Religious 12th graders during a pre-army training week (Photo credit: Courtesy: Avichai Deri/ Aluma)

Mass TV-Throwing Ritual Organized By Rabbi Amnon Yitzhak

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man throws a television screen into a garbage receptacle during a protest against what the religious demonstrators say is the broadcasting of immoral content by the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, outside one of the broadcaster's studios in Jerusalem December 6, 2011. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

Jerusalem - A public ceremony to rid off household television screens was held today under the direction of Rabbi Amnon Yitzhak.

The rabbi opened the ceremony to protest against the incitement of Charedim in the media, and then began the ritual of smashing hundreds of television sets into big trash bins, in front of the Israeli Broadcasting Authorities offices in Jerusalem.

See photos below:

People throwing television into a rubbish tank during Rabbi Amnon Yitzchak’s big "temblevision" protest at which his disposing 1000 television sets in front of the Broadcasting Authorities offices in Jerusalem. (Credit: Flash90)

People throwing television into a rubbish tank during Rabbi Amnon Yitzchak’s big "temblevision" protest at which his disposing 1000 television sets in front of the Broadcasting Authorities offices in Jerusalem.  (Credit: Flash90)

People throwing television into a rubbish tank during Rabbi Amnon Yitzchak’s big "temblevision" protest at which his disposing 1000 television sets in front of the Broadcasting Authorities offices in Jerusalem. (Credit: Flash90)

People throwing television into a rubbish tank during Rabbi Amnon Yitzchak’s big "temblevision" protest at which his disposing 1000 television sets in front of the Broadcasting Authorities offices in Jerusalem. (Credit: Flash90)

People throwing television into a rubbish tank during Rabbi Amnon Yitzchak’s big "temblevision" protest at which his disposing 1000 television sets in front of the Broadcasting Authorities offices in Jerusalem.  (Credit: Flash90)

People throwing television into a rubbish tank during Rabbi Amnon Yitzchak’s big "temblevision" protest at which his disposing 1000 television sets in front of the Broadcasting Authorities offices in Jerusalem.  (Credit: Flash90)

People throwing television into a rubbish tank during Rabbi Amnon Yitzchak’s big "temblevision" protest at which his disposing 1000 television sets in front of the Broadcasting Authorities offices in Jerusalem.  (Credit: Flash90)

People throwing television into a rubbish tank during Rabbi Amnon Yitzchak’s big "temblevision" protest at which his disposing 1000 television sets in front of the Broadcasting Authorities offices in Jerusalem.  (Credit: Flash90)

People throwing television into a rubbish tank during Rabbi Amnon Yitzchak’s big "temblevision" protest at which his disposing 1000 television sets in front of the Broadcasting Authorities offices in Jerusalem.  (Credit: Flash90)

Yeshiva Celebrates Burning Cellular Telephones

Perhaps a unique ‘seudas mitzvah’ or a new trend, but whatever the case, bochrim of the Darkei Shalom Yeshiva in Telshe Stone on motzei Shabbos took part in a seudas mitzvah as they called it marking the burning of their cellular telephones.

After a schmooze from the mashgiach of the yeshiva, HaRav Yerucham Schechter, the talmidim collected their cellular telephones and placed them in a collective fire to remove the evil influence from their midst.

According to Chadrei Chareidim, rabbonim of the yeshiva took part in the event, labeled a Seudas Kiddush Hashem.

Rav Zechariah Gruenwald, the founder of the yeshiva added, “A number of years ago, I was involved in a serious vehicular accident and I was spared. On my way here I wondered what saved me. I immediately received the response, that Hashem merited me to see just how students are MeKadesh Shem Shomayim”.

Kashering IDF Kitchens To Meet Mehadrin Standards

The IDF Rabbinate is working to improving the standard of kashrus in the military, planning to bring most military kitchen’s to a ‘mehadrin’ standard in the coming years. Today, the majority of products used have a mehadrin hechsher.

According to a report in the IDF’s weekly BaMachane, mashgichim in the IDF will enter a course, more or less the same course given to mashgichim employed by the Chief Rabbinate’s local religious councils. The goal is to raise the level of kashrus to a standard that everyone will be able to eat. This would demand mehadrin products, modifying many kitchens, kashering utensils, pots, implements, stoves and etc., and most of all, maintaining a regular staff of qualified mashgichim to ensure the desired level of kashrus is upheld.

According to Rabbi Lt.-Colonel Rafael Amar, who is in charge in kashrus in the military, 40% of the IDF’s combat troops today are yeshiva students, many from hesder, and there is a growing demand for mehadrin kashrus.

Today, there are 160 mashgichim in the career army, in addition to hundreds serving in mandatory service. IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier-General Rafi Peretz hopes to attract more frum soldiers to serve in this capacity in the hope of one day declaring the IDF’s food is under the supervision of Badatz IDF Chief Rabbinate.

Eida Putting End To Burqa Cult

The story that won't go away is the Eida trying to use its influence to quash the growing influence of the kat ha'shalim, the burqa ladies "cult".

More and more stories are coming out about how they behave, things they do differently than commonly accepted practice, and many are finding it disconcerting. Reports had come in to the Eida, from a social worker, that some of these women are choosing to not give birth in hospitals for reasons of tzniyus. Another case reported to them was of a family in the cult whose daughter had gotten burned. After being taken to the hospital, they refused to allow the doctor to treat her, insisting on only having a female doctor. After a delay and refusal to accommodate, they abandoned the hospital and went to get private treatment. (source: Behadrei)

As an aside, I am not quite sure exactly what the problem is in these two reports. Women choose to have home births with private midwives all the time. And in the second incident, while a delay in treatment was caused and they specifically put their daughter in danger by causing such a delay for non-medical reasons, in theory I see nothing wrong with them insisting on a specific doctor - people do that all the time - or preferring private treatment.

Regardless of my points, these reports were brought to the Eida to show how these women and families are dangerous and involved in dangerous behavior.

Other cases involved husbands birthing their wives at home, not via private midwife. One such case caused the child to be born premature as they refused to call medical assistance. Only after they could tell the baby was in serious danger did they call a local hatzala volunteer. The volunteer took the baby to the hospital against the wishes of the parents. The child was deposited in the hospital without information being given as to who the parents are, so as not to incriminate them. The parents still have not stepped forward to identify themselves, so as to avoid arrest, and the hospital is treating the baby but refuses to release it until the parents step forward. (source:Kikar)

At the same time, the group is going on a campaign to convince more women to "join". While their material has generally been rejected by husbands who come across it, who obviously don't want their wives to join this group, and they dispose of it when they come across it, the group has found ways to get their material out. they now use envelopes and stationery with logos from real estate agents and kablanim as a way of sneaking the material past the opposing spouse. (source: Kikar)

The Eida decided to have a high-level meeting to discuss how to out an end to the phenomenon. The Badatz met yesterday to discuss the matter, and as a result decided to publish a sharp letter rejecting this behavior. They write that they heard about the antics of this group of women who have uprooted daas torah and on their own choose to not send their children to school and do not provide them with necessary medical attention to the point of putting their lives into danger, and other unmentionable acts. They then warn the public to stay away from these people. They condemn the making changes to the wedding ceremony...  and they say they will take harsh action against families that put their kids in danger. The Eida is putting together a committee to gather information, and they say they will work with the authorities and social workers to remove affected children from the homes of such families. (source: Behadrei and Kikar)

YNET: Jerusalem's new smash hit: Maccabi Mea Shearim b-ball team They don't have a budget or a seal of approval from rabbis – but they are well-equipped when it comes to faith and one of their players is the grandson of Shas' Rabbi Ovadia Yosef

They play in black uniforms, hide their 'peyes' behind their ears. They don't have a budget or a seal of approval from rabbis – but they are well-equipped when it comes to faith. Meet Jerusalem's new smash hit: the Maccabi Mea Shearim basketball team.

This week, the team, whose members all live in or around the famous Jerusalem ultra-Orthodox neighborhood - faced a team of Zionist religious bachelors from the neighborhood of Rehavia, Yedioth Aharonoth reported.

One by one they come on court: Yitzhak Pinksi, 19, guard, a student in the well-known haredi yeshiva Mir, who came to Israel from Milwaukee. "I wake up very early to run, and one night a week I allow myself to leave the yeshiva early so I can play basketball," he says.

He is followed by Natan Frenkel, 22, married with two children who is known for playing in a wedding band.

The grandson of Shas' spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Yonatan Yosef, aged 31, is next, followed by Ari Gelhar, 24, a haredi working in the filed of communication.

The other two players did not wish to expose themselves: "It is not really accustomed in the haredi world. Some would look at us differently if we would come out with this hobby." It appears a basketball player does not rank high for a shidduch.

"We have decided to prove once and for all that haredi also know how to play basketball," says Gelhar.

And it appears he is right as the Mea Shearim team defeats the Rehavia team 24-17. "How are they in such good shape?" wonders Roi from the opposing team. "Aren't they supposed to be studying torah all day?"

The haredi team points to Yonatan's relation to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. "Maybe the good luck came from there."

Maccabi Mea Shearim is now seeking to join the city-sponsored synagogues league and take their hobby to the next level.

Gedolim Daven at Kosel Hours Before Rosh HaShanah 5772

Under the Prayer Shawl - Secrets of the Priestly Blessing

Jerusalem - 'Shabbat Phones' for Netanyahu Aides: Enabling Communication on Day Of Rest

Jerusalem - A newly-purchased device will enable Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak to his religious advisers during Shabbat.
Netanyahu’s bureau employs the highest number of religious workers since Israel’s establishments and most of his aides are observing Jews.
Halacha and Technology
The prime minister has now found a way to communicate with them during Shabbat. His bureau has purchased 12 special phones allowing the parties to talk during Shabbat with no fear of desecration.
Among those who received the “Shabbat phones” are National Security Council head Yaakov Amidror, Bureau Chief Natan Eshel, Bureau manager Gil Shefer, political advisor Ron Dermer and Prime Minister’s Office Director-General Eyal Gabay.
Some observing Mossad and Shin Bet men also received such phones. The devices are estimated to cost NIS 1,119 (roughly $330).

Mobile makers hope to target Orthodox Jews with "kosher" phones. CNN's Kevin Flower reports

New Gadget Makes For a Better 'Arba'ah Minim' Kit

Jerusalem - A new gadget invented by the Israeli Kanfot Hadar  company is likely to make your next Sukkot a more enjoyable one.

The company has come up with an innovative and practical solution to help one carry all the things he needs on Sukkot. These include the four species (which are taken to the synagogue daily), the tallit, and the siddur.

“The new Jewish gadget is a product that grew out of a deep and tangible need in the Jewish world,” explained Ehud Natan Mor of Kanfot Hadar. “Anyone who, during Sukkot, has ever held the four species and has taken them to synagogue along with the tallit and the siddur, has felt how difficult, cumbersome, and how uncomfortable it is. Things fall, break, and are disqualified from a halakhic point of view.”

It was out of this need that Kanfot Hadar came up with the four species kit, explained Natan Mor.

“The kit brings a practical solution to this complication and on the other hand maintains what we are required to do: to keep the glory and splendor of Sukkot,” he said.

Nearly 100,000 Attend Funeral of Ponevitch Rosh Yeshiva

Bnei Brak - Tens of thousands of haredim flocked to the central city of Bnei Brak on Tuesday morning to take part in the funeral of Rabbi Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, one of the leaders of the Lithuanian-Orthodox faction and head of Ponovezh Yeshiva.

Lefkowitz died at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem on Monday night, two days after collapsing, (as was first reported here on Vos Iz Neias).

The funeral departed at 10:30 A.M. from the Rabbi’s home at Vilkomirer Street in Bnei Berak.

Police closed down several streets for the event. Due to the heavy heat, the Hatzalah organization handed out water to the public. Police estimated the crowed between 80,000 to 100,000.

The funeral procession began with the reciting of Psalms. Senior ultra-Orthodox rabbis paid their last respects to Rabbi Lefkowitz, including the Rebbe of Ger, the Belzer Rebbe, Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman and Hasidic “posek” Rabbi Shmuel Wosner.

In his will, read at the hospital on Monday night, the deceased asked that his two sons be the only ones to eulogize him and that they refrain from praising him too much. His son said that the rabbi treated each student like his own son, and remembered the questions each person asked him, including details on where the person stood when he asked the question.

Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger said Monday night that “the world of Torah has lost one of its central pillars. The rabbi was one of the generation’s greatest scholars, who was a genius in all treasures of Torah. His modesty and humility were an example to us all.”

The Four-Legged Chicken Raises Rare Question In Mea Shearim

The Shulchan Aruch writes in hilchos treifos that if an animal has an extra leg it is a treifa, as there is a rule that anything extra is as if one of the originals was missing. if that limb or organ missing would make the animal a treifa, so with an extra one it is also a treifa. An extra leg therefore makes the animal into a treifa. the Shulchan Aruch qualifies that by saying this is only correct if the extra leg is connected in a certain way, at the top of the lower bone, the way a normal leg is connected. Without that specific connection, it would not be considered an extra leg and would be kosher.

The Rama adds that the leg must be in line with the other legs for it to be considered a leg and therefore a problem. Without that, the leg would not be a leg but would just be an appendage (that happens to look like a leg) and would be kosher.

When you learn shulchan aruch you learn about a lot of things that sound like they probably never happen, and are hardly relevant. Yet they still once in a while surprise us and come up in real life.

4-legged chicken

Yoelish Krause, of being the "operations officer" of the Eida fame, hosts a public session of schechting chickens in his courtyard once a week. Yesterday, as the shochtim were going through the chickens and slaughtering them, they pulled out one of the chickens only to find that it had four legs!

You can learn about such thigns as much as you want, but because of the rarity of ti actually happening, when it does happen you are not going to just look at it and make a quick decision, but will show it around, take it to different rabbonim, have it inspected and hear different opinions.

And that is what Krause did. He took it from kollel to kollel to display it and generate discussion on whether this chicken was kosher or treif. One of the kollels was that of Rav Yaakov Yosef who paskened that it is a treifa, though if after slaughtering it and opening it up it would be discovered that the leg is connected differently it would be kosher. Rav Tzvi Friedman on the other hand inspected it and said it is kosher as the legs are not connected in a way that would deem them as extra legs..

DAVENING WITH HISHTAPCHUS HANEFESH

Rebbetzin Kanievsky Works Miracles To Stop An Intermarriage

A story that seems a little bit blown out of proportion to me, is reportedly getting the people of Bnei Braq very excited. The story points to the miracle workings of Rebbetzin Kanievsky.

The Story
The story was related this past Shabbos by Rav Yitzchak Zilbershtein, brother in law of Rav Chaim Kanievsky and rav of the Ramat Elchonon neighborhood of Bnei Braq.

A young woman named Riva from Bnei Braq went a few weeks ago to Rebbetzin Kanievsky for a bracha before her wedding. The only thing strange about the request was that she was going to be marrying an Arab fellow.

When Rebbetzin Kanievsky heard that she is marrying an Arab, she was shaken. She tried to convince the bride to call it off, to cancel the wedding. Alas, it was to no avail, and the girl insisted she would not back out of the wedding.

Rebbetzin Kanievsky made one more request before the bride left. She asked the bride to at least recite one chapter of Tehillim every day.

A week later the bride comes back to Rebbetzin Kanievsky and informs the rebbetzin that she has decided to cancel the wedding, and she is breaking up with her Arab fiancée.

When asked what had changed, why now she was willing to break up, she responded pointing to the Tehillim she had said. Riva said that she opened up her tehillim to a random place and read the chapter that it had opened to.

The chapter she read was perek 43, and the passuk that caught her attention was: (Hebrew and English courtesy of Machon Mamre)

א  שָׁפְטֵנִי אֱלֹהִים, וְרִיבָה רִיבִי--    מִגּוֹי לֹא-חָסִיד; מֵאִישׁ מִרְמָה וְעַוְלָה    תְפַלְּטֵנִי.

1 Be Thou my judge, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; {N} O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

The fact that she saw her name in the passuk, and with the request to "deliver me form the deceitful and unjust man" was too much for her. She saw this as a sign and knew she had to break it off. (source: Kikar)

Israel’s National Library Acquires Largest Known Collection of Israeli Pashkvillim

While Yoelish Kraus is known worldwide as director of operations for Israel’s ultra right wing Eida Charedis, he is also a renowned collector of pashkvilim, the ubiquitous posters that paper the streets of Jerusalem. In the ultimate irony, Kraus has donated his collection of pashkvillim to the Israel Antiques Authority, headed by Shuki Dorfman, both of whom were roundly criticized in many of the pashkvillim.

Israeli Hebrew news site Kikar is reporting, that Dorfman had made an unsuccessful attempt to acquire the collection for the National Library of Jerusalem three years ago, but it wasn’t until eight months ago that Kraus decided that he was ready to part with his collection. The collection will be transferred to a special section of the National Library in addition to being scanned into the library’s computers.

In recent years, Kraus managed to acquire every sign that came out and many Meah Shearim residents would come to view the pashkevillim. Kraus’ collection, which is valued at $120,000, dates back over 80 years and contains thousands of posters and other singular items, providing a rare glimpse into Israeli life. Among the collection are pashkvillim regarding the conflict between Belz and the Eida Chareidis and a bus card that was used approximately forty years ago by the Satmar Rebbe, zt’l.

Rav Chaim Kanievsky's Mice Bring Wealth

It looks like Rav Chaim Kanievsky is becoming a specialist in rodents, and his blessings and advice are particularly effective with mice.

We already had the story that happened recently where Rav Kanievsky advised someone to give maaser in order to get rid of mice he was having a problem with.

Now we have another story with Rav Kanievsky and mice.

Rav Chaim Kanievsky

The head of an institution dealing inkiruv went to Rav Chaim Kanievsky looking for advice. He laid it all out saying how his institution is in tremendous debt, to the tune of $24,000, and because of it he might have to shut down for good. The burden has become too much for him and his family.

Rav Kanievsky told him not to shut the institution but to keep dealing in kiruv despite the debts and difficulties, and everything will be fine.

A few weeks later the fellow began some light renovations on the building housing the institution. During the renovations, he noticed he had a problem with mice. Looking further, and laying traps, he discovered where the mice were coming from. He discovered the hole in which they were living, and when he pried it open he found, besides for the mice, two dusty boxes full of old silver coins.

Upon further research he discovered each coin was worth $160, as they were rare coins from the time of the British Mandate. He went to rabbonim to ask what to do with them, if he could keep and use them, which after some research he was told he could keep them.

He went home and opened the boxes to see the spoils of war. Between the two boxes he discovered that he had 150 coins, worth $160 each. That gave him a grand total of $24,000 - just enough to perfectly cover his debt. (source: Bechadrei)

I know what I am doing next time we have mice.

No BlackBerrys Says Belzer Rebbe

At a gathering at the Belzer Beis Medrash in Yerushalayim in honor of the start of the summer z’man, the Belzer Rebbe described BlackBerrys as an “instrument of contamination” that should be avoided at all costs.

Likening the evils of the smart phone to the impurity that existed in biblical Egypt, the Rebbe told thousands of Chasidim that while there are many positive and appropriate uses for a BlackBerry, because it also has the capability to expose a person to immorality, it should be viewed as an impure object.

The Rebbe cautioned those assembled to not only avoid BlackBerrys, but to advise others about the dangers of the device as well.

“If you see someone who does not take this admonition seriously, you must tell them to stop using their BlackBerry,” said the Belzer Rebbe. This is something that each of us must be vigilant about.”

The Rebbe warned the assemblage about the new dangers that with the constant emergence of new technology.

“We need to be on guard, to ensure that the impurity of Mitrayim does not dwell in our midst, in our Talmud Torahs, our Yeshivos, our Kollelim and in our homes, while at the same time imploring Hakadosh Baruch Hu to look upon us mercifully.”

Belz Rebbe by Bentching of the Trees Chodesh Nissan

Matzah Baking in Meah Shearim