Israel and The Sin of Expulsion

by Moshe Burt
The Sefer Shem Mishmuel (page 302) cites Rabbi Berachyah in Shemos Rabbah Perek 28, posuk 1:
“The Tablets were six tefachim (handbreadths) long — in some sense, Hashem grasped two tefachim, Moshe grasped 2 tefachim and 2 tefachim bridged the gap between them.”
Shem Mishmuel then explains (pages 302 - 304):
We can […]

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. | del.icio.us | digg | Furl | Reddit | YahooMyWeb |

by Moshe Burt
Parshat Bo is the one which, for me, annually relates to that crazy tune which played back “in the Old Country” a few decades ago, “Does Your Korbon Pesach Lose It’s Flavor Tied to the Bedpost Overnight?” (Actually, the real title to the song was “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It’s Flavor on […]

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. | del.icio.us | digg | Furl | Reddit | YahooMyWeb |

by Moshe Burt
Our Parsha opens with Hashem, as we understand, visiting Avraham Aveinu on the 3rd day after Bris Milah, when Avraham was at the height of his pain following the circumcision, as Rashi indicates, “to inquire about his welfare.” (Metsuda Linear Chumash rendering of Rashi on Perek 18, posuk 1)
It’s not like Hashem needed […]

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. | del.icio.us | digg | Furl | Reddit | YahooMyWeb |

by Moshe Burt
In reflecting on Shavu’ot and the story of Ruth, I am struck by the similarity between Ruth’s cleaving to Naomi and to Jewishness, and Jonathan Pollard’s actions on behalf of Israel and B’nai Yisrael — putting his life on the line, the price — come what may, for the survival of the Jewish […]

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. | del.icio.us | digg | Furl | Reddit | YahooMyWeb |

by Moshe Burt
Parshat Bo is the one which, for me, annually relates to that crazy tune which played back “in the Old Country” a few decades ago, “Does Your Korbon Pesach Lose It’s Flavor Tied to the Bedpost Overnight?” (Actually, the real title to the song was “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It’s Flavor […]

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. | del.icio.us | digg | Furl | Reddit | YahooMyWeb |

We learn that on Hoshana Rabbah, Hashem’s decrees upon all individuals, upon the Jewish people, and indeed on everyone in the entire world are finalized, as Rabbi Artscroll puts it, ‘delivered’ (Succot Machzor, page 645). Many Kehillot stay up all of Hoshana Rabbah night praying, saying Tehillim, learning in hopes that the finalized, ‘delivered’ decree […]

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. | del.icio.us | digg | Furl | Reddit | YahooMyWeb |

This blog first announces that, whereas, a local Beit Knesset in Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef , in Israel, – Kehilla Beit Tefillah - Yona Avraham, has dedicated one Thursday night Mishmar Learning Seder L’Zechut Jonathan Pollard (Yehonoson ben Malkah) each month since January, 2009, this month’s dedicated learning will take place on Thursday […]

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. | del.icio.us | digg | Furl | Reddit | YahooMyWeb |

Commentary:
The months of pre-publicity regarding Israel State Comptroller Lindenstrauss’s investigation and report regarding what the government of Israel did or did not do on behalf of Jonathan Pollard were not promising and the accounts of the investigation report bear out the previous impressions.
This author is not even so surprised at the sham report as […]

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. | del.icio.us | digg | Furl | Reddit | YahooMyWeb |

As we enter Elul with the Chaggim; Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur 3 weeks away, our Dear Brother Jonathan Pollard remains incarcerated for going on 25 years.
This Thursday night, Kehilla Beis Tefillah Yona Avraham in Ramat Beit Shemesh is again, as we have each month, dedicating a Thursday night Mishmar learning L’Zehut Yehonatan ben Malka […]

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. | del.icio.us | digg | Furl | Reddit | YahooMyWeb |

.
Commentary:
The irony of the verdict in the case cited in the Miami Herald report below is all too obvious to rehash. The bottom-line is that while passing information bound by agreement between 2 “friendly” nations for the U.S. to provide American ally Israel and which was crucial to the security and survival of […]

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. | del.icio.us | digg | Furl | Reddit | YahooMyWeb |