Terror Attack & Jews Make Peace?

"Tamar, what happened?"  My husband is on the phone calling from the streets of Jerusalem.  I tell him I haven't heard anything but run to the computer to check the news updates.  He continues, "There are ambulances and police all over the place.  Something happened."   I then find the news item and alert him that there was a terror attack where an Arab terrorist used his tractor to attack a busload of people in it, downtown.  I tell him how many were hurt and that so far one person, a woman, was killed.  After we hang up, I go and say tehillim (psalms).  We then wait (mostly in vain since Oslo) for our government to say they are sending our forces out to stop the terror, but of course, nothing much happens.  Our hands are tied, and our politicians seem to gladly take orders from the higher-ups in the international community who they are beholden to.  It gives one ulcers, as I know the general public wants to fight and win.

In the meantime, the Jews across the nation yearn for peace.  They are tired, and they get dreamy, and the 'artsy' Jews (Jews in the arts) work at a solution by trying to make music and movies about peace, as our Arab neighbors and enemies speak of liberating Palestine with fire and blood.  Somehow our left wing liberal minded Jewish brothers still carry a point of view that if Arabs and Jews just understood each other, we could get past the hate and have peace.  I think Chamberlain tried that with Hitler.

Here is a film of about 7 minutes, that was just sent to me BEFORE the attack, about a Jew and an Arab, and how we should be friends.  It's nice, but naive.  Unfortunately, not everyone holds the same values of life and freedom.  Although there are a few Arabs who would prefer to live quietly and in peace, an overwhelming majority of their population does not want this, and supports terror, not peace making.  It's funny, because one never sees movies made of this genre by the Arabs.  It's only Jews, and as the movie was playing out, I knew Jews had to be the ones who made this film.

I was right.

I saw the credits.  All Jews. 

I am certain that when Mohamed, strapped with a bomb, or behind the wheels of a tractor, after seeing this movie, will cry, take off his bomb, hug a Jew, and ask for forgiveness.  Right?

p.s.  I am now uploading the LIVE Israel TV footage of the terror attack, some of it was filmed LIVE, as you will see the tractor shaking to the right and left as the struggle was going on, and also, the death toll has risen already to 4 dead.  You will also see the bus that was turned over in this video.  I am uploading it now and hope to have it up in several minutes.

Things We'd Like To See

This last Shabbat, I was reading a book called "Healing Back Pain" by Dr. John E. Sarno (as suggested by quite  a few of you readers) when my husband dropped a news paper on my lap and told me that I should look at a picture there.  This is the photo:

This photo was taken at the funeral of Tommy Lapid, a personal friend of Olmert's.  Lapid was a virulent religious Jew hater.  He was also a holocaust survivor.  I never figured that one out.

Tommy Lapid started a left wing political party called 'Shinui - 'change', whose raison d'etre  was to oust (Jewish) religious parties from the Knesset. It is strange, in that even though it appears his son Yair Lapid (in photo, right of Olmert) was not wearing a kippah on his head, his family requested an orthodox Jewish funeral and the mourner's prayer, the Kaddish, was said for him.

My husband told me, "Look, Olmert is wearing a kippah and he's crying. He's still a Jew.  Maybe instead of criticizing him so much, we should pray for him to do tshuva (repent)." He then left me with the paper and walked away.

This got me thinking, maybe indeed I should write something more positive and uplifting.  And since my back still hurts me (I am off pain killers now and it's very hard for me to sit), I decided to post pictures of things I'd like to see.  I invite you to add your own ideas below in the comments section.  So, here goes...

Things I'd Like To See:

Our missing soldiers rescued/freed. We have more beautiful boys still missing such as Ron Arad, Guy Hever, Zecharya Baumel, Zvi Feldman and Yehuda Katz missing since June 1982.  We'd like to see them home.

Ahavat Yisrael (love between brothers).  We are all Jews and we need to love each other.  Unfortunately, we see this happen usually when war breaks out, and then we see left and right get together, Ashkenaz and Sepharad get together, religious and not-yet religious get along together.  May we see this as an everyday occurrence instead.

Our leaders do tshuva (repent).  How nice it would be to be able to cheer & respect our leaders. (sigh) We really desire having a leader we can be proud of.

Our stolen Menora and other Temple articles returned to us (hidden in the Vatican?).

The Third Temple re-built here in today's Jerusalem!

All our land returned to us that is under Arab occupation in the north, east, and south.

The Leaders and nations of the world coming to Israel to pay tribute to Hashem!

That we could find the lost Ark and even get a peak inside it (without dying) to view the tablets of the Ten Commandments that Moses broke, and see what the Manna bread looked like.  That would be so amazing!

To have Moshiach (The Messiah) come today!  We really need to make intense prayers on this one.  How wonderful it would be to finally get past the hate, immorality, and war mode we soon may be facing.  It's time to remember we all come from the One G-d and that we are all connected to each other and that it makes no sense killing each other.  When the knowledge of 'Hashem Echad U'Shmo Echad' enters the world and is understood by all, then we shall see a different world, an enlightened world, where we will  (ISAIAH 2:4) "beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

Amen!

...And what would you like to see?  C'mon, inspire or even humor your co-blog readers...

The Parade That Nobody Came To Watch

Well, it was grueling for me.  I went to report on the IM-PURrade (Gay Pride parade) that took place in the Holy City of Jerusalem today.  Just driving there hurt me.  The colorful rainbow flags were already up, hanging from the city's light poles along King David Street, and it stung.  Security forces were everywhere.  I cringed thinking that a sex parade would soon be flaunting itself down the street with its marchers wearing smiles of victory that they can bring their private lives of what they do in their bedrooms, into our public streets.

The only good thing was, that it mimicked last year's parade, in that no one really showed up to view their 'pride'. The streets were empty, and it seems that Jerusalemites de-facto boycotted the event, yet again.

To tell the truth, almost everyone on the sidelines were either security forces or the media.  I took some photographs which I will post below.

Agron Street.  The marchers begin their parade, but there are no onlookers, just security forces and a few media people with cameras.

Above & Below:  Empty streets.  In the far back is the begining of the parade with its marchers.

In front of the YMCA and the King David Hotel. Hark!  It looks like a few tourists (11 people?) from the hotel came to view the parade. 

The marchers arrive.  Notice the child on top of the shoulders of the man in the red T-shirt.  I saw a few children and dogs brought to march in the parade.  Some Israeli MKs are trying to pass a law that children cannot be brought to march in these parades.

The photo above shows a sign in Arabic, as Arabs march as well. Some of the marchers were chanting and clapping, "Homophobia is a disease."

Behind the tail end of the parade, with police on horseback.  But still, the streets remain empty of onlookers.  They didn't have an audience.

How disapointing it must be to have a parade, if no one shows up to watch it???  Maybe our brothers and sisters here will get the message, that we are not interested in viewing or hosting parades which flaunt deviant sexual lifestyles.