HAPPY PURIM!!!
The Nation’s Largest JEWISH CLASSIFIEDS (PAGE 45)
the
ewish Voice J Deuteronomy 32:1
M AY T H E E A RT H H E A R T H E WO R D S O F M Y M O U TH
February, 26 2010 | 5 Adar 5770
Vol. 11, Iss. 9
www.JewishVoiceNY.com
Jews: THE NEW PURIM STORY Obama Unveils Travelers of OF THE MIDDLE EAST Updated Plan the World To Overhaul US Health Care
BY SHMUEL BEN ELIZIER More than any other people the Jewish nation is a nation of travelers. For 2000 years we have been traveling from region to region, country to country. We have created communities from across the globe using commerce and trade as a catalyst for our migrations. hese days Jews travel all over the world not just for business but for the most part they travel for pleasure. While it is said that only 15% of the American public has a passport, the Jewish community has a much higher percentage of international travels. The Jewish Chabad Movement has become famous in that wherever a person can travel; there most probably will be a Chabad House to help the Jewish traveler. This holds true, for nearly every travel destination even those that are not usually associated with Judaism. In Mexico, China, India, the Caribbean, South Africa or South America, Jews can be found exploring the history and natural wonders of the world.
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Purim in pre-war Poland, as depicted in the book “They Called Me Mayer July” by Mayer Kirshenblatt. BY JV STAFF In the well known Biblical story of Purim the evil Haman wanted to destroy all the Jews in the Persian Empire then consisting of 127 countries from Hodu till Kush. fter getting permission from King Achashverosh he set his plan into motion. A willing world made no efforts to stop Haman from his plan to kill all the Jews in their midst. Haman himself built a fifty cubit gallows with which to kill Mordechai the leader of the Jews. The end of the story was a reversal of fortune for Haman. His plan was revealed and the King gave the Jews permission to defend themselves against anyone that stood against them. The very gallows that Haman had built for Mordechia was used to hang him and his ten sons. Today the Jews are faced with a new Haman, the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Former Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef called the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
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a modern Haman, equating him with the villain of the biblical Purim story. “Just like in the days of the first Haman, we have had Hamans in all the generations. Today we have a new Haman in Persia who is threatening us with his nuclear weapons. Their swords will strike their own hearts, and their bows will be destroyed,” Rabbi Yosef said. The nuclear weapons that Iran is preparing and promising to use against Israel and the west, are similar to the threats that Haman made against the Jewish people approximately 2,500 years ago. Just as it was back then there is no real opposition from the world other then sanctions that have been bogged down due to failure of the international community to come to an agreement. The Jewish Israeli government stands alone. MK Dr. Aryeh Eldad, in speeches he made during a recent trip to the US said that Israel has the capability to defend itself against the Iraninan nuclear threat. “I felt the warmth of the tools that we have, with my own hands.” he said. “Israel can and will not shirk from its responsibility to defend its people. Eldad did not say specifically what tools Israel has at their disposal but remember Haman and his gallows.
BY TANGI QUEENER President Barack Obama unveiled his own plan to overhaul the US health care system in a lastditch effort to break the deadlock in Congress and prevent Republicans from derailing his agenda. he Obama plan, a combination of bills already adopted by the Senate and the House of Representatives, aims to cover 31 million uninsured Americans and includes tougher crackdowns on exorbitant premium hikes by insurers. Republicans attacked the proposals as simply part of a choreographed attempt by the White House to outmaneuver their opposition and force legislation through Congress upon an unwilling American public. As promised, the plan was released 72 hours before Obama holds a live, televised meeting with Republican leaders who have sought to stall his agenda ahead of crucial mid-term elections in November.
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