Sunday, December 30, 2018

Maccabees, Mount, and Modern Israel By Michael Freund - 4 Tevet 5779

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Yehuda Lave, Spiritual Advisor and Counselor

Study and Emulate Great People

Here is a tool for greatness: Watch a truly righteous person very carefully and observe what he does in order to emulate him.

Today, think of three great people that you know, heard of, or have read about. What can you learn from each one?

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Yehuda Lave is an author, journalist, psychologist, rabbi, spiritual teacher and coach, with degrees in business, psychology and Jewish Law. He works  with people from all walks of life and helps them in their search for greater happiness, meaning, business advice on saving money,  and spiritual engagement

Acre Famous Tunisian Synagouge

On our trip to the North on December 5, 2018 on Chunnukah 2018 we visit Acre and the famous Tunisian Synagogue and its thousands of mural tiles. A visit worth the trip itself the Or Torah – "Jariva" – (Tunisian) Synagogue, Acre One of the world's most breathtaking tourist sites. The Tunisian Synagogue in Acre – known as the "Jariva" is the only one of its kind in the world. It is literally covered in mosaics – both inside and out. Each of its 4 floors proudly displays spectacular mosaics (from Kibbutz Eilon) – the outcome of 54 years of work. The Synagogue boasts 7 Torah arks and houses hundreds of millions of natural stones from all over Israel. The mosaics and stained-glass windows depict the history of the Jewish people and of the Land of Israel through Bible stories, flora and fauna, IDF corps and more

Maccabees, Mount and Modern Israel By Michael Freund - 4 Tevet 5779 – December 12, 2018

{Originally posted to the author's website}

Just a few days before the start of Hanukkah, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan delivered remarks that would have made the Maccabees proud.

Speaking at the Conference on the National Interest arranged by the My Israel organization at Jerusalem's Menachem Begin Heritage Center, Erdan addressed the topic of the Temple Mount and the right of Jews to worship there, which of course is a central theme of the holiday we are celebrating this week.

While much of the media seems not to have taken notice, Erdan's comments may signal the beginning of a much-needed and long-awaited change in Israeli policy, one that would herald a full restoration of Jewish rights at our nation's holiest site.

"I have instructed the police to act in every way to restore our sovereignty on the area of the Temple Mount, which has been badly damaged," Erdan said, "and to allow as many Jews as possible to visit the Jewish people's most sacred place."

After noting that the number of Jewish visitors to the Mount is the highest it has been in recent years, he went on to announce, "I believe the time has come to reexamine the restrictions that are imposed on Jews who ascend the Temple Mount, to assess what is really necessary from a security viewpoint and what is practiced as a result of a discriminatory status quo that became entrenched over the years and that has no real justification".

For anyone who has followed the issue of the Temple Mount, Erdan's statement was refreshing for both its honesty as well as its veracity.

After too many years in which Jewish visitors and worshipers on the Mount were subjected to harassment, humiliation and hassle, all out of fear of offending Islamist extremists, a change in approach is long overdue.

Two incidents that took place three months ago underline just how absurd the situation has become. On September 20, Jerusalem Police District Commander Yoram Halevy signed an administrative order barring an Israeli named Shlomo Puah from the Temple Mount for a period of six months. His crime? Puah had gone up to the Temple Mount and blown a shofar on Rosh Hashanah.

Halevy justified the order, which is clearly a violation of Puah's basic civil rights, by asserting that "it is necessary to prevent serious harm to personal security or property." No further explanation was given, and with the stroke of a pen, an Israeli citizen's freedom of expression, freedom of worship and freedom of assembly were unceremoniously trampled upon.

Barely a week later, on September 26, during the holiday of Sukkot, four young Israelis were detained by police on the Mount for kneeling and reciting aloud, "Shema Yisrael." A video on YouTube shows police literally dragging them away for questioning, even though the Supreme Court has ruled that Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount is entirely legal.

The restrictions imposed on Jews on the Temple Mount are as intolerable as they are inexcusable, and given the key role the site played in the Hanukkah miracle, now is the perfect time to change them. Indeed, isn't it painfully ironic that while the Maccabees fought to free the Temple Mount from foreign control, Israel allows the Palestinian Muslim Wakf and Jordan to dictate what happens there?

According to the First Book of Maccabees 2:6-8, at the very start of the Hasmonean revolt, Matityahu bemoaned the fate of our people's holiest site: "Why was I born to see these terrible things, the ruin of my people and of the holy city? Must I sit here helpless while the city is surrendered to enemies and the Temple falls into the hands of foreigners? The Temple is like someone without honor."

Sadly, the same could be said now, when Jews ascending the Mount are barred from bringing a prayer book or a Bible, or even uttering a few words of prayer, all in the name of "security."

The Temple and the liberation of the Mount on which it stood are fundamental elements of the Hanukkah story. After all, it was there, on the Temple Mount, that the little flask of pure oil miraculously continued to burn.

So when you light the Hanukkah candles each night with your family, and watch the flames atop them reach heavenward, consider the following: we owe it to ourselves and to our Maccabean forbears to once again set the Temple Mount free and make it accessible to Jews.

While the events we commemorate on Hanukkah took place more than 21 centuries ago, the themes of the holiday continue to resonate powerfully. Through heroism and determination, the Maccabees laid down a clear path. Blessed with Divine favor, they blazed a trail of light that pierced through the darkness of their day. Each year on Hanukkah, if you listen carefully, you can hear them calling down to us from across the generations, urging us to follow in their footsteps, stand firm and refuse to yield.

May Israel's government at last have the courage to heed their call and set the Temple Mount free once and for all.

John Denver - Leaving on a Jet Plane

Lyrics

All my bags are packed
I'm ready to go
I'm standin' here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin'
It's early morn
The taxi's waitin'
He's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome
I could die

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around
I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
Ev'ry place I go, I'll think of you
Ev'ry song I sing, I'll sing for you
When I come back, I'll bring your wedding ringSo kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go


'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to goNow the time has come to leave you
One more time
Let me kiss you
Then close your eyes
I'll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times, I won't have to sayOh, kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to goBut, I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Songwriters: John DenverLeaving on a Jet Plane lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir One Music, Reservoir Media Management Inc, BMG Rights Management

Artist: John DenverAlbum: Rhymes & ReasonsReleased: 1969Genre: Folk Rock

Other recordings of this song

Leaving on a Jet PlaneChantal Kreviazuk · 1998

Leaving on a Jet PlanePeter, Paul and Mary · 1967Jet PlaneEve 6 · 2000

See you tomorrow

Love Yehuda Lave

Rabbi Yehuda Lave

2850 Womble Road, Suite 100-619, San Diego
United States

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