March 16, 2018

Report: Israel 11th in Happiness Rankings

Leave a Comment / United States / Aaron Bandler

The United Nations (U.N.) released their latest country happiness rankings on Mar. 14 and placed Israel at 11th, the same spot it’s been in for five years.

The countries in the top 10 were Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and Australia, in that order. And given that these happiness scores are likely overstated in these Scandinavian countries, Israel’s happiness levels could be ranked even higher.

The United States was ranked 18th – a marked decline from previous years – while the Palestinian territories were placed at 104th. Iran wasn’t far behind at 106.

The report based its rankings on “GDP, social support structures, healthy lifestyles, social freedom, generosity and the absence of corruption,” among other factors, according to the Algemeiner.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News host Mark Levin on Sunday Israel’s ranking was all the more impressive given that young people in the country were ranked fifth on the happiness index.

“They have a real confidence in the future, and that’s because I think they appreciate and… I know that’s what drives me and animates me: How to ensure that the Jewish state has a permanent future of security and prosperity… and peace if we can get it,” Netanyahu said. “The people of Israel I think do identify that.”

It’s not hard to see why there is such happiness in the Jewish state given the country’s thriving startup nation and respect for various freedoms that make it akin to the United States in terms of culture and values.

Read the full report here.

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Palestinian Terrorist Murders Two IDF Soldiers, Injures Two Others in Vehicular Attack

Leave a Comment / Israel / Aaron Bandler

A Palestinian terrorist used a vehicle to murder two Israel Defense Force (IDF) soldiers and injure two other soldiers on Mar. 16, which was designated as another “Day of Rage” for Palestinians.

The terrorist, identified as 26-year-old Allah Kabhha, drove his vehicle into the four IDF soldiers stationed at an observation post just outside of the Mevo Dotan settlement in Judea and Samaria. Kabhha attempted to flee but was caught by the IDF shortly thereafter. He was injured from his attack but it’s not believed to be serious.

One of the two IDF soldier deaths occurred at the scene, while the second death occurring not much later. The two other IDF soldiers are being treated at Petah Tikva’s Medical Center for “moderate to serious” injuries.

Kabhha, who is from the Baarta town, had previously been imprisoned for “terror-related activities” and was on the IDF’s radar.

Palestinian terror groups responded with glee to the attack. Hamas spokesperson Hazam Kasam declared, “This attack makes it clear that the intifada is continuing for the Palestinian people.” Islamic Jihad called for more attacks like Kabhha’s.

Multiple Palestinian groups encouraged Palestinians “to confront IDF soldiers and settlers” on Mar. 16, a “day of rage” to commemorate the 100th day since President Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The riots that have occurred since are becoming increasingly “violent,” per the IDF.

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University of Minnesota President Rips BDS Referendum

Leave a Comment / United States / Aaron Bandler

University of Minnesota President Eric W. Kaler issued a statement on Mar. 12 tearing into a campus vote in favor of a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) referendum.

Kaler began his statement by pointing out that while the university respects differing points of view on campus, he felt it was necessary to express why he opposes such a referendum.

“The BDS Movement, while not directly mentioned in this referendum, has called for a comprehensive academic, cultural, economic and consumer boycott of Israel,” Kaler said. “In general, our University should be extraordinarily wary about such boycotts, given our core values of academic freedom and our commitment to the free exchange of ideas, uncertainty about the impact of such efforts, and concerns that we may be unfairly singling out one government and the citizens of the country in question.”

Kaler added that BDS seems to conflate “opposition to the policies of the government of Israel and opposition to the existence of Israel.”

“We live in divisive times, both in our country and internationally,” Kaler said. “This referendum, while narrowly approved, exacerbates those divisions and thus may damage our ability to come together as a University community in common efforts as we hope for — and work for — peace and reconciliation in the Middle East. We won’t solve this problem alone, but surely we can be better than a place where unhelpful rhetoric is hurled from side to side.”

The referendum in question passed by a margin of 3.4% on Mar. 11; it stated that “students of the University of Minnesota demand the Board of Regents divest from companies that are 1) complicit in Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights, 2) maintaining and establishing private prisons and immigrant detention centers, or 3) violating Indigenous sovereignty.” The referendum will go to the Board of Regents for approval.

Minnesota Hillel Executive Director Benjie Kaplan claimed the referendum went on the ballot only a few days before the election, thus causing students to “be led to vote yes simply by the question’s framing.”

“Having now been through three different BDS attempts I have learned that those launching these attacks are not interested in debate, they use BDS as a way of spreading their narrative, and then they use the misinformation they spread to polarize the communities most invested in the conflict rather than seek out constructive dialogue and understanding,” Kaplan told TC Jewfolk.

The campus Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) simply stated that they are against “all forms of racism and oppression, including anti-Semitism,” even though SJP at large has reportedly committed various acts of anti-Semitic harassment.

H/T: Canary Mission

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He-Goats and Ephas and Hins (Oh, My) – A Poem for Haftarah Vayikra by Rick Lupert

Moses and God’s Tears – A Poetic Midrash for Vayikra

Leave a Comment / Blogs / Rabbi John Rosove

So often God called Moses. / Three times they met / at the flaming bush / on Sinai and before the Tent of Meeting / that Moses might intuit God’s mind / and soothe God’s heart / as a lover comforts his beloved.

Since creation / God yearned to bridge the chasm / when the Creator pulled away / and opened space / to share the universe.

Yet the Almighty remained alone / exiled within the Divine Self / when the vessels shattered / and matter was flung to the far reaches of the universe.

The upper spheres were divorced from the lower / male from female / the primal Father from the primal Mother / Tiferet from Malchut / Hakadosh Baruch Hu from Shechinah / Adonai from K’nesset Yisrael.

Before time and speech / God appointed the soul of the Shepherd-Prince Moses / to be prophet / and endowed him with hearing-sight / wide-ranging wisdom and intuitive knowledge.

No one but Moses / had ever been so chosen or / to come so near to God.

Moses saw with his ears / heard with his eyes / tasted with his mind / and remained whole in the Light.

The prophet descended the mountain aglow / the primordial Light shielding him behind a veil / bearing on his forehead divine ink-drops / illuminating the earth’s four corners.

Moses descended upon angel’s wings / weightless and cradling the lettered-stone / inside the eye of raging winds.

Though a Prince in Egypt / Moses’ destiny was as a lonely shepherd / gathering sheep / and drawing the children of Israel to God.

God needed much from Moses / to bring the plagues / and show that there is no God but God / and liberate the people / and bring them to Sinai / and inspire with the Word / and create God’s house / that light might abide within every heart / and restore wholeness in the world.

After all of God’s expectations and demands / we might expect Moses’ strength to be depleted / to be exhausted to the bone and ready to say / “Enough! O Redeemer – find a new prophet / I can no longer bear the burden / and be Your voice and create bridges / You are Almighty God / I am but flesh / My strength is gone / My time expired!”

“Nonsense!” proclaimed the Eternal / “I am not yet ready for your retirement! / My world remains shattered / My light obscured / my heart aching / I need you to teach My people / and all people / instill in their hearts / a love that heals My wound / for I cannot do this for Myself.”

Alas, the Creator-Redeemer’s needs were clear / to be close to Moses and the people / that the prophet and Israel together / might wipe away God’s tears / and restore God’s heart to wholeness / and heal God’s Name to Itself / and bring peace.

Poem composed by Rabbi John L. Rosove

Notes about this poetic Midrash:

The first word that appears in this week’s Torah portion Vayikra (vav – yud – kuf – resh – aleph – “And God called Moses…”) ends with an unusually small aleph. This anomaly in what is called the k’tiv (written text) gave rise to much rabbinic interpretation over the centuries.

Rashi explained that the small aleph teaches the humility of Moses. Others said that the aleph is an introduction to the Levitical laws of sacrifice, which requires humility. A Midrash suggests that when Moses descended from Mount Sinai carrying the tablets of the law, he emitted a keren or (“a ray of light”) compelling Moses to shield his face with a veil because the people could not look upon him in such a state. The source of that ray of light was divine ink left over when Moses wrote a small aleph instead of one of normal size. The Midrash explains that Moses had sought to lessen his own stature by using a small aleph, but God restored the extra drops of divine ink by placing them upon Moses’ forehead.

The Midrashic literature comments at length about Moses’ experience meeting panim el panim (lit. “face to face” – metaphorically “soul to soul”) with God. Moses was first among God’s prophets. Though each prophet spoke God’s words, there never was another prophet like Moses nor, as the Torah explains, was there ever again a more humble human being on earth than Moses.

It is my fascination with prophecy that inspired me to write this poetic Midrash.

For those of you wishing more insight into Biblical prophecy, I recommend Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s “The Prophets” – publ. Jewish Publication Society, New York, 1962.

Shabbat shalom.

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“The Tail Wagging the Dog”

Leave a Comment / Blogs / Rabbi John Rosove

Given the daily chaos, firings and mania in the Trump White House, the loss of solid Republican seats in special elections around the country, the investigation focusing more and more on Trump and his business dealings, and the disturbed nature of the man who sits in the Oval Office, the words of one of our nation’s founding generation are apt for us now – and a warning:

“If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.”

-James Madison, fourth US president (16 Mar 1751-1836)

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Torah Talk: Parashat Vayikra with Rabbi Jerry Seidler

Leave a Comment / Israel, Rosner's Domain, Rosner's Video, Videos / Shmuel Rosner

Rabbi Jerry Seidler is a staff chaplain with Sinai and Northwest Hospitals, and the spiritual leader of Adat Chaim Congregation, all in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 2002, where he was an Eisenstein Scholar, and was the rabbi for synagogues in Rutland, Vermont and Amherst, New York before coming to Baltimore in 2008. Rabbi Seidler has his BA in political science from the University of Pennsylvania and JD from the Vanderbilt University School of Law. Prior to joining the rabbinate, he served on active duty as a US Army MP and JAG officer, and was a litigation attorney with law firms in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. Board Certified as a chaplain through the Association of Professional Chaplains, he is co-author most recently of Jewish, Christian and Muslim Perspectives about Xenotransplantation which is set for publication in a forthcoming edition of the Journal of the International Xenotransplantation Association.

This week’s Torah Portion – Parashat Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1-5:26) – is the first portion of the book of Leviticus. The portion introduces the sacrificial service and describes five different kinds of sacrifice. Our discussion focuses on the relevance of the sacrifices described in the parasha (and of the book of Leviticus in general) to our lives today.