| Week ending Shabbat, August 19, 2006 |
25 Av, 5766 |
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Three Planes of Jewish Immigrants Arrive:
On Wednesday three airplanes filled with Jewish immigrants touched down in Israel. The passengers previously claimed citizenship in the United States, Canada, and England. The date now marks a new record in "Aliyah" from the West. The three flights were organized by the Nefesh b'Nefesh Aliyah assistance organization, in conjunction with the Jewish Agency. The plane from the United Kingdom marks an expansion of Nefesh b'Nefesh's operations beyond North America.
In his speech to the newcomers, NBN co-founder Rabbi Yehoshua Fass said that the organization would soon be launching its Aliyah assistance programs in Mexico as well. "You shall inherit the land and you shall settle it," Rabbi Fass told the crowd of new arrivals. "The moment you step off the plane you inherit the product of many years of sacrifice, blood and tears. Now you must settle the land, loving and embracing it."
The Re-Engagement war and the days-old ceasefire were on many of the new arrivals' minds. The decision to come in spite of the difficult situation was the dominent theme in the welcome speeches by dignitaries. The president of the El Al airline said that some of the pilots who flew the new immigrants to their new home were flying fighter jets in Lebanon just days ago.
Shavit calls for an end to Olmert's Government:
Last week Ha'aretz columnist Ari Shavit called for an end to Israeli Prime Minister Olmert's government. Excerpts from his article state:
"... If Olmert runs away now from the war he initiated, he will not be able to remain prime minister for even one more day. 'Chutzpah' [spine] has its limits. You cannot lead an entire nation to war promising victory, produce humiliating defeat and remain in power. You cannot bury 120 Israelis in cemeteries, keep a million Israelis in shelters for a month, wear down deterrent power, bring the next war very close, and then say, 'Oops, I made a mistake. That was not the intention. Pass me a cigar, please.'
"There is no mistake Ehud Olmert did not make this past month. He went to war hastily, without properly gauging the outcome. He blindly followed the military without asking the necessary questions. He mistakenly gambled on air operations, was strangely late with the ground operation, and failed to implement the army's original plan, much more daring and sophisticated than that which was implemented. And after arrogantly and hastily bursting into war, Olmert managed it hesitantly, unfocused and limp. He neglected the home front and abandoned the residents of the north. He also failed shamefully on the diplomatic front ...
"The day Nasrallah comes out of his bunker and declares victory to the whole world, Olmert must not be in the prime minister's office. Post-war battered and bleeding Israel needs a new start and a new leader. It needs a real prime minister."
In Our Own Backyard:
We are all impressed with the things we hear on the news but it all seems somehow removed from us. We expect things to be happening in Washington D.C. or Manhattan, but not in our own communities. The photo on the left was taken in a rather upscale community in the northeast suburbs of Orlando, Florida. The photo on the right is a close-up of the sign in front of the garage. Is this person saying that suicide bombers, or that the endless stream of Ketusha rockets fired randomly into Israeli towns from both Gaza and Lebanon [even prior to the recent war] are civilized? During the conflict the IAF [Israeli Air Force] dropped thousands of flyers warning residents to flee their towns before attacks, but Hezbollah made them stay. Is that civilized?
 The photo on the bottom left was taken last week in the poorest black neighborhood [the Paramore district] in Orlando. Clearly two wrongs don't make a right, but it is actually shocking to see a Confederate flag waving boldly in a black neighborhood and no one has said anything about it. Cease-fires, giving away land for peace, and any form of compromise is seen as weakness in the eyes of Islam. They give praise to Allah for the obvious weakness of their opposition and they are encouraged to aggress even more. The above sign is an example of nothing but common Islamic intimidation, it just happened to have previously been seen only in the Middle East.
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].
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