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Following a comprehensive examination of the booklet
outlining the Finance Ministry's proposed economic decrees,
MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni revealed last week that the proposed
budget cut for the Religious Affairs Ministry would leave
only NIS 134 million ($29 million) for Torah institutions. As we go to press before Pesach, a number of stories are
developing but nothing definite has happened. This article is
intended to give a picture of the situation now, and some
speculation as to what is likely to happen.
" . . . [Regarding the question of smoking on Yom Tov] I
heard from Maran Posek Hador HaRav Yosef Sholom
Eliashiv that although in previous generations we saw the
custom was to follow a lenient practice and to allow smoking,
relying on the lenient opinions even on Yom Tov
Rishon,...
Five Sifrei Torah Destroyed In Horrifying Arson Attack In
Bnei Brak Shock and horror gripped Jews everywhere, particularly the
residents of Bnei Brak's Ramat Aharon neighborhood, at the
deliberate torching of the Oron Hakodesh in the local
Central Zeirei Agudas Yisroel beis haknesses. The fire
consumed the five sifrei Torah that were in the
oron hakodesh, reducing them to ashes, R'l. Worldwide Chareidi Community Prepares to Fight Economic
Assault The chareidi public in Israel and around the world is
preparing to fight against the economic deathblows the
government is set to deliver in the form of the proposed
economic plan designed to hack away at Torah institutions and
directly at Torah-true Jewry throughout Israel. Interior Minister Poraz Says He will not Enforce Chometz
Law
Following a rebellious decision to cancel Druse inspectors on
Shabbos--a decision criticized by the Attorney General--on
Sunday, Interior Minister Avraham Poraz (Shinui) declared
"enforcing the Chometz Law is not at the top of [his] list of
priorities" and he does not intend to honor the law, which
requires his ministry to dispatch supervisors on Pesach. Education Minister Threatens Chareidi Schools Education Minister Limor Livnat announced at a press
conference in Tel Aviv last week that in the coming school
year the Education Ministry will not allocate funding to
schools that fail to meet the quota for secular studies,
whose contents are to be determined by the Ministry. Funding at Hebrew University Seven Times that of Yeshiva
Student Government funding for Israeli universities amounts to $500-
800 per month per student according to figures released last
month. In comparison, the state allocates $115 per month for
every student in a yeshiva gedoloh and $142 per month
for every avreich kollel. This is before the recent
drastic cutbacks. High Court Rules Women of the Wall can Hold Their
Provocative Ceremonies at a Special Site Nine High Court judges ruled on Sunday that a Conservative
group called Women of the Wall could hold their quasi-
religious ceremonies at the Kosel Maarovi, but determined
that the government must prepare an area near the Robinson
Arch, located in the archaeological garden near the southwest
corner of the Wall, for their use. Letter of British Agudah to the Israeli Ambassador in
London The following letter was sent by prominent members of the
British branch of Agudas Yisroel to the Israeli Ambassador in
London, Dr. Zvi Shtauber.
A story is told of the philosophy professor who gave a final
examination consisting of one word: Why?
According to the story, this was enough to touch off long
essays by most of his students. However the paper given the
highest grade was very short. It consisted of two words: Why
not? Observations: A Spicy Diet Anyone who gained too much weight and wants to burn off some
unwanted fat should start consuming spicy food, says a new
study conducted at a medical institute in Germany. Hot and
spicy foods are the best way to return to one's previous
weight.
Window on the Wall
Few are those who are privileged to take a glimpse into the
past... Those who see with spiritual eyes... The Adventures of a Mirrer Bochur in Europe A Torch is Burning in the Warsaw Ghetto
Kol Dichfin
On Tuesday night, the eve of 13 Nissan (Apr. 15) is the
search for chometz -- bedikas chometz, and the
chometz is burnt the next morning, Wednesday, 14
Nissan (Apr. 16) until the end of the zman sreifas
chometz.
On Wednesday, erev Pesach, 14 Nissan (Apr. 16) is the
Fast of the Firstborn -- Ta'anis Bechoros.
Pesach falls on Thursday, 15 Nissan (Apr. 17), in Eretz
Yisroel, and on Thursday and Friday (Mar. 29) in Chutz
Le'aretz. In Chutz Le'aretz an eruv
tavshilin must be made. The days until Shevi'i Shel
Pesach are Chol HaMo'ed.
From Mussaf of Yom Tov Pesach we say morid
hatal in Shemoneh Esreih instead of vesen tal u-
motor livrocho.
From Thursday night, Motzei Yom Tov Rishon Shel
Pesach, we count sefiras ha'omer until Shavuos.
The seforim hakedoshim write to make a meal on the
sixteenth of Nissan to remember the se'udas Esther
that she made when Homon was hung (Mishnah Berurah,
490:2 from the Mogen Avrohom).
Shevi'i Shel Pesach falls on Wednesday, 21 Nissan
(April 23) and in Chutz Le'aretz on Thursday, 22
Nissan (April 24) is Yom Tov Sheini Shel Goliyos - Shmini
Shel Pesach.
Many are accustomed to read Pirkei Ovos after
Minchah of Shabbos from Pesach until Rosh HaShanah.
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