tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182159392011-11-27T15:46:46.423-08:00Striving for a more perfect world where the whole Torah is kept by the Jewish people on a personal and national level.chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.comBlogger2311100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-166237283959342452011-05-18T13:24:00.000-07:002011-05-19T03:22:05.097-07:00

Yaakov Menken wrote a post called Who Are We Kidding? with which I partially disagreed. You can see the thread. Unfortunately, my last comment was not accepted so I am posting it here:>Where they are at age 18 is remarkable, but where they are by age 25 is as well.But that is my point. It is not particularly remarkable. Most do not have even one masechet fully under their belt – much less any

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-37651084050156086502008-10-27T01:15:00.000-07:002008-10-27T01:19:59.629-07:00

From ben-chorin:Event 1: At 10:00 PM, PM Livni announces that negotiations with Shas have reached a deadlock and we are headed to elections.Event 2: At 1:00 AM, by order of DM Barak, hundreds of troops destroy Noam Federman's house near Hevron with no warning and a maximum of violence and cruelty (press barred) predictably leading to local hotheads making an ugly scene (press invited) predictably

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-85620730378537844512008-09-28T11:45:00.000-07:002008-09-28T11:50:57.122-07:00

We shall ascribe holiness to this day. For it is awesome and terrible. Your kingship is exalted upon it. Your throne is established in mercy.You are enthroned upon it in truth.In truth You are the judge,The exhorter, the all‑knowing, the witness,He who inscribes and seals,Remembering all that is forgotten.You open the book of remembranceWhich proclaims itself,And the seal of each person is

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-22134787001113399842008-09-18T04:43:00.000-07:002008-09-18T05:09:16.062-07:00

There is not much common ground between my approach to Torah and that of, let's say, a yeshiva student from Ponovitch. However, in the spirit of Elul, I do think that there is common ground. In 1990, Rav Shach zt"l gave a famous speech which became known as the "speech of rabbits and pigs." In this speech, he gave what has been called the single clearest expression of the gulf between the

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-27498289206994778342008-03-20T01:33:00.000-07:002008-03-20T01:41:11.358-07:00

How dare the Jerusalem post publicize such a racist article that makes such gross generalizations about Arabs? In case, you don't know what I am talking about, please see the following article: '84% of Palestinians back Mercaz attack'Don't they know what advertizing such racist drivel will do? It will reinforce the right wing's delusional assertion that the Arabs as a nation are at war with the

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-60233709837434926872008-03-18T09:24:00.000-07:002008-03-18T09:35:37.063-07:00

I have delayed posting regarding the massacre in Merkaz. Its very painful to me every time I begin to think about it. I have even avoided as much as possible joining in on the blog discussion on the matter - emotions run too deep. There are those Jews out there who want to see everything through a universalist lens. I can never be one of them. I see the universal as well, but only through the

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-10337716675884662152008-03-12T13:43:00.001-07:002008-03-12T14:04:22.300-07:00

I visited heichal shelomo last week for my eldest daughter's celebration for the recieving of her first sidur. While there, I visited the museum which includes among other wonderful things, an exhibit on Rav Itzchak Isaac Herzog zt"l. I found there a wonderful treasure:Here is my translation:A certificate of honorto the brilliant chief of the all the Rabbis of IsraelRabbi Yitzchak Isaac HaLevi

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-37971487233358471982008-03-12T13:27:00.000-07:002008-03-12T13:36:20.942-07:00

Here are some excerpts from the back cover of Libby Kahane's wonderful new 761 page biography of Rav Meir Kahane zt"l hy"d, Rabbi Meir Kahane - His Life and Thought, Volume One: 1932-1975:"When the chips are down. you know who's going to fight for the Jew? Only the Jew. And it's about time we understood this." (1971)"Jewish survival and redemption are proof eternal and ultimate that the world

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-54708891640629933482008-03-08T13:03:00.000-08:002008-03-08T13:06:40.232-08:00

R’ Moshe Shternbach, one of the leading rabbis of the extremely anti-Zionist edah haHereidit in EY, actually admits in one of his books that the majority of Gedolei Israel supported the idea of a Jewish state even before the state was created. Yes, another instance of Chareidi historical revisionism is contradicted by their own internal sources (תשובות והנהגות ח"ב סי' ק"מ):"... ולכן טען אז ואמר

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-56474180929218100062008-03-04T08:00:00.000-08:002008-03-04T08:04:19.134-08:00

From jpost:Israel has informed foreign diplomats that it would reoccupy Hamas-ruled Gaza if necessary, though it prefers not to do so, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday, as the IDF operated against defiant Gaza rocket squads. So my question is: WHY THE !@#$% did you kick 10,000 Jews from their homes and destroy whole cumunities?!?!?Can you losers ever admit you were wrong?When we made aliya, a

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-86651611086556361272008-03-02T23:40:00.000-08:002008-03-03T00:38:36.890-08:00

Continued from here.Here is a poem by Natan Alterman which forshadows the tragedy that is sderot. As a friend pointed out to me, alterman was a Jeremiah in a country which was enamored only with the prophesies of Isaiah:נתן אלתרמן, הטור השביעי, תשט"ו (1955) נְשַעֵר כִּי תּוֹתָח עַרְבִי אֶחָד, תּוֹתָח קָט, בֶּן-בְּלִי-עֵרֶךְ, יוֹרֶה נִים-לא-נִים יְרִיָּה רַק אַחַת, לְשָבוּעַ בִּלְבַד, אֶל שֶטַח

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-4007089915845803892008-02-19T11:51:00.000-08:002008-03-03T00:39:31.781-08:00

From God's Middlemen: A Habad Retrospective : Stories of Mystical Rabbis:By Reuven AlpertHe was known in Jerusalem simply as the "baal tokeya," the "shofar blower."When the British forbade Jews from blowing the shofar at the Wailing Wall, he was the young man who had the guts to sound the traditional ram's horn at the conclusion of Yom Kippur. He was promptly imprisoned by the mandatory

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-87331200074595561532008-01-21T00:15:00.000-08:002008-03-03T00:39:20.205-08:00

Cross currents has a post written by R' Avi Shafran responding to the anti-Semitic piece written by Arun Gandhi for the "On Faith" blog. The response is ok but the article by Gandhi brought to my mind a letter written in 1988. In 1988 an open letter to the world was submitted anonymously to various Jewish press outlets. Most of them ran the piece. After the letter was already published, Rav

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-38492040722993097812007-11-18T23:24:00.000-08:002007-11-18T23:27:31.298-08:00

'93% of Palestinian kids suffer domestic violence'Will all you insane so called "moderates" PLEASE give me a break.

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-80047273206955419202007-10-14T13:19:00.000-07:002007-10-14T13:38:02.014-07:00

I have been reading/learning several books at once lately. I found a couple of passages that shocked me even though I should of seen it coming.The first I will title "Rav Soloveitchik the mystic???" (from Lonely Man of Faith p. 40-41):The Covenantal faith community, in contradistinction to the natural work community, interprets the divine pronouncement "It is not good for man to be alone," not

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-82766380399822102652007-08-12T11:53:00.000-07:002007-08-12T11:58:44.547-07:00

ישעיהו פרק סבא לְמַעַן צִיּוֹן לֹא אֶחֱשֶׁה, וּלְמַעַן יְרוּשָׁלִַם לֹא אֶשְׁקוֹט, עַד-יֵצֵא כַנֹּגַהּ צִדְקָהּ, וִישׁוּעָתָהּ כְּלַפִּיד יִבְעָר. ב וְרָאוּ גוֹיִם צִדְקֵךְ, וְכָל-מְלָכִים כְּבוֹדֵךְ; וְקֹרָא לָךְ שֵׁם חָדָשׁ, אֲשֶׁר פִּי יְהוָה יִקֳּבֶנּוּ. ג וְהָיִית עֲטֶרֶת תִּפְאֶרֶת, בְּיַד-יְהוָה; וצנוף (וּצְנִיף) מְלוּכָה, בְּכַף-אֱלֹהָיִךְ. ד לֹא-יֵאָמֵר לָךְ עוֹד עֲזוּבָה, וּלְאַרְצֵךְ

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-50819942473789702472007-08-01T13:50:00.000-07:002007-08-01T14:04:46.817-07:00

Some people asked me who I am so I decided to drop a hint by posting a picture of myself (see here):

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1819191697806826092007-07-23T21:53:00.000-07:002007-07-23T22:02:01.069-07:00

יהי רצון מלפניך ה' אלוקינו ואלוקי אבותינו, שיבנה בית המקדש במהרה בימינו ותן חלקנו בתורתך. ושם נעבדך ביראה כימי עולם וכשנים קדמוניות

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-33527147395529305152007-07-02T14:20:00.000-07:002007-07-03T11:56:39.648-07:00

[UPDATE: Apparently, the source for the YNet article was an article in Arutz 7. It has more quotes which are more complete and have the relevant sources. You can see it here.]Well, its a start:Journalist Ilana Dayan: How is it that we all blindly followed Oslo?...Why didn't we ask whether disengagement was the right step?" TV personality Avri Gilad: I supported the disengagement plan and I was

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-30225978832901656252007-06-26T19:36:00.000-07:002007-06-26T19:38:06.866-07:00

The good, the bad, and the ugly.

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-51957216243201856542007-04-30T11:14:00.000-07:002007-04-30T11:16:53.990-07:00

Olmert, Peretz, Halutz failed in their roles, war report saysIn more news...The Allies won WWII.ANDThe sun rose this morning.

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-19765756582007967422007-04-26T16:41:00.000-07:002007-04-26T17:17:53.866-07:00

Ben-Bayit has an important post which I will reproduce with some translation:Amnon Lord in a recent column claims the answer is NO. In a wide-ranging discussion of the recent "revelations" that Teddy Kollek served as a British "informer" prior to 1948, Lord comes to the conclusion that what drove the Mapai during the 1940's was enabling absolute political hegemony over the "Yishuv" and in order

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-89428706037272610712007-04-24T14:34:00.000-07:002007-04-24T14:45:53.716-07:00

I was amazed at the following story (from here).Apparently, the winner of this year's Tanach competition is Yishai Gispan who won by a single point. That is not the amazing part. During the competition, he turned to the judges and asked them to reconsider the points he received for a previous answer. Apparently, he felt the he DID NOT DESERVE the full score!Has anyone heard of something like

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-28185093089634049512007-03-27T23:39:00.000-07:002007-03-27T23:41:45.136-07:00

I know I have not been blogging lately. I have been busy and have not found myself motivated to lately. I know I still have several series which I need to wrap up – God willing, I will soon continue those posts. Meanwhile, I hope everyone enjoys the following ideas by Rav Kook which are very relevant for Pesach.Rav Kook writes in Orot (translated by R’ Bezalel Naor):The redemption continues.

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-50612904908143484562007-03-12T14:41:00.000-07:002007-03-12T14:43:00.680-07:00

Wow.Can't say I feel sorry for the guy. VeLamalshinim Al ....

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-15325542265167751632007-03-09T11:23:00.000-08:002007-03-12T10:04:57.152-07:00

Rabbi Zvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook Zt"l passed away 25 years ago during Purim.Rabbi Hannan Porat has an interesting article about Rav Zvi Yehuda here.What I found interesting (and never new before) was that Rav Zvi Yehuda was the inspiration behind Yossi Gamzu's famous Hebrew song הכותל.Apparently, when Rav Zvi Yehuda reached the Kotel only hours after it was liberated, he said "יש לבבות אבנים, ויש

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-26627059990004561752007-03-07T17:06:00.000-08:002007-03-07T17:09:26.693-08:00

I just found a promising new blog, Tsmicha.The author, Dan Illouz, has a great post on a famous statement of Rav Kook:"המזכירים כרכים ומוקפים מימות יהושע בן נון לא יוכלו להישאר עבדי אחשוורוש"“They who mention towns and walled cities from the days of Yehoshu’a bin Nun are unable to remain servants of Ahashverosh” May he succeed in spreading the redemptive Torah of Rav Kook to all the corners of

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-74861202551976583982007-02-25T15:57:00.000-08:002007-02-25T16:11:38.488-08:00

"... There are places in Jerusalem with which I am familiar and know about, and yet when I happen upon them it seems to me that I have never seen them before. Yet, in contrast, there are places where I have never been, and when I come there it seems to me that I am familiar with and know them.And because I have always wandered the streets of Jerusalem by day and by night, I never had the time to

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-57773165670777168192007-02-15T12:20:00.000-08:002007-02-15T12:22:46.789-08:00

(Hattip: Jameel)

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-61102614422397836332007-02-06T09:56:00.000-08:002007-02-06T10:04:08.238-08:00

AddeRabbi posts a congratulatory post to R' Bina for coming to the defense of the Thug Yair Naveh.I thought the Lev Yehudi's response to R' Bina was far more appropriate (hat tip: Ya'aqov Ben-Yehudah):Regarding the four Crimes of Naveh 1. Expulsion Yair Naveh, as general of the central command, was the commander over the expulsion of Jews and the destruction of Jewish towns in the Northern

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-85324136269258379722007-01-30T23:57:00.000-08:002007-01-31T00:08:39.106-08:00

Here is R' Bezalel Naor's translation of a poem by R' Shlomo ibn Gabirol (ca. 1021-1058):You are God,And all the creatures are Your servants and worshipers.Your glory is not lessened on account of those who worship other gods,Because the intention of all is to reach You.But they are as blind men.Their goal is the way of the King,And they have strayed from the way.One has drowned in a bottomless

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-79436186315958348282007-01-14T20:56:00.000-08:002007-01-14T21:17:42.173-08:00

Orot HaKodesh I, pg. 86:"Knowledge of the highest secret matters is not meant to spread through the world in a great expansion, that many may know of them, for it is impossible. And if many know of them in their external aspect, they will know nothing of their internal content, and all this will do more harm than good. Indeed, this knowledge must penetrate to all secrets that contain a divine

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-26181626580164932612007-01-08T19:30:00.000-08:002007-01-08T19:36:26.919-08:00

In the holy book Kol HaTor by the Gaon and Mekubal R’ Hillel Shklover, student of the Gra, there are brought some important and fundamental teachings of the Gra regarding the mitzvah of Yeshuv HaAretz and the process of redemption. In the fifth chapter, R’ Hillel explains the sin of the Spies who despised the beloved land and caused crying for generations, the destruction of the temple and the

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-63193434521231022312007-01-03T09:59:00.000-08:002007-01-03T10:19:44.525-08:00

Sometimes you find gedolim stories in the most unlikely places. For example, someone who is researching the history of the Israeli draft exemption for religious women (and the exemption from Sherut Leumi as well) will eventually come across an Israeli supreme court decision (בג"צ 456/71 שרה ברזני נ' שר הבטחון ואח', פ"ד כו 2, 543.).In this decision, the halachic opinion of Rav Zvi Pesach Frank

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-36213874579945476632006-12-31T23:47:00.000-08:002006-12-31T23:53:04.867-08:00

Continued from here.Let us look at the next passage in this aggadata:One day [Reish Lakish and R. Yochanan] had a dispute in the beit midrash [about a Mishnah in Keilim that says: A sword, a knife, a dagger, a spear, a handsaw, and a scythe, at what point can they become tamei [impure]? When their manufacturing process is completed, [and they are finished utensils]. And at what point are they

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-87627511150236722952006-12-31T13:26:00.000-08:002006-12-31T13:27:48.167-08:00

Some people find this funny. I find it pretty scary:

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-21621682160269609752006-12-27T13:43:00.000-08:002006-12-27T13:47:13.633-08:00

Great insights into Maran HaRav's educational philosophy can be gleaned from the following letter he wrote in 1906 (Iggeret 43, Translation by Rav Bezalel Naor):By the grace of God, the holy city of Jaffa, may it be built and established, 12 Kislev 5666.Peace and blessing to the venerable great Rav, our teacher Yeshayahu Orenstein, may his light shine. Your precious letter reached me, and I had

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-25759843266822669502006-12-20T19:53:00.000-08:002006-12-20T20:16:31.299-08:00

In a letter to Samuel Aleksandrov of Bobroisk, dated 29th of Shevat 5668 (1908), Rav Kook writes (Igrot HaRaaya I, pg. 134, translation by Rav Bezalel Naor):Regarding his honor's comment concerning the difference between the collective and the individual. Certainly, our nationalists are wont to theorize that through the weakening of the national spirit in the later periods there arose the study

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-59600661716761270592006-12-19T12:46:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:36:48.570-08:00

כשהנשמה מאירה גם שמים עוטי ערפל מפיקים אור נעים (הראי"ה קוק זצ"ל)I would like to hear the readers' take on this famous saying of Rav Kook. (and yes, this is a shameless and lazy attempt to generate comments)

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-66506469533097481322006-12-14T10:00:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:37:35.643-08:00

The recent visit of the Neturei Karta to Iran and the swaths of condemnations by Hareidi publications of this act illustrate to me the impossible situation the mainstream Hareidim have arrived at.If they root for the Arabs, Jews die.If they root for the Jews, they are basically rooting for the success of the state which they despise so much since the state is doing most of the fighting.So what do

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-19562271644810009122006-12-13T15:27:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:38:21.581-08:00

Translated by R. Bezalel Naor:Not with depression, not with fearfulness, not with sentimental weakness must we turn to the divine light, but with a clear knowledge that what flows from the depths of our heart to approach G-d is a natural, complete and healthy faculty. It is more than just a natural faculty — it is the basic, natural faculty of our soul. It emerges in us from the soul of the Life

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-9444523824945355452006-12-12T21:58:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:39:00.134-08:00

Continued from here.To continue our discussion of this aggadata, lets analyze the gemara one section at a time:One day R. Yochanan was bathing in the Jordan. Reish Lakish saw him and gracefully jumped into the Jordan after him. Said R. Yochanan to him, “Your strength should be used for Torah.” Retorted Reish Lakish, “Your beauty should be for women.” R. Yochanan said to him, “If you will

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-19343284598811963442006-12-10T20:30:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:40:09.328-08:00

Rael has posted an important letter by Rav Kook:By the grace of God, the holy city of Jaffa, may it be rebuilt and established 8 Adar 5670 [1910]Peace and blessing my friend, the renowned rabbi, who is wise and learned, a treasure of Torah and fear of God, our master Rabbi Barukh Meirs, may he live to a long and good life, the head of hte rabbinic tribunal of the holy city of Haifa, may it be

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-89185106287565963002006-12-03T21:11:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:40:35.381-08:00

The post that Bari posted on the aggadata regarding Rav Yohanan and Reish Lakish generated some very heavy and heated discussion. I would like to attempt to offer a very different approach to this aggadata that I have been working on which I hope will give a possible understanding of the aggadata that will neither cast Rav Yohanan as a villain c”v, nor will it justify the problematic behavior

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-2085641584148812702006-12-02T19:00:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:40:58.309-08:00

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1164953623433754752006-11-30T22:03:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:41:17.797-08:00

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1164604522649392992006-11-26T21:13:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:41:40.396-08:00

Continued from here.If the last hakafa was one of the activity of man in his degraded state. This hakafa represents a return to passivity:If the lessons that are to be learned from the exile are embedded into our hearts, we realize that all activity must reflect and show to the world how the Will of Hashem is all that truly acts in the world in the world. Our activity is only a channeling of

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1164235319996984352006-11-22T14:38:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:42:29.283-08:00

Continued from here.Well, after spending $1,000,000,000 on a security fence and destroying the lives of 10,000 precious Jews, channel 10 (reported in jpost here) wakes up to discover that the fence does not accomplish a thing:Entire segments of the security fence near Jerusalem have been breached, allowing dozens of Palestinians to enter the country from the West Bank on a daily basis, Channel 10

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1164053040610354122006-11-20T11:51:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:42:56.709-08:00

AddeRabbi has a great short post (funny and sad simultaneously) on the legacies of Lubavitch on the one hand and Satmar and Ponovitch on the other.I always found it telling that there is so much anti-Habad sentiment on the web - it truly unites the yeshivish and the modern in many ways. I was never a part of it however. I, among countless others, probably owe my teshuva (at least partially) to

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1164048575582955122006-11-20T10:31:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:43:38.944-08:00

The Ramchal, among other things, was a playwright. For many years, his plays had been hard to get a hold of. Well, Now the Ben-Yehuda project has made available Migdal Oz - the most famous of the Ramchal's plays - online!This play was written by the Ramchal for performance at Rav Yeshayahu Bassan's (the Ramchal's Rav in Kabbalah) wedding. It was written in 1727 when the Ramchal was only 20

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1163641540165596862006-11-15T17:43:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:44:02.934-08:00

Continued from here.The third Hakafa is a continuation of the second:The necessary passivity of exile must give birth to some kind of mental or physical activity. To the Ramchal the first active element of exile must be the longing for the Divine. The relationship that was lost must be grieved over and the soul must actively express the longing for that which was lost.The chapter is filled with

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1163561560452127172006-11-14T19:30:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:44:16.977-08:00

Continued from here.In the second hakafa we descend into our own reality. The full pain of galus is confronted in all its lowliness:More humble. Less proud. The nation has to distill the core of the message while being stripped of all its institutions. The tone is more pleading than the first hakafat but even in exile the nation must be aware of its internal nature, but in a lower tone – “May

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1163481772677007102006-11-13T21:21:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:44:32.109-08:00

Continued from here.The first Hakafa is joined by a chapter from the tehillim of the Ramchal:The chapter starts by pointing out the impossibility of adequately expressing the greatness of Hashem. “Who will tell Your praise Hashem?” and the answer “We are Your servants, Hashem, You have made us. We will say Your Truth for all eternity! Together we will bless You!”To be able to function as an

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1163393360999322032006-11-12T20:45:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:44:45.736-08:00

In light of my previous post on the Ramchal’s simchat Torah service, I thought I would start a series of post regarding the entire service the Ramchal innovated for the evening hakafot.What we have left from the Ramchal is mostly his later writings. The vast majority of his most original and profound work was lost to us due the Herem of the Rabbis of Venice who succeeded in driving his esoteric

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1162915487432081202006-11-07T08:02:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:45:06.465-08:00

MevaseretZion has a great summary of Rav Kook's masterpiece, "To the process of ideas in Israel."Check it out!

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1162879754300229082006-11-06T21:34:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:45:33.323-08:00

This is a poem the Ramchal wrote to be included in the Simchat Torah liturgy after the 7th hakafah. Read it carefully. The ramchal saw the hakafot as being expressive of the desire of the Jewish people to return to the land of Israel and see it rebuilt.The hakafot may have been seen by the Ramchal as a re-enactment of the hakafot that the Jewish people observed before the conquest of Yericho.

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1161237544989836302006-10-18T22:57:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:46:11.902-08:00

Jameel posts here about the response of MK Oron to criticism of his perverted legislation proposing to outlaw Jewish outreach to minors.I will not be posting about the actual content of the letter. Rather I want to focus on the concluding sentence of the letter:אני מבין שאתה לא מסכים עם דעתי זו ולכן איש איש באמונתו יחיהI understand that you disagree with my viewpoint, and therefore, "[every]

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1159507910458785132006-09-28T22:30:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:47:06.946-08:00

Pre Yom-Kippur thoughts. The Maggid of Mezritch writes (צוואת הריב"ש, עמ' י-יא):ואני בוטח בו שהוא ברא כל העולמות בדבריו יש מאין והכל מאין נגדו והוא משגיח עליהם לתת להם שפע וחיותם וכ"ש שיכול להוריד לי כח וישגיח בחסדיו גם עלי ויצילני שלא יבטל אותי יצה"ר בשום דבר בענויי שיאמר לי שאני חלש ונתייבשו המוחין שלי וכן כמה פיתוייםI trust in Him – that He Who created all the worlds through His word Ex

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1158857541004937402006-09-21T09:51:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:47:42.485-08:00

I recieved the following Dvar Torah from one of the readers. I thought it was very beautiful and wanted to share it with everyone:Rav Yitzchak Izik Sher (Leket Sichot Mussar, Vol 2, p. 34) quotes a famous statement of Maimonides (Rambam) that every single person has merits (mitzvot) and negative acts (aveirot). One whose merits are greater is “good”, one whose negative acts are greater is “evil

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1158685568483998812006-09-19T10:04:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:51:13.626-08:00

Read about what you can do to help on MevaseretZion.

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1158253364084606342006-09-14T10:02:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:48:42.300-08:00

Arutz Sheva reports that a recent study showed 44% of chareidi men are actively engaged in the work force. I have to assume that this number will increase as the community grows and as economic reality becomes more pressing.The reason I am posting this is so that next time someone starts ranting about how the chareidim live off the backs of others, this should be brought up. nearly half support

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1158080352724143022006-09-12T09:49:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:51:03.980-08:00

ADL Slams MK Effie Eitam's Statements on Transfer of Arabs 12:33 Sep 12, '06 / 19 Elul 5766 (IsraelNN.com) The US-based Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has issued a condemnation of Knesset Member Effie Eitam (National Union-NRP) following Eitam’s call for the transfer of Arabs from Judea and Samaria and removal of Israeli-Arab Knesset members.“Such inflammatory statements are irresponsible and

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1158037421363496852006-09-11T21:54:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:51:43.229-08:00

The following is a coin that was minted during the begining of the bar Kochba revolt in 133 ce:For those who do not know, the full name of Bar Kochba was Shimeon ben Kosiba. He led a revolt against the Romans which lasted for 3 years during which he controlled a significant part of Yehuda (although he never controlled Yerushalaim). The revolt was an initial success but it came to a grinding

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1156868463659114682006-08-29T09:19:00.000-07:002006-08-29T09:21:03.686-07:00

Yet another victim of the j-blogosphere. May you have a speedy recovery from this addiction.VeImru Amen.

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1156285446815473472006-08-22T15:22:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:52:51.485-08:00

Joe settler has an important post for anyone who is still naive enough to think that the current set of Army brass in Israel are experts whose top concern is the safety of the population in EY:Nine different Generals came to visit my friend’s reserve army unit after the war.The Ramatkal (Chief of Staff) was also supposed to visit but after the hard time the 9 generals got he chickened out.General

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1155443518403868082006-08-12T21:03:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:53:16.579-08:00

So, it looks like the evil imps that run the Israeli government are planning to surrender to the enemy monster and therefore declare that Jewish blood is worthless and that all those soldiers died for nothing.The only question is what change in attitude can all of us implement so that the deaths of those holy martyrs will not have been in vain. The only think I can think of is the words of the

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1155321726466786092006-08-11T11:37:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:53:45.854-08:00

From Orot (Translation by Rav Bezalel Naor):"The redemption continues. The redemption from Egypt and the complete redemption of the future are one unending action: the action of the strong hand and outstretched arm, which began in Egypt and works though all eventualities. Moses and Elijah are redeemers in a single redemption; the beginner and the ender, the opener and closer together fill the

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1155175325247950392006-08-09T19:02:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:54:40.904-08:00

Formula to fight a war and win it, too:The way to end the current mess is to recognize, as doresh does, that all "good" (i.e. religious) Muslims hate Israel and want to destroy it, as they and their leaders have been saying very publicly.Acting with that enlightening knowledge firmly in mind, the next step is to announce that any village from which a rocket is launched will be flattened from the

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1155135856343510942006-08-09T08:03:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:55:09.561-08:00

The pathetic leadership of Israel

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1154910920484047042006-08-06T17:24:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:55:37.620-08:00

Report: Olmert favors German forcesMoney quote:"There is at the moment no nation that is behaving in a more friendly way toward Israel than Germany," he added. "If Germany can contribute to the security of the Israeli people, that would be a worthwhile task for your country. I would be very happy if Germany participated."Well folks, there you have it. We are back full circle. Secular Zionists

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1154842115531970372006-08-05T22:26:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:56:14.649-08:00

JoeSettler posted the following on his blog. I believe that everyone must read this in order to understand what is really happening in Israel:"I have not read any of the comments posted about my action on any of the lists and nor do I intend to. However, I did get some updates as to what was posted and I wanted to take the opportunity to tell you what made me take the drastic action that I did.

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1154668892818634812006-08-03T22:15:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:57:14.217-08:00

הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהוָה אֵלֶיךָ וְנָשׁוּבָה, חַדֵּשׁ יָמֵינוּ כְּקֶדֶםPlural - not singular. We must return to Hashem as a nation. We must function as a society that brings the light of Hashem to all corners of the world. It is not enough to simply work on ourselves as individuals. Every Jew must make sure that he sees all other Jews as his brothers - peshuto keMashmao.It is only when every Jew

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1154534182956861932006-08-02T08:48:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:58:08.096-08:00

חכמה בגוים תאמיןNo people in history have ever survived who thought they could protect their freedom by making themselves inoffensive to their enemies. -Dean AchesonAn appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last. -Winston ChurchillNo man can tame a tiger into a kitten by stroking it. There can be no appeasement with ruthlessness. There can be no reasoning with an incendiary

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1154483975775856772006-08-01T18:56:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:58:34.681-08:00

continued from here.Another foundational skill that needs to be acquired in learning is the ability to recall that which was learned – otherwise known as chazara. I often heard how important chazara is but what really hit it home for me was when I read a letter that Maran HaRav Kook Ztvk”l wrote to his brother in which he expressed horror about the fact that he heard that his brother only review

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1153938628794820272006-07-26T11:21:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:58:52.574-08:00

WHY? WHY? WHY?Why do our soldiers have to die to protect the lives of the Lebanese???Why do sick souls feel the need to give us lessons in "morality" when their immoral stances directly result in the deaths of our soldiers?Why do evil politicians feel the right to declare publicly during war that a state has the right to play with the lives of its citizens?Those soldiers should never have been

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1153756303236097162006-07-24T08:48:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:59:40.975-08:00

Continued from hereAnother area that often needs to be built up in Jewish education is the study of Tanach - more specifically the Nach part of it. Of course, many people review the parsha every week so I would say the majority of people have a pretty solid grasp of the Torah (although there is definitely room for improvement). Almost nobody really knows tanach and the amount of people who went

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1153495032596101002006-07-21T08:00:00.000-07:002006-12-19T16:00:10.620-08:00

I was once asked on a thread why I am a talmid of Rav Kook. I answered that one of the many reasons is because he is the only Gadol of the past 100 years to have mastered the entire Torah in all of its aspects. No area was beyond his reach. He achieved greatness in halacha, aggada, lamdus, philosophy, kabbalah. And more than just mastering these different areas, he weaved them into a

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1153446642266071932006-07-20T18:12:00.000-07:002006-12-19T16:00:28.398-08:00

One of my biggest complaints regarding Jewish education today is the lack of foundation that kids are given in our basic texts. It seems like much of the learning revolves around teaching gemara beIyun (in depth) while the basic units of knowledge (mikra and mishna) remain missing.It is not that I am against Iyun, but I often feel like when people think that they are learning iyun, they are

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1153249598237267702006-07-18T11:58:00.000-07:002006-12-19T16:01:14.393-08:00

In a letter to the editor of the LA Times (July 18th), a reader makes a point that used to be obvious to people but has become forgotten over the past 50 years of leftist indoctrination:Re "Israel's risky response," editorial, July 14The editorial's issues with Israel's "disproportionate" response seem to imply that the appropriate way to treat your enemy is to just hurt them a little more than

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1153239440737880862006-07-18T09:02:00.000-07:002006-12-26T09:53:04.767-08:00

Many chareidim claim that the view of the religious Zionists that the mitzva of yeshuv haAretz is a catalyst for redemption is a modern religious innovation. Arie Morgenstern, in his article Dispersion and the Longing for Zion, 1240-1840 shows that such a view is a-historical at best and revisionist at worst. It is worth while to read the entire article. Keep in mind that the article does not

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1153235078319173512006-07-18T08:02:00.000-07:002006-12-26T09:54:53.860-08:00

Ben Chorin's latest post speaks for itself:To my good friends in “Red” Haifa:I write to you as a brother and, as brothers are wont to do, I will speak directly and honestly. My heart is with you in these difficult days. But still I must point out to you that if you were not in Haifa, this would not be happening to you. You chose to live in Haifa despite the inherent dangers and despite Arab

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1152899695048554992006-07-14T10:52:00.000-07:002006-07-14T10:54:55.060-07:00

From Jameel:Please have the following people in mind in your prayer:Kidnapped IDF soldiers:Gilad ben AvivaEhud ben Malka Eldad ben TovahFour children seriously wounded in a Katyusha attack up North: Michal bat RevitalBat Zion bat ReivtalAvraham Natan ben RevitalOdel Chana bat Revital

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1152898798540514202006-07-14T10:28:00.000-07:002006-12-26T09:56:06.499-08:00

The title best described what I wanted to scream at work as I heard that rockets have now killed a grandmother and her 4 year old granddaughter grandson. May Hashem avenge their blood. [UPDATE: the rest of the family is also injured - some criticaly - please pray for their recovery]The religious Zionist community is like the Yirmiyahu of our generation. Forced to see all of its warnings coming

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1152750172018842732006-07-12T17:21:00.000-07:002006-12-26T09:56:39.418-08:00

I am not going to even try and translate this. The beauty will be lost in the translation:צִיּוֹן תַּמָּתִי, צִיּוֹן חֶמְדָּתִילָךְ נַפְשִׁי מֵרָחוֹק הוֹמִיָּה.תִּשְׁכַּח יְמִינִי אִם אֶשְׁכָּחַךְ, יָפָתִי,עַד תֶּאְטַר בּוֹר קִבְרִי עֲלֵי פִּיהָ.

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1152730523355743332006-07-12T11:54:00.000-07:002006-12-26T09:57:34.137-08:00

They should take the following advice:General Richard Hawley [ed. Charley Hall has informed me that this was not said by General Hawley. It was a parody email sent around. Still, this parody is better advise than most commentaries I have read] was the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and was commander of the Allied Air Forces in Central Europe, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.When he was

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1152478211058748712006-07-09T13:43:00.000-07:002006-12-26T09:58:11.893-08:00

So, All the delusional people who want to believe they can actually differentiate between the leadership of the Arabs and the populations itself (**cough**, ** cough **, nephtuli), a new poll has now come out that shows that 77% of the Arab population supports the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit.Will those delusional westernized Jews please wake up and realize that we are in a war. Not a war against

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1152225997938936332006-07-06T15:40:00.000-07:002006-12-26T10:05:26.131-08:00

In a news interview, the Father of Yehuda Basel Hy"d, asks:"Why did they put my son's life in danger instead of sending in the air force?"The answer is: "the lefties and all those who have adopted a western-based morality value the lives of enemy civilians more than our own soldiers. The thought of 'innocent' Arabs dying disturbs them much more than a Jewish soldier being killed."In any of the

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1152143126264319552006-07-05T16:40:00.000-07:002006-07-05T16:45:26.280-07:00

How many predictions of the "extreme right wing" have to come true before the imps on the left start admitting they were wrong?Do we really have to go through another expulsion in order for the rockets on Tel Aviv prediction to become true?(The reason those on the left can never come to terms with the reality on the ground is that their western outlook on life makes it impossible to conceive of

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1151957627139274342006-07-03T13:11:00.000-07:002006-07-03T13:13:47.156-07:00

Well, the first lefty to admit the mistake of the expulsion has spoken.We are still waiting for the rest of those lost souls to wake up. (Actualy, I am pretty tired of waiting. How long will it be until a real religious political leader who is not a hack emerges? Let's hope not too long.)

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1151563898796716192006-06-28T23:46:00.000-07:002006-06-28T23:51:38.810-07:00

Eliyahu Asheri, 18 years old, was killed by the enemies of the Jewish people on Sunday.Every politician, every Jew who supports the restraining of the hands of the Army in the name of a false western morality which has no basis in the Torah can not say "our hands did not spill this blood"May Hashem comfort his family and all of klal Israel and may we all merit to bear witness to the complete

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1151508433930640002006-06-28T08:12:00.000-07:002006-06-28T08:42:28.960-07:00

[Click here for source material]So another macho Israeli general (General Yoav Galant), faced with questions regarding the lack of efficacy of the army, tells us that we the people "don't know everything that the army is doing in Aza" and promises us that the army is not constrained in their actions by humanitarian considerations (that might put our own soldiers' lives at risk).Now this is not

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1151250584866470192006-06-25T08:37:00.000-07:002006-06-25T08:49:44.883-07:00

Continued from here.Well, after spending $1,000,000,000 on a security fence and destroying the lives of 10,000 precious Jews, the Hamas (Yimach Shmam UZichronam) has dug under the fence in Aza, killed two soldiers, kidnapped one, and injured several others.The Israel government has once again responded with big scary threats which they don't have the courage or conviction to follow through on (

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1150842225982505602006-06-20T15:18:00.000-07:002006-06-22T17:24:42.656-07:00

Rav Kook wrote to the mizrachi delegation to one of the world Zionist congresses (Iggrot 571):"מקור הציונות הוא המקור הקדוש העליון, התנ"ך. לא הד קול, שעם שנאוי בעולם הולך לבקש לו מקלט בטוח מרודפיו, אלא שגוי קדוש, סגולת העמים, גור אריה יהודה, נעור מתרדמתו הארוכה, והנה הוא הולך ושב אל נחלתו, אל גאון יעקב אשר אהב סלה"."The source of Zionism is the Holy High source, the Tanach. Not an [mere] echo,

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1150095798217563722006-06-11T23:54:00.000-07:002006-06-12T00:03:18.263-07:00

3 more Jews are injured in S’derot by a rocket attack! Keep this in mind next time the "enlightened" Jews tell you that rocket don't really hurt anyone and don't pose a real danger. Don't expect a real response either ... the Arabs sure don't.The insanity is mind-boggling!Rav Moholiver Zt"l was once asked why we need two messiahs, Mashiach ben David and Mashiach ben Yosef. He replied that the

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1149701114117919842006-06-07T10:16:00.000-07:002006-06-07T18:37:49.180-07:00

Continued from here.Well, after spending $1,000,000,000 on a security fence and destroying the lives of 10,000 precious Jews, we have more great news (from jpost via JoeSettler):The amount of weapons and explosives smuggled into the Gaza Strip since disengagement was bigger than the total amount smuggled into the strip since the Six Day War, Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin said Tuesday in a meeting of

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1149473849554414082006-06-04T19:13:00.000-07:002006-06-04T19:18:03.423-07:00

Seforim posts a very interesting story about an experience Rav Yosef Karo, author of the Shulchan Aruch, had while staying up all night on Shavuot:R. Karo stayed up all night and was studying with his student R. Shlomo Alkabtz (author of Lecha Dodi) and the following occurred:Rav Yosef Karo and I agreed to stay up all night on Shavuot... we did not sleep for one minute... and when we began to

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1149177221557813532006-06-01T08:44:00.000-07:002006-06-01T08:53:41.583-07:00

I recieved the follwing D'var Torah from a reader of the blog. I thought it was very appropriate to post on the eve of this year's kabbalat haTorah:The Tosefta in Tractate Shabbos (1:4) indicates that just as we stop learning Torah in order to recite the Shema, we should also stop learning Torah in order to perform the Mitzvot of reading the Megilla, saying Hallel, blowing the Shofar, waving the

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1149142469721451552006-05-31T23:09:00.000-07:002006-05-31T23:17:19.290-07:00

An apropos Shavuot vort by Rabbi Chanan Morrison: (from here)"And all the people saw the sounds ..."[Ex. 20:15]. The Midrash calls our attention to an amazing aspect of the revelation at Sinai: the Jewish people were able to see what is normally only heard. What does this mean? At their source, sound and sight are united. Only in our limited, physical world, in this "alma deperuda" (disjointed

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1148009215978823162006-05-18T20:06:00.000-07:002006-05-18T21:28:46.880-07:00

We live in an age where, more and more, people speak in absolutes. As is common on the j-blogs, each person entrenches themselves in their position and the end of winning the debate wipe out any shred of nuance in the discussion and any respect for the other side to disagree. I am as guilty of this as anyone else [except for S. who seems to have a superhuman ability to always see the nuances in

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18215939.post-1147968826761660812006-05-18T09:11:00.000-07:002006-05-18T09:13:46.773-07:00

JoeSettler reports some good news:Apparently, this is the last year Israel will receive any economic aid from the USA. I have not verified this but I certainly hope it is true. Time to stop leaning on the Kaneh Ratzutz.

chardalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11360421238816857677noreply@blogger.com0