Parshat Chayei Sarah 5782: Eretz Yisrael, Who’s Land is It Anyway?

Shalom Friends;

Our Parshat HaShevua, Chayei Sarah is sponsored by Yirmi and Rochelle Gold and family of Ramat Beit Shemesh who dedicate this vort Lilui Nishmas the Yahrtzeit of HaRav Chaim Zev Malinowitz, z”l. To the Gold family, many thanks for your sponsorship and your continued kindnesses.

You can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring a Parshat HaShevua. read more

Parshat Vayeishev 5773: Chanukah, Yosef, and the Contrast Between the Brothers vs Israeli Hellenists’ War of Polarization on Yiddishkeit

by Moshe Burt

With Chanukah 5773 coming in literally on the heels of Shabbos Vayeishev, we recall again a short article which appeared on the INN website entitled;”Mortar Shells Filled With Chanukah Light” (url for article no longer accessable) which told about the Menorah which Neve Dekalim residents made from some of the spent Islamic mortal shells which were launched on their Gush Katif town over the years.

Reading about this special Menorah which was lit at one of the Jerusalem hotels which temporarily housed many evicted Neve Dekalim residents, took this author back in time to Philadelphia, in “the “old country” and to a point made by Rav Yehoshua Kaganoff about the pit in which Yosef was thrown. The point bears repeating. read more

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Parshat Vayeishev 5772: Contrasting Yosef and the Brothers vs Israeli Hellenists’ War of Polarization on Yiddishkeit

by Moshe Burt

With Chanukah 5772 coming almost on the heels of Shabbos Vayeishev, we recall again a short article which appeared on the INN website entitled;”Mortar Shells Filled With Chanukah Light” (url for article no longer accessable) which told about the Menorah which Neve Dekalim residents made from some of the spent Islamic mortal shells which were launched on their Gush Katif town over the years. Reading about this special Menorah which was lit at one of the Jerusalem hotels which temporarily housed many evicted Neve Dekalim residents, took this author back in time to Philadelphia, in “the “old country” and to a point made by Rav Yehoshua Kaganoff about the pit in which Yaakov was thrown. The point bears repeating. read more

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Parsha Vayeira 5772: Prayer and Stark Contrasts Between Actions of Avraham, Sodom, and Israel in 5772

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 to pay a visit to ascertain Avraham’s actual condition. Hashem is the Creator, The Master, The Ruler over the world who knows and is aware of everything. And so, as Hashem visited to inquire as to Avraham’s wellbeing, Avraham pardoned himself from Hashem when he spotted 3 travellers inviting them into his tent. read more

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Parshat Vayeishev 5771: Yosef and the Brothers vs the Hellinistic Israeli Regimes’ War of Polarization on Yiddishkeit

by Moshe Burt

A few years ago, just before Chanukah, a short article appeared on the INN website entitled;
“Mortar Shells Filled With Chanukah Light” which told about the Menorah which Neve Dekalim residents made from some of the spent Islamic mortal shells which were launched on their Gush Katif town over the years.

Reading about this special Menorah which was lit at one of the Jerusalem hotels which temporarily housed many evicted Neve Dekalim residents, took this author back in time to Philadelphia, in “the “old country” and to a point made by Rav Yehoshua Kaganoff about the pit in which Yaakov was thrown. The point bears repeating. read more

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The Secret US-Israeli Agreement on East Jerusalem


Bibi’s infamous Yes vote for the expulsion of our Gush Katif brethren.

This blog has closely observed prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s public reactions to the tirades of US president Obama and secretary of state Clinton in the aftermath of licensure for building in Ramat Shlomo. Among Netanyahu’s public statements have been declarations that construction in Jerusalem will continue and that Jerusalem will remain undivided .

But inside Israel, and inside the prime minister’s own party, people have been questioning whether Netanyahu can be taken at his word, particularly in light of the Likud central committee vote coming on Thursday regarding whether or not the Likud constitution will be changed as to scheduling when central committee elections will be held. The make-up of the Likud central committee appears to have a profound impact on the prime minister’s diplomatic policy decisions. read more

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Parsha Ki Tisa 5770 — Torah Principle and Standing Up to Immoral Law

By Moshe Burt

For many years, this author has spoken or written about a posuk in Parsha Ki Tisa which alludes to an event which is recorded in Torah 40 years later, in a subsequent Parsha.

The posuk being referred to (Sh’mos, Perek 30, posuk 30) says that while Moshe Rabbeinu was on Har Sinai being given Torah, Hashem said;

“You shall anoint Aaron and his sons and sanctify them to minister (to serve) me.”

This seemingly obscure posuk which pops up in a couple of slightly different forms in both Parsha Tetzaveh and in our Parsha raises a challenging question which cuts to the chase of what we continue to face today. The question is; what about that Pinchas Ben Elazar? Why was he not anointed as a Kohen with his brothers? read more

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Parshat Vayeishev 5770: Yosef and the Brothers vs Hellinistic Israeli Regimes’ War on Yiddishkeit

by, Moshe Burt

Three years ago, just before Chanukah, a short article appeared on the INN website entitled; “Mortar Shells Filled With Chanukah Light” which told about the Menorah made from some of the spent Islamic mortal shells which were launched on Neve Dekalim over the years.

Reading about this special Menorah which was lit at one of the Jerusalem hotels which temporarily housed many former Neve Dekalim residents, took me back in time to Philadelphia, in “the “old country” and to a point made by Rav Yehoshua Kaganoff about the pit in which Yaakov was thrown. The point bears repeating. read more

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Rosh Hashana 5770: Unesaneh Tokef: Al Kiddush Shaim Shemayim vs Mental Coercion by Israeli Governance

by Moshe Burt

Each Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, we daven the Unesaneh Tokef as part of the Mussaf tefillah.

The story behind the Unesaneh Tokef tefillah (expressing the seriousness of the day): relates the Gezeira Rah (evil decree) faced by R’ Amnon of Mainz and his Kehilla of forced conversion to Christianity dating back about 1,000 years.

R’ Amnon who, with his Kehilla, faced dread coercion as well as mortal, imminent threat of death, gave the perception of consideration of possible compliance with the demand to convert to Christianity and, as a result, became distraught at even having given the impression that he could betray Hashem. read more

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Shavu’ot 5769: All-Night Learning and Jonathan Pollard

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by Moshe Burt

The concept of promoting learning all night on Shavu’ot L’Zechut Jonathan Pollard came about as an enlargement of this author’s concept of devoting one Thursday night Mishmar per month L’Zechut Jonathan, and out of a recognition that the long-established policy of current and successive previous Israeli governments of forsaking Jonathan is impervious to earthly efforts to affect pressure on his behalf to bring about change in this now long-standing policy. read more

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