by Rabbi Ken Spiro
Only a tiny portion of Jews participated in worshipping the golden calf. So why does God seem to blame the whole nation?
The day for this infamous event is forever marked in the Hebrew calendar -- 17th of Tammuz. This would be the day later in history on which the walls of Jerusalem would be breached by the Babylonians and the Romans prior to the destruction of both the first and the second Temple.
It is very important to analyze what happened with the golden calf and why the Torah criticizes the Jewish people so harshly for this sin. And indeed what is revealed here about how God views the Jewish people.
After the greatest national revelation experience in human history when the whole nation hears God, Moses goes up the mountain and comes down 40 days later to find people dancing around an idol.
Now if I'd had an encounter with the Infinite Creator of the Universe speaking to me and I heard Him say "I am God, don't worship anything else," I don't think I would be stupid enough to be jumping around a golden cow. So what's going on in this story?
This ...   more »

Three religions—Christianity, Islam and Judaism—look for a coming Messiah. Yet they differ in their view of who this will be and what he will do upon his return.
BY JAMES F. TURCK
The closing words of a recent speech by Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad left various impressions on those who heard it.
Many simply had no understanding of what was said or its implications. Some who heard and understood his words felt a growing uneasiness, mixed with trepidation and fear. But others welcomed them with eagerness and excitement, looking forward to the fulfillment of centuries-old prophecies.
What was said that could incite such a range of conflicting emotions?
It was an appeal to Allah to hasten the appearance of the  Hidden Imam or Imam Mahdi, a prophesied leader who will help usher in the rule of Islam over the world.
It may come as a surprise to many that Christianity and Judaism are not alone in the belief of a soon-coming Messiah who will intervene in world affairs and establish a true religion. Though they may share this belief, there are vast differences concerning who this is, and what he will do upon returning.
Are there three separate Messiahs, or ...   more »

Conservative Movement withdraws Supreme Court petition claiming religious discrimination at Western Wall, after reaching agreement with several Jerusalem groups
A decade-long struggle for the right to pray at the Western Wall came to an on Wednesday when the Conservative Movement in Israel withdrew its petition regarding freedom of worship at Robinson's Arch, on the southern side of the Western Wall.  
The petition was filed with the Supreme Court in 2006, following difficulties for Conservative Jews to access Robinson's Arch.  Conservative worshippers wishing to pray in mixed gender groups have been congregating at the arch, which is located in the Archeological Gardens, since 1998. This is because attempts at mixed group prayer elsewhere along the Wall were met with violence by ultra-Orthodox Jews.  
Still, technically along the Western Wall, the Robinson's Arch is separated from the Temple's main square by a large dirt mound, blocking the Conservative worshippers from view and thus preventing altercations with other worshippers.  
Recently, however, the Archeological Gardens restricted their visiting hours and began charging a NIS 30 fee to enter the area, seriously hindering the ability of the Conservative worshippers to get to Robinson's Arch.  
'Victory for pluralistic Judaism'
As such, in ...   more »

Yesha Council exports activity overseas with fair marketing homes in settlements to American investors
Guy Meit-Tal
"You too can own a home and strengthen the Zionist dream," proclaims an advertisement issued by the Yesha Council and the Amana organization in an appeal to the United States Jewry, as the settler movement acts to thaw the deep freeze which has taken over construction in the West Bank.
Evacuation Imminent   
No agreement on voluntary outpost evacuation, Peretz says / Amnon Maranda   
Defense minister says timetable for plan to remove illegal West Bank outposts to be determined imminently; ‘negotiations on voluntary evacuation of outposts have not hit deadlock,’ settler representatives say, adding that Peretz’s comments meant for political gain      
The Amana organization defines itself as "the settlement movement of Gush Emunim, with the primary goal of developing communities in Judea, Samaria, the Golan Heights, the Galilee and the Negev."
The two groups have launched a campaign which will allow American Jews to purchase a second home in a settlement, pitching the deal as a zero risk venture: "Your investment is insured, protected and 100 percent legal," proclaims the ad.  
The government virtually no longer authorizes new construction projects in ...   more »

Israel has frozen contested building work near Jerusalem's most volatile holy site but pressed with archaeological excavations, triggering further Muslim outcry.
Jerusalem mayor Uri Lupolianski decided to suspend the work to allow public discussion of Israel's plans to replace a damaged wooden bridge leading to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound with a stone ramp.
Protests by Palestinian worshippers descended into several days of violence in Jerusalem and parts of the West Bank and there were also demonstrations across the Islamic world.
Events at the site, venerated as the third holiest in Islam and as the location of the ancient Jewish temple destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, has long triggered unrest across the Holy Land.
Lupolianski made his decision Monday following consultations with representatives from occupied east Jerusalem, Israel's Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and the planning authorities, municipality spokesman Gideon Schmerling said.
"This is due to the sensitivity of the plan, and following meetings and discussions with representatives from eastern Jerusalem who requested to look over the plans and voice their opinions."
Construction work will not resume until all reservations have been looked into, which Schmerling admitted "could take several years".
Nevertheless he said on-site archaeological excavations will continue -- ...   more »

A member of the Egyptian Parliament from President Hosni Mubarak's party said that nothing short of a nuclear bomb would 'work' with Israel.
The harsh statement was uttered during a heated discussion of Israel's renovation of the Mughrabi walkway near the Temple Mount. Egyptian parliamentarians claimed that Israel was destroying the Al Aqsa mosque.
During the session some parliament members called to cancel all agreements with Israel as the war between Egypt and Israel was continuing even though treaties were signed.
Original Source

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