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17th
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15:19
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The Muqata
The following picture of the grinning, "V" for victory IDF Soldier in the Gaza strip area has annoyed Palestinians to the point of exasperation.
On the Arabic "paldf" website, this picture has generated quite a lot of chatter from angry Arabs who believe the "V" for victory sign is reserved exclusively for them. (The Google
Arabic to English translator is your friend)
Hope we start bombing Gaza soon to stop the continued rocket attacks against us.
We need to start using the "V" sign more often -- and be worthy of victory!
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
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15:31
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The Muqata
This was unfortunately, so predictable.
Peace Now's Director, Yariv Oppenheimer on the IDF awarding a citation to a
9 year old youth who fought off a knife wielding Palestinian terrorist:
"The job of a Brigade Commander is not to give out prizes, but to ensure the welfare of the residents of the area, Jews and Arabs, and enforce the law in the territories.
The subservient sycophancy of the army towards the Yitzhar residents is superfluous, and impacts the [army's] ability to enforce law and order in the area" [
source in Hebrew]
I wonder if Peace Now has stated to bring charges of "crimes against humanity" against the IDF Commander in the Hague's World Court, for awarding the citation to the 9 year old Yitzhar resident.
Oops. Gave them an idea.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
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17:27
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The Muqata
In a move that has shocked Israel's media, the IDF Shomron Brigade Commander, Itzik Bar awarded an IDF commendation to...a 9-year-old resident of the Yitzhar community, Tuvia Shtatman.
Three weeks ago at 6 AM on a Saturday morning, a Palestinian terrorist infiltrated the Shalhevet community of Yitzhar and set fire to a home.
Nine year old Tuvia ran outside to see what was going on and began to alert people that there was a fire. The terrorist saw Tuvia, ran after him, attacked him, and stabbed him repeatedly with a knife.
Not losing his cool, Tuvia continued to yell for help, and bravely fought off the terrorist, breaking the knife and throwing it to the side. In response, the terrorist threw Tuvia off a 4 meter (12 foot) embankment, and fled.
Miraculously, Tuvia only suffered minor injuries.
This past Friday at the IDF Shomron headquarters, IDF Commander Itzik Bar presented an IDF commendation to Tuvia and stated, "I am astounded by the bravery and heroism of Yitzhar children -- despite [this young child's] slight build, he determinedly fought with the terrorist." [
source]
For some reason, this story has not been picked up by Israel's mainstream media.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
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11:10
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The Muqata
This coming Monday morning, at 10:30 AM, another few hundred North American Jews will arrive at the JFK airport in preparation for their flight home.
Its now slightly after 1 AM in NY, and I'm honestly very excited for the privilege to join this flight. I recall almost 18 years ago, the night before I moved to Israel. I couldn't sleep. Tossing and turning with anticipation, excitement, and a bit of trepidation, I could barely squash the jumble of thoughts which prevented me from sleeping.
Songs danced around in my head. Homeward Bound, ושבו בנים, Take me home, אם אשכח ירושלים, and so many others.
In the end, I didn't sleep. It was too much. I didn't sleep on the plane either...all the way home to Israel -- It was far too exhilarating.
But that was almost 18 years ago.
I spoke to one of the families tonight that I will be escorting home on tomorrow's flight. They had already put their kids to sleep, and were very excited about the flight...the culmination of their planning, hopes and dreams to return home.
Please join me over the next few days as I blog about 2 families and their journey home.
My thanks to Nefesh b'Nefesh and Webads for arranging this special trip.
--Jameel
PS; And special, special thanks to my wife and children, for their understanding -- while I "disappeared" for a few days to accompany this special flight.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
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17:38
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The Muqata
A few years back I had some cool ideas for livening up the JBlogosphere. I managed to implement a few; the Purim parody carnival or the Purim collaborative Purim Podcast, yet others never got off the drawing board (like the JBlogosphere Game Show idea, which I think is still a great idea, but don't have the time or advertising cash to make it happen yet).
And then...this opportunity drops into my lap. Not only is it completely in tandem with my blog's goals and aspirations of promoting the good things about Israel, love for the land, and a general feeling of connection -- but the idea spans many blogs and bloggers.
Nefesh b'Nefesh has offered to send me and other JBloggers to the US (and return back) on one of their aliya flights -- to accompany an oleh family and blog their experience before leaving, during the flight, and at the welcome-home reception at Ben-Gurion airport. In addition to helping share their personal aliya, there will be a
JBlogger conference in Yerushalayim the next day.
I'm not listed yet on any conference panels...because I haven't yet figured out how to keep the yellow smiley face on my head for so long...
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
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14:35
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The Muqata
Girls serving in the IDF
has been as issue for years.
Some rabbis say that non-religious girls should even lie to get exempted from army service, by claiming a religious exemption.
In an article titled "Recruitment of girls is absolutely forbidden!", the rabbi of Beit El and head of the Ateret Kohanim yeshiva presented several halachic rulings regarding the issue that were given in recent decades, and stated that despite the "Mitzvah War" the people of Israel were engaged in, the modesty of women must not be compromised.
According to the rabbi, a girl who avoids joining the army only strengthens it, because she allows for God to be present in the IDF base. "This is our choice: Who do we want in the army, women or the Almighty?" he wrote, adding that the recruitment of women may lead to spiritual deterioration among soldiers.
Rabbi Aviner added that in certain cases, girls are even permitted to evade service by making false declarations to the IDF about their religious beliefs." (YNET)
Curiously, despite saying it's absolutely forbidden, R' Aviner supports those who are in the IDF.
"Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, one of the notable religious Zionist rabbis, praises and supports the girls who decided to do military service, as reported Tuesday in a leaflet published by the non-profit organization, Aluma.
In the flier, Rabbi Aviner wrote: "Every religious woman soldier is called to be a loyal emissary of the Master of the Universe, in her personal behavior and in fulfilling her role in our holy army." Rabbi Aviner's statements represent a higher rank in regards to the religious community's relation to girls who decided to enlist in the IDF. (YNET)
Putting IDF service aside, Sherut Leumi is also not without controversy:
Sherut Leumi was originally proposed as a mandatory draft of young women, which great Torah scholars vehemently opposed. It is now an entirely voluntary program.
It seems that R. Tzvi Yehuda Kook generally viewed Sherut Leumi favorably provided that a girl is placed in a spiritually appropriate atmosphere. Someone spoke on my behalf with R. Ya'akov Shapiro, the son of R. Avraham Shapiro, and he said that girls who may be influenced negatively should not do it. But for other girls, it is fine provided that they are in a proper atmosphere. R. Mordechai Eliyahu, as related by his son R. Shmuel Eliyahu (link), seems to be cautious but not entirely against. R. Avigdor Nevenzahl is also quoted as having permitted Sherut Leumi, when in an appropriate environment (Hirhurim)
And how does all this connect to the news of today? IDF Homefront Commander, General Yair Golan has announced a new initiative that in war-time or times of crisis and emergency, some of the 12,000 Sherut Leumi volunteers will be "drafted" to the IDF HomeFront command civilian defense organization.
"They won't be requested to wear uniforms, but they will be under the command of the IDF" stated Homefront command population division officer Col. Chilik Sofer, "but we need to remember than in time of emergencies, the Homefront command will need as many volunteers as possible to aid with local communities, and the idea is to enable the participation of the 12,000 Sherut Leumi volunteers with the communities." (Walla News in Hebrew)
ZAKA volunteers would also be drafted to IDF Homefront command to help with the Chareidi communities.
I wonder what sort of backlash this is going to generate, despite clearly being only for life threatening emergenices/wartime.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
The following picture of the grinning, "V" for victory IDF Soldier in the Gaza strip area has annoyed Palestinians to the point of exasperation.
