what about the pilgrimage hundred of Haredi take to Kiev every year bejore Rosh Hashana?? One year, while visiting my son in Jerusalem before Rosh Hashana, I could not find an El Al flight so i had to take another one (Aeroswit) who made a 2h-stop in Kiev. Lo and behold, for the short time remaining on my long trip, I was sitting in "a sea of Haredim", that's all I could see on the plane and they seemed as uncomfortable in my presence as I was in theirs. So don't tell me that travelling overseas to a tomb, even of a great rabbi is idolatry or do we live by double standard here? Just checking!

'Jewish sparkle' doesn't sound at all like "chose life" as described in Torah. It is Asur to consult the dead. Use toothpaste if you want a sparkle and chose life if you want blessings and life. I would never board a flight with these high profile planes. G-d tends to make examples of these golden calf crowds in news blurbs on CNN. I agree - paganism and anyone profiting from it knowingly is guilty of selling idols.

Doesnt this Reabbi Sherlo know that "mitoch sh'lo l'smah bo l'smah"! This is just a place for them to start to relate to what Judaism has to say about life and death not to serve as the religion itself.

jesusalen is the revelation of the truth jesus messiah, apocalypse 21

Firstly you are a misnagid, secondly, a chutzpadik! How do you know what these businessmen do or don't do spritually. the Holy torah teaches to judge everyone l'kav zechut. Maybe you should visit a rzadik's grave and ask mechilla!

what is left for Jews if Sherlo ban both?

Finally a Rabbi brave enough to tell the truth. Of course its Idolatry, just as calling Sneerson the Mashiach or lighting candles at the tomb of some long dead Rabbi and praying to them to speak to G-d and ask Him for a baby. Of course its idolatry. Even putting a note in the Western wall is idolatry. Its ridiculous and hypocritical of Rabbis to suggest these pagan customs are part of Jewish belief, just as a rabbi who smokes damages his body intentionally but condemns people who commit suicide which is what they are doing themselves by smoking because of the huge evidence available shows that tobacco smoking causes cancer. Well done that Rav for speaking some sense and actually knowing the Torah!!

If you ask ANY Christian "Do you know that you are actually an idolater because you pray in front of carved figure?" he will promptly respond "Oh, I do not pray TO THAT FIGURE, that figure helps me concentrate". If you ask him why does he pray to saints instead of G-d, he will tell you: "Because they are holy, and by praying to them, I am ASKING THEM TO SAY A GOOD WORD TO G-D for me!" Now, last time I checked with my rabbi why are people praying on tzadikim's graves - I got the SAME, not similar, SAME explanation. Therefore, you can say whatever you want, but praying on ANYTHING or to ANYBODY other than G-d Himself is an avoda tzara. And I dare to say - this is among others a good portion of reason why we have problems in our lives. Whoever has ANY doubts, let us remember 2 cases: 1) Moshe Rabenu, whom anybody, from Maimonides to Aria haKadosh are just boys in the quire, DID NOT ALLOW to be interned by the Israel and DID NOT wrote a single marking of his grave! Now if somebody here has doubts "Oh, maybe he didn't know where is his grave" - then I suggest that he checks his birth certificate, since he is not Jewish (Jews believe that everything was revealed to Moshe Rabenu). Therefore - he PURPOSELY did not allow his grave to be marked! Why? That he do not become an idol and his grave a place of worship! 2) Let us remember that King Hezekia the Just, in the moment an object of uttermost holiness - a Nehushtan! - became an idol, he destroyed it! What does it tell you? That when a blessed and consecrated pbject is in danger of becoming an idol, it must be destroyed! How much then we should be on our alerts with GRAVES, what reminds of Christian practice? But the answer is simple - this is MONEY DRIVEN! Remove money that is made with this idolatrous tourism, and you will remove idolatry, even from the mouths of "prominent" rabbis who protect this abominable practice.

Ancient Jew's were guilty of it and we haven't changed much religiously since then so why so surprised? Anyone with a hamsa or bowing down to the Shekhinah erev Shabbat is kidding themselves if they think they're not practising paganism by the Torahs standards. There is no mention of the Shekhinah anywhere in the entire Tanakh. But who takes that old riddle book literally anyway. It's forbidden to read it literally, by authority of the rabbis you know ;^) They say doing so makes you a heretic. But apparently there's 70 other interpretations that are perfectly acceptable, so what do I know. If someone can please show me a book of a compilation of the 70 interpretations of the Torah, that would be great. Thanks, With a system so loosely set up, of course you're going to get splinter groups absorbing cute rituals from external sources from all over. Suggested reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanite_religion The Hebrew Goddess, 3rd Edition -By Raphael Patai Jewish Magic and Superstition - A Study in Folk Religion -By Joshua Trachtenberg Shana Tova and don't forget to do tashlich and swing the voodoo chicken around your heads. (oopps, I mean Kaporot)

To all the serious talkbacker's postings, don't get so worked up; how can you take anything serious from Ynet about Religious issues?

... YOUR REAL PROBLEM IS VERY NATIONAL ISSUE NOT IN VISITING TOMBS , PLEASE !!! Israelis should make a rhetorical call to treat new citizens as equals .Once the new immigrants become citizens, they must be treated as equally as native-born Isrelis, or your society will be fracture . Israeli society is getting fractured due to discrimination against new citizens. Much will depend on what we understand by the term “society”. The encroachment of foreigners could lead to unhappiness and dissatisfaction among local Isareli towards the former. A possible “us Isareli” versus “them foreigners” situation could result. If there is any fracturing, it will not be amongst existing Israelis, but rather between Isareli and foreigners. Thus, the society of Israel will remain intact, but relations between Isarelis and foreigners will hit a low. However, if we consider society at the level that includes Israel, Permanent Residents and foreigners, there will undoubtedly be fracturing. There will not be much of a fracturing problem between new Israel citizens and existing israelis since the former would have been integrated into the Isareli society and share similar ethos and traits with typical Israeli upon receiving their citizenship, which allows them to better relate to other Israeli. The problem will be more acute between foreigners (those on work visas) and Israelis BENJAMIN SINGAPORE

the only reason why Rachel wasnt burried at Meara Hamachpela , is that the jewish people should prAy at her grave while going into exile......Kaleb one of the spies in the torah went to meara hamachpela and prayed at abraham´s grave......WE DON'T PRAY TO THE RIGHTEOUS WE PRAY TO G-D....BUT THEIR GRAVE IS A HOLY SITE LIKE A SYNAGOGUE.......AND WE COULD EVEN ASK THEM (THE RIGHTEOUS)TO PRAY IN OUR BEHALF ........NEVERTHELESS WE CONTINUE TO PRAY TO G-D .....IT ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY AND NEVER WAS IDOLATRY THIS IS THE JEWISH CUSTOM!!!!! i don´t even know why we should discuss this in first place if it is such a known matter....and the Rabbi yuval didn´t refer to praying at holy sites like the headlines try to misguide.....he just said (meant) that people should do a little more for g-d...and this is obvious

Is Mr. Sherlo jaloeus? he should not interfer between ben adam lammakom. this shows arrogance and it is chillul Hahsem! what happened to Tshuva Mr. Shrlo. this ELUL if you forgot it.

NOT IMPRESSED WITH THIS GUY. EVERY RABBI IN THE WORLD TELLS US TO GO TO THE GRAVES OF THE ZTADEEQEEM. AND THIS GUY IS NOT IMPRESSED. NO ONE IS LOOKING TO IMPRESS *YOU*! AND THOSE BUSINESS MEN... ARE TRYING A LITTLE MORE THEN YESTERDAY... MAN YOU ISRAELIS LOSE IT ONCE YOU DRINK THAT WATER ... ONLY WISH YOU WERE AS HOLY AS THE LAND...

Quote :”… all wrapped up in a package of faith, mysticism and secret. Is that not the definition of idolatry?" Idolatry means to worship that which is not God. The words ‘not God’ refers to : your own body or your wife’s body or some politician or some rich man or some big scientist or some beautiful people or some famous people or some powerful man. To worship them is called idolatry. And idolatry is ALWAYS forbidden. BUT to worship God, the Supreme Lord, is NOT called idolatry. Every human being MUST worship God the Supreme Lord -- it is mandatory. BTW whether one believes in God or does not believe in God -- God exists. God’s existence is NOT dependant on one’s believes. God’s existence is beyond one’s believes. It is not that by denying God’s existence God ceases to exist. One should not think like that.

I could never understand the rationale of LEAVING Eretz Yisroel, in order to get closer to Hashem? Isn't Har Habayit close enough?. Never mind leaving wives and children alone for the Chag...

The Western Wall the remnant of an outer wall of the temple. Period. It is not holy. Somehow it has become the holiest spot in Judaism. Since the destruction of the 2nd temple there is no holiest spot in Judaism. We should stop this idolatry.

WHY IS THAT YOU WANT TO IMPOSE YOU RELIGIOUS VIEWS ON THE NON- RELIGIOUS? wHY I STHAT YOU DONT HAVE MULTI-DIVERSITY? WHY IS THAT YOU MAKE FUSS ABOUT THOSE JEWS WHO TRAVEL ABROAD..TO da da dA..ETC.. THE JEWISH ALAMANAC IS FULL OF RECORD WHERE JEWS WERE PRAYING FROM PLACES THAT YOU CAN IMAGING ( MAYBE YOU IDIOTS DONT KNOW HISTORY) THEY WERE PRAYING/DAVEN FROM GRAVES, TOMBS, DUNGEON, CHURCHES, BOATS, SEWERAGE, EVEN FROM PIGS FARM. EVEN BESIDE A PIG. YOU KNOW THE UNDUE HARDSHIP MY GRANDPA WENT THORUGH IN THE HOLOCAUST TIME. YOU SHOULD BE SPITTING ON THE FACE OF THE JERMANS NOT SPITTING ON JEWS. IF THE VISIT OVERSEAS TOMB TO PRAY THERE THAT DOESNOPT MEAN THEY ARE PRAYING TO THE TOMB. tHEY ARE DIRECTING THEIR MIND TO HASHEM( KOTEL) FORM THERE. tHEY EXPERIENCE SOME SENSE OF LOVE, CONNECTION. bUT IF THEY TREAT THE TOMB AS AS HAVING SOME MIRACLE LIKE SUPERNATURAL POWER. IT IS CLEARLY WRONG AND IT IS IDOLTARY. THAT EXPLAAIN WHY MOSHE TOMB WAS NEVER FOUND TO DATE. SO PLEASE, YOU CANNOT JUDGE WHAT IS IN THE MIND OF THOSE JEWS. SOMETIME YOU JUST GOT TO SHUT YOU MOUTH THAN COMMITTING BALSPHEMY AGAINST hASHEM AND THE JEWS. RABBIS PLEASE SONT MAKE A MOKERY OF YOUR SELF ! THIS IS BECOMING OF HALAKIC MASTERS ! BENJAMIN SINGAPORE

LET THEM FOLLOW THEIR GODS( PRURAL) WE JEWS WILL FOLLOW OU G-D ( SINGULAR) WELL CHILDREN LISTEN, YOU FOLLOW OUR ONE AND ONLY G-D NON OTHER ! LET THEM FOLLOE THEIR GODS, THIS IS A DECLARATION FOUND RECORDED IN THE BOOK OF MICAH ( THE MINOR PROPHET). PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND ! BEN SINGAPORE OK I GO NOW. I WISH ALL SHANA TOVA EARLIER, I MAY BE BUSY , I AM RUNNING ON MAD THIGHT SCHEDULE. CHEER : -) AND DONT FORGET ME HERE IN SINGAPORE !

WHY THE HELL CAN'T WE PRAY IN CHURCHES? I have here arguments like Benjamin from Syngapore who says "You do not know what is in these people's mind, you must judge by what are they directing their prayers to, and that can only G-d!" Good, agreed - but why can't we pray in Catolic churches, for example? After all - it is, as it is said, a mind that counts, and place does not matter? So, it seems that place DOES matter.

As I recall, the Talmud relates that as one of the 12 spies sent to check out on the land of Canaan, Joshua visited the tombs of the Patriarchs in hebron to pray for Divine assistance in withstanding his colleagues machinations. Is Sherlo opposed to this as well? He may wish to know that the question is thoroughly discussed in the rabbinical literature, and it is permitted to pray at a gravesite provided one does not 'pray' to the dead.

The Torah is with me, come this side, I would go to the catholic church. Even a few days ago I saw an insident how thare treated an old man. The case complaint been reported to Arch Bishop Nichlous chia- we are seeing if this Catholic Clergy is aman of sunstance or another loose gun. We jews are not like you catholics, we have certain observance that you catholics dont know oe righly put been misdirected thtoughout the ages. We jew have been keeping it,THE SHAABAT :-) ben singapore

I know many people who travel to Uman for the holidays. Some return saying that their davvening has been 'the highest'. However I tend to share Rabbi Sherlo's position on the practice. It seems to me totally odd and wholly against the fundamental teachings of the Torah to prefer davvaning outside Eretz Yisrael to davvaning in it. There is even an opinion that there are no mitzvot outside of Eretz Yisrael. But leaving this extreme position aside surely the ideal of being in Eretz Yisrael is so central to our tradition that those who voluntarily leave it ( And many leave their families) seems to be in an ethical and religious way moving 'down' and not ' to something higher'.

judge others. It's would be better if you, rav Sherlo, could judge your own self. Rav Sherlo, don't try to be more holy than.. well you know 'who'. Moreover, Yom Ha-Kippurim is coming. What's a stupid approach to kill goods seeds of peoples' intention.

Every human being MUST worship ....you wrote . MUST ? Are there such LAWS in the Netherlands ? Can you prove me god's existence ? have you seen him ? How does he look ? can you give me his Email ? i would like to ask him some questions .