The first terror victim

Today we commemorate our fallen soldiers and terror victims, followed tomorrow by Israel's Independence Day.  The idea of commemorating terror victims together with fallen soldiers was and is a controversial decision.  Therefore, it's interesting to note that terror victim #1 on Israel's list was killed not only for being who he was - a Jew living in Israel - but for what he did - reestablishing Jewish national pride.

R' Avraham Shlomo Zalman (The RASHAZ) came to Israel in 1811 with his family: his wife and three little children.  He was among the hundreds of students of the Vilna Gaon who came to Israel in the early 19th century.

R' Shlomo Zalman was one of the first who spoke of Jews in Israel turning to productive work.  He foresaw a land where Jews would settle their land, build houses, open businesses, and stop relying on the money sent by Jews from abroad.   He studied silversmithing, and once he got to Safed, his first stop in Israel, he opened a workshop.  From then on he was known as R' Shlomo Zalman Zoref ('silversmith').  Later he bought land near Ramla, by the villages of Qazaza and Al-Mansura (today Mazkeret Batya), which was farmed by his son.

In 1813 a cholera epidemic hit Safed, one of many misfortunes that befell the city's Jewish community in the upcoming decades.  R' Shlomo Zalman decided this was a good time to risk going to Jerusalem.

More than a hundred years earlier, in 1700, a group of European Jews led by Rabbi Yehuda Ha-Chasid came to Jerusalem.  They bought land and built a synagogue.  But their leader died upon arrival, and the group fell apart.  The Jews couldn't pay their debts and taxes for the new building, the Arab creditors burned the synagogue down, and the entire Ashkenazi community was run out of town.  Since then it was known as Rabbi Yehuda Ha-Chasid's Ruin ('Hurva').  Only a few Ashkenazi Jews remained, living 'undercover' by blending in among the Sephardi Jews.

For a hundred years, any Jew who looked European and showed up in Jerusalem was expected to pay off the debts of his landsmen or risk jail or worse.  In order to enter Jerusalem, R' Shlomo Zalman and his comrades "went undercover" as Sephardi Jews: they dressed in the manner of the Sephardi Jews and spoke Arabic.

The Sephardi Jews of the city allowed their European brethren to pray in a side room of their synagogue.  The Sephardi synagogue complex was made up of several  sub-subterranean rooms, which desperately needed repairs.  But R' Shlomo Zalman did not suffice with this arrangement.  He had his sights set on an ambitious project which became his life's work: to rebuild the Hurva Synagogue.  A proud symbol of Jewish national revival in Jerusalem and Israel.

The opportunity presented itself when Muhammad Ali Pasha, the ruler of Egypt, conquered Israel in 1831.    In 1834, Mordechai Shnitzer, who was one of R' Shlomo Zalman's friends, got permission from Muhammad Ali to renovate the Sephardi synagogue complex.  

R' Avraham Shlomo Zalman Zoref's name on the 

Hurva Synagogue's founding declaration

The first stage in rebuilding the Hurva was to release the Ashkenazi Jews from the debts of their 'ancestors'.   With political cunning, R' Shlomo Zalman got the Egyptian ruler to issue a firaman (government order) absolving the Jews of their debts and restoring the Hurva compound to the Ashkenazi community.

Rabbi Joseph Schwarz writes: "On the 18th of Elul 5596 (1836) we gladly started clearing the piles of dirt from the lot, and we discovered all the old buildings that were there: the synagogue and the mikveh [ritual bath] and several three story houses ... we also found ancient manuscripts from 5339 (1578) signed by Rabbi Israel Najara"

When the Arabs saw that the Jews started clearing the the rubble from the ruins of the synagogue compound, one of them hurried to build eight shops on the lot.  R' Shlomo Zalman bought the shops. The Arabs then threatened to kill any Jew who dared rebuild the Hurva compound.

In response R' Shlomo Zalman announced that all Jews must come and participate in the Mitzvah of clearing the rubble.  Hundreds of Jews responded to his call.  The Arabs stood around them, stones in hand.  R' Shlomo Zalman stood on a pile of rubble and threatened the Arabs, saying that if any of them dared enter the courtyard, the Jews would arrest him and turn him over to the authorities.

The Jews renovated one of the buildings in the compound as a synagogue and named it "Menachem Zion" (based on Isiah 51,3: 'For the Lrd has comforted Zion, He has comforted all her ruins').  A first step in rebuilding the Hurva itself.

However, the Jews were still not allowed to build a new synagogue.  The Jewish community split into two camps.  One, led by Rabbi Yeshaya Bardaki, feared repercussions from the Muslims, and proposed that the Jews just do with small synagogues.  The other, led by R' Shlomo Zalman, insisted on building a monumental Jewish center which would be just as impressive as the Christian or Muslim places of worship.

It was only after the Crimean War that the Jews were allowed to rebuild the Hurva Synagogue.  Building commenced in 1857 and the synagogue was dedicated in 1864.  The Hurva Synagogue became a national institution for the Jews of Israel.

However, R' Shlomo Zalman didn't live to see the realization of his vision.  Twice Arabs tried to kill him.  The first time an assassin shot R' Shlomo Zalman, but missed.  The would-be assassin drowned as he tried getting away.  The second time, in 1851, an Arab attacked R' Shlomo Zalman with a sword, right by the Hurva compound.  R' Shlomo Zalman succumbed to his wounds three months later.

R' Shlomo Zalman's legacy lived on.  His son, Mordechai, who changed the family name to Solomon in memory of his father, was instrumental in developing Jewish business and agriculture in Israel.  As was his grandson, Yoel Moshe Solomon, who is most famous for founding Petach Tikva.

 Memorial flame in the Hurva Synagogue

Eve of Israel's Memorial Day 2012

When our 'Palestinian peace partners' protest that they don't have anything against Jews, it's only those evil Zionists with whom they have a problem, it's important to remember, especially on this day, that the man the State of Israel honors as its first terror victim was killed long before Herzel was even born.  When R' Shlomo Zalman came to Jerusalem, Jews were a minority.  By the time he was killed, Jews were almost half the city's population, and by the time the first 'Zionist' set foot in Israel, Jews had regained the majority in Jerusalem.   All, in no small part, due to R' Shlomo Zalman's efforts, and his conviction that Redemption will come when Jews stop fearing the gentiles and start taking action.

See here for more articles about our history in Israel.


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Jameel's Memorial Day in the IDF Reserves

Its been a while since I found the time to write a proper blog post about my IDF milluim reserve duty. While the majority of Israelis will be commemorating Israel’s memorial day and celebrating Independence Day at home, there are those who in the reserves who are working overtime in the IDF in the reserves, keeping the country safe.

This tour of service for 24 days has been rather eye opening…as we serve in a forward combat IDF outpost in the hills surrounding Hevron. We interact with Arabs and Jews, UN representatives, Left wingers and anarchists, the media…and settlers as well. What we really want is for the Shabbat weekends to pass quietly – a rainy weekend means that Leftists won’t go to the Susiya area and create disturbances with the Arabs against the settlers. When it rains, everyone stays home, and we can get some much needed rest.

There are young and old people in our unit from all walks of life in Israel. Secular and Religious, soldiers aged 23 to 57, single men, married men, fathers of large and small families, even grandfathers -- all arrived for reserve duty with the common goal of protecting Israel. We are here from all walks of Israel’s society…there are students, blue collar workers, lawyers, tour-guides, rabbis, teachers, engineers, hi-tech managers, and some are unemployed, in-between a myriad of jobs.

Reserve duty in our area -- a forward combat zone, means we guard our outpost encampment in multiple locations 24 hours a day, we patrol the roads, set up road checkpoints, man pillbox towers along roads, and are responsible for stopping terrorist activity in our area…but our primary objective is to keep the Jewish settlements safe from terror. This Memorial Day and Independence Day we will be working more hours than usual, protecting the multiple ceremonies and celebrations…so that Israel remains safe. When our 24 days are complete, another reserve unit will take our place – and their commanders are already hard at work planning for the most professional and effective security plan.

This past Friday night, those of us who weren’t on a security shift sat down for Shabbat dinner. Everyone participated, regardless of where their level of religious observance happens to be. Our deputy company commander spoke for a few minutes about the weekly Torah reading…we ate, and sang Shabbat Zemirot songs for over an hour….Ashkenazi melodies overlapped and intertwined with Sephardi tunes, as everyone sang together.

The IDF is the army of the people.

Before my reserve duty, I picked up a small 2 volume set of books by Rav Yosef Tzvi Rimon, that discusses Jewish observance issues in the IDF. Over Shabbat I had the opportunity to read part of it, and I found this story particularly meaningful.

Rav Rimon quotes a story from Chief Rabbi Lau’s book, “Light of the World” (Oro shel Olam), page 380, and Rav Rimon says he also heard the same story from many other people as well.

“A student in the Kol Torah Yeshiva in Jerusalem, approached his Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and asked him the question: May I leave my Torah studies in the yeshiva to go [for a short visit] and pray at the graves of tzadikim (righteous people,) in the Galil (Northern Israel?)

Rav Auerbach answered, “It is better to say in yeshiva, and study Torah”

The student replied, “Isn’t there a time I could go to visit the graves of tzadikim? Doesn’t Rav Auerbach go and pray by the graves of tzadikim?

Rav Auerbach answered, “In order to pray at the graves of tzadikim, one doesn’t have to travel up to the Galil. Whenevr I feel the need to pray at the graves of tzadikim, I go to Mount Herzel, [the national cemetery for fallen IDF soliders in Jerusalem], to the graves of the soliders…who fell “Al Kiddush Hashem” for the sanctification of G-d.”

This Yom Hazikaron, Israel Memorial Day, I urge you to take a few minutes to honor the memory of the brave IDF soldiers who fell in battle in the creation and ongoing struggle for the safety and security of the State of Israel. There are also many, many wounded soldiers and victims of Arab Terror who are also remembered on this day…and we need to remember them and their families.

There are those in captivity who cannot celebrate this Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. IDF soldier Gilad Shalit is held captive by the PA’s partner, Hamas, denied visits by the Red Cross in gross violation of international law.

Lastly, we must thank the IDF soldiers in the regular army and the reserves, without them and G-d’s help, we would be over-run by Arab terror and Islamic jihad.

Despite the difficulty, both personal and sometimes ideological, I am proud to be able to serve in the IDF this Israel Memorial day and Independence day. May our Independence merit the full redemption of our people and the ingathering of the exiles.

Chag Sameach!

--Jameel
In an IDF Outpost…

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Celebrating Israel's Independence

Open post - will put a whole bunch of things here today - check back once in a while.

13:24 The winner of the Chidon HaTanch, International Bible Competition is Or Ashwal, from the Amana Girls School in Kfar Sava.

First runner up is Elad Nachshon

Second runner up is Avner Netanyahu, the son of Prime Minister Benjamin and Sarah Netanyahu.

13:03 You can watch the Chidon Hatanch live here (though its almost over)

12:59 PM Prime Minister Netanyahu is asking his son a question in the Chidon HaTanach, the International Bible Contest. His son, Avner is tied for first...

My schedule today:

8:15 AM Shacharit with Hallel
9:15 AM 4x4 totally off the beaten path tiyul to wadi below Chavat Yair.
11:00 AM Chidon HaTanach (watching now).
1:00 PM Bike Riding /Blogging / BBQ Preparations
3:00 PM BBQ with over 50 people
8:30/9:00 PM Hockey?

Lots I want to add -- will post soon.

Chag Sameach,

Jameel






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

Happy Birthday Israel!

Survey among Israelies: Israel more popular than ever!

"The survey found that 80% of the Jews polled defined their personal status as "very good" or "good," 90% said they think Israel is doing "very well" as a nation; and 81% said they were "very optimistic" or "optimistic" as to the nation's future.

Some 81% also said that given their choice of countries to live in, they would prefer to stay in Israel. "

(Last year's fireworks over Jerusalem)

From YNET:

...Independence Day is an opportunity; an opportunity to admit that something beautiful is being done here. That something touching has been built here. That we only become better with the passage of time. We have an ultra-Orthodox deputy health minister, a religious science minister, and a secular Knesset speaker, who holds his first tour in an Arab town.
We have camaraderie here and people help each other during times of crisis, we have a special culture and diversity of opinion, and we have quite a bit of love and spirituality around here, hiding behind the veneer of our hurried routine.

We have plenty of time during the year to look into what is still missing. Independence Day is the opportunity to admit that we already achieved most of it.

Chag Sameach.

Next Year in Jerusalem!

(With Gilad Shalit and Jonathan Pollard)

PS: My good friend Benji writes about the 61 things he loves about Israel. Worth a read and a chuckle :-)

PPS: For an interesting rendition of Al HaNisim, see here. (fixed link)

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