ShiurTimes: The Israel Magazine by queendeb

SPoTLIGHT: NoN-ProFiTs

DoeS IT mAKe A DIFFereNCe? mCCaiNe or obama

THE ISRAEL MAGAZINE

GA 2008

One People, One Destiny

Jewish Philosophers on Politics & Government

Bittersweet Hevron

What Message are we Teaching the Next Generation?

Triangle of Influence:

New Trends in Social Change AUSTRALIA . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5.00 CANADA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5.00 EUROPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .€3.00 ISRAEL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NIS 15 SOUTH AFRICA . . . . . . . . . . . R20 U.K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £ 2.50 U.S.A.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3.00

vOL. 2, ISSuE NO. 23 NOvEMBER 2008

Lech-Lecha,Nov 7,2008 LIGHT

BET SHEMESH GUSH ETZION JERUSALEM MODI'IN TEL AVIV NEW YORK LONDON

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Va’Yerah, Nov14 LIGHT

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Chayei-Sarah, Nov 21 LIGHT

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THE ISRAEL MAGAZINE

November 2008

Dear Readers,

THE ISRAEL MAGAZINE

What a whirlwind of a month! The heated political climate cannot be ignored, and I believe I join the masses when I say that I’m sitting on ‘shpilkes’ wanting to know who will be the mayors of our cities, the President of the USA and the new PM of Israel. Add to this an economic collapse which will surely affect Israel in terms of the financial support we receive from philanthropists around the world— what uncertain times. The parshiyot in the Torah of these next few weeks tell us about the trials and tribulations of our patriarchs and matriarchs, and the first recorded purchase of a piece of Eretz Yisrael. We salute those who continue to uphold Ir Avot, Hevron, and have included some thought-provoking pieces that highlight some contemporary issues about the city. I encourage you all to write in and share your thoughts: staff.editors@shiurtimes.com Yehudit Singer, Editor

November 2008: Uncertainty 6 Tibits 8 Publisher’s Note by Elie Rubin

10 Where is Israel Headed? by Olivier Rafowicz

12 Culture Flicks 14 Politics & Halacha by Rabbi Jason Demant

15 Non-Profit Spotlight: JobKatif by Beth Shapiro

16 Beneath the Caves of the Patriarchs by Danny Herman

18 Wheels of Love

22 Underground Anthem by Ben Bresky

by Anne Gordon

24 Halacha Q&A: Tattoo Etiquette

39 Non-Profit Spotlight: Meir Panim

26 The Bittersweet Story of Hevron

40 Make a Donation Hit Its Target

by Yehudit Singer

28 Triangle of Influence by Ahava Zarembski

30 Health Q&A by Dr. Simcha Shapiro

32 Hebrew Never Died by Dr. Victor Roth

34 Travel: Parshat Lech-Lecha by Rabbi Mordechai Weiss

18 S’fardi Leader Talks Back

36 “Liberal Jews” & Sarah Palin by Tom Mountain

20 Exclusive Interview II: Zalman Shoval

37 Global Economic Depression

by Yehudit Singer

38 Earners vs. Learners

by Yoram Ohana

42 Classifieds 46 McCaine or Obama: Does it Make Any Difference for Israel? by Azriel Bermant

48 Food-a-licious by Irène Sharon Hodes

49 Israel’s March of Folley by Tsvi November

49 Non-Profit Spotlight: Yad Eliezer 50 Contributors

by Carmi Wisemon

Second Year, No. 23 November © 2008 by ShiurTimes, Inc., 1 Ben Yehuda Street. All rights reserved. To contact one of the staff with your questions, concerns, or subscription inquiries, please call (02)625-6225. For advertising needs, please call: (02)625-6227 or e-mail: staff.editors@shiurtimes.com. Managing Publisher: Elie Rubin Managing Editor: Yehudit Singer Marketing Manager: Hillie Roth Art Director: Deb Houben Classifieds & Marketing: David Hirschfield, Yoel Almog, Avraham R. Sayegh ST Intern: Malka Ehrenberg Studio Rubin & Co: (054)723-4520 Stock Photography: istockphoto.com, Flickr. News Partner: infolive.tv- Live television from Jerusalem 24/7. Copyrighting laws apply to all articles, and nothing may be reprinted without express permission from the Publisher. ShiurTimes is not responsible for the content of the advertisements. The Opinions of the articles within the ShiurTimes rest solely upon the authors. Reproduction of any parts of the ShiurTimes is forbidden without permission. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM READING THE SHIURTIMES IN THE BEIT KNESSET DURING TIMES OF TEFILLAH. Please make sure to recycle your copy of ShiurTimes when you finish reading!

| November 2008

Yad Eliezer thinks â&#x20AC;&#x153;in the boxâ&#x20AC;?

as well as â&#x20AC;&#x153;out of the boxâ&#x20AC;?.

At Yad Eliezer, we are famous for our food boxes. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we do provide boxes of essential food items to over 12,000 families every month. But did you know that Yad Eliezer also: s 0ROVIDES A "IG "ROTHER OR 3ISTER TO CHILDREN s 0ROVIDES SIMPLE BUT DIGNIlED WEDDING AND from single-parent homes. Bar Mitzvah celebrations for those in need. s 3UPPLIES INFANT FORMULA TO NEARLY s $ELIVERS TRUCKLOADS OF SURPLUS PRODUCE malnourished babies. Meals-on-Wheels, and Yom Tov packages s 'IVES EMERGENCY GRANTS AND LOANS TO WORKING around the country. families in crisis. s 0ROVIDES FREE DENTAL CARE TO CHILDREN OF s 3PONSORS JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS impoverished families.

We desperately need your help to provide our many critical services to the neediest families of Eretz Yisrael. Our programs succeed only because of you! Yad Eliezer: An Opportunity to Give and to Receive American Friends of Yad Eliezer is a tax-deductible organization registered within the United States.

Please send your contribution to: American Friends of Yad Eliezer %AST TH 3T "ROOKLYN .9 s 4EL INFO YADELIEZER ORG s WWW YADELIEZER ORG

)SRAEL 0/" *ERUSALEM s 4EL EXT

Tidbits

Finance Minister Roni Bar-On Says Israel Will Not Be Affected By Financial Crisis In US [InfoLiveTV]

50-75% Israelis Drivers Knowingly Drive Recklessly- A phone survey conducted by Or Yarok revealed that extreme speeding (more than 16 km/h above the limit) is seen more amongst males, singles, and those with a high level of education and income. In contrast, those who reported not going over the speed limit are women, those with average to low income, low education level, and religious.

STcites

Iran Issues Holocaust Cartoon Book, Demands To Investigate if the Holocaust Really Took Place [InfoLiveTV]

Rafah, Gaza’s Swiss Cheese-Tunnel Smuggling A Profitable Business- Israel continues to monitor the situation along the Gaza border but is unable to prevent the massive network of tunnels from sprouting up along the narrow Gaza-Egypt border, used to smuggle terrorists, explosives and weapons as well as drugs and other goods into Gaza. In recent weeks US troops worked together with Egyptian forces to uncover and destroy 42 smuggling tunnels. [InfoLiveTV]

“By the end of the week, he’ll be accusing me of being a secret communist because I shared my toys in kindergarten.” –Barack Obama on McCain’s accusations. “Too many people in Israeli society do not perceive the country’s real balance of power, and refuse to understand that the Jewish public is not just another persecuted and wretched minority deserving of special protection, but rather a large and sovereign civil majority that is responsible for the minority.” –Tzvia Greenfield on the riots in Acco.

“This is a credit crisis. It’s all about confidence.” (No one will lend to anyone) “because no one is sure the other guy’s assets and collateral are worth anything, which is why the government needs to come in and put a floor under them (the banks and mortgage companies).” Otherwise, the system will be choked of credit, like a body being choked of oxygen and turning blue.” –Tom Friedman, The New York Times

Israel’s Mossad led by Meir have succeeded in carrying to delay Iran’s nuclear pro

West Bank Jews Launch Tourism Campaign- We campaign to attract Israeli tourists to the area. The Co Samaria is overseeing a $1.5 million per year marketing ca West Bank that the area is safe and important to Jewish h as Hevron, Beit El and Shiloh, which are [JTA]

“People have grown very nervous.” –Labor economist Harry Holzer on the corporate cutbacks and company layoffs in the US “I am saddened that this happened to such a serious and responsible family.” –Rav David Lau, Chief Rabbi of Modiin, on the incident of a 12-yearold dropping a Torah scroll on Simchat Torah, causing a decree for all the community’s men to fast. | November 2008

Tidbits Meretz’s City Council Slogan Borders Racism Those of you walking the streets of Jerusalem may have noticed Meretz’s slogans to”Put an End to the Haredization of the City [of Jerusalem].” With such a harsh statement, who needs enemies? [ST]

Number of children Yitzchak Rabin had: Yuval and Dalia.

11.04.1995 (or 4.11.1995) Date of assassination.

r Dagan may out attempts ogram [JTA]

10 Million Dollars Promised To Any Person With New Information On The Fate Of Ron Arad

1922

Rabin Numbers

Year Yitzchak Rabin was born.

1948

Year Yitzchak Rabin married his wife, Leah.

Number of bullets in Rabin’s body.

Second Temple Sarcophagus FoundArcheologists discovered a sarcophagus fragment identified with one of the high priests who served in the Second Temple. The fragment made of hard limestone, discovered est Bank Jews have launched a marketing in excavations along the security fence north ouncil of Jewish Communities in Judea and of Jerusalem, bears the inscription “Ben ampaign to convince potential visitors to the HaCohen HaGadol.” Though it is impossible to heritage. The billboards promote such locales tell which priest’s son the inscription refers to, the sarcophagus should probably be identified e steeped in biblical history. with one of the priests that officiated in the Second Temple between the years 30 C.E. and 70 C.E., according to a news release from the Israel Antiquities Authority. The fragment apparently was moved from its original location approximately 1,000 years ago and was used in the construction of a later Muslim building that was erected atop the ruins of the houses from the Second Temple period. [InfoLiveTV] “We will show no tolerance towards such expressions and actions. We are sick of this verbal violence which either leads to, or affects, other violence. We know this from the past. In no way will I allow this to continue in the future, and we will see to it that it stops forthwith.” –Ehud Olmert on the rampage by Hevron residents after the evacuation of the Federman’s Farm outpost.

www.shiurtimes.com

“The rabbis preferred Queen Shlomzion over her husband Yannai.” –Rav Yaakov Ariel on electing a woman candidate who will advance Torahrelated issues more so than if a man is chosen.

Rabin’s age at his death.

Streets and boulevards named for Yitzchak Rabin.

10,000

Police, soldiers and security agents deployed for the funeral.

Age of Yigal Amir, Rabin’s assassin, in 1995.

Number of phone calls Yigal Amir is allowed per day.

Age that Rabin became general in the IDF.

Publisher’s Note

Exclusively on shiurtimes.com Be sure to catch these and other great articles on our website!

How Wall Street Killed the World by Trevor Asserson Why Diets Fail by David Stoltzman A Brief History of the Jewish Connection to Hevron by David Bedein Jerusalem’s Comedian on the UJC’s GA:”I Need Money!” by David Kilimnick Stay Calm & Control Anxiety by Rabbi Immanuel Yosef Legomsky

Power in the Heart Dear ST Readers, A note on our sponsors: as we work on having issues of ST for sale a few months from now, our ultimate goal is to keep ST a magazine accessible for everybody to read. However, the only way to keep the magazine free for everyone is by supporting our sponsors. Check out their ads, give them a call, inquire about their services, see what their sites have to offer. Get to know them. Our sponsors have chosen to publicize their services to a special community— you, our community of readers— and we encourage you to patronize their businesses, or at least show them your curiosity.

2008 General Assembly (GA) of the United Jewish Communities of North America will celebrate Israel‘s 60th anniversary in Jerusalem with the theme “One People, One Destiny.” And with the GA 2008 coming up, I thought I would take the time to write about the power of giving: the mitzvah of tzedakah. There is tremendous power that comes with the act of giving— for me the power of giving comes from a selfless act where you simply give from your heart. This act of giving is not tied to any special event, holiday or celebration; giving comes from a desire to share what we have, show our appreciation or demonstrate that we truly care about our family and friends, our Jewish people, our homeland— without any ulterior motives behind it. This mere act of giving from the heart stems from the trust that we will always have enough—even more that enough— which creates a bond between us and G-d. That bond is the most secure trust fund that can never crash. he

Correction: The article that appeared in the October issue of ST entitled”OU’s Eye Squad” was incorrect. The Eye Squad is not affiliated in any way shape or form with the Orthodox Union. As stated in the article, the Eye Squad is an initiative of the Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel, and benefits from the support of the Jewish Agency for Israel. We apologize for the error. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Want to be published in SHIURTIMES? Want to comment on one of our stories? About an important issue in the country/ world? Outraged by something in your community? You can mail, fax, or email it to us...we’d like to know what’s on your mind! Please include your name, address and phone number, as well as your primary email address. Letters may be edited for purposes of space and clarity.

staff.editors@shiurtimes.com +972(0)3-542-6797 (fax) Ben Yehuda 1 P.O. Box 37035 Jerusalem, 91370 Israel 8

The desire to give is a powerful gift given to each one of us, which is why when we give wholeheartedly, we enjoy the process so much. As you can see in this month’s edition, there are a number of non-profit organizations that are advertised. Today, in our precarious economic times, these non-profit organizations— built on the foundations of chessed (charity)— need our help. With the collapse of huge companies and increasing lay-offs, everyone is more careful about spending on all those extras in life. Tremendous amounts of money from

philanthropists that have been channeled to these Israeli non-profit organizations in the past are not being given to the extent they have been. Therefore, since much of the November buzz surrounding the GA is about giving, philanthropy, and supporting non-profits, we join them in encouraging our readers to think about those less fortunate, and give to the amazing institutions that represent them (some of which are presented in this issue of ShiurTimes). Contact these organizations and show your support. You can also call us at ShiurTimes (02-625-6225) and we will direct you to the organization you wish to reach. Now is the time more than ever, to give in any way you can. Now more than ever, is the time to open your heart and give. With so many people in crisis all over the world, it is up to all of us to help in whatever way we can.

Elie RUBIN

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THE ISRAEL MAGAZINE

THE MAGAZINE THE ISRAEL ISRAEL MAGAZINE

THE ISRAEL MAGAZINE CONVERSION: THE RESPONSIBLE RESPONSE

TIKKUN LAYL SHAVUOT: SHIUR LISTINGS

SHMITTAH: THE IMPACT OF LOVING ALL JEWS

THE GOLAN: ESHKOLI VS. DAYAN

OP-ED: REFUGEES IN ISRAEL

Ms. Susan Roth

TIPS: TU B’AV

THE SYSTEM: GUIDE TO THE MEDICALLY PERPLEXED

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B’NAI AKIVA: REJUVINATION

LINGUISTICS: ANCIENT HEBREW & MODERN ENGLISH MEET

THE ISRAEL MAGAZINE

TEL AVIV

REVIVING THE HOUSE OF DAVID:

ALIYAH 2008

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‘REALPOLITIK’: A NEW ERA

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The Cycle of Yamim Nora’im: Transgression & Confession

Sara Siemaitycki

CEO, B’shvileych

Olim in the Job Market: The Real Story

Dr. Professor Halevy

Director General, Shaare Zedek

Politics 2008: An American Abroad

Ada Yonath: Winner of L’Oreal and UNESCO Science Prize

JERUSALEM

Trevor Asserson: Breaking the Aliyah Mold

the Eternal & Indivisible Capital of Israel Real Estate Insights from the Experts UNESCO’s “White City” The Largest Open-Air Bauhaus Museum

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VOL. 2, ISSUE NO. 18 JUNE 2008

NASO, JUNE 6, 2008 LIGHT

BET SHEMESH GUSH ETZION JERUSALEM MODI'IN TEL AVIV NEW YORK LONDON

SHAVUOT, JUNE 8-9, 2008

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BEHA’ALOTCHA JUNE 13, 2008 LIGHT END

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VOL. 2, ISSUE NO. 19 JULY 2008

Spotlight on Libyan Jews Safety in the Sun Real Estate Classifieds Inside CHUKAT, JULY 4, 2008 LIGHT

BET SHEMESH GUSH ETZION JERUSALEM MODI'IN TEL AVIV NEW YORK LONDON

Rabbeinu Avraham: Time for Pious Heroes

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LIGHT

Aliyah for the Elderly Spotlight on Tunisian Jews Classifieds Inside

Tish’a B’Av: National Eulogy

MATOT, JULY 25, 2008 END

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AUSTRALIA . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5.00 CANADA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5.00 EUROPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .€3.00

VOL. 2, ISSUE NO. 20 AUGUST 2008

ISRAEL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NIS 15 SOUTH AFRICA . . . . . . . . . . . R20 U.K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £ 2.50 U.S.A.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3.00

Superfoods: You are what you eat!

Masei, Aug 2, 2008 BET SHEMESH GUSH ETZION JERUSALEM MODI'IN TEL AVIV NEW YORK LONDON

LIGHT

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Ekev, Aug 23, 2008 LIGHT

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Racism in Israeli Schools:

Education: Ease the Anxiety

Segregation or Integration?

ZALMAN SHOVAL

Shanah Tovah!

choosing the right leader in an economic crisis

Elul Z’man: ...what does that entail? AUSTRALIA . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5.00 CANADA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5.00 EUROPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .€3.00 ISRAEL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NIS 15 SOUTH AFRICA . . . . . . . . . . . R20 U.K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £ 2.50 U.S.A.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3.00

VOL. 2, ISSUE NO. 21 SEPTEMBER 2008

Shoftim, Sept 5, 2008 LIGHT

BET SHEMESH GUSH ETZION JERUSALEM MODI'IN TEL AVIV NEW YORK LONDON

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Ki-Teitzei, Sept12 LIGHT

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*holiday candlelighting times will be published in the Travel Guide for Chagim

VOL. 2, ISSUE NO. 22 OCTOBER 2008

R”H 5769, Sept 29-Oct 1* LIGHT

BET SHEMESH GUSH ETZION JERUSALEM MODI'IN TEL AVIV NEW YORK LONDON

LIGHT

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Vayeilech, (Sh”Sh)Oct 3 LIGHT

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Ha’azinu, Oct 10 LIGHT

THE ISRAEL MAGAZINE

YET ANOTHER REASON TO MAKE ALIYAH

Make Aliyah and benefit from the

NEW OLEH TAX BREAKS Olim can now benefit from a tax exemption on foreign income for a period of 10 years.* Nefesh B’Nefesh provides participants with:

Assisted Government Processing s Employment Resources s Financial Grants* s Social Services Guided Aliyah applications are available online at: www.nbn.org.il/guided For more information contact: (02) 659-5834 s guidedaliyah@nbn.org.il Processing time: 6-8 weeks from receipt of application and all related paperwork. *Please check our website for complete details and eligibility requirements. This program is in cooperation with Misrad Hapnim and

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Ch”h Sukkot, Oct 17 LIGHT

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Breishit, Oct 24 LIGHT

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Noach, Oct 31 LIGHT

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oPiNioN

Where is Israel Headed? Now, more than ever, we need government leaders to focus on our national well-being, not their own interests. by oliver raFoWiCZ, Ceo

n the eve of Yom Kippur, the violent riots which broke out between the Jewish and Arab residents of the Israeli town of Acco showed just how fragile Israel’s”Du Kiyum” (the Hebrew word for coexistence) really is. Seeing the images of the violence and the hatred, a product of years of repressed tension between the two sides, it seems that Israeli-Arabs have finally decided that they are more Arab than Israeli— a problem which Israel, a Jewish and democratic state, will have to deal with in the coming years (or perhaps even in the coming months). And while the majority of the Arab populations reside in the north of Israel, there are also significant populations in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, forcing one to wonder what would happen if a major conflict erupted tomorrow between the State of Israel and its Arab enemies. How would the Israeli-Arab populations of Jaffa, Jerusalem, Haifa and Acco react? Would Israeli-Arabs be model citizens or would they side with the enemies of the Jewish state? And while the Acco riots revealed a significant internal problem facing the country, one must also remember Israel’s external problems— namely the liberation of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. How is it that Israel is still unable, neither by force nor by negotiation, to liberate the soldier who has already celebrated his third anniversary in a Hamas prison cell in the Gaza Strip? must the Israeli army wait until Hamas begins to bombard Israel again in order to attack Gaza, or will there soon be preemptive Israeli operation to destroy the military infrastructure of Hamas and perhaps transform the entire politicalmilitary situation in this region? While some analysts believe that as long as George W. bush holds the reins of power in Washington Israel has a

green light to strike Hamas, others think that Israel must wait for the American elections and the inauguration of a new president so that Israel, in agreement with a new American administration, can decide which military option to take. The same holds true for a military option against Iran, which was not implemented by the bush administration and which will become a much less realistic option if barak obama is elected as President. For the State of Israel, a nuclear-armed Iran coupled with a weak American foreign policy in the middle east could be a real disaster. What all of this essentially means is that the challenges facing Israel’s security are numerous and complex. When we add Israel’s economic and social woes into the mix, one comes to the realization that this little state of ours must have a stable government, a strong leader, and unity between political factions in order to address the country’s problems and implement the appropriate solutions. Today, however, the situation is exactly the opposite. Israel’s political parties are tearing each other apart. Take the Shas party for example. While the powerful religious party says it wants to help

‘‘

Each leaflet printed, published and thrown on the ground, each poster plastered on the walls and streets across Israel represents hot meals, sandwiches for children, medicines for patients and welfare funding for the needy, which was instead wasted on new elections.”

the poor, the party prefers to send the country through the circus of general elections rather than trying to find a coalition government in the immediate future. Hundreds of millions dollars will be scattered on the streets in the elections, not in the form of banknotes or

coins, but instead in the form of leaflets, stickers, and photos of politicians. each leaflet printed, published and thrown on the ground, each poster plastered on the walls and streets across Israel represents hot meals, sandwiches for children, medicines for patients and welfare funding for the needy, which was instead wasted on new elections. And why? because political parties, both from the right and from the left, no longer think of the think of the nation’s interests, but instead only think of their own narrow self-interests. Political parties no longer think of Zionism and the love of the State of Israel, but instead only think of themselves and their quest for power and influence. The State of Israel is in the midst of struggling with a series of serious existential threats and all the while Israel’s enemies are listening, observing and analyzing every movement within the country, believing that this disunity, this lack of nationalism is a flaw, a weakness which must be exploited. It is no coincidence that today IsraeliArabs are awakening, raising their voices in protest and even resorting to violence against the Israeli establishment. It is no coincidence that Hezbollah and Iran are mocking Israel in the media on a continuous basis. It is no coincidence that Hamas is playing with Israel’s nerves without fear of consequences. Israel must pull itself together. Israeli political parties must return to the founding vision of the State of Israel, they must discern between the interests of the Jewish state and the interests of their own political party. Today, in this sensitive period for both the world and Israel, elections are the last thing that Israel needs. Yet the Israeli political system has decided otherwise. my only hope is that the upcoming Israeli elections and the new administration it will create will serve the interests not of one political party, but of the entire State of Israel; a state that always wanted to be like other states, but is undoubtedly different. ° | November 2008

Meir Panim for children

"Employment Horizons" Vocational Training programs

Meir Panim Food services for the elderly and holocaust survivors

"Power of Giving" Household Furniture and Appliances Warehouses

For more information, to volunteer or to donate contact: Meir Panim 78 Yirmiyahu St. Phone: 02-501-1444 Donor Relations Dept Phone: 02-501-1431 Email: alizas@pog.org.il

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MEIR PANIM

Suppl e and S mentary R el ocial Entr ief Cente epren r eursh s ip

Culture Flicks

Gush Katif Museum A visit to the not-so-distant past. by Beth Zalcman

visit to the new Gush Katif Museum in Jerusalem will have you paying homage to the long legacy of Jewish life and settlements in the Gush Katif area. Initiated by Chabad organization “S.O.S. Israel” which advocates the struggle for Greater Israel, the museum was set up by director Yankele Klein. His hope is that through the work of the museum, they will be able to ensure that the long history of Gush Katif is not forgotten. Upon entering the museum, visitors can view the historical timeline, which outlines Jewish settlement in the Gush Katif region from around 1200 B.C.E. until the disengagement of 2005. It also details the 35 years of Gush Katif in modern Israel with pictures and descriptions of the 23 settlements, agricultural work and more. The museum houses numerous art exhibits on loan or donated by various artists, including former residents and newspaper photographers documenting the struggle against the disengagement.

Auschwitz Album in Farsi

n January 2007, Yad Vashem first launched a website in Farsi, including 20 historical chapters with dozens of photos— arranged chronologically, from the rise of Nazis to power until the post-war trials. Some 100,000 people have visited the Farsi website thus far. Today, a new online exhibit of the Auschwitz Album appears on the Yad Vashem’s Persian website. The album is the only surviving visual evidence of the process of mass murder at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The photos show the arrival and selection at Auschwitz of Hungarian Jews from Carpatho-Ruthenia in 1944. To see the entire album, visit Yad Vashem. °

Rare Historical Documents at the Israel Museum

The Gush Katif Museum also contains a library with books, DVDs, and movies, which, as Shlomo Bashan the museum curator explained, “future generations will use to learn about Gush Katif.” The museum hopes to further expand its collection by adding more sources to their library. The museum’s goal is not to make a political statement. It was founded in order to preserve the memory of what once was in Gush Katif. As Mr. Bashan said, “The museum is historical justice. We don’t want people to forget Gush Katif, like Yamit was forgotten.” Indeed, the museum is a fitting tribute to memory of Gush Katif. °

Proposal for State symbol

The last exhibit is “The Black Room.” Here, a heart-wrenching film is played, comprised of numerous clips filmed during the disengagement. The scenes are quite emotional, and sometimes people find it too difficult to watch it in its entirety. However, Mr. Klein, a producer by trade, ends the film on an optimistic note. His message? One of lasting hope, regardless of how tough this process was and still is.

ne hundred original documents from the history of the people and State of Israel are now on display for the first time at the Israel Museum. Organized in celebration of Israel’s 60th anniversary, Blue and White Pages: Documenting the History of Israel offers a thematic presentation which commemorates the milestone events of Israel’s statehood through historically key documents, highlighting founding institutions, legal principles and central personalities– displayed alongside ancient artifacts and texts. Among the documents are Israel’s original Declaration of Independence, the diary of Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, drafts and final versions of historic laws such as the Law of Return (1950) and the Basic Law: Jerusalem, Capital of Israel (1980), and Adolf Eichmann’s personal diary from the time of his 1961 trial.

Proposal for State Flag

The artwork displayed is done in a variety of different mediums, such as photography, paint, and charcoal. They illustrate life, people and feelings, before, during, and after the struggle and subsequent disengagement. Though some of these exhibits are difficult to see, they capture the fiery spirit of the struggle while remaining tasteful.

These documents stimulate moving echoes between Israel’s ancient and modern histories, giving all the more meaning to the modern state’s existence today on the site of the ancient Land of Israel. ° | November 2008

EFRAT

gave me the

Gift of Life!

My Ima thought that she couldn't give me life because of financial difficulties. Our neighbor called EFRAT and after EFRAT assured Ima that they would provide my needs for my first year of life…

look at me now!

Only $1,200 gave me the chance to be born. Become a partner in the EFRAT life saving organization!

POVERTY DOESN'T JUSTIFY ABORTIONS In 2007, 448 Israelis were killed in road accidents, and 13 were killed by Palestinian terrorism. In the same year, roughly 50,000 future citizens were lost to the Jewish people and the State of Israel because they were aborted before birth. Israel justifiably spends hundreds of millions of shekels annually to lower the carnage on the highways, and billions of shekels to combat Palestinian terrorism. Yet not one shekel from state coffers assists mothers who want to give birth but whose difficult financial circumstances discourage them from doing so. Tragically, dentists invest more effort to avoid extracting a decaying tooth than Israeli society invests to save the life of a Jewish child. One reason for Israel’s high abortion rate is that hospital abortion committees routinely approve every abortion request and do not provide pregnant women with information about possible sources of help. Additionally, social workers often encourage pregnant mothers to undergo abortions because of the lack of alternative resources which offer real support. Recently, however, more and more social workers have been able to tell their clients about EFRAT, an organization which offers financial help and emotional support to mothers considering terminating their pregnancies because of their financial circumstances. This information is vital for mothers who wish to make an informed decision regarding their pregnancy. The demographic threat to Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state is compounded

by the high abortion rate. The Arab birthrate is twice that of the Israel’s Jewish population. More than fifty percent of the Arab population is under 18; while only a third of the Jewish population falls into that category. Even more tragic is the fact that many women who decide to abort in actuality want to bring their children into the world, and they will do so with a minimum of financial help and encouragement. Last year alone, EFRAT assisted 3,568 such mothers. All of these mothers had already decided to undergo an abortion when one of EFRAT’s 3,000 volunteers contacted them and told them about the assistance available through EFRAT. Many of those volunteers had themselves decided at one time to abort but later changed their minds. Volunteers often bring their own “EFRAT babies” to their first meeting with the pregnant women. Volunteers offer no ideological or theological arguments; rather, they say that should the women choose to have their babies, they can count on emotional support from EFRAT’s volunteers and professional staff, as well as the provision of basic baby equipment such as a crib, new stroller, and baby bath; and items such as baby clothes, blankets, diapers, bottles, bibs, and pacifiers. After the birth, EFRAT delivers all necessary baby equipment, formula, nappies, and monthly food packages to the family’s home for the first year of the child's life. The entire package costs no more than $1,200. Yet, over and over again that small sum has proven to be the difference between the decision to abort and the decision to save a Jewish life.

Since its establishment by Hirsch Faigenbauma Holocaust survivor, EFRAT has assisted more than 30,000 women. Approximately threequarters of those women were married and capable of raising their child in a stable environment, yet hesitated to bring another child into the world primarily due to their financial situation. Of those 30,000 mothers, not one has ever complained that she made the wrong decision, says Dr. Eli Schussheim, chairman of EFRAT. The walls of his office are covered with pictures of hundreds of smiling Jewish children, sent by their grateful mothers. Given the threats, demographic and otherwise, to the future of the Jewish people, we have the duty to provide each Jewish woman the information and the wherewithal she needs in order to make an informed decision about whether to give birth to her child. Dr. Schussheim maintains that mothers abort because of a lack of general public awareness that 1) Israel’s epidemic abortion endangers her existence as a Jewish state; and 2) the organization EFRAT’s simple, inexpensive solution provides life to the baby; happiness and joy to the mother; security to Israel; and the future of the Jewish People.

EFRAT

World’s greatest life saving organization ISRAEL 10 Ha-iluy St. P.O.B. 6325 Jerusalem 91062 Tel: 972-2-6536212 Fax: 972-2-6529531 www.efrat.info efrat@efrat.org.il

Politics & Halacha

Politically-orientated Halachic Thought Jewish philosophers approach government and politics. by Rabbi Jason Demant

t used to be accepted at polite gatherings that one avoided talking about politics or religion. Of course, when I came to live in Israel, I discovered that here, people talk of little else. The relationship between Judaism and Western political philosophy is an important area of debate amongst members of the religious intellectual community. As noted by Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, the birth of the State of Israel and the need to consider its mode of government, “caught the halachic world unawares to an extent…. The grappling with new problems and groping for legitimate solutions that marked the development of halacha in other locales barely took place with respect to the governmental sphere.”

‘‘

Before man can be free to concentrate on Torah study and performing mitzvoth, a sound government must be in place.” Rav Lichtenstein explained further that politically-orientated halachic thought has been, for two millennia, written in complete detachment from any contemporary Jewish context. The sages of the middle ages were not addressing the needs of an existing Jewish state, rather their legislative concerns focused on a Jewish minority living amongst gentile neighbors or the formulation of theoretical models for a ‘Jewish State’ to be realised in the future. Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik in The Lonely Man of Faith describes the tension between faith and religious experience on the one hand, and living within modern secular society on the other. He famously describes the tension between two modes of Jewish existence: Adam One and Adam Two. Each Adam corresponds to one of the two descriptions of the creation of humankind found at the start of Bereshit.

Adam One finds dignity in the technical control of his environment, and friendship through a work community which shares his toil and collaborates in his projects; a community of shared interests. Adam Two, on the other hand, searches not for work partnerships, but for redemptive companionship within a community of faith, faithful to a religious covenant. Beyond the meaning these categories have regarding a person’s encounter with him/ herself, Rav Soloveitchik applies them to the relationship of the religious individual within a wider society also. Adam One governs his community in accordance with the will of its members, through a “social contract.” Adam Two, a religious personality, rules his community with the aim of maximizing adherence to their shared particularistic covenant. Can Adam Two live within the secular state of Adam One, or attach any value to Adam One’s political philosophy? Perhaps Adam Two might rather wish to flee completely from the mundane trivialities of running a government and instead concentrate his gaze heavenwards on more exalted concerns? Halacha’s relationship with Western political philosophy is extremely fascinating and controversial. As an introduction to this vast topic, I will briefly mention three classical Jewish positions regarding this question. We will start with the Rambam (1135 – 1204), who famously saw man’s well-being to be dependant on good government. Society, he wrote, must be ruled by someone who will “regulate the actions of man; complete every shortcoming and remove every excess” (Guide to the Perplexed 2:40). Before man can be free to concentrate on Torah study and performing mitzvoth, a sound government must be in place. The Abravanel (1437–1508), perhaps influenced by his experiences with the monarchy in Spain, disapproved of political culture. He wrote that power only leads

to tyranny and violence, and takes man away from his spiritual strivings. In his commentary of Bereshit, he explains that the evil of the builders of the Tower of Babel was their pursuit of commerce and civilization-building, rather than living a simple agricultural life, more in-line with human nature. The Netziv (1817- 1893) was also critical of the Babel tower-builders. They wished to form a totalitarian regime, building a towering edifice from which to govern the world. All could be spied upon and dissenters could be easily spotted and then killed. Judaism can of course have a positive influence on politics, particularly in the Diaspora. The British Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks is an example of a religious leader whose voice is listened to within the corridors of power. In today’s State of Israel, religious parties wrangle over divisive issues with the Torah often devalued through being associated with partisan goals. If our Torah, predicated on human free choice and moral responsibility, is to have a positive impact on government and society, this will only truly happen when we share it, in love, with our fellow Israelis in a way that expresses the Torah’s profound moral and ethical teachings. ° | November 2008

NoN-ProFiT sPoTlighT

JobKatif Finds Employment for 1000th Gush Katif Evacuee 1000 families remain in employment crisis. by beTh shaPiro

hen ranana* lost her home in Gush Katif, her life began a downward spiral. “Things weren’t perfect before the Disengagement, but after we lost our home, my life lost focus. Although it might sound strange to someone who wasn’t there, living under rocket fire bound us together. It was as though the determination to remain in our home at all costs was a uniting force. but when we lost our home, my life came apart. All of a sudden problems that paled in comparison to the dangers of our life popped up and ripped my life apart in a way that the rockets or the terror never did.” Three years after the Disengagement, ranana and her husband filed for divorce. She felt as though her personal world was crumbling and she was losing her mind. At that point, ranana met ruth Atilla, a former resident of Ganei Tal. ruth is the director of job placement for JobKatif— a non-profit organization which helps former residents of Gush Katif and Northern Samaria find jobs and open businesses. Today, statistics show that of the 2100 individuals employed before the disengagement, 545 are still unemployed. Another 500 families are what JobKatif staff call “underemployed,” meaning they have found basic work but their income is not up to par with what it was before the disengagement. “I hadn’t seen ranana since the Disengagement,” said ruth. “I know her from Gush Katif and she always had a smile on her face. That day she was crying hysterically and looked terrible.” ruth called her friend over and asked her what was going on. “She told me about the divorce. She told me she was feeling desperate and was on her way to her family doctor to see if she could get herself committed.” “I felt like I was losing my mind,” said ranana. “Then ruth appeared like an

www.shiurtimes.com

angel and asked me if there was anything she could do to help. I asked her if she had any work for me. I had no idea that ruth was working at JobKatif or even why I asked. I suddenly thought that going to work might save me.”

“At the end of the day when the interviewer gave the list of who he wanted to hire,” said ruth, “ranana wasn’t on it. He said that he felt like she had too many problems on her head and she wouldn’t be successful.”

As fate would have it, ruth was taking a break. She was busy arranging interviews for work in a brand new telemarketing center in Nitzan, a small community in the south of Israel. most of the Gush Katif families are clustered in Southern Israel. JobKatif established the call center with Israeli newspaper makor rishon to employ Gush Katif families, particularly those over 40— some of the most difficult to employ.

After a lot of talking, ruth convinced him to give her a chance although he told he didn’t believe she would last even two months on the job.

ruth told ranana, “If you want an interview, clean yourself up and come back in ten minutes.” According to Judy Lowy, executive Director of JobKatif there are defining moments in making the decision to go to work. “Going back to work is not as simple as sending out a resume and going for an interview. When any person looks for a job, he is bombarded by emotions— the most prevalent one being fear. A voice in his head might scream, ‘what if you fail or worse yet, what if you succeed? How will that change your life? Are you ready to let go of your past and enter the next stage of your life?’” People who have been through multiple traumas like living under rocket fire, losing their house, their job and their community in one fell swoop experience these fears. According to Lowy, many of the former residents of Gush Katif are emotionally paralyzed. They want to move forward and yet have no idea what the future might hold. JobKatif’s staff of counselors, most of whom are themselves from Gush Katif, help individuals and families identify the next steps that will get them back into the workforce, and stabilize them and their families. ruth wasn’t sure if ranana would return for the interview, but ranana grabbed the lifeline. It was not an easy interview. ranana tried her best to put on a good face, but she couldn’t hide the fact that her life was in a very difficult state.

Three months later, ranana is one of the ten best workers in the center. “Going back to work has given me the strength to make it through this difficult period of my life,” said ranana. “When so much of my life feels out of control, it is important to have a place where I am successful, where I am recognized and rewarded. my work makes me able to get through the day and has given me back my sanity.” ranana was JobKatif’s 1000th job placement. That means that 999 people in situations like ranana— some better, some worse, have been strong enough to accept help in rebuilding their lives. ° *not her real name JobKatif (www.jobkatif.org.il) is the premiere organization dedicated to helping former residents of Gush Katif and Northern Samaria find employment and return to self-sufficiency. JobKatif provides business loans and grants to new businesses, mentoring by experienced business people, professional retraining courses, job recruitment and placement services and critical emotional support. To date, JobKatif has assisted in the establishment of 140 new businesses and has placed 1000 people in new jobs and professional careers. The majority of our work is based in Israel’s south. For media inquiries please contact Beth Shapiro at info@jobkatif.org or 072272-7124 or 631-791-5556. Visit the organizational website at: www.jobkatif.org.il

ereTZ

Down Under:

What’s Really Beneath the Cave of the Patriarchs Archaeological evidence proves Hevron’s history. by daNNy hermaN

he book of Genesis records how Abraham addresses the people of Hevron in order to purchase a plot for the burial of his wife Sarah (Genesis 23). Although he is offered to bury his dead for free at the burial grounds of the “Sons of Heth,” he insists on buying a cave, and from the plot of one ephron the Hittite. ephron offers him the plot for free as well, yet Abraham insists on paying, and then the two debate the matter: “ephron answered Abraham, ‘Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between me and you? bury your dead.’ Abraham agreed to ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named” (Genesis 23:15). The site was later used also for the burial of Abraham, as well as Isaac, Leah, Jacob, and rebecca. As the Israelites entered the Promised Land at the end of the exodus, Hevron was captured by the tribe of Judah (Judges 1:10), but its importance rose in the days of David, who chose Hevron to be his capital (II Sam. 2:1-4). The book of maccabees records how Judah the maccabee demolished Hevron, apparently for being inhabited by edomites at that time. The city is hardly mentioned later in the roman period, but the tomb of the Patriarchs was established as a site of veneration and pilgrimage, and a grand complex was built at the site. The enclosure resembles the style of the enclosure of the Temple mount, and so many believe the complex of the Tomb of the Patriarchs was created by King Herod (37-4 bCe). Yet this is not certain. There are no historical sources that document who really built that complex. In the byzantine period, a church was built in the enclosure, and during the muslim periods, additional halls, gates and minarets

were added to the complex. Today six place marks stand in the middle of the building, each one representing one of the biblical patriarchs and matriarchs. but are they indeed at the actual burial place? Surprising archaeological evidence supports the possibility that the original cave is indeed at the site, right under the place mark of Abraham. by 1171 benjamin of Tudela had already recorded that the place marks are just for the “mistaken Christian,” and that a dark corridor below the building led to the true cave. This corridor was surveyed by the French archaeologist Louis vincent in the 19th century, but since then, the muslim authorities have blocked the entrance to the corridor, and installed a narrow shaft above the room. After the Six Day War, moshe Dayan promoted Yehudah Arbel, a mossad commander, to investigate the site. Figuring that only a young child could pass through the narrow shaft, Yehudah convinced his daughter, 12-year-old michal Arbel, to investigate the site and report her finds. Another trial to enter was made during Slichot before rosh Hashana of 1981. Taking advantage of the large Jewish crowds, a few residents of Kiryat Arba managed to remove the marble slab over the entry to the corridor, and walk down and through the corridor to the room. They photographed and recorded the corridor and the room in greater detail with the muslim monuments. most importantly, below the monuments they

found a lower irregular cave filled with debris which contained bones and pottery shards. Some of the shards proved to be of cultic objects from the Israelite period (e.g. from 3000 years ago!). This stunning evidence proved that even 3000 years ago local people were venerating this cave. Yet the most striking evidence was the shape of the lower cave. Although only the top of it could be explored, it seems quite clear that the cave is comprised of two irregular halls, a bit like the shape of the kidney. Such kidney-shaped caves are common from the days of Abraham (the middle bronze period, 20th-17th Centuries bCe). even more striking is the fact that the shape of the cave seems to fit perfectly with its biblical Hebrew name, “Ma’arat Hamachpela.” “Ma’arah” means cave. “Machpela” literally means “duplicated.” And what is the shape of the cave? Two (i.e. duplicated) burial spaces! Although this alone is not absolute proof for the authenticity of the site, the fact that its date, contents, and shape correspond so well with the historical sources, is quite remarkable. °

| November 2008

��

Society

2008

by st staff

f you’re physically fit and want to support Israel, get your bike out because the children of Alyn need your help and your energy.

Between November 9-13th, over 900 bicyclists from around the world will join together for a bike tour that will span Israel’s southern region. All proceeds will go to support the children of Jerusalem’s Alyn Hospital. Originally conceived in 1999, Wheels of Love combines three aspects: philanthropy, athleticism, and giving back to the community. Today, the event is Israel’s largest multiday, multi-route sports event. Bike riding to support the hospital is no coincidence. Alyn specializes in rehabilitative therapies for children, where most of the patients are limited in their physical capabilities. Hagai Shmueli, Spokesperson and Director of Marketing tells us, “we like to think that the type of effort, energy, and enthusiasm that the participants put into the bike ride matches that of the children during their rehabilitative process.” The Alyn hospital network includes Shahar, a Rehabilitation Eudcational Medical Day Care Center, an in-patient hospital, an enrichment center (for less severe medical problems), and a sports center. Approximately 35% of the participants are Israelis, coming from towns around the country. Caryn Gale of Hashmonaim rode in last year’s Wheels of Love ride. “It was hot, I was tired and I was ready to climb on the bus and let it carry me to the end of the route…[but] we gave it our all. We biked to the top [of the mountain] and were rewarded with a beautiful long downhill glide….At that point, I really understood the challenges that the kids of Alyn face each day and the great feeling when they—especially with the support of Alyn.” They are brought to the hospital and introduced to the children in Alyn a few days before the ride. “This creates an especially strong connection,” Haggai explains. The opening ceremony takes place in Malha, and off they go! The route is broken up into four tracks: On-Road, Challenge, Touring, and Off-Road. They also visit sites of interest along the way. Volunteers are stationed throughout the entire route to cheer them on, give out water, food and refreshments. Riders range between ages 15 and 82, are required to raise $2,000 for the 5-day tour (donations are accepted even after the ride), and are from thirteen different countries. Because the hospital is a non-profit organization, the donations raised from the Wheels of Love bike ride cover a good portion of the budget for the hospital and go directly to treat the children. This year, the ride coincides with municipal elections, and riders will be in Arad. The organizers have therefore arranged for vans to pick up the participants and bring them to their cities, only to return immediately after to finish the last leg of the trip. °

Ari & Malka Solomont, Wheels of Love 2007

MK Chaim Amsellem

S’fardi Leader Talks Back

Wheels of Love

he phenomenon of discrimination against S’fardi children in the Israeli school system is “very severe… no less so than anti-Semitism,” says Shas MK Chaim Amsellem. As ShiurTimes investigated issues of prejudice against Ethiopian children (October issue), repeated examples of inequity towards S’fardi children came up as well. The underlying reasons for this discrimination are hard to target, but according to the Shas MK, the educational system is not doing enough to combat it. Both external and internal elements contribute to the ongoing problem. Externally, there are schools that do not allow S’fardi children to register, and at the same time, the few ‘elite’ S’fardi families who do gain acceptance ignore the problem. “Either they are part of the right families or they have money, but regardless it is clear that they are losing their S’fardi pride,” Amsellem says. “I don’t see a solution in sight unless all S’fardi m make a demonstration against the Ashkenazi monopoly.” Even though there are state-legislated policies against discrimination Amsellem explains, “not everyone has the strength to fight back.” Even within the Shas party, for example, many of the Shas leaders send their children to Ashkenazi schools, which sends the message that S’fardi schools are not good enough for children of S’fardi leaders. “I would encourage every member of Shas to send their children to S’fardi schools,” Amsellem stated. Amsellem sees a big difference regarding the discrimination against Ethiopians and S’fardim. “With Ethiopians, there is the issue of color, conversion, level of education… it’s not the same.” The Ethiopian community never tried to become Ashkenazi, and many people see the loss of pride in the S’fardi identity as being the main problem that is getting worse. If the laws of discrimination are not being enforced, and the very leaders who cry for equal opportunities are themselves “buying” their children’s way into the elite Ashkenazi schools, then what is the answer? Perhaps Shas leaders should start putting their money where their mouth is and stand up for their own people. ° | November 2008

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On Leadership & Education Interview with Zalman Shoval (Part II) by yehudiT siNger

ast month, ShiurTimes spoke with former Israeli Ambassador to the UN Zalman Shoval. Part I covered the Economic crisis. In light of this month’s political climate, Part II addresses Political Leadership & Education. In light of your experience dealing with Israeli leaders that have built the country, what would you say is the definition of leadership? That is a difficult question because leadership includes certain elements which no one can define, like charisma. How do you define charisma? How do you explain that you can have a person who at first glance is unimpressive and may not speak so well, but still has this thing called”charisma”? This is a longstanding debate that goes back to ancient rome. I think leadership requires personal example and honesty. Fine, I won’t look at each and every deed that the person has done, because sometimes a leader has to do things that are not 100% straightforward to the average person…I also think that a good leader should have vision; s/he should see a few steps ahead. A real leader must foresee and have both the real capacity and the talent to convince the public to follow you.

Israeli leaders today are so concerned with their personal interests. What are your thoughts about Israeli leaders today? What would Ben Gurion and Dayan say? Well, I think even ben Gurion and Dayan made mistakes, but these mistakes were negligible compared to what they did right. I can never answer the question what they would have done or said because in spite of their ideological differences, they were pragmatists, and they would make decisions as to how they foresaw it. With almost complete certainty, I can say that none of those leaders would have behaved the way the current government did regarding the Second Lebanon War. both militarily and diplomatically, they would have behaved differently because there were severe problems, and now most people recognize that. but even a great leader can make mistakes. ben Gurion was responsible for the battle at Latrun, and Dayan had a certain responsibility with regards to egypt, and so it goes on and on. Sharon, who according to many was a great leader and had charisma, made the terrible mistake with Gaza. but because of charisma, people followed him without thinking of all the implications, so we

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The present outgoing government of Israel is not a good example of what leadership should be.”

have to keep a balance. Leaders are basically born, and the present outgoing government of Israel is not a good example of what leadership should be. Let’s move onto education. What are your thoughts about the recent educational reforms? They are not real reforms. [minister of education] Yuli Tamir claims that the problem is the size of the classes. but recently, Netanyahu and I met with the Foreign minister of Finland, where education is #1 in the world and the classes there are very big—about 45 kids in a class. What’s important is the quality of the teachers, and the quality of the teachers cannot improve if there’s this egalitarian attitude where everyone gets the same pay. We must make it more selective and merit-based. When teachers get better pay, the standard of the kids will be raised. It all depends on what you invest in the | November 2008

teachers. It’s unacceptable that Jewish kids should be at the bottom of the scale in mathematics and other subjects. It’s just unforgivable.

It is no sin for any country to imbue children with the history of their own people and their own tradition. And I think one of the important tasks of education should be to make children proud of the group to which they belong— to their national group, their cultural group, or their religious group. This includes service in the army. ben Gurion was no militarist, but he formed a system that created a certain dependence on army service— the symbol of success. Without the army you weaken your own capabilities to withstand outside dangers. At that time, service in the army was one of the most constructive, unifying factors in Israeli society. but when people do not serve in the army (including in the reserves), then we are “shooting ourselves in the foot.” You know, I always like to say the famous quote [by Samuel Johnson] “patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.” but they misinterpret it—it’s the last refuge of the scoundrel, but not of the honest man. Patriotism is not a bad thing. And today’s schools and youth organizations are not what they used to be. To some, patriotism is an ugly word, and to some, it doesn’t exist. but why? They like to be Israeli, but they don’t know what it’s all about; they don’t know how difficult it was to get where we are. but these are things that need to be tackled from the roots: education from kindergarten and onwards. www.shiurtimes.com

If you have to promote or explain something when it’s no longer real news, you’re already at a disadvantage. but it’s not entirely dependant on us. Today, our image is closely linked to the image of the US, and in europe it’s not so great. but there’s also another side to the picture: without such a brilliant hasbara effort, our standing in America is pretty good, but it’s not our own doing— it’s because of 9/11. It’s because Americans understand what Islamic terrorism is all about. It’s not a result of Israel’s occupation of the territories or anything like that. All I’m trying to say is that we have to improve a lot of things but even if we are brilliant [in our Pr efforts], it’s still not a guarantee. Who would you say is the most monumental figure in your life? It depends on what time of your life you meet someone. At certain times of your life certain people make more of an impact, but then later in life, you say that you’re not impressed. I would say probably ben Gurion, and from a subjective view, you know I worked closely with Dayan. He played an important role in my life. I had a good working relationship with begin; I admired many of his traits and decisions, despite our differences. but I didn’t have as close a relationship with him as I did as I did with Dayan. Today, I must say that I view leaders in a more… sober view. ° voice your opinion! staff.editors@shiurtimes.com

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I’d like to specifically address the curriculum. There was a recent reform that Israeli children are learning about Al Naqba [the Arabic term for ‘The Catastrophe,’ which refers to the day Israel became an independent state]. How is it possible to preserve historical accuracy and still maintain morale amongst our children? There is no such thing as an objective truth; not in one’s personal life or in national life. You don’t have to tell your children “we say this and the Palestinians say this—you decide what’s right.” Tell them there were Palestinians and Arabs that left the country, but don’t make yourself the culprit.

Concerning hasbara, a lot of resources are spent on improving the image of Israel and we still have serious problems. What is going on here? This is a debate that has been going on for thirty years, and there’s no resolution. I want to be fair because it’s not always easy. It’s true that all Israeli governments have recognized the importance of what is called “soft power” (hasbara effort) which is propaganda, or Pr. However, it’s only helpful if the person gets the information in real time.

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Sarah Livni

Inspires Underground Anthem The mother of the newly elected leader of Kadima was the subject of a hard-core Zionist song in the 1940’s. by beN bresky

ne of the anthems of the Irgun Underground in the 1940s in Israel is a song called Alei Barikadot, by michael Ashbel. This song has always fascinated me. recently, a friend called me to chat about the Kadima primaries. During the conversation, he told me that he had attended the funeral of Sarah Livni last year. He then began to sing Alei Barikadot, which really surprised me. The first line of the song is “today my little Sarah, I shall go to war...” I never knew this referred to a specific person. Although my friend is only in his 20’s he is one of many who grew up hearing the stories of Jabotinsky and begin, and who learned the songs sung by soldiers— now the same age as their grandparents. In Jewish communities around the world, you can find people of all ages who know songs of the Irgun (also known as the etzel) and the Lechi, whether or not they actually held a Sten rifle. Sarah Livni, mother of Tzipi Livni, was “a member of the Irgun, a pre-state paramilitary organization, and was arrested by the british and imprisoned in bethlehem... she was known as ‘Little Sarah’ during her Irgun days. The famous song ‘Alei Barikadot’ begins with these words, and was written by michael Ashbel, another member of the Irgun. Sarah married eitan, a fellow Irgun member, one day after Israel declared independence. The two were the first to be married in the modern state of Israel.” born in vilna, michael Ashbel “joined betar at a young age and later joined the Irgun in Poland. After the German invasion of Poland, he fled to russia and joined the Free Polish Forces and reached Iraq. From there he made his way to eretz Israel and joined the Irgun. Soon after, he joined the Jewish fighting force and took part in numerous operations, such as blowing-up

the british Intelligence offices in Jaffa and the attack on the military airfield in Lydda. on march 6, 1946, he took part in the attack on the Sarafand army camp, and was injured in the exchange of fire, together with his friend, Yosef Simchon. They were loaded into a car, which set out for Tel Aviv in order to take them to the hospital, but encountered a british roadblock on the way and were arrested. Two months later Ashbel and Simchon were placed on trial before a military tribunal and sentenced to death. However, the kidnapping of british officers by the Irgun forced the british High Commissioner to commute the death sentence to life imprisonment. Ashbel was wounded by british gunfire during the breakout of Acre jail and died of his injuries several hours later.” Apparently when michael Ashbel was injured, a Jewish tour bus just happened to drive down the street where the fighting was taking place. Ashbel yelled out, “Look Jews, we are dying for you!” I found a cool album called SonGS of JaBoTinSky, named for the spiritual father of the Irgun. I’ve only seen it on vinyl record. It has modern versions of some 1940’s songs as performed by Shlomo Artzi and other Israeli pop singers in the 1970s. Alei Baricadot isn’t on it. I found that particular song on three other albums called SonGS of The unDerGrounD, SonGS of The eTZel and lechi anD BeTar SonGS. Frankly, I don’t like these renditions. each CD presents a kind of dated style with lots of instrumentation and a chorus. Not the way I imagined an underground anthem. I think I prefer listening to my buddy sing it to me over the phone or some old men who may have a secret Jewish underground past singing in raspy voices.

Raise Up the Barricades by Michael Ashbel

Today my little Sarah We’ll part as I go to war To establish the state On both sides of the Jordan Harden your heart And tighten your belt Embrace me, take the Sten And join me in the ranks Raise up the barricades we shall meet Do not cry For such is my fate Wipe away your tears Raise up the barricades we bring freedom with blood and fire. Rifle to rifle, barrel to barrel Bullet to bullet we shall fire Raise up the barricades we shall meet And if on the gallows I shall give my life for the nation Do not cry For such is my fate Wipe away your tears songwriters and dreamers.

A final note: It’s interesting that those considered the most extreme in the british mandate period were also the poets, songwriters and dreamers. ° Facts for this article were based on info from www.israelcast.com and www.etzel.org.il

| November 2008

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Halacha Q&A

Tattoo Etiquette

Q: Is it forbidden to bury a Jew with a tattoo in a Jewish cemetery? A: Rav Aviner:

It is forbidden to get a tattoo (Vayikra 19:28), but after someone already has violated this mitzvah, s/he is not disqualified from being buried in a Jewish cemetery (despite what many people think). There is also no obligation to remove the tattoo after death and there may even be a problem of “nivul ha-met” (desecrating the dead) if one cuts a corpse. There are Jews who have tattoos and then they repent. The tattoo does not prevent teshuvah in Shut Minchat Yitzchak (3:11) in which Ha-Rav Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss deals with this issue. A man was serving in the army got a tattoo on his left arm. The tattoo— of all things— was of a naked woman Now the man had become religious and wanted to start putting on tefillin. He asked if it was permissible to put tefillin on over the tattoo of the naked woman. The Minchat Yitzchak writes that the man had no choice but to put his tefillin on his left arm, even though it bears the tattoo (see Menachot 73a), and the tattoo is not considered a “chatzitzah” (barrier) between the tefillin and the skin. The problem, however, is that a man cannot daven or recite a blessing before a naked woman, even if it is a picture, since it could lead to impure thoughts. To counter this problem, the Minchat Yitzchak recommends three things: 1. Expose only as much of his arm as is necessary to wrap the tefillin, so that the entire image will not be visible; 2. Wear the smallest size tefillin that is halachically permitted to minimize the contact between the tefillin and the tattoo; 3. When saying the blessing, keep the entire arm covered, so as not to recite the blessing in front of the image. If he does these three things, he may put on his tefillin. It is permissible to remove the tattoo and he may want to try to do so with laser surgery (see Shut Lehorot Natan 8:72 and Shut Revivot Ephraim 8:306 regarding the removal of tattoos). °

Rav Yuval Cherlow,

Rosh Yeshivat Hesder Petach Tivka:

1. It is strictly forbidden by the Torah to get a tattoo. The Torah commentators interpreted this prohibition as a cultural battle between those faithful to the Torah and other cultures that used the tattoo as a way to characterize their culture. 2. If one has a tattoo and regrets it, one is not obliged to remove it, since the issur (prohibition) is getting the tattoo, not actually having one. Furthermore, some halachic sages explain that even removing the tattoo itself is problematic since it is destroying or cutting the body. 3. Even when a person passes away, we do not remove the tattoo from the body before the burial. It must be noted, of course, that the number tattoos so brutally marked on the arms of the Jews by the Germans is not relevant to this discussion. °

One of our readers, Alison Golub-Perezb of Be’er Sheva, shared the following story with us:

friend of mine was hanging out at a pub in downtown Be’er Sheva with some other friends. As he approached the counter to order his drink, he noticed that the young bartender, a student dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, had a short row of numbers tattooed on his arm. Given that the guy was a good fifty years too young to be a Holocaust survivor, my friend’s curiosity got the better of him and he asked about the tattoo. The young man answered, “Exactly what you think it is.” My friend couldn’t stop there, and pressed him further. The man replied that his grandmother survived Hitler’s camps and was now nearing her end. She had given her grandson her blessing to tattoo onto his arm a likeness of the very same numbers she had on her own. My friend, in recounting this story to me, remarked that he was quite moved by the gesture. I must admit that at first I was quite taken aback. Quickly, however, my shock turned into appreciation and not a small amount of admiration. I have spent most of my academic life studying the Holocaust from political, psychological, and personal perspectives, and this is the first time I can remember that I have come across a truly original idea in the domain of Holocaust memorialization. With what amounts to probably twenty minutes in a tattoo artist’s chair and the marking of a 1-inch by 3-inch area of skin, this young man has managed to both honor his grandmother and her experience, as well as send a rather striking societal message. Indeed, whether the people around him are respectful of or appalled by his choice, there is no doubt that he causes at least a hundred people a day to think about the Holocaust, if only for a moment. My friend was most impressed by how the young man’s action represents a kind of “taking back” of the image of the tattoo and the victim experience. In much the same way as African Americans have reclaimed and empowered the term “nigger” by using it amongst themselves, there is something powerful and honorable about taking a tattoo that was forced upon his grandmother without her consent and purposefully choosing to place it upon himself with her blessing. The fact that Jews still exist in the world is proof that Hitler didn’t succeed, and many say that simply living an honorable life can be our own revenge. This young bartender has taken this a step further. His existence would not have been possible without his grandmother’s survival, but in thirty years when her life is a distant memory, his simply being alive won’t be enough to memorialize her. Perhaps these numbers on his arm will be. I have informally polled a great deal of people about this incident, and received greatly mixed reviews. People over the age of 60 have tended to be enthusiastically in favor of the young man’s choice, while those between the ages of 35-55 have generally been vehemently against it. Responses from individuals in my own generation have been fairly equally split. I’m still not totally sure how I feel about it, but I’m inclined to believe that anything that can evoke such strong emotion on both sides of the spectrum is worthy of deeper investigation. In any case, that young bartender in Be’er Sheva has certainly made a lot of us think. ° | November 2008

hevroN sPeCial

The Bittersweet Story of Hevron Showdown at high-noon is no kiddush Hashem.

by yehudiT siNger

he city of Hevron, rich with history for the world’s three religions, is simultaneously a source of inspiration and a place of heartbreaking fear. each time I visit, I feel as if I am walking through a Hollywood movie set: beautiful old buildings, storefronts, and wide streets that look like they are populated, but everything lies completely desolate. Given the historical significance and amount it appears in the news, one would think the city would be bustling with tacky tourist shops and maybe even a burger’s bar similar to the streets leading down to the Kotel. but no, the edifices that line Shuhada (martyrs) Street are just plain eerie. Lack of commerce, lack of movement, lack of any sort of progress…compound this with the bizarre yet somehow comforting presence of Israeli soldiers patrolling the streets in full army gear, standing atop random rooftops, and what you have is a modern-day, middle eastern version of the Wild West. bring in Clint eastwood in a kaffieh (or kippah) and the scenario would make so much more sense. one would think the age-old connection we have to the city would make it a prime real estate market, but the shelled-out buildings, boarded-up storefronts, and graffiti announcing”death to Arabs” prove otherwise. I once asked an Israeli soldier where all the Arabs were. It was Chol HaMoed Pesach, and I was astounded that there were no Arabs on the street, especially since I very clearly saw Arab children watching us from

their balconies. His answer: “They like staying inside. They have nothing to do out here anyway.” (Clearly a lie. I later learned the word “seger”: a forced closure.) What, pray tell, is going on here? To whom do these buildings belong and why doesn’t anyone live or work in them? As one who values Jewish tradition and believes in the right for a decent quality of life for all, I have been trying to understand the situation and come to terms with the bittersweet predicament in Hevron. leT’s briefly look at the Cave of the Patriarchs. The complex is divided into two parts sealed off from one another, with two separate entrances: muslim and Jewish. The muslim part is a mosque, traditionally known as the Isaac Hall, while the rest of the halls are for Jewish worshippers. After the Six Day War in 1967, Israel gained control of the area, allowing Jews to enter. This was a remarkable achievement, since the restriction to limit Jews to the seventh step of the complex had been in effect for centuries. Things changed drastically in 1994, when Dr. baruch Goldstein, resident of Kiryat Arba, entered the mosque during muslim prayer services and murdered 29 Palestinian muslims. He was then bludgeoned to death by onlookers. There are those who claim he was set up, or had evidence of a planned pogrom by the Arabs (which prompted his actions), but these theories are not backed up with much evidence. Today, Jews are allowed into the Hall of Isaac for 10 days a year (on holidays).

Since the 1997 signing of the Hevron Protocol (in accordance with the”Interim Agreement” or “Taba,” where it was signed), the city of Hevron has been divided into two areas: H1 and H2. H1 is where over 115,000 Palestinians reside. It is home to large industry (Palestinian), the Hevron University and the Palestine Polytechnic University. It also houses the Cave of otniel ben Knaz, elone mamre (see Bereshit), eshel Avraham (see Bereshit) and maayan Sarah, all protected by the Palestinian police. The territory of H1 makes up the majority of the city of Hevron. H2 is under Israeli control and home to beit Hadassa, beit romano, and the Avraham Avinu neighborhood, where most of the Jewish community of Hevron lives. Some others live in Tel rumeida which is not far from the main Jewish areas, but is even more contested than the aforementioned areas. The now-Jewish area also includes what was once the center market area for the Palestinians. Today, the main street”Shuhada Street” is now a security zone for the Jewish community, where only Jews and Israeli military vehicles are allowed. According to a bbC article “a rouGh GuiDe To heVron: The WorlD’S STranGeST GuiDeD Tour hiGhliGhTS The aBuSe of PaleSTinianS,” only four Palestinian families still live on this main street, and they are not allowed to use the main entrance to their houses, since it faces the street now under Israeli control. The few Palestinians who have gained access to the street are subject to body searches and military escort, for fear of violent terrorist acts or incitement. Yehuda Shaul, a religious Israeli who served in the IDF and has since founded the organization “breaking the Silence,” illustrates the dichotomy of the Hevron predicament: “we have a few hundred settlers there [and] we don’t even question it. They are Israeli citizens and they deserve protection, just like people in Tel Aviv. To give them the protection, we take a lot of things into consideration— we have geography, we have a budget, large numbers of soldiers— but there’s one thing we won’t take into consideration, and that’s 166,000 Palestinians around here. That is the problem of Hevron.” While the 1929 massacre of the Jews in Hevron is a watershed event etched into our collective memory, and attests to the right and need for the superior security levels, hardly anyone hears of the Arab neighbors who actually rescued and treated continued on page 41 | November 2008

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PhilaNThroPy

by ahava Zarembski

he world of social change is in transition. Globally, national governments are no longer fulfilling the role of social change facilitator. In its stead, local and municipal governments are becoming increasingly powerful and effective. We see that in the response to Hurricane Katrina in New orleans as well as with the forest fires in California in the last few years. In short, this transition is the definition of ‘glocalization’ - the more globalized we become, the more localized we become. Within this new reality, the increasing force of local businesses and the third sector is front and center. Foreign Affairs recently published an article on “Global Corporate Citizenship,” which argues that”companies must not only be engaged with stakeholders but be stakeholders themselves alongside governments and civil society.” bill Gates, in his “Creative Capitalism” article in Time magazine August 11, 2008, calls for businesses to re-examine ways they can profit while simultaneously assisting the underprivileged and developing nations. “Government and non-profit groups have an irreplaceable role in helping [the underprivileged and third world countries], but it will take too long if they try and do it alone. It is mainly corporations that have the skills to make the technological innovations work for the poor.” At Yesod masad, this is what we call the “triangle of influence”: today governments, businesses, and the third sector are working together to affect social change. The synergy between these forces is powerful enough to tackle some of the most looming problems in education, hunger, poverty, disease, and the environment, domestically and globally. Jewish communities worldwide are all facing common Jewish issues: Jewish identity, Jewish education, demographics, lack of leadership, and anti-Semitism/anti-Israelism/fundamentalist Islam. Addressing these issues through the prism of the triangle of influence can not only increase resources, but our effectiveness as well. The influence of each player within the triangle of influence is increasing in Israel.

Municipalities: With a lack of involvement from the national government in social issues, municipalities are becoming increasingly involved, empowered and effective. The role of municipalities’ social change was evident in the Second Lebanon War. Philanthropists and Federations need to partner with strong, solid municipalities and cultivate these relationships. Partnership 2000, which looks to bring Federations together with a sister city in Israel for social change, is a good outlet. Yet most philanthropic investments in Israel, whether geographical, sectoral, or issue-based, should involve municipalities. Individual Israeli Wealth and Israeli Businesses: Individual wealth is increasing, as is the success, wealth and influence of businesses. businesses in Israel are becoming increasingly involved in social change, as are businessmen and women as they become increasingly successful. Take for example the transformation of bat Yam, now considered the city of excellence. Ten years ago bat Yam was one of the poorest, most neglected cities in Israel, with its population base deemed very low socio-economically. Aaron Castro, founder and creator of the Castro clothing store, who made aliyah from Saloniki in 1933 and opened his first tailor shop in Tel Aviv in the early 1950s (with the bat Yam store opening in the early 1990’s), has been loyal to bat Yam throughout the growth of Castro, with its headquarters in the city throughout its development. Less than a decade ago, Aaron Castro went to the mayor and demanded the city be transformed through massive investment in education. He put his own and his business’s money where his mouth was, in the form of philanthropic investment in education in bat Yam, and he demanded that the municipality leverage with him. Today bat | November 2008

Yam has been transformed into Israel’s “City of excellence” and is growing in its impact. Business models: business’ involvement in social change in Israel also means the introduction of new philanthropic models of investment, such as the growth of community development venture capital funds (vC). vCs are investing in underprivileged areas, whether through small business development encouraging gentrification, or through technologies generated by the areas (such as green tech in the Negev). The lesson: Socially responsible investing (SrI) can bring a return on the dollar in terms of profit— strategic philanthropic

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I Whether you are the head of a non-profit, a grass roots activist, or whether you come from the philanthropic side of the third sector, Federations, or foundations, know that your power can be reinforced and increased many times over.” investments means business concepts and often models are pulled in to the investment. Third sector: Non-profits organized to tackle social issues are a major force. So too are individual philanthropists. Due to these changes, new organizations and forums have been created such as: Sheatufim: brings together Israeli businesses and the third sector for social change. The Jewish Funders Network: brings Israeli philanthropists together with international Jewish philanthropists. The network’s Israel office is slated to open in 2008/9.

www.shiurtimes.com

Center for Philanthropy— Hebrew University of Jerusalem: opened in 2007, with a PhD student examining the role of philanthropists influencing policy, such as the Gaydamak phenomenon and the Knesset’s Gaydamak law. reverse philanthropy is now flowing from Israel to the Diaspora to address global Jewish issues occurring abroad. In the end, the well-being of the Diaspora has an impact on the strength of the State of Israel. Yesod masad’s raison d’etre is to enable social change in the Jewish world via the triangle of influence. As strategic advisors to all three elements, we see first- hand that the most effective change occurs when all three elements work together. Whether you are the head of a non-profit, a grass roots activist, or whether you come from the philanthropic side of the third sector, Federations, or foundations, know that your power can be reinforced and increased many times over. Nonprofits should look for partners with the business sector and even consider working THroUGH the business sector. Projects can be sculpted to involve business departments, concepts and players. Philanthropists should understand that there is a difference between tzedakah and philanthropic investment. The former does not consider strategic value, return on the dollar, and impact. The latter does. Consider the new kinds of models which will allow you to invest, to see your money returned both socially and financially, and to make your philanthropic dollar go further. SrIs— concepts and players— can allow us to tackle the biggest of problems and to multiply our reach and effectiveness. This article originally appeared on the Amuta 2.0 blog at www.amuta20.com/blog. °

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Health

Health Q&A With Dr. Simcha Shapiro Q: Dear Dr. Shapiro, I have terrible arthritic pains in my joints, especially in my knees and hips. At the end of the day I can barely move. I have been taking pain-killers, but they only help minimally. Especially when the climate is moist— in the rainy winter months— the pain is just unbearable. I have heard that exercise helps, but how can I get moving when it hurts so much? What can I do to relieve the pain? —Rusty A: Dear Rusty, It sounds like you do

indeed have arthritis. While there are many types of arthritis, the two most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (also known as rheumatism). The differences between them are many, but here are two quick criteria to help tell which one you have:

Lose weight. If you are overweight, it just puts more strain on your joints, and makes more wear-and-tear. Enough said! Moist heat. Rub a bit of olive oil (add a few drops of eucalyptus oil for a better effect) into the painful area, put a damp cloth over it, and a hot water bottle on that. Warm baths and showers also work great. Keep moving. Studies have shown that people who stay active even though they have OA, do better over time. Push yourself until you feel discomfort, but stop short of serious pain. Low-impact movement activities are the best (anything in the pool, yoga, pilates). Pain killers. From natural antiinflammatories like arnica or capsicam, to conventional medications like ibuprofen and its newer cousins, they all have positives and negatives that should be checked out with your doctor. They can be helpful tools in making it through the particularly painful times.

Condition

Osteoarthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Location of Symptoms

Usually in large weightbearing joints (knees, hips, back, neck)

Usually in small joints (hands, ankles)

Worse as the day goes on (the more you use it, the worse it is)

Worse in the morning (takes a while to get moving)

Time of Day

As you can see from the above chart, it looks like you have Osteoarthritis. We will save Rheumatoid arthritis for another article. Osteoarthritis (know as OA) is caused by wear-and-tear on the body’s joints. Over time, as we use and abuse our bodies the joint surfaces wear down, causing OA. Joints that have been injured at any point are particularly susceptible. Often OA occurs later in life (more wearand-tear). Here are a few tips to help ease your pain.

Meditation/ relaxation. When it comes to pain, your mind matters! Many people are able to be much more active, by using meditation to alter the way they perceive pain.

Natural medicine. Acupuncture, massage, and reflexology all have been shown to help many who suffer from OA. It is also important to have X-rays taken of the effected joints, every few years. This helps to track the progression of OA. If you have already tried all of these, and your pain is debilitating, you may want to consider a joint replacement. Contact your doctor for more details. OA does not mean being laidup in bed for the rest of your life. Most people who follow the tips given above can live healthy, active lives. °

| November 2008

 Language





Hebrew Never Died, it Just went into Hiding Show me the way to go. by Dr. Victor Roth The official dictionary derivations of all the words mentioned will be found at www. shiurtimes.com (to avoid further criticism of bias) together with the interchange equivalents involved (based on Online Etymological Dictionary).

ome critiques about my last article were mainly about statistical considerations and the question of derivation of the five examples that were given. In fact, no derivations were given, only comparisons between ancient Hebrew and modern English, but some incorrectly assumed the implication that the English words evolved directly from the Hebrew. There were, of course, many intermediate pathways (the intermediary ‘hiding places’ as in the title of this series) before the English language evolved into its present form; whether via Sanskrit, IE, Greek, Latin, Teutonic, French or even Hebrew itself, in many cases it is difficult to determine which pathway was involved. What was demonstrated in the first article was that, irrespective of how, when, and why, these concepts crossed international/ inter-lingual barriers, and there are still significant numbers of English words which contain the same consonant structure and conceptual ideas as similar words in Biblical Hebrew. The intention of this series of articles is to show that the number of examples which can be brought, in this respect— especially when dealing with common English words— far outweighs considerations of chance or coincidence. Each reader will have to decide when the saturation point has arrived. Fortuitously, Parshat Noah, which we read at this time of year, also helps to resolve both these criticisms. Genesis, Chapter 11, tells the story of a time when there

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Although derivation is not the issue here, it is nevertheless remarkable that these so-called, ‘Semitic Overtones’ can still, today, be noted in so many words associated with the same concept.”

was originally only ‘one language’ which became confused and corrupted into many tongues or dialects, as the grandchildren of Noah spread out and populated the Earth, after the Tower of Babel incident. Part of this ‘confusion’ can be seen in the system of METATHESIS mentioned in the first article. Other systems explaining the ‘confusion of languages’ will be brought in further articles. Ancient Biblical history up to the destruction of the First Temple (586 BCE), also tells of wars, expulsions, and migrations in which the possibilities for linguistic interaction were very likely. Apart from regular associations and equivalents, we are now going to demonstrate a common cross relationship between a Hebrew labial (group 2) and an IE guttural (group 1). This phenomenon is found when DRCh— tread, draw, drag, guide, and hence direct— give direction, show the path, or way, is examined (Gen.6:12). The official derivation of ‘direct’ is from Latin derigere (ppt derectum from de-rigere which is a possible combination of de + regere– to guide, rule). Here it should be noted that both translations ‘draW’ and ‘draG’ have similar English connotations with a ‘w’/‘g’ interchange in English while ‘d i r e c t’ and its derivations can be seen as direct comparisons with DRCh in many of its uses. Trek, track, truck, trace, and through also have connotations of direction. At the same time it can be noted that, in the

sense of d i r e c t, overtones of the Hebrew YShR— be straight— can also be recognised (metathesis) within the same connotation. Curiously, both these roots can be found together in one Hebrew verse (Deut. 32:4.) (q.v.). Therefore, it would be wrong to contend that direct was only derived from DRCh but true to say that there appears to be a ‘final common pathway’ (a term borrowed from Medicine) that combines at least two or more Hebrew roots into an English concept with a large number of ramifications included in the same ideas. Other curious Semitic overtones with possible multiple-root associations can be recognized in common street types found in modern English, which would not normally be associated with the Hebrew DRCh even though the connotation exists in these words such as ROAD, STREET (IE diphthong = Hebrew guttural): CRESCENT (also sahar– roundness, [half] moon), TeRRaCe (also erets– earth), GaRDens (also gan– garden and GDR– surround with a fence [metathesis]), continued on page 47 | November 2008

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Travel

Traveling Through Parshat Lech-Lecha Understanding the verses of Tanach can increase your enjoyment of traveling through Israel. by rabbi mordeChai Weiss *Note: Take out your Chumash and read the verses in Chapter 13 of Bereshit (Genesis).

nderstanding the geography of the Land of Israel can expand your understanding of history and biblical texts. When reading through Parshat Lech Lecha, we read of the separation between Abraham our forefather, the very first Hebrew, and his nephew Lot. Here we have Abraham and Lot standing together as Abraham says to Lot, “Please let there be no quarrel between you and I…” Where exactly did this conversation take place? The Torah tells us, “between beth el and Ai.” The Torah is not an AAA TripTik. If the Torah deems it important enough for us to mention the specific location of an event, it is to teach us a lesson. Abraham traveled together with his family from egypt from the south, up into the central mountain range of the then-Land of Canaan. both Abraham and Lot had herds of cattle. Abraham was especially careful to keep his herds off the property of others, so he needed to make an arrangement with Lot to keep their herds separate from each other.

Here we come to the central question. Was it Abraham’s intention to completely separate from Lot? Let’s not forget, eventually the descendants of Lot will include ruth the moabite (who will convert to Judaism), King David, and ultimately Mashiach. In fact, by understanding the geography of the area, we can see how it was not Abraham’s intention to have Lot completely separate from him. Abraham used an interesting phrase while addressing Lot, “if [you go] left, I will go right, and if [you go] right, I will go left.” Where is left? Where exactly is right? Abraham and Lot were standing on a

mountain hilltop near beth-el. “And Lot raised his eyes, and he saw the entire plain of the Jordan.” In ancient times, maps were drawn with the direction east being the primary direction, the direction from whence the sun rose. In Hebrew, the word “kedem,” sometimes

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The nation which would come forth from Abraham would be very different from the peoples with whom Abraham had lived previously.” used for the word east, can be translated as moving forward. (Hence the connection between the phrase “to orient oneself” and the “orient,” located in the east.) Abraham and Lot were standing on the mountain range facing eastward, in the direction of the Jordan valley. Abraham was not looking to completely disassociate himself from Lot. Abraham himself states, “We are kinsmen.” What Abraham was suggesting was for Lot to stay in the mountains with him, either going north or south. but the key is that Abraham wants Lot to stay in the mountains. Why? because the Jordan valley below is “like the land of egypt.” Abraham and Lot had come from mesopotamia, a land flowing with the waters of the euphrates. In egypt, water flowed freely through the Nile. It was only here in this land, up in the mountains of the land of Cannan, where a person had to pray for rain. The nation which would come forth from Abraham would be very different from the peoples with whom Abraham had lived previously. Here in the Holy Land, in the Land of Israel, a Jew knows that one is

completely dependant upon G-d. our daily prayers for rain are a crucial element of our prayers to G-d; an expression of our faith. That is what makes the Jewish nation different. Lot chose differently: “And Lot raised his eyes, and he saw the entire plain of the Jordan, that it was entirely watered; before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.…” Lot was attracted to the Jordan valley before him, a place that reminded him of home; a place “entirely watered.” And in fact, instead of heading north or south as Uncle Abraham had suggested, Lot heads east, to the area of Sodom and Gomorrah. And we know what eventually happens there. Abraham on the other hand is blessed by G-d and heads south, to the area of Hevron, in the mountains. Today you can head north on route 60 from Jerusalem to modern-day beth-el and enjoy the beautiful views from the lookout. or take road 457 just after the turnoff for Psagot to road 458 North and enjoy the spectacular lookout facing the Jordan valley located in Kochav Hashachar. °

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| November 2008

oPiNioN *As we go to press, the winner of the US elections remains unknown.

“Liberal Jews” and Sarah Palin* A mockingly radical take on how liberal Jews and feminists see the vP candidate. by Tom mouNTaiN

hy do liberal Jews have such a problem with Sarah Palin? one would think that the die-hard feminists in the Jewish community would trumpet the ascension of a woman to the second spot on a presidential ticket, much as they did over two decades ago when Geraldine Ferraro took center stage with Walter mondale in a quixotic attempt to unseat ronald reagan. At the time Gloria Steinem and her feminist clones were tripping over each other to see who could best herald the Democratic vice presidential contender as the modern Susan b. Anthony of the feminist movement. Ferraro was a feminist to the core— abrasive, dour, humorless, angry, with about as much feminine charm as bea Arthur from”maude.” In short, she was one of them. Sarah Palin is not. In the world according to Jewish feminists and their feminist-leaning Jewish men (i.e., metro-sexuals), Sarah Palin is an apostate. The anti-feminist. The polar opposite of all that a feminist must be. She’s an anomaly. A mystery. A travesty. Smiley, perky, energetic and photogenic, she’s every feminist’s nightmare— the girl-next-door goes to Washington. even betty Friedan could not have predicted Sarah Palin. Instead of sporting a NoW button, Sarah dons an NrA one, as in the National rifle Association. Not only does she believe in gun ownership she’s actually (oh the horror!) a hunter. She’s been known to shoot those sturdy moose that liberals only see in

National Geographic. She skins them, carves ‘em up, and makes mooseburgers, which means she’s also a meat eater. Not only that but she proudly poses for pictures with her beastly trophies. Not even Xena, the feminist fantasy role model, ever did that on Tv. Sarah’s husband doesn’t even have an mD, PhD or JD attached to his name. He works with his hands. He’s a fisherman and an oil field worker in that North Slope region where those greedy oil tycoons and their republican henchmen want to drill for oil and disrupt caribou mating habits. Unlike the feminists’ gentle, progressive, modern (i.e., submissive) husbands, he probably drinks budweiser, watches NASCAr, shovels his own driveway and doesn’t know what it’s like when your stockbroker or shrink goes away on vacation to the Hamptons for a week. Sarah married him after she finished...not Wellesley, not Smith, not vassar... but the University of Idaho (as in potatoes). She obviously hardly played the dating field, and never even took a few years off after college to find her inner self before launching a career as an independent working woman. She dove right into marriage and had five kids. one of whom joined the military (what, he couldn’t get into college?). She’s even proud of the fact that he’s on his way to Iraq. The liberal mantra dictates that because Sarah didn’t bring her daughter to the Planned Parenthood center at age 13, the girl got pregnant. but instead of marching her down to the abortion clinic the next day, Sarah encouraged her to have the

baby. Not only that, but her daughter is actually marrying the young man. Whoever heard of such a thing in brookline or Cambridge? because Sarah doesn’t believe in abortion, she herself opted not to terminate her own pregnancy, despite knowing that her child would be born with Downs syndrome. She actually regards the baby as a blessing. Sort of like what it says in the bible.

An expert responds.

Sarah belongs to one of those very non-progressive Christian evangelical churches that believes in the power of prayer. She even encouraged her constituents to pray for victory in Iraq. Pray for victory in a war? Can you picture any liberal progressive rabbi doing that? Not surprisingly, the very non-liberal Chabad rabbi of Alaska is a big fan of Sarah. Sarah Palin is the anti-liberal, a die-hard conservative republican somewhere to the right of John mcCain. And whatever one claims about her lack of foreign policy, it’s a safe bet that if Alaska comes within range of North Korean missiles, she’d do her pre-emptive duty and whip those Stalinists back to the Stone Age. Same with Iran. because no one would dare harm the Chosen People on Sarah’s watch. After all, it’s against her religion to stand idly by if Israel is attacked. Just ask her friend the Chabad rabbi of Alaska. And a thousand rabbis like him who have long since determined that America and Israel need leaders who take their bible seriously. Like Sarah Palin. And that’s what liberal Jews can’t stand most of all. Reprinted with permission from The Jewish Advocate. °

| November 2008

The Talmud’s Take

Global Economic Depression & Inflation by Carmi WisemoN

hat are the causes of economic crisis? Why have the prices of basic commodities increased by 100% followed by a world economic meltdown?

The Talmud tells us that economic crises are a wake-up call to change our ways. The Gemara states that before the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem the price of grain was 40 Modiut (measures) per Dinar. The price of grain went up slightly and its new price was set at 39 Modiut per Dinar. The sages wondered about the cause of this increase. They searched and found that there was a case where a father and son had relations with a betrothed woman. The father and son were brought to court, and were subsequently found guilty and stoned. After the verdict was carried out, the price of grain returned to the original price of 40 Modiut per Dinar. According to this Gemara the moral level of society can influence the costs of basic commodities and effect the local and world economy. Society’s moral level influences the amount of “Shefa” (abundance) in the world and the harmony of interaction between people effect the economy.

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The Chofetz Chaim, european Jewry’s greatest sage of the 20th century, wrote that the Great Depression of 1929 was brought about because of that generation’s lack of trust in G-d, which led to a lack of trust between people. Though the period leading up to the Great Depression was one of great prosperity, the lack of confidence and trust between people ultimately caused the sources of credit to shrivel up. In his words this, “caused the central artery for the flow of economic life to become clogged by animosities.” This is quite similar to today’s economic meltdown, which was initiated by the sub-prime mortgages, which were based on the unethical loan of money to people who most likely would not be able to pay it back and would have to suffer the consequences of mortgage defaults. When the price of commodities rises unexpectedly and the world is facing an economic meltdown, we should look for both the observable and metaphysical reasons as to why this is happening. °

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Torah Talk

Earners and Learners The controversy of devoting oneself to Torah. to their involvement with Torah (Bereishit Rabbah 72).

by Anne Gordon

he symbiotic relationship between the ancient tribes of Yissakhar and Zevulun is highly touted as a back-handed defense of those who work for a living. As long as the employed contribute of their earnings to those who learn full-time, they are credited with the learning as well. This approach legitimates the employment only insofar as it contributes to Torah study. Generations of Jews have regarded the topic somewhat differently. Rambam, for example, appears exceedingly critical of the kollel enterprise. In Hilkhot Talmud Torah, he writes: All who establish in their hearts that they will involve themselves in Torah and they will not go to work and they will make their living from tzedakah – behold such a person profanes the name of God and denigrates the Torah, and extinguishes the light of the tradition and causes ill to oneself, and removes oneself from life… (3:10).

Not a “Jewish ideal.” Yet Rambam knew his rabbinic literature, and the essence of both “earners” and “learners” is certainly described there. The relationship between gainful employment and Torah study therefore merits further investigation. According to early rabbinic exegesis, the teachers of Torah came from the tribe of Yissakhar. In Masekhet Yoma (26a), Rava maintains that the “learned ones, those who teach, are found only among the tribes of Levi and Yissakhar.” The tribe of Levi, including the kohanim who establish the priestly example for the people, makes intuitive sense. But the Torah reveals little of Yissakhar’s character, so Rava needs a prooftext: “From the people of Yissakhar are those who know to interpret, and determine what Israel should do…” (I Chronicles 12:33). Moreover, Midrash Tanhuma (VaYehi 11) maintains that Yissakhar was single-minded

in their pursuit of Torah, earning the label, “yodei vinah,” people of discernment. But how does the Tanhuma know of such single-mindedness? Perhaps from Yaakov’s blessing to his son: Yissakhar is a strong-boned donkey who tramples among the sheepfolds. He saw that resting is good and that the land is pleasant, and he bent his shoulder to the burden and (effectively) was a worker” (Bereishit 49:14-15).

The donkey is a plugger – one who strives diligently until the task is completed. Bereishit Rabbah (98-99) interprets the blessing metaphorically: Just as the strength of a work-horse is visible and obvious, so too the learning of Yissakhar is obvious. Just as a donkey seeks its burden, Yissakhar seeks Torah. “Sheepfolds” represent the rows of students sitting before the scholars.”Resting” is the Torah. And the land also represents Torah (a literary repetition), so the burden of the worker becomes the yoke of adhering to Torah. Furthermore, the Sages teach that the members of Yissakhar are rewarded for their diligence in Torah study. In Bamidbar, Netanel ben Tzuar from Yissakhar is the second prince to offer gifts for the Mishkan— second only to Nahshon

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The burden of the worker becomes the yoke of adhering to Torah.” ben Aminadav from Yehudah, the tribe of leadership and kingship. We might have thought that the tribes would bring their gifts in “birth order”— leaving Yissakhar in ninth place. Instead, the role each tribe plays among the people seems to determine the honor. Thus, Yissakhar is second, thanks

Reflected in these words is the weight placed on Torah learning, from the very beginning (we would be surprised to discover the Sages saying otherwise!). We are told also that Yissakhar appointed the heads of the courts, and everyone agreed to the halakhah as they taught it (that’s a nice touch— all of Israel in agreement about halakhah!). But by what means, asks the Midrash, does Yissakhar merit all this praise? It answers: through Zevulun (Bereishit Rabbah 72 and 99). Zevulun and Yissakhar are Leah’s fifth and sixth sons; and, as with Yissakhar, the Torah says little about Zevulun. We know that Zevulun was the younger brother, and we have the blessings given to Zevulun the person by Yaakov, and to Zevulun the tribe by Moshe. From Yaakov: “Zevulun will dwell by the seashore; he will be a haven for ships….” (Bereishit 49:13). And from Moshe: “Rejoice Zevulun on your journeys, and Yissakhar in your tents. The people of the mountain are called to there, where they offer sacrifices of righteousness; for they draw from the riches of the sea and the hidden hoards of the sand” (Devarim 33:1819). The tribe of Zevulun is the prosperous merchant class— and they provide for their kin. But why do both Yaakov and Moshe ignore birth order and bless Zevulun first? The Midrash answers: because Zevulun was steeped in “prakmatia”— the details of daily living (also known as”making a living”), while Yissakhar was steeped in Torah. So Zevulun brought food to provide for Yissakhar— the “fuel” for the Torah learning. Yissakhar did not have to cease from study for the purpose of earning a living, and Zevulun was considered a partner in the learning. Truly a symbiotic relationship. The Torah rewards the people of Zevulun for their role. Eliav ben Heilon of Zevulun is the third prince to bring gifts to the Mishkan (after only Yehudah and Yissakhar). Bamidbar Rabbah (13) teaches | November 2008

NoN-ProFiT sPoTlighT

We are left to ask why the Sages singled out these two tribes. Perhaps because of the shared economy between the shippers and the landed class. but Midrash Tanhuma (Korah 4) suggests something more profound: in the wilderness, Yissakhar and Zevulun were the two tribes camped next to moshe and Aharon. They enjoyed especial proximity to the Torah— to the mishkan, that is— and they emerged as “bnei Torah.” The division of labor, then, is established between Yissakhar and Zevulun because it is they who were uniquely sensitive to the ramifications of involvement with Torah. It would seem that simple proximity to Torah breeds appreciation of Torah, and thus involvement— any which way. but Zevulun is greater still. Let us note that the Sanhedrin was established, for a time, in the city of Tzipori, in the portion of Zevulun. Yalkut Shimoni (VaYehi 121) implies that this history explains why Yaakov blessed Zevulun first. Namely, he foresaw the transplantation of the Sanhedrin to Tzipori, so he recognized the future honor to Zevulun by adjusting the order of the blessings. of course, the Sages themselves lived during those years of upheaval. Perhaps their own contemporaneous appreciation of the tribe of Zevulun and the asylum provided to the Sanhedrin led the Sages to regard Yaakov’s conduct as visionary. Perhaps the tradition of this relationship between Yissakhar and Zevulun in particular is then emphasized and embellished all the more because of the historical reality of the placement of the Sanhedrin— conscientiously developing the idea of partnership in learning. Which brings us back to rambam’s view of full-time Torah study, and his careful www.shiurtimes.com

formulation: “…any who plan to refrain from working to be supported by tzedakah….” The offense may well have been those who rivet themselves to Talmud Torah to avoid working. In a word, slackers. Let us not confuse this personality with those who carry the burden of Yissakhar. Those who dedicate time to learning with the intent of “harbatzat Torah” increase Torah knowledge in the world for the sake of longterm communal goals. In fact, rambam advocated personal involvement in the spreading of Torah. At the end of hilkhoT SheMiTTah Ve-yoVel, he explains that all who give of themselves in the service of God and walk upright in the path of Torah sanctify themselves with great kedushah. Such people merit everlasting life and, in this world, they benefit from the support of the community— exactly the opposite of his scathing remarks about those who remove themselves from life. In this day and age, when we do not know who comes from Yissakhar and who from Zevulun, we all have the opportunity to participate— to whatever extent we can. We thereby elevate the soul of society, gaining from proximity to Torah and meriting exposure to it. °

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that Zevulun is thus honored because in extending a hand to “share the wealth” with Yissakhar, they are themselves cherishing the Torah. As presented by the Sages, therefore, the people of Zevulun were no mere commercial agents. by facilitating the studies of their brethren, they were fullfledged vested participants in the pursuit of Torah.

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ounded in 2000 by Dudi and rivka Zilbershlag, meir Panim was established to provide practical solutions to the critical problems facing Israel’s poor. Its goal is to prevent poverty, distress and dependence on governmental aid. The organization builds self-esteem and encourages its clients to restore an independent lifestyle. meir Panim provides nutritious food through a chain of soup kitchens, and delivers food to schoolchildren, the elderly, homebound and Holocaust survivors. With branches throughout Israel, the venture provides a million meals each year! meir Panim also maintains the “Power of Giving” warehouses, which provide household furniture and appliances to over 36,000 families per year. The school youth clubs, employment rehabilitation programs, senior citizens’ clubs, as well as a wide array of vocational training programs, all run by professionals with help from volunteers, empower impoverished individuals become members of the working world. meir Panim is particularly concerned with the needs of underpriviliged children. To keep children from needy or broken homes within mainstream society, meir Panim established “meir Panim for Children,” which provides nutritious school lunches, a network of after-school youth clubs, and distributes new school bags filled with school supplies before every school year. The organization is currently accepting donations of clothes, toys, furniture and appliances at our PoG warehouses. Anything too big to be brought in a private car can be picked up for free by a PoG truck by calling *3656. For more information about meir Panim’s activities, or to donate, contact Aliza Solomon at 02-501-1431 or alizas@pog.org.il meir Panim’s website: www.meir-panim. org Donations can also be made through meir Panim’s branches in Australia, belgium, Canada, england, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and in the US via the PeF (recommending “mifal Chaim”) or your local Jewish Federation. °

soCieTy

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Donating to the Israel Defense Forces.

Rabbi Mordecai Weiss

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onors often have a vision of how they would like to contribute to a charity, but may have trouble translating their vision to reality. That is where a philanthropic consultant can help. Philanthropic consultants are not only for very large donations, but can help donors of more moderate means negotiate bureaucratic red tape. Philanthropic consultants work with non-profit organizations, as well as government sponsored projects…even the army. one recent case I worked was helping to raise funds to supplement army-issued

‘‘

There are several organizations that help Israeli soldiers, and the donor didn’t know which organization would best help.”

equipment. While on the surface it seemed like a simple request, it was more complicated than the donor could handle on his own. Due to concerns about”protektzia” (gaining favors inappropriately) and the fear of favoring one soldier over another, parents, for example, can’t donate funds to their child’s army unit. However, a donor approached me with a specific request to help a hesder unit stationed on the Northern border. remembering stories from the Second Lebanon War of ill-equipped army units, he wished to bolster the government’s standardissue supplies and help the soldiers’ physical conditions, while warming their hearts with the knowledge that Diaspora Jews cared about their condition.

The donor faced many hurdles in actualizing his donation, from language barriers to cultural differences, so he asked us to steer the project. There are several organizations that help Israeli soldiers, and the donor didn’t know which organization would best help. After deciding that the Agudah L’maan HaChayal could best handle the donor’s wishes, I proceeded to make sure that the dollar contributions to the project were able to receive tax-deductible status in America. Some donors are satisfied with writing a check. others want to know how their funds will be used. other patrons want to follow their donation every step of the way. In fact, some supporters feel the project is only completed when an official thank you (with a plaque and/or photograph and letter) is sent at the completion of the project. A philanthropic consultant can keep a project moving in a timely manner, and make sure the specific needs of every donor and organization’s are met. Indeed, the soldiers of this brigade will have new fleeces and gloves before the winter frost hits the Hermon, and the donor will have a photograph to remind him of the finished project. Philanthropic donations are always welcomed by organizations. In today’s world, the consultants who accompany donations are also welcomed, as charitable groups realize a consultant’s oversight benefits both donor and recipient. In this particular case, all of Israel benefits as the soldiers protecting us from Hizbullah have extra equipment to keep them comfortable and alert. °

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Hevron... continued from page 26 over 400 Jewish survivors of the riots. Shaul tells of an elderly Palestinian woman who was one of these rescuers. one day, one of the Jewish children began throwing stones at her, when Shaul approached the child, who was about 10 years old, and reprimanded him. “Do you know what this woman did in 1929? What do you think you’re doing?!”

However, when I hear reports of incitement on the part of the Jews or other violent acts, this really drives my blood pressure up. Jews throwing rocks at Arab shepherds, slashing the tires after an outpost is dismantled, pillaging an Arab village (on Shabbat nonetheless!) after a Palestinian infiltrates the Yizhar yishuv and stabs a 9 year-old boy?

I believe that this anecdote highlights one of my primary inner conflicts about Hevron (and a lot of other yishuvim)— I wonder about how we are educating ourselves and our future generations.

I wonder: at what point do we stop being the “freier” and start showing our muscles? Are these acts really the signs of the new brand of Israeli residents of Yehuda and Shomron?

on the one hand, I find it comforting that the Jewish community has contributed to build the beautiful Avraham Avinu neighborhood. Amidst all this craziness is a modern-looking housing development complete with yeshiva, shul, playground, and numerous apartments for families. even though they are surrounded by these 166,000 Palestinians, many of them supporters of Fatah and Hamas, the children and parents go about their business, go to work, play in the playground— the very same place where a memorial stone lies in memory of little Shalhevet Pass, who was shot and killed by a Palestinian sniper. Though the families are simply living their lives, every step they take makes a brazen political statement: this is ours. Forever.

To my mind, there is a difference between self-defense and outright incitement. You get attacked, you fight back with all your might to save yourself, but nekama (revenge)? Are we reverting to the Crips and the bloods out here? Gangs who need to shoot, beat, and kill to prove who is bigger and better?

on the other hand, everyone feels the tension. but a ten year old throwing rocks at an elderly woman? Where did this child learn such midot? Is that really the position where we see ourselves? I fret at the thought that some of these kids might turn into baruch Goldsteins: that must not be allowed to happen. We, as civilized human beings, cannot condone another Yigal Amir, nor a baruch Goldstein. What happened to these people that they acted at such an ungodly level of behavior? The maps of the PA show only one state: Palestine. regardless of whether the territory is Tel Aviv, Haifa, Hevron, efrat or beit el, it’s all Palestine in their schools. Hamas and Fatah supporters dress their children up like the “Shuhada” (martyrs). Israel and Israelis only exist insofar as they are meant to destroy us. of course, this is deplorable. I simply do not understand why international bodies do not recognize these acts as brainwashing and child abuse.

www.shiurtimes.com

As much as we may be pioneers, trying to develop the Land, we must behaved civilly, for we are far beyond acting like yet another guerilla group. As much as we wish to protect ourselves and our property, we do not live in the Wild West. We very obviously live in the upheaves of an erupting volcano, but we must continue to act like the morally conscious citizens. We, as followers of Torah b’darchei noam, are far beyond the show-downs at “high noon,” but I ask you dear readers, where do we draw the line? °

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CLASSIFIEDS BAKA Pastoral. Duplex 6 rooms, invested, terraces, storage-room, parking Hamishkenote 050656-8909 Itsik. MUSRARA Rental in picturesque and quiet area. First floor, private entrance, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathroom, very large terrace and backyard, semi furnished with appliances, available on 01.02.2009 $2200/month. Contact Annette 054-255-6225 RE/MAX Vision 02-673-1661 www.remax-capital.com

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Central Shaarei Chesed! 320 sqm. house on a corner lot, 6 rooms plus separate unit and courtyard. Needs renovation. Asking $2,500,000. Contact Ilana 054-534-1403 or Dov 052-553-3739 RE/MAX Vision 02-673-1661 www.remax-capital.com

In beautiful Talbieh! 3 room apartment on Brenner St., 5th floor with elevator, sukkah balcony, views, parking. Needs renovation. Asking $550,000. Contact Ilana 054-534-1403 OR Dov 052-553-3739.

| November 2008

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Opinion

McCain or Obama:

Does it Make Any Difference for Israel? The upcoming US elections bring mixed emotions about foreign policy related to Israel. by Azriel Bermant

arah Silverman, the controversial American comedian and actress, is notorious for tasteless and offensive comedy routines. She is less well known for her expertise in international affairs. I was therefore somewhat bemused when she claimed without any elaboration in the Great Schlep campaign video (in support of the Democrats) that Barack Obama’s foreign policy would be much better for Israel than that of John McCain. It may well be that Ms. Silverman knows something that the rest of us don’t. Personally, I believe that Mr. Obama has the potential to be a force for good, as far as Israel is concerned, but there are equally sound reasons to be concerned over his foreign policy positions. Similarly, were John McCain to confound the pollsters on November 4, I believe this would be a mixed blessing for Israel. Let us start with Mr. Obama. It is undeniable that he is a novice in foreign affairs. The greatest issue of concern for Israelis right now is Iran’s quest to acquire a nuclear capability. Mr. Obama proposes dealing with this problem by talking to the Iranians. It is no surprise, therefore, that Ali Larijani, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, spoke openly of his hope that Mr. Obama will become President. The Iranians, no doubt, view Mr. Obama as something of a soft touch. In turn, Joe Biden, Mr. Obama’s running mate, has consistently favoured a conciliatory approach towards Tehran and has warned against attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities.

In contrast, Mr. McCain does have a wealth of experience in international affairs, although he has weakened this claim by selecting the unproven Sarah Palin as his running mate. He has taken a tough stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, calling for a stronger sanctions regime and, if necessary, the use of military force. Mr. McCain’s firm support of the surge in Iraq has arguably been vindicated, reflecting his political courage and far-sightedness, at a time when his rivals were calling for a retreat from Iraq. At a time of growing uncertainty in the Middle East, the Republican nominee’s experience and firmness would be welcomed by Israelis. This is indeed reflected in a recent poll conducted by the Rabin Center for Israel Studies which found that if given a chance to vote in the US elections, 46 per cent of Israelis would vote for the Republican nominee while 34 per cent would vote for his Democratic rival. Interestingly, Israel is one of only three countries where the majority of the population prefers Mr. McCain to Mr. Obama (the other two being Georgia and the Philippines). Mr. Obama has worked hard over recent months to burnish his pro-Israeli credentials. Indeed, following Mr. Obama’s brief trip to the Middle East in July, a Hamas spokesman declared that the policies of both presidential candidates were equally hostile to their cause. Dennis Ross, a friend of Israel, is working as an adviser for Mr. Obama— some might see this as a sign that the Democratic nominee will maintain a close relationship with Israel if elected. Nevertheless, of the two presidential candidates, Mr. McCain has consistently expressed greater understanding for Israel’s predicament in the face of the threats from Hamas, Hizbullah and Iran.

Carter is today reviled for his trenchant criticism of Israel yet he was the man who brokered the groundbreaking peace treaty between Israel and Egypt when he was in the White House. George W. Bush has been described by many as the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House, yet some of his policies have been disastrous for Israel. The US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the subsequent occupation has sapped American morale and eroded its capacity to deal with Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its support for terrorism. They arguably pose a far greater threat to Israel in 2008 than Saddam Hussein did five years earlier. Moreover, until fairly recently, the Bush Administration neglected the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and discouraged any dialogue between Israel and Syria, to Israel’s detriment. Israel needs a US president who can show a greater readiness to become engaged, once again, in the Middle East peace process. There is no guarantee that American engagement will end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, as demonstrated by President Clinton’s experiences in 2000. However, leaving Israel and the Palestinians to their own devices will only heighten instability and violence over the longer term. Thus far in the presidential campaign, Mr. Obama has been more forthcoming than Mr. McCain in expressing his willingness to invest in the peace process. Here is one reason, at least, for Israelis to feel positive should Mr. Obama become President. °

I would argue that even if the new US President were less sympathetic to Israel, this might not be such a bad thing. Jimmy | November 2008

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Hebrew Never Died... continued from page 32

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CoURT (L/R interchange), CLoSe (also SGR– close [metathesis]), and DRive (v/Ch group1 interchange). CouRT, however, may be associated with derech— a way and hatser— a yard, royal court— once again showing the ‘final common pathway’ concept of multiple Hebrew roots comparable within particular english words.

All these have connotations of direction and the latter, HRT- Write, chart, once again shows the ‘h’/‘w’ interchange. These three Hebrew Benclearly Yehuda 1, Jerusalem. www.rubin-co.com words demonstrate how interchange within the Hebrew groups maintains conceptual connotations.

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Although derivation is not the issue here, it is nevertheless remarkable that these so-called, ‘Semitic overtones’ can still, today, be noted in so many words associated with the same concept. A similar situation can be found with the following three Hebrew roots: DRCh- to tread a path, ChRTh- incise, cut into, and HRT- Write and chart, of which trace is a connotation.

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It should also be noted that the Hebrew expression ‘CRTh brith’— to sign a treaty— is usually associated with previously ‘agreeing to a written truce’ as a way of achieving peace. modern Americanese has a tendency towards phonetic corruption (for example, ‘through’ is often written as ‘thru’). Unfortunately, this removes the comparison with DRCh but does maintain some legitimacy as a group 2 ‘u’/group 1 ‘ough’ interchange. It should also be noted that the Hebrew expression ‘ChRTh brith’: ‘to sign a treaty’ is usually associated with previously ‘agreeing to a written truce’ as a way of achieving peace. ° www.shiurtimes.com

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Food-a-liCious

Every Meal is a Celebration Cheshvan please, with a side of comfort.

by irÈNe sharoN hodes

he rain has been pouring down hard tonight. I feel relief. It’s always back to this: a hot mug of earl Grey, a cookie to dunk, a good book, a purring cat, this bright warm corner of the world and a window from which to look out upon the rest of it— shelter from the storm. The chagim are over. As cathartic, joyful, and fulfilling as they were, this first month of the year— my first Tishrei in Israel— was a marathon of a whirlwind rollercoaster. A clearly confused, chaotically ordered, tear-peppered laughter, ever-moving, ever-so-long of a month. It’s high time for some comfort. Cheshvan, the month without holidays, is anomalous indeed in the Jewish calendar. I, on the other hand, am thankful for it. There is nothing wrong with a month of normal. In fact, it makes sense. The dull task of getting back to the business of life is actually rather important. After every beginning, we need to build the rest. because it’s coming on winter— a darker and colder time, by nature— and it’s a time to be sensible, to work, to prepare. For me, the absence of holidays does not mean the absence of joyful moments. In fact, getting back to basic routines highlights those simplest of pleasures. It’s the perfectly spicy-tangy-dripping shakshuka during my lunch break; the midnight Pb&J I shovel into my happy American mouth; and the blessing of hot chicken soup and challah on Shabbat. In America, the tail end of November brings Thanksgiving, which besides Pesach is my favorite holiday. A

celebration after the harvest, before the worst of winter comes to call. Like with many Jewish holidays, I relish the opportunity to reflect collectively on the blessings of our lives. And of course, there is the never-ending parade of comfort foods. As I grew up, I absorbed the meaning of “labor of love” through my fingers, flesh, and aching bones while creating these feasts— my vast array of spiced pies, chestnut stuffing, orangezesty cranberry sauce, and of course the succulent herb-crusted bird. I grew to understand that the pleasure was as much in the work as it was in devouring the delectable meal. We equate food with comfort, and rightly so. Food activates the release of chemicals which physically calm us, food is one of the most powerful triggers of memories, and food brings people together. Altogether, when we eat, we become physically content, remember happy memories, and are usually joined by friends and family. We don’t need festivals and holidays to eat. We must eat every day, and best more than once. every time we do, we comfort ourselves and each other. Whether a crust of bread or a lavish banquet, every meal is a celebration— a celebration of our hard work and survival. Last year, as a very new olah, I went to a massive catered Thanksgiving dinner at a hotel. Nice as it was to not be alone, this year will be different. I’m looking forward to these cold nights ahead, listening to the deafening drumming of the raindrops outside. After all, I’ve got a gigantic menu to plan. °

Maria’s Brownies (dairy) You, dear readers, in the simple act of your reading, are participating in an unprecedented event: I am sharing my most prized recipe. It came down from my father through his first secretary, and I am not exaggerating when I say that these are the best brownies in the world. I dislike the word “best,” in all its impossible, immeasurable, innate exclusivity. but in this case, it just happens to be true. They are at once decadent and the epitome of comfort food. A dish that would be as much in its element at the ritz as it would be at the corner pizza place. This recipe has been one of my life’s greatest comforts. In my younger years, I protected this recipe with my life. I know better now. Thank you, Daddy, for making these for us, and thank you maria for sharing the recipe with him.

4 oz. (115 grams) Bittersweet chocolate ½ C. Butter 2 C. Sugar 1 C. Flour 1 tsp. Vanilla 4 eggs 1 C. Chocolate Chips 2 C. Mini-marshmallows 1 C. chopped walnuts 1) Preheat oven to 350˚ F (180˚ C). Grease a 13” X 9” (33 cm x 23 cm) pan. 2) Melt chocolate and butter together. Let cool slightly. Beat in sugar well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. Mix in flour. 3) In a separate bowl, combine chocolate chips, marshmallows, and walnuts. Add to batter and mix well. 4) Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth even. Bake 40-45 minutes. Let cool until set. Cut and serve.

| November 2008

NoN-ProFiT sPoTlighT

oPiNioN

Israel’s March of Folley

Yad Eliezer

by Zvi November

eople do foolish things all the time. Drivers go way over the speed limit thereby endangering everyone in their cars. Consumers buy products they don’t actually need. Satire thrives because humans are inclined to behave irrationally. Similarly, official government policies frequently exhibit stupidity as well.

back in 1984, the prize-winning historian barbara Tuchman published her best-seller The March of folly, which provides several detailed examples of governments acting against their own best interests. Ancient Troy (bringing a suspicious wooden horse into its fortified city) to the renaissance popes who spent enormous sums on grandiose projects thus provoking the Protestant reformation, right up to America’s involvement in the vietnam war that so many commentators now believe was unnecessary since fundamental US interests were not really in danger. However, the grand prize for extreme folly probably belongs to Israeli governments that continue to act against the country’s best interests. In 1993, Yasser Arafat was sinking into irrelevance in Tunis when the rabin-Peres government resurrected the world’s arch terrorist as a “peace partner” who represents all the Palestinians completely ignoring Hamas and all the other die-hard rejectionists and most of the Arab world.

A make-believe “peace process” was invented that was based on transferring “territories” (i.e. Judea, Samaria and Gaza) to Arab control thus creating staging areas for terror attacks just a few minutes from Jewish population centers. Today, our prime minister insists on negotiating with Abu mazzen even though he is the impotent head of the ineffective P.A. Israeli officials are hoping for an agreement which entails transferring almost all of Judea and Samaria and the strategic Jordan valley to Arab sovereignty despite all the bitter lessons already learned from the south Lebanon withdrawal and the Gaza disengagement. Israeli policy-makers do their utmost to conform to european and American concepts and misconceptions even when such actions are obviously detrimental to Israeli interests, not to mention our legitimate rights. Fallacious assumptions dominate mainstream thinking. For instance, Islamic groups calling for and fighting for Israel’s destruction are ignored or not dealt with properly. Asserting the legitimate rights of the Jewish people is not on anyone’s agenda. Jews living in Judea and Samaria are castigated as “obstacles to peace.” Advocating the transfer of Arabs to Arab lands is taboo. Strengthening the state’s Jewish character is not seriously pursued. This list of government misjudgment and mismanagement can easily be extended. When taken as a whole, erroneous suppositions reinforce self-destructive initiatives that can only be described as pure folly. If barbara Tuchman were alive today she would no doubt add a chapter about Israel to her book. °

www.shiurtimes.com

by sT sTaFF

ad eliezer was founded in 1980 with the single objective of delivering monthly food baskets to hungry families. Its underlying premise is that every Jew in Israel is entitled to a life of dignity, self-reliance, and self-respect. Throughout the years, the organization has grown to encompass fifteen economic and social service programs that impact the lives of over 18,000 families each year. Due to its growing success, Yad eliezer has received the highest 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent evaluator of charities. With an aim to combat poverty on individual, family and communal levels, Yad eliezer provides critical short-term relief and confronts the underlying causes of poverty. Yad eliezer’s comprehensive welfare system actually empowers people with long-term financial and psychological stability. The system includes the distribution of essential food, clothing, and household items, job training, and adolescent mentoring programs. Therefore, the goal is not to make their clients perpetually dependent on the organization, but to bring about economic recovery and social development in Israel. Yad eliezer is proud to honor its commitment to limited overhead and minimal expenses while providing personalized and professional assistance to hundreds of thousands of our nation’s neediest. Projects include food boxes with baby formula, meals on Wheels, Chicken for Shabbos & Holidays, a big brother/ big Sister Program, the Shalhevet Program which detects learning disabilities in the early childhood years, a Widows’ Fund, a dental clinic that provides 8,000 visits each year to the residents of Tzefat, and financial assistance to needy couples for their wedding. °

Contributors Trevor Asserson is a UK solicitor and a member of the Israeli Bar. He has long been recognized in the main UK legal directories for his litigation skills. Trevor was educated at University College School and at Oxford University. He currently resides in Jerusalem with his wife and children. Rav Shlomo Aviner is the Rosh Yeshiva of the Ateret Cohanim yeshiva in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem and the rabbi of Bet El. David Bedein is the Bureau Chief, Israel Resource News Agency & President, Center for Near East Policy Research Ltd.Beit Agron International Press Center. Azriel Bermant has an MA in International Relations from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and is currently writing his PhD thesis at University College London on British Policy towards the Arab-Israeli Conflict under the Thatcher Government. Azriel is now working as a consultant in political research and analysis. Ben Bresky is a music journalist and host of “The Beat”, a live radio show and podcast on Israel National Radio.com. The site offers free podcasts and live streaming audio on Israeli politics, Torah, music and more. To listen to “The Beat” and other programs visit www. IsraelNationalRadio.com Rav Yuval Cherlow is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Hesder Petach Tikva and a retired major in the IDF. He was amongst the founders of the Tzohar Foundation, a central Modern Orthodox

foundation which works to build bridges between the religious and secular worlds. Rabbi Jason Demant is a sought-after educator, rabbi Jason Demant is the rabbi of Katamon’s ‘Late Late’ Minyan and is pursuing research on the writings of Rav Yitzhak Hutner. Alison Golub-Perez is a graduate of Brown University. She made aliyah in 2003 from Rhode Island, and is pursuing a PhD in Social Psychology at Ben Gurion University in Beer Sheva. Anne Gordon holds an M.A. in Judaic Studies and a B.A. in History and Philosophy from Harvard University. She is currently pursuing a (slow) doctorate in Jewish Education. A proficient teacher, Anne directs the summer program at MaTaN, and before making aliyah, she spent many years learning in the women’s batei midrash of Jerusalem and New York. Danny Herman (“Danny the Digger”) is an archaeologist, journalist, and a tour guide. You can learn more about him and his tours at his website: www.dannythedigger.com

Hezbollah War. He is the author of Le Temps du Retour and is a member of the prestigious online public relations forum, Israel PR. Dr. Victor Roth was born in London, and made aliyah in 1969. An Orthopedic Surgeon by profession, one of Dr. Roth’s main interests is researching ancient Hebrew linguistics and the relevance of loshon hakodesh to many aspects of modern-day life. He currently lives in Har Nof, Jerusalem, has four children, and seven grandchildren. Elie Rubin is the Managing Publisher of ShiurTimes. Beth Zalcman is a second year student in Bar Ilan studying communications and political science. She’s addicted to the written word. Dr. Simcha Shapiro is a US-trained physician and osteopath. He is the founder and director of the Listening Hands Institute, located in the Terem building in the Romema section of Jerusalem. See www.listeninghands.co.il for more info.

Irène Sharon Hodes is a writer and personal chef. Hailing from Chicago, she has been a theatre director, contemporary art publicist, and award-winning radio producer and journalist. She is completing her first novel. Contact her at irenesharonhodes@gmail.com.

Yehudit Singer is the Editor of ShiurTimes and currently resides in Jerusalem.

Menachem Jerenberg is an aspiring cartoonist and will study Computer graphics in the upcoming year. He lives in Beit Shemesh. He can be contacted at batyai100@013. net

Carmi Wisemon is the Executive Director of Sviva Israel, a non-profit organization that creates environmental and civic responsibility in Israeli society by giving young people the knowledge and skills to protect the environment while simultaneously building their Jewish and Israeli identities. See www.svivaisrael.org

Tsvi November is the author of ISRAEL in REALITY. Readers can go to www.trafford.com/080128 for more information. David Kilimnick is Jerusalem’s Comedian. He is a vibrant comic with professional experience as a Hillel rabbi and social worker. A native of New York, he made aliyah in 2004. Last year, he opened the Off the Wall Comedy Empire. He is available for private parties and groups. See www.israelcomedy.com Tom Mountain is a weekly columnist for The Jewish Advocate, a community newspaper in the Greater Boston area.

Rabbi Mordechai Weiss is a licensed tour guide who made aliyah from Teanack, New Jersey. He currently resides in Mitzpeh Yericho.

Ahava Zarembski is Founder and President of The Yesod Masad Initiative, a strategic consulting group on Jewish communities in Israel and around the world. For more info, please contact yesodcenter@gmail.com Rabbi Immanuel Yosef Legomsky MA has a private practice as an NLP and EFT Trainer, and Advanced NeuroCARE EEG Brainwave Neurofeedback Trainer. He is both Co-Founder and Director of www.IsraelTraumaCare.org which networks mental health professionals to provide psychotrama care for terror victims. Reach him at EFTRabbi@gmail.com

Yoram Ohana is the Manager of Special Services Division of the Profile Family office in Jerusalem.

We want to know! Tell us about it at staff.editors@shiurtimes.com 50

Olivier Rafowicz is the CEO of InfoLive.tv, the largest online video news operation in Israel. A reserve colonel in the IDF, Rafowicz directed much of all international media operations during the Israel Lebanon | November 2008