The Implications and Consequences of Expulsion for the Jewish People
Qassam Falls in Western Negev; No Injuries
IDF Arrests Tanzim Fugitive Near Bethlehem
Two Kassams Land in Western Negev; None Wounded
Foiled Terrorist Plan to Kidnap Israelis, 3 Arrested
Shin Bet Announces Hamas Terror Cell Bust
Soldiers Stop Knife-Wielding Terrorist
IDF Finds Three Bombs Near Gaza Security Fence
Border Police Kill Top Tanzim Man Near Tulkarm
IDF Soldier Lightly Hurt Near Gaza Fence
Three years ago, this author spoke at the Shul’s Shabbos Chanukah Oneg saying a vort about Yosef based on Jay Shapiro’s book “Almost Midrash.” The story of Yosef was encorporated into a fictional story entitled “Duaf of Memphis” from Shapiro’s book and this author dealt with the contrast of Yosef in Mitzrayim 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 at that time was that with longevity in Shushan and throughout Achashveirosh’s Empire, as with Mitzrayim, the Jews were disparaged as either useless or too powerful. In both cases, the antagonists conveniently forgot about Yosef. The point was made as a lesson to the secular which sadly has been unlearned and the error repeated 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 circulated last Chanukah.
For context, click here and here.
Northern Samaria Declared “Closed Military Zone”
Full Text;
Northern Samaria, including the community of Shavei Shomron, has been declared a closed military zone due to attempts by the former residents of Chomesh to visit what was their home today.
The junction between Highways 60 and 55 near Kedumim was closed first to Jewish traffic and then to Arab vehicles. Around seventy people have so far reached this area. No skirmishes with police have been reported, although verbal confrontations are going on.
Stones Thrown at Car in Ramallah: No Casualties
Qassam Rocket Lands Next to Orchard in Western Negev; No Injuries
MK Eitam: Leadership Must Stop Deceiving Citizens
Full Text;
MK Effie Eitam (National Union-NRP) said after Mossad Chief Meir Dagan’s briefing of the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee, “Israel is faces severe security threats.'”
MK Eitam added, “A leadership is needed that will stop deceiving the citizens and will allow the IDF to gain back security control.”
Another Tack: Permanently High Plateau, by Sarah Honig (Jerusalem Post)
“The collapse that threatens us… is far more horrendously final than insolvency, with no comebacks or meaningful retrospection likely thereafter.”
Excerpts;
Once upon a time there was a very prolific star economist named Irving Fisher. Always inordinately confident of his astute clairvoyance, he was among the forerunners of the modern breed of celebrity financial gurus.
His most famous prediction – in October 1929 – was that “stock prices have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau.” But a mere few days later, alas, reality confoundedly interfered with Fisher’s rosy forecast and the stock market uncooperatively crashed.
Hanukka and the Limits of Pluralism, By Stewart Weiss (Jerusalem Post)
“We cannot tolerate those who would change the basic rules of the game.”
“Thus observing the Sabbath on Sunday, believing in Jesus or redefining ‘Who is a Jew’ evoke a call to arms by those who sincerely care about the future of Judaism. And it is in this context that we have to address issues like same-sex marriage or gay and lesbian ‘rabbis.’ While Jewish law has always been willing to bend, it is not prepared to break.”
Kassam Rocket Hits Open Field; No Casualties
Bedouins Attack Police North of Be’er Sheva
Rock Throwing Attack Damages Car near Hevron
IDF Shoots Palestinian [Who Threw Molotovs] near Jenin
Israeli Arab Planned Terror Attack in Upper Nazareth
Israeli Arab, 17, Charged in Terror Plot
Three Caught with Drugs on Israel-Egypt Border
Commentary;
It CANNOT possibly be that this is the only war news. MB
The Sefer Torah Recycling Network, which has seen to acquiring, restoring and placing 11 Sifrei Torah in needy locations over the past 12 years, announces that fund-raising has commenced to cover purchase and restoration of a Sefer Torah for placement in Yishuv Adura. We now seek generous donors to defray $5,000 in acquisition, restoration and ancillary costs necessary to provide Yishuv Adura’s 46 families with the Sefer Torah they need, but cannot financially afford to acquire.
Olmert: I Am Willing to Give Up Settlements
For context, click here, here and here.
Full Text;
Israel is willing to withdraw from many Jewish communities to achieve peace with the Palestinians, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said during an interview with BBC on Friday night.
Olmert said he was willing to go to great lengths in order to help PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and begin negotiations.
Column One: Why deny the Holocaust? By Caroline Glick (Jerusalem Post)
“Were Israel to base its diplomatic, military, informational and economic policies on a single-minded commitment to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear capabilities, it would succeed. Unfortunately, under the Olmert government Israel is doing nothing of the kind on any level.”
“Imagine what the impact would have been if Olmert had rejoined, ‘Excuse me, but it is quite possible that at the end of the day a military strike against Iran will be the only way to prevent Iran from acquiring atomic bombs and so committing another Holocaust. Given this, your blanket opposition to the notion of military strikes constitutes Germany’s effective acceptance of another Holocaust. Shame on you, Angie. Shame on Germany.'”