Victory for Temple Mount activists as court slams police for ‘illegal’ bans and How to celebrate Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah! and Why do Jews dance and sing with the Torah scroll? Why I always choose to vacation in Israel by Uri Pilichowski and Ben Gurion Airport to Go Digital in 2023 By TPS / Tazpit News Agency and Making inroads: An unlikely 38-hour drive from Dubai to Jerusalem, via Riyadh
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.
The Three are Rabbi Yehuda Glick, famous temple mount activist, and former Israel Mk, and then Robert Weinger, the world's greatest shofar blower and seller of Shofars, and myself after we had gone to the 12 gates of the Temple Mount in 2020 to blow the shofar to ask G-d to heal the world from the Pandemic. It was a highlight to my experience in living in Israel and I put it on my blog each day to remember.
The articles that I include each day are those that I find interesting, so I feel you will find them interesting as well. I don't always agree with all the points of each article but found them interesting or important to share with you, my readers, and friends. It is cathartic for me to share my thoughts and frustrations with you about life in general and in Israel. As a Rabbi, I try to teach and share the Torah of the G-d of Israel as a modern Orthodox Rabbi. I never intend to offend anyone but sometimes people are offended and I apologize in advance for any mistakes. The most important psychological principle I have learned is that once someone's mind is made up, they don't want to be bothered with the facts, so, like Rabbi Akiva, I drip water (Torah is compared to water) on their made-up minds and hope that some of what I have share sinks in. Love Rabbi Yehuda Lave.
Victory for Temple Mount activists as court slams police for 'illegal' bans
The court has once again ruled that banning Jewish ascenders from the Temple Mount is illegal," said NGO advocating for Jewish freedom of worship at the holy site.
By Lauren Marcus, World Israel News
Activists who encourage Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount won a legal victory on Friday, after a Jerusalem court ruled that a police order banning a Jewish woman from the compound was illegitimate and ordered that she be paid compensation for being kept away from the site.
S, an activist from the Beyadenu NGO which advocates for freedom of worship for Jews at the compound, was turned away from the Temple Mount in November 2021, after she participated in a protest at the site shortly after the murder of Eli Kay.
Kay, a South African immigrant, was shot to death by a terrorist from eastern Jerusalem near the Temple Mount. The Hamas-linked murderer, an Islamic studies teacher in a local school, had been a fixture at the site and was regularly in contact with the Waqf (the Muslim custodians of the Temple Mount.)
As the protest ended and S left the Temple Mount, she was pulled aside by a police officer who informed her that she would need to have a "conversation" with authorities before she visited the site in the future.
S returned to the site several days later and spoke to a police officer, but was denied entry to the compound and told that she must attend a "hearing" with a senior police representative before visiting the Mount again.
S repeatedly reached out to authorities, calling the police station dozens of times and returning to the site in order to arrange a meeting, but the police never sent her a written summons for the hearing and were opaque about the reasons for her ban and its duration.
The police eventually sent S a WhatsApp message announcing that she was forbidden from visiting the site for three months, with no explanation and no opportunity for her to appeal the decision.
Beyadenu's legal team filed a petition against the decision, arguing that she was not properly informed about the ban and criticizing the police for its lack of transparency in the decision-making process.
Jerusalem District Court Judge Shai Tzarfati sided with Beyadenu and S, ordering that the police pay the activist 2,000 shekels ($560) as compensation for the illegitimate ban.
"The plaintiff, according to the police report, received a message that her ascent to the mountain is conditional on a clarification conversation, that, and nothing else," he wrote in the ruling.
Tzarfati noted that the "plaintiff did not receive any summons for a written hearing" and stressed that bans constitute a serious violation of freedom of movement, requiring that recipients be properly informed and presented with evidence and reasoning as to why the ban was imposed.
"The court has once again ruled that banning Jewish ascenders from the Temple Mount is illegal," said Tom Nisani, the CEO of Beyadenu, in a statement.
"Our legal team, together with our partners from the lawfare project, will continue to act to ensure the fundamental rights of those who ascend to the Mount. We, too, have rights and we will not give them up."
How to celebrate Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah Why do Jews dance and sing with the Torah scroll?
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are the culmination of the High Holiday season that starts with the Hebrew month of Elul and Rosh Hashanah, and continues with the 10 Days of Repentance, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. Here's a rundown of everything you need to know.
What are Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah (quick version)?
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah immediately follow the seven-day festival of Sukkot. They are celebrated as one day in Israel and two days in the Diaspora. The precise meaning of Shemini Atzeret is unclear, but it is thought to be a time of bonding between God and the Jewish people. Simchat Torah is a festive and joyful celebration of the Jewish people's love of and commitment to Torah.
Interestingly, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah have no inherent mitzvot. They are observed by beginning the recitation of the prayer for rain (tefilat geshem), singing and dancing with the Torah, completing the yearly cycle of Torah readings and beginning the next cycle and refraining from work.
When are they?
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah take place on the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Tishrei (in Israel) and on the 22nd and 23rd of Tishrei in the Diaspora. This year, that corresponds to the evening of
Simchat Torah: October 16-18, 2022
Only October 16-17 2022 in Israel
Are Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah a part of Sukkot?
The name of Shemini Atzeret as "the eighth day" would suggest that it is a part of Sukkot. However, it is technically a separate holiday.
The Talmud (Sukkah 47b – 48a) states, "The eighth day is a festival in and of itself (regel bifnei atzmo)." Because of this, the Sukkot observances (dwelling in a sukkah and shaking the lulav and etrog) are not included in these two days. However, many choose to still have meals in the sukkah on Shemini Atzeret (but unlike Sukkot, no blessing is recited), and for many, there is an obligation to still dwell in the sukkah without a blessing (for a deeper exploration of this, read this article).
How to greet someone on Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah
To greet someone at this time, you can simply say "chag sameach" (happy holiday!). You could also wish someone a happy Simchat Torah.
What is Shemini Atzeret?
Shemini Atzeret means the "Eighth Day of Assembly" and immediately follows the seven-day festival of Sukkot. Shemini Atzeret is mentioned in the Torah but its meaning is unclear.
Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:36 states, "On the eighth day you shall observe a sacred occasion and bring an offering by fire to the LORD; it is an atzeret: you shall not work at your occupations."
The Midrash interprets atzeret as deriving from the root atzar, to "tarry" or "hold back" and explains the day this way: "It is similar to the case of a king who invited his children to a banquet for a certain number of days. When the time arrived for them to take their departure he said, "Children, I beg of you, stay one day more with me; it is so hard for me to part with you!"
Similarly, on Shemini Atzeret, the Jewish people have spent the entire holiday season praying, rejoicing and striving for closeness with God and are about to return to normal life. God says to the Jewish people, "Stay one more day with Me!" That (according to the Midrash which is quoted by Rashi) is the meaning of Shemini Atzeret: it is one more day of closeness with God before going back to business as usual.
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe took this mashal (parable) one step further: If it is difficult for the king to part ways with his children on one particular day, what happens the next day? Won't it be equally difficult for the king then too? Isn't this just kicking the can down the road? According to Rabbi Wolbe, what is happening on Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah is that God and the Jewish people "are forging a bond that's going to endure even when we go our separate ways." The connection forged at this time is so deep that it will withstand the relative "distance" between the Jewish people and God post-holidays.
On Shemini Atzeret, work is not permitted. The prayer for rain (tefilat geshem) is recited beginning on Shemini Atzeret since the day marks the start of the rainy season in Israel. (Until Passover, the phrase "masheev ha'ruach u'moreed hagashem," "Who causes the wind to blow and the rain to fall" is recited in the Amidah prayer.)
What is Simchat Torah?
Simchat Torah literally means "joy of the Torah" and is the grand finale of the holiday season (in Israel it is integrated into Shemini Atzeret).
Simchat Torah is not mentioned in the Torah or Talmud. It has become a day on which the Jewish people celebrate and express their love of the Torah and the never-ending cycle of reading and studying it. On this day, we complete the yearly cycle of Torah readings (the ending of Sefer Devarim/the Book of Deuteronomy) and immediately start the cycle again from the beginning (the first part of Sefer Beresheet/the Book of Genesis).
The celebration begins in the evening with Maariv. All of the Torah scrolls are removed from the ark and are carried around the interior of the synagogue seven times. These processions are called hakafot and symbolize the continuous cycle of Torah readings. As this is happening, the Torah scrolls are passed to different members of the congregation so that many people have an opportunity to participate. Everyone in the congregation is invited to dance and sing with the Torah scrolls, and the scene is extremely festive and joyful.
It is traditional to read the last Torah portion several times and invite everyone in the congregation to be called up for an aliyah (blessing on the Torah). The next day, the celebration continues with seven more hakafot and Torah readings of the last portion of Devarim (called V'Zot HaBracha) and first portion of Beresheet (called Beresheet).
At the beginning of 2023, Ben Gurion Airport, Israel's main airport, will become digitally automated and the Airports Authority will launch new and advanced self-service stations to serve passengers, with scales for weighing luggage, paying for excess weight immediately, and printing the tag and stickers for the suitcase ("Bag Tag") to allow the suitcase to be sent independently to the plane.
The Bag Tag will be scanned near the independent delivery conveyors and after scanning the code – the bag will be sent directly to the belly of the plane.
The Airports Authority stated Sunday that "innovation is a key factor in enriching the passenger's experience."
Currently, the border control procedure in Israel is completely automated and allows more than 90% of passengers to go through the border control with a passport scan and direct passage to the duty-free area.
Today, over 50% of the passengers flying abroad prefer to check in online. The new technologies will make it possible to provide passengers with a varied and expanded independent service.
With the addition of the touch and play stations, passengers flying abroad will go through security only after completing the check-in flight registration procedure, online flight registration from home, or alternatively, flight registration at the independent kiosks that will be installed in the departure hall.
Most of the processes of leaving the country will be carried out online and by digital tooks, maximizing comfort and accessibility for passengers.
Since the beginning of the year, approximately 10 million passengers have passed through Israel on international flights.
In the month of August, over 2.3 million passengers will pass through Ben Gurion Airport on international flights.
Why I always choose to vacation in Israel by Uri Pilichowski
Although practically, most rabbis allow vacation travel outside of Israel, the message our rabbis have taught is clear; every moment in Israel is precious.
I stared in shock at the full two-page advertisement. I was perusing a Jewish magazine on Shabbat over a cup of coffee and saw the left page of the advertisement quote a verse from the Torah, "Build me a sanctuary and I will dwell among you." Curious, I wondered what was being advertised.
The facing page was even more surprising, the text stated, "There's nowhere you'd rather be… " could this be an advertisement for building the Temple in Jerusalem? Where else would any Jewish person, reading a Jewish magazine, want to be? I was shocked when I realized it was an advertisement for a bungalow colony in the Catskills.
In a time when all Jews can move to Israel, is it appropriate to be building our sanctuaries in Upstate New York? Are the Catskills where all Jews really want to be over the summer? I certainly didn't want to be in the Catskills, I wanted to be in Israel this summer.
I moved to Israel 25 years ago, went back to America for ten years, and returned to Israel eight years ago. I've always preferred to vacation in Israel than go to Europe, Asia or America. More than just a personal preference not to leave, our rabbis stressed the importance of staying in Israel, even stating that it's prohibited to leave Israel if not for limited and specific reasons.
Although practically, most rabbis allow vacation travel outside of Israel, the message our rabbis have taught is clear; every moment in Israel is precious. With so much to see in Israel, it's easy to plan repeated vacations without running out of things to see and places to visit.
When our family vacations throughout Israel we travel Israel's history on five levels: biblical times, Mishna times, Talmudic times, exile times, and modern Zionism times. The people and events of these times left a mark on the land. There are places one can visit that are unique to only one time period and others where events occurred from one, two or even all the timeline eras.
Traveling the land
Simply traveling the land allows learning the events of our past in a way that history books and even master educators can never teach it. Touching the rocks, feeling the air, and walking the same roads our ancestors walked so many years before renews our connection to our history.
Israel isn't only a place of history; it is a land of fun and recreation as well. When it comes to the fun in Israel, there are also five levels of fun.
Israel offers its people hiking, culture, cuisine, fun and shopping. Each region in Israel offers a different terrain which lends Israelis a different hiking experience each time they hike. The culture, whether one goes to a concert to hear music, visits a theater to see a play or visits the many museums, Israel's culture simply can't be beat.
WITH IMMIGRANTS from every corner of the world, Israel's restaurants offer the widest variety of food that can be imagined. Kubbeh from Syria, falafel from Iraq and Kurdish shamburak will ensure you never forget your vacation. The fun doesn't stop there, ride banana boats on the Kinneret, ATVing in the Judean Desert or skydiving over the Mediterranean coast, the adventures really never stop in Israel.
Lastly, whether it's art, clothes or Judaica, Israel's shuks, stores and malls offer incredible shopping and souvenirs to remember your trip.
The Jewish connection to the land
On a Palestinian television program called The Supreme Authority, Riyad al-Aileh, a Palestinian political science lecturer stated, "The Jews claim that they were in Palestine 2,000 years ago, If we look at the history, we will see that they were not in Palestine in the past, but rather only as invaders less than 70 years ago."
Some opponents of Zionism claim the Jewish connection to the land is more contemporary by nature and was invented by modern Zionists.
As a Zionist educator vacationing in the Land of Israel, I couldn't help noticing that every few feet there are signs (literal and figurative) of the Jewish people's connection to the land.
Ignoring the Jewish connection to the Land of Israel is ignoring reality. Early Zionists didn't choose the land of Israel randomly from a spinning globe. The Jewish connection to the Land of Israel goes back thousands of years, and the Jewish people have never given up hope of returning home.
Whenever circumstances force me to travel abroad, I stand at the departure gates of Ben-Gurion Airport wondering if I've lost my mind. For two thousand years my ancestors waited for the chance to see this land, and now that we finally have it, I'm going to leave it? Of course, I have valid reasons to leave Israel, but even so, how can I leave a place we've been praying to return to for so long?
Living the dream of our ancestors in Israel has many great benefits, but one not talked about often is vacationing in Israel. Whether you're a hiker or shopper, an eater or a skydiver, vacationing in Israel is simply the best. Vacationing in Israel delivers the opportunity to relax, have fun and eat a great meal, all while getting a sense of the Land and the Jewish connection to Eretz Yisrael.
I'm aware that Israel can feel cramped and claustrophobic and that it can be more expensive to vacation in Israel than to fly to resorts in Europe, Cyprus or Dubai. I don't judge anyone for taking a vacation outside of Israel, I'm just fascinated by the Land we've been given and want to enjoy every moment I'm blessed to be in the Land.
The writer is a senior educator at numerous educational institutions. He is the author of three books and teaches Torah, Zionism and Israel studies around the world.
Making inroads: An unlikely 38-hour drive from Dubai to Jerusalem, via Riyadh
Jewish US businessman Bruce Gurfein is on a three-week round-trip between the UAE and Israel to promote partnerships in food and desert technology. He's doing it all in his car
Bruce Gurfein and Joe Koen (left) cross into Israel at the Aqaba border crossing in Jordan, August 12, 2022. (Courtesy)
A week ago, Jewish American businessman Bruce Gurfein left his home in Dubai for a long drive.
In his SUV and with one of his employees at his side, Gurfein drove west on the United Arab Emirates' E11 highway, the shores of the Persian Gulf to his right. After about 10 hours and approximately 1,000 kilometers (some 621 miles), Gurfein reached his first destination: Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
Gurfein's journey was branded as the first ever land journey from the UAE through Saudi Arabia and Jordan to Israel. He embarked on the road trip to promote his regional accelerator for food and desert technology.
On Friday, Gurfein crossed into Israel and arrived in Jerusalem after a total of 38 hours on the road, covering more than 3,580 kilometers (nearly 2,225 miles), and stopping in major cities of the countries he passed through.
Gurfein's new entrepreneurial accelerator is called Future Gigs. His idea is to connect companies and businessmen in the region in the fields of food technologies and desert agriculture, and to bring Israeli companies to do business in Saudi Arabia.
"The journey is a way to raise awareness that there is still no peace between all the countries, but that the way to bring peace is through good business relations between the nations," Gurfein told The Times of Israel in a phone interview, while in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah on Friday.
"Good business relations: This is what they managed to do between the Emirates and Bahrain and Israel, and this is also the reason why the Abraham Accords is a warm peace compared to the cold peace between Israel and Jordan and Egypt," he said.
Gurfein, a US native, has lived in the United Arab Emirates since 1997. A practicing Jew who wears a kippa, he is active in establishing contacts with Israeli companies in the Emirates. He says there are already Israeli companies operating in Saudi Arabia, despite the lack of ties between Jerusalem and Riyadh.
"The Israeli companies are not operating under an Israeli name and identity," he explained. "There is an Israeli technology, which goes through another company that is registered elsewhere, and then, when transferring technology, there is no source of origin of the product as opposed to selling physical products."
Asked if he could identify companies already active in Saudi Arabia, Gurfein answered that he could not go into specifics, "but I will give you two examples. One Israeli company that we help to work in Saudi Arabia deals with technology in the field of citrus cultivation. Another technology company deals in the field of water filtration."
Gurfein sent a picture of himself and his passenger-employee, Joe Koen, standing in a citrus plantation in the Jeddah area. Koen is a Greek native who also lives in Dubai.
Bruce Gurfein (left) and Joe Koen pose for a photo in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, August 9, 2022. (Courtesy)
"From Riyadh, we drove to Jeddah and then to Al-'Ula — which is the agricultural center of Saudi Arabia," Gurfein said. "Then Tabuk, Neom [the futuristic smart city] and from there we [cross] into Jordan via Aqaba."
The two are now spending the week in Jerusalem, where they will meet with technology companies in Jerusalem and Beersheba and with experts in desert cultivation.
"From there, we will return to Saudi Arabia, through the Palestinian Authority and then Jordan," he said. "And then eastward, we will cross through a more northern area and travel in areas that are closer to Iraq, and we will also visit Bahrain before arriving home, to the United Arab Emirates. All in all, the trip is planned for three weeks."
On their way to Israel, Gurfein and Koen drove for seven or eight hours a day. The regional weather in August is very hot, but according to him, after 25 years in Dubai, he is used to the temperatures.
"At this time of year, there are fewer vehicles on the roads and, in terms of heat, this week, on the drive between Riyadh and Jeddah, we even got caught in rain and a sandstorm," he said.
Asked whether his Jewishness was an issue at meetings in Saudi Arabia, Gurfein said most Saudis "do not distinguish between a Jew and an Israeli. For them, every Jew is a Zionist and every Zionist is an Israeli."
But it wasn't a problem. In fact, "they welcomed me warmly," he said.
See you tomorrow bli neder
We need Moshiach now!
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah On Sunday night (also Tuesday outside of Israel)
