Israel and The Sin of Expulsion
The Implications and Consequences of Expulsion for the Jewish People
PA Arabs Attack IDF Soldiers Near Jenin, No Injuries
Report: IDF Kills [Firebomb Throwing] Palestinian, Wounds 2 by Nablus
Dozens Gather Outside Olmert’s Office to Protest [Ongoing, Unreported] Qassam Fire
Palestinian With 3 Pipe Bombs Arrested Near Nablus
No Injuries in Bomb Attack [at Kever Rachel]
Navy Stops Boat Illegally Positioned Near Ashkelon
Palestinian Armed With knife Arrested Near J’lem
More to Gaza Threat Than Just Rockets, Warns IDF
Commentary;
This author would like to believe the report’s opening premise which says that the Gaza ceasefire; “is being viewed with skepticism by Israeli government and military officials, who doubt the Palestinian Arabs’ willingness to keep to the truce for very long.”
The report goes on to say;
The Gaza-based terror groups, led by Hamas, continue to develop an massive terrorist infrastructure on par with
Hizballah-controlled southern Lebanon and Taliban-
controlled Afghanistan, he explained.
There are two intriguing commentaries, each relating to a different posuk of Parsha Chaye Sarah, regarding the dialogue leading up to Avraham Aveinu’s acquistion 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)
US Official: Israel Won’t Bomb Iran
Excerpts;
Iran’s nuclear facilities are too vast to be destroyed by a single air attack so Israel is unlikely to bomb it to forestall Iran from developing a nuclear bomb, a senior United States official said on Tuesday.
“This is a much more difficult problem militarily than taking on Saddam Hussein’s [nuclear] program,” he said. In Iran there are as many as 200 sites that are part of their nuclear program, although some are more important than others, he noted.
Official: Jews Expelled from Gaza ‘Victims’, by Aaron Klein (World News Daily)
Excerpts;
Withdrawal Authority Says Israel Owes them ‘Almost Anything.’
The thousands of Jews evacuated last summer from the Gaza Strip are “victims” of a government policy and are owed “almost anything” by the state of Israel, said the chief of the withdrawal authority in charge of evacuees’ compensation.
…Leaders from Gush Katif have been turning to mainstream American Jewish organizations for immediate assistance, outlining to them a “humanitarian crisis.” But so far the organizations largely have refused to help.
Israel’s Downfall?, by Sever Plocker (Ynet)
Professor Ciechanover: “Speaking to those possessing academic degrees, I find garbled language, the lack of cultural depth, and ignorance when it comes to general history and the history of the Jewish people.”
Professor Aumann: “The problem is not with our neighbors, the problem is with us, with our impatience and the selfishness that developed within us. Our national agenda has been disrupted; the collective interest has been pushed to the margins in the face of personal interests.”
Lieberman Cedes Demands on Behalf of “National Responsibility”, by Hillel Fendel (Israel National News)
For context; click here.
Commentary;
“It’s All About Iran.” Give us a break. Once again, another corrupt politician renegs on every promise made to voters in exchange for power, in the hopes that Kadima stays in power long enough to kill Likud so that Yisrael Beiteinu replaces it and Lieberman becomes Prime Minister. Once again, what Caroline Glick wrote recently is instructive as to the Lieberman strategy;
Haredim: J’lem Gay Parade may Lead to Another War, by Neta Sela (Ynet)
Thousands of ultra-Orthodox protest at Jerusalem’s Sabbath Square against holding of 2006 Gay Pride Parade in city; ‘war in Lebanon broke out as soon as the parade was announced,’ haredi man says. Head of Eda Haredit rabbinic court: We did not succeed in Lebanon due to promiscuity in Holy Land.
Excerpts;
Thousands of ultra-Orthodox protested at Jerusalem’s Sabbath Square Wednesday against the holding of the 2006 Gay Pride Parade in the city, with most of them linking the parade to the recent war in Lebanon.
IDF Chief Rabbi: Not Sure Secular Zionism Exists, by Ariela Ringel-Hoffman (Ynet)
“The roots of the disengagement are not the political move, but a spiritual crisis, so when we want to deal with this issue, to prevent another disengagement from happening, we should address this spiritual crisis.”
Excerpts;
Rabbi Avi Ronsky can check yet another box. Ten months after they asked him whether he would like to serve as the chief IDF rabbi, he got the job. Chief of Staff Dan Halutz pinned the brigadier general’s insignia on his shoulders in mid-September, and he assumed office on Sukkoth eve.
This author has, in years past, taken a vacation from compiling a vort, a Parsha HaShevua for Parsha Breish’t. Somehow, not being rabbinic or a Talmud Chacham, it has always seemed difficult to put true and deep meaning of Hashem’s creation to words.
This year however, it rained in Eretz Yisrael on Isru Chag, the Simchat Torah of Chutz L’Aretz. And it didn’t just rain a few sprinkles, it poured on Yom Rishon. The weather reports promise more on Yom Sheini. And the Israeli weatherman is rarely, if ever wrong.