A favorite time

 

Reference
Hebrew: http://www.mechon-mamre.org/b/h/h49.htm
English: http://www.shechem.org/torah/avot.html

THIS IS one of my favorite times of the year, from Pesach's end to Rosh HaShana - it is time for מסכת אבות- also known as Perki Avot (Avos) and Ethics of the Fathers.

Avot comes - like Passover hagadahs and the five megillot ( חמש מגילות) * - in many different forms; all Hebrew/Aramaic, all local language (e.g., English in the US, French in France); in simple paperback versions and in elaborate, illustrated coffee table objets d'art. Some works include commentary from both distant (immediate post-Talmudic period) and contemporary sources. Avot also is found in many, perhaps most, sidurim (prayer books). Not being a Rothschild, my copies of Avot are of the simple variety, but the wisdom is the same regardless of cost. (Don't misunderstand, I'll gladly accept an objet d' art, but I'll "make do" with the versions I have.)

The Hebrew of Avot is generally fairly simple, almost "עברית קלה".

One of my favorites, Shammai, pops up in Chapter 1 (Verse 15), with passing references elsewhere.

Avot has five chapters; most are chronological in order, from Chapter 1 Verse 1 (Moses received the Torah from Sinai) to Chapter 4 Verses 28 and 29 (Eleazar ha-Kappar used to say ) , but the fifth chapter is a "catch all."

Most "traditional" - read "orthodox" if you must - congregations read one chapter each Shabat, repeating the chapters as a set until Rosh HaShana. For all that, any time of year is suitable for Avot, and it can be taken in any quantity - a verse or several, or a chapter or several.

It is unfortunate that probably in most congregations the chapter of the week is read sans any discussion of either how the verses may apply to us today or any enlightenment about the luminaries that are credited with the wisdom.

The latter issue - gaining a little knowledge of the people cited - is easily remedied by acquiring a book titled "Masters of the Talmud " ** It may be available at your local synagogue or public library; as this is prepared, Amazon claims to have several copies available.

One of the reasons I enjoy Avot is because we get a glimpse, albeit a very abbreviated glimpse, of Shammai that gives a hint that he was far from the curmudgeon that he often is portrayed in comparison to his partner-in-learning, Hillel.

In chapter 1, Verse 15, Shammai tells us "Make your study of the Torah a fixed habit. Say little and do much, and receive all men with a cheerful face."

Any one who digs deeper into the Talmud than Avot will find that Shammai actually was a bit of a liberal on some things.

Chapter 5, Verse 20 reminds us that the debates between Bet Shammai (Shammai's school) and Bet Hillel were welcome debates; Which controversy was an example of being waged in the service of G-d? Such was the controversy of Hillel and Shammai. And which was not for G-d? Such was the controversy of Korah and all his company.

It is said - and this is only incidental to Avot - that because Hillel was "less severe" in his rulings than Shammai, we follow Hillel now, but when the mashich (messiah) comes, we will follow Shammai.

In any - and all - event(s), this is one of my favorite times of the year. Mimunah followed by Avot; it doesn't get much better than that.

 

* Esther (Purim), Ruth (Shavuot), Lamentations (9th of Av), Ecclesiastics (Sukot), Song of Songs (for Sefardim, every Friday night; for others it is associated with Pesach/Passover).

** Masters of the Talmud, Alfred J. Kolatch, Jonathan David Publishers, ISBN 0-8246-0434-2, Copyright 2003.

Middle path

 

The following is used with permission

Ice, Fire, and the Search for the Middle Path: Thoughts for Shabbat HaGadol, April 16, 2011

By Rabbi Marc D. Angel

The Jerusalem Talmud (Hagigah 2:1) teaches that the way of Torah is a narrow path. On the right is fire and on the left is icy snow. If one veers from the path, one risks being destroyed by either the fire or the ice. The Torah way of life is balanced, harmonious and sensible. It imbues life with depth, meaning and true happiness. Yet, it is not easy to stay on the path.

Veering to the left freezes the soul of Judaism. When one abandons the warmth of traditional Jewish belief and observance, one falls prey to the ice of skepticism, materialism, hedonism. One confronts what Viktor Frankl has called a “spiritual vacuum”, or what Peter Berger has termed “spiritual homelessness”.

Veering to the right causes one to become embroiled in religious fanaticism, excessive zeal. This tendency generates a spirit of isolationism, self-righteousness, xenophobia, authoritarianism. It reduces the Torah way of life to a self-imposed physical and spiritual ghetto.

The Jerusalem Post reported a survey indicating that about 2/3 of Israeli Jews will participate in a Seder for Passover this year; about 80% of new olim will do likewise. This means that one-third of Israeli Jews and 20% of new olim will not be at a Seder. For this huge number of Jews, participation at a Seder means little or nothing. They do not feel a religious—or even a national or cultural—impulse to celebrate Pessah with a Seder. If this is so in Israel, it is all the more so in the diaspora. This is the way of ice, the freezing of the soul of Judaism.

On the other hand, we witness the patterns within Orthodoxy where stringencies upon stringencies are added to Passover observance. Food items need multiple hashgahot to appease various segments of the community. Religiously observant people don’t eat in the homes of other religiously observant people who do not keep up with all the latest humrot. This is the way of fire, the burning of the soul of Judaism and turning the Torah life into a cultic framework.

How do we stay on the healthy, balanced middle path of Torah? Why do the forces of ice and fire grow so strong, as the middle path seems to grow weaker and less confident?

Modern Orthodoxy stands for the middle path. It strives to maintain devotion to Torah and halakha, while avoiding the extremes of the right and left. Yet, Modern Orthodoxy finds that its children are being pulled toward both extremes. Some move to the right, thinking that this is a “more religious” approach. Some move to the left, surrendering to the prevailing secular values of society. Why does Modern Orthodoxy feel imperiled?

It is difficult, even uninspiring, to fight for moderation, balance, compassion and inclusiveness. It is so much easier to take extreme positions, where one can argue from the vantage point of ice or fire, rather than to be “lukewarm”. At a time when the vision of Modern Orthodoxy is so desperately needed, Modern Orthodoxy seems to have lost its voice, its confidence, its ability to steer intelligently between the way of ice and the way of fire.

All Jews—whether Orthodox or not—need to hear a principled and articulate expression of the middle path of Judaism, that veers neither to the right nor to the left. Happily, there are some Modern Orthodox voices that are rising to the challenge. Let us all listen carefully. The future of Judaism and the Jewish people are at stake.

The Angel for Shabbat column is presented as a service of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals. Please visit our website jewishideas.org for a wide array of articles of special interest to those who wish to foster an intellectually vibrant, compassionate and inclusive Orthodox Judaism.

The Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals
8 West 70th Street
New York, NY 10023
United States

Invite the UN

 

Israel claims that its Gaza-based attackers hide behind schools, mosques, and UN facilities.

The UN fails to see this, only Israel attacking (retaliating against) "innocent civilians" (who fire rockets at Israel and run).

Maybe Israel should invite the UN to occupy some structures in southern Israel, areas targeted by Hamas.

Insist that the UN people stationed there bring their families.

Build a school for them right in the center of town.

In addition to that, construct a prison in the area to house "palestinian" terrorists.

Now, let Hamas fire its rockets into Israel and perhaps hit a UN facility or kill a few UN staff or dependents; perhaps even hit the prison and eliminate some terrorists.

Perhaps then the UN and the world would begin to understand why Israel attacks Gaza.

Perhaps then the UN and the world would begin to understand that Israel makes every effort to avoid true civilian causalities.

Not likely, of course, but an interesting concept.

How about asking the U.S. to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to, say, Sdrot - and bring the dependents. President want-to-be Hillary could visit and maybe Hamas could put on a show for her - a few rockets falling at her feet might impress upon her that "peace" with Hamas will never happen.

Maybe the man who thinks he's Hillary's boss - the Moslem in the White House, not Bill - could visit and be greeted my a Hamas missile.

Of course even if a rocket landed on Obama's head, that might not change the world's perspective of poor, downtrodden Hamas.

Reporters now are "embedded" (or perhaps "in bed with") US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and . . . Maybe Israel should "embed" some reporters with its troops - people from Time, BBC, CNN, Fox, Al-Jezera, and the Times of New York, LA, London. Let a reporter-with-camera ride in the back seat of an IDF jet, or better, a slowly moving UN helicopter so the reporter could see and film the effort Israel makes to avoid "collateral damage." Certainly Hams would not fire on friendly UN helicopters.

If we run out of reporters, invite UN observers to ride along.

Truth in blogging: I was a reporter for many years and I have spent time in helicopters, float planes, and troop transports; never in a fighter.

Government shutdown

 

I was just told that the anticipated government shutdown will halt payments to the military and to Social Security beneficiaries, but NOT congressional salaries..

It's not bad enough that far too many servicemen and women have to depend on welfare and AFDC to feed their families, NOW our elected officials are going to make them go into bankruptcy because the government - for which they are risking their lives - won't pay the wages they've earned.

Yes, the congress that withholds their pay still pays itself !

If the country is in such sad financial shape - and I have no doubt it is - that the government must penalize its servicemen and women and must take crumbs from people on Social Security, maybe it's time some of our elected officials stood up and volunteered to take a pay cut.

The annual salary of the president of the United States is $400,000 per year, including a $50,000 expense allowance. (The real payoff comes after the president leaves office with a nearly $200,000 annual pension plus whatever he or she can collect on the side.) The vice president gets only $230,700.

According to Wikipedia. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate#Salary_and_benefits:

The annual salary of each senator and representative, as of 2009, is $174,000; the president pro tempore and party leaders receive $193,400 and the Speaker of the House gets $223,500.

Plus perks.

Along with earning salaries, senators receive retirement and health benefits that are identical to other federal employees, and are fully vested after five years of service. Senators are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). As it is for federal employees, congressional retirement is funded through taxes and the participants' contributions. Under FERS, senators contribute 1.3% of their salary into the FERS retirement plan and pay 6.2% of their salary in Social Security taxes. The amount of a senator's pension depends on the years of service and the average of the highest 3 years of their salary. The starting amount of a senator's retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of their final salary. In 2006, the average annual pension for retired senators and representatives under CSRS was $60,972, while those who retired under FERS, or in combination with CSRS, was $35,952.

Having lived in the D.C> area, I know the cost of living the high life can be steep.

But Washington is not just asking us, but forcing us, to tighten our financial belts, belts that for many already are too tight.

Let the president show some leadership and offer to take a 50 percent salary cut until the budget is balanced. He should be able to "get by" with only $200,000-a-year. I realize the executives of some of the bailed out banks and businesses make much, much more than even $400,000-a-year, but the president is supposed to be the nation's LEADER. Let's see some leadership.

One way to cut expenses would be to stop invading countries, especially countries with civil war. More especially, when the invasions are performed by the vary people the government is going to withhold pay. (If we MUST invade countries, why Libya and not Syria or Yemen, why not Sudan/Darfur?)

If that's not enough, Florida's governor - and I suspect others as well - is cutting back on Medicaid, the medical lifeline for the indigent and near-indigent. The burden will shift to the counties and county hospitals, already so far in debt they may never recover.

Basically, the people sitting on a threaded fastener are the people on whom the country depends for its safety and the old who already served their time.

East coast, west coast

 

Pesach is nigh upon us and the last of the shopping is underway.

We have two "K4P" lists in the house; one from the Va'ad HaRabanim of Greater Seattle, a/k/a Seattle Va'ad (http://www.seattlevaad.org/Passover_5769.html and one from the Jersey Shore Orthodox Rabbinute (http://www.jsor.org/PDF/passover2011bulletinformat.pdf..

I also know of a third list, one highly recommended by the Atlanta Sephardi community and published by Kashruth.Org (http://www.kashrut.org/pesach/

The Seattle Va'ad and the JSOR lists are available, gratis, on-line. Kashrut.org requests a $5 donation via PayPal or major credit card.

The Seattle Va'ad caters both to Ashkenazim and to Sephardim and manages to put its recommendations into a three column table:

JSOR is more prose and usually explains "why" something requires a special Pesach certification.

Both are easy to use.

JSOR's board, headed up by R. Isaac Farhi - Kashrut Coordinator, is identified at http://www.jsor.org/contacts.html. The Seattle Va'ad board members are listed on the organization's home page (http://www.seattlevaad.org/) and includes R. Simon Benzaquen of Sephardic Bikur Holim.

Interestingly, there are a few differences of opinion. Why? Anyone's guess.

As examples, JSOR states: "Sephardim whose custom it is to use soybeans and corn may use any certified kosher for year round use brand of pure corn, canola or soybean or vegetable oils . Some manufacturers have added citric acid to their oil. Although this ingredient is usually extracted from corn, it can be made from a chametz source, therefore we do not recommend any oil containing this ingredient as we have no verification of the source of the citric acid."

Seattle Va'ad rules that oils for Sefardim may be "any kosher - (but) not canola".

Why is canola acceptable on the east coast and not the west coast ? No idea.

On the Pacific coast I am allowed "any kosher paste, puree, or stewed (tomato) products" but on the Atlantic coast, JSOR tells me that "Passover supervision (is) required" (for tomato paste and sauce).

JSOR's reasoning is "due to flavored varieties of paste and sauce now being produced, the OK laboratories inform us that tomato products must have proper Pesach supervision." JSOR goes on to add that "Tomato products should only be used with a known reliable supervision, it has been discovered that certain packers of tomato products were producing tomato with (non-kosher) romano cheese sauce and then producing the crushed tomatoes, with no cleaning in between! Understandably this is not acceptable." (JSOR's emphasis.)

How any of the above could have been certified kosher at any time escapes me. I can understand a general question about flavorings being kosher for Pesach used in otherwise kosher products, but is it necessary to prohibit unflavored products with a reliable year-round kosher certification?

Both the Seattle Va'ad and JSOR insist that "Sodas must have Kosher for Passover certification due to possible Hames in the flavoring base."

JSOR notes that "while actual soybeans are permissible for most Sephardim, products made of soy, such as soy sauce, TVP and tofu are forbidden. These products are made through extraction methods that use grain alcohol in the processing of the soybeans." Seattle Va'ad allows only "Nasoya – plain, firm, extra firm (only unflavored varieties)" products.

For some reason the Seattle Va'ad allows any toothpaste except Crest (for both Sefardim and Ashkinazim), yet JSOR approves the use of Crest Cavity Protection Mint Gel and Regular and Crest for Kids. JSOR also lists a number of other toothpastes it finds acceptable.

Both coasts "strongly recommend that only Kosher for Pesach products be used on Pesach, unless there is a blanket permission for the product (e.g., aluminum foil or, for Sepharadim, products with only a kitniot issue.) The Seattle Va'ad notes that "Generally, products with a reliable symbol (hashgacha) followed by a 'P' or otherwise stating 'Kosher for Passover' may be used for Pesach. The presence of the symbol is critical. The words 'kosher for Passover' are not trademarked or protected and anyone can write this on a label. It should be noted that companies sometimes improperly use the letter 'P' to mean 'parve,' so the consumer needs to make certain that the product is in fact for Passover use. When in doubt, ask!"

As with most things Jewish, there is more agreement between the groups than there are differences.

Both lists are certainly worth downloading, but in the end, all have the caveat: Ask your own rabbi.

Related blog entries:
   K4P milk and meat? http://yohanon.blogspot.com/2011/04/k4p-milk-and-meat.html
   K4P (updated) http://yohanon.blogspot.com/2011/03/k4p.html

* * * * *

Love matzeh?

One day a year matzeh lovers are out of luck.

That one day is erev Pesach when, according to Talmud Yerushalmi “one who eats Masa on Ereb Pesah is like one who has relations with his fiancé in his father-in-law’s house.”

According to R. Eli Mansour's Daily Halacha, "Rambam (Rabbi Moshe Maimonides, Spain-Egypt, 1135-1204), in Hilchot Hametz U’masa (6:12), codifies the prohibition against eating Masa on Ereb Pesah. He goes so far as to say that one who violates this prohibition and eats Masa on Ereb Pesah is punished with malkot (lashes)."

This applies to all matzeh except egg matzeh that has a taste different than Pesach matzeh.

* * * * *

A few words on "symbolism"

Letters, such as "K" by themselves cannot be trademarked; unless the consumer knows who is behind the "K" it's best to assume the "K" stands for something other than "kosher." Directories of kosher certifiers' symbols are available at

• http://www.kashrut.com/agencies/
• http://www.kosher-directory.com/supervisions.htm
• http://www.crcweb.org/agency_list.php
• http://www.kosherquest.org/symbols.php

NOTE: The blogger is NOT responsible for any omissions from any list nor does the blogger endorse any particular certifying agency. When in doubt, ASK YOUR RABBI.

K4P milk and meat?

 

Assumption: The meat you buy at the local outlet is kosher.

Assumption: The milk you buy at the local outlet, even if lacking a kosher label, is inspected by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assure it's not adulterated.

So why the big fuss about "kosher for Passover" labels?

According to Rabbi D. Marc Angel, "Questions arise if these things (meats) were prepared, cut and packaged before Pessah using hametz implements. As a rule--and certainly from a Sephardic perspective--if these things are bought before Pessah there's no problem, since whatever tiny amounts of hametz might be involved would have been annulled by a ratio of sixty to one. That rule, though, only applies before Pessah. For things bought on Pessah, hametz is never annulled no matter what the ratio."

The "operative words" in Rabbi Angel's comment are "from a Sephardic perspective."

Chabad's Rabbi Yehuda Shurpin holds that "the problem arises when foods are being processed -which almost all foods nowadays are. For even if a small amount of Chametz gets into the food it is rendered not kosher for Passover."

Dairy products - even milk - is a bit more difficult issue than meat.

The USDA assures us, through on-going inspections that the milk we think comes from cows (or goats) actually does come from cows (or goats). We don't have to be concerned that someone is adding milk from a non-kosher animal (camels, for example).

But what the USDA does not do is assure us that the ADDITIVES - the vitamins and other things put into the product to keep us hopefully healthy are kosher for Pesach. The "fly n the ointment" as it were, is alcohol, often used to "cut" ingredients that are used to enhance a basic product, e.g., the Vitamin D additive. Someone has to check the source of the alcohol, and most kashrut agencies apparently don't go that deep into the processes.

Beyond the additives, Orthodox Union Kashruth Division's "Web(be) Rebbe" reminds that "dairies do not just do milk anymore. They package all types of drinks. Chocolate milk, soy drinks, rice drinks... There are dairies that bottle chicken soup! (Very rare)."

What if you fail to find kosher for Pesach milk?

As Rabbi Angel said about meat, Rabbi Alexander Haber said about milk: "Milk contains additives like Vitamin E which are Chametz. If bought before Pesach these additives are nullified by the 1/60 rule. Chametz cannot be nullified on Pesach itself." Milk lacking a kosher for Pesach label, to be used during Pesach must be purchased before the search and destruction of hametz.

Milk products, such as yogurt, present their own problems.

Rabbi Yosef Landa of the CRC, notes that "other items do require (a kosher for Passover certification), because of various ingredients in these products, such as the rennet and vitamins. Yogurts have all sorts of ingredients in them. In addition these are processed while hot, and the equipment can be used for non KFP items as well."

Rabbi Landa also wrote that "Just because the product bears a K4P symbol doesn’t necessarily mean that it requires it, just as many year round kosher products bear kosher symbols even though it is not required, salt for example. Manufacturers like to put the symbol there, since not all consumers know what requires a symbol and what doesn’t. In fact fresh or frozen whole meat or chicken does not require special kosher certification for Passover. (Rabbi's emphasis above.)

A note about sodas/colas.

Why, I asked myself, would a Sefardi need to worry about colas being kosher for Pesach. The Ashkenazi needs to be concerned because the bottlers often use corn syrup as a sweetener; corn is kitniyot and kitniyot are forbidden to Ashkenazi - but not Sefardi Jews.

Turns out that, like milk, there are ingredients in colas that may be kosher but not "kosher for Pesach." I'm not a chemist or a food scientist so I'm not privy to exactly what might be a problem for Sefardim. I am a bit disconcerted by the major certification agencies in the U.S. - OU, CRC, Star-K, OK, etc. - have blinders that allow them only see things the Ashkenazi way. Perhaps that will slowly change. In France, the primary kashrut agency includes a line on products containing kitniyot that reads something like "permitted to people who consume kitniyot." Bravo!

* * * *

Blogger's note: The spelling within quotes is the quoted author's and reflects the problems of trying to transliterate Hebrew to Latin characters. Chametz, chometz, hametz, hames - it's all the same when read right-to-left.

No camps for Jewish refugees

 

Israel's Moslem neighbors are unable to absorb the (initially) few thousand Moslems who either voluntarily left Israel in 1948, making way the "glorious Arab armies that would drive the Jews to the sea" or were chased out by Jews who, in many cases, correctly perceived them to be Fifth Columnists (enemies inside the borders).

It's interesting to note that many Moslems stayed in Israel, became Israeli citizens, and enjoy 99% of all the county's benefits.

Many of the Moslems who left Israel received compensation from Israel for their claims.

So why are they still in refugee camps in Gaza, in Lebanon, and elsewhere?

Because no one wants them.

To its credit, Jordan has absorbed a number of refugees sufficient that a few hold positions in the Jordanian government. (Perhaps the current king has forgotten about the Palestinian attempt on his father's life and Black September - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_September_(group).) Or, perhaps, the Jordanians realize that Jordan IS the Palestinian state.

Since they won't absorb the refugees, the Moslem states let their brothers-in-religion sit in the camps, blaming Israel for the refugees' woes. To be honest, these states DO allow residents of Occupied Israel (Gaza and the so called "West Bank") entry to work at low level pay. And, these imported workers know that they can be expelled at the whim of the leadership.

Compare this

to the plight of Jews forced out or "encouraged" to leave their homes and property in Arab lands.

Compensation? None.

Yet the so-called Palestinians want compensation from Israel.

Seems to me that the maybe a swap could be arranged: The Moslems in the camps could be resettled in the countries the Jews vacated. The Jewish Agency funded most of the travel for indigent Jews; surely the Arab League could foot the bill to move Moslems into new host countries.

Absorption costs? Israel and the Jewish Agency - at one time practically one and the same - paid, and continues to pay - costs to absorb new immigrants from "wherever." Let the Arab League pay the integration costs for the relocated Moslems.

At least they don't have to learn the (basic) language.

The "Jewish Virtual Library" has an interesting page titled "Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries" by Jacqueline Shields at http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/jewref.html. It includes a chart near the end of the file showing the declining number of Jews in Arab states over the years since 1948.

In 1948, there was an estimated 856,000 Jews in 10 Moslem countries; as of 2004, the number was a little more than 7,600.

The only two of 10 Moslem countries listed that has a population of more than 1000 Jews are Morocco with an estimated 5,500 and Tunisia with 1,500 (figures as of 2004). Interestingly, Morocco is considered a "vacation" spot by some Israelis who still have relatives in the country.

Why "Palestinians" are not wanted

With the unrest in the Arab League's world, the so-called Palestinians in their brothers' lands are being threatened with expulsion. According to a posting by Khaled Abu Toameh on the Hudson New York blog (http://www.hudson-ny.org/2007/palestinians-deported-from-syria, "Buthaina Shaaban, an advisor to Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, surprised many reporters last week when she announced that Palestinian refugees living in her country took part in attacks on government installations in the cities of Deraa and Latakia."

According to Toameh, "Palestinians fear that the latest charges against them are aimed at paving the way for their deportation from Syria, the same way many Gulf countries expelled tens of thousands of Palestinian families after the liberation of Kuwait by US-led coalition forces in the early 1990s."

Many of the 700,000 so-called Palestinians thought to be in Syria are kept in refugee camps, although, the blog notes, the "Syrians are believed to be holding hundreds of Palestinians in various prisons."

Self defense

 

I'm reading - or perhaps re-reading - a book by Phyllis Chesler titled The New Anti-Semitism.

I just read a long list of Moslem attacks on Jews in Israel.

Murdered by

 *  guns

 *  knives

 *  bombs

 *  axes

Not just Israeli Jews. Not just Jews.

Many of the people just "happened" to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I am an American, born and raised.

I have lived in many places in the U.S., but thankfully never in New York where only criminals are allowed to have guns.

As an American who owns a gun and as an American whose sons own guns - one is a policeman - I cannot understand why the Israeli government doesn't get its head out of the European mind-set (no guns for non-criminals, a la New York City) and not only allow Israeli Jews to have small arms - pistols and revolvers - but to encourage its citizens to bear arms.

Register them if it must.

Limit the type of weapon - calibre, size.

Control the sale of ammunition (and reloading supplies) if deemed necessary.

Civilians - here and in Israel - cannot justify fully automatic anything, not pistols, not rifles.

Civilians - here and in Israel - cannot justify amour-piercing casings; these bullets are for the military and maybe the police.

In the "old days" almost all men did military service, consequently most men had weapons training. (The denizens of Mea Shearim and Beni Brak being obvious exceptions to this general statement, but then many of the good folk of Mea Shearim would prefer to be under Jordanian or PLO rule.)

Today, draft dodging has come to Israel so what once was true - as was once the case in the U.S. - no longer is valid.

Given that, Israel should insist that anyone who wants a sidearm or any firearm be required to take, and pass, a rigorous weapons training program. That's now Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in many U.S. jurisdictions today.

I lived for awhile in the Intermountain West where almost every home had several weapons, mostly rifles and shotguns, but there were sidearms without number.

Were there lots of murders with guns? No.

There were murders, but they were extremely rare.

Did people with guns get angry at people? Certainly. But they didn't shoot people.

There is a hesitation in most of us that prevents us from shooting someone unless that someone threatens our lives or the lives of our loved ones. I know.

When I was about 6 years old I learned to shoot a .22 calibre rifle. The man who taught me, a former U.S. Army captain, admonished us again and again and again never to point a gun at anything unless we intended to kill it.

I have never pointed a gun at a human. (I was a medic in the military and never left the States.)

Admittedly, the U.S. has too many shootings. But we also have too many stabbings and too many beatings and too many bombings, not all of the latter by imported terrorists.

We have too many burglaries, but interestingly, fewer where burglars know the home owner may be armed.

I would hazard, based on the tv news, that many shootings in the U.S. are gang or drug related.

Does Israel have lots of gangs or drug lords fighting for turf? If it does, I'll wager they already are armed.

What we have, then, is a population that has insufficient police protection (there simply are not enough cops in the country) that is kept helpless by a European mindset that should have been left in Europe - or New York City.

Israelis, and New Yorkers, too, should be allowed defensive weapons; they should be allowed to have the weapons and be encouraged to carry them, concealed to reduce any cowboy foolishness.

I owned for years a two-shot .38 calibre Derringer. I carried it as a police reporter riding the local constabulary (they knew about the weapon) and in the end, I gave it to a highway patrolman. Despite an at times hot temper, it never was fired in anger and never was fired at anyone.

A Derringer is very much was a defensive weapon.

I am not suggesting that Israeli civilians be armed with fully-automatic 9 mm or .40 calibre automatics; I am talking about weapons for use when an attacker is within 3 meters. That's about the maximum distance for any handgun accuracy.

What about tasers? My son the cop tells me that his department has a rule that basically states if a person is beyond a certain distance of an officer and does not have a gun, the officer should use the taser. If the attacker is closer than that certain distance, the office is to use his gun - and like my instructor of years ago, to shoot to kill.

Thank G-d there are few "police involved shootings" in my son's jurisdiction.

Israel needs to allow all citizens the opportunity to become trained in use of defensive firearms and to encourage the citizenry to purchase defensive sidearms.

It won't stop the Arab sniper, but it might stop the ax- or knife-wielding attacker or the eliminate a bomber before the device is exploded.

I lived in Israel.

I cannot comprehend why the government insists on allowing guns in the hands of criminals and terrorists and keeping weapons out of the hands of citizens who need to defend themselves.

Israel; - and New York - should take a lesson from the U.S. Intermountain West.

Libya, yes; Darfur, no ?

 

While no one asked Obama to attack Libya, where he is risking American lives for reasons known only to himself, he HAS been asked to interfere in Darfur where, according to Darfur Daily News blog (http://darfurdaily.blogspot.com/2010/01/obama-must-act-to-stop-slaughter-in.html more than 400,000 people have died and the United Nations' estimates put the displaced at 2 million.

A more complete story is found on the Hearst Corporation's Times-Union in Albany NY at http://tinyurl.com/49w27mg.

The blog and newspaper headline screams: "Obama must act to stop slaughter in Darfur." Click on the Times-Union URL above to read the article.

Obama claimed, on television, that he is sending Americans into danger for "humanitarian" reasons - "humanitarian" meaning he's siding with anti-government forces in Libya.

Will he side with anti-government forces in Syria that have been murdered by Bashar al-Assad, or will he support his friend whose primary goal is to reclaim - with Obama's help - the Golan Heights so Syria can once again easily attack Israeli citizens with rockets and mortars.

Will he side with Yemen's dictator, Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is in the U.S.' pocket, or will he side with the rebels as he is doing in Libya?

To be fair, the slaughter in Darfur was going on before Obama took office and has been ignored by presidents of both parties.

Curious what makes a president ignore one tragedy and aggravate others.