The Baal Shem Tov, or Besht —  the founder of Chasidism — 
met the soul of the Messiah during an ascent to heaven. 
The Besht asked him, "When will the Master come?" 
The Messiah answered, "When your wellsprings break forth to the outside!" 
(from a letter written by the Besht to his brother-in-law about one of his soul ascents) 

Where are the Jewish Greens? – Devorah Brous

Where are the Jewish Greens?
Devorah Brous

This week is Tu B'Shvat - the Jewish Earth Day that is traditionally marked by planting trees. In advance of JNF's tree planting activities this Tu B'Shvat, the village of Al Arakib was once again demolished. For the ninth time. This time, rubber bullets, tear gas and batons were used by Israeli police in riot gear. Leading Bedouin activists, Jewish professors and civil rights activists were arrested during non-violent protests over the past few days in the escalating yet still largely unseen civil rights struggle in the Negev. Bedouin are now to be fined the costs incurred during the demolitions...

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For more info on Al-Arakib go to: http://www.bedouinjewishjustice.blogspot.com.

Design in progress © Rabbi David Mevorach Seidenberg 2006