shalom in Israel

A600kgBear – I had the same problem with K9 when I downloaded Internet Explorer 8. In the end I reverted to version 7 because my K9 is more important than the upgrade.

BTW – important note about K9. If you forget your password you can have it sent to your email address. If you think anyone else may be logging in and having it sent to your address when you aren’t around, do what I did. I set up a new email account with hotmail. Put this down as my email address, got the initial emails then deleted the account. This means that no-one can get into it. HOWEVER, one draw back is that it does not recognise hebrew, which means that occasionally things can get past it.

Daniel – I think that areivimzehlazeh is right. I am pretty much in the same boat as you – chareidi BT (but over 20 years now); use internet (with filters) and don’t think that secular studies is a big satan. Here in Israel it’s tougher than the States because everything is so black and white. In the end we chose a Rav who is FFB, Swiss, but who knows us, and can think out of the box. I don’t agree with everything he says – like when I told him how disgusted I was with the lack of empathy over Gush Katif, and he basically said there was nothing that we could do anyway! But, in general – he’s kind, thoughtful, understands our mentality etc – oh and he has a sense of humor which is important. If you have free time right now, why don’t you consider getting yourself over to the Aish HaTorah Beis Medrash – yes it’s not just for “beginners” and there, you will find many Rabbanim and serious avreichim just like you. Good luck!

I was just discussing this issue with my wife who laughed and said that 15 years ago, here in Israel, the issues were denim skirts and sneakers. As she said – she WISHES they were the issues today. I travel to work by bus from KIRYAT SEFER – a “hareidi stronghold”, and some of the women who get on the bus make even me – a fervent “anti-back door for women” supporter, wish that I didn’t have to notice them.

Coke not Pespi – the look is horrible – kind of like someone is trying to not look frum so is doing a b’di eved. Seeing a sundress with spaghetti straps, with a flesh colored (yup seen this too) or other colored “shell” under it, is not the way a Bas Melech should be dressing. I’m all for women looking put together, and equally dislike the new Yerushalmi “style” of shapeless clothes and a “shol” on top – I don’t believe that’s a Bas Melech either. Why can’t Jewish girls look pleasing to the eye in regal clothing that covers what needs to be covered – oh and by the way – where does it say in halacha that women can walk around with skirts that barely (if that) skim the knees. Even if they are covered when she is standing; take a look at the same women sitting on a bench – not a pretty sight!

I don’t know why I read this – straight after Rosh HaShanah as well, and I am now reprimanding myself, by saying I refuse to believe it. And really – I do hope it’s not true, because if it is, it makes for huge chillul Hashem.

Shindy – my wife’s been making this recipe for over 15 years – delicious every time. She adds: if you want to freeze challah – wrap it in plastic wrap WHILE STILL WARM. Make sure that it’s totally covered, then slip into the freezer. Comes out tasting totally fresh.

Unlike the other posters here, I do live in Israel. I am not going to whitewash everything and say that everything is wonderful, because it isn’t. The yeshivas are struggling; the kollels are struggling; families are struggling, there is definitely an anti-hareidi sentiment in the knesset, but you know what – even if the Israeli government gave us a fraction of what they give now – we would still be obligated to have hakaras hatov.

We have to understand that the majority of people in Israel (and in government) are not Rashaim – they fall into the category of tinok sh’nishbar. They have no appreciation for authentic Torah – they fail to understand that Israel can’t survive only by physical power. It’s sad but facts.

We have to also understand that H’ in his ultimate wisdom has deemed that the dire financial situation is what we deserve right now. Perhaps (and I don’t claim to be a “Nasi” here), if there was less sinas chinam, there would be less financial problems.

As of right now I know of 5 good kids, from good families who don’t have yeshivas for next year – all of them Sephardim. How many tears can a Mother weep? How much begging of Roshei Yeshivas can a Father do? How many families are being forced to changed their names – Dagan becomes Fisher; Ben Lulu becomes Lobenstein; how much already? How much suffering do these good families have to bear?

Ahh – perhaps the answer to our initial point of “What can the Country to for you” lies in our attitude to lack of hakaras hatov, and too much sinas chinam.