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| Week ending Shabbat, December 3, 2005 |
2 Kislev, 5766 |
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Thousands Go to Hevron for Shabbat:
Every year there is a special Sabbath gathering in Hevron that marks the public reading of the weekly Torah portion "Chaye Sarah." This is the portion that recounts the purchase of the Cave of Machpelah (in Hevron). Abraham purchased this land as a burial site for his wife. It later became the tomb of the Patriarchs since Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob (Israel) and Leah are buried there. Some 25,000 people came to Hevron (Hebron) for this special occasion. Hevron Jewish Community spokesman David Wilder said, "It was just an unbelievable Shabbat. Over 350 people came especially from abroad just for this Sabbath." Multiple prayer services were held throughout the Shabbat (Sabbath). Tours, lectures and discussion groups were also held. Most foreign visitors were part of American groups: AFSI (Americans for a Safe Israel) and the Hevron Fund. Speakers restated the critical need for Jewish immigration and for strengthening ties with the holy sites, the Land, Torah, and People of Israel.
One of the holy sites in Hevron is the gravesite of Ruth and her grandson Jesse, the father of King David. Several renovations were made to this location especially in honor of this past Sabbath. Noteworthy was the introduction of a framed-and-glass Book of Ruth (pictured above). A scribe who resides in Hevron penned it on traditional parchment. In addition, the library was supplemented with 40 new English-Hebrew versions of books written by King David and his successor King Solomon.
US Supreme Court Refuses to Overturn PLO Judgment:
On Monday, the Supreme Court of the United States of America refused to overturn a 116 million dollar judgment against the "Palestine" Liberation Organization over the murder of a Jewish couple by "Palestinian" militants. The PLO had been sued in federal court in Rhode Island over the 1996 drive-by shooting of Yaron Ungar (an American citizen), and his Israeli wife, Efrat, as they were returning home from a wedding. The Ungar's family members argued that the PLO provided a operational base and safe haven for Hamas, the Islamic militant group responsible for the attack. A judge issued a default judgment after the PLO did not respond to requests for depositions from Yasser Arafat and others.
Earlier report (Sept. 3) - What Goes Around, Comes Around
Israeli Cabinet favors hiring Gaza evacuees:
Several variables contribute to the problem of finding jobs for people without homes. Many of the Gaza expellees are in the 45-60-age bracket. They are now faced with starting new careers. Most of them still have not established permanent residence. As a result, the Israeli cabinet has decided to grant hiring preferences to evacuees from Gush Katif during the next year. Before recruiting among the general public, State-owned companies must first turn to employment centers established to find the former Gaza residents jobs. Ehud Olmert, Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor, sponsored the motion. The Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip (Yesha) was happy with the decision, but felt that it fell short of the need of evacuees. It is roughly estimated that 2,200 evacuees are currently looking for work.
Gaza evacuees protest near Sharon's residence:
On Wednesday, one thousand people assembled in front of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s official Jerusalem residence commemorating one hundred days since Israel’s disengagement from Gaza and parts of northern Samaria. Former Gaza Coast Regional Council Head Avner Shimoni said during the rally, "One hundred days have past since thousands of Jews were placed in hotels, yeshivas and Hebrew language schools." The event was organized by the Yesha Council in an attempt to raise awareness of the issue and better the evacuees’ situation. The protesters put themselves in "gold cages," which represented the hotels rooms in which they currently reside. The sign over head read, "Locked up in a hotel for 100 days – did you (Sharon) banish and abandon as well? Where is the determination, and where is the sensitivity?"
Another spokesman said, "They are still there (in the hotels) and many have not even arrived at interim solutions, so their possessions are still all locked up in warehouses. All electronic devices have been ruined by the heat and rats have eaten much of their clothing. Aside from that, the government rules that if someone opens their shipping container they must empty it completely and give it back - even though they have no place to put anything." Samaria resident Naomi Ragen (right) said that these Gush Katif families were the bravest of us all, who suffered the most during the Intifada. These beautiful, brave families, that no Arab terrorist onslaught could destroy, are now devastated by our bureaucratic system.
Former MK Rabbi Promoting Right-Religious Coalition:
Rabbi Yisrael Eichler, formerly representing Agudat Yisrael in the Israeli parliament said that his efforts are focused on dissolving any future attempt at a divide-and-conquer approach from being effective against the religious and right-wing parties. According to Rabbi Eichler, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon used such an approach successfully after the last elections, which he felt ultimately destroyed both the Torah world and the Jewish communities of Gaza and northern Samaria. The former MK warned that "his hand is still outstretched for more." Rabbi Eichler is working on drafting key non-negotiable positions for all religious/right-wing parties so that they can stand firmly in agreement on these issues ahead of coalition negotiations for the next government. Eichler would ideally like to see a joint commitment by the right-wing and religious parties that any future coalition must include all or none of them. However, barring that, he is working on a minimal agreement that the religious Zionist parties will fight legislation that could harm the interests of Hareidi Torah institutions and the Hareidi parties will fight legislation that harms the interests of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.
Poll Shows Voters Reject Future Withdrawals:
In a poll conducted this past week by Smith Research and Consulting for the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) found that sixty-seven percent of the Israeli Jews polled are opposed to major withdrawals from Judea and Samaria citing the "Palestinian" Authority's failure to combat terror groups. Even among the "Kadima" (Prime Minister Sharon's new political party) supporters, fifty-four percent opposed further unilateral withdrawals. Only twenty-eight percent of the Jewish public and thirty-seven percent of Kadima constituents said that they would support implementing further significant withdrawals if the Road Map is not advanced upon because of the "Palestinian" Authority's inaction. Of those who oppose unilateral withdrawal under those circumstances, seventy-five percent responded that they would not vote for a party that would support such a move, and only eighteen percent would. Among those intending to
vote for the new Kadima party who oppose unilateral withdrawal under those circumstances, sixty-eight percent responded that they would not vote for a party that would support such a move, while only twenty percent would.
In short, the poll bolsters claims by Sharon's political adversaries that once the novelty of the new Kadima party wears off, the public will not place the Kadima slips in the ballot boxes.
Israel Study Mission Trip:
 Join us and experience your bible coming alive as you travel the land of Israel. The tour will be from February 18 through March 3, 2006 at a cost of $2,050.00. It has been arranged and will be directed by Pastor Ken Garrison.
More Information | Adobe Acrobat
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Tzemach News Service [TNS] is a ministry of: Tzemach Institute for Biblical Studies
This week's sources: Arutz Sheva, Israel Today, Shurat HaDin – Israel Law Center, The Lekarev Report, Ynet News.
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