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| Week ending Shabbat, April 29, 2006 |
1 Iyyar, 5766 |
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Holocaust Memorial Day:
The central Holocaust Day ceremony in Israel was held Monday evening [ April 24 ] at the Yad Vashem Museum in Jerusalem. A traditional public ceremony was held. The theme of this year's commemorations was, "The Human Spirit in the Shadow of Death." The following morning at 10 o’clock there was a "two minutes of silence" observance while a siren was sounded across Israel. This was followed by the "Every Person has a Name" ceremony, where the names of the Holocaust victims were read aloud in Knesset.
Remember the six million people who were murdered by the Nazis [ that would be 100 "American" football stadiums all filled with 60,000 people in each ].
Remember the 15 IDF soldiers who gave their lives on Yom Hashoa fighting to defend Israel four years ago.
Sergeant First Class (res.) Amit Boussidan, 22, of Bat Yam.
Major (res.) Oded Golomb, 22, of Kibbutz Nir David.
Captain (res.) Ya'akov Azoulai, 30, of Migdal Ha'emek.
Lieutenant (res.) Dror Bar, 28, of Kibbutz Einat.
Lieutenant (res.) Eyal Yoel, 28, of Kibbutz Ramat Rachel.
First Sergeant (res.) Tiran Arazi, 33, of Hadera.
First Sergeant (res.) Yoram Levy, 33, of Elad.
First Sergeant (res.) Avner Yaskov, 34, of Be'er Sheva.
Sergeant First Class (res.) Ronen Alshochat, 27, of Ramle.
Sergeant First Class (res.) Eyal Eliyahu Azouri, 27, of Ramat Gan.
Sergeant First Class (res.) Menashe Chava, 23, of Kfar Sava.
Sergeant First Class (res.) Shmuel Dani Mayzlish, 27, of Moshav Hemed.
Sergeant First Class (res.) Eyal Zimmerman, 22, of Ra'anana.
Major Assaf Assoulin, 30, of Tel Aviv.
Staff-Sergeant Gedaliah Mellick, 21, of Jerusalem.
Remember the 1,100 innocent Israelis murdered by terrorism since September 2000.
Spiritual Matters Not Subject to Compromise:
In his recent "post-Passover" article entitled "A Foreign and Strange Proposal," Rabbi Aviner, [Dean of Yeshivat Ateret Cohanim in the Moslem Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem] first presents the following question he has often been asked: "Perhaps, for lack of choice, we should propose our own territorial compromise - for if not, we are liable to lose everything, both the land and the people. We are losing our national unity... Even if we are ethically correct, perhaps we should give up parts of the Land of Israel in order to retain our national unity. In addition, if we don't give up parts of Yesha, we are liable to lose all of Yesha!"
Rabbi Aviner replied: "No! This is the foundation of faith... There are many tribulations in life, and with G-d's help we will overcome; but out of our own free will to agree to the destruction of our People, Torah and Land - Heaven forbid!" If someone schemes to abduct your wife, would you engage him in dialogue and abandon her for half the week in order not to lose her altogether?! Jewish law states that if gentiles threaten Jews and demand that we give up one Jew or else they will kill all of us - we must not give up one Jew, come what may. Why? Because if they forcibly take all of us, then this is a great tragedy - but our hands are clean. But if we give over even just one, then we are great sinners, and this is much worse. "When the first core group of Elon Moreh [the first Yesha community] tried to take root, our leaders were willing to accept a compromise and move the settlement to a nearby army camp - but our teacher Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook refused, saying, 'Is this the Land of Israel or is this not the Land of Israel?!' As a result, we received nothing. There were some Gush Emunim leaders who said, 'Rav Tzvi Yehuda doesn't know how to be politically flexible, next time we won't bring him here.' But the fact is that he was right, because that struggle infused a great spirit into everything, ultimately leading to the settling of 250,000 Jews throughout Judea and Samaria. True, he lost the battle at that time, but he won the war, because the spirit had been lifted. "In business, true, you give up a little in order to gain much, and the same in checkers and chess. But this is not business and not games; this is the essence of life. Spiritual matters are not up for give-and-take... "This compromise proposal is therefore one of foolishness, sadness, and despair. But we are not given to despair. We are full of strength and full of future hope, despite all the difficulties. There have always been hardships, and we have always overcome. If not today, then tomorrow, and if not tomorrow, then the next day."
Israeli Mini-Camera Provides Painless View of Colon:
An "Israeli developed" disposable device featuring a miniature camera that makes its way through the entire length of the colon [large intestine] provides doctors with images comparable with those of a standard colonoscopy, but with virtually no pain. The “Aer-O-Scope” uses a balloon and air pressure to slide through the bowel. The devise has been successfully tested on humans. It is expected that it will help decrease colon cancer fatalities by encouraging screening without the fear of discomfort.
Critically Wounded US Teen Wakes:
Daniel Wultz, the sixteen-year-old American critically wounded in suicide bombing last week, opened his eyes for the first time since the April 17 bombing in Tel Aviv. The young man’s family members were standing around his bed singing "Hava Nagila" when he opened his eyes. Hospital staff members stressed that despite the improvement in Wultz's condition [i.e. he has opened his eyes and is responding to his surrounding], his condition remains critical and life-threatening. He is not yet able to speak and has been communicating with his eyes.
Daniel was in Israel to celebrate Passover with his father's family. His father was also injured in the attack. Doctors amputated one of Daniel's legs below the knee. This tragedy has stirred thousands to prayer through both traditional Jewish and Christian networks. The well-known Israeli author, Naomi Ragen, sent out a prayer request to her 10,000-email address list. A Tel Aviv "Messianic" congregation minister, related to Daniel's family, has also been sending out prayer requests to supporters. Last Monday, Daniel's Hebrew Day School in Plantation, Florida [ just west of Fort Lauderdale-north of Miami ], held a special prayer service for him. Eight other bombing victims are still hospitalized, one of them still in serious condition. Nine innocent citizens were murdered in the blast.
Chabad Brings Chernobyl Kids to Israel For Treatment and Aliyah:
On the twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown, Chabad-Lubavitch has brought twenty-three Jewish children from that area to be treated and live in Israel. The organization Chabad's Children of Chernobyl (CCOC) airlifted twenty three children from the danger zones in Belarus and Ukraine Wednesday. They arrived Thursday morning at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport.
This flight was the 72nd of its kind, bringing the total to 2,371 children evacuated to Israel, the only country in the world to offer permanent refuge to the Chernobyl victims. The children now live on special campuses in the town of Kfar Chabad. There they receive medical care, schooling, and an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables to help restore their health and vitality. Most have settled in Israel permanently following the eventual Aliyah [ immigration to Israel ] of their parents.
Tour Israel for Hanukkah:
Join us as we explore Israel from a genuine Biblical Zionists perspective. Meet the people who are continuing the Biblical narrative in the Land today. See for yourself how ancient prophesies are being fulfilled. Discover how you too can participate in the ongoing process of Biblical Redemption. Join us for an opportunity of a lifetime, to see the real Israel from the viewpoint of those who are living the Bible today. The experience will change your life.
The tour has been coordinated and will be guided by Associate Pastor Jon Klein [pictured left].
More information | Questions
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Tzemach News Service [TNS] is a ministry of: Tzemach Institute for Biblical Studies
This week's sources: All4Israel, Arutz Sheva, Ha Aretz, IRIS, Israel National News, Israel Today, www.machonmeir.net
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