is a lot bigger than his brain!

The worst we get are the fake, Israel-hating, too-good-for-you trash from Moscow and Odessa. Get a clue.

I have no problem with requiring immigrants under the Law of Return to be Jewish or to swear loyalty to the Israeli state; however, I do have an issue with requiring people to learn the Hebrew language before becoming citizens. (By this I mean something beyond brachas or the V'ahavta.) The reason is that English has become a major language of the Jewish people, just as Yiddish has been and which Ladino once was. (This is what happens when America becomes one of the two primary countries in which Jews are to be had. Also, there are, in lesser numbers, British Jews, Australian Jews, and Canadian Jews. Furthermore, Israel DOES have a bit of British colonial heritage, so there is English-language signage, etc., to be had.) So why not amend that proposal to require knowledge of Hebrew, English, Yiddish, Russian, or some other language common among Jews?

I am sure you don't remember me, but many years ago I met you at your home in Ranana. You told me that although you had converted and attended an orthodox shul, you still believe that Jesus was the messiah. Needless to say, I was floored. It doesn't matter how many kosher conversions you go through. if you still believe that, you are not a Jew.

You have misunderstood and misrepresented. Get your facts straight and stop with the leshon ha ra!!! I said nothing to you that isn't in our website and in my books!!! If you say otherwise, you lie!!!

Your English is excellent - no need to apologize. Yes, Jews have disobeyed many times in the past. And yes, Israel has embraced the despicable Left for far too long. But what I meant was that our forefathers were predominantly pagans and believers in pagan gods in Egypt, Sinai and later on in Israel whereas the Israelite religion of Yahwe was crystallized among the Cohanim - the Priesthood and among the kings - and not always among the Kings - Saul, David and Solomon come to mind as do Omri the great king of northern kingdom of Israel, that did not show any interests or efforts to stay true to Judaism and often embraced pagan gods. Archaeological evidence suggests (pottery, remnants of personal belongings in old households and so on) reveal pagan inclinations among the Israelites. But the majority of them accepted the monotheist faith first after the Babylonian exile. For sources I refer to "A History of the Jews" by Solomon Grayzel and "A History of the Jewish People" edited by H.H. Ben Sasson at the Hebrew University. The first books covers the Babylonian exile until the 1960s and 1970s whereas the second book covers Hebrew migration from Mesopotamia into the Land of Canaan and until the 1960s and 1970s and the Arab-Israeli wars. My post is merely a factual statement - not a suggestion, opinion, recommendation or ideological point.

i think you are going to far with it . Ethnic Jews , 100 % , let me tell you that there are less than you think , much less . Since how many generations can you say that you are an Ethnic Jew ? On my father's side i can say , more than 20 generations Jewish , on my mother's side , certainly six . But before ??? who knows ? What i'm saying is that a convert can follow the Jewish religion , but this piece of paper does'nt make him belong to the Jewish people . To become a member of the Jewish people you need some generations . Ethnically PURE people could exist on a remote island , or in a inaccessible forest , but NOT in the Jewish people .

As i lived for most of my life in west Europe , i have seen many buildings set up there . I have seen a school complex build next to my home , so "mechanised" that they even managed to make a hole in my wall [ they paid for the damage caused ] . The only thing possible to make it more "industrial" is to use prefab walls and so . But i don't see the quantity of small entrepreneurs here be able to achieve this . Anywhere , be it in the USA , Europe , or here , the building industry uses much cheap labor , done by immigrants , not Israelis . We are not living in the 50's anymore , when Israelis were PROUD to be builders .

What I told you is the way I know,comming from the first book of Torah,which comes before ..."A History of the Jewish People" edited by H.H. Ben Sasson :-) But ,I have this book at home ,and am about to read it in sometime near anyway.

Charles - I think you misunderstand me when I use the term "ethnic Jews". Maybe I wasn't exact or clear enough. Ethnic Jews to me are Jews that have had a predominantly Jewish past and forefathers - even if a couple of their forefathers might have been non Jewish. No need to tell me that. And ethnic Jew will be regarded by me as an ethnic Jew even if he had a Spanish or Polish or German ancestor hundreds of years ago. If his ancestors are predominantly Jewish - he is Jewish. Yes, we are in agreement on converts -they are not ethnic Jews.

like i said, find ONE credible rabbi TODAY who endorses your teachings. if you can. (and what's with the "stop with the leshon ha ra!!!" ??? you notice the speck in your brother's eye but not notice the log in your own?)

Such a thing you can't forget . But he , LIAR # 1 , want's to forget it . He only remembers what is in his favor , and will NOT answer precise questions .

When I say "mechanization of construction industry" I mean machines replacing an army of low paid guest workers. I grew up in Western Europe and the construction industry is indeed mechanized. Israel has the money, the know how and skills to do it. There is no lack of skills or technology - only lack of political will. By mechanizing the construction industry, we will solve partially the problems that this article addresses. 1) Less guest workers in Israel would be needed. 2) Construction would be faster and more efficient.

Small building firms can't afford to buy heavy machinery . I repeat it : i HAVE NEVER seen heavy machinery on building sites , only on the roads . And with all the political will in the world , you can't oblige a boss to make impossible , for him , investments . What takes the most time in the building is the finishing , i don't see machinery doing this . Also regarding your non "ethnic" Jews we have here , would you clean the streets ? do you see many volunteers to clean the malls ? to clean the dirth of the "bate shimoush" ? Who will fill those low paid jobs ? You are completely wrong on both issues .

I said nothing about cleaning streets and shopping malls. I never said ONE word about cleaning the streets. You did. I am all the time referring to the construction industry. You speak like a fatalist. What would actually stop those small firms from growing? If you have a free market and free competition, the small construction companies WILL GROW - no matter you personal ideological standpoint. Second, maybe you can volunteer to clean up the streets Charles? If you ask a rude question you will get a rude response dear Charles. And no Charles, I am 100% right on all accounts. If Europe can mechanize its construction industry in a free market, so can Israel. And Israel has had so far one of the biggest public spheres in the economy in the Western world. Israel needs to deregulate and liberalize the economy, and I unlike the majority of the talk backers in here, I speak as a professional. I am an economist so I know professionally what I am talking about. Much of the inertia in Israel is due to the GOVERNMENT and its intervention. The government was not willing to privatize firms for decades and the governments of the past were not willing to build desalination plants along the Mediterranean to the same degree that the experts would have wanted it. If you deregulate the market - there will be competition. If you have competition - you have winners and losers - and some companies and firms will grow in size and financial capacity and some companies will simply die away. And when the companies grow, they can afford to buy the equipment that you were referring to. I hate to spoil your "argument" but there are real Jews inside Israel that perform menial tasks on the streets and shopping centers. Let me ask you a hypothetical question: say a huge tsunami would flood South East Asia again and the population would be extinct (God forbid) - would you still use the argument of bringing in more foreigners to clean our streets? Also street cleaning can be mechanized and I have indeed seen it in Israel, America and Europe. Unlike you, I present realistic solutions - I am not stuck in fatalist defaitist thinking with inertia in ideas and lack of will to come up with conclusions. Your usual arguments lack facts and simply repeat information for which there is no proof for.

I have seen a reporting , a long one , on the hughe building site in one of the emirates , a big thing . Well they use VAST quantities of cheap not specialised workforce . And those were NOT small societies . Don't come to tell me that in Euriope they mechanised the building industry , i lived most of my life there . If after all those years we have'nt big construction firms , when will we have ? There is Solel Bone , but i don't see much of their projects here . When there is the name of the builder of a building , i have'nt seen their name yet . Regarding cleaning , i only refer to your writing about those NOT ethnic Jews from Russia and Ethiopia . For you they had'nt to be allowed here . That's why i asked if you would replace them . I did'nt say that they are NOT welcome , i'm not a racist , so i'll not take their job . Do you have "proofs" of mechanisation ?

But have you seen the results ? they do it here in the Chaim Ozer street . Sad to say , not clean at all . In most of the streets there are road-sweepers , they are those you dislike . Have you given ONE fact ? Nothing .

more than 50 years ago , i was working in a electronic society . We received a new technician , with some nice diploms . I began to criticise the schemes of a transmitter . "this condenser should have a greater capacity for this reason" . Yes said our head technician , someone WITHOUT any diplom , but with a vast experience , you are right . he gave him 5 reasons why he did put a greater condenser , and our diplomed guy shut his mouth . To say that it's not because you are an economist that you know something about building industry , or street cleaning . Over and out , if you , "Mr economist" , know what it means

Germany has a law of return for "ethnic" Germans . This "law of return" counts also for Jews . They are'nt ethnic Germans , they have a big different past , different religion , and so on . Again something WRONG you wrote .

can be mechanised ? in wich job machinery can replace humans , not vague words , FACTS . You , an "economist who knows about what he talks" show your knowledge

First, Jews are not and never have been a "race" according to any definition of the term...so calling a law that says the Jewish state should grant automatic citizenship only to Jews "racist" is not only inaccurate, it is by definition, a lie. Second, this discussion pertains exclusively to the granting of _automatic_ citizenship, not to the granting of citizenship overall. Whom does Jordan automatically grant citizenship, and how as that any less descriminatory? Thirdly, it is pretty laughable for someone from a country that still has the death penalty on the books for anyone who sells land to a Jew to call another country's laws about the granting of citizenship "racist". That's right, your protest is hollow and laughable. Get your facts right before you make any more ignorant statements.

No I am not wrong dear Charles. The Law of Return in Germany is for ethnic Germans - the Germans that lived in Poland, Russia and eastern Europe.

Dear Charles - I see mechanized roadsweepers in Herzliya where I live. You and I probably come from different universes. And as I said before: You always focus on what's negative and never what's positive. Even if you would see mechanized street cleaning - you would probably ignore it. And as I said before: privatize street cleaning, privatize the construction industry and you will see remarkable results.What is state run in this country is usually decrepit and what is privately run is usually in very good condition. Examples: private businesses, hotels, consulting firms, high tech firms and so on. Yes, Charles, I deeply dislike people like you - people that are thinking inside the box and people that are incapable of being constructive, creative and inventive. You reference to the construction industry in Western Europe is no fact - its a statement. Second: both people and machines can make errors but ultimately people are running machines. So why would you trust guest workers or anyone else for that matter?

Charles - do you have proof of lack of mechanization in Europe? I have seen none? Dubai? Dubai is not Europe and Dubai is a developing nation. Yes, were I grew up mechanized industry is indeed a fact - and many natives work in theme. Concerning Ethiopian and Russian Jews. I never said that Russian Jews are not Jewish. I said Russians are not Jewish. Russian and Jewish is not the same thing. Most Russian Jews are Jewish - including my relatives. Many Russian Jews have indeed menial tasks in Israel - yes. And they are Jews. And you have sabras with menial tasks. All Jews cannot be academics. Israel has the third highest percentage of academic people in the world and Israel's has more than 30% of academic people. In USA which is nr1 in the world, it is even higher - close to 40%. Therefore, there are many Jews themselves that work with non intellectual jobs and have to perform menial tasks - cleaning, construction, selling, restaurant business and so on. The Ethiopians call themselves Falashim or Falasha which means "stranger" so they themselves admit that they are strangers and different from other Jews. Yes, many Ethiopian "Jews" perform menial tasks - but you regard them as Jews and you claim that only or predominantly non Jews perform menial duties.

Charles I am not really interested in your past - okay? And yes, as an economist -which I have in common with other economists - I am schooled in economic theories which cover the economy at large - everything from rocket science to cleaning the streets - you seem to love to speak about the last subject for some reason. Privatization and deregulation is good for the economy because competition forces firms to achieve good results and if they do not - other competitors will take over and obtain the profit. If the economy or a part of the economy is ineffective - the first question should be why? As Mei Yaochen said in Sun Tzu's "The Art Of War": "Great wisdom is not obvious, great merit is not advertised. When you see the subtle, it is easy to win-what has it to do with bravery or cleverness?" Does this mean anything to you? You react on events and take them for granted. But you don't analyze the background giving existence to those events. Events do not happen for n o reason. Understanding the facts behind is knowledge and wisdom. At least if you ask Mei Yaochen and Sun Tzu. Usually where the economy is ineffective - we can suspect that the government is somehow involved in or is subsidizing a certain activity in the economy.

I did'nt even talk about Dubai , there are other Emirates . Dudai is NOT a third world country anymore , Mr Economist ! The Building industry in Israel not private ? As an "economist" that's a great saying , but shows the lack of knowledge . Maybe Solel Boneh is'nt a private society , but you have to know , mr economist , that they too want to make money , and if they can save money by changing their methods they will do it . The sidewalks are mostly sweeped by people , not machines . And even machines need people who finish the job , they can't clean in the corners and so . No Mr economist , there is NO mechanisation of the building industry in Europe . But tell me HOW they are "mechanised" , that has not to be difficult for you mr economist . It was not my past that i wanted to tell you , it was only to show that a diplom is not enough , but you as an "economist can't maybe not understand it .

The Ethiopians were called "falashas" in Ethiopia , there they were strangers . Not here . When you talk about the Russians , it's about those living here , and you said that they are not Jewish . Some are not , that's certain . But not all .

so even they are privatised . Wich are the NON privatised building societies in Israel ? as an "economist" you should know , or do you talk "in de luft arain" , Yiddish that means approximatively : STOUIYOTH

You dislike me ? the same as for everyone who contradicts you . You as an "economist" told that Dubai was a third world country , yes , their GDP is just below 40,000 US$ , every third world country would like to have this GDP , even Israel , not a third world , would like . They have less than 20 % locals , all the others are expatriates [ wikipedia ] The Falashas did'nt call themselve so , this i knew . They were called so by the locals , a pejorative name . So mr economist , in those two shtuioth you showed only your IGNORANCE , not to talk about all the others . Only if you answer my two questions is it necessary to react . How to mechanise the building industry and wich building societies are to be privatised here .

Dubai and the United Arab Emirates are not developed nations despite the high per capita GDP. Per capita GDP is calculated by the total GDP divided by the total population. But the average GDP can be manipulated by a few rich among many poor. The more correct term would be the median GDP. Second, United Arab Emirates is "rich" due to oil incomes and due to oil incomes the Gulf States don't need to tax their population heavily. The money is growing in their bank accounts due to oil - not due to high percentage of academic people nor due to high tech or scientific achievements. Technologically, educationally and scientifically, United Arab Emirates is still a developing country, for the average GDP s not the only criteria for defining the level of development. And I repeat: I have indeed seen mechanized construction in Western Europe. It's not really my fault that you haven't seen it. Having ONE private construction firm does not mean that other firms are private. And logically, if the firm you referred to would be the only private construction firm in Israel, and if we also suppose that there are no state owned construction firms, we have to assume that the company in question has monopoly - wouldn't we? And, Charles, relax, this is not a war zone. Don't take this tone with me. That is the reason I dislike you. You can indeed mechanize cleaning and construction industry, but it is not possible to mechanize elderly care. To me it is common sense. Our society is very mechanized - everything from agriculture to construction to communication. Claiming that our society is not mechanized is like claiming that we haven't made the transition from horse cart and walking to modern communications.