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      The Eye of the Storm
      by Batya Medad
      A Unique Perspective by Batya Medad of Shiloh
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      Batya Medad made aliya from New York to Israel in 1970 and has been living in Shiloh since 1981. Recently she began organizing women's visits to Tel Shiloh for Psalms and prayers. (For more information, please email her.)  Batya is a newspaper and magazine columnist, a veteran jblogger and recently stopped EFL teaching.  She's also a wife, mother, grandmother, photographer and HolyLand hitchhiker, always seeing things from her own very unique perspective. For more of Batya's writings and photos, check out:

      Shiloh Musings

      And:

      me-ander


      Shevat 21, 5770, 2/5/2010

      Learning From History



      Chamberlain's "Peace in our time" didn't protect Great Britain. Nor did American isolationism keep the United States out the war.
      Even when I have nothing new posted here, please don't forget that I blog on Shiloh Musings and me-ander much more frequently.  Please visit those blogs, thanks.

       

      Learning From History

       

      My father is back to watching his World War Two documentaries on DVD.  He's as fascinated as if it's the first time he has seen them.  I'm horrified by the parallels I see to today's news.  It's like those books I don't finish, because I can too easily predict what dangers and predicaments the characters will get themselves into.  It all seems so obvious, but they act oblivious.

       

      I feel the same way watching the news.  How many times can our politicians make the same mistakes?  Don't they remember the previous times they tried bribing the Arab terrorists with land and privileges the results was that our security only lessened and terrorism increased?  My father has an excuse for not remembering.  Some of his brain cells have "expired."

       

      The people leading the State of Israel supposedly have all their faculties.  What's their excuse? Chamberlain's "Peace in our time" didn't protect Great Britain.  Nor did American isolationism keep the United States out the war.

       

      It's Friday afternoon, my time is short. Shabbat is approaching.  I'm glad to have Shabbat to escape a bit from This World, Olam Hazeh.

      Shabbat Shalom uMevorach
      Have a Peaceful and Blessed Shabbat






      Shevat 10, 5770, 1/25/2010

      A Small Step In The Right Direction


      I have to share this blogging forum with others, which is why my blog is sometimes hidden from view.  Have no fear.  I'm still blogging.  You can read more of my writing on Shiloh Musings and me-ander.

      A Small Step In The Right Direction

      Better late than never and better partial than nothing at all.  G-d willing this is the first step in trying to unify our battling nation. What's the "this" I"m referring to?  As a former English Teacher, that's a reading comprehension question I had asked many times.  The answer should come before the pronoun, but I purposely left you in suspense.  That should get you guessing.

      I'm referring to the law passed in the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) which will cancel the police records for the majority of those arrested for anti-Disengagement protests.  It's not a blanket amnesty, and many of those who will be pardoned have already served their sentences and suffered for their dissident opinions.

       Israel's history, beginning from the early pre-state days, is plagued by conflict between the Zionist Left and a series of opposing groups, Revisionists, Etzel, Lechi, Herut, "settler," anti-Disengagement and "settler," yet again.  We've been accused of numerous crimes, the murders of Allozoroff, Rabin, Dir Yassin sic massacre and being sic anti-peace.  There were probably some other crimes the Left tried to pin on us.  If I've forgotten any, please add in comments.

      We Right wing pro-Land of Israel nationalists are the "Israel of Israel."  Just like the State of Israel gets accused of all sorts of things on the international scene, we get the same treatment in Israel.  And just like Israel doesn't properly defend itself in the international arena, we don't do it well at home.  Actually, things were starting to improve when Arutz 7 had its radio station.  The message was getting out, so the government closed it down.

      We mustn't be shy about standing up for our rights and true justice.  A tiny grain was moved, and if we keep working it'll all tip in our favor.







      Shevat 5, 5770, 1/20/2010

      "Whitewashing" The Israeli Contribution in Haiti


      me-ander and Shiloh Musings are updated much more frequently and include a much wider range of topics.  You're invited to visit. Thanks

      "Whitewashing" The Israeli Contribution in Haiti

      Please listen very carefully to the reporter as he tells about the great job the Israeli team is doing rescuing people in Haiti.

       

      And then, towards the end, few of his lines seem scrubbed of necessary and obvious details.

      • Why can't he say that the injured man was taken to the Israeli field hospital, which is the best equipped of all? 
      • And why can't he say that the baby shown at the end of the report was born in that Israeli hospital?
      • Why this "whitewashing" of facts to downplay the role of Israel rescuing people in Haiti?

      Davka this morning, I received the perfect youtube film clip "response" from Boris.

       

      Clint Eastwood in  White Hunter Black Heart.







      Shevat 4, 5770, 1/19/2010

      Blight on the Landscape


      There's lots more to read on Shiloh Musings and me-ander.  You may like my latest "Biblical commentary" comparing Moses and Samuel on leadership or my wondering what's in store for Haiti.

      Here's one of my latest picture posts, concentrating on something neither pleasant nor safe:

      Blight on the Landscape

      These pictures aren't posted to show the beauty of the Land of Israel.  They're up on the blog to show you how man, Israel's politicians, have damaged our land, sovereignty and security by constructing this farce of a "security wall."

       
      I took these pictures traveling from Shiloh to Jerusalem.  The wall doesn't give security.  It's actually riddled with holes in convenient places, so the Arabs can get where they want by foot and donkey.  Israel's security authorities know this.  It has even been broadcast on Israeli television.
      Besides that, there isn't a budget to repair the normal "wear and tear."  Obviously some contractors got very rich building this structure.
       
      G-d willing, some day, we will all celebrate the ripping down of this wall, just like the celebrations of the destruction of the Berlin Wall.






      Tevet 28, 5770, 1/14/2010

      American Isolationists and Appease Peace sic Now


      I blog more frequently on Shiloh Musings and me-ander.  Please visit and pass the links around.  Thanks


      It isn't enough to write a simple review of Philip Roth's "The Plot Against America."  I can't ignore the basis of realism of the premise and the parallels I see here in Israel.

      Yes, you can see it in the title of this post.Appease Peace sic Now is like the American isolationists who wanted to stay out of "Europe's war" at all costs.  Appease Peace sic Now is just like those who wanted to make deals with Hitler.  Appease Peace sic Now is like those who trusted Hitler.

      Yes, all of our "peace concessions" have brought us danger and terrorism and weakness.  Appease Peace sic Now endangers the very existence, the very survival of the State of Israel.

      I don't know if Philip Roth truly understands what he wrote.

      If you think that I'm exaggerating about Appease Peace sic Now, then read the book.