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(‫כ״ג אדר ב׳ תשע״א פרשת תזריע )החודש‬

E E R MARCH 29, 2011

A m e m b e r o f t h e 5 To w n s J e w i s h T i m e s F a m i l y o f N e w s p a p e r s

What the Rabbis Weren’t Thinking

By Rabbi Shalom Hammer . . . .

2

Hockey in the Holy Land

By Paul Shindman . . . . . . . . . . . 4

THE COST OF BEING MAKING FRIENDS AMONG STRONG: SELF-DEFEATING THE NATIONS Shmu’s Shmooze RESILIENCY

BY SHMUEL KATZ

Value Investing

By Aaron Katsman . . . . . . . . . . .

5

Modest Ways

By Zahava Pinsker. . . . . . . . . . .

5

I was in Ashkelon being menachem avel one of my neighbors when one of his cousins, a member of ZAKA, looked up from his cell phone with a grimace on his face. “There has

been a pigua with a bus in Yerushalayim,” he said. We all hung our heads for a moment.

Instinctively came our next reflex, checking to see that everything was still attached, so to speak.

Continued on Page 10

BY RON JAGER Words fail to convey the savagery and blind hatred harbored by the Palestinian Arab terrorists that entered Itamar. The victims were Rabbi Udi and Mrs. Ruth Fogel and three of their young children, Yoav, Elad, and

Hadas (only four months old).

What was the terrorist thinking as he slit the throat of a baby?

What were the feelings of the 12-year-old daughter who arrived home around midnight to find her family slaughtered?

Continued on Page 15

Spring Fashion

By Miri Couture . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6

Chadshei Chashmo . . . . 6

MIDDLE EAST WRAPUP

MA Chadash

BY SAMUEL SOKOL

By Tuvia Brodie . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

NEWS DIRECTOR

Under the Sun

Egypt Warns Against Gaza Incursion

By Rabbi Dov Lipman . . . . . . . .

8

Modi’ei Modi’in. . . . . . . . 8 The Oleh Chronicle

By Sima Schloss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

9

Purim Photos . . . . . . . . . 11 Rain Man

By Steve Plaut . . . . . . . . . . . . .

13

Chelm-on-the-Med

By Daniella Ashkenazi. . . . . . . 14

Following statements by Israeli figures that could indicate a possible upcoming Gaza incursion as well as airstrikes against Hamas rocket launch sites, Egypt’s foreign minister has called upon both sides to exercise restraint.

A spokesman for the foreign ministry said that “the minister [Dr. Nabil el-Arabi] emphasize[d] the need to not give a pretext for Israel to exercise violence.”

Four Gazans were killed when Israel attacked a Hamas rocket-launching site adjacent to a residential building.

Following Wednesday afternoon’s bomb attack in Jerusalem, many Hamas officials vacated government and military buildings in the Gaza Strip and shut off cellular telephones in an attempt to hide from expected Israeli retaliatory strikes.

The Cost Of A Consultant: Sometimes The Way To Save Money Dear Editor, In the March 15 issue, Stuart Issacson discussed the major focus of the FONSI conference and how it was making an important contribution to the development and sustainability of nonprofit organizations in Israel (“Nonprofit Conference Launched for Israeli Amutot”). Overall, it was a positive and complimentary article in recognizing the value of these kinds of events for those involved in the “third sector.”

However, there was one statement that caught my eye and I thought demonstrated a lack of understanding: “Without having to hire outside consultants or spending large sums of money on identifying ways to

keep up with the pace of the modern world, the FONSI conference was certainly a boon to many mid-to-small size nonprofits, in addition to the large organizations.” In writing this, the author demonstrates that in spite of his “having worked for a decade in the nonprofit world,” he does not fully understand the difference between attending a one-day conference and utilizing the expertise of a professional consultant.

Yes, I am a consultant, and one could argue that my writing about consultants is self-serving; however, at the same time I have a broader view of the professional roles in the third sector.

My purpose is neither to defend my role as a consultant nor to lessen the importance of conferences. The contribution that an outside expert makes to the effective and efficient running of an organization can only be determined by the person providing the service and the recipients of the service.

Continued on Page 15

iTalmud Review . . . . . . . 16 Continued on Page 12

SHANI’S SHAITEL GEMACH IN YERUSHALAYIM Young Israel and ZOA deliver 5,000 Mishloach Manot to our Chayalim, story and more photos page 14

UK Citizen Mary Jane Gardner, who was killed in last week’s Jerusalem bus bombing.

What The Rabbis Weren’t Thinking!

Photo: EUTimes.net

Prior to the recent sentencing of former president Moshe Katsav, a letter proclaiming his innocence was written and signed by a number of Religious Zionist rabbis and spearheaded by Rabbi Shlomo Aviner and Rabbi Tau, two renowned leaders and personalities within the Religious Zionist world. Attempts were made by various rabbinic authorities to understand the premise for such a letter. Regrettably, I am confused as to why so many have taken so much time to analyze the basis of rabbinical actions, which, considering the religious society in which we exist, are disturbingly obvious and visibly alarming.

Yet again rabbis failed to consider public perception, demonstrating lack of respect towards our courts of law and to the society they govern, and lack of consideration to the unfortunate victims of Katsav’s crimes. For those who are having difficulty understanding what the rabbis were thinking, here are some recent events to help facilitate clarification.

Rabbi Shlomo Aviner

Two weeks ago, a rabbi officiating at the wedding of one of his students instructed the groom immediately after the chupah to take his bride into the cheder yichud (a private room which the bride and groom enter after the chupah according to Ashkenazic law but not according to Sephardic law). The groom explained to his rabbi that he is of Sephardic descent (ironically, it is believed that the officiating rabbi was also of Sephardic descent) and according to Sephardic law the marriage ceremony does not include nor allow entering the cheder yichud. The rabbi insisted that the groom must listen to him and if he would not do as instructed, the rabbi threatened to leave the wedding immediately and to instruct all of his students from the yeshiva, the groom’s friends attending the wedding, to leave as well. The parents of both the bride and the groom, aware of the rab-

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March 29, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

bi’s threats, refused to yield and defy their tradition. The rabbi and all of the groom’s friends left the wedding immediately. The groom’s uncle described the morose sadness inscribed on the groom’s face when all this transpired seconds after his chupah, an occasion typically celebrated with exuberant joyousness.

A few days later, another Sephardic rosh yeshiva officiating at a wedding of a student began to inquire as to the kosher certification of the food being served at the wedding prior to the chupah. After learning that the food being served was under the kosher certification of Beit Yosef (Sephardic kosher supervision of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef) he informed those present (he did not inform the groom directly as he was immersed in his evening prayers) that he would not perform the marriage because the standards of kashrut were not to his satisfaction. As he was leaving the hall, the rabbi explained, “I will not perform a chupah ceremony for someone who serves this standard of kosher certification at his wedding. This demonstrates that the groom is not a G-d fearing individual.”

What were these rabbis thinking?

They were thinking of themselves. So engrossed were they in their self-righteousness and pompous miscalculations which they disguise as “frumkeit” that they were willing to uproot their traditions, embarrass and cause anguish to human beings, and ultimately disgrace G-d’s name. These rabbis were not thinking about their fellow man’s sensitivities, nor were they thinking about the poor reflection their behavior would have upon the religiously observant Jewish community. Perhaps it would be beneficial for us to identify the source and beginnings of this impudent and callous behavior.

The other night, I was meeting with someone when his son, who attends the eighth grade in what is considered to be one of the best schools in Bet Shemesh, walked in to show his father the 95 he received on his Laws of Shabbat exam.

With a proud smile on his face, the father asked me to look at the exam and when I did, I could not help but notice the one question marked wrong, which read as follows: “Which book is one not allowed to read from on Shabbat during the rabbi’s sermon in the synagogue?”

The question was followed by a multiple choice of answers, each one with a different source and explanation. The “correct” answer read: “The weekly Shabbat sheets given out in the synagogues are forbidden to read during the rabbi’s sermon because they contain within them advertisements pertaining to the weekday” (and on Shabbat one should refrain from contemplating or planning weekday activities).

After reading the Q&A, I was terribly distraught. I informed the father that his son should not have been penalized, because the entire question was inappropriate, offensive, and misguiding.

It fosters the child with the insolence that while one should not read material on Shabbat concerning weekday matters, all other materials can be read during the rabbi’s sermon in the synagogue!

Yet another example within the religious community of teaching our youngsters to embrace Jewish law even when it is at the expense of ignoring and perhaps compromising the most fundamental concept in Judaism, “Derech eretz kadma—respect of and sensitivity towards AFP/Getty Images

BY RABBI SHALOM HAMMER

The Voice ‫קולינו‬ 052.952.7500 editor@koleinu.co.il Published by: Shmu Media, Ltd. Editor: Shmuel Katz Associate Editor: Larry Gordon Managing Editor: Goldie Katz News Director: Samuel Sokol

Former President Moshe Katsav, who was sentenced last week to seven years in prison.

the individual comes first.” This eighthgrade rabbi may have successfully taught what it means to be “frum,” but he failed to teach what it means to be religious!

The students of such a class may very well understand the intricate and fine details of the laws of Shabbat, but they are not being reared towards appreciating the decency, sensitivities, and spirit upon which the Shabbat and all Jewish law is based. These are the concepts that unfortunately some of our rabbis from a young age do not think about and it comes to fruition as they grow in stature and as they become more influential.

Unfortunately, many yeshivot and religious institutions in all streams of Orthodoxy, be it chareidi or Religious Zionist, do not invest enough time and effort to teach, nurture, and demonstrate the basics of derech eretz and human dignity. When these are overlooked, even the greatest of individuals, politicians, and leaders are prone to reveal their fallacies and subject to criticism.

Rabbi Aviner explained his spearheading the efforts to release the letter publicly declaring his unquestioned support for Katsav by stating, “The press had influenced the court and its gentile judge, who convicted Katsav without adequate evidence.”

Perhaps it is time we start asking who influences whom and how we can be more positively influential, particularly regarding matters which affect our children, communities, and society at large.

Rabbi Shalom Hammer teaches at Yeshivat Hesder Derech Chaim in Kiryat Gat and serves under the Harel Division of the IDF as one of eight selected lecturers for the “Jewish awareness and enrichment” branch of the IDF Rabbinate.

He is also an author and lecturer on Israel, Religious Zionism, and Jewish education. For more information, visit www.rabbihammer.com.

Copy Editor: Michele Justic Copy Editor: Shmuel Gerber Contributing Editors: Aron Katsman, Rabbi Dov Lipman, Rabbi Shalom Hammer, Paul Shindman Staff Photographer: Yissachar Ruas News Intern: Zahava Pinsker Design by Design-ER Printing: Graphoprint, Tel Yitzhak DISCLAIMER: The Voice | ‫ קולינו‬is an independent newspaper owned and operated by Shmu Media, Ltd. Opinions expressed by the columnists and contributors are not necessarily those of the editor, publisher, or owner. Opinions expressed by the advertisers are not necessarily those of the editor, publisher, or owner. We are not responsible for the hashgachah or kashrut of any product or establishment advertised or featured in the newspaper. All submissions are property of the newspaper.

The editor reserves the right to reject any submissions for publication and/or advertisements, at his discretion. We are not responsible for any typographical errors or omissions or the content of any advertisements or submissions.

ʥʰʩʬʥʷ March 29, 2011

3

Hockey In The Holy Land?

Jerusalem. You’re walking down Jaffa Street in Jerusalem, and a couple of kids pass you on the sidewalk carrying hockey sticks and big bags that look like they might have hockey gear inside. Then an older guy runs after them shouting, “Wait up, guys, my skates were in the trunk!” If you’re a Jewish hockey nut, then you won’t be surprised at all, but other mere mortals are always amazed to learn that ice hockey is alive and thriving in Aretz Kodesh.

Aside from the Olympic rink in Metulla and smaller ice rinks in Ma’alot and Tel Aviv, Israel’s latest rink is in the heart of Jerusalem, right outside of City Hall.

The municipality installed a temporary ice rink—powered by a generator and located inside a large tent—for the Purim holiday and is keeping the ice for a few weeks afterward. Jerusalemites and tourists are spinning around the rink and saving the three-hour drive (each way!) to the large ice rink in Metulla. The Israel Recreational Hockey Association is running pickup hockey games three times a week, and IRHA president Danny Spodek says the response has been great.

“It’s just amazing how many people not only want to skate, but want to try hockey too,” Spodek said. “Aside from our league, we’ve also been run-

sponsored by New England Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft.

Israel’s first ice rink opened in 1986, and a combined hockey and figure-skating association was launched two years later. Israel’s first international hockey game was held in 1990 against a team of UN peacekeepers from Canada, and the success of that game—despite losing 20–2 to the Canadians—propelled Israel into international hockey, where Team Israel has been competing ever since.

There are full-contact and recreational leagues, and dozens of inline hockey teams as well. There’s even a floor-hockey league in Jerusalem that attracts dozens of yeshiva students every year. In the past year, kids’ teams from Israel have won tournaments and were invited to Quebec, Players from Israel and the USA at the annual international hockey tournament in Israel. Windsor, and Columbus, Ohio.

Frum hockey players also have lots ning kids’ clinics at the Canada Centre under way, but Israel’s tackle football to look forward to in Israel. Floor hock(in Metulla) during the holidays and we league just held its fourth annual version ey is almost entirely composed of yehave so many kids we’re running short of the Super Bowl. American oleh Steve shiva students, and the IRHA’s annual on equipment to loan them.”

Liebowitz, known in Israel as one of the tournament has so many religious playThanks to olim from North America, news anchors for Channel-1 TV news in ers that there is a morning minyan and ice hockey, figure skating, baseball, soft- English, built Israeli flag football into a daf yomi. Want to play hockey in Israel? ball, and even tackle football have taken thriving sport, and added what is now Send an e-mail to irha@liva.ca or visit root in Israel and Israeli sabras are start- an eight-team tackle football league. The www.israelhockeyassociation.org. Next ing to dominate these sports. The soft- Judean Rebels claimed this year’s crown year’s tournament dates have already ball and baseball seasons are just getting on an artificial-turf stadium in Jerusalem been set for February 6–10, 2012.

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Wave Of Acquisitions Brings Value Investing Back Into Fashion

BY AARON KATSMAN With a growing number of corporations sitting on piles and piles of cash, and a feeling that many companies are undervalued, the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market has started to heat up. With unemployment in the U.S. hovering around 10%, one would think that the state of corporate America is weak. Nothing could be further from the truth. Corporations are profitable but have shown an unwillingness to reinvest profits directly into their businesses by hiring workers.

Due to uncertainty over tax policy, a steady stream of new regulations, and the implementation of the Obama healthcare bill, companies have hunkered down to wait out this storm until they can get more clarity about the cost of doing business. As such, they have been hoarding cash.

Some recent developments now indicate that companies are starting to put their cash to work, but have decided to use their money to purchase other companies and grow through acquisition, instead of hiring workers in order to grow organically. Robert Kapito, president of BlackRock, basically proved this thesis last week when he said, “Companies today have

more cash on their balance sheets than ever before. They’re looking to invest their cash, and M&A would be the obvious choice.”

How can investors profit off this renewed wave of M&A?

Bargain Hunting According to a recent article in Barron’s, “From 2003 through 2007, an active cycle for M&A and private equity, the S&P 500 Value index outperformed the growth index by 30 percentage points.” For an investor, this correlation between M&A activity and value investing is certainly something to investigate and potentially even profit from. But what does it really mean? Value investing can be broadly defined as buying securities that appear underpriced based on some form of fundamental analysis. The most famous of all value investors is Warren Buffett. He believes that you should invest in outstanding companies with sensible prices.

Take for example the recent deal by the drug giant Pfizer. Pfizer, like other large pharmaceuticals, has been a victim of the rise in generic drugs (can you say “Teva”!). They have a huge problem replacing lost revenue from drugs that go off-patent. According to the Dow Jones Investment

Banker newsletter, “In the latest sign of corporate bargain hunting, drug giant Pfizer last week agreed to acquire Bristol, Tenn.-based King Pharmaceuticals for $3.6 billion in cash—a deal that values King at just two times trailing revenues, which despite the 40% deal premium, is even lower than Pfizer’s 2.7 times. Acquirers like Pfizer are taking advantage of such prices to boost revenues in the face of a flagging economy and other problems.

Pfizer, for example, will see its blockbuster anticholesterol drug, Lipitor, go off-patent in 2011.”

How To Invest?

Some investors have already boarded the “value train.” According to figures from EPFR Global, a research firm that tracks investor money flows into funds, “flows into value-based exchange-traded funds are strongly positive this year while growth ETFs have experienced outflows.”

How can investors gain exposure to value stocks?

Invest directly in value stocks. Investors can sit down and do the research needed to make sensible investments in undervalued companies and/or industries that have been beaten up over the last few years. There are plenty of tools online that you can use to help

you with search criteria and making decisions.

ETFs and Mutual Funds. There are plenty of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds whose specific mandate is to solely invest in value stocks or indices which track value stocks.

There appears to be evidence of a correlation between increased M&A activity and the relative outperformance of value investing. Still, it’s important to note that past results are no indication of future returns. Before trying to become the next Warren Buffett, it’s important to do the necessary research that will help you discover undervalued companies. If this task seems impossible for you to do by yourself, but you would still like to make investments using this strategy, speak with a financial professional who can help you find the investments that make sense as part of your portfolio.

Aaron Katsman is a licensed financial professional both in the United States and Israel, and helps people who open investment accounts in the United States. Securities are offered through Portfolio Resources Group, Inc., a registered broker dealer, member FINRA, SIPC, MSRB, NFA, SIFMA. For more information, call (02) 624-0995, visit www.aaronkatsman.com, or e-mail aaron@lighthousecapital.co.il.

Modest Ways

BY ZAHAVA PINSKER NEWS INTERN

I’ve been told, more than once, the story of two Holocaust survivors, one very religious and one not at all. The latter said to his friend, “We went through the same hell, you saw the same horrors that I did, yet you somehow remain faithful to G-d. I knew a man in the camp who had a siddur and every day he made people forfeit their small portions of bread to simply read from his siddur and talk to G-d for a few minutes. After that, I could no longer believe.” The religious man responded, “You see this one nasty man, but you overlook the countless Jews willing to sacrifice the little sustenance they had in order to speak with Hashem.”

I was recently in an Orthodox neighborhood, sitting on a curb and enjoying the sun while my friend ran into a store to make a few copies. I was in high spirits as I watched little children proudly donning colorful Purim costumes. That’s when a man, who appeared to be chareidi, approached me. Without looking

at me, he began yelling at me in Hebrew.

I’m not stupid. I know he was upset with my clothing. But after glancing down and confirming that neither my kneelength denim skirt nor my three-quarter sleeved shirt had undergone any surgical operations and that both were still fully intact, I was satisfied with simply responding “Ani lo midaberet Ivrit.” The man, however, either did not hear me or chose to ignore our language barrier and continued to scream at me while looking intently at the ground. I repeated several times that I did not understand Hebrew, and finally the man decided to say something that was understood in all countries: he spat at my feet.

As the color flooded through my cheeks, an entire essay of four-letter words raced from my brain to my throat. But, staring disgustedly at the glob of sun-tinted saliva at my shoe, I pressed my lips together, swallowed my pointless words, stood up, and purposefully crossed the street. The man remained standing next to his own spit, either contemplating following me or unaware that I had left due to his insistence on looking at everyone and everything except for me. A young woman approached me.

I braced myself for more rebuke or perhaps even more sputum, but when her lips parted, a kind, concerned voice seeped out from between them. In broken English, she asked if I was okay and began explaining that many closedminded residents had migrated to this neighborhood in search of more living space and had brought their corrupt and highly questionable methodology with them. She apologized profusely on behalf of the neighborhood and proceeded to tell me a story about a home that was broken into and trashed simply because its inhabitants owned a television.

Then she asked me about myself.

I told her that a religious thirst had brought me to Neve Yerushalayim, where I began working on a number of mitzvot, a specific one being modesty. Compassion filled her eyes as she looked me up and down and said, “It must be so discouraging. You’re wearing a skirt and long sleeves. You probably felt so good and then a man spits on you!” I smiled and told her that we all have areas in which we could use improvement, that man’s clearly being vi’ahavta lireacha kamocha.

While in no way do I intend to under-

mine modesty, I must point out that the mitzvah of tzniut is only hinted to in the written Torah, yet the commandment to love your fellow man is explicitly stated.

She shook her head in shame and disappointment, made sure I was all right a couple of dozen times, and then explained to me that these extremists are a minority and I should not let them get me down. She wished me a happy Purim and walked, with a sympathetic smile, out of my life.

As I began searching for my friend, eager to avoid another amateur mussar session, I thought about the two ways in which I could walk away from this experience. I could concentrate on the man who spat on me, the man who made people give up their food for a few minutes with his siddur, or I could focus on the woman, the stranger, who, despite having no obligations towards me, took 20 minutes out of her busy erev Shabbat to soothe and comfort me.

For every one man demanding bread from the hungry, perverting the mitzvot with his narrow mind, there will always be a line of people, willing to go hungry for a little longer, just to have a moment with Hashem. ʥʰʩʬʥʷ March 29, 2011

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Step Into Spring With Miri Couture The latest in New York high fashion has crossed the Atlantic and landed in Israel. Miri’s boutique is at the cutting edge in bringing couture designs from the runway to your wardrobe, helping you interpret the latest trends with ease. Now Miri is going one step further in the pursuit to bring you to the forefront, asking readers to send in your queries and let Miri guide you through the fashion currents.

Q. I’m tired of wearing the same short dress to every wedding. Is there a way to mix it up without looking like I’m trying too hard?

A. Wedding guests have traditionally felt the restriction that if they are not in the wedding party, then they can’t wear long gowns. Americans are throwing out that rule and opting for whatever dress they like best instead of being limited by length. Long evening gowns do not only belong to the sister of the bride! The latest in formalwear is classy long dresses with elegant designs and rich fabrics.

Leave the head-to-toe beading to the groom’s mother, but try a long chiffon gown with delicate pleating and just a hint of crystals. The right beaded detail can replace a heavy piece of jewelry.

Q. What are the latest colors from the Milan spring runways? And what is the best way to try incorporating

brighten an outfit with a bright accessory such as an orange clutch or a piece of statement jewelry like a bright blue cuff. If you want to wear all one color, break it up with different shades or even a pattern, but stick to one design.

Break out of your black and gray uniform and have fun with color.

Q. I have been seeing a lot of different looks in the fashion magazines; is there one main trend for this Spring season?

A. Personality is in. Looking back on fashion through the years, we see trends and fads that move people through the fashion waters. Now a new trend is emerging: Be different.

Fashion has evolved and it’s become more about personal style than the latest runway looks. Defining your own look has become the next adventure in the fashion world. Whether you try classic cuts, bold colors and patterns, or new accessories, the point is to experiment and indulge in indecision. Be a chameleon or a bohemian; ladylike or avant-garde. Now is the time to try new things, and make them your own. a bold color into an otherwise “safe” wardrobe?

A. Spring has brought with it new colors to our wardrobe palette. Bright and vibrant cobalt blues, fun and

breezy yellows, soft and demure lavender and rose, and punches of sunkissed orange. Play with the new colors like a painter experiments on a canvas. For just a pop of color, try to

Miri has three locations in Israel: Jerusalem boutique (026502352), Ramat Gan boutique (036186231), and the Jerusalem bridal salon (026525638). For more information, visit www.miricouture.com or e-mail info@miricouture.com.

Chadshei Chashmo

BY KOLEINU STAFF

New Chiburim Program For Chashmonaim Olim As more than half of Chashmonaim’s residents are English-speakers, it is temptingly easy for olim to move to the yishuv and join an “American bubble,” in which they most likely will neither improve their Hebrew nor form many ties outside the olim community.

The need to provide a forum for their integration into a more Israeli life led to Chashmonaim’s newly founded Chiburim (Connections) program, which provides the olim of Chashmonaim with opportunities to mix and mingle with their Hebrew-speaking neighbors.

Chana Schuster, the rakezet klitah, director of absorption, says that the program has two aims. Firstly, it will offer olim assistance with their immediate needs, answers to their various questions, and a more comfortable transition into their new lives. Secondly, the absorption committee intends to assist newcomers in the integration process, erasing the undesirable wall that so often stands between olim and the rest of

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March 29, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

the community.

Chana identified a number of program branches. “Thrive” was created for teenage olim, and presents American youth with a series of eight workshops, focusing on increasing their confidence, identifying goals and dreams, and working to accomplishing them. Another branch, an adult kitah Ivrit ta’asukatit meets twice a week. It was designed for adults who have already taken an ulpan course or have been in the country for a number years, yet still feel a need to improve their Hebrew skills. Peleh is an informal, afterschool activity that meets twice a week, in which children play games and are given opportunities to express themselves, all in Hebrew.

In addition to the formal programs, Chana is arranging a tiyul in Yerushalayim for olim. Joining forces with a local theater group, the tiyul will feature actors who will perform pieces relevant to the topics that will arise along the trip.

Through the continuation of these programs, Chana hopes that Chashmonaim can continue to grow as a united community with a strong Israeli identity.

MA Chadash: News From Maale Adumim have learned in Hebrew before making aliyah, they can discover that the language environment here is more challenging than they had thought.

Therefore, she adds, the city has designed this program to help students start the process of becoming proficient enough in Hebrew that they can feel successful in a Hebrew-oriented world.

In addition to the ulpan that has been developed for their classroom needs, the boys will be fully integrated into social activities and regular sports, to help with socialization and

BY TUVIA BRODIE

The city of Maale Adumim has just announced that it is taking steps to ensure that teen olim have the opportunity to develop language tools they need for an enhanced aliyah experience.

Using the example of an already-existing program for girls at the city’s Ulpana Tzvia for Girls, the education department, along with the absorption department of the Maale Adumim municipality have joined together to create a new one-year program at the city’s yeshiva junior high school.

Beginning August 2011, young English speakers can receive special assistance transitioning into the Israel school system, through this languagecentered educational track. Boys will take a specially designed ulpan five hours a day, along with preselected regular classes.

According to Shelley Brinn, project manager for community aliyah, Maale

language acquisition in non-threatening environments. Boys will also be assigned volunteer situations that will further help language acquisition skill-development.

Pre-registration will be required. For further information, contact Shelley Brinn at klita_ma@mam.org.il.

Tuvia Brodie has a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh. He has worked at the University of Pittsburgh and at American Express. Before moving to Pittsburgh, he lived for seven years in Manhattan. He and his wife, Shaina, made aliyah in August 2010 and currently live in Maale Adumim.

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Adumim, “this option has been created because we believe it is the only way students can successfully transition from an Anglo to a Hebrewspeaking school environment.” She explains that this program recognizes that “junior-high boys who are new olim can find a new culture, with its faster-paced language environment, to be intimidating.” Even when boys

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ʥʰʩʬʥʷ March 29, 2011

7

Under The Sun: A Survey Of Bet Shemesh News

BY RABBI DOV LIPMAN

Bet Shemesh is one of the safest cities in Israel The chief of the Bet Shemesh police station, Koby Cohen, held his annual news conference to report on the state of crime in Bet Shemesh. The report demonstrated a significant reduction in crime and that Bet Shemesh is well below the national average of crimes per capita. Some of the important results in his report include: 1) The number of arrests went down from 428 in 2009 to 392 in 2010.

2) Crimes related to property decreased by 19.4%.

3) Only two reports of attacks on people for robbery (5 in 2009).

4) Zero complaints of pickpocketing.

5) Car thefts decreased from 101 in 2009 to 82 in 2010.

In addition, Bet Shemesh ranked number one among midsized cities in

overall police service, based on a poll of residents. Cohen praised the civilian patrols and parent volunteers that have played a major role in curbing violence and crime in the city. He also pointed to the “City Without Violence” program, run by the municipality, which has had a positive effect.

The Bet Shemesh station has received further praise for addressing specific concerns raised by citizen leaders. A petition signed by 1,500 residents, as well as a number of letters from citizens groups, was sent to the minister of internal security, Yitzchak Aharonich. His office responded immediately and arranged a meeting with community representatives and Chief Cohen in the presence of Cohen’s superior, Bruno Stein, who oversees numerous cities in the region. At that meeting, Cohen and Stein promised to address the problem of illegal Arab workers in the city as well as youth-related violence.

Cohen explained to the group that his hands are somewhat tied with regard to the illegal Arab workers since the law directs the police to simply drop the workers off back at the Green Line and, in rare circumstances, they can arrest

them for a period of time. He said that he is working with the municipality to make sure the city fines contractors who hire illegal workers and that this is the ultimate solution to the problem.

Residents have already noted the more aggressive police actions to check the paperwork of Arab workers and clearing the illegal workers out of the residential areas.

Gan subsidies to remain in place Mayor Moshe Abutbol and Education Minister Gideon Saar announced that all of Bet Shemesh would continue to receive the complete subsidy for children in gan chova. A few months ago, a decision was announced to gradually wean all of Ramat Bet Shemesh and parts of Bet Shemesh off the subsidy, with the result leading to parents paying NIS 800 per month in a few years. The decision had been reached since Bet Shemesh has emerged from its status as more of a development town into a mainstream city.

Road Work And Construction Closes Roads Residents and visitors in Modiin, a growing and developing city, are accustomed to expecting changes in traffic patterns and road configurations based upon the construction and development of the city. The city announced last week that due to the cleaning of HaIrusim and Eshel streets in Reut and Yovalim Street in Maccabim, as well as

the installation of speed bumps next to the schools on Sderot HaOranim and road work on Emek HaEleh, all of those streets will have temporary traffic closures.

The municipality reminded drivers to pay attention to the new traffic and detour signs. The city also announced that in addition to the road closures, some parking lots and streetside parking spaces will be closed due to construction as well.

March 29, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

Dov Lipman teaches at Reishit Yerushalayim and Machon Maayan in Bet Shemesh. He has semichah from Ner Yisroel and a master’s degree in education from Johns Hopkins University and is also the author of three popular books geared to teenagers and their parents. In recent years, Dov has become a community activist in Bet Shemesh. He can be reached at ddlipman@gmail.com.

Modi’ei Modi’in

BY KOLEINU STAFF

8

Municipal leaders made waves about the decision since many residents struggle to pay the current charge of NIS 160 per month and certainly cannot afford to pay more.

Pressure was put on Knesset members representing many different populations to have the decision rescinded. That pressure, together with the presence of Bet Shemesh resident Keti Sheetrit as the new chief of staff for the education minister, made a difference and the original fee of NIS 160 per month will remain in effect for all city residents.

Modiin Chabad Benefit At The Diamond Exchange In an effort to raise money towards the construction of a new building in Modiin, Chabad held a benefit at the Ramat Gan Diamond Exchange recently. The Modiin Chabad Appreciation Evening drew approximately 500 attendees, amongst whom were several Knesset members and Mayor Haim Bibas, who gave a speech at the event. The turnout exceeded the expectations of the event’s orchestrators who expected no more than 300 guests.

Replacing the current Chabad House, located at the caravan complex at the entrance to Modiin, the new building will be complete with a mikveh, synagogue, and event halls. The thousands

of shekels that were raised at the benefit will help make this dream a reality and, along with the 500 guests, attest to both the appreciation and necessity of Modiin’s Chabad.

The Oleh Chronicle Personal Stories Of Aliyah From Our Readers

A few weeks later, we were off to the Arava, in the southern Sometimes circumstances of your part of the Negev, just a bit life all fall into place. You realize that north of Eilat, in a place called it must be more than a series of coin- Ovda. cidences occurring, but a guiding force Bob had a trailer to live in, that is directing your life. When I look which they called a hootch, back at the circumstances that led to at the airbase. I first lived in a our arrival in Israel in the summer of small hotel in Eilat and later 1980, I know that we were being drawn found an apartment there for a back to the country that would even- month. Despite the long worktually become our home. days, Bob was fascinated by the I was here for the first time only for interaction between the milisix weeks following my graduation tary and the construction confrom college in the summer of 1977. tractors. He especially enjoyed Only back in America for a short time, traveling to and from Tel Aviv I met my husband, Bob, who had par- in old and interesting aircraft ticipated in the year course at Hebrew (such as a C-47 or an Islander).

University in 1970–1971. We had been Eilat was different back then.

Sima Schloss on guard duty in Kibbutz Ketura married for a little over a year when he Many of the women went showed me an employment ad in the north for the summer and the city was really explain our situation. They told Wall Street Journal—building airbas- filled with many unsavory characters. me to come back the following week es for peace as part of the Camp David Our apartment had an old air condi- and speak to the person in charge of Agreement. [The first peace agreement tioner which broke and a desert cool- volunteers. I got back on the bus and with Egypt was based on Israel giv- er—a system of cooling the air by a then off at Kibbutz Grofit. I looked up the mountain to where the kibbutz was situated and decided there was no way I was going up and down that mountain. The next stop was Kibbutz Ketura. There was no mountain to climb, 80 percent of the members came from America, and they were excited that I could give piano lessons. I was accepted on a two-month trial basis and then for as long as needed. I was given a lovely one-bedroom apartment. Some people were allowed to have dogs and I was allowed to have a visiting spouse.

I worked for the kibbutz and they even contracted me out for two days to give piano lessons to the children at Kibbutz Yotvata.

Living in the desert is something you have to experience to appreciate. To the outsider, it looks desolate.

When Bob would get off the bus from the airbase, the other workers, most of whom were from Thailand, would ask, “Where are you going? You want to get Bob Schloss in the Negev Desert off here in the middle of nowhere?”

The desert grows on you—the maing back the Sinai and America build- fan which blows over water. I thought jestic mountains, the clean air, being ing two airbases in the desert]. Should I was okay until Bob came home one able to see for miles, amazing sunrishe apply? We both agreed. Nobody night and asked, “How was your day?” es and sunsets, and thousands of stars gets jobs from newspaper advertise- Then I broke down and cried. shining out at night. On some nights, ments! He applied anyway. Two days Often a negative turns out to be a we could see the Milky Way. Somelater, I was notified that my teaching positive. In desperation, I got on the lo- times in the winter it would rain in contract was not going to be renewed cal bus and decided to go from kibbutz biblical proportions and the Arava for the following year. He was noti- to kibbutz until I would find one that road was closed to all traffic. The hyefied that he was hired. His status was would take us in. I went first to the big- nas would come down from the moun“unaccompanied.” Unlike a few of the gest kibbutz in the area, Kibbutz Yotva- tains and when Bob would set out to top executives, he was not provided ta. I was unable to speak Hebrew and the road for the bus to the airbase, Courtesy of the Schloss family

BY SIMA SCHLOSS

Courtesy of the Schloss family

This new series, suggested by a Koleinu reader, will chronicle the motivation and inspiration that led different olim to their aliyah. with family housing. It was an people would say, “Where are Life In The Negev And opportunity to spend two years you going? The road is closed!” in Israel.

We decided we would He would answer that the bus Building Air Bases For Peace figure it out when we got there. from the base would come, and it always did.

The door to my apartment was never locked. Friends were like family. Four o’clock was aruchat arba, and everyone was out on the lawn having a late-afternoon snack. No one had televisions or phones in their homes. Entertainment meant socializing with your neighbors, or a movie on the lawn. Children roamed the kibbutz in the afternoon and at that time still slept in the children’s house instead of at home.

I got to do guard duty and carry an Uzi. History was unfolding. On a Sunday afternoon, June 7, 1981, we watched a jet fighter squadron fly overhead connected to the mission of bombing Iraq’s nuclear reactor. We saw the trucks bringing up remaining salvageable materials as the Israeli presence in Sinai was being dismantled. Bob was on the construction site of the Ovda airbase and present when Menachem Begin and General David Ivri visited the base.

President Navon actually came to visit the kibbutz and came to the home of our next-door neighbor, who couldn’t be present when he spoke because she was home with a new baby. We also witnessed some of the military activity at the start of the first Lebanon War. After this project, it took us 15 years to return to Israel. We visited every few years, always making sure to make a stop at the kibbutz. My daughter came to Israel in 2006 with the intention of getting married and making aliyah. When our first granddaughter was born in the spring of 2008, we knew that it was time to finally come home.

This was our second opportunity to move to Israel, and we didn’t know if there would be a third. In the middle of the real-estate market crash in America, we sold our house and made aliyah in the spring of 2009. We live in Ramat Bet Shemesh, near enough to be the meddling Saba and Savta in the lives of our daughter, Ilana Gamliel (a third-degree black belt who teaches Jiu Jitsu to girls and women), our son-in-law, Chaim Gamliel (of Made in the Shade Window Tinting), and two amazing grandchildren. Our Father has been calling us and we have finally come home.

That’s the Schloss family’s aliyah story.

We’d love to share yours.

ʥʰʩʬʥʷ March 29, 2011

9

Making Friends Among the Nations Shmu’s Shmooze “There was a bus bomb in Yerushalayim,” I told Goldie as I called to check in. “I know,” she said, “I have spoken to Chaya (our daughter) and Yitzy (our nephew who is in shanah gimmel at Netiv Aryeh in the Old City) and I know where everyone is.” And the phone began to ring like crazy.

The first call was from Samuel Sokol, our news director. “I was worried about you,” he told me. “I wasn’t sure if you said you were going to Jerusalem today and you weren’t answering the phone!”

I reassured him that I was indeed fine and he headed off to the scene of the bombing, where he was able to find an eyewitness and file a report for our sister paper (the Five Towns Jewish Times) last week.

What really struck me, although I didn’t mention it, was the difference between the reactions I have here in Israel in contrast to 9/11. I was a school administrator in New York on that day, and I remember the absolute chaos that reigned. Parents streaming to the school to snatch their kids home. The phones ringing off the hook. It took us over an hour to think of checking our records to see if any of the students’ parents worked in the WTC (we quickly located the two who did). I remember standing outside the building that day with a couple of the other administrators, as if we were going to be an earlywarning system. We simply had no idea what to do. Unfortunately, here in Israel we do know.

The next call was from my neighbor Jason Schwartz, who is also one of my best friends. “Have you touched base with everyone?” he wanted to know.

And we spent a minute taking mutual inventory and then bemoaning the fact that we had to do it. How horrid is it that we have developed this reflex and have a familiar pattern of how to react to such an event?

I had barely hung up when the phone

10

March 29, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

rang again. It was our daughter Cha- to the core. And we can’t forget the come a catalyst for change. It was not ya, who was with several of her sherut rhetoric. always so. leumi friends and had just gotten to We claim that the world ignores our In the past, my Facebook feed would Yerushalayim. She was calling to tell pain. We try to show the world the be filled with outrage at the media’s me she was OK and asked if she should truth, the brutality—and they ignore flagrant bias and the world’s lack of releave the city. I thought for a second us. The Itamar massacre got almost no gard for Israeli lives and Israeli values. and told her that she should not feel worldwide coverage. Goldie was watch- I would see things like: obligated to; in fact, that she should ing the funerals on TV when her moth“BREAKING NEWS: Family in Larenot let this deter her do, Texas massacred in from living her life. their sleep, bomb hits Avoid the bus stabus #74 outside Washtion and other open ington D.C. convention areas like Ben Yehucenter injuring dozens dah, but have a good and killing at least one; time. Five minutes over 50 rockets and mislater she called back. siles continue falling in There was another Fairfax, Virginia. scare and they were “Do I have your attentoo spooked to stay. tion? Is this completely Having spoken insane and farfetched? to my daughter, I Then why is it allowed thought for a second to be commonplace in and put a call in to Israel? If you agree, post our intern, Zahava as your status.”

Pinsker, who is also And I would wonder a student in Yerushawho they could possilayim. “Call your parbly be talking to. Their ents,” I told her. “I friends? Their friends alam a father too and ready agree with them!

Posted on the kiosk that was the site of last week’s lethal bomb attack in they want to hear Did they really think that Yerushalayim on the day after the bombing. from you.” She told the news media or the me that she had been desperately try- er called. “Funerals? What funerals?” world would notice? ing to but the lines were jammed and she asked. The news outlets in the U.S. No one seemed to notice. Until now. she couldn’t get through. were not carrying the story.

I may be wrong, but just like the sweepI don’t know about you, but I am sadThe earthquake and tsunami in Ja- ing movements that have fomented dened not just by events, but also by pan were certainly bigger stories in the revolutions this winter, the same voicthe fact that we are able to lower our world scope. I get that. It makes sense es, saying the same things, are finding heads for a second, cry for our losses, that the focus of the world would be on new ears. and then pick ourselves up and move this story as well as the various revoluSuddenly, news networks and polforward resolutely, even defiantly. tions and military actions going on in iticians are reacting to the reaction.

What happened to the stunned shock? undemocratic countries in our region. We see stories about the BBC’s indifWhat happened to overwhelming an- But, Glenn Beck notwithstanding, no ference to the Itamar massacre. We see ger and grief? coverage at all? stories condemning Reuters for saying We had it after Itamar. The attack This wouldn’t have been so bad if that Israel “calls” a Palestinian strike a was so overwhelmingly inhuman that the next piece of news from Israel had “terrorist attack” as if we should call it we were shocked to the very core. But a been ignored at the same level as the a training exercise instead. We see the bus bombing? It reminded us of days of attack itself. The government approves glimmer of outrage on the part of peoold and we squared our shoulders and the building of 500 apartments (not ple who never spoke out on our side put our noses to the grindstone. buildings—apartments) and the world before, questioning why the internaWe have spent the past few weeks in is in an uproar. tional reaction to this violence is so an onslaught of emotion. Brutal, inhuSo we prepared ourselves for more of muted. man actions. Images that have shocked the same. We cheer on the IDF attackIt seems as if the world might be geting terror sites and cells and prepare for ting it. Maybe, just maybe, the apparaanother war, hoping that we will final- tus which is being used more and more ly be able to deliver a crushing blow to to promote justice and decry falsehood the terrorists. And the terrorists ratch- worldwide, might actually help us out. et up their attacks. Rockets. A bombing. It could just be that the decentralizaAnd the cycle continues. tion of media, the phenomenon that In the five years we have been here, has led ordinary people to become onwe have lived through two wars, rock- the-spot reporters, will lead, howevets by the thousands, bus bombings, er unintentionally, to the revelation of bulldozer attacks, shootings, and bar- who is utilizing misinformation, who baric slaughter. are the true oppressors of the Arabs, and Yet, it feels a bit different this time. who are the people who simply don’t Not that I am a seasoned veteran of want to have to inventory their chilhow the country is supposed to feel dren to make sure they are all still there. after terror attacks. However, as we Will they or won’t they? I have no have seen throughout our region, so- clue. We hold on to the hope that if we cial networking has passed the tip- can only show the world the truth and ping point and is no longer just a the facts, and make them sympathetic place to find information. It has be- to our cause, then maybe . . .

Photo: EUTimes.net

Continued from Page 1

‫שמחת פורים‬

We are happy to share some of the Purim pictures that were submitted to us this year.

We hope you had as wonderful a Purim as did these treasures!

,‫ חג פורים‬,‫חג פורים‬ Yoav Milikow of Eshta’ol in a costume made by his mother

Liat, Tali, and Shani Jack of Mizkeret Batya in bear costumes made by their Saba Yisrael Simcha Lipkin of Bet Shemesh

Nechama Miriam Storch of Ramat Bet Shemesh

,‫ רעשנים‬,‫מסכות‬ Batya Katz of Bet Shemesh

Eitan and Amichai Lavi of Neve Daniel

Moshe Katz of Bet Shemesh

Dr. Zlotnick (Jr.) of Neve Daniel

Mordechai Katz of Bet Shemesh

‫ר‬ ‫ש‬ ‫ש‬ ‫ר‬ :‫הבה נרעישה‬ ‫ר‬ ‫ש‬ ‫ב‬ ‫ש‬ ‫ר‬ ‫ר‬ ‫ע‬ ‫ש‬ ‫ש‬ ‫ר‬ ‫נ‬ ‫י‬ ‫ רש‬:‫ה רעישה‬ ‫ם‬ . ‫בה נ‬

Etelle Emunah Meyer and Naava Rones of Neve Daniel

ʥʰʩʬʥʷ March 29, 2011

11

Middle East Wrapup Continued from Page 1

Lebanese government was internationally applauded for passing legislation granting the Palestinian population the right to work. But real changes remain to be seen.”

According to regional expert Daniel Pipes, “the 400,000 stateless Palestinians living in Lebanon live with many restrictions, not being allowed to attend public school, own property, or even improve their housing stock— regulations that exist to remind Palestinians that they are refugees and should one day return whence they came. In 1994, under Syrian influence, the Lebanese government relented a bit and distributed citizenship to tens of thousands of Palestinians.”

Amnesty International released a report in 2007 stating that Palestinians “remain subject to various restrictions in the host country, Lebanon, which places them in a situation akin to that of second-class citizens and denies them access to their full range of human rights, even though most of them were born and raised in Lebanon. . . .

Just over half—some 53 percent—of Palestinian refugees who live in Lebanon reside in war-torn, decaying, and poverty-stricken camps. The conditions for those living outside the camps in towns, ‘gatherings,’ villages, and rural areas, are also poor.”

The pervasive discrimination suffered by Palestinians in Arab countries, many Israeli pundits have claimed, stems from the desire to use this stateless population as a demographic weapon against the Jewish state under what Palestinians term the “right of return.”

Terror Attack In Jerusalem Receives Limited Media Coverage Israelis were outraged when a bomb attack that killed one and wounded dozens went under-reported in the media last week. Following the news that wire service Reuters whitewashed the attack by allegedly redefining the word “terrorism,” many Israelis went online to vent their frustration.

“Police said it was a ‘terrorist attack’—Israel’s term for a Palestinian strike. It was the first time Jerusalem had been hit by such a bomb since 2004,” the Reuters story reported, prompting an angry reaction from Israeli advocacy organization and media watchdog Honest Reporting.

“Reuters appears to be attributing the term ‘terrorism’ as something solely in the minds of Israelis,” the organization’s website claimed, shortly after the attack.

Over Quarter Of A Million Social Networkers Call For Terror War Against Israel Minister of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs MK Yuli Edelstein sent a stern letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg this week, decrying the existence of a Facebook group calling for the launching of a new Intifada against Israel on May 15.

The page in question, entitled Third Palestinian Intifada, calls for the “liberation of Palestine” and has, in less than a month, reached 287,878 members.

According to the group’s organizers, they are in contact with the “directors of Arabic pages that have large numbers of participants and [they have] said they will help us in the dissemination of this page.”

The page’s creators are apparently attempting to capitalize on the success of other social-network-driven uprisings, such as the recent revolution that ousted Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak.

In that vein, they have called on Arabs from neighboring states to march on Israel.

Israeli analysts have speculated that the success of the grassroots protests in ousting several entrenched dictators will cause Palestinians to try and swamp Israeli checkpoints, guard-posts, and towns with large crowds of demonstrators.

Writing to Zuckerberg, Edelstein commented that the potential of Facebook to drive democracy also “comes handin-hand with the ability to cause great

12

March 29, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

In what may be a bellwether indicating Egypt’s changing stance to-

In a statement quoted on the Arabic news website Qudsnet in November, Abu Udai, a “leading figure in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades,” asserted that unless Israel accepted Palestinian demands, restored the “rights of return” [sic] and ceased “Judaizing Jerusalem,” then the Palestinians would be forced to “resume armed attacks against Israeli targets in the occupied Palestinian territories.”

Israel understood, Abu Udai contended, “only the language of force.”

The brigades spokesman claimed that his organization was only holding back from carrying out attacks due to a willingness to give President Mahmoud Abbas a chance to progress on bringing pressure to bear on Israel in the international arena.

He explained that the brigades had “stopped the armed struggle against the occupation” in response to the “request of the Palestinian leadership, headed by Abu Mazen, to give the opportunity for the political process.” However, the terrorist warned that if Israel does not respond “to the demands of our people,” the Arabs will “return to armed operations against the occupation.”

The brigades initially took credit for the recent Itamar massacre but later retracted their claim.

In response to questions regarding the Qudsnet statement, General Adnan Damiri, political commissioner and general spokesman for the security forces of the Palestinian Authority, denied that there are any independent militias operating outside of PA control in the West Bank.

wards Israel, Egypt Air, the country’s leading airline, erased Israel from a regional map on its website, Ynet reported.

According to the revised map, Jordan reached west until it reaches the Mediterranean Sea.

“We have one force, one arm. We don’t have militias in the West Bank.

We don’t have any groups, military groups or weapon groups, in the West Bank, and I don’t know if there is one whose name is Abu Udai or not,” he stated.

Israel Erased From Egyptian Map harm such as in the case of the wild incitement displayed on the above-mentioned page.”

“I turn to you with the request that you order the immediate removal of this Facebook page,” the minister requested. “I write to you not only in my capacity as Israel’s minister of public diplomacy and diaspora affairs who is charged with monitoring and combating anti-Semitism, but as someone who believes in the values of free speech, and knows that there is a difference between freedom of expression and incitement.”

Al Aqsa Brigades Warned Of Possible Resumption Of Terror Prior To Attacks

Lebanese Apartheid Receives Little Attention Despite rallying behind the Palestinian cause during “Israel Apartheid Week,” American student activists paid scant attention to the very real discrimination which Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are forced to deal with on a daily basis.

According to a recent report in the New York Times, “six months ago, the

Rain Man

BY STEVE PLAUT Israelis invented the disk-on-key (memory stick); they invent cures for cancer; and Israeli components were on the rocket that landed on the moon. But Israelis simply do not understand rain.

I suppose it is all pretty understandable. After all, rain is a very unusual event in Israel, so Israelis have never quite figured out how to cope with it. In the monsoons, it may rain in an hour in East Asia more than it rains in Israel in a year.

First of all, Israelis are convinced that going out in the rain is lethal. Humans melt in the rain. Especially children. And it does not have to be very hard rain. It is highly common to hear Israelis saying things like, “I need to go to the post office but I can’t go because it is drizzling.” Katyusha rockets just make loud noises, but a bit of precipitation will kill you for sure.

At the first drops of rain, Israeli streets empty out. Thunder is so unusual that Judaism has invented a special blessing one says when one hears it. Winters in Israel are so mild that typical daytime temps in January and February are in the 60s and 70s (Fahrenheit). When the wind blows together with rain, Israelis are convinced that the Angel of Death is stalking the coun-

try. I once left my building on campus up in the Carmel hills when the temperature was 50°F and the wind was blowing. While waiting for the bus, all the Israelis around me were complaining and screaming that Israel had morphed into Siberia. A couple of Russian Israelis from Siberia who had heard this fell on the floor laughing.

Because rain is so unusual, Israelis do not know how to drive in it. If a

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car’s wheels spin when the traffic light turns green because the street is wet, Israelis believe that you have to gun the gas pedal to make them spin faster until they move you out of the spot with poor traction. Israelis have no experience with ice on roads and do not recognize the feeling of a car skidding.

So on the occasion when they come across a slippery road, they do not even notice the car skidding about.

Israelis also have never figured out that hats keep light rain off your face and head. Their major fear in rain seems to be that the hat could get wet.

Religious Israelis always wear hats, but they cover their hats with plastic covers in the rain so the hat will not get wet and so the rain flows down the plastic onto their faces. For ultra-Orthodox Israelis, defying the weather is an article of piety and pride. That is why, when it is 112°F outside in the shade in August, they will show their contempt for meteorology by wearing winter coats.

Part of the Israeli problem with rain is manifested also in the Israeli dread of eating ice cream in winter. Israelis are universally and passionately convinced that if you eat ice cream in the winter, you will get a throat infection and die a

horrible death. The infection, by the way, is caused by the calendar month, so you will get it if you eat ice cream in January even if it is 80°F outside. I once sat on a bench in winter eating ice cream, and the people walking by kept coming up to me to ask if I had gotten a special inoculation that winter against throat infections.

Israelis who own dogs always make the dog wear wool sweaters when they go out into the rain in 50°F evenings, so the dog will not freeze to death.

Every Israeli believes it is the case that winter ice cream will kill you. Bibi Netanyahu probably eats ice cream in winter, but that is because he spent part of his youth living in the U.S. No other Israeli cabinet minister has ever endangered himself and tempted fate by eating ice cream in the winter.

For a while, Israel was unique in the world because Israeli supermarkets were marketing something they called “winter ice cream.” No one anywhere else on earth has heard of such a thing.

Winter ice cream is slightly softer than regular ice cream, and the idea was to convince Israelis that it was not as cold as regular ice cream (never mind that it was stored in the same freezer), so they could eat it without risking immediate agonizing death. But it never caught on, I guess because Israelis preferred not to tempt the Angel of Death.

No Israeli in history has ever written in his or her personal ad that he or she likes to go for long romantic walks in the rain. And if you want to date an Israeli, never write that in your own personal ad. Israelis believe that walks in the rain will kill you. While we are at it, you should also never write that you eat ice cream in the winter.

Steven Plaut is a professor at the University of Haifa. You can visit his blog at www. stevenplaut.blogspot.com.

for articles and non camera ready ads is 9 PM Wednesday prior to publication and for camera ready ads is 4 PM

Also: Air Conditioners and Garbage Disposals of all brands

Friday prior to publication.

www.alephbetrepair.com ʥʰʩʬʥʷ March 29, 2011

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Chelm On The Med CHELM-ON-THE-MED O

BY DANIELLA ASHKENAZI

Stop The Music!

Seeking to reduce noise pollution, the Knesset passed a series of ordinances to reinstate the schlafstunde—Yiddish for midday siesta (although it remains a mystery who exactly can avail themselves of the right to rest in the afternoon with so many people working 10-to-14-hour days.)

Between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. (and after 10:00 p.m.) it will be illegal to knock down walls to renovate an apartment, play a musical instrument, or “raise one’s voice in a manner that disturbs the neighbors” including “singing for practice or pleasure”—even in the shower.

who used Jewish logic to solve crimes in mystery novels such as Friday the Rabbi Slept Late?

When Rabbi David Shonak found the exquisite ancient Torah ornaments from the ark in his Milan synagogue had been swiped, he did the logical thing: the ex-Israeli paratrooper kept his cool and called in the Italian police, but he also called a slew of leading Judaica dealers around the world.

Within ten minutes, Shonak got the lead he was waiting for: The priceless hot merchandise had just been offered (over-the-counter!) to a leading Jerusalem Judaica shop. Collared by the cops, it turned out the four young thieves had left their backpacks at the synagogue for safekeeping with the accommodating rabbi.

When they went to pick up their gear the next day, the ungrateful nogoodniks decided to take some “souvenirs” with them.

earlier that very morning that she was pregnant, she only told her boss days later that she was expecting. But the judge was unmoved. The law is the law: In Israel, a woman cannot legally be fired when pregnant.

Stargazing On Mt. Hermon Mt. Hermon was dubbed “Israel’s eyes” because it affords a clear view of any suspicious military activity in Syria and other unfriendly neighbors to the east. But it turns out Mt. Hermon is also an ideal place to keep track of suspicious activity in outer space.

Warning about what? Extraordinary cosmic radiation can not only disrupt communications and affect cloud formation on earth with catastrophic ramifications; in the wake of serious magnetic storms after a major sunburst, hospitals can expect a 30 percent increase in heart-attack and stroke patients. Even birds stop migrating because their internal navigation systems go temporarily bonkers.

How do the four scientists deal with winter temperatures that plummet to minus 5°C. (–23°F) temperatures at 2,040 meters above sea level? All four are Russian immigrants. “This isn’t cold by my standards,” explained 70-year-old Dr. Igor Tzukerman. “I grew up in Siberia at 40°C below zero (–40°F). Minus 5°C is summer.”

Of Mice And Men… And Molecules Israelis have developed an airport screening system that doesn’t strip people naked or pat their privates. It uses mice to sniff out explosives.

The specially trained rodents will be posted in a cage divided into two interconnected sections at passenger security checkpoints. When the mice detect

Law And Order Furthermore, use of caps or fireworks within a kilometer of a residential neighborhood will be prohibited . . . except on Jerusalem Day, Independence Day, Lag B’Omer, Simchat Torah, and, of course, Purim.

Chalk It Up To Connections Remember Harry Kemelman’s classic series of the rabbi-turned-detective

Who says “What you don’t know won’t hurt you”?! A labor court ordered an employer to pay a former employee NIS 26,000 ($7,222) in damages because the employer had sacked the plaintiff when she was one day pregnant.

The judge was unfazed by the fact that the medical secretary said she wasn’t pregnant when asked point blank by her employer in the course of firing her. Although she had gotten the news

For decades, four hale and hearty graybearded PhDs have been quietly manning an Israeli space lab on the peak.

It’s the only observation point in the Middle East that studies cosmic radiation around-the-clock—part of a global network that “monitors changes in the weather in outer space and gives a timely warning when necessary.”

the telltale smell of explosives on a passenger dressed to kill, they’ll hightail it into the second room for safety without so much as a squeak—mutely sounding an alarm.

Reprinted courtesy of www.chelm-on-the-med.com.

Mishloach Manot For The I.D.F.

BY IYIM–ISRAEL MEDIA DIVISION In a combined operation, the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), American Friends of Yisrael Hatzair, International Young Israel Movement–Israel Region (IYIM), and the OU-Israel Center delivered 5,000 Purim packages to army bases throughout the country. The mishloach manot were packed and delivered by members and friends of the organizations in conjunction with the Aluma organization and schools in the Shomron region.

Led by Mr. Rubin Margulis (ZOA) and Mr. Ceec Harrishburg (IYIM) the buses traveled over four days to allow for this mass effort to be carried out. Bases visited included Ofer, Tel Hashomer, Nachshonim, Tzofit, Karnei Shomron, Yakir, bases of Otef Azza, and many more. Accompanying the delegation were groups of yeshiva and seminary students who are studying in Israel for the year, who

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March 29, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

Chayalot with (L–R) Mr. Ceec Harrishburg, president, IYIM–Israel, Jerusalem; and Fran Lashinsky and Jan Fenster of New York.

Mr. Rubin Margulies, ZOA national board member, with chayalim.

led joyous singing and dancing with the soldiers on the bases.

L–R: Jeff Dabue, director, ZOA Israel; Daniel M. Meyer, executive director, IYIM; and Mr. Rubin Margulis.

The soldiers received their visitors with big smiles. The highlight was the bonding between the soldiers and the participants. Letters written by students in numerous Jewish day schools throughout America were distributed, further emphasizing to the soldiers the concept of “Am Echad” and that their efforts in protecting Israel are appreciated

by Jews throughout the world.

Eilon Shemesh and Rav Chaim Wasserman; Zev Brenner is in background.

REMINDER: Spring forward means that we set our clocks forward one hour on Thursday night/Friday morning!

The Cost Of Being Strong: Self-Defeating Resiliency Continued from Page 1

Now is the time for moral clarity. One need not be a supporter of settlements like Itamar to condemn these savage acts of terrorism without attempts at justification or equivocation. We must stand up and expose those that denigrate the murdered to justify the murderer. Now is the time to acknowledge that there is an international climate of primal hatred directed at Jewish settlers, and to recognize this massacre as a clear symptom of the need to end it. We must expose the “root cause” of terror: a culture of incitement pervading Palestinian Arab institutions that glorifies violence and martyrdom and demonizes Israelis and Jews. This incitement is modern-day socially acceptable anti-Semitism.

Much media attention has been given to the statement of the surviving 12-yearold daughter, Tamar, who was quoted as saying, “We must remain strong; I will be like a mother to my two siblings.” In many ways, Tamar was exhibiting the national resiliency of all Israelis. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, we have had to endure terrible wars, periods of intense terrorism, periods of massive missile attacks on major civilian centers, and isolated incomprehensible acts of wanton murder, such as the case of the Fogel family.

Tens of millions of dollars have been provided by the Federations of North America to create programs of trauma resiliency and community preparedness in Israel, facilitating the inner strength and stamina that we have witnessed this past week. Now it is time to ask: what is the true cost that we as Jews, and we as Israelis, are paying for our Federation-funded resiliency, for the unwavering ability to get up the next day and go to work, as if nothing will stop us from getting on with our lives?

Letters

Continued from Page 1 It is not possible to generalize and state that when the staff of a nonprofit organization attends a conference it obviates the need for a consultant to work with the agency.

At a conference, you learn about trends, ideas, and approaches that are general in nature. At the same time the presentations, discussions, and seminars can have implications for the organizations they represent. Creative and thoughtful people make the effort to interpolate what they have heard and learned at a conference and glean specific implications for their own organizations. Others leave the conference with an understanding that perhaps they need outside expertise to deal with issues, challenges, and/or problems they have been thinking about throughout the conference or seminar.

I would suggest that so they can concentrate this resiliency has foson their studies. We are tered and created a pathshown media reports of ological response of norhow successful the resmalcy that projects the idents of the area are following message to our in responding to these political leaders: “Despite missile attacks; we celthe heavy price we pay for ebrated Purim; “No the continuing ‘peace proevents will be canceled; cess,’ continue the trainwe will not let Hamas ing and arming of Palesdictate when we celetinian Arabs, continue brate,” and so forth. supporting the delusional In response to the unconcept of ‘land for peace,’ precedented mortar atand ignore the daily contacks, we do not hear redemnation of Israel, while ports questioning how those who murder ruthwe got into this situlessly are forgiven and foration or exposing the gotten. We, the citizens of strategic blunder underIsrael, are strong; we have taken by Israel by evacbeen trained to be resil- The No. 74 bus damaged by a roadside bomb last week outside Binyanei Hauma. uating the Gaza Strip ient; we can take anything The very next day, passers-by commented that it was difficult to find evidence of and relinquishing conthe prior day’s explosion. they throw at us.” trol there. No need to By being strong and rebe honest, no need to silient, by not demanding real change, society. Oslo, Camp David, and the ensu- take effective action to rectify this situwe are unintentionally perpetuating the ing peace programs that have emerged out ation, no need to admit that the peace current situation and political stalemate, of these seemingly worthless agreements policies promoted by the left and the letting our political leadership off the have always ended up with increased ter- Obama administration are worthless and hook. Our lack of emotional crisis, our ror and more Jews as victims. Yet, because cause more of Israel’s citizens to be sitlack of weakness, enables political lead- of our pathological coping abilities, our ting ducks. ers to go about their business as usual. pathological national resiliency, our politiWe can handle it, we are strong and reThose responsible for thought control in cal leaders are exempt from feeling any ur- silient, we will continue to get up in the the print and broadcast media can con- gency to ask themselves, is this a normal morning and continue on with our lives tinue unabated to report about and sup- situation, can the reality for the nation of as if nothing really has happened. Our port peace initiatives, even though they Israel be different? toughness, our resiliency, is being cynihave been proven repeatedly as baseless Would the people of Western nations cally used to perpetuate the big lie that and built on false assumptions. allow their politicians to exhibit apathy the Palestinian Arabs are interested in We the public do not demand of them regarding the suffering of their people making peace and will recognize Israel as to change or really be accountable for pro- for so long without taking strategic ac- the home of the Jewish nation. moting peace initiatives that have enabled tion to stop once and for all the wanton Ron Jager is a 25-year veteran of the Israel thousands of Jews and citizens of Israel to murder of their citizens?

Defense Forces, serving as a field mental-health be murdered. We are strong, we will meet On Shabbat Parashat Tzav, no fewer officer. Prior to retiring in 2005, he served as the the challenges, we have undergone resil- than 54 mortars were fired on the com- commander of the central psychiatric military iency training. We have been taught to suf- munities surrounding the Gaza Strip. We clinic for reserve soldiers at Tel-Hashomer. Since retiring from active duty, he has been providing fer in silence and condone the continuing hear of the need to better fortify build- consultancy services to NGOs, implementing peace charade. We have been empowered. ings, increase funding to resiliency cen- psychological trauma treatment programs in This kind of self-defeating resiliency dis- ters, and augment efforts in local schools Israel. To contact him, e-mail torts thinking at all levels of diplomacy and to help pupils deal with their anxieties medconf@netvision.net.il.

Often a conference is the catalyst for the executive of an organization to realize that what he or she has been struggling with warrants a professional response from someone outside the organization. It does not mean that the existing staff lacks the ability to either diagnose the issue or to deal with the consequences of not responding to the need. The role of the outside consultant is to create a non-threatening atmosphere that supports a process whereby the staff members can deal with the issues they are confronting and simultaneously strengthen their ability to work together.

The terms of the working agreement between the nonprofit and the organization need to be clarified prior to the formal engagement of the consultant. The initial discussions between the executive of the organization and the consultant should concentrate on the focus of the consultation, the staff

members who will receive the services of the consultant, and the cost of the service. There should be no surprises either for the client organization or for the consultant.

Prior to beginning to work with the organization, its staff, and, when appropriate, the volunteer leadership, there should be a discussion of the length of time the consultant will be engaged. It is not uncommon for there to be an initial six-month agreement between the nonprofit and the consultant and to conduct a review after these first months. This results in a focused engagement that aims at reaching the agreed-upon goals in a timely manner.

It can be cost-effective to work with someone when there is an understanding between the agency and the consultant of what is to be accomplished within the timeframe. The focus of the work is agreed upon by both parties so there is no misunderstanding about

what the consultant is doing and the way he or she is using the agreed amount of time.

When the executive and the staff have someone they can share ideas with and ask questions of, they are able to clarify their understanding of the challenges as well as the solutions.

This approach offers guidance that learning about general approaches and principles of practice at a conference do not necessarily provide in an in-depth way. Thus, the choice is not either hiring a consultant or attending a conference and saving money. The question is when to engage a consultant to enable the organization to conserve financial resources by working effectively and efficiently to meet specific challenges in a creative way.

Stephen G. Donshik, D.S.W. Lecturer Hebrew University’s International Leadership and Philanthropy Program ʥʰʩʬʥʷ March 29, 2011

15

Science & Technology

Bringing Jewish Learning Into The 21st Century: The Talmud Comes To The iPad

BY KOLEINU STAFF Several weeks ago, I entered the beit midrash near my home for my evening chavruta with an iPad instead of a Gemara. I was evidently a strange sight to many of the mostly ultra-Orthodox attendees as I attracted many stares and several people wandered over to ask what precisely I was doing.

In response, I told these curious students of Jewish law that I was testing a new app by developer Crowded Road called iTalmud, which is billed as putting the entire Talmud, the written codification of the Jewish oral tradition, which is as lengthy as the En-

shiurim are high quality, although there are some frustrations with the quality of the recordings.

An added function which I found incredibly useful was the daf yomi shiur directory which uses your IP address to determine your location and provide a list of classes in your area according to language. Some of the information in this program is out of date. For instance,

cyclopedia Britannica, in your pocket.

First developed for Apple Inc.’s popular iPhone, the iPad edition allows a user to view the original text of the Gemara in the popular “Vilna” layout, as well as in Aramaic plaintext and a somewhat stilted, if still useful, English translation.

“In a nutshell, the real value of iTalmud is in being able to carry the equivalent of over 20 books of Talmud, or 5,894 folio pages, and hundreds of mp3 or audio CD, all from within your phone,” a representative of Crowded Road told Koleinu. “Until now, if you wanted to listen to a daf yomi lecture and follow along in the text, you would need an mp3 player and a heavy Talmud. Now all you need is your iPhone or iPad. iTalmud makes learning accessible anytime, anywhere, for an overall cost that is still less than a single volume of an ArtScroll Gemara.”

After several days of use, I discovered that despite some minor issues involving delay in the application of the pinch-to-zoom interface, the universal search function and the integrated daf yomi audio classes won my approval.

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March 29, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

Upon launching the app, which renders beautifully on the iPad’s 9.7-inch (diagonal) screen, you are greeted with Aramaic plaintext with hyperlinks that bring up excerpts from Rashi and other classic commentaries.

Two clicks bring you to either the English translation or the classic Vilna layout, though each “classic” page must be downloaded over Wi-Fi and does not come preloaded with the app, most likely to save space on the device’s limited SSD. An audio button downloads audio shiurim by Rabbi David Grossman of Los Angeles, one of the founding members of the local branch of the Lakewood Kollel. The

it listed a shiur given in my neighborhood, which has since changed locations. But the feature is still by and large of great utility.

Download management, universal search, and an optional ($5) Aramaic-English dictionary round out the package, which, for all its rough edges, is still a very attractive one.

For the price at which it is being offered, it alone can justify the expense of purchasing an iPad. The convenience of carrying the entire Talmud in my messenger bag, with translations and a dictionary, largely overcomes any shortcomings that this program may have. Transcending its limitations, the iTalmud truly brings Jewish learning into the 21st century.

As one yeshiva student from America commented online, “I use it on the bus on the way to yeshiva. The shiurim are great; not too fast and not too slow, great for chazaring a daf.

You can go to whatever daf in Shas you want very quickly, and you can fast-forward the audio. Also, the daf on the screen is great.”

Ironically, the program’s only shortcomings are unrelated to the text or translation itself, which is surprising as most of the development team were completely unfamiliar with the Talmud. “The development was not as quick as planned, largely because most of our team is not Jewish and has no experience with Jewish texts,” Crowded Road told Koleinu. “Some of our guys had a hard time, for example, dealing with the fact that each book of the Talmud starts at page two or that Hebrew is read backwards. Luckily, we have a couple of Orthodox team members who very often needed to step in and educate the rest of the crew.”

The iTalmud, developed by Crowded Road, is available for $29.99 on the iTunes store.