Editorial: IDF Must “…Mend the Rifts” With the Refugees …

Abandoned Comrades

Excerpts;

“Ariel Sharon, Shimon Peres, Amir Peretz and Benjamin Netanyahu [add to that Ehud Olmert — in Spades – MB] are so caught up in themselves and the new social agenda they have suddenly discovered that they have lost sight of 10,000 individuals who were uprooted from their homes some three months ago.”

“Many of them are unemployed. And most don’t have homes yet. Their children wet their beds at night, and some cringe in fear at the sight of police or soldiers. Dozens have ended up in hospital cardiac wards. Hundreds are still living in hotels, which have become gilded cages for them. Many families are falling apart; couples are divorcing; parental authority has been undermined; and normal family life has become impossible.” read more

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Parsha Vayigash 5766: Why is Yehuda Yaakov’s Advance Man?

Parsha Vayigash 5766: Why is Yehuda Yaakov’s Advance Man?
By Moshe Burt

There has been much talk across the internet and in some religious circles about Rav Kaduri’s recent predictions that the current government will be the last of the “old era” and that Sharon will be the last prime minister in Israel as reported by Arutz-7 back in September, 2005. And a google search on “Rabbi Kaduri, Moshiach and Israeli Government” netted some interesting finds including this one. read more

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Parsha HaShevua: Parsha Mikeitz/Shabbos Chanukah 5766 …

Parsha Mikeitz/Shabbos Chanukah 5766:
The Message of Yosef for the Observant — A Time for Indignation.

By Moshe Burt

Two years ago, this author made a big splash at the Shul’s Shabbos Chanukah Oneg.

Shortly before the Oneg, this author read Jay Shapiro’s book “Almost Midrash” and gave over a vort on Yosef encorporating a story entitled “Duaf of Memphis” from Shapiro’s book (about Duaf, the former Barber whose meteoric rise through the ranks of Pharoh’s army and monarch culminated in his being appointed as the Viceroy’s right-hand man) and the dialogue of Page 13 A & B of Gemora Megillah Esther (the dialogue between Achashveirosh and Haman resulting in the evil decree against the Jews). The point of the Torah Vort of course was that with longevity in Shushan and throughout Achashveirosh’s Empire, as with Mitzrayim, the Jews were disparaged as either useless or too powerful, and in both cases, antagonists conveniently forgot about Yosef. The point was made as a lesson to the secular which sadly has repeated itself again and again throughout history in different ways whenever Jews got comfortable, complacent in where they were at the time and forgot who and what they are. In forgetting, they assimilate and, in our time, Chanukah evolves into “spin the dreidel”, cutsie, yet shallow assemblies in Conservative Synagogues to make it seem like they are doing something for Jewish youth, yet totally miss the meaning and message of what Chanukah is really all about. That was the focus of the Rav Kahane article recently received which was put out as an email and on the Sin of Expulsion blog. read more

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“PA(sic)” Elections: How Does One Form a Government From Prison?

To view the previous report on Marwan Barghouti for context, click here.

Deal: Barghouti to Form PA Government

Excerpts:

“Following a long dispute, the two factions of the Palestinian Fatah movement has reached an agreement Thursday to unite the group under the leadership of jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, Arab-Israeli weekly al-Sinara reported on Friday.”

“The newspaper has released the details of what it defined as the ‘bargain deal,’ between the rivaling sides, revealing that in the framework of the agreement Barghouti has consented to the movement’s unification in exchange for an effort to persuade the factions to carry on with the state of intra-Palestinian lull set to expire at the end of the month. read more

Gush Katif Refugees and Chanukah …

Gush Katif Evacuees Prepare for Hanukka in J’lem Hotels

Excerpt:

“‘We thought we would only be here for 10 days,’ Miriami said, ‘but that has turned into four months.’ The Naumburgs would like to move to as-yet unready temporary housing, but are not keen on leaving the Hyatt for another Jerusalem hotel.”

Parsha Vayeishev 5766: Yosef and the Pit & Kassam’s, Mortars in Neve Dekalim By, Moshe Burt

I read the short article on the INN website; “Mortar Shells Filled With Chanukah Light” about the Menorah made from some of the spent Islamic mortal shells which were launched on Neve Dekalim over the years. read more

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Torah Vort [or political satire?] — On Chanukah

Earlier in December, an email hit the log which was put away until the time appropriate to Chanukah. Now is that time. So here is a Vort on Chanukah;

Down With Hanukah
By Rabbi Meir Kahane

If I were a Reform rabbi; if I were a leader of the establishment
whose money and prestige have succeeded in capturing for himself the
leadership and voice of American Jewry; if I were one of the members
of the Israeli Government’s ruling group; if I were an enlightened
sophisticated, modern Jewish intellectual, I would climb the
barricades and join in battle against that most dangerous of all
Jewish holidays – Chanukah.
read more

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Parsha HaShevua: Parsha Vayishlach 5766

Parsha Vayishlach 5766; Maintaining and Restoring Righteousness
By, Moshe Burt

As our Parsha begins, Yaakov sent melachim (angels), some render a translation of messengers, “… ahead of him to Eisev to the land of Seir, to the field of Edom… Thus shall you say … to Eisev, so said your servant Yaakov: ‘Im-Lavan garti’ (I have sojourned with Lavan) …” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 32, posukim 4 & 5).

We learn that the Gematria (numerical value) of the word ‘garti’ is 613; that Yaakov “… sojourned with Lavan, but yet … kept all of the 613 commandments and … did not learn from his [Lavan’s] wicked deeds.” (Torah Gems, Aharon Greenberg, Parsha Vayishlach page 251) read more

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The “Ish Tam” and Distinguishing Good from Evil …

Parsha Vayeitzei: Distinguishing Good from Evil — Revisited.
By Moshe Burt

In view of events of 3 1/2 months ago as well as the current election campaign, this author reflected back on last year’s word on Parsha Vayeitzei.

In last week’s parsha Toldos, we learned about Yaakov, the “Ish Tam”, one who was “totally honest, a man of great integrity”, who was master over the trait of being “tam”, a “‘plain man’, … without trickery, but he did not allow this character trait to dominate him. He knew when and where to act otherwise.” read more

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