Here is an article that I think readers may find enlightening.

Tzedakah Giving – Torah Usually Precedes the Poor

by Rabbi Shlomo Shushan of Beit Shean

[Article Extract]

The Mitzvah of tzedakah is an important mitzvah and is part of g'milut chasadim (acts of loving kindness), which is the one of the pillars upon which the world stands. It also facilitates the existence of the other two pillars upon which the world stands – Torah and Prayer – because without donations to Torah institutions and synagogues, they would be hard to maintain.

In our time, there is a blossoming of Torah institutions in Israel, and simultaneously, there is, unfortunately, a rise in the number of families who are in need of financial assistance. We must determine who to give to and how to distribute our tzedakah funds.

There are differing opinions amongst halachic authorities as to the priorities of giving tzedakah (e.g. Baba Batra pg. 9, Tosfot "Sh'ne'emar", Bet Yosef Yoreh Deah 249, Aruch HaShulchan Yoreh Deah 249).

It is considered a great virtue to build and maintain a synagogue or a house of learning, and it is considered an urgent need to come to the aid of poor sick people.

The accepted majority view amongst halachic authorities is that if there are poor people who are literally starving, and the funds are designated to save them from dying or sickness, then they are the top priority, because we fear for their lives (safek pikuach nefesh).

However, in our time, it is rare to find a poor person who has nothing to eat. Therefore, only is cases of severe sicknesses would a poor person remain, according to Jewish law, the top priority.

In a case where the tzedakah money is designated to improve the welfare of a poor person but not save him from starvation, then there is no fear for his life and one should give first to the study of Torah which precedes even the maintenance of a synagogue.

However, if there is no synagogue or mikvah at all in the community, then their construction would precede giving to Torah institutions because they are a mitzvah relating to the entire community and they prevent various Torah prohibitions.

This same principle of an urgent communal need applies to supporting the mitzvah of settlement of the Land of Israel, in particular in Judea and Samaria, since this enterprise helps prevent the transfer of our homeland to foreigners G-d forbid. It is a mitvah relating to the entire community and also is considered an urgent mitzvah, and thus precedes other mitzvot.

Another issue in tzedakah-giving is verifying if the poor person asking is truly in need, or is he possibly a fraud. Giving tzedakah without any verification not only perpetuates and increases the problem of fraudulent paupers, but also leaves less money for those truly in need and thus causes a double problem.

If it is not possible to investigate, one should at least give a small donation in order not to turn the person away in shame (Rambam, Hilchot Ani'im, 7).

Our sages of blessed memory promise us that one who gives much tzedakah will never himself or his children be in need, and will receive an abundance of blessing.

This article originally appeared in the Kommemeyut parsha sheet, Yitro, 5770.

When I read Defense Minister Ehud Barak's explanation as to why he ousted the Har Bracha Yeshiva from the Hesder program, I caught a hefty whiff of fascism. It seems that I was not alone in sensing that acrid smell.

Like Rabbi Moshe Isserles upon receiving the legal tractate of Rabbi Yosef Karo, I will not print my own analysis, rather I'll make way for a superior commentary by Lurker at the excellent Muqata blog:

....It is simply incredible to read Barak's description of what he calls "the foundations of a democratic state":

* "a monopoly on the use of force"

* "the state's authority over the citizens" [yes, really]

It can hardly be gainsaid that these two points are actually the foundations of a fascist state. In fact, the
Taken as a whole, Barak's points describe fascism.
second point -- the state's authority over the citizens -- is the very core essence of fascism.

Old-fashioned, naive people such as myself once believed that democracy was the citizens' authority over the state. But apparently, we had it all backwards.

Best of all is Barak's amazing description of what he calls "the true basis of democracy":

"When a state reaches the place in which it needs to enforce the law on citizens, it has no choice but to use its army. This instruction must also be carried out and obeyed, this is the true basis of democracy."

There you have it: The use of the army against a state's own citizens, and the resulting imperative to obey orders, constitute -- according to Ehud Barak -- "the true basis of democracy".

Taken as a whole, Barak's points describe fascism to a tee:

1. The supremacy of the state over the individual

2. The usage of the military against the state's own citizens

3. The absolute imperative to obey the state's orders, even at the expense of obeying one's conscience

Barak has not only outlined the core principles of fascism as his model for how our state should be run -- he also has the shameless, unmitigated gall to label it "democracy".

Go read the rest here. In fact, read the whole blog from top to bottom.

Researched, compiled and presented by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz.

For our readers in Israel, here is a unique event given by one of our own bloggers on this site that you may wish to attend:

Creative Writing through the Lens of Torah

Five Wednesdays: December 23, 30, 2009, Jan. 6, 13, 20, 2010  7:15-8:45 PM

Sparks of Creativity, at The Stern House, Yemin Moshe, Jerusalem, a writing workshop with Yonatan Udren.

Udren will explore Judaism's connection to creative writing through the writings of Rav Chaim of Volozhen, HaRav Kook, the Ishbitzer Rebbe, Rav Nachman and Ba'al HaTanya. A graduate of the writing program at Bar-Ilan, Udren is in his final year in the rabbinical seminary at Yeshivat Hamivtar in Efrat. He wrote an internationally syndicated column for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency for several years and currently writes a Torah blog, "Sparks from the Fire," for Arutz Sheva.

Cost: NIS 30 per session or NIS 120 for all five. (For SR students and alums NIS 20/NIS 80 for all five.) Seating limited to 18. Register at judylabensohn@gmail.com

Former TV host Dudu Topaz hung himself this morning in the jail cell shower. This is a tragedy, and my condolences to the family. But I have one question, and I preface it saying that I really am not promoting any conspiracy theory of any sort. Just asking and it bothers me that I haven't heard any of the media ask the question.

Authorities say that since there were no cameras in the shower to allow privacy, they had concerns that people might hang themselves from the shower nozzle if it were to be placed in the ceiling. Therefore, the nozzle was placed 80 centimeters (31 inches) from the floor.

Is it possible? Again, he may have found a way, but is sure begs an explanation.