Shabbat Shalom..
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3.2.12
Recording Shiur On Shabbos
As a child I always wanted to record the Cubs and Bears games that were played on Shabbos so I could watch them later. We never did. Probably more because technology then made such a thing with a timer more difficult but also because that was a sacrifice for Shabbos (I had it really hard as a kid, can't you see?)... When I was a bit older and in yeshiva, I always wondered if it would be possible to record a drasha by setting up a walkman, or eventually a voice recorder in a hidden spot near the speaker.. the biggest challenge would have been leaving it on and not running out of battery power or recording time by the time the drasha was to be given. Another sacrifice for Shabbos.
In a yeshiva in Bnei Braq there has been a special shiur given once a week on a weeknight. because of the complexity involved, and to allow the shiur to be accessible to many alumni and avreichim who cannot make it at the scheduled time of the shiur, the shiur would be recorded and then saved to a yeshiva computer from which the boys could then transfer to their audio devices for further reviewing of the shiur.
Two weeks ago the Rosh Yeshiva decided to move the shiur from a weeknight to Friday night. This presented the students with a dilemma. How would they record it for listening later? They solved the problem by placing a recorder on Friday afternoon in an unnoticed spot near the Rosh Yeshiva and setting it to record. When he gave his speech later on Friday night, the shiur was recorded as usual. After shabbos it was then downloaded to the computer and shalom al yisrael.
When it was discovered that the shiur was subversively recorded on Shabbos, the rosh yeshiva got upset. The shiur was erased from the computer (and I imagine he made each boy erase it from whatever device they might have copied it to), and he also changed the shiur back to the weeknight schedule. If it would cause such a grave breach in proper behavior and relation to Shabbos, the shiur could not be given then. (source: Kikar)
It seems like a great idea, but the implementation by people who are generally looking to keep kala k'chamura is a bit of a corruption.. The rosh yeshiva made a good decision to reschedule it again so as to avoid such behavior in the future.
In a yeshiva in Bnei Braq there has been a special shiur given once a week on a weeknight. because of the complexity involved, and to allow the shiur to be accessible to many alumni and avreichim who cannot make it at the scheduled time of the shiur, the shiur would be recorded and then saved to a yeshiva computer from which the boys could then transfer to their audio devices for further reviewing of the shiur.
Two weeks ago the Rosh Yeshiva decided to move the shiur from a weeknight to Friday night. This presented the students with a dilemma. How would they record it for listening later? They solved the problem by placing a recorder on Friday afternoon in an unnoticed spot near the Rosh Yeshiva and setting it to record. When he gave his speech later on Friday night, the shiur was recorded as usual. After shabbos it was then downloaded to the computer and shalom al yisrael.
When it was discovered that the shiur was subversively recorded on Shabbos, the rosh yeshiva got upset. The shiur was erased from the computer (and I imagine he made each boy erase it from whatever device they might have copied it to), and he also changed the shiur back to the weeknight schedule. If it would cause such a grave breach in proper behavior and relation to Shabbos, the shiur could not be given then. (source: Kikar)
It seems like a great idea, but the implementation by people who are generally looking to keep kala k'chamura is a bit of a corruption.. The rosh yeshiva made a good decision to reschedule it again so as to avoid such behavior in the future.
In honor of Shabbos Shira.. (videos)
In honor of "Shabbos Shira"
don't forget to feed the birds...
Shira Chadasha:
Dayan Binstock with Neimah singers:
don't forget to feed the birds...
Shira Chadasha:
Dayan Binstock with Neimah singers:
2.2.12
Melave Malka in Bet Shemesh
A group of people trying to put together initiatives to bring the residents of different sectors of Bet Shemesh together has put together a small melave malka for this Motzei Shabbat.
Because it is small, there is only room for men this week. A bigger one was planned but for technical reasons it had to be delayed. I was not involved in the planning, so I do not know what is on the itinerary.
The melave malka will be 8:30 PM this motzei shabbat. The meeting place will be across from the "Rasido mall" by a caravan for a shul called Aviezri on Dustai street (the first caravan).
The people behind this are good people with whom I have recently become involved and they are truly looking for solutions to bring peace among sectors. All [men for this week] are encouraged to join.
Because it is small, there is only room for men this week. A bigger one was planned but for technical reasons it had to be delayed. I was not involved in the planning, so I do not know what is on the itinerary.
The melave malka will be 8:30 PM this motzei shabbat. The meeting place will be across from the "Rasido mall" by a caravan for a shul called Aviezri on Dustai street (the first caravan).
The people behind this are good people with whom I have recently become involved and they are truly looking for solutions to bring peace among sectors. All [men for this week] are encouraged to join.
A Mouthful Of Spittle Is Worth 19,000 NIS
Who knew a mouthful of spit could be worth so much?
Someone got a taxi in Jerusalem. The driver refused to run the meter, despite being obligated to and despite the passenger requesting it. The driver then stopped and picked up an additional passenger. When she asked him again to use the meter, he stopped and told her to get out of the taxi.
After that he thought she didnt shut the door fast enough, while she says he started to drive off before she could shut the door. He stopped the car got out and began screaming at her. Then he spat at her.
She sued. he lost. For her distress he was obligated to pay 4000 NIS to her. In addition, he was hit with a 15,000 NIS fine. On top of that 19,000 NIS, he was obligated to put down 5000 NIS for security to ensure that for the next 3 years he would not commit a similar offense. (source: Globes)
Who knew spitting could be worth so much?
Perhaps the people who were spat upon in Bet Shemesh should gather their evidence (some have it on video, along with witnesses) and sue the spitters. Bankrupting them might be a decent tactic.
Someone got a taxi in Jerusalem. The driver refused to run the meter, despite being obligated to and despite the passenger requesting it. The driver then stopped and picked up an additional passenger. When she asked him again to use the meter, he stopped and told her to get out of the taxi.
| pretty cool place in Chicago |
She sued. he lost. For her distress he was obligated to pay 4000 NIS to her. In addition, he was hit with a 15,000 NIS fine. On top of that 19,000 NIS, he was obligated to put down 5000 NIS for security to ensure that for the next 3 years he would not commit a similar offense. (source: Globes)
Who knew spitting could be worth so much?
Perhaps the people who were spat upon in Bet Shemesh should gather their evidence (some have it on video, along with witnesses) and sue the spitters. Bankrupting them might be a decent tactic.
"Former Haredim" Sue State For Lack Of Education
The most interesting news item of the day, I think, is a lawsuit filed against the State of Israel. A group of individuals who are mostly former haredim are suing the State for not having enforced, when they were in school, the law that required schools to teach core curriculum.
the law was eventually changed in 2008, and schools in the haredi system were given the status of being exempt from teaching the core curriculum. Prior to that, the law requiring that basic education was simply ignored and the State preferred to not enforce it.
These plaintiffs, all of whom went to school when by law they should have been taught the basic subjects and are now adults trying to make a living, claim that because they were not taught what they should have been taught they have been caused tremendous damage. They had to go to special programs to learn the basics, costing them tends of thousands of shekels. Even after that, they say, while they were able to learn the basics they have still been harmed by not having learned those subjects as children as they are more limited as adults in their abilities. This has caused them difficulties in earning a living.
The court is not allowing this to be filed as a class-action suit, but each individual joining the suit must detail his personal financial losses caused by the ignoring of the law. (source: The Pulse)
Bechadrei adds that even among the members of the MAAVAR group, an organization that assists formerly religious people, there is a debate whether such a lawsuit is productive. One supporter, someone who claims to be Haredi, says the real problem is not necessarily the money, but to raise awareness to the real problem. The real problem, as he sees it, is that the askanim have created a situation in which parents in the haredi community cannot send their kids to obtain such an education even if they wanted to. The askanim tell, pressure, the State to leave the haredi system alone and not intervene, but the people who pay the price for that are the kids who grow up and eventually try to find a job.
I wonder what the next step is. Could they sue the schools for not following the law and thereby causing damage to the students? Would it be possible for them to sue their parents for having chosen schools that do not teach core curriculum rather than schools that do? This would apply even to kids after 2008. Can a person sue his or her parents for "damages" based on any parenting decision that the kid eventually blames his failures on?
the law was eventually changed in 2008, and schools in the haredi system were given the status of being exempt from teaching the core curriculum. Prior to that, the law requiring that basic education was simply ignored and the State preferred to not enforce it.
These plaintiffs, all of whom went to school when by law they should have been taught the basic subjects and are now adults trying to make a living, claim that because they were not taught what they should have been taught they have been caused tremendous damage. They had to go to special programs to learn the basics, costing them tends of thousands of shekels. Even after that, they say, while they were able to learn the basics they have still been harmed by not having learned those subjects as children as they are more limited as adults in their abilities. This has caused them difficulties in earning a living.
The court is not allowing this to be filed as a class-action suit, but each individual joining the suit must detail his personal financial losses caused by the ignoring of the law. (source: The Pulse)
Bechadrei adds that even among the members of the MAAVAR group, an organization that assists formerly religious people, there is a debate whether such a lawsuit is productive. One supporter, someone who claims to be Haredi, says the real problem is not necessarily the money, but to raise awareness to the real problem. The real problem, as he sees it, is that the askanim have created a situation in which parents in the haredi community cannot send their kids to obtain such an education even if they wanted to. The askanim tell, pressure, the State to leave the haredi system alone and not intervene, but the people who pay the price for that are the kids who grow up and eventually try to find a job.
I wonder what the next step is. Could they sue the schools for not following the law and thereby causing damage to the students? Would it be possible for them to sue their parents for having chosen schools that do not teach core curriculum rather than schools that do? This would apply even to kids after 2008. Can a person sue his or her parents for "damages" based on any parenting decision that the kid eventually blames his failures on?
Cancelling VAT in Downtown Jerusalem
In the past 12 years or so I have probably been to downtown Jerusalem less than a handful of times. Once was fairly recently, but the time before that was a few years ago during the construction of the Jerusalem Light Rail. I recall noticing how the local businesses had been devastated by the construction, with no cars able to drive in the area, foot traffic was very light, and it was a disaster. It felt like a ghost town. When I was back there recently, it seemed pretty busy again, with a bustling pedestrian crowd.
While the foot traffic has improved, it seems business has not picked up enough. The Committee of Business of Downtown Jerusalem has submitted a request to City Hall to declare the area of downtown Jerusalem as an area with no VAT. (source: Mynet)
They have lost a lot of business to the malls around Jerusalem. In downtown Jerusalem, as in pretty much anywhere else, one has to find parking, difficult as it might be, and then pay pretty hefty parking rates. If one were to go to the mall for his shopping, he would find parking much easier and for free. That alone is a big draw to the malls over the areas like downtown. As well, because of the light rail, supposedly the Iryah has gotten rid of a number of the parking lots near downtown, making it even more difficult to find parking for those who still need it.
Add to that the years that it was a real pain in the neck to go downtown and that got people used to going to the malls. So even if it has come back a bit, they say it is not enough. The shopkeepers claim to be struggling to survive.
Declaring the area of downtown to be exempt from VAT could be a big boon to the local businesses. People would see saving 16% off the top to be a big reason to go back. I am not sure it is enough to overcome the hassle they will encounter when they need to look for a parking spot, and then to pay for parking...
I don't know how common this is. I am not familiar with any area of business that was given the status of being exempt from VAT. Of course there is Eilat, but that is the entire city, and the government recently tried to cancel that status. Are there other places where the government canceled the VAT for the entire area? Did it help to improve the volume of business?
While the foot traffic has improved, it seems business has not picked up enough. The Committee of Business of Downtown Jerusalem has submitted a request to City Hall to declare the area of downtown Jerusalem as an area with no VAT. (source: Mynet)
They have lost a lot of business to the malls around Jerusalem. In downtown Jerusalem, as in pretty much anywhere else, one has to find parking, difficult as it might be, and then pay pretty hefty parking rates. If one were to go to the mall for his shopping, he would find parking much easier and for free. That alone is a big draw to the malls over the areas like downtown. As well, because of the light rail, supposedly the Iryah has gotten rid of a number of the parking lots near downtown, making it even more difficult to find parking for those who still need it.
Add to that the years that it was a real pain in the neck to go downtown and that got people used to going to the malls. So even if it has come back a bit, they say it is not enough. The shopkeepers claim to be struggling to survive.
Declaring the area of downtown to be exempt from VAT could be a big boon to the local businesses. People would see saving 16% off the top to be a big reason to go back. I am not sure it is enough to overcome the hassle they will encounter when they need to look for a parking spot, and then to pay for parking...
I don't know how common this is. I am not familiar with any area of business that was given the status of being exempt from VAT. Of course there is Eilat, but that is the entire city, and the government recently tried to cancel that status. Are there other places where the government canceled the VAT for the entire area? Did it help to improve the volume of business?
The Last Day (video)
Pretty doomsday stuff going on over at the Herzliya Conference. With Chief of Staff Benny Gantz speaking yesterday at the conference describing the threats against Israel and explaining the need to continue disrupting Iran, today head of military intelligence Aviv Kochavi spoke about how 200,000 missiles are pointed at Israel at all times, the threat from Iran and what Iran currently has available and how quickly they could make progress to building nuclear devices.
The following video clip is a depiction of what a nuclear attack on Israel might have looked like. It has been up for a few days, and I think it is pretty difficult to watch, which is why I have not posted it here until now. With the speeches given by Gantz and Kochavi it seems more realistic. If you are overly sensitive, feel free to ignore...
The following video clip is a depiction of what a nuclear attack on Israel might have looked like. It has been up for a few days, and I think it is pretty difficult to watch, which is why I have not posted it here until now. With the speeches given by Gantz and Kochavi it seems more realistic. If you are overly sensitive, feel free to ignore...
Interesting Psak: Stolen Credit Cards
The recent cyber attacks, which began with the theft and publication of thousands of Israeli credit card numbers, raises an interesting question - if one were to find one of those credit card numbers that still worked, could one use it?
Now it seems obvious that it is not allowed. It is clearly theft, illegal and against halacha.
Abbed Taripi, a Saudi Arabian religious leader, has issued a fatwa - an interesting psak - this week, declaring that the use of stolen Israeli credit cards is permissible. Taripi's rationale, as reported by financiall newspaper Calcalist, is that these cards were not issued neither by an "Islamic bank" nor in Muslim countrys.
According to this "psak", the Arabs would be allowed to use pretty much any stolen credit card issued in any of the western countries, and not just Israeli cards.
Now it seems obvious that it is not allowed. It is clearly theft, illegal and against halacha.
Abbed Taripi, a Saudi Arabian religious leader, has issued a fatwa - an interesting psak - this week, declaring that the use of stolen Israeli credit cards is permissible. Taripi's rationale, as reported by financiall newspaper Calcalist, is that these cards were not issued neither by an "Islamic bank" nor in Muslim countrys.
According to this "psak", the Arabs would be allowed to use pretty much any stolen credit card issued in any of the western countries, and not just Israeli cards.
Minister Erdan Teaches MK Tibi First Rashi in the Torah (video)
Minister Gilad Erdan, speaking from the Knesset podium, gives MK Ahmed Tibi a lesson from the Torah - he explains the first Rashi in the Torah.
Reb Moshe Feinstein Zt"l with Reb Yaakov Kamenetsky in Camp Agudah 1969 (video)
Reb Moshe Feinstein Zt"l with Reb Yaakov Kamenetsky in Camp Agudah 1969
This is footage from 1969 that was just uploaded for the first time and made available to the public. It is always interesting to take a look at images of yesteryear...
This is footage from 1969 that was just uploaded for the first time and made available to the public. It is always interesting to take a look at images of yesteryear...
Livni and Gantz On war and Government (video)
A couple interesting clips from the Herzliya Conference..
Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz about what the coming war will look like:
Tzippi Livni, worried about the government as always:
Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz about what the coming war will look like:
Tzippi Livni, worried about the government as always:
1.2.12
Quote Of The Day
Quote Of The Day
The secular also, who do not keep Torah and mitzvos, if they give up their lives for saving other people out of social love, they have olam haba just like the dead of Lod that gave up their lives for the sake of the people of their city....
The Mashgiach Rav Yechezkel Levenstein and the Chazon Ish said it is prohibited to hate [the secular]. There is no reason to hate them, one should hate the sins and should have compassion for them. The Ohr yechezkel and the Chazon Ish said explicitly that they are tinok she'nishbu and it is prohibited to hate them. We are allowed to admonish them, but today none of us know how to admonish...
There are those who are regularly involved with hating [the secular] and consistently publish pamphlets about hating the wicked, and eventually they end up scoffing at the gedolei yisroel. The Chazon Ish and the Steipler said to vote in the elections, and they are scoffing at the Chazon Ish and the Steipler. The result is that their entire goal that is expressed as hating the wicked is done not l'shem shamayim.
-- Rosh Yeshiva of Ponevezshe Rav Gershon Edelstein (source: Kikar)
The secular also, who do not keep Torah and mitzvos, if they give up their lives for saving other people out of social love, they have olam haba just like the dead of Lod that gave up their lives for the sake of the people of their city....
The Mashgiach Rav Yechezkel Levenstein and the Chazon Ish said it is prohibited to hate [the secular]. There is no reason to hate them, one should hate the sins and should have compassion for them. The Ohr yechezkel and the Chazon Ish said explicitly that they are tinok she'nishbu and it is prohibited to hate them. We are allowed to admonish them, but today none of us know how to admonish...
There are those who are regularly involved with hating [the secular] and consistently publish pamphlets about hating the wicked, and eventually they end up scoffing at the gedolei yisroel. The Chazon Ish and the Steipler said to vote in the elections, and they are scoffing at the Chazon Ish and the Steipler. The result is that their entire goal that is expressed as hating the wicked is done not l'shem shamayim.
-- Rosh Yeshiva of Ponevezshe Rav Gershon Edelstein (source: Kikar)
News Tidbits From The Haredi Community
I am lumping together a few interesting stories that were in the news. They have no connection to each other, but individually they do not each deserve their own post.
- The grandson of the Spinka Rebbe married a girl in Israel last night, the daughter of Antania Rebbe (never heard of him, sorry). The Spinka Rebbe is in jail in New York and was unable to attend the wedding. His request was denied. The family decided that the Rebbe and his family would watch the wedding broadcast over the Internet, and would transmit a message to the chosson and kallah as well. (source: Bechadrei)
I wonder if he is the first hassidic rebbe to use the Internet...
- A few days ago there was a news report about a blood drive by the haredi community in Ashdod. What made the news was the fact that it was for men only. There was really nothing new about it, so I did not even think about it. All over the place, for years already, the haredi community has been organizing blood drives for men only, though I do not remember seeing any blood drives for women only.
What is interesting is the response. The haredi community of Ashdod feels betrayed by the journalist who wrote the article that got them in hot water. As part of the article the journalist asked Tanya Rosenblit (she of the mehadrin bus fame) for her response about the blood drive. The community feels that the article was hostile to them, especially because it involved Rosenblit.
In response, the community has banned that specific journalist from receiving news updates and press releases from it. (source: Bechadrei)
- Bechadrei has publicized a story about Rav Chaim Kanievsky, and I find it puzzling. I always love a good story, but when they don't make sense they bother me.
The story goes that the gabbai of the Lederman shul had gone to Rav Chaim Kanievsky a few days after Rebbetzin Kanievsky's death and asked if they should check the mezuzos. Rav Chaim answered that the mezuzos had recently been checked so there was no need.The Lederman Shul in Bnei Braq
A few weeks later the gabbai returned. During his visit he mentioned to Rav Chaim that he had understood that he did not need to check the mezuzos. Rav Chaim said he should send the mezuzos to be checked.
After checking 30 mezuzos from around the shul, it was discovered that they were all kosher. In the three mezuzuos from the womens section, where Rebbetzin Kanievsky was a regular, problems were found, though the mezuzos were technically kosher. the three mezuzos were brought to Rav Chaim who instructed them to replace the mezuzos immediately.
My questions:
1. Did the imperfect mezuzos kill the rebbetzin? Is that the implication of the story?
2. Why did they ask about the mezuzos? Just because she had died? Do they check mezuzos after every time a member dies?
3. If the mezuzos were kosher, why should they have "killed" the rebbetzin?
Omri Sharon Paid The Time. Is That Enough?
He did the crime, he paid the time. Somebody commits a crime - should that be held against him forever? if he went to prison and "paid the time time", should his crime still be held against him?
Omri Sharon was indicted and convicted of crimes with moral turpitude. Sharon sat in prison for 7 months.
He did the crime, he paid the time.
And now Omri Sharon is back, getting involved in politics again. Sharon has joined Tzippi Livni's team in a senior position of her campaign for re-election as head of Kadima.
Is that ok, because he paid his time? It definitely has a bad taste. Sharon was convicted of crimes with moral turpitude. You would think that in today's day and age a high level candidate would be overly sensitive to such questionable characters being involved. One wrong word, one suspicious incident, and the entire campaign can be lost (if it isn't already..)
Omri Sharon was indicted and convicted of crimes with moral turpitude. Sharon sat in prison for 7 months.
He did the crime, he paid the time.
And now Omri Sharon is back, getting involved in politics again. Sharon has joined Tzippi Livni's team in a senior position of her campaign for re-election as head of Kadima.
Is that ok, because he paid his time? It definitely has a bad taste. Sharon was convicted of crimes with moral turpitude. You would think that in today's day and age a high level candidate would be overly sensitive to such questionable characters being involved. One wrong word, one suspicious incident, and the entire campaign can be lost (if it isn't already..)
Moshe Friedman of Bet Shemesh Speaks And Explains His Worldview (video)
The Channel 10 television show Hamekor last night ran an interview with moshe Friedman - the guy behind much of the fighting in Bet Shemesh.. It is in Hebrew, but with Hebrew subtitles and pretty simple and easy to understand..
It is a window of sorts into understanding, or at least hearing, their perspective. Friedman explains how the haredi community is harassed in a similar way to the way things happened in the holocaust, he claims no violence in bet Shemesh, he explains why anybody not keeping torah completely (I presume he means the way he does) is not keeping it at all...
It is a window of sorts into understanding, or at least hearing, their perspective. Friedman explains how the haredi community is harassed in a similar way to the way things happened in the holocaust, he claims no violence in bet Shemesh, he explains why anybody not keeping torah completely (I presume he means the way he does) is not keeping it at all...
Vaani Tefilati - Naftali Kalfa & Yosi Piamenta (video)
Vaani Tefilati - Naftali Kalfa & Yosi Piamenta
31.1.12
Picture Of The Day
Picture Of The Day
Whoever wins today, and no matter what the final percentages are, democracy always wins when people can choose to run and when people can vote, no matter how predictable the results might be...
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| Moshe Feiglin and PM Benjamin Netanyahu voting in today's Likud primaries |
Customs Waiver On Goods Finally In Effect
It has been nearly two months since the Israeli government approved a decision to waive import duties on purchases of a great variety of products made over the Internet up to a value of 1200 NIS.
It seems the decision was passed but was never actually signed into effect. Until yesterday that is. Kef International, one of the major shipping companies, posted recently on their email list newsletter that despite having passed the approval, many people had suffered by ordering things based on the news announcement but in actuality the customs officials have still been charging the duties, because the Finance Minister had not signed the official order.
According to Ynet, yesterday Minister of Finance Yuval Steinitz finally signed the order and put the new regulation into effect.
Personally I still would not test it until I see the customs officials actually letting such goods through duty free. Though I also just found the original press release put out by the tax authorities yesterday making the announcement. So it seems pretty safe.
For a few additional details, this is how it works. The waiver of duties applies only on such goods delivered by mail - it does NOT include carrying items in your suitcase when travelling or any other such method. In addition to the waiver of duties on goods up until 1200 NIS, there is an additional waiver of the purchase tax on some goods with a value of up to $75 (the bar was previously set at $50). As well, you should know that the price of shipping is included when considering the value of the goods.
I am still looking for the full list of goods the waiver applies to. According to Ynet, the tax authorities had posted the full list when the waiver was being considered. I have yet to find it.
It seems the decision was passed but was never actually signed into effect. Until yesterday that is. Kef International, one of the major shipping companies, posted recently on their email list newsletter that despite having passed the approval, many people had suffered by ordering things based on the news announcement but in actuality the customs officials have still been charging the duties, because the Finance Minister had not signed the official order.
According to Ynet, yesterday Minister of Finance Yuval Steinitz finally signed the order and put the new regulation into effect.
Personally I still would not test it until I see the customs officials actually letting such goods through duty free. Though I also just found the original press release put out by the tax authorities yesterday making the announcement. So it seems pretty safe.
For a few additional details, this is how it works. The waiver of duties applies only on such goods delivered by mail - it does NOT include carrying items in your suitcase when travelling or any other such method. In addition to the waiver of duties on goods up until 1200 NIS, there is an additional waiver of the purchase tax on some goods with a value of up to $75 (the bar was previously set at $50). As well, you should know that the price of shipping is included when considering the value of the goods.
I am still looking for the full list of goods the waiver applies to. According to Ynet, the tax authorities had posted the full list when the waiver was being considered. I have yet to find it.
Quote Of The Day
Quote Of The Day
We fought on behalf of the young couples. What was always before us was that the widest majority possible in Israel should benefit. I represent the SHAS party and that is a party that represents all parts of society and just a particular sector. SHAS is the only one that is concerned for the weaker sectors and is willing to pay the price for it... Only people who do not understand math say things like that (RG: that he is setting criteria that is beneficial specifically for the haredi community) - who accumulates years of marriage with no children, is it the haredim? Do haredim accumulate years of marriage and stop at two children?
-- Minister of Housing Arial Attias
We fought on behalf of the young couples. What was always before us was that the widest majority possible in Israel should benefit. I represent the SHAS party and that is a party that represents all parts of society and just a particular sector. SHAS is the only one that is concerned for the weaker sectors and is willing to pay the price for it... Only people who do not understand math say things like that (RG: that he is setting criteria that is beneficial specifically for the haredi community) - who accumulates years of marriage with no children, is it the haredim? Do haredim accumulate years of marriage and stop at two children?
-- Minister of Housing Arial Attias
Minister of Internal Security Coming To Bet Shemesh Today
Minister of Internal Security Yitzchak Aharonovitch has announced that he will be coming, today, to Bet Shemesh to take a look and see for himself how things are being dealt with. Aharonovitch's office explained that he goes around the country to see things under his authority and this trip is nothing unusual and will be spent checking out both Jerusalem and Bet Shemesh.
Interestingly, the hooligans do not like the idea of him coming to check things out. It seems they prefer that the area should remain lawless and unsupervised. Kikar quotes the hooligans as saying that "he is coming only to instigate us. The past week has been quiet in Bet Shemesh, but it seems they are looking for action and balagan in order to get the media to talk about it. We will know how to protest against Aharonovitch. We also have not forgotten how Nisso Shaham (head of Jerusalem police who recently declared war against the hooligans of Mea Shearim) has done things to the Haredim that no other police chief has done.."
It should get interesting....
Interestingly, the hooligans do not like the idea of him coming to check things out. It seems they prefer that the area should remain lawless and unsupervised. Kikar quotes the hooligans as saying that "he is coming only to instigate us. The past week has been quiet in Bet Shemesh, but it seems they are looking for action and balagan in order to get the media to talk about it. We will know how to protest against Aharonovitch. We also have not forgotten how Nisso Shaham (head of Jerusalem police who recently declared war against the hooligans of Mea Shearim) has done things to the Haredim that no other police chief has done.."
It should get interesting....
The Day I Met Rick Santorum
Considering that today is the day of the Likud primaries (get out and go vote if you are a Likud member!), and today is also the Florida primaries in the Republican race, I decided to dig up this old picture, scan it and post it.
In 1997 Rick Santorum, one of the candidates running in the Republican primaries for the nomination to run for the office of President of the USA, came to Israel on an AIPAC mission. At the time he was Senator of Pennsylvania. I was invited to an event that he was going to be attending.. I cropped out the other people in the picture to "protect their identities"...
In 1997 Rick Santorum, one of the candidates running in the Republican primaries for the nomination to run for the office of President of the USA, came to Israel on an AIPAC mission. At the time he was Senator of Pennsylvania. I was invited to an event that he was going to be attending.. I cropped out the other people in the picture to "protect their identities"...
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| Me out partying with Rick Santorum |
"Aleh Katan" Shimmy Engel feat: Yishai Lapidot (video)
"Aleh Katan" Shimmy Engel feat: Yishai Lapidot
30.1.12
Banning Shofar Blowing Reminiscent Of The British Mandate
In an interesting lawsuit the court in Jerusalem ruled that the police had the right to stop people from blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashana at the Kotel HaKotton.
The Kotel HaKotton, the "Little Kotel", is a stretch of wall further down in the Muslim Quarter that is an extension of the Kotel. The Kotel HaKotton is actually located much closer to the area of the Holy of Holies, the Kodesh Kodashim, and is a popular albeit fairly neglected, place of prayer for those "daring enough" to walk through the Muslim Quarter to get there.
This past Rosh Hashana during prayer services at the Kotel HaKotton, a fellow blew the shofar. A policeman who was in the area told him to stop. When he did not, the shofar was confiscated and the fellow was detained for a few hours and then slapped with a restraining order keeping him away from the area for 5 days.
This fellow then sued the police for damages resulted from wrongful arrest, theft of the shofar and other reasons.
The court ruled against the fellow and in favor of the police. You can read the entire 9 page court decision at the court website (like all Israeli government websites it only works in Internet Explorer). To be brief, it all boils down to the point that the area is a sensitive one and the police have to weigh freedom of religious expression versus public safety. Considering that the blowing of the shofar in that area could upset the Muslims and create a dangerous situation, the police have the right to limit the religious expression.
This decision is very similar to the decision used by the police to limit prayer, to ban prayer actually, on Har HaBayit. The courts defended the rights of Jews to pray on Har HaBayit as aright of religious expression, while at the same time giving the police the power to choose to overrule that and limit prayer based on issues of public safety.
It is a shame that the police use such outdated methods instead of controlling the potential violence. We should be sensitive to the history of the place, that being that the British banned the blowing of the shofar for those very same reasons, while we have turned those who blew the shofar despite the ban into heroes, not just religious heroes but national heroes as well for standing up to the British. And for our own authorities to now be enforcing a similar ban due to similar concerns is perhaps an expression of the once expressed dream to be a nation like any other.
Our authorities should allow such activities, while working to maintain control and keep the peace. Without getting into legal arguments, as the courts made the legal decisions, it seems from a more national perspective it is in our interests to not limit Jewish expression the way other governments in history tried to.
This past Rosh Hashana during prayer services at the Kotel HaKotton, a fellow blew the shofar. A policeman who was in the area told him to stop. When he did not, the shofar was confiscated and the fellow was detained for a few hours and then slapped with a restraining order keeping him away from the area for 5 days.
This fellow then sued the police for damages resulted from wrongful arrest, theft of the shofar and other reasons.
The court ruled against the fellow and in favor of the police. You can read the entire 9 page court decision at the court website (like all Israeli government websites it only works in Internet Explorer). To be brief, it all boils down to the point that the area is a sensitive one and the police have to weigh freedom of religious expression versus public safety. Considering that the blowing of the shofar in that area could upset the Muslims and create a dangerous situation, the police have the right to limit the religious expression.
This decision is very similar to the decision used by the police to limit prayer, to ban prayer actually, on Har HaBayit. The courts defended the rights of Jews to pray on Har HaBayit as aright of religious expression, while at the same time giving the police the power to choose to overrule that and limit prayer based on issues of public safety.
Our authorities should allow such activities, while working to maintain control and keep the peace. Without getting into legal arguments, as the courts made the legal decisions, it seems from a more national perspective it is in our interests to not limit Jewish expression the way other governments in history tried to.
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