Monday, May 31, 2010

First Hand Account of Israeli Naval Operation

(courtesy of the Israel Project)

Below is an article by Israeli journalist Ron Ben Yishai for the Israeli newspaper Yediot Achronot in which he provides a first hand account of the Israeli operation to take control of the Turkish-led flotilla. The Israel Project hopes you find this of interest.


Ben Yishai, Ron, "A Brutal Ambush at Sea," YnetNews, May 31, 2010, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3896796,00.html

For Video Footage of the Gaza Flotilla

A Brutal Ambush at Sea

Ron Ben Yishai recounts bloody clash aboard Gaza-bound vessel: The lacking crowd-dispersal means, the brutal violence of ‘peace activists,’ and the attempt to bring down an IDF helicopter

Our Navy commandoes fell right into the hands of the Gaza mission members. A few minutes before the takeover attempt aboard the Marmara got underway, the operation commander was told that 20 people were waiting on the deck where a helicopter was to deploy the first team of the elite Flotilla 13 unit. The original plan was to disembark on the top deck, and from there rush to the vessel’s bridge and order the Marmara’s captain to stop.

Officials estimated that passengers will show slight resistance, and possibly minor violence; for that reason, the operation’s commander decided to bring the helicopter directly above the top deck. The first rope that soldiers used in order to descend down to the ship was wrested away by activists, most of them Turks, and tied to an antenna with the hopes of bringing the chopper down. However, Flotilla 13 fighters decided to carry on.

Navy commandoes slid down to the vessel one by one, yet then the unexpected occurred: The passengers that awaited them on the deck pulled out bats, clubs, and slingshots with glass marbles, assaulting each soldier as he disembarked. The fighters were nabbed one by one and were beaten up badly, yet they attempted to fight back.

However, to their misfortune, they were only equipped with paintball rifles used to disperse minor protests, such as the ones held in Bilin. The paintballs obviously made no impression on the activists, who kept on beating the troops up and even attempted to wrest away their weapons.

One soldier who came to the aid of a comrade was captured by the rioters and sustained severe blows. The commandoes were equipped with handguns but were told they should only use them in the face of life-threatening situations. When they came down from the chopper, they kept on shouting to each other “don’t shoot, don’t shoot,” even though they sustained numerous blows.

‘I saw the tip of a rifle’

The Navy commandoes were prepared to mostly encounter political activists seeking to hold a protest, rather than trained street fighters. The soldiers were told they were to verbally convince activists who offer resistance to give up, and only then use paintballs. They were permitted to use their handguns only under extreme circumstances.

The planned rush towards the vessel’s bridge became impossible, even when a second chopper was brought in with another crew of soldiers. “Throw stun grenades,” shouted Flotilla 13’s commander who monitored the operation. The Navy chief was not too far, on board a speedboat belonging to Flotilla 13, along with forces who attempted to climb into the back of the ship.

The forces hurled stun grenades, yet the rioters on the top deck, whose number swelled up to 30 by that time, kept on beating up about 30 commandoes who kept gliding their way one by one from the helicopter. At one point, the attackers nabbed one commando, wrested away his handgun, and threw him down from the top deck to the lower deck, 30 feet below. The soldier sustained a serious head wound and lost his consciousness.

Only after this injury did Flotilla 13 troops ask for permission to use live fire. The commander approved it: You can go ahead and fire. The soldiers pulled out their handguns and started shooting at the rioters’ legs, a move that ultimately neutralized them. Meanwhile, the rioters started to fire back at the commandoes.

“I saw the tip of a rifle sticking out of the stairwell,” one commando said. “He fired at us and we fired back. We didn’t see if we hit him. We looked for him later but couldn’t find him.” Two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds to their knee and stomach after rioters apparently fired at them using guns wrested away from troops.

During the commotion, another commando was stabbed with a knife. In a later search aboard the Marmara, soldiers found caches of bats, clubs, knives, and slingshots used by the rioters ahead of the IDF takeover. It appeared the activists were well prepared for a fight.

Some passengers on the ship stood at the back and pounded the soldiers’ hands as they attempted to climb on board. Only after a 30-minute shootout and brutal assaults using clubs and knifes did commandoes manage to reach the bridge and take over the Marmara.

It appears that the error in planning the operation was the estimate that passengers were indeed political activists and members of humanitarian groups who seek a political provocation, but would not resort to brutal violence. The soldiers thought they will encounter Bilin-style violence; instead, they got Bangkok. The forces that disembarked from the helicopters were few; just dozens of troops – not enough to contend with the large group awaiting them.

The second error was that commanders did not address seriously enough the fact that a group of men were expecting the soldiers on the top deck. Had they addressed this more seriously, they may have hurled tear-gas grenades and smoke grenades from the helicopter to create a screen that would have enabled them to carry out their mission, without the fighters falling right into the hands of the rioters, who severely assaulted them.


The Israel Project is an international non-profit organization devoted to educating the press and the public about Israel while promoting security, freedom and peace. The Israel Project provides journalists, leaders and opinion-makers accurate information about Israel. The Israel Project is not related to any government or government agency.

Facts on Flotilla Incident - courtesy of UJC.org

NEWS ALERT:

BACKGROUND ON FLOTILLA INCIDENT
As many of you may be aware, a major confrontation took place off Israel's coast earlier today. We wanted to bring you the most up-to-date information from JFNA's Israel office, for your background. We have summarized the major points below. This is followed by additional facts and links to other important materials on this incident.

* Early this morning (May 31), Israel Defense Forces naval forces intercepted six ships attempting to break the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
* The intercept took place after numerous warnings from Israel and the Israel Navy that were issued prior to the action. The Israel Navy requested the ships to redirect toward Ashdod <http://lyris.ujcfedweb.org/t/5782020/32747279/26702/0/> , where they would be able to unload their cargo which would then be transferred to Gaza over land after undergoing security inspections. The IDF stressed that the passengers could then return to their point of departure on the same vessels.
* During the interception of the ships, the demonstrators onboard attacked the IDF naval personnel http://lyris.ujcfedweb.org/t/5782020/32747279/26703/0/ with live gunfire as well as light weaponry including knives, crowbars and clubs. The demonstrators had clearly prepared weapons in advance for this specific purpose.
* According to reports from sea, on board the flotilla that was seeking to break the maritime closure on the Gaza Strip, IDF forces apprehended two violent activists holding pistols. These militants apparently grabbed the pistols from IDF forces and opened fire on the soldiers.
* The activists were carrying 10,000 tons of reported aid to Gaza. Israel provides 15,000 tons of aid weekly to Gaza.
* As a result of this life-threatening activity, naval forces employed riot dispersal means, including, when they determined that their lives were in immediate danger, live fire. According to initial reports, these events resulted in over 10 deaths among the demonstrators and numerous injured.
* A number of Israeli naval personnel were injured, some from gunfire and others from knives and crowbars. Two of the soldiers are moderately wounded and the remainder sustained light injuries.
* All of the injured, Israelis and foreigners, are currently being evacuated by a fleet of IDF helicopters to hospitals in Israel.
* Reports from IDF forces on the scene are that some of the participants onboard the ships had planned a lynch-mob attack, using lethal force on the boarding forces.
* The events are still unfolding. Israeli Naval commander, Vice Admiral Eliezer Marom is overseeing the activities.
* In the coming hours, the ships will be directed to the Ashdod port, while IDF naval forces will perform security checks in order to identify the people on board the ships and their equipment.
* The IDF naval operation was carried out under orders from the political leadership to halt the flotilla from reaching the Gaza Strip and breaching the naval blockade.

Other important facts:

* The provocateurs were organized by an Islamist organization that has links to fundamentalist jihadi groups.
* The extremists brought small children on board knowing that they intended to violate international maritime law.
* The activists were carrying 10,000 tons of what they said was aid. Israel transfers about 15,000 tons of supplies and humanitarian aid every week to the people of Gaza.
* "We fully intend to go to Gaza regardless of any intimidation or threats of violence against us, they are going to have to forcefully stop us," said one of the flotilla’s organizers.
* Using the Arabic term ‘intifada,’ Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said "We call on all Arabs and Muslims to rise up in front of Zionist embassies across the whole world.
* Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said this week: "If the ships reach Gaza it is a victory; if they are intercepted, it will be a victory too.
* Israel left Gaza in hopes of peace in 2005 and in return received more than 10,000 rockets and terrorist attacks.
* Israel has said that it will deliver any humanitarian aid to Gaza, as it does daily.
* No country would allow illegal entry of any vessel into their waters without a security check.
* Earlier this week, Noam Shalit, father of Hamas-held Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, approached the flotilla's organizers asking them to take supplies to Gilad. He was refused .

Here are additional resources for further background on this issue:

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Danny Ayalon's press conference on the flotilla incident:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/137785 http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/137785

Israel Goes on High Alert in the Wake of Flotilla Incident:

http://www.themedialine.org/news/news_detail.asp?NewsID=28979 http://lyris.ujcfedweb.org/t/5782020/32747279/26706/0/

IDF Met with Pre-Planned Violence When Boarding Ship:

http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/05/3101.htmhttp://lyris.ujcfedweb.org/t/5782020/32747279/26707/0/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU12KW-XyZE&playnext_from=TL&videos=KoyKrtEKHmY&feature=sub<http://lyris.ujcfedweb.org/t/5782020/32747279/26714/0/

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon’s Statement: Activists Had Weapons:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3896588,00.html http://lyris.ujcfedweb.org/t/5782020/32747279/26708/0/

Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement about the humanitarian situation in Gaza:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wlWcNXzstI

MFA legal expert Sarah Weiss Maudi explains why the flotilla was not allowed to dock at Gaza:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2W457Ot6qw&feature=channel

Legal Backgrounder on maritime law and other related issues, from MFA:

http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=221580

A fascinating Al-Jazeera report on the flotilla before they left that offers insight into who was on board. One says: "We are now waiting for one of two good things -- either to achieve martyrdom or to reach Gaza:"

http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/2489.htm

Video of a "peace activist" stabbing an Israeli soldier as he boards the boat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buzOWKxN2co

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Expresses Full Backing for the IDF:

Prime Minister Netanyahu today spoke by telephone with the relevant security ministers and officials, and was updated on the action and subsequent developments. In his discussions with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, Minister Moshe Yaalon, Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch, IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Gaby Ashkenazi and ISA Director Yuval Diskin, the Prime Minister issued security, diplomatic and information directives, reiterated his full backing for the IDF and inquired about the well-being of the wounded.

The National Security Council Counter-Terrorism Bureau (NSCCTB) has released the following statement:

"In response to the events surrounding the protest flotilla, there are growing protests by the government and public in Turkey. At this stage, relatively quiet demonstrations are taking place around the Israeli Consulate General in Istanbul and the Israeli Embassy in Ankara. This delicate state of affairs is liable to deteriorate into violent outbreaks against Israelis in Turkey.

The NSCCTB's recommendations are as follows:

Israelis due to leave for Turkey should – at this stage – refrain from travelling until the situation becomes clear.

Israelis currently in Turkey should remain in their places of residence, avoid city centers and sites in which demonstrations are being held, and monitor developments out of concern that the situation could worsen.

Look at Today's Tehillim Yomi in light of current events!

Text courtesy of David HaMelech and Mechon Mamre

Psalms Chapter 35 תְּהִלִּים
א לְדָוִד: רִיבָה יְהוָה, אֶת-יְרִיבַי; לְחַם, אֶת-לֹחֲמָי. 1 A Psalm of David. Strive, O LORD, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me.

ב הַחֲזֵק מָגֵן וְצִנָּה; וְקוּמָה, בְּעֶזְרָתִי. 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up to my help.

ג וְהָרֵק חֲנִית וּסְגֹר, לִקְרַאת רֹדְפָי; אֱמֹר לְנַפְשִׁי, יְשֻׁעָתֵךְ אָנִי. 3 Draw out also the spear, and the battle-axe, against them that pursue me; say unto my soul: 'I am thy salvation.'

ד יֵבֹשׁוּ וְיִכָּלְמוּ, מְבַקְשֵׁי נַפְשִׁי: יִסֹּגוּ אָחוֹר וְיַחְפְּרוּ--חֹשְׁבֵי, רָעָתִי. 4 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion that seek after my soul; let them be turned back and be abashed that devise my hurt.

ה יִהְיוּ, כְּמֹץ לִפְנֵי-רוּחַ; וּמַלְאַךְ יְהוָה דּוֹחֶה. 5 Let them be as chaff before the wind, the angel of the LORD thrusting them.

ו יְהִי-דַרְכָּם, חֹשֶׁךְ וַחֲלַקְלַקֹּת; וּמַלְאַךְ יְהוָה, רֹדְפָם. 6 Let their way be dark and slippery, the angel of the LORD pursuing them.

ז כִּי-חִנָּם טָמְנוּ-לִי, שַׁחַת רִשְׁתָּם; חִנָּם, חָפְרוּ לְנַפְשִׁי. 7 For without cause have they hid for me the pit, even their net, without cause have they digged for my soul.

ח תְּבוֹאֵהוּ שׁוֹאָה, לֹא-יֵדָע:
וְרִשְׁתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר-טָמַן תִּלְכְּדוֹ; בְּשׁוֹאָה, יִפָּל-בָּהּ. 8 Let destruction come upon him unawares; {N}
and let his net that he hath hid catch himself; with destruction let him fall therein.

ט וְנַפְשִׁי, תָּגִיל בַּיהוָה; תָּשִׂישׂ, בִּישׁוּעָתוֹ. 9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; it shall rejoice in His salvation.

י כָּל עַצְמוֹתַי, תֹּאמַרְנָה-- יְהוָה, מִי כָמוֹךָ:
מַצִּיל עָנִי, מֵחָזָק מִמֶּנּוּ; וְעָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן, מִגֹּזְלוֹ. 10 All my bones shall say: 'LORD, who is like unto Thee, {N}
who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?'

יא יְקוּמוּן, עֵדֵי חָמָס: אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יָדַעְתִּי, יִשְׁאָלוּנִי. 11 Unrighteous witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I know not.

יב יְשַׁלְּמוּנִי רָעָה, תַּחַת טוֹבָה: שְׁכוֹל לְנַפְשִׁי. 12 They repay me evil for good; bereavement is come to my soul.

יג וַאֲנִי, בַּחֲלוֹתָם לְבוּשִׁי שָׂק-- עִנֵּיתִי בַצּוֹם נַפְשִׁי;
וּתְפִלָּתִי, עַל-חֵיקִי תָשׁוּב. 13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth, I afflicted my soul with fasting; {N}
and my prayer, may it return into mine own bosom.

יד כְּרֵעַ-כְּאָח לִי, הִתְהַלָּכְתִּי; כַּאֲבֶל-אֵם, קֹדֵר שַׁחוֹתִי. 14 I went about as though it had been my friend or my brother; I bowed down mournful, as one that mourneth for his mother.

טו וּבְצַלְעִי, שָׂמְחוּ וְנֶאֱסָפוּ:
נֶאֶסְפוּ עָלַי נֵכִים, וְלֹא יָדַעְתִּי;
קָרְעוּ וְלֹא-דָמּוּ. 15 But when I halt they rejoice, and gather themselves together; {N}
the abjects gather themselves together against me, and those whom I know not; {N}
they tear me, and cease not;

טז בְּחַנְפֵי, לַעֲגֵי מָעוֹג-- חָרֹק עָלַי שִׁנֵּימוֹ. 16 With the profanest mockeries of backbiting they gnash at me with their teeth.

יז אֲדֹנָי, כַּמָּה תִּרְאֶה:
הָשִׁיבָה נַפְשִׁי, מִשֹּׁאֵיהֶם; מִכְּפִירִים, יְחִידָתִי. 17 Lord, how long wilt Thou look on? {N}
Rescue my soul from their destructions, mine only one from the lions.

יח אוֹדְךָ, בְּקָהָל רָב; בְּעַם עָצוּם אֲהַלְלֶךָּ. 18 I will give Thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise Thee among a numerous people.

יט אַל-יִשְׂמְחוּ-לִי אֹיְבַי שֶׁקֶר; שֹׂנְאַי חִנָּם, יִקְרְצוּ-עָיִן. 19 Let not them that are wrongfully mine enemies rejoice over me; neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

כ כִּי לֹא שָׁלוֹם, יְדַבֵּרוּ: וְעַל רִגְעֵי-אֶרֶץ--דִּבְרֵי מִרְמוֹת, יַחֲשֹׁבוּן. 20 For they speak not peace; but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

כא וַיַּרְחִיבוּ עָלַי, פִּיהֶם: אָמְרוּ, הֶאָח הֶאָח; רָאֲתָה עֵינֵנוּ. 21 Yea, they open their mouth wide against me; they say: 'Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.'

כב רָאִיתָה יְהוָה, אַל-תֶּחֱרַשׁ; אֲדֹנָי, אַל-תִּרְחַק מִמֶּנִּי. 22 Thou hast seen, O LORD; keep not silence; O Lord, be not far from me.

כג הָעִירָה וְהָקִיצָה, לְמִשְׁפָּטִי; אֱלֹהַי וַאדֹנָי לְרִיבִי. 23 Rouse Thee, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

כד שָׁפְטֵנִי כְצִדְקְךָ, יְהוָה אֱלֹהָי; וְאַל-יִשְׂמְחוּ-לִי. 24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to Thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

כה אַל-יֹאמְרוּ בְלִבָּם, הֶאָח נַפְשֵׁנוּ; אַל-יֹאמְרוּ, בִּלַּעֲנוּהוּ. 25 Let them not say in their heart: 'Aha, we have our desire'; let them not say: 'We have swallowed him up.'

כו יֵבֹשׁוּ וְיַחְפְּרוּ, יַחְדָּו-- שְׂמֵחֵי רָעָתִי:
יִלְבְּשׁוּ-בֹשֶׁת וּכְלִמָּה-- הַמַּגְדִּילִים עָלָי. 26 Let them be ashamed and abashed together that rejoice at my hurt; {N}
let them be clothed with shame and confusion that magnify themselves against me.

כז יָרֹנּוּ וְיִשְׂמְחוּ, חֲפֵצֵי צִדְקִי:
וְיֹאמְרוּ תָמִיד, יִגְדַּל יְהוָה; הֶחָפֵץ, שְׁלוֹם עַבְדּוֹ. 27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that delight in my righteousness; {N}
yea, let them say continually: 'Magnified be the LORD, who delighteth in the peace of His servant.'

כח וּלְשׁוֹנִי, תֶּהְגֶּה צִדְקֶךָ; כָּל-הַיּוֹם, תְּהִלָּתֶךָ. 28 And my tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness, and of Thy praise all the day. {P}

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Ships Crossing the Bosphorus and Mashiach

My husband found the following:

The book חבלי משיח בזמננו was written by רפאל הלוי איזנברג in the 1970s and its revised edition was in 5741 (1980-81), so it was written in the midst of the Cold War. The book promotes the idea that Russia is Gog.
קבלה בידינו מתלמידי הגר"א בשם הגאון: "אם הספינות של מלכות רוסיא יחצו את מיצר "בוספורוס" (ה"דרדנלים") צריכים ללבוש בגדי שבת" לומר לך, שהשעה קרובה אז לביאת המשיח. ודע כי רוב הספינות מרוסיא לארץ ישראל באות בזמננו דרך טורקיה בים השחור מבעד למיצר ה"בוספורוס". כמ"כ בידוע שלאחר חורבן מערב רומי עם בירתה בידי הגרמנים ימ"ש נותרה קוסטנטינא לבדה בשם "מזרח רומי" ומיום שמלך מרוסיא נשא בת המלך האחרון מקוסטנטינא הריהם מחשיבים את עצמם כיורשים של מלכות מזרח רומי ונושאים בדגליהם את סמל הנשר הכפול של קוסטנטינא
We have a tradition from the students of the Gr"a in the (Vilna) Gaon's name: "If the ships of the Russian government will cross over the Bosporus Strait ([and] the " Dardanelles "), we need to wear clothes of Shabbat" to tell you that at that time, it will soon be the coming of Mashiah. And know that most of the ships from Russia to Israel come nowadays by way of Turkey in the Black Sea using the Bosporus Strait.

http://yeranenyaakov.blogspot. com/2008_08_01_archive.html A six-ship convoy carrying aid for Palestinians set sail for Gaza Sunday in defiance of an Israeli-led blockade of the impoverished territory and warnings that it would be intercepted http://uk.reuters.com/article/ idUKTRE64T21120100530

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Pesukei DeZimra and Kohen's entering the Beit Hamikdash

This is from the Praying with Passion Series (#27).
I excerpted this from an email discussing the Pesukei DeZimra prayers and how they compare to steps in entering the Beit Hamikdash.


Theme: (An essential concept of the prayer):


The Next Level Of Holiness


Pesukei D’Zimrah, which are recited in preparation for Shemoneh Esrei, carry us to a higher level of holiness in our prayers. This ascent mirrors the progress from the outer courtyards of the Beis HaMikdash into the Holy of Holies.




Insight : (Deeper meanings of the theme):

Step By Step To The Top

When a Kohein entered the Holy Temple, he could not go straight into the Holy of Holies. First, he had to enter the Har HaBayis, then the Azarah, and then the Haichal. Only then could he enter the Holy of Holies. Similarly, one cannot enter directly into Shemoneh Esrei, the pinnacle of prayer, which is compared to the Holy of Holies. Rather, there are steps leading to Shemoneh Esrei, which ascend to higher and higher levels, like a pyramid (Nefesh Shimshon, Pages 36-42).

First, on awakening, we express gratitude to Hashem that He restored our faculties (Modeh Ani). Then we ascend the first step, reciting Birchos HaShachar, which is comparable to entering the Har HaBayis – the area outside the holiest section of the Beis HaMikdash. At this first level of holiness, we recite blessings upon the most mundane of our day’s activities – getting up, getting dressed, putting on shoes and so forth, elevating each by recognizing them each day as a new gift from G-d.
Pesukei D’Zimrah is the second step, comparable to entering the Azara. This is the area which begins the Camp of the Shechinah. It is the place to which some of the sacrifices were brought, and it was invested with a higher level of holiness than the Har HaBayis. In a similar way, Pesukei D’Zimrah are intended to reveal the light of Hashem’s presence by praising Him for the natural bounty He bestows on us, enabling us to serve Him (Derech Hashem, Volume 4, Chapter 6, Os 10).

Krias Shema and its berachos, in which one accepts the yoke of Heaven, is the third step. That is where a person comes to the recognition that Hashem is One; that He created the world and He controls it on a daily basis. This compares to the holiness of the Haichal.

The highest step on the ladder is when one recites Shemoneh Esrei, which is compared to entering the Holy of Holies. As Shulchan Aruch (Siman 98, Se’if 1) states: “(One) should regard it as if the Shechinah (Divine Presence) is before him…and…as if he was speaking before a human king, and (he) would then arrange his words and concentrate on them so that he would not stumble or fail. How much more so, before the King of kings who explores all thoughts and intentions.”




Visualize : (Images that bring the prayer to life):

Coming Clean

The peasant arrives at the palace. The guard lets him in, for this king is eager and willing to meet his subjects. However, after the peasant’s long trek, he is covered with dirt. His rough, patched clothing is caked with mud. His matted hair bears witness to days of travel on dusty roads. Not only does he look utterly unprepared for an audience with the king, but he feels unprepared as well.

Fortunately, the guard does not bring him directly to the throne room. First, he sends him for a bath and a haircut. Then, he issues him a fresh, clean suit of clothing. The peasant feels clean, pure and unencumbered by the dirt that had clung to him. He knows that now, he will be pleasing in the king’s eyes, and his petition will be well received.

As we make our way through life each day, the forces of impurity in our world inevitably cling to us. As we recite Pesukei D’Zimrah, they are bathed away. We emerge fresh, clothed in our renewed gratitude toward G-d for the wondrous world He has given us, and ready to come closer to His presence.

As you begin to recite Pesukei D’Zimrah, visualize yourself finishing the first step of entry towards the Holy of Holies, the ‘Har HaBayis’, ascending to the next level of holiness, the ‘Azarah’.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Wow! You know Mashiach is on his way when...

Wow! You know Mashiach is on his way when...Firstly - today's post is dedicated for a refuah shlema for Yocheved Yaakovit bat Leah, Ita Tzipa bas Dveyra Basha and Sorah Rivka bas Yehudis - please have them in mind when davening or saying Tehillim.


Thanks, Davetrek for the following:

http://www.koshertoday.com/ news.asp

New Gadgets Help Some Kosher Consumers
New York…by Tova Ross, KosherToday Features Editor…Keeping kosher is becoming easier, thanks to a number of high tech innovations. Kosher adherents can already use an Apple app “My Grocery Master” to search a database of over 100,000 specialty foods for kosher products in their closest grocery stores. Now comes a new invention: a stick that can detect the presence of pork in any dish. The uni-cultural plastic stick can alert both kosher and Halal eaters to the prohibited pig by using antibodies that react with the non-kosher animal’s muscle tissue. Invented by scientists at the Kazakh National Center for Biotechnology, the stick may not be so necessary for kosher consumers in the US, who rely on some of the 1,000 kosher-certifying agencies and rabbis as well as the FDA to properly ensure their food is not contaminated with pork products. Yet the stick comes in handy for Muslims in Kazakhstan (Islam is the dominant religion there), where chefs often use pork in supposedly Halal dishes because it is cheaper than many other meats. Sources told KosherToday that the stick may be handy for Jews who keep kosher and are frequent travelers around the globe, where food certification standards are not always subject to the strict ones in place in the U.S.

While the stick may not be a practical everyday aid, iBless Food 1.0 by the Davka Corporation can come in more handy. iBless Food 1.0 is a resource guide for Hebrew blessings (brachos) for over 500 different foods. It allows for easy scrolling on an iPod, iPhone, or iPad to discover what type of blessing should be made over fruits, vegetables, and popular snacks and appetizers. The blessing—both for before and after the food being eaten—is shown in both Hebrew and English transliteration and chanted aloud with each word highlighted as it is said. Additional information about the customs of that particular blessing is also shown.

btw go to http://davetrek.com for some fun upcoming events around the NY area!

Shabbat Shalom!
Esther Asna

Exciting Har HaBayit - Temple Mount Development: Jews Pray Unharassed!

From Arutz 7 today:

6. Excitement on Temple Mount as Rabbi Prostrates Himself
by Gil Ronen

A large group of hareidi-religious Jews ascended the Temple Mount Tuesday and received friendly service from the police there – unlike the harsh police treatment that Jews typically receive on the Mount in recent years. One of the Jews was even allowed to fully prostrate himself in prayer, facing in the direction of the location of the ancient Temple – which is now occupied by a Muslim mosque.

Unlike previous Jewish ascensions to the Mount in the recent past, and in contrast to this group's last ascension on Passover, in which their entry to the Mount was blocked, police on the Mount were courteous and friendly. The group was allowed in promptly upon arrival and without delays. They were gripped by excitement when one of the rabbis prostrated himself facing the presumed location of the Temple's Holy of Holies in ancient times. Police allowed this religious act as well.

Jews are usually forbidden from openly praying or even mumbling prayers on the Mount, as part of an Israeli policy of complying with Muslim Wakf's demands in this matter. It is not completely clear whether the friendly police attitude Tuesday was a fluke or a sign of changing attitudes.

Temple Mount activist Yosef Rabin told Arutz Sheva that the event is a significant one. “There has been a long running effort to bring hareidim to the Mount and now it is starting to take root,” he said.

Rabin noted that ever since the liberation of the Mount in 1967, hareidi-religious Jews have usually preferred to avoid ascending it, and that the ones who went up to the holy site were Jews of the national-religious ilk. However, he said, “the image of the type of people that go to the Mount is starting to crack. It seems that everyone has followed the hareidi lead when it comes to Har HaBayit [Temple Mount], and now that hareidim are starting to go, we might start seeing a tremendous wave of all types.” Most of the renowned hareidi rabbis are against going up on the mountain, as was Rav Avraham Shapira zt"l of the zionist flagship Merkaz Harav Yeshiva, for fear of treading in places that are forbidden.

The group of Jews was led by Rabbi Yitzchak Brand of the city of Emanuel and Rabbi Yisrael Ariel of the Temple Institute in Jerusalem. The rabbis say they intend to bring ever-larger groups of Jews to the Mount with the purpose of eventually holding a Passover sacrifice there.

In ancient times, Jews who ascended the Mount fully prostrated themselves as part of the prayers there. The regular Jewish prayer services in synagogues include several instances of bowing in the direction of the synagogue's Torah Ark, and partial prostration is carried out on some holidays.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Let's Run to Greet Mashiach!

From today's Hakhel email: This is about running to do mitzvot and how we should run as if being chased, so that we will not be chased by problems or other things that we would rather not chase us!

Special Note One: Chazal (Brachos 6B) teach that one should run to Shul (at least when he is in close range), citing the pasuk (Hoshea 6:3): "VeNaidah Nirdefa Loda'as Es Hashem--let us know, let us be chased to know Hashem...:" There is a great lesson here. The Navi does not merely tell us to run ('narutza') to know Hashem--but to put that extra effort, that extra gas into the Mitzvah--as if you were not only running-- but 'nirdefa'--as if being chased. It is that little bit of extra effort that makes one among the first to be in Shul, or among the first to be at the Shiur, or among the first to help. It is more, though, than a 'numbers' game of being among the first or earliest--it is the quality of the Mitzvah that is being performed--a Mitzvah with an especial zeal, a real striving, a Mitzvah of added desire, respect and longing. Even if one has difficulty physically running at the 'being chased' level, or even running at all, one can demonstrate his alacrity and eagerness with his timeliness, zest and enthusiasm. It is said in the name of the Chofetz Chaim that as part of one's lot in life he may have to be subjected to 'redifos'--to being chased. Instead, the Chofetz Chaim suggests, of being chased, c'v', by tzaros, or by monetary matters, or by the Yetzer Hora, one may attempt to replace the redifos with chasings by and of Mitzvos and Ma'asim Tovim. At the end of your day, an important question that you can ask yourself is--what chased me today? If you need to fix it the next day--may we suggest beginning with the way you get out of bed and/or the readiness in which you prepare for and begin your morning Tefillos. If a commoner quickens his pace when he nears the bar or restaurant--what should we do when we draw near to Shul or the place where we will be helping someone?!

Additional Note: Although one moves quickly as he draws near to the Shul or the place where he will daven, the Mishna Berurah (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Introduction to Chapter 46) writes that before actually entering the Shul, one should pause and wait a little in order to feel and appreciate the fearsomeness, the awe and the majesty of the place, and of the moment.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

From the Midbar to the Mikdash

Here is some more about Birkat Kohanim - from today's Hahkel Email. May we merit to be blessed by the Kohanim in the Beit Hamikdash with the coming of Mashiach ASAP!

3. Finally, there is a wonderful lesson learned from the fact that Birkas Kohanim was first recited in the desert--before the Aharon and his sons received Terumos, Bikkurim and the like as the Matanos Kehuna. If they would have already been receiving these gifts, then in blessing the people they would also be blessing themselves--for when the people had more bounty, so would they. This is not the optimum way of giving a bracha--blessing someone else with one's personal interests in mind as well. Rather, the Torah teaches--when giving a bracha give it with a full and selfless heart--focusing exclusively and entirely on what is best for the recipient of the bracha, and not regarding for the moment how you could 'also' benefit from the very same blessing. Be effusive in your bracha--but also make sure to make it pristine, wholesome, untainted and pure!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Birkat Kohanim in the Days of Mashiach

This is from the Hakhel Email - what amazing hashgacha considering I haven't updated this in awhile and it goes right along with our topic!

Special Note Four: Let us take just one example of how everything will be different when the final Geulah comes. One of the vestiges of the service in the Bais HaMikdash practiced even today to some extent in Eretz Yisroel and Chutz La’Aretz is Birkas Kohanim, which we caught a glimpse of during Shavuos and in last week’s Parsha. The Mishna in Sotah (37B), however, provides a list of differences between the Birkas Kohanim as we know it today and the Birkas Kohanim in its pristine form in the Bais Hamikdash:
1. Outside of the Mikdash, they are three separate Brachos--whereas in the Bayis it is one uninterrupted bracha.
2. Outside of the Mikdash, the Shem Hashem is pronounced in the same manner as when we make all other brachos, whereas in the Mikdash the Ineffable Shem is used.
3. Outside of the Mikdash, Kohanim lift their hands to shoulder height, whereas in the Mikdash the hands are raised above their heads with the Shechina above their fingers.
Thus, even what we can do now will simply be performed on a more sublime and supernal level when the Bais Hamikdash returns. We have much to look forward to!

Monday, May 24, 2010

In the Days of Mashiach

Remember "In the year 2000" from the Conan O'Brien show? Kinda silly but it would be great if they had that for "In the Year of Mashiach" or "When Mashiach Comes".

Here is my first entry:

Voicemail message if you are a Kohen: "You have reached Mr. Cohen. Heis not available at the moment. Please leave a detailed message and he will, bli neder, get back to you with alacrity after he finishes his shift at the Beit Hamikdash."

Feel free to give me more ideas - hey maybe I'll even turn it into a blog on one of the blog sites! Meanwhile we're here.

"Moshiach is on his way, in Jerusalem we'll stay!"

Thank you for reading and let's bring Moshiach now!

Esther Asna Cohen