Mar 27, 2023

the other side of the strike

Some of the big chains and businesses around the country have decided to strike over the judicial reform situation.

Now this is dedication. Shutting down, going on strike, right before Pesach during what is probably the biggest shopping season of the year, that is dedication. Big and Fox and all those other chains joining the strike - that is leaving a lot of money on the table.

McDonalds announced they are joining the strike. Big news, but maybe being shut for a few days will also help improve the health of the average Israeli. I have nothing against McDonalds but fast food chains are selling what is not the healthiest of foods, tasty as they may be.

As a consumer, and especially as the father of consumers, this strike should have started a few days ago, before my kids went shopping for the holiday.... This strike might be a godsend for the people who are already suffering under inflationary prices and a weakening shekel...




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Tweet of the Day





Shimon Goldberg, a senior Haredi politician in Bet Shemesh and someone who considers himself a future mayoral candidate, tweeted:
Fox, Azrieli, and Big have businesses in Bet Shemesh. it would be interesting to see how they respond if the Local Planning Committee  will strike against them when they submit their requests..

Goldberg always seemed like a smart and decent guy. He seems to do mostly decent work in Bet Shemesh. But honestly this is just a stupid comment. A Bet Shemesh politician is going to shut down the biggest businesses in the city and give up all that tax revenue, commercial arnona, jobs and business? That is pretty much the outcome of him carrying out his suggestion.



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challenging Netanyahu

(this post was written late last night, before knowing what would transpire in the morning hours, so this all might be moot by the time you read it)

I dont know how Netanyahu gets out of the current crisis unscathed. I dont see a path. But he's maneuvered out of crazy situations before, so maybe he'll figure something out. That being said, at this point it looks like he may lose his government no matter what he chooses moving forward - if he freezes the judicial reform I dont see how Smotritch, Ben Gvir, Rothman and Levin (and some others) dont resign. If he continues to move ahead I dont see how others calling for the freezing of the reform dont resign. If he moves forward, the chaos continues to spread. It is a bad situation and I dont see how this government can last much longer the way things are going. They started off solid and homogenous but the cracks are too big now.

I think if elections happen, whenever they happen, whether in 4-6 months or in 4 years or in a year - whenever it may be - it is time for the Right to outflank Bibi on the Right, turn him into the Leftist that he has always liked to call his opponents, and run a Prime Ministerial candidate from the more right wing parties. 

There is no real left. The current left is made up of a few small left wing and Arab parties, a couple larger centrist parties and some right wingers that are there because of Bibi. On their own the Left cant really win, and the union of diverse parties wont continue forever - we already saw how poorly they work together. Regardless, the future wont come from the Left, no matter how important they were in the past. They can continue to run and challenge Bibi but the real challenge to Bibi will be from the Right.

Some candidate from the Right, whether it will be Smotritch or Ben Gvir or someone else, will need to stop seeing themselves as representatives of small sectors of Israel and say it is time for us to lead Israel. Say, Bibi is Left - he couldnt withstand the pressures, he froze construction, he refused to evacuate Bedouin settlements the Supreme Court allowed him to, he evacuated Jewish settlements, etc. it is time for someone else to challenge him from the Right and go and form a real right wing government.


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#120: Behind the Bima: Eli Beer & Nachman Seltzer (video)








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Palestinians: Was Israel leaving Gaza a victory for the Palestinian resistance? (video)







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DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY DAYENU - A Passover Parody by Menschions (video)







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Eternal Summer! EILAT. Fascinating Walk from The Red Sea to The Desert Through the Whole City (video)







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Mizmor Shir: V'Al Yedei Zeh (video)







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Mar 26, 2023

toeing the line

Yoav Galant just paid the price for not toeing the line by being fired by PM Netanyahu from his post as Defense Minister.... 

will that reign in other Likudniks who might be wavering and considering supporting the demand to stop the reform or will it upset enough others that they raise their heads and increase the volume of their opposition?

Fun.


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hypocrisy or new beginnings

As I have said many times before, I do not expect people like Yair Laid or Benjamin Netanyahu or Miri Regev or most other politicians to keep Shabbos, to eat only kosher food or to do anything else according to halacha. They are not religious (some are at best "traditional" in some sense or another, but most traditional people have nice sentiment to religion and have faith but they are not strict adherents to most halachot, though keeping kosher is more common than some other halachot and is observed more widely among many traditional people and should maybe be kept off the list above). It is neither a shock nor a surprise when they are not keeping halacha but more in line with their behavior and beliefs. It is more of a surprise when they do keep halacha in some way, and usually, at least publicly, it is because they have to for political considerations.

Activities from this past Shabbos raised some interesting questions.

PM Benjamin Netanyahu was spotted, with his wife Sara Netanyahu, dining with others at a Gordon Ramsey owned, Michelin rated, treif restaurant with alle guten zachen such as lobster and shrimp. A video from the restaurant was leaked to the public. While it is not known what the Netanyahus were eating, and it is possible they only ordered a salad (without sliced onions) or maybe mehadrin kosher tv din

ners, their presence in a completely treif restaurant is circumspect. 

While again, I dont expect Netanyahus to eat only kosher food, I failed to hear the outcry of the Haredi members of his coalition who were quick to denounce Yair Lapid for eating treif in public. As a matter of fact they even have denounced Netanyahu himself on previous occasions in which he was seen in a treif restaurant while serving as Prime Minister.

Now, there is also the additional problem of him going to a restaurant on Shabbos, but being that he almost definitely did not pay for his own meal, as he generally does not, so the chilul shabbos factor might be less important here. That being said, MK Yair Lapid did criticize the Prime Minister for eating treif in a restaurant while his coalition is advancing a bill to prevent people from eating chametz in hospitals on Pesach. I am not sure Lapid's comparison of the two is perfect, but his point was made. I would point something else out - Netanyahu went to a restaurant on Shabbos (treif as it was) yet his coalition refuses to allow kosher restaurants in Israel to open on Shabbos (even if the customers pay in advance, like in a hotel). Hey - maybe that is why he went to a treif restaurant! No kosher restaurant was open, so he just had to eat treif - it was his only option!

Now that we got PM Netanyahu out of the way, let's touch on the other interesting thing that happened on Shabbos.

Reporters have been pointing out regularly on Saturday nights, as they have been for many years, the various work being done on Shabbos - such as work on the rail lines, among others. This Shabbos, in addition to work on the train lines, there was also work done on the light rail line in Ramat Gan, as reported by Channel 14 journalist Kobi Bornshtein. This has been going on for many weeks. Initially Deputy Minister Maklev raised the issue urgently with Minister of Housing Yitzchak Goldknopf (who used to head the lobby against chilul shabbos, or whatever it was called) and with Transportation Minister Miri Regev who is the authority under which much of the chilul shabbos happens. Bornshtein says he asked the various Haredi MKs and government members about this and they did not even bother responding. You can see the various tweets about it in Bornshteins Twitter feed, with specifics of which Haredi MKs/Ministers he reached out to. Let's not forget, UTJ and Shas always made governmental chilul shabbos a massive issue and even brought down governments over it. 

One can only assume that knowing they have no other option of being in an alternate government and advancing their needs they have chosen to make chilul shabbos a lower priority than ever before. If so, perhaps at least UTJ should remove the word "Shabbos" from their party name, which technically is Yahadut Hatorah V'HaShabbat.

But to give them the benefit of the doubt I actually came up with another explanation why they have not said anything about the governmental chilul shabbos happening under their watch (for two months now!).

UTJ, and seemingly Shas (though it was always a much more acute issue for UTJ), have possibly turned over a new leaf. New beginnings. They no longer want to force secular, or at least not religious, members of the government and Knesset, and those under them, to keep halacha. They have moved more into the Live and Let Live camp! Shabbos is still surely important to them, but they know it is between each person and God and not for us religious people to force on everyone else! Same as the lack of comment on the tarfus in public issue - what Netanyahu eats, even in public, is between the Prime Minister and God, and not for us to get involved in.

So either this is terrible hypocrisy or the beginnings of a new approach of live and let live even about Shabbos and treifus to be taken by the Haredi parties (and the Dati parties, but it was never their primary issue in the past either) moving forward....









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the solution to antisemitism

Kanye West has announced that he likes Jews again.

Whew. I am so relieved.

Kanye announced this on his Instagram page and the post got 2.8+ million likes, so far.

I do find it strange that this is his only post on Instagram. Not being a follower I am not sure if he just never uses his account there or if he deletes all his posts regularly or if the account is brand new....

Anyway, Kanye says he finished with his antisemitism and now likes Jews because he watched a movie, 21 Jump Street, with Jonah Hill in it.

I think all those organizations out there, and the State of Israel itself, that have dedicated themselves to fighting antisemitism, need a new approach. They should all just be showing 21 Jump Street to groups of antisemites.

I wonder what other movies with a Jewish actor might be powerful enough to sway people to liking Jewish people. Suggestions? It might be futile. It is probably difficult to find any good movies with a Jewish actor....

 


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Headlines Podcast: 3/25/23 – Shiur 413 – How not to go to jail (audio)







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Israelis: Which Hogwarts house are you? (video)







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THE JERUSALEM BOTANICAL GARDENS Is a Gem in The Heart of Jerusalem. (video)







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Mendy Twerski - Mein Oigen (Official Music Video)







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Mar 24, 2023

Shalom Aleichem at the hafgana in Bnei Braq (video)

a gutten shabbos





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Mar 23, 2023

Tweet of the Day







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Facebook Status of the Day






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The Richest Jews in the World (6-10) • Jewish Money (video)








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The New Excavation of the Shiloach Pool (video)







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Jerusalem in Winter. Walk Along the Central Streets of The City (video)







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Shmuel - Nekudot (video)







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Micha Gamerman - Kulam Elecha Yashiru Official - (Music Video)







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Mar 22, 2023

The State of Bnei Braq

There is a big fight going on about tomorrow's protest. The protest group is planning to disrupt traffic all over the place but mroe specifically they are going to be holding a large protest in Bnei Braq, ostensibly because the Haredi community, via its political leadership, is extremely supportive of the judicial reform (and behind the scenes pushing for it).

Some people are upset about that. In Bnei Braq there are two different approaches formulating and debating how to best respond - some say let's greet the protesters with drinks and cakes, or cholent and other delicacies for a Thursday night protest, along with smiles and warm greetings and handing out candles for Shabbos and other things.. Others are upset and are considering this an attack on Bnei Braq, an attack on Haredim, inappropriate and should be met with dirty diapers, rocks, rotten food thrown at them and counter demonstrations. I am reading it online and people are very passionate about this and very upset and really considering themselves as being under attack and saying to leave Bnei Braq out of it.

While I am not quite sure the efficacy of protesting specifically in Bnei Braq, I do not see why anyone should think Bnei Braq is inappropriate for protests like this and out of bounds. Bnei Braq is part of the country just like any other city, village and town. They get involved in politics in a big way they cant just wash their hands and say they have nothing to do with it. The Bnei Braq residents are nto at fault for anything, but they are as much part of the country and system as are the residents of Tel Aviv, Petach Tikva, Jerusalem, Bet Shemesh and every other town. If people want to protest in Bnei Braq, no Bnei Braq resident needs to take it personally as an attack. Bnei Braq is not an autonomous entity and need not be treated any differently than any other city. Just because it has a unique demographic doesn't mean it is out of bounds.

People refer to Tel Aviv as "The State of Tel Aviv" in a derogatory way as if it is treated and has a personality of a completely separate entity from the rest of Israel. The truth is Bnei Braq is not so different and is treated by many as "The State of Bnei Braq".


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Checkmate or Petty

The Meron tragedy happened on Lag B'Omer of the year 2021.

Naftali Bennett served as Minister of Religious Affairs in the years 2013-2015 with Benjamin Netanyahu as Prime Minister.

PM Netanyahu, in his role as Prime Minister in 2021 at the time of the tragedy was investigated and was even warned by the committee of possible future ramifications. Bennett was not part of the investigation, seemingly because he had no connection to it. Netanyahu, Deri, Amir Ohana, police commanders and others were investigated, and some warned, due to their involvement. Netanyahu, having been warned, seems to have the right by law to request other people be called as witnesses and to be questioned and investigated.

PM Netanyahu has requested the committee call and investigate Naftali Bennet in the capacity of his previous position as Minister of Religious Affairs.

Again, Bennett held that role in a Netanyahu government in the years 2013-2015, well before the Meron tragedy.

I dont know what they will find, and why Bennett would be any differently responsible from any other Minister of Religious Affairs from others years, but I guess we wont know without looking. Considering the distance it does seem vindictive of Netanyahu to do this to Bennett, because of their bad relations and maybe because Bennett as PM formulated and empowered this committee to investigate the tragedy.

I would say Netanyahu is saying "Checkmate" to Bennett by doing this, but that would only be the case if Bennett is found somehow to have some responsibility and guilt> if he will be, then Checkmate. If not, Netanyahu looks really petty.



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Picture of the Day



female Members of Knesset from the Opposition parties are protesting the Coalition parties opposition to the proposed law that would protest women from abusive violent husbands and allow tracking via a bracelet in cases where continued violence is reasonably suspected. Minister Ben Gvir who pushed the Coalition to oppose the law claims he will propose a better law for this shortly, but in the meantime opposes this one due to some husbands who might be falsely accused. The female MKs protested in Knesset by waving their hands with tracking bracelets attached. It's getting wild out there.

This somewhat reminded me of when (then MK, now Minister) Meir Porush handcuffed himself to the Knesset podium to protest a law proposal regarding the drafting of yeshiva students...







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Quote of the Day

I’ve been to Dubai. I won’t be going back. I don’t like the place

  -- Minister of Transportation Miri Regev

this created quite a stir, and even some diplomatic issues as it upset the UAE... honestly I am not sure why this was such a big deal. Israelis are going to Dubai en masse, they love it. So one person doesnt like it. Who cares?




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Mount Zion...



NBA star Zion Williamson just got this tattoo that says Mount Zion. He really should go all in and move to Jerusalem.....




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Smotritch and Rotman Press Conference about the Judicial Reform (video)







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The Gateway to Ancient Jerusalem (video)







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A Walk from The Center to THE ULTRA RELIGIOUS DISTRICT. JERUSALEM, FRIDAY (video)







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HOME - The Time Is Now(Official Video)







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Shavim- Yonina (video)








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Mar 21, 2023

the great equalizer

I was in a hospital this morning and some young men and women were walking around handing this out:




A candy with a note that says "I came to say to you, despite all the arguments, I love you. Because in a family even if we argue, we always remain brothers. You should have a sweet day"

beautiful sentiment. funny to pass that sentiment around in a hospital, where the protests are not happening, where people are not fighting. The brutal honest truth is that a hospital is the great equalizer. Sit in a hospital for a couple hours, or even minutes, and watch the people walk, or get wheeled, by, both the patients and the visitors. Men, women, Haredi, secular, dati, traditional, Arab, Christian, old, young, big, little and any other descriptor and category you might think of. The sicknesses and illnesses and injuries, and lehavdil the births, touch everybody equally. People in hospitals dont fight with each other. They focus on getting better, but everyone there realizes we are all more or less the same and equal and the differences are minor. Hospitals really are the great equalizers.





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Tweet of the Day




Palestine Air? The replies to this tweet are hilarious, and this tweet gets totd because of the great replies it generated....



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a holy people

Reports have come out that Justice Minister Yariv Levin paid a visit on Purim to the head of a crime family ((Israeli mafia) in Herzliya who has sat in prison four times for heinous crimes such as murder. The criminal he paid a visit to is Rafi Chaim, head of the Kedoshim crime syndicate ( I have also seen it spelled Kedushim, but I like Kedoshim better). Rafi Chaim's son, also a member of the gang, who sat in prison for two years for murder, was also present at the Purim party.




It seems the Chaim family led by Rafi have become big Likud supporters and bring in many votes and members from their influential positions, making their home and events a place that many Likud members make sure to visit for support.

Chaim has the right to vote for anyone he wants, including the Likud, and they can support whatever candidate they prefer for whatever ministerial position they want. Who Rafi Chaim supports doesnt interest me. Who Yariv Levin supports interests me.

The Justice Minister visits the head of a crime syndicate and hugs and panders to him and shows him respect... is that normal? is that reasonable influence and voter relations? I am not sure how the judicial reform plays into this but it doesnt sound good that he is working on judicial reform and reworking how judges are appointed while hanging out with known criminals...

I even liked Yariv Levin and voted for him in the Likud primaries. I am surprised and shocked by this.


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The Yissachar-Zevulun Partnership • All in the Mishpacha (video)







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Palestinians: What happens if you insult the Prophet? (video)








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Evening Jerusalem. Daylight to Twilight Walk. From Rehavia neighborhood the City Center (video)








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Eitan Cohen - Mangina (video)








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Gad Elbaz & Hebro Music - Esah Enai (video)









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Mar 20, 2023

delaying elections

If this government doesnt implode from all the chaos it is creating it theoretically has the chance to complete its full term -  a very rare feat indeed. This government is homogenous enough to have the chance.

As rare as that might be, the government is actually trying to give itself an extra year before elections. They are extremely optimistic about this possibility to even bother trying.

According to reports in Haaretz, and Behadrei, the Likud has submitted a request tot he election board to set the date for the next elections as November 2, 2027, giving themselves an extra year (approximately). The claim used by the Likud is that the elections were held in the month of Cheshvan so with the law saying that elections for a new term will be held in the Cheshvan following the end of the four year term, the Likud wants to say the Cheshvan that we held the last elections in should not be counted, thus giving them an extra year until the next Cheshvan.

Knesset legal counsel is opposing this request saying the official date of elections (if the Knesset serves its full term) will be the 3rd Tuesday of Cheshvan 5787, which would be November 17 2026.

the Likud is being attacked for trying to pass a law to extend their term without elections, which they reject. The truth is that they are not passing a law for this, just manipulating the existing law to give themselves a longer term.

For anyone who thinks that the judicial reform as proposed would give them the possibility of canceling elections whenever they might wish to, take a look and see that the Likud right now will take advantage of any chance to give themselves more service time without elections. If the reform gives them full power to pass whatever law they want, it isnt farfetched to think they might delay elections if it suits them



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Quote of the Day

There is no such thing as a Palestinian nation. There is no Palestinian history, there was never a Palestinian king. The White House needs to hear the truth... The Palestinian nation was made up less than 100 years ago..My grandfather, who was 13th generation Jerusalemite, is the true Palestinian. My grandmother who was born in Metula over 100 years ago is Palestinian....there are 5 rules that categorize a nation - history, culture, language, coinage and historical leadership. Who was the first Palestinian king? What language did the Palestinians speak? Was there ever a Palestinian coin? is there any Palestinian history or culture? There isn't. There are Arabs in the Middle East who came around the same time as the Jewish aliyah and the early says of Zionism. After 2000 years of exile the Jewish nation has returned home, and there are Arabs around us that dont like that, so they created a fictitious nation and claim fictitious rights in the Land of Israel just to oppose the Zionist movement..

  -- Minister Betzalel Smotritch, at a conference in Paris

I am curious if he spoke in Paris in English, Hebrew or French....


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#119: Behind the Bima: BRS Global Marathon Episode (video)

some great interviews..






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Montana Tucker and the Second Gentleman at The White House (video)







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JERUSALEM TODAY. Full Immersion in The Atmosphere of The City. From Market to Western Wall (video)







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Mar 19, 2023

another construction freeze agreement

Reports are saying that Israel agreed, in the conference at Sharm A Sheikh, to a 4 month construction freeze in Judea and Samaria, along with a 6 month freeze from approving new communities.

Personally, I think 4 months is a speck of time and not a big deal. if that is a goodwill gesture that can get something significant in return, I see 4 months as being such a minor price to pay that it is not even worth discussing.

That being said, this is yet another point against the promises of a full right government, and another thing that Ben Gvir has explicitly spoken out about as not being acceptable. Terror is going barely countered and hardly reigned in, rockets from Gaza get no response from Israel, now another construction freeze agreement, prices keep going up, the country is in chaos (yes, it is the left protesting, but it is the right wing government not in control of pretty much anything)... how long will this last? For how long will Ben Gvir and Smotritch continue to accept what they promised they wouldn't? 


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spoke too soon

remember the deterrence that some people were so proud of having achieved by burning some buildings in Hawara a couple weeks ago? 

Yeah, they spoke too early, as predicted. unfortunately.


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Trump Kushner at the Kotel

I am always happy when Jews from abroad choose to take their vacations in Israel. It is also nice when Jews in Israel choose to vacation in Israel, but that is another story.. Anyways, Jared and Ivanka traveled to Israel for a private vacation and on Friday went to daven sunrise at the Kotel...





2 questions:
1. don't they have 3 children? where are the other two? did they just not want to get up that early?
2. what happened to the poor kids arm? refuah shleima

and a bonus joke for a 3rd question, is she wearing red to sympathize with the Handmaids Tale protestors?



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Picture of the Day




driving on Road 60 to Jerusalem in the rain this morning an Israeli driver stopped to give his umbrella to an Arab woman waiting in the rain with her son for a bus...




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Headlines Podcast: 3/18/23 – Shiur 412 – What makes for Effective Dating? (audio)








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Special 1 bite review Easter Basket style. (video)








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Moses parting the Red Sea... at a basketball game (video)

this is cute, though I have no idea who they are and why they did this...








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JERUSALEM TODAY. Summer Right Now??? Nice Walk on A Sunny Day (video)








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Veshuvu El Hashem - Yeshivat Torat Shraga cover (originally by Rav Shmuel Brazil) (video)








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Yeshivishir - piha patcha (official video)








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Mar 16, 2023

TOUR EPISODE 4 - LA'S MOST WANTED (video)








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Israelis: Why are there still Palestinian refugee camps? (video)







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The 2 Minute Challenge (video)







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THIS IS NOT JAPAN - THIS IS ISRAEL. The Beautiful City of Jaffa (Tel Aviv-Yafo) (video)








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Merav Brenner with Hallel choir: Mashehu Bi Poreach (video)







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Mar 15, 2023

English as a foreign language

This is embarassing

This is Minister Betzalel Smotritch's speech, in English, at the Israel Bonds conference in Washington DC.



Now I am not one who believes that a politician in Israel must have good command of the English language to be elected or to be deserving of a position of high office. 

that being said, this speech in English is embarrassing and horrible. He doesn't have to know English, but if he doesn't he shouldn't be trying to give speeches in English. He can give his speeches in Hebrew and they can use that simultaneous translation thingy with the headsets that are used all around the world at big events with participants and attendees from varying countries. 


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Picture of the Day




That is MK Merav Michaeli (Labor). The only thing special about the picture is that she is wearing red instead of her traditional black outfits. She shocked everyone today when she appeared in the Knesset in a red pantsuit, which she wore to note the importance of the protest movement...



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Steinmetz strikes for Israel!

Back in July 2021 Orthodox Jew Jacob Steinmetz was drafted to Major League Baseball by the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

While Steinmetz is no Sandy Koufax (in talent) just yet, this 19 year old Minor League pitcher just started a game for Team Israel in the World Baseball Championships tournament and notably struck out Manny Machado and a couple other Dominican star players.



Just the other day a Nicaraguan pitcher nobody had ever heard of struck out three MLB All Stars (including Juan Soto) in an inning (while giving up a hit to Machado) in the WBC and was immediately granted a contract by a scout from the Detroit Tigers. Steinmetz is already in the MLB system, so that isnt going to happen to him, but WBC outings have proven to be notable.

Always happy to see our MOTs succeed at such high levels!



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‘Time for the Shabbos goy’: Andrew Cuomo announces new pro-Israel Democratic group (video)


The former New York governor said it’s up to non-Jewish elected officials to speak out ‘first and loudest’ in defense of Israel






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Palestinians: Should Ukrainians fight or flee their occupation? (video)







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Chaim Topol and Danny Kaye Hebrew version of Le Chaim from Fiddler On The Roof. (video)







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I Explore the Area Around the Calvary and Then Climb It. Unique Shots from Above (video)








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Bentzi Stein: Bnei Melachim medley on the Black Sea (video)







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URI DAVIDI - Echad Ani Yodea (Official Music Video)








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Mar 14, 2023

beach warning

The Ministry of Health released a warning, as it has done in the past, saying that because of the heavy rains there has been leakage of sewage into the drainage systems that lead out to various beaches in the Tel Aviv area, thus issuing a warning to not swim in the beaches of Tel Aviv right now.

The leakage was caused by heavy rains, which are still ongoing. 

Who the heck might go swimming in this weather that we need a warning form the Ministry of Health? Anyway, right now it is not beach season and they are officially closed and nobody is allowed to be swimming there at this time...





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Mar 13, 2023

Tweet of the Day

this is amazing




Mendy Gruzman is a Haredi reporter for Kan Moreshet. He tweeted that there is a dispute among the Haredi parties (Shas and UTJ), as UTJ is demanding that the chametz law they are working to pass (that will allow hospital administrators to ban chametz from the hospital on Pesach) should also include a ban on kitniyos, while Shas is opposed to that.

If this is true, this is amazing. If joke, hilarious. Will there also be a dispute between Degel and Aguda of UTJ itself as to the issue of including gebrokchts? 


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Arnold Schwarzenegger has a powerful message for those who have gone down a path of hate. (video)








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CAESAREA Is the Ancient City of The Jewish king Herod the Great (22 BCE – 6CE) (video)







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Eyal Twito - Chalomot (Official Music Video)







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YONI Z - CROWN [Official Music Video]







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Mar 12, 2023

Tweet of the Day







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the unexpected victim of the SVB crash

The crash of SVB, Silicon Valley Bank, has sent shock waves throughout the financial and hi-tech worlds, and that includes Israel. PLenty of Israeli hi-tech companies, and investment funds, surely held some money in SVB, not even including the few companies that recently spoke about moving their money out of Israel, and lost some, or a lot of, money in the crash. Maybe some will be recouped in the near future when the bank will be bailed out, but surely some will remain lost, and nothing can really make up for the anguish they are all going through over the fear and uncertainty.

All that being said, there is a victim that is totally unexpected.

Kikar is reporting that it seems some wealthy Jews who are supporters of yeshivas and kollels in Israel were heavily invested in SVB and held a lot of money in the bank, and spoke to someone connected in some way that many of these gvirim invested there did not pull their money out in time and are in a predicament. 

The concern reported on in Kikar is because of the crash of SVB with the loses of the invested gvirim, many or several yeshivas and kollels in Israel will crash as well, from the domino effect.

I do trust that the yeshivas and kollels will mostly survive this, and hope the gvirim and everyone else invested will come out only minimally scathed, but I must say this victim was unexpected.



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Headlines Podcast: 3/11/23 – Shiur 411 – Pesach - Does Medicine need to be Kosher L’pesach? | Hand Matzah VS Shmurah Matzah - at what expense? | Going to hotels for Pesach (audio)







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Israelis: Can you tell by sight the difference between an Arab and a Jew? (video)








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TOUR EPISODE 2 - CTEEN FINALE (video)







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Purim in Jerusalem. Merry Holiday on The Streets of The City (video)







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URI DAVIDI - Ani Chai (Official Music Video)







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Motty Steinmetz I "odeh" I Dirshu I (video)







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Mar 9, 2023

Quote of the Day

Up until now all attempts to stretch out our hands have been met with refusal. This is not about the judicial reforms but is an attempt to topple an elected government

  -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

PM Netanyahu may very well be right but isn't that the job of the Opposition? To try to topple the elected government? Didn't Netanyahu himself just recently spend nearly a year and a half trying to find ways to topple an elected government, until he was successful?



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he got his wish

According to news reports, the pilot who headed the pilots protest about refusing to serve due to the judicial reforms that will turn Israel into a dictatorship has been released from his duties and removed from the elite unit in which he has served..

I guess he got his wish. He said he would refuse to serve, and now he doesnt have to serve.




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canceling elections

A few years back a fellow named Ron Kubi won the elections to be mayor of Tiberias. 

Kubi was super anti-Haredi and especially anti Haredi leadership (Shas and specifically Deri) and yook the very public approach that they were destroying his city. In his efforts to revitalize the city he took every anti-Haredi position he could, such as promoting the opening of businesses and tourism on Shabbos, and took every opportunity to go to battle with the city councilmen representing the Haredi communities of Tiberias.

Eventually in 2020 Kubi could not continue functioning with all the enemies he had created and the Haredi city councilmen got together with a couple others and basically blocked him at every opportunity not letting him pass laws and ordinances and when he failed to pass a budget they successfully got him removed from office and replaced with a committee appointed by the Ministry of Interior to run the city and get it back on track. 

Municipal elections are scheduled for this coming October, just about 7 months away, and MK Yaakov Asher (UTJ) in his position as head of the Knesset Committee of the Interior, visited Tiberias to evaluate the status of the city that has been functioning with no mayor but with an appointed committee with an appointed head of city council.

Asher announced that he is pleased with the turn the city has taken under the guidance of Boaz Yosef, the appointed head of the city council, has successfully recuperated and is now at the point of taking off. Asher expressed regret that this successful recuperation may all get derailed by the upcoming elections. Asher said that while in the normal democratic process the residents should choose who their mayor should be to run the city and move it forward, but in the case of Tiberias it would be a shame to put a halt to the progress and the public interest there would really be to cancel the elections and extend the appointment of the appointed head of council.

Ron Kubi, who is seemingly planning on running in the upcoming elections, sent a letter to the Acting Minister of Interior Michael Malkieli (acting in place of Aryeh Deri) protesting the suggestion...
source: Behadrei

Obviously if this becomes a fight between Kubi and Shas/UTJ, Kubi is going to lose.

It seems a bit frightening that they can and may cancel democratic elections just because they want to, because they like the way their appointee is functioning, because they want to prevent someone they dont like (even legitimately) from possibly becoming mayor. Whether they end up canceling it or not is almost irrelevant - the fact that Yaakov Asher from his position as head of the Interior Committee can try to use his position of influence to derail the democratic process is frightening. 

And I know it is a jump, though it isnt a major jump, but while judicial reform might very well be necessary, swinging  everything in the favor of putting all the power in the hands of the Knesset who very well may decide to cancel elections, or at least consider it, when it doesnt suit them, is frightening.



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For A Hamantash: Purim Trivia (video)








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Peaceful Tel Aviv After Protests. Walk Along the Central Streets of The City (video)







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Yonina- Shir Shel Boker- English (Morning Song) feat. JNF (video)







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Shetaltem Nigunim || יהורם גאון // Yehoram Gaon (video)







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Mar 8, 2023

Book Review: Israel 201

Dr. Harold Goldmeier is a teacher, business Consultant, public speaker and financial writer who taught at Harvard and now lives in Beit Shemesh. He is a free public speaker for community groups, manages an investment company, consults and writes about business, social, and political issues. He can be reached a harold.goldmeier@gmail.com

Ten years ago, my wife and I moved from America to Israel. As we aged, we needed a change. After a decade, we remain outliers. One can read about life in Israel and joke about its troubles, insufferable bureaucracy, and political quandaries. To “get” Israel, “to be” an Israeli, the immigrant has to speak Hebrew. Otherwise, you are and always will be a transient inhabitant. Every aspect of the culture, the human interactions, all revolve around the essence of communication.



This is the message this reader gets from personal experience and from a new book by Joel Chasnoff and Benji Lovitt. They are two other North American transplants who recently published Israel 201: Your Next-Level Guide To The Magic, Mystery, And Chaos! Of Life In The Holy Land (Gefen Publishing House Ltd., 2023).

The authors offer a deeper look into Israeli society and culture than the plethora of salutary books produced every year that view the country through rose-colored glasses. The book is much more a work of solid social anthropology than a comedic tome I expected from two highly accomplished professional comedians.

Their opening line from David Ben-Gurion underpins the argument I made earlier. He said, “We know we’ll be a normal country when Jewish prostitutes and Jewish thieves conduct their business in Hebrew.” Almost every topic the authors cover over 265 pages has the language at its core. For example, the “Sabras” excuse their short shrift for waiting in line with “if you don’t like it, don’t live here.” Hebrew is an honest, brutal language, spoken by people with disdain for being seen as a sucker or dope, a “Freier.”

I suggest the reader take their “Pre-Course Quiz How Israeli Are You And Quiz Answers?” before and after reading the book. Little has been absorbed into my being. The quiz made me realize I am not cooked. I wore a suit to a cousin’s outdoor wedding on a hot Israel summer day. I can order a sandwich, but admittedly don’t always get what I think I ordered. We got our passports from a patient and helpful Hebrew-speaking clerk.

Israel 201 contributes to my awakening. Israel is another people’s country. I benefit from its official Jewishness, learn my place in history from the archaeological sites of my heritage, and Israel upticks my Judaism. I learn more and live by the Jewish calendar. But I am not an Israeli.

Chapter One examines the Israeli Psyche intimately weaving the unique language of the land with the thinking of the people. The book contains a fascinating interview with a professor of linguistics who loves Hebrew. He “kvells” describing roots and make-ups of words to Jewish life and culture.

Seven more chapters cover complex issues about Jewish Life in a Jewish State; government, policies, and the education system; negotiating work, military service, arts, culture, sports, and leisure. Their tips about the phases of moving to Israel might help relieve depression that inevitably sets in letting the “oleh” know they are not alone.   

To be transparent, we met Benji Lovitt at dinner in our son’s house soon after we arrived in Israel. He knows our children and grandchildren well enough to rate them for their humor and sarcasm.  

 Chasnoff and Lovitt explore the question, of why anyone would choose to live in Israel. “One huge answer they conclude is “kehilatiyut.” That is Hebrew for the community. They talk about the bonds that bind Jewish People, the connections, and the shared narrative. The book is not irreverent but describes Israel as a lurching work in progress, to borrow a phrase.

Their comedic sense comes through in three pages about Polite versus Nice: What Israelis Say About Us. Chasnoff and Lovitt offer insight into how Israelis see Americans: “Americans are polite but not nice; Israelis are nice but not polite.” The authors flush this out further with examples of how Americans and Israelis say the same thing, but the meanings are different.

The Afterword is brilliant. It reports their discussion with Futurist Dr. David Passig, Professor at Bar-Ilan University. Most books on Israel lean heavily on the past because Jewish and Middle East history is mysterious and eventful. It shaped the people and nation into what it is today. Chasnoff and Lovitt want to know, “What comes next?” It’s an enlightening addition worth the cost of the book itself. Passig’s future assessment is neither dreamy nor funny but sobering.

It took years to organize and collect the data for Israel 201. The authors interviewed neighbors and friends, university professors, and cultural assessment experts. I prefer they had included an Index and that Benji gave some credit to Goldmeiers in the Acknowledgements for his sharp wit. The fruits of their labor come through in this jam-packed resource I highly recommend.  

buy Israel 201 from Amazon.com




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