This Hanukkah, Let’s Teach Our Children How to Give
By Gil Troy
Updated December 2005 version of article first published in The Canadian
Jewish News - 28 November 2002, B2-B3
Jews are preparing to celebrate Hanukkah, our festival of lights, during a
particularly dark period. The world seems to have gone mad. Islamic
extremists declare war on the West, and many, especially in Europe and
Canada, deny and dither, afraid to respond too assertively. Palestinians
declare a war of terror on Israel, and too many, including Israelis and
Jews, are quicker to blame Israel, the victim, than the Palestinian
perpetrators. The terror has slowed but not disappeared -- Israel has stood
strong, but there are too many victims throughout the world, still reeling
from the blows in Hadera and Sderot, in London and Bali, where fresh wounds
this year were added to communities already scarred by this scourge. It is
precisely during such bleak moments that we are compelled to celebrate.
Rejoicing in past victories helps put our current troubles in perspective,
reminding us that we have suffered before, and not just survived but
thrived. Moreover, with terrorists trying to rob innocents of any joy, and
any semblance of a normal life, observing holidays becomes yet another act
of defiance, a leap of faith asserting our commitment to stick to the
everyday.
Nevertheless, even as we celebrate, it behooves us to reassess the meaning
of the holidays how we observe them. Precisely now, during this time of
crisis, we should be rededicating ourselves to Jewish renewal, finding the
joy in Judaism, not just the "oy." Such a reevaluation is particularly
necessary in the case of Hanukkah, a holiday whose meaning has changed over
the years.
While Hanukkah’s basic plot line has remained unchanged for almost two
millennia, the Hanukkah we know and love is a twentieth-century invention.
The central themes we associate with Hanukkah, of heroism and power, both
physical and spiritual, were Zionist ideas; for centuries the Rabbis dwelled
on the miracle of the oil. When the Zionist revolution a century ago
reevaluated Judaism, the Maccabees’ story proved that Jewish history was not
just about the anti-Semites who hated us and the Rabbis who taught us. The
Maccabees were home-grown heroes, rooted in Israel’s ancient soil, and
willing to fight, if necessary, for their homeland, their beliefs, and their
freedom. In fact, before World War I, many Jews used Hanukkah as an
opportunity for giving not receiving, donating the modern equivalent of the
"shekel" the Biblical coin, to the Zionist cause.
At the same time, the other great twentieth-century Jewish revolution, the
rise of North American Jewry, also transformed Hanukkah. As with Passover,
the theme of "freedom" resonated in the land of liberty, giving the ancient
Jewish holiday a contemporary American flavor. But, even more important, the
quirk of scheduling, as well as the anthropological linkage to another
winter-solstice festival of lights, made for the gift-giving frenzy we see
today.
As a delightful holiday of dedication, Hanukkah has long been
child-centered. Traditionally, Jewish communities used Hanukkah to
rededicate themselves to their children’s Jewish education. In that spirit,
parents gave children "gelt" or coins to sweeten the experience of Torah
study.
In the modern world, this festival of gelt-giving and of lights became the
popular Jewish response to Christmas envy, the malady that seized many a
Jewish household each December. In fact, with eight nights, and thus eight
opportunities for gift-giving, Hanukkah became a way for Jews to trump their
Christian neighbors.
Tragically, both Hanukkah and Christmas have become "Festivals of
Consumption," in historian Daniel Boorstin’s apt phrase. A minor sweetener
to facilitate Torah study has become the major focus of the holiday, even as
this traditionally minor holiday has become a major highlight on the North
American Jewish calendar.
This, then, is the year to rededicate Hanukkah, and ourselves, to reorient
the holiday. It is time to rejuvenate the holiday by making it a highpoint
on our tzedakah calendar, our schedule of giving, while teaching our
children about generosity not just materialism. It is not realistic, nor
necessary, to declare a gift-giving ban. Most of us, thankfully, do not have
to choose between self-indulgence and good works. Moreover, to set up false
choices by being too austere, defeats the educational purpose behind the
gelt-giving. But is it too much to ask for this year, that every family,
every school, every Jewish institution, every Hanukkah get-together carve
out some time to think about others who are less fortunate, others with whom
we should share our good fortune? Is it too much to ask that as we teach our
children the joy of receiving gifts from loved ones we also teach them the
joy of giving gifts to strangers?
The smallest of gestures can teach this most important of lessons. During
the traditional Hanukkah grab bag, one additional toy can be thrown into the
hopper, and that toy can be designated for a child in need. Similarly,
children awash in presents could be asked to give one old toy and one new
toy to tzedakah. Relatives from far away who are going to send Hanukkah
checks can be encouraged to allocate part of their gift to a charity of the
children’s choice, or parents and children can agree on a certain percentage
of all gifts to be donated. Even more important, acts of loving kindness,
good deeds, should be encouraged so we go beyond many Jews’ tendency to
assume that the only way to help others is materially.
This Hanukkah, of all Hanukkahs, why not take advantage of the eight nights,
the eight candles, to designate our thoughts, our prayers, and our gifts of
time, talent, and money in the following directions:
On the First Night of Hanukkah, let us dedicate ourselves to the Victims of
Palestinian Terror, hoping to bring a little light into their lives:
Terrorists have slaughtered more than 1000 people, and maimed thousands. We
must adopt families of the victims, embracing them, supporting them,
befriending them, sending both love and money. For more information on how
your family, school, synagogue, friendship circle, etc., can adopt a family,
send a Hanukkah toy basket, or take any number of initiatives visit
http://www.onefamilyfund.org
To support Camp Koby, a summer camp, in memory of victims of terror for
victims of terror and their siblings, visit
http://www.kobymandell.org/home.htm
On the Second Night of Hanukkah, let us dedicate ourselves to the Israelis
who are still Missing in Action, honoring their heroism, and that of their
families: In 2004, the painful purgatory for the families of Adi Avitan,
Binyamin Avraham, Omer Souad, and Elchanan Tenenbaum ended, with only one
happy ending. As Tenenbaum was reunited with his family, the survivors of
Adi, Binyamin and Omer mourned, along with everyone who rejects the cruelty
of Hizballah. These four families share a unique bond of anguish with the
families of Ron Arad, Zachary Baumel, Zvi Feldman, and Yehuda Katz, who have
been missing since the 1980s. For more information, including addresses of
public officials to whom you should write, access http://www.mia.org.il
On the Third Night of Hanukkah, let us dedicate ourselves to the Children of
Israel, who deserve to live in freedom, free of fear: Israeli society has
proved itself remarkably resilient, but the war, combined with the economic
troubles of the last few years, took its toll. Even as the security
situation has stabilized, and the economic numbers have improved, there is
far too much poverty in Israel, and there are fears that the gap between the
rich and the poor is growing greater than ever. We must be proactive not
just reactive, thinking about how to help improve the quality of Israeli
life. One lovely initiative is the Jade Bar Shalom Books for Israel Project,
an attempt to get new and slightly used English books sent to Israeli
schoolchildren to help compensate for budget cutbacks. Since July 2005, over
41 tons of donated English literature and reference books have been
delivered to over 200 of Israel's Jewish, Druze, Bedouin, Christian, Bahai,
and Muslim public schools. For more information about this project,
including how to set up local chapters, access
http://www.edu-negev.gov.il/bs/b4i/
On the Fourth Night of Hanukkah, let us dedicate ourselves to the
Institutions of Israel, the well-oiled infrastructure which keeps the
society functioning: Even as we champion new initiatives, we need to
continue supporting agencies that have laid the foundation for the Jewish
state, and help make it thrive. To name only a few, during these difficult
times, Hadassah continues to maintain and modernize Israeli medical
facilities, the Magen David Adom (Israeli "Red Cross") serves all people in
Israel under very trying circumstances, the Jewish National Fund continues
renewing and rebuilding the land.
On the Fifth Night of Hanukkah, let us dedicate ourselves to Our Local
Jewish Community, renewing our collective ability to help us renew ourselves
and our own Jewish identities: Even while fighting fires abroad, we need to
keep our home fires burning, as it were, by supporting our local synagogues,
schools, Federations, agencies. This Hanukkah is a perfect time to
rededicate ourselves to Jewish education, on all levels, for young and old
alike. We all need to be engaged in lifelong learning, the more formal, the
better, the more time-intensive the better. More broadly, let us challenge
ourselves by asking not only how much money am I willing to donate, but how
much time am I willing to volunteer this coming year?
On the Sixth Night of Hanukkah, let us dedicate ourselves to neighbors in
need, bestowing gifts on neighbors who are suffering: Most of us live in
cities marked by huge disparities between haves and have-nots. Those of us
who have should take the time to help those who have less, both Jews and
non-Jews, seeing what we can do to make sure that none of our neighbors go
to bed hungry, cold, or lonely, that none of our neighbors are deprived of
the joy of celebrating this season. Wherever we stand on the War in Iraq, we
should all stand united in support of the American troops, our idealistic,
vulnerable, heroic knights in Kevlar willing to risk so much. Creative ways
of supporting the troops include donating Frequent Flyer Miles so troops on
leave can fly home for free (see http://www.heromiles.org ); buying pre-paid
calling cards so soldiers can call their loved ones for free (see
https://thor.aafes.com/scs/default.aspx ) or sending messages of support
(see https://thor.aafes.com/scs/default.aspx ) Given the coincidence between
Hanukkah and Christmas this year, we have a lovely chance to make Christmas
and Hanukkah wishes harmonize, as we celebrate Hanukkah by helping neighbors
celebrate Christmas.
On the Seventh Night of Hanukkah, let us dedicate ourselves to non-Jewish
friends and causes, understanding the power of affirming our common
humanity, and helping one another: It is too easy, during these times of
Jewish stress, to turn inward. These last five years we have certainly seen
the power of Hillel’s teaching, that "If I don’t care for myself, who am I?"
And the strategy worked. The situation has improved dramatically. But let us
not forget the second part which is "And if I only care for myself, what am
I?" The United Way, Centraide, and dozens of other organizations are happy
to help us help others, as are our local Federations and Jewish groups such
as Young Judaea, the Zionist youth movement which organized an impressive
aid convoy from the Northeastern United States to Katrina-stricken New
Orleans. The crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan demands our action and our
outrage. Let us not stand by idly, complaining of others' inactions, yet not
doing anything ourselves. The American Jewish World Service has been a
particular leader in this, combining education, advocacy and intelligent
giving. Check out http://www.ajws.org/index.cfm?section_id=15
On the Eight Night of Hanukkah, let us dedicate ourselves to the Power of
Teaching, of Leading Our Children by Example: If every night, we channel our
children’s charitable impulses, giving a guided tour of the possibilities of
giving, on this, the last night of Hanukkah, let us ask our children to take
the first baby steps in this world of responsibility and great satisfaction,
by asking them to pick a charitable deed, a mitzvah for someone else they
plan on doing.
The time and resources are limited; the work is great – and overwhelming.
Yet our sages teach that it is not upon us to complete all the work, nor are
we free to evade it. No one should feel guilty for failing to carve out a
charitable moment every one of the eight nights – yet no one should feel
free to ignore this challenge completely.
For decades now, kids have greeted each other every morning of Hanukkah with
the question: "What did you get last night?" This year, perhaps, we can also
teach our children to ask: "What did you give?"
Gil Troy is Professor of History at McGill University and the author of Why
I Am A Zionist: Israel, Jewish Identity and the Challenges of Today.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Great archaeological discovery on the Temple Mount!
For the First Time a Seal with Hebrew Writing from the First Temple was Discovered on the Temple Mount
Archeologists: “This is an Exciting Greeting from the House of King David”
Recently, an unprecedented archeological find was made among the rubble removed from the Temple Mount. This rare discovery, made by archeologists Dr. Gabriel Barkay and Tzachi Sweig while sifting this rubble
is a broken seal, impression, or bulla written in Hebrew from the time of the First Temple. It was discovered among the earth that the Arabs removed from the Temple Mount during illegal diggings in the area of Solomon’s Stables on the Temple Mount. The discovering of the seal raised great excitement in Israel. The seal was made of baked mud and it’s size is less than one centimetre. It was drawn on a string that tied documents, certificates, and letters. One of the names on the seal ended with the Hebrew letters “yehu”. Dr Barkay stated that this is a direct greeting from the house of King David. He dated the seal to the 6th Century B.C.E. He also said that we can learn new things from the three lines on the seal. The tremendous importance of this discovery is this is the first time that we have a written discovery with Hebrew text from the First Temple age that was discovered on the Temple Mount
The rubble that Dr. Gabriel Barkay and Tzachi Sweig have been sorting through the last few months was removed from the Temple Mount by the Arabs and dumped in the area of the Kiddron Valley and on a garbage dump not far from there. The rubble came from their digging on the Temple Mount when they built an illegal mosque in the holy area of Solomon’s Stables (which were never stables but were an important part of the Second Temple complex). These diggings were undertaken by the Arabs on the Temple Mount to destroy the remains from the First and Second Temple and to convert the Jewish Temple Mount to an Islamic site. This is a terrible desecration of the holy hill of G-d, His Holy Temple, and His Holy Name. It is a terrible crime against the G-d and people of Israel and all the world. When they dumped the rubble from the Temple Mount they not only wanted to desecrate the G–d of Israel and the universe and His Holy Temple and Name but also to contempt them. The late Director of the Israeli Antiquities Authority, Amir Drori stated that it is an archeologic crime against the Jewish people and the whole world. The Israeli Attorney General, Eliakim Rubenstein stated that it was a kick on the history of the Jewish people. It is a shame for the Israeli authorities and all the world that they did nothing to stop this terrible crime and desecration but preferred to ignore it. The judgement of G-d will soon come not only on the Arabs and Muslims on the Temple Mount who did this barbaric anti-godly crime but on all of those who ignored it. The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement made a petition to the Israeli Supreme Court to immediately stop this terrible crime and the Islamic diggings on the Temple Mount and to prosecute the Arabs who did it. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court did not do anything to stop it and to prosecute the criminals who made it in the name of the terrorist, so called,” Palestinian” Authority and in the name of the Arab countries. They did it as a part of their battle to destroy Israel and to deny that the Temple Mount , Jerusalem and the land of Israel were given by the G–d of Israel and the Universe to His chosen people of Israel only in an eternal covenant. They are not only fighting against Israel but they are also trying to fight against the G-d of Israel but they have illusions. They have never learned from the experience of other nations who tried to fight against the G-d an d the people of Israel and were defeated and disappeared from the history of mankind. The same will happen to them. The judgement of the G-d of Israel and the Universe is soon to come upon them as well and it will be even more terrible for them. He will never allow anyone in the world to stop His end time prophetic plans and activities with His people Israel as an opening for the redemption of all the world.
This discovery is one of the most exciting discoveries in the last time on the Temple Mount and in the city of King David. About the other discoveries in the city of King David I will write in another separate article later. However, the very exciting discovery on the Temple Mount of the seal and other discovering in the city of King David indicate that we are living in the exciting end times, especially when they come from the house of King David. This is a message from the G–d of Israel to His people to understand and to accept the godly time that they are experiencing and living in now and must no more delay the rebuilding of the Temple and the purification of His Holy mountain and that He is so eager to send Maschiach ben David to be again the King of Israel and all the world. It is no accident that they were discovered at this time and at no other time before. It is a clear message from G-d that it is His timing and that all the end time prophetic events are focussed on the Temple Mount, the City of David and the biblical Jerusalem. Jerusalem, the capital of Israel is the capital of the G-d of Israel and the Universe as well. Everyone is called on to lift his eyes to the Temple Mount and the biblical Jerusalem for other exciting discoveries and events that will change the life of Israel and all the world.
Gershon Salomon
Chairman, The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement
Temple Mount Faithful
4 Yochanan Horkanos
P.O. Box 18325
91182 Jerusalem
ISRAEL
TEL: +972(2)625-1112
TEL/FAX: +972(2)625-1113
Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement
Archeologists: “This is an Exciting Greeting from the House of King David”
Recently, an unprecedented archeological find was made among the rubble removed from the Temple Mount. This rare discovery, made by archeologists Dr. Gabriel Barkay and Tzachi Sweig while sifting this rubble
is a broken seal, impression, or bulla written in Hebrew from the time of the First Temple. It was discovered among the earth that the Arabs removed from the Temple Mount during illegal diggings in the area of Solomon’s Stables on the Temple Mount. The discovering of the seal raised great excitement in Israel. The seal was made of baked mud and it’s size is less than one centimetre. It was drawn on a string that tied documents, certificates, and letters. One of the names on the seal ended with the Hebrew letters “yehu”. Dr Barkay stated that this is a direct greeting from the house of King David. He dated the seal to the 6th Century B.C.E. He also said that we can learn new things from the three lines on the seal. The tremendous importance of this discovery is this is the first time that we have a written discovery with Hebrew text from the First Temple age that was discovered on the Temple Mount
The rubble that Dr. Gabriel Barkay and Tzachi Sweig have been sorting through the last few months was removed from the Temple Mount by the Arabs and dumped in the area of the Kiddron Valley and on a garbage dump not far from there. The rubble came from their digging on the Temple Mount when they built an illegal mosque in the holy area of Solomon’s Stables (which were never stables but were an important part of the Second Temple complex). These diggings were undertaken by the Arabs on the Temple Mount to destroy the remains from the First and Second Temple and to convert the Jewish Temple Mount to an Islamic site. This is a terrible desecration of the holy hill of G-d, His Holy Temple, and His Holy Name. It is a terrible crime against the G-d and people of Israel and all the world. When they dumped the rubble from the Temple Mount they not only wanted to desecrate the G–d of Israel and the universe and His Holy Temple and Name but also to contempt them. The late Director of the Israeli Antiquities Authority, Amir Drori stated that it is an archeologic crime against the Jewish people and the whole world. The Israeli Attorney General, Eliakim Rubenstein stated that it was a kick on the history of the Jewish people. It is a shame for the Israeli authorities and all the world that they did nothing to stop this terrible crime and desecration but preferred to ignore it. The judgement of G-d will soon come not only on the Arabs and Muslims on the Temple Mount who did this barbaric anti-godly crime but on all of those who ignored it. The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement made a petition to the Israeli Supreme Court to immediately stop this terrible crime and the Islamic diggings on the Temple Mount and to prosecute the Arabs who did it. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court did not do anything to stop it and to prosecute the criminals who made it in the name of the terrorist, so called,” Palestinian” Authority and in the name of the Arab countries. They did it as a part of their battle to destroy Israel and to deny that the Temple Mount , Jerusalem and the land of Israel were given by the G–d of Israel and the Universe to His chosen people of Israel only in an eternal covenant. They are not only fighting against Israel but they are also trying to fight against the G-d of Israel but they have illusions. They have never learned from the experience of other nations who tried to fight against the G-d an d the people of Israel and were defeated and disappeared from the history of mankind. The same will happen to them. The judgement of the G-d of Israel and the Universe is soon to come upon them as well and it will be even more terrible for them. He will never allow anyone in the world to stop His end time prophetic plans and activities with His people Israel as an opening for the redemption of all the world.
This discovery is one of the most exciting discoveries in the last time on the Temple Mount and in the city of King David. About the other discoveries in the city of King David I will write in another separate article later. However, the very exciting discovery on the Temple Mount of the seal and other discovering in the city of King David indicate that we are living in the exciting end times, especially when they come from the house of King David. This is a message from the G–d of Israel to His people to understand and to accept the godly time that they are experiencing and living in now and must no more delay the rebuilding of the Temple and the purification of His Holy mountain and that He is so eager to send Maschiach ben David to be again the King of Israel and all the world. It is no accident that they were discovered at this time and at no other time before. It is a clear message from G-d that it is His timing and that all the end time prophetic events are focussed on the Temple Mount, the City of David and the biblical Jerusalem. Jerusalem, the capital of Israel is the capital of the G-d of Israel and the Universe as well. Everyone is called on to lift his eyes to the Temple Mount and the biblical Jerusalem for other exciting discoveries and events that will change the life of Israel and all the world.
Gershon Salomon
Chairman, The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement
Temple Mount Faithful
4 Yochanan Horkanos
P.O. Box 18325
91182 Jerusalem
ISRAEL
TEL: +972(2)625-1112
TEL/FAX: +972(2)625-1113
Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement
Papal Official Wants to Divide Jerusalem
Papal Official Wants to Divide Jerusalem
14:30 Dec 25, '05 / 24 Kislev 5766
By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
The Arab League and a Vatican official separately, but simultaneously, are campaigning for Israel to divide Jerusalem. The PA recently asked to the Pope to help make the capital part of a new state.
EU Jackboot to Stomp Jerusalem!
David Ben-Ariel, Toledo, Ohio, USA/Menashe (22:19, Dec-25, 05)
The increasing calls for the division of Jerusalem are the consequences of Jewish and Israeli sins against God and Israel: woefully neglecting the Temple Mount, letting Jerusalem's abomination of desolation - a Temple Mount without a Temple - shamefully continue and become the deplorable status quo. The Prophet Zechariah foretells the Gentile EU occupation of Jerusalem. Will Jews and Israelis repent and avert such a national disaster or is it too late?
14:30 Dec 25, '05 / 24 Kislev 5766
By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
The Arab League and a Vatican official separately, but simultaneously, are campaigning for Israel to divide Jerusalem. The PA recently asked to the Pope to help make the capital part of a new state.
EU Jackboot to Stomp Jerusalem!
David Ben-Ariel, Toledo, Ohio, USA/Menashe (22:19, Dec-25, 05)
The increasing calls for the division of Jerusalem are the consequences of Jewish and Israeli sins against God and Israel: woefully neglecting the Temple Mount, letting Jerusalem's abomination of desolation - a Temple Mount without a Temple - shamefully continue and become the deplorable status quo. The Prophet Zechariah foretells the Gentile EU occupation of Jerusalem. Will Jews and Israelis repent and avert such a national disaster or is it too late?
Sunday, December 25, 2005
CHANUKAH 2005 HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF!
CHANUKAH 2005 HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF!
LETTER FROM RUTH MATAR ( WOMEN IN GREEN ) JERUSALEM
Sunday, December 25, 2005
(The Eve of Chanukah)
Dear Friends,
This Sunday night, we are lighting the first candle of the Chanukah Holiday. What exactly is this holiday all about, besides eating potato latkes and donuts, spinning the "dreidel", and lighting one additional candle for eight days?
We tell our children the story of that bad wicked king, Antiochus, who captured the land of the Jews, and ordered them to give up their religion, and to worship his Greek gods. We make our children proud that a small band of courageous Jews, the Maccabees, defeated the mighty Syrian-Greek army of King Antiochus, and rededicated the Temple, which had been desecrated. And we explain to our children the reason for lighting an additional candle each day that a small vial of oil, miraculously lasted for eight days in the rededicated Jewish Temple.
The real Chanukah story is not so simple. Some years ago I interviewed a prominent Hebrew University professor of Jewish History, Isaiah Gafni, on my weekly Arutz 7 English Program.
Professor Gafni gave me invaluable background material concerning this period in Jewish History. He explained the internal conflict between the Jews who wanted to remain Jews, and the Jews who wanted to be like all the other nations, and to adopt their customs, their dress, and their religion, the Hellenists. The real battle of the Maccabees was not only against the Syrian-Greek army of Antiochus. It was also against their fellow Jews, who were willing to sell out their identity, the Holy Temple, and to allow Jerusalem to become a Greek City. All this in order to obtain for themselves "the good life", and to become "enlightened citizens of the world."
Some background history is important.
The cultural and political elites of the Jewish Community in Judea in the early 2nd Century B.C.E., that is the vast majority of the priests and nobility, drew their power and hopes for advancement from the ruling Syrian-Greek Empire. They adopted Greek culture, imitated Greek customs, and abandoned their Jewish Heritage. Some of them even went so far as to attempt to remove the marks of their circumcision.
When Antiochus IV came to power in 175 B.C.E., the brother of the reigning High Priest Onias III, a man by the name of Jason, offered the new Greek King many times the tribute that his brother paid. The office of High Priest was actually the most powerful position in Judea at that time. He also made the king an offer to establish within Jerusalem a city-state called Antiochia. He erected a gymnasium in Jerusalem, and other Greek institutions. His actions led to a strengthening of Hellenistic Culture, and to a weakening of traditional Jewish life and religious worship.
Three years later, another leader of the Hellenists, a priest named Menelaus, outdid the corrupt Jason, by offering Antiochus even greater tribute and even more Hellenizing measures.
Menelaus, in order to keep his promises to King Antiochus, plundered the Holy Jewish Temple of its gold vessels, provoking rebellion among his fellow Jews.
These policies of the corrupt High Priests, Jason and Menelaus, were the chief causes of the Jewish rebellion.
When Antiochus IV brutally suppressed this rebellion, he began an official persecution of the Jewish religion in Judea, outlawing the Sabbath, Torah studies, and circumcision. He instituted pagan idolatry in the Holy Temple all this with the advice and connivance of Menelaus and his supporters, the Jewish Hellenists.
It is probably not widely known that Antiochus did not issue anti-religious decrees against any other people than the Jews. He simply conquered many nations politically, but did not attack their religion in any way. It was only against the Jews that he instituted anti-religious decrees.
Why just against the Jews? Historians say that Antiochus IV had no intention of issuing anti-religious decrees against the Jews, but his Jewish friends and collaborators, the Hellenists, advised him to do so.
Today, Israel's modern politicians are very much like the Hellenists of old. We have our own version of disloyal High Priests, and our own Hellenizers, the Sharons, the Peres's , the Beilins and others.
A striking example of Sharon's Hellenistic behavior is the sending of his personal advisor, Dov Weisslass on a secret mission to Washington, to promise U.S. Secretary Rice that Israel will give the Arabs Jewish Gaza as a down-payment on the Saudi Road Map plan. Sharon did this to take away the attention of the Israeli people from the corruption of his self and his sons.
Sharon told the Jewish People that in return for the abandonment of Biblical Gaza, President Bush was going to insure the safety and integrity of Jewish settlement blocs. Just another one of Sharon's lies! There never was any such promise. In fact, President Bush insists that the Arabs need to approve each of Israel's borders!
Since the disengagement from Gaza on August 15, Arab missiles continue to be fired, and specifically on Ashkelon, which was previously not within range. The Arab terrorists are trying to immobilize Israel's most sensitive installations such as the Rothenberg power plant and an oil pipe line from Eilat. These rockets are fired regularly from the former Jewish Communities in Gaza, which Sharon destroyed and leveled in order to obtain his make believe "peace".
The rockets are also continually directed at army bases. The Zikim Army Base just south of Ashkelon was targeted and five Israeli soldiers were wounded in this recent attack.
Former Southern District Commander Tzvi Fogel asked on Israel Radio, "Why can't the IDF display the kind of determination it used in the disengagement, in its efforts to stop the rockets?"
WHY INDEED?
A brilliant analysis of Israel's situation can be found in Caroline Glick's December 23, 2005 op-ed article in the Jerusalem Post. I am quoting from her article verbatim:
"Since he took office, Sharon and his advisers have portrayed the status of Israel's relations with the US as one of unprecedented harmony. On a superficial level, this is in fact the case. But this surface tranquility masks its problematic cause. The appearance of smooth sailing in Israel's relations with Washington is the result of the unprecedented weakness of Israel's position in Washington.
This week Ma'ariv reported that IDF commanders are becoming increasingly disturbed by the Bush administration's meddling in the minutiae of the operation of Israel's passages with Gaza. The State Department consistently brushes off Israel's growing security concerns and intervenes on the Palestinians' behalf. This American interference not only constitutes a political blow to Israel's sovereignty, it also manifests a military blow to Israel's national security.
But there is nothing new here. Since taking office five years ago, Sharon has received Washington's support - such as it is - by abandoning Israel's national interests every time that they are challenged by the institutionally anti-Israel State Department. In every single dispute that has arisen over the past five years - from the Mitchell Report in 2001 to the road map in 2003 to the passages agreement Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice rammed down our throats last month - Sharon has abandoned Israel's national security interests at every turn in exchange for public declarations of support for him personally by central Bush administration figures.
Sharon has succeeded in the domestic political arena by presenting the support he has received on a personal level to the public as if it were a national achievement. Israelis have been duped into believing that the trust Sharon demands of them has actually conferred some advantage on the nation when in fact, Israel has never been weaker than it has become under his leadership.
And as with the Americans, so too with the Palestinians. Sharon's success in basing his political fortunes on consolidating his image as a strongman has made it impossible for anyone to impugn his withdrawal from Gaza in spite of the fact that it has been a colossal disaster for Israel's national security. The Kassam missiles that now fall on Ashkelon meet with what can effectively be considered no Israeli response. The seeding of al-Qaida cells in Gaza has been strenuously ignored. And the Hamas takeover of key Palestinian institutions has been greeted by yawns all around."
Was King Antiochus IV such a bad guy after all? According to Professor Gafni, we have to hold the Jewish Hellenists just as responsible as Antiochus, and perhaps even more. After all, Antiochus IV was the head of the Syrian-Greek Empire, the mighty super-power of that age. Possibly, he just wanted to protect his strategic interests by subjugating the Jews. Also, Professor Gafni says the Maccabean revolt came at a most inconvenient time for Antiochus IV, as he was then at war with Egypt.
Sharon and his band of Jewish Hellenists are definitely responsible for the dangerous situation in which Israel now finds itself.
President Bush heads today's greatest superpower. If he feels that America's strategic interests lie with Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Arabs, and is therefore willing to sacrifice the Jewish State, he is making a giant mistake. Bush should not exclude the enemies of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Islamic Jihad, Hizbullah, and Hamas from his global war on terror.
America is a Christian country. Don't forget that the most popular graffiti in all the Arab countries remains unchanged: "First the Saturday people, then the Sunday people." As it goes with Israel, so will it ultimately go with the United States.
The great tragedy of Israel's present situation, is that the War of the Maccabees continues to this very day. The Hellenist Jews, Sharon and company, have joined the Arab enemy against their Jewish brethren. Please, dear G-d, send us another Judah Maccabee!
With Blessings and Love for Israel,
Ruth Matar
=============================================
Women For Israel's Tomorrow (Women in Green)
POB 7352, Jerusalem 91072, Israel
Tel: 972-2-624-9887 Fax: 972-2-624-5380
mailto:michael@womeningreen.org
LETTER FROM RUTH MATAR ( WOMEN IN GREEN ) JERUSALEM
Sunday, December 25, 2005
(The Eve of Chanukah)
Dear Friends,
This Sunday night, we are lighting the first candle of the Chanukah Holiday. What exactly is this holiday all about, besides eating potato latkes and donuts, spinning the "dreidel", and lighting one additional candle for eight days?
We tell our children the story of that bad wicked king, Antiochus, who captured the land of the Jews, and ordered them to give up their religion, and to worship his Greek gods. We make our children proud that a small band of courageous Jews, the Maccabees, defeated the mighty Syrian-Greek army of King Antiochus, and rededicated the Temple, which had been desecrated. And we explain to our children the reason for lighting an additional candle each day that a small vial of oil, miraculously lasted for eight days in the rededicated Jewish Temple.
The real Chanukah story is not so simple. Some years ago I interviewed a prominent Hebrew University professor of Jewish History, Isaiah Gafni, on my weekly Arutz 7 English Program.
Professor Gafni gave me invaluable background material concerning this period in Jewish History. He explained the internal conflict between the Jews who wanted to remain Jews, and the Jews who wanted to be like all the other nations, and to adopt their customs, their dress, and their religion, the Hellenists. The real battle of the Maccabees was not only against the Syrian-Greek army of Antiochus. It was also against their fellow Jews, who were willing to sell out their identity, the Holy Temple, and to allow Jerusalem to become a Greek City. All this in order to obtain for themselves "the good life", and to become "enlightened citizens of the world."
Some background history is important.
The cultural and political elites of the Jewish Community in Judea in the early 2nd Century B.C.E., that is the vast majority of the priests and nobility, drew their power and hopes for advancement from the ruling Syrian-Greek Empire. They adopted Greek culture, imitated Greek customs, and abandoned their Jewish Heritage. Some of them even went so far as to attempt to remove the marks of their circumcision.
When Antiochus IV came to power in 175 B.C.E., the brother of the reigning High Priest Onias III, a man by the name of Jason, offered the new Greek King many times the tribute that his brother paid. The office of High Priest was actually the most powerful position in Judea at that time. He also made the king an offer to establish within Jerusalem a city-state called Antiochia. He erected a gymnasium in Jerusalem, and other Greek institutions. His actions led to a strengthening of Hellenistic Culture, and to a weakening of traditional Jewish life and religious worship.
Three years later, another leader of the Hellenists, a priest named Menelaus, outdid the corrupt Jason, by offering Antiochus even greater tribute and even more Hellenizing measures.
Menelaus, in order to keep his promises to King Antiochus, plundered the Holy Jewish Temple of its gold vessels, provoking rebellion among his fellow Jews.
These policies of the corrupt High Priests, Jason and Menelaus, were the chief causes of the Jewish rebellion.
When Antiochus IV brutally suppressed this rebellion, he began an official persecution of the Jewish religion in Judea, outlawing the Sabbath, Torah studies, and circumcision. He instituted pagan idolatry in the Holy Temple all this with the advice and connivance of Menelaus and his supporters, the Jewish Hellenists.
It is probably not widely known that Antiochus did not issue anti-religious decrees against any other people than the Jews. He simply conquered many nations politically, but did not attack their religion in any way. It was only against the Jews that he instituted anti-religious decrees.
Why just against the Jews? Historians say that Antiochus IV had no intention of issuing anti-religious decrees against the Jews, but his Jewish friends and collaborators, the Hellenists, advised him to do so.
Today, Israel's modern politicians are very much like the Hellenists of old. We have our own version of disloyal High Priests, and our own Hellenizers, the Sharons, the Peres's , the Beilins and others.
A striking example of Sharon's Hellenistic behavior is the sending of his personal advisor, Dov Weisslass on a secret mission to Washington, to promise U.S. Secretary Rice that Israel will give the Arabs Jewish Gaza as a down-payment on the Saudi Road Map plan. Sharon did this to take away the attention of the Israeli people from the corruption of his self and his sons.
Sharon told the Jewish People that in return for the abandonment of Biblical Gaza, President Bush was going to insure the safety and integrity of Jewish settlement blocs. Just another one of Sharon's lies! There never was any such promise. In fact, President Bush insists that the Arabs need to approve each of Israel's borders!
Since the disengagement from Gaza on August 15, Arab missiles continue to be fired, and specifically on Ashkelon, which was previously not within range. The Arab terrorists are trying to immobilize Israel's most sensitive installations such as the Rothenberg power plant and an oil pipe line from Eilat. These rockets are fired regularly from the former Jewish Communities in Gaza, which Sharon destroyed and leveled in order to obtain his make believe "peace".
The rockets are also continually directed at army bases. The Zikim Army Base just south of Ashkelon was targeted and five Israeli soldiers were wounded in this recent attack.
Former Southern District Commander Tzvi Fogel asked on Israel Radio, "Why can't the IDF display the kind of determination it used in the disengagement, in its efforts to stop the rockets?"
WHY INDEED?
A brilliant analysis of Israel's situation can be found in Caroline Glick's December 23, 2005 op-ed article in the Jerusalem Post. I am quoting from her article verbatim:
"Since he took office, Sharon and his advisers have portrayed the status of Israel's relations with the US as one of unprecedented harmony. On a superficial level, this is in fact the case. But this surface tranquility masks its problematic cause. The appearance of smooth sailing in Israel's relations with Washington is the result of the unprecedented weakness of Israel's position in Washington.
This week Ma'ariv reported that IDF commanders are becoming increasingly disturbed by the Bush administration's meddling in the minutiae of the operation of Israel's passages with Gaza. The State Department consistently brushes off Israel's growing security concerns and intervenes on the Palestinians' behalf. This American interference not only constitutes a political blow to Israel's sovereignty, it also manifests a military blow to Israel's national security.
But there is nothing new here. Since taking office five years ago, Sharon has received Washington's support - such as it is - by abandoning Israel's national interests every time that they are challenged by the institutionally anti-Israel State Department. In every single dispute that has arisen over the past five years - from the Mitchell Report in 2001 to the road map in 2003 to the passages agreement Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice rammed down our throats last month - Sharon has abandoned Israel's national security interests at every turn in exchange for public declarations of support for him personally by central Bush administration figures.
Sharon has succeeded in the domestic political arena by presenting the support he has received on a personal level to the public as if it were a national achievement. Israelis have been duped into believing that the trust Sharon demands of them has actually conferred some advantage on the nation when in fact, Israel has never been weaker than it has become under his leadership.
And as with the Americans, so too with the Palestinians. Sharon's success in basing his political fortunes on consolidating his image as a strongman has made it impossible for anyone to impugn his withdrawal from Gaza in spite of the fact that it has been a colossal disaster for Israel's national security. The Kassam missiles that now fall on Ashkelon meet with what can effectively be considered no Israeli response. The seeding of al-Qaida cells in Gaza has been strenuously ignored. And the Hamas takeover of key Palestinian institutions has been greeted by yawns all around."
Was King Antiochus IV such a bad guy after all? According to Professor Gafni, we have to hold the Jewish Hellenists just as responsible as Antiochus, and perhaps even more. After all, Antiochus IV was the head of the Syrian-Greek Empire, the mighty super-power of that age. Possibly, he just wanted to protect his strategic interests by subjugating the Jews. Also, Professor Gafni says the Maccabean revolt came at a most inconvenient time for Antiochus IV, as he was then at war with Egypt.
Sharon and his band of Jewish Hellenists are definitely responsible for the dangerous situation in which Israel now finds itself.
President Bush heads today's greatest superpower. If he feels that America's strategic interests lie with Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Arabs, and is therefore willing to sacrifice the Jewish State, he is making a giant mistake. Bush should not exclude the enemies of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Islamic Jihad, Hizbullah, and Hamas from his global war on terror.
America is a Christian country. Don't forget that the most popular graffiti in all the Arab countries remains unchanged: "First the Saturday people, then the Sunday people." As it goes with Israel, so will it ultimately go with the United States.
The great tragedy of Israel's present situation, is that the War of the Maccabees continues to this very day. The Hellenist Jews, Sharon and company, have joined the Arab enemy against their Jewish brethren. Please, dear G-d, send us another Judah Maccabee!
With Blessings and Love for Israel,
Ruth Matar
=============================================
Women For Israel's Tomorrow (Women in Green)
POB 7352, Jerusalem 91072, Israel
Tel: 972-2-624-9887 Fax: 972-2-624-5380
mailto:michael@womeningreen.org
Saturday, December 24, 2005
When will Jews learn the lessons of Hanukkah?
A few excerpts from:
Another tack: North to Alaska
Sarah Honig, THE JERUSALEM POST
Dec. 23, 2005
"In those days before the war," Chaim Weizmann recalled international vexation with the Jews, "our protests were regarded as provocations. Our very refusal to subscribe to our own death sentence became a public nuisance."
Words that could have been spoken today.
This also goes for Weizmann's warning to Anthony Eden: "The fire from the synagogues may easily spread to Westminster Abbey… If a government is allowed to destroy a whole community which has committed no crime… it means the beginning of anarchy and the destruction of the basis of civilization. The powers which stand looking on, without taking measures to prevent the crime, will one day be themselves visited by severe punishment."/
Now if you apply those words to the wanton destruction of the Jewish communities of Gush Katif and Shomron, whole communities who committed no crime, we can see that Israel is on the edge of the abyss and the fascist EU will push it over and occupy Jerusalem and let their Roman wolves in sheep's clothing ("peacekeepers") pollute the Holy Land.
When will Jews learn the lessons of the Holocaust? When will Jews learn the lessons of Hanukkah?
David Ben-Ariel
Another tack: North to Alaska
Sarah Honig, THE JERUSALEM POST
Dec. 23, 2005
"In those days before the war," Chaim Weizmann recalled international vexation with the Jews, "our protests were regarded as provocations. Our very refusal to subscribe to our own death sentence became a public nuisance."
Words that could have been spoken today.
This also goes for Weizmann's warning to Anthony Eden: "The fire from the synagogues may easily spread to Westminster Abbey… If a government is allowed to destroy a whole community which has committed no crime… it means the beginning of anarchy and the destruction of the basis of civilization. The powers which stand looking on, without taking measures to prevent the crime, will one day be themselves visited by severe punishment."/
Now if you apply those words to the wanton destruction of the Jewish communities of Gush Katif and Shomron, whole communities who committed no crime, we can see that Israel is on the edge of the abyss and the fascist EU will push it over and occupy Jerusalem and let their Roman wolves in sheep's clothing ("peacekeepers") pollute the Holy Land.
When will Jews learn the lessons of the Holocaust? When will Jews learn the lessons of Hanukkah?
David Ben-Ariel
Friday, December 23, 2005
There are PERMITTED PLACES on the Temple Mount for bar/bat mitzvahs!
On A FORUM ON THE MIDDLE EAST it was reported:
"50,000 bar and bat mitzvahs this year at Kotel Ham'aravi" - to which I responded and said they should have all been performed upon the Temple Mount at the permitted places.
One gentleman inquired about this at AskMoses:
"Shalom
I realise it's not practical at the moment, but could you please let me know whether from a halachic point of view it would be permissible for a bar/batmitzvah on the Har haBayit(Temple Mount).
Todah!
_________________________________________________________________
and received the following response:
No, it wouldn't be possible.
Below is an article about this from our searchable knowledgebase. It can be
found at: http://www.askmoses.com/qa_detail.html?h=410&o=91783.
Is it permitted to visit the inside of the Temple Mount?
Since the Divine Presence is still present on the Temple Mount and the Temple area, all the laws prohibiting the ritually impure from accessing the Temple remain in effect. We all are presumed to be impure due to contact with corpses (either direct contact, being under the same roof, or the possibility of having trodden on an unknown grave), and therefore are barred from entering the Temple area. Although the actual Temple area doesn't encompass the entire area of the Temple Mount, still, since we are uncertain of the exact location of the Temple area, most Rabbinic experts agree that it is forbidden to enter the entire walled area of the Temple Mount.
If you have further questions, please click reply or logon to AskMoses and ask a live scholar. Thank you for coming to AskMoses!
Simcha Bart
AskMoses
sbart@AskMoses.com/
Shame on him for offering such unclean information! For expressing such a ghetto-mentality that would keep Jews at their Gentile/Turkish-designated Wall of Tears rather than upon Judaism's holiest site - the Temple Mount - at the permitted places! Everybody needs to read and understand this holy
"Issue of the Temple Mount"
And what appropriate reading for Hanukkah!
"50,000 bar and bat mitzvahs this year at Kotel Ham'aravi" - to which I responded and said they should have all been performed upon the Temple Mount at the permitted places.
One gentleman inquired about this at AskMoses:
"Shalom
I realise it's not practical at the moment, but could you please let me know whether from a halachic point of view it would be permissible for a bar/batmitzvah on the Har haBayit(Temple Mount).
Todah!
_________________________________________________________________
and received the following response:
No, it wouldn't be possible.
Below is an article about this from our searchable knowledgebase. It can be
found at: http://www.askmoses.com/qa_detail.html?h=410&o=91783.
Is it permitted to visit the inside of the Temple Mount?
Since the Divine Presence is still present on the Temple Mount and the Temple area, all the laws prohibiting the ritually impure from accessing the Temple remain in effect. We all are presumed to be impure due to contact with corpses (either direct contact, being under the same roof, or the possibility of having trodden on an unknown grave), and therefore are barred from entering the Temple area. Although the actual Temple area doesn't encompass the entire area of the Temple Mount, still, since we are uncertain of the exact location of the Temple area, most Rabbinic experts agree that it is forbidden to enter the entire walled area of the Temple Mount.
If you have further questions, please click reply or logon to AskMoses and ask a live scholar. Thank you for coming to AskMoses!
Simcha Bart
AskMoses
sbart@AskMoses.com/
Shame on him for offering such unclean information! For expressing such a ghetto-mentality that would keep Jews at their Gentile/Turkish-designated Wall of Tears rather than upon Judaism's holiest site - the Temple Mount - at the permitted places! Everybody needs to read and understand this holy
"Issue of the Temple Mount"
And what appropriate reading for Hanukkah!
Why Jerusalem is Not Holy to Muslims
Why Jerusalem is Not Holy to Muslims
by Leah Bat-Chaim - May 18, 2004
We often hear the Muslim claim that Jerusalem is their "third holiest city", after Mecca and Medina; and specifically, that this is because our Temple Mount is mentioned in the Koran.
As a result, Muslims are allowed sole control over our Temple Mount - to visit it whenever they choose, to destroy priceless archaeological relics while building additional mosques, etc. - while Jews are only occasionally allowed to visit, and never allowed to utter a prayer there. (Like in the old joke that ends "...but don't let me catch you praying." Except this isn't a joke.)
This situation has always amazed me. Even if Jerusalem and the Temple Mount were truly the "third holiest place" for Muslims, why should that give them more rights than Jews, for whom the Temple Mount is our first holiest place?
But in fact, even the claim of being the "third holiest place" is not true. It cannot possibly be true, for several very logical reasons.
First, the claim of being "the third holiest place" is based on a dream described in the Koran. That's right, not an actual event, just a dream. In the dream, Mohammed "visited" a place referred to as masjid el-aksa, which means "the farthest mosque".
The Arabs claim that this refers to their mosque of that name, located on the Temple Mount.
But the El Aksa Mosque was built about a hundred years after Mohammed. In Mohammed's time, Jerusalem was ruled by the Byzantine Christians, and there were no mosques at all in Jerusalem, not on the Temple Mount or anywhere else. So obviously, Mohammed couldn't have dreamed about a mosque that didn't exist.
Moreover, the very name "El-Aksa" for the imaginary place mentioned in Mohammed's dream proves that the reference could not possibly be to Jerusalem. Because Jerusalem would never be referred to as "the farthest place".
Jerusalem is centrally located. Within the Land of Israel, it is located on the mountain ridge between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. On a larger scale, it is located at the junction point of three continents: Asia, Europe and Africa. We see this shown in ancient maps, such as the Medeba map.
In Mohammed's time (or earlier), "the farthest place" would never refer to Jerusalem. It would refer either to a coastal city, such as Jaffa, Acre or Haifa, or it would refer to the end of the Mediterranean Sea – Spain, Gibraltar or Morocco. We see this in the book of Jonah, where the prophet attempts to flee to the end of the earth by going to Jaffa and catching a boat headed for "Tarshish" (usually considered to be Spain).
So, how did the tradition arise of Jerusalem's "holiness" to Muslims?
It's very simple. It has always been a Muslim policy, when conquering any area, to take over the holy places of the local people and to turn them into mosques. It is a way of putting down the conquered people – to show them that Islam will take away the most important thing to them, and there's nothing they can do about it.
They have done this not only in the Land of Israel, regarding both Jewish and Christian holy places, but also in India (regarding Hindu holy places), in Afghanistan (regarding Buddhist holy places), etc.
So, when the Muslims conquered the Land of Israel in the 7th century, they looked for the holiest place around, and found a Byzantine church that was built on the Jewish Temple Mount. So here we have a no-brainer – an opportunity to take away a holy place from both Jews and Christians at the same time!
In addition, the Muslim ruler of the Land of Israel wasn't happy with the fact that he was stuck with a backwater province. So, to make it more attractive to tourists, he named the new mosque "El-Aksa", and told all the tourists that it was the very same one mentioned in the Koran. Voila! The birth of a "tradition".
It would be the equivalent of Christians believing that the founder of their religion was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, or that he grew up in Nazareth, Texas. Obviously, these places are simply named after the original Bethlehem and Nazareth; just as El-Aksa Mosque was named after the imaginary place described in Mohammed's dream.
It's time that more people were aware of the simple facts and logic involved. Jerusalem and the Temple Mount are not holy to Muslims, and never have been, except as an attempt to take them away from the Jews.
©2004 - www.IsraelNationalNews.com
by Leah Bat-Chaim - May 18, 2004
We often hear the Muslim claim that Jerusalem is their "third holiest city", after Mecca and Medina; and specifically, that this is because our Temple Mount is mentioned in the Koran.
As a result, Muslims are allowed sole control over our Temple Mount - to visit it whenever they choose, to destroy priceless archaeological relics while building additional mosques, etc. - while Jews are only occasionally allowed to visit, and never allowed to utter a prayer there. (Like in the old joke that ends "...but don't let me catch you praying." Except this isn't a joke.)
This situation has always amazed me. Even if Jerusalem and the Temple Mount were truly the "third holiest place" for Muslims, why should that give them more rights than Jews, for whom the Temple Mount is our first holiest place?
But in fact, even the claim of being the "third holiest place" is not true. It cannot possibly be true, for several very logical reasons.
First, the claim of being "the third holiest place" is based on a dream described in the Koran. That's right, not an actual event, just a dream. In the dream, Mohammed "visited" a place referred to as masjid el-aksa, which means "the farthest mosque".
The Arabs claim that this refers to their mosque of that name, located on the Temple Mount.
But the El Aksa Mosque was built about a hundred years after Mohammed. In Mohammed's time, Jerusalem was ruled by the Byzantine Christians, and there were no mosques at all in Jerusalem, not on the Temple Mount or anywhere else. So obviously, Mohammed couldn't have dreamed about a mosque that didn't exist.
Moreover, the very name "El-Aksa" for the imaginary place mentioned in Mohammed's dream proves that the reference could not possibly be to Jerusalem. Because Jerusalem would never be referred to as "the farthest place".
Jerusalem is centrally located. Within the Land of Israel, it is located on the mountain ridge between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. On a larger scale, it is located at the junction point of three continents: Asia, Europe and Africa. We see this shown in ancient maps, such as the Medeba map.
In Mohammed's time (or earlier), "the farthest place" would never refer to Jerusalem. It would refer either to a coastal city, such as Jaffa, Acre or Haifa, or it would refer to the end of the Mediterranean Sea – Spain, Gibraltar or Morocco. We see this in the book of Jonah, where the prophet attempts to flee to the end of the earth by going to Jaffa and catching a boat headed for "Tarshish" (usually considered to be Spain).
So, how did the tradition arise of Jerusalem's "holiness" to Muslims?
It's very simple. It has always been a Muslim policy, when conquering any area, to take over the holy places of the local people and to turn them into mosques. It is a way of putting down the conquered people – to show them that Islam will take away the most important thing to them, and there's nothing they can do about it.
They have done this not only in the Land of Israel, regarding both Jewish and Christian holy places, but also in India (regarding Hindu holy places), in Afghanistan (regarding Buddhist holy places), etc.
So, when the Muslims conquered the Land of Israel in the 7th century, they looked for the holiest place around, and found a Byzantine church that was built on the Jewish Temple Mount. So here we have a no-brainer – an opportunity to take away a holy place from both Jews and Christians at the same time!
In addition, the Muslim ruler of the Land of Israel wasn't happy with the fact that he was stuck with a backwater province. So, to make it more attractive to tourists, he named the new mosque "El-Aksa", and told all the tourists that it was the very same one mentioned in the Koran. Voila! The birth of a "tradition".
It would be the equivalent of Christians believing that the founder of their religion was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, or that he grew up in Nazareth, Texas. Obviously, these places are simply named after the original Bethlehem and Nazareth; just as El-Aksa Mosque was named after the imaginary place described in Mohammed's dream.
It's time that more people were aware of the simple facts and logic involved. Jerusalem and the Temple Mount are not holy to Muslims, and never have been, except as an attempt to take them away from the Jews.
©2004 - www.IsraelNationalNews.com
Thursday, December 22, 2005
The Light of the World
The Light of the World
’Tis the season to celebrate the triumph of liberty over tyranny.
By Emanuele Ottolenghi
Let's embarrass Iran's evil regime. During this festive season, let's light some Hanukkah candles in front of their embassies.
In Jewish tradition, Hanukkah is the festival of lights, because it celebrates the survival of the Jewish people against the onslaught of a tyrannical regime that denied them the freedom to practice their faith freely. Under the leadership of a priestly family, the Jews rebelled and fought against their oppressors. Eventually, they managed to gain back control of Jerusalem's Holy Temple, which their enemies had turned into a pagan shrine where pigs — that most unholy of animals in Jewish tradition — were being sacrificed to pagan gods. Having smashed the idols, so the story goes, the revolt's leaders sought the oil necessary to light the Temple's candelabra, in order to re-consecrate the sanctuary. This they only found in small quantities, enough to last a day, but well short of the minimum eight days needed to prepare the oil in conformity with the needs of worship. And here's the miracle: The tiny oil quantity, meant to last for just a day, kept the lights on for the full eight days.
The Hanukkah lights thus symbolize the triumph of light over darkness, of hope over despair, and of freedom over tyranny. In remembrance, Jews light candles for eight days, starting from one candle the first night and adding one candle each day, to show how freedom's light, and the hopes it feeds, grows from strength to strength.
This symbol makes Hanukkah not only a Jewish holiday. The triumph of liberty over tyranny, through the resolve believers who refuse to bow to a brutal regime is the story of America's Founding Fathers and of their ethos of freedom. Their pursuit of religious freedom brought them to unwelcoming shores. There, despite the odds, they eventually built a free society, where belief, however outlandish and deviant from established church doctrine, would never again become ground for persecution. Americans should therefore find no difficulty identifying with Hanukkah lights. Though a Jewish tradition, their message is universal, a powerful reminder that tyranny can be defeated and freedom restored.
Americans fought for their freedom long ago. But freedom should know no boundaries; and tyranny should be given no quarter. A tyrant rules over Iran today and his mad quest for nuclear weapons is now matched by a murderous rhetoric against the Jewish people and the state of Israel. Despite placing its genocidal designs and its quest for the tools to achieve them in the plain light of day, the decent nations of the world have so far done little to dissuade Iran. With Iran so close to completing a nuclear fuel cycle and with its arsenals now acquiring new and longer-range missiles, the threats of its leaders may soon become more than just bellicose verbal abuse.
Yet, there is little sign that the international community will act. Forget military action, forget sanctions: Even the highly symbolic idea of launching a ban on Iran's soccer team from next year's world cup, though gaining momentum in Europe, has so far been dismissed by FIFA (the international football association in charge of the tournament).
So here's an idea that ordinary citizens can adopt as a reminder to governments that in the end, for any hope to survive, we need freedom to triumph over tyranny. This year, Hanukkah coincides with Christmas. On December 27, the third night of Hanukkah, Hanukkah candles should be lit in public ceremonies across the streets, in front of Iranian embassies around the world. Jewish communities should organize a lighting ceremony in all those capital cities where Iran has an embassy, and in New York it should be done in front of the U.N. building, right beside the Iranian flag. According to Jewish law, anyone can light the Shamash, the candle that is used to light all others. Prominent leaders with bipartisan support should be invited to perform this symbolic act to reaffirm the light of freedom over the darkness of tyranny. And other public figures should endorse this initiative as a message to the Iranian authorities.
The idea was recently launched by two London activists, and is already gaining support and sympathy elsewhere. Rome may soon follow, and so should other capitals of Europe and the Western world.
Since the free world's leaders remain unwilling to give a strong and decisive answer to Iran's tyranny, ordinary citizens should perform this simple gesture of defiance, which for centuries Jewish families and communities across the world have done. This is a reminder that in the end, despite the odds, the light of freedom must, and therefore can, triumph over the darkness of tyranny.
— Emanuele Ottolenghi teaches Israel studies at Oxford University.
’Tis the season to celebrate the triumph of liberty over tyranny.
By Emanuele Ottolenghi
Let's embarrass Iran's evil regime. During this festive season, let's light some Hanukkah candles in front of their embassies.
In Jewish tradition, Hanukkah is the festival of lights, because it celebrates the survival of the Jewish people against the onslaught of a tyrannical regime that denied them the freedom to practice their faith freely. Under the leadership of a priestly family, the Jews rebelled and fought against their oppressors. Eventually, they managed to gain back control of Jerusalem's Holy Temple, which their enemies had turned into a pagan shrine where pigs — that most unholy of animals in Jewish tradition — were being sacrificed to pagan gods. Having smashed the idols, so the story goes, the revolt's leaders sought the oil necessary to light the Temple's candelabra, in order to re-consecrate the sanctuary. This they only found in small quantities, enough to last a day, but well short of the minimum eight days needed to prepare the oil in conformity with the needs of worship. And here's the miracle: The tiny oil quantity, meant to last for just a day, kept the lights on for the full eight days.
The Hanukkah lights thus symbolize the triumph of light over darkness, of hope over despair, and of freedom over tyranny. In remembrance, Jews light candles for eight days, starting from one candle the first night and adding one candle each day, to show how freedom's light, and the hopes it feeds, grows from strength to strength.
This symbol makes Hanukkah not only a Jewish holiday. The triumph of liberty over tyranny, through the resolve believers who refuse to bow to a brutal regime is the story of America's Founding Fathers and of their ethos of freedom. Their pursuit of religious freedom brought them to unwelcoming shores. There, despite the odds, they eventually built a free society, where belief, however outlandish and deviant from established church doctrine, would never again become ground for persecution. Americans should therefore find no difficulty identifying with Hanukkah lights. Though a Jewish tradition, their message is universal, a powerful reminder that tyranny can be defeated and freedom restored.
Americans fought for their freedom long ago. But freedom should know no boundaries; and tyranny should be given no quarter. A tyrant rules over Iran today and his mad quest for nuclear weapons is now matched by a murderous rhetoric against the Jewish people and the state of Israel. Despite placing its genocidal designs and its quest for the tools to achieve them in the plain light of day, the decent nations of the world have so far done little to dissuade Iran. With Iran so close to completing a nuclear fuel cycle and with its arsenals now acquiring new and longer-range missiles, the threats of its leaders may soon become more than just bellicose verbal abuse.
Yet, there is little sign that the international community will act. Forget military action, forget sanctions: Even the highly symbolic idea of launching a ban on Iran's soccer team from next year's world cup, though gaining momentum in Europe, has so far been dismissed by FIFA (the international football association in charge of the tournament).
So here's an idea that ordinary citizens can adopt as a reminder to governments that in the end, for any hope to survive, we need freedom to triumph over tyranny. This year, Hanukkah coincides with Christmas. On December 27, the third night of Hanukkah, Hanukkah candles should be lit in public ceremonies across the streets, in front of Iranian embassies around the world. Jewish communities should organize a lighting ceremony in all those capital cities where Iran has an embassy, and in New York it should be done in front of the U.N. building, right beside the Iranian flag. According to Jewish law, anyone can light the Shamash, the candle that is used to light all others. Prominent leaders with bipartisan support should be invited to perform this symbolic act to reaffirm the light of freedom over the darkness of tyranny. And other public figures should endorse this initiative as a message to the Iranian authorities.
The idea was recently launched by two London activists, and is already gaining support and sympathy elsewhere. Rome may soon follow, and so should other capitals of Europe and the Western world.
Since the free world's leaders remain unwilling to give a strong and decisive answer to Iran's tyranny, ordinary citizens should perform this simple gesture of defiance, which for centuries Jewish families and communities across the world have done. This is a reminder that in the end, despite the odds, the light of freedom must, and therefore can, triumph over the darkness of tyranny.
— Emanuele Ottolenghi teaches Israel studies at Oxford University.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Whose Jerusalem? Whose Israel?
The fact that some dare question this today is the dreadful result of the Jewish and Israeli peoples' horrible sin against both God and man. The sin that stinks to High Heaven is the miserable failure to immediately liberate and annex Jerusalem and Eretz Yisrael without apology in 1967. The world should have no doubt whose Jerusalem and whose Land.
This national sin must be repented of or Jerusalem will suffer EU occupation and Roman troops will again pollute the Holy Land! Jerusalem's abomination of desolation - a Temple Mount without a Temple - must end. Let every Jew and Israeli turn from such woeful neglect of the Temple Mount and take such matters into their hands, taking the Law and the Prophets to heart. Now is better than never. God is a forgiving God. What better time to do something like this than Hanukkah? "It's better to light a candle than curse the darkness."
David Ben-Ariel
This national sin must be repented of or Jerusalem will suffer EU occupation and Roman troops will again pollute the Holy Land! Jerusalem's abomination of desolation - a Temple Mount without a Temple - must end. Let every Jew and Israeli turn from such woeful neglect of the Temple Mount and take such matters into their hands, taking the Law and the Prophets to heart. Now is better than never. God is a forgiving God. What better time to do something like this than Hanukkah? "It's better to light a candle than curse the darkness."
David Ben-Ariel
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Biblical Robe Produced for Use by High Priest in Holy Temple
Biblical Robe Produced For Use by High Priest in Holy Temple
By Ezra HaLevi
After much hard work and research, the Techelet (azure blue) robe of the High Priest has been completed by the Temple Institute and it is hoped to be fit to be worn in the Third Temple.
The blue coat, or me'il techelet as it is called in the Torah, sports 72 golden bells alternating with 72 pomegranates attached around its hem, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet wool.
The project was researched and undertaken by skilled artisans over the past three years. It will join the already completed ephod and choshen (breastplate), featuring the 12 precious stones associated with the 12 tribes of Israel. They are located at the Temple Institute in Jerusalem's Old City, and it is hoped they will be found fit to be used by the High Priest in the third temple.
Master weaver Yehudit Avraham wove the robe using the Navajo "two-sided" weaving technique. The Techelet dye used is the most widely accepted of the blue dyes thought to be the Biblical Blue.
The commandment to make such a robe appears in Exodus 28: 31-35: "And you shall make the robe of the ephod entirely out of blue wool. Its head-opening shall be folded over within it, its opening shall have a border all around of weaver's work - it shall be for it like the opening of a coat of mail, that it should not be torn. And you shall make on its hem pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet wool, on its hem all around, and gold bells between them, all around; a gold bell and a pomegranate, a gold bell and a pomegranate, all around. It must be on Aaron in order to minister. Its sound shall be heard when he enters the Sanctuary before Hashem and when he leaves, so that he not die."
"This is the first robe woven entirely out of techelet in nearly 2,000 years," Rabbi Chaim Richman of the Temple Institute told Arutz-7. "Next week we shall begin to observe the holiday of Chanukah, which marks the rededication of the Second Temple in the days when the wicked King Antiochus rose up against the Jewish people with decrees meant to separate them from G-d and His Torah. Chanukah also marks the day when the original desert tabernacle was completed. Our sages emphasize that every year on Chanukah, when we kindle the festive lights, there's a sublime illumination of holy light that is released into the world - a continuation of the original hidden light of creation and a spark of the light of the holy Menorah in the Temple. Above all, Chanukah is the time of miracles and thanksgiving to G-d. The completion of this sacred garment marks a great step forward towards the renewal of the Divine service in the Holy Temple."
Click here to listen to Rabbi Richman speak about the robe on Temple Talk.
In the near future, the Institute plans to embark on another major project: the production and supplying of the Torah-specified white garments of the ordinary priests for every male Jewish descendant of Aaron. "Every Kohen from all over the world, will be given the opportunity to register and order his own uniform so that he can be ready to serve in the rebuilt Holy Temple," Richman said.
Click here for additional photographs of the meil and here for more information on the priestly garments.
By Ezra HaLevi
After much hard work and research, the Techelet (azure blue) robe of the High Priest has been completed by the Temple Institute and it is hoped to be fit to be worn in the Third Temple.
The blue coat, or me'il techelet as it is called in the Torah, sports 72 golden bells alternating with 72 pomegranates attached around its hem, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet wool.
The project was researched and undertaken by skilled artisans over the past three years. It will join the already completed ephod and choshen (breastplate), featuring the 12 precious stones associated with the 12 tribes of Israel. They are located at the Temple Institute in Jerusalem's Old City, and it is hoped they will be found fit to be used by the High Priest in the third temple.
Master weaver Yehudit Avraham wove the robe using the Navajo "two-sided" weaving technique. The Techelet dye used is the most widely accepted of the blue dyes thought to be the Biblical Blue.
The commandment to make such a robe appears in Exodus 28: 31-35: "And you shall make the robe of the ephod entirely out of blue wool. Its head-opening shall be folded over within it, its opening shall have a border all around of weaver's work - it shall be for it like the opening of a coat of mail, that it should not be torn. And you shall make on its hem pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet wool, on its hem all around, and gold bells between them, all around; a gold bell and a pomegranate, a gold bell and a pomegranate, all around. It must be on Aaron in order to minister. Its sound shall be heard when he enters the Sanctuary before Hashem and when he leaves, so that he not die."
"This is the first robe woven entirely out of techelet in nearly 2,000 years," Rabbi Chaim Richman of the Temple Institute told Arutz-7. "Next week we shall begin to observe the holiday of Chanukah, which marks the rededication of the Second Temple in the days when the wicked King Antiochus rose up against the Jewish people with decrees meant to separate them from G-d and His Torah. Chanukah also marks the day when the original desert tabernacle was completed. Our sages emphasize that every year on Chanukah, when we kindle the festive lights, there's a sublime illumination of holy light that is released into the world - a continuation of the original hidden light of creation and a spark of the light of the holy Menorah in the Temple. Above all, Chanukah is the time of miracles and thanksgiving to G-d. The completion of this sacred garment marks a great step forward towards the renewal of the Divine service in the Holy Temple."
Click here to listen to Rabbi Richman speak about the robe on Temple Talk.
In the near future, the Institute plans to embark on another major project: the production and supplying of the Torah-specified white garments of the ordinary priests for every male Jewish descendant of Aaron. "Every Kohen from all over the world, will be given the opportunity to register and order his own uniform so that he can be ready to serve in the rebuilt Holy Temple," Richman said.
Click here for additional photographs of the meil and here for more information on the priestly garments.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Germany and the Vatican covet the Temple Mount!
www.barrychamish.com
ON TOP OF MOUNT ZION, ALL COVETED BY ROME
by Barry Chamish
Just a few weeks ago, the following was the issue of the day in Israel:
http://www.isfsp.org/zion-docs.html
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=91526
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0%2C%2C13509-1823149%2C00.html
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/642171.html
Report: Israel to hand control of Jerusalem holy site
to Vatican
Haaretz November 6, 2005
By Amiram Barkat
Israel is to give the Vatican control over one of the
most sacred Christian sites in Jerusalem, several
European newspapers have reported recently. According
to the reports, Israel will give the Holy See
possession of the Coenaculum, or the Room of the Last
Supper (also known as the Upper Room or the Cenacle),
on Mount Zion.
In response to the news, I wrote an article which proved the handover of the Old City of Jerusalem was a done deal. In fact, it was one of the secret clauses of the first Oslo "peace" accord signed by the Israeli government.
A week after, I received a phone call from a rabbi of the Diaspora Yeshiva. He explained that the Tourism Minister was visiting their school the next day and he was trying to fill the study hall to prove to the government that their yeshiva was too valuable to be given away.
I replied that I would not partake in such a spectacle. I might come if the students forcibly barred the Minister or any government official from entering the property. Hadn't he learned anything from Gush Katif? The government of Israel couldn't care less about him and could care even less how many students he can pack into a room. Mount Zion was a litmus test of how much opposition the government and its corrupted army could expect when all of the Old City was turned over to the Vatican.
He said I must talk to the headmaster of the Yeshiva, Rabbi Goldstein.
An hour later, I was honored by a call from Rabbi Goldstein. Soon, however, I was in despair. As far as he knew, the Vatican wanted to turn his school into a money making tourist site and the Ministry of Tourism was being enticed by the prospects of millions of Catholic tourists visiting Israel to see the Last Supper room.
I did my best to wake the Rabbi. I told him that tourism was the facade, not the issue. I tried to explain the global forces using their muscle to get the Jews out of Jerusalem's holy sites. I noted that the government of Israel was the worst enemy of Judaism and that he must block the entrance of their representative with whatever force he could muster.
However, as with the Rabbis of Gush Katif, my words were wasted. Mount Zion will give up without a real fight. You watch.
Nonetheless, the truth marches on. A brilliant Jerusalem-based German-born historian, Dr. Asher Edar, also honored me with a conversation. Vive le difference:
BC - Why is the Vatican suddenly so interested in getting its hands on Mount Zion real estate?
AE - There's nothing sudden about it at all. In fact, the roots of the desire go back 1200 years to the time of Charlemagne. He was the Vatican's military tool for converting Europe to Roman Catholicism.
He succeed magnificently and created what is known as the Holy Roman Empire but what was then called The Holy Roman Empire Of The German Nation. Charlemagne's capital was at Aachen and there he built his first cathedral.
BC - Excuse me but, so?
AE - Next to the yeshiva on Mount Zion is the Dormition Abbey, built by the Germans starting in 1906. It is an exact duplicate of Charlemagne's Aachen Cathedral.
BC - How did that happen?
AE - Kaiser Wilhelm II came to Jerusalem in 1898 to build two churches, a modest Lutheran Church of minor religious significance and a magnificent Catholic structure on Mount Zion. In 1898, the ruler of a nation didn't make such a difficult journey to a diplomatic backwater unless it was extremely important. The Vatican was worried that the British had an operating church in Jerusalem and its presence could solidify and spread. The Vatican provided much of the funds for the trip and the bribe to the Turkish Sultan, Khamid. Since Wilhelm had a Protestant population to appease, he put up a smaller Lutheran church as well, but the real prize was Mount Zion.
BC - Why all the money and trouble if the Vatican gets the real estate? What was in it for Germany?
AE - Germany has never given up its dream of reviving the Holy Roman Empire. At the height of that empire, their greatest king, Frederick the Great, marched into Jerusalem and became the city's king. Jerusalem was once part of the Holy Roman Empire and the dream is that it will be again. In this empire, the delineation of powers was strict. The pope was the spiritual leader, but the political leader was whoever ruled Germany. This dream led straight to World War I.
BC - Where do the Jews fit in all this?
AE - Nowhere. Herzl tried to get a role for the Jews and met with Wilhelm in Jerusalem. Wilhelm would have nothing to do with him. His goal was to save Jerusalem for a Christendom led politically by Germany and spiritually by Rome. Nothing has changed except now the pope is a determined German. The Vatican want the Jews out of the Old City and apparently our government is agreeing with them.
Now a history lesson with little comment:
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0858236.html
Encyclopedia—Frederick II, Holy Roman emperor and German king
King of Jerusalem
Having married (1225) Yolande, daughter of John of Brienne, he claimed the crown of Jerusalem, but again postponed his departure on crusade. He further offended the pope by reasserting at the Diet of Cremona (1226) the imperial claim to Lombardy. The Lombard League was immediately revived, but open conflict did not break out until 1236. On the insistent demand of the new pope, Gregory IX, Frederick embarked on a crusade (Sept., 1227), but fell ill, turned back, and was excommunicated.
In 1228 he finally embarked. His “crusade,” actually a state visit, was a diplomatic victory. At Jaffa he made a treaty by which Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem were surrendered to the Christians, with the Mosque of Omar being left to the Muslims. In 1229 he crowned himself king at Jerusalem.
http://www.notfah.com/wiki/Frederick_II,_Holy_Roman_Emperor
In 1226, by means of the Golden Bull of Rimini he confirmed the legitimacy of rule by the Teutonic Knights under their headmaster Hermann von Salza over the Prussian lands east of the Vistula, the Chelmno Land.
At the time he was crowned Emperor, Frederick had promised to go on crusade. In preparation for his crusade, Frederick had, in 1225, married Yolande of Jerusalem, heiress to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and immediately taken steps to take control of the Kingdom from his new father-in-law, John of Brienne. However, he continued to take his time in setting off, and in 1227, Frederick was excommunicated by Pope Gregory IX for failing to honor his crusading pledge - perhaps unfairly, at this point, as his plans had been delayed by an epidemic. He eventually embarked on the crusade the following year (1228), which was seen on by the pope as a rude provocation, since the church could not take any part in the honor for the crusade, resulting in a second excommunication. Frederick did not attempt to take Jerusalem by force of arms. Instead, he negotiated restitution of Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem to the Kingdom with sultan Al-Kamil, the Ayyubid ruler of the region.
http://www.chivalricorders.org/vatican/teutonic.htm
THE TEUTONIC ORDER OF HOLY MARY IN JERUSALEM
Some forty knights were received into the new Order at its foundation by the King of Jerusalem and Frederick of Swabia, who selected their first Master in the name of the Pope and Emperor. The knights of the new confraternity had to be of German birth (although this rule was occasionally relaxed), a unique requirement among the Crusader Orders founded in the Holy Land. They were drawn predominately from the noble or knightly class, although this latter obligation was not formally incorporated into the rule until much later. Their blue mantle, charged with a black cross, was worn over a white tunic, a uniform recognized by the Patriarch of Jerusalem and confirmed by the Pope in 1211. The waves of German knights and pilgrims who followed the Third Crusade brought considerable wealth to the new German Hospital as well as recruits. This enabled the knights to acquire the Lordship of Joscelin and, soon thereafter they built the castle of Montfort (lost in 1271), the rival of the great hospitaller fortress of Krak des Chevaliers. Never as numerous in the Holy Land as either the Hospitaller or Templar Orders, the Teutonic knights were nonetheless a formidable power.
http://www.chivalricorders.org/vatican/holysep.htm
THE EQUESTRIAN ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER OF JERUSALEM
© Guy Stair Sainty
The origins of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher have been disputed for centuries. In this examination of the history of what is today a major Catholic Order of Knighthood, under the direct protection of the Holy See, it has been my intention to separate fact from fantasy and outline the historical development of this great institution. It now has a world-wide mission to support the Holy Places, particularly in Jerusalem, and has approximately eighteen thousand members across the globe. [1]
Two Christian sources who are certain the goal of the "peace" process is to establish a German/Vatican capital in Jerusalem are David Ben-Ariel, and the Philadelphia Trumpet:
Looking to Jerusalem
We have also said that the next pope would have his sights set on Jerusalem. Ratzinger was known for statements he made concerning a reconciliation of sorts with the Jews. That reconciliation being, “the moment in which Israel too will say yes to Christ.” After all, the “star points to Jerusalem,” Ratzinger said once. Watch for this new pope to have a more fervent interest in Israeli politics and affairs surrounding Jerusalem.
For the rest of the story: www.barrychamish.com
ON TOP OF MOUNT ZION, ALL COVETED BY ROME
by Barry Chamish
Just a few weeks ago, the following was the issue of the day in Israel:
http://www.isfsp.org/zion-docs.html
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=91526
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0%2C%2C13509-1823149%2C00.html
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/642171.html
Report: Israel to hand control of Jerusalem holy site
to Vatican
Haaretz November 6, 2005
By Amiram Barkat
Israel is to give the Vatican control over one of the
most sacred Christian sites in Jerusalem, several
European newspapers have reported recently. According
to the reports, Israel will give the Holy See
possession of the Coenaculum, or the Room of the Last
Supper (also known as the Upper Room or the Cenacle),
on Mount Zion.
In response to the news, I wrote an article which proved the handover of the Old City of Jerusalem was a done deal. In fact, it was one of the secret clauses of the first Oslo "peace" accord signed by the Israeli government.
A week after, I received a phone call from a rabbi of the Diaspora Yeshiva. He explained that the Tourism Minister was visiting their school the next day and he was trying to fill the study hall to prove to the government that their yeshiva was too valuable to be given away.
I replied that I would not partake in such a spectacle. I might come if the students forcibly barred the Minister or any government official from entering the property. Hadn't he learned anything from Gush Katif? The government of Israel couldn't care less about him and could care even less how many students he can pack into a room. Mount Zion was a litmus test of how much opposition the government and its corrupted army could expect when all of the Old City was turned over to the Vatican.
He said I must talk to the headmaster of the Yeshiva, Rabbi Goldstein.
An hour later, I was honored by a call from Rabbi Goldstein. Soon, however, I was in despair. As far as he knew, the Vatican wanted to turn his school into a money making tourist site and the Ministry of Tourism was being enticed by the prospects of millions of Catholic tourists visiting Israel to see the Last Supper room.
I did my best to wake the Rabbi. I told him that tourism was the facade, not the issue. I tried to explain the global forces using their muscle to get the Jews out of Jerusalem's holy sites. I noted that the government of Israel was the worst enemy of Judaism and that he must block the entrance of their representative with whatever force he could muster.
However, as with the Rabbis of Gush Katif, my words were wasted. Mount Zion will give up without a real fight. You watch.
Nonetheless, the truth marches on. A brilliant Jerusalem-based German-born historian, Dr. Asher Edar, also honored me with a conversation. Vive le difference:
BC - Why is the Vatican suddenly so interested in getting its hands on Mount Zion real estate?
AE - There's nothing sudden about it at all. In fact, the roots of the desire go back 1200 years to the time of Charlemagne. He was the Vatican's military tool for converting Europe to Roman Catholicism.
He succeed magnificently and created what is known as the Holy Roman Empire but what was then called The Holy Roman Empire Of The German Nation. Charlemagne's capital was at Aachen and there he built his first cathedral.
BC - Excuse me but, so?
AE - Next to the yeshiva on Mount Zion is the Dormition Abbey, built by the Germans starting in 1906. It is an exact duplicate of Charlemagne's Aachen Cathedral.
BC - How did that happen?
AE - Kaiser Wilhelm II came to Jerusalem in 1898 to build two churches, a modest Lutheran Church of minor religious significance and a magnificent Catholic structure on Mount Zion. In 1898, the ruler of a nation didn't make such a difficult journey to a diplomatic backwater unless it was extremely important. The Vatican was worried that the British had an operating church in Jerusalem and its presence could solidify and spread. The Vatican provided much of the funds for the trip and the bribe to the Turkish Sultan, Khamid. Since Wilhelm had a Protestant population to appease, he put up a smaller Lutheran church as well, but the real prize was Mount Zion.
BC - Why all the money and trouble if the Vatican gets the real estate? What was in it for Germany?
AE - Germany has never given up its dream of reviving the Holy Roman Empire. At the height of that empire, their greatest king, Frederick the Great, marched into Jerusalem and became the city's king. Jerusalem was once part of the Holy Roman Empire and the dream is that it will be again. In this empire, the delineation of powers was strict. The pope was the spiritual leader, but the political leader was whoever ruled Germany. This dream led straight to World War I.
BC - Where do the Jews fit in all this?
AE - Nowhere. Herzl tried to get a role for the Jews and met with Wilhelm in Jerusalem. Wilhelm would have nothing to do with him. His goal was to save Jerusalem for a Christendom led politically by Germany and spiritually by Rome. Nothing has changed except now the pope is a determined German. The Vatican want the Jews out of the Old City and apparently our government is agreeing with them.
Now a history lesson with little comment:
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0858236.html
Encyclopedia—Frederick II, Holy Roman emperor and German king
King of Jerusalem
Having married (1225) Yolande, daughter of John of Brienne, he claimed the crown of Jerusalem, but again postponed his departure on crusade. He further offended the pope by reasserting at the Diet of Cremona (1226) the imperial claim to Lombardy. The Lombard League was immediately revived, but open conflict did not break out until 1236. On the insistent demand of the new pope, Gregory IX, Frederick embarked on a crusade (Sept., 1227), but fell ill, turned back, and was excommunicated.
In 1228 he finally embarked. His “crusade,” actually a state visit, was a diplomatic victory. At Jaffa he made a treaty by which Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem were surrendered to the Christians, with the Mosque of Omar being left to the Muslims. In 1229 he crowned himself king at Jerusalem.
http://www.notfah.com/wiki/Frederick_II,_Holy_Roman_Emperor
In 1226, by means of the Golden Bull of Rimini he confirmed the legitimacy of rule by the Teutonic Knights under their headmaster Hermann von Salza over the Prussian lands east of the Vistula, the Chelmno Land.
At the time he was crowned Emperor, Frederick had promised to go on crusade. In preparation for his crusade, Frederick had, in 1225, married Yolande of Jerusalem, heiress to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and immediately taken steps to take control of the Kingdom from his new father-in-law, John of Brienne. However, he continued to take his time in setting off, and in 1227, Frederick was excommunicated by Pope Gregory IX for failing to honor his crusading pledge - perhaps unfairly, at this point, as his plans had been delayed by an epidemic. He eventually embarked on the crusade the following year (1228), which was seen on by the pope as a rude provocation, since the church could not take any part in the honor for the crusade, resulting in a second excommunication. Frederick did not attempt to take Jerusalem by force of arms. Instead, he negotiated restitution of Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem to the Kingdom with sultan Al-Kamil, the Ayyubid ruler of the region.
http://www.chivalricorders.org/vatican/teutonic.htm
THE TEUTONIC ORDER OF HOLY MARY IN JERUSALEM
Some forty knights were received into the new Order at its foundation by the King of Jerusalem and Frederick of Swabia, who selected their first Master in the name of the Pope and Emperor. The knights of the new confraternity had to be of German birth (although this rule was occasionally relaxed), a unique requirement among the Crusader Orders founded in the Holy Land. They were drawn predominately from the noble or knightly class, although this latter obligation was not formally incorporated into the rule until much later. Their blue mantle, charged with a black cross, was worn over a white tunic, a uniform recognized by the Patriarch of Jerusalem and confirmed by the Pope in 1211. The waves of German knights and pilgrims who followed the Third Crusade brought considerable wealth to the new German Hospital as well as recruits. This enabled the knights to acquire the Lordship of Joscelin and, soon thereafter they built the castle of Montfort (lost in 1271), the rival of the great hospitaller fortress of Krak des Chevaliers. Never as numerous in the Holy Land as either the Hospitaller or Templar Orders, the Teutonic knights were nonetheless a formidable power.
http://www.chivalricorders.org/vatican/holysep.htm
THE EQUESTRIAN ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER OF JERUSALEM
© Guy Stair Sainty
The origins of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher have been disputed for centuries. In this examination of the history of what is today a major Catholic Order of Knighthood, under the direct protection of the Holy See, it has been my intention to separate fact from fantasy and outline the historical development of this great institution. It now has a world-wide mission to support the Holy Places, particularly in Jerusalem, and has approximately eighteen thousand members across the globe. [1]
Two Christian sources who are certain the goal of the "peace" process is to establish a German/Vatican capital in Jerusalem are David Ben-Ariel, and the Philadelphia Trumpet:
Looking to Jerusalem
We have also said that the next pope would have his sights set on Jerusalem. Ratzinger was known for statements he made concerning a reconciliation of sorts with the Jews. That reconciliation being, “the moment in which Israel too will say yes to Christ.” After all, the “star points to Jerusalem,” Ratzinger said once. Watch for this new pope to have a more fervent interest in Israeli politics and affairs surrounding Jerusalem.
For the rest of the story: www.barrychamish.com
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Every Jewish leader should call for the Temple's construction
Feiglin:"Throwing Out Candidates You Don´t Like is Democratic?"
19:04 Dec 14, '05 / 13 Kislev 5766
By Hillel Fendel
Two Likudniks have submitted a party court petition, demanding that Moshe Feiglin be barred from running for leader. Currently running third in the 4-man race, Feiglin says the move is undemocratic.
The two Likud members, Moshe Ifregan and Eli Hazan, say that Feiglin represents an undemocratic outlook and vision that does not correspond to the Likud Party platform.
Their petition states that Feiglin encouraged refusal of army orders during the Disengagement - an alleged negation of the Likud platform's mention of the supremacy of the rule of law. They also quote Feiglin's recent interview with the Yediot Acharonot weekly supplement "Seven Days." Feiglin reportedly said there that his vision is one of a State that encourages the emigration of Arabs from the country, and the construction of the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple)..../
The vision of every Jewish leader ought to be one of a State that encourages the emigration of Arabs from the country, and the construction of the Holy Temple. Every Jewish leader should call for the Temple's construction and mean it - not just to get votes, but to bless the Jewish homeland and all nations. Kol hakavod to Moshe Feiglin for raising the holy issue that it may soon become a reality. Bibi used to talk tough about restoring Jewish worship upon the Temple Mount but once elected he forgot about the Temple Mount and continued the Oslo treason.
19:04 Dec 14, '05 / 13 Kislev 5766
By Hillel Fendel
Two Likudniks have submitted a party court petition, demanding that Moshe Feiglin be barred from running for leader. Currently running third in the 4-man race, Feiglin says the move is undemocratic.
The two Likud members, Moshe Ifregan and Eli Hazan, say that Feiglin represents an undemocratic outlook and vision that does not correspond to the Likud Party platform.
Their petition states that Feiglin encouraged refusal of army orders during the Disengagement - an alleged negation of the Likud platform's mention of the supremacy of the rule of law. They also quote Feiglin's recent interview with the Yediot Acharonot weekly supplement "Seven Days." Feiglin reportedly said there that his vision is one of a State that encourages the emigration of Arabs from the country, and the construction of the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple)..../
The vision of every Jewish leader ought to be one of a State that encourages the emigration of Arabs from the country, and the construction of the Holy Temple. Every Jewish leader should call for the Temple's construction and mean it - not just to get votes, but to bless the Jewish homeland and all nations. Kol hakavod to Moshe Feiglin for raising the holy issue that it may soon become a reality. Bibi used to talk tough about restoring Jewish worship upon the Temple Mount but once elected he forgot about the Temple Mount and continued the Oslo treason.
The Western Wall is Muslim Property?
The Western Wall is Muslim Property?
Kislev 13, 5766/December 14, 2005
A major story in Israel this week reports the Palestinian claim that the Kotel, or Western Wall, is Muslim property. This should come as no surprise to all those who understand the true nature of the spiritual struggle being waged over the Temple Mount, Israel's heart and soul. It is a struggle which emanates from Mount Moriah and reverberates throughout the entire land; a struggle with implications not only for Jews the world over, but for all humanity. The prophet Isaiah, referring to the Third Temple, says that "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." Yet today the forces of Islam celebrate the Temple's destruction and keep on destroying… finding more and more creative ways to rewrite history and fabricate a mythical Jerusalem where Jews never existed.
While no one should be surprised, many are indignant, dismayed and shocked at this new level of Moslem chutzpah. But as for us, we expected it to happen. And what disturbs us more is the reaction people are having to this affront to the honor and sanctity of the Western Wall. But what about the holy Temple Mount itself? Where was everyone while the Moslems have been systematically destroying remnants of the Holy Temple from the Temple Mount for years now? Why should we be surprised if the Moslems claim the kotel, too, as their own, if they have destroyed the Holy Temple all over again in broad daylight, under the open skies of the State of Israel, and this destruction has gone unchecked and unchallenged? The silence at the Temple Mount's degradation has been deafening. Why shout about the Western Wall?
We confront this provocative and important subject in this week's edition of Israel National Radio's new expanded, 2 hour weekly Temple Talk internet radio program. The show also features a discussion of the patriarch Yaakov's experience in Beit El, and his singular connection to the Third Temple, as well as a special spiritual insight into the secret of Chanukah… and much more.
Temple Talk can be heard or downloaded and saved from our Multimedia page. Live listeners to the show on Mondays now have the opportunity to communicate with the program's hosts directly during the broadcasts, to comment or pose questions. To learn more about Israel National Radio's "Virtual Studio" capabilities and technology, click here.
Please take note of an important new feature on the Temple Institute's web site, www.templeinstitute.org : An internal search engine which locates any word or phrase found on the site. This device can be accessed from the navigation bar at the top of each page, or from the bottom of each page. We hope this will enhance and improve your use of the site.
With blessings from Jerusalem,
Rabbi Chaim Richman - Yitzchak Reuven
The Temple Institute
PO Box 31876
Jerusalem, Israel 97500
www.templeinstitute.org
Kislev 13, 5766/December 14, 2005
A major story in Israel this week reports the Palestinian claim that the Kotel, or Western Wall, is Muslim property. This should come as no surprise to all those who understand the true nature of the spiritual struggle being waged over the Temple Mount, Israel's heart and soul. It is a struggle which emanates from Mount Moriah and reverberates throughout the entire land; a struggle with implications not only for Jews the world over, but for all humanity. The prophet Isaiah, referring to the Third Temple, says that "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." Yet today the forces of Islam celebrate the Temple's destruction and keep on destroying… finding more and more creative ways to rewrite history and fabricate a mythical Jerusalem where Jews never existed.
While no one should be surprised, many are indignant, dismayed and shocked at this new level of Moslem chutzpah. But as for us, we expected it to happen. And what disturbs us more is the reaction people are having to this affront to the honor and sanctity of the Western Wall. But what about the holy Temple Mount itself? Where was everyone while the Moslems have been systematically destroying remnants of the Holy Temple from the Temple Mount for years now? Why should we be surprised if the Moslems claim the kotel, too, as their own, if they have destroyed the Holy Temple all over again in broad daylight, under the open skies of the State of Israel, and this destruction has gone unchecked and unchallenged? The silence at the Temple Mount's degradation has been deafening. Why shout about the Western Wall?
We confront this provocative and important subject in this week's edition of Israel National Radio's new expanded, 2 hour weekly Temple Talk internet radio program. The show also features a discussion of the patriarch Yaakov's experience in Beit El, and his singular connection to the Third Temple, as well as a special spiritual insight into the secret of Chanukah… and much more.
Temple Talk can be heard or downloaded and saved from our Multimedia page. Live listeners to the show on Mondays now have the opportunity to communicate with the program's hosts directly during the broadcasts, to comment or pose questions. To learn more about Israel National Radio's "Virtual Studio" capabilities and technology, click here.
Please take note of an important new feature on the Temple Institute's web site, www.templeinstitute.org : An internal search engine which locates any word or phrase found on the site. This device can be accessed from the navigation bar at the top of each page, or from the bottom of each page. We hope this will enhance and improve your use of the site.
With blessings from Jerusalem,
Rabbi Chaim Richman - Yitzchak Reuven
The Temple Institute
PO Box 31876
Jerusalem, Israel 97500
www.templeinstitute.org
The Arabs play 'bakshish' card
The Arabs play 'bakshish' card
December 14, 2005
By Joseph Farah
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
You've all heard of Arab traders.
They are famous throughout the world.
It's not an ethnic stereotype. It's a cultural reality. I say this as an American of Arabic heritage – someone with close to 30 years of journalistic experience covering this part of the world.
Just when you think you have finally struck a deal with an Arab, they play what I call the "bakshish" card.
There are many ways to explain the term "bakshish." It can mean a bribe for the seller for cutting you such a great deal. It can mean a "tip" or gratuity. Or, more precisely, I have always thought of it as a way to up the ante, raise the stakes, even nix a deal that is already all-but consummated.
Here's the way it works in the real world. Picture yourself at an Arab bazaar. You find a nice item you wish to purchase. You haggle back and forth over the price for what seems like an interminable time. Finally, when you think you have agreement on the purchase price, the seller says: "You forgot about the bakshish." Then it starts all over again.
Last weekend, the Palestinian Authority played its bakshish card in its continuing efforts to raise the stakes in demands on Israel for land concessions. The PA's Office for Religious Affairs claimed the Western Wall – revered by Jews since A.D. 70 as the last structural remnant of the Second Temple.
You've seen the pictures of Jews worshipping at the Western Wall, sometimes called the "Wailing Wall." You've seen the TV video streams of Jews sticking prayers scrawled on tiny pieces of paper into the cracks of the wall. For nearly 2,000 years, it has been considered along with the Temple Mount it supports the only truly holy site for Jews all over the world.
Now, the Arabs say it legitimately belongs to Muslims only. Bakshish.
This shouldn't be surprising, given Muslims claim no Jewish temple ever stood upon the Temple Mount, despite overwhelming archaeological and historical evidence to the contrary.
So now the Western Wall, the most Jewish piece of real estate in the world, is on the negotiating table.
It's a move so audacious, it is mind-boggling.
But, ultimately, Israelis have only themselves to blame.
A little history is in order.
In 1967, Israel was surrounded by Arab armies hell-bent on a coordinated attack by Egypt, Syria, Jordan and other Arab countries. Badly outnumbered and outgunned, Israel's only hope was a pre-emptive attack, which was launched June 6. In a lightning-like strike, Israeli forces attacked first on three fronts. In what we now call the Six-Day War, Israel rolled up the Egyptian Army, the Syrian Army and captured Judea and Samaria from Jordan, Gaza and Sinai from Egypt and the Golan Heights from Syria. Israel could have gone much further – all the way to Damascus and Cairo if the Jewish state had desired.
Most significantly, however, Israel captured all of Jerusalem – including the Temple Mount.
And what did the Israelis do with the only Jewish holy site in the world? Nearly immediately, after this miraculous, hard-fought victory, Israel's secular leaders turned administrative control over the Temple Mount to Muslims.
They apparently believed this act of "good will" would be perceived as a demonstration that the Jewish state only wanted to live in peace with its neighbors. But the Arabs saw it as an act of appeasement, a show of weakness, not strength.
In effect, Israel turned over to the Arabs the most Jewish piece of real estate to the Muslims – a move that chipped away at Israel's very legitimacy. You see, if the Jews don't have an absolute claim to the Temple Mount, how can they defend Jewish control of Tel Aviv or anything else?
It was not only a huge strategic and political blunder that has never been rectified, it was also, in my personal opinion, an offense to the God of Israel – the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Most Israeli political leaders don't really believe they have a biblical mandate to the land. They don't want to defend that. They don't want to stand on that promise. They prefer to rely on their own military might and compromise.
If Israel has a claim to any land in the Middle East, and I believe it does, that claim begins with the Temple Mount. Turning over control to radical Muslim clerics hasn't bought any good will for Israel. On the contrary, it has brought the Jewish state 38 years of terror and strife.
Every time Israel makes a land concession to the Arabs, it encourages more demands, higher stakes, the dream of annihilation – more of the old bakshish.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joseph Farah is founder, editor and CEO of WND, a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host, and a nationally syndicated columnist with Creators Syndicate. His latest book is "Taking America Back." He also edits the weekly online intelligence newsletter Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin, in which he utilizes his sources developed over 30 years in the news business.
"For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest." Isaiah 62:1.
December 14, 2005
By Joseph Farah
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
You've all heard of Arab traders.
They are famous throughout the world.
It's not an ethnic stereotype. It's a cultural reality. I say this as an American of Arabic heritage – someone with close to 30 years of journalistic experience covering this part of the world.
Just when you think you have finally struck a deal with an Arab, they play what I call the "bakshish" card.
There are many ways to explain the term "bakshish." It can mean a bribe for the seller for cutting you such a great deal. It can mean a "tip" or gratuity. Or, more precisely, I have always thought of it as a way to up the ante, raise the stakes, even nix a deal that is already all-but consummated.
Here's the way it works in the real world. Picture yourself at an Arab bazaar. You find a nice item you wish to purchase. You haggle back and forth over the price for what seems like an interminable time. Finally, when you think you have agreement on the purchase price, the seller says: "You forgot about the bakshish." Then it starts all over again.
Last weekend, the Palestinian Authority played its bakshish card in its continuing efforts to raise the stakes in demands on Israel for land concessions. The PA's Office for Religious Affairs claimed the Western Wall – revered by Jews since A.D. 70 as the last structural remnant of the Second Temple.
You've seen the pictures of Jews worshipping at the Western Wall, sometimes called the "Wailing Wall." You've seen the TV video streams of Jews sticking prayers scrawled on tiny pieces of paper into the cracks of the wall. For nearly 2,000 years, it has been considered along with the Temple Mount it supports the only truly holy site for Jews all over the world.
Now, the Arabs say it legitimately belongs to Muslims only. Bakshish.
This shouldn't be surprising, given Muslims claim no Jewish temple ever stood upon the Temple Mount, despite overwhelming archaeological and historical evidence to the contrary.
So now the Western Wall, the most Jewish piece of real estate in the world, is on the negotiating table.
It's a move so audacious, it is mind-boggling.
But, ultimately, Israelis have only themselves to blame.
A little history is in order.
In 1967, Israel was surrounded by Arab armies hell-bent on a coordinated attack by Egypt, Syria, Jordan and other Arab countries. Badly outnumbered and outgunned, Israel's only hope was a pre-emptive attack, which was launched June 6. In a lightning-like strike, Israeli forces attacked first on three fronts. In what we now call the Six-Day War, Israel rolled up the Egyptian Army, the Syrian Army and captured Judea and Samaria from Jordan, Gaza and Sinai from Egypt and the Golan Heights from Syria. Israel could have gone much further – all the way to Damascus and Cairo if the Jewish state had desired.
Most significantly, however, Israel captured all of Jerusalem – including the Temple Mount.
And what did the Israelis do with the only Jewish holy site in the world? Nearly immediately, after this miraculous, hard-fought victory, Israel's secular leaders turned administrative control over the Temple Mount to Muslims.
They apparently believed this act of "good will" would be perceived as a demonstration that the Jewish state only wanted to live in peace with its neighbors. But the Arabs saw it as an act of appeasement, a show of weakness, not strength.
In effect, Israel turned over to the Arabs the most Jewish piece of real estate to the Muslims – a move that chipped away at Israel's very legitimacy. You see, if the Jews don't have an absolute claim to the Temple Mount, how can they defend Jewish control of Tel Aviv or anything else?
It was not only a huge strategic and political blunder that has never been rectified, it was also, in my personal opinion, an offense to the God of Israel – the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Most Israeli political leaders don't really believe they have a biblical mandate to the land. They don't want to defend that. They don't want to stand on that promise. They prefer to rely on their own military might and compromise.
If Israel has a claim to any land in the Middle East, and I believe it does, that claim begins with the Temple Mount. Turning over control to radical Muslim clerics hasn't bought any good will for Israel. On the contrary, it has brought the Jewish state 38 years of terror and strife.
Every time Israel makes a land concession to the Arabs, it encourages more demands, higher stakes, the dream of annihilation – more of the old bakshish.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joseph Farah is founder, editor and CEO of WND, a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host, and a nationally syndicated columnist with Creators Syndicate. His latest book is "Taking America Back." He also edits the weekly online intelligence newsletter Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin, in which he utilizes his sources developed over 30 years in the news business.
"For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest." Isaiah 62:1.
Monday, December 12, 2005
ISRAEL AS I SEE IT: CHANUKAH -- FESTIVAL OF LIGHT AND HOPE
ISRAEL AS I SEE IT: CHANUKAH -- FESTIVAL OF LIGHT AND HOPE
"It is due time to stop this dictator [Sharon] who defies democracy"
copyright (c) 2005 by Mr. Samson Krupnick [mailto:Krup@012.net.il]
LIBERATED YERUSHALIYIM, D.C. (David's Capital), Liberated Israelite Tribal Territories of Yehudah and Binyamin, Kingdom of David and Shlomo, United Israelite Kingdom of Yehudah and Yosef, Yom Sheini, 11 Kislev, 5766, Root & Branch Information Services [mailto:rb@rb.org.il] [www.rb.org.il]:
Chanukah this year is more than the traditional Festival of Lights. It is a festival of hope and prayer for guidance in dealing with critical issues that can effect our future as an independent nation. There are many pressures from other sources as well as from local internal groups all placing Israel in a desperate situation both physically and
spiritually.
We had fist begun to recover from that tragic Gush Katif forced withdrawal and deportation by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, presumably as "a painful concession", when Sharon was all ready to start further withdrawals and deportations as more "painful concessions". For whom was it a "painful concession"? For most of the nation except for the Prime Minister who ignored his commitment and who insisted on an August 15th forced withdrawal and deportation to receive many praises from abroad.
Fortunately, the boomerang came with the surprising victory of Amir Peretz as Labor Chairman. The quick resignation of Labor from the Government and the March 28, 2006 election date provided a breather against withdrawals and deportations. It is due time to stop this dictator [Sharon] who defies democracy and to prevent further, if any, "concessions" to the Philistine Chaos (Palestine Authority). The Philistine suicide murder of five and wounding of 60 in Netanya forced a sharp response including a targeted killing as we advised three years ago.
This attack from "Saudi" Arabian petro-dollar profit financed Wahhabi Islamic Jihad and others to follow indicate clearly that the Philistine Chaos cannot and will not disarm mass murderers ("terrorists"). The vast majority of Philistines, over 80%, want the destruction of Israel. That is their democratic choice. Apparently, democracy need not be constructive. Hence, what is the point of further "concessions"? The Philistine attitude is simply a "return of what was ours". Clearly, there is no Road Map leading anywhere except to more Philistine mass murder ("terror") against Israel.
A greater danger exists and grows stronger. The leader is Iran. Iran's President stated clearly: "We are in the process of a historical war between the World of Arrogance (the West) and the Islamic World. A world without America and Zionism is attainable".
Iran is now furnishing huge quantities of arms in our area. The greater danger is Iran's nuclear program. To date the United States and allies are involved in the Iraq war and will not take sufficient precautions against the Iran danger. Israel is now watching carefully the Iran progress. We must be prepared and ready for further developments.
Unity is of great necessity, but quite frankly the prospects for a real unity Government look slim if Sharon is to head it.
Interesting is a similar situation when the Maccabbees took the initiative to battle the conquering Greek army. With the passing of Alexander the great, his Greek generals were on their own. The Ptolmey in Egypt were much interested in the Jewish Torah and invited 30 Jewish scholars, working in separate rooms, to translate the Torah into Greek. All translated exactly alike including 16 variations so as not to imply the existence of more than one "god". G-d is One.
Syrian General Antiochus Epiphanes in contrast decided that if he directed idol worship he could control the Jews. Hence, he had a new altar erected in the Temple of Jerusalem and made sacrifices to Greek idols. Greek philosophy puts emphasis on the enjoyment of physical pleasure for a small class of wealthy freemen served by masses of slaves.
Greek idols were plentiful. Many wealthy Jews admired this approach. They were called Hellenists. The Kohanim (priests) tried to stop this development without success. Once a Hellenist appeared before Mattityahu the High Priest to make a sacrifice to an idol. Mattityahu struck him down and the war against the Greeks began.
Led by Judah Maccabee and his brothers the Jews raised an army of fighters and finally won back Jerusalem. The Temple was restored and a new altar built. They restored the Menorah but lacked special oil. They found one small oil container with a priestly seal, just enough for one day. Miraculously, it lasted eight full days during which proper oil was prepared.
In observance of this miracle, it was declared a Festival of Lights observed annually thereafter. The war was won after much fighting and many losses. The Kohanim Maccabees became kings, in violation of Jewish tradition that kings were to be from the descendants of King David and not Kohanim. Hence, both Mishna and Gemorrah mention the miracle of the oil but there is not a word about the battles of the Maccabees. The full story is found in the Book of Maccabees.
The Festival of Chanukah is observed worldwide with great enthusiasm. Hallel (Psalms of Praise) are recited. In Israel lights are kindled from the roofs of all hotels. Dignitaries light candles at the Kotel (Western Wall of the Temple) each night with national T.V. coverage. At the White House President George W. Bush lit a candle on a Menorah last year.
In Talmudic days there was a difference of opinion between Bet Hillel (School of Hillel) and Bet Shammai (School of Shammai) as to the order of lighting. Bet Shammai insisted that the order be by lighting eight candles the first night and one less each following night. Bet Hillel ruled the opposite as is declared: "You raise upward with holy ceremonies".
Worldwide there are connected local customs. In Western countries and Israel most people eat sufganiyot (doughnuts). Several million sufganiot are baked, some with variations of chocolate and fruit. Women are invited to light candles as well. Menorahs should be placed by windows and/or porches weather permitting. An old custom is giving "Chanukah gelt" in cash or gifts.
By now it is an established tradition in Israel that we observe holidays and festivals to the fullest and put worries on a far back bench. Holidays and festivals give us additional spiritual strength to face problems. Our enemies are numerous and growing from "Saudi" Arabian petro-dollar profit financed Wahhabi and Iranian petro-dollar profit financed Pseudo-Shi'ite Mullah-ocracy sources.
Heaven-sent plagues and disasters have already begun to take their toll on the Quartet Road Map nations marching against us, beginning with the December 25, 2004 earthquake and tsunami which struck the province of Aceh -- a Wahhabi stronghold -- in the largest Muslim nation, Indonesia, and spread to several continents; the Katrina hurricane disaster in New Orleans following on the heels of the Gush Katif expulsion; the recent earthquake in Kashmir, and the avian bird flu pandemic about to engulf the world.
With the help of the Almighty we shall overcome.
Shavua Tov and Chanukah Sameach from Liberated Yerushaliyim,
Mr. Samson Krupnick
Street Address:
Rehov Pinsker 22
92228 Jerusalem
Israel
Board Member and Treasurer, Root & Branch Association, Ltd.;
Israel Chairman, Jerusalem Embassy Initiative, Root & Branch Association, Ltd.;
Yakir Yerushaliyim (Jerusalem Prize) Award Winner, 2001;
Board Chairman, Encyclopedia Talmudica;
Former Board Chairman, Shaare Zedek Hospital;
Columnist, National Jewish Post and Opinion [www.jewishpostopinion.com]
"It is due time to stop this dictator [Sharon] who defies democracy"
copyright (c) 2005 by Mr. Samson Krupnick [mailto:Krup@012.net.il]
LIBERATED YERUSHALIYIM, D.C. (David's Capital), Liberated Israelite Tribal Territories of Yehudah and Binyamin, Kingdom of David and Shlomo, United Israelite Kingdom of Yehudah and Yosef, Yom Sheini, 11 Kislev, 5766, Root & Branch Information Services [mailto:rb@rb.org.il] [www.rb.org.il]:
Chanukah this year is more than the traditional Festival of Lights. It is a festival of hope and prayer for guidance in dealing with critical issues that can effect our future as an independent nation. There are many pressures from other sources as well as from local internal groups all placing Israel in a desperate situation both physically and
spiritually.
We had fist begun to recover from that tragic Gush Katif forced withdrawal and deportation by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, presumably as "a painful concession", when Sharon was all ready to start further withdrawals and deportations as more "painful concessions". For whom was it a "painful concession"? For most of the nation except for the Prime Minister who ignored his commitment and who insisted on an August 15th forced withdrawal and deportation to receive many praises from abroad.
Fortunately, the boomerang came with the surprising victory of Amir Peretz as Labor Chairman. The quick resignation of Labor from the Government and the March 28, 2006 election date provided a breather against withdrawals and deportations. It is due time to stop this dictator [Sharon] who defies democracy and to prevent further, if any, "concessions" to the Philistine Chaos (Palestine Authority). The Philistine suicide murder of five and wounding of 60 in Netanya forced a sharp response including a targeted killing as we advised three years ago.
This attack from "Saudi" Arabian petro-dollar profit financed Wahhabi Islamic Jihad and others to follow indicate clearly that the Philistine Chaos cannot and will not disarm mass murderers ("terrorists"). The vast majority of Philistines, over 80%, want the destruction of Israel. That is their democratic choice. Apparently, democracy need not be constructive. Hence, what is the point of further "concessions"? The Philistine attitude is simply a "return of what was ours". Clearly, there is no Road Map leading anywhere except to more Philistine mass murder ("terror") against Israel.
A greater danger exists and grows stronger. The leader is Iran. Iran's President stated clearly: "We are in the process of a historical war between the World of Arrogance (the West) and the Islamic World. A world without America and Zionism is attainable".
Iran is now furnishing huge quantities of arms in our area. The greater danger is Iran's nuclear program. To date the United States and allies are involved in the Iraq war and will not take sufficient precautions against the Iran danger. Israel is now watching carefully the Iran progress. We must be prepared and ready for further developments.
Unity is of great necessity, but quite frankly the prospects for a real unity Government look slim if Sharon is to head it.
Interesting is a similar situation when the Maccabbees took the initiative to battle the conquering Greek army. With the passing of Alexander the great, his Greek generals were on their own. The Ptolmey in Egypt were much interested in the Jewish Torah and invited 30 Jewish scholars, working in separate rooms, to translate the Torah into Greek. All translated exactly alike including 16 variations so as not to imply the existence of more than one "god". G-d is One.
Syrian General Antiochus Epiphanes in contrast decided that if he directed idol worship he could control the Jews. Hence, he had a new altar erected in the Temple of Jerusalem and made sacrifices to Greek idols. Greek philosophy puts emphasis on the enjoyment of physical pleasure for a small class of wealthy freemen served by masses of slaves.
Greek idols were plentiful. Many wealthy Jews admired this approach. They were called Hellenists. The Kohanim (priests) tried to stop this development without success. Once a Hellenist appeared before Mattityahu the High Priest to make a sacrifice to an idol. Mattityahu struck him down and the war against the Greeks began.
Led by Judah Maccabee and his brothers the Jews raised an army of fighters and finally won back Jerusalem. The Temple was restored and a new altar built. They restored the Menorah but lacked special oil. They found one small oil container with a priestly seal, just enough for one day. Miraculously, it lasted eight full days during which proper oil was prepared.
In observance of this miracle, it was declared a Festival of Lights observed annually thereafter. The war was won after much fighting and many losses. The Kohanim Maccabees became kings, in violation of Jewish tradition that kings were to be from the descendants of King David and not Kohanim. Hence, both Mishna and Gemorrah mention the miracle of the oil but there is not a word about the battles of the Maccabees. The full story is found in the Book of Maccabees.
The Festival of Chanukah is observed worldwide with great enthusiasm. Hallel (Psalms of Praise) are recited. In Israel lights are kindled from the roofs of all hotels. Dignitaries light candles at the Kotel (Western Wall of the Temple) each night with national T.V. coverage. At the White House President George W. Bush lit a candle on a Menorah last year.
In Talmudic days there was a difference of opinion between Bet Hillel (School of Hillel) and Bet Shammai (School of Shammai) as to the order of lighting. Bet Shammai insisted that the order be by lighting eight candles the first night and one less each following night. Bet Hillel ruled the opposite as is declared: "You raise upward with holy ceremonies".
Worldwide there are connected local customs. In Western countries and Israel most people eat sufganiyot (doughnuts). Several million sufganiot are baked, some with variations of chocolate and fruit. Women are invited to light candles as well. Menorahs should be placed by windows and/or porches weather permitting. An old custom is giving "Chanukah gelt" in cash or gifts.
By now it is an established tradition in Israel that we observe holidays and festivals to the fullest and put worries on a far back bench. Holidays and festivals give us additional spiritual strength to face problems. Our enemies are numerous and growing from "Saudi" Arabian petro-dollar profit financed Wahhabi and Iranian petro-dollar profit financed Pseudo-Shi'ite Mullah-ocracy sources.
Heaven-sent plagues and disasters have already begun to take their toll on the Quartet Road Map nations marching against us, beginning with the December 25, 2004 earthquake and tsunami which struck the province of Aceh -- a Wahhabi stronghold -- in the largest Muslim nation, Indonesia, and spread to several continents; the Katrina hurricane disaster in New Orleans following on the heels of the Gush Katif expulsion; the recent earthquake in Kashmir, and the avian bird flu pandemic about to engulf the world.
With the help of the Almighty we shall overcome.
Shavua Tov and Chanukah Sameach from Liberated Yerushaliyim,
Mr. Samson Krupnick
Street Address:
Rehov Pinsker 22
92228 Jerusalem
Israel
Board Member and Treasurer, Root & Branch Association, Ltd.;
Israel Chairman, Jerusalem Embassy Initiative, Root & Branch Association, Ltd.;
Yakir Yerushaliyim (Jerusalem Prize) Award Winner, 2001;
Board Chairman, Encyclopedia Talmudica;
Former Board Chairman, Shaare Zedek Hospital;
Columnist, National Jewish Post and Opinion [www.jewishpostopinion.com]
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Happy Chanukah!
Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, is observed for eight days, beginning on the evening of the twenty fifth day of the month of Kislev This year, (2005), Chanukah starts at sundown, Sunday, December 25th, and lasts for eight days thru Monday, January 2nd, 2006. Please see special instructions below for Friday and Saturday Menorah candle lightings.
Chanukah is a wonderful holiday of renewed dedication, faith, hope and spiritual light. It's a holiday that says: "Never lose hope."
Chanukah commemorates the victory, thru the miracles of Hashem, of a small band of Maccabees over the pagan Syrian-Greeks who ruled over Eretz Yisroel (Israel).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT DOES “CHANUKAH” MEAN?
Chanukah has two meanings. First, and foremost, it means “dedication” because it was on Chanukah that the Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple) was purified and rededicated to the service of Hashem, in 165 BCE, after many years of pagan defilement. For more about Chanukah and "dedications" click here.
The other meaning gives us an easy way to remember the Hebrew date of the holiday: “Chanu” means “they rested”, and “Kah” (composed of the Hebrew letters for 25 - “Chof and Hay”) means “on the twenty fifth” (day of Kislev).
Chanukah is also called "The Festival of Lights" referring to the flames kindled on each night. It is also called "The Festival of Light" as Chanukah is the victory of the forces of "light" - which include faith and loyalty to Hashem and the Jewish tradition and the will to fight for these beliefs - over the forces of "darkness," represented by the hedonistic lifestyle of the ancient Syrian-Greeks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE MIRACLE(S) OF CHANUKAH
The year was about 165 BCE. A large group of men led by Judah the Maccabee climbed to the top of a mountain overlooking Yerushalayim (Jerusalem). It was the same mountain from which, many centuries later, the Crusaders would launch their attack against the Moslems and from which, the Jordanian artillery would shell Yerushalayim in 1967. In 165 BCE, however, Judah and his men, with the help of Hashem, were about to complete a great victory, a triumph that lives on as the miracle of Chanukah.
After the death of Alexander the Great, conqueror of the world and friend of the Jewish people, his Empire was divided among his generals. Eretz Yisroel (the land of Israel), - the Kingdom of Judea - was added to the Empire of Antiochus III. When Antiochus Epiphanes became king of the Syrian-Greeks, he was not content to accept the taxes and loyalty of the Jews as his predecessors had done. He wanted the Jews to lay aside their Torah and ancient religion, and, in their place, substitute the Hellenistic Greek culture and Grecian idols.
King Antiochus bore down on his Jewish subjects with a measure of ruthlessness, stubbornness and cruelty that earned him the nickname Antiochus the Madman. (For a related story of bravery and courage about Chana & her Seven Sons, click here). He defiled the Beit Hamikdash - by filling it with pagan idols and sacrifices of pigs. He forbade the Jews to observe the commandments of Brit Milah (circumcision), Rosh Chodesh (the New Moon), and the Shabbat. Jewish women were systematically mistreated.
Jews who dared to remain loyal to their faith were brutally tortured and murdered. If a woman had her infant circumcised, she was murdered, the baby publicly hanged, and all who participated in the Brit ceremony were executed and their property confiscated. Against this backdrop, Jewish resistance began to ebb and it seemed inevitable that the last remnants of resistance would soon be wiped out.
Then, one courageous old man turned the tide. His name was Mattisyahu and he was a Kohain - head of the Hasmonean family, from the Judean town of Modi'in near Lod. The Syrian-Greek governor of Mattisyahu's region set up an idol in Modi'in, rounded up the townspeople, and introduced an "enlightened" Jew who would sacrifice a pig on the idol in recognition of the decree of Antiochus. Old Mattisyahu stepped forward and slew the traitor.
With the rallying cry of, “Mi La’Hashem Ay-li (Whoever is for Hashem, let him come to me)," he called the people to rebellion. A pitifully small number responded at first - the people were numb with fear and hopelessness - but Mattisyahu's five sons led the way. They fought the Syrian-Greeks, retreated to the mountains, and began a guerrilla war against the Syrian-Greeks and their Jewish allies. Mattisyahu had not long to live, but on his death bed he charged his sons to carry on the struggle. The glorious brothers heeded his command. He passed on the leadership to his second son, Judah the Maccabee, who was a mighty warrior and a charismatic leader.
Many miracles happened. Outnumbered a hundred to one, Judah and his men won many battles. Jews came to join him. In a few years, he had defeated the mightiest armies of Syria. Victory belonged to the Jew, the pure, the righteous, the loyal defender of the Torah. Following the rebellion, the kingdom of Israel was restored for 200 years, until the destruction of the Second Beit Hamikdash.
So it was that Judah and his men climbed the mountain above Yerushalayim and saw that there was no resistance. On the twenty fifth day of Kislev, they marched into the Holy City and immediately made their way to the Beit Hamikdash where they saw a sight that left them shocked and angered. Idols, filth, impurity were everywhere. They rummaged through the ruins seeking at least one flask of pure olive oil with which to light the makeshift menorah they hastily put together.
Flask after flask they found - every one of them defiled. Finally - another miracle! One small jug, sufficient for only one day, remained with the seal of the Kohain Gadol intact! Quickly, with trembling hands, they poured it into the menorah and lit it. It would be eight days before they could manufacture more oil for the next lighting, but meanwhile, they lit what they had.
The flames of the menorah burned and burned and burned and burned and burned and burned and burned and burned. For eight days they burned. (I bet you counted). Those eight miraculous days were chosen as the eternal symbol to commemorate the miracle of Chanukah - the eight day long Festival of Lights, where we light the Menorah each evening, publicizing the miracle Hashem performed some 2000 years ago.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHY EIGHT DAYS?
The question then arises, since the oil was adequate for one night, only seven days were miraculous. Why, then, wasn't Chanukah made a seven day festival? Many answers have been given over the years. Here are a few:
One extra day of celebration was proclaimed to commemorate the miracle of the military victory.
The Syrian-Greeks did such a thorough job of defiling the Beit Hamikdash, that it was a miracle to find even that one jug of oil. So the first night's lighting, too, was miraculous.
Knowing that it would take eight days to secure new oil, the Maccabees decided to ration the oil they found. They used only one eighth each night - yet that little bit of oil burned until dawn every single night.
After pouring the oil into the cups of the menorah, the Maccabees saw to their amazement that the oil jug was still full. A miracle - even on the first day!
After burning all night, the cups of the menorah were still full the next morning.
On each night, the Maccabees made very thin wicks in order to conserve oil. Nevertheless, the menorah burned with bright and hearty flames just as if the wicks had been of normal size.
Chanukah is a wonderful holiday of renewed dedication, faith, hope and spiritual light. It's a holiday that says: "Never lose hope."
Chanukah commemorates the victory, thru the miracles of Hashem, of a small band of Maccabees over the pagan Syrian-Greeks who ruled over Eretz Yisroel (Israel).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT DOES “CHANUKAH” MEAN?
Chanukah has two meanings. First, and foremost, it means “dedication” because it was on Chanukah that the Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple) was purified and rededicated to the service of Hashem, in 165 BCE, after many years of pagan defilement. For more about Chanukah and "dedications" click here.
The other meaning gives us an easy way to remember the Hebrew date of the holiday: “Chanu” means “they rested”, and “Kah” (composed of the Hebrew letters for 25 - “Chof and Hay”) means “on the twenty fifth” (day of Kislev).
Chanukah is also called "The Festival of Lights" referring to the flames kindled on each night. It is also called "The Festival of Light" as Chanukah is the victory of the forces of "light" - which include faith and loyalty to Hashem and the Jewish tradition and the will to fight for these beliefs - over the forces of "darkness," represented by the hedonistic lifestyle of the ancient Syrian-Greeks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE MIRACLE(S) OF CHANUKAH
The year was about 165 BCE. A large group of men led by Judah the Maccabee climbed to the top of a mountain overlooking Yerushalayim (Jerusalem). It was the same mountain from which, many centuries later, the Crusaders would launch their attack against the Moslems and from which, the Jordanian artillery would shell Yerushalayim in 1967. In 165 BCE, however, Judah and his men, with the help of Hashem, were about to complete a great victory, a triumph that lives on as the miracle of Chanukah.
After the death of Alexander the Great, conqueror of the world and friend of the Jewish people, his Empire was divided among his generals. Eretz Yisroel (the land of Israel), - the Kingdom of Judea - was added to the Empire of Antiochus III. When Antiochus Epiphanes became king of the Syrian-Greeks, he was not content to accept the taxes and loyalty of the Jews as his predecessors had done. He wanted the Jews to lay aside their Torah and ancient religion, and, in their place, substitute the Hellenistic Greek culture and Grecian idols.
King Antiochus bore down on his Jewish subjects with a measure of ruthlessness, stubbornness and cruelty that earned him the nickname Antiochus the Madman. (For a related story of bravery and courage about Chana & her Seven Sons, click here). He defiled the Beit Hamikdash - by filling it with pagan idols and sacrifices of pigs. He forbade the Jews to observe the commandments of Brit Milah (circumcision), Rosh Chodesh (the New Moon), and the Shabbat. Jewish women were systematically mistreated.
Jews who dared to remain loyal to their faith were brutally tortured and murdered. If a woman had her infant circumcised, she was murdered, the baby publicly hanged, and all who participated in the Brit ceremony were executed and their property confiscated. Against this backdrop, Jewish resistance began to ebb and it seemed inevitable that the last remnants of resistance would soon be wiped out.
Then, one courageous old man turned the tide. His name was Mattisyahu and he was a Kohain - head of the Hasmonean family, from the Judean town of Modi'in near Lod. The Syrian-Greek governor of Mattisyahu's region set up an idol in Modi'in, rounded up the townspeople, and introduced an "enlightened" Jew who would sacrifice a pig on the idol in recognition of the decree of Antiochus. Old Mattisyahu stepped forward and slew the traitor.
With the rallying cry of, “Mi La’Hashem Ay-li (Whoever is for Hashem, let him come to me)," he called the people to rebellion. A pitifully small number responded at first - the people were numb with fear and hopelessness - but Mattisyahu's five sons led the way. They fought the Syrian-Greeks, retreated to the mountains, and began a guerrilla war against the Syrian-Greeks and their Jewish allies. Mattisyahu had not long to live, but on his death bed he charged his sons to carry on the struggle. The glorious brothers heeded his command. He passed on the leadership to his second son, Judah the Maccabee, who was a mighty warrior and a charismatic leader.
Many miracles happened. Outnumbered a hundred to one, Judah and his men won many battles. Jews came to join him. In a few years, he had defeated the mightiest armies of Syria. Victory belonged to the Jew, the pure, the righteous, the loyal defender of the Torah. Following the rebellion, the kingdom of Israel was restored for 200 years, until the destruction of the Second Beit Hamikdash.
So it was that Judah and his men climbed the mountain above Yerushalayim and saw that there was no resistance. On the twenty fifth day of Kislev, they marched into the Holy City and immediately made their way to the Beit Hamikdash where they saw a sight that left them shocked and angered. Idols, filth, impurity were everywhere. They rummaged through the ruins seeking at least one flask of pure olive oil with which to light the makeshift menorah they hastily put together.
Flask after flask they found - every one of them defiled. Finally - another miracle! One small jug, sufficient for only one day, remained with the seal of the Kohain Gadol intact! Quickly, with trembling hands, they poured it into the menorah and lit it. It would be eight days before they could manufacture more oil for the next lighting, but meanwhile, they lit what they had.
The flames of the menorah burned and burned and burned and burned and burned and burned and burned and burned. For eight days they burned. (I bet you counted). Those eight miraculous days were chosen as the eternal symbol to commemorate the miracle of Chanukah - the eight day long Festival of Lights, where we light the Menorah each evening, publicizing the miracle Hashem performed some 2000 years ago.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHY EIGHT DAYS?
The question then arises, since the oil was adequate for one night, only seven days were miraculous. Why, then, wasn't Chanukah made a seven day festival? Many answers have been given over the years. Here are a few:
One extra day of celebration was proclaimed to commemorate the miracle of the military victory.
The Syrian-Greeks did such a thorough job of defiling the Beit Hamikdash, that it was a miracle to find even that one jug of oil. So the first night's lighting, too, was miraculous.
Knowing that it would take eight days to secure new oil, the Maccabees decided to ration the oil they found. They used only one eighth each night - yet that little bit of oil burned until dawn every single night.
After pouring the oil into the cups of the menorah, the Maccabees saw to their amazement that the oil jug was still full. A miracle - even on the first day!
After burning all night, the cups of the menorah were still full the next morning.
On each night, the Maccabees made very thin wicks in order to conserve oil. Nevertheless, the menorah burned with bright and hearty flames just as if the wicks had been of normal size.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Update from the Temple Institute
Kislev 6, 5766/December 6, 2005
Kislev is known as the month of dreams. Most of the Biblical portions that deal with dreams (i.e. Jacob's, Joseph's and Pharaoh's) are read during this month. And the Temple Mount is the place where dreams come true: the dream of humanity, to emulate G-d and connect with Him, and – as it were – the "dream" of G-d, to have a place on earth in which to dwell amongst mankind. In this week's Torah portion of VaYetze (Gen. 28:10 – 32:3), the patriarch Jacob lays down at the site of the Holy Temple and has a dream in which he sees angels ascending and descending a ladder that reaches into heaven. In the morning he wakes up and anoints the foundation stone of creation, continuing the path of Divine service begun by his fathers and effectively dedicating the cornerstone of the future Holy Temple.
On this week's edition of Israel National Radio's new expanded, 2 hour weekly Temple Talk program, Rabbi Chaim Richman and Yitzchak Reuven discuss these and many other dimensions of Torah study. These beautiful concepts and aspects of Torah wisdom relate not only to the Jewish people, but to all mankind, to all those who cherish the truth of the G-d of Israel.
Temple Talk can be heard or downloaded and saved from our Multimedia page. Live listeners to the show on Mondays now have the opportunity to communicate with the program's hosts directly during the broadcasts, to comment or pose questions. To learn more about Israel National Radio's "Virtual Studio" capabilities and technology, click here.
We would also like to take this opportunity to inform you that with G-d's help, within days of this writing the newly-completed Blue Robe for the High Priest will be on display for all to see at the Temple Institute's exhibition hall in Jerusalem. We will also post pictures of the robe on our site, for all who can't be with us at this time in Jerusalem. The completion of the blue robe, with its seventy-two golden bells and pomegranates, will be a major step towards preparations for the Holy Temple in our time. Our thanks go out to all those who participated in, and supported this project.
Please check the Events page at the Temple Institute's website to keep informed of new developments. Rabbi Richman will be visiting the USA in early January and details of his schedule will be posted on the Events page during the coming days.
With blessings from Jerusalem,
Rabbi Chaim Richman
THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE
PO Box 31876
Jerusalem, Israel 97500
www.templeinstitute.org
Kislev is known as the month of dreams. Most of the Biblical portions that deal with dreams (i.e. Jacob's, Joseph's and Pharaoh's) are read during this month. And the Temple Mount is the place where dreams come true: the dream of humanity, to emulate G-d and connect with Him, and – as it were – the "dream" of G-d, to have a place on earth in which to dwell amongst mankind. In this week's Torah portion of VaYetze (Gen. 28:10 – 32:3), the patriarch Jacob lays down at the site of the Holy Temple and has a dream in which he sees angels ascending and descending a ladder that reaches into heaven. In the morning he wakes up and anoints the foundation stone of creation, continuing the path of Divine service begun by his fathers and effectively dedicating the cornerstone of the future Holy Temple.
On this week's edition of Israel National Radio's new expanded, 2 hour weekly Temple Talk program, Rabbi Chaim Richman and Yitzchak Reuven discuss these and many other dimensions of Torah study. These beautiful concepts and aspects of Torah wisdom relate not only to the Jewish people, but to all mankind, to all those who cherish the truth of the G-d of Israel.
Temple Talk can be heard or downloaded and saved from our Multimedia page. Live listeners to the show on Mondays now have the opportunity to communicate with the program's hosts directly during the broadcasts, to comment or pose questions. To learn more about Israel National Radio's "Virtual Studio" capabilities and technology, click here.
We would also like to take this opportunity to inform you that with G-d's help, within days of this writing the newly-completed Blue Robe for the High Priest will be on display for all to see at the Temple Institute's exhibition hall in Jerusalem. We will also post pictures of the robe on our site, for all who can't be with us at this time in Jerusalem. The completion of the blue robe, with its seventy-two golden bells and pomegranates, will be a major step towards preparations for the Holy Temple in our time. Our thanks go out to all those who participated in, and supported this project.
Please check the Events page at the Temple Institute's website to keep informed of new developments. Rabbi Richman will be visiting the USA in early January and details of his schedule will be posted on the Events page during the coming days.
With blessings from Jerusalem,
Rabbi Chaim Richman
THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE
PO Box 31876
Jerusalem, Israel 97500
www.templeinstitute.org
City of David with photos
Since the Royal House of David and the Temple are related, these could be of interest to some folks:
From the Brit Am Israel "Jerusalem News" -- Report on the newly-found City of David with Photos:
http://www.deinde.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=400
http://www.leaderu.com/theology/palacedavid.html
http://minervamagazine.com/issue1606/news.html
http://www.his-forever.com/a_debate_of_biblical_proportions.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/01/AR2005120101944.html?nav=rss_nation/science
From the Brit Am Israel "Jerusalem News" -- Report on the newly-found City of David with Photos:
http://www.deinde.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=400
http://www.leaderu.com/theology/palacedavid.html
http://minervamagazine.com/issue1606/news.html
http://www.his-forever.com/a_debate_of_biblical_proportions.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/01/AR2005120101944.html?nav=rss_nation/science
Monday, December 05, 2005
International House of Prayer for Jerusalem
International House of Prayer for Jerusalem
Commentary: Sojourner Child of God
UPI Religion & Spirituality Forum
Christians, Jews and Muslims, descendants of Abraham the "father of many nations," are invited to cooperate in the construction of the long-awaited "House of Prayer for All Peoples."
Commentary: Sojourner Child of God
UPI Religion & Spirituality Forum
Christians, Jews and Muslims, descendants of Abraham the "father of many nations," are invited to cooperate in the construction of the long-awaited "House of Prayer for All Peoples."
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Jews must reclaim Temple Mount NOW!
Sharon Moves Closer to Geneva Proposal on Territorial Exchange
15:58 Dec 04, '05 / 3 Kislev 5766
By Scott Shiloh
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told a Moroccan newspaper that if security and quiet are attained, he is definitely ready to recognize a Palestinian state and to “go a long way” in negotiations.
In an interview in Le Economist, Sharon said that while Israel would not return to the borders that existed prior to the 1967 Six Day War, it was ready to exchange territories with a Palestinian state.
The idea of retaining settlement blocs in Judea and Samaria, in exchange for other territories liberated by Israel in the 1948 War of Independence, is similar to proposals set forth in the “Geneva Initiative,” a draft agreement for a negotiated settlement which would set up a Palestinian state.
That initiative has been strongly supported by Meretz-Yahad leader Yossi Beilin, and provides for handing over the Old City of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount, to Arab control. /
With whispers of the withered Sharon further drying up his soul by being ready to surrender Judaism's holiest site - the Temple Mount - officially to Ishmaelites, this should serve as a wake up call, a warning shot to every Jew and Israeli to reclaim the Temple Mount NOW! Israelis will never restore the Temple Mount as the Temple Mount as long as they're willing to accept the deplorable status quo that practices religious discrimination against them daily. Jews and Israelis must demand their religious rights upon the Temple Mount today or tomorrow will be too late!
15:58 Dec 04, '05 / 3 Kislev 5766
By Scott Shiloh
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told a Moroccan newspaper that if security and quiet are attained, he is definitely ready to recognize a Palestinian state and to “go a long way” in negotiations.
In an interview in Le Economist, Sharon said that while Israel would not return to the borders that existed prior to the 1967 Six Day War, it was ready to exchange territories with a Palestinian state.
The idea of retaining settlement blocs in Judea and Samaria, in exchange for other territories liberated by Israel in the 1948 War of Independence, is similar to proposals set forth in the “Geneva Initiative,” a draft agreement for a negotiated settlement which would set up a Palestinian state.
That initiative has been strongly supported by Meretz-Yahad leader Yossi Beilin, and provides for handing over the Old City of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount, to Arab control. /
With whispers of the withered Sharon further drying up his soul by being ready to surrender Judaism's holiest site - the Temple Mount - officially to Ishmaelites, this should serve as a wake up call, a warning shot to every Jew and Israeli to reclaim the Temple Mount NOW! Israelis will never restore the Temple Mount as the Temple Mount as long as they're willing to accept the deplorable status quo that practices religious discrimination against them daily. Jews and Israelis must demand their religious rights upon the Temple Mount today or tomorrow will be too late!
Urls on the Temple from Brit Am Israel's newsletter
From Yair Davidiy of Brit Am Israel:
The following URLs were collected by someone else on another list.
I (Yair Davidiy) took the liberty of reposting them here.
It only takes a few minutes to briefly look them over and it is worthwhile.
According to a Mishna the color of the Temple was actually sky-blue but I
do not think I have even seen a picture of the Temple using that color.
The (h) "Images of Herod's Temple from a Scale Model" was new to me and
interesting.
(i) Shows different Temples and Sanctuaries mainly from the Israelite area.
(j) Show remains of the Second Temple that can still be seen today.
Interesting.
(k) Impressive.
a. Schematic Plan of the Temple
b. Herod's
Temple Illustration (interactive)
c.
Black and White Sketch
d.
City of Jerusalem
e.
Herod's Temple - by Bruce R. McConkie
f. Holyland Model pictures
http://www.ebibleteacher.com/imagehtml/jerumodel.html
http://www.inisrael.com/holyland/m_academic.htm
http://www.inisrael.com/holyland/index.html
g.
The Jewish Temple at the Time of Jesus
h.
Images of Herod's Temple from a Scale Model
i. Temples and other images
http://courses.drew.edu/BIBST-101-002/Temples
http://courses.drew.edu/BIBST-101-002
j.
Text and pictures
k.
Three Reconstructions of Herod's Temple
The following URLs were collected by someone else on another list.
I (Yair Davidiy) took the liberty of reposting them here.
It only takes a few minutes to briefly look them over and it is worthwhile.
According to a Mishna the color of the Temple was actually sky-blue but I
do not think I have even seen a picture of the Temple using that color.
The (h) "Images of Herod's Temple from a Scale Model" was new to me and
interesting.
(i) Shows different Temples and Sanctuaries mainly from the Israelite area.
(j) Show remains of the Second Temple that can still be seen today.
Interesting.
(k) Impressive.
a. Schematic Plan of the Temple
b. Herod's
Temple Illustration (interactive)
c.
Black and White Sketch
d.
City of Jerusalem
e.
Herod's Temple - by Bruce R. McConkie
f. Holyland Model pictures
http://www.ebibleteacher.com/imagehtml/jerumodel.html
http://www.inisrael.com/holyland/m_academic.htm
http://www.inisrael.com/holyland/index.html
g.
The Jewish Temple at the Time of Jesus
h.
Images of Herod's Temple from a Scale Model
i. Temples and other images
http://courses.drew.edu/BIBST-101-002/Temples
http://courses.drew.edu/BIBST-101-002
j.
Text and pictures
k.
Three Reconstructions of Herod's Temple
Thursday, December 01, 2005
The Secret Nazis covet the Temple Mount
"Even before the end of this war, I revealed to you the plans for a NAZI UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT, to go underground as a SECRET organization the very moment they lost the war - to lay low...then come forth when least expected, RESTORE GERMANY TO POWER, and go on to finally accomplish their aims in a WORLD WAR III" - The Plain Truth, Sept. 1948.
The Philadelphia Trumpet magazine (Feb. 2000) reminded its international audience that Herbert W. Armstrong wrote those prophetic words long before they were confirmed by Reuters Arthur Spiegelman, who wrote on May 10, 1996: "Realizing they were losing the war in 1944, Nazi leaders met top German industrialists to plan a secret post-war international network to restore them to power, according to a newly declassified U.S. intelligence document. The document...says an SS general and a representative of the German armaments ministry told such companies as Krupp and Rohling that they must be prepared to finance the Nazi Party...when it went underground."
Ella Steinberg, executive director of the World Jewish Congress stated: "Now that the Nazi secret plan has been confirmed, the central question is whether it has been carried out."
Need we wonder? Considering German hegemony throughout Europe is practically a done deal (with the Vatican's blessing), aren't Herbert W. Armstrong's warnings about the final revival of the "Holy Roman Empire" being fulfilled before our very eyes? Only the deaf, dumb and blind could deny that the Germans have thoroughly carried out their plans!
But what is the German-Catholic kingdom without the crown of Jerusalem? "Woe to Ariel, Ariel, the city where David dwelt!" (Isaiah 29:1). The Vatican covets the Temple Mount and Europe won't quit until it occupies the eternal capital of Israel! Both the Arabs and the Jews had better beware any European moves into the Middle East.
The Philadelphia Trumpet magazine (Feb. 2000) reminded its international audience that Herbert W. Armstrong wrote those prophetic words long before they were confirmed by Reuters Arthur Spiegelman, who wrote on May 10, 1996: "Realizing they were losing the war in 1944, Nazi leaders met top German industrialists to plan a secret post-war international network to restore them to power, according to a newly declassified U.S. intelligence document. The document...says an SS general and a representative of the German armaments ministry told such companies as Krupp and Rohling that they must be prepared to finance the Nazi Party...when it went underground."
Ella Steinberg, executive director of the World Jewish Congress stated: "Now that the Nazi secret plan has been confirmed, the central question is whether it has been carried out."
Need we wonder? Considering German hegemony throughout Europe is practically a done deal (with the Vatican's blessing), aren't Herbert W. Armstrong's warnings about the final revival of the "Holy Roman Empire" being fulfilled before our very eyes? Only the deaf, dumb and blind could deny that the Germans have thoroughly carried out their plans!
But what is the German-Catholic kingdom without the crown of Jerusalem? "Woe to Ariel, Ariel, the city where David dwelt!" (Isaiah 29:1). The Vatican covets the Temple Mount and Europe won't quit until it occupies the eternal capital of Israel! Both the Arabs and the Jews had better beware any European moves into the Middle East.
Don't celebrate Hanukkah
unless you're dedicated to doing whatever you can to restore the Temple Mount as the Temple Mount.
Don't celebrate Hanukkah
From Israel National News
The Temple Mount is...?
by Ze´ev Orenstein
Nov 30, '05 / 28 Cheshvan 5766
Reader Comments:
Name: David Ben-Ariel
Hometown: Toledo, Ohio, USA/Menashe
Title: Don't celebrate Hanukkah
World Jewry and Israelis especially should be ashamed of themselves! The very fact that the Temple Mount remains without a Temple stands as an indictment against Judaism. God hates hypocrisy. I'm sure it stinks to high Heaven when folks celebrate Hanukkah by eating sufganiot rather than liberating the Temple Mount and demanding their leaders DO SOMETHING.
http://templemountjerusalem.blogspot.com
The Temple Mount is...?
by Ze´ev Orenstein
Nov 30, '05 / 28 Cheshvan 5766
Reader Comments:
Name: David Ben-Ariel
Hometown: Toledo, Ohio, USA/Menashe
Title: Don't celebrate Hanukkah
World Jewry and Israelis especially should be ashamed of themselves! The very fact that the Temple Mount remains without a Temple stands as an indictment against Judaism. God hates hypocrisy. I'm sure it stinks to high Heaven when folks celebrate Hanukkah by eating sufganiot rather than liberating the Temple Mount and demanding their leaders DO SOMETHING.
http://templemountjerusalem.blogspot.com
The Temple Mount is...
The Temple Mount is...?
by Ze´ev Orenstein
Nov 30, '05 / 28 Cheshvan 5766
On June 7th, 1967 / the 28th of Iyar, 5727, Motta Gur, commander of the battle for Jerusalem during the Six-Day War, uttered three words that shook the very foundations of the world, and served as the culmination of 2,000 years of Jewish hopes, dreams and prayers: "Har Habayit beyadeinu!" ("The Temple Mount is in our hands!") Sadly, just under 40 years later, that is no longer the case.
Recently, I had the distinct privilege of ascending Har HaBayit (the Temple Mount), and visiting the holiest site of the Jewish People. (Before any Jew visits Har HaBayit he should consult with a Halachic authority well versed in the laws concerning such a visit.) Har HaBayit is the site where the first two Batei HaMikdash (Holy Temples) stood and upon which the third will be built, speedily, in our time. It is on this place where the presence of G-d rests and many central events in Jewish history occurred on this very spot (such as Akeidat Yitzchak - the binding of Isaac).
While I am thankful for the opportunity to visit the holiest of sites of the Jewish People (an act that, throughout our long Exile, so few Jews have merited; and I dare not proclaim to be of greater spiritual stature, and as such, more deserving), there is also a sense of shame that accompanies me on these visits. When a Jew visits Har HaBayit today - specifically, a religious Jew - he does so as a visitor, as a guest and not as sovereign.
After the Six-Day War, when Jerusalem was liberated from Jordanian occupation, the Jewish people had once again returned to Har HaBayit, the focal point of all of our prayers. Sadly, Moshe Dayan, then Minister of Defense, ordered the Israeli flag lowered from the Mount and gave the Muslim Waqf day-to-day control over Har HaBayit. This remains the status quo until this very day.
As such, today, when a Jew visits Har HaBayit, he must play according to rules set by the Muslim Waqf. He is only allowed to visit during limited hours. Religious Jews are given "special" treatment: they are instructed that if they are seen performing any act of religious significance while visiting Har HaBayit, then they will be forcibly removed and charges will be brought against them (this speech is given by a Jewish Israeli police officer). These restrictions include praying, bowing, tearing clothing, singing, dancing.... The powers that be ensure compliance on this matter by having all religious Jews who visit Har HaBayit escorted by Israeli police and Muslim Waqf officials. This treatment is only given for religious Jews; tourists are able to move freely on Har Habayit without escort.
To make matters worse, Har HaBayit today is not given the respect and reverence that is befitting a place of such holiness. Arab children can be seen riding bikes and playing ball. Garbage is strewn all over the Mount. Illegal excavations continue around the clock, with the sole aim being to erase any physical evidence of a Jewish connection to the site. When the Arabs come to pray at the mosques found on the Temple Mount, they hear sermons filled with hatred and vitriol against the Jewish people and state, comparing Jews to monkeys and pigs, alongside calls for the destruction of the Jewish State of Israel. (To see pictures of Har HaBayit today, click here.
The Jewish Israeli poet, Uri Tzvi Greenberg, z.l., understood the centrality of the Temple Mount to the conflict that the Jewish people are faced with today in the Land of Israel: "He who rules the Mount rules the Land."
Today, it is clear from the actions (or inaction) of successive Jewish governments since 1967 that the Jewish People do not rule the Mount. As such, our hold on Eretz Yisrael today is tenuous.
Consider this: If the State of Israel is unwilling to stand up and enforce the right of the Jewish people to Har HaBayit, our holiest site, then for what are we willing to stand and fight? For Gush Katif? For Hebron? For eastern Jerusalem?
The Arabs are not a stupid people. They see that we are unwilling to stand up for what is ours - in this case, our holiest site - and they understand that if that is the case, then we will not truly stand up to them anywhere else in the Land of Israel either.
The time has come for the Jewish people to reconnect with our holiest site; to raise an outcry over the injustices taking place on Har HaBayit; to demand, at the very least, that Jews should have equal rights with the Muslims, and be able to pray on Har HaBayit in accordance with Halacha. How can it be that in the Jewish State of Israel (which also claims to be a democracy) freedom of religious worship is not extended to Jews at their holiest of sites?
Here's a better question: How can it be that the desecration of G-d's name and sanctuary bothers so few Jews, both in Israel and in the rest of the world?
by Ze´ev Orenstein
Nov 30, '05 / 28 Cheshvan 5766
On June 7th, 1967 / the 28th of Iyar, 5727, Motta Gur, commander of the battle for Jerusalem during the Six-Day War, uttered three words that shook the very foundations of the world, and served as the culmination of 2,000 years of Jewish hopes, dreams and prayers: "Har Habayit beyadeinu!" ("The Temple Mount is in our hands!") Sadly, just under 40 years later, that is no longer the case.
Recently, I had the distinct privilege of ascending Har HaBayit (the Temple Mount), and visiting the holiest site of the Jewish People. (Before any Jew visits Har HaBayit he should consult with a Halachic authority well versed in the laws concerning such a visit.) Har HaBayit is the site where the first two Batei HaMikdash (Holy Temples) stood and upon which the third will be built, speedily, in our time. It is on this place where the presence of G-d rests and many central events in Jewish history occurred on this very spot (such as Akeidat Yitzchak - the binding of Isaac).
While I am thankful for the opportunity to visit the holiest of sites of the Jewish People (an act that, throughout our long Exile, so few Jews have merited; and I dare not proclaim to be of greater spiritual stature, and as such, more deserving), there is also a sense of shame that accompanies me on these visits. When a Jew visits Har HaBayit today - specifically, a religious Jew - he does so as a visitor, as a guest and not as sovereign.
After the Six-Day War, when Jerusalem was liberated from Jordanian occupation, the Jewish people had once again returned to Har HaBayit, the focal point of all of our prayers. Sadly, Moshe Dayan, then Minister of Defense, ordered the Israeli flag lowered from the Mount and gave the Muslim Waqf day-to-day control over Har HaBayit. This remains the status quo until this very day.
As such, today, when a Jew visits Har HaBayit, he must play according to rules set by the Muslim Waqf. He is only allowed to visit during limited hours. Religious Jews are given "special" treatment: they are instructed that if they are seen performing any act of religious significance while visiting Har HaBayit, then they will be forcibly removed and charges will be brought against them (this speech is given by a Jewish Israeli police officer). These restrictions include praying, bowing, tearing clothing, singing, dancing.... The powers that be ensure compliance on this matter by having all religious Jews who visit Har HaBayit escorted by Israeli police and Muslim Waqf officials. This treatment is only given for religious Jews; tourists are able to move freely on Har Habayit without escort.
To make matters worse, Har HaBayit today is not given the respect and reverence that is befitting a place of such holiness. Arab children can be seen riding bikes and playing ball. Garbage is strewn all over the Mount. Illegal excavations continue around the clock, with the sole aim being to erase any physical evidence of a Jewish connection to the site. When the Arabs come to pray at the mosques found on the Temple Mount, they hear sermons filled with hatred and vitriol against the Jewish people and state, comparing Jews to monkeys and pigs, alongside calls for the destruction of the Jewish State of Israel. (To see pictures of Har HaBayit today, click here.
The Jewish Israeli poet, Uri Tzvi Greenberg, z.l., understood the centrality of the Temple Mount to the conflict that the Jewish people are faced with today in the Land of Israel: "He who rules the Mount rules the Land."
Today, it is clear from the actions (or inaction) of successive Jewish governments since 1967 that the Jewish People do not rule the Mount. As such, our hold on Eretz Yisrael today is tenuous.
Consider this: If the State of Israel is unwilling to stand up and enforce the right of the Jewish people to Har HaBayit, our holiest site, then for what are we willing to stand and fight? For Gush Katif? For Hebron? For eastern Jerusalem?
The Arabs are not a stupid people. They see that we are unwilling to stand up for what is ours - in this case, our holiest site - and they understand that if that is the case, then we will not truly stand up to them anywhere else in the Land of Israel either.
The time has come for the Jewish people to reconnect with our holiest site; to raise an outcry over the injustices taking place on Har HaBayit; to demand, at the very least, that Jews should have equal rights with the Muslims, and be able to pray on Har HaBayit in accordance with Halacha. How can it be that in the Jewish State of Israel (which also claims to be a democracy) freedom of religious worship is not extended to Jews at their holiest of sites?
Here's a better question: How can it be that the desecration of G-d's name and sanctuary bothers so few Jews, both in Israel and in the rest of the world?
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