Staying Real in Israel
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"The Marty Roberts Show"

What Does Rav Kook Say?…Is The Modern State of Israel the “Real Thing”?…Some would say “No Way, Keep on waiting for the miracles”…Rav Kook MIGHT not agree with that…And…The Changing Political Landscape in Israel…What Next?…Plus…Missile and mortar attacks, stolen lions, arabic-speaking parrots…

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Rav Kook

The first Chief Rabbi of Israel…

Torah scholar, mystic,
the Father of Religious Zionism…

He clearly saw the beginning of the in-gathering of the exiles and the Ultimate Redemption…

He heard the “footsteps” of the Messiah…

Believe it!

Har HaBayit,,The Holy Jewish Temple Mount,,,Jerusalem, Israel

Where it IS happening…

And where it WILL happen…

Soon, may it be, in our days…

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sHARON AND aBU mAZZEN

It was a stormy, windy, bitter cold Shabbat (Sabbath) in Israel this 5th of February, the 26th of the Jewish month of Shevat.

Marty surveys what’s been happening in Israel these days, including several successful terror attacks, and some that were prevented by the Israeli Army.

He also talks about hopes and fears regarding the greatly anticipated up-coming meeting in Egypt this week between Ariel Sharon and Abbas (Abu Mazen) of the PLO.

There’s even some time for a bit of Torah/Bible study, as Marty shares with you some insights from this weekly reading as you know only he can.

The show is a about 22 minutes long.

Today’s show talks about Iran, the fallout following Russia’s dramatic announcement that Putin will be selling uranium to fuel Iran’s nuclear reactor. This, hot on the heels of US President Bush’s trip to Europe, where he found rather un-supportive European and Russian leaders regarding the need to stop Iran’s nuclear development in its tracks.

Bushehr Nuclear Reactor

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Nuclear Explosion

Marty explores the possible meanings of statements coming out of Washington which seem to indicate a new tone of flexibility and readiness to keep on talking with Iran, even in the face of a REAL ticking nuclear bomb threat, one that could be set to go off in less than one year!!

Why is the U.S. so darned concerned about whether or not Israel builds homes for her citizens in the capital city of Jerusalem!!!

I think we are talking “Chutzpah” here…the Imperial Majesty of the United States of America is all in a tizzy because her vassal state of the Banana Republic of Israel will not bow to the demands of her master, the U.S., as to when, where and how to build homes…pretty unbelievable, if you ask me…

The Obama administration is snubbing the Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat by not receiving him in an appropriate, dignified official capacity (welcome to the club, Mayor Barkat, says Prime Minister Netanyahu) because he has the audacity to say that his country, Israel, will, indeed, continue to build homes for Israelis in the capital, Jerusalem. And HOW DARE such a peon openly express his dissatisfaction with the public dissing of Israel by the American administration…who does he think he is, anyway?…The Mayor of Jerusalem, or something like that???

And then, the Americans think that they can sidle up and make nice with the Interior Minister, Eli Yishai, in spite of the fact that it was, most likely, Yishai himself that was responsible for the announcement of the Jerusalem building plans during US VP Biden’s visit to Israel…the event that started the tempest in the teapot boiling away in the first place…

Seems the Americans think that we Israelis are not only unimportant and weak, but stupid as well…

Good for you, Mayor Barkat, for telling it like it is and doing the job that you were elected to do…looking after the interests of the Capital City of Israel, Jerusalem and her inhabitants…

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat

Jerusalem mayor shunned by top US officials


Following harsh statements against Obama Administration, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat’s request to meet with Clinton, Mitchell denied; Israeli official slams mayor’s remarks, says his actions undermine renewal of negotiations

Reprinted from YNetnews.com Yitzhak Benhorin

Administration rejected Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat’s request to meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Special Mideast Envoy George Mitchell, Ynet has learned.

Barkat, who is visiting Washington, continued his attacks on the US government Wednesday, further embarrassing the Netanyahu government.

In the interview, Barkat said his positions on the Jerusalem issue are identical to PM Netanyahu’s views; however, an Israeli official expressed anger at the mayor’s conduct “at such sensitive period in US-Israel ties, when every housing unit in Jerusalem gains prominence.”

Uncoordinated meetings
A senior Israeli official said “Jerusalem is a sensitive issue when we’re on the verge of entering talks.” Addressing Barkat’s visit and remarks, the official said: “He arrived here without any authority to engage in diplomatic issues and without any responsibility – he arrived and is causing damage.”

On Tuesday, Barkat met American reporters and was quoted as saying that President Obama’s move constituted a slap in Israel’s face.

While the Jerusalem mayor informed the Israeli embassy in Washington of his arrival, he independently coordinated meetings in Congress and with the US media, without coordinating his moves with Israeli diplomats in charge of these issues.

Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai

Minister Yishai officially invited to White House


US seeks closer ties with minister held responsible for controversial construction decision

Reprinted from YNetnews.com Roni Sofer

American bear hug? Interior Minister Eli Yishai has been officially invited to visit the White House.

The decision is apparently the result of the US Administration’s desire to forge closer ties with the minister they perceive to be behind the east Jerusalem construction turmoil during Vice President Joe Biden’s visit in Israel.

During Biden’s visit last month, the Interior Ministry approved the construction of 1,800 housing units in east Jerusalem’s Ramat Shlomo neighborhood.

The invitation was handed to Yishai by Dan Shapiro, Director of the Middle East department at the National Security Council.

Shapiro was also the one who reprimanded Yishai following the east Jerusalem construction decision, yet despite the harsh tones, the interior minister was asked to visit Washington at that time already. The official invitation, as noted, was extended Wednesday.

At the time, Yishai expressed his satisfaction in respect to the US holding him responsible for the east Jerusalem construction affair.

In an interview with Shas’ journal, he said that he “thanks the Creator for being given the right to be the minister who approves the construction of thousands of housing units in Jerusalem. This is the Jewish people’s capital. We built in Jerusalem for many years, and we’ll continue to build it.”

The First Israeli in Space: Ilan Ramon

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Ilan Ramon was Israel’s first astronaut. He was mission specialist on the crew of the Space Shuttle, Columbia, launched into space on the 16th of January, 2003. The Columbia and all of her crew were lost in a fiery explosion while re-entering the earth’s atmosphere two weeks later, on February first, after 15 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes in space.

Ilan Ramon

Ilan Ramon, z”l perished on February 1, 2003 with his crew friends during reentry of the Columbia shuttle, 16 minutes before scheduled landing. He was buried in Nahalal Cemetery in his homeland, Israel on February 11, 2003.

In 1981, IAF Col. Ilan Ramon flew one of the F-16 jets that blew up the Iraqi nuclear reactor in Osirak. In so doing he saved the country and perhaps the entire world from the specter of a nuclear holocaust.

Ilan Ramon Space Shuttle Crew

Ilan Ramon was not simply a Jew. He was an Israeli Jew. And, as a scientist and fighter pilot his was the face of Israeli exceptionalism. Ramon excelled in all he did. He was first in his class in high school. He was first in his class in flight school. He was first in his class in astronaut training. In a break from the Air Force in the 1980s, after completing his studies in electrical engineering and computer science at Tel-Aviv University, Ramon joined the team at Israel Aircraft Industries that developed the Lavi fighter jet. On the Columbia, Ramon conducted environmental research on desertification.

Petr Ginz

“Being the first Israeli astronaut — I feel I am representing all Jews and all Israelis”

Ramon made clear at every opportunity that he went to outer space, not simply as a citizen of the State of Israel, but as a Jew.

He took with him into Outer space several symbols of his Jewish identity:a picture of the Earth as seen from the moon drawn by a Jewish boy in Theresienstadt concentration camp, a torah scroll from Bergen Belsen, a microfiche copy of the bible, the national flag and a prayer book.

As the representative of the Jewish people he recited kiddush over wine on Friday night. As a Jew he said Shema Yisrael as the space shuttle orbited over Jerusalem. As a Jew he insisted on eating only kosher food in outer space.

And as a Jew he told the Prime Minister from his celestial perch,

Space Shuttle Columbia Launch

“I think it is very, very important to preserve our historical tradition, and I mean historical and religious traditions.”

Ilan Ramon

Ilan Ramon (1954-2003), the first Israeli astronaut

Born on June 20, 1954, Ramat-Gan, Israel (Parents, Eliezer and Tova Wolferman reside in Beer-Sheva).

Died on February 1, 2003 during reentry of the Columbia Shuttle into the atmosphere.

Survived by wife Rona, and four children, Assaf, Tal, Yiftah and Noa.

In the Torah portion “Yitro” (Jethro, who is the father-in-law of Moses), we learn of the Jewish People receiving The Law, The Torah (the Ten Commandments) from The Creator. Moses ascends Mount Sinai and communicates directly with The Almighty One.

The sages comment upon the fact that the millions of Jews encamped at the base of Mount Sinai were unified, as one man. From this we learn the virtue of unity of the Jewish Nation. But does this mean unity at all costs?

The Marty Roberts Show looks at this question in greater depth.

Torah Reading

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