HH # 302 A McFalafel w/Mustard

Here you go!

When a Dictator is Called President

The recent demonstrations against Mubarak in Egypt remind of a post that I wrote a long, long time ago (that is to say six years ago):

It is amazing that the press, when referring to the dictator of Egypt, calls him "President Mubarak." Even Arutz 7, which is an island of sanity among the sea of Israel's LLL* media, refers to Dictator Hosni as "Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak." It is really pathetic to hear "President Bush" and "President Mubarak" mentioned in the same breath. The former is a president, while the latter is a dictator!

* LLL = Loony Liberal Leftist

See also what the crew at the Muqata has to say about this.

Rabbi Yisrael Rosen: Ban MK Einat Wilf!

Does the Rabbi reads this blog? Here is an excerpt (translated into English) of what he wrote for this week's Shabbat B'Shabbato parasha sheet:

For now we will put aside thoughts about this situation that are related to political science. Let us also put aside any thoughts about "Israeli democracy," which after the founding of "Kadima" – "Go forward towards the Disengagement" – will never surprise me again by its shenanigans. What I want to do here today is point a finger of guilt at one of the dwarfs in Atzmaut, by the name of Einat Wilf. It has been announced that she will be appointed the head of one or more Knesset committees, either Education or Immigration and Absorption.

I hereby call for a complete ban on all of this woman's public activities in the above matters, because of the totally negative image she projects as the wife of a German who is not a Jew (as far as I know, he has not even taken on Israeli citizenship). This call is not made on a religious basis (there are greater sinners than she is) or on a nationalistic basis (there are greater "nationalistic traitors" than she is), and not even on a cultural basis (there are MK's who present a worse example of personal behavior). I simply cannot accept the idea of an MK in a mixed marriage. The opposition to such a marriage is still within the broad consensus of our people (and I am not referring to a case of "Jewish blood" which is common among Russian-speaking immigrants).

I know very well that some members of the Knesset are not Jewish, including Moslems and Druze. I would not be surprised, and I would not even object, if some immigrant from the former Soviet Union would declare that he represents the community of immigrants who have not yet converted to Judaism or who want to maintain non-Jewish communities, but who want to be loyal citizens of our country. Five years ago I wrote an article titled, "We can learn to live with a significant Gentile minority, descendants of the Jews" (it is reprinted in my new book, "Love the Convert," published recently by Zomet Institute). I have not changed my mind since then. But an MK in a mixed marriage, just like that, is too much for me. Especially when this is touted under the name of Israeli "Independence," or when the individual involved is slated to head a committee on such subjects as education, immigration, or absorption.

Do not take this case of the MK and her husband lightly. It is a subject that carries an educational message. Richard Gutjahr (her husband and the father of her son Yonatan – I wonder if the child has been circumcised) has shown that he is a pioneer in education! How can we ever forget that he was the very first customer to receive the new iPad ("It's heavy and very shiny!") because of the determination that he showed by standing in line in New York for ten hours! This record totally dwarfs the fact that he has no command of Hebrew and that as the host of a television show in Bavaria he spends only part of his time in our country!

With all this, the lady has written educational books in Hebrew which are eminently suited to our generation. Here is her vision for solving problems in education: "Expelling children from the class who cause disturbances, giving low marks in response to bad behavior or violence in class, limiting the day-to-day contact between parents and teachers, and giving the teachers stronger backing by the principals" (as quoted on internet). But don't make any mistake, she is not so conservative! Her world vision is based on a view of the global world (could it be otherwise?) and allowing the use of light drugs because of the high cost of fighting them (remember that she has a background in economics, for example as the manager of a financial fund). She expounded (or perhaps absorbed) these messages as a Senior Fellow in the Jewish People Policy Planning Institute!

In summary, and in protest, I say once again: FOR SHAME!

For shame indeed!

Former Deputy Attorney General Philip B. Heymann to Obama: Release Pollard

The pile of letters on the president's desk gets higher and higher:

25 January 2011

The Honorable Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington DC 20500-0001

Dear Mr. President:

Having reviewed the Pollard file at length as Deputy Attorney General in 1993-1994, I enthusiastically join the many distinguished others who are now urging you to commute the sentence of Jonathan Pollard. Like Jim Woolsey and Dennis DeConcini, I know the record thoroughly and fully share their conclusions. Like Secretary of State George Shultz, I particularly admire the precise statement of the issues by former Attorney General Mukasey.

Pollard’s conviction was justified but his sentence was entirely out-of-line with others engaging in similar behavior and it was made less-than-legitimate by a treacherous recommendation of the then Secretary of Defense. There is no evidence that Pollard intended to harm the United States or help its enemies. Having already served a severe sentence; Pollard is now supported by political and religious leaders across the political spectrum in seeking a commutation. I join them with deep conviction as to the justice of their shared cause.

Sincerely,
Philip B. Heymann

This letter is particularly interesting in that it calls Caspar Weinberger's recommendation to incarcerate Pollard for life as "treacherous".

Another Convert

I must admit that I really enjoy reading what converts have to say. Their view on life, on Judaism, and on the Jewish community are truly unique. There is so much to be learned from them.

Every convert has his own special story. Matys Weiser, born a Catholic in Poland, is no exception. I highly recommend his blog and web site.

HH #301 and Other Links

Best Of The Jewish/Israeli Blogosphere #301

Ka'anashim Harbei Bilvavot Rabot

In the spirit of parashat Yitro:

The Jewish Prince of Persia

Michaltastik

You're Not Crazy

Gideon Levy's Intermarried Messiah Lets Him Down

Gideon Levy is such a crybaby! It looks like he had high hopes for Einat Wilf, the MK who is married to a gentile:

The moaning and groaning about Israeli politicians is always accompanied by a yearning for "young and talented" people who will go into politics. Give us scientists, businessmen, graduates of prestigious universities and high-tech whizzes, and watch how everything will change. Enough of the party hacks, bring on the success stories.

This week one of their prominent representatives participated in the press conference where a fresh ideological movement was announced, and proved that redemption will certainly not come from those quarters. The titles, proven successes and impressive resume won't help. There's no such thing as a successful politician without a clear-cut worldview, honesty and courage.

Einat let poor Gideon down. She did not do the bidding of his employers at Haaretz, that is to say, topple Netanyahu. Waaa!:

MK Dr. Einat Wilf turned out to be nothing more than an ordinary hack. If we once had an MK-electrician from Ashkelon who sold his soul for a Mitsubishi, this time it was the MK and Ph.D. holder, graduate of the Insead business school, who sold her soul to head a minor committee in the Knesset. Between Wilf and Alex Goldfarb there is only one line, the line of opportunism.

You hear that? Gideon Levy accusing somebody of selling his soul! LOL!

Five Levels of Pleasure

This is a truly fantastic article by the late Rabbi Noah Weinberg. The rabbi was not only a genius, he was a master teacher. Read it, you won't be sorry!

Haveil Haveilim #300 and Other Interesting Links

This is for sure a milestone: The 300th edition of Haveil Havalim. I also saw some other interesting links today that you might want to check out:

Foreign Funded Demonstration in Tel Aviv

20th Anniversary of First Gulf War

Netanyahu's Grandfather

A Star of David - Legal and Right

Even After The Referendum In Sudan, Muslim Slavery Of Blacks Will Remain A Problem

Khartoum and hartumim

Who's Afraid of Einat Wilf?

In my first post about this MK from the Labor Party that is "married" to a gentile, I mentioned my surprise that Hadassah Magazine would interview somebody like that.

Well, I am not alone! It turns out that other readers were equally disturbed by what they read and they let Hadassah know about it:

After reading the interview with Einat Wilf (October/November issue), I wasn’t sure whether to dismiss her as a misguided Jew, or just forget about her rants. I decided to write to the editor and see if other readers have the same reactions as I do.

Wilf is clearly a member of the young elite in Israeli society. I am quite sure she has a great future in front of her. Unfortunately, this future should not be as a “Jewish” leader. Her answer to the question of what is modern Zionism’s greatest challenge is almost bordering on heresy. Her answer as quoted “I believe the Knesset is the new Sanhedrin of the Jewish people. As such, it has the right to remake Jewish law” is not only against everything Jews have lived and died for centuries, but is antithetical to every credo Jews believe in. The Knesset making religious laws? Based on what—their expertise in Talmud, Mishna or halakha? Wilf should learn a little more about how Jews survived for 5,000 years. Harvard, Cambridge and Hebrew University, where I also received my master’s of arts, unfortunately does not teach Jews how to live or even survive. Yeshivot, religious day schools and academies throughout the world have guided Jews in their every day life for thousands of years. What a sad state of affairs that this Knesset member feels she has the right to establish religious laws.

Marc Aron
Teaneck, NJ

Marc Aron hit the nail on the head: She's not fit to be a "Jewish" leader. This is especially true when we take into account the fact that she is shacking up with a gentile. This comment of his is also very insightful:

"Harvard, Cambridge and Hebrew University, where I also received my master’s of arts, unfortunately does not teach Jews how to live or even survive. Yeshivot, religious day schools and academies throughout the world have guided Jews in their every day life for thousands of years."

Jewish parents, cut that quote out and paste it on your mirror!

Here's another reaction:

The interview with Einat Wilf revealed a hostility to the Jewish religion that makes a joke of the Prayer for the State of Israel that refers to Israel as the “flowering of our redemption.” Clearly her remarks about Haredi women (“absolutely no way you can choose to travel on a segregated bus”) and her remark about “a version of medieval Judaism” show her unbridled hostility to the Jewish religion. The idea of making the Knesset the new Sanhedrin and its “right to remake Jewish law” ranges between ludicrous and shocking.

I lived and worked in Israel for 12 years. Three of my grandchildren serve in the Israeli army. If people like Einat Wilf run things I will not be able to wear a kippa on the street. Spare me from people who think as she does.

Justin Sweet
Professor of Law Emeritus, University of California
Berkeley, CA

Professor Sweet seem to be pretty upset with the lady. I wonder what he would have written if he knew that she was "married" to a gentile.

Dear Mr. President...Free Pollard

The latest:

Dear Mr. President,

I am writing to join with many others in urging you to consider that Jonathan Pollard has now paid a huge price for his espionage on behalf of Israel and should be released from prison.

I am impressed that the people who are best informed about the classified material he passed to Israel, former CIA Director James Woolsey and former Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee Dennis DeConcini, favor his release.

I find the letter you received from former Attorney General Michael Mukasey of the Bush administration particularly compelling.

With my respect,

Sincerely yours,

George P. Shultz

Links Between B'Tselem, Terror Funds Reported

No surprise here. The buck starts at the Al Aqsa Fund and stops at several Israeli leftist NPOs:

Israeli leftist groups receive money from Arab pro-terror organizations, an independent investigation by grassroots student group Im Tirtzu revealed. The findings were reported by Ma'ariv Tuesday.
Im Tirtzu's study connects the dots between 13 Israeli leftist groups - including B'Tselem and the Center for Protection of the Individual ('Hamoked') - and a Ramallah-based fund called the National Development Center (NDC), which is closely linked to a fund called the Welfare Association (WA). The WA, in turn, receives some of its money from the Al Aqsa Fund, which also gives money to the relatives of mass murdering 'martyrs' who carried out suicide attacks against Jewish men, women and children.

Im Tirtzu says that by receiving money from these sources, the Israeli groups are legally obliged to fight Israel through propaganda and 'lawfare.'

The NDC gave a total of about two million dollars to 13 Israeli groups in 2008-2009 alone, the new research reveals. The largest donations were to Hamoked, which received $450,000, and B'Tselem, which got $400,000.

Read the rest.

Singer/Songwriter Moshe Yess Passes Away

Baruch Dayan HaEmet:

Moshe Yess, a beloved performer and musician who has entertained audiences around the world, passed away Motzoei Shabbos, considered Shvat 4, 5771.

He was 65 and suffered from Cancer.

He was hospitalized earlier this year at University Medical Center (UMC) in Tucson, Arizona, and was visited by local Chabad Shluchim, before he underwent recovery treatment.

Yess, known for the song ‘Zaide Made us Laugh,’ lived in Montreal, Canada, for many years after he became a Baal Teshuva and made a living singing and teaching.

Yess was half of the "Megama" duo. I remember when I was at the beginning of my teshuvah, I went to see Megama and Mordechai Ben David. Megama made a very big impression on me back then. This video was filmed a couple of years before the time that I saw them:

Fruit From the Land of Israel on Tu Bishvat

The box says:

Many generations dreamed of coming to the land of the Patriarchs and partaking of its fruit. And behold at this moment you have the privilege of holding a package of dry fruit that were grown entirely by Jewish agriculture in the land of Israel. Eat with pleasure from the blessing of our wonderful land.

HH Three Hundred Minus One

The amazing Jewish Blog Carnival is closing in on 300 editions. Here.

More on Danny Rosen

The Israeli MSM is too busy crucifying Eli Yishai, lionizing Danny Rosen, and canonizing Ahuva Tomer to pick up Halemo's amazing scoop that I mentioned the other day. It just doesn't fit their agenda.

However one news site, Yoav Yitzchak's Machlaka Rishonah, has got the story. They do not mention rotter.net. It is possible that they found much of the information independently. What's more, they found information about the man and his problematic behavior that was not mentioned in Halemo's scoop. I have a feeling that the other news outlets cannot afford ignoring the story any longer.

Amazing Scoop at Roter.net: What is the Real Reason That Danny Rosen Wants to Sue Eli Yishai?

There is an amazing scoop on Rotter.net. You may have heard about what happened at a memorial ceremony for the victims of the Carmel fire:

Minister of Interior Eli Yishai had to be escorted out of an official memorial ceremony at Beit Oren Wednesday for the 44 people who died in the Carmel fire disaster. Yishai left, accompanied by Chief Sephardic Rabbi Shlomo Amar, after several family members of the fire's victims loudly interrupted Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu when he got up to speak.

The shouting was led by Danny Rosen, who was the life partner of Brigadier-General Ahuva Tomer, the female commander of Haifa Police who died in the blaze. Rosen, a retired member of Israel's security forces, stood up and singled out Yishai in the loud verbal attack, which he carried out from one of the front rows of chairs that seated the bereaved families. He said that Yishai had no right to be present at the ceremony and demanded that he leave. He then threatened that he and other relatives would leave the ceremony if Yishai did not.

Eli Yishai, together with Chief Rabbi Amar, nobly left the ceremony. However, Rosen's outburst was just the start. Now he wants to sue Eli Yishai:

Danny Rozen, the life partner of former Haifa Police chief Ahuva Tomer, told Israel Radio on Thursday that he would sue Interior Minister Eli Yishai.

"Eli Yishai has to pay" for the Carmel fire, Rozen said. "I will do whatever I can so he pays out of his own pocket."

I'm not a lawyer, but it doesn't seem to me that this suit has much merit. I was puzzled by the issue until I saw the following scoop by Moshe HaLevi a.k.a. "Halemo" at rotter.net . Here is what Halemo claims (I've translated it into English):

In the year 2010 "open door" judicial proceedings took place in the Haifa District Court. In the proceedings a property and financial separation was requested between Ahuva Tomer and her partner for life Danny Rosen, his son and his daughter. (This was not a proceeding in the court of family matters which take place behind closed doors). During the proceedings it was revealed that Danny Rosen has serious financial problems since 1993. He sold his apartment in '93 to his partner Ahuva Tomer.

The banks wished to place a lien on his possessions because of his debts. They wanted to put a lien on his apartment in the city of Nesher, the very apartment that he sold to Ahuva Tomer.

During the proceedings it was revealed, by means of an affidavit that Rosen presented, that the sale of the apartment was done without a lawyer and without informing the tax authorities. Rosen and/or Tomer chose not to pay the "appreciation tax" on the deal. The tax was payed many years later after this flaw was revealed.

The tragic death of Tomer, Rosen's partner, places him in deep financial problems, since the couple decided to live a partnership life style that is not anchored in the law, separating their property and money, in order that it would not be confiscated by the banks.

Check out Halemo's scoop, along with the relevant legal documents at rotter.net.

Should Jonathan Pollard Be Released?

Certainly!

Bohemian Rhapsody, for Four Violins

Pollard's Exodus?

Could it be that we will merit to see Pollard free? First this happened:

A broad-based interfaith coalition comprised of more than 500 members of the clergy and community leaders sent a letter today to President Barack Obama, in which they called on the President to commute the sentence of Jonathan Pollard. (The letter with the complete list of signatories is attached; the text of the letter appears below.)

The signatories on the letter include prominent religious and communal leaders from a wide array of Christian and Jewish communities, including representatives of Alliance for Jewish Renewal, American Values, Amit, Association of Reform Zionists of America, B'nai B'rith International, Central Conference of American Rabbis, Christians United for Israel, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, EMUNAH of America, Florida Council of Churches, Hebrew Union College, Hillel, JCC's of North America, Jewish Women International, National Council of Young Israel, New York Board of Rabbis, ORT America, Inc., Orthodox Union, Rabbinical Council of America, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Religious Zionists of America-Mizrachi, Simon Wiesenthal Center, Union for Reform Judaism, Yeshiva University, and the Zionist Organization of America.

The need to free Pollard has finally entered the consensus as Jennifer Rubin points out:

Nyer is correct that the letter is noteworthy, in part, because of the diverse political affiliation of the signatories, ranging from conservative Morton Klein of the ZOA to such leftwing figures as Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, head of the Union of Reform Judaism. In the past, the intensity for Pollard's pardon has been primarily on the right, but this broad-based plea suggests this is no longer a rightwing issue. As the press release notes, some well known liberal individuals and groups have adopted the cause:

And now this:

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu made an unprecedented public appeal in the Knesset Tuesday night for freeing Jonathan, reading out loud a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama, appealing to him to end Pollard’s life sentence in prison.

The ball is definitely in Obama's court. Will he harden his heart as the Pharaoh of old? Time will tell.

Moshe Feiglin: Katzav Not Guilty of Rape

It seems that a significant number of Israelis are not convinced that the conviction of former Israeli President Moshe Katzav is justified. In addition to the people I mentioned previously we have the leader of the Likud's Manhigut Yehudit faction Moshe Feiglin:

משה קצב אשם במה שאיש לא העז להאשימו, וזכאי לחלוטין מן העברות המרכזיות שבית המשפט הטיח בו. הטרדה ברמה כזו או אחרת – אולי, ואם זה נכון, זה חמור ומתועב מאוד מאוד, אבל אונס - ודאי שלא

A rough translation:

Moshe Katzav is guilty of what nobody dared accusing him of, and is totally innocent of the main crimes that the court convicted him of. Harassment on one level or another - perhaps, if it is true, is serious and is very,very abominable - but (of) rape, (he is) certainly not(guilty).

Who Thinks Katzav May Be Innocent?

Rabbi Shlomo Aviner:

Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, one of Religious Zionism's leaders, said Thursday that the former President Moshe Katsav was innocent, and that the Tel Aviv District Court should not have convicted him of the sexual offenses detailed in the indictment.

The rabbi stated that the case files had previously been revealed to him and his conclusion was that the man in question was innocent. His statements were first published on the Kipa website.

Ben-Dror Yemini:

Moshe Katzav was the victim of a feminist-leftist media lynch and his trial may well have been a mistrial, according to popular columnist Ben-Dror Yemini of Maariv.

Atty. Yoram Sheftel:

Maverick Israeli lawyer Yoram Sheftel says that justice was not served in the Katzav case and that the judges were unable to stand up to media pressure. “There is no evidence to back up the accusations,” Sheftel told Arutz 7.

Cosmic X:

The verdict is in. He may be guilty and he may not be. I do not have faith in the Israeli Judicial System.

Bad Translation of the Day

Here it is:

"Freedom of speech has been stolen from wizened students by the police and the prosecution, because they believe it is deserved only by radical and post-Zionist academicians, who call on Arabs to refrain from renting to Jews in their neighborhoods," they said in a statement.

Who are these "wizened students"? Obviously the Hebrew original was "Talmidei Chachamim" which could be translated literally as "students of the wise" but really should be translated as "Torah scholars".

Einat Wilf's Sham and Shanty

Not too long ago I learned about a Jewish member of the Knesset, Einat Wilf, who is married to a gentile. As my aunt used to say, "Such a shonda!" I previously expressed my great dismay at the fact that someone like this serves in the Israeli Parliament here (Be sure to check out the post and the comments!).

Using the power of Google I uncovered an article by Einat Wilf written over five years ago: "Mitzvot of peoplehood". In it she outlines her plan to recreate the Jewish People in her image:

"But if Peoplehood is to become the Jewish Holy Grail of identity for our age, it must emerge as an effective source of meaning and guidance in our lives.

It must have content and depth. It must go beyond who we are, to become what we must do. It must say something about how to lead a good life in this world at this time.

We all need guidance and structure in our lives. It is our human need. But when traditional guidance is no longer relevant and old structures fail, we search for new ones. If we’re truly blessed, we not only find them, we create them.

So this is our great opportunity - to create new movements, institutions and ideas that will provide Jews around the world with structure and guidance suited for a global age.

It is our chance to harness the awesome power of science, technology, instant communications and cheap transportation to be one people, undivided, in a quest to fathom what it means to be human and moral in our time.

What are the mitzvot of Peoplehood? What should we do as members of the Jewish People when we wake up in the morning? What does it mean to be a good Jew in our time? Answer this question, and you square the circle of our generation."

She's a charmer, isn't she? One who is not steeped in Torah learning and observance could easily be swayed by such sweet talk. The slick rhetoric, so disconnected with God and Torah proves that she is a protégée of Shimon Peres.

After reading her article, it is not surprising at all that she ended up "marrying" a gentile! After all, she and her friends are the ones who are going to define what Jewish Peoplehood is, what is moral, what mitzvot must be performed etc. Maybe her "husband" Richard will also put in his two Deutsche Mark.

What is surprising is that I had already seen that article way back when. Not only that, I even left a comment:

"There is only one definition of Jewish Peoplehood - that which the Torah offers. Anything else is destined to find itself in the dustpan of history . "

I did not know back then how quickly Einat Wilf would find herself in the dustpan. The house that she has built is not a holy Jewish house of "kiddushin", but an impure edifice, a sham and shanty that is condemned to collapse. Lies, even backed up with academic degrees and spoken fluently in several languages, remain lies.

HH #298

This week's edition is by Jack.