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Not to stand by while Israel loses its Jewish identity
Join Manhigut Yehudit English speakers in Israel, Olim new and old, to make a change
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| Authentic Jewish Leadership for Israel |
The Jewish Leadership Weekly Newsletter
8 Iyar, 5767 (April 26) Issue 6729
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In this Issue |
- Climbing to Independence in Homesh
- No Need for Coercion
- Obstacle or Key to Jewish Identity?
- From our Readers
- Join the Team
- Announcements
- Torah Sparks: Acharei Mot - Kedoshim
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| Climbing To Independence in Homesh |
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The march to Homesh on Israel's Independence Day was tough, but it was a genuine march of independence. The estimated 13,000 marchers did not wait for the authorization of the government, the Defense Minister, the army or the police. They marched. Abandoning their vehicles at whatever point they were blocked by the army or the police, these loyal Jews -- religious, secular and ultra-Orthodox -- hiked through the fields, up the sides of mountains, down steep slopes, across kilometers of green hills and winding roads and finally made it -- exhausted -- to Homesh. There were lots of teenagers, an impressive amount of "golden-agers," parents, little children trying to keep up with their older siblings and an amazing amount of babies in carriages who were half-pushed and half carried over terrain patently inaccessible to anything other than 4x4 wheels. Even a blind man, a man on crutches and a teenager in a wheelchair managed to make the climb.
The sight was reminiscent of the prophet Isaiah's comforting words to the Land of Israel, "Raise your eyes and see, they are all gathering and returning to you." (Isaiah 60:4). People were marching across the Shomron from every direction. And nobody was going to stop them.
"Hey, what is a State Supremacist (Mamlachti in local jargon) like you doing here?" a famous rabbi from a Mamlachti yeshiva laughingly asked me.
"You tell me," I answered him with a smile, as it was clear that he wanted to explain himself.
"I am only where the army authorizes us to be," he answered, trying to convince himself that he didn't cross the lines.
"Rabbi," I said to him, "today you are a criminal, along with me. No excuses will help. The Expulsion Law from the days of the "Disengagement" prohibits Israeli citizens from being here. But enjoy yourself. This is true independence."
The above conversation took place at the foot of Homesh. The Rabbi, who undoubtedly understood that he was violating the "Israeli" law, made it up to Homesh nevertheless, and joined us for the Mincha prayer on the ruins of the Homesh synagogue.
For years, we have been used to events that are completely organized, with busses to shuttle us to and from our destination, a route that is appropriate for all ages, designated parking areas and people whose job it is to keep order everywhere. Even at Kfar Maimon, where a tremendous crowd had gathered to revolt against the evil Expulsion decree, the Yesha leaders -- fully coordinated with the army and police -- managed to gag the revolutionary energies there until they completely dissipated.
True, the built in disobedience of the organizers of the march to Homesh had a price. There was no official route. No grandstand with flags and huge amplifiers awaited the thousands that arrived. No famous cultural icons performed on the makeshift stage. And the only way to get back to our abandoned vehicles was by foot. So as darkness descended, the thousands began the trek down from Homesh.
The three hour march in the dark wasn't easy for the teenagers, or for the seniors, the parents of small kids or the people with the baby carriages. But it was worth it. Groups of teenagers sang Jewish songs of joy and rebuilding the Temple all along the way. Liberation was in the air; freedom from the laws of the "Israeli" government and from the old leadership that is emotionally and economically subservient it.
The revolutionary consciousness that Manhigut Yehudit encourages has made a major public breakthrough. With G-d's help, the great success in Homesh will help to propel the leadership revolution forward, full steam ahead. Manhigut Yehudit is about building the nation's will for leadership that will foster Israel's ultimate redemption. That is our purpose and the goal that makes successes like Homesh so significant.
A hearty yashar koach to all the Manhigut Yehudit members who made it to Homesh, and made Manhigut Yehudit's presence there very visible. May we all be privileged to merit Israel's redemption soon!
Michael Fuah
General Director
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| No Need for Coercion |
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 Last night, the siren announcing the commencement of Israel's Memorial Day for its fallen soldiers and terror victims caught me in the middle of Road # 60, in Wadi Haramiyah. Like Israelis throughout the country, I got out of my car and stood in silence for the duration of the siren. But I was not in the middle of a major highway. I happened to be alone on the road that winds all the way from the hills of Judea, through Binyamin and north through the hills of the Shomron. Wadi Haramiyah, where I stopped my car, is the place where -- just five years ago -- ten Israeli citizens and soldiers were murdered by an Arab sniper.
The siren on my car radio was a bit distant. Israel's official radio station, the Voice of Israel, doesn't exactly broadcast to Judea and the Shomron. But when I got back in my car and began the winding climb through the hills of Binyamin, the reception cleared and I was able to hear Israel's official Memorial Day ceremony. The solemn and dignified Master of Ceremonies invited the Honorable Acting President, Mrs. Daliah Itzik, to speak in memory of the fallen soldiers. At that point, I turned off my radio. The darkness and quiet of the Binyamin hills seemed more appropriate to the gravity of the evening than the voice of the Honorable Acting President.
It is easy and natural for a Jew to identify with the Nation of Israel, its pain and its fallen heroes. We should not make light of that solidarity. It may be the only expression we have of an all encompassing Israeli culture. On the other hand, though, identification with the State's official symbols and ceremonies is extremely problematic.
When people ask me if there will be "religious coercion" in the Manhigut Yehudit-led Jewish State, I use the Memorial Day siren as an example. Is there any law in Israel that requires one to stand during the Memorial Day siren? Of course not. And if there were such a law, I would probably not have stopped my car in the middle of the dark, lonely road in Wadi Haramiyah to stand in silence. But the Memorial Day siren is an inseparable part of my culture. In an authentic Jewish State, a person eating falafel on Passover would feel just as uncomfortable as a person who would walk down the street whistling a tune during the Memorial Day siren. Laws and coercion will not make Israel's public space Jewish. What we need is a cultural revolution that will transform our Torah into our culture.
Moshe Feiglin
For more on Manhigut Yehudit's approach to religion in the Jewish State, see Moshe Feiglin's article, "No More Reservations."
You can turn the State of Jews
into the Jewish State.
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| The State of Israel: Obstacle or Key to Jewish Destiny?: By Moshe Feiglin |
Translated from the Ma'ariv NRG website.
Holocaust Memorial Day, 5767
April 16, 2007
 On the morning of Holocaust Memorial Day, Israel announced that it would allow the transfer of fifty million dollars worth of weapons and military aid to the Presidential Guard of Abu Mazen. Does anybody doubt that these weapons will ultimately be used against us? Reality has proven time and again that Jews are murdered as a result of these weapons transfers. So why do we allow them to continue?
"How did the Jews of the Holocaust era allow the Germans to do what they did?" the brave Israelis arrogantly proclaimed. "After all, they knew where they were leading them. Weak-kneed pushovers!"
And what about us? We clearly understand that Jews will be killed with these weapons. What are we doing about it? It seems that as we mark the 59th year of Israel's independence, the blood of the Jewish People is still cheap. It is only natural that the Arabs of Gaza must be supplied with weapons and that in half a year or so those weapons will kill Jews. Then we will supply them with more weapons to protect us from the weapons that we gave them today, that were supposed to protect us from the weapons that we gave them yesterday. That's just the way it is; we have no control over it. We must come to terms with this Russian roulette, absolve ourselves of any responsibility and hope that we or our loved ones will not pay the price.
Luckily, we can still demonstrate. And there actually were demonstrations just before Holocaust Memorial Day. They were even stormy. Proud and strong Israelis blocked traffic, burned tires and even got arrested. They are not pushovers -- why should they pay almost one thousand shekels per month for their university tuition? But demonstrations against the weapons being transferred to Gaza? About the Jews that will die? Why demonstrate? It is a fact of life that a certain percentage of Jews will be killed in terrorist attacks. It is like the sun that rises in the east. Have you ever seen a demonstration against the rising of the sun?
After Israel's news announced the weapons transfer, Holocaust survivor and former Knesset Speaker of the House Dov Shilanski was interviewed. "For me," he said, "the State of Israel is the guarantee that the Holocaust will never happen again." I deeply respect Dov Shilanski, but I could not understand the basis of his opinion: Israel's military strength? That has turned out to be disappointing, at the very least. Anybody who can't figure out why should drive over to Sderot. The exile mentality that has changed? It has only gotten worse. We have recently encountered a new mass-murderer who unabashedly announces his intentions to destroy Israel. "Let the Germans give you a state," he says. "Why do the Arabs have to pay the price of your Holocaust?" And the brave, new Israelis have no answer. They are helpless. Just like the Holocaust Jews whom they ridicule, they desperately wait for the redemptive strike on Israel's crowded population center.
According to all logic, Shilanski is wrong. The State of Israel that denies itself to death is leading us toward another Holocaust. If I did not believe in G-d, I would get my family out of Israel post haste. But I believe in the G-d of Israel and His Nation. I believe that G-d's will is that we remain in Israel. I believe in the Bible and in the prophecies that reassure us that the final redemption will be eternal.
The question is not if we will survive, but what will be the price. And that depends on us. When we flee our Jewish identity and destiny, our enemies flourish. I believe that when we connect to our national identity, new, fresh forces of life will awaken within our Nation. It is then that we will understand the importance and power of our State. We will understand that although the State of Israel had been used to deny Jewish destiny, it is actually the tool that expresses it. When we connect to our destiny, we will do much more than merely exist or survive. And nobody will dare dream of destroying Israel. |
| From our Readers |
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 To Shmuel Sackett, I'm a Russian Jew who came to the USA and started learn English at age of 53, so please forgive my rusty English. By way of introduction, I'm not a Synagogue-goer; I don't keep kosher; I wear the yarmulke only when I'm invited to our Orthodox friends; I'm driving to work on Saturdays, and, of course, I don't speak Hebrew. At the same time, I identify myself as a Jew, I watch closely and take to heart everything that happens in Israel
A few months ago, I got involved in a discussion on Russian forum on Channel 7 where most of its participants share almost the same values as you in Manhigut Yehudit. From them I learned about Moshe Feiglin and his movement. To learn more I went first to the Russian, and than to English Manhigut Yehudit websites. But the most enthusiastic reference about Moshe I've gotten from a world-known psychiatrist and, in my opinion, the best social and political journalist in Russian, Vadim Rotenberg (please remember this name).
Eventually, an image of Moshe Feiglin as a man of principles, honesty, courage and dignity developed in my mind, and I concluded that here is a man who can head the movement of building a kingdom of David. So, I sent $365 via PayPal to the address indicated on your website. Please do me a favor, do NOT send me any mugs, books or make any other expenditures. I want my contribution to be spent on the noble cause of propagating ideas of honesty, dignity and self-respect among Jews, and on achievement political goals set forth for Manhigut Yehudit.
Sincerely,
YT
Keep up to date with the latest articles and audio updates.
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Matching Gift Donation Program
Please note that Manhigut Yehudit works with all corporate "Matching Gift Donation Programs". Many of our donors are able to DOUBLE their donations - without it costing them a penny more - by submitting the proper paperwork for matching gifts. One of our donors works for a company that has a 3-for-1 program! Last year he donated $600 and then his company sent us a check for $1,800! This is an extreme case but PLEASE check out if your company has this program. Even if they will "only" match 1-for-1, that is still fantastic! Please call our USA office if you have any questions: (516) 295-3222.
No matter where you are,
you can be part of Manhigut Yehudit.
Join us!
Together we can channel our idealistic energy
into revolutionizing Israeli society.
What can I do?
If you are an Israeli citizen now is the time to sign up for the Likud. Be sure to also sign up family and friends. If you are already a member you may have children over 18 that have not yet signed up. For just a small investment (64 Israeli Shekels for a single membership / 96 Israeli Shekels for a couple), the new Likud member turns from just another insignificant protestor into a highly exclusive and influential voter. Yes, the Likud has severe faults. But it is the most effective ticket to revolutionizing Israel.
And now it's easier then ever -- you can sign up for the Likud via Manhigut Yehudit online. Click, and you are just one step away from joining the team! 4-5 days after you submit the online form a Manhigut Yehudit staff member will contact you to verify the information you have submitted and to bring you up- to-date with the latest information regarding the status of your membership. Click here to join the Likud now.
If you are already a Likud member and you would like to check your membership status, just email us at: likud@jewishisrael.org. Be sure to include your name, Israeli ID No., and a phone number where it is easiest to reach you. Or give us a call at our new "English Speakers" office: 02-996-1123 (
Israel), or 516-620- 2475 (USA).
If you are not Israeli citizen, then you are not eligible to join the Likud. But you can join many others and become a Manhigut Yehudit International Member.
Joining Manhigut Yehudit International is much more than just a donation. Now you're part of the team! And you don't need to be living in Israel to join. Join the team today! Click here to learn more!
Let's spread the message! If you are interested in arranging a lecture or meeting in your community with Moshe Feiglin or Shmuel Sackett, either in Israel or in the USA, please contact Dovid Shirel at shir@manhigut.org, or call: 02-996-1123 (Israel), or 516-620-2475 (USA). |
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Mazal Tov to Manhigut Yehudit General Director Michael Fuah and his wife, Malki, on the birth of their daughter, Efrat. May she be a source of much joy to you, your family and the entire Nation of Israel!
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Torah Sparks: Acharei Mot - Kedoshim |
 Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: You shall be holy. (Leviticus 19:2)
The easiest thing is to hide from the world and its follies, seclude oneself in a room, and be a holy hermit. What the Torah desires, however, is that a person should be part and parcel of "all the congregation of the children of Israel"--and be holy.
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| Manhigut Yehudit
The Jewish Leadership Movement
Tel: 02-996-1123 (Israel); 516-295-3222 (USA) |
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Our Aim:To perfect the world in the Kingdom of the Almighty
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