Why the Majority of American Jews Feel Alienated From Israel

by Yotav Eliach 

The very sad truth is that a large part of American Jewry has decided not to educate their children and grandchildren to be Jewish in any shape or form. This reality sits at the heart of the present divide between these American Jews and the State of Israel.

As someone who has been involved in centrist, Orthodox Zionist education for close to four decades, I have seen the results when Jewish children receive this education; they almost always maintain their religious identities. They overwhelmingly affiliate with Judaism, mitzvot, torah, Jewish holidays, values, etc. This also includes being connected to Israel on multiple levels.

Airbnb reverses decision to remove West Bank listings

Airbnb announced that its policy of boycotting Jewish properties in Judea and Samaria would not be carried out in practice.

The announcement follows a meeting between officials from Airbnb and Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin.

The Tourism Ministry called the decision "a step in the right direction," a reference to the fact that the initial decision to boycott the Jewish homes was not officially reversed but will merely not be implemented.

Minister Levin said that he will continue to act to ensure that all Israeli citizens will receive equal treatment and will continue to strengthen tourism in Israel, including in Judea and Samaria.

Last month, the online rental marketplace announced that it will no longer list homes in Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria. About 200 homes in Judea and Samaria had been listed on Airbnb prior to the announcement.

Airbnb justified the decision by stating that it had developed a new five point checklist for handling listings in "occupied territories." and had "concluded that we should remove listings in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank that are at the core of the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians."

Critics have accused Airbnb of discrimination against Jews as it continues to list properties in Judea and Samaria that are not owned by Jews and has not delisted any properties in any other conflict zone, including Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus, Russian-occupied Crimea, or Chinese occupied Tibet, among others. 

BDS Going Insane because World’s Fastest-Growing Tourist Destination is Jerusalem Despite Boycott

Jerusalem boasted the world’s biggest growth in inbound tourist numbers for 2018, with international arrivals soaring 38 percent this year, nearly doubling since 2016.

The findings come from Euromonitor International, a London-based market research firm. The Holy City benefits from “relative stability and a strong marketing push,” the report said.

Making up second and third place in the rankings were two Indian cities – Chennai and Agra – which experienced 30 percent growth and 24 percent growth, respectively. Two U.S. cities – Miami and Las Vegas – helped round out the top 10.

According to the report, one of the reasons for Jerusalem’s high ranking is a marketing push by the Israeli tourism industry that included airing commercials during breaks popular television shows in the United States:

The news comes on the heels of 2017, which was a record year for Israeli tourism. Almost 3.6 million tourists visited Israel last year, itself a 25 percent increase from 2016. The majority of them were from the U.S., and 59 percent were first-time visitors.

Since January, the tourism industry is estimated to have contributed more than ₪18 billion ($4.8 billion) to the Israeli economy. According to Ministry of Tourism figures, tourists stay in Israel for an average of eight days.

This is despite the efforts of the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement which has been trying unsuccessfully to isolate Israel on the world stage.

Rambam Comes Alive In Israel!!

Israel Museum is showcasing manuscripts and artifacts on the life of medieval Jewish scholar, philosopher and physician Maimonides, including his original signature.

One of Judaism's greatest and most renowned thinkers is being honored with an internationally sourced exhibition at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

The exhibit will showcase the original signature and several manuscripts of Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon – the Sephardic Jewish philosopher, physician, astronomer and preeminent Torah scholar who lived and worked almost a millennium ago. The exhibit is in conjunction with an international convention on his work at the neighboring National Library of Israel.

To Gideon Levy: You are spreading lies about me

Gideon Levy: Face of Pure Evil!

Dear Gideon Levy,

After the Ish-Ran family was seriously wounded, after the baby had to be delivered prematurely and later died, after the baby’s parents had to miss the funeral because they were in the hospital recovering from their wounds, you wrote that you have no sympathy for the settlers, that their tragedy is not yours. Then you added that “the settlers’ lust for revenge is never satisfied. How is it possible to identify with the grief of people who behave like that?”

You don’t have to grieve with the Ish-Rans or mourn with me or others like me or even feel anything for us. But please don’t spread lies about us. Don’t pretend that you know me. Or others like me.

Don’t tell me that because I am a settler I have a lust for revenge. Our son Koby was 13 when he was murdered by terrorists in 2001. I know it won’t matter to you that he and his friend, Yosef Ish-Ran, were in eighth grade when they cut school, went out hiking and, were met by terrorists who beat them to death with stones. Because they were Jews.

Day Yoimie Snippets ... Chullin 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17, & 18

You can copy and print this without my consent, since Torah belongs to all of us..... 

See  previous Daf Yoimie Snippets 

"דף י''ב.."רוב מצויים אצל שחיטה מומחים הם    

Page 12 Mesectas Chullin  

"Most 'Ritual Slaughterers' Are Experts" 

The daf discusses a case where Reuvein asks Shimon the "shoichet" "please go to my chicken coup and slaughter 5 chickens." 

Approximately two hours later Reuvein goes to the chicken coup and finds 5 slaughtered chickens near the coup.

He did not see Shimon there and isn't sure whether Shimon in fact slaughtered the chickens.

Reuvein now questions whether he is allowed to eat those chickens.

We have a universal principle in reference to agents "sheluchim" that in the majority of cases, the agent for some reason does not follow thru with directives!

Therefore in most cases, one cannot rely that the agent actually followed thru with his mission ....

Nevertheless we have a novel halacha here that Reuvein is permitted to eat the chickens.

Because our rabbis instituted a principle that "most ritual slaughterers are experts in their field," therefore, even though Reuvein is not sure that his agent Shimon followed his directives to slaughter the chickens, we can assume that whoever did in fact slaughter the chickens was an expert, one who fears G-d and Reuvein can rely on whoever slaughtered the chickens that it was done according to halacha!

Press "read more" immediately below to continue to the rest of the dafim!

Trial Begins For Peleg Terrorist Arrested At Protest With Knife ... His Claim: "He needs knife to cut apples!"

A Terrorist masquerading as a Yeshiva Bochur who took part in a protest in Elad about six months ago, a protest against the arrest of terrorist bochrim who do not report to the draft, began his trial on Sunday. 

His situation became complicated, for when he was arrested, he was found to be carrying a knife. While he was released from detention for protesting, an indictment was filed against him for carrying the knife.

According to the Kikar Shabbos News report, the bochur is a talmid in Yeshivas Knesset Yechezkel in Elad and since that protest, has become engaged and hopes to be married in a month.

The family explains their son would never attack anyone including police, with the knife, which he uses to cut apples. They call on the tzibur to be mispallel for him, Shlomo Tzvi ben Leah Ita.

HaRav Chanina Herzberg Longtime Menahel At Yeshiva of South Shore, Rov In Far Rockaway Niftar at 69

Rav Herzberg was the Menahel of Yeshiva Toras Chaim of South Shore for nearly 40 years.

Growing up in East New York, he attended Yeshiva Toras Chaim as a young boy, under Rav Yitzchok Schmidman and went to Mesivta Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin where he learned under Rav Yitzchok Hutner. When Rav Shlomo Freifeld began Yeshiva Shor Yoshuv, in Far Rockaway, he was from the early Talmidim. He grew under Rav Shlomo to become a talmid muvhak and a mechaneich par excellence.

After his reputation grew as on of the outstanding Rabbeim and later s’gan Menahel of Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe, Rav Binyamin Kamenetzky invited him to assume the role of Menahel of his Yeshiva of South Shore which had merged with Rav Schmidman’s Yeshiva Toras Chaim, a role he held until his petirah.

Rav Herzberg was the Rav of Kehillas Ohr Shlomo in Far Rockaway named in memory of his rebbe, Rav Shlomo Freifeld zt”l

Rav Herzberg was married to Naomi Spiegel, the daughter of Rav Moshe Spiegel z”l, who was the son of Rav Elchonon Yochanan, the Ostroveh Kalushiner Rebbe.

He leaves behind, his wife and six children, Reb Moshe; Reb Mendy; Rav Eli, a rebbe at Yeshiva Toras Chaim, Rav Yitzchock, menahel of the elementary school of Mesivta Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, Reb Yudy, Rivky Nachman, Brocha Kaplan

The Levaya will take place Sunday Morning 10:30 AM at Yeshiva Toras Chaim Bais Binyamin, 1170 William Street, Hewlett, NY

Posters Announcing Murder of Chareidie Soldier Vandelized in Meah Shearim on Shabbos!

The entire nation is saddened by the murder of the IDF soldiers in a terror attack last week, but the extremists animals living in Meah Shearim have no heart and no soul!

Here was a guy, Yosef Cohen HY"D that was murdered protecting these savages, and died according to all poiskim "Al Kiddush Hashem" and yet you have a bunch of parasites, who never worked a day in their lives, masquerading as frum observant Jews, tearing down posters announcing the death .... on Shabbos!!

The posters did not mention the fact that he was a soldier, being sensitive to the residents of Meah Shearim. 
And only read: 
"With deep and piercing sorrow, we announce the murder in cold blood  of my son, our dear brother and grandson, the son of Rabbi Eitan Cohen zt "l of the Bratslav Chassidus who ascended into the heavens on Kiddush Hashem on Thursday, Tevet 5769" 

The Frum Santa Claus!! Says "It's a Mitzvah"

Rick Rosenthal is a professional, year-round Santa who also attends Congregation Young Israel of Toco Hills in Atlanta

Just like any other Santa Claus, Santa Rick will spend much of the next couple of weeks sitting children on his knee, asking whether they’ve been good and listening to their Christmas wishes.

If it’s a Saturday, he may have slept overnight in the building. And he’ll only accept payment after nightfall.

For Santa Rick’s last name is Rosenthal, and he’s an Orthodox Jew who does not drive or handle money on Shabbat. But that doesn’t stop him from doing his job.

“I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t help a child,” said Rosenthal, 66, who lives in Atlanta and attends Young Israel of Toco Hills. “If you look at the world as children do, that’s a better feeling. I’m a better person and a better Jew because I’m Santa.”

Rosenthal — a full-time, professional Santa — sees no contradiction between serving as the symbol of Christmas and living as an observant Jew. To him, Santa is a nonreligious spiritual figure who provides trust, reassurance and comfort to the young and old.

He says that anyone who is inclined to criticize him for working as a Santa should consider ways they help non-Jews observe holidays — like working a shift on Christmas when Christians take the day off.

“As a Jew, we are to be a light unto the world,” Rosenthal said, paraphrasing a famous Jewish aphorism from the Bible. “That’s one of our jobs. If we can help make people’s lives better, we should do that. 

It’s a mitzvah. If we can ease tensions between Jews and non-Jews, we can do that.”

Just wondering..... Which one of the 613 mitzvois is this?