Sarah Palin: A Closet Zionist?

Jake from Alaska sent me a very interesting video of an Alaskan podcast that promotes hiking and tourism in Alaska.  In this podcast (video below) from February 2008, way before Gov. Sarah Palin was touted to be the Republican vice-presidential candidate, the host of the show, Scott Slone interviewed her in her office.

What is interesting in this story is that 2 minutes and 40 seconds in, the camera shows clearly, an Israeli flag near her office window (to the right of the frame).  As well, if one looks closely, it seems she is wearing an Israeli flag pin* on her left lapel (see 2:55 into video).  So, the question is, is Sarah Palin a closet Zionist? Is she a friend of the Jewish people and Israel?    *NOTE: It has been brought to my attention that the pin on her lapel is probably not an Israeli flag. Someone suggested that it may be a Blue Star Mothers of America pin, and it has red stripes, not blue which is hard to see. Here is a link showing the photo of what the pin she is wearing probably is.

Click on video Below.

What is important to note here is, that this video was not made by a Jewish organization, nor is she speaking before a Jewish audience or catering to any Jewish vote.  We know of many politicians wearing an Israeli flag pin or waving an Israeli flag when attending Israel's Independence Day celebrations or speaking in front of a Jewish audience, but this is not the case here.

I haven't done much research on Gov. Palin (yet) but watching this video leaves one, well, it just leaves one feeling good.  If she is a closet Zionist, she should come out and tell us so.  Millions of others just like her, may just follow suit.

* To watch the entire video (that I edited for brevity) click HERE.   7 minutes and 13 seconds into the video, the camera hones in on the pin on her lapel which looks like an Israeli flag.  It is in HD so is much sharper there than in the video above.

The $10,000 'Bark' Mitzvah

He spent $10,000 on a 'Bark'-Mitzvah party for his dog.  Ten thousand dollars!  Watch this video and then I will comment below.

Original news report and video can be seen HERE.

So, we have a very successful, nice looking, clean cut man.  He seems educated and well off.  Very well off if he can spend thousands of dollars just to have a party for his dog to have fun, AND is planning a 21st birthday party for his dog in the future.

What has the world come to?

I would like to say a few words to Elvis's owner, David Best. 

Mr. Best,

I have a bone to pick with you.

1)  If you wanted to honor your dog, you could have donated the ten thousand dollars to a hospital or school or any other worthy organization – IN YOUR DOG'S HONOR. A play room for kids with cancer in a hospital could have been named the 'Elvis' room. It would have made more people happy, and would last much longer than a Torah-defiling dog party. That $10,000 could have been donated to a pound, or animal rescue service, or teaching children proper care of animals, and it would have made your little Elvis a lot happier in the long run.

2) Your video of your dog at the podium reading the Torah was a mockery and highly offensive to many Jews AND non Jews alike. 

3)  If an anti-Semite had put a tallit and yarmulke on a dog and laughed about it, people all over the world would be screaming, "Anti-Semite!".  I bet your zayde (grandfather) donned these garments.  I wonder how he feels with you putting them on a dog.

4) Mr. Best, you defended your actions by claiming that one has to have a dog to really know what it's all about.  I have had dogs all my life.  They are a great addition to a family, and we loved all our dogs very much.   But to spend $10,000 on a bark-mitzvah, when all you have to do is look out your window to see the suffering of humanity, it is not just frivolous, but sickening and immoral.

I believe that you believe that you are a nice man.  But even seemingly nice people perpetrate evil acts.  Using the blessing of wealth that G-d has given you, on a mockery and a debasing of a holy ceremony which is meant for the time of life when a Jewish boy becomes a man and takes on the holy mitzvoth for himself, and then replacing it with a dog, is akin to the selfish acts of one who lived in Sodom & Gemorah so many years ago.  Perhaps you thought it was cute to throw a party called a 'Bark' Mitzvah.  Perhaps the people attending your party thought it was just the hippest thing and giggled when they received and accepted your invitation.  But to those of us who see how much good you could have done, it shows a man with a huge ego, and no feeling for others pain and suffering around him.

And so, you can fire your rabbi.  You can take your dog Elvis, to the Pope.  It all doesn't matter.  Elvis may go to doggy heaven, but you will rue your life where you could have brought such goodness to the world, yet chose to use your blessings for your own ego.

That's the bone I had to pick with you. Excuse me now, I have to go and feed my dog.

Left: My newest dog 'Honey'. Isn't she cute? 

Our last dog lived for 17 years, we got her from the pound.  Our other dog that we had before Honey, we adopted from Gush Katif several years ago when my children found her dying on the beach.  Yes, my family are dog lovers.  However, if we had $10,000 to spend, it would be to build our local school which needs more classrooms for our children.  Spending money to make a mockery of G-d and the Torah is just plain barking up the wrong tree.

Another gem to show the loss of understanding of the meaning of a bar/bat mitzvah.  Enjoy, laugh and weep.

Everything G-d does, He does for us.

I was in Hebron this last Shabbat and it was beautiful.  From the Cave of the Patriarchs to the Avraham Avinu (Abraham Our Father) Synagogue, the Shabbat was spiritual and uplifting.  After being pogrammed by the Arabs and exiled by the British, Jews have finally returned home to Hebron, one of our holiest and most historic cities.  With this and other events happening, one can see the stage for redemption being set by G-d.  History is speeding up to bring us to redemption.  We can either gather our things and board the train, or languish in our rooms and stick to our old routines.  One thing is for sure, times are changing at a rapid speed.  In one morning on Sept. 11, 2001, the world changed.  The world was in shock at the unprovoked attack. In another moment out of nowhere, the Bear, Russia, moved in on Georgia and the world is now being rocked with anticipation of a widening war. Like a magnet, Poland, the Czeck Republic, the Ukraine, the USA, Israel and other countries are being pulled into the conflict, a war that was not expected. 

It is said that WWI which also led to WWII,  started on Tisha B'Av, the Jewish holiday commemorating the destruction of the Holy Temple and other disasters for the Jewish People.  The Russian -Georgian war started on or around Tisha B'Av this year as well.  On Friday, the news proclaimed a 'conflict' between Russia and Georgia, by Sunday, the day of the Tisha B'Av fast, it was already being called a 'war'.  Is this now the beginning of WWIII?

I once read somewhere that in the end of days, it will be a time when everyone will have to choose sides.  There will be no more fence-sitting, no more cheering from the sidelines.  Either you will decide to ACTIVELY choose G-D and do your best to live by His Torah, or you will choose your ego, your desires, your comfrot zone.   This doesn't mean that those who choose G-d will all of a sudden be a tzadik, a rightous person.  It just means he will be desiring to be holy and do his/her best to do so. Life may be scary and not to our terms, but there is great reward for those who choose G-d's will rather than their own will. 

Everything G-d does, He does for us. 

(Make the time to watch this movie.  Make the time.)

If the movie doesn't play, you can watch it by clicking HERE.

If the video doesn't play, click HERE to watch on bigger screen.

Everything G-d does, He does for us.

And The Holy One says to Israel, "My children, don't be afraid.  Everything I have done, I have done only for you.  Why are you scared? Don't be afraid.  The time of redemption is here."  

Don't be afraid Mike. Don't be afraid SK.  The time for redemption is coming.  You must not wait and not demand first class seats on the train that will soon have passed your station.  The ride may be bumpy, but we are going towards G-d's destination for us.  A good place, a good time, a good age, a good future.  Don't miss the train because you may not like the conditions.  History is speeding up, and if you do not grab hold now, it may be too late.