There he was, lying in the middle of the road, bloody and unconscious.  His bike was under the front left wheel of a white sedan.  The driver of the car was also bloodied and mangled in the front seat behind the steering wheel.

About a week ago, I attended the goodbye party for the volunteers of the emergency medical ambulance organization called MaDA, Magen David Adom.

My 18 year old daughter (left) is a volunteer there and has been riding in the ambulance and arriving on the scene to take care of those who needed emergency medical care.  The party's organizers which handed out certificates of thanks, and a small gift of appreciation to the many hours the volunteers worked that year, also had a simulation, a road accident involving a bicyclist and a car.  The re-enactment was  realistic.  A 'body' was lying on the pavement in the parking lot of the MaDA building, all bloodied up  with red paint make-up.  A bicycle was placed purposely under the front tire of the car and another 'actor' played an injured driver, with moaning sounds and all.   One of the head medic teachers announced a play by play, how their rescue crews arrive at the scene of an accident. He explained each step the paramedics and MaDA volunteers were performing to get the accident victims to the hospital as soon as possible, after administering the first aid that is given on the scene.

Short video clip I took of the simulated accident at Jerusalem's Magen David Adom Emergency Ambulance end of year party for the volunteers.

What struck me was the amount of kippot (yarmulkes) at the party.  At least half of the volunteers were religious.  Young men and women, Haredi as well as Knitted Kippah / National Religious.  My daughter was also among the number of religious girls, and me being a Jewish mother, well, I was very proud of her.

Kippaot and Payot (sidelocks)

I thought about the overflowing amount of religious people there and thought I would do some research.  In a country where only 20% - 30% of the population is religious (with around 40% identifying themselves as 'traditional' {meaning that they may light Shabbat candles and celebrate the holidays in some way} the religious are taking over many of the institutions in Israel.

Knitted Kippah Jew with Haredi friend with sidelocks (payot) - MaDA volunteer.

According to a report on the current birth rate in Israel, Haredi women are having three times as many children as their secular counterparts.  That's three Haredi children for every secular child born today.

TzitTzit, the ritual fringes, here worn under the MaDA uniform shirt

Another news item that came out reports that the IDF, Israel's army, has a representation which far outweigh's it's numbers in civilian life.  Approximately half of all officers in the IDF are religious.  "They are becoming the IDF's backbone" says Ben Caspit, the writer of the news story.  "Their presence in the army is several times larger than it is in the general population."

The new branch instituted in the IDF, the Nachal Haredi, now has it's own place in the respected ranks of the Israeli army.  The Netzach Yehuda battalion ( Nachal Haredi) has just received their own 'sticker' proclaiming the merits of their branch.  Their slogan is "The most combatant, the most Hareidi."

Posing with one of the actors who played an accident victim.

The 'Hesder' program which combines Torah study and army service, is seeing a steady increase in it's numbers as well.  In the mean time, more and more secular Israelis are choosing NOT to serve in the IDF, even going so far as to submit fake marriage certificates to get them out of their service. Called, 'draft dodging', they are coming out of the closet more and more, ending the tale that only religious Jews don't serve.  Statistics today in this post-Zionist state scream something different.

Religious soldiers in the Hesder program.

In the field of education, it seems that secular teachers are opting OUT. Non-religious Israelis today are abandoning the teaching profession. This is the arm which shapes the minds of our children, into tomorrow's adults. 

According to a survey from the prestigious Guttman Institute of Applied Social Research, published in 1993, more than half the Jews in Israel light Shabbat candles.  Approximately 70% keep a kosher home. Almost 80% celebrate the Passover Seder. Over 80% of Jewish males have a Bar Mitzvah, 92% have a brit milah (circumcision) and 98% go to the trouble of putting up a mezuzah on their front doors.

The birth rate - three to one, the armed forces filled with relgious officers, the education branch filling with more religiously identifying Jews, are all now in the hands of the religious.  So, the Seculars, the Post Zionists, and the Self-hating Jews, can all go home. Perhaps they should open the Good Book and learn their history and the prophesies in store. The future is almost here, and it looks like it's going to be a Jewish one!

Why Isn't G-d Cool?  Why is G-d considered a Square? I mean, what could be cooler than G-d?  He's the ultimate artist, the ultimate scientist, the ultimate everything. Just look at a mountain, a molecule, a flower, a galaxy. What could be cooler than the physics, the system, the energy and vibes that this universe runs on?  The smartest men in the world couldn't come up with such a  perfect creation.

And yet, I'm sitting here reading an article in the news paper about the newest hip thing our youth are swarming to, -a new grass-roots open air bar and dance 'club' for Tel Aviv's youth. It's Friday night in Tel Aviv. The soldiers are home for Shabbat, and they want to 'party'. 
This outside nightclub is free.  No one cards you, and drinks don't cost an arm and a leg.  The people at this outdoor impromptu nightclub are friendly, not snooty like at the expensive night clubs in Tel Aviv. This is becoming the new haven for our youth who want to find a new oasis for 'fun'.

Clubbing and trance dancing. Does it get us anywhere we really want to go?

My question is, if people are looking to 'get away' from the daily grind of work and life's challenges, and meet friendly people where they can find stimulation, why is it in a night club/dancing/drinking atmosphere?  Because even in these places, you are judged on how you look, and what clothes you wear.  Are you sexy and will you give out, or are you a dork?  People at nigth clubs see only the facade. It isn't the real thing.  So why do our youth put energies towards things that are fake and won't last?

When I first came to Israel in the late 70's, it was a lot more wholesome.  If people wanted to dance and drink, they usually had to go to the big hotels to do that.  And hotels were expensive, -too expensive for the average Israeli.  Mostly you'd find tourists in the hotel's bars and discos.  In those days, if you were an Israeli, you went to an outdoor cafe for ice cream together, and if you wanted to dance, you went Israeli folk dancing.  Why is it different today? What happened to our youth? To our culture?

Israeli Folk Dancing - once a past time to express patriotic pride and fun.

I was raised that on Friday nights, it was family night.  We all gathered around the table and had our Shabbat meal. Sometimes, when we were older, we'd have big 'Shabbatonim', -where you joined your youth group and  celebrated Shabbat together.  People sat at long tables and sang songs, had a great meal, and then had a great Dvar Torah, a lesson from the Bible.  People were judged on who they were as a person, because we shared the same values... belief in G-d.  If you gave a good Dvar Torah, you were respected even more. People were valued for their personalities, their talents, their kindness, and midot (character traits). 

I used to live on Kibbutz for a time.  One of the things that I remember was attending a wedding there.  The groom was a burn victim.  His face was terribly scarred and I hate to say it, but he looked like a monster.  I remember thinking as I watched him standing under the Chuppah with his bride, how did he get a girl to marry him?  I'm from Southern California, and growing up, it was very materialistic.  Everything there was how you looked, what clothes you wore, what label you had on, what kind of car you drove, even your home address. I couldn't imagine this kibbutznik being able to find a girl from California to marry him, with his face scarred so grotesquely. On Kibbutz, people work together, eat together, and socialize together in the evenings, so people can get to know the REAL you, and accept you for who you are.

Believing in something higher than oursleves - ushering in the Shabbat. 

I don't think that night clubs are the place to be appreciated for the 'real you'. Even though the free outdoor night club is more relaxed, it's still a meat market. It doesn't fill the emptiness that people are feeling... If someone is looking for friendship, companionship, and an escape from the 9-5 work jungle, the emptiness will just return as soon as the sun comes up in the morning, and the beer wears off.  So then why is spending your Friday nights together at a table in wholesome,  friendly, worthwhile pursuits not the 'IN' thing to do today?
Why isn't G-d cool? Why is G-d considered a square?  Why does society, any society, Jewish or not, run to something that is false, which values the 'facade', and doesn't fill the hole we try to stuff with beer, music and make up?

Gathering together at a Shabbat table.

Seems to me, that we need to redirect our society to more truth, and less falsity and let downs.  People who have had a real Shabbat experience, with good food, good people, songs, dancing and intellectual stimulating conversations at the Shabbat table want more and more of it. The 'feel' of Shabbos is exhilerating!  

So many people who are secular, who have tasted what a real Shabbat is like, have become religious.  They have felt the wonderful, joyous atmosphere of this day of rest, of rising above the material, and feeding the spiritual side of our souls. They feel the peace of Shabbat, they feel G-d and His love for us, in giving us the Sabbath day to disconnect from the rat race and phoney masks of life. People can feel valued for who they are, engage in real dialogue, and know that when they meet that 'someone special', that that person won't throw in the towel and look for comfort elsewhere when life gets a little rocky.  They will know that that someone will be committed and stick to their morals see the situation through, until the good times come again.  - Because they believe that Torah is G-d given, that it's a gift to mankind, and that though we won't be fulfilling our animal desires whenever we want to, we know that holding to the Laws of the Torah will ultimately be the best thing for us, as well as for society at large.  Keeping the Torah and embracing the values it gives us offers so much to make our lives happier and more content.  It has a lot more to offer than beer and trance dancing.

G-d, the 'Ultimate Artist' and His cool creations

Yes, Hollywood offers the glitz, but it isn't the bread and butter of life.  Hollywood may LOOK cool, but G-d really IS cool, and the world that He created really isn't square.  It's a scientific wonder, a mathematical miracle, an artist's masterpiece, a gourmet' chef's banquet.  It's time we focused on these intellectual and fascinating gifts.  Want trance?  Mediate on the wonders of G-d. Share your feelings with another who can appreciate you for YOU.      Invite someone to your Shabbos table. Sing, dance and discuss creation and the Torah. Laugh and enjoy the wholesome atmosphere. It's about time we told the world how cool G-d is, and that He is anything but 'square'.

Thanks to my listeners from all over the world who send me interesting emails.  These are just fun cool things I thought I would post, just in case someone missed some of these news pieces.

1) Square Watermelons

A round watermelon can take up a lot of room in a refrigerater and the usually round fruit often sits awkwardly on refrigerator shelves. 
Smart Japanese Farmers have forced their watermelons to grow into a square shape by inserting the melons into square, tempered glass cases while the fruit is still growing on the vine.

2) Salt Water Fuel - Simply amazing!

This could put the Arabs out of business.

Plus, a possible cure for cancer? Click the PLAY button on the video below.

3)  Bishop Urges Christians to Call G-d 'Allah'

"Catholic churches in the Netherlands should use the name Allah for God to ease tensions between Muslims and Christians, says a Dutch bishop.

Tiny Muskens, the bishop of Breda, told the Dutch TV program "Network" Monday night he believes God doesn't mind what he is called, Radio Netherlands Worldwide reported.

Catholic churches in the Netherlands should use the name Allah for God to ease tensions between Muslims and Christians, says a Dutch bishop.

Tiny Muskens, (photo above and to the left) the bishop of Breda, told the Dutch TV program "Network" Monday night he believes God doesn't mind what he is called, Radio Netherlands Worldwide reported." Click HERE for article from World Net Daily.

So, does it matter what we call G-d?  When you pray, do you pray to 'baal', 'moloch', 'buddha', 'jesus-yeshua', 'allah moon god' -- or do you pray to the ONE, the Master of the Universe, the G-d of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov?  Maybe it doesn't matter to this Catholic Bishop, but it should. I think a good re-reading of the first two, of the Ten Commandments is in order for anyone who prays to ANY other entity.  Do you remember what the first two commandments are?  Test yourself.  If you don't know them, you might want to review the most basic of laws.

4)  An ONLY IN ISRAEL Story

Someone from Neve Daniel sent the following delightful story, that happened in their own community on Shabbat.

Here's what happened:
Share your own ONLY IN ISRAEL stories with me. The best story wins a prize!

Friday afternoon, Adler flew back to Israel from abroad. The plane was a little delayed, but he had just about enough time to get from Lod Airport back to Neve Daniel. He jumped in the first cab and flew off. On the way, the cabbie turned round to him and said, "It's getting late! I'm a Sabbath-observing Jew. With all best intentions, it doesn't look like I'm going to be able to take you as far as Gush Etzion and then make it back to my house before Shabbat sets in. Tell you what: I'll drive past my house in Bet Shemesh, jump out, and give you the keys. You drive the cab to Neve Daniel and I'll pick it upafter Shabbat."

Gasping for air, and trying to swim above the waves to shore.  But the shore is a hundred miles away, and I don't possibly have the strength to swim that far.  Deeper and deeper I sink.  But then,,,

Sometimes life seems to be TOO BIG.  It is also gets fouled up because other people live in my world, and I can't control them.  In fact, it seems that they control me, or at least, they easily could, ... if I let them.

I am a simple person, a simple Jew.  I live in a regular house, and have a regular day like any one else on this planet.  I get up, daven (pray) go to work, come home, eat, do some housework and cooking (ok, not enough of it) and go back to the computer to work.  I like to joke that I am intravenously hooked up to my pc.  But if you asked my kids where 'eema' (mother) spends most of her time, their answer will unanimously be, "in front of the computer".  Thank G-d my kids are older and I can do what I do today.  I was always a 'stay at home mom' before.

Pulling back a bit out of this inner circle, we have the wider 'doings of the world' going on.  Our prime minister is currently negotiating Jerusalem away, while other Knesset members are working on bringing in NATO and other foreign troops and observers to Israel.  My colleagues are being hassled by the police for their right wing activities and their love of the Land of Israel.  President Bush, with Condi Rice want us to make a terror state here, near my home, inside tiny Israel.  In order to do that, they want to kick me and my husband and children out of our house. They want to destroy my community and many more like it. 

One can go crazy and pull their hair out of their head if they carried this burden on their shoulders.  And sometimes, one can feel that they are drowning.  Whenever I get that gasp-y feeling, I remind myself that G-d is in control of the world.  A good generic prayer for people to say when they find themselves drowning is the Serenity Prayer.

Can I control what the 'biggie politicians' in power are doing?  No.
Have we not made the biggest demonstrations in the history of Israel?  Yes. Consistently at that?  Yes.
Did it help stop the expulsion from Gush Katif?  No.
Will it stop Olmert and Peres from their 'peace plans'? No.

So what can I do about it?
The only thing I can, and do, do, is remember the serenity prayer and then go on with my day.  I continue to daven (pray), do mitzvoth, contribute to the population and dwell in YESHA, work, shop for food, send my kids to school, speak out against the evil in the world, and try to tell others to look under the surface in order not to act like 'sheeple' (sheep to the slaughter).  There are too many of us who have become 'sheeple'.  We don't think anymore, we just absorb whatever TV or our particular culture spews at us.  It's easier not to think.  We don't like the idea that we are being screwed by those with power?  Then just label it 'conspiracy theory', and then you don't have to think about it.  baaaahhhh  baaaahhhh goes the lamb.

What's hard is listening to conspiracy theories, and then checking them out, no matter how uncomfortable, and THEN coming to a conclusion.  Some will turn out as a definite possibility, and some will remain just plain 'for the paranoid'.

Why do I do it?  Why do I give time to whistle blowers and people who claim they have information and the 'dirt' of what is happening in the world? 

My father was a holocaust survivor.  He remembers when he was a boy growing up in Poland and they heard about Hitler coming in to take over.  His father thought about leaving Europe and going to the Land of Israel where they had purchased property. He would give up his textile factory in Lodz, and flee to Israel with his family.  His neighbors told him, "What?  You are a 40 year old man.  You are going to leave and give up your whole livelihood here in Poland?  You worked so hard for all you have! The war will last 6 months, and then the Allied forces will come in and liberate Poland. You'll see."  they told him.   ...And so my grandfather stayed.  He ignored 'conspiracy theories' about a Jewish genocide, as did the rest of European Jewry.  Reports filtering out of gas chambers, ovens for burning bodies, and that work camps weren't really work camps, but were 'death camps' weren't believed.  I mean, who ever heard of such a thing?  The Germans were a CULTURED people, the most cultured in all of Europe.  They would never, no-- they COULD never do such a  a thing.  ...And look what happened.

My grandfather was ultimately beaten to death by Nazi soldiers.  They took him in and tortured him, punching one of his lungs out. The Nazis were told by an informant that my grandfather had expensive materials that had come in on a shipment before Poland was occupied. The shipment contained materials worth tens of thousands of dollars. After finding the materials, they interrogated and beat him once again, demanding more.  He died from the beatings.  Before he died, he looked at his family, my grandmother, and his two sons: my father and his older brother.  He said to them, "I'm sorry. I'll never see you grow up.  I'm so sorry we didn't leave when we had the chance".  He died soon after.

And so I listen.  A lot of conspiracy theories are hard to accept, because I am a rational person, I come from an academic family filled with scientists.  And also, I  don't WANT to believe much of the evil that exists in the world. It's too depressing.  But, I am open to listening and want to be informed of what some people think.  Then, I check the data for myself .  After checking out the subject, looking at both sides of the story, (fair and balanced) I come to an educated conclusion.  Some conspiracy claims I can accept as a very good possibility to be true. Others, after checking up on it, I will reject.  However, I usually try to bring different speakers to the show to present to you, the listeners, and then open the phones for you to agree, disagree, comment, etc.  Then you can make up YOUR own minds.  I won't tow the line of ignoring information just because the mainstream news companies would rather show you the latest antics of Paris Hilton.  I don't need ratings.  I do need to serve HaShem.

I got a phone call from my neighbor.  He was freaking out, asking what we were going to do, and do I think we will be thrown out of our homes by Bush, Olmert and Peres.  I told him that our leaders are trying to work towards that reality, however, the best thing for him to do is to say the Serenity Prayer. What one has the power to do, we do.  What one doesn't have power over, we should recognize that, and then do the things we CAN do.  Daven (pray), prepare for the future as best we can, do good deeds, and cry out to Hashem.  I am not going to leave my home because Bush, Olmert or Peres are 'stronger' than I am.  I work for G-d, not the Government. 

So when i feel like I am drowning, I grab the life preserver - Torah, its teachings, and my service for HaShem.  In the meantime I am here, I am doing what I am supposed to be doing, living and bringing up my family here in Israel, building YESHA, and serving G-d as best I can.  What more is there?

It sends a chill up my spine, those words: "I was just following orders".  It's time we citizens expose those who squirm out of being 'a creation of G-d who was given a brain and a free will' to identify evil and not participate in immoral acts.

While the video below may bring up negative feelings towards our security forces, it is important to remember that there are many WITH a brain who use it to THINK and actually refuse orders if the orders are immoral or illegal.  These soldiers often 'look the other way' as they did for the marchers wanting to go to Homesh this last weekend.

(above photo) Remember, we are all brothers.  Kfar Maimon minyan (2005)

Hear an interview I did on Sunday, with a 17 year old girl who said that the soldiers who were sent to patrol and block the route to Homesh, a destroyed community in the Shomron, were actually helping those trying to reach Homesh.  The soldiers even distributed food to the people.  Some soldiers even sat and sang Shabbat songs with them.  Don't forget that our army is full of good boys too. Most soldiers are still Zionists, love the Land of Israel, and would give their lives to protect it if a war was launcehd agaisnt us.  And many DO die for us.

I gave rides to 2 soldiers this week who were hitchhiking.  One a male, one a female.  I started talking to them, and told them, "I don't know your name or who you are, so you can feel free to tell me...  Would you follow orders to throw out Jews from their homes like they did in Gush Katif, Amona, Hebron, etc...?"   Both soldiers answered that they would refuse orders.  The female soldier said she had a sister who lived in YESHA, so she wouldn't do it.  The other soldier said that he would not do it, that he was relgious and thought it was horrible for the army to even ask the soldiers to do this dirty work.

The minority of soldiers who do dastardly deeds (and have to be trained for it by the way) with the claim that they were 'under orders' - should be exposed, and they should be afraid to use any sort of illegal violence or sexual toned aggressiveness on protestors.

With that said, check out this video:

The faces and names of Israeli police and military who expel Jews.

Misdar Zihui-Hebron, expulsion from Shalhevet Neighborhood - מסדר זיהוי, גירוש משכ' שלהבת בחברון
Kudos to the Israeli who went out of his/her way to video this.