June 1 Koleinu by Shmuel Katz

Kineret water level

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F WWW.KOLEINU.CO.IL VOLUME I ISSUE 7

INSIDE Saluting Israel in NY . . . 2 Field of Dreams By Rochelle Maruch Miller . . . .

Bibi and DSK By Larry Gordon. . . . . . . . . . . . .

‫ פרשת נשא‬- ‫כ‘‘ח אייר תשע‘‘א‬

Binyamin Z. Munk . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Reflections on Camp Koby By Libby Sebrow . . . . . . . . . . . .

Shmu’s Shmooze By Shmuel Katz . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Our Water Plan By Goldie Katz . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

An Olah Chronicle By Tuvia Brodie . . . . . . . . . . . .

Only in Israel By Eric Grosser. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Under the Sun By Rabbi Dov Lipman . . . . . . .

Counting on an Inheritance By Aaron Katsman . . . . . . . . . . 14

Chelm-on-the-Med By Daniella Ashkenazy . . . . . . 14

Terra Olivo 2011 By Dr. Jay Levinson. . . . . . . . . 15

Letters to the Editor. . . 15 Scoring Arab Points By Ron Jager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Kashrut Alerts Jerusalem Kosher News . . . . . 16

JUNE 1, 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

Owning Our Own Little Corner Of The Land

The Akdamot Tune By Rabbi Cantor

E E R

L’Yisrael (KKL, the organization whose USA arm is the Jewish National Fund), had abrogated its mission to purchase and own land in Israel, and that led him to found the Israel Land Fund, Keren L’Admut Yisrael. Arieh asserts that for political reasons, KKL no longer uses its funds for the furtherance of Israel as a Jewish State. While he admits that it is performing functions and funding projects that are vital to the country, he laments that they no longer focus on what was their stated goal

BY SHMUEL KATZ We have just celebrated Yom Yerushalayim, the anniversary of the reuniﬁcation of Yerushalayim as a city wholly under Jewish control after thousands of years. Land, borders, ownership, rights—all these issues have been hot topics of late as we contend with the future of our country. Yet, if we are not careful, we may win the battle but lose the war. I refer to the war which has been fought over the years by stalwart pioneers from various organizations who have sought to reclaim for Jewish use, foot by foot and parcel by parcel, the ownership and usage of land and buildings here in Israel. Their goal, as was the goal in setting up the many yishuvim and moshavim in Gaza, Yehuda, and the Shomron, is to continue to expand the Jewish presence in our land, solidifying our claim and our ownership. I recently had the opportunity to meet Arieh King, the founder and director of the Israel Land Fund. In our interview, which lasted slightly over an hour, Arieh explained how he came to found ILF and how they view their role in fostering the purchase of land and properties in Israel by Jews. Arieh was born on Kibbutz Alumim and says that he would never have thought he would live in Yerushalayim (he currently lives with his wife and their six children in Maaleh Hazeitim, the new

Arieh King (L - with shoulder bag) surveying the entrance to the newly reclaimed home on parcel 18 in Nahalat Shimon

Continued on Page 11

Jewish neighborhood on Har Hazeitim). He only came to Yerushalayim to pursue his degree at the Hebrew University. At that time, he was asked to oversee a project in Har Hazeitim. It was that involvement that sparked his dedication to seeing Israeli land returned to Jewish ownership. “Fourteen years ago the situation there was catastrophic,” he told me. “There was grafﬁti on the tombstones. Arab residents would bring their donkeys, sheep, and horses there and used it as a garbage dump.” “We used to stay in one building that was bought by Moskovitch and walk to the Kotel. We would walk through the street between Silwan and the cemetery and we would be walking on tombstones! This was happening not in Europe, but Yerushalayim!” Arieh continued to work in developing the land for Jews and reclamation of the land for Jews. In 2006, it was his view that the Keren Kayemet

Continued on Page 2

IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE ISRAEL IN NEW YORK!

The annual parade up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan with more than 30,000 marchers and hundreds of thousands of spectators is now called the Celebrate Israel Parade and will feature a host of new guests and attractions.

It’s Time To Celebrate Israel In New York!

Continued from Page 1 Some 30,000 marchers from 100 participating groups—from the Chai Riders Motorcycle Club to the Boys and Girls Scouts of America—will join more than 40 bands and ﬂoats and top-notch Israeli and American talent performing before the tens of thousands of people along Fifth Avenue on Sunday, June 5. Spectators will enjoy the double-dutch deftness of Brooklyn-based Jumpers in Command and the roller skating dance moves of Queens-based Sisters in Motion. Conﬁrmed musical acts include Beit Habubot, the platinum-selling Israe-

li “Band of the Year”; Soul Farm, the preeminent Jewish jam band; Mama Doni, the quirky, funny and always unpredictable (and family-friendly) rock group, Kosher Dillz and Diwon, a hiphop act known for their unique beats and creative lyrics; and The Chevra, HABABA and Harmonia Singers, who each put a unique, melodic and modern spin to their music. The parade will feature more than a dozen marching bands, keeping the crowds engaged and energized, including Excelsior Drum & Bugle Corps (Troy, NY); Maracatu NY (Brooklyn, NY); Raiders Drum & Bugle Corps (Elizabeth, NJ); The Brown Band (Brown University, Providence, RI); and Shabazz High School Marching Band (Newark, NJ)—all ﬁve of which are new to the parade this year. Thor Equities CEO Joseph Sitt will be grand marshal of the 2011 parade. The Celebrate Israel Committee is honoring Sitt for his lifelong commitment to the State of Israel and Jewish causes throughout New York. Sitt and his family are well-known in the Jewish community for their support of Israel-related organizations and citywide for their commitment to the revitalization of New York City’s storied neighborhoods. He enjoys frequent visits to Israel. Sitt’s real estate ﬁrm specializes in urban projects and public-private partnerships in New York and around the

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June 1, 2011

world, controlling about 12 million square feet of commercial, retail and hotel property. Sitt also serves as the chairman and managing principal of the Thor Urban Property Funds, which invests in shopping centers, ofﬁce buildings, hotels and mixed-use urban projects. In 2009 Sitt sold 10 acres of land in Coney Island to the City as part of an effort to revitalize the boardwalk amusement area, which Sitt enjoyed growing up, having lived near the area as a child. Additionally, the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City honored him with an Inner City Economic Leadership Award for demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to fostering healthy competitive business

conditions and new opportunities in inner city neighborhoods. The parade will act as the marquee event of the JCRC-NY’s Celebrate Isra-

ebrate Israel Night with the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 1 and, in conjunction with New York Road Runners, a Celebrate Israel Run in Central Park the morning of the parade. JCRC-NY Executive Vice President and CEO Michael Miller said. “We are looking forward to another successful parade this June, as Israel supporters from across the metro New York area descend on Fifth Avenue, displaying passion and excitement. The fun at the parade is contagious, and we hope to encapsulate that energy and spread it throughout other events during the year that show our love of and commitment to the State of Israel.” A new logo conceived by famed graphic designer Milton Glaser, displaying the strong connection that many American Jews have to the State of Israel, will be featured prominently at the parade itself and on its website, www.celebrateisraelparade.org. The logo comprises the white, ﬁve-pointed star that appears on the American ﬂag outlined in red and surrounded by a royal blue six-pointed Star of David. A second Star of David in light blue is placed behind the royal blue star at a 30-degree angle to create the appearance of a 12-pointed star radiating light. The words “Celebrate Israel Parade” in red and blue sit under the stars. “I wanted to depict the strong bond American Jews feel towards Israel and its people,” Glaser said. “The Celebrate Israel Parade makes the statement that we stand with Israel through thick and thin, and that the fates of our nations are linked. The shapes and colors in the logo represent the relationship of light to life.” JCRC-NY and the Israeli Consulate in New York kicked off the Celebrate Israel Project at a Baruch College event

Koleinu ‫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 Copy Editor: Michele Justic Copy Editor: Shmuel Gerber Contributing Editors: Aron Katsman, Rabbi Dov Lipman, Rabbi Shalom Hammer, Paul Shindman, Tuvia Brodie Staff Photographer: Yissachar Ruas Design by Design-ER Printing: Graphoprint, Tel Yitzhak

el Project, a new partnership with the Israeli Consulate in New York and the UJA-Federation aimed at honoring the impact Israel has had on the lives of New Yorkers. The project will encompass a number of arts, sports, and community events and initiatives that will provide meaningful opportunities for New Yorkers to come together and support the Jewish State, including a Cel-

on March 6. Israeli Minister of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Yuli Edelstein joined Israeli Consul General Ido Aharoni, JCRC-NY’s Executive Vice President and CEO Michael Miller and the Israeli hip-hop band Hadag Nahash for a night of celebration and music. For the latest information, please visit www.celebrateisraelparade.org.

DISCLAIMER: Koleinu | ‫ קולינו‬is an independent newspaper o wned and operated b y Shmu Media, L td. O pinions e xpressed b y the c olumnists and contributors ar e not nec essarily those of the editor, publisher, or owner. Opinions e xpressed b y the adv ertisers ar e not necessarily those of the editor, publisher, or owner. We are not responsible for the hashgachah or kashrut of any product or establishmen t advertised or featured in the newspaper . All submissions ar e pr operty of the newspaper . The edit or r eserves the righ t t o r eject any submissions for publica tion and/ or advertisements, at his discretion. We are not r esponsible for an y typographical errors or omissions or the c ontent of any advertisements or submissions.

June 1, 2011

Koleinu | ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

Field Of Dreams BY ROCHELLE MARUCH MILLER An Interview With The Author Of “Pitching In The Promised Land” It was the ﬁrst (and last) season of professional baseball in Israel. Aaron Pribble, 27, had been out of minor-league baseball for three years, pursuing a career in education, when, at his coach’s suggestion, he tried out for the newly formed Israel Baseball League (IBL). In many ways, the league resembled the ultimate baseball fantasy camp with its unforgettable cast of characters: the DJ/street artist third baseman from the Bronx, the “wild man” catcher from Australia, the journeymen Dominicans who were much older than they claimed to be, and, of course, 71-year-old Sandy Koufax, drafted in a symbolic gesture as the last player. After enduring a terrorist attack on opening day, witnessing a career-ending brain injury caused by improper ﬁeld equipment, participating in a strike, and venturing into the West Bank despite

RMM: Aaron, what can you tell us about yourself? AP: I’m a Northern Californian through and through. Born in San Francisco and raised just over the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County, I’m somewhat of a jock on the outside but a hippie within. Growing up I had a passion for everything athletic, ofﬁcially playing basketball, soccer, and baseball in high school. After being named All-State in the latter, I chose the University of Hawaii over several Ivy Leaguers because the offer was right. And because I preferred to practice in board shorts rather than mittens. For several years after college I doggedly pursued my dream of playing professional baseball, a dream I had clutched tightly since Little League. Part of a summer in the independent Western League, pitching for boyhood idol Kevin Mitchell, followed by another summer in Mississippi and West Texas, left me three months away from attending law school. But instead I chose to play one last season—in France—ultimately choosing a

Bet Shemesh (resident) and Blue Sox Pitcher Jeff Mor leads mincha between games of a double header

being strongly warned against it, Aaron must decide whether to forgo a teaching career in order to become the ﬁrst player from the IBL to sign a pro contract in the United States. His is a story of coming of age, spiritually and athletically, in one short season, amid the throes of Middle Eastern politics and the dreams of America’s pastime far, far aﬁeld from home. Pitching In The Promised Land is a page-turner, a fun book to read. The author has done an excellent job of showing the reader what it was like to live in, and experience, Israel. Weaving his personal stories together in great writing style, Aaron has written a book that is immensely enjoyable to read, even if you are not interested in baseball. Amiable and articulate, Aaron recently shared his thoughts and comments on a variety of topics with me in this candid interview.

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June 1, 2011

career in education over one in the law. Now I teach high-school social studies and coach varsity basketball with my little bro. And as my Twitter proﬁle (@aaronpribble) reads, I’m a part-time ukulele player and a full-time taco fan. RMM: When did you discover your passion for baseball? AP: At the risk of sounding overdramatic, baseball for me has always been kind of like breathing. I’ve done it for as long as I can remember, I had to. For better and worse, it’s always been part of my existence. As a kid I had a lisp and an awful temper, and I absolutely abhorred losing. It was unacceptable for a runner to reach base, and Heaven forbid get a hit or score a run. As I matured, my lisp and some of my temper abated, but my passion for the game never went away. When the time arrived to hang up the spikes and glove, to get a real job, I did so willingly,

albeit with a tinge of heartache. Several years into my new profession, though, I learned of a newly formed league in the Middle East. Having convinced myself of being done with the game, I could not resist one last shot at professional baseball. In Israel, of all places! Since I am Jewish, and had played some pro ball, I put my new career on hold for one final summer under the desert sun. Little did I know at the time, at the end of those several months, I would be faced with the decision of a lifetime: accept a professional contract to pitch back in the States, or return to my gig in the classroom. RMM: How did you hone your talent? AP: My dad hit me a ton of pop-ups, had me in relentless batting practice, and spent years in the bullpen. Fortunately, I’m not of the “play date” generation, having grown up at a time when it was still parentally acceptable for young boys to fill the afternoon of their own accord on the ball field, the playground, or the blacktop. You played until you were tired or until the sun went down, then you went home. Of course, it’s necessary to be guided by knowledgeable coaches, and I’ve been blessed by many. How to release a change-up with proper arm speed, why it’s important to break your hands prior to beginning your stride, stuff like that. So I guess whatever talent was there to begin with was refined through a combination of hard work and expert tutelage. This is to say nothing of the mental aspect of pitching, perhaps most important of all, maybe the greatest indicator of success. I think the best way to describe the mental game—and life in general, seriously—is this: process over product. Always. RMM: How would you describe your experience in the minor leagues? AP: Let’s go with inspiring and humbling, and probably enlightening, as well. Inspiring because this was a feat I’d been aiming at since Little League, a dream into which I’d poured the better half of

my youth, and achieving it was totally and completely awesome. But humbling, too, because the higher up you go in this game, the more you realize pitchers like you are a dime a dozen, that everybody has your stuff, that everyone was The Man where they’re from. I’ve been the best guy on a roster, and also the worst. Playing in the minors was also very enlightening because of my experience competing with guys from all walks of life. A teammate is somewhat like a brother, a friend, and a business partner rolled into one, so you get to know about different nationalities, different political persuasions, values, peccadilloes, even cuisine. I’ve played in Australia, Canada, much of the U.S., Germany, France, and Israel, and it’s trite but true that sports offers a window into our humanity. Because of baseball, I have friends across the globe—in fact, I’m finishing this interview in Paris, of all places, having just visited my old teammates in Toulouse. (The falafel on Rue des Rosiers is the best I’ve had outside of Israel, by the way.) So, other than creating the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream, it’s the relationships I’ve made for which I’m most grateful to the game of baseball in general, and the minor leagues in particular. RMM: How did that experience in the minor leagues compare to pitching for Israel? AP: For the most part, baseball in Israel was just like baseball anywhere else in the world. The bases were 90 feet, the mound 60 and 6 inches, four balls equaled a walk, and so on. But in Israel we played seven innings instead of nine, the games were settled with a home-run derby, and hats were kept on during Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem. There were also six teams attempting to play six games a week on three “fields”—a term I use quite loosely—which created a number of logistical problems. But really, ball players are ball players the world over. That’s the great thing about sports’ unique ability to bring together people of disparate cultures, backgrounds, and ethnicity. RMM: You’ve analyzed and graded the IBL. If you had the authority to change anything about it, what would you have done? AP: Tough one. The league clearly faced financial difficulties, but it was a conscious decision to lay fiscal matters at the outskirts of my story. They were important, especially because the IBL was ultimately insolvent, but I wanted to write from the perspective of a player, someone intimately involved, and not necessarily an investigative journalist. So that being said, the main thing I’d have changed would have been more regular and consistent communication. However, in many ways the league’s growing pains, while difficult at the time, actually enabled a more compelling story. I am immensely grateful for the hard work and chutzpah displayed by players, work-

ers, and league administrators. I owe them all a tremendous debt of gratitude. RMM: Aaron, what do you consider the most rewarding aspect of pitching in Israel? AP: Pitching in Israel, in the Promised Land, was a journey of self-discovery, both religious and athletic. From a competitor’s standpoint, leading the league in earned-run average was a big thrill, and being offered the chance to play professional baseball back in the U.S., an unexpected reward. But we all pack up our trophies; they’re not to be taken with us through life. They accumulate dust for a reason. Schmaltzy though it may sound, I’m most grateful for the people I met in Israel, the guys with whom I’m still close friends. It’s too bad that they live in New Hampshire, New York, Los Angeles, and Tel Aviv, but there are many ways to stay connected in this interconnected world and plenty of excuses to visit. It’s also true that I learned much about myself while in Israel. At ﬁrst somewhat uncertain of my heritage, I returned a Jew much more sure of his place in the world. It felt good, even normal, to be surrounded by so many Jews, an experience with which up to that point I was unfamiliar, and it impacted me deeply. RMM: How has the experience impacted your life from a spiritual perspective? AP: I became much more assured of my participation in the Jewish experience. What it means to be a Jew is a question that’s been considered by countless generations, and I think the mere fact of wrestling with its implications makes one more closely connected to Jewish

League Champion Bet Shemesh Blue Sox Player Coach Eric Holtz with Chaya, Batya, Mordechai and Moshe Katz. Koleinu Editor Shmuel Katz was a season ticket holder in the IBL’s only year of operations.

heritage and transitions. Being Jewish as spiritual, religious, cultural, even political. In many aspects of life, religion included, I consider myself a progressive, open to dialogue and numerous points of view. Perhaps more than anything else, the notion of tikkun olam, of healing and repairing the world, of ﬁghting against injustice, is the theme of Judaism to which I feel most closely connected. Jews have faced persecution for so long that it’s incumbent upon us to stand up and speak for the voiceless.

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RMM: What inspired you to write the book? AP: At the insistent kvetching of a fellow teacher and longtime author, I’d kept a detailed journal while in Israel. Along the way it occurred to me that Americans seem to like ﬁrsts and lasts. Our national pastime is the Middle East; it’s an absurd combination, really. So after two months in Israel, having experienced a terrorist attack on opening day, a near strike, a near death, even a ﬁrst pitch by Dr. Ruth adinacahn@yahoo.com

Westheimer, I was certain there was a story to tell. Upon returning to San Francisco, I set about the journey of telling my story, one adventure inspiring another. You know, people often say they’re going to run a marathon and write a book. Well, I’ve run into too many poles to consider tackling 26.2 continuous miles— there would be no joy in that effort. Sharing stories, on the other hand, is a really fun endeavor. I wanted to share my adventures with others, to pay tribute to my teammates and competitors, to tell a unique “ﬁsh out of water” story, and to communicate my perspective on a compelling and important part of the world, Israel. RMM: Is there any message you would like to convey to our readers? AP: I’d like to note that a wonderful documentary was made about our summer in Israel, entitled Holy Land Hardball. It pairs really nicely with Pitching in the Promised Land, both of which you can follow on Facebook. But really, I want to convey just one last thing. And I’m serious about this: We need to follow our dreams. It’s important for the sake of the dream, but also because we learn so much about ourselves along the way. The journey is the destination. And sometimes, unexpectedly, new dreams emerge, wishes we never considered until the moment of inspiration. For me, it began with baseball and ended with this book. In a small way, I hope my experience will nudge others towards doing the same.

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Bibi And DSK BY LARRY GORDON Before last week, I have to confess that I knew very little about former International Monetary Fund Chairman Dominique Strauss-Kahn of France. Today I can admit that I know more about him than I care to know and could certainly do without most of that information. Of all the stories written about the man known as DSK, the one that was most noteworthy—outside of the extensive coverage of his sordid dalliance in Manhattan—were his concerns about how his Jewishness would impact on his ambition to be the next president of France. He was reported to have commented to a French newspaper some years ago that there is barely a day when he does not contemplate what he could do to be of assistance in some way to the State of Israel. He was concerned of late that this statement would impact negatively on how Frenchmen would think of him once inside their voting booths. Last week he quite unwittingly was extremely helpful to the cause of today’s Israel. There he was, sadly and disturbingly placed at the top of the news, while President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu met face to face in a friendly but also steely exchange for all to see on national television and all over the Internet.

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June 1, 2011

The media wanted and was ready to report that there was a rift, perhaps even a breakdown and crisis, in U.S.-Israel relations. They managed as much as possible to allude to that possibility but could not focus on it in any sustained manner so long as DSK was sitting in a Manhattan jail cell waiting for arrangements for his six million dollar bail to be approved and ﬁnalized. The prurient and salacious aspect of the events surrounding DSK managed to nudge aside even the big news they were attempting to create in this classic “man bites dog” story. So DSK, while sitting in his 5’8” jail cell for almost a week with reporters and photographers camped outside around the clock waiting for his next move, without as much as uttering a word, may have fulﬁlled an aspect of his long-sought-after desire to assist Israel in some manner. Which leads us to what really occurred in the meetings, both public and private, with President Obama. As MK Danny Danon said last week, it cannot be Israel’s responsibility to pay the tuition for Barack Obama’s foreign-policy

education. My understanding of the situation is that Obama may understand to an extent what is involved and what is at stake here, but he does not fully comprehend the depth or fullness of the situation with all its potentially far reaching consequences and implications. Many of our readers are far better acquainted with the details and minutiae of what is going on here than some in the White House. Even occasional travelers to that area of the world know that the image that is being projected by Israel’s critics does not resemble the reality as it exists on the ground. Arabs and Jews in the region have gotten along and have done business with one another going back hundreds of years. It is only when leadership with a colonial and antiJewish agenda fans the ﬂames of hatred that problems are created in the region. As Prime Minister Netanyahu said at the AIPAC conference Monday evening, “Israel is not what is wrong with the Middle East; Israel is what’s right with the Middle East.” And it’s more than that too. Arab young people throughout the Middle East and North Africa are standing up today and struggling for freedom. It is clear that despite what their despotic leaders have told them and fed them all these years, that which they long for and want to emulate is life the way it is lived by their compatriots in Israel. As Mr. Netanyahu pointed out at his AIPAC address and again in his remarks on Tuesday before Congress, “There are 300 million Arabs living in the Middle East, but only one million live free and have enjoyed democratic rights for decades, and those are the one million Arabs who live in Israel.” The last week was a riveting one for those who tightly hang on every word uttered by both the leaders of the U.S. and Israel. Bibi was consistent in all his remarks, unswerving, steady, and hammering home a constant theme. President Obama, on the other hand, unfortunately was not. He wavered from his foreign policy address last Thursday to his remarks in the meeting with Mr. Netanyahu in the Oval Ofﬁce and up through his remarks in front of AIPAC. He made it mighty clear that he was calling for Israel to withdraw to the pre-1967 borders and then to negotiate peace from there. He then backtracked and said that he was simply stating long-standing policy that those lines should be the basis for peace talks. Netanyahu, on the other hand, said several things that no Israeli leader previously had the gumption to say. First and foremost he unabashedly and unequivocally called for Hamas to release

Gilad Shalit forthwith. It would have been impressive and even enlightening to have heard Bibi call for the U.S. to release Jonathan Pollard after all these years. Unfortunately, despite the extraordinary amount of time that Pollard has served in jail, it seems that the subject is still too sensitive to be raised in this type of forum, and that’s way too bad. Additionally, and very significantly, Bibi said clearly and succinctly in Congress that Israel will be very generous with the borders of a future Palestinian state. But he added something that I do not recall any Israeli leader ever articulating. He said that it is possible in an environment of real peace that some settlement communities will be located outside of Israel’s new border, and that in a genuine peace that should be possible. It was a very important and indeed a great moment in his presentation. Of course the Palestinian propagandists eschew this option as they find Jews to be infidels and not worthy of living on what they consider Arab land. And just as importantly, on Friday in the White House Netanyahu said that in fact the war of 1948 created two refugee problems—one Palestinian and one Jewish. The numbers of people displaced from their homes, he said, were about the same: 850,000. “Tiny Israel,” he said, “managed to successfully absorb all the Jewish refugees, while the multitude of Arab countries refused to absorb their Arab brethren.” More than anything, Netanyahu demonstrated a moral clarity that probably won over countless Americans to his and the right way of thinking. I did not see the entire episode as a face-off between Bibi and Obama, though the media—and especially the New York Times—was determined to maneuver the situation in that direction. I think Barack Obama learned something very special about Israel, its leadership, and its people last weekend, and he learned it from a master with utmost and maximum respect. The subject of morality and clarity brings us back to Dominique Strauss-Kahn who demonstrated a lack of both in his foray in New York. The most poignant comment after the White House meeting last Friday was from former Israel ambassador to the UN Dan Gillerman. He told Fox News that in his estimation, “there are two things you don’t do in public: You don’t make love and you don’t make peace.” The only good thing about the DSK episode was that it kept the so-called Bibi and Obama disagreement off the front page for a while. DSK dreamed of someday helping Israel; I do not imagine that this was the way he thought it would play out. Larry Gordon is the publisher and editor of the Five Towns Jewish Times, Koleinu’s sister newspaper. Comments are welcome at editor@5tjt.com.

The Secret Behind The Tune Of Akdamot BY RABBI CANTOR BINYAMIN Z. MUNK There is a famous debate among the Achronim regarding the special piyut of Akdamot recited on the holiday of Shavuot. There is perhaps no better known or more beloved piyut in all of Jewish liturgy—as our earliest custom instructs us to recite Akdamot in the middle of the reading of the Torah, after the ﬁrst verse;

The opening page of the “Mahzor Worms” – the town of Rashi

“In the third month… they came upon the Wilderness of Sinai.” This greatly stirred the poskim like Rabbi David HaLevi Segal in his Turei Zahav (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 494), whereby he writes to go against the accepted custom on the grounds that this custom causes us to unnecessarily create a hefsek (pause) within the Torah reading— something quite problematic. Nonetheless, other poskim hold that Akdamot must be recited specifically in the middle of the Torah reading—as writes the Maharil (one of the greatest Ashkenazi rabbis and chazzan in his own right) in his book, that indeed Akdamot should be recited according to the custom—in the middle of the Torah reading. However, this is not the only thing unique to this wonderful piyut. Introducing the piyut is a very ancient melody that passed from generation to generation, with holy respect, which presents itself as a musical nusach to these verses. Unlike other piyutim, for example, such as in the other famous piyut of Shavuot; “Lo Tachmod,” where every cantor or baal tefillah is allowed to sing the verses to the tune of his will, in Akdamot, the chazan has to chant the specific melody prescribed to him, and is not allowed to divert from the obligatory nusach. This tune that every one of us can recall from their early childhood years, reminds us all of the wonderful ambience of the

also being among the pupils. It is reading tune). The first words of Akdafrom here we find great admira- mot; akdamot milin v’sharyut shuta, the tion for the kehillot of Ashkenaz melody on the word shuta is identical to and France to the sublime piyut that of the revi’i from the te’amim. Furof Akdamot—authored by Rab- thermore, in the second part of the piyut; bi Meir—one of Rashi’s rabbeim, avla shakilna harman ureshuta, the first two words are very similar to the mercha Rabban Shel Yisrael. A huge debate occurred amongst tipcha notes, and the last two words are the great poskim about the ques- exactly the zarqa from the te’amim! Why did the composer, most probation of the hefsek during the Torah reading with the chanting of the bly Rabbi Meir himself, intertwine the The Unetaneh Tokef” of the “Mahzor Worms” – piyut. Some of the rabbis who dis- melodies in this piyut with the te’amim agreed brought up the assumption of the Torah? The answer now becomes the town of Rashi that the custom to say Akdamot in crystal clear. Since this piyut was meant Shavuot festival, and indeed this won- the middle of leining was renewed by to be read during the Torah reading—in derful composition serves as well as a the admirers of Rabbi Meir since they this way it becomes so wonderfully integeneral motif for Chag Shavuot. For ex- wanted to increase his prestige, but not grated! This conclusion supports those ample, many cantors use this melody to sing the words “Rosh Chodesh Sivan yihyeh bayom” in the Birkat HaChodesh prayer. This age-old niggun from previous generations was passed from father to son until today, and here we can then ask a question; is there any connection between the melody and the abovementioned debate of where Akdamot should be recited? At first glance one might think melody is something external with no relation to the issue at all. In this article, the unexpected link will become clear—but first, a number of details about the piyut and its author. The author of the piyut is Rabbi Meir ben Rabbi Yitzchak, shliach tzibur, from In this diagram we can see the similarity between the “Akdamot” Worms. His name is hinted at within and the Torah leining tunes. the words: “Meir BRabbi Yitzchak yidal baTorah ubmaasim tovim amen vchazek by Rabbi Meir himself. Of course we in rabbis whose opinion was that the holy vametz.” One of the gedolei Yisrael, Rab- our generation cannot rule and decide piyut, le’chatchila, was composed by bi Meir, was of the first of the Rishonim between “the great mountains,” and so Rabbi Meir, and is to be chanted in the middle of the Torah reading. and is mentioned by Rashi in his books our custom nowadays is to In this diagram we can see (“I learnt from the words of Rabbi Meir chant the piyut before the the similarity between the leining, as is brought in the Akdamot and the Torah leinMishnah Brurah. However, toing tunes. gether with this, there is the Of course, the rabbis who very interesting point which disagreed and said that the has to do with the musical piyut was not written to be tune—which is probably besaid during the leining could ing published here for the say that the composer was first time. from another period of time Rabbi Meir, besides his later on, and indeed this is greatness in Torah, served as not a total proof one way or chazan and shliach tzibbur— An old painting of Rashi – Rabbi Shlomo the other. It does, however, Yitzhaki (February 22, 1040 – July 13, 1105). as did the Maharil. During this prove the depth and richness period, chazanim were not of our great ancient composben Rabbi Yitzchak, shliach tzibur, zecher only the singers of the prayers ers—their music was not just tzaddik l’vrachah”). Tosafot also relies on and piyutim, but also the aumere music or song, but holy his piyutim as we see in Rosh Hashanah thors of them. Therefore, it niggunim based on very holy 11a, and Rabbi Meir’s name and words stands to reason that the comare also brought a few times in Machzor poser of the wonderful tune Ancient notes of the and deep kavanot. This is the of Akdamot was none other “Taàmei HaMikra” – place to remind us what the Vitry. “Sefer Chassidim,” one of the As is well known, Worms was among than Rabbi Meir himself. the Leining Trops Rishonim, wrote; the niggunLooking into this ancient the three famous congregations (Spire and Magenza the other two). The cor- melody a little further we will find, to im of the te’amim came from Mount Sinerstones and epicenters of Torah learn- our surprise, in the little short notes nai by Moshe Rabbeinu. ing for Ashkenazi and French Jews, it which repeat themselves all over this Rabbi Munk is the director of Machon was here where Rabbi Meir most like- long piyut, are intertwined and com- Yerushalim L‘Chazanuth, and musical arranger ly learned among the students of Rab- bined within at least three clear motifs and conductor of Yeshurun, the Central beinu Gershom Me’Or Hagolah, Rashi from the te’amim (trop, or musical Torah- Synagogue’s choir in Jerusalem.

June 1, 2011

Koleinu | ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

Reﬂections On My Camp Koby Experience BY LIBBY SEBROW As I waited for my turn to wash for Hamotzi, I smiled at the sweet-faced little girl waiting patiently ahead of me. In response, she reached up on tiptoes and shyly kissed me on the cheek. “Shabbat Shalom,” she said happily. “Shabbat Shalom,” I responded with overwhelming pride. Looking around the dining room, one could almost forget the circumstances that brought these children to Camp Koby. Happiness and ruach permeated the room. We ate heartily and sang the beautiful Shabbat zemirot from the depths of our souls. When I started thinking about my summer plans last fall, I felt that I needed to do something that was not the status quo. I spoke to my friends about the various programs girls attend the summer after 10th grade. When I heard all the details about Camp Koby, I felt that this was what I needed to do. My parents, though a bit reluctant at first, were very supportive and encouraged my decision.

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June 1, 2011

Camp Koby is geared to Israeli children in Israel who have suffered terrible losses in their families as a result of terror, illness, and other devastation. It is a program of the Koby Mandell Foundation, founded in 2002. It was named after Koby Mandell, a’h, who was killed by terrorists on May 8, 2001, in a cave near his home in Tekoa. Koby was only 13-years-old at the time of his brutal death. He was the eldest son of Sherri and Seth Mandell. Koby’s parents started the foundation to help others who have lost family members to terror cope with their losses. Camp Koby is a place where children of loss can share their feelings with others who have suffered similar losses. Trained and professional counselors and therapists work with these kids in a fun environment. When I first greeted the campers, I observed a bunch of little kids arriving. Some appeared frightened, others excited, but everyone, no matter their age and each carrying their own grief, seemed ready to have a fun time.

My job as a therapy intern was to observe the campers during therapy sessions. They had assorted therapies spread out throughout the day such as animal therapy, art, karate, woodworking, clay-sculpting, and more. Animal therapy was particularly fascinating to me, as I witnessed the positive effects it had on the campers. The various animals that were involved were snakes, turtles, frogs, parrots, and bunny rabbits. The therapist would encourage each child to hold the animals. Most of the kids were afraid at first. With time, they felt more confident, and touching the animals led to actually holding them with confidence. Their faces glowed with visible happiness, as a result of this achievement. These kids and the program made such an incredible impact on me that I felt motivated to do something more. I started socializing and hanging out with the campers outside of therapy sessions. I wanted to get to know them better. We shared and traded snacks, did each other’s hair, and enjoyed girl talk, etc. Some of these kids spoke perfect English. Becoming their friends was an amazing and incredibly uplifting experience. The campers were treated to exciting trips throughout the program. On one of the trips to an amusement park, Superland, I became very close to one of the little girls in the group, who spoke fluent English. After breakfast on a typical day at Camp Koby, each camper would go to their designated workshops. At different times during the day there would be spontaneous fun activities; For example, in one particular activity, all the kids sat in a circle holding small drums. The entertainer led the campers in song. At times the songs were deliberately silly. We could not stop laughing. The fun did not end at night—these kids had too much fun to go to sleep. The camp scheduled exciting night activities, and each night had a different theme. Princess Night felt so majestic. The girls were supposed to dress up as princesses. Orange garbage bags were used as makeshift poofy skirts. It was hilarious. The counselors artfully made up the girls, and they really felt like royalty for the night. On another theme night, we were treated to Pirate Night. The kids dressed up as pirates, in full gear— complete with black eye shadow and bandanas—they looked ready to seek their treasure. The treasure that they

found was within themselves. Thank G-d for Camp Koby. We all continued by going outside, to sing and dance in circles. The highlight of Camp Koby, which everyone looks forward to each year, is Karaoke Night. The camp provided a karaoke machine and the kids each took turns singing songs. At the fast and happy melodies, people danced with a get-up-and-go energy. The sadsounding songs created a feeling of togetherness where the kids would hook arms and sway back and forth. One particular incident will forever remain embedded in my memory. The song Abba came on and everyone sang it together. In the middle of the song, a group of sisters were overcome with emotion and they burst into tears. These sisters hurriedly left the room to grieve privately. Of course, the counselors followed them to provide support. It was not unusual to see kids grieving. At times, as I walked by, there would be an older or younger child crying. The staff was always there to console and listen to them as they shared their feelings, if they wanted to. On the last day of camp, there was much hugging and tearful good-byes between the campers and staff. It turned out that the staff had more tears than the campers. The campers had the enjoyable feeling of having had a great time. During the year, many of these kids actually feel guilty about smiling or laughing. The staff felt the sadness of possibly not seeing these kids ever again. Of course, e-mail addresses were exchanged. I am only 16 years old, yet I know that few things in life could possibly provoke such profound emotions. These kids, who have suffered tremendous loss, have the opportunity each year to feel good about having fun. Camp Koby provides these kids with an opportunity to befriend someone else that had suffered from something similar, and gives these grieving kids the strength to cope. The campers return to their homes glowing with renewed freshness and energy. I am honored to have been a part of this program and grateful to the directors and staff for their tireless and selfless devotion. Libby Sebrow lives in Lawrence and attended Camp Koby in the summer of 2010. Recently, the Mandell family marked the 10th anniversary of Koby’s death. The foundation headed out for their ﬁrst Kilometers for Koby fundraiser, hiking across Israel. Donation information can be found at www.kobymandell.org.

Shmuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shmooze

Why Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t They All Speak English So Well? BY SHMUEL KATZ Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu reinforced a long-standing opinion of mine last week with his address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress. Love him or hate him, agree with him or disagree with him, Bibi is clearly an effective speaker who is comfortable not only speaking in English, but thinking in English. When he speaks, there is no mistaking what he has said. This point has been a peeve of mine for years. It seems that the majority of spokespeople for the Arab countries and for the PA have, while it may be accented, a fairly good command of the English language. I am sure this is by design. After all, the point of having a spokesperson is for them to get the point across successfully. Contrastingly, on our side of the court, we seem to put up a majority of ofďŹ cial spokespeople who are either extremely uncomfortable with English or have incredibly thick accents that lead to them sounding unintelligible. Think about the way some of our most recent former Prime Ministers have sounded. They may be brilliant orators in Hebrew, but they simply cannot communicate to an English-speaking audience. Now think back 20 years and identify which leaders we, as English-speakers, always thought of as great communicators. Golda Meirâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s American upbringing and comfort with English led the way to her raising $50 million in a tour of the U.S. to purchase desperately needed weapons for the defense of the newly born country, doubling her initial goal of $25 million and far outstripping the $5 to $10 million that most thought she would bring in. At one point in the 70s, polling data revealed that she was the most trusted woman in America. Abba Eban is another example. His command of the English language was legendary. He might have been the most effective communicator (in English) in Israeli history. His ďŹ&#x201A;uency in multiple (10) languages and incredible intelligence and speaking ability helped lead him to be elected the vice president of the UN General Assembly, a body not known for its historical fondness for Israel. These conďŹ dent and poised masters of the spoken word (in English) have by and large disappeared from our national stage, despite the continuing immigra-

tion of highly educated and intelligent English-speakers from across the globe, especially in recent years. I remember watching CNN during Operation Cast Lead (and could we please have English names for these things that sound normal?). They had a military spokesman on TV to present our facts, but his English was so unintelligible that even I, an Israeli citizen and therefore (hopefully) someone who has a working knowledge of the history and goals of the operation, could not understand what he was saying. A minute after his interview ďŹ nished, a polished and urbane sounding Arab was interviewed. Regardless of the fact that he was (in my opinion) making up facts, he sounded more believable simply by virtue of the fact that it was pretty easy to understand what he was saying. This is the role of the spokesman. Spokespeople are there to deliver a message in a clear and easily understood manner. While the better spokesman will also be an effective debater with poise and an ability to think on his feet, these traits are not absolutely required. What good are a quick brain and good debate skills if you are unable to even get your basic point or message across? This is one of the reasons that I like Bibi. I am not saying that he is a great guy or that he is a good leader or that he is the right guy to be the Prime Min-

ister. What I am saying is that if ever we needed an effective communicator to the English-speaking world, he is probably the best option we have right now. He is American educated. He speaks almost ďŹ&#x201A;awless English. As we saw by his response to the heckler, he thinks well on his feet and has an almost visceral understanding of how to appeal to his audience. He may have scripted that response, but it was so on point with his message and seemed so spontaneous, that it endeared him to the listener and reinforced his message. Yes, the U.S. Congress is very pro-Israel and he was speaking to a welcoming audience. But that does not diminish how well his performance, and a performance it was, came through. He was relaxed and conďŹ dent. He looked comfortable and poised. He was not wooden or stiff. While his quips

were not always funny, they reďŹ&#x201A;ected a sense of familiarity and intimacy with his audience. I could use a hundred different adjectives and they would all say the same thing. When he spoke, America, and Americans, not only paid attention, they did not have to struggle to comprehend and internalize what he was saying. This was not limited to his Congressional address. His public â&#x20AC;&#x153;thanksâ&#x20AC;? to President Obama was also effective. While many will argue that it was a gross misstep and an embarrassing treatment of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;leader of the free world,â&#x20AC;? others will argue that it was simply a statement that Israel cannot agree to what was recommended and that by doing it in such a public manner we have clearly deďŹ ned what is unacceptable at any cost. No matter how you look at it though, one thing is clear. The message was not ambiguous or unclear. His message came through clearly. It actually makes me wonder why we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have more mother tongue level English-speaking spokespeople. A few occasionally pop-up on this or that news channel or program. I just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think there are enough of them. I know that it is not an easy job. Spokespeople probably require a lot of training. However, I think the cost is justiďŹ ed and the PR beneďŹ ts would be overwhelming. Â&#x2122;

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Our Emerging Water Plan BY GOLDIE KATZ Just a few days after I wrote my last column about the water crisis, former Water Authority Chairman Dr. Uri Shani told Channel 2 news that in his opinion, he could “cautiously” state that the water crisis was over. Despite spending the past six years insisting to the public that the crisis would force the country to adopt severe conservation measures, he has changed his tune now that he has left the Water Authority. He cited both the incredible progress that the country has made toward conservation over the past few years as well as Israel’s rapid progress in building desalination plants as the reasons for his new opinion. Even though the plants are not online, this year’s rains have, in his opinion, put our reserves to a level where we will be safe until the desalination plants open, as I reported here two weeks ago. His statement was noted as a sharp contrast to the Water Authority’s public stance that we are still in a state of severe emergency and that the current seven year drought’s affect on our water reserves will keep us at a perilous level until we can see signiﬁcant rainfall. Since we cannot assume that the upcoming year will result in good rainfall total, the Water Authority is counsel-

ing constant vigilance to avert a more serious situation next summer. As I wrote last time, it is the Water Authority’s forward looking focus on long-term issues that has led to things like the seemingly contradictory statements of the Water Authority and Dr. Shani. Then came the news of a dramatic step being made in our longterm water plan. Late last week, the Finance Ministry announced that they had successfully arranged $400 million in ﬁnancing to construct what will be (when fully functioning) the second largest water desalination plant in the world. The plant is scheduled (at least for now) to open in 2013 and will produce 150 million cubic meters of water per year at peak operation. Assuming that the desalination plants currently being built are ﬁnished and operating when this plant comes online, we will have the ability, if necessary, to produce up to 65% of the water we need each year (at current demand levels) through desalination alone. This would essentially reduce our risk to even long-term droughts such as the one we are currently in the middle of to very low levels.

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for water. It is therefore imperative that the Water Authority continue to be vigilant in assessing our short, mid, and long-term needs and then planning responsibly to address those needs. It is through responsible planning that we will avoid reentering the serious crisis we have faced the last few years. This then, explains the contradictory statements in a Former water authority chairman Prof. Uri Shani new light. Professor Shani’s assertion that The opening of this plant (in addi- we are past the current crisis may be tion to the other, smaller plants still un- technically true. Unless the upcomder construction) will mark a watershed ing year’s rainfall totals are horrid, we moment (pun intended) for our nation. will probably have just enough capacIt will represent our stepping into the ity currently within the system to see modern world with a serious water plan, us through another year or two. Howone that accounts for our needs in the ever, the Water Authority’s caution, esshort term, if not even further down the pecially considering that they have to defend the spending of $400 million road. It is of course necessary to understand to increase our water production also that as our population and economic makes sense. They are focusing more production grow, so too will our demand long-term, as they should be.

Photoshop? Or terrible translation? BY STUART ISAACSON This image was credited on Facebook to Professor Menachem Kellner of Haiffa University as having been taken by him at the Nes Harim swimming pool. If this is not a photoshopped image, this photo, which was sent to thousands of people via email (where we ﬁrst saw it) has to contain the worst translation from Hebrew to English ever seen. Sometimes it pays to spend a few shekels for translation instead of using google translate.

Owning our own little corner of the land

Continued from Page 1 and their stated intention for funds donated to them in the 1900s—the purchase of land, land, and more land, to keep it in Jewish hands. “No longer,” he said, “should the donations go to a single organization, because that organization can become politicized. Instead, the people should buy and own the land themselves.” Arieh King described to me the foundation’s five-pronged action plan to motivate people here and abroad to participate. First and foremost, they want to simply inform and publicize the facts on the ground and the availability of land and properties. People do not realize that throughout Israel, especially in the North, companies funded by foreign Arab interests are buying up huge swaths of land. This land is being bought in the absence of Jewish buyers. While there are funds and wealthy individuals who are involved in the purchase of land, he says that they are simply too few to satisfy the need. His goal in this area is to educate the public that there is a need and that they themselves can satisfy it. He added that sometimes it is preferable that individuals and not organizations be the buyers. He described an instance where he made an offer to buy land near Yerushalayim from an Israeli university in 2004. They refused his offer, claiming that their overseas financial donors would not want them to sell to “settlers.” Instead, he told me, the land went to corporation funded by a well-known Arab organization—for almost 60 percent less than his offer. The advocacy for Jewish ownership of the land applies also to politicians, he told me. “When the politicians talk about ‘Yerushalayim,’ they should know what they are actually talking about!” The second part of their plan is to advocate the purchase of land as a way of strengthening our ties to the land of Israel. We all know that an owner takes more pride in a possession or store than a renter or manager. Ownership fosters a deeper bond and a stronger connection. The parcel might be rented to a farmer or other tenant, and each time the owner comes to visit the parcel he is infused with his pride of having his own portion in the land of Israel. The third approach they make is halachic. There are mitzvot which can be observed only by someone who owns land in Israel. Take Shemittah, for example. Only one who owns land can let it lie fallow for the seventh year. Thus, ILF encourages the purchase of farmland in Israel in order to promote the observance of these mitzvot. He told me that this approach has been very successful in chareidi circles. The fourth approach is financial. For various reasons, he told me, real estate in Israel has been a historical-

Map of the Nahalat Shimon neighborhood with parcel 18 highlighted

ly good investment. Whether the purchase is made for long-term capital appreciation or in order to bring in a tenant who will use or work the land and pay rent, many of the parcels ILF recommends are very sound investments, aside from the moral imperative to keep or obtain the land for Jewish ownership. The fifth and final part of the plan is to involve youth and be advocates for Jewish land ownership. You may remember the various fundraising campaigns run by major Jewish organizations in your own Jewish day school overseas. It might have been getting stamps to fill a JNF pledge book and “donate a tree” in Israel, or it might have been earning points and selecting an award for raising monies for a national charity. Regardless, involving youth and teaching them the value of the charity is critical to their lifelong tendency to think favorably of its mission. “It is my dream that even one in a hundred Jewish children in the world would buy one single dunam, be it from their bar mitzvah or b’rit milah gifts that they got from a grandparent or aunt. It is my dream that one percent of the children have a special frame with their deed or some special certificate with the registration stamp on it, and they will remember that ‘this is from my bar mitzvah.’” Mr. King added that ILF has an additional mission aside from the actual purchase of land. Many parcels of land have been bought by Jews over the past 100-plus years, and they or their heirs still retain ownership rights. Many of these parcels have Arab squatters living on them. ILF helps identify the owners and works with them to reclaim their land. He cited the neighborhood of Nachalat Shimon, which abuts the very wellknown Arzei Habira neighborhood in Yerushalayim. In the neighborhood map, he showed me that the land is all Jewish-owned. However, there is only a single Jewish family living there, in parcel 18. This family moved in

through the efforts of ILF. Every other parcel has Arabs living on it, despite the fact that the land does not belong to them. His own neighborhood, Maale Hazeitim, was developed in similar circumstances. The land was originally purchased to make a Jewish cemetery. After being bought by Chabad, it was eventually bought and developed as a Jewish neighborhood. All on land owned by Jews since the 1890s. There are thousands of areas like

this throughout Israel. ILF helps people who have ownership rights assert them and take control of their legal property. The Israel Land Fund operates with only four employees. Arieh told me that he tells people to buy land first and donate second. He believes that achieving the merit of owning land in Israel is gratification and motivation for further effort, purchases, and donations. Even those of us who may already own a home or apartment in Israel can participate by helping keep more of our land in Jewish hands and/ or helping Jewish farmers who cannot afford the purchase on their own to have land on which to farm. The Israel Land Fund is in the trenches every day, rooting out scammers (there are hundreds of them) and presenting only carefully vetted opportunities for purchase. Everyone throughout the world, including us here in Israel, is invited to buy a little corner of Israel, contact ILF at office@IsraelLandFund.com or 972-2-6223195, or visit www.IsraelLandFund.com to see land and properties in Yerushalayim, and elsewhere in Israel, available for ownership.

‫קלי“ל‬ ‫ק‬ ‫ישראל‬ ‫לאדמות ישראל‬ ‫הקרן לאדמות‬

Israel Land Fund

ILF

Agricultural land for sale in the Galil at prices aﬀordable to anyone oﬃce@israellandfund.com 02.622.3195 www.israellandfund.com June 1, 2011

Koleinu | ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

An Olah Chronicle

Entrepreneurship 101 BY TUVIA BRODIE If you have made aliyah, you might have thought about starting a business. But doing that in a culture different from your own can be daunting. You could fail faster than you burn toast. The good news is, it can be done. Here’s a success story. Rivka Tibber, of Maale Adumim, has been creating a self-employment niche for herself for the last nine years. And she has some lessons to share. Her first lesson starts with how you define ‘success.’ “You have to have a definition,” she says, “and it has to be concrete.” For Rivka, success has nothing to do with expensive cars or a prestigious address; it has to do with time and money—time for her children and money to live on. As a single mother with children to care for, she began her self-employed life intuitively understanding that she could only be happy if she worked in a way that allowed her to fulfill her most important need—being there for her children.

So her ﬁrst business was an after-gan for preschoolers. That gave her time with her children. It also gave her the added beneﬁt of having increased control over her children’s development: they were part of her after-gan. Today, she runs a business importing higher-quality clothing and accessories for young children and infants. It’s a tough business. Many storeowners have laughed at her for selling relatively expensive items. But she had used these products with her own children. She understood the difference between buying something new repeatedly vs. buying something of quality that lasts. She believes in her products, and she now has a developing customer base—businesses and individuals who want quality for their clientele, their own children, and for special gifts. Rivka’s second ‘success’ lesson: sell what you believe. As she says, “if you sell it, you have believe in it.” Lesson three: understand and appreciate how others help you. Over the years, Rivka has gotten advice from MATI, a Jerusalem-based business-development organization that works particularly with start-ups. (To learn more, visit Mati.org.il).

Rivka has made alliances with professional advisors—a “fantastic” lawyer and an import broker, for example—who have given her the kind of detailed guidance about business in Israel that has meant the difference between survival and failure. She has also networked. She has talked to neighbors and friends. She has spoken with others in Maale Adumim who had created home-based businesses. She studied the market she wanted to enter, travelling to stores and outlets to learn and gather information—and to ask questions. “Lots of questions,” she says. Lesson four: Use your head. That’s not as easy as it sounds. It is amazing how people trying to start a business do not

think about how to present what they sell, how to answer objections, how to place orders efficiently, and how to make sure they get paid. “That’s really important,” Rivka says, laughing. “You had better remember to get paid.” She has been through it all— the problems, the frustrations, and, yes, not getting paid. She knows the most basic unwritten rule of business survival: if you don’t think ahead, you don’t eat. Finally, the most important lesson: there’s no such thing as one source of income. True, for some, that’s exactly how it is—one job, one workplace, one paycheck. But for Rivka—as for many olim—this is not how it works in Israel. Rivka understands this. In addition to her business, she holds two other jobs, both part-time. She says that “both these [parttime] jobs offer me marvelous people to work with, and the flexible hours I want.” In Israel, Rivka Tibber has discovered that you do not define yourself by your job title. As she says, “I work for my family. I can be with my children—and I like that.” Rivka welcomes your questions at rivka.tibber@ gmail.com.

Only In Israel BY ERIC GROSSER Editor’s Introductory Note: We all have our own “only in Israel” story or stories. The vast majority of them celebrate the transcending of social norms by and for a fellow Jew. These stories are a staple of our lives here and a constant reminder of Mi K’Amcha Yisrael—that the Jewish people are like no other nation. We invite you to share your own “only in Israel” moment with our readers. Last month, I was reminded of what an incredible country I have the tremendous blessing of living in. Erev Yom HaShoah started as a regular “back to work” Sunday. As the country prepared for Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) which would start at sunset, I listened to the hourly news report of statistics related to the Holocaust survivors living in Israel and the upcoming memorial ceremonies. A few minutes before I boarded my bus to work, I realized that it was May 1, the ﬁrst day of a new month and time to purchase my monthly bus pass (with a savings of over 50% from the regular fare for my commute). “Oh no,” I thought to myself, “where’s my credit card?” I real-

Koleinu | ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

June 1, 2011

ized that while I needed to take money out of the ATM machine, I don’t have nearly enough in that account to buy the bus pass. I decided to play “rosh katan” and see if that would help me. When I got on the bus, I showed the bus driver my April bus pass. He shook his head. “We’re not in April anymore,” he said with a smile and slight laughter. “I don’t have the money for the monthly pass,” I explained. “I’ll take one way to Tel Aviv.” I was shocked by the bus driver’s response. “Sit down and make sure you don’t have money somewhere else in your wallet. I don’t want you to have to overpay,” he said. I thanked him for his consideration, but explained that I was sure I didn’t have more money. “Why don’t you get off the bus when I stop in Rishon and take out money from the ATM? I’ll wait for you,” he suggested. I explained to him that I didn’t have my ATM card. “OK,” he replied, “sit down for a few minutes, let me think of a solution.” After a few minutes, I returned to the driver and told him to

just give me a one way ticket. He was not satisﬁed. “Where do you live?” asked the 50-something, kippah-less bus driver. Af-

ter telling him where I lived, he replied “that’s not far from me, you’re a neighbor. I’m going to give you the bus pass and my address and phone number. You owe me 170 shekels, when you get the money.” As our conversation continued, the proud bus driver told me that he had previously lived in New York and Los Angeles. “Are there any Israelis in LA?,” I asked sarcastically. “I once heard that the holiness of the Land of Israel extends as far

as LA.” He shook his head in disagreement. “G-d forbid, don’t compare anywhere to Israel, not even Thailand.” As I stepped off the bus to thank the driver for his kindness, he shook his head and with a smile replied “no problem.” That night, the country united in memory of the six million. As I reflected upon the unity of our nation on days like this, I realized something. Contrary to what many think, this is not the only time when Jews are united. In Israel, there’s no such thing as a stranger, everyone is like family. As I reflect on Barak Yaakobi’s concern for me, I realize that to this random Israeli bus driver, I was not a stranger at all. For our enemies, there was and is no difference between different kinds of Jews, a Jew is a Jew. This year, I learned this lesson from a most unexpected source. Eric Grosser has an MBA from Bar-Ilan University and a certificate of Advanced Jewish Studies from the Pardes Institute. After making aliyah in 1999, Eric returned to the States in 2004 to teach in Jewish day schools before returning to Israel last year. Eric lives with his wife and four children in Rehovot.

Under The Sun: A Survey Of Bet Shemesh News pared to the national average. This percentage is even more notable because it includes special needs students and recent immigrants. 2) The general environment in the school in terms of violence, the school’s physical appearance, and student morale. The school has a zero tolerance policy with regard to violence and students participate in the gardening, cleaning, and decorating of the school.

BY RABBI DOV LIPMAN

Fire Prevention Week A Huge Success Bet Shemesh students received a week of ﬁre safety training and education during the week leading up to Lag B’Omer. The program, initiated and organized by the Keren Yosef chesed organization, brings students and families to the local ﬁre station throughout the week. At the station, the students experience an exhi-

els for medical personnel and the general public, provided AED deﬁbrillators to ambulances, ﬁrst responders, and shuls, provided 100 emergency medical/ trauma bags to EMTs, doctors, and paramedics as well as to shuls and other facilities, and is continually upgrading equipment and researching into new lifesaving equipment. This is truly an example of how Anglo olim can improve our country and how much Anglo olim already contribute to Bet Shemesh.

Bet Shemesh School Wins National Prize

vice—the school has an unusually high number of students involved in volunteer opportunities in many areas of Israeli life and has a high percentage of students who serve in the army. The citizens of Bet Shemesh view the award with great pride and see it as indicative of the quality residents of the city. The prize will be awarded on June 29 in the presence of President Shimon Peres and Education Minister Gideon Saar.

3) The staff’s academic level and degree of involvement and connection with the students. Student interviews revealed the close connection they feel with their teachers and the high degree to which they admire and look up to their teachers and administrators. 4) Civic responsibility and army ser-

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.

The only secular, public high school in the city, Branco Weiss, was catapulted to nation-

Upcoming Publication Dates:

bition of fire rescue vehicles and equipment, performances from firefighters of true to life rescue experiences, fire prevention and safety films, demonstrations of building and extinguishing Lag B’Omer fires, and expert guides and explanations. Since the inception of this annual event, firefighters have noted a drastic reduction in injuries and out-ofcontrol bonfires on Lag B’Omer. Keren Yosef is a remarkable Bet Sh-

July 13, July 27 al attention this past week. The school was chosen for the prestigious Institution of Excellence Award by the Education Ministry. The decision was made after a lengthy process and numerous visits from ministry ofﬁcials. The school received the award for numerous reasons including: 1) The high percentage of students who pass the matriculation exams—over 70%—com-

emesh based non-proﬁt organization established by an olah from England named Doris Mainzer, z’l, in 1999. The organization’s aim is to upgrade medical response in the area. Ambulances can sometimes take 20-40 to arrive as a scene which threatens people’s lives. Keren Yosef has organized emergency medical training at basic, EMT, BLS, and ALS lev-

August 10, August 24 Submission deadline for articles and non camera ready ads is 9 PM Wednesday prior to publication and for camera ready ads is 4 PM Friday prior to publication.

June 1, 2011

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Counting On An Inheritance BY AARON KATSMAN When working on ﬁnancial plans for clients, the trickiest issue that usually comes up is inheritance. Inheritance is one of those issues that no one really wants to talk about. A large U.S. insurance company put it this way, “Inheriting money is bittersweet. Although someone you cared about is gone, that person thought enough of you to leave you a portion of his or her hard-earned money.” While for ﬁnancial planning purposes it’s important to know what type of inheritance you will be receiving, we tend to shy away from topics, which may bring an ayin ha’ra.

To Know Or Not To Know? I recently sat with a couple to review their various assets. I asked them if they had any idea as to what they may receive (their parents should live to 120). What I received in the form of

an answer typified the approach parents take to this issue. The wife said that her parents were open with her and the rest of her siblings and she knew more or less what they owned and what her inheritance would be. The husband had no clue whatsoever as to what his parents’ financial situation is, and said that his parents never speak about such issues. Many older parents prefer secrecy regarding financial matters. In some cases, this is justified because their children may not be able to properly deal with the information. Alternatively, if you are in this stage in life, be aware that your children’s lack of information may be leading them to poor financial decisions.

Don’t Rely On It In financial planning, when the issue of inheritance comes up, the initial reaction is “we don’t want to rely on it.” I actually like this approach. Try planning your finances based on what you have, not what you may or may not receive. If you are planning to buy a house, figure your price based ish state or not, what can one expect from a country where Beigel-Beigel is the name of a leading pretzel-maker! [The family name of the founders is Beigel—a long line of bagel-machers who founded their first bakery in Krakow, Poland in 1880, and Israel’s first pretzel factory, Beigel-Beigel, in 1933.]

Déjà Vu?

CHELM-ON-THE-MED O

BY DANIELLA AHSKENAZY

Desperate Housewife A kosher culinary arts fair expected to draw 7,000 visitors. Instead, 11,000 women flooded into the Balabusta Food Fair held in a Bnei Brak wedding hall. Bored to tears by proverbial chicken soup, they scoured booths for gourmet tips and tidbits—including a live demonstration in the preparation of glatt kosher herbal pumpkin soup with coconut milk. While “the longest challah in the world” turned out to be a chain of large braided Sabbath breads placed end-toend, disappointment with the organizer’s promotional dud didn’t dent Boaz Turjeman’s sales. The North African Mizrahi Jew’s 75-year-old family flour mill did a brisk trade in special flour for challah-making…with their winning recipe in Yiddish on the package. Alas, even here at the epicenter of Jewish cuisine, there wasn’t a genuine Jewish water bagel to be had. Even Japan has New York-style bagels! Jew-

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June 1, 2011

Upper Nazareth is relatively small (pop. 40,700), so one could say it was only a matter of time until 24-year-old paramedic Elad Bachar ended up being called to resuscitate his 84-yearold granddaddy Abraham Rosenberg when the latter collapsed in a local synagogue following a heart attack. Elad saved the day and Rosenberg’s life. That was four years ago. What are the probabilities of a rerun of this scenario—ambulance and all? Well, against all odds, on the same fateful date of the year, paramedic Elad Bachar, now 28, found himself summoned to resuscitate an elderly man who had collapsed outside a local bank following a heart attack, only to discover that the unconscious victim was—again—none other than his granddaddy Abraham Rosenberg— now pushing 87, whom the doting grandson again snatched from the jaws of death.

Your Schnitzel Or Your Life! Undoubtedly the weirdest holdup on record, three masked assailants held up

on your current assets. I too often see people ‘over-buy’ i.e. buy more than they can afford, because they estimate that in six to eight years, they are going to come into a large inheritance. The problem is that in most cases you have no way to know when you are going to get this money. On the other hand, if you are trying to do long-term retirement planning, and your parents are getting on in age, then I do feel it’s appropriate to get an idea of what you may receive. In 20 years or so, their advanced age will become a reality and your retirement will also become a reality. So you need to plan for it.

Ayin Ha’ra vs. Need To Know There are different approaches amongst financial planners regarding how to deal with the issue of potential inheritance. There are those who say that the children should ask point blank, what they should expect as an inheritance, or as a gift, and then they can plan accordingly. I believe in a much more subtle, respectful apan Ashdod eatery at gunpoint, demanding the proprietor hand over… three of his fresh-fried chicken schnitzels. The three sat down, wolfed down their schnitzels (and side dishes of finely diced salad) and took off, but not before issuing a warning. Israelis’ love for schnitzel is legendary: the three told the owner “they’d be back.” And… if he dared resist, they’d “shoot him dead on the spot.” Owner Moshe Lafa said in retrospect that the guns they were toting may have been toy replicas, but he was not about to gamble with his life to find out.

proach. After completing a ﬁnancial plan, the child should approach the parents and explain the situation and ask if assumptions that were used in the plan are reasonable. If so, enough said, and if not the parent can go into more detail about what the child can expect to receive.

Sensitivity No one likes to discuss matters of death, neither the children nor the parents, not even the ﬁnancial advisor. Often when these issues are brought up, everyone starts to squirm in their chairs. That being said, it’s important to open the lines of communication between parents and their children so that all sides know what to expect. Aaron Katsman is a licensed ﬁnancial professional 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.

Waiting For Godot?

World Turn Left? The ﬁctitious plot, set in the summer of 1968, revolves around rumors that the isolation and grayness of the lives of Jewish immigrants from India and Morocco in the backwater desert development town of Dimona back in the 1960s is about to be broken by the arrival of a British cricket team that will play against the local Indian cricket team. Well, India just announced it is going to hold an annual cricket tournament in Israel to bring Indians and Israelis closer to one another. The tournament will be held either in Ashdod, Beer Sheba, or—you guessed it— Dimona!

Did the Indian government see Avi Nesher’s 2004 ﬁlm At the End of the

These selected excerpts reprinted courtesy of www.chelm-on-the-med.com.

EL-AD/CENTURION INSURANCE AGENCY El-ad/Centurion Insurance Agency is one of the largest insurance agencies in Jerusalem serving Anglo customers for over 50 years. We provide all insurance services including; Health, Life, Auto, Homeowner's, Business, Travel, Pension, etc. Our fully trained English speaking staff will be happy to offer advice, assistance and quotes.

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Terra Olivo 2011 Once again Terra Olivo, an international conference and competition of olive oil, was held in Jerusalem during May, a telling sign of the role that olive oil has taken in the Israeli food industry. Olive oil sales are increasing dramatically, as usage has expanded from Italian dishes to general use in the kitchen. Over the past 20 years, international sales have increased an astounding 272 percent! Nor is olive oil production any longer restricted to a few companies. Signiﬁcantly, the phenomenon of boutique olive oil companies (with questions of supervising mitzvot teluyot baaretz) in Israel has started to make headway into the market, similar to boutique wineries. A true understanding of olive oil, however, still is underdeveloped. One Israeli supermarket buyer attending Terra Olivo 2011 estimated that most consumers purchase olive oil based upon brand familiarity from marketing and status statements (“extra virgin”) on the label. Price is also a factor. Missing is an educated evaluation of quality. There are various approaches to the manufacture and marketing of olive oil. Some companies bottle according to olive species. Others provide oil with a mix of olive types. A third method is to add ﬂavouring. Some small companies buy olives from various sources, then sell the resultant oil as long as it pass-

Dear Editor, On behalf of hundreds of Standing Together volunteers and thousands of IDF soldiers, I would like to offer you my deepest appreciation for your detailed coverage of the Standing Together Yom HaAtzmaut barbeques on IDF bases in the May 18, 2011 (Volume 1, Issue 6) issue of Koleinu. Your article detailing our events for the soldiers this past Yom HaAtzmaut has given Standing To-

es a rudimentary taste test. One speaker at the conference reported visiting an Israeli olive oil company that did not clean machinery between the production of various species. Although hashgachah is always recommended, the manufacturing process can be unexpectedly complicated from an halachic perspective. A recent study released by the University of California at Davis contends that almost 70% of imported “extra virgin olive oil” sold on the American market

mandating proper rabbinic supervision. What olive oil should you use? After ascertaining proper hashgachah, the answer is not very simple. As a general rul,e one should use olive oil with no more than 0.8% acidity (extra virgin). This is particularly true when the oil is to be heated. According to Motty Buchbut, chief chef at Jerusalem’s Inbal Hotel where Terra Olivo was held, there are numerous species of olives, some with more dominant and some with less dominant taste. The suri species,

does not live up to industry standards. Although this finding is challenged by the North American Olive Oil Association, the argument is only in prevalence and not in basic fact. If anything, this should serve as a warning to consumers. Basic reasons for substandard oils are: (1) adulteration with cheaper refined olive oil, (2) oxidation due to elevated temperature, light, and/or aging; (3) poor-quality oils made from damaged and overripe olives; (4) processing flaws or improper oil storage. Adulteration can pose kashrus problems, again

for example, has a strong taste, which helps bring out the ﬂavour of salad. The salmon served at Terra Olivo was prepared with this oil. Avianca, on the other hand, is much more mild and is good with desserts. It was also used with the meat served at the conference dinner, to allow the taste of the beef to dominate. Yad Mordechai, producers ﬂavoured olive (Belz hashgachah) oil, recommends oil with oregano for pasta and vegetable sauce, lemon-lime for salad dips and cod dishes, and garlic-ginger-

scallion for meat and Asian recipes. Another possibility is to use unflavoured oil and add your own spices. Phyllis Glazer, a noted food critic, is more pragmatic. She feels that for the average person the best approach is, “Try it!” Buy several different olives oils and experiment with various dishes. Experience will lead the way. Recommendations for a prime olive oil experience: It is best to purchase small bottles of extra virgin olive oil. Long term storage with occasional opening damages taste. 2. If you are using a marinade based on olive oil, let your food (for example, schnitzel) soak to absorb taste. Just dipping the food is generally insufficient. Not all olive oil is for cooking, eating, or lighting. Olive oil does have a refreshing feeling on the skin, and for centuries Schechem (Nablus) has been a centre for the manufacture of olive oil soap. One manufacturer with wide distribution of his products reported that his soaps use olive oil with an acidity level of 2% to 4%. (This soap should not be confused with “green soap” produced from the solid remains of first press olives, primarily kernels; this is second quality and is used for housework.) Roots, an Israeli company, even sells a liquid bubble bath soap that uses olive oil. The winners in the competition (all under rabbinic supervision for kashrut): Best international olive oil: Oleoestepa Hojiblanco Api of Spain Best Israeli olive oil: Carmei Golan Koroneiki Best small Israeli company: Carmel Golan Best Israeli company: Eretz Gshur. Marom Communications

BY DR. JAY LEVINSON

Jay Levinson is a freelance writer specializing in tourism and food, and is the author of Jewish Journeys in Jerusalem. He has lived in Jerusalem for almost 30 years.

gether some very welcome exposure and visibility to the English-speaking communities that read your newspaper, and that will help us in our mission to continue providing complimentary food, drinks, and morale-boosting visits to soldiers on duty at checkpoints and bases throughout Israel. With appreciation, David Landau Founder, Standing Together www.stogether.org

June 1, 2011

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Scoring Arab Points At Israel’s Expense BY RON JAGER The time has come to tell the Arab world, the Europeans, and the Democratic Party that the Palestinian Arabs will not be awarded their so-called “right of return,” meaning the mass immigration of millions of Arabs into the State of Israel. Obama’s deliberate call for Israel to return to the pre-1967 lines—the so-called “Auschwitz borders”—from which we were relentlessly attacked in our ﬁrst two fragile decades of statehood, and to concede her right to defensible borders as a precondition for negotiations, is an admission of failure of Obama’s Middle Eastern policies due to his supporting the ouster of many of the region’s Arab leaders. Obama has weakened American interests in the Middle East; all of America’s traditional allies in the Arab world distrust him. The king of Saudi Arabia refuses to talk to the president of the United States. According to Obama logic, pressing Israel will score points for him in the Arab world. Obama acts as if he really believes the Palestinian Arab propaganda, exposing his rookie understanding of what is important in the Middle East. For 63 years, the Arabs have used the Palestinian Arab narrative to weaken Israel militarily, psychologically, and strategically, distracting attention from their own lack of human and democratic rights for the Arabs of the Middle East.

The fact that Israel is the only place in the Middle East where Arabs are entitled to full democratic rights has done nothing to accommodate the Arabs. Even if Israel had a perfectly equal society—which doesn’t exist anywhere in the world—the “original sin” of Israel’s establishment would remain intact, for they reject the very existence of the Jewish nation-state. Arabs view Israel’s inception as a colonialist conspiracy against the Muslim world by establishing a fundamentally illegitimate entity. In their view, the only way to correct the wrong is through national suicide of the Jewish majority—that is, replacing the Jewish State with an Arab one. By siding with the Arabs, Obama is hoping that he will regain favor in the eyes of the Arab nations. Unfortunately, his only accomplishment will be to strengthen the viewpoint that Obama cannot be trusted and that he consistently betrays allies. During Obama’s speech, he gave the impression of being a real mensch, a guy who shows empathy. He is pained by the suffering of Israelis, but also by the suffering of the Palestinian Arabs. For Obama, Israeli parents who lost their children and Palestinian Arab parents who lost their children are two sides of the same equation. The conﬂict exacts a symmetric, bloody toll from both sides. That’s true, of course: The pain felt by parents who lost their children is the same. However, according to the same Obama logic, the suffering of the

children who lost their parents in the 9/11 World Trade Center terror attack is similar to the pain felt by bin Laden’s young children after they lost their father, who was killed without a trial. Obama represses the fact that while children on both sides suffer, the culprits can only be found on one side of the equation, the Palestinian Arab side. Why didn’t Obama have pity for the young al-Qaeda children when he ordered the bin Laden assassination? It’s not because he doesn’t care about children, but rather, it’s because protecting American citizens is more important to him. In the exact same way, Israel too must safeguard its own children. When it imposes a blockade on the Gaza Strip, it protects the children of S’derot. When it strikes terror cells, it protects school buses. Obama’s failure to speak against the true narrative of the Palestinian Arab intolerance for peaceful coexistence with Israel is a futile attempt to score points with the Arab world at Israel’s expense. So where does all this leave us? Obama’s latest formula for Israeli-Palestinian Arab peace is so unworkable and so counterproductive as to indicate a complete breakdown. No international player, and certainly no Palestinian Arab negotiator, is now going to defy the Obama framework and declare that the Israelis cannot possibly be required to sanction a dangerous pullback toward the ’67 lines unless or until the Palestinians formally relinquish the demand

for a “right of return.” PM Netanyahu spoke about the impossibility of a “right of return.” “It’s not going to happen,” he said, as President Obama sat impassively alongside him at Friday’s meeting between the two. “Everybody knows it’s not going to happen. And I think it’s time to tell the Palestinian Arabs forthrightly it’s not going to happen.” But Obama did no such thing. In the same week as the “Nakba” assault on Israel’s borders, when it came to this central demand by the Palestinian Arabs that simply cannot be accepted because it would spell the demographic demise of our state, Obama was dismayingly, insistently, resonantly silent; not a word. So we can look ahead to another period of diplomatic deadlock, of Israel being led by Prime Minister Netanyahu and appearing recalcitrant, publicly being accused of not playing ball and not living up to the expectations of the Obama administration. What remains to be seen is whether Obama will sanction and tolerate a Palestinian Arab tsunami in the UN in September. Ron Jager is a 25-year veteran of the Israel Defense Forces, serving as a field mental-health officer. Prior to retiring in 2005, he served as the commander of the central psychiatric military clinic for reserve soldiers at Tel-Hashomer. Since retiring from active duty, he has been providing consultancy services to NGOs, implementing psychological trauma treatment programs in Israel. Today, Ron serves as a strategic advisor to the Director of the Shomron Liaison Office. To contact him, e-mail medconf@netvision.net.il.

Summer Fruit And Halacha This alert address the matter of orlah and tithes only and it does not eliminate the need to check certain items for possible insect presence. Visit www.jerusalemkoshernews.com to subscribe to email kashrut updates.

BY RABBI YECHIEL SPIRA COURTESY OF JERUSALEM KOSHER NEWS

With the summer season unfolding before us, bringing with it the vast array of summer fruits, the following kashrut advisory is provided to remind consumers of a number of important issues. The information is taken from an alert released in Hebrew by the Kosharot organization. Tevel is indeed an issue and cause for concern. Produce is called tevel until such time tithes are separated. While many shoppers feel that all fruits and vegetables are fine since they are from Tnuva, this is simply not the case. Some shoppers erroneously believe that Tnuva takes trumot and ma’asrot (tithes) from all produce, and therefore, if one shops in a store without a hechsher, one needn’t concern oneself with these issues. In actuality, as stated clearly on the Tnuva kashrut website, Tnuva only accepts responsibility for orlah, not trumot and ma’asrot. Therefore, if one purchases produce in a store without a hechsher attesting to the taking of tithes, one should separate trumot and ma’asrot without a berachah, and, when necessary, produce from the first, second, fourth, and fifth years (relating to shemitah), ma’aser sheini is set aside. One does not need to set aside ma’aser rishon to a Levite

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June 1, 2011

Kashrut Alert: Hershey’s Cookies ‘n Chocolate The following kashrut alert was released by the OU: This product is sold in Israel with a sticker placed by the importer that contains an unauthorized OU symbol. This product is not certified by the OU and the sticker did not originate from the Hershey Chocolate Company. and ma’aser ani to the poor since the produce is ‘sofek tevel’ (we are not certain if tithes were taken). Regarding orlah, this is a Biblical prohibition in Israel, even today. Therefore, one should only buy fruits in a place that is not questionable regarding orlah (fruits of the ﬁrst three years of a tree) since one may not rectify an orlah problem as one does with tithes. We will not ﬁnd a hechsher in all places that may attract us and we must be aware that most distributors do not have rabbinical supervision regarding

tithes and orlah. A full list of summer fruits regarded not problematic regarding orlah which may be purchased from any vendor, even those without a teudat hechsher, as well as fruits listed as problematic which must only be purchased from a vendor with a reliable hechsher regarding orlah, is available at www.jerusalemkoshernews.com.

JKN notes to never buy a product with an import label unless the kashrus symbol is visible on the original factory wrapper or packaging. This policy avoids falling victim as in this case.