Yom Yerushalayim

 

Yom Yerushalayim / יום ירושלים

Jerusalem Day is an Israeli national holiday commemorating the reunification of Jerusalem and the establishment of Israeli control over the Old City in June 1967. The Chief Rabbinate of Israel declared Jerusalem Day a minor religious holiday to thank God for victory in the Six-Day War and for answering the 2,000-year-old prayer of "Next Year in Jerusalem".

In 1947, when the United Nations approved the plan to partition the British Mandate of Israel into a Jewish state and an Arab state, they determined that Jerusalem would be an “international city” for a period of ten years. The plan was approved by the Jews, and the day after it came into effect, the new state was attacked by the surrounding Arab states (as the Arabs had not accepted the partition plan).

At the time of the cease-fire that ended the 1948 War for Independence, Jordan was in control of the Old City and eastern Jerusalem. Jews lost all access to the Western Wall, the holiest site of the Jewish faith as it is the last standing structure from the wall mount that supported the Holy Temple, and nearly all of the Jewish Quarter of the Old City was destroyed.

On June 5, 1967, the Middle East was once again at war. Although the war itself lasted six days, the battle for Jerusalem was over in two. On June 7, 1967 – 28 Iyar 5727 – Jewish troops took the Old City and, for the first time in almost twenty years, Jewish prayers were recited at the Western Wall.

Eleven months later, the government of Israel declared a new holiday, Jerusalem Day, Yom Yerushalayim, on the 28th of the Hebrew month of Iyar. In Israel on this day, there are state ceremonies and parades, as well as commemorations for the soldiers who died in the battle for Jerusalem. Yom Yerushalayim is also celebrated in many communities outside of Israel with special assemblies and programs. Religious observance of this holiday, by means of the recitation of Hallel, varies by community.

This year, Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Reunification Day, is observed this Saturday evening, May 19^th through Sunday night, May 20^th. This year marks the 45^th anniversary of the reunification of the city.

 

a little bit of music...

Yerushalayim Shel Zahav- Yossi Azulai

"Jerusalem of Gold" (Hebrew: ירושלים של זהב‎, Yerushalayim Shel Zahav) is a popular Israeli song written by Naomi Shemer in 1967. The original song described the Jewish people's 2000-year longing to return to Jerusalem; Shemer added a final verse after the Six-Day War to celebrate Jerusalem's unification under Israeli control.
At that time, the Old City was under Jordanian rule; Jews had been barred from entering, and many holy sites had been desecrated. Only three weeks after the song was published, the Six-Day War broke out. The song was the battle cry and morale booster of the Israeli troops. Shemer even sang it for them before the war and festival, making them among the first in the world to hear it. On 7 June, the Israel Defense Forces captured the eastern part of Jerusalem and the Old City from the Jordanians. When Shemer heard the paratroopers singing "Jerusalem of Gold" at the Western Wall, she wrote a final verse, reversing the phrases of lamentation found in the second verse. The line about shofars sounding from the Temple Mount is a reference to an event that actually took place on 7 June.

Yerushalayim. Yisrael!

Yom Yerushalayim at Kotel

Yom Yerushalayim at the Kotel

Orthodox men celebrating 44 years of Israeli Jerusalem.

Shavua Tov

Today we celebrate one of the greatest miracles of recent years. After 2000 away from our eternal capital, the holy city of Jerusalem, our soldiers recaptured it in what can only be described as one of the most miraculous wars ever, the Six Day War.
Yom Yerushalayim is the day when we rejoice in our country, our capital city and appreciate the presents that Hashem gave to us. We are able to pray at the Kotel Hamaaravi, the Western Wall and we are once again able to live and learn in the city which is steeped in thousands of years of our people’s history.
It is a day of true celebrations and thanksgiving to Hashem.
Chag Sameach

a little bit of music...

איציק אשל - לכה דודי לקראת כלה

our Jewish little place: parashah Bechukotai

our Jewish little place: parashah Bechukotai: If you walk in My statutes... The word chok ("statute" or "decree"), which gives the Parshah of Bechukotai its name, literally me...

Shabbath Shalom

If you walk in My statutes (Vaiykrà 26:3)

The word chok ("statute" or "decree"), which gives the Parshah of Bechukotai its name, literally means "engraved".

The Torah comes in two forms: written and engraved. On the last day of his life, Moses inscribed the Torah on parchment scrolls. But this written Torah was preceded by an engraved Torah: the Divine law was first given to us encapsulated in the Ten Commandments, which were etched by the hand of G-d in two tablets of stone.

When something is written, the substance of the letters that express it--the ink--remains a separate entity from the substance upon which they have been set--the parchment. On the other hand, letters engraved in stone are forged in it: the words are stone and the stone is words.

By the same token, there is an aspect of Torah that is "inked" on our soul: we understand it, our emotions are roused by it; it becomes our "lifestyle" or even our "personality"; but it remains something additional to ourselves. But there is a dimension of Torah that is chok, engraved in our being. There is a dimension of Torah which expresses a bond with G-d that is of the very essence of the Jewish soul.

(Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi)

Bechukotai

3 ways of G.d relating to us, Abundance, Punishment,
and Covenant

Privilege and Plenty on the Macro level

If the Jews will “walk in my statutes and keep my commandments ” great reward will follow. We are promised “rain in its time” These rains will result in an abundance of produce, and according to commentaries, also “clean and good air”, and will be good for the “wells and rivers and cause good health for bodies and fruits…people will not fall ill…”.

Peace – Outer and Inner

We are also promised the blessing of peace, “Peace is equal to everything!” “You will dwell securely in your land. I will give peace in the land, you will sleep and not be afraid”

Some see peace on an international level. “it is possible that it means peace in the world in general …he assures them that there will be peace in the entire world…the desire of G.d is for this, which is reflected in the 70 oxen offered as sacrifices on the festival corresponding to the 70 nations of the world…

waiting for Yom Yerushalayim

Art by Baruch Nachshon,

Yerushalayim shel zahav!!

Avir harim tzalul kayayin
Vereiach oranim,
Nisa beru'ach ha'arbayim
Im kol pa'amonim.

Uvetardemat ilan va'even
Shvuyah bachalomah,
Ha'ir asher badad yoshevet /nitzevet
Uvelibah chomah.

Yerushalayim shel zahav
Veshel nechoshet veshel or
Halo lechol shirayich ani kinor.

Eicha yavshu borot hamayim
Kikar hashuk reikah,
Ve'ein poked et har habayit
Ba'ir ha'atikah.

Uvame'arot asher basela
Meyalelot ruchot,
Ve'ein yored el yam hamelach
Bederech Yericho.

Ach bevo'i hayom lashir lach
Velach lik'shor k'tarim,
Katonti mitze'ir bana'ich
Ume'acharon ham'shorerim.

Ki shmech tzorev et hasfatayim
Keneshikat saraf ,
Im eshkachech Yerushalayim
Asher kulah zahav...

Chazarnu el borot hamayim
Lashuk velakikar,
Shofar kore behar habayit
ba'ir ha'atikah.

Uvame'arot asher baselah
Alfei shmashot zorchot,
Nashuv nered el yam hamelach
Bederech Yericho!

a little bit of music

Yerushalayim shel zahav - Yossi Azulay

A very interesting short movie

If you have an extra 38 or so minutes to spare and you'd like to learn more about Israel, or you'd like to have a really good feeling about living in Israel, or supporting it in some way, do take a look at this movie. The very end of the movie is about how Israelis are particularly interested in helping the world!
The movie will only be available online until May 18th. To enjoy it click       
         
          HERE

Blintzes for Shavuot!

Join Malkah Fleisher in her Jerusalem kitchen as she prepares delicious blintzes for the upcoming holiday of Shavuot.

 

The hug of a fallen soldier

By: Edward Villa

Dvir Imanuelov was the first Israeli soldier to be killed in operation “Cast Lead” a year and a half ago. Two years earlier his father had died of an illness and Dvir, as the only male in the family took upon himself all the responsibilities together with his mother.

The loss of Dvir was especially tragic as they were left with only a mother and daughters in the family. On his last birthday the family and friends got together around the gravesite cleaned it up and planted new flowers. During the ceremony Dvir’s mother told the following shocking story:

“One night before I went to sleep I spoke to G-d and asked him out loud the following request: “Please – give me one hug from Dvir so that I will know that it was not all in vain.” I then went to sleep.

That same week, my daughter asked me if I would come with her to a concert of Meir Banai – a famous Israeli singer. I wasn’t in the mood of going to a concert but at the same time didn’t want to upset my daughter. In the end I decided to go to the concert without much enthusiasm.

The concert took place at the Sultan’s poll stadium in Jerusalem. We got there a little early and while the band was getting ready a little boy came up to me. He was about two years old with beautiful blond curls and had the face of an angel. I started talking to him.

What is you name? – Eshel Do you want to be my friend? – Yes. Do you want to sit next to me? – Yes

At this point the parents, who were sitting two rows above us signaled the kid to come back and stop harassing old ladies. I motioned with my hand that it is fine and we continued our conversation.

Eshel started telling me about his family. He told me that he has a baby brother named Dvir.

When I heard the name my entire body started shaking. I went up two rows and asked Eshel’s mother. “Excuse me for being so rude, but how old is Dvir?” – Six moths old, was the answer. “Sorry for being so arrogant but was he born before or after operation “Cast Lead”?” “After” came the answer. “Please excuse my question but why did you call him Dvir?”

And Eshel’s mother answered: “I work in the army as an officer that informs families of their wounded or killed sons and follows their needs. While I was pregnant with Dvir the doctors informed me that they suspect a very serious defect with this baby. Since the pregnancy was at a very advanced stage it was not possible to have an abortion and there was nothing to do but wait for the birth and see.”

“On my way home from the doctor I heard over the radio that a soldier named Dvir was killed in Gaza. Right away I made a deal with G-d. ‘If you give me a healthy child I promise to call him Dvir in memory of that soldier’ concluded Shiri, Eshel’s mom.

With tears in my eyes I turned to Shiri and told her that I am the mother of Dvir. Shiri didn’t believe me. I insisted that I am Dvir’s mom.

She still didn’t believe me and then asked for my name. “Dalia” I answered. “Dalia Imanuelov from Givat Ze’ev.” Shiri then picked up Dvir and handed him over. “Here- take Dvir in your hands – he wants to give you a hug…”

Until this day the families are in touch and Shiri follows Dalia and the family in all their needs.

a little bit of music...

Jerusalem - Eye of the Universe by Dovid

Shavua Tov!

Hashem is here, Hashem is there, Hashem is truly everywhere is all that stands between us and spiritual blindness because as the Kotsker Rebbe observed, the one who does not see the Omnipresent [literally, place] in every place, will not see Him in any place.

Shabbath Shalom

 
A Kohen may become Tamei to his close relatives. A Nazir may not. Why? The Shem MiShmuel says in the name of his father the Avnei Nezer that the Kedushas Kohen is inherited. It is a family kedusha. Therefore, just like he received his kedusha from the family, he may not turn his back on them, even if dealing with them would make him Tamei.
The status of a Nazir is reached purely by the individual, through his holy aspirations. It is not received in any way from other family members. He has no debt to pay and, therefore, may not defile himself to bury a family member. Similarly, to become Kohen Gadol one must elevate himself through his own efforts. Therefore, the Kohen Gadol also may not become tamei to family.

Revach

IDF's Campaign to Prevent Abductions

The IDF is launching a new campaign, aimed at preventing the abduction of soldiers. Most abductions are carried out while soldiers are hitchhiking. This campaign addresses the Gilad Shalit abduction and other attempts, showing Hamas militants trying to kidnap IDF soldiers. Every month, countless intelligence reports point to attempts by terror organizations to kidnap IDF soldiers.

For more from the IDF:
http://www.idfblog.com

Have a great lag b'Omer day!

מראות ההוד מלג בעומר הילולת רבי שמעון בר יוחאי

Rainbow and Lag b'Omer

Lag B'Omer occurs on the 18th day of Iyar: this year Thursday May 10 [begins Wednesday night]
Why is Lag b’Omer celebrated with bonfires and bows and arrows?

by Rabbi Yossi Marcus

The bonfires celebrate the immense light that was brought into the world by Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai [who passed away on Lag b’Omer], especially on the day of his passing.

The bow commemorates the fact that during Rabbi Shimon’s lifetime no rainbow was ever seen. [Bereishit Rabbah 35:2] Note: This was a good thing because the rainbow appears when the earth deserves punishment. The first time a rainbow appeared was after Noah’s flood, when G-d said that He will no longer destroy the world, rather He would send a sign: the rainbow. During Rabbi Shimon’s lifetime, the world was filled with merit because of him and therefore never saw a rainbow. 

There is a Kabbalistic tradition that on Lag b’Omer a rainbow will appear in a different color, which will symbolize the arrival of the Messianic age [Bnei Yissaschar]

 

Shirat Devorah

Surrender to G.d

You shall not desecrate My Holy Name. [Emor 22:32]

Rashi: [It teaches us:] Surrender your life [and do not transgress G.d’s commandments], and [thus] sanctify My Name.

In Chassidic thought it is explained that a person who actually surrenders his life to G-d is superior to one who merely wishes to do so.  This is because the desire to surrender to G-d stems from the Godly Soul [nefesh haElokis]*, and so long as the person has not surrendered himself in actuality then his Animal Soul [nefesh haBehamis]** has not been affected by this desire.

Furthermore, the Animal Soul's inherent desire is to live. Therefore, if the person actually surrenders his life, the Animal Soul has consented to an act which is the very opposite of its nature.

Since the Godly Soul and Animal Soul are coupled together, the act of surrendering one's life also teaches the Godly Soul how to go beyond its own nature, as it learns from the Animal Soul's total sacrifice.

[Sefer Hamaámorim Melukat: Lubavitcher Rebbe]

on Lag B’Omer, ‘really remember Rabbi Shimon’

As Lag B’Omer approaches, Rabbi Ratzon Amrousi is calling to remember the real meaning of the day. 
“We tend to see people getting caught up in the details instead of what really matters, and turning visits to tombs into the main event while at the same time continuing to do wrong,” he told Arutz Sheva.
This is a particular concern on Lag B’Omer, he said, “when the memory of the righteous (Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai) could really help, but there are some bad things done that evening.”
“We need to remember his teachings, which were based on ‘love your fellow man as yourself,’ love between people and between man and G-d.”

Israel decides to demolish homes of Fogel murderers

The defense establishment has decided to demolish the homes of the two terrorists who murdered five members of the Fogel family in Itamar.

The decision by Defense Minister Ehud Barak and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, subject to approval by legal authorities, was broadcast Sunday morning on Army Radio.

The report claimed the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) had recommended demolishing the homes of Hakim and Ajmad Awad, both of whom had announced their pride in their crime.

Two parents, two young boys and a baby were brutally slaughtered as they slept in their home on a Friday night. Their 12-year-old daughter and sister came home to find the carnage after attending a Sabbath evening activity with her youth group. Only two of her little brothers miraculously survived, having escaped the notice of the terrorists during their murderous rampage.

"This was one of the most brutal terrorist attacks ever, and the Shabak thinks the demolition is a punitive step that may deter other terrorists from carrying out such horrendous crimes,” the report quoted former Shin Bet chief Yaakov Perry as saying.

Several years ago, the Shin Bet, known by the Hebrew acronym “Shabak” ended its long-standing policy of advocating the demolition of terrorists' homes. The reason for the change was based on the theory that doing so did not discourage terrorism and instead resulted further legal complications.

Although the agency has not changed its opinion, officials said that in the case of the Fogel murders, the specific viciousness of the murders warranted demolition of the homes because several relatives of the terrorists acted as accessories to murders.

The relatives, who live in the nearby village of Awarta close to Itamar, helped to hide their weapons and destroy the evidence.

source

6 reasons why we rejoice on Lag BaOmer Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai's Yahrtzeit

The Shulchan Aruch (OC 580:2) says that the day a Tzaddik was niftar is a fast day such as Adar 7 for Moshe Rabbeinu.  Yet Lag BaOmer, the yahrtzeit of Rebbi Shimon Bar Yochai is a day of happiness.  What is the difference.  The Sefer Ohr HaYikod Heim Yokdim gathered a list of reasons.  Among them include,

 

1.  Rebbi Shimon himself called it Yom Simchaseinu.  The Shach paskens (YD 344:9) that if someone requests not to mourn him on his yahrtziet we listen to him.  Rav Chaim Vital says that Rebbi Shimon appeared to the Arizal and complained of someone saying Nacheim on his yahrtzeit.

2.  Moshe Rabbeinu did not fulfill his dream of bringing Bnei Yisroel into Eretz Yisroel. Rebbi Shimon was very happy about the day of his petira.

3.  When Moshe was taken, 3,000 halachos were forgotten.  When Rebbi Shimon was niftar, many Sodos HaTorah were revealed in the Idra Zuta.

4.  Lag BaOmer we celebrate that Rebbi Shimon eluded death at the hands of the Roman emperor.  it was only celebrated after his petira in order not to anger the Romans.  The day of his petira was the appropriate day since had he been killed by the Romans he would not have been buried.

5.  Death of a tzaddik causes a celebration in Shamayim and mourning on earth.  When Rebbi Shimon was niftar the celebrations in Shamayim were revealed to the world, and all partook in the simcha.

6.  Rebbi Shimon left behind a son worthy of filling his role.  Moshe Rabbeinu did not.  

source

Israel Matzav: The media's double standard

Israel Matzav: The media's double standard

I sent an email on Friday to Shomron Regional Council spokesman David HaIvri (pictured), asking whether the reports regarding the protests against the presence of Hagai Amir in Shavei Shomron for the Sabbath were true, or whether they were exaggerated. He said that they were exaggerated. He also sent me these comments about Amir's release, which were originally written to someone else.

a little bit of music...

הפרויקט של עידן רייכל - שובי אל ביתי - The Idan Raichel Project

Prof. Netanyahu: Jews Should 'Fight' for Israel

Jerusalem is one of the world’s most ancient cities; archaeology indicates it was inhabited as early as the 4th century BCE. In 1,000 BCE, King David conquered the city from the Jebusites and Jewish sovereignty in the holy city was established. Though Jerusalem has not always been under Jewish control, and the Jewish population there has waxed and waned throughout the centuries, its centrality to the Jewish religion has not changed.
Jerusalem is the most holy city in Judaism. Synagogues the world over are constructed so that the worshipers prayer toward Jerusalem; synagogues within the city are built facing the Western Wall and Temple Mount. Mentions of Jerusalem abound in the liturgy, often bitterly lamenting the fall of Jerusalem and beseeching G.d to allow the Jewish people to return.

our Jewish little place: Lag b'Omer collage bonfire

our Jewish little place: Lag b'Omer collage bonfire: It's a last minute project for Lag b'Omer. You just need to have some black paper and scraps of fire colored paper, cardboard or magazine...

shavua tov

"The soul is an aspect of a lamp." (Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, Likutey Moharan I, 61)

King Shlomo wrote (Proverbs 20:27): "The soul of man is a lamp of G-d." In fact, it is our soul that makes us want to elevate ourselves spiritually; if we do not always feel this appeal is that our mind is too much busied by this world.

Shabbath Shalom

Evil talk kills three people: the speaker, the listener, and the one who is spoken of.

(Talmud, Erachin 15a)

The speaker obviously commits a grave sin by speaking negatively of his fellow. The listener, too, is a partner to this evil. But why is the one who is spoken of affected by their deed? Are his negative traits worsened by the fact that they are spoken of?

Indeed they are. A person may possess an evil trait or tendency, but his quintessential goodness, intrinsic to every soul, strives to control it, conquer it, and ultimately eradicate its negative expressions and redirect it as a positive force. But when this evil is spoken of, it is made that much more manifest and real. By speaking negatively of the person's trait or deed, the evilspeakers are, in effect, defining it as such; with their words, they grant substance and validity to its negative potential.

But the same applies in the reverse: speaking favorably of another, accentuating his or her positive side, will aid him to realize himself in the manner that you have defined him.

(The Lubavitcher Rebbe)

Conversion: To Be or Not To Be

Soul Mazal : Light Up Your Soul: Conversion: To Be or Not To Be: How does one know if he is Jewish or not? The Laws of Conversion are very dicey once it is known that there may not be a strict level of...

our Jewish little place: Yom HaAtzmaut miscellaneous crafting

our Jewish little place: Yom HaAtzmaut miscellaneous crafting: Find some ideas for your HaAtzmaut crafting    Fuse beads "Israel" crafts and painted wooden hearts ...

our Jewish little place: a little mitzvot jar

our Jewish little place: a little mitzvot jar: In Parashat Kedoshim there are lots of nice sweet mitzvot. Once you selected a handful of the most accessible mitzvot in the par...

acharei - kedoshim

You shall not hate your brother in your heart; rebuke, rebuke your fellow, but do not incur a sin on his account (19:17)
 

If a person is wronged by another, he should not hate him and remain silent, as is said in regard to the wicked, "And Absalom did not speak to Amnon, neither good nor evil, for Absalom hated Amnon" (II Samuel 13:22). Rather, it is a mitzvah for him to make this known to him, and say to him, "Why did you do this-and-this to me? Why did you offend me in this way?", as it is written: "Rebuke, rebuke your fellow." And if that person expresses regret and asks him for forgiveness, he should forgive him...

One who sees that his fellow has sinned, or is following an improper path, it is a mitzvah to bring him back to the proper path and to inform him that he sins by his bad actions, as it is written: "Rebuke, rebuke your fellow."

When one rebukes one's fellow, whether it is regarding matters between the two of them or regarding matters between that person and G-d, he should rebuke him in private. He should speak to him gently and softly, and should tell him that he is doing this for his own good, so that he may merit the World to Come.

If that person accepts [the rebuke], good; if not, he should rebuke him a second time and a third time. He should continue to rebuke him to the point that the sinner strikes him and says to him, "I refuse to listen."

Whoever has the ability to rebuke and does not do so shares in the guilt for the sin, since he could have prevented it...

One who is wronged by his fellow but does not desire to rebuke him or speak to him about it at all because the offender is a very coarse person, or a disturbed person, but chooses instead to forgive him in his heart, bearing him no grudge nor rebuking him, this is the manner of the pious. The Torah's objection [to remaining silent] is only when he harbors animosity.

(Mishneh Torah, Laws of Character, ch. 6)

---

a fascinating voyage into our souls

By Rabbi DovBer Pinson at

click here to listen

the black pope and the governor of Samaria

Green Beyond the Line: THE BLACK POPE AND THE GOVERNOR OF SAMARIA

a little bit of music...

Ta shma - Jacob's Ladder

layla tov...

Netanya beach

Knesset approves IDF request to call up a further 16 battalions if needed

Six army battalions called up under emergency orders to meet growing threat on Egypt, Syria borders

By Aaron Kalman 

Reserve soldiers conduct a training exercise (photo credit: Matanya Tausig/Flash90)

The IDF has issued emergency call up orders to six reserve battalions in light of new dangers on the Egyptian and Syrian borders. And the Knesset has given the IDF permission to summon a further 16 reserve battalions if necessary, Israeli media reported on Wednesday.

An IDF spokesperson said intelligence assessments called for the deployment of more soldiers.

According to 2008′s Reserve Duty Law, combat soldiers can be called for active reserve duty once every three years, and for short training sessions during the other two. Rising tensions between Israel and Egypt and the ongoing unrest in Syria caused the army to ask the Knesset for special permission to call up more soldiers, more often.

The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee approved the request recently, enabling the IDF to summon up to 22 battalions for active duty for the second time in three years. Already, the army has called up six of them.

“This signifies that the IDF regards the Egyptian and Syrian borders as the potential source of a greater threat than in the past,” the former deputy chief of staff, Dan Harel, said on Wednesday night.

Yoel Tzur's Message to PM Netanyahu

The truth about the conflict

Op-ed: Soldier who served in West Bank says Arab murderousness real barrier to peace
Yaniv Blumenfeld
Israel Opinion

Proud to serve. Yaniv Blumenfeld (Photo: Ofir Avimeir)

Last week, I returned from month-long reserve service session in Judea and Samaria; it was my first stint in the territories since my mandatory IDF service.
Undoubtedly, things look different when you are a few years older. Different situations become clearer, and new conclusions emerge. Forget about everything you were told: Roadblocks, control, humiliation, apartheid? Not around here. I encountered a different reality, and below are my impressions.
Every person is allowed to be shocked by something else, in line with one's doctrine, morality, values and worldview. Some see a moral crime in a military patrol that holds up a Palestinian for a security check and are deeply shaken by it. I chose to be shocked by other things.

Ulpana: a view from the hills

By JOSH HASTEN

 

Looking out to the West atop Beit El’s old water tower, which has been converted into a scenic lookout point for residents, visitors and tourists, you clearly see the Palestinian Authority-controlled city of Ramallah, just several kilometers away. Ramallah is in the midst of a building surge, with nearly completed skyscraper apartments dotting the landscape. Throughout the city you can see construction cranes in motion transforming this once war-torn urban area into a thriving metropolis.
Just to the north of the water tower (on which is painted a massive Israeli flag – clearly a sign of the Beit El residents’ proud Zionistic and patriotic sentiment), only several meters away is a neighborhood of 14 nearly identical multi-family apartment buildings home to over 80 Jewish families, known as Givat Ha’ulpana.
It is impossible not to recognize the fact that the Ulpana buildings, some of the largest structures in the entire community of Beit El, were built with permanent Jerusalem stone and red roofs, and are located well within town limits. In other words, nothing about Ulpana resembles an isolated so-called caravan “outpost.”
Nevertheless, the Supreme Court has ordered the state to demolish the upper five buildings of Ulpana, home to 30 families, by May 1, since according to the court they were constructed illegally on private Palestinian land.
Despite the ruling, a government ministerial committee established to explore the matter is asking the Supreme Court to push off the demolition in order to examine the claims of ownership in depth and to come up with a solution.

a little bit of music...

Yosef Karduner & Lazer Brody -  Adir Ayom

layla tov

MASADA

quotes by IDF generals

from IDF blog

“A man talking fast has something to hide.”  
Haim Bar-Lev
Lt. Gen. (res.) Haim Bar-Lev served as Chief of Staff between 1968-1972, and inventor of the Bar-Lev Line. He later became a Knesset member and was appointed ambassador in Russia, until his death in 1994.

“If you can’t get up for an old woman on the bus, you can’t be an officer in the IDF.”
Moshe Ya’alon
Lt. Gen. (res.) Moshe Ya’alon served as Chief of Staff between 2001-2005, where he commanded, among other things, over Operation Defensive Shield. Originally he served in the Nachal Infantry Brigade. He’s currently the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Strategic Affairs.

“Until the wolf shall lay with lamb, we’d better be the wolves.”
Ehud Barak
Lt. Gen. (res) Ehud Barak served as Chief of Staff between 1991-1995. Originally enlisted to the elite commando Sayeret Matkal, where he participated in Operation Spring of Youth. Was Prime Minister of Israel between 1999-2001, and is currently the Minister of Defense.

“We’ll fight terror like there’s no peace, and make peace like there’s no terror
Yitzhak Rabin
Lt. Gen. (res.) Yitzhak Rabin served as Chief of Staff between 1964-1968, commanding, among other things, over the Six-Day War. He went on to become Prime Minister and win the Nobel Peace Prize for the Oslo Accords, until his assassination in 1995.

“As a people, our monuments never commemorate victories. They commemorate the names of the fallen. We don’t need the Arc de Triomphe; we have Masada, Tel-Hai, and the Warsaw Ghetto - where the battle was lost, but the war of Jewish existence was won.”
David Elazar
Lt. Gen. (res.) David “Dado” Elazar served as Chief of Staff between 1972–1974, commanding over, among other things, over the Yom Kippur War, after serving as a military man all his life. He died of a heart attack in 1974.

“You’re not the one having a hard time in the battlefield. The enemy’s also having a hard time the only question is who breaks down first.”
Rafael Eitan
Lt. Gen. (res.) Rafael Eitan served as Chief of Staff between 1978-1983, commanding, among other things, over Operation Peace for Galilee He went on to become a Knesset member until his death in a drowning accident in 2004.

“The way I see it, if you can’t prepare your men for battle, you’re not fit to lead them into one.”  
Gabi Ashkenazi
Lt. Gen. (res.) Gabi Ashkenazi served as Chief of Staff between 2007-2011, commanding over, among other things, Operation Cast Lead. Following his retirement from military service in 2011, he is currently touring the world with his family

 ...and, belive it or not, there was a time when Ehud Barak was not insane...!!

Ulpana neighborhood in Beit El

The threats against Maoz Tzur are serious, because it would be even easier for an Arab to claim that Ramat Aviv, a Left-wing stronghold in pre-1967 Israel, to claim it as theirs.  Watch out, Israel, you're playing with fire.

read more here

a little bit of music...

IDF Combat Fighter Sings About Battle Trauma

praising the chef

Zohar, Idra Zuta: "Rebbe Shimon opened his eyes, and saw what he saw, and a tremendous flame encircled him."

 

By: Rabbi Lazer Brody
 

Lag B'Omer is the yahrtzeit, or anniversary of the death of the famed Tannaic scholar and tzaddik, Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai, affectionately known by the initials of his name as "Rashbi", author of the holy Zohar.

In several places throughout the Zohar, Rashbi's disciples say, "Woe to the generation that loses Rebbe Shimon." They compare a generation without a tzaddik of Rashbi's stature as orphans. The Gemorra uses even stronger terms when it laments, "The death of a tzaddik is comparable to the burning of the House of Hashem," (Rosh Hashonna, 18b). In light of such expressions from the holy mouths of our people's greatest sages, what are we all so happy about on Lag B'Omer? Why all the singing, dancing, and bonfires?

Rebbe Nachman of Breslev explains (Likutei Moharan I:66, citing the Zohar, Noach 59), that every tzaddik has a double spirit, one in this world and one in the next world. In essence, the upper spirit can't stand the coarse impurity of the material world. But, right before the tzaddik's death, the upper spirit descends to greet the lower spirit, bringing with it the loftiest wisdom of the upper worlds. The lower spirit happily clings to the upper spirit, for she is part of it. Like the flame of a candle melding with a great flame, the lower spirit merges with the upper spirit. As part of the upper spirit, she can no longer remain in this world, and she must leave the tzaddik's body and ascend to the upper worlds; such is the death of a tzaddik.

Rebbe Nachman explains that at the time of death, a tzaddik reaches a lofty level of spiritual cognizance and understanding, much greater than during his lifetime, by virtue of the upper spirit's magnificent illumination. Under the influence of the upper spirit and only momentarily before his departure from the flesh, Rashbi revealed the secrets of the Idra Zuta.