Posted By simmons on April 8, 2014
The Shot: Women Activists in Palestine #39;s West Bank The face of protest in Palestine is changing. Here, photojournalist Mati Milstein brings this evolution to life with an image he took of a woman #39;s quest to b... By: Maddie Smith
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Posted By richards on April 8, 2014
Displeased With Arrival of April 15? Take It Up With Abraham
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A Land Divided: Abraham and Lot divide the land and, in some way, begin to invent the concept of taxation.
Like it or not and who among us actually likes it come April 15, you will need to have filed your 2013 income tax return with the Internal Revenue Service. Perhaps one way to feel better about the painful and often inconvenient process is to recognize that it has roots in the biblical concept of tithing. Tithing was something like the original flat tax, meant to redistribute wealth in a more equitable fashion, from each according to his means, to each according to his needs or, as it says in Deuteronomy 16:17, Everyone according to what he can give according to the blessing that God gives you.
Tithing is first mentioned in Genesis 14:17-20, when Abraham, having returned triumphant from battle against a bunch of kings who had kidnapped his nephew Lot and taken him to Damascus, was given a a tenth of everything by the king of Salem in recompense. Abrahams grandson, Jacob, picked up the tradition, dedicating a full tenth of what God had provided to him for Gods house, the precursor to the Temple.
Later on, as the Jewish people began to form social, political and religious structures, Moses set up a more detailed program of tithing in support of the Levites, the priestly class, as a way of funding the sacrificial system linked to the agricultural economy that was the engine of ancient Israel. The Levites were to receive one-tenth of all produce, flocks and cattle. God chimed in on this, stating with emphasis: To the sons of Levi I have given every tithe in Israel a heritage in exchange for the service that they perform. And anticipating some of the more inscrutable rules of the IRS tax code, the Lord whom you would think has anything He could possibly want or need, or the means to get it made it obligatory that the Levites themselves pass along a tenth of their tithe received from the children of Israel to God Himself. Eventually, the beneficiaries of the tithes were expanded beyond the Levites to include orphans, widows, and proselytes, setting up a system foreshadowing our contemporary welfare state.
The prophets and the authors of the Talmud have a field day (pun intended) with the matter of tithes, scolding those who would seek to avoid paying their fair share of taxes (although not necessarily through dubious deductions for business expenses or via overseas bank accounts in Babylon, for example, beyond the reach of the IRS of ancient Israel). The prophet Malachi comes across as a veritable IRS auditor when he says, Since the days of your forefathers you have veered away from my laws and you have not observed them Should a person steal from God, as you steal from me? And you say, How have we stolen from you? [By withholding] the tithes and the terumah offerings! Withholding income, of course, is one of the key tools of tax preparers and the IRS. Apparently the populace in Malachis time included a sizable contingent of tax resisters.
The federal income tax in the United States was first levied by the Revenue Act of 1861, to help fund the Civil War. After various repeals, reinstatements and constitutional challenges to the tax, the 16th Amendment was finally ratified in 1913, giving Congress the legal authority to tax all incomes, as well as providing a new source of government funding and a potential tool for redistributing income and social engineering.
In case one is intent on doing everything he can to avoid paying taxes, keep in mind that the Talmud is unequivocal about the obligation to obey the law and pay taxes. As Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz writes in the Jewish Journal, The principle of dina dmalchuta dina explicitly includes tax money (Bava Kamma 113a, Hilchot Malveh ve-Loveh 27:1), and tax evasion is prohibited by Jewish law (Hilchot Gezelah ve-Avedah 5:11). As tax evasion is also a felony according to secular law, and evokes harsh criticism from the public, Jewish law also describes it as a chillul Hashem (desecration of G-ds Name).
But just because you pay your full share of taxes, dont think youre off the hook for the mitzvah of tzedakah. Contemporary sages make a distinction between ones obligation to the king and ones duty of tzedakah. Consult a tax professional or a rabbi or, preferably, a tax professional who is a rabbi as to whether or not tzedakah should count as a deduction against taxable income.
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Posted By richards on April 8, 2014
How to Say or Pronounce Synagogue
This video shows you how to say or pronounce Synagogue. How would you say Synagogue?
By: howtosaywords
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Posted By richards on April 8, 2014
Anti-Semitic Salute: French court convicts Moroccan for quenelle salute outside synagogue
A French court has issued a landmark conviction to a 28-year-old Morocco native for performing the controversial quenelle salute whilst stood in front of Bor...
By: JewishNewsOne
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Anti-Semitic Salute: French court convicts Moroccan for quenelle salute outside synagogue - Video
Posted By richards on April 8, 2014
If holiday shopping begins with Thanksgiving, shul shopping, or synagogue shopping, begins in the spring. Now is the timein Tampa when Jews begin to look for a synagogue to which to belong. They often seek a spiritual home that is akin to a favorite vacation destination.
Everybody wants to enjoy the time they spend away from the routine of daily life, and the synagogue can provide that kind of experience right here in town, explains Hazzan Jodi Sered-Lever, the founding spiritual leader of Congregation Mekor Shalom in Carrollwood, which is a Conservative congregation. Just as someone eagerly anticipates going on vacation, if the synagogue meets people where they are at, folks can be just as excited about connecting with other Jews in a nurturing, calm, and engaging spiritual community.
Its with that in mind that Mekor Shalomhas put together the top 5 reasons to check out Mekor Shalomin Tampaas anext synagogue destination:
1. You matter at Mekor Shalom. Tampa Bays newest synagogue located in Carrollwood believes that each persons presence makes a difference in this sacred community of sacred relationships.
2. The Voluntary Financial Commitment respects you and your personal choice as to how much you are able to invest in your synagogue. No traditional dues structure, no pressure, and no discomfort.
3. The warm and cozy synagogue facility enhances the welcoming energy and the smiles that greet you as you walk through the doors. Every interaction is an opportunity for a meaningful connection.
4. A Conservative Tampa congregation that embraces diversity including multi-faith and multi-racial households, LGBT couples and families, and individuals at every age and station in life. Mekor Shalom accepts everyone and celebrates each person.
5. Engaging services, programs, and educational experiences that make you want to come back again and again. Simply put: Judaism and spirituality coming together in a big hug!
Feeling welcome and respected, not getting overcharged, calm surroundings, and positive experiences definitely sounds like a special place for a vacation. Your spiritual home awaits you at Congregation Mekor Shalom.
For more information about Mekor Shalom in Tampa, pleasecall 813-963-1818 or visit http://www.mekorshalom.org.
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Posted By richards on April 8, 2014
Radlett synagogue given defibrillator by bridge club donations
3:40pm Tuesday 8th April 2014 in News By Charlotte Ikonen
A synagogue in Radlett now has two defibrillators thanks to a donation from a local bridge group.
Radlett and Bushey Reform synagogue was given 700 from the U3A Bridge Group and purchased the defibrillators through a scheme set up by the Magen David Adom, the Israeli medical emergency service.
A defibrillator is a machine that delivers an electric shock to restart the heart when someone is having a cardiac arrest.
About 60,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the UK every year.
Madeleine Turner at the synagogue said: "Whilst we hope never to need to use these particular gifts, we are very grateful to the bridge group for them."
The U3A Beginners Bridge is one of a number of bridge groups that meets at the synagogue.
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Radlett synagogue given defibrillator by bridge club donations
Posted By richards on April 8, 2014
LA JOLLA The former executive director of the Congregation Beth El synagogue in La Jolla admitted Tuesday to embezzling more than $16,000 to cover his own credit card bill.
Eric Levine pleaded guilty in San Diego federal court to one count of wire fraud. He is set to be sentenced in June.
The U.S. attorneys office said Levine oversaw Beth Els annual budget of about $2 million and had access to the synagogues bank accounts, credit card accounts and bookkeeping records.
He worked as the executive director from 2007 to 2013.
On Dec. 13, 2011, he transferred $16,712 from Beth El to pay his own credit card bill, court records say.
Levine was allowed to remain free on $25,000 bond, secured by his signature, until he is sentenced.
Temple President Sonia Israel sent a letter to the temple congregation in February last year, saying Levine actually misappropriated more than $390,000 in temple funds over five years.
Israels letter said she and other Beth El executives confronted Levine in January of 2013 with evidence of embezzlement. He had left Beth El for another job nearly two months earlier.
He admitted that the deceptive record keeping and illegal transfer of funds was intentional, Israels letter said. He then apologized and did not deny any of the accusations.
Beth El Rabbi Philip Graubart also wrote to the congregation, saying, We were victimized by a skilled liar. We will carry the brokenness with us for a long time.
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Posted By richards on April 8, 2014
E revo vs e maxx traxxass
E maxx play like e revo.
By: tomer ashkenazi
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Posted By simmons on April 8, 2014
New Russian Parliament Bill Would Make Holocaust Denial Illegal New Russian Parliament Bill Would Make Holocaust Denial Illegal. By: Ganganam Aarya
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New Russian Parliament Bill Would Make Holocaust Denial Illegal - Video
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