Friday, February 6, 2015

Parsha Yisro, many stories, news




On Monday night I added two names of people to pray for in two different ICU’s in Israel and on Tuesday both had passed on. It is a great Mitzvah to visit and pray for the people who are ill. For this weekend only! Hodayah bat Orna

This week’s issue is dedicated to the soul of my father Felix ben Yitzchak Z”L who passed away 46 years ago.

Quotations: This week a certain extreme sector of the Charedi Community rioted when two Yeshiva Boys refused to even go to an induction center to register to get their exemption. 45 or 50 more were arrested. My grandson, Noam, a Yeshiva student himself, said: “Very good they deserve it for not following the law.” I replied that if I was Prime Minister I would make sure that they had a choice a minimum of 5 years in the slammer and at first solitary confinement for a few days before going before a judge or immediate induction into the army. If they have time to riot and demonstrate instead of being in the Yeshiva they have time to battle the enemy.

Parsha Yisro

This is the Parsha where Yisro makes a Kiddush HASHEM Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods. But the main event in our Parsha which tops the splitting of the sea in the last Parsha is the voice of the L-RD on Mount Sinai being heard round the world in the first two commandments and then Moshe receiving the rest of the Assera Debros (Decalogue). 

Yisro gave Moshe perhaps the best advice given in the Torah if not in the Tanach by a human. That is to delegate authority. Moshe delegates authority to people to become leaders in Torah from the Heder Rebbe type of 10 people to 50 to like the Head Master of the school or even adults to a 100 or more and further on to 1000 etc. up to the Sanhedrin.

18:1 Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel His people, how that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

How did Yisro hear? In those days traders would go from city to city and pass along the news much like bloggers do today only face to face and messages were exchanged via these traders. Usually they had goods that people needed so they met in the market place. Rachav and the people of Yericho also heard this way and wore sore afraid.

2 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her away, 3 and her two sons; of whom the name of the one was Gershom; for he said: 'I have been a stranger in a strange land';

Ger means stranger and a Ger Tzeddek means a stranger who has become righteous. Moshe therefore named his son Gershom. We do see that Yisro does love Moshe as a son for earlier read of the “daughters of Yisro”. If we assume that he married off all of them, only Moshe had remained to attend his flocks for Moshe came from without and had no home other than Yisro to take his wife. This is what we sometimes say at a wedding “You are not losing a daughter – you are gaining a son”. It does not always work that way.

4 and the name of the other was Eliezer: 'for the God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.' 5 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the mount of God; 6 and he said unto Moses: 'I thy father-in-law Jethro am coming unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.' 7 And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed down and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.

The way this is written is that he was most welcomed by Moshe. This is the proper way for in-laws to behave. However, parents should keep their distance and let the next generation run their own lives whether for better or for worse as they are adults and nobody likes a meddling in-law in their affairs. We can advise our own children but only to a certain point as they must keep their Shalom Beis with their spouse over everything. Yisro was a priest and therefore a leader and wise of council. The Medrash has him as an advisor to Pharaoh along with Iyob and Bilaam when the astrologers saw that a redeemer would come unto the Bnei Yisrael.  

8 And Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.

Yisro delighted in hearing the miracles that had occurred to the Bnei Yisrael and the DIVINE Justice melted out on the Egyptians. He heard of the splitting of the sea and the total defeat of the Egyptian Army by HASHEM alone.

9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, in that He had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10 And Jethro said: 'Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

He acknowledged what HASHEM had done and make a Bracha. A similar Bracha is made when we pass Kfar Ben Nun or Beit Horon in Eretz Yisrael where miracles have occurred in the past.

11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods; yea, for that they dealt proudly against them.'

This is a big Kiddush HASHEM which he does and acknowledges. For he had studied all the various religions and sought after the truth all his life. Midian also came from Avraham and is listed as a ben Ketura.

Now I know: I recognized Him in the past, but now [I recognize Him] even more. — [from Mechilta] Than all the deities: This teaches us that he [Jethro] was knowledgeable about every type of idolatry in the world, and there was no pagan deity that he did not worship. — [from Mechilta]  For with the thing that they plotted, [He came] upon them: Heb. זָדוּ. [To be explained] according to its [Aramaic] translation. [Onkelos renders: For with the thing that the Egyptians plotted to judge Israel, with that He judged them.] With water, they planned to destroy them, and they [themselves] were destroyed with water. That they plotted: That they planned wickedly. Our Rabbis, however, interpreted it [זָדוּ] as an expression related to “Now Jacob cooked (וַיָזֶר)” (Gen. 25:29) [and thus to infer that] in the very pot in which they cooked, they themselves were cooked. [from Sotah 11a]

12 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt-offering and sacrifices for God; and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.

Kashrus question: Could they eat with Yisro and could he offer up a sacrifice to HASHEM in the presence of the Bnei Yisrael?  We can either explain it as being outside of the camp of Yisrael and certainly it was before the revelation on Har Sinai so the laws of the Torah except some semblance of Shabbos with the Mann and Pessach/Rosh Chodesh was in place.

Burnt offering[s]: Heb. עֹלָה. As its apparent meaning, because it [the offering] was completely (כֻּלָּה) burned [on the altar And [peace] offerings: Peace offerings. And Aaron came: And where did Moses go? [Why is he not mentioned here as partaking of the feast?] He was standing and serving them. — [from Mechilta, Jonathan] Before God: From here [we learn] that if one derives pleasure from a feast at which Torah scholars are seated, it is as if he has derived pleasure from the splendor of the Shechinah. — [from Ber. 64a, Mechilta]

Note last week it is mentioned Miriam, the sister of Aaron. Rashi says there is because Aaron is going to become great and the Cohain Gadol.

13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood about Moses from the morning unto the evening. 14 And when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said: 'What is this thing that thou do to the people? Why do you sit by yourself alone, and all the people stand about thee from morning unto even?' 15 And Moses said unto his father-in-law: 'Because the people come unto me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a matter, it cometh unto me; and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and His laws.' 17 And Moses' father-in-law said unto him: 'The thing that thou do is not good. 18 You will surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee; for the thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it yourself alone. 19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God be with thee: be thou for the people before God, and bring thou the causes unto God. 20 And thou shalt teach them the statutes and the laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

The Judge has to be fair, impartial and not interested in taking a bribe. Judges therefore cannot judge relatives except a parent over his children fighting and even then you might have one with a reputation for instigating but it just might be the other this time.

22 And let them judge the people at all seasons; and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge themselves; so shall they make it easier for thee and bear the burden with thee. 23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people also shall go to their place in peace.' 24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said. 25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. 27 And Moses let his father-in-law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

Only after he departed would the Bnei Yisrael receive the Torah as it is “Between ME and the Bnei Yisrael” some of it does apply to Goyim but most not. We will however be their priests

19:1 In the third month after the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 And when they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mount.

Now we will see Moshe going up and down the mountain three times as he prepares the nation to receive the Torah.

3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying: 'Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself. 5 Now therefore, if ye will hearken unto My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be Mine own treasure from among all peoples; for all the earth is Mine; 6 and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.'

We will receive this wonderful treasure called Torah and we will be priests unto the Goyim.

7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD commanded him. 8 And all the people answered together, and said: 'All that the LORD hath spoken we will do.' And Moses reported the words of the people unto the LORD. 9 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and may also believe thee forever.' And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD. 10 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Go unto the people, and sanctify them to-day and to-morrow, and let them wash their garments, 11 and be ready against the third day; for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

The people are to wear their finest and be ready with clean garments on the third day.

12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying: Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it; whosoever touches the mount shall be surely put to death;

Most likely he will die at the hand of the L-RD like the strange fire with the death of the two sons of Aaron written in Sefer Vayikra.

13 no hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live; when the ram's horn sounds long, they shall come up to the mount.'

However, just a Zar (stranger aka non Cohain) cannot offer a Korban without the pain of death so too here.  

14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their garments. 15 And he said unto the people: 'Be ready against the third day; come not near a woman.'

It is interesting that Rashi knew from our sages what we know from microscopes today that the sperm can live within a woman for three days and if not received by the egg is expunged by the womb.

Be ready for three days: For the end of three days. That is the fourth day, for Moses added one day of his own volition. This is the view of Rabbi Jose [who says that the Torah was given on the seventh of Sivan]. According to the one who says that the Ten Commandments were given on the sixth of the month, however, Moses did not add anything, and “for three days” has the same meaning as “for the third day.” [from Shab. 87a] Do not go near a woman: [to have intimacy with her] for all these three days [of preparation], in order that the women may immerse themselves on the third day and be pure to receive the Torah. If they have intercourse within the three days, the woman could [involuntarily] emit semen after her immersion and become unclean again. After three days have elapsed [since intercourse], however, the semen has already become putrid and is no longer capable of fertilization, so it is pure from contaminating the [woman] who emits it. — [from Shab. 86a]

16 And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a horn exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. 18 Now mount Sinai was altogether on smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 19 And when the voice of the horn waxed louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice. 20 And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, to the top of the mount; and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. 21 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. 22 And let the priests also, that come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.' 23 And Moses said unto the LORD: 'The people cannot come up to mount Sinai; for thou didst charge us, saying: Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.' 24 And the LORD said unto him: 'Go, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee; but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest He break forth upon them.' 25 So Moses went down unto the people, and told them.
20:1 And God spoke all these words, saying: 2 I am the LORD thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. 3 Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness, of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 4 thou shalt not bow down unto them, nor serve them; for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; 5 and showing mercy unto the thousandth generation of them that love Me and keep My commandments. 6 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.

These first Commandments given set the rules for understanding and behaving toward out L-RD G-D and the love or punishment for behaving and misbehaving. This is the verbal Torah and Moshe will come down to detail it in the Oral Torah.

7 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 8 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; 9 but the seventh day is a Sabbath unto the LORD thy God, in it thou shalt not do any manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; 10 for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Remember: Heb. זָכוֹר [The words] “remember (זָכוֹר)” and “keep (שָׁמוֹר)” (Deut. 5:12) were pronounced with one utterance. Similarly [the statements], “Those who profane it shall be put to death” (Exod. 31:14) and “And on the Sabbath day, two lambs” (Num. 28:9) [were said in one utterance], and similarly, “You shall not wear shaatnez,” and “You shall make tzitzith for yourself” (Deut. 22:11, 12). Similarly, [the phrases] “The nakedness of your brother’s wife [you shall not uncover]” (Lev. 18:16), [and] “Her brother-in-law shall come in to her” (Deut. 25:5) [were said in one utterance]. This [occurrence of God saying two phrases simultaneously in one utterance] is the meaning of what is said: “God spoke one thing, I heard two” (Ps. 62:12) (Mechilta). [The word] זָכוֹר is in the פָּעוֹל form, an expression of ongoing action, like “[Let us engage in] eating and drinking אָכוֹל וְשָׁתוֹ) )” (Isa. 22:13), [and] “walking and weeping הָלוֹוָּבָכֹה) )” (II Sam. 3:16), and this is its interpretation: Pay attention to always remember the Sabbath day, so that if you chance upon a beautiful thing, you shall prepare it for the Sabbath (Mechilta).

This day is holy unto you. You and your family and even the Ger who visits you will enjoy the holiness and the pleasure of the day. However, only you and the Ger Tzeddek can have an extra Neshama, the Yechida which is bound directly to HASHEM as Shabbos is “between ME and the Bnei Yisrael” forever. If you observe you will be at peace with yourself and your family will be at peace. If you violate it, your soul will be restless and strife will occur. Guard the Shabbos is written in Devarim but here it is to remember the Shabbos. How do we remember? Sunday is Rishon for the coming Shabbos and Monday is the second day counting towards the next Shabbos. We do this through our purchase of food or clothing for the Shabbos. The observance of Torah is our life and length of our days.

11 Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

It is a natural law and those who don’t observe it when they are young often get a boomerang when they have their own children. This is the first of the five commandments of the Decalogue between man and man which is on the second tablet that was given to Moshe some are plain moral logic and the last is more a fence to prevent you from being like Saddam Hussein to kill his loyal general to take his wife or property which was done later on by Achav with Nadav in Sefer Melachim.

12 Thou shalt not murder.

Yes there are people that anger you so much or have done such wrongs to you that you feel like it so the Torah has to emphasize it. The same with some of the other commandments on the tablet where the Yetzer is strong.

Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. 13 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house; thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s.

It might be that your neighbor’s wife has youth, strength and a figure with intelligence but she is personality wise a wicked witch and as loyal as Potiphar’s wife so don’t be jealous the grass is not as green as it appears on the other side and the neighbor’s Volvo and his Mercedes are both in the garage every week for something is breaking down. Remember everybody has a mission in life and his mission is not your mission and vice versa.

14 And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the horn, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off. 15 And they said unto Moses: 'Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.' 16 And Moses said unto the people: 'Fear not; for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before you, that ye sin not.' 17 And the people stood afar off; but Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. 18 And the LORD said unto Moses: Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel: Ye yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 19 Ye shall not make with Me--gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you. 20 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto Me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt-offerings, and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be mentioned I will come unto thee and bless thee. 21 And if thou make Me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stones; for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast profaned it.

The Altar shall be of natural stone the legend has it that it was cut by the Shamir which could have been an acid or laser like reflected light on the rock. Or did they use the NAME to make a Mizbayach rock?

22 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto Mine altar, that thy nakedness be not uncovered thereon.

The Cohanim will have undergarments under their robes and not ascend like the Scots or the Arabs.

A Shabbat in the Park by Rabbi Y. Tilles http://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=897-20

"Rose, my child, remember: G-d is watching over you every step of the way. Don't forget who you are!"

In the early part of the 20th century, before WWI, a young girl stood near her father on the quay of a Polish harbor, a steamer trunk at her feet. Out of her nine siblings, twelve-year-old Rose was the child chosen to be sent to the "golden land," America. Life in Poland was hard, hunger a constant visitor in her home. After much scraping and pinching, her family saved enough for a single one-way ticket to the United States. And Rose, the youngest of the nine, was the lucky one chosen to go.
Her father hoisted the trunk on his shoulder and walked silently, his coattails flapping behind him. Rose could see the effort he was making to keep his emotions in check. The weight of living was apparent on the lines of his face, in the burning sadness of his wise eyes, and in the gray in his beard. His back, however, was ramrod straight, in seeming defiance of his tribulations.
With an involuntary sight, her father dropped the trunk on the deck and turned to his daughter. A gray head bent over an upturned innocent face, as the father gazed deep into his daughter's unclouded eyes. He felt an urge to scream, to protest the cruelty of fate. How he longed to snatch Rose back home, to hold her as he had held her when she was a mere infant. Instead, he laid a trembling hand on her cheek.
"Rose, my child, remember: G-d is watching over you every step of the way. Remember His laws and keep them well. Never forget that more than the Jews have kept the Shabbat, the Shabbat has kept the Jews. It will be hard in the new land. Don't forget who you are. Keep the Shabbat - no matter what sacrifice you must make."
Rose buried her face in the scratchiness of her father's coat, her slender arms wrapped tightly around him as if to anchor herself to all that was familiar in Poland. Tatte gave another heaving sigh. His straight shoulders bent over his daughter as his tears mingled with hers. A blast from the ship tore the two apart. Tatte bent down and hugged Rose again, squeezing the breath out of her in a hug meant to last a lifetime. Then he turned and walked down the gangplank, a stooped man, finally defeated by life's hardships. As the ship steamed away from the shtetl life of Poland, a fresh sea wind blew on the passengers preparing to start life anew.
For Rose, the journey was crammed with questions and uncertainly. Would her relatives really extend a welcome to her, or was she to be all alone in the new land? How frightening was the thought of a new life without her loved ones. As the ship made its entrance into New York harbor, the passengers stood plastered against the railing, shouting and clapping as they saw the "new land." Rose stood aside, shy and unsure. Would the new land fulfill its promise of hope, freedom, and riches? Would her relatives meet her here - or was she now homeless?
Rose did not have long to worry. Her relatives were waiting for her, solicitous of their "greenhorn" cousin. She was soon safely ensconced in their home.
Life in America was new and strange. Polish mannerisms were quickly shed - along with religion. Modesty, keeping kosher, and Torah were abandoned, together with the outmoded clothing and accent. Rose's relatives insisted religion was "old-fashioned": an unnecessary accessory in America. Rose, however, never forgot her father's parting words. She put on the new clothes her relatives gave her, cut her hair to suit the fashion, but never gave up on the Shabbat.
With her mature appearance and demeanor, it was not long before Rose found a job as a sewing machine operator. But what would she do about Shabbat?
Every week without fail, Rose devised a new excuse for her boss to explain why she did not come to work on Saturday. One week she had a toothache, another week her stomach bothered her. After three weeks, the foreman grew wise. He called her over. "Rose," he said in a tone that indicated he had only her welfare in mind. "I like your work, and I like you. But this Shabbat business has got to stop. Either you come in this Saturday, or you can look for a new job."
Upon hearing this development, Rose's relatives were adamant. Work on Shabbat, she must. They applied pressure; they cajoled, pleaded, and enticed. Rose felt like a leaf caught between heavy gusts of wind, pushed and pulled with no weight or life of its own. She was so young and vulnerable. She wanted to please her relatives. But her father's words kept echoing in her head. What should she do?
The week passed in a daze for Rose. Her emotions were in turmoil. On the one hand, Tatte is not here to help me be strong. I do want to please my new friends. I want friends. I want to fit into this new land, she reasoned. And then just as quickly came another thought: On the other hand, how can I forget Shabbat? How can I give up the beauty Tatte taught me?
"Rose, sweetheart, listen to us. It's for your own good." On and on went her relatives, until Rose's determination wavered.
On Friday, Rose walked to work, lunch bag in hand and head stooped in thought. She sat at her machine throughout the day, listening to the humming of the other machines as she absentmindedly went about her job of mass-producing. Would it be so awful to do this tomorrow as well? Decision time was nearing.
Whirr, bzzz, hirrr, bzzz. The machine kept tune to Rose's troubled thoughts. What should she do - or was the question, what could she do? As the sun slipped over the parapets of the Lower East Side, Rose knew there was really no question. She was Jewish, and she would keep the Shabbat.
Shabbat in America was not the warm day Rose had known at home. This week was the worst yet. She lacked the courage to face her relatives and tell them of her resolve. Instead, she left the house in the morning, pretending to be headed for work. Back and forth through the streets of Manhattan she paced.
Later in the day, she rested in Tompkin's Square Park, together with the city pigeons. "Tatte, this song is for you," she whispered. The pigeons ruffled their feathers. "Yonah matza bo manoach" ("On it [the Shabbat] the dove found rest."). There she sat among the pigeons, singing the traditional Shabbat songs, with tears in her eyes and sobs between the verses.
When three stars finally peeked out from the black sky announcing the end of Shabbat, the moon shone down on a weary girl and bather her face in its glow. Rose had triumphed, but her victory would cost her dearly. She had no job and had alienated her family.
"Baruch HaMavdil…" (the blessing said upon the departure of the Shabbat). It was the time to face the hardness of the world. Rose trudged homeward, dreading the nasty scene to come when her relatives learned that she hadn't been at work.
As she neared home, a shout broke into her reverie. "Rose! What…what…I mean, how are you here? Where were you?"
Rose looked at her cousin Joe, her expression woebegone.
"Joe, what will become of me? I kept Shabbat and lost my job. Now everyone will be angry and disappointed with me, and oh, Joe, what will I do?" The words tumbled out together with her tears.
Joe looked at her strangely. "Rose, didn't you hear?" he asked gently.
"Hear what?"
"There was an awful fire in the factory. Only forty people survived. There was no way out of the building. People even jumped to their deaths." Joe's voice was hushed, and he was crying openly. "Rosie, don't you see? Because you kept Shabbat, you are alive. Because of your Shabbat, you survived."
Out of 190 workers, Rose Goldstein was among the minority of those who survived. The infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire on Saturday, March 25, 1911, claimed the lives of 146 immigrant workers present. Because it had been Shabbat, Rose Goldstein was not there. As her father had said, more than the Jews keep the Shabbat, the Shabbat keeps the Jews.

Non-Jewish Love Story and Personal Victory thanks to Chaim B.

Subject: The victory of Annie Glenn, John Glenn's wife ....John Glenn's wife

> The victory of Annie Glenn, Wife of John Glenn.
> ONE OF THE NICER STORIES of THIS ERA.
> For half a century, the world has applauded John Glenn as a heart-stirring American hero. He lifted the nation's spirits when, as
> one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts, he was blasted alone into orbit around the Earth; the enduring affection for him is so powerful that even now people find themselves misting up at the sight of his face or the sound of his voice.
> But for all these years, Glenn has had a hero of his own, someone who he has seen display endless courage of a different kind:  Annie Glenn.
> They have been married for 71 years. He is 93; she turned 95 on Friday. This weekend there has been news coverage of the 50th anniversary of Glenn's flight into orbit. We are being reminded that, half a century down the line, he remains America 's unforgettable hero.
> He has never really bought that. Because the heroism he most cherishes is of a sort that is seldom cheered. It belongs to the person he has known longer than he has known anyone else in the world.
> John Glenn and Annie Castor first knew each other when -- literally -- they shared a playpen.
> In New Concord, Ohio, his parents and hers were friends. When the families got together, their children played.
> John -- the future Marine fighter pilot, the future test-pilot ace, the future astronaut -- was pure gold from the start. He would end up having what it took to rise to the absolute pinnacle of American regard during the space race; imagine what it meant to be the young John Glenn in the small confines of New Concord.
> Three-sport varsity athlete, most admired boy in town, Mr. Everything. Annie Castor was bright, was caring, was talented, was generous of spirit. But she could talk only with the most excruciating of difficulty. It haunted her.
> Her stuttering was so severe that it was categorized as an "85%" disability -- 85% of the time, she could not manage to make words come out.
> When she tried to recite a poem in elementary school, she was laughed at. She was not able to speak on the telephone. She could not have a regular conversation with a friend.
> And John Glenn loved her. Even as a boy he was wise enough to understand that people who could not see past her stutter were missing out on knowing a rare and wonderful girl.
> They married on April 6, 1943. As a military wife, she found that life as she and John moved around the country could be quite hurtful. She has written: "I can remember some very painful experiences – especially the ridicule."
> In department stores, she would wander unfamiliar aisles trying to find the right section, embarrassed to attempt to ask the salesclerks for help. In taxis, she would have to write requests to the driver, because she couldn't speak the destination out loud. In restaurants,  she would point to the items on the menu.
> A fine musician, Annie, in every community where she and John moved, would play the organ in church as a way to make new friends. She and John had two children; she has written: "Can you imagine living in the modern world and being afraid to use the telephone? 'Hello' used to be so hard for me to say. I worried that my children would be injured and need a doctor. Could I
> somehow find the words to get the information across on the phone?"
> John, as a Marine aviator, flew 59 combat missions in World War II and 90 during the Korean War. Every time he was deployed, he and Annie said goodbye the same way. His last words to her before leaving were:
> "I'm just going down to the corner store to get a pack of gum." And, with just the two of them there, she was able to always reply: "Don't be long."
> On that February day in 1962 when the world held its breath and the Atlas rocket was about to propel him toward space, those were their words, once again. And in 1998, when, at 77, he went back to space aboard the shuttle Discovery, it was an understandably tense time for them. What if something happened to end their life together?
> She knew what he would say to her before boarding the shuttle. He did -- and this time he gave her a present to hold onto: A pack of gum.
> She carried it in a pocket next to her heart until he was safely home. Many times in her life she attempted various treatments to cure her stutter. None worked.
> But in 1973, she found a doctor in Virginia who ran an intensive program she and John hoped would help her. She traveled there to enroll and to give it her best effort. The miracle she and John had always waited for at last, as miracles will do, arrived. At age 53, she was able to talk fluidly, and not in brief, anxiety-ridden, agonizing bursts.
> John has said that on the first day he heard her speak to him with confidence and clarity, he dropped to his knees to offer a prayer of gratitude.
> He has written: "I saw Annie's perseverance and strength through the years and it just made me admire her and love her even more." He has heard roaring ovations in countries around the globe for his own valor, but his awe is reserved for Annie, and what she accomplished: "I don't know if I would have had the courage."
> Her voice is so clear and steady now that she regularly gives public talks. If you are lucky enough to know the Glenn's, the sight and sound of them bantering and joking with each other and playfully finishing each others' sentences is something that warms you and makes you thankful just to be in the same room.
> Monday will be the anniversary of the Mercury space shot, and once again people will remember, and will speak of the heroism of Glenn the astronaut.
> But if you ever find yourself at an event where the Glenn's are appearing, and you want to see someone so brimming with pride and love that you may feel your own tears start to well up, wait until the moment that Annie stands to say a few words to the audience. And as she begins, take a look at her husband's eyes.


Miracles under fire by Yona Kempinski and Avi Yashar http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/191008#.VNSCUMv9nIU


Adir Ovadia given citation for taking out three terrorists with his bulldozer while under fire; religious articles survived 'from heaven.'

Sergeant Adir Ovadia was given an honorary citation this week for his fearless work in Operation Protective Edge; he told Arutz Sheva in an exclusive interview that as he worked under fire to save fellow soldiers, he also witnessed what he believes to be a miracle.
Ovadia, a soldier doing his mandatory service in the heavy equipment company of the IDF combat Engineering Corps' 603 Battalion, was deployed into Gaza. There, his role included clearing routes to allow Israeli troops to operate, exposing terrorist tunnels used to attack the IDF, and locating pits and explosives meant to kill soldiers, with the last goal being his unit's main mission.
He had just recently finished a course and begun in his position as a military engineer, a combat position that he worked hard to get into after first being drafted in a non-combat role with the Ordnance Corps.
Speaking about his emotions at being told suddenly that he would be entering Gaza, Ovadia related "you get filled with energy, all of your blood starts flowing."
One day "we heard an explosion," he recalls, telling of how a report came in of a bulldozer that had been directly hit by an anti-tank missile inside Gaza. His mission was to open an alternate route to reach the battle zone where the bulldozer had been struck.
Ovadia drove his bulldozer first leading his unit towards the damaged vehicle, recalling "we were stressed out asking 'who are they?', because we knew (the bulldozer) was from our battalion."
While clearing the path, Ovadia in his vehicle approached the house that the anti-tank missile was fired from, and as he advanced gunfire erupted towards him from the various windows of the building.
"They started to fire from the first house, which we (eventually) crushed and it collapsed. We continued working for around two hours under incessant gunfire, just gunfire and more fire without any stopping," he stated. "We destroyed the house with them (the terrorists) inside. (Then) the shooting stopped."
The three terrorists inside the house were killed, and in doing so Ovadia and his commander Tamir Asulin, who was also given an honorary citation, prevented the threat of more missiles being fired from the structure at Israeli forces.
In situations like that, when faced with deadly fire, "you don't think about anything," said Ovadia, noting that the only thing on his mind was doing his work the best he could so as to provide quiet and stability for the residents of the south who suffered constant rocket barrages.
Witnessing miracles
After the harrowing mission, Ovadia and his crew were sent out of Gaza into the surrounding staging area. On the way there, Asulin told him "I have bad news for you, promise me that you won't break down." Ovadia told him that he wouldn't break, asking him to tell him the news.
"He told me 'Moshiko (a nickname for Moshe - ed.) is dead. Moshiko was killed.' I stopped myself," said Ovadia. "I got to the staging area, I saw all my friends crying on the sand, crying hard. I got out of my vehicle; I tried to hold it in and not cry but you can't, it's too strong."
But amid the tragedy Ovadia witnessed what he terms a miracle, as all the belongings of Moshiko were unharmed, despite having been in the bulldozer that was struck by a powerful missile that took the soldier's life.
"All of his things were clean. Nothing was burned. He was a religious man, he was a believer. In his vehicle were religious texts (a prayerbook - ed.), tefillin (phylacteries), tzitzit, none of it was damaged. Not even a small bit of them was burned," Ovadia recounts.
"I looked at that and I said one thing - this is from heaven what happened here. I was there in the vehicle with my commander Tamir Asulin, we couldn't believe it, we were in shock," he noted. "All of the things there, all of the books, all of the holy things, nothing happened to them. There are even pictures of it."
Speaking about the citation, Ovadia acknowledged "it makes me happy, I won't say it doesn't. This is something that will accompany me my whole life, with this person (Moshiko - Ed.). It's more for him than for me."
He said he was sure that his commander, Asulin, would agree that his citation too was for Moshiko, and that what they did was for him.
Video from the interview, in Hebrew, can be seen here: (In the article see reference above)


Author Joan Peters Passes away! Part 2

How do we defend ourselves & protect our loved ones? Learn the past.  Read (or re-read Joan’s Book).  Learn that this is truly a religious war. They aren’t fighting for territory. They want to murder Jews because the Koran tells them to. Islam means ‘submission’ to what is written in their Koran. They are supposed to follow Mohammed’s examples & he cut off 800 Jewish heads.
When you get what’s in their heads & hearts, the world will know that the negotiators cannot win “their hearts & minds”.   All we can do is to stand strong, trust in G-d, & defend Our Jewish country. Our Land, Our People & Our Book are all One.
From our Website: WinstonIsraelInsight.com of Dec. 7, 2014    THE TRUTH CONCERNING THE ARAB REFUGEES OF 1948 from Joan Peters “From Time Immemorial: Origins of Arab-Jewish Conflict over Palestine” 1984  St. Martin’s Press

http://emetnews.org/analysis/the-truth-concerning-the-arab-refugees-of-1948.php  excerpt from the book “From Time Immemorial: The Origins of the Arab-Jewish Conflict over Palestine”, written by Joan Peters, 1984, pp, 12-16. The excerpt is an excellent source of information regarding what really happened in 1948 regarding those Arabs who left Israel.  Be sure to share it with others. Lee Underwood Emet News Service http://emetnews.org/

The Truth Concerning the Arab Refugees of 1948 [from: Joseph E. Katz]

Although Arab myth tells of Israel driving the Arabs out in 1948, it was their leaders who told them to leave. To this day the Arab nations still refuse to absorb them into the surrounding Arab nations, preferring instead to let them suffer in refugee camps even though most of them were not even alive in 1948.


The people are in great need of a “myth” to fill their consciousness & imagination…. — Musa Alami, 1948
Since 1948 Arab leaders have approached the Palestine problem in an irresponsible manner…. they have used the Palestine people for selfish political purposes. This is ridiculous and, I could say, even criminal. — King Hussein of Jordan, 1960
Since 1948 it is we who demanded the return of the refugees… while it is we who made them leave…. We brought disaster upon … Arab refugees, by inviting them & bringing pressure to bear upon them to leave…. We have rendered them dispossessed…. We have accustomed them to begging…. We have participated in lowering their moral & social level…. Then we exploited them in executing crimes of murder, arson, & throwing bombs upon … men, women & children-all this in the service of political purposes …. — Khaled Al-Azm, Syria’s Prime Minister after the 1948 war
The nations of western Europe condemned Israel’s position despite their guarantee of her security…. They understood that … their dependence upon sources of energy precluded their allowing themselves to incur Arab wrath. — Al-Haytham Al-Ayubi, Arab Palestinian [sic] military strategist, 1974
At the time of the 1948 war, Arabs in Israel were invited by their fellow Arabs — invited to “leave” while the “invading” Arab armies would purge the land of Jews.[1] The invading Arab governments were certain of a quick victory; leaders warned the Arabs in Israel to run for their lives.[2]
In response, the Jewish Haifa Workers’ Council issued an appeal to the Arab residents of Haifa: [See Official British Police Report ]
For years we have lived together in our city, Haifa…. Do not fear: Do not destroy your homes with your own hands … do not bring upon yourself tragedy by unnecessary evacuation & self-imposed burdens…. But in this city, yours & ours, Haifa, the gates are open for work, for life, & for peace for you & your families.”[3]
While the Haifa pattern appears to have been prevalent, there were exceptions. Arabs in another crucial strategic area, who were “opening fire on the Israelis shortly after surrendering,”[4] were “forced” to leave by the defending Jewish army to prevent what former Israeli Premier Itzhak Rabin described as a “hostile & armed populace” from remaining “in our rear, where it could endanger the supply route …”[5] In his memoirs, Rabin stated that Arab control of the road between the seacoast & Jerusalem had “all but isolated” the “more than ninety thousand Jews in Jerusalem,” nearly one-sixth of the new nation’s total population.

If Jerusalem fell, the psychological blow to the nascent Jewish state would be more damaging than any inflicted by a score of armed brigades.[6]
According to a research report by the Arab-sponsored Institute for Palestine Studies in Beirut, however, “the majority” of the Arab refugees in 1948 were not expelled, & “68%” left without seeing an Israeli soldier.[7]

TO BE CONTINUED AND CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK WITH THE REFERENCES.


The road between Arad and Lahavim Junction, road 31, has become horrible a narrow road due to construction instead of working on a few miles the whole stretch has for a number of years been turned into bumper to bumper driving at times. However there are spaces where the road speed is higher. 70 people have died in the last few years. 8 Bedouin women were killed when a semi-trailer with a wide load drove on the road and chopped into the bus they were on. 73 Orphans from that accident.

Seventh Police Commander out of 15 accused of misbehavior. Chief of Beer Sheva too. Something is rotten in the Police.

Petition to ban the MK who supports Hamas and rode on the ship to ram the blockade of Gaza: From the Party that I am backing came the petition and it is being supported by all groups by the left Labor Party. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/190991#.VNQ79i5RfHU

Inyanay Diyoma

IDF stops knifing and grenade attacks: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/190722


Netanyahu does not want security escalation because: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4621205,00.html

From Martin Sherman - he calls them out like they should be called out. Bibi is no Tzaddik but these two!!! http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Into-the-fray-The-demise-of-Israeli-patriotism-389454



Israel knew of the terror threat from tunnels and the politicians did nothing! But is he any better to wait until he runs to be an MK? http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Israel-knew-about-about-the-Gaza-tunnel-threat-but-did-nothing-about-it-389561

In 2012 Bibi backed Romney now it is time to pay the piper: http://www.jewsnews.co.il/2015/01/28/obama-allegedly-deploys-hit-team-to-israel-to-defeat-netanyahu-in-election/ From Gail:    “A U.S. State Department funded group is financing an Israeli campaign to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, & has hired formed Obama aides to help with its grassroots organizing efforts.
      “U.S.-based activist group OneVoice International has partnered with V15, an ‘independent grassroots movement’ in Israel that is actively opposing Netanyahu’s party in the upcoming elections, Ha’aretz  reported on Monday. Former national field director for President Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign Jeremy Bird is also reportedly involved in the effort.
    “OneVoice development & grants officer Christina Taler said the group would be working with V15 on voter registration & get-out-the-vote efforts but would not engage in overtly partisan activities. She said OneVoice & V15 are still formalizing the partnership.
      While V15 has not endorsed any particular candidates, it is working to oppose Netanyahu in the March elections.
      “’We’ve formed a partnership with [V15], but it’s important to know we’re absolutely nonpartisan,’ Taler told the Washington Free Beacon. ‘Our biggest emphasis & focus right now is just getting people out to vote.’  “OneVoice said in a press release on Tuesday that it is teaming up with V15 because Israel ‘need[s] a prime minister & a government who will be responsive to the people.”’http://freebeacon.com/national-security/state-department-funded-group-bankrolling-anti-bibi-campaign/
…“Steinberg pointed out that American taxpayer funds have been used for similarly politically-charged projects in the recent past. In 2012, USAID, the US’s largest provider of foreign assistance, donated millions of dollars to Israeli NGOs through the ‘Peace & Reconciliation Program,’ which included support for the so-called “Geneva Initiative” – another grassroots project pressuring the Israeli government to make concessions to the Palestinians.
’After public exposure, the funding was discontinued,’ Steinberg said.” (Emphasis added) http://www.algemeiner.com/2015/01/28/ngo-monitor-head-slams-use-of-american-taxpayer-funds-to-finance-anti-netanyahu-campaign/


From Gail written by Dore Gold on Iranian expansion while Obama sleeps: Indeed, the most dramatic demonstration of Iranian intervention that occurred this year was the fall of Sana’a, the capital of Yemen, to Iranian-backed Shiite rebels from the Houthi clan. According to an account in the Saudi-owned Asharq Alawsat, on Jan. 19, among the demands of the Houthi rebels to the Yemeni president was that they be given control of Bab al-Mandab, the strategic naval choke-point through which oil tankers carrying three to four million barrels per day move from the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea & on to world markets. While this conflict began as a local war, the Houthi demands exposed a clearly Iranian agenda to gain control of the most important sea lanes that are vital to the global economy.
It is no wonder that a member of the Iranian Parliament who is close to Ayatollah Khamenei defiantly declared not long ago that "three Arab capitals have already fallen into Iran's hands," hinting that a fourth capital, namely Sana’a, was on the way. For those in the West who are still in a state of denial about the Iranian role in these insurgency wars, in late January, Khamenei's personal representative to the Guard's Quds Force, Ali Shirazi, openly admitted: "The Islamic Republic directly supports the Houthis in Yemen, Hezb’Allah in Lebanon, & the popular forces in Syria & Iraq."

… If a future agreement between the P-5+1 & Iran will not seriously scale back Iran's nuclear infrastructure, then how is it to make the world more secure? How will the agreement make it difficult for Iran to eject the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, as did North Korea, & race to complete an atomic bomb? In his new book, "World Order,' Kissinger writes that in the U.S. there are those who apparently believe that the nuclear negotiations between Washington & Tehran are transforming the relationship between the two & that this change will compensate the West for abandoning its past policies on Iran's nuclear program. They rely on a new Iranian foreign policy of "mutual acceptance" emerging as a result of the negotiating process.

From Gail an article by Ruthie Blum condensed:     "The massacre of two-thirds of European Jewry, that is, over six million Jews, would have required industrial equipment on an extensive scale -- but the number of crematoria erected for incinerating the bodies would have barely sufficed for incinerating the bodies of those who died from viral diseases. No one ever saw a single one of the thousands of trucks it was claimed were used in burning the bodies. …
       "No report by any Western or other intelligence agency prior to the end of World War II about widespread massacre of Jews exists. All these claims were made only after the war, & by the winning side."
       Iran's plan to succeed where the Nazis failed, by exterminating the collective Jew, in the form of the Jewish state, is no secret, other than maybe to the Obama administration. Its ability to do so is being enhanced by the minute.

Finally from Gail: How Europe & the US subvert Israel’s sovereignty By Vic Rosenthal
One of the most infuriating things about the struggle to keep a sovereign Jewish state is the degree of interference in its affairs by Western governments & interests — which are, with very few exceptions, anti-Israel in practice if not in word.
The Obama Administration has recently expressed its anger that Israel’s PM Netanyahu wants to ‘interfere in its affairs’ by accepting an invitation to speak to Congress on the subject of Iran. But interference in Israel’s affairs by Western governments is widespread and, unlike Netanyahu’s proposed speech, mostly hidden.  
For example, the European Union & individual European states contribute huge sums of money to various non-governmental organizations in Israel which are run & staffed by anti-Zionist Jewish extremists & Arabs. These organizations, like Adalah, B’Tselem, Rabbis for Human Rights, Breaking the Silence, etc., along with the international “human rights” establishment (Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, ICRC, & others) create & disseminate propaganda intended to delegitimize the state of Israel & criminalize its actions in self-defense.
Many of these groups work closely with anti-Israel UN forums like the UN Commission on Human Rights), providing raw data — mostly unsupported allegations from sources in terrorist organizations like Hamas — which are sanitized & used to buttress legal & diplomatic warfare against Israel. B’Tselem today is releasing a report which accuses the IDF & Netanyahu government of committing war crimes in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge this summer.
Europe is joined in funding these enterprises by the US government & various foundations in the US, among which the New Israel Fund (NIF) is prominent.
But apparently even this isn’t enough. Now a group funded from US & European sources is mounting an effort to defeat PM Netanyahu in the coming election.
Ha’aretz reporter Roi Arad revealed in an article in the Hebrew edition [January 26] that the foreign funded organization, “One Voice”, is bankrolling the V-2015 campaign to defeat Binyamin Netanyahu’s national camp in the March 2015 Knesset Elections.
One indication of the generous financing is that it has now flown in a team of five American campaign experts (including Jeremy Bird, the Obama campaign’s national field director) who will run the campaign out of offices taking up the ground floor of a Tel Aviv office building.
V-2015 is careful not to support a specific party – rather “just not Bibi”. As such, the foreign funds pouring into the campaign are not subject to Israel’s campaign finance laws.
I question the ‘grassroots’ character of a movement that involves a 5-man team of high-priced professionals including Bird, whose other clients include Hillary Clinton. & I question the honesty of claiming to be nonpartisan when you oppose one side in what is essentially a two-sided race.
The One Voice organization has close connections to the Obama Administration, & it lists the US State Department & the European Commission as partners‘ (ironically, President Obama & Secretary of State Kerry refuse to meet with Netanyahu on the grounds that it would constitute ‘interference’ in Israel’s election!)
It is reasonable to assume that if the details of this Astroturfing campaign paid for by elements hostile to the state should become well-known in Israel that it will backfire. On the other hand, recent revelations of the anti-Zionist attitudes of several of Labor’s candidates — shocking to naive observers like myself — didn’t seem to hurt them in the polls.
It isn’t easy for a story like this to “grow legs” in Israel. All of the TV & radio broadcasters in Israel & most of the print media — a significant exception being the “Israel Hayom” newspaper — lean left & oppose PM Netanyahu. There is now an attempt in the Knesset (temporarily frozen due to the upcoming election) to ban free newspapers of a certain size & frequency of publication. It precisely fits Israel Hayom, of course.
Right-wing media have had a hard time here. The Arutz 7 radio station was unable to get a broadcast license, operated as a pirate station for a time, & finally was given a license by a special act of the Knesset — only to have it taken away by Israel’s Supreme Court. Now it broadcasts only on the Internet.
As an American, I thought I was familiar with polarized politics & the extreme tactics used by the Left to try to stifle free discussion of controversial issues. But in the US, the Right has managed to develop effective communications channels, while in even-more-polarized Israel, the Left has maintained its almost-monopoly on the ‘real’ media.
There is also a constant din of scandals (corruption, secret recordings, sex, you name it) that distracts people from the real scandal — the fact that our enemies are already inside the walls of our city & are trying to manipulate us into opening its gates.

Analysis is that the right does not look any more at Netanyahu as Mr. Security with both the building freeze and the inept handling of the Gaza War and now with Hezballah: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4621306,00.html

Jerusalem Post’s guide to Israeli Politics taken before Eli Yeshai (Symbol Tzade Chaf Soffit – pure in Hebrew) entered the race: http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Politics-The-insiders-guide-for-the-politically-perplexed-389449

Brit Hume tells Obama to put on his big boy pants and man up to meet Netanyahu but we shall see below towards the end a deep analysis on how he is undermining the Israeli Election. He was wrong on Egypt, Libya, pulling out of Iraq and not striking Assad before ISIS moved in and now he botches up things in Israel for the people are not fools and the right will get more votes. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/190749#.VM3i78scTIU

Arieh Deri is ruining the Shass Party according it the founder: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/190746#.VM3kmMscTIU

Besides Islamists in Britain there are your old fashioned anti-Semites going to rally: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4621370,00.html


Expect a 4th operation in the Gaza Strip and a 3rd in Lebanon: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4621448,00.html

It is important to hear what Netanyahu knows says Bill O’Reilly. He says that Americans should listen to what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has to say to Congress: Contrary to remarks by other network figures, Fox's Bill O'Reilly tells viewers, "I want to hear what Netanyahu has to say on Iran" • Fox News political correspondent Chris Stirewalt says White House response to Netanyahu invite was "too cute." – condensed from Gail

Ed-Op: Let the Sunni and Shia extremists fight it out and kill each other in the name of Allah: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4621536,00.html

John McCain deplores the worst relations from the White House that he has ever seen in his life and he is no youngster: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/190796 Gail brings down in an article by Caroline Glick the following: The US has also refused to acknowledge Iran’s control over the Syrian regime, & so denied the basic fact that through its proxies, Iran is developing a conventional threat against Israel. For instance, earlier this month, Der Spiegel reported that Iran has been building a secret nuclear facility in Syria.Lee Smith raised the reasonable prospect that it was Iran that assassinated Argentinean prosecutor Alberto Nisman two weeks ago. Nisman was murdered the night before he was scheduled to make public the findings of his 10-year investigation into the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish Center & the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires. According to Smith, Nisman had proof that Iran had carried out the terrorist attacks to retaliate against Argentina for abrogating its nuclear cooperation with Tehran.
     From the Golan Heights to Gaza, from Yemen & Iraq to Latin America to Nantanz & Arak, Iran is boldly advancing its nuclear & imperialist agenda. As Charles Krauthammer noted last Friday, the nations of the Middle East allied with the US are sounding the alarm.

From Gail a Video Clip on Bibi Sitter Political Satire: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=23211 Disclaimer I have no intention of voting for him in this election as I have previously stated but I liked it.



From Gail an American Employee of Elbit Systems non-Jew killed in Saudi City per family they say he committed suicide believe what you want: http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Employee-of-Israeli-defense-firm-Elbit-subsidiary-mysteriously-dies-in-Saudi-Arabia-389628

Medals awarded to brave soldiers from Protective Edge: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4621951,00.html


I may have posted this but the Video Link came from Rabbi A. L. Councilman Daniel Greenfield discusses anti-Semitism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpGPzoaNVCU

The search for intelligent life continues this is the Israeli Experiment. http://www.algemeiner.com/2015/01/29/searching-for-signs-of-intelligent-life-among-israels-leaders/

ISIS had already murdered the Pilot from Yarden by burning him to death bye-bye female terrorist and 5 more. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/190877#.VNER5i5RfHU


3 French Soldiers stabbed in Nice defending Jewish Institution: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/190872#.VNETCC5RfHU


Guess who exports arms to Israel enemies give you one guess: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4622592,00.html

King Abdallah speaks perfect Arabic to ISIS now maybe we should learn this jargon with Hamas and Hezballah: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4622763,00.html

Old land mine swept down in the rains to clean area seriously injured a female officer: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/190922#.VNJKVsv9nIU



From Gail Iran trying to control the Strait in Yemen but Obama likes them against Al Qaeda: http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=66275

From Gail – Bennett accuses Livni of an article she wrote the debate: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/190783

Iran trying to open up a new front in the north: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4623066,00.html

Ed-Op the world is helpless against the Jihad: In 2013, jihad killed 17,958 people. In 2014, the death toll jumped to 32,007. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4622782,00.html

Anything to disrupt dissemination of the truth fire alarm set off to disrupt Israeli Ambassador: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/190932#.VNL1o8v9nIV

Ancient History repeats itself: Over 50 years ago I learned economics and got a 97 or 98 from my teacher. I still remember the argument either you buy guns or you buy butter with your budget. If you want both raise taxes. Israel is running on a 4.5% deficit and the only way to compensate is to cut the budget or add taxes it is a matter of simple mathematics: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/190930#.VNL2UMv9nIU

Ed-Op by a leftist who attacks both the major parties: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4622874,00.html

67% of first time voters leaning to the right: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4623074,00.html

The Holocaust Memorial: Putin was not invited and Obama and Netanyahu did not attend: http://www.jpost.com/International/Diplomats-Putin-offended-he-wasnt-invited-to-Aushcwitz-memorial-could-hurt-Iran-talks-389997

Editorial Center-Left commentary backs Netanyahu on the illegal campaign front against the Likud: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4621930,00.html

Steven L. asked me for the link regarding the stabbing of the French Soldiers at the Jewish Center in Nice so here it is: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/190872

Al Qaeda had top leaders killed in Yemen by drone strike: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/190967#.VNNra8v9nIU

Jordan’s King will get revenge on ISIS and I saw pictures of their air strike which has since disappeared from the Media: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4623133,00.html Fox did carry the story of the air raids somehow Israel is withholding: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/02/05/jordan-launches-new-airstrikes-after-vowing-harsh-war-on-isis/

Jordan is weighing the use of ground troops as ISIS is a threat to them and the Saudis but the inclusion of Iran has the moderate Sunnis very vary of the Coalition: http://debka.com/article/24379/US-coalition-against-ISIS-is-fraying-Gulf-Arab-partners-mull-withdrawal-over-Iran’s-involvement


Now Matis Wolfberg’s Good Shabbos Story Continues “The exciting Conclusion” or “Good Yomtif Pontiff Part 2”

 Good Shabbos Everyone.  Last week we began telling the amazing true story of how a fellow lawyer and I were trying desperately to get to Eretz Yisroel in time for Shabbos.  In route to the Holy Land on early Friday morning, our plane experienced some sort of trouble and we had to make an emergency landing in Rome.   
         By about 10 am they fixed the plane, however, by the time we were actually ready to take off, it was about 1:00 p.m. Eretz Yisroel time, and Shabbos was to start just after 4:00 p.m. and the flight was supposed to take about two and a half hours from Rome.  The pilot announced that he could not guarantee exactly what time the plane would arrive in Eretz Yisroel, and therefore, anyone who was concerned about arriving in time for Shabbos should consider deplaning and remaining in Rome, although Continental would not take any responsibility for anyone who chose to do so. 
       Shraga Feivel and I made a "cheshbon" an accounting... We figured that at the worst, we could spend Shabbos the airport in Tel Aviv and at least there we could have kosher food.  But staying in Rome would be risky, because we didn't know our way around and we didn't know the language and who knows where we would end up for Shabbos.  It seems that our fellow Jewish passengers agreed with us and thankfully, none of them chose to deplane.  If they had, our flight would have been even more delayed because it is well known, that a plane will not take off carrying the baggage of a person who is not on the plane (due to security concerns.) 
         In any case, the plane finally took off and the rest of the flight to Eretz Yisroel was uneventful.  We watched the clock carefully.  Every minute counted!  We ended up landing a few minutes after 4 pm local time, mere minutes before candle lighting.  It is important to note that while in America candle lighting is generally at 18 minutes before sundown, the custom in Eretz Yisroel is to light candles even earlier, usually about 30-40 minutes before sundown. 
         While the airplane was taxiing, I turned on my cell phone and attempted to call a friend in Ashdod, thinking that maybe we could make it close to him in time and walk the rest of the way. Thankfully, he didn't pick up, because there are many closer places than Ashdod to the airport.  I called a friend in Yerushalayim and his wife picked up.  She was holding the match in her hand ready to light the Shabbos Candles!  She told me to forget about Ashdod and to go to Bnai Brak. 
         Continental was courteous enough to announce that the Shomer Shabbos passengers should be given a preference when exiting the plane.  Thankfully most of the passengers obliged.  Once off the plane, Shraga Feivel and I hit the ground running, literally.  When the security personnel saw me rushing off the plane, they parted like the splitting of the sea.
         Anyone who has been to the new airport in Tel Aviv knows that it is a long way from deplaning to the passport control.  Shraga Feivel and I both had one carry- on bag.  We ran the whole way.  Between my panting for breath I kept saying to myself quietly "Shabbos Koydesh"  - the "Holy Shabbos."  I had had nightmares many times of being stuck somewhere around sundown time before Shabbos, and now, it was really happening.  Finally, we made it to the passport control.  After a short wait, we made it through.
         I told Shraga Feivel that we would have to leave our luggage there because there was no time.  He didn't have anything to wear for Shabbos, but I told him that that was the least of our worries.  We ran out to the street towards the taxis.  I jumped into a waiting taxi but was quickly rebuffed by the driver who chastised me for not waiting in line.  (Boy, has Israel changed over the years!)  I kept running towards the last taxi in the line of taxis and amazingly, I found just what we needed... an Arab cab driver.   It was truly one of the miracles of the day, for it would have been very tricky to drive so close to sundown with a Jewish (non-observant) driver, because he would no doubt have to violate Shabbos to drive away from wherever he would take us.
         In short order, Shraga Feivel and I, along with a couple the Benders from Lakewood jumped into the Arab's cab and... what do you know?  The Arab cab driver also refused to take us because we didn't wait in line!!!  Thankfully, a police officer was there and understood what was happening and he told the cabbie to take us.  The driver protested a little more but finally agreed to take us.  He drove like a maniac to Bnai Brak, racing against the clock.  On the way, I was able to call home to tell my wife what happened.  We made it to the Bnai Brak in record time.  It took us about 34 minutes from the time we landed to the moment we were standing on the street next to the bridge which leads into Bnai Brak!  At first the cabbie didn't want to take dollars, and we had no shekels.  Finally he relented and took the dollars.  The streets were closed already for Shabbos by then and he let us off by the bridge by the highway across the street from the Coca Cola plant in Bnai Brak.
        The streets were full of young people wearing their Shabbos finest.  We were an odd sight, carrying our luggage on the street at that time.  Initially we planned to walk with the Benders to the Vishnitz area, where they had friends who could put us up for Shabbos.  However, on the way, a kindly Bnai Brak resident asked us if we had where to stay.  I told him no, and he promptly invited us to stay with him for Shabbos.  We accepted and parted ways with the Benders.
         We went straight to the apartment of a neighbor so that I could borrow a Bekishe - a Shabbos coat, which I had sent in my luggage under the plane.  (My shtreimel and a shtievel I did have, thankfully).    The neighbor of our host was surprised to see us carrying what we were carrying at that late hour and I hurried into one of his rooms where I unloaded my "muktzeh" items (forbidding to handle on Shabbos) onto his floor.  Among the things I dropped there was a large sum of cash and my passport.  It was amazing, here I was emptying my pockets onto the floor of a person I never saw before in my life!
         When I went upstairs to our host, I saw that Shraga Feivel was busy trying on the host's Shabbos suit.  Miraculously, the suit and even the host's shoes fit.  It was also a miracle that our host happened to wear a short suit on Shabbos like Shraga Feivel does.
         Still wanting to catch a mikvah that day (it is the custom of Chassidim to go to the mikvah daily, as well as on Erev Shabbos), Shraga Feivel and I walked to a nearby mikvah.  We managed to go to the mikvah, then daven mincha and still daven with a minyan Kabbalas Shabbos and Maariv!    By the time we walked home after davening to the host's house, we were walking on air.  We were shaking our heads in disbelief that we had actually made it!  It was not exactly the Shabbos we had planned, but we made it!   Kiddush had a special meaning that night, and I was very moved by the words I recited over the cup of wine.  "And Hashem blessed the seventh day and He sanctified it..."
         Besides the fact that we had barely eaten the entire day, we were thankful to be eating a hot Shabbos meal, instead of subsisting on dry bread, potato chips and nosh like the 9 passengers who we later learned were unfortunately left stranded in the airport in Tel Aviv.  (Some had waited for their luggage others just couldn't handle the rush...)
         We tremendously enjoyed Shabbos in Bnai Brak.  Our host's hospitality was unforgettable.   When I told him that I would be memorizing the event in my weekly publication, he asked to remain anonymous.   On Motzoi Shabbos, I snapped a picture with Shraga Feivel (on the left) and our host.  I partially obscured the host's face to protect his identity! (so he shouldn't be inundated with guests for Shabbos!)
          Motzoi Shabbos we picked up our bags in the airport.  The rest of trip was amazing.  We experienced a true spiritual uplifting from the events surrounding that Shabbos.  We hope not to descend from the "aliyah" we experienced then.   We have told this story this past two weeks in the hope that those who read it will be influenced not to "test it," i.e., to avoid flying so close to Shabbos.       
            The importance of Shabbos is evidenced by the fact that Shabbos appears in the Ten Commandments, which is the seminal creed of the Jewish people. As we read in this week’s parsha Yisro in the fourth commandment: You shall remember the Shabbos day to make it Holy. Six days you shall workand you shall do all of your labor. But the seventh day is Shabbos forHashem your G-d, you shall not do any work...(Shemos - Exodus20:9) Many people are willing to accept upon themselves the Ten Commandments. However, one who does not keep Shabbos is only observing nine of the Ten Commandments. (Shabbos, Rav Aryeh Kaplan)
The Sages have told us in many places about the greatness of Shabbos. For example, Whoever is careful with Shabbos observance will be forgiven for all of his sins, even idol worship. (Ibid, citing Shabbos 118b) And, Respecting Shabbos is greater than fasting 1000 days. (Ibid., citing Tachuma, Bereishis 3) Also, Whoever takes pleasure in the enjoyment of the Shabbos will be granted all his heart’s desires.(Ibid., citing Shabbos 118b) And, Observing Shabbos is equal to fulfilling all the mitzvahs of the Torah.(Ibid., citing Pesikta) And, Proper observance of just one Shabbos is equal to having observed every Shabbos since the time of Creation. (Ibid., citing Mechilta, Ki-Sisa 31)  Good Shabbos Everyone.
M. Wolfberg is sponsored by: L'illui Nishmas Aryeh Leib ben Avrohom and Malka bas Tzvi Refuah Shleima to Reb Mordechai Mendel ben Tziporah Yitta   In memory of  Tziporah Yita (Wienshienk) bas Reb Lipa , Erev Chanukah 5723

Note that Mr. Wolfberg pronounces Kodesh (standard Israeli pronunciation) as Koydesh the Eastern European Chassidic Yiddish pronunciation. Also his other Hebrew Words in his stories. Motzei becomes Motzoi.
Let his story be a lesson to you try not to travel too close to Shabbos your plane, boat or train should arrive near your destination at least 12 to 14 hours before Shabbos. I had that problem once with my mother-in-law arriving delayed and then the taxi was in an accident. We arrived back in Ashdod close to candle lighting time it was horrible. In France I had trouble finding a hotel and made it with bated breath once although I had entered the city a few hours before Shabbos.
Wishing everybody a healthy and wonderful Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli