Two centers

A July Huffington Post article detailed a telephone exchange with Sharif el-Gamal, the developer of the Park51 cultural center and prayer space.

"Park51 is an Islamic community center modeled after the (Jewish Community Center) or YMCA," Gamal said. "It is open to all people but it is not an interfaith project."

"Hold on, Sharif," Goldsmith interjected. "You're wrong to say that. It is an interfaith project."

"That's what I said," the developer insisted. "It's an Islamic community center open to all people, serving all New York and based on pluralism and diversity."

So, in the spirit of interfaith dialogue, an event is scheduled for this evening, a review of the book, "In the Presence of Absence” including a Q&A with Adam Schatz, among others.

An excerpt from a review of the book states, "it is full of descriptions of Gaza and Deir Yassin and Sabra and Shatila."

Adam Shatz wrote a piece in the Guardian where he discusses the Mearsheimer and Walt paper on the Israel Lobby.
Alan Dershowitz, Israel's unofficial ambassador to Cambridge, Massachusetts, predictably denounced the paper as anti-Semitic, but then he would probably find the rumblings of a pogrom in a negative review of his favorite deli.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/mar/24/post9

I checked out the website of the JCC, curious if such events were being presented at the center which Park51 is using as a role model.

The JCC events schedule included a November 10 premiere of Dolphin Boy about an Arab and his Jewish Israeli girlfriend, a Saturday afternoon screening of David & Kamal on November 12 and a screening of a movie, 77 Steps which is a love story between an Arab girl and her Jewish boyfriend, which is co-presented by the New Israel Fund.

Which center is doing more for Jewish identity? Isn't it wonderful that the Sabbath is a day for viewing peace and friendship films? Somehow, I don't think that this was what G-d had in mind in the issuance of the fourth Commandment of remembering the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

Commanding respect

"Nazi-occupied Paris was a terrible place to be in the waning days of World War II, with Jews, Resistance fighters and ordinary citizens all hoping to escape. Disappearances became so common they often weren't followed up.
And one man used the lawlessness for his own terrible purposes, killing perhaps as many as 150 people."
Read full article: http://news.yahoo.com/doctor-turned-serial-killer-ww2-paris-122102122.html

I was shocked to read how Dr. Marcel Petiot, a person in a position to command respect, used his credentials to lure unsuspecting Jews to their deaths.

And speaking about respect, below is a video which explains just how we should respect our Torah scholars.

Turkey Quake deja vu

A Turkish news agency says an earthquake with a preliminary 5.7 magnitude has caused some buildings to collapse in the eastern part of the country.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/11/09/earthquake-hits-eastern-turkey-collapses-buildings/#ixzz1dFFVm4Wy

טורקיה טורקיה - גם עליך תעבור כוס התרעלה

הרב עובדיה יוסף: הקב"ה מצפצף על טורקיה

A growth industry

In an article titled Anti-Semitism, a growth industry in bad times, Alan Caruba writes the following.

"In bad times, anti-Semitism seems to crawl out of the sewers like a repugnant odor. It is not subject to a rational response. It is pure emotion and a very nasty one at that. Lately we got a whiff of it at some of the Occupy protests."
Read full article: http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/caruba/111109

Rick Richman offers a synopsis of the case being argued in the Supreme Court as to whether Americans born in Jerusalem have the right to have “Israel” on their passports as their place of birth.
He concludes, "Ironically, this whole case could have been avoided if either President Bush or President Obama had simply done what President Clinton did with respect to Taiwan: faithfully execute the law, while making clear it did not change U.S. foreign policy as articulated by the Executive Branch. Better yet, the case could have been avoided if the President had simply chosen to recognize that the city that has been the capital of Israel for 61 years is the capital of Israel. Whatever past policy has been, and whoever has the authority to decide it, it’s time."

Read full article: http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-president-congress-and-menachem-zivotofsky%e2%80%99s-passport/2/


Click here to read about indoctrination in a Spanish classroom.

Practice gratitude

Chadrei Chadarim recently published a letter that Rebbetzin Kanievsky penned a few weeks before her petira in which she thanked the head of an organization for his efforts in helping needy families.

Kikar Hashabat writes about Hagon Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel ZATZAL making a last telephone call to Minister Eli Yishai thanking him for helping ease the Yeshiva's financial burden.

In an article titled 10 Ways to Have a Happier Life, Part Two, Dr. Andrew Weill suggests different way to achieve happiness. Number 10 on the list is to practice gratitude.

So, let's take the opportunity to say thank you to someone we've been meaning to thank but haven't gotten around to it. Do it now before it's too late.

Thank you to someone who wrote me a constructive email yesterday.

New politicians

It appears that Berlusconi will resign after 2012 Budget is approved. BREAKING
http://www.themarketguardian.com/2011/11/berlusconi-to-resign-after-approval-of-austerity-laws/


Rabbi Boteach writes about his experiences organizing a wedding during a power outage caused by a snowstorm.
"We were preparing for a wedding with a house filled with relatives from around the world who, freezing with no heat, light, or phones, thought America was a third-world country."

He would like to see a new breed of politican.

"This is probably what America most needs, courageous, principled, visionary, and determined citizens unseating the do-nothing class of politicians who watch America crumble by the day yet continue to waste our hard-earned money on efforts that yield few results."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuley-boteach/an-unforgiving-electorate_b_1078866.html

A hearing ear

Reflect on three things and you will never come to sin: Know what is above you --a seeing eye, a hearing ear, and all your deeds recorded in a book.
Pirkei Avot 2:1

Many of you have read about the reported exchange between Presidents Obama and Sarkozy which took place in Cannes this past week.
Microphones accidently left on after G20 meeting pick up private conversation between US, French presidents. Sarkozy admits he 'can't stand' Israeli premier. Obama: You're fed up with him? I have to deal with him every day!
Read full article: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4145266,00.html

Curious to see which of the MSM is reporting the incident, I came across a few paragraphs in the NYT about the report which was published on a French Web site.
The White House did not comment on the exchange, which the Web site said was not widely reported in France because the journalists who overheard it agreed not to publish the remarks.

The White House does have a transcript of the scripted speeches of the two Presidents.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, it is wonderful to be back in France. And I want to thank my excellent friend and colleague, Nicolas Sarkozy, for his hospitality. He and I obviously have worked together on a wide range of issues since I've been President, and I always welcome his frank and honest assessment of the situations here.
It's also nice to be back visiting in France -- the last time I was in the south of France -- or the first time, rather, was as a college student, and I've never forgotten the extraordinary hospitality of the French people and the extraordinary views that are available here.
Read full transcript and watch video: http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/11/03/president-obama-and-president-sarkozy-france-speak-bilateral-meeti
Incidentally, WND questions Obama went to France while in college?

Here's a story about the President and the famous Sitation Room photo.

Causing to cry

Looking for some insights into Rachel Imeinu on her yarzheit, I came across a thought posted last year at Inspire Yourself.

When we speak about Rachel Imeinu, we say, “Kol B’ramah nishma…Rachel mivaka al baneha ki eineinu…” a voice is heard on high…Rachel is crying about her children…
The word mivaka seems to be grammatically incorrect. The definition of mivaka is to cause someone else to cry. The question is, why do we use this term for cry? If Rachel is crying for us on high, (as we know that Hashem says that her tears are going to bring the geula, not the tears of any of the avos) why is the term "causing to cry" used?! It should probably say, Rachel boche, Rachel "is crying" because she is constantly crying for us to come out of galus!!!!!
The answer is, that Rachel Imeinu is crying because we Jews are not crying! She is trying to get us to cry out of the pain of galus because we seem to forget where we are. Hashem puts us through so much pain and suffering in galus and our job is to cry out to Him and BEG Him to take us out! But instead, we try to ignore the pain we are in and try to run away from the pain using all sorts of escapes and distractions. We forget that we are in galus by making ourselves comfortable here. We try to enjoy life to the fullest instead of remembering that we are supposed to be davening to come out!! What we have to do now is cry out to Hashem and beg and plead for Him to take us out!!!
Rachel is trying to get us to cry, to feel uncomfortable in galus! If we don’t feel like we are in galus and we don’t cry out to Hashem, then why should He take us out altogether?! If we are fine where we are, then why should anything change?! The only way to get out is by asking for it! And if Hashem sees we really want to come out, He will take us out!!!!
Read full post: http://inspirationalinformation.blogspot.com/2010/10/today-rachel-imeinus-yartzheit.html

Many cried out to Hashem today upon reading of the young people who were tragically niftar in car accidents.
May we merit "veshavu banim ligvulam" by striving to be better and by not distracting ourselves with meaningless time wasters. How about reciting some Pirkei Tehillim or reading this devar Torah and resolving to do chesed in the style of Avraham?

UNESCO and Jewish history

In an op-ed titled Mr. Netanyahu, Let's Boycott UNESCO, Giulio Meotti advocates for suspension of any cooperation with UNESCO.

Jerusalem will not risk any isolation, since it’s already a pariah in the UN and the word “Jew” has become, once again, an accepted insult in the global square.
UNESCO’s next steps are under Israel’s nose: very soon the Temple Mount, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Joseph’s Tomb, Rachel’s Tomb, the Shalom al Israel synagogue and the Cave of the Patriarchs will be designated as “mosques” by the UN’s agency.
...Last year, the UNESCO report on science forcibly converted to Islam the Jewish physician Maimonides, calling him “Moussa ben Maimoun”.
Read full article: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/10792

Speaking of Rachel's Tomb, this evening and tomorrow, thousands of people are expected to make their way there on the occasion of Rachel Imeinu's Yarzheit. Click here to send a prayer to Kever Rachel.
Below is a video of an interview with Allen West. Why isn't he in the running for President?

A time of grief

Many years ago, my friends and I went to be menachem aveil a teacher of ours who lost his teenaged daughter in a bus bombing in Jerusalem. We were apprehensive,not knowing what words to utter. But, we came away amazed at the rabbi's ability to give us chizuk during his time of grief. I thought of this incident when I read the Torah thought by Rabbi Dr. Raymond Apple.
Unfortunately, there have been too many tragedies recently. Just today, I read about a three-year old girl who died in a fire and a three year-old boy who was niftar. Also, a young boy in Monsey was hit by a van.
Please pray for Moshe Yisroel Ahron ben Hentcha Baila and for Chaya Efrat bat Hadas.

Some views suggest that hearing of Isaac’s near death gave Sarah a shock which proved fatal. She had not known of God’s call to Abraham and only heard of the whole course of events after they were over and after Abraham and Isaac came home.
The impact of her death is described in next week’s sidra, Chayyei Sarah, in Chapter 23 of B’reshit which tells of the death of Sarah and how Abraham mourned for her. He came lis’pod l’Sarah v’liv’kotah – “to eulogise Sarah and to weep for her”. The narrative follows a peculiar order, first the eulogy and then the weeping. It cannot possibly be that Abraham did not realise the extent of the tragedy at first and only started weeping once he had put the occasion into words.
The truth may really be quite the opposite. Abraham was genuinely torn to pieces by the death but he knew that Sarah belonged to the family, to the community, to history, and not just to him personally. He felt he had to comfort the others first and to sum her up for them before he could give way to his own individual grief.
http://www.oztorah.com/2011/11/stages-in-mourning-vayyera/