First of all, Chag Sameach, Happy Jerusalem Day.

In the above picture, you can see Jerusalem's lightrail trolley train in action.  OK, it's just a "rehearsal," but it gives us a taste, whiff of the future.

Just in case you don't read this to the end, I'd like to remind you that Friday is Rosh Chodesh Sivan, and G-d willing there will be Women's Prayers at Tel Shiloh.  Please let others know about it.  You can drive or take Egged public transport to Shiloh.  If you're going by public transport, please let me know, thanks.

Rosh Chodesh Sivan

Tel Shiloh

Friday, May 14, 2010

9:30am

תפילת נשים תל שילה ראש חודש סיון

יום ו'

14-05-2010

09:30

As usual, the reminder that I blog more frequently and on a greater variety of topics on my other blogs, Shiloh Musings and me-ander.  Please visit and tell others about them.  Of  course, you're welcome to comment there, too.  And now for the main attraction:

You, Too, Can Visit Tel Shiloh

Today we had visitors to Tel Shiloh, the AFSI tour.  Helen Freedman brings groups on a regular basis to Israel and gets to Shiloh whenever she can.

One of the participants, and not the first time with AFSI to Shiloh, was the legendary Glenn Richter, who led SSSJ the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry.  My husband and I were part of the movement from the middle 1960's until our aliyah in the summer of 1970.

I'll be back down at Tel Shiloh for Women's Prayers, G-d willing, on Friday Rosh Chodesh Sivan, May 14, 2010.  Join us please, and tell others about it!

The Tel is open to tourists all weekdays. For more information, email telshilo@gmail.com  or call 02-994-4019

Shavua Tov, Have a Wonderful Week!  This week, we're celebrating 43 years since Israel's miraculous victory, in only six days, over Egypt, Syria and Jordan.  The fruit of this victory was our Historic ancient HolyLand and defensive borders, the Golan Heights, Judea, Samaria, all of Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley and the Sinai to the Suez Canal.  Unfortunately, the young, foolish modern State of Israel, its citizens and world Jewry has been wasting G-d's gift to us.  We must celebrate Jerusalem Day as symbolic of the miracle.

I write more frequently, and on a greater variety of topics, on my other blogs, Shiloh Musings and me-ander.  You're invited to visit and comment there, too.

"First They Came For..." Israeli Version

"The world won't let you stay, build... etc"

"Knock knock," "Who's there?" The building inspectors, freezers and destroyers in ...

"THEY CAME FIRST for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

THEN THEY CAME for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

THEN THEY CAME for me and by that time no one was left to speak up."

"THEY CAME FIRST for the Israeli Jews in the gevahot, mountain top communities, but I didn't speak up because I didn't live there.

THEN THEY CAME for the Israeli Jews in the yishuvim of Judea and Samaria, but I didn't speak up because I didn't live there.

THEN THEY CAME for the Israeli Jews in Elkana, Gush Etzion, Givat Zeev, Ganei Modiin and Maale Adumim, but I didn't speak up because I didn't live there.

THEN THEY CAME for the Israeli Jews in the Jerusalem neighborhoods liberated in the 1967 Six Days War, but I didn't speak up because I didn't live there.

THEN THEY CAME for me and by that time no one was left to speak up."

Shavua Tov, Have a Wonderful Week!  Today is Lag B'Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer, a favorite day for Jewish weddings.  Mazal Tov!

I blog/write much more frequently on Shiloh Musings and me-ander, so I hope that you'll visit those blogs. Thanks

"Densely Arab Populated," The Big Lie

Here's another of my contributions to rebranding, trying to change that gut-level, misunderstanding most people all over the world, including Israel, have about Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.

I'll never forget reading that phrase "Densely Arab Populated" in The Jerusalem Post a number of years ago.  The writer was describing Judea and Samaria.  Ever since then, I always request that tourists and visitors take a good look.  I've even dramatically opened my dining room window, even on a freezing winter's day, to stick my hand out and say:

"Look at these empty hills.  This isn't a painted mural or photograph.  There's plenty of land here and no need for the Arabs to insist that it's all theirs."

I'm always amazed to hear people imply that my home and community of Shiloh must be surrounded by Arabs.  That's the impression they get from the media and politicians.  Here are a couple of pictures I took recently walking between Shiloh and Shvut Rachel, the Jewish community just east of my house.

It's an easy walk, just takes a few minutes.  There's an unpaved road.  And no, we weren't armed.  This may not be what the media claims and the politicians and diplomats believe.  Remember that most high political officials get their news information via a predigested news digest, summary, composed and edited by staff members with agendas.  Yes, to put it simply, they (politicians and diplomats) don't know bupkes.

These are untouched, uncropped pictures I took.  Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley and the Golan Heights and most of the Gaza Strip are just as empty.  If you believe the press, you've been had.  So please pass this around, thanks.

I trust you know by now that just because I haven't been posting here on Arutz 7 that it doesn't mean that my keyboard has been silent.  Please check out my other blogs, Shiloh Musings and me-ander.  Thanks

Re: Jerusalem

Rush, Re: Jerusalem "Obama says anybody whose great-grandparents were in Arizona before it was a state has a right to walk on in there, and yet the Jews were in Israel thousands of years before any other religion, and Obama wants to deny them the right to build in Jerusalem ." Rush Limbaugh

I must confess that I haven't been following all the hullabaloo about Arizona, aliens etc. We have enough going on with Israel, Jerusalem, Obama, building etc to keep me busy blogging. Then I saw that quotation from Rush in his daily mailing.

Here's the complete quotation from his site:

RUSH: Right. Well, you know, I have friends who have great-great-grandparents who were in England before England had any laws about immigration. My friends, can I live in England and enjoy their services 'cause my great-great-grandparents were there before there were any immigration laws?

Get this. Try this. So we have illegal aliens here who we can't ask them for their papers like every other citizen has to provide ID. We can't ask them. The Jews, however, have to stop building in Jerusalem when they were there thousands of years before there was a Muslim religion or a Christian religion. So by Obama's own logic, he trips himself up. Anybody whose great-grandparents were in Arizona before it was a state has a right to walk on in there, and yet the Jews were there before any other religion thousands of years ago in Jerusalem, and Obama wants to deny them the right to do...? It's dangerous what's happening here, ladies and gentlemen. This use of this word "papers" is not by accident. 

He said some more in answer to this student. Rush is right and Right. There's no logic in the Left. They discriminate against Jews, against Israel. They deny history, distort it.

No, please get don't distort what I'm saying. I'm not recommending that American Jews vote straight Republican, but they should definitely be aware that the policies of the Democrats endanger Israel. Check things out carefully, very carefully. It's not enough to hear that a politician "loves" Israel. Nobody admits that they don't give a hoot about Israel's security, but a careful reading and listening will make that very clear. Look at the map, too.

Any politician who states that establishing a Pseudostinian aka Palestinian sic state is a priority should not be supported, because such a state would seriously endanger the continued existence of the State of Israel. You have to choose; you can't have both. Yes, I know that most Israeli politicians and the vast majority of the Israeli media have joined the "two state" band wagon, but that doesn't make them correct.

As my parents said to me many times as I was growing up:

"If everyone is jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you jump, too?"

Here we have the classic and fatal danger of democracy. Most people are idiots and would jump!

Now that Israeli Independence Day is behind us, we're getting ready for Lag B'Omer, the "close the windows before the smoke, soot and smell get in" holiday.

You know the drill: "I also blog on Shiloh Musings and me-ander. Feel welcome to visit."

"Dark" Mood Here in Israel? The New York Times Reporter Should Clean His Glasses

"Mood Is Dark as Israel Marks 62nd Year as a Nation"

There's lots of building here actually on projects begun before Bibi Netanyahu's dangerous building freeze.  And other projects are getting ready to start the minute it thaws.  Families are waiting for houses to be ready or empty out so they can move in.

A few years ago, immediately before and after Disengagement the mood was dark and bitter, no not like fine chocolate.  No, it was more like sour soup laced with bitter tears.