Learn To Shoot

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Like most Rapid Response Teams in the Judea region (not to mention other special security forces), I’ve done some training at the Caliber 3 shooting range.

Let me tell you, compared to most IDF training bases, this place is heaven. Soda machines, bathrooms, running water, concrete floors, and ceiling netting (for shade). You couldn’t ask for a nicer outdoor range. (And if you’ve only shot in an indoor range, you’re in for a surprise, it’s a completely different experience).

Anyway, the owners of the Caliber 3 Shooting Range have opened up their training services to the general public.

They are offering a special 2 hour package for tourists visiting Israel (or you wanna-be settlers in Beit Shemesh).

The package includes explanations of the security situations Israelis face, examples of different anti-Terrorist techniques, and of course the fun part - Shooting pistols and machine guns.

The program is open to individuals, groups, and families. You can see from the photos on their site that everyone is having a great time.

Of course they’re having a great time. They shooting M-16s and Glock pistols.

Why do you think half the people on the RRTs join up in the first place?

So head on over to their website and learn first hand what it is like to protect a settlement and fight a terrorist.

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

How Much Would You Pay for Art?

Ha’aretz claims that their probe indicates that the current Olmert investigation revolves around Olmert using his position to help promote his wife’s artwork and art career.

I’m not much of a modern art critic, but how much would you pay for these, and would you really want them in your house?


(Gads, I don't even want to see it on the blog!)

My wife has another theory.

Forget million dollar discounts on Cremioux. This involves a much better way of buying financing a candidate. Buy the politician's wife’s artwork in exchange for favors. (And we're not talking pennies here).

And seriously, after looking at those two samples of her work, can there be any doubt in anyone’s mind what the buyers were really buying for all that money?

You read it here (actually hopefully on JoeSettler) first.


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

Haveil Havalim # 164 - no names edition

Snoopy has the scoop: Haveil Havalim # 164 - no names edition.

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

Updated Prayer for the State of Israel (60th birthday edition)

Finally.

Despite having been annoyed at many of Uri Orbach's columns lately, I fully endorse the latest "nusach" of the prayer for the welfare of the State of Israel. (Translated here)

אבינו שבשמים צור ישראל וגואלו, ברך את מדינת ישראל ראשית צמיחת גאולתנו. הגן עליה משריה, ראשיה ויועציה, מקבלניה, מסוחריה, מכוכבניה, מקבצניה, מעיתונאיה, מפקידיה וממאכעריה, ושלח אורך ואמיתך לכל מדינאיה ורבניה, שופטיה ומלומדיה ותקנם בעצה טובה מלפניך.

חזק את ידי מגיני ארץ קודשנו והנחילם ישועה מהראש הקטן, ומהנרגנות ומההשתמטות ומהסרבנות, והצילם מפקודות לא חוקיות בעליל ומפקודות חוקיות לא בעליל, ותן בלבם מסירות ואחריות ודבקות, ועטרת ניצחון תעטרם.

הצל את עמך בני ישראל מכל קטנוניות ובכיינות ומשביעות רצון מוגזמת ומטיפשות ומאטימות, ומכל פגע רע וטעם רע ולשון הרע ושנאת חינם. הגן על מדינת ישראל מפני אלו הקמים עליה מבחוץ ומפני אלו הקמים עליה מבפנים, ושמור עליה מחולביה, ממנצליה וממשמיציה. ואת אחינו כל בית ישראל פקוד נא בכל מפלגותיהם ועדותיהם ודעותיהם, וברכם בהבנה כי מדינת ישראל היא אברת חסדך, אורך וישועתך, ושלח אל מדינת ישראל את אהבתם וכבודם, יראתם ודאגתם של תושביה וברכם במעשה ידיה.

אבינו שבשמיים, מנע עקירה מנחלתך ושנאת חינם מבניך, ותן תבונה לשמאלניך ואחריות למתנחליך (ובמקצת בתי כנסיות נהגו בנוסח הפוך), וכבוד ואחווה והתחשבות והבנה בין כל מאמיניך וכופריך ככתוב: אם יהיה נידחך בקצה השמים משם יקבצך ה' אלוקיך ומשם יקחך.

והופע בהדר גאון עוזך על כל יושבי תבל ארצך ויאמר כל אשר נשמה באפו: איזו מדינה, איזו מדינה, איזו מדינה, מיוחדת במינה, אמן סלה.

ומוסיפין ביום העצמאות השישים נוסח משולב זה:

מי שברך אמותינו הקדושות והטהורות שרה רבקה רחל ולאה, הוא יברך את החולה מדינת ישראל בת העם היהודי בעבור שכל היהודים מתפללים בעבורה ויתנו שישים שקלים לבית הכנסת. בשכר זה הקדוש ברוך הוא יימלא רחמים עליה להחלימה ולהחזיקה ולהחיותה וישלח לה מהרה רפואה שלמה בתש"ח איבריה ובתשס"ח גידיה בתוך שאר חולי ישראל, רפואת הנפש ורפואת הגוף, יום עצמאות הוא מלזעוק ורפואה קרובה לבוא השתא בעגלא ובזמן קריב ונאמר אמן.

ולאחר התפילה נהגו ישראל לומר משנה זו ביום העצמאות (מסכת קיטורים):
כל שלא אמר אחד משלושה משפטים אלו בערב יום העצמאות לא יצא ידי חובתו:
תאמין לי, כולם מושחתים; תאמין לי, זאת לא המדינה שחלמנו עליה; ותאמין לי, אין בשביל מי להצביע. וחכמים אומרים: יצא ידי חובתו, אבל יצא פראייר .

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

Reminder: This Shabbat -- Shlissel Challa

This Shabbat -- the one right after Pesach is when many Jews bake "Shlissel Challah" -- Challah in the shape of a key (or a key baked inside the Challah). It's considered a segula for all sorts of good things...

Orthomom (remember her?) found all the sources last year:

1. Based on "Pitchi Li Achoti, Ra'ayati..." ("Open up, my darling..."--Shir HaShirim 5:2), on which the Medrash states "Pitchu li petach ke-chudo shel machat...," (cf. Shi HaShirim Rabbah 5, s.v. "Kol Dodi Dofek") = something like "Open your hearts (in teshuvah) like the eye of the needle, and I (God) will open the rest like [a very large
opening].

2. According to Kabbalah on Pesach the gates to heaven were open, and following Pesach the lower gates are shut, and it's up to us to open them again, therefor on the 1st Shabbat we put the key on the challah to show that through the mitzvah of Shabbat we are opening the locks [original source?].

3. In the desert the Jewish people ate from the manna until after Pesach upon entering the land (with the bringing of the Omer, see: Josh. 5:11), at which point the ate from the produce of the land, and became dependant on their livelihood for the first time (now they had no manna). The key in the challah after Pesach is a request the God should open the Sha'arei Parnasah (gates of livelihood). Alternatively, the manna began to fall in the month of Iyyar, and this Shabbat is always Shabbat Mevarchim Iyyar.

See: Sefer Ta'amei HaMinhagim, pp. 249-50.
See: Encyclopedia Judaica, vol. 6, pp. 1419-20 for a photo of a shluss challah (and other "special" challot). It seems (from both of the above sources) that the minhag was to bake the key on top of the challah not inside (a la the old jail break trick).

Josh Waxman in the parsha blog also had more on the subject.

But the source I'm familar with is from the Sefer Ta'amei Minhagim that says it's based on the pasuk, 'יפתח ה' לך את אוצרו הטוב את השמים לתת מטר ארצך בעתו'

Anyway - we bake a key into the challah. Much easier that braiding the dough into a key.

Shabbat Shalom!

PS: Hat-tip to CK from Jewlicious for the Challah Hu Akbar graphic (apparently :)


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

Holocaust Related Posts

Were Jews really made into candles and buried in Israel?

Every Person Has a Name

From Rabbi Natan Slifkin (Zoo Torah)

In lieu of an essay, I thought that I would refer you to two fascinating stories of zoos that hid Jews during the Holocaust.

One is the Artis Zoo in Amsterdam; you can watch a brief video about its rescue of Jews.

The other is the Warsaw Zoo, whose rescue of Jews has been novelized in a fascinating new book by Diane Ackerman, "The Zookeeper's Wife"

"In both accounts, the unique features of a zoo made it possible for the very brave zoo directors to successfully hide people in the grounds -- both accounts are extraordinary stories of ingenuity and bravery amidst the darkness."

Finally, the obligatory video. This is rather graphic, but crucial history for everyone to see.



And this video's from Jewlicious -- the siren this morning in Jerusalem, and how everything just stopped.



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

Special Israel 60th Birthday Junk Food Edition

Hey. You got your peanut butter in my chocolate. No, YOU got your chocolate in my peanut butter.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups?

Guess again. In honor of Israel's 60th birthday next week, Osem is creating a new version of the Israeli Classic Bamba Junk Food -- Bamba with creamy chocolate nougat inside.

Sorry people, it sounds totally gross.


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

Extremist Attack Ehud Barak

For more great posts, visit JoeSettler

The Shabak again failed to protect a minister in the Israeli government as extremists managed to reach Defense Minister Barak and physically assault him (and curse him too).

Something must be done against these radical extremists. Laws must be passed. Those kippa-wearers should be ashamed to walk the streets.

This kind of violence will lead to murder.

Have we learned nothing from the Rabin murder?!


What?

What was that you say?

They weren’t extreme Right-wingers?

They were secular members in good standing of the Left-wing Labor party?

Oh. Well.

In that case it was just a party debate. Barak was never in any danger.

Source


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

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF BAY AREA JEWS BEING SO FRIGGIN' CLUELESS YOU WONDER WHERE THEIR HEADS ARE

[Guest-post by B.O.T.H. http://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/ (file this under news of the weird).]


There's a notice on Indybay (SF Indy media) calling for anti-Israel Jews to volunteer for direct action and get arrested on behalf of the Palestinians.

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/04/28/18495604.php

Contrary to what you might think, there is no coven of Neturei Kartaniks here - unless they are very well hidden. The organizers and their intended volunteers are from the segment of Jewry which can best be described as "Jews of convenience". Meaning that they only admit to being Jewish if they can use it against Jews or against Israel. Jews who give plausible deniability to anti-Semites and supporters of Hamas and Hezbollah. Decorative Jews.


Here is part of the notice on Indybay:

Calling anti-Zionist and non-Zionist Jews and those in solidarity with the Palestinian Liberation struggle!

There is growing enthusiasm and support for an action to confront celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the founding of Israel.

In honor of 60 plus years of Palestinian resistance and against the siege on Gaza, there is a critical need for fierce Jewish dissent with these celebrations.

We need 60-80 Jews to take arrest and as many Jewish & non-Jewish Palestine Solidarity activists as possible to participate more broadly.

The action will include visual and creative resistance and direct action.

We have a date, time and a plan and we are hoping that you will join us.



Sounds chirpy, doesn't it? Kinda like the glee-club is throwing a party. Almost makes ya want to send them a beer keg. In which case, it is probably a good thing that they tell you where to send the keg. It continues:


It is critical to attend a planning meeting for details: the next planning meeting will be Wednesday, April 30 at 522 Valencia St., SF.
Orientations will be Sunday, May 4th from 12noon to 2pm in the East Bay and from 7:30 to 9:30pm in SF — it is critical to attend an orientation in order to hear the plan, location, and meeting place and time (please e-mail below for date and location).
Please e-mail BAnakbaorganizing [at] gmail.com with your name, phone number, participation interest, and how you heard about the action. Someone will call you about participating in the action.


Now, if you're reading this, you're probably wondering "surely they aren't that meshugge? Surely they don't think that this wins them any kind of cosmic brownie-points?
Sorry, but yes they are that meshugge, and yes they do indeed believe that this wins them bucket-loads of cosmic brownie-points. This is the Bay Area we're talking about; the place where 'if it can't be solved with wheat germ and tofu, it's gotta be a Zionist plot'.

---------------

On a related note, one of the pro-Palestinian organizers in the Bay Area recently moved here from Minneapolis St. Paul - Perry Bellow-Handelman. She was very active there in Jewish Community Action, gay organizing, and boycotting a major corporation because of it's labour and environmental sins.

I guess we now also import our Israel hate. We're so friggin' lucky.

Here in the Bay Area, being pro-Israel counts as a dangerous eccentricity. Or a perversion on par with being a smoker or a chicken strangler.

-----B.O.T.H.


No matter how baffled I am, my blog still turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד