Letter to President Trump

Dear President Trump;

I am writing to you from Israel, where I have lived for the past 18 years, as one who voted for you via absentee ballot from Philadelphia, PA. Please understand that my prayers are with you, as well as with the current government here.

I am writing to you, Mr. President, regarding your response to the question posed to you by the young reporter who is an observant Jew and who represents Ami magazine (if I heard correctly).

In my humble opinion, you misunderstood this young man’s motivation regarding his question. In fact, I’d bet my last NIS (shekel) that this young man and his family voted for you. I have no doubt that this reporter meant no slur against you and meant only good and kindness in asking his question regarding what government actions are planned to be taken against antisemitic threats on institutions through the US where Jews frequent — Synagogues, community centers, etc. read more

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Parshat Mishpatim 5777: The Placement of Sanhedrin Visa Vi The Beit Hamikdash

Shalom Friends;

This week, our Parshat HaShevua, Parsha Mishpatim is being sponsored by Baruch and Yaffa Swinkin and family of Ramat Beit Shemesh dedicated lilui nishmas for Baruch’s grandfather Micha’el ben Yaakov. To the Swinkin family, many thanks for your sponsorship and for your continued kindnesses.

You can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring a Parshat HaShevua. read more

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Parshat Yithro 5777: Teshuvah, Chesed and Wisdom — With Life’s Breath, It’s Never Too Late

Shalom Friends;

This week, our Parshat HaShevua, Parsha Yithro is being sponsored by Dr. Dov and Debbie Rosen and family of Ramat Beit Shemesh dedicated for hatslocha for children of Ramat Beit Shemesh.. To the Rosen family, many thanks for your sponsorship and for your continued kindnesses.

You can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring a Parshat HaShevua. read more

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Parshat Beshalach 5777: Future or Present Tense; One or Two Crossings of the Reed Sea?

Shalom Friends;

This week, our Parshat HaShevua, Parsha Beshalach is being sponsored by R’ Moshe and Marla Braun (Moshe Braun – Fine Judaic Art) and family of Ramat Beit Shemesh in honor of Marla’s birthday on 14th Sh’vat. To the Braun family, many thanks for your sponsorship and for your continued kindnesses.

You can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring a Parshat HaShevua. read more

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Amona and the “Regulation Law”: Another Yassamnik Expulsion!

Yassamnikim entering Amona

As the cruel, merciless Yassamnikim descend upon Amona, I read this AM where the “Regulation Law” passed 2nd and 3rd readings in committee, but will not be voted on until Monday, 6 February. By then, all of residents of Amona will have been displaced and their homes bulldozed and destroyed.

Thank You Bibi and Bennett! And don’t think for a second that President Trump is not watching this closely, having in mind his upcoming meeting with Bibi. The world is lookin’ at a bunch of Israeli political hypocrites who don’t believe in the Jews’ Divine-Given right to all of Eretz Yisrael with all their hearts, souls and beings. read more

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Parshat Bo 5777: The Two Bloods — Bris Milah, Korban Pesach — a Paradigm Validating Worthiness in Our Times?

Shalom Friends;

This week, our Parshat HaShevua — Parshat Bo is being sponsored by Ayton and Ayelet Lefkowitz of Ramat Beit Shemesh dedicated Lilui Nishmas Ayton’s Grandmothers: Chana Michla bas Zeev Yitzchak and Miriam bas Avraham and his Grandfather Klonimus Yechezkel ben Yehuda. To Mishpochat Lefkowitz, many thanks for your sponsorship and your continued kindnesses.

You can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring a Parshat HaShevua. read more

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Parshat Va’eira 5777: Hashem — “…Faithful to Exact Payment”

Shalom Friends;

This week, our Parshat HaShevua — Parshat Va’era is being sponsored by Binyamin and Tracy Skriloff and dedicated for a total, complete refuah shlaima for Binyamin’s neice Zeesa Baila bat Mindel Pescha. To Mishpochat Skriloff, many thanks for your sponsorship and for your continued kindnesses.

You can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring a Parshat HaShevua. read more

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Parshat Sh’mot 5777: Coalescing Accounts of the Evolution of Jewish Enslavement in Mitzrayim, the Lasting Canards and Lessons for Today?

Shalom Friends;

This week, our Parshat HaShevua — Parshat Sh’mot is being sponsored by Yitzchak and Leyla Gross of Wynnewood, PA to commemorate the Yarhtzeit of Yitzchak’s Mother: Chaya Yita Sarah Bat Aharon. To Mishpochat Gross, many thanks for your sponsorship, your kindnesses through the years in helping facilitate Sefer Torah recycling, and for your continued kindnesses.

You can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring a Parshat HaShevua. read more

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Parshat Vayechi 5777: Yaakov/Yisrael; Progenitor of Am Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael

Shalom Friends;

This week, our Parshat HaShevua Vayechi is being co-sponsored by R’ Rafael and Vivianne Willig and family of Ramat Beit Shemesh in honor of the upcoming Bar Mitzvah of R’ Rafael’s nephew, Menachem Willig of Passaic, New Jersey, and by Matt and Ilana Bornstein and family to commemorate Matt’s Bar Mitzvah parsha and in honor of the Chicago Cubs’ first World Series Championship since 1908. To the Willig and Bornstein families, many thanks for your sponsorships and your continued kindnesses. read more

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Parshat Vayigash 5777: Have We Learned and Internalized National Unity From the Brothers, From the Gush Katif Expulsion?

Shalom Friends;

This week, our Parshat HaShevua Vayigash is being sponsored by Dr. Pinchas and Penina Klahr and family of Ramat Beit Shemesh lilui nishmas Pinchas’ father Nosson Karpel ben Shmuel Zanvil Tzvi and P’nina’s father Matisyahu ben Yaakov. To the Klahr family, many thanks for your sponsorship and your continued kindnesses.

Friends, you can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring a Parshat HaShevua. read more

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