by Rabbi Shraga Simmons
The 15 Seder steps and what they symbolize.
KARPAS
Karpas is a vegetable (other than bitter herbs) such as celery, parsley, or boiled potato. It must be a vegetable on which we make the blessing, Borei Pri Ha'Adamah. Passover is the Spring festival where we celebrate the birth of our nation -- and these vegetables are a symbol of rebirth and rejuvenation.
MARROR & CHAZERET
These are the bitter herbs which symbolize the lot of the Hebrew slaves whose lives were embittered by the hard labor. Many people use horseradish for Marror and Romaine lettuce for Chazeret.
CHAROSET
Charoset reminds us of the hard Jewish labor performed with bricks and mortar. Charoset is a pasty mixture of nuts, dates, apples, wine and cinnamon. The Talmud says this serves as an "antiseptic" to dilute the harsh effects of the Marror.
ZERO'AH
During the times of the Temple in Jerusalem, the Korbon Pesach (Pascal Lamb) was brought to the Temple on the eve of Passover. It was roasted, and was the last thing eaten at the Seder meal. To commemorate this offering, we place a roasted chicken bone with a little meat remaining.
In Temple times, every Jew ...   more »

Yaakov Katz
In the face of Iran's continued race towards nuclear power, the United States has agreed to let Israel connect to its worldwide radar system that can provide an early warning of any ballistic missile launched at Israel from around the world, defense officials said Tuesday.
On Tuesday, Israel successfully tested the Green Pine Radar - an integral part of the Arrow missile defense system - as it tracked a new missile made by Rafael - called Blue Sparrow - which mimics an upgraded version of Iran's Shihab 3 ballistic missile.
Defense officials said that the upgraded Blue Sparrow was fired by an IAF fighter jet off Israel's coast. The missile, which is a newer version of the Black Sparrow - used in previous Arrow missile tests - mimics an advanced Iranian Shihab 3 ballistic missile carrying a split warhead and with advanced radar evading capabilities.
Officials said that the Green Pine Radar located and identified the incoming missile and the Citron Tree battle management center related the information to the Arrow battery.
A missile was not fired in the exercise.
America's decision to allow Israel to connect to the worldwide radar system was reached following visits to Washington ...   more »

JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST 
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has offered the Palestinians 64 percent of the West Bank as part of a future peace agreement, London-based Asharq Al-Awsat reported Wednesday.
According to the report, Olmert told PA President Mahmoud Abbas that the Palestinians could "forget about territory west of the security fence."
The prime minister also presented Abbas with several offers regarding Jerusalem. One of these would have Israel maintaining control over east Jerusalem and holy sites, but allowing Palestinians to enter those sites.
On Tuesday, Shas upped its threat to leave Olmert's government over the Jerusalem issue, with the party's no. 2 - Religious Services Minister Yitzhak Cohen - saying that even "creating an atmosphere" that could lead to Jerusalem's division was a red line for the party.
Original Source
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In what some worry could turn out to be 'Step 1 of Disengagement 2' - IDF forces have reportedly recently been confiscating hundreds of weapons and other military equipment from Jewish communities in Samaria.
While the army insists that it is only impounding military-issue guns, and that no personal weapons have been taken, some security personnel in the affected communities expressed concern that they will be left with little defense at the same time that the government has ordered the removal of dozens of roadblocks and blockades designed to restrict travel by Arab terrorists, reports Israel National News.
Something even more sinister could be behind the move.
Samaria is the larger, northern chunk of what anti-Israel forces call the "West Bank" but which is historically part of the biblical heartland of Israel.
It houses hundreds of thousands of Israel-hating Palestinian Arabs in five main population centers.
Along with the southern section, Judea, and the Gaza Strip, the land is slated by the international community - and against the wishes of most Jews and Israel-supporters - for the creation of a never-before-existing State of Palestine.
The Arabs who would be given this national home at Israel's expense are committed - according ...   more »