Israel Elections and Rosh Hashanah on The Temple Mount with Yishai Fleisher

and our dear friend Yishi Fleer, spokesman for the Jewish community of Kron on the town council in Kron, social media influencer running on the Yehuda list uh in the election that's going to be 6 weeks from today. We'll speak to him about that. Uh he is with us live via telephonevi pleasure to welcome you back to JM in the amar. God bless you and all the listeners. >> Thank you very much for that. Uh [snorts] it's worth it to bring you on this time of year just to discuss your Rosh hashah. What was it like uh for you this on Shabas and Sunday? Where were you? Uh what was going on? What could you tell us about your inspiring start of the brand new year? Some Jews uh fly to Oman and God bless them. I go to Jerusalem to my dear friend Josh Wanderer's house on the Mount of Olives, the neighborhood that I used to live in. It's called malaz team. So I went to the mount of olives uh and my I had two big dvenings on shabas and on Sunday on on shabas I went to the temple institute there Rav Ariel gathered a baitin of seven big rabbis and there they announced the new month and they said that that all people people that brought the chauffeur are okay. There's no teal tool. There's no problem of carrying on Shabas. And we heard chauffear on Shabas. That's right. The way that Raulan ben Zakai uh 15 almost 15 1500 years ago declared that you're allowed to blow the chauffeur on Shabas. If you have a bait, so we heard a bin. We saw a bin in your sham. I was sitting right in front of them. They declared the month declared that it's okay to bring the chauffeur. We heard chauffeur on Shabas in Jerusalem. That was awesome. Very high. And it was it was in the temple institute. So was surrounding with all the surrounded by all these paintings uh of of the temple the way it was the way it will be bizraatam soon. Then on Sunday morning, Yumish, second day of Roshashana, I was up early. Josh woke me up at about 5:20. I took my boys. We had already been to Mikvah and we already done done the whole mikvah procedure. 6:30 we lined up at the entrance of the Temple Mount. Uh we were allowed in groups of 30 uh in. By the time we showed up there, there was already a few hundred people, about 300 people, maybe more. And there on the east side of the temple mount, not only did we pray, not only did they give us printed sidur with the special added prayers of the temple mount, not only did we bow down with full bowing down full like prostration, we also heard chauffear and not only just chauffear but silver trumpets. Okay, silver trumpets, Jerusalem, Roshashana bowing down, sedur in hand on the temple mount. It was the highest of the high. Not only was it a spiritual high, but it was a historical high. And I I all I could say is is with the word I teach everybody, zahoot. It's a merit to have been part of it. Really? >> Yeah. A a real privilege to say the least. Yishi Fleer is with us. All right. There's a lot to unpack here. A there's a lot to unpack here. First of all, and I appreciate the the way you ran through all the details cuz you gave us a great list to focus on. So when you say the Temple Institute, I'm assuming you mean Makon McDash, right? the place we know as okay. Um, one of the first things you said quickly was announce the new month and that's something of course that we generally do not do uh when it comes to tish I think we just forget but there there is some type of I don't I don't know if I want to say obligation there there is a thing about just like we announce the molad for any other month when we benchroesh for tish where we don't benroish there still must be knowledge of the moolad am I right about that with those. >> Yeah, the moola today is announced by the calendar and so therefore uh we know when the new month is although interestingly enough this year according to the visual it was actually yum rishon let's not get into all the all the details of that but the bottom line is that uh the whole issue of roshashana the reason that it's two days is because you had to uh make sure that it's the only it's the only holiday that starts on the new month right so therefore it's very tricky that's why kazal made it into two days right forever from the Torah it's a one day holiday. Okay. But because of the problem of announcing the new moon. So the bait said according to the luak according to the um uh the what do we call that in English? The uh >> calendar >> the calendar. That's right. According to the written calendar of the lunar lunar appearance roes was uh on on Shabbat. And they announced it according to the calendar and and but they were madit right >> in in front of a baitine. And they also said therefore we can blow chauffeur today. And the other issue is the issue of carrying and they said no there's no problem of carrying and there's generally no problem carrying today certainly is right now we carry our sitter we should be able to carry this >> now now this is something that again a lot of people listening you know I'm somewhat familiar with this topic a lot of people listening likely aren't so this may be a bit jarring for them so we'll do this slowly um but there's two parts to the chauffeur part number one uh as you just said there are circumstances Especially in I think that has to be added. Especially in there are circumstances where one can as you experienced in fact blow chauffear on the first day when it's on Shabas and you and you went through that. Am I right that ideally they would have liked to have done that on the temple mount on Harabay but there's some rule and I don't think you'll mind that I say it that way. There's some rule that Jews are not allowed on Harabay on Saturday. Is that accurate? Absolutely. Absolutely. It's not an issue of a rule. It's an issue of uh that the state of Israel we 20 years ago there was no problem with Chabus. But but after certain events that happened on the Temple Mount, they made it standardized that the Temple Mount is open open to Jews Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Friday is the big Muslim day. So they don't do that. and Saturday Shabbat. For some reason, they kind of got used to the idea that we don't go up on Temple Mount on Shabbat. Right now, there's a Supreme Court case on the issue of giving equal rights to Jews to pray on Shabbat on the Temple Mount. So, this year, Roshash on the first day fell out on Shabbat. And because of the uh the it's not a law, it's just the the way that the police work with the Temple Mount, it does not open on Shabbat. So therefore, we did not have Shabbat on on the we did not have the first day of Roshana on the temple mount. You're right that that would have been even preferable. That would have been yet another higher level. >> And you mentioned the and yes with us. You mentioned the throat. You you called them silver trumpets. What do you call them? What you call the katro? >> Yeah, silver trumpets trumpets. So now just again help me remind everybody that that's also an important part of the declaration and the practice of the holiday of Rosh Sha. This was not just done uh this was not just done in a haphazard way. There's actually a requirement in addition to the chauffar to have the katsurro. Would that be the way to put it? >> Well, the Mishna in Roshashana talks about that on the temple mount in the temple. Uh they blew on Roshashana the chauffear and two silver trumpets standing to its sides. And the chauffeur would go a little bit longer than the silver trumpets because the mitzvah of the day is with a chauffeur. And the silver trumpets they add to it. Okay? And it when you hear it, you you understand what it is. It's a very powerful, >> you know, because remember Roshana has got like two different aspects. On the one hand, it's a day of repentance and it's a day where a person with his head bowed, right? Y. But the other aspect of it is actually a day of crowning God king, >> right? And it's a day of joy and a day where where it's where it's like, you know, we're we're we're right. >> Right. We're we're crowning God. And so that's why the silver trumpets are added to to that event. The Mishna has has long long disagreement whether the chauffeur should be a bench chauffeur or a straight chauffear. Anyway, we decided that it's a bench chauffear for the reason forementioned reason. But the silver trumpets are there to crown the king. And so we they added the silver trumpets. Now, I have to tell you that the trumpets that came up to the Temple Mount, since they were quote unquote snuck in, right, because it's still not totally legal to blow trumpets and chauffear on the Temple Mount, after they blew them, the police allowed it to happen, then they confiscated the chauffear and the uh silver trumpets. It was it was it was like kind of a prefuncter act. You saw that it was done. They they let us pray. They did the whole thing. They clearly stood aside and let us do it. But then for for you know to fulfill the law they took away the chauffeur road and and the silver trumpets after we were done by the way after we were done. Um the silver trumpets that were quote unquote snuck up were more like flutes. They they they were small. We have much bigger versions but they were like little silver trumpets. They weren't full silver trumpets but they were still full silver you know totally silver trumpets. And and and listen listen you know you know you're like a good Jew you just did a okay good thing is is Jewish rabbi says it's very important to correct from time to time it's important to not be happy with the state of affairs but >> but it was a huge huge historical leap >> right you know >> towards a much long a much bigger temple consciousness and allowance and I have to say that the party that I'm running with it Beng the minister Benir he's the one that has caused this Temple Mount Kadusha revolution, this revolution of equal rights for Jews to pray and to worship in the Holy >> and you know that when it comes to the positive aspect of this, I obviously completely agree with you. The sigh however is that sometimes we're fighting our own people. We're fighting ourselves and it's it's very depressing uh that part of it at least. >> Uh Yisha Fisher is with us. So I got to ask you a question. the the chauffar going back for a moment to day one uh blowing it on Shabbat in uh did that happen to your recollection the last time that um Rosha Sha was on Shabbat? Do you have any idea if this happens regularly in that situation or this was a real exception? >> I heard that there had been a previous time but this was this was now >> I'm so glad >> this was now well organized. >> Okay. I'm so glad you said this because and I'll tell you why. one of the themes and I don't know you know which which media outlets or publications you're you you bother reading or listening to but one of the themes uh among certain rabbitic leaders and others who are influential in the Jewish world for the last week has been when Rosh shah is on Shabbat when the year begins on Shabbat without chauffeur blowing I hate to tell you what'll happen and they act and they actually have you know they cite certain events in Jewish history including recent events uh October 7th 911 and others that happened during a year uh where there was no chauffar on Shabbat. So I made a comment to somebody. I said wow this year is going to be very different. They said why? I said because now we actually have a an actual chauffar blowing on the first day of the even though it's on Shabbat. And I'm wondering what your perspective on that whole topic has been. >> You know, le let's let's keep it to the the the realm of of how the how God rules his world, you know, is is is beyond my pay grade. Uh I'm I'm here to to fulfill the the and God's will. And the fact is is that um uh is that uh we did it we did it this year and and from my point of view it was a great beginning to the year and I have no reason as we say in good think it'll be good. That's all there is to it. We did it. Hashem let us do it. Uh Minister Benir let us do it. The the Medina let us do it. The cops let us do it. We did it with really you know observant Jews who yearn for more. We did it and there's no reason to think negatively. God is with us. We're do we're trying to do his will. We're moving in the right direction and that's it. That's all I could say about that. >> Excellent. Is uh the election is 6 weeks from today. Have you ever been on a political party slate before? >> Uh when I came to Israel uh about about two or three years after I came to Israel, the Ethiopian party, Ethiopian Jewish party called the Tid asked me to join them. Uh I was the uh you know I wasn't exactly the Ethiopian representative. I was the you know but I was the representative of American aliyah but I was really I was really young then and and it it was it was more of a you know a declarative party than than really one here. I'm number 12 in a very powerful list. >> Yeah. But based on based on recent events I'd have to conclude that you've avoided this for decades at this point until now. You know what? You you gota you gota you gota if you want to serve if you want to serve as a representative of the state of Israel, you got to pay your dues. If you want to represent the Jewish people, I've paid my dues. I've done a lot of work in the Jewish world and in Israel and in Zionism and and strengthen and and pass the biblical highway law and many other things. Barashem after after all these years, now it's time for me to to enter the political frey. And I was tapped by by by by Minister Benvir, somebody who I respect. I took him to America on a big trip. I led the trip uh uh organized it about a year and a half ago. It was an amazing trip. And after that experience, Minister Benvier wants to reach out to Anglo. I also speak Russian. He wants to reach out to to to the Russian voters as well. And so uh I given the fact that he also trusts me and he knows that I'm in line with the values of the party and his values. So he tapped me and he gave me the 12th spot. 12th spot is realistic. Okay. Right now we're pulling it polling at nine. If we get nine and we get in the government then three ministers we get three ministers and I come in through the uh Norwegian law so-called which means that the min ministers that that leave to to serve in the in the as ministers uh members fill their their spot. So it's a realistic spot. Uh, you know, I'm representing Anglo, Americans, Canadians, Australians, South Africans, etc. >> There is a path for him to become prime minister. >> Let's not let's not go there. We're not there yet. Let him He just said it the other day. They asked him that. He said, listen, he said, I'm here to to pay my dues. You know, he wants to get back into the Ministry of of National Security. Maybe maybe you're right. You remember Bennett was prime minister with with much less seats than than Ben's polling. But that's not the that's not the point. We're we're part of the Netanyahu um coalition uh uh kind of you know program. That's what we're on and and we're moving up. Maybe one day Ben will be prime minister. Certainly could be. He's certainly he's certainly building a very serious party. Uh, but my job right now is to get uh our our brothers and sisters, English speakers here in Israel, to vote. A and Americans may not be used to the idea that every vote counts. You might live in New York, you want to vote, let's say Republican, you realize it's a Democratic state and if 51% are are Democrats, then you have there's no point in voting. Here, it's not like that. Every vote counts. Every vote gets another seat. Every vote changes the map. every vote takes away from uh the the anti-religious and left-leaning parties. And so, so this is this is quite important. So, my job is to let people know that they have a a candidate that's their guy. Uh and also that they've got to get out that vote on October 27th. >> Why do you think he's gotten this popular, as popular as he is? And does he have the same popularity among Israelis who are native Anglo? Uh he's popular for one simple reason. He simply achieves what he said set out to achieve. What he said he was going to do. He's done. And and I'll I'll make it very simple. When you make prisoners, terrorist prisoners uh have tough conditions in prison instead of a hotel, then they're afraid to get into jail. I've had Arabs tell me, "We're afraid of it Benvir's jails. Therefore, we have to keep our head down and not make trouble because we can't get into that jail." uh when you hand out guns and today is today September 15th on the uh yes secular calendar. Yes. If so, today's the day that Beth Shemesh is getting rights to uh register for gun license. Today is the day where Beth Shemerish Jews including many of the Anglo Jews there uh will have now from now on rights to receive to to to get licenses for for for guns. men, women, you know, ultraorththodox, whatever you are, uh um you're gonna have that opportunity. And so, uh Ben has, you know, done these things. That's what why he's popular because he is a security-minded uh uh um leader and and he's he's helped provide security. The numbers show a drastic drop in in crime. We have we have a lower uh car theft rate now than we had in 2006 when we had when we had half the cars. We have a lower car theft rate right now and that's due to it Benir the jihadis that that some of them sadly live amongst us and certainly on our borders. They are deterred and people want a strong candidate. You know you don't have to marry your daughter to Bengir. You don't have to necessarily invite him for lunch, but you definitely want him in the can of making sure that you are safe and your wife is safe. My wife is safer uh today in Kushetion because she has a gun and more other people around have a gun and also the enemy is deterred. That's that's that's what's going on. The enemies are deterred. >> What do you what's your evaluation of how the current prime minister has done for the last four years? >> That's a big question. You know, it's a it's a big question. O overall I think that uh overall he's fought this battle against Gaza. I have my critiques and so does my party, but I think I'll I'll I'll leave it at this that Netanyahu is a great man and a great leader, but he definitely needs uh Benvir to the right of him to make sure that he stays in the good way to make our country more Jewish, more safe, more strong. And without anar Bengir, without Otsma, he would not have acted as as well. So, so you know, I'm I'm I'm proud of uh I'm proud of our party for making sure that this coalition is behaving properly. >> Has the holy city of benefited from all of this? What you've been describing to us this morning? >> Well, the government just allotted about 15 million shekele to a brand new roof on the I don't know if you've seen it yet. I have not. It's >> it's a it's a lattice work. It's a big metal. You remember the tent that was in the middle? >> Oh, yes. >> That you get you get rained on. >> It's It's gone. There is no tent anymore. That thing is gone. And instead, the whole thing has a giant skylight with this lattice work that forms these these triangles that form the Star of David. The middle area is much much bigger. It's a big kushashem. Our Jewish state has done a big kushm. They've made the tomb of the bombs and papas uh much more accessible, much more beautiful, much larger for prayer. Tonight, bigot uh with Rabbi Schmao and Minister Ben will be there as well. uh tonight at 12:30 at the mah at the tomb of the patriarch matrix what I call tombs of mamas and papas and for myself you know finished off four years of restoration of the tomb of kev vishai the tomb of root and we put in a million dollars over four years of of of stone work beautifification work uh now it's a gem it's a pearl it's it's a beautiful spot in for the last year I've been working on the tomb of a bener that's going to be open over Sukus with a suka there that has been closed for many years or partially closed. Now it's going to be open. It's beautiful. There's a beautiful aron kesh. Gorgeous. Really some something else. And uh and uh is is flourishing. And and by the way on the way to Jewish small Jewish communities, new communities are are popping up uh throughout Judea and Samaria. And certainly on the way from Jerusalem to Kevron, you'll see new communities and they're safer and they're stronger. Thank God due to this, you know, government that that has done a lot of good things. Do I have critiques in the government? I certainly do. But they certainly have achieved I think this is the best government I've ever seen. Uh and they have achieved a lot to strengthen Jewish life, strengthen Judea and Samaria in Shimu and strengthen Yiddish kites Judaism uh and uh and and uh really taking root. Uh the only big problem we have is that on the global arena, you know, uh as as we're moving ahead in holiness and in safety, uh the international community is, you know, is uh has animosity towards Israel. It doesn't want to see Israel grow. What what a what a what a mistake. Uh that the nations should be welcoming Jews with bread and water on their journey to the land of Israel. Uh that's their mitzvah to help the Jewish people come home. God is doing the most beautiful thing. He's bringing the Jewish people home like he promised to the forefathers and mothers and instead many of the nations are answering with hate. That's a mistake. Uh and um you know the nations should should should should see the beauty of it uh of of this time and instead they're they're sending out anti-semitism. But the the other side the flip side of anti-semitism is that it also helps Jewish people come home. I've met Jews from Canada and from the UK and even from the United States who are really considering purchasing property or making aliyah and and and taking steps towards towards uh you know rational steps if not if not if not hearing the call of Msiah then at least feeling the you know the boot of anti-semitism uh this too brings the Jewish people home and helps build the holy land >> and the eventuality of the world in general recognizing who in fact is the king of the world uh might be uh with us much sooner than we think >> I think you're right. That's I I think you're right. I That's my That's my feeling. That's my gut sense. I think that in the next few years, you're going to see an amazing turnaround. People are going to be like, "How did you withstand all this? How did you do it?" People will be amazed by it all. Uh and the state of Israel, uh if you come inside, if you come to Shalim, it's rocking. It's just the energy is just wow. You know, I guess maybe I would liken it to a um a metaphor, which is like if if you came into a room of a of a woman giving birth, you might think that there's something horrible happening there. Uh but in fact, something is is being born and something beautiful. And that's what's happening. If you come from the outside, it may look scary. On the inside, it is just the most the most incredible time in the land of Israel. And we have a privilege to to be part of it and privilege to be building it. And we all have to get around uh uh the project of the Jewish people coming home, strengthening Yiddishkite and uh and and strengthening our safety, strengthening our economy. Also, we had we just had three like very strong families from Bocaratan make aliyah to Ephrat. Okay. And by the way, you misspoke. You said that I'm councilman in No, I'm spokesman. >> Sorry. Councilman in beautiful in the beautiful city of Ephrat. uh of which of which over a hundred new immigrants came just this summer uh including these three strong families and a big doctor came in from uh Bokeh to be to be a doctor in charited so so you know it's all happening and the good news is there's a lot of work to do for all of us >> where will you be l Colidre and where will you be praying on Monday yum kipper >> uh yum kipper I like to be at home it's you know it's a day I'll be diving at and then with the HA slow-mo cats for uh for Nila Rabbi Schlommo Cats is uh you know he's he's an absolute magnet. >> You're a lucky man. >> Yeah. Oh yeah. Oh my gosh. He's an absolute absolute magnet to for for for just he he has raised our whole town up in terms of spirituality and and himself is a magnet for for immigration and he's doing he's doing amazing work and with that you know they if you're there nila it's it's it's fire it's fire and it's you know packed house and fire and you're in a different space. So, we we take the the holidays seriously. We try to get the most out of them. And then right after Yonipur Sukot after Sukot's elections and I'm running and I'm I'm psyched, you know, you know me, you've known me for a lot of years. You've you've seen me in different hats. You've seen me, you know, marching on the Israel Day parade and and now I'm throwing my hat into the ring. And I think that if our our people will come out to vote for then there's a chance to to get your your your uh you know your member your representative in and what can I tell you it's just a good to be involved in in the building of Israel >> would make us all very proud uh to you to you for everything wishing you aar katima tova looking forward to reuniting with you in the holy land very very soon. Thank you very much. And if anybody, you know, wants to reach out, I got Daniel Landau. He's working the field right now. He's connecting with all the with all with all the English speakers. And you can write me an email is flyshow.com. And you know, just to plug the Jewish community fund, fun.org, and also which I'm running with and my own personal website. If you want to help build Israel, it's buildisrael.com. That's that's so easy to remember, right?Irael.com. >> Exactly. That's that's what that's why we built that website and you as usual I tell you you're you're uh I didn't know that I touched a nerve with you on the issue of uh blowing chauffear on harab and all that and and and shabash I see that that's it's part it's something in you it's it's an issue that touches you yeah >> well it gets me because of the declaration see what happened was uh a few days ago as all this was going on with the oh you know no show for this year no show for this year I was saying to certain people you have to say it differently. There's no chauffeur this year, but there's ne generally never chauffeur on chabas, but this year there will be. And I thought it was on Harabay. Then I found out that the uh the rule is that as you described to us, uh that the >> but it was in the old city, >> but it wasn't right. But that but but then when you told me it was in the old city, I'm saying great. Now I know that there was a representative of the Jewish people blowing chauffear this year on the first day of the Kag >> Mash and it was Ravariel. He's one of the doador h and he was so it was such a mat moment and he's like 80 years old and he just was so strong with and he went through cancer and and now he's strong and back and and and he you know put down this this bait I haven't seen many baits that I sat in front he sat down with seven or seven serious rabbis and you know it was just it was just it was a very it was a very you know um it was I it hearkened back to ancient times And it was yet it was new. It was a very, you know, it was a very Torah moment that happened. >> But it's funny. It's funny cuz you pointed out, you know, how I saw it, etc. And I because my attitude sort of was like, let's stop complaining about there not being chauffeur on Russia, Sha Shabbat, and let's do something about it. And sure enough, you you were part of the group that did something about it. >> Yeah. But they did it in a way of course and and and we we fulfilled that and we blew. So let's let's let's you know, bless each other and and the Jewish nation and lovers of Israel for a good year, a strong year, a year of overcoming our enemies, and a year of the flourishing of of of Israel and really the light of Jerusalem to come out to the world. >> Amen. >> Thank you. God bless you. >> Shata Flesher, folks. Wow. We knew this would be a good conversation, but this was just wonderful. Just over the top. He's amazing. Running for Knesset. Wow. How beneficial would it be for the Jewish people worldwide? Forget about Israel. Obviously Israel, but worldwide if you flyer became a member of Knesset. Wow. In an era when we uh when we look with skepticism to our public officials, could you imagine if we had someone like Yeshai Flea in the Knesset in Israel?