My mother-in-law's sister was recently in town visiting from Israel. Since she loves going to the city, my MIL decided to take her to a Broadway show. Now I've personally never tried it, but apparently there's this place near Times Square called TKTS where you can get Broadway tickets for that day at half price and as expected, there's always a long line.
They were told that the windows closes at 2:00 (remember this key part of this tale) so my MIL and her sister get there a little before that. The lines were long as usual but they managed to make it to the window with a couple of minutes to spare. The following is what happened:
MIL: Do you have tickets to "The Producers"?
TKTS: Yes. How many would you like?
MIL: We'll take 2 please.
TKTS: OK. That'll be $100.
My MIL then starts laying the bills down on the counter. $20, $40, $60, $80...
TKTS: 2:00! *SLAM!* and pulls the window shut.
My MIL is left standing there with what I would assume was an incredulous look on her face, and $80 still sitting on the counter.
Sa-Nur settler couple auctioning ad on their house via eBay By TheMarker
The eyes of the world will be trained on the settlement of Sa-Nur, where hardliners were holding out against Israeli evacuation forces. So says a young couple purporting to own a house in Sa-Nur, who are offering to sell advertising space on their home on eBay.
This morning I stood riveted in front of the TV in my office as forces made their way into the shul in the largest settelment in Gaza, Nevei Dekalim.There, hundreds had gathered to resist their evacuation.I stood there for over half an hour as co-workers were walking by and couldn’t walk away.No matter what your views are in respect to the ‘disengagement’, this was extremely difficultand moving.
What was most remarkable to me was the restraint being practices by both the settlers, and even more so, the army.While there have been a few hotheads, on the whole, this has been a passive operation.
In the Nevei Dekalim operation, after unsuccessfully negotiating for the settlers to come out on their own, troops gave a 10-minute warning before coming in.The settlers were sitting, arms linked and singing while they held onto each other, trying to resist the pull of the soldiers.
Mixed with the crowd were leaders (wearing vests on that said “rav”- I assume this means “rabbi”) that were making sure that those resisting did so peacefully.Anytime someone started acting up, they made sure a stop was put to it.
Some settlers had tefillin on (not sure why) and these “ravs” tried to make sure that they were removed before the person was carried off.In fact, at one point I noticed the soldiers first taking the time to make sure that the tefillin on the head was secure and centered before dragging him off.
Another thing I noticed was that while there were a few people throwing some water and empty water bottles at the soldiers, at one point the soldiers stopped pulling people out and distributed more water to the settlers; knowing full well that those same bottles may be thrown at them.
All in all, the soldiers were extremely sensitive and handled themselves with discipline.
Then, later in the morning came the images from Kfar Darom and totally wiped out the positive images of Nevei Dekalim.Up the roof of the shul there were hooligans who barricaded themselves there and threw paint, oil, sand, bottles and some even say, acid, at the soldiers trying to get on the roof.This behavior is unacceptable and shameful and those are going to be the images the world sees.
What Can Be Done? Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Answers: The son of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, Rabbi Yossi Eliyahu, informed an Arutz-7 correspondent of the following directives from his father on Tuesday:
The public should increase Torah study "for the merit of those under siege in Gush Katif.
Recite Tehillim (Psalms), concentrating on Chapters 91 and 20, repeating them many times over.
People who have the strength to fast, should accept upon themselves at Mincha time (during the daily afternoon prayer, before sundown) that they will fast tomorrow (Wednesday) from the break of dawn until nightfall. Important: Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu said that those inside Gush Katif (and those on their way there – Rabbi Yossi Eliyahu) should not participate in this fast.
Previously, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu communicated via another son, Tzfat Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, the following announcement:
"From the straits, I call to you, G-d. It is a difficult time for Jacob, and from it we will be saved. In order to annul the decree which is hovering over the Jewish People, one should make efforts to recite Tikun Hatzot and Pitum Hak'toret in groups. If it is difficult to recite with a group, then it should be recited alone. Through the strength of unity and prayer, we will be redeemed. The Lord should build the Building of Ariel [The Temple], and gather our brothers, the House of Israel, to our Holy Land, and we will settle it in its complete borders as promised by G-d to our holy fathers, and He should expel the nations of the world from our Land, now, speedily, and soon. Amen. The time for reciting Tikun Hatzot in Israel is from 12:44 PM.
Am I wrong to be skeptical about this now? Am I wrong for feeling resigned that the book in heaven seems to be closed on this already? There's nothing wrong with saying tehillim, tikun chatzot and using this event for inner reflection, but I've given up hope for a miracle.
God, if you're reading this blog (while I don't see you on my site meter, maybe you're visiting under the pseudonym 'Amshinover'), I think you had (still have?) a marvelous opportunity to show your face to the entire word with this affair. After all political wranglings and maneuverings failed, hundreds of thousands davened to you. You're whole world is watching Israel, with popcorn in hand, as your children get wrenched from their homes by their brothers and sisters.
A Jewish settler weeps in the arms of an Israeli soldier during the dismantling of a synagogue in the Jewish settlement of Nissanit in the northern Gaza Strip.
As I finish watching Ariel Sharon's TV address to the nation, I'm struck with a thought. It's not my resignation that the withdrawl is practically a done deal; not my disappointment at the establishment for implementing this withdrawl; but rather perplexity at the nice collection of seforim that are always behind the Prime Minister in his office. I think you could even make out an entire set of shas. What's the deal with that?
I don't think that any of us are under the impression that after this news broadcast, Ariel whipped out a maseches shabbos to catch up on the daf. (although we'd all understand if he fell a little behind while orchastrating a withdrawl of 10,000 jews.) I doubt he's even making use of the chumash to do his shnayim mikra. So what are they there for? Are they to give the impression of the historic connection that Jews have with the land of Israel? I doubt that. They probably have a dedicated cleaning crew to keep the dust off.
My recommendation is to move that bookshelf out and just leave the standard flags, family pictures and memorabilia. You're not fooling anyone.
RAFAH, Egypt (AFP) - Egypt is to start deploying guards to its border with the Gaza Strip in the middle of next week as Israel begins its withdrawal from the territory, a senior police officer told AFP in the frontier town of Rafah.
…Initially Israel had declined to leave the buffer zone along with the rest of the Gaza Strip because of fears of arms smuggling by Palestinian militants but defence chiefs later relented on condition Egypt took responsibility.
It will be the first time non-police security forces are deployed in the area since the Six Day War of 1967 during which the Egyptian-administered Gaza Strip and the Sinai peninsula were occupied by Israel.
Ahh, I see.When Egypt controlled it and had absolutely no intention of granting any Palestinian self-rule, it was “administered”.When Israel controls it, it’s now considered “occupied”.
I’m not even going to start with the absurdity of Israel feeing reassured that Egyptian took responsibility.I mean we’ve seen their responsible track record in closing their own border there for the last 5 years.
Once again the international community picks up the tab for the palestinians obstinacy.
… a private economic foundation bought most of the greenhouses in Gaza settlements for $14 million and planned to hand them over to the Palestinians, said Yossi Beilin, leader of the dovish Israeli Yahad Party. By keeping the greenhouses intact, the Economic Cooperation Foundation can ensure employment for thousands of Palestinians after the pullout, said Beilin, who heads the foundation.
Initially, the U.S. Agency for International Development had been negotiating with the Gaza settlers to buy the greenhouses. However, the Palestinian Authority has said it would object to the use of government funds for such a deal, because it would be seen as paying compensation to the settlers.
Here you have an area with millions of impoverished palestinians, absolutely no self sustaining infrastructure (not counting mortar production of course) and they refuse to pay any money for one the Israelis built. It’s not even their money mind you- this money was also given to them by the international community. They would have been fine with the Israelis razing all of it to the ground.
With this attitude, they’re doomed to wallow in their self-inflicted misery.You won’t see me shedding any tears.
I was starting to put together a post about those who have chosen to barely voice protest about the upcoming disengagement and then organize a worldwide shema when it's 4 days away. I was going to complain how a large segment of Jews, Jews who in the past and for other causes have demonstrated the ability to raise havoc when necessary, sat this one out.
Then I got an e-mail with pictures from the rally and I was floored. It was amazing.
I think that rather than complain, I will post some pictures. Hopefully we'll all get some chizuk and see such crowds once again in Jerusalem with the arrival of Moshiach.
South Korean left seat in Internet cafe only to use toilet, take brief naps
Reuters -SEOUL, South Korea - A South Korean man who played computer games for 50 hours almost non-stop died of heart failure minutes after finishing his mammoth session in an Internet cafe, authorities said on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old man, identified only by his family name Lee, had been playing online battle simulation games at the cybercafe in the southeastern city of Taegu, police said.
Lee had planted himself in front of a computer monitor to play online games on Aug. 3. He only left the spot over the next three days to go to the toilet and take brief naps on a makeshift bed, they said.
"We presume the cause of death was heart failure stemming from exhaustion," a Taegu provincial police official said by telephone.
Lee had recently quit his job to spend more time playing games, the daily JoongAng Ilbo reported after interviewing former work colleagues and staff at the Internet cafe.
You hear this Dov Bear? You may want to take it easy now.
So as the victims are being buried, it seems that the perpetrator is still in the morgue. The IDF decided that they will not offer a military burial. I can understand this. He disgraced the army and the state. So that's a no-brainer.
What troubles me is that his family is having trouble finding anyone to even give a civilian funeral.
Israeli municipalities have refused to grant him a civilian funeral. Zaada's family and friends raced to Israel's national mortuary and demanded he be brought to rest. His body is to stay there over the weekend as talks continue.
This is almost ironic and again falls into the state jumping all over themselves to distance themselves from this. When a palestinian blows himself up and takes innocent women and children with him, he's honored to a mass funeral with thousands, and even the PA, calling him a 'shahid', a martyr. But when a palestinian gets killed by his own people for 'collaborating' with the zionists, even his own parents want nothing to do the the corpse.
Can you picture thousands of Jews lining the street, bearing his body while shooting in air, proclaiming Eden Nathan Zaada a hero?! What would the world say?
But no. We're Jews and have decency. So give the man a burial.
Today a shameful act happened where a Jewish person shot and killed four Israeli-Arabs aboard a bus in the town of Shfaram. A terrorist act serving as a huge chillul Hashem.
In response, Israeli politicians clamber all over each to issue strong-worded statements condemning the act as "a sinful act by a bloodthirsty terrorist."
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon issued a statement calling the attack "a criminal act of a bloodthirsty terrorist targeting innocent Israeli civilians." Wow. I don't think I've heard him speak so strongly when it's an Arab doing the killing. I guess we won't be passing out sweets.
Not to belittle the need for condemnation here, but when have you ever seen any Arab politician or spokesperson condemning the killing of Jews? The most you'll get is a statement of regret for an incident "not in the interest of the Palestinian cause". This shooting definately didn't help the Jewish cause.
The fact of the matter is, we as Jews feel sorry for this. When Jews get killed, the Arabs thirst for more.
On a related note, Hadash MK Muhammad Barakei, who had joined the mobs in Shfaram, blamed the attack on what he said was a campaign of incitement by Jews against Arabs. "This is not the act of a single individual extremist," Barakei said. "It comes from a culture of incitement."
"Culture of incitement"? It takes one to know one buddy.
When you have kids, every Sunday is a new exersize in figuring out what the day's activities willc be. Will it be the zoo? A local fair? Arranging play-dates with friends? Or will today be one of those Sunday's where you just lounge at home and do nothing?
Personally, I don't remember being entertained like that. Growing up, we went places maybe on Chol Ha'Moed. That was it. I wasn't taken to ball games- we filled our day on our own.
A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine was telling me how he took his kids to a local minor league, Class A Baseball game and they all had a blast. My two older sons are already at the point where they love baseball but it's just too expensive to take them frequently so this sounded like a good plan. Plus, I was told that the park was small and that the whole experience was geared towards kids. $11 a ticket didn't hurt either. So I went online and bought tickets for me, my wife and my two older sons for this past Sunday's game. I'd leave the 2-year old with my mother-in-law.
On Saturday night, I went online and saw that this Sunday was going to be Grandparent's Day where grandparents got free admission and got to walk the bases with their grandkids after the game. My mother-in-law loved this and now decided she wanted in so we brought the youngest too.
We made a whole trip out of it. We drove into the city (where I discovered that parking there would cost me more than the whole outing) and took the ferry to the ball bark. When we got to the ticket window I told them that I had a grandparent with me for the promotion. When she just looked at her and gave her the free ticket, I was waiting for some fireworks. I mean she just glanced at her and took her for a grandmother. Without asking for proof. Uh oh. At least request to see her AARP card. She really doesn't look old at all. Really. (She doesn't read this blog). But no fireworks. I think she was just too psyched about taking the kids on the field
The stadium was like my friend had told me. No matter where you sat you had a great seat. Kosher food. Mincha in the owner's office after the 6th inning. My youngest climbing on top of the dugout. Grandparents & kids walked the bases after the game. Great mascots keeping the kids laughing. What more could you ask for?
All in all a great time and they now have 4 new fans.
Here's the list of dignitaries who attended the ceremonies for the late King Fahd this week:
AFGHANISTAN: President Hamid Karzai.
ALGERIA: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
ARAB LEAGUE: Secretary-General Amr Moussa.
AUSTRALIA: Governor General Michael Jeffery.
AUSTRIA: Vice Chancellor Hubert Gorbach.
BAHRAIN: The king, Sheik Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
BELGIUM: Crown Prince Philippe, Agriculture Minister Sabine Laruelle.
BOSNIA: President Ivo Miro Jovic, Prime Minister Adnan Terzic.
BRITAIN: Prince Charles
BRUNEI: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
COMOROS: President Col. Othman Ghazali.
CZECH REPUBLIC: President Vaclav Klaus.
DENMARK: Deputy Prime Minister Bendt Bendtsen and Prince Joachim, Queen Margrethe's second son.
DJIBOUTI: President Ismail Umar Guelleh.
EGYPT: President Hosni Mubarak, Intelligence Chief Omar Sulieman.
FRANCE: President Jacques Chirac
GERMANY: President Horst Koehler.
IRAQ: President Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari.
IRAN: First Vice President Mohammed Reza Aref.
ITALY: President of Italian Senate, Marcello Pera.
JAPAN: Crown Prince Naruhito and former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto.
JORDAN: King Abdullah II, Prime Minister Adnan Badran.
KUWAIT: Prime Minister, Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah.
LEBANON: President Emile Lahoud.
LIBYA: Ahmed Qathaf el Dam, cousin of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
MALI: President Amadou Toumani Toure.
MOROCCO: Crown Prince Moulay Rachid.
NIGERIA: President Olusegun Obasanjo.
NORWAY: Crown Prince Haakon, Oil Minister Thorhild Widwey.
PAKISTAN: Gen. Pervez Musharraf.
PORTUGAL: Portugal's ambassador in Riyadh, Henrique Borges.
QATAR: Emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
RUSSIA: Sergei Mironov, speaker of the upper house of parliament.
SENEGAL: President Abdoulaye Wade.
SUDAN: Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, minister of foreign affairs, Mustafa Osman Ismail.
SWEDEN: King Carl XVI Gustaf, Deputy Prime Minister Bo Ringholm.
SYRIA: President Bashar Assad.
TUNISIA: President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
TURKEY: Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: President Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
UNITED STATES: Vice President Dick Cheney.
YEMEN: President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
That's quite a respectable crowd.
I guess no one should be surprised that Israel wasn't there or that the US was. I did enjoy seeing that even though he was there, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wasn't listed .
