Zeman Heirutainu?

It's a sad commentary on the Matzav in Israel when:

1. Hacham Ovadia has to limit his public appearances due to the security situation. It doesn't seem like Zeman Heirutainu when his freedom of movement is being restricted.


2. Jews in Gush Katif and Northern Shomron have to leave their homes of many years while the government gives their homes to those who want them dead. Their freedom of choosing where to live has been severely limited, to say the least.


3. There are Jews in captivity around the world, including Jonathan Pollard, Ron Arad, Zacharey Baumel, and others, who haven't tasted Heirut in many years.

Let us hope that, just as our forefathers were Ma'amin BaHashem UvMoshe Avdo, we will also strengthen our Emunah, and we won't have to worry about these problems any longer, so that this Zeman Heirutainu, we will go from Avdut to Heirut and from Shi'bud to Ge'ula, speedily in our days.
Amen, Kain Yehi Ratzon.

Milestone

I got added to 2 bloggers blogrolls yesterday:

Destination Jerusalem
Mystical Paths

At least they're the first 2 that I'm aware of. I added them to my blogroll too - not just in the spirit of reciprocity - but because I truly share their interests in Authentic Judaism's aspirations for Mashiah to come speedily in our days, and rabbinic predictions towards that goal.

Although this blog is not only about that topic, it's one that I find fascinating, and will BE"H continue to post about it.

And, guys, thanks for the plug.

Update: 2 more blogger giants added me:

Shiloh Musings
Cosmic X

This is way too humbling.

The 10 Plagues in Today's News

Ok, with some of these, I used artistic license, and some are big stretches, but some are quite interesting.
Here we go:

Blood

Frogs

Lice

Wild Beasts

Pestilence

Boils

Hail

Locusts

Darkness

Plague of the Firstborn

Baruch Dayan Ha'emet

Rav Shlomo Wolbe ZT"L had passed away on Monday.
He was my Mashgiah's Mashgiah, and the Mashgiah of many others. His 2-volume work - Alei Shur - is a Mussar classic. I'll leave it at that since Hespedim are forbidden this month.

Making Bethlehem Jewish

No, not that Bethlehem - the one in Pennsylvania.

Here's the article.

Where's the Mashgiah when we need him?

I remember when I was in Yeshiva in Israel, a few of the boys would go into "Town". "Town" referred to Ben Yehuda and King George streets in Jerusalem, and the neighborhood around those streets. "Town" was a bad word then. If you went into "Town", you were one of "those guys".
I only went to "Town" if a friend or family member took me out to dinner to a restaurant in the area. (Yes, I was a goodie-goodie mostly.) I remember passing the pubs that "those guys" mentioned they went to on the way to those restaurants. About twice a year, a Mashgiah from our Yeshiva would catch a few boys going to one of those pubs, and they'd likely be kicked out of the Yeshiva - also likely, placed into a cooperating Yeshiva who dealt with boys who would do those kinds of things.
Fast forward to today.
Ynet reports on a new pub in Petah Tikvah that's Kosher in food alone. It attracts mostly promiscuous Hareidim (oxymoron?), and what goes on there should be left unmentioned. Where are the Mashgihim? We got to tell them about this place. This is just craziness.

Mo'adim LeSimha

I'll leave you for Yom Tov with 2 new Pesah rapper animations.

(Warning: both rated PG-13 - the first for language, the second for mild Peritzut.)

1. Shabot6000's Seda' Club
2. JibJab's Matzah

Hag Kasher VeSame'ah everybody!

And let's hope your holiday is much more meaningful than these videos (although they are amusing).

Update: There's another one out there for Hebrew readers: The 60-Second Seder. My sedarim actually lasted more than 300x longer than this one did.

Attempted Arson in Suburban Chicago Synagogue

This past Sunday morning, a number of us were staying later for a Shiur after prayers, when suddenly, the rabbi and a congregant smelled smoke. They went outside where it seemed to be coming from and they noticed a raging fire on the wood that holds down the tarp that covers the Sukkah boards. The rabbi was holding a cup of coffee at the time that he went outside, which he promptly threw at the blaze to try to help put it out. Another congregant got the shul's fire extinguisher to put out the fire, and 20 seconds later, the fire was no more. The police and fire department came promptly to investigate.
Now, mind you, the Sukkah boards are right next to the shul building, and could have easily spread. We believe it to be arson because the medium to carry the fire was found at the scene - that Sunday's Chicago Tribune. B"H, no other accelerant was used. Because of this, it was probably done by an amateur, but it was very disturbing nonetheless.

Mashiah

After posting about the End of Days, it seems that one of the sites listed (here for English) made a very bold statement about Mashiah coming within 3 days of Wednesday.
First read that. Then, read this explanation given:

For one, since Wednesday the website mentioned above has now reported that the delivery person was the Sandlar of Yerushalyim. In the 50s there was a Holy Sandlar who lived in Bnei Brak, who upon dying left notes with certain mekubalim that were to be delivered just before the Six Day War in 1967, the Yom Kippur War, and the Gulf War, describing those wars. There may have been one more note. Rumor exists that a final note will announce the coming of Mashiach. But it is supposed to be his note, not Mashiach's written announcement. Who is this Sandlar anyway? I personally know three sandlars who live in Yerushalayim. There are at least 100 more. I could ask if the three that I know have been delivering messages for Mashiach, but I am sure they would then attach the right upper to the left sole.

Aharit Hayamim

While the Christian velt is buzzing about this, we have some very interesting sites to browse ourselves. Here are some that I noticed:

http://gog1.com (English version: http://magog.web-site.co.il/)

http://www.gogumogog.com

http://www.yearsofawe.blogspot.com/

I eat Kitniyot on Passover

A request for all US Jewish-owned stores that are open on Pesah:

Make a Kitniyot-aisle or a Kitniyot-corner for those items that are permissible to Sepharadim.

No skin off the owners' backs - you can keep Kitniyot in your stores. It's a Ze Nehene Veze Nehene proposition.

Not only that, but egg matzah, which is only permitted for Sepharadim as well (plus ill Ashkenazim), would be put in that aisle, thus eliminating mistakes for Ashkenazim who may think that they could eat it.

That being said, I would make the aisle very clearly labeled, so that Ashkenazim do not mistakenly buy the products.

I know how difficult it is for Ashkenazim in Israel, where many products are Kasher LePesah Le'Ochelai Kitniyot, and some may argue that this would be doing the same here. However, I'm proposing a separate aisle or more designated to Kitniyot, so no mistakes will be made. We are currently relying on lists like this one, but in-store information would be so much easier. Should we be deprived of food that is permitted to us because the majority cannot eat it?

Excuse the rant, but I just had to get that off my chest.

Kosher LePesah popcorn, anyone?

Today's News to the Extreme

Second best news article of the day
Haredi soldiers take social work course

Best news article of the day
Aryeh Deri Commends Self-Sacrifice for Temple Mount and Eretz Israel

More nice news of the day
Rabbi Slifkin has a son

Best analysis of the day
Outrageous Episode On US TV (PBS)

Most shocking news article of the day
Sharon: 'Atmosphere looks like on the eve of a civil war'

Most sickening news article of the day
Police Brutality in Jerusalem

Ki Dor Tahapuchot Hema

What's going on in the world?

Just when you thought you knew certain things about the world, everything gets turned upside down on you.

First, I hear that Israeli President Katsav shakes hands with both Syria's Bashar Assad and Iran's Khatami (and talks to Khatami for almost an hour in Farsi).

Then, I hear that Cookie Monster starts to eat other healthier foods, while cookies will be demoted to a "sometimes food". (Hat tip: The View From Here)

And finally, I hear that Blogger develops a way to recover lost posts!

What's this world coming to?

Listening to Gedolim

Do all Hareidim listen to their rabbis?

Apparently not.

Only 3000 Kosher Phones were sold so far.

Hale Gets 40 Years

Matthew Hale, YM"Sh , was sentenced to 40 years in prison for soliciting the murder of Judge Joan Lefkow, whose husband and mother were actually murdered by someone unrelated to Hale.

What I said before still applies.

Debate on R' Slifkin Issues soon - maybe

Rabbi Heshy Grossman, formerly of Chicago's Hanna Sachs Bais Yaakov is willing to debate the Godol Hador on issues raised by Rabbi Slifkin's books.

Rabbi Grossman wants to have the debate somewhere between Boston and Washington, DC. The Godol, not living in the area, wants to have it online instead.

Meanwhile, Rabbi Gil Student of Hirhurim said that he's willing to debate Rabbi Grossman.

The plot thickens...

Sell your hametz on eBay!

via email

This is just too funny!

Related item - also funny