Monday-Tuesday
8-9 Cheshvan
26-27 October 2020
Photo of the Night
A lightning strike over Netivot (photo Avi Alon Aerial Photography.
The above photo which was taken just south of us in Netivot is indicative of the season changing here in Israel. Temperatures have dropped by about 10 degrees on average and rain is in the air.
The News on the Israeli Street
Palestinian terror in the last 24 hours . . .
On the Gaza border:
The scene in Gaza yesterday as dozens of explosive balloons were launched into southern Israel.
Most of the balloons exploded in the air above Sderot. One cluster exploded over Sapir College, and another cluster landed and failed to explode at the AMDOCS facility.
In Jerusalem:
There was a shooting incident at the Ramot Junction early this morning. The terrorists fired from a passing car and sped away.
In Judea and Samaria:
Aside from the usual plethora of “rock” and Molotov attacks throughout the area, police revealed a thwarted shooting attack in Rosh Hayin in which a Palestinian terrorist from Qalqilya was captured with a loaded gun in the city.
The daily Corona (Covid-19) update . . .
The following covers the last 48 hours:
There are 310,851 confirmed cases—an increase of 2,038
294,854 of these confirmed cases have recovered—an increase of 3,648
496 are in critical condition—a decrease of 52
211 of the most critically ill are on ventilators—a decrease of 9
2,453 have died–an increase of 81
There are now 15,997 active Corona cases in Israel.
Just when the statistics began looking better, we have had 81 Corona deaths in the last two days. Despite this, more opening of “1 to 1” businesses such as hair salons and barber shops is scheduled for today.
Moreover, the Corona Cabinet has determined that on November 1:
Grades 1 and 2 will study 3 days a week in capsules
Grades 3 and 4 will study 6 days a week in capsules
The Emirati buyout of Israel continues . . .
A company from the Emirates managed by an Israeli who has lived there for several decades is on the verge of buying one of Israel’s two airlines, Israir for the bargain basement price of 170,000,000 shekels ($50 million dollars).
This is being touted here as a coup for Israeli business.
However, expect what is now the drip, drip, drip of Israeli companies being bought out by Emiratis will soon turn into a flood.
By the way, one of the reasons for purchasing Israir is that it comes with six travel agencies.
The first thing is the surety and the safety. buy cheap cialis Flushing after the intake of the drug happens buy generic cialis during sexual stimulation and the effects intensify. Some of them do give but for very few products canadian cialis no prescription this facility is available. It can also happens after vaccination or strenuous exercise levitra properien http://davidfraymusic.com/events/piano-aux-jacobins-toulouse-france/ at times.
Outrageous in the extreme . . .
According to a report on Israel’s Channel 13 last night, almost 50% of “Jews” now coming to Israel from Russia to become new citizens leave within a month with an Israeli passport and the entire basket of financial benefits that new immigrants receive.
They return home to Russia.
This gigantic ripoff of the country has become big business in Russia with “special” travel agencies specializing in instructing Russians with tenuous Jewishness (usually 1 grandparent) in how to operate the scam.
And no one in Israel can do anything about it because Avigdor Lieberman of the Russian-based Yisrael Beiteinu Party will not agree to any changes in the system.
Just plain outrageous.
TODAY’S BLOG:
A Revolutionary Thought From Saudi Arabia
The year was 691 CE in Jerusalem.
The Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik completed construction of the Kipat HaSela also known as the Dome of the Rock.
It was built on the ruins of the Jewish Second Temple which had been destroyed exactly 621 years before in 70 CE by the Romans. Tradition has it that stones from the Temple are actually in the Dome of the Rock.
The reason that the building is called the Kipat HaSela or Dome of the Rock is because the building covers the Foundation Stone believed to be the place where God created the world and Adam, and the place where Abraham attempted to sacrifice Isaac.
Why the shrine was built is unclear. One story is that al-Malik actually built it for the Jews who were in Jerusalem–and that he built the Al-Aqsa Mosque for the Muslims. As strange as this idea sounds, even stranger is the report of a Muslim traveler to Jerusalem some 150 years later who reported that people in the Dome of the Rock were uttering a language he did not understand–but he attempted to transcribe it into Arabic.
According to the traveler, what they were chanting was “Shema Israel, Adonai Eloeinu, Adonai Echad.”
But we are getting a little off track.
Another reason often given for Al-Malik constructing the Dome and Al-Aqsa is that he was attempting to bring Muslim pilgrims (with their money) to Jerusalem instead of their going to Mecca.
In any case, another strange story was not long in coming after the buildings were erected–based on a story told by the prophet Muhammed himself. According to his story, he took a night ride to heaven on a horse supplied by the angel Gabriel. Muhammad said that the horse, named Burraq, had actually transported him from Mecca to the location of the “furthest mosque” and on to heaven from there.
One Islamic tradition holds that Muhammad’s foot touched the Foundation Stone as he lifted off to heaven. Another tradition is that Burraq’s footprint is actually in the Stone.
In any case by Islamic accounts, this night ride took place in 621 CE.
71 years before the Dome and Al-Aksa were built.
The obvious problem? There was no mosque in Jerusalem in 621 CE.
And yet, the story has remained and even become a central part of Islam.
Until now.
Quite shockingly, two important Saudi Arabian sheikhs reportedly declared this week that the entire idea that Muhammad took off from Jerusalem is nonsense because of the distances involved and the lack of a mosque there.
In short, they say that the “furthest mosque” was in what is now Saudi Arabia–not in Jerusalem.
Now that is revolutionary.
A student from Malawi, who had worked with an Israeli health volunteer in his country battling AIDS, came up to us as we walked down the street in the UC-Davis Picnic Day Parade and wanted to carry the Israeli flag.