Would Jew Believe This?

By Findalis of Monkey in the Middle

A young boy returned home from Hebrew school, washed his hands and sat down to dinner.

His father asked him what he learned that day in school.

The boy replied that the Rabbi told his class the most amazing story of how the Jews were rescued from the Land of Egypt and brought to the Land of Israel.

His father smiled and asked his son to relate the story the Rabbi told them.

"Sure Dad," the boy said.  "Now this story happened a long time ago, before the time of CNN.  Before the time of computers, and cell phones.  Before even TV.  I think it was in the 1920s or so it happened.

"Egypt was ruled by this guy named Pharaoh.  I think it means "Nasty Egyptian". And we Jews were his slaves. We didn't like being slaves and prayed to G-d to set us free. G-d heard our prayers and sent us a miracle.

"G-d  sent the IDF back in time to rescue the Children of Israel (I think they rescued the parents too.).  The Commandos diverted the Egyptian Army while the Children and their parents fled to the Red Sea (It was red because G-d turned the water to blood like in Zombie Killers 3.).  There the IDF built Pontoon bridges across the Red Sea for the people to go across.  When the Egypt Army tried to follow, the IDF blew up the bridges.

"Then this guy named Moshe Dayan (He is the head of the IDF, I think. Rabbi said he was G-d's greatest profits.) lead the Children of Israel (and their parents) to Mount Sinai where Moshe lays down the law, destroys the Golden Calf and leads them to Israel.

"But it took them 40 years because nobody had a GPS and Moshe would not ask for directions."

His father had a look upon his face that was a cross between total astonishment and WTF.  "Is this what the Rabbi taught you?"

"No Dad,"  the boy said.  "But you wouldn't believe the crazy story he did tell."

Here is that crazy story:

From Chabad

After many decades of slavery to the Egyptian pharaohs, during which time the Israelites were subjected to backbreaking labor and unbearable horrors, G‑d saw the people's distress and sent Moses to Pharaoh with a message: "Send forth My people, so that they may serve Me." But despite numerous warnings, Pharaoh refused to heed G‑d's command. G‑d then sent upon Egypt ten devastating plagues, afflicting them and destroying everything from their livestock to their crops.

At the stroke of midnight of 15 Nissan in the year 2448 from creation (1313 BCE), G‑d visited the last of the ten plagues on the Egyptians, killing all their firstborn. While doing so, G‑d spared the Children of Israel, "passing over" their homes-hence the name of the holiday. Pharaoh's resistance was broken, and he virtually chased his former slaves out of the land. The Israelites left in such a hurry, in fact, that the bread they baked as provisions for the way did not have time to rise. Six hundred thousand adult males, plus many more women and children, left Egypt on that day, and began the trek to Mount Sinai and their birth as G‑d's chosen people.

 

This video tells the story very well too:

Happy Passover!

And It Begins...

By Findalis of Monkey in the Middle

The Arab League Cowards are preparing to demand the UN set up a No Fly Zone over Gaza. This is the same group of cowards who demanded a No Fly Zone over Libya then ran at the first sign of trouble.

The Arab League on Sunday announced during a special meeting in Cairo that it plans to press the UN to impose a no-fly zone over Gaza amid an escalation in violence in the area, AFP reported.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said he plans to present the proposal to the UN Security Council, the report said.

The announcement came as Palestinian news agency Ma'an reported on Sunday that UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Roberty Serry successfully brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip including Hamas.

The deal, reportedly reached Saturday night stipulated that the IDF stop its air and artillery strikes against Palestinian terrorist groups, who also reportedly have agreed to halt their rocket and mortar fire.

Neither Jerusalem nor Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip have announced a ceasefire, but senior officials made statements Sunday hinting to their openness towards such a deal.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said early Sunday that Jerusalem was willing to accept a mutual ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza after several days of projectile fire and IDF strikes, adding that "If necessary, we will act, but," he said, "restraint is also a form of strength."

"If they stop firing on our communities, we will stop firing. If they stop firing in general, it will be quiet, it will be good," Barak told Israel Radio.

On the Gazan the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, Al-Quds, said that it was committed to a ceasefire with Israel, saying it was in the "interests of our people not to give Israel an excuse to launch a major military operation in Gaza."

The announcement came only hours after the group claimed responsibility for firing three mortars and a rocket into Israeli territory Sunday morning.

Abu Ahmed, Islamic Jihad's spokesperson, said that his group would cease violence "so long as Israel fulfills it's responsibility and stops attacks against the Palestinian people in Gaza."

Hamas also softened its language on Sunday.

The group's spokesman in the Gaza Strip, Sami Abu Zuhri, on said that "The Palestinian factions are not interested in escalation." He added, "if the Israeli aggression stopped, it would be natural for calm to be restored."

Full Story

When the Arab League Cowards deceived the UN last time over Libya they turned tail and ran like the cowards they are leaving NATO but more importantly the US holding the bag (Ground troops will be landing soon.). This is what will happen again.  Especially if the 3 Bitches Witches (Clinton, Powers, and Rice.) get their way.

Burning Korans and Cartoons

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk


There is an interesting debate going on among some as to whether Florida pastor Terry Jones should be condemned or praised for his recent Koran burning, an act that has, predictably, led to deadly riots in Afghanistan. This, of course, is reminiscent of the European firestorm over the Mohammed cartoons. When it comes to these kinds of expressions, European law gets pretty murky since many countries have laws against "hateful speech". Just ask Geert Wilders in Holland or Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff in Austria, both of whom are being or have been prosecuted for speaking out against Islam. Till now, the cartoonists in Holland and Scandinavia have been protected by their respective nations against Middle Eastern and other Muslim calls for prosecution (and death). My own reaction is rather two-fold. On the one hand, I defend Wilders and Sabaditsch-Wolff for speaking out on the problems associated with the strict application of Islam in a free Western society and the lack of assimilation among their Muslim immigrants. I do not think they have been guilty of hate speech. On the matter of drawing cartoons depicting prophets and Muslim images in a negative light, as well as burning cartoons, I think they are ill-advised. Same with burning a Koran. However, any attempt to prosecute or kill those who engage in these acts is also something I absolutely condemn.

In the wake of the Koran-burning incident, President Obama, General Petraeus, Secretary Gates, and other officials have spoken out publicly in an effort to cool down the Muslim world-especially in Afghanistan, where we have troops fighting and who are now exposed to added anger and opposition. That's one thing. More troubling are the comments of people like Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a lawyer, no less, who has mused about his wish that (Jones) could be prosecuted.

Personally, I think that Terry Jones is a publicity-seeking, irresponsible jerk and that his actions are unwise. I am hardly a follower of the Koran; I have read it, and don't like much of what is in it. That is not the point. I am not ready to join those who think all Muslims are bad people just waiting to kill the rest of us. There are plenty of peaceful Muslims of good will who still consider the Koran to be their holy book-whether or not they strive to lead their lives in accordance with every word. Burning the Koran hurts them too.

Then there are the brave Muslims like Zuhdi Jasser and Steven Schwartz, who openly and courageously speak out against the jihadists and their apologists-including the wolves in sheep's clothing like CAIR. The Koran is still their holy book as well. We need to stand with them and support them. Does anyone actually think that burning a Koran is supporting people like Jasser and Schwartz?

That said, drawing cartoons and burning Korans is no justification for rioting and murdering. We Christians in America have had to suffer seeing a Jesus crucifix immersed in a jar of urine and hailed as a work of art in a New York art museum-subsidized by government funding no less. Yet, no one rioted. No art museum was burned or attacked. No one was killed. No death contracts were put out. That is the price of living in a free and civilized society.

Today, Christians can be mocked all day long in the West-especially Catholics. Jews are once again being subjected to rising anti-Semitism. Why is it only Islam that must not at all costs be offended? It is because Islam is militant, and the reaction is sure to be violent in certain quarters. Accordingly, many genuflect when Muslims are offended.

So the point I am coming to here is that while I disapprove of the cartoons and burning Korans, any attempt to prosecute (or kill) cartoonists and Koran burners must be opposed if we are to remain a free society. If our justice system, especially the politically-correct Justice Department finds an inventive way to charge Jones with a crime, then I must hold my nose and rise to his defense.

The Olive Tree Initiative at UC Irvine-The Zionist Organization of America Letters

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk





In the wake of the previously reported disclosure that UC-Irvine students participating in the Olive Tree Initiative reportedly met with a top Hamas official in the West Bank in 2009, the Zionist Organization of America has written two letters expressing outrage. The first letter is to the Jewish Federation of Orange County. The second is to UCI Chancellor Michael Drake. Both letters were provided to the Orange County Independent Task Force on Anti-Semitism, from where they are cross-posted here. Both letters are blistering. They may be accessed from the below link.




http://octaskforce.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/zoa-letters-to-oc-jewish-federation-uci-chancellor-drake-expreses-outrage-over-uci-students-meeting-with-hamas-leader/




What can I say? As one who has taught part-time at UCI for almost 13 years, I can tell you that the ZOA, the Orange County Independent Task Force on Anti-Semitism, myself and others have been complaining about this crap for years. All we can do is speak out and inform the public as we stand up not only for Israel, but more importantly for America and against anti-Semitism. All we have ever encountered is resistance and denial.

Now, however, the chickens are coming home to roost, not for anything that our side has done, rather because of what the other side has done. We knew that eventually, the truth would come out.

As the cop in Scarface said, "It's your tree. You're sitting in it."

The Olive Tree Initiative -Was There a Meeting With Hamas in 2009?

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk




I am cross-posting an article by the Orange County Independent Task Force on Anti-Semitism. This article reports that, pursuant to a California State Freedom of Information Act, a letter has been obtained from the University of California at Irvine (UCI) files. The letter was reportedly written in 2009 by the Orange County Jewish Federation to UC-Irvine Chancellor Michael Drake and concerns a reported meeting between student participants in the 2009 Olive Tree Initiative trip to Israel and the West Bank with a reputed official of Hamas, one Aziz Duwaik (aka Dweik, Dwaik, aka Abdel Aziz Duwaik). This individual is identified as the speaker of the Palestinian Authority Legislature and the highest ranking member of Hamas in the West Bank.


http://octaskforce.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/letter-uc-irvine-olive-tree-initiative-students-met-with-hamas-leader-in-2009-trip/


Here is a report by JTA, which contains a statement by the OC Jewish Federation.


http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/03/31/3086657/jewish-organization-protests-uc-student-meeting-with-hamas-leader


What is missing from the above report is the fact that while the Federation and Hillel were defending themselves from 2010 to the present from criticism over the OTI's alleged visits with ISM activists and criticizing the person who revealed these ties, they were apparently keeping this whole 2009 incident and their correspondance with UCI under wraps. Only a California Freedom of Information request has brought the letter and the alleged meeting to light. Also, it would be nice to know who exactly, if anyone, told students to keep silent about meeting with Duwaik.

It gets more interesting. Here is an article on the topic from the Orange County Register on 3-31-11:


http://www.ocregister.com/news/uci-294427-students-jewish.html


"Cathy Lawhon, spokeswoman for UCI, said 'meeting with people of many different points of view is consistent with (Olive Tree's) mission."


"Their stated mission is to hear varying points of view, and to take people of varying points of view over there," Lawhon said. "It's not a homogenous group at all."

"Lawhon said more trips to the Mideast have taken place since 2009, but that she is unaware if additional meetings with Duwaik or other Hamas officials were held."


I beg to differ. Meeting with people with varying points of view is one thing. Meeting with members of organizations designated by our government as terrorist organizations is quite another. In addition, the JTA article quotes a Federation spokesman as stating that the university assurred the Federation that such an incident would not happen again and that it has not. Yet, the university spokesperson seems to have no idea as to what happened on the subsequent 2010 trip, nor does she seem to have any problem with what happened in 2009.

Here is the Wikipedia entry for Aziz Duwaik.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aziz_Duwaik


In way of background for those readers unfamiliar with the Olive Tree Initiative, it was formed in 2007 at UC-Irvine in order to send selected groups of Jewish, Muslim and other students to Israel and the West Bank to meet with various figures on both sides of the Israel-Palestinian dispute. To date, there have been three trips, 2008-2009-2010. In addition, the program has spread to other UC campuses. Funding for the travel of Jewish students is handled primarily by the Rose Project, which was established by the OC Jewish Federation. In addition the OTI, in its brochure, solicits public donations. Finally, it is known that the Federation and Hillel of UCI have supported OTI-the Federation monetarily. At the university, the program falls under the Dept of Social Sciences.

In the past few months, there has been an on-going controversy within the Jewish community concerning some of the Palestinian figures that the Jewish students have been meeting with in the Holy Land. They include figures who have been part of or even helped found the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), an international organization dedicated to the destruction of Israel.

As stated, the OTI claims that it is exposing the students to both sides of the dispute. The Jewish Federation claims that this exposure makes the Jewish students better equipped to argue Israel's side. Yet, many members of the local Jewish community, including those who have donated money to the Federation, are questioning the wisdom of sending Jewish students to be influenced by older, experienced activists who are dedicated to deligitimizing Israel through so-called peaceful protests and the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement (BDS). The OTI-sponsored speaking appearance in November of 2010 of George S Rishmawi at UCI also sparked questions. Rishmawi, is a Christian Palestinian figure, who was a co-founder of ISM, with whom he claims not to be presently involved. He is one of the top OTI contacts in the Palestinian territories.

It should be pointed out here that if Jewish students want to travel to the Middle East and meet with such persons, that is their absolute right. However, this travel is funded by others. It is also true that donors have the absolute right to know how their money is being spent, and if they disagree, they have the right to stop donating.

When, several months ago, a local Jewish woman, who has been following events on the UCI campus for a couple of years, began to ask questions about the nature of the travel and the nature of the people involved, she was met with an avalanche of blow-back from the OC Jewish Federation and Hillel. Her claims about George S. Rishmawi were called false. She was accused of causing division within the Jewish community. She was called a liar. Past and present student participants of OTI trips contributed open letters to the OC Jewish Experience web site denouncing the complaints and defending the OTI. In addition, several dozen Jewish students' names were added to a Hillel letter of support, in which many of the students involved had not given their concurrence to have their names included. In the OC Jewish Life monthly publication, a rabbi, who writes regularly for the monthly, said that the woman should apologize to the Federation for speaking out without bringing her concerns to them first (which she, in fact, had done).

That brings us to the release of the aforementioned letter. If the statements in the letter are factual, then this OTI controversy goes far beyond the alleged involvement of the ISM et. al. It now involves Hamas. This organization is appropriately labeled as a terrorist organization by our government. It is an organization that refuses negotitions with Israel as a waste of time. Its charter calls for the elimination of every Jew and the elimination of the Jewish state. As we speak, Hamas, the government of Gaza, continues to lob missiles into southern Israel. The Federation letter, of course, shows appropriate concern that this meeting reportedly took place. Unfortunately, what should have happened in 2009 and in 2010 in the middle of the controversy within the Jewish community, apparently did not happen. There was apparently no notification publicly that a major problem reportedly had occurred during the 2009 trip. While the Federation and Hillel were defending themselves on the OTI issue, this Duwaik matter was apparently kept under wraps-as they were criticizing the lady who was trying to bring light to the very questions surrounding the OTI. All the while, this letter was sitting in someone's files, out of public view. It took a Freedom of Information request to bring this all to light.

It should also be noted that both the 2008 and 2010 itineraries for the OTI trips have been posted on the OTI websites and thus, posted on this blog. What cannot be found on the OTI website is the 2009 itinerary. Now we can only wonder why.

It is now time for the OC Jewish Federation, Hillel, the university, and the Olive Tree Initiative to come clean on this matter and explain exactly what happened in September of 2009 during the OTI trip-and why the information remained out of the public domain while they (UCI excepted) were, in effect, shooting the messenger, the one woman who questioned what this Olive Trip Initiative is all about.

A New Definition Of Courage

By Findalis of Monkey in the Middle

Since the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, the world has witnessed the remarkable strength and fortitude of the Japanese people. While other nations experience looting, rioting, and the full spectrum of criminal behavior whenever a disaster (man-made or natural) occurs. Not so with the nation of Japan.  Politeness, sharing and the concept of community embodies this nation's soul.  No where in Japan this is unquestionable than with the 50 men who have volunteered to stay at the doomed nuclear facility at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant.

Workers at the disaster-stricken Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan say they expect to die from radiation sickness as a result of their efforts to bring the reactors under control, the mother of one of the men tells Fox News.

The so-called Fukushima 50, the team of brave plant workers struggling to prevent a meltdown to four reactors critically damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, are being repeatedly exposed to dangerously high radioactive levels as they attempt to bring vital cooling systems back online.

Speaking tearfully through an interpreter by phone, the mother of a 32-year-old worker said: “My son and his colleagues have discussed it at length and they have committed themselves to die if necessary to save the nation.

“He told me they have accepted they will all probably die from radiation sickness in the short term or cancer in the long-term.”

The woman spoke to Fox News on the condition of anonymity because, she said, plant workers had been asked by management not to communicate with the media or share details with family members in order to minimize public panic.

She could not confirm if her son or other workers were already suffering from radiation sickness. But she added: “They have concluded between themselves that it is inevitable some of them may die within weeks or months. They know it is impossible for them not to have been exposed to lethal doses of radiation.”

The plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (or TEPCO), says medical teams conduct regular testing on the restoration workers for signs of contamination-related illness. It claims there have been no further cases following the three workers who were treated last week after coming into direct contact with radioactive water. There are no reports of new members of the Fukushima 50 developing radiation sickness.

Although two suffered radiation burns to their legs and ankles and absorbed radiation internally, they have since been released from the hospital and are regularly being checked for signs of any deterioration in their condition, says TEPCO.

The company has pledged to improve the tough conditions for workers who stay on the site due to the short turnaround of shifts on safety grounds.

Some restorers directly tackling the problems with the fuel rod containment chambers are limited to 15 minutes at a time inside the reactor buildings or working near highly radioactive substances, including traces of plutonium that have appeared at numerous locations within the plant complex.

Living conditions for the hundreds of employees staying within the plant’s perimeter to support the restoration efforts are also equally as hazardous, say the authorities.

Banri Kaieda, the interior minister who also acts as a deputy head of the nuclear disaster task force jointly set up by the government and TEPCO, said 500 to 600 people were at one point lodging in a building within the complex. He told a media conference it was “not a situation in which minimum sleep and food could be ensured.”

Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says that workers were only eating two basic meals of crackers and dried rice a day, and sleeping in conference rooms and hallways in the building.

According to Kaieda, not all of the workers had apparently been provided with lead sheeting to shield themselves from potentially radiation-contaminated floors while sleeping.

“My son has been sleeping on a desk because he is afraid to lie on the floor. But they say high radioactivity is everywhere and I think this will not save him,” said the mother of the worker who spoke to Fox News.

Full Story

True Bravery knows no skin color, no one faith, no one nation.  It comes from the depths of one's soul, stirred by conviction and nourished by one's conscience.

Dr. Masaru Emoto released this statement:

To All People Around the World,

Please send your prayers of love and gratitude to water at the nuclear plants in Fukushima, Japan.

By the massive earthquakes of Magnitude 9 and surreal massive tsunamis, more than 10,000 people are still missing. It has been 16 days already since the disaster happened. What makes it worse is that water at the reactors of Fukushima Nuclear Plants started to leak, and it's contaminating the ocean, air and water molecules of the surrounding areas.

Human wisdom has not been able to do much to solve the problem, but we are only trying to cool down the anger of radioactive materials in the reactors by discharging water to them.

Is there really nothing else to do?

I think there is. During over twenty year research of hado measuring and water crystal photographic technology, I have been witnessing that water can turn positive when it receives pure vibration of human prayer no matter how far away it is.

The energy formula of Albert Einstein, E=MC2 really means that Energy = number of people and the square of people's consciousness.

Now is the time to understand the true meaning. Let us all join the prayer ceremony as fellow citizens of the planet earth.

I would like to ask all people, not just in Japan, but all around the world to please help us to find a way out the crisis of this planet

The Fukushima 50 will all certainly die of Radiation Sickness from their heroic efforts. Let us all pray that their sacrifice will not be in vain.  That they will be able to do the impossible, and stop this disaster from destroying a good chunk of Northern Japan.

Right Hook To al Jazeera!

By Findalis

This video is from 2009 but it could have been yesterday or today.

Captain Avichai Adra'i  (IDF) is not only impressive in what he says, but in how he says it.  He speaks clearly and forcefully to the Muslim world.  No PC or Diplomatic double speak.  He basically reads the Muslim world the riot act.  On al Jazeera to boot.

H/T Elder of Ziyon