Pesach Observance in Israel …

92 Percent of Israelis Jews At Seder

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A radio survey has revealed that 92 percent of Israeli Jews will celebrate the Passover holiday Wednesday evening with the traditional Seder and that two-thirds will read the entire Haggadah, which recounts the Jews’ slavery in Egypt and their redemption.

More than two-thirds of the respondents also said they eat only Kosher for Passover foods during the seven-day holiday even though almost 44 percent of them described themselves as secular.

Will most Israelis even understand the deeper significance of the Seder, of the Haggadah? MB read more

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War News Tuesday through Pesach …

IDF Thwarts Pesach Terror Attack

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For the first time since disengagement, IDF troops entered the Gaza Strip on Thursday in search of explosives devices they feared had been planted along the security fence.

An IDF engineering entered Gaza near the Kissufim Crossing after on Tuesday night, just as most of the country was sitting down for their Pesach Seder, two terrorists armed with grenades and automatic rifles tried infiltrating into Israel nearby. Led by Col. Moni Katz – commander of Northern Gaza Brigade – the troops entered 50 meters into Gaza and after several hours left after verifying that no bombs had been planted along the fence. read more

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Dayenu — 5766; An Evil Regime vs Jewish Unity …

Dayenu — 5766; An Evil Regime vs Jewish Unity

By Moshe Burt

This year will mark eleven years, and my eighth Pesach in Eretz Yisrael, in which I have emailed, as it has become tradition with me from prior to my Aliyah, the rendition of Dayenu quoted from the book “Dear Brothers.” In each year, Dayenu holds a unique perspective, unlike the perspective of any previous year.

This theme of Dayenu is ever more timely now, this year in the days before Pesach 5766 here in Eretz Yisrael. Last year, an evil Israeli regime carried out a modern-day expulsion of 9,000 Jews from their homes in Gush Katif and the Shomron. Our worst fears came to fruition, our brothers were ousted from their homes at legalized gunpoint, robbed of all of their possessions and assets; the promised compensation not forthcoming — not then, not over the ensuing eight months, probably never. And during the recently completed campaign, the Jews were given a taste at Amona of what another evil regime led by the trial balloon man of the previous regime intends; they now boast of a replay of Gush Katif within 2 years — this time that 80,000 Jews will be ousted from their homes, with their property and assets stolen just as was previously done in Gush Katif and the 4 Shomron towns. And undoubtedly, if not stopped, the evil ones will move to oust Jews from other parts of Eretz Yisrael — Beit El, Shilo, Jerusalem’s Old City, etc. There would then be not contiguity between Jerusalem and Ma’alei Adumim, but rather Yudenrein. And soon we would be but a few enclaves hugging the sea. That is the reality of the term called “convergence”. read more

And What About Arabs Who Kill Our Soldiers Not on the Field of Battle?

Livni: Arabs Who Kill Soldiers Are Not Terrorists

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Kadima Party official and acting Foreign Minister Tzippy Livni told ABC’s Nightline program that Arab attacks on soldiers should not be considered terrorist attacks and could be seen as “more legitimate” than attacks on civilians.

Her statements have garnered much press and she reiterated them in an interview with Israel Radio on Tuesday.

Livni defended the statements by saying that she had worked for years to convince the international community that Arab terrorists were not “freedom fighters.” read more

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Gush Katif Refugees: Gov’t, SELA Dancing on Our Sweat and Blood …

Gush Katif Expellees Respond Angrily to Holiday Gifts From Disengagement Authority

For Context, click here.

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In recent days, former Gush Katif residents forcibly removed from their homes last summer received holiday packages from the Disengagement Authority, which was harshly criticized recently in a report by the state comptroller.

The package included a sapling from a Ganei Tal nursery and a Passover haggadah authored by former chief rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau.

“You really warmed my heart,” said Dan Amiel, formerly of Kfar Darom, in response to the gift. “You truly reminded me of the saplings of Gush Katif – of those that we planted the day that you uprooted us. It reminded us of those at the height of their blooming, filling the hothouses. And thanks for the Hagaddah – you truly reminded me of the feeling of exile. It will enable me to tell my children and grandchildren…how you abused us!!! How you uprooted women and children, flowers and trees, communities and collectives. Don’t worry, though, our children will remember – not like your children, who are leaving Israel – and they will return to Gaza, Khan Younis and N’vei Dekalim…” read more

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Litzman Tries to Alibi Away UTJ’s Role in Expulsion from Gush Katif, Shomron …

MK Litzman: UTJ Objects to Olmert’s Convergence Plan

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In an interview with Arutz Sheva Radio today, Knesset Member Yaakov Litzman of United Torah Judaism said that his party objects to the Convergence Plan put forward by Ehud Olmert and Kadima. As for the UTJ’s membership in the Sharon administration, which carried out the unilateral withdrawal from Gaza and northern Samaria, Litzman says that it came about only after it was clear that the plan was to be carried out with or without their membership in the coalition. UTJ only joined the government in an attempt to reverse the effect the ultra-secularist Shinui party had on the internal affairs of the nation. read more

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Perhaps Kleiner Went About It In the Wrong Way?

Mazuz: Probe Herut for Incitement

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Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz has ordered police to investigate the Herut Party on suspicion it incited to racism in a campaign poster during the recent elections.

The poster, which was displayed on passenger buses, shows a veiled woman and the words, “Demography will poison us.” The party, led by former MK Michael Kleiner, advocates encouraging Israeli Arabs to leave the country by offering them money.

Awawdy Baker, director general of the Haifa-based Center for the Struggle against Racism, submitted a complaint to the head of the Central Elections Committee, Supreme Court Justice Dorit Beinish, on March 16. He said the matter had been brought to his attention by a religious Arab woman who had seen the ad on an Egged bus in Haifa. read more

Olmert Officially Interim Prime Minister

Cabinet Names Ehud Olmert Interim Prime Minister

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Ehud Olmert, who has been serving as acting prime minister for over three months, was named as interim prime minister, as of midnight Friday. The decision was reached in a special Cabinet meeting after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was unanimously declared “permanently unable to exercise his duties.”

This signalled an end to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s premiership, 100 days after he suffered his incapacitating stroke on January 4. read more

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