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      The Eye of the Storm
      by Batya Medad
      A Unique Perspective by Batya Medad of Shiloh
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      Batya Medad made aliya from New York to Israel in 1970 and has been living in Shiloh since 1981. Recently she began organizing women's visits to Tel Shiloh for Psalms and prayers. (For more information, please email her.)  Batya is a newspaper and magazine columnist, a veteran jblogger and recently stopped EFL teaching.  She's also a wife, mother, grandmother, photographer and HolyLand hitchhiker, always seeing things from her own very unique perspective. For more of Batya's writings and photos, check out:

      Shiloh Musings

      And:

      me-ander


      Kislev 30, 5771, 12/7/2010

      Stop The Avalanche!


      Chodesh Tov and Chag Urim Sameach

      Have a Good Month and An Enlightened Holiday

      I write more frequently and on a wider variety of topics on Shiloh Musings and me-ander.  You're very welcome to visit.

      Stop The Avalanche of Pseudostine aka Palestine sic State Recognition

      U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama gave it a year, a target, 2011, which starts in a couple of weeks.  Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu approved the concept.  So, now we'll be hearing of more and more countries, international bodies, media and leaders recognizing the Arab terror state that plans on supplanting Israel, G-d forbid.
      "Argentina and Uruguay said Monday they were joining Brazil in recognizing an independent Palestinian state..."

      There's no way we can live together.  It's one or the other.

      On June 14, 2009, Binyamin Netanyahu accepted an eventual Palestinian state which must “clearly and unambiguously recognise Israel as the state of the Jewish people”, meaning that Palestinian refugees must be settled outside of Israel’s borders, since resettlement within Israel would undermine its existence as Jewish. The Palestinian state must be “demilitarised, namely, without an army, without control of its airspace, and with effective security measures to prevent weapons smuggling into the territory”. The state would not be allowed to forge military pacts with other countries. Other “positions” included Israel's need for “defensible borders” and Jerusalem would remain as the united capital of Israel.[19]

      Bibi's plan is that he (Israel) can control the new Arab country, which is what his predecessor, Menachem Begin insisted when he came up with the idea of Palestinian autonomy.

      Some day in the future, historians will all agree that these ideas were among the most unrealistic,  inaccurate and dangerous ever conceived, seriously weakening the security and viability of the State of Israel.

       "It's not over 'till it's over."  I'm not going to predict the end of the State of Israel, because I'm hoping and praying that our political leaders will wake up and see that G-d is our true source of strength and power.  And then, with G-d's help, we'll be able to turn back the tide and experience true peace.

      הוא עושה שלום במרומיו, הוא יעשה שלום עלינו
      Hu oseh shalom bimromav,
      Hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu
      "He who makes peace in His heights
      May He make peace upon us and upon all Israel"






      Kislev 27, 5771, 12/4/2010

      'What is this that God hath done unto us?'


      Women, you're invited to join us for Rosh Chodesh Prayers at Tel Shiloh this coming Tuesday.

      During the Chanukah Holiday we will also celebrate ראש חודש טבת Rosh Chodesh Tevet. We'll be celebrating together at Tel Shiloh, on Tuesday, 30 Kislev, December 7, at 9:30 am. נחגוג ביחד בתל שילה, תפילת נשים יום ג', 7-12, ל' כסלו 9:30 Women's Prayers, הלל Hallel and מוסף Musaf and then a short דבר תורה Dvar Torah

      Please tell your friends, family and neighbors that they are welcome, too. נא להזמין חבירות, משפחה ושכינות. כולן מוזמנות!

      Tel Shiloh is open for visitors every day. For more information, including the possiblity of arranging tours and special events such as Bar/Bat Mitzvah parties, contact telshilo@gmail.com  or call 02-994-4019.

      I blog much more frequently on Shiloh Musings and me-ander; please visit them.  I've been blogging a lot about the fire in the north of Israel.  I can't include all of the articles here on Arutz 7.  Read The Hand of G-d and Hot as Hell.

       

      Here's tonight's article:

       'What is this that God hath done unto us?' Genesis Chapter 42:28 בְּרֵאשִׁית

      Parshat Shavua, Torah Portion of the Week, Miqeitz Genesis 41:1-44-17 Today in synagogue, during the Torah Reading my eyes hit on a line: Genesis Chapter 42:28 בְּרֵאשִׁית
      וַיֵּצֵא לִבָּם, וַיֶּחֶרְדוּ אִישׁ אֶל-אָחִיו לֵאמֹר, מַה-זֹּאת עָשָׂה אֱלֹהִים, לָנוּ. And their heart failed them, and they turned trembling one to another, saying: 'What is this that God hath done unto us?'
      I'm waiting to hear this admission of G-d's power from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.  Bibi, Who is in control?
      “We lost all control of the fire,” said the Haifa firefighting services spokesman on Thursday. “There aren’t enough firefighting resources in Israel in order to put out the fire,” he said. (complete article)

      It is all so clear to me that this fire is part of G-d's punishment because of how we, as a nation, country, people are sinning. The present drought has been going on for seven years, from the time Ariel Sharon's Likud government announced the Disengagement  plan which destroyed Jewish communities, made innocent Israeli citizens homeless and  gave Gush Katif to the Gazan Arab Hamas terrorists.  The past five years, since Disengagement, Israel has suffered terrorism, wars and rocket attacks on cities in the north and south.  Life isn't better.

       Instead of learning from this horrible mistake, the Netanyahu government (also Likud) is planning to give the Arabs more of our precious and holy Land to the Arabs.  It's not his to give away.  It's G-d's.  G-d gave it to us for us to live in, farm and treasure.  G-d has allowed the fire to burn up the Carmel region to show His power.

       It is time for the Israeli government to recognize G-d and G-d's commandments.  We must fear and respect G-d, not the Americans, U.N., Europe etc.  Caroline Glick's article about WikiLeaks proves  American weakness.  There's no need to be afraid of Obama.  We just have to say "no" and mean it.  He'll find someone else to bully.  David Horowitz's Bennie Begin interview is also worth reading.  Begin is not a politician and doesn't understand how to promote his policies.  Horowitz reveals that Begin doesn't have a staff, considers it unnecessary.  Begin is wrong.  This interview is a rare opportunity to get a dose of realism. 

      We have to pray that our government leaders get the message G-d is sending before more of our Land is destroyed.

      Chag Urim Sameach
      Have an Enlightened Holiday






      Kislev 25, 5771, 12/2/2010

      Reflecting on The First Night of Chanukah


      Chanukah Sameach, May You Have an Enlightened Holiday!

      Women, you're invited to join us for Rosh Chodesh Prayers at Tel Shiloh this coming Tuesday:

      During the Chanukah Holiday we will also celebrate ראש חודש טבת Rosh Chodesh Tevet. We'll be celebrating together at Tel Shiloh, on Tuesday, 30 Kislev, December 7, at 9:30 am. נחגוג ביחד בתל שילה, תפילת נשים יום ג', 7-12, ל' כסלו 9:30 Women's Prayers, הלל Hallel and מוסף Musaf and then a short דבר תורה Dvar Torah

      Please tell your friends, family and neighbors that they are welcome, too. נא להזמין חבירות, משפחה ושכינות. כולן מוזמנות! Tel Shiloh is open for visitors every day. For more information, including the possiblity of arranging tours and special events such as Bar/Bat Mitzvah parties, contact telshilo@gmail.com or call 02-994-4019.

      I blog much more frequently on Shiloh Musings and me-ander.  You're certainly invited to check them out.

      Reflecting on The First Night of Chanukah

       
      By the time I got home the sky was dark, and the first Chanukah light was lit at the neighbors.  I quickly got things ready at home. This afternoon I was unexpectedly at the Kotel f2f with Chaviva and Evan.  The Kotel area was pretty empty.  Mid afternoon is frequently like that.  I don't go there all that often.  I feel more kedusha at Tel Shiloh just wandering around.  The Kotel just just an outer wall of the Temple Compound.  Even when I made more of an effort to doven there, I could never relate to leaving notes.
      I understand that makes me a rather minority, but I honestly find it incomprehensible.  Part of it may be that I wasn't raised in a spiritual home.  My parents have always been proudly Jewish in a national sense, but we didn't have many Jewish traditions in the house.
      So I look at these pieces of paper falling out of cracks, being inserted in cracks etc and I wonder what it's all about.
      I've heard that there are workers who sweep them up and put them in special storage.
      Davka, it seems especially strange  that I was at the Kotel just hours before Chanuka began.  Some of the historic Chanukah battles were in the Shiloh area.  When I was the girls gym teacher in the local elementary school I was once asked to accompany the Second Grade on a school trip.  I had no idea where I was going when I agreed.  We went to a nearby mountain between Shiloh, Eli and Maale Levona.  The boys and girls were divided.  The boys stayed towards the bottom and the girls were brought to the top. They were given fake swords and were told to meet in the middle for battle.  I'm not good at walking down mountains.  I took the help offered by the escorting soldiers or I'd probably still be there to this day.  I'm not a climber.
       
      Chanukah has many aspects, like Judaism.  Judaism isn't just a religion.  It's a people, a culture, a Land and a religon.  As I said, the Maccabees fought real physical battles for the Land.  The Greek King Antiochus not only sent soldiers, but he made laws forbidding Jewish life, customs and religion.
       
      When the Temple Mount was returned to Jewish hands in ancient times, the Priests searched for pure oil to resume worship.  Miraculously, some was found and lit, even though it didn't seem to be a  sufficient quantity to last until more could be produced.  That's right, the Priests weren't practical, weren't logical.  That's a miracle, too.  They first thought of resuming prayers in what remained of the Temple, the Beit HaMikdash. They didn't make do with an outer wall, nor did they allow another religion to have power over our holiest site.  Like Nachson who stepped into the sea and caused G-d to open it for the entire People, our Chanukah heroes just lit the oil and trusted that G-d would make it all work out.  And that's what happened.
       
      The Kotel is just a wall.  We need to resume worship on Har HaBayit and make our own miracle happen.  G-d won't just plunk down a third Temple.  We must go and build it.  We owe it to our children and their children forever and ever.
       
       
      Chag Urim Sameach!
      May You Have a Joyful Holiday of Light!






      Kislev 19, 5771, 11/26/2010

      Myth Busters: The Western Wall and American Aid


      In another few hours it's Shabbat, next week will be Chanukah and before Chanukah ends it'll be Rosh Chodesh Tevet.  Here in Israel we're feeling G-d's wrath as hot winds blow instead of blessed rain.  It's all written so clearly in the Bible.  If we keep G-d's commandments we will be blessed, but if we don't we'll be punished.

      On Rosh Chodesh Tevet, there will be Women's Prayers at Tel Shiloh ראש חודש טבת 30

       Kislev, December 7, at 9:30 am. נחגוג ביחד בתל שילה, תפילת נשים יום ג', 7-12, ל' כסלו 9:30 Women's Prayers, הלל Hallel and מוסף Musaf and then a short דבר תורה Dvar Torah

      I blog much more frequently on Shiloh Musings and me-ander.  Please visit there.

      Myth Busters: The Western Wall and American Aid

      In honor of the upcoming Chanukah holiday, the Jewish Holiday which celebrates religious freedom, Jewish national independence, how the apparent weak can defeat the rich and "strong" and how a small vial of pure olive oil can save the day I'm going to attack a couple of powerful myths.

      Myth #1- the Western Wall HaKotel HaMa'aravi, הכותל המערבי

      The Kotel is not the holiest site for Jews!

      The ancient wall which is known as "the kotel" is a later-built outer wall to the area in which you can find our holiest spot on the Temple Mount, Har HaBayit הר הבית.  The kotel has no religious or historic significance for any other religion except as part of the ongoing attempts at identity theft by Muslims and Christians.

       

      It would be like standing in the street outside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and looking for the windows to the Obama family bedrooms.

       Israel's religious and political leadership have sold us very short by worshipping the Kotel.  To say that The Temple Mount is "too holy" for Jews but the let the Muslims run free, play games and destroy our holy artifacts is a chillul Hashem, insult to G-d.

       

      Myth #2 American Aid

       American Aid is bad for the Israeli economy!

      That's right.  In actuality, the aid is only good for the American economy.  That's because the Americans don't give a blank check, greenbacks, real money for Israel to buy weapons wherever it deems best. 

       The United States gives "shopping coupons," which is their way of subsidizing certain American industries.  Foreign countries then patronize American industry at the expense of their own.

       For Israel, it's triply bad.  Not only has it severly affected our own military industrial development, but when our engineers/experts improve the American products, we don't profit and if we use any of the American components to produce military products for export, we can't sell them without American permission.

      What the State of Israel needs are true allies, friendly countries which condemn our enemies when they attack us and stop encouraging us to self-mutilate. 

      Our greatest danger is participating in those "talks" which the Arabs and Americans see as the tool for establishing a Pseudostinian aka palestinian sic state.  If American is considered Israel's friend, it's an example of:

      "With friends like these, we don't need enemies."






      Kislev 16, 5771, 11/23/2010

      What Does The U.S. Have Over Bibi?


      I was at Sunday's anti-freeze demonstration near the Prime Minister's Office.  I heard from someone who works there that they were very aware of our demonstration.  I posted about it with pictures and videos, including of an unpublicized in the media protest here. There's a poll on me-ander for Jewish women who cover their hair for religious reasons.  You may enjoy reading my other blogs, Shiloh Musings and me-ander which get updated more frequently.

      What Does The U.S. Have Over Bibi?

      Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's brutal and illogical anti-Jewish, pro-Arab building freeze to facilitate the establishment of a Pseudostinian aka Palestinian sic State in the heart of the State and Land of Israel is obviously a danger to the continued viability of the State of Israel.  Netanyahu, who for years was a spokesman against such a state and such policies.  There must be something that the American Government, its Intelligence people, have over Bibi which has forced him to change his tune.  Honestly, I don't need to know what it is.  I'd just like him to do the right thing and resign.  He fears them more than he fears G-d and his future name in history books.

      In another one of those amazing G-d planned coincidences, I had spent the morning in Jerusalem at the anti-freeze of Jewish building in Judea and Samaria and then I returned to Jerusalem for a Bible learning evening of the Matan Al haPerek program. 

      The subject of last night's class was "The Blessings and Curses."  Basically, you can call it G-d's "Rewards and Punishments" for how we observe the  מצות  Mitzvot, G-d given Commandments and how we treasure the Land G-d gave us. 

      During the demonstration, as I felt myself baking in the dangerously unseasonably dry, hot and sunny weather, it was so clear to me that we are suffering stage one of the curses for our abuse of the Land that G-d gave us.

      For those of us who were old enough to understand and appreciate the miracle of Biblical proportions of the 1967 Six Days War, it's clear that by saving the State of Israel, G-d expected us to (demanded that we) immediately and enthusiastically settle the Land liberated in the war.  The Moshiach was waiting in the wings but fled when He saw that the key to the Temple Mount was given to the Moslems and the government was looking at the Land as a way of buying peace from the Arabs. 

      We had peace.  G-d had given it to us with YESHA, the Golan and the Jordan Valley.

      Next on my blogging schedule is a picture filled post from yesterday's anti-freeze demonstration in Jerusalem.