this is a great interview by Nachum Kligman with Judah Mischel, Executive Director of Camp Hasc, about Camp Hasc..

MK Taleb Abu-Arar (Ram Tal) gave a funny interview. Funny or sad, your choice. I choose funny.

I present to you the interview, from NRG:

We call the entire Har Habayit "Al Aksa". The place is holy to Muslims all over the world. This includes the entire plaza - all 144 dunam - and not just the building itself. Every centimeter of the ocmplex is holy with the holiness of Al Aksa.

Q: You did not hear that the Jews have prayed for two thousand years to return and rebuild the Temple?
A: We respect the holy places of all religions, but Al Aksa is holy only to Muslims - not Jews or anyone else. Also great rabbis of the jews say the real place of the Kotel is not known. According to what I have read, the rabbis are waiting for Mashiach to show them where the Kotel is.

Q: The Kotel or the Mikdash?
A: The Kotel. This is what I have heard. It is somewhere else. Not by Al Aksa.

Q: The entire area, Har Habayit, is traditionally called in Islam "Haram A-Sharif". When did the entire area become Al Aksa?
A: With all due respect to other names, this is what it is called in the Koran.

Q:But we dont know where Al Aksa is. In the Koran it does not say that it is in Jerusalem or even in the Land of Israel?
A: Who told you this? This is a lie. They are trying to confuse you. Al Aksa is in Jerusalem, on the area of 144 dunam. All attempts by Jews or Christians to change that are baseless.

Q: What should be done for Jews who want to pray on Har Habayit?
A: There is no place to pray there. We spoke about it in the Vaadat Hapnim. Someone who even just requests to daven there is just looking for provocations, is bringing the entire region to instability.

Q: in a democratic country you can tell someone not to pray?
A: I am in favor of everyone praying in the places holy to them. But this place is holy only to Muslims.

Q: So where is the holy place for the Jews?
A: I dont know. Ask them. Why are you asking me?

So, he respects everyone's holy place, and the Jews determine their own holy places, but when they say what those holy places are, he doesnt respect that...

It seems clear that he is mixing up the Kotel and the place of the Kodesh Kadashim. Many rabbis opposed to Jews going up to Har Habayit say it is because of uncertainty of the exact location of the Holy of Holies. But he rejects that and insists it is the true location of the Kotel that is unknown.

When they ask for directions, " excuse me, where is the Kotel?", the answer should really be, "I dont know".

Congratulations on the tremendous success of Yesh Atid in the elections, and to you specifically for winning a Knesset seat. Thank you for taking the time out of what I am sure is definitely a busy schedule to be interviewed and share with us some of your thoughts and reflections.

MKRDL: It is my pleasure.  It is important for your readers to have these important questions answered.

1.       So, have things calmed down? How was your first day, and first week, in the Knesset? Is it down to the nitty gritty work now or is it still very emotional?

MKRDL: Things actually get busier and busier.  My first day was focused on getting my office in order and learning the basics about the computer system, the phone system, when the minyanim are, etc.  The next day we got right to work with meetings and planning our agenda.  It continues to be emotional every time we turn the corner and I see the building which is where I work, but then you walk in and the nitty gritty work begins right away and that last all day.  As you pass the guards on the way out and wish them a good night you feel the emotion again.  

2.        In the past you have worked very hard at a local level in Bet Shemesh. How do you see your relationship with local work continuing once you are in the Knesset?

MKRDL: I view myself as the MK for Bet Shemesh.  Let's remember, I am the first MK in the history of the city and the city's residents expect me to serve them - regardless of whether people voted for me or not.  I have given the last few years of my life to trying to make things better in Bet Shemesh and this won't change.  I have been in touch with city leaders about how I can help the city and will be at all important city events.  

3.      How do you see your future in the Knesset as a venue for helping Bet Shemesh with its needs?

MKRDL: I already spoke about the needs of Bet Shemesh during my inaugural speech from the Knesset podium.  There are issues related to highway 38, future neighborhoods being constructed, absorption, and schools in which I can be of help - aside from being available to help people with their personal needs.   

4.    Can you give us any hint as to what is going on behind the scenes with the intriguing coalition negotiations that have begun? Do you have any indication what the results might be in regards to what type of coalition will most likely be formed?

MKRDL: I can say with clarity that Yesh Atid is prepared to lead the opposition if the Prime Minister decides not to accept our plan regarding equality in national service.  The government that he will form without us is not likely to last long and we believe we will come roaring back with more mandates after the next elections which would come soon.  There is an historic opportunity to make real and necessary changes, especially with Naftali Bennet agreeing with Yesh Atid regarding some of these core issues.  There is no discussion regarding portfolios and Yesh Atid is looking for a government which will enable it to follow through on its promises to its voters. 

5.  Will you be earmarked by Yair Lapid, perhaps because of the extraordinary effort you put forth in the campaign season, to have a special role or appointment in the upcoming Knesset session?

MKRDL: Serving as an MK is already a special role.  There is so much that can be done in this role and I am not looking for more.  There are certain committees in which I would be a natural fit and can do the most and I hope that materializes.  

6.  How will you, or perhaps yesh Atid, get involved in the municipal election season that is soon going to begin in Bet Shemesh?

MKRDL: Yesh Atid is running candidates in municipal elections throughout the country but I don't see that happening in Bet Shemesh.  I am working very hard to make sure there is one candidate in the general population (moderate ultra-Orthodox through secular) and then I will do whatever I can to help that candidate get elected.  

7.  Will Yesh Atid begin forming municipal alliances throughout the country and running candidates for municipal positions and mayorships or is Yesh Atid concentrating only on the national scene for now?

MKRDL: There is a person whose full time position relates to municipal elections and MK Meir Cohen (former mayor of Dimona) is overseeing this as well.

8. can you elaborate about where you (Yesh Atid) stand on the big issues - conversion, peace negotiations, and the "shivyon b'netel"

a. conversions - do you see a solution that will be acceptable to all, considering the orthodox will most likely never accept conservative and reform conversions. do you see them compromising on that when they never before have?

MKRDL:  I believe that we can work together to create a universal conversion policy which would mean relying on more lenient but legitimate opinions on the Orthodox side, and this would mean that not all conversions are accepted on the non-Orthodox side.  The first issue which must be addressed is zera yisrael which is a huge percentage of them.

b peace - you have been quoted as being supportive of land concessions  is that a pragmatic position? why do you support it? do you think the Palestinians are finally ready to sit down and accept a peace agreement?

MKRDL:  I don't "support" giving up land in Eretz Yisrael.  There is a reality on the ground called the Palestinians.  We cannot ignore it.  Throwing up our hands and saying "there is no solution" means we are looking at our children in the eyes and saying "here, the problem is yours.  You deal with it but with millions of more Palestinians."  We may never come to an agreement but we have to try and it will take time - not for a happy marriage with the Palestinians but a necessary divorce.  If, and I emphasize if, we reach a point where we have an internationally backed agreement which they will sign (not like Gush Katif which was unilateral) which includes our terms including an undivided Yerushalayim, then I believe we would have to accept it even though that that means the painful giving up of Jewish homes and land.

c. how can the haredi parties come down off their position and compromise to your position of accepting a 5 year exemption and then starting to send their boys to the army? why do you think you (yesh atid) have the power to persuade them to compromise on something they were never before willing to?

MKRDL:  Our plan does not say that everyone has to serve in the army.  The chareidi political leadership is distorting our plan and creating fear in the chareidi community.  First of all, those who do serve in the army will be able to do so in special programs that are created over the next five years which enable them to combine Torah learning and service.  Second, those who don't serve in the army will be able to enter Torah learning programs which include a period of time with joint Torah learning and national service - even within the chareidi community.  Third, the really talented learners will receive a blanket exemption and will focus on learning alone.  This notion that the only ones who are truly learning are those who do nothing else but learn is a complete distortion of who we have been throughout our history.  Since when is the person who combines Torah learning with other pursuits not learning?  I did that when I was in Ner Yisrael and there was plenty of Torah learning and the yeshiva produces Talmidei Chachamim of the highest caliber.

9. how do you see Yesh Atid being different than all the other "centrist" parties that have formed over the years, sometimes successfully in their initial attempts, and then disappeared fairly quickly? Do you see yesh Atid learning from the mistakes of those other parties and becoming a long-term player in Israeli politics? What did all those other parties do wrong, that yesh Atid is going to avoid doing?

MKRDL:  Yes, I see Yesh Atid lasting for a long time.  This is not a party of former MK's from other parties who jumped ship to find another political home and prolong their careers.  This is a party which was put together very carefully with a process of turning the list into a family.  We have tremendous unity of purpose and all left other careers in order to make real changes and bring new politics.  Just look at who is sitting in the Knesset chamber when it is in session and you will already see the difference - Yesh Atid is the only party in which all MK's show up with minor exceptions here and there because of other Knesset business.  

10. How busy is a person working in the Knesset? Do you still have time to teach or did you have to give that up? Are you always there or is much of your work outside the walls of the Knesset? Can you describe the "typical" day in the life of  Knesset Member?

MKRDL:  It has been non-stop for me.  Between meetings, interviews, planning sessions, answering e-mails and Knesset sessions it is more than a full time job.  I am in the Knesset almost every day and people can actually monitor our attendance from the Knesset web site.  As we walk in the doors, guards put it into the computer that we are in the building and they mark it when we leave.  A typical week for me looks as follows:

• Sunday - morning we have constituent meetings.  People can contact my office to arrange a meeting

            - I then meet with my staff regarding the follow up steps to those meetings
            - in the afternoon I host groups and Jewish leaders

• Monday - morning is the committee meetings, early afternoon is our party meeting, 4pm the Knesset meets in the chamber, this can last into the night hours

• Tuesday - morning is planning legislative agenda with my staff, midday meetings with the focus groups (shdulot) I am part of or started 

               4pm the Knesset meets in the chamber - this can last into the nighttime hours

• Wednesday - Knesset meets at 11 in the chamber - beforehand we have prep because many votes are brought during this session

                   - afternoon meetings with outside groups, visiting leaders, and other MK's

• Thursday - this is generally the day for MK's to be out in the field visiting site, learning about legislation, assisting constituents

          I will fill these days with meetings and tours to learn more, I will also be in the Knesset

• Friday - mornings there are usually events to attend throughout the country

Mincha every day at the Knesset is at 12:30p.m. or 1:30p.m.
Evenings throughout the week are also filled with many events  

11. Why do so few MKs actually show up to the Knesset? Do you plan on being there for the votes that are famously empty or will much of your work take you outside of the Knesset?

MKRDL:  It is certainly troubling and I view it as my job and will be there whenever I don't have something Knesset related outside the building.  I plan on being in the chamber for every session and to be there for every vote.

12. After hearing Yair Lapid yesterday talk about pushing Reform Judaism in Israel and civil marriage, what are your thoughts on the issue? Will it not create a further rift and drive the orthodox to establish a "sefer yuchsin" as they have considered in the past, and only marry according to the listings in the registry? Will you, as an Orthodox (or Haredi) Rabbi, support pushing growth of Reform Judaism?

MKRDL:  While I am passionate about my Orthodoxy and have written books about it, we cannot force people to do what we believe.  We have pushed people further and further away from Judaism.  If the country decides that it won't support any religious services then that is fine.  But I see no justification for supporting the services of some and not others in a democracy.  Regarding marriages, I actually believe that forcing people into Kiddusin and Nesuin when they don't want it actually causes worse halachic problems when they leave those marriages without a halachic process.  At the same time that we do this, we should change the Rabbanut to be far more embracing, loving, caring, and user friendly and this will without a doubt draw people to make use of the rabbanut.  I meet secular people throughout the country who say, "I hate Judaism and I hate that I hate Judaism."   It is time for us to begin the process of creating a strong and proud Judaism in Israel and taking these bold steps will begin that process.

One last word:  Yair Lapid, a secular icon (who believes in G-d and appreciates the richness and value of Torah), stood up and said to the religious world, "Let's work together."  I believe that din v'cheshbon will have to be given by all who mock that call and turn away from it.  Every source about geulah says that one thing will bring it - unity.  And it is right there in front of our eyes.  We have to grab it.  It is time to stop looking at things as "us versus them" since most on the secular side don't see it that way anymore.  In the last two days, more words of Torah have been shared in the Knesset chamber than in any two day period in its history - and it came from Yesh Atid MK's - both religious and secular.  When we had a get together with our spouses at Yair Lapid's house, we all stood in a circle and sang Adon Olam and Shir Hamaalos.  Something special is happening and I hope people open their eyes to see it, join it, applaud it, and daven for it to succeed.

What started off as a friendly competition among a few friends has become an annual major fundraiser, an unusual fundraiser. And the most interesting part of it is that it is a one-man show - one guy eating sufganiyot from Rosh Chodesh Kislev until the end of Hannukah, and people donating money per sufganiya eaten.

Elie Klein, a fellow resident of Bet Shemesh and the guy behind all the sufganiyot, graciously allowed me to interview him and share his thoughts about the sufganiya eating binge.

RG: I remember a couple years back, if I remember correctly, this started off as a sufganiya eating contest between you and a few other people. Somehow you put away the competition and it was just you left standing. How did that happen?

EK: The first year, it was more casual, just a gentleman's bet. But last year, everything changed when my campaign began to evolve. I was eating a great deal more than my 'competitors' were willing to stomach and they stepped aside to allow the campaign to take center stage.

RG: How did you get the idea to raise money form what originally just started as a fun way to eat sufganiyot?

EK: It evolved quicker than you could imagine. From the very beginning, I was joking with my wife that I was eating so many sufganiyot that I should have a sponsor. I made the same remark to a cousin via Facebook a few days into the 'competition' and she agreed to become a sponsor. Within minutes, I had several more sponsors and a Facebook event page to track my progress.

RG: How do you eat so many sufganiyot? Don’t you get sick of them eventually?

EK: I was blessed with a very fast metabolism. In a way, I am donating my metabolism to charity for a month. One can definitely have too much of a good thing, but I really see it as a sport, a challenge. And there is no better motivator than charity.

RG: Does it actually make you sick, eating so many greasy sufganiyot in such a short time period?

EK: Like any 'sport', it's all about knowing your limits and never getting to that point.
RG: Do you ever not really want to eat anymore, but you force yourself to so as to raise more money, or to meet a target number?

EK: Your body starts 'asking questions' after a while, but you just have to know what you are capable of. I haven't had to push myself that hard yet, but I am committed to doing whatever necessary to reach my goal of 100 sufganiyot.

RG: How difficult is this, or is it all fun and pleasure?

EK: It is all about fun. As long as my 'fans' and sponsors are having fun, I am enjoying myself, too.

RG: What message do you have for the public?

EK: The message is simple. I am only doing this to grab everyone's attention and remind them that they have causes and charities that they believe...and that they should support those causes. I am not asking anyone to give to any specific charity but just to give.

RG: How many sufganiyot did you eat last year? Why limit this years goal to 100?

EK: Last year, I consumed 70 donuts and raised NIS 32,788.60 (roughly $9,100) for 44 causes and charities around the world. This year, I have made a pledge to eat no less than 100 sufganiyot during the campaign. I chose 100 because it is a nice round number (and an impressive one), a considerable jump from 70, and the most I believe I can handle.

RG: Usually, people do programs raising money for a specific organization, like running a marathon to raise money for Chai Lifeline or other such organizations. You are letting people donate and choose on their own where to donate to. What is behind the idea of having people sponsor and donate to the organization of their choice?

EK: Everyone has friends who are running in marathons, cycling, bowling or walking to raise money for causes they believe in. While these are all fantastic initiatives, the problem is that they all tend to meld together after a while, especially on Facebook. And when a fundraiser becomes a nuisance and just "more of the same," people stop paying attention. In addition, while the causes chosen may speak to those managing the initiatives, those asked to sponsor often don't feel the same way.

'Dough for Donuts' works because it's unusual and entertaining. It catches and holds your attention for a full 31 days. Last year, several sponsors (complete strangers) commented that they felt compelled to join the ranks because they "just had to get in on the fun." And there is no one, defined charity or cause: sponsors can choose where the money goes. I'm not asking anyone to give to a specific cause but rather just to give. Everyone has a cause or charity that they believe in. This initiative is about giving them "an excuse" to finally open their wallets and support those causes.

RG: If someone wants to donate or sponsor you, and track your progress, can you give me a URL where they can do so? Also, do you have a URL for readers who might not be using Facebook?

EK: Everyone can follow my progress and pledge a per sufganiya amount to their favorite charity or cause via the Facebook event page: http://tinyurl.com/dough4donuts. If one does not have Facebook, they can send me their pledge via e-mail: elieklein@facebook.com

RG: I read once that Adam Richman of the Man v Food challenges has a special workout regimen that allows him to be able to eat that much and also to help keep the eight off. Do you do anything special in that regard or do you just eat?

EK:  I have been eating a great deal more salad than usual (i.e. from none to some), and I am trying to walk as much as possible. Other than that, just eating.


Important clarification:  Donations should not be sent to Elie.  All sponsors and donors are responsible for sending their money to the charities and causes they chose on their own at the end of the campaign.

 Good luck to Elie on eating all those sufganiyot and raising all that money. It is amazing how with a little creativity one can turn even the most mundane act into a good deed.

Bechadrei interviewed Aharele Yaktar - the fellow who for the past few months has run the fight against the digging of graves in Yaffo.

Untitled from bhol on Vimeo.

Shimon Peres, at 86 years old (until 120, pooh pooh pooh) continues to remain energetic and outwork many of his younger peers.

The Marker interviewed Shimon Peres, and you should read the whole interview - very interesting, about the economy, peace, Iran, the Palestinians (it is too long for me to translate to English, sorry), personal items and more.

If you can follow the interview, it is worth a listen. The interviewee is Yehuda Meshi-Zahav, director and found of Zak"A (the interviewer is Bechadrei Chareidim). The most interesting part is where he talks about his past as a member of the Eida Hareidis and its future. Meshi-Zahav went from being an Eida troublemaker (he now calls what he did in the name of the Eida a chillul hashem) to being a torch bearer at Yom Ha'atzmaut celebrations...

The Internet provides tremendous opportunities for reaching out at levels never before possible. It also provides the ability to be unique and creative in all sorts of realms in life. When these two opportunities are combines and taken advantage of, the results can be amazing.

Alon Nir, a 25 year old guy working on a secondary degree in economics, was interested in behavioral economics, internet based entrepreneurship, and of course - making a change. One day Alon comes up with the idea of how he was going to make this change - he joins Twitter and offers a service - tweet your prayers to the Kotel, with his twitter name being @thekotel. This also led to Alon opening his own website, called Tweet Your Prayers.The truth is the service is not SO unique, as for years already you could have sent in various ways prayers to the Kotel - fax, chabad, thekotel website, etc. However, the medium and form used was unique, and the energy brought to the project was especially unique.

I have found Alon to be an intriguing person with an even more intriguing project. Over the time I have followed him and his project, Alon has been interviewed in news media around the world, his story has been carried all over the place, and he has touched thousands upon thousands of people, giving them the opportunity to have their prayers sent to the Kotel from wherever they are.

Among all the interviews I have read with Alon, the questions always seemed pretty similar, and I had questions I would have liked to have seen asked but they never were. I asked Alon if he would be open to an interview, and he happily obliged.

So here goes, the interview with Alon, a.k.a @TheKotel...


@TheKotel: Thank you for asking me questions I was not asked before! Had been interviewed dozens of times - and finally - new questions!

1. How much of your time does this project take up? Are you able to keep your regular job while doing the Kotel Project?

@TheKotel: It consumes a lot of my time, a great portion of it. I was not able to hold a steady job and do the Kotel in the same time. I decided to go with Tweet Your Prayers because I realized that I was fortunate enough to be given such an amazing opportunity, an opportunity to help many, touch lives, and make a change. Money has been tight, I'm still living with my parents and have to borrow money to make University payments. In October I had to forgo going to a conference in LA, in which I was asked to speak and present TYP, and there's another conference in NYC in April, and I hope to be able to make it there. If anyone out there can help in any way, help is direly needed and would be immensely appreciated.


2. Of all the possible altruistic projects a person can take up, how did you come to tweeting prayers rather than a soup kitchen or assisting the elderly, for example?

@TheKotel: That's a good question. I'm an internet savvy guy, and have been involved in different online activities for a good few years now. I guess it was just natural for me to give from myself through an internet based activity. It's not the first time I've done something like that - I used to have a website that encouraged people to live "greener" lives by suggesting small, hardly felt, changes in their lifestyles and presenting them with the monetary incentives to do so. By the way, I also volunteer, on occasion, at a dog shelter in Tel-Aviv.

3. In the video of your presentation, I noticed that you do not appear to be religious - I didn't see a kipa - though of course appearances can be deceiving. Are you religious? traditional?

@TheKotel: This service has nothing to do with what I believe in - it's all about what the users believe in.

4. How often do you go to put the prayers in the wall? Does it get to be such a big project that it keeps you from your normal activities? or has this become your main activity?

@TheKotel: As mentioned, it takes a LOT of my time. Regarding your question, I think this post says it all: http://www.tweetyourprayers.info/2009/10/i-needed-a-bigger-box/

5. rubber bands - tape - what have you found to be the best way to keep them closed? How long does it take you - how many can you roll an hour?

@TheKotel: Regular adhesive or tape are my preferred solutions. Rubber bands are much more time consuming and quickly hurt your fingers. Incidentally, if anyone needs 2000 rubber bands - I have a few left over :) .

6. What about privacy.. you read em - right? Are there any issues of people asking you to keep certain things private? is there a promise of confidentiality? Are people concerned about you knowing their most private concerns?

@TheKotel: I take people's privacy and the sanctity of their prayers very seriously, and I don't read the prayers (mind you, some people prefer having their prayers out there for the world to see).

7. What is the most inspiring story you can think of, you can remember offhand, that you have experienced since you took on this project?

@TheKotel: There are so many, some of them I shared in the presentation I have (NOTE from RG: the video was embedded last week, and is embedded again at the end of the interview), and since then more amazing things happened. Feel free to mention any of the stories I spoke about in the "keep the faith" part of my presentation (especially the first two).

8. In what way has this Kotel project affected you the most on a personal level?

@TheKotel: It has completely changes my life and touched me deeply. I can express in words how grateful I am that all this happened. Whatever happens to me in life next, I will always know that when I was 25 I created something that touched literally thousands and thousands of people worldwide. I'm so happy for giving people hope, self-belief, confidence. I also know that one person can truly make a difference and that we should never think that our capabilities are limited. Look at me - with a 89 cents investment I created something that made worldwide news and gave thousands a service they will remember and cherish for a long time. I just hope I'll manage to keep going (as mentioned, money is tight) and spread my message to as many people as possible. I encourage all of the readers to watch the video of my presentation - and they'll know what message I'm talking about.

9. How do you find enough cracks in the wall in which to stuff all the thousands of notes?

@TheKotel: take a look at the photos - there's one big crack that can fit a whole lot of notes :)

Check Alon out on Twitter, at Tweet Your Prayers, watch his videos, peruse the many pictures of "The Kotel" activities on his website, donate to his project (via his website), and most of all, Alon's message is be inspired to make change in the best way you can. You can also contact Alon by email at tweetyourprayers@gmail.com

VIN interviewed Yoelish Krausz, self-appointed (perhaps) Ops Chief of the Eidah, about the violent Shabbos protests. A lot of what he says is simply shocking.

I have always been a "fan" of Yossi Sarid. He came off as anti-religious, but I never really found him to be so. I found him to be more "super-liberal". I always found Sarid to be a worthy adversary in the political scene. He is intelligent and always fought for what he believed in based on intelligence and belief, and not just because he was anti-religious or anti-settler or anti whatever.

His articles are a pleasure to read, even though I often do not agree with his opinion, and he is always a pleasure to listen to.

here is an interview, 45 minutes, Sarid gave to the Bechadrei Charedim news site. In it he discusses his relations with haredim, his friends, the parking lot protests, and more.

שריד from elimand on Vimeo.

I have been given the opportunity to interview Uri Bank, a candidate on the Ichud Leumi, National Union, party list. The interview was delayed because Uri was called up for reserve duty in the Gaza War.

Uri Bank, 40, a political strategist and administrator, made aliya from the United States when he was twelve years old. At the age of seventeen, when his family returned to the States, he decided to stay in Israel on his own. He was a resident of the Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem for 22 years, and moved to the community of Nevei Daniel in Gush Etzion in 2004. Uri is married and the father of three. He holds bachelor degrees in Political Science and Multidisciplinary Studies from the Faculties of Social Sciences and Humanities of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Uri served in the Tank Corps as a “chayal boded” (a “lone-soldier” – a soldier who has no family in Israel) under the auspices of the Kibbutz Hadati’s Shiluv Program. This five-year program combines a full three years of army duty with two years of yeshiva study. Uri serves as a tank-commander in the reserves.

Uri is the Chairman of the Moledet Party’s Executive Board. He was recently elected number one on the Moledet slate for Knesset, which places him at number five on the joint Ichud Leumi (National Union) slate for the 18^th Knesset.

Uri’s experience includes:

• Director of the Ichud Leumi-Israel Beiteinu Faction in the Knesset.

• Executive Director of the IDF preparatory yeshiva (“mechina”) in Nokdim.

• Senior Advisor to MK Benny Elon – both in the Knesset and during Minister Elon’s terms as Minister of Tourism. In this capacity, Uri worked extensively on legislation such as:

  • Obliging the Government to obtain the approval of at least 61 Members of Knesset before negotiating with any other entity regarding the borders of the State of Israel.

  • Weaning the country’s budget off of its dependency on American financial support, in order to increase Israel’s independence in policy-making.

  • Applying Israeli civil law to the residents of Yesha.

  • Shortening the work-week to make Sunday a day-of rest.

  • Amending the tax-reform bill to reduce its harmful implications for Olim

Q: Why did you decide to get into politics in Israel, and why specifically with the Ichud Leumi party?

Ynet has a very interesting interview with Rav Don Freiman, formerly Lieutenant-Colonel in the IDF and currently the director of the the famous Yerushalmi school Etz Chaim.

Unfortunately I don't have the time right now to translate it to English, so I hope you can make do with the Hebrew...

Freiman talks about the tough financial situation and how the school and the families are surviving, and haredim in the army,

The Jerusalem Post published an interview with Moshe Feiglin.

The interview is very important, and in it many issues at the core of the debate between Bibi and Feiglin are discussed.

According to Moshe Feiglin, this interview explains the Manhigut/Feiglin positions and ideology perfectly.

To hear the audio clip of the original interview with Amnon Levi I wrote about in the previous post, see the following Youtube clip (it is only audio)

A Simple Jew asked for my thoughts on the subject..

Arutz 7 conducted an interview with the head of the Badat"z Shmitta department. It is very interesting and I suggest anybody interested in shmitta issues should read it. I will give a rough English translation below for those who might have a problem with the original being in Hebrew.

The interview was conducted with Rav Meir Bergman, head of the Shmitta department of the Badatz Eidah Chareidis. The last thing the Eidah wants to do, he says, is to harm the Israeli farmers. Purchasing produce from Arabs is the least preferential of all the options.

Bergman differentiates between practical possibiities and halachic possibilities. He says, fro a halachic viewpoint the greatest preference is to purchase vegetables imported from abroad where there are no issues of shmitta and they have very little checking to do. All they would have to do with such produce is make sure no other produce got mixed in once the boat comes into the port. That is the easiest from all aspects.

The problem with that option is that it is not practical. the government does not let them import as it upsets the Israeli farmers, and "we have no interest in harming the Israeli farmers". Also the prices of imported vegetables is very high.

The next level of preference is attaining produce from the Arava region. The Arava region is part of Israel but has no halachic status of Israel regarding shmitta issues (my note: this issue is a can of worms and there are different opinions on this). From this region we do not deal with Arabs, it is all Jewish, there is little deceit and trickery going on so it is the best for us.

The problem with the Arava region is the produce is limited and does not grow all year round and not every type of vegetable is grown there.

That leads to the third level of preference, Rav Bergman says. Arab produce. This is the least preferable option for a few reasons. The whole issue of whether an Arab purchasing/owning land in Israel removing the kedusha of the land for shmitta is a machlokes. Aside from that, there are security concerns. Aside from that, it is difficult to supervise this produce due to their deceptions and trickeries (which sometimes force us to stop working with certain farmers after they are caught).

When asked how the Eidah can justify supporting farmers in Gaza (hostile to Israel; supporting terror), Rav Bergman responded that in a regular year 80 percent of Israel's produce comes from Gaza.

So in a regular year when you go to the supermarket and buy veggies, chances are very high that you are buying produce from Gaza. "You have to remember", Bergman says, "stopping imports from Gaza completely would be a terrible blow to the economy. It could be on a micro level importing hurts the Israeli farmers, but overall on a macro level it is good for the Israeli economy."

Bergman also responded to the claim that the Eidah causes security problems by importing veggies from these areas. He says they have no desire to cause security problems. Since a ban was declared on Gaza by Israel, there are no imports from there. They are not even pressuring Israel to allow them to import from there. The Eidah brings produce from Arabs in Judea and Samaria, from where most of Israel's produce is coming right now anyway. He repeats that we must remember that in a regular year the merchants prefer Arab produce as well because of the price.

During shmitta this is the lowest option in order of preference (but the most prevalently used).

Rav Bergman added that in stores that sell Eidah produce, everything is specifically marked (e.g. Arab produce, from abroad, Arava, etc.)so the buyer knows where things comes from and can choose what to buy.

Regarding OBD produce, he says the Eidah does not deal with OBD produce. It is too difficult to supervise this produce and most people do not know how to treat it properly and therefore it is not practical to deal with in large amounts.

Bergman concluded that there are problems with supply and there are chances that certain vegetables might have a shortage, such as beetroot, however the main vegetables are in supply. He also added that if you check, the prices of Eidah produce is only slightly higher than non-Eidah produce.

Check out this interview Gelf Magazine held with Tamir Goodman, once dubbed the Jewish Jordan.
Goodman is probably the first Orthodox guy to play basketball professionally in Israel. He has served in the Israeli army after he became a citizen. he was featured once in Sports Illustrated, which made him fairly famous and he hit the scene with a splash.

I personally have not heard updates from him in a while and this interview with him was interesting. He mentions God a lot, as he speaks humbly.

The interview I posted about earlier is now under Rabbinic advisement and awaiting a decision if and how to continue it.

If you already posted questions, do not worry, they are not deleted. I have them saved elsewhere and will use them if the interview continues.

The interview I posted about earlier is now under Rabbinic advisement and awaiting a decision if and how to continue it.

If you already posted questions, do not worry, they are not deleted. I have them saved elsewhere and will use them if the interview continues.

Due to the recent flare-up in the Slifkin controversy, I have collaborated with R' Natan Slifkin in an interview in the attempt to answer some of the many questions and unclarities people have regarding the controversy.

Q: How did you become the "Zoo Rabbi"? And how do you make all those connections - you walk into a zoo and say I love animals, can I get into the lion cage - how do you convince them to let you behind the scenes?

NS: I've had a lifelong passion for animals, but as I grew up, I thought that I would never be able to make a career out of it. Then when I was in yeshivah, it occurred to me to start looking into what the Torah says about the animal kingdom. The rest is history...
The pictures and videos of me with wild animals are mostly from a private ranch in California where they train animals for work in movies. It's just a matter of paying a lot of money and signing a release of liability in case I get mauled! Occasionally, my connections to the Biblical Zoo have enabled me to go behind the scenes in some zoos in the U.S., and I also have some friends who work in various zoos.

Q: Has the controversy affected your book sales and speaking schedule? Have sales gone up? Gone down?

NS: Baruch Hashem, my book sales have gone way, way up. In terms of speaking engagements, while there are some places that will no longer invite me, this is far outweighed by the number of places that heard of me as a result of the controversy and davka want to invite me.
It's interesting; when Darwin's book originally came out, the Gedolim in Europe met to decide upon a response. They decided that it would be a very bad idea to place a ban on reading it, as it would merely encourage interest in it.

Q: How has the controversy around your works affected your and your families daily life?

NS: Well, it's already mostly died down. But for the first eight months or so, it completely and utterly took over my life. Aside from the time juggling emails and phone calls, it was extremely stressful and it took a great toll on me and my wife emotionally (fortunately our children are far too young to be affected).
It was especially difficult on my parents, who live in Bayit Vegan. There were posters all over Bayit Vegan - as if anyone there is even buying my books! My father (who is currently in a very grave situation in hospital) would go out every day to tear them down, and my mother was utterly distraught to the point that she was in tears frequently and couldn't bring herself to go to social events. I wonder if those who signed against my books gave any thought to their responsibilities in terms of causing tzaar to my family (or any other of the negative consequences of the ban, such as the massive chillul Hashem and the causing of many sincere people to move away from the yeshivah world).


Q: Do you ever get tired of it - either the job itself or the controversy - and just say I have had enough and will now do something else, like be the Plant Rabbi for example? Do you have other interests that take up your time?

NS: I was very sick of the controversy at the beginning, and I was desperate for it to be over. It was especially upsetting with those who attacked me personally and were motzi shem ra against me. But now it's died down a lot, and I've learned to handle it emotionally a lot better, so it doesn't bother me so much. My main frustration now is how so many people throw out charges against me which would be easily answered if they would just take the time to carefully read my book or my website.
The job and topic itself is certainly not something that I get tired of. It's a source of endless fascination for me. Additionally, there are constantly different aspects of it to focus on. For example, I spent much of the last few months intensively researching hilchos shofar, and writing new chapters for the new edition of Mysterious Creatures.

Q: How do you suggest lay people like me answer those who blankly ban your books without reading them? those who simply follow other rabbis like sheep, how do I respond (not start-up) as to why I want to read it - regardless of my agreeing with his answers?

NS: Well, if they are simply following their rabbis, you can say that you are simply following yours! You could say that you know that there are serious talmidei chachamim who endorse this approach, and that you have no chiyyuv or reason to follow these other people's rabbonim.

Q: Why is there so much hate toward you book and ideas, when you obviously have ma'are mekomos to back you up? Why has your work turned into such a wildfire? Why has it garnered the reaction it did, rather than just be shrugged off?

NS: That's a very interesting question. There are really two issues here - the question of why the ban caused such a backlash, and the question of why there is so much hate towards me. The answer to the first is that the ban was not just directed against me or my works, but against anyone who has ever used these approaches - which is tens of thousands of people. All these people felt like they had personally been condemned. A lot of people bemoaned the criticisms or even leitzonus against the Gedolim that erupted after the ban. I don't think that they realize how these people issuing the letzonos were, in many cases, extremely personally hurt by the ban. This isn't to justify the extreme reactions, but when you effectively tell a large group of people that they are apikorsim, without even giving any reasons, it's inevitable that this will cause tremendous resentment.

The reason why there is such hate towards me and my books is, I think, not so much due to what's in my books - after all, many of those who despise me have never even read my books. Rather, I think that it is for the most part due to my reaction to the ban i.e. defending myself very successfully on my website. If you consider the latest poster against me that was put up in RBS, the main reason why they said that people should not go to my shiurim was not so much the concern of "heresy", but rather that by doing so, people would be showing support to someone who is "defying the Gedolim."

Over a year ago, a certain rabbi told me that I was attacking the Gedolim on my website. I protested that I have always been very careful, as have been those supervising what I put on my website, that there should be nothing that attacks them and that I am only defending myself from their attacks on my work. His reply was very interesting and revealing. He said, "Defending yourself against the Gedolim is by definition attacking them." Now, that is something that sounds ludicrous, but what I think that he subconsciously meant is that his personal sense of identity was threatened when his image of the Gedolim and the universal acceptance of their rulings is shaken, because he draws his own sense of self-esteem from his idea of the Gedolim (which doesn't include the Gedolim that I follow!).

Q: Do you have a base of support that helps you get through the hard times?

NS: Baruch Hashem my family, rebbeim and community have been very supportive. I also have a file that is stuffed with hundreds of letters of support that I have received.

Q: How did you come to the conclusions that you came to that got you in trouble rather than follow other resolutions to the questions? Did those answers simply make more sense to you? Why have you been so adamant that your conclusions are correct, in spite of the rabbinic opposition to your solutions?

NS: When it comes down to it, we are talking about two very simple things - is the universe very old, and do creatures spontaneously generate. I've studied a fair amount of science and I am convinced that the universe is very old and that creatures do not spontaneously generate. My rebbeim in these matters have always told me that these conclusions are perfectly theologically acceptable, and that is what is written in the sources that I have collected. I investigated all the various answers to these and other questions, and the approach that I eventually took was the one that both made the most sense to me and that my rebbeim preferred. I have never been given any reason to tell my rebbeim that they were wrong, to ignore the sefarim that I studied, or to reject what I have learned about the natural world. It's not as though any of the Gedolim who banned my works gave any alternative answers to the problems that my books deals with.

You know, many people are under the impression that my books list dozens of cases where Chazal made mistakes in science. But the truth is that I only use that approach in THREE CASES! Mice growing from dirt, lice from sweat, and salamanders thriving only in fire. In each case, I was quoting other authorities, but the point is, throughout this whole controversy, not one of my opponents has said how they would explain these problems, let alone why my approach is wrong.

Q: Do you feel you are on equal footing with Rabbonim the likes of Rav Elyashiv, Rav Lefkowitz, the Novominsker Rebbe and others that you feel you can oppose them when they say you are wrong?

NS: I suggest that you look at what I wrote at http://www.zootorah.com/controversy/authority.html to see why I am not following their opinion; this is a very important page that I added recently to explain precisely this point.

Q: On your website you say that the Rabbonim refused to meet with you to allow you to explain your position. There is/was a rumor that Rav Moshe Shternbuch had agreed to meet with you. Supposedly he even agreed to meet with you on your own terms, yet supposedly you refused at the last minute.
Is there any truth to this rumor? Why would you not meet with him if he was willing? Can you deny the validity of the rumor?

NS: I have never heard anything like that (I haven't even heard a rumor like that!). Someone offered to arrange a meeting with him, after he had already written his letter. They hadn't spoken to him at all. I asked one of my rebbeim who is extremely close with Rav Sternbuch, and he couldn't see any point at all. After all, he had already made a public statement.

Q: Why do you continues to "peddle" your ideas, in light of the fact that the overwhelming majority of Chareidi Rabbonim oppose them.
One would expect that even if you feels you are right, you should "go underground" for some years, spend his time delving into more traditional subjects, and then when older, wiser, and more mature, return to these issue.
As an objective observer, regardless of the issue themselves, it seems very haughty on your part, at your age, to continue on, knowing that so many great people oppose his books.
Why do you continue on?

NS: Again, this relates to what I posted at http://www.zootorah.com/controversy/authority.html.

I do accept, though, that these rabbonim have the right to say that they don't want this approach for their communities, which I am trying to make clear in the way that I am republishing my books.

Q: Were you disappointed when your fellow landsman David Beckham decided to leave English footbal and take up American soccer?

NS: I have absolutely zero interest in sports and I didn't even know that he left football - in fact, I'm not exactly sure who he is!

Q: And finally, when is your next book coming out, And what will the topic be (if you can reveal it)?

NS: It's a completely revised and vastly expanded edition of Mysterious Creatures, to be entitled Sacred Monsters. It will also include discussions of giants, dwarfs, the shamir, and two-headed people! It will hopefully be out by summer.

Thank you R' Slifkin for the interview. I learned a lot from it. I hope others did as well. And Refuah Shleimah to your father.
For further information and more details of the whole controversy, clcik on the Controversy link on the ZooTorah website