Sep 4, 2011
Will Mehadrin Meat And Chicken Be Next?
The "tent protests" in Tel Aviv led to a nation-wide set of protests against the rising cost of housing. That spread to a general protest against the rising cost of living, with specific targets such as the cottage cheese protest.
A short while back, the Kikar Shabbos website began a campaign, which seemed to just stop at some point, against the high cost of meat and chicken, specifically mehadrin meats and chickens. They published letters from people involved in the kashrus industry that show they take advantage of the mehadrin market because they know they can get away with it. They know that people have the attitude that makes them think the more they pay for their chicken or meat the better, from a kashrus perspective, it must be. After publishing a few letters and writing a few articles about it, the campaign seemed to drop off the agenda.
Now, Yehuda Meshi-Zahav, one of the most prominent haredi people who is in the public spotlight as head of ZAKA, has taken up the reigns. Meshi-Zahav wants the frum public to protest the high cost of mehadrin meats and chicken.
Meshi-Zahav told Bechadrei:
"We come with complaints against the systems and authorities for every time the parnassa of the avreichim and families with a lot of children is affected negatively.
We blame the whole world for harassing us and for insensitivity. But when we are talking about our own people, we "fill our mouths with water" and accept it as a decree that you cannot talk against.
Does anybody have an explanation why meat or chicken that is mehadrin, why it's prices are 3 or even 4 times the price of regular kosher chicken? Even if you add the cost of the most mehudar kashrus at the best it should add just 20% to the price and not more.
Maybe the mehadrin cows are being given to drink only pure mehadrin olive oil or maybe the chickens are hatching from golden eggs?
Why by the cottage cheese thousands go out the streets, ban the product, until their complaint is heard. But when it gets to a decree of one of ours nobody opens their mouths and cries out?"
I look forward to mehadrin chickens and meats being the next industry to lower prices..
Picture Of The Day
Picture Of The Day
the golden calf at the #J14 tent protests (March of the Million) in Tel Aviv last night. The Golden Calf seemingly represents Netanyahu's worshiping of the tycoons and wealth
the golden calf at the #J14 tent protests (March of the Million) in Tel Aviv last night. The Golden Calf seemingly represents Netanyahu's worshiping of the tycoons and wealth
Sep 3, 2011
Headline Of The Day
Headline Of The Day
-- Haaretz
uh, shouldn't they be expecting a million people at the march of the million? or else change the name of the march to "the march of the hundreds of thousands"...
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis expected at massive 'March of the Million' rally
-- Haaretz
uh, shouldn't they be expecting a million people at the march of the million? or else change the name of the march to "the march of the hundreds of thousands"...
Sep 2, 2011
An Orthodox Rabbi Helping Gay Men Marry Lesbian Women (video)
An Orthodox Rabbi Helping Gay Men Marry Lesbian Women
Sep 1, 2011
Interesting Posts #297
Interesting Posts #297
1. Did Nir Ben Artzi Predict Tropical Storm Irene?
2. The Haredi Protest Ynet Missed
3. Can Football be Jewish?
4. Do Children need Married Parents to Thrive?
5. A Bat-Mitzvah With Rebbetzin Kanievsky
6. Modiin Residents Try To Keep Away Arabs From Park
7. The Golan
8. A Ger Wants His Geirus Annulled So He Can Marry A Non-Jew
9. The Winners and the Losers in the OROT Banot Fight
1. Did Nir Ben Artzi Predict Tropical Storm Irene?
2. The Haredi Protest Ynet Missed
3. Can Football be Jewish?
4. Do Children need Married Parents to Thrive?
5. A Bat-Mitzvah With Rebbetzin Kanievsky
6. Modiin Residents Try To Keep Away Arabs From Park
7. The Golan
8. A Ger Wants His Geirus Annulled So He Can Marry A Non-Jew
9. The Winners and the Losers in the OROT Banot Fight
First Day At OROT Passes Uneventfully
For those of you interested, reports are in that the first day of school at OROT Banot went smoothly and quietly. No protests, no fighting, no opposition. Just a normal first day back to school.
Either:
Either:
- they all backed down seeing they lost their campaign. possible, but not likely
- they didnt dare start any problems with the security force out in high numbers to protect the school kids. They might be waiting until things calm down and the police stop sending policemen to protect. This is possible but they have not really been deterred by the police before.
- There was never really an issue to begin with. The mayor caused the problems, making up claims of threats and violence. The kannoim then jumped ont he bandwagon seeing an opportunity, but backed down when they saw it fizzle away.Why he would do that and then stand strong even when he was discovered, I don't know. possible, not likely.
I also don't know if the mayor gave them the final permit to make it official and legal, or if he is still withholding that. The school had water and electricity, despite the mayor having had it shut down the other day. The Ministry of Education backed the school and not the mayor, but I don't know if either the mayor or the MoE gave that final ishur.
I am happy it passed quietly and hope it stays quiet. Everybody can live together, if they just let each community have it's own needs filled. Instead of trying to take from the other, let them have their needs taken care of and they will let the other have their needs taken care of.
Picture Of The Day - City Of Bet Shemesh Upsets The Haredim As Well
Picture Of The Day
If you think the Iryah is only fighting with the Dati Leumi and lying to them, you are wrong. it is simply the modus operandi of this iryah. This picture is of a sign on a street, of haredi residents, near some schools in RBS. It asks why Shmulik Greenberg, city councilman from UTJ (Degel) and holding the portfolio of being in charge of Haredi Education, is lying and it is during Elul.
The city has put down, over the past number of years, a number of temporary school structures, glorified caravans, on the plot of land on this street, for schools. The residents have gotten upset over the issue in past years and had come to an agreement that no more such caravans would be put on the local plot. It is overcrowded and dirty.
In the past couple of years the city has broken the agreement a number of times, and re-agreed for the future. They broke the agreement again this week by putting down more caravans. The residents have complained, complaints which have fallen on deaf ears as Greenberg responded by saying the law doesn't matter (the caravans are illegal, no permits have been issued for them, no safety clearances have been given) and he can do what he wants.
Ergo, the sign.
I get the schools and the councilman's problem. There are a lot of kids and not enough classrooms. not enough school buildings and not enough places to put kids. And they have to get the kids into schools. They really don't have a choice. But instead of planning in advance and doing things properly, they do it at the last minute ignoring previous agreements and trampling on the needs of others who are expected to look away.
If you think the Iryah is only fighting with the Dati Leumi and lying to them, you are wrong. it is simply the modus operandi of this iryah. This picture is of a sign on a street, of haredi residents, near some schools in RBS. It asks why Shmulik Greenberg, city councilman from UTJ (Degel) and holding the portfolio of being in charge of Haredi Education, is lying and it is during Elul.
The city has put down, over the past number of years, a number of temporary school structures, glorified caravans, on the plot of land on this street, for schools. The residents have gotten upset over the issue in past years and had come to an agreement that no more such caravans would be put on the local plot. It is overcrowded and dirty.
In the past couple of years the city has broken the agreement a number of times, and re-agreed for the future. They broke the agreement again this week by putting down more caravans. The residents have complained, complaints which have fallen on deaf ears as Greenberg responded by saying the law doesn't matter (the caravans are illegal, no permits have been issued for them, no safety clearances have been given) and he can do what he wants.
Ergo, the sign.
I get the schools and the councilman's problem. There are a lot of kids and not enough classrooms. not enough school buildings and not enough places to put kids. And they have to get the kids into schools. They really don't have a choice. But instead of planning in advance and doing things properly, they do it at the last minute ignoring previous agreements and trampling on the needs of others who are expected to look away.
Quote Of The Day
Quote Of The Day
I respect and value each person that leaves his house to go protest... I hope that via the Trachtenberg Committee we will be able to take various steps, including expanding the subsidies to childrens gans, a step that will seriously lighten the load of the parents..
- Minister of Education Gideon Saar
His statement is a bit strange in light of his recent attempt to cancel the subsidies to gans in Bet Shemesh (and some other areas). The decision was really not his, but he was going to be implementing a decision that had been taken before him and had already gone through the courts. He agreed to reverse the decision and further delay the implementation after many complaints.
I respect and value each person that leaves his house to go protest... I hope that via the Trachtenberg Committee we will be able to take various steps, including expanding the subsidies to childrens gans, a step that will seriously lighten the load of the parents..
- Minister of Education Gideon Saar
His statement is a bit strange in light of his recent attempt to cancel the subsidies to gans in Bet Shemesh (and some other areas). The decision was really not his, but he was going to be implementing a decision that had been taken before him and had already gone through the courts. He agreed to reverse the decision and further delay the implementation after many complaints.
Modiin Residents Want To Charge Entrance Fee To Visitors
A number of Modiin residents have complained that too many people from outside the city have spent the summer vacation coming in and using their parks, specifically the fairly new Park Anabeh with large and open grassy areas, large swings and slides for kids, and a small lake with paddleboats, and have been making a mess. their complaint is that these people don't pay the local taxes but benefit from the parks, and then leave the city residents with the mess and the expense of cleaning it up. As well, they say the park gets so crowded during vacation time with people from outside Modiin that the local residents don't really get to enjoy it themselves.
Some residents of Modiin have called for the implementation of either an entrance fee to non-residents of Modiin or for paid, and expensive, parking in the immediate vicinity of the park.
The specific non-resident-audience targeted in the campaign has been the haredi visitors. That might be because they go to these parks around the country in large groups, often with fleets of a few buses, as many don't have cars. Either the city or an askan often will arrange buses to different locations and order buses dependent on how many people register. So while all sorts of people are showing up, the haredi visitors become more visible as they are showing up all together in fairly large groups.
In truth, the whole thing is a non-issue. The Facebook group they started to promote their agenda has garnered a total of 8 members. I am told the petition they circulated garnered 60 signatures. The press seems to be making a bigger deal of this than it actually is.
However, regarding the issue itself, I am in favor of charging fees to non-residents. the locals pay with their arnona and other local taxes towards the maintenance and upkeep of the city and parks. The visitors leave a big mess and don't pay anything toward the upkeep. It is not uncommon for cities around the world to charge visitors for using their parks and attractions while allowing residents free access or access at greatly reduced prices. In some places it is even standard.
Despite that, for some reason, in Israel the Supreme Court has already ruled that a city is not allowed to charge a fee to visitors to visit its parks. The parks are public places, and everyone has the right to benefit equally from the parks. one could say it is not equal as the locals pay for the upkeep, albeit indirectly, while the visitors do not, but the direct access has to be equal.
This played out a number of years ago regarding Park Ranaana. Park Ranaana is a beautiful park in Ranaana, with large play areas, open grass, small amusement park, small zoo, and more. They used to charge an entrance fee to non-residents of the Sharon area - Ranaana, Hod HaSharon, etc.
The entrance fee on one hand helped pay for the maintenance and upkeep, and on the other hand it also discouraged non-residents from coming. What might be a free trip to a really nice park for a large family, for example, suddenly might cost a couple hundred shekel. If you would have to pay for 7 or 10 people, you would think twice about spending that money on a park. I remember going to park Ranaana during vacation in the days when they still charged entrance fees. The large park was quiet, not swamped with people, clean and pleasant.
After the Supreme Court decision, suddenly Park Ranaana was free for everyone. The few times during vacations periods we have gone since it was less pleasant, dirty and crowded. I understand the problem of the Modiin residents. unfortunately for them, the law is not on their side. I don't think charging an entrance fee to visitors, if the Supreme Court would allow it, is discrimination.
What Ranaana did do was charge exorbitant rates for parking in the immediate vicinity of the park. It didn't really help, as paying for parking, even at expensive rates, is still far cheaper than paying entrance fees or going to more expensive places. As well, many of these visitors come in large groups by bus - the bus can drop off the visitors and go park farther away until it is time to pick up the visitors and leave.
At the end of the day, it seems like the press made this into a bigger deal than it really is, and even the City of Modiin says that the park is open to all and they have no intention of charging for parking. The idea is not even realistic. The park itself only has a small lot. there is no street parking in the area, but a reasonable distance away are a few larger parking lots for train station, that they will not, or cannot, charge for.
Some residents of Modiin have called for the implementation of either an entrance fee to non-residents of Modiin or for paid, and expensive, parking in the immediate vicinity of the park.
The specific non-resident-audience targeted in the campaign has been the haredi visitors. That might be because they go to these parks around the country in large groups, often with fleets of a few buses, as many don't have cars. Either the city or an askan often will arrange buses to different locations and order buses dependent on how many people register. So while all sorts of people are showing up, the haredi visitors become more visible as they are showing up all together in fairly large groups.
In truth, the whole thing is a non-issue. The Facebook group they started to promote their agenda has garnered a total of 8 members. I am told the petition they circulated garnered 60 signatures. The press seems to be making a bigger deal of this than it actually is.
However, regarding the issue itself, I am in favor of charging fees to non-residents. the locals pay with their arnona and other local taxes towards the maintenance and upkeep of the city and parks. The visitors leave a big mess and don't pay anything toward the upkeep. It is not uncommon for cities around the world to charge visitors for using their parks and attractions while allowing residents free access or access at greatly reduced prices. In some places it is even standard.
Despite that, for some reason, in Israel the Supreme Court has already ruled that a city is not allowed to charge a fee to visitors to visit its parks. The parks are public places, and everyone has the right to benefit equally from the parks. one could say it is not equal as the locals pay for the upkeep, albeit indirectly, while the visitors do not, but the direct access has to be equal.
This played out a number of years ago regarding Park Ranaana. Park Ranaana is a beautiful park in Ranaana, with large play areas, open grass, small amusement park, small zoo, and more. They used to charge an entrance fee to non-residents of the Sharon area - Ranaana, Hod HaSharon, etc.
The entrance fee on one hand helped pay for the maintenance and upkeep, and on the other hand it also discouraged non-residents from coming. What might be a free trip to a really nice park for a large family, for example, suddenly might cost a couple hundred shekel. If you would have to pay for 7 or 10 people, you would think twice about spending that money on a park. I remember going to park Ranaana during vacation in the days when they still charged entrance fees. The large park was quiet, not swamped with people, clean and pleasant.
After the Supreme Court decision, suddenly Park Ranaana was free for everyone. The few times during vacations periods we have gone since it was less pleasant, dirty and crowded. I understand the problem of the Modiin residents. unfortunately for them, the law is not on their side. I don't think charging an entrance fee to visitors, if the Supreme Court would allow it, is discrimination.
What Ranaana did do was charge exorbitant rates for parking in the immediate vicinity of the park. It didn't really help, as paying for parking, even at expensive rates, is still far cheaper than paying entrance fees or going to more expensive places. As well, many of these visitors come in large groups by bus - the bus can drop off the visitors and go park farther away until it is time to pick up the visitors and leave.
At the end of the day, it seems like the press made this into a bigger deal than it really is, and even the City of Modiin says that the park is open to all and they have no intention of charging for parking. The idea is not even realistic. The park itself only has a small lot. there is no street parking in the area, but a reasonable distance away are a few larger parking lots for train station, that they will not, or cannot, charge for.
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