This is a Must See!

View this video on the widest/largest screen you have. It is astonishing, the bravery/recklessness of these surfers

From the Guardian: Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara claims to have broken his own world record, surfing a reported 100ft wave off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal. McNamara surfed a 90ft wave at the same event last year at the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards. In this teaser clip from the organisers, McNamara appears to be nailing the big one at 41 seconds Link to video: Garrett McNamara 'surfs record 100ft wave' in Portugal

What is this guy talking about?

What is this guy talking about?

I read the following reports on The Blaze News

OBAMA USES THE TERM "SENSELESS VIOLENCE" when speaking about the HOLOCAUST and when he talks about football = VIOLENCE IN FOOTBALL!!

What is this guy talking about?

OBAMA VOWS ‘NEVER AGAIN’ ON HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY: ‘THOSE WHO…KNOW TOO WELL THE PAIN OF LOSING LOVED ONES TO SENSELESS VIOLENCE’

“By remaining vigilant against those who seek to perpetrate violence and murder, we honor those we lost during one of the darkest periods in human history. And we keep their memory alive for generations to come,” he said.

What is this guy talking about?

OBAMA HITS VIOLENCE IN FOOTBALL: ‘IF I HAD A SON’ I’M NOT SURE IF I WOULD ‘LET HIM PLAY’

Football’s first fan isn’t sure he’d let his son play the game, in light of the impact it takes on its players. It is the violence inherent in the sport that he explicitly targets as problematic and a potential barrier to allowing a son partake ... “I’m a big football fan, but I have to tell you, if I had a son, I’d have to think long and hard before I let him play football,” President Barack Obama tells The New Republic. [In his head is he equating the 'sport of football' with the 'sport' of annihilating a People?]

“And I think that those of us who love the sport are going to have to wrestle with the fact that it will probably change gradually to try to reduce some of the violence,” Obama said. “In some cases, that may make it a little bit less exciting, but it will be a whole lot better for the players, and those of us who are fans maybe won’t have to examine our consciences quite as much.”



Also of interest:

MORSI’S ANTI-SEMITIC ‘APES AND PIGS’ COMMENT WASN’T TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT, IT WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE QURAN. See Pigs and Apes.

Et tu Brute: State of Emergency Declared in Egypt

One Big Happy Government

Labor wants a new leader because they are disappointed.

Netanyahu has rachmonus on Mofaz and is trying to find a place for him.

Lapid wants Bennett in with him, and so does Netanyahu.

Charedi guy: "you are "one of us," a man of the people. Despite the fact that I consider myself a haredi, I respect the integrity you displayed "

Who else?

Oh, yeah, Shas.

Ok, Bibi, let 'em all in!

This election was so stimulating and exciting that even Ariel Sharon wants in.

All of a sudden, all the parties want to be in the Government!

Well, why not let them. Cut each party down to a reasonable number and gather them all together, and let them learn to get along with one another. If PM Netanyahu has it in him, he can lead the whole pack, and bring Am Yisrael closer together....


What a change from before the election; like bickering children they suddenly want to stop fighting and have a piece of the pie!

The Israelites were fruitful and multiplied ...

The Israelites were fruitful and multiplied while Joseph was alive ... but after Yosef died ... "Pharoah: 'the Israelites have become much too numerous ... we must deal shrewdly with them ... devise a plan ... and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh' ... "


Jewish Population in New York Area Skyrocketing so says a 469 Page UJA-Federation of New York Study:

The data offer a glimpse of demographic trends that are reshaping the makeup of the world’s most important Diaspora Jewish community. The 469-page study, carried out by a team of sociologists and claiming to be the ”most comprehensive and detailed study ever conducted on local Jewish areas,” also shows significant changes elsewhere in the metropolitan area.

The number of Jews living in the northern Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights skyrocketed by 144 percent. The Bronx, a former bastion of Jewish life that had seen a long period of decline, is rebounding, with the number of Jews rising from 45,100 to 53,900 in the past 10 years. More Jewish families live in a single Manhattan neighborhood, the Upper West Side (43,900), than in all of Cleveland, Ohio (38,300).

From the Pesach Haggadah

"Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, but the Israelites were fruitful and multiplied greatly and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.

"Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt. 'Look,' he said to his people, 'the Israelites have become much too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.'

"So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly. They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labor the Egyptians used them ruthlessly ..."

Exodus Map from Paul Segsworth Design. [All content & design © Paul Segsworth. Antique book photography © Joe Cicak.]

Amur Siberian Tiger, Soundari

The Daily Mail has an amazing video of Tigers playfully attacking Snowmen, and inside one was a camera that caught some astonishing footage:




FROM THE DAILY MAIL:
"The pictures show the inquisitive tigers at first sniffing around the snowmen before they playfully demolish them. They also capture two of the creatures on their hind legs play-fighting."

'They had seen us just spend an hour building the snowmen and as soon as they were out they made a beeline for them. They surrounded them and one or two jumped up at the taller one. Then Soundari saw the camera in the ground and went to eat it. She tried to pick it up in her jaws but decided she didn't like it and dropped it. The camera was still working when we retrieved it later and we couldn't quite believe the quality of the footage."

'It must be unique footage showing the inside of a tiger's mouth and what it must be life to be its helpless prey. We have never seen footage like it before. It was also very useful as it gave us the opportunity to do a quick health check on Soundari's mouth, gums and teeth."

"Soundari is one of four Amur Siberian tigers that are kept at Longleat. The other three are Svelti and Shouri and Turlugh, a male. They were all born in captivity and are aged about seven years old."

Naftali Bennett's Role Model is Moshe Rabbeinu

Listen to this YNet interview with Naftali Bennett
His role models are Moshe Rabbeinu and David HaMelech

Israeli Elections: Too Many Jews Hating Other Jews!

After harsh attacks against the Bayit HaYehudi Party by Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita, the party’s number six hopeful, Uri Orbach responds.

"“Likud accuses us of being too dati and Shas accuses us of not being dati enough” he added, “I add in the name of our parents and ourselves, we do not require anyone’s approval regarding our religiosity and our love of Torah. We are honest, love the Torah, love Eretz Yisrael, and the State of Israel, and the Shasnikim will not have to issue a certificate of integrity to us.”"

And after being attacked by many Haredim at the Kotel, Naftali Bennett responded with "I love you" to his verbal assaulter.

Every day another stream of hatred coming from Livni toward her target-of-the-day.

There is just too much hate by Jews directed toward other Jews.

HaShem knows what's best for His children, our enemies actually drive us into tolerance toward one another.

Coldest Air .. Frostbite Weather on the Way ... in the USA

48 Hour Snowfall Forecast

Sub-Zero

Minus Single & Double Digits

Dangerous Artic Frigid Air

the Great Lakes

Chicago ... Milwaukee

Bitter Freezing Days and Nights

Cape Cod

New England

DC

Monday ... Tuesday ... Wednesday

Yud Shvat ... Basi V'Gani

There is a Blueprint for Life

Why We Need G-d In Our Schools

Can We Turn Our World Into a Garden?

How Do We Educate Children?

Is Man Inherently Good or Bad?

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Yechezkel - Chapter 38

Yechezkel - Ezekiel - Chapter 38

18. And it will come to pass on that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel, declares the Lord God, that My blazing indignation will flame in My nostrils.

יח. וְהָיָה | בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא בְּיוֹם בּוֹא גוֹג עַל אַדְמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יֱהֹוִה תַּעֲלֶה חֲמָתִי בְּאַפִּי:

19. For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken; Surely there shall be a great noise on that day in the land of Israel.

יט. וּבְקִנְאָתִי בְאֵשׁ עֶבְרָתִי דִּבַּרְתִּי אִם לֹא | בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה רַעַשׁ גָּדוֹל עַל אַדְמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל:

20. And at My presence, the fishes of the sea and the birds of the heaven and the beasts of the field and all the creeping things that creep upon the earth and all the men who are upon the surface of the earth shall quake, and all the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall to the ground.

כ. וְרָעֲשׁוּ מִפָּנַי דְּגֵי הַיָּם וְעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם וְחַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה וְכָל הָרֶמֶשׂ הָרֹמֵשׂ עַל הָאֲדָמָה וְכֹל הָאָדָם אֲשֶׁר עַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה וְנֶהֱרְסוּ הֶהָרִים וְנָפְלוּ הַמַּדְרֵגוֹת וְכָל חוֹמָה לָאָרֶץ תִּפּוֹל:

21. And I will call the sword against him upon all My mountains, says the Lord God: every man's sword shall be against his brother.

כא. וְקָרָאתִי עָלָיו לְכָל הָרַי חֶרֶב נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יֱהֹוִה חֶרֶב אִישׁ בְּאָחִיו תִּהְיֶה:

22. And I will judge against him with pestilence and with blood, and rain bringing floods, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone will I rain down upon him and upon his hordes and upon the many peoples that are with him.

כב. וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּי אִתּוֹ בְּדֶבֶר וּבְדָם וְגֶשֶׁם שׁוֹטֵף וְאַבְנֵי אֶלְגָּבִישׁ אֵשׁ וְגָפְרִית אַמְטִיר עָלָיו וְעַל אֲגַפָּיו וְעַל עַמִּים רַבִּים אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ:

23. And I will reveal Myself in My greatness and in My holiness and will be recognized in the eyes of many nations, and they will know that I am the Lord.

כג. וְהִתְגַּדִּלְתִּי וְהִתְקַדִּשְׁתִּי וְנוֹדַעְתִּי לְעֵינֵי גּוֹיִם רַבִּים וְיָדְעוּ כִּי אֲנִי יְהֹוָה:

Australia Melting ... Russia Has Snowsunami

Australia is melting under extreme heat and raging fires
Roads Melt, Gas Evaporates In Australia's Unprecedented Heat Wave

Australia fires: Forecasters forced to extend charts as temperatures soar to a catastrophic 54°C

• Country's forecasting chart's temperature range extended to 54°C
• 'Catastrophic' conditions as 100 people remain missing in Tasmania
• More than 130 fires blazing across New South Wales
• 120 holidaymakers and staff evacuated from central Australian resort
• First six days of 2013 among the top 20 hottest days on record

Meterologists changing the weather (temp. ranges) map

MEANWHILE ...



Snowpocalypse Russia

Russia is buried under extreme snowfall:
'Snow tsunami' swallows streets, cars, buildings
(Photos from RussiaToday news

The Book of Daniel and Rabbi Nachman

Don't know why, but I felt like posting this. It comes from the past, from the incredible blog of JOEL GALLIS AND DR. ROBERT WOLF, who are sorely missed.

The Book of Torah containing more secrets about the end of days than any other is the Book of Daniel. Towards the end of this Book, Daniel asks G-d, מה אחרדת אלה, "what is the end of these matters?" G-d responds with the words לך דניאל, "go your way Daniel." G-d is not telling Daniel to stop inquiring about the end. His response is indeed the answer to Daniels's question, for the atbash of לך דניאל, is 619 which is also the same value as אחרית, which means the end. Thus, G-d is answering Daniel by telling him that the end is indeed the end. This appeared previously on Redemption 5768.

But the end of what or whom? It will be the end of evil, scepticism, doubt, falsehood and conflict. And just when will this end period begin? The last word of the phrase מאומן Me'Uman tells us.

The Secret Behind "Na Nach Nachma Nachman Me'Uman." "... has its source in Tikunei Zohar where it mentions Hashem's name in a similar fashion Y YK YKV YKVK - and is brought there that the total Gematria of this is 72, the same Gematria as the word Chesed/Kindness. Continue reading here for the meaning behind this word/phrase.


The Book of Daniel, Chapter 12:

1. Now at that time, Michael, the great prince, who stands over the children of your people, will be silent, and it will be a time of distress that never was since a nation existed until that time, and at that time, your people will escape, everyone who is found inscribed in the book.

א. וּבָעֵת הַהִיא יַעֲמֹד מִיכָאֵל הַשַּׂר הַגָּדוֹל הָעֹמֵד עַל בְּנֵי עַמֶּךָ וְהָיְתָה עֵת צָרָה אֲשֶׁר לֹא נִהְיְתָה מִהְיוֹת גּוֹי עַד הָעֵת הַהִיא וּבָעֵת הַהִיא יִמָּלֵט עַמְּךָ כָּל הַנִּמְצָא כָּתוּב בַּסֵּפֶר:

2. And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awaken-these for eternal life, and those for disgrace, for eternal abhorrence.

ב. וְרַבִּים מִיְּשֵׁנֵי אַדְמַת עָפָר יָקִיצוּ אֵלֶּה לְחַיֵּי עוֹלָם וְאֵלֶּה לַחֲרָפוֹת לְדִרְאוֹן עוֹלָם:

3. And the wise will shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who bring the multitudes to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.

ג. וְהַמַּשְׂכִּילִים יַזְהִרוּ כְּזֹהַר הָרָקִיעַ וּמַצְדִּיקֵי הָרַבִּים כַּכּוֹכָבִים לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:

4. And you, Daniel, close up the words and seal the book until the time of the end; many will run to and fro, and the knowledge will increase.

ד. וְאַתָּה דָנִיֵּאל סְתֹם הַדְּבָרִים וַחֲתֹם הַסֵּפֶר עַד עֵת קֵץ יְשֹׁטְטוּ רַבִּים וְתִרְבֶּה הַדָּעַת:

5. And I, Daniel, saw, and behold two others were standing, one on this side of the river bank, and one on that side of the riverbank.

ה. וְרָאִיתִי אֲנִי דָנִיֵּאל וְהִנֵּה שְׁנַיִם אֲחֵרִים עֹמְדִים אֶחָד הֵנָּה לִשְׂפַת הַיְאֹר וְאֶחָד הֵנָּה לִשְׂפַת הַיְאֹר:

6. And he said to the man clad in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be until the secret end?"

 ו. וַיֹּאמֶר לָאִישׁ לְבוּשׁ הַבַּדִּים אֲשֶׁר מִמַּעַל לְמֵימֵי הַיְאֹר עַד מָתַי קֵץ הַפְּלָאוֹת:

7. And I heard the man clad in linen, who was above the waters of the river, and he raised his right hand and his left hand to the heavens, and he swore by the Life of the world, that in the time of [two] times and a half, and when they have ended shattering the strength of the holy people, all these will end.

ז. וָאֶשְׁמַע אֶת הָאִישׁ | לְבוּשׁ הַבַּדִּים אֲשֶׁר מִמַּעַל לְמֵימֵי הַיְאֹר וַיָּרֶם יְמִינוֹ וּשְׂמֹאלוֹ אֶל הַשָּׁמַיִם וַיִּשָּׁבַע בְּחֵי הָעוֹלָם כִּי לְמוֹעֵד מוֹעֲדִים וָחֵצִי וּכְכַלּוֹת נַפֵּץ יַד עַם קֹדֶשׁ תִּכְלֶינָה כָל אֵלֶּה:

8. And I heard, but I did not understand, and I said, "My lord, what is the end of these?"

ח. וַאֲנִי שָׁמַעְתִּי וְלֹא אָבִין וָאֹמְרָה אֲדֹנִי מָה אַחֲרִית אֵלֶּה:

9. And he said, "Go, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.

ט. וַיֹּאמֶר לֵךְ דָּנִיֵּאל כִּי סְתֻמִים וַחֲתֻמִים הַדְּבָרִים עַד עֵת קֵץ:

10. They will be clarified and whitened, and many will be purified, and the wicked will pervert [them], and all the wicked will not understand, but the wise will understand.

י. יִתְבָּרְרוּ וְיִתְלַבְּנוּ וְיִצָּרְפוּ רַבִּים וְהִרְשִׁיעוּ רְשָׁעִים וְלֹא יָבִינוּ כָּל רְשָׁעִים וְהַמַּשְׂכִּילִים יָבִינוּ:

11. And from the time the daily sacrifice was removed and the silent abomination placed, is one thousand, two hundred, and ninety.

יא. וּמֵעֵת הוּסַר הַתָּמִיד וְלָתֵת שִׁקּוּץ שֹׁמֵם יָמִים אֶלֶף מָאתַיִם וְתִשְׁעִים:

12. Fortunate is he who waits and reaches days of one thousand, three hundred, and thirty-five.

יב. אַשְׁרֵי הַמְחַכֶּה וְיַגִּיעַ לְיָמִים אֶלֶף שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת שְׁלֹשִׁים וַחֲמִשָּׁה:

13. And you, go to the end, and you will rest and rise to your lot at the end of the days."

יג. וְאַתָּה לֵךְ לַקֵּץ וְתָנוּחַ וְתַעֲמֹד לְגֹרָלְךָ לְקֵץ הַיָּמִין:

Germs Don't Discriminate

“Germs don’t discriminate.”

This is one man's opinion:

'Asking listeners to put aside his political orientation for a moment, talk-radio host Michael Savage questioned the federal government’s recommendation that citizens get a flu shot.'

'He explained that he was talking specifically about vaccines and was not advocating the avoidance of all pharmaceuticals. Known for his many books on herbal medicines, Savage acknowledged he has benefited from' “an awful lot of life-saving regular medicines [including vitamins, herbals, homeopathy, botanicals, and have written several books on these].”

“The Flu vaccine?” ... “No, I wouldn’t take it.” 

“... they choose five strains out of 250-plus strains of Influenza A, and if they don’t choose the right one, you’re going to get sick,” he said. “So you’re putting your faith in the CDC’s ability to guess the one that might be a pandemic.” 'He said that this year, the CDC guessed right on two of the strains and wrong on one of them.'

“... I believe the risks outweigh any benefit."

'The vaccine, he pointed out, contains formaldehyde and thimerosal – an organic compound containing mercury, which impairs the neurological and immune systems – along with detergents, antibiotics and allergens that cause infertility. The CDC itself, he noted, lists some of these ingredients on its own website as harmful, though it insists the amounts in vaccines is negligible.'

'Someone may well say ... ”Well, I took the shot and it didn’t kill me.” But when you’re older, he argued, “and you get ALS or Alzheimer’s disease or MS, or you watch your kid develop seizures, or your kid becomes autistic, God forbid, what are you going to say?”'

The relationship between the vaccine and any one person acquiring these diseases can’t be known for certain, he said, “But why increase the chances of inducing such illnesses in yourself and your children?”

“Germs don’t discriminate.”

“They don’t know if you’re a good guy or bad guy,” ..... “They don’t care if you’re a conservative or a liberal. They don’t care if you’re funny or mean. They don’t care what your race is., what your sexual orientation is. They don’t care what country you came from.”

Six Foot Tall iPhone in Petersburg, Russia

For those that adore the iPhone, iMac, iPod and other Apple innovations that have contributed to the betterment of all people and that make life simpler in many ways, here is an interesting tidbit:

Apple founder Steve Jobs continues to make an impact following his death in October, 2011 from pancreatic cancer -- even all the way in the former Soviet streets of St. Petersburg, Russia.

MacRumors is reporting that Russian designer Gleb Tarasov has created a six-foot-tall sculpture of an iPhone 4 in St. Petersburg to commemorate the life of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. While the iPhone doesn't have a functional touchscreen, it does display photos and videos from Steve Jobs' life in a running slideshow, complete with key events and speeches from the former CEO's life.

The tribute was unveiled Wednesday to mark the 12th anniversary of iTunes, which also happened to fall on the sixth anniversary of Jobs debuting the original iPhone at the Macworld Expo in 2007. Should you plan to visit Russia in the future, the iPhone is located inside the courtyard of the St. Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics, and the commemoration also features a scannable QR code that links to the university's memorial website.

About Apple in the Education and Innovation:

iPad inspires creativity and hands-on learning with features you won’t find in any other educational tool — on a device that students really want to use. Powerful apps from the App Store like iTunes U and iBooks let students engage with content in interactive ways, find information in an instant, and access an entire library wherever they go. And now with iPad mini, even more students can get their hands on iPad.

A new kind of textbook. For a new kind of student.

Students will now experience the most amazing textbooks they’ve ever read. They can flip through a book by sliding their finger along thumbnail images of the pages. If they don’t know the definition of a word, one tap takes them to a glossary or dictionary. No longer limited to a single picture to illustrate the text, now students can flick through a gorgeous photo gallery or dive into an image with interactive captions. They can use a finger to rotate a 3D object to show a human brain from every angle, or have the answer spring to life in an interactive chapter review.

Teach your entire class with iPad. With video mirroring, you can share your content with a classroom of students.

Easily show web pages, lessons, photos, videos, and more on the big screen. Connect your iPad to an HDTV or display with a video output cable (sold separately) or use AirPlay to stream wirelessly to any HDTV via Apple TV.5

iPad for all.

iPad comes with a screen reader, support for playback of closed-captioned content, and other innovative universal access features — right out of the box. There’s no additional software to buy or install. These features make iPad easier to use for students who have a vision impairment, are deaf or hard of hearing, or have a physical or learning disability. See here for vision and here for hearing and here for physical disability and here for Accessibility Solutions.

All photos and information from Apple.

Many of us ladies are homebound, whether because children are home, or we're less adventurous to venture out into the stormy outerword.

So, I've collected a few favorite recipes that are guaranteed to really warm you up:

Carrot Soup with Tahini and Crisped Chickpeas (from one of my favorite blogs)

Soup
2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
2 pounds (905 grams) carrots, peeled, diced or thinly sliced
1 large onion, finely chopped
4 regular or 6 small garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1/4 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp table salt, plus more if needed
Pinch of Aleppo pepper or red pepper flakes
4 cups (945 ml) vegetable broth

Crisped chickpeas
1-3/4 cups cooked chickpeas, or 1 15-ounce (425-gram) can, drained, patted dry on paper towels
1 generous tablespoon (15 ml or so) olive oil
1/2 tsp coarse salt
1/4 tsp ground cumin

Lemon-tahini dollop
3 Tbs (25 grams) tahini paste
2 Tbs (30 ml) lemon juice
Pinch or two of salt
2 Tbs (30 ml) water

Pita wedges, garnish
A few large pitas, cut into 8 wedges
Olive oil, to brush pitas
Za’atar (a Middle Eastern spice-herb blend)
or sesame seeds and sea salt to sprinkle
2 Tbs flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped

FOR DIRECTIONS, VISIT SmittenKitchen


A Recipe from my kitchen: 
Warm Cabbage Soup with Meat & Veggies

(start this early in the day, added benefit it will heat up the place)

1 sml head cabbage, (Kosher checked pkg)
1/2 small head red cabbage (ditto)
1 large onion
Piece of favorite slighty fatty meat (beef is best)
Black pepper, Garlic powder
1 can crushed tomatoes (or paste, or whatever you have)
2 carrots sliced 'on angle', about 1 inch thick
2 potatoes cut in large pieces
Celery leaves or parsley (washed and checked)
Olive oil
Brown sugar and few drops lemon juice or apple cider vinegar (optional)

In 5 quart heavy pot, Lightly brown meat in oil (I sprinkle 'some' pepper and garlic powder)
Add onion and saute til translucent, but don't let juice dry out
Divide cabbage in quarters, remove spine. Thinly slice three quarters of white cabbage, and half the red cabbage, while laying on cut side, so you have thin strips. (You can use the remainder of cabbage to make warm coleslaw, with oil & vinegar celery seed dressing. But that's another recipe.)
Add cabbage and carrot, saute and toss often, volume will reduce.
Add crushed tomatoes and 2 cans water, add more if needed.
Bring it to a boil, add the potatoes, and then lower to med so it softly bubbles.
Cook for 2 hours, then let sit another 2 hours.

Reheat, and now add the sugar and lemon if you want. I don't use salt in the soup, but do add 2 Tbs brown sugar and if you want a careful few drops lemon juice/cider vinegar. Taste to keep correct balance of flavor. You can adjust potatoes and carrots to your size family. If large, use all the cabbage, more potatoes, carrots, and 2 cans crushed tomatoes (or 1 crushed and 1 whole tomatoes) and of course a bigger pot. If not using meat, you might like to add some hot pepper flakes.

My 5 quart pot of soup was nearly finished with just the two of us; it was so good in this freezy weather.

Heat up again for main meal and serve with warm bread. It's all you need on a rainy cold evening.

Power outages? Flooded highways? Who cares! Israelis love a rainy day

One headline I loved, "Power outages? Flooded highways? Who cares! Israelis love a rainy day" (Haaretz)
Check for time updates on the snow for Yerushalayim below.

The Hermon has received record breaking snowfall... (Haaretz)


And in Safed, the children are already playing in the snow... (Haaretz)

Doesn't this remind you of the coast of Sandy's New Jersey? (Haaretz)

And in Yerushalayim, we're seeing rain, sunshine, hail, snow, more sunshine, ice, you name it. And now blue skies ... (10:30)

Now 12:50 we are having hail; tiny little ice balls bouncing off the leaves, windowsills, ground. Amazing in Yerushalayim.

Now 4 pm and its getting darker with smaller flakes falling, after the eclectic waterfall all afternoon. You may want to keep some heat in your Dud overnight, due to freezing temps. (two little notches every two hours might work, if you have that type)

Now 5 pm and the hail is hitting the windows that are a bit steamy because the temp outside is dropping. Porch giant windows are all steamy (and there is no heat in the enclosed Porch.

Now 9 pm tonite is cold cold cold and not much snow in my area. Cars and trees are covered in ice particles but not much on the ground. Time for some ZZzzzzs

Geshmei Bracha

After looking at the sensational photos showing the massive flooding in all of Eretz Yisrael, the thought came to mind that this spring and summer should be one of the greenest in our recent history.

The premise [=a proposition supporting or helping to support a conclusion] of sovereignty spurs a gushing of water to all parts of our Land, so the world might witness what the Heavens send us in reward for our deep desire to exercise our G-d given contract over all parts of Eretz. (הלואי)

See these amazing photos.

Photos: Heavy Rain Nationwide (Arutz Sheva)

'Frankenstorm' in Israel?

Didn't take long for this headline to appear:

From Arutz Sheva

"'Frankenstorm' lashes Israel: 'Israel’s answer to "Superstorm Sandy" closed Tel Aviv’s major highway, and that’s only a preview. Heavy snow predicted.' and more ..."

...Ayalon was shut down ...
...Train service from Hadera, northeast of Netanya, was cancelled ...
...Gale force winds ripped trees ...
"In a rare meteorological event for Israel, several weather fronts converged at once over the country." (this is what "Sandy" was called by US meteorologists)
...Snow already has piled up on the Hermon slopes ...
..."Snow may begin falling on Jerusalem at night, with colder temperatures making accumulations of up to five inches possible"

From YNetnews

..."the Tel Aviv Municipality announced Tuesday it was preparing to evacuate residents for fear of floods in the city's southern and northern neighborhoods..."
..."...the water level measured at the HaShalom interchanged reached 40 centimeters"

And Jerusalem Post online
Dangerous Dust Storms

"The South is experiencing high air pollution levels due to the sand and dust storms created by the windy weather, the Environmental Protection Ministry warned. Areas of particular concern include the Negev, the Coastal Plain, the Shfela basin, Jerusalem and Judea, the ministry said."

"Sensitive populations – such as those with heart disease, lung disease, pregnant women, the elderly, and young children – should refrain from strenuous physical activities in the region, the ministry said. As the rain spread southward starting on Sunday night, the dust pollution was expected to decrease, the ministry added."

And Haaretz

"Latest updates: (unfortunately) Three killed, one seriously injured in accident on Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway; Ayalon River, usually a dry bed, floods beyond capacity, forcing closure on accompanying highway in both directions; traffic halted across Tel Aviv, police ask drivers to stay away from the area." (emphasis mine)

Below is an excerpt, but read the whole post from YeranenYaakov

"And when the Keitz will come closer, there will be great troubles and these will continuously intensify, and this is a sign of salvation for Israel. And it similarly says in Midrash [and Sanhedrin 98a on the verse] (Yeshaya 59:19) "for distress will come in like a flood, which the breath of the LORD driveth" that if you see a generation where many troubles are coming upon it like a river, wait for him, as it says "for distress will come in like a flood, which the breath of the LORD driveth" and next to it, it says, "And a redeemer will come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD." (emphasis mine)

It doesn't say 'like a flood', it says 'COMES IN like a flood', and 'Breath of the LORD' = winds.

Guns, Violence, Videos

I watched a special that Glenn Beck presented on the epidemic of "children massacring* children". There is no other term for this; it's not 'shooting' and not 'killing'. The mechanics of these mass-murderers is straight from the dramatics of Killer Videos. These videos are training children to denigrate humanity and living.

Glenn interviewed a Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, who is considered "the man to go to about killing" because he trained soldiers, policemen, men whose gut instinct is NOT TO KILL. He had to train them how to do it, while retaining their humanity. There is a method to this and he is the expert.

Below are a few video takes from this interview. They may not be in chronological order, but you will glean important information for each one of them. Glenn wants to do something gigantic to save the children.

The wisdom of our Rabbis in ossering videos and internet for children, and most adults, comes shining through the words of this Lt. Col. Grossman. Please watch and recommend this to your friends who think videos are still harmless.


















*mas·sa·cre [mas-uh-ker] noun, verb, mas·sa·cred, mas·sa·cring.
noun
1. the unnecessary, indiscriminate killing of a large number of human beings or animals, as in barbarous warfare or persecution or for revenge or plunder.
2. a general slaughter, as of persons or animals: the massacre of millions during the war.
3. to kill unnecessarily and indiscriminately, especially a large number of persons.

Close Encounter of a Natural Kind

A BBC cameraman was in the wild documenting a hungry polar bear’s eating habits when the animal diverted away from a seal’s hole toward the cameraman’s enclosed cart instead.

Although unfortunate to not witness the bear seeking out its natural prey– something we’ve all probably seen on a nature documentary — Gordon Buchanan was able to capture more unique footage. The bear saunters up to the cart where Buchanan is filming and he becomes increasingly nervous and excited.

“She’s enormous,” he said. “Gee whiz.”



Source: Almost being eaten by a Polar Bear

Inverted Prisms

The headline reads:

“Rabbinical students lobby Netanyahu to drop E-1 building plans. Three North American organizations to conduct parallel protest by delivering letter protesting building plans to Israeli embassy in Washington”

What a misleading headline.

Shame on Haaretz.

You’d think this was a Haredi protest, a right-wing protest. No, it’s our erev rav contingent ensconced in an ailing America who are raising their voices. Their voices are against the Jews of Eretz Yisrael, who live and work and sacrifice on the Land; the same that receive those rockets and missiles raining down from the skies. These voices of protest are spewing forth from an inverted prism of misconceptions, turned outward against the People of Israel.

“Inverted prisms make ray guns practical.”

Not just rockets and missiles, now we have ‘human ray guns’ shooting at Israel.

Wild, Wild, Water ... Look Familiar?

Unbelievable.

Resembles Sandy.

What do we make of this?

Video source: Israel Matzav

"The City of Tel Aviv has emergency crews on call as well, as the Ayalon River, which runs alongside the Ayalon Highways – central Israel's main expressway – is expected to overflow, effectively cutting off entire sections of the road." Read the full YNet article.
YNet Photos:
Snir Stream, near the Jordan River (Photo: Oded Nir)
Tel Aviv beach (Photo: Leah Sherman-Kish)
Wind damage in Tel Adashim (Photo: Shimon Sheetrit)

Here's Haaretz's storm coverage.

Speaking of the Weather ... Some Warm Advice

Speaking of the Weather ...Keep Warm but Don't look like a Scary Bag Lady!

Be Tsnius ... But

"Tel Aviv winters are somewhat of a doozy. One minute sunny beach weather; the next is a windy monsoon of disaster. That’s why it’s important [for Tel Avivians] to always keep one thing in mind when choosing winter outfits. Layers.

Be Tsnius ... But

"Try it: Buy plain black tights. A lot of them. They are a staple and will never go out of style. They are available everywhere and are inexpensive. Under an over-sized sweater, a maxi skirt, or even a summer dress that’s hidden at the back of your closet. Black tights turn almost anything into a winter appropriate combination.

Be Tsnius ... But

"Warning: There is such a thing as too much. While layers are key for this season, overdoing it can make you look like a scary bag lady. And not to mention, can be heavy and uncomfortable. So, be careful. While bringing a sweater along is necessary, bringing three sweaters, a scarf, and a jacket is just silly." Keeping war from the JPost.

There's been a lot of talk about covering up, with measurements and dainty tips, but remember to be sensible!

"(... Such a) collection of instructions narrows down the value of modesty and damages the values of sanctity. The obsessive engagement in pieces of clothing is in itself immodest, and all this advertisement distorts Halacha, which seeks to reduce a person's engagement in matters of human urges."

Go, Bennett, Go ...

"Leadership is not just being a politician but setting an example," he said. "A politician needs to invest 10% in himself and 90% in his country. The problem is when a politician invests 90% or 100% in his survival and dignity. There are such politicians I'm afraid."

"Nevertheless he defended Netanyahu and remarked, "His heart is in the right place. The challenge is putting strong people, people of virtue next to him. The fact that Ehud Barak worked alongside him in the past four years caused considerable damage to Israel.""YNet news

Election Musings [Mann traoch, Gott Lauch]

Election Musings and Possible Geulah Inkling

PM Netanyahu is now on guard and being further squeezed from above. If things continue like this, we may just see all those estimations that are being discussed at Dov Bar Lieb's blog (be sure to read all the comments).


Ben Caspit captured a moment in his Bibi, Bennett (and Sara) at JPost.com:

"Who would have believed that young man with a kippa and a shy look would turn into a huge demon, a terrible threat for the one and only Binyamin Netanyahu?"

"Who would have believed that the prime minister’s well-hidden bureau chief, that young man with a kippa and a shy look, would turn into a huge demon, a terrible threat, a heavyweight rival of the one and only Binyamin Netanyahu? Nothing is left in this crazy campaign except Bibi versus Bennett. Not Shelly (Yacimovich), not Tzipi (Livni), not Yair (Lapid). Just Bennett."

[Photo by intrepid reporter Tovah Lazaroff]


Today, Sunday, the Mayor of Maaleh Adumim is urging the Prime Minister to sign the papers to begin the work on E-1 (continuum with Yerushalayim). "As of Saturday night, Kashriel told The Jerusalem Post that he was still waiting for Netanyahu’s signature to deposit the plans."

And the Prime Minister (reincarnate Shaul HaMelech, looking more and more obvious every day) continues to waver and pace back and forth in a state of panic and indecision, because this coming election looks more and more like a 'mini-revolution' in the making. Watch and see how the PM tries to unite the left so he can make a coalition (with Livni as Foreign Minister ugh!), to go against the people and against Bayit Yehudi and the future of Eretz Yisrael.


* a slight suggestion or indication; hint; intimation

Meanwhile, one cannot ignore what the winds of change are bringing, especially as these coming pre-election days are heating up:

"Forecasters expect the coming week to be one of the rainiest in recent memory with some 100 millimeters of rain expected in central Israel and as much as 250mm. expected to fall in the North. Mount Hermon is also expected to see continued snowfall throughout the week. Melting snow from Mount Hermon and the Golan will add some 30 centimeters to Lake Kinneret, according to forecasts.The Israel Meteorological Service said that snow could fall in Jerusalem as well on Wednesday.

"Authorities warned the public to prepare for winds up to 100 km/h on Sunday evening, especially in coastal areas. The advised tying down or taking inside garden items that could be swept up in the wind."

And what other well laid plans of (wo)man might get swept up in the wind, as "man plans, and G-d laughs"?

A Day With The Alter Rebbe ... 200 Years

ONLINE SPECIAL 24 TEVES -- 200 YEARS
9 Hour Live Webcast: A Day with the Alter Rebbe (2)
Nine Teachers Exploring the Ideas of the Alter Rebbe,
Rabbi Schnuer Zalman of Liadi

In Tribute to 200 Years Since His Passing,
24 Teves 5573-5773, 1812-2013

9 Hour Live Webcast: A Day with the Alter Rebbe Part 2

UPDATE ON PROGRAM:
Sunday, 24 Teves, January 6

Sunday 8:30AM EST

Learning Mishnayos
Mishnayos Berachos chapter 7: The Laws of Grace After Meals (begins with letter Shin, the Alter Rebbe’s first name)
By Rabbi YY Jacobson. (For beginners and advanced students.)

Sunday 9:30 AM EST

The Four Revolutions of the Tanya
By Rabbi Ben Zion Krasnyanski, Director, Chabad Upper East Side (For beginners and advanced students)

10:30 AM EST

The Alter Rebbe’s Contribution to Kabbalah
The notion of “Or,” Divine light, and how it transformed Jewish thought.
By Rabbi Yossi Paltiel, Mashpia Chovevei Torah (In-depth class)

11:30 AM EST

Live Webcast from Miami Lubavitch Klurman Mesvita High School:

The Development of Halacha Throughout the Ages
By Rabbi Eily Smith, Teacher, Klurman Mesivta and Member of Beis Din, South Florida (Power Point Address)

12:15 PM EST

Live music & singing: The Four-Stanaza Melody of the Alter Rebbe.

12:30 PM EST

Two Stories
Two Life Changing Stories About the Alter Rebbe: Live Address to Klurman Mesivta High School Students.
By Rabbi YY Jacobson

1:00 PM EST

Break

1:15 PM EST

Shlchan Aruch HaRav: The Alter Rebbe’s Vew on Unintentional Trapping on Shabbos
By Rabbi Yehuda Leib Shapiro, Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Gedolah of Miami (text based shuir).

1:45 PM EST

The Alter Rebbe’s Contribution to Psychology
Studying the Tanya
By Rabbi YY Jacobson (For beginners and advanced).

2:30 PM EST

Shlchan Aruch HaRav: How the Alter Rebbe Solved the Riddle of Shabbos HaGadol.
By Rabbi Levi Garelik, Rabbinical Beis Din of Europe (Advanced class, text based)

3:30 PM EST

Shlchan Aruvh HaRav & Tanya: Is Shabbos Objective or Subjective? The Alter Rebbe’s Unique View.
“Amirah Lenachri”: When a Gentile Works for You on Shabbos.
By Rabbi Levi Wineberg, Rosh Kolel Mizrachi, Johannesburg (Advanced class)


4:30 PM EST

Shlchan Aruch HaRav: The Alter Rebbe’s View on the Blessing for Torah. Why is there no blessing when you think Torah?
By Rabbi Yisroel Rubin, Director Chabad of Albany, NY

Program ends at 5:00PM

A Day With The Alter Rebbe Part 1

A Day with the Alter Rebbe (1) -- 200 Years From His Passing
1) The Majesty of Friction.
2) How To Deal with People Who Hurt You

How To Deal With People Who Hurt You: The Alter Rebbe’s Approach
By Rabbi Reuven Wolf, founder Maayon Yisroel in Los Angeles, CA.

A Day With the Alter Rebbe Part 1

UPDATE ON PROGRAM:
Motzei Shabbos, 24 Teves, January 5, 2012

8:30 PM EST

A Discourse by the Alter Rebbe—the Majesty of Friction
Rabbi YY Jacobson will present a discourse maamar of the Alter Rebbe in English, in the traditional melody (For beginners and advanced students of Chassidus)

9:30 PM EST

Video footage: The melodies of the Alter Rebbe and a story.

9:40 PM EST

.

Netanyahu and Parshas Shemos ...

Well, while PM Netanyahu quietly stalls beginning building in the E-1 area, let's see what he can glean from this week's Parsha.

Why, only point the Parsha insights toward the very elderly Pres Peres (well intended).

Apply insights from Parsha Shemos to yourself, Bibi!