Communicated: TefillaChillul Tefila Bifarhesia, as well as halachicly challenged verbiage and dress, are external manifestations of a critical lack of personal yiras shomayim which has lethal consequences.
The alarm of a South Beach bank recently went off in the early morning hours. Police arriving at the scene were greeted by an unusual sight. The alleged lookout man was in the parking lot of the bank building. He had fallen asleep at the wheel of his car.
Two men were in the bank. The trio was arrested. Obviously, the watchman had failed in his task.
The idea of a watchman is an important concept in Judaism. The prophet Ezekiel spoke of appointing a tzofeh (watchman) who would blow a shofar and warn the people “when he would see the sword come upon the land.” Ezekiel’s efforts, however, were met with disdain. Even 2,500 years ago, the House of Israel did “not wish to hear.” Unfortunately, this precedent seems to be a reoccurring theme. The Jewish people really don’t want to hear bad news. Starting in ancient days and going to present times, this has been our pattern.
The Tanach is beset with stories of how the Jews of early days ignored those who tried to warn them. In modern times, Ze’ev Jabotinsky was spat on and Rabbi Meir Kahane vilified. The idea of “killing the messenger” (or his message) apparently never diminished as a way to deal with unpleasantness.
Today the Jewish people are experiencing extremely precarious times, not only in Israel, but throughout the entire world. People are frightened and frustrated. Anti-Semitism is rampant. Angry individuals often seek a scapegoat. Historically, that scapegoat has repeatedly been the Jews.
The Jewish world seems strangely silent. Where is the Jewish leadership? The job of the tzofeh stays in place, the people must be warned of danger. The obligation stands. The shofar must be sounded. We dare not be asleep on the watch.
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Leah Katz, a TeenZone camper at Oorah’s TheZone summer camp and an 11th grader at Midwood High School, read her winning essay about how TheZone changed her views on Judaism at the Jewish Heritage Awards Ceremony held at Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes’s office in April. The purpose of the Jewish Heritage Essay Contest is to acquaint public school students with Jewish history and customs and to help foster a deeper understanding of Jewish culture. The contest is open to students of all ethnic and religious backgrounds. Leah’s essay is reproduced in full below.

Moshe Sharett, the head of the Jewish Agency’s Political Department, visited Egypt in 1945. In Cairo he met a most remarkable young woman, a beautiful journalist who was the darling of Egyptian high society – from high-ranking military brass, to culture icons and Muslim sheikhs, to the court of King Faruk.

The two proceeded to talk about everyday things and surprisingly her mother-in-law did not find anything else to criticize. This occurred a few more times, with my client changing the topic every time by complimenting her mother-in-law or mentioning something positive about her.

There is always a lot of confusion surrounding sensory processing disorder – mainly because there are many different diagnoses that fall under the catch-all phrase sensory processing disorder (SPD). Among them are three specific subcategories:
The doctor had warned us that even if we did everything right and followed the protocol after the follicle was of the right size, there was no guarantee of success. Fertilization still had to occur, and just like couples do not necessarily become pregnant every month, we had no way to know if we were actually expecting for two full weeks.
The next chapter of the award-winning novel.
Jewish Press columnist Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, founder and president of Hineni, the international Torah outreach organization, recently addressed an overflowing audience at the Beth Jacob Congregation of Irvine in southern California. Rebbetzin Jungreis’s address theme, “Making a Good Relationship Magical,” was apropos for the evening’s main mission: raising funds for the Irvine community’s mikveh.
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You have probably been planning your marriage since you were about three. Let’s fast-forward to a big milestone– your twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. (Don’t worry, you don’t look a day over twenty one!) Now, would you appreciate your husband buying you a dozen roses that some florist recommended?
As I mentioned in my earlier articles about our family trip to Israel, our night flight went pretty smooth, thanks to my children’s willingness to sleep throughout the flight. I, on the other hand, didn’t sleep a wink and I wasn’t feeling too great by the time we landed. But we were finally in Israel, and just being in the beautifully renovated Ben Gurion airport and hearing all the Hebrew around us was exciting enough.
While all the flowers that grace your Shavuos table will surely be a delight to your eye, these will be a delight for your palette as well. Create them at any level, simple or sophisticated; any way you make them they’re sure to be a sensation.
Welcome back to “You’re Asking Me?” where we attempt to answer questions sent in by people who fortunately have fake names, so they won’t be embarrassed. I don’t know how they got through school, though.
Speechless wonder is the reaction to the beautiful vision seen though the Arch of the Keshet Cave at the Adamit Park in the Galilee. One of the most amazing natural wonders in Eretz Yisrael, the Me’arat Hakeshet — also known as the Rainbow Cave or Arch Cave — can be found up against the Israel-Lebanon border just a few kilometers from Rosh Hanikra and the sparkling blue Mediterranean Sea. It is situated amid the wild scenery on the cliffs of Nachal Betzet and Nachal Namer, on the Adamit Ridge.

South Floridians held their breaths last week waiting the outcome of a frightening situation. Three children were abducted in front of a Miami grocery store. Two of the little ones were 6 years old. The other was 5.
One of the biggest Lag B’Omer celebrations in the country took place this year in Hallandale Beach, where more than 10,000 people showed up at Gulfstream Park.
The Orthodox Union Karasick Department of Synagogue Services and OU president Martin Nachimson announced that Delray Orthodox Synagogue has become an official OU member congregation.
Boynton Beach has the fastest growing Jewish population in America. Currently, several hundred traditional families call Boynton Beach home.
Yes, it is true. Man, alone in all of creation, is aware that he will die. The recognition of this certainty is quite sobering. Integrating a happy life with the knowledge that our existence is, in fact, a terminal condition, can be daunting.
The South Florida community will join celebrations taking place around the globe to mark Lag B’Omer. The local Lag B’Omer Unity Parade & Fair is scheduled on Sunday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Gulfstream Park on the corner of US1 in Hallandale.
RASG Hebrew Academy in Miami Beach recently commemorated Yom Hazikaron, the solemn remembrance day for Israel’s fallen heroes, and Yom Ha’Atzmaut, the joyous celebration of the birthday of the Jewish State.
Printed from: http://www.jewishpress.com/sections/community/its-my-opinion-asleep-on-the-watch/2010/10/20/
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