PLO FLAG FLYING IN FRONT OF THE INBAL HOTEL.

Dear List

Please see copy of letter sent to the manager of the Inbal Hotel. I just received a call on my cell phone from Mr. Sanders who out of courtesy (perhaps necessity) called me to explain the progression of events that led up to the erecting of the PLO flag with all the many other friendly and democratic countries.

Avi Dichter of Homeland Security in Israel invited many countries to attend this seminar at the Inbal Hotel and requested that the PLO flag be included. The Hotel had reservations but when they questioned the Minister regarding having the PLO flag, according to Mr. Sanders, the Hotel was not left with a choice since after all the seminar is about security. The wisdom of the hotel or the minister is not to be questioned according to Mr. Sanders since the hotel is open to all nations and all peoples be they white, black, orthodox, conservative, reform, gay, lesbian, etc. Without inhibitions, I let him have it between the eyes and without apology. What I tried to impart to him is that the PLO is not included in your list of human beings. The PLO are murderers. Had the PLO been responsible for killing you wife and children and the husbands and wives of 20 of your hotel staff, chances are that the flag would not be waving in front of your hotel. I continued to explain to him that what I expect from segments of the economic society in Israel is to be able to stand up under the pressures of a government who have totally lost their way and who continue to provide humanitarian aid to the head of the PA as they continue to kill my families in Israel and are proud of it. I said much more which made Mr. Sanders extremely agitated to the point where he could no longer hold himself back and as all CEO's and heads of organizations say. I called you to explain our position and not to get into a political discussion out of respect and it appears that you are taking this to another level. I cut him off and quietly said that the govt. and the left in Israel continue to express in the press that leaving Gaza has nothing at all to do with the rockets raining down on Sderot, Ashkelon and Southern Gaza . So Mr. Sanders what you are saying to me that the PA flag on our front lawn next to the Israeli flag obviously has nothing to do with dead Jews. I ended the conversation by wishing him well and saying goodbye.
I am not paranoid but just maybe just maybe the shabak was listening to how he handled this call. It is quite regrettable that we are in this very low place today where our fellow Jews have become used to everyday terror and cannot discern between right and wrong. It is as well quite well established that in perhaps too many circles in Israel today that one becomes sensitive about his brothers orphaned children only when he becomes an orphan himself.

I encourage you to write letters to Mr. Sanders if you feel so inclined

Letter sent to the Manager of Inbal this past Sunday.
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Dear Mr. Sanders

It has been brought to our attention that the Inbal Hotel has been convinced that flying the PLO flag is appropriate for the convention taking place in your facility. I would assume that the management has been put into this very difficult position by such powers that have given you no alternatives since most of the world is well aware that in fact the PA are terrorists and continue to speak out openly to destroy Israel. However, since your hotel has come to this decision and it will obviously cause embarrasement to the many loyal patrons that you have catered to for so many years, we are forced to send email blasts throughout the US & Canada suggesting that letters of concern to your hotel be sent.

I am sure that when your hotel management made this decision to raise the PA flag they well understood that it could have negative effects. Well, I guess then you won't be surprised when you begin to receive negative feedback.

How unfortunate for all of us.

Sincerely
Izzy Kaplan
Toronto Zionist Council VP

NEXT YEAR IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL

This Pesach is the 44th yortzeit of our father "R. Dovid Leib Ben Harav Yitzchak Yosef. On the second day of Pesach which is the first day of Chol Hamoed in Israel, we invited a small group of friends and relatives to come and have a small seudah and make a l'chayim in our home in Yerushalayim. Some of our friends were unable to attend as they were keeping two days of Pesach and others were able since they have either purchased a home or have adopted the minhag of coming to Israel for all the regalim. Our father came to Israel the first time when he was approx. 39 years of age. What brought him to Israel to my recollection was that he had undergone a serious operation to remove a kidney and came to Israel to both recouperate and I suppose his gratitude to Hashem that he came through the test. This visit to Israel may have been an important healing agent for my father as he lived for another 10 years and sucumbed to kidney failure at the young age of 49. It was the decision of my mother and my father's parents to bury him on Har Hamenuchot where our parents have come to rest until Moshiach arrives soon and in our days. In my short address about my father I further mentioned that perhaps in some way he has been the catalist throughout our years to bring us closer to Eretz Yisrael as did our Avos for the entire Jewish people. Susie & I are zocheh to see a number of our children and grandchildren settle in Eretz Yisrael and we are sure that my father and mothers neshomos play a role in bringing us to the place where all Jews will one day settle.


NEXT YEAR IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL

THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF REFERENCES TO ERETZ YISRAEL IN THE HOLIDAY OF PESACH AND THE HAGGADAH WE HAVE JUST READ AT THE SEDER. IN FACT, THE ENTIRE GOAL OF THE EXODUS WAS TO ENTER THE LAND OF ISRAEL, AS WE SAY AT THE END OF MAGGID: HASHEM DID NOT REDEEM ONLY OUR ANCESTORS, RATHER HE REDEEMED US WITH THEM, AS IT SAYS “V’OTANU HOTZEE MEESHUM L’MAN……. HE BROUGHT US OUT OF THERE, IN ORDER TO BRING US, TO GIVE US THE LAND THAT HE SWORE TO OUR FOREFATHERS (DVARIM 6:23).

IN RAV ELIYAHU KI TOV’S HAGGADAH IN THE NAME OF R’ YAAKOV EMDEN WE READ IN THE HA LACHMA ANYA: NOW WE ARE HERE; NEXT YEAR (MAY WE BE) IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL. NOW WE ARE SLAVES: NEXT YEAR MAY WE BE FREE MEN. RAV YAAKOV EMDEN IS BOTHERED BY THE REPETITION. IF WE PRAY TO BE IN ERETZ YISRAEL, ARE WE NOT BY DEFINITION PRAYING TO BE FREE AS IN BEING REDEEMED? THIS IS HOW ELIYAHU KITOV QUOTES HIS ANSWER. WHEN ONE READS THIS IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT R’ YAAKOV EMDEN LIVED IN GERMANY APPROX. THREE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

ONE SHOULD NOT SAY “WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF ALL THESE DISPLAYS OF FREEDOM THAT WE EXHIBIT ON PESACH NIGHT? ARE WE NOT STILL IN EXILE? WHAT, THEN IS THE PURPOSE OF BEING HAPPY? THEREFORE, THE HAGGADAH TELLS US THAT THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED TRUE EXILE. FOR EVEN IF WE LIVE IN A FOREIGN LAND TODAY, NEXT YEAR WE COULD BE IN ERETZ YISRAEL BY OUR OWN FREE WILL. NO ONE IS STOPPING US (AT LEAST THE JEWS ARE NOT IMPRISONED IN EXILE TODAY AS THEY WERE IN EGYPT, FROM WHRE NO SLAVE WAS EVER ABLE TO ESACAPE). EVEN IF, G-D FORBID, THE TIME OF REDEMPTION HAS NOT YET COME, THE LAND OF ISRAEL IS BEFORE US, TO GO AND DWELL THERE ANY TIME. (OUR EXILE) IS NOT LIKE THE EGYPTIAN EXILE, WHERE WE WERE SLAVES AND CAPTIVES IN PRISON.

IN OTHER WORDS, WE FIRST SAY, “NEXT YEAR IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL” TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE HOPE TO BE IN THE HOLY LAND NEXT YEAR, EVEN IF THE FINAL REDEMPTION DOES NOT YET MATERIALIZE. THEN WE PRAY FOR THE COMPLETE REDEMPTION TO ARISE- IN BOTH A PHYSICAL AND SPRITUAL SENSE BY NEXT PESACH

THIS IDEA UNDERSCORES A VERY IMPORTANT CONCEPT THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE YET TO FULLY GRASP. MANY DIASPORA JEWS RATIONALIZE THEIR REFUSAL TO MAKE ALIYA BY SAYING “WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT ERETZ YISRAEL TODAY? THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS THERE. I’LL COME WHEN MASHIACH ARRIVES.” RAV YA’AKOV EMDEN TEACHES US THAT THERE IS MERIT IN LIVING IN GOD’S CHOSEN LAND EVEN IF THINGS ARE NOT YET PERFECT .

THERE ARE BASICALLY THREE LEVELS OF EXILE: ONE EXTREME IS “ABSOLUTE EXILE”. THIS IS WHEN THE JEWISH PEOPLE ARE PHYSICALLY BANISHED FROM THEIR LAND AND SPIRITUALLY EXILED AS WELL. THEY ARE IN GALUT (A STATE OF EXILE) AND IN THE GOLAH (THE LANDS OF EXILE, OR THE DIASPORA). THE OTHER EXTREME IS “ABSOLUTE REDEMPTION”. THIS WILL OCCUR WHEN MASHIACH ARRIVES AND BRINGS US BACK TO HASHEM, BOTH PHYSICALLY (TO HIS LAND) AND SPIRITUALLY (COMPLETE REPENTANCE). HOWEVER, THERE IS A MIDDLE GROUND IN WHICH THE JEWS ARE IN A STATE OF EXILE BUT DO NOT LIVE IN LANDS OF EXILE. THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT THE ULTIMATE REDEMPTION, BUT IT IS ALSO NOT ABSOLUTE EXILE, BECAUSE AT LEAST THEY ARE PHYSICALLY CLOSER TO GOD. JEWS WHO LIVE OUTSIDE THE LAND OF ISRAEL ARE IN BOTH A STATE AND PLACE OF EXILE. JEWS WHO LIVE IN ISRAEL, HOWEVER, ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO REDEMPTION, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT LIVE IN THE GOLAH.

THERE IS ONE MORE LESSON TO BE LEARNED FROM RAV YAAKOV EMDENS WORDS OF WISDOM. AS STATED, RAV EMDEN GAVE THIS INTERPRETATION ALMOST THREE HUNDRED YEARS AGO, WHEN IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TRAVEL TO AND SELTTLE IN ERETZ YISRAEL, AND WHEN THE LAND WAS NOT IN JEWISH HANDS. NONETHELESS, HE SAID : “NEXT YEAR WE COULD BE IN ERETZ YISRAEL BY OUR OWN FREE WILL. NO ONE IS STOPPING US….THE LAND OF ISRAEL IS BEFORE US, TO GO AND DWELL THERE AT ANY TIME.” WHAT ARE WE TO SAY TODAY, WHEN CONDITIONS IN THE HOLY LAND ARE IMMEASURABLY BETTER? WE HAVE THE ALMOST UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER OUR FIRST PLEA IN “HA LACHAMA ANYA NEXT YEAR IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL”. PERHAPS IF WE MAKE THE EFFORT TO REALLY BE IN ERETZ YISRAEL NEXT YEAR, HASHEM WILL INTERVENE AND FULFILL OUR SECOND REQUEST- “NEXT YEAR (MAY WE BE) FREE MEN”

REDEMPTION IS IN OUR HANDS BUT ONLY IF YOU WANT IT TO BE

REDEMPTION IS IN OUR HANDS
BUT ONLY IF YOU WANT IT TO BE

http://thesanhedrin.org/Vaad/KorbanPesach/

It is clear that the major goal of the Seder night is to recite the Hagaddah and to fulfill the mitzvah, "…and you shall tell your children."

That is, by recounting the story of the Exodus from Egypt to our children (and to ourselves as well), we actualize in our minds these events of history. As a result, we strengthen our emunah. But no matter how convincingly one tells the story about the PAST redemption, he misses the point if he ignores the discussion of the FUTURE redemption.

Rabbi Menachem Kasher, ZT"L, in his book "HaTkufa HaGidola" (The Great Era) elaborates for us the following. He says that during the night of the Seder, one is obligated to include thanks to G-d for the miracles that we have witnessed in our generation. As proof he brings the words of the Rashba, who says that the mitzvah of remembering our Exodus from Egypt is to glorify G-d's Name and to teach trust (Bitachon) in G-d. This being the case, these same lessons can be learned by the miracles we have recently witnessed in our times, miracles of the Final Redemption.

The Hagaddah recites a story that sharpens the point: "It happened that Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Elazar Ben Azariah, Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Tarphon were reclining (at a Seder) in Bnei Brak. They were discussing the Exodus all that night, until their students came and told them, ‘Rabbis! It is time for the Morning Prayer Shma!’”

The obvious questions are: how could the Rabbis not have paid attention to themselves that the time for the reading of the Shma had arrived? In addition, what were these Rabbis doing sitting together on Seder night, when each had a family and a Yeshiva of his own in different parts of the country? Why were they sitting in Bnei Brak, the place of (the student) Rabbi Akiva?

Before giving the answer, some historical background is necessary. Only a few years had passed since the destruction of the Second Temple, and the Romans controlled the Land of Israel. But secretly, the planning of the revolution had begun. This revolution saw Rabbi Akiva play a central role as the "arms bearer" of Bar-Cochba (See Rambam, Hilchot Milachim). The rest of the Rabbis were also quite active in the rebellion, as the Rambam writes, "…and he (Rabbi Akiva) and ALL THE RABBIS OF HIS GENERATION thought that he (Bar-Cochba) was the Messiah."

And so the Rabbis, with Rabbi Akiva, were sitting together on the SEDER NIGHT to learn and discuss the FUNDAMENTALS OF THE REDEMPTION AND TO MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR THE REBELLION. Perhaps they were learning, covertly, in the famous Caves of Bar-Cochba. If so, it would be clear why their students would need to inform them that morning had broke.

It is worth pointing out a nice explanation for " …until their students came and told them, ‘Rabbis! It is time for the Morning Prayer Shma!’” Shma Yisrael is a symbol for Kiddush Hashem, and the students were saying to their Rabbis, “OUR RABBIS! THE TIME FOR KIDDUSH HASHEM HAS ARRIVED! REBEL AGAINST THE ROMANS AND BRING THE REDEMPTION!”

Here is the crucial lesson: the Rabbis understood that the purpose of the Seder night was not just to retell a story that once was. The Exodus from Egypt is the source and inspiration for the Future Redemption as well, and that is why our sages tell us that the first redemption is a sign for the Final Redemption. Since the Rabbis believed at that point that bringing the Final Redemption was a real possibility (And that Bar-Cochba was a candidate for Messiah), they sat on the Seder night planning the tactics and natural stages of this rebellion and redemption.

This generation has merited to see what our ancestors did not merit since the destruction: a rebuilt Land of Israel, the ingathering of the exiles, and miraculous victories over our enemies. Surely we are not more worthy than our ancestors and somehow more deserving. Rather, it was done for G-d's Holy Name, which had been so desecrated during a 2,000-year exile. Unfortunately we witness a redemption that is not one of Achishena (Swiftly and with glory) but rather one of Bi-Eta (Slowly, in its time), which is a redemption accompanied by great suffering and pain. It is the type of redemption that G-d brings upon us against our will, since we refuse to participate in it. Moreover, Israeli leadership has only worked to toss a monkey wrench in the works...

This Passover night let us not only discuss the past, but the following two items as well:
We must contemplate the miracles that we have witnessed in our generation, with an understanding that it is G-d's Hand and the expression of His Will to bring us the Final Redemption.
If the great sages sat on the Seder Night and occupied themselves with the revolution, which had not yet begun, certainly we are obligated to sit and engross ourselves with the redemption process that has already begun. We must sit and think in a PRACTICAL WAY how we can remove the monkey wrench that the wicked have tossed in the wheels. We must contemplate how we can quicken and advance the process with acts of Kiddush Hashem, Emunah, and Msirut Nefesh, which are the keys to redemption.
May we merit to properly fulfill the mitzvah of telling the Passover story, and to act upon the practical conclusions derived from learning about the First Redemption.

Have a happy and kosher Passover.

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IZZY KAPLAN

SAVE SDEROT; SAVE ASHKELON; SAVE ISRAEL

The situation in Sderot & Ashkelon has deteriorated dramatically in the last weeks and days. Alon Davidi of Sderot and I have been running from city to city in the U.S. speaking to groups, shuls and private philanthropy and we are on our way tomorrow to meet with Congressman Scott Garrett who is sponsoring a bill HR951 condemning PA rocket attacks on Israeli civilians. Garrett & Saxton understand the urgency of the situation in Israel and we hope with help from friends in Washington to force Israel to do the right thing.

At the same time we are asking world jewry to help provide much needed funds for programs in Sderot. Our message is the following. If you are not prepared to go to Sderot today and help the Jews of Sderot cope with the barrage of rockets the very least we can do is help them with funding programs that will give them the strength to stay.

For more information call my cell or Alon Davidi's cell

Alon Davidi
052 899 3255
Izzy Kaplan
416 824 2858

Below please see click on's to see pictures of the devastation.
JEWS DON'T SLEEP WAKE UP AND SEE THE REALITY.


Photo Essay: Southern Israel Under Fire
25 Adar 5768, 02 March 08 03:54by Ezra HaLevi
(IsraelNN.com) Sderot is facing more powerful rockets and Ashkelon is now within range as well. Arutz-7 brings you photos of the aftermath of rocket strikes...
Email subscribers, click here to view photo essay
* Click here for a video story about a Sderot teacher's song that youngsters sing to overcome the trauma of Kassam rocket attacks

WE BEG YOU

WE BEG YOU! WITH THE STRENGTH OF YOUR RIGHT HAND'S GREATNESS, UNTIE THE BUNDLED SINS. ACCEPT THE PRAYER OF YOUR PEOPLE: STRENGTHEN US, PURIFY US, O AWESOME ONE.
The song you are about to hear has become popular on many of the secular radio stations in Israel. When we look for proof of the Jewish yearning for unity and closeness to Hashem this Kabbalistic prayer "We beg you" provides our generation with hope for good things to come.
Please press play at the bottom of this website
http://www.hamama.co.il/homepage.htm

SAVE SDEROT: ROCKETS DAILY OUT OF THE SKY

Dear Rabbis of New York:
My name is Izzy Kaplan of Toronto, and I have taken an active interest this past year in coming to the aid of the Jews of Sderot. We have entered this struggle approximately one year ago, attempting to bring the message of Sderot to the city of Toronto. Alon Davidi, who founded the Haamateh L'bitachon Sderot www.matesderot.co.il, has undertaken to provide urgent humanitarian services here in Sderot. My dear Rabbis, I have to be bluntly honest. I have never seen anything like this in modern day Eretz Yisrael, where the government and the nation watch as a city of 20,000 is rocketed night and day, day and night, with no military relief in sight. I have arrived in Sderot a few days ago, drawn here by the need to rush to the aid of our brothers and sisters and not even knowing what to do for them. But, after a few days of accepting from the sky in excess of 150 rockets, I made a decision to contact some of the Rabbinic leadership in major US cities to advise them that this little Jew from Toronto sitting here cannot and will not believe that we have become the Jews of Silence. I am told by Alon Davidi that Rabbi Kermaier of the Fifth Avenue Synagogue was in Sderot 2 weeks ago and was shocked at the situation here in Sderot. Alon assured him that despite all of the rockets, injuries and destruction, the people are able to find strength as long as caring Jews show compassion through economic and moral support. It is my intention to bring Alon Davidi to New York, Toronto, & Miami for speaking engagements, towards the last few weeks in February and early March. Alon lives in Sderot and has 5 small children of his own. This morning, two seperate Red Alerts went off, and both parents grabbed their 5 children and went running into a safe room in the house until the big thud was heard, or until the second or third or fourth red alert ended. My point is that this is the scene in most homes throughout Sderot, day and night, and no Jew in this country, let alone this generation, should be forced to endure such degradation. I look forward to hearing from you in order to show how much you are concerned and care for your fellow Jews here in Sderot.