Week of January 11 – 18, 2019 • 5 – 12 Shvat, 5779 Vol. 12 • Issue 8 PAGE 19 PAGE 3 37 DEMS BLOCK NEW SITE OF THE RAMBAM’S SENATE BILL ON TOMB IN TIBERIAS OFFICIALLY INAUGURATED ISRAEL BOYCOTTS 38 BDS Bill Debate Is About Anti-Semitism, Not Speech JONATHAN S. TOBIN Is the effort to combat the BDS battle against BDS as a priority. That as doing real damage to the pro-Israel CHAYIM ARUCHIM EVENT HIGHLIGHTS movement much ado about nothing? includes an effort geared towards lobby- cause since they believe that support for CONSCIENCE AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN HEALTHCARE Given the abject failure of the campaign ing state legislatures and now the U.S. measures that are viewed by some liber- to boycott, divest and sanction Israel to Congress to pass laws that prevent those als as an attack on free speech is bound IN THIS harm the economy of the Jewish state complying with such boycotts from do- to not only fail, but will also help alien- or even to get American universities ing business with the government. ate younger Jews. They argue that the ISSUE to endorse their efforts, there are those Critics see this as a waste of time focus on BDS is likely to help convince who consider all the fuss made about the that gives the BDS camp too much this demographic group, where support It’s Always Darkest Just Before The Dawn issue a mistake. Much of the organized credit and far too much attention. Even for Israel is already faltering, that being Rabbi Eliyahu Safran............................2 Jewish community has been treating the worse, some see the push against BDS CONT. ON P35 Be Silent Mordechai Lewis....................................4 The Israeli right becomes more The Muslim Brotherhood debate Fruits, Buckets and Holiness Shaya Winiarz........................................7 splintered, but perhaps stronger and Mubarak’s 2018 court The Stone Is For The Temple, STEVE LEIBOWITZ testimony in Egypt Not The Tunnel The Israeli political right was plunged into uncer- DORE GOLD Roy Neuberger.......................................8 tainty last week with the surprise announcement that The Muslim Brotherhood (al-Ikhwan al-Muslimin) has evolved Low Carb Cauliflower Crust Pizza the two leaders of the Jewish Home (Bayit Hayehudi) since it began in 1928 as a strictly Egyptian organization, becoming Tamar Genger.......................................22 Party Education Minister Naftali Bennett and his polit- a global network with branches in 70 countries. Understanding its JNS NEWS......................................30 ical partner Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked were leaving purpose and examining its methods is extremely important. the right-wing religious Zionist party to lead “The New The latest information comes from former President of Egypt Right” (Yemin Hahadash) Party to compete in the Knes- Hosni Mubarak. It must be seen in the context of a global debate set elections on April 9. that has raged since 9/11 over the question of whether the Muslim CONT. ON P12 CONT. ON P14 ,urb ,eksv An Open Letter to Jewish Singles The Stress of Modern Parenting Instead of being supported and The power of a parent’s love is more w valuable than any after school activity, 5 Shvat • yca v encouraged, so many Jewish singles are Parshat Bo technology or pair of sneakers made to feel excluded and unworthy money can buy. SHABBOS TIMES 4:29 P.M. FIVE TOWNS DAVID SHLOMO GREENBERG SLOVIE JUNGREIS-WOLFF 4:31 P.M. STATEN ISLAND Based on my own personal experiences and my interactions I received a call to give a lecture to a group of parents who 4:31 P.M. BROOKLYN with others, being an ‘older’ Jewish single is somewhat of a chal- are dealing with anxiety. 4:30 P.M. TEANECK, NJ lenge these days. “What are they anxious about?” 5:30 P.M. MIAMI BEACH, FLA. What does this do to the self-confidence of those of us who “Everything,” was the response. 4:14 P.M. JERUSALEM CONT. ON P6 CONT. ON P25 1/11/19 life and hope, emblematic in the opti- mistic greeting of Shalom Aleichem. When it is darkest, the light must surely follow. Parshat Bo tells of the last three plagues God brings down upon Egypt. In it, we are given our first commandments as a community – the keeping of the new moon and a Jewish calendar, as well as the holiday of Passover. From its beginning, the parasha speaks to the redemption implicit in the Rosh Chodesh. God tells Moshe why the plagues are happening to Egypt – so that you (the Hebrews) will tell in the ears of your children and your children’s children that God acted upon Egypt and put signs in their midst to let them know it was God that was acting on their behalf. That is, throughout this difficult time, the lesson to be taught to the children is that redemption comes! Light fol- lows darkness! The message of the culminating two plagues could not have taught a more different message to the Egyp- tians – darkness without the hope of redemption, a present without a brighter future. First, darkness that befell Egypt. A darkness so deep and so ink-like that a man could not see his hand before his face. For three long days and nights, the darkness weighed down upon the Egyptians, until Pharaoh relented and told Moses he could take the Children of Israel into the Wilderness to worship. But only the people; the animals had to remain. Even against such darkness, Pharaoh’s arrogance against God remained. But the Plague of the Slaying of the First-Born brought him to his knees. Darkness without the hope of light to follow! This miracle took place on the 14th day of the begin- ning of months. The Passover. God history of man. And yet, from our decreed that it would be celebrated Rabbi Eliyahu Safran darkness and degradation, we rise for seven days among the Jewish peo- renewed. ple through the generations. Every It’s Always Darkest Just Before What seems hopeless is not Jew will remember and retell the hopeless. There is light after the dark. story of how God brought him out of the Dawn The Jew is imbued with a Rosh bondage in Egypt. Chodesh personality, one that is In the middle of the night, just as One might expect the obser- specific historical or reli gious events, defined by faith in a redemption God had told, the first-born of Egypt vance of Rosh Chodesh, the New the significance of Rosh Chodesh that is yet to come; in the shining was killed. Young and old, rich and Month, to take pace when the moon grows organically from the Jew- of light even though it is yet dark, poor, human and animal. Through- is full; when its luminance is most ish belief in renewal. How could it in life though the threat of death is out Egypt there was loud wailing, for pronounced. But Rosh Chodesh is be otherwise that the Jew identifies imminent. Though his own life hangs no house was without grief. celebrated at the new moon, when personally and dynamically with the in the balance, the Jew looks to the Pharaoh demanded that the Jews the moon’s presence is essentially moon; with revival from an almost future, to his children, with hope that leave and so the Jews fled, carrying invisible in the dark, night sky. nonex istent state, with illumination redemption will be there if not for their unleavened dough upon their What is the lesson here? stemming from a state of darkness? him for them. The Rosh Chodesh backs before it could rise into bread. Rabbi Soloveitchik explains that Our history is defined by periods of personality sings and dances. David But the truth was already set. Teach while Shabbat and Yom Tov are darkness and near despair that would melech Yisrael. Though he tarries, your children, Redemption follows sanctified by their association with have erased other people from the he will come! No matter how dif- slavery; light follows darkness. ficult his circumstance, he embraces CONT.ON P13 2 To advertise in THE JEWISH CONNECTION call: 718.761.2626 • [email protected] 1/11/19 Gamla The Masada of the North PESACH 2019 SHALOM POLLACK BOCA RATON, FLORIDA Boca Raton Resort & Club A WALDORF ASTORIA RESORT • Gorgeous half-mile stretch of Private Beach • 2 Championship Golf Courses Josephus Flavius (or Yosef ben • 30 Clay Tennis Courts • Enjoy the exciting Surfing Simulator Matityahu – his Hebrew name), the • Fantastic Scholars- in-Residence • 40,000 sq. ft. 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