“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: may they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122: 6
Shabbat Shalom!
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Rabbi Tzvi Gluckin—The Wisdom of the Rolling Stones:
The Rolling Stones played in Israel. And that’s awesome.
The Stones are the world’s greatest band. They are also the world’s oldest. I am surprised that a band that’s been around as long as the Stones – and that’s toured for as long as the Stones – never made it to Israel.
But that’s what 50th anniversary tours are for.
The Stones aren’t just musicians. They’re insightful social commentators. Infused in their lyrics are messages of hope, despair, and a commentary on contemporary life.
And if you look carefully, important Jewish lessons can be found in their lyrics, too.
Here are the top five.
[…]
To continue reading, click here.
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Ruthie Blum: Netanyahu should stick to his guns— On Tuesday, the Obama administration announced it would support the new unity government forged between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. The only thing surprising about America’s reversal of its original commitment not to recognize or provide financial aid to such a government was that anybody was surprised by it, least of all Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. If there is one thing the Israeli leader should have learned by now is not to take Secretary of State John Kerry at his word, particularly when it involves Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Soeren Kern: Spain to Deport Pakistani Refugee for Criticizing Islam—”Okay, you Muslims, use violence, but we will continue to make films. One day, one of us will lose.” — Imran Firasat. Firasat argued that the expression of his views about Islam fall within the constitutional rights of free speech. Two dissenting judges signed a statement in which they ask whether the source of the danger to national security is in the actions of Firasat or in the reactions of Islamic fundamentalists. The Spanish Supreme Court has ruled that a political refugee should be deported because his criticism of Islam poses “a danger to the security of Spain.” The May 30 ruling, which upholds an earlier decision by a lower court to revoke the refugee status of a Pakistani ex-Muslim named Imran Firasat, showcases how the fear of Muslim rage continues to threaten the exercise of free speech in Europe. Firasat obtained political asylum in Spain in October 2006 because of death threats against him in both Pakistan and Indonesia for leaving the Islamic faith and marrying a non-Muslim.
Anne Gearan: Obama Administration Seeks to Bridge Rift with Israel over Palestinian Unity Government—State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf on Tuesday defended the willingness of the U.S. to recognize and fund a new Palestinian government affiliated with Hamas. She stressed that the announced lineup of ministers includes none who are members of the militant Palestinian group that has advocated Israel’s destruction. “They are all technocrats, unaffiliated with any political party, and are responsible for facilitating new elections,” Harf said. Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer, wrote on his Facebook page: “Had Hamas changed, it would be one thing. But Hamas hasn’t changed. It remains as committed to Israel’s destruction today as it was yesterday.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told AP: “All those who genuinely seek peace must reject President Abbas’ embrace of Hamas, and most especially, I think the United States must make it absolutely clear to the Palestinian president that his pact with Hamas…is simply unacceptable.”
Prof. Efraim Inbar: The Palestinian unity charade— The new Palestinian unity government is not about the re-establishment of one Palestinian political entity that could develop into a functioning Palestinian state. Already in the early 2000s, the Palestinian Authority degenerated into a failed state as it lost monopoly over the use of power in the territory under its jurisdiction with the advent of several competing militias. Indeed, in June 2007 Hamas orchestrated a coup that put the Gaza Strip under the control of this terrorist organization. Despite the current unity discourse, the Palestinians remain as divided as before. The only true test for unity of a political entity is monopoly over the use of force. As long as the military branch of Hamas remains independent there is no unity, but just evidence of the Somalization of Palestinian politics. Islamic Jihad also remains fiercely independent in Gaza, as well as other jihadist organizations. Moreover, instead of the PA regaining lost Gaza, Hamas is gaining better access to the West Bank.
Sheera Frenkel: U.S. Has Been Speaking to Hamas through Back Channels for More than Six Months—U.S. officials have been holding secret back-channel talks with Hamas over the last six months, according to senior American and Palestinian diplomatic officials. The meetings were held between U.S. intermediaries and Hamas’ leadership, which lives outside the Gaza Strip, in third-party countries. During the talks, Hamas gave assurances including a commitment to maintaining a ceasefire with Israel. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf denied there was any such back channel.
David Horovitz: U.S. Missed an Opportunity to Push for Reform of Hamas—Mere hours after PA President Mahmoud Abbas swore in a government backed by the Islamic extremist Hamas group, the U.S. State Department declared that it would work with the new government because it “does not include members affiliated with Hamas,” although the ministers were all approved by Hamas. Rather than rushing to embrace a Palestinian government in which an unreformed Hamas is a central component, what was to stop the U.S. conditioning its acceptance on a reform of Hamas? What was to stop Washington saying that it would be happy to work with Abbas’ new government, the moment its Hamas backers recognized Israel, accepted previous agreements and renounced terrorism?
Ehud Yaari: Hamas opts for the Hezbollah model—On June 2, Hamas and Fatah formed a unity government in the Palestinian Authority after many months of reconciliation talks, with Hamas nominally dissolving its government in the Gaza Strip. The move represents the fruit of a long internal debate within the group’s higher echelons regarding its future course. Rather than adhering to the seven-year-old strategy of prioritizing exclusive control of “Fortress Gaza” with no serious effort to heal the rift with Fatah in the West Bank, Hamas leaders have now changed tack toward a different program: transplanting the Hezbollah model from Lebanon to Palestine. For Hamas, this means integrating into the general political system while retaining independent, well-equipped armed forces and striving to maintain control of Gaza through its existing grip on local bureaucracy, its wide network of social institutions, and, of course, its 20,000 well-trained military cadres and security personnel.
Mati David: Why are journalists silent?— The fact that the Knesset is deliberating a flawed bill, designed to have Israel Hayom shut down, underscores the enormity of the crisis that has affected every media outlet in Israel. Anyone who considers himself or herself a stalwart of democracy, anyone who believes he or she is a champion of free speech and media pluralism, must oppose this “legislative” initiative, which would cripple the very publication that ended Yedioth Ahronoth’s monopolistic grip on the media market. You would expect journalists, politicians and intellectuals to lead the charge without fear or hesitation. The sponsors of this “bill” have explained that it has many “merits,” even though they are all pretty absurd. “Israel Hayom threatens democracy and free speech,” they claim. That is pure nonsense. If the MKs are so determined to ensure a “viable” democracy and a “free” press, they might as well revive the defunct party mouthpieces that used to be on sale everywhere: Davar (for Mapai and Labor), Al-Hamishmar (for Mapam-Meretz) and Hatzofeh (for the National Religious Party).
Dan Margalit: Reports are one thing, reality is another— For months, a report compiled by the Shamgar committee, which in 2008 was tasked by then-Defense Minister Ehud Barak with outlining the process according to which Israel may negotiate the return of abducted individuals, gathered dust in one of Barak’s desk drawers. The findings were never really discussed, so as not to influence the negotiations meant to secure the safe return of Hamas captive Gilad Schalit; but even in 2011, when Schalit was finally back on Israeli soil, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu still refrained from discussing the Shamgar committee’s report.
Gilead Ini: The New York Times and Israel— Two years ago in Jerusalem, a gang of teenage Israeli thugs beat up an Arab teen named Jamal Julani. The attack was brutal. The unconscious victim was rushed to the hospital, where he recovered and was released several days later. Understandably enough, this story of violent Jews, entranced by whatever lures young people to stupidity and hate, made waves in Israel, enough so that officials from across the Israeli political spectrum spoke loudly and clearly to condemn the attack. Slightly less understandable was the emphasis The New York Times placed on the incident. A story on the beating appeared above the fold – that valuable space at the top of the front page where editors place stories they want readers to notice most – and raised questions about “the moral compass of youths” growing up within the conflict. A week later, in an article that again appeared on the front page of the newspaper’s New England edition, the newspaper informed readers that the incident revealed “festering wounds regarding race, violence and extremism” in Israel.
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U.S. Lawmakers: Aid to Palestinians Must Be Reviewed
Germany ‘very worried’ about Israel’s plans to advance settlement building
EU calls for ‘reverse’ to settlement building plans
Israel’s response to PA unity gov’t: Building 3,000 new units beyond Green Line
‘EU rejects theory that Brussels Jewish museum gunman acted alone’
Ya’alon blasts ‘sweet talking’ Palestinian leadership
Shapiro: Israel came to same decision as US did on PA unity government
EU calls for ‘reverse’ to settlement building plans
Israel boycott resolution fails at MLA convention
Jewish Democrats rally for Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential bid
SnyderTalk Comment: Wait until Hillary stabs Israel in the back—again. Then what will Jewish Democrats do? As an aside, it disturbs me when anyone puts political party affiliation ahead of morals and common sense. I’m reminded of this morsel of wisdom: “A scorpion stings because she’s a scorpion.”
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Police Raid PA TV Studios in Jerusalem over Incitement
Amsterdam to Up Jewish Security after Brussels Killings
Pakistan Taliban Leader Killed in Power Struggle
‘Unity’ in Hevron as PA Clamps Down on Hamas
Egypt Criminalizes Sexual Harassment
BDS Falls Flat in Modern Language Association Vote
Arab Breaks Jew’s Skull with Bat in Jerusalem
Arab Mob Frees Rioter from Border Police Arrest
Yaalon: Let’s See Abbas Disarm Hamas
Survey: Most Jews Oppose Unilateral Moves
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The Rolling Stones in Israel: It’s only rock ‘n roll, but we loved it
Mick Jagger’s top 12 Hebrew phrases
The Rolling Stones’ Tel Aviv setlist
Rolling Stones rock Tel Aviv in first-ever Israel concert
Israel okays 1,500 West Bank homes in response to Palestinian unity
Palestinians to appeal to UN over settlement expansion
US envoy condemns new settlement building plans
California university passes divestment resolution
Australia drops ‘occupied’ label from East Jerusalem
Israeli doctors won’t force-feed Palestinian prisoners
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Video: Rolling Stones Play Tel Aviv
Mayor Bloomberg Had One Thing to Say About Jerusalem That You Need to Hear
Iran’s Leader Says Obama Has Removed Military Option
Monster in the Middle: How the media coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict gets distorted
Promoting Hate Speech: Haaretz Plumbs New Depths
New PA Scheme to Dupe Donors and Fund Terrorists
Would a great newspaper slant the news against Israel?
Syria Islamist Eclipsing Al-Qaeda’s Zawahiri as Jihadi Leader
Putin, Merkel Meet on Ukraine Crisis
In Israel, plans to close immigrant center stir integration concerns
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Genesis 7: 17-24
17 Then the flood came upon the earth for forty days, and the water increased and lifted up the ark, so that it rose above the earth. 18 The water prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. 19 The water prevailed more and more upon the earth, so that all the high mountains everywhere under the heavens were covered. 20 The water prevailed fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered. 21 All flesh that moved on the earth perished, birds and cattle and beasts and every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind; 22 of all that was on the dry land, all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, died. 23 Thus He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky, and they were blotted out from the earth; and only Noah was left, together with those that were with him in the ark. 24 The water prevailed upon the earth one hundred and fifty days.
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His Name is Yahweh explains why the Name of God, Yahweh, is so important. It’s available in eBook format and in paperback. It’s also available for free in PDF format.
- God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This [Yahweh] is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.” (Exodus 3: 15)
- “Therefore behold, I am going to make them know—this time I will make them know My power and My might; and they shall know that My name is Yahweh.” (Jeremiah 16: 21)
- “Behold, the days are coming,” declares Yahweh, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, ‘Yahweh our righteousness.’” (Jeremiah 23: 5-6)
- Yeshua said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” (John 8: 58)
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Jehovah is not the Name of God
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Blessings in the Book of Revelation is a book that you need to read, especially now. There are blessings throughout the Scriptures but Revelation is the only book in the Bible actually containing a specific blessing for reading it. It’s repeated twice, once at the beginning and again at the end. This is the reason that I believe Revelation should be the first step toward studying biblical prophecy. Though not easy to do, Revelation can be broken down and understood by anyone, not just the academic elite. So, Revelation’s blessings are for everyone. Click here to order the eBook. Click here to order the paperback.
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Other Books by Neil Snyder
- Stand! is a suspense novel that exposes the lies, corruption, and greed underlying the theory that man-made CO2 emissions are responsible for global warming. Professor Wes Carlyle and Karen Sterling, his research collaborator, carefully scan the audience for their would-be attacker—a member of the enviro-gestapo who has been following them for days. Wes spots his man in the back of the room leaning against the wall. Suddenly, another man in the audience steps forward and moves toward Karen at a menacing pace. With a vicious stroke, he swings a billy club at her head. Click here to order the eBook. Click here to order the paperback.
- What Will You Do with the Rest of Your Life? deals with a question that every Christian has to consider: what should I do with my life? Click here to order the eBook. Click here to order the paperback.
- Falsely Accused is a true story about a young woman who was accused of committing a double homicide. It’s about a travesty of justice, and it reveals Yahweh intervening in the life of a believer to rescue her from danger in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Everyone will enjoy the book, but young people in particular need to read it because the mistakes made that led to the problem could have been avoided. They were the kinds of mistakes that young people are prone to make. As they say, forewarned is forearmed. Click here to order the eBook. Click here to order the paperback.
