|
Nisan 25, 5769, 4/19/2009
Some Plans Are Best Kept Secret
Just because Israel's Defense Forces have prepared to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities doesn't mean that the plans are truly operational. 
We should reject all American aid and advice... I fear our "friends" more than our enemies.
  Every single country has its military prepared for operations it may never order. In Hebrew, the term is "b'megurot," in the "drawer," or "closet."
Sometimes, to "shut up" military officers and keep them from nagging their superiors, they're given a unit or platoon of soldiers for their "pet" battle plans. This doesn't mean that the plans are taken seriously. It's just good management to let the overly dreaming officer play soldiers so he'll stop driving everyone nuts.
A classic case was in post Six Days War Israel, 1967. During the summer of 1973, my husband attended an unforgettable World Betar Convention. He told me that some of the older Israelis there were bragging about their IDF positions and history. Somebody got the late Gidon Shiponi to reveal his army reserves job: "Arik Sharon and I are training men to cross the Suez Canal." That sounded ridiculously far-fetched, even to Betarim, but that's the army, and that was Arik Sharon, and that was Gidon Shiponi. And that's probably why Arik was passed over for Ramat Kal, Chief of Staff.
Well, I don't know how many of you remember who had the last laugh.
Yom Kippur, October, 1973, Israel was shocked by coordinated attacks by Egypt and Syria, on our northern and southern fronts, the northern and southern June, 1967, cease-fire lines. Our army and politicians were in a frenzy of panic. All of our military experts had declared us invincible. We had been reassured over and over that the Arabs would never attack us again.
 There was only one spot of calm, and that was Arik Sharon. He and his officers, including Shiponi of course, were fully prepared. They shocked Egypt by efficiently crossing the canal. But I have no doubt, that most surprised were Sharon's superiors, including the politicians in the know, who had never expected those plans to go any further than some "reserve duty exercise." The IDF file cabinets are full of "what if" plans, long past their possible usefulness. Every army has them. You have to be prepared for all possibilities. They're supposed to be kept top secret, since their effectiveness is severely reduced when the element of surprise is deleted. It was once much easier for Israel to keep its secret plans secret. No foreign army was privileged to know anything. Israeli army officers didn't consult with foreign countries. Israel didn't ask permission. We were much stronger then. Our security is endangered by the close contact, the close connections we now have with the United States. It's to our detriment and possible, G-d forbid, destruction. We should reject all American aid and advice. I don't want to be killed by kindness and Trojan Horses. I fear our "friends" more than our enemies. G-d willing a Shavua Tov, A Good Week to us all.
|
 
|
Nisan 20, 5769, 4/14/2009
So, Tel Aviv's 100. Big Deal!
I don't understand how the "Tel Aviv crowd" can rationalize their living in a place established only because they wanted a Jewish city near Jaffa, while at the same time they protest our Jewish presence in Shiloh. Shiloh has a long history as a Jewish city. It was our first capital for 369 years, almost four times as long as Tel Aviv is old. Tel Aviv's only 100, while modern Shiloh is 31, almost one third the age. Now, what's 69 years in Jewish history. Small potatoes for sure. This Pesach, Shiloh was again full of tourists from all over the world. There were activities for all ages, crafts, theater, tours and more. I took some friends to Tel Shiloh. It was their first time at the Tel and their first visit to Shiloh. The Biblical Shiloh, same location as today's but a few thousand years ago, was a place of religious pilgrimage. Shiloh was the spritual center of the Jewish People for three hundred and sixty nine (369) years. The Jewish People trekked from near and far to pray and sacrifce to G-d in the Mishkan, Tablernacle in Shiloh. Today, Tel Shiloh has been set up for visitors of all ages. There's a carnival atmosphere, lots to do, crafts, donkey and jeep rides.   The crafts have Biblical connections and themes, like weaving, decorating small drums, preparing natural health potions etc.   There was alsos street theater and tours of the area.
Tel Shiloh is open to tourists all year long. Parties and other events can also be arranged there. For more information email: telshilo@gmail.com or call 02-994-4019.
|
|
Nisan 15, 5769, 4/9/2009
Just A Ray Of Sun, Birkat HaChamah
I wrote this Erev Chag Pesach, on the Eve of the Passover Holiday, after returning home from the Birkat HaChamah Prayers in Shiloh. L'havdil, (to differentiate,) just like a ray of the sun is just a tiny aspect of the sun's power, the few pictures I'm posting now are just a few of what I photographed minutes ago at the united Shiloh Birkat Hachama prayers. Our various and varied minyanim, prayer groups, met at a lookout on the eastern side of Shiloh, overlooking Shvut Rachel, Givat Achiya and Kida. 
None sufficiently illustrate the feeling of masses of people who attended, including three generations of some families.
  G-d created the world in seven days. Yes, I know that six is the number generally used, but Chazal, our wise men, also consider the concept of Shabbat to be part of creation.
The sun was not among the very first things created. It was in the middle, the fourth out of the seventh days. That's why Birkat HaChamah must be on a Wednesday, the fourth day of the week. We're celebrating the "birthday of the sun." In a sense, it's related to Shabbat, because the week is divided between "before Shabbat" and "after Shabbat." Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are post-Shabbat, while Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are pre (preparing for) Shabbat.   This year's Birkat HaChamah has an additional element in that it's the Eve of Passover. Tonight is Leil HaSeder, Seder Night. I have a lot of work yet to do before Pesach, so if I don't have time to post again,
Chag Kasher V'Sameach Have a Kosher and Joyful Holiday Today is also my maternal grandmother's yartzeit, the anniversary of her death. Chaya Raizia (Ida) Vishnefsky Finkelstein Shankman, ZaTza"L, L'Ilui Nishmata, May her soul be elevated.
|
|
The Eye of the Storm
by Batya Medad
A Unique Perspective
by Batya Medad of Shiloh
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 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 |
