Rabino Raymond Beyda
"Go and ascertain what Laban the Aramean intended to do to Yaakob our Patriarch" Hagaddah Shel Pesah
The instruction given by the author of the Hagaddah to go and learn from the story of Laban requires that we ask "What is the great lesson that he expects us to learn?" Furthermore, he does not give us an answer. Instead we are presented with a recital of the history of Yaakob Abinu a'h from his days living with Laban until he descended to Egypt with his family. What do I learn from that well-known series of events?
Rabbi Don Yitzhak Abarbanel zt'l points out that Laban did not perpetrate any acts of destruction upon Yaakob and his family -- all of his evil was in his mind. It was only through an analysis of his words that we understood his wicked intentions. It was through the kind intervention of G-d that the destruction was prevented. The promise to Abraham Abinu -- that his offspring would live and prosper through the special providence of Hashem -- was the factor that saved Yaakob from harm and that same Hashgaha -- protection -- has protected Jews throughout history.
The Vilna Gaon takes this point one step further. The thing we must "Go out" to learn is that Hashem does miracles for us --even though we are not aware of His intervention on our behalf. There are "Ten Mentions" -- zekhirot -- that a Jew should remember to say every day. They include the Exodus from Egypt, the Shabbat and what Hashem did to Miriam when she spoke Loshon Hara about her brother Moshe Rabenu. One of the things we must keep on our minds daily is "What Balak and Bilaam attempted to do to us when we were in the desert." Why is this on the list with other more outstanding events with obvious lessons?
The story of Bilaam is one of a gentile prophet hired by a King to curse the Jews. The King, Balak, saw that military might could not stand up to the Jews and so he devised a plan to fight fire with fire. The Jews were known for the power of their mouths -- prayer -- and so he hired one who was known for the power of his mouth -- cursing. The one thing he did not take into consideration was G-d's divine intervention for His beloved Chosen People. Every curse turned out to be a blessing. The Jews never met Balak and they were not privy to his failed attempts. G-d's miracle on their behalf was unbeknownst to them --just as Yaakob's rescue from Laban by G-d was without his knowledge of what Laban was really thinking. This is the lesson of our history.
In every generation they rise up against us to destroy us. Sometimes it is an open display of hatred and actions that physically attempt to wipe us out. At other times it is wicked plans that we never discover because our Lord in His mercy derails the enemy's efforts and scuttles his plans without making headlines. "Go out and learn" to be thankful to G-d for all that He does to protect us from annihilation in every generation whether we see it or not.
TABLE TALK -- QUESTIONS FOR THE SEDER TABLE
The Seder opens with the little poem that lists the order of the night's proceedings --Kadesh, urhatz... -- literally say Kiddush and then wash your hands. If we look at the list we see that the first 2 "Kadesh" –say kiddush and "urhatz"--wash your hands are in the Hebrew form of a command. "Go and say Kiddush" and "Go and wash your hands." The balance of the list is in "passive" or "descriptive" forms.
"Karpas" -- parsley.
"Yahatz" -- the splitting of the massah.
"Mageed" -- telling of the story.
Why are only the first two in the form of commands?
Answer: The purpose of the Seder is to increase one's awareness of his or her servitude to G-d. We were taken out of the bondage of Egypt for a purpose. We were freed in order to become slaves to our Creator and to serve Him rather that human kings. By the end of the evening we should reach a state of gratitude and appreciation for this act of kindness -- allowing us to serve G-d --with wild praising and song called Hallel. It is, therefore, appropriate that we begin our night in the imperative mode, a tone suggestive of the master speaking to His servant. [Source Shirat Yehudah Hagaddah]
SHABBAT SHALOM
HAG KASHER V SAMAYACH
Thursday, March 29, 2007
ISRAEL Foreign Ministry Spokesman
Jerusalem, 29 March, 2007
Israeli Statement on the Arab Summit in Riyadh
(Communicated by Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
Israel believes in peace, and seeks to establish peaceful and neighborly relations both with the Palestinian people and with all the states of the region.
Israel is sincerely interested in pursuing a dialogue with those Arab states that desire peace with Israel, this in order to promote a process of normalization and cooperation. Israel hopes that the Riyadh Summit will contribute to this effort.
Israel’s position with regard to the peace process with the Palestinians is founded upon fundamental principles, the most central of which is the existence of two nation-states, with each state addressing the national aspirations of its own people – Israel for the Jewish people and Palestine for the Palestinian people – and with both states coexisting in peace, free of the threat of terrorism and violence.
For this purpose, a direct dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians is necessary.
Israel also believes that moderate Arab states can fill a positive role by encouraging regional cooperation, and supporting the Israel-Palestinian track. A dialogue between these states and Israel can contribute to this end.
Israeli Statement on the Arab Summit in Riyadh
(Communicated by Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
Israel believes in peace, and seeks to establish peaceful and neighborly relations both with the Palestinian people and with all the states of the region.
Israel is sincerely interested in pursuing a dialogue with those Arab states that desire peace with Israel, this in order to promote a process of normalization and cooperation. Israel hopes that the Riyadh Summit will contribute to this effort.
Israel’s position with regard to the peace process with the Palestinians is founded upon fundamental principles, the most central of which is the existence of two nation-states, with each state addressing the national aspirations of its own people – Israel for the Jewish people and Palestine for the Palestinian people – and with both states coexisting in peace, free of the threat of terrorism and violence.
For this purpose, a direct dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians is necessary.
Israel also believes that moderate Arab states can fill a positive role by encouraging regional cooperation, and supporting the Israel-Palestinian track. A dialogue between these states and Israel can contribute to this end.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Fernando Gil
• PESSOAL E... TRANSMISSÍVEL
É um dos responsáveis pela introdução do conceito de má-fé no debate sobre a guerra do Iraque. O filósofo Fernando Gil é o convidado de Carlos Vaz Marques para a conversa ao fim da tarde.
( 20:18 07 de Setembro 04 )
Carlos Vaz Marques
REGISTO AUDIO
1. Fernando Gil 2. Fernando Gil 3. Fernando Gil
"Nem nós nem ninguém que conheça algo com evidência e imediatamente, tem como objecto desse conhecimento algo diferente de si mesmo"
Brentano
É um dos responsáveis pela introdução do conceito de má-fé no debate sobre a guerra do Iraque. O filósofo Fernando Gil é o convidado de Carlos Vaz Marques para a conversa ao fim da tarde.
( 20:18 07 de Setembro 04 )
Carlos Vaz Marques
REGISTO AUDIO
1. Fernando Gil 2. Fernando Gil 3. Fernando Gil
"Nem nós nem ninguém que conheça algo com evidência e imediatamente, tem como objecto desse conhecimento algo diferente de si mesmo"
Brentano
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Passover Today... and Tomorrow
- JewishAnswers.org
I understand that the story of Pesach (Passover) is a story of redemption. It is also the ultimate demonstration of HaShem’s (G-d’s) commitment to the patriarchs and their descendants. Please explain the future significance of the Commandment to “keep the feast” from year to year and what it may portend for the future messianic kingdom?
Through celebrating Pesach, we recognize Hashem’s absolute Divine Providence—that He is willing to intervene in history, altering the course of natural events, to save his people. We also reconnect to that special spiritual energy of ‘freedom’—the potential to break free from our bad habits or thoughts or grudges or tunnel vision. The rejuvenation of spring.
As far as the “future significance”, the Talmud does say that the miracles that will surround the coming of Moshiach and the ingathering of Jews to Israel will overshadow even the miracles of our Exodus from Egypt. So perhaps in those days Pesach will include the appreciation of the final redemption as well. About this point I’m not so sure (in what way the final redemption will be commemorated and if that will affect Pesach), since we don’t know the exact details of what life will be like at the end of days. We only know the general concepts.
May Hashem show us those ‘exact details’ soon!
Have a great Pesach,
Shlomo Shulman
JAAM CT
Waterbury, CT
I understand that the story of Pesach (Passover) is a story of redemption. It is also the ultimate demonstration of HaShem’s (G-d’s) commitment to the patriarchs and their descendants. Please explain the future significance of the Commandment to “keep the feast” from year to year and what it may portend for the future messianic kingdom?
Through celebrating Pesach, we recognize Hashem’s absolute Divine Providence—that He is willing to intervene in history, altering the course of natural events, to save his people. We also reconnect to that special spiritual energy of ‘freedom’—the potential to break free from our bad habits or thoughts or grudges or tunnel vision. The rejuvenation of spring.
As far as the “future significance”, the Talmud does say that the miracles that will surround the coming of Moshiach and the ingathering of Jews to Israel will overshadow even the miracles of our Exodus from Egypt. So perhaps in those days Pesach will include the appreciation of the final redemption as well. About this point I’m not so sure (in what way the final redemption will be commemorated and if that will affect Pesach), since we don’t know the exact details of what life will be like at the end of days. We only know the general concepts.
May Hashem show us those ‘exact details’ soon!
Have a great Pesach,
Shlomo Shulman
JAAM CT
Waterbury, CT
Da nudez e da ignorância
Andre Moshè Pereira*
À Drª Guilhermina Leal
Certamente que o nosso leitor saberá que escrever num jornal como o Janeiro – OPJ é importante. Muito Relevante. Deveras lógico para um jornal sem dependências nem amarras ideológicas sem conspícuas e enclavinhadas reverberações sócio-sindicais ou idiossincrásicas.
Artigos como os de Levi Guerra não só são importantes como imprescindíveis, notáveis e belos. Gerados no acesso fundo duma das mais notáveis profissões de alguns que dela são dignos como uma verdade que o Autor e Professor universitário verte como sinal da sua imensa sabedoria e cosmovisão estética e lavor escriturístico de modo queiroziano a par dum outro escritor talentosíssimo como Paulo Ferreira da Cunha e os impérios da universalidade lusófona tratados na sua última impressão em OPJ.
Outra coisa são os que revelam uma amável prosápia para a serialidade dos argumentos ingénuos ou pós-críticos baseados na estrutura que os guia sem crítica e sem sabor. Temos vários casos reaprendidos na amálgama dos textos dos jornalistas de causas e das estrelas pop que na poeira estelar do momento aparecem e desaperecerão como por virtude do céu que de azul passa a negro está nesse caso o artigo dum adicto da humorística com o bom artigo: O Allgarve fica em Poortugal de R. A Pereira, Visão, N. 733, 22. Mar.2007, p. 170, na crítica veemente que faz ao ministro actual da Economia no jogo gozado das palavras all e poor que prefixam a província e o nosso solo pátrio ou mátrio.
Nem todos podem ser Balzacs e Steinbecks mas na verdade pululam os candidatos direitinhos a nobelizáveis. Depois admiro as pessoas da geração nintendo e portátil pós-rasca e pós-X que para tudo, nesta rara elite, se tem um apetite por artigos e leituras flesh and bone de matérias cómicas e dramáticas de Borges e Bioy Casares, Bergson, a Celine e Auster. Umberto Eco e Luís de Camões por vezes e raramente M.Bakhtine ou Howard Rheingold ou J. Meyrowitz… O que eu mal sinto como humano é o rafeirismo noctívago dos extra-mestres de agenda editorial que não escrevem mas criticam como se soubessem ainda pensar. Não falo do Romance numa Cabeça ou dos arquipélagos da escrita de João Gaspar Simões ou do Castelo do Barba Azul de G. Steiner e a sua crítica logocrática. Nada produzem tais editores mas colmatam a sua devotação literária com a inteligência arguta dos métodos de construção do texto literário na norma de Carlos Reis ou de Amorim de Carvalho o que não é pouco. Apenas anedótico vindo de quem vem. Será apenas uma ilusão (ignorância) que se vejam imensos produtos escritos (obras) com a vantagem de se considerarem leitores e fazedores de obras? O que é um autor? Quem refaz a imensa trama do discurso humano que é um texto num contexto que se autocompreende?
Quem não se sente nu? Quem não revisita a belíssima lição com saudade de Jacinto Prado Coelho e os seus Dispersos e a sua heterocrítica pessoana e do mesmo João Gaspar Simões acerca de Herbert Read: “Herbert Read é aliás, entre todos os críticos e esteticistas ingleses contemporâneos, aquele que mais perto está das ideias que informaram a geração a que pertenço. A sua crítica ao classicismo esterilizante bem como a sua crítica à arte subsidiária das ideias políticas e sociais fazem dele um dos mais prestigiosos representantes das letras britânicas de uma concepção literária hoje activamente combatida pelos partidários da arte como meio, não como fim.” (Simões, J.G., Novos Temas, Velhos temas – Ensaios de literatura e estética literária, Lisboa: Portugália Editora, 1967:c. XXX)
Quando se fala de nudez falamos da nudez literária ou do corpo-próprio? O filósofo judeu, como nós, muito além de nós, Emmanuel Levinas reitera esta saga do corpo na sua presença impresente ou na sua livre premência dum ser aberto sem intimidade ou como espírito ou emoção pura emergente dum rapto estético ou resgate ético: “na nudez envergonhada não se trata somente da nudez do corpo. Mas não é por acaso que sob a forma tenaz do pudor a vergonha se relaciona em primeiro lugar ao nosso corpo. (…) O que aparece na vergonha é assim precisamente o facto de estarmos fixados a nós mesmos, a impossibilidade radical de fugir para dos escondermos de nós mesmos, a presença irremissível do eu em si mesmo. A nudez é envergonhada quando é a manifestação do nosso ser, da sua intimidade última. E a do nosso corpo não é a nudez de uma coisa material antítese do espírito, mas a nudez do nosso ser total em toda a sua plenitude e solidez, da sua expressão mais brutal de que não poderíamos não lavrar acta. O apito que engole Charlie Chaplin em «Luzes da Ribalta» faz rebentar o escândalo da presença brutal do seu ser; é como o aparelho registador que permite desvelar as manifestações discretas duma presença que o trajo lendário de Charlot dissimula porém, com dificuldade. Quando o corpo perde o seu carácter de intimidade, esse carácter de existência dum si mesmo, cessa de ser envergonhado. Tal o tronco nu do pugilista. A nudez da bailarina de music-hall que se exibe — quaisquer que sejam os efeitos que daí espere o empresário — não é necessariamente a marca dum ser envergonhado pois que o seu corpo pode aparecer-lhe com esta exterioridade a si mesmo que o cobre por isso mesmo. Nem tudo o que está sem vestimenta está nu” (Emmanuel Levinas, Da Evasão, Estratégias Criativas, Porto 2001, c. V). E ser nu assim não é estar bem vestido? Ou melhor, ser homem? Ser autor?
Shavua Tov
Have a great PesachPresidente da KoaH, Judeu marrano
Iran Warns of 'Illegal' Steps Over Nukes
ALI AKBAR DAREINI
The Associated PressWednesday, March 21, 2007; 8:22 PM
TEHRAN, Iran
Iran's top leader warned Wednesday his country will pursue "illegal actions" if the U.N. Security Council insists it halt uranium enrichment, an apparent reference to nuclear activities outside international regulations.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also warned the United States that Iran would fight back with "all its capacities" if attacked.
"Until today, what we have done has been in accordance with international regulations," Khamenei said. "But if they take illegal actions, we too can take illegal actions and will do so."
He did not elaborate on what the "illegal actions" could be, but Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, the agreement under which the U.N. inspections are held.
Iran says it will never give up its right under the treaty to enrich uranium and produce nuclear fuel. But it has offered to provide guarantees that its nuclear program won't be diverted toward weapons _ as the U.S. and some of its allies fear.
The five permanent members of the Security Council _ the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France _ and Germany have drawn up new sanctions to punish Iran for rejecting U.N. demands to halt enrichment _ a process that can produce fuel for a reactor or fissile material for a nuclear warhead.
"If they want to treat us with threats and enforcement of coercion and violence, undoubtedly they must know that the Iranian nation and authorities will use all their capacities to strike enemies that attack," Khamenei told the nation in an address marking the first day of Nowruz, or the Persian New Year.
Ambassadors from the 15 Security Council nations held informal discussions in New York on Wednesday ahead of a meeting to discuss possible changes to the draft sanctions resolution.
The new sanctions would ban Iranian arms exports and freeze the assets of 28 additional individuals and organizations involved in the country's nuclear and missile programs _ about a third linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, an elite military corps.
The package also calls for voluntary restrictions on travel by the individuals subject to sanctions, on arms sales to Iran, and on new financial assistance or loans to the Iranian government.
In Washington, Bush administration officials urged patience with U.S. efforts to crack down on Iran as Democrats leveled fresh criticism of the government's approach.
"Iran is a country very much on the defensive right now," said R. Nicholas Burns, undersecretary for political affairs at the State Department.
"The United States is committed to pursuing a diplomatic solution to the challenges posed by Iran. This will require patience and persistence," he told the Senate Banking Committee.
The U.S. and France are hoping the new sanctions will be adopted by the end of the week, but that goal seemed complicated. South Africa, which holds the rotating Security Council presidency, has proposed extensive changes to the resolution _ including eliminating the arms embargo _ and a 90-day "time out" on all sanctions.
Although the five council powers remained united on their draft, discussion of South Africa's proposals seemed likely to delay a vote.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country "will not support excessive sanctions against Iran," and added that the draft resolution has been softened at Moscow's behest, including narrower restrictions on officials' travel.
European and U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks said Tuesday that Moscow had bluntly told Tehran it would not ship fuel for the Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran until Tehran freezes its uranium enrichment program.
Lavrov denied that.
"It's not the first time that we are seeing such an unscrupulous approach aimed at driving a wedge between us and Iran," he told lawmakers in the lower house of parliament.
Russia has said plans to supply fuel for Bushehr this month were called off because of Iranian payment.
Still, Burns spoke favorably of Russia's decision, saying it was akin to telling Iran "this won't be business as usual."
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said he will travel to the United Nations if the Security Council decides to vote on sanctions. In his own New Year's address, he accused world's powers of waging "psychological warfare ... to block our nation's progress."
Khamenei said sanctions would backfire and only further motivate Iran to develop nuclear power without outside assistance.
"Sanctions may even, under circumstances, come to our benefit since they create more motivation for us," he said. "Western governments don't agree with Iran possessing nuclear power. Let them. Did we ask anybody permission to achieve nuclear power?"
Iran says it needs alternative energy sources for when its oil reserves run out.
"Nuclear energy is a must, a necessity in the long term," Khamenei said. "One day oil will dry up. ... The Iranian nation needs nuclear energy for life, not weapons."
_____
Associated Press Writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Jeannine Aversa in Washington and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report.
© 2007 The Associated Press
The Associated PressWednesday, March 21, 2007; 8:22 PM
TEHRAN, Iran
Iran's top leader warned Wednesday his country will pursue "illegal actions" if the U.N. Security Council insists it halt uranium enrichment, an apparent reference to nuclear activities outside international regulations.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also warned the United States that Iran would fight back with "all its capacities" if attacked.
"Until today, what we have done has been in accordance with international regulations," Khamenei said. "But if they take illegal actions, we too can take illegal actions and will do so."
He did not elaborate on what the "illegal actions" could be, but Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, the agreement under which the U.N. inspections are held.
Iran says it will never give up its right under the treaty to enrich uranium and produce nuclear fuel. But it has offered to provide guarantees that its nuclear program won't be diverted toward weapons _ as the U.S. and some of its allies fear.
The five permanent members of the Security Council _ the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France _ and Germany have drawn up new sanctions to punish Iran for rejecting U.N. demands to halt enrichment _ a process that can produce fuel for a reactor or fissile material for a nuclear warhead.
"If they want to treat us with threats and enforcement of coercion and violence, undoubtedly they must know that the Iranian nation and authorities will use all their capacities to strike enemies that attack," Khamenei told the nation in an address marking the first day of Nowruz, or the Persian New Year.
Ambassadors from the 15 Security Council nations held informal discussions in New York on Wednesday ahead of a meeting to discuss possible changes to the draft sanctions resolution.
The new sanctions would ban Iranian arms exports and freeze the assets of 28 additional individuals and organizations involved in the country's nuclear and missile programs _ about a third linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, an elite military corps.
The package also calls for voluntary restrictions on travel by the individuals subject to sanctions, on arms sales to Iran, and on new financial assistance or loans to the Iranian government.
In Washington, Bush administration officials urged patience with U.S. efforts to crack down on Iran as Democrats leveled fresh criticism of the government's approach.
"Iran is a country very much on the defensive right now," said R. Nicholas Burns, undersecretary for political affairs at the State Department.
"The United States is committed to pursuing a diplomatic solution to the challenges posed by Iran. This will require patience and persistence," he told the Senate Banking Committee.
The U.S. and France are hoping the new sanctions will be adopted by the end of the week, but that goal seemed complicated. South Africa, which holds the rotating Security Council presidency, has proposed extensive changes to the resolution _ including eliminating the arms embargo _ and a 90-day "time out" on all sanctions.
Although the five council powers remained united on their draft, discussion of South Africa's proposals seemed likely to delay a vote.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country "will not support excessive sanctions against Iran," and added that the draft resolution has been softened at Moscow's behest, including narrower restrictions on officials' travel.
European and U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks said Tuesday that Moscow had bluntly told Tehran it would not ship fuel for the Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran until Tehran freezes its uranium enrichment program.
Lavrov denied that.
"It's not the first time that we are seeing such an unscrupulous approach aimed at driving a wedge between us and Iran," he told lawmakers in the lower house of parliament.
Russia has said plans to supply fuel for Bushehr this month were called off because of Iranian payment.
Still, Burns spoke favorably of Russia's decision, saying it was akin to telling Iran "this won't be business as usual."
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said he will travel to the United Nations if the Security Council decides to vote on sanctions. In his own New Year's address, he accused world's powers of waging "psychological warfare ... to block our nation's progress."
Khamenei said sanctions would backfire and only further motivate Iran to develop nuclear power without outside assistance.
"Sanctions may even, under circumstances, come to our benefit since they create more motivation for us," he said. "Western governments don't agree with Iran possessing nuclear power. Let them. Did we ask anybody permission to achieve nuclear power?"
Iran says it needs alternative energy sources for when its oil reserves run out.
"Nuclear energy is a must, a necessity in the long term," Khamenei said. "One day oil will dry up. ... The Iranian nation needs nuclear energy for life, not weapons."
_____
Associated Press Writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Jeannine Aversa in Washington and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report.
© 2007 The Associated Press
Saturday, March 24, 2007
MAYOR BLOOMBERG
MAYOR BLOOMBERG DEDICATES MDA JERUSALEM STATION IN FATHER'S MEMORY
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, his 98 year-old mother Charlotte Bloomberg, daughter Emma Bloomberg, sister Marjorie Tiven, and NYC officials broke ground for the rebuilding of the Magen David Adom (MDA) Emergency Medical Station in Jerusalem on Thursday, February 1. The Station, which was built in Romema, Jerusalem in 1963 and expanded in the early 1970s, will be named in memory of the Mayor’s father, William H. Bloomberg.
Later in the afternoon, Mayor Bloomberg and his party met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Acting President Dalia Itzik, who thanked him and American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) for undertaking this important project.
Speaking at the morning ceremony, attended by over 200 guests including Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski, Director General of the Ministry of Health Prof. Avi Israeli, AFMDA President Mark Lebow, MDA Director General Eli Bin and Executive Committee Chairman Noam Yifrach, Mayor Bloomberg said, “In Israel, and in New York, supporting the work of our First Responders is one of the most important things we can do. And I feel sure that my father, if he were here today, would agree,” Mayor Bloomberg said. “My father taught me the importance of giving back, and I’ve tried to follow his example and give what I can to those organizations working for the good of all. The MDA – which serves all citizens regardless of religion, creed, or nationality – is definitely one such organization, and I think my father would be very proud to be a part of its work. I’d like to thank the American Friends of Magen David Adom for giving my family this opportunity to make a difference. It gives my sister and me tremendous satisfaction to know that my father’s name – and that of my mother – on a hospital wing at Hadassah Hospital – will live on together in Israel forever.”
“American Friends of Magen David Adom thanks Mayor Michael Bloomberg for taking the lead in helping us to rebuild Israel’s busiest and most important MDA Station and naming it in memory of his beloved father,” said Daniel R. Allen, Executive Vice President of American Friends of Magen David Adom. “Our organization is proud that Mayor Bloomberg has joined with us in this important project.”
The William H. Bloomberg MDA Jerusalem Station will be the “flagship” of Magen David Adom’s network of facilities in Israel, serving the nation’s capital and its largest andmost visited city.
The renovated Station will include new pedestrian walkways, access roads and separate parking levels for automobiles and MDA service vehicles.
The entire main building will be upgraded and public access will be dramatically improved. The entire facility will be handicapped accessible and in compliance with all fire and environmental regulations.
A spacious and comfortable new state-of-the-art Blood Collection Center will feature breathtaking views of the valley below and there will also be a Conference/Reception Hall, Donor Museum, Donor Recognition Wall, Visitors’ Center, Archives, Rooftop Atrium and Observation Deck as well as a garden and ground level patio.
The Terem Clinic, which partners with MDA Jerusalem onprojects although they are not formally affiliated, is an important provider of pre-hospital and clinical care for Jerusalem’s residents. This facility will also be rebuilt and upgraded.
In addition to new quarters for the crews, classrooms, offices and meeting rooms, there will be a new GPS (Global Positioning System) Control Room on the operations and ambulance level to dispatch and manage MDA Jerusalem’s fleet of emergency vehicles.
Additional naming opportunities are also available at the William H. Bloomberg MDA Jerusalem Station.
AFMDA AMBULANCES ON THE WAY!
A shipment of 17 ambulances from American Friends of Magen David Adom arrived in Ashdod, Israel last week. The vehicles, which were built in Elkhart, IN, departed from a U.S. port in early October and are now being outfitted by MDA before being assigned to Emergency Medical Stations throughout Israel.
The standard ambulance, also known as the "Basic Life Support Ambulance" or BLS, is designed to handle non-critical emergency patients that require a relatively low level care. The unit is also generally deployed to transport non-critical patients from one medical location to another. The standard ambulance is also equipped to handle more advanced emergency needs, if necessary..
The “Mobile Intensive Care Unit” or MICU ambulance is an advanced trauma life support unit. This vehicle carries such equipment as a cardio monitoring system, heart defibrillator devices and intubation/exasperation devices. The unit is much larger in size than the standard vehicle. It has the capacity to house in field medicines and a medical staff of a doctor, paramedic and a nurse.
American Friends of Magen David Adom – ARMDI is the authorized organization supporting the life saving efforts of MDA in Israel and representing Magen David Adom in the US. Magen David Adom (MDA) is Israel’s only government-mandated ambulance and emergency medical responders, serving as the nation’s second line of defense with medical, disaster, ambulance and blood services.
Thanks to AFMDA/ARMDI supporters, more than 700 MDA ambulances and Mobile Intensive Care Units are on call 24/7, operating from over 100 Emergency Medical Stations and 11 dispatch stations throughout Israel, logging more than 5.65 million miles and taking care of 600,000 patients annually. MDA also provides 95% of Israel’s blood needs and has launched the MDA Israel Cord Blood Bank.
During the 2006 Lebanon war, MDA was on full alert, responding to more than 1,500 lifesaving incidents, treating 2,600 people, collecting and supplying 32,000 blood units for civilian and military casualties and providing food, water, toys and comfort for Israelis in bomb shelters.
SDEROT: MDA RESPONDS TO QASSAM ATTACKS AS AFMDA BEGINS CONTRUCTION OF NEW STATION
Despite a ceasefire which went into effect at 6 a.m. Sunday morning, November 26, 2006, Magen David Adom remains on high alert in Sderot and throughout the border area with Gaza. More than 70 Qassam rockets have been fired from Gaza at the western Negev since the ceasefire "began," most of which landed in or near Sderot.
Two teenagers were wounded on December 26 when a Qassam slammed into the city while they were walking home from school. Thanks to MDA’s quick response, Adir Basad and Matan Cohen were treated and rushed to Ashkelon’s Barzilai Hospital where a series of emergency operations stabilized Adir and saved Matan from losing his leg.
Work has begun on the new Sderot MDA Emergency Medical Station. The new facility, being built by American Friends of Magen David Adom, will replace the existing structure which has been declared a hazard by the municipality. There is an urgent need to build a new fortified station with thicker walls and reinforced roof due to heightened security concerns arising from the frequent Qassam rocket attacks and constant shelling and mortar rounds from the Gaza Strip.
Sderot lies only a kilometer from the Gaza Strip, and it is a target for constant shelling by mortar bombs and Qassam rockets by Palestinian militants.
The Sderot MDA Emergency Medical Station is the closest Station to the Gaza Strip. It serves the city of Sderot and the surrounding communities, moshavim and kibbutzim. utilizing three Standard and three Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) Ambulances, operated by eight medics (drivers), eight paramedics and 20 volunteers.
More than 200 people have been injured by Qassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip into Sderot and nearby communities during 2006 and the Sderot MDA Station has been on constant high alert throughout the year.
This was more than double the number for the entire 12 months of 2005, when 85 people suffered injuries.
Over the last five years, to date, Qassamim have claimed the lives of 10 residents and Magen David Adom has attended to over 400 injured Israelis.
MDA ADDS HELICOPTERS TO FLEET OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES
Two red and white helicopters, complete with paramedics are scheduled to join Magen David Adom (MDA) and work in coordination with its fleet of ambulances to assist with patient evacuation to hospitals.
MDA ran an EVAC try-out in the early 70’s after an overseas Friends Society donated an Aloette model light helicopter to the organization, but the concept was discarded as MDA could not withstand the high operational costs.
MDA’s Director General, Eli Bin, has wanted to find a way to add a helicopter EVAC unit since he assumed the leadership of the organization.: “The operation of an EVAC unit will upgrade our services, minimize response times and patient transfer to hospitals, and in particular in peripheral areas which are far from municipal hospitals,” Bin said. “These areas have highways with fast moving traffic, no lane barriers and have been the scenes of many severe accidents. There is no other organization with the exception of the air force which can now provide a suitable response, especially during the festival seasons, when there is a marked increase in the number of injured vacationers in the countryside.”
Following a series of discussions which lasted a few months, an agreement was signed by MDA’s leadership and a representative of “Lahak” (a financial investment company), two red and white helicopters bearing the MDA emblem are scheduled to circle the skies with the IDF and police squadrons. To date, the air force has been responsible for the rescue and evacuation of civilians injured in terror attacks and traffic accidents. Air force officials have often stressed that it is not the military’s duty to rescue and evacuate civilians, and that their resources should be used only for the evacuation of soldiers from enemy zones.
According to the agreement, “Lahak” will purchase the helicopters, recruit and employ the pilots and maintain the MDA helicopters. MDA will allocate the paramedics and dispatch services. The paramedics, who received their qualifications in the air force’s rescue unit and have accumulated many hours of experience, will receive further training in helicopter management and special rescue/evacuation skills. The helicopters and equipment used by the EVAC team is the most advanced used worldwide.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, his 98 year-old mother Charlotte Bloomberg, daughter Emma Bloomberg, sister Marjorie Tiven, and NYC officials broke ground for the rebuilding of the Magen David Adom (MDA) Emergency Medical Station in Jerusalem on Thursday, February 1. The Station, which was built in Romema, Jerusalem in 1963 and expanded in the early 1970s, will be named in memory of the Mayor’s father, William H. Bloomberg.
Later in the afternoon, Mayor Bloomberg and his party met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Acting President Dalia Itzik, who thanked him and American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) for undertaking this important project.
Speaking at the morning ceremony, attended by over 200 guests including Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski, Director General of the Ministry of Health Prof. Avi Israeli, AFMDA President Mark Lebow, MDA Director General Eli Bin and Executive Committee Chairman Noam Yifrach, Mayor Bloomberg said, “In Israel, and in New York, supporting the work of our First Responders is one of the most important things we can do. And I feel sure that my father, if he were here today, would agree,” Mayor Bloomberg said. “My father taught me the importance of giving back, and I’ve tried to follow his example and give what I can to those organizations working for the good of all. The MDA – which serves all citizens regardless of religion, creed, or nationality – is definitely one such organization, and I think my father would be very proud to be a part of its work. I’d like to thank the American Friends of Magen David Adom for giving my family this opportunity to make a difference. It gives my sister and me tremendous satisfaction to know that my father’s name – and that of my mother – on a hospital wing at Hadassah Hospital – will live on together in Israel forever.”
“American Friends of Magen David Adom thanks Mayor Michael Bloomberg for taking the lead in helping us to rebuild Israel’s busiest and most important MDA Station and naming it in memory of his beloved father,” said Daniel R. Allen, Executive Vice President of American Friends of Magen David Adom. “Our organization is proud that Mayor Bloomberg has joined with us in this important project.”
The William H. Bloomberg MDA Jerusalem Station will be the “flagship” of Magen David Adom’s network of facilities in Israel, serving the nation’s capital and its largest andmost visited city.
The renovated Station will include new pedestrian walkways, access roads and separate parking levels for automobiles and MDA service vehicles.
The entire main building will be upgraded and public access will be dramatically improved. The entire facility will be handicapped accessible and in compliance with all fire and environmental regulations.
A spacious and comfortable new state-of-the-art Blood Collection Center will feature breathtaking views of the valley below and there will also be a Conference/Reception Hall, Donor Museum, Donor Recognition Wall, Visitors’ Center, Archives, Rooftop Atrium and Observation Deck as well as a garden and ground level patio.
The Terem Clinic, which partners with MDA Jerusalem onprojects although they are not formally affiliated, is an important provider of pre-hospital and clinical care for Jerusalem’s residents. This facility will also be rebuilt and upgraded.
In addition to new quarters for the crews, classrooms, offices and meeting rooms, there will be a new GPS (Global Positioning System) Control Room on the operations and ambulance level to dispatch and manage MDA Jerusalem’s fleet of emergency vehicles.
Additional naming opportunities are also available at the William H. Bloomberg MDA Jerusalem Station.
AFMDA AMBULANCES ON THE WAY!
A shipment of 17 ambulances from American Friends of Magen David Adom arrived in Ashdod, Israel last week. The vehicles, which were built in Elkhart, IN, departed from a U.S. port in early October and are now being outfitted by MDA before being assigned to Emergency Medical Stations throughout Israel.
The standard ambulance, also known as the "Basic Life Support Ambulance" or BLS, is designed to handle non-critical emergency patients that require a relatively low level care. The unit is also generally deployed to transport non-critical patients from one medical location to another. The standard ambulance is also equipped to handle more advanced emergency needs, if necessary..
The “Mobile Intensive Care Unit” or MICU ambulance is an advanced trauma life support unit. This vehicle carries such equipment as a cardio monitoring system, heart defibrillator devices and intubation/exasperation devices. The unit is much larger in size than the standard vehicle. It has the capacity to house in field medicines and a medical staff of a doctor, paramedic and a nurse.
American Friends of Magen David Adom – ARMDI is the authorized organization supporting the life saving efforts of MDA in Israel and representing Magen David Adom in the US. Magen David Adom (MDA) is Israel’s only government-mandated ambulance and emergency medical responders, serving as the nation’s second line of defense with medical, disaster, ambulance and blood services.
Thanks to AFMDA/ARMDI supporters, more than 700 MDA ambulances and Mobile Intensive Care Units are on call 24/7, operating from over 100 Emergency Medical Stations and 11 dispatch stations throughout Israel, logging more than 5.65 million miles and taking care of 600,000 patients annually. MDA also provides 95% of Israel’s blood needs and has launched the MDA Israel Cord Blood Bank.
During the 2006 Lebanon war, MDA was on full alert, responding to more than 1,500 lifesaving incidents, treating 2,600 people, collecting and supplying 32,000 blood units for civilian and military casualties and providing food, water, toys and comfort for Israelis in bomb shelters.
SDEROT: MDA RESPONDS TO QASSAM ATTACKS AS AFMDA BEGINS CONTRUCTION OF NEW STATION
Despite a ceasefire which went into effect at 6 a.m. Sunday morning, November 26, 2006, Magen David Adom remains on high alert in Sderot and throughout the border area with Gaza. More than 70 Qassam rockets have been fired from Gaza at the western Negev since the ceasefire "began," most of which landed in or near Sderot.
Two teenagers were wounded on December 26 when a Qassam slammed into the city while they were walking home from school. Thanks to MDA’s quick response, Adir Basad and Matan Cohen were treated and rushed to Ashkelon’s Barzilai Hospital where a series of emergency operations stabilized Adir and saved Matan from losing his leg.
Work has begun on the new Sderot MDA Emergency Medical Station. The new facility, being built by American Friends of Magen David Adom, will replace the existing structure which has been declared a hazard by the municipality. There is an urgent need to build a new fortified station with thicker walls and reinforced roof due to heightened security concerns arising from the frequent Qassam rocket attacks and constant shelling and mortar rounds from the Gaza Strip.
Sderot lies only a kilometer from the Gaza Strip, and it is a target for constant shelling by mortar bombs and Qassam rockets by Palestinian militants.
The Sderot MDA Emergency Medical Station is the closest Station to the Gaza Strip. It serves the city of Sderot and the surrounding communities, moshavim and kibbutzim. utilizing three Standard and three Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) Ambulances, operated by eight medics (drivers), eight paramedics and 20 volunteers.
More than 200 people have been injured by Qassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip into Sderot and nearby communities during 2006 and the Sderot MDA Station has been on constant high alert throughout the year.
This was more than double the number for the entire 12 months of 2005, when 85 people suffered injuries.
Over the last five years, to date, Qassamim have claimed the lives of 10 residents and Magen David Adom has attended to over 400 injured Israelis.
MDA ADDS HELICOPTERS TO FLEET OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES
Two red and white helicopters, complete with paramedics are scheduled to join Magen David Adom (MDA) and work in coordination with its fleet of ambulances to assist with patient evacuation to hospitals.
MDA ran an EVAC try-out in the early 70’s after an overseas Friends Society donated an Aloette model light helicopter to the organization, but the concept was discarded as MDA could not withstand the high operational costs.
MDA’s Director General, Eli Bin, has wanted to find a way to add a helicopter EVAC unit since he assumed the leadership of the organization.: “The operation of an EVAC unit will upgrade our services, minimize response times and patient transfer to hospitals, and in particular in peripheral areas which are far from municipal hospitals,” Bin said. “These areas have highways with fast moving traffic, no lane barriers and have been the scenes of many severe accidents. There is no other organization with the exception of the air force which can now provide a suitable response, especially during the festival seasons, when there is a marked increase in the number of injured vacationers in the countryside.”
Following a series of discussions which lasted a few months, an agreement was signed by MDA’s leadership and a representative of “Lahak” (a financial investment company), two red and white helicopters bearing the MDA emblem are scheduled to circle the skies with the IDF and police squadrons. To date, the air force has been responsible for the rescue and evacuation of civilians injured in terror attacks and traffic accidents. Air force officials have often stressed that it is not the military’s duty to rescue and evacuate civilians, and that their resources should be used only for the evacuation of soldiers from enemy zones.
According to the agreement, “Lahak” will purchase the helicopters, recruit and employ the pilots and maintain the MDA helicopters. MDA will allocate the paramedics and dispatch services. The paramedics, who received their qualifications in the air force’s rescue unit and have accumulated many hours of experience, will receive further training in helicopter management and special rescue/evacuation skills. The helicopters and equipment used by the EVAC team is the most advanced used worldwide.
The Many Nuances of Sin
R’ Eliyohu Hoffmann
The K'li Yakar says we can glean some enlightening ideas by carefully examining the words the Torah uses when describing different korbanoschatas (sin-offerings).
Towards the end of parshas Vayikra we learn the halachos (laws) of the sin-offering, which was different depending on who sinned – a regular Jew, aking, and the Kohen Gadol (High Priest). Describing the sin of a regular Jew, the Torah says (4:2) When [Ki] a person sins… By a king, it says (4:22) When [Asher] a ruler sins… And with regard to a Kohen Gadol, theTorah writes (4:3) If [Im] the anointed Kohen sins…
All three variations mean essentially the same thing – if or when something occurs – and to a large extent are used interchangeably by theTorah. Still, every word and nuance of the Torah holds untold significance, all the more so here where the Torah uses three different words that all mean the same thing in a very short span describing identical acts.
Mefarshim write, he says, that the three variations of if/when connote three different levels of likelihood: asher is the most likely (this will happen), followed by ki, and then im (if).
By yet another korban, known as the par he'lam davar shel tzibbur (4:13-21 which is brought when the majority of the nation accidentally commits a specific sin due to a mistaken ruling by the Sanhedrin [High Court]), theTorah also begins with im – if, indicating unlikelihood. It is uncommon for such a thing to happen.
Likewise, regarding the sin-offering of the Kohen Gadol, the Torah begins with im. This is the spiritual leader of K'lal Yisrael. His life, by definition, is dedicated to serving Hashem, to which he spends the bulk ofhis time in the Beis Ha-mikdash [the Holy Temple], surrounded by kohanim and levi'im performing the holy service, and steeped in ritual, halacha, and spirituality. That such a person in such an environment would sin (as in offering is brought for inadvertent transgression of a serious matter such as one who mistakenly ate non-kosher meat or forgot it was Shabbos and did work) is surprising (and disturbing) – the Torah rates it as least likely, so to speak.
The sin of the individual, the regular Yid, is more common – it is described with the more likely ki: this will likely happen.
The sin of the king, says the K'li Yakar, begins with asher, when. There is no question, he says, that a person who has been elevated to such a high position will at some point fall prey to the vices of power and arrogance.
By definition, the king was supposed to cast fear among his subjects and serve as a symbol of honor and splendor. His dress, his throne, his position, the endless servants on standby waiting to do his bidding are all meant to give the impression of great pomp and circumstance. To be sure, the Torah warns that the king should bear in mind that the glory is no more than a façade; that within he should remain humbled before his maker and not let his position get to him. Indeed, the king is the only person who must carry a sefer Torah with him at all times, and read fromit, lest his heart be swayed… But the reality is that at some point outward appearances will have an impression on him, and he will sin. (One need only examine the books of the Nevi'im [Prophets] to see that, on the simplest level, even the greatest and most righteous of kings at some point were swayed by the trappings of grandeur and power.)
But there is an anomaly. The Torah returns to the sin of the individual (4:27), and there, instead of the more 'everyday' ki, the Torah uses im – if this will happen, the diction previously reserved for the Kohen Gadol because it implies something unlikely.
The nature of sin is such that while we may at times lose control and commit acts we later regret, it is far more likely for a person to sin in private – when it's between him and Hashem so to speak – than it is for him to sin publically and have to answer for his actions. We know the famous Gemara in which R' Yochanan ben Zakkai told his disciples, "MayHashem grant that your fear of Heaven be akin to your fear of man." But Rebbe, they argued, shouldn't one's fear of G-d be far greater than that of mortals. "True," he answered, "but ha-levai/would it be that you should even reach this level. Look, when the thief steals, what is he thinking? 'I hope no one catches me…'"
The likelihood of sin, the K'li Yakar explains, is directly related to how socially acceptable the sin is, not withstanding whether Hashem condones it or not. It would be intellectually dishonest to say that our moral antennae receive their feedback solely from the Torah and its laws and guidance. We study the Torah, learn its laws, and hopefully internalize them. But then we (subconsciously) start looking around to see how others – members of our community, people we respect, etc. – deal with the same issues. Where we perceive among our peers diligence and scrupulousness, we are bolstered, and recommit ourselves to the task. But where we experience a lack of commitment among others, we subliminally let ourselves believe that this issue/law/custom is in some way not as critical as others. We may not sin on purpose, or even by accident – but were it to occur, our horrification would not be as profound.
The first time the Torah speaks about a person sinning, where it uses ki connoting likelihood, it says When a person sins… The second time, wherethe Torah uses im, if, it says If an individual person from among the people of the land shall sin. 'Individual' in this context means he has done something unusual, he committed a sin that is out-of-the-norm (not that there should be any norm when it comes to sin, but such is the reality).
One moral of this story (there are surely many) is this: We do not live in a vacuum. We are influenced by our society, more so by our community. We likewise assert our influence on them.
It is a struggle, to be sure, but the Torah expects us to receive our moral guidance from its elevated counsel, found in the halls and rooms in which it is studied in its purest form. We cannot always close our eyes to what goes on around us, but if we refract everything we see through its prism, we can attain some level of detachment from the baser elements of daily life and move closer to a Torah-true morality. We must also remember that those around us are constantly influenced in the most subtle ways by our actions, and may be learning and assuming things from us (whether good or bad) we might never have imagined.
Have a good Shabbos.
The K'li Yakar says we can glean some enlightening ideas by carefully examining the words the Torah uses when describing different korbanoschatas (sin-offerings).
Towards the end of parshas Vayikra we learn the halachos (laws) of the sin-offering, which was different depending on who sinned – a regular Jew, aking, and the Kohen Gadol (High Priest). Describing the sin of a regular Jew, the Torah says (4:2) When [Ki] a person sins… By a king, it says (4:22) When [Asher] a ruler sins… And with regard to a Kohen Gadol, theTorah writes (4:3) If [Im] the anointed Kohen sins…
All three variations mean essentially the same thing – if or when something occurs – and to a large extent are used interchangeably by theTorah. Still, every word and nuance of the Torah holds untold significance, all the more so here where the Torah uses three different words that all mean the same thing in a very short span describing identical acts.
Mefarshim write, he says, that the three variations of if/when connote three different levels of likelihood: asher is the most likely (this will happen), followed by ki, and then im (if).
By yet another korban, known as the par he'lam davar shel tzibbur (4:13-21 which is brought when the majority of the nation accidentally commits a specific sin due to a mistaken ruling by the Sanhedrin [High Court]), theTorah also begins with im – if, indicating unlikelihood. It is uncommon for such a thing to happen.
Likewise, regarding the sin-offering of the Kohen Gadol, the Torah begins with im. This is the spiritual leader of K'lal Yisrael. His life, by definition, is dedicated to serving Hashem, to which he spends the bulk ofhis time in the Beis Ha-mikdash [the Holy Temple], surrounded by kohanim and levi'im performing the holy service, and steeped in ritual, halacha, and spirituality. That such a person in such an environment would sin (as in offering is brought for inadvertent transgression of a serious matter such as one who mistakenly ate non-kosher meat or forgot it was Shabbos and did work) is surprising (and disturbing) – the Torah rates it as least likely, so to speak.
The sin of the individual, the regular Yid, is more common – it is described with the more likely ki: this will likely happen.
The sin of the king, says the K'li Yakar, begins with asher, when. There is no question, he says, that a person who has been elevated to such a high position will at some point fall prey to the vices of power and arrogance.
By definition, the king was supposed to cast fear among his subjects and serve as a symbol of honor and splendor. His dress, his throne, his position, the endless servants on standby waiting to do his bidding are all meant to give the impression of great pomp and circumstance. To be sure, the Torah warns that the king should bear in mind that the glory is no more than a façade; that within he should remain humbled before his maker and not let his position get to him. Indeed, the king is the only person who must carry a sefer Torah with him at all times, and read fromit, lest his heart be swayed… But the reality is that at some point outward appearances will have an impression on him, and he will sin. (One need only examine the books of the Nevi'im [Prophets] to see that, on the simplest level, even the greatest and most righteous of kings at some point were swayed by the trappings of grandeur and power.)
But there is an anomaly. The Torah returns to the sin of the individual (4:27), and there, instead of the more 'everyday' ki, the Torah uses im – if this will happen, the diction previously reserved for the Kohen Gadol because it implies something unlikely.
The nature of sin is such that while we may at times lose control and commit acts we later regret, it is far more likely for a person to sin in private – when it's between him and Hashem so to speak – than it is for him to sin publically and have to answer for his actions. We know the famous Gemara in which R' Yochanan ben Zakkai told his disciples, "MayHashem grant that your fear of Heaven be akin to your fear of man." But Rebbe, they argued, shouldn't one's fear of G-d be far greater than that of mortals. "True," he answered, "but ha-levai/would it be that you should even reach this level. Look, when the thief steals, what is he thinking? 'I hope no one catches me…'"
The likelihood of sin, the K'li Yakar explains, is directly related to how socially acceptable the sin is, not withstanding whether Hashem condones it or not. It would be intellectually dishonest to say that our moral antennae receive their feedback solely from the Torah and its laws and guidance. We study the Torah, learn its laws, and hopefully internalize them. But then we (subconsciously) start looking around to see how others – members of our community, people we respect, etc. – deal with the same issues. Where we perceive among our peers diligence and scrupulousness, we are bolstered, and recommit ourselves to the task. But where we experience a lack of commitment among others, we subliminally let ourselves believe that this issue/law/custom is in some way not as critical as others. We may not sin on purpose, or even by accident – but were it to occur, our horrification would not be as profound.
The first time the Torah speaks about a person sinning, where it uses ki connoting likelihood, it says When a person sins… The second time, wherethe Torah uses im, if, it says If an individual person from among the people of the land shall sin. 'Individual' in this context means he has done something unusual, he committed a sin that is out-of-the-norm (not that there should be any norm when it comes to sin, but such is the reality).
One moral of this story (there are surely many) is this: We do not live in a vacuum. We are influenced by our society, more so by our community. We likewise assert our influence on them.
It is a struggle, to be sure, but the Torah expects us to receive our moral guidance from its elevated counsel, found in the halls and rooms in which it is studied in its purest form. We cannot always close our eyes to what goes on around us, but if we refract everything we see through its prism, we can attain some level of detachment from the baser elements of daily life and move closer to a Torah-true morality. We must also remember that those around us are constantly influenced in the most subtle ways by our actions, and may be learning and assuming things from us (whether good or bad) we might never have imagined.
Have a good Shabbos.
Friday, March 23, 2007
D-us de Israel
Recordando cómo fue hallado el nombre único y sagrado del Dios de Israel: "IEVE"
Con gusto les informo al respecto, sobre el nombre "IEVE", que es la voz única del nombre del Dios de Israel en el Hebreo Arcaico, pero ahora hay muchas traducciones en varias lenguas de la Biblia, y son nombres extraños, ya que no es Hebrea la voz del nombre que actualmente se lee y enseña.
Por ejemplo antes se usaba el sustituto del nombre y los primeros que lo hicieron fueron los mismos rabinos de la masora, y ellos en hebreo escribieron Adonaí, ya que el nombre en sí era impronunciable y la misma LEY lo autoriza: el no alzar el nombre vanamente; en griego era KYRIOS; y era en latín DOMINVS; en inglés era LORD; en español era SEÑOR; en kechua es SEÑORPA;
Y todos estos sustitutos no son el nombre del Dios de Israel, su nombre es uno solo, y fue dada en lengua Hebrea Arcaica y no en el hebreo moderno, que es lengua profana, ya no es sagrada.
Miren, lean Ezequiel 36:20-28, ahí explica quién por primera vez PROFANÓ su nombre, y luego en las naciones fue dado a conocer este sustituto del nombre en sus propias lenguas extrañas de las naciones como han visto.
Entonces, ¿ cuál es el nombre propio del Dios de Israel? La palabra Señor es un título, no es su nombre; recuerda que el Mesías dijo: buscad el Reino y su Justicia...y bien para que venga el Reino a nosotros, tenemos que santificar su Nombre, ¿no es así?
Muchos creen que Jehová es el nombre de Dios para los evangélicos, como también Yavé para los católicos; y lo cierto es que estos nombres provienen de la traducción en inglés de JEHOVAH y de YAHWEH.
Por lo tanto el nombre español JEHOVÁ es un derivado del nombre en inglés JEHOVAH. Y este nombre JEHOVAH se derivó del nombre traducido por el inglés WILLIAM TYNDALE, y él tradujo este tetragrama profanado en el año 1530 y resultó este nombre en inglés de aquel año como IEHOUAH. Para después cambiar la U por la V, y resultó este nombre posterior IEHOVAH.
Si miran bien, no se usaba antes la letra 'J', se usaba la 'I' latina, hasta los artista simplificaron el texto de la cruz, no pintaron tal como dice en Juan 19:19,20, ellos lo simplificaron con las iniciales del texto escrito en latín, y resultó esto 'INRI', y otros lo pintaron con puntos 'I.N.R.I.' Vemos pues que no se usaba la 'J'.
Eso es con respecto a la primera letra del nombre sagrado del Dios de Israel, la tercera letra es la 'V', nunca fue 'W', ni 'U', ya que su voz es inglesa y es incorrecta, ellos le dice doble U, pero nosotros de habla castellana pronuncianos Ve doble o doble Ve.
La segunda letra del nombre es la letra inglesa 'H', pero aquí es otra la razón del error, recuerden que en inglés la letra 'E' su voz de lectura es 'i' y no es 'e' en inglés. Ante esta dificultad, qué hicieron los anglosajones ya que no tenían la voz de la 'E', y la 'E' final en inglés es muda. Simplemente, tomaron la letra griega llamada 'ETA' que equivale a una 'E' larga , ya que existe otra 'E' griega llamada Epsilon, que es una 'E' breve. Y bien la letra 'ETA' se escribe así 'H'. Por eso en inglés se lee esta letra 'H' como éich, y es una 'E'.
Pero en español y en latín esta misma letra 'H' es muda. Por eso en español el nombre JEHOVÁ, se le ha quitado la letra 'H' ya que es muda. Pero en inglés no se puede quitar y lo escriben así JEHOVAH y se lee sin tilde.
De toda esta explicación se llega a que su nombre era este: "IEVE", por lo tanto el Dios de Israel ya vino a la tierra y está sobre ella en el aire, y han venido los dos el Padre y el Hijo, pueden leer Juan 14:21-26, en especial el 23.
Por eso se ve mucha agitación en los elementos que está en contra de su creación, y muchos gobernantes preocupados por lo que ven, muchas destrucciones y no pueden evitar la muerte de sus ciudadanos; y no podrán entender que el sistema o el mundo lo gobierna Satanás y sus demonios, y la única manera para que sean quitados estos espíritus malignos, es que falta que su nombre "IEVE" sea santificado ante todas las naciones y ante Israel, y así sea establecido y reconocido en ese día como el gran día del Dios de Israel, y su nombre será uno solo, ver Zacarías 14:9. y él comienza a gobernar ya que el mundo que él creó vuelve a su poder y él reinará sobre ella, ver Revelación 11:15-19.
IEV'KevVeL
23-Marzo-2007
Con gusto les informo al respecto, sobre el nombre "IEVE", que es la voz única del nombre del Dios de Israel en el Hebreo Arcaico, pero ahora hay muchas traducciones en varias lenguas de la Biblia, y son nombres extraños, ya que no es Hebrea la voz del nombre que actualmente se lee y enseña.
Por ejemplo antes se usaba el sustituto del nombre y los primeros que lo hicieron fueron los mismos rabinos de la masora, y ellos en hebreo escribieron Adonaí, ya que el nombre en sí era impronunciable y la misma LEY lo autoriza: el no alzar el nombre vanamente; en griego era KYRIOS; y era en latín DOMINVS; en inglés era LORD; en español era SEÑOR; en kechua es SEÑORPA;
Y todos estos sustitutos no son el nombre del Dios de Israel, su nombre es uno solo, y fue dada en lengua Hebrea Arcaica y no en el hebreo moderno, que es lengua profana, ya no es sagrada.
Miren, lean Ezequiel 36:20-28, ahí explica quién por primera vez PROFANÓ su nombre, y luego en las naciones fue dado a conocer este sustituto del nombre en sus propias lenguas extrañas de las naciones como han visto.
Entonces, ¿ cuál es el nombre propio del Dios de Israel? La palabra Señor es un título, no es su nombre; recuerda que el Mesías dijo: buscad el Reino y su Justicia...y bien para que venga el Reino a nosotros, tenemos que santificar su Nombre, ¿no es así?
Muchos creen que Jehová es el nombre de Dios para los evangélicos, como también Yavé para los católicos; y lo cierto es que estos nombres provienen de la traducción en inglés de JEHOVAH y de YAHWEH.
Por lo tanto el nombre español JEHOVÁ es un derivado del nombre en inglés JEHOVAH. Y este nombre JEHOVAH se derivó del nombre traducido por el inglés WILLIAM TYNDALE, y él tradujo este tetragrama profanado en el año 1530 y resultó este nombre en inglés de aquel año como IEHOUAH. Para después cambiar la U por la V, y resultó este nombre posterior IEHOVAH.
Si miran bien, no se usaba antes la letra 'J', se usaba la 'I' latina, hasta los artista simplificaron el texto de la cruz, no pintaron tal como dice en Juan 19:19,20, ellos lo simplificaron con las iniciales del texto escrito en latín, y resultó esto 'INRI', y otros lo pintaron con puntos 'I.N.R.I.' Vemos pues que no se usaba la 'J'.
Eso es con respecto a la primera letra del nombre sagrado del Dios de Israel, la tercera letra es la 'V', nunca fue 'W', ni 'U', ya que su voz es inglesa y es incorrecta, ellos le dice doble U, pero nosotros de habla castellana pronuncianos Ve doble o doble Ve.
La segunda letra del nombre es la letra inglesa 'H', pero aquí es otra la razón del error, recuerden que en inglés la letra 'E' su voz de lectura es 'i' y no es 'e' en inglés. Ante esta dificultad, qué hicieron los anglosajones ya que no tenían la voz de la 'E', y la 'E' final en inglés es muda. Simplemente, tomaron la letra griega llamada 'ETA' que equivale a una 'E' larga , ya que existe otra 'E' griega llamada Epsilon, que es una 'E' breve. Y bien la letra 'ETA' se escribe así 'H'. Por eso en inglés se lee esta letra 'H' como éich, y es una 'E'.
Pero en español y en latín esta misma letra 'H' es muda. Por eso en español el nombre JEHOVÁ, se le ha quitado la letra 'H' ya que es muda. Pero en inglés no se puede quitar y lo escriben así JEHOVAH y se lee sin tilde.
De toda esta explicación se llega a que su nombre era este: "IEVE", por lo tanto el Dios de Israel ya vino a la tierra y está sobre ella en el aire, y han venido los dos el Padre y el Hijo, pueden leer Juan 14:21-26, en especial el 23.
Por eso se ve mucha agitación en los elementos que está en contra de su creación, y muchos gobernantes preocupados por lo que ven, muchas destrucciones y no pueden evitar la muerte de sus ciudadanos; y no podrán entender que el sistema o el mundo lo gobierna Satanás y sus demonios, y la única manera para que sean quitados estos espíritus malignos, es que falta que su nombre "IEVE" sea santificado ante todas las naciones y ante Israel, y así sea establecido y reconocido en ese día como el gran día del Dios de Israel, y su nombre será uno solo, ver Zacarías 14:9. y él comienza a gobernar ya que el mundo que él creó vuelve a su poder y él reinará sobre ella, ver Revelación 11:15-19.
IEV'KevVeL
23-Marzo-2007
The Life of a "Moshe" Never Ends
Rabino Yissocher Frand
The opening pasuk [verse] of Sefer Vayikra says: "He called to Moshe andHashem spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting Saying" [Vayikra 1:1]. TheMedrash says that Moshe had ten different names (including Yered, Avigdor,Yekusiel, Chaver, Tuvya, and others). The Medrash quotes Hashem as saying,despite the fact that Moshe had many names, He would only address him bythe name given to him by Basya, daughter of Pharaoh, as it is written "Shecalled his name Moshe, and she said 'for I drew him from the water.'"[Shmos 1:10]
The Shemen HaTov asks why the Medrash makes this observation now. This isnot the first place in the Torah that G-d addresses Moshe. At their firstencounter by the Burning Bush, Hashem already used the name: "...and G-dcalled out to him from amid the bush and said, 'Moshe, Moshe' and hereplied 'Here I am.'" [Shmos 3:4]
The Shemen HaTov answers his question by quoting a Seforno. The Sefornopoints out that technically, Moshe Rabbeinu's name should not have beenMoshe. Grammatically speaking, according to what Pharaoh's daughter wastrying to commemorate, his name should have been Mashuee [the one who wasdrawn out]. The meaning of the word Moshe (if we are to interpret it basedon its verb origins) is the one who draws OTHERS out!
The Seforno infers that the Torah is sending a message: Since Moshe wassaved from the water, he had a moral obligation to draw others out as well-– to be a Moshe! Basya called him Moshe as a mandate to him to saveothers. This is indeed what he did. He could have lived in the lap ofluxury in the house of Pharaoh, but he went out and saved his brethren.Why? "Because my name is Moshe. I am one who has to save others as well."
The Shemen HaTov elaborates: At this point, Moshe might have thought thathe already fulfilled his life's mission. He took the Jews out of Egypt. Hebrought them across the Red Sea. He endured the Sin of the Golden Calf,saving them from G-d's wrath at that time. He completed the erection ofthe Mishkan. He might have argued, "I have done enough!" One would thinkthat at the beginning of Parshas Vayikra, Moshe Rabbeinu could alreadyrest on his laurels and take a breather.
That is why it is precisely at this point that the Medrash comments: "No.The career of a 'Moshe' never ends." If a person is a "Mashuee" [one savedmiraculously from destruction], he must transform himself into a "Moshe"and he must indeed remain a "Moshe" for the rest of his life.
The opening pasuk [verse] of Sefer Vayikra says: "He called to Moshe andHashem spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting Saying" [Vayikra 1:1]. TheMedrash says that Moshe had ten different names (including Yered, Avigdor,Yekusiel, Chaver, Tuvya, and others). The Medrash quotes Hashem as saying,despite the fact that Moshe had many names, He would only address him bythe name given to him by Basya, daughter of Pharaoh, as it is written "Shecalled his name Moshe, and she said 'for I drew him from the water.'"[Shmos 1:10]
The Shemen HaTov asks why the Medrash makes this observation now. This isnot the first place in the Torah that G-d addresses Moshe. At their firstencounter by the Burning Bush, Hashem already used the name: "...and G-dcalled out to him from amid the bush and said, 'Moshe, Moshe' and hereplied 'Here I am.'" [Shmos 3:4]
The Shemen HaTov answers his question by quoting a Seforno. The Sefornopoints out that technically, Moshe Rabbeinu's name should not have beenMoshe. Grammatically speaking, according to what Pharaoh's daughter wastrying to commemorate, his name should have been Mashuee [the one who wasdrawn out]. The meaning of the word Moshe (if we are to interpret it basedon its verb origins) is the one who draws OTHERS out!
The Seforno infers that the Torah is sending a message: Since Moshe wassaved from the water, he had a moral obligation to draw others out as well-– to be a Moshe! Basya called him Moshe as a mandate to him to saveothers. This is indeed what he did. He could have lived in the lap ofluxury in the house of Pharaoh, but he went out and saved his brethren.Why? "Because my name is Moshe. I am one who has to save others as well."
The Shemen HaTov elaborates: At this point, Moshe might have thought thathe already fulfilled his life's mission. He took the Jews out of Egypt. Hebrought them across the Red Sea. He endured the Sin of the Golden Calf,saving them from G-d's wrath at that time. He completed the erection ofthe Mishkan. He might have argued, "I have done enough!" One would thinkthat at the beginning of Parshas Vayikra, Moshe Rabbeinu could alreadyrest on his laurels and take a breather.
That is why it is precisely at this point that the Medrash comments: "No.The career of a 'Moshe' never ends." If a person is a "Mashuee" [one savedmiraculously from destruction], he must transform himself into a "Moshe"and he must indeed remain a "Moshe" for the rest of his life.
VAYIKRA
Parsha Vayikra / 4 Nisan 5767 / 23 March 2007
Rabino Berel Wein
The Chumash of Vayikra, which we begin reading this Shabat, is probably the most difficult and esoteric of all of the five books of the Torah. It is long on ritual detail, especially of the laws of the sacrifices in theMishkan and later in the Temple in Jerusalem and of the laws regarding purity and defilement. It is very short on narrative, though it does contain a large number of the actual mitzvoth of the Torah, especially inthe latter part of the book.
Because of its construction and its difficult content, it seems to behardly a likely candidate for the initial introductory lesson to Torah tobe taught to young children. There is none of the “story” appeal that Bereshith, Shemot and Bamidbar have within them, nor is there the soaring historical and moral essay of Torah that Devarim represents in its words and content. Yet, the Jewish tradition throughout the ages was to start a child’s education in Torah by teaching the book of Vayikra.
In the words of the rabbis, “Let the holy, young and still innocent children of Israel come to begin their education by studying the book of Vayikra, the book of holiness and sanctity.” Though this is the tradition, there has been a tendency in our times to no longer follow this rabbinic advice and to use Bereshith as the introductory conduit to the splendid and wondrous world of Torah for beginning students.
Be that as it may, the mere idea of using Vayikra for that purpose bears note and comment. After all, the rabbis of the Talmud and Midrash were superb educators, so what were they thinking of when they made that recommendation regarding beginning study of Torah with the book of Vayikra? What does the subject of ritual holiness have to do with knowledge and the real world?
In our modern day world, holiness is not a popular subject for discussion. Since there is almost nothing that is profane or unholy in our world where “everything goes” and every type of human and social aberration is condoned if not even encouraged, naturally there is no room for a discussion of purity of body and mind and holiness of behavior and soul.
The rabbis of old who lived in the Classical Era of Greco-Roman thought, mores and culture were well aware of the disappearance of holiness and purity from civilized society. They therefore insisted that the first lesson that a Jewish child learns should be of the presence and necessity of holiness in the world of the individual and society.
In the havdala service, we emphasize the difference between the holy and the profane, the noble and the tawdry. Rabbi Meir Shapiro ruefully remarked in the 1920’s that American Jewry “knows how to make Kiddush but forgot about havdala.” Moral behavior stems from a realization of the innate holiness that life itself represents.
All of the stories of our people, of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs of Israel, of the Exodus from Egypt, even of the revelation and granting ofthe Torah on Sinai, will be of little avail in helping Israel survive if they are not grounded in a sense of holiness and purity – both nationa land personal. And, we must reinforce this and make moral behavior the practical way to behave in a world that has lost much of its moorings. So let us listen and pay attention to what Vayikra has to say to us.
Shabat shalom.
Rabbi Berel Wein
Rabino Berel Wein- Jewish historian, author
Jerusalem Post – 24 March 2007 / 5 Nisan 5767
GETTING READY
The rabbis of the Talmud placed great emphasis upon proper preparation forgood deeds. The Talmud uses the phrase hazmana milta – preparation is most important. This is undoubtedly a great idea in all areas of life. Being prepared is the watchword of the military and hopefully of the civilian areas of governmental responsibility.
In Judaism all of life is viewed as being a series of stages of preparation. The rabbis in Avot characterized this world and our mortal lives as being the “foyer” of the palace and the World to Come, the eternal world of our souls, as being the palace itself. They admonished us to prepare ourselves in the foyer in order to gain proper admittance to the palace itself. So preparation is undoubtedly one of the key traits of Judaism.
Preparation comes in many different forms and shapes. The holiday of Pesach which is almost upon us requires a great deal of physical preparation, more so perhaps than any other holiday on the Jewish calendar. Cleaning the house, removing the chametz, baking the matzot, making arrangements for ourselves and our families where and how to spend the holiday, koshering utensils and silver, and somehow paying for all of this constitutes much of our physical preparation for this glorious holiday.
The hurrying bustle that always precedes Pesach is palpably presental ready. But Jewish tradition always demanded a spiritual preparation as well. Not only do we need to have clean houses and apartments, we are alsoto have clean souls and minds, a clarity of vision and a strong sense of holy purpose. It is far easier to remove the physical chametz from our homes than to dislodge the spiritual chametz that infects our souls,personalities and behavior. Whereas the removal of physical chametz and physical preparation for Pesach requires hustle and bustle, strain and expense, exertion and many times frustration and impatience, the removal of spiritual chametz demands quietude, contemplation, concentration and a good deal of tenacity and patience. There really is no shortcut to becoming a truly free person, in the highest Jewishly spiritual sense ofthe word. Intense preparation is required in order to achieve that goal. I have always felt that preparation for spiritual freedom asks of us to consider the following basic questions that should nag us all: What is the purpose of human life in this world? And, what do I do to achieve that purpose once I decide what that purpose is? The Mesillat Yesharim, that prime work of Jewish morality, ethics and philosophy authored by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzatto (eighteenth century Italy, Holland and Israel) addresses these questions.
The book clearly expounds the traditional Jewish view of life as having the purpose of service to God and humans. And it outlines in great detail the steps one must take to climb the spiritual ladder of holy purpose and ultimate freedom. Many Jews study this work in the month of Elul as an introduction to the spirit and awe of the High Holy Days.
Again, I have always thought that its study should also precede the holiday of Pesach for it outlines for us the ultimate methods for eliminating our spiritual chametz from our midst. We do ourselves a great disservice if we arrive at the Pesach Seder table in a state of spiritual unpreparedness.
Sometimes we are so physically exhausted by our physical exertions before Pesach that we actually doze off at the Seder. Sleeping through the Sederin a spiritual sense, being unprepared and cold off the street will never create within us the requisite feeling of freedom that Pesach is meant to create.
In our world of constant sound and background noise, it is difficult to find time and place for personal contemplation. Great effort is requiredto carve out a place for one’s own self-development and spiritual growth. The words in Yiddish were that “one must work upon on one’s self.” The word “work” in that phrase is by no means accidental.
Getting prepared properly for the holiday of Pesach is no mean feat. In the Hagada we speak of our “[physical] redemption and of also redeeming our hearts and souls.” It is this two-fold redemption that Pesach represents that makes it such a meaningful and important holiday. The preparation for Pesach must therefore of necessity also be a two-fold one.
Being half-prepared unfortunately equals being unprepared. As facing atest in school knowing that one is prepared for the exam creates within the student a feeling of self-confidence, so too does being properly prepared for Pesach create within us the sense of true freedom and holy mission.
Shabat shalom.
Rabino Berel Wein
The Chumash of Vayikra, which we begin reading this Shabat, is probably the most difficult and esoteric of all of the five books of the Torah. It is long on ritual detail, especially of the laws of the sacrifices in theMishkan and later in the Temple in Jerusalem and of the laws regarding purity and defilement. It is very short on narrative, though it does contain a large number of the actual mitzvoth of the Torah, especially inthe latter part of the book.
Because of its construction and its difficult content, it seems to behardly a likely candidate for the initial introductory lesson to Torah tobe taught to young children. There is none of the “story” appeal that Bereshith, Shemot and Bamidbar have within them, nor is there the soaring historical and moral essay of Torah that Devarim represents in its words and content. Yet, the Jewish tradition throughout the ages was to start a child’s education in Torah by teaching the book of Vayikra.
In the words of the rabbis, “Let the holy, young and still innocent children of Israel come to begin their education by studying the book of Vayikra, the book of holiness and sanctity.” Though this is the tradition, there has been a tendency in our times to no longer follow this rabbinic advice and to use Bereshith as the introductory conduit to the splendid and wondrous world of Torah for beginning students.
Be that as it may, the mere idea of using Vayikra for that purpose bears note and comment. After all, the rabbis of the Talmud and Midrash were superb educators, so what were they thinking of when they made that recommendation regarding beginning study of Torah with the book of Vayikra? What does the subject of ritual holiness have to do with knowledge and the real world?
In our modern day world, holiness is not a popular subject for discussion. Since there is almost nothing that is profane or unholy in our world where “everything goes” and every type of human and social aberration is condoned if not even encouraged, naturally there is no room for a discussion of purity of body and mind and holiness of behavior and soul.
The rabbis of old who lived in the Classical Era of Greco-Roman thought, mores and culture were well aware of the disappearance of holiness and purity from civilized society. They therefore insisted that the first lesson that a Jewish child learns should be of the presence and necessity of holiness in the world of the individual and society.
In the havdala service, we emphasize the difference between the holy and the profane, the noble and the tawdry. Rabbi Meir Shapiro ruefully remarked in the 1920’s that American Jewry “knows how to make Kiddush but forgot about havdala.” Moral behavior stems from a realization of the innate holiness that life itself represents.
All of the stories of our people, of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs of Israel, of the Exodus from Egypt, even of the revelation and granting ofthe Torah on Sinai, will be of little avail in helping Israel survive if they are not grounded in a sense of holiness and purity – both nationa land personal. And, we must reinforce this and make moral behavior the practical way to behave in a world that has lost much of its moorings. So let us listen and pay attention to what Vayikra has to say to us.
Shabat shalom.
Rabbi Berel Wein
Rabino Berel Wein- Jewish historian, author
Jerusalem Post – 24 March 2007 / 5 Nisan 5767
GETTING READY
The rabbis of the Talmud placed great emphasis upon proper preparation forgood deeds. The Talmud uses the phrase hazmana milta – preparation is most important. This is undoubtedly a great idea in all areas of life. Being prepared is the watchword of the military and hopefully of the civilian areas of governmental responsibility.
In Judaism all of life is viewed as being a series of stages of preparation. The rabbis in Avot characterized this world and our mortal lives as being the “foyer” of the palace and the World to Come, the eternal world of our souls, as being the palace itself. They admonished us to prepare ourselves in the foyer in order to gain proper admittance to the palace itself. So preparation is undoubtedly one of the key traits of Judaism.
Preparation comes in many different forms and shapes. The holiday of Pesach which is almost upon us requires a great deal of physical preparation, more so perhaps than any other holiday on the Jewish calendar. Cleaning the house, removing the chametz, baking the matzot, making arrangements for ourselves and our families where and how to spend the holiday, koshering utensils and silver, and somehow paying for all of this constitutes much of our physical preparation for this glorious holiday.
The hurrying bustle that always precedes Pesach is palpably presental ready. But Jewish tradition always demanded a spiritual preparation as well. Not only do we need to have clean houses and apartments, we are alsoto have clean souls and minds, a clarity of vision and a strong sense of holy purpose. It is far easier to remove the physical chametz from our homes than to dislodge the spiritual chametz that infects our souls,personalities and behavior. Whereas the removal of physical chametz and physical preparation for Pesach requires hustle and bustle, strain and expense, exertion and many times frustration and impatience, the removal of spiritual chametz demands quietude, contemplation, concentration and a good deal of tenacity and patience. There really is no shortcut to becoming a truly free person, in the highest Jewishly spiritual sense ofthe word. Intense preparation is required in order to achieve that goal. I have always felt that preparation for spiritual freedom asks of us to consider the following basic questions that should nag us all: What is the purpose of human life in this world? And, what do I do to achieve that purpose once I decide what that purpose is? The Mesillat Yesharim, that prime work of Jewish morality, ethics and philosophy authored by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzatto (eighteenth century Italy, Holland and Israel) addresses these questions.
The book clearly expounds the traditional Jewish view of life as having the purpose of service to God and humans. And it outlines in great detail the steps one must take to climb the spiritual ladder of holy purpose and ultimate freedom. Many Jews study this work in the month of Elul as an introduction to the spirit and awe of the High Holy Days.
Again, I have always thought that its study should also precede the holiday of Pesach for it outlines for us the ultimate methods for eliminating our spiritual chametz from our midst. We do ourselves a great disservice if we arrive at the Pesach Seder table in a state of spiritual unpreparedness.
Sometimes we are so physically exhausted by our physical exertions before Pesach that we actually doze off at the Seder. Sleeping through the Sederin a spiritual sense, being unprepared and cold off the street will never create within us the requisite feeling of freedom that Pesach is meant to create.
In our world of constant sound and background noise, it is difficult to find time and place for personal contemplation. Great effort is requiredto carve out a place for one’s own self-development and spiritual growth. The words in Yiddish were that “one must work upon on one’s self.” The word “work” in that phrase is by no means accidental.
Getting prepared properly for the holiday of Pesach is no mean feat. In the Hagada we speak of our “[physical] redemption and of also redeeming our hearts and souls.” It is this two-fold redemption that Pesach represents that makes it such a meaningful and important holiday. The preparation for Pesach must therefore of necessity also be a two-fold one.
Being half-prepared unfortunately equals being unprepared. As facing atest in school knowing that one is prepared for the exam creates within the student a feeling of self-confidence, so too does being properly prepared for Pesach create within us the sense of true freedom and holy mission.
Shabat shalom.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
LIKPESHAT Archives
Subject: Parashas
-Likutei PeshatimParashas PinchasInternet Edition Vol. 17 No. 41July 17, 2003
The Internet edition is sponsored by Rabbi and Mrs. Avraham Isenberg.Prepared by the faculty, Kollel, and student body of:Hebrew Theological College7135 N. Carpenter Road, Skokie, IL 60077Under the direction of Rabbi Ben-Zion Rand, Editor.
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Copyright 2001, Hebrew Theological College.
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"Therefore say: 'Behold! I give him My covenant of peace.' "BeMidbar 25:12The significance of the command to Moshe of "emor" - "go and inform Pinchasof receiving his covenant" - is that Moshe himself was instructed to tellPinchas of his reward. What do we learn from this?The father-in-law of the Netzi"v, Rabbi Itzele of Volozhin, provides aparable to illustrate. An officer of the king was appointed to his positiondirectly by the king. The king trusted him and consulted with him for everymilitary matter. Unfortunately, one day troubles arose, but the officer wasunable to extricate himself and his soldiers from danger. Suddenly, though,a brave warrior stepped out from among the ranks. He took matters into hisown hands and everyone was saved. The king wanted to recognize the heroicsof the soldier who saved everyone, but at the same time he was concernedthat the general be reprimanded for his inability to respond appropriatelyto the challenges of the moment. What did the king do? He arranged thatthe brave and wise soldier receive his reward from the king via the generalunder whose command he served. In this manner, the soldier was rewarded,and with just the proper amount of disciplinary response, the generalsuffered a bit of diminution of his honor.Similarly, Moshe was unable to respond to the crisis which arose when Zimrichallenged him and created a public desecration of the name of Hashem. Thiscaused a very dangerous condition which threatened the Jewish people, and,in fact, thousands of people died due to the plague which ensued. Pinchasrose to the occasion and guarded the honor of Heaven, and for that he wasespecially deserving of reward. Moshe was instructed to present Pinchaswith his honor personally, to recognize Pinchas's achievement as well as toserve as a sign of chagrin regarding Moshe's lack of action in thesecircumstances.
Ha'amek Davar
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"And it shall be for him and for his offspring after him a covenant ofeternal priesthood, because he took vengeance for his G-d and he atonedfor Bnei Yisrael."BeMidbar 25:13A king was informed about a distant province in his empire which hadrebelled and appointed its own ruler, independent of the king. The kingimmediately called two of his trusted military experts to head a legion ofsoldiers to quell the uprising. The king also requested that the officersreport back to him and inform him as to what measures were taken to put downthe rebellion.The messengers of the king were in fact successful, and when they returnedthey came to tell the king about their mission. The king wisely asked eachof them to enter by himself and report to him, as the king wanted to comparetheir versions and detailed accounts in order to develop a balancedimpression of the events that transpired.The first general began his story. "Your majesty has no idea just howdifficult things were when we arrived. The city was in an uproar. Theroyal troops in the area were being overcome. The rebels were well armed,and the leaders had secured most of the strategic positions in the city. Iencouraged our troops not to go down in defeat, and we fought a toughbattle, until we were finally successful. We, of course, had no choiceother than to kill the leader of the rebels, but now the king can restassured that this city will remain under his complete control."The king waspleased, and he placed a silver medal upon the shoulders of his loyaladvisor. He then invited the second general to enter and provide hisaccount of all that had occured."The truth is," he began, "that the intelligence which the king originallyreceived was apparently a bit overstated. When we arrived at the city whichwas reportedly rebelling, we found things totally tranquil and peaceful.The residents were living in harmony, and with admiration for the king, withthe exception of one wild fellow who tried to conspire against the king. Hewas immediately arrested, and when we arrived, things were totally undercontrol. We did not even have to draw our swords out of the sheathes!"The king understood the report he had now heard, and he rose up to kiss thegeneral on the head and presented him with a gold medal filled with preciousjewels. The king realized that, in fact, the first report was moreaccurate. However, the second general was protecting the subjects of thatprovince so that the king would not have to punish them. Even at theexpense of his own honor, this man had diminished his own role in order toprotect the king and his subjects from further turmoil. The kingappreciated this, and he rewarded the man for his concern.When Pinchas acted with zealous spontaneity, he nevertheless displayed animpressive degree of restraint. The attitude of one who acts with religiouszeal is that he often seeks to have those whom he opposes be punishedseverely. Although Pinchas stopped the sinners in their tracks, heimmediately prayed for mercy and atonement for the others. His true naturewas similar to that of his grandfather, Aharon HaKohen, who pursued peace,and his decisive actions against those who sinned was a momentary exceptionneeded to protect the honor of Heaven. However, because his true motiveswere for peace and harmony, his zeal did not lead to any further violence.The verse therefore attests to the genuine objectives of Pinchas, as itdeclares that although "he zealously took up Hashem's cause", nevertheless,"he made atonement for the Israelites". Therefore, his reward wasappropriately "a covenant of eternal priesthood", a position of peace andharmony between Hashem and His cherished people.Pekudas Elazar
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"And Moshe brought their cause before G-d."BeMidbar 27:5The law was concealed from him. Here he was punished for having taken acrown (for assuming authority), when he said (Devarim 1:17): "And the matterthat is too difficult for you, you should bring to me." -- Rashi, fromSanhedrin 8aWhat is the connection between Moshe's once having spoken in a manner thatwas deemed to be too presumptuous and his having this law elude him? Oneissue relates to character, while the other is a matter of knowledge. Evenif he was faulted for having spoken with a degree of contempt, which wasunacceptable for a person of his stature, this does not seem to relate tohis inability to know the ruling in the case of the inheritance of thedaughters of Tzlafchad.The study of Torah is fundamentally different from the pursuit of any otherarea of knowledge. In general, once someone studies and masters a subject,he knows the information. However, the study of Torah differs in that everytime a person sits down to learn, he needs special assistance from theHeavens that he should not forget that which he learns. As the Gemarareports (Megilla 6b): "To retain one's learning, one is dependent uponassistance from the Heavens." Consequently, when a person's personality isflawed, and specifically in the area of haughtiness, he loses his merits andheavenly support and is subject to forgetting his learning.This lesson applies even in the case of someone as great as Moshe Rabbeinu.As a consequence of his having spoken in an inappropriate manner, thehalacha eluded him. His proficiency in Torah was affected by this minuteelement of haughtiness which crept into his speech.
Zichron Meir
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"And G-d said to Moshe: 'Take for yourself Yehoshua the son of Nun, a man inwhom there is spirit, and lay your hand upon him.' "BeMidbar 27:18Yehoshua served you much and showed you great honor. It was he who roseearly in the morning and remained late at night at your House of Assembly.He used to arrange the benches and spread the mats. Since he has served youwith all his might, he is worthy to serve Israel, for he shall not lose hisreward. -- BeMidbar Rabba (21:15)What is the significance of Yehoshua being chosen due to the fact that hearranged the benches in the Beis Midrash of Moshe?There is a fundamental difference between the outlook of a commoner as hesees the world, and the wide-ranging and deep perspective which a leader ofmen has upon events. A simple person only sees major "newsworthy" events ashaving significance and impact. Consequently, he trivializes those thingswhich he considers to be routine, and attaches little meaning to them.Great men realize that it is specifically those actions which a person doesunknowingly that reveal the inner nature of one's personality. It is thisappreciation of the purpose of all things and of each event which helps aleader develop a profound respect for all people, and the patience andtolerance to deal with "small" matters as if they are indeed crucial.Everything in the world serves a purpose, and a person who understands thiscan see in every action the role it plays.When Hashem chose the people who were to lead His nation, He looked to theshepherds to see how they treated the small and gentle creatures which weregiven over to their care. When they proved themselves to be people whodealt with detail and viewed simple things as being significant, they earnedthe role to be a leader of men.We see that most people consider some things to be great and other things tobe plain. Great people see everything as being substantial and momentous.The Midrash associates the following verse in Mishlei with Yehoshua: "Theone who guards the fig, he will eat from it." The secret of the success ofYehoshua was in that he understood that great things develop from small,sometimes unnoticed origins. A small seed grows into a tree, and a tinyblossoming flower into a fruit. Yehoshua, who cleaned and arranged thefurniture in the study hall showed that he had this appreciation forthemeager beginnings which develop into the grand scheme.
Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Bloch
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"And one male of the goats for a sin-offering to Hashem. In addition to thecontinual olah-offering shall it be made, and its libation."BeMidbar 28:15Resh Lakish said: "Why is the male goat of Rosh Chodesh different fromother Mussaf male goats in that regarding it the phrase 'to Hashem' is used?By this expression, Hashem said: 'This male goat shall be an atonement forMy diminishing the size of the moon.' ". -- Gemara Sh'vuos 9aConcerning the Mussaf male goat of Rosh Chodesh, the word " wvHashem) seems superfluous, as all sacrifices commanded by the Torah areoffered to Hashem, yet this expression is not found regarding any otherMussaf male goat.An Aggada in Chulin (60b) relates that the sun and the moon were createdequal in size (see Bereshis 1:16), but G-d caused the moon to become smallerbecause it argued that it was impossible for it and the sun to reign asco-equals. The moon argued then that it was unjust that it should suffer,because it had raised a valid point. G-d sought to placate the moon invarious ways, but it was not appeased. Finally, G-d said: "Bring anatonement for Me, for I diminished the moon." This puzzling statement isaddressed by many commentators. What can "bringing an atonement for G-d"possibly mean?Tosafos HaRosh explains that G-d speaks in these terms [though objectivelyinappropriate in regards to Him] in order to teach us that a master forcedto discipline his servant for misbehavior should nonetheless seek to mollifythe servant afterwards.Ri"f explains the statement altogether differently.He says that to mollify the moon Hashem granted it the honor of its renewalbeing the occasion on which the Jewish people would bring a male goat toatone for their sins. By bringing the male goat on Rosh Chodesh, the Jewishpeople bestow on behalf of G-d the honor He promised to the moon. Thus, themeaning of G-d's statement is: Bring your atonement for Me [i.e. tocompensate the moon on My behalf] for My having diminished it.Ri"f
Sh'vuos 1a
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Halachic Corner Pirkei Avos - Chapter 6Zmanim for Parashas Pinchas, 5763Krias Shma - Sat. Tefila - Sat.According to the Gaon of Vilna9:14 10:28According to the Magen Avraham8:38 10:04Sunset Sunrise SunsetFriday Sat. Sat.8:22 5:32 8:21Brachos are very important because when one recites a bracha he shows thathe believes that there is a G-d in the world and that everything belongs toHim. When we say a bracha before eating, we acknowledge that one must askpermission from G-d to eat any food. Chazal tell us that a person whoderives pleasure from anything without a bracha is similar to a person whosteals from G-d. The table where we eat is also holy, as Chazal tell usthat as long as the Beis HaMikdash existed the Altar atoned for KlalYisrael. Now that we no longer have the Beis HaMikdash, one's table atonesfor him. Therefore, a person should say a little Torah or mizmorim aboutfood while at the table in order to bring a holiness into the eating. Inthe Torah (Devarim 8:10), G-d gave a mitzvah to bless Him with BirkasHaMazon after we eat - "V'achalta v'savata u'veirachta" - "And you shall eatand you shall be satisfied and you shall bless." In this pasuk we have thekey to understanding the foundation of blessings. This is one of the onlyplaces in the Torah where G-d commanded us to bless His name. Therefore,one should recite the Birkas HaMazon with concentration. By reciting abracha over a food one also shows that when one eats he is not onlysatisfying his desires but is also eating in order to be strong in servingG-d.In the time of the Gemara, one person said the entire bentching and everyoneelse listened. In our times we do not have the concentration to listen tothe entire bentching. Therefore, each person says the Birkas HaMazon forhimself. If possible, one should finish the bracha in time to answer "Amen"to the bracha that is said by the leader. At least the first bracha shouldbe said aloud by the leader. Everyone else should say it quietly and answer"Amen". The same should be done with the other blessings. (M.B. 183:28)Questions for Thought and Study1. Why do we need to know the lineage of Zimri?See Rashi 25:142. What was the real family name of h°b±z¨t? Why is an alternate nameused? See Rashi and Chasam Sofer 26:163. What trait did the daughters of Tzelafchad share with their ancestorYosef? See Rashi 27:14. What was the difference between the way Moshe's face glowed and the wayYehoshua's face glowed? Why was there a difference?See Sifsei Chachamim 27:205. How did the bulls that were offered on Sukkos represent the whole world?See Rashi 29:18This Week Likutei Peshatim is SponsoredBy Hebrew Theological College wishing mazal tov to Blitstein Instituteinstructors: Gladys Azulay and her husband Yehuda on the birth of agranddaughter; and Lynn Shapiro and her husband Irv, and Susan Feuer, on thebirth of a granddaughter, born to Michael & Tova Perl.Cong. KINS, in conjunction with Blitstein Institute, will hold its weeklyShabbos Shiur on Shabbos Parashas Pinchas, July 19, at 5:00 PM, at Cong.KINS, 2800 North Shore. Speaker: Rabbi Shmuel Schuman.The Yeshiva Alumni Association Annual Family Picnic will take place onSunday, August 10, at Proesel Park in Lincolnwood, 11:00-3:00. Hot dogs andhamburgers, cotton candy, popcorn, snowcones, Moonwalk, Menchy the Clown,Dino Slide, arts & crafts with Sarelle, authentic fire truck, and much, muchmore. Call 847-982-2500 to volunteer for the day's event or for moreinformation.Yetta & Ted Saltzberg ask that you reserve Sunday, August 10, for the comingCentennial Banquet (100 years) of Congregation Anshe Motele, at theDoubleTree Hotel. We look forward to your joining us at this memorableevent. Special highlight: Cantor "Pavarati" Mizrachi will perform followingdinner. To place an ad or for reservations, please call 773-508-0631 or theshul office at 773-743-2420.Women's Div. of Chicago Center for Torah & Chesed's very popular Pirkei AvosShiurim: Lincolnwood hostess, Mrs. S. Kahn, 6456 Central Park, 5:30, speakerMrs. C. Chase; West Rogers Park hostess, Mrs. T. Friedman, 6707 Richmond,4:45, speaker Mrs. T. Friedman; North West Rogers Park hostess, Mrs. C.Brand, 3052 Birchwood, 5:30, speaker Mrs. M. Jaffe; Peterson Park hostess,Mrs. L. Suissa, 3535 Glenlake, 5:30, speaker Mrs. S. Wasser.Cong. Tiferes Yisroel, 6336 N. Lincoln Avenue, is pleased to announce thatour new simcha hall is now available for all of your simcha needs. Fullkitchen and seating for up to 250 people, tastefully furnished for bris, l'chaim, bar mitzvah, kiddush etc., at very reasonable rates. For moreinformation contact Tybi Ray at 773-588-8108."I'm bored!" Is this a familiar statement in your home? Some ideas to keepyour children productively occupied outside include: badminton, kickball,Red Rover, volleyball, Simon Says, soccer, Frisbee, tag, Red Light/GreenLight, hopscotch, croquet, jumprope... Discuss with your children otheractivities to add to this list. - E.L.A.N. Educational Center, 773-973-2009.Like to fish? Like to learn? Men's and father/son (13 and older) kosherfishing/canoeing trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area on theMinnesota-Canadian border. August 24-28. The trip is joined by Rabbi ManisFriedman. Contact Michael Messing 773-262-1564 or Rabbi Moishe Kasowitz651-686-4455;
Inward Bound website: http://www.ib.org/; email: ib@ib.org.Allergies - More than something to sneeze at! People can be allergic toanything and not know it. Have failed attempts to get well left youfrustrated? There is hope. Join Dr. Madeline Permutt and learn how NAET - anon-invasive, pain free allergy elimination technique could change yourlife! At the home of Chana Fishman, 6221 Monticello, Tuesday, July 29, 2003,at 7:30 PM. For more information call 773-478-3198.A Jewish Women's Health Fair sponsored by the Sharlene Levinson Bikur Cholimand Daughters of Israel will take place this Sunday, July 20, at the ArieCrown Hebrew Day School, 12:30-4:30 PM. Booths and speakers all relate towomen's health issues. Keynote Speaker - Rebetzen Faige Twerski ofMilwaukee. For information or to volunteer, call Stacy at 773-465-1891 orFaigie at 773-478-8882.This Shabbos afternoon! Chicago Community Kollel's Shabbos Afternoon Shiurin Lincolnwood will be held Parashas Pinchas, July 19, at the home of Mr. &Mrs. Leo Feigenbaum, 6600 St. Louis, at 5:00 PM. Guest speaker: RabbiEphraim Friedman, who will be speaking on "The Halachos of the Three Weeks".By Lincolnwood Jewish Congregation inviting the community to a picnic atLorel Park, 8100 Lorel, Skokie, on Sunday, July 27, 11:30 AM - 4:00 PM.Delicious kosher food, games, and fun. A hot dog lunch is available12:00-2:00. Food tickets to be purchased by July 20 at the synagogue, 7117Crawford, Lincolnwood. For more information call the synagogue office at847-676-0491.Lincolnwood Jewish Congregation, The American Israel Public AffairsCommittee (AIPAC), and Israel Bonds, invite you to attend a briefing on "TheRoad Map to Peace: Questions and Considerations", featuring Louis ReneBeres, Professor of International Law at Purdue University. Monday, July 21,at 7:30 PM, at 7117 Crawford, Lincolnwood. No charge. For more information,call Judy Alexander at the synagogue office, 847-676-0491.By Davka Corporation, announcing its new Mincha minyan, Monday throughThursday, 1:30 PM, at 3601 Devon #110. For more information, please contactSelwyn at 773-583-2333.Aneinu Tehillim Organization and the Anne Blitstein Teachers Instituteinvite you to come join our exciting new series "The Hidden Treasures ofTehillim", taught by Dr. Esther Shkop. Our next class iy"H will beWednesday, July 30, at 8:00 PM sharp at T.I., 2600 Touhy. Tehillim will berecited in the beginning of that class as a zchus for the cholim of Chicagoand victims of terror in Israel. Questions - Call Margie Shabat at773-478-8325.Torah Radio Network invites you to listen this Mon., July 21, to "TheChavrusa" with Rabbi Avraham Kivelevitz & Rabbi Kalman Worch. This week'stopic: "Eretz Yisroel: Is it the Only Place to Go to Learn? Is it Safe toGo There?", 8:00-9:00 PM on AM 1080 WNWI or anywhere in the world athttp://www.torahradio.net/. Also, listen to Motzei Music this Motzei Shabbos, forthe best in a cappella Jewish music, 9:30-10:30, on AM 1240 WSBC.The Skokie Community Kollel would like to remind the community that it's nottoo early to sign up for this coming year's Tanach Mishnah Siyum. Let usjoin together to learn all of Tanach and Mishnayos as a zechus for ourbrethren in Eretz Yisroel. You can learn individually or with a chavrusa, orjoin a shiur. For more information call Rabbi Aaron Lauer at 847-674-7959.By Congregation Adas Yeshurun inviting the community back as Rabbi Cohen'sshiurim resume the regular schedule. Among our many shiurim are: Pirkei Avosevery Shabbos at 6:30 PM, the Zichron Shraga Feivel Yeshiva Program onSundays at 9:00 AM, and the Thursday night Halacha Shiur which meets8:30-9:30. Join us for any of our shiurim or call for details, 773-465-2288.By Congregation Adas Yeshurun inviting women to our Annual Shiur for Women,on Hilchos Shabbos on Tuesday, July 22, Wednesday, July 30, and Tuesday,August 5, at 1:50-3:00 PM.Kollel Torah MiTzion is pleased to invite you to two shiurim in CongregationOr Torah this Shabbat, Parashat Pinchas, at 6:45 PM: "Did the Sanctity ofthe Land of Israel End With the Destruction of the Beit HaMikdash?" by HaRavIsrael Shachor, Rosh Kollel, and "Women's Wisdom Built Their Homes", by YaelShachor.The Sharlene Levinson Bikur Cholim of Chicago invites the women of thecommunity to a Tehillim session in commemoration of the 17th yahrzeit ofSharlene Levinson, a"h, on Sunday evening, July 20, at 8:00 PM, at ThePirchei Center, 3530 Peterson Avenue (across from the Agudah Center). Guestspeaker: Mrs. Elise Ginsparg.Join tens of thousands worldwide this Sunday, July 20, protesting theRoadmap. Chicago's demonstration will take place from Noon to 1:00 PMdowntown at the northwest corner of Pearson and Michigan (across the streetfrom Water Tower Place). Bring your friends and flags. For more informationcall Arnold at 773-973-4335.Yeshiva Shearis Yisroel - the Veitzener Cheder congratulates Mr. & Mrs.Mikel of Lakewood, NJ, winners of our Early Bird Raffle. The Mikels now have5 additional chances to win the Grand Prize of an SUV, a workout room, or$20,000 cash, or one of the other fabulous prizes in the drawing to bebroadcast on TRN on August 27, 2003. You can be a winner too. Call773-262-0885 for information and/or tickets.Be part of the International Aneinu Tehillim Rally. Women and girlsworldwide will unite to say Tehillim to beseech mercy for Klal Yisroel.Chicago location: Congregation KINS, on Sunday, August 3, at 10:30 AM sharp,Tehillim followed by guest speaker - Rabbi Daniel Raccah. Doors open 10:00AM. For more information, call Mrs. Wolper at 773-262-0603.Cong. Shaarei Tzedek invites the community to "Drop Off" its unwantedhousehold items, such as furniture, electronics, clothing, toys kitchenware,and other saleable merchandise, for our upcoming Rummage Sale. The "DropOff" will take place at the Shul, 2832 Touhy, on July 27th, from 8:30-10:30AM and from 5:30-7:30 PM. Tax letters will be given.
For pickup of largeitems, call 773-973-2678 or email rummage@shaareitzedek.com.Bernard Horwich JCC has scheduled a renovation of its swimming pool fromAugust 9 to October 20. During this 10-week period the pool will be closed.However, members will have complimentary access to the pools at the MayerKaplan JCC (5050 Church Street, Skokie) and the High Ridge YMCA (2424 Touhy,Chicago).Women Only Swim - Skokie Water Playground, 4701 Oakton Street (Oakton &Skokie Blvd.), Monday, July 21, 8:15-10:15 PM. Sponsored by Project Extreme.(Upcoming dates: August 11, August 17) For more information, call Shayna773-743-2211 or Tami 773-465-1081.The Jewish Education Leadership Institute (JELI) is proud to announce theopening of its Center for Excellence in Teaching (CET). Both novice andexperienced teachers will greatly benefit from this teacher enrichmentprogram which will provide learning opportunities that will positivelyimpact the teacher's ability in the classroom.This extraordinary program - CET - will establish a professional atmospherefor the training of Jewish day school/yeshiva teachers, offering practical &solid educational theory & its implementation. The instructors come to CETfrom some of the nation's top graduate institutions such as the Universityof Chicago, Loyola & Teacher's College at Columbia University in NY. Classesbegin in fall, 2003. For more info, Lori Gerson - 312-332-4172.Bais Yaakov High School of Chicago seeks experienced and qualified Englishand history teacher. Please fax resume to 773-267-4798.By Joel Harris wishing mazal tov to Judy Harris and Ellen Royce upon movingtheir artsy gift shop (A Unique Presence) from Old Orchard to Old Town. You'll love the boutiques and galleries.We are extremely proud of the job our daughter is doing as Rosh Moshava atCamp Moshava. - Vivian and Harvey Well.Mazal tov to Ben Tzion Zuckerman on his engagement to Sarah Sheindel Malinof Baltimore, MD. May they build a bayit ne'eman b'Yisrael. From yourparents, Rabbi Tzvi Yaakov & Aviva Zuckerman, your brothers and sister,Iochanan Moran, and all your friends in Chicago & New York.Mazal tov to our grandchildren, Tova & Michael Perl, on the birth of a newdaughter, Ariella Chana. May she be a source of nachas and pride to hersister Julie and to her whole family. Mazal tov to grandparents, Susan Feuerand Lynn & Irv Shapiro, and all the great-grandparents. - Betty & ErnieGoldstein.By the Shanes/Poupko family wishing mazal and bracha to Elisheva & KevinSchreiber on the birth of their son, Amitai Yitzchak. A special mazal tov tothe great-grandmother, Mrs. Helen Davis, and to the paternal grandparents,Renee & Avi Schreiber.A Public Community Memorial for Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Rapoport, z"l, beloved byhis colleagues, friends and students, will take place at 10:00 AM, Sunday,July 20, 2003, at Congregation K.I.N.S., 2800 W. North Shore. Tributes willbe given by community leaders and a Siyum will be held. This event will beco-sponsored by: ICJA, CRC, HTC, ATT, RZC, and Bnei Ruven.By Dr. & Mrs. Gilbert Lanoff in memory of his mother, Mary Lanoff, a"h, onthe occasion of her yahrzeit on 21 Tammuz. (Yehuda Moshe)By Pearl & Kenneth Young in loving memory of her beloved mother, Jean M.Werner, Tzeseh bas Mottel, a"h, on the occasion of her yahrzeit on 23Tamuz - July 23. Circumstances don't make a person, they reveal her.By the Levinson, Barrish, Plass and Sitnick families in commemoration of theseventeenth yahrzeit of Sharlene Levinson, Chaya bas Tuvia Leib, a"h.By Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Perlman and family, Mr. & Mrs. Joel Rubin and family,and Mr. & Michael Roth family, in memory of Mr. William Henning Rubin, z"l,on the occasion of his sixteenth yahrzeit on 24 Tammuz.By Burt & Ita Kaufman; David Kaufman; Avi & Oreet Kaufman; Moshe & HindaGoldfinger, Naftali, Aliza, Yonatan, and Bentzi; Chaim & Zahava Suss, Kayla,Ezra, Tzippy, and Shimon; Ira & Caryn Kaufman, Michael and Benjamin, inhonor of their grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother,Bella Katofsky, Bayla Sarah bas Shevya, a"h, on the occasion of her yahrzeiton 22 Tamuz, July 22nd, 2003.By the Daniels family in memory of our dear father and grandfather, SolDaniels, z"l, on the occasion of his yahrzeit on 24 Tamuz. (Kehilath Jacob)
Likutei Peshatim is endowed by Les & Ethel Sutker in loving memory of Maxand Mary Sutker and Louis and Lillian Klein, z"l. May their memory be ablessing.
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Answers:1. This shows the merit of Pinchas - that even though Zimri had adistinguished lineage, Pinchas did not refrain from killing him.2. The real family name was Etzbon. The reason that the alternative namewas used was because the fingers (etzba'os) were created only to cover theears (ozen) from hearing prohibited things. Since the "ozen" is the purposefor the fingers, it is listed primarily.3. They all loved Eretz Yisrael.4. Moshe's face glowed like the sun, while Yehoshua's face shone like themoon. This was because Moshe's glow was directly from Hashem, like the sun.Yehoshua's glow was a reflection of Moshe's glow, just as the moon's glow isa reflection of sunlight.5. The seventy bulls represent the seventy nations of the world.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Perfis Palestinianos
Profiles of Cabinet Ministers
Prime Minister Ismail Haniya
• Full name: Ismail ‘Abd al-Salam Haniya (Abu al-Abd)
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1963 in al-Shati refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, his family came from the village of Jura near Ashqelon (the birthplace of Ahmad Yassin).
• Organizational affiliation: Hamas.
• Family status: Married, father of 13 children.
• Education: Haniya completed elementary and middle school at UNRWA schools in al-Shati refugee camp, then graduated from the Al-Azhar religious high school in Gaza . He earned his bachelor's degree in the Department of Arabic Language at the Islamic University in Gaza . During his studies he was active in Islamic student associations.
• Milestones: Haniya owes his status in the movement to his proximity to Ahmad Yassin. In January 1996 he wanted to run for a seat on the Legislative Council, but withdrew under heavy pressure from the Hamas leadership. In 1997, upon Ahmad Yassin's release from prison, Haniya became his office manager, a role he held until Yassin was killed in a targeted killing in 2004. Haniya undertook organizational activities in the Hamas movement for ten years, until 2000. Through those activities and his closeness to Ahmad Yassin, he climbed to the top echelon of Hamas and was appointed to the movement's political leadership. He headed the Hamas list for the Palestinian Legislative Council and was considered the pragmatist of the Hamas leadership.
• Detentions by the Israeli security forces: Ismail Haniya was incarcerated in Israeli prisons several times: he was detained for the first time in December 1987 and held for 18 days. The second time he was placed under administrative detention for six months. In May 1989 he was imprisoned in Ketziot Prison for three years. He was released in May 1992 and in December of the same year he was one of the Hamas operatives deported to Marj al-Zuhour in Lebanon .
• On September 6, 2003, he escaped an attempt on his life while he was with Ahmad Yassin.
• He headed the Hamas list for the Palestinian Legislative Council elections in January 2006 and headed the Hamas government established in March 2006, serving in office for one year.
Deputy Prime Minister – Azzam al-Ahmad
• Full name: Azzam Najib Mustafa al-Ahmad .
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1947 in Rummana (in the Jenin area).
• Organizational affiliation: He is a veteran Fatah activist (dating back to the 1960s), member of the Fatah revolutionary council. He is considered a confidant of Abu Mazen.
• Family status: Married, father of three children.
• Milestones: Deported from the West Bank in 1969, he moved to Iraq where he served as a PLO ambassador. Elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council in 1969 as a Fatah representative from the Jenin district and was Minister of Communications and Public Works. After the 2006 elections, he was elected to head the Fatah faction of the Legislative Council (after running for office against Muhammad Dahlan).
Finance Minister– Salam Fayyad
• Full name: Dr. Salam Khaled Abdallah Fayyad.
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1952 in Tulkarm.
• Organizational affiliation: Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council representing the Third Way and serving as chairman of the council's budgetary committee.
• Family status: Married, father of three children.
• Education: Expert in financial affairs and holds a PhD in economics from the University of Texas .
• Milestones: Fayyad has a good reputation and credibility in the international community. He represented the International Monetary Fund in the Palestinian Authority and was a regional manager of the Arab Bank in the Palestinian Authority-administered territories. He served as finance minister and chairman of the board of directors of the Palestinian Investment Fund in the governments of Abu Ala' and Abu Mazen and succeeded in bringing a measure of stability to the Palestinian Authority's budget and promoting significant reforms. In the past year his involvement in politics increased and in December 2006 he was appointed head of the PLO's economic department, with the aim of increasing Abu Mazen's control over the Palestinian aid funds.
Foreign Minister–Ziyad Abu Amro
• Full name: Dr . Ziyad Muhammad Hussein Abu ‘Amro
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1950 in Gaza . Holds American citizenship.
• Organizational affiliation: Independent. Identified with the national stream .
• Family status: Married to an American woman, father of three children.
• Education: Earned a bachelor's degree in English language and literature at Damascus University and was awarded a doctorate in political science and international relations from Georgetown University in the U.S.
• Milestones: Abu ‘Amro is a confidant of Abu Mazen and serves as his liaison to the factions, primarily Hamas. He was active (with Muhammad Rashid) as middleman for the various factions in all negotiations pertaining to the establishment of the national unity government. He is a member of the foreign relations committee of the Palestinian National Council and the PLO central committee and of the National and Islamic Forces' monitoring committee, and has initiated dialogues between the various Palestinian factions. He was also a member of the first Palestinian Legislative Council (as an independent).
Interior Minister– Hani Talab al-Qawasmi
• Full name: Dr. Hani Talab 'Abd al-Rahman al-Qawasmi
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1958 in Gaza to a family originally from Hebron (one of the city's large clans).
• Organizational affiliation: Independent, considered religiously orthodox.
• Family status: Married, father of five children.
• Education: Graduate of the University of Cairo with a degree in business administration.
• Milestones: Upon his return to Gaza in 1983, al-Qawasmi worked at an Al-Azhar institute for 10 years. He managed the bureau of civil affairs until 2004. From 2004 on he worked in the office of the chief Shari ' (Islamic religious) justice in the Palestinian Authority. By cabinet resolution, in 2006 he was appointed director general of administrative affairs at the interior ministry, but ratification of his appointment was delayed by Abu Mazen.
Minister of Transportation and Communication –Sa'di Mahmoud al-Karnaz
• Full name: Dr . Sa'di Mahmoud Suleiman al- Karnaz
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1958. Lived in al-Brij refugee camp and now lives in al -Nuseirat refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.
• Organizational affiliation: Veteran member of Fatah.
• Family status: Married, father of seven children.
• Education: Doctorate in mathematics, graduate of the University of Indiana in the U.S. (1989).
• Milestones: Al-Karnaz was o ne of the founders of Al-Azhar University in the Gaza Strip, where he was head of the Department of Statistics and Dean of Students. He taught at the Islamic University in Gaza from 1981 to 1983. He was active in various committees operating during the first Palestinian-Israeli violent confrontation (the first intifada ). In the 1996 elections he was elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council on the Fatah slate, serving as minister of industry from 1998 to 2002; he was minister of transportation in Abu Mazen's government (which lasted 90 days). After Abu Mazen was elected chairman of the Palestinian Authority, he was appointed as his advisor.
• Positions on the dispute: During his term of office as minister of industry he met with Israelis several times, but he often attacks Israeli policy.
Minister for Prisoner Affairs – Attorney Suleiman Abu Sunaya
• Full name: Suleiman Muhammad Musa Abu Sunaya
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1945 in Hebron . Lives in East Jerusalem (holds a Jerusalem resident's card) and comes from one of the largest families in Hebron .
• Organizational affiliation: Fatah activist.
• Education: Earned a degree in law from Cairo University . Attorney at law.
• Milestones: Sunaya is a Fatah representative on the Hebron city council. In 1996 he was a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, after running as a Fatah candidate in Hebron . He was director general of the Palestinian interior ministry in the Hebron area and was a member of the general committee on the Palestinian housing council, the building committee in Hebron and the general supervisory and human rights committee of the Palestinian Legislative Council. He served as Minister of State in the eighth government, headed by Abu Ala '.
• Detentions by Israel : He was imprisoned for several months between 1985 and 1986.
Minister of Culture and Higher Education –Nasir al-Sha'er
• Full name: Dr. Nasir al-Din Muhammad Ahmad al-Sha'er
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1961 in Sabastia (near Nablus ).
• Organizational affiliation: Hamas activist. Not a member of the Legislative Council.
• Family status: Married, father of six children.
• Education: Completed his BA and MA at Al-Najah University in Nablus . Earned his doctorate at the University of Manchester in Britain , comparing Islam and Judaism in his dissertation, with emphasis on the status of women. He specialized in the theory of comparative Islamic law.
• Milestones: Between 1985 and 1989 al-Sha'er worked in high school education. From 1989 on, he taught at Al-Najah University . Since 2001 he has been dean of the Department of Islamic Law at Al-Najah University , and is a member of the Islamic Bloc (the student wing of Hamas). He held a position in the Palestinian ministry of higher education. He is also active in social affairs, and in recent years supervised a program researching Israeli society. He has published two books, one of which, entitled The Palestinian-Israeli Peace Process , was translated into English. He was deputy prime minister and minister of higher education in the outgoing Hamas government.
• Detention by the Israeli security forces: He was detained in 1995 and then detained again. At the end of 2005 he was placed under administrative detention for four months. He was detained again during Operation Summer Rains (June 2006), but released shortly thereafter.
Minister of Planning and International Cooperation –
Dr. Samir Abu Aysha (Abu Abdallah)
• Full name: Samir Abdallah Salih Abu Aysha
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1960 in the village of Beit Wazan (near Nablus )
• Organizational affiliation: Hamas activist. Not a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Considered affiliated with Hamas but not a member of the leadership 8.
• Family status: Married, father of six children.
• Education: Professor of civil engineering. Earned his BA at the University of Jordan , and his MA and doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania .
• Milestones: Dr. Aysha is employed by the Palestinian Authority in the ministry of planning and international cooperation. He was dean of the Department of Engineering and chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering at Al-Najah University . He is currently president of Al-Najah University for Planning and Development. He was a guest lecturer at several universities abroad, including the US , Germany and France , and has written more than 60 research papers and co-authored two books. He was minister of planning and acting prime minister in the outgoing Hamas government.
Minister of Agriculture – Muhammad Ramadan Muhammad al-Agha
• Full name: Dr. Muhammad Ramadan Muhammad al-Agha
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1959 in Khan Yunis. Member of one of the largest clans in the Khan Yunis area.
• Organizational affiliation: Hamas (independent, by other accounts). He ran for election but was not elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council.
• Family status: Married without children.
• Education: Earned his BA at Cairo University in Egypt and his MA at the University of Jordan . Earned a doctorate in science at the University of Manchester in Britain .
• Milestones: Al-Agha taught in many universities in the U.S. and Europe ( Britain and Germany ). Since 1995 he has taught at the Islamic University in Gaza , and has published four research papers on the environmental sciences in international journals. He was minister of agriculture in the outgoing Hamas government.
Local Governments Minister – Engineer Muhammad al-Barghuti
• Full name: Muhammad Ibrahim Musa al-Barghuti
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1962 in the village of Kouber (Ramallah district).
• Organizational affiliation: Senior activist in Hamas since 1995. He is not a member of the Legislative Council.
• Family status: Married, father of two children.
• Education: Has a BA in computer sciences and mathematics. He is currently studying business administration at the College of Higher Research in Al-Najah University .
• Milestones: Barghuti was wounded in the first Palestinian-Israeli confrontation (the first intifada ). He was active in the students association at Al-Najah University and the charitable societies in Ramallah-Al-Bireh. He is currently the general manager of the Islamic Charitable Society in Al-Bireh. 9 He served as the minister of labor in the outgoing Hamas government.
• Detention by the Israeli security forces: Barghuti was wanted by the Israeli security forces, was detained seven times during Operation Summer Rains (June 2006), and held for a few months.
Youth and Sports Minister – Dr. Bassem Na'im
• Full name: Bassem Na'im Muhammad Na'im
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1963 in Beit Hanoun (northern Gaza Strip). He currently lives in the al-Zeitoun quarter of the city.
• Organizational affiliation: Active in Hamas. Not a member of the Legislative Council, he heads the movement's doctors' association.
• Family status: Married, father of six children. Two of his sons are operatives in Hamas's terrorist-operative wing. One of them was killed during an operation in the Shuja'iya camp as he led a squad launching Qassam rockets.
• Education: Na'im completed medical school in Germany and was trained as a surgeon. He works in Dar al-Shifa' Hospital in Gaza .
• Milestones: From 2003-05 he was head of the Hamas list in the doctors' association in the Gaza Strip and a member of the directorate of the
• Hamas-affiliated al-Wafa' charitable society. Since 2004 he has taught in the medical school of Al-Azhar University (in the Gaza Strip). He was the health minister in the outgoing Hamas government.
Economics Minister – Engineer Ziyad al-Zaza
• Full name: Ziyad Shukri ‘Abd Rabbo al-Zaza
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1955 in Gaza .
• Organizational affiliation: Apparently affiliated with Hamas. He ran in the elections but was not elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council.
• Family status: Married, father of nine children.
• Education: Al-Zaza completed an undergraduate degree in civil engineering from Alexandria University in Egypt .
• Milestones: He managed infrastructure and building projects in Iraq and Saudi Arabia and is now assistant regional engineer for constructing UNWRA buildings in the Gaza Strip. He is chairman of the board of directors of a charitable society focusing on children's welfare and a member of the high council of the engineers' association. He was minister of housing and public works in the outgoing Hamas government.
Information Minister – Dr. Mustafa al-Barghuti
• Full name: Mustafa Kamel Mustafa al-Barghuti
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1954 in Ramallah, he now lives in Al-Bireh.
• Organizational affiliation: Independent and a member of the Independent Palestine list. He is also one of the heads of the civilian camp and the Palestinian left.
• Family status: Married, father of one child.
• Education: Barghuti holds a medical degree from the University of Moscow and an MS in business administration from Stanford University .
• Milestones: Barghuti has been active in public and political life for over 25 years. In 2002 (with Haidar Abul Shafi) he founded the non-government organization called the Palestinian National Initiative, which favors promoting reforms and the democratization of the PA, and establishing a united national leadership while continuing the struggle against Israel. In the PA presidential elections of 2005, Barghuti ran against Abu Mazen and received 20% of the votes.
Justice Minister – Engineer Ali Sartawi
• Full name: ‘ Ali Muhammad ‘Ali Muslih (Sartawi)
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1962 in Salfit, he now resides in Sarta ( Nablus region).
• Organizational affiliation: A member of the Hamas movement.
• Family status: Married, father of five children.
• Education: BA in Islamic law and doctorate in civil law from Amman University in Jordan .
• Milestones: He is dean of the law school of Al- Najah University in Nablus . He was also a Hamas candidate for minister of justice when the government was being formed in March of 2006.
• Detention by the Israeli security forces: He was incarcerated in the past due to his membership in Hamas.
Social Affairs Minister – Salah Zaydan
• Full name: Salah Muhammad Salim Zaydan
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1949 in the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon (the family was originally from the village of al-Damon near Acre ). He has been a resident of Gaza since 1996.
• Organizational affiliation: Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine .
• Milestones: Zaydan has been a member of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine's political bureau since 1989. From 1988 to 1996 he was the national secretary of the Democratic Front in Lebanon . Since 1996 he has been responsible for the movement in the Gaza Strip. He is a member of the monitoring committee of the national and Islamic forces. He has been a supporter of the prisoners' document since it was first written, and in favor of entering the unity government with Hamas.
Culture Minister – Bassam al-Salihi
• Full name: Bassam Ahmad ‘Umar al- Salihi
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1960 in Ramallah. His family was originally from Lod.
• Organizational affiliation: The Palestinian People's Party (formerly the Palestinian Communist Party).
• Education: BA in sociology from Bir Zeit University .
• Milestones: Chairman of the Alternative Faction (Al-Badil) in the Legislative Council and a member of the Palestinian National Council. He represented his party in dialogues and internal Palestinian multilateral talks. He is a member of the high committee for national dialogue and the professional committee for handling funds donated to the account of the presidency .
• Detention by the Israeli security forces: During the first violent Palestinian-Israeli confrontation (the first intifada ) he was detained a number of times and while in jail was elected to the party's central committee.
Labor Minister – Mahmud al-Alul
• Full name: Mahmud ‘Uthman Raghib al-Alul
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1950 in Nablus , to one of the most prominent families in the city.
• Organizational affiliation: Active in Fatah since 1967 (was Abu Jihad's assistant for many years).
• Family status: Married. His eldest son was killed at the beginning of the current violent Palestinian-Israeli confrontation (the second intifada ) when confronting IDF forces in Nablus .
• Education: BA in geography from Beirut University .
• Milestones: Member of the Fatah revolutionary council. He filled a variety of positions in Fatah's Western Sector 10 and operated out of Lebanon , Jordan and Tunisia . Between 1995 and 2005 he was governor of Nablus . He resigned before the Palestinian Legislative Council elections and was elected on the Hamas slate in Nablus .
• Detention by the Israeli security forces: He was imprisoned in Israel between 1967 and 1970 and then deported to Jordan .
Telecommunications and Technology Minister – Yousif al-Mansi
• Full name: Yousif Muhammad Hamidd al-Mansi.
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1953 in Gaza .
• Organizational affiliation: Independent. Affiliated with Hamas.
• Family status: Married, father of five children.
• Education: Doctorate in civil engineering from Al-Azhar University in Cairo (completed in 2002).
• Milestones: He worked in Saudia Arabia for 13 years as an engineer for the Wakf (Islamic religious endowments) Ministry in Riyadh . Since 1993 al-Mansi has taught in the engineering department of the Islamic University in Gaza , where he was assistant dean. He is a senior member in the Palestinian Engineers Union. He has been responsible for many engineering projects in the Gaza Strip, including hospital construction.
Public Works Minister – Samih Karakira
• Full name: Samih Hussein ‘Abd Karakira
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1947, he is a resident of Ramallah and holds American citizenship.
• Organizational affiliation: Active in Fatah in the Ramallah region.
• Education: He studied geography at Harvard University and taught at Bir Zeit University . He was deputy minister of planning in the outgoing Hamas government.
• Milestones: Karakira ran in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections in January 1996, but was not elected. In the past he called for a struggle against corruption and the promotion of reforms in the PA. He has played a part in negotiations with Israel since their inception.
Tourism Minister – Khulud Du'aybas
Full name: Khulud Frances Khalil Du'aybas
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1965 in Bethlehem , she is a Christian and has an East Jerusalem identity card.
• Organizational affiliation: Identified with Fatah, not a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
• Family status: Married.
• Education: PhD in architecture from Hanover University (received her degree in 1995).
• Milestones: She manages the Center for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Bethlehem and coordinates European Union projects for cultural heritage preservation. She also manages the rehabilitation project for historical sites in Bethlehem . She is a member of the Palestinian and Jordanian Engineers Union and of the Palestinian Architects Union.
Minister for Women's Affairs – Amal Siyam
• Full name: Amal Muhammad al-Sheikh Mahmud Siyam
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1962 in the Gaza Strip, she is now a resident of Bethlehem . She is probably a relative of former Hamas interior minister Sa'id Siyam.
• Organizational affiliation: Iidentified with Hamas, not a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
• Family status: Married, mother of four children. Married to Ghassan Hermas, who teaches at the Al Quds Open University. He was a Hamas operative and Hamas and was one of those deported to Marj al-Zuhour.
• Education: She has a master's degree in Islamic studies from Al-Quds University .
• Milestones: A known activist in women's affairs, she is the manager of the training program at the Center for Women's Affairs in Gaza . She teaches at Al-Quds Open University.
Health Minister – Radwan al-Akhras
• Full name: Radwan Sa'id Suleiman al-Akhras
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1945 in Wadi Hanin (the Nes Ziona region in Israel ), he lived in Tunis and has been a resident of Rafah since 1995.
• Organizational affiliation: A member of Fatah since 1966, he is an observer on the Palestinian National Council.
• Education: A physician by profession. He took military command courses in Syria , Eastern Europe and the Arab states.
• Milestones: Al-Akhras was a member of the operational-terrorist wing of Fatah (al-A'asifa Forces). He was in charge of the Palestinian Red Crescent services in Syria and in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon during 1982 (the first Lebanon war). From 1972 to 1988 he worked with Abu Jihad (Khalil Al-Wazir). He is a Fatah representative in the Palestinian Legislative Council. In Tunis he was responsible for the medical services administration. He was the executive director of the health ministry in the Palestinian Authority. He was formerly the manager of the emergency room in the Rafah hospital.
• Positions toward Israel : In 1998 he signed the petition opposing the Wye Agreement.
Waqf and Religious Affairs Minister – Hussein al-Tarturi
• Full name: Hussein Mutawi' Hussein al-Tarturi
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1954 in Hebron . In the past he divided his time between the West Bank and Saudi Arabia .
• Organizational affiliation: Active in Hamas.
• Education: He has a doctorate in Islamic law. He studied at Hebron University and Al-Najah University in Nablus .
• Milestones: He taught religion at Riyadh University . A few years ago he returned to the West Bank . He was in charge of Hamas's budget in the Hebron area.
State Minister 11 - Wasfi Qabha
• Full name: Wasfi Izzat Hassan Mustafa Qabha
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1959 in the village of Barta'a (west of Jenin).
• Organizational affiliation: He was a Hamas operative. He is considered one of the senior leaders of Hamas in Jenin.
• Family status: Married, father of seven children.
• Education: He has a BA in civil engineering from Detroit , and completed post graduate studies in water resource management.
• Milestones: He works as an engineer in the Jenin municipality, where he is chairman of the research and planning department and manger of the engineering department. He was the Minister for Prisoner Affairs in the outgoing Hamas government. He also functions as a senior political figure in Jenin and is involved in charitable activities in the city.
• Detention by the Israeli security forces: He was imprisoned a number of times for a total of nine years. While in prison he was considered a leader. In June 2006 he was detained by IDF forces and released a few months later.
Prime Minister Ismail Haniya
• Full name: Ismail ‘Abd al-Salam Haniya (Abu al-Abd)
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1963 in al-Shati refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, his family came from the village of Jura near Ashqelon (the birthplace of Ahmad Yassin).
• Organizational affiliation: Hamas.
• Family status: Married, father of 13 children.
• Education: Haniya completed elementary and middle school at UNRWA schools in al-Shati refugee camp, then graduated from the Al-Azhar religious high school in Gaza . He earned his bachelor's degree in the Department of Arabic Language at the Islamic University in Gaza . During his studies he was active in Islamic student associations.
• Milestones: Haniya owes his status in the movement to his proximity to Ahmad Yassin. In January 1996 he wanted to run for a seat on the Legislative Council, but withdrew under heavy pressure from the Hamas leadership. In 1997, upon Ahmad Yassin's release from prison, Haniya became his office manager, a role he held until Yassin was killed in a targeted killing in 2004. Haniya undertook organizational activities in the Hamas movement for ten years, until 2000. Through those activities and his closeness to Ahmad Yassin, he climbed to the top echelon of Hamas and was appointed to the movement's political leadership. He headed the Hamas list for the Palestinian Legislative Council and was considered the pragmatist of the Hamas leadership.
• Detentions by the Israeli security forces: Ismail Haniya was incarcerated in Israeli prisons several times: he was detained for the first time in December 1987 and held for 18 days. The second time he was placed under administrative detention for six months. In May 1989 he was imprisoned in Ketziot Prison for three years. He was released in May 1992 and in December of the same year he was one of the Hamas operatives deported to Marj al-Zuhour in Lebanon .
• On September 6, 2003, he escaped an attempt on his life while he was with Ahmad Yassin.
• He headed the Hamas list for the Palestinian Legislative Council elections in January 2006 and headed the Hamas government established in March 2006, serving in office for one year.
Deputy Prime Minister – Azzam al-Ahmad
• Full name: Azzam Najib Mustafa al-Ahmad .
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1947 in Rummana (in the Jenin area).
• Organizational affiliation: He is a veteran Fatah activist (dating back to the 1960s), member of the Fatah revolutionary council. He is considered a confidant of Abu Mazen.
• Family status: Married, father of three children.
• Milestones: Deported from the West Bank in 1969, he moved to Iraq where he served as a PLO ambassador. Elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council in 1969 as a Fatah representative from the Jenin district and was Minister of Communications and Public Works. After the 2006 elections, he was elected to head the Fatah faction of the Legislative Council (after running for office against Muhammad Dahlan).
Finance Minister– Salam Fayyad
• Full name: Dr. Salam Khaled Abdallah Fayyad.
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1952 in Tulkarm.
• Organizational affiliation: Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council representing the Third Way and serving as chairman of the council's budgetary committee.
• Family status: Married, father of three children.
• Education: Expert in financial affairs and holds a PhD in economics from the University of Texas .
• Milestones: Fayyad has a good reputation and credibility in the international community. He represented the International Monetary Fund in the Palestinian Authority and was a regional manager of the Arab Bank in the Palestinian Authority-administered territories. He served as finance minister and chairman of the board of directors of the Palestinian Investment Fund in the governments of Abu Ala' and Abu Mazen and succeeded in bringing a measure of stability to the Palestinian Authority's budget and promoting significant reforms. In the past year his involvement in politics increased and in December 2006 he was appointed head of the PLO's economic department, with the aim of increasing Abu Mazen's control over the Palestinian aid funds.
Foreign Minister–Ziyad Abu Amro
• Full name: Dr . Ziyad Muhammad Hussein Abu ‘Amro
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1950 in Gaza . Holds American citizenship.
• Organizational affiliation: Independent. Identified with the national stream .
• Family status: Married to an American woman, father of three children.
• Education: Earned a bachelor's degree in English language and literature at Damascus University and was awarded a doctorate in political science and international relations from Georgetown University in the U.S.
• Milestones: Abu ‘Amro is a confidant of Abu Mazen and serves as his liaison to the factions, primarily Hamas. He was active (with Muhammad Rashid) as middleman for the various factions in all negotiations pertaining to the establishment of the national unity government. He is a member of the foreign relations committee of the Palestinian National Council and the PLO central committee and of the National and Islamic Forces' monitoring committee, and has initiated dialogues between the various Palestinian factions. He was also a member of the first Palestinian Legislative Council (as an independent).
Interior Minister– Hani Talab al-Qawasmi
• Full name: Dr. Hani Talab 'Abd al-Rahman al-Qawasmi
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1958 in Gaza to a family originally from Hebron (one of the city's large clans).
• Organizational affiliation: Independent, considered religiously orthodox.
• Family status: Married, father of five children.
• Education: Graduate of the University of Cairo with a degree in business administration.
• Milestones: Upon his return to Gaza in 1983, al-Qawasmi worked at an Al-Azhar institute for 10 years. He managed the bureau of civil affairs until 2004. From 2004 on he worked in the office of the chief Shari ' (Islamic religious) justice in the Palestinian Authority. By cabinet resolution, in 2006 he was appointed director general of administrative affairs at the interior ministry, but ratification of his appointment was delayed by Abu Mazen.
Minister of Transportation and Communication –Sa'di Mahmoud al-Karnaz
• Full name: Dr . Sa'di Mahmoud Suleiman al- Karnaz
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1958. Lived in al-Brij refugee camp and now lives in al -Nuseirat refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.
• Organizational affiliation: Veteran member of Fatah.
• Family status: Married, father of seven children.
• Education: Doctorate in mathematics, graduate of the University of Indiana in the U.S. (1989).
• Milestones: Al-Karnaz was o ne of the founders of Al-Azhar University in the Gaza Strip, where he was head of the Department of Statistics and Dean of Students. He taught at the Islamic University in Gaza from 1981 to 1983. He was active in various committees operating during the first Palestinian-Israeli violent confrontation (the first intifada ). In the 1996 elections he was elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council on the Fatah slate, serving as minister of industry from 1998 to 2002; he was minister of transportation in Abu Mazen's government (which lasted 90 days). After Abu Mazen was elected chairman of the Palestinian Authority, he was appointed as his advisor.
• Positions on the dispute: During his term of office as minister of industry he met with Israelis several times, but he often attacks Israeli policy.
Minister for Prisoner Affairs – Attorney Suleiman Abu Sunaya
• Full name: Suleiman Muhammad Musa Abu Sunaya
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1945 in Hebron . Lives in East Jerusalem (holds a Jerusalem resident's card) and comes from one of the largest families in Hebron .
• Organizational affiliation: Fatah activist.
• Education: Earned a degree in law from Cairo University . Attorney at law.
• Milestones: Sunaya is a Fatah representative on the Hebron city council. In 1996 he was a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, after running as a Fatah candidate in Hebron . He was director general of the Palestinian interior ministry in the Hebron area and was a member of the general committee on the Palestinian housing council, the building committee in Hebron and the general supervisory and human rights committee of the Palestinian Legislative Council. He served as Minister of State in the eighth government, headed by Abu Ala '.
• Detentions by Israel : He was imprisoned for several months between 1985 and 1986.
Minister of Culture and Higher Education –Nasir al-Sha'er
• Full name: Dr. Nasir al-Din Muhammad Ahmad al-Sha'er
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1961 in Sabastia (near Nablus ).
• Organizational affiliation: Hamas activist. Not a member of the Legislative Council.
• Family status: Married, father of six children.
• Education: Completed his BA and MA at Al-Najah University in Nablus . Earned his doctorate at the University of Manchester in Britain , comparing Islam and Judaism in his dissertation, with emphasis on the status of women. He specialized in the theory of comparative Islamic law.
• Milestones: Between 1985 and 1989 al-Sha'er worked in high school education. From 1989 on, he taught at Al-Najah University . Since 2001 he has been dean of the Department of Islamic Law at Al-Najah University , and is a member of the Islamic Bloc (the student wing of Hamas). He held a position in the Palestinian ministry of higher education. He is also active in social affairs, and in recent years supervised a program researching Israeli society. He has published two books, one of which, entitled The Palestinian-Israeli Peace Process , was translated into English. He was deputy prime minister and minister of higher education in the outgoing Hamas government.
• Detention by the Israeli security forces: He was detained in 1995 and then detained again. At the end of 2005 he was placed under administrative detention for four months. He was detained again during Operation Summer Rains (June 2006), but released shortly thereafter.
Minister of Planning and International Cooperation –
Dr. Samir Abu Aysha (Abu Abdallah)
• Full name: Samir Abdallah Salih Abu Aysha
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1960 in the village of Beit Wazan (near Nablus )
• Organizational affiliation: Hamas activist. Not a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Considered affiliated with Hamas but not a member of the leadership 8.
• Family status: Married, father of six children.
• Education: Professor of civil engineering. Earned his BA at the University of Jordan , and his MA and doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania .
• Milestones: Dr. Aysha is employed by the Palestinian Authority in the ministry of planning and international cooperation. He was dean of the Department of Engineering and chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering at Al-Najah University . He is currently president of Al-Najah University for Planning and Development. He was a guest lecturer at several universities abroad, including the US , Germany and France , and has written more than 60 research papers and co-authored two books. He was minister of planning and acting prime minister in the outgoing Hamas government.
Minister of Agriculture – Muhammad Ramadan Muhammad al-Agha
• Full name: Dr. Muhammad Ramadan Muhammad al-Agha
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1959 in Khan Yunis. Member of one of the largest clans in the Khan Yunis area.
• Organizational affiliation: Hamas (independent, by other accounts). He ran for election but was not elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council.
• Family status: Married without children.
• Education: Earned his BA at Cairo University in Egypt and his MA at the University of Jordan . Earned a doctorate in science at the University of Manchester in Britain .
• Milestones: Al-Agha taught in many universities in the U.S. and Europe ( Britain and Germany ). Since 1995 he has taught at the Islamic University in Gaza , and has published four research papers on the environmental sciences in international journals. He was minister of agriculture in the outgoing Hamas government.
Local Governments Minister – Engineer Muhammad al-Barghuti
• Full name: Muhammad Ibrahim Musa al-Barghuti
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1962 in the village of Kouber (Ramallah district).
• Organizational affiliation: Senior activist in Hamas since 1995. He is not a member of the Legislative Council.
• Family status: Married, father of two children.
• Education: Has a BA in computer sciences and mathematics. He is currently studying business administration at the College of Higher Research in Al-Najah University .
• Milestones: Barghuti was wounded in the first Palestinian-Israeli confrontation (the first intifada ). He was active in the students association at Al-Najah University and the charitable societies in Ramallah-Al-Bireh. He is currently the general manager of the Islamic Charitable Society in Al-Bireh. 9 He served as the minister of labor in the outgoing Hamas government.
• Detention by the Israeli security forces: Barghuti was wanted by the Israeli security forces, was detained seven times during Operation Summer Rains (June 2006), and held for a few months.
Youth and Sports Minister – Dr. Bassem Na'im
• Full name: Bassem Na'im Muhammad Na'im
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1963 in Beit Hanoun (northern Gaza Strip). He currently lives in the al-Zeitoun quarter of the city.
• Organizational affiliation: Active in Hamas. Not a member of the Legislative Council, he heads the movement's doctors' association.
• Family status: Married, father of six children. Two of his sons are operatives in Hamas's terrorist-operative wing. One of them was killed during an operation in the Shuja'iya camp as he led a squad launching Qassam rockets.
• Education: Na'im completed medical school in Germany and was trained as a surgeon. He works in Dar al-Shifa' Hospital in Gaza .
• Milestones: From 2003-05 he was head of the Hamas list in the doctors' association in the Gaza Strip and a member of the directorate of the
• Hamas-affiliated al-Wafa' charitable society. Since 2004 he has taught in the medical school of Al-Azhar University (in the Gaza Strip). He was the health minister in the outgoing Hamas government.
Economics Minister – Engineer Ziyad al-Zaza
• Full name: Ziyad Shukri ‘Abd Rabbo al-Zaza
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1955 in Gaza .
• Organizational affiliation: Apparently affiliated with Hamas. He ran in the elections but was not elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council.
• Family status: Married, father of nine children.
• Education: Al-Zaza completed an undergraduate degree in civil engineering from Alexandria University in Egypt .
• Milestones: He managed infrastructure and building projects in Iraq and Saudi Arabia and is now assistant regional engineer for constructing UNWRA buildings in the Gaza Strip. He is chairman of the board of directors of a charitable society focusing on children's welfare and a member of the high council of the engineers' association. He was minister of housing and public works in the outgoing Hamas government.
Information Minister – Dr. Mustafa al-Barghuti
• Full name: Mustafa Kamel Mustafa al-Barghuti
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1954 in Ramallah, he now lives in Al-Bireh.
• Organizational affiliation: Independent and a member of the Independent Palestine list. He is also one of the heads of the civilian camp and the Palestinian left.
• Family status: Married, father of one child.
• Education: Barghuti holds a medical degree from the University of Moscow and an MS in business administration from Stanford University .
• Milestones: Barghuti has been active in public and political life for over 25 years. In 2002 (with Haidar Abul Shafi) he founded the non-government organization called the Palestinian National Initiative, which favors promoting reforms and the democratization of the PA, and establishing a united national leadership while continuing the struggle against Israel. In the PA presidential elections of 2005, Barghuti ran against Abu Mazen and received 20% of the votes.
Justice Minister – Engineer Ali Sartawi
• Full name: ‘ Ali Muhammad ‘Ali Muslih (Sartawi)
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1962 in Salfit, he now resides in Sarta ( Nablus region).
• Organizational affiliation: A member of the Hamas movement.
• Family status: Married, father of five children.
• Education: BA in Islamic law and doctorate in civil law from Amman University in Jordan .
• Milestones: He is dean of the law school of Al- Najah University in Nablus . He was also a Hamas candidate for minister of justice when the government was being formed in March of 2006.
• Detention by the Israeli security forces: He was incarcerated in the past due to his membership in Hamas.
Social Affairs Minister – Salah Zaydan
• Full name: Salah Muhammad Salim Zaydan
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1949 in the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon (the family was originally from the village of al-Damon near Acre ). He has been a resident of Gaza since 1996.
• Organizational affiliation: Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine .
• Milestones: Zaydan has been a member of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine's political bureau since 1989. From 1988 to 1996 he was the national secretary of the Democratic Front in Lebanon . Since 1996 he has been responsible for the movement in the Gaza Strip. He is a member of the monitoring committee of the national and Islamic forces. He has been a supporter of the prisoners' document since it was first written, and in favor of entering the unity government with Hamas.
Culture Minister – Bassam al-Salihi
• Full name: Bassam Ahmad ‘Umar al- Salihi
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1960 in Ramallah. His family was originally from Lod.
• Organizational affiliation: The Palestinian People's Party (formerly the Palestinian Communist Party).
• Education: BA in sociology from Bir Zeit University .
• Milestones: Chairman of the Alternative Faction (Al-Badil) in the Legislative Council and a member of the Palestinian National Council. He represented his party in dialogues and internal Palestinian multilateral talks. He is a member of the high committee for national dialogue and the professional committee for handling funds donated to the account of the presidency .
• Detention by the Israeli security forces: During the first violent Palestinian-Israeli confrontation (the first intifada ) he was detained a number of times and while in jail was elected to the party's central committee.
Labor Minister – Mahmud al-Alul
• Full name: Mahmud ‘Uthman Raghib al-Alul
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1950 in Nablus , to one of the most prominent families in the city.
• Organizational affiliation: Active in Fatah since 1967 (was Abu Jihad's assistant for many years).
• Family status: Married. His eldest son was killed at the beginning of the current violent Palestinian-Israeli confrontation (the second intifada ) when confronting IDF forces in Nablus .
• Education: BA in geography from Beirut University .
• Milestones: Member of the Fatah revolutionary council. He filled a variety of positions in Fatah's Western Sector 10 and operated out of Lebanon , Jordan and Tunisia . Between 1995 and 2005 he was governor of Nablus . He resigned before the Palestinian Legislative Council elections and was elected on the Hamas slate in Nablus .
• Detention by the Israeli security forces: He was imprisoned in Israel between 1967 and 1970 and then deported to Jordan .
Telecommunications and Technology Minister – Yousif al-Mansi
• Full name: Yousif Muhammad Hamidd al-Mansi.
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1953 in Gaza .
• Organizational affiliation: Independent. Affiliated with Hamas.
• Family status: Married, father of five children.
• Education: Doctorate in civil engineering from Al-Azhar University in Cairo (completed in 2002).
• Milestones: He worked in Saudia Arabia for 13 years as an engineer for the Wakf (Islamic religious endowments) Ministry in Riyadh . Since 1993 al-Mansi has taught in the engineering department of the Islamic University in Gaza , where he was assistant dean. He is a senior member in the Palestinian Engineers Union. He has been responsible for many engineering projects in the Gaza Strip, including hospital construction.
Public Works Minister – Samih Karakira
• Full name: Samih Hussein ‘Abd Karakira
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1947, he is a resident of Ramallah and holds American citizenship.
• Organizational affiliation: Active in Fatah in the Ramallah region.
• Education: He studied geography at Harvard University and taught at Bir Zeit University . He was deputy minister of planning in the outgoing Hamas government.
• Milestones: Karakira ran in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections in January 1996, but was not elected. In the past he called for a struggle against corruption and the promotion of reforms in the PA. He has played a part in negotiations with Israel since their inception.
Tourism Minister – Khulud Du'aybas
Full name: Khulud Frances Khalil Du'aybas
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1965 in Bethlehem , she is a Christian and has an East Jerusalem identity card.
• Organizational affiliation: Identified with Fatah, not a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
• Family status: Married.
• Education: PhD in architecture from Hanover University (received her degree in 1995).
• Milestones: She manages the Center for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Bethlehem and coordinates European Union projects for cultural heritage preservation. She also manages the rehabilitation project for historical sites in Bethlehem . She is a member of the Palestinian and Jordanian Engineers Union and of the Palestinian Architects Union.
Minister for Women's Affairs – Amal Siyam
• Full name: Amal Muhammad al-Sheikh Mahmud Siyam
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1962 in the Gaza Strip, she is now a resident of Bethlehem . She is probably a relative of former Hamas interior minister Sa'id Siyam.
• Organizational affiliation: Iidentified with Hamas, not a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
• Family status: Married, mother of four children. Married to Ghassan Hermas, who teaches at the Al Quds Open University. He was a Hamas operative and Hamas and was one of those deported to Marj al-Zuhour.
• Education: She has a master's degree in Islamic studies from Al-Quds University .
• Milestones: A known activist in women's affairs, she is the manager of the training program at the Center for Women's Affairs in Gaza . She teaches at Al-Quds Open University.
Health Minister – Radwan al-Akhras
• Full name: Radwan Sa'id Suleiman al-Akhras
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1945 in Wadi Hanin (the Nes Ziona region in Israel ), he lived in Tunis and has been a resident of Rafah since 1995.
• Organizational affiliation: A member of Fatah since 1966, he is an observer on the Palestinian National Council.
• Education: A physician by profession. He took military command courses in Syria , Eastern Europe and the Arab states.
• Milestones: Al-Akhras was a member of the operational-terrorist wing of Fatah (al-A'asifa Forces). He was in charge of the Palestinian Red Crescent services in Syria and in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon during 1982 (the first Lebanon war). From 1972 to 1988 he worked with Abu Jihad (Khalil Al-Wazir). He is a Fatah representative in the Palestinian Legislative Council. In Tunis he was responsible for the medical services administration. He was the executive director of the health ministry in the Palestinian Authority. He was formerly the manager of the emergency room in the Rafah hospital.
• Positions toward Israel : In 1998 he signed the petition opposing the Wye Agreement.
Waqf and Religious Affairs Minister – Hussein al-Tarturi
• Full name: Hussein Mutawi' Hussein al-Tarturi
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1954 in Hebron . In the past he divided his time between the West Bank and Saudi Arabia .
• Organizational affiliation: Active in Hamas.
• Education: He has a doctorate in Islamic law. He studied at Hebron University and Al-Najah University in Nablus .
• Milestones: He taught religion at Riyadh University . A few years ago he returned to the West Bank . He was in charge of Hamas's budget in the Hebron area.
State Minister 11 - Wasfi Qabha
• Full name: Wasfi Izzat Hassan Mustafa Qabha
• Origin / place of birth: Born in 1959 in the village of Barta'a (west of Jenin).
• Organizational affiliation: He was a Hamas operative. He is considered one of the senior leaders of Hamas in Jenin.
• Family status: Married, father of seven children.
• Education: He has a BA in civil engineering from Detroit , and completed post graduate studies in water resource management.
• Milestones: He works as an engineer in the Jenin municipality, where he is chairman of the research and planning department and manger of the engineering department. He was the Minister for Prisoner Affairs in the outgoing Hamas government. He also functions as a senior political figure in Jenin and is involved in charitable activities in the city.
• Detention by the Israeli security forces: He was imprisoned a number of times for a total of nine years. While in prison he was considered a leader. In June 2006 he was detained by IDF forces and released a few months later.
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