For Paul, Deppen and Feroze: A Little History. The Liberation of Jerusalem

This one's for you, Deppen Webber. And for Paul Larudee, and Feroze Mithiborwala. Its also for all the other terribly misguided participants in the failed Global March to Jerusalem. You know who you are.

Jerusalem Day will be celebrated this year, 2012 on the eve of May 19. This holiday commemorates the 1967 liberation and reunification of Jerusalem, the sacred capital city of the Jewish people.

The day is marked by solemn government ceremonies, memorial services for soldiers who died in the battle for Jerusalem, parades as well as prayers. No Deppen- its not that we are trying to "Judaize " our eternal capital and the heart of Jewish life. That’s been accomplished long ago, by 3000+ years of love, and longing and sacrifice.

Read please the transcript of events leading up to this moment of liberation. Read the order "Protect every building, in every way. Do not touch anything, especially in the holy places"- realize that then as now, even under fire, the ethics of the Israeli army shined through. Read about the soldiers of the Israeli Defense Force- unbelievably tough men- largely secular, sobbing at the sight of our Kotel- the last remnant of Solomon's temple. How can you read this, Paul. Deppen. Feroze, and still deny the cultural, religious and emotional ties of the Jewish people towards Jerusalem?

From the Jewish Virtual library:

Colonel Motta Gur [on loudspeaker]: All company commanders, we’re sitting right now on the ridge and we’re seeing the Old City. Shortly we’re going to go in to the Old City of Jerusalem, that all generations have dreamed about. We will be the first to enter the Old City. Eitan’s tanks will advance on the left and will enter the Lion’s Gate. The final rendezvous will be on the open square above.
[The open square of the Temple Mount.]
[Sound of applause by the soldiers.]

Yossi Ronen: We are now walking on one of the main streets of Jerusalem towards the Old City. The head of the force is about to enter the Old City.
[Gunfire.]

Yossi Ronen: There is still shooting from all directions; we’re advancing towards the entrance of the Old City.

[Sound of gunfire and soldiers’ footsteps.]
[Yelling of commands to soldiers.]
[More soldiers’ footsteps.]
The soldiers are keeping a distance of approximately 5 meters between them. It’s still dangerous to walk around here; there is still sniper shooting here and there.
[Gunfire.]
We’re all told to stop; we’re advancing towards the mountainside; on our left is the Mount of Olives; we’re now in the Old City opposite the Russian church. I’m right now lowering my head; we’re running next to the mountainside. We can see the stone walls. They’re still shooting at us. The Israeli tanks are at the entrance to the Old City, and ahead we go, through the Lion’s Gate. I’m with the first unit to break through into the Old City. There is a Jordanian bus next to me, totally burnt; it is very hot here. We’re about to enter the Old City itself. We’re standing below the Lion’s Gate, the Gate is about to come crashing down, probably because of the previous shelling. Soldiers are taking cover next to the palm trees; I’m also staying close to one of the trees. We’re getting further and further into the City.
[Gunfire.]

Colonel Motta Gur announces on the army wireless: The Temple Mount is in our hands! I repeat, the Temple Mount is in our hands!
All forces, stop firing! This is the David Operations Room. All forces, stop firing! I repeat, all forces, stop firing! Over.
Commander eight-nine here, is this Motta (Gur) talking? Over.
[Inaudible response on the army wireless by Motta Gur.]

Uzi Narkiss: Motta, there isn’t anybody like you. You’re next to the Mosque of Omar.
Yossi Ronen: I’m driving fast through the Lion’s Gate all the way inside the Old City.
Command on the army wireless: Comb the area, discover the source of the firing. Protect every building, in every way. Do not touch anything, especially in the holy places.
[Lt.- Col. Uzi Eilam blows the Shofar. Soldiers are singing ‘Jerusalem of Gold’.]

Uzi Narkiss: Tell me, where is the Western Wall? How do we get there?

Yossi Ronen: I’m walking right now down the steps towards the Western Wall. I’m not a religious man, I never have been, but this is the Western Wall and I’m touching the stones of the Western Wall.

Soldiers: [reciting the ‘Shehechianu’ blessing]: Baruch ata Hashem, elokeinu melech haolam, she-hechianu ve-kiemanu ve-hegianu la-zman ha-zeh. [Translation: Blessed art Thou L-rd G-d King of the Universe who has sustained us and kept us and has brought us to this day]

Rabbi Shlomo Goren: Baruch ata Hashem, menachem tsion u-voneh Yerushalayim. [Translation: Blessed are thou, who comforts Zion and builds Jerusalem]

Soldiers: Amen!
[Soldiers sing ‘Hatikva’ next to the Western Wall.]

Rabbi Goren: We’re now going to recite the prayer for the fallen soldiers of this war against all of the enemies of Israel:
[Soldiers weeping]
El male rahamim, shohen ba-meromim. Hamtse menuha nahona al kanfei hashina, be-maalot kedoshim, giborim ve-tehorim, kezohar harakiya meirim u-mazhirim. Ve-nishmot halalei tsava hagana le-yisrael, she-naflu be-maaraha zot, neged oievei yisrael, ve-shnaflu al kedushat Hashem ha-am ve-ha’arets, ve-shichrur Beit Hamikdash, Har Habayit, Hakotel ha-ma’aravi veyerushalayim ir ha-elokim. Be-gan eden tehe menuhatam. Lahen ba’al ha-rahamim, yastirem beseter knafav le-olamim. Ve-yitsror be-tsror ha-hayim et nishmatam adoshem hu nahlatam, ve-yanuhu be-shalom al mishkavam [soldiers weeping loud]ve-ya’amdu le-goralam le-kets ha-yamim ve-nomar amen!
[Translation: Merciful G-d in heaven, may the heroes and the pure, be under thy Divine wings, among the holy and the pure who shine bright as the sky, and the souls of soldiers of the Israeli army who fell in this war against the enemies of Israel, who fell for their loyalty to G-d and the land of Israel, who fell for the liberation of the Temple, the Temple Mount, the Western Wall and Jerusalem the city of the Lord. May their place of rest be in paradise. Merciful One, O keep their souls forever alive under Thy protective wings. The Lord being their heritage, may they rest in peace, for they shalt rest and stand up for their allotted portion at the end of the days, and let us say, Amen.]

[Soldiers are weeping. Rabbi Goren sounds the shofar. Sound of gunfire in the background.]
Rabbi Goren: Le-shana HA-ZOT be-Yerushalayim ha-b’nuya, be-yerushalayim ha-atika! [Translation: This year in a rebuilt Jerusalem! In the Jerusalem of old!]

Hate speech from the promoters of the Global march to Jerusalem

Zionism is the national revival movement of the Jews. It holds that the Jews are a people and therefore have the right to self-determination in their own national home. It aims to secure and support a legally recognized national home for the Jews in their historical homeland, and to initiate and stimulate a revival of Jewish national life, culture and language.

Zionism holds that the Jews are a nation like any other, and should gather together in a single homeland.

Feroze Mithiborwala, one of the organizers of the ill-conceived and ill-executed Global march to Jerusalem lists his employer as "Solidarity Towards Oppressed People (STOP)" He has publicly declared his opposition towards "Imperialism, Zionism and Brahamism"

(Note to Feroze: If you believe ALL people in the world have the right to self determination EXCEPT the Jewish people, that might make you an anti-Semite.)

What do we need to know about "STOP"?

How about this charming post, currently gracing their Facebook page?


"God's angels of death and destruction…strike it! Let Zionism be damned wherever it is found. A heart touching wish by our brother activist- Steve Wertheim.

May it's wretched soul instantly wither and suffer eternal damnation...and may it not survive one month. May it be banished from all light and all life. May its future be dark, and may God's justice pursue it. A disaster it has never experienced will befall it, and all curses known by any who has suffered by it, its demons, and their minions, in body, mind, or spirit, come to fruition. We deliver to you, God's angels of wrath and ire, Zionism, the satanic offspring of Judaism, that you may smother it, and cast it and its spectre into damnation, dry up its wealth, plague its mind, and scatter its consciousness that it may steadily be diminished until it reaches his death. Put to death the cursed Zionism. May it be damned, damned, damned!"

Think Feroze is just a foreign extremist? Think this has no relevance to our "Peace activists" locally? Think again. Feroze was sponsored at a talk by the Middle East Children's Alliance and The International Jewish Solidarity Network and hosted at the local Arab Resource Center just a few years ago. And yes, these are the same local groups that sponsored the GMJ solidarity rally at the consulate yesterday.



Next week, when we gather with our friends, our family and our community at our Passover seders, when we read "For not just one alone has risen against us to destroy us, but in every generation they rise against us to destroy us", remember please that Amalek still exists. Its our responsibility- each of ours- to fight against this evil with whatever tools we have at our disposal. In our generation this struggle may not involve picking up a sword or cross-bow. It will involve writing op-eds and letters to the editor. It will involve phoning and emailing our elected representatives. It will involve standing up against hate whenever we see it-on the streets, in the mainstream media or on the web. And as importantly, it will mean acting as a force for light and for justice in this world.

Lets take to heart the words of Mrs. Eva Sandler, the wife of murdered Rabbi Jonathan and the mother of Aryeh and Gavriel, whose lives were taken by hate in Toulouse, France.

"Parents, please kiss your children. Tell them how much you love them, and how dear it is to your heart that they be living examples of our Torah, imbued with the fear of Heaven and with love of their fellow man.

Please increase your study of Torah, whether on your own or with your family and friends. Help others who may find study difficult to achieve alone.
Please bring more light into the world by kindling the Sabbath candles this and every Friday night. (Please do so a bit earlier than the published times as a way to add holiness to our world.)

The holiday of Passover is approaching. Please invite another person into your homes so that all have a place at a Seder to celebrate the holiday of our freedom.

Please bring more light into the world by kindling the Sabbath candles this and every Friday night.

Along with our tearful remembrance of our trials in Egypt so many years ago, we still tell over how “in each and every generation, they have stood against us to destroy us.” We all will announce in a loud and clear voice: “G-d saves us from their hands.”

Iran Behind 'Global March to Jerusalem'

Feroze Mithiborwala and Global March to Jerusalem participants with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

According to the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC), Iran is the organizing force behind the latest high profile publicity stunt aimed at the delegitimization of Israel. The Global March to Jerusalem, planned for March 30, is an initiative that aims at getting over one million Arabs and their supporters to attempt to infiltrate Israel’s borders.

From an article by Elad Benari

"ITIC is presenting evidence in its possession which indicates that Iran openly and with its own propaganda supports the March 30 events and is also involved in organizational preparations for the marches. To that end, ITIC said in a report posted Wednesday, Iran employs proxies, including organizations and individuals.
The center quoted an item dated February 26, 2012 in the Fars News Agency, in which Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as supporting the march to Jerusalem.
In the report, Khamenei said Iran should openly support movements and groups operating against Israel. Support for the marches to Jerusalem was presented as part of a new strategy designed to increase regional unity against Israel, based on the so-called “resistance axis” (i.e., Syria and the terrorist organizations) and opposition to the so-called "occupation" of Jerusalem.
In the same vein, a report in the Iranian ISNA agency, dated March 4, quoted Ghzanfar Asl Roknabadi, the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, as saying he hoped all “Palestine” would shortly be liberated from its “Zionist occupiers” and that cries of “Allahu Akbar” would be heard throughout Rehavia, an elite neighborhood in west Jerusalem.
ITIC noted that a local committee was appointed, in Iran and other Arab countries, to make preparations for the marches. The committee, called The Board of the Global [March] to Jerusalem, is headed in Iran by Hossein Shaikhol-Eslam, who ITIC noted is likely directly connected to the Iranian regime.
The ITIC report also cites the Haganah website, which is run by American professionals specializing in the analysis of jihadist Internet sites. Haganah examined the Global March to Jerusalem website and found indications of Iranian involvement in the marches.
Haganah found three domains of march organizers sharing an IP address with Ahl al-Bayt, an Iranian institution directed by Khamenei's office and which spreads Shi'ite and Khomeini ideology around the globe. It is headed by Khojat el-Eslam Mohammed Hassan Akhtari, the former Iranian ambassador to Syria.
ITIC also cited an Iranian website, believed to be connected to the Iranian regime, which initiated a cartoon contest in support of the marches.
The cartoons are supposed to deal with the theme of the so-called "right of return" of the Arab refugees and with opposition to the so-called “occupation” of Jerusalem. Each of the three winning entries, ITIC noted, will receive a prize of $1000 and a trophy.
The report also noted that the Iranian English-language Press TV channel was also enlisted to promote a propaganda campaign for the marches.
On January 8, 2012, a video was posted on YouTube to promote the marches, produced by Press TV and featuring former British MP and pro-Hamas enthusiast George Galloway.
Finally, ITIC noted, another manifestation of Iranian participation in the propaganda campaign for the march was an open letter posted on the marches' website on March 5, purportedly written by Iranian Jews. The ITIC believes the letter was planted by the Iranian regime.
The letter’s heading was the Society of Iranian Jewry Supporting GMJ and it was purportedly signed by two Iranian Jews, one a Jewish member of the Majlis (the Iranian parliament) and the other a Jewish leader. In it, the Society of Iranian Jewry expressed support for what the letter called “a global demonstration in support of the liberation of Jerusalem from the Zionists.”

Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo "Tel Aviv, judgment day has come"

5,000 people joined a Muslim Brotherhood rally in Cairo on Friday called to promote the "battle against Jerusalem's Judaization." Activists vowing to "one day kill all Jews" attended the rally, held in Cairo's most prominent mosque.

Speakers were quick to scapegoat and condemn Israel with calls for Jihad and for liberation the whole of Palestine. Ahmed al-Tayeb claimed that Jews everywhere in the world are seeking to prevent Islamic and Egyptian unity. "In order to build Egypt, we must be one. Politics is insufficient. Faith in Allah is the basis for everything," he said. "The al-Aqsa Mosque is currently under an offensive by the Jews… we shall not allow the Zionists to Judaize al-Quds (Jerusalem.)

Upon leaving the rally, participants were given flags, with Egypt's flag on one side and the Palestinian flag on the other, as well as maps of Jerusalem's Old City detailing where "Zionists are aiming to change Jerusalem's Muslim character."

Today begins a preliminary "March to Jerusalem", a precursor to the much larger march to be held in 2012. The March 30 crusade, organized by Paul Larudee, Deppen Webber, Feroze Mithiborwala and others aims to amass thousands on all Israel's borders.

To Paul, Deppen, Feroze, Ahmed and all those who deny the Jewish people's eternal bond with our holy city Jerusalem, I present to you Psalm 137

By the rivers of Babylon,there we sat and we wept,
when we remembered Zion.
We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
Sing us a song of Zion, our captors urged

How shall we sing of Zion in a strange land?
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem,

let my right hand forget her cunning.
let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth;
if I do not remember Jerusalem above my chief joy.

Not into ancient liturgy? Check out this modern ode to our city of light, of peace and of gold

30,000 Palestinian and Syrian Youths Volunteer for Suicide Missions in Israel

From Fars-Iran

30,000 Palestinian and Syrian youths signed a petition expressing their willingness to be used as suicide bombers and in other martyrdom-seeking operations inside Israel, saying they are ready to infiltrate Israel and conduct any type of operation.

The petition said that those who signed it have passed military, combat and tactical trainings.

Does this call for martyrdom within Israel have any relationship with next years anti-israel crusade, The Global march to Jerusalem? ,described in Engaging Zion "as a crazy scheme concocted by God-intoxicated fanatics hellbent on starting a Global Holy War."

Its very likely.

From Arutz Sheva

That march is being organized by Indian activist Feroze Mithiborwala, who said in a recent press conference in Pakistan that the march will unite people from all over the world, and of all faiths - including Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and Jews - "to participate in the march towards the Jerusalem and liberate it from the Zionists.” The march would be in the form of a “caravan” which would start from three directions – Asia, Europe, and Africa, originating in India, Turkey and Morocco respectively. The caravans would stop in all the countries on the way and pick up more participants. The objective is to gather hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people at the borders of Israel who would simply push their way through, reaching Jerusalem and “liberating” it.

The North American contingent of the Global March to Jerusalem is being organized by our old friends, Paul Larudee and Deppen Webber. The "global march" is no less than an assault on Israel's borders. If the past behavior of the Israel haters is any indication, women and children wil be marching in the front lines, used as cover for the 30,000 militarily trained infiltrators and wanna- be martyrs