For Zion's Sake

America's top Muslim cities

2010-08-11T06:39:00.002-05:00

This is a list I bet will surprise you: America's Muslim Capitals.Don't forget to vote in the poll.

Long time without posting

2010-08-06T09:19:00.003-05:00

I realize that I have not posted in a long time. There is a reason, and a possibility of change. This website was largely a place to gather information and prepare for the radio show. Since that has gone off the air, and the ten thousand dollar down payment to get it re-started does not appear to be forth-coming, the importance of this site to me has been diminished.Frankly, it was a

Elie Wiesel: For Jerusalem

2010-05-03T08:41:00.001-05:00

The following was published in The International Herald Tribune, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal on April 16, 2010 and in The New York Times on April 18, 2010. It is signed by Elie Wiesel.FOR JERUSALEM:It was inevitable: Jerusalem once again is at the center of political debates and international storms. New and old tensions surface at a disturbing pace. Seventeen times

FaithFreedom Interview with Vijay Kumar

2010-04-30T14:27:00.002-05:00

Vijay Kumar is running for Congress in Tennessee. Here is his website, Kumar For Congress. Vijay, was born in India and is now a citizen of the United States. He is a superb political analyst. Here is an interview with him from Ali Sina's FaithFreedom website. Please read it all and ponder his words.Great men are born in the midst of despair, when ignorance has filled the world and evil reigns.

'They Need to Be Liberated'

2010-03-09T07:40:00.004-06:00

Mosab Hassan Yousef is the son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a founder and leader of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. From the Stupidfada to the the start of the current stalemate, he worked alongside his father in the West Bank.Yet, as his book — Son of Hamas, released this week — reveals, Yousef also secretly embraced Christianity and became one of the top spies for Israel's internal security

A Near-Perfect Record of Being Wrong

2010-03-03T12:54:00.001-06:00

The New York Times has a fascinating analysis of how hard it is to figure out what Iran is doing. Since being caught last September building a secret, underground nuclear enrichment plant at a military base near the city of Qum, the country's leaders have insisted they had no other choice because their nuclear facilities under constant threat of attack. This actually seems logical.Then, about

Blame Game

2010-03-03T12:48:00.000-06:00

Hamas now claims Egypt and Jordan are behind the assassination in Dubai of their slain commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.Mahmoud Nasser, a member of Hamas' political bureau, told the Al-Quds Al-Araby daily newspaper that Mabhouh was likely being tracked by agents from Jordan and Egypt prior to the January 19 killing.Nasser claimed he had been given information regarding efforts by the security forces

"Sweet Is Good"

2010-03-01T18:02:00.001-06:00

Tablet Magazine asked Lila, 7, Josie, 8, and Noemi, almost 5, a few questions: how do you picture G~d? Why does G~d allow evil in the world? Is G~d all-powerful?You know, the little questions.These imponderables may stump rabbis and philosophers, but children have their own ideas.

Chelm-on-the-Med: Not Every Day Is Purim

2010-03-01T16:15:00.002-06:00

CHELM-ON-THE-MED© ONLINEIncredible Snippets of Daily Life in Israel Culled from the Hebrew Press*by Daniella AshkenazyEXTRA SPECIAL NOTICE FOR SUBSCRIBERS: Check out the special article for Purim - Who Says 'Not Every Day is Purim'? - based on Chelm-on-the-Med stories published by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (or look for it in your local Jewish paper) at http://jta.org/news/article/2010/02/21/

This Weekend

2010-03-01T07:49:00.003-06:00

Are you missing the radio show? Feel like you need a good dose of the truth of what is going on in Israel and the Middle East?Have we got an opportunity for you this weekend.One of the broadcast's favorite guests, Avi Lipkin, will be joining us at Adat Yeshua Messianic Congregation.On Saturday evening, March 6th at 7pm - 9:30 pm and Sunday afternoon, March 7th at 3pm - 5:30pm and evening at 7pm

Hands of Mercy: Purim Blessings and Update

2010-03-01T07:47:00.000-06:00

Below is the Email update from Hands of Mercy. HANDS OF MERCY UPDATE "For Such A Time As This" 2-26-10 "Who know whether you have come into the kingdom for such a time as this!" Esther 4:14 No time in history may be more exciting to live than the present, as forces of light and darkness are being involuntarily drawn together to become participants in

Engagement

2010-03-01T07:05:00.004-06:00

Over at the Commentary blog, Jenifer Rubin asks: "How's Syrian Engagement Working Out?"Of, course, the answer is. "Not so well."The Obama Administration recently announced it would send the US ambassador back to Syria, in an effort to engage Damascus and wean Syria away from Iran. The response has been underwhelming, as was the response to the visit to Damascus by Under Secretary of State for

Purim, the Holiday That Includes All Others

2010-02-27T19:00:00.002-06:00

Sure, it is a time for fun and frivolity, not to mention drinking until you can't tell the difference between "Blessed be Mordechai" and "Cursed be..." that other guy.But Purim is also a very serious holiday. The 19th-century Hasidic Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk is quoted as having told his students that "all of the holidays are included in Purim."

Targeting Israel Is Hitting Palestinians

2010-02-26T12:24:00.001-06:00

"...[O]nce again, the biggest victims of efforts to advance the 'peace process' will be ordinary Palestinians." Evelyn Gordon As the Associated Press reports, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled Thursday that the EU's free trade agreement with Israel does not apply to the West Bank, and therefore, goods made by Israeli firms in the West Bank are subject to EU import taxes.The EU has

Today: Let us Fast!

2010-02-24T22:35:00.001-06:00

Thursday, is the Fast of Esther in the Biblical calendar. Given the current threats to Jewish existence worldwide in the land of Israel, I agree with the appeal made by the Executive Director of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations below.Rabbi Jerry FeldmanShalom friends, I woke up this morning thinking about the troubling news out of Iran, as it continues to develop its nuclear

Reminder Avi Lipkin March 6 & 7

2010-02-22T12:45:00.000-06:00

On Saturday evening, March 6th at 7pm - 9:30 pm and Sunday afternoon, March 7th at 3pm - 5:30pm and evening at 7pm - 9:00 pm, we will once again be privileged to host one of the worlds expert analysts on the Middle East, Fanatic Islam, Russia and Iran.Each session will be different, so don't miss any of them.Avi Lipkin has been with us over thirty times, and each time he has updated us with

Yitta Schwartz N"E

2010-02-22T06:22:00.000-06:00

Yitta Schwartz was a survivor of the infamous Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where two of her children died."When there are so many problems in life, I should put myself on the scale?" Yitta Schwartz, Holocaust survivor and matriarch of 2,000 living descendants Last month, at the age of 93, she passed on (Nishmasa b'Eden Her soul should be in paradise), leaving behind 15 children, more than

Dubai Hit Squad

2010-02-21T08:55:00.002-06:00

Despite some reports, Israel is playing it very coy about whether or not it sent the hit squad which assassinated the leader of the Hamas military wing, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, in a hotel in Dubai one month ago. This is Israeli policy.Is it legal to murder a terrorist? Alan Dershowitz writes that, if Israel killed the Hamas chief, they can mount a strong defense.Israel does not confirm or deny

Guest Speaker - Avi Lipkin March 6th & 7th

2010-02-17T07:58:00.000-06:00

On Saturday evening, March 6th at 7pm - 9:30 pm and Sunday afternoon, March 7th at 3pm - 5:30pm and evening at 7pm - 9:00 pm, we will once again be privileged to host one of the worlds expert analysts on the Middle East, Fanatic Islam, Russia and Iran. Each session will be different, so don't miss any of them.Avi Lipkin has been with us over thirty times, and each time he has updated us with

President Einstein?

2010-02-15T22:25:00.000-06:00

Following the death of the Israel's first president in 1952, then-Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion decided to approach a certain physicist at Princeton University to replace the late Chaim Weizmann. Albert Einstein regretfully declined the offer.Letters of Note has published an image and transcript of the letter sent via the Embassy of Israel in Washington, which is signed by famed Israeli

Something Happening Here

2010-02-15T07:35:00.000-06:00

Phyllis Chesler writes about the latest Jihadist attack in India. Pune, 125 miles away from Mumbai (which was the scene of a jihadic mass murder at the end of 2008), has just endured a horrific bombing of its own. And yes, the bomb went off right near another Jewish Chabad Center, near a Pune bakery which caters to tourists. Nine women, four of whom were foreigners, were murdered and 45 were

Deadline for Israel Tour

2010-02-14T10:19:00.000-06:00

Israel is amazing! To be in the land, is like no other experienceanywhere else on earth. It is more than you can imagine or expect. Inevery moment, you can feel the eternal.Just do it! I hope I do not need to pay royalties on that suggestion.I need to hear that you are wanting to go. The last day I can receiveany reservations is Feb.19!The tour is April 10-26th, all costs except tips and lunches

Broadcast Hiatus

2010-02-14T10:00:00.000-06:00

For those who might have missed our announcement last month, the broadcast is on hiatus.

Israel Tour - Almost Not Too Late!

2010-02-08T16:23:00.003-06:00

Yes, on April 10-26 you can go to Kansas City Airport and land in Israel for 14 full days of touring (weather will be perfect)!Hotels, breakfasts, dinners, guides, Biblical and archaeological sites, and study the Bible from a Messianic and Jewish perspective as we journey extensively through the land.Just e-mail me right back and tell me that you have some interest in going. Time is actually very

How a “Nice American Girl” Became a Jihadist

2010-02-08T07:30:00.002-06:00

Phyllis Chesler explains How a "Nice American Girl" Became a Jihadist: Dr. Siddiqui Found Guilty. She studied at MIT and at Brandeis where she received a Ph.D in Neuroscience. Thus, she was both an educated and in some sense, a westernized woman. Both her Pakistani-born father and Pakistani husband are physicians who trained in the West, in England and America, respectively; her brother and

Prospects for Arab-Israeli Regional Cooperation

2010-02-08T07:26:00.004-06:00

Israeli Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom addresses the Prospects for Arab-Israeli Regional CooperationRead the full articleRegional cooperation begins with resuming negotiations with the Palestinians. In the interests of achieving a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace, Israel sees the economic domain as one of the cornerstones of good relations. Political dialogue with our Palestinian

Avi Lipkin March 6 - 8

2010-01-28T06:01:00.001-06:00

We will once again have the privilege of presenting Avi Lipkin from Jerusalem, March 6th, 7th and 8th.Avi is one of the most significant and prolific speakers on the global Islamic threat. He is a scholar on international affairs most specifically the Middle East and Russia. A former spokeperson for the Prime minster'soffice for the Israeli Defense Forces and is establishing a new political party

International Holocaust Memorial Day

2010-01-27T15:03:00.000-06:00

Today is International Holocaust Memorial Day. It is not an option for any of us to ignore participating in some way. By reading this entire article, it will inform but also make a difference.Let us not forget, ever!

Israel Tour Open House

2010-01-27T12:24:00.000-06:00

If you have ever wanted to visit Israel, we are having an open house orientation to give you the information you need.This Wednesday and Thursday evening there will be an open house orientation for any and all prospects along with already committed attendees for the amazing tour to Israel April 10-26.It is not too late. If you are not sure, then join us for this informative time. Perhaps you will

Radio Broadcast Hiatus

2010-01-26T17:30:00.001-06:00

It is with heavy hearts we announce that after seventeen years of broadcasting, "For Zion's Sake" is off the air. We hope this is not permanent, but merely an hiatus. Bott Radio Network has graciously provided an outlet for us to share with thousands of listeners truths heard on no other radio program in America, and they also hope we will soon return.From the beginning, the goal of this

Funny Israeli Commercial

2010-01-26T07:48:00.002-06:00

Israeli satellite television provider Yes hired Barack and Michelle Obama impersonators for their latest advertising campaign with a jingle based on an old Israeli rock song by 70's rocker Ephraim Shamir and the now infamous campaign slogan.

Record Lows in 2009

2010-01-25T07:12:00.003-06:00

There were no Palestinian suicide attacks against Israelis in 2009.We can debate ad infinitum the wisdom of Operation Cast Lead against Hamas in Gaza last January, but this is the first time in a decade a year passed without a suicide attack.Since the end of that operation, one Israeli civilian was killed inside Israel by Palestinians and four in the West Bank. Ten Israelis, including five

Infatuation with Hezbollah

2010-01-20T08:06:00.003-06:00

Hanin Ghaddar, a Lebanese journalist based in Beirut, explains how the people of South Lebanon learned to stop worrying and love the Party of Allah. This is a relatively new, formed by the Israeli withdrawal of 2000—what is known as the "liberation of the South" — and the war with Israel of 2006, known as the "divine victory." I left the village at the beginning of the 1990s to pursue my

Never Mess with a Jewish Mother

2010-01-18T06:21:00.001-06:00

To two masked muggers, it looked as easy as taking candy from a baby: a young religious mother out for a stroll in the Jerusalem Hills with an infant strapped on her breast.But crime does not pay in Chelm-on-the-Med.It turns out that Miriam Segal, a new immigrant from Florida and mother of four, has 13 years experience in martial arts and is a Kung Fu black belt. Even with a baby, she managed to

No Broadcast on Sunday, 17 January

2010-01-17T15:00:00.000-06:00

For Zion's Sake will not be broadcasting on Sunday, 17 January.

Still Time to Join Classes!

2010-01-15T06:51:00.000-06:00

There is still time to join classes at the Jewish Roots Institute.This week we had our introductions to each class. There is a lot yet to be learned (we barely got started).If you were planning on take a class, or three or maybe 6, you still can. Make sure that you bring someone to class with you. It will be a better learning experience when you share it with someone you know.Come this Monday

Jordan Demands Dead Sea Scrolls

2010-01-13T18:27:00.000-06:00

The Jordanian government has escalated its efforts to obtain the Dead Sea Scrolls from Israel.In a formal complaint to the United Nations, Jordan &mdash whose illegal annexation of Judea and Samaria was never recognized by the international community but whose renaming of it to "the West Bank" was &mdash accused Israel of illegally seizing the Dead Sea Scrolls &mdash following the liberation of

Classes Begin, tonight

2010-01-11T07:35:00.002-06:00

Messianic Jewish Institute of Kansas City classes begin on Monday & Tuesday 1/11 & 1/12.Here is the schedule of classes for this upcoming semester in less than 2 weeks. Please invite others to attend classes (friends, family, co-workers, pastors, rabbis, etc.). We depend on you spreading the word about the classes.Schedule of ClassesMondays:6:30 – 7:30 Introduction to the Jewish Roots of the

Discounts - Winter/Spring Semestere 2010

2010-01-09T21:22:00.001-06:00

There will be some adjustments made to the new semester class schedule and tuition, that begin on Monday and Tuesday, January 11 & 12.

The American Plan

2010-01-08T07:49:00.001-06:00

Maariv published a story in Hebrew which The Forward's J.J. Goldberg translated. It describes a detailed American initiative to reconvene Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and reach a permanent agreement in two years. Pressuring Abu Mazen to make a deal with Israel is like shouting at your teenage daughter because the jocks keep picking on the nerds.The ambitious plan would reportedly see the

This Weekend Services

2010-01-07T16:16:00.002-06:00

Since everyone else will be closed, WE WILL BE OPEN! After a careful analysis of the timing of temp, concerns etc. and the roads improving, we will hold services this weeken. We recognize the reality that for some, the challenge whether health, car reliability, distance etc. is understandable. But we are happy to simply provide for those who would miss the opportunity and be grateful for it, we

American Support for Torture

2010-01-05T06:27:00.002-06:00

A Rasmussen Reports poll last week finds that 58% of US voters say waterboarding and other aggressive interrogation techniques should be used to gain information from the terrorist who attempted to bomb an airliner on Christmas Day. Just 30% oppose the use of such techniques, and another 12% are not sure.You can call it what you like, enhanced techniques or harsh interrogation techniques, but

Classes Begin 1/11 & 1/12

2010-01-03T18:03:00.004-06:00

Messianic Jewish Institute of Kansas City(an accredited degree program)Winter/Spring SemesterBegins January 11 & 12 (13 week classes)Below is the schedule of classes for this upcoming semester in less than 2 weeks. Please invite others to attend classes (friends, family, co-workers, pastors, rabbis, etc.). We depend on you spreading the word about the classes.Schedule of ClassesMondays:6:30 -

Israel; Last Chance

2010-01-03T18:03:00.003-06:00

Unless we hear from you by Wednesday, your trip of a lifetine to Israel flying from Kansas City will cease to be available. We apologize, but have no control of the recent requirements set by the airlines. To keep our seats requires names submitted on Jan. 7th, even though the tour is not until April 10th.We will be in Israel on Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israel Independence Day). The next day we will visit

The Background of the Jewish Magnificat

2010-01-03T15:00:00.000-06:00

We have shared before from The Birth of the Messiah, by Raymond E. Brown, "The Background of the Magnificat".INTRODUCTORY PRAISE 46b My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, 47 and my spirit has found gladness in God my Savior: *Ps 35:9: Then my soul will find gladness in the Lord; it will take pleasure in His salvation. I Sam 2: 1-2 (Hannah's hymn): My heart is strengthened in the Lord; my

Palestinians claim Dead Sea Scrolls

2010-01-03T14:27:00.002-06:00

Both Jordan and the Palestinians have claimed custody over the historic Dead Sea Scrolls.Hamdan Taha, Director of the Palestinian Antiquities and Cultural Heritage Department declared, "They are an integral part of Palestinian heritage."Taha said the Palestinians had demanded months ago that the Canadians close the exhibition of 17 scrolls loaned by Israel's Antiquities Authority along with other

Palestinian Women Face Increasing Domestic Violence

2009-12-30T18:18:00.000-06:00

A study by the Gaza-based Palestinian Women's Information and Media Center found that 77.1% of Gazan women have experienced violence of various sorts, with almost half experiencing violence of more than one type. This violence does not come from Israel, though Israel will no doubt be blamed. A quarter of the women said they do not feel safe in their own homes, and more than a third said they

Former Gitmo Detainees Who Returned to Terrorism

2009-12-30T12:24:00.002-06:00

FOXNews has an interesting item on former detainees of Guantanamo Bay who returned to terrorism.There is a very high recidivism rate for terrorists, which is very troubling given the releases planned by the United States and Israel.For comparison, the recidivism rate for the general criminal population in the United States is about 62%.

Israel's Rights to the "Disputed" Territories

2009-12-30T08:26:00.000-06:00

In reaction to recent statements about Israel's "illegal occupation" of the West Bank or the attempts to enshrine the Green Line as a basis for negotiations, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon penned an Op-ed in the Wall Street Journal titled "Israel's Rights to the 'Disputed' Territories".The article makes clear that "the land now known as the West Bank cannot be considered "occupied" in the

UCI: Today's News Summaries

2009-12-28T15:20:00.002-06:00

Radical Islam's Defiling of Christmas, FrontPage Magazine, Joe KaufmanMost Israelis Demonstrate Extraordinary Self-Restraint, Israel Net Daily, Eli Hertz Rabbi's Murderers Trained by Barack and Barak?, Israel National News, Gil RonenA Voice from Hebron , Bible Light International, Gary M. Cooperberg Israel's PTA commander-in-chief, The Jerusalem Post, Caroline Glick 2009: The Year of Living

Phyllis Chesler: "Could Jesus Live Safely In Bethlehem Today?"

2009-12-24T12:24:00.001-06:00

'Tis the season, when the news is full of stories about how difficult life is for Palestinian Christians. The media almost exclusively blames Israel, even in areas where Israel has withdrawn.Yet the very real persecution of Christians in the Middle East is coming from a different direction.Christians and other non-Muslims have been continuously attacked and persecuted even in such Western-allied

Gingerbread White House

2009-12-23T08:24:00.001-06:00

This site is not known for its whimsy, but, from time to time, a little whimsy is definitely called for.

The Story of Christmas in America

2009-12-23T00:24:00.002-06:00

This is about the story of Christmas in America.Please understand that I am not writing about the birth of Jesus. I am not writing about whether or not he was or is the Messiah, or whether he was born on December 25th, or whether Christmas is a pagan holiday adopted by Christians, or even whether or not people should say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" or "You’ll shoot your eye out, kid."

bitterlemons: The triangular relationship

2009-12-22T23:11:00.001-06:00

There may be nothing more important in the Middle East than the triangular relationship between the US, Israel, and the Palestinians.bitterlemons.org provides several useful perspectives on this relationship and what has happened to it in the first year of the Obama Administration.Criminal neglect by Yossi Alpher Now the US should tell the Israelis, "you have to comply."A crucial but problematic

CIA Helping with PA Torture?

2009-12-22T18:18:00.001-06:00

The world is asking if the US Central Intelligence Agency is co-operating with Palestinian Authority counterparts who torture Hamas supporters in West Bank.According to the UK newspaper The Guardian, the CIA is aware of, if not helping, PA "special forces" torture prisoners and terrorists, mainly those of the rival Hamas faction. While the use of torture by both the Fatah and Hamas factions has

Has Hizbullah Changed?

2009-12-22T07:09:00.000-06:00

The Middle East Strategic Information Analysis of the 7th Hizbullah General Conference and Its Continued Ideology of Resistance asks: "Has Hizbullah Changed?"Some Western analysts believe the political manifesto published in the wake of Hizbullah's 7th General Conference at the end of November 2009 represented a fundamental change in Hizbullah policy. Hizbullah's vigorous insistence that it

Mentsch tracht, G~tt lacht.

2009-12-21T21:28:00.004-06:00

In a heavily Orthodox section of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the Bedford Avenue bike lane has been removed, apparently in order to appease the neighborhood's Satmar Hasidim, who do not like the immodestly dressed Williamsburg hipsters who used it.This has led to a variety of protests, leading up to a planned "Freedom Ride" wherein a group planned to bicycle through the neighborhood at midday on the

Quick Topics & Hot Links

2009-12-21T09:31:00.002-06:00

No time for a long post, this morning, but below are some hot topics.The legal strategy of pursuing war-crimes charges against Israeli leaders in UK courts is reportedly masterminded by Hamas.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet will vote soon to approve or reject a prisoner-swap deal in which errorists "with blood on their hands" would be released back into Palestinian territory for

The Hanukkah Story

2009-12-18T16:00:00.003-06:00

This is the last post of Hanukkah, as the Sabbath is coming, shortly.Over this past week, we have looked at some fun stuff, some serious stuff, some silly stuff, and some barely-related-to-Hanukkah stuff.For our last Hanukkah post, I wanted to offer a different perspective, namely, David Brooks' op-ed on The Hanukkah Story.Not that this op-ed is perfect. There is much to criticize.To some extent

Ocho Kandelikas

2009-12-18T06:50:00.001-06:00

You may be familiar with the traditional Ladino (or Judeo-Spanish) holiday song "Ocho Kandelikas". It's one of our family's favorites, but it turns out it was written just 25 years ago by a Sephardic folk singer from Bosnia named Flory Jagoda.Check it out on Vox Tablet.

A History of Celebrations in America

2009-12-17T17:45:00.001-06:00

Slate has an interesting article on the history of how Hanukkah and Christmas came to be celebratedd in these United States.The Celebration of Christmas was almost unheard of in the US before the Civil War. Greeting cards were first sold in 1874.Until recently, Hanukkah observance paled next to the High Holy Days and Passover, or even Purim. Around 1900, the waves of Jewish immigrants were as

All I Want for Christmas Is Jews

2009-12-16T17:45:00.002-06:00

If you don't like a parody of Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" with some anti-semitic stereotypes mixed in, then you won't like this clip.Jeff Weintraub writes: "That's supposed to be fun? Actually, yes. A bit wacky ... but as my friend Andy Markovits says, it's hilarious."The big problem is that parodying anti-Semitic stereotypes allows the anti-Semites to come out of the

Moldovan Anti-Semitism

2009-12-15T22:49:00.004-06:00

On Sunday, an Orthodox priest spouting anti-Semitic slurs led some 200 fundamentalist Orthodox Christians who pulled down the Hanukkah menorah in Stephan the Great Square in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau.The inevitable YouTube video shows a group of dozens of people looking on as the metal menorah is pulled down down with hammers and iron bars and replaced with a wooden cross. The protestors

Danny Ayalon pens historic op-ed in largest Pan-Arab daily newspaper

2009-12-15T19:09:00.001-06:00

On 15th December, Asharq Alawsat, one of the largest pan-Arab daily newspapers printed an op-ed in Arabic by the Deputy Foreign Minister of the State of Israel, Danny Ayalon. The op-ed was titled "An Open Letter to the Arab World".In an historic and unprecedented article, Ayalon calls on the Arab world to accept Israel's extended hand in peace and fraternity. The Deputy Foreign Minister calls on

Historical Hanukkah

2009-12-15T17:45:00.002-06:00

Do you know the actual historical events of Hanukkah?"Hanukkah: The Historical Background" is 46-minute lecture by the late Dr. David Neiman.Neiman was the first Jewish scholar ever to be invited to teach in the theology department of a Catholic University, joining the faculty of Boston College in 1966. He went on to become the first Jewish theologian to be invited to teach at the Pontifical

Rugelach!

2009-12-15T13:49:00.002-06:00

If you try out this recipe for Pollystyle Rugelach, you have to share with me.While you are at it, read Ezekiel J. Emanuel's Rugelach Tutorial.Ask my wife; I am a rugelach fiend. It never lasts around our house.

R. Shmuley Boteach: Why Men Cheat

2009-12-15T06:23:00.000-06:00

The latest in a long line of scandals involving the infidelity of famous personages is not, really, anything I care to discuss on this blog.However, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach has such an excellent article on "Why Men Cheat" that I could not resist sharing. "[A]ny man who suspects deep down that he is a loser is going to look at the woman dumb enough to marry him as a loser squared." Rabbi Boteach In

Questions for Every Muslim

2009-12-15T06:16:00.001-06:00

These Questions to Ask Every Muslim come from Bill Warner at politicalislam.com who notes that no one seems to want to ask questions for fear of offending Muslims. Yet there are some questions to which every Muslim should have an answerWhen you study the incident of Major Hasan at Fort Hood, you realize that there were some questions that needed to have been asked. But, no one knew what to ask,

Mobius Bagel

2009-12-14T17:45:00.000-06:00

cholar and sculptor George Hart demonstrates that it is not hard to cut a bagel into two equal halves which are linked like two links of a chain.I cannot think of a practical use for this, other than increasing your cream-cheese surface, but enjoy.

Eight Answers

2009-12-13T17:44:00.001-06:00

Mental Floss — a magazine I find amusing and informative — solves 8 Chanukah Mysteries.No, you need to go there to check it out.

Muslim Atrocities against Christians

2009-12-13T15:48:00.003-06:00

Hamas continues its atrocities against Palestinian Christians.Every three minutes a Christian is being tortured in the Muslim world, and in 2009 more than 165,000 Christians will have been killed because of their faith, most of them in Muslim countries, according to a human rights organization that is visiting Israel starting Sunday. "Hamas digs up the bodies of Christians from Christian burial

"Oy" Is Just "Yo" Spelled Backwards

2009-12-12T17:45:00.001-06:00

Nefesh B'Nefesh brought over 150 participants together on Ben Yehuda Street for the first ever Jerusalem flash mob in honor of Hanukkah.

"Eight Days of Hanukkah"

2009-12-11T16:30:00.008-06:00

You could listen to "Eight Days of Hanukkah" for the entire holiday and never guess who wrote it.Try Orrin Hatch, the senior senator from Utah and a prominent member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He provided the lyrics.Madeline Stone wrote the music. She is a Jewish songwriter who writes contemporary Christian music in Nashville. She describes herself as "pretty liberal

On Fire

2009-12-11T07:28:00.003-06:00

Liel Leibovitz writes a weekly column on the haftorah. This week's column, which he wrote in the form of a poem, is especially poignant.The haftorah is a passage from the prophets read each week after the Torah portion. The poem concerns Amos 2:6-3:8, which is the haftorah of this week's passage, Vayeshev, though the special haftorah for the first sabbath of hanukkah is Zechariah 2:14-4:7.Today

All I Want for Hanukkah Is a Piece of Israel

2009-12-11T05:56:00.000-06:00

Thursday December 10th 2009

Two Iranian Revolutions

2009-12-10T18:36:00.001-06:00

What is happening in Iran today may or may not turn out to be a revolution. If you want to understand it, though, you have to go back three decades to the revolution which created today's Islamic republic.Mark Bowden &mdash author of the highly recommended Guests of the Ayatollah &mdash says today's Iranians want real democracy. In 1980, they feared American dominance, but their fear led to

News from Gaza

2009-12-10T06:18:00.008-06:00

Since Operation Cast Lead ended almost a year ago, Hamas has increased its weapons smuggling and today operates hundreds of tunnels under the Gaza border with Egypt in an area known as the Philadelphi Corridor.Much of the smuggling is for goods barred by Israel's blockade, including food, cars, motorcycles, drugs, medicine, fuel, and — believe it or not — zoo animals.The smuggling industry is so

Microwave Peace

2009-12-09T18:02:00.000-06:00

I generally disagree with Thomas L. Friedman's view of diplomacy, but I have to admit his latest New York Times op-ed is on the money:This peace process movie is not going to end differently just because we keep playing the same reel. It is time for a radically new approach. And I mean radical. I mean something no U.S. administration has ever dared to do: Take down our "Peace-Processing-Is-Us"

UCI News Summaries

2009-12-09T12:40:00.000-06:00

Top articles from the Unity Coalition for IsraelLatest News on the 10 Month Building Freeze, IsraelNN.com, Arutz Sheva StaffPetraeus Urges Patience With Afghan Surge, The Wall Street Journal, Associated PressTSA leaves online love note for al-Qaeda, American Thinker, You May Not Be 'Pro-Israel' If..., IsraelNetDaily.com, Moshe PhillipsWill Europe Put it's Foot Down?, FrontPage Magazine, Hege

Outrage

2009-12-08T22:22:00.001-06:00

A 15-year-old Palestinian boy from a village near the West Bank town of Qalqiliya was tortured and executed.There ought to be worldwide outrage at this crime. If it had been carried out by Israel, there would be.Instead, Raed Sualha was tortured and then hanged by his own relatives, who suspected him of collaborating with Israel.What is the appropriate punishment for those who have so devalued

Did Obama Excuse Palestinian Violence?

2009-12-08T19:21:00.005-06:00

Okay, so I missed this story when it happened. I had stuff going on.President Obama's had some pointed comments after the Israeli announcement that 900 apartment units would be built in the South Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo: I think that additional settlement building does not contribute to Israel's security. I think it makes it harder for them to make peace with their neighbors. I think it

Council of the European Union conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process

2009-12-08T19:11:00.001-06:00

European Union foreign ministers passed a resolution Tuesday which recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and a future Palestinian state.Though better than the first draft, it is still problematic.It still equates "agreements previously reached by the parties" and "the Arab Peace Initiative" which is like equating laboratory-tested hygiene practices and "the five-second rule".Mention

Turkey in Iranian Camp?

2009-12-08T18:18:00.003-06:00

In a sign that long-time Western ally Turkey may have already fallen into the Iranian sphere of influence, its Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erodgan refused to support new sanctions against Iran at a meeting with US President Barack Obama.It is hard to over-emphasize how important this is. Not the least of which is how close Iran is to producing nuclear weapons.President Obama has said that Turkey

Too Late

2009-12-07T19:19:00.001-06:00

Iran now has the technical capability to build a nuclear bomb, said Brig.-Gen. Yossi Baidatz, head of Israeli Military Intelligence's research division, and the only thing separating it from the bomb is the decision to go ahead and build one.Baidatz also said that Iran has successfully enriched 1,800 kilograms of uranium, enough to build at least one bomb. Iran has been upgrading its missile

Holiday Sale Extended

2009-12-07T08:04:00.002-06:00

The Shalom Emporium Liquidation Sale will open for a few more hours this Monday evening, between 5-9. There is still tons of stuff left so come get some great deals! 1000's of books for 75% off.MONDAY DEC. 7, 20095-9pmHosted by David Feldman atAdat Yeshua Messianic Synagogue8512 Stearns in Overland Park, KSEVERYTHING ON SALEUP TO 75% OFF!Menorahs, Candles, Israeli Art, Jewish Toys, BOOKSAND LOTS

Freedom in Jerusalem

2009-12-07T08:01:00.001-06:00

Part of the justification for the travesty of the Stockholm Suggestion is "protecting religious freedom" which means rewarding Islamic violence and insulating Muslims from the consequences of their actions.The Israel Project has a good rundown on religious freedom in Jerusalem in the 20th century, under Muslim and Jewish control.It might surprise you.For example, the Jewish population of

Stockholm Suggestion

2009-12-07T07:11:00.008-06:00

The European Union has a plan to achieve peace by declaring, today, that east Jerusalem is the capital of the future Palestinian state.Oh, yeah. That'll work.At a meeting of the EU's foreign ministers in Brussels later Monday, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt is expected to put forward a pro-Palestinian motion which includes an article declaring east Jerusalem the capital of the future

Hanukkah and Holiday Sale

2009-12-06T20:00:00.001-06:00

SUNDAY DEC. 6, 200912 noon-8pmHosted by David Feldman atAdat Yeshua Messianic Synagogue8512 Stearns in Overland Park, KSEVERYTHING ON SALEUP TO 75% OFF!Menorahs, Candles, Israeli Art, Jewish Toys, BOOKSAND LOTS MORE!Everyone Welcome! Tell your friends!Back-stock Clearance* (Everything must go):MENORAHS, DREYDELS (Decorative and Game dreydels),Candles, Hanukkah TOYS/ crafts, Kids’ Books,Holiday

Start-Up Nation

2009-12-06T14:14:00.000-06:00

A new book by Dan Senor and Saul Singer, Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle, explores the culture behind Israel's economic success.Senor, an adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and former foreign policy adviser in Iraq and Qatar, agreed to answer some questions about the book from the Freakonomics blog.Israel is a country of 7.1 million people, only

Chinese Jews

2009-12-06T11:03:00.004-06:00

Did you know there were Chinese Jews? Shavei Israel (Hebrew: שבי ישראל‎, Israel returns) is an Israel-based Jewish organization that locates "lost Jews" and assists them in returning to Judaism.Founded by Michael Freund, it has the support of different rabbinical authorities in Israel and the United States of America. Shavei Israel's aim is to ensure that anyone wishing to return to the Jewish

Time to Laugh

2009-12-06T09:02:00.002-06:00

It has been a rough couple of weeks, and posting has certainly dropped off. Fortunately, there is always something to laugh about in Israel.Consider the unique "Express Lane" in a discount supermarket chain called "Big Zol"."Zol" means cheap, but this store splurged to cater to its ultra-religious clientèle.They established a small synagogue next to the checkout lanes at a newly-opened store -

M&F #346 - Are Settlements an Obstacle to Negotiations?

2009-12-04T07:33:00.005-06:00

The Palestinian leadership propagates the myth that settlements are an obstacle to peace negotiations, and that all settlement construction must cease before negotiations can resume. This has never been true in the history of Arab-Israeli peace negotiations.MYTH: "Settlements are an obstacle to negotiations."FACT:Today, the Palestinian leadership propagates the myth that settlements are an

About Those Swiss Minarets

2009-12-01T19:40:00.000-06:00

Tawfik Hamid asks whether Muslims can blame the Swiss for being afraid of Islamization in their country. His answer is: "No, especially while the entire world sees the inhumane applications of Islamic law (Shari'a) wherever it is implemented."Hamid is an Islamic thinker and reformer, and one-time Islamic extremist from Egypt. He was a member of a terrorist Islamic organization JI with Dr. Ayman

Israel Tourism Record: Why not you?

2009-12-01T07:43:00.002-06:00

Israeli Tourism Sets October Record Israel has set a new record for incoming tourism for the month of October, with 330,000 tourists for the month in 2009, according to an Israel Tourism Ministry press release. The figure is 9% higher than October of last year, which overall was a record year for tourism. The record October of 2009 comes despite the global economic problems, as well as negative

If there was a vote to admit Israel to the United Nations today...

2009-11-30T12:24:00.001-06:00

On the eve of the 62nd anniversary of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 (the Partition Plan for Palestine to create a Jewish and an Arab state), Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel Danny Ayalon said, "If there was a vote to admit Israel to the United Nations today, there is no doubt in my mind that we would not get in."Ayalon also said that in 1949, when Israel was admitted, two-thirds

Sick Kids

2009-11-29T12:11:00.003-06:00

Both Jerry and I have children who are unwell.On Tuesday evening, my son Isaiah had a series of petit mal (or absence) seizures. We took him to the emergency clinic and they sent him to Children's Mercy. After a day of observation and an EEG, a diagnosis was confirmed. A prescription was written, and further tests planned.On Thursday, Jerry's daughter Anna was hospitalized with a kidney

Urgent Request: Isaiah

2009-11-25T00:36:00.003-06:00

My son, Isaiah, is in the hospital, tonight, and probably for at least 24-hours for observation. They may keep him longer.This evening, he had a series of episodes I can only describe as absence seizures. Far more than his occasional spaciness, these episodes were severe enough that we felt it urgent to get him to a medical professional, and they felt he needed to go to the hospital for

Award-Winning Film on Radical Islam

2009-11-24T07:39:00.003-06:00

Watch the Award-Winning Film "Obsession" Online Now. Limited Time Only.

Major Hasan and Holy War

2009-11-23T12:24:00.000-06:00

Reuel Marc Gerecht says the domestic Islamic threat is real, and the FBI is unprepared to fight it.The problem is that "cultural sensitivity" is carried too far, until we ignore blatant warning signs.Gerecht &mdash a former Central Intelligence Agency officer who is currently a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies &mdash writes: "The American military and especially the

Israel tour details

2009-11-23T07:08:00.003-06:00

Tour costs: $3895 excluding lunches and tips.The tour price is based on a minimum of 20 passengers. If we do not get 20 by Jan. 6, we can still go but to have between 15 and 20 passengers it will require a significant additional cost.It is best to get your reservation in now, secured only by a refundable $300 deposit no later than Jan 6th, though by then you will need to have paid non-refundable