<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920</id><updated>2011-11-28T01:22:54.531+02:00</updated><category term='anti-Semitism'/><category term='Israel'/><category term='dividing'/><category term='Halloween'/><category term='land'/><category term='Sukkot'/><category term='Mitzvah'/><title type='text'>Simchat Artzenu</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>50</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-1851430859889847431</id><published>2010-08-23T16:15:00.006+03:00</published><updated>2010-08-23T16:24:02.071+03:00</updated><title type='text'>Views of Teveria</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PU23HsTYfJM/THJ2Xo568kI/AAAAAAAAABg/iasCtSgi23w/s1600/P8084056.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 205px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PU23HsTYfJM/THJ2Xo568kI/AAAAAAAAABg/iasCtSgi23w/s320/P8084056.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508595442716963394" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PU23HsTYfJM/THJ1pIcZRaI/AAAAAAAAABY/Y2Pqihtxymk/s1600/P8084059.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 271px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PU23HsTYfJM/THJ1pIcZRaI/AAAAAAAAABY/Y2Pqihtxymk/s320/P8084059.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508594643729204642" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style=" ;font-family:arial;"&gt;Here are some views of Teveria:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PU23HsTYfJM/THJ1CpPCg2I/AAAAAAAAABI/7GtiAo45yt8/s1600/P8084053.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PU23HsTYfJM/THJ1CpPCg2I/AAAAAAAAABI/7GtiAo45yt8/s320/P8084053.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508593982516659042" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;                  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-1851430859889847431?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/1851430859889847431/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/08/views-of-teveria.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/1851430859889847431'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/1851430859889847431'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/08/views-of-teveria.html' title='Views of Teveria'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PU23HsTYfJM/THJ2Xo568kI/AAAAAAAAABg/iasCtSgi23w/s72-c/P8084056.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-8088452371510445260</id><published>2010-06-27T12:01:00.003+03:00</published><updated>2010-06-27T20:29:45.580+03:00</updated><title type='text'>Emmanuel Court Case</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;The following details the latest update on the court case:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/138285"&gt;http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/138285&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-8088452371510445260?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/8088452371510445260/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/06/emmanuel-court-case.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/8088452371510445260'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/8088452371510445260'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/06/emmanuel-court-case.html' title='Emmanuel Court Case'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-4948091619038177594</id><published>2010-06-07T18:19:00.003+03:00</published><updated>2010-06-07T18:30:03.003+03:00</updated><title type='text'>Passing of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Please follow the link and read the news item about the passing of this remarkable sage of our generation:  &lt;a href="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/137926"&gt;http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/137926&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-4948091619038177594?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/4948091619038177594/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/06/passing-of-rabbi-mordechai-eliyahu.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/4948091619038177594'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/4948091619038177594'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/06/passing-of-rabbi-mordechai-eliyahu.html' title='Passing of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-4003714747307926868</id><published>2010-05-26T14:42:00.002+03:00</published><updated>2010-05-26T14:47:32.817+03:00</updated><title type='text'>Bnai Anusim</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Check out the following website for those who have discovered their heritage for the first time: &lt;a href="www.sephardimhope.net"&gt;www.sephardimhope.net&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-4003714747307926868?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/4003714747307926868/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/05/bnai-anusim.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/4003714747307926868'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/4003714747307926868'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/05/bnai-anusim.html' title='Bnai Anusim'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-3339593684302528057</id><published>2010-05-10T16:52:00.003+03:00</published><updated>2010-05-31T17:41:20.395+03:00</updated><title type='text'>Israeli Funeral - continued</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;At the conclusion of the seven day mourning period, the family visits the grave site and recites prayers for the visitation.  Once the prayers have concluded, the family gathers at a table at the cemetery and has some cake and fruit before departing the grounds.  In thirty days from the time of the person's death, family and friends will gather again to visit the grave site to remember their loved one. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-3339593684302528057?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/3339593684302528057/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/05/israeli-funeral-continued.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/3339593684302528057'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/3339593684302528057'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/05/israeli-funeral-continued.html' title='Israeli Funeral - continued'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-8203911422817731491</id><published>2010-05-07T13:37:00.002+03:00</published><updated>2010-05-07T13:55:46.707+03:00</updated><title type='text'>An Israeli Funeral - Part 2</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;As the seven day mourning period is coming to a close, people were coming to visit in greater numbers to celebrate her life.  After the evening prayers on Thursday, family and friends gathered at tables filled with food to further the celebration.  Various people spoke while everyone was enjoying the gathering.  It was good to see several family members who are disabled participating also.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-8203911422817731491?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/8203911422817731491/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/05/israeli-funeral-part-2.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/8203911422817731491'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/8203911422817731491'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/05/israeli-funeral-part-2.html' title='An Israeli Funeral - Part 2'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-8149933862060437789</id><published>2010-05-04T14:56:00.004+03:00</published><updated>2010-05-04T17:03:41.264+03:00</updated><title type='text'>An Israeli Funeral</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Recently, our upstairs neighbor's mother on the wife's side died.  Instead of having a sad atmosphere at a funeral home with people being very quiet when they come visit at the house,  a tent was set up in the parking area of the driveway with tables and chairs for the family and visitors.  The atmosphere was filled with reminiscence with laughter and lively conversations going on.  When I came to visit, the wife's brother greeted me and immediately filled a cup with a soft drink for me without my asking and said, "Come and sit down and eat something," you are free to feel invited without an invitation.   Yes, there are the chairs that are low in height and cushions on the ground for the family so they can be seated and/or lying in mourning, but other than that it would appear that a party was going on.  In many parts of Israel, many funerals are observed similar to our experience.  For example, in an apartment building that has an entrance patio, tables and chairs would be set up so family, friends, and neighbors can come and drop in and visit with the family. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;Kaddish (the mourners' prayer for the departed) is recited during Scharit, Minchah, and Ma'ariv, the morning, afternoon, and evening prayers.  Kaddish can only be recited if a minyan (quorum of ten men) is present.  So those who come to the minyan are not just family members:  it is wide open.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;The husband and wife's granddaughter with have her second birthday this week of mourning.  She has been in and out of the house and involved with the family as they will celebrate life even with her grandmother's passing.  As the little girl's mother said to me today, We must celebrate my grandmother's life.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-8149933862060437789?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/8149933862060437789/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/05/israeli-funeral.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/8149933862060437789'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/8149933862060437789'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/05/israeli-funeral.html' title='An Israeli Funeral'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-1626822196658229545</id><published>2010-05-03T14:40:00.006+03:00</published><updated>2010-05-04T17:02:22.886+03:00</updated><title type='text'>Lag B'Omer Update</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;The following link&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;describes the rejoicing in honor of Ribi Shim'on bar Yohai.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;http://www.darkeabotenou.com/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-1626822196658229545?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/1626822196658229545/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/05/lag-bomer-update.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/1626822196658229545'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/1626822196658229545'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/05/lag-bomer-update.html' title='Lag B&apos;Omer Update'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-3827988630847482559</id><published>2010-04-28T11:26:00.001+03:00</published><updated>2010-04-28T11:28:12.032+03:00</updated><title type='text'>Lag B'Omer</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;This will be our next holiday update.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-3827988630847482559?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/3827988630847482559/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/04/lag-bomer.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/3827988630847482559'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/3827988630847482559'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/04/lag-bomer.html' title='Lag B&apos;Omer'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-3061763839397107332</id><published>2010-04-02T11:37:00.002+03:00</published><updated>2010-04-02T11:48:58.670+03:00</updated><title type='text'>The Kinneret at Passover</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;During Passover, many Sephardic Jews visit the tombs of the rabbis culminating at the end of the week with the celebration of Memoona which means "I believe in the coming of Maschiach."  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;Follow the link below to see more Passover pictures in Meira's photo album:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/Meira750"&gt;http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/Meira750&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-3061763839397107332?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/3061763839397107332/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/04/kinneret-at-passover.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/3061763839397107332'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/3061763839397107332'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/04/kinneret-at-passover.html' title='The Kinneret at Passover'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-4068891492641576338</id><published>2010-03-28T22:38:00.004+03:00</published><updated>2010-03-29T14:00:30.536+03:00</updated><title type='text'>Rabbi Yossi Ben Kisma on Gilad Shalit</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="  ;font-family:arial;font-size:small;"&gt;&lt;div face="'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif" size="12pt" style="  "&gt;&lt;div face="'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif" size="12pt" style="  "&gt;&lt;div face="'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif" size="12pt" style="  "&gt;&lt;div class="im"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;Meira Kingberg&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;Yeoshua Kingberg&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;The Gilad Shalit story should be likened to the story in &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="text-decoration: underline; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;The Pesach Haggadah&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt; by the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Ben Ish Chai pp.142-144. of  Rabbi  Yossi Ben Kisma's exchange with the Edomite officer.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;The Ben Ish Chai tells the story of how the Edomite officer kidnapped the Rav's children and the Rav initially offered the officer 100 coins and bargained all the way down for no charge.  The officer was afflicted with a severe stomach illness from the angel Michael sent by the Holy One, blessed be He. The illness became increasingly worse during the bargaining process until he let the children go.  Furthermore, Rav Yossi demanded the children's salary be paid which totaled 80 coins.  If the officer would have agreed initially to the 100 coins, he would have profited.  Instead, he was afflicted with a severe aliment.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Perhaps the Israeli government should follow Rav Yossi's example in the Ben Ish Chai's parable. The Israeli government initially offers 100 prisoners in exchange for Gilad and decreases the offer by 10% every time they refuse. At the same time, our people cry out to HaKodesh Barachu just as Rav Yossi  did.  HaKodesh Barachu will afflict the enemy as their Edomite ancestor and unable to withstand the pain, will offer to release Gilad for the original offer.  The government like Rav Yossi, must refuse their offer.  This sequence of events will play out until Hamas pleads with us to take him off their hands.  At this point, Israel must refuse to leave the negotiation and demand monetary compensation as did Rav Yossi.  This compensation should be an amount substantial enough to cover the following:  the actual pain and suffering Gilad endured, rehabilitation for as long as necessary, pain and suffering of his parents, reparations  to the nation for the emotional pain of Gilad's ordeal, and finally, in the four years since his capture, Gilad would have completed his army service had he been free.  He would have entered the workforce in his prime and been a contributing member of society.  A formula has to be devised to determine the value of the contribution that was lost to the economy; contribution to the Gross Domestic Product as the fruit of his labor, taxes he would have paid and commerce he would have transacted in the market place.  Modern methods of negotiation have not worked.  We have grown too sophisticated to our good.  Perhaps it's time to revert to the wisdom of our ancestors even communicated in simple parables such as this.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, 'new york', times, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, 'new york', times, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-4068891492641576338?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/4068891492641576338/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/03/rabbi-yossi-ben-kisma-on-gilad-shalit.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/4068891492641576338'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/4068891492641576338'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/03/rabbi-yossi-ben-kisma-on-gilad-shalit.html' title='Rabbi Yossi Ben Kisma on Gilad Shalit'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-8723297383631656806</id><published>2010-03-25T10:07:00.002+02:00</published><updated>2010-03-25T10:10:24.676+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Pessach Deliverance</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'lucida grande';"&gt;Follow the hyperlink to Pessach deliverance:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/album.php?aid=2042072&amp;amp;id=1591477762"&gt;http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/album.php?aid=2042072&amp;amp;id=1591477762&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-8723297383631656806?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/8723297383631656806/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/03/pessach-deliverance.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/8723297383631656806'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/8723297383631656806'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/03/pessach-deliverance.html' title='Pessach Deliverance'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-4479100337078236970</id><published>2010-03-23T15:13:00.002+02:00</published><updated>2010-03-23T15:18:30.100+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Rabbi Algaze</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Follow the hyperlink to the following article: &lt;a href="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/136667"&gt; http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/136667&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-4479100337078236970?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/4479100337078236970/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/03/rabbi-algaze.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/4479100337078236970'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/4479100337078236970'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/03/rabbi-algaze.html' title='Rabbi Algaze'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-728341122766871805</id><published>2010-03-22T09:46:00.003+02:00</published><updated>2010-03-22T09:59:07.371+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Passover Minhag</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Follow the hyperlink to the minhag concerning round matzahs:  &lt;a href="http://www.darkeabotenou.com/blog/"&gt;http://www.darkeabotenou.com/blog/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-728341122766871805?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/728341122766871805/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/03/passover-minhag.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/728341122766871805'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/728341122766871805'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/03/passover-minhag.html' title='Passover Minhag'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-356315408261397225</id><published>2010-03-21T09:23:00.003+02:00</published><updated>2010-03-21T10:00:02.326+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Passover</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;BS"D&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;Passover, one of the three pilgrimage festivals, is soon to be upon us.  Aside from cleaning and inspecting for "hametz" (anything that contains leaven), is a time of remembering when our people would bring sacrifices to the Temple for seven days.  (Lev. 23:8)  The sacrificial system will be reinstated once the Temple is rebuilt and the Maschiach  (Messiah) returns.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;Also, we are to eat matzahs for seven days to remember HaShem's deliverance for us out of Egypt. (Ex. 12:15-20)  During this time, we are to contemplate whether we are returning to Egypt in our thinking and return to HaShem. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-356315408261397225?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/356315408261397225/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/03/passover.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/356315408261397225'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/356315408261397225'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/03/passover.html' title='Passover'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-6037813849485630251</id><published>2010-03-01T20:33:00.001+02:00</published><updated>2010-03-01T20:34:46.907+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Teveria -weather update</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;BS"D&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;Over the past three days, the Kinneret has risen 3 centimeters!  We are thankful for everyone's prayers and that HaShem heard us!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-6037813849485630251?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/6037813849485630251/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/03/teveria-weather-update.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/6037813849485630251'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/6037813849485630251'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/03/teveria-weather-update.html' title='Teveria -weather update'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-4370595086502240862</id><published>2010-02-17T14:53:00.004+02:00</published><updated>2010-02-17T15:02:17.308+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Teveria -weather</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;div&gt;BS"D&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;Please pray for more rain in the northern part of Israel.  It has been about 75 degrees and dry.  Our rainy season isn't over until the end of March, the beginning of April.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-4370595086502240862?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/4370595086502240862/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/02/teveria-weather.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/4370595086502240862'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/4370595086502240862'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/02/teveria-weather.html' title='Teveria -weather'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-3737462786388849497</id><published>2010-02-10T18:10:00.005+02:00</published><updated>2010-02-17T21:54:41.738+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Flowers For Kitties by Meira Lettieri Kingberg</title><content type='html'>&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 13.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 13.0px Helvetica; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Yesterday we had the loveliest experience. We don’t know what triggered it. We’ve lived in Teveria for about two months now. We were in Ha’Ir as we call downtown, doing some errands.  When we came home our landlord’s eldest, six year old Nataniel, called us over and gave us some flowers he’d just picked. Nataniel is probably the kid we know best. A little while later, he along with some of his friends and five year old sister came to my door with more flowers. This happened several times within a few minutes. Finally, they asked about the kitties and to please see them. These are religious kids so having pets is a novelty to them. Some of the kids were new to me in that I’d never spoken to them. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Well it was clear that was their motive but instead of just brashly asking to come in which they didn’t even do, they brought a gift as a sign of respect and not one, but one for each kid which is why they kept appearing before their request was made.  This is so indicative of the Sephardic culture we have become immersed in. I remember when my mother and I went to Italy the first time. We went to check on my grandfather’s house.  When the caretaker came with her little girl, the child kissed my mother’s hand (which would have been a bit excessive here and now) and also brought a hand picked bouquet. It was a sign of respect to Mom just as the flowers yesterday were a sign of respect to someone who had the power to grant a request.  Powerful, ancient stuff this. But nonetheless charming and it brought tears to my eyes that these little ones who barely knew me would be able to interact so graciously with someone who could be their grandma.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;Here's a link to a picture:&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;a href="file:///Users/tinakingberg/Desktop/P2093969.JPG"&gt;file:///Users/tinakingberg/Desktop/P2093969.JPG&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-3737462786388849497?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/3737462786388849497/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/02/flowers-for-kitties-yesterday-we-had.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/3737462786388849497'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/3737462786388849497'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/02/flowers-for-kitties-yesterday-we-had.html' title='Flowers For Kitties by Meira Lettieri Kingberg'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-4712168650319983957</id><published>2010-02-09T13:58:00.007+02:00</published><updated>2010-02-09T14:39:13.907+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Historic Teveria</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Teveria has many Jews that have lived here for generations.  For example, one family has been here for seven generations.  It isn't unusual to come in contact with the families that had attended the Abulafiya (Etz Hahayim) synagogue or the Seniori synagogue located in the Jewish Court in the heart of the city located off the pedestrian promenade.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;The Abulafiya synagogue is the site where the Ari (z"l) prayed.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-4712168650319983957?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/4712168650319983957/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/02/historic-teveria.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/4712168650319983957'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/4712168650319983957'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/02/historic-teveria.html' title='Historic Teveria'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-2363372361122387898</id><published>2010-02-03T17:54:00.002+02:00</published><updated>2010-02-03T17:56:23.012+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Snow BS"D</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;And now the weather service is predicting snow in the higher elevations from us such as Safed and the Golan Heights!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-2363372361122387898?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/2363372361122387898/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/02/snow.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/2363372361122387898'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/2363372361122387898'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/02/snow.html' title='Snow BS&quot;D'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-3864257404552336637</id><published>2010-01-20T10:12:00.002+02:00</published><updated>2010-01-20T10:16:00.428+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Rain</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"&gt;BS"D&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"&gt;We are the thanking HaShem for the much needed rain for the past three days.  The Kinneret is filling up!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-3864257404552336637?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/3864257404552336637/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/01/rain.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/3864257404552336637'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/3864257404552336637'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/01/rain.html' title='Rain'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-4626611340716215344</id><published>2010-01-14T13:13:00.003+02:00</published><updated>2010-01-14T13:49:36.080+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Hamat Teveria- Ancient Synagogue</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-size:medium;"&gt;Simchat Artzenu recently enjoyed a visit to the ancient synagogue at Hamat Teveria dating from the 4th century.  One of the key remains is the mosaic floor which has been remarkably preserved and belongs to the Severus Synagogue. There are three inscriptions in the mosaic:  Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.  This is extremely significant from the Talmudic period.  It is evident in the inscriptions how paganism influenced the designer.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-4626611340716215344?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/4626611340716215344/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/01/hamat-teveria-ancient-synagogue.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/4626611340716215344'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/4626611340716215344'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/01/hamat-teveria-ancient-synagogue.html' title='Hamat Teveria- Ancient Synagogue'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-4782770049220658803</id><published>2010-01-11T14:11:00.002+02:00</published><updated>2010-01-11T14:14:48.835+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Hannukah Beit- House Dedication</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;We recently had a Hannukah Beit or House Dedication for our new home in Teveria.  Follow the link to see the photos:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;http:&lt;a href="http:////www.facebook.com/home.php?#/album.php?aid=2035249&amp;amp;id=1591477762"&gt;//www.facebook.com/home.php?#/album.php?aid=2035249&amp;amp;id=1591477762&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-4782770049220658803?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/4782770049220658803/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/01/hannukah-beit-house-dedication.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/4782770049220658803'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/4782770049220658803'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2010/01/hannukah-beit-house-dedication.html' title='Hannukah Beit- House Dedication'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-9025272583776179641</id><published>2009-12-25T11:37:00.001+02:00</published><updated>2009-12-25T11:39:07.346+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Teveria -Update</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;We have finally settled in Teveria.  We will update when we can.  Shabbat Shalom.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-9025272583776179641?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/9025272583776179641/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/12/teveria-update.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/9025272583776179641'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/9025272583776179641'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/12/teveria-update.html' title='Teveria -Update'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-6905151979926915221</id><published>2009-11-29T10:52:00.006+02:00</published><updated>2009-11-29T14:53:35.128+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Tiberias (Teveria)</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Tiberias (Teveria) was established by Herod Antipas approximately 20 CE. in honor of the Roman Emperor Tiberius.  He used the city as a seat of his power of operation throughout the Galilee.  It is claimed the city remained royal to Rome, thus being spared any destruction as in other cities which were destroyed.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;Teveria is one of the four holy cities of Israel; the others are Jerusalem, Safed, and Hevron.  Teveria was where the Sanhedrin was established during the Second Temple period.  Many of the great Sages of Israel are buried there including Maimonides, RamBam, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Ben Zakkai, Rabbi Meir Baal Hanesse, and Rabbi Haim Abulafya.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;Many sources cite the writing of the Jerusalem Talmud in Teveria as well as the Mishna composed by Rabbi Yehuda &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;Ben-Ha-Nasi.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-6905151979926915221?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/6905151979926915221/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/11/tiberias-teveria.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/6905151979926915221'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/6905151979926915221'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/11/tiberias-teveria.html' title='Tiberias (Teveria)'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-8329698117528138641</id><published>2009-11-23T16:02:00.003+02:00</published><updated>2009-11-23T16:05:02.345+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Relocation</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Simchat Artzenu will be relocating to the northern part of the country in the next several weeks.  So, as soon as we are settled, we will update you again.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-8329698117528138641?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/8329698117528138641/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/11/relocation.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/8329698117528138641'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/8329698117528138641'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/11/relocation.html' title='Relocation'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-3708101581039318948</id><published>2009-11-16T18:15:00.002+02:00</published><updated>2009-11-16T18:17:52.047+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Hebron</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;We were in Hebron last Wednesday for the first time.  It truly was&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;an awesome experience.  Since the week's parsha was Chai Sarah, it was especially significant.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-3708101581039318948?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/3708101581039318948/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/11/hebron.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/3708101581039318948'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/3708101581039318948'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/11/hebron.html' title='Hebron'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-710749812211770760</id><published>2009-11-10T10:50:00.002+02:00</published><updated>2009-11-10T10:54:03.000+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Hebron  Fund Raising Dinner</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Follow the link for online registration through the Hebron Fund:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.hebron.com/english/article.php?operation=print&amp;amp;id=562"&gt;http://www.hebron.com/english/article.php?operation=print&amp;amp;id=562&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-710749812211770760?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/710749812211770760/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/11/hebron-fund-raising-dinner.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/710749812211770760'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/710749812211770760'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/11/hebron-fund-raising-dinner.html' title='Hebron  Fund Raising Dinner'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-5821386566186917707</id><published>2009-11-08T12:46:00.002+02:00</published><updated>2009-11-08T13:01:49.420+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Housing</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;The government housing ministry which issues government apartments for those seeking assistance, is only authorizing benefits to those families with a minimum of three children or more. Anyone with less than those guidelines are not eligible to receive any benefits from the government including those with fixed incomes such as those of retirement age.  Of course, there is a l-o-n-g waiting list for anyone who does qualify.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-5821386566186917707?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/5821386566186917707/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/11/housing.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/5821386566186917707'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/5821386566186917707'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/11/housing.html' title='Housing'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-8879551584315421150</id><published>2009-11-02T08:43:00.002+02:00</published><updated>2009-11-02T08:55:42.825+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Update for Mitzvah from 27 Oct 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Ezrat Avot is a wonderful organization that not only provides meals for the homebound for the week, but has a morning weekday program at the present building where the women come together for prayer, Torah study, and lunch.  We have been helping with the food prep for the weekday meals and it has been such a mitzvah.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;In the near future, Ezrat Avot will be moving to a new building which hasn't been built yet.  The building permits are in place and everything is a go, but funding is needed in order for construction to begin so it would be more accessible for everyone.  Please follow the hyperlink to donate to:  &lt;a href="http://www.ezratavot.org"&gt;http://www.ezratavot.org &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-8879551584315421150?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/8879551584315421150/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/11/update-for-mitzvah-from-27-oct-2009.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/8879551584315421150'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/8879551584315421150'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/11/update-for-mitzvah-from-27-oct-2009.html' title='Update for Mitzvah from 27 Oct 2009'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-8491525913344491553</id><published>2009-11-01T20:24:00.008+02:00</published><updated>2009-11-02T12:27:40.645+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Facebook.com/aljazeerachannnel</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;The above hyperlink is appearing under Ads by Google on my blog periodically.  UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WHATSOEVER I'M ENDORSING THIS WEBSITE. THIS LINK IS APPEARING WITHOUT MY PERMISSION.  Their objective is to destroy Israel and the Jewish people.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-8491525913344491553?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/8491525913344491553/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/11/facebookcomaljazeera.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/8491525913344491553'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/8491525913344491553'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/11/facebookcomaljazeera.html' title='Facebook.com/aljazeerachannnel'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-8450828585971095464</id><published>2009-10-28T19:47:00.012+02:00</published><updated>2009-10-28T20:10:21.742+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Halloween - continued</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;As I mentioned earlier,  no Jew should be observing Halloween in any shape or form.  First of all, it's a non-Jewish holiday and secondly, it takes away from a Jew's spirituality and holiness according to what is cited in &lt;a href="http://beingjewish.com/faqs/halloween.html"&gt;http://beingjewish.com/faqs/halloween.html&lt;/a&gt;.  In addition, its observance is considered idolatry and paganism which is forbidden in the Torah.  In Leviticus 18:3, gentile customs of dress and behavior are also forbidden.  The presence of the practice of witchcraft and communication with the dead, associated with Halloween, are also condemned in the Torah.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-8450828585971095464?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/8450828585971095464/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/halloween-continued_28.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/8450828585971095464'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/8450828585971095464'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/halloween-continued_28.html' title='Halloween - continued'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-2192571889770249210</id><published>2009-10-28T13:14:00.001+02:00</published><updated>2009-10-28T13:17:31.499+02:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Halloween'/><title type='text'>Halloween</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;More to&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt; follow why Jews should not be watching and/or participating in &lt;i&gt;anything &lt;/i&gt;related to Halloween. . . &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-2192571889770249210?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/2192571889770249210/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/halloween.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/2192571889770249210'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/2192571889770249210'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/halloween.html' title='Halloween'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-5032808397996290712</id><published>2009-10-28T10:34:00.002+02:00</published><updated>2009-10-28T10:40:53.230+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Katyusha Rocket Attack</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Israel's northern Galilee town of Kiryat Shmona was attacked by a katyusha rocket on Tuesday.  Remember what the enemy's agenda is since a katyusha attack is a precursor of what has been done in the past.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-5032808397996290712?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/5032808397996290712/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/katyusha-rocket-attack.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/5032808397996290712'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/5032808397996290712'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/katyusha-rocket-attack.html' title='Katyusha Rocket Attack'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-5417642568351675179</id><published>2009-10-27T18:52:00.003+02:00</published><updated>2009-10-28T11:45:29.276+02:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Mitzvah'/><title type='text'>Mitzvah</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Follow the link to do a mitzvah for this wonderful organization &lt;a href="http://www.ezratavot.org/"&gt;http://www.ezratavot.org&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-5417642568351675179?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/5417642568351675179/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/mitzvah.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/5417642568351675179'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/5417642568351675179'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/mitzvah.html' title='Mitzvah'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-3421321703893965210</id><published>2009-10-27T14:35:00.002+02:00</published><updated>2009-10-27T14:41:32.269+02:00</updated><title type='text'>The Temple Mount - continued</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;As the Arabs continue to cause disturbances in the Temple Mount area, several rabbis have maintained a position that Jews cannot ascend the Temple Mount; on the other hand, at a special conference this past Sunday, other rabbis are calling for Jewish ascent to the Temple Mount.  It is true that Jews cannot go up to the Mount in an unclean state which is why anyone who does must first go to the "mikvah" (ritual immersion) before ascending.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-3421321703893965210?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/3421321703893965210/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/temple-mount-continued.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/3421321703893965210'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/3421321703893965210'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/temple-mount-continued.html' title='The Temple Mount - continued'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-1191679452669574593</id><published>2009-10-25T11:10:00.002+02:00</published><updated>2009-10-25T11:20:10.092+02:00</updated><title type='text'>HarHabeit (The Temple Mount)</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;Today, helicopters have been circling the HarHabeit (The Temple Mount) because the Arabs have threatened further incitement.  It is not uncommon to hear helicopters overhead during times when there any types of threats.  From where we are, they circled periodically for about an hour and then stopped.  The claims of "equal access" for Jews to visit the Temple Mount have been proven otherwise over the last several weeks.  There are manufactured excuses too numerous to mention here why the Arabs are causing any incitement.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-1191679452669574593?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/1191679452669574593/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/harhabeit-temple-mount.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/1191679452669574593'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/1191679452669574593'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/harhabeit-temple-mount.html' title='HarHabeit (The Temple Mount)'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-10946700756335556</id><published>2009-10-21T22:20:00.004+02:00</published><updated>2009-10-22T18:16:03.647+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Tzadeka Project by Guest, Meira Lettieri Kingberg</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style=" ;font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;We will prepare 18 pita sandwiches, twice a week, to distribute to needy folk as we meet them on the streets. Right now we can't do more than 18 at a time but that is the number of Life in Jewish gematria (numerology).  We are being particularly diligent to do this on Fridays when many of the soup kitchens are closed.  That means some of Jerusalem's neediest won't go two days without at least a small meal. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;These sandwiches consist of fresh veggies and a hard boiled egg in a freshly baked pita pocket.  Yeoshua carries a bottle of water and a small hand washing basin in case anyone wants to eat right away and say the blessing over bread. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;We know what it means to be hungry and Hashem showed me that if we want to be fed, we must feed others. It is what happened to the Widow of Zarephath when Elijah asked her for bread and told her to trust Hashem. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;Please see the "Support Israel" section on the right for ways to participate.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-10946700756335556?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/10946700756335556/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/tzadeka-project-by-guest-meira-lettieri.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/10946700756335556'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/10946700756335556'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/tzadeka-project-by-guest-meira-lettieri.html' title='Tzadeka Project by Guest, Meira Lettieri Kingberg'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-1534348078368239971</id><published>2009-10-21T09:56:00.006+02:00</published><updated>2009-10-22T16:24:41.760+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Syrian Sephardic Food</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;For Erev Sukkot, we had a joyful, sumptuous, authentic Syrian Sephardic meal.  The woman does the preparation from home and the ingredients are Badatz eida Charedit.  The menu included the following:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;Kibbeh-&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Golden Ground Meat filled Bulgar shells&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;Lachmagene-&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Miniature Minced Meat Pies- delicious&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;Garlic, Eggplant, &amp;amp; Pepper Salad&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;Kibbeh Cherry-&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Syrian Meat Loaf cooked in Sweet and Sour Cherry Sauce.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;Chicken and Potatoes fried and cooked with Syrian spices with the option to add stuffed eggplant.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;Contact Rachel Farhi at farhi27@gmail.com for all these wonderfully prepared foods in the Jerusalem area.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;Also, please follow the hyperlink to:  &lt;a href="http://www.sephardichazzanut.com/"&gt;http://www.sephardichazzanut.com/&lt;/a&gt;  and learn the tradition of Syrian Sephardic Hazzanut.  All of the above needs to continue to be passed down and never lost.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-1534348078368239971?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/1534348078368239971/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/syrian-sephardic-food.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/1534348078368239971'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/1534348078368239971'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/syrian-sephardic-food.html' title='Syrian Sephardic Food'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-8754982223970842644</id><published>2009-10-15T14:16:00.000+02:00</published><updated>2009-10-15T14:23:13.322+02:00</updated><title type='text'>This week's Parsha</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;In this week's parsha (Bereshit), we are at a new beginning.  We have been through Rosh Hashanah and ended with Simchat Torah. We see the creation of the world through this parsha, but do we see it from a new perspective?  It is a time to meditate on how HaShem created our earth and where we are going.  Have each of us asked this question?  Are we at a new beginning in the study of Torah and mitzvot?  Only we can honestly know the answers to these questions.  BS"D  we will all find favor with HaShem.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-8754982223970842644?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/8754982223970842644/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/this-weeks-parsha.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/8754982223970842644'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/8754982223970842644'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/this-weeks-parsha.html' title='This week&apos;s Parsha'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-753412224634818041</id><published>2009-10-15T12:08:00.002+02:00</published><updated>2009-10-15T12:17:08.184+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Recharge</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;The Sukkot holiday is a time of recharging our neshama (soul) so we can continually be tuned into HaShem's ways.  As our world around us continues to deteriorate on a daily basis, this is especially vital.  Among the Jewish religious world there are many who just practice their "religion" out of rote and/or ritual.  One sees this happening in the midst of Jerusalem which has been documented in numerous places in the Tanach.  As our neshama stays in touch with HaShem, we will know which direction to follow in these times.  Even though the dark forces around us from the east, namely Iran, want to annihilate us, HaShem's ways will guide us through the difficult paths that appear before us.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-753412224634818041?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/753412224634818041/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/recharge.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/753412224634818041'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/753412224634818041'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/recharge.html' title='Recharge'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-4029496489063700405</id><published>2009-10-15T11:55:00.002+02:00</published><updated>2009-10-15T12:05:35.568+02:00</updated><title type='text'>After Sukkot update</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;BS"D HaShem provided for the Sukkot holiday.  Simchat Artzenu were the guests invited to a Succah lunch and HaShem loaned us our own Succah that popped open and seated two people.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial, serif;"&gt;Now that the holidays are over, Simchat Artzenu's funds are depleted and we are looking for your support so we can continue our presence on blogspot.com.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-4029496489063700405?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/4029496489063700405/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/after-sukkot-update.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/4029496489063700405'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/4029496489063700405'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/after-sukkot-update.html' title='After Sukkot update'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-6879960215322258497</id><published>2009-10-13T15:42:00.001+02:00</published><updated>2009-10-21T22:20:33.793+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Support Israel, Support Simchat Artzenu</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;div&gt;Developing a blog to bring you quality reporting about Israel takes time, effort and expense. We do this for the Joy of living in our Land but we need your help.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Simchat Artzenu has embarked on a tzadeka project as well as endeavoring to support ourselves. We are calling it Chai Pita. See more about this in a separate post.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;To donate through Paypal, email me for the address linked to my Paypal account.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-6879960215322258497?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/6879960215322258497/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/donate.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/6879960215322258497'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/6879960215322258497'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/donate.html' title='Support Israel, Support Simchat Artzenu'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-595808267023021663</id><published>2009-10-12T21:51:00.001+02:00</published><updated>2009-10-12T21:52:47.472+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Sukkot</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;HaShem provided Simchat Artzenu with the four species and a Succah!  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-595808267023021663?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/595808267023021663/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/sukkot.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/595808267023021663'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/595808267023021663'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/sukkot.html' title='Sukkot'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-1122511441519519181</id><published>2009-09-30T20:44:00.002+02:00</published><updated>2009-09-30T20:49:54.053+02:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Sukkot'/><title type='text'>Sukkot</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"&gt;Simchat Artzenu still does not have the four species (Arba Minim) to celebrate the Sukkot holiday.  Donate now to be a part of this significant mitzvah. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-1122511441519519181?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/1122511441519519181/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/09/sukkot.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/1122511441519519181'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/1122511441519519181'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/09/sukkot.html' title='Sukkot'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-6993046175088260125</id><published>2009-09-28T20:10:00.000+02:00</published><updated>2009-09-28T20:18:03.460+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Blessing</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;On Saturday the 26th of September,  Ha Rishon le Tzion Rav Shlomo Amar, (The Chief Sephardi Rabbi Of Israel) gave a drash (lecture) in Jerusalem.  At the conclusion of evening prayers, I went up to him and received a personal blessing.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-6993046175088260125?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/6993046175088260125/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/09/blessing.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/6993046175088260125'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/6993046175088260125'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/09/blessing.html' title='Blessing'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-9127002888561674747</id><published>2009-09-23T18:18:00.000+03:00</published><updated>2009-09-23T18:19:45.532+03:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='anti-Semitism'/><title type='text'>A Great Sacrifice</title><content type='html'>&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 14.0px Arial"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;A Great Sacrifice&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Supporting those in the Land can come with great sacrifice.  It is with joy that we are here, but we have seen the enemies to our east, namely Iran and others who want to annihilate us.  The economic pressures are enormous since most of which has their source in anti-Semitism.  All around the world, one hears of synagogues being desecrated as in times past.  These occurrences will only escalate to incredible proportions.  It is only with those who have the same vision who will lock arms with us that we will survive. HaShem has given us many abilities to arm ourselves, but there will only be strength in the numbers of us that will stand together.   &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-9127002888561674747?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/9127002888561674747/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/09/great-sacrifice.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/9127002888561674747'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/9127002888561674747'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/09/great-sacrifice.html' title='A Great Sacrifice'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-3400745798260682517</id><published>2009-09-16T08:38:00.000+03:00</published><updated>2009-09-16T08:39:24.240+03:00</updated><title type='text'>Rosh Hashanah Fever?</title><content type='html'>&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 14.0px Arial"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Rosh Hashanah Fever?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;In the days preceeding Rosh Hashanah (the New Year), many are anticipating the coming of Mashiach.  It seems the fervor this year is unprecedented in comparison to the years that have come and gone before us.  As events have unfolded, especially in Jerusalem with the ultra-orthodox (haredi) sector seeking to divide the city, is it possible the Maschiach is coming this year?  I’m &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;not&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt; by any means making &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;any &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;predications whatsoever; however, there are indicators in our present state of affairs that would indicate His appearing is very close at hand.  We truly must have “simchat arteznu” or the joy of our land in order to prepare the way for Him to appear.  At present, all around us there exists constant strife and division which does not seem to abate in the near future.  Obviously, we need to rise above it all so we can distance ourselves from its web.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Those in the gentile world have their objective to destroy us which we know in the end what their outcome will be.  Many are speaking claiming to be “prophets of G-d” and giving out many hopes that will not manifest.  The prophet Jeremiah in centuries past warned us explicitly to avoid such individuals who receive their own judgment from HaShem.  In our day, many of these “prophets” have led many astray from true Judaism and have shown no remorse in doing so.  In addition, Ezekiel, the prophet, gave us many warnings of similar fate to those who would follow them and their deceptions.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;In the work by the Chofetz Chaim, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;A Daily Companion&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;, he summarizes his thoughts regarding a wicked person as one who refuses to do tsuvah  and refrain from evil speech.  It appears the role of a “prophet” would fall into this category.  Under these circumstances, the Chofetz Chaim encourages us to expose any individual who persists in perpetrating any deceptions.  Even though these events are part of the current tide, we need to stay focused on the “Joy of our Land” and not be swept away by them.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-3400745798260682517?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/3400745798260682517/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/09/rosh-hashanah-fever.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/3400745798260682517'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/3400745798260682517'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/09/rosh-hashanah-fever.html' title='Rosh Hashanah Fever?'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-7349329621581722602</id><published>2009-09-06T13:49:00.000+03:00</published><updated>2009-09-06T13:53:39.708+03:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='dividing'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='land'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Israel'/><title type='text'>Possessing the Land</title><content type='html'>&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 14.0px Arial"&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Several weeks ago, my article of not dividing Jerusalem was published by Arutz Sheva. &lt;a href="http://israelnationalnews.com"&gt;israelantionalnews.com&lt;/a&gt;, August 10. 2009  In keeping with not even considering such a thought, how can we “possess the Land “ that HaShem has given us and dwell in it, as we read in Parshat Masei several weeks ago (Num. 33:53)?  Obviously, from the verse above, we see HaShem has not given us an option of reneging of giving up Jerusalem in any shape or form.  When Joshua and Caleb were sent out into the Land, they were expected not to bring back an evil report.  Also, the verbs to conquer and to dwell are in Ramban’s positive mitzvah #4.  Rabbi Nachson Gaon states, “There is no Jew who does not own four amot of the Land of Israel.  But you say:  the Ismaelites took possession of it, while we are in Exile?  We have the right of possession:  land cannot be stolen it still belongs to us.”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Since when does a foreign entity have the authority to demand of its residents to not &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;dwell&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt; within its borders?  It has been stated on numerous occasions, “Our Nation is the cornerstone of the World.”  Since we are in that position, what would befall us if that cornerstone were eroded in any way?  The releasing of many chilulei HaShem into the universe would be one of many occurrences that would have such a profound affect on all of us.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;It behooves us to meditate on the verb “to dwell.”  Not only to meditate on its meaning, but the type of individuals who HaShem expects to dwell in the  Land.  The whole point of the Exile, whether we like it or not, was a consequence of the abominations of our people.  As a result, HaShem allowed us to return once we made Tsuvah and made a commitment to Him.  Once we returned, He expected us to dwell in the Land and be righteous in all our ways; however, as we all know, our electronic media outlets have been reporting otherwise.  With an avalanche of debris in a constant barrage around us, we must gather ourselves and be courageous as Joshua was instructed and go forward against the present tide, unless we want to be swept up in the imminent destruction that will soon befall us as we have seen throughout our history.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Especially, as we come into the month of Elul, we need to be aware of our “attachment” to the nations.  Have we come to embrace any of their pagan ideologies?  G-d forbid.  During this entire month, as we do our tefillah and other mitzvot, let us continue to look within ourselves so when Rosh Hashanah is upon us, BS”D we can say with assurance that HaSem has inscribed us in the Book of Life.  In the coming days, we &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;must&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt; heed the warnings He has given us and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;not&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt; be swayed by other “well meaning” people both Jew and gentile.  He has given us an obligation as was mentioned earlier by the Ramban to conquer and to dwell in Eretz Israel.  The “modernism” of our communities, particularly outside of Israel need to be aware of the folly of their ways.  Let us not be as some as in the times of Ezra and Nehemiah and interfere with HaShem’s expectations.  “Also, in those days I observed the Jews who had married Ashdodite, Ammonite, and Moabite wives.  Half their children spoke Ashdodian and did not know how to speak the language of the Jews; and likewise with the language of each nation.  So I contended with them and I cursed them.  I beat some of their men and tore their hair out.  I made them swear by God, and that ‘you did not give your daughters over to their sons, nor marry their daughters to your sons or to yourselves.’  [I said,] ‘Did not Solomon, king of Israel, sin with such [women]?  Among the nations there was never a king like him; he was beloved by God, and God appointed him king over all of Israel.  Yet the  alien wives caused even him to sin!, . . .’ (Neh. 13:23-26).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Can we see here that Solomon was “possessed” within his own midst in spite of being King of Israel?  How can we even say that we are exempt from such possession within our midst?  Earlier in the chapter, there were gentile merchants who came to entice the people of Judah to desecrate the Shabbat.  In the coming days, may we be constantly aware of the “infiltration” from external circumstances.  The forces of possession are very real indeed.  They may come with utmost subtly that will even deceive a king; however, HaShem has given us the ability to see their entire intent with their final agenda in full view.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;(Quotations from &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Tanach&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;, the Stone Edition, ed., Rabbi Nosson Scherman, Mesorah Publications, Ltd., 2007.)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-7349329621581722602?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/7349329621581722602/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/09/possessing-land.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/7349329621581722602'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/7349329621581722602'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/09/possessing-land.html' title='Possessing the Land'/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110789474965939920.post-7751988995986277861</id><published>2009-09-03T10:15:00.000+03:00</published><updated>2009-09-03T10:16:29.382+03:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>All images are the property of Simchat Artzenu and/or Meira Kingberg © and may not be reproduced in any manner electronic or otherwise.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6110789474965939920-7751988995986277861?l=simchatartzenu.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/feeds/7751988995986277861/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/09/all-images-are-property-of-simchat.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/7751988995986277861'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6110789474965939920/posts/default/7751988995986277861'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simchatartzenu.blogspot.com/2009/09/all-images-are-property-of-simchat.html' title=''/><author><name>Simchat Artzenu</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08532696207414148922</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
