A Special Place in Hell / Celebrate Jewish New Year with a De-Occupation Seder
It says much about our times, that Rabbi Ovadia chose just this period and a Rosh Hashana tradition to unlock and unload on the Palestinians.
By Bradley Burston Tags: Israel news Middle East peace ShasFormer Israel Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef to followers, quoting a traditional Rosh Hashana table blessing before alluding to the resumption of U.S.-brokered Israeli-Palestinian peace talks between Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen):
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Rabbi Ovadia Yosef delivering his weekly sermon, June 19, 2010. |
| Photo by: Daniel Bar-On |
"May our enemies and those who hate us be put to an end, Abu Mazen and all these evil people, may they be made gone from the world. The Holy One, Blessed be He, should smite them with plague, they and these Palestinians, the evil Israel-baiters."
A tradition from the Talmud holds that the things you do to begin a New Year will have a profound effect on the entire year you're about to have. The foods you eat, how you sleep, and, especially, words spoken in anger.
It says much about our times, that Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, a man who has several times held veto power over the course of peace negotiations, chose just this period and just this tradition, to unlock and unload on the Palestinians.
Much has been said, and rightly so, in condemnation of the remarks, and of the pallid defenses mounted by followers.
However, Rosh Hashanah may be exactly the occasion to learn from Maran HaRav's's words, and, no less, his timing.
The run-up to Rosh Hashanah is meant to be a month of hard looks at oneself and hard apologies to others. That is where HaRav Ovadia comes in.
His words teach us, before all else, that we should thank the Lord for creating extremists. Because the tight focus of their vision, not to say blindness, often, if unintentionally, shines a light for the rest of us.
HaRav Ovadia's words remind us that Rosh Hashanah is precisely the time to question our accustomed, unchallenged, most self-satisfied assumptions about ourselves. To reconsider the belief that we were right this year and those who took issue with us, wrong.
Especially this year. History may recall this as the year when Israel's war posture turned inward, when the most direct and unrelenting threat to the survival of the state as we know it, was a multi-faceted effort, often behind the scenes and funded abroad, to clamp down on human rights for non-Jews and the left within Israel and in the West Bank.
Of late, there has been a mounting tendency within a newly-ascendant rightist intelligentsia – and a shady, gleefully disingenuous, young-ish underground anchored by the vengeful nerds of Im Tirzu - to equate self-criticism with treason, and self-congratulation with patriotism. Not Israel, Right or Wrong, but Israel Is Right, and Europe, the Western World as a whole, the Muslim World, the UN, and Barack Obama are all, sadly, wrong.
The words of Maran HaRav bring us crashing back to the purpose of Rosh Hashonah, which is, at root, dissatisfaction. Rosh Hashanah is a test. It is, as Israelis say of their intimidating high school finals, a bagrut – literally, a coming of age.
So, as adults who owe it to themselves to continue the process of coming of age at any age – which is the same as learning – HaRav Ovadia's words could inspire us to take a fresh look at the Rosh Hashanah tradition he invoked, and at ourselves.
Guided by that table, and by the marvelous ritual called Simna Milta, or Significant Omens, We can choose, at the dawn of a New Year, the kind of year we set our sights on.
Thanks to a horrible year past and the firm and constant guidance of my teachers Im Tirzu, the Shalem Center, Avigdor Lieberman, Eli Yishai, Michael Ben-Ari, and The NGO Monitor, my resolution for this holiday is to celebrate a New Year of De-Occupation
May good deeds only increase: work toward the lessening of violence and the widening of diplomacy, toward the lessening of settlement and the widening of contacts with Palestinians, toward easing of restrictions on Palestinian civilians and the lifting of persecution over Israeli Bedouin, toward fairness and care for refugees and foreign workers, and a new relationship between the Jewish state and the Muslim world.
These, then, are the blessings and the foods of the Rosh Hashanah mini-seder called Significant Omens. They begin with blessings for the God Who created the fruits of trees and Who renews for us a sweet and new year, blessings over apples and honey.
The following blessings all begin Ye'hi Ratzohn Milfanecha, Adonai Eloheinu V'elohei Avoteinu – May it be Your will, Lord our God and Lord of our ancestors …
Symbol 1: Carrots [a play on the Yiddish word mehren, to increase], Fenugreek [Hilbe in Arabic, or Rubiyeh in Hebrew], or in the Syrian and Southern U.S. Jewish traditions, Black Eyed Peas.
… She'yirbu zch'uyo'teinu. … Often cryptically translated as "…that our merits increase." These days, however, it would seem much more fitting to go with a more literal translation, embracing two meanings of the word z'chuyoteinu
"… that the rights of all increase, and our good deeds as well."
Symbol 2: Leek or cabbage
… Sh'yikartu soneinu – "That those who hate us be cut off."
In every case of relations with enemies, the traditional wording is ambiguous, suggesting that how we choose to relate to our enemies and those who hate us, and whether we continue to occupy them, could affect whether they remain enemies.
Symbol 3. Beets
… Shyistalku Oy'veinu – "That our enemies be gone."
Symbol 4. Dates
… Sh'yitamu so'neinu – "That those who hate us be finished."
Symbol 5. Pumpkin or Gourd
… Sh'yikra g'zar dinenu v'yi'kreh'u L'fanecha Zchuyoteinu
A prayer for the possibility of change, resisting the sense that all is foreordained, and doomed to misery.
"That the harsh verdict of our sentence be torn up, and the rights of all be proclaimed before You."
Symbol 6. Pomegranate
… Sh'nirbeh zchuyot k'rimon.
"… That the rights of all increase as [the seeds of] a pomegranate.
Symbol 7 – Fish [Vegetarians may choose goldfish crackers or similar stand-ins.]
"… Sh'nifreh v'nirbeh k'dagim."
" … That we grow and increase and flourish like fish."
Symbol 8 – Head of a fish [Substitution: Garlic]
The blessing that can affect all the others:
"Sh'niyeh l'rohsh v'loh l'zanav."
" … that we should be like the head and not like the tail.
Rosh Hashanah is at the door. A time for looking at ourselves with fresh honesty, and at others with new compassion. A time of vulnerability, and therefore, in theory, a time of risk, of danger, of weakness. In fact, of course, should we acknowledge it, a time of rare power.
Occupation is the deprivation of rights. The task of Rosh Hashanah is to help us find our way back to a moral path we have lost. That may be why De-Occupation starts at home.
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Proof that the Torah is the word of G-D. Torah and Science. I saw that posting video's is alright here (like #54) soo im posting this here. http://www.divineinformation.com/downloads/TorahandSciencePart1.wmv
If the meaning of the traditional spirit is not conveyed now, as legitimate other reasons may fall below this sentiment. his position and statements disqualify him from Jewish religious leadership, and he could function equally well as an imam.
In traditional (i.e., pre-Israeli) Hebrew usage, the word zechuyot or z'chuyot in fact means "merits", (related, I believe, to the word "zach", pure) the idea in the New Year's ritual of "She'yirbu zch'uyoteinu" being to express the desire to increase our moral merits abundantly, that is to say, to improve our behavior in the coming year, to become better people. It is not a cryptic translation, as the author suggests, but a correct historical one. That being said, I think the author's idea of being deeply conscious of the rights of all people, and to guide our behavior in a way that respects those rights, is beautifully consonant with the desire to become better people in the coming year.
Israel has raised them to a high art form.
Burston does not know the Lord. G-d did not create extremist, it was a choice they made. The extremist chose cursing not blessing. I don't condemn this Rabbi for praying Psalm 68 either. Moreover, Christians also believe the World has it wrong and the land belongs to Israel. What you are seeing Burston, is the early parts of Zephaniah's prophecy coming to pass, so quit lecturing us with the latest Liberal Secularism and read your own bible if you even own one. The Peace talks will not bring peace to Israel, but World War. G-d has warned the world not to divide His land.
The "occupation" is not a threat. It only becomes a threat when hamas or another militant group turns it into a threat by attacking young children, shooting rockets into a yeshiva, or bombing a bus as many kids, their parents or other innocents are on their way to work.
a week and a half earlier, on Wednesday Aug. 18, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad honored one of the planners of the Sept. 5, 1972 Munich Massacre in which 11 Israeli athletes were murdered, and not one of these media outlets had a word to say. Of course, the cases are not completely parallel — Yosef does not hold any position in the Israeli government (although the party that he founded is in the coalition), and the Israeli Prime Minister rejected the cleric's remarks. In contrast, Abbas and Fayyad, frequently labeled "moderate" by the mainstream media outlets, are the top leaders of the Palestinian Authority. News coverage of Yosef's hateful remarks is legitimate, but the media's failure to cover incitement on the part of Palestinian leaders is not.
He is mishughe, and his followers are even more mishughe.
"vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord." It's a good thing G-d is Jewish and chose Israel for His peculiar treasure.
Burston is Jewish as Putin is French. He has zero authority or credibility to talk about Jewish religion and Torah values or teach us lessons from the Talmud. HaRav Ovadia was right about the wild nature of the Arabs who have proven themselves again over the last 2 days. Peace with Arabs is only a good photo-op for leftists
he's a vile old racist...and not much else worthy of note
Burston is Jewish as Putin is French. He has zero authority or credibility to talk about Jewish religion and Torah values or teach us lessons from the Talmud. HaRav Ovadia was right about the wild nature of the Arabs who have proven themselves again over the last 2 days. Peace with Arabs is only a good photo-op for leftists
- VIDEO: Rabbi Reveals Name of the Messiah... Jesus will return by 2050, say 40pc of Americans... Prophecy Unfolding? Turkey's New Role in Mideast... THE BIBLE AND THE THIRD WORLD WAR - THE 1000 YEAR KINGDOM: http://cristiannegureanu.blogspot.com/2010/07/rabbi-reveals-name-of-messiah.html
is a real fundamentalist.
Ovadia was right in cursing those who wish Israel harm; our enemies. But to include Abbas who represents his people and is not like HAMAS was wrong.
So the guy wants bad things to happen to evil people. Apparently this isn't a good thing. One should perhaps want good things to happen to evil people, like Bradley does.
Another thought provoking piece, from a fellow Californian.
Is the Rabbi a member of the group who issued the "jewish" fatwah to kill Prime Minister Rabin; it sure looks that way, doesn't it?
Mr Burston, Did you read the news today ??? Is Rav Ovahia wrong ??? They want to wipe off Israel, but you may clap when IDF attacks. It's a shame, hyprocrites.
Burston has no understanding that after shooting they went and shot all including frony stomach of pregnqant woman. He is simpleton not understanding the religious motivation of most Muslims and no territory returned will suffice. Like the ZAka person who came upon his shot pregnant wife today, burston will wake up if his family will be identified by him in Tel Aviv. That is what Rabbi Youssef understands NOT BURSTON!
Another excellent article by Mr. Burston.
I guess the Arabs who recently murdered 4 Jews were our friends?
Burston does not care of Arab incitement against Israel. For example, the Left supports Arab subversives like Zoabi. Burston will never publish even a tiny condemnation of Zoabi, Tibi, ...
It's a first. Check out my full analysis at BiFocalPoint.blogspot.com.
It is unfortunate that the Almighty did not heed Rav Yosef's plea and save the four murdered Israelis today form these evili Palestinians.
the other side(s) call for the destruction of Israel and all Jews all the time. so what was so bad about this? Politically incorrect. Mr Brad Bad-Brew is a veritable star of political correctness. He should get an Oscar and an award for verbal Onanism.
I am an Israeli and more then anything i want peace you Rabbi no better then Nassralla
You don¨t have the guts to publish this ...and if you do...It show you are a stupid. A pitty, i really think you are smart...what happen with you...just money?
Or Maran? People like hime have a name in Hebrew: MESHUGA.
etst
I have spent months wondering about this mystery, and finally decided to admit defeat and ask for your help: What is the difference, according to Haaretz, between their lists of "Hot Topics" and "Most Popular"? You can observe that the two lists often overlap and contain some of the same articles, but the lists are also not identical and contain some different articles. So what is the difference, since one must exist! The headings for both lists contain the indicators "24 hours | 7 days", so you would think that one list, say "Hot Topics", would mean "most popular over the last 24 hours", while the other would mean "most popular over the last 7 days". But no, both lists have a little arrow under the "24 hours" part. My theory: Even Haaretz people don't know, only the computer people who designed the site. But they are long gone, so nobody will ever know. At least, this is my theory. Do you have a better explanation?
Yeah, im curious too...please answer haaretz!
This rabbi is obviously a senile old dotard. What he says shouldn't be of concern to anyone. Far more concerning is the fact that so many young people seem to take his words in earnest.
It is important for us to hear Ovadia Yosef and listen to his words. How else do we understand the apartheid land where Palestine used to be.
Wrong dude. I like them. Maybe one day you too will have the courage to face your dark side.
Leftists are bashing Yossef but everyday, thousands of Arabs, especially Palestinian Arabs, are openly saying that they want the destruction of Israel.
Fundamentalists are all of the same stripe...whether they be rabbis or mullahs. What's next in Israel...stoning?
No, flogging according to ynetnews...these extremists have started to flog each other to get new souls.
HE DOESNT LOOK THAT EVIL. IT IS A FACT THAT EVIL IS CONFUSING US TIME TO TIME. HOWEVER THAT HE HAS NO INTELLIGENT EYES. HIS ARTICLE ? NO I NEVER READ HIM. ONLY HEAD WORDS.
May our families be healthy, strong, kind, helpful, honest. May our communities be fruitful, confident, learning constantly, good neighbors to good neighbors. May our regions be healthy ecologically, permitting two-dimensional (what we can learn by walking, maybe within geographic boundaries) and three-dimensional (what we can learn by flying, or seeds floating, ignoring geographic boundaries). May our three-dimensions be of seeds, birds, sunshine and not of rockets, drones, and distrusting satellite intrusions. May we have the collective will to trust that even this is God's will with an ultimate revealing end, that we need be aware of and prepare for, but not fear habitually.
It’s funny–anytime a Muslim cleric calls for the destruction of every Jew on the globe–it’s reported as “propaganda”. But, when a Jew claims that Islam is evil (and I agree) then the world press calls for the Jew to be charged with Hate Speech. I read AP News stories and Haaretz Talk Backs about Israel and the IDF, and read words like “punishing”, “devastating”, Apartheid”, “Occupation”, “War Crimes” and other derogatory words and phrases that subject the reader to veiled anti-Semitic propaganda encouraged by leftist liberal media toeing the line of their employers— who are not wishing Israel well Worry not what the press says-Israel is the ONLY nation in the Mideast that is keeping the rogue Islamist in check. I applaud Rabbi Ovadia Yosef for having the courage to stand up and speak his mind. Far to many people are chicken shot cowards…
...do you really believe in what you say, or are paying for. Shana Toba.
If anyhone feels the Rabbi's words were more than terse then just wait until your hypocritical little evil ears hear what the christains have to say about condemning a man of god for asking God, in prayer to do something permanent about evil people!!!
Rabbi Ovadia you are classless ,and a low life and no better the Nassrala or Chomoni And i am a proud israeli ps................you also look like the Comoni family with this stupid hat and gown we need peace with them,what kills israel is religion
.....I did not understand one word you said. Could you please reprase that?
He talks about god because it gives him authority and power. How about putting him on a terrorist watch list and see how much power he has left.
Praying to God to request that He remove evil people from this world is much holier Abbas and His coherts saying that if everything doesn't go their way then, they, personally will start an "armed resistence" (terrorism with suicide bombers, etc.) !!
Careful my friend. You might be one of those "evil" people God will do away with. Wouldn't that be a big surprise for you?
That's what Ahmadinejad asked too.
That's what Ahmadinejad asked too.
One can not speak about Judaism, land of Israel, Devine right to the land of Israel which was given by KBH, and at the same time about illegality of jewish settlements. One can not " deoccupy " what is yours. Mr. Bruston has to make a choise, or he belives in the KBH promise to Abram, Izhak, Jacob, or he doesn't. If he doesn't, than the rest of the so called "Palestine" is an occupied territory and he has to get his stupid ass out to where he came from.
,who doesn't even offer a passing thought to the one who was assuring BB could still pray in open ,insteasd of being a dhimmi. Or dead. Same wishes for BB as he wishes for Gilad Shalit.
How amusing. Do they read the Megilla on Yom Kippur?
Progressive Jews are neither left-wing or sedering on Rosh Ha Shanah. Yes there are some, but don't count all of us as leftwing Israel bashers.
Progressive Jews are neither left-wing or sedering on Rosh Ha Shanah. Yes there are some, but don't count all of us as leftwing Israel bashers.
I believe Bradlry Burston to be a fine writer and a fine man. It was his writing that first attracted me to Haaretz. He seems to be a centerist with some claim to liberal credentials. This is where the problem lies. Centerists cannot be persuasive except to other centerists. When Bradley dons his liberal hat and writes the lovely articles he is capable of writing, he makes people suspicious. The reason for this is because when Bradley writes something from a different perspective, praising Israel, or the IDF, or blaming the Palestinians for not being more accomodating, we remember it. We remember it far longer than the articles he writes to which I for one, can fully subscribe. The lesson I learned from my centerist days is that centerists are essentially kibitzers, offering entertaining reading but no committment. Most of the people in talkback understand that you must be committed to your cause, warts and all. This must be more difficult for the pro-Israel crowd and I respect them for shouldering that burden. Centerists, on the other hand, can choose the best bits from each side and criticize them both for their less appealing features. I would love to see Bradley discard his olympian approach and decend into one of the trenches, if he could decide on which one to pick.
As a propagandist you cannot relate to Bradley. I think he has a great commitment to his cause -his cause being honesty and fair mindedness. You can call it centrist if you like - most people would just call it normal.
I doubt he makes hardly anybody suspicious. He appears to write from his heart, in an honest and straightforward way. I appreciate that he doesn't condescend to his audience like so many on Talkback, for instance, you from one side and the hardcore Israel supporters on the left. Intelligent, well informed people can see through both of you. Why he makes you suspicious is something probably only you and your therapist know.
no kidding - maybe because centrist are the only ones who can be persuaded. People like you and your mirror images (like Peter SM, Hartman, et al) preach to the choir. To others you all are just comic relief.
I doubt he makes hardley anybody suspicious. He appears to write from his heart, in an honest and straightforward way. I appreciate that he doesn't condescend to his audience like so many on Talkback, like you from one side and the hardcore Israel supporters on the other. You are all preaching to the choir; to the rest of us you are comic relief
He's fair minded and honest, goes where the facts lead him, with no axe to grind. Apparently you find that objectionable
Both are fanatics, both hate other people and other nations and would love to them dead. Both make public statements that hurt their countries. Both need to learn that the new world will not accept their supporters and will do anything it can to remove their ability to take action against the main stream who do wants peace and harmony.
you forgot Nasralla as well ovadia plays god, he is a no body
2 states living peacefully side by side is better.It's time to forgo the unrealistic greater Israel dream and come down to earth. Peace means equality,green line + land swaps,the Pals get their state in the WB,Gaza and East Jerusalem and zero problem with the neighbors.History and The world want it in this way.happy new year.
Sure --like all lefty agit-rops,he hijacks the moral highground for himself by piling on the rabbi who said the PALS must perish.. BURSTON howver NEVER casigates THEIR IMAMS and politcal honchos who say the JEWS must perish ..ITs tit for tat and BURSTON is blind ONLY to 1 side coming out winners -HIS "PALS" . He thinks he can pull the wool over the GULLIBLEpeople who read his biased drivel such that PEACE can bring 2 winners. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE -somebody has to lose big in this dispute. Instead of laying out WHAT ISRAEL gains except a PEACE that still may never be more than temporary -INstead of giving HIS SOLUTION for a PERMANENT PEACE in the DETAILS who what BOTH SIDES must give up --he is SILENT. By implication we know what he wants Israel to give up --the OCCUPATION--that is give in to ALL the PAL land demands (1948 lines -with E. Jersusalem back in PAL hands,at the mercy of the PALs for any visits to Jewish Holy sites in Pal-land ,rights of return to all Pal refugees to the new PAL-land AND "compensation" to settle them back there). He gives no assurances PAL:s can not militarize like ANY OTHER STATE,but the Israelis can rest in Paradise because they have a pirece of paper saying the PALS agree to pEACE and borders (for now ) while the Jews forever sign away all land claims to pal-land given to them by torah . The out come of this "BARGAIN" of pEACE is predictible: That the PALs and other Arabs and Muslims will suddenly "love " jews and and welcome them as trure friends (I mean all that dhimmi stuff in the Koran is just a joke right?) is SO laughable that anyone believing that should go to the looney bin. On the other hand with Israel "put in its lace" ,forced tro capitualte back to 1948 lines,becoming DHIMMI to the "WORLD COMMUNITY" and making OBAMA the SAVIOR (Look what I did Ma !) ,"giving up" control and reiant on PAL "goodwill" to access to the Wailing Wall and other holy Jewish sites in PAL-land ,watching as THEY turn every archaelogical discovery of past Jewish settlement on THEIR LAND into vanishing dust after they destroy the evidence, and of course KEEPING PAL-LAND JUDEN FREI --accepting all this kow0-towing anf humilitation as Israel give up more of her soul and birthright for the SECURITY of PEACE -well it seems to me more like capitualation,surrender and grateful acceotance of what Israel is allowed to keep . I would rather BURSTON give us DETAILS for a PEACE where Israel DICTATES more of the "BARGAIN"--but because HE is so stupid ,I am glad to helf Burston out with some suggestions: ISRAEL should have these demands: 1. The Pals must DISAVOW all KORANIC suras that contain anyIslamic supremacist statement on how Muslims should treat Jews... IF they cannot do this WHY BOTHER withanyhing else. THey can never be true friends as loing as the Koran;'s vile referebces to Jews are expunged. 2. THe Temple Mount shallbe blown to smithereens such that neither JEW nor MUslim claims any interst in it. OF course the KAABA in MECCA must also be blown up as a good will gesture by the Muslims (I'm sure the PALS can get the Saudis to do that littlke favour for them ). THe former Temple Mount can thenmbe made into the BRADLEY BURSTON INTERNATIONAL PEACE PARK and its territory shared by both states in joint cistody. Burston will personally give lectures there on becoming a good LIBERAL LEFTY. 3. Israel will pay compensation to PAL refugess for a return to PAL-land ..The Paqls and thie Arab and Muslim chum,s shal pay compensation for all property they approritaed from jews they kicked out of their lands.. A symbolic compensation willbe paid by Saudi Arabia for the ethnic cleansing of the Jewish communities there by the "Prophet" Mohamed and his gang of cut-throat Jew-killers.. WE will take the poulation f Jewsn arabia before Islam --extrapolate how many Jews would be there today IF ISlam never had started,and award $10,000per head...I'm sure there would be more than 6million Jews -easily replacing the LOST ones to the Nazi euro ethnic JEW cleanser's there....HEY we are not asking the MUSLIMs to recompense us for German crimes -that would be stupid-no just a recompense for ISLAM's crimes againsat our people by their Prophet and his gang of thugs. 4. Even asuming we have gotten this far--- Israel demands that PAL-LAND allow the same % of Jewish citizens in its territory as there are Arab Muslims and Christians in the "cut to size" ISrael after the PEace...with guaratees that PAL-land has a democratoic consitution affording the PAL Jewish "citizens" the Same rights Israeli Arabs have in Israel. SURELY LIBERAL Burston cannot object to such a reasonable quid pro quo. 5. Finally any PEACE AGREEMENT must guaratee Jews from anywhere in the Worlds access to Jewish holyand historical ain in PAL-LAND ,with guaratees the PALS will preserve these sites and ALSO that any new archaeological sites discovered involving Jewish historical settlements on the land be preverved and jointly excavated between Israeli and PAL archaelology departments of each state, 6. PALS agree to a civilian police force but no standing army or militias allowed. 7. The rest of the deal--1948 lines except the special Temple Mount provisions(see #2 above) involving water rights,air traffic zones and other mudane details can easily be worked out among true FRIENS at PEACE...HOWEVER if #'s 1-6 are not in the deal-ISRAEL MUST REFUSE because without 1-6 any PEACE deal willbe an illusion and temporary. SO THESE are ISRAEL's bottom line terms-and i would not budge off any of them. Since Burston would not dare state these terms,I have made it easy for him-just READ THEM. IF your P{AL buddoes cannot agree to this simple list-WHY BOTHER ...might as well just LET THE PERISH because there must be some lines drawn in the sand else WHY BOTHER with continuing a Jewish majority state? The key point being -THE KORAN must be purged of its anti-Jew statements-if not there CAN NEVER be pEACE between Jew and Muslim. Burston must know this-but he has not got the guts to spell it out. The Jews are being asked to give land for Peace--the PALS aand their ARAB and MUslim cousins have to give up their idea of being SUPREME over JEWS (in this deal) and in their reltions with others in the rest of the world on their deals with those people,.Can't do it-FORGET P{EAVCE becaise it wilbe impossible and in that case it THEM or US who will come out winners whilst one of them perishes. THE half a loaf for PEACE is the better risk on the future of both peoples but ONLY if both give up something precious---the JEW gives up half his "PROMISED LAND" the ARAB here gives up HATE but to do it MUST call MOHAMMED a thug a lar and so must expunge the KORAN from his corruopting vile "additions" that HE made and where never recited by the angel Gabriel who after alll would NEVER disparage his Jews since HE (Gabriel) to;ld Daniel 12 centuries before Mohamed that at the END JEWS survive and invading enemies are destroyed ..SO it is clear -IF AT THE END TIME the PALS and the ARABS and THE MUSLIMS don't want to be destroyed they had better be good PALS to the JEWS of Israel ... MY list of demands in a Peace deal will assure they willbe good PALS -but if they cannot supply those demandsthen THEY CANNOT BE EVER such GOOD PALS..GEt it Bradley? To get back to the strying poin-BB loves piling on Israel for its sins against hois PALs-but he NEVBER tellks us how the PALS can be TRUE "PALS" and not merely temporary ones . I have given the list of items thay must comply with in any deal...Unless they comply with all of them--they can never be trusted as TRUIE PALS but only as the usual Muslim tricksters who pursue a temporary pEace to gain advantafge only to lATEr strike wuth their true agenda but from a stronger position.. This is as old a tactic for them as that rthug Mohamed fist outlined for their success obbver the ENEMY ... So now I aslk the PALS : "ARE you a TRUE BELIEVER in thast thug or a TRUE BELIEVBER thsat you must makle permanent PEACE with your friend and neighbour Israel? The answer is mutualy excluisive by simple logic. CHoose wisely my freinds.
I'd probably read what you wrote if you could just, perhaps, summarize it in 50 words.
Correcting our neighbors isn't our job. Correcting ourselves is.
Dear readers, I have spent months wondering about this mystery, and finally decided to admit defeat and ask for your help: What is the difference, according to Haaretz, between their lists of "Hot Topics" and "Most Popular"? You can observe that the two lists often overlap and contain some of the same articles, but the lists are also not identical and contain some different articles. So what is the difference, since one must exist! The headings for both lists contain the indicators "24 hours | 7 days", so you would think that one list, say "Hot Topics", would mean "most popular over the last 24 hours", while the other would mean "most popular over the last 7 days". But no, both lists have a little arrow under the "24 hours" part. My theory: Even Haaretz people don't know, only the computer people who designed the site. But they are long gone, so nobody will ever know. At least, this is my theory. Do you have a better explanation?
Israel will become similar to Iran - a Jewish Shari'a state.
fear of the unknown, which as a Jews is a pretty sad commentary on your life.
To stop allowing a charitable contribution deduction for helping the colonists.
Happy New Year!
Thanks, Bradley It is just conforting to read an opinion, like yours, that is not filled with hatred and self-righteousness It doesn't matter if I agree with you or not I'm tired of people, both from the right and left, demanding their opponets shut-up, in the name of democracy (isn't it ironic) Tired of two groups of fascists pitted against each other: one made of racists and provincial ignorants demanding absolute control, for they are the majority (as if minorities had no rights). The second group, made of idiots entitled to rule our country, they claim, because they are the only worthy, enlightened heirs to their parents Go, Bradley Burston. We are listening
but also disply a keen lack of understanding his people and being able to associate with them. Look up the meaning behind eruv ra, and see how far you have morphed from your ancestors. good by.....
Thanks, Bradley It is just conforting to read an opinion, like yours, that is not filled with hatred and self-righteousness It doesn't matter if I agree with you or not I'm tired of people, both from the right and left, demanding their opponets shut-up, in the name of democracy (isn't it ironic) Tired of two groups of fascists pitted against each other: one made of racists and provincial ignorants demanding absolute control, for they are the majority (as if minorities had no rights). The second group, made of idiots entitled to rule our country, they claim, because they are the only worthy, enlightened heirs to their parents Go, Bradley Burston. We are listening
Just as Rav Ovadia said. He didn't say cut off our Holy land. No blessing does.
The Hebrew word "rav" also means "quarrel", and this is what this old man has been doing ever since he was Sephardic Chief Rabbi. His "rivim" (*quarrels with Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Go0ren are legendary. That he ever became Chief Rabbi, and that he is admired by so many even today, does not speak well for his adherents.
Let me urge us to examine our own ideologies and behavior and not rely on the assumption that we are somehow better than "them".
Let me urge us to examine our own ideologies and behavior and not rely on the assumption that we are somehow better than "them".
Brad, you're doing a beautiful thing. I hope our leaders (Natanyahu & Abbas) can ignore the crazy fundamentalists on all sides and make progress this year. We must remind them of the Geneva Initiative and push them down the road toward a similar Final Status Agreement. It won't be like Oslo with stages. It will be a golden path, a bumpy one, but one that leads to the real Holy Land. I look forward to our looking back at your column in another year and remembering how you succeeded in marginalizing the extremes. Shana Tovah to all the People of Israel, the Citizens of the State of Israel, and Peace to the Peoples of the World
all your glorified solutions have only cause death and damage to Jews and the pals continue their goal toward full destruction. Are you blind, intellectually lacking or just so assimilated into the goyish world, you have no feelings for survival among Jews. Your solutions have failed and to not acknowledge this is sheer fantasy.
How Rabbi Ovadia Yosef"s vision shines a light for the rest of us? Is it enough to say that good deeds like "lessing of settlements and easing of restriction on Palestinian civilians or lifting of perscution over Ïsraeli Bedouin" would solve the real problem?Or there should be another solution that the blessing can affect all the others?
Send the rabbi back to Russia, or Moldova, or New Jersey. Or just send him walking naked down the streets of Gaza.
The good rabbi is from Iraq. You are ignorant. Most Israeli Jews are from the middle east (directly). Driven from their homes they have been living in predating islam. We all see what you're trying to say though....Jews are indigenous to Israel. More than the philistines(invaders from the Greek islands).
Occupation is the deprivation of rights. The task of Rosh Hashanah is to help us find our way back to a moral path we have lost. That may be why De-Occupation starts at home.
Members of the World, NOT like 7th century insanity. When they treat women with equal rights, when they don't murder and wound Jews without regard for their innocence, only because they're Jews (Man, Woman or Child). Then we can begin to discuss a *moral way*. Until then, it is called Survival in a VERY tough neighnorhood. The Arabs have many centuries of catching up before their *rights* can be discussed. Until then, they are, and will always be, a backward society, getting worse by the decade.
You are using religion for your own agenda
What do you do when you are immersed from childhood in pre-medieval law which distinguishes between killing a Jew and killing a Gentile? While killing anybody is forbidden by Halakha, the murderer is punished by execution if he killed a Jew, but is only "punished by Heaven" if he killed a Noahide (e.g., a Muslim). Today you have rabbinic opinions that allow killing of Arabs, even innocents, that endanger Jewish control of the Land. They simply compare the importance of the various commandments and come to such conclusions. Rabin's assassination was also sanctioned by some according to Jewish law of "mosser". The settlers see no problem in burning down Arab crops, or uprooting their olive trees, just to get back at the IDF, and not for any wrong the Arabs committed. The Halakha was not updated much, certainly did not have a chance to evolve naturally under conditions of Jewish control over Gentiles. Since changes in it are extremely slow, it is best to override it wholesale, as was done in laws concerning financial issues, according to the ruling of "Dina d'malchuta dina", "the law of the land is valid." But I wonder how long it will take to also change the moral/ethical influence that goes with the outdated Halakha.
You obviously have never really learned the Halacha. If you had you would have understood that any court actually putting one person to death withinn 70 years was called a bloody court. If i was an Arab or Gentile I would prefer to be judged in a Jewish court any day. We do not put a person on trial without a lawyer and then shoot him or her with many others on the same day. Take a good look at how many people are sentenced to death every day in the Arab world and also in the USA. There are hundreds on death row in Texas. We can indeed be proud of our morals when compared with the world, but that does not mean we should not strive to improve
Perhaps the punishments meted out in Shari'a law are more extreme, and perhaps Shari'a law is more xenophobic, as is Islam in general, but both theological-legal systems are based on the premise that they are divinely ordained, therefore immutable. Shari'a, hpowever, is much more extreme in the following respect While tThe proponents of Halakha wish to extend its jurisdiction over the entire Jewish population of Israel, the supporters of Shari"a wish to extend it over the entire world, Muslims and infidels alike. Neither Halakha nor Shari'a have any place in a modern,democratic world.
Fortunately, this is true too. The "eye for an eye" law was already out in pre-medieval times while Sharia hangs on to it. Also, polygamy was abolished in the 11th Cent. while Arab women still suffer. Nevertheless, Halakha is damaging in its backwardness, as we see.
Since I am a JEW I would prefer to go to a rabbinic (halakhic) court in a criminal case against me. Not only would they be reluctant to execute me (the opinion of 70 years is only by R. Eleazar ben Azaria; there are other opinions on both sides of 70), but the court will not even be able to convict me, with the requirements of Witnesses and Warning (Edim v'Atraah). The halakhic law-enforcement system is extremely deficient (because it was not designed with real world input). However, if I were a Gentile, I will never go to such a court because they will execute me with no problem. I suggest you READ what respected rabbis wrote about killing Arabs, and HEAR what R. Ovadia says, and UNDERSTAND where pre-medieval mindsets lead. For this you will need to really THINK by yourself, what you were taught in Yeshivah wouldn't help here.
What garbage - I'm sure you wouldn't want to be one of the many thousands of Palestinians locked up in desert prisons without any due process. At least in the US, we may not be perfect, but we do have a constitution and we don't create "laws" when we are in the mood to steal land and property. What would Israel do if it weren't for the British mandate security rules and the Turkish land codes. Apartheid would be a lot more difficult. Let me know when you become a nation of laws - not blustering bigoted theocrats.
The Torah and Halacha was given over by G-D to the whole Jewish nation on Mt. Sinai. It was an event witnessed by millions of people. The problems that Jews have today is becuase we have people who go agains't Halacha. We have a state which poisons kids minds with athiesm and bigotry.
Religion is never the problem it is mentalities like your that is the issue. Judaism is beautiful and rich. Halakha is Judaism. But it is easy to talk about some thing you are ignorant about. Isn't it funny; how if people were more complex in their thinking the world would be more liberal and sane, yet those same advocates are very narrow minded with regards to theology based societies. BTW there is a difference between being complex and being a hypocrite.
We can't compare courts today with those of the First Cent. The halacha, when analysied today is in need of serious overhaul when addressing the question of women and the non-Jew. The comments of the caveman/rabbi who was once referred to as "Rishon L'Tzion" are hardly reflective of mercy or high morals. They reflect a spiritual attitude based on hatred and contempt of the other. Judaism has always embodied a tension between the particular and the universal, but one must admit that today, within these so called "haredi" balckhatted, black everything circles there is no room for universal values or love of the other. Sadly the contrary rules in these circles.
"The problems that Jews have today is becuase we have people who go agains't Halacha" - Tzvi/// Sounds exactly like the reason given by the Arab fanatics to establish Sharia. Things were so great before, during Prophet Muhammad's days, and so bad nowadays. But their claim at least has some backing from history; they were supreme in olden days but nowadays are wretches. What do you base YOUR "diagnosis" on, Reb Tzvi? Things were never great for the Jews during and since Talmudic days (pre-medieval, aka Late Antiquity) when Halakha was developed, and are far BETTER TODAY. So how did you come up with this beauty?
I am not a believer, but I do know that Halakha is not immutable (that is, it can change). One of the commandments in the Bible is to listen to your Rabbis, so when they get together, they can condone or admonish for or against something. I just hope there aren't too many Ovadiah's out there, or we're going to have some REAL blood on our hands.
judaism is.....
you could engage in a discussion about 'backwardness'. In the meantime, you jewish maturity level is probably 1st to 2nd grade and that is giving you extra points for age. Pretend to express knowledge based on built in bias and a Jewish vacuum and there you are. Sorry to say, you missed the boat and you keep throwing rocks at the boat years later after it set sail. the avenues of learning are open to you, if you decide to stroll in their direction or maintain your spiraling descent into spiritual oblivion Your new year should be full of health and growth!
According to you people I am ignorant, or at least have a Jewish maturity level of "1st to 2nd grade". OK, let us say that I don't know/understand many things about Judaism that you might know and understand. Wouldn't it be reasonable for you to offer some detail, even to the readers and not me, of how or why I am wrong? And please don't reply that I am not likely to be convinced, because a reader might become convinced of your arguments. Incidentally, I don't think I am wrong, and if one considers that the Talmud (the fountainhead of Halakha) was worked out in late antiquity and its principles are still with us today, I am not even likely to be wrong. It is too easy to hide behind slogans and easy to repeat slogans that you were taught. But what about your own considered opinions and the basis for them?
The economic and social boycott of Israel is still growing and will be bring the peace not some a state like the US which is tun by businesses and arm manufacturers.
What I believe will eventually result in freedom for the Pals, and regained legitimacy for Israel and peace for all will be effective internal and external boycotts of Israel and strong non-violent resistance from the Pals. I do not believe that just another round of "peace talks" will make any difference, unless accompanied by the above.
we would be able to understand what you say. Apparently the smart thumbs up guy got it. There is some cursing of Israel and the Us and that's all they need to be happy. Poor world !
Any boycott of Issael must be small potatoes compared to the Turks loss of tourists dollars. Turkey's in a world of self made woe. Not Israel.
send gim to beyt meshugners NOW.