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May 31 Parents of fallen soldiers teach heroismParents of fallen IDF soldiers Roi Klein and Noam Apter conclude three-week tour of United States and Canada speaking on subject of heroism to local teens
Josh Lichtenstein The parents of Roi Klein and Noam Apter, two fallen IDF soldiers, have recently returned from a three-week tour of the United States and Canada speaking on heroism. They were invited to speak by the Bnei Akiva North American delegation, and the Beni David pre-army program.
Major Roi Klein, a member of the Golani brigade, was killed during the 2006 Lebanon War. In the Battle of Bint Jbeil, a hand grenade was thrown into the house where Klein and his unit were positioned. Klein immediately jumped on the grenade, which killed him instantly. His act of bravery saved the lives of his entire unit.
In 2002, Sergeant Noam Apter was killed during a terrorist attack at the yeshiva in Otniel. Noam Apter was working in the yeshiva kitchen, preparing Shabbat dinner for over 100 students in the adjacent dining hall. Two terrorists snuck into the kitchen through a service entrance, disguised in army uniforms and armed with M-16 rifles. In his final moments, Apter locked the adjoining dining room door which prevented the terrorists from reaching the other students. He died in the ambush but was able to save the lives of his yeshiva classmates.
What a journeyDuring the journey, the Klein and Apter families visited community centers and schools in Toronto, Hamilton (Canada), Chicago, Detroit, Monsey, Long Island, and New York. Students and parents from across North America were able to learn about these two remarkable stories of bravery in the midst of danger.
'Feels like one big family' (Photo courtesy of World Bnei Akiva) Following last week's visit to the Jewish center in Toronto, Roi Klein's mother Shosh described how special it was to pass these stories on, and said, "We are very excited to see the community's responses".
At the events, a movie was screened detailing the heroic deeds of both Roi and Noam. Audiences were left with feelings of admiration, gratitude, and a connectedness to Israel. Yossi Apter, Noam's father said on several occasions, "I ask myself sometimes what am I doing here? Thousands of miles away from my home and family, but at the end of each meeting such as this I am amazed how every time can feel like one big family".
Program a successThis was the second year the Bnei Akiva movement in partnership with the Bnei David pre-army program has presented a Jewish heroism tour. Tzachi Hayun, Bnei Akiva's central educational organizer for the Midwest told Ynetnews, "Beyond them being alumni of the movement, Noam and Roi represent the values we believe in. The commitment to Torah, to the people of Eretz Israel, the giving, humility, and professionalism are all representatives of the movements values in which Noam and Roi grew up in…I tell youth- we don't want to teach how to die, we want to teach how to live." Rabbi Tomer Grossman, Bnei Akiva's central educational Shaliach in the US and Canada, described the trip as a great success. The trip allowed students from across North America to identify with stories of heroism and develop a closer understanding of Israel.
 IAF says ultra-Orthodox highly motivatedMore than 200 haredi youths enlist in Air Force over course of past year, internal polling obtained by Ynet indicates ultra-Orthodox candidates most motivated to continue service as officers
Hanan Greenberg A year after its launch, the project to recruit ultra-Orthodox soldiers to various positions within the Air Force is a success. Ynet has learned that in internal polling conducted by the IAF's manpower branch, headed by Brig. Gen. Rami Ben-Efraim, the ultra-Orthodox servicemen 'won out' amongst the various sectors on two vital questions – willingness to stay in the service and willingness to become officers. More than half – 53% - of haredi servicemen responded positively when asked whether they would consider staying in the Air Force. The percentage is higher than those recorded in eight other projects being run by the IAF. The Air Force is used to seeing between two to four soldiers out of 10 expressing an interest in becoming officers. But amongst the ultra-Orthodox the figure went up to six out of every 10. Thanks to the project one haredi serviceman has already become an officer, and a second is in the process of doing so. "There's no doubt that the data indicates immense satisfaction on the part of haredim in the service, they are motivated and they want to be here. We're planning on expanding (their numbers)," a senior officer told Ynet. The project was conceived during the command of former IAF chief, Maj. Gen. Eliezer Shkedy, and sought to bring in sectors that had previously never served in the IDF. There was considerable doubt that the project would succeed, but within the course of one year 200 haredim joined the IAF's ranks. The target candidates for the project are of an average age of 24, men who are married and who already have one or two children. They undergo special training courses in mathematics, English and computers, as well as a brief basic training course. From there they move on to intensive specialty courses. The recruits are assigned to the Air Force's various headquarters, which can provide easier service conditions that allow the servicemen to return home every evening. They receive a starting salary of NIS 3,000 (USD $754). "They connect with us on values, they understand that they are contributing here and that they're part of the operation," the senior officer said, adding that the notion of an ultra-Orthodox pilot no longer seemed far fetched. May 24 L'héritier
Tradition Today: The meaning of JerusalemAs we celebrate Jerusalem Day, we are acutely aware of the fact that Jerusalem is the center of a heated political dispute concerning its future. Unfortunately that dispute has resulted in accusations that Jerusalem and especially the Temple Mount are not really central to Judaism. This goes so far as to claim that there never was a Jewish temple on the Temple Mount. These statements are absurd. No matter what one thinks concerning the future of Jerusalem, the fact of its centrality to Judaism is so blatant that it should need no reiteration. The existence of the Temple on the Temple Mount is so well attested by historical evidence, Jewish and non-Jewish, that one wonders how anyone could possible deny it. True, Jerusalem is a Johnny-come-lately on the scene of Jewish history. It is never mentioned by name in the Torah, Judaism's most ancient book. There is however, reference to "Salem," shalem, which, with good reason, we assume is an ancient name of Jerusalem (Genesis 14:18). Strangely enough even the story of the akeida (the binding of Isaac) is told with no specific reference to Jerusalem, although it seems obvious from the conclusion of the story - "and Abraham named that site Adonai-yireh [the Lord will see], hence the present saying, 'On the mount of the Lord there is vision'" (Gen. 22:14) - that the reference is to a place that had sacred ritual significance. Later on, in II Chronicles 3:1, the Temple Mount is specifically identified as Mount Moriah, the site of the akeida. Deuteronomy refers constantly to "the place that I will choose" but does not tell us where that is. It is only with David's conquest that Jerusalem comes into our history. Quite rightly it is known as "the city of David" since he made it the royal capital. See II Samuel 5:6-9. More importantly, he also insured its centrality by bringing the Ark to Jerusalem (II Samuel 6:12-18). The Ark, the throne of God, the symbol of God's presence, had always moved from place to place. Giving it a permanent resting place in Jerusalem transformed a political capital into a religious site of the first importance. The mountain on which the Ark sat, Mount Zion, became the equivalent of Mount Sinai and from then on was known as the "Mountain of the Lord." Solomon's building of the Temple, a permanent building to replace the portable tent, reinforced the concept of Jerusalem as God's dwelling - "city of the Great King" - as the psalmist phrased it (Psalm 48). How anyone can possibly ignore the numerous biblical references is difficult to understand. The Christian Bible as well testifies to the existence of the Temple on its mountain. Indeed without that the Gospel stories make no sense. As for as Islam is concerned, if there was no sacredness to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount why did Muhammad - according to its tradition - come there and why was the Dome of the Rock built? That shrine is built on the rock that was considered sacred because of the sacrifice that took place there - even if its tradition records a different son being offered up and because that rock was thought to be the very foundation of the creation. Several years ago, when doing research for a book about Jerusalem, I came across a letter from a group of rabbis in Jerusalem which was found in the Cairo Geniza describing exactly the relationship between the Dome of the Rock and the Temple. According to that letter the Muslims, under the Caliph Omar I, came to the Jews and asked them to "show them the site of the Temple." The Jews were ordered to clear the mount of the rubbish that had accumulated there and to identify "the stone known as the Foundation Stone." When it was uncovered Omar ordered that "the sanctuary and a dome be erected over the stone." As a reward for their assistance 70 households of Jews were permitted to return to Jerusalem and dwell "near the site of the Temple and its gates" (The Jerusalem Anthology, page 159). The connection of our people to Jerusalem in the past is beyond question, as is the identity of the Temple Mount. What matters now is the meaning that Jerusalem has for us today and will have in the future. The prophets gave Jerusalem not only a past but also a future. The time will come, they taught, when "the mountain of the Lord's House shall stand firm above the mountains and tower above the hills and all the nations shall gaze upon it with joy. And many peoples shall go and say: Come, let us go up to the Mount of the Lord... that He may instruct us in His ways... For instruction shall go forth from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem... And they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not take up sword against nation; they shall never again know war" (Isaiah 2:2-4). This vision was the most exalted vision that anyone has ever had. Jerusalem is the symbol of that wondrous time when peace - shalom - a word that is embedded in the name Yerushalayim - will prevail. To be worthy of that is our task. That is its meaning for us today and the challenge that Jerusalem sets for us and for all humanity. The writer is the head of the Rabbinical Court of the Masorti Movement and the author of several books, the most recent being Entering Torah.
The Shield of DavidThe Phalanx anti-missile system At around 11 o'clock on the morning of April 7, a Blue Sparrow missile designed to mimic an Iranian Shihab 3 was fired over the Mediterranean. The visibility was poor, and the Blue Sparrow had radar-evading capabilities the Shihab does not yet possess. Yet within seconds it was destroyed by an Arrow 2 anti-missile missile launched from the Palmahim base south of Tel Aviv. For the first time ground crews employed two radar systems in tandem - an enhanced version of the Israeli Green Pines and the American X-Band, capable of tracking a baseball 4,600 kilometers (2,900 miles) away. The test, the 17th of the Arrow system, was closely coordinated with Israel's American partners in the development of the Arrow. But there were also guests at the Palmahim base from an unnamed European power, indicating growing concern over Iran's nuclear drive and its capacity to target European capitals. The test, says Uzi Rubin, former director of the Arrow project, was an outstanding success. "I am not only talking about the kill. Everything around it worked exactly according to plan," he tells The Jerusalem Report. The big innovation, the incorporation of the X-Band, was possible because, at American insistence, the Arrow had been carefully designed from the outset with a capacity to assimilate american technologie at every phase. So when the X-Band arrived in Israel last year, deployed mainly in the south and operated exclusively by American crews, it was easily integrated in the evolving Arrow system. "I am not at liberty to speak about this in detail, but I can say that what the X-Band was tasked with it handled superbly well," Rubin asserts. Two weeks after the successful Arrow test, Defense Minister Ehud Barak revealed that he intended to order the Vulcan Phalanx C-RAM (counter rocket, artillery and mortar) system from the United States. If the Arrow is at the high end of Israel's anti-missile range, designed to protect the country against high-flying long-range ballistic missiles, fired, say, from Iran 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) away, the Phalanx is at the very low end, meant to shoot down short-range Qassam rockets and mortar shells, fired from Gaza even less than three kilometers (two miles) away.
May 22 First black female rabbi to take N.C. pulpitSAN FRANCISCO (JTA) -- The first African-American female rabbi will take up a new pulpit in North Carolina in August. Alysa Stanton, who will be ordained June 6 at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, has been hired as the spiritual leader of Congregation Bayt Shalom in Greenville. Bayt Shalom is a small Conservative congregation that two years ago also affiliated with the Reform movement. Stanton, a convert and mother to an adopted 14-year-old daughter, is a trained psychotherapist who specializes in trauma and grief. She will be the first African-American rabbi to lead a majority white congregation, despite the fact that about 20 percent of the American Jewish community is ethnically and racially diverse, according to the San Francisco-based Institute for Jewish and Community Research. Stanton’s ordination will provide young black Jewish Americans “with an important role model,” says Diane Tobin, associate director of the institute. “Hopefully over time they will see themselves reflected in the community.”
Leçons de diét-éthique, par Sébastien Allali (*)
Attentats antisémites et anti-américains déjoués aux Etats-Unis
Il y a 42 ans la Bataille de Jérusalem  Le Jour de Jérusalem est aussi l'occasion de commémorer la Bataille de Jérusalem au cours de laquelle de violents combats ont été menés et qui ont conduit à la réunification de la Ville Sainte coupée en deux depuis la Guerre d'Indépendance. http://www.givathatachmosht.org.il/fr/index.php http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4f6c9_jerusalem-en-or_music
May 21 High Court orders state to fund non-Orthodox conversions
Court rules against inequality in resource distribution, says government must support private Reform and Conservative schools as well
Aviad Glickman The High Court ruled on Tuesday that the State must fund private conversion classes operated by the Reform and Conservative movements, in addition to the regular funding of private Orthodox institutions.
The Movement for Progressive Judaism in Israel petitioned the High Court demanding funding for private conversion schools that are operated by the movement, and that refer their students to independent Reform and Conservative rabbinical courts at the end of the process. According to the movement, the fact that the State currently only allocates a budget to the Orthodox stream is discriminative and undermines the State's duty to distribute its resources in an equal manner, regardless of worldview and religious affiliation. In its reply to the court, the State claimed that the large majority of conversions are being carried out in state-funded public conversion schools, whether Orthodox or otherwise, and that the budget allocated to private bodies amounts to the insignificant sum of NIS 1.5 million (roughly $365,000). The State also argued that there was sufficient difference between the private Orthodox schools and Reform and Conservative schools, in a manner which justified the differentiation in funding. However, the court ruled that the State failed to uphold its obligation to equality, and that "the State does not have to support private conversion schools, but as long as it chooses to do so – it cannot give preference to one form of conversion, and must exercise equality." Rabbi Gilad Kariv, head of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, said that "following this important ruling, the communities of progressive Judaism will boost their efforts to assist thousands of olim to complete their journey to Israel and to the heart of the Jewish people." http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1242212447832&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
May 20 Le tapis rouge fait de la résistance
«Antisioniste, c'est contre les Juifs c'est ça ?»
May 18 Robert Guediguian présente à Cannes son « Armée du crime », qui relate l’histoire du réseau Manouchian sous l’occupation
May 17 Champagnes casher : que valent-ils vraiment ?
De par le monde, le champagne reste l’incontournable clin d’œil festif. Quelle étiquette choisir ? pour le savoir, nous avons mis les dix marques les plus courantes au banc d’essai. Notre coup de cœur Louis de Sacy, Brut Grand Cru, (mévushal(1)). 17/20 Un champagne de vigneron, réalisé dans les règles de l’art. Une brillance dorée remarquable. Une fine bulle. Un nez de miel, de tilleul et de beurre frais. A l’aération des notes subtilement fruitées, proche d’un parfum. Une bouche onctueuse et ample. Beaucoup d’allure et de fraicheur. Champagne précis et gourmand avec une puissance toute en finesse. En bouche des notes de fruits à chair blanc sur un fond grillé très léger (12 mois en foudre de chêne). Note minérale et longue finale sur le miel. Belle pureté d’ensemble. Servir à 9-10°C à l’apéritif ou avec repas de fête. Prix : 27,40€ * (existe en demi-bouteille et magnum). Tél. : 03 26 97 91 13. Site : www.champagne-louis-de-sacy.fr
Laurent-Perrier, Brut. 16/20 Noblesse florale. Une belle brillance d’or clair d’où s’échappent de fines bulles. Un nez parfumé (fleur blanche, fleur de vigne) et frais (fougère, cyprès). L’attaque est équilibrée et généreuse. En bouche des notes citronnées, briochées, beurrées. Un vin élégant et très rafraîchissant. Servir à 8-10° C à l’apéritif avec des bouchées mais aussi poisson, volailles. Prix : 38€ (boutique casher). Le champagne des amoureux Laurent-Perrier, Brut rosé. 16/20 Le seul champagne rosé casher mais plus pour longtemps (Heidsieck & Co Monopole rosé sortira bientôt). En 2008, la maison de Laurent-Per-rier fête les quarante ans de cette cuvée rosée d’exception. Rappelons qu’en Champagne, le rosé ne représente que 5% de la production. Sa belle robe saumonée libère des parfums de fruits rouges (groseille, fraise des bois, framboise). La bouche est gourmande et joliment acidulée. Servir à 10 °C à l’apéritif, avec fruits rouges, tarte aux fraises mais aussi sushis. Prix : 65€
Heidsieck & Co Monopole, Brut, Blue Top. 14/20 Une belle robe lumineuse d’où s’échappent de fines bulles. Un nez ouvert de fruits à chair jaune (abricot), de feuille de figuier, de fleurs d’acacia avec des notes d’anis étoilé, de raisin sec. Une attaque pleine et souple. Une belle fraîcheur finale et gourmande. Servir à 9-10° C à l’apéritif, avec une tarte aux fruits (mirabelle ou fruits mêlés) ou pâtisserie (crème anglaise). Prix : 30€ (boutique casher). Pommery, Brut Royal. Pommery, Brut Royal. 16/20 Noblesse fruité. Une robe jaune pâle aux reflets verts. Une bulle extra-fine. Un parfum subtil de fruits frais (agrumes, pêche, pomme) sur un fond pâtissier exquis (pâte à tarte, beurre) finement épicé. En bouche, grande fraicheur ample et élégante avec des notes de mirabelle. Champagne crémeux et chic. Grande séduction. Servir à 8-10°C à l’apéritif avec des « canapés cocktail » mais aussi poissons, volailles. Prix : 38€ (boutique casher). Lilian Renoir, Tête de Cuvée/Lilian Renoir, Tête de Cuvée/ Cuvée des Baies d’Or. 15/20 A carafer juste avant de le servir pour que sa puissance aromatique s’exprime. Une robe dorée proche d’un sauternes Une robe dorée proche d’un sauternes (après six ans de maturation). Un nez mûr de fruits secs (abricot, raisins de Corinthe) et de mirabelle au sirop sur un fond automnal (sous-bois, champignon forestier). Une bouche grillée (noisette, noix) légèrement vanillée (passage en barrique). Attaque charnue et fraiche. Plus proche d’un vin que d’un champagne. Servir à 9-10°C avec un repas de fête (belle volaille aux marrons, potirons, raisins, figues cuites). Prix : 35€ . Site. : www.lesvinsids.com
De Castellane, Brut. 14/20 Une robe d’or aux reflets bronze. Une belle Une robe d’or aux reflets bronze. Une belle brillance et une fine bulle. Un nez discret brillance et une fine bulle. Un nez discret et citronné. Une bouche dense et ronde et citronné. Une bouche dense et ronde avec des aromes de fruits à chair jaune avec des aromes de fruits à chair jaune (pêche) mais aussi pomme et poire sur un (pêche) mais aussi pomme et poire sur un fond subtilement grillé (pralin). Une belle fond subtilement grillé (pralin). Une belle finale équilibrée. Un grand classique, une finale équilibrée. Un grand classique, une valeur sûre. Servir à 8-9° C à l’apéritif avec valeur sûre. Servir à 8-9° C à l’apéritif avec une belle volaille ou lors d’un cocktail. une belle volaille ou lors d’un cocktail. Prix : 30€ (boutique casher) Jeanmaire, Brut, Etiquette Bleue (rabbinat de Strasbourg ou de Paris). 14/20 Une robe jaune d’or paille aux bulles fines persistantes. Un nez fruité (pêche, mirabelle), avec des notes de miel, de fleurs blanches, de zest de citron sur une fond légèrement grillé. Une bouche ronde et fruitée (agrumes, pommes). Servir à 8-9°C à l’apéritif ou avec poisson blanc, gâteau au fromage, plateau de fromages. Prix : 43€ (boutique casher).
Roi David, Brut. 13/20 Une robe dorée aux reflets d’or patiné. Des bulles fines. Un nez aromatique Une robe dorée aux reflets d’or patiné. Des bulles fines. Un nez aromatique (grillé, noisettes) sur un fond compoté (pêche jaune, pomme, mirabelle). Une (grillé, noisettes) sur un fond compoté (pêche jaune, pomme, mirabelle). Une bouche charnue et briochée. Un champagne de caractère, puissant, persistant bouche charnue et briochée. Un champagne de caractère, puissant, persistant et gourmand. Un champagne dense et dynamique plein de charme qui propose une qualité constante. Prix. : 25€ (boutique casher).
Jeanmaire, Brut, Etiquette Verte (mévushal). 13/20 Une belle brillance aux reflets d’or. Une belle brillance aux reflets d’or. Une mousse persistante. Un nez Une mousse persistante. Un nez aromatique (beurre, miel d’aca-aromatique (beurre, miel d’acacia, citron et pamplemousse jaune) cia, citron et amplemousse jaune) avec une fraicheur printanière (chlorophylle). Une bouche souple et vive avec des notes de fruits jaunes (pêche, abricot frais). Servir à 8-9°C avec tarte au potiron, viande blanche, poisson blanc, tarte aux pommes. Prix : 42€ (boutique casher).
Philippe Flaurent, Brut. 12/20 Une belle robe dorée, des bulles fines et vives. Un nez discret et fruité (pêche, pomme, poire). À l’aération, des parfums de beurre, de pain frais. En bouche une attaque franche, équilibrée et ronde. Des notes de guimauve et de fruits fraichement coupés. Une vivacité rafraîchissante. Servir à 6-8°C à l’apéritif ou avec un poisson en sauce, un plateau de fromages (comté, cantal). Prix : 26 € (boutique casher). 1. Mévushal : le processus de flash pasteurisation « fige » le vin dans son caractère sacré. Débouché par quiconque, le vin restera donc casher * Les prix restent indicatifs.
May 15 L'armée israélienne forme ses pilotes sur des MiG-29RIA Novosti. L'Armée de l'air israélienne utilise des MiG-29 de fabrication soviétique pour former ses pilotes, a rapporté jeudi la Deuxième chaîne de télévision israélienne.
"Nous les avons étudiés et les utilisons lors de combats d'entraînement. C'est une bonne occasion de vérifier si notre armée de l'air est capable de vaincre un éventuel ennemi", a indiqué un pilote du Centre d'essais de l'Armée de l'air israélienne. Le Centre utilise deux MiG-29 loués à un État dont le nom n'a pas été précisé, selon le reportage. Le MiG-29 est l'un des meilleurs avions de combat exploité par les éventuels ennemis d'Israël, notamment par la Syrie, l'Iran et le Soudan. May 10 Why Wait?Not ordaining women as rabbis is a serious mistake that deprives the Jewish people of divinely inspired leadership
Rabbi Chaya Rowen-Baker In a recent article titled "How Dangerous it is to Destroy the Old Ways," Rabbi Haim Navon presents a plan to incorporate women into the Orthodox rabbinate. He suggests that initially women could be given partial rabbinic functions and, in a few hundred years, on condition that they meet certain criteria, which would be carefully scrutinized, and that they maintain an appropriate life-style, they might be permitted to lead congregations.
Impeccable logic. A deeply chauvinistic attitude parading as religious piety proposes a 200 year trial for women. Who do they presume would be the examiner? What would be considered a successful combination of rabbinic leadership with the family life and the spiritual welfare of the lady-rabbi? Are male rabbis examined for their devotion to family obligations or graded on their success in combining scholarship with humility? Rabbi Navon’s proposal has no relation to reality and meets no standard you may set – halachic, sociologic, or even moral.
Navon deplores change which is artificially initiated. If, however, there is a revolution which stems not from the philosopher’s desk but from the true needs of the majority of the people, that is the revolution of religious feminism. The very fact that he wrote this article is a reaction to this powerful movement, whose strength has increased in the last two decades under the aegis of the liberal religious movements. Indeed, it is the fear of being associated with liberal religious groups, the Masorti Movement and others, that stifles Navon and others like him from saying what should be said.
Traditionalists cannot leadHowever, by clinging to a conservative model they diminish their leadership and preclude necessary change. The true initiator of change is the radical, whose ideas are at first condemned and ridiculed, and later revealed to be of value. Slowly those ideas filter into small groups and finally become generally accepted. This is the case with the feminist awakening among the Orthodox, following the breakthrough made in the Masorti and other movements. Traditionalists, who by their very nature cannot lead, jump on the band wagon at the end, pretending to still be relevant. Our tradition applauds those who led, dared and brought us all to a better place. Nahshon Ben Aminadav, who jumped into the Red Sea, is applauded throughout the ages. Even Rabbi Akiva, who erred in calling Bar Kochba the Messiah, is considered a leader. His mistake cost many lives and utter destruction, but he remains regarded as a leader and daring innovator. The Talmud sent us a clear message when it chose to overlook his error and praise his daring. In contrast, the Gemara considers Rabbi Zecharia Ben Abkolos, stiff and uncompromising, as the one who brought about the destruction. "The timidity of Rabbi Zecharia destroyed our national home, burnt our Temple and sent us into exile."
Denying women for 200 years is oppressiveRabbi Navon and religious Zionists: Take care not to let your timidity bring about destruction. Lift up your heads, gird your loins and declare: Not ordaining women as rabbis, as qualified to answer religious questions, and to serve as congregational leaders is a serious mistake that deprives the Jewish people of divinely inspired leadership and opens our tradition to accusations of misogyny, oppression and discrimination. It should be rectified at once ! There are thousands of talented women, brilliant scholars, wise-hearted thinkers, devoted religious people, capable of leading the Jewish people wonderfully. It is what they were born to do; their way to contribute to the world. Denying them, or forestalling them for 200 years, is oppressive. Wrapping this denial in religious terms is sheer hypocrisy, as Navon admits that Halacha does not prohibit ordination of women. Those who love Judaism, who are proud of our tradition, who fear for its future, must censure these ideas.
Bringing about change by conservative methods means irrelevancy; talking about ‘200 years’ when the time is now is sheer effrontery. As one of the responses to the article said: The feminist religious revolution is happening, with you or without you. Let us hope that exaggerated timidity won’t bring in its wake further destruction.
 Rabbi Chaya Rowen-Baker is the Rabbi of Masorti congregation "Ramot Zion", Jerusalem May 08 Conférence à Adath Shalom : L’Iran à trois semaines des élections présidentiellesAlors que le président iranien scande ses propos racistes et antisémites et continue à développer une bombe nucléaire menaçant la paix mondiale, à quoi peut-on s’attendre ? Mardi 19 mai à partir de 20 heures 30, aura lieu une grande conférence à Adath shalom, modérée par Rivon Krygier et avec comme intervenants Michel Taubmann, directeur de la revue « Le Meilleur des Mondes », et Vincent Hervouet, journaliste à LCI.
ADATH SHALOM
8 rue George Bernard Shaw 75015 Paris (M° Dupleix)
Renseignements et inscriptions : 01 45 67 97 96 Cuisine Juive Tunisienne : la MelokhiaLa Melokhia est un plat typique de l'Afrique du nord, très épicé et très relevé aussi, d'un aspect peu ragoutant au premier abord, si l'on dépasse le coté visuel, c'est un vrai bouquet de saveur orientale qui se développe en bouche, on l'appelle aussi "le plat qui ne finit jamais", car on a beau passer du pain dans l'assiette, la sauce revient et on a l'impression que le plat est toujours intacte. Bon appétit aux afficionados ! Colette Kessler n'est plus
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