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The number of poor in Israel rose from 1.43 million to 1.53
million, according to the 2004 Poverty Report, published by
the National Insurance Institute (NII). Israel had 714,000
poor children and 394,000 poor families in 2004.
Hundreds of talmud Torah (cheder) principals
from around the country joined chareidi MKs and public
figures for an emergency meeting at the Talmudei Torah Union
Center in light of the continued cuts in talmud Torah
budgets. An astounding figure was revealed during the
nationwide gathering: approximately 40 percent of Jerusalem
parents are unable to pay the tuition due to financial
strain. The chareidi public is furious over the Finance Ministry's
plan to deepen the erosion of Children's Allowances. Recently
essential components of the 2006 budget and details of the
new decrees to be imposed on the public as part of efforts to
cut government spending were provided.
The 2005 budget was approved just a few months ago at the
last moment. The budget was supposed to be approved by the
end of 2004 but the shaky state of the coalition during those
months made approving the budget difficult and holding early
elections was an imminent threat until the budget was finally
passed by a hair.
MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni is demanding Deputy Internal Security
Minister Yaakov Edery order an investigation to try a group
of private security guards who ruthlessly beat
avreichim protesting grave desecration by the Trans-
Israel Highway Co. This is the second time in recent months
the police have promised to take strong measures against
violent guards but have failed to take any action.
Mifalei Kayitz, a summer program for seminary students in
Eretz Yisroel, was founded by an association of US
benefactors headed by HaRav Dovid Weinberger, the rov of
Shaarei Tefilloh in Lawrence, New York, to provide for the
social and spiritual needs of Beis Yaakov girls during the
long summer break.
The destruction of the Beis Hamikdosh was one of the
worst expressions of the hatred that nations of the world
have for the Jews. Its presence allowed the Jews to live a
life focused on the service of Hashem in the ways that Hashem
Himself arranged. It was the conduit for Heavenly beneficence
that radiated to the whole world. It was a source of guidance
and wisdom that had the potential to help all humanity.
The fifth and final volume of the Oleinu Leshabeiach
series (in Hebrew), on Devorim, was published last
year. Written by HaRav Yitzchok Zilberstein, this one, like
its predecessors, was prepared for publication by R' Moshe
Michoel Tzoran. This entire series, which was received most
enthusiastically by the Torah world, incorporates messages of
mussar and chizuk, accompanied by stories,
facts, insights and vignettes on the leaders of this and
recent generations.
The Candlestick
Kamtza and Bar Kamtza revisted and revised — may we
merit to see such Ahavas Yisroel bring the Redemption,
speedily in our days.
ASK THE SHADCHAN Part II
As a shadchan, I come across genetic issues more often
than you would imagine. Some specific queries raised my
interest in the subject. I found myself doing research about
particular conditions and their medical consequences. Knowing
what the situation entails, I am able to be a better
intermediary.
The Way Home A Comprehensive Survey of the Chareidi Community in Eretz
Yisroel — "Its Length and its Breadth"
A Mission to Spread Daas Torah
Looking for the Best in Yiddishkeit
The Immorality of Palestinian Combatants and Noncombatants
The Shabbos after Tishah B'Av is called Shabbos
Nachamu because of the haftorah in Yeshaya 40
"Console, console My people" that is said on that Shabbos.
This haftoroh starts a series of shivah
denechemosah (seven haftoros of consolation).
The fifteenth of Menachem Av (Tu B'Av) is considered a Yom
Tov because of several reasons: First, it is the day that
bnei Yisroel stopped dying in the Sinai Desert.
Second, bnei Yisroel were then allowed to marry from
one shevet to the other, and those from shevet
Binyomin were allowed to marry within bnei Yisroel.
Third, on this day Hoshei'a ben Aloh removed the barricades
originally put up by Yerovam ben Navot preventing bnei
Yisroel to be oleh regel. Fourth, bnei
Yisroel then stopped chopping down wood for the
mizbei'ach and therefore they had more time to study
Torah. Sixth, on this day those killed in Beitar were
buried.
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