Search Results for: Olmert and US Pressure

Parsha Ki Tisa 5769 — Torah Principle, Immoral Law and Peer Group Pressure

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By Moshe Burt

For many years, since 1991 when Parsha Ki Tisa marked my son Philip’s Bar Mitzvah, I have spoken or written about a posuk in our Parsha which alludes to an event which is recorded in Torah 40 years later, in a subsequent Parsha.

The posuk being referred to (Sh’mos, Perek 30, posuk 30) says that while Moshe Rabbeinu was on Har Sinai being given Torah, Hashem said;

“You shall anoint Aaron and his sons and sanctify them to minister (to serve) me.”

This seemingly obscure posuk which pops up in a couple of slightly different forms in both Parsha Tetzaveh and in our Parsha raises a challenging question which cuts to the chase of what we continue to face today. The question is; what about that Pinchas Ben Elazar? Why was he not anointed as a Kohen with his brothers? read more

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Thursday War News: Operation Cast Lead — Day 13 — 6 Katyushas Launched on North as Gaza War, “Diplomacy” Continue; Bus Attacked by Molotov Cocktail, 1 Injured in Attempted Terror Attack on Gas Station

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Commentary;

This blog asked a few days ago if the Israeli government will squander the IDF’s Gaza War achievements. Events on the diplomatic front continued to show strong indications that Israel’s Troika of Olmert, Livni and Barak are close to doing just that, wasting the degradation of Hamas’ capabilities, the lives of the 9 fatalities and more on a ceasefire based on international forces in Gaza — a rerun of Lebanon.

So concerned are IDF’s defense establishment officials that Ynet’s Hanan Greenberg reports that they have warned; read more

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Sunday War News UPDATE: Operation Cast Lead — Day 9 — First IDF Fatality on Ground, 34 Others Wounded as Hamas Command-and-Control Disrupted

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Commentary;

The results of the first day on the ground show that Operation Cast Lead will be anything but a cake-walk. Israel lost her first ground fatality;

St.-Sgt. Dvir Emmanueloff, 22, from Givat Ze’ev and of the Golani reconnaissance unit, was killed on Sunday by mortar shell shrapnel during clashes with Hamas terrorists near Jabalya.

Meanwhile, Ynet’s Roni Sofer reports Olmert’s comments to Tony Blair, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev regarding the goals of the operation. These comments leave more questions than they answered. read more

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Parsha Vayeishev 5769: Yosef and the Brothers’ False Perceptions

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by, Moshe Burt

A few years ago, just before Chanukah, a short article appeared on the INN website entitled; “Mortar Shells Filled With Chanukah Light” told about the Menorah made from some of the spent Islamic mortal shells which were launched on Neve Dekalim over the years.

Reading about this special Menorah which was lit at one of the Jerusalem hotels which temporarily housed many former Neve Dekalim residents, took me back in time to Philadelphia, in “the “old country” and to a point made by Rav Yehoshua Kaganoff about the pit in which Yosef was thrown. The point bears repeating. read more

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Parsha Chaye Sarah 5769: Avraham’s Intuitive Perception, When Does it Rub Off on Us?

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by Moshe Burt

There are two intriguing commentaries, each relating to a different posuk of Parsha Chaye Sarah, regarding the dialogue leading up to Avraham Aveinu’s acquisition of the Ma’arat HaMachpela for 400 shekels of silver from Efron the Hittite.

The first of the two posukim is spoken by Avraham and says, in part;

“I will have given the money for the field; take it of me …” (Breish’it, Perek 23, posuk 13)

Torah Gems on Chaye Sarah cites Rabbi A.M. Amiel; read more

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What and Who Drove Ex-IDF, Mossad Officials’ Video Supporting Obama?

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Commentary;

This author has thought long and hard as to whether to blog on this travesty. Ordinarily, an election in the US seems not to be appropriate for blogging here, for the truth is that policy and actions undertaken here emanate here in Israel.

Further, there was a time when Israeli leaders stood up defiantly when America attempted to dictate policy as this recent Jerusalem Post report dating back to Prime Minister Menachem Begin indicates.

Regarding the issue behind the gyrations and machinations surrounding whether or not Israel hands over of land to her enemies and expells thousands, tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of Jews from their homes, as they did to the Jews of Gush Katif and the four Shomron towns; the issue did not and does not emanate in Washington nor does Washington facilitate implementation of such actions. The handing over of Jewish Land, of Jewish Divine Inheritance is an issue evolving from right here in Israel — from a determined policy of de-Judiacizing Israelis by any and all means from brainwashing, to educational dumbing-down to police and IDF psychological training and regimentation as well as brutality toward their fellow Jews. read more

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Rosh Hashana 5769: Unesaneh Tokef: Al Kiddush Shaim Shemayim vs Mental Coercion

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by Moshe Burt

Each Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, we daven the Unesaneh Tokef as part of the Mussaf tefillah.

The story behind the Unesaneh Tokef tefillah (expressing the seriousness of the day): relates the Gezeira Rah (evil decree) faced by R’ Amnon of Mainz and his Kehilla of forced conversion to Christianity dating back about 1,000 years.

R’ Amnon who, with his Kehilla, faced dread coercion as well as mortal, imminent threat of death, gave the perception of consideration of possible compliance with the demand to convert to Christianity and, as a result, became distraught at even having given the impression that he could betray Hashem. read more

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Olmert Parody on Barak: “I Will Do Everything…” [To Hold Power?]

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Commentary;

Defense Minister Ehud Barak keeps saying things like “I will do everything to bring him [Gilad Shalit] back” or “Israel would do everything in its power to see the safe return of captured Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit.” It is highly questionable what the limits of that “everything” are. For instance, does everything include liberation by military means?

Meanwhile, we have watched Barak’s coalition partner prime minister Ehud Olmert complete his 2 year charade concerning deceased IDF soldiers Regev and Goldwasser which, as Evelyn Gordon seems to indicate in her commentary below; read more

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Parsha Korach 5768: National Responsibility vs Protexia and Political Self-Interest

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by Moshe Burt

This Parsha HaShevua may seem to the reader a continuation of Parsha Shelach. This is done by intention because it seems very much as if Korach and his attempted power grab is a logical aftermath of the denial of Eetz Yisrael by 10 of the 12 miraglim (spies).

The Sefer “Torah Gems” by Aharon Yaakov Greenberg states the following thought; “Now took Korach…”; that Korach was blessed with many positive attributes: fine lineage, wisdom, qualities worthy of a leader of B’nai Yisrael. “‘Now took Korach — he took himself.’ He did not wait until he was offered the leadership, but he sought to take it by force. That is why he is not worthy of it.” (Torah Gems, by Aharon Yaakov Greenberg, Parsha Korach, Volume 3, page 79.) read more

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Politics and Governance: Extensions or Mutual Exclusivity?

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Commentary;

In a perfect political, governmental world, politics, i.e. the achievement of allies, of supporters, seems the action of campaigning, posturing, positioning one’s self or ones group toward achieving a goal; i,e, being hired, appointed, being deemed the best of any or all options for an appointment or an election to a position, an office which carries with it solemn national responsibilities.

However, it seems that the act of politicking carries with it a dual track; the one shown above as well as a track that lends itself to efficient, effective, moral and ethically just governance. read more

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