TIKVAH: VICTIM OF DOUBLE STANDARD AT U.C.

MESSAGE FROM THE ZIONIST STUDENTS AT U.C. BERKELEY
Reproduced here as a courtesy. This blogger both sympathizes with them and admires their courageous stand, especially in the face of apathy and hatred - anti-Semitism is endemic among the university population in Berkeley, and virtually institutionalized.



Tikvah: victim of double standard at U.C.
By John E. Moghtader & Elodie Resseguie


Long a hotbed of anti-Israel activity, U.C. Berkeley has barely had a strong pro-Israel presence on campus. Until now, with Tikvah: Students for Israel, the Zionist student group at U.C. Berkeley.

We are the group that stepped up to protest when academics John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt visited Cal in October 2007 to hawk their book, a nefarious smear job titled "The Jewish Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy."

We were also there last month when the virulently anti-Israel academic Norman Finkelstein came to speak.

Before the lecture, we respectfully distributed our literature outside. Once inside, Finkelstein’s level of anti-Semitic vitriol prompted a walkout of Tikvah students and others not associated with our group. We shouted out our opinions while exiting, as the crowd hurled expletives at us. Finkelstein and his colleague then continued delivering their insulting lies.

As a result, the dean of students is now seeking to discipline Tikvah and individual students for an "offense" which in the past barely warranted mention when undertaken by student groups involved in anti-Israel activities.

For example, when Middle East scholar Daniel Pipes tried to speak on campus several years ago, he was shouted down by members of Students for Justice in Palestine and the Muslim Student Association. At the time the chancellor said, "Uncivil behavior, lamentable as it is, is not a crime, nor is it a violation of the Code of Student Conduct." No disciplinary action was taken against SJP or its members for that incident, nor when Nonie Darwish was likewise shouted down a year ago.

Only last week, SJP disrupted an innovative Zionist hip-hop concert on campus. Even though no Jewish students were involved in the physical altercation that ensued (contrary to what was reported in the school paper and what SJP claims), we wait to see how the university will deal with the assailants from SJP.

Other violations by SJP of the U.C. code of conduct — such as blocking of pedestrian traffic with demonstrations, the brandishing of fake firearms, physical harassment and intimidation of Jewish students — were presented to the dean of students but have been ignored.

What we see here is a double standard, one for the rest of campus and another for the Jews and those who actively support Israel.

Our tax dollars support the U.C. system, and Jewish donors are very prominent in supporting the U.C. campuses. It’s time for the Jewish community to become aware of what is happening at our university.

Meanwhile, Tikvah has a consistent record of positive, pro-Israel programming on campus. Until our inception a year ago, there was no substantive pro-Israel voice on campus. We changed that, attracting students of various religious and cultural backgrounds to our cause. We have collaborated with many off-campus groups, including the Israeli Consulate, Israel Peace Initiative, S.F.-based Jewish Community Relations Council, U.C. Berkeley Chabad, CAMERA, StandWithUs, JIMENA and more. Once again Jews walk with pride across Sproul Plaza.

We have also sponsored many successful events. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we took out ads in the student newspaper highlighting the civil rights leader’s strong support of the Jewish state. We have hosted lectures by Dennis Prager, Stanley Urman, Israeli Vice Consul Ishmael Khaldi (who spoke about being the highest-ranking Muslim in the Israeli foreign service) and others.

Last year we held two weeklong programs brimming with pro-Israel activities: Israel Peace and Diversity Week and Israel@60 Week (which included a widely attended on-campus Holocaust memorial on Yom HaShoah). We just finished our latest effort, Israel Liberation Week, and we have also been a positive influence on student government, with John Moghtader, a current senator in the Associated Students of the University of California, leading our group.

Regarding the Jewish Student Union and Berkeley Hillel, we must clarify misstatements that ran in j. Even though Tikvah is the largest and most active Jewish student group on campus, we have been allocated precisely zero dollars from the JSU this school year.

While the JSU and Berkeley Hillel remain silent, we are the ones on Sproul Plaza and around campus protesting the Finkelsteins of the world, educating students about Israel, organizing rallies and holding Holocaust memorials.

We were dumbfounded to find that Hillel is presuming to play some role in all this, as Tikvah has never been affiliated with Berkeley Hillel, nor have we ever received funds from them for any of our activities.

We are a grassroots student group. Our goal is to make sure Jewish students do not have to be subjected to a hostile anti-Israel, anti-Semitic environment on campus. That’s our bottom line.



John E. Moghtader, a third-year undergraduate at U.C. Berkeley, is an Associated Students of the University of California senator and president of Tikvah.
Elodie Resseguie is a fourth-year undergraduate at U.C. Berkeley and is on the Tikvah executive board. To learn more about Tikvah, e-mail tikvahsfi@gmail.com or visit tikvahsfi.blogspot.com.
HaTikvah.


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NOTE: The text above has also been posted on my main blog, and at Jameel's blog. Please disseminate widely.
Aaron and Suzy, if you read this, please post "Tikvah: victim of double standard at U.C. " on you blogs also, and forward.
Thank you.

DUTCH NATIONAL ANTHEM

The Dutch National Anthem is one of the longer anthems - a total of fifteen stanzas, the first letter of each forming an acrostic. It is probably the oldest anthem in the world, though as it was not officially adopted as national anthem until the years of Queen Wilhelmina.
[Prior to that it had been the song of the Orangist faction.]


The full version is below (normally only the first and sixth stanza are sung.....).


WILHELMUS VAN NASSAUE


First Stanza:

Wilhelmus van Nassaue
Ben ick van Dietschen bloet,
Den Vaderlant getrouwe
Blyf ick tot in den doet:
Een Prince van Oraengien
Ben ick vrij onverveert,
Den Coninck van Hispaengien
Heb ick altijt gheeert.


Second stanza:

In Godes vrees te leven
Heb ick altyt betracht,
Daerom ben ick verdreven
Om Landt om Luyd ghebracht:
Maer God sal mij regeren
Als een goet Instrument,
Dat ick zal wederkeeren
In mijnen Regiment.


Third stanza:

Lydt u myn Ondersaten
Die oprecht zyn van aert,
Godt sal u niet verlaten
Al zijt ghy nu beswaert:
Die vroom begheert te leven
Bidt Godt nacht ende dach,
Dat hy my cracht wil gheven
Dat ick u helpen mach.


Fourth stanza:

Lyf en goet al te samen
Heb ick u niet verschoont,
Mijn broeders hooch van Namen
Hebbent u oock vertoont:
Graef Adolff is ghebleven
In Vriesland in den slaech,
Syn Siel int ewich Leven
Verwacht den jongsten dach.


Fifth stanza:

Edel en hooch gheboren
Van Keyserlicken Stam:
Een Vorst des Rijcks vercoren
Als een vroom Christen man,
Voor Godes woort ghepreesen
Heb ick vrij onversaecht,
Als een helt sonder vreesen
Mijn edel bloet ghewaecht.


Sixth stanza:

Mijn Schilt ende betrouwen
Sijt ghy, o Godt mijn Heer,
Op u soo wil ick bouwen
Verlaet mij nimmermeer:
Dat ick doch vroom mach blijven
V dienaer taller stondt,
Die Tyranny verdrijven,
Die my mijn hert doorwondt.


Seventh stanza:

Van al die my beswaren,
End mijn Vervolghers zijn,
Mijn Godt wilt doch bewaren
Den trouwen dienaer dijn:
Dat sy my niet verrasschen
In haren boosen moet,
Haer handen niet en wasschen
In mijn onschuldich bloet.


Eighth stanza:

Als David moeste vluchten
Voor Saul den Tyran:
Soo heb ick moeten suchten
Met menich Edelman:
Maer Godt heeft hem verheven
Verlost uit alder noot,
Een Coninckrijk ghegheven
In Israel seer groot.


Ninth stanza:

Na tsuer sal ick ontfanghen
Van Godt mijn Heer dat soet,
Daer na so doet verlanghen
Mijn Vorstelick ghemoet:
Dat is dat ick mach sterven
Met eeren in dat Velt,
Een eewich Rijck verwerven
Als een ghetrouwe Helt.


Tenth stanza:

Niet doet my meer erbarmen
In mijnen wederspoet,
Dan dat men siet verarmen
Des Conincks Landen goet,
Dat van de Spaengiaerts crencken
O Edel Neerlandt soet,
Als ick daer aen ghedencke
Mijn Edel hert dat bloet.


Eleventh stanza:

Als een Prins op gheseten
Met mijner heyres cracht,
Van den tyran vermeten
Heb ick den slach verwacht,
Die by Maestricht begraven
Bevreesden mijn ghewelt,
Mijn ruyters sach men draven.
Seer moedich door dat Velt.


Twelfth stanza:

Soo het den wille des Heeren
Op die tyt had gheweest,
Had ick gheern willen keeren
Van v dit swear tempeest:
Maer de Heer van hier boven
Die alle dinck regeert.
Diemen altijd moet loven
En heeftet niet begheert.


Thirteenth stanza:

Seer Prinslick was ghedreven
Mijn Princelick ghemoet,
Stantvastich is ghebleven
Mijn hert in teghenspoet,
Den Heer heb ick ghebeden
Van mijnes herten gront,
Dat hy mijn saeck wil reden,
Mijn onschult doen bekant.


Fourteenth stanza:

Oorlof mijn arme Schapen
Die zijt in grooten noyt,
U Herder sal niet slapen
Al zijt ghy nu verstroyt:
Tot Godt wilt u begheven,
Syn heylsaem woort neemt aen,
Als vrome Christen leven,
Tsal hier haest zijn ghedaen.


Fifteenth stanza:

Voor Godt wil ick belijden
End zijner grooter macht,
Dat ick tot gheenen tijden
Den Coninck heb veracht:
Dan dat ick Godt den Heere
Der hoochster maiesteyt,
Heb moeten obedieren,
Inder gherechticheyt.


It is laden with religious imagery and terminology. Parts of it resemble an oath. I shan't bother translating - great poems become bad prose when shifted from their original language, and the original language of this anthem is quite different from modern Dutch - you would not notice the antique flavour, and the fragrance of past glory would have faded.


Two versions on Youtube:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6xhRN5zz4g
The national anthem of The Netherlands played by all bands at the Netherlands Militairy Tattoo 2006.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG1SvPR5tyo
Straightforward musical version.

Personally I believe it should be played and sung faster than it normally is. It sounds plechtig (solemn, lugubrious) and statig (slow and funereal), but I would prefer rousing and spirited.

ISRAEL AND JERUSALEM FACTS

[Note: Originally posted Monday, July 24, 2006. Parked here for reference.]


The following talking points were forwarded by a friend. Please feel free to copy and forward to as many of your friends and associates as you wish - in fact, I strongly encourage you to do so.


ISRAEL AND JERUSALEM FACTS

1. ISRAEL BECAME A STATE IN 1312 B.C., TWO MILLENNIA BEFORE THE BIRTH OF ISLAM;

2. ARAB REFUGEES FROM ISRAEL BEGAN CALLING THEMSELVES "PALESTINIANS" IN 1967, TWO DECADES AFTER (MODERN) ISRAELI STATEHOOD (THE TERM PALESTINIAN DURING THE MANDATE REFERRED TO ZIONISTS);

3. AFTER CONQUERING THE LAND IN 1272 B.C.E., JEWS RULED IT FOR A THOUSAND YEARS AND MAINTAINED A CONTINUOUS PRESENCE THERE FOR 3,300 YEARS;

4. THE ONLY ARAB RULE FOLLOWING CONQUEST IN 633 B.C. LASTED JUST 22 YEARS;

5. FOR OVER 3,300 YEARS, JERUSALEM WAS THE JEWISH CAPITAL. IT WAS NEVER THE CAPITAL OF ANY ARAB OR MUSLIM ENTITY. EVEN UNDER JORDANIAN RULE, (EAST) JERUSALEM WAS NOT MADE THE CAPITAL, AND NO ARAB LEADER CAME TO VISIT IT (EXCEPT FOR KING ABDALLAH, WHO WAS ASSASSINATED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE ON JULY 20, 1951, ON THE STEPS OF EL AQSA MOSQUE;

6. JERUSALEM IS MENTIONED OVER 700 TIMES IN THE BIBLE, BUT NOT ONCE IS IT MENTIONED IN THE QUR'AN;

7. KING DAVID FOUNDED JERUSALEM; MOHAMMED NEVER SET FOOT IN IT;

8. JEWS PRAY FACING JERUSALEM; MUSLIMS FACE MECCA. IF THEY ARE BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES, MUSLIMS PRAY FACING MECCA, WITH THEIR BACKS TO JERUSALEM;

9. IN 1948, ARAB LEADERS URGED THEIR PEOPLE TO LEAVE, PROMISING TO CLEANSE THE LAND OF JEWISH PRESENCE. 68% OF THEM FLED WITHOUT EVER SETTING EYES ON AN ISRAELI SOLDIER;

10. VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE JEWISH POPULATION OF MUSLIM COUNTRIES HAD TO FLEE AS THE RESULT OF VIOLENCE AND POGROMS;

11. SOME 630,000 ARABS LEFT ISRAEL IN 1948, WHILE CLOSE TO A MILLION JEWS WERE FORCED TO LEAVE THE MUSLIM COUNTRIES;

12. IN SPITE OF THE VAST TERRITORIES AT THEIR DISPOSAL, ARAB REFUGEES WERE DELIBERATELY PREVENTED FROM ASSIMILATING INTO THEIR HOST COUNTRIES. OF 100 MILLION REFUGEES FOLLOWING WORLD WAR 2, THEY ARE THE ONLY GROUP TO HAVE NEVER INTEGRATED WITH THEIR CORELIGIONISTS. MOST OF THE JEWISH REFUGEES FROM EUROPE AND ARAB LANDS WERE SETTLED IN ISRAEL, A COUNTRY NO LARGER THAN NEW JERSEY;

13. THERE ARE 22 MUSLIM COUNTRIES, NOT COUNTING PALESTINE. THERE IS ONLY ONE JEWISH STATE. ARABS STARTED ALL FIVE WARS AGAINST ISRAEL, AND LOST EVERY ONE OF THEM;

14. FATAH AND HAMAS CONSTITUTIONS STILL CALL FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL. ISRAEL CEDED MOST OF THE WEST BANK AND ALL OF GAZA TO THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, AND EVEN PROVIDED IT WITH ARMS;

15. DURING THE JORDANIAN OCCUPATION, JEWISH HOLY SITES WERE VANDALIZED AND WERE OFF LIMITS TO JEWS (THE JORDANIANS USED THE WALL AS A URINAL AND SYNAGOGUES AS STABLES). UNDER ISRAELI RULE, ALL MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN HOLY SITES ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL FAITHS;

16. OUT OF 175 UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS UP TO 1990, 97 WERE AGAINST ISRAEL; OUT OF 690 GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTIONS, 429 WERE AGAINST ISRAEL;

17. THE U.N. WAS SILENT WHEN THE JORDANIANS DESTROYED 58 SYNAGOGUES IN THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM. IT REMAINED SILENT WHILE JORDAN SYSTEMATICALLY DESECRATED THE ANCIENT JEWISH CEMETERY ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, AND IT REMAINED SILENT WHEN JORDAN ENFORCED APARTHEID LAWS PREVENTING JEWS FROM ACCESSING THE TEMPLE MOUNT AND WESTERN WALL.

18. ARAB CITIZENS OF ISRAEL HAVE THE VOTE, AND ARE REPRESENTED IN THE KNESSET. ONE OUT OF FIVE ISRAELI CITIZENS IS AN ARAB.

===========================================

Among the comments underneath the orignial post, Jason wrote:

Here are some more on the current situation (courtesy of the Dallas CRC):


Background

Israel evacuated Lebanon in May 2000 – a move recognized by the United Nations. The Israeli withdrawal was conducted in coordination with the UN, and, according to the UN, constituted Israeli fulfillment of its obligations under Security Council Resolution 425 (1978).

The Lebanese government is obligated under UN Security Council Resolution 1559 to deploy its army along the southern border, disarm Hezbollah and maintain order; however, despite repeated complaints from the United States, the UN and Israel, this has not taken place.

On July 12, Hezbollah terrorists fired rockets from southern Lebanon into Israel killing three Israeli soldiers and they also crossed the border to kidnap two soldiers, Udi Goldwasser, 31 and Eldad Regev, 26. Four more Israeli soldiers were killed when their tank apparently drove over a land mine. Hezbollah, which is a party in the Lebanese government, also fired rockets into Northern Israeli towns, including Shlomi, resulting in injury to civilians.

Israeli defense measures in Lebanon are not against the people of Lebanon and Israel has no intention of maintaining a long term presence inside of Lebanon. The Israeli operations are intended to expel Hezbollah from the country, thereby empowering a free and democratic Lebanon, a safe Israel and a more peaceful region.


Hezbollah

Syria and Iran give Hezbollah “State Capabilities.” Iran supplies weapons to Hezbollah and no other terror organization has these types of missiles.

Before September 11, 2001, Hezbollah was responsible for more American deaths than any other terrorist group.

Hezbollah was responsible for the 1983 bombings of the US Marine Corps Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, brutally murdering 241 United States service men and women. The survivors and victims of this attack sued the government of Iran for their leading role in the attack and won.


Israel’s Military Response

Israel’s goals are to prevent Hezbollah missiles from reaching Israel, gain the return of the Israeli soldiers (no conditions will be made for their release) and the enforcement of Security Council Resolution 1559, calling on Lebanon to fulfill its sovereign duties to dismantle all terror organizations. Israel wants Lebanon to have complete control of their territory and will try to encourage this as much as possible.

Israel is targeting southern Lebanon to destroy the Hezbollah infrastructure. These are limited raids, not full-scale invasions.

Israel attacked the airport in Beirut, causing light damage by hitting runways-not the control tower or the terminals-in order to hinder the possibility of them using air transportation. On land, Israel has targeted strategic bridges to Syria in order to prevent supplies sent from Syria and Iran from getting to Hezbollah. In fact, last week (7/18) Israel hit one convoy coming from Syria to Lebanon.

Israeli operations have destroyed an estimated 50 percent of Hezbollah’s arsenal.

Israeli military operations are coordinated with the utmost precision, in an attempt to protect innocent lives. Israel targets Hezbollah by hitting specified targets. Israel is working to protect Lebanese infrastructure, such as water, electricity and fuel refinement factories.

The IDF has expanded its pinpoint operations in southern Lebanon with tanks and infantry, looking for Hezbollah terrorists, bases and weapons with the sole goal of clearing the area, and pushing back Hezbollah forces so they cannot get within rocket range of Israel.


Israel’s Humanitarian Response

The loss of innocent civilian life on both sides of this conflict is a tragedy. Israel is taking extreme care to reduce the risk to the Lebanese civilian population. The IDF drops leaflets urging residents in specific locations in southern Lebanon to avoid certain Hezbollah installations, and to evacuate their houses and relocate in northern Lebanon or Syria for the time being in order to avoid civilian causalities.

Israel has enabled foreign governments to evacuate their own citizens from Lebanon.

Israel has blockaded Lebanon via the sea, land and air to prevent Syrian weapons from entering Lebanon, but Israel is allowing humanitarian aid organizations to enter and assess the situation of the Lebanese civilian population. The Lebanese people are not Israel’s enemies and it has no intention of seeing a humanitarian disaster in Lebanon.

Israel has been in contact with foreign governments, with the United Nations agencies and with relevant NGOs to try to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid to Lebanon.

On July 20 Israeli Prime Minister Olmert, Defense Minister Peretz and Foreign Minister Livni approved the establishment of a "humanitarian corridor" between Lebanon and Cyprus.


Israel’s Principles of a Diplomatic Solution

The unconditional release of abducted Israeli soldiers Udi Goldwasser and Eldad Regev and their return to Israel.

A halt to the firing of rockets at residents of the State of Israel and at Israeli targets.

The full and complete implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559 including the disarming of all armed militias, the extension of the sovereignty of the Lebanese Government over all its territory and the deployment of the Lebanese Army along the border with Israel.


The Diplomatic Alternative:

Israel welcomed the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the region and welcomed a comprehensive diplomatic effort in addressing the current crisis. Israel knows that ultimately there needs to be a diplomatic solution to the current crisis, not a military one.

Israeli officials have stated that they look forward to working with the international community to explore the possibility of an International Force deployed in southern Lebanon. Israel wants to participate in defining the characteristics of such a force in the hopes that it will be fair and efficient. For the past 26 years, International Forces in southern Lebanon have proven to be ineffective.

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Good places to start researching facts about Israel and Jerusalem:

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/index.html

For Israeli matters, this is their list of contents page: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/israel.html

The ADL is also a good source:
http://www.adl.org/israel/advocacy/default.asp

For matters of religion, here are two links:
http://www.torah.org/
http://www.aish.com/

And of course Wikipedia has entries:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Israel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionism

Other than that, there are many webpages pro and con, historical, religious, cultural, etc. Read different sources, compare points of view, take obvious biases of the authors of the material into account.Unfortunately, only the anti-Israel position is simple and easy to grasp. The truth is a more complex and nuanced beast.

SHIUR ON MASECHES PESACHIM

Something both Ed and Chaim G. said a while back reminded me of this piece from several years ago by the Rabam.
[The Rabam, as is well known, is the founder of Yeshivas Chipas Emmes - West Coast (California headquarters of Chabadass Chossidus).]



Shiur of the RABAM on Masechess Pesachim

"Tayere yingeln, we give a slight bow on being introduced to someone, because touching hands is sharing germs.

Or palm sweat - as it says in Vayikra 22:6 "nefesh asher tiga bo vetame'ah (a soul which touches it shall become defiled). And it is rude to immediately sterilize one's hand afterwards. Though the verse cited above goes on to say "...velo yochal min ha kodashim ki im rachatz besaro ba yamim" (...and shall not eat of koidesh things until he has washed his flesh in water). So neither should you eat after meeting strangers.

This is greater derech eretz than that of Mordechai, who refused to bow, wherefore Homon torched his embassy, as it says in Megillas Esther. Though Ben Bag Bag says it was because he doodled. Drew a cartoon of Ahura Mazda. And a camel. And there are several obscene jokes about camels.

Why is this not mentioned in the Megilla?

-- Because the version used by the P source was replaced, bitch.

-- Because the E source proved a point that the redactor also wanted to make.

-- Because the J source says "you are special, we are special, and forget about that other bunch".

-- Whereas the redactor says "we're ok, but that bunch there are truly nasty".

Say not 'we pissed off the Persians. We pissed off the Syro-grecians, we pissed off the Romans'..... But say rather 'the Persians were pissed at us, the Syro-grecians were pissed at us, and the Romans, having no imagination and being Amalek besides.... were also pissed at us.'

Reish Lakish asks: "Or rather, 'we pissed on the Persians. we pissed on the Syro-grecians, did we not also piss on the Romans?"

And Rabban Gamliel says that 'pissed' is a metaphor for engaging in the cloth trade.... because it is used as a fixative for dyes. Such as techeiles and argamom.

Whereas Elazar ben Hurkanos brings up the plural, to show that right and wrong are never singular. And are as opposite as red and blue.

Or as Rashi shatnez and Rabbeinu Tam shatnez (though some Chassidim wear both, to be hiddur mitzvah).


Why was this said?

-- So that you may remember the commandment.

-- So that you not invite Persians to parties where alcohol is served.

-- So that you write an eighteen page letter refuting the cartoons (and note: eighteen is the gematria of life - you shall write it that you may live).


But Abaye says 'so that you not draw cartoons for the newspapers of the nations, lest they hate us for it'.

Rashi explains newspaper as indicating that the text was edited. For there is no newspaper that is not edited. And there is no place that does not have a newspaper.

Shmuel says "Start reading the paper with mention of political disturbances in the land of Egypt (Dvarim 6:20) and move from the repressiveness of contemporary Middle-Eastern societies to political liberation.

Rav said: Start with Terach, Abraham's father and the state of golus to which we had descended. "Once upon a time our fathers lived among idolators who worshipped heathen gods. Now Hashem has brought us to vote for UTJ and Shas".

And know from this that even though we're really hosed, we are still better than the Arabs, because we have a free press and they don't (and following this is when it is customary to recite the blessing 'shlosha neenerim').

The Kitzer Shulchan Aruch explains that you should open the newspaper to the editorial page first. Then read the letters to the editor, starting at the top left hand corner of the page and proceding, with kavanah, all the way through to the last letter in the bottom right hand corner (if you are interrupted, start again at the top).

Finish that page by reading the cartoon. Then close the paper (along the crease), and compose an angry letter to the editor, so that it may remind you of tefillah.

But know that Lubavitch hold that there has been no editor since the Rebbe's petirah.

Satmar calls the entire question a depraved goyishe plot - there should be NO newspaper until the redeemer comes - and then we will ALL have newspapers.

Neturei Karta hold that it is best to read an Arab paper until the ketz. Ad mosai? Ad ki yavo....

Harav Kreiswirth (z.tz.l.), before he died, was meikel, but paskened that frumme yidden avoid the Nieuw Israelitisch Weekblad - at least until the techiyas hameisim.

Belz avers that like the students of Rabbi Ben Bag Bag, you should 'turn it over, again and again, for everything you want to know is found within it'.


Why does one read a paper?

Shimon HaTzaddik said: "The world rests on three things: on the sports scores, on the real-estate page, and on the want-ads".

Akiviya Ben Mehalalel said: "consider these three things and you will not fall into the clutches of sin: Know from whom you buy the paper, know to whom you will give the paper after you have clipped the coupons, and know where the coupons are redeemable."

Rabban Gamaliel said that whoever has not read these three things (the Washington Post, the Racing Times, and Playboy Magazine) has not fulfilled his obligation to disdain the goyishe world, lament losses at the track, and drool over unattainable hot shiksas. For in this you will know that you are truly in golus.


Regarding illustrated men's magazines, the Rambam says that one should not even look at the clothing of woman.

Why was this said?

Clothing reminds us (of the fig-leaves with which Adam and Chava clothed themselves), as is written in Bamidbar 15:39 "ve haya lachem le tsitsit u reitem oto u zechartem".

From this, know that it is a mitzvah and a blessing to look at pictures in Playboy magazine, because it recalls to us the Garden of Eden and man's primal purity.

And you should discuss this with your neighbor, on the road and in the home, whether standing or resting...until you are physically uncomfortable, and trembling (in awe). As it says "With all your heart, and all your means".


And now antshuldiks, I am stepping temporarily away from the shtender...

To buy a newspaper...., yes, that's it, a newspaper.

Grisn, und zolst hobn a gitn shabbes





RABAM
Rosheshiva
Yeshiva Chipass Emmess -- San Francisco Campus

------------------------------

The RaBaM received shmicha from HaRav HaGadol HaMoreinu Pinky Schmeckelstein (the 'Ripass'), Rosheshiva of Yeshiva Chipass Emmess. If you wish to inquire about the yeshiva's curriculum or the courses for the current academic year, please contact the administration of this blog. We have connections.

MESSAGE TO BLOGGER

Dear Blogger Team,

My blog (http://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/) has been locked. This is ..... inconvenient. I am not spam. None of my relatives are spam. Most of us don't even like spam (we like cheese-doodles).

Please advise asap.
Thanks in advance.
Sincerely,


-----B.O.T.H.

FIRST POST

The spam-detection robots over at Blogger/Google have temporarily locked down my other blog because they believe that it is a spam-blog. Untill they unlock it, I cannot post there.

This is quite odd.
I have, to the best of my recollection, NEVER posted about spam. No offense to spam, as it is undoubtedly a very fine product which has brought incredible happiness to among others Hawaiians and residents of Daly City - thanks to its juicy spam-a-liciousness thousands lead bright sunny lives - but it isn't exactly my favourite animal product.

Spam relates to meat, by the way, the same way naugahyde does to skin.
Or tofu to spackle.

Anyway, the robots are looking for me. To test my meatiness. Good thing they never heard of soylent green.

I'll hide out here till they give up and unlock my blog.

Stupid robots.