Not all that long ago, I blasted the OU for its promotion of galus, diaspora communities instead of promoting aliyah. I also ranted, because they prefer giving the Gush Katif DP's charity, instead of trying to prevent Disengagement.

Don't think that the Young Israel Movement is immune to my criticism.

Young Israel Movement Launches Shavuot Food Campaign for Gush Katif Evacuees ISRAELI POLITICAL AND RABBINIC LEADERS PLEDGE TO SUPPORT A UNITED JERUSALEM

Isn't prevention the best medicine? What's the point of promoting a "united Jerusalem" without opposing the destruction of Jewish Life, Jewish communities and sovereignty in the rest of the Land of Israel? Isolating Jerusalem and allowing a 22nd Arab State, one with a raison d'etre , clear aim/purpose/goal of destroying the State of Israel should be totally condemned.

The Young Israel was, also, silent before Disengagement, and now they enjoy giving food baskets to the innocent Jews banished/exiled/displaced from their homes.  Why don't they see the connection between their passivity before Disengagement and the security problems in southern Israel?

A "food basket" doesn't make up for it!

Yesterday I found myself waiting for a friend on that new road, which goes from Binyanei Ha'uma to the area of the Knesset and Israel Museum. As usual, I try to keep busy when waiting, so I took some pictures.

There's a great dynamic in Jerusalem. Things are always changing.

The area I was standing is a popular "pick-up/drop-off" for driving teachers. Nothing's boring in Jerusalem.

It doesn't matter what Israel, does, offers or says there is no chance that it will result in peace. That's because violence, tension, terror etc in the Middle-East and world are not caused by Israel.
The Arabs don't want "peace,"

• Israel is not the aggressor and is not at war.
• Israel rather nebichly, pathetically tries to defend itself and its civilians.
• All of the aggression comes from the Arabs, and that includes the 1967 Six Days War.

Israeli political leaders sedated and brainwashed the population into believing that the precariously dangerous 1949 cease-fire lines, which excluded our holiest sites in Jerusalem, including The Temple Mount and Kotel, the Western Wall, and Judea and Samaria where most of the Biblical narrative--our ancient history--took place, were perfectly sufficient for the Jewish State.

This brainwashing was so effective that even when G-d made a great miracle and the results of the war were that Israel had liberated Judea, Samaria, the Golan, the Jordan Valley, the Sinai and all of Jerusalem, many citizens expected to give it all to the Arabs.

Yes, even now, forty-two years after the war, Israeli "thinkers" are still thinking of ways to give our historic Land to our enemy in exchange for "peace." There's a big problem here.

The Arabs don't want "peace," not even among themselves. Their culture and mentality are different. That's a fact.

Israeli politicians are still dangerously spinning all sorts of schemes and plans, egged on by the Americans and Europeans. None of this will work.

Only one thing will be good for Israel and that's to say "No" to all the plans and just get busy building our country and destroying those who want us destroyed before they succeed.

I'd like to remind you that I post here infrequently, but I usually post on Shiloh Musings and me-ander daily. So you can read more there.


Last night my husband and I attended the Second Annual Jerusalem Day Moskowitz Zionism Awards.  That meant that I had the great pleasure to be in Jerusalem on Jerusalem Day. Unlike what I saw on the official government TV station, the celebrants in the Jerusalem streets were young, young and religious.

The general Israeli public is so far removed from our history and heritage.  In terms of demographics, these are the kids who will be the majority very soon.

The Moskowitz Zionism ceremony was at Ir David, David's City.  It's an amazing place, and I must go there "as a tourist."

One of the Prize Winners was Ronit Shuker.  She and her first husband, the late Yossi Shuker, were the main leaders in establishing  Shvut Rachel, Givat Achiya and Meshek Achiya Olive Oil.  I don't know the other prize winners, but I must say that Ronit is even greater than all the praises heaped on her by the Moskowitz Prize committee.  I pray that she and her family enjoy good health and many blessings.  The audience was full of her neighbors from Shvut Rachel and Givat Achiya.  It was very thrilling.  I've known her since she married Yossi.  They were my older children's youth leaders.  After my daughter's engagement, one of the first things she did was to bring her chattan (fiance`) to Yossi, who was then hospitalized.

On our way home, we went with friends to their son's apartment in one of the Jewish buildings near Har HaZaitim, The Mount of Olives.  The view of Jerusalem was surrealistic.Yes, a very thrilling and wonderful way to celebrate Jerusalem Day!

As many know, King Saul is far from being my favorite Biblical figure.  I consider him horrendously over-rated.  Yesterday it seemed like he was following me around.

Today, two of the four lectures I heard in Matan were about the Biblical King Saul, the first king of the Jewish Nation. But before I write more of my thoughts about him, there was news about a "Shaul/Saul" from the archaeologists working in Jerusalem's Ir David.

A Bone Seal Engraved with the Name Shaul, from the Time of the First Temple, was Found in the IAA Excavations in the Walls Around Jerusalem National Park, in the City of David. (complete article)

King Saul wasn't the only person with that name, so we can't say that the artifact was his.

Back to our first king...To fully understand who King Saul was and why he failed, it's best to read the Bible.  Read it as a narrative, without the commentaries.  Start here in Samuel, and read it until Saul's death.

Shmuel Hanavi, Samuel the Prophet, was the leader of the Jewish People, but the people wanted a change.  They wanted a king, like the other nations.  They didn't ask for a king to observe the Mitzvah, the commandant of establishing a kingship, so Samuel objected.  But G-d told him to listen to the people.

And then G-d "arranged things" so that Saul would meet Samuel and Samuel could anoint him king.  From the text, it seems that Samuel was in charge, relaying to Saul the word of G-d.  Whenever Saul took the initiative, he fouled up.

When things got very bad, G-d told Samuel to find another king.  Samuel was told to get one of Yishai's sons, and that was David our second king.

This time Samuel let go and allowed David the chance to handle things on his own, and that included dealing with the then paranoid King Saul who was out to kill him.

David didn't have the impressive looks of Saul, but he had natural charisma and leadership.

We need a leader like King David.  We need a leader who isn't constantly asking for advice and approval.

Obama vs Bibi, Judge For Yourself

Are today's world leaders more Saul than David?  What about Bibi Netanyahu and Barack Obama?

Hat tip, Arlene
The transcript is here.