Do You Know Your History??

I have just read an excellent article in Arutz7 at this link:

[ http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/127428 ].

It offers proof that the Arab Moslem position that the Temple Mount is not Jewish--is a bunch of bunk! The proof?? It is in a Temple Mount Guide published by none other than the Supreme Moslem Council (Waqf) of Jerusalem--in 1925!

The article presents information that was provided by the Jerusalem-based Temple Institute:

[ http://www.templeinstitute.org ]. Apparently they have a copy of the official 1925 Supreme Moslem Council Guide Book to Al-Haram Al-Sharif (the Moslem name for the Temple Mount)--the article includes three pages from the guide.

Look at some of the garbage spouted by the Arab Moslems in their attempt to "re-write history":

...the claim of the Jews to the right over [Jerusalem] is false, and we recognize nothing but an entirely Islamic Jerusalem under Islamic supervision...

...we remind, for the 1,000th time, that the entire Al-Aqsa mosque [on the Temple Mount], including all of its area and alleys above the ground and under it, is exclusive and absolute Moslem property, and no one else has any rights to even one grain of earth in it...

...the 'Al-Buraq' Wall [the Western Wall] is a part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Jews have no relation to it...

...the false historical claim of the Jews in the holy city, a claim which they were unable to prove in all of the excavations conducted by foreign groups for the past hundred years, and

...statements that Israelis are guilty of unprecedented historical forgeries, emphasizing the Palestinian, the Arab and the Islamic nature of the holy city for the past 6,000 years, saying that Israel fails in her attempt to find a historical connection to Jerusalem.

For too long Israel has been bad-mouthed, and it is time to stand up and say ENOUGH!

One person who has not only said this, but written about it, is Binyamin Netanyahu. At the Nefesh B'Nefesh Blogger's Conference, he stated that the way to fight Israel's bad press is by speaking the truth, and the only way to do that is to know the truth--and your history--the history of Israel. You can watch Mr. Netanyahu, and listen to his comments on this and some other topics at [ http://www.nbn.org.il/bloggers/ ]. He begins speaking at 01:00:56 into the tape and addresses this issue at approximately 01:29:49. Even if you are not interested in the conference, I urge you to listen to this portion--Listen and Learn!! Whether you like Mr. Netanyahu or not, his words on our history and "Our Rights" are powerful, and something that we should all take very, very seriously.

And for those who may not be aware of it:
Jews have not been allowed to pray on the Temple Mount since former Chief IDF Rabbi Shlomo Goren led a prayer service there on the first Tisha B'Av after the liberation. Jews' visiting hours are also restricted

May the great evil that is oppressing this land be removed soon--in our time!!

A Night to Remember

An evening out is always special, but on the 17th of August 2008, I had the opportunity to see a one-of-a-kind, one-time-only concert at a unique site--an occasion to mark and remember. I was given a pair of tickets to Mashiv Haruach (From Safed to Jerusalem--A Concert of Jewish Soul Music) held at the Valley of the Communities,Yad Vashem, on 17 August 2008. My friend came from Haifa for the occasion, and together we set off for the unknown. Of course we were so early it was embarassing (forgot about Israeli time!), but it gave us an opportunity to wander around and explore the amazing location chosen for the evening's entertainment. We had not seen this area of Yad Vashem, and we were impressed! The sun was just setting, creating the most beautiful backdrop imaginable! As we stared into the entrance with the sunset's golden glow on the amazing rock-structure, I once again felt the awesome thrill of living in Israel. The concert site, was the "Valley of the Communities", a massive 2.5 acre monument literally dug out of natural bedrock which look like the huge stones surrounding the Old City of Jerusalem and the Kotel.

The Valley was

excavated out of the earth--nothing was built above ground! Over 5000 names of communities are engraved on the stone walls in the Valley of the Communities, the idea being to allow future generations to be able to identify with these memories and find their roots. Each name recalls a Jewish community which existed for hundreds of years; for the inhabitants, each community constituted an entire world. Today, in most cases, nothing remains but the name. The names of the communities are engraved on the 107 walls which resembles the geographic arrangement of the map of Europe and North Africa.

The audience had chairs and cushion seats arranged along the rocks in a semi-circle facing the stage. There were even some seats located in little alcoves carved into the rock face.

On either side of the stage the huge stones were engraved from bottom to top, and illuminated with a soft blue light. It was beautiful and practical--the back stage and entry and exit points for the performers were between these rocks!

We sat there waiting

expectantly, when suddenly there was a faint, soft sound of music, but we were unable to see anything on the stage...finally, in the center aisle we noticed a lone clarinetist. Maestro Giora Friedman began his premier perfermance, and the Jerusalem String Ensemble conducted by Prof. Ilan Schul, gently joined in. Drawing the audience into his performance, he slowly made his way to the stage where he stood on the bottom step, motioning for everyone to joint in. With the audience humming and softly singing to his "Prayer" improvisation he mounted the steps--the concert had begun!

Of the highlights
we were treated to, one of my favorites was Hila Ofek's Harp Solo, Jerusalem of Gold by Naomi Shomer. Of course, like all concerts there are the intros, bows, and general speech-making--no exceptions here. What was so enjoyable was the diverse blend of musicians--young and old, secular and religious, male and female--all very talented and clearly all loved what they were doing.

As the concert progressed the musicians from either side of the stage came and went along with the performers. Of particular note was a young clarinetist--wow did he have talent. Not to take away from the opening act, but this young man was amazing!

MC, Benny Hendel delighted the audience with an impromtu solo!

Guests from abroad added to the delight of the evening. From Paris, Prof. Philippe Cuper gave a beautiful solo with only a pianist to accompany him. Next from Spain came Maestro Raul Jaurena who played a Klezmer Tango on th Bandoneon, an instrument that I hadn't known the correct name for, but which we used to refer to as a "squeeze-box", kind of like an accordian, but without keys--just buttons on both sides. We were treated to a rousing performance and the audience was clearly loving it!

Throughout the evening the audience clapped in time, hummed, and generally enjoyed themselves. Sitting in the warm evening air, amongst the old stones, with the stars overhead creating a fantasy-like scenario, we were all drawn together in a single moment in time. The finale brought all the musicians back, and once again the audience were drawn into the performance singing and swaying. I had a good time and really felt priviledged to be there--it was truly a night to remember!

Nefesh B'Nefesh JBlogger Convention

On 20 August, 2008 Nefesh B'Nefesh hosted the First International Jewish Bloggers Convention in Jerusalem. Regardless of what the nay-sayers were posting prior to the conference, I think that everyone in attendance came away with something positive and those who black-listed it missed a great opportunity. Although the Nefesh B'Nefesh agenda was to improve their already successful approach to Aliyah, they acomplished much more by bringing together for the first time a huge number of Jewish Bloggers from every area of religious and secular society.

Thanks to the sponsorship of Sun Microsystems, Office Depot, Israel Mall, and Web Ads those in attendance were treated to a great buffet, and nifty black document bags.

There was an interesting talk about the government's quest for "branding". While everyone seemed to agree that this was a good idea, the three facets that were proposed--Passion, Ingenuity, Fusion--did not get the audience excited. In fact I saw more people groaning and giving a negative head-shake to the idea. What is needed is a brand that will be "Israeli" and not European or North American, otherwise it is just going to be another highly expensive document to sit in government file cabinets.

This conference was well attended both in person and via internet. The attending bloggers have already posted well-written articles--recommeded reading for all. I went out of curiosity and admit that I was pleasantly surprised and very happy that I was there. It was uplifting to see all the Jewish blogs and the variety of opinions and subjects that were covered. Of special interest was the appearance of Benjamin Netanyahu--a good writer, and a fascinating speaker--he fielded questions and gave an inpromptu insite to our Jewish History. Israel truly needs more people of his caliber to represent us on the world stage.

The entire conference was filmed and is available on the Nefesh B'Nefesh site at: http://www.nbn.org.il/bloggers/. I highly recommend taking the time to watch. Below are a few snaps of my own, but the good pictures on on the Nefesh B'Nefesh site at: http://www.nbn.org.il/gal2/.

Poster for Convention

Blogger-Panel for 1st Segment

Blogger-Panel for 2nd Segment

Benjamin Netanyahu in an exchange with panel-members

Blogroll prior to start of Conference

Benjamin Netanyahu

Coming Back Slowly

It has been a long, difficult year--but it is drawing to a close and with the help of Hashem the next one will be better. As we enter into the days before Tisha B'Av we let go of things that we do purely for enjoyment. There are different minhags for various levels of observance.

For the night and day of Tisha B'Av (sundown on 09 August to nightfall 10 August, 2008), we abstain from eating and drinking, bathing, the wearing of leather footwear, and marital relations. It is customary to sit on the floor or on a low seat until after mid-day. Torah study is restricted to laws of mourning, passages describing the destruction of the Temple, and the like. The tefillin are worn only during the afternoon Minchah prayers. You should consult a Halachic authority for more specific guidance. There are many sites with full information for observance of the fast and special rules, such as Chabad or Aish, but you are best served by speaking with your local Rabbi.

In Jerusalem there are many places that offer study classes during the fast day. On Motsaei Shabbos (09 August) there will be the traditional walk around the walls of the old city. Unfortunately what should be an evening of commemoration and mourning is being turned into a circus, thanks to the xians. Their total lack of knowledge and respect is an affront. For them Tisha B'Av has no meaning, and their loud, lewd presence is a reminder that after all, they are only idolaters.

May we see the coming of Meshiach soon, so that the idolaters may be removed from Hashem's Holy Land.

High Holidays

Erev Rosh Hashanah~29 Elul (12 September)--Light Candles at 06:10pm

Rosh Hashana~01 Tishri (13 September)--Light Candles at 7:25pm

Shabbat~02 Tishri (14 September)--Light Candles at: 6:08pm

03 Tishri (15 September)--Shabbat Ends: 7:23pm

The month of Elul brings the High Holidays. What does this mean to a convert?

A convert experiencing the "first" Elul, especially in Israel may be a bit overwhelmed--I was--then I found a transliterated Machzor. Once I was able to follow the service (and understand what was being said) I experienced...well, I really can't describe it, but I pray that I can reach that level again.

Starting this Motzei Shabbat many shuls have slichot--usually beginning around 11:45pm--in preparation for Rosh Hashanah. Many synagogues also have reserve seating during these days, so sure to check with your vaad. There are many good sites for information on the Holy Days, but one must be cautious and be sure to consult with your local rabbi on all issues of Halacha.

I think the most difficult thing is when a convert has not yet completed the process. Your heart and mind are Jewish, but you are still a "gentile to the community". It can be a time of stress, pain, and even depression. Those who were blessed to be born Jewish often do not understand how difficult it is for the convert--everyone is so involved with their own family and customs. Perhaps this is just another hurdle that one must overcome in the quest to become Jewish. It is difficult, but it can also be a time of sincere, soul-searching prayer. Find a good teacher, follow the customs of your community, concentrate on finding the true meaning of the High Holy days.

May we all merit to be written into the Book of Life to have a happy, healthy and successful year for us, our families, and all Israel...Shanah Tovah

Tribute for the Pop-Star Tenor

Nothing to do with Judaism, but I wanted to include this anyway. Today, Luciano Pavarotti, died of pancreatic cancer at age 71.

Why the tribute? Well, I was never a true opera fan until I heard Pavarotti, but his outstanding voice and zest for life made me a fan. I discovered a new genre of music that I had been missing, although I confess that there are some "opera voices" that make me cringe.

Pavarotti was the best tenor of our times. What made him so special was not just his voice, but his presence and personality. A man of humble origins he had a desire to bring opera to the "people" and during his life managed to reach people round the world. He sang with pop, rock and soul musicians and raised money for many worthy causes worldwide. One of his last performances was the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino Italy, where he showed that he was still the best.

His signature tune, Nessun Dorma, from Turandot (famous for the last verse where he declares "I will win, I will win") became the theme song for the 1990 World Cup in Italy [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugGRe83ihis ] (Go Ahead and Click--You Might Even Enjoy It!)

While he wasn't Jewish, I kind of like to think that Hashem will have a place for the golden voice of Luciano Pavarotti in the world to come.

Article of Interest

I received this email from a friend and feel it is important enough to print. Judge for yourself...

Dear Friends:

The following is not new, but it is still current and important enough to act on. Please read this and send it to your email list, even if you've sent this before, send it again.

Hooray for Michigan State

The story begins at Michigan State University with a mechanical engineering professor named Indrek Wichman. Wichman sent an e-mail to the Muslim Student's Association. The e-mail was in response to the students' protest of the Danish cartoons that portrayed the Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist. The group had complained the cartoons were "hate speech."

Enter Professor Wichman. In his e-mail, he said the following:
As a professor of Mechanical Engineering here at MSU I intend to protest your protest. I am offended not by cartoons, but by more mundane things like beheadings of civilians, cowardly attacks on public buildings, suicide murders, murders of Catholic priests (the latest in Turkey), burnings of Christian churches, the continued persecution of Coptic Christians in Egypt, the imposition of Sharia law on non-Muslims, the rapes of Scandinavian girls and women (called "whores" in your culture), the murder of film directors in Holland, and the rioting and looting in Paris France .

This is what offends me, a soft-spoken person and academic, and many, many of my colleagues.

I counsel you dissatisfied, aggressive, brutal, and uncivilized slave-trading Muslems to be very aware of this as you proceed with your infantile "protests." If you do not like the values of the West--see the 1st Amendment--you are free to leave. I hope for God's sake that most of you choose that option. Please return to your ancestral homelands and build them up yourselves instead of troubling Americans...Cordially, I.S. Wichman, Professor of Mechanical Engineering

As you can imagine, the Muslim group at the university didn't like this too well. They're demanding that Wichman be reprimanded and the university impose mandatory diversity training for faculty and mandate a seminar on hate and discrimination for all freshmen.

Now the local chapter of CAIR has jumped into the fray. CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, apparently doesn't believe that the good professor had the right to express his opinion. For its part, the university is standing its ground in support of Professor Wichman , saying the e-mail was private, and they don't intend to publicly condemn his remarks. That will probably change. Wichman says he never intended for his e-mail to be made public, and wouldn't have used the same strong language if he'd known it was going to get out.

Send this to your friends, and ask them to do the same. Tell them to keep passing it around until the whole country gets it. We are in a WAR! This political correctness is getting old and killing us. If you agree with this, please send it to all your friends, if not...simply delete it.

A Night to Mourn

For Tisha Ba'Av I joined my friend (and several thousand others) at the civic center for Maariv, followed by a reading of Eicha, after which we all went for a stroll around the old city of Jerusalem. It was a very warm evening, and the walk was pleasant despite the fact that we had just begun our fast. The route was lined on both sides with soldiers and security people--why? I was told that it was to prevent the Arabs from "provoking" us. Maybe it was the police presence or maybe they just didn't care, because there were no incidents, and in fact the only Arabs we noticed were either finishing off their day and hurrying home, or watching out of curiousity.

Near the end of the walk we stopped for the usual "political" speeches. I was told by my friend that one year the woman who organized the march announced that they were now going to storm the Temple Mount and reclaim it (or something to that effect). Needless to say it did not happen, nor did anything untoward occur this year. One of the rabbis said Kaddish, and we noticed that on the hill just above where he was standing, were a group of Arabs, watching through the gate. I couldn't see if they responded with Amen (I somehow doubt it) but they did not seem to be anything other than mildly curious. Perhaps there is hope after all--who knows.

My only disappointment with the walk was this--it was supposed to be a somber occasion in line with the fact that we were in mourning for the loss of the 1st and 2nd Temples, and all the tragedy the Jewish people have suffered. Instead, it was almost like a circus--people were laughing, posing for pictures, fooling around--even during Maariv and the reading of Eicha. It did seem that the brassy ones were mostly American tourists, but never-the-less it saddened me that such an important time in Jewish life has been denegrated to the point of "a night out". Then, of course, the beginning of the march had to be delayed while the reporters and cameras were organized so that the "leaders" could "announce" the start.

Regardless of the political "posers" it was a lovely walk, with views and sites that one does not usually see (like the original gigantic stones of the wall).

We ended the evening at the Kotel, where thousands were gathering for prayers. It was the first time I had seen the mehitza extended right to the end of the plaza. The Kotel is awesome at any time, but when it is packed with Jews in prayer, well, I get emotional just thinking about it.

I pray that one day we will be able to walk around the old city walls without a permit and heavy security, and that we may see the coming of moshiac and the rebuilding of the temple soon--in our time.

Perceptions of Jews by Renowned Non-Jews

A Reminder:
The Fast of Tisha B'Av begins Monday night, July 23 and Tisha B'Av itself is on Tuesday July 24. The Day is observed in the Synagogue with the reading of Kinnot and the book of Eicha. Tfillin are not worn during the Shacharit Morning Service on the 9th of Av but are put on for the Minha afternoon Service...Shabbat Shalom and "have an easy fast"

This article was sent to me by one of my teachers, who had it sent to him, etc., etc. If anyone knows who the author is please drop me an email. This is an article to read slowly and thoughtfully...awesome!

Perceptions of Jews by Renowned Non-Jews
Some people like the Jews, and some do not. But no thoughtful man can deny the fact that they are, beyond any question, the most formidable and the most remarkable race which has appeared in the world...Winston Churchill

The Jew is that sacred being who has brought down from heaven the everlasting fire, and has illumined with it the entire world. He is the religious source, spring, and fountain out of which all the rest of the peoples have drawn their beliefs and their religions...Leo Tolstoy

It was in vain that we locked them up for several hundred years behind the walls of the Ghetto. No sooner were their prison gates unbarred than they easily caught up with us, even on those paths which we opened up without their aid...AA Leroy Beaulieu, French publicist, 1842

The Jew gave us the Outside and the Inside--our outlook and our inner life. We can hardly get up in the morning or cross the street without being Jewish. We dream Jewish dreams and hope Jewish hopes. Most of our best words, in fact--new, adventure, surprise, unique, individual, person, vocation, time, history, future, freedom, progress, spirit, faith, hope, justice--are the gifts of the Jews...Thomas Cahill, Irish Author

One of the gifts of the Jewish culture to Christianity is that it has taught Christians to think like Jews, and any modern man who has not learned to think as though he were a Jew can hardly be said to have learned to think at all...William Rees-Mogg, former Editor-in-Chief for The Times of London and a member of the House of Lords

It is certain that in certain parts of the world we can see a peculiar people, separated from the other peoples of the world and this is called the Jewish people...This people is not only of remarkable antiquity but has also lasted for a singular long time... For whereas the people of Greece and Italy, of Sparta, Athens and Rome and others who came so much later have perished so long ago, these still exist, despite the efforts of so many powerful kings who have tried a hundred times to wipe them out, as their historians testify, and as can easily be judged by the natural order of things over such a long spell of years. They have always been preserved, however, and their preservation was foretold...My encounter with this people amazes me...Blaise Pascal, French Mathematician

The Jewish vision became the prototype for many similar grand designs for humanity, both divine and man made. The Jews, therefore, stand at the center of the perennial attempt to give human life the dignity of a purpose...Paul Johnson, American Historian

As long as the world lasts, all who want to make progress in righteousness will come to Israel for inspiration as to the people who had the sense for righteousness most glowing and strongest...Matthew Arnold, British poet and critic

Indeed it is difficult for all other nations of the world to live in the presence of the Jews. It is irritating and most uncomfortable. The Jews embarrass the world as they have done things which are beyond the imaginable. They have become moral strangers since the day their forefather, Abraham, introduced the world to high ethical standards and to the fear of Heaven. They brought the world the Ten Commandments, which many nations prefer to defy.

They violated the rules of history by staying alive, totally at odds with common sense and historical evidence. They outlived all their former enemies, including vast empires such as the Romans and the Greeks. They angered the world with their return to their homeland after 2000 years of exile and after the murder of six million of their brothers and sisters.

They aggravated mankind by building, in the wink of an eye, a democratic State which others were not able to create in even hundreds of years. They built living monuments such as the duty to be holy and the privilege to serve one's fellow men. They had their hands in every human progressive endeavor, whether in science, medicine, psychology or any other discipline, while totally out of proportion to their actual numbers.

They gave the world the Bible and even their "savior." Jews taught the world not to accept the world as it is, but to transform it, yet only a few nations wanted to listen. Moreover, the Jews introduced the world to one God, yet only a minority wanted to draw the moral consequences. So the nations of the world realize that they would have been lost without the Jews. And while their subconscious tries to remind them of how much of Western civilization is framed in terms of concepts first articulated by the Jews, they do everything to suppress it.

They deny that Jews remind them of a higher purpose of life and the need to be honorable, and do everything to escape its consequences. It is simply too much to handle for them, too embarrassing to admit, and above all, too difficult to live by.

So the nations of the world decided once again to go out of 'their' way in order to find a stick to hit the Jews. The goal: to prove that Jews are as immoral and guilty of massacre and genocide as some of they themselves are. All this in order to hide and justify their own failure to even protest when six million Jews were brought to the slaughterhouses of Auschwitz and Dachau; so as to wipe out the moral conscience of which the Jews remind them, and they found a stick. Nothing could be more gratifying for them than to find the Jews in a struggle with another people (who are completely terrorized by their own leaders) against whom the Jews, against their best wishes, have to defend themselves in order to survive. With great satisfaction, the world allows and initiates the rewriting of history so as to fuel the rage of yet another people against the Jews. This in spite of the fact that the nations understand very well that peace between the parties could have come a long time ago, if only the Jews would have had a fair chance. Instead, they happily jumped on the wagon of hate so as to justify their jealousy of the Jews and their incompetence to deal with their own moral issues. When Jews look at the bizarre play taking place in The Hague, they can only smile as this artificial game once more proves how the world paradoxically admits the Jews uniqueness. It is in their need to undermine the Jews, that they actually elevate them.

The study of history of Europe during the past centuries teaches us one uniform lesson: That the nations which received and in any way dealt fairly and mercifully with the Jew have prospered; and that the nations that have tortured and oppressed them have written out their own curse...Olive Schreiner, South African novelist and social activist

If there is any honor in all the world that I should like, it would be to be an honorary Jewish citizen...ALRowse, authority on Shakespeare

Time Out for a Kvetch

Have you ever been confronted by "missionizers"? I thought that in Jerusalem I would be free from this irritant, but apparently not and I am getting weary of their blether. I really don't care what people choose to bow down to, but I do care when they try to make me do the same! I came to Israel so I could live an observant, Jewish lifestyle, yet every time I walk down the street I am confronted by someone trying to "save" me.

But that is not the worst of it. Now, they are showing up on Shabbos, at the tables of good people who open their homes so others can share in the meals and celebration of the Holy Shabbat. I cannot fathom how a they can eat like pigs (even filling plastic bags to take away) then proceed to insult the entire company by spouting their idolatrous garbage. It is not possible to suggest that they "not" ruin the Holiness of the day because these people long for confrontation. So instead, I will say my peace in here...To all the missionizers in the world:

You are free to follow your religion (illogical as it is), but you have no right to impose it on my life and beliefs. If you really need to "save" someone, why don't you do something about the priests who have been (and still are) abusing children for decades, or your preachers who pilfer the coffers, debase their followers and cheat on taxes. Do something about the creeps who finance their new cars, swimming pools, etc. by wringing "donations" from sad, lonely people living way below the poverty line...Stop telling people that they need to "support Israel" when the truth is that all they are supporting is you! If you really love Israel and really want to "help" why don't you go back where you came from and get a job, then adopt an orphan, or help the families that lost their homes in Gush Katif, or the people from Sderot who are being blown out of their homes. The only thing we need to be save from is people like you!

Orthodox Judaism--Part I

I want to preface this and any future articles I may write with this statement: The opinions expressed are my own, based on personal experience, studies and research. I am not an authority and Strongly Advise you to check with a Qualified Rabbi in all cases. These articles are for general information in the hope that you will do your own research and discovery in your personal search for truth. I have spoken with many people (including rabbis) and attended synagogues of the various movements in an effort to "find" my own community. For the record, I am a follower of the Orthodox movement.

The State of Israel has two “chief” rabbis to serve the Orthodox communities--one for the Ashkenazi (primarily from Eastern Europe) and the other for the Sephardi (primarily Spanish-Portugese and Arab).

There are some differences in the prayer books, but all follow the three daily services of Shacharis (morning), Minchah (afternoon) and Maariv (evening) as well as the bedtime Shema (generally last thing said prior to turning out the lights). Women's obligations to prayer are slightly different from those of men--I will deal with that in later article. There are slight variances in the Siddur each group uses, but generally, you can feel at home in most synagogues.

All Orthodox Jews believe Gd is one, incorporeal and not limited by time or space, that He gave Moses the whole Torah (both written and oral) at Mount Sinai. They believe that the Torah is divine truth, that has come down to us intact and unchanged and cannot be added to, taken from, or modified in any way. They believe that the Torah contains 613 mitzvot binding upon Jews but not upon non-Jews. They believe that the Jewish people were the preservers of the word of God.

In the Siddur, at the end of the Shacharit service, are the Thirteen Principles of Faith compiled by Maimonides. These principles include all of the basic tenets which one must acknowledge as truths in order to be considered a Jew, and to partake in the world to come. Although this is not the sole reason for comprehending these ideas, it is crucial to understand them and know them as true. Whoever does not believe in any of these 13 principles, is not considered part of the Jewish people, and will not have a share in the world to come.

The thirteen principles are organized into three general categories:

(I) The Nature of Belief

I hold with complete faith that the Creator whose Name shall be blessed:

1) is the Creator and Director of all creatures, and that he alone made, makes and will make everything that exists.

2) is [the perfect] Unity and there is no Unity like him in any manner and that he alone, our God, was is and will be.

3) has no [physical] body, nor can any corporeal effect influence Him, and that he has no form at all.

4) is the First and the Last. [is eternal]

5) is alone worthy to be the object of prayer, and that it is not fitting to pray to anything other than Him alone.

(II) Authenticity of the Torah

I hold with complete faith:

6) that all the words of the [Jewish] prophets are true.

7) that the prophecy of Moses our teacher, E"H [variously translated as servant of God, or peace be upon him, but absent in the Arabic version] was truthful, and the he was the root of the prophets who came both before and after him.

8) that all of the Torah which now exists in our hands is that which was given to Moses our teacher.

9) that this Torah will not be exchanged [for another, or overturned], and that there will never be another Torah from the Creator whose Name shall be blessed.

(III)) Reward and Punishment

I hold with complete faith that the Creator whose Name shall be blessed:

10) knows every deed of human beings and all of their thoughts, as it is written, Who created together their hearts, who understands all their deeds.

11) grants good to those who observe His commands and causes those who transgress His commands to be punished.

...I hold with complete faith:

12) in the coming of the Moshiach [Anointed King], and even though he may tarry, with all this I will wait for him every day that shall come.

13) that there will be a resurrection of the dead at a time which shall arise in the WIll of the Creator whose Name is blessed, and consciousness of Him will arise forever and ever.

Although there is no longer a Sanhedrine, there are Rabbinical authorities and Orthodox Jews are expected to follow the decisions of the rabbis. "You shall not turn aside from the law that they [the Rabbis] declare to you"...Deuteronomy 17:11.

According to Rambam, "All who believe in the Torah of Moses are obligated to abide by the [decisions of the] High Court and to rely upon them." In other words, the obligation to abide by the words of the Sages stems from the authority that the Torah itself granted them.

Ramban, on the other hand, holds that we follow the Rabbis by virtue of the correctness of their words. Their strength stems from the fact that their words are true and their advice is good. By virtue of the quality of their advice we must follow them, for one who refuses to accept correct and true council is considered foolish.

Because Jewish law is so complex, and rulings vast, in every case one must consult a rabbi for halachic advice. It is important to note that there are differences of opinion, therefore you should not go looking for the most "lenient" rabbi every time you have a question! Minhagim vary from country to country and community to community, so it is vital that you choose your community, get to know your rabbi and consult him whenever you are in doubt.
...To Be Continued

Haredi Protests and Gay Rights

I am so tired of reading about "Gay Pride" and the horrible Haredi protests that I must add my own two-cents worth. Jerusalem is known worldwide as the Holy City, and as such various religious groups come here to worship. The idea of a gay parade is an abomination not only to the Haredi groups, but to other Jewish, Christian and Muslim groups as well.

The city of Jerusalem was forced to spend untold dollars to insure the protection of "gay rights", while the street they were parading down were filled with people who are hungry and have no place to sleep--I don't see any "Gay Donations" helping them out. In fact I would be interested to know if the gay rights people do anything for anyone other than themselves??

My message to the gay pride people is this--Why don't you hold your parade in Mecca?? I'll tell you why--because you'd get your throats slit. You come to Jerusalem because the people here are decent, so you take advantage of this decency to desecrate the Holiest city in the world.

I don't care one way or the other what people choose do do with their sex lives--as long as they keep it in their own bedrooms where it belongs and don't parade it past my front door expecting a vote of approval.

Choosing A "Branch"

Many religions have different "branches" or "sects" to reflect the various levels of committment, rules to live by, etc.. Judaism is no different. Before diving into conversion you must decide which form of observance is will be best suited to your personality. Even though conversion involves "change" you must consider just how much changes you are capable (or willing) to make. Choosing the right path is vital in this respect.

Many people are familiar with the main groups in Judaism:

1) Orthodox
2) Haredim
3) Reform
4) Conservative

...But do you have any "real" idea what the the split-off groups in each of the above are about? I will delve into eacvh group and it's various split-offs as well as some important points you may want to consider. Remember--if you are converting you will be a "Jew for Life" (you can't give it back!!) and choosing the right communtiy will have a major impact on your life!

Group 2--Haredim

I am not going to spend too much time on this topic because there is indepth information at: [ http://www.shearim.blogspot.com/ ]

or in German [ http://www.hamantaschen.blogspot.com/ ]

I have accompanied the author (my friend) on many journies into the Haredi World of Mea Shearim in Jerusalem, and shall continue to do so, but I am not the expert and I strongly recommend that you go through the entire site. Some of the groups mentioned are Vishnitz, Belz, Avraham Yitzchak , Toldot Aharon, Avraham Yitzchak and Sikarikim (if you are wondering who they are, I quote from shearim.blogspot.com: "2000 years ago, the Sikarikim were a Jewish radical group fighting the Romans and even other Jews who supported the Roman occupation".

The bottom line is that there are multiple groups, each with their own doctrine, minhagim, mode of dress, attitudes towards women, study, davening, secular integration, etc. Do not assume that everyone you see in a black coat with peyus is simply "Haredi", and when you see (or hear) a news report about "Haredi" demonstrations in Mea Shearim, it could be one of dozens of groups. If you are a potential convert go to Shearim and bookmark it. Over the next months you will receive an education.

The Convert & Mourning

In my last blog I included the following quote: He is no longer related to his parents or to his children. To anyone considering conversion this is a Biggie. Less than 24 hours ago I was learned that my birth mother had died suddenly. I was reminded by a very well-meaning person, that as a convert I am technically no longer related to her. I therefore do not sit shiva, say kaddish, or any other of the provisions for death of a parent in Judaism.

In truth, I was devastated. She was my mom.

The first thing I did was speak to my rabbis that I had been studying with. I received condolences and practical advice. As I am in Israel it is not possible for me to get back in time for the funeral (which I could not attend anyway), but they told me that there are things I could do such as, light a memorial candle, recite yizkor, read tehillim, write (privately) about the many good qualities and talents that she had, and arrange to give charity in her name on a continual basis.

I will not go into futher detail as that is not the intent of this writing. I will say that it is vital for potential converts to consider all aspects of leaving a former life including the fact that you will not be able to attend services at a church for your family. Most people (like me) never think about such things.

Does it hurt? Extremely. Am I sad? Totally. Is my opinion of Judaism changed? I have to say Yes--I realize what a gift it is to be born a Jew--I mourn the fact that I was not, and give thanks to Hashem that I can now worship him as we were all meant to.

I pray that the good deeds my mother did on this earth during her life will merit an aliyah for her soul in the next.

I read an interesting article on Parsha Korach, written by Rabbi Noson Weisz in which he refers to the Laws of Torah relative to Marriage, Divorce and Conversion. You can read the entire article at:
[ http://www.aish.com/torahportion/mayanot/Merchants_of_Sinai.asp ].

Here is a portion of what he had to say (italics mine):
Both (marriage and divorce) pale into relative insignificance when compared to conversion. Conversion is the severance of human life itself from its old bonds, and its rededication to a new context, in this case the Jewish community. Such a solemn occasion definitely requires the powerful symbolism of a religious ceremony to give it expression. Under the laws of the Torah as we understand them religious ceremonies have nothing to do with devotion or emotions. They are all about bringing back the merchandise.
Thus in conversion the convert is the equivalent of a new born child...Talmud Yevomat 48b. He is no longer related to his parents or to his children. He begins his life anew as a child of Abraham and Sarah. He hasn't only made a mental trip of dedication. He has altered the merchandise.

What strikes me are the following statements:
--Conversion is the severance of human life itself from its old bonds...
--Thus in conversion the convert is the equivalent of a new born child...Talmud Yevomat 48b
--He is no longer related to his parents or to his children.
--He begins his life anew as a child of Abraham and Sarah.

Anyone entertaining the idea of conversion should read these sentences over and over and over again. Too many people think of conversion as a "whim" or a "feeling" or even as "something to do". Wrong! Converts become one with the Jewish people and as such are under obligation to observe the same laws and mitzvot (as in the 613). Unless you are prepared to take on this obligation--for the rest of your life--stop now! You have other alternatives to conversion--for instance, check out the Noachide Laws at this link: [ http://www.aish.com/wallcam/7_Noachide_Laws.asp ]

One of the biggest hurdles converts face is "all those that came before". Every day I see people who have gone throught the process, been to the mikva, and haven't changed a thing in their life. The modest dress, keeping kosher, keeping Shabbat have all vanished.

These people are not only putting their own souls at risk, they are also putting all the rabbis who helped them at risk. When a rabbi accepts a convert, he in effect is taking responsibility for that person's future behaviour, regarding the laws and mitzvot. If he has made a mistake, than he will be held accountable for allowing someone who is unable (or unwilling) to follow the laws, to take the burden. This is not a joke. Other religions may not care what happens after you "join" but Judaism does!

The laws and mitzvot for an observant Jew are not just a long list of "don'ts". Rather, they are the guidelines for a full and happy life both now and in the hereafter. The whole purpose of being a Jew is to become closer to Hashem and in order to do that we must follow His "guidebook". When we do then we are on the path to true joy in our lives.

Orthodox Conversions

Many people come to Israel and many people want to stay. For the most part you must be Jewish to live permanently in Israel, which leads me to the topic of conversions. There are many people trying to convert for as many reasons. Some wish to marry a Jew, or feel they should be living in Israel for one reason for another, others read the story of Ruth and dream of finding their "Boaz", and then there are those who believe Judaism is the only truth.

Whatever the reasons, the process seems to have become a nightmarish experience. The news often carries articles on the problems

The internet is full of sites that have "conversion stories" but as with everything on the net you must be careful. The state of Israel has very strict laws, and the conversion process is carefully governed. In this current year alone there have been and continue to be changes in the requirements. It is important that anyone considering this life-altering process do you with full knowledge. Any other approach will ultimately lead to extreme stress, frustration, and most likely a negative view of the very goal you wish to achieve.

Over the next period of time I will be looking at the topic of conversions from the point of view of converts who have succeeded, failed, and are currently in the process of trying to convert. As I am in Jerusalem, the case histories will of course be primarily from people who have tried to convert here, in Israel.

First of all one must consider--who, or what is a Jew by definition? A Jew is any person whose mother is a Jew or any person who has gone through the formal process of conversion to Judaism. If your father was Jewish it may give weight to your case, but unfortunately Jewishness is passed through the mother only.

To understand this clearly you should read the article at this link:
http://www.jewfaq.org/whoisjew.htm

Another good site to visit for information is Machon ITIM, The Jewish Life Information Center--as their home page states:

ITIM: The Jewish Life Information Center, is an independent, non-profit organization, dedicated to making Jewish life accessible to all.

http://www.itim.org.il/bin/en.jsp?enPage=HomePage_E

I strongly suggest that anyone interested in conversions should start with the above sites. Next post I will share some stories from people who have gone through (or tried to) the conversion process in Israel.

The Rebbe's Tish

I love the fact that in Israel there are an endless number of places to go where you can daven, learn, and see just about anything! Whenever possible I like to take in new experiences, to see how other Jews celebrate Shabbat, Daven, or just live from day to day. The variety is endless.

I have a friend who writes about many things in several languages. What makes her writing good is that she does not just go to the library for information--she goes right to the subject. This past Shabbat I accompanied her to a tish at Toldot Aharon. For a good read go to her site: http://www.shearim.blogspot.com/

The bottom line to the article is that you can't believe everything you read in the press or see on TV!

Bits and Pieces..

Living in Israel (Jerusalem) is like no other place in the world. I've lived in Europe and North America in a variety of cities & towns and the northern bush country, but so far nothing can come close to life as it is here. There are people from every corner of the planet and they run the gamut from fall on your face religious fanatics to staunch aetheists. What is it about this tiny country that causes people to "step outside of themselves"? Why is it that on any given day if you tune in the news and there is a good chance you will hear something about Israel? People either love it or hate it, there is not much in between.

I came to Israel to immerse myself in Orthodox Judaism, with thoughts of a gentle, peaceful lifestyle divided between my shul, my community and Torah...

Like many people I tend to "kvetch", but I also try to find a positive side to all things--because we are taught that everything was created "for good" (it is just our tunnel vision that sees only bad). I recently acquired a great little book called In the Garden of Emuna by Rabbi Shalom Aarush. Based on the teachings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov it provides simple tools to help you deal with life's challenges and increase your You learn to look for the positive in everything--or at least to know it is there somewhere if you look hard enough. and is one of those bedside books that you just know will be thumbed through until it is worn ragged. If you want to read a bit there is an exerpt from the book here:

http://www.breslovworld.com/DynamicArtical.aspx?linknumber=1574