There are Jews all over the world who rationalize, excuse their not moving to Israel, because
As hard as we try, we can't protect our children from illnesses, accidents or their own foolishness.
they're worried about their children, especially their sons. They're afraid of army service in the IDF, Tzahal, the Israeli Defense Forces.

My sons served in combat units, frontline of course, in the army. I was proud and scared, but I've also been afraid of other dangers. There are dangers our kids face, no matter where they're living. As hard as we try, we can't protect our children from illnesses, accidents or their own foolishness.

When my sons were growing up, I was no stranger to the Emergency Room. I even had to take my daughters there on occasion.

The most seriously ill was my youngest at the age of two weeks. That was one of those "nobody's fault" life-threatening situations which could happen any place to anyone. My Shiloh neighbors helped enormously for the six weeks we were in Shaare Tzedek Hospital. I can't imagine any community any place in the world doing more for a young family with four other kids.

Then a few years later, my other son was hit by a small truck when on his bike, and we had four weeks total in Hadassa Ein Kerem and Alyn Children's Orthopedic Hospital. Until my son was back on two feet sans crutches, a few months later, my neighbors were great.

Those things can happen any place to anybody. According to statistics, most accidents happen at home or nearby.

For two years simultaneously (of the three years each) my two sons were both serving in the army. I can't say that I didn't worry, because I always worry. I worry about them crossing the street.

I worried the most when my elder son took a post army trek to South America. Then I was worried sick. And now, a young man from Maale Levona is missing in India. Search parties have been sent from Israel. Please pray for the safe return of:

If he makes demands that deny the validity of the Bible, what does that do to the  legitimacy of his presidency?

While our pre-Tisha B'Av meal is cooking on the stove, the words I heard in the Knesset two day ago, at MK Dr. Michael Ben-Ari's seminar about Har HaBayit (the Temple Mount) are "cooking" in my mind.
The Temple Mount is still in our hands. Not all is lost. We can fix it. We can fix it if we want to.

This morning I read something from Aish.com which raised the flame, or made it more like a "pressure cooker."

The prophet describes all of the suffering that befell the Jewish people at the time of the destruction of the Temple. "Eichah! How is it possible? The proud majestic city of Jerusalem, in ruins! Her inhabitants in exile! Her enemies rejoicing!" The sages point out the similarity of the word "Eichah" (How!) and the word "Ayecha?" in Genesis when God asks "Where are you, Adam?" The answer to Jeremiah's question - How did it happen? - is that the Jewish people disregarded the Almighty, just as Adam did in the Garden of Eden

For years it has been bothering me that we, as a nation, people, religion, failed to do something crucially important as the 1967 Six Days War ended. G-d performed a miracle for us on the level, size of a Biblical miracle and we have been rejecting it.

The miracle is two-fold, and I'm using the present tense, because it still holds, bli eyin haraa, (keep away the evil eye.)

One is that the State of Israel, the first Jewish State in two thousand years survived the well-planned military onslaught from the north, south and west, which aimed to literally throw us into the sea. When the Jewish People left Egypt, G-d had to make miraculous passages through the water. In 1967, we stayed on dry ground.

The second miracle is the gift of the HolyLand, Judea, Samaria, Gaza, Sinai, Jordan Valley, Golan and the missing parts of Jerusalem including the Temple Mount.

One of the speakers on Monday, (sorry, but I didn't take detailed enough notes,) reminded us that although two hours after we, with the help of G-d, liberated the Temple Mount government ministers decided to give the keys to the Wakf, the Temple Mount is still in our hands. Not all is lost. We can fix it. We can fix it if we want to. Judea and Samaria, where most of our Biblical History took place are also still in our hands.

"Eichah! How is it possible?" How is it possible that Jewish leaders, rabbis from all over the world haven't returned home and settled our precious land?

"Eichah! How is it possible?" How is it possible that we haven't built our Holy Temple in the forty-two (42) years since Har HaBayit b'yadeinu, The Temple Mount is in our hands?

I've been asked by a number of people if I'll be at that demonstration against United States
Our security is up to us!
interference in Israeli affairs. No, I won't be there. It's not that I'm in favor of America butting in, giving us orders. G-d forbid. Simply, I don't put the blame on America.

Israel just has to say:

"No!"

"Mind your own business!" "

We're an independent country and don't need your string-tied help!"

Tell the American envoys, ministers, ambassadors etc that we don't have time to talk.

I'm willing to demonstrate by the Israeli Prime Minister's Residence and remind him that he was empowered (there's no direct election for PM) by the Israeli citizens to be Israel's Prime Minister, not Obama's "poodle."

Especially having been raised and educated in the United States, I have no doubt, no doubt at all that America would cut out the pressure if we sent them packing. The American government has enough trouble with a sinking economy, health care issues and Iraq. They wouldn't fight us if they saw they would lose.

Our security is up to us! When we do the right thing, G-d will give us more strength. If we act weak and tired, it will be a self-fulfilling prophesy.

I post daily on Shiloh Musings, you're invited to read more of my articles there.  I also blog on me-ander, where the atmosphere is different.  Thank you

For those of us who consider watching the final round of the International Jewish Youth Bible Contest a highlight of Yom Ha'Atzma'ut, Israel's Independence Day, the year a blind boy from Netivot won was certainly one of the most thrilling. But I don't remember anyone mentioning that without his twin hearing aids, he couldn't hear a thing, because he's deaf, too.

Last night, Avichai Shelli came to Shiloh and told his story.