• DH

  Devora Herszberg -2 years ago

  I'm also curious why the donation of the kumaz Jewelry didn't raise any ire as the mirrors did. 

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  • YJ

    YY Jacobson -2 years ago

    Because it was melted down. Unlike the mirrors. 

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• Sר

  shmuel רוזנבלום -2 years ago

  רבי יקר

  בשל שיעוריך איני ישן בלילות.

  אני צמוד ליוטיוב ועוקב אחר השיעורים.

  קבל רעיון:משה רבנו מסרב לקבל השליחות.מדוע?שואל אותו הקבה "מה זה בידך? ממה אתה מחזיק?? מדוע אתה מסרב לקבל שליחותי?עונה לא משה רבנו:אני מחזיק במטה!! אתה רבשע שולח אותי ללובינג לשתדלנות.אני רוצה הופעת ה באספקלריה המאירה.מטה!!!תן להם בשיניים!! תופיע לפני כולם."הופע בהדר גאון עוזך על כל יושבי תבל ארצך.באופן גלוי-לא בעקיפין לא באמצעות "מירור"לא באמצעות מראה אלא בכח גדול ביד חזקה.

  עונה לו הקבה :אתה יודע את ה .אינך מאמין-אתה ממש יודע!! אולם בני ישראל הם מאמינים.גאולתם של ישראל היא בדרך הנחש!! הנחש מתפתל.לעיתים נדמה שהוא זז הצידה אבל הוא זוחל קדימה!! כך היא גאולתם של ישראל.בדרך העקלתון "זיג זג"

  זרוק את המטה!!!בבואך אל העם הזה השלך אותו!!שכח מהמטה!! אתה חייב להוביל עם שמביט במראה ולא דרך החלון השקוף!!!

  אכן משה רבנו זרק את המטה-אולם בטרגדיה של הסלע והמים הוא שב לשיטת המטה...

  אומר לו הקבה:"יען לא האמנתם בי"אתם יודעי ה." אתם שכחתם שאתם מובילים עם של מאמינים ולא עם של יודעים.זה לא יכול להמשך.בארץ ישראל ההנהגה היא גשמית."ריל אסטיט"עם של מאמינים של נאבקים.של מתלבטים -חייב להיות מונהג על ידי מנהיג מאמין-לא מנהיג שרואה הכל דרך חלון שקוף. 

  כעין זה שמעתי ממור הרב יעקב אריאל רבה של רמת גן תובבא.

  שמוליק רוזנבלום [email protected]

  החפץ בעילום שמו

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• DG

  Dina Goldenberg -7 years ago

  Just finished listening... I don't understand how it can be that the same Moshe who is here portrayed as not fully appreciating the value of "Or Chozer" hence he didn't want to accept the mirrors, is the same Moshe who breaks the luchos for that very reason just a short while before!

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• D

  dvorah -10 years ago

  wow
  what a nice lesson! so inspiring! thank you!!

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• C

  CARMELA -13 years ago

  RESPONSE TO YITZCHOK
  B''H
  
  HAVE YOU NOTICED HOW MANY TIMES YOU HAVE REPEATED THE WORD HATE?
  CHANGING YOUR CHOICE OF WORDS WOULD EFFECT THE MINDSET AND THE ATTITUDE.
  HOW ABOUT AGREEING TO DISAGREE?
  WE ALL ARE G-DS' CHILDREN.
  
  IF G-D CREATED SECULARS, IF HE ALLOWED ZIONIZM TO FORM AND CREATE THE STATE OF ISRAEL,IF BY HIS MIRACLES WE ARE HERE DESPITE OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WE ARE IN, IF HE KEEPS SUSTAINING US DESPITE ALL ODDS - WHO ARE YOU TO KNOW BETTER: ,CRITICIZE ,JUDGE,AND DECIDE WHO IS A GOOD JEW, A WORTHY ONE.
  EVERYTHING IS UמDER HIS PROVIDENCE - HASHGACHA:ORTODOX AND SECULAR ALIKE.WE ALL WERE CREATED BY HIM KIRETZONO AND NOT KIRETZONCHA...
  THE ARAB TERROR AND THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR THREAT,ARE ALL FROM HASHEM TO WAKE US UP -
  FOR SECULARS TO STOP RIDICULING THE ORTODOX,AND FOR THE ORTODOX TO STOP LOOKING DOWN ON THE SECULARS.
  IN THE NAME OF G-D YOU WANT TO ''FIGHT'' AGAINST YOUR BROTHERS,YOUR FATHERS' OTHER SONS...?
  G-D WAS PROTECTIVE EVEN OF THE DRAWNING EGYPTIANS ''MA'ASEH YADAI TOV'IM BAYAM VEATEM OMRIM SHIRA''?
  MY CREATIONS ARE DRAWNING AND YOU ARE HAPPY?SINGING?
  LET ALONE WHEN IT IS ABOUT JEWS!
  YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO''LEHA'IR PANIM'' ,TRY NICELY TO BRING EVERY JEW CLOSER TO G-D.
  
  YOU ARE DEMANDED TO ''VEAHAVTA LE'REACHA CAMOCHA'' !
  
  BEFORE ''BEIN ADAM LAMAKOM'' THERE IS ''BEIN ADAM LACHAVEIRO''...
  THIS IS AVODAT HASHEM !!!
  ***
  ISRAEL HAS NO RIGHT TO THE LAND?
  '' HALANU ATAH IM LETZAREINU''?ARE YOU SIDING WITH US OR WITH OUR ENEMIES? YOU ARE FUELING THEIR INSANITY
  
  IT IS MUCH EASIER TO TEAR US APART FROM OUTSIDE,IF WE ARE NOT ''AM ECHAD BELEV RCHAD''.
  HISTORY SHOWED US THE COSEQUENCES OF ''SIN'AT CHINAM''...
  
  EACH JEW IS A JEW.
  DON'T TAKE AWAY G-DS' JOB.LET HIM MANAGE US, AND YOU DO WHAT YOU WERE CREATED TO DO.
  HE SEES AND KNOWS EVERYTHING.NOTHING HAPPENS THAT ISN'T HIS WILL.
  WHEN YOU WILL BE HIM,YOU'LL HAVE THINGS HAPPEN AND DONE YOUR WAY...FOR NOW YOU ARE EVED HASHEM,SO BE HUMBLE.
  YOU DON'T HAVE A MONOPOLI ON G-D NOR ON THE TORAH AS FAR AS SECULAR JEWS ARE CONCERNED.
  CULTIVATE LOVE AND NOT ENAMOSITY.IF YOU FEEL SUPERIOR
  YOU DEFINITLY MISINTERPRET G-DS' WILL AND INSTRUCTIONS.
  DON'T ACT ONLY FROM YOUR VITAL ANIMAL SOUL. THERE IS ROOM FOR LOT OF REFINMENT TO BE DONE.
  
  NO BOMB WILL DISTINGUISH BETWEEN SECULAR AND ORTODOX...
  
  ''EIN OD MILVADO'' - G-D IS EVERYTHING AND EVERYTHING IS UNDER HIS COMMAND.NOT A THING TAKES PLACE WITHOUT HIS PROVIDENCE
  
  CARMELA, ISRAEL

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• C

  CARMELA -13 years ago

  RESPONSE TO MOON & RIYAKI - INTIFADA
  B''H
  
  YOUR ARGUMENTS SO WELL DEMONSTRATE THE DISTORTED EDUCATION OF LIES ON WHICH THE ARAB COUNTIES RAISE GENERATIONS,TRYING TO ESTABLISH THEIR ''RIGHTS'' ON THE LAND.
  
  YOU SEE,YOU HAVE TRIED VARIOUS STRATEGIES THROUGHOUT THE EXISTENCE OF THE STATE OF ISRAELS: DECLAIRING TO THROW US TO THE SEA DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR YOU WITH ISRAELS ARMY AND G-D,THEN YOU RESORTED TO OTHER TRICKS: REWRITING FALSE HISTORY ,EXCAVATING IN MOUNT TEMPLE TO DEMOLISH HISTORICAL EVIDENCE,NOT ALLOWING A SOUL OR CAMERA TO SEE WHAT YOU ARE DOING THERE,TO SUPPORT THE DENIAL OF THE HOLY TEMPLES EVER BEING THERE.
  
  WHY WOULD YOU WORK SO HARD TO PROOVE WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE LAND ?
  
  WHERE IS YOUR PROOF IT IS YOURS?
  
  YOU SEE, WE DON'T TRY TO PROOVE IT ISN'T YOURS, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE ETERNAL PROOF THAT IT IS OURS !
  
  IF THE ISRAELITES' CONNECTION TO THE LAND OF ISRAEL STARTED ONLY AS HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS, WHY DID THE U.N., WHICH HAD THOSE DAYS A DIFFERENT NAME, DESIGNATED AND APPROUVED THE LAND OF ISRAEL , OF ALL THE LANDS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD?WHY NOT ANOTHER LAND AS OUR REFUGE?IN ANOTHER PART OF THE WORLD?
  
  IF THE JEWS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE LAND,HOW COME THE ARABS THEMSELVES CEMENTED THE GATE OF MERCY ,IN JERUSALEMS' OLD CITYS' WALL,AS A PREVENTION MEASURE TO OUR MESSIAH TO ENTER JERUSALEM?
  (WHICH IS THE JEWISH BELIEF )
  
  HOW COME THROUGHOUT CENTURIES THE WAILING WALL IS RECOGNIZED AS PART OF THE WALL SUROUNDED THE JEWISH TEMPLE?
  
  HOW COME THE ENTIRE WORLD ACCEPTS THE OLD TESTAMENT AS G-DS WORDS,THE OLDEST BOOK THOUSANDS YEARS OLD.
  
  HOW COME THE LAND IS CALLED THE PROMISED LAND, AND IT IS CLEAR FOR CENTURIES TO ALL, THAT IT REFERS TO THE LAND OF ISRAEL,PROMISED BY G-D TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL?
  
  HOW COME THE HISTORY BOOKS OF PAST EMPIRES BRAG ABOUT CONQUERING AND EXILING THE JEWS FROM THE PROMISED LAND?
  THE ROMANS LIED IN THEIR HISTORY DOCUMENTATIONS?THEY DIDN'T EXILE THE JEWS FROM THEIR LAND?
  
  HOW COME JEWS IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD,IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES,HAVE HAD AND STIL DO, THE SAME PRAYERS EXPRESSING THEIR YEARNING FOR JERUSALEM AND THE TEMPLE?
  
  HOW COME ARABS NEVER CLAIMED THE LAND AS THEIR COUNTRY UNTIL THE JEWS STARTED RETURNING IN MASSES IN THE 1880'S ?
  
  HOW COME THE RELIGIOUS JEWS CONCENTRATED FOR CENTURIES IN SAFAD,TIBERIAS,HEBRON AND JERUSALEM,THE 4 HOLY CITIES, LIVED WITH THE ARABS UNDER DIFFERENT ARABIC RULERS, WHO NEVER CLAIMED IT AS THEIRS, ONLY CONSIDERED IT TO BE CONQUERED-OCCUPIED COLONY BY THEM?
  
  IF YOU WOULD TRANSFER ALL THE HATRED ENERGY DIRECTED AGAINST US,INTO POSITIVE LOVING ENERGY TO YOURSELVES AND TO YOUR PEOPLE, THINGS WOULD BE DIFFERENT FOR BOTH OF US.
  
  AS LONG AS YOU WORSHIP WAR AND DEATH, AND WE SEEK PEACE AND LIFE,AS LONG AS YOU CLAIME WHAT IS NOT YOURS, WHILE WE ARE WILLING TO GIVE YOU WHAT IS OURS, FOR THE SAKE OF LIFE AND PEACE, AS LONG AS YOU MURDER SLEEPING BABIES,AND WE BRING YOUR KIDS AND ADULTS TO OUR HOSPITALS TO SAVE THEIR LIVES WITH ADVANCED MEDICINE, SOLUTION IS NOT IN THE HORIZON
  
  AS LONG AS YOU FIGHT HIDING AMONGST CIVILIANS HOMES,AND WE RISK OUR SOLDIERS LIVES IN ORDER TO AVOID HURTING YOUR CIVILIANS, THE SITUATION WILL NOT BETTER.
  
  YOU ACT LIKE A MAD MEN COUNTING ON US HOLDING ON TO OUR SANITY, TREATING YOU HUMANELY, DESPITE OF EVERYTHING.
  
  BUT AT THE END OF OUR ROPE,YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT ASSUME
  THE ROLE OF THE CRAZY ONE ...
  
  CARMELA

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• M

  Michale -13 years ago

  "Social network Jihad: Hezbollabuk captured Facebook"
  This article tells you more details about what happens in Facebook. The link is English translation from Russian. http://is.gd/jMVUds

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• A

  aaron -13 years ago

  there are actually 3,500,000 members!!
  http://www.facebook.com/Ras...

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• L

  Leah -13 years ago

  The issue is not facebook
  I'm receiving some feedback that indicates that some people are now stuck with this being a Facebook issue, not an Intifada issue.
  
  In addition, some interested national media people and some in Florida opened your article that went from my CC account. They may or may not have known that Facebook had already shut down the main Intifada FB page, by the time they received your article, though I am sure their interest is in the threatened Intifada over and above the FB issue.
  
  StandForUs are forwarding the new Facebook Intifada pages that are now opening that Mark Zuckerberg will have to deal with as well. It appears that a good portion of the Jewish population is following the FB progress and events.
  
  Again, though, the question at large that all must surely be asking, is what are the Jewish people doing about the Intifada? Yes, we can shut down a Facebook page -- yay, Baruch Hashem -- and look how many Yidden reached Mark Zuckerberg?! Certainly, he was made to think, and he acted appropriately. Now he is compelled to continue to think about the new Intifada pages going up, and G-d willing he will think about the threatened Intifada on May 15 heaven forfend as well, and what that means. Oh, it's awful to make people think about such things, isn't it? But before we get stuck in it remaining a Facebook issue, I think a follow-up article from you is called for to differentiate what we're dealing with, and what we really need to be thinking about.
  
  I'm confident I can get some public and media opens on a email with a follow-up article, if you have time.

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• L

  Levi -13 years ago

  A Letter by the Lubavithcer Rebbe on Subject, Sometime after Yom Kippur War
  By the Grace of G-d
  Rosh Chodesh Teves, 5734
  Brooklyn, NY
  Dr. Yitzchok Isaac Moskowitz
  4201 Long Beach Blvd.
  Suite 208
  Long Beach, CA 90807
  Greeting and Blessing:
  This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter of December 24th.
  It surprises me that, apparently, you are misinformed about the present state of affairs in the matter about which you write.
  In the natural order of things, it is now well-nigh impossible to do anything to reverse the tide, inasmuch as those who determine the policy have brought it to a situation where it is impossible to retract all that has been promised in regard to the returning of territories, etc. This is not the place to dwell at length on such a painful and appalling matter.
  Perhaps you know that there is a judicial formula, which originates in the Torah (Talmud), to the effect: techilaso beratzon vesofo be’ones (“He began voluntarily and ended up under compulsion”). The time to have averted it was when I began to storm (naturally not through the press) immediately after the Six Day War, when those policy-makers hastily dispatched emissaries to Washington with assurances that they were prepared to return such-and-such territories, and that most of them were negotiable, etc. This was the “voluntary beginning” which has resulted in the present situation.
  What will happen in the future—no one can say. But we are a people who depend on miracles, and, indeed, our whole existence as a small nation in a hostile world is also nothing short of a miracle. And so when the offer of territorial concessions was made immediately after and since the Six Day War, there was the miracle that the other party, the Arabs, rejected the offer. And during the Yom Kippur war there was even a greater miracle when the Egyptians, after crossing the Suez Canal with a huge army, known to be at least 100,000 strong, and most likely much stronger, yet for no reason stepped in their tracks only a number of kilometers east of the Canal, facing no military resistance, and with the road ahead of them wide open. Unfortunately, extraordinary opportunities on both fronts which the miracles had provided were missed, and, again, I do not wish to dwell on matters which do not reflect favorably on our fellow Jews.
  As for the practical thing which Jews everywhere can do to help the present situation—something which is most regrettably ignored, in line with playing down the obvious Divine intervention in the most critical days of the war—is that every Jew must strength his bonds with the Torah from Sinai, when G-d made us the “chosen people.” This is also something of which we need not be ashamed, for contrary to those who misunderstand or misrepresent this in terms of privilege which smacks of chauvinism, this chosenness is primarily a matter of duty and obligation to be a model people for the whole world to emulate, a people where form takes precedence over matter, the spiritual over the material, and the soul over the body, a people which was destined to be “a light unto the nations” (Isaiah 42:6, etc.). It is this kind of life and conduct which the Torah describes that also stimulates right thinking and the proper outlook on life. It is this kind of life that also strengthens the self-confidence of every Jew wherever he may be, and enables him to shed any inferiority complex and the readiness to be impressed by a goy, or by an idea which comes from a goy, or actually non-Jewish ideology. It is sad indeed when, instead of being a model and a living example for non-Jews to emulate, some Jews fall over themselves to emulate non-Jews, rejecting the “spring of living waters,” the Jewish Torah and Jewish tradition, etc.
  It is surely unnecessary to point out to you, an M.D., the psychological factor which has such an important role when two adversaries confront each other. When the adversary sees that his opponent is spiritually and psychologically strong and self-confident and certain of his just cause and not prone to be impressed by the adversary or any non-Jew due to the inferiority complex mentioned above—this is the best way of preventing wars, not only major wars, but even wars of attrition. It is hardly to be expected that a Jew, who in his personal life is afraid to show that he is a proud Jew, whether at home or outside, who prefers to stack his library with non-Jewish volumes and authors, etc., and who makes sure to bring up his children in a way that when they walk in the street they should show no signs of being Jewish, yet this same Jew should draw the line and take a different posture when he meets a political adversary and engages in political negotiations with representatives of other countries.
  Could such a Jewish representative truly consider himself at least equal to the gentile adversary in such a confrontation, having tried all his life to emulate and follow slavishly the gentile world and way of life? And whatever pretense and façade he might make will surely not convince the adversary.
  The same is true, of course, in regard to the education of the Jewish children, who are brought up on the culture of the various nations of the world, and where Jewish tradition and culture take second place at best or are non-existent. Could such children grow up into proud Jews, dedicated to their heritage, and defend it? Parenthetically, here we find perhaps the greatest miracle, namely that despite the face that a substantial segment of our Jewish youth in Eretz Yisroel has been, unfortunately, brought up in such a non-Jewish atmosphere, implanting in them the idea that the non-Jewish culture is something superior to their own Jewish heritage, yet they had the strength at the critical moment to realize that they will not be intimidated by superior physical forces confronting them, and acquitted themselves in with such extraordinary valor. They were quick to realize, much more so than some of their elders, that G-d has clearly intervened in their behalf, and with characteristic honesty and sincerity of youth drew their conclusions, as is evident in the great religious revival among the rank and file of the defenders of our Holy Land. One could only wish that this inspiration and revival would be further stimulated and not allowed to evaporate.
  Were the theme at hand one that is gratifying both to the writer and reader, it would have been worthwhile to expand on it. But since it is one that has the opposite effect, I must reduce it to a minimum. I trust, nevertheless, that it will suffice for a person of your background, and will stimulate you to use all the influence and energy which Divine Providence has given you to do everything possible to strengthen Torah-true Jewish education, both in your immediate surroundings and wherever your influence can be felt, instead of the schizophrenic education to which so many Jewish children are exposed and the polarity with which they are brought up, which reduces their Jewish identity to a miniscule part of their daily life, or to three days in the year when the parent feels impelled to go to the synagogue and pray and identify himself with his fellow Jews.
  This is an area where every Jew, man or woman, young or old, both in the Holy Land and in the Diaposra, can and is duty bound to do something. And if one should think, what can a single person, or even a single act, accomplish—we live in a day and age where it is repeatedly demonstrated that even a small thing or a small act can have tremendous effects, and in this case tremendous effects for the benefit of all our Jewish people everywhere, including the Holy Land, which is the subject of your letter.
  I cannot, of course, miss this opportunity of expressing to you my great pleasure and gratification for your cooperation and assistance in our Chabad work in your region. I do not mean it simply as “help,” which would imply the assistance given of one to another, for I consider it as a partnership in which your interest is truly your own as well as of those benefiting from it. May G-d grant that here too your cooperation should proceed in a growing measure, in the spirit of the Chanukah lights mentioned above.
  With blessing,
  [signature]

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• A

  Anonymous -13 years ago

  That's because the Israelis try time and again to make the world like them, and it always fails because they will never like us. It's not that they're falling for it, they're just pressured to submit to these demands by the international community.

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• SN

  Sholomke N -13 years ago

  It’s not uncommon to hear people advocating against phony Arab claims, but I haven’t heard anyone insightfully explaining why a country so reputable for its brilliance is continuously falling for such bogusness.

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• JB

  Josh Basson -13 years ago

  TRUE OBSTACLES TO PEACE
  THANK YOU RABBI Y. Y. JACOBSON
  FOR ALL YOUR PERCEPTIVE ARTICLES. THE BRUTUAL MASSACRE OF THE YOUNG FOGEL FAMILY IN THE ITIMAR COOMUNITY IN THE WEST BANK CLEARLY SHOWS THAT SETTLEMENTS ARE NOT AN OBSTACLE TO PEACE. AS YOU HAVE CORRECTLY POINTED OUT THAT THE CULTURE OF HATRED AND VIOLENCE IN THE PALESTINIAN ARAB SOCIETY IS THE REAL CAUSE. NO PEACE CAN BE ACHIEVED WITH THESE MURDERERS WHOSE CHARTE CALLS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL. THEIR GOAL IS CLEARLY TO STEAL THE JEWISH ANCESTRAL HOMELAND FROM THE JEWS BY PROPAGANDA LIES AND DECEIT AGAINST ISRAEL. ISRAEL SHOULD STAND FIRM AND NOT COMMIT SUICIDE UNDER INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE.SHE WILL THEN EARN THE RESPECT OF ALL FREEDOM LOVING PEOPLE IN THE CIVILIZED WORLD. MAY HASHEM BLESS AND PROTECT HIS PEOPLE FROM ENEMIES THAT WISH TO HARM HER.

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• M

  Michale -13 years ago

  To Rick "Facebook and the Third Intifada"
  Why we need to give our land to Palestinians, this land was never their territory or country. We need to transfer them to their land, i.e. Jordan, Syria, and Egypt. Hashem gave us this land forever. And if somebody did not know: our last Galus was set for 1000 years which passed already. Some people keep themselves in Galus. Mashiach will come in Israel not to the empty land but when almost all Jews will live here.

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• D

  Donna -13 years ago

  Arriving in Israel on May 15th
  Just a note to comment on your essay . . . I'm returning to Israel again this year for the Sar El program and made my arrangements to arrive in Israel on May 15th because of this threat . . . . may we all have Moschiah and peace in 5771. Amen
  
  With delight,
  Donna Joseph

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• R

  Rick -13 years ago

  Facebook and the Third Intifada
  The author's remarks are nothing new and will only perpetuate more of the same. The settlements (outside E. Jerusalem) should be dismantled and the land ceded to the PA--not because it will make the Palestinian's love us (that won't happen) but for self-preservation. Israelis have built a thriving country that is truly a "light unto the nations." Jewish religious fundamentalism threatens what so many have sacrificed for. Jews, WAKE UP. We can't have a liberal democracy in Israel (and if you don't care about that, then I suppose we don't have much to talk about) and control/absorb a hostile Palestinian population at the same time. The beautiful experiment of the State of Israel is in mortal danger by these attitudes.

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• A

  Alon -13 years ago

  3rd intifada
  The problem with israel is that we did not use propaganda as the Arabs, we have "Hasbara", instead.
  Everytime the so called Palestinians ask from Israel demands before they can sit at the negotiating table.
  What about Israel demands from them " What you will give me for me to listen to you? ",. The Palestinians did not have a state before, it was Jordanian occupation of Judea & Samaria in 1948. an 1967, we took back what we lost. The int'l media is not pro Israel and we do not have oil yet. Israel is a model of democracy and a reminder to Arab countries what they can become ifthey educate themselves and progress instead of war, but I suppose it is not in the interests of the Arab leaders. We can see today the results in the Arab world.

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• YG

  Yisroel G. -13 years ago

  Just a thought for Yitzchok
  It seems to me that you believe that until the coming of Mashiach,there is no Halachic justification for a state in E"Y governed for Jews and by Jews, albeit irreligious ones. I am not aware of such a source in Torah; I would appreciate it if you pinpoint such a source.
  
  I absolutely agree that keeping Torah and mitzvos would definitely help the Israeli cause. Unfortunately, this will not happen until Mashiach comes, and if it does happen before that, Mashiach would automatically come. Until such time, however, Israel is still legitimate, and let me explain:
  
  Despite the government's disrespect for the Torah, let alone its observance, the founders of the state deserve a portion in Olam Habah simply for establishing a welcoming shelter in the Middle East for the refugees from a Holocaust-torn Europe. That's enough. From then on, every Jew in the world knows that if, one day, his country turns its back on him, he can always come to Israel, religious or not, and feel at home.
  
  "... it bothers me that Israel is considered "The Jewish State", thereby stealing the identity of our religion." - please explain that. Wouldn't calling Israel 'The Jewish State' do the opposite?
  
  Your claim that there's no practical solution...well, what do you want R. Jacobson to do about it? I agree that the Jews that are willing to support the Israeli cause should stop kidding themselves and wake up to realize that they have to fight for what their grandfathers had built in 1948. But besides, who knows how many eyes have read this article, how many perspectives have been changed, and how many clueless Jews and non-Jews have been enlightened to the absurdity of these territory-relinquishment demands? I think that as an excellent writer and speaker, R. Jacobson should continue this work in inspiring people to be aware and act.
  
  Just a last thought for everyone to consider: Doesn't the Torah call us Jews a light onto the nations? Shouldn't we lead the Western world on the journey to uproot evil from humanity? Maybe the U.S., U.N. and every non-terrorist controlled country is looking up to Israel, watching its next move, hoping against hope that Israel guide the human race and will stand up with its full might to eradicate oppression and bloodshed? Wasn't this the call the Rebbe issued, cried out, and yelled all along? Why are we scared to fight for emes, for truth? We belong in this land, for crying out loud!!! Why are we letting the Arab-Muslim empire overtake Israel and the world through terror, with the West standing by the sidelines, watching as the great achievements and values of the human race crumble in the face of violence and tyranny, a campaign of bloodshed justified by a religion?

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• YG

  Yisroel G. -13 years ago

  Just a thought for Yitzchok
  It seems to me that you believe that until the coming of Mashiach,there is no Halachic justification for a state in E"Y governed for Jews and by Jews, albeit irreligious ones. I am not aware of such a source in Torah; I would appreciate it if you pinpoint such a source.
  
  I absolutely agree that keeping Torah and mitzvos would definitely help the Israeli cause. Unfortunately, this will not happen until Mashiach comes, and if it does happen before that, Mashiach would automatically come. Until such time, however, Israel is still legitimate, and let me explain:
  
  Despite the government's disrespect for the Torah, let alone its observance, the founders of the state deserve a portion in Olam Habah simply for establishing a welcoming shelter in the Middle East for the refugees from a Holocaust-torn Europe. That's enough. From then on, every Jew in the world knows that if, one day, his country turns its back on him, he can always come to Israel, religious or not, and feel at home.
  
  "... it bothers me that Israel is considered "The Jewish State", thereby stealing the identity of our religion." - please explain that. Wouldn't calling Israel 'The Jewish State' do the opposite?
  
  Your claim that there's no practical solution...well, what do you want R. Jacobson to do about it? I agree that the Jews that are willing to support the Israeli cause should stop kidding themselves and wake up to realize that they have to fight for what their grandfathers had built in 1948. But besides, who knows how many eyes have read this article, how many perspectives have been changed, and how many clueless Jews and non-Jews have been enlightened to the absurdity of these territory-relinquishment demands? I think that as an excellent writer and speaker, R. Jacobson should continue this work in inspiring people to be aware and act.
  
  Just a last thought for everyone to consider: Doesn't the Torah call us Jews a light onto the nations? Shouldn't we lead the Western world on the journey to uproot evil from humanity? Maybe the U.S., U.N. and every non-terrorist controlled country is looking up to Israel, watching its next move, hoping against hope that Israel guide the human race and will stand up with its full might to eradicate oppression and bloodshed? Wasn't this the call the Rebbe issued, cried out, and yelled all along? Why are we scared to fight for emes, for truth? We belong in this land, for crying out loud!!! Why are we letting the Arab-Muslim empire overtake Israel and the world through terror, with the West standing by the sidelines, watching as the great achievements and values of the human race crumble in the face of violence and tyranny, a campaign of bloodshed justified by a religion?

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• Y

  Yitzchok -13 years ago

  Can Israel Survive Without a Soul?
  I found a great gem, written by no other than my beloved Rabbi YY Jacobson, right from our lovely TheYeshiva.net
  
  Print out the article and read it. It's an eye opener.
  
  http://theyeshiva.net/Artic...
  
  Thanks Rabbi Jacobson. I enjoy your articles so much. Keep it up.

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• Y

  Yitzchok -13 years ago

  Reply to: Yaacov Lubelski
  First, thanks so much for taking time to add to this discussion. It's about time for some real thinking.
  
  Brother Yaacov my dear, I see that you are on a totally different mind track than me, so let's first clarify the differences.
  
  1. You wrote: "First step to accomplish this goal is a Cheshbon Nefesh asking ourselves: Are we in true peace with ourselves? Is our Neshamah in peace while residing in the Galus? Can we accomplish peace with G-d while sitting on the meat-pot (Sir Habasar) of modern Egypt in New York, London or Paris? Are we fulfilling our true destiny while residing in the Galus??"
  
  My reply: I understand that according to you, Galus is a matter of a zip code, a currency and - as you mention later in your post - a matter of who gets your taxes.
  
  This is probably where we differ strongly, since I believe that even if you live in the current state of Israel, you are still in Galus. To me, Galus is not a matter of where you reside. Galus is not something that is solved with a piece of land and a military. Galus, according to my religion, is a state of exile which cannot be ended my human means, but only by God himself and coming of Mushiach. Your version of Geula is NOT what my forefathers waited for over 2000 years!
  
  2. You wrote: "Yes, maybe there is not enough Torha in Eretz Israel, but it is definitely much more than it is in the Galus. Nevertheless, ANY Torah in Eretz Yisrael is definitely MORE meaningful than a lot of Torah in the Galus".
  
  My reply: Sorry for not making it clear enough. Of course, there is a great amount of Torah learned in Yeshivos and Kollelim all over Israel. Of course there is a great amount of truly pious lovely Yidden. I know of all the great deeds and Chessed that is going on in Isarel. But I'm also aware of how much hate is spread in the Israeli media against this group of my fellow Charedi Jews. I didn't say there is not enough Torah learning in Israel. That was not the point at all. I was not referring to the Bnei Torah in Bnei Brak and Jerusalem. I was referring to the "State of Israel" which tries to suppress and hinder the flourishing of Torah.
  
  3. You wrote: "Lets be AM ECHAD not Mefuzar. And instead of paying taxes to ACHASHVEROSH start paying taxes to Am Ysrael in Eretz Yisrael."
  
  My reply: Are you kiddin' me? Paying taxes to the State of Israel equals "AM ECHAD" from the Megila? How dare you call those secular bare-headed Chilonim "Am Ysrael in Eretz Yisrael"?
  
  Yes, I agree that the answer is in the Megilla, and I can only hope for the day when all of Klal Yisroel will be one nation united under God.

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• Y

  Yitzchok -13 years ago

  Re: To Michael
  Let me make it clear: I don't hate any Jew whatsoever. All I hate is their silly ideas, and the reason it bothers me so much is because they are my brothers.
  
  What I truly hate is the idea that brought about the creation of the state of Israel: Zionism.
  
  Yes, it bothers me that Israel is considered "The Jewish State", thereby stealing the identity of our religion.
  
  Yes, it bothers me that their claim to the land is based on the Torah, while they constantly show their disrespect for this very document.
  
  I believe Zionism is not the same as Judaism. Zionism is about the possesion of a materialistic piece of land, the building of a physical army. Judaism about our true essence and our connection to a divine Torah and Mitzvos. Contrary to the mainstream brainwashing of most 'Jewish' media, I don't think I need to support Israel in order to be considered a good Jew. No, I don't run around with the arab murderes, because as much as I despise the idea of Zionism, much more so do I hate the criminal blood-thirsty animals who kill in the name of faith, since terror has no excuse and justification.
  

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• YL

  Yaacov Lubelski -13 years ago

  The True Solution
  In his comment titled: “ISRAEL HAS NO RIGHT TO THE LAND” brother Yitzchok posted on 3/29/2011 11:25 AM an implied suggestion that Israel is in trouble because it’s creation is not “in line with our Torah..” and that we should attempt to make peace with G-d and not with the Palestinians.
  
  True, we should make peace with G-d that is obvious. First step to accomplish this goal is a Cheshbon Nefesh asking ourselves: Are we in true peace with ourselves? Is our Neshamah in peace while residing in the Galus? Can we accomplish peace with G-d while sitting on the meat-pot (Sir Habasar) of modern Egypt in New York, London or Paris? Are we fulfilling our true destiny while residing in the Galus?? Aren’t we and our Rabbis giving HASKAMA to Galus? Jews are experts in complaining, we knows that from the Exodus. Now the new complains is that there is not enough Torha is the State of Israel! Probably true, the complaint is correct – but so was the complains of Bnei-Israel during Yetsiat – Mitzraim. There was no water in the Sinai desert, no meat, no fish, all was correct but remember what did Hashem call us then – Am-Kshe-Oref.
  
  Yes, maybe there is not enough Torha in Eretz Israel, but it is definitely much more than it is in the Galus. Nevertheless, ANY Torah in Eretz Yisrael is definitely MORE meaningful than a lot of Torah in the Galus. Remember THAT brother Yitzchok, our sages teach us “Kol Hadar Beretz Yisrael, Domeh Kemi Sheyesh Lo Eloha Ve’kol Hadar Bechtza KeAretz Kemi SheEin Lo Eloha”. You, and anyone who wants to learn and fulfill a meaningful Torah should do so IN Israel. Stop complaining about lack of Torah in Israel and DO something about it.
  
  Remember HAMAN’s saying? Yesh AM Echad Mefuzar. Do you understand what it means? This is what we have to correct…
  
  Yitzchok (and all of us) is searching for a REAL solution to our troubles; the answer is in the Megila. Lets be AM ECHAD not Mefuzar. And instead of paying taxes to ACHASHVEROSH start paying taxes to Am Ysrael in Eretz Yisrael. Then you will gain a right to influence how much Torah is practiced there.
  

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• RH

  ruth housman -13 years ago

  a world gone insane and more than, once
  It feels like, here we go again, the same merry go round of hatred, of vitriol, of genocidal language, we've heard before. Merry isn't the word for this, not really, and how many times is this carousel going to play the same old song.
  
  There has to be a problem with a world that condones this kind of hate, that does not speak out, in unison, and say, Enough Already!
  
  Maybe there are problems in figuring out how to share a country, and maybe both sides have had issues through the years and just maybe, they could have some regrets. Certainly Itamar, a recent beyond brutal tragedy, is for me, without understanding that anyone, anyone at all, could murder innocent people in cold blood, and children. What of this? Is the world truly, insane?
  
  And then there is news of a boycott on Israeli good, and all kinds of hate spume, everywhere we look.
  
  I actually don't care where it comes from. It's got to stop.
  
  Who can take anybody seriously who spouts genocidal words that are pure poison. Can anyone negotiate with THIS? An idea that has taken root, that is truly a plant that is, carnivorous, omnivorous, and would swallow up every last vestige of what it takes to be humane, and what makes life so great, that is diversity itself, but not I say, a diversity of HATE.

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• ZH

  Zvi H.Horovitz -13 years ago

  Arab-Palestinian state - what!?
  Dear Rabbi Jacobson:
  
  Israel's security predicament and the unsympathetic, even hostile reactions from the international community to Israel's existential
  challenge is the result of a multitude of variables. And you Rabbi Jacobson(and I'm sorry to have to say it)and other like-minded leaders are part of the problem:stop peddling the idea of an Arab-Palestinian state living side-by-side with Israel. There exists no historical justification;no legal case; and not even a moral justification for the creation of an Arab-Palestinian state.
  If anyone, even the most ignorant who has never read a single book about the Arab-Israeli-Arab Palestinian conflict wants to understand what is injustice, all one needs to do is open a world atlas. It is one of the most, if not the most grievous travesty of justice that an Arab Empire stretching from the western coast of Africa all the way to the Indian sub-continent:the result of savage conquests; subjugation and genocides of millions of native inhabitants(still on-going)should enjoy recognition and legitimacy from the int'l community, while a small nation that inhabits their ancestral land on a sliver of land barely dicernible on the map, should be the target of a concerted and unrelenting campaign of aggression: the demonizing; delegitimizing; and the drive toward the demise of Israel marks the most evil descent into the immoral abyss since the Holocaust!
  The offer from the Arab house and their cheer leaders around the world has been nothing less then an invitation to Israel to commit collective, national suicide. To any such proposition,Israel's response must be total; implacable and brutal if need be using anything and everything in its inventory - and I believe it will emerge TRIUMPHANT!
  Either we act from a standpoint of strength: the deep conviction that Hashem gave us this precious land as a gift, as a heritage, and thus no one has the right to give away what Hashem bequeathed to the Jews, or we better pack-up our luggage and leave.
  

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• Y

  Yakov -13 years ago

  I agree somewhat with Yitzchok; arabs - Yimach Shmom Vzichrom - are not the problem, the problem is alienated self-hating leftist Jews like Mark Zuckerberg, staff of Ha'aretz and what have you.
  The solution, annex all of Gaza and West bank and treat the arabs there like guests with absolutely no political rights, as long as they behave themselves. And if they don't like it, they can all move to Libya and get bombed there...

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• M

  Michael -13 years ago

  To Yitzchok "ISRAEL HAS NO RIGHT TO THE LAND"
  Agree with your last statements which are:
  
  We need to realize "that there is no solution to the middle east problems except to accept the God of the Jewish people and his Torah? How about we just ponder the idea that the building of the State of Israel is not in line with our Torah and the only solution is to make peace not with the Palestinian murderers, but with the creator of the world who is ultimately in control?"
  
  But do you know what will happen in the end of days because a lot of us don't want to make teshuva? Yes, it will be the last biggest war in the World, and then we will have the PEACE. Can we love each Jew, religious, not religious, NOW, as they are, for Jewish UNITY!!!
  

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• V

  Valerie -13 years ago

  Point of this?
  I love everything u write and thank u for informing the public. my question to u rabbi jacobson is why inform the jewish people when most of us know the reality and can't do anything but pray? you should speak in the congress and the UN and most of all, the israeli government that are the only ones who could change the situation over night wit the help of hashem! I really enjoy every one of your lessons it should be put on face book and on you tube. fighting evil will not be an easy war but to distroy them like I said the israeli army is capable only if they got the orders and blessing from above.

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• M

  Michale -13 years ago

  "Facebook Shuts Down Third Intifada Group"
  I have found the following info through
  http://israelitkan.ning.com...
  
  There are several pages in Facebook similar as it was closed by Facebook on
  Tuesday: for example, http://www.facebook.com/Ras... with more than
  3,000,000 people - followers.
  
  Those pages are writing the same message. I have bad experience with Facebook
  for the same problem: to stop pages with bad content. They don't make good search or not willing to do so to stop "bad" messages.

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• D

  D -13 years ago

  A story
  An Israeli Sense of Humor at United Nations set the record straight.
  
  An ingenious example of speech and politics occurred recently in the United Nations Assembly and made the world community smile.
  
  A representative from Israel began: 'Before beginning my talk I want to tell you something about Moses: When he struck the rock and it brought forth water,
  he thought, "What a good opportunity to have a bath!"
  
  Moses removed his clothes, put them aside on the rock and entered the water. When he got out and wanted to dress, his clothes had vanished. A Palestinian had stolen them!
  
  
  The Palestinian representative at the UN jumped up furiously and shouted, "What are you talking about? The Palestinians weren't there then."
  
  The Israeli representative smiled and said, "And now that we have made that clear, I will begin my speech."

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• J

  Joe -13 years ago

  CNN Story Tuesday March 29, 2011
  Jerusalem (CNN) -- A controversial Facebook page calling for another Palestinian intifada has been pulled off the social media website, following complaints from the Israeli government that it incited violence against Jews.
  
  A statement from Facebook said the group page entitled the "Third Palestinian Intifada" -- which had garnered more than 350,000 "likes" over the course of the past month -- was removed from the website because it contained direct calls for violence.
  
  "The page... began as a call for peaceful protest, even though it used a term that has been associated with violence in the past. In addition, the administrators initially removed comments that promoted violence," the company statement said. "However, after the publicity of the page, more comments deteriorated to direct calls for violence. Eventually, the administrators also participated in these calls. After administrators of the page received repeated warnings about posts that violated our policies, we removed the page.
  
  "We continue to believe that people on Facebook should be able to express their opinions, and we don't typically take down content that speaks out against countries, religions, political entities, or ideas. However, we monitor pages that are reported to us and when they degrade to direct calls for violence or expressions of hate -- as occurred in this case -- we have and will continue to take them down," Facebook said.
  
  A few other identically named pages have popped up since then, some with the same messages the previous page had.
  
  The page's removal follows heavy criticism from the Israeli government and pro-Israel organizations that Facebook was ignoring its own terms-of-service guidelines, which prohibit the posting of content that is "hateful, threatening, or... incites violence."
  
  Yuli Edelstein, Israel's minister of public diplomacy and diaspora affairs, said Tuesday in a statement that the removal of the page showed that "Facebook management understood that the page is a blunt abuse of freedom of speech to incite to violent actions."
  
  The Anti-Defamation League also praised the move.
  
  "By taking this action, Facebook has now recognized an important standard to be applied when evaluating issues of non-compliance with its terms of service involving distinctions between incitement to violence and legitimate calls for collective expressions of opinion and action," said a statement Tuesday from Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the group. "As it continues to monitor its pages, Facebook should be able to apply this standard in response to complaints about other pages with similar content. We hope that they will continue to vigilantly monitor their pages for other groups that call for violence or terrorism against Jews and Israel."
  
  Edelstein sent a letter to Facebook founder and chairman Mark Zuckerberg last week, complaining of content on the page that promoted "the killing of Israelis and Jews and the 'liberating' of Jerusalem and of Palestine through acts of violence."
  
  "You are obviously aware of the site's great potential to rally the masses around good causes, and we are all thankful for that. However, such potential comes hand in hand with the ability to cause great harm such as in the case of the wild incitement," Edelstein's letter said.
  
  Edelstein's office had said Monday it was satisfied with moves the social media giant had made in monitoring the site and removing objectionable content.
  
  The Facebook page in question was set up in early March by a group of unidentified activists who called for a third intifada to start on May 15, a date known by Palestinians as the Nakba -- or catastrophe -- which commemorates the displacement of hundred of thousands of Palestinians from their homes in warfare that led to the establishment of Israel in 1948.
  
  The word intifada -- which is literally translated as "shaking off" -- is popularly used to describe a revolt or rebellion. Palestinians have staged two intifadas, which began in 1987 and 2000 respectively. Violence surrounding the second intifada claimed the lives of thousands of Israelis and Palestinians.
  
  In an administrative post, the activists wrote that the purpose of the page was to liberate Palestine and fight "against injustice, division, and corruption" following the protest movements in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya.
  
  In a March 24 post, the administrators said their approach was peaceful and that they were committed to maintaining freedom of expression. They also suggested it was not fair to single out their page when thousands of pages on the social media website contained similar content, and threatened a mass Muslim boycott of Facebook if the page was pulled down.
  http://www.cnn.com/2011/WOR...

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• Y

  Yaacov -13 years ago

  Facebook Shuts Down Third Intifada Group
  BREAKING NEWS: Facebook Shuts Down Third Intifada Group
  
  
  
  Despite previous statements saying they would monitor but not remove the inciteful Facebook group calling for a Third Intifada, Facebook administrators shut down the group early Tuesday morning in response to an enormous outcry from pro-Israel activists.

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• Y

  Yitzchok -13 years ago

  ISRAEL HAS NO RIGHT TO THE LAND
  Israel has no right to the land, and their only claim is based on the Torah which they don't keep, don't adhere, but desecrate and suppress.
  
  Just as you can write so beautifully about how the Arab world is filled with hatred towards Israel - which is of course very sadly true - I'm sure you will do a wonderful job describing how much hate emanates from the Israeli government towards the Charedi community.
  
  Before all of you start accusing me of being a self-hating Jew, an antisemite and what not, I feel it very important to state that in now way do I support the evil coldblooded murder and despicable horror done by the Palestinians. Terror has no place and no excuse, and I hope that one day all those bastards will be brought to justice by the one above, because there is simply no punishment that will suite those animals Yimach Shmom Vzichrom.
  
  Second, what solution do you offer? Your article is of highly esteemed piece of literature, but L'maaseh: What do you suggest? That Israel does not give away any land no more and than what? That Israel should bomb Gaza day in and day out? Will this bring about a peach in the middle east?
  
  It is very easy and comfortable to describe the problem without suggesting a better solution. The thoughts you express in this article is not new to your readers, and is one they want to hear. How about taking on subjective thinking and realizing that there is no solution to the middle east problems except to accept the God of the Jewish people and his Torah? How about we just ponder the idea that the building of the State of Israel is not in line with our Torah and the only solution is to make peace not with the Palestinian murderers, but with the creator of the world who is ultimately in control?

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• SS

  Stu Silverstein -13 years ago

  Bravo ! Well stated !
  Netanyahu should publicly proclaim that unless Abbas and the PA condemn this in words and action, responsibility of the consequences Israel will take to protect it's citizens and the inevitable bloodbath will his and the world that stood by , he can conclude by noting the days of Jews marching to their deaths , heads hanging low, ended in 1948 and won't return while there is an ISraeli armed force in place ..

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• DBS

  dovid bn slomo -13 years ago

  3rd itifada
  follow the rebbes addvice to moshe dayan get rid of them now & the world will moan for a few weeks
  how about torah instruction
  if dont get rid of the they will be thorns in your side & needles in your eyes
  i go with the torah mitzvah

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• MS

  Michael Schacht -13 years ago

  Another call to destroy Israel
  I don't see it as either a bad or good thing. It must happen based on recent history of the region, and also based on the general opinion of Arabs everywhere. However, Israel has the right to protect itself by any means necessary to keep its borders and people safe as all nations do. Full blown war seems to be on the agenda and clearly prompted by the Palestinian/ Arab threat, funded by Iran and backed by Muslim support. Israel seems to be the only one interested in living in Peace, but also the force that hopefully will finally neutralize the region. Peace for Israel is a must, and better to accomplish it by war then not at all. The Palestinians seem to be intent on suffering and self destruction in the name of hate. They may get their wish.

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• RDW

  Rus Devorah Wallen -13 years ago

  5/5/11
  Thank you so much for the clear, succinct history and current events lesson. Let us all make the effort to disseminate.
  
  More important than the "Kohls Cares" campaign, people should just join Facebook to flood this thing out...
  
  THANKS YY!!

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• A

  Anonymous -13 years ago

  How much longer
  Israel is like an abused woman! How much longer till she realizes she needs to stand up for herself! How many times must she turn the cheek to try and make it right? ENOUGH! Stand up momma and do what is right for your children! Protect them and those that want to live with you in shalom.

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• CM

  Chaya Musia -13 years ago

  Facebook page shut
  Thank G-d, the Facebook page has been shut down: http://honestreporting.com/...

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• A

  Anonymous -13 years ago

  I only see that 300 people like the page you write about?

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• CM

  Chaya Musia -13 years ago

  Attack Facebook
  Is there anything we can do to protest the Intifada facebook page?

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• R

  riyaki22 -13 years ago

  israel
  what people seem to forget was that israel was oringinally an arab state created by jews and westerners to house the jews who wanted to live in the middle east. there is regularly jews being placed in arab neighbourhoods, this is obviously provoking the arabs. ofcourse isreal want peace with the arabs, they are terrified they are surrounded by islamic states who want to see the demise of israel, it's quite ignorant to say all israel want is peace. if they don't have peace then they have war on all sides. it is pure ignorance of israel to continue building in gaza, the international community has asked repeatedly for them to stop but they continue, this shows how stubborn israel are, building luxurious jewish housing while 1 mile down the road there are arabs living in obscure poverty and squallor.

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• A

  Admin -13 years ago

  Answer to Sara
  Here is the link to the Ki Sisa class:
  http://theyeshiva.net/Video...
  

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• NBOCSN

  nice but old c&#39mon some new -13 years ago

  nice but old c'mon some new stuff yy
  

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• NG

  Nathan g -13 years ago

  Woooowwwwww Amazingggggg, this class is just beautiful, it worth gold.
  Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

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• I

  isaac -13 years ago

  hi
  very beautiful

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• MB

  Moon brighter -13 years ago

  Not That True
  For whatever that have been wrote. Some of the facts were untrue... It just want to justify what have been happened.. First of all, who's the one who invaded the Palestinine state to build a lawless state in the midddle east.. The fact that the Jews became victim in the Germany didn't actually entitle them to being freely took other counry's land to live... am I right..

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• ES

  Ethel Slilverstein -13 years ago

  Classes
  Pray that one day Rabbi Jacobson would come to speak.
  
  Thank you

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• YP

  yuri pelham -13 years ago

  Very well said. Note that the world will be against us no matter what. However by being firm and in touch with reality the world will grudgingly respect us and wish they could stand up to Islamic intimidation.Right now they're afraid even to print cartoons. How pathetic!

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• DT

  David Tucker -13 years ago

  Jerusalem Is Above Politics
  This President and his administration are an abject chameleon in his recent approach to the present Israeli government concerning the Jerusalem Issue. Obama, well understands the history of this great city in the Middle East, yet continues to ignore the very soul of the Jewish People for reasons which will later come forth as the real truth unfolds!

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• A

  aliza -13 years ago

  yasher koach
  You should make sure this essay reaches the heads of the Department of State!

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• M

  mordechai -13 years ago

  what would you do?
  Very nice article
  
  What is the real course to peace? If you were in charge, what would you do and what do you think would be consistent with what the Rebbe would want specifically - besides not giving away any more land?
  
  Mordechai Krasnerman
  

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• RAE

  Robert A. Epstein -13 years ago

  Jerusalem Construction
  We have an expression in Texas, "There ain't a whole lot of education in the second kick of a mule" After what happened in Gaza and the murderers infiltrating from the "West Bank" we must not be thinking straight to cede one more inch of land for the Arabs to arm, fortify and launch daily attacks into Jewish residential areas. Jerusalem is non negotiable, and unless the Arabs come to the table in good faith, it might be time to annex the west bank and move the inhabitants into other Arab countries where they will feel more at home.

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• A

  Anonymous -13 years ago

  you write well but "If the Arabs’ demand that Israel halt the building was motivated by a desire for peace, it would have been the moral duty of Israel to follow suit."
  not so. the muslims can live in peace by just being peaceful above ground or below - their choice.

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• M

  Marilyn -13 years ago

  Protect us
  Very good article.
  You should join with Beth Galinsky, Ed Koch, Ronald Lauder to protect the people of my country, Israel.
  Marilyn Cytryn
  French Hill (occupied territory) near Ramat Shapiro.
  

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• H

  Hasgacha -13 years ago

  Is Israel Stubborn
  First of all the answer we have all been waiting for...yes Israel is stubborn. The same way a mother is stubborn for taking care of her children, a captain is stubborn for the safety of his men and a people are stubborn for the sake of their future. Stubborn? Yes absolutely and its about time.
  No more ceding land making deals that are one sided, giving concessions when there are none in return. Done. It is time to start moving the other way. If palestinians want a state they are going to have to ask for it and ask nicely which means getting rid of their Hamas and the rest of their terrorists. If this cannot be done then it is time to evacuate the palestinians from gaza, the west bank et al. and retake all of our land starting with Jerusalem.
  Jerusalem needs to be 100% Jewish no concessions, no dual capitals, such nonsense and no palestinians anywhere in Jerusalem. Let them be driven out by their own rules.
  Forget about world approval including the USA. Let the palestinians know just how rough it can get. Get them out of Jerusalem. The world will squawk for sure but in the interests of peace move them out of Jerusalem and declare Jerusalem free for all Jewish people.
  Now when there are protests everywhere and threats of jihad remind the arab world that they are here by our leave by the mercy of Hashem and that this could change immediately.
  It is time to sow the massive unrest in every Arab capital so that their leaders are toppled and there is a mass revolution leading to democratic states throughout the mideast. The inmans will be toppled their power wrested away by a wave of democracy unbeknowst before.
  Then the new governments will recognize Israel and work with them for peace.
  The Arab nations have to implode from within. All Israel has to do is to get all of the arabs out of Jerusalem to start with. Then stand tough and by all means remain stubborn!

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• EC

  evette chen -13 years ago

  Thank you for a brilliant article. When I go to live in Israel it will be in the "West Bank".

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• G

  gentilcore -13 years ago

  the piece for peace point
  Excellent. Well written. You stated every point superbly.

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• W

  Wuchler -13 years ago

  Peace?
  With so many facts at hand why is the US goverment not being convinced? Are they simply playing stupid?

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• R

  roz -13 years ago

  israel building in East Jerusalem
  very well written How do we get this accross to President Obama?

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• R

  RECENT -13 years ago

  today in the news i read that the construction in Jerusalem was halted. I guess they aren't stubborn enough.

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• AH

  Ari Hirim -14 years ago

  Of mirrors and reflection...
  The mirrors being made of copper has another meaning related to the root of the hebrew word for copper.
  
  Copper is related to the word Nachash, the snake, who accused the primorial couple of defects in the garden. Snake or "accuser" has the same hebrew root as copper.
  
  When the woman reflects on the accusations of defects by the detractors and uses this for self-improvement and self-actualization ... is the reason for the viability & proliferation of the Jewish people in the outside world.
  
  This is also an appropriate spiritual preparation of Kohanim for approaching service in the holiest of holies.

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• S

  Sholom -14 years ago

  Mirrors of copper mirrors of glass
  While the glass coated mirror serves as a metaphor, the mirrors brought by the women where of copper only. In addition, clear glass didn't exist until around 1400, so I'm not sure what message to take away from that.
  
  I'd also like to hear how the mirrors of copper are to be interpreted. There were not mirrors of gold or silver. Those metals reflect the tzaddik or the baal tshuva. Copper is the metal of exile, the nachosh of nachoshes. Do you know of a source that relates the mirrors and the material of copper to a deeper message of our personal service in the mikdash mi-at?
  
  Finally, do you know why the torah doesn't give the size of the Ki-or? You stated the minimum, but it's final size was determined by the numbers of mirrors. It was a case of the more the mirror-ier.
  
  Have a good Shabbos.
  Sholom Cohen

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• IE

  Israel E. -14 years ago

  Mirror=Mar'ah
  As I was listening to this beautiful and inspiring shiur,
  I wondered if the source of the english word "mirror" is not in the hebrew "Mar'ah"?
  
  A comment for the editors:
  Though the music is from "Totally Chasidic", produced by Zalman Goldstein, I think it isn't fair not to mention the pianist/arranger Yaron Gershovsky - whose playing we actually hear!
  
  Yasher koach!
  
  PS. Did any of the editors check out the 2 CDs of Chabad nigunim -
  "Yearnings from Beyond" and
  "Kol Dodi" by Israel Edelson?
  You may find them fitting as well!

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• ML

  Meira L. -14 years ago

  Questions and Exercises
  B”H
  1. Do you enjoy looking in a mirror?
  Do you mean process or result of that? As a result I prefer networking better.
  Why?
  Because it is not so mean on me!
  How much time do you spend a day by the mirror?
  A lot!
  Hey, when cops are snickering around you won’t like to have another ticket for speeding, won’t you?
  2. Why were Women’s mirrors used to construct the Washing Basin in the Sanctuary, from where the Priests sanctified their hands and feet?
  First, because they reflected light, so few shekels could be saved on electricity, sorry, on oil bills. Second, it gave the Priest additional info about spicy food that G-d prefers to have on His table. Third it’s all about ‘ohr pnimi’ and ‘ohr hamemaleh’, not sure if ‘makif’ is the same here, but it had nothing to do with speeding…
  3. How do women’s mirrors epitomize holiness?
  Very difficult question! Even Freud with all his advanced psychoanalyses admitted his failure for answering it. Only Judaism could brilliantly resolve this puzzle in discovering real motive of women’s sexuality: where men can see only physical- women naturally gravitate to transcendental.
  4. What’s the difference between the perspective of the Ibn Ezra and Rashi?
  Too complex for me for today and it needs additional Chess analytical skills. Who would try?
  5. What was the “argument” between Moses and G-d about the mirrors used by the women in Egypt?
  I know, I know!
  Moses saw mirror as aggressive weapon of women expansion, so no woman on his ship- no mirror in the sanctuary. G-d knew that in aggressive surrounding with Egyptian women walking around (pretty available and seductive) only those mirrors gave Jewish women a chance to keep their men closer, so a new generation of Jews had been not only survived but increased.
  6. What does the washing basic represent spiritually? And why was it made of women’s mirrors?
  Whose turn?
  7. “Life is a mirror,” say the mystics. Please explain.
  Don’t nod at me: have your own answer!
  8. How must we deal with blockages in our life?
  Is it about difference between a glass and a mirror that Rab Yossi mentioned? O.K.: Looking through the glass we focus on here and now. It gives a lot of opportunities to deal with challenges in our mundane existence. Our perceptions, mind, skills are all that our finite nature can ever possess. Your work-outing is good for your muscles, your studying is good for your brain, Lasik surgery might promote your sight, and so on. But as skillful as we can be, this physical arsenal is limited with the parameters of our physical nature: as your blood has certain amount of blood cells, so too your brain has limited amount of active cells. We can contain as much as our container capable to receive. For daily routine it’s just fine! But when we don’t have a clear glass to look through and our environment is dark, cold and nasty, or stuffy, constricted and burned, we have Devine sparks ‘to go beyond the structure’. How? Not through meditation, nirvana and asceticism: rather through looking deeply into the mirror of ourselves, and ultimately, through strong connection with the Source. It has only 613 steps and we can “‘open the eye of the needle’ and change our life and the life of the universe forever.”
  9. “My dove is in the clefts of the rock, in the coverture of the steps, show me your mirror.” How do the Chassidic masters explain this verse?
  You know; - you can explain…
  10. Moses did not want mirrors in the Sanctuary. G-d said that mirrors are the most precious item. Why?
  I have the same question…
  Have fun with work-outing your soul!
  

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• A

  AsherO -14 years ago

  Re: Archives
  Avner:
  
  I think you're looking for these two shiurim:
  
  http://www.theyeshiva.net/V...
  http://www.theyeshiva.net/V...

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• S

  Shmuel -14 years ago

  The Even Ezra
  So how do we understand the Even Ezra's pshat?

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• M

  Me -14 years ago

  One step at a time
  Hey Folks,
  Moon is waning. We have one more chance to rise above mediocre plain and subdue gravitating inertia. Just look at this wonderful ‘THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS’ princess! The topic is endless… but you have to stick curriculum strictly, sinking deeply in profound insight of what we have just learned!
  Not mentioning your supposedly refine taste...
  
  

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• MK

  Moshe Kruger -14 years ago

  צובאות
  Seemingly, according to Rashi's explanation, the meaning of צובאות is the progenators of the צבאות השם

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• E

  Esther -14 years ago

  music
  As much as I enjoy listening to the weekly shiurim, I also love the music that plays before and after the shiur. What album/musician is it? I'd like to buy the albums.

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• JN

  Johana Nadler -14 years ago

  Life as a Mirror
  Thank you so much for tonight's lecture. It came at the most opportune time when I needed to reaffirm that indeed only through struggle will one's true character grow and be revealed. I now can face the challenges facing me with firmness, perseverance and faith, knowing that each step forward will bring me another ray of light. Thank you again.
  
  PS: Where do I find the sources you refer to? I am late in starting to learn but my thirst for knowledge and understanding doesn't seem to be quenched; so please, hand me the pitcher so that I may start drinking.

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• K

  Kayo -14 years ago

  Todah
  Baruch HaShem,
  
  It is very insightful shiur.
  Todah Ravah

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• D

  Dovy -14 years ago

  Mirrors
  I have a room full of mirrors. Sometimes I go there to reflect.

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• A

  avner -14 years ago

  archives
  how can i access the shiur on Abba Shaul and the salt???

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Class Vayakhel

Rabbi YY Jacobson

• March 17, 2012
• |
• 23 Adar 5772
• |
• 4284 views

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