Yom Shnee
Monday
13 Adar 5783
March 6 2023
Purim!
Purim begins tonight at sundown, but despite everything else going on here, celebrations are already in full swing with costumed children and adults everywhere. Here are some photos your humble servant took yesterday in a nearby shopping center and elsewhere:
One of thousands of Queen Esthers!
At a local shopping center:
Purim on stilts.
And even a marching band:
People seem especially happy to celebrate this year!
Finally, how about a photo of Mordechai:
Praise be to G_d!
The News on the Israeli Street
The war in Judea and Samaria.
Israel has closed down Judea and Samaria for the next two days as the Purim holiday takes place.
Shooting attacks:
Palestinian terrorists opened fire on Israeli soldiers near the Beit Haggai Junction.
Palestinian terrorists opened fire on Israelis at Shavika.
Palestinian terrorists opened fire on an Israeli motorist between Rabbah and Yakir.
Palestinian terrorists opened fire on IDF troops at Aqabat Jaber as the search for the murderers of the Yaniv brothers continues.
“Rock”, Molotov, and IED attacks:
Palestinian terrorists attempted to kill Israelis between Jama’in and Marda, in the Gorat Al-Shema area between Efrat and the T-Junction in Gush Etzion, Shimsha, between Ariel and Tapuach, on the Gush Etzion-Hevron Road near Beit Omer, on Road 55 near Azzun, on Road 465 near Umm Safa, west of Hatmari Yehuda at Mt. Hevron, between Avitar and Migdalot, and at a dozen more locations.
During the night, IDF and Shin Bet forces arrested numerous terrorists in and around Shechem and confiscated these weapons:
Assault rifles and loads of ammunition.
As if we didn’t know . . .
Ministers in the Netanyahu coalition government are having a difficult time even getting visas to go to the U.S.
But some people don’t have to worry.
Yoav Lapid, the recently married son of Opposition leader Yair Lapid, was invited to the Biden White House yesterday and given a specially guided tour. This was after Biden personally called Yoav Lapid after his wedding to congratulate him.
President Biden and the Biden White House are laughable.
Speaking of the Opposition . . .
Now that the Left is seriously undermining the country by encouraging businesses and investors to leave and soldiers and pilots not to serve comes news that leftist organizers realize that they are not having the impact they want.
One specific group (aside from those that voted for the Coalition) is not participating.
Israeli-Arabs.
Yesterday, the Leftists launched a new program to try to get Israeli-Arabs to take to the streets–claiming that the “coup d’etat” will harm them more than anyone else.
The leftists will stop at nothing to destroy the country.
About Huwara . . .
Jonathan Pollard issued a rare statement yesterday concerning the murders of Hillel and Yagel Yaniv:
“The graves of the two boys symbolize their deaths, and the destruction of Huwara will symbolize the reconquest of the land.”
Pollard continued:
“I don’t trust the government, only the land and the people.”
TODAY’S BLOG
Remembering Queen Esther
The Mausoleum in Hamadan, Iran which supposedly houses the remains of Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai.
We say supposedly because there is another supposed burial site for Esther and Mordechai in Israel near Kibbutz Bar’am on the northern border with Lebanon:
Certainly not as impressive at the mausoleum but it has an air of authenticity.
Whichever the case, today–the day (Adar 13) before Purim begins tonight–is a fast day for the Jews that want to remember the heroism of Esther in saving the Jews of Shushan and the Persian empire from annihilation at the hands of Haman, the evil advisor to King Ahashveros.
So tonight, as the holiday begins, remember to follow Jewish tradition as you read Esther’s story (if you read the Megillah)–drink enough so that you can’t tell the difference between “Praised be Mordechai!” and “Cursed be Haman!”
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.