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AddReply(369324,"Aliya is the answer","Yoel Lerner","Yerushalayim","12/08/08","What utter nonsense! The Jews of Israel are not corrupt, and the fate of this batch of corrupt leaders provides the proof. Yonatan Stern apparently wants to play the role of the captain, being the last to leave the sinking ship. For it is clear that the Master of the Universe is liquidating the exile - either by bloodbath as in Nazi Europe, or by spiritual blackout as in Soviet Russia, or by intermarriage as in America - but the end of the Diaspora is coming. The future of the Jewish nation is at home, where everyone is free to contribute to the eventual form of the people reassembling. Yonatan, come home!");
AddReply(365605,"separate the Israeli govt from life here","Yossi Shomron","NItzan","11/27/08","Kol Hakavod on an honest indictment of US Jewish organizations - Rav Kahane hy\'d said it best in the book \"Why Be Jewish\".  To those talkbacks denigrating the state of Israel and using this as an excuse to avoid comming home - you\'re fools.  Of course the govt. here is rotten - so what?.  Only in Israel could I afford to Jewishly educate my 7 children in Yeshivas, girls\' dormatory HS, religious day schools.  Only in Israel could my son serve in an army with kosher food, base rabbi (real rabbi), minyanim, shabbat meals, kiddush, and rest. Only here could I and my boys walk around publically with kipot and Tzitzit with out fear of harrassment or worse.  Only here can I work without worrying what the boss will say when I take off some 12 days a year for chagim - and get paid for them!  Only here can I do the mitzvot of trumot and maaserot, shmita, yishuv haaretz etc etc.");
AddReply(365382,"Hillel Levin, Shiloh","sk","USA","11/26/08","\"The sad thing is that our brothers who do not identify themselves as B\'nai Yisroel have lost their path and it might take another wave of mass destruction for a few of them to do T\'shuva.\"\n\nYes, your upcoming mass destruction will be tragic.  But it is predictable, as you are depending on miracles.\n\n\"This loss of identity is not limited to our non-observant brethren. Too many of our brethren have chosen to vote for the fleshpots of the current era Mitzryaim and seem to lack FAITH in HKBH.\"\n\nYou mean the fleshpots of your suburbs (e.g. Shiloh)? What of the fleshpots that feed your Haredim when they do not work?  What of those who feed your rabbis who do not work \"by the sweat of their brow\"?  What of your manifest inability even to stand up for decent government?\n\nHashem is right in keeping half of world Jewry in the US.  The other half will shortly be finished.");
AddReply(365279,"TORAH IS THE BEST ANSWER","Boruch","Jerusalem","11/26/08","THE REASON WHY MR.BRONFMAN COULD ACTUALLY SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS BECAUSE HE DOESN\'T KNOW THAT THE TORAH IS THE ONLY THING THAT KEPT THE JEWS THROUHOUT THE AGES TOGETHER BUT SADLY HIS OUTLOOK IS THE OUTLOOK OF MOST JEWS TODAY.ON ERETZ YISRAEL THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE HERE THAT DON\'T KONOW TO LOOK AT THE TORAH AT ALL AND THEY DON\'T GET THE POINT EITHER THAT INTERMARRIAGE IS ONE OF THE MOST LETHAL ENEMIES OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE. SO  FIRST WE HAVE TO HAVE TORAH AND LIVE IN ERETZ YISRAEL THE RIGHT WAY. ");
AddReply(365139,"Dave Levi on what do you base your opinions?","rationalist","Israel","11/25/08","Mr. Levi you\'re not basing your opinions or your suggestions on the Torah, and sometimes not on anything logical either, so in the end, sooner or later, they will have no value at all.");
AddReply(365136,"versions of Judaism - part 2 of 2","Leah","Maaleh Adumim","11/25/08","observance is like \"steps on a ladder\", some of us observe more and some less, and the main thing is that a good Jew recognizes the importance of the (G-d-given) Torah and halacha and does his/her best to fulfill it.\n\nthere are many goyim who \"love G-d, have a basic understanding of the Torah, give charity and observe the sabbath\" (all in their own way and by their own definitions of course). does this make them Jewish?\n\nthe problem of Judaism today, the exact point of the article, is that many irreligious people generalize about what Judaism requires, then they make their own rules instead of fulfilling G-d\'s rules, and then they wonder why their kids intermarry.");
AddReply(365135,"versions of Judaism (part 1 of 2)","Leah","Maaleh Adumim","11/25/08","to #15 - the question is, what kind of rabbi, and is this a full quote? Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform are all Jews, but does the policy of the Conservative or Reform movements represent Judaism?\n\nit is not a question of degree of observance. when the rabbi said \"a basic understanding of the Torah\" does he consider the Torah to be G-d-given or man-made? if it is just man-made laws, then why observe any of it?\n\nand when he said \"observes the sabbath\", did he mean observing as described in the Torah (written and oral = halacha), or did he mean writing one\'s own rules? for example, many Reform Jews drive to shul on Shabbat, thus violating several mitzvot written clearly in the Torah (lighting a fire and carrying) in order to be in shul which is optional.\n\nand what about other mitzvot like keeping kosher? the Torah describes that very specifically.  doesn\'t that count?");
AddReply(365098,"American or Jewish Part II","Hillel Levin","Shiloh","11/25/08","The sad thing is that our brothers who do not identify themselves as B\'nai Yisroel have lost their path and it might take another wave of mass destruction for a few of them to do T\'shuva. This loss of identity is not limited to our non-observant brethren. Too many of our brethren have chosen to vote for the fleshpots of the current era Mitzryaim and seem to lack FAITH in HKBH. \n\nHillel.leib@gmail.com\n\nThe sad thing is that our brothers who do not identify themselves as B\'nai ");
AddReply(365097,"American or Jewish Part I","Hillel Levin","Shiloh","11/25/08","The interesting challenge is a matter of perspective. Are we B\'nai Yisroel or are we: Israeli, American, British, French, So. African etc.\n\nIf we identify ourselves with the goyish culture that surrounds us, no matter where we live, then it makes perfect sense that we intermarry and don\'t see that as a problem. \n\nRabbi Ya\'akov Emden authored a prayer book about 600 years ago and said that one shouldn\'t build permanent structures outside of Eretz Yisroel. He said that building permanent structures leads to entrenching oneself in that foreign culture. Taken one step further, once entrenched, we forget that we are B\'nai Yisroel and start identifying ourselves as Israeli, American, British, French etc.\n\nRemember what the Jews living in Germany said in the late 1800s and early 1900s: Berlin is our Jerusalem. \n\nThe sad thing is that our brothers who do not identify themselves as B\'nai ");
AddReply(364876,"Establishment Judaism vs. Judaism","Daniel","Kyoto","11/25/08","I wouldn\'t be so sure that these establishment organizations represent Jews in America or anywhere else. They certainly represent a powerful subset... but as you well know, neither the JDL nor Lakewood Yeshiva were built by the Bronfmans of this world.\nYour programme is excellent, and you should not let this discourage you.");
AddReply(364843,"To Y. Stern (comment 6)","","","11/25/08","Every Jew has to understand that having returned to Eretz Yisroel after 2000 years is not just a happenstance; this was a miracle min hashamaim. This is all HaSHEM\'S plan.  How he makes it all come about is not always for us to understand.  Great sages have said that the last government in the Land of Israel before Moshiach, will be run by the Erev Rav.  That\'s why all the turmoil; but the average Jew living in Eretz Yisroel, whether orthodox, charedi or even secular (most are traditional) are on a higher ramah (level) than Jews living elsewhere. The mitzvah of living in Eretz Hakodesh is like fulfilling all 613 mitzvoth. It is a privilege to have the zchut (merit) of living in Israel. The corrupt ones are the ones running the show right now & their minority leftist followers - at most 10 - 15%. Don\'t think it\'s going to be honky dory in Galus; we are already part of the geulah. Wake up.");
AddReply(364793,"Assimilate, But Not to A Fault","dav lev","Burbank. CAUSA","11/24/08","A Catholic girl\'s school graduate once commented to me, that a co-worker (US Irish-Catholic) was dating a \"Jew\". She couldn\'t fathom why, considering his upbringing? I have heard gentiles decry Jews who try to assimilate, \"to become like everyone else\". This is the tip of the iceberg. Don\'t we get it? While the US has been kind (er) to we Jews than any other country, we are a despised people. \"Jews to Palestine\", is heard. \"Zionists\" back to Europe\" is heard in the M.E. We will wipe out Israel is heard from every Muslim country\'s clerics, from Malaysia to Iran. Orthodox vs secular..NRP vs Peace Now..US Jews vs Israeli Jews..we are aiding in our destruction. I believe in conversions, but with the gentile spouse converting, and pledges to raise the children as Jews..love of G-d, giving charity and observance of the Sabbath. We are special..we have one-G-d, not 3 in 1 (the G-dhead).Get it.");
AddReply(364789,"Without Money, No 75 F-35 Eagles","dav lev","Burbank. CAUSA","11/24/08","The real question we should all be asking ourselves is, what is a Jew? For the answer, read simply, \"What is a Jew\", a most informative book written years ago by a military (Jewish) chaplain. In the book, Jews are all represented by the major divisins: Orthodox, Reform, Conservative and Re-Constructionist. A Jew is someone who loves G-d, has a basic understanding of the Torah, gives charity and observes the sabbath. I agree totally. Of course, if you want the gentile\'s definition, scratch one, and you will find out and quickly. Jews in the USA are no more, and no less \"Jewish\" than in Israel. We need each other. Our fragmentation is literally completing Hitler\'s goal, a world Judenrein. Few Jews adhere to the 613 laws, fewer observe the sabbath and holidays. Inter-marriage is dooming us..with offspring devoid of any \"Jewishness\". Money, Israel could not survive w/o it. Let\'s be frank.");
AddReply(364787,"to yonatan stern","david","kiryas sefer","11/24/08","your post is an embarassment and a sign of complete ignorance of judaism.  Such a statement belongs in the reform movement; whose members ignore the rulings of the overwhelming majority of poskim throughout the ages who posited that it is a great mitzvah and obligation to live in eretz yisroel.  I suggest you find a good (orthodox) rabbi and do tshuva, as you suggest am yisroel should.");
AddReply(364772,"Mr. Stern the Land of Israel is not corrupt","rationalist","Israel","11/24/08","The Land of Israel is always holy. It is a mitzvah to live in the Land of Israel no matter how corrupt the government is and how many idol worshipers are living in Israel. Living in Israel is not the complete answer to all of our problems, but it is one of the mitzvot that is weighed against all others and no mitzvah can be fully fulfilled outside of the Land of Israel.");
AddReply(364766,"The disappearing Jew","SHUVA (Return)","JERUSALEM","11/24/08","BS\'D\n   \n    DAVID, \n     I BELIEVE   OUR LATE,   GREAT LEADER RABBI MEIR KAHANE\n OF BLESSED MEMORY,H\'Y\'D\n WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY PROUD \n OF THE TRUTHS YOU EXPRESS IN\n YOUR ERUDITE ARTICLE.\n  ALLOW ME TO MAKE TWO IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS:  !1.`EDGAR BRONFMAN AND ALL  OTHERS WHO THINK  THAT INTERMARRIAGE IS\'NOT A SERIOUS THREAT TO JEWISH\nSURVIVAL, SHOULD READ RABBI\nKAHANE\'S CLASSC BOOK\n\'WHY BE JEWISH\"?\n2. AMERICAN JEWS SHOULD TAKE\n VERY SERIOUSLY THE ESCALATING ANTI-SEMITISM \nTHROUGHOUT UNITED STATES AS \nCOUNTLESS neo-nazi and white\nsupremist groups spread their\nvenom on the internet...\nblaming Jews for the worsening economy as well as the war in Iraq!\n (SEE website:www.shuva.net)  \n NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL GOOD\n  JEWS TO COME HOME TO THEIR\n    OWN COUNTRY!!!\n\n");
AddReply(364687,"Well Put!","Matt F","Shiloh","11/24/08","This message should have been required reading for the GA participants.  ");
AddReply(364676,"Liquidate the diaspora before the diaspora liquidates you.\"","frank","chicago","11/24/08","So, nu,  what great Jewish leader in Europe said it?");
AddReply(364635,"Daniel, SK","Larry","TA","11/24/08","The remarkable ability of the human mind to rationalize personal decisions is a very resilient thing, \'impressive\' with acid around the edges. Daniel has all of TA as a hedonistic Hellenistic cesspool. Yet there are synagogues everywhere, many religious Jews, and many Jews without kipot who are, as David says, more Jewish than most religious American Jews. SK has all of Israel as utterly corrupt; to his \'credit\' he does not distinguish between secular and religious. It\'s a pox on all their houses and that\'s that. There is a lot of distress these days in Israel over direction and fate, it is true, but none is so righteous as he who has excused himself from the arena permanently. Of course there are many reasons for individuals to stay in Golah, but none of these protect the caricatures you both draw. None support them...");
AddReply(364595,"is it jewish","yochanan","chicago","11/24/08","just because a jew does something doesn\'t mean it is jewish.    an example would be so called \'gay shuls\' a real shunda.  \nreform = liberalism \northo = torah");
AddReply(364593,"By the Same Token...","Brana Lobel","Israel","11/24/08","By the same token, Mr Ha Ivri, so many Israeli Jews should not be so greedy for American $$ that the main thing they see in Americans and olim is $$$: as in putting $ above their brothers and sisters in renting apartments and selling goods here, taking advantage so that freier (fryer?) truly means a tender chicken that is swung around, plucked, killed and eaten metaphorically before it knows what is happening. Truly this is a perversion of Jewish values and we must look to ourselves here for our behavior that deters the Geulah. Unfortunately this behavior occurs in both religious and non-religious communities. American Jews have something to offer Israeli Jews: the values of individual liberty, privacy, respect for law--all Judaically based.  ");
AddReply(364562,"Forget Aliyah! Israel is not the answer!","Yonatan Stern","Los Angeles","11/24/08","David is absolutely right that the US Jewish leadership is totally corrupt and morally bankrupt with no effective message or policy to the benefit of Am Yisrael.\n\nThis article ignores the fact that Israel today is even more corrupt, degenerate, crooked and morally bankrupt than the US or it\'s Jews will ever be.\n\nWe must constantly remember that we are in a state of Galut (exile) which is a punishment for the communal sins of the Jewish people. G-d has removed us from our land and prevented us from rebuilding our temple because the Jewish people as a whole is still not worthy of the redemption. We can not decide independently that now is the time to return to the land. First Am Yisrael needs to do teshuva and mend their wicked ways. \nThe situation in Israel today is simply a biproduct of the wrongfulness to \"force\" a secular state in Eretz Hakodesh before it\'t time. Aliyah? Hell no!!");
AddReply(364539,"Money can\'t buy everything","RW","Israel","11/24/08","Excellent article. Every word you wrote is true. You tell it like it is.Even money can\'t buy a person Jewish grandchildren.");
AddReply(364533,"The perfect article","JMK","NYC","11/24/08","");
AddReply(364500,"Another settlerfolk \"template\" opinion piece.","sk","USA","11/24/08","\"American Jewish communities would be wise to invest their support in organizations like Nefesh B\'Nefesh and Kollel MiTzion, organizations that preach Aliyah and teach Torah.\"\n\nGood heavens!  Why throw good money after bad?  Israel corrupts Jews very efficiently, and it endangers them as well.  Why would a sensible Jew want to move there, and why should sensible Jews subsidize it?  At best, olim will produce offspring that disgrace them, just as \"great family name\" Israeli politicos do consistently.  Consider Livni\'s parents.\n\nAnd as for Torah, it\'s hard to see much good Torah coming from Israel.  I mean, this is the place where \"rabbis\" who jumped into bed with Oslo are responsible for the Torah being developed and taught.\n\nAmerican Jewish organizations are mostly worthless.  Get your own house in order and maybe US organizations will play a useful role.");
AddReply(364494,"HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD","","","11/24/08","Firstly, there probably isn\'t one member of the Bronfman family that is Jewish today.\nWhat they have is money which gives them power.  The Jews of the U.S. are already  so assimilated; that if it wasn\'t for the orthodox Jews (of course, the minority), you couldn\'t distinguish the typical jew with the non-Jew.\nWhat\'s frightening is that the  American Jew reminds one of the German Jews of pre-WWII.  We have to pray that somehow Hashem will intervene where miraculously, these Jews will return to their roots. ");
AddReply(364492,"True, but Aliyah won\'t solve it","Daniel ","LA","11/24/08","This idea of intermarriage and money Expressed in \"The New American Judaism: The Way Forward on Challenging Issues from Intermarriage to Jewish Identity\" by Arthur  Blecher sorrounds American Jewry and will not be solved by Peace Now supporters in Tel Aviv.\nThe problem is non-religious Jews.");

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