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| Monday, Apr 15 '13, Iyar 5, 5773 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1. Yaalon: Concessions Now Mean Disaster Later
by Gil Ronen 
Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon addressed the Remembrance Day Ceremony for the IDF's Fallen Soldiers Monday at the Kiryat Shaul Cemetery in Tel Aviv "We are a peace seeking nation," he said. "Our hand reaches out to the world, and we will strive with all our might to make peace with our neighbors. We do not want to lose our sons and daughters. But unfortunately, there are still many who refuse to recognize our right to a Jewish national home in the land of Israel in any borders, forcing us to fight back and cut their intentions short. They are trying to harm us in multifaceted ways, challenging our powers of resistance as a society. These threats are not dwindling, they are merely diversifying." "Terrorist attacks, the firing of rockets at civilian populations and delegitimization campaigns are the challenges which stand before us in the years to come, they will accompany us for the foreseeable future and they will force us to respond with a firm hand." "The nuclear program of a country which glorifies Jew-hatred and the destruction of the State of Israel is taking shape, and if it is not dealt with, it will threaten Israel, the Middle East, and the entire world. The world cannot brush the problem of a nuclear Iran under the carpet, as history – both recent and ancient – has proven that concessions and a lack of determination now, are recipes for a lack of control and disaster in the years to come." "The region is experiencing a shake-up, the like of which we have never experienced. The uncertainty is great, complex and parts of it are reaching our borders. We must identify the opportunities and stand determined to tackle these dangers with shrewd sobriety, responsibility, and careful consideration." "Your heroism, dear families, symbolizes the perseverance capacity of Israeli society, which stands up to the test -- time after time -- in the face of all the challenges which are placed before it. The sorrow and grief which will accompany you, day by day, hour by hour, becomes the sorrow of all of us." "It is impossible to understand the depth of the anguish of separation and longing. Every fallen hero is a world unto themselves; every bereaved family is a world unto themselves. Your wounds will forever struggle to heal. A sharp, permanent pain will accompany you all your days. The price you have paid for the sake of the continued existence of the State of Israel is unbearable; it is unimaginable." Comment on this story
2. 1.5 Million Expected at Cemeteries Nationwide
by Gil Ronen 
About 1.5 million Israelis – almost 1/5 of the country's citizens – are expected to visit Israel's cemeteries Monday, in order to pay respects and remember the nation's war dead, the IDF Website estimates. A 2-minute siren sounded at 11:00. This marks the start of formal ceremonies in various state institutions, as well as schools and IDF bases. Two official state-level memorial ceremonies take place at this time: one at Har Herzl in Jerusalem, attended by the President and Prime Minister, and one at the Kiryat Shaul military cemetery near Tel Aviv, attended by the Defense Minister. 52 official memorial ceremonies will take place in the cemeteries from Kiryat Shemona to Eilat. One of these is a ceremony commemorating the Global Victims of Acts of Terror and Anti-Semitism. It will be attended by Jewish Agency head Nathan Sharansky. The official memorial ceremony for 2,493 victims of acts of terror takes place at Har Herzl at 1:00 p.m. Ceremonies and special broadcasts will continue until 8:00 p.m., when celebration of Independence Day will begin. Comment on this story
3. Swedish Muslim Politician Resigns Over Anti-Jewish Allegiances
by Arutz Sheva staff 
A Muslim Swedish politician resigned from his post on Sunday after coming under intense scrutiny for holding anti-Semitic views. Omar Mustafa, head of Sweden’s Islamic Association, who was elected last week in Stockholm to the Social Democratic Party’s governing board, announced his resignation amid allegations of anti-Semitism, sexism, and homophobia. According to reports, Mustafa “liked” the Facebook page of Yusuf al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian theologian who has called for suicide bombings against Israelis and has justified the Holocaust, calling it “Allah’s punishment” against the Jews for “their corruption." In 2011 he reportedly tweeted that Sweden should send fighter planes to attack Israel rather than targeting the regime of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi as part of the 2011 NATO campaign to protect the civilian population. Furthermore, the Islamic Association, of which he is a member, also reportedly refuses to recognize the equality of the sexes and aligns itself with Islamists known for espousing anti-homosexual ideologies. Mustafa released a statement over the weekend announcing his resignation, maintaining that the “party leadership believes that having a mandate within the party and within Muslim civil society is incompatible.” “The party leadership’s view isn’t only regrettable, it’s also a frightening signal to Muslims and other Social Democrats who are people of faith,” Mustafa wrote in an open letter. “I therefore feel that the party leadership doesn’t have confidence in me and have forced me to resign from all my duties in the party.” Mustafa maintained that he had become the victim of “unfounded attacks and conspiracy theories about Islam, Muslims, and Muslim organizations”. Despite leaving his duties with the party, Mustafa vowed to continue working within Muslim civil society for “justice, equality, and human rights.” “I plan to continue my work with Swedish-Muslim identity, against racism in all its forms, and for a more just national and international policy,” he wrote.
Tags: Muslim world ,Israel ,Jewish ,Swedish
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4. 'Emanuel was no Brad Pitt'
by Gil Ronen 
Economics Minister Naftali Bennett spoke about his best friend, Emanual Moreno, who served with him in the IDF's elite commando unit, Sayeret Matkal. Moreno was not the strongest soldier or the best sharpshooter, Bennett said. He was "not Brad Pitt." But two things typified him: he always tried harder than everyone else, and he was utterly dedicated to the Nation of Israel. Seven years after his death in the course of a daring raid against Hizbullah, Moreno's picture cannot be published, due to the secrecy of the missions he was involved in. Bennett addressed event was attended by thousands of participants from the Masa Israel Journey program. Comment on this story
5. Star of David, Stripes of Blue
by Arutz Sheva 
In Israel, during the weeks before Independence Day flags come out of boxes, draped from their balconies and stuck on cars. Large office buildings display banners 30 floors high and light displays even larger. When you’re in Israel, it’s hard to escape the excitement of Independence Day! So why blue and white? The blue of the flag originates in biblical times. During these times, tallit, the Jewish prayer shawl, had blue dye in it. In fact, God spoke to Moses and advised him: ‘Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them throughout their generation fringes in the corners of their garments, and that they put with the fringe of each corner a thread of blue. And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye go not about after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye used to go astray; that ye may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy unto your God.’ (NUM 15:38-40). Over time as the Israelites spread throughout the world, this commandment was difficult, if not impossible to keep because no dye was available. Some people wove blue or purple into their tallit in an attempt to remember this request. Even today, many tallits on the market still have blue and purple stripes. The blue stripes in the flag of Israel are a modern interpretation of the tallit, to remind this generation and the generations to come to keep the commandments. The blue and white is fitting for a flag, fitting for Judaica, fitting for tallit, but it doesn’t quite stand alone as a symbol. Enter the Star of David… What is the origin of the Jewish Star? The Star of David (or Jewish Star) has evolved into a symbol of Judaism, chosen by the Jewish people to represent themselves. There is no real historical basis for this choice and no mention in any books or scholarly theories that are proven to show any deep meaning in ancient times. In fact, biblically it was the burning bush that represented the people of Israel. ‘And the angel of the LORD appeared until him in a flame of fiber out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.’ (Exodus 3:2). Like the bush that would not burn, the people of Israel could not be consumed by those who seek to destroy them. But a burning bush doesn’t make a compelling symbol any more than a color. Starting in the 17th century, the Jewish Star became the prominent symbol of Judaism. A symbol is only as relevant as the meaning we ascribe to it – so as Jews and gentiles began to identify with the Star of David as a symbol of Judaism, it truly became to represent the Jewish people. And so it remains until today. Same Star, Different Meaning For those who want to destroy Israel, the star is a symbol of apartheid, oppression and war crimes. It’s used in cartoons under the guise of criticizing Israel, when in fact what it is doing is promoting anti-Semitism. So-called humanitarians burn the Israeli flag and carry signs where the Jewish Star is equated with the Nazi symbol. We’ll never forget the yellow stars of the Holocaust – the true symbol of genocide. For the Jewish people and those who support them, this star is a source of pride, not hate. So what does it really mean? The true meaning of the Star of David is personal. Rabbi Shraga Simmons says that the six points of the stars represents God’s rule of all directions. He supports this claim with the fact that the star is called “Magen David” which means Shield of David. And since it was not the physical Shield of David that won his fights, but his help from God, the star represents God’s help. Simmons supports this again with the third blessing after the Haftorah, which states, “Blessed are you God, Shield of David.” However, he admits that there are other ideas: The Kabbalah version of the Yin-Yang, representing the dichotomies of man, e.g. good vs. evil. The 12 tribes of Israel. The relationship between the Jewish people and God; we pray up as God projects down. Technology developed in the 1st century Bar Kochba rebellion whereby shields were fashioned into a hexagon, formed by two triangles. The conflicts among the Jewish people. Why wear a Jewish Star? Some people show their feelings about Israel by flying the Israeli flag high. Others might share news stories & images on Facebook. For those who choose to wear the Jewish Star, it’s just another way to connect personally to whatever feelings they have. People have individualistic interpretations of the Jewish Star. As a result, there are as many manifestations of the wearable Star of David as there are feelings about the symbol itself. The Star of David is a common charm on red Kabbalah bracelets. It adorns jewelry together with traditional blessings and prayers; it’s also not unusual to find modern art versions. One version consists of a dove and a triangle, called the “David Dove.” You can even find the Star of David entwined in a dream catcher or woven in gold around a crystal. The importance of symbols Symbols are an important part of how people express themselves. It’s one way we can show ourselves to others, but also remind ourselves of our own beliefs. Whether you choose to celebrate Israel’s Independence Day by flying a flag, sharing an inspirational e-mail with friends & family, joining activities in the Jewish community or just praying, the important thing is that you stay true to yourself.
Tags: Star of David ,Kabbalah ,flags
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6. Who Tried to Silence Pamela Geller?
by Eliran Aharon, New York 
The Jewish community in New York is protesting a recent attempt to silence Jewish activist Pamela Geller, who holds lectures in which she warns against the dangers of Islam and jihad which are spreading in Europe and the U.S. Geller is co-founder of the American Freedom Defense Initiative and has been at the forefront of championing causes that have to do with democracy, freedom, liberty and justice through her role as a leading blogger at "Atlas Shrugs", a co-founder of "Stop the Islamization of America" and a prolific writer on the subject of the threat to the American value system that she feels is represented by insidious encroachment of Sharia law in the Western world. Arutz Sheva has learned that several weeks ago, Geller was invited to speak at one of the synagogues in Great Neck, but local Jewish leftist activists exerted heavy pressure on the synagogue, in order to prevent her from speaking. Members of the local Jewish community told Arutz Sheva on Sunday that the leftists threatened to take action against the synagogue if it allows Geller to speak there. The rabbi of the synagogue eventually surrendered and cancelled the lecture, they said. Local Chabad members, however, heard the story and, deciding that freedom of expression is a supreme value, allowed Geller to lecture at one of the local Chabad synagogues. The Chabad members were also threatened but did not give up. The community members said that even when well-respected donors told Chabad they would block financial aid if they let Geller speak, Chabad was not deterred and said it intended, despite the threats, to allow Geller to be heard. On Sunday, Geller was given the opportunity to give her lecture in the presence of many Jews.
Tags: Chabad ,New York City ,Pamela Geller
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7. Netanyahu: If We Must, We'll Go to War
by Gil Ronen 
"Since our inception as a people, we had to fight for our freedom and our existence," Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said at a Sunday afternoon ceremony at Beit Yad Labanim in Jerusalem, marking the start of Memorial Day for the IDF's Fallen Soldiers. "Today, too, there are those who threaten to annihilate us -- they haven't succeeded in the past, they won't ever succeed", he said. Netanyahu seemed to be alluding to Iran, which Israel believes is working toward achieving military nuclear capabilities and has issued countless threats to annihilate the Jewish state. "If we have no choice, we will grasp our swords and go to battle," Netanyahu said, in one of the more sternly worded warnings he has issued to date. "We are not belligerent, we are not bloodthirsty. Our hand is extended in peace to all nations and states, far and near, but over the centuries we learned that only a strong defense force will ensure that we are not harmed." President Shimon Peres, speaking at a memorial service at the Kotel, said that "Israel's existence is no longer in question. The IDF is ready for any scenario, against any enemy." Speaking after Peres, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz said that "our sword is sharper than ever. Its lethal blade reaches every range. Whoever needs to know, knows -- there is no place or target that the IDF's long arm can't reach." "If it seems that the enemy is no longer at our gate -- don't let that quiet mislead you," he said, because "a storm of developing threats and dangers is raging below the surface."
Tags: war ,Iran Strike ,Iran nucelar program
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8. Report: Germany Prefers Israeli Over US Drones
by Arutz 7 Staff 
Germany is in talks with Israel to buy weaponized drones for its military that are seen as more technologically advanced than US-made ones, the weekly Der Spiegel reported. The news magazine's Monday edition said the German defense ministry had already held two meetings with Israeli military officials, in November 2012 and February 2013, on the proposed purchase. The chief of Germany's air force, Lieutenant General Karl Muellner, was said to have recently gone to Israel to attend a presentation of Israel's Heron TP drone, Der Spiegel said. Berlin was believed to favor the Heron over the US-made Predator drones because it was seen as more cutting-edge, the magazine said. Germany's defense minister, Thomas de Maiziere, in February called for combat drones to be incorporated into the air force, saying their lack created a disadvantage. At the time, he made no mention about which drones Germany would be interested in, AFP reported. But Germany had expressed an interest in jointly developing drone technology with France, to avoid becoming dependent on US or Israeli drones, the magazine said.
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Everyday of Freedom is an Act of Faith for my writings ============> http://robertoscaruffi.blogspot.com for something on religions ===> http://scaruffi1.blogspot.com
Monday, 15 April 2013
