Opuscula Swiss hope to expel Jews and Muslims

A SMALL PARAGRAPH from Arlene J. Mathes-Scharf's Kashrut.com web site is innocently headlined Swiss to vote on banning import of kosher and halal meat¹ should be read for what it is: The Swiss want observant (and perhaps non-observant, too) Jews and Muslims out of Switzerland.

Kosher and even the less restrictive halal slaughter already is banned; now the Swiss want to prohibit importing kosher/halal to make life more difficult for Jews and Muslims.

According to Wikipedia² History of the Jews in Switzerland reaches back at least a thousand years. Jews and Judaism have been present in the territory of what is now Switzerland since before the emergence of the medieval Old Swiss Confederacy in the 15th century.

Switzerland has Europe's tenth-largest Jewish community, with about 17,500 Jews, roughly 0.2% of the population. About one-third of the Jewish community lives in the Zürich metropolitan area. As of 2009, there were 38 synagogues in the country.

According to Kashrut.com’s source, Jewish News Online, the Swiss banned kosher and halal slaughtering as far back as 1894.

The Swiss have a mixed history with Jews.²

Switzerland gave refuge to approximately 23,000 Jews, but on the other hand the government decided to stay neutral and to be only a country of transit. Those refugees did not get treated that same way as the other refugees from other religions as to financial support, and the Swiss government even persuaded Germany to stamp "J" on the passport of Jews, making it easier to refuse Jewish refugees. When thousands of Jews tried to flee Austria after the Anschluss of March 1938, and again in 1942-1943 when Jews tried to escape deportation from France, the Netherlands, and Belgium, The Swiss borders were completely sealed to Jewish refugees. Till the Second World War was finished, 25,000 Jews were accepted in Switzerland as a refuge, and around 30,000 Jews were denied from entering the country. Most of the refugees has left the country around 1953.

(Ed.: The U.S. under Democrat FDR was far worse than the Swiss regarding Jewish refugees. It did, however, welcome nazi scientists, notably rocket builders, once Germany surrendered.)

A survey from 2014 has exposed that more than one in four Swiss residents are anti-Semitic, making Switzerland’s population one of the most anti-Jewish in Western Europe, according to an online report released this week by the Anti-Defamation League.

A World Jewish Congress lawsuit³ against Swiss banks was launched to retrieve deposits made into Swiss banks by victims of nazi persecution during and prior to World War II. Initiated in 1995 as WJC negotiations with both the Swiss government and its banks over burdensome proof-of-ownership requirements for accounts, strong support from United States politicians and leaked documents from a bank guard pressured a settlement in 1998 in a U.S. court for multiple classes of people affected by government and banking practices. As of 2015, $1.28 billion USD has been disbursed for 457,100 claimants.

(Ed: United States museums are refusing to return Nazi-confiscated artwork by stalling and often purposefully undergoing court hearings to allow the statute of limitations to run its course.⁴)

There is no European country that has not had, over the centuries, an ambiguous relationship with Jews and now with Israel.

The Jewish World Review⁵ notes that such a ban (on kosher slaughter) was an early step of Hitler's Third Reich, some fear the action is part of a growing assault on Jewish life linked to the spread of anti-Semitism sweeping across Europe.

The production of kosher meat, known as shechita, has long been illegal in Norway, Denmark and Sweden. And in Switzerland, attempts to lift a century-old ban caused an anti-Semitic backlash earlier this year.

Some fear the measures may gain ground in European governments because of growing anti-Jewish sentiment. Israel's deputy foreign minister, Rabbi Michael Melchior, said in a statement reacting to the Dutch initiative that "they simply don't want foreigners and they don't want Jews."

While the U.S., despite a State Department that is notoriously anti-Semitic and anti-Israel, kosher and halal slaughter still is legal. When a country abridges religious freedom, it’s time to relocate to a place where a person can freely — and fully — practice his or her religion.

Resources

1 Swiss to vote on banning import of kosher and halal meat

August 18, 2017: JewishNewsOnlline:

"Lawmakers in Switzerland will vote on a bill that outlaws the import of meat from animals that have undergone ritual slaughter, which already is illegal" in Switzerland.

"The bill, which was submitted in June by Matthias Aebischer, a federal lawmaker for the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland – the country’s second largest — has prompted opposition because foie gras is part of the ban. A delicacy made of goose liver that is particularly popular among French-speaking Swiss consumers, foie gras is produced through forced feeding that is widely considered cruel."

"The debate on the measure, which has divided the multinational Swiss state, has extended beyond a proposed ban in the same bill on importing any meat that is produced from animals that are not stunned prior to their slaughter"

"Shechitah, the Jewish ritual method of slaughtering animals, requires they be conscious when their throats are slit — a practice that critics say is cruel but which advocates insist is more humane than mechanised methods used in non-kosher abattoirs. Muslims slaughter animals in a similar method, albeit with fewer restrictions, to produce halal meat."

"Shechitah for all animals except poultry has been illegal in Switzerland following legislation in 1894." "The Swiss Federal Council, which is part of the federal government, in 2016 said banning the import of meat from ritual slaughter would violate international trade agreements that Switzerland had signed." http://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W606

2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitism_in_Switzerland

3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Jewish_Congress_lawsuit_against_Swiss_banks

4 http://dailycaller.com/2016/06/09/us-museums-are-refusing-to-return-art-stolen-by-nazis/

5 http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0702/euro_kosher.asp

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

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Opuscula Turn UN blacklist Into an opportunity

ISRAELI AND PRO-ISRAEL web sites are heading Israel, US Blast Pending Publication of UN ‘Blacklist’ of Israeli Companies (see http://tinyurl.com/y9exrbc6).

The web sites are bewailing the threat by the anti-Israel organization. (Even a former UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, admitted the UN’s bias.)

I’m not a Pollyanna or a cockeyed optimist, but I see the “blacklist” as an opportunity for Jews and the companies on the UN’s list.

SHOW ME A COMPANY on the UN’s blacklist of organizations doing business with Israeli organizations beyond the Green Line or actually having operations beyond the Green Line and I will make every effort to patronize that organization.

In truth the UN’s black list is little more than Boycott-Divest-Sanction (BDS), an action that many U.S. states have declared illegal. The list has is being compiled by the UN Commission on Human Rights based in Geneva; no surprise there.

Trouble is, while states can punish BDS offenders, what can New York or Washington do about the UN? Fine it? Israel’s foes will willingly pony up any fine. Stop funding the UN? That might get someone’s attention. How about tossing the UN out on it’s political posterior? I wager the UN properties in the U.S. could be sold and rented out and the owners would pay taxes on the property — a boost to New York’s tax base; 405 East 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10017 is prime real estate. Geneva surely can absorb the UN members currently enjoying diplomatic immunity in New York City.

The Pakistan-led proposal to create the report on settlement ties was backed by 32 countries. (The U.S. gave Pakistan less than US$1 billion in 2016.) While European Union nations opposed the creation of the list, they "Obama'ed" and did not vote against the resolution, electing merely to abstain.

The Obama administration was widely criticized for not using its Security Council veto power to stop the anti-settlement resolution.

I don’t know what organizations are on the UN’s blacklist — a list, incidentally that both Israel and the U.S. are trying to convince the UN not to publish — but if the list is published (and the UN goes unpunished), I will encourage everyone I know — Jewish and non-Jewish — to do as I intend to do: patronize the organizations on the list.

According to Israel Today (  http://tinyurl.com/ybhezkyu) a few of the companies that are included in the UN’s blacklist are Caterpillar, TripAdvisor, Priceline.com, and Airbnb. While I doubt I’ll ever buy anything from Cat, I do use, and will continue to use, Tripadvisor and Priceline

OTHER RESOURCES

http://preview.tinyurl.com/zwnnr4e

http://tinyurl.com/h85bx6o

http://tinyurl.com/ybhezkyu

http://tinyurl.com/yax8n62u

http://tinyurl.com/yb5lognb

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Opuscula Notes on Selihot

A few notes on selihot.

In the beginning>/B>

For Sefardim, selihot starts on the night of the second day of Elul.¹

For Ashkenazim, if the first day of Rosh HaShana is Thursday or Shabat, selihot begin Sunday before Rosh HaShana. If the first day of Rosh HaShana is Monday or Tuesday, selihot begins two (2) Sundays before Rosh HaShana. ¹

Before selihot

Before reciting selihot, Sefardim start with (as they awaken) מודה, wash hands, אלהי נשמה, the morning blessings, תקון חצות, ,פתיחת אליהו, and Kadish “Al Israel.”²

When to recite selihot²

Sefardim traditionally recite selihot after halachic midnight (that may be different from 12:00 midnight) but before dawn (עלות בשחר)

Ashkenazim traditionally say the first selihot after halachic midnight on the first night, but then …

Some Ashkenazi and Sefardi congregations recite selihot later in the day, even to early evening.

Sefardi Torah students, teachers (מלמדי תינוקוצ) and workers who could not do their work well if tired, are exempt; however, they should make an effort to recite selihot as do the Ashkenazim (ibid.).⁴

Selihot are not receipted on Shabat.

Tallit or no tallit

The Sefardi prayer leader (שליח ציבור) does not wear a tallit (gadol) during selihot since traditionally selihot are said before dawn and tzit-tzit are not worn in the dark.⁵

Blowing the shofar³

Sefardim have different customs, but most (a) blow the shofar during the 13 attributes (13 מדות) and during the kadish before Answer Us (תענו) — there also are some congregations that do not sound the shofar at either time. The shofar is not blown erev Rosh HaShana

Ashkenazim blow the shofar every day (excluding Shabat) during the month starting with the second day of Elul.

Selihot sans minyan⁶

According to R, Ovadia Yosef a”h, when reciting selihot sans a minyan all Aramaic prayers are skipped.

According to Moroccan tradition, however, the Aramaic passages are recited; the 13 attributes (13 מדות), and instead of saying בדיל ויעבור as Have mercy (רחמנא), is recited, amen is said.

Aramaic See Selihot sans minyan

Resources

In the following list of resources, English language resources are presented in Latin characters. Hebrew language resources are given in Hebrew.

1. Ask Moses, http://tinyurl.com/y792ted5

2 סליחות סוכת גוג

3 קצור שלחן ערוך של הרה''ג מרדכי אליהו

4ילוט שמ''ש של הרה''ג שלום משאש

5 הוד יוסף חי של הרה''ג יוסף משאש

6 דברי שלום ואמת של ברב''ג שלום משאש

NOTE: In the קצור שלחן ערוך של הרה''ג מרדכי אליהו, the Ashkenazi traditions are from the “mappa” of R. Moses Isserles (a/k/a Rema) on the Shulhan Aruk of Maran Yosef Caro.

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Opuscula CHUTZPAH ! PA terrorists expect Israeli hospitals’ To save their lives

THEN THEY INCITE THEIR PEOPLE TO KILL ISRAELIS.

It boggles the mind the absolute gall, the chutzpah; in other words,
arrogance
brass
brazenness
cheek
conceit
effrontery
guts
haughtiness
impertinence
impudence
insolence
presumption.

The PA’s chief spokesperson against Israel has checked into an Israeli hospital in hopes of getting a life-saving lung transplant.

The Ministry of Health and the National Transplant Center made clear on Tuesday that senior Palestinian Authority (PA) official Saeb Erekat will only be permitted to undergo a lung transplant in Israel under very rare circumstances, according to the Arutz 7 site.

Why don’t these people who demonize Jews want to eliminate Israel go to a Muslim country for treatment? Surely there are good Muslim doctors in the more “enlightened” Muslim countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Emirates, and Dubai; what about Turkey?

Russia is trying to make its presence felt in the mid-east again; won’t the Russians foot the bill to transport PA executives and their families to Russian hospitals?

Aren’t they worried that the Israeli medical personnel — Arab and Jew — will send them to their graves?

Erekat is not the only one who wants to kill all Jews and eliminate any hint that Israel exists.

The hospitalization of the sister of Hamas’ Abu Marzouk is the latest case of a relative of a member of the terror group being treated in Israel despite a toxic relationship with the Jewish state.

The incident marks the latest in a series of medical treatments Israel has offered to the families of Hamas leaders.

Even at times of open hostilities, Hamas and PA officials do not hesitate to seek treatment in Israeli hospitals for themselves and their loved ones. And Israel accommodates them, allowing them to cross the borders for humanitarian purposes.

Ismail Haniyeh’s daughter was hospitalized at Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital for “a number of days,” according to a hospital spokesman. The hospital did not disclose her medical condition, but Reuters reported the treatment followed complications during a standard medical procedure the woman had undergone in Gaza.

In June, Haniyeh’s 68-year-old mother-in-law was treated in Augusta Victoria Hospital, near Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives.

The brother-in-law of PA President Abu Mazen (a/k/a Mahmoud Abbas) underwent life-saving heart surgery at a private hospital in Tel Aviv.

Doctors in Israel performed surgery on Abu Mazen's' wife, Amina Abbas, at a private clinic near Tel Aviv over the weekend, coinciding with the search for the three murdered teens, Eyal Yifrah, Naftali Frenkel, and Gilad Sha’ar by Palestinian terrorists.

Despite Israel treating PA and Hamas' officials near kin, the Middle east Monitor contends that The former head of the World Health Organisation’s cancer programme, Professor Karol Sikora, predicted that advances in genetics means doctors will soon be able to prescribe medicines targeting each individual’s cancer.

This is wonderful news for all cancer patients; all, that is, except those who live in the Gaza Strip, especially women with breast cancer. This is now the biggest killer of Palestinian women in the besieged territory, not least because the heartless Israeli authorities refuse to let them pass through checkpoints for life-saving treatment.

It’s not just PA and Hamas’ leaders kin that find care in Israeli hospitals. Hundreds of Syrians injured in the Muslim-vs.-Muslim war make their way to the Israel border where they initially are treated by IDF medical personnel. Those that need additional care are transferred — by Israel at Israelis’ expense — to appropriate hospitals where they are treated — at Israelis’ expense.

PA doctors train at Jewish hospitals, notably Hadassah in Jerusalem, continuing a tradition that preceded statehood. Once trained, these doctors are expected to return to PA territory.

The Arab leadership can only be described as schizophrenic.

On the one hand, they want Israel desroyed and all Jews — and a few Israeli Arabs as well — killed … driven into the sea.

On the other hand, the “leadership” of the PA terroritories and Gaza travel to Israel (Erekat) and send their near kin to Israel for medical treatment.

Palestinians travel to Europe and other Muslim states daily via Israel’s main international airport (Lod). Gazans can travel to Egypt, and from there travel to any country that will have them.

THEY DO NOT NEED TO SEEK TREATMENT IN ISRAEL and Israel never should be expected — or feel the need — to treat the leadership of peope sworn to destroy Israel.

It is obvious to even the most anti-Israel bigot that treating PA and Hamas’ leadership only increases hatred for the only country in the middle east that offers freedom to all its citizens.

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PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

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