Danu9's Blog

Take Action - One Million Calls for Clean Energy

2009-10-23T17:19:00.000-04:00

Take Action - One Million Calls for Clean Energy

Harness Your Brain Power

2008-09-07T16:54:00.001-04:00

HARNESS YOUR BRAINPOWER
by Harvey Mackay

Knowledge is power.

How much do you know about everything? How much do you know about a lot of things? Okay, how much do you know about a few things?

If these seem like odd questions, stop and ponder what you know versus what you don't. Then consider how you would get along if you needed good information on topics that were outside your comfort zone.

As former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson said, "I not only use all the brains I have but all that I can borrow."

I would add this: and all that I can buy, if necessary.

I rely on experts for all kinds of information. I preach the importance of building a network of experts before you need them so that they are there when you do. Whether it's a surgeon, realtor, auto mechanic or a master salesperson, I want the best. And I will return the favor whenever I can, whether it's business advice; a reference; or tickets to a sporting event, concert or the theatre.

But let me make this very clear: I also rely on my own instincts, because eventually, it all comes back to me. I weigh the information I receive from others, and make the best judgment I can. For instance, I am the first to admit that most technology baffles me. But show me how a new gizmo can make my life easier, my business more successful, save me time, or just add to my fun, and I'm sold. That's why I use a Blackberry.

I try to absorb and retain as much information from my experts as I can. You never know when it will come in handy, or when you will find another application for it.

Carl Ally, founder of Ally & Gargano, one of the 20th century's most successful advertising agencies, had an interesting take on knowledge: "The creative person wants to be a know-it-all. He wants to know about all kinds of things: ancient history, nineteenth century mathematics, current-manufacturing techniques, flower arranging and hog futures. Because he never knows when these ideas might come together to form a new idea. It may happen six minutes later or six months or six years down to road. But he has faith that it will happen."

All of us have the ability to gain more knowledge. The brain is amazing. While the old theory that we use only 10 percent of our brains has been widely debunked, there's plenty of evidence that we can increase our brainpower, retention and focus. Plenty of books and websites offer all kinds of help. I'm not endorsing any specific method, but I would encourage you to check out ways to expand your horizons.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you want to Outsell, Outmanage, Outmotivate & Outnegotiate Your Competition?

Let Harvey Mackay teach you how:

To turn no into yes!
Knowledge into action!
And…
Data into info the CIA would envy!

Harvey Mackay’s ability to teach profound business and life lessons in a compelling yet entertaining way has made him one of America’s most popular speakers.

To learn more about this powerful DVD and to purchase individually or as part of a special discounted package, click here.

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In the meantime, you can take some basic steps to improve your knowledge:

•Read. Pick out books, newspapers, websites, encyclopedias, anything with information that teaches you something you didn't already know. Play Trivial Pursuit or watch Jeopardy. Learn something new every day. In my opinion, there are no such things as useless facts. If it's part of our world, it's worth knowing. I will get on my soapbox here again: embrace lifelong learning.

•Listen. Sounds simple enough, but it's so easy to be distracted. Focus on the speaker. If you don't hear it the first time, ask the person to repeat it. Make sure you understand what's been said. You will be surprised what you can learn.

•Pay attention to what's happening around you. According to MENSA, the organization for people with high IQs, current research shows that at least 52 percent of our intelligence is based on our environment.

•Exercise and eat healthy. What's good for the body is also good for the brain. Another reason not to put off taking care of yourself!

•Get some sleep. Our country is chronically sleep-deprived, which negatively affects our thought processes. So along with "beauty sleep," go for the "smart sleep."

You will soon learn that you are capable of more than you imagined. You will also learn to recognize your limitations. If you know that you don't know something, or don't know how to find an answer, you'll know it's time to ask for help. Tap into all the brains you need - they just might not all be housed in your head.

Mackay's Moral: Sometimes being smart means recognizing when you're not.

New Post on The Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life Part 2 on ....

2008-09-07T16:13:00.000-04:00

http://anamcarazenbuddhistchurchenlightnment.blogspot.com/

New Health Website for New Moms, Babies, Pets & the Whole Family including the Pets .... Single Purchse Stocks too

2008-07-02T20:43:00.003-04:00

Products from naturaleco.com; nativeremedies.com and petalive.com as well as oneshare.com all in one spot for YOUR convenience!

http://www.geocities.com/ldydanu9/My_KB_Store.html

Also check out this excellent site!
http://www.bodymindspiritdirectory.org/Editors.html#Editors

New Posts on the Anam Cara Buddhist Blog

2008-06-12T05:57:00.000-04:00

Why not go read them? They're actually quite good.

New Post on

2008-06-07T16:21:00.001-04:00

church blog .... http://anamcarazenbuddhistchurchenlightnment.blogspot.com

New Post on

2008-06-07T16:21:00.000-04:00

church blog .... http://anamcarazenbuddhistchurchenlightnment.blogspot.com

Harness Your Brainpower

2008-06-05T14:05:00.001-04:00

New Post on Church Blog

2008-06-05T11:13:00.001-04:00

http://anamcarazenbuddhistchurchenlightnment.blogspot.com/

The Celtic Cross - Was the Celtic Cross an Ancient Instrument for ....

2008-05-30T08:25:00.001-04:00

measuring time?

Why has the wheel cross become a religious symbol?

Why is it sometimes used on Xtian gravestones?

Why is its tru purpose & capability lost in the mists of time?

http://www.crichtonmiller.com/

PineCone Research - Paid Research Panelist Positons

2008-05-28T17:26:00.003-04:00

PineCone Research - Paid Research Panelist Positions Message List

Reply | Forward | Delete Message #133 of 133 < Prev | Next >

PineCone Research is ready to grow and we need your help!

If you have ever told a friend about doing surveys for PineCone
Research, it is likely that they have asked, "How can I join?"

Well, now you can tell them how to become part of this elite group
of households. We are offering select members the opportunity to
recommend membership to a friend or relative who is NOT a member of
their household.

Do you know of households that would like to join the PineCone
Research Panel? If so, please FORWARD A COPY of this email to each
household you would like to refer so that they may click on the
registration link shown below. That household should complete the
registration form themselves and submit it. REMEMBER THAT ONLY ONE
PERSON PER HOUSEHOLD MAY REGISTER. Multiple registrations of the
same Household will void all registrations.

**** Please Use teybear@gmail.com As Referrer!! Thank You!! ****

Here is the link to the registration:

http://www.pineconeresearch.com/signup/ds519Referral1.asp

As a member in good standing, you've already seen the benefits of
being part of PineCone Research. So please, share the benefits of
membership with a friend. Just don't forget, please don't tell them
about any of the products that you have seen in our questionnaires
or tried in your home. Remember, it's important that your PineCone
Research survey and product testing experiences remain confidential.

If your referral (use teybear@gmail.com as referral please!!) has
any questions, they can email us at scott@pineconeresearch.com or
click on the attached links to learn more about PineCone Research.

http://www1.pineconeresearch.com//about.HTM

http://www1.pineconeresearch.com//policy.htm

While this is not a paid referral program, we genuinely appreciate
your help in spreading the word that PINECONE IS GROWING!

Today Is Memorial Day - Light A Candle Online

2008-05-26T15:25:00.000-04:00

Today is Memorial Day. Light a candle online is a great place to remember loved ones.

Click Here to Light A Candle
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/enter.cfm?l=eng

Have a safe & enjoyable weekend!! Would love to ....

2008-05-24T15:38:00.002-04:00

see you back here again come Monday nite/Tuesday so you can catch up on any new blog posts, news, etc.

Remember!! Don't drink alcohol & drive .... if you go out on the water be sure to wear a life jacket/safety vest and NOT around your ankles either but properly strapped on. Literally take a jump in the water if you must cool off! At least you'll float with the safety device properly attached with your head above water rather than a fish eye view! ~~[;0}

Elder's Meditation of the Day - May 23, 2008

2008-05-23T16:49:00.001-04:00

Elder's Meditation of the Day May 23

"To me, if you're Indian, you're Indian. You don't have to put on your buckskin, beads, and feathers, and stuff like that."
--Cecilia Mitchell, MOHAWK

The most important thing that determines who we are is on our insides, not our outsides. If we are Indian inside, that's all that matters. Being Indian means to think right, to be spiritual and to pray. Feathers and beads don't make us Indian. Being Indian means to have a good heart and a good mind.

Great Spirit, today, let me think Indian.

New Posts on my Church ....

2008-05-21T15:34:00.001-04:00

blog http://anamcarazenbuddhistchurchenlightnment.blogspot.com/

My Temple Blog

2008-05-18T14:11:00.002-04:00

http://anamcarazenbuddhistchurchenlightnment.blogspot.com/

My Different Blogs

2008-03-28T13:05:00.002-04:00

http://www.myspace.com/danu9

http://www.myspace.com/ladydanu9

http://danu9.tblog.com

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/ldydanu9 <==== This one lists the various forms of Reiki I am attuned to. Don't be afraid to contact me to become attuned to one of these.

Please Be Sure To Scroll Down The WHOLE List Of Blog Postings So That ......

2008-03-28T12:56:00.002-04:00

you won't miss all the goodies at the bottom of the blog. I have oodles of goodies listed for you!

Money Reiki - Free Healing

2008-03-28T12:27:00.001-04:00

This special web page is infused with Money Reiki. Come back to it as often as you like to receive Money Reiki energy. Please remember: Money Reiki is not a quick fix! No guarantees of instant lottery wins or cash windfalls are promised here. You must also take action to better handle your personal finances in addition to working with the energy to get the full benefit. Meditate upon the graphic below to receive the Money Reiki energy now:

(see site, listed at bottom of post, for the picture)

Special manta you can repeat during your meditation:

I now connect to the spiritual energy of money.
I fill myself up with love. I fill money up with love.
I give and receive love. I give and receive money.
Money now serves my highest good and the highest good of all.

http://moneyreiki.com/healing/freehealing/

Listed the Forms of Reiki I Am Attuned to on My Yahoo360 Blog and

2008-03-28T12:24:00.001-04:00

and started filling in details on what each specific form is about.

For more information, please go to:

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/ldydanu9

Elder's Meditation of the Day March 28

2008-03-28T12:23:00.001-04:00

Elder's Meditation of the Day March 28

"Sacred sites and areas are protection for all people?the four colors for man?and these sites are in all areas of the earth in the four directions."
--Traditional Circle of Elders, NORTHERN CHEYENNE

The Elders say that values come from the Mother Earth. Different places and areas around the Earth have different values. The Water people live in harmony and know the values that correspond to that particular part of the Earth. The Desert people know the values of the desert and respect and live in harmony with that part of the Earth. The Woodland people know the values of their part of the Earth and live in harmony. If you live in harmony with the Earth, you will live a life that is full of values. We should have great respect for the Mother Earth.

Ma'heo'o Reiki - Check This Out!! You Will LOVE It!

2008-03-19T14:33:00.002-04:00

Look for "Entry for March 16, 2008A - Ma'heo'o Reiki" (w/o the quotes of course LOL) It's an excellent form of Reiki.

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/ldydanu9

I enjoy this one enormously followed by Ama Deus Shamanic, Celtic Reiki & Hawaiian Trinity, which is rooted in and a branch of Huna/Kahuna Reiki by Stephanie Brail.

Sponsor A Wild Horse

2008-03-19T14:30:00.000-04:00

https://shop.theanimalrescuesite.com/store/item.do?siteId=310&itemId=4573&origin=125264

A Ho'oponopono (Huna/Kahuna) Related Site

2008-03-19T14:29:00.000-04:00

Check it out! Good info.

http://hoopono.blogspot.com/2007/11/advanced-kahuna-hooponopono.html

On the Reiki Attunements ....

2008-03-13T14:28:00.003-04:00

I've decided that I am going to list them on one of the store pages I will be setting up on http://www.geocities.com/ldydanu9/news6.htm and http://danu90.fortunecity.com/

Look for more to show up on those pages in the very near future.

Just Finished Attunement for Ma'heo'o Reiki

2008-03-13T13:00:00.003-04:00

Love it! Absolutely love it! Have certificate too & will be listed on http://www.thephoenixeffects.com/Ma'heo'o%20Reiki/index.htm (scroll down to Registered Teachers) as soon as Sheryl Rain Carter recieves my $3 listing payment & the email I sent to show what I want listed.

Ding dong me! In a hurry & I forgot to put it into the notation area of the payment before I sent it. DUUUH! So I sent her an email with the info.

So far, between what I have already been attuned to and what I will be attuned to by the end of April, 2008, the total attunements comes to the grand total of 123 attunements.

YIKES! LOL That's a lot! I'll probably end there unless I see others I want.

At some point here, I'll list all the forms I'm attuned to on here. Will also start attuning others to these forms. Just not sure if I want to go the gifting route form my time doing the attunements & leave it up to the person to either send or not send & they figure out how much to send OR if I want to just do a straight charge for my time.

Email manuals & certificates would be free as are the attunements. It's my time being paid for. Perhaps what I'll do is, for those who seriously can't afford to, let alone afford a lot, I'll send to one of my blog sites that has the Honor System (from Amazon.com)button on it and have them send the gifting that way.

I also need to figure out how much to charge for doing each attunement. I've already put up the buttons. It's now a matter of listing the attunements and the price per attunement. Printing and shipping via snail mail is an extra charge & is dependant on the size of the manual(s) that go with it and the number of manuals .... size meaning the number of pages and number of manuals meaning some forms have 1 manual others have 3 or 4, ie, ma'heo'o has 3 manuals; one manual is 13 pages, another is 16 pages and another is 14 pages and Kundalini Reiki has several manuals ranging from about 7 or 8 pages with others being 10 - 15 pages.

As soon as I figure out what I want to charge per attunement for me to actually do the attunement, I'll post the list with the prices next to it. Now you're paying for me actually doing the attunement and sending manuals via email along with any certificates you want. If want snail mailed, you will pay a nominal extra charge for shipping and printing.

As of 02/25/2008 ....

2008-03-05T10:28:00.001-05:00

I am officially married .... again! LOL

Yeppers! It's been a week and one day (not counting today). LOL

Sorry I've been away for so long .... I found out that ....

2008-02-24T22:11:00.002-05:00

I found out the day after my last post that an extremely dear and close friend of mine passed away on the 11th of February. I'd known him for more than half my life and he will be sorely missed.

I'm starting to feel better now, but, I still feel sad some and a bit hollow. I am hoping I can meet more good people like him as I go thru life. He is a very good soul and I will miss his presence in my life in this realm.

I know he will be watching over me tho. I've felt him around a few times and am glad I have too. I will always miss his jokes, his laughter, his voice .... I'm proud to have known him & for so long. Thank you, Bruce, for being my bestest friend. Love ya, Dude & I'll see ya on top of Everest!

Take a Look at this!

2008-02-11T21:47:00.001-05:00

http://danu9.blogspot.com

Be sure to look @ the bottom for vids & a whole lot more fantabulous stuff!!

Excellent Reiki Sites

2008-02-09T20:53:00.000-05:00

An Excellent Vinnie Amador Site on Delphi Forums:

http://forums.delphiforums.com/reikikomyo/start

An Excellent Reiki Board for Discussions and Learning More:

http://freereiki.proboards43.com/index.cgi

The free reiki site is where one of the great masters/teachers of reiki has gone .... Ole Gabrielsen. He actually started this board.

Of course there's my site too! (Of course I'm also impartial to it LOL) Anam Cara (Irish Gaelic for Soul Mate):

http://forums.delphiforums.com/anamcara1

2008-02-09T20:13:00.000-05:00

We MUST stop cutting down trees & the rainforests.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7gpAy4ivZ0

Where will this planet get drinkable water from without sufficient to non-existent rainfall? The same company that supplies water to your house? WRONG! They run out of water & so will your house.

If you don't like not flushing your toilet (excrutiatingly gross after a very short while) let alone NOT take showers/bathe, then, it's time for YOU to get up & demand governments do more to stop deforestation. Put up trees that aren't some little 2 - 4foot shrub tree. That's not sufficient.

We need oaks and chestnuts, walnut trees .... the types of trees that grow well over 10 - 15 feet tall. One way to help is to demand recycling of everything. It MAY cost a LITTLE more at first. However, in time, as everything gets changed over to being totally recycled, it won't cost anywhere near as much. PLEASE Help!

2008-02-05T08:14:00.001-05:00

Guess what?!?!?!?! Last nite bf formerly

2008-01-26T19:57:00.000-05:00

proposed. We're getting married next month.

Here's a stie of a long time bud who is into environmental issues

2008-01-26T19:56:00.001-05:00

He's putting together a power source that's cleaner & safer than a lot of what's out there. Check out his site & see what it's all about!

http://theenvironmentandthefutureofmankind.com/

The Woodland Trust is the UKs Leading

2008-01-17T03:35:00.000-05:00

conservation charity. Won't you please help preserve us (humans) as well as the planet that supports our life on it? Without a healthy planet, we cannot be fully healthy.

http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/

Come by & visit

2008-01-16T23:32:00.000-05:00

Where Angels Live - http://www.keen.com/groups/homepage.asp?gid=5427 or www.keen.com/Danu9 We'd really love to see you there. Your company is always welcome.

For Danu9 (my listing), you can also call

1-800-ASK-KEEN (1-800-275-5336) extention 0892191

or

1-888-INGENIO (1-888-464-3646) extention: 0892191

Nemaste

Daily Dose: Self Trial

2008-01-01T13:36:00.001-05:00

B"H

Self-Trial
----------

The Baal Shem Tov taught that in the heavenly court there is no one who can judge you for what you have done in your life on earth. So this is what they do:

They show you someone’s life -all the achievements and all the failures, all the right decisions and all the wrongdoings -and then they ask you, “So what should we do with this somebody?”

And you give your verdict. Which they accept. And then they tell you that this somebody was you. Being now in heaven, you don’t recall a thing.

Of course, those who tend to judge others favorably have a decided advantage.

Better get in the habit now.

A Daily Dose of Wisdom from the Rebbe
-words and condensation by Tzvi Freeman
Tevet 23, 5768 * January 1, 2008

The Kotel At The Western Wall

2007-12-30T00:03:00.001-05:00

http://english.thekotel.org/cameras.asp

On the Alibaba site I mentioned earlier ....

2007-12-29T22:08:00.000-05:00

The company I am listed under is Green Earth Enterprises. I only ship to with in the US. The site is www.alibaba.com

Adopt A Gorilla - Baby, Baby & Mother, or Silverback

2007-12-29T21:06:00.000-05:00

Please help save the gorilla and adopt. Thank you beyond your wildest imagination.

http://www.gorillafund.org/support/adopt.php

Here's a site that has

2007-12-29T20:52:00.000-05:00

several .pdf ebooks available.

http://www.aetw.org/reiki_pdf.htm

So far I have to say that ....

2007-12-29T20:47:00.000-05:00

I am enjoying having taken up the practice of Reiki. What I will do, as soon as I can, is get some e-books up that are quite useful in finding out what Reiki is all about.

Got a few items listed on Alibaba

2007-12-29T16:45:00.001-05:00

yesterday. Plan on uploading more pics of inventory for sale & the prices today as well. Hopefully, this will help get some sales in.

Check out the gift baskets! They're sure to please!

2007-12-27T15:22:00.001-05:00

It would be a really sweet surprise & everyone loves them.

Finally! I have my

2007-12-19T15:07:00.000-05:00

wholesale account set up & will be setting up my own pagan/celtic/new age store. It will be online at first then in person. YAY!

Well, here it is Saturday nite .... almost 11 pm

2007-12-15T22:56:00.001-05:00

Been working on getting new stuff up on my forum (http://forums.delphiforums.com/AnamCara1/start) and getting stuff looked over for azuregreen.com and doing the wholesale stuff.

I now know what I am going to be doing with my bravenet site. LOL I will be making a website to sell items I can get pretty cheap @ azuregreen & selling them via my site for one. Also going to be doing farmers markets (theoretically back in VA) selling veggies & setting up stuff to leave catalogs, etc to the 'home base' (b&m place .... b&m = brick & mortor) where we house ALL our house plants, the garden, the azure green/pagan-wiccan-celt items.

In the meantime, do the website sales. Too bad yahoo stopped doing its auction. They did so back in June of this year because of too much competition from Ebay .... Ebay is too big. That's a pity b/c Ebay is too big for its own britches.

The Words To Song In Previous Post

2007-12-08T23:31:00.000-05:00

ue o muite arukou
namida ga koborenai you ni
omoidasu haru no hi
hitoribotchi no yoru
ue o muite arukou
nijinda hoshi o kazoete
omoidasu natsu no hi
hitoribotchi no yoru

shiawase wa kumo no ueni
shiawase wa sora no ueni

ue o muite arukou
namida ga kobore naiyouni
nakinagara aruku
hitoribotchi no yoru
**la la la**
omoidasu akinohi
hitoribotchi no yoru

kanashimi wa hoshino kageni
kanashimi wa tsukino kageni

ue o muite arukou
namida ga kobore naiyouni
nakinagara aruku
hitoribotchi no yoru

(taken from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcfdH33NdZA)

I loved this song way back when I first heard and I still

2007-12-08T23:22:00.000-05:00

do! The song is Sukiyaki by Kyu Sakamoto. It's a Japanese love song.

http://subqns.imeem.com/music/YzyPaCIj/kyu_sakamoto_sukiyaki/

Also Please Check This Out

2007-12-07T22:09:00.000-05:00

1-800-ASK-KEEN ext. 0892191
http://www.keen.com/Danu9

This is what I will be doing along with the legal document coding I currently do. I wish, tho, that the doc coding co. I'm with would put out more work and soon.

However, check this out please, k?

Discovered Some Excellent Sites Today on Yahoo

2007-12-07T22:06:00.001-05:00

for the study of Reiki. This is soooo kewl. It's right up my alley as it coincides with my Celt/Pagan/Wicca path that I'm on. I see it helping me progress and grow among things. Also be able to help others in the future more.

About the New Planet - Gleise 581c

2007-12-07T22:03:00.000-05:00

A planet outside our solar system that is potentially habitable, with Earth-like temperatures. It's just the right size; might have water in liquid form &, in galactic terms, relatively nearby (120 trillion miles away)

For more on this new planet, go to http://www.hemuz.org/SPACE/About-The-New-Planet-Gliese-581-c

DAILY DOSE: Exposing the Light

2007-12-07T10:46:00.000-05:00

B"H

Exposing the Light
------------------

All the world's problems stem from light being withheld.

Our job then, is to correct this. Wherever we find light, we must rip away its casings, exposing it to all, letting it shine forth to the darkest ends of the earth.

Especially the light you yourself hold.

A Daily Dose of Wisdom from the Rebbe
-words and condensation by Tzvi Freeman
Kislev 27, 5768 * <

Merry Meet! My New Advice Site

2007-12-06T14:32:00.000-05:00

http://www.keen.com/Danu9

Court Rules Employee Worked to Death

2007-12-05T15:33:00.000-05:00

Court rules employee worked to death

Fri Nov 30, 2007

TOKYO (Reuters) - A Toyota Motor Corp employee died of overwork after logging more than 106 hours of overtime in a month, a judge ruled Friday, reversing a ministry's earlier decision not to pay compensation to his widow.

The Toyota Labor Standards Inspection office refused to pay the widow the usual compensation for a spouse's work-related death, saying the man had only logged 45 hours of overtime in the month before he died, Japanese media reported.

But the court ruled that the employee had worked far more than that. The Nagoya District Court in central Japan said the ruling overturned the labor ministry's decision.

In fiscal year 2005-2006, the labor ministry received 315 requests for compensation from the bereaved families of workers who died of strokes and other illnesses seen as work-related.

For the Rest of the Story
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071130/od_nm/overwork_dc;_ylt=Ajo940bodWHSTg5NmTBqH.4SH9EA

Please Don't Forget to Check the Whole Blog as There Are Item At the Bottom of the Page

2007-12-05T15:01:00.000-05:00

COMMENT: Stem Cell Miracle Kislev 25, 5768 * December 5, 2007

2007-12-05T11:20:00.000-05:00

B"H

Kislev 25, 5768 * December 5, 2007

=============
C O M M E N T
=============

Stem Cell Miracle
By Feygl Cylich
-----------------

A great miracle happened there. Last week, two teams of scientists successfully reprogrammed human skin cells to function as if they were embryonic stem cells. Many in the scientific community believe that this breakthrough will eventually enable stem cell research to bypass the need for the creation and destruction of embryos, and thus to sidestep the ethical and political dilemmas which have been plaguing the field for the past decade. The implications of this ground-breaking discovery impacts on medical research of all kinds, and sparks renewed hope to dramatically accelerate the race to cure diseases ranging from cancer to Alzheimer's.

Of course, the discovery has not been dubbed a miracle by the scientific community, but it is miraculous nonetheless. It is miraculous not in the sea-splitting sort of open miracle which overturns the laws of nature. It is a quiet miracle, a miracle working within the parameters of human capacity and nature, easily overlooked, but nonetheless miraculous --- and perhaps even more so. It is a miracle which comes to light in the Jewish month of Kislev, the month of Chanukah, a month of miracles and illumination, a time, as alluded to in the Torah readings of this month, when G‑d puts an end to darkness.

The debate over stem cell research raised serious and fundamental ethical, moral and theological dilemmas. Many saw this as an issue over which science was pitted against religion, and proponents from both sides rallied to battle for the soul of medical research in the courtroom and at governmental appropriation committee debates. It was a battle which cut across the social conscience and tore at the very heart of mankind's longing to heal.

But it appears that a solution is on the horizon that would reconcile these two forces. Driven by sheer pragmatism to restrict investigations to ethical parameters acceptable to all, scientific researchers ultimately pursued a scientific answer to science's problem. The solution was mind-boggling in its simplicity: All they had to do was to add four genes. Those four genes reprogrammed the chromosomes of the skin cells, making the cells into blank slates that should be able to be turned into any of the cell types of the human body, be it heart, brain, blood or bone.

Dr. Yamanaka, one of the researchers credited with the discovery, had expected it would take a few years to find the right genes and the right conditions to make the experiments work. Miraculously, it only took a few months.

But the solution did not come to light until fundamental theological questions --- When does life begin? Who has a right to define it? Does G‑d aka "intelligent design" exist? Did Creation happen? --- had been discussed in every lounge room, in every classroom, in every medical board room, on every university campus, in every state and national legislature, at the very highest levels of government, recorded in every scientific journal and broadcast in every newspaper, across the entire globe.

Then and only then, when humanity seemed on the brink of venturing down a slippery slope of ethical self-destruction, one miraculous discovery, seemingly in the bat of an eye, has pointed a way to proceed with stem cell research without compromising the ultimate sanctity of life.

Perhaps the greatest miracle of all is when we turn obstacles into opportunities --- when we reconcile what we thought was irreconcilable, when we illuminate darkness with light.

Eight tiny candles remind us that we can make miracles happen.

Happy Chanukah.

- Feygl Cylich is a Chassidic Jew, teacher, writer, mother and proud grandmother living in Melbourne, Australia. During her student days at the University of Chicago, she studied with Dr Leon Kass, who recently served as Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Bioethics.

- To view this article on the Web, or to post a comment, please click here: http://www.chabad.org/603579 .

Merry Meet! I wish that

2007-12-05T10:46:00.000-05:00

work would put out more! I haven't seen any in a week & it was after 3 - 4 days w/o work. Turns out this one place I applied to for an inbound phone position didn't pan out. They couldn't hire in my state (FL). Crap!

Here lately tho work has been pretty steady for doing my data entry. I just wish there wouldn't be times where it'd go a week to a week and a half w/o any especially right now w/the holidays and all. It's not that I celebrate xmas. I celebrate Yule and would love to buy a few things to make it a better one, kwim?

I'm hoping that some of the side stuff I have pans out tho. At least I got a survey or two from Pinecone Research and got $$ for it. I'm hoping they do the same as they did over Thxgiving .... unloaded a ton of work and I mean a ton. LOL The two weeks prior to that and up to the Friday after, there was a plethora of work & wish it would stay like that.

However, I'm not going to complain too, too much. I got a decent paycheck on the 30th of Nov. and am expecting another one, but bigger, come the 15th. At least my bf (boyfriend) is working steady! LOL Thx the God & Godess and the Godess Danu as well (from whom my nic comes from).

I just wish to heck that Pay Per Post would hurry up and re-look @ my blog. I've got well over 20 posts now in the last 30 days and will be keeping it that way.

Oh! BTW! Please do check out my forum, k? You'll find it at http://forums.delphiforums.com/AnamCara1/start A big ol' thx for doing that! Much appreciated!

Well, I'm going to go back out to my exercise area (it's my living room LOL) and finish up on that. Also have a bag of popcorn in the microwave waiting for me. It just finished popping. I'll be back in about a half an hour to check mail and start looking at news to see what all is going on in the markets, etc. Also doing some reading on some books I have and school studying.

Until then, Blessed Be!

For those into Paganims, Wicca, Celtic and those Paths like myself

2007-12-03T11:41:00.001-05:00

Check out http://forums.delphiforums.com/AnamCara1/start

Please Be Sure To Check Links At The Very Bottom Of Blog

2007-12-02T14:09:00.000-05:00

There are some goodies there that you will love!

Daily Lift # 216 Update Your Understanding

2007-12-02T10:40:00.000-05:00

Daily Lift #216
Update Your Understanding

The Sages (Talmud, Yoma 29a) tell us that it is more difficult to understand an idea we already know that one that is new to us. This is because we feel we already understand it and do not concentrate on it as much as we should. Also, we tend to rely on the level of understanding we had when we were younger and less mature.

Today, think about a concept that would enhance your life greatly if internalized and integrated. Reflect on that idea with your present knowledge and life experience.

(see Rabbi Simcha Zissel Ziv - Chochmah Umussar, vol.1, p.163)

Daily Dose: Interface

2007-12-02T10:39:00.000-05:00

B"H

Interface
---------

All that exists
is Him
and you.

Everything else is just interface.

A Daily Dose of Wisdom from the Rebbe
-words and condensation by Tzvi Freeman
Kislev 22, 5768 * December 2, 2007

I Have A Blog At

2007-12-01T11:47:00.001-05:00

http://danu9.tblog.com

For My Delphi Forum, I Also Have Free Email

2007-12-01T11:46:00.001-05:00

You can get this email at:

http://anamcara.zzn.com

Here's My Pagan/Wiccan/Celt Forum

2007-12-01T11:20:00.000-05:00

It is an egalitarian forum and must remain within the Pagan/Wiccan/Celt format. Satanism, Devil Worship & the like will be removed and banned.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/AnamCara1/start

Now here is a blog that

2007-12-01T09:41:00.000-05:00

I really enjoy keeping up on ....

http://leafmonkey.blogspot.com/

A7NEWS: Feature: From Hollywood To The Holyland - Tzvi Fishman's Odyssey

2007-11-29T17:42:00.002-05:00

Feature: From Hollywood To the Holyland - Tzvi Fishman's Odyssey
by Baruch Gordon

One of the revelations found in the Zohar is the doctrine of reincarnation. From his days as a Hollywood screenwriter, to the recent publication of his new book, "Secret of the Brit – Torah, Kabbalah, and Sex," author Tzvi Fishman has gone through several reincarnations in this lifetime alone, and also some incredible miracles. We spoke with him in his Jerusalem apartment, where he took time from writing his blog, "Hollywood to the Holy Land."

Tzvi in Hollywood Days

Behind him are bookshelves crammed with volumes on Torah. In the middle is a glossy, black-and-white photo of Fishman in his Hollywood days, looking like a sexy Tom Cruse, a far cry from the full-bearded baal t’shuva [returnee to religious observance] sitting before me. Fishman says he keeps it there to remind him that no matter how far he may sometimes fall in his service of G-d, he is still light-years ahead of the tinsel town role he was playing in Hollywood.

IsraelNN
Your new work, "Secret of the Brit – Torah, Kabbalah, and Sex," is a striking deviation from your other books, where the principle, recurring theme is the importance of living in the Land of Israel. For instance, the hero of "The Discman" comes to Israel. Also, your reincarnation of the famous Tevye the Milkman makes Aliyah and builds a new life for his family in Palestine. The king in your "Kuzari For Young Readers" journeys off to live in the Land of Israel; and certainly Eretz Yisrael is a main focus of the books you co-wrote with Rabbi David Samson about the teachings of Rabbi Kook. How does your recent study of sex in the Zohar fit in with this?

Fishman
"Secret of the Brit" isn’t a deviation at all. It is a natural continuation of the other books. I learned the hard way that it isn’t enough to live in the Land of Israel. We have to live here in a holy fashion. The foundation of the Brit, or Covenant, between G-d and Avraham is that the Jewish People guard their sexual lives in purity, as it says, "And G-d said to Avraham, therefore thou shall safeguard my Brit, thou and thy seed after thee in their generations."
This principle of Shmirat HaBrit is stressed in the holy Zohar over and over again. Rabbi Kook himself writes that the detailed safeguarding of the holiness of our sexual lives must be the foundation of our rebirth and resettlement of the Land of Israel. He also writes that the study of the Zohar is one of the keys to Redemption. In my humble opinion, this is because the Zohar highlights the great importance of Shmirat HaBrit.

IsraelNN
I always assumed that Shmirat HaBrit (guarding the laws of proper sexual behavior) was something particular to young people.

Fishman
The Zohar repeatedly emphasizes the importance of Shmirat HaBrit to married couples as well. The sanctity of the marital act has a direct influence on all of the spiritual worlds, either opening or closing the channel of blessing, called the "Yesod," for both the individual and the Jewish People as a whole. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, and all of the other masters of Kabbalah, assert that the majority of tragedies and hardships that we suffer stem from sexual transgression. In addition, the Zohar warns that the sanctity of the marital union has a direct influence on both the physical and spiritual wellbeing of our children. Let’s face it, with the pressures of modern living, and with the bombardment of pornography on the Internet, television, and the movies, and with the outbreak of immodest dress on our streets, it is easy to fall into sexual laxity. According to the secrets of Torah, the price we pay is dear. The Arizal explains that the "oneg"-pleasure that one feels from a sexual transgression, turns into "nega"-plague by a rearrangement of the Hebrew letters. For example, one small lapse, let’s say lustfully rushing to have marital relations during the day, can lead to a child that will be hyperactive all of his life.

IsraelNN
I would like to follow up on this subject a little later. But first, I thought we would do a little detective work to try and figure out how you came to write a book about Jewish sexuality. When your book, "The Discman," was published, you gave an interview in Arutz 7’s Hebrew newspaper, "Besheva." You mentioned that your bar-mitzvah was held in a church. How did that happen?

Fishman
When I was growing up, my family belonged to a Reform Jewish synagogue in New England. We went to shul on Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, lit Hanukah candles, had a Christmas tree to be like the neighbors, ate matzah on the first Seder night and candy eggs on Easter. I remember the reform rabbi telling us in Hebrew School that the splitting of the Red Sea occurred, not through any miracle by G-d, but because a severe draught had caused the sea to dry up, and a freak, sudden rainstorm brought a flood that luckily drowned the Egyptians after the Jews had crossed on dry land. His explanation sounded so ludicrous to me, I didn’t want to even bother with having a bar-mitzvah. But my parents insisted. Since, the congregation had outgrown our old shul, and the new one was still under construction, my bar-mitzvah ceremony was held in a Unitarian church. To me, it is a perfect symbol for being a Jew in America, where you are totally immersed in a foreign, gentile culture. Growing up Jewish in America is like growing up in a church.

IsraelNN
The tape is recording, so don’t wait for my questions. I know you have told your baal t’shuva story dozens of times to high-school students all over the country, so don’t wait for my leads.

Fishman
After that, I went to a very prestigious private school in Massachusetts. Out of the 800 students, there were only a handful of Jews. We had to pray on Sundays in the basement of the campus church. Upstairs in this gigantic, impressive cathedral, the rest of the students and the faculty were gathered in prayer, and we were stuck out of sight in the basement, like we belonged to some low-rate religion. That’s how I related to Judaism also. I didn’t want to have anything to do with it.

IsraelNN
The world is reading your every word.

Fishman
Most of my graduating class was accepted into universities like Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Princeton. I decided to go to NYU Film School where I spent four years in the dark, watching thousands of movies. The year after I graduated, I wrote a screenplay that became a Hollywood movie, called "Law and Disorder," starring Caroll O’Conner and Ernest Borgnine. I also sold a novel to a top New York publisher. I was sure that I was on my way to attain my dream of becoming "The Great American Novelist." Watch out Norman Mailer and Philip Roth! Here comes Fishman!

IsraelNN
I am sure you have lots of entertaining stories from this period, but how about telling us a few things that affected your Jewish worldview?

Travolta or Fishman?

Fishman
Ever since my bar mitzvah, I abandoned G-d and Judaism completely. As you can see from my old publicity photo, I was trying to look as American and gentile as John Travolta. But there were indeed some weird events, as if G-d were trying to remind me who I really was, even in my darkest moments. For instance, the summer before my novel hit the bookstores, I decided to make a literary pilgrimage to Europe, in the footsteps of the famous American writers, Henry Miller, Thomas Wolfe, and Ernest Hemingway before me. I crossed the Atlantic by ocean liner and disembarked at the French port of Cherbourg. Remember, in those days I looked like that picture, clean shaven, with the long hair of a hippie, and without this giant beard. A Mercedez drove by as I was hiking with my backpack toward the city, and the driver yelled out, "Heil Hitler!" They were the first words I heard in Europe. It was freaky.

Click here to read the continuation of this interview on our website. http://trailer.web-view.net/Links/0X75A30CEFED190F2E7FB0070DFDDED522B8A32000F55BF92D2A4F598793FFEC098AD1E184AF2DDA849DB8D4E9EAAFA1B852A186AD553C40F9CA7CC5A36F3EAB7A.htm

A7NEWS: Traffic Fatalaties - Down

2007-11-29T17:42:00.001-05:00

Traffic Fatalities - Down
by Hillel Fendel

From October, 2006 through October, 2007, traffic accidents dropped an average of nearly 1% each month, while the amount of casualties decreased 1.4% per month.

Thirty-three people were killed in car accidents in October, including seven in Judea and Samaria. 145 people were seriously injured.

The monthly average of car deaths in Israel (not including Judea and Samaria) this year is 33.3 - compared with 34.5 last year and 37.3 in 2005 and 40 in 2004.

Police statistics from May 2005 show that while Israeli-Arabs hold 13% of Israel's drivers' licenses, they are involved in 21% of the fatal traffic accidents in the country.

A7NEWS: Arab Students' Poor Grades Drag Israel Down To Botto Third

2007-11-29T17:39:00.000-05:00

Arab Students' Poor Grades Drag Israel Down to Bottom Third
by Hillel Fendel

Israel's educational system has suffered two blows over the past two days - poor showings on its own Meitzav achievement tests, and a below-average international placement in the PIRLS reading literacy tests. However, both results are very much affected by the low scores of the Arab sector.

For instance, though Israel finished in 31st place out of 45 countries in the PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) tests, the Jewish sector's scores placed it in the equivalent of 11th place, while the Israeli-Arabs alone would have finished in 40th.

In Israel's national achievement tests, the Meitzav tests, the results are not good - but here, too, the low Arab sector scores brought them down even further. The 5th-grade test in "mother tongue," for instance, showed a great gap: The Jewish classes scored an average of 79 in Hebrew, while the Arabs registered 60.9 in Arabic.

The average score for 5th-graders in math is a poor 56.9, where the Jewish pupils scored 61.3 and the Arabs registered 45.9. Other national Meitzav scores: 68.8 in science and technology (72.5 in Jewish classes), and 72.5 in English (74.2 in Hebrew-speaking classes).

The Meitzav tests are administered each year to 2nd, 5th and 8th graders across the country in Math, English, Hebrew/Arabic, and science and technology. Meitzav is a Hebrew acronym for "School Efficiency and Growth Standards."

The PIRLS test is an international test given every five years by the IEA (International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement) in participating countries. Translated in Israel into Hebrew and Arabic, the test measures trends in children’s reading literacy achievement. Over 3,900 children in 149 schools - none of which were hareidi-religious or special-education - were tested.

Army Radio Exchange
Army Radio program hosts Jackie Levy and Avri Gilad discussed the gap between the Arab and Jewish scores on their morning broadcast. Gilad said, "This reflects poorly on the way we treat the Arab sectors in our midst, and especially the Bedouin sector."

Levy retorted, "The way we treat them? I would like to tell you this story. My children go to a mixed kindergarten, where there are both deaf and hearing children, as well as Arabs and Jews. I want them to see that there are different types of people... There is a plaque on the wall there listing the donors to this important school - and not one of the donors is Arab! Why is it only that Jews from Chicago or Zurich feel a school like this is important enough to support? Where are all the Arab millionaires? They can only support Kassam-manufacturing plants?"

Gilad then said, "What you are saying relates back to what was said at Annapolis. It appears that the Jews are always taking responsibility for the problems of others, while [PA Chairman Mahmoud] Abbas was barely able to mention the word 'terrorism' ... The Arabs always take the role of the victims, and never the ones who take responsibility for effecting change."

Calls for Education Minister to Resign
In light of the ongoing, seven-week-long teachers' strike, 40 MKs, including Transportation Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, have signed a petition calling on Prime Minister Olmert to fire Education Minister Yuli Tamir.

"In light of the grave blow being suffered by the educational establishment," the petition reads, "we, MKs from all parties, call on the Prime Minister to transfer the Education Minister from her post. Unfortunately, we have not seen the Education Minister show the leadership and involvement necessary for the recent crisis."

The MKs also called on Olmert to become involved in the negotiations to end the strike and to find an immediate solution.

A7NEWS: Arab Support For Summit Meant Talks, Not Actions

2007-11-29T17:37:00.001-05:00

Arab Support for Summit Meant Talks, Not Actions
by Hana Levi Julian

The Arab delegates at the Annapolis conference demonstrated the difference between "talking the talk" and "walking the walk" Tuesday when it became obvious that supporting talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority didn't necessarily mean taking any other action to facilitate the process.

Despite the summit's publicity as a show of international support for Israeli-PA negotiations, attempts by Israel to follow up the speeches with concrete action were rebuffed by Arab delegates across the board.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, head of the Israeli negotiating team, was unable to arrange meetings with the 15 Arab representatives at the conference.

The one exception was Jordanian Foreign Minister Salaheddin al-Bashir, whose country already enjoys full diplomatic relations with Israel. Livni was unable to arrange a meeting with the Egyptian delegation, despite Israel's diplomatic ties with her southern Arab neighbor.

Israeli officials interpret this as evidence that the Arab world has not changed its fundamental policy rejecting the existence of the State of Israel, and that relations with other Arab nations are not likely to warm up any time soon.

It would appear that observations by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad more accurately reflected the sentiment of Arab nations who were represented at the conference, which on Wednesday he deemed to be a "failure."

Reiterating his oft-repeated belief that Israel will cease to exist, Ahmadinejad said on Iranian state-run TV, "It is impossible that the Zionist regime will survive... because it has been created on aggression, lying, oppression and crime."

Iran's Arab neighbors were also slammed by Ahmadinejad for attending the conference despite their united refusal to meet with Israeli delegates. "We are disappointed that some individuals fell victim to the sinister Zionist regime," complained Ahmadinejad. "They are mistaken if they thought that this summit would bring any achievements for them."

U.S. President George W. Bush pledged Wednesday that America will defend Israel if it is attacked by Iran, and said that he takes Ahmadinejad's threats seriously. The Iranian president has repeatedly stated that the Jewish State should be "wiped off the map."

A7NEWS: New Jewish Congress Is Launched. Sets New National Agenda

2007-11-29T17:36:00.000-05:00

New Jewish Congress is Launched, Sets New National Agenda
by Hillel Fendel

The New Jewish Congress was launched in Jerusalem on Tuesday - the same day as the Annapolis summit, whose defeatism it seeks to fight.

Organizations, speakers and supporters from across the spectrum of nationalist and religious thought were present at the Renaissance Jerusalem Hotel to take part in the opening sessions.

The plenary session was chaired by Congress co-organizer Prof. Hillel Weiss of Bar Ilan University. Others responsible for organizing the Congress were Katy Cohen and Prof. Arieh Zaritzky, while a fourth co-organizer, Dr. Gadi Eshel, read aloud the Congress charter, entitled: "The Eternal People in an Eternal Covenant in the Land of Israel." Excerpts:

"G-d commanded the land of Israel to the People of Israel as a heritage - to settle it, to walk through it, to love even its dust, to know it, to observe the Torah in it, to long for it throughout 2,000 years of Exile. And when the time of the Return to Zion came, we were to ingather our dispersed exiles into it, take the barely-alive remnants of Israel and revive them upon it, raise pioneers in it, settle it with brides and grooms, children, families and communities, build upon it towns and factories, preserve it, rejoice in its rebuilding, build in it a national home that would be a light unto the nations - and to establish G-d's Holy Sanctuary in its heart, Jerusalem, Zion, on Mt. Moriah.

"Everything is interwoven and inseparable - the tradition of Israel, the holiness of the Land, the unity of the Jewish People in Israel and abroad, defense and security, and life of creativity and deep bonds with the land.

"Every community that we plant throughout the land strengthens the roots of the Eternal Nation's Eternal Covenant here - while at the same time preventing it from being bound by 'Auschwitz borders.' Let us not fool ourselves: 'Auschwitz borders' invite Auschwitz - not only for the Jews in Israel, but for Jews everywhere, and for all of humanity!

"It cannot be that a temporary rule in the State of Israel will steal from the People of Israel its land, will conspire to expel them and give it away to a foreign nation - our bitterest enemy...

"Any traitorous or anti-Semitic declaration that emanates from the second Munich conference, wherever it is held, has no value whatsoever. The Nation of Israel and its State must shred it into the trash bin of history.

Those who take upon themselves, seemingly in the name of the State of Israel, to commit national suicide, lose their right to rule in the State of the Jewish Nation.
"No Jew will abandon his home, give up his inheritance, freeze construction in his land or pave the way to Auschwitz borders in order to fulfill that evil decree.

"A group of people who take upon themselves, seemingly in the name of the State of Israel, to commit national suicide, lose their right to rule in the State of the Jewish Nation.

"We hereby determine that IDF soldier and members of the Israel Police are forbidden to take part in the crime of expelling Jews from their homes and inheritance, of transferring parts of our Holy Land to our enemies, and endangering the Nation of Israel - in any form!

"We call upon all those who are loyal to the Land of Israel and the Nation of Israel and every Jew who loves life, to arise, unite, remove the decrees "from our people and from the cities of our G-d," and emplace Jewish sovereignty over the entire Land. In the words of Joshua and Caleb when Moses sent them to scout out the Land, 'Let us ascend and inherit the Land, for we can overcome it.'"

[video:122982]

Rabbi Dov Lior
Kiryat Arba Chief Rabbi Dov Lior said that the Jewish People are required to both settle the Land and conquer it, and that the latter command "involves military force, with all the associated risks. For many years we did not have the ability to fulfill this Torah commandment, but now we can - and so we must! We must not fear the threats of the evil ones, but we must rather persist, and not allow the weakness of our government to become a 'weeping for generations.'"

Rabbi Lior praised the Congress as "a welcome attempt to prevent our destruction and to return to real Zionism. The Land of Israel is something that can unite all sections of the nation - but not when our students can go through 12 years in our educational system and then feel they have to take off for India to 'find themselves.' ... We are in a situation that I would not describe as a dead-end, but rather one in which we do not currently see the way out. When in such a predicament, we learn from our forefathers that we must be strong and emphatic, as Joshua and Caleb were, about our rights to this Land!"

MK Aryeh Eldad
MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) took a slightly revolutionary approach: "Yes, we had a large protest rally yesterday, but the tone was one of conciliation and loving everyone - to the extent that even members of the coalition government were able to come and speak of the dangers of Annapolis, even though they themselves are sitting in the government and building the scaffolding on which will be built the gallows on which we are all to hang, Heaven forbid! During the Disengagement, we called for civil disobedience, and it didn't happen; we called for refusal of orders, but only a few responded; we called to cut the fences in Kfar Maimon, but the public-minded leadership didn't allow it... When Olmert returns from Annapolis and will start paying his debt to the Americans by destroying outposts such as Migron or Assaf [43 and 17 families, respectively, both of them in critical locations north of Jerusalem - ed.], if we don't use the tools of this Congress to make a real fight and to capture the leadership, then we will become irrelevant."
If we don't use the tools of this Congress to make a real fight and to capture the leadership, then we will become irrelevant.

Dr. Yossi Ben-Aharon
Arab affairs expert Dr. Yossi Ben-Aharon: "The test of this generation is the Land of Israel. Uprooting a Jew from his home or his land is a crime against the Jewish people's link with the Land, and this is therefore the challenge we face... A true opposition, if we had one, would announce clearly that it is not obligated by whatever is decided in Annapolis. We must declare with a loud voice: This government's vows are not our vows, and its obligations are not our obligations!"

Chabad Rabbi Shalom Wolpe
Rabbi Shalom Wolpe, a Lubavitcher who heads the Task Force to Save the Land, surprised some with his remarks: "The Rebbe [Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson] said that saving lives is more important than the sanctity of the Land, and that if giving away the Western Wall would save even one life, we should give it away. But the bottom line is that giving away even a small part of the Land is itself dangerous to our national existence here, and is therefore forbidden... Some say that we are not Zionists. I say that if Zionists are those who wish to give up the Land, then we are truly anti-Zionists... If Olmert returns from Annapolis with a promise to establish a Palestinian state, we must establish our own new state in Judea and Samaria. We must fight Amona-style; we must refuse orders to expel Jews; and we must make it clear that if Olmert wishes to expel Jews from Judea and Samaria, no one leaves in one piece!"

Attorney Elyakim HaEtzni
Attorney Elyakim HaEtzni, a long-time ideologue of the Yesha Council and now one of its strong opponents, said, "Forty nations were invited to Annapolis - but one people who was not represented was the Jewish People! Yes, Israel was there, but not the Jewish People. I do not mean this lightly. Both the Balfour Declaration and the British Mandate spoke of the bonds between the Land and the Jewish Nation - but today, such a formulation would not be accepted by Israel's Supreme Court! The State of Israel no longer carries out reverse discrimination in favor of the Jews, as it was created to do, but rather expels Jews, wants Arabs on the Jewish National Fund board, and the like. Who will defend the Jewish Nation?!"
I say that if Zionists are those who wish to give up the Land, then we are truly anti-Zionists.

Gideon Charlop
Architect and Temple Mount expert Gideon Charlop: "The Temple Mount and the idea of the Holy Temple do not appeal to the public; we need new, modern methods by which to 'sell' these concepts..."

Botanist Mordechai Kislev
Botanist Prof. Mordechai Kislev of Bar Ilan University enthralled his listeners by speaking of the discovery of a grassy growth called "smoke raiser." He explained that when it is added to burning incense, it causes the smoke that arises to do so in a straight column - precisely how the Talmud describes the smoke emanating from the incense in the Holy Temple. The discovery was made in Jordan, and he is about to depart for Egypt to corroborate reports of a similar discovery there.

JNF, Fenton, Davidi
Naftali Karni of the Jewish National Fund and Elad city planner Aya Greenfeld spoke of their program to "sell" the entire Holy Land as a historic and holy site, for both internal-educational and international-tourism purposes.

Jerusalem City Council member Mina Fenton discussed the dangers of missionary Christians in the Holy City.

Alon Davidi of Sderot reminded the participants that the ideals of the Land of Israel cannot be taught in a vacuum: "My neighbors are mainly concerned about Kassam rockets landing in their homes; you cannot come and talk to them right now about the Land of Israel."

Prof. Eidelberg
Prof. Paul Eidelberg, speaking in English, said that the main problem in Israeli public life is its undemocratic political system: "The MKs are not directly elected by the citizenry, and are therefore not accountable. Ben-Gurion himself realized this after about two elections, and deplored the system. The people of Israel are not apathetic; they're simply powerless! We are unable to have influence. We need just one person who will be strong enough to lead this revolution and effect the change!" His impassioned speech swept up at least one woman, who asked, "Why don't you lead us?"
The people of Israel are not apathetic; they're simply powerless!

Rabbi Yoel Schwartz
Rabbi Yoel Schwartz of Yeshivat Dvar Yerushalayim, a well-known expert in many fields of Torah who has written over 200 books on Jewish law and thought, shared several thoughts:

"We must believe in ourselves and in our ability to effect change. This is why on Chanukah we are not permitted to light torches, but rather simple, individual candles - to show the power of the individual....

"Those who live outside Israel must either move to Israel, or else perpetuate their bonds with Israel by setting aside a charity box in which they place a dollar or two every day for each family member, that they will then use either to fund their Aliyah [immigration], or for some other Israel-related use. This will be their daily reminder and link with the Holy Land...

"Why is it that public trust in the law system in Israel drops from year to year? It's simply because it's not our Jewish law system; it's not what we received at Mt. Sinai, but something put together from foreign sources. We must revive Jewish Law in our modern State of Israel. But how can this be done? After all, the Torah says that a thief is punished only by paying back double - and one who commandeered property must only return what he took! What will be with all the gangsters under such a system? The answer is that in the Jewish system, children learn these laws from a very early age - first from the Torah, then the Mishna, then the Gmara. They are steeped in the idea that one must be more careful not to cause damage than to be caused damage. When a society is steeped in such values, there is barely any need for all these laws - because people simply don't steal! Only when a society is taught foreign values is there a need for such strict laws. The Torah, too, allows us to enact different regulations when there is a need...

"The Seven Noachide Commandments must be taught, disseminated, and encouraged throughout the world. Both Christians and Moslems understand their importance; a leading Moslem sheikh in Italy is in favor, and I have translated my book on the importance of the Noachide Commandments into Arabic - and I have been told, though I don't know it for a fact, that two terrorist attacks have already been prevented because of this book..."

Rabbi Dov Stein of the Sanhedrin
Sanhedrin secretary Rabbi Dov Stein said, "It would appear that one is not allowed to ask Halakhic questions on the topic of state-and-politics, such as refusal of army orders, of any rabbi who receives his salary from the government - for he is, unwillingly, beholden to those who pay his salary, and therefore may not be able to answer correctly."

Other speakers included philospher Ohad Kamin, military historian Uri Milstein, Col. (ret.) Moti Yogev, Prof. Menashe Harel, Rabbi Yishai Baavad, former MK Sha'ul Yahalom, VAT founder Shifra Hoffman, Honenu legal rights organization founder Shmuel Medad, Rabb Chaim Richman of the Temple Institute, Moshe Feiglin, Esther Pollard and Nissan Gan-Or of the Justice for Jonathan Pollard organization, and many more.
Respondents are asked to list the five issues or problems they feel require urgent attention and for which they would be willing to be active.

Tzibur Bnei Yisrael
An organization called Tzibur Bnei Yisrael (Community of the Children of Israel) was also present, seeking to advance its newest project, entitled The Top Five. Respondents are asked to list the five issues or problems they feel require urgent attention and for which they would be willing to be active. Issues could include corruption in government, widening socio-economic gaps, education, apathy regarding the Land of Israel, decreasing religious awareness, lack of Gentile awareness of the Noachide commandments, and more. The results will then be compiled, and persons will be asked to attend discussion and action groups on their "pet" issues. For more information, send email to info@tzibur.org.

A7NEWS: IAF Strike Signals New Tit-For-Tat Policy

2007-11-29T17:35:00.001-05:00

IAF Strike Signals New Tit-for-Tat Policy
by Gil Ronen

The attack on a Hamas terrorist position in Khan Yunis Wednesday afternoon which killed two was the first sign of a new IDF policy regarding Gaza terrorists. Military sources told Maariv/NRG that from now on, the IAF will attack a random Hamas target in Gaza every time a mortar shell or rocket hits an Israeli community, and will no longer limit itself to striking the terrorists who launched the rockets.

They said that the IDF has now established that Hamas is behind all of the terror emanating from Gaza and will thus retaliate against Hamas targets regardless of which organization takes credit for terror attacks.

After a salvo of mortar shells landed near the security fence near Nahal Oz at around 3 P.M. Wednesday, IAF aircraft retaliated by attacking a Hamas position in southern Gaza. Gaza Arabs said one of those killed in the IAF strike was Rami Abu-Rus, an active member of Hamas. At least 10 people were wounded in the mission.

For months, the IDF has been forced to comply with the government policy of limiting its retaliation to strikes against terrorists in the act of firing rockets, and immediately before or after launching them. Attacks on terrorists in the act of firing at Israeli civilians were called off if they appeared to entail a danger of hurting non-combatants. This policy caused great frustration among the victims of the Gaza terrorists, many of whom felt that the government prefers enemy civilian lives over their own.

6,288 Rockets in Six Years
Gaza terror squads fired one rocket and five mortar shells at Israeli civilians Wednesday morning. The rocket exploded in a kibbutz in the western Negev, causing no casualties. One mortar shell hit a chicken coop in an agricultural community in the area, causing some damage but no casualties. Two additional mortars were fired in the evening, exploding near the security fence and hurting no one.

The Kassam counter at the Committee for Secure Sderot website currently shows 6,288 rocket attacks from Gaza in the past six years.

Ten terrorists have been killed since Monday afternoon, most of them in Gaza. One of the terrorists died Monday of injuries sustained in an attack on IDF soldiers two weeks earlier.

Security forces are preparing for "the day after Annapolis." Some IDF experts believe that failure at the summit could lead to a long-awaited "green light" from the Israeli political leadership to launch a massive assault on Gaza.

A7NEWS: New U.S. Military Envoy To Supervise PA Progress On Terrorism

2007-11-29T17:34:00.001-05:00

New U.S. Military Envoy to Supervise PA Progress on Terrorism
by Hana Levi Julian

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has appointed a NATO veteran to serve as America's military point man in the Middle East.

It will be the task of General James Jones, a Marine Corps general who retired last February and served until 2006 as the NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, to monitor activities between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

A 40-year-veteran, Jones headed a panel tasked by the Congress last summer that studied the readiness of Iraq's police and military forces. He will be retaining his present position as president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Energy.

Jones, whose official title will be Special Envoy for Middle East Security, will be the one to determine whether Israel and the Palestinian Authority are meeting their obligations in the first stage of the American Roadmap plan. He will report directly to Condoleezza Rice.

"I believe we need an experienced leader who can address the regional security challenges comprehensively and at the highest levels, and who can provide the full support of our government to the partners as they work to meet their responsibilities," said Rice.

"Israelis must be confident that a Palestinian state will increase their security and not detract from it. Palestinians must be capable of standing on their own and policing their territory. And countries in the region must be invested in the success of this state-building effort, for their own security depends on it too," she added.

The Ministry of Defense has not yet replied to a request for comments on the appointment.

Dr. Gadi Eshel of Professors for a Strong Israel, however, was unimpressed by Rice's remarks, saying that she has chosen to appoint someone to the post who is "at the very least cold towards Israel."

Eshel pointed out that Jones is involved in cutting business deals with the Gulf States, a major conflict of interest. "But what else can you expect from the State Department?" he said. "It verges on pure anti-Semitism, to appoint such a man to decide whether an act of terror has been committed with the blessing of the Palestinian Authority or not.

"The very fact that another country nominates an individual – and G-d forbid Israel would accept it – to judge whether an act of terror is sufficiently defined as a real act of terror or a negligible breach of the commitment of the PA [to end the violence] – that very fact is so mind-boggling that I cannot see any other definition," he added.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said that Jones will also be monitoring the development of the PA security services as part of his role in supervising the PA's compliance with the Roadmap requirements. McCormack added that he will be working closely with Lt.-Gen. Keith Dayton, the U.S. security coordinator who has been training the PA security forces for more than a year.

Dayton faced harsh criticism by Congress members earlier this year after admitting that Fatah terrorists had obtained American arms. His reputation was also severely damaged when Hamas terrorists overran Gaza last June and routed the Fatah militia he had trained.

At the beginning of this month, 300 of Dayton's PA security troops made their debut in the "terrorist capital" of Samaria, Shechem. Dayton has been supervising their training at an American-funded base in Jericho, with new weapons purchased by the Bush administration.

A7NEWS: After Annapolis: PA Television Erases Israel From Map

2007-11-29T17:33:00.000-05:00

After Annapolis: PA Television Erases Israel From Map
by Hillel Fendel

Just one day after the Annapolis conference at which the PA recognized the State of Israel's right to exist in peace and security, the PA's official television station screened a map that shows a Palestinian state in place of Israel.

U.S. President George Bush, at the conference on Tuesday, read aloud the summit's agreed-upon joint statement, which declares, "In furtherance of the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, we agree to immediately launch good-faith bilateral negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty."

However, Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook of Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) report that just a day later, "Mahmoud Abbas’s Palestinian Authority continues to paint a picture for its people of a world without Israel."

Specifically, PMW reports that an information clip produced a while ago by the PA's Central Bureau of Statistics was rebroadcast on Wednesday on Abbas-controlled PA television. The clip shows a map in which the Land of Israel is painted in the colors of the Palestinian flag, symbolizing the replacement of Israel by a Palestinian state.

The Palestinian entity depicted as replacing Israel includes all of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, though not the Golan Heights.

The depiction of all of Israel as "Palestine" is not coincidental, PMW reports, "and is part of a formal, systematic educational approach throughout the Palestinian Authority. This uniform message of a world without Israel is repeated in school books, children's programs, crossword puzzles, video clips, formal symbols, school and street names, etc. The picture painted for the Palestinian population, both verbally and visually, is of a world without Israel."

PMW concludes: "The fact that this campaign continues before the ink on the Annapolis agreement is even dry appears to contradict the central promise of the Palestinians at the Annapolis conference: that Israel has a right to exist."

Man-in-the-Street Also Hates Israel
The television clip appears to be loyal to widespread public opinion on the PA street. PA forces were forced to put down anti-Israel and anti-Annapolis rallies in several cities this week, and one protestor was even shot and killed. The protestors stated that Abbas has no right to make "concessions" regarding Jerusalem, refugees and the like in the name of the Palestinian people, and that any deal he makes with Israel will not be binding.

In Hevron, PA security forces killed a demonstrator, injured dozens, and arrested 29 when using force to disperse a mass protest. PA forces also dispersed large protests in Ramallah, Shechem (Nablus), and Bethlehem, making several arrests.

In Hamas-controlled Gaza, the protests were much more intense, and hundreds of thousands of people rallied in Gaza City, emphasizing the importance of the "right of return" for millions of Arabs and their descendants, the "liberation" of Jerusalem, the retention of "every inch of Palestinian land" and “the path of resistance and jihad,” i.e., terrorism.

COMMENT: Faith-Based Diplomacy - Reflections On The Annapolis Summit - Kislev 19, 5768 * November 29, 2007

2007-11-29T17:27:00.000-05:00

B"H

Kislev 19, 5768 * November 29, 2007

=============
C O M M E N T
=============

Faith-Based Diplomacy
Reflections on the Annapolis Summit
By Naftali Silberberg
------------------------------------

Imagine you call the plumber because your kitchen sink is backed up. He arrives, and pulls out of his toolbox a stethoscope and scalpel. Or how about a converse scenario: you arrive at the emergency room with a broken ankle and the doctor produces a plumbing snake and a pipe wrench...

Every tool has its appropriate time and place, and a functioning society relies on professionals utilizing the tools of their respective trades.

The same holds true with our leaders.

It is the task of our spiritual leaders and clergy to inspire us to have faith. The Zohar refers to Moses as a raya mehemna, "faithful shepherd," which also translates as "a shepherd of faith"—a title he earned because he infused his generation with faith in G‑d. Concepts such as G‑d, the inherent goodness of humanity and Divine providence can not be empirically proven. But our nation has survived thousands of challenging years due to the efforts of spiritual giants who sustained and nurtured our faith.

Political leaders have a decidedly different assignment. They govern based on logistics, proven precedent, and an often unpleasant reality. It would be a dereliction of duty on their part to base their policies on faith. Imagine if in the face of an impending hurricane, in lieu of an evacuation plan the government would advise the citizenry to pray and have faith? Or perhaps the president should address the nation and advise them to "assume a positive mindset" about rising healthcare coverage?

Yet the politicians handling the Israeli-Palestinian Middle East conflict seem to have an unhealthy affinity for the role of the rabbinate.

Here are the facts as I see them: thirty years of concessions and peace overtures by Israel have not placated her enemies, nor have they brought peace and security. Instead, these have accomplished the exact opposite. To this date, all the peace accords and "painful concessions" have not brought us one inch closer to peace. Thousands of our innocent brethren have been murdered by Palestinian terrorism since the signing of the "historic" Oslo Accords in 1993. Withdrawals from Southern Lebanon and Gaza have brought deadly rockets on Ashkelon, Haifa and Safed. Gaza is now a hotbed of radical terrorism, and Israel is still subjected to daily rocket attacks.

Truces and ceasefires have been repeatedly used by the enemy as ploys, temporary breaks in hostilities used to regroup and rearm. Talks and summits have empowered and emboldened our enemies, who sense weakness and a willingness to concede.

In the absence of logical cause to proceed on this dangerous avenue, what drives Israel's elected leaders to pursue the path of concessions? Well the alternative to logic is faith. Faith that there must be some way, somehow, to induce individuals who have reiterated on many occasions their determination to wipe Israel off the map to allow us to live in peace. Faith that although they have asked for the entire hand (the entire land), we can satisfy them with a finger (autonomy, or parcels of land). Faith that a centuries-long track record of anti-Semitism can be reversed. Oh, and by definition, faith cannot be questioned or disproven.

I've often heard the question: "Why are rabbis voicing opinions regarding political policy, matters that are not their field of expertise?" Perhaps the question should be in the inverse: why are politicians so consumed with faith—shouldn't they leave that to the rabbis?

See also Land for "Peace" (http://www.chabad.org/k3290)

- Rabbi Naftali Silberberg, a native of Detroit and a scholar renowned for his sharp wit and vast Talmudic knowledge, is on the editorial team of chabad.org. He resides in Brooklyn, NY with his wife Chaya Mushka and their three children.

- To view this article on the Web, or to post a comment, please click here: http://www.chabad.org/602270 .

- To read more articles by this author, please click here: http://www.chabad.org/k7528 .

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Love Of The Land For The Week Ending 1 Dec 2007 / 21 Kislev 5768 - Shechem - Tomb Of Yosef

2007-11-29T17:26:00.001-05:00

LOVE OF THE LAND
- For the week ending 1 December 2007 / 21 Kislev 5768
- from Ohr Somayach | www.ohr.edu

-- Shechem - Tomb of Yosef
------------------------------------------------
by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach
http://ohr.edu/yhiy/article.php/3302

The hero of this week's Torah portion and the ones following it is the
righteous Yosef.

Although he lived only 17 of his 110 years in Eretz Yisrael, he
insisted on being buried in the Holy Land.

His wish was fulfilled by the Children of Israel carrying his remains
with them for forty years on their way to the Promised Land and burying
them near Shechem in the field that his father Yaakov had bought many
years before.

Because Shechem is today populated by Arabs there has been considerable
tension between the residents and Jews who have come to pray at the
tomb of the righteous Yosef.

Talmudigest For The Week Ending 1 Dec 2007 / 21 Kislev 5768

2007-11-29T17:25:00.001-05:00

TALMUDIGEST
- For the week ending 1 December 2007 / 21 Kislev 5768
- from Ohr Somayach | www.ohr.edu

-- Ketubot 93 - 99 ------------------------------------------------
by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach
http://ohr.edu/yhiy/article.php/3300

- Dividing the deceased husband's funds between his wives
- Dividing the profits when one partner invested more than the other
- Two documents of sale bearing the same date
- The mother who gifted two sons the same property
- The wife who waived her claim to the property mortgaged for payment
of her ketubah while the other wife did not
- A gift made to one recipient on condition that after him it should
go to another designated party
- Obligations of the heirs towards the widow
- The disciple's obligations towards his teacher
- The widow who failed to demand support from the heirs and the one
who sold the inherited property for her support
- Selling her ketuba rights for support
- When the agent buys a bargain who gains the difference
- When the agent or the one who sent him is guilty of embezzlement of
sacred property
- Other dimensions of the law of agency

SERVING THE MASTER
__________________
- Ketubot 96a

The disciple of a Sage has a responsibility to serve his teacher as a
slave serves his master. This ruling of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi is
followed by a warning from Rabbi Yochanan that the teacher who denies
his disciple the ability of serving him is guilty of withholding
kindness from him.

To what form of service is Rabbi Yochanan referring?

One approach is that he is referring to the actual physical service
such as that mentioned by Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi. This is based on the
concept mentioned in Pirkei Avot (4:12) by Rabbi Elazar bar Shamma that
"respect for your teacher must be like respect for Heaven". Denying the
disciple this opportunity to express his respect for Heaven in this
tangible way is therefore considered a withholding of kindness.

A different approach is that the service mentioned by Rabbi Yochanan is
participating with the Sage in the study and application of halacha.
Regarding such denial Rabbi Shimon Chasida has stated (Sanhedrin 91a)
that one who withholds the teaching of halacha from a disciple is
cursed even by the children still in their mothers' wombs. The meaning
of service in this approach is learning the halachic process from the
teacher. Although this seems to negate the physical service mentioned
in the first approach there is actually a connection between the
service mentioned by Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi and that of Rabbi
Yochanan. The reason for the disciple's obligation to physically serve
his teacher is that he should always be near to him and thus learn
halacha from him.

WHAT THE SAGES SAY
__________________

"The teacher who denies his disciple the opportunity to serve him is
guilty of removing from him the fear of Heaven."

- Rabbi Nachman bar Yitzchak - Ketubot 96a

The Last Sermon

2007-11-29T17:24:00.000-05:00

-- The Last Sermon ------------------------------------------------
by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach
http://ohr.edu/yhiy/article.php/3303

After finally arriving in Israel years ago following a perilous journey
from her hometown in Syria, the young lady had many stories to tell
about narrowly escaping border patrols and bribing some Arab civilians
to smuggle her across the border.

One particular story did not deal with her heroic adventures but rather
with the profound impression made upon her by the last sermon she heard
from the rabbi of her community.

The rabbi called attention to the fact that women and girls in the
neighborhood of the synagogue made it a practice to be present on the
balconies and porches of their homes when the men were leaving the
synagogue on Shabbat. He explained that this was not the modest way for
women to behave and called for an improvement in the community's
standards of tzniut.

Little wonder then that the girl who heard this sermon was moved to
join a seminary on her arrival in order to live up to what the rabbi
preached.

Lessons In Truth 18 Kislev, 5768 / November 28, 2007 Day 77 - Service Of The Heart?

2007-11-29T17:12:00.000-05:00

Lessons in Truth
18 Kislev, 5768 / November 28, 2007

Day 77 - Service of the Heart?

SEFER SHEM OLAM — Chapter Eleven: Avoiding Contradictions in One’s Life (cont.)

It is unfortunate that we do not fully appreciate the great privilege of being a part of the Chosen Nation, of serving the awesome and all-powerful King, Whose glory and sanctity are beyond our comprehension. This lack of recognition is the underlying cause of our warped sense of priorities, for our tendency to engage in frivolous pursuits even after having devoted time to Torah study, tefillah and other spiritual accomplishments. If we would have proper recognition of who we are and Who we serve, we would not hurl ourselves “from a high roof to a deep pit,” as we fluctuate between spiritual striving and earthly materialism.

What is the cause of this lack of recognition? How is it that thrice daily we declare in our tefillos that our service of Hashem on earth parallels that of the angels Above, and yet we give little or no thought to what we ourselves say? Undoubtedly, this is because we are too preoccupied with our mundane affairs, to the point that our prayers are mere lip service and we forget completely about our true purpose in life. We pray out of habit, in the same way that we have done since our youth, with little or no thought as to what we are saying and to Whom we are saying it.

But this is wrong. The proper way is as stated in Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 93:1), to pause for at least a bit before beginning to pray, in order to rid our minds of mundane thoughts and focus on what we are about to do — to stand before our Creator and plead for ourselves and for our people.

Chovos HaLevavos (Shaar Cheshbon HaNefesh 3:9) gives detailed instructions on how to prepare for prayer:

One must disengage himself from this world and free his mind of any thought which will distract his attention from prayer. One should take to heart seriously that he stands before his Maker, and carefully choose both the words and the themes he intends to contemplate.

Understand full well that the words of prayer enunciated by the mouth are merely the shell. The heart’s meditation upon these words is the inner kernel. Words of prayer are like a body, while meditation of the heart, is its soul. One who prays only with his tongue while his mind wanders, resembles an empty body, a husk devoid of a kernel. Such a person is compared to the servant whose master had just returned home from a journey. The servant sent his children to greet the master, while he himself ignored the master’s presence. The master was infuriated by this wanton disrespect. Similarly, if the heart sends the body and the mouth to greet the Almighty in prayer, but the heart turns its attention elsewhere, G-d will surely be displeased.

Daily Mitzvah (Maimonides) Kislev 18, 5768 - November 28, 2007

2007-11-29T17:10:00.000-05:00

B"H

Kislev 18, 5768 * November 28, 2007

==================================================
D A I L Y M I T Z V A H (M A I M O N I D E S )
==================================================

Today's Mitzvot (Day 139 of 339):

Positive Mitzvot 131 and 125
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Introduction to Mitzvot 125 - 135:

Agricultural Laws Applying in Eretz Yisrael

HaShem gave us many opportunities to show appreciation for the
way He cares for us and enables us to live comfortably in His world.

When a person lives in Eretz Yisrael, G-d's hand is even more
apparent. Eretz Yisrael is our holy land, chosen by HaShem.

A farmer, delighted in the produce of his land, or any person enjoying
the fruit of the earth, must remember that it is HaShem who provides
us with all our needs.

The Torah commands us to set aside certain portions of our produce
to show our thanks for HaShem's generosity and goodness.

The Torah commands us to give these portions to our representatives,
the priests and Levites, who serve G-d in the Beit HaMikdash.

The priests and Levites dedicate their lives to carrying out the
service of HaShem, representing all the Jewish people.

They do not make their living as the rest of the people, working the
land or dealing in business and trade. Therefore, it is appropriate
that the people contribute to them in appreciation of their holy
service.

(These Mitzvot only apply in Eretz Yisrael.)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Positive Mitzvah 131: Declaration for Tithes

-Deuteronomy 26:13 "And you shall say before the L-rd your G-d,
I have removed the holy things...and also have
given to the Levite..."

David's mother assigned him specific chores and responsibilities
around the house.

To be sure that David did not neglect his chores, his mother decided
that every Friday, David would have to report to his father when he
had completed his jobs.

The system proved effective!

David could not imagine himself standing before his father mumbling
some lame excuse why he had not completed his tasks.

A Jew is obligated to give various kinds of tithes from his produce.

He may be very busy, live far from Jerusalem, or possibly forget.

The Torah commands him to stand before HaShem in the Beit HaMikdash
and declare that he has fulfilled his obligations and given all the
tithes required of him.

This declaration is done on Passover of the fourth and seventh year
of the Shemitah cycle.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Positive Mitzvah 125: Presenting the First Fruit

-Exodus 23:19 "You shall bring the first of the fruits of
your land that ripen "

A farmer observes with pride and satisfaction the first-fruits
that ripen on his trees.

As he sees the first juicy grapes growing, he is very anxious to
taste them, but he knows that he must set them aside and bring them
to the Beit HaMikdash. There, he presents them to the priest.

This Positive Mitzvah applies only to those seven kinds of foods that
Eretz Yisrael was specifically blessed with.

They are: Wheat; Barley; Grapes; Figs; Pomegranates; Olives; Dates.

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Today in Jewish History 18 Kislev

2007-11-29T17:08:00.000-05:00

Today In Jewish History 18 Kislev

In 1793, the French district of Strasbourg, Alsace-Lorraine passed an anti-Jewish law prohibiting circumcision and the wearing of beards. It also ordered the burning of books written in Hebrew. The French Revolution, born of the ideals of Enlightenment, had become the first society to emancipate the Jews; permitting them to enter the highest levels of government and finance. Yet all the talk of "equality" did not stop Voltaire from singling out the Jews as "the most abominable people in the world." The invective gained expression in the 1940s when the French Vichy regime took the initiative to round up and hand over 61,000 Jews to the Nazis.

Oh! I've also been working on my

2007-11-29T17:06:00.001-05:00

Delphi Forum. Here's the link - http://forums.delphiforums.com/anamcara1/start Come & join. Let's make it THE best forum there!!

FINALLY! I Finally Received

2007-11-29T17:05:00.000-05:00

my Learn Irish language book! LOL YAAAAAAAAAAAY!

Shmiras Haloshon Yomi 18 Kislev, 5768 / November 28, 2007 Day 76 - Basic Training

2007-11-29T17:04:00.001-05:00

Shmiras Haloshon Yomi
18 Kislev, 5768 / November 28, 2007

Day 76 - Basic Training
SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM — Laws of Loshon Hora 9:5-6

We have learned that a person is required to exercise his influence on members of his household so that they will avoid the sin of loshon hora. In this segment, the Chofetz Chaim explains why it is especially important to train children to guard their tongues.

He quotes the Vilna Gaon, who says that proper speech and good character are acquired through practice — lots of practice. If a child is trained to avoid speaking negatively of others, then he will carry this training into adulthood. He will have the necessary control to choose his words carefully.

The Chofetz Chaim maintains that the reason why loshon hora was so widespread in his generation, was that people had been accustomed from their youth to speaking whatever they pleased, without anyone ever telling them that there exists a concept called shmiras haloshon. Thus, people did not even consider the possibility that their words involved any sort of transgression.

The situation, says the Chofetz Chaim, would be different if children were trained from their early youth to watch their words. If children were taught to consider the impact of their words before they speak, they would have the “basic training” they needed to avoid loshon hora, ona’as devarim (hurtful words), and other forbidden speech. And shmiras haloshon would be considered as integral to Jewish life as kashrus or tefillin.

The Chofetz Chaim provides us with all the motivation we need to educate our children in this way. He assures us that our efforts to help our children observe shmiras haloshon will make it easy for them to “safeguard themselves with regard to this sacred quality.” And he assures us that through this, they will merit a beautiful portion in the World to Come and all the blessings of life in this world as well.

A Lesson A Day 18 Kislev, 5768 / November 28, 2007 Day 77 - Shifting The Blame

2007-11-29T17:03:00.001-05:00

A Lesson A Day
18 Kislev, 5768 / November 28, 2007

SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM

Day 77 – Shifting the Blame

Yet another situation where negative speech may be in order is where one is the victim of false accusation and wishes to divulge the identity of the real culprit to vindicate himself. Whether or not this is permissible depends on the nature of the crime.

If the crime is of a type that would halachically, by Jewish law, require the observer to inform either the victim or others of the culprit’s identity, he should do so.

If there is no constructive purpose in revealing the culprit’s identity other than to vindicate oneself, it would be forbidden for the accused to name the culprit. The accused should declare his innocence and refrain from incriminating anyone else.

In a situation where only two people are possible suspects, which means that a denial on the part of one is tantamount to an accusation against the other, it is permissible to deny the charges provided that the act committed was indeed improper. However, if the alleged offense was, in fact, an innocent statement or action, the accused should not deny it. Denial would implicate the other person who, in this case, is guilty of no real crime.

It is a middas chassidus (measure of piety) to accept the blame in all cases, unless revealing the identity of the guilty party serves a constructive purpose. Also, one should not accept the blame for an act which would reflect badly on the community or on observant Jews in general, as this would constitute a chilul Hashem, desecration of God’s name.

SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON

The Tragedy of Strife

There is something most astonishing about those who are bent toward strife.

If the child of one of these people would be slightly injured by someone, even unintentionally, the father would castigate the culprit with fury. If the child would be hurt intentionally and become bedridden because of his wounds, the angry father would publicly denounce the attacker — even after the child had recovered — as a cruel, violent individual. The father would not rest until he felt that he had dealt the guilty party a blow commensurate with his callous deed. The man of strife would harbor eternal hatred toward the person who caused his child harm.

As stated above, even infants may be included in Divine retribution meted out to those who are parties to strife. Yet the man of strife does not consider for a moment that he himself brings untold harm — and even death, Heaven forfend — upon his children because of his sinful ways. Tragically, it is the way of quarrelers to involve their wives, children and other relatives in their disputes. Such was the way of Dasan and Aviram, as the Torah states: “Dasan and Aviram went out erect at the entrance of their tents, with their wives, children and infants” (Bamidbar 16:27).

Thus, it is written, “The children gather the wood, but it is the fathers who ignite the fire” (Yirmiyahu 7:18). The evil inclination blinds these people, so that they and their loved ones stumble into the abyss below.

Bad Day At The Office?

2007-11-29T17:01:00.000-05:00

http://glumbert.com/wii/view.php?name=baddayoffice

Ear Marks

2007-11-29T16:54:00.001-05:00

http://weblogs.newsday.com/news/opinion/walthandelsman/blog/2007/11/earmarks.html

Travel Weary

2007-11-29T16:53:00.001-05:00

http://weblogs.newsday.com/news/opinion/walthandelsman/blog/2007/11/travel_weary.html

Who Ya Calling A Turkey?

2007-11-29T16:52:00.002-05:00

http://weblogs.newsday.com/news/opinion/walthandelsman/blog/2007/11/who_you_callin_a_turkey.html

The Saturday Sneak Peak

2007-11-29T16:52:00.001-05:00

http://weblogs.newsday.com/news/opinion/walthandelsman/blog/2007/11/the_saturday_sneak_peek.html

Hi.

2007-11-25T10:50:00.001-05:00

This is a test. Just checking this option out.

First Day Off In A While

2007-11-24T12:22:00.000-05:00

Boy! It's one of those 'lazy days'. Today's the first day off I've had in weeks. I guess I'm just due one. Have stuff to do tho that I kinda sorta want to do - need to do. I should, actually will, get around to do them. I need to for my own sake. It will also help my wallet on some of it.

Anyway I do need to go now & take care of some of it. Check you later. Will let you know what I did get done.

This is soooooo cute

2007-11-15T00:48:00.000-05:00

http://birdloversonly.blogspot.com/2007/09/may-i-have-this-dance.html

I wish pay per post would hurry up

2007-11-13T17:31:00.000-05:00

and ok my blog.

Also sitting down & writing an article for helium.com

Has anyone done business with them at all? I'd love to know if they're really any good or not. I would hate to submit articles & not get anywhere with it other than experience. I guess I could look @ it that way .... it would be good for that! LOL

Daily Dose: Four Realms

2007-11-13T11:24:00.000-05:00

B"H

Four Realms
-----------

The ancient philosophers divided the world into four realms, each realm transcendental in a way beyond those that precede it:

The "silent" realm--earth, rocks, water, air, etc., do not transcend their bounds in any way. Plants transcend their bounds by growing. Animals transcend their bounds by traversing space.

And Man, how does he transcend his bounds? Man reaches outside of himself with words. With dialogue.

Man alone is capable of hearing his own self through the ears of another. Man alone is capable of transcending the very bounds of self.

A Daily Dose of Wisdom from the Rebbe
-words and condensation by Tzvi Freeman
Kislev 3, 5768 * 11/12/2007

Finally! Now back again

2007-11-13T11:07:00.003-05:00

And will be here hopefully more often .... work permitting and other interests including school

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been down

2005-12-14T07:50:00.000-05:00

with some kind of bug the last few days. I am now able to resume posting. Thank you for your patience.

There are more posts over on

2005-12-08T09:14:00.000-05:00

my other blog. It is the one I use the most (danu9.tblog.com) Come check it out or go to http://www.tblog.com/blog-categories.php?cat=Religion&start=30 and look for danu9.

There are also posts in the philosphy, news, miscellaneous and politics sections. Pull up your 'puter chair. Turn on Arutz Sheva/Israel National Radio and enjoy some quality reading.

Now LIVE! On Arutz Sheva/Israel National Radion 12/08/05

2005-12-08T08:41:00.000-05:00

**UPDATE: New shows after Yishai Fleisher's Show. Excellent source of news, commentary, politics, music and more!****

Now: ARUTZ SHEVA/ISRAEL NATIONAL RADIO - Please join us in the LIVE BROADCAST of Yishai Fleisher Show in the "Virtual Studio" room at www.israelnationalradio.com ("Enter Virtual Room" - top left corner of page) or login directly at www.studio.virtualyeshiva.com. Schedule of Virtual Studio live broadcasts at bottom of login page

Daily Lift #859 - Respond to Arguments with Honest Humility

2005-12-08T08:35:00.000-05:00

Daily Lift #859
Respond To Arguments With Honest Humility

Respond to the outbursts of others with humility. Agree with any truth you see in their statement. By agreeing with part of the person's comments, you are likely to calm him down. ("Yes, I was inconsiderate." "I agree with you that I can improve." "That was a stupid thing I did.")

Conversely, when you try to defend yourself, an angry person will usually keep up his attack. Arguing with him adds fuel to the fire. When you agree with him, however, he will see that he has no reason to keep arguing since you already agree with him. Some people find this difficult to do, but try this a few times, and you will see that it works wonders.

(Rabbi Pliskin's Gateway to Happiness, p.204)

Way #12 Growth Through Teaching

2005-12-06T18:16:00.000-05:00

Way #12 Growth Through Teaching
by Rabbi Noah Weinberg
Until you share an idea, it remains but a hazy notion in your imagination. Transmitting the idea to others makes it real. You've taken it out of potential and made it a reality.

Most people don't think of themselves as teachers. "Me? A teacher?!" We view teaching as a profession that requires formal training and certification. Besides, we reason, there's probably a "natural ability" that makes someone a good teacher.

Way #12 is pilpul hatalmidim - literally "discussions with students." To attain wisdom for living, teaching needs to be a basic way of life. Why? Because if you can't teach an idea, then you don't really know it yourself.

Remember in school when the math teacher asked, "Who knows this equation?" You raised your hand, and she said, "Go ahead, explain it to us." You started off, "Well, umm..." You thought you knew, but when you tried to teach it, you found out otherwise.

Having to explain an idea to others forces you to clarify it for yourself. You examine everything much more thoroughly - the details, logical progression, etc. And you'll become personally moved by the idea. As the Sages say: "I learned a lot from my teachers. I learned even more from my colleagues. But most of all, I learned from my students."

Until you share an idea, it's not yours. It remains but a hazy notion in your imagination. Transmitting the idea to others makes it real. You've taken it out of potential and made it a reality. By reaching others, you will reach yourself.

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THE OBLIGATION TO TEACH

Teaching is also a profound moral obligation. Why? Imagine someone knows the cure for cancer and doesn't share it. He's content to let everyone suffer. What is he? A murderer!

Now realize that the worst disease - the most destructive, painful, most contagious disease of all - is ignorance. Ignorance perverts people and leads to wasted, counterproductive lives. Ignorance causes untold suffering - mistreatment of children, marital strife, and suffering in a dead-end job. All out of ignorance.

If you understand something about living and don't share it, you're a brute. There is something in you that says, "I don't care about other people. I'm a lone wolf, a rogue elephant." To live in a vacuum is not human. Do you see this?

For example, if you know the key to happiness, teach it. Do you see human beings walking around depressed, half dead? Give them some joy. Otherwise you'll always bear the knowledge of what you "could have done."

When you reduce ignorance in the world, even by a little bit, you give a great gift to mankind. Some diseases only a doctor can treat, but ignorance can be cured by everyone who takes wisdom seriously.

Help cure the international ignorance problem. Teach wisdom.

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THE DRIVE TO COMMUNICATE

Everyone enjoys making a difference in people's lives. Ninety-nine percent of the world - whether journalists, psychologists, dentists, etc. - are motivated (at least in part) to help others. It's a basic human drive. And the more people we positively impact, the better we feel about ourselves.

You know how to play baseball, right? If you see someone holding the bat upside down, what will you do? He swings wildly once, twice. Then you walk over and say, "Pardon me, I'm not criticizing, but if you hold the bat the other way, you'll get a more powerful swing. Why don't you try and see how it works." You'll teach him what you know because it hurts to watch someone wasting his time - even if he's on the opposing team!

Teaching is a way to build an eternal bond with another person. Remember how your aunt taught you to whistle? Now realize that this satisfaction is even greater when you share an insight into living.

Don't sell yourself short. You have the ability to make a positive impact. You don't have to be a social worker or a doctor. With one piece of wisdom you can help humanity.

Think back to growth experiences that changed you. Perhaps something made you more mature. Or enabled you to take disappointments better. Or to be more independent, or more tolerant of others. If the memory has stuck with you, then it's worth sharing with others.

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CREATE THE DESIRE

Imagine that a child is sick with a rare disease. If it's an acquaintance, you'd probably say, "Oh, that's terrible. What a pity."

If it was your cousin, you'd take some personal responsibility, perhaps researching information on the Internet.

If it was your own child, you'd leave no stone unturned.

I know a young couple - he's a businessman and she's a doctor. They found out that their two young children had Gaucher disease, a debilitating condition that is handicapping for life, and sometimes fatal. So what did they do? Together they founded an organization, committed to finding a cure for Gaucher disease. She conducted the medical research and he raised the money.

There was no guarantee of success. But inasmuch as it was their own children, there was no alternative but to try. And the Almighty helped them. After six years, they developed a synthetic enzyme which can effectively treat the condition - and their two children became the first in the world to have a hopeful prognosis.

So how do we get motivated to help?

We've got to care.

When we care enough, we will make the effort.

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DON'T BORE YOUR AUDIENCE

Yawwwwn. There he goes again with another soliloquy...

When you teach, don't recite a manifesto. What you're teaching has to be relevant. Teaching means to reach someone, to get him to appreciate what you feel is important.

You may want to start with a joke or story to get his attention and draw him in.

Encourage your students to ask questions that unlock the essence of the message. When someone asks a question, it's a sign he's in the learning mode. But when being lectured to, people's minds may wander - and not come back until it's time to go home!

Never lose sight of your audience. You have to "feel" how they're reacting to your message. People are generally willing to listen to anything - if it's said in a way they can appreciate and understand.

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CLARIFY YOUR GOAL

Be clear and concise. Pinpoint in stark, simple terms what you want to communicate. If you can't summarize your message in one or two sentences, it's not clear enough in your mind. And unquestionably, your listener will end up confused.

Imagine you're 12 years old and your kid brother is messing up your room. "You'd better not mess up my room or I'll beat the bejabbers outta you!" Is the threat of violence what you want to communicate? No. You really want him to know that it's impolite to mess up someone else's room, and there may be consequences. That's more to the point, right?

Now, how will you communicate this to him? Not how will you aggravate him, challenge him, dare him, antagonize him, and make an enemy out of him. Rather, how will you reach him? Take the time to figure it out.

Now let's refine the message. "My dear brother, just as you don't enjoy having your room messed up, I don't want my room messed up, either." That's a lot better. Now you've taught him an important principle for living: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Stop yelling, stop arguing. Start teaching, start reaching.

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TEACH, DON'T PREACH

I'm no preacher! Who am I to tell people what to do?

Preaching is giving over information with fire and brimstone, without paying attention to what your audience is feeling. A preacher instructs: "I'm the authority...I'll straighten you out... Accept what I say... Don't question... Park your mind... Listen to me... Obey me!"

Preaching is being a demigod, getting people excited and overwhelmed and moving them with an emotional sway. That's not teaching. That's brainwashing. And that is totally not the Jewish way.

What is teaching? Teaching is communicating to an independent human the clarity of a concept. To teach is to get others to see and understand it on their own terms. To enable the student to get in touch with what he already knows - and re-discover it on his own.

An impassioned teacher can be inspiring and uplifting, but ultimately, a teacher has to be able to convey ideas in a way that emotions don't interfere and distort the message. You see the difference?

If you're teaching in the sense of "I'm going to straighten him out," then nobody will listen. Speak "with" people, not "at" them. And be open to feedback: "If I'm wrong, please correct me." Give your student enough space to weigh the evidence and make his own decision. Be confident that truth will prevail. Otherwise you're just forcing it down his throat.

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MAKE IT REAL

Know your material inside and out. Before communicating an idea, review the main points. This builds confidence, so at the moment of teaching, you can focus less on content and more on presentation.

You can't recite dead notes. Even if you've already taught the same material 100 times, it has to be real to you. It has to invigorate you. This will translate into your personal sincerity coming through. For as the Sages say: "What comes from the heart, goes into the heart."

It is best to review on a schedule, at least once a year. You'll be in good company: The Talmud says that God reviewed the Torah fours times before transmitting it to Moses!

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INSPIRE ACTION

It's possible to be exposed to an idea, think you understand it, and almost totally miss its point. That is why people are sometimes inconsistent - and even contradictory - in their actions.

Teaching is not just conveying bits and bytes of information; it's about affecting a change in behavior. Figure out how to transmit an idea, so that others will not only appreciate it, but will actually put it into practice. Otherwise, you haven't succeeded in "teaching."

Ideas impact people. Ideas change the way people think - and give them the tools to change the way they act.

Develop a good lesson plan. Work through the stages of bringing people to actual implementation.

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WHY IS "TEACHING" A WAY TO WISDOM?

The test of whether you've grasped an idea properly is to teach it to others. Until then, you don't really understand it.

We all want to be good. Sharing your wisdom gives you the self-respect that comes through sharing.

If your own child needed to know something important, you'd care enough to teach it.

Teach whenever you can. The more you practice, the better you get.

Teaching others in a meaningful way is a deep expression of creativity.

Students make you honest with yourself.

If you have a piece of wisdom, there's a moral obligation to share.

Teaching others contributes to the betterment of the world.