Beis Hamikdosh Lecture/Presentation

This looks like an interesting presentation. Keep next motzoei Shabbos free.

(click on picture for a bigger view)

Apology accepted

I finally received a reasonable comment from "ump" regarding the last post.

AE I respect you highly for admitting you made a mistake. If my advice is worth anything then
1) delete this whole topic, rather than invite people to comment on it!
2) Delete any negative comments written anonymously against a person who uses their real name.
3) Do not allow people to talk in the name of our community. OUR, WE, US!
4) As you deleted Rabbi Gutnicks comments until you verified them, same policy regarding quoting a prominent Adass Spokesman etc. I will email a statement from Mr. Abelesz who will explain that this comment is twisted and malicious. It was posted to incite hate. Mr. Abelesz claims he has a sister in law from chabad plus the majority of his family.

We have no intention to threaten or close you down; all we want is that
this site should attack nobody but especially those good Jews who contribute
very generously to our institutions.

There is no purpose served to put other communities under the microscope.
This is definitely not the derech of Chabad.

I have admitted more than once that I made a mistake in making statements about other communities. It was obviously wrong and I again apologise for my statements which appear only under Aussieecho.

Obviously I cannot be at my computer 24/7 but will delete comments referring to individuals when I see them. I am happy for people to write to me at aussieecho@gmail.com if they see something that I have missed.


But - I will still write my opinions about Chabad and our modod. We are all members of our community and have an equal stake in its future.

Deleted post

Some Erev Shabbos Humour

Only in Israel!

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Four young novice nuns were about to take their vows. Dressed in their white gowns, they came into the chapel with the Mother Superior, and were about to undergo the ceremony to marry them to Jesus, making them "Brides of Christ."

Just as the ceremony was about to begin, four Hasidic Jews with yarmulkes, long sideburns and long beards came in and sat in the front row.

The Mother Superior said to them, "I am honored that you would want to share this experience with us, but do you mind if I ask you why you came?"

One of the Jews replied, "We're from the groom's family."

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After months of negotiation with the authorities, a Talmudist from Odessa was granted permission to visit Moscow. He boarded the train and found an empty seat.

At the next stop a young man got on and sat next to him. The scholar looked at the young man and thought: This fellow doesn't look like a peasant, and if he isn't a peasant he probably comes from this district.

If he comes from this district, then he must be Jewish because this is, after all, a Jewish district. On the other hand, if he is a Jew, where could he be going? I'm the only Jew in our district who has permission to travel to Moscow. Ahh? But just outside Moscow there is a little village called Samvet, and Jews don't need special permission to go there.

But why would he be going to Samvet? He's probably going to visit one of the Jewish families there, but how many Jewish families are there in Samvet? Only two - the Bernsteins and the Steinbergs.

The Bernsteins are a terrible family, and a nice looking fellow like him must be visiting the Steinbergs. But why is he going? The Steinbergs have only daughters, so maybe he's their son-in-law. But if he is, then which daughter did he marry?

They say that Sarah married a nice lawyer from Budapest, and Esther married a businessman from Zhitomer, so it must be Sarah's husband. Which means that his name is Alexander Cohen, if I'm not mistaken.

But if he comes from Budapest, with all the anti-Semitism they have there, he must have changed his name. What's the Hungarian equivalent of Cohen? Kovacs. But if they allowed him to change his name, he must have some special status. What could it be? A doctorate from the University.

At this point the scholar turns to the young man and says, "How do you do, Dr. Kovacs?"

"Very well, thank you, sir." answered the startled passenger. But how is it that you know my name?"

"Oh," replied the Talmudist, "it was obvious."

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A man goes to shul for the first time in years. Wanting to welcome him the gabbai gives him Hagbah. Comes time, he's at a loss as to what to do, finally lifts the Torah in a most awkward way, not realizing its weight, almost trips and drops the Torah trying to balance it and open at least three columns as he was told. He's humiliated and vows the next time he's going to do it right.

The man joins a gym, trains, lifts weight and receives an honor on his next visit to the same shul.

He walks jonty jolly up to the Bimah, confidently raises the Torah, opens it five columns wide,does a perfect Hagbah. Proudly, he asks the Gabbai," nu, so how did I do".

The Gabbai, not missing a beat replies, "not bad for Shlishi" !!

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Two guys have been learning together for 20 years.
One of them is going to make a bar mitzvah so he says to the other one, "I am making a bar mitzvah and I would like you to come."
"I'm sorry, I can't."
"But I really want you to come."
"You don't understand. I just can't come."
"But why can't you come?"
"I'm not Jewish."
"What do you mean? We have been learning together for 20 years."
"I enjoy the intellectual stimulation."
"But we learned that a goy that keep shabbos is 'chayav misah.' "
"I never kept shabbos. Every time I was ready to leave my house, I put a key in my pocket."
"But we have an eruv here."

"I don't hold from that eruv."

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Tsach's Planned Actions To Combat Condition in Israel

Exclusive to COL:

Over 250 shluchim of the Rebbe and Chabad activists from all over the land, got together today for the emergency convention in the Nir Etsiyon hotel near Chaifa where a detailed course of action designed by Tsach's Board for Preservation of the Nation and the Land was presented and explained. The program is based upon the Rebbes directives regarding the conditions in Israel and was approved by the Supreme Beis Din of Chabad in Israel. Two simultaneous courses of action to be taken are: 1. Extensive propaganda regarding the grave dangers of the disengagement plan and 2. Increasing of the merits of the Jewish nation by intensifying the three important realms of Torah, Prayer and Charity.

To implement these, the shluchim and activists will be using two booklets that have been especially published for these purposes. One of them is named, 'What will occur when there are no more sheep?' and the second one is called, 'Three Ways to Change the Situation' - which explain the powers of Torah, Prayer and Charity and their capabilities of bringing salvation to the nation of Israel. This booklet also stresses the laws of the Rambam on issues regarding the Holy Temple, in a clear and concise language, and also contains several chapters of Tehillim designated to abolish the decree when read.

Menachem Brod on Gush Katif

I may be sappy but I love this photo!!

From COL:

Last week, when the huge demonstration dispersed after three days in Kfar Maimon, many were disappointed about not proceeding and breaking into Gush Katif by force. These felt that the demonstration failed since the crowd had not arrived at Gush Katif. This is an erroneous feeling says Rabbi Menachem Brod of Sichas Hashavua.

Brod claims that the success of the demonstration is not measured by its destination and ought not to be evaluated by whether the people had or had not arrived at the Kisufim barrier. The demonstration had succeeded particularly because of the fact that it was not violent and that it did not produce clashes between policemen, soldiers and the demonstrators. It succeeded since it voiced a powerful public protest which resonated not only throughout Israel but throughout the entire world.

Report from Shluchim Conference

Shoshana sent this in. She received it from a shaliach in America and I have sighted the original.

I believe that it is a well presented summary of the Rebbe's attitude to Eretz Yisroel and protests. I strongly believe that the shluchim, and especially those shluchim in Chabad Houses, are doing the Rebbe's work - they are on the "front lines" and their opinion has to be taken seriously.


Last week we had a regional Kinnus Hashluchim which was held here in South Florida. At one of the sessions entitled "Chabad Policies" questions were asked regarding to what extent Shluchim/Chassidim should be involved in political/communal activities regarding the current crisis in Eretz Yisroel.

The Head Shluchim of the states of Florida, Texas and the Carolinas (Rabbis Avraham Korf, Shimon Lazaroff & Yossi Groner) were on the panel. They explained that there is no ambiguity as to how the Rebbe felt regarding this issue and the hours upon hours the Rebbe spent talking about the danger of giving away parts of Eretz Yisroel. There is no doubt that every Chossid obviously has or should have those same feelings and Hergeishim and there is no doubt many are tempted to go to rallies demonstrations etc. to show their opposition to such a plan.

However, this was not the Rebbe's mandate to us. While there are no clear Hoiro'os against political campaigning regarding Shleimus Ho'oretz as there was with Mihu Yehudi where the Rebbe said clearly we should not get involved - The head shluchim challenged any one in the room (130 shluchim) to find one time when the Rebbe spoke about Shleimus Ho'oretz and also mentioned - publicly - that we should be staging protests, and political rallies to bring about it's downfall. Nobody responded. If the Rebbe wanted us to do this he would have clearly said so! The head shluchim continued and explained the reason for this. The Rebbe told us many times that there are 2 roles in averting decrees in this world. Mitaam Vedaas and Lemaalah Mitaam Vadaas. For example, when one is sick R"L - there are the doctors and medications and there are also the Teffilos of families & friends. Both are needed! Our role - the Chassid's role - is Lemaalah Mitaam Vedaas. That we can actually avert the Gezairah by going out on a huge campaign of the Rebbe's Mivtzoim that thousands of Jewish men will put on Teffilin, and thousands of Jewish women will light Shabbos candles etc. This the Rebbe said will have a direct effect on the Gezaira Milemaila - this is our role to play....others may demonstrate and effect the situation Mitaam Vadaas, but ours was always a higher way. Recall the 6 Day War when the Rebbe instituted an all-out teffilin blitz and said this will protect Yidden - "Veraau kol amei hooeretz ki shem Hashem vechulu." While the Rebbe spoke literally hundreds of times of the methods that will dispel the darkness of this Golus and all decrees that come with it - the Rebbe never mentioned publicly amongst these methods - demonstrations and political rallying. Our job is quite clear.

Chas Vesholom to say that this means we are not just as much against the withdrawal as those protesting. The Rebbe said we must do all we can to forestall the danger and this would include letting the media know the Rebbe's view, letting our communities know the Rebbe's view and as a Rabbi making a Psak Din etc. However, our main way of preventing tragedy is by flooding the world with massive campaigns of Torah & Mitzvos this is what the Rebbe taught us.

Although the above tells us it should not be our main focus, it does not mean we must unequivocally stay away from demonstrations. However, one Head Shliach raised another problem, particularly prevalent in the US. When these rallies take place there are extreme left wing groups who attend and put up signs such as "death to Sharon" etc. to discredit the protest make the rally look fanatical etc. There are also unfortunately many trying to discredit and delegitimize Chabad, they take pictures of Chabad Rabbis at the rally with these signs in the background and this makes us look like extremists and dangerous and create a terrible chillul Lubavitch and chillul Hashem. See recent artciles in JPost and Haaretz regarding activities in Kfar Chabad for proof of this. This does irreparable damage to Chabad on many fronts.

Finally they mentioned: One of the things that bothered the Rebbe the most was violence, threats, aggression, harassment - particularly against other Jews and particularly in the name of the Rebbe. "In Lubavitch there are no Terroristen!! - we have no terror brigade!!" This destroys the good work that we do and pushes Moshiach further away.

This is a basic summary of the 2 hour long session. May there be only good news to relate regarding the holiness of Eretz Yisroel and Am Yisroel. May we merit the resolution of all these problems with the coming of Moshiach Bekorov Mamosh.

Enough rudeness!

The rudeness and grobkeit in the comments is really getting out of hand - especially in relation to the Gush Katif situation. I am happy to let everyone have their say on both sides but will delete any comments that are rude, abusive and/or offensive. Just take an extra few minutes and write something that is intelligent and coherent.

Please have some respect for yourself and others.

Mivtzoim as usual

Another story from COL this time about the mivtzoim done at the Kotel. Anyone who has been there has witnessed the wonderful work these guys do. (Click on the link for more photos)

On Thursday, 14th of Tamuz, a ceremony of the 17th Maccabiah took place at the Western Well in the presence of 3,500 Jewish athletes from all over the world. Just before the closing ceremony of the Maccabiah, the athletes chose to visit the Western wall, remnant of the Beis Hamikdash, and for many of them this was the first visit to the Kosel and their excitement was visible.

Rabbi Yosef Halperin, shliach and Chabad booth director at the Kosel greeted the athletes with a staff of volunteers, young men and bochrim, students of the Tsemach Tsedek Colel and of Maayanot in Yerushalayim. These activists immediately got to work to make sure to lay teffilin to all of these thousands of athletes. The visitors were glad to find "Chabad also here at the Kosel, just like in our state and city". A few dozen of them laid teffilin for the first time and thereby eliminated their categorization as a 'karkafta' (a head that had never donned tefillin).

One of the Highest Learning Levels - in Australia

This appeared in COL with the above caption. I think I need say no more.... (No personal comments please!)

Rabbi Shmuel Gurevitch, shliach and director of Beis Rivkah in Melbourne, Australia, was interviewed by Assaf Nagel in his Kol Hashishi radio program on the Kol Chai radio. Rabbi Gurevitch related that he was the second generation to shluchim and that his father was first sent to Australia by the Rebbe Rayats. Rabbi Gurevitch had gotten married in Israel but in 5731, the Rebbe had instructed him to return to Australia and to direct the 'Beis Rivkah' school there. Some 700 students are enrolled there today, many of whom are from not frum families. After they graduate though, they stay observant and build religious homes. According to Rabbi Gurevitch, the learning level of Beis Rivkah in both holy and secular subjects is the highest - in Australia.

Kinus for Gush Katif in Sydney

This is what should have been organised in Melbourne:

Kinus of Torah, Tefilloh and Tzedokah

Sunday 17 Tammuz
4.00pm – 4.45pm ( followed by Mincha )

To show support and to pray for our brethren in Gush Katif.

Men, women and children are invited.

Includes a raffle for children.

Tzemach Tzedek,
1 Penkivil St, Bondi

Erev Shabbos Jokes

Things have been getting a little heavy here so I thought that I would dig up some old jokes.
Enjoy and have a Good Shabbos and a Shabbat Shalom.

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Jewish Vocabulary

JEWBILATION n. Pride in finding out that one's favorite celebrity is Jewish.

TORAHFIED n. Inability to remember one's lines when called to read from the Torah at one's Barmitzvah.

SANTASHMANTA n. The explanation Jewish children get for why they celebrate Hannukah while the rest of humanity celebrates Christmas.

MATZILATION v. Smashing a piece of matzo to bits while trying to butter it.

BUBBEGUM n. Candy one's mother gives to her grandchildren that she never gave to her own children.

CHUTZPAPA n. A father who wakes his wife at 4:00 a.m. so she can change the baby's diaper.

DISORIYENTA n. When Aunt Sadie gets lost in a department store and strikes up a conversation with everyone she passes.

GOYFER n. A Gentile messenger.

JEWDO n. A traditional form of self defense based on talking one's way out of a tight spot.

MEINSTEIN slang. "My son, the genius."

MISHPOCHAMARKS n. The assorted lipstick and make-up stains found on one's face and collar after kissing all of one's aunts and cousins at a reception.

ROSH HASHANANA n. A rock 'n roll band from Brooklyn.

YIDENTIFY vb. To be able to determine ethnic origins of celebrities even though their names might be St. John, Curtis, Davis, or Taylor.

MINYASTICS n.going to incredible lengths and troubles to find a tenth person to complete a minyan.

FEELAWFUL n. Indigestion from eating Israeli street food.

TRAYFFIC ACCIDENT n. An appetizer one finds out has pork in it after one has eaten it.

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Not a job for a Jewish boy...

Two Rabbis were talking about how they made a little extra money on the side.
Rabbi Ginsberg said: Well, I work in a battery factory standing near the conveyor belt.
What do you do there? asked Rabbi Goldberg
I just wave my hand as the batteries go by and say 'I wish you a longlife!'

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Jewish jokes

A man started to tell a joke at a party: "Two Jews were on their way..."
Suddenly he was interrupted by a sensitive guest.
"Why do so many jokes begin with Jews?"
"Oh, I'm sorry," apologized the story teller, "I'll start again. Two Chinese men were on their way to the Synagogue to see the Rabbi..."

Mincha at Kfar Maimon

This amazing photo of mincha at Kfar Maimon appeared on the Lamed blog here. Just shows that there is more that unites us than divides us!

Mentalblog also has some great photos.

More photos from the rally

I was just sent some more photos from the rally including the bottom one showing the pro-disengagement chevra. The middle photo shows that there were some adults attending as well.

I was sent many more photos but most of them were of even worse quality. Also the report of the rally which accompanied the photos was badly written and full of spelling mistakes. They are not helping the cause by being so unprofessional.