WOMEN FOR ISRAEL’S TOMORROW
WOMEN IN GREEN
Media Releases – November 2000
November 2000
November 1, 2000 Kever Rachel Closed Til Further Notice
November 2, 2000 An Indecisive and Unsuitable Leader
November 5, 2000 Important E-Mail Addresses
November 5, 2000 CNN & BBC – Inciters To Violence
November 5, 2000 Meaningless Conditions From a Subservient Barak
November 5, 2000 Update on Kever Rachel (Rachel’s tomb)
November 6, 2000 What 30 Women (from Hebron) Accomplished!!
November 8, 2000 Womeningreen Bus to Rachel’s Tomb
November 9, 2000 We Are All Yisrael Shiran
November 10, 2000 The Struggle for Rachel’s Tomb Continues
November 10, 2000 Observing Yahrtzeits
November 12, 2000 Another Perspective
November 13, 2000 The Greens
November 13, 2000 A Cruel Mockery
November 13, 2000 Looking for Witnesses
November 14, 2000 We Will Never Abandon Rachel Imeinu
November 15, 2000 Urgent: More Updates on Rachel’s Tomb
November 15, 2000 A Different Kind Of Appeal
November 16, 2000 PLO Now
November 17, 2000 Latest Information on Kever Rachel
November 17, 2000 Shiva Call to Neve Zuf
November 20, 2000 Message from the Eshet Chayil Foundation
November 22, 2000 Remember Baby Shalev?
November 22, 2000 WIG and Other Announcements
November 23, 2000 Barak’s Empty Rhetoric
November 23, 2000 Success at Rachel’s Tomb
November 23, 2000 Shame On The World Media
November 25, 2000 FUND FOR THE COHENS
November 30, 2000 New Address for Cohen Family Fund
November 30, 2000 Barak’s Unabated Arrogance
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Jerusalem, November 1, 2000
Kever Rachel Closed Til Further Notice
The Jerusalem Committee for Kever Rachel has just informed me that because
of serious Arab riots in Bethlehem last night, the army will not be opening
Kever Rachel to visitors until further notice.
Please bombard the Ministry of Religious Affairs (02-625-2054 or
624-0359) with phone calls protesting the barring of Jews from Kever Rachel.
Nadia
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Jerusalem, November 2, 2000
An Indecisive and Unsuitable Leader
The disclosure that the Barak Government continues to pay over to Arafat
some fifty million shekels each month, is incomprehensible. Barak does
this despite Arafat’s announced breach of the Oslo Agreements and his
encouragement of violence and the continuation of the intifada. Yet it is
typical Barak, who daily demonstrates his indecisiveness, and his empty
threats. He has done nothing to quell the present intifada.
He continuously shows himself to be a person who is totally dependant on a
foreign power to tell him what to do, in true “banana republic” fashion.
His phone conversations with the White House are directly related to the
“restraint” he continues to adopt as his policy.
That policy may be good for the United States, but is death on wheels for
Israel. Jews are humiliated and our army and populace suffer debasement at
the hands of Arafat, and our response seems to be as if we still were
living in European Ghettoes. Mounting deaths to our Jewish citizens are
the direct result. Through it all, Barak issues empty threats but continues
his submissive and ineffective ways.
Women In Green , this Sunday, November 5, 2000 will once again demonstrate
opposite the PM’s office at the Rose Garden in Jerusalem between 8:30 and
10:30 a..m. (while Barak’s Cabinet is meeting) to protest the
obsequiessness and indecisiveness of our Prime Minister. Barak continues
to tell us that our Army is strong, yet his actions belie that fact. Barak
is a weak and indecisive leader, who continues to pay monies over to our
enemy Arafat, who uses that money to wage war on Israel.
Ruth and Nadia Matar
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Jerusalem, November 5, 2000
Important E-Mail Addresses
From Arutz Sheva to our leaders:
The disturbing news of the past few weeks, and particularly of the past
two days, has caused an outpouring of responses from our readers. To ensure
maximum effectiveness for your convincing, sincere, and well-written
letters, the most appropriate addressees are Prime Minister Barak and
other members of his office and government. We therefore provide the
following e-mail addresses, and ask that you use them often:
Prime Minister Ehud Barak – barak@pmo.gov.il
barak@pmo.gov.il Defense Minister Ehud Barak – sar@mod.gov.il
Prime Minister’s Office Director Yossi Kucik – mankal@pmo.gov.il
Prime Minister’s Office Public Relations Ruti Bait – pniot@pmo.gov.il
Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh – sgansar@mod.gov.il
Defense Ministry Public Relations Director Hadassah Klepfish –
pniot@mod.gov.il
Ofice of Defense Ministry Spokesman – dover@mod.gov.il
Minister of Public Security Shlomo Ben-Ami – sar@mops.gov.il
Police Commissioner Yehuda Wilk – mafkal@police.gov.il
Foreign Ministry Public Relations – pniot@mofa.gov.il
Justice Minister Yossi Beilin – sar@justice.gov.il
Justice Ministry Public Relations Yehudit Begun – pniot@justice.gov.il
Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg – yor@knesset.gov.il
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Jerusalem, November 5, 2000
CNN & BBC – Inciters To Violence
The blatant prejudice against Israel shown by CNN and BBC in their
reporting of events in the Holy Land is well known. You can predict with
certainty that their media coverage will be decidedly slanted in favor
of the Arabs. Formal protests against their lack of impartiality by
hoards of listeners, and even by the State of Israel itself, have proven
to be of no avail.
One can even detect patent anti-Semitic overtones in their selection and
discussion of subjects they choose concerning Israel. Of course, CNN
will be quick to point out that some leading members of their
broadcasting teams are themselves Jews, to wit: Larry King, Wolf
Blitzer and Jonathan Mann. Unfortunately, there are Jews who will not
forego their prestigious positions because their employer is an Israel
basher. The U.S. State Department and the kind of Jews with whom
Clinton surrounds himself, are prime examples of this phenomenon.
Apparently, the device works of hiring token Jews to cover up for their
pernicious policies of discrimination, as they pound away at Israel and
its Jewish population.
Hanan Ashwari, Arafat’s spokeswoman is a favorite of both CNN and BBC.
She is notoriously biased, and is always used by them to justify
Arab-Palestinian positions, no matter how illogical and difficult such
tortuous justifications may be. On the other hand, they choose to
select to speak on behalf of Israel only those from the Israeli
secular, anti-nationalist left, who always turn out to be prominent
proponents of the Beilin-Peres-Oslo minority viewpoint.
CNN and BBC ludicrously refer to the Temple Mount only as an Arab holy
place and call it by the name the Arabs have given it. The facts are
that the ancient Jewish Temples were located on that Temple Mount long
before there was a Muslim religion, or an Arab people. Both in effect
deny the historical fact that this Biblical site is considered by Jews
as their holiest religious site. Moreover, both CNN and BBC choose to
ignore the fact that in Judaism, the Temple Mount has been a holy place
for Jews for thousands of years.
What can be done about these powerful “media giants” who are one of the
major sources of conveying the news in the Middle East? They are
working against the continued existence of Israel in a blatant and
formidable manner. They show no mercy nor shame in their distortions of
the news from the Middle East, and coat it with an authenticity that it
does not have.
Women In Green have decided to take on these purveyors of prejudice and
lies. The anti-Semitic policies directed against Israel by CNN and BBC
should be exposed for what they are, immoral, biased, poisonous, and
untruthful. On a daily basis, these powerful media giants spew their
venom to their listeners against Israel, and indirectly against the
Jewish People. It is time that the world community raises its voice in
protest to the false and baseless propaganda against the Jews of
Israel. By their silence CNN and BBC virtually endorse the recent
barbaric acts of Arabs against Jewish soldiers and civilians in Israel.
Equally abhorrent is their silent acceptance of Arafat’s conscripting
and using children in stone throwing attacks against Jews. It is high
time that their morally reprehensible actions be strongly condemned.
Ruth and Nadia Matar
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Jerusalem, November 5, 2000
Meaningless Conditions From a Subservient Barak
Ehud Barak has announced what his public relations people told him
would counter his established image as being a puppet of Clinton.
He has purportedly issued “stern” conditions to President Clinton,
relating to his upcoming visit to the White House next week.
Barak conditions such a visit on there being in the interim no “great”
amount of violence by the Arabs. (Continued firing at Jews resulting
in a killing or two presumably would not prevent his visit; nor would
the continued throwing of maiming firebombs or lethal stones.)
Further, Barak warns: there are to be no “major” bombings. (Here too,
a blast that is not “major,” resulting in a few Jewish deaths, would
still have Barak appear before his Lord and Master – Clinton.
The false bravado shown by issuing these tepid and meaningless conditions,
reveals in a stark manner the weakness of Barak. It also demonstrates the
absurdity of his and Clinton’s half measures in continuing to deal with
the unchangeable tyrant, and immoral murderer, Arafat.
Ruth and Nadia Matar
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Jerusalem, November 5, 2000
Update on Kever Rachel (Rachel’s Tomb)
Today, Sunday November 5th, it was ascertained that Kever Rachel will
stay closed to Jews “indefinitely.”
A week ago, one of the leaders of the Gilo neighborhood in Jerusalem
called the Head of the Central Command, Yitzhak Eitan, asking for
permission to go and pray at Rachels’ Tomb on Rachel Imeinu’s
yahrzeit (Wednesday night-Thursday).
The answer he got was the following:
“If you don’t want shootings in Gilo then forget about Kever Rachel!!!!”
This is unacceptable!! There is no doubt that they are trying to
repeat the “Kever Yossef syndrom” and if we do not rise up, we will
lose Rachel’s Tomb.
What can we do?
1) Attend the big evening (for women only) in honor of Rachel Imeinu.
The evening will take place, please G-d, on Wednesday evening, 8/11
at 7:00pm in Biyanei Ha’uma, Jerusalem. The evening is organized by the
“Ki yesh sachar Lipeu’latech” Foundation.
On the program;
Rabbi Chaim Pinhas Sheinberg, shlita
Rabbanit Ruhama Shein
Play: “Al Eim Haderech”
For tickets: 052-862598
2) Bombard, more than once a day, the Head of Central Command with
faxes: “We demand to go to Kever Rachel”: 02-5305741
The same for the Prime Minister: fax 02-6705475.
3) Demand that the opposition leaders organize a mass rally at the
entrance to Betlehem.
Where are the opposition leaders? Where is Moetset Yesha?
We have been trying to convince them to organize something big this
coming Wednesday or Thursday. Put pressure on them too:
Moetset Yesha tel 02-5810624 fax 02-5814072
MKAvigdor Lieberman tel 02-6753131 cellular 054-200010
MK Rehavam Zeevi (Gandhi) tel: 02-6754119 fax: 02-6496506
MK Rabbi Benny Elon: tel:02-6753414 fax: 02-6756411
MK Ariel Sharon tel: 02-6753810 or 03/6210629
MK Silvan Shalom tel: 02-6753997
MK Shaul Yahalom tel: 02-6753802 or home 03/9362344
MK Yigal Bibi tel: 02-6753280 or home 02-9932288
MK Rabbi Meir Porush 02-6753806 home 02-5389355
MK Rabbi Chaim Druckman tel: 02-6753834 or home 08-8582827
4) Tomorrow, Monday, November 6th at 10:00am, the Chevron women will
start with a tefillah-rally at the entrance to Bethlehem (at
the Gilo intersection). It is important to join them. We have to start
making noise as soon as possible.
5) E-mail this message to another 5 friends at least.
6) Call 5 other friends, in Israel or abroad, who do not have e-mail
and ask them to join the campaign for Rachel Imeinu.
Time is of the essence.
We can win this battle, with G-d’s help, if we decide to really fight
for it.
Ruth and Nadia Matar
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Jerusalem, November 6, 2000
WHAT 30 WOMEN (from HEVRON) ACCOMPLISHED!!
Today, Monday, November 6th, a bus with 30 women and children from
Hevron went to the Gilo-Betlehem intersection with the purpose of
praying there and asking that Kever Rachel (Rachel’s Tomb)be opened
to Jews.
When they got to the army checkpoint they simply started to walk,
past the soldiers, in the direction of Kever Rachel.
A miracle happened: nobody stopped them and they simply walked the
500 meters straight to Rachel’s Tomb.
The IDF soldiers at Kever Rachel could not believe their eyes: 30
Jewish women with toddlers and babies in carriages had arrived at
Rachels’s Tomb and asked that the soldiers open the doors.
The soldiers brought the keys and let the women and children in.
This was the first time since Rosh Hashana that Jews had come to pray
at Kever Rachel.
The women immediately understood a miracle had just happened,
and decided to stay. They announced that they would stay till
Thursday, to make sure that the Kever would indeed be open to Jews on
Rachel Imeinu’s yahrzeit.
They stayed there from 10:00 to 2:30pm, when the army and police
forcibly evacuated them. But the highest echelons in the army
promised that on Thursday Kever Rachel will indeed be open to Jews.
Their action this morning accomplished a lot:
1) Finally somebody did something to bring up the issue of Kever
Rachel (their action got press coverage).
2) A promise was made – not only to the women – but to different
politicians and public figures who were very involved this morning in
trying to let the women stay (like MK Rabbi Benny Elon and Rabbi
Chanan Porat) that it will be open on Thursday.
3) The women made an oath to come once a week to Kever Rachel or, if
G-d forbid they will close it again, to the intersection and put
pressure, demanding to come in.
4) They are asking that different groups of women to take
different days of the week and do the same. Come to Kever
Rachel. Even if Rachel’s Tomb is closed again, it is
important that women come to the army checkpoint every day,
demanding to be let in. That will put tremendous pressure on the
authorities.
Let’s remember that there was a time Me’arath Hamachpela was closed
for a few months and thanks to the relentless efforts of different
groups, it was reopened. It is easy to blame Barak. We have to also
look in the mirror and ask: are we doing enough for Kever Rachel?
Let us go in the footsteps of our heroic sisters of Hevron who opened
the gates to Kever Rachel today. Thursday we will all go en masse.
Details to follow — hopefully tomorrow.
Nadia
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Jerusalem, November 8, 2000
Womeningreen Bus to Rachel’s Tomb
The following are the details about Thursday, November 9th
Rachel Imeinu’s yarzheit:
Rachel’s Tomb will be open from 9:00 o’clock.
People are asked to come to the Gilo intersection where bullet proof
buses will be waiting. Those buses will be shuttling between the
Gilo intersection and Kever Rachel.
At 12:00 there will be a rally at the Gilo intersection, organized by
Rabbi Chanan Porat.
The Women in Green are organizing a bus that will bring you to the
Gilo intersection. The bus will leave the Laromme hotel at 10:00am.
Fee: 15 NIS. Please reserve a seat by calling Ruth at 02-6249887 or
Anita at 02-9964805.
The bus will leave Gilo at 1:00pm and will drive back to the Laromme
hotel.
Ruth and Nadia Matar
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Jerusalem, November 9, 2000
We Are All Yisrael Shiran
Dear friends,
We are fighting on all fronts.
Freedom of speech is one of them.
The story of what happened to a teacher, Yisrael Shiran, demonstrates
what kind of bolshevic government we have.
Following are 5 items:
1) the Arutz 7 piece explaining the story
2) the translation of the letter written by Yisrael Shiran
3) the translation of our Women in Green press release in support of
Yisrael Shiran
4) What can we do to help
5) some good news
1) Arutz Sheva News Service
Sunday, Nov. 5, 2000 / Cheshvan 7, 5761
5. FREEDOM OF SPEECH QUESTIONED
Public schools in Israel, under an order given by the Ministry’s
Northern Region Director, are forbidden to have teacher Yisrael Shiran
address their students. Shiran was found to have taken part in
writing the letter objecting to teaching the “Rabin legacy” in public
schools. The letter stated, “We now see that Rabin is the one who was
responsible for the catastrophic situation in which our State now
finds itself. Our conclusion is that Rabin and his ‘way of peace’ are
that which brought us to this intolerable situation… The man Rabin
and his legacy are no longer of interest for the Israeli public and
especially not for educators and their pupils. On the anniversary of
his death, commemoration ceremonies should not be held.”
MK Michael Eitan said that while he probably does not agree with most
of what Shiran thinks, “the witch-hunt against him must be stopped.
How is it possible that the same left-wing which defends the right of
Arab Knesset Members to incite against Israel and call for an increase
in the intifada, wishes to shut the mouths of Israeli Jews who say far
less than this?” Yisrael Shiran himself told Arutz-7 today that his
letter was clearly not an endorsement of the murder itself, “but only
a request that Rabin’s legacy not be forced on us and our students.”
Shlomit Amichai, Director-General of the Education Ministry, was asked
by Israel Radio today how the ban on Shiran jibes with his right to
freedom of speech. She said, “It is totally inconceivable that during
the week in which we remember our murdered Prime Minister, Yitzchak
Rabin, that such things will be said. It is a totally correct
decision to not let this man into our schools and have him discuss
these issues with our students…”
———————————————————————
2) Translation of Yisrael Shiran’s letter:
Please hang in the teacher’s room
Principals, Teachers, and Senior Educators!
The following letter is addressed to the Prime Minister and Education
Minister. Please read this letter. If you identify with its contents,
and you wish to join the educators who have already shown their
sympathy, added their signatures, and believe in their ability to
influence, please sign at the bottom of the letter
and return it as quickly as possible to fax: 04-8258923.
Photocopy this letter and distribute it among your fellow teachers and
principals. All the copies of the letter, with your signatures, will
be delivered to the Prime Minister and Education Minister on Thursday,
November 2, 2000 with the prayer and hope for better days, and with
our thanks to contact the principals and educators who have initiated
and written the letter: cell phone: 050-570832 fax: 04-8258923
———————————————————
To: The Prime Minister and Education Minister Mr. Ehud Barak
Marheshvan 11, the day on which the Prime Minister, Mr. Yitzhak Rabin,
of blessed memory, was assassinated is approaching.
Until now, since the horrible murder of Y. Rabin, the heads of the
Education Ministry would order the many school principals to conduct
on this day memorial assemblies and to discuss with their pupils the
“heritage of peace of Yitzhak Rabin.” Now, in a time of “distress and
hardship” for Israel, in which we realize – whoever has a rational
mind and eyes in his head – every day, and sometimes every hour, that
it was “Rabin the man” who bears the actual and primary
responsibility for the horrendous situation in which our state and
our people find themselves. The “Rabin heritage” is, in fact, a
“heritage” of capitulation and servility, and, most seriously, a
“heritage” of the giving over of firearms to the Arab/Palestinian
enemy, who in these very days is aiming those weapons at us, at our
children, and at our homes. This leads us to the clear, painful, and
obvious conclusion: Rabin the man and his “way of peace” are what
brought us to this grave and intolerable situation, with an actual
war being waged before our very eyes throughout our land. (We
naturally will not discuss in this letter the degree of
responsibility of the others who shared in this “way.”)
We principals, teachers, and educators from the State and
State-Religious educational streams ask you to “take stock,” an
action that (we hope) will lead you to rise and admit, before the
people and the world, that “Rabin the Man and His Heritage” are no
longer a subject for study by the public at large, and certainly not
by the educators in Israel and their pupils; that on the day on which
Prime Minister Rabin, of blessed memory, was murdered, there will be
no directive by officials in the Education Ministry to conduct
various manner of memorial assemblies and spiritual stocktaking. We
also expect that no directive will be given to hang the picture of
Rabin, of blessed memory, in public (of course, it is not fitting, on
this day, specifically, to express our view, that can be understood
from this letter, regarding “Rabin and his heritage”).
We will in no manner agree that the man who handed over the weapons
of war to the enemy who “rises against us to destroy us” will be the
man whose heritage, way, and personality we will study. All the
above, it should be emphasized, is despite our great shock at the
very despicable act of assassination, about which it is fitting and
necessary to talk, to relate, and to denounce the act and the one who
committed it!
We will not agree to be false to ourselves!
Copies: Members of the Knesset Education Committee
———————————————————————
3) Women in Green press release
We Are All Yisrael Shiran!
The Women in Green movement is shocked by the brutal sanctions taken
by the Education Ministry in its attempt to force a teacher to
disregard the mandate of his conscience and teach the heritage of
Yitzhak Rabin, that is not accepted by the public as a whole. This is
yet another blatant attempt to politicize the education system.
A reminder:
* Rabin coldbloodedly murdered 16 Holocaust survivors on the Altalena
* Rabin declared that he is not the Prime Minister of everyone
* Rabin gave a stamp of approval to the archmurderer Arafat and
brought him to Eretz Israel
* Rabin gave 70,000 rifles and machine guns to the Arabs, that are
used today to murder Jews
* Rabin betrayed Eretz Israel and handed over extensive parts of it
to the enemy
In solidarity with the teacher Yisrael Shiran and in protest of the
gagging of dissident voices by the Education Ministry, the Women in
Green movement will distribute, throughout Israel, stickers
denouncing this phenomenon.
4) What can we do to help ?
a) Bombard the office of Shlomit Amichai, director-general of
the Education Ministry, protesting her sanctions
fax: 02-5602336
b) Send a copy of your letter to Yisrael Shiran, to strengthen
him and his family: fax 04-8258923
5) Some good news:
Yisrael Shiran just told me that among the many letters of support,
he also got a copy of the letters sent to Shlomit Amichai by the
Association of Civil Rights and from the Rabin Centre asking Shlomit
to withdraw her sanctions; explaining that because Shiran had
explicitly denounced the murder, he has the right not to agree with
Rabin’s legacy and he should not be banned from the schools.
Yisrael Shiran hopes those letters will help him in court.
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Jerusalem, November 10, 2000
The Struggle for Rachel’s Tomb Continues
In continuation of Thursday morning’s struggle for Kever
Rachel, the women of Hevron and other yishuvim have put up a
tent-city. The tents are located at the beginning of the tunnel
road, next to the trempiada going to Gush Etzion.
The women plan on staying there till the government reopens Kever
Rachel. They are taking turns sleeping there and they will spend
Shabbat at the tent-city. The idea is that the “trempiada-tent city”
is where they eat and sleep, but the activities are held some 500 meters
away, at the army checkpoint to Bethlehem, where people are asked to go,
daven, have shiurim etc…
They desperately need our help:
Yyou are kindly asked to come and spend some time there.
The women need food, drinks, blankets, toys and especially money.
Keeping that place alive (hopefully they will be able to get toilets,
a generator, they need to print flyers to spread among Jerusalem
etc…) all this costs hundreds of shekels a day, if not much more.
We are of course also all invited to take turns and sleep there,
during the week or on Shabbat.
At a time when our political (and may I say Rabbinical ) leadership
has let us down and basically has done almost NOTHING to save Kever
Rachel, only the grass roots will hopefully be able to make a change.
Let’s be part of what hopefully will turn out to be a great enterprise.
To contact “Rachel’s tent-city,” call: 051-820256.
Shabbat Shalom,
Nadia Matar
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Jerusalem, November 10, 2000
Observing Yahrtzeits
This year the more than 3000th anniversary of the death of our
mother Rachel, the tragic occurrence of Crystalnacht, and the death of
Yitzhak Rabin, pretty much come out about the same time. The scale of
values of the Government of Israel in determining what emphasis is to be
placed in the observance of each of these events, is a revealing commentary
on the spiritual and moral content of our present leadership.
Ehud Barak has closed down Rachel’s Tomb for the annual observance
of the Yahrtzeit of our mother Rachel. He has done this, he claims, out
of his considerateness for the worshippers who would otherwise be exposed
to mortal danger because of Arab repeated lethal attacks on those who come
to visit Rachel’s Tomb.
Barak, communist raised Ephraim Sneh, and the rest of their
minority Government, instead have given the green light to attempt to force
upon the Jews of Israel the observance of the Yahrtzeit of Yitzhak Rabin.
Barak does not consider Crystalnacht, a suitable remembrance for a Jewish
nation.
The disgraceful inaction, and capitulation to Arab terror, has
become a hallmark of the Barak administration. Those who recognize the
magnitude and importance of Rachel’s Tomb, cannot remain silent when a
Government of a Jewish State allows Arab terror to prevent visits to this
Jewish Holy Site.
On Sunday, November 12 ,2000, between 8:30 and 10:30 A.M. we will
once again be at the Rose Garden in Jerusalem, outside the Prime Minister’s
office while Barak’s Cabinet is meeting.
We shall be protesting the submissiveness of Barak to Arab terror.
We shall not allow Barak to abandon Rachel’s Tomb, as he did Joseph’s Tomb
in Shchem. All those interested in preserving our rich Jewish Heritage,
and this Jewish State, must stand up and be counted at this crucial hour.
Ruth and Nadia Matar
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Jerusalem, November 12, 2000
Another Perspective
Please take the time to download and look at the following photos and
commentaries on the latest Arab war against Israel. Pass it on to others.
Nadia and Ruth
http://www.members.home.net/projectonesoul/israel/israel.htm
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Jerusalem, November 13, 2000
The Greens
The following article appeared this past Friday in
“Makor Rishon.” Here is a literal English translation
of the Hebrew text.
————————————————
Makor Rishon, Friday, November 10, 2000
Title: “The Greens”
Subtitle: The untiring “Women in Green” were there this week as well,
with pots, pans, loudspeakers, and street theater. There is no
connection between demonstrations and signs and the assassination of
the Prime Minister, says Nadia Matar. In the cabinet meetings they
hear them.
by Shoshi Greenfeld
Pots and pans are the main weaponry of the Women in Green against the
Barak government. On Sunday this week they demonstrated, for the 21st
time, opposite the Prime Minister’s Office during the cabinet
meeting. In attendance: Women in Green, three or four men in green,
and one dog named Hadassah – with a green collar. The dog belongs to
Gemma Blech, a member of the organization. Gemma: “Once, she was
called Hadassah-Mount Scopus. Now, because of the situation, I
changed her name to Beit Hadassah-Hebron.”
The agenda: 8:30am: assembly; 9:00am: they begin to beat
on pots and pans, and in between the banging there are speeches. A
sound system is brought to the place, and the shouts are heard as far
as the campus of the Hebrew University. Nadia Matar, the leader of the
organization: “Today we cut back a bit on the speeches, because
lately there were too many speeches and too few shouts. Between 100
and 500 people come. I know that in the cabinet meetings they hear
us, because Minister Yuli Tamir was interviewed once on a Sunday, and
she complained that we dared to use the wording ‘Don’t betray,’
because in her opinion this is incitement, which is simply absurd.” A
bit after nine. A woman who is masquerading as Peres approaches us.
Who is this? Nadia: “Ruth Matar, my mother-in-law.” Is your mother
here as well? “My mother isn’t the type for demonstrations. She is
with me, but she is more the type to watch the children while I am
at a demonstration or in jail or something.” Ruth Matar: “When we
began to act, no one paid attention to us. We sought a way to attract
the attention of the reporters and the public, and then the idea of
street theater came up. Every demonstration has a theme. Two weeks
ago it was ‘You gave them guns.’ We wore Peres and Barak masks and
we led them to jail, with a sign which said ‘Guilty’ around
their necks. “A week earlier, a number of women dressed up as soldiers
with their hands bound in chains. The message was: ‘Untie our soldiers’
hands”
***
9:15 am in the Rose Garden: A policeman comes over and
asks to lower the sound of the microphone. Nadia: “This is with a permit.”
The policeman: “This disturbs the cabinet meeting.” Nadia: “The idea of
the demonstration is to disturb.” The policeman gives in. Maybe he
went to get reinforcements. Nadia into the microphone: “If the police
lower the sound of the microphone, we will lie on the road. We will all be
arrested. The government must hear what the people has to say. If you
strike Arafat, I promise that we will not be here any more. Why is
Nasrallah still alive? Why is Jibril Rajub alive? He sent people to
murder us, and afterwards is interviewed on Kol Israel. What is this?
If you do not do the job of fighting terror, we will view you as
collaborators with Arafat.” Afterwards, they all chant: Criminals to
trial, you gave them guns (words and music – Nadia Matar).
Isn’t what you are saying a bit strong?
“We use strong words because the situation is acute. Barak lets
Jewish blood be free for the taking. We say the truth that not many
dare to speak. This week is the anniversary celebrations [hillulah]
for Rabin. After the assassination, people were silent and were
afraid to demonstrate. I never accepted this line. It was not my
posters that murdered Rabin. In totalitarian states there are a lot
of political assassinations, and, as is well-known, there are no
demonstrations, so that demonstrations or a strong poster do not
murder a prime minister. They used the murder to silence us. We will
not be silent. I am not here to be liked by people, but to shout the
truth.”
***
Posters are scattered around: “Why did you give them guns,” “Barak
is ripping out our heart,” and others. Nadia’s favorite poster is:
Put the Oslo criminals on trial. Nadia: “If I had given my gun to an
Arab and he were to have killed a Jew, I would be in prison today.
This is a crime. They [the Oslo architects] do this in an
institutionalized manner and they call this a political process. The
architects of Oslo understood that it is impossible to put us on a
bus and deport us from Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, because this
wouldn’t look nice on CNN. It would also cost too much to compensate
all of us. So they came with a wicked plan: to make life in Judea,
Samaria, and Gaza unbearable, stage after stage, in the hope that the
settlers will go. They put us in a sea of terror, with their hope
being that the majority of the people won’t tolerate gunshots every
day. This is the reason why they aren’t doing everything to eliminate
terror. Why, they could.
“Another poster shows a photograph of the murderer from the lynch
waving bloody hands, and beneath it the caption: The hands are the
hands of Oslo. Nadia: “Yael Dayan said that she went to Tel Aviv, saw
the posters, and almost had a heart attack. She said that this was
incitement, and she felt the need to get out of her car and spray
over the poster. When the printer of the poster heard this, he went
to her street and hung two hundred like this there. So that she would
have a lot to spray.”
***
Contingents come to the demonstration from Efrat, Tekoa, Tel Aviv,
California, from the Gilo neighborhood, and even from the Neveh
Simhah old age home in Jerusalem. 9:30amL: The women of Hebron come,
having succeeded in evading the gunshots. Among them is also
Esther Afarsamon, a nurse at Hadassah Ein Karem, and a resident of
Tell Rumeidah.
What is the situation in Hebron?
Esther: “On Saturday night they shot at us until two in the morning.
The army did not respond. I have eight children, and we are exposed.
There are sandbags on one side, but all the other sides are exposed.
They shoot from all directions. Last week the army politely asked the Arabs
to evacuate their neighborhoods. Afterwards the army didn’t do anything.
So I came to demonstrate.”
The demonstration is accompanied by the blowing of a shofar (ram’s
horn). The blowers are David Perkins and his secretary, who between
one blowing and the next sell books that raise questions regarding
the Rabin assassination: “The Sting,” “Lies,” “Who Murdered Rabin,” and
others. David: “I blow the shofar because this arouses [Divine]
mercy. This is an instrument of war, and I heard once that this
builds angels. War is also in spirituality, and the sound of the
shofar opens the gates of Heaven. This week we appeared in the
“Haaretz” newspaper, my secretary and I, with us blowing the shofar.”
Anita from Tekoa: “A large public stands behind us. The group
includes wonderful women upon whom we can count. And people made
friends as well.” Nadia: “Many of us are new and veteran immigrants.
We did not believe that the day would come when we would demonstrate
against the Israeli government. We demonstrate and weep.” Gemma:
“One time we got on the bus to Hebron and the driver didn’t want to
take Hadassah, because she’s a dog. Nadia said to him: Maybe it seems
to you that this is a dog, but this is really a Women in Green. He
laughed and let Hadassah on.”
***
Nadia: “I feel that, whatever we do, it’s not enough. There has to be
an uprising by the people. When they murdered Rabbi Herling, we
spontaneously went to demonstrate opposite the Prime Minister’s
Office. They abandoned the wounded, and I was certain that masses of
people would take to the streets. That did not happen. “I come from a
country in Europe, where I was educated for real democracy. I saw the
non-Jews going out into the streets and changing the country and
politics by means of stormy demonstrations. They cared. At present,
unfortunately, it seems that in our country there is more excitement
about a soccer game. “My dream is that everyone will stop his work,
and one hundred thousand people will besiege the Prime Minister’s
Office. Without violence. If there are Jews under siege, then they
too will be under siege, until the government falls. We are galut
Jews, adapting to everything. I can volunteer to do this by myself,
and I don’t have a problem with going to prison – I was already there
8 times – but by myself this has no effect.”
***
10:30 am.: The demonstration comes to an end. Just at that moment
Joshua arrives. He is 78 years old. Holding a sign that he made
himself: “Enough restraint” and several additional things. Joshua
doesn’t despair because he missed the demonstration, and he decides
to stand by himself at the intersection opposite the Prime Minister’s
office, at least for half an hour.
Why were you late?
“I was taking care of my wife. She is disabled, in a wheelchair.” Do
you demonstrate a lot? “Every Friday I stand opposite the Women in
Black at Paris Square.” Do you talk?” No. They stand on one side of
the street, and I on the other side. One time I wrote on a sign,
‘Those drunk with peace, wake up.’ This annoyed one of them, she crossed
the street, and told me: ‘You should die.'” What did you answer her?
“That she should die first.” Joshua remained alone at the intersection.
He has another 25 minutes left.
Nadia Matar about the Four Mothers [the organization that
demonstrated for the withdrawal of the IDF from Lebanon. Lately they
came “back to life” and now demonstrate for taking the IDF out of
Judea, Samaria and Gaza):
“Since they came back to life yesterday, every belch that this movement
makes receives disproportional exposure in the media. Instead of beating
their breast for the sin of their having brought the Hizballah to the
northern settlements, that facilitated the kidnapping of our soldiers,
now they want to inflict an additional disaster on Israel and bring the
PLO’s terrorists to the yards in Kfar Saba. The difference is that now
they are up against the Forty Thousand Mothers of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza.
We will not allow this defeatist movement to inflict a catastrophe upon
Israel. They represent a small minority.”
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Jerusalem, November 13, 2000
A Cruel Mockery
The news that the murderer of our soldiers and our allies, the monster
Yasser Arafat, may be allowed to attend the funeral of Leah Rabin at
Mt. Herzl is not to be believed. Even Ehud Barak should realize the
immorality of giving such permission to this abominable enemy of the
Jewish People.
Whatever illusions some of us may have harbored about the possibility of
making peace with the murderer Arafat, should have been completely
shattered by the events of the last six weeks. Arafat has played a key
role in instigation and actualization of the new intifada and wave of
terror.
Daily our soldiers are being murdered by Arafat’s use of the guns that
Peres and Beilin irresponsibly gave to this band of Arab terrorists. To
allow Arafat to attend the funeral of Leah Rabin at Mt. Herzl, at the
place where many of the soldiers whom Arafat murdered are buried, would
be a mockery of the moral values that the Jewish People have given to
the world.
Such an act would be the final blow of Barak in destroying the moral
justification for the existence of the State of Israel. All of us
should spontaneously rise up and refuse to allow this act of moral
degradation to happen.
Ruth and Nadia Matar
*******************************************************
Jerusalem, November 13, 2000
Posting for a friend:
LOOKING FOR WITNESSES…
…Individuals who were at the Mar Elias Junction on Thursday, 11
Cheshvan, November 9th, Rachel Imeinu’s Yohrzeit, at about 10:30 -11:00
a.m.
Two women were arrested, I was one of them. One woman fought with the
police, I didn’t, but was nonetheless falsely accused of assaulting
police officers. I’m looking for witnesses who could write a statement
about what they saw. I especially want to locate two women who were
seated at the curb on the Kever Rachel side of the barricade during the
arrest.
Please contact me by telephone at 02 993 8020 or by e-mail at
tmnazeva@barak-online.net.
Thanks.
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Jerusalem, November 14, 2000
We Will Never Abandon Rachel Imeinu
The following is a translation of a flyer in Hebrew.
As you know, since last Thursday, a tent city has been set up not
far from the entrance to Betlehem, demanding to reopen Rachel’s
Tomb at all hours of the day (and not only 3 times a day by shuttle
bus as they have started doing since yesterday.) Opening Rachel’s Tomb
at very specific times and letting people come only by shuttle of 25
people each time, is a recipe to turn the site into another Joseph’s
Tomb. We demand to open Rachel’s Tomb at all times and allow
private cars to drive there.
————————————————————
Flyer:
ONE DOES NOT ABANDON RACHEL IMEINU!
Rachel’s Tomb has been closed to Jewish prayer since Rosh
Hashana. At a time when Israel’s honor is being trampled on…
DON’T STAND BY !
Come and show that Am Yisrael has not forgotten Rachel Imeinu!
Each yishuv will choose a day and a shift to come to Kever Rachel (or
to the army checkpoint) so that no evil minds will dare think that we
do not care and that we have abandoned her.
PRAYER SHIFTS:
from 9:00 am to 2:00pm
from 2:00pm to 7:00pm
from 7:00pm to 10:00pm
In addition, a tent city has been put up demanding to open Rachel’s
Tomb at all times.
The tent city is at the Gilo intersection between Rosemarin Street
and the Tunnel Road to Gush Etzion.
Come and show your support at all times!
Shacharit: 7:00 am
Minha and Maariv at 4:15 pm
You can also organize yourself per yishuv and take a day to come:
contact the people who are making up the schedule for the week and
tell them what your day is:
1-800-400-456 between 9:00am and 3:30pm
For more details: 02-9975807
The Committee for Kever Rachel
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Jerusalem, November 15, 2000
Urgent: More Updates on Rachel’s Tomb
For your attention:
As of Nov. 13, the army is providing daily bullet proof buses to
Kever Rachel. Buses leave from the Gilo-Bethlehem intersection at 9:00
am, 10:00am and 11:00 am. (For those who were at the Thursday
demonstration: the buses leave exactly from where the demonstration
took place). They let 25 people on the bus each time. But if you come
with 40 people, they will shuttle the first 25 and then come right
back to pick up the others. (At least, that is what they promised me
today).
IT IS URGENT to spread the message about these buses as soon as
possible and fill them up with as many people as we can.
Because nobody knows about the buses, they have been almost empty.
I went there yesterday at 11:00 am and was the only one on the bus
with another person. On the 10:00 o’clock bus there were 4 Efrat
women. The 9:00 o’clock bus was full cause it had been organized.
It is up to us to spread the message about the buses. I have a
bad feeling that it has not been publicized on purpose, so that at
the end of the week the government will say: “You see, what are you
asking to open Rachel’s Tomb for? Only 45 people showed up in a
week!!”
So, pass this message to as many people as you can. Call friends in
Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Maaleh Adumim, basically everywhere and come
fill those buses. It is true that we are fighting to keep Rachel’s
Tomb open the entire day, but that will only happen when so many
people show up for the buses, and the demand to daven at Kever
Rachel is so great, that they will be forced to open Kever
Rachel Imeinu for more and more hours every day.
For those who worry about security — Kever Rachel Imeinu is probably
one of the safest places in Israel today! You get there with a bullet
proof bus, with an escort of 2 army jeeps and tons of army around
you. The building of Kever Rachel itself has been unfortunately turned
into a fortress; so again… there is tons of security there.
Call your friends now and make the bus today and/or tomorrow!
Nadia
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Jerusalem, November 15, 2000
A Different Kind Of Appeal
Dear Friend and Supporter,
YES, since you are in agreement with our aims and purposes of total
dedication to work in behalf of the Jewish People and Israel, it is only
natural that there be a concomitant commitment to financially support
Women In Green.
Women for Israel’s Tomorrow (Women In Green) is deservedly recognized as
the most active Zionist oriented organization on the Israeli scene. We
are Zionists without apology. Our organization is not affiliated with,
nor does it support any political party. We have Chapters throughout
Israel, as well as in the U.S., Canada, France and England. Our members
are both secular and religious, housewives and professionals, men and
women, grandmothers and grandfathers, young and old. All our members
and supporters have a single commitment which binds them together, their
shared love, devotion and concern for Israel and the Jewish People.
Our work and leadership is done by volunteers, so that contributions go
directly for our work, and not for salaries. Our goals are the
betterment of Am Yisrael, and we are devoted to the furtherance of the
high moral purposes of our People. We constantly seek out ways to unite
and unify our People in their fight to live in dignity in a purposeful
and traditional manner here in Israel, the cradle of our birth as a
People and as a Nation, thousands of years ago.
Formally registered as a non-profit organization here in Jerusalem, we
have been in existence since the fall of 1993; our accomplishments are
varied and significant in this relatively short time. We have two one
hour long radio shows each week known as the Women In Green Hour on
Arutz 7. The one in Hebrew is conducted by Nadia Matar each Thursday
between 10 and 11 A.M. on 105.2 FM and 1137 AM. The one in English is
conducted by Ruth Matar, each Wednesday Evening at 9:15 p.m. on 98.7 FM
and 1539 A.M., also live on Internet. These programs and their
commentary are a vital source of learning about what is actually going
on in Israel. They have an extremely large number of listeners.
We sponsor and publish cartoons by the extraordinarily talented Oleg,
which he exclusively does for us. In accordance with an Old Jerusalem
Custom we sponsor an annual Walk around the Old City Walls in Jerusalem
on Tisha B’Av evening. Last year over 100,000 participated, and the
Mayor of Jerusalem, Ehud Olmert, led the Walk. We publish a high level
Newsletter, known as “Jerusalem is Calling”, for our members and
supporters. We fax our Media Releases on vital subjects affecting the
Jewish People to each member of the Israel Knesset, and to each Member
of the U. S. Congress. For the past three months we have held protest
meetings outside the Prime Minister’s office at a time when his Cabinet
is meeting, against dividing Jerusalem. However, we have also been
active in providing toys, and playground equipment for the children of
outlying Jewish communities here in Israel. We exert great time and
effort to try to narrow the divide between the secular and religious.
Our Movement is dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of our
rich and historic Jewish Heritage, and is outspoken on all important
matters related thereto. We act independently, but sometimes join with
other groups to achieve our goals. We are known popularly by the Media
as the Women In Green, because of the green hats we wear. On each of
our hats the lettering spells out in Hebrew our motto: “Israel is our
heart.” The leading Hebrew daily, Maariv, described us properly when it
stated that we were: “the most authentic popular movement to have
arisen here in Israel.”
We are about to embark on an exciting new venture which requires a great
deal of financial assistance. We are hiring several Women In Green vans
to travel throughout the Land of Israel to bring a fair and unbiased
presentation of the news to the inhabitants of this Land. For instance,
today, the controlled media does not fairly report on the multitudinous
number of stone throwing, fire bomb and shooting incidents that occur
throughout this Land. The Jewish People are under siege, whether they
live in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beer Sheva, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Petach Tikvah,
Tiberias, Ramat Gan or Rehovot. They should be made aware of the true
picture of what is happening in their homeland, so that they may take
the necessary steps to vote intelligently when the time comes to do so.
Please advise us of your phone number, and the time when it is
convenient for our representative to call you on the phone with regard
to the extent in which you can help our organization financially.
With a love of Zion,
Ruth and Nadia Matar
———————————————————————————————-
I wish to make a support contribution which includes my annual
Membership:
Friend $50. Benefactor $500. Sponsor: $ 2,500.
Contributor $180. Sustaining: $1,000 Patron: $ 5,000.
Annual Membership: $50. Abroad NIS 75 in Israel
Checks made payable to American Friends of Women In Green are IRS
approved as a Charitable Deduction, in U.S. Tax Returns.
Women In Green’s address is: P.O.B. 7352, Jerusalem, 91072, Israel
Our phone no. is 972 2 6249 887 Our fax no. is 972 2 6245 380
Our Email address is: michaele@netvision.net.il
Our website is: www.womeningreen.org
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Jerusalem, November 16, 2000
PLO Now
Joseph Burg, illustrious father of our present Speaker of the
Knesset, Avraham Burg, aptly described the Peace Now organization way
back in a Maariv headline as follows: “There is no more traitorous a
group than ‘Shalom Achshav.'” Things haven’t changed very much with
regard to this description of them. What is pathetic and at the same
time astounding, is Shalom Achshav’s patent disloyalty in the face of
Arafat’s War against us, and his daily killing of our soldiers and
fellow Jews.
Shalom Achshav has taken out large front page Ads in many newspapers in
the midst of the intifada. They apparently are well funded. There is
the overriding suspicion that Arab oil money has found its tortuous way
into their well-heeled coffers. Shalom Achshav’s message is one which
Arafat could have written himself. It deals with “the settlements”, but
even includes building in Jerusalem. Their Ad is addressed to Barak,
their kindred spirit.
No one will bring any action against them for incitement, but their
message encourages the present violence, and virtually adopts the line
of the PLO and Arafat. Shalom Achshav’s silence and failure to criticize
Arafat, in effect, sanctions the killing and shooting that is presently
going on against Jews throughout Israel, including in Gilo, a
neighborhood in Jerusalem. Shalom Achshav’s actions, unfortunately, are
no different than most of the Arab Knesset Members, who are likewise
traitorous. Shalom Achshav is in “good company” and is a full and
active partner to the same anti-Israel objectives.
What can be done about it? Ironically, the Knesset felt compelled to
take action against Rabbi Meir Kahane who, all agree, loved the Jewish
People and the State of Israel. It refuses, however, to take action
against Shalom Achshav, or the traitorous Arab Knesset Members, who
through their actions, virtually seek to destroy our Jewish country, and
its holy Biblical sites. Both the Knesset and Shalom Achshav continue
to ignore the fact that Zionism is still the unfulfilled dream of the
great majority of the Jewish people, here in Israel and throughout the
diaspora.
Ruth and Nadia Matar
*******************************************************
Jerusalem, November 17, 2000
Latest Information on Kever Rachel
The latest info is as follows. Starting Sunday, 21 Cheshvan, a
free bus will be leaving for Kever Rachel every morning at 9:30 from
Rechov Yonah in Geulah (corner Malchei Yisrael).
Approximate time of return is 11:15.
In addition to the bus from Geulah, shuttle buses to Kever Rachel
leave from the Gilo Beit Lechem junction at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. daily.
It is of utmost importance to visit Kever Rachel. The army literally
counts every person who comes in, to see whether enough people have
come to “justify” opening the site. This time, your presence really
counts!
A “tent city” has been erected at the Gilo-Tunnels intersection as a
base for activities surrounding Kever Rachel. Pressure on the army
from this tent city has already affected the army’s decisions
regarding Kever Rachel.
Visit the tent city for a few minutes or a few hours to show your
support and conviction to keep Kever Rachel open to Jews and in
Jewish hands! The tent city is populated 24 hours a day, including
Shabbat. Join the inhabitants for Seudah Shlishit on Shabbat, or for
Melaveh Malkah after Shabbat.
Shabbat Shalom.
David Landau
Executive Director
The Committe for Kever Rachel
(050) 580 822
For details about the Geula bus: call Miriam Adani 053-477197
or Egged call Nir Landau: 02-5304840
*******************************************************
Jerusalem, November 17, 2000
Shiva Call to Neve Zuf
This Sunday we are going to Neve Zuf to pay a shiva call to
the family of Sara Lisha,H”YD, the teacher who was murdered on her
way home from school a few days ago.
We have 3 (or 4) more seats in a van that seats 10. We are leaving
at 10:40am from the Rose Garden, after the Women in Green
demonstration. We plan to be back on time to make the 3:30pm demo at
the Gilo intersection.
Anybody who wants to join please e-mail me privately at
nmatar@netvision.net.il
Shabbat Shalom,
Nadia
*******************************************************
Jerusalem, November 20, 2000
Message from the Eshet Chayil Foundation
Message from the Eshet Chayil Foundation and the “Yesh Sachar
Lipeulatech” organization:
We’re going to our Mother!
As you know, Rachel’s Tomb is now open every morning from 9:00 am
till 12:00am. The army provides bullet proof buses from the army
checkpoint at the Gilo-Bethlehem intersection to Kever Rachel.
The “Eshet Chayil” Foundation together with “Yesh Sachar Lipulatech”
are sponsoring free buses from Geulah in Jerusalem to the army
checkpoint, making it much easier for people to come.
Each bus costs the foundation $100.We ask people to send us donations
and give at least $10 or more to keep those free buses rolling.
Send donations to:
“The Eshet Chayil Foundation”
1640 Vauxhall Rd
Union, N.J 07083
tel: (908)851-0778 or 851-2922
Susan Roth
telephone in Jerusalem 02-6254840
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Jerusalem, November 21, 2000
Back to the Answer
The following article was written in Hebrew. The translation is
brought to you as a public service by Women in Green.
Maariv, Shabbat Supplement,
November 11, 2000
Opinion
P. 14
Back to the Answer
Haggai Segel
There are several methods for escaping the conventional depression
that has reigned here in recent weeks. One method is to watch
television interviews with the Minister of Culture and Sports, Matan
Vilnai, and to hear from him that the situation in Gilo is not so
terrible, because the Palestinians are shooting at only a few
individual streets there, and not at the entire neighborhood.
A second method is to once again peruse the philosophical statements
that were published during the era of innocence and hope of the
beginning of the Oslo process, and to take pleasure from the breadth
of the vision of its authors. With your permission, I especially
recommend a small booklet published in December ’93 by the
Publications Service of the Information Center: “Know What to
Answer.” It contains sovereign-state answers to the questions that
bothered the skeptical public of little faith after the signing of
the Oslo accords. Because of space limitations we will make do with
selected quotations, without, Heaven forbid, taking them out of their
context. All the comments in parentheses do not appear in the source.
The beginning of wisdom, the explainers of the time contended with
the compelling question: Will the PLO tiger change its stripes? And
this is what they answered: “In recent years the heads of the PLO and
the majority of the Palestinians have drawn the conclusion that they
have no chance of achieving anything by violent means (no more war).
The terror that they employed has been shown to be ineffective and to
be of no advantage” (how could we have forgotten).
Question: “Would it not have been worthwhile to reach a
comprehensive permanent-status agreement? Why is an interim period
necessary?” Answer: “After decades of continued hostility, the only
way is to take gradual steps during the course of which new
conditions will be created, a new atmosphere of mutual reconciliation
will be created (let the sun shine in), and the security arrangements
that will be in force in the interim period will be examined on the
ground” (and that, as is well-known, are right on the money now).
Question: “What will happen if the circumstances will change, and the
desire to attack Israel will once again awaken in the Arab states?
Following the accords, they will be in a much better condition than
they were in the past?” Answer: “Such a scenario is not realistic in
light of the peace process to which almost all the Arab states are
party” (the Chief of the General Staff is worried now for nothing).
Although a danger of terror exists at present, the hope has been
created in the negotiations with the Palestinians that this danger,
too, will lessen” (during the seven years of Oslo only 350 graves
were added to the cemetery section of terror victims).
Question: “Won’t a Palestinian state come into existence?” Answer:
“Even the PLO and the Palestinians have been declaring recently that
they aspire to establish some political unity with eastern
Transjordan (didn’t you hear this?). In light of such a reality, it
is almost impossible to establish an independent Palestinian state
in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. It may more reasonably be assumed that
a confederation or some federative framework will be established
between the two banks [of the Jordan]” (and whoever does not
believe, let him drink the water of Gaza).
Question: “Is the agreement with the PLO likely to also advance
other agreements with the rest of the Arab states?” Answer: “It is
already clear now that the breakthrough with the Palestinians
advances peaceful relations with a long string of Arab and Muslim
states that do not border on Israel (see the Doha conference, this
week). Following the agreement with the PLO, the entire world is
opened before Israel – from Jakarta in Indonesia to Qatar in the
Persian Gulf, from China in the east to Tunisia and Morocco in the
west” (the interest sections of Tunisia and Morocco in Israel were
recently closed solely because of municipal property tax problems).
Question: “Then why do the terror attacks continue?” (The booklet was
published shortly after PLO members murdered a settler near Beit El.)
Answer: “Feisal Husseini declared that Yasser Arafat ordered all the
Palestinians to stop violent actions and the use of weapons against
Israel (the new Middle East). According to Husseini, the PLO and the
Fatah will have to consider the taking of steps against anyone who
will violate this explicit order ([an Arabic curse]!). The director
of the PLO office in Ramallah, Hussein es-Sheikh, said that he was
shocked by the report according to which a unit of Fatah members
carried out the murder” (he was so shocked that he left the Fatah and
established the Tanzim).
And the last question: “What will happen if the PLO is not
successful in imposing its will on Fatah activists in the
territories?” Answer: “It should be recalled that what is happening
now is not similar to what will happen during the period of autonomy,
when there will be a Palestinian police” (wow!). It may be assumed
that it will be in the supreme interest of the PLO to control the
field and to prevent any violent activity” (and if not, we will know
what to do).
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Jerusalem, November 22, 2000
Remember Baby Shalev?
In these crazy times, when Jews are being butchered daily,
and Jewish children are turned into cripples by Arab terror,
who even remembers baby Shalev?
In May 2000, Shalev Shabbat, two and a half years old, was in a car
with her mother and aunt. They were driving through Jericho on their
way home to Ramot in the Golan, when a Palestinian “policeman” threw
a firebomb at the car.
The national and international media gave this brutal terrorist
attack maybe one or two sentences, at most.
Nobody in the media bothered to check on her, asking how she is
doing. We have been told “a Jewish baby has been burnt by a
firebomb” and that’s basically it. On to the next item.
Our Women in Green chapter in Baltimore has been very active in
trying to interest the media in this attack, pointing out the fact
that the assailant was a PA policeman. Unfortunately, the interest
has been minimal, to put it mildly.
I called Shalev’s mom tonight, telling her we have not forgotten her
and asking how baby Shalev was doing. “She is doing fine” said her
mom, Sigal.
What is “fine”, you may ask. Well, that means that she can actually
go back to kindergarten for a few hours a day. But the rehabilitation
is very difficult. Shalev has to undergo many different treatments,
often painful. She was heavily burnt over 70% of her body. She
constantly wears a “pressure suit”. She lost all hair. Half of her
face is OK, the other half is badly burnt. The 5 fingers of her left
hand were completely burnt and fell off. She can walk, but limps a
bit with one foot.
“What saved her is her wonderful personality,”, Baby Shalev’s mom
told me. “Shalev is a happy child, sings a lot and has, despite
everything, an incredible joie-de-vivre”.
Shalev, together with all the other Jews wounded and killed,
were targeted because they are Jews living in Eretz Yisrael.
Noga Cohen, whose 3 children were badly wounded in Monday’s
terrorist attack moved all of Am Yisrael to tears when she said that
she will never leave Kfar Darom because that would be giving in to
the terrorists.
In these difficult times, it is important to strengthen and be
strengthened. Call the families of the wounded and give them chizuk.
Their strength and their faith will only give all of us more koach to
keep up the fight for Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael and Torat Yisrael.
Nadia Matar
PS Baby Shalev’s adress (it is easy to send a little toy, or a book
for children, or a nice card).
Shalev Shabbat
Ramot
Ramat Hagolan
Israel
*******************************************************
Jerusalem, November 22, 2000
WIG and Other Announcements
Announcements:
1) We call upon all to join the mass rally, organized by Moetzet
Yesha, tonight, Wednesday, November 22nd, at 6:30pm – Kikar Zion,
Jerusalem.
2) Women in Green are taking over the responsibility of the protest
tent in front of the Prime Minister’s residence in Jerusalem.
This tent was started by MK Limor Livnat, carried on this week by
the Emunah women, and the Women in Green will take over beginning
Sunday, November 26th, at 11:30 am, after our weekly demonstration in
front of the PM’s offices. We will be there till Friday, December
1st.
We are organizing 3-hour shifts, beginning 9:00am till 9:00pm.
We call upon everyone to join . Please register asap for a shift (or
more). Call Ruth during the day at 02-6249887 and Anita in the
evening (7:00-10:00pm) or Friday at 02-9964805.
Our presence at this tent is crucial. We will be handing out
material and we will be an address for the many Jerusalemites who are
waking up and need encouragement and direction.
3) Don’t forget — every Sunday morning — Women in Green demonstrate in
front of the PM’s offices (Rose Gardens), during the Cabinet meeting
from 8:30 till 10:30 am
4) Other protest tent: Rabbi Rafi Fisher, brother of Sara Lisha
HY”D (the gym teacher who was murdered on her way home to Neve Tzuf)
started a protest tent in front of Shas leader, MK Eli Yishai’s home.
The tent is at #58 Katzenelbogen street, Har Nof, Jerusalem. Hours:
from 10:00am till 10:00pm. The protesters are demanding that Shas help
bring down this government and to stop giving Barak “security nets”.
Sara Lisha’s other sister, together with other activists, started a
protest tent at the entrance to Kochav Yair, Ehud Barak’s residence
settlement. The tent is manned 24-hours a day.
5) Rachel Imeinu:
The Rachel Imeinu tent city at the beginning of the Gush Etzion
tunnel road, close to the entrance to Bethlehem, is Baruch Hashem,
still there. We are not moving from there till Kever Rachel Imeinu
will be completely reopened to the public, 24 hours a day. People are
asked to join at all times of day and especially to board the bullet
proof buses going to Kever Rachel at 9:00, 10:00 and 11:00am.
The struggle for Eretz Yisrael, Am Yisrael and Torat Israel is at
its peak. We have the ‘zchut’ (privilege) to be part of it.
Don’t be overwhelmed by the different activities.
Pick and choose what is convenient for you.
JUST DON’T STAY HOME!
Nadia Matar
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*******************************************************
Jerusalem, November 23, 2000
Barak’s Empty Rhetoric
Everyone realizes that Ehud Barak is a floundering leader. His myopic
mouthing of his desire to return to a non-existent peace process with
Arafat, epitomizes his lack of comprehension of the dimensions of
Israel’s real problem. That problem is a determined Arafat who seeks
Israel’s destruction.
Barak continues to tell us that the Israeli Army is powerful. Yet its
inaction is the operative factor. Moreover, Barak’s threats and
warnings issued after every daily tragedy are empty and meaningless, and
not taken seriously by anyone.
What has not yet sunken into the public at large, and even to those who
have suffered personal losses of tremendous proportions, is that the
present detached Prime Minister lacks basic brotherly feelings, and the
ability to identify with his People. His policy of restraint originates
with the U.S. State Department and Clinton. and serves only America’s
interests in the Middle East. When Barak finally bows to his public’s
uproar following the merciless Arab bombing of a school bus, and
attempts to moderately retaliate, he is met with condemnation and
criticism from his would-be friend Clinton and the State Department. So
much for Barak’s policy of winning favor with the nations of the world,
particularly America.
Yesterday, an eighteen year-old young man, a student at the
pre-induction school of Yatir, was shot by an Arab in the head and
killed at the same place where the school bus had been mortally attacked
the day before. He was on his way to pay a condolence call to the
families who had lost their lives or had their school children suffer
loss of their limbs in the bus blast. How can the Beilins and the
Peres’s live with themselves knowing that they irresponsibly gave the
guns to those who freely murder us today with these weapons? They
literally made such attacks possible.
Yet it is Barak, in the last analysis, who bears responsibility for
these tragic losses. Instead of taking the necessary forceful and wide-
ranging action required by a war which Arafat encouraged, Barak sputters
and hesitantly takes restricted measures. He will not move decisively
against those who are declared enemies of the Jewish People, and who
seek their elimination.
Barak does not believe in the Bible or its Talmud commentary. Yet the
wisdom of these Holy Books have guided the Jewish People for thousands
of years throughout the long and bitter years of their dispersion. The
Talmud says: “If someone comes to murder you, rise up and kill him
first.” Such wisdom is applicable to our present plight. Carrying out
this policy however, seems to require a different kind of leader.
In the meantime, Barak, sadly, by his vacillating policies, is
indirectly responsible for the mounting deaths of Jews. It is not only
the Arabs who continue their murderous attacks against us, that should
be held accountable.
Ruth and Nadia Matar
*******************************************************
Jerusalem, November 23, 2000
Success at Rachel’s Tomb
You see, protesting and campaigning DOES help to change things.
Thanks to the incredible response of Am Yisrael over the past week,
the buses to Rachel’s Tomb have been packed! If in the first 2 days
there were only a few people, now hundreds of worshippers come
between 9:00 and 11:00 am.
I was there 2 days ago and at 10:00 am close to 150 people were
waiting. The buses had to come back a few times to bring everybody
in.
This incredible response must be the reason for today’s announcement
in the Jerusalem Post (page 4, News in brief):
Mofaz Considers Larger Rachel’s Tomb Crowds
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, in charge of the holy sites for the
Religious Affairs Ministry, yesterday asked chief of General Staff
Lt-Gen Shaul Mofaz to consider increasing the number of worshipers
allowed to pray at Rachel’s Tomb each day.
Mofaz and other senior officers had visited the tomb yesterday
morning to review security arrangements. Mofaz reportedly told
Rabinovitch that he would investigate the possibility of lengthening
the hours of worship and increasing the number of buses permitted to
enter. ITIM
************
The struggle is certainly not over. On the contrary. The only way we
will succeed in extending the hours of opening and increase the
number of buses is by bringing even more people.
Keep up the great job. Call all your friends and relatives and invite
them for a morning with Kever Rachel Imeinu.
Transfer your weekly shiur to Kever Rachel etc…
Be’ezrat Hashem we will succeed in reopening Kever Rachel Imeinu
around the clock.
Nadia Matar
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*******************************************************
Jerusalem, November 23, 2000
Shame On The World Media
Everyone knows that Arafat is a liar. That he is a callous murderer.
That he unscrupulously uses Arab children to be hurt or even killed to
promote the image of a wicked and uncaring Israel. That he releases
bomb makers from prison to wreak havoc and to blow to smithereens
innocent women and children and other civilians who happen to be Jews.
That he has helped murder American Marines in Beirut, children on a
school bus near Kfar Darom, and in Maalot, and other crimes too numerous
to detail or recount. All this is known by everyone who is willing to
deal with facts. Everyone, that is, but the world media.
Whether the reason is patent anti-Semitism, or the desire to be on the
good side of the Arabs, or even if it was to come up with a scoop for
their editor, there is no getting away from the fact that the evidence
of Arafat’s immorality is so plentiful that it cannot be missed by even
the most naive of reporters.
To deliberately repeat the lies of Arafat, and to spread those lies,
represents a moral sickness that invites and deserves swift retribution
by the Power that watches over the perplexing acts of mankind. Until
that happens however, Women In Green will protest against this
journalistic abuse on Sunday, November 26, 2000 between the hours of
8:30 and 10:30 A.M. outside of Prime Minister Barak’s office in
Jerusalem, and while his Cabinet is meeting.
Why, if this is a protest against the World Media, is it being held
outside of Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office? Because unfortunately, Mr.
Barak shares a great deal of the guilt and blame for having dealt with,
and continuing to deal with this arch criminal Arafat. Not only that,
Barak appears to be willing to sit down once again and negotiate with
this blackguard Arafat, if only Arafat would cease his terrorism and sit
down once again with Barak at the peace table. Bombs away!
Michael Levi Matar
*******************************************************
Jerusalem, November 25, 2000
FUND FOR THE COHENS
We are all devastated by the news tonight, Motzei Shabbat,
that the operation to save Tehilla’s legs was not successful and both
her legs were amputated.
The Cohen family of Kfar Darom will have to deal now with the long
rehabilitation process. Please read the following e-mail that we received
from the Cohen’s cousins.
Forward it to your friends and family and together we hope to at
least make it a little easier for the Cohens.
Nadia
*******
Date: Thu, 23 Nov 2000 18:57:54 +0200
From: Annika & Uri Schwarz
ove@kosher.com
Dear Friend,
As you well know our cousins, the Cohens, have suffered a tremendous
physical and emotional ordeal. Three of their seven children were
critically injured in the bus bombing in Kfar Darom on November 20th.
Their oldest daughter Orit lost a foot, the doctors are still fighting
to save the legs of their 8-year-old daughter Tehila and their son
Yisrael 7 lost a leg. [As said above, Tehilla’s legs were
unfortunately not saved -Nadia]
We thank God that they are alive.
Although they wish they could manage on their own, they cannot and this
despite government assistance. They need our help. The three children
will need long-term medical care. Their home will have to be
reconstructed to accommodate the children’s limited mobility. They
anticipate a huge amount of extra expenses. Difficult though it is to
ask for financial help from friends and relatives, the immediacy of the
Cohens’ overwhelming crises compels us to ask you to open your hearts to
help them get through this nightmare.
An account has been opened in the name of Noga and Ofir Cohen:
Bank Mizrahi #: 20
Branch #: 426
Account #: 071010
Tax exempt receipts will be available
Thank you for your empathy.
Annika & Uri Schwarz
Hagefen 54/5, Efrat
02 – 9931212
[OR:
Make out a check to the American Friends of Women In Green.
Send it to:
WOMEN FOR ISRAEL’S TOMORROW (WOMEN IN GREEN)
P.O.B. 7352, JERUSALEM
91072 Israel
Stipulate that it is for the Cohen fund and we will make sure
it gets to the Cohen family. Womeningreen will send you a
tax receipt for US tax purposes.]
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*******************************************************
Jerusalem, November 30, 2000
New Address for Cohen Family Fund
Dear Friends
Thank you for your interest in the situation of the Cohen Family of Kfar
Darom. Further to your inquiry about donations to assist them in coping
with their new circumstances, I am pleased to announce that with the
kind help of The Jerusalem Fund an account has been opened in the U.S.
and audited by a major Israeli law firm.
No funds will be removed from the account – 100 per cent of donations
made in the U.S. will be wired directly to the Cohen’s bank account in
Israel.
Tax receipts will be issued for all donations received.
Please make checks payable to The Jerusalem Fund, Cohen Family Trust,
and mail them to the following address:
The Jerusalem Fund
156 West 56th Street, Suite 1201
New York, NY 10019
Please feel free to contact the Jerusalem Fund at 212-713-0300 with any
questions you may have.
In Israel, an account is open under the name of
Noga & Ofir Cohen
Account # 071010
Mizrahi Bank #20
Branch # 426
KKL 130 (Street address)
Beer Sheva, Israel
Routing (Code) Number: MIZBILITA
Israeli tax-exempt receipts will be issued for all donations made in
Israel.
To update you on the health status of the three children, as of November
28 (Rosh Hodesh Kislev), Yisrael and Orit are now in the recuperation
phase. Tehilla is still in the Intensive Care Unit, but her condition
has stabilized and she is considered to be out of danger.
Thank you for your concern and your support. Knowing people are behind
them is making a big difference to the Cohens – parents and children
both — at this difficult time.
Annika & Uri Schwarz
*******************************************************
Jerusalem, November 30, 2000
Barak’s Unabated Arrogance
Ehud Barak, in his short one and one half year reign as Prime Minister of
Israel, arrogantly thought he would be able to accomplish what wiser and
more able predecessors had failed to do: to bring an end to the festering
and long-time Arab enmity against the Jewish People. The decisive first
vote dissolving the Knesset which followed Barak’s address to that body,
clearly showed that his talk failed to impress or convince a large segment
of the Israeli Legislature.
Prior to that, however, he had long ago lost the confidence of the Jewish
People. It is a sorry fact that not many people are betaken with Barak
these days, nor do they seriously listen to what he has to say. Those who
voted for him no longer trust him. They had been taken in by the publicity
that he was Israel’s most decorated soldier, and voted for him believing he
would give them a great measure of security. One merely has to candidly
assess the results of Barak’s policies by viewing the tremendous mess in
which Israel finds itself today. Then it is easy to understand the reason
for the disenchantment with Barak.
Had Barak a realistic understanding of the Arabs, he would have concluded
that the mere desire to bring an end to Arab hatred could not be
accomplished by giving away large parts of the Jewish People’s historic
homeland. However, Barak long ago rejected the ways of his forefathers.
He exclusively and arrogantly relies on his own intelligence and
questionable values. As a result, in the days ahead we Jews here in Israel
have great cause for concern. For Barak still has, in the remaining days
of his regime, a great deal of power, and his actions could deleteriously
affect all of us.
Foremost among the dangers that exist is Barak’s refusal to abandon the
possibility of somehow working out a deal with Arafat. Barak’s present
desperate political fate has led him to naïvely persist in a peace process
with this immoral murderer. It is a false perception that will not bring
him out of his present political plight, but will only make matters much
worse. But that is the path that he and his advisors have taken. Despite
his defeat in the Knesset, Barak is proceeding to have his people meet with
Arafat’s representatives. It is an act of hypocrisy. Barak publicly
proclaims that he will not reward Arafat’s violence, yet his meeting with
Arafat’s people, realistically will only result in further concessions to
Arafat. Thus, Barak will be rewarding the very violence that he
purportedly vociferously condemns!
But beyond that, Barak’s actions are undemocratic and rooted in immorality.
He long ago has ceased having a mandate from the people who elected him.
He is, in effect, an interim office holder awaiting new elections. The
Knesset has rejected him. The Jewish People have rejected him. To enter
into any agreement with Arafat at this time, or at any time prior to the
anticipated elections, would be a ruthless, arrogant and immoral act on
Barak’s part. It would be the act of a dictator, who, following in the
true Beilin-Peres precedent of Oslo, takes action which wisely, a large
majority of our People vigorously oppose.
Ruth and Nadia Matar