Mr Bagel

Thursday, 12 October 2006

2002 Bali Bombings - The fourth Anniversary

Today is the 4th anniversary of the 1st Bali Bombings.
[Shame on Indonesia that I have to say the 'first']

The Religion of Peace Strikes again

I have some pretty strong feelings about this event.

I'll save most of them for now, in respect to the 202 people who died and the thousands who suffered.

What I most have difficulty with is that this creep here: Abu Bakar Bashir served 2 years of an already unjustly short 2 and a half year sentence for helping plan the deaths of so many innocent people including 88 Australians.

The same country that has given the Australian woman Schapelle Corby 20 years for supposedly importing 'grass' into Bali, the same country that has given some very stupid young Australians foolish enough to be 'drug mules' the death sentence. [*]

The same country that offers sentence remission to Muslims only.

My respect for Indonesia as a country has vastly diminished , and even more for their corrupt Government, Justice system and Police force. I don't need to be politically correct, I don't need to heap praise on their police officials to get mediocre co - operation, Indonesia should be ashamed of its justice system, and even more ashamed of the kind of attention it allows to be bestowed apon terrorists.

What those Indonesian terrorist did in Bali was an outrage and any civil country would be deeply ashamed and Never allow the perpetrators to joke with their captors and Judges. Indonesia you have a lot to learn.

Enough, May the victims and their families find peace.

Abaleboosteh has written a remembrance site for the First Bali Bombing it is well worth a look.

[Click Mr Bagel To See References]

References:

Abaleboostah: 2002 Bali Bombings

Wikipedia: 2002 Bali Bombings [1]

Wikipedia: 2005 Bali Bombings [2]

Wikipedia: Abu Bakar Bashir

Wikipedia: Schapelle Corby

CNN.com: Bali Bombings Horror in Paradise

Wikipedia: 'The Bali Nine'

[*] : [I have little pity for 'Drug ' dealers and organisers but justice isn't served giving 'drug mules' death sentences. The Mr bigs who supplied the drugs just happen to escape]

Bagelblogger

Kites Flown on behalf of Captive Soldiers

Kites for soldiers, protests for Olmert

From Ynet:

Kites flown for kidnapped soldiers while terror victims' families protest at PM's house against release of prisoners

While thousands of families were flying kites in the Israeli sky Wednesday to express their hopes for the return of the three kidnapped IDF soldiers, families of terror victims protested in front of the home of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert against the release of prisoners in return for Corporal Gilad Shalit's freedom.

Above Right: The Goldwassers

[CLICK MR BAGEL TO READ MORE]

Thousands flocked to a kite flying festival organized by the Maccabi Tzair youth movement near the Golani junction in northern Israel as a show of solidarity for the three kidnapped soldiers Eldad Regev, Ehud Goldwasser, and Gilad Shalit.

Right: Gilad Schalit

Shlomo and Miki Goldwasser, parents of Eldad, participated in the event and said that "thousands of children arrived. It is unbelievable and very heartwarming.

Right: Ehud Goldwasser

We got so many calls from people of all ages to come and join them and we did so gladly." Shlomo Goldwasser added that despite the fact the issue of the kidnapped soldiers went down from the public's agenda, those who are tasked with releasing the soldiers are working day and night to find a solution.

Right: Eldad Regev

'Releasing prisoners will result in more kidnappings'

But not everyone was flying a kite this day. A group of families of victims of terrorist activities protested at the exact same time in front of the home of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert with heavy hearts.

The demonstrators, all belonging to the Almagor Terror Victims' Organization were protesting against the government's intentions to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the freedom of Gilad Shalit who is being held by a Palestinian terror organization in Gaza. The protesters claim that releasing prisoners will only result in more kidnappings and terror attacks.

Right: Almagor Terror Victims' Organization

Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Guttel and his wife Cecile told Ynet that their 15-year-old daughter Tamar was murdered in an attack in Jerusalem. After the terrorist was captured, he was released from jail in the framework of the Jibril prisoner exchange deal, and returned to kill two more tourists in the Old City of Jerusalem and now sells merchandise as a vendor near the Nablus Gate.

From Arutz Sheva:

(IsraelNN.com) Thousands of kites were flown on Wednesday at Golani Junction on behalf of three captive IDF soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser, Eldad Regev and Gilad Shalit.
While families of the captive soldiers were invited to attend the event sponsored by Young Maccabi, only Shlomo and Miki Goldwasser were in attendance.
“Kites symbolize freedom,” event organizers announced, hoping their effort brought a feeling of solidarity to the families of the soldiers who have been in captivity for over three months.

References:

Ynet: Kites for Soldiers,protests for Olmert

Arutz Sheva: Thousands of Kites Flown on Behalf of Captive Soldiers

Bagelblogger Have a good day!

: *Kites and Soldiersi * Kites and Israeli Soldiers * Gilad Schalit * Ehud Goldwasser * Eldad Regev * Almagor Terror Victims' Organization * Releasing Terrorists * Goldwasser's and Kiteflying * IDF * KIdnapped Soldiers * Israeli Soldiers * Kidnapped Soldiers * Olmert and Soldiers * Hostage negotiation * Israel * IDF and Hamas * Golani Junction * Australia * Israel Politics * BagelBlogger * Bagel Blogger

Wednesday, 11 October 2006

Mr Bagel gets invited to a meal in the Sukkah

Imagine Mr Bagels surprise, he felt so good, the nice neighbours invited him to be part of a meal in their Sukkah. What hospitality, then suddenly....

Chag Sameach
Bagelblogger

[END]

Bagelblogger Have a Nice Day!
: * Simchas Yom Tov * arbat haminim * Sukkot * succah * Lulav * Etrog * Aravot * Palm * Jewish Humor * Mr Bagel * Mr Bagel Sukkot Meal * Succah invitation * Sukkot Family Celebration *Sukkah * Succah Family Celebration * The Four Species * Simchat Torah * Succah and Bagel* Israel * Jewish * BagelBlogger * Bagel Blogger

Tuesday, 10 October 2006

Whoaa say what? Pizza in a Hut

For those that read my blog regular you will have known that I have only recently come back from Sydney ['the big smoke']. I live in a 1 horse, 2 head, 3 wife...town.[only joking..]

We live 400 kms from Sydney , Australia. We have little contact with other Jews where we live.[there isn't any] except for our local Doctor.

[CLICK READ MORE]

As regular readers would know, I'm converting to Judaism. We spent about 6 days in Sydney and during this time I was lucky enough to see the Synagogue and meet the Rabbi I hopefully will be converting with.

I went to my first Morning Service and it was very inspiring.

The Rabbi, Rebbetzin and Shule congregation were very welcoming, which was great as despite the Torah's writing on 'converts' I had heard it isn't always an uneventful passage.

Whilst we were in Sydney we visited a town called Bondi which has a large Jewish Population. We did the 'Kosher cafe' thing, looked in the Kosher supermarkets and visited the local Judaica Shop in Bondi called Gold's.

I felt like a child in a candy shop. I couldn't stop finding things I wanted to buy, unfortunately my bank manager disagrees with this so I had to settle for half a trunk load of Judaica rather than the entire car.

The poor lady who served me was very helpful, being just before Sukkot , the store was a hive of activity with people ordering their arbat haminim [four species].

We found some transliterate Artscroll Siddurs, both Week and Sabbath/holidays and lots of other books for my Wife, children and my self.

'Uncle Moshe' the childrens Jewish character got a work out and we listened to Uncle Moshe sing about Jewish holidays all the way back home.

Whilst we were in Bondi, we visited the Kosher supermarkets to get a feel of them. In one called Starkys, whose catch cry is 'If it's in Starkys it's Kosher' I scanned the shop counter looking for 'freebies' fridge magnets, brochures any thing Jewish we could read on our return.

As I walked past the counter I almost broke my neck, I couldn't help but whip round as I saw a Brochure for 'Pizza Hut'. I couldn't believe in. It was titled 'Sukkot Family Celebration' and there was a 'Pizza hut'.

Now I know in Israel there are Kosher McDonalds, but here in Australia I feel very confident in stating that there isn't any Kosher Pizza Huts and Kosher McDonalds.

I'm thinking are they going to kasher the whole restaurant? All the ovens, trays, benches, posts, pans, .... of course not.

So what, how?

I read the pamphlet closer.

Seems some one has made a play on 'Pizza in the Hut' for Sukkot.

It sounds like it would have been great. It was organised by Chabad house in North Sydney.

Looks like I ended up with Pizza on my face! oh Well as long as Ronald McDonald wasn't saying Mazal Tov at a Birthday party.

BTW If anyone from Sydney went on Monday night to this 'Pizza in a Hut' please let me know how it was, it sounded like the kids would have loved it.

We had to return to our one horse, two head, three wife town...

Maybe we will escape again before we move next year to Sydney.

Aaron

Bagelblogger

Bagelblogger Have a Nice Day!
: * Simchas Yom Tov * arbat haminim * Sukkot * succah * Lulav * Etrog * Aravot * Palm * Golds * Starkys * Bondi and Jewish * Chabad Sydney * Sukkot Family Celebration * The Four Species * Simchat Torah * Pizza in the Hut* Israel * Jewish * BagelBlogger * Bagel Blogger

Succot

I came across this painting on asimplejew's blog. I thought it was a beautiful painting and very apt for this time of year. To see it in Detail click the picture and it will open it in a new window.

The Painter is Alex Levin. You can visit the painter by looking at the References.
References:
Succot
Alex Levin

BagelBlogger Have a nice day!

: * Simchas Yom Tov * Jewish Painting * Sukkot* succah * Lulav * Etrog * Aravot * Palm * The Four Species * Simchat Torah * Alex Levine* Israel * Jewish * BagelBlogger * Bagel Blogger

Sunday, 8 October 2006

Rabbis Cry Fowl on Ritual Use of Chickens

Israel - Rabbis Cry Fowl on Ritual Use of Chickens

[Click Mr Bagel to Read More]

Israel - In this few days before Yom Kippur many Jews will perform the Kapparos ritual and will wave a soon-to-be slaughtered chicken around their heads. This ancient Jewish custom, has been around for generations. Recently however it has encountered opposition by animal welfare groups and even some rabbis.
Objections to the ritual killing of chickens come from animal welfare societies. Dozens of “Anonymous for Animal Rights” activists demonstrated at the Carmel market in Tel Aviv against this abuse of chickens. “Save lives and not a life for a life” and “Don’t add another sin to your crimes” were just some of the placards waved at the demonstration.
The demonstrators received a frosty reception from the vendors who threw water on them and asked them to disperse. An additional demonstration took place in Jerusalem.
Chedva Vanderbrook, a board member of the Jerusalem Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says, “Next to my house in Jerusalem there are chicken cages scattered around without water,’ she tells ‘The chickens are brought to the slaughter in cramped cages without water in the broiling sun. Half of them die on the way. No one thinks that these poor creatures deserve to live on the way to their death.
“Unfortunately I think that it will be very hard to eradicate this custom in the Ultra-Orthodox community” Vanderbrook pessimistically summarizes, “But I am appealing to traditional people who customarily perform Kapparot and am asking them to stop.

References:

VOS IZ NEIAS: Israel - Rabbis Cry Fowl on Ritual Use of Chickens

VOS IZ NEIAS Thanks to VOS IZ NEIAS!