if the goal of the experiment can be reached in other, more humane ways." (YNETNEWS)

While educational, I don't think there's any intention of NOT eating the slaughtered animals.

And if we're already discussing the Beit HaMikdash, I found this video walk through interesting (the colors are ugly, but this sort of video concept has great educational potential)



And this video from last year about the Korban Pesach preparations...

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

Surprise! Another Shas MK Convicted!

Shocking!

"Shas party Knesset Member Rabbi Shlomo Benizri was convicted by the Jerusalem's District Court Tuesday on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, committed during his tenure as labor and welfare minister.

Two years ago Benizri was indicted for passing on advance information to building contractor Moshe Sela which included details on the quota of foreign laborers expected to arrive in Israel.

The prosecution said that in return for this information the Shas member had received perks worth millions of shekels, including large sums of money, expensive furniture, cleaning services, electrical appliances and help in expanding his apartment. The MK was also convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud and disrupting court proceedings.

His spiritual and political patron, Rabbi Reuven Elbaz, was convicted of facilitating and accepting bribes and conspiracy to commit fraud." (YNET)

Money Quote: Regarding the indictment, Benizri stated: "After listening to the prosecutors say this is the most serious case of bribery in the history of Israel (I have to say), this is the biggest lie in the history of Israel."

Wow. The biggest lie! Rather impressive.

Benizri joins ranks with other fellow Shas convicted criminals:

Arieh Deri - convicted of taking a total of $155,000 in bribes while director-general of the interior ministry and later as interior minister.

Raphael Pinhasi - convicted of counterfeiting corporate documents, attempted extortion, acting as an accessory to a crime and giving false witness.

Yair Levi -- convicted of embezzling NIS 300,000 from Shas's El Hama'ayan non-profit association

Yair Peretz -- Peretz was found guilty of receiving a BA in psychology from the now-defunct local extension of Burlington University, after he copied nine essays written by former students at the school and submitted them as his own.

Opher Chugi - Guilty of a number of serious offenses, including aggravated forgery, using forged documents, receiving items through fraudulent means, false registration of a corporation and attempting to receive items through fraudulent means.

Shlomo Dayan - Convicted of Fraud (along with Raphael Pinchasi, see above)

For a political party that names itself for the Oral Torah and claims to act only under orders and directions from Shas Spiritual Leader R' Ovadia Yosef and the Shas Supreme Council of Torah Sages, I would posit that Benizri's conviction is a good definition of the word, "Chilul Hashem" -- a desecration of G-d's name, and an embarrassment to Jews everywhere.

Of course, don't get me wrong; Ehud Olmert's ruling Kadima party is not without it's criminals.

PM Ehud Olmert is currently under 3 different criminal investigations!

Finance Minister, MK Avraham Hirschson (indicted for breach of trust, aggravated fraud, theft and money laundering)

MK Tzachi HaNegbi (indicted, awaiting trial for fraud and breach of trust for allegedly making 69 inappropriate political appointments while serving as environment minister between 2001 and 2003)

MK Yaakov Edri (police recommend indictment for breach of trust and accepting a bribe, awaiting special hearing)

MK Eli Aflalo (under police investigation for bribery)

MK Ruchama Avraham (under police investigation for bribery)

MK Chaim Ramon (convicted sexual predator -- sexual harassment)

past MK Omri Sharon, convicted, currently in prison.

Mighty Impressive.

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

Today's Israeli Hero: Amram Mitzna

How often does The Muqata (tm) blog seriously pay homage to a noted Israeli left wing politician?

Today's Israeli of note is Amram Mitzna.

For the record, Mitzna previously announced his willingness to negotiate with any elected Palestinian leadership at any time – no pre-conditions. He stated his readiness to divide Jerusalem. The exiled MK Azmi Bishara (the one who collaborated with the enemy, during wartime) said of Mitzna, "Despite the image of a former general, Mitzna stands to the left of Beilin." To the LEFT of Yossi Beilin? Why am I going out on a limb to write about him?

Even though Mitzna lost the Knesset election against Ariel Sharon because HIS idea of Disengagement was deemed too odious for the Israeli public (Sharon did the exact same thing anyway), let's see what Mitzna did after leaving the Knesset.

While other failed leaders ran to the business world, such as Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak who both did very well for themselves (as opposed to failed IDF General, Dan Halutz who has been running companies into the ground**), Amram Mitzna has taken up the long ignored ideal of Zionism to actually, help others.

Going to the struggling Negev desert development town, Yerucham, Mitzna took over the reigns of the municipal council after the mayor was forced to step down amidst charges of incompetence.

Already last year, Arutz Sheva noted Mitzna's impressive work:

Yerucham Regional Council head Amram Mitzna explained Wednesday morning how the southeastern development town turned around and became a model of financial responsibility. Failure of debt-ridden regional councils to pay workers on time is at the center of the current Histadrut labor dispute.

Mitzna, formerly mayor of Haifa, took the post at Yerucham in November 2005, when the regional council was saddled with a heavy debt, municipal services were sporadic and the community center was closed. He explained to Voice of Israel government radio that the situation changed after he raised the property tax 15 percent and fired 10-12 percent of public service workers. The Yeruham council now pays its workers on time, municipal services have been restored, the budget is balanced and the economy is growing, Mitzna stated.

Mitzna was only supposed to stay with Yerucham for 3 years -- yet he has put on hold aspirations to run again for Haifa mayoral elections or Knesset national elections. Mitzna announced to IDF army radio this morning that he would be staying in Yerucham for at least 2 more years.

In his parting speech at the Knesset, he said "I believe that by going to Yerucham, I will give from my expertise to revitalize the town and will also be a role model for the spirit of volunteerism in Israel."

Some might say he's only furthering his own future political career by revitalizing Yerucham.

Big Deal; results are results. I'd rather he further his own career while helping Yerucham, than Barak, Bibi, and Halutz's personal financial ambitions. (Then again, I'm glad Halutz didn't go to Yerucham -- he probably would have buried them as well).

Amram Mitzna; Kudos to you! On behalf of the Muqata readership, we wish you a hearty Yasher Koach, and please continue to help Yerucham bloom in the desert.

**Electronics giant Elron, who named ex-top soldier Dan Halutz as its chairman, now faces a growing concern as stock and earning warnings hovers over its head. The company admitted to losing NIS 33 million and to a cash burn of NIS 28 million for the year. It has a working capital deficit of NIS 5 million and a hole in its shareholders equity amounting to NIS 3 million. Haaretz


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

Jewno

Note: The following was posted by the Holy Hyrax blogger. Jameel comments; not the frummest video around. Click at your own risk. Why *do* I let the Hyrax blog here? *sigh*






Wherever I am, my blog turns towards the Holy Hyrax blog

What Happens To Waffle Thieves

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

Knesset Resolution Passed: Waffle Week Starts Today!

Knesset Resolution Passed:
Waffle Week Starts Today!

After months of painstaking legislative lobbying, Prof. Ben-Chorin's hard work has finally paid off; in a landmark Knesset vote today, National Waffle Week has been declared in Israel, STARTING TODAY!

Though Shas MKs were against the law (and voted against it because they favored their own bill, "National Pancake Day"), the Knesset came through and voted 72-19 in favor of Waffle Week!

Instead of the silly customs that are associated with Israeli Independence Day, i.e., plastic whistle hammers, spraying white foam over innocent passerbyers, etc., Waffle day involves 100% Waffles!

Send your waffle blog posts, pictures or videos of yourself wearing waffle apparel, eating waffles, or being seen at an official Waffle House, and we'll post it here. Write a creative waffle posting, involving waffles and Israel, and you COULD be a winner!

Winning entires may be eligible for a waffle breakfasts, AT THE MUQATA! (Fine Print: Unless of course, you spell your first name with a "q" in it).

Examples of fine apparel include:





















In an attempt to keep this appreciation week entertaining, this celebration is EVEN open to registered members (in good standing) of the National Waffle Association! So go out, write a post about waffles, go find some waffle apparel, eat some nutritious and sumptuous waffles, and let us know! Celebrate Israel @ 60 in style; and shows us your spirit of Eretz Yisrael with or without the syrup.












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

Biblical-Astronomical Archeology

בראשית י"ט, GENESIS 19: The Destruction of Sodom and Amorah

24 Then the LORD caused to rain upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 25 and He overthrow those cities, and all the Plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. 26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 27 And Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD. 28 And he looked out toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the Plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace.

From the Times-Online: "A clay tablet that has baffled scientists for 150 years has been identified as a witness’s account of the asteroid suspected of being behind the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Researchers who cracked the cuneiform symbols on the Planisphere tablet believe that it recorded an asteroid thought to have been more than half a mile across.

The tablet, found by Henry Layard in the remains of the library in the royal place at Nineveh in the mid-19th century, is thought to be a 700BC copy of notes made by a Sumerian astronomer watching the night sky.

He referred to the asteroid as “white stone bowl approaching” and recorded it as it “vigorously swept along”.

Using computers to recreate the night sky thousands of years ago, scientists have pinpointed his sighting to shortly before dawn on June 29 in the year 3123BC.

About half the symbols on the tablet have survived and half of those refer to the asteroid. The other symbols record the positions of clouds and constellations. In the past 150 years scientists have made five unsuccessful attempts to translate the tablet.

Mark Hempsell, one of the researchers from Bristol University who cracked the tablet’s code, said: “It’s a wonderful piece of observation, an absolutely perfect piece of science.”

He said the size and route of the asteroid meant that it was likely to have crashed into the Austrian Alps at Köfels. As it travelled close to the ground it would have left a trail of destruction from supersonic shock waves and then slammed into the Earth with a cataclysmic impact.

Debris consisting of up to two thirds of the asteroid would have been hurled back along its route and a flash reaching temperatures of 400C (752F) would have been created, killing anyone in its path. About one million sq km (386,000 sq miles) would have been devastated and the impact would have been equivalent to more than 1,000 tonnes of TNT exploding."

According to Chabad's on-line calendar of Biblical events, they date the destruction of Sodom to 1714 BCE, so I guess the scientists still have to tweak their computer program of the night skies a bit more.

:-)

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

Brainwashing and War

As almost always, cross-posted on JoeSettler

There is an article/video on A7 discussing the link between the brainwashing the soldiers underwent before the Hitnatkut and the failure to win in Lebanon. I too believe they are connected, but the article/video didn’t present their case very well.

From talking with soldiers back then, the further away they were from the inner-circle, the less brainwashing (sensitivity training) they underwent, and the more guilty they felt, and the more they wanted to do something to alleviate the guilt they felt.

That is in part how we snuck in the first time (until we finally got caught by some police officers whose apparent lack of guilty feelings we couldn’t work on).

Soldiers in the outer circles purposely looked away, or even actively helped us sneak through the barriers.

After the disengagement, while still in Gaza we met soldiers who broke down completely once they realized what they did.

One told us he didn’t understand before he went in as to the immensity of his actions and what the Gaza communities even looked like beforehand, and while he was there he couldn’t think, and only now that he had downtime, did he realize what he did and was involved in.

But clearly when the army is training and fulfilling political missions (or dare I say it, anti-Jewish missions), that means it does not train for its real mission of the defending the State and People of Israel against the real enemy.

Furthermore, it confuses the soldier as to who his enemy actually is and who it defintely isn't.

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