Pardes - Mode Ani
5/31/12
just ONE minute...
Will The 2012 Olympic Committee Have The Courage To Honour The Quest To Come Together In Spirit Through Sports???
Journalist who received and kept military papers to be indicted
The watchdog that bit democracy
Dr. Haim Shine
The attorney-general's
decision to try Haaretz reporter Uri Blau for the unauthorized
possession of confidential material was good, and brave. In a country
where the media dictates the national agenda on many issues, courage is
required to stop the reckless behavior of journalists who, under the
protection of freedom of expression, put Israel in real danger. It is
not the attorney-general's job to dictate codes of behavior — that job
is reserved for the legislative and judiciary branches of government.
The attorney-general's job is to ensure that well-founded indictments
are heard by the court. The attorney-general is supposed to treat
everyone equally: rich and poor, elected official and common citizen,
journalist and any other professional.
The message
communicated by the attorney-general's decision to indict Blau is
important: Freedom of speech is not freedom to commit national suicide
or freedom to abandon judgment. Journalists can be expected to display a
fair amount of responsibility and regard for the security of the state
and its values. Anat Kamm and Uri Blau are not heroes. Efforts by the
radical left-wing media to portray them as such are absurd: They portray
an enemy as an ally, liberation as occupation and cowardice as civilian
courage.
Freedom of expression
is a fundamental concept in any liberal democracy. However, every
intelligent person realizes that freedom of expression is not unlimited.
The greatest advocates of natural rights, individual rights and
democracy have rightfully believed that there is no such thing as an
absolute right. Even human rights must be exercised in moderation, and
take into consideration other people's rights.
As early as the 1960s,
Israel's Supreme Court recognized democracy's right to defend itself. A
journalist does not have immunity, and certainly does not have the right
to undermine state security. The media's right to criticize the
government, expose failures and spark public debates is protected by the
law. But a watchdog that claims to protect democracy cannot turn around
and attack that same democracy by illicitly possessing thousands of
classified documents without proper authorization.
5/30/12
our Jewish little place: Nasso - Birkat Kohanim
our Jewish little place: Nasso - Birkat Kohanim: G-d tells Moshè about a special mitzvah that Aaron and his sons have: to bless the People of Israel.
5/29/12
Soldiers, hareidim
IDF: we need the hareidi men
The IDF has a shortage of thousands of soldiers and sees hareidim as
excellent soldiers who can help fill the manpower gap, Brig. Gen. Gadi
Agmon, Head of Planning Brigade and Manpower Administration, told the official committee established to set new parameters for enlistment to military and civilian national service.
The committee, headed by MK Yohanan Plesner of Kadima, convened for the first time Monday, for a marathon
10 hour session. It is charged with finding a replacement to the Tal
Law that regualted the enlistment of hareidim until it was declared unconstitutional by the High Court.
Brig. Gen. Agmon said that at present, there are about 7,500 hareidi
18-year-olds who are eligible for enlistment. In 2011, 1,282 hareidim
from the ages of 18 to 26 enlisted.
The general was followed by Sar-Shalom Jerbi, Director General of the National Service Administration.
Jerbi told the committee that between 2007 and the present day, 1,806
hareidim and 2,399 minority members had volunteered for civilian
national service.
Prof. Eugene Kandel, Head of the National Economic Council, said that
the present situation is the result of government policy that has
existed for 60 years, and that norms that have taken root over such a
long period cannot be expected to change one or two years. He said that
there has been improvement in the hareidi sector's participation in
employment and that ways should be found to strengthen these trends and
not weaken them.
Nasso - Ksav Sofer .Three dreams of Peace
The last words of Birchas Kohanim are "V'Yaseim Licha Sholom"
The Iturei Torah brings the Ksav Sofer who explains this Medrash. The Gemara in Brachos (59) tells us the interpretation of many different dreams. Among these dreams, three of them tell of peace; the kettle, the river, and the bird. The Ksav Sofer says that these represent three different kinds of peace. The kettle represents peace in your home, where all the household members use the same kettle. The river means peace in your country, where all the citizens share the water and benefits of the country's river. The bird symbolizes world peace, like a bird who is not limited to any specific local and can fly wherever its wings take it.
revach
5/25/12
CHAG SHAVUOT SAMEACH!!!!
When Moses ascended to heaven, the angels protested to G-d: What is a human being doing amongst us?
Said He to them: He has come to receive the Torah.
Said they to Him: This esoteric treasure, which was hidden
with You for nine hundred and seventy-four generations before
the world was created, You wish to give to flesh and blood? (Talmud, Shabbat 89a)
Thus, the Talmud tells us that "When Moses ascended to heaven to receive the Torah from G-d,"
Thus Moshè said to the angels: Do you have an evil inclination? Do you deal with the mundanities of the marketplace? Do you dwell in a pagan world? So to what end should you be given the Torah? To cultivate another lush garden of spiritual delights? But we will build a home with the Torah, as only we can. Only we, who daily struggle with the deceit, the strife and the profanity that mark the lowliest stratum of G-d's creation, can construct with the Torah a dwelling for Him, a place to house His quintessential self.The angels protested to G-d: "What is a human being doing amongst us?"Said He to them: "He has come to receive the Torah."Said they to Him: "This esoteric treasure, which was hidden with You for nine hundred and seventy-four generations before the world was created, You wish to give to flesh and blood?... Place Your glory upon the heavens!"Said G-d to Moses: "Answer them."Said [Moses]: "Master of the Universe! This Torah that You are giving to me, what is written in it? 'I am the L-rd Your G-d, who has taken you out from the land of Egypt.' Have you descended to Egypt? Have you been enslaved to Pharaoh? So why should the Torah be yours? What else does it say? 'You shall have no alien gods.' Do you dwell amongst idol-worshipping nations? What else does it say? 'Remember the Shabbat day.' Do you work? ... What else does it say? 'Do not swear falsely.' Do you do business? What else does it say? 'Honor your father and your mother.' Do you have parents? What else does it say? 'Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal.' Is there jealousy among you? Do you have an evil inclination?
Shabbath Shalom
Every man shall encamp by his own standard, with the
sign of their fathers house." [2:2]
"Each standard was to have a colored cloth hanging in
it, the color of one being unlike the color of another. The
color of each standard corresponded to that of the stone fixed
in the breastplate [of the High Priest, on which the name of
that scribe was engraved], and by this method everyone would
recognize his standard." This is Rashi's language.
5/24/12
our Jewish little place: Sewn felt toy Torah
our Jewish little place: Sewn felt toy Torah: Torah a toy made of felt . We used two rolling pins to which I glued the two ends of a strip of white felt quite long...
our Jewish little place: Shavuot Sinay board
our Jewish little place: Shavuot Sinay board: A board showing the flowered Har Sinay (made of green felt and tissue and felt flowers, as the clouds).
Ruth
But Ruth replied, "Don't try to make me leave you and go back.
Where you
go I'll go.
Where you stay I'll stay.
Your people will be my people.
Your G.d will be my G.d.
Where you die I'll die. And there my body will be buried.
Book of Ruth
Bamidbar
And
when the camp journeys on, Aaron and his sons shall come and take down
the dividing curtain [of the Sanctuary] and cover the Ark of Testimony with it. They shall place upon it a covering of
tachash hide, and spread over it a garment wholly of blue-wool (4:5-6)
Like the Ark, the soul of man is encased within three coverings: 1)
it is overlaid with a selfish and materialistic character (what Chassidism
calls "the animal soul"); 2) it is imbedded within a physical body; 3)
it is placed in a physical world which obscures and distorts the Divine
reality.
As long as the Ark stood in its place in the Holy of Holies, it had
no need for coverings. But when the time came for it to journey on, G-d
commanded that it be "swallowed up" by its three-fold vestment. The same
applies to the soul. A "spark of G-dliness," the soul is perfect and
complete unto itself. But to journey on--to advance further in the
infinite journey toward union with its Infinite Source--it must undergo
on a "descent for the sake of ascent." It must be subjected to the
three-fold concealment of human nature, physicality and worldliness, to
discover, in the lowliest reaches of creation, the key for even greater
connection with G-d.
(The Lubavitcher Rebbe)
5/23/12
The first Shavuot
THE FIRST SHAVUOT
Similarly, each year G-d gives us the Torah anew on Shavuot.
In utilizing the final six days properly by reliving the events of that
momentous time, we prepare ourselves physically, spiritually, mentally,
and emotionally to receive the Torah anew.
SIVAN 1
We arrive at Mount Sinai in a spirit of love and unity.
Therefore, the first step in preparing ourselves to receive the Torah is to increase feelings of love towards our fellow Jew. G-d's Torah cannot dwell in someone who harbors hatred.
We arrive at Mount Sinai in a spirit of love and unity.
Therefore, the first step in preparing ourselves to receive the Torah is to increase feelings of love towards our fellow Jew. G-d's Torah cannot dwell in someone who harbors hatred.
Suggested Activities
1) Go out of your way to be nice to another Jew.
2) Resolve to relate to other Jews in a spirit of love.
1) Go out of your way to be nice to another Jew.
2) Resolve to relate to other Jews in a spirit of love.
7 names of Har Sinai
(source: Revach List)
| Har HaElokim | There Bnei Yisroel accepted Hashem | |
| Har Bashan |
As in "B'Shein". Any food a person eats is in the zechus of the Torah. |
|
| Har Gavnunim |
Clean from blemishes like cheese (Another reason why we eat milchigs on Shavuos) |
|
| Har Chorev |
From Har Sinai the Sanhedrin received a mandate to kill people with a sword |
|
| Har Sinai |
Sinah or hatred came on the other nations for not accepting the Torah |
|
| Har Chemed |
Hashem desired to to rest there |
|
| Har Moriah |
Where Hashem judged (Moreh) |
Gush Katif video
This is a very touching music video of how the lives of the residents of
Gush Katif were affected when they had to leave their homes and lives
there. I cannot take credit for this video. It was made entirely by
Yochai Cohen of Israel.
Arab tragedy self-inflicted
Op-ed:
Palestinians insist on posing as victims instead of taking responsibility for their catastrophe
By David Ha'ivri
In the Israeli collective memory Holocaust Commemoration Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day embody the story of the creation of the modern State of Israel. These three days represent the modern Jewish experience and the mantra propagated by the founding fathers - From Holocaust to Independence - connoting the concept of the enduring Jewish spirit of survival and the promise of Never Again.
Yet the resilience of Jewish-Israeli survival has been overshadowed by the false Arab-Palestinian notion of being “occupied” and “robbed” from their true destiny. Consequently, Israel is the “oppressor “and Palestinian nomenclature demands that the “occupation” remains the root cause of all problems, from social and economic woes to terrorism.
For the anti-Israel community, these days have embodied the Palestinian-Arab narrative, which argues that Israel had a “master plan” to evict the Arabs of Palestine by any means necessary and rob them of their land. Furthermore, the Holocaust in their view was the only reason the State of Israel came to fruition in the aftermath of World War II.
The recurring mantra found in Arab historiography hence maintains a hypersensitive focus on discrimination and inequality. Generally, Arab scholars tend to ignore the huge corpus of materials found in the archives on the war and zoom in on what are legitimate or illegitimate claims, using UN resolutions as the be all and end all.
Palestinians insist on posing as victims instead of taking responsibility for their catastrophe
By David Ha'ivri
Yet the resilience of Jewish-Israeli survival has been overshadowed by the false Arab-Palestinian notion of being “occupied” and “robbed” from their true destiny. Consequently, Israel is the “oppressor “and Palestinian nomenclature demands that the “occupation” remains the root cause of all problems, from social and economic woes to terrorism.
For the anti-Israel community, these days have embodied the Palestinian-Arab narrative, which argues that Israel had a “master plan” to evict the Arabs of Palestine by any means necessary and rob them of their land. Furthermore, the Holocaust in their view was the only reason the State of Israel came to fruition in the aftermath of World War II.
The recurring mantra found in Arab historiography hence maintains a hypersensitive focus on discrimination and inequality. Generally, Arab scholars tend to ignore the huge corpus of materials found in the archives on the war and zoom in on what are legitimate or illegitimate claims, using UN resolutions as the be all and end all.
5/22/12
our Jewish little place: Shavuot. Ten commandments tablets box
our Jewish little place: Shavuot. Ten commandments tablets box: A cardboard box (you can use a chocolates box) with removables laminated paper tables with Asèret hadvarìm.
our Jewish little place: parashah Bamidbar
our Jewish little place: parashah Bamidbar: Tribal flags in the Machane Starting a new sefer! Sefer Bamidbar. This parsha has lots of lists and numbers but it also introduces the...
5/21/12
Chodesh tov!
The Month of Sivan
"In the third month after the Exodus of the Jewish People from Egypt, on that very day, they came to the Desert of Sinai" (Shemot 19:1)
Jewish Tradition says that "that very day" refers to Rosh Chodesh Sivan. About that day it is written, "And the People of Israel encamped there, opposite the Mountain." The verb written in Hebrew for "encamped" is "vayichan," a singular, rather than plural, form. This is to indicate that the acceptance of the Torah by the Jewish People was as if with a single mind, and a single heart. This was necessary because the Torah was like a marriage contract between G-d and Israel and, as such, there was no room for any hesitation or disloyalty between the parties.
In Divrei HaYamim (Chronicles II) (15:9-12), we find, regarding King Asa of Yehudah, "And he gathered all of Yehudah and Binyamin, and from those who lived with them, from Ephrayim and Menasheh and from Shimon, for they gathered unto him in multitudes, because they saw that the L-rd was with him. And they were gathered to Yerushalayim in the third month, of the fifteenth year of King Asa. And they sacrificed to the L-rd on that day, bringing from the booty, seven hundred cattle and seven thousand sheep. And they entered into the Covenant to seek the L-rd, the G-d of their fathers, with all their heart and all their soul."
And Jewish Tradition teaches us that this entry into a Covenant with G-d by the Jewish People, approximately six hundred years after the Covenant at Sinai, occurred on Rosh Chodesh Sivan.
5/20/12
our Jewish little place: Yom Yerushalayim clay and mosaic framework
our Jewish little place: Yom Yerushalayim clay and mosaic framework: יום ירושלים, Yom Yerushalayim, is an Israeli national holiday commemorating the reunification of Jerusalem and the establishment of Israel...
5/19/12
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 19th through Sunday night, May 20th. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the reunification of the city.
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