Translation of Colonel Ofer Winter's Inspiring Letter, read by Rav Moshe Weinberger on Shabbos

Rav Moshe Weinberger was in Woodmere for Shabbos and, among other things, he read the widely circulated letter by Colonel Ofer Winter, which inspired and gave moral clarity to our entire people. Pending Rav Weinberger's review of my full write-up of the drasha, here is my translation of Colonel Winter's amazing letter (I included citations to psukim he obliquely referenced):

We have been bestowed a great privilege to command and serve in the Givati Brigade at this time. History has chosen us to be on the cutting edge of the war against the terrorist enemy, the “one of Gaza” [cf. Yehoshua 13:3] who curses, reviles, and defames the G-d of the battalions of Israel. [Cf. Dovid’s encounter with Golias, the Plishti, Shmuel I 17:10, 26, 36, 45.] Let us prepare and ready ourselves for this moment when we accept upon ourselves this mission with a sense of agency and complete humility and with a readiness to put ourselves in danger or give up our lives in order to protect our families, our nation, and our birthplace. 

Let us work with resolve and strength and with initiative, strategy, and hard work in our encounter with the enemy. We will do everything we can to fulfill our mission to cut down the enemy and to remove fear from the people of Israel. Our credo is “We do not return before the mission is done.” Let us work and do everything we can to bring back our boys in peace by utilizing every means at our disposal and with any effort that is required. 

I am relying on you, on each and every one of you, to do your duty in this spirit, the spirit of Jewish warriors who go out in in front of the camp. “The spirit which is called ‘Givati.’”  I lift up my eyes to Heaven and say with you, “Shma Yisrael, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad.” May Hashem, the G-d of Israel, bring success in our mission in which we stand to do battle for the sake of Your people Israel against the enemy who curses Your Name. 

In the name of the warriors of the IDF generally, and in particular, in the name of the warriors and commanders of our Brigade, may Hashem act and fulfill in us that which it says in the pasuk, “Hashem your G-d goes out with you to do battle with your enemies for you to save you” [Devarim 20:4], and let us say Amen.

 

"Together, and only together, will we be victorious."

 

Ofer Winter, Aluf Mishneh

 

Commander, Givati Brigade

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Why I'm Going to the Celebrate Israel Parade for the First Time on Sunday

My family and I will, IY"H, be at the Celebrate Israel Parade this Sunday (June 1) for the first time. I want to share a few thoughts behind this decision. 

First, it is not because I have undergone any recent change in ideology. I still love the fact that we have a state in Eretz Yisroel built by Jews and hope that it will continually become more alligned with the Torah as time goes on. I still say tachanun on Yom Ha'atzemeut. [Incidently, when I saw what occured on Yom Ha'atzmeut in YU, it appeared to be somewhat haphazard because everybody did different things and no one knew what to do. It left me feeling like the whole thing was somewhat made-up.] I am still grateful to Hashem that His providence has caused the beginning of the ingathering of the exiles and the building of Eretz Yisroel even before Moshiach's arrival.
 

Putting aside my natural quality of laziness, I have not felt a strong desire to go to the Israel Parade before because it has always struck me as too modern and/or secular a way of showing appreciation for the Jewish state. And I still basically feel that way, but other things have caused me to want to find new ways to show my support and gratitude to Hashem and the Jewish people for the existence of a thriving State of Israel in Eretz Yisroel.
 

Here is what has pushed me in the other direction so that I would like to try going to the parade this year. First, I have friends who often go and have told me about the beauty and inspiration of seeing tens of thousands of Jews, from the most secular to those who are very religious, getting together to express their gratitude and love for the same thing. I have heard that there is an incredible positive energy. It is almost unheard of to find secular and religious Jews taking part in something together so I love there idea that we have at least this one thing, the State of Israel, that can bring people together in a positive way. We often find such unity when tragedies like 9/11 or Hurricaine Sandy strike, but almost never for positive things.

 

The second thing is the toxic negativity toward the State of Israel and those associated with it, including the IDF, that I very often hear from various parts of my community. It goes without saying that, as a Jew who works to be religious, I recognize that there are many things wrong with the State, its army, and its laws. But there are so many positive, beautiful things happening as well. And so many of even the people who do harmful things are sincerely trying to do what is right as they (albeit wrongly) understand it.
 

The derech in Torah to which I am drawn is one which sees good in things. Even when Jews do bad things, this derech seeks to avoid whitewashing the bad while still looking beneath the surface to appreciate that those doing it are not inherently evil or malicious, but are simply wrong or confused. A chareidi MK in a recent article in Mishpacha Magazine actually claimed that non-chareidim hate chareidim so much that it would be futile to even attempt to reconcile with, talk with, or even persuade secular Israelis of the correctness of the chareidi position.  See my letter to the editor in response to that on the right. Such extreme negativity which blinds itself to seeing any positivity in "the other" pushes me to try even harder to see good in those who are condemned as evil and malicious.

Even drashos speaking against the current government of Israel by tzadikim who I respect and look up to, like this one, push me to see the good that other tzadikim and my own gut tells me is there. So even though my positions regarding the state have not changed, I am frustrated by the lack of an appreciation for the goodness within Jews whose beliefs and actions may be wrong. And that frustration causes me to look for more ways to see, be grateful for, and celebrate the good.


My family is now getting very excited to come to the parade as well. My somewhat vertically challenged oldest daughter (a good Bais Yaakov girl) was a little bit concerned that she would not be able to see anything because of her height, so I suggested that we march in the parade so she wouldn't have to worry about the view. She very much liked that idea, so IY"H, we will be marching in the Celebrate Israel Parade with YU, my alma mater.  Hope to see you there if any of  you may be joining!


I do not know whether I will come to future parades, but IY"H, may this one reveal more goodness, gratitude, and achdus in as broad a specrum of the Jewish people as possible!
 

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New Ramat Beit Shemesh Housing Update and Meetings with Builders/R. Judah Mischel in NY Area!

 

 

I got the email below from Rabbi Judah Mischel giving an update on the new building projects in Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef. See above for a video he, Rav Boaz Mori, and the realtors made. Very exciting. He also has events coming up for more information, including a chance to meet with the builder, in Forest Hills, Bergenfield, NJ, YU, Kew Gardens Hills, and Manhattan. Very exciting! See below for the details!

Rabbi Judah Mischel: 

“Lev HaRama" is an exciting community initiative and building project in Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef. A partnership and joint venture between Yigal Realty & Yeshivat Lev HaTorah, our goal is to build on the successful model of Ramat Shilo (Shechunat Yeshivat Lev Hatorah), of creating a neighborhood model based around a Torah institution and community center.

 

We are developing a vibrant, growth oriented Kehillah in two adjacent communities- Ramat HaRo'eh (named in honor of The Ro'eh, Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook zt’l) as well as parallel project in Givat Shilo.

 

We are thrilled that over 40 inspired families have already purchased homes and are committed to joining us in developing our vision for creating an open and comfortable, warm Torah community in Ramat HaRo'eh.

 

BE"H residents will enjoy all the advantages of living in a new area of an established city – with an array of excellent schools, stores and the convenience of the location between Yerushalayim and Tel Aviv, as well as the unique opportunity to help build and shape a Kehillah from the ground up.

 

We are working with experienced realtors, Kablanim, architects and builders, and have obtained exclusive rights to develop and market a limited number of attractive, high quality and competitively priced homes, apartments, duplexes, and townhouses.

 

Specifically, we are excited to announce our partnership with Reb Mordechai Chazon of Chazon & Galili Ltd., one of Israel’s most prolific and experienced real estate developers. Over the past 30 years, Chazon & Galili have built thousands of residential units, and are renown for their reliability, stellar reputation and high quality construction.

 

R' Mordechai Chazon will be joining us in New York area next week for a series of presentations about the new communities, and will be reviewing floor plans and exciting opportunities that are especially relevant for young couples and growing families.

 

Meir Dombey, representing the real estate company of Yigal Nechasim - one of the area's most respected firms- will be at the meetings as well.

 

We look forward to seeing you and sharing the vision and plans for this project, and invite you to take advantage of this exciting opportunity by joining us at one of the the information session / open houses next week:

• Tuesday, October 8th @ Home of Justin & Shaindy Diller,
  69-11 Yellowstone Blvd, Apt. #B25, Forest Hills, Queens, NY 11375, 8pm

 

• Wednesday October 9th @ Home of Rav Moshe Zvi & Alisa Weinberg, 19 Sunrise Terr., Bergenfield NJ, 07621, 8:15pm
 
 
• Thursday Oct 10 @ Yeshiva University / Amsterdam Ave., Glueck Building, Rm 418, 7:45pm
 
 
• Motzai Shabbos, October 12 @ Home of Michael & Lauren Mandelstam, 144-49 70th Road, Kew Garden Hills, NY 11367, 8:30pm
 
 
• Sunday-Monday October 13-14 @ Israel Real Estate Exhibition,Grand Hyatt, Park Avenue at Grand Central Terminal

 

Chevreh, every effort we make toward holiness- and building & settling The Land of Israel is meaningful... May this effort bring Nachas Ruach to Hashem, and BE"H maybe even help some of you (or someone you know...) find your place in Eretz Yisrael!

 

If you're able to help spread the word to any family or friends who may be interested, I'd really appreciate it...

 

Thank you very much ~ Tizku L'mitzvos!

 

Looking forward to seeing you,

 

B'vracha,

 

Judah Mischel

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New Community in Ramat Beit Shemesh for Bnei Aliya! (Update - Video Fixed)

 

Check out this video promoting the new community in Ramat Beit Shemesh. The city calls it "Ramat Hamishkafayim," but the people there who are working on developing it as a Torah/growth centered community are calling it "Ramat Haro'eh," after Rav Kook. Check out this video I just found on it.

R. Judah Mischel is involved and appears in the video. Anyone thinking of aliya, or finding a growing community in Israel for people who already live there, very worthwhile to check this out. Very exciting!

UPDATE (4/17/13): The host of this video apparantly took it down and put up a revised video in its place. This post is now updated with the new video. Kol tuv!

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Inspiring High Quality Videos About Israel

With thanks to Dixie Dad for sending me this video, here is a great video called "Start Up Nation" about Israel's innovative economy:



Here is another great video about a commander and how Israel deals with fighting an enemy who hides among women and children:



Here is an interview with the author of "Start Up Nation" talking about the progressive deregulation economic policies:



Fascinating statistics about the the worldly effects of the infinite and hungry Jewish soul:



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Rav Weinberger Speaking on Tzfas, Rebbe Nachman, & Chanukah

HT Shmuel. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

Please donate to my son's cheder by going to minivanraffle.org to buy a raffle ticket. The drawing for a new minivan, car, or $20,000 cash will be IY"H Chanukah time. $100 for 1 ticket. $360 for 5. Where the form says "Referred by," please write "Dixie Yid." Tizku l'mitzvos!

Hashem is With us in Gaza - Video

Link courtesy of Dixie Dad. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

Please donate to my son's cheder by going to minivanraffle.org to buy a raffle ticket. The drawing for a new minivan, car, or $20,000 cash will be IY"H Chanukah time. $100 for 1 ticket. $360 for 5. Where the form says "Referred by," please write "Dixie Yid." Tizku l'mitzvos!

Yerushalayim Shel Zahav - Sam Glaser Singing - Images/Video From 1967

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Amazing Half-Hour Documentary on Rav Kook - A Must See! - Embeded Video

This is an amazing video. It has interviews with a number of Roshei Yeshiva and others who knew Rav Kook while he was alive. It has a lot of pictures and video clips of the Tzadik and a lot of really great quotes from several of the seforim. This is a must-see about this Tzadik who truly speaks to our generation. Awesome.

HT Dixie native R. Nathan Rossman. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

Wow - Nefesh B'Nefesh Video

This video is so beautiful. It actually made me cry.

Nefesh B'Nefesh

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Marching Toward Eretz Yisroel - R' Itchie Mayer Morgenstern on Lech Lecha

The following is a section from Rav Itchie Mayer Morgenstern's drasha from this past week on Parshas Lech Lecha. You can get the links to download the full pdf versions of the write-up of these shiurim in both Hebrew and in English translation below:

The entire Torah is actually the word of Hashem cloaked in a seemingly physical form but which reaches the supernal worlds. The garments that reach the three lower worlds are the halachos, the pilpulim (complex reasonings), and the dikdukim (detailed exegesis). It is only through these aspects that the supernal worlds and all souls are rectified. But there is an even higher level of connection, the aspect of Atzilus, which one can access through the vital emunah that is hidden within. Our avodah is to attain the deep pleasantness and sweetness of the Torah, which is the source of our souls. Through this pleasantness we draw down such a deep illumination that we merit to receive the entire Torah. But one who does not strive to access this higher level will not truly attain the Torah.

This is the deeper meaning of Rashi who tells us that it is specifically through traveling to Eretz Yisrael that we merit “children,” that our Torah bears fruit through feeling a deep pleasure in our learning. It is only on this level that one truly attains a complete knowledge of the Torah.

“Every Step I Take is Toward Eretz Yisrael”

When a person first tries to turn his path toward Eretz Yisrael, however, the forces of evil tell him that he will never attain true mastery of the revealed Torah if he makes dveikus through Torah his goal. Since the way to Eretz Yisrael “diminishes children,” this can mean that one risks losing the revealed aspects of Torah that are symbolized by children since the offspring of the righteous are their good deeds. Another way to understand this is that the evil within argues that focus on dveikus will cause one to do less good deeds than if he would just act without trying to maintain any special intentions.

Another potential danger of the path to Eretz Yisrael could be that through focusing on dveikus one’s good name will suffer. [What will people think if he suddenly starts to serve Hashem with his entire heart? He might not fit in with the crowd, and this would tarnish his reputation.] Surely one who feels degraded will be unable to truly connect to Hashem anyway, since one’s name represents his mission in life. In addition, the yetzer claims that too much focus on the spiritual could make him lose his livelihood.

Hashem counters all of these claims by promising Avraham that his journey will bring him children, wealth, and renown. It is incumbent on every Jew to do some serious self-searching. Why doesn’t he feel the powerful light and vitality of focusing on the holy Names of Hashem? Why isn’t he like the holy tzaddikim who ascended to Eretz Yisrael?

Toras Chochom on Lech Lecha
Toras Chochom on Lech Lecha in English

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