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Jewish World 10:27 AM 2/14/2012
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Matthew M. Hausman, Att'y
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Av 9, 5769, 7/30/2009
'Kinot' for Jews in Islamic Landsby Nissan Ratzlav-KatzA personal suggestion: Add the following compilation to your Tisha B'Av Kinot, or post-Kinot readings. Kinana, Safiya, Rayhana, Kab, and thousands upon thousands more whose names were not recorded.... Al eileh ani bochiya - For these, too, I shed tears.... From Sahih Bukhari, a collection of Muslim oral teachings, Vol. 4, Book 53, hadith no. 392: Narrated Abu Huraira: While we were in the mosque, the Prophet came out and said, "Let us go to the Jews." We -------------- Excerpted from Sirat Rasul Allah, a Muslim biography of Muhammad ("HaMishuga", according to Rambam) written by Ibn Ishaq (704-761 CE) ...The apostle of Allah invited the Jews, possessors of' the scripture, to accept Islam and tried to enlist them in its favour; but he also threatened them with the punishment and vengeance of Allah. He was told, 'Nay. We shall follow that religion which our fathers professed, because they were more learned and better men than we are.' .... ...On another occasion the apostle entered a Jewish school and invited those who were present to Allah. They asked, 'What is your religion, Muhammad?' and he replied, 'The religion of Abraham .' They said, 'Abraham was a Jew.' Then the apostle told them, 'Bring the Torah and let that judge between me and you', but they refused.... ....Soon after his return the apostle assembled the Jews in the market place and addressed them: 'Make profession of Islam before Allah punishes you as He has punished the Quraysh!'.... ....Then the Jewish tribe asked that the apostle of Allah should not shed their blood, but permit them to carry away as much of their property as their camels could bear. He consented and they loaded as many of their possessions as they could on their camels, even demolishing their houses that they might take away the thresholds. Then they left, with their wives, children, and household goods, and accompanied by their drums, flutes and singers. The rest they left to the apostle of Allah..... ....The apostle of Allah besieged the Qurayza for twenty five days until they were distressed, and Allah struck fear into their hearts. When they had become convinced that the apostle would not depart until he had humbled them, Kab, their chief, spoke to them thus: I have three suggestions to make, of which you may select whichever you prefer. We can obey this man and believe in him.... In this case, your lives, property and children will be secure.' They replied, 'We shall never abandon the commandments of the Torah, nor substitute any others for them.' He went on, 'If you reject this, we can kill our children and women, and go out to Muhammad and his companions with drawn swords; then God will decide between us and Muhammad. If we perish, we shall perish without leaving orphans who might suffer evil, but if we are victorious, I swear we shall take their wives and their children!' They rejoined, 'Should we kill these poor creatures? What would life be to us without them?' He said, 'If you reject this, too, then consider. This is the Sabbath night, and it is possible that Muhammad thinks he is secure. Let us therefore make a sortie, and we may surprise him and his men.' But they answered, 'Shall we desecrate the Sabbath, and do on the Sabbath what none has done before...?' Then the Qurayza asked the apostle to send them Abu Lubaba - one of the Aus, to which tribe they had been allied - that they might consult with him. When he arrived the men rose, and the women and children crowded around him in tears, so that he was deeply touched. They said, 'Think you that we ought to leave the fort as Muhammad commands?' and although he said 'Yes', he drew his hand across his throat, to show that they would be slaughtered. ..... ...In the morning the Qurayza came down from their fort to surrender to the apostle of Allah, and the Aus begged that as the apostle had dealt leniently with allies of the Khazraj he would do the same for the allies of the Aus. The apostle said, 'Would you like one of your own people to decide their fate and they welcomed it. He continued, 'Then let Sad b. Muadh decide.' Sad had been struck by an arrow in the defence of the Ditch, so his people mounted him on a donkey with a leather pillow under him, for he was a stout and handsome man and brought him to the apostle. They told him, 'Deal kindly with thy allies, because the apostle of Allah has appointed thee for this ....And Sad pronounced the following sentence, 'I decree that the men be killed, the property be divided, and the women with their children be made captives.' The apostle of Allah said, 'Thou hast decided according to the will of Allah, above the seven firmaments.' The apostle of Allah imprisoned the Qurayza in Medina while trenches were dug in the market place. Then he sent for the men and had their heads struck off so that they fell in the trenches. They were brought out in groups, and among them was Kab, the chief of the tribe. In number, they amounted to six or seven hundred, although some state it to have been eight or nine hundred. All were executed. One man turned to his people and said, 'It matters not! By God's will, the children of Israel were destined for this massacre! Then he seated himself and his head was struck off. Aisha, the wife of the apostle, said, 'Only one of their women was killed. By Allah! She was with me, talking and laughing, while the apostle slaughtered her countrymen in the marketplace; and when her name was called, I asked, "What is this for?" and she replied, "I am going to be slain!" I asked why and she answered, "For something I have done!" Then she was taken away, and her head was struck off. But I shall never cease to marvel at her good humour and laughter, although she knew that she was to die." She was the woman who threw a millstone down from the Qurayza fort and killed a Believer. Now the apostle distributed the property of the Banu Qurayza, as well as their women and children, to the Muslims, reserving one fifth for himself. ...The apostle of Allah selected one of the Jewish women, Rayhana, for himself, and she remained with him as his slave until she died. He had suggested marriage to her, that she should wear the veil (to separate her from all other persons, as his wives did), but she replied, 'Rather allow me to remain thy slave; it will be more easy for me, and for thee.' At the time of her capture she was an enemy of Islam, and desired to remain a Jewess.... ....The apostle occupied the Jewish forts one after the other, taking prisoners as he went. Among these were Safiya, the wife of Kinana, the Khaybar chief, and two female cousins; the apostle chose Safiya for himself. The other prisoners were distributed among the Muslims. Bilal brought Safiya to the apostle, and they passed the bodies of several Jews on the way. Safiya's female companions ...Kinana, the husband of Safiya, had been guardian of the tribe's treasures, and he was brought before the apostle, who asked where they were hidden. But Kinana refused to disclose the place. ...Some of the treasure was found. After that Kinana was asked again about the remainder, but he still refused to tell. The apostle of Allah handed him over to al-Zubayr, saying, 'Torture him until he tells what he knows', and al-Zubayr kindled a fire on his chest so that he almost expired; then the apostle gave him to Muhammad b. Maslama, who struck off his head. ....After the apostle of Allah had conquered the Khaybar forts and possessions, he arrived near the forts of al Watih and al-Sulalim, which were the last strongholds. These he besieged. ...After about ten days, the people realized the hopelessness of attempting to hold out; so they asked for peace and that their lives be spared. The apostle agreed, because he had already subdued all the other territory. When the people of Fadak, a Jewish town nearby, heard what was taking place they sent emissaries to the apostle to ask him to spare them and they would abandon to him all their property. He agreed. ...but added, 'If we should find it convenient to expel you, we shall do so.' ----------------- From a history of Jews under Islamic rule Joseph HaNagid, the Jewish vizier of Granada, Spain, was crucified on December 30, 1066 by an Arab mob, who then proceeded to raze the Jewish quarter of the city and slaughter its 5,000 inhabitants. In the 8th century, whole Moroccan Jewish communities were wiped out by Muslim ruler Idris I. In 1465, Arab Throughout North Africa in the 12th century, the Almohads either forcibly converted or decimated several Jewish communities. In Libya in 1785 Ali Burzi Pasha murdered hundreds of Jews; In Algiers, Jews were massacred in 1805, 1815 and 1830. Decrees were issued and ordering the destruction of synagogues in Egypt and Syria (1014, 1293-4, 1301-2), Iraq (854-859, 1344) and Yemen (1676). Jews were forced to convert to Islam or face death in Yemen (1165 and 1678), Morocco (1275, 1465, 1790-92) and Baghdad (1333, 1344). ------------- Compiled by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz ---------------------- |
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Av 1, 5769, 7/22/2009
Nadia Matar Comments on Response to Police Violenceby Baruch GordonA Tale of Two Border Patrol Policemen and Seven Settlers The Israel National News web site has a film in which we see two Border Patrol policemen attacking a Jewish demonstrator from the lovers of Eretz Israel camp and sadistically abusing him. According to most of the responses to the report, the public was shocked by the Border Patrol violence. I, however, am no longer surprised by any police violence. I was shocked by something that, in my humble opinion, is more serious: by the inaction and lack of response by the seven Jews, settlers, who stood by, still to what was happening, and did not step in. I must point out that they did, politely, express their protest: "Hey, stop abusing him," "What's going on here," "Enough," but they did not physically intervene. Tags: Outposts |
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Tammuz 21, 5769, 7/13/2009
An Alternative Plan to the Two-State Solutionby Baruch GordonHere is an important update from the Israeli Initiative headed by forme Knesset Member Rabbi Benny Elon: 100 Days of the Netanyahu Government The speech was received positively around in the world, except in the Arab world. This is no coincidence. The Israel Initiative has continually stated that Palestinian nationality is sustained through perpetuating the conflict while continuing to de-legitimize Israel. Generous concessions made by Ehud Barak in May 2000 were rejected by Arafat, who was unwilling to agree that the following resolution would signify an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Abu Mazen and co. will never recognize Israel as a Jewish state because it contrasts the narrative of Palestinian nationality, which has been instilled for years among Palestinians in refugee camps and around the world. This week, in a meeting with officials close to the Prime Minister, we were happy to discover that behind Netanyahu’s speech is an outlook that is similar to that of The Israel Initiative, or at least critical parts of it. We spoke about the importance of relating to the refugee issue on a humanitarian level as opposed to a political one. We have basis to believe that in the future we will see Israel actively seeking to rehabilitate refugees and abandoning the never ending cycle that led to the establishment of UNRWA. Yet this time the efforts will not be despite the Israeli government, as has been in the past, rather with their support. The Palestinian State Illusion In an article published on a blog for the Jerusalem Center for Public Policy, Yonatan D. Halevi explains that there is no difference between Fatah, who rule in Judea and Samaria, and Hamas, who rule in Gaza. In the international community, Hamas is seen as a terrorist organization, while Fatah is an enlightened organization interested in making peace, giving hope for a peaceful Middle East. However, there is no difference between the two organizations, whether they wear a kafiye or are clean shaven. Why do we Emphasize Rehabilitation? Once the rehabilitation of the refugees is initiated, even if only among a minority, the Palestinian problem will decrease in its enormity and the catalyst behind the right of return will become severely weakened. It is noteworthy to mention, in one of the Knesset committee’s, a high ranking member of the Left explained that it is forbidden for Israel to settle the refugee problem, since that would pull the rug out from under Abu Mazen, who needs the refugee crisis as a basis for demanding a Palestinian state. Two weeks ago, the Palestinian Statistics Bureau publicized that the number of refugees reached 4.7 million. The bureau’s numbers are not very reliable, as they and UNRWA have been known to exaggerate in their statistics. However, the numbers are unimportant. Rather the refugee problem exists and continues to be a driving force for the establishment of a Palestinian State. According to these statistics, refugees account for 44% of the total Palestinian population in Judea, Samaria and Gaza: 30.2% in Judea and Samaria and 69.2% in Gaza. At a conference held in Jerusalem, National Infrastructure Minister, Uzi Landau, responded to the Prime Minister’s assertion that he had obtained a broad consensus on the right solution to the current conflict. He asserted that a Palestinian state will not solve the current conflict and “hiding behind the title ‘Palestinian State’ is an Iranian regime.” Palestinian Refugees - to the USA Thoughts of 17th of Tamuz Tags: Defense/Middle East |
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Tammuz 6, 5769, 6/28/2009
My Meeting with Michael Jackson: Michael Who?by Tzvi Ben GedalyahuYes, I had the undistinguished privilege of meeting Michael Jackson. We actually talked to each other, and I must say I was as unimpressed then as I have been ever since. We met when I was writing for a Montreal weekly newspaper back in the 1970s. To put things in perspective, one of my “beats” was entertainment, which I generally loathed. In my position, I was given free prized tickets to a Rolling Stone concert, which I thought was one of the grossest displays of depravity since Sodom and Gomorrah. Another factor in my attitude is that I am a pre-baby boomer who grew up when the bottom half of Elvis Presley was banned from Ed Sullivan’s Sunday night television show. I thought the Beatles, whom he introduced to the American public, were a freak show, and I still do. Music at that time consisted of people who could hold a tune, and lyrics expressed something more idyllic than reality. The age of rock and roll broke those concepts and prepared the stage for the likes of Michael Jackson and Madonna. I used to frequent a Montreal pub where the media hung out. One evening, a television producer came over to me and pointed out someone to me. "Do you know who that is?" he asked. I did not recognize the dark-skinned teenager for being more than a dark-skinned teenager. “Uh, no” I replied. “He writes for which paper?" The producer, whose name I do not recall, said he is Michael Jackson. I had heard of the name and was told that I could be offered an introduction, but only on the premise that I did not reveal that I am a journalist. “He wants some peace and quiet. He does not want anyone to know he is here in town, and he certainly does not want to meet a reporter,” the producer friend confided. I had no intentions of writing about him because I really could not have cared less and was more interested in quietly enjoying my orange juice and ginger ale, which was the hardest drink I consumed even though it was against the rules of being a bona fide journalist. It was enough that I had to review some of the so-called music of the time, and I was not interested in having contact with the so-called entertainers of the time, who could have been circus performers, from my point of view. After securing a second promise that I would not reveal my profession, I was brought over to the bar to meet the dude. “Here is someone I want you to meet,” my friend told me. Jackson held out his hand, and I had no choice but to extend mine and perform the ceremonial friendly handshake. After a few seconds of a clumsy silence, during which time I assume he was taken aback by someone not saying, “Wow, I am so honored to meet you. Can I have your autograph,” the producer friend intervened and told him, “Go on. Tell him who you are.” After a couple of feigned and bashful “Aw, shucks” twists and turns, he said, “I am Michael Jackson.” I replied, “And I am Henry Lee,” which was my name at the time. Jackson almost fainted. Although I was being perfectly honest and direct, without any ulterior motives, my reply floored him. I think it was the biggest putdown he had ever had in his life, to meet someone who did not fawn all over him. He had a rare chance to come out of a movie and live in the semi-real world for a few seconds and say, "Hey, here is a human being who relates to me as a human being.” Instead, he crawled back into a dark corner of the pub to recover from being contaminated by a bit of air. His career made him the bizarre image of his image, which probably was all that he really lived for the past few years. Now the person himself, whatever was left of him, is dead. Michael who? Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu writes for IsraelNationalNews.com |
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Sivan 25, 5769, 6/17/2009
An Interesting Questionnaire for Palestinian Advocatesby Yehudah Lev KayThe following is circulating by email: An interesting questionnaire for Palestinian Advocates 1. When was it founded and by whom? 2. What were its borders? 3. What was its capital? 4. What were its major cities? 5. What constituted the basis of its economy? 6. What was its form of government? 7. Can you name at least one Palestinian leader before Arafat? 8. Was Palestine ever recognized by a country whose existence, at that time or now, leaves no room for interpretation? 9. What was the language of the country of Palestine ? 10. What was the prevalent religion of the country of Palestine ? 11. What was the name of its currency? Choose any date in history and tell what was the approximate exchange rate of the Palestinian monetary unit against the US dollar, German mark, GB pound, Japanese yen, or Chinese yuan on that date. 12. And, finally, since there is no such country today, what caused its demise and when did it occur? You are lamenting the "low sinking" of a "once proud" nation. Please tell me, when exactly was that "nation" proud and what was it so proud of? And here is the least sarcastic question of all: If the people you mistakenly call "Palestinians" are anything but generic Arabs collected from all over -- or thrown out of -- the Arab world, if they really have a genuine ethnic identity that gives them right for self-determination, why did they never try to become independent until Arabs suffered their devastating defeat in the Six Day War? The truth should be obvious to everyone who wants to know it. Arab countries have never abandoned the dream of destroying Israel; they still cherish it today. Having time and again failed to achieve their evil goal with military means, they decided to fight Israel by proxy. For that purpose, they created a terrorist organization, cynically called it "the Palestinian people,” and installed it in Gaza, Judea, and Samaria. How else can you explain the refusal by Jordan and Egypt to unconditionally accept back the "West Bank" and Gaza, respectively? The fact is, Arabs populating Gaza, Judea, and Samaria have much less claim to nationhood than that Indian tribe that successfully emerged in Connecticut with the purpose of starting a tax-exempt casino: at least that tribe had a constructive goal that motivated them. The so-called "Palestinians" have only one motivation: the destruction of Israel and in my book that is not sufficient to consider them a nation" -- or anything else except what they really are: a terrorist organization that will one day be dismantled. In fact, there is only one way to achieve peace in the Middle East. Arab countries must acknowledge and accept their defeat in their war against Israel and, as the losing side should, pay Israel reparations for the more than 50 years of devastation they have visited on it. The most appropriate form of such reparations would be the removal of their terrorist organization from the land of Israel and accepting Israel’s ancient sovereignty over Gaza, Judea, and Samaria. That will mark the end of the Palestinian people. What are you saying again was its beginning? |