Jacob's hand

Another Temple Mount related story ignored by the BBC

Boy, eight, refuses to go outside after being beaten up and called a 'stupid Jew' in one of 32 anti-Semitic attacks in north London in one month

Toldot: Jacob's Hand on Esau's Heel

'Political correctness is taking over the IDF'

The walled city

An article at CNN about a mosaic uncovered in Jericho, caught my eye this morning.

According to the biblical story, the Israelites marched around the walled city seven times, causing the walls to collapse, though this story has little -- if any -- archaeological evidence to support it.
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/29/middleeast/jericho-mosaic-inside-the-middle-east/

I wonder if CNN qualifies statements regarding other religions that there is little evidence to support their stories.

Speaking of religion, BuzzJour reports that White House Spokesperson Josh Earnest "cautioned Americans not to 'cast aspersions' on people of any one religion in response to the attack" at OSU. http://buzzjour.com/2016/11/29/white-house-osu-attacker-may-have-been-motivated-by-a-desire-to-carry-out-an-act-of-terrorism/

Seven times

A letter from father

The social media website Twitter is facing criticism for its recent decision to grant verification to the Muslim Brotherhood’s official mouthpiece, which routinely writes in favor of violent terror acts and disseminates anti-Semitic propaganda.
Read more: http://freebeacon.com/national-security/twitter-muslim-brotherhood-verification/

Fall Seven Times, Get Up Eight

Yoram Raanan’s Art Studio Destroyed in the Fire

In tribute

One Woman’s Agudah Convention Takeaway

Where Talking to Israelis is Taboo

B’nai Brith Canada Launches Series in Tribute to Jews from Arab Lands

Targeted

Jewish Professors Targeted

נער בר-מצווה תרם 25,000 דולרים לנעליים לנזקקים

Opinion: Time to get serious about the United Nations

Segulos

Segulos of the Chasam Sofer

Jews and our "Special" Obligation (Michael Lumish)

‘Hate Spaces’ Gives a Horrifying Glimpse Into Anti-Israel, Antisemitic Activity on US Campuses

Frum New Jersey native loses 40 years of art work, and his Parnassah, in Israel’s blaze

Opinion Column In Wall Street Journal Calls For Obama To Pardon Rubashkin

What's it like in the After Life?

What Does Torah Say About Presidency?

Afire

Five Months Ago, Rav Kook Said “A Fire is Coming”

Hillary A Month Ago: You Have To Accept The Election Results Or You’re Threatening Democracy…

בעקבות גל השריפות: כך נהגו גדולי ישראל בזמן שריפה

Hatov

Watch: Residents of Beit Meir Who Safely Evacuated Sing Ben Zion Shenker’s ‘Hatov’ With Firefighters

Chabad House Mumbai Attack - 8 Years Ago Today

Battling flames

Special Prayers for Israel Battling Blazing Flames

Who We Are

David Shambadal's poem responding to Arabs burning forests, right before Arabs murdered him in 1936

NY Times Tribute to Rabbi Ben Zion Shenker z”l

Fires in Israel

מיוחד: שו"ת שידוכים עם מרן רבי חיים קנייבסקי

The Ellison Challenge

פרשת חיי שרה לעשות ביזנס עם אמונה

Torah Wellsprings - Chayei Sarah 5777

Seven burials

Parashat Hayeh-Sara: Seven Burials in Me’arat Ha’machpela

A Quick-Test For the Anti-Semitism Virus

Fear, Loathing and Orthodox Opportunity

Off the map

Israeli researchers: Snoops can hack your headphones to record conversations

Proclamation 118—Thanksgiving Day, 1864

Do You Do Netilas Yadayim Correctly?

Hikind blasts NY Times for leaving Israel off Middle East map - It is on the map in the online version which can be found here.

Talks and lingo

Celebration Earlier Than Expected

Sadiq Khan to organise 'urgent' police talks with Jewish neighborhood watch over 'anti-Semitic attacks'

Can We Correct Shidduch Lingo?

Possible Breakthrough In Mysterious Murder Of DNC Staffer

Believe in miracles

Couple has first daughter after 30 years of waiting for child

No 'maybes' – this is forbidden

Tales from the Mitzvah Tank

Parashat Chayei Sarah: Make Sure She Is the Right One

Rabbi Noach Isaac Oelbaum - Parashat Chayei Sarah

A backlash

CNN suffered swift backlash from viewers on social media after showing a neo-Nazi statement on screen.
Read more: https://www.rt.com/viral/367766-cnn-jews-people-reaction/

Ezri me'im HaShem

The Hypocrisy Needs to Stop

Giving thanks

Give Thanks To Hashem (Bereishis 24/52)

Shliach Provides Thanksgiving Dinners to Needy

'לאחר 30 שנה: בת נולדה לבני הזוג פרץ מ'הדסה עין כרם

Jewish Oberlin Professor’s House Targeted, Vandalized After Firing of Anti-Semitic Faculty

Holocaust Museum condemns neo-Nazi conference

The small "chaf"

"And Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to cry over her"; The word "to cry over her" is "ViLivkosa". The Torah spells it with a small "Chaf". What is the significance of this small letter?

The Satan has many ways to get us to sin. He tries at times to stop one from doing a Mitzvah beforehand. If he doesn't succeed, he will try to make us regret that we did the Mitzvah, therefore lessening our reward. Avraham did a great Mitzvah by offering his son a Korbon by the Akeidah. It was because of the news of the Akeidah where Yitzchok was almost killed, that caused Sarah to die. The Satan wanted Avraham to regret the Akeidah because it killed his wife. Avraham did not want to show this regret. He therefore minimized his weeping by the funeral of Srah to show that he did not regret the Akeidah. That is why it says a small "Chaf' - because he minimized his weeping.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Chayei-Sarah-Avrohom-Held-Back-Some-Tears-Over-Sarah/1234

Forced to Leave Odessa as a Girl, and Yearning for the Life She Knew Then

בשבוע הבא: הכלה מ'אסון 402' תתחתן בבנייני האומה

Character improvement

Petira Of Famed Composer And Singer Reb Ben Zion Shenker Z’L

The Henny Machlis Guide to Character Improvement

What Is the Yardstick of Success?

3 things

"And it was when the camels finished drinking, Eliezer took a golden nose ring, its weight a Beka, and 2 bracelets on her arms weighing 10 golden Shekel. Rashi tells us, the Beka weight was an allusion to the Shekalim of Klal Yisroel - the half shekel donated by Klal Yisroel for the Beis HaMikdash. The 2 bracelets were an allusion to the 2 Luchos - and the weight of 10 shekel, alluded to the Aseres HaDibros which were written on them.
Why was it necessary at this time for Eliezer to hint to Rivka concerning these future events? The Maharal answers that Eliezer was telling Rivka that the world stands on 3 things - Torah, Avodah and Gemilus Chasadim. I see that you are very accomplished in acts of Gemilas Chesed. However, to be one of the foundations of Klal Yisroel you must also excel in Torah and Avodah. Torah, which was represented by the 2 bracelets weighing 10 shekel - alluding to the Luchos. Avodah, which was represented by the Beka - used to purchase the Korbonos for the Beis HaMikdash.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Chayei-Sarah-Maharal-MiPrague-Eliezer-Teaches-Rivka-There-Is-More-To-Life-Than-Just-Chesed/1233

Trump is headed to the White House. Did we just elect our first Jewish president?

A convention and a rally

Why We Are Still In ‘The Danger Zone’ Until January 20th, 2017

Arrest made after spate of racist graffiti in Ottawa

One million Jews in over 1,000 cities take part in global Shabbat project

Agudah Convention Thursday Night Highlights

Beastie Boys Announce Anti-Hate Rally at Adam Yauch’s Memorial NYC Park

Parshat Vayera

Torah Wellsprings - Vayera 5777

McGill Student Newspaper Under Fire for Refusing to Publish Pro-Israel Op-eds

Jewish Opposition Grows to Keith Ellison’s Bid to Head Democratic National Committee

Rome and Jerusalem

A heartfelt plea

Yitzchok Ehrlich's Journey - A Heartfelt Plea

Parshas Vayeira - Bound to Be Happy

Bein Adam Lechaveiro that we forget

News gossip

Parashat Vayera: Not Letting It Get to Our Heads

In the November 15th State Department briefing, Spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau was asked her opinion about legislation being discussed barring BDS supporters from entering Israel.
We’re aware of the various reactions to the proposed bill to bar pro-BDS activists from entering Israel. We understand. I’d also note that the legislation requires several more steps before becoming law. The United States strong opposition to boycott and sanctions of the state of Israel is well known, however, as a general principle, we value freedom of expression even in cases where we do not agree with the views espoused.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2016/11/264350.htm#ISRAEL

Does a certain teacher "value freedom of expression even in cases where we do not agree with the views espoused?"

Teacher calls Trump’s victory as bad as 9/11. Students who disagreed were ‘kicked out’

ElderofZiyon opines about a news network, "This is not journalism. This is gossip disguised as news."

Obama’s Brother Malik Calls for Boycott of CNN, MSNBC, New York Times

The chance visit

The Parsha and Current Events: A good omen for our Nation

Chance Alaska Visit Becomes a Dying Man’s Bar Mitzvah

נס ב'עטרת': הוסיפו שם וראש הישיבה התעורר

To the rescue

Jews get attacked 2.5X more than Muslims in America. Muslims get 25X more headlines.

Boy to the Rescue of Baby Brother

Parashat Vayeira: In the Heat of the Day

Young Jews in Hungary Fight Rightist Government on Behalf of Immigrants

Asking forgiveness

Daughter of Nazi Who Killed Rebbe’s Brother Asks Forgiveness

Living Under the Reign of Antiochus: A Response to Dr. Aaron Koller

Slovie Speaks: The Girl from Last Week

Lecture canceled

Swastikas painted on vans outside London Jewish school

My Decision to Start Observing Shabbat

Jewish students cancel lecture by Caroline Glick at US college

Fear, Loathing and Orthodox Opportunity

The heartfelt note

The Closest Supermoon Full Moon Since 1948: How to See It Online

Pitbull wins landslide in mayoral election in Kentucky - upnei hador kipnei hakelev

Leonard Cohen's Son Pens Heartfelt Note After His Father's Burial

The 613 Mitzvot: Mitzvah 387 - Dont Stray After Your Eyes - Wheres Your Heart?

New York Times Coverage of Jews, Israel, Is as Slanted as Its Coverage of Trump

The first step

Emuna daily lesson

Obama, Clinton, And Sanders Could Stop The Riots But They Just Watch

Taking the First Step

קרליבך מסביר: כך הלחנתי את השיר "שובה" • האזינו

Firefighters who saved Torah scrolls dance with them at rebuilt synagogue

The BBC has reported about a tsunami that arrived after an earthquake in New Zealand. Click here to read. Notice a city that pops up a number of times in the article? Maybe they would consider a name change?

Looking behind

"VaTabeit Ishto MeiAcharav", Lot's wife looked behind. "VaTehi Netziv Melach", and she became a pillar of salt (Bereishis 19:26). The Kli Yakar asks, why does it say she looked behind "him"? It should say she looked behind herself, "MeiAchareha".

The Kli Yakar explains that Lot's wife was deeply distressed that she couldn't save her money, as the Malachim rushed them out and told them to forget about their wealth that would be left behind (see Rashi 19:17). Now on the run she was concerned with how she will survive if her husband, now penniless dies. MeiAcharav means she looked past him, past his lifetime and worried about the money.

This worry brought back memories of her aveira of thriftiness and that she refused to give tzedaka or Hachnosas Orchim. Melach, salt is a preservative. Chazal tell us that tzedoka is the salt to preserve our wealth. Therefore, she who refused to give tzedoka, both back in Sedom and even now on the run, she who had not learned her lesson, turned into salt.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-VaYeira-Kli-Yakar-Why-Was-Lots-Wife-Punished-For-Turning-Around/2974 

WHO HELPS THE HELPERS?

AUDIO: Powerful words from Rabbi YY Jacobson on Trump’s decision to run for President

Oprah Says – ‘Take A Deep Breath’

A wake up call: Jews challenged in the UK

The Shabbos project and the Inauguration

Presidential inaugurations are a daylong ceremony. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to visit the District of Columbia, though spots at the official events are, of course, limited. Traditionally, the day begins with a morning worship service. After that, the new vice president takes the oath of office, followed by the president. After they’re sworn in, Trump will give his inaugural address speech.
Once evening falls, the presidential family will attend several formal events around town, including the Inaugural Ball.
Along the way, there are opportunities for numerous musical performances.
http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7573363/when-is-donald-trump-inauguration-president-2017-washington-dc-white-house

In the first video below, Chief Rabbi Goldstein speaks about the Shabbos project.
A friend alerted me to the fact that Inauguration Day, January 20, 2017, falls out on Friday. In January the days are short so she wonders how Ivanka and Jared will deal with the schedule.

Will the songs Sholom Aleichem and Eishet Chayil be included as part of the musical repertoire of the evening festivites?

The other day I called attention to a headline at the ibtimes Israel Wants Jews To Pray At Muslim Mosque In Jerusalem: Temple Mount Tensions Grow In Middle East.

Elderof Ziyon references an excerpt from the article.

Some Israeli lawmakers want to allow Jews to pray at an Islamic holy site in Jerusalem, a contentious proposal that is opposed by Middle Eastern leaders and could stroke tensions between Jews and Muslims in the Israel.

The blogger at ElderofZiyon writes the following:

The incompetent reporter doesn't even know that the expression is "stoke tensions," not 'stroke tensions."
http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2016/11/todays-media-bias-ibtimes-calls-temple.html

The next paragraph of the ibtimes article contains such gems as, "Their policy proposal came as Israeli citizens, activists and politicians gathered at the Knesset-hosted Seekers of Zion conference Monday called the religious known to Jews as Temple Mount and to Muslims as Al-Aqsa be open for Jewish prayer. The compound sits on top of the Western Wall in Jerusalem and is considered to be Judaism’s holist site."

Personally, I didn't realize that there is such a word as "holist' or that the religious are known to Jews as the Temple Mount.

Another article by the same journalist is titled Israel vs. Palestine: Muslims Demand Dead Sea Scrolls Of Hebrew Bible.

Munir Anis Nasser, a Palestinian representative to UNESCO, said the writings found by a Palestinian sheppard in the caves in the Qumran region in the Judean Desert in 1947 are part of Palestinian heritage.
http://www.ibtimes.com/israel-vs-palestine-muslims-demand-dead-sea-scrolls-hebrew-bible-2443532
I didn't realize that the word "shepherd' can now be spelled as "sheppard."

This morning I heard Mark Halperin, speaking on MSNBC, "The responsibility of journalists is to not report on their biases."
http://freebeacon.com/politics/morning-joe-rips-new-york-times-for-anti-trump-headline/

Enjoying exegetical and Talmudic efforts

A few hours ago, State Department Spokesperson Mark Toner bid adieu to journalist Arshad Mohammed who was having his last briefing in the building before turning to other pursuits. I was duly impressed with the journalist's command of the English language as he began to speak before composing the last few questions which he addressed to the spokesperson.

QUESTION: If you will allow me to apostrophize for a moment, these briefings have sometimes seemed otiose or almost pyrrhic – (laughter) – but I have greatly enjoyed our exegetical and Talmudic efforts to understand American foreign policy. I’ve used all five of those words in briefings over the last dozen or more years. (Laughter.) I’ve had enormous --

MR TONER: Well put.

QUESTION: I’ve had enormous fun and I wish everybody in the room, those on this side of the podium and those on that side of the podium, well as you keep doing this.

Mr. Toner was asked by another journalist about the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995.

MR TONER: So I mean, since Israel’s founding, the administrations of both parties have maintained a consistent policy here and that is recognizing no state as having sovereignty over Jerusalem. And we remain committed to this long-standing policy – we, the Obama Administration.

QUESTION: But in fact, there was a congressional act in 1995 that was supposed – that called for the moving the embassy by 1999 if they allocated the money. And ever since then, presidents have used a waiver.

MR TONER: That’s correct.

QUESTION: They used the executive waiver. So there is nothing in the law that will prevent moving the embassy. But it is up to the discretion of the president, correct?

MR TONER: It is correct that administrations since, as you note, 1995 have consistently exercised a waiver, because it’s been determined – they’ve determined, we’ve determined, that it is in our national security interests to do so.

QUESTION: And will that be the advice that you give the coming administration?

MR TONER: I would think, as we consult with the incoming administration, we’ll certainly make sure they understand, which is all we can do, our rationale behind exercising that waiver.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2016/11/264237.htm

Eagle rescued after being stuck in storm drain in Orange County Seeing the pictures of the two eagles in the drain, I couldn't help wonder if there was a message for us.

Lech Lecha

Parashat Lech-Lecha: We’re Never Off-Duty

Torah Wellsprings - Lech Lecha 5777

Granddaughter of Holocaust survivors confronts neighbor who hung Nazi flag on his property

ZalmiU tweets "To all the progressives, leftists and showbiz luvvies who said they'd leave if #Trump were elected... I say: "LOZ IM GEYN!!"

Parashat Lech Lecha: President Trump

The headline

What a headline at the ibtimes. - Israel Wants Jews To Pray At Muslim Mosque In Jerusalem: Temple Mount Tensions Grow In Middle East

Below is an excerpt from the State Department 11/09 briefing.

QUESTION: All right. And then just very quickly is specifically one of the things that the President-elect has said when he was a candidate. He said that he would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This is something that previous administrations have not done – have resisted, in fact – since --
 MR TONER: That’s correct.
 QUESTION: And I’m just wondering, can you remind us very briefly why exactly that is? And if you want to do it as a TQ, that’s fine.
 MR TONER: Well, sure. And I would prefer to actually get the policy out there as word-for-word as I possibly can. But there is a longstanding, as you note, policy from both sides of the aisle – so to speak – with regard to Jerusalem’s status
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2016/11/264198.htm

And the winner is

The speech winner - Mike Pence for uttering the words, "I come to this moment deeply humbled, grateful to G-d for His amazing grace, grateful to my family..."

The tweet winner - Boro Park Jew Dedicates His Vote to Slain Muslim American Soldier

Donald Trump - President of the States ? in bible code Glazerson

In the week of Parshat Lech Lecha, when Avraham Avinu was told to leave his homeland, it seems a number of celebrities will be leaving their homeland, as well. Cher will be moving to Jupiter while Barbra Streisand will be on her way to Australia or Canada according to this article.

Congratulations to Donald Trump, elected to be the 45th President of the U.S. In Hebrew, the equivalent of 45 is מה. Hopefully President-elect Trump will remember the words of Micha 6:8 which contains the word מה-what.

It hath been told thee, O man, what is good, and what the L-RD doth require of thee: only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy G-d. 

The choice

Rebbe on Choosing a President

R. Kanievsky’s medical miracle

How far a mitzvah goes

?הרבי מלעלוב הסביר לתלמידים: מה תפקידה של הנשמה

Elevation

Women of the Wall make me sad

In the last post, I linked to an article in Hebrew regarding the recent petirah of HaRav Yosef Grossman z”l, brother of Migdal HaEmek Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Grossman Shlita. Chadrei Charedim reported that the Rav appeared twice in a dream to a mekubal and told him that he wasn't being allowed into Gan Eden because he owed 100 shekel to someone.
This is not the first time I have heard such anecdotes. Someone related to me that a man appeared to his son-in-law in a dream, asking him to pay the money he owed for an aliya in the neighborhood shul which he frequented.


Nominations open in prize for outstanding English-speaking Israeli immigrants

The dream

JLI Introduces New Weekly Parsha Video

"אח הרב גרוסמן הגיע בחלום למקובל: "לא נותנים לי להכנס לגן עדן

Israel's Rabbinate avoids Western Wall Event

Illegal immigrants

Harry Truman on legal and illegal Jewish immigration, 1947

Did Obama Just Give Illegal Aliens the Green Light to Vote?

Parshas Lech Lecha - "Math of the Week"

The upcoming election

Election Frenzy

The Chafetz Chaim & the Upcoming Election

Weekly Living Torah Video: A New York Times Reporter

Greater heights

Until the waters lap at our feet

Parshas Noach - Striving for Greater Heights Marcheshvan

Which female politician and leader stated that a scndal surrounding her is "all my fault and mistake"?

Game 7

Picture of the Day: Tzitzis Dangling, 'Dans Deals' Daniel Eleff Throws Out First Pitch at World Series Game 7 Tonight in Cleveland

Parashat Noah: The Dove and Repentance

Want to be more successful? Try thinking about death - study

Fish in the Mabul

Parshas Noach - Why Didn't The Fish Die In The Mabul?

Trump Campaign Unveils New Policy: Will Ask Justice Department to Probe Anti-Israel Intimidation on US College Campuses

Why does the US vote for president on Tuesdays? – video

מדוע נקרא שמו "מר חשון

Rosh Chodesh MarCheshvan

Rosh Chodesh MarCheshvan


Hamas: More PA officers should carry out attacks

"Shnayim Shnayim Baoo El Noach"; "2 of each specie came to Noach" There is a Midrash Pliah that says "Shnayim Shnayim Baoo El Noach"- from here we see the days which we recite the complete Hallel". What is the pshat in this Midrash?

The Meforshim answer, the days in which we recite whole Hallel in the Diaspora are

1) The first 2 days of Pesach

2) 2 days Shavuos

3) 9 days Sukkos

4) 8 days Chanukah

This is the pshat in the Midrash.

Shnayim - The first 2 days of Pesach

Shnayim - 2 days Shavuos

Baoo - has the numerical value of 9 - 9 days Sukkos

El Noach - has a numerical value of 89 which is the same numerical value as Chanukah. http://www.thejewisheye.com/rev_pnoach.html