POWER OF PRAYER
AND OUR
HUMAN EFFORTS:
____
SimShalom :
so hope...and study..what else can you do..pray a little that it can do no harm
You ask God for EVERYTHING hon, from soup to nuts..( I mean "normal" nuts of course) :
You put the effort for sure , that's your part..he "makes it happen" from above...like praying for and getting rain.. :
just in this case you are the "cloud" that wants to be rainy and produce
X :
i don't feel that
consequently the outcome can be good or bad
G-d gives us the reason, but we have to choose how we will use it
SimShalom (9:57 PM) :
I am not arguing with you
I am saying that after you have made all the choices and put in all the effort
THEN the 'Final" effort and verdict will be absolutely determined by God.
The over-all "framework" is also set down by God, like he created all the forces of nature, and we live by them, he also gave us the talents and skills to do thinks.
He then gives us inspirational and ideas to move us
We then go on to make the choices.
We put in our maximum efforts, a
and all along we pray that He guide us well and safely and grant our undertakings with success the more the better
all along this path we have Faith and continue to PRAY so that he will treat us well and with kindness and success
X:
yeah, but G-d create monkies and the conditions for man to evolve and recognize him? or did G-d create 2 perfectly in tact humans?
and if so, where do fossils fit in?
SimShalom :
The "origins of the species" or the "origins of man/woman" is an entirely diffent subject.
Prayer relates to a normal FUNCTIONAL real world as we know.
How and why humans came to be on this planet is a separate discussion.
One thing I can tell you that the rabbis say,
since there were no HUMAN witnesses present when God created th Universe, then Earth, then Nature, then Human Life...so no-one is in a position to calinm that they "know" or "witnessed" what happened.
Thus wether you hold by Evolution or Creationism, either way you have made a choice based on LAter information.
Creationism is BAsed on the Torah/Bible,
and Evolution is based on so-called "science".
But pure science does not knot what the TRUTh is since "science" was not there to see it happen and tell us...wwe have to uase our own brain and values to decide



- posted by Izak @ 10:53 PM (0) comments

 
THE HOLOCAUST
AND ITS COSEQUENCES:
_____________

The Second World War, 1939-1945, signaled the end of a vast traditional Jewish culture located primarily in Eastern Europe. The death of six million Jews throughout Europe was a catastrophic fall for Jewry and Orthodox Judaism. The war also signalled the emergence of American Jewry as the largest single Jewish community in the world, and the rise of traditional-orthodox-Judaism on a scale never before seen amongst the six million Jews of America.

What happened? How was it all achieved? Why did it happen? What significance does this have for America's Jews in particular? What role did education have in causing this situation? How was Jewish education influenced by historical events? What kind of education was it that enabled Orthodox Judaism to find a vibrancy and flourish in America?. Who were the architects that stood at the heart of the changes? What kind of educational institutions were involved? Finally, what makes the Second World War a turning-point for Jewish education in America?

The hallmark of American Jewry had been an unprecedented alienation from its traditional roots. This too was a great fall. After the war, a new phenomenon was evident. American Jewry was confronted with the example of Nazi Germany. The once most enlightened nation in Europe transformed itself into the "angel of death". Jewry was shocked. It had suffered a severe body-blow. But it was far from dead. It had survived. Hitler, the Nazis, and the Axis Powers were defeated. Those Jews who had been spared the brutalities, joined with those who had survived, to re-assess their position in the world. The need to rise up again was urgent.


- posted by Izak @ 3:25 AM (0) comments

 
PURIM AND FEMINISM :
FEMALE ROLE MODELS:
_____
Attention: Even though you might not be thinking about being married now, you might find the following of some use sometime in the future.

Feminism is defined as "militant advocacy of equal rights and status for women" (American Heritage Dictionary). It follows then, that Judaism and the Bible have something to contribute from all sorts of unusual perspectives.

The "War of the Sexes" is there at the outset of creation: Adam needs a wife because he cannot cope with loneliness. Eve, and her alter-ego, the demoness Lilith, are locked in an eternal struggle to create her own individuality.

Who shall rule, and how shall they rule? Who is superior, equal, or inferior?

Eve seems to be trapped in a conflict to overcome her perceived subjugation to Adam. Her question is how to do it? It is one of the questions any revolutionary or militant must ask, as well as: Do you plan to maim or kill your opponent? Do You use legal or extra legal sanctions? Do you employ political power or unconventional force? Do you wage psychological war or pretend that men don't exist? Do you self-immolate? Do you hate yourself or "them"? And even if you do all these things, what guarantee do you have that you'll win your war?

If we turn to the Bible again we can find some guidance. Consider the following cases presented in the Scroll of Esther:



Case One:

Brazen Queen (Vashti) refuses the request of her husband the King (Ahasverosh) to show off her amazing physical beauty in the nude. Her refusal is taken as a sign of rebellion, and she is executed. This is to be a lesson for the women of the Persian Empire not to rebel against their husbands.

Problem! What's the big deal about showing off a little skin?

Case Two:

A Jewish girl (Esther, some say she's married to her uncle Mordechai) is abducted to appear in a beauty contest selecting the next queen. The King falls hopelessly in love with her and appoints her the next Queen. She lives with him forevermore in the palace, thereby saving her people (the Jews).

Problem: What's a nice Jewish girl doing in a palace (sic) like this?

Case Three:

Cunning woman (Zeresh) married to chief minister (Haman) hatches rub-out plan to remove rebel leader (Mordechai) by hanging. A gallows is built, but as fate would have it, there is a mix-up and her own husband gets the noose.

Problem: Who needed her advice in the first place?

From the perspective of the modern-day feminist, the situations in the three cases are less than ideal. They all portray the women in a "second place" position. But if we are willing to consider that all the women obtained power by being close to power-brokers, then we are in fact dealing with the "power behind the throne"-literally. There are some very interesting differences and similarities in all three scenarios.

All three women have considerable influence over events, directly or indirectly. They each choose modes of confrontation with powerful men and thereby unleash forces that they are unable to control.

It's the reverse genie: She rubs the jar and out he comes with a lot of surprises. And so...

In case one, there is an outright loss of power. Maybe it's the fate of a "weaker sex"?

In case three, there is also a loss: A boomerang result that sees the victim become the victor. Instead of annihilating that "other" man, she slams her very "own" man.

In case two, the heroine plays her cards and cues just right! She doesn't go for the full, frontal attack and she worries about any boomerang results. Knowing her strength as queen, she waits for the right moment not just to save women, but to save the Jewish People.

Ironically she herself becomes the sacrificial lamb by not receiving her own personal freedom from the King.

These Biblical lessons for feminists are interesting because of what they reveal about the truth of all male-female relationships. The Jewish feminist should acquaint herself with the stories of Vashti, Esther, Zeresh, as well as Eve, Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah, Tziporah, Yocheved, Miriam and more.

These women from the Torah should provide living models of what to do and not to do. By all means, do what you desire, but is it what G-d desires?




- posted by Izak @ 4:46 PM (0) comments

 
ESAU AND JACOB :
POWERS FROM GENESIS:
____
My entry on:
Esau
In: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Esau in English , is Esav in Hebrew , the son of Isaac and the twin brother of Jacob in Genesis in the Bible . The root of the name in Hebrew is derived from the word asuy denoting "completion", made and complete , since Esau was born hairy and very strong , being "completed" and not infantile.
According to all midrash , ancient classical Jewish oral traditions and teachings, Esau is a very significant character in world history, in so much as Jacob is considered to be the creator of the Children of Israel , it is Esau who is regarded as the forefather of Rome and the Roman Empire. The struggle between the Roman Empire and the Jews stemming from the land of Judah has alternated beween co-operation and outright hate and warfare. The argument is proposed that Esau was born with red coloring in his hair and body, and the ancient rabbis have connected this with the red banner and standard favored by Rome's legions .

The Biblical narrative describes Jacob and Esau in the womb of their mother Rebekah as being locked in constant struglle and combat. The narrative continues that she could not bear the pain of her pregnancy, yet is told by God that she will give birth to two sons who will always be locked in symbiotic combat each one trying to overpower the other. Later Jacob is described as a dweller of tents and Esau is wild hunter. After Jacob deprives Esau of Isaac's blessings, Esau is nevertheless given a fitting blessing that he will "live by the sword". This is another sign of Rome, famous for her unique sword made of steel that smashed its way to world hegemony and on the way massacred the descendents of Jacob/Israel. The struggle remains unresolved through the ages.

Retrieved from "http://www.wikipedia.org/w/wiki.phtml?title=Esau"
This page was last modified 09:33 Feb 7, 2003.

- posted by Izak @ 4:44 AM (0) comments

 
Current Events:
COLUMBIA & CHALLENGER
SHUTTLES AND JEWS;
ELECTIONS IN ISRAEL:
_____
C (11:41 PM) :
Hi
How are you?
SimShalom (11:42 PM) :
Hi, ok. how is good ol'?
C (11:44 PM) :
Fine, thanks.
I'm still shocked about yesterday's Columbia tragedy. It was very sad.
SimShalom (11:51 PM) :
Yes, everybody is.
Do you realize, that on the Challenger 17 years ago there was a first Jewish woman, Dr. Judith Reznik.
And now on this Columbia there was the Jewish Israeli Ilan Ramon?
Maybe God does not want Jews in space? What do you think?
C (11:56 PM) :
Yes, I know about Judith Rezknik.
No.. I just think its a very unfortunate coincidence.
I don't know... any other Jew (apart from Reznik and Ramon) travelled to space?
SimShalom (0:00 AM) :
Not they I know of.
You would have heard about it, because Modern Jews LOVE to make a fuss about such things.
It makes them feel very "accomplished" , as if they have "arrived" in some "promised land".
No they have been the only two so far, and both died in flames..on that alter of space exploration, one of the "idols" of our times, you know, like the Aztecs in Mexico who ate ants and worshiped the sun...until Cortez gave them a few Bible lessons
C (0:04 AM) :
well.. he taught them some Bible lessons, but by the force of the sword.
But no, I don't believe there is any divine determination for Jews not to travel into space.
What is your reading of last tuesday elections in Israel?
SimShalom (0:05 AM) :
The elections were a fair reflection of the Israeli people during WAR time, as they face the ongoing Intifada
C (0:09 AM) :
yes I believe the same.
Although the position of Labor could force Sharon to form a Right Wing Government. I would prefer to see a Likud-Labor-Shinui Government.
SimShalom (0:12 AM) :
It will be interesting to see what will be..I do not believe that the kind of alliance you describe can work...each part will feel they are the "kings", and they are very different each other.
Sharon has always worked with the religious parties and that has always been the "swing vote " in his support. There are 29 Orthodox Knesset members now and they are increasing, they cannot be ignored
C (0:18 AM) :
well.. I hope it all works out for the best. Let's see what happens.
And.. about other things: where do you live in NYC?
SimShalom (0:38 AM) :
Sorry about the delay..
C (0:39 AM) :
no problem
SimShalom (0:39 AM) :
I am in Ny
C (0:41 AM) :
ok
I've been three times to NYC but haven't been in that borough.
. I need to leave now. We'll continue other day, ok?
SimShalom (0:42 AM) :
Ok, bye, take care!
C (0:42 AM) :
bye

- posted by Izak @ 1:41 AM (0) comments

 
Debate:
ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN
STRUGGLE:
__
SimShalom (9:26 PM) :
Hi, how are you doing?
On (9:27 PM) :
I'm fine thank you and yourself?
SimShalom (9:29 PM) :
Ok thanks. So what do you make of recent developments?
On (9:30 PM) :
Which developments in particular?
SimShalom (9:31 PM) :
shuttle and Israel
On (9:32 PM) :
well the shuttle was a terrible accident. As for Israel. I think that the conflict is going to be over by the end of the year
SimShalom (9:32 PM) :
which year was that ? when the messiah comes...?
On (9:34 PM) :
No by the end of 2003. The wall is going to go up. You have a defacto Palestinian state. The Palestinians have lost their only bargaining chip (violence). And gradually (ie over the next few decades) relations between Israel and Palestine will normalize
SimShalom (9:36 PM) :
The "wall" won't work, they never do. The great Wall of China failed to stem the Mongols.
The Berlin Wall became a disgrace, and a symbol of freedom denied, and wall with the Arabs will simply be an 'illusion"
On (9:37 PM) :
Well I think the wall will be a little different than the Great Wall. And even that worked for centuries. This wall will simply be a way to keep suicide bombers out and be armed in ways that can intercept rockets. Honestly with this wall eveyone wins. Don't forget that the majority of the population on both sides want peace and this seems to be the only feasible way to achieve it.
On (9:39 PM) :
The Berlin wall was also different because it was a barrier to political ideologies. Here on both sides of the wall you will have versions of democracy
SimShalom (9:39 PM) :
The Palestinians are a long way from wanting peace...they still feel they can "win" thru insurrection and mayhem...
On (9:40 PM) :
only a small minority on both sides want conflict, unfortunately they are both influential. But public opnion is resoundingly for peaceful coexistence.
SimShalom (9:40 PM) :
Do you honestly think that after this last bloody episode, it's taken about two years to retake the West Bank, the Israelis are just going to stroll away hoping for some promise of 'democracy"?
On (9:43 PM) :
it doesn't matter to Israel whether or not the Palestinian government is a democracy. I'm just saying that that is the way it seems to be headed thus you won't have a wall symbolizing a barrier between capitalism and communism. The future Palestinian state has no reason to pursue anything but democracy. The other Arab states would have to abandon their monarchies whereas the Palestinians do not have a royal family
SimShalom (9:44 PM) :
Oh they have a "King" Arafat who reigns supreme, more than most monarchs today...
On (9:46 PM) :
Arafat isn't a King. To these people he's a hero. He's the first person to ever give these people a voice and to show them that they should stand up for themselves. The conflict right now isn't a result of his actions, its a result of his inactions.
SimShalom (9:48 PM) :
He is a very active man , all his life he has been an activist.
He established the PLO in the 60s. Then went on to do hijackings of planes in 70s, in the 8os he commanded his army in Lebanon, and in the 90s he got his way with Oslo etc and an invite back to "his" "homeland , he is very active in the extreme...
On (9:49 PM) :
He was active. Like I said he was a hero to the Palestinians. Now the situation among his own people has escalated beyond his control
SimShalom (9:50 PM) :
Yes it has, but he is still very much at the center of where it's at for the Palestinians, his immobility is also the Palestinians immobility. What has happened to him is exactly what's happened to his people.
On (9:51 PM) :
Exactly a small group of fundamentalists have caused a war that most on both sides do not want. Moreover, Barak was just as complacent as Arafat in enacting the Oslo accords
SimShalom (9:54 PM) :
'Your "notion" of "fundamentalists" is flawed. Right now the Palestinians are in "Jihad" mode. that's why it's taking the whole Israeli army to control them, and even then it's tough..
On (9:55 PM) :
Its taking the entire Israeli army to "control" them because it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. The terrorists are not the Palestinians. A few Palestinians are the terrorists.
SimShalom (9:57 PM) :
Any army is just a "few" taken from majority, it's no different with fighters from the PLO Hamas, etc
On (9:59 PM) :
whats your point? The majority of the population doesn't want this conflict and they don't have the resources to go after the terrorists on their own.
SimShalom (10:01 PM) :
You're making them seem so reasonable.
Yes at one point they were calmer, that's because they did not feel the time was right for an uprising. The Intifada is a mass popular response it's not just a few trouble makers..
On (10:02 PM) :
I'm not "making them sound reasonable". They are reasonable as a majority. Moreover they have a valid cause to be fighting for.
SimShalom (10:05 PM) :
So if they have a "valid Cause " to fight for, are they not then by definition Israel's enemies and need to be treated as such? Until such time as they will be defeated in war, like all enemies eventually are (cause you don't want to be on the losing side), and after defeated THEN they will sue for peace and become pacified, not sooner, right now they are in battle mode so they are and enemy , men women and children.
On (10:08 PM) :
No. Both sides need to take responsibility for taking serious steps that led to escalation of the violence. And then they need to sit down at the bargaining table and make concessions. The worst thing you can do is try to passify a people using war that "by definition" makes you an aggressor and usually a villian.
SimShalom (10:12 PM) :
They are villains. They want to destroy the Jewish state , thru suicide bombings" stupid peace deals that are frauds, getting their people armed with weapons (by the Israelis yet), by launching Intifadas,
So like all villains they must learn that they cannot defeat the "good guys" The Jews. Only when they are totally defeated and sue for unconditional surrender, as with Nazi Germany and Japan, only then will Israel and America be able to create a democracy and enduring peace.
On (10:13 PM) :
You know the Nazis called the Jews villians too. You are being a racist. Moreover how do you explain the scores of Arab Israelis who live perfectly peacefully with the Jews
SimShalom (10:23 PM) :
The Arab Israelis have made peace with the fact that they WILL not defeat the Jews thru War. They learnt that in 1948. That's why when Not so the Palestinians, they think that they CAN win, so they fight on. so they must face the consequent security mi\Minster allowed some shootings of a few of them it was a serious matter. Not so the Palestinians. They see themselves as being "occupied" and need to fight back, this will only become
(Message was sent. User is Offline.The message will be delivered when user goes Online.)
On (10:26 PM) :
They _are_ occupied. And they are not the blood thirsty animals you seem to take them for
On (10:26 PM) :
Even Israel is calling it an occupation
SimShalom (10:27 PM) :
I did not say they are animals, I say that they are in "war" mode, that's their choice, and is in any war, they will be totally defeated,and only then can there be a real peace.
On (10:30 PM) :
Really and how many Israelis will have to die in your pacification? How many Palestinian children will have to die? They aren't in war mode. In a very real way they have been mistreated by the Jews from day one. In a very real way the Jews took land that once once their home. I'm not saying I agree with the Palestinian position but I do understand it. And I do understand that the majority of the Palestinians are caught between a rock and a hard place. On the one side is the Israeli military, and on the other is the terrorist minority that is propogating this conflict
SimShalom (10:33 PM) :
But you have chosen the luxury of the role of "impartial" objective observer.
Over there it's different.
Under the Barak govt who was willing to give them the most any Israeli leader ever offered, they still persisted in opening fire on Jerusalem's neighborhoods.
Just like they and their leaders made a calculated decision to shoot at the Israelis, they must now make a calculated decision to stop.
On (10:38 PM) :
Even if they did it wouldn't end the conflict. Which is why the wall would
On (10:40 PM) :
I suggest you read the January 25th issue of the Economist it presents a very clear analysis of the situation
SimShalom (10:41 PM) :
Oh, a wall cannot "cure" to feuding neighbors unless the decide to stop killing each other.
I have faith in the Israelis.
At this point I do not have faith in the Palestinians , they are going to need a long "cooling off " period.
How long did McArther rule Japan till he got a Japanese democracy going?
On (10:42 PM) :
its not about democracy. There is no question that a democracy will be the system of government that they choose.
SimShalom (10:43 PM) :
No question?
there is NOT a single democracy in the Arab world..why will they be different?
On (10:43 PM) :
Like I said there is no monarchy that needs to be overthrown. Arafat himself said that he would want a democracy
SimShalom (10:45 PM) :
What do you think Arab monarchs are, they are just yesterday's dictators who made themselves into "king", the point is, secular or religious, the Arabs are ruled by non-democratic governments, they all have a long way to go...
On (10:47 PM) :
You can't just paint all Arabs with this broad brush. Its racist, and quite frankly I find it insulting.
SimShalom (10:48 PM) :
Well which Arab lands are democratic??
The Search Is On (10:48 PM) :
Thats not the point. The point is that the Palestinians are not a typical case.
SimShalom (10:49 PM) :
Yes, they are WORSE
SimShalom (10:49 PM) :
Because they at literally at the throat of Israel...
On (10:50 PM) :
If there are more people like you at positions of power, at positions where decisions are made it gives me far less faith in the Jews.
SimShalom (10:50 PM) :
More dangerous when armed, because they , unlike far away Arabs can fire at Jewish neighborhoods...
SimShalom (10:51 PM) :
They can pollute and poison Israel's water supply...
SimShalom (10:51 PM) :
They can easily sneak across and blow themselves up...
SimShalom (10:52 PM) :
And even their own Arab brothers hate them...
SimShalom (10:52 PM) :
The Jordanians killed them out in 1970 and expelled them
On (10:52 PM) :
Why is it that friends of mine in Israel can be friends with Palestinians? Why is it that I can be friends with and study along side Arabs?
Because the call to arms is not pervasive. People want peace, they want to go on with their lives. But the ability to do that is destroyed by a few ignorant militants
SimShalom (10:52 PM) :
They destroyed the good land of Lebanon...
On (10:53 PM) :
Doesn't that tell you that they are a land of refugees just like the Jewish settlers?
On (10:54 PM) :
There is no place in a multicultural society for those who place judgements on a group as a result of the actions of the few.
SimShalom (10:54 PM) :
No amount of "moral equivalency between Jewish "settlers" undertaking Zionism's mission of settling the land which Jews have been doing for over a hundred years actively..
On (10:54 PM) :
What?
SimShalom (10:56 PM) :
The "settlers" are just doing what Zionists have been doing for a hundred years if not longer...
Even in the time of Moses , the "settlers" being the Children of Israel had to expel the people from Canaan in order to create a final home for the Jews.
On (10:57 PM) :
I think it would be in everyones best interestes to ignore what people did in the Bible. And when the Zionists were working to establish Israel the Jews and Arabs and all the people in that land were living in peace.
SimShalom (10:59 PM) :
No they were not living in peace.
The Arabs were very hostile to the new Zionists coming over from Russia.
They were hostile to Jews coming over during the Holocaust.
And they are hostile now to the Jews living in the sea of Muslims of the middle east
On (11:01 PM) :
From what I have read they did live in peace. But regardless. I think they have a valid cause. I think that violence is their only bargaining chip. And I think that if a war is necessary then both sides need to stop targeting civilians. It needs to be military targets versus military targets.
SimShalom (11:03 PM) :
What military targets?
They are all living and dress as civilians.
The uniformed Palestinian police "acts dumb", and they move with freedom thru the population.
So it's a tough job rooting them out.
Innocents will get hurt under such circumstances.
On (11:04 PM) :
Please the bombing of a building to carry out an assasination of an individual you know is there is intentionally putting civilians at risk. That mission could have been carried out with a sniper.
SimShalom (11:06 PM) :
Again, you are talking with detachment from the practical tactical and military realities.
If the Israelis send men down an alley they always face the threat of an ambush especially if they are on the trail of a hot suspect..air power is a necessity.
On (11:07 PM) :
A practical reality is that Mossad is the best intelligence organization in the world. I would be shocked if they didn't have agents in the Palestinian territories that could carry out the mission. Moreover it is not difficult to disguise Israeli soldiers to infiltrate the region.
On (11:08 PM) :
You have the same problem as many Jews do. Not everything Israel does is right.
SimShalom (11:09 PM) :
In wartime, you support your team. It's not logical to do otherwise.
On (11:10 PM) :
that is one of the most ignorant things I have ever heard. "Your team" could make terrible mistakes. The power of democracy is in the scrutiny of the public if you blindly follow along then decision makers can act with impunity.
SimShalom (11:11 PM) :
Don't worry, you have nothing to fear, in Israel they have a Knesset with Israeli as well as ARAB parties to monitor the government. That's their job
Your job is to be loyal to your people.
On (11:13 PM) :
My Job?
My job is to think freely for myself. to analyze things rationally. And to inform people of my opinions which they can incorporate into thoughts of their own. Thats the job of a writer.
SimShalom (11:14 PM) :
Ok, so write..but the people living there have to face the reality of bullets coming at them from "occupied" Palestine
On (11:15 PM) :
and occupied palestine needs to face the reality of a constant foreign military presence. And I don't know who you are to criticize. What the hell are you doing to support your position?
SimShalom (11:16 PM) :
"my" position being what?
On (11:17 PM) :
I don't know. But you are criticizing me for being a writer. I'm sure people who argue things without thinking through their own points have a place as well.
SimShalom (11:18 PM) :
I am merely DESCRIBING and EXPLAINING what the Israelis are doing.
SimShalom (11:18 PM) :
And you seem to be taken with the Arab view of things?
On (11:19 PM) :
no not at all. I think the suicide bombings are terrible. I'm just trying to look at things analytically. Which is something you seem to have trouble with.
SimShalom (11:21 PM) :
I am starting off with the assumption that we are dealing with a "conflict" actually a civil war, and as such must be "analyzed" as all wars are...until there resolution by the surrender of one side and accepting the terms of the victors...
On (11:22 PM) :
but thats not how all wars end at all. Look at the recent resolution of the conflict between England and the IRA. That could have gone on for many more decades without either side surrenduring.
SimShalom (11:26 PM) :
The IRA lost its strategic arms supplier..the late not lamented USSR.
Then they faced pressure from the US .
And it is still a smoldering conflict.
The Arab Israeli conflict is more complex.
It involves a huge are, namely the Middle east,
and smack dab in the middle of it is Israel with its local enemies the Palestinians, egged on by Islamic REGIMES (not just individual fanatics" ) such as Iran to go out and kill Jews...
The Search Is On (11:29 PM) :
The IRA conflict was solved because thats what people wanted and its not really smoldering. Yes the Arab situation is more complex, but it can be solved peacefully. Moreover it is in Israels best interest to do so. For no reason other than that within a few years the Arabs will be the majority in Israel.
SimShalom (11:32 PM) :
Numbers don't matter.
The bottom line is tiny Israel has always faced a sea of Arabs.
Oh yes, I am sure that the situation can calm down, once they see that violence will get them nowhere. So far as a result of the iNtifada they have lost what gains they made since Oslo in 1993. Now the accords are dead .
As Ababa said, that famous quote:
"The Arabs never fail to miss an opportunity"
SimShalom (11:32 PM) :
Abba Eban
SimShalom (11:33 PM) :
they have never missed and opportunity to miss an opportunity
The Search Is On (11:36 PM) :
Yeah I got the quote. But just because israel has been the underdog doesn't mean they are completely without blame
SimShalom (11:39 PM) :
You know , doing a searching moral inventory of oneself is most noble, an quintessentially religious , as this is what is supposed to be done on Yom Kippur when God examines the deeds of men and nothing is hidden from has omniscient eye. So it's good to be "ruthlessly" objective.
However, to do so in a manner that actually emboldens a group of people who are killing any Israelis thru bombings is downright dangerous and very self deluding.
On (11:42 PM) :
Gods omniscient eye? You know if you want to discuss God thats a whole other conversation and one that is very directly related to what I am studying so I know more about it than politics. I'm not emboldening the terrorists, nor am painting with a brush so broad that I'm reprimanding the Arabs who are against their actions.
SimShalom (11:47 PM) :
To me, when someone talks of the Palestinians being "occupied" akin to the "occupation" that Jews suffered at the hands of the Nazis, I realize that person does not have the slightest clue about EITHER what happened under Nazi Germany and what kind of monsters they were, NOR do they grasp the nature of the Israeli army, one made up Jews who know well what it means to be "occupied" and who know that the Palestinians could have had coexistence
On (11:49 PM) :
yes they could have had coexistence but both sides are responsible for that not hapenning. I didn't say the occupation was the same as in Germany in fact it is quite different but an occupation nonetheless
SimShalom (11:49 PM) :
There are no death camps to exterminate any Arabs.
Israel has offered them friendship from its inception in 1948.
In 1947 they rejected partition of Western Palestine, now they want to come back to it...are they nuts or something? Do they really think Israel is going to let camp on their "back lawn"?
On (11:53 PM) :
Yeah well maybe they realized their mistake
SimShalom (11:54 PM) :
They are not as "mature" as you...
SimShalom (11:55 PM) :
They are greedy and cunning..and grabbing at straws, even if it means their own self-destruction as a respectable people..who wants to deals with Jihad warriors?
On (11:55 PM) :
whatever. You are set in your ways and views. It is impossible to argue with someone who is stubbornly clinging to a point. I suggest you read that issue of the Economist. It is very eyeopening to the true nature of the situation
SimShalom (11:57 PM) :
And who pray issue the opinions of the "Economist"? Some "Lord muck on toast" in London?
On (11:58 PM) :
What!? its one of the most well respected publications in the world. It is often accused of being overly right-wing, but this particular analysis was very unbiased.
On (0:01 AM) :
I need to go as I have class early tomorrow morning. But you really need to get out of this intentional ignorance you've grown comfortable with.
SimShalom (0:04 AM) :
Who cares what they say, right wing Semite wing,
this is not about "left" or "right", (both of which by the way believe that "might is right" but that another story as you would say)..
This is about the survival of five million Jews in a sea of hundreds of millions of Arabs and anti-Semite)yes Arab antisemites) who want to wipe the Jew off the face of the Earth,,ala Osama Bin Ladin and the 'wonderful Whabies" of Saudi Arabia( a "true" democra
On (0:06 AM) :
There is nothing in the Arab faith saying they should be anti-semitic. This is a conflict over land not ideologies. I was merely referring to right wing literature because you seemed to discount the Economist as being irrelevant for some reason.
SimShalom (0:09 AM) :
Don't delude yourself...the Arabs are not a nice amiable crowd of college students out carousing...they are devout believers in their faith, and no matter how they behaved in the past by being willing to have Jews in their midst, since the establishment of the State of Israel this has not been so, and they are currently under the SPELL of their Imams and Ayatollahs(as in Iran) who preach an Islamic "gospel" of anti-Semitism against ALL things Jewish
On (0:10 AM) :
And what do you call extremist Jews who preach against anything Arab?
SimShalom (0:13 AM) :
Such as who?
Who preaches against anything Arab?
there are no such people..every Jew love Arab falafel!

- posted by Izak @ 1:32 AM (0) comments

 
Biography:
RABBI
JOSEPH BER
SOLOVEITCHIK:
_____
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Joseph Ber (Yosef Dov) Soloveitchik ( 1903 - 1993 ) was an Orthodox rabbi, Talmudist and modern Jewish philosopher .

Introduction
Over the course of almost half a century he ordained close to 2,000 rabbis who took positions in Orthodox synagogues across America; they were able to relate to their less traditional congregants, drawing them closer to traditional Jewish observance with quite a few becoming religiously observant. He served as an advisor, guide, mentor, and role-model for tens of thousands of Modern Orthodox Jews as their favorite Talmudical Scholar and religious leader.
In the following picture, Rabbi Soloveitchik can be seen at the extreme right, pointing up, giving a class in Talmud :



Rabbi Soloveitchik inherited his father's, Rabbi Moses (Moshe), position as head of the RIETS rabbinical school at Yeshiva University in 1941 . Scion of the famous Soloveitchik Lithuanian rabbinical dynasty going back some 200 years. Grandson of the renowned rabbinical scholar Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik , and grandson as well as name-sake, of his great grand-father Rabbi Yoshe Ber Soloveitchik known for his work as the Bais HaLevi on Talmud .



Early Years
Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik was educated in the traditional manner at a Talmud Torah , an elementary yeshiva ,and by private tutors as his parents realized his great mental powers. Soon after marriage to Tonya, he moved to Berlin in Germany where he remained for almost a decade studying at the University of Berlin obtaining a Ph.D. based on the philosophy of the great German philosopher Herman Cohen , and simultaneously maintaining a rigorous schedule of intensive Talmud study. During his years in Berlin, he made the acquintance of two other young scholars pursuing similar paths to his own. One was Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson who was destined to command the Chabad Lubavitch movement centered in Brooklyn , New York and the other was Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner who would become the Dean of the Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin also in Brooklyn , New York . Each developed a system of thought bthat bridged the Eastern European way of traditional scholarship with the new forces of modernity in the the Western World .

Philosophy : Synthesis
During his tenure at Yeshiva University in addition to his Talmudic lectures, he deepened the system of "synthesis" whereby the best of religious Torah scholarship would be combined with the best secular scholarship in Western civilization. This has become known as the Torah Umada - "Torah and Science " philosophy unique to Yeshiva University. He authored a book on Jewish thought called "The Lonely Man of Faith" that has somehow been associated with his own stance on issues, the willingness to stand alone in the face of monumental challenges. Through public lectures, writings, and his policy decisions for the moderate Modern Orthodox world, he strengthened the intellectual and ideoligical framework of Modern Orthodoxy.

Organizations
In his early career in America he joined with the traditional movements such as Agudath Israel of America and the Agudat Harabanim - the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of North America. However as he became entrenched in the Modern Orthodox outlook, he removed himself from the former organizations, and instead joined with the Mizrachi Religious Zionists of America (RZA) and the centrist Orthodox Rabbinical Council of America (RCA), where many of his students were to be found in leadership positions. Whilst he was bound scholastically and through family connections to the more Haredi Agudath Israel group, his world-view had placed itself at the center of Modern Orthodox Judaism , with its stress on excellence in secular studies,the professions, and active Zionism .

Controversy
He thus became a "lightning rod" of criticism from two directions: From the "left" he was viewed as being too connected to the Old World of Europe , whilst for those to the "right" he was seen as legitimizing those wanting to lower their religious standards in the attempt to modernize and Americanize . He was staunchly proud of his connections to the Soloveitchik rabbinic dynasty, speaking fondly of his "uncles" and chiding them from time to time in public. To his relatives and namesakes who now lived in Jerusalem where they had established their own branch of the staunchly anti-Zionist Brisk Yeshiva, he was respected for his supreme genius in Talmudic scholarship which few could challenege, yet they saw him as their wayward cousin who had departed from the family Haredi "party line".

Policies
His independence became very clear when in 1956 , all the major Haredi rabbinical heads of the Yeshivot , including two from his own Yeshiva University signed and issued a proclamation forbidding any rabbinical alumni of their yeshivot from joining with Reform Judaism and Conservative Judaism rabbis in professional organizations. Rabbi Soloveitchik refused to sign it outright, miantaining that there were areas , particularly relating to problems that threaten all of Judaism, that required co-operation regardless of affiliation.

Zionism
Since he was accepted as the pre-eminent leader of politically conscious pro-Zionist modern Orthodox Judaism, out of respect for this, many leaders and politicians from Israel sought his advice and blessings in state affairs. He was reputedly offered the position of Chief Rabbi of Israel , such as by Prime Minister Menachem Begin , but he quietly and consistently refused this offer. Ironically, despite his open and passionate love for the modern State of Israel ,yet, he never visited the land.Perhaps because the name Soloveitchik meant something entirely different in Israel than it does in America.

The Rav
He unfailinglingly captured the adoration of his students. He was known as the "Rav", he became the greatest leader of Modern Orthodoxy in the twentieth century, often espousing relatively very liberal positions on educational, political, and social issues within the Orthodox world. His ordination of over 2000 Orthodox rabbis at Yeshiva University, during forty years at the helm, attests to his power and efficacy as well as his consistency and determination.

Boston
He would refer to himself as "The Soloveitchik of Boston".He pioneered one of the first Hebrew day schools in Boston in 1936 where he originally intended to settle and resided there when not teaching in New York. He involved himself in all manner of religious issues in the Boston area. He was at times both a rabbinical supervisor of kosher slaughtering - shchita- and gladly accepted invitations to lecture in Jewish and religious philosophy at prestigious New England colleges and universities. His own son-in-law was on the faculty of Harvard .

An Enlightened Outlook
Not satisfied that young Orthodox women were granted the opportunity to study at their own academic college (Stern College of Yeshiva University) ,he advocated more intensive textual Torah studies for Jewish women, giving the first class in Talmud inuagurated at Stern College, the women's division of Yeshiva College - University. With his enlightened outlook, he attracted and inspired many young men to become rabbis and educators, together with their wives coming with similar education and values .They in turn went out with the education of Yeshiva University to head synagogues, schools and communities, where they influenced many Jews to remain Orthodox.He attracted many others to the cause of Orthodoxy. Among his alumni are Rabbis Nachman Bulman, Shlomo Riskin, and Ephraim Buchwald and many others who became leaders of the Baal teshuva movement.


Family and last years
His children married prominent academics and Tulmudic scholars, one to Rabbi Dr. Aaron Lichtenstein Dean of Gush Etziyon Yeshiva in Israel (with a PhD from Columbia University), another to the late Rabbi Dr. Isadore Twersky former head of the Jewish Studies department at Harvard University (also served as the Talner Rebbe in Boston ) , and his son Rabbi Dr. Haim Soloveitchik is a professor of Jewish History at Yeshiva University.His granchildren have maintained his heritage and also hold high scholarly positions. As he got older he suffered several bouts of serious illness. Family members cared for his every need and distinguished people came to visit him in his last years in Boston, where in 1993 he was laid to rest at the age of ninety.

External links

His life (http://www.ou.org/about/judaism/rabbis/jbsolov.htm)
Maimonides high school founded by Rabbi Soloveitchik in 1937 (http://www.maimonides.org/)
The Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik Institute (http://www.rav.org/)
Introduction to the philosophy of Rabbi Soloveitchik (http://www.vbm-torah.org/archive/rav/rav15.htm)
Bibliography of his writings and resources on the Web (http://www.vbm-torah.org/archive/rav/rav00.htm)
Lecture notes and live audio (http://www.613.org/rav/notes1.html)
Retrieved from "http://www.wikipedia.org/w/wiki.phtml?title=Joseph_Soloveitchik"
This page was last modified 07:43 Jan 27, 2003.

- posted by Izak @ 1:24 AM (0) comments